Arjuna Pierces the Target and Draupadi Chooses Him

Verse 1 (1.203.1)

यदा निवृत्ता राजानो धनुषः सज्यकर्मणः । अथोदतिष्ठद्विप्राणां मध्याज्जिष्णुरुदारधीः ॥

yadā nivṛttā rājāno dhanuṣaḥ sajyakarmaṇaḥ | athodatiṣṭhadviprāṇāṃ madhyājjiṣṇurudāradhīḥ

When the kings had turned back from the task of stringing the bow, the noble-minded Jishnu rose from among the brahmins.

Verse 2 (1.203.2)

उदक्रोशन्विप्रमुख्या विधुन्वन्तोऽजिनानि च । दृष्ट्वा संप्रस्थितं पार्थमिन्द्रकेतुसमप्रभम् ॥

udakrośanvipramukhyā vidhunvanto'jināni ca | dṛṣṭvā saṃprasthitaṃ pārthamindraketusamaprabham

Seeing Partha set out, bright as Indra's banner, the leading brahmins shouted aloud, waving their deerskins.

Verse 3 (1.203.3)

केचिदासन्विमनसः केचिदासन्मुदान्विताः । आहुः परस्परं केचिन्निपुणा बुद्धिजीविनः ॥

kecidāsanvimanasaḥ kecidāsanmudānvitāḥ | āhuḥ parasparaṃ kecinnipuṇā buddhijīvinaḥ

Some were dismayed and some were glad, and some, shrewd men who lived by their wits, said to one another:

Verse 4 (1.203.4)

यत्कर्णशल्यप्रमुखैः क्षत्रियैर्लोकविश्रुतैः । नानतं बलवद्भिर्हि धनुर्वेदपरायणैः ॥

yatkarṇaśalyapramukhaiḥ kṣatriyairlokaviśrutaiḥ | nānataṃ balavadbhirhi dhanurvedaparāyaṇaiḥ

"This bow that kshatriyas famed throughout the world, Karna, Shalya and the rest, mighty men devoted to the science of archery, could not bend —

Verse 5 (1.203.5)

तत्कथं त्वकृतास्त्रेण प्राणतो दुर्बलीयसा । वटुमात्रेण शक्यं हि सज्यं कर्तुं धनुर्द्विजाः ॥

tatkathaṃ tvakṛtāstreṇa prāṇato durbalīyasā | vaṭumātreṇa śakyaṃ hi sajyaṃ kartuṃ dhanurdvijāḥ

how can a mere boy, untrained in arms and far weaker in strength, string it, brahmins?

Verse 6 (1.203.6)

अवहास्या भविष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाः सर्वराजसु । कर्मण्यस्मिन्नसंसिद्धे चापलादपरीक्षिते ॥

avahāsyā bhaviṣyanti brāhmaṇāḥ sarvarājasu | karmaṇyasminnasaṃsiddhe cāpalādaparīkṣite

The brahmins will become a laughingstock among all the kings if this task, undertaken rashly and without forethought, is not accomplished.

Verse 7 (1.203.7)

यद्येष दर्पाद्धर्षाद्वाप्यथ ब्राह्मणचापलात् । प्रस्थितो धनुरायन्तुं वार्यतां साधु मा गमत् ॥

yadyeṣa darpāddharṣādvāpyatha brāhmaṇacāpalāt | prasthito dhanurāyantuṃ vāryatāṃ sādhu mā gamat

If he has set out to string the bow from pride or excitement, or from a brahmin's rashness, let him be held back; he must not go.

Verse 8 (1.203.8)

नावहास्या भविष्यामो न च लाघवमास्थिताः । न च विद्विष्टतां लोके गमिष्यामो महीक्षिताम् ॥

nāvahāsyā bhaviṣyāmo na ca lāghavamāsthitāḥ | na ca vidviṣṭatāṃ loke gamiṣyāmo mahīkṣitām

Then we shall not be laughed at, nor lose our standing, nor become hateful in the world to the kings of the earth."

