Yudhishthira's Resolve and Krishna's Visit

Verse 1 (1.206.1)

गत्वा तु तां भार्गवकर्मशालां । पार्थौ पृथां प्राप्य महानुभावौ । तां याज्ञसेनीं परमप्रतीतौ । भिक्षेत्यथावेदयतां नराग्र्यौ ॥

gatvā tu tāṃ bhārgavakarmaśālāṃ | pārthau pṛthāṃ prāpya mahānubhāvau | tāṃ yājñasenīṃ paramapratītau | bhikṣetyathāvedayatāṃ narāgryau

The two great-souled sons of Pritha reached the potter's workshop and came to Pritha; and those foremost of men, in high delight, announced Yajnaseni to her as "alms".

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (the input had none; Wikisource heads the adhyaya वैशंपायन उवाच).

Verse 2 (1.206.2)

कुटीगता सा त्वनवेक्ष्य पुत्रौ । प्रोवाच भुङ्क्तेति समेत्य सर्वे । पश्चाच्च कुन्ती प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णां । कष्टं मया भाषितमित्युवाच ॥

kuṭīgatā sā tvanavekṣya putrau | provāca bhuṅkteti sametya sarve | paścācca kuntī prasamīkṣya kṛṣṇāṃ | kaṣṭaṃ mayā bhāṣitamityuvāca

Kunti, inside the hut and not looking at her sons, said, "Share it, all of you together." Afterwards, when she saw Krishnaa, she said, "What a dreadful thing I have said!"

Note on the text: Only the first two lines are in the critical edition (1.182.2, aligned by hand); the last two are not (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (1.206.3)

साऽधर्मभीता परिचिन्तयन्ती । तां याज्ञसेनीं परमप्रतीताम् । पाणौ गृहीत्वोपजगाम कुन्ती । युधिष्ठिरं वाक्यमुवाच चेदम् ॥

sā'dharmabhītā paricintayantī | tāṃ yājñasenīṃ paramapratītām | pāṇau gṛhītvopajagāma kuntī | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ vākyamuvāca cedam

Afraid of wrongdoing and turning the matter over, Kunti took the delighted Yajnaseni by the hand, went to Yudhishthira and said this:

Verse 4 (1.206.4)

इयं तु कन्या द्रुपदस्य राज्ञ- । स्तवानुजाभ्यां मयि संनिसृष्टा । यथोचितं पुत्र मयाऽपि चोक्तं । समेत्य भुङ्क्तेति नृप प्रमादात् ॥

iyaṃ tu kanyā drupadasya rājña- | stavānujābhyāṃ mayi saṃnisṛṣṭā | yathocitaṃ putra mayā'pi coktaṃ | sametya bhuṅkteti nṛpa pramādāt

"This maiden, daughter of King Drupada, your younger brothers have handed over to me. And I, my son, O king, said without thinking, as I always do, 'Share it together.'

Verse 5 (1.206.5)

मया कथं नानृतमुक्तमद्य । भवेत्कुरूणामृषभ ब्रवीहि । पञ्चालराजस्य सुतामधर्मो । न चोपवर्तेत न विभ्रमेच्च ॥

mayā kathaṃ nānṛtamuktamadya | bhavetkurūṇāmṛṣabha bravīhi | pañcālarājasya sutāmadharmo | na copavarteta na vibhramecca

Tell me, bull of the Kurus, how what I said today may not become a lie, and how no wrong may come upon the Panchala king's daughter, nor she be led astray."

Verse 6 (1.206.6)

स एवमुक्तो मतिमान्नृवीरो । मात्रा मुहूर्तं तु विचिन्त्य राजा । कुन्तीं समाश्वास्य कुरुप्रवीरो । धनञ्जयं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे ॥

sa evamukto matimānnṛvīro | mātrā muhūrtaṃ tu vicintya rājā | kuntīṃ samāśvāsya kurupravīro | dhanañjayaṃ vākyamidaṃ babhāṣe

Thus addressed by his mother, the wise king, hero among men, thought for a moment; then, comforting Kunti, the Kuru hero spoke these words to Dhananjaya:

Note on the text: Aligned by hand with 1.182.6; its first two lines are worded differently there.

