Krishna Receives the First Honour

Verse 1 (2.39.1)

ततोऽभिषेचनीयेऽह्नि ब्राह्मणा राजभिः सह । अन्तर्वेदीं प्रविविशुः सत्कारार्हा महर्षयः ॥

tato'bhiṣecanīye'hni brāhmaṇā rājabhiḥ saha | antarvedīṃ praviviśuḥ satkārārhā maharṣayaḥ

Then, on the day of the consecration, the brahmins, together with the kings, and the great seers who were worthy of honour entered the inner sacrificial enclosure.

Verse 2 (2.39.2)

नारदप्रमुखास्तस्यामन्तर्वेद्यां महात्मनः । समासीनाः शुशुभिरे सहराजर्षिभिस्तदा ॥

nāradapramukhāstasyāmantarvedyāṃ mahātmanaḥ | samāsīnāḥ śuśubhire saharājarṣibhistadā

With Narada at their head, they sat in that inner enclosure of the great-souled king and shone there together with the royal sages.

Verse 3 (2.39.3)

समेता ब्रह्मभवने देवा देवर्षयस्तथा । कर्मान्तरमुपासन्तो जजल्पुरमितौजसः ॥

sametā brahmabhavane devā devarṣayastathā | karmāntaramupāsanto jajalpuramitaujasaḥ

As gods and divine seers gather in the hall of Brahma, so they gathered there; and in the pauses between the rites those men of boundless energy talked among themselves.

Verse 4 (2.39.4)

एवमेतन्न चाप्येवमेवं चैतन्न चान्यथा । इत्यूचुर्बहवस्तत्र वितण्डां वै परस्परम् ॥

evametanna cāpyevamevaṃ caitanna cānyathā | ityūcurbahavastatra vitaṇḍāṃ vai parasparam

"It is so." "No, it is not so." "It is thus, and not otherwise." In this way many of them argued there with one another.

Verse 5 (2.39.5)

कृशानर्थांस्ततः केचिदकृशांस्तत्र कुर्वते । अकृशांश्च कृशांश्चक्रुर्हेतुभिः शास्त्रनिश्चयैः ॥

kṛśānarthāṃstataḥ kecidakṛśāṃstatra kurvate | akṛśāṃśca kṛśāṃścakrurhetubhiḥ śāstraniścayaiḥ

Some made weak arguments strong, and others made strong ones weak, by reasoning and by the settled conclusions of the shastras.

Verse 6 (2.39.6)

तत्र मेधाविनः केचिदर्थमन्यैरुदीरितम् । विचिक्षिपुर्यथा श्येना नभोगतमिवामिषम् ॥

tatra medhāvinaḥ kecidarthamanyairudīritam | vicikṣipuryathā śyenā nabhogatamivāmiṣam

Some clever men there tore apart a point that others had put forward, as hawks snatch at a scrap of meat in mid-air.

Verse 7 (2.39.7)

केचिद्धर्मार्थकुशलाः केचित्तत्र महाव्रताः । रेमिरे कथयन्तश्च सर्वभाष्यविदां वराः ॥

keciddharmārthakuśalāḥ kecittatra mahāvratāḥ | remire kathayantaśca sarvabhāṣyavidāṃ varāḥ

Some, skilled in dharma and artha, and some who kept great vows, foremost among those who knew all the commentaries, took delight in conversing there.

Verse 8 (2.39.8)

सा वेदिर्वेदसम्पन्नैर्देवद्विजमहर्षिभिः । आबभासे समाकीर्णा नक्षत्रैर्द्यौरिवायता ॥

sā vedirvedasampannairdevadvijamaharṣibhiḥ | ābabhāse samākīrṇā nakṣatrairdyaurivāyatā

Thronged with gods, brahmins and great seers rich in Vedic learning, that altar shone like the wide sky filled with stars.

Verse 9 (2.39.9)

न तस्यां सन्निधौ शूद्रः कश्चिदासीन्न चाव्रती । अन्तर्वेद्यां तदा राजन्युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने ॥

na tasyāṃ sannidhau śūdraḥ kaścidāsīnna cāvratī | antarvedyāṃ tadā rājanyudhiṣṭhiraniveśane

O king, in that inner enclosure in Yudhishthira's residence there was no shudra anywhere near, nor anyone who did not keep the vows.

