The Gods Gather in the Sky to Watch the Battle

Verse 1 (4.53.1)

ततः सुदर्शनं नाम प्रासादं हरिवाहनः । सर्वान्देवान्समारोप्य प्रययौ यत्र पाण्डवः ॥

tataḥ sudarśanaṃ nāma prāsādaṃ harivāhanaḥ | sarvāndevānsamāropya prayayau yatra pāṇḍavaḥ

Then Indra, lord of the bay horses, took all the gods aboard the palace called Sudarshana and went to where the Pandava was.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 1–2. Corrected समारोष्य → समारोप्य (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प; the CE apparatus reads samāropya) and प्रययो → प्रययौ (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped au-sign; the CE apparatus reads prayayau).

Verse 2 (4.53.2)

स्थूणाराजिसहस्रं तु यत्र मध्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् । तत्र सूर्यपथेऽतिष्ठद्विमला महती सभा ॥

sthūṇārājisahasraṃ tu yatra madhye pratiṣṭhitam | tatra sūryapathe'tiṣṭhadvimalā mahatī sabhā

There, in the path of the sun, stood a vast and spotless hall, with a thousand rows of pillars set in its midst.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 3–4 (vāsavī for महती).

Verse 3 (4.53.3)

आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा अश्विनौ च मरुद्गणाः । तत्र श्वेतानि चक्राणि काञ्चनस्फाटिकानि च ॥

ādityā vasavo rudrā aśvinau ca marudgaṇāḥ | tatra śvetāni cakrāṇi kāñcanasphāṭikāni ca

The Adityas, the Vasus and the Rudras, the two Ashvins and the hosts of Maruts were there, and white wheels of gold and crystal,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 5–6 (chatrāṇi, "parasols", for चक्राणि; Wikisource's reading is kept).

Verse 4 (4.53.4)

तथा चित्राणि छत्राणि दिव्यरूपाणि भारत । मणिरत्नविचित्राणि नानारूपाणि भागशः । आकाशे सह दृश्यन्ते भानुमन्ति शुभानि च ॥

tathā citrāṇi chatrāṇi divyarūpāṇi bhārata | maṇiratnavicitrāṇi nānārūpāṇi bhāgaśaḥ | ākāśe saha dṛśyante bhānumanti śubhāni ca

and likewise, O Bharata, bright parasols of heavenly form, set with gems and jewels, of many shapes, each in its place, were seen together in the sky, shining and lovely —

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). The first line is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0918; the second and third as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 7–8.

Verse 5 (4.53.5)

अग्नेरिन्द्रस्य सोमस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च । तथा धातुर्विधातुश्च मित्रस्य धनदस्य च । रुद्रस्य विष्णोः सवितुस्त्रिदशानां तथैव च ॥

agnerindrasya somasya yamasya varuṇasya ca | tathā dhāturvidhātuśca mitrasya dhanadasya ca | rudrasya viṣṇoḥ savitustridaśānāṃ tathaiva ca

those of Agni, Indra, Soma, Yama and Varuna, of Dhatri and Vidhatri, of Mitra and of Kubera, giver of wealth, of Rudra, Vishnu and Savitri, and of the other gods as well.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 9–11. Corrected विष्णो → विष्णोः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped visarga — the genitive is needed in the list; the CE apparatus reads viṣṇoḥ).

Verse 6 (4.53.6)

काञ्चनानि च दामानि विविधाश्चोत्तमस्रजः । दिव्यपुष्पाभिसंवीतास्तत्र चित्राणि भेजिरे ॥

kāñcanāni ca dāmāni vividhāścottamasrajaḥ | divyapuṣpābhisaṃvītāstatra citrāṇi bhejire

Golden festoons and many kinds of fine garlands, wound about with heavenly flowers, graced the bright canopies there.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 12–13 (chatrāṇi for चित्राणि). Corrected दिव्यपुष्पाभिसवीतास् → दिव्यपुष्पाभिसंवीतास् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped anusvara; the CE apparatus reads divyapuṣpābhisaṃvītās).

