Indra Welcomes Arjuna to Amaravati

Verse 1 (3.43.1)

ददर्श स पुरीं रम्यां सिद्धचारणसेविताम् । सर्वर्तुकुसुमैः पुण्यैः पादपैरुपशोभिताम् ॥

dadarśa sa purīṃ ramyāṃ siddhacāraṇasevitām | sarvartukusumaiḥ puṇyaiḥ pādapairupaśobhitām

He saw the delightful city, frequented by Siddhas and Charanas, adorned with holy trees bearing the flowers of every season.

Verse 2 (3.43.2)

तत्र सौगन्धिकानां च पुष्पाणां पुण्यगन्धिनाम् । उपवीज्यमानो मिश्रेण वायुना पुण्यगन्धिना ॥

tatra saugandhikānāṃ ca puṣpāṇāṃ puṇyagandhinām | upavījyamāno miśreṇa vāyunā puṇyagandhinā

There, fanned by a breeze of holy fragrance, mingled with the scent of saugandhika lotuses and other sweet-smelling flowers,

Verse 3 (3.43.3)

नन्दनं च वनं दिव्यमप्सरोगणसेवितम् । ददर्श दिव्यकुसुमैराह्वयद्भिरिव द्रुमैः ॥

nandanaṃ ca vanaṃ divyamapsarogaṇasevitam | dadarśa divyakusumairāhvayadbhiriva drumaiḥ

he saw the divine grove of Nandana, frequented by hosts of Apsarases, whose trees, with their heavenly blossoms, seemed to beckon him.

Verse 4 (3.43.4)

नातप्ततपसा शक्यो द्रष्टुं नानाहिताग्निना । स लोकः पुण्यकर्तॄणां नापि युद्धे पराङ्मुखैः ॥

nātaptatapasā śakyo draṣṭuṃ nānāhitāgninā | sa lokaḥ puṇyakartṝṇāṃ nāpi yuddhe parāṅmukhaiḥ

That world of the doers of merit cannot be seen by one who has not practised austerity, nor by one who has not kept the sacred fires, nor by those who turn their backs in battle;

Note on the text: Corrected पराङ्युखैः → पराङ्मुखैः (misprint in Wikisource; य for म; the critical edition reads parāṅmukhaiḥ).

Verse 5 (3.43.5)

नायज्वभिर्नाव्रतिकैर्न वेदश्रुतिवर्जितैः । नानाप्लुताङ्गैस्तीर्थेषु यज्ञदानबहिष्कृतैः ॥

nāyajvabhirnāvratikairna vedaśrutivarjitaiḥ | nānāplutāṅgaistīrtheṣu yajñadānabahiṣkṛtaiḥ

nor by those who do not sacrifice, who keep no vows, who are strangers to the Veda, who have not bathed their limbs at sacred fords, who stand outside sacrifice and giving;

Verse 6 (3.43.6)

नापि यज्ञहनैः क्षुद्रैर्द्रष्टुं शक्यः कथंचन । पानपैर्गुरुतल्पैश्च मांसादैर्वा दुरात्मभिः ॥

nāpi yajñahanaiḥ kṣudrairdraṣṭuṃ śakyaḥ kathaṃcana | pānapairgurutalpaiśca māṃsādairvā durātmabhiḥ

nor can it be seen in any way by petty men who wreck sacrifices, by drinkers of liquor, defilers of the teacher's bed, eaters of meat, or the wicked.

Verse 7 (3.43.7)

स तद्दिव्यं वनं पश्यन्दिव्यगीतनिनादितम् । प्रविवेश महाबाहुः शक्रस्य दयितां पुरीम् ॥

sa taddivyaṃ vanaṃ paśyandivyagītanināditam | praviveśa mahābāhuḥ śakrasya dayitāṃ purīm

Gazing at that divine grove, resounding with heavenly song, the mighty-armed one entered Shakra's beloved city.

