तत्रासीदूर्जितं मृष्टं काञ्चनं महदासनम् । शासनाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य तत्रोपाविशदच्युतः
There was a splendid, well-polished golden seat, and by the command of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Acyuta sat upon it.
अथ गां मधुपर्कं चाप्युदकं च जनार्दने । उपजह्नुर्यथान्यायं धृतराष्ट्रपुरोहिताः
Then, as was proper, the priests of Dhṛtarāṣṭra brought a cow, madhuparka, and water for Janārdana.
कृतातिथ्यस्तु गोविन्दः सर्वान्परिहसन्कुरून् । आस्ते सांबन्धिकं कुर्वन्कुरुभिः परिवारितः
Having been received as a guest, Govinda, surrounded by the Kurus, sat, exchanging pleasantries with all the Kurus as relatives.
सोऽर्चितो धृतराष्ट्रेण पूजितश्च महायशाः । राजानं समनुज्ञाप्य निरक्रामदरिन्दमः
Thus honored by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and worshipped by all, the illustrious slayer of foes, having taken leave of the king, departed.
तैः समेत्य यथान्यायं कुरुभिः कुरुसंसदि । विदुरावसथं रम्यमुपातिष्ठत माधवः
Having met with the Kurus in their assembly according to custom, Mādhava went to the pleasant residence of Vidura.
विदुरः सर्वकल्याणैरभिगम्य जनार्दनम् । अर्चयामास दाशार्हं सर्वकामैरुपस्थितम्
Vidura, approaching Janārdana with all auspiciousness, honored the Daśārha, offering all that was desired.
कृतातिथ्यं तु गोविन्दं विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। कुशलं पाण्डुपुत्राणामपृच्छन्मधुसूदनम्
When Govinda had been received as a guest, Vidura, knower of all dharma, inquired of Madhusūdana about the welfare of the sons of Pāṇḍu.
प्रीयमाणस्य सुहृदो विदुरो बुद्धिसत्तमः । धर्मार्थनित्यस्य सतो गतरोवस्य धीमतः
To his dear friend, Vidura, the wisest and ever devoted to righteousness and prosperity, who had come after a long time, being wise and steadfast—
तस्य सर्वं सविस्तारं पाण्डवानां विचेष्टितम् । क्षत्तुराचष्ट दाशार्हः सर्वं प्रत्यक्षदर्शिवान्
To him, the Daśārha, who had seen everything with his own eyes, recounted in detail all the actions of the Pāṇḍavas.
अथोपगम्य विदुरमपराह्णे जनार्दनः। पितृष्वसारं स पृथामभ्यगच्छदरिन्दमः
Then, in the afternoon, Janārdana went to Vidura and approached Pṛthā, his paternal aunt, the subduer of enemies.
सा दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमायान्तं प्रसन्नादित्यवर्चसम्। कण्ठे गृहीत्वा प्राक्रोशत्स्मरन्ती तनयान्पृथा
Seeing Krishna approaching, radiant like the clear sun, Kunti embraced him by the neck and cried out, remembering her sons.
तेषां सत्ववतां मध्ये गोविन्दं सहचारिणम् । चिरस्य दृष्ट्वा वार्ष्णेयं बाष्पमाहारयत्मृथा
In the midst of those steadfast ones, seeing Govinda, the companion from the Vrishni line, after a long time, Pritha shed tears.
साऽब्रवीत्कृष्णमासीनं कृतातिथ्यं युधां पतिम् । बाष्पगद्गदपूर्णेन मुखेन परिशुष्यता
She spoke to Krishna, seated and honored as a guest, the lord of warriors, her face choked with tears and parched with grief.
एते बाल्यान्प्रभृत्येव गुरुशुश्रूषणे रताः । परस्परस्य सुहृदः संमताः समचेतसः। निकृत्या भ्रंशिता राज्याञ्जनार्हा निर्जनं गताः
From childhood, these sons were devoted to serving their elders, mutually dear, of one mind, and esteemed by friends; yet, through deceit, they were deprived of their kingdom and, though worthy, cast into solitude.
विनीतक्रोधहर्षाश्च ब्रह्मण्याः सत्यवादिनः । त्यक्त्वा प्रियमुखे पार्था रुदतीमपहाय माम्
Humble, free from anger and joy, devoted to the Brahmanas, speakers of truth, the sons of Pritha abandoned me, weeping, their beloved mother, and left for the forest.
