पतङ्गिकानां पुच्छेषु त्वयेषीका प्रवेशिता। कर्मणस्तस्य ते प्राप्तं फलमेतत्तपोधन
'You inserted a blade of grass into the tails of insects; this is the fruit of that action, O ascetic.'
स्वल्पमेव यथा दत्तं दानं बहुगुणं भवेत्। अधर्म एवं विप्रर्षे बहुदुःखफलप्रदः
'Just as a small gift given becomes multiplied many times, so too unrighteousness, O sage, yields manifold painful results.'
कस्मिन्काले मया तत्तु कृतं ब्रूहि यथातथम्। तेनोक्तं धर्मराजेन बालभावे त्वया कृतम्
'At what time did I commit that act? Tell me truly.' Dharma replied, 'You did it in childhood.'
बालो हि द्वादशाद्वर्षाज्जन्मतो यत्करिष्यति। न भविष्यत्यधर्मोऽत्र न प्रज्ञास्यति वै दिशः
'For whatever a child does before twelve years from birth, there is no unrighteousness, nor does he know the directions.'
अल्पेऽपराधेऽपि महान्मम दण्डस्त्वया धृतः। गरीयान्ब्राह्मणवधः सर्वभूतवधादपि
'For a slight offense, you imposed a great punishment upon me; the killing of a Brahmin is heavier than the killing of all creatures.'
शूद्रयोनावतो धर्म मानुषः संभविष्यसि। मर्यादां स्थापयाम्यद्य लोके कर्मफलोदयाम्
'O Dharma, you will be born as a human in the womb of a Shudra; today I establish the rule in the world for the arising of the fruit of actions.'
आ चतुर्दशकाद्वर्षान्न भविष्यति पातकम्। परतः कुर्वतामेव दोष एव भविष्यति
'Up to fourteen years of age, there will be no sin; only after that, fault will arise for those who act wrongly.'
एतेन त्वपराधेन शापात्तस्य महात्मनः। धर्मो विदुररूपेण शूद्रयोनावजायत
Because of this offense, by the curse of that great soul, Dharma was born in the form of Vidura in the womb of a Shudra.
धर्मे चार्थे च कुशलो लोभक्रोधविवर्जितः। दीर्घदर्शी शमपरः कुरूणां च हिते रतः
Skilled in righteousness and wealth, free from greed and anger, far-sighted, devoted to peace, and engaged in the welfare of the Kurus.
धृतराष्ट्रे च पाण्डौ च विदुरे च महात्मनि।' एषु त्रिषु कुमारेषु जातेषु कुरुजाङ्गलम्। कुरवोऽथ कुरुक्षेत्रं त्रयमेतदवर्धत
When Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and the great Vidura were born, the land of the Kurus and Kurukshetra flourished together with them.
ऊर्ध्वसस्याऽभवद्भूमिः सस्यानि फलवन्ति च। यथर्तुवर्षी पर्जन्यो बहुपुष्पफला द्रुमाः
The earth yielded abundant crops, and the grains bore fruit; as the rain fell in its season, the trees produced many flowers and fruits.
वाहनानि प्रहृष्टानि मुदिता मृगपक्षिणः। गन्धवन्ति च माल्यानि रसवन्ति फलानि च
The vehicles were joyful, the wild animals and birds were delighted; the garlands were fragrant, and the fruits were full of flavor.
वणिग्भिश्चान्वकीर्यन्त नगराण्यथ शिल्पिभिः। शूराश्च कृतविद्याश्च सन्तश्च सुखिनोऽभवन्
The cities were filled with merchants and artisans; the heroes, those skilled in knowledge, and the virtuous were happy.
नाभवन्दस्यवः केचिन्नाधर्मरुचयो जनाः। प्रदेशेष्वपि राष्ट्राणां कृतं युगमवर्तत
There were no robbers, nor people inclined to unrighteousness; even in the regions of the kingdoms, a golden age prevailed.
धर्मक्रिया यज्ञशीलाः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः। अन्योन्यप्रीतिसंयुक्ता व्यवर्धन्त प्रजास्तदा
At that time, the people, devoted to righteous acts, sacrificial rites, and the observance of truth, flourished together, united by mutual affection.
