जनमेजय उवाच श्रुत्वैतद् वचनं ब्रह्मन् व्यासेनोक्तं महात्मना। अश्वमेधं प्रति तदा किं भूयः प्रचकार ह॥
Janamejaya said Having heard these words, O twice-born one, that were spoken by the great Vyasa about the Horse-Sacrifice, what steps were taken by Yudhishthira.
रत्नं च यन्मरुत्तेन निहितं वसुधातले। तदवाप कथं चेति तन्मे ब्रूहि द्विजोत्तम॥
Tell me, O foremost of twice-bom ones, how the king succeeded in obtaining the riches which Marutta had buried in the Earth!
वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वा द्वैपायनवचो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातॄन् सर्वान् समानाय्य काले वचनमब्रवीत्॥ अर्जुनं भीमसेनं च माद्रीपुत्रौ यमावपि। श्रुतं वो वचनं वीरा: सौहृदाद् यन्महात्मना॥ कुरूणां हितकामेन प्रोक्तं कृष्णेन धीमता। तपोवृद्धेन महता सुहृदां भूतिमिच्छता॥ गुरुणा धर्मशीलेन व्यासेनाद्भुतकर्मणा। भीष्मेण च महाप्राज्ञा गोविन्देन च धीमता॥
Vaishampayana said Having heard the words of the Island-born ascetic king Yudhishthira the just, summoned all his brothers, viz., Arjuna and Bhimasena and the twin sons of Madri, in proper time and then said to them, You heroes, you have heard the words which the highly intelligent and great Krishna has said from his friendship for and the desire of doing good to the Kurus! Indeed you have heard those words that have been uttered by that ascetic of profuse penances, that great sage desirous of conferring prosperity on his friends, that preceptor of righteous conduct, viz., Vyasa of wonderful feats! You have heard what Bhishma also said, and what Govinda too of great intelligence has uttered.
संस्मृत्य तदहं सम्यक् कर्तुमिच्छामि पाण्डवाः। आयत्यां च तदात्वे च सर्वेषां तद्धि नो हितम्॥
Remembering those words, you sons of Pandu, I wish to obey them duly! By obeying those words of theirs great blessedness will belong to all of you.
अनुबधे च कल्याणं यद् वचो ब्रह्मवादिनः। इयं हि वसुधा सर्वा क्षीणरत्ना कुरुद्वहाः॥
Those words spoken by those utters of Brahma are certain (if obeyed) to produce considerable benefit. You perpetuators of Kuru's race, the Earth has become divested of her riches.
तच्चाचष्ट तदा व्यासो मरुत्तस्य धनं नृपाः। यद्येतद् वो बहुमतं मन्यध्वं वा क्षमं यदि॥ तथा यथाऽऽह धर्मेण कथं वा भीम मन्यसे। इत्युक्तवाक्ये नृपतौ तदा कुरुकुलोद्वह॥ भीमसेनो नृपश्रेष्ठं प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्। रोचते मे महाबाहो यदिदं भाषितं त्वया॥ व्यासाख्यातस्य वित्तस्य समुपानयनं प्रति। यदि तत् प्राप्नुयामेह धनमाविक्षितं प्रभो॥ कृतमेव महाराज भवेदिति मतिर्मम। ते वयं प्रणिपातेन गिरीशस्य महात्मनः॥ तदानयाम भद्रं ते समभ्यर्च्य कपर्दिनम्। तद् वित्तं देवदेवेशं तस्यैवानुचरांश्च तान्॥ प्रसाद्यार्थमवाप्स्यामो नूनं वाग्बुद्धिकर्मभिः। रक्षन्ते ये च तद् द्रव्यं किन्नरा रौद्रदर्शनाः॥ ते च वश्या भविष्यन्ति प्रसन्ने वृषभध्वजे। श्रुत्वैवं वदतस्तस्य वाक्यं भीमस्य भारत॥ प्रीतो धर्मात्मजो राजा बभूवातीव भारत। अर्जुनप्रमुखाश्चापि तथेत्येवाब्रुवन् वचः॥
You kings, Vyasa, therefore, informed us of the wealth of Marutta. If you think that wealth abundant or sufficient, how shall we bring it? What, O Bhima, do you think about this? us When the king, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, said these words, Bhimasena, joining his hands, said these words in reply, The words you have said, O you of mighty arms, on the subject of bringing the riches indicated by Vyasa, are approved by me? If, O powerful one, we succeed in getting the riches kept there by the son of Avikshita, then this sacrifice, o king, purposed by will be easily accomplished! This is what I think. We shall, therefore, bowing our heads to the great Girisha, and off-ring duc adoration to that deity, bring that wealth. Blessed be you. Pleasing that god of gods as companions and followers, in words, thought, and deed, we shall, forsooth, obtain that wealth. Those Kinnaras of dreadful appcarance who are protecting that treasure will certainly veiled to us if the great deity having the bull for his sign, becomes pleased with us! Hearing these words uttered by Bhima, O Bharata, king Yudhishthira the son of Dharma, become highly pleased. The others, headed by Arjuna, at the same time, said, So be it.
कृत्वा तु पाण्डवाः सर्वे रत्नाहरणनिश्चयम्। सेनामाज्ञापयामासुर्नक्षत्रेऽहनि च ध्रुवे॥
The Pandavas then, having resolved to bring that wealth, ordered their forced to march under the constellation Dhruva and on the day called by the same name.
ततो ययुः पाण्डुसुता ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्ति वाच्य च। अर्चयित्वा सुरश्रेष्ठं पूर्वमेव महेश्वरम्॥
Making the Brahmanas utter benedictions on them, and having duly adored the great god Maheshvara, the sons of Pandu started on their enterprise).
मोदकैः पायसेनाथ मांसापूपैस्तथैव च। आशास्य च महात्मानं प्रययुर्मुदिता भृशम्॥
Pleasing that great deity with Modakas and frumenty and with cakes made of meat, the sons of Pandu started with cheerful hearts.
तेषां प्रयास्यतां तत्र मङ्गलानि शुभान्यथा प्राहुः प्रहष्टमनसो द्विजण्या नागराश्च ते॥
While they thus started, the citizens, and many foremost of Brahmanas, with cheerful hearts, uttered auspicious blessings (on their heads).
ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य शिरोभिः प्रणिपत्य च। ब्राह्मणानग्निसहितान् प्रययुः पाण्डुनन्दनाः॥
The Pandavas, going round many Brahmanas who daily adored their fires, and bending their heads unto them, proceeded on their journey.
समनुज्ञाप्य राजानं पुत्रशोकसमाहतम्। धृतराष्ट्रं सभार्यं वै पृथां च पृथुलोचनाम्॥ मूले निक्षिप्य कौरव्यं युयुत्सुं धृतराष्ट्रजम्। सम्पूज्यमानाः पौरैश्च ब्राह्मणैश्च मनीषिभिः॥
Taking the permission of king Dhritarashtra who was stricken with grief on account of the death of his sons, his queen (Gandhari), and Pritha also of large eyes, and keeping the Kaurava-prince Yuyutsu, the of Dhritarashtra, in the capital, they started, adored by the citizens and by many Brahmanas endued with great wisdom. son