प्रातिष्ठत ततो भीष्मो द्रोणेन सह सञ्जय। कृपश्च सोमदत्तश्च बाह्लीकश्च महामनाः
Then Bhishma departed together with Drona, Sanjaya, Kripa, Somadatta, and the noble Bahlika.
ततोऽहमब्रुवं तत्र विदुरेण प्रचोदितः। वरं ददानि कृष्णायै काङ्क्षितं यद्यदिच्छति
Thereupon, prompted by Vidura, I spoke: 'I grant Draupadi whatever boon she desires.'
अवृणोत्तत्र पाञ्चाली पाण्डवाना --सताम्। सरथान्सधनुष्कांश्चाप्यनुज्ञासिषमप्यहम्
Then, there, Panchali chose the Pandavas—those righteous men—along with their chariots and bows; and I also gave my assent.
अथाब्रवीन्महाप्राज्ञो विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। एतदन्तास्तु भरता यद्व-कृष्णा सभां गता
Then the wise Vidura, knower of all dharma, spoke: 'Let this be the end for the Bharatas, now that Krishna has entered the assembly.'
यैषा पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता सा श्रीरनुत्तमा। पाञ्चाली पाण्डवानेतान्दैवसृष्टोपसर्पति
This daughter of the king of Panchala, the peerless fortune, Panchali, approaches the Pandavas, as though sent by the gods.
तस्याः पार्थाः परिक्लेशं न क्षंस्यन्ते ह्यमर्षणाः। वृष्णयो वा महेष्वासाः पाञ्चाला वा महारथाः
The Parthas, intolerant of injustice, will not endure her suffering; nor will the mighty bowmen of the Vrishnis or the great chariot-warriors of Panchala.
तेन सत्याभिसन्धेन वासुदेवेन रक्षिताः। आगमिष्यति बीभत्सुः पञ्चालैः परिवारितः
Protected by the truth-abiding Vasudeva, Arjuna will come, surrounded by the Panchalas.
तेषां मध्ये महेष्वासो भीमसेनो महाबलः। आगमिष्यति धुन्वानो गदां दण्डमिवान्तकः
Among them, the mighty bowman Bhimasena, of great strength, will come, brandishing his mace like Death himself.
ततो गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य धीमतः। गदावेगं च भीमस्य नालं सोढुं नराधिपाः
Then, hearing the thunder of Gandiva from the wise Partha, and the force of Bhima's mace, the kings will not be able to withstand it.
तत्र मे रोचते नित्यं पार्थैः साम न विग्रहः। कुरुभ्यो हि सदा मन्ये पाण्डवान्बलवत्तरान्
Therefore, I always prefer peace with the Parthas, not conflict; for I consider the Pandavas always stronger than the Kurus.
तथा हि बलवान्राजा जरासन्धो महाद्युतिः। बाहुप्रहरणेनैव भीमेन निहतो युधि
Indeed, the powerful king Jarasandha, of great splendor, was slain in battle by Bhima with his bare arms.
तस्य ते शम एवास्तु पाण्डवैर्भरतर्षभ। उभयोः पक्षयोर्युक्तं क्रियतामविशङ्कया
Let there be peace between you and the Pandavas, O bull among the Bharatas; let what is proper be done for both sides, without fear.
एवं कृते महाराज परं श्रेयस्त्वमाप्स्यसि। एवं गावल्गणे क्षत्ता धर्मार्थसहितं वचः
If this is done, O king, you will attain the highest good; thus, O Gavalgana, the charioteer spoke words joined with dharma and artha.
उक्तवान्न गृहीतं वै मया पुत्रहितैषिणा
He spoke, but I did not accept it, being intent on my son's welfare.
एवं द्यूतजिताः पार्थाः कोपिताश्च दुरात्मभिः। धार्तराष्ट्रैः सहामात्यैर्निकृत्या द्विजसत्तम
Thus, the Parthas, defeated at dice and angered by the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra and their ministers, were deceived, O best of twice-born.
श्राविताः परुषा वाचः सृजन्तीर्वैरमुत्तमम्। किमकुर्वत कौरव्या मम पूर्वपितामहाः
They heard harsh words, sowing supreme enmity; what did my ancestors, the Kauravas, do then?
