प्रतिषिध्याथ तान्सर्वान्भगवाँल्लोकपूजितः। प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमासीनमुवाचाभ्येत्य सत्वरम्
Then the revered one, honored by the world, restrained them all and, approaching swiftly, addressed the wise Vidura, who was seated there.
भगवन्नाहमप्येतद्रोचये द्यूतसंभवम्। मन्ये तद्विधिनाऽऽकृष्य कारितोस्मीति वै मुने
'O revered one, I myself do not approve of this gambling; I think I was drawn into it by fate, O sage.'
नैतद्रोचयते भीष्मो न द्रोणो विदुरो न च। गान्धार्या नेष्यते द्यूतं तत्र मोहात्प्रवर्तितम्
'Neither Bhishma nor Drona nor Vidura approves of this, nor does Gandhari; this gambling was undertaken out of delusion.'
परित्यक्तुं न शक्नोमि दुर्योधनमचेतनम्। पुत्रस्नेहेन भगवञ्जानन्नपि यतव्रत
'I am unable to abandon Duryodhana, though he is senseless, O revered one, even knowing this, due to my affection for my son.'
वैचित्रवीर्य नृपते सत्यमाह यथा भवान्। दृढं विझः परं पुत्रं परं पुत्रान्न विद्यते
'O king, son of Vichitravirya, you have spoken truly: for a father, there is nothing dearer than a son.'
इन्द्रोप्यश्रुनिपातेन सुरभ्या प्रतिबोधितः। अन्यैः समृद्धैरप्यर्थैर्न सुतानमन्यते परम्
'Even Indra, awakened by Surabhi's tears, did not value anything above his sons, though offered other great riches.'
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि गहदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। सुरभ्याश्चैव संवादमिन्द्रस्य च विशांपते
'Here I will tell you an excellent ancient tale, the conversation between Surabhi and Indra, O lord of men.'
त्रिविष्टपगता राजन्सुरभी प्रारुदत्किल। गवां माता पुरा तात तामिन्द्रोऽन्वकृपायत
'Once, O king, Surabhi, mother of cows, dwelling in heaven, wept; Indra felt compassion for her.'
किमिदं रोदिषि शुभे कच्चित्क्षेमं दिवौकसाम्। मनुष्येष्वथवा गोषु नैतदल्पं भविष्यति
'O beautiful one, why do you weep? Is all well with the gods, or among men, or with the cows? This cannot be a small matter.'
विनिपातो न वः कश्चिद्दृश्यते त्रिदशाधिप। अहं तु पुत्रं शोचामि तेन रोदिमि कौशिक
'No calamity is seen among you, O lord of the gods; but I grieve for my son, O Kaushika, and that is why I weep.'
पश्यैनं कर्षकं क्षुद्रं दुर्बलं मम पुत्रकम्। प्रतोदेनाभिनिघ्नन्तं लाङ्गलेन च पीडितम्। निषीदमानं सोत्कण्ठं वध्यमानं सुराधिप
Behold this wretched, weak plough-ox, my child, being struck with the goad and tormented by the plough, sitting down in exhaustion, longing for relief, and being beaten, O lord of the gods.
एनं दृष्ट्वा भृशं श्रान्तं वध्यमानं सुराधिप।' कृपाविष्टाऽस्मि देवेन्द्र मनश्चोद्वेपते मम
Seeing him so utterly weary and being beaten, O lord of the gods, compassion overwhelms me, Indra, and my mind trembles.
एकस्तत्रबलोपेतो धुरमुद्वहतेऽधिकाम्। अपरोप्यबलप्राणः कृशो धमनिसंततः। कृच्छ्रादुद्वहते भारं तं वै शोचामि वासव
There, one alone, endowed with strength, bears an excessive yoke; the other, weak and emaciated, his veins standing out, struggles to bear the burden—him, O Vāsava, I grieve for.
वध्यमानः प्रतोदेन तुद्यमानः पुनः पुनः। नैव शक्नोति तं भारमुद्वोढुं पश्य वासव
Beaten with the goad, tormented again and again, he cannot bear that load—see, O Vāsava.
ततोऽहं तस्य शोकार्ता विरौमि भृशदुःखिता। अश्रूण्यावर्तयन्ती च नेत्राभ्यां करुणायती
Therefore, distressed by his sorrow, I cry out in deep anguish, tears welling up from my eyes in compassion.
