पाण्डवास्तु वने वासमुद्दिश्य भरतर्पभाः। प्रययुर्जाह्नवीकूलात्कुरुक्षेत्रं सहानुगाः
The Pandavas, intending to dwell in the forest, departed from the banks of the Ganges toward Kurukshetra, accompanied by their followers.
सरस्वतीदृपद्वत्यौ यमुनां च निषेव्य ते। ययुर्वननैव वनं सततं पश्चिमां दिशम्
Having visited the Sarasvati, Drishadvati, and Yamuna rivers, they journeyed from one forest to another, always toward the western direction.
ततः सरस्वतीकूले समेषु मरुधन्वसु। काम्यकं नाम ददृशुर्वनं मुनिजनप्रियम्
Then, on the level plains along the Sarasvati, in the sandy regions, they saw the forest called Kamyaka, beloved of sages.
तत्र ते न्यवसन्वीरा वने बहुमृगद्विजे। अन्वास्यमाना मुनिभिः सान्त्व्यमानाश्च भारत
There, those heroes dwelt in the forest, rich with many animals and birds, comforted and consoled by the sages, O Bharata.
विदुरस्त्वथ पाण्डूनां सदा दर्शनलालसः। जगामैकरथेनैव काम्यकं वनमृद्धिमत्
Then Vidura, always eager to see the Pandavas, went alone in a chariot to the prosperous Kamyaka forest.
ततो गत्वा विदुरः काम्यकं त- च्छीघ्रैरश्वैर्वाहितः स्यन्दनेन। ददर्शासीनं धर्मात्मानं विविक्ते सार्धं द्रौपद्या भ्रातृभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च
Having reached Kamyaka, Vidura, swiftly carried by fast horses, saw the righteous ones seated in seclusion, together with Draupadi, their brothers, and Brahmanas.
ततोऽपश्यद्विदुरं तूर्णमारा- दभ्यायान्तं सत्यसन्धः स राजा। अथाब्रवीद्धातरं भीमसेनं किंनु क्षत्ता वक्ष्यतिनः समेत्य
Then, the truthful king saw Vidura approaching quickly and said to Bhimasena, his brother, 'What will the steward say to us upon arriving?'
कच्चिन्नायं वचनात्सौबलस्य समाह्वातुं देवनायोपयाति। कच्चित्क्षुद्रः कुशली चाऽयुधानि जेष्यत्यस्माकं पुनरेवाक्षवत्याम्
Is he coming at the command of Saubala to summon us to the dice game again? Is the wicked one well, and will he defeat us again in dice at Akshavati?
समाहूतः केनचिदाहवाय नाहं शक्तो भीमसेनापयातुम्। गाण्डीवे च संशयिते कथं नु राज्यप्राप्तिः संशयिता भवेन्नः
If I am summoned by someone to battle, I am not able to withdraw, Bhimasena. And if there is doubt regarding the Gandiva, how then can the attainment of the kingdom not be uncertain for us?
तत उत्थाय विदुरं पाण्डवेयाः प्रत्यगृह्णन्नृपते सर्व एव। तैः सत्कृतः स च तानाजमीढो यथोचितं पाण्डुपुत्रान्समेयात्
Then the sons of Pandu all rose and welcomed Vidura, O king. Honored by them, that son of Ajamiḍha approached the Pandavas as was proper.
समाश्वस्तं विदुरं ते नरर्षभा- स्ततोऽपृच्छन्नागमनाय हेतुम्। स चापि तेभ्यो विस्तरतः शशंस यथावृत्तं धृतराष्ट्रेऽम्बिकेये
Those best of men, seeing Vidura reassured, then asked him the reason for his coming. And he explained to them in detail all that had happened with Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika.
अवोचन्मां धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिगुप्त- मजातशत्रो परिगृह्याभिपूज्य। एवं गते समतामभ्युपेत्य पथ्यं तेषां मम चैव ब्रवीहि
Dhritarashtra, having received and honored me, O faultless one, said: 'Now that things have come to this state of equality, speak what is beneficial for them and for me.'
मयाप्युक्तं यत्क्षमं कौरवाणां हितं पथ्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य चैव। तद्वै पथ्यं तन्मनो नाभ्युपैति ततश्चाहं क्षममन्यन्न मन्ये
And I too spoke what was fitting, beneficial, and wholesome for the Kauravas and for Dhritarashtra. But that wholesome advice did not find acceptance in his mind, and so I do not consider anything else appropriate.
परं श्रेयः पाण्डवेया मयोक्तं न मे तच्च शुतवानाम्बिकेयः। यथाऽऽतुरस्येव हि पथ्यमौपधं न रोचनते स्मास्य तदुच्यमानम्
I spoke the highest good to the sons of Pandu, but the son of Ambika did not heed it. Just as wholesome food does not please a sick man, so too my words did not appeal to him.
न श्रेयसे यततेऽजातशत्रो स्त्री श्रोत्रियस्येव गृहे प्रदुष्टा। ध्रुवं न रोचेद्भरतर्षभस्य पतिः कुमार्या इव षष्टिवर्षः
O enemy of foes, you do not strive for your own good, just as a corrupted woman in a learned man’s house. Surely, the bull among the Bharatas will not find pleasure, like a husband with a girl of six years.
