वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु कृष्णेन धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। व्यासमामन्त्र्य मेधावी ततो वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Thus addressed by Krishna, Yudhishthira, the of Dharma, gifted with great intelligence, saluted Vyasa and said these words:
यदा कालं भवान् वेत्ति हयमेधस्य तत्त्वतः। दीक्षयस्व तदा मां त्वं त्वय्यायत्तो हि मे क्रतुः॥
Do you cause me to be initiated when the proper hour, as you truly know, come for that rite. This my sacrifice entirely depends on you. son
व्यास उवाच अहं पैलोऽथ कौन्तेय याज्ञवल्क्यस्तथैव च। विधानं यद् यथाकालं तत् कर्तारो न संशयः॥
Vyasa said Myself, O son of Kunti, and Paila and Yajnavalkya, shall, undoubtedly, achieve every rite at the proper time.
चैत्र्यां हि पौर्णमास्यां तु तव दीक्षा भविष्यति। सम्भाराः सम्भियन्तां च यज्ञार्थं पुरुषर्षभ॥
The rite of initiating you will be performed on the day of full moon belonging to the month of Chaitra. Let all the necessaries of the sacrifice, O foremost of men, be got ready.
अश्वविद्याविदश्चैव सूता विप्राश्च तद्विदः। मेध्यमश्वं परीक्षन्तां तव यज्ञार्थसिद्धये॥
Let Sutas well-versed in the science of horses and let Brahmanas also possessed of the same learning, select, after examination, a worthy horse in order that your sacrifice may be completed.
तमुत्सृज यथाशास्त्रं पृथिवीं सागराम्बराम्। स पर्येतु यशो दीप्तं तव पार्थिव दर्शयन्॥
Loosening the animal according to the injunctions of the scriptures, let him wander over the whole Earth with her belt of seas, showing your effulgent glory, O king.
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्तः स तथेत्युक्त्वा पाण्डवः पृथिवीपतिः। चकार सर्वे राजेन्द्र यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिना॥
Vaishampayana said Thius addressed (by the Rishi), Yudhishthira, the royal son of Pandu, answered, 'So be it!' and then, O monarch, he accomplished all that that utterer of Brahma had said.
सम्भराश्चैव राजेन्द्र सर्वे संकल्पिताऽभवन्। स सम्भारान् समाहृत्य नृपो धर्मसुतस्तदा॥ न्यवेदयदमेयात्मा कृष्णद्वैपायनाय वै।
All the articles necessary for the sacrifice, O king, were duly procured. The royal son of Dharma, gifted with immeasurable soul, having procured all the necessaries, inforined the Island-born Krishna of it.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा व्यासो धर्मात्मजं नृपम्॥ यथाकालं यथायोगं सज्जाः स्म तव दीक्षणे।
Then the highly energetic Vyasa said to the royal son of Dharma, “As regards ourselves, we are all prepared to initiate you in view of the sacrifice.
स्फ्यश्च कूर्चश्च सौवर्णो यच्चान्यदपि कौरव॥ तत्र योग्यं भवेत् किंचिद् रौक्मं तत् क्रियतामिति।
Let the Sphya and the Kurcha and all the other articles that, o you of Kuru's race, may be necessary for your sacrifice, be made of gold.
अश्वश्चोत्सृज्यतामद्य पृथ्व्यामथ यथाक्रमम्। सुगुप्तं चरतां चापि यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि॥
Let the horse also be loosened today, for wandering on the Earth, according to the ordinances of the scriptures. Let the animal, duly protected, wander over the Earth.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच अयमश्वो यथा ब्रह्मन्नुस्तृष्टः पृथिवीमिमाम्। चरिष्यति यथाकामं तत्र वै संविधीयताम्॥
Yudhishthira said Let arrangements be made by you, O twiceborn one, about loosening this horse for enabling it to wander over the Earth at its will.
पृथिवीं पर्यटन्तं हि तुरगं कामचारिणम्। कः पालयेदिति मुने तद् भवान् वक्तुमर्हति॥
You should, O ascetic, say who will protect this horse while roaming over the Earth freely according to its will.
