वैशम्पायन उवाच कदाचिदटमानस्तु महर्षिरुत लोमशः। जगाम शक्रभवनं पुरन्दरदिदृक्षया॥ स समेत्य नमस्कृत्य देवराज महामुनिः। ददर्शार्धासनगतं पाण्डवं वासवस्य हि॥
Vaishampayana said : One day the great Rishi Lomasha, in the course of his wanderings, went to the abode of Shakra (Indra) with the intention of seeing Purandara (Indra). Having come to him, the great Rishi bowed to the king of the celestials. He saw that the son of Pandu (Arjuna) occupying the half of the seat of Vasava (Indra).
ततः शक्राभ्यनुज्ञात आसने विष्टरोत्तरे। निषसाद द्विजश्रेष्ठः पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः॥
Having been worshipped by the great Rishis, that best of the twice-born sat at the . desire of Shakra (Indra) on an excellent seat.
तस्य दृष्ट्वाभवद् बुद्धिः पार्थमिन्द्रासने स्थितम् कथं नु क्षत्रियः पार्थः शक्रासनमवाप्तवान्॥
Seeing Arjuna seated on the seat of Indra, he pondered as to how Partha had attained to the seat of Shakra, he being (but) a Kshatriya.
किं त्वस्य सुकृतं कर्म के लोका वै विनिर्जिताः। स एवमनुसम्प्राप्तः स्थानं देवनमस्कृतम्॥
What act of merit had been performed by him and what regions had been conquered by him that he had obtained a seat which was worshipped by the celestials themselves?
तस्य विज्ञाय संकल्पं शक्रो वृत्रनिषूदनः। लोमशं प्रहसन् वाक्यमिदमाह शचीपतिः॥
Having known his thoughts, the slayer of Vritra, Shakra, the husband of Sachi, smilingly spoke these words to Lomasha.
ब्रह्मर्षे श्रूयतां यत् ते मनसैतद् विवक्षितम्। नायं केवलमर्यो वै मानुषत्वमुपागतः॥
Indra said: O Brahmarshi, hear all about what is now passing in your mind. This one (Arjuna) is not a mortal, though he has taken his birth among men.
महर्षे मम पुत्रोऽयं कुन्त्यां जातो महाभुजः। अस्त्रहेतोरिह प्राप्तः कस्पाच्चित् कारणान्तरात्॥ अहो नैनं भवान् वेत्ति पुराणमृषिसत्तमम्। शृणु मे वदतो ब्रह्मन् योऽयं यच्चास्य कारणम्॥
O great Rishi, this mighty-armed hero is my son, born (in the womb) of Kunti. He has come here to obtain weapons. For what wonderful reason. Alas, you do not recognise him as the excellent Rishi of old! O Brahmana, listen to me, I shall tell you who he is and for what reason he has come here.
नरनारायणौ यौ तौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ। ताविमावनुजानीहि हृषीकेशधनंजयौ॥
Know, those two excellent and ancient Rishis, known by the name of Nara and Narayana, are none else than Hrishikesha (Krishna) and Dhananjaya (Arjuna).
विख्यातौ त्रिषु लोकेषु नरनारायणावृषी। कार्यार्थमवतीर्णौ तौ पृथ्वीं पुण्यप्रतिश्रयाम्॥
The Rishis Nara and Narayana are renowned all over the three worlds; they have descended (on earth) for the accomplishment of certain purpose on earth, which is the region for the acquisition of virtue.
यन्न शक्यं सुरैर्द्रष्टुमृषिभिर्वा महात्मभिः। तदाश्रमपदं पुण्यं बदरीनाम विश्रुतम्॥ स निवासोऽभवद् विप्र विष्णोर्जिष्णोस्तथैव च। यत् प्रववृते गङ्गा सिद्धचारणसेविता॥
The sacred hermitage, which even the celestials and the high-souled Rishis adore, which is known by the name of Badarika, which is situate at the source of the Ganges and which is frequented by the Siddhas and the Charanas, O Brahmana, was the abode of Vishnu (Krishna) and Jishnu (Arjuna).
तौ मन्नियोगाद् ब्रह्मर्षे क्षितौ जातौ महाद्युती। भूमे रावतरणं महावीरों करिष्यतः॥
O Brahmarshi, those two effulgent ones have at my request taken their birth on earth. Those two greatly powerful ones will remove the burden of the earth.
उद्धृत्ता ह्यसुराः केचिन्निवातकवचा इति। विप्रियेषु स्थितास्माकं वरदानेन मोहिताः॥
Besides, there are certain Asuras, called Nivatkavachas who, being proud of the boon they have acquired, are (now) engaged in doing us injuries.
तर्कयन्ते सुरान् हन्तुं बलदर्पसमन्विताः। देवान् न गणयन्त्येते तथा दत्तवरा हि ते॥
Proud of their great prowess, they are planning the destruction of the celestials, for having received the boon, they do not at all regard the celestials.