ध्रुवं विनाशो नृप कौरवाणां न वै श्रेयो धृतराष्ट्रः परैति। यथा च पर्णे पुष्करस्यावसिक्तं जलं न तिष्ठेत्पथ्यमुक्तं तथाऽस्मिन्
Surely, O king, destruction awaits the Kauravas, for Dhritarashtra does not pursue what is good. Just as water sprinkled on a lotus leaf does not stay, so too wholesome advice does not remain with him.
ततः क्रुद्धो धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीन्मां यस्मिञ्श्रद्धा तव तत्र प्रयाहि। नाहं भूयः कामये त्वां सहायं महीमिमां पालयितुं पुरं वा
Then, angered, Dhritarashtra said to me: 'Go where your faith lies. I no longer desire you as an ally, either to govern this kingdom or this city.'
सोहं त्यक्तो धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा प्रशासितुं त्वामुपयातो नरेन्द्र। तद्वै सर्वं यन्मयोक्तं सभायां तद्धार्यतां यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि भूयः
Thus, rejected by King Dhritarashtra, I have come to you, O king, to offer my counsel. All that I spoke in the assembly—let that be remembered, for I will declare it again.
क्लेशैस्तीर्व्रर्युज्यमानः सपत्नैः क्षमां कुर्वन्कालमुपासते यः। संवर्धयन्स्तोकमिवाग्रिमात्मवान् स वै भुङ्क्ते पृथिवीमेक एव
He who, afflicted by severe hardships from rivals, endures patiently and waits for the right time, nurturing his small force like fire, he alone enjoys the earth.
यस्याविभक्तं वसु राजन्सहायै- स्तस्य दुःखस्यांशभाजः सहायाः। सहायानामेष संग्रगणेऽभ्युपायः सहायाप्तौ पृथिवीप्राप्तिमाहुः
O king, whose wealth is undivided among his allies, his allies share in his hardships. This is the way of gathering allies; the wise say the acquisition of allies leads to the gaining of the earth.
सत्यं श्रेष्टं पाण्डवा निष्प्रलापं तुल्यं चान्नं सह भोज्यं सहायैः। आत्मा चैषामग्रतो नातिवर्ते देवं वृत्तिर्वर्धते भूमिपाल
Truth is best, O Pandavas, without deceit; food should be equal and shared with allies. Their leader does not overstep them, and with such conduct, O king, prosperity grows.
एवं करिष्यामि यथा ब्रवीपि परां बुद्धिमुपगम्याप्रमत्तः। यच्चाप्यन्यद्देशकालोपपन्नं तद्वै वाच्यं तत्करिष्यामि कृत्स्नम्
I will act just as you say, having attained the highest understanding and being vigilant. And whatever else is appropriate for the time and place, that too I will say and do entirely.
गते तु विदुरे राजन्नाश्रमं पाण्डवान्प्रति। धृतराष्ट्रो महाप्राज्ञः पर्यतप्यत दुर्मनाः
When Vidura had departed, O king, for the hermitage of the Pandavas, the wise Dhritarashtra was deeply troubled and distressed.
[विदुरस्य प्रभावं च सन्धिविग्रहकारितम्। विवृद्धिं च परां मत्वा पाण्डवानां भविष्यति ।।]
Reflecting on Vidura’s influence, his skill in peace and conflict, and the great future prosperity that would come to the Pandavas—
स सभाद्वारमागम्य विदुरस्मारमोहितः। समक्षं पार्थिवेनद्राणां विसंज्ञः प्रापतद्भुवि
He, coming to the door of the assembly, his mind bewildered by thoughts of Vidura, collapsed unconscious to the ground before the assembled kings.
स तु लब्ध्वा चिरात्संज्ञां समुत्थाय महीतलात्। समीपोपस्थितं राजा संजयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Regaining consciousness after a long time, he rose from the earth, and the king spoke to Sanjaya, who stood nearby.
भ्राता मम सुहृच्चैव साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः। तस्य स्मृत्याऽद्य सुभृशं हृदयं दीर्यतीवमे
My brother and friend is, in truth, like another embodiment of Dharma; remembering him today, my heart is deeply torn.
तमानय स्वधर्मज्ञं मम भ्रातरमाशु वै। इति ब्रुवन्स नृपतिः कृपणं पर्यदेवयत्
Bring my brother here swiftly, who knows his duty; so spoke the king, lamenting in distress.
पश्चात्तापाभिसंतप्तो विदुरस्मारमोहितः। भ्रातृश्नेहादिदं राजा संजयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Tormented by remorse and bewildered by memories of Vidura, the king, out of brotherly affection, addressed Sanjaya with these words.
गच्छ संजय जानीहि भ्रातरं विदुरं मम। यदि जीवति रोषेण मया पापेन निर्धुतः
Go, Sanjaya, find my brother Vidura; see if he lives, for he has been cast out by my anger and sin.