Duties Assigned at the Rajasuya

Verse 1 (2.38.1)

पितामहं गुरुं चैव प्रत्युद्गम्य युधिष्ठिरः । अभिवाद्य ततो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

pitāmahaṃ guruṃ caiva pratyudgamya yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | abhivādya tato rājannidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Going out to meet his grandsire and his teacher, Yudhishthira greeted them, O king, and spoke these words

Note on the text: The verse = 2.32.1abcd of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 2 (2.38.2)

भीष्मं द्रोणं कृपं द्रौणिं दुर्योधनविविंशती । अस्मिन्यज्ञे भवन्तो मामनुगृह्णन्तु सर्वशः ॥

bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ drauṇiṃ duryodhanaviviṃśatī | asminyajñe bhavanto māmanugṛhṇantu sarvaśaḥ

to Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Drona's son, Duryodhana and Vivimshati: "At this sacrifice may all of you favour me in every way.

Note on the text: The first line = 2.32.1ef of the critical edition and the second = 2.32.2ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 3 (2.38.3)

इदं वः सुमहच्चैव यदिहास्ति धनं मम । प्रणयन्तु भवन्तो मां यथेष्टमभिमन्त्रिताः ॥

idaṃ vaḥ sumahaccaiva yadihāsti dhanaṃ mama | praṇayantu bhavanto māṃ yatheṣṭamabhimantritāḥ

This great wealth that I have here is yours. You have come at my invitation; direct me as you please."

Note on the text: Corrected अभिमन्त्रितः → अभिमन्त्रिताः (misprint in Wikisource; the participle must agree with the plural भवन्तः; the critical edition reads aniyantritāḥ). The verse = 2.32.2cdef of the critical edition, which reads svam ahaṃ and prīṇayantu (aligned by hand). Yudhishthira's words continue here with no printed heading; the speaker is given as Yudhishthira.

Verse 4 (2.38.4)

एवमुक्त्वा स तान्सर्वान्दीक्षितः पाण्डवाग्रजः । युयोज स यथायोगमधिकारेष्वनन्तरम् ॥

evamuktvā sa tānsarvāndīkṣitaḥ pāṇḍavāgrajaḥ | yuyoja sa yathāyogamadhikāreṣvanantaram

Having spoken thus to all of them, the eldest Pandava, now consecrated, appointed them one after another to their offices, as befitted each.

Verse 5 (2.38.5)

पङ्क्त्यारोपणकार्ये च उच्छिष्टापनये पुनः । भोजनावेक्षणे चैव युयुत्सुं समयोजयत् ॥

paṅktyāropaṇakārye ca ucchiṣṭāpanaye punaḥ | bhojanāvekṣaṇe caiva yuyutsuṃ samayojayat

He appointed Yuyutsu to seat the rows of diners, to have the leavings cleared away, and to oversee the meals.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 6 (2.38.6)

भक्ष्यभोज्याधिकारेषु दुःशासनमयोजयत् । परिग्रहे ब्राह्मणानामश्वत्थामानमुक्तवान् ॥

bhakṣyabhojyādhikāreṣu duḥśāsanamayojayat | parigrahe brāhmaṇānāmaśvatthāmānamuktavān

He placed Duhshasana in charge of food and provisions, and charged Ashvatthaman with receiving the brahmins.

Verse 7 (2.38.7)

राज्ञां तु प्रतिपूजार्थं सञ्जयं सन्न्ययोजयत् । कृताकृतपरिज्ञाने भीष्मद्रोणौ महामती ॥

rājñāṃ tu pratipūjārthaṃ sañjayaṃ sannyayojayat | kṛtākṛtaparijñāne bhīṣmadroṇau mahāmatī

He appointed Sanjaya to return honour to the kings, and the wise Bhishma and Drona to know what had been done and what was still undone.

Note on the text: Corrected न्ययोजयत् → सन्न्ययोजयत् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped prefix leaves the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads saṃnyayojayat). Corrected भीष्णद्रोणौ → भीष्मद्रोणौ (misprint in Wikisource; Bhishma's name).

Verse 8 (2.38.8)

हिरण्यस्य सुवर्णस्य रत्नानां चान्ववेक्षणे । दक्षिणानां च वै दाने कृपं राजा न्ययोजयत् ॥

hiraṇyasya suvarṇasya ratnānāṃ cānvavekṣaṇe | dakṣiṇānāṃ ca vai dāne kṛpaṃ rājā nyayojayat

The king appointed Kripa to watch over the gold, both bullion and coin, and the jewels, and to give out the sacrificial fees.