Verse 8 (3.43.8)

तत्र देवविमानानि कामगानि सहस्रशः । संस्थितान्यभियातानि ददर्शायुतशस्तदा ॥

tatra devavimānāni kāmagāni sahasraśaḥ | saṃsthitānyabhiyātāni dadarśāyutaśastadā

There he saw the celestial cars of the gods, which go wherever they wish, by thousands, standing and moving, by tens of thousands.

Verse 9 (3.43.9)

संस्तूयमानो गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च पाण्डवः । पुष्पगन्धवहैः पुण्यैर्वायुभिश्चानुवीजितः ॥

saṃstūyamāno gandharvairapsarobhiśca pāṇḍavaḥ | puṣpagandhavahaiḥ puṇyairvāyubhiścānuvījitaḥ

Praised by Gandharvas and Apsarases, the son of Pandu was fanned by holy breezes carrying the scent of flowers.

Verse 10 (3.43.10)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । हृष्टाः संपूजयामासुः पार्थमक्लिष्टकारिणम् ॥

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ | hṛṣṭāḥ saṃpūjayāmāsuḥ pārthamakliṣṭakāriṇam

Then the gods with the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the supreme seers joyfully honoured Partha, who never tired in action.

Verse 11 (3.43.11)

आशीर्वादैः स्तूयमानो दिव्यवादित्रनिःस्वनैः । प्रतिपेदे महाबाहुः शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादितम् ॥

āśīrvādaiḥ stūyamāno divyavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ | pratipede mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhadundubhināditam

Praised with blessings, amid the sound of heavenly instruments, the mighty-armed one reached the road that resounded with conches and drums,

Note on the text: Corrected आसीर्वादैः → आशीर्वादैः (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads āśīrvādaiḥ).

Verse 12 (3.43.12)

नक्षत्रमार्गं विपुलं सुरवीथीति विश्रुतम् । इन्द्राज्ञया ययौ पार्थः स्तूयमानः समन्ततः ॥

nakṣatramārgaṃ vipulaṃ suravīthīti viśrutam | indrājñayā yayau pārthaḥ stūyamānaḥ samantataḥ

and by Indra's command Partha went along the broad path of the stars, known as the Road of the Gods, praised on every side.

Verse 13 (3.43.13)

तत्र साध्यास्तथा विश्वे मरुतोऽथाश्विनौ तथा । आदित्या वसवो रुद्रास्तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः ॥

tatra sādhyāstathā viśve maruto'thāśvinau tathā | ādityā vasavo rudrāstathā brahmarṣayo'malāḥ

There were the Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts and the two Ashvins, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras and the spotless Brahmarshis,

Verse 14 (3.43.14)

राजर्षयश्च बहवो दिलीपप्रमुखा नृपाः । तम्बुरुर्नारदश्चैव गन्धर्वौ च हाहा हूहूः ॥

rājarṣayaśca bahavo dilīpapramukhā nṛpāḥ | tambururnāradaścaiva gandharvau ca hāhā hūhūḥ

and many royal sages, kings led by Dilipa, and Tumburu and Narada, and the two Gandharvas Haha and Huhu.

Verse 15 (3.43.15)

तान्स सर्वान्समागम्य विधिवत्कुरुनन्दनः । ततोऽपश्यद्देवराजं शतक्रतुमरिंदमः ॥

tānsa sarvānsamāgamya vidhivatkurunandanaḥ | tato'paśyaddevarājaṃ śatakratumariṃdamaḥ

Meeting them all in due form, the joy of the Kurus, tamer of foes, then saw the king of the gods, the god of the hundred sacrifices.

