स्वैरेष्वपि न तेनाहं स्मरामि वितथं वचः। उक्तपूर्वं कुतो राजन्सांपराये स वक्ष्यति
Even among his own, I do not recall him ever speaking falsely; what was once spoken by him, O king, he will fulfill in due time.
न संतापस्त्वया कार्यः कार्यं प्रति भुजंगमे। उत्पत्स्यति च ते पुत्रो ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभः
You should not be troubled, O serpent, regarding this matter; a son will be born to you, radiant as fire and the sun.
इत्युक्त्वा स हि मां भ्रातर्गतो भर्ता तपोधनः। तस्माद्व्येतु परं दुःखं तवेदं मनसि स्थितम्
Having said this, my husband, rich in austerity, departed, O brother; therefore, let this great sorrow that dwells in your heart be dispelled.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स नागेन्द्रो वासुकिः परया मुदा। एवमस्त्विति तद्वाक्यं भगिन्याः प्रत्यगृह्णत
Hearing this, the king of serpents, Vasuki, with great joy, accepted his sister's words, saying, 'So be it.'
सान्त्वमानार्थदानैश्च पूजया चारुरूपया। सोदर्यां पूजयामास स्वसारं पन्नगोत्तमः
With soothing words, gifts, and honor, the best of serpents worshipped his own sister, who was of lovely form.
ततः प्रववृधे गर्भो महातेजा महाप्रभः। यथा मोमो द्विजश्रेष्ठ शुक्लपक्षोदितो दिवि
Then the embryo, possessing great energy and brilliance, grew, O best of Brahmins, like the waxing moon in the bright fortnight.
अथ काले तु सा ब्रह्मन्प्रजज्ञे भुजगस्वसा। कुमारं देवगर्भाभं पितृमातृभयापहम्
Then, in due time, O Brahmin, the sister of the serpent king gave birth to a boy, resembling a divine child, who removed the fear of both father and mother.
ववृधे स तु तत्रैव नागराजनिवेशने। वेदांश्चाधिजगे साङ्गान्भार्गवच्यवनात्मजात्
He grew up there itself, in the house of the serpent king, and learned the Vedas with their branches from the son of Bhrigu, Chyavana.
चीर्णव्रतो बाल एव बुद्धिसत्त्वगुणान्वितः। नाम चास्याभवत्ख्यातं लोकेष्वास्तीक इत्युत
Even as a boy, he performed vows, was endowed with intelligence, virtue, and good qualities; and his name became known in the world as Astika.
अस्तीत्युक्त्वा गतो यस्मात्पिता गर्भस्थमेव तम्। वनं तस्मादिदं तस्य नामास्तीकेति विश्रुतम्
Because his father, while he was still in the womb, departed saying 'He exists,' therefore he became widely known by the name Astika.
स बाल एव तत्रस्थश्चरन्नमितबुद्धिमान्। गृहे पन्नगराजस्य प्रयत्नात्परिरक्षितः
Even as a child, he remained there, moving about with unfathomable intelligence, carefully protected in the house of the serpent king.
भगवानिव देवेशः शूलपाणिर्हिरण्मयः। विवर्धमानः सर्वांस्तान्पन्नगानभ्यहर्षयत्
Growing up, he delighted all the serpents, shining like the blessed Lord of the gods, the golden trident-bearer.
यदपृच्छत्तदा राजा मन्त्रिणो जनमेजयः। पितुः स्वर्गगतिं तन्मे विस्तरेण पुनर्वद
Then King Janamejaya asked his ministers about his father's journey to heaven: Tell me again in detail about this.
शृणु ब्रह्मन्यथाऽपृच्छन्मन्त्रिणो नृपतिस्तदा। यथा चाख्यातवन्तस्ते निधनं तत्परिक्षितः
Hear, O Brahman, how the king then questioned his ministers, and how they described the death of Parikshit.
जानन्ति स्म भवन्तस्तद्यथावृत्तं पितुर्मम। आसीद्यथा स निधनं गतः काले महायशाः
You all know what happened regarding my father, how that illustrious one met his end in due time.
