Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच संपूज्याथाभ्यनुज्ञातो महर्षेर्वचनात्परम् प्रत्युवाचानुपूर्व्येण धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said At the end on the Brahmarshi (Narada's) words, Dharamaraja Yudhishthira's duly worshipped him; and then having been commanded by him he replied in detail (to the questions asked by the Rishi).
भगवन्न्याय्यमाहैतं यथावद्धर्मनिश्चयम् यथाशक्ति यथान्यायं क्रियतेऽयं विधिर्मया
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O blessed one, the truth of religion and morality indicated by you are just and proper. I duly observe them to the best of my power.
राजभिर्यद्यथा कार्यं पुरा तत्तन्न संशयः यथान्यायोपनीतार्थं कृतं हेतुमदर्थवत्
M. N. Dutt: There is no doubt that the acts properly performed by the kings of the olden days should be regarded as having borne proper fruit and having been undertaken from sound motive for the attainment of proper objects.
वयं तु सत्पथं तेषां यातुमिच्छामहे प्रभो न तु शक्यं तथा गन्तुं यथा तैर्नियतात्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: O lord, I wish to walk in the virtuous path of those kings; but we are not able to walk along it like those self-controlled monarchs.
Supplementary Passages:
2.6.4 Ś1 K V1 D3 Cd ins. after 4: D4, after 5ab: B1.4, after 5: D1.2 subst. for 6ab: B2 ins. after vaiśaṃ. u. of st. 1: S ins. after 6ab: *78 तं तु विश्रान्तमासीनं देवर्षिममितद्युतिम्
एवमुक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा वाक्यं तदभिपूज्य च मुहूर्तात्प्राप्तकालं च दृष्ट्वा लोकचरं मुनिम्
AI Translation: Having spoken thus, the one with the nature of Dharma, having honored those words, and seeing that the sage who moves through the world had arrived at the proper time,
नारदं स्वस्थमासीनमुपासीनो युधिष्ठिरः अपृच्छत्पाण्डवस्तत्र राजमध्ये महामतिः
AI Translation: Yudhiṣṭhira, the wise son of Pāṇḍu, seated in the midst of the kings, asked Nārada, who was seated and well, about the duties of a king.
भवान्संचरते लोकान्सदा नानाविधान्बहून् ब्रह्मणा निर्मितान्पूर्वं प्रेक्षमाणो मनोजवः
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You possess the sped of mind, you roam over various worlds created in the days of yore by Brahma, thus everywhere seeing everything in them.
ईदृशी भवता काचिद्दृष्टपूर्वा सभा क्वचित् इतो वा श्रेयसी ब्रह्मंस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmana, tell me I ask you, if you have ever before seen anywhere an assembly-hall like this one belonging to me or superior to it.
तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदस्तस्य धर्मराजस्य भाषितम् पाण्डवं प्रत्युवाचेदं स्मयन्मधुरया गिरा
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having heard the words of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), Narda smiling by answered the Pandava in these sweet words.
मानुषेषु न मे तात दृष्टपूर्वा न च श्रुता सभा मणिमयी राजन्यथेयं तव भारत
M. N. Dutt: Narada said O child, O king, O descendant of Bharata, I have never heard nor seen amongst men any assembly-hall built of gems and precious stones like one belonging to you.
सभां तु पितृराजस्य वरुणस्य च धीमतः कथयिष्ये तथेन्द्रस्य कैलासनिलयस्य च
M. N. Dutt: I shall desirable to you the assembly-hall of the regions of the king of the Pitris (Yama) of the intelligent Varuna, of Indra, and of the deity whose abode is on the Kailasa (Kubera).
ब्रह्मणश्च सभां दिव्यां कथयिष्ये गतक्लमाम् यदि ते श्रवणे बुद्धिर्वर्तते भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: I shall describe the divine assembly of Brahma, free from fatigue, if you have the inclination to listen, O bull among the Bharata lineage.
Supplementary Passages:
2.6.12 After 12ab, Ś1 K2.4 B1 (marg.).2.4.5 Dn D3-5 ins. (and Cd glosses): *79 दिव्यां दिव्यैरभिप्रायैरुपेतां विश्वरूपिणीम् देवैः पितृगणैः साध्यैर्यज्वभिर्नियतात्मभिः जुष्टां मुनिगणैः शान्तैर्वेदयज्ञैः सदक्षिणैः
नारदेनैवमुक्तस्तु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः प्राञ्जलिर्भ्रातृभिः सार्धं तैश्च सर्वैर्नृपैर्वृतः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having been thus addressed by Narada, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira with all the excellent Brahmanas (that were present there) joined his hands.
नारदं प्रत्युवाचेदं धर्मराजो महामनाः सभाः कथय ताः सर्वाः श्रोतुमिच्छामहे वयम्
M. N. Dutt: The high-minded Dharmaraja then thus spoke to Narada, "describe to us all those assembly-halls. We desire to hear (all about them) from you.
किंद्रव्यास्ताः सभा ब्रह्मन्किंविस्ताराः किमायताः पितामहं च के तस्यां सभायां पर्युपासते
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmana, which Sabha (assembly-hall) is made of what articles? What is the area of each, and what is the length and breadth of each? Who waits upon the Grandsire in his Sabha?
वासवं देवराजं च यमं वैवस्वतं च के वरुणं च कुबेरं च सभायां पर्युपासते
M. N. Dutt: Who waits upon the king of the celestialss Vasava (Indra), upon the son of Vaivasvata Yama, upon Varuna, and upon Kubera in their assembly-halls?
एतत्सर्वं यथातत्त्वं देवर्षे वदतस्तव श्रोतुमिच्छाम सहिताः परं कौतूहलं हि नः
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmarshi, tell us all about this. We all together desire to hear you describe them. We are full of great curiosity."
एवमुक्तः पाण्डवेन नारदः प्रत्युवाच तम् क्रमेण राजन्दिव्यास्ताः श्रूयन्तामिह नः सभाः
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed, Narada replied, O king, hear all about these Sabha one after the other.