Verse 7 (4.53.7)

तस्मिंस्तु राजन्प्रासादे दिव्यरत्नविभूषिते । दिव्यगन्धसमायुक्ताः स्रजो दिव्याश्चकाशिरे ॥

tasmiṃstu rājanprāsāde divyaratnavibhūṣite | divyagandhasamāyuktāḥ srajo divyāścakāśire

In that palace, O king, adorned with heavenly gems, heavenly garlands rich with heavenly fragrance shone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 14–15.

Verse 8 (4.53.8)

दिव्यश्च वायुः प्रववौ गन्धमादाय सर्वशः । ऋतवः पुष्पमादाय समतिष्ठन्त भारत ॥

divyaśca vāyuḥ pravavau gandhamādāya sarvaśaḥ | ṛtavaḥ puṣpamādāya samatiṣṭhanta bhārata

A heavenly breeze blew, carrying fragrance everywhere, and the seasons stood by, bearing their flowers, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 16–17.

Verse 9 (4.53.9)

प्रजानां पतयः सप्त सप्त चैव महर्षयः । तत्र देवर्षयश्चैव देवराजं दिवौकसः । इन्द्रेण सहिताः सर्वे त्रिदशाश्च व्यवस्थिताः ॥

prajānāṃ patayaḥ sapta sapta caiva maharṣayaḥ | tatra devarṣayaścaiva devarājaṃ divaukasaḥ | indreṇa sahitāḥ sarve tridaśāśca vyavasthitāḥ

The seven lords of creatures and the seven great seers, the divine seers too, and the dwellers of heaven attending the king of the gods — all the Thirty, with Indra, were gathered there.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 18–20. Corrected महर्षभः → महर्षयः (misprint in Wikisource; not a word here — the seven great seers are meant; the CE apparatus reads maharṣayaḥ).

Verse 10 (4.53.10)

न पङ्को न रजस्तत्र प्रविवेश कथंचन । आदित्यश्च विरूक्षोत्र नातिवेलमिवातपत् ॥

na paṅko na rajastatra praviveśa kathaṃcana | ādityaśca virūkṣotra nātivelamivātapat

No mud or dust found its way in there at all, and the sun, its harshness gone, did not burn beyond measure.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 21–22.

Verse 11 (4.53.11)

दिव्यगन्धं समादाय वायुस्तत्राभिगच्छति । आकाशं च दिशः सर्वा दर्शनीयमदृश्यत ॥

divyagandhaṃ samādāya vāyustatrābhigacchati | ākāśaṃ ca diśaḥ sarvā darśanīyamadṛśyata

The wind came there bearing heavenly scent, and the sky and all the quarters looked lovely.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 23–24.

Verse 12 (4.53.12)

तत्र देवाः समारुह्य तं दिव्यं सर्वतःप्रभम् । अम्बरे विमलेऽतिष्ठन्प्रासादं कामगामिनम् ॥

tatra devāḥ samāruhya taṃ divyaṃ sarvataḥprabham | ambare vimale'tiṣṭhanprāsādaṃ kāmagāminam

Having boarded that heavenly palace, radiant on every side and moving at will, the gods stood in the clear sky.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 25–26.

Verse 13 (4.53.13)

तत्र राजर्षयश्चैव समारुह्य दिवौकसः । श्वेतो राजा वसुमनास्तथा भद्रः प्रदर्शनः ॥

tatra rājarṣayaścaiva samāruhya divaukasaḥ | śveto rājā vasumanāstathā bhadraḥ pradarśanaḥ

The royal sages too, now dwellers of heaven, had come aboard there: Shveta, King Vasumanas, Bhadra and Pradarshana,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 27–28 (pratardanaḥ for प्रदर्शनः; Wikisource's name is kept).

Verse 14 (4.53.14)

नृगो ययातिर्नहुषो मान्धाता भरतः कुरुः । अष्टकश्च शिबिश्चोभौ स च राजा पुरूरवाः ॥

nṛgo yayātirnahuṣo māndhātā bharataḥ kuruḥ | aṣṭakaśca śibiścobhau sa ca rājā purūravāḥ

Nriga, Yayati, Nahusha, Mandhatri, Bharata, Kuru, Ashtaka and Shibi both, and King Pururavas;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 29–30. Corrected नहुपो → नहुषो (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष) and मान्धात → मान्धाता (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ā-sign in the nominative); the CE apparatus reads nahuṣo māndhātā.

