14.086
यज्ञायतननिर्माणम्
Construction of a sacrifice abode
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
इत्युक्त्वानुययौ पार्थो हयं तं कामचारिणम्। न्यवर्तत ततो वाजी येन नागाह्वयं पुरम् ॥१४-८६-१॥
After saying thus, Pārtha (Arjuna) followed that horse which moved at its will. Then the steed turned back from there by the route that led to the city called Nāgāhvaya. (14-86-1)
तं निवृत्तं तु शुश्राव चारेणैव युधिष्ठिरः। श्रुत्वार्जुनं कुशलिनं स च हृष्टमनाभवत् ॥१४-८६-२॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, on hearing from a spy that he (Arjuna) had returned safely, became gladdened at heart. (14-86-2)
विजयस्य च तत्कर्म गान्धारविषये तदा। श्रुत्वान्येषु च देशेषु स सुप्रीतोऽभवन्नृपः ॥१४-८६-३॥
At that time, the king became very pleased upon hearing, in other countries as well, about that act of victory in Gandhara. (14-86-3)
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु द्वादशीं माघपाक्षिकीम्। इष्टं गृहीत्वा नक्षत्रं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥१४-८६-४॥
At that very time, Dharmarāja Yudhishthira, having chosen the desired constellation, observed the twelfth day of the Māgha fortnight. (14-86-4)
समानाय्य महातेजाः सर्वान्भ्रातॄन्महामनाः। भीमं च नकुलं चैव सहदेवं च कौरवः ॥१४-८६-५॥
The Kaurava of great energy, having gathered all the brothers—Bhīma, Nakula, and Sahadeva—united them. (14-86-5)
प्रोवाचेदं वचः काले तदा धर्मभृतां वरः। आमन्त्र्य वदतां श्रेष्ठो भीमं भीमपराक्रमम् ॥१४-८६-६॥
Then, at the appropriate time, the chief among the upholders of dharma, having addressed Bhīma—the best of speakers and of terrible might—spoke these words. (14-86-6)
आयाति भीमसेनासौ सहाश्वेन तवानुजः। यथा मे पुरुषाः प्राहुर्ये धनञ्जयसारिणः ॥१४-८६-७॥
That Bhīmasena, your younger brother, is coming with a horse, as the men who are companions of Dhanañjaya told me. (14-86-7)
उपस्थितश्च कालोऽयमभितो वर्तते हयः। माघी च पौर्णमासीयं मासः शेषो वृकोदर ॥१४-८६-८॥
This time has arrived and is present all around, O Vṛkodara. The full-moon of Māgha month alone remains, O Vṛkodara. (14-86-8)
तत्प्रस्थाप्यन्तु विद्वांसो ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। वाजिमेधार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं देशं पश्यन्तु यज्ञियम् ॥१४-८६-९॥
Let those learned brāhmaṇas who have mastered the Veda be dispatched to examine the land suitable for sacrifice for the accomplishment of the Vājimedha. (14-86-9)
इत्युक्तः स तु तच्चक्रे भीमो नृपतिशासनम्। हृष्टः श्रुत्वा नरपतेरायान्तं सव्यसाचिनम् ॥१४-८६-१०॥
Thus addressed, Bhīma did the king's command. Gladdened, he heard that Savyasācin (Arjuna) was coming from the king. (14-86-10)
ततो ययौ भीमसेनः प्राज्ञैः स्थपतिभिः सह। ब्राह्मणानग्रतः कृत्वा कुशलान्यज्ञकर्मसु ॥१४-८६-११॥
Then Bhīmasena went along with the wise architects, placing in front the Brāhmaṇas skilled in sacrificial rites. (14-86-11)
तं सशालचयग्रामं सम्प्रतोलीविटङ्किनम्। मापयामास कौरव्यो यज्ञवाटं यथाविधि ॥१४-८६-१२॥
The descendant of the Kuru measured out the sacrificial enclosure in that village with śāla-tree groves and marked main streets, in accordance with proper rules. (14-86-12)
सदः सपत्नीसदनं साग्नीध्रमपि चोत्तरम्। कारयामास विधिवन्मणिहेमविभूषितम् ॥१४-८६-१३॥
He caused the assembly hall, the rival wives' chamber, the fire-chamber, and the northern chamber to be built according to rule, adorned with gems and gold. (14-86-13)
