05.018
शल्य उवाच॥
Shalya spoke:
ततः शक्रः स्तूयमानो गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणैः। ऐरावतं समारुह्य द्विपेन्द्रं लक्षणैर्युतम् ॥५-१८-१॥
Then Indra, praised by the celestial musicians and dancers, mounted Airavata, the king of elephants, which was adorned with auspicious signs.
पावकश्च महातेजा महर्षिश्च बृहस्पतिः। यमश्च वरुणश्चैव कुबेरश्च धनेश्वरः ॥५-१८-२॥
Fire, the greatly radiant one, the great sage Bṛhaspati, Yama, Varuṇa, Kubera, and the lord of wealth are all mentioned here.
सर्वैर्देवैः परिवृतः शक्रो वृत्रनिषूदनः। गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च यातस्त्रिभुवनं प्रभुः ॥५-१८-३॥
Indra, the mighty lord and slayer of Vritra, accompanied by all the gods, Gandharvas, and Apsaras, has traversed the three worlds.
स समेत्य महेन्द्राण्या देवराजः शतक्रतुः। मुदा परमया युक्तः पालयामास देवराट् ॥५-१८-४॥
Indra, the king of gods, after meeting with Mahendra's wife, joyfully took on the responsibility of protecting the kingdom.
ततः स भगवांस्तत्र अङ्गिराः समदृश्यत। अथर्ववेदमन्त्रैश्च देवेन्द्रं समपूजयत् ॥५-१८-५॥
Then, the revered sage Angiras appeared there and worshipped Lord Indra with the mantras from the Atharva Veda.
ततस्तु भगवानिन्द्रः प्रहृष्टः समपद्यत। वरं च प्रददौ तस्मै अथर्वाङ्गिरसे तदा ॥५-१८-६॥
Then the blessed Indra, being delighted, granted a boon to Atharvangirasa at that time.
अथर्वाङ्गिरसं नाम अस्मिन्वेदे भविष्यति। उदाहरणमेतद्धि यज्ञभागं च लप्स्यसे ॥५-१८-७॥
In this Veda, known as Atharvaveda, there will be an example, and you will indeed obtain the sacrificial share.
एवं सम्पूज्य भगवानथर्वाङ्गिरसं तदा। व्यसर्जयन्महाराज देवराजः शतक्रतुः ॥५-१८-८॥
Thus, O great king, after worshipping the revered Atharvangirasa, the king of gods, Indra, dismissed him.
सम्पूज्य सर्वांस्त्रिदशानृषींश्चापि तपोधनान्। इन्द्रः प्रमुदितो राजन्धर्मेणापालयत्प्रजाः ॥५-१८-९॥
After worshipping all the gods, sages, and ascetics, Indra joyfully ruled over the subjects with righteousness, O king.
एवं दुःखमनुप्राप्तमिन्द्रेण सह भार्यया। अज्ञातवासश्च कृतः शत्रूणां वधकाङ्क्षया ॥५-१८-१०॥
Thus, Indra, along with his wife, endured suffering and went into incognito exile with the intention of defeating their enemies.
नात्र मन्युस्त्वया कार्यो यत्क्लिष्टोऽसि महावने। द्रौपद्या सह राजेन्द्र भ्रातृभिश्च महात्मभिः ॥५-१८-११॥
O King, do not harbor anger here, as you are enduring hardships in the great forest along with Draupadi and your noble brothers.
एवं त्वमपि राजेन्द्र राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि भारत। वृत्रं हत्वा यथा प्राप्तः शक्रः कौरवनन्दन ॥५-१८-१२॥
Thus, O descendant of Bharata, you too, O joy of the Kauravas, will gain the kingdom, just as Indra did after slaying Vritra.
दुराचारश्च नहुषो ब्रह्मद्विट्पापचेतनः। अगस्त्यशापाभिहतो विनष्टः शाश्वतीः समाः ॥५-१८-१३॥
Nahusha, who was of bad conduct and cursed brahmins, was evil-minded and was destroyed by the curse of Agastya for many eternal years.