Verse 7 (1.206.7)

त्वया जिता फाल्गुन याज्ञसेनी । त्वयैव शोभिष्यति राजपुत्री । प्रज्वाल्यतामग्निरमित्रसाह । गृहाण पाणिं विधिवत्त्वमस्याः ॥

tvayā jitā phālguna yājñasenī | tvayaiva śobhiṣyati rājaputrī | prajvālyatāmagniramitrasāha | gṛhāṇa pāṇiṃ vidhivattvamasyāḥ

"You won Yajnaseni, Phalguna, and the princess will be honoured by you alone. Let the fire be kindled, tamer of foes; take her hand according to the rite."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Yudhishthira: his words, announced in the previous verse, fill this verse (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 8 (1.206.8)

मा मां नरेन्द्र त्वमधर्मभाजं । कृथा न धर्मोऽयमशिष्टदृष्टः । भवान्निवेश्यः प्रथमं ततोऽयं । भीमो महाबाहुरचिन्त्यकर्मा ॥

mā māṃ narendra tvamadharmabhājaṃ | kṛthā na dharmo'yamaśiṣṭadṛṣṭaḥ | bhavānniveśyaḥ prathamaṃ tato'yaṃ | bhīmo mahābāhuracintyakarmā

"Do not make me a sharer in wrongdoing, lord of men; this is no dharma, only the uncultured follow it. You should be married first, then this mighty-armed Bhima of unimaginable deeds,

Verse 9 (1.206.9)

अहं ततो नकुलोऽनन्तरं मे । पश्चादयं सहदेवस्तरस्वी । वृकोदरोऽहं च यमौ च राज- । न्नियं च कन्या भवतो नियोज्याः ॥

ahaṃ tato nakulo'nantaraṃ me | paścādayaṃ sahadevastarasvī | vṛkodaro'haṃ ca yamau ca rāja- | nniyaṃ ca kanyā bhavato niyojyāḥ

then I, after me Nakula, and after him the swift Sahadeva. Vrikodara, I, the twins, and this maiden, O king, are all yours to command.

Verse 10 (1.206.10)

एवं गते यत्करणीयमत्र । धर्म्यं यशस्यं कुरु तद्विचिन्त्य । पाञ्चालराजस्य हितं च यत्स्या- । त्प्रशाधि सर्वे स्म वशे स्थितास्ते ॥

evaṃ gate yatkaraṇīyamatra | dharmyaṃ yaśasyaṃ kuru tadvicintya | pāñcālarājasya hitaṃ ca yatsyā- | tpraśādhi sarve sma vaśe sthitāste

This being so, think it through and do whatever here is right and brings honour, and whatever is good for the king of Panchala. Command us; we all stand at your bidding."

Verse 11 (1.206.11)

जिष्णोर्वचनमाज्ञाय भक्तिस्नेहसमन्वितम् । दृष्टिं निवेशयामासुः पाञ्चाल्यां पाण्डुनन्दनाः ॥

jiṣṇorvacanamājñāya bhaktisnehasamanvitam | dṛṣṭiṃ niveśayāmāsuḥ pāñcālyāṃ pāṇḍunandanāḥ

Hearing Jishnu's words, so full of devotion and affection, the sons of Pandu turned their eyes on the Panchala princess.

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

Verse 12 (1.206.12)

दृष्ट्वा ते तत्र पश्यन्तीं सर्वे कृष्णां यशस्विनीम् । संप्रेक्ष्यान्योन्यमासीना हृदयैस्तामधारयन् ॥

dṛṣṭvā te tatra paśyantīṃ sarve kṛṣṇāṃ yaśasvinīm | saṃprekṣyānyonyamāsīnā hṛdayaistāmadhārayan

As they sat there, all of them saw glorious Krishnaa looking at them; they glanced at one another, and each held her in his heart.