Verse 16 (3.43.16)

ततः पार्थो महाबाहुरवतीर्य रथोत्तमात् । ददर्श साक्षाद्देवेशं पितरं पाकशासनम् ॥

tataḥ pārtho mahābāhuravatīrya rathottamāt | dadarśa sākṣāddeveśaṃ pitaraṃ pākaśāsanam

Then mighty-armed Partha stepped down from the excellent chariot and saw the lord of the gods himself, his father, the chastiser of Paka,

Verse 17 (3.43.17)

पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण हेमदण्डेन चारुणा । दिव्यगन्धाधिवासेन व्यजनेन विधूयता ॥

pāṇḍureṇātapatreṇa hemadaṇḍena cāruṇā | divyagandhādhivāsena vyajanena vidhūyatā

with a white parasol on a lovely golden staff held over him, fanned by a whisk perfumed with heavenly scents,

Verse 18 (3.43.18)

विश्वावसुप्रभृतिभिर्गन्धर्वैः स्तुतिवन्दिभिः । स्तूयमानं द्विजाग्र्यैश्च ऋग्यजुःसामसंस्तवैः ॥

viśvāvasuprabhṛtibhirgandharvaiḥ stutivandibhiḥ | stūyamānaṃ dvijāgryaiśca ṛgyajuḥsāmasaṃstavaiḥ

and who was being praised by Gandharvas led by Vishvavasu, singers of hymns and eulogies, and by the foremost of the twice-born with hymns of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रभृतिनिर्गन्धर्वैः → प्रभृतिभिर्गन्धर्वैः (misprint in Wikisource; नि for भि; the critical edition reads prabhṛtibhir).

Verse 19 (3.43.19)

ततोऽभिगम्य कौन्तेयः शिरसाऽभ्यनमद्बली । स चैनं वृत्तपीनाभ्यां बाहुभ्यां प्रत्यगृह्णत ॥

tato'bhigamya kaunteyaḥ śirasā'bhyanamadbalī | sa cainaṃ vṛttapīnābhyāṃ bāhubhyāṃ pratyagṛhṇata

Then the mighty son of Kunti approached and bowed his head before him, and Indra received him with his round, sturdy arms.

Note on the text: Corrected शिरसाऽभ्यगमद् → शिरसाऽभ्यनमद् (misprint in Wikisource; ग for न; "approached with his head" after अभिगम्य makes no sense, whereas शिरसा calls for "bowed"; the critical edition reads śirasābhyanamad). वृत्तपीनाभ्यां बाहुभ्यां for anuvṛttābhyāṃ bhujābhyāṃ is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 20 (3.43.20)

ततः शक्रासने पुण्ये देवर्षिगणसेविते । शक्रः पाणौ गृहीत्वैनमुपावेशयदन्तिके ॥

tataḥ śakrāsane puṇye devarṣigaṇasevite | śakraḥ pāṇau gṛhītvainamupāveśayadantike

Then Shakra took him by the hand and seated him close beside himself on Shakra's holy throne, attended by hosts of divine seers.

Verse 21 (3.43.21)

मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय देवेन्द्रः परवीरहा । अङ्कमारोपयामास प्रश्रयावनतं तदा ॥

mūrdhni cainamupāghrāya devendraḥ paravīrahā | aṅkamāropayāmāsa praśrayāvanataṃ tadā

The king of the gods, slayer of enemy heroes, kissed his head and lifted him onto his lap as he bowed in humility.

Note on the text: Corrected मूर्धि → मूर्ध्नि (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped न्; the critical edition reads mūrdhni).

Verse 22 (3.43.22)

सहस्राक्षनियोगात्स पार्थः शक्रासनं तदा । आरुरुक्षुरमेयात्मा द्वितीय इव वासवः ॥

sahasrākṣaniyogātsa pārthaḥ śakrāsanaṃ tadā | ārurukṣurameyātmā dvitīya iva vāsavaḥ

At the bidding of the thousand-eyed god, Partha of immeasurable spirit then went to take his seat on Shakra's throne, like a second Vasava.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (इववासवः → इव वासवः). आरुरुक्षुः for the critical edition's adhyakrāmad is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 23 (3.43.23)

ततः प्रेम्णा वृत्रशत्रुरर्जुनस्य शुभं मुखम् । पस्पर्श पुण्यगन्धेन करेण परिसान्त्वयन् ॥

tataḥ premṇā vṛtraśatrurarjunasya śubhaṃ mukham | pasparśa puṇyagandhena kareṇa parisāntvayan

