अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायं वृत्तान्तं सर्वपर्वणाम्। इदं द्वैपायनः पूर्वं पुत्रमध्यापयच्छुकम्
Dvaipayana (Vyasa) first taught this chapter of the index, the account of all the parvas, to his son Shuka.
ततोऽन्येभ्योऽनुरूपेभ्यः शिष्येभ्यः प्रददौ प्रभु षष्टिं शतसहस्राणि चकारान्यां स संहिताम्। त्रिंशच्छतसहस्रं च देवलोके प्रतिष्ठितम्
Then the master gave it to other worthy disciples; he made another compilation of sixty hundred thousand verses, and thirty hundred thousand were established in the world of the gods.
पित्र्ये पञ्चदश प्रोक्तं रक्षोयक्षे चतुर्दश। एकं शतसहस्रं तु मानुषेषु प्रतिष्ठितम्
Fifteen thousand are said to be in the Pitri world, fourteen thousand among the Rakshasas and Yakshas, and one hundred thousand are established among humans.
नारदोऽश्रावयद्देवानसितो देवलः पितृन्। गन्धर्वयक्षरक्षांसि श्रावयामास वै शुकः
Narada recited it to the gods, Asita-Devala to the ancestors, and Shuka indeed recited it to the Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Rakshasas.
वैशंपायनविप्रर्षिः श्रावयामास पार्थिवम्। पारिक्षितं महात्मानं नाम्ना तु जनमेजयम्
The sage Vaishampayana recited it to the king, the great-souled Parikshit, who was also called Janamejaya.
अस्मिंस्तु मानुषे लोके वैशंपायन उक्तवान्। शिष्यो व्यासस्य धर्मात्मा सर्ववेदविदां वरः
In this human world, Vaishampayana, the righteous disciple of Vyasa and the foremost among knowers of all the Vedas, recited it.
एकं शतसहस्रं तु मयोक्तं वै निबोधत
Now listen as I recount the one hundred thousand verses I have spoken.
दुर्योधनो मन्युमयो महाद्रुमः कर्णः स्कन्धः शकुनिस्तस्य शाखाः। दुश्शासनः पुष्पफले समृद्धे मूलं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽमनीषि
Duryodhana is the great tree of wrath, Karna its trunk, Shakuni its branches, Dushasana its abundant flowers and fruits, and King Dhritarashtra, lacking discernment, is its root.
युधिष्ठिरे धर्ममयो महाद्रुमः स्कन्धोऽर्जुनो भीमसेनोऽस्य शाखाः। माद्रीसुतौ पुष्पफले समृद्धे मूलं कृष्णो ब्रह्म च ब्राह्मणाश्च
In Yudhishthira is the great tree of righteousness, Arjuna its trunk, Bhimasena its branches, the sons of Madri its abundant flowers and fruits, and Krishna, along with Brahma and the Brahmanas, is its root.
पाण्डुर्जित्वा बहून्देशान्युधा विक्रमणेन च। अरण्ये मृगयाशीलो न्यवसत्सजनस्तथा
Pandu, having conquered many lands by valor and prowess in battle, dwelled with his people in the forest, devoted to hunting.
मृगव्यवायनिधनात्कृच्छ्रां प्राप स आपदम्। जन्मप्रभृति पार्थानां तत्राचारविधिक्रमः
Due to the hardship of killing a deer during the chase, he encountered a great calamity; from their very birth, the sons of Pritha followed the proper conduct and discipline.
मात्रोरभ्युपपत्तिश्च धर्मोपनिषदं प्रति। धर्मानिलेन्द्रांस्ताभिः साऽऽजुहाव सुतवाञ्छया
With her mother's consent, in accordance with the secret teaching of righteousness, she invoked Dharma, Vayu, and Indra with the desire for sons.
ततो धर्मोपनिषदं भूत्वा भर्तुः प्रिया पृथा। धर्मानिलेन्द्रांस्ताभिः साऽऽजुहाव सुतवाञ्छया
Then Kunti, beloved of her husband, following the secret teaching of righteousness, invoked Dharma, Vayu, and Indra with the desire for sons.
तद्दत्तोपनिषन्माद्री चाश्विनावाजुहाव च। जाताः पार्थास्ततः सर्वे कुन्त्या माद्र्याश्च मन्त्रतः।' तापसैः सह संवृद्धा मातृभ्यां परिरक्षिताः
By that invocation, Madri also summoned the Ashvins; thus, all the sons of Pandu were born to Kunti and Madri through mantras, raised together with ascetics and protected by their mothers.
