वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रयान्तं देवकीपुत्रं परवीररुजो दश। महारथा महाबाहुमन्वयुः शस्त्रपाणयः॥
Vaishampayana said Ten mighty car-warriors capable of vanquishing heroes on the enemy's side with arms in their hands followed the son of Devaki of long arms as he proceeded along.
पदातीनां सहस्रं च सादिनां च परंतप। भोज्यं च विपुलं राजन् प्रेष्याच शतशोऽपरे॥
A thousand foot-soldiers and a thousand horsemen too (followed him) O chastiser of foes; as also hurdreds of others carrying sufficient provision and other things. one was
जनमेजय उवाच कथं प्रयातो दाशार्हो महात्मा मधुसूदनः। कानि वा व्रजतस्तस्य निमित्तानि महौजसः॥
Jariamejaya said How did the great should scion of the Dasharha race, the slayer of Madhu, go on his journey; and what were the omens observed when that of great prowess journeying?
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य प्रयाणे यान्यासन् निमित्तानि महात्मनः। तानि मे शृणु सर्वाणि दैवान्यौत्यातिकानि च॥
Vaishampayana said Listen from me to all these omens that were observed when the large-souled che commenced the journey. Some of them were earthly and heavenly.
अनभ्रेऽशनिनिर्घोषः सविद्युत् समजायत। अन्वगेव च पर्जन्यः प्रावर्षद् विघने भृशम्॥
In the cloudless sky lightning were heard with loud roars; while behind him clouds poured down shower of rain.
प्रत्यगूहुर्महानद्यः प्राङ्मुखाः सिन्धुसप्तमाः। विपरीता दिश: सर्वा न प्राज्ञायत किंचन॥
The seven large rivers with the Sindhu flowing to go east, turned their courses in the contrary detection. The cardinal points were reversed, as it were; and nothing could be distinguished.
प्राज्वलन्नग्नयो राजन् पृथिवी समकम्पत। उदपानाश्च कुम्भाश्च प्रासिञ्चञ्छतशो जलम्॥
The fires were ablaze, o king and the earth shook; and well and water pots shot forth water by hundreds and flowed out.
तमः संवृतमप्यासीत् सर्वं जगदिदं तथा। न दिशो नादिशो राजन् प्रज्ञायन्ते स्म रेणुना॥
The whole of this world was enveloped with darkness; and neither the cardinal nor subsidiary points of the earth could be known on account of the dust that was raised.
प्रादुरासीन्महाञ्छब्दः खे शरीरंदृशयते। सर्वेषु राजन् देशेषु तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
There were loud roars though no body could be seen in this earth; and in all countries, Oking there occurred the same strange things.
प्रामथ्नाद्धास्तिनपुरं वातो दक्षिणपश्चिमः। आरुजन् गणशो वृक्षान् परुषोऽशनिनिस्वनः॥
A gale from the south-west devastated the city of Hastinapura, uprooting clusters of trees; and there were loud sounds in the sky.
यत्र यत्र च वार्ष्णेयो वर्तते पथि भारत। तत्र तत्र सुखो वायुः सर्वं चासीत् प्रदक्षिणम्॥
But wherever, O Bharata, the scion of the Vrishni race went on his way; there were favourable winds and everything went right.
ववर्ष पुष्पवर्षं च कमलानि च भूरिशः। समश्च पन्था निर्दुःखो व्यपेतकुशकण्टकः॥
There was a down-fall of flowers including large numbers of lotuscs. The roads became plain and divested of prickly grass and thorns.
संस्तुतो ब्राह्मणैर्गीर्भिस्तत्र तत्र सहस्रशः। अर्च्यते मधुपश्च वसुभिश्च वसुप्रदः॥
Wherever he went, the giver of wealth was praised by the Brahmanas by thousands by laudatory words; and they served him with curds, honey, clarified butter and riches.
तं किरन्ति महात्मानं वन्यैः पुष्पैः सुगन्धिभिः। स्त्रियः पथि समागम्य सर्वभूतहिते रतम्॥
Women coming out on the highways threw on the great-souled one attached to the good of all creatures wild flowers of great fragrance.
स शालिभवनं रम्यं सर्वसस्यसमाचितम्। सुखं परमर्मिष्ठमभ्यगाद् भरतर्षभ॥
He then Shalibhavana, enchanting spot filled with all sorts of crops, a place that was at once delicious and sacred, O bull of the Bharata race.
