ततो निनादः सुमहान्पाण्डवान्तः पुरेऽभवत्
Then a great wailing arose within the city among the Pandavas.
कुन्ती च भृशशन्तप्ता द्रौपदीं प्रेक्ष्य गच्छतीम्। शोकविह्वलया वाचा कृच्छ्राद्वचनमब्रवीत्
Kunti, greatly tormented, seeing Draupadi departing, spoke with difficulty, her voice shaken by sorrow.
वत्से शोको न ते कार्यः प्राप्येदं व्यसनं महत्। स्त्रीधर्माणामभिज्ञाऽसि शीलाचारवती तथा
Child, you need not grieve, though you have encountered this great misfortune; you are knowledgeable in the duties of women and possess virtue and good conduct.
न त्वां शन्देष्टुमर्हामि भर्तॄन्प्रति शुचिस्मिते। साध्वी गुणसमापन्ना भूषितं ते कुलद्वयम्
I do not need to instruct you regarding your husbands, O pure-smiling one; you are a virtuous woman, endowed with qualities, and both your families are adorned by you.
सभाग्याः कुरवश्चेमे ये न दग्धास्त्वयाऽनघे। अरिष्टं व्रज पन्थानं मदनुध्यानबृंहिता
Fortunate are these Kurus who have not been destroyed by you, O blameless one; go upon a safe path, strengthened by my constant thoughts.
भाविन्यर्थे हि सत्स्त्रीणां वैकृतं नोपजायते। गुरुधर्माभिगुप्ता च श्रेयः क्षिप्रमवप्स्यसि
For in the future, a noble woman does not fall into disgrace; protected by the duties of elders, you will quickly attain prosperity.
सहदेवश्च मे पुत्रः सदाऽवेक्ष्यो वने वसन्। यथेदं व्यसनं प्राप्य नायं सीदेन्महामतिः
And my son Sahadeva, while dwelling in the forest, must always be watched over; having encountered this calamity, this great-minded one must not lose heart.
तथेन्युक्त्वा तु सा देवी स्रवन्नेत्रजलाविला। शोणिताक्तैकवसना मुक्तकेशी विनिर्ययौ
Having spoken thus, that goddess, her eyes streaming with tears, clothed in a single blood-stained garment, with hair unbound, departed.
तां क्रोशन्तीं पृथा दुःखादनुवव्राज गच्छतीम्। अथापश्यन्सुतान्सर्वान्हृताभरणवाससः
As she went, Kunti followed her, weeping in sorrow; then she saw all her sons, their ornaments and garments taken away.
रुरुचर्मावृततनून्ह्रिया किञ्चिदवाह्मुखान्। परैः परीतान्संहृष्टैः सुहृद्भिश्चानुशोचितान्
Their bodies covered with deerskin, their faces turned down in shame, surrounded by delighted enemies and pitied by their friends.
तदवस्थान्सुतान्सर्वानुपसृत्यातिवत्सला। स्वजमानाऽवदच्छेकात्तत्तद्विलपती बहु
Approaching all her sons in that state, overflowing with affection, she embraced them and, lamenting much, spoke these words.
कथं सद्धर्मचारित्रान्वृत्तस्थितिविभूषितान्। अक्षुद्रान्दृढभक्तांश्च दैवतेज्यापरान्सदा
How has misfortune come upon you, who are adorned with righteous conduct, steadfast in your vows, not small-minded, firm in devotion, and always intent on worshipping the gods?
व्यसनं वः समभ्यागात्कोऽयं विधिविपर्ययः। कस्यापध्यानजं चेदमागः पश्यामि वो धिया
What is this reversal of fate that has befallen you? Whose evil intent has caused this calamity? I see this wrong has come upon you by someone's design.
स्यात्तु मद्भाग्यदोषोऽयं याऽहं युष्मानजीजनम्। दुःखायासभुजोऽत्यर्थं युक्तानप्युत्तमैर्गुणैः
Perhaps this is the fault of my own destiny, that I gave birth to you—enduring great suffering, though endowed with the highest virtues.
कथं वत्स्यथ दुर्गेषु वने ऋद्धिविनाकृताः। वीर्यसत्वबलोत्साहतेजोभिरकृशाः कृशाः
How will you live in the wilderness, deprived of prosperity, you who are lean only in body but not in courage, strength, energy, or brilliance?
