युधिष्ठिर उवाच धर्मज्ञों बलवाञ्शूरः सत्यो राक्षसपुङ्गवः। भक्तोऽस्मानौरसः पुत्रो भीम गृहणातु मा चिरम्॥
Yudhishthira said : O Bhima, let this powerful and heroic Rakshasha chief, your own begotten son, ever devoted to us and always truthful, carry (his) mother (Draupadi) without any delay.
तव भीम सुतेनाहमतिभीमपराक्रम। अक्षतः सह पाञ्चाल्या गच्छेयं गन्धमादनम्॥
O greatly powerful hero, by your strength of arins I shall go with the Panchala princess to Gandhamadana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच भ्रातुर्वचनमाज्ञाय भीमसेनो घटोत्कचम्। आदिदेश नरव्याघ्रस्तनयं शत्रुकर्शनम्॥
Vaishampayana said : Having heard the words of his brother, that foremost of men Bhimasena spoke thus to that chastiser of foes, Ghatotkacha.
भीमसेन उवाच हैडिम्बेय परिश्रान्ता तव मातापराजित। त्वं च कामगमस्तात बलवान् वह तां खग॥
Bhima said: O invincible hero, O son of Hidimba, O child, O ranger of skies, you are capable of going everywhere at will. Your mother is worn out with fatigue; therefore, O strong hero, carry her.
स्कन्धमारोप्य भद्रं ते मध्येऽस्माकं विहायसा। गच्छ नीचिकया गत्या यथा चैनां न पीडयेः॥
On your shoulder and go with us adopting a course not far overhead, so that you may not make her feel uneasy. Let blessings be on you.
घटोत्कच उवाच धर्मराजं चधौम्यं च कृष्णां च यमजौ तथा। एकोऽप्यहमलं वोढुं किमुताद्य सहायवान्।॥
Ghatotkacha said : I can myself alone carry Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), Dhaumya, Krishna (Draupadi) and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), what wonder is then there that I shall today carry them when I have others to help me!
अन्ये च शतशः शूरा विहङ्गाः कामरूपिणः। सर्वान् वो ब्राह्मणैः सार्धं वक्ष्यन्ति सहितानघ॥
O sinless one, hundreds of other heroes (Rakshasas), capable of ranging in the skies and of assuming any form at will, will carry you with all the Brahmanas.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः कृष्णामुवाह स घटोत्कचः। पाण्डूनां मध्यगो वीरः पाण्डवानपि चापरे॥
Vaishampayana said: Having said this, Ghatotkacha carried Krishna (Draupadi) in the midst of the Pandavas. The other (Rakshasas) carried the Pandavas.
लोमशः सिद्धमार्गेण जगामानुपमद्युतिः। स्वेनैव स प्रभावेण द्वितीय इव भास्करः॥
Lomasha of matchless effulgence proceeded in the path of the Siddhas by virtue of his own (ascetic) prowess, like a second sun.
ब्राह्मणांश्चापि तान् सर्वान् समुपादाय राक्षसाः। नियोगाद् राक्षसेन्द्रस्य जग्मुर्भीमपराक्रमाः॥
Being ordered by the Rakshasas chief, other greatly powerful Rakshasas took up all the Brahmanas (on their shoulders) and proceeded along.
एवं सुरमणीयानि वनान्युपवनानि च। आलोकयन्तस्ते जग्मुर्विशालां बदरी प्रति॥
Blazing up many highly charming forests and woods, they went towards the great Badari tree.
ते त्वाशुगतिभिर्वीरा राक्षसैस्तैर्महाजवैः। उह्यमाना ययुः शीघ्रं दीर्घमध्वानमल्पवत्॥
Being carried by the greatly swift and heroic Rakshasas, who were capable of going great distance within the shortest time, they passed over a long way as if it were but a short one.