Then the slayer of Vritra lovingly touched Arjuna's fair face with his fragrant hand, comforting him,

Verse 24 (3.43.24)

प्रमार्जमानः शनकैर्बाहू चास्यायतौ शुभौ । ज्याशरक्षेपकठिनौ स्तम्भाविव हिरण्मयौ ॥

pramārjamānaḥ śanakairbāhū cāsyāyatau śubhau | jyāśarakṣepakaṭhinau stambhāviva hiraṇmayau

and gently stroked his long, handsome arms, hardened by the bowstring and the loosing of arrows, like two golden pillars;

Note on the text: Corrected ज्याशरक्षेपकिनौ → ज्याशरक्षेपकठिनौ (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ठ; the critical edition reads jyāśarakṣepakaṭhinau).

Verse 25 (3.43.25)

वज्रग्रहणचिह्नेन करेण परिसान्त्वयन् । मुहुर्मुहुर्वज्रधरो बाहू चास्फोटयञ्शनैः ॥

vajragrahaṇacihnena kareṇa parisāntvayan | muhurmuhurvajradharo bāhū cāsphoṭayañśanaiḥ

with his hand, marked by the grip of the thunderbolt, the wielder of the thunderbolt comforted him and again and again gently patted his arms.

Verse 26 (3.43.26)

स्मयन्निव गुडाकेशं प्रेक्षमाणः सहस्रदृक् । हर्षेणोत्फुल्लनयनो न चातृप्यत वृत्रहा ॥

smayanniva guḍākeśaṃ prekṣamāṇaḥ sahasradṛk | harṣeṇotphullanayano na cātṛpyata vṛtrahā

The thousand-eyed slayer of Vritra gazed at Gudakesha as though smiling, his eyes wide with joy, and could not have enough of looking at him.

Verse 27 (3.43.27)

एकासनोपविष्टौ तौ शोभयांचक्रतुः सभाम् । सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ व्योम चतुर्दश्यामिवोदितौ ॥

ekāsanopaviṣṭau tau śobhayāṃcakratuḥ sabhām | sūryācandramasau vyoma caturdaśyāmivoditau

Seated on one throne, the two adorned the assembly hall, like the sun and the moon risen together in the sky on the fourteenth day of the fortnight.

Note on the text: Corrected शोभयांसचक्रतुः → शोभयांचक्रतुः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray स in the periphrastic perfect; the critical edition reads śobhayāṃ cakratuḥ).

Verse 28 (3.43.28)

तत्र स्म गाथा गायन्ति साम्ना परमवल्गुना । गन्धर्वास्तुम्बुरुश्रेष्ठाः कुशला गीतसामसु ॥

tatra sma gāthā gāyanti sāmnā paramavalgunā | gandharvāstumburuśreṣṭhāḥ kuśalā gītasāmasu

There the Gandharvas led by Tumburu, skilled in song and chant, sang verses to a most delightful melody.

Verse 29 (3.43.29)

घृताची मेनका रम्भा पूर्वचित्तिः स्वयंप्रभा । उर्वशी मिश्रकेशी च दण्डगौरी वरूथिनी ॥

ghṛtācī menakā rambhā pūrvacittiḥ svayaṃprabhā | urvaśī miśrakeśī ca daṇḍagaurī varūthinī

Ghritachi, Menaka, Rambha, Purvachitti, Svayamprabha, Urvashi, Mishrakeshi, Dandagauri, Varuthini,

Note on the text: Corrected वरूथीनि → वरूथिनी (misprint in Wikisource; vowel signs transposed; the critical edition reads varūthinī). दण्डगौरी for the critical edition's ḍuṇḍur gaurī is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 30 (3.43.30)