यद्येवमहमज्ञास्यं वने वासं हि वो ध्रुवम्। शतशृङ्गान्मृते पाण्डौ नागमिष्यं गजाह्वयम्
If this is so, I shall not remain ignorant; for your dwelling in the forest is certain. With Pandu gone to the Hundred-Peaked Mountain, I will not go to Hastinapura.
धन्यं वः पितरं मन्ये तपोमेधान्वितं तथा। यः पुत्राधिमसम्प्राप्य स्वर्गेच्छामकरोत्प्रियाम्
I consider your father blessed, endowed with asceticism and wisdom, who, not seeing his sons in such a state, attained his cherished desire in heaven.
धन्यां चातीन्द्रियज्ञानामिमां प्राप्तां परां गतिम्। मन्ये तु माद्रीं धर्मज्ञां कल्याणीं सर्वथैव तु
And I consider Madri blessed as well, who, possessing knowledge beyond the senses, attained the highest state, truly virtuous and auspicious in every way.
रत्या मत्या च गत्या च ययाऽहमभिसन्धिता। जीवितप्रियतां मह्यं धिङ्मां सङ्क्लेशभागिनीम्
By pleasure, by thought, by movement, she has surpassed me; she has gained what I most desired—shame on me, who am left to share in suffering.
पुत्रका न विहास्ये वः कृच्छ्रलब्धान्प्रियान्सतः। साऽहं यास्यामि हि वनं हा कृष्णे किं जहासि माम्
My sons, I will not see you, my beloved ones, so hard to obtain; so I too shall go to the forest. Alas, Krishna, why do you abandon me?
अन्तवत्यसुधर्मेऽस्मिन्धात्रा किं नु प्रमादतः। ममान्तो नैव विहितस्तेनायुर्न जहाति माम्
In this world of fleeting righteousness, has the Creator acted carelessly? My end has not been ordained by him, so death does not take me.
हा कृष्ण द्वारकावासिन्क्वासि सङ्कर्षणानुज। कस्मान्न त्रायसे दुःखान्मां चेमांश्च नरोत्तमान्
Alas, Krishna, dweller in Dvaraka, where are you, younger brother of Sankarshana? Why do you not rescue me from this sorrow, and these best of men as well?
अनादिनिधनं ये त्वामनुध्यायन्ति वै नराः। तांस्त्वं पासीत्ययं वादः स गतो व्यर्थतां कथम्
Those men who meditate upon you as without beginning or end—how can the saying that you protect them ever become empty or false?
इमे सद्धर्ममाहात्म्ययशोवीर्यानुवर्तिनः। नार्हन्ति व्यसनं भोक्तुं नन्वेषां क्रियतां दया
These here, who follow true virtue, greatness, fame, and valor, do not deserve to suffer misfortune; surely, compassion should be shown to them.
सेयं नीत्यर्थविज्ञेषु कथमापदुपागता।। स्थितेषु कुलनाथेषु कथमापदुपागता
How has this calamity come upon those skilled in the meaning of justice? How has disaster come while the lords of the family still stand?
हा पाण्डो हा महाराज क्वासि किं समुपेक्षसे। पुत्रान्विवास्यतः साधूनरिभिर्द्यूतनिर्जितान्
Alas, Pandu! Alas, great king! Where are you? Why do you look on in silence as your virtuous sons, defeated at dice by enemies, are being exiled?
सहदेव निवर्तस्व ननु त्वमसि मे प्रियः। शरीरादपि माद्रेय मां मा त्याक्षीः कुपुत्रवत्
Sahadeva, turn back! Surely you are dear to me. O son of Madri, do not abandon me like a wicked son would, even more than you would your own body.
व्रजन्तु ब्रातरस्तेऽमी यदि सत्याभिसन्धिनः। मत्परित्राणजं धर्ममिहैव त्वमवाप्नुहि
Let your brothers go, if they are truly resolved to keep their word; but you, here and now, attain the righteousness that comes from saving me.
एवं विपलतीं कुन्तीमभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च। पाण्डवा विगतानन्दा वनायैव प्रवव्रजुः
Thus, after bowing and paying respects to the grieving Kunti, the Pandavas, deprived of joy, set out for the forest.
विदुरश्चापि तामार्तां कुन्तीमाश्वास्य हेतुभिः। प्रावेशयद्गृहं क्षत्ता स्वयमार्ततरः शनैः
Vidura, too, consoled the distressed Kunti with reasons, and, though himself even more afflicted, gently led her into the house.