उत्तर उवाच अद्याहमनुगच्छेयं दृढधन्वा गवां पदम्। यदि मे सारथिः कश्चिद् भवेदश्वेषु कोविदः॥
Uttara said An expert in the use of bow as I am, I shall today go out in pursuit of kine, if some body, skilled in the management of horses, becomes my charioteer.
तं त्वहं नावगच्छामि यो मे यन्ता भवेन्नरः। पश्यध्वं सारथिं क्षिप्रं मम युक्तं प्रयास्यतः॥
I do not know of a man who may be iny charioteer; find out out therefore quickly a charioteer who may suit me who am going out.
अष्टाविंशतिरात्रं वा मासं वा नूनमन्ततः। यत् तदासीन्महद् युद्धं तत्र मे सारथिर्हतः॥
My charioteer was killed in the great encounter that lasted for a month or at least twenty nights certain.
स लभेयं यदा त्वन्यं हययानविदं नरम्। त्वरावानद्य यात्वाहं समुच्छितमहाध्वजम्॥
As soon as I shall get a man experienced in the management of horses I shall immediately start hoisting the huge standard.
विगाह्य तत् परानीकं गजवाजिरथाकुलम्। शस्त्रप्रतापनिर्वीर्यान् कुरूढिीत्वाऽऽनये पशून्॥
Entering into the hostile army filled with elephants, horses and chariots and defeating the Kurus who are weak in power and weapons I shall bring back the animals.
दुर्योधनं शान्तनवं कर्णं वैकर्तनं कृपम्। द्रोणं च सह पुत्रेण महेष्वासान् समागतान्॥ वित्रासयित्वा संग्रामे दानवानिव वज्रभृत्। अनेनैव मुहूर्तेन पुनः प्रत्यानये पशून्॥
Having struck terror into Duryodhana, the son of Shantanu, (Bhishma) Vikartana's son (Kripa), Karna, Drona with his son and other powerful bowmen assembled there, like the wielder of thunderbolt afflicting the Danavas I shall this very moment bring back the kine.
शून्यमासाद्य कुरवः प्रयान्त्यादाय गोधनम्। किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुं यदहं तत्र नाभवम्॥
Finding none the Kurus are taking away the precious kine; what can I do when I am not there?
पश्येयुरद्य मे वीर्यं कुरवस्ते समागताः। किं नु पार्थोऽर्जुन: साक्षादयमस्मान् प्रबाधते॥
The assembled Kurus shall see today my prowess: (and they shall say). “Is it Arjuna's self who is contending us?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वा तदर्जुनो वाक्यं राज्ञः पुत्रस्य भाषतः। अतीतसमये काले प्रियां भार्यामनिन्दिताम्॥ दुपदस्य सुतां तन्वीं पाञ्चालीं पावकात्मजाम्। सत्यार्जवगुणोपेतां भर्तुः प्रियहिते रताम्॥ उवाच रहसि प्रीतः कृष्णां सर्वार्थकोविदः। उत्तरं ब्रूहि कल्याणि क्षिप्रं मद्वचनादिदम्॥ अयं वै पाण्डवस्यासीत् सारथिः सम्मतो दृढः। महायुद्धेषु संसिद्धः स ते यन्ता भविष्यति॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing the words of the Prince, Arjuna, informed of all, after some time delightedly spoke in private to his beloved and faultless wife Krishna the princess of Panchala, the slender-made daughter of Drupada, born of sacrifice, gifted with the virtues of truthfulness and honesty and ever devoted to the well-being of her husband. "O auspicious lady, speak quickly to Uttara, at my request, that this (Brihannala) was formerly the firm and approved charioteer of Pandu's son (Arjuna); experienced in very many great battles he shall be your charioteer.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद् वचनं स्त्रीषु भाषतश्च पुनः पुनः। न सामर्षत पाञ्चाली बीभत्सोः पकिकीर्तनम्॥
Hearing him speak again and again thus to women Panchali could not bear his reference to Arjuna.
अथैनमुपसंगम्य स्त्रीमध्यात् सा तपस्विनी। व्रीडमानेव शनकैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Then stepping out from the midst of the women, the poor (princess) bashfully and gently gave vent to the following words.
योऽसौ बृहद्वारणाभो युवा सुप्रियदर्शनः। बृहन्नलेति विख्यातः पार्थस्यासीत् स सारथिः॥
"This greatly beautiful youth resembling a huge elephant and known under the name Brihannala was the charioteer of Partha.
धनुष्यनवरचासीत् तस्य शिष्यो महात्मनः। दृष्टपूर्वो मया वीर चरन्त्या पाण्डवान् प्रति॥
A mighty bowman he was the disciple of the high-souled (Arjuna); O hero, I saw him before while I was living with the Pandavas.
यदा तत् पावको दावमदहत् खाण्डवं महत्। अर्जुनस्य तदानेन संगृहीता हयोत्तमाः॥
While the fire consumed the forest of Khandava it was he who governed the excellent steeds of Arjuna.
तेन सारथिना पार्थः सर्वभूतानि सर्वशः। अजयत् खाण्डवप्रस्थे न हि यन्तास्ति तादृशः॥
Having him as his charioteer Partha vanquished all creatures at Khandavaprastha; indeed there is no charioteer like him.
उत्तर उवाच सैरन्ध्र जानासि तथा युवानं नपुंसको नैव भवेद् यथासौ। अहं न शक्नोमि बृहन्नला शुभे वक्तुं स्वयं यच्छ हयान् ममेति वै॥
Uttara said You know this youth, O Sairandhri whether he is of neuter sex or otherwise; O fair lady, I shall not be able myself to request him to govern my horses.
द्रौपद्युवाच येयं कुमारी सुश्रोणी भगिनी ते यवीयसी। अस्याः स वीर वचनं करिष्यति न संशयः॥
Draupadi said O hero, he shall, forsooth, satisfy the words of your younger sister, a maiden of beautiful hips.
यदि वै सारथिः स स्यात् कुरून् सर्वान् न संशयः। जित्वा गाश्च समादाय ध्रुवमागमनं भवेत्॥
If he becomes your charioteer, you will undoubtedly come back with kine having vanquished the Kurus.
एवमुक्तः स सैरन्ध्या भगिनीं प्रत्यभाषत। गच्छ त्वमनवद्याङ्गि तामानय बृहन्नलाम्॥
Accosted thus by Sairandhri he said to his sister: "O fair (sister), go and bring Brihannala.”
सा भ्रात्रा प्रेषिता शीघ्रमगच्छन्नर्तनागृहम्। यत्रास्ते स महाबाहुश्छन्नः सत्रेण पाण्डवः॥
Sent by her brother she quickly went to the dancing hall where that mighty-armed son of Pandu was waiting in disguise.