Verse 13 (1.206.13)

तेषां तु द्रौपदीं दृष्ट्वा सर्वेषाममितौजसाम् । संप्रमथ्येन्द्रियग्रामं प्रादुरासीन्मनोभवः ॥

teṣāṃ tu draupadīṃ dṛṣṭvā sarveṣāmamitaujasām | saṃpramathyendriyagrāmaṃ prādurāsīnmanobhavaḥ

Seeing Draupadi, desire sprang up in all those men of boundless might, overwhelming their senses.

Verse 14 (1.206.14)

काम्यं हि रूपं पाञ्चाल्या विधात्रा विहितं स्वयम् । बभूवाधिकमन्याभ्यः सर्वभूतमनोहरम् ॥

kāmyaṃ hi rūpaṃ pāñcālyā vidhātrā vihitaṃ svayam | babhūvādhikamanyābhyaḥ sarvabhūtamanoharam

For the lovely form of the Panchala princess, fashioned by the Creator himself, surpassed that of all other women and charmed every creature.

Verse 15 (1.206.15)

तेषामाकारभावज्ञः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । द्वैपायनवचः कृत्स्नं सस्मार मनुजर्षभः ॥

teṣāmākārabhāvajñaḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | dvaipāyanavacaḥ kṛtsnaṃ sasmāra manujarṣabhaḥ

Yudhishthira son of Kunti, best of men, who could read their looks and feelings, remembered all that Dvaipayana had said.

Verse 16 (1.206.16)

अब्रवीत्सहितान्भ्रातॄन्मिथो भेदभयान्नृपः । सर्वेषां द्रौपदी भार्या भविष्यति हि नः शुभा ॥

abravītsahitānbhrātṝnmitho bhedabhayānnṛpaḥ | sarveṣāṃ draupadī bhāryā bhaviṣyati hi naḥ śubhā

Fearing a rift among them, the king said to his assembled brothers: "The auspicious Draupadi shall be the wife of us all."

Verse 17 (1.206.17)

सताऽपि शक्तेन च केशवेन । सज्यं धनुस्तन्न कृतं किमर्थम् । विद्धं च लक्ष्यं न च कस्य हेतो- । राचक्ष्व तन्मे द्विपदां वरिष्ठ ॥

satā'pi śaktena ca keśavena | sajyaṃ dhanustanna kṛtaṃ kimartham | viddhaṃ ca lakṣyaṃ na ca kasya heto- | rācakṣva tanme dvipadāṃ variṣṭha

"Though Keshava was there and able, why did he not string that bow? And for what reason did he not pierce the target? Tell me that, best of men."

Note on the text: Removed the speaker heading जनमेजय उवाच and a stray wiki mark (`), which had slipped into the verse text; speaker set to Janamejaya. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 18 (1.206.18)

शक्तेन कृष्णेन च कार्मुकं त- । न्नारोपितं ज्ञातुकामेन पार्थान् । परिश्रवादेव बभूव लोके । जीवन्ति पार्था इति निश्चयोऽस्य ॥

śaktena kṛṣṇena ca kārmukaṃ ta- | nnāropitaṃ jñātukāmena pārthān | pariśravādeva babhūva loke | jīvanti pārthā iti niścayo'sya

Krishna was able, yet he did not string that bow, because he wished to find out the Parthas. From rumour alone it had gone about in the world that the Parthas were alive, and he was sure of it.

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

Verse 19 (1.206.19)

अन्यानशक्तान्नृपतीन्समीक्ष्य । स्वयंवरे कार्मुकेणोत्तमेन । धनञ्जयस्तद्धनुरेकवीरः । सज्यं करोतीत्यभिवीक्ष्य कृष्णः ॥

anyānaśaktānnṛpatīnsamīkṣya | svayaṃvare kārmukeṇottamena | dhanañjayastaddhanurekavīraḥ | sajyaṃ karotītyabhivīkṣya kṛṣṇaḥ

Seeing the other kings fail with that superb bow at the svayamvara, Krishna foresaw: "Dhananjaya, the matchless hero, will string that bow."

