शृणु राजन्यथा भेदः कुरुपाण्डवयोरभूत्। राज्यार्थे द्यूतसंभूतो वनवासस्तथैव च
Hear, O King, how the division arose between the Kurus and the Pandavas, caused by the game of dice for the sake of the kingdom, and also their exile to the forest.
यथा च युद्धमभवत्पृथिवीक्षयकारकम्। तत्तेऽहं कथयिष्यामि पृच्छते भरतर्षभ
And how the war occurred, bringing about the destruction of the earth—this too I shall recount to you, O best of the Bharatas, as you ask.
मृते पितरि ते वीरा वनादेत्य स्वमन्दिरम्। नचिरादेव विद्वांसो वेदे धनुषि चाभवन्
After their father died, those heroes returned from the forest to their own house, and before long, they became learned in the Vedas and in archery.
तांस्तथा सत्ववीर्यौजःसंपन्नान्पौरसंमतान्। नामृष्यन्कुरवो दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवाञ्श्रीयशोभृतः
Seeing the Pandavas endowed with courage, strength, and energy, esteemed by the people and adorned with prosperity and fame, the Kurus could not tolerate them.
ततो दुर्योधनः क्रूरः कर्णश्च सहसौबलः। तेषां निग्रहनिर्वासान्विविधांस्ते समारभन्
Then Duryodhana, cruel in nature, together with Karna and the son of Subala, began various schemes to restrain and exile them.
ततो दुर्योधनः क्रूरः कुलिङ्गस्य मते स्थितः। पाम्डवान्विविधोपायै राज्यहेतोरपीडयत्
Then Duryodhana, cruel and following the counsel of Shakuni, oppressed the Pandavas with various means for the sake of the kingdom.
ददावथ विषं पापो भीमाय धृतराष्ट्रजः। जरयामास तद्वीरः सहान्नेन वृकोदरः
Then the wicked son of Dhritarashtra gave poison to Bhima; but that hero, wolf-bellied, digested it along with his food.
प्रमाणकोट्यां संसुप्तं पुनर्बद्ध्वा वृकोदरम्। तोयेषु भीमं गङ्गायाः प्रक्षिप्य पुरमाव्रजत्
When Bhima was asleep on the riverbank, they bound him again and cast him into the waters of the Ganga, then returned to the city.
यदा विबुद्धः कौन्तेयस्तदा संछिद्य बन्धनम्। उदतिष्ठन्महाबाहुर्भीमसेनो गतव्यथः
When the son of Kunti awoke, he broke his bonds; the mighty-armed Bhimasena, free from pain, rose up.
आशीविषैः कृष्णसर्पैः सुप्तं चैनमदंशयत्। सर्वेष्वेवाङ्गदेशेषु न ममार स शत्रुहा
While he slept, they made him bite by black serpents and venomous snakes in every part of his body; yet that slayer of foes did not die.
तेषां तु विप्रकारेषु तेषु तेषु महामतिः। मोक्षणे प्रतिकारे च विदुरोऽवहितोऽभवत्
In all those many acts of wrongdoing, the wise Vidura was attentive to their release and to countermeasures.
स्वर्गस्थो जीवलोकस्य यथा शक्रः सुखावहः। पाण्डवानां तथा नित्यं विदुरोऽपि सुखावहः
Just as Indra, dwelling in heaven, brings happiness to the world of the living, so Vidura always brought happiness to the Pandavas.
यदा तु विविधोपायैः संवृतैर्विवृतैरपि। नाशकद्विनिहन्तुं तान्दैवभाव्यर्थरक्षितान्
But when, by various secret and open means, they could not destroy those protected by destiny and virtue,
ततः संमन्त्र्य सचिवैर्वृषदुःशासनादिभिः। धृतराष्ट्रमनुज्ञाप्य जातुषं गृहमादिशत्
Then, after consulting with his ministers, including Vriṣasena and Duḥśāsana, and having obtained Dhritarashtra’s approval, he ordered the construction of the house of lac.
तत्र तान्वासयामास पाण्डवानमितौजसः।' सुतप्रियैषी तान्राजा पाण्डवानम्बिकासुतः। ततो विवासयामास राज्यभोगबुभुक्षया
There, the son of Ambika, the king, desiring the welfare of his own sons, settled the Pandavas, who possessed immeasurable energy; but then, out of a desire to enjoy the kingdom, he exiled them.
