येन मे कर्मणा ब्रह्मन्पुत्रः स्याद्द्रोणमृत्येव। उपयाज चरस्वैतत्प्रदास्यामि धनं तव
O Brahman, by what act may I obtain a son equal to Drona in prowess? Perform that rite, Upayaja, and I will give you wealth.
नाहं फलार्थी द्रुपद योऽर्थी स्यात्तत्र गम्यताम्
I am not one who seeks rewards, Drupada; let whoever desires them go there.
आराधयिष्यन्द्रुपदः स तं पर्यचरत्तदा। ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते द्रुपदं द्विजसत्तमः
Drupada then served him, striving to please him; at the end of a year, the best of twice-born spoke to Drupada.
उपयाजोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं काले मधुरया गिरा। ज्येष्ठो भ्राता न मेऽत्याक्षीद्विचरन्विजने वने
Upayaja spoke at the proper time with gentle words: 'My elder brother never neglected me while wandering alone in the forest.'
अपरिज्ञातशौचायां भूमौ निपतितं फलम्। तदपश्यमहं भ्रातुरसांप्रतमनुव्रजन्
While following my brother, I saw a fruit fallen on the ground, whose purity was unknown.
विमर्शं हि फलादाने नायं कुर्यात्कथंचन। नापश्यत्फलं दृष्ट्वा दोषांस्तस्याऽऽनुबन्धिकान्
He never took fruit without careful consideration; seeing the fruit, he observed its faults and those connected to it.
विविनक्ति न शौचार्थी सोऽन्यत्रापि कथं भवेत्। संहिताध्ययनस्यान्ते पञ्चयज्ञान्निरूप्य च
He does not distinguish for purity; how could he do so elsewhere? At the end of studying the Samhitas and after determining the five sacrifices—
भैक्षमुञ्छेन सहितं भुञ्जानस्तु तदा तदा। कीर्तयत्येव राजर्षे भोजनस्य रसं पुनः
He would eat alms gathered by gleaning, and repeatedly praised the taste of food, O royal sage.
संहिताध्ययनं कुर्वन्वने गुरुकुले वसन्। भैक्षमुच्छिष्टमन्येषां भुङ्क्ते स्म सततं तथा
While studying the Samhitas, living in the teacher’s house in the forest, he would always eat the leftovers of others as alms.
कीर्तयन्गुणमन्नानामथ प्रीतो मुहुर्मुहुः। एवं फलार्थिनस्त्समान्मन्येऽहं तर्कचक्षुषा
Praising the quality of food, he was repeatedly delighted; thus, desiring fruit, I judge him to be the same, by the eye of reasoning.
तं वै गच्छेह नृपते त्वां स संयाजयिष्यति
Go to him, O king; he will perform the sacrifice for you.
उपयाजवचः श्रुत्वा याजस्याश्रममभ्यगात्। जुगुप्समानो नृपतिर्मनसेदं विचिन्तयन्
Hearing Upayaja’s words, the king approached Yaja’s hermitage, feeling repulsed and pondering in his mind.
भृशं संपूज्य पूजार्हमृषिं याजमुवाच ह। गोशतानि ददान्यष्टौ याज याजय मां विभो
He honored the sage Yaja, worthy of respect, and said: 'O Yaja, perform the sacrifice for me, and I will give you eight hundred cows.'
द्रोणवैरान्तरे तप्तं विषण्णं शरणागतम्। ब्रह्मबन्धुप्रणिहितं न क्षत्रं क्षत्रियो जयेत्
Tormented by enmity with Drona, dejected and seeking refuge, his mind set on a Brahmin, a Kshatriya cannot conquer the Kshatriya.
तस्माद्द्रोणभयार्तं मां भवांस्त्रातुमिहार्हति। येन मे कर्मणा ब्रह्मन्पुत्रः स्याद्द्रोणमृत्यवे
Therefore, you ought to protect me here from the fear of Drona, so that, by your action, O Brahman, I may have a son who will be the cause of Drona's death.
