वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो दिशः सम्प्रविहृत्य पार्था मृगान् वराहान् महिषांश्च हत्वा। धनुर्धराः श्रेष्ठतमाः पृथिव्यां पृथक् चरन्तः सहिता बभूवुः॥
Vaishampayana said : Having ranged in all directions and wandered on earth separately, those Parthas, the foremost of bowmen killing many deers, bear and buffaloes met together.
ततो मृगज्यालगणानुकीर्ण महावनं तद् विहगोपघुष्टम्। भ्रातूंश्च तानभ्यवदद् युधिष्ठिरः श्रुत्वा गिरो व्याहरतां मृगाणाम्॥
Seeing that huge forest abounding in many deer and wild animals, resonant with the shrill cries of birds and hearing the yells of the wild animals, Yudhishthira said to his brothers,
आदित्यदीप्तां दिशमभ्युपेत्य मृगा द्विजाः क्रूरमिमे वदन्ति। आयासमुचं प्रतिवेदयन्तो महावनं शत्रुभिर्बाध्यमानम्॥
“Those birds and wild animals flying to the direction lighted up by the sun are emitting discordant cries and displaying excitement. This shows that this mighty forest has been invaded by the enemies.
मनो हि मे दूयति दह्यते च। रुद्धूयते प्राणपतिः शरीरे॥
Let us without delay desist; no more with game; my heart aches and seems to burn; clouding the intellect, the soul, in my body, seems to fly away.
सरः सुपर्णेन हृतोरगं यथा राष्ट्रं यथाराजकमात्तलक्ष्मि। एवंविधं मे प्रतिभाति काम्यकं शौण्डैर्यथा पीतरसश्च कुम्भः॥
Like a tank freed from serpents by Garuda, a pot drained of its contents by thirsty men, a kingdom shorn of its king and its prosperity this forest of Kamyaka appears to me.'
महाजवैर्वाजिभिरुह्यमानाः। स्तदाऽऽश्रमायाभिमुखा बभूवुः॥
Thereupon those heroes drove towards their hermitage on mighty and beautifully made cars, drawn by exceedingly fleet horses of Saindhava breed and possessed of the speed of hurricane.
तेषां तु गोमायुरनल्पघोषो निवर्ततां वाममुपेत्य पार्श्वम्। प्रव्याहरत् तत् प्रविमृश्य राजा प्रोवाच भीमं च धनंजयं च॥
On their left side they espied a jackal yelling hideously. Marking it attentively the king (Yudhishthira), said to Bhima and Dhananjaya.
यथा वदत्येष विहीनयोनिः शालावृको वाममुपेत्य पार्श्वम्। सुव्यक्तमस्मानवमन्य पापैः कृतोऽभिमर्दः कुरुभिः प्रसह्य॥
“This jackal of inferior breed, sneaking to our left side, is speaking a language, that clearly shows that violent oppression has been commenced by the sinful Kurus disregarding us.
इत्येव ते तद् वनमाविशन्तो महत्यरण्ये मृगयां चरित्वा। बालामपश्यन्त तदा रुदन्ती धात्रेयिकां प्रेष्यवधू प्रियायाः॥
Having given up the chase they in that great forest entered the grove containing their hermitage and there they saw their beloved one's maid, the girl Dhatreyika weeping and sobbing.
तामिन्द्रसेनस्त्वरितोऽभिसृत्य रथादवप्लुत्य ततोऽभ्यधावत्। प्रोवाच चैनां वचनं नरेन्द्र धात्रेयिकामन्तितरस्तदानीम्॥
Then descending from the car and quickly approaching Dhatreyika, who was then greatly stricken with grief, Indrasena, O king, asked her (saying).
किं रोदिषि त्वं पतिता धरण्यां किं ते मुखं शुष्यति दीनवर्णम्। कच्चिन्न पापैः सुनृशंसकृद्भिः प्रमाथिता द्रौपदी राजपुत्री॥
"Why do you weep lying down on earth and why is your mouth dried and pale? I hope the princess Draupadi has not been injured by any cruel wretch.
अचिन्त्यरूपा सुविशालनेत्रा शरीरतुल्या कुरुपुङ्गवानाम्। यद्येव देवी पृथिवीं प्रविष्टा दिवं प्पपन्नाप्यश्चवा समुद्रम्॥ तस्या गमिष्यन्ति पदे हि पार्था यथा हि संतप्यति धर्मपुत्रः।
She is possessed of incomparable beauty, large eyes and is the second self of every one of those foremost of Kuru race. Dharma's son has grown so anxious that if the princess has entered into the earth or soared into heavens or has gone to the bottom of the deep, he and his brothers will go there in search of her.
को हीदृशानामरिमर्दनानां क्लेशक्षमानामपराजितानाम्॥ दनुत्तमं रत्नमिव प्रमूढः।
Who could that fool be who could carry away the priceless jewel belonging to the powerful and ever victorious sons of Pandu, those repressors of foes, which is dear to them like the very life.
न बुध्यते नाथवतौमिहाद्य बहिश्चरं हृदयं पाण्डवानाम्॥ कस्याद्य कायं प्रतिभिद्य घोरा महीं प्रवेक्ष्यन्ति शिताः शराग्र्याः।
I cannot perceive (any one who could carry her) having (such powerful heroes) as her husband and who is like the walking embodiment of the sons of Pandu. Piercing whose body today, the dreadful and sharpened ends of shafts shall enter the earth?