मेध्यारण्येषु पुण्येषु महतामाश्रमेषु च। `तेषु जातेषु सर्वेषु पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु
In pure and sacred forests, and in the great hermitages of the noble, all the mighty sons of Pandu were born.
माद्र्या तु सह संगम्य ऋषिशापप्रभावतः। मृतः पाण्डुर्महापुण्ये शतशृङ्गे महागिरौ
But uniting with Madri, due to the power of a sage's curse, Pandu died on the holy mountain Shatasringa.
ऋषिभिश्च समानीता धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रति स्वयम्। शिशवश्चाभिरूपाश्च जटिला ब्रह्मचारिणः
The sages themselves brought the children, ascetic and handsome, with matted hair and observing celibacy, to the sons of Dhritarashtra.
पुत्राश्च भ्रातरश्चेमे शिष्याश्च सुहृदश्च वः। पाण्डवा एत इत्युक्त्वा मुनयोऽन्तर्हितास्ततः
Saying, 'These are your sons, brothers, disciples, and friends—the Pandavas,' the sages then vanished from sight.
तांस्तैर्निवेदितान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवान्कौरवास्तदा। शिष्टाश्च वर्णाः पौरा ये ते हर्षाच्चुक्रुशुर्भृशम्
When the Kauravas saw the Pandavas introduced by those sages, all the respected citizens and townsfolk rejoiced greatly and shouted with delight.
आहुः केचिन्न तस्यैते तस्यैत इति चापरे। यदा चिरमृतः पाण्डुः कथं तस्येतदि चापरे
Some said, 'These are his,' while others said, 'They are not his'; others wondered, 'How can these be his, since Pandu has long been dead?'
स्वागतं सर्वथा दिष्ट्या पाण्डोः पश्याम सन्ततिम्। उच्यतां स्वागतमिति वाचोऽश्रूयन्त सर्वशः
'Welcome indeed! By good fortune we see the lineage of Pandu!'—such words of welcome were heard everywhere.
तस्मिन्नुपरते शब्दे दिशः सर्वा निनादयन्। अन्तर्हितानां भूतानां निःस्वनस्तुमुलीऽभवत्
As that clamor subsided, a tumultuous sound arose from all directions, as if from invisible beings.
पुष्पवृष्टिः शुभा गन्धाः शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनाः। आसन्प्रवेशे पार्थानां तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
There was a shower of flowers, auspicious fragrances, and the sounds of conches and drums; at the Pandavas' entrance, it seemed a marvel.
तत्प्रीत्या चैव सर्वेषां पौराणां हर्षसंभवः। शब्द आसीन्महांस्तत्र दिवस्पृक्कीर्तिवर्धनः
Out of joy, all the citizens felt great happiness; there arose a mighty sound there, touching the heavens and increasing their fame.
तेऽधीत्य निखिलान्वेदाञ्शास्त्राणि विविधानि च। न्यवसन्पाण्डवास्तत्र पूजिता अकुतोभयाः
There, the Pandavas, having studied all the Vedas and various sciences, resided, honored and free from fear.
युधिष्ठिरस्य शौचेन प्रीताः प्रकृतयोऽभवन्। धृत्या च भीमसेनस्य विक्रमेणार्जुनस्य च
The people became pleased with Yudhishthira for his purity, with Bhimasena for his steadfastness, and with Arjuna for his valor.
गुरुशुश्रूषया कुन्त्या यमयोर्विनयेन च। तुतोष लोकः सकलस्तेषां शौर्यगुणेन च
Through Kunti's service to elders, the humility of the twins, and the heroism of all, the entire world was satisfied.
समवाये ततो राज्ञां कन्यां भर्तृस्वयंवराम्। प्राप्तवानर्जुनः कृष्णां कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्
Then, at the assembly of kings, Arjuna won Krishna as his bride in her self-choice ceremony, accomplishing a deed most difficult.
ततः प्रभृति लोकेऽस्मिन्पूज्यः सर्वधनुष्मताम्। आदित्य इव दुष्प्रेक्ष्यः समरेष्वपि चाभवत्
From that time onward, in this world, he became honored among all bowmen, like the sun, hard to behold even in battle.
स सर्वान्पार्थिवाञ्जित्वा सर्वांश्च महतो गणान्। आजहारार्जुनो राज्ञो राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्
Having conquered all the kings and great hosts, Arjuna brought the great Rajasuya sacrifice to the king.