प्रसीद राजशार्दूल विनाशो दृश्यते महान् । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्
Be gracious, O tiger among kings; great destruction is seen for the Pandavas, the Kurus, and the kings of immeasurable splendor.
विररामैवमुक्त्वा तु विदुरो दीनमानसः । प्रध्यायमानः स तदा निःश्वसंश्च पुनः पुनः
Having spoken thus, Vidura, his mind afflicted, fell silent, pondering deeply and sighing again and again.
ततोऽस्य राज्ञः सुबलस्य पुत्री धर्मार्थयुक्तं कुलनाशमीता। दुर्योधनं पापमतिं नृशंसं राज्ञां समक्षं सुतमाह कोपात्
Then the daughter of King Subala, filled with righteous indignation and intent on the destruction of her lineage, angrily addressed her son Duryodhana—wicked-minded and cruel—in the presence of the assembled kings.
ये पार्थिवा राजसभां प्रविष्टा ब्रह्मर्षयो ये च सभासदोऽन्ये। श्रृण्वन्तु वक्ष्यामि तवापराधं पापस्य सामात्यपरिच्छदस्य
Let all the kings who have entered the royal assembly, the Brahmin sages, and the other councilors hear: I will declare your offense, and that of your sinful associates and attendants.
राज्यं कुरूणामनुरूपभोज्यं क्रमागतो नः कुलधर्म एषः। त्वं पापबुद्धेऽतिनृशंसकर्मन् राज्यं कुरूणामनयाद्विहंसि
The kingdom of the Kurus, fit for rightful enjoyment, has come to us by succession; this is our family law. But you, evil-minded and excessively cruel, have ruined the kingdom of the Kurus through unrighteousness.
राज्ये स्थितो धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी तस्यानुजो विदुरो दीर्घदर्शी । एतावतिक्रम्य कथं नृपत्वं दुर्योधन प्रार्थयसेऽद्य मोहात्
Dhritarashtra, wise and established in the kingdom, and his brother Vidura, farsighted, are both present. Having disregarded them, Duryodhana, how do you, blinded by delusion, now desire kingship?
राजा च क्षत्ता च महानुभावौ भीष्मे स्थिते परवन्तौ भवेताम् । अयं तु धर्मज्ञतया महात्मा न राज्यकामो नृवरो नदीजः
The king and the charioteer, both of great renown, would have authority while Bhishma stands as their protector. Yet this noble soul, learned in righteousness, desires no kingdom; the foremost of men, born of the river.
राज्य तु पाण्डोरिदमप्रधृष्यं तस्याद्य पुत्राः प्रभवन्ति नान्ये। राज्यं तदेतन्निखिलं पाण्डवानां पैतामहं पुत्रपौत्रानुगामि
This inviolable kingdom belonged to Pandu; now only his sons possess it, none others. This entire kingdom of the Pandavas, inherited from their ancestors, follows the line of sons and grandsons.
यद्वै ब्रूते कुरुमुख्यो महात्मा देवव्रतः सत्यसन्धो मनीषी । सर्वं तदस्माभिरहत्य कार्यं राज्यं स्वधर्मान्परिपालयद्भिः
Whatever the chief of the Kurus, the great-souled Devavrata, truthful and wise, declares, must be accomplished by us without hesitation, while maintaining the kingdom according to our own duty.
अनुज्ञया चाथ महाव्रतस्य ब्रूयान्नृपोऽयं विदुरस्तथैव। कार्यं भवेत्तत्सुहृद्भिर्नियोज्यं धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य सुदीर्घकालम्
With the permission of the great vow-holder, and as King Vidura likewise commands, the task should be carried out by friends, established in righteousness for a very long time.
न्यायागतं राज्यमिदं कुरूणां युधिष्ठिरः शास्तु वै धर्मपुत्रः । प्रचोदितो धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा पुरस्कृतः शान्तनवेन चैव
Let Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, rule this kingdom of the Kurus, acquired by justice, urged by King Dhritarashtra and honored by Shantanu’s descendant.
एवमुक्ते तु गान्धार्या धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। दुर्योधनमुवाचेदं राजमध्ये जनाधिप
When Gandhari had spoken thus, Dhritarashtra, lord of the people, addressed Duryodhana in the midst of the kings.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि पुत्रक । तथा तत्कुरु भद्रं ते यद्यस्ति पितृगौरवम्
Duryodhana, listen to what I am about to say to you, my son. Do as I instruct, and may it be well with you, if you have any regard for your father.
