कष्टं युद्धे दश शेषाः श्रुता मे त्रयोऽस्माकं पाण्डवानां च सप्त। द्व्यूना विंशतिराहताऽक्षौहिणीनां तस्मिन्सङ्ग्रामे भैरवे क्षत्रियाणाम्
It is dreadful: only ten survived the war—three of ours and seven of the Pandavas; in that terrible battle of the Kshatriyas, eighteen Akshauhinis were destroyed.
तमस्त्वतीव विस्तीर्णं मोह आविशतीव माम्। संज्ञां नोपलभे सूत मनो विह्वलतीव मे
A vast darkness overwhelms me, as if delusion has seized me; I cannot regain my senses, Suta, and my mind is greatly disturbed.
इत्युक्त्वा धृतराष्ट्रोऽथ विलप्य बहु दुःखितः। मूर्च्छितः पुनराश्वस्तः संजयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, Dhritarashtra, lamenting much in his deep sorrow, fainted; regaining consciousness, he addressed Sanjaya.
संजयैवं गते प्राणांस्त्यक्तुमिच्छामि मा चिरम्। स्तोकं ह्यपि न पश्यामि फलं जीवितधारणे
Sanjaya, in this state, I wish to give up my life without delay; I see not the slightest benefit in preserving it.
तं तथा वादिनं दीनं विलपन्तं महीपतिम्। निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागं मुह्यमानं पुनः पुनः
Seeing the king so distressed, lamenting and sighing like a serpent, repeatedly losing consciousness, Gāvalgaṇa spoke these weighty words.
गावल्गणिरिदं धीमान्महार्थं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Gāvalgaṇa, wise and discerning, spoke these significant words.
द्वैपायनस्य वदतो नारदस्य च धीमतः। महत्सु राजवंशेषु गुणैः समुदितेषु च
As Vyasa and the wise Narada have said, in the great royal lineages, adorned with virtues,
जातान्दिव्यास्त्रविदुषः शक्रप्रतिमतेजसः। धर्मेण पृथिवीं जित्वा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वाप्तदक्षिणैः
Were born those skilled in divine weapons, possessing the brilliance of Indra, who conquered the earth by righteousness and performed sacrifices with abundant gifts.
अस्मिँल्लोके यशः प्राप्य ततः कालवशं गतान्। शैब्यं महारथं वीरं सृंजयं जयतां वरम्।। 250 ||
Having attained fame in this world, they then passed under the sway of time: Shaibya, the great chariot-warrior, the heroic Sṛnjaya, foremost among the victorious.
बाह्लीकं दमनं चैद्यं शर्यातिमजितं नलम्
Bahlika, Damana, the king of Chedi, Sharyati, the unconquered Nala,
विश्वामित्रममित्रघ्नमम्बरीषं महाबलम्। मरुत्तं मनुमिक्ष्वाकुं गयं भरतमेव च
Vishvamitra, destroyer of foes, the mighty Ambarisha, Marutta, Manu, Ikshvaku, Gaya, and Bharata as well,
रामं दाशरथिं चैव शशबिन्दुं भगीरथम्। कृतवीर्यं महाभागं तथैव जनमेजयम्
Rama, son of Dasharatha, Shashabindu, Bhagiratha, the illustrious Kritavirya, and likewise Janamejaya.
ययातिं शुभकर्माणं देवैर्यो याजितः स्वयम्। `चैत्ययूपाङ्किता भूमिर्यस्येयं सवनाकरा
Yayati, of virtuous deeds, was himself invited by the gods; this earth, marked by sacrificial posts, belonged to him, who performed many Soma sacrifices.
इति राज्ञां चतुर्विंशन्नारदेन सुरर्षिणा। पुत्रशोकाभितप्ताय पुरा श्वैत्याय कीर्तितम्
Thus, of those kings, the illustrious sage Narada once spoke to Shveta, who was tormented by grief for his sons.
तेभ्यश्चान्ये गताः पूर्वं राजानो बलवत्तराः। महारथा महात्मानः सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः
And before them, there were other kings, even more powerful—great chariot-warriors, noble in spirit, endowed with every virtue.
