कर्णसौबलयोश्चापि संश्रुत्य वचनान्यसौ। निर्वेदं परमं गत्वा राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। व्रीडयाऽभिपरीतात्मा नैराश्यमगमत्परम्
Having heard the words of Karna and Shakuni, King Duryodhana then, overwhelmed by shame, fell into deep despair.
सुहृदां चैव तच्छ्रुत्वा समन्युरिदमब्रवीत्। न धर्मधनसौख्येन नैश्वर्येण न चाज्ञया
Hearing this from his friends, he spoke these words with anger: 'Not by righteousness, wealth, happiness, sovereignty, nor by command—'
नैव भोगैश्च मे कार्यं मा विहन्यत गच्छत। निश्चितेयं मम मतिः स्थिता प्रायोपवेशने
I have no use for pleasures; do not hinder me as you go. My mind is firmly resolved upon fasting unto death.
गच्छध्वं नगरं सर्वे पूज्याश्च गुरवो मम। त एवमुक्ताः प्रत्यूच् राजानमरिमर्दनम्
All of you return to the city, and honor my revered elders. Thus addressed, they replied to the king, the subduer of foes.
या गतिस्तव राजेन्द्र साऽस्माकमपि भारत। कथं वा संप्रवेक्ष्यामस्त्वद्विहीनाः पुरं वयम्
O king of the Bharatas, your path is ours as well. How can we enter the city, deprived of you?
स सुहृद्भिरमात्यैश्च भातृभिः स्वजनेन च। बहुप्रकारमप्युक्तो निश्चयान्न व्यचाल्यत
Though addressed in many ways by friends, ministers, brothers, and his own people, he did not waver from his decision.
दर्भास्तरणमास्तीर्य निश्चयाद्धृतराष्ट्रजः। संस्पृश्यापः शुचिर्भूत्वा भूतले समुपस्थितः
Spreading a bed of sacred grass, the son of Dhritarashtra, resolute, purified himself with water and sat upon the ground.
कुशचीराम्बरधरः परं नियममास्थितः। वाग्यतो राजशार्दूलः स स्वर्गगतिकाम्यया
Clad in garments of kusa grass and bark, observing strict vows, the tiger among kings, desiring the path to heaven, restrained his speech.
मनसोपचितिं कृत्वा निरस् च बहिःक्रियाः। `तस्थौप्रायोपवेशेऽथमतिं कृत्वा सुनिश्चयाम्
Having composed his mind and abandoned all external acts, he stood firm in his resolve to fast unto death.
अथ तं निश्चयं तस्य बुद्ध्वा दैतेयदानवाः। पातालवासिनो रौद्राः पूर्वं देवैर्विनिर्जिताः
Then, knowing his resolve, the fierce Daityas and Danavas, dwellers of the netherworld, once defeated by the gods, became aware.
ते स्वपक्षक्षयं तं तु ज्ञात्वा दुर्योधनस्य वै। आह्वानाय तदा चक्रुः कर्म वैतानसंभवम्
Learning of the destruction of their own side—that of Duryodhana—they then undertook a rite born of the Vaitana tradition, for summoning.
बृहस्पत्युशनोक्तैश्च मन्त्रैर्मन्त्रविशारदाः। अथर्ववेदप्रोक्तैश्च याश्चौपनिषदाः क्रियाः। मन्त्रजप्यसमायुक्तास्तास्तदा समवर्तयन्
Skilled in mantras taught by Brihaspati and Ushanas, and in rites prescribed by the Atharvaveda and the Upanishads, they performed those acts accompanied by mantra-recitation.
जुह्वत्यग्नौ हविः क्षीरं मन्त्रवत्सुसमाहिताः। ब्राह्मणा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगाः सुदृढव्रताः
With concentrated minds, the Brahmins, accomplished in the Vedas and Vedangas, firm in their vows, offered milk as oblation into the fire, reciting mantras.
अध्वर्यवो दानवानां कर्म प्रावर्तयंस्ततः
Then the Adhvaryu priests began the rite for the Danavas.
कर्मसिद्धौ तदा तत्र जृम्भमाणा महाद्भुता। कृत्या समुत्थिता राजन्किं करोमीति चाब्रवीत्
As the rite reached completion, O king, a wondrous being arose, a Kritya, who said, 'What shall I do?'
