14.063
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततस्ते प्रययुर्हृष्टाः प्रहृष्टनरवाहनाः। रथघोषेण महता पूरयन्तो वसुन्धराम् ॥१४-६३-१॥
Then, accompanied by delighted men and vehicles, they set out, gladdened, filling the earth with the great sound of their chariots. (14-63-1)
संस्तूयमानाः स्तुतिभिः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः। स्वेन सैन्येन संवीता यथादित्याः स्वरश्मिभिः ॥१४-६३-२॥
They were being praised with chants by bards and genealogists, surrounded by their own army just as the suns are enveloped by their own rays. (14-63-2)
पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि। बभौ युधिष्ठिरस्तत्र पौर्णमास्यामिवोडुराट् ॥१४-६३-३॥
With a white parasol held above his head, Yudhishthira shone there like the moon on the night of the full moon. (14-63-3)
जयाशिषः प्रहृष्टानां नराणां पथि पाण्डवः। प्रत्यगृह्णाद्यथान्यायं यथावत्पुरुषर्षभः ॥१४-६३-४॥
The Pāṇḍava, the best of men, properly accepted the joyous victory blessings from the delighted people along the road, in accordance with propriety. (14-63-4)
तथैव सैनिका राजन्राजानमनुयान्ति ये। तेषां हलहलाशब्दो दिवं स्तब्ध्वा व्यतिष्ठत ॥१४-६३-५॥
Likewise, O king, the soldiers who followed the king — their rumbling noise, filling the sky, resounded. (14-63-5)
स सरांसि नदीश्चैव वनान्युपवनानि च। अत्यक्रामन्महाराजो गिरिं चैवान्वपद्यत ॥१४-६३-६॥
He, the great king, passed over lakes, rivers, forests, and groves, and then proceeded towards the mountain. (14-63-6)
तस्मिन्देशे च राजेन्द्र यत्र तद्द्रव्यमुत्तमम्। चक्रे निवेशनं राजा पाण्डवः सह सैनिकैः ॥ शिवे देशे समे चैव तदा भरतसत्तम ॥१४-६३-७॥
O chief of kings, in that region where there was that excellent wealth, the Pāṇḍava king made camp there with his soldiers. At that time, in a level and auspicious place, O best of the Bharatas. (14-63-7)
अग्रतो ब्राह्मणान्कृत्वा तपोविद्यादमान्वितान्। पुरोहितं च कौरव्य वेदवेदाङ्गपारगम् ॥१४-६३-८॥
O Kauravya, he placed at the front Brāhmaṇas endowed with austerity, knowledge, and self-control, and the chief priest skilled in the Veda and its branches. (14-63-8)
प्राङ्निवेशात्तु राजानं ब्राह्मणाः सपुरोधसः। कृत्वा शान्तिं यथान्यायं सर्वतः पर्यवारयन् ॥१४-६३-९॥
But from the eastern pavilion, the Brahmins together with the chief priest, having performed the peace rite as prescribed, surrounded the king on all sides. (14-63-9)
कृत्वा च मध्ये राजानममात्यांश्च यथाविधि। षट्पथं नवसंस्थानं निवेशं चक्रिरे द्विजाः ॥१४-६३-१०॥
The Brahmins, after placing the king and his ministers in the center as prescribed, arranged the layout of six roads and nine establishments. (14-63-10)
मत्तानां वारणेन्द्राणां निवेशं च यथाविधि। कारयित्वा स राजेन्द्रो ब्राह्मणानिदमब्रवीत् ॥१४-६३-११॥
Having caused the stationing of the intoxicated best elephants according to rule, the best of kings said this to the brāhmaṇas. (14-63-11)
अस्मिन्कार्ये द्विजश्रेष्ठा नक्षत्रे दिवसे शुभे। यथा भवन्तो मन्यन्ते कर्तुमर्हथ तत्तथा ॥१४-६३-१२॥
O best of twice-born, in this activity, on this auspicious day and under this asterism, you all ought to do as you consider proper (14-63-12)
न नः कालात्ययो वै स्यादिहैव परिलम्बताम्। इति निश्चित्य विप्रेन्द्राः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् ॥१४-६३-१३॥
Let there not be any delay for us; let it not hang on here any longer. Thus having resolved, O best of Brāhmaṇas, whatever is to be done next should be done at once. (14-63-13)
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं राज्ञो ब्राह्मणाः सपुरोधसः। इदमूचुर्वचो हृष्टा धर्मराजप्रियेप्सवः ॥१४-६३-१४॥
When they heard these words of the king, the Brāhmaṇas together with the purohita, being joyful and wishing to please King Dharma, spoke these words. (14-63-14)
अद्यैव नक्षत्रमहश्च पुण्यं; यतामहे श्रेष्ठतमं क्रियासु। अम्भोभिरद्येह वसाम राज; न्नुपोष्यतां चापि भवद्भिरद्य ॥१४-६३-१५॥
Today itself, let us undertake the most excellent meritorious lunar day observance; let us strive for the highest among rites. Today here, O king, let us reside with waters, and may we also be properly fed by you today. (14-63-15)
श्रुत्वा तु तेषां द्विजसत्तमानां; कृतोपवासा रजनीं नरेन्द्राः। ऊषुः प्रतीताः कुशसंस्तरेषु; यथाध्वरेषु ज्वलिता हव्यवाहाः ॥१४-६३-१६॥
But having heard from those most excellent twice-born, the kings, having completed their fast, spent the night contentedly on beds of kuśa grass, just as the kindled sacrificial fires during rituals. (14-63-16)
ततो निशा सा व्यगमन्महात्मनां; संशृण्वतां विप्रसमीरिता गिरः। ततः प्रभाते विमले द्विजर्षभा; वचोऽब्रुवन्धर्मसुतं नराधिपम् ॥१४-६३-१७॥
Thus, the night passed for the great-souled ones, as they listened to the words spoken by the Brāhmaṇas. Then, when the morning was clear, the foremost Brāhmaṇas addressed the son of Dharma, the king. (14-63-17)
