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.'
ततस्ते पृथिवीपालाः प्रययुः सहसैनिकाः । भीष्मं सेनापतिं कृत्वा संहृष्टाः कालचोदिताः
Then those rulers of the earth, with their armies, departed, appointing Bhishma as commander, rejoicing, impelled by fate.
अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च कौरवाणां समागताः । तासां प्रमुखतो भीष्मस्तालकेतुर्व्यरोचत
Eleven divisions of Kaurava troops assembled; at their head, Bhishma, bearing the tall banner, shone forth.
यदत्र युक्तं प्राप्तं च तद्विधत्स्व विशांपते । उक्तं भीष्मेण यद्वाक्यं द्रोणेन विदुरेण च
Whatever is appropriate and has occurred, do that, O lord of men; what was spoken by Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura.
गान्धार्या धृतराष्ट्रेण समक्षं मम भारत । एतत्ते कथितं राजन्यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि
By Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, in my presence, O Bharata, all this has been related to you—what transpired in the Kuru assembly.
साम चादौ प्रयुक्तं मे राजन्सौभ्रात्रमिच्छता । अभेदायास्य वंशस्य प्रजानां च विवृद्धये
At first, I employed conciliation, desiring brotherhood, for the unity of this lineage and the prosperity of the people.
पुनर्भेदश्च मे युक्तो यदा साम न गृह्यते। कर्मानुकीर्तनं चैव देवमानुपसंहितम्
But when conciliation was not accepted, division became justified; and I recounted deeds, invoking divine authority.
यदा नाद्रियते वाक्यं सामपूर्वं सुयोधनः । तदा मया समानीय भेदिताः सर्वपार्थिवाः
When Suyodhana does not respect words spoken with conciliation, then I have gathered and divided all the kings.
अद्भुतानि च घोराणि दारुणानि च भारत। अमानुषाणि कर्माणि दर्शितानि मया विभो
I have shown wondrous, terrible, and dreadful deeds, O Bharata, acts that are inhuman, O lord.
निर्भर्त्सयित्वा राज्ञस्तांस्तृणीकृत्य सुयोधनम् । राधेयं भीषयित्वा च सौबलं च पुनः पुनः
Having rebuked those kings and belittled Suyodhana, having frightened Radheya and Saubala again and again,
द्यूततो धार्तराष्ट्राणां निन्दां कृत्वा तथा पुनः। भेदयित्वा नृपास्नर्वान्वाग्भिर्मन्त्रेम चासकृत्
Having criticized the Kauravas for the dice game, and having repeatedly sown discord among the kings with words and counsel,