सखीभिः सहिता भद्रे भवास्य वशवर्तिनी। पुरा हि यतयो भद्रे ये भैक्षार्थमनुव्रताः
Together with your companions, O blessed one, be obedient to him; for, O blessed one, ascetics who formerly observed vows for alms
ते बभूवुर्दशार्हाणां कन्यापुरनिवासिनः। तेभ्यो भोज्यानि भक्ष्याणि यथाकालमतन्द्रिताः। कन्यापुरगताः कन्याः प्रयच्छन्ति यशस्विनि
They dwelt in the maiden's quarters of the Dasharhas; to them, the maidens residing in the maiden's quarters, without negligence, would offer foods and delicacies at the proper time, O illustrious one.
सा तथेत्यब्रवीत्कृष्णं करिष्यामि यथाऽऽथ माम्। तोषयिष्यामि वृत्तेन कर्मणा च द्विजर्षभम्
She replied to Krishna, 'So be it; I will act as you say and please the foremost of twice-born by my conduct and deeds.'
एवमेतेन रूपेण कंचित्कालं धनञ्जयः। उवास भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैश्च भद्रया परमार्चितः
Thus, for some time, Dhananjaya stayed there, honored by Bhadrā with delicious foods and meals.
तस्य सर्वगुणोपेतां वासुदेवसहोदरीम्। पश्यतः सततं भद्रां प्रादुरासीन्मनोभवः
As he continually beheld Bhadrā, endowed with every virtue and the sister of Vasudeva, desire arose in his heart.
गूहयन्निव चाकारमालोक्य वरवर्णिनीम्। दीर्घमुष्णं विनिश्वस्य पार्थः कामवशं गतः
Looking at her, radiant in beauty, as if concealing his feelings, Partha, overcome by passion, sighed long and warm.
स कृष्णां द्रौपदीं मेने न रूपे भद्रया समाम्। प्राप्तां भूमान्विन्द्रसेनां साक्षाद्वा वरुणात्मजाम्
He considered Krishna Draupadi not equal to Bhadrā in beauty, though she was the daughter of Varuna and had been won directly from the earth.
अतीतकाले संप्राप्ते सर्वास्तापि सुरस्त्रियः। न समा भद्रया लोके इत्येवं मन्यतेऽर्जुनः
When the appointed time had passed, Arjuna thought that none of the celestial women were equal to Bhadrā in this world.
अतीतसमये काले सोदर्याणां धनञ्जयः। न सस्मार सुभद्रायां कामाङ्कुशनिवारितः
During that period, Dhananjaya, restrained by the goad of desire, did not remember Subhadrā among his sisters.
क्रीडारतिपरां भद्रां सखीगणसमावृताम्। प्रीयते स्मार्जुनः पश्यन्स्वाहामिव विभावसुः
Arjuna delighted in seeing Bhadrā, absorbed in play and pleasure, surrounded by her circle of friends, as Agni rejoices in seeing Svāhā.
पाण्डवस्य सुभद्रायाः सकाशे तु यशस्विनः। समुत्पत्तिः प्रभावश्च गदेन कथितः पुरा
The origin and greatness of the illustrious Pandava in the presence of Subhadrā were formerly recounted by Gada.
श्रुत्वा चाशनिनिर्घोषं केशवेनापि धीमता। उपमामर्जुनं कृत्वा विस्तरः कथितः पुरा
Having heard the thunderous sound, the wise Kesava once compared Arjuna and narrated the story in detail.
क्रुद्धमानप्रलापश्च वृष्णीनामर्जुनं प्रति। पौरुषं चोपमां कृत्वा प्रावर्तत धनुष्मताम्
The angry and proud speech of the Vrishnis toward Arjuna began, making comparisons of manliness among the bowmen.
अन्योन्यकलहे चापि विवादे चापि वृष्णयः। अर्जुनोपि न मे तुल्यः कुतस्त्वमिति चाब्रुवन्
In mutual quarrels and disputes, the Vrishnis said, 'Arjuna is not equal to me; whence are you?'
जातांश्च पुत्रान्गृह्णन्त आशिषो वृष्णयोऽब्रवन्। अर्जुनस्य समो वीर्ये भव तात धनुर्धरः
Taking their sons, the Vrishnis gave blessings, saying, 'Become equal in valor to Arjuna, O child, as a wielder of the bow.'
