सभाज्यमानः पौरैश्च स्त्रीभिर्जानपदैरपि। आसाद्यान्तःपुरद्वारं पित्रे संप्रत्यवेदयत्
Honored by citizens, women, and country folk, he reached the inner palace gate and reported to his father.
ततो द्वाःस्थः समासाद्य प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः । वर्धयित्वा जयाशीर्भिरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then the doorkeeper approached, bowed with joined palms, offered blessings for victory, and spoke these words.
राजन्पृथुयशस्तुभ्यं जित्वा शत्रून्समागतः। उत्तरः सह सूतेन द्वारि तिष्ठति वारितः
'O king of great fame, Uttara has returned victorious with the charioteer; he stands at the door, stopped.'
कुमारो योधमुख्यैस्च गणिकाभिस्च संवृतः । पौरजानपदैर्युक्तः पूज्यमानो जयाशिषाः
The prince, surrounded by chief warriors and courtesans, joined by citizens and country folk, was honored with blessings for victory.
ततो हृष्टो महीपालः क्षत्तारमिदमब्रवीत् । प्रवेशयोभौ तौ तूर्णं दर्शनेप्सुरहं तयोः
Then the delighted king said to the steward: 'Let both of them enter quickly; I wish to see them.'
क्षत्तारं कुरुराजस्तु शनैः कर्ण उपाजपत्। उत्तरः प्रविशत्वेको न प्रवेश्या बृहन्नलाः
But Karna quietly addressed the steward of the Kuru king: 'Let Uttara enter alone; Brihannala must not be admitted.'
तस्य हि महाबाहोर्व्रतं नित्यं महात्मनः। यो ममाङ्गे व्रणं कुर्याच्छोणितं वा प्रदर्शयेत्। अन्यत्र संग्रामगतान्न स जीवेत्कथंचन
For that great-souled, mighty-armed one has a vow: whoever causes a wound or shows blood on my body, except in battle, shall never live.
व्यक्तं भृसं सुसंक्रुद्धो मां दृष्ट्वैव सशोणितम्। विराटमिह सामात्यं हन्यात्सबलावाहनम्
Clearly, greatly enraged, seeing me with blood, he would slay Virata here, along with his ministers, army, and vehicles.
इन्द्रं वापि कुबेरं वा यमं वा वरुणं तथा। मम शोणितकर्तारं मृद्गीयात्किं पुनर्नरम्
Even if it were Indra, Kubera, Yama, or Varuna—whoever would shed my blood, let him be subdued; what then to say of a mere man?
क्षणमात्रं तु तत्रैव द्वारि तिष्ठतु वीर्यवान् । इति प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा युधिष्ठिर उदारधीः
Let the valiant one stand there at the door for just a moment—so spoke the righteous and noble-minded Yudhishthira.
इत्युक्त्वा क्षमया युक्तो धर्मराजो घृणान्वितः। सभायां सह मात्स्येन तूष्णीमुपविवेश ह
Having said this, the king of dharma, filled with compassion and patience, sat silently in the assembly together with the Matsya king.
ततो राजसुतो ज्येष्ठः प्राविशत्पृथिवींजयः। ववन्दे स पितुः पादौ कङ्कं चाप्युपतिष्ठत
Then the eldest prince, conqueror of the earth, entered; he bowed at his father's feet and also approached Kanka.
पश्यन्युधिष्ठिरं दृष्ट्या वक्रया चरणौ पितुः। अभिवाद्य ततो दृष्ट्वा कङ्कस्य रुधिरप्लुतम् । हृदयेऽदह्यत तदा मृत्युग्रस्त इवोत्तरः
Looking at Yudhishthira with a sidelong glance, he saluted his father's feet; then, seeing Kanka covered in blood, his heart burned as if he, Uttara, were seized by death.
ततो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गमनेकाग्रमनागसम्। भूमावेकान्त आसीनं सैरन्ध्र्या समुपासितम्। ततः पप्रच्छ राजानं त्वरमाण इवोत्तरः
Then, seeing one whose body was stained with blood, who was blameless and focused, sitting alone on the ground attended by Sairandhri, Uttara quickly questioned the king.
केनायं ताडितः कङ्कः केन पापमिदं कृतम्। को वा जिगमिषुर्मृत्युं केन स्पृष्टः पदोरगः
Who struck this Kanka? Who committed this wicked act? Who wishes for death, having touched a serpent with his foot?