Verse 9 (1.203.9)

केचिदाहुर्युवा श्रीमान्नागराजकरोपमः । पीनस्कन्धोरुबाहुश्च धैर्येण हिमवानिव ॥

kecidāhuryuvā śrīmānnāgarājakaropamaḥ | pīnaskandhorubāhuśca dhairyeṇa himavāniva

Others said: "He is young and handsome, like the trunk of a lordly elephant, with stout shoulders, thighs and arms, and as steady as the Himalaya.

Verse 10 (1.203.10)

सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान्मत्तनागेन्द्रविक्रमः । संभाव्यमस्मिन्कर्मेदमुत्साहाच्चानुमीयते ॥

siṃhakhelagatiḥ śrīmānmattanāgendravikramaḥ | saṃbhāvyamasminkarmedamutsāhāccānumīyate

He moves with a lion's easy gait and has the valour of a lordly elephant in rut. This deed is possible for him; one can tell it from his eagerness.

Note on the text: The second line is CE 1.179.10ab; the first is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (1.203.11)

शक्तिरस्य महोत्साहा न ह्यशक्तः स्वयं व्रजेत् । न च तद्विद्यते किंचित्कर्म लोकेषु यद्भवेत् ॥

śaktirasya mahotsāhā na hyaśaktaḥ svayaṃ vrajet | na ca tadvidyate kiṃcitkarma lokeṣu yadbhavet

He has power and great energy; a man without strength would not go up of his own accord. There is no deed anywhere in the worlds

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 1.179.10cd–11ab.

Verse 12 (1.203.12)

ब्राह्मणानामसाध्यं च नृषु संस्थानचारिषु । अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च फलाहारा दृढव्रताः ॥

brāhmaṇānāmasādhyaṃ ca nṛṣu saṃsthānacāriṣu | abbhakṣā vāyubhakṣāśca phalāhārā dṛḍhavratāḥ

that brahmins cannot accomplish, among men of every condition. Living on water, living on air, eating only fruit, firm in their vows,

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 1.179.11cd–12ab.

Verse 13 (1.203.13)

दुर्बला अपि विप्रा हि बलीयांसः स्वतेजसा । ब्राह्मणो नावमन्तव्यः सदसद्वा समाचरन् ॥

durbalā api viprā hi balīyāṃsaḥ svatejasā | brāhmaṇo nāvamantavyaḥ sadasadvā samācaran

brahmins, though weak, are stronger by their own power. A brahmin is not to be despised, whether he acts rightly or wrongly,

Note on the text: Corrected स्वेतजसा → स्वतेजसा (misprint in Wikisource; vowel sign misplaced; CE brahmatejasā in this position). Corresponds to CE 1.179.12cd–13ab.

Verse 14 (1.203.14)

सुखं दुःखं महद्ध्रस्वं कर्म यत्समुपागतम् । जामदग्न्येन रामेण निर्जिताः क्षत्रिया युधि ॥

sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ mahaddhrasvaṃ karma yatsamupāgatam | jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa nirjitāḥ kṣatriyā yudhi

whatever task comes to him, pleasant or painful, great or small. The kshatriyas were conquered in battle by Rama, son of Jamadagni;

Note on the text: The first line is CE 1.179.13cd; the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 15 (1.203.15)

पीतः समुद्रोऽगस्त्येन अगाधो ब्रह्मतेजसा । तस्माद्ब्रुवन्तु सर्वेऽत्र वटुरेष धनुर्महान् ॥

pītaḥ samudro'gastyena agādho brahmatejasā | tasmādbruvantu sarve'tra vaṭureṣa dhanurmahān

the fathomless ocean was drunk up by Agastya through the power of Brahman. So let everyone here say: 'Let this boy string the great bow,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (1.203.16)

आरोपयतु शीघ्रं वै तथेत्यूचुर्द्विजर्षभाः । एवं तेषां विलपतां विप्राणां विविधा गिरः ॥