Note on the text: The verse = 2.32.6abcd of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 9 (2.38.9)

तथाऽन्यान्पुरुषव्याघ्रांस्तस्मिंस्तस्मिन्न्ययोजयत् । बाह्लिको धृतराष्ट्रश्च सोमदत्तो जयद्रथः । नकुलेन समानीताः स्वामिवत्तत्र रेमिरे ॥

tathā'nyānpuruṣavyāghrāṃstasmiṃstasminnyayojayat | bāhliko dhṛtarāṣṭraśca somadatto jayadrathaḥ | nakulena samānītāḥ svāmivattatra remire

Likewise he appointed other tigers among men to this task and that. Bahlika, Dhritarashtra, Somadatta and Jayadratha, brought there by Nakula, enjoyed themselves there as if they were the masters of the house.

Note on the text: Corrected तथाऽऽन्यान् → तथाऽन्यान् (misprint in Wikisource; the double avagraha wrongly marks a long आ, since अन्यान् begins with a short vowel). The first line = 2.32.6ef of the critical edition and the second and third = 2.32.7 (aligned by hand).

Verse 10 (2.38.10)

क्षत्ता व्ययकरस्त्वासीद्विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित् । दुर्योधनस्त्वर्हणानि प्रतिजग्राह सर्वशः ॥

kṣattā vyayakarastvāsīdviduraḥ sarvadharmavit | duryodhanastvarhaṇāni pratijagrāha sarvaśaḥ

Vidura the steward, who knew every law, was in charge of expenditure, and Duryodhana received all the gifts of homage.

Verse 11 (2.38.11)

कुन्ती साध्वी च गान्धारी स्त्रीणां कुर्वन्ति चार्चनम् । अन्याः सर्वाः स्नुषास्तासां सन्देशं यान्तु माचिरम् । तिष्ठेत्कृष्णान्तिके सोऽयमर्जुनः कार्यसिद्धये ॥

kuntī sādhvī ca gāndhārī strīṇāṃ kurvanti cārcanam | anyāḥ sarvāḥ snuṣāstāsāṃ sandeśaṃ yāntu māciram | tiṣṭhetkṛṣṇāntike so'yamarjunaḥ kāryasiddhaye

"Kunti and the virtuous Gandhari shall do the honours for the women; let all the other daughters-in-law follow their bidding without delay; and let Arjuna here stay by Krishna's side to see the work through."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Corrected सोयमर्जुनः → सोऽयमर्जुनः (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). These are instructions given with no printed heading; the speaker is given as Yudhishthira, who is assigning the duties.

Verse 12 (2.38.12)

चरणक्षालने कृष्णो ब्राह्मणानां स्वयं ह्यभूत् । सर्वलोकः समावृत्तः पिप्रीषुः फलमुत्तमम् ॥

caraṇakṣālane kṛṣṇo brāhmaṇānāṃ svayaṃ hyabhūt | sarvalokaḥ samāvṛttaḥ piprīṣuḥ phalamuttamam

Krishna himself took on the washing of the brahmins' feet. The whole world had gathered there, hoping to win the highest reward,

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वलोकसमावृत्तः → सर्वलोकः समावृत्तः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped visarga runs two words together; the whole world is the subject of this line and of द्रष्टुकामः in the next verse, as the critical edition reads sarvalokaḥ samāvṛttaḥ). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line = 2.32.9ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 13 (2.38.13)

द्रष्टुकामः सभां चैव धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । न कश्चिदाहरत्तत्र सहस्रावरमर्हणम् ॥

draṣṭukāmaḥ sabhāṃ caiva dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | na kaścidāharattatra sahasrāvaramarhaṇam

eager to see the assembly hall and the Dharma king Yudhishthira. No one brought there a gift of homage worth less than a thousand;

Note on the text: Corrected यधिष्ठिरम् → युधिष्ठिरम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign ु). The first line = 2.32.9cd of the critical edition, which reads ca pāṇḍavam, and the second = 2.32.10ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 14 (2.38.14)

रत्नैश्च बहुभिस्तत्र धर्मराजमवर्धयत् । कथं तु मम कौरव्यो रत्नदानैः समाप्नुयात् ॥

ratnaiśca bahubhistatra dharmarājamavardhayat | kathaṃ tu mama kauravyo ratnadānaiḥ samāpnuyāt

each enriched the Dharma king there with many jewels. "How may the Kaurava complete his sacrifice through my gifts of jewels?" —