देशान् म्लेच्छजनाकीर्णान् नानारत्नाकरायुतान्। ददृशुर्गिरि पादांश्च नानाधातुसमाचितान्॥
They saw (on their way) many regions crowded with Mlechas, many mines of gems, many hillocks full of various minerals,
विद्याधरसमाकीर्णान् युतान् वानरकिन्नरैः। तथा किंपुरुषैश्चैव गन्धर्वैश्च समन्ततः॥
Thronged with Vidyadharas, abounding on all sides in the monkeys and the Kinnaras, the Kimpurushas and the Gandharvas,
मयूरैश्चमरैश्चैव वानरै रुरुभिस्तथा। वराहैर्गवयैश्चैव महिषैश्च समावृतान्॥
Full of peacocks, Chamaru cows, apes, Rurus, bears, Gavayas and buffaloes,
नदीजालसमाकीर्णान् नानापक्षियुतान् बहून्। नानाविधमृगैर्जुष्टान् वानरैश्चोपशोभितान्॥
Intersected by many rivulets and abounding in a large number of birds of various kinds and also in various sorts of beasts, beautified by elephants.
समदैश्चापि विहगैः पादपैरन्वितास्तथा। तेऽवतीर्य बहून् देशानुत्तमच्छिसमन्वितान्॥
Adorned with various trees and enraptured birds. Having passed many such regions and also the country of Uttara-Kurus.
ददृशुर्विविधाश्चर्यं कैलास पर्वतोत्तमम्। तस्याभ्याशे तु ददृशुर्नरनारायणाश्रमम्॥
They then saw that best of mountains, the Kailasa, full of wonderful sights. They then saw the hermitage of Nara and Narayana.
उपेतं पापैर्दिव्यैः सदापुष्पफलोपगैः। ददृशुस्तां च बदरी वृत्तस्कन्धां मनोरमाम्॥
Adorned with celestials trees bearing fruits and flowers in all seasons of the year. They then saw that charming Badari of large trunk.
स्निग्धामविरलच्छायां श्रिया परमया युताम्। पत्रैः स्निग्धैरविरलैरुपेतां मृदुभिः शुभाम्॥
It was full of freshness, of deep shade, of excellent beauty and of thick, soft and green foliage; it was blessed and healthful,
विशालशाखा विस्तीर्णामतिद्युतिसमन्विताम्। फलैरुपचितैर्दिव्यैराचितां स्वादुभि शम्॥
With gigantic and wide spreading boughs of matchless lustre, it bore full grown, tasteful and holy fruits.
मधुस्रवैः सदा दिव्यां महर्षिगणसेविताम्। मदप्रमुदितैर्नित्यं नानाद्विजगणैर्युताम्॥
All dropping excellent honey. It was frequented by the great Rishis and it was always inhabited by various birds maddened with animal spirits.
अदंशमशके देशे बहुमूलफलोदके। नीलशाद्वलसंच्छन्ने देवगन्धर्वसेविते॥
It grew in a place where there were no mosquitoes and gad flies and it abounded in fruits, roots and water, it was covered with green grass, inhabited by the celestials and the Gandharvas.
सुसमीकृतभूभागे स्वभावविहिते शुभे। जातां हिममृदुस्पर्शे देशेऽपहतकण्टके॥
It stood on a smooth surface of land which was naturally blessed and healthful it was thronless, beauteous and cool and pleasant in touch.
तामुपेत्य महात्मानः सह तैर्ब्राह्मणर्षभैः। अवतेरुस्ततः सर्वे राक्षसस्कन्धतः शनैः॥
Having reached the place with those foremost of Brahmanas, the illustrious (Pandavas) all slowly alighted from the shoulders of the Rakshasas.
ततस्तमाश्रमं रम्यं नरनारायणाश्रितम्। ददृशुः पाण्डवा राजन् सहिता द्विजपुङ्गवैः॥
O king, the Pandavas, accompanied by those best of Brahmanas, saw the charming hermitage of Nara and Narayana.
तमसा रहितं पुण्यमनामृष्टं रवेः करैः। क्षुत्तृट्शीतोष्णदोषैश्च वर्जितं शोकनाशनम्॥
It was free from darkness, it was holy, it was untouched by the solar rays, it was free from all the miseries, namely hunger and thirst, heat and cold; it destroyed all sorrows.