Verse 10 (2.39.10)

तां तु लक्ष्मीवतो लक्ष्मीं तदा यज्ञविधानजाम् । तुतोष नारदः पश्यन्धर्मराजस्य धीमतः ॥

tāṃ tu lakṣmīvato lakṣmīṃ tadā yajñavidhānajām | tutoṣa nāradaḥ paśyandharmarājasya dhīmataḥ

Seeing the splendour of the wise and glorious Dharmaraja, born of the ordinances of the sacrifice, Narada was well pleased.

Verse 11 (2.39.11)

अथ चिन्तां समापेदे स मुनिर्मनुजाधिप । नारदस्तु तदा पश्यन्सर्वक्षत्रसमागमम् ॥

atha cintāṃ samāpede sa munirmanujādhipa | nāradastu tadā paśyansarvakṣatrasamāgamam

Then, O lord of men, as the sage Narada looked upon this gathering of all the kshatriyas, he fell into thought.

Verse 12 (2.39.12)

सस्मार च पुरावृत्तां कथां तां पुरुषर्षभ । अंशावतरणे याऽसौ ब्रह्मणो भवनेऽभवत् ॥

sasmāra ca purāvṛttāṃ kathāṃ tāṃ puruṣarṣabha | aṃśāvataraṇe yā'sau brahmaṇo bhavane'bhavat

And, O bull among men, he remembered the ancient story of what had taken place in Brahma's abode at the descent of the partial incarnations.

Verse 13 (2.39.13)

देवानां सङ्गमं तं तु विज्ञाय कुरुनन्दन । नारदः पुण्डरीकाक्षं सस्मार मनसा हरिम् ॥

devānāṃ saṅgamaṃ taṃ tu vijñāya kurunandana | nāradaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ sasmāra manasā harim

Knowing this to be that same assembly of the gods, O joy of the Kurus, Narada called to mind the lotus-eyed Hari.

Verse 14 (2.39.14)

साक्षात्स विबुधारिघ्नः क्षत्रे नारायणो विभुः । प्रतिज्ञां पालयंश्चेमां जातः परपुरञ्जयः ॥

sākṣātsa vibudhārighnaḥ kṣatre nārāyaṇo vibhuḥ | pratijñāṃ pālayaṃścemāṃ jātaḥ parapurañjayaḥ

"The all-pervading Narayana himself, slayer of the enemies of the gods and conqueror of enemy cities, has been born among the kshatriyas to keep this promise.

Verse 15 (2.39.15)

सन्दिदेश पुरा योऽसौ विबुधान्भूतकृत्स्वयम् । अन्योन्यमभिनिघ्नन्तः पुनर्लोकानवाप्स्यथ ॥

sandideśa purā yo'sau vibudhānbhūtakṛtsvayam | anyonyamabhinighnantaḥ punarlokānavāpsyatha

He, the maker of beings, who long ago himself commanded the gods, "Slaying one another, you will win back your worlds" —

Note on the text: Corrected न्दिदेश → सन्दिदेश and न्योन्यमभिनिघ्नन्तः → अन्योन्यमभिनिघ्नन्तः (misprints in Wikisource; the first akshara of each line was dropped, leaving each pada a syllable short; the critical edition reads saṃdideśa … anyonyam).

Verse 16 (2.39.16)

इति नारायणः शम्भुर्भगवान्भूतभावनः । आदिश्य विबुधान्सर्वानजायत यदुक्षये ॥

iti nārāyaṇaḥ śambhurbhagavānbhūtabhāvanaḥ | ādiśya vibudhānsarvānajāyata yadukṣaye

having so commanded all the gods, Narayana, the benign Lord who sustains all beings, was born into the house of the Yadus,

Verse 17 (2.39.17)

क्षितावन्धकवृष्णीनां वंशे वंशभृतां वरः । परया शुशुभे लक्ष्म्या नक्षत्राणामिवोडुराट् ॥

kṣitāvandhakavṛṣṇīnāṃ vaṃśe vaṃśabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | parayā śuśubhe lakṣmyā nakṣatrāṇāmivoḍurāṭ

on earth, in the line of the Andhakas and Vrishnis, the best of those who uphold a lineage; and he shone with supreme splendour, like the moon among the stars.

Verse 18 (2.39.18)

यस्य बाहुबलं सेन्द्राः सुराः सर्व उपासते । सोऽयं मानुषवन्नाम हरिरास्तेऽरिमर्दनः ॥

yasya bāhubalaṃ sendrāḥ surāḥ sarva upāsate | so'yaṃ mānuṣavannāma harirāste'rimardanaḥ

He whose strength of arm all the gods with Indra rely upon, that same Hari, crusher of foes, now lives here in the guise of a man.

