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.
नेयमस्ति मही कृत्स्ना यत्र दुर्योधनो नृपः। साधु गच्छामहे सर्वे यत्र गच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः
This earth is not whole where Duryodhana is king; let us all go where the Pandavas are going.
सानुक्रोशा महात्मानो विजितेन्द्रियशत्रवः। हीमन्तः कीर्तिमन्तश्च धर्माचारपरायणाः
They are compassionate, great-souled, victorious over their senses and enemies, humble, renowned, and devoted to righteousness and proper conduct.
एवमुक्त्वाऽनुजग्मुस्ते पाण्डवांस्तान्समेत्य च। ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे तान्कुन्तीमाद्रिनन्दनान्
Having spoken thus, they followed the Pandavas, and, approaching them, all with joined palms addressed the sons of Kunti and Madri.
क्वगमिष्यथ भद्रंवस्त्यक्त्वाऽस्मान्दुःखभागिनः। वयमप्यनुयास्यामो यत्र यूयं गमिष्यथ
Where will you go, leaving us, who now share in sorrow? May good fortune be yours; we too will follow wherever you go.
अधर्मेण जिताञ्श्रुत्वा युष्मांस्त्यक्तघृणैः परैः। उद्विग्नाः स्मो भृशं सर्वे नास्मान्हातुमिहार्हथ
Hearing that you have been defeated by others devoid of compassion, through unrighteous means, we are all deeply troubled; you should not abandon us here.
भक्तानुरक्तान्सुहृदः सदा प्रियहिते रतान्। कुराजाघिष्ठिते राज्ये न विनश्येम सर्वशः
Devoted, affectionate friends, always intent on your welfare and happiness—if the kingdom were ruled by the Kauravas, we would not be utterly destroyed.
श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामो गुणदोषान्नरर्षभाः। शुभाशुभाधिवासेन संसर्गः कुरुते यथा
Now listen, O best of men, as I speak of virtues and faults: by association, whether auspicious or inauspicious, qualities are produced.
वस्त्रमापस्तिलान्भूमिं गन्धो वासयते यथा। पुष्पाणामधिवासेन तथा संसर्गजा गुणाः
Just as cloth, water, sesame seeds, and earth are imbued with fragrance by contact, so too are qualities acquired by association with flowers.
मोहजालस्य योनिर्हि मूढैरेव समागमः। अहन्यहनि धर्मस्य योनिः साधुसमागमः
The origin of the net of delusion is association with the deluded; day by day, the source of righteousness is association with the virtuous.
तस्मात्प्राज्ञैश्च वृद्धैश्च सुस्वभावैस्तपस्विभिः। सद्भिश्च सह संसर्गः कार्यः शमपरायणैः
Therefore, one should associate with the wise, the aged, those of good nature, ascetics, and the virtuous who are devoted to tranquility.
येषां त्रीण्यवदातानि विद्या योनिश्च कर्म च। ते सेव्यास्तैः समास्याहि शास्त्रेभ्योपि गरीयसी
Those whose learning, lineage, and actions are all pure—such people should be served and approached; they are even greater than the scriptures.
निरारम्भा ह्यपि वयं पुण्यशीलेषु साधुषु। पुण्यमेवाप्नुयामेह पापं पापोपसेवनात्
Even if we ourselves do nothing, by associating with the virtuous and those of righteous conduct, we attain merit here; sin comes from associating with the sinful.
असतां दर्शनात्स्पर्शात्संजल्पाच्च सहासवात्। धर्माचाराः प्रहीयन्ते सिद्ध्यन्ति च न मानवाः
By seeing, touching, conversing, or laughing with the wicked, the practice of righteousness declines and people do not prosper.
बुद्धिश्च हीयते पुंसां नीचैः सह समागमात्। मध्यमैर्मध्यतां याति श्रेष्ठैः श्रेष्ठत्वमाप्नुयुः
A person's intellect is diminished by association with the base; with those of middling quality, it becomes average; with the best, one attains excellence.
अनीचैर्नाप्यविषयैर्नाधर्मिष्ठैर्विशेषतः। ये गुणाः कीर्तिता लोके धर्मकामार्थसंभवाः। लोकाचारेषु संभूता वेदोक्ताः शिष्टसंमताः
Not from the base, nor from the unworthy, nor especially from the unrighteous, do the virtues praised in the world—arising from righteousness, desire, and wealth, established in worldly conduct, taught in the Vedas, and approved by the noble—arise.
ते युष्मासु समस्ताश्च व्यस्ताश्चैवेह सद्गुणाः। इच्छामो गुणवन्मध्ये वस्तुं श्रेयोभिकाङ्क्षिणः
All these virtues, both collectively and individually, are found among you; desiring what is best, we wish to dwell among the virtuous.
धन्या वयं यदस्माकं स्नेहकारुण्ययन्त्रिताः। असतोऽपि गुणानाहुर्ब्राह्मणप्रमुखाः प्रजाः
We are fortunate that, moved by affection and compassion for us, even the foremost among Brahmins and people praise virtues even in the unworthy.
तदहं भ्रातृसहितः सर्वान्विज्ञापयामि वः। नान्यथा तद्धि कर्तव्यमस्मत्स्नेहानुकम्पया
Therefore, together with my brothers, I entreat you all: let it not be otherwise, for this must be done out of affection and compassion for us.
भीष्मः पितामहो राजा विदुरो जननी च मे। सुहृज्जनश्च प्रायो मे नगरे नागसाह्वये
Bhishma, the grandsire, is king; Vidura, my mother, and most of my friends are in the city called Hastinapura.
ते त्वस्मद्धितकामार्थं पालनीयाः प्रयत्नतः। युष्माभिः सहिताः सर्वे शोकसंतापविह्वलाः
All of them, together with you, should be carefully protected for our welfare, as they are overwhelmed by grief and sorrow.