पश्यन् बहुपशून् ग्रामान् रम्यान् हृदयतोषणान्। पुराणि च व्यतिक्रामन् राष्ट्राणि विविधानि च॥
After having seen many animals and beautiful villages enchanting the heart and after traversing diverse cities and kingdoms.
नित्यं हृष्टाः सुमनसो भारतैरभिरक्षिताः। नोद्विग्नाः परचक्राणां व्यसनानामकोविदाः॥ उपप्लव्यादथागम्य जनाः पुरनिवासिनः। पथ्यतिष्ठन्त सहिता विष्वक्सेनदिदृक्षया॥
Ever of cheerful hearts, of good minds and well protected by the Bharatas and therefore not caring for the designs of the enemies and incognizant of all sorts of calamities, the people and the inhabitants of the city of Upaplavya, coming out of the city, stood on the roads desirous of beholding Vishvaksena.
ते तु सर्वे समायान्तमग्निमिद्धमिव प्रभुम्। अर्चयामासुरर्चाहँ देशातिथिमुपस्थितम्॥
And they too worshipped the worshipful guest, who had come to their country-the lord who had arrived there as blazing fire.
वृकस्थलं समासाद्य केशवः परवीरहा। प्रकीर्णरश्मावादित्ये व्योम्नि वै होहितायति॥
Keshava, the slayer of heroes on the enemy's side, having come near Vrikasthala, the sky was reddened by the rays shot by the sun.
अवतीर्य रथात् तूर्णं कृत्वा शौचं यथाविधि। रथमोचनमादिश्य संध्यामुपविवेश ह॥
Quickly getting down from his chariot and having undergone the purifactory rites according to the usual custom and ordering for his chariot to be unyoked, he sat down for the customary evening duties.
दारुकोऽपि हयान् मुक्त्वा परिचर्य च शास्त्रतः। मुमोच सर्वयोक्त्रादि मुक्त्वा चैतानवासृजत्॥
Daruka, too having unyoked the horses and after having tended them according to the science of the management of horses and taking down all the trappings, set them completely free.
अभ्यतीत्य तु तत् सर्वमुवाच मधुसूदनः। युधिष्ठिरस्य कार्यार्थमिह वत्स्यामहे क्षपाम्॥
All this being done, the slayer of Madhu said-with view to the attainment of Yudhishthira's object must we pass the night here.
तस्य तन्मतमाज्ञाय चक्रुरावसथं नराः। क्षणेन चान्नपानानि गुणवन्ति समार्जयन्॥
The men, knowing that intention of his in a moment, prepared a lodging; and collected together suitable food and drink.
तस्मिन् ग्रामे प्रधानास्तु य आसन् ब्राह्मणा नृप। आर्याः कुलीना ह्रीमन्तो ब्राह्मी वृत्तिमनुष्ठिताः॥
The chief Brahmanas, that were in that village, O ruler of men, that were of noble ways of life, of good birth, modest and given to the observance of the Vedic rules and
तेऽभिगम्य महात्मानं हृषीकेशमरिंदमम्। पूजां चक्रुर्यथान्यायमाशीर्मङ्गसंयुताम्॥
Having come near the great-souled Hrishikesha, the chastiser the chastiser of foes, honored him with suitable blessings and auspicious speeches.
ते पूजयित्वा दाशार्ह सर्वलोकेषु पूजितम्। न्यवेदयन्त वेश्मानि रनवन्ति महात्मने॥
Having done honours to the scion of the Dasharha race, who was honoured in all the worlds, they placed at the disposal of the greatsouled one their houses filled with wealth.
तान् प्रभुः कृतमित्युक्त्वा सत्कृत्य च यथार्हतः। अभ्येत्य चैषां वेश्मानि पुनरायात् सहैव तैः॥
The Lord saving to them "you have done your part” and paying then due homage and coming to their houses, again came back to his own encampment with their company,
सुमृष्टं भोजयित्वा च ब्राह्मणांस्तत्र केशवः। भुक्त्वा च सह तैः सर्वैरवसत् तां क्षपां सुखम्॥
Keshava, feeding the Brahmanas there to their satisfaction and having himself eaten in company of all of them, spent the night in happiness. Happlicad.