Verse 15 (4.53.15)

डम्भोद्भवः कार्तवीर्यो ह्यर्जुनः सगरस्तथा । दिलीपः केरलः पूरुः शर्यातिः सोमकस्तदा ॥

ḍambhodbhavaḥ kārtavīryo hyarjunaḥ sagarastathā | dilīpaḥ keralaḥ pūruḥ śaryātiḥ somakastadā

Dambhodbhava, Arjuna Kartavirya, Sagara, Dilipa, Kerala, Puru, Sharyati and Somaka;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 31–32 (bharataḥ for केरलः; डम्भोद्भवः is spelt so in the apparatus too and is kept).

Verse 16 (4.53.16)

हरिश्चन्द्रश्च तेजस्वी रघुर्दशरथस्तथा । भगीरथश्च राजर्षिः सर्वे च जनमेजय ॥

hariścandraśca tejasvī raghurdaśarathastathā | bhagīrathaśca rājarṣiḥ sarve ca janamejaya

glorious Harishchandra, Raghu and Dasharatha, and the royal sage Bhagiratha — all of them, O Janamejaya;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 33–34.

Verse 17 (4.53.17)

पाण्डुश्चैव महाराजश्चामरव्यजनोज्ज्वलः । छत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन राजसूयश्रिया वृतः ॥

pāṇḍuścaiva mahārājaścāmaravyajanojjvalaḥ | chatreṇa dhriyamāṇena rājasūyaśriyā vṛtaḥ

and Pandu, the great king, bright with yak-tail fans, a parasol held over him, clothed in the splendour of the Rajasuya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 35–36.

Verse 18 (4.53.18)

एते चान्ये च बहवः पुण्यशीलाः शुचिव्रताः । कीर्तिमन्तो महावीर्यास्तत्रैवासन्दिवि स्थिताः ॥

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ puṇyaśīlāḥ śucivratāḥ | kīrtimanto mahāvīryāstatraivāsandivi sthitāḥ

These and many others, of holy conduct and pure vows, famed and mighty, were present there in heaven.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 37–38.

Verse 19 (4.53.19)

गणाश्चाप्सरसां सर्वे गन्धर्वाश्चापि सर्वशः । दैत्यराक्षसयक्षाश्च सुपर्णाः पन्नगास्तथा ॥

gaṇāścāpsarasāṃ sarve gandharvāścāpi sarvaśaḥ | daityarākṣasayakṣāśca suparṇāḥ pannagāstathā

All the troupes of apsarases and all the gandharvas, the daityas, rakshasas and yakshas, the suparnas and the serpents,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 39–40.

Verse 20 (4.53.20)

वासवप्रमुखाः सर्वे देवाश्च सगणेश्वराः । आसंस्तत्र समारूढाः संग्रामं तं दिदृक्षवः ॥

vāsavapramukhāḥ sarve devāśca sagaṇeśvarāḥ | āsaṃstatra samārūḍhāḥ saṃgrāmaṃ taṃ didṛkṣavaḥ

and all the gods led by Vasava, with the lords of their hosts, were there aboard, eager to see that battle.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 41–42.

Verse 21 (4.53.21)

इत्यम्बरे व्यवस्थाय प्रासादस्था दिवौकसः । एकस्य च बहूनां च युद्धं द्रष्टुं व्यवस्थिताः ॥

ityambare vyavasthāya prāsādasthā divaukasaḥ | ekasya ca bahūnāṃ ca yuddhaṃ draṣṭuṃ vyavasthitāḥ

Thus the dwellers of heaven, stationed in the sky aboard the palace, waited to see the battle of one against many.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.51.17f*0917, lines 43–44. Corrected द्रुष्टुं → द्रष्टुं (misprint in Wikisource; u for ṛ; the CE apparatus reads draṣṭuṃ). Dropped a third line, सर्वथा हि मया श्रेयो वक्तव्यं कुरुनन्दन, which the page labels 4-52-22b: it is a stray copy of 52.22b (Drona's words), out of place in this narration. The page stops here without its colophon; the CE passage ends at this verse too, so nothing appears lost.