स्तम्भान्कनकचित्रांश्च तोरणानि बृहन्ति च। यज्ञायतनदेशेषु दत्त्वा शुद्धं च काञ्चनम् ॥१४-८६-१४॥
He gives pillars adorned with gold designs and large gateways, and pure gold, at the sites of sacrificial altars. (14-86-14)
अन्तःपुराणि राज्ञां च नानादेशनिवासिनाम्। कारयामास धर्मात्मा तत्र तत्र यथाविधि ॥१४-८६-१५॥
The righteous-souled one caused the inner chambers for the kings and for the inhabitants of various regions to be built in various places, according to proper order. (14-86-15)
ब्राह्मणानां च वेश्मानि नानादेशसमेयुषाम्। कारयामास भीमः स विविधानि ह्यनेकशः ॥१४-८६-१६॥
Bhīma caused the building of diverse houses in great numbers for the brāhmaṇas and for those brāhmaṇas who had assembled from various regions. (14-86-16)
तथा सम्प्रेषयामास दूतान्नृपतिशासनात्। भीमसेनो महाराज राज्ञामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम् ॥१४-८६-१७॥
Thus, O great king, Bhīmasena sent messengers by the king's command to the kings whose actions are untiring. (14-86-17)
ते प्रियार्थं कुरुपतेराययुर्नृपसत्तमाः। रत्नान्यनेकान्यादाय स्त्रियोऽश्वानायुधानि च ॥१४-८६-१८॥
The excellent kings came to please the lord of the Kurus, bringing many gems, as well as women, horses, and weapons. (14-86-18)
तेषां निविशतां तेषु शिबिरेषु सहस्रशः। नर्दतः सागरस्येव शब्दो दिवमिवास्पृशत् ॥१४-८६-१९॥
As they entered those camps by the thousands, their roaring sound, like that of the ocean, seemed to reach the sky. (14-86-19)
तेषामभ्यागतानां स राजा राजीवलोचनः। व्यादिदेशान्नपानानि शय्याश्चाप्यतिमानुषाः ॥१४-८६-२०॥
For those who had arrived, that lotus-eyed king ordered food, drink, and beds of a superhuman kind. (14-86-20)
वाहनानां च विविधाः शालाः शालीक्षुगोरसैः। उपेताः पुरुषव्याघ्र व्यादिदेश स धर्मराट् ॥१४-८६-२१॥
The king of righteousness, O tiger among men, ordered various sheds for vehicles, furnished with rice, sugarcane, and products of cows. (14-86-21)
तथा तस्मिन्महायज्ञे धर्मराजस्य धीमतः। समाजग्मुर्मुनिगणा बहवो ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥१४-८६-२२॥
Thus, at that great sacrifice held by the wise Dharmarāja, many groups of sages—expounders of Brahman—assembled. (14-86-22)
ये च द्विजातिप्रवरास्तत्रासन्पृथिवीपते। समाजग्मुः सशिष्यांस्तान्प्रतिजग्राह कौरवः ॥१४-८६-२३॥
And those foremost among the twice-born who were present there, O lord of the earth, assembled with their disciples, and the Kaurava received them. (14-86-23)
सर्वांश्च ताननुययौ यावदावसथादिति। स्वयमेव महातेजा दम्भं त्यक्त्वा युधिष्ठिरः ॥१४-८६-२४॥
He followed all of them as far as the dwelling. Yudhishthira himself, of great brilliance, having abandoned deceit, (did so). (14-86-24)
ततः कृत्वा स्थपतयः शिल्पिनोऽन्ये च ये तदा। कृत्स्नं यज्ञविधिं राजन्धर्मराज्ञे न्यवेदयन् ॥१४-८६-२५॥
Then, having completed their tasks, the architects, artisans, and others at that time reported the entire ritual arrangement to Dharmarāja, O king. (14-86-25)
तच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मराजः स कृतं सर्वमनिन्दितम्। हृष्टरूपोऽभवद्राजा सह भ्रातृभिरच्युतः ॥१४-८६-२६॥
Having heard that, Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), with his brothers and Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa), the king became joyful, for all the deeds were blameless. (14-86-26)
