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.
वार्यमाणो हि भीष्मेण द्रोणेन विदुरेण च। पाण्डवानां प्रियां भार्यां द्रौपदीं धर्मचारिणीम्
Though restrained by Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura, your son sent for Draupadi, the beloved wife of the Pandavas, who follows the path of righteousness.
प्राहिणोदानयेहेति पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव। सूतपुत्रं सुमन्दात्मा निर्लज्जः प्रातिकामिनम्
Your son Duryodhana, of wicked mind and shameless, commanded the son of the charioteer, Pratikamin, to bring her, saying, 'Go and fetch her here.'
यस्मै देवाः प्रयच्छन्ति पुरुषाय पराभवम्। बुद्धिं तस्यापकर्षन्ति सोऽवाचीनानि पश्यति
To whom the gods intend defeat, from him they withdraw his good sense; he then perceives things in a perverse manner.
बुद्धौ कलुषभूतायां विनाशे समुपस्थिते। अनयो नयसङ्काशो हृदयान्नापसर्पति
When the mind is corrupted and destruction approaches, the semblance of right conduct, which is truly unrighteous, does not depart from the heart.
अनर्थाश्चार्थरूपेण अर्थाश्चानर्थरूपिणः। उत्तिष्ठन्ति विनाशाय नूनं तच्चास्य रोचते
Misfortunes appear in the guise of good, and good things in the guise of misfortune; these arise for destruction, and surely this pleases him.
न कालो दण्डमुद्यम्य शिरः कृन्तति कस्यचित्। कालस्य बलमेतार्वाद्वपरीतार्थदर्शनम्
Time does not raise the rod and cut off anyone's head; it is the power of Time that causes people to see things wrongly.
आसादितमिदं घोरं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्। पाञ्चालीमपकर्षद्भिः सभामध्ये तपस्विनीम्
This dreadful, tumultuous, and hair-raising act has been committed—dragging the ascetic Panchali into the assembly hall.
अयोनिजां रूपवतीं कुले जातां विभावसोः। को नु तां सर्वधर्मज्ञां परिभूय यशस्विनीम्
Who would dare insult her, renowned and versed in all dharma, not born of a womb, beautiful, born in a noble line from the fire-god?
पर्यानयेत्सभामध्ये विना दुर्द्यूतदेविनम्। स्त्रीधर्मिणी वरारोहा शोणितेन परिप्लुता
Who would bring into the assembly hall, without the goddess of ill-fated dice, that woman of noble conduct and lovely form, stained with blood?
एकवस्त्राथ पाञ्चाली पाण्डवानभ्यवैक्षत। हृतस्वान्हृतराज्यांश्च हृतवस्त्रान्हृतश्रियः
Then Panchali, clad in a single garment, looked at the Pandavas—deprived of their own selves, their kingdom, their garments, and their glory.