मा त्वं शुचस्तां प्रति भीरु विद्धि यथाद्य कृष्णा पुनरेष्यतीति॥ निहत्य सर्वान् द्विषतः समग्रान् पार्थाः समेष्यन्त्यथा याज्ञसेन्या।
Do not weep for her, O timid girl; know that Krishna shall come back even this very day. Having slain all their enemies the sons of Pritha shall be united with Yajnaseni."
अथाब्रवीच्चारु मुखं प्रमृज्य धात्रेयिका सारथिमिन्द्रसेनम्॥ जयद्रथेनापहृता प्रमथ्य पञ्चेन्द्रकल्पान् परिभूय कृष्णा। तिष्ठन्ति वानि नवान्यमूनि वृक्षाश्च न म्लान्ति तथैव भग्नाः॥
Then rubbing her beautiful face Dhatreyika said to the charioteer Indrasena. “Disregarding the five Indra like princess Jayadratha has carried away Krishna by force. The way pursued by him still exists for the broken branches of the trees have not yet disappeared.
आवर्तयध्वं ह्यनुयात शीघ्रं न दूरयातैव हि राजपुत्री। संनह्यध्वं सर्व एवेन्द्रकल्पा महान्ति चारूणि च दंशनानि॥
Therefore turn your cars and follow her speedily for the princess has not gone far by this time. Taking your handsomely made precious bows and quivers.
गृणीत चापानि महाधनानि शरांश्च शीघ्रं पदवीं चरध्वम्। पुरा हि निर्भर्त्सनदण्डमोहिता प्रमोहचित्ता वदनेन शुष्यता॥ ददाति कस्मैचिदनर्हते तनुं वराज्यपूर्णामिव भस्मनि स्रुचम्। पुरा तुषाग्नाविव हूयते हविः पुरा श्मशाने स्रगिवापविद्ध्यते॥ पुरा च सोमोऽध्वरगोऽवलिाते शुना यथा विप्रजने प्रमोहिते। महत्यरण्ये मृगयां चरित्वा पुरा शृगालो नलिनी विगाहते॥
O warriors gifted with the strength of Indra and highly precious shafts, quickly proceed in quest of her, lest overpowered by ineanness and violence and being beside herself and with a dried mouth, she may give up her person to an unworthy person as the sanctified oblation is thrown into a mass of ashes. Let not the clarified butter be poured into an unigniting fire of paddy chaff and a garland of flowers be thrown into a cremation ground. Let not the Soma juice of a sacrifice be licked up by a dog through the carelessness of the officiating priest. Let not the lily be ruthlessly torn by a jackal walking for its prey in the deep forest.
मा वः प्रियायाः सुनसं सुलोचनं चन्द्रप्रभाच्छं वदनं प्रसन्नम्। स्पृश्याच्छुभं कश्चिदकृत्यकारी श्वा वै पुरोडाशमिवाध्वरस्थम्। एतानि वान्यनुयात शीनं मा वः कालः क्षिप्रमिहात्यगाद् वै॥
Let no mean man touch with his lips the brilliant and charming face of your wife, delightful as the rays of the moon, having high nose and beautiful eyes like a dog licking ghee kept in a sacrificial pot. Go speedily by this way and let not time go before you."
युधिष्ठिर उवाच भद्रे प्रतिक्राम नियच्छ वाचं मास्मत्सकाशे परुषाण्यवोचः। राजानो वा यदि वा राजपुत्रा बलेन मत्ता वञ्चनां प्राप्नुवन्ति॥
Yudhishthira said: Go away, O gentle woman and govern your tongue; kings or princes who are inflated with the possession of power, are sure to come to grief.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एतावदुक्त्वा प्रययुर्हि शीघ्रं तान्येच वान्यनुवर्तमानाः। मुहुर्महालवदुच्छ्वसन्तो ज्यां विक्षिपन्तश्च महाधनुर्यः॥
Vaishampayana said : Saying this, they speedily went, wending the way pointed out to them, sighing hot and hard like snakes and twanging their large bows,
मुद्भूतं वै वाजिखुरप्रणुन्नम्। पदातीनां मध्यगतं च धौम्यं विक्रोशन्तं भीममभिद्रवेति॥
Then they saw dust raised by the hoops of the steeds belonging to his (Jayadratha's) soldiers; they saw also Dhaumya in the midst of (his) infantry bewailing and asking Bhima to go quickly.
ते सान्त्व्य धौम्यं परिदीनसत्त्वाः सुखं भवानेत्विति राजपुत्राः। श्येना यथैवामिषसम्प्रयुक्ता जवेन तत् सैन्यमथाभ्यधावन्।॥
Then with hearts not depressed the princes, consoling Dhaumya said, "Go back cheerfully', then they rushed furiously towards that army like hawks swooping down on their prey.
तेषां महेन्द्रोपमविक्रमाणां संरब्धानां धर्षणाद् याज्ञसेन्याः। क्रोधः प्रजज्वाल जयद्रथं च दृष्ट्वा प्रियां तस्य रथे स्थितां च॥
Endued with the strength of Indra, they had grown furious at the insult offered to Draupadi; but their anger was inflamed (the more) seeing Jayadratha and their sweet heart-seated in his car.
प्रचुकुशुश्चाप्यथ सिन्धुराज वृकोदरश्चैव धनंजयश्च। स्ततो दिशः सम्मुमुहुः परेषाम्॥
Vrikodara, Dhananjaya, the twins and the king, those mighty bowmen called out to the king of Sindhu to stop; (at which) the enemies lost all knowledge of directions.