The Kings Gather for the Rajasuya

Verse 1 (2.37.1)

तत आमन्त्रिता राजन्राजानः सत्कृतास्तदा । पुरेभ्यः प्रययुस्तेभ्यो विमानेभ्य इवामराः ॥

tata āmantritā rājanrājānaḥ satkṛtāstadā | purebhyaḥ prayayustebhyo vimānebhya ivāmarāḥ

Then, O king, the kings who had been invited and honoured set out from their cities, as the immortals set out from their celestial cars.

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

Verse 2 (2.37.2)

ते वै दिग्भ्यः समापेतुः पार्थिवास्तत्र भारत । समादाय महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥

te vai digbhyaḥ samāpetuḥ pārthivāstatra bhārata | samādāya mahārhāṇi ratnāni vividhāni ca

From every quarter the kings flocked there, O Bharata, bringing precious jewels of many kinds.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 2.31.4 of the critical edition, which words it differently (aligned by hand).

Verse 3 (2.37.3)

तच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य यज्ञे यज्ञविदस्तदा । राजानः शतशस्तुष्टैर्मनोभिर्मनुजर्षभ ॥

tacchrutvā dharmarājasya yajñe yajñavidastadā | rājānaḥ śataśastuṣṭairmanobhirmanujarṣabha

Hearing of the Dharma king's sacrifice, kings learned in sacrifice came by the hundreds, their hearts glad, O bull among men;

Note on the text: Corrected मनुर्षभ → मनुजर्षभ (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ज leaves the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads manujarṣabha). The first line = 2.31.2cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.3ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 4 (2.37.4)

बहु वित्तं समादाय विविधं पार्थिवा ययुः । द्रष्टुकामाः सभां चैव धर्मराजं च पाण्डवम् ॥

bahu vittaṃ samādāya vividhaṃ pārthivā yayuḥ | draṣṭukāmāḥ sabhāṃ caiva dharmarājaṃ ca pāṇḍavam

bringing much wealth of every kind, the kings went, eager to see the assembly hall and the Dharma king, the son of Pandu.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line = 2.31.3cd (aligned by hand).

Verse 5 (2.37.5)

स गत्वा हास्तिनपुरं नकुलः समितिञ्जयः । भीष्ममामन्त्रयाञ्चक्रे धृतराष्ट्रं च पाण्डवः ॥

sa gatvā hāstinapuraṃ nakulaḥ samitiñjayaḥ | bhīṣmamāmantrayāñcakre dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ

Nakula, victorious in battle, went to Hastinapura, and the Pandava invited Bhishma and Dhritarashtra.

Verse 6 (2.37.6)

प्रयतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा भारतानानयत्तदा । धृतराष्ट्रं च भीष्मं च विदुरं च महामतिम् ॥

prayataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā bhāratānānayattadā | dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca viduraṃ ca mahāmatim

Respectful, with joined palms, he then brought the Bharatas — Dhritarashtra, Bhishma and the wise Vidura —

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

Verse 7 (2.37.7)

दुर्योधनमुखांश्चैव भ्रातॄन्सर्वानथानयत् ॥

duryodhanamukhāṃścaiva bhrātṝnsarvānathānayat

and he brought all the brothers too, headed by Duryodhana.

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

Verse 8 (2.37.8)

सत्कृत्यामन्त्रिताः सर्वे ह्याचार्यप्रमुखास्ततः । प्रययुः प्रीतमनसो यज्ञं ब्रह्मपुरस्सराः ॥

satkṛtyāmantritāḥ sarve hyācāryapramukhāstataḥ | prayayuḥ prītamanaso yajñaṃ brahmapurassarāḥ

Invited with honour, all of them, led by their teacher, set out for the sacrifice with glad hearts, the brahmins going before them.

Note on the text: The first line resembles 2.31.6ab of the critical edition (which reads ācāryapramukhā nṛpāḥ) and the second = 2.31.2ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 9 (2.37.9)

धृतराष्ट्रश्च भीष्मश्च विदुरश्च महामतिः । दुर्योधनपुरोगाश्च भ्रातरः सर्व एव ते । गान्धारराजः सुबलः शकुनिश्च महाबलः ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭraśca bhīṣmaśca viduraśca mahāmatiḥ | duryodhanapurogāśca bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te | gāndhārarājaḥ subalaḥ śakuniśca mahābalaḥ

Dhritarashtra, Bhishma and the wise Vidura, all the brothers headed by Duryodhana, Subala the king of Gandhara and mighty Shakuni,

Note on the text: Corrected विदुरस्च → विदुरश्च (misprint in Wikisource; स for श in the sandhi of विदुरः च). The first and second lines = 2.31.5 of the critical edition and the third = 2.31.6cd (aligned by hand).