अहार्षुश्च वनं यान्तः समूलं हृदयं मम। अतदर्हा महात्मानः कथं केशव पाण्डवाः
As they departed for the forest, they took my heart with them, root and all; O Kesava, how could the great-souled Pandavas, so undeserving of such fate, endure this?
ऊषुर्महावने तात सिंहव्याघ्रगजाकुले । बाला विहीनाः पित्रा ते मया सततलालिताः
In the great forest, filled with lions, tigers, and elephants, those children, deprived of their father and always cherished by me, lived on, O dear one.
अपश्यन्तश्च पितरौ कथमुषूर्महावने। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषैर्भृदङ्गैर्वेणुनिस्वनैः
How did they dwell in the great forest, separated from both parents, who from childhood had known only the sounds of conches, drums, and flutes?
पाण्डवाः समबोध्यन्त बाल्यात्प्रभृति केशव । ये स्म वारणशब्देन हयानां हेषितेन च
From their earliest days, O Kesava, the Pandavas were awakened by the trumpeting of elephants and the neighing of horses.
रथेनेमिनिनादैश्च व्यबोध्यन्त तदा गृहे । शङ्खभेरीनिनादेन वेणुवीणानुनादिना
At home, they were roused by the rumbling of chariots, the sounds of conches and kettledrums, and the music of flutes and lutes.
पुण्याहघोषमिश्रेण पूज्यमाना द्विजातिभिः । वस्त्रै रत्नैरलङ्कारैः पूजयन्तो द्विजन्मनः
With auspicious chants mixed with the proclamation of holy days, honored by the twice-born with garments, jewels, and ornaments, they worshipped the Brahmanas.
गीर्भिर्मङ्गलयुक्ताभिर्ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् । अर्चितैरर्चनार्हैश्च स्तुवद्भिरभिनन्दिताः
With words of blessing from the great-souled Brahmanas, praised and honored by those worthy of worship, they were celebrated and lauded.
प्रासादाग्नेष्वबोध्यन्त राङ्खवाजिनशायिनः । क्रूरं च निनदं श्रुत्वा श्वापदानां महावने
They were awakened in palaces and at sacrificial fires, lying on soft beds, but in the great forest, hearing the cruel howls of beasts.
न स्मोपयान्ति निद्रां ते नतदर्हा जनार्दन । भेरीमृदङ्गनिनदैः शङ्खवैणवनिस्वनैः
O Janardana, those who did not deserve such fate now cannot find sleep, disturbed by the sounds of drums, kettledrums, conches, and flutes.
स्त्रीणां गीतनिनादैश्च मधुरैर्मधुसूदन ।। वन्दिमागधसूतैश्च स्तुवद्भिर्बोधिताः कथम्
O Madhusudana, how could they, once awakened by the sweet singing of women and the praises of bards, minstrels, and heralds, now endure this?
महावनेष्वबोध्यन्त श्वापदानां रुतेन च । ह्रीमात्सत्यधृतिर्दान्तो भूतानामनुकम्पिता
Now, in the great forests, they are awakened by the cries of wild beasts; steadfast in truth, self-controlled, and compassionate to all beings.
कामद्वेषौ वशे कृत्वा सतां वर्त्मानुवर्तते । अम्बरीषस्य मान्धातुर्ययातेर्नहुषस्य च
Having subdued desire and anger, they follow the path of the righteous, as did Ambarisha, Mandhata, Yayati, and Nahusha.
भरतस्य दिलीपस्य शिबेरौशीनरस्य च। राजर्षीणां पुराणानां धुरं धत्ते दुरुद्वहाम्
Like Bharata, Dilipa, Sibi, and Ushinara, those ancient royal sages, they bear the heavy burden of duty.
शीलवृत्तोपसंपन्नोः धर्मज्ञः सत्यसङ्गरः । राजा सर्वगुणोपेतस्त्रौलोक्यस्यापि यो भवेत्
A king endowed with good conduct and character, who knows righteousness and is steadfast in truth, who possesses all virtues—such a one could rule even the three worlds.
अजातशत्रुर्धर्मात्मा शुद्धजाम्बूनदप्रभः । श्रेष्ठः कुरुषु सर्वेषु धर्मतः श्रुतवृत्ततः । प्रियदर्शो दीर्घभुजः कथं कृष्ण युधिष्ठिरः
Ajātaśatru, whose soul is established in dharma, radiant like pure gold, is the foremost among all the Kurus in righteousness and learning, pleasant to behold, long-armed—how is Yudhishthira, O Krishna?