स्थापितस्तत्र सञ्ज्ञार्थं शङ्खोऽध्मायत नित्यशः। मुहुर्मुहुः प्रणादस्तु तस्य शङ्खस्य भारत
A conch was placed there as a signal and was blown continually; again and again its loud sound was heard, O Bharata.
उत्तमः श्रूयते शब्दः श्रुत्वा विस्मयमागमन्। एवं प्रवृत्ते यज्ञे तु तुष्टपुष्टजनायुते
The excellent sound was heard, and upon hearing it, wonder arose; thus, as the sacrifice proceeded, it was filled with satisfied and nourished people.
अन्नस्य बहुशो राजन्नुत्सेधाः पर्वतोपमाः। दधिकुल्याश्च ददृशुः सर्पिषश्च ह्रदाञ्जनाः
Heaps of food, O king, rose like mountains; streams of curds were seen, and lakes of clarified butter appeared to the people.
जम्बूद्वीपो हि सकलो नानाजनपदायुतः। राजन्नदृश्यतैकस्थो राज्ञस्तस्मिन्महाक्रतौ
The entire Jambudvipa, filled with many peoples and regions, seemed to be gathered in one place at that great sacrifice of the king.
तत्र राजसहस्राणि पुरुषाणां ततस्ततः। गृहीत्वा धनमाजग्मुस्तस्य राज्ञो महाक्रतौ
There, thousands of kings and men from various places brought wealth to the king's great sacrifice.
राजानः स्रग्विणश्चैव संमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः। तान्परीविविषुर्विप्राञ्छतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
The kings, adorned with garlands and polished jeweled earrings, surrounded the Brahmanas by the hundreds and thousands.
विविधान्यन्नपानानि लेह्यानि विविधानि च। तेषां नृपोपभोग्यानि ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुः स्म ते
They gave to the Brahmins various kinds of food and drink, and many sorts of delicacies, all meant for the enjoyment of the kings.
नानाविधानि भक्ष्याणि स्वादुपुष्पफलानि च। गुलानि स्वादुक्षौद्राणि ददुस्ते ब्राह्मणेषु वै
They gave to the Brahmins many kinds of sweets, delicious flowers and fruits, and confections made with sweet honey.
एतानि सततं भुक्त्वा तस्मिन्यज्ञे द्विजातयः। परां प्रीतिं ययुः सर्वे मोदमानास्ततस्ततः
Having continually enjoyed these things at that sacrifice, all the twice-born were filled with supreme delight, rejoicing again and again.
एवं प्रमुदितं सर्वं बहुशो धनधान्यवत्। यज्ञवाटं नृपा दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं ययुः
Seeing the entire sacrificial enclosure, abundant with wealth and grain and filled with joy, the kings were struck with the highest wonder.
यथाबद्धूयमानाग्निं राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्। पाण्डवस्य यथाशास्त्रं जुहुवुः सर्वयाजकाः
All the officiating priests offered oblations into the properly kindled fire of the great Rājasūya sacrifice of the Pāṇḍava, according to the prescribed rules.
व्यासधौम्यादयः सर्वे विधिवत्षोडशर्त्विजः। स्वस्वकर्माणि चक्रुस्ते पाण्डवस्य महाक्रतौ
Vyāsa, Dhaumya, and all the sixteen priests performed their respective duties in the great sacrifice of the Pāṇḍava, in accordance with the ritual.
नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीत्सदस्यो नाबहुश्रुतः। नाव्रतो नानुपाध्यायो न पापो नाक्षमो द्विजः
There was no member of the assembly who lacked knowledge of the six limbs of the Veda, nor anyone unlearned, undisciplined, without a teacher, sinful, or lacking in self-control among the twice-born.
न तत्र कृपणः कश्चिद्दरिद्रो न बभूव ह। क्षुधितो दुःखितो वापि प्राकृतो वापि मानुषः
There was no one there who was poor, destitute, hungry, suffering, or of lowly status among the people.
भोजनं भोजनार्थिभ्यो दापयामास सर्वदा। सहदेवो महातेजाः सततं राजशासनात्
Sahadeva, of great energy, always had food distributed to those who sought it, by the king’s command.