आहुर्दैत्याश्च तां तत्र सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना। प्रायोपविष्टं राजानं धार्तराष्ट्रमिहानय
There the Daityas, with great satisfaction in their hearts, said to her, 'Bring here King Dhritarashtra's son, who is fasting.'
तथेति च प्रतिश्रुत्य सा कृत्या प्रययौ तदा। निमेषादगमच्चापि यत्र राजा सुयोधनः
Saying, 'So be it,' that Kritya departed, and in a moment reached the place where King Suyodhana was.
समादाय च राजानं प्रविवेश रसातलम्। दानवानां मुहूर्ताच्च पुरतस्तं न्यवेदयत्
Taking the king, she entered the netherworld, and after a short time presented him before the Danavas.
तमानीतं नृपं दृष्ट्वा रात्रौ संगत्य दानवाः। प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे किंचिदुत्फुल्ललोचनाः
Seeing the king brought there at night, the Danavas all gathered, their hearts rejoicing and their eyes slightly widened.
दृढमेनं परिष्यज्य दृष्ट्वा च कुशलं तदा'। साभिमानमिदं वाक्यं दुर्योधनमथाब्रुवन्
Having firmly embraced him and seeing that he was well, they spoke these proud words to Duryodhana.
भोः सुयोधन राजेन्द्र भरतानां कुलोद्वह। शूरैः परिवृतो नित्यं तथैव च महात्मभिः
O Suyodhana, great king, exalted scion of the Bharatas, you are always surrounded by valiant and noble souls.
अकार्षीः साहसमिदं कस्मात्प्रायोपवेशनम्। आत्मत्यागी ह्यधो याति वाच्यतां चायशस्करीम्
Why did you undertake this rash act of preparing for death by fasting? One who abandons himself descends below and earns lasting infamy.
न हि कार्यविरुद्धेषु बहुपापेषु कर्मसु। मूलघातिषु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः
Indeed, wise men like you do not become attached to actions that are opposed to duty, sinful, and destructive at their root.
नियच्छैनां मतिं राजन्धर्मार्थसुखनाशिनीम्। यशःप्रतापवीर्यघ्नीं शत्रूणां हर्षवर्धनीम्
Restrain this intention, O king, which destroys righteousness, wealth, and happiness, which slays fame, glory, and strength, and brings joy to your enemies.
श्रूयतां तु प्रभो तत्त्वं दिव्यतां चात्मनो नृप। निर्माणं च रशरीरस्य ततो धैर्यमवाप्नुहि
Now hear, O lord, the truth and the divine nature of your own self, and the creation of your extraordinary body; then gain courage.
पुरा त्व तपसाऽस्माभिर्लब्धो राजन्महेश्वरात्। पूर्वकायश्च ते सर्वो निर्मितो वज्रसंचयैः
Long ago, through our austerities, O king, we obtained you from the great Lord Shiva; your former body was entirely fashioned from a mass of thunderbolts.
अस्त्रैरभेद्यः शस्त्रैश्चाप्यधःकायश्च तेऽनघ। कृतः पुष्पमयो देव्या रूपतस्त्रीमनोहरः
Your lower body, O faultless one, was made invulnerable to weapons and missiles, and by the goddess, a form delightful to women was created, woven of flowers.
एवमीश्वरसंयुक्तस्तव देहो नृपोत्तम। देव्या च राजशार्दूल दिव्यस्त्वं हि न मानुषः
Thus, O best of kings, your body is joined with divine power, by the goddess as well; you are divine, not human.
क्षत्रियाश्च महावीर्या भगदत्तपुरोगमाः। दिव्यास्त्रविदुषः शूराः क्षपयिष्यन्ति ते रिपून्
And mighty Kshatriyas, foremost among them Bhagadatta, skilled in celestial weapons and valiant, will destroy your enemies.
तदलं ते विषादेन भयं तव न विद्यते। सहायार्थं च ते वीराः संभूता बुवि दानवाः
Therefore, enough of your despair; you have nothing to fear. For your aid, heroic Danavas have arisen on earth.