14.072
अर्जुनस्य अश्वानुसरणम्
The following of the horses by Arjuna
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
दीक्षाकाले तु सम्प्राप्ते ततस्ते सुमहर्त्विजः। विधिवद्दीक्षयामासुरश्वमेधाय पार्थिवम् ॥१४-७२-१॥
But when the time of consecration arrived, then those very great priests duly consecrated the king for the horse sacrifice. (14-72-1)
कृत्वा स पशुबन्धांश्च दीक्षितः पाण्डुनन्दनः। धर्मराजो महातेजाः सहर्त्विग्भिर्व्यरोचत ॥१४-७२-२॥
Having performed the animal-sacrifices and having been consecrated, the illustrious Yudhiṣṭhira, descendant of Pāṇḍu, shone brilliantly together with the officiating priests. (14-72-2)
हयश्च हयमेधार्थं स्वयं स ब्रह्मवादिना। उत्सृष्टः शास्त्रविधिना व्यासेनामिततेजसा ॥१४-७२-३॥
The horse for the horse-sacrifice was personally released by Vyāsa, the speaker about Brahman and of immeasurable energy, according to scriptural injunction. (14-72-3)
स राजा धर्मजो राजन्दीक्षितो विबभौ तदा। हेममाली रुक्मकण्ठः प्रदीप्त इव पावकः ॥१४-७२-४॥
At that time, the king, son of Dharma, who had been consecrated as ruler, shone forth, adorned with a garland of gold and a golden neck ornament, radiant like fire. (14-72-4)
कृष्णाजिनी दण्डपाणिः क्षौमवासाः स धर्मजः। विबभौ द्युतिमान्भूयः प्रजापतिरिवाध्वरे ॥१४-७२-५॥
He, born of Dharma, dressed in linen and wearing a black antelope skin, holding a staff, shone out even more radiantly, like Prajapati at a sacrifice. (14-72-5)
तथैवास्यर्त्विजः सर्वे तुल्यवेषा विशां पते। बभूवुरर्जुनश्चैव प्रदीप्त इव पावकः ॥१४-७२-६॥
In the same way, all his priests, dressed alike, O lord of the people, became manifest; and Arjuna also appeared blazing like fire. (14-72-6)
श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारं तं ससाराश्वं धनञ्जयः। विधिवत्पृथिवीपाल धर्मराजस्य शासनात् ॥१४-७२-७॥
O king, Arjuna, whose horses were white, pursued that black antelope horse according to the injunction, by the command of Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira). (14-72-7)
विक्षिपन्गाण्डिवं राजन्बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्। तमश्वं पृथिवीपाल मुदा युक्तः ससार ह ॥१४-७२-८॥
O king, throwing aside the Gāṇḍiva bow and wearing the lizard's finger-ring, the protector of the earth, with joy, mounted the horse and rode on. (14-72-8)
आकुमारं तदा राजन्नागमत्तत्पुरं विभो। द्रष्टुकामं कुरुश्रेष्ठं प्रयास्यन्तं धनञ्जयम् ॥१४-७२-९॥
O king, then that lord came to the city of the prince, wishing to see Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the best of the Kurus, who was about to depart. (14-72-9)
तेषामन्योन्यसंमर्दादूष्मेव समजायत। दिदृक्षूणां हयं तं च तं चैव हयसारिणम् ॥१४-७२-१०॥
From their mutual collision, heat like fire arose. Among those wishing to see, both the horse and the horse-driver (were seen as distinct). (14-72-10)
ततः शब्दो महाराज दशाशाः प्रतिपूरयन्। बभूव प्रेक्षतां नॄणां कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम् ॥१४-७२-११॥
Then, O great king, a sound filling the ten directions arose among the people watching Kuntī's son, Dhanañjaya. (14-72-11)
एष गच्छति कौन्तेयस्तुरगश्चैव दीप्तिमान्। यमन्वेति महाबाहुः संस्पृशन्धनुरुत्तमम् ॥१४-७२-१२॥
The son of Kunti advances, and the resplendent horse as well; the mighty-armed Arjuna follows him, touching his excellent bow. (14-72-12)
एवं शुश्राव वदतां गिरो जिष्णुरुदारधीः। स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु व्रजारिष्टं पुनश्चैहीति भारत ॥१४-७२-१३॥
