प्रत्यक्षं सर्वलोकस्य खाण्डवे यत्कृतं पुरा। फल्गुनेन सहायार्थे वह्नेर्दामोदरेण च
What was done long ago in Khandava by Phalguna, for the sake of aiding Agni, with Damodara—this was witnessed by all the worlds.
सर्वथा न हि मे पुत्राः सहामात्याः सबान्धवाः। क्रुद्धे पार्थे च भीमे च वासुदेवे च सात्वते
In every way, my sons, with their ministers and kinsmen, cannot withstand Partha and Bhima when angered, nor Vasudeva of the Satvata clan.
यदिदं शोचितं राज्ञा धृतराष्ट्रेण वै मुने। प्रव्राज्यपाण्डवान्वीरान्सर्वमेतन्निर्रथकम्
All that King Dhritarashtra lamented, O sage, about sending the heroic Pandavas into exile—has proven entirely futile.
कथं च राजपुत्रं तमुपेक्षेताल्पचेतसम्। दुर्योधनं पाण्डुपुत्रान्कोपयानं महारथान्
How could the king's son, that small-minded Duryodhana, disregard the Pandava princes, those great warriors, and provoke them?
किमासीत्पाण्डुपुत्राणां वने भोजनमुच्यताम्। वन्यं वाऽप्यवा कृष्टमेतदाख्यातु नो भवान्
Tell us, what was the food of the Pandava princes in the forest? Was it wild, or cultivated? Please recount this to us.
वानेयं च मृगांश्चैव शुद्धैर्बाणैर्निपातितान्। ब्राह्मणानां निवेद्याग्रमभुञ्जता महारथाः
In the forest, the great warriors felled deer with pure arrows, and after offering the best portions to the Brahmanas, they themselves ate.
तांस्तु शूरान्महेष्वासांस्तदा निवसतो वने। अन्वयुर्ब्राह्मणा राजन्साग्नयोऽनग्नयस्तथा
While those mighty archers dwelled in the forest, Brahmanas followed them, O king, both those with fires and those without.
ब्राह्मणानां सहस्राणि स्नातकानां महात्मनाम्। दश मोक्षविदां तद्वद्यान्बिभर्ति युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira supported thousands of Brahmanas, graduates of sacred study, and likewise ten who knew liberation, O king.
रुरून्कृष्णमृगांश्चैव मेध्यांश्चान्यान्मनोरमान्। बाणैरुन्मथ्य विविधैर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो न्यवेदयत्
He offered to the Brahmanas various animals—deer, black antelope, and other pure and delightful creatures—after striking them with arrows.
न तत्र कश्चिद्दुर्वर्णो व्याधितो वाऽपि दृश्यते। कृशो वा दुर्बलो वाऽपि दीनो भीतोपि वा पुनाः
There, none could be seen who was ill-colored, diseased, emaciated, weak, miserable, or fearful.
पुत्रानिव प्रियान्भ्रातॄन्ज्ञातीनिव सहोदरान्। पुरोष कौरवश्रेष्ठो धर्मेराजो युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira, the foremost of the Kauravas and king of dharma, treated his beloved brothers like sons, and his kinsmen as if they were his own siblings.
पतीश्च द्रौपदी सर्वाञ्द्विजातीश्च यशस्विनी। मातेव भोजयित्वाऽग्रे शिष्टमाहारयत्तदा
Draupadi, the illustrious wife, after feeding all the twice-born, brought what remained forward, just as a mother would.
प्राचीं राजा दक्षिणां भीमसेनो यमौ प्रतीचीमथवाऽप्युदीचीम्। धनुर्धरा मांसहेतोर्मृगाणां क्षयं चक्रुर्नित्यमेवोपगम्य
The king took the east, Bhimasena the south, the twins the west or even the north; the bowmen regularly hunted animals for meat, causing their decline.
तथा तेषां कवसतां काम्यके वै विहीनानामर्जुनेनोत्सुकानाम्। पञ्चैव वर्षाणि तथा व्यतीयु- रथीयतां जपतां जुह्वतां च
Thus, while they dwelled in Kamyaka, deprived and longing, five years passed for them, engaged in recitation and offering sacrifices.
