वैशम्पायन उवाच इन्द्रप्रस्थे वसन्तस्ते जघ्नुरन्यान् नराधिपान्। शासनाद् धृराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञः शान्तनवस्य च॥
Vaishampayana said : When at the command of the king, Dhritarashtra and the son of Shantanu, (Bhishma), the Pandavas had taken up their abode at Indraprastha, they brought under their sway many other kings and monarchs.
आश्रित्य धर्मराजानं सर्वलोकोऽवसत् सुखम्। पुण्यलक्षणकर्माणं स्वदेहमिव देहिनः॥
As a soul lives happily depending on the body blessed with auspicious marks and pious deeds, so all the subjects lived most happily, depending on Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira).
स समं धर्मकामार्थान् सिषेवे भरतर्षभ। त्रीनिवात्मसमान् बन्धून नीतिमानिव मानयन्॥
O best of the Bharata race, he (Yudhishthira) served equally Dharma, Artha and Kama, as if each of them was a friend as dear to him as his own soul.
तेषां समविभक्तानां क्षितौ देहवतामिव। बभौ धर्मार्थकामानां चतुर्थ इव पार्थिवः॥
It appeared as if the three pursuits, Dharma, Artha and Kama, became personified on earth; and with them the king shined as the fourth (pursuit).
अध्येतारं परं वेदान् प्रयोक्तारं महाध्वरे। रक्षितारं शुभाँल्लोकान् लेभिरे तं जनाधिपम्॥
Having obtained him as their king, they obtained a monarch who was devoted to the study of the Vedas, who was a performer of great sacrifices and who was the protector of all good works.
अधिष्ठानवती लक्ष्मीः परायणवती मतिः। वर्धमानोऽखिलो धर्मस्तेनासीत् पृथिवीक्षिताम्॥
(During his reign) Lakshmi became stationary and hearts became devoted to the Supreme Spirit. Virtue itself began to grow all over the world.
भ्रातृभिः सहितो राजा चतुर्भिराधिकं बभौ। प्रयुज्यमानैर्विततो वेदैरिव महाध्वरः॥
Surrounded by his four brothers the king looked as resplendent as a great sacrifice depending upon and assisted by the four Vedas.
तं तु धौम्यादयो विप्राः परिवार्योपतस्थिरे। बृहस्पतीसमा मुख्याः प्रजापतिमिवामराः॥
Many learned Brahmanas with Dhaumya at their head, each equal to Brihaspati, waited upon the king, as the celestial wait upon the Lord of creation.
धर्मराजे ह्यतिप्रीत्या पूर्णचन्द्र इवामले। प्रजानां रेमिरे तुल्यं नेत्राणि हृदयानि च॥
On account of the excessive affection of the people, both their hearts and eyes equally took great delight in Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) who was like a full moon without a stain.
न त केवलदैवेन प्रजा भावेन रेमिरे। यद् बभूव मन:कान्तं कर्मणा स चकार तत्॥
The people took delight in him, not only because he was their king, but because they bore for him a great affection. The king also did not was agreeable to them.
न ह्ययुक्तं न चासत्यं नासह्यं न च वाप्रियम्। भाषितं चारुभाषस्य जज्ञे पार्थस्य धीमतः॥
The sweet-speeched and greatly intelligent son of Pritha (Yudhishthira) never uttered any was improper, or untrue unbearable or disagreeable.
स हि सर्वस्य लोकस्य हितमात्मन एव च। चिकीर्षन् सुमहातेजा रेमे भरतसत्तम।॥
or That greatly powerful and best king of the Varata race happily passed his days in seeking the good of every body, as if every one was his own self.
तथा तु मुदिताः सर्वे पाण्डवा विगतज्वराः। अवसन् पृथिवीपालांस्तापयन्तः स्वतेजसा॥
(His brothers) the Pandavas brought by their great powers many kings under their sway; they passed their days in happiness, having nothing to disturb their peace.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य बीभत्सुः कृष्णमब्रवीत्। उष्णानि कृष्ण वर्तन्तं गच्छावो यमुनां प्रति॥
After a few days, Vivatsu (Arjuna) thus spoke to Krishna, “O Krishna, the summer is come, let us go to the Yamuna.
सुहृज्जनवृतौ तत्र विहृत्य मधुसूदन। सायाह्ने पुनरेष्यावो रोचतां ते जनार्दना॥
O Janardana, O slayer of Madhu, if you like, let us sport their with out friends and then return in the evening.
वासुदेव उवाच कुन्तीमातर्ममाप्येतद् रोचते यद् वयं जले। सुहज रनवृतः पार्थ विहरेम यथासुखम्॥
Krishna said : O son of Kunti, this is also my wish. O Partha, let us sport with our friends in the waters( of the Yamuna).
वैशंपायन उवाच आमन्त्र्य तौ धर्मराजमनुज्ञाष्य च भारत। जग्मतुः पार्थगोविन्दौ सुहृज्जनवृतौ ततः॥
Vaishampayana said: O descendant of Bharata, having consulted with each other and after receiving Yudhishthira's permission, Partha (Arjuna) and Govinda (Krishna) in company with their friends set out (for the Yamuna).