महर्षिगणसम्बाधं ब्राह्म या लक्ष्या समन्वितम्। दुष्प्रवेशं महाराज नरैर्धर्मबहिष्कृतैः॥
It was crowded by the great Rishis and adorned with the grace of the Vedas. It was inaccessible to those men who were beyond the pale of religion.
बलिहोमार्चितं दिव्यं सुसम्मृष्टानुलेपनम्। दिव्यपुष्योपहारैश्च सर्वतोऽभिविराजितम्॥
It was adorned with offerings and havyas, it was holy, well swept and daubed with fragrance. It shone beautiful with the offerings of celestials blossoms all around.
विशालैरग्निशरणैः उम्भाण्डैराचितं शुभैः। महद्भिस्तोयकलशैः कठिनैश्चोपशोभितम्॥
It was covered over with sacrificial altars, sacred ladles and posts and graced with large water jars and baskets.
शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्। दिव्यमाश्रयणीयं तमाश्रमं श्रमनाशनम्॥
It was the refuge of all creatures, it echoed with the recitations of the Vedas. It was heavenly and a fit place for a holy hermitage; it destroyed all fatigue.
श्रिया युतमनिर्देश्यं देवचर्योपशोभितम्। फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैश्चारुकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः॥ सूर्यवैश्वानरसमैस्तपसा भावितात्मभिः। महर्षिभिर्मोक्षपरैर्यतिभिर्नियतेन्द्रियैः॥ ब्रह्मभूतैर्महाभागैरुपेतं ब्रह्मवादिभिः। सोऽभ्यगच्छन्महातेजास्तानृषीन् प्रयतः शुचिः॥ भ्रातृभिः सहितोधीमान्धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। दिव्यज्ञानोपपन्नास्ते दृष्ट्वा प्राप्तं युधिष्ठिरम्॥
It was full of splendour, it produced matchless merits, it was majestic with divine qualities. It was inhabited by many great Rishis living on fruits and roots, having their passions controlled, wearing black deer skins, looking as effulgent as the sun and Agni, possessing souls magnified by asceticism and mind intent on emancipation, leading the Vanaprastha life, identifying themselves with the Supreme Soul and reciting the Vedas. That greatly effulgent of Dharma, Yudhishthira, with his brothers, restraining his senses and purifying himself, went to those Rishis, who, having seen by their supernatural knowledge the arrival of Yudhishthira,
अभ्यगच्छन्त सुप्रीताः सर्व एव महर्षयः। आशीर्वादान् प्रयुञ्जानाः स्वाध्यायनिरता भृशम्॥
Received him with joy. Those Rishis, engaged in the recitation of the Vedas conferred blessings on him.
प्रीतास्ते तस्य सत्कारं विधिना पावकोपमाः। उपाजहुश्च सलिलं पुष्पमूलफलं शुचि॥
Those fire-like ones gladly gave him a fitting, teçeption in due form. They gave him pure water, fruits, flowers and roots,
स तैः प्रीत्याथ सत्कारमुपनीतं महर्षिभिः। प्रयतः प्रतिगृह्याथधर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥
Dharmaraja Yudhishthira gladly received with subdued soul the offerings offered by the great Rishis for his reception. son
तं शक्रसदनप्रख्यं दिव्यगन्धं मनोरमम्। प्रीतः स्वर्गापमं पुण्यं पाण्डवः सह कृष्णया॥ विवेश शोभया युक्तं भ्रातृभिश्च सहानघ। ब्राह्मणैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैश्च सहस्रशः॥
O sinless one, the Pandava (Yudhishthira) with Krishna (Draupadi) and his brothers and with also thousands of Brahmanas, learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, entered that sacred hermitage which was like the abode of Indra, resembling heaven itself, beautiful and full of celestials fragrance.
तत्रापश्यतधर्मात्मा देवदेवर्षिपूजितम्।। नरनारायणस्थानं भागीरथ्योपशोभितम्॥
Then the virtuous-minded (Yudhishthira) saw the hermitage of Nara and Narayana, adored by the celestials and the celestials Rishis and beautified by the Bhagirathi.