गोपाली सहजन्या च कुम्भयोनिः प्रजागरा । चित्रसेना चित्रलेखा सहा च मधुरस्वरा ॥

gopālī sahajanyā ca kumbhayoniḥ prajāgarā | citrasenā citralekhā sahā ca madhurasvarā

Gopali, Sahajanya, Kumbhayoni, Prajagara, Chitrasena, Chitralekha, Saha and Madhurasvara —

Verse 31 (3.43.31)

एताश्चान्याश्च ननृतुस्तत्रतत्र शुचिस्मिताः । चित्तप्रमथने युक्ताः सिद्धानां पद्मलोचनाः ॥

etāścānyāśca nanṛtustatratatra śucismitāḥ | cittapramathane yuktāḥ siddhānāṃ padmalocanāḥ

these and others, bright-smiling and lotus-eyed, danced here and there, intent on stirring the hearts of the Siddhas,

Note on the text: Corrected चत्तप्रमथने → चित्तप्रमथने (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads cittapramathane).

Verse 32 (3.43.32)

महाकटितटश्रोण्यः कम्पमानैः पयोधरैः । कटाक्षहावमाधुर्यैश्चेतोबुद्धिमनोहरैः ॥

mahākaṭitaṭaśroṇyaḥ kampamānaiḥ payodharaiḥ | kaṭākṣahāvamādhuryaiścetobuddhimanoharaiḥ

with their broad hips and loins and swaying breasts, with sidelong glances, gestures and charms that captivated heart, reason and mind.

Verse 33 (3.43.33)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः समादायार्घ्यमुत्तमम् । शक्रस्य मतमाज्ञाय पार्थमानर्चुरञ्जसा ॥

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ samādāyārghyamuttamam | śakrasya matamājñāya pārthamānarcurañjasā

Then the gods with the Gandharvas, knowing Shakra's wish, took up the finest guest-offering and at once honoured Partha.

Note on the text: Removed a stray opening square bracket (a wiki mark; Wikisource prints no closing bracket). The critical edition begins a new adhyaya (3.45) with this verse.

Verse 34 (3.43.34)

पाद्यमाचमनीयं च प्रतिग्राह्य नृपात्मजम् । प्रवेशयामासुरथो पुरंदरनिवेशनम् ॥

pādyamācamanīyaṃ ca pratigrāhya nṛpātmajam | praveśayāmāsuratho puraṃdaraniveśanam

Having had the prince accept water for his feet and water for sipping, they then led him into Purandara's palace.

Verse 35 (3.43.35)

एवं संपूजितो जिष्णुरुवास भवने पितुः । उपशिक्षन्महास्त्राणि ससंहाराणि पाण्डवः ॥

evaṃ saṃpūjito jiṣṇuruvāsa bhavane pituḥ | upaśikṣanmahāstrāṇi sasaṃhārāṇi pāṇḍavaḥ

Thus honoured, Jishnu lived in his father's house, the son of Pandu learning the great weapons together with the means of withdrawing them.

Note on the text: Corrected महास्राणि → महास्त्राणि (misprint in Wikisource; a broken conjunct; the critical edition reads mahāstrāṇi).

Verse 36 (3.43.36)

शक्रस्य हस्ताद्दयितं वज्रमस्त्रं च दुःसहम् । अशनीश्च महानादा मेघबर्हिणलक्षणाः ॥

śakrasya hastāddayitaṃ vajramastraṃ ca duḥsaham | aśanīśca mahānādā meghabarhiṇalakṣaṇāḥ

From Shakra's own hand he received his beloved thunderbolt, a weapon hard to withstand, and the loud-roaring thunderbolts whose signs are clouds and peacocks.

Verse 37 (3.43.37)

गृहीतास्त्रस्तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातॄन्सस्मार पाण्डवः । पुरंदरनियोगाच्च पञ्चाब्दानवसत्सुखी ॥

gṛhītāstrastu kaunteyo bhrātṝnsasmāra pāṇḍavaḥ | puraṃdaraniyogācca pañcābdānavasatsukhī

Having gained the weapons, the son of Kunti remembered his brothers; yet at Purandara's bidding he lived there happily for five years.

