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.
पाण्डुस्तु राज्यं संप्राप्तः कनीयानपि सन्नृपः । विनाशे तस्य पुत्राणामिदं राज्यमरिन्दम
Yet Pandu, though the youngest, obtained the kingdom and ruled; and after the destruction of his sons, this kingdom has come to you, O subduer of foes.
मय्यभागिनि राज्याय कथं त्वं राज्यमिच्छसि। अराजपुत्रो ह्यस्वामी परस्वं हर्तुमिच्छसि
How do you, who have no share in the kingdom, desire to rule, when you are not a king's son nor a rightful lord, but wish to seize another's property?
युधिष्ठिरो राजपुत्रो महात्मा न्यायागतं राज्यमिदं च तस्य। स कौरवस्यास्य कुलस्य भर्ता प्रशासिता चैव महानुभावः
Yudhishthira, the noble prince, has received this kingdom by rightful means; he is the lord and ruler of this Kaurava lineage, possessing great dignity.
स सत्यसन्धः स तथाऽप्रमत्तः शास्त्रे स्थितो बन्धुजनस्य साधुः। प्रियः प्रजानां सुहृदानुकम्पी जितेन्द्रियः साधुजनस्य भर्ता
He is truthful, vigilant, established in the scriptures, virtuous among kin, beloved of the people, compassionate to friends, self-controlled, and leader of the righteous.
क्षमा तितिक्षा दम आर्जवं च सत्यव्रतत्वं श्रुतमप्रमादः । भूतानुकम्पा ह्यनुशासनं च युधिष्ठिरे राजगुणाः समस्ताः
Patience, endurance, self-restraint, integrity, commitment to truth, learning, vigilance, compassion for beings, and proper governance—all royal virtues are found in Yudhishthira.
अराजपुत्रस्त्वमनार्यवृत्तो लुब्धः सदा बन्धुषु पापबुद्धिः । क्रमागतं राज्यमिदं परेषां हर्तुं कथं शक्ष्यसि दुर्विनीत
But you, not a king's son, of ignoble conduct, always greedy and malicious toward kin, how can you, unruly one, seize this kingdom that has come to others by proper succession?
प्रयच्छ राज्यार्धमपेतमोहः सवाहनं त्व सपरिच्छदं च । ततोऽवशेषं तव जीवितस्य सहानुजस्यैव भवेन्नरेन्द्र
Relinquish your delusion and grant half the kingdom, with its chariots and retinue; then the remainder of your life, O king, will be with your brother.
एवमुक्ते तु भीष्मेण द्रोणेन विदुरेण च। गान्धार्या धृतराष्ट्रेण न वै मन्दोऽन्वबुद्ध्यत
When Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, Gandhari, and Dhritarashtra had spoken thus, the foolish one did not comprehend.
अवधूयोत्थितो मन्दः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः। अन्वद्रवन्त तं पश्चाद्राजानस्त्यक्तजीविताः
Scorning them, the fool rose, his eyes reddened with anger; the kings, ready to sacrifice their lives, followed him.
आज्ञापयच्च राज्ञस्तान्पार्थिवान्नष्टचेतसः । प्रयात वै कुरुक्षेत्रं पुष्योऽद्येति पुनः पुनः
He ordered those kings, whose minds were lost, again and again: 'Go to Kurukshetra, today is auspicious.'