Verse 10 (2.37.10)

अचलो वृषकश्चैव कर्णश्च रथिनां वरः । तथा शल्यश्च बलवान्बाह्लिकश्च महाबलः ॥

acalo vṛṣakaścaiva karṇaśca rathināṃ varaḥ | tathā śalyaśca balavānbāhlikaśca mahābalaḥ

Achala and Vrishaka, Karna best of chariot-warriors, the strong Shalya and the mighty Bahlika,

Verse 11 (2.37.11)

सोमदत्तोऽथ कौरव्यो भूरिर्भूरिश्रवाः शलः । अश्वत्थामा कृपो द्रोणः सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः ॥

somadatto'tha kauravyo bhūrirbhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ | aśvatthāmā kṛpo droṇaḥ saindhavaśca jayadrathaḥ

Somadatta of the Kuru line, Bhuri, Bhurishravas and Shala, Ashvatthaman, Kripa, Drona, and Jayadratha, king of Sindhu,

Verse 12 (2.37.12)

यज्ञसेनः सपुत्रश्च साल्वश्च वसुधाधिपः । प्राग्ज्योतिषश्च नृपतिर्भगदत्तो महारथः ॥

yajñasenaḥ saputraśca sālvaśca vasudhādhipaḥ | prāgjyotiṣaśca nṛpatirbhagadatto mahārathaḥ

Yajnasena with his son, Salva lord of the earth, and Bhagadatta, the great chariot-warrior king of Pragjyotisha,

Verse 13 (2.37.13)

स तु सर्वैः सह म्लेच्छैः सागरानूपवासिभिः । पार्वतीयाश्च राजानो राजा चैव बृहद्बलः ॥

sa tu sarvaiḥ saha mlecchaiḥ sāgarānūpavāsibhiḥ | pārvatīyāśca rājāno rājā caiva bṛhadbalaḥ

who came with all the Mlecchas living in the marshlands by the sea; the mountain kings, and King Brihadbala;

Verse 14 (2.37.14)

पौण्ड्रको वासुदेवश्च वङ्गः कालिङ्गकस्तथा । आकर्षाः कुन्तलाश्चैव गालवाश्चान्ध्रकास्तथा ॥

pauṇḍrako vāsudevaśca vaṅgaḥ kāliṅgakastathā | ākarṣāḥ kuntalāścaiva gālavāścāndhrakāstathā

Paundraka Vasudeva, the king of Vanga, the Kalinga king, the Akarshas, the Kuntalas, the Galavas and the Andhrakas,

Verse 15 (2.37.15)

द्राविडाः सिंहलाश्चैव राजा काश्मीरकस्तथा । कुन्तिभोजो महातेजाः पार्थिवो गौरवाहनः ॥

drāviḍāḥ siṃhalāścaiva rājā kāśmīrakastathā | kuntibhojo mahātejāḥ pārthivo gauravāhanaḥ

the Dravidas and the Simhalas, the king of Kashmir, Kuntibhoja of great splendour, and King Gauravahana,

Verse 16 (2.37.16)

बाह्लिकाश्चापरे शूरा राजानः सर्व एव ते । विराटः सह पुत्राभ्यां मावेल्लश्च महाबलः ॥

bāhlikāścāpare śūrā rājānaḥ sarva eva te | virāṭaḥ saha putrābhyāṃ māvellaśca mahābalaḥ

the other heroic Bahlikas, kings all of them; Virata with his two sons, and the mighty Mavella;

Note on the text: The verse = 2.31.13abcd of the critical edition, which reads putraiś ca mācellaś ca mahārathaḥ (aligned by hand).

Verse 17 (2.37.17)

राजानो राजपुत्राश्च नानाजनपदेश्वराः । शिशुपालो महावीर्यः सह पुत्रेण भारत ॥

rājāno rājaputrāśca nānājanapadeśvarāḥ | śiśupālo mahāvīryaḥ saha putreṇa bhārata

kings and princes, lords of many lands. Shishupala of great valour, with his son, O Bharata,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.13ef of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.14ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 18 (2.37.18)

आगच्छत्पाण्डवेयस्य यज्ञं समरदुर्मदः । रामश्चैवानिरुद्धश्च कङ्कश्च सहसारणः ॥

āgacchatpāṇḍaveyasya yajñaṃ samaradurmadaḥ | rāmaścaivāniruddhaśca kaṅkaśca sahasāraṇaḥ

fierce in battle, came to the Pandava's sacrifice. Rama and Aniruddha, Kanka together with Sarana,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.14cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.15ab, which reads babhruś ca for कङ्कश्च (aligned by hand).

Verse 19 (2.37.19)

गदप्रद्युम्नसाम्बाश्च चारुदेष्णश्च वीर्यवान् । उल्मुको निशठश्चैव वीरश्चाङ्गावहस्तथा ॥

gadapradyumnasāmbāśca cārudeṣṇaśca vīryavān | ulmuko niśaṭhaścaiva vīraścāṅgāvahastathā

Gada, Pradyumna and Samba, the valiant Charudeshna, Ulmuka, Nishatha and the hero Angavaha,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.15cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.16ab, which reads vīraḥ prādyumnir eva ca (aligned by hand).

