14.086
yajñāyatana-nirmāṇam
Construction of a sacrifice abode
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ity uktvā anuyayau pārtho hayaṃ taṃ kāmacāriṇam। nyavartata tato vājī yena nāgāhvayaṃ puram ॥14-86-1॥
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)
taṃ nivṛttaṃ tu śuśrāva cāreṇaiva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। śrutvārjunaṃ kuśalinaṃ sa ca hṛṣṭamanābhavat ॥14-86-2॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, on hearing from a spy that he (Arjuna) had returned safely, became gladdened at heart. (14-86-2)
vijayasya ca tatkarma gāndhāra-viṣaye tadā। śrutvā anyeṣu ca deśeṣu sa suprīto'bhavan nṛpaḥ ॥14-86-3॥
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)
etasminneva kāle tu dvādaśīṃ māghapākṣikīm। iṣṭaṃ gṛhītvā nakṣatraṃ dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ॥14-86-4॥
At that very time, Dharmarāja Yudhishthira, having chosen the desired constellation, observed the twelfth day of the Māgha fortnight. (14-86-4)
samānāyya mahātejāḥ sarvān-bhrātṝn-mahāmanāḥ। bhīmaṃ ca nakulaṃ caiva sahadevaṃ ca kauravaḥ॥14-86-5॥
The Kaurava of great energy, having gathered all the brothers—Bhīma, Nakula, and Sahadeva—united them. (14-86-5)
provācedaṃ vacaḥ kāle tadā dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ। āmantrya vadatāṃ śreṣṭho bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramam॥14-86-6॥
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)
āyāti bhīmasenāsau sahāśvena tavānujaḥ। yathā me puruṣāḥ prāhurye dhanañjayasāriṇaḥ॥14-86-7॥
That Bhīmasena, your younger brother, is coming with a horse, as the men who are companions of Dhanañjaya told me. (14-86-7)
upasthitaś ca kālo' yam abhi-to vartate hayaḥ। māghī ca paurṇamāsīyaṃ māsaḥ śeṣo vṛkodara ॥14-86-8॥
This time has arrived and is present all around, O Vṛkodara. The full-moon of Māgha month alone remains, O Vṛkodara. (14-86-8)
tat-prasthāpyantu vidvāṃso brāhmaṇā vedapārāgāḥ। vājimedhārthasiddhyarthaṃ deśaṃ paśyantu yajñiyam ॥14-86-9॥
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)
ity-uktaḥ sa tu tac-cakre bhīmo nṛpati-śāsanam। hṛṣṭaḥ śrutvā narapater āyāntam savyasācinam॥14-86-10॥
Thus addressed, Bhīma did the king's command. Gladdened, he heard that Savyasācin (Arjuna) was coming from the king. (14-86-10)
tato yayau bhīmasenaḥ prājñaiḥ sthapatibhiḥ saha। brāhmaṇān agrataḥ kṛtvā kuśalān yajñakarmasu ॥14-86-11॥
Then Bhīmasena went along with the wise architects, placing in front the Brāhmaṇas skilled in sacrificial rites. (14-86-11)
taṃ saśālacayagrāmaṃ sampratolīviṭaṅkinam। māpayāmāsa kauravyo yajñavāṭaṃ yathāvidhi ॥14-86-12॥
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)
sadaḥ sapatnī-sadanaṁ sāgnīdhram api cottaram। kārayāmāsa vidhivan maṇi-hema-vibhūṣitam ॥14-86-13॥
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)
stambhān kanakacitrāmś ca toraṇāni bṛhanti ca। yajñāyatana-deśeṣu dattvā śuddhaṃ ca kāñcanam॥14-86-14॥
He gives pillars adorned with gold designs and large gateways, and pure gold, at the sites of sacrificial altars. (14-86-14)
antaḥ-purāṇi rājñāṃ ca nānā-deśa-nivāsinām। kārayāmāsa dharmātmā tatra tatra yathā-vidhi ॥14-86-15॥
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)
brāhmaṇānāṃ ca veśmāni nānādeśasamayuṣām। kārayāmāsa bhīmaḥ sa vividhāni hy anekaśaḥ॥14-86-16॥
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)
tathā saṃpreṣayāmāsa dūtān nṛpati-śāsanāt। bhīmaseno mahārāja rājñām akliṣṭa-karmaṇām॥14-86-17॥
Thus, O great king, Bhīmasena sent messengers by the king's command to the kings whose actions are untiring. (14-86-17)
te priyārthaṃ kurupater āyur nṛpasattamāḥ। ratnāny anekāny ādāya striyo'śvānāyudhāni ca ॥14-86-18॥
The excellent kings came to please the lord of the Kurus, bringing many gems, as well as women, horses, and weapons. (14-86-18)
teṣāṃ nivişatāṃ teṣu śibireṣu sahasraśaḥ। nardataḥ sāgarasyaiva śabdo divamivāspṛśat ॥14-86-19॥
As they entered those camps by the thousands, their roaring sound, like that of the ocean, seemed to reach the sky. (14-86-19)
teṣām abhyāgatānāṃ sa rājā rājīvalocanaḥ। vyādideśa annapānāni śayyāś ca api atimānuṣāḥ॥14-86-20॥
For those who had arrived, that lotus-eyed king ordered food, drink, and beds of a superhuman kind. (14-86-20)
vāhanānāṃ ca vividhāḥ śālāḥ śālīkṣugorasaīḥ। upetāḥ puruṣavyāghra vyādideśa sa dharmarāṭ॥14-86-21॥
The king of righteousness, O tiger among men, ordered various sheds for vehicles, furnished with rice, sugarcane, and products of cows. (14-86-21)
tathā tasmin-mahāyajñe dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ। samājagmur munigaṇā bahavo brahmavādinaḥ ॥14-86-22॥
Thus, at that great sacrifice held by the wise Dharmarāja, many groups of sages—expounders of Brahman—assembled. (14-86-22)
ye ca dvijātipravarās tatrāsan pṛthivīpate। samājagmuḥ saśiṣyāṁs tān pratijagrāha kauravaḥ॥14-86-23॥
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)
sarvāṁś ca tān anuyayau yāvad āvasathād iti. svayam eva mahātejā dambhaṁ tyaktvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥14-86-24॥
He followed all of them as far as the dwelling. Yudhishthira himself, of great brilliance, having abandoned deceit, (did so). (14-86-24)
tataḥ kṛtvā sthapatayaḥ śilpino'nye ca ye tadā। kṛtsnaṃ yajñavidhiṃ rājan dharmarājñe nyavedayan॥14-86-25॥
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)
tac chrutvā dharmarājaḥ sa kṛtaṁ sarvam aninditam। hṛṣṭarūpo'bhavad rājā saha bhrātṛbhiḥ acyutaḥ॥14-86-26॥
Having heard that, Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), with his brothers and Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa), the king became joyful, for all the deeds were blameless. (14-86-26)
