वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः शयनमाविश्य प्रसुप्तो मधुसूदनः। याममात्रार्धशेषायां यामिन्यां प्रत्यबुद्ध्यत॥ स ध्यानपथमाविश्य सर्वज्ञानानि माधवः। अवलोक्य ततः पश्चाद् दध्यौ ब्रह्म सनातनम्॥
Vaishampayana said Retiring to his bed the destroyer of Madhu slept happily. Awaking when half a period was wanting for the approach of the day, he made himself ready for meditation. Concentrating all his senses, he meditated on the eternal Brahma.
ततः स्तुतिपुराणज्ञा रक्तकण्ठाः सुशिक्षिताः। अस्तुवन् विश्वकर्माणं वासुदेवं प्रजापतिम्॥
Then a number of well-trained and sweet voiced persons conversant with hymns and the Puranas, began to sing the praises of Vasudeva, the master of all creatures and the creator of the universe.
पठन्ति पाणिस्वनिकास्तथा गायन्ति गायनाः। शङ्खानथ मृदङ्गांश्च प्रवाद्यन्ति सहस्रशः॥
Others, keeping time by the clapping of hands, began to sing sweet hymns, and vocalists began to sing. Thousands of conchshells and drums were blown and beat.
वीणापणववेणूनां स्वनश्चातिमनोरमः। सहास इव विस्तीर्णः शुश्रुवे तस्य वेश्मनः॥
The charming sound also of Vinas; Panavas, and bamboo flutes, was heard. The spacious edifice of Krishna, seemed, as if to laugh with music.
ततो युधिष्ठिरस्यापि राज्ञो मङ्गलसंहिताः। उच्चेरुर्मधुरा वाचो गीतवादिनि:स्वनाः॥
In the mansion of King Yudhishthira also melodious voices were heard, exclaiming auspicious wishes, and the sound of songs too and musical instruments.
तत उत्थाय दाशार्हः स्नातः प्राञ्जलिरच्युतः। जप्त्वा गुह्यं महाबाहुरग्नीनाश्रित्य तस्थिवान्॥
Then the Dasharha here performed his ablutions. Joining his hands, the mighty armed hero, of undecaying glory, silently recited his sacred Mantras, and lighting up a fire poured libations of clarified butter upon it.
ततः सहस्रं विप्राणां चतुर्वेदविदां तथा। गवां सहस्रेणैकैकं वाचयामास माधवः॥
Distributing a thousand kine amongst a thousand Brahmanas all of whom were masters of the four Vedas, he made them utter benedictions upon him.
मङ्गलालम्भनं कृत्वा आत्मानमवलोक्य च। आदर्श विमले कृष्णस्ततः सात्यकिमब्रवीत्॥ गच्छ शैनेय जानीहि गत्वा राजनिवेशनम्। अपि सज्जो महातेजा भीष्मं द्रष्टुं युधिष्ठिरः॥
Touching next various sorts of sacred articles and beholding himself in a clear mirror, Krishna addressed Satyaki, saying,—'Go, O descendant of Shini, and repairing to Yudhishthira's palace, ascertain whether if the king is dressed for visiting Bhishma.'
ततः कृष्णस्य वचनात् सात्यकिस्त्वरितो ययौ। उपगम्य च राजानं युधिष्ठिरमभाषत॥ युक्तो रथवरो राजन् वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। समीपमापगेयस्य प्रयास्यति जनार्दनः॥
Thus commanded by Krishna, Satyaki, proceeding quickly to the royal son of Pandu, said to him-'The foremost of cars, belonging to the highly intelligent Vasudeva, is ready, O king, for Janardana will go to see Ganga's son.
भवत्प्रतीक्षः कृष्णोऽसौ धर्मराज महाद्युते। यदत्रानन्तरं कृत्यं तद् भवान् कर्तुमर्हति॥ एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।
O righteous, great, and powerful king! Krishna is waiting for you. You should now do what should be done next. Thus addressed, Dharma's son Yudhishthira answered as follows.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच युज्यतां मे रथवरः फाल्गुनाप्रतिमद्युते॥ न सैनिकैश्च यातव्यं यास्यामो वयमेव हि।
‘O Phalguna of matchless splendour, let my best of cars be made ready. We should not be accompanied by the soldiers, but we shall proceed alone.
