04.024
गोग्रहणपर्व
the festival of cow sequestration
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
कीचकस्य तु घातेन सानुजस्य विशां पते। अत्याहितं चिन्तयित्वा व्यस्मयन्त पृथग्जनाः ॥०४-२४-१॥
O lord of the people, after considering as very extraordinary the killing of Kīcaka along with his brothers, the common people were astonished. (04-24-1)
तस्मिन्पुरे जनपदे सञ्जल्पोऽभूच्च सर्वशः। शौर्याद्धि वल्लभो राज्ञो महासत्त्वश्च कीचकः ॥०४-२४-२॥
In that city, throughout the country, there was talk everywhere, for because of his valor, Kīcaka was indeed the king's favorite and a great-souled man. (04-24-2)
आसीत्प्रहर्ता च नृणां दारामर्शी च दुर्मतिः। स हतः खलु पापात्मा गन्धर्वैर्दुष्टपूरुषः ॥०४-२४-३॥
He was a striker and a coveter of others' wives, evil-minded. He, the wicked-souled and evil man, was indeed slain by the Gandharvas. (04-24-3)
इत्यजल्पन्महाराज परानीकविशातनम्। देशे देशे मनुष्याश्च कीचकं दुष्प्रधर्षणम् ॥०४-२४-४॥
Thus they spoke, O great king, destroyer of the enemy's army. In every region, people spoke of Kīcaka, who was hard to overpower. (04-24-4)
अथ वै धार्तराष्ट्रेण प्रयुक्ता ये बहिश्चराः। मृगयित्वा बहून्ग्रामान्राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च ॥०४-२४-५॥
Then, the spies dispatched by Dhārtarāṣṭra, after searching many villages, kingdoms, and cities.
संविधाय यथादिष्टं यथादेशप्रदर्शनम्। कृतचिन्ता न्यवर्तन्त ते च नागपुरं प्रति ॥०४-२४-६॥
Having carried out what was ordered and shown by command, and having resolved their concerns, they turned back—those men proceeded towards Nagapura. (04-24-6)
तत्र दृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कौरव्यं धृतराष्ट्रजम्। द्रोणकर्णकृपैः सार्धं भीष्मेण च महात्मना ॥०४-२४-७॥
There, having seen the king, the Kaurava, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, together with Droṇa, Karṇa, Kṛpa, and also with the great-souled Bhīṣma.
सङ्गतं भ्रातृभिश्चापि त्रिगर्तैश्च महारथैः। दुर्योधनं सभामध्ये आसीनमिदमब्रुवन् ॥०४-२४-८॥
Gathered together with his brothers and also the Trigartas and mighty chariot-warriors, to Duryodhana seated in the middle of the hall, they spoke these words. (04-24-8)
कृतोऽस्माभिः परो यत्नस्तेषामन्वेषणे सदा। पाण्डवानां मनुष्येन्द्र तस्मिन्महति कानने ॥०४-२४-९॥
O king of men, our utmost effort has always been made in searching for the Pāṇḍavas in that great forest. (04-24-9)
निर्जने मृगसङ्कीर्णे नानाद्रुमलतावृते। लताप्रतानबहुले नानागुल्मसमावृते ॥०४-२४-१०॥
In a deserted place, thick with wild animals, surrounded by many kinds of trees and creepers, dense with entangled vines, and covered by various bushes. (04-24-10)
न च विद्मो गता येन पार्थाः स्युर्दृढविक्रमाः। मार्गमाणाः पदन्यासं तेषु तेषु तथा तथा ॥०४-२४-११॥
And we do not know by which path the sons of Pṛthā, steadfast and strong, have gone, searching for footprints here and there. (04-24-11)
गिरिकूटेषु तुङ्गेषु नानाजनपदेषु च। जनाकीर्णेषु देशेषु खर्वटेषु पुरेषु च ॥०४-२४-१२॥
On mountain peaks, lofty places, various regions, and in populous countries, villages, and towns. (04-24-12)
नरेन्द्र बहुशोऽन्विष्टा नैव विद्मश्च पाण्डवान्। अत्यन्तभावं नष्टास्ते भद्रं तुभ्यं नरर्षभ ॥०४-२४-१३॥
O king, the Pāṇḍavas have been searched for many times, but we truly do not know them or their complete whereabouts, they are lost. Blessings to you, O best of men. (04-24-13)
वर्त्मान्यन्विष्यमाणास्तु रथानां रथसत्तम। कञ्चित्कालं मनुष्येन्द्र सूतानामनुगा वयम् ॥०४-२४-१४॥
But the paths of the chariots are being searched, O best of charioteers. For a certain period, O lord of men, we are following the charioteers. (04-24-14)
मृगयित्वा यथान्यायं विदितार्थाः स्म तत्त्वतः। प्राप्ता द्वारवतीं सूता ऋते पार्थैः परन्तप ॥०४-२४-१५॥
O scorcher of foes, the charioteers, having duly sought out and ascertained the truth, returned to Dvāravatī, except for the Pāṇḍavas. (04-24-15)
न तत्र पाण्डवा राजन्नापि कृष्णा पतिव्रता। सर्वथा विप्रनष्टास्ते नमस्ते भरतर्षभ ॥०४-२४-१६॥
O king, neither the Pāṇḍavas nor Kṛṣṇā, the devoted wife, are there; they are all completely destroyed. Salutations to you, O best of the Bharatas. (04-24-16)
न हि विद्मो गतिं तेषां वासं वापि महात्मनाम्। पाण्डवानां प्रवृत्तिं वा विद्मः कर्मापि वा कृतम् ॥ स नः शाधि मनुष्येन्द्र अत ऊर्ध्वं विशां पते ॥०४-२४-१७॥
Indeed, we do not know the whereabouts or abode of those great-souled ones, nor do we know the actions done or the activity of the Pāṇḍavas. Therefore, O king of men, instruct us as to what should be done next, O lord of the people. (04-24-17)
अन्वेषणे पाण्डवानां भूयः किं करवामहे। इमां च नः प्रियामीक्ष वाचं भद्रवतीं शुभाम् ॥०४-२४-१८॥
While searching for the Pāṇḍavas, what more can we do? And look upon this our dear, fortunate, and auspicious speech. (04-24-18)
येन त्रिगर्ता निकृता बलेन महता नृप। सूतेन राज्ञो मत्स्यस्य कीचकेन महात्मना ॥०४-२४-१९॥
O king, by whom the Trigartas were overcome with great strength—it was by Kīcaka, the charioteer of the king of Matsya, a man of great soul. (04-24-19)
स हतः पतितः शेते गन्धर्वैर्निशि भारत। अदृश्यमानैर्दुष्टात्मा सह भ्रातृभिरच्युत ॥०४-२४-२०॥
He has been slain and lies fallen by the gandharvas at night, O Bhārata. The evil-souled one, unseen, is together with his brothers, O Acyuta. (04-24-20)
प्रियमेतदुपश्रुत्य शत्रूणां तु पराभवम्। कृतकृत्यश्च कौरव्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम् ॥०४-२४-२१॥
Having heard this pleasant news—the defeat of the enemies—but being one whose purpose is accomplished, O Kauravya, now do whatever should follow. (04-24-21)