āropayatu śīghraṃ vai tathetyūcurdvijarṣabhāḥ | evaṃ teṣāṃ vilapatāṃ viprāṇāṃ vividhā giraḥ

let him string it quickly!'" "So be it," said the best of the brahmins. While the brahmins were voicing these various words,

Note on the text: The second line is CE 1.179.14ab; the first is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 17 (1.203.17)

अर्जुनो धनुषोऽभ्याशे तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः । अर्जुनः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठो धृष्टद्युम्नमथाब्रवीत् ॥

arjuno dhanuṣo'bhyāśe tasthau giririvācalaḥ | arjunaḥ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭho dhṛṣṭadyumnamathābravīt

Arjuna stood by the bow, unmoving as a mountain. Then Arjuna, the best of the Pandavas, said to Dhrishtadyumna:

Note on the text: The first line is CE 1.179.14cd; the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Removed a stray wiki mark (`).

Verse 18 (1.203.18)

एतद्धनुर्ब्राह्मणानां सज्यं कर्तुमलं तु किम् । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा धृष्टद्युम्नोऽब्रवीद्वचः ॥

etaddhanurbrāhmaṇānāṃ sajyaṃ kartumalaṃ tu kim | tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā dhṛṣṭadyumno'bravīdvacaḥ

"Is it allowed for brahmins to string this bow?" Hearing his words, Dhrishtadyumna replied:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (1.203.19)

ब्राह्मणो वाथ राजन्यो वैश्यो वा शूद्र एव वा । एतेषां यो धनुःश्रेष्ठं सज्यं कुर्याद्द्विजोत्तम ॥

brāhmaṇo vātha rājanyo vaiśyo vā śūdra eva vā | eteṣāṃ yo dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ sajyaṃ kuryāddvijottama

"Brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya or shudra — whichever of them strings this best of bows, best of brahmins,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 20 (1.203.20)

तस्मै प्रदेया भगिनी सत्यमुक्तं मया वचः ॥

tasmai pradeyā bhaginī satyamuktaṃ mayā vacaḥ

to him my sister shall be given. What I have said is the truth."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Wikisource prints this number as a single line.

Verse 21 (1.203.21)

ततः पश्चान्महातेजाः पाण्डवो रणदुर्जयः । स तद्धनुः परिक्रम्य प्रदक्षिणमथाकरोत् ॥

tataḥ paścānmahātejāḥ pāṇḍavo raṇadurjayaḥ | sa taddhanuḥ parikramya pradakṣiṇamathākarot

Then the son of Pandu, of great splendour and unconquerable in battle, walked around the bow, keeping it on his right.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second is CE 1.179.15ab. Removed a stray wiki mark (').

Verse 22 (1.203.22)

प्रणम्य शिरसा देवमीशानं वरदं प्रभुम् । कृष्णं च मनसा कृत्वा जगृहे चार्जुनो धनुः ॥

praṇamya śirasā devamīśānaṃ varadaṃ prabhum | kṛṣṇaṃ ca manasā kṛtvā jagṛhe cārjuno dhanuḥ

Bowing his head to the god Ishana, the bountiful lord, and holding Krishna in his mind, Arjuna took up the bow.

Note on the text: Corrected देवमीनं → देवमीशानं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the line is a syllable short; ईशान, the boon-giving lord). Loosely parallel to CE 1.179.15cd.

