पिता यवीयानस्माकं क्षत्ता धर्मविदां वरः। पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तः किमाह धृतराष्ट्रजम्
What did our younger father, the wise Vidura, scorched by the grief for his sons, say to the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra?
किंच सर्वे नृपतयः सभायां ये समासते। उक्तवन्तो यथातत्त्वं तद्ब्रूहि त्वं जनार्दन
And what did all the kings assembled in the hall say in truth? Tell us that, O Janārdana.
उक्तवान्हि भवान्सर्वं वचनं कुरुमुख्ययोः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य तेषां हि वचनं कुरुसंसदि
For you have spoken all the words of the foremost of the Kurus, and the words of the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the Kuru assembly.
कामलोभाभिभूतस्य मन्दस्य प्राज्ञमानिनः । अप्रियं हृदये मह्यं तन्न तिष्ठति केशव
The harsh words spoken by one overcome by desire and greed, foolish yet thinking himself wise, do not remain in my heart, O Keśava.
तेषां वाक्यानि गोविन्द श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो। यथा च नाभिपद्येत कालस्तात तथा कुरु। भवान्हि नो गतिः कृष्ण भवान्नाथो भवान्गुरुः
O Govinda, I wish to hear their words, and act in such a way, dear one, that time does not overpower us. For you are our refuge, Kṛṣṇa, you are our protector, you are our teacher.
श्रृणु राजन्यथा वाक्यमुक्तो राजा सुयोधनः। मध्ये कुरूणां राजेन्द्र सभायां तन्निबोध मे
Hear, O king, what words King Suyodhana spoke in the midst of the Kurus in the assembly; listen to me.
मया विश्राविते वाक्ये जहास धृतराष्ट्रजः । अथ भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
When I had spoken my words, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra laughed; then Bhīṣma, greatly enraged, spoke these words.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं कुलार्थे यद्ब्रवीमि ते। तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूल स्वकुलस्य हितं कुरु
Duryodhana, listen to what I say for the sake of the family; having heard this, O tiger among kings, do what is good for your lineage.
मम तात पिता राजञ्शन्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः। तस्याहमेक एवासं पुत्रः पुत्रवतां वरः
My father, O king, was Shantanu, renowned throughout the world; I was his only son, foremost among those who have sons.
तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना द्वितीयः स्यात्कथं सुतः। एकपुत्रमपुत्रं वै प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
He conceived the thought: 'How can there be a second son?' The wise declare that one who has only a single son is as good as sonless.
न चोच्छेदं कुलं यायाद्विस्तीर्येच्च कथं यशः। तस्याहमीप्सितं बुद्ध्वा कालीं मातरमावहम्
Nor would the lineage be cut off, and how could his fame spread? Understanding his desire, I took Kali as my mother.
प्रतिज्ञां दुष्करां कृत्वा पितुरर्थे कुलस्य च। अराजा चोर्ध्वरेताश्च यथा सुविदितं तव। प्रतीतो निवसाम्येष प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्
Having made a difficult vow for the sake of my father and the family, and as you well know, living as one who is not king and who is celibate, I have remained, upholding my promise.
तस्यां जज्ञे महाबाहुः श्रीमान्कुरुकुलोद्वहः । विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा कनीयान्मम पार्थिव
From her was born the mighty-armed, illustrious upholder of the Kuru line, Vicitravirya, righteous and my younger brother, O king.
स्वर्यातेऽहं पितरि तं स्वराज्ये सन्न्यवेशयम्। विचित्रवीर्यं राजानं भृत्यो भूत्वा ह्यधश्चरः
When my father ascended to heaven, I installed Vicitravirya in the sovereignty, serving him as a subordinate.
तस्याहं सदृशान्दारान्राजेन्द्र समुपाहरम्। जित्वा पार्थिवसङ्घातमपि ते बहुशः श्रुतम्
For him, O king of kings, I brought suitable wives, having defeated assemblies of kings, as you have often heard.
ततो रामेण समरे द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागमम्। स हि रामभयादेभिर्नागरैर्विप्रवासितः
Then, in battle, I engaged in single combat with Rama; for fear of Rama, he was exiled by the serpent kings.