संस्तरे कुशलाश्चापि सर्वकर्माणि याजकाः। दिवस दिवसे चक्रुर्यथाशास्त्रार्थचक्षुषः
The priests, skilled in all rites, performed every task each day with eyes fixed on the meaning of the scriptures.
ब्राह्मणा देवशास्त्रज्ञः कथाश्चक्रुश्च सर्वतः। रेमिरे च कथान्ते तु सर्वे तस्मिन्महाक्रतौ
The Brahmins, learned in the scriptures of the gods, engaged in discussions everywhere, and at the end of their conversations, all rejoiced at that great sacrifice.
सा वेदिर्वेदसम्पन्नैर्देवद्विजमहर्षिभिः। बभासे तदा कीर्णा नक्षत्रैर्द्यौरिवामला
That altar, filled with those accomplished in the Vedas—gods, Brahmins, and great sages—shone then like the spotless sky adorned with stars.
पाण्डित्यदर्शनार्थाय केचन द्विजसत्तमाः। तर्कार्थमागताः केचित्केचिद्विद्याभिमानिनः
Some excellent Brahmins came to display their learning, some for debate, and some out of pride in their knowledge.
केचिद्दिदृक्षया केचिद्भीत्या राज्ञः प्रतापिनः। सर्वेऽप्यवभृथस्नाता याजकाः केचन द्विजाः
Some came out of curiosity, some out of fear of the powerful king; all the officiating priests and some Brahmins had bathed after the concluding rite.
ततो वै हेमयूपांश्च सर्वरत्नसमाचितान्। शोभार्थं कारयामास सहदेवो महाद्युतिः
Then Sahadeva, radiant with splendor, had golden posts adorned with all kinds of jewels erected for beauty.
ददृशुस्तोरणान्यत्र हेमतालमयानि च। स यज्ञस्तोरणैस्तैश्च ग्रहैर्द्योरिव सम्बभौ
There they saw gateways made of gold and palmyra wood; with those gateways, the sacrifice shone like the sky with planets.
तालानां तोरणैर्हैमैर्दान्तैरिव दिशागजैः। दिक्षु सर्वासु विन्यस्तैस्तेजोभिर्भास्करैर्यथा
With golden palmyra gateways, like the tusks of elephants of the quarters, set in all directions, they shone like the radiant suns.
सकिरीटैर्नृपैश्चैव शुशुभे तत्सदस्तदा। देवैर्दिव्यैश्च यक्षैश्च उरगैर्दिव्यमानुषैः
That assembly then was resplendent with crowned kings, as well as with gods, celestial Yakṣas, serpents, and both divine and human beings.
विद्याधरगणैः कीर्णः पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः। स राजसूयः शुशुभे धर्मराजस्य धीमतः
That royal sacrifice of the great-souled Pandava, the wise king of dharma, shone forth, crowded with hosts of Vidyādharas.
गन्धर्वगणसङ्कीर्णः शोभितोऽप्सरसां गणैः। देवैर्मुनिगणैर्यक्षैर्देवलोक इवापरः
Filled with groups of Gandharvas and adorned by companies of Apsarases, it gleamed like another heavenly realm, with gods, sages, Yakshas all present.
स किम्पुरुषगीतैश्च किन्नरैरुपशोभितः। नारदश्च जगौ तत्र तुम्बुरुश्च महाद्युतिः
Enhanced by the songs of Kimpurushas and Kinnaras, Narada and the radiant Tumburu sang there.
विश्वासुश्चित्रसेनस्तथाऽन्ये गीतकोविदाः। रमयन्ति स्म तान्सर्वान्यज्ञकर्मान्तरेष्वथ
Vishvavasu, Citrar Sena, and other experts in song delighted all the assembled guests during the sacrificial rites.
तत्र चाप्सरसः सर्वाः सुन्दर्यः प्रियदर्शनाः। ननृतुश्च जगुश्चात्र नित्यं कर्मान्तरेष्वथ
There, all the Apsarases—beautiful and pleasing to behold—danced and sang continually during the rituals.
इतिहासपुराणानि आख्यानानि च सर्वशः। ऊचुर्वै शब्दशास्त्रज्ञा नित्यं कर्मान्तरेष्वथ
There, those skilled in the science of sound recited histories, ancient tales, and stories in every ritual.