स तत्रवृद्धानभिवाद्य सर्वान् प्रत्यर्चितो राजवद्देववच्च। विवेश सर्वैः सहितो द्विजाग्र्यैः कृताञ्जलिर्धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः
There, having greeted all the elders, he was honored like a king and like a god; together with all the foremost twice-born, the best among the righteous entered, with joined palms.
स पुण्यशीलः पितृवन्महात्मा तपस्विभिर्मपरैरुपेत्य। प्रत्यर्चितः पुष्पधरस्य मूले महाद्रुमस्योपविवेश राजा
That virtuous-souled, great king, like a father, approached by other ascetics, was honored at the foot of a flowering great tree and sat down there.
भीमश्च कृष्णा च धनंजयश्च यमौ च ते चानुचरा नरेन्द्रम्। विमुच्यवाहानवशाश्च सर्वे तत्रोपतस्थुर्भरतप्रबर्हाः
Bhima, Krishna, Dhananjaya, the twins, and their attendants, O king, having unyoked their horses and set aside their vehicles, all gathered there, foremost among the Bharatas.
लतावतानावनतः स पाण्डवै- र्महाद्रुमः पञ्चभिरेव धन्विभिः। बभौ निवासोपगतैर्महात्मभि- र्महागिरिर्वारणयूथपैरिव
That great tree, bowed down by creepers and branches, shone with the five bowmen Pandavas dwelling beneath it, like a mighty mountain with herds of elephants gathered around.
तत्काननं प्राप्य नरेन्द्रपुत्राः सुखोचिता वासमुपेत्य कृच्छ्रम्। विजह्रुरिनद्रप्रतिमाः शिवेषु सरस्वतीसालवनेषु तेषु
Having reached that forest, the royal sons, accustomed to comfort, took up their difficult dwelling, and, resembling roaring lions, they sported in those auspicious groves of Sala trees along the Sarasvati.
यतींश्च राजा स मुनींश्च सर्वां स्तस्मिन्वने मूलफलैरुदग्रैः। द्विजातिमुख्यानृषभः कुरूणां संतर्पयामास महानुभावः
There, in that forest, the king, the mighty-souled bull among the Kurus, satisfied all the ascetics and sages, as well as the foremost twice-born, with abundant roots and fruits.
इष्टीश्च पित्र्याणि तथा क्रियाश्च महावने वसतां पाण्डवानाम्। पुरोहितस्तत्र समृद्धतेजा- श्चकार धौम्यः पितृवन्नृपाणाम्
While the Pandavas dwelt in the great forest, their priest Dhaumya, of great brilliance, performed the ancestral rites and ceremonies for the kings, as a father would.
अपेत्य राष्ट्राद्वसतां तु तेषा- मृषिः पुराणोऽतिथिराजगाम। तमाश्रमं तीव्रसमृद्धतेजा मार्कण्डेयः श्रीमतां पाण्डवानाम्
As they lived away from their kingdom, a venerable sage, the ancient Markandeya, possessing intense and abundant energy, came as a guest to the illustrious Pandavas’ hermitage.
तमागतं ज्वलितहुताशनप्रभं महामनाः कुरुवृषभो युधिष्ठिरः। अपूजयत्सुरऋषिमानवार्चितं महामुनिं ह्यनुपमसत्ववीर्यवान्
Yudhishthira, the great-souled bull of the Kurus, honored that arriving sage—brilliant as blazing fire, revered by gods, seers, and men, a great ascetic of incomparable strength and energy.
स सर्वविद्द्रौपदीं वीक्ष्य दीनां युधिष्टिरं भीमसेनार्जुनौ च। संस्मृत्यरामं मनसा महात्मा तपस्विमध्येऽस्मयतामितौजाः
That great sage, all-knowing, seeing Draupadi distressed, and Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, and Arjuna, remembered Rama in his mind and, amidst the ascetics, smiled with radiant energy.
तं धर्मराजो विमना इवाब्रवी- त्सर्वे ह्रिया सन्ति तपस्विनोऽमी। भवानिदं किं स्मयतीव हृष्ट- स्तपस्विनां पश्यतां मामुदीक्ष्य
Then the king of righteousness, seeming troubled, spoke: ‘All these ascetics are present here out of respect; why do you, seeing me, smile joyfully before these ascetics?’
न तात हृष्यामि न च स्मयामि प्रहर्षजो मां भजतेन दर्पः। तवापदं त्वद्य समीक्ष्य रामं सत्यव्रतं दाशरथिं स्मरामि
‘No, dear one, I do not rejoice nor do I smile; no pride born of delight has come to me. But seeing your hardship, I remember Rama, the son of Dasharatha, the truthful one.’
स चापि राजा सह लक्ष्मणेन वने निवासं पितुरेव शासनात्। धन्वी चरन्पार्थ मयैव दृष्टो गिरे पुरा ऋष्यमूकस्य सानौ
That king, too, along with Lakshmana, dwelt in the forest by his father’s command; armed with a bow, O Partha, I myself saw him long ago on the slope of Mount Rishyamuka.
सहस्रनेत्रप्रतिमो महात्मा यमस्य नेता नमुचेश्च हन्ता। पितुर्निदेशादनघः स्वधर्मं चरन्वने दाशरथिश्चकार
That great-souled son of Dasharatha, equal in splendor to the thousand-eyed Indra, leader of Yama, slayer of Namuci, sinless, followed his own duty in the forest by his father’s command.