सोमः प्रजापतिः पूर्वं कुरूणां वंशवर्धनः । सोमाद्बभूव षष्ठोऽयं ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः
Soma, the lord of creatures, was once the enhancer of the Kuru lineage. From Soma came the sixth, Yayati, son of Nahusha.
तस्य पुत्रा बभूवुर्हि पञ्च राजर्षिसत्तमाः । तेषां यदुर्महातेजा ज्येष्ठः समभवत्प्रभुः
He had five sons, all eminent royal sages. Among them, Yadu, of great energy, was the eldest and became the ruler.
पूरुर्यवीयांश्च ततो योऽस्माकं वंशवर्धनः। शर्मिष्ठया संप्रसूतो दुहित्रा वृषपर्वणः
Then Puru, the youngest, became the enhancer of our lineage, born of Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan.
यदुश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ देवयान्याः सुतोऽभवत्। दौहित्रस्तात शुक्रस्य काव्यस्यामिततेजसः
And Yadu, O best of Bharatas, was the son of Devayani, grandson of Shukra, the illustrious sage of immeasurable brilliance.
यादवानां कुलकरो बलवान्वीर्यसंमतः । अवमेने स तु क्षत्रं दर्पपूर्णः सुमन्दधीः
He became the founder of the Yadava clan, powerful and renowned for his valor. Yet, filled with pride and lacking wisdom, he disregarded the Kshatriya order.
न चातिष्ठत्पितुः शस्त्रि बलदर्पविमोहितः । अवमेने च पितरं भ्रातॄंश्चाप्यपराजितः
Overcome by arrogance and delusion, he did not obey his father’s command, and, undefeated, he disrespected both his father and brothers.
पृथिव्यां चतुरन्तायां यदुदेवाभवद्बली । वशे कृत्वा स नृपतीन्न्यवसन्नागसाह्वये
On the earth, which extends in all directions, Yadu became powerful among the gods, subjugated the kings, and dwelt at Nagasahvaya.
तं पिता परमक्रुद्धो ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः । शशाप पुत्रं गान्धारे राज्याच्चापि व्यरोपयत्
Then his father, Yayati, son of Nahusha, in great anger, cursed his son and deprived him of the kingdom, O Gandhari.
ये चैनमन्ववर्तन्त भ्रातरो बलदर्पिताः । शशाप तानपि क्रुद्धो ययातिस्तनयानथ
And those brothers who, filled with pride and strength, followed him—Yayati, enraged, cursed those sons as well.
यवीयांसं ततः पुरुं पुत्रं स्ववशवर्तिनम् । राज्ये निवेशयामास विधेयं नृपसत्तमः
Thereafter, the best of kings installed his younger son, Puru, who was obedient to his will, in the kingdom.
एवं ज्येष्ठोऽप्यथोत्सिक्तो न राज्यमभिजायते । यवीयांसोपि जायन्ते राज्यं वृद्धोपसेवया
Thus, even the eldest, though born first, is set aside and does not obtain the kingdom; the younger, by serving elders, attains the throne.
तथैव सर्वधर्मज्ञः पितुर्मम पितामहः । प्रतीपः पृथिवीपालस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः
In the same way, my grandfather Pratipa, knower of all dharma, renowned among kings in the three worlds, acted.
तस्य पार्थिवसिंहस्य राज्यं धर्मेण शासतः । त्रयः प्रजज्ञिरे पुत्रा देवकल्पा यशस्विनः
To that lion among kings, ruling the kingdom with righteousness, three sons were born, resplendent as gods and famed.
देवापिरभवच्छ्रेष्ठो बाह्लीकस्तदनन्तरम् । तृतीयः शन्तनुस्तात धृतिमान्मे पितामहः
Devapi was the eldest, then came Bahlika, and the third was my steadfast grandfather, Shantanu.
देवापिस्तु महातेजास्त्वग्दोषी राजसत्तमः । धार्मिकः सत्यवादी च पितुः शुश्रूषणे रतः
Devapi, the best among kings, possessed great energy, though afflicted with a skin disease, was righteous, truthful, and devoted to serving his father.
पौरजानपदानां च संमतः साधुसत्कृतः । सर्वेषां बालवृद्धानां देवापिर्हृदयङ्गमः
Devapi was esteemed by the citizens and country folk, honored by the virtuous, and dear to the hearts of all, young and old.
वदान्यः सत्यसन्धश्च सर्वभूतहिते रतः । वर्तमानः पितुः शास्त्रे ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च
He was generous, steadfast in truth, devoted to the welfare of all beings, and followed the teachings of his father and the Brahmanas.