Note on the text: Corrected सोयं → सोऽयं (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; the critical edition reads so 'yaṃ).

Verse 19 (2.39.19)

अहो बत महद्भूतं स्वयम्भूर्यदिदं स्वयम् । आदास्यति पुनः क्षत्रमेवं बलसमन्वितम् ॥

aho bata mahadbhūtaṃ svayambhūryadidaṃ svayam | ādāsyati punaḥ kṣatramevaṃ balasamanvitam

Ah, what a great wonder it is, that the Self-born himself will take back again this order of kshatriyas, so great in strength!"

Verse 20 (2.39.20)

इत्येतां नारदश्चिन्तां चिन्तयामास सर्ववित् । हरिं नारायणं ज्ञात्वा यज्ञैरीज्यं तमीश्वरम् ॥

ityetāṃ nāradaścintāṃ cintayāmāsa sarvavit | hariṃ nārāyaṇaṃ jñātvā yajñairījyaṃ tamīśvaram

So the all-knowing Narada pondered, knowing Hari to be Narayana, the Lord who is worshipped with sacrifices.

Verse 21 (2.39.21)

तस्मिन्धर्मविदां श्रेष्ठो धर्मराजस्य धीमतः । महाध्वरे महाबुद्धिस्तस्थौ स बहुमानतः ॥

tasmindharmavidāṃ śreṣṭho dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ | mahādhvare mahābuddhistasthau sa bahumānataḥ

And he, best of those who know dharma, a man of great understanding, stayed on at the great sacrifice of the wise Dharmaraja, held in high honour.

Verse 22 (2.39.22)

ततः समुदिता मुख्यैर्गुणैर्गुणवतां वराः । बहवो भावितात्मानः पृथक्पृथगरिन्दमाः ॥

tataḥ samuditā mukhyairguṇairguṇavatāṃ varāḥ | bahavo bhāvitātmānaḥ pṛthakpṛthagarindamāḥ

Then many came together there, each on his own account: the best of the virtuous, endowed with the chief virtues, men of disciplined mind and subduers of foes.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) before the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 1–2).

Verse 23 (2.39.23)

आत्मकृत्यमिति ज्ञात्वा पाञ्चालास्तत्र सर्वशः । समीयुर्वृष्णयश्चैव तदाऽनीकाग्रहारिणः ॥

ātmakṛtyamiti jñātvā pāñcālāstatra sarvaśaḥ | samīyurvṛṣṇayaścaiva tadā'nīkāgrahāriṇaḥ

Regarding it as their own affair, the Panchalas gathered there from every side, and so did the Vrishnis, who led the van of the army.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 3–4).

Verse 24 (2.39.24)

सदाराः सजनामात्या वहन्तो रत्नसञ्चयान् । विकृष्टत्वाच्च देशस्य गुरुभारतया च ते ॥

sadārāḥ sajanāmātyā vahanto ratnasañcayān | vikṛṣṭatvācca deśasya gurubhāratayā ca te

With their wives, kinsfolk and ministers, carrying heaps of jewels — and because the country was far away and their loads were heavy —

Note on the text: Corrected दाराः → सदाराः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara स, the pada is a syllable short; Appendix I No. 18 reads sadārāḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 5–6).

Verse 25 (2.39.25)

ययुः प्रमुदिताः पश्चाद्भगवन्तं समन्वयुः । बलशेषं समुदितं परिगृह्य समन्ततः ॥

yayuḥ pramuditāḥ paścādbhagavantaṃ samanvayuḥ | balaśeṣaṃ samuditaṃ parigṛhya samantataḥ

they came along joyfully behind, following the Lord, gathering up the rest of the forces on every side.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 7–8).

Verse 26 (2.39.26)

अजश्चक्रायुधः शौरिरमित्रगणमर्दनः । बलाधिकारे निक्षिप्य संमान्यानकदुन्दुभिम् ॥

ajaścakrāyudhaḥ śauriramitragaṇamardanaḥ | balādhikāre nikṣipya saṃmānyānakadundubhim

The unborn Shauri, bearer of the discus, crusher of hosts of foes, placed the honoured Anakadundubhi (Vasudeva) in command of the army,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 9–10).