Note on the text: The first line = 2.32.10cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.32.11ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 15 (2.38.15)

यज्ञमित्येव राजानः स्पर्धमाना ददुर्धनम् । भवनैः सविमानाग्रैः सोदर्कैर्बलसंवृतैः ॥

yajñamityeva rājānaḥ spardhamānā dadurdhanam | bhavanaiḥ savimānāgraiḥ sodarkairbalasaṃvṛtaiḥ

with this one thought the kings vied with one another in giving wealth. With mansions crowned by towers like celestial cars, lofty and guarded by troops,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.32.11cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.32.12ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 16 (2.38.16)

लोकराजविमानैश्च ब्राह्मणावसथैः सह । कृतैरावसथैर्दिव्यैर्विमानप्रतिमैस्तथा ॥

lokarājavimānaiśca brāhmaṇāvasathaiḥ saha | kṛtairāvasathairdivyairvimānapratimaistathā

with the celestial-car palaces of the kings of the world and the lodgings of the brahmins, with the divine dwellings built there, like the palaces of the gods,

Note on the text: The first line = 2.32.12cd of the critical edition and the second = 2.32.13ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 17 (2.38.17)

विचित्रै रत्नवद्भिश्च ऋद्ध्या परमया युतैः । राजभिश्च समावृत्तैरतीव श्रीसमृद्धिभिः । अशोभत सदो राजन्कौन्तेयस्य महात्मनः ॥

vicitrai ratnavadbhiśca ṛddhyā paramayā yutaiḥ | rājabhiśca samāvṛttairatīva śrīsamṛddhibhiḥ | aśobhata sado rājankaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ

colourful, set with jewels and endowed with the highest splendour, and with the kings gathered there in surpassing wealth and glory, the assembly of the great-souled son of Kunti shone, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected रत्ववद्भिः → रत्नवद्भिः (misprint in Wikisource; "set with jewels", as the critical edition reads ratnavadbhiś). The first line = 2.32.13cd of the critical edition and the second and third = 2.32.14 (aligned by hand).

Verse 18 (2.38.18)

ऋद्ध्या तु वरुणं देवं स्पर्धमानो युधिष्ठिरः । षडग्निनाथ यज्ञेन सोऽयजद्दक्षिणावता ॥

ṛddhyā tu varuṇaṃ devaṃ spardhamāno yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | ṣaḍagninātha yajñena so'yajaddakṣiṇāvatā

Vying in splendour with the god Varuna, Yudhishthira then performed the sacrifice of the six fires, rich in sacrificial fees.

Note on the text: The verse = 2.32.15abcd of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 19 (2.38.19)

सर्वाञ्जनान्सर्वकामैः समृद्धैः समतर्पयत् । अन्नवान्बहुभक्ष्यश्च भुक्तवज्जनसंवृतः । रत्नोपहारसम्पन्नो बभूव स समागमः ॥

sarvāñjanānsarvakāmaiḥ samṛddhaiḥ samatarpayat | annavānbahubhakṣyaśca bhuktavajjanasaṃvṛtaḥ | ratnopahārasampanno babhūva sa samāgamaḥ

He satisfied all the people, granting every desire in abundance. That gathering abounded in food and in delicacies of many kinds, was thronged with people who had eaten their fill, and was rich in gifts of jewels.

Note on the text: The first line = 2.32.15ef of the critical edition and the second and third = 2.32.16, which reads ratnopahārakarmaṇyo (aligned by hand).

Verse 20 (2.38.20)

इडाज्यहोमाहुतिभिर्मन्त्रशिक्षाविशारदैः । तस्मिन्हि ततृपुर्देवास्तते यज्ञे महर्षिभिः ॥

iḍājyahomāhutibhirmantraśikṣāviśāradaiḥ | tasminhi tatṛpurdevāstate yajñe maharṣibhiḥ

With offerings of ida, ghee and oblations made by great seers skilled in mantra and its recitation, the gods were satisfied at that far-reaching sacrifice.

Verse 21 (2.38.21)

यथा देवास्तथा विप्रा दक्षिणान्नमहाधनैः । ततृपुः सर्ववर्णाश्च तस्मिन्यज्ञे मुदाऽन्विताः ॥

yathā devāstathā viprā dakṣiṇānnamahādhanaiḥ | tatṛpuḥ sarvavarṇāśca tasminyajñe mudā'nvitāḥ

As the gods were satisfied, so were the brahmins, with fees, food and great wealth, and people of every class rejoiced at that sacrifice.