स चापि शक्रस् समप्रभावो महानुभावः समरेष्वजेयः। विहाय भोगानचरद्वनेषु नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम्
That mighty one, equal in power to Indra, unconquerable in battle, abandoned pleasures and dwelt in the forests; he did not rely on strength, but followed righteousness.
भापाश्च नाभागभगीरथादयो महीमिमां सागरान्तां विजित्य। सत्येन तेऽप्यजयस्तात लोका- न्नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम्
Bhapa, Nabha, Bhagiratha, and others, having conquered this earth bounded by the ocean, O dear one, by truth alone attained the worlds; they did not rely on strength, but followed righteousness.
अलर्कमाहुर्नवर्य सन्तं सत्यव्रतं काशिकरूशराजम्। विहाय राज्यानि वसूनि चैव नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम्
They say Alarka, the most excellent, truthful king of Kashi and Kuru, abandoned kingdoms and wealth; he did not rely on strength, but followed righteousness.
धात्रा विधिर्यो विहितः पुराणै- स्तं पूजयन्तो नरवर्य सन्तः। सप्तर्षयः पार्थ दिवि प्रभान्ति नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम्
Those best of men, the seven seers, O Partha, shining in heaven, honor that ancient ordinance established by the Creator; they did not rely on strength, but followed righteousness.
महाबलान्पर्वतकूटमात्रा- न्विषाणिनः पश्य गजान्नरेन्द्र। स्थितान्निदेशे नरवर्य धातु- र्नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम्
Behold, O king, the mighty elephants, as large as mountain peaks, with their tusks, standing under the command of the Creator; they did not rely on strength, but followed righteousness.
सर्वाणि भूतानि नरेन्द्र पश्य तथा यथावद्विहितं विधात्रा। स्वयोनितः कर्म सदाचरन्ति नेसे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम्
See, O king, all creatures, each acting according to the ordinance established by the Creator from their own birth; they do not rely on strength, but follow righteousness.
सत्येनं धर्मेण यथार्हवृत्त्या ह्रिया तथा सर्वभूतान्यतीत्य। यशश्च तेजश्च तवापि दीप्तं विभावसोर्भास्करस्येव पार्त
Through truth, righteousness, and proper conduct, and with modesty, you have surpassed all beings; your fame and brilliance, O Partha, shine like that of fire and the sun.
यथाप्रतिज्ञं च महानुभाव कृच्छ्रं वने वासमिमं निरूष्य। ततः श्रियं तेजसा तेन दीप्ता- मादास्वसे पार्थिव कौरेवभ्यः
And as you have endured this difficult life in the forest according to your vow, O great-souled one, thereafter, with that same brilliance, you shall regain your prosperity from the Kauravas, O king.
तमेवमुक्त्वा वचनं महर्षि- स्तपस्विमध्ये सहितं सुहृद्धिः। आमन्त्र्य धौम्यं सहितांश्च पार्थां- स्ततः प्रतस्थे दिशमुत्तरां सः
Having spoken thus, the great sage, friendly among the ascetics, after bidding farewell to Dhaumya and the assembled sons of Pritha, set out toward the northern direction.
ततो वनगताः पार्थाः सायाह्ने सह कृष्णया। उपविष्टाः कथाश्चक्रुर्दुःखशोकपरायणाः
Then, in the evening, the sons of Pritha, together with Krishna, sat down in the forest and, overcome with sorrow and grief, began to speak.
प्रिया च दर्शनीया च पण्डिता च पतिव्रता। अथ कृष्णा धर्मराजमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Krishna, who was dear, beautiful, learned, and devoted to her husband, spoke these words to King Yudhishthira.
न नूनं तस्य पापस्य दुःखमस्मासु किंचन। विद्यते धार्तराष्ट्रस्य नृशंसस्य दुरात्मनः
Surely that wicked-hearted son of Dhritarashtra, so cruel, feels not the slightest sorrow for us.
यस्त्वां राजन्मया सार्धमजिनैः प्रतिवासितम्। वनं प्रस्थाप्य दुष्टात्मा नान्वतप्यत दुर्मतिः
That evil-minded one, having exiled you, O king, along with me and our deer-skin garments to the forest, did not feel any remorse.
आयसं हृदयं नूनं तस्य दुष्कृतकर्मणः। यस्त्वां धर्मपरं श्रेष्ठं रूक्षाण्यश्रावयत्तदा। `वचनान्यपरोक्षाणि दुर्वाच्यानि च संसदि
Truly, the heart of that wrongdoer must be of iron, for he made you, the foremost in righteousness, listen to harsh and improper words in the assembly.
सुखोचितमदुःखार्हं दुरात्मा ससुहृद्गणः। ईदृशं दुःखमानीय मोदते पापपूरुषः
That wicked man, together with his followers, delights in bringing such suffering upon you, who are accustomed to comfort and undeserving of pain.
चतुर्णामेव पापानामस्रं न पतितं तदा। त्वयि भारत निष्क्रान्ते वनायाजिनवाससि
Not a single tear fell from the eyes of those four sinners, O Bharata, when you, clad in deer-skin, departed for the forest.