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.
अन्धः करणहीनत्वान्न वै राजा पिता तव। राजा तु पाण्डुरभवन्महात्मा लोकविश्रुतः
Because your father was blind and impaired in his senses, he was not made king; rather, the high-souled and renowned Pandu became king.
स राजा तस्य ते पुत्राः पितुर्दायाद्यहारिणः । मा तात कलहं कार्षी राज्यस्यार्धं प्रदीयताम्
That king's sons, O dear one, are the rightful heirs to your father's inheritance; do not cause conflict, let half the kingdom be given.
मयि जीवति राज्यं कः संप्रशासेत्पुमानिह। मावमंस्या वचो मह्यं शममिच्छामि वः सदा
While I am alive, who else here could rule the kingdom? Do not disregard my words; I always desire peace for you.
न विशेषोऽस्ति मे पुत्र त्वयि तेषु च षार्थिव। मतमेतत्पितुस्तुभ्यं गान्धार्या विदुरस्य च
My son, there is no difference for me between you and them; this is the opinion of your father, Gandhari, and Vidura as well.
श्रोतव्यं खलु वृद्धानां नाभिशङ्कीर्वचो मम। नाशयिष्यसि मा सर्वमात्मानं पृथिवीं तथा
The words of elders must indeed be heard, do not doubt my speech; do not destroy yourself and the whole earth.
भीष्मेणोक्ते ततो द्रोणो दुर्योधनमभाषत । मध्ये नृपाणां भद्रं ते वचनं वचनक्षमः
When Bhishma had spoken, Drona addressed Duryodhana in the midst of the kings, saying, 'May it be well with you,' for his words were worthy to be spoken.
प्रातीपः शन्तनुस्तात कुलस्यार्थे यथा स्थितः । यथा देवव्रतो भीष्मः कुलस्यार्थे स्थितोऽभवत्
Just as Pratipa and Shantanu, O dear one, stood for the good of the lineage, so too did Devavrata Bhishma stand for the good of the family.
तथा पाण्डुर्नरपतिः सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः। राजा कुरूणां धर्मात्मा सुव्रतः सुसमाहिताः
In the same way, Pandu, the truthful king, self-controlled and righteous, upholder of vows, ruled the Kurus with a steady mind.
ज्येष्ठाय राज्यमददद्धृतराष्ट्राय धीमते। यवीयसे तथा क्षत्रे कुरूणां वंशवर्धनः
He gave the kingdom to his elder, the wise Dhritarashtra, and likewise entrusted the rule to the younger, the enhancer of the Kuru line.
ततः सिंहासने राजन्स्थापयित्वैनमच्युतम् ।। वनं जगाम कौरव्यो भार्याभ्यां सहितो नृपः
Then, O King, after installing him firmly on the throne, the Kaurava prince went to the forest with his two wives.
नीचैः स्थित्वा तु विदुर उपास्ते स्म विनीतवत्। प्रेष्यवत्पुरुषव्याघ्रो वालव्यजनमुत्क्षिपन्
Vidura, remaining in a humble position, served with discipline, like a servant, waving the yak-tail fan, though he was a tiger among men.
ततः सर्वाः प्रजास्तात धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम् । अन्वपद्यन्त विधिवद्यथा पाण्डुं जनाधिपम्
Then, O dear one, all the subjects accepted Dhritarashtra as their lord, just as they had accepted Pandu as king.
विसृज्य धृतराष्ट्राय राज्यं स विदुराय च। चचार पृथिवीं पाण्डुः सर्वां परपुरञ्जयः
Having entrusted the kingdom to Dhritarashtra and Vidura, Pandu, the conqueror of enemy cities, wandered over the whole earth.
कोशसंवनने दाने भृत्यानां चान्ववेक्षणे । भरणे चैव सर्वस्य विदुरः सत्यसङ्गरः
In gathering wealth, in giving gifts, in caring for servants, and in supporting everyone, Vidura was steadfast in truth.
सन्धिविग्रहसंयुक्तो राज्ञां संवाहनक्रियाः । अवैक्षत महातेजा भीष्मः परपुरञ्जयः
Bhishma, of great splendor and conqueror of enemy cities, observed the activities of kings, filled with alliances and hostilities.
सिंहासनस्थो नृपतिर्धृतराष्ट्रो महाबलः । अन्वास्यमानः सततं विदुरेण महात्मना
King Dhritarashtra, mighty and seated upon his throne, was constantly attended by the high-souled Vidura.
कथं तस्य कुले जातः कुलभेदं व्यवस्यसि। संभूय भ्रातृभिः सार्धं भुङ्क्ष भोगाञ्जनाधिप
How can you, born in his lineage, intend to break the family? Enjoy the pleasures together with your brothers, O lord of men.
ब्रवीम्यहं न कार्पण्यान्नार्थहेतोः कथञ्चन । भीष्मेण दत्तमिच्छामि न त्वया राजसत्तम
I speak not out of weakness, nor for any gain; I desire what Bhishma has granted, not what you offer, O foremost of kings.
नाहं त्वत्तोऽभिकाङ्क्षिष्ये वृत्त्युपायं जनाधिप । यतो भीष्मस्ततो द्रोणो यद्भीष्मस्त्वाह तत्कुरु
I will not seek any means of livelihood from you, O lord of men; where Bhishma stands, there stands Drona—do what Bhishma has told you.
दीयतां पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यो राज्यार्धमरिकर्शन । सममाचार्यकं तात तव तेषां च मे सदा
Let half the kingdom be given to the sons of Pandu, O subduer of foes; let the preceptor's status, O father, be always equal for you, for them, and for me.