Verse 20 (2.37.20)

वृष्णयो निखिलाश्चान्ये समाजग्मुर्महारथाः । एते चान्ये च बहवो राजानो मध्यदेशजाः ॥

vṛṣṇayo nikhilāścānye samājagmurmahārathāḥ | ete cānye ca bahavo rājāno madhyadeśajāḥ

and all the other Vrishnis, great chariot-warriors, gathered there. These and many other kings born in the Middle Country

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.16cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.17ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 21 (2.37.21)

आजग्मुः पाण्डुपुत्रस्य राजसूयं महाक्रतुम् । ददुस्तेषामावसथान्धर्मराजस्य शासनात् ॥

ājagmuḥ pāṇḍuputrasya rājasūyaṃ mahākratum | dadusteṣāmāvasathāndharmarājasya śāsanāt

came to the great rite, the Rajasuya of Pandu's son. At the Dharma king's command they were given lodgings

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.17cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.18ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 22 (2.37.22)

बहुभक्ष्यान्वितान्राजन्दीर्घिकावृक्षशोभितान् । तथा धर्मात्मजः पूजां चक्रे तेषां महात्मनाम् ॥

bahubhakṣyānvitānrājandīrghikāvṛkṣaśobhitān | tathā dharmātmajaḥ pūjāṃ cakre teṣāṃ mahātmanām

well stocked with food of many kinds, O king, and graced with ponds and trees. The son of Dharma paid honour to those great-souled kings.

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.18cd of the critical edition, which reads bahukakṣyānvitān, and the second = 2.31.19ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 23 (2.37.23)

सत्कृताश्च यथोद्दिष्टाञ्जग्मुरावसथान्नृपाः । कैलासशिखरप्रख्यान्मनोज्ञान्द्रव्यभूषितान् ॥

satkṛtāśca yathoddiṣṭāñjagmurāvasathānnṛpāḥ | kailāsaśikharaprakhyānmanojñāndravyabhūṣitān

Thus honoured, the kings went to the lodgings assigned to them — like peaks of Kailasa, charming and adorned with costly things,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.19cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.20ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 24 (2.37.24)

सर्वतः संवृतानुच्चैः प्राकारैः सुकृतैः सितैः । सुवर्णजालसंवीतान्मणिकुट्टिमभूषितान् ॥

sarvataḥ saṃvṛtānuccaiḥ prākāraiḥ sukṛtaiḥ sitaiḥ | suvarṇajālasaṃvītānmaṇikuṭṭimabhūṣitān

enclosed on every side by high, well-built white walls, hung with lattices of gold and adorned with jewelled floors,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.20cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.21ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 25 (2.37.25)

सुखारोहणसोपानान्महासनपरिच्छदान् । स्नग्दामसमवच्छन्नानुत्तमागुरुगन्धिनः ॥

sukhārohaṇasopānānmahāsanaparicchadān | snagdāmasamavacchannānuttamāgurugandhinaḥ

with stairs easy to climb, furnished with great seats and coverings, hung with garlands and wreaths, and fragrant with the finest aloe-wood,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.21cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.22ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 26 (2.37.26)

हंसेन्दुवर्णसदृशानायोजनसुदर्शनान् । असम्बाधान्समद्वारान्युतानुच्चावचैर्गुणैः ॥

haṃsenduvarṇasadṛśānāyojanasudarśanān | asambādhānsamadvārānyutānuccāvacairguṇaiḥ

white as swans or the moon, lovely to see from a yojana away, uncrowded, with doors all alike, and endowed with features of every kind,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.22cd of the critical edition, which reads haṃsāṃśu-, and the second = 2.31.23ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 27 (2.37.27)

बहुधातुनिबद्धाङ्गान्हिमवच्छिखरानिव । विश्रान्तास्ते ततोऽपश्यन्भूमिपा भूरिदक्षिणम् ॥

bahudhātunibaddhāṅgānhimavacchikharāniva | viśrāntāste tato'paśyanbhūmipā bhūridakṣiṇam

their parts inlaid with many minerals, like the peaks of the Himalaya. Rested, the kings then beheld the giver of lavish sacrificial fees,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.23cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.31.24ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 28 (2.37.28)

वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । तत्सदः पार्थिवैः कीर्णं ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः । भ्राजते स्म तदा राजन्नाकपृष्ठं यथाऽमरैः ॥

vṛtaṃ sadasyairbahubhirdharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | tatsadaḥ pārthivaiḥ kīrṇaṃ brāhmaṇaiśca maharṣibhiḥ | bhrājate sma tadā rājannākapṛṣṭhaṃ yathā'maraiḥ

the Dharma king Yudhishthira, surrounded by many members of the assembly. That assembly, crowded with kings, brahmins and great seers, shone then, O king, like the vault of heaven with its immortals.

Note on the text: The first line = 2.31.24cd of the critical edition and the second and third = 2.31.25, which reads mahātmabhiḥ (aligned by hand).