तस्मात्सुभद्रा चकमे पौरुषाद्भरतर्षभम्। सत्यसन्धस्य रूपेण चातुर्येण च मोहिता
Therefore, Subhadrā desired the best of the Bharatas for his manliness, captivated by his truthfulness, beauty, and cleverness.
चारणातिथिसंघानां गदस्य च निशम्य सा। अदृष्टे कृतभावाभूत्सुभद्रा भरतर्षभे
Having heard from Gada about the gatherings of Charanas and guests, Subhadrā developed feelings for the Bharata chief whom she had not seen.
कीर्तयन्ददृशे यो यः कथंचित्कुरुजाङ्गलम्। तं तमेव तदा भद्रा बीभत्सुं स्म हि पृच्छति
Whenever anyone mentioned or described the Kurujāngala, Bhadrā would then ask about Bibhatsu.
अभीक्ष्णश्रवणादेवमभीक्ष्णपरिपृच्छनात्। प्रत्यक्ष इव भद्रायाः पाण्डवः प्रत्यपद्यत
By frequent hearing and constant questioning, Pandava became, as it were, present before Bhadrā.
भुजौ भुजगसङ्काशौ ज्याघातेन किणीकृतौ। पार्थोऽयमिति पश्यन्त्या निःशंसयमजायत
Seeing his arms, resembling serpents and marked by the bowstring, she became certain: 'This is Partha.'
यथारूपं हि शुश्राव सुभद्रा भरतर्षभम्। तथारूपमवेक्ष्यैनं परां प्रीतिमवाप सा
Just as Subhadra had heard of the appearance of the bull among the Bharatas, so when she saw him in that very form, she felt the highest delight.
सा कदाचिदुपासीनं पप्रच्छ कुरुनन्दनम्। कथं देशाश्च चरिता नानाजनपदाः कथम्
Once, as she sat near him, Subhadra questioned the joy of the Kurus: 'How did you travel through the lands, and what were the various peoples like?'
सरांसि सरितश्चैव वनानि च कथं यते। दिशः काश्च कथं प्राप्ताश्चरता भवता सदा
'How did you cross the lakes and rivers, and the forests? How did you reach the different regions as you wandered always?'
स तथोक्तस्तदा भद्रां बहुनर्मामृतं ब्रुवन्। उवाच परमप्रीतस्तथा बहुविधाः कथाः
Thus addressed, he, greatly pleased, spoke to the blessed lady, telling her many delightful and charming stories in various ways.
निशण्य विविधं तस्य लोके चरितमात्मनः। तथा परिगतो भावः कन्यायाः समपद्यत
Hearing of his many adventures in the world, the feelings of the maiden grew ever deeper toward him.
पर्वसन्धौ तु कस्मिंश्चित्सुभद्रा भरतर्षभम्। रहस्येकान्तमासाद्य हर्षमाणाऽभ्यभाषत
Then, at a certain festival time, Subhadra, filled with joy, approached the bull among the Bharatas in a secluded and private place and spoke to him.
यतिना रचता देशान्खाण्डवप्रस्थवासिनी। कश्चिद्भगवता दृष्टा पृथाऽस्माकं पितृष्वसा
'While wandering through the lands in the guise of an ascetic, did you see our aunt Pritha, who dwells at Khandavaprastha, O Blessed One?'
भ्रातृभिः प्रीयते सर्वैर्दृष्टः कच्चिद्युधिष्ठिरः। कच्चिद्धर्मपरो भीमो धर्मराजस्य धीमतः
'Are all her sons well and pleased with each other? Has Yudhishthira, the wise king, been seen? Is Bhima still devoted to righteousness?'
निवृत्तसमयः कच्चिदपराधाद्धनञ्जयः। नियमे कामभोगानां वर्तमानः प्रिये रतः
'Has Arjuna, freed from his vow, ceased his abstinence due to some offense, and is he now engaged in the enjoyment of pleasures, delighting in his beloved?'
क्व नु पार्थश्चरत्यद्य बहिः स वसतीर्वसन्। सुखोचितो ह्यदुःखार्हो दीर्घबाहुररिन्दमः
'Where is Partha now wandering, living outside the dwellings? He is accustomed to comfort, undeserving of sorrow, that long-armed subduer of foes.'