पूरुः कुरुर्यदुः शूरो विष्वगश्वो महाद्युतिः। अणुहो युवनाश्वश्च ककुत्स्थो विक्रमी रघुः
Puru, Kuru, Yadu, Shura, Vishvagashva of great splendor, Anuha, Yuvanashva, Kakutstha, the valiant Raghu—
विजयो वीतिहोत्रोऽह्गो भवः श्वेतो बृहद्गुरुः। उशीनरः शतरथः कङ्को दुलिदुहो द्रुमः
Vijaya, Vitihotra, Anga, Bhava, Shveta, Brihadguru, Ushinara, Shataratha, Kanka, Duliduha, Druma—
दम्भोद्भवः परो वेनः सगरः संकृतिर्निमिः। अजेयः परशुः पुण्ड्रः शंभुर्देवावृधोऽनघः
Dambhodbhava, Parovena, Sagara, Samkriti, Nimi, Ajeya, Parashu, Pundra, Shambhu, Devavriddha, Anagha—
देवाह्वयः सुप्रतिमः सुप्रतीको बृहद्रथः। महोत्साहो विनीतात्मा सुक्रतुर्नैषधो नलः
Devahvaya, Supratima, Supratika, Brihadratha, Mahotsaha, Vinita-atma, Sukratu, Naishadha, Nala—
सत्यव्रतः शान्तभयः सुमित्रः सुबलः प्रभुः। जानुजङ्घोऽनरण्योऽर्कः प्रियभृत्यः शुचिव्रतः
Satyavrata, Shantabhaya, Sumitra, Subala the mighty, Janujangha, Anaranya, Arka, Priyabhrit, Shucivrata—
बलबन्धुर्निरामर्दः केतुशृङ्गो बृहद्बलः। धृष्टकेतुर्बृहत्केतुर्दीप्तकेतुर्निरामयः
Balabandhu, Niramarda, Ketushringa, Brihadbala, Dhrishtaketu, Brihatketu, Diptaketu, Niramaya—
अविक्षिच्चपलो धूर्तः कृतबन्धुर्दृढेषुधिः। महापुराणसंभाव्यः प्रत्यङ्गः परहा श्रुतिः
Avikshi, Chapala, Dhurta, Kritabandhu, Dridhesudhi, Mahapurana-sambhavya, Pratyanga, Paraha, Shruti—
एते चान्ये च राजानः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। श्रूयन्ते शतशश्चान्ये सङ्ख्याताश्चैव पद्मशः
And many other kings, by the hundreds and thousands, are heard of; and still others, counted by the hundreds and even by the millions.
हित्वा सुविपुलान्भोगान्बुद्धिमन्तो महाबलाः। राजानो निधनं प्राप्तास्तव पुत्रैर्महत्तरः
Abandoning vast enjoyments, wise and mighty kings have met their end—greater even than your sons.
येषां दिव्यानि कर्माणि विक्रमस्त्याग एव च। माहात्म्यमपि चास्तिक्यं सत्यं शौचं दयाऽर्जवम्
Their deeds were divine, their valor, renunciation, greatness, faith, truth, purity, compassion, and straightforwardness—
विद्वद्भिः कथ्यते लोके पुराणैः कविसत्तमैः। सर्वर्द्धिगुणसंपन्नास्ते चापि निधनं गताः
These are recounted in the world by the learned, by the best of poets in the ancient tales; yet even those endowed with all virtues have met their end.
तव पुत्रा दुरात्मानः प्रतप्ताश्चैव मन्युना। लुब्धा दुर्वृत्तभूयिष्ठा न ताञ्छोचितुमर्हसि
But your sons, of wicked nature, scorched by anger, greedy, and given to evil conduct—you should not grieve for them.
श्रुतवानसि मेधावी बुद्धिमान्प्राज्ञसंमतः। येषां शास्त्रानुगा बुद्धिर्न ते मुह्यन्ति भारत
You are learned, intelligent, and esteemed by the wise; those whose understanding follows the scriptures, O Bharata, do not become deluded.
निग्रहानुग्रहौ चापि विदितौ ते नराधिप। नात्यन्तमेवानुवृत्तिः कार्या ते पुत्ररक्षणे
You know well both restraint and favor, O king; you should not show excessive indulgence in protecting your sons.
भवितव्यं तथा तच्च नानुशोचितुमर्हसि। दैवं पुरुषकारेण को निवर्तितुमर्हति
What must be, will be; you should not grieve for it. Who can turn back destiny by human effort?