दारेष्वप्यतिसक्तश्च यक्ष्माणं समपद्यत। यदा त्वराजके राष्ट्रे न ववर्ष सुरेश्वरः । तदाभ्यधावन्मामेव प्रजाः क्षुद्भयपीडिताः
He became excessively attached to his wives and contracted consumption; when the land was kingless, the lord of gods did not send rain, and the people, afflicted by hunger and fear, turned to me.
उपक्षीणाः प्रजाः सर्वा राजा भव भवाय नः। ईतीः प्रणुद भद्रं शन्तनोः कुलवर्धन
All the people, greatly diminished, said: 'Be our king for our welfare; drive away calamities, O increaser of Shantanu's line.'
पीड्यन्ते ते प्रजाः सर्वा व्याधिभिर्भृशदारुणैः । अल्पावशिष्टा गाङ्गेय ताः परित्रातुमर्हसि
All your subjects are afflicted by terrible and grievous diseases, O son of Ganga; only a few remain, you ought to protect them.
व्याधीन्प्रणुद्य वीर त्वं प्रजा धर्मेण पालय। त्वयि जिवती मा राष्ट्रं विनाशमुपगच्छतु
O hero, dispel the diseases and protect the people with righteousness; while you live, let not the kingdom fall into ruin.
प्रजानां क्रोशतीनां वै नैवाक्षुभ्यत मे मनः । प्रतिज्ञां रक्षमाणस्य तद्वृत्तं स्मरतस्तथा । ततः पौरा महाराज माता काली च मे शुभा
Though the people cried out, my mind was not disturbed, for I was upholding my vow, remembering my conduct; then, O great king, my mother Kali also—
भृत्याः पुरोहिताचार्या ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः। मामूचुर्भृशसंतप्ता भव राजेति सन्ततम्
Servants, priests, teachers, and learned Brahmins, all greatly distressed, repeatedly urged me: 'Be king!'
प्रतीपरक्षितं राष्ट्रं त्वां प्राप्य विनशिष्यति। स त्वमस्मद्धितार्थं वै राजा भव महामते
The kingdom, protected by others, will perish upon your arrival; therefore, for our welfare, O wise one, become king.
इत्युक्तः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा दुःखितो भृशमातुरः । तेभ्यो न्यवेदयं तत्र प्रतिज्ञां पितृगोरवात्
Thus addressed, joining my palms, deeply troubled and greatly pained, I explained to them my vow, out of respect for my father.
ऊर्ध्वरेता ह्यराजा च कुलस्यार्थे पुनः पुनः । विशेषतस्त्वदर्थं च धुरि मा मां नियोजय
I am celibate and not king, again and again for the sake of the family, and especially for your sake; do not appoint me to this burden.
ततोऽहं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा मातरं संप्रसादयम्। नाम्ब शन्तनुना जातः कौरवं वंशमुद्वहन्
Then, joining my palms, I sought to appease my mother: 'Mother, I was born of Shantanu, upholding the Kaurava lineage.'
प्रतिज्ञां वितथां कुर्यामिति राजन्पुनः पुनः । विशेषतस्त्वदर्थं च प्रतिज्ञां कृतवानहम्
O King, I would never make a promise and then break it, especially for your sake; I have made this vow.
अहं प्रेष्यश्च दासश्च तवाद्य सुतवत्सले । एवं तामनुनीयाहं मातरं जनसन्निधौ
Today, O one devoted to your sons, I am your servant and messenger; thus, in the presence of the people, I tried to persuade your mother.
अयाचं भ्रतृदारेषु तदा व्यासं महामुनिम् । सह मात्रा महाराज प्रसाद्य तमृषिं महामुनिम्
At that time, together with my mother, I earnestly requested the great sage Vyasa regarding wives for my brother.
अपत्यार्थं महाराज प्रसादं कृतवांश्च सः । त्रीन्स पुत्रानजनयत्तदा भरतसत्तम
O best of the Bharatas, for the sake of offspring, the great sage granted his favor, and then he begot three sons.