अथोपविश्य भगवान्काञ्चने परमासने। आस्यतामिति चोवाच धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्
Then the venerable one, seated upon a splendid golden seat, said to King Yudhishthira, 'Be seated.'
अथोपविष्टं राजानं भ्रातृभिः परिवारितम्। उवाच भगवान्व्यासस्तत्तद्वाक्यविशारदः
Then, with the king seated and surrounded by his brothers, the blessed Vyasa, skilled in words, spoke.
दिष्ट्या वर्धसि कौन्तेय साम्राज्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम्। वर्धिताः कुरवः सर्वे त्वया कुरुकुलोद्वह
By fortune you prosper, O son of Kunti, having attained the rare empire; all the Kurus have flourished through you, O exalted one of the Kuru lineage.
आपृच्छे त्वां गमिष्यामि पूजितोऽस्मि विशाम्पते। एवमुक्तः स कृष्णेन धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
I take leave of you, O lord of men; I shall depart, having been honored. Thus addressed by Krishna, King Yudhishthira...
अभिवाद्योपसङ्गृह्य पितामहमथाब्रवीत्
Having bowed and embraced the grandsire, he then spoke.
संशयो द्विपदां श्रेष्ठ ममोत्पन्नः सुदुर्लभः। तस्य नान्योऽस्ति वक्ता वै त्वामृते द्विजपुङ्गव
A most rare doubt has arisen for me, O best among men; there is no other who can speak on it except you, O foremost of twice-born.
उत्पातांस्त्रिविधान्प्राह नारदो भगवानृषिः। दिव्यांश्चैवान्तरिक्षांश्च पार्थिवांश्च पितामह
The divine sage Narada spoke of three kinds of portents—celestial, atmospheric, and terrestrial, O grandsire.
सुमहच्च फलं तेषां भवितेति न संशयः'। अपि चैद्यस्य पतनाच्छान्तमौत्पातिकं महत्
The result of these is very great, without doubt; and with the fall of the king of Chedi, the great portent has subsided.
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा पराशरसुतः प्रभुः। कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यास इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing the king's words, the powerful son of Parashara, Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, spoke these words.
त्रयोदश समा राजन्नुत्पातानां फलं महत्। सर्वक्षत्रविनाशाय भविष्यति विशाम्पते
For thirteen years, O king, the result of the portents will be great; it will lead to the destruction of all Kshatriyas, O lord of men.
त्वामेकं कारणं कृत्वा कालेन भरतर्षभ। समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं क्षयं यास्यति भारत। दुर्योधनापराधेन भीमार्जुनबलेन च
Making you the sole cause, O bull among the Bharatas, in time the assembled royal Kshatriyas will meet their end, O Bharata, through Duryodhana's offense and the strength of Bhima and Arjuna.
स्वप्नं द्रक्ष्यसि राजेन्द्र तस्मिन्काल उपस्थिते। तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर
You will see a dream, O king, when that time arrives; I will tell you about it, so listen, Yudhishthira.
यान्तं द्रक्ष्यसि राजेन्द्र क्षपान्ते त्वं वृषध्वजम्। नीलकण्ठं भवं स्थाणुं कपालिं त्रिपुरान्तकम्
You will see, O king, at the end of the night, the bull-bannered one departing—Nilakantha, Bhava, Sthanu, the skull-bearer, the destroyer of Tripura.
उग्रं रुद्रं पशुपतिं महादेवमुमापतिम्। हरं शर्वं वृषं शूलं पिनाकिं कृत्तिवाससम्
The fierce Rudra, lord of beasts, great god, consort of Uma; Hara, Sharva, the bull, the trident-holder, Pinaki, clad in skins.
कैलासकूडप्रतिमे वृषभेऽवस्थितं शिवम्। निरीक्षमाणं सततं पितृराजाश्रितां दिशम्
Shiva, standing upon a bull resembling the peak of Kailasa, always gazing toward the region where the lord of ancestors dwells.