Verse 23 (1.203.23)

यत्पार्थिवै रुक्मसुनीथवक्रै । राधेयदुर्योधनशल्यसाल्वैः । तदा धनुर्वेदपरैर्नृसिंहैः । कृतं न सज्यं महतोऽपि यत्नात् ॥

yatpārthivai rukmasunīthavakrai | rādheyaduryodhanaśalyasālvaiḥ | tadā dhanurvedaparairnṛsiṃhaiḥ | kṛtaṃ na sajyaṃ mahato'pi yatnāt

That bow which the kings Rukma, Sunitha and Vakra, Radheya, Duryodhana, Shalya and Shalva, lions among men devoted to archery, could not string even with great effort —

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 24 (1.203.24)

तदर्जुनो वीर्यवतां सदर्प- । स्तदैन्द्रिरिन्द्रावरजप्रभावः । सज्यं च चक्रे निमिषान्तरेण । शरांश्च जग्राह दशार्धसङ्ख्यान् ॥

tadarjuno vīryavatāṃ sadarpa- | stadaindririndrāvarajaprabhāvaḥ | sajyaṃ ca cakre nimiṣāntareṇa | śarāṃśca jagrāha daśārdhasaṅkhyān

Arjuna, Indra's son, proud among the mighty, with the might of Indra's younger brother, strung it in the twinkling of an eye and took up five arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected दशार्दसङ्ख्यान् → दशार्धसङ्ख्यान् (misprint in Wikisource; द for ध; CE daśārdhasaṃkhyān). Lines 3–4 correspond to CE 1.179.16ab; lines 1–2 are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 25 (1.203.25)

विव्याध लक्ष्यं निपपात तच्च । छिद्रेण भूमौ सहसातिविद्धम् । ततोऽन्तरिक्षे च बभूव नादः । समाजमध्ये च महान्निनादः ॥

vivyādha lakṣyaṃ nipapāta tacca | chidreṇa bhūmau sahasātividdham | tato'ntarikṣe ca babhūva nādaḥ | samājamadhye ca mahānninādaḥ

He pierced the target, and it fell suddenly to the ground, shot clean through the opening. Then a roar rose in the sky, and a great clamour in the midst of the assembly.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 1.179.16cd–17ab.

Verse 26 (1.203.26)

पुष्पाणि दिव्यानि ववर्ष देवः । पार्थस्य मूर्ध्नि द्विषतां निहन्तुः ॥

puṣpāṇi divyāni vavarṣa devaḥ | pārthasya mūrdhni dviṣatāṃ nihantuḥ

The god rained heavenly flowers on the head of Partha, the slayer of his foes.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 1.179.17cd. Wikisource prints this number as two lines.

Verse 27 (1.203.27)

चेलानि विव्यधुस्तत्र ब्राह्मणाश्च सहस्रशः । विलक्षितास्ततश्चक्रुर्हाहाकारांश्च सर्वशः । न्यपतंश्चात्र नभसः समन्तात्पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥

celāni vivyadhustatra brāhmaṇāśca sahasraśaḥ | vilakṣitāstataścakrurhāhākārāṃśca sarvaśaḥ | nyapataṃścātra nabhasaḥ samantātpuṣpavṛṣṭayaḥ

Brahmins in their thousands waved their upper cloths there; the disappointed kings raised cries of "Alas!" on every side; and showers of flowers fell from the sky all around.

Note on the text: The second and third lines correspond to CE 1.179.18; the first is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 28 (1.203.28)

शताङ्गानि च तूर्याणि वादकाः समवादयन् । सूतमागधसङ्घाश्चाप्यस्तुवंस्तत्र सुस्वराः ॥

śatāṅgāni ca tūryāṇi vādakāḥ samavādayan | sūtamāgadhasaṅghāścāpyastuvaṃstatra susvarāḥ

Musicians played instruments of a hundred parts, and bands of sutas and magadhas sang praises there in sweet voices.

Verse 29 (1.203.29)

तं दृष्ट्वा द्रुपदः प्रीतो बभूव रिपुसूदनः । सह सैन्यैश्च पार्थस्य साहाय्यार्थमियेष सः ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā drupadaḥ prīto babhūva ripusūdanaḥ | saha sainyaiśca pārthasya sāhāyyārthamiyeṣa saḥ

Seeing him, Drupada, destroyer of enemies, was delighted, and wished to stand by Partha with his troops.