पातालवासिनो रौद्रा दनोः पुत्रा महाबलाः। सर्वदेवनिकाया हि नालं योधयितुं हि तान्॥ योऽसौ भूमिगतः श्रीमान् विष्णुर्मधुनिषूदनः। कपिलो नाम देवोऽसौ भगवानजितो हरिः॥
Those fearful and greatly powerful sons of Dano live in the nether regions. Even all the celestials put together are in capable of fighting with them. The blessed Vishnu, the slayer of Madhu, he who was known on earth as Kapila,
येन पूर्वं महात्मानः खनमाना रसातलम्। दर्शनादेव निहताः सगरस्यात्मजा विभो॥
O exalted one, who destroyed by his glance alone the high-souled sons of Sagara when they came roaring towards him, that illustrious and invincible.
तेन कार्यं महत् कार्यमस्माकं द्विजसत्तम। पार्थेन च महायुद्धे समेताभ्यां न संशयः॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, Hari (Krishna) is capable alone or with Partha both together, of doing us a great good in a great battle. There is no doubt about it.
सोऽसुरान् दर्शनादेव शक्तो हन्तुं सहानुगान्। निवातकवचान् सर्वान् नागानिव महाह्रदे॥
Like the snakes in a great lake he (Krishna) is capable of destroying at the very first sight all those Asuras, the Nivatkavachas, with all their followers.
किं तु नाल्पेन कार्येण प्रबोध्यो मधुसूदनः। तेजसः सुमहाराशिः प्रबुद्धः प्रदहेज्जगत्॥
But the slayer of Madhu should not be requested to perform an insignificant task. He can consume the Universe by the great mass of his effulgence, if he minds to increase it.
अयं तेषां समस्तानां शक्तः प्रतिसमासने। तान् निहत्य रणे शूरः पुनर्यास्यति मानुषान्॥
This one (Arjuna) also is quite competent to fight with them all. This hero, having destroyed them all in a battle, will again go back to the earth.
भवानस्मन्नियोगेन यातु तावन्महीतलम्। काम्यके द्रक्ष्यसे वीरं निवसन्तं युधिष्ठिरम्॥
At my request go back to the earth. You will find the heroic Yudhishthira living in the Kamyaka (forest).
स वाच्यो मम संदेशाद्धर्मात्मा सत्यसंगरः। नोत्कण्ठा फाल्गुने कार्या कृतास्त्रः शीघ्रमेष्यति॥
On my behalf tell that invincible and virtuous hero that he should not be anxious for Falguni. He will soon return acquiring all weapons.
नाशुद्धबाहुवीर्येण नाकृतास्त्रेण वा रणे। भीष्मद्रोणादयो युद्धे शक्याः प्रतिसमासितुम्॥
For without the sacred prowess of arms and without the skill in weapons and in war, he will not be able to meet Bhishma, Drona and others in battle. Tell him.
गृहीतास्त्रो गुडाकेशो महाबाहुर्महामनाः। नृत्यवादित्रगीतानां दिव्यानां पारमीयिवान्॥
That the high-minded and the mighty-armed Gudakesha Arjuna has acquired all weapons and has mastered the arts of celestials dancing and vocal and instrumental music.
भवानपि विविक्तानि तीर्थानि मनुजेश्वर। भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैर्द्रष्टुमर्हत्यरिंदम॥ तीर्थेष्वाप्लुत्य पुण्येषु विपाप्मा विगतज्वरः। राज्यं भोक्ष्यसि राजेन्द्र सुखी विगतकल्मष।॥
(You should also tell him) saying, “O foremost of men, O chastiser of foes, you too with all your brothers should see the various sacred shrines. O king of kings, having bathed in various sacred waters, you will be cleansed of your sins and the fever of your heart will abate. You will then be able to enjoy your kingdom in happiness."
भवांश्चैनं द्विजश्रेष्ठ पर्यटन्तं महीतलम्। त्रातुमर्हति विप्राक्य तपोबलसमन्वितः।॥
O best of Brahmanas, O foremost of the twice-born, endued with the prowess of asceticism, you should protect him (Yudhishthira) in his wandering over the earth.
गिरिदुर्गेषु च सदा देशेषु विषमेषु च। वसन्ति राक्षसा रौद्रास्तेभ्यो रक्षां विधास्यति॥
Fearful Rakshasas always live in mountain passes and in rugged steppes. Protect him from them.
एवमुक्तो महेन्द्रेण बीभत्सुरपि लोमशम्। उवाच प्रयतो वाक्यं रक्षेथाः पाण्डुनन्दनम्॥
Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by Mahendra, Vibhatsu also spoke to Lomasha with all reverence, saying, “Protect the son of Pandu (Yudhishthira).
यथा गुप्तस्त्वया राजा चरेत् तीर्थानि सत्तम। दानं दद्याद् यथा चैव तथा कुरु महामुने॥
O excellent man, O great Rishi, let the king, protected by you, visit the various sacred shrines and give away (much wealth) to the Brahmanas in charity."
वैशम्पायन उवाच तथेति सम्प्रतिज्ञाय लोमशः सुमहातपाः। काम्यकं वनमुद्दिश्य समुपायान्महीतलम्॥
The greatly ascetic Lomasha, saying, “Be it So," went to the earth with the intention of going to the Kamyaka forest.
ददर्श तत्र कौन्तेयंधर्मराजमरिदमम्। तापसै भ्रातभिश्चैव सर्वतः परिवारितम्॥
He saw there the son of Kunti, that chastiser of foes, Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) surrounded by the ascetics and by his brothers.