वैशम्पायन उवाच तान् समीपगताश्रुत्वा पाण्डवान् शत्रुकर्शनः। वासुदेवः सहामात्यः प्रययौ ससुहृद्गणः॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing that the Pandavas were near, that destroyer of enemies, viz., Vasudeva, accompanicd by his ministers, went out for seeing them.
ते समेत्य यथान्यायं प्रत्युद्याता दिदृक्षया। ते समेत्य यथाधर्मं पाण्डवा वृष्णिभिः सह॥ विवुशः सहिता राजन् पुरं वारणसाह्वयम्।
They all proceeded forward to see and greeted them warnly. The Pandavas then, uniting with the Vrishnis according to the us usual formalities, together entered, O king, the city of Hastinapur.
महतस्तस्य सैन्यस्य खुरनेमिस्वनेन ह॥ द्यावापृथिव्योः खं चैव सर्वमासीत् समावृतम्।
With the voices and the clatter of cars of that powerful host, the Earth and the sky, and the firmament itself, became of it were, entirely filled.
ते कोशानग्रतः कृत्वा विविशेः स्वपुरं तदा॥ पाण्डवाः प्रीतमनसः सामात्याः ससुहणाः।
With rejoicing hearts, the Pandavas, accompanied by their officers and friends, entered the capital, placing that treasure in their van.
ते समेत्य यथान्यायं धृतराष्ट्रं जनाधिपम्॥ कीर्तयन्तः स्वनामानि तस्य पादौ ववन्दिरे।
Going according to custom, to king Dhritarashtra first, they adored his feet, announcing their respective names.
धृतराष्ट्रादनु च ते गान्धारी सुबलात्मजाम्॥ कुन्ती च राजशार्दूल तदा भरतसत्तम।
Those foremost ones of Bharata's race, O chief of kings, then paid their respectful salutations to Gandhari, the daughter of Subala, and to Kunti.
विदुरं पूजयित्वा च वैश्यापुत्रं समेत्य च॥ पूज्यमानाः स्म ते वीरा व्यरोचन्त विशाम्पते।
They next adored (their uncle) Vidura and Yuyutsu, the son of Dhritarashtra by his Vaishya wife. Those heroes were then adored by others and they shone forth in beauty, O king.
ततस्तत् परमाश्चर्यं विचित्रं महदद्भुतम्॥ शुश्रुवुस्ते तदा वीराः पितुस्ते जन्म भारत।
After this, O Bharata, those heroes heard the news of that highly wonderful and marvellous and glad some birth of your father.
तदुपश्रुत्य तत् कर्म वासुदेवस्य धीमतः॥ पूजार्ह पूजयामासुः कृष्णं देवकिनन्दनम्।
Hearing of that feat of the highly intelligent Vasudeva, they all adored Krishna, the delighter of Devaki, who was every way worthy of adoration.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य व्यास: सत्यवतीसुतः॥ आजगाम महातेजा नगरं नागसाह्वयम्।
Then, after a few days, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, gifted with great cnergy, came to the city of Hastinapur.
तस्य सर्वे यथान्यायं पूजाचंक्रुः कुरूद्वहाः॥ सह वृष्ण्यन्धकव्याघैरुपासांचक्रिरे तदा। तत्र नानाविधाकाराः कथाः समभिकीर्त्य वै॥
The perpctuators of Kuru's race adored the great Rishi according to the usual custom. Indeed, those heroes, with those foremost princes of the Vrihini and the Andhaka-races worshipped the sage.
युधिष्ठिरो धर्मसुतो व्यासं वचनमब्रवीत्। भवत्प्रसादाद् भगवन् यदिदं रत्नमाहृतम्॥ उपयोक्तुं तदिच्छामि वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ।
After having conversed on various topics, Dharma's son Yudhishthira addressed Vyasa and said, This treasure, O holy one, which has been brought through your favour, I desire to devote to that great Horse-Sacrifice.
तमनुज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवता मुनिसत्तम। त्वदधीना वयं सर्वे कृष्णस्य च महात्मनः॥
0 best of ascetics, I wish to have your permission. We are all, O Rishi, at your disposal, and at that of the great Krishna.