एवमीदृशकं स्वप्नं द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं विशाम्पते। मा तत्कृते ह्यनुध्याहि कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः
Such a dream as this you will see, O lord of men; do not brood over it, for time is difficult to overcome.
स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि कैलासं पर्वतं प्रति। अप्रमत्तः स्थितो दान्तः पृथिवीं परिपालय
May all be well with you; I shall depart for Mount Kailasa. Remain vigilant and self-controlled; protect the earth.
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्कैलासं पर्वतं ययौ। कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासः सह शिष्यैः सहानुगैः
Having spoken thus, the venerable Vyasa, son of Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana, went to Mount Kailasa, accompanied by his disciples and followers.
गते पितामहे राजा चिन्ताशोकसमन्वितः। निः श्वसन्नुष्णमसकृत्तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्
When the grandsire had departed, the king, weighed down by anxiety and sorrow, sighed repeatedly, pondering deeply upon that matter.
कथं तु दैवं शक्येत पौरुषेण प्रबाधितुम्। अवश्यमेव भविता यदुक्तं परमर्षिणा
How can fate be overcome by human effort? Surely, what the great sage has spoken will inevitably come to pass.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजाः सर्वान्भ्रातॄन्युधिष्ठिरः। श्रुतं वै पुरुषव्याघ्रा यन्मां द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्
Then the high-souled Yudhishthira addressed all his brothers, saying: 'You have heard what Dvaipayana said to me.'
तदा तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मरणे निश्चिता मतिः। सर्वक्षत्रस्य निधने यद्यहं हेतुरीप्सितः
Having heard those words, my mind is now resolved upon death; if I am the cause desired for the destruction of all Kshatriyas.
कालेन निर्मितस्तात को ममार्थोऽस्ति जीवतः। एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं फाल्गुनः प्रत्यभाषत
Father, fashioned by time, what purpose remains for me in living? As the king spoke thus, Phalguna replied to him.
मा राजन्कश्मलं घोरं प्रविशो बुद्धिनाशनम्। सम्प्रधार्य महाराज यत्क्षमं तत्समाचर
Do not, O king, enter into dreadful despair that destroys wisdom. Consider carefully, great king, and act as is proper.
ततोऽब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिर्भ्रातॄन्सर्वान्युधिष्ठिरः। द्वैपायनस्य वचनं तत्रैव समचिन्तयत्
Then Satyadhriti addressed all his brothers, and there Yudhishthira reflected upon the words of Dvaipayana.
अद्यप्रभृति भद्रं वः प्रतिज्ञां मे निबोधत। त्रयोदश समास्तात को ममार्थो ऽस्ति जीवतः
From this day forward, may good fortune be yours; hear my vow: For thirteen years, father, what purpose remains for me in living?
न प्रवक्ष्यामि परुषं भ्रातॄनन्यांश्च पार्थिवान्। स्थितो निदेशे ज्ञातीनां योक्ष्ये तत्सुमुदाहरन्
I shall not speak harshly to my brothers or other kings; abiding by the command of my kin, I shall act accordingly.
एवं मे वर्तमानस्य स्वसुतेऽष्वितरेषु च। भेदो न भविता लोके भेदमूलो हि विग्रहः
While I conduct myself thus, with my own son and others, there will be no division in the world, for conflict arises from discord.
विग्रहं दूरतो रक्षन्प्रियाण्येव समाचरन्। वाच्यतां न गमिष्यामि लोकेषु मनुजर्षभाः
By keeping conflict at a distance and acting only in what is dear, I shall not become a subject of reproach among men, O best of men.
भ्रातृर्ज्येष्ठस्य वचनं पाण्डवाः संनिशम्य तत। तमेव समवर्तन्त धर्मराजहिते रताः
Having heard the words of their eldest brother, the Pandavas then acted accordingly, devoted to the welfare of the king of righteousness.