गान्धारी सा पतिं दृष्ट्वा प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम्। अतिचाराद्भृशं भीता भर्तुः सा समचिन्तयत्
Gandhari, seeing her husband, the lord endowed with wisdom, became greatly fearful due to his transgression, and pondered over it.
सा दृष्टिविनिवृत्त्या हि भर्तुश्च समतां ययौ। नहि सूक्ष्मेप्यतीचारे भर्तुः सा ववृते तदा
By renouncing sight, she attained equality with her husband; she did not excel him even in the slightest matter.
वृत्तेनाराध्य तान्सर्वान्गुरून्पतिपरायणा। वाचापि पुरुषानन्यान्सुव्रता नान्वकीर्तयत्
Devoted to her husband, she pleased all the elders by her conduct, and, being of excellent vows, never spoke of other men.
तस्याः सहोदरीः कन्याः पुनरेव ददौ दश। गान्धारराजः सुबलो भीष्मेण च वृतस्तदा
The king of Gandhara, Subala, again gave ten of Gandhari's sisters, with Bhishma's consent.
सत्यव्रतां सत्यसेनां सुदेष्णां चापि संहिताम्। तेजश्श्र्वां सुश्रवां च तथैव निकृतिं शुभाम्
He gave Satyavrata, Satyasena, Sudeṣṇā, Saṃhitā, Tejaśrva, Suśrava, and likewise Nikṛti, the auspicious one.
शंभ्वठां च दशार्णां च गान्धारीर्दश विश्रुताः। एकाह्ना प्रतिजग्राह धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः
Śaṃbhvaṭhā, Daśārṇā, and ten renowned Gandharan maidens; Dhritarashtra, lord of men, accepted them all in a single day.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो धानुष्कस्तास्ततस्ततः। अददाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य राजपुत्रीः परश्शतम्
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the bowman, gave a hundred royal maidens to Dhritarashtra.
शूरो नाम यदुश्रेष्ठो वसुदेवपिताऽभवत्। तस्य कन्या पृथा नाम रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि
There was a chief of the Yadus named Shura, who became the father of Vasudeva; his daughter, named Pritha, was unrivaled in beauty on earth.
पितृष्वस्रीयाय स तामनपत्याय भारत। अग्र्यमग्रे प्रतिज्ञाय स्वस्यापत्यं स सत्यवाक्
To his father's sister's son, who was childless, O Bhārata, he solemnly promised that his own child would be given, and he kept his word.
अग्रजामथ तां कन्यां शूरोऽनुग्रहकाङ्क्षिणे। प्रददौ कुन्तिभोजाय सखा सख्ये महात्मने
Then, that heroic elder gave the maiden to Kuntibhoja, his great-souled friend, who sought her favor, as a gesture of friendship.
नियुक्ता सा पितुर्गेहे ब्राह्मणातिथिपूजने। उग्रं पर्यचरत्तत्र ब्राह्मणं संशितब्रतम्
She was assigned in her father's house to the service of Brahmin guests, and there she attended upon a fierce and resolute Brahmin.
निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः। तमुग्रं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयत्
That fierce sage, known as Durvāsas, whose intentions were hidden in dharma, she satisfied with all her efforts, for he was steadfast in his vows.
दध्याज्यकादिभिर्नित्यं व्यञ्जनैः प्रत्यहं शुभा। सहस्रसङ्ख्यैर्योगीन्द्रमुपचारदनुत्तमा
With curds, ghee, and other daily delicacies, in countless varieties, she constantly honored the yogi with unsurpassed hospitality.
दुर्वासा वत्सरस्यान्ते ददौ मन्त्रमनुत्तमम्'। यशस्विन्यै पृथायै तदापद्धर्मान्ववेक्षया। अभिचाराभिसंयुक्तमब्रवीच्चैव तां मुनिः
At the end of the year, Durvāsas gave the illustrious Pