लोमश उवाच धनंजयेन चाप्युक्तं यत् तच्छृणु युधिष्ठिर। युधिष्ठिरं भ्रातरं मे योजयेर्धर्म्यया श्रिया॥ त्वं हिधर्मान् परान् वेत्थ तपांसि च तपोधन। श्रीमतां चापि जानासिधर्मं राज्ञां सनातनम्॥
Lomasha said : O Yudhishthira, listen to now what Dhananjaya (Arjuna) has said. He said, "Make my brother Yudhishthira to practice excellent religion. O ascetic, you know the highest religion, ascetic austerities and the eternal religion of prosperous kings.
स भवान् परमं वेद पावनं पुरुषं प्रति। तेन संयोजयेथास्त्वं तीर्थपुण्येन पाण्डवान्॥
You know the great means by which men are purified. Therefore, persuade the Pandavas to acquire the virtue which is obtained by visiting Tirthas.
यथा तीर्थानि गच्छेत गाश्च दद्यात् स पार्थिवः। तथा सर्वात्मना कार्यमिति मामर्जुनोऽब्रवीत्॥
Do that with all your heart by which that king Yudhishthira may visit all the Tirthas and give away (in charity). Arjuna said this to ine.
भवता चानुगुप्तोऽसौ चरेत् तीर्थानि सर्वशः। रक्षोभ्यो रक्षितव्यश्च दुर्गेषु विषमेषु च॥
(He said), “Let him go to all the Tirthas protected by you. You should protect him from the Rakshasas in inaccessible and rugged places.
दधीच इव देवेन्द्रं यथा चाप्यङ्गिरा रविम्। तथा रक्षस्व कौन्तेयान् राक्षसेभ्यो द्विजोत्तम॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, as Dadhichi has protected the chief of the celestials and as Angiras has protected the sun, so do you protect the sons of Kunti from the Rakshasas.
यातुधाना हि बहवो राक्षसाः पर्वतोपमाः। त्वयाभिगुप्तं कौन्तेयं न विवर्तेयुरन्तिकम्॥
The way is beset with many Rakshasas, huge as mountains. If protected by you, they will not be able to approach the sons of Kunti.
सोऽहमिन्द्रस्य वचनान्नियोगादर्जुनस्य च। रक्षमाणो भयेभ्यस्त्वां चरिष्यामि त्वया सह॥
At the request of Indra and also being appointed by Arjuna, I shall travel with you protecting you from all dangers.
द्विस्तीर्थानि मया पूर्वं दृष्टानि कुरुनन्दन। इदं तृतीयं द्रक्ष्यामि तान्येव भवता सह॥
O descendant of Kuru, I have seen the Tirthas twice before. I shall for the third time see them with you.
इयं राजर्षिभिर्याता पुण्यकृद्भिर्युधिष्ठिर। मन्वादिभिर्महाराज तीर्थयात्रा भयापहा॥
O great king Yudhishthira, Manu and other Rishis of virtuous deeds had visited the Tirthas, for a visit to them dispels all fears.
नानृजुर्नाकृतात्मा च नाविद्यो न च पापकृत्। स्नाति तीर्थेषु कौरव्य न च वक्रमतिर्नरः॥
O descendant of Kuru, men, who are crooked-minded, who have not souls under control, who are illiterate and who are sinful, do not bathe in Tirthas.
त्वं तुधर्ममतिर्नित्यंधर्मज्ञः सत्यसंगरः। विमुक्तः सर्वसङ्गेभ्यो भूय एव भविष्यसि॥
But your mind is always fixed on virtue; you are versed in the precepts of religion and you are truthful, you will surely be freed from all fears.
यथा भागीरथो राजा राजानश्च गयादयः। यथा ययातिः कौन्तेय तथा त्वमपि पाण्डव॥
O son of Pandu and O Yudhishthira, you are like the king Bhagiratha or king Gaya or Yayati or any one else like them,
युधिष्ठिर उवाच न हर्षात् सम्प्रपश्यामि वाक्यस्यास्योत्तरं क्वचित्। स्मरेद्धि देवराजो यं को नामाभ्यधिकस्ततः॥
Yudhishthira said : I am so overwhelmed with joy that I cannot find words to answer you. Who can be more fortunate than he who is remembered by the king of the celestials?
भवता संगमो यस्य भ्राता चैवधनंजयः। वासवः स्मरते यस्य को नामाभ्यधिकस्ततः॥
Who can be more fortunate than he who has you for his company, who has Dhananjaya (Arjuna) as his brother, nay who is remembered by Vasava (Indra) himself.
यच्च मां भगवानाह तीर्थानां दर्शनं प्रति। धौम्यस्य वचनादेषा बुद्धिः पूर्वं कृतव मे॥
What your exalted self has said to me as regards seeing the Tirthas I have already made up my mind to do it) at the words of Dhaumya.
तद् यदा मन्यसे ब्रह्मन् गमनं तीर्थदर्शने। तदैव गन्तास्मि तीर्थान्येष मे निश्चयः परः॥
O Brahmana, I shall start to visit the Tirthas at whatever hour you are pleased to appoint. This is my firm resolve.
वैशम्पायन उवाच गमने कृतबुद्धिं तु पाण्डवं लोमशोऽब्रवीत्। लघुर्भव महाराज लघुः स्वैरं गमिष्यसि॥
Vaishampayana said: Lomasha then thus spoke to the Pandava (Yudhishthira) who had made up his mind, "O great king, be light (as regards your retinue), for if you be thus light, you will be able to go more easily.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच भिक्षाभुजो निवर्तन्तां ब्राह्मणा यतयश्च ये। क्षुत्तृडध्वश्रमायासशीतार्तिमसहिष्णवः॥
Yudhishthira said : Let the mendicants, Brahmanas and Yogis who are incapable of bearing hunger and thirst, the fatigues of travel and toil and also the severity of winter desist (from following me).
ते सर्वे विनिवर्तन्तां ये च मिष्टभुजो द्विजाः। पक्वान्नलेह्यपानानां मांसानां च विकल्पकाः॥
Let those Brahmanas also that live on sweet meats, that desire cooked food and the food that is sucked or drunk and meat desist (from following me).
तेऽपि सर्वे निवर्तन्ता ये च सूदानुयायिनः। मया यथोचिताजीव्यैः संविभक्ताश्च वृत्तिभिः॥ चाप्यनुरताः पौरा राजभक्तिपुरः सराः। धृतराष्ट्र महाराजमभिगच्छन्तु ते च वै॥
Let all those that depend on cooks also desist (from. following me). Let those citizens that have followed me from loyalty and whom I have hitherto supported properly go back to the great king Dhritarashtra.
स दास्यति यथाकालमुचिता यस्य या भृतिः। स चेद् यथोचितां वृत्तिं न दद्यान्मनुजेश्वरः॥ अस्मत्प्रियहितार्थाय पाञ्चाल्यो वः प्रदास्यति॥
He will give them in due time their proper allowance. If that ruler of men does not give them their proper allowances. The king of Panchala will give them the allowance for our satisfaction and welfare.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो भूयिष्ठशः पौरा गुरुभारप्रपीडिताः। विप्राश्च यतयो मुख्या जग्मुर्नागपुरं प्रति॥
Vaishampayana said : Thereupon being exceedingly aggrieved the Brahmanas, the Yogis and the citizens went towards Hastinapur.
तान् सर्वान्धर्मराजस्य प्रेम्णा राजाम्बिकासुतः। प्रतिजग्राह विधिवद्धनैश्च समतर्पयत्॥
Out of affection for Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), the king (Dhritarashtra) the son of Ambika, received them properly and gratified them with proper allowances.
ततः कुन्तीसुतो राजा लघुभिाह्मणैः सह। लोमशेन च सुप्रीतस्त्रिरात्रं काम्यकेऽवसत्॥
Thereupon, the son of Kunti, the king (Yudhishthira) with only a few Brahmanas lived in the Kaimyaka (forest) for three nights, much cleared by Lomasha.