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.
शोणिते तु व्यतिक्रान्ते प्रविवेश बृहन्नला। अभिवाद्य महाराजं कङ्कं चाप्युपतिष्ठत
When the bloodshed had ceased, Brihannala entered, having saluted the great king and stood near Kanka.
क्षमयित्वा तु कौरव्यं रणादुत्तरमागतम् । परिष्वज्य दृढं राजा प्रवेश्य भवनोत्तमम्। प्रशशंस ततो मात्स्यः शृण्वतः सव्यसाचिनः
Having forgiven the Kaurava who had returned from battle, the king embraced him firmly, brought him into the splendid palace, and then praised him in the hearing of Savyasachi.
त्वया दायादवानस्मि कैकेयीनन्दिवर्धन। त्वया मे सदृशः पुत्रो न भूतो न भविष्यति
Through you, O increaser of the Kaikeyas' joy, I have gained an heir; through you, I have a son who has never been nor will ever be equaled.
पदं पदसहस्रेण यश्चरन्नापराध्नुयात्। तेन कर्णेन ते तात कथमासीत्समागमः
He who walks a thousand steps without committing offense—how did you, dear one, encounter Karna, who is such as this?
रणे यं प्रेक्ष्य सीदन्ति हृतवीर्यपराक्रमाः। कृपेन तेन ते तात कथमासीत्समागमः
He whom warriors, seeing in battle, lose their strength and valor—how did you, dear one, encounter Kripa, who is such as this?
यस्य तद्विश्रुतं लोके महद्वृत्तमनुत्तमम् । पितुः कृते कृतं घोरं ब्रह्मचर्यमनुत्तमम्
He whose renowned and supreme conduct in the world is great, who performed a terrible and unparalleled vow of celibacy for his father's sake—
योऽयोधीत्समरे रामं जामदग्न्यं प्रतापिनम्। भीष्मोसौ पुरुषव्याघ्र न च युद्धे पराजितः
He who fought in battle with Rama, the son of Jamadagni, the scorching one—this is Bhishma, tiger among men, and he was never defeated in combat.
पराक्रमी च दुर्धर्षो विद्वाञ्शूरो जितेन्द्रियः। दृढवेधी क्षिप्रकारी विश्रुतः सर्वकर्मसु
Mighty, unassailable, learned, heroic, master of his senses, steadfast, swift in action, renowned in all deeds—
तेन ते सह भीष्मेण कुरुवृद्धेन संयुगे । युद्धमासीत्कथं तात सर्वमेतद्ब्रवीहि मे
How did you, dear one, encounter Bhishma, the elder of the Kurus, in battle? Tell me all of this.
पर्वतं यो विनिर्भिन्द्याद्राजपुत्रो वरेषुभिः। दुर्योधनेन ते तात कथमासीत्समागमः
He who could shatter a mountain with his excellent arrows—how did you, dear one, encounter Duryodhana, the prince, in battle?