Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 1.203
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1.203.1
यदा निवृत्ता राजानो धनुषः सज्यकर्मणः ।
अथोदतिष्ठद्विप्राणां मध्याज्जिष्णुरुदारधीः ॥ १.२०३.१ ॥
When the kings had withdrawn from the task of stringing the bow, then from among the brahmins rose Jiṣṇu (Arjuna), noble of mind.
1.203.2
उदक्रोशन्विप्रमुख्या विधुन्वन्तोऽजिनानि च ।
दृष्ट्वा संप्रस्थितं पार्थमिन्द्रकेतुसमप्रभम् ॥ १.२०३.२ ॥
Seeing Pārtha (Arjuna) advancing, radiant as Indra's banner, the foremost brahmins cried out loudly, shaking their deerskins.
1.203.3
केचिदासन्विमनसः केचिदासन्मुदान्विताः ।
आहुः परस्परं केचिन्निपुणा बुद्धिजीविनः ॥ १.२०३.३ ॥
Some became dejected in mind, others filled with gladness; and some clever men who lived by their wits began to speak with one another.
1.203.4
यत्कर्णशल्यप्रमुखैः क्षत्रियैर्लोकविश्रुतैः ।
नानतं बलवद्भिर्हि धनुर्वेदपरायणैः ॥ १.२०३.४ ॥
That bow which was not bent even by the kshatriyas renowned in the world, led by Karṇa and Śalya, strong and devoted to the science of archery.
1.203.5
तत्कथं त्वकृतास्त्रेण प्राणतो दुर्बलीयसा ।
वटुमात्रेण शक्यं हि सज्यं कर्तुं धनुर्द्विजाः ॥ १.२०३.५ ॥
Then how is it possible for a mere youth, unskilled in weapons and weak of body, to string the bow, O twice-born?
1.203.6
अवहास्या भविष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाः सर्वराजसु ।
कर्मण्यस्मिन्नसंसिद्धे चापलादपरीक्षिते ॥ १.२०३.६ ॥
If this task, undertaken rashly and untested, is not accomplished, then the brahmins will become objects of ridicule among all kings.
1.203.7
यद्येष दर्पाद्धर्षाद्वाप्यथ ब्राह्मणचापलात् ।
प्रस्थितो धनुरायन्तुं वार्यतां साधु मा गमत् ॥ १.२०३.७ ॥
If he has set out to draw the bow out of pride, out of elation, or out of a brahmin's rashness, let him be properly stopped; let him not go forward.
1.203.8
नावहास्या भविष्यामो न च लाघवमास्थिताः ।
न च विद्विष्टतां लोके गमिष्यामो महीक्षिताम् ॥ १.२०३.८ ॥
We shall not become objects of ridicule, nor resort to lightness, nor incur the enmity of kings in the world.
1.203.9
केचिदाहुर्युवा श्रीमान्नागराजकरोपमः ।
पीनस्कन्धोरुबाहुश्च धैर्येण हिमवानिव ॥ १.२०३.९ ॥
Some said: he is young and splendid, like the trunk of the lord of elephants, with full shoulders, thighs and arms, and in steadiness like the Himalaya.
1.203.10
सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान्मत्तनागेन्द्रविक्रमः ।
संभाव्यमस्मिन्कर्मेदमुत्साहाच्चानुमीयते ॥ १.२०३.१० ॥
With the gait of a lion at play, splendid, with the valour of a frenzied lord of elephants: this deed may be achieved by him, and it is inferred from his zeal.
1.203.11
शक्तिरस्य महोत्साहा न ह्यशक्तः स्वयं व्रजेत् ।
न च तद्विद्यते किंचित्कर्म लोकेषु यद्भवेत् ॥ १.२०३.११ ॥
He has great zeal and also the strength; one who is powerless would not go forward of himself. And there is no deed in the worlds that could not be done.
1.203.12
ब्राह्मणानामसाध्यं च नृषु संस्थानचारिषु ।
अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च फलाहारा दृढव्रताः ॥ १.२०३.१२ ॥
Nothing is unattainable for brahmins who walk in their stations among men: water-drinkers, air-eaters, fruit-eaters, firm in their vows.
1.203.13
दुर्बला अपि विप्रा हि बलीयांसः स्वेतजसा ।
ब्राह्मणो नावमन्तव्यः सदसद्वा समाचरन् ॥ १.२०३.१३ ॥
Though brahmins may seem weak, they are mightier through their own brilliance. A brahmin should not be despised, whether he acts rightly or wrongly.