एवं तव दुरात्मानः शत्रवः शत्रुसूदन। क्षिप्रं नाशं गमिष्यन्ति कर्णदुर्योधनादयः ॥५-१८-१४॥
Thus, O slayer of enemies, your wicked foes like Karna and Duryodhana will soon meet their end.
ततः सागरपर्यन्तां भोक्ष्यसे मेदिनीमिमाम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितो वीर द्रौपद्या च सहाभिभो ॥५-१८-१५॥
Then, O hero, you shall rule this land extending to the ocean, alongside your brothers and Draupadi, O lord.
उपाख्यानमिदं शक्रविजयं वेदसंमितम्। राज्ञा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु श्रोतव्यं जयमिच्छता ॥५-१८-१६॥
This tale of Indra's triumph, comparable to the Vedas, should be listened to by the king amidst the organized armies, for those who seek victory.
तस्मात्संश्रावयामि त्वां विजयं जयतां वर। संस्तूयमाना वर्धन्ते महात्मानो युधिष्ठिर ॥५-१८-१७॥
Therefore, I announce to you, O Yudhishthira, the best among the victorious. When praised, great souls like you flourish.
क्षत्रियाणामभावोऽयं युधिष्ठिर महात्मनाम्। दुर्योधनापराधेन भीमार्जुनबलेन च ॥५-१८-१८॥
O Yudhishthira, the absence of the Kshatriyas, who were great souls, is due to Duryodhana's misdeeds and the might of Bhima and Arjuna.
आख्यानमिन्द्रविजयं य इदं नियतः पठेत्। धूतपाप्मा जितस्वर्गः स प्रेत्येह च मोदते ॥५-१८-१९॥
Whoever regularly recites the story of Indra's victory becomes free from sin, attains heaven, and rejoices both in this life and the next.
न चारिजं भयं तस्य न चापुत्रो भवेन्नरः। नापदं प्राप्नुयात्काञ्चिद्दीर्घमायुश्च विन्दति ॥ सर्वत्र जयमाप्नोति न कदाचित्पराजयम् ॥५-१८-२०॥
He is free from the fear of enemies and will not be without a son. He will not face any calamity and will enjoy a long life. He will achieve victory everywhere and will never experience defeat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
एवमाश्वासितो राजा शल्येन भरतर्षभ। पूजयामास विधिवच्छल्यं धर्मभृतां वरः ॥५-१८-२१॥
Thus reassured by Shalya, the king, O best of the Bharatas, duly honored Shalya, the foremost among the upholders of dharma.
श्रुत्वा शल्यस्य वचनं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुर्मद्रराजमिदं वचः ॥५-१८-२२॥
Upon hearing Śalya's words, Yudhishthira, the mighty-armed son of Kunti, responded to the king of Madra with these words.
भवान्कर्णस्य सारथ्यं करिष्यति न संशयः। तत्र तेजोवधः कार्यः कर्णस्य मम संस्तवैः ॥५-१८-२३॥
You will undoubtedly serve as Karna's charioteer. There, the brilliance of Karna should be diminished by my praises.
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya spoke:
एवमेतत्करिष्यामि यथा मां सम्प्रभाषसे। यच्चान्यदपि शक्ष्यामि तत्करिष्याम्यहं तव ॥५-१८-२४॥
I will do exactly as you have spoken to me. Additionally, whatever else I can do, I will do that for you.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
तत आमन्त्र्य कौन्तेयाञ्शल्यो मद्राधिपस्तदा। जगाम सबलः श्रीमान्दुर्योधनमरिंदमः ॥५-१८-२५॥
Then Shalya, the king of Madra, addressed the sons of Kunti and went with his army to the illustrious Duryodhana, the subduer of enemies.