व्यास उवाच अनुजानाभि राजंस्त्वां क्रियतां यदनन्तरम्। यजस्व वाजिमेधेन विधिवद् दक्षिणावता॥
Vyasa said I give you permission, O king, Do what should be done after this. Do you adore the deities duly by performing the Horse-Sacrifice with profuse gifts.
अश्वमेधो हि राजेन्द्र पावनः सर्वपाप्मनाम्। तेनेष्ट्वा त्वं विपाप्मा वै भविता नात्र संशयः॥
The Horse-Sacrifice, O king, is a purifier of all sins. Forsooth, having adored the deities by that sacrifice you will surely be purged of all sins.
इत्युक्तः स तु धर्मात्मा कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः। अश्वमेधस्य कौरव्य चकाराहरणे मतिम्॥
Vaishmpayana said Thus addressed, the Kuru-King Yudhishthira of righteous soul, O monarch, began to make the necessary preparations for the Horse-Sacrifice.
समनुज्ञाप्य तत् सर्वं कृष्णद्वैपायनं नृपः। वासुदेवमथाभ्येत्य वाग्मी वचनमब्रवीत्॥ देवकी सुप्रजा देवी त्वया पुरुषसत्तम। यद् ब्रूयां त्वां महाबाहो तत् कृथास्त्वमिहाच्युत॥
Having represented all this to the Islandborn Krishna, the king gifted with great eloquence, approached Vasudeva and said, 'O foremost of all beings, the goddess Devaki has, through you come to be considered as the most fortunate of mothers. O you of undercaying glory, do you perform what I shall now tell you, O mighty-armed one.
त्वत्प्रभावार्जितान् भोगानश्नीम यदुनन्दन। पराक्रमेण बुद्ध्या च त्वयेयं निर्जिता पही।॥
O delighter of the Kurus, the various enjoyments we enjoy, have all been acquired are are through your power. The whole Earth has been subjugated by you with the help of your prowess and intelligence.
दीक्षयस्व त्वमात्मानं त्वं हि नः परमो गुरुः। त्वयीष्टवति दाशार्ह विपाप्मा भविता ह्यहम्॥
Do you, therefore, cause yourself to undergo the rites of initiation. You are our highest preceptor and master. If you perform the sacrifice, O you of the Dasharha-race, I shall be purified from every sin.
त्वं हि यज्ञोऽक्षरः सर्वस्त्वं धर्मस्त्वं प्रजापतिः। त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः॥
You Sacrifice! You the Indestructible! You are this All! You are Virtue! You are Prajapati! You are the goal of all creatures! This is iny certain conclusion.
वासुदेव उवाच त्वमेवैतन्महाबाहो वक्तुमर्हस्यरिंदम। त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः॥
Vasudeva said O mighty-armed one, what you say is worthy of you, O chastiser of enemies! You are the goal of all creatures. This is my certain conclusion.
त्वं चाद्य कुरुवीराणां धर्मेण हि विराजसे। गुणीभूताः स्म ते राजंस्त्वं नो राजा गुरुर्मतः॥
Of the heroes of the Kuru-race, you shine today in great glory for your virtue! They have all been cast into the shade, O king, by you! You are our king, and you are our senior.
यजस्य मदनुज्ञातः प्राप्य एष क्रतुस्त्वया। युनक्तु नो भवान् कार्ये यत्र वाञ्छसि भारत॥ सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि सर्वे कर्तास्मि तेऽनघ।
With my approval freely granted, do you worship the celestials in the sacrifice suggested. Do you, O Bharata, appoint us to whatever task you like. Truly, do I pledge myself that I shall accomplish all, O sinless one, that you may bid me accomplish,
भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव तथा माद्रवतीसुतौ। इष्टवन्तो भविष्यन्ति त्वयीष्टवति पार्थिवे॥
Bhimasena and Arjuna and the two sons of Madravati will be sacrificing when you, O king, sacrifice Bhimasena and Arjuna and the two sons of Madravati will be sacrificing when you, O king, sacrifice