1.203.14
सुखं दुःखं महद्ध्रस्वं कर्म यत्समुपागतम् ।
जामदग्न्येन रामेण निर्जिताः क्षत्रिया युधि ॥ १.२०३.१४ ॥
Pleasure and pain, great and small, whatever deed has come about: by it Rāma, son of Jamadagni, defeated the kshatriyas in battle.
1.203.15
पीतः समुद्रोऽगस्त्येन अगाधो ब्रह्मतेजसा ।
तस्माद्ब्रुवन्तु सर्वेऽत्र वटुरेष धनुर्महान् ॥ १.२०३.१५ ॥
The unfathomable ocean was drunk by Agastya through brahminical splendor. Therefore let everyone here say: this youth can string this great bow.
1.203.16
आरोपयतु शीघ्रं वै तथेत्यूचुर्द्विजर्षभाः ।
एवं तेषां विलपतां विप्राणां विविधा गिरः ॥ १.२०३.१६ ॥
'Let him string it quickly,' said the foremost brahmins. And thus were the various words of those lamenting brahmins heard.
1.203.17
अर्जुनो धनुषोऽभ्याशे तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः ।
अर्जुनः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठो धृष्टद्युम्नमथाब्रवीत् ॥ १.२०३.१७ ॥
Arjuna stood near the bow, immovable like a mountain. Then Arjuna, best of the Pāṇḍavas, spoke to Dhṛṣṭadyumna.
1.203.18
एतद्धनुर्ब्राह्मणानां सज्यं कर्तुमलं तु किम् ।
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा धृष्टद्युम्नोऽब्रवीद्वचः ॥ १.२०३.१८ ॥
'Is it even possible to string this bow for the brahmins?' Having heard his words, Dhṛṣṭadyumna spoke these words.
1.203.19
ब्राह्मणो वाथ राजन्यो वैश्यो वा शूद्र एव वा ।
एतेषां यो धनुःश्रेष्ठं सज्यं कुर्याद्द्विजोत्तम ॥ १.२०३.१९ ॥
Whether he be a brahmin, a kṣatriya, a vaiśya, or even a śūdra — whoever of these strings the finest bow, best of the twice-born.
1.203.20
तस्मै प्रदेया भगिनी सत्यमुक्तं मया वचः ॥ १.२०३.२० ॥
To him shall the sister be given; this word I have spoken truly.
1.203.21
ततः पश्चान्महातेजाः पाण्डवो रणदुर्जयः ।
स तद्धनुः परिक्रम्य प्रदक्षिणमथाकरोत् ॥ १.२०३.२१ ॥
Then the Pāṇḍava, of great splendour and unconquerable in battle, circled that bow clockwise.
1.203.22
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवमीनं वरदं प्रभुम् ।
कृष्णं च मनसा कृत्वा जगृहे चार्जुनो धनुः ॥ १.२०३.२२ ॥
Bowing his head to the god, the giver of boons, the lord with the fish-banner, and holding Kṛṣṇa in his mind, Arjuna took up the bow.
1.203.23
यत्पार्थिवै रुक्मसुनीथवक्रै ।
राधेयदुर्योधनशल्यसाल्वैः।
तदा धनुर्वेदपरैर्नृसिंहैः ।
कृतं न सज्यं महतोऽपि यत्नात् ॥ १.२०३.२३ ॥
Which bow, though great effort was made by kings such as Rukmin, Sunītha, Vakra, Rādheya (Karṇa), Duryodhana, Śalya and Sālva, and by lion-like men skilled in the science of the bow, could not be strung.
1.203.24
तदर्जुनो वीर्यवतां सदर्प-
स्तदैन्द्रिरिन्द्रावरजप्रभावः।
सज्यं च चक्रे निमिषान्तरेण ।
शरांश्च जग्राह दशार्दसङ्ख्यान् ॥ १.२०३.२४ ॥
Then Arjuna, proud among the mighty, son of Indra, whose power was that of Indra's younger brother (Viṣṇu), strung that bow in the space of a moment and took up five arrows.
1.203.25
विव्याध लक्ष्यं निपपात तच्च ।
छिद्रेण भूमौ सहसातिविद्धम्।
ततोऽन्तरिक्षे च बभूव नादः ।
समाजमध्ये च महान्निनादः ॥ १.२०३.२५ ॥
He pierced the target, and it fell. Through the hole it suddenly dropped to the ground, pierced all through. Then a sound arose in the sky, and in the midst of the assembly there was a great roar.