Verse 38 (3.43.38)

ततः शक्रोऽब्रवीत्पार्थं कृतास्त्रं काल आगते । नृत्यं गीतं च कौन्तेय चित्रसेनादवाप्नुहि ॥

tataḥ śakro'bravītpārthaṃ kṛtāstraṃ kāla āgate | nṛtyaṃ gītaṃ ca kaunteya citrasenādavāpnuhi

Then, when the time had come, Shakra said to Partha, who had mastered the weapons: "Son of Kunti, learn dance and song from Chitrasena.

Verse 39 (3.43.39)

वादित्रं देवविहितं नृलोके यन्न विद्यते । तदर्जयस्व कौन्तेय श्रेयो वै ते भविष्यति ॥

vāditraṃ devavihitaṃ nṛloke yanna vidyate | tadarjayasva kaunteya śreyo vai te bhaviṣyati

Learn the instrumental music devised by the gods, which does not exist in the world of men, son of Kunti; it will be for your good."

Note on the text: Speaker set to इन्द्र: the verse is wholly Indra's words, continuing the speech that verse 38 introduces, with no printed heading.

Verse 40 (3.43.40)

सखायं प्रददौ चास्य चित्रसेनं पुरंदरः । स तेन सह संगम्य रेमे पार्थो निरामयः ॥

sakhāyaṃ pradadau cāsya citrasenaṃ puraṃdaraḥ | sa tena saha saṃgamya reme pārtho nirāmayaḥ

Purandara gave him Chitrasena as a friend, and Partha, keeping company with him, lived happily, free from care.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse; it is the critical edition's 3.45.8.

Verse 41 (3.43.41)

गीतवादित्रनृत्यानि भूय एवादिदेश ह । तथाऽपि नालभच्छर्म तरस्वी द्यूतकारितम् ॥

gītavāditranṛtyāni bhūya evādideśa ha | tathā'pi nālabhaccharma tarasvī dyūtakāritam

Again and again Chitrasena taught him song, instrumental music and dance; yet the bold hero found no peace, for the wrong done at the dicing,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has verses 41–43 as 3.45.8d*0192, lines 1–9.

Verse 42 (3.43.42)

दुःशासनवधामर्षी शकुनेः सौबलस्य च । ततस्तेनातुलां प्रीतिमुपागम्य क्वचित्क्वचित् । गान्धर्वमतुलं नृत्यं वादित्रं चोपलब्धवान् ॥

duḥśāsanavadhāmarṣī śakuneḥ saubalasya ca | tatastenātulāṃ prītimupāgamya kvacitkvacit | gāndharvamatulaṃ nṛtyaṃ vāditraṃ copalabdhavān

burning with anger for the slaying of Duhshasana and of Shakuni, son of Subala. Then, finding at times a matchless delight in his company, he mastered the incomparable dance and instrumental music of the Gandharvas.

Note on the text: Corrected गान्धऱ्व → गान्धर्व (misprint in Wikisource; the eyelash ऱ् for र्; the critical edition's apparatus reads gāndharvam). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); see verse 41.

Verse 43 (3.43.43)

स शिक्षितो नृत्यगुणाननेका- । न्वादित्रगीतार्थगुणांश्च सर्वान् । न शर्म लेभे परवीरहन्ता । भ्रातॄन्स्मरन्मातरं चैव कुन्तीम् ॥

sa śikṣito nṛtyaguṇānanekā- | nvāditragītārthaguṇāṃśca sarvān | na śarma lebhe paravīrahantā | bhrātṝnsmaranmātaraṃ caiva kuntīm

Though he was trained in the many graces of dance, and in all the graces of instrumental music and the meaning of song, that slayer of enemy heroes found no peace, remembering his brothers and his mother Kunti.

Note on the text: Corrected शर्ण → शर्म (misprint in Wikisource; ण for म; the critical edition's apparatus reads śarma). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); see verse 41.