Verse 27 (2.39.27)

सम्प्रायाद्यादवश्रेष्ठो यजमाने युधिष्ठिरे । उच्चावचमुपादाय धर्मराजाय माधवः ॥

samprāyādyādavaśreṣṭho yajamāne yudhiṣṭhire | uccāvacamupādāya dharmarājāya mādhavaḥ

and while Yudhishthira was performing the sacrifice, Madhava, best of the Yadavas, set out, taking gifts of every kind for the Dharmaraja.

Note on the text: Corrected जयमाने → यजमाने (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas, "while performing the sacrifice"; Appendix I No. 18 reads yajamāne). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 11–12).

Verse 28 (2.39.28)

धनौघं पुरतः कृत्वा खाण्डवप्रस्थमाययौ । तत्र यज्ञगतान्पश्यंश्चैद्यवर्गसमागतान् ॥

dhanaughaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā khāṇḍavaprasthamāyayau | tatra yajñagatānpaśyaṃścaidyavargasamāgatān

Sending a flood of wealth ahead of him, he came to Khandavaprastha. There he saw, come for the sacrifice and gathered with the party of the Chedi king,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 13–14).

Verse 29 (2.39.29)

भूमिपालगणान्सर्वान्सप्रभानिव तोयदान् । मेघकायान्निवसतो यूथपानिव यूथपः ॥

bhūmipālagaṇānsarvānsaprabhāniva toyadān | meghakāyānnivasato yūthapāniva yūthapaḥ

all the hosts of earth's rulers, radiant like rain clouds, vast as clouds in body, encamped there; he looked on them as one herd-leader looks on others,

Note on the text: Corrected घकायान् → मेघकायान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara मे, the pada is a syllable short; Appendix I No. 18 reads meghakāyān). Appendix I No. 18 reads niḥśvasato for Wikisource's निवसतो; the Wikisource reading is kept. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 15–16).

Verse 30 (2.39.30)

बलिनः सिंहसङ्काशान्महीमावृत्य तिष्ठतः । ततो जनौघसम्बाधं राजसागरमव्ययम् ॥

balinaḥ siṃhasaṅkāśānmahīmāvṛtya tiṣṭhataḥ | tato janaughasambādhaṃ rājasāgaramavyayam

mighty men like lions, who stood covering the earth. Then that imperishable ocean of kings, packed with throngs of people,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 17–18).

Verse 31 (2.39.31)

नादयन्रथघोषेण ह्युपायान्मधुसूदनः । असूर्यमिव सूर्येण निवातमिव वायुना ॥

nādayanrathaghoṣeṇa hyupāyānmadhusūdanaḥ | asūryamiva sūryeṇa nivātamiva vāyunā

Madhusudana entered, making it resound with the rumble of his chariot. As a sunless place is lit by the sun, and a windless place is refreshed by the wind,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 19–20).

Verse 32 (2.39.32)

कृष्णेन समुपेतेन जहर्षे भारतं पुरम् । ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियाणां तु पूजार्थं ह्यर्थधर्मवित् ॥

kṛṣṇena samupetena jaharṣe bhārataṃ puram | brāhmaṇakṣatriyāṇāṃ tu pūjārthaṃ hyarthadharmavit

so the city of the Bharatas rejoiced at Krishna's coming. To honour the brahmins and kshatriyas, Sahadeva, versed in artha and dharma,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 21–22).

Verse 33 (2.39.33)

सहदेवो विशेषज्ञो माद्रीपुत्रः कृतोऽभवत् । भगवन्तं तु भूतानां भास्वन्तमिव तेजसा ॥

sahadevo viśeṣajño mādrīputraḥ kṛto'bhavat | bhagavantaṃ tu bhūtānāṃ bhāsvantamiva tejasā

the son of Madri, a man of fine discernment, had been appointed. The Lord of beings, blazing with energy like the sun,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 23–24).

Verse 34 (2.39.34)

विशन्तं यज्ञभूमिं तां सितस्यावरजं प्रभुम् । तेजोराशिमृषिं विप्रमदृश्यं वै विजानताम् ॥

viśantaṃ yajñabhūmiṃ tāṃ sitasyāvarajaṃ prabhum | tejorāśimṛṣiṃ vipramadṛśyaṃ vai vijānatām

the mighty younger brother of the fair-skinned Balarama, entering that sacrificial ground — a mass of brilliance, a seer and sage, beyond the sight even of those who know,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 25–26).