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

Verse 20 (1.206.20)

इति स्वयं वासुदेवो विचिन्त्य । पार्थान्विवित्सन्विविधैरुपायैः । न तद्धनुः सज्यमियेष कर्तुं । बभूवुरस्येष्टतमा हि पार्थाः ॥

iti svayaṃ vāsudevo vicintya | pārthānvivitsanvividhairupāyaiḥ | na taddhanuḥ sajyamiyeṣa kartuṃ | babhūvurasyeṣṭatamā hi pārthāḥ

Reasoning thus within himself, and seeking to discover the Parthas by every means, Vasudeva did not try to string that bow; for the Parthas were dearest of all to him.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') and a doubled danda. Corrected सज्यमियेप → सज्यमियेष (misprint in Wikisource; इयेष, perfect of इष् 'to wish'). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 21 (1.206.21)

भ्रातुर्वचस्तत्प्रसमीक्ष्य सर्वे । ज्येष्ठस्य पाण्डोस्तनयास्तदानीम् । तमेवार्थं ध्यायमाना मनोभिः । सर्वे च ते तस्थुरदीनसत्वाः ॥

bhrāturvacastatprasamīkṣya sarve | jyeṣṭhasya pāṇḍostanayāstadānīm | tamevārthaṃ dhyāyamānā manobhiḥ | sarve ca te tasthuradīnasatvāḥ

Weighing their eldest brother's words, all the sons of Pandu, turning that same matter over in their minds, stayed where they were, undaunted in spirit.

Verse 22 (1.206.22)

वृष्णिप्रवीरस्तु कुरुप्रवीरा- । नाशंसमानः सहरौहिणेयः । जगाम तां भार्गवकर्मशालां । यत्रासते ते पुरुषप्रवीराः ॥

vṛṣṇipravīrastu kurupravīrā- | nāśaṃsamānaḥ saharauhiṇeyaḥ | jagāma tāṃ bhārgavakarmaśālāṃ | yatrāsate te puruṣapravīrāḥ

The Vrishni hero, together with Rauhineya, hoping to find the Kuru heroes, went to the potter's workshop where those heroes among men were staying.

Verse 23 (1.206.23)

तत्रोपविष्टं पृथुदीर्घबाहुं । ददर्श कृष्णः सहरौहिणेयः । अजातशत्रुं परिवार्य तांश्चा- । प्युपोपविष्टाञ्ज्वलनप्रकाशान् ॥

tatropaviṣṭaṃ pṛthudīrghabāhuṃ | dadarśa kṛṣṇaḥ saharauhiṇeyaḥ | ajātaśatruṃ parivārya tāṃścā- | pyupopaviṣṭāñjvalanaprakāśān

There Krishna, with Rauhineya, saw Ajatashatru of the long, strong arms seated, and his brothers, bright as fire, seated around him.

Verse 24 (1.206.24)

ततोऽब्रवीद्वासुदेवोऽभिगम्य । कुन्तीसुतं धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठम् । कृष्णोऽहमस्मीति निपीड्य पादौ । युधिष्ठिरस्याजमीढस्य राज्ञः ॥

tato'bravīdvāsudevo'bhigamya | kuntīsutaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ variṣṭham | kṛṣṇo'hamasmīti nipīḍya pādau | yudhiṣṭhirasyājamīḍhasya rājñaḥ

Then Vasudeva went up to the son of Kunti, best of upholders of dharma, clasped the feet of King Yudhishthira of Ajamidha's line, and said, "I am Krishna."