तेषां तच्चरितं श्रुत्वा मनुष्यातीतमद्भुतम्। चिन्ताशोकपरीतात्मा मन्युनाभिपरिप्लुतः
Hearing of their wondrous deeds, surpassing those of men, he was overwhelmed with anxiety, sorrow, and anger.
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः। अब्रवीत्संजयं सूतमामन्त्र्य भरतर्षभ
Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, breathed long and hot, and, summoning Sanjaya the charioteer, spoke to him, O bull among Bharatas.
न रात्रौ न दिवा सूत शान्तिं प्राप्नोमि वैक्षणम्। संचिन्त्य दुर्णयं घोरमतीतं द्यूतजं हि तत्
O charioteer, neither by night nor by day do I find peace, reflecting on that dreadful and evil deed of the past, born from the game of dice.
तेषामसह्यवीर्याणां शौर्यं धैर्यं धृतिं पराम्। अन्योन्यमनुरागं च भ्रातॄणामतिमानुषम्
Their strength is unbearable, their valor, courage, and supreme resolve; and the mutual affection among the brothers is beyond human measure.
देवपुत्रौ महाभागौ देवराजसमद्युती। नकुलः सहदेवश्च पाण्डवौ युद्धदुर्मदौ
Nakula and Sahadeva, the sons of Pandu, are like sons of the gods, greatly fortunate, shining like the king of the gods, and fierce in battle.
दृढायुधौ दूरपातौ युद्धे च कृतनिश्चयौ। शीघ्रहस्तौ दृढक्रोधौ नित्ययुक्तौ रथे स्थितौ
Firm in arms, striking from afar, resolute in battle, swift-handed, steadfast in anger, ever devoted, they stand upon their chariots.
भीमार्जुनौ पुरोधाय यदा तौ रणमूर्धनि। स्थास्येते सिंहविक्रान्तावश्विनाविव दुःसहौ
When Bhima and Arjuna stand at the forefront in the midst of battle, those two, with lion-like strides, will be as unassailable as the Ashvins.
निःशेषमिह पश्यामि मम सैन्यस्य संजय
O Sanjaya, I see utter destruction here for my army.
तौ ह्यप्रतिरथौ युद्धे देवपुत्रौ महारथौ। द्रौपद्यास्तं परिक्लेशं न क्षंस्येतेऽत्यमर्षिणौ
For those two, unmatched in battle, sons of the gods and great chariot-warriors, will not tolerate the suffering inflicted upon Draupadi, being exceedingly wrathful.
वृष्णयोऽथ महेष्वासाः पाञ्चाला वा महौजसः। युधि सत्याभिसन्धेन वासुदेवेन रक्षिताः। प्रधक्ष्यन्ति रणे पार्थाः पुत्राणां मम वाहिनीम्
The Vrishnis, mighty archers, and the powerful Panchalas, protected in battle by truth-bound Vasudeva, will, along with the sons of Pritha, consume the army of my sons.
रामकृष्णप्रणीतानां वृष्णीनां सूतनन्दन। न शक्यः सहितुं वेगः पर्वतैरपि दुःसहः
O son of Suta, the force of the Vrishnis, led by Rama and Krishna, is insupportable, unbearable even for mountains.
तेषां मध्ये महेष्वासो भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। शैक्यया वीरघातिन्या गदया विचरिष्यति
Among them, the mighty-armed Bhima, of terrible prowess, will roam with his deadly mace, the slayer of heroes.
तथा गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः। गदावेगं च भीमस्य नालं सोढुं नराधिपाः
Likewise, the thunderous twang of Gandiva and the force of Bhima’s mace—no kings are able to withstand.
ततोऽहं सुहृदां वाचो दुर्योधनवशानुगः। स्मरणीयाः स्मरिष्यामि मया या न कृताः पुरा
Then, following the words of friends, under Duryodhana’s sway, I will remember those worthy deeds of the past which I did not perform.
व्यतिक्रमोऽयं सुमहांस्त्वया राजन्नुपेक्षितः। समर्थेनापि यन्मोहात्पुत्रस्ते न निवारितः
This great transgression, O king, was overlooked by you; for even though capable, out of delusion, you did not restrain your son.
श्रुत्वाऽयं निर्जितान्द्यूते पाण्डवान्मधुसूदनः। त्वरितः कामय्के पार्थान्समभावयदच्युतः
When Madhusudana heard that the Pandavas had been defeated at dice, he quickly went to comfort the sons of Pritha.