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?
विधातृविहितं मार्गं न कश्चिदतिवर्तते। कालमूलमिदं सर्वं भावाभावौ सुखासुखे
No one can overstep the path ordained by the Creator; all existence and non-existence, pleasure and pain, have their root in Time.
कालः सृजति भूतानि कालः संहरते प्रजाः। संहरन्तं प्रजाः कालं कालः शमयते पुनः
Time creates beings, and Time withdraws creatures; even Time itself, when it withdraws beings, is again subdued by Time.
कालो विकुरुते भावान्सर्वांल्लोके शुभाशुभान्। कालः संक्षिपते सर्वाः प्रजा विसृजते पुनः
Time transforms all things in the world, both auspicious and inauspicious; Time contracts all creatures and then releases them again.
कालः सुप्तेषु जागर्ति कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः। कालः सर्वेषु भूतेषु चरत्यविधतः समः
Time remains awake when all others sleep, for Time is truly insurmountable; Time moves impartially among all beings, ungoverned.
अतीतानागता भावा ये च वर्तन्ति सांप्रतम्। तान्कालनिर्मितान्बुद्ध्वा न संज्ञां हातुमर्हसि
Knowing that all things—past, future, and those existing now—are fashioned by Time, you should not abandon your awareness.
इत्येवं पुत्रशोकार्तं धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्। आश्वास्य स्वस्थमकरोत्सूतो गावल्गणिस्तदा
Thus, the charioteer Gāvalgaṇa comforted King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who was afflicted by grief for his son, and restored his composure.
धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वा धृतिमेव समाश्रयत्। दिष्ट्येदमागतमिति मत्त्वा स प्राज्ञसत्तमः
And Dhṛtarāṣṭra, having heard this, took refuge in self-control, understanding, 'This has come to pass by destiny,' for he was wise and noble.
लोकानां च हितार्थाय कारुण्यान्मुनिसत्तमः। अत्रोपनिषदं पुण्यां कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्
For the welfare of the worlds and out of compassion, the eminent sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana here spoke the sacred Upaniṣad.
विद्वद्भिः कथ्यते लोके पुराणे कविसत्तमैः। भारताध्ययनं पुण्यमपि पादमधीयतः। श्रद्दधानस्य पूयन्ते सर्वपापान्यशेषतः
It is said by the learned and by the foremost poets in the Purāṇas that even one who studies a single section of the Mahābhārata with faith is purified entirely of all sins.
देवा देवर्षयो ह्यत्र तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः। कीर्त्यन्ते शुमकर्माणस्तथा यक्षा महोरगाः
Here are praised the gods, the divine sages, the pure Brahmarṣis, as well as the Yakṣas and great serpents, all renowned for their noble deeds.