Verse 25 (1.206.25)

तथैव तस्याप्यनु रौहिणेय- । स्तौ चापि हृष्टाः कुरवोऽभ्यनन्दन् । पितृष्वसुश्चापि यदुप्रवीरा- । वगृह्णतां भारतमुख्य पादौ ॥

tathaiva tasyāpyanu rauhiṇeya- | stau cāpi hṛṣṭāḥ kuravo'bhyanandan | pitṛṣvasuścāpi yadupravīrā- | vagṛhṇatāṃ bhāratamukhya pādau

Rauhineya did the same after him, and the Kurus, delighted, welcomed the two. The two Yadu heroes also clasped the feet of their father's sister, O chief of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected अभ्यनन्दन → अभ्यनन्दन् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped virama, as in the critical edition).

Verse 26 (1.206.26)

अजातशत्रुश्च कुरुप्रवीरः । पप्रच्छ कृष्णं कुशलं विलोक्य । कथं वयं वासुदेव त्वयेह । गूढा वसन्तो विदिताश्च सर्वे ॥

ajātaśatruśca kurupravīraḥ | papraccha kṛṣṇaṃ kuśalaṃ vilokya | kathaṃ vayaṃ vāsudeva tvayeha | gūḍhā vasanto viditāśca sarve

Ajatashatru, the Kuru hero, looked at Krishna, asked after his welfare, and said: "How, Vasudeva, did you find us out, living here in hiding?"

Verse 27 (1.206.27)

तमब्रवीद्वासुदेवः प्रहस्य । गूढोऽप्यग्निर्ज्ञायत एव राजन् । तं विक्रमं पाण्डवेयानतीत्य । कोऽन्यः कर्ता विद्यते मानुषेषु ॥

tamabravīdvāsudevaḥ prahasya | gūḍho'pyagnirjñāyata eva rājan | taṃ vikramaṃ pāṇḍaveyānatītya | ko'nyaḥ kartā vidyate mānuṣeṣu

Vasudeva laughed and said to him: "Fire, even when hidden, is still known, O king. Apart from the Pandavas, who among men could have done such a feat?

Verse 28 (1.206.28)

दिष्ट्या सर्वे पावकाद्विप्रमुक्ता । यूयं घोरात्पाण्डवाः शत्रुसाहाः । दिष्ट्या पापो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रः । सहामात्यो न सकामोऽभविष्यत् ॥

diṣṭyā sarve pāvakādvipramuktā | yūyaṃ ghorātpāṇḍavāḥ śatrusāhāḥ | diṣṭyā pāpo dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putraḥ | sahāmātyo na sakāmo'bhaviṣyat

By good fortune all of you Pandavas, vanquishers of foes, have escaped that dreadful fire. By good fortune the wicked son of Dhritarashtra and his ministers did not have their way.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Krishna (Vasudeva): his reply, begun in the previous verse, fills this verse and most of the next (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 29 (1.206.29)

भद्रं वोऽस्तु निहितं यद्गुहायां । विवर्धध्वं ज्वलना इवैधमानाः । मा वो विद्युः पार्थिवाः केचिदेव । यास्यावहे शिबिरायैव तावत् । सोऽनुज्ञातः पाण्डवेनाव्ययश्रीः । प्रायाच्छीघ्रं बलदेवेन सार्धम् ॥

bhadraṃ vo'stu nihitaṃ yadguhāyāṃ | vivardhadhvaṃ jvalanā ivaidhamānāḥ | mā vo vidyuḥ pārthivāḥ kecideva | yāsyāvahe śibirāyaiva tāvat | so'nujñātaḥ pāṇḍavenāvyayaśrīḥ | prāyācchīghraṃ baladevena sārdham

May the good that lies hidden in your hearts be yours. Grow, like fires that blaze up as they are fed. Let none of the kings come to know of you. We two will go back to our camp for now." Then, with the Pandava's leave, he of unfading glory left quickly with Baladeva.

Note on the text: A six-line verse in Wikisource, as in the critical edition; its last line is narration.