तव पुत्रसहस्रेषु पीड्यमानेषु शोभने। किं कृपायितवत्यत्र पुत्र एको निपीड्यते
Among your thousand sons, O beautiful one, when so many are afflicted, why does compassion arise here, when only one son is tormented?
यदि पुत्रसहस्राणि सर्वत्रसमतैव मे। दीनस्य तु सतः शक्र पुत्रस्याभ्यधिकाकृपा
If I have equal regard for all my thousand sons, O Śakra, yet for the one who is suffering and helpless, my compassion is greater.
तदिन्द्रः सुरभेर्वाक्यं निशम्य भृशविस्मितः। जीवितेनापि कौरव्य मेनेऽभ्यधिकमात्मजम्
Then Indra, hearing Surabhi's words, was greatly astonished, and valued that suffering son even more than his own life, O Kauravya.
प्रववर्ष च तत्रैव सहसा तोयमुल्वणम्। कर्षकस्याचरन्विघ्नं भगवान्पाकशासनः
And there, the blessed lord, the subduer of Pāka, suddenly poured down a heavy rain, causing an obstacle for the ploughman.
तद्यथा सुरभिः प्राह सममेवास्तु ते तथा। सुतेषु राजन्सर्वेषु हीनेष्वभ्यधिका कृपा
Just as Surabhi has said, so let it be for you: among all your sons, O king, compassion is greatest for those who are afflicted.
यादृशो मे सुतः पाण्डुस्तादृशो मेऽसि पुत्रक। विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञः स्नेहादेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्
Just as Pāṇḍu is my son, so are you, my child; and Vidura, wise as he is, I say this out of affection.
चिराय तव पुत्राणां शतमेकश्च भारत। पाण्डौः पञ्चैव लक्ष्यन्ते तेऽपि मन्दाःसुदुःखिताः
For a long time, among your sons, there are a hundred and one, O Bhārata; but the five sons of Pāṇḍu are few and deeply afflicted.
कथं जीवेयुरत्यन्तं कथं वर्धेयुरित्यपि। इति दीनेषु पार्थेषु मनो मे परितप्यते
How will they survive, how will they flourish—this is what troubles my mind regarding the distressed sons of Pāṇḍu.
यदि पार्थिव कौख्याञ्जीवमानानिहेच्छसि। दुर्योधनस्तव सुतः शमं गच्छतु पाण्डवैः
If, O king, you wish for your sons to live with honor, let your son Duryodhana make peace with the Pāṇḍavas.
एवमेतन्महाप्राज्ञ यथा वदसि मां मुने। अहं चैव विजानामि सर्वे चेमे नराधिपाः
So it is, O wise one, just as you say to me, O sage; I too understand, and so do all these kings.
भवांश्च मन्यते साधु यत्कुरूणां सुखोदयम्। तदेव विदुरोऽप्याह भीष्मो द्रोणश्च मां मुने
You also think well of what brings happiness to the Kurus; Vidura says the same, as do Bhīṣma and Droṇa, O sage.
यदित्वहमनुग्राह्यः कौरव्येषु दया यदि। अन्वशाधि दुरात्मानं पुत्रं दुर्योधनं मम
If I am to be shown favor, if there is to be compassion among the Kauravas, then restrain my son Duryodhana, who acts wickedly.
अयमायाति वै राजन्मैत्रेयो भगवानृषिः। अन्वीक्ष्य पाण्डवान्भ्रातृनिहैवाऽस्मद्दिदृक्षया
Now, O king, the venerable sage Maitreyā is coming here, having seen the Pāṇḍavas, wishing to see us brothers.
एष दुर्योधनं पुत्रं तव राजन्महानृषिः। अनुशास्ता यथान्यायं शमायास्य कुलस्य च
O King, this great sage is instructing your son Duryodhana according to justice, for his own peace and for the welfare of your family.
ब्रूयाद्यदेष कौरव्य तत्कार्यमविशङ्कया। अक्रियायां तु कार्यस्य पुत्रं ते शप्स्यते रुषा
Whatever this sage says, O descendant of Kuru, should be carried out without hesitation; but if your son fails to act, he will be cursed in anger.