विहारदेशं सम्प्राप्य नानाद्रुममनुत्तमम्। गृहैरुच्चावचैयुक्तं पुरन्दरपुरोपमम्॥ भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैश्च पेयैश्च रसवद्भिर्महाधनैः। माल्यैश्च विविधैर्गधैर्युक्तं वार्ष्णेयपार्थयोः॥ विवेशान्तःपुरं तूर्णं रत्नैरुच्चावचैः शुभैः। यथोपजोषं सर्वश्च जनश्चिनीड भारत॥
And arrived at a charming spot, fitted for the purpose of pleasure, overgrown with numerous tall trees and adorned with high mansions and looking like the city of Indra. O descendant of Bharata, in these houses were collected for the descendants of Vrishni and Pritha (Arjuna and Krishna) numerous wellflavoured and costly viands, drinks and other articles of enjoyments and floral wreathes and various perfumes. The party soon entered the inner apartments (of the house), adorned with many precious gems of pure brilliancy. Entering these apartments, every one of them began to sport at his pleasure.
स्त्रियश्च विपुलश्रोण्यश्चारुपीनपयोधराः। मदस्खलितगामिन्यश्चिक्रीडुर्वामलोचनाः॥
The women with beautiful full hips and rising breasts with handsome eyes and unsteady gait for drink began to sport.
वने काश्चिज्जले काश्चित् काश्चिद् वेश्मनु चाङ्गनाः। यथायोग्यं यथाप्रीति चिक्रीडुः पार्थकृष्णयोः॥
Some sported at their pleasure in the woods, some in the waters and some within the houses as directed and commanded by Krishna and Partha (Arjuna).
द्रौपदी च सुभद्रा च वासांस्याभरणानि च। प्रायच्छतां महाराज ते तु तस्मिन् मदोत्कटे॥
O king, Draupadi and Subhadra, exhilarated with wine, gave away costly robes and ornaments to the women that were sporting there.
काश्चित् प्रहृष्टा ननृतुश्चक्रुशुश्च तथापराः। जगुश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः॥
Some amongst them danced in joy and some began to sing; some laughed and jested and some drank excellent wines.
रुरुधुश्चापरास्तत्र प्रजघ्नुश्च परस्परम्। मन्त्रयामासुरन्याश्च रहस्यानि परस्परम्॥
Some obstructed one another's progress, some fought with one another and some again talked with one another in private and some cut jokes at one another.
जहसुश्च परा नार्यो वेणुवीणामृदङ्गानां मनोज्ञानां च सर्वशः। शब्देन पूर्यते हh तद् वनं सुमहर्द्धिमत्॥
Those woods, filled with the charming music of the flute, guitars and drums, became the scene of prosperity itself.
तस्मिंस्तदा वर्तमाने कुरुदाशार्हनन्दनौ। समीपं जग्मतुः कंचिदुद्देशं सुमनोहरम्॥
When such was the state of things there, the descendants of Kuru and Dasharha (Krishna and Arjuna) went to a certain charming spot near by.
तत्र गत्वा महात्मानौ कृष्णौ परपुरंजयौ। महार्हासनयो राजंस्ततस्तौ संनिषीदतुः॥
O king, after having gone there, the two illustrious Krishna, the two subjugators of the hostile cities, (Krishna and Arjuna) sat themselves down on two very costly seats.
तत्र पूर्वव्यतीतानि विक्रान्तानीतराणि च। बहूनि कथयित्वा तौ रेमाते पार्थमाधवौ॥
Partha and Madhava amused themselves there by talking over their past achievements and discoursing on heroism and various other topics.
तत्रोपविष्टौ मुदितौ नाकपृष्ठेऽश्विनाविव। अभ्यागच्छत् तदा विप्रो वासुदेवधनंजयौ॥
When Vasudeva and Dhananjaya were thus happily sitting together (in that charming spot), like the twin Ashvinis in heaven, a certain Brahmanas came to them.
बृहच्छालप्रतीकाशः प्रतप्तकनकप्रभः। हरिपिङ्गोज्जवलश्मश्रुः प्रमाणायामतः समः॥
He looked like an old Shala tree, his complexion was like that of heated gold, his beard with bright yellow tinged with green, the height and thickness of his body were in just proportion.
तरुणादित्यसंकाशश्चीरवासा जटाधरः। पद्मपत्राननः पिङ्गस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव॥
He had matted locks, he was attired in rags, he was as effulgent as the morning sun, his eyes were like lotus-leaves, his colour was tawny and he appeared to be blazing in splendour.
उपसृष्टं तु तं कृष्णौ भ्राजमानं द्विजोत्तमम्। अर्जुनो वासुदेवश्च तूर्णमुत्पत्य तस्थतुः॥
Seeing that foremost of Brahmanas blazing with splendour coming towards them, Arjuna and Vasudeva hastily rose up and stood waiting (to receive command).