ते प्रातिष्ठन्त सहिता नगरान्नागसाह्वयात्। प्रस्थाने चाभवन्मन्त्री क्षत्ता तेषां महात्मनाम्
Those great-souled Pandavas, together with their mother, departed from the city of Hastinapura; and at their departure, Vidura, the wise minister, accompanied them.
तेन मुक्ता जतुगृहान्निशीथे प्राद्रवन्वनम्। ततः संप्राप्य कौन्तेया नगरं वारणावतम्
By Vidura's intervention, they escaped from the house of lac at midnight and fled into the forest; then the sons of Kunti reached the city of Varanavata.
न्यवसन्त महात्मानो मात्रा सह परन्तपाः। धृतराष्ट्रेण चाज्ञप्ता उषिता जातुषे गृहे
There, those mighty Pandavas, destroyers of foes, dwelt with their mother; commanded by Dhritarashtra, they stayed in the house made of lac.
पुरोचनाद्रक्षमाणाः संवत्सरमतन्द्रिताः। सुरुङ्गां कारयित्वा तु विदुरेण प्रचोदिताः
Carefully watched by Purochana for a year, they, prompted by Vidura, had a tunnel constructed.
आदीप्य जातुषं वेश्म दग्ध्वा चैव पुरोचनम्। प्राद्रवन्भयसंविग्ना मात्रा सह पन्तपाः
Setting fire to the house of lac and burning Purochana as well, those tormentors of enemies, seized by fear, fled with their mother.
ददृशुर्दारुमं रक्षो हिडिम्बं वननिर्झरे। हत्वा च तं राक्षसेन्द्रं भीताः समवबोधनात्
In the forest stream, they saw the rakshasa Hidimba, who was like a block of wood; after Bhima slew that lord of rakshasas, the frightened Pandavas became aware of their situation.
निशि संप्राद्रवन्पार्था धार्तराष्ट्रभयार्दिताः। प्राप्ता हिडिम्बा भीमेन यत्र जातो घटोत्कचः
At night, the sons of Pritha, afflicted by fear of the sons of Dhritarashtra, fled; there Bhima met Hidimba, and Ghatotkacha was born.
एकचक्रां ततो हत्वा पाण्डवाः संशितव्रताः। वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नास्तेऽभवन्ब्रह्मचारिणः
Then, having slain Baka, the Pandavas, firm in their vows and accomplished in Vedic study, lived as celibates in the city of Ekachakra.
ते तत्र नियताः कालं कंचिदूषुर्नरर्षभाः। मात्रा सहैकचक्रायां ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने
There, those best of men spent some time with their mother in the house of a Brahmin in Ekachakra, observing discipline.
तत्राससाद क्षुधितं पुरुषादं वृकोदरः। भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्बकं नाम महाबलम्
There, Bhimasena of mighty arms, called Vrikodara, encountered the hungry man-eater named Baka, who possessed great strength.
तं चापि पुरुषव्याघ्रो बाहुवीर्येण पाण्डवः। निहत्य तरसा वीरो नागरान्पर्यसान्त्वयत्
That tiger among men, the Pandava, swiftly slew Baka with the strength of his arms, and then comforted the townspeople.
ततस्ते शुश्रुवुः कृष्णां पञ्चालेषु स्वयंवराम्। श्रुत्वा चैवाभ्यगच्छ्त गत्वा चैवालभन्त ताम्
Then they heard of Krishna's self-choice ceremony among the Panchalas; having heard, they went there and obtained her.
ते तत्र द्रौपदीं लब्ध्वा परिसंवत्सरोषिताः। विदिता हास्तिनपुरं प्रत्याजग्मुररिन्दमाः
Having obtained Draupadi there, they dwelt for a year; then, recognized, those subduers of enemies returned to Hastinapura.
ते उक्ता धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा शान्तनवेन च। भ्रातृभिर्विग्रहस्तात कथं वो न भवेदिति
They were addressed by King Dhritarashtra and Bhishma, son of Shantanu: 'O sons, how can there be conflict among you brothers?'
अस्माभिः खाण्डवप्रस्थे युष्मद्वासोऽनुचिन्तितः। तस्माज्जनपदोपेतं सुविभक्तमहापथम्
We have arranged for your residence at Khandavaprastha, which is endowed with people and well-laid roads.