1.203.26
पुष्पाणि दिव्यानि ववर्ष देवः ।
पार्थस्य मूर्ध्नि द्विषतां निहन्तुः ॥ १.२०३.२६ ॥
The god rained down divine flowers upon the head of Pārtha, the slayer of his enemies.
1.203.27
चेलानि विव्यधुस्तत्र ब्राह्मणाश्च सहस्रशः ।
विलक्षितास्ततश्चक्रुर्हाहाकारांश्च सर्वशः।
न्यपतंश्चात्र नभसः समन्तात्पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥ १.२०३.२७ ॥
There thousands of brahmins waved their garments. Astonished, they raised cries of alas on every side. And here, from the sky on all sides, showers of flowers began to fall.
1.203.28
शताङ्गानि च तूर्याणि वादकाः समवादयन् ।
सूतमागधसङ्घाश्चाप्यस्तुवंस्तत्र सुस्वराः ॥ १.२०३.२८ ॥
Players sounded hundred-limbed instruments together, and companies of bards and panegyrists too praised him there with sweet voices.
1.203.29
तं दृष्ट्वा द्रुपदः प्रीतो बभूव रिपुसूदनः ।
सह सैन्यैश्च पार्थस्य साहाय्यार्थमियेष सः ॥ १.२०३.२९ ॥
Seeing him, Drupada, destroyer of foes, was pleased, and he desired to help Pārtha with his armies.
1.203.30
तस्मिंस्तु शब्दे महति प्रवृद्धे ।
युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः।
आवासमेवोपजगाम शीघ्रं ।
सार्धं यमाभ्यां पुरुषोत्तमाभ्याम् ॥ १.२०३.३० ॥
As that great sound swelled, Yudhiṣṭhira, best of those who uphold dharma, quickly went back to the dwelling, together with the two best of men, the twins.
1.203.31
विद्धं तु लक्ष्यं प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णा ।
पार्थं च शक्रप्रतिमं निरीक्ष्य।
स्वभ्यस्तरूपापि नवेव नित्यं ।
विनापि हासं हसतीव कन्या ॥ १.२०३.३१ ॥
Seeing the target pierced, Kṛṣṇā gazed upon Pārtha, equal to Indra. That maiden, always fresh as if new though well-practised in beauty, seemed to smile even without laughter.
1.203.32
मदादृतेऽपि स्खलतीव भावै-
र्वाचा विना व्याहरतीव दृष्ट्या।
आदाय शुक्लं वरमाल्यदाम ।
जगाम कुन्तीसुतमुत्स्मयन्ती ॥ १.२०३.३२ ॥
Though not intoxicated, she seemed to stumble with feeling; though silent, she seemed to speak with her glance. Taking up the white, excellent garland of flowers, smiling, she went to the son of Kuntī.
1.203.33
गत्वा च पश्चात्प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णा ।
पार्थस्य वक्षस्यविशङ्कमाना।
क्षिप्त्वा स्रजं पार्थिववीरमध्ये ।
वराय वव्रे द्विजसङ्घमध्ये ॥ १.२०३.३३ ॥
Having gone forward, and then looking back at Pārtha's chest without hesitation, Kṛṣṇā cast the garland among the warrior kings and chose him as her husband in the midst of the assembly of brahmins.
1.203.34
शचीव देवेन्द्रमथाग्निदेवं ।
स्वाहेव लक्ष्मीश्च यथा मुकुन्दम्।
उषेव सूर्यं मदनं रतीव ।
महेश्वरं पर्वतराजपुत्री ॥ १.२०३.३४ ॥
As Śacī chose Devendra, Svāhā chose the god Agni, Lakṣmī chose Mukunda, Uṣā chose the sun, Ratī chose Madana, and the daughter of the mountain king chose Maheśvara.
1.203.35
स तामुपादाय विजित्य रङ्गे ।
द्विजातिभिस्तैरभिपूज्यमानः।
रङ्गान्निरक्रामदचिन्त्यकर्मा ।
पत्न्या तया चाप्यनुगम्यमानः ॥ १.२०३.३५ ॥
Taking her, having won in the arena, and honoured by those twice-born brahmins, he of inconceivable deeds departed from the arena, and his wife followed behind him.