पश्यन्तस्ते नरव्याघ्रा रेमिरे तत्र पाण्डवाः। मधुस्रवफलं दिव्यं ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेवितम्॥
Seeing it frequented by the Brahmana Rishis and abounding in fruits dropping excellent honey, those foremost of men, the Pandavas, were filled with great delight.
तदुपेत्य महात्मानस्तेऽवसन् ब्राह्मणैः सह। मुदा युक्ता महात्मानो रेमिरे तत्र ते तदा॥
Having arrived there those high-souled ones lived at that place with the cheerfully sported there.
आलोकयन्तो मैनाकं नानाद्विजगणायुतम्। हिरण्यशिखरं चैव तच्च बिन्दुसरः शिवम्॥
Seeing the Mainaka mountain with golden peaks and also the auspicious Binda lake abounding in various sorts of birds.
तस्मिन् विहरमाणाश्च पाण्डवाः सह कृष्णया। मनोज्ञे काननवरे सर्वर्तुकुसुमोज्ज्वले॥
The Pandavas with Krishna (Draupadi) derived great pleasure in roaming in those excellent and charming woods blossomed with flowers of all seasons.
पादपैः पुष्पविकचैः फलभारावनामिभिः। शोभिते सर्वतो रम्यैः पुंस्कोकिलगणायुतैः॥
They were beautiful on all sides with trees bearing brown blossoms, bending down with the weight of their fruits, frequented by numerous male Kokilas,
स्निग्धपत्रैरविरलैः शीतच्छायैर्मनोरमैः। सरांसि च विचित्राणि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च॥
With glossy and beautiful foliage, with cool shade and with beautiful loveliness, with various lakes of crystal waters,
कमलैः सोत्पलैश्चैव भ्राजमानानि सर्वशः। पश्यन्तश्चारुरूपाणि रेमिरे तत्र पाण्डवाः॥
Adorned all around with lotuses and lilies. Seeing this charming scene, the Pandavas derived great delight.
पुण्यगन्धःसुखस्पर्शो ववौ तत्र समीरणः। ह्लादयन् पाण्डवान् सर्वान् द्रौपद्या सहितान् प्रभो॥
O lord, a balmy breeze with holy fragrance always blew there, delighting all the Pandavas with Krishna (Draupadi).
भागीरथी सुतीर्थां च शीतां विमलपङ्कजाम्। मणिप्रवालप्रस्तारां पादपैरुपशोभिताम्॥ दिव्यपुष्पसमाकीर्णां मनःप्रीतिविवर्धिनीम्। वीक्षमाणा महात्मानो विशाला बदरीमनु॥
The high-souled ones saw near the great Badari tree, the Bhagirathi of easy descent and cool water, adorned with beautiful lotuses, with stairs made of rubies and corals, beautified with trees and scattered over with celestials flowers and giving great pleasure to the mind.
तस्मिन् देवर्षिचरिते देशे परमदुर्गमे। भागीरथीपुण्यजले तर्पयांचक्रिरे तदा॥ देवानृषींश्च कौन्तेयाः परमं शौचमास्थिताः। तत्र ते तर्पयन्तश्च जपन्तश्च कुरूद्वहाः॥
Those sons of Kunti, after having purified themselves, offered oblations to the Pitris, the celestials, the Rishis, in the sacred waters of the Bhagirathi in that extremely inaccessible place, frequented by the celestials Rishis. Those perpetuators of the Kuru race thus offered oblations and passed their time in reciting holy writs.
ब्राह्मणैः सहिता वीरा ह्यवसन् पुरुषर्षभाः। कृष्णायास्तत्र पश्यन्तः क्रीडितान्यमरप्रभाः। विचित्राणि नरव्याघ्रा रेमिरे तत्र पाण्डवाः॥
Those foremost of men, those heroes then lived there with the Brahmanas. Those best of men, the celestials-like Pandavas, seeing the various scenes with Krishna (Draupadi) derived great pleasure.