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.
बाह्लीकस्य प्रियो भ्राता शन्तनोश्च महात्मनः । सौभ्रात्रं च परं तेषां सहितानां महात्मनाम्
He was the beloved brother of Bahlika and the great-souled Shantanu; their brotherhood was profound as they lived together.
अथ कालस्य पर्याये वृद्धो नृपतिसत्तमः । संभारानभिषेकार्थं कारयामास शास्त्रतः
Then, when the proper time arrived, the aged and eminent king, following the scriptures, arranged all the preparations for the consecration.
कारयामास सर्वाणि मङ्गलार्थानि वै विभुः । तं ब्राह्मणाश्च वृद्धाश्च पौरजानपदैः सह
The lord had all the auspicious rites performed; and the Brahmanas and elders, together with the citizens and country folk—
सर्वे निवारयामासुर्देवापेरभिषेचनम् । स तच्छ्रुत्वा तु नृपतिरभिषेकनिवारणम्। अश्रुकण्ठोऽभवद्राजा पर्यशोचत चात्मजम्
All of them prevented the consecration of Devapi. Hearing of the prevention of the consecration, the king became choked with tears and grieved for his son.
एवं वदान्यो धर्मज्ञः सत्यसन्धश्च सोऽभवत्। प्रियः प्रजानामपि संस्त्वग्दोषेण प्रदूषितः
Thus, though generous, learned in dharma, and steadfast in truth, he, beloved of the people, was rejected because of his skin disease.
हीनाङ्गं पृथिवीपालं नाभिनन्दन्ति देवताः। इति कृत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठं प्रत्यषेधन्द्विजर्षभाः
The gods do not favor a king with a bodily defect; thinking thus, the best of Brahmanas forbade the eminent king.
ततः प्रव्यथिताङ्गोऽसौ पुत्रशोकसमन्वितः । ममार तं मृतं दृष्ट्वा देवापिः संश्रितो वनम्
Then, afflicted in body and overwhelmed with grief for his son, the king died; and seeing him dead, Devapi withdrew to the forest.
बाह्लीको मातुलकुलं त्यक्त्वा राज्यं समाश्रितः । पितृभ्रातॄन्परित्यज्य प्राप्तवान्परमर्धिमत्
Bahlika, leaving his maternal uncle's house, accepted the kingdom; abandoning his father's brothers, he attained supreme prosperity.
बाह्लीकेन त्वनुज्ञातः शन्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः । पितर्युपरते राजन्राजा राज्यमकारयत्
Sanctioned by Bahlika, the widely renowned Shantanu, upon his father's passing, ruled the kingdom, O King.
तथैवाहं मतिमता परिचिन्त्येह पाण्डुना। ज्येष्ठः प्रभ्रंशितो राज्याद्धीनाङ्ग इति भारत
In the same way, I, though wise, was considered by Pandu; being the eldest, I was deprived of the kingdom, O Bharata, because of my impaired body.