श्रुत्वा भवत्सकाशाद्धि पितुर्वृत्तमशेषतः। कल्याणं प्रतिपत्स्यामि विपरीतं न जातुचित्
Having heard from you in full about my father's deeds, I shall act rightly and never in a contrary manner.
मन्त्रिणोऽथाब्रुवन्वाक्यं पृष्टास्तेन महात्मना। सर्वे धर्मविदः प्राज्ञा राजानं जनमेजयम्
Then, questioned by that great-souled one, all the wise and righteous ministers spoke these words to King Janamejaya.
शृणु पार्थिव यद्ब्रूषे पितुस्तव महात्मनः। चरितं पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य यथा निष्ठां गतश्च सः
Hear, O king, what you ask about your great-souled father's conduct, and how that lord of kings reached his end.
धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च प्रजापालः पिता तव। आसीदिहायथा वृत्तः स महात्मा शृणुष्व तत्
Your father was righteous, great-souled, and a protector of his people; listen now to how that great one lived here.
चातुर्वर्ण्यं स्वधर्मस्थं स कृत्वा पर्यरक्षत। धर्मतो धर्मविद्राजा धर्मो विग्रहवानिव
He established the four orders in their own duties and protected them; the king, knower of righteousness, upheld dharma as if it were embodied.
ररक्ष पृथिवीं देवीं श्रीमानतुलविक्रमः। द्वेष्टारस्तस्य नैवासन्स च द्वेष्टि न कंचन
That illustrious one of incomparable valor protected the earth, the goddess; he had no enemies, nor did he hate anyone.
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु प्रजापतिरिवाभवत्। ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव स्वकर्मसु
He was impartial to all beings, like the lord of creatures; Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras remained in their own duties.
स्थितः सुमनसो राजंस्तेन राज्ञा स्वधिष्ठिताः। विधवानाथविकलान्कृपणांश्च बभार सः
Under that king, all were well-disposed and steadfast; he cared for widows, the helpless, the afflicted, and the poor.
सुदर्शः सर्वभूतानामासीत्सोम इवापरः। तुष्टपुष्टजनः श्रीमान्सत्यवाग्दृढविक्रमः
He was handsome among all beings, like another Soma; prosperous, strong, truthful, and firm in his valor.
धनुर्वेदे तु शिष्योऽभून्नृपः शारद्वतस्य सः। गोविन्दस्य प्रियश्चासीत्पिता ते जनमेजय
In the science of archery, the king was a disciple of Sharadvata; your father, Janamejaya, was also dear to Govinda.
लोकस्य चैव सर्वस्य प्रिय आसीन्महायशाः। परिक्षीणेषु कुरुषु सोत्तरायामजीजनत्
That illustrious one was beloved by all people; when the Kurus were destroyed, he begot a son on Uttara.
परिक्षिदभवत्तेन सौभद्रस्यात्मजो बली। राजधर्मार्थकुशलो युक्तः सर्वगुणैर्वृतः
From him was born Parikshit, the mighty son of Subhadra, skilled in royal duties and law, endowed with all virtues.
जितेन्द्रियश्चात्मवांश्च मेधावी धर्मसेविता। षड्वर्गजिन्महाबुद्धिर्नीतिशास्त्रविदुत्तमः
Self-controlled, steadfast, intelligent, devoted to righteousness, possessing great wisdom and mastery over the six inner enemies, he was foremost in knowledge of statecraft.
प्रजा इमास्तव पिता षष्टिवर्षाण्यपालयत्। ततो दिष्टान्तमापन्नः सर्वेषां दुःखमावहन्
Your father protected these people for sixty years; then, meeting his destined end, he brought sorrow to all.
ततस्त्वं पुरुषश्रेष्ठ धर्मेण प्रतिपेदिवान्। इदं वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कुरुकुलागतम्। बाल एवाभिषिक्तस्त्वं सर्वभूतानुपालकः
Then you, best of men, took up the path of righteousness; this kingdom of the Kuru line came to you for a thousand years. You were crowned while still a boy, guardian of all beings.