श्रोत्रियो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ इन्द्रासनरतिक्षमः। पूजनीयोऽभिवाद्यश्च न प्रबाध्योऽयमीदृशः
He is a learned Brahmin, foremost among Brahmins, worthy of Indra’s seat, fit to be honored and saluted; such a one must not be harmed.
स पुत्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विराटो राष्ट्रवर्धनः। प्रत्युवाचोत्तरं वाक्यं साध्वसाद्ध्वस्तमानसः
Hearing his son’s words, King Virata, the enhancer of his realm, replied to Uttara, his mind shaken with fear.
पुत्र ते विजयं श्रुत्वा प्रहृष्टोऽहं मुदा भृशम्। अक्षक्रीडनयाऽनेन कालक्षेपमकारिषम्
My son, when I heard of your victory, I was greatly delighted with joy; in playing dice with this one, I passed the time.
तत्राजयत्कुरून्सर्वानुत्तरो राष्ट्रवर्धनः। इत्युक्तं हि मया पुत्र नेति कङ्को बृहन्नला। अजयत्सा कुरून्सर्वानिति मामब्रवीन्मुहुः
There, Uttara, enhancer of the realm, defeated all the Kurus—so I said, but Kanka and Brihannala denied it, saying Brihannala alone defeated all the Kurus, and kept repeating it to me.
प्रशंसिते मया पुत्र विजये तव विश्रुते। बृहन्नलाया विजयं कङ्कोऽस्तुवत वै रुषा
When I praised your victory, O son, and your fame was celebrated, Kanka, in anger, lauded Brihannala’s victory instead.
मया प्रशस्यमाने तु त्वयि पण्डं प्रशंसति। बृहन्नलाप्रशंसाभिरभ्यसूयमहं तदा। ताडितोऽयं मया पुत्र दुरात्मा शत्रुपक्षकृत्
While I was praising you, he praised the eunuch; because of Brihannala’s repeated praise, I became angry. I struck him, my son—this wicked one who sided with the enemy.
ताडितोऽयं यतिः कङ्क इत्युक्तं तद्वचोत्तरः। श्रुत्वा पितुर्भृशं क्रुद्धः पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When it was said, 'This ascetic Kanka has been struck,' Uttara, hearing his father’s words, became greatly enraged and spoke to his father.
अकार्यं ते कृतं राजन्क्षिप्रमेष प्रसाद्यताम्। मा त्वा ब्रह्मविषं घोरं समूलमुपनिर्दहेत्
You have done a wrongful deed, O king; quickly appease him! Lest the terrible poison of a Brahmin burn you utterly, root and all.
यावन्न क्षयमायाति कुलं सर्वमशेषनः। स्फीतं वृद्धं च मात्स्यानामयं तावत्प्रसाद्यताम्
Before the entire Matsya clan, prosperous and aged, is utterly destroyed, let him be appeased at once.
प्रणम्य पादयोरस्य दण्डवत्क्षितिमण्डले । प्रगृह्य पादौ पाणिभ्यामयं तावत्प्रसाद्यताम्
Bowing down at his feet, prostrating on the ground, grasping his feet with your hands—let him be appeased at once.
दक्षेण पाणिना स्पृष्ट्वा शपे त्वां क्षपितं मया। इति यावद्वदेत्कङ् अयं तावत्प्रसाद्यताम्
Touching him with your right hand, before he says, 'I curse you, you are destroyed by me,' let him be appeased at once.
स पुत्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विराटः साध्वसाकुलः। क्षमयामास कौन्तेयं छन्नं ब्राह्मणवर्चसा
Hearing the words of his son, Virata, overwhelmed with fear, forgave the concealed Kaunteya, who possessed the brilliance of a Brahmin.
क्षमयन्तं तु राजानं पाण्डवः प्रत्यभाषत। चिरं क्षान्तं मया राजन्मन्युर्मम न विद्यते
But the Pandava spoke to the king who was forgiving him: 'For a long time you have been patient with me, O King; I bear no anger.'
यदि स्म तत्पतेद्भूमौ रुधिरं मम पार्थिव । सराष्ट्रस्त्वमिहोच्छेदमापद्येथा नरर्षभ
If my blood had fallen upon the earth, O ruler, your entire realm would have suffered destruction here, O bull among men.
न दूषयामि राजेन्द्र यस्तु हन्याददूषकम्। फलं तस्य महाराज क्षिप्रं दारुणमाप्नुयात्
I do not blame you, O king of kings; but whoever would slay one who is blameless, O great king, would swiftly incur a terrible consequence.