Mahabharata, Book 14, Section LXIVआश्वमेधिकपर्व

Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 14.64.

64Sanskrit adhyāya 14.64 · Sanskrit source · English source

Sanskrit

वैशम्पायन उवाच।
ततस्ते प्रययुर्हृष्टाः प्रहृष्टनरवाहनाः।
रथघोषेण महता पूरयन्तो वसुन्धराम्।।
संस्तूयमानाः स्तुतिभिः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः।
स्वेन सैन्येन संवीता यथाऽऽदित्याः स्वरश्मिभिः।।
पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि।
बभौ युधिष्टिरस्तत्र पौर्णमास्यामिवोडुराट्।।
जयाशिषः प्रहृष्टानां नराणां पथि पाण्डवः।
प्रत्यगृह्णाद्यथान्यायं यथावत्पुरुषर्षभः।।
तथैव सैनिका राजन्राजानमनुयान्ति ये।
तेषां हलहलाशब्दो दिवं स्तब्ध्वा व्यतिष्ठत।।
सरांसि सरितश्चैव वनान्युपवनानि च।
अत्यक्रामन्महाराजो गिरिं चाप्यन्वपद्यत।।
स्मिन्देशे च राजेन्द्र यत्र तद्द्रव्यमुत्तमम्।
चक्रे निवेशनं राजा पाण्डवः सहसैनिकैः।
शिवे देशे समे चैव तदा भरतसत्तम।।
अग्रतो ब्राह्मणान्कृत्वा तपोविद्यादमान्वितान्।
पुरोहितं च कौरव्य वेदवेदाङ्गपारगम्।।
आग्निवेश्यं च राजानो ब्राह्मणाः सपुरोधसः।
कृत्वा शान्तिं यथान्यायं सर्वशः पर्यवारयन्।।
कृत्वा तु मध्ये राजानममात्यांश्च यथाविधि।
षट्पदं नवसङ्ख्यानं निवेशं चक्रिरे जनाः।।
मत्तानां वारणेन्द्राणां निवेशं च यथाविधि।
कारयित्वा स राजेन्द्रो ब्राह्मणानिदमब्रवीत्।।
अस्मिन्कार्ये द्विजश्रेष्ठा नक्षत्रे दिवसे शुभे।
यथा भवन्तो मन्यन्ते कर्तुमर्हन्ति तत्तथा।।
न नः कालात्ययो वै स्यादिहैव परिलम्बताम्।
इति निश्चित्य विप्रेन्द्राः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम्।।
श्रुत्वैतद्व********* ब्राह्मणाः सपुरोधसः।
इदमूचुर्वचो हृष्टा धर्मराजप्रियेप्सवः।।
अद्यैव नक्षत्रिमहश्च पुण्यं
यतामहे श्रेष्ठतमक्रियासु।
तपोभिरद्येह वसाम राज-
न्नुपोष्यतां चापि भवद्भिरद्य।।
श्रुत्वा तु तेषां द्विजसत्तमानां
कृतोपवासा रजनीं नरेन्द्राः।
ऊषुः प्रतीताः कुशसंस्तरेषु
यथाऽध्वरे प्रज्वलिता हुताशाः।।
ततो निशा सा व्यगमन्महात्मनां
संशृण्वतां विप्रसमीरिता गिरः।
ततः प्रभाते विमले द्विजर्षभा
वचोऽब्रुवन्धर्मसुतं नराधिपम्।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आश्वमेधिकपर्वणि
अनुगीतापर्वणि चतुःषष्टितमोऽध्यायः।। 64 ।।

English Ganguli

"Vaisampayana said, 'They then set out, with cheerful hearts, and accompanied by men and animals all of whom and which were equally cheerful. They filled the whole Earth with the loud clatter of their wheels. Their praises hymned by eulogists and Sutas and Magadhas and bards, and supported by their own army, they looked like so many Adityas adorned with their own rays. With the white umbrella held over his head, king Yudhishthira shone with beauty like the lord of the stars on the night when he is at full. That foremost of men, the eldest son of Pandu, accepted, with due forms, the blessings and cheers of his gladdened subjects as he proceeded on his way. As regards the soldiers that followed the king, their confused murmurs seemed to fill the entire welkin. That host crossed many lakes and rivers and forests and pleasure gardens. They at last came upon the mountains. Arrived at that region where that wealth was buried, O king, the royal Yudhishthira fixed his camp with all his brothers and troops. The region selected for the purpose, O chief of Bharata's race, was perfectly level and auspicious. There the king pitched his camp, placing in his van such Brahmanas as were endued with penances and learning and self-restraint, as also his priest Agnivesya, O thou of Kuru's race, who was well-conversant with the Vedas and all their branches.[180] Then the royal sons of Pandu, and the other kings (who accompanied that expedition), and the Brahmanas and priests well-skilled in sacrificial rites, having duly performed some propitiatory ceremonies, spread themselves all over that spot. Having duly placed the king and his ministers in the middle, the Brahmanas caused the camp to be pitched by laying out six roads and nine divisions.[181] King Yudhishthira caused a separate encampment to be duly made for the infuriate elephants that accompanied his force. When everything was complete, he addressed the Brahmanas, saying, "Ye foremost of Brahmanas, let that be done which you think should be done in view of the matter at hand. Indeed, let an auspicious day and constellation be fixed for it. Let not a long time pass away over our heads as we wait in suspense here. Ye foremost of learned Brahmanas, having formed this resolution, let that be done which should be done after this." Hearing these words of the king, the Brahmanas with those amongst them that were well-skilled in the performance of religious rites, became filled with gladness and desirous of doing what was agreeable to king Yudhishthira the just, said these words in reply, "This very day is an auspicious one with an auspicious constellation. We shall, therefore, strive to accomplish those high rites we propose. We shall today, O king, live upon water alone. Do you all fast also today." Hearing those words of those foremost Brahmanas, the royal sons of Pandu passed that night, abstaining from all food, and lying confidently on beds of Kusa grass, like blazing fires in a sacrifice. And the night wore away as they listened to the discourses of the learned Brahmanas (on diverse subjects). When the cloudless morning came, those foremost of Brahmanas addressed the royal son of Dharma (saying as follows).'"