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.
निवर्ततागता दूरं ममागमनकाङ्क्षिणः। स्वजने न्यासभूते मे कार्या स्नेहान्विता मतिः
You who have come from afar, longing for my return, should now turn back; my mind, filled with affection, must be set on my own people, who are entrusted to me.
एतद्धि मम कार्याणां परमं हृदि संस्थितम्। कृता तेन तु तुष्टिर्मे सत्कारश्च भविष्यति
This, indeed, is the highest of my concerns, firmly established in my heart; by this, I shall be satisfied and honored.
तथानुमन्त्रितास्तेन धर्मराजेन ताः प्रजाः। चक्रुरार्तस्वरं घोरं हा राजन्निति दुःखिताः
Thus, having been addressed by the righteous king, those subjects, afflicted with sorrow, raised a terrible cry of distress, lamenting, 'Alas, O King!'
गुणान्पार्थस्य संस्मृत्य दुःखार्ताः परमातुराः। अकामाः संन्यवर्तन्त समागम्याथ पाण्डवान्
Remembering the virtues of Partha, they, overwhelmed by suffering and deeply distressed, unwillingly turned back after meeting the Pandavas.
निवृत्तेषु तुं पौरेषु रथानास्थाय पाण्डवाः। आजग्मुर्जाह्नवीतीरे प्रमाणाख्यं महावटम्
When the citizens had withdrawn, the Pandavas mounted their chariots and came to the great banyan tree called Pramāṇa on the bank of the Jahnavi.
ते तं दिषसशेषेण वटं गत्वा तु पाण्डवाः। ऊषुस्तां रजनीं वीराः संस्पृश्य सलिलं शुचि
There, the Pandavas, having reached that banyan tree at the edge of the region, spent the night, those heroes having touched the pure water.
उदकेनैव तां रात्रिमृषुस्ते दुःखकर्शिताः। अनुजग्मुश्च तत्रैतान्स्नेहात्केचिद्द्विजातयः
Afflicted by sorrow, they spent that night with only water; and some twice-born, out of affection, followed them there.
साग्रयोऽनग्नयश्चैव सशिष्यगणबान्धवाः। स तैः परिवृतो राजा शुशुभे ब्रह्मवादिभिः
With sacrificial fires extinguished, without fire, accompanied by groups of disciples and relatives, the king, surrounded by those brahmins, shone among the speakers of sacred lore.
तेषां प्रादुष्कृताग्नीनां मुहूर्ते रम्यदारुणे। ब्रह्मघोषपुरस्कारः संजल्पः समजायत
When their fires had been kindled at the beautiful and auspicious hour, a conversation arose, led by the chanting of the Vedas.
राजानं तु कुरुश्रेष्ठं ते हंसमधुरस्वराः। आश्वासयन्तो विप्राग्र्याः क्षयां सर्वां व्यनोदयत्
The foremost brahmins, with voices sweet as swans, consoled the best of the Kurus, the king, dispelling all his sorrow.
राजा तु भ्रातृभिः सार्धं तथा सर्वैः सुहृद्गणैः। अशेत तां निशांराजन्दुःखशोकसमाहितः
But the king, together with his brothers and all his friends, spent that night, O king, absorbed in grief and sorrow.
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। वनं यियासतां विप्रास्तस्थुर्भिक्षाभुजोऽग्रतः। तानुवाच ततो राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
When the night had passed and morning came, as those blameless ones prepared to enter the forest, the brahmins who lived by alms stood at the front; then the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, spoke to them.
वयं हि हृतसर्वस्वा हृतराज्या हृतश्रियः। फलमूलामिषाहारा वनं यास्याम दुःखिताः
We, deprived of all possessions, kingdom, and glory, will go to the forest, living on fruits, roots, and meat, afflicted by sorrow.
वनं च दोषबहुलं बहुव्यालसरीसृपम्। परिक्लेशश्चवो मन्ये ध्रुवं तत्र भविष्यति
The forest is full of dangers, with many wild beasts and serpents; I think there will certainly be much hardship there.
ब्राह्मणानां परिक्लेशो दैवतान्यपि सादयेत्। किंपुनर्मामितो विप्रा निवर्तध्वं यथेष्टतः
The suffering of brahmins can even bring down the gods; how much more so for me—therefore, O brahmins, turn back as you wish.
गतिर्या भवतां राजंस्तां वयं गन्तुमुद्यताः। नार्हथास्मान्परित्यक्तुं भक्तान्सद्धर्मदर्शिन
O king, wherever you go, we are ready to go; you should not abandon us, your devoted followers who see true dharma.
स्नेहकर्माणि भक्तेषु दैवतान्यपि कुर्वते। विशेषतो ब्राह्मणेषु सदाचारावलम्बिषु
Even the gods perform acts of affection for their devoted ones, especially for brahmins who uphold good conduct.
ममापि परमा भक्तिर्ब्राह्मणेषु सदा द्विजाः। सहायविपरिभ्रंशस्त्वयं सादयतीव माम्
O twice-born, I too always have the highest devotion for brahmins; the loss of such companions seems to destroy me.
आहरेयुर्हि ये सर्वे फलमूलमृगांस्तथा। त इमे शोकजैर्दुःखैर्भ्रातरो मे विमोहिताः
Those who gather fruits, roots, and deer—all these, my brothers, are bewildered by sorrows born of grief.
द्रौपद्या विप्रकर्षेण राज्यापहरणेन च। दुःखार्दितानिमान्क्लेशैर्नाहं योक्तुमिहोत्सहे
Because of Draupadi's separation and the loss of the kingdom, afflicted by these sorrows, I am unable to endure here.