Verse 35 (2.39.35)

वयोधिकानां वृद्धानां मार्गमात्मनि तिष्ठताम् । जगतस्तस्थुषश्चैव प्रभवाप्ययमच्युतम् ॥

vayodhikānāṃ vṛddhānāṃ mārgamātmani tiṣṭhatām | jagatastasthuṣaścaiva prabhavāpyayamacyutam

who holds within himself the path of the elders and the aged, the imperishable origin and dissolution of all that moves and all that stands still,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 27–28).

Verse 36 (2.39.36)

अनन्तमन्तं शत्रूणाममित्रगणमर्दनम् । प्रभवं सर्वभूतानामापत्स्वभयमच्युतम् ॥

anantamantaṃ śatrūṇāmamitragaṇamardanam | prabhavaṃ sarvabhūtānāmāpatsvabhayamacyutam

the endless one, the end of his enemies, crusher of hosts of foes, the source of all beings, the imperishable refuge from fear in times of distress,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 29–30).

Verse 37 (2.39.37)

भविष्यं भावनं भूतं द्वारवत्यामरिन्दमम् । स दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमायान्तं प्रतिपूज्यामितौजसम् ॥

bhaviṣyaṃ bhāvanaṃ bhūtaṃ dvāravatyāmarindamam | sa dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇamāyāntaṃ pratipūjyāmitaujasam

what is to be, what brings into being, and what has been, the subduer of foes who dwells in Dvaraka — seeing Krishna of boundless energy approach, the Pandava honoured him in return

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 31–32).

Verse 38 (2.39.38)

यथार्हं केशवे वृत्तिं प्रत्यपद्यत पाण्डवः । ज्यैष्ठ्यकानिष्ठ्यसंयोगं सम्प्रधार्य गुणागुणैः ॥

yathārhaṃ keśave vṛttiṃ pratyapadyata pāṇḍavaḥ | jyaiṣṭhyakāniṣṭhyasaṃyogaṃ sampradhārya guṇāguṇaiḥ

and behaved towards Keshava as was fitting, weighing seniority and juniority, merits and faults.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 33–34).

Verse 39 (2.39.39)

आरिराधयिषुर्धर्मः पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् । महदादित्यसङ्काशमासनं च जगत्पतेः । ददौ नासादितं कैश्चित्तस्मिन्नुपविवेश सः ॥

ārirādhayiṣurdharmaḥ pūjayitvā dvijottamān | mahadādityasaṅkāśamāsanaṃ ca jagatpateḥ | dadau nāsāditaṃ kaiścittasminnupaviveśa saḥ

Wishing to please him, Dharma's son, having honoured the best of the brahmins, gave the Lord of the world a great seat, bright as the sun, on which no one had yet sat; and he sat down on it.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') at the end of the verse; Wikisource prints this verse with three lines. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 18, after 2.33.21 (lines 35–37).

Verse 40 (2.39.40)

ततो भीष्मोऽब्रवीद्राजन्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । क्रियतामर्हणं राज्ञां यथार्हमिति भारत ॥

tato bhīṣmo'bravīdrājandharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | kriyatāmarhaṇaṃ rājñāṃ yathārhamiti bhārata

Then, O king, Bhishma said to Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, "Let the kings be honoured, each as he deserves, O Bharata.

Verse 41 (2.39.41)

आचार्यमृत्विजं चैव संयुजं च युधिष्ठिर । स्नातकं च प्रियं प्राहुः षडर्घार्हान्नृपं तथा ॥

ācāryamṛtvijaṃ caiva saṃyujaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhira | snātakaṃ ca priyaṃ prāhuḥ ṣaḍarghārhānnṛpaṃ tathā

The teacher, the officiating priest, the kinsman by marriage, the snataka, the dear friend and the king: these six, Yudhishthira, are said to be worthy of the guest-offering.

Verse 42 (2.39.42)

एतानर्घ्यानभिगतानाहुः संवत्सरोषितान् । त इमे कालपूगस्य महतोऽस्मानुपागताः ॥

etānarghyānabhigatānāhuḥ saṃvatsaroṣitān | ta ime kālapūgasya mahato'smānupāgatāḥ

These, they say, are to receive the offering when they come to us after a year away; and these have come to us after a long span of time.