अर्जुनस्यापि वै भार्या भवेद्या वरवर्णिनी। स हि ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो ब्राह्मे क्षात्रेऽप्यनुत्तमः
Let a woman of excellent complexion become Arjuna's wife, for he is the foremost among those who know Brahman, unsurpassed in both Brahmanical and Kshatriya qualities.
ततो द्रोणस्तु माऽजैषीत्सखिविग्रहकारणात्। क्षत्रियो नास्ति तुल्योऽस्य पृथिव्यां कश्चिदग्रणीः
Then Drona should not defeat me because of rivalry among friends; there is no Kshatriya on earth equal to him, none who leads.
भारताचार्यमुख्यस्य भारद्वाजस्य धीमतः। द्रोणस्य शरजालानि रिपुदेहहराणि च
The showers of arrows and the weapons that destroy enemy bodies of Drona, the wise chief preceptor of the Bharatas, son of Bharadvaja—
षडरत्नि धनुश्चास्य खड्गमप्रतिम तथा। स हि ब्राह्मणवेषेण क्षात्रं वेगमसंशयम्
He possesses a six-jewel bow and an incomparable sword; indeed, though clad as a Brahman, he wields Kshatriya power without doubt.
प्रतिहन्ति महेष्वासो भारद्वाजो महामनाः। कार्तवीर्यसमो ह्येष खट्वाङ्गप्रतिमो रणे
The great-minded Bharadvaja, mighty with bow, strikes down his foes; he is equal to Kartavirya and comparable to Khatvanga in battle.
क्षत्रोच्छेदाय विहितो जामदग्न्य इवास्थितः
He stands, like Jamadagni's son, established for the destruction of the Kshatriya order.
सहितं क्षत्रवेगेन ब्रह्मवेगेन सांप्रतम्। उपपन्नं हि मन्येऽहं भारद्वाजं यशस्विनम्
Now, joined with the force of Kshatriyas and the force of Brahmans, I consider the illustrious Bharadvaja to be truly accomplished.
नेषवस्तमपाकुर्युर्न च प्रासा न चासयः। ब्राह्मं तस्य महातेजो मन्त्राहुतिहुतं यथा
No arrows, no spears, nor missiles can repel him; his Brahmanic great energy is like the oblations offered with mantras.
तस्य ह्यस्त्रबलं घोरमप्रसह्यं परैर्भुवि। शत्रून्समेत्य जयति क्षत्रं ब्रह्मपुरस्कृतम्
His terrifying power of weapons is irresistible by others on earth; meeting his enemies, he conquers, with Brahman placed before Kshatriya.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रे च सहिते ब्रह्मतेजो विशिष्यते। सोऽहं क्षत्रबलाद्दीनो ब्रह्मतेजः प्रपेदिवान्
When Brahman and Kshatriya are united, Brahmanic energy prevails; thus, weakened by Kshatriya power, I have sought Brahmanic energy.
द्रोणाद्विशिष्टमासाद्य भवन्तं ब्रह्मवित्तमम्। द्रोणान्तकमहं पुत्रं लभेयं युधि दुर्जयम्
Having approached you, who surpass Drona and are the foremost knower of Brahman, I may obtain a son, difficult to defeat in battle, who will be Drona's end.
द्रोणमृत्युर्यथा मेऽद्य पुत्रो जायेत वीर्यवान्। तत्कर्म कुरु मे याज निर्वपाम्यर्बुद्धं गवाम्
May a son be born to me today, valiant, who will be Drona's death; perform that act for me, O Yaja, and I will offer a great number of cows.
तथेत्युक्त्वा तुं तं याजो यज्ञार्थमुपकल्पयन्। गुर्वर्थ इति चाकाममुपयाजमचोदयत्
Saying 'so be it,' Yaja prepared for the sacrifice; for the sake of the teacher, he summoned Upayaja, though unwilling, to assist.
द्रुपदं च महाराजमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। मा भैस्त्वं संप्रदास्यामि कर्मणा भवतः सुतम्
He spoke these words to Drupada, the great king: 'Do not fear; I will give you a son by my action.'
एवमुक्त्वा प्रतिज्ञाय कर्म चास्याददे मुनिः
Having spoken thus and made the promise, the sage undertook the act.