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.
नास्मिन्कुले जातु बभूव राजा यो न प्रजानां प्रियकृत्प्रियश्च। विशेषतः प्रेक्ष्य पितामहानां वृत्तं महद्वृत्तपरायणानाम्
Never in this lineage has there been a king who was not beloved and pleasing to his people, especially when considering the great conduct of our forefathers, devoted to noble deeds.
कथं निधनमापन्नः पिता मम तथाविधः। आचक्षध्वं यथावन्मे श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
How did my father, such a man, meet his end? Tell me truly and in detail; I wish to hear the facts.
एवं संचोदिता राज्ञा मन्त्रिणस्ते नराधिपम्। ऊचुः सर्वे यथावृत्तं राज्ञः प्रियहितैषिणः
Thus urged by the king, your ministers, wishing for the king’s good and favor, all spoke to him as it had happened.
स राजा पृथिवीपालः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। बभूव मृगयाशीलस्तव राजन्पिता सदा
That king, protector of the earth and foremost among warriors, your father, O King, was always devoted to hunting.
यथा पाण्डुर्महाबाहुर्धनुर्धरवरो युधि। अस्मास्वासज्य सर्वाणि राजकार्याण्यशेषतः
Just as mighty-armed Pandu, the best of archers in battle, entrusted all royal duties to us without exception—
स कदाचिद्वनगतो मृगं विव्याध पत्रिणा। विद्ध्वा चान्वसरत्तूर्णं तं मृगं गहने वने
Once, having gone to the forest, he struck a deer with a feathered arrow; after wounding it, he quickly pursued that deer into the dense woods.
पदातिर्बद्धनिस्त्रिंशस्ततायुधकलापवान्। न चाससाद गहने मृगं नष्टं पिता तव
On foot, sword at his side, carrying his bow and quiver, your father did not find the lost deer in the thicket.
परिश्रान्तो वयस्थश्च षष्टिवर्षो जरान्वितः। क्षुधितः स महारण्ये ददर्श मुनिसत्तमम्
Exhausted by age, sixty years old, worn by old age and hungry, he saw a most excellent sage in the great forest.
स तं पप्रच्छ राजेन्द्रो मुनिं मौनव्रते स्थितम्। न च किंचिदुवाचेदं पृष्टोऽपि समुनिस्तदा
The king, lord of men, questioned that sage who was observing a vow of silence, but though asked, the sage said nothing.
ततो राजा क्षुच्छ्रमार्तस्तं मुनिं स्थाणुवत्स्थितम्। मौनव्रतधरं शान्तं सद्यो मन्युवशं गतः
Then the king, tormented by hunger and fatigue, seeing the sage standing motionless, calm and silent, was suddenly overcome by anger.