Verse 43 (2.39.43)

एषामेकैकशो राजन्नर्घ आनीयतामिति । अथ चैषां वरिष्ठाय समर्थायोपनीयताम् ॥

eṣāmekaikaśo rājannargha ānīyatāmiti | atha caiṣāṃ variṣṭhāya samarthāyopanīyatām

O king, let an offering be brought for each of them in turn; or else let it be presented to the one among them who is foremost and most deserving."

Note on the text: Corrected तैषां → चैषां (misprint in Wikisource; तैषां is not a valid form here; the critical edition reads atha caiṣāṃ).

Verse 44 (2.39.44)

कस्मै भवान्मन्यतेऽर्घमेकस्मै कुरुनन्दन । उपनीयमानं युक्तं च तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

kasmai bhavānmanyate'rghamekasmai kurunandana | upanīyamānaṃ yuktaṃ ca tanme brūhi pitāmaha

"To which single person do you think it right that the offering be made, O joy of the Kurus? Tell me that, grandfather."

Verse 45 (2.39.45)

ततो भीष्मः शान्तनवो बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य वीर्यवान् । वार्ष्णेयं मन्यते कृष्णमर्हणीयतमं भुवि ॥

tato bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo buddhyā niścitya vīryavān | vārṣṇeyaṃ manyate kṛṣṇamarhaṇīyatamaṃ bhuvi

Then mighty Bhishma, son of Shantanu, having made up his mind, judged Krishna of the Vrishnis to be the most worthy of honour on earth.

Verse 46 (2.39.46)

एष ह्येषां समस्तानां तेजोबलपराक्रमैः । मध्ये तपन्निवाभाति ज्योतिषामिव भास्करः ॥

eṣa hyeṣāṃ samastānāṃ tejobalaparākramaiḥ | madhye tapannivābhāti jyotiṣāmiva bhāskaraḥ

"Among all these he shines in their midst with his brilliance, strength and valour, like the sun among the heavenly lights.

Verse 47 (2.39.47)

असूर्यमिव सूर्येण निर्वातमिव वायुना । भासितं ह्लादितं चैव कृष्णेनेदं सदो हि नः ॥

asūryamiva sūryeṇa nirvātamiva vāyunā | bhāsitaṃ hlāditaṃ caiva kṛṣṇenedaṃ sado hi naḥ

As a sunless place is lit by the sun and a windless place refreshed by the wind, so this assembly of ours is lit up and gladdened by Krishna."

Verse 48 (2.39.48)

तस्मै भीष्माभ्यनुज्ञातः सहदेवः प्रतापवान् । उपजह्रेऽथ विधिवद्वार्ष्णेयायार्घ्यमुत्तमम् ॥

tasmai bhīṣmābhyanujñātaḥ sahadevaḥ pratāpavān | upajahre'tha vidhivadvārṣṇeyāyārghyamuttamam

With Bhishma's leave, the valiant Sahadeva then duly presented the excellent offering to the Vrishni.

Verse 49 (2.39.49)

गामर्घ्यं मधुपर्कं च ह्यानीयोपाहरत्तदा । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजन्निदमासीत्तदाऽद्भुतम् ॥

gāmarghyaṃ madhuparkaṃ ca hyānīyopāharattadā | etasminnantare rājannidamāsīttadā'dbhutam

He brought a cow, water for the guest and the madhuparka, and offered them. At that moment, O king, a strange thing happened.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) before the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.30 (passages *349, line 1, and *350, line 2).

Verse 50 (2.39.50)

तां दृष्ट्वा क्षत्रियाः सर्वे पूजां कृष्णस्य भूयसीम् । सम्प्रेक्ष्यान्योन्यमासीना हृदयैस्तामधारयन् ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā kṣatriyāḥ sarve pūjāṃ kṛṣṇasya bhūyasīm | samprekṣyānyonyamāsīnā hṛdayaistāmadhārayan

Seeing that surpassing honour paid to Krishna, all the kshatriyas sitting there looked at one another and nursed it in their hearts.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') at the end of the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.30 (passage *351).

Verse 51 (2.39.51)

प्रतिजग्राह तां कृष्णः शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा । शिशुपालस्तु तां पूजां वासुदेवे न चक्षमे ॥

pratijagrāha tāṃ kṛṣṇaḥ śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā | śiśupālastu tāṃ pūjāṃ vāsudeve na cakṣame

Krishna accepted it in the manner the shastras prescribe. But Shishupala could not bear that honour paid to Vasudeva.