मानक्रोधविहीनाश्च नरा लोभविवर्जिताः। अन्योन्यमभ्यनन्दन्त धर्मोत्तरमवर्तत
Men were free from pride and anger, untouched by greed; they rejoiced in one another, and the highest righteousness prevailed.
तन्महोदधिवत्पूर्णं नगरं वै व्यरोचत। द्वारतोरणनिर्यूहैर्युक्तमभ्रचयोपमैः
That city shone, filled like a great ocean, adorned with gates, arches, and exits resembling masses of clouds.
प्रसादशतसंबाधं महेन्द्रपुरसन्निभम्। नदीषु वनखण्डेषु वापीपल्वलसानुषु। काननेषु च रम्येषु विजह्रुर्मुदिता जनाः
Crowded with hundreds of palaces, resembling the city of Indra, the joyful people delighted in the rivers, forest tracts, ponds, marshes, and beautiful groves.
उत्तरैः कुरुभिः सार्धं दक्षिणाः कुरवस्तथा। विस्पर्धमाना व्यचरंस्तथा देवर्षिचारणैः
The southern Kurus, together with the northern Kurus, moved about in rivalry, just like the divine sages and celestial beings.
नाभवत्कृपणः कश्चिन्नाभवन्विधवाः स्त्रियः। तस्मिञ्जनपदे रम्ये कुरुभिर्बहुलीकृते
In that delightful land, made populous by the Kurus, there was no one destitute, nor were there any widowed women.
कूपारामसभावाप्यो ब्राह्मणावसथास्तथा। बभूवुः सर्वर्द्धियुतास्तस्मिन्राष्ट्रे सदोत्सवाः
Wells, gardens, assembly halls, ponds, and Brahmin dwellings, all endowed with every prosperity, were ever festive in that kingdom.
भीष्मेण धर्मतो राजन्सर्वतः परिरक्षिते। बभूव रमणीयश्च चैत्ययूपशताङ्कितः
O King, with Bhishma protecting all sides in accordance with dharma, the land became beautiful, marked by hundreds of shrines and sacrificial posts.
स देशः परराष्ट्राणि विमृज्याभिप्रवर्धितः। भीष्मेण विहितं राष्ट्रे धर्मचक्रमवर्तत
That country, surpassing other realms, grew in strength; under Bhishma's rule, the wheel of righteousness was set in motion.
क्रियमाणेषु कृत्येषु कुमाराणां महात्मनाम्। पौरजानपदाः सर्वे बभूवुः परमोत्सुकाः
As the great-souled princes performed their duties, all the citizens and country people became exceedingly eager.
गृहेषु कुरुमुख्यानां पौराणां च नराधिप। दीयतां भुज्यतां चेति वाचोऽश्रूयन्त सर्वशः
In the houses of the chief Kurus and the townspeople, the words 'Give' and 'Enjoy' were heard everywhere.
धृतराष्ट्रश्च पाण्डुश्च विदुरश्च महामतिः। जन्मप्रभृति भीष्मेण पुत्रवत्परिपालिताः
Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and the wise Vidura were cared for by Bhishma from birth, as if they were his own sons.
संस्कारैः संस्कृतास्ते तु व्रताध्ययनसंयुताः। श्रमव्यायामकुशलाः समपद्यन्त यौवनम्
They were refined through ceremonies, engaged in vows and study, skilled in exertion and exercise, and thus attained youth.
धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च गदायुद्धेऽसिचर्मणि। तथैव गजशिक्षायां नीतिशास्त्रेषु पारगाः
They mastered the science of archery, the Vedas, mace combat, sword and shield, as well as elephant training and the treatises on polity.
इतिहासपुराणेषु नानाशिक्षासु बोधिताः। वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञाः सर्वत्र कृतनिश्चयाः
In histories, ancient tales, and various sciences they were instructed; knowing the essence of the Vedas and their branches, they were resolute in all matters.
वैदिकाध्ययने युक्तो नीतिशास्त्रेषु पारगः। भीष्मेण राजा कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिषेचितः
Devoted to Vedic study and accomplished in the science of polity, King Dhritarashtra of the Kauravas was anointed by Bhishma.