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्तः स तु राजेन्द्र कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्। भीमसेनादवरजः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्॥ जिष्णुः सहिष्णुर्धष्णुश्च स एनं पालयिष्यति। शक्तः स हि महीं जेतुं निवातकवचान्तकः॥
Vaishampayana continued : Thus addressed (by king Yudhishthira), O king, the Island-born Krishna said, He who is born after Bhimasena, who is the foremost of all bowmen, who is called Jishnu, who is gifted with great patience and capable of overcoming all resistance, he will protect the horse. That destroyer of the Nivatakavachas can conquer the whole Earth.
तस्मिन् वस्त्राणि दिव्यानि दिव्यं संहननं तथा। दिव्यं धनुश्चेषुधी च स एनमनुयास्यति॥
In him are all celestial weapons, His body is like that of a celestial in its powers of endurance. His bow and quivers are celestial. He will follow this horse.
स हि धर्मार्थकुशलः सर्वविद्याविशारदः। यथाशास्त्रं नृपश्रेष्ठ चारयिष्यति ते हयम्॥
He is well-versed in both Religion and Profit. He is a master of all the sciences. O foremost of kings, he will, according to the scriptures, cause the horse to roam and graze at its will.
राजपुत्रो महाबाहुः श्यामो राजीवलोचनः। अभिमन्योः पिता वीरः स एनं पालयिष्यति॥
son This mighty-armed prince, of dark colour, is endued with eyes resembling lotus petals. That hero, the father of Abhimanyu, will protect the horse,
भीमसेनोऽपि तेजस्वी कौन्तेयोऽमितविक्रमः। समर्थो रक्षितुं राष्ट्र नकुलश्च विशाम्पते॥
Bhimasena also is gifted with great energy. That of Kunti is possessed of immeasurable power. He is competent to protect the kingdom, helped by Nakula, O monarch.
सहदेवस्तु कौरव्य समाधास्यति बुद्धिमान्। कुटुम्बतन्त्रं विधिवत् सर्वमेव महायशाः॥
Gifted with great intelligence and fame, Sahadeva will, O you of Kuru's race, duly attend to all the relatives who have been invited to your capital.
तत् तु सर्वे यथान्यायमुक्तः कुरुकुलोद्वहः। चकार फाल्गुनं चापि संदिदेश हयं प्रति॥
Thus addressed by the Rishi, that perpetuator of Kuru's race, viz., Yudhishthira, performed every injunction duly and appointed Phalguna to attend to the horse.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच एह्यर्जुन त्वया वीर हयोऽयं परिपाल्यताम्। त्वम) रक्षितुं ह्येनं नान्यः कश्चन मानवः॥
Yudhishthira said Come, O Arjuna, let the horse, O hero, be protected by you. You alone are competent to protect it, and none else.
ये चापि त्वं महाबाहो प्रत्युद्यान्ति नराधिपाः। तैविग्रहो यथा न स्यात् तथा कार्यं त्वयानघ॥
Those kings, O mighty-armed hero who will come forward to encounter you, try O sinless one, to avoid battles with them to the best of your power.
आख्यातव्यश्च भवता यज्ञोऽयं मम सर्वशः। पार्थिवेभ्यो महाबाहो समये गम्यतामिति॥
You should also invite them all to this sacrifice of mine. Indeed, O mighty armed one, go forth but try to establish friendly relations with them.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा च धर्मात्मा भ्रातरं सव्यसाचिनम्। भीमं च नकुलं चैव पुरगुप्तौ समादधत्॥
Vaishampayana said Having said so to his brother Savyasachi, the righteous-souled king Yudhishthira commanded Bhima and Nakula to protect the city.
कुटुम्बतन्त्रे तदा सहदेवं युधां पतिम्। अनुमान्य महीपालं धृतराष्ट्र युधिष्ठिरः॥
With the permission of king Dhritarashtra, Yudhishthira then set Sahadeva, that foremost of warriors, to wait upon all the invited guests.