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.
धार्तराष्ट्रस्त्रिस्ताश्च निखिलेनोपलभ्य तत्। गमनं परिकर्षं च कृष्णाया द्यूतमण्डले
The wives of the Dhartarashtras, learning in full of Krishna's humiliation and departure at the gaming hall, as well as her dragging away—
रुरुदुः सुस्वनं सर्वा विनिन्दन्त्यः कुरून्भृशम्। दध्युश्च सुचिरं कालं करासक्तमुखाम्बुजाः
All of them wept loudly, harshly blaming the Kurus, and for a long time sat with faces buried in their hands.
राजा च धृतराष्ट्रस्तु पुत्राणामनयं तदा। ध्यायन्नुद्विग्नहृदयो न शान्तिमधिजग्मिवान्
King Dhritarashtra, reflecting on his sons' wrongdoing, with a troubled heart, found no peace.
स चिन्तयन्ननेकाग्रः शोकव्याकुलचेतनः। क्षत्तुः सम्प्रेषयामास शीघ्रमागम्यतामिति
Absorbed in many anxious thoughts, his mind overwhelmed by grief, he sent for Vidura, saying, 'Let him come quickly.'
ततो जगाम विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रनिवेशनम्। तं पर्यपृच्छत्संविग्नो धृतराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः
Then Vidura went to Dhritarashtra's residence, and the anxious king questioned him.
वनं गतेषु पार्थेषु निर्जितेषु दुरोदरे। धृतराष्ट्रं महाराज तदा चिन्ता समाविशत्
When the sons of Pandu had gone to the forest, defeated in the dice hall, then, O king, Dhritarashtra was seized by anxiety.
तं चिन्तयानमासीनं धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्। निः श्वसन्तमनेकाग्रमिति होवाच सञ्जयः
Sanjaya said: Seeing Dhritarashtra, lord of men, sitting lost in thought, sighing deeply and utterly absorbed, I spoke thus.
अवाप्य वसुसम्पूर्णां वसुधां वसुधाधिप। प्रव्राज्य पाण्डवान्राज्याद्राजन्किमनुशोचसि
O lord of the earth, having gained a world full of riches and exiled the Pandavas from the kingdom, why do you still grieve?
अशोच्यत्वं कुतस्तेषां येषां वैरं भविष्यति। पाण्डवैर्युद्धशौण्डैर्हि बलवद्भिर्महारथैः
Why should you grieve for those whose enmity will arise? For the Pandavas are mighty warriors, skilled in battle.
तवेदं सुकृतं राजन्महद्वैरमुपस्थितम्। विनाशो येन लोकस्य सानुबन्धो भविष्यति
This deed of yours, O king, has brought about a great enmity, by which the destruction of the world, along with its kin, will come.