न च पीडयितव्यो मे भीष्मो धर्मभृतां वरः॥ अतः पुरःसराश्चापि निवर्तन्तु धनंजय।
That best or righteous person viz., Bhishma, should not be vexed. Let not the guards, therefore, O Dhananjaya accompany us today.
अद्यप्रभृति गाङ्गेयः परं गुह्यं प्रवक्ष्यति॥ अतो नेच्छामि कौन्तेय पृथग्जनसमागमम्।
From this day Ganga's son will discourse on things that are great mysteries, I do not, therefore, O son of Kunti, wish that there should be a miscellaneous assembly.'
वैशम्पायन उवाच स तद्वाक्यमथाज्ञाय कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजयः॥ युक्तं रथवरं तस्मा आचचक्षे नरर्षभः।
Hearing these words of the king, Kunti's son Dhananjaya, that best of men went out and returning said to him that his best of cars stood ready for him.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा यमौ भीमार्जुनावपि॥ भूतानीव समस्तानि ययुः कृष्णनिवेशनम्।
King Yudhishthira, the twins Bhima and Arjuna, the five resembling the five elements, then proceeded towards Krishna's mansion.
आगच्छत्स्वथ कृष्णोऽपि पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु॥ शैनेयसहितो धीमान् रथमेवान्वपद्यत।
While the great Pandavas were coming, Krishna accompanied by the grandson of Shini, got upon his car.
रथस्थाः संविदं कृत्वा सुखां पृष्ट्वा च शर्वरीम्॥ मेघघोषै रथवरैः प्रययुस्ते नरर्षभाः।
Saluting one another from their cars and each enquiring of the other whether he had passed the night happily, those foremost of men proceeded, without stopping, on those foremost of cars whose rattle resembled the roar of the clouds.
बलाहकं मेघपुष्पं शैब्यं सुग्रीवमेव च॥ दारुकश्चोदयामास वासुदेवस्य वाजिनः। ते हया वासुदेवस्य दारुकेण प्रचोदिताः।२२॥ गां खुरागैस्तथा राजंल्लिखन्तः प्रययुस्तदा।
Krishna's horses, viz., Balahaka, Meghapushpa, Shaivya and Sugriva were driven by Daruka. The animals, urged by him, O king, ran on marking the Earth with their hoofs.
ते ग्रसन्त इवाकाशं वेगवन्तो महाबलाः॥ क्षेत्रं धर्मस्य कृत्स्नस्य कुरुक्षेत्रमवातरन्। ततो ययुर्यत्र भीष्मः शरतल्पगतः प्रभुः॥ आस्ते महर्षिभिः सार्धं ब्रह्मा देवगणैर्यथा।
Highly strong and quick-coursing, they flew onwards, devouring as if the very skies. Traversing the sacred field of Kuru, the princes went to that spot where the powerful Bhishma was lying on his bed of arrows, surrounded by those great Rishis, like Brahman himself in the midst of the celestials.
ततोऽवतीर्य गोविन्दो रथात् स च युधिष्ठिरः॥ भीमो गाण्डीवधन्वा च यमौ सात्यकिरेव च। ऋषीनभ्यर्चयामासुः करानुद्यम्य दक्षिणान्॥
Then Govinda, Yudhishthira. Bhima, and the wielder of Gandiva, the twins and Satyaki, getting down from their cars, saluted the Rishis by raising their right hands.
स तैः परिवृतो राजा नक्षत्रैरिव चन्द्रमाः। अभ्याजगाम गाङ्गेयं ब्रह्माणमिव वासवः॥
Encircled by them, king Yudhishthira, like the moon in the midst of the stars, approached Ganga's son like Vasava proceeding towards Brahman.
शरतल्पे शयानं तमादित्यं पतितं यथा। स ददर्श महाबाहुं भयाच्चागतसाध्वसः।२८॥
Possessed by fear, the king timidly cast his eyes on the mighty-armed hero lying on his bed of arrows like the Sun himself dropped from the sky.