04.024
gogṛhaṇaparva
the festival of cow sequestration
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
kīcakasya tu ghātena sānujasya viśāṃ pate। atyāhitaṃ cintayitvā vyasmayanta pṛthagjanāḥ ॥04-24-1॥
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)
tasmin pure janapade sañjalpo'bhūc ca sarvaśaḥ। śauryād dhi vallabho rājño mahāsattvaś ca kīcakaḥ॥04-24-2॥
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)
āsīt prahartā ca nṛṇāṃ dārām arśī ca durmatiḥ. sa hataḥ khalu pāpātmā gandharvair duṣṭapūruṣaḥ ॥04-24-3॥
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)
ity ajalpan mahārāja parānīka-viśātanam। deśe deśe manuṣyāś ca kīcakaṃ duṣpradharṣaṇam ॥04-24-4॥
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)
atha vai dhārtarāṣṭreṇa prayuktā ye bahiścarāḥ। mṛgayitvā bahūn grāmān rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca॥04-24-5॥
Then, the spies dispatched by Dhārtarāṣṭra, after searching many villages, kingdoms, and cities.
saṃvidhāya yathādiṣṭaṃ yathādeśapradarśanam। kṛtacintā nyavartanta te ca nāgapuraṃ prati॥04-24-6॥
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)
tatra dṛṣṭvā tu rājānaṃ kauravyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrajam. droṇa-karṇa-kṛpaiḥ sārdhaṃ bhīṣmeṇa ca mahātmanā ॥04-24-7॥
There, having seen the king, the Kaurava, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, together with Droṇa, Karṇa, Kṛpa, and also with the great-souled Bhīṣma.
saṅgataṃ bhrātṛbhiś cāpi trigartaiś ca mahārathaiḥ। duryodhanaṃ sabhāmadhye āsīnam idam abruvan ॥04-24-8॥
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)
kṛto'smābhiḥ paro yatnas teṣām anveṣaṇe sadā। pāṇḍavānāṃ manuṣyendra tasmin mahati kānane ॥04-24-9॥
O king of men, our utmost effort has always been made in searching for the Pāṇḍavas in that great forest. (04-24-9)
nirjane mṛga-saṅkīrṇe nānā-druma-latā-vṛte। latā-pratāna-bahule nānā-gulma-samāvṛte॥04-24-10॥
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)
na ca vidmo gatā yena pārthāḥ syur dṛḍha-vikramāḥ। mārgamāṇāḥ pada-nyāsaṃ teṣu teṣu tathā tathā ॥04-24-11॥
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)
girikūṭeṣu tuṅgeṣu nānājanapadeṣu ca। janākīrṇeṣu deśeṣu kharvaṭeṣu pureṣu ca ॥04-24-12॥
On mountain peaks, lofty places, various regions, and in populous countries, villages, and towns. (04-24-12)
narendra bahuśo-'nviṣṭā naiva vidmaś-ca pāṇḍavān। atyanta-bhāvaṃ naṣṭās-te bhadraṃ tubhyaṃ nararṣabha ॥04-24-13॥
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)
vartmānyanviṣyamāṇāstu rathānāṃ rathasattama। kañcitkālaṃ manuṣyendra sūtānāmanugā vayam ॥04-24-14॥
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)
mṛgayitvā yathā-nyāyaṁ viditārthāḥ sma tattvataḥ। prāptā dvāravatīṁ sūtā ṛte pārthaiḥ parantapa ॥04-24-15॥
O scorcher of foes, the charioteers, having duly sought out and ascertained the truth, returned to Dvāravatī, except for the Pāṇḍavas. (04-24-15)
na tatra pāṇḍavā rājan nāpi kṛṣṇā pativratā। sarvathā vipranaṣṭās te namas te bharatarṣabha ॥04-24-16॥
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)
na hi vidmo gatiṃ teṣāṃ vāsaṃ vāpi mahātmanām। pāṇḍavānāṃ pravṛttiṃ vā vidmaḥ karmāpi vā kṛtam ॥ sa naḥ śādhi manuṣyendra ata ūrdhvaṃ viśāṃ pate ॥04-24-17॥
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)
anveṣaṇe pāṇḍavānāṁ bhūyaḥ kiṁ karavāmahe। imāṁ ca naḥ priyām īkṣa vācaṁ bhadravatīṁ śubhām ॥04-24-18॥
While searching for the Pāṇḍavas, what more can we do? And look upon this our dear, fortunate, and auspicious speech. (04-24-18)
yena trigartā nikṛtā balena mahatā nṛpa। sūtena rājño matsyasya kīcakena mahātmanā ॥04-24-19॥
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)
sa hataḥ patitaḥ śete gandharvairniśi bhārata। adṛśyamānairduṣṭātmā saha bhrātṛbhiracyuta ॥04-24-20॥
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)
priyam etad upaśrutya śatrūṇāṃ tu parābhavam। kṛtakṛtyaś ca kauravya vidhatsva yad anantaram ॥04-24-21॥
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)