कथं चैश्वर्यभूयिष्ठाः सहसा दुःखमेयुषः। वने विजह्रिरे पार्थाः शक्रप्रतिमतेजसः
How did the sons of Pritha, whose splendor rivaled Indra’s, who were accustomed to great prosperity, suddenly endure hardship and dwell in the forest?
के चैतानन्ववर्तन्त प्राप्तान्व्यसनमुत्तमम्। किमाचाराः किमाहाराः क्वच वासो महात्मनाम्
Who accompanied them when they encountered this supreme misfortune? What were their habits, what did they eat, and where did those great souls reside?
कथं द्वादश वर्षाणि वने तेषां महात्मनाम्। व्यतीयुर्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्
O best of Brahmanas, how did those mighty, steadfast heroes spend twelve years in the forest?
कथं च राजपुत्री सा प्रवरा सर्वयोषिताम्। पतिव्रता महाभागा सततं प्रियवादिनी
And how did that royal princess, foremost among all women, devoted to her husband, greatly fortunate, and ever gentle in speech—
वनवासमदुःखार्हा दारुणं प्रत्यपद्यत। एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं विस्तरेण तपोधन
—who was unworthy of such suffering—accept the harsh life of the forest? O possessor of austerity, tell me all this in detail.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं भूरिद्रविणतेजसाम्। कथ्यमानं त्वया विप्र परं कौतूहलं हि मे
I wish to hear all this about those of great wealth and energy, as you recount it, O Brahmin; for I am filled with deep curiosity.
एवं द्यूतजिताः पार्थाः कोयिताश्च दुरात्मभिः। धार्तराष्ट्रैः सहामात्यैर्निर्ययुर्गजसाह्वयात्
Thus, the sons of Pritha, defeated at dice and mocked by the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra and their counselors, departed from Hastinapura.
वर्धमानपुरद्वारादभिनिष्क्रम्य ते तदा। उदङ्मुखाः शस्त्रभृतः प्रययुः सह कृष्णया
Leaving through the northern gate of the growing city, armed and facing north, they set out together with Krishna.
इन्द्रसेनादयश्चैतान्भृत्याः परिचतुर्दश। रथैरनुययुः शीघ्रैः स्त्रिय आदाय सर्वशः
Indrasena and thirteen other attendants followed them in swift chariots, bringing all the women with them.
ततस्ते पुरुषव्याघ्रा रथानास्थाय भारत। ददृशुर्जाह्नवीतीरे प्रमाणाख्यं महावटम्
Then those tiger-like men, O Bharata, mounted their chariots and saw the great banyan tree called Pramana on the bank of the Ganga.
व्रजतस्तान्विदित्वा तु पौराः शोकाभिपीडिताः। गर्हयन्तोऽसकृद्भीष्मविदुरद्रोणगौतमान्। ऊचुर्वै समयं कृत्वा समागम्य परस्परम्
Noticing their departure, the citizens, overwhelmed with grief, repeatedly reproached Bhishma, Vidura, Drona, and Kripa, and, gathering together, spoke among themselves:
नेदमस्ति कुलं सर्वं न वयं नच नो गृहाः। यत्रदुर्योधनः पापः सौबलेयेन पालितः। कर्णदुःशासनाद्यैश्च राज्यमेतच्चिकीर्षति
This is no longer a family, nor are we, nor our homes, where the wicked Duryodhana, supported by the son of Shakuni, and by Karna, Duhshasana, and others, seeks to rule this kingdom.
न तत्कुलं न चाचारो न धर्मोऽर्थः कुतः सुखम्। यत्र पापसहायोऽयं पापो राज्यं चिकीर्षति
Where this sinner, aided by evil men, seeks the throne, there is no family, no proper conduct, no righteousness, no prosperity, nor any happiness.
दुर्योधनो गुरुद्वेषी त्यक्तधर्मः प्रियानृतः। अर्तलुब्धोऽभिमानी च नीचः प्रकृतिनिर्घृणः
Duryodhana, who hates his elders, has abandoned righteousness, delights in falsehood, is greedy for wealth, arrogant, base, and cruel by nature.