Verse 52 (2.39.52)

उपालभ्य स भीष्मं च धर्मराजं च संसदि । अवाक्षिपद्वासुदेवं चेदिराजो महाबलः ॥

upālabhya sa bhīṣmaṃ ca dharmarājaṃ ca saṃsadi | avākṣipadvāsudevaṃ cedirājo mahābalaḥ

Rebuking both Bhishma and the Dharmaraja in the assembly, the mighty king of Chedi reviled Vasudeva.

Verse 53 (2.39.53)

तेषामाकारभावज्ञः सहदेवो न चक्षमे । मानिनां बलिनां राज्ञां पुरः सन्दर्शिते पदे ॥

teṣāmākārabhāvajñaḥ sahadevo na cakṣame | mānināṃ balināṃ rājñāṃ puraḥ sandarśite pade

Sahadeva, who could read the looks and feelings of those kings, would not stand for it. When he had shown his foot before those proud and mighty kings,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) before the verse. Corrected पुरुः → पुरः (misprint in Wikisource; "before"; the apparatus reads puraḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.32 (passage *352, lines 1–2).

Verse 54 (2.39.54)

पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीत्सहदेवस्य मूर्धनि । जन्मप्रभृति वृष्णीनां सुनीथः शत्रुरब्रवीत् ॥

puṣpavṛṣṭirmahatyāsītsahadevasya mūrdhani | janmaprabhṛti vṛṣṇīnāṃ sunīthaḥ śatrurabravīt

a great shower of flowers fell on Sahadeva's head. Then Sunitha (Shishupala), the enemy of the Vrishnis from his very birth, spoke:

Note on the text: Corrected वृष्णीना → वृष्णीनां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; the apparatus reads vṛṣṇīnāṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.32 (passage *352, lines 3–4).

Verse 55 (2.39.55)

प्रष्टा वियोनिजो राजा प्रतिवक्ता नदीसुतः । प्रतिग्रहीता गोपालः प्रदाता च वियोनिजः ॥

praṣṭā viyonijo rājā prativaktā nadīsutaḥ | pratigrahītā gopālaḥ pradātā ca viyonijaḥ

"The one who asks is a king of irregular birth; the one who answers is the son of a river; the one who receives is a cowherd; and the giver too is of irregular birth.

Note on the text: Speaker: Shishupala's direct speech, which fills the verse (Wikisource prints no heading). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.32 (passage *352, lines 5–6).

Verse 56 (2.39.56)

सदस्या मूकवत्सर्वे आसतेऽत्र किमुच्यते । इत्युक्त्वा स विहस्याशु पाण्डवं पुनरब्रवीत् ॥

sadasyā mūkavatsarve āsate'tra kimucyate | ityuktvā sa vihasyāśu pāṇḍavaṃ punarabravīt

All the members of the assembly sit here as if they were dumb. What more is there to say?" Having said this, he laughed scornfully and spoke again to the Pandava:

Note on the text: Corrected पाण्डुं → पाण्डवं (misprint in Wikisource; the pada is a syllable short and the one addressed is Yudhishthira, not the dead Pandu; the apparatus reads pāṇḍavaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.32 (passage *352, lines 7–8).

Verse 57 (2.39.57)

अतिपश्यसि वा सर्वान्न वा पश्यसि पाण्डव । तिष्ठत्स्वन्येषु पूज्येषु गोपमर्चितवानसि ॥

atipaśyasi vā sarvānna vā paśyasi pāṇḍava | tiṣṭhatsvanyeṣu pūjyeṣu gopamarcitavānasi

"Either you see beyond everyone, Pandava, or you do not see at all: while others worthy of honour are standing here, you have worshipped a cowherd.

Note on the text: Speaker: Shishupala's direct speech (no heading in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.32 (passage *352, lines 9–10).

Verse 58 (2.39.58)

एते चैवोभये तात कार्यस्य तु विनाशके । अतिदृष्टिरदृष्टिर्वा तयोः किं त्वं समास्थितः ॥

ete caivobhaye tāta kāryasya tu vināśake | atidṛṣṭiradṛṣṭirvā tayoḥ kiṃ tvaṃ samāsthitaḥ

Both of these, my friend, ruin an undertaking: seeing too much and not seeing at all. Which of the two have you fallen into?"

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') at the end of the verse. Speaker: Shishupala's direct speech (no heading in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives these lines only in its apparatus after 2.33.32 (passage *352, lines 11–12).