Verse 30 (1.203.30)

तस्मिंस्तु शब्दे महति प्रवृद्धे । युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः । आवासमेवोपजगाम शीघ्रं । सार्धं यमाभ्यां पुरुषोत्तमाभ्याम् ॥

tasmiṃstu śabde mahati pravṛddhe | yudhiṣṭhiro dharmabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhaḥ | āvāsamevopajagāma śīghraṃ | sārdhaṃ yamābhyāṃ puruṣottamābhyām

As that great uproar swelled, Yudhishthira, the best of those who uphold dharma, went quickly back to their lodging with the twins, the best of men.

Verse 31 (1.203.31)

विद्धं तु लक्ष्यं प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णा । पार्थं च शक्रप्रतिमं निरीक्ष्य । स्वभ्यस्तरूपापि नवेव नित्यं । विनापि हासं हसतीव कन्या ॥

viddhaṃ tu lakṣyaṃ prasamīkṣya kṛṣṇā | pārthaṃ ca śakrapratimaṃ nirīkṣya | svabhyastarūpāpi naveva nityaṃ | vināpi hāsaṃ hasatīva kanyā

Seeing the target pierced and gazing at Partha, who was like Shakra, Krishna — a maiden whose beauty, though long familiar, seemed ever new, who seemed to laugh even without laughing,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to CE 1.179.22ab; lines 3–4 are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Removed a stray wiki mark (`).

Verse 32 (1.203.32)

मदादृतेऽपि स्खलतीव भावै- । र्वाचा विना व्याहरतीव दृष्ट्या । आदाय शुक्लं वरमाल्यदाम । जगाम कुन्तीसुतमुत्स्मयन्ती ॥

madādṛte'pi skhalatīva bhāvai- | rvācā vinā vyāharatīva dṛṣṭyā | ādāya śuklaṃ varamālyadāma | jagāma kuntīsutamutsmayantī

who seemed to sway with feeling though not intoxicated, and to speak with her glance though without words — took up a white garland of choice flowers and went smiling to Kunti's son.

Note on the text: Lines 3–4 correspond to CE 1.179.22cd; lines 1–2 are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 33 (1.203.33)

गत्वा च पश्चात्प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णा । पार्थस्य वक्षस्यविशङ्कमाना । क्षिप्त्वा स्रजं पार्थिववीरमध्ये । वराय वव्रे द्विजसङ्घमध्ये ॥

gatvā ca paścātprasamīkṣya kṛṣṇā | pārthasya vakṣasyaviśaṅkamānā | kṣiptvā srajaṃ pārthivavīramadhye | varāya vavre dvijasaṅghamadhye

Going up to him, Krishna looked at him and, without hesitation, cast the garland on Partha's breast in the midst of the heroic kings, and chose him as her husband amid the throng of brahmins,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (1.203.34)

शचीव देवेन्द्रमथाग्निदेवं । स्वाहेव लक्ष्मीश्च यथा मुकुन्दम् । उषेव सूर्यं मदनं रतीव । महेश्वरं पर्वतराजपुत्री ॥

śacīva devendramathāgnidevaṃ | svāheva lakṣmīśca yathā mukundam | uṣeva sūryaṃ madanaṃ ratīva | maheśvaraṃ parvatarājaputrī

as Shachi chose the king of the gods, Svaha the god Agni, Lakshmi Mukunda, Usha the Sun, Rati Madana, and the daughter of the mountain-king Maheshvara.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Removed a stray wiki mark (').

Verse 35 (1.203.35)

स तामुपादाय विजित्य रङ्गे । द्विजातिभिस्तैरभिपूज्यमानः । रङ्गान्निरक्रामदचिन्त्यकर्मा । पत्न्या तया चाप्यनुगम्यमानः ॥

sa tāmupādāya vijitya raṅge | dvijātibhistairabhipūjyamānaḥ | raṅgānnirakrāmadacintyakarmā | patnyā tayā cāpyanugamyamānaḥ

Having won her in the arena and taking her with him, honoured by those twice-born men, he of inconceivable deeds left the arena, his wife following behind him.