Thus Arjuna, of noble mind, listened to the words spoken. "Farewell to you; may you journey unharmed and return here again," O Bhārata. (14-72-13)
अथापरे मनुष्येन्द्र पुरुषा वाक्यमब्रुवन्। नैनं पश्याम संमर्दे धनुरेतत्प्रदृश्यते ॥१४-७२-१४॥
Then other men, O king of men, spoke these words: "We do not see him in the confusion; only this bow is visible." (14-72-14)
एतद्धि भीमनिर्ह्रादं विश्रुतं गाण्डिवं धनुः। स्वस्ति गच्छत्वरिष्टं वै पन्थानमकुतोभयम् ॥ निवृत्तमेनं द्रक्ष्यामः पुनरेवं च तेऽब्रुवन् ॥१४-७२-१५॥
This is indeed the terrible-sounding, well-known Gandiva bow. Let him go safely, on a path that is free from danger and fear. We shall see him again when he has returned—thus, they spoke. (14-72-15)
एवमाद्या मनुष्याणां स्त्रीणां च भरतर्षभ। शुश्राव मधुरा वाचः पुनः पुनरुदीरिताः ॥१४-७२-१६॥
O bull of the Bharatas, thus he heard the sweet words of men and women, uttered again and again. (14-72-16)
याज्ञवल्क्यस्य शिष्यश्च कुशलो यज्ञकर्मणि। प्रायात्पार्थेन सहितः शान्त्यर्थं वेदपारगः ॥१४-७२-१७॥
The disciple of Yājñavalkya, who was skilled in sacrificial rites and mastered in the Vedas, departed along with Pārtha (Arjuna) for the sake of peace. (14-72-17)
ब्राह्मणाश्च महीपाल बहवो वेदपारगाः। अनुजग्मुर्महात्मानं क्षत्रियाश्च विशोऽपि च ॥१४-७२-१८॥
O king, many Brāhmaṇas, knowers of the Vedas, followed the great-souled one; Kṣatriyas and also the people (viśas) went after him. (14-72-18)
पाण्डवैः पृथिवीमश्वो निर्जितामस्त्रतेजसा। चचार स महाराज यथादेशं स सत्तम ॥१४-७२-१९॥
The horse, after the Pāṇḍavas had conquered the earth by the splendor of their weapons, roamed as commanded, O great king, O best of beings. (14-72-19)
तत्र युद्धानि वृत्तानि यान्यासन्पाण्डवस्य ह। तानि वक्ष्यामि ते वीर विचित्राणि महान्ति च ॥१४-७२-२०॥
There, O hero, I shall recount to you the wonderful and great battles that indeed occurred on the side of Pāṇḍava. (14-72-20)
स हयः पृथिवीं राजन्प्रदक्षिणमरिंदम। ससारोत्तरतः पूर्वं तन्निबोध महीपते ॥१४-७२-२१॥
O king, the horse circled the earth in a rightwise (pradakṣiṇa) direction, O destroyer of enemies, going from the north to the east; understand that, O lord of the earth. (14-72-21)
अवमृद्नन्स राष्ट्राणि पार्थिवानां हयोत्तमः। शनैस्तदा परिययौ श्वेताश्वश्च महारथः ॥१४-७२-२२॥
Crushing the kingdoms of the kings, the excellent horse slowly went about, and Śvetāśva, the great warrior, accompanied it. (14-72-22)
तत्र सङ्कलना नास्ति राज्ञामयुतशस्तदा। येऽयुध्यन्त महाराज क्षत्रिया हतबान्धवाः ॥१४-७२-२३॥
There, O great king, there was no gathering of kings by tens of thousands; those Kṣatriya warriors who fought had slain their own kin. (14-72-23)
किराता विकृता राजन्बहवोऽसिधनुर्धराः। म्लेच्छाश्चान्ये बहुविधाः पूर्वं विनिकृता रणे ॥१४-७२-२४॥
O king, many deformed Kirātas, wielders of swords and bows, barbarians, and other people of many kinds were formerly slain in battle. (14-72-24)
आर्याश्च पृथिवीपालाः प्रहृष्टनरवाहनाः। समीयुः पाण्डुपुत्रेण बहवो युद्धदुर्मदाः ॥१४-७२-२५॥
Noble ones, the kings of the earth, and many who were fiercely proud in battle with their joyful chariots of warriors, were approached by the son of Pāṇḍu. (14-72-25)
एवं युद्धानि वृत्तानि तत्र तत्र महीपते। अर्जुनस्य महीपालैर्नानादेशनिवासिभिः ॥१४-७२-२६॥
O king, in this way, battles of Arjuna were fought by kings from various countries in many places. (14-72-26)
यानि तूभयतो राजन्प्रतप्तानि महान्ति च। तानि युद्धानि वक्ष्यामि कौन्तेयस्य तवानघ ॥१४-७२-२७॥
O king, I will recount to you those great and fiercely fought battles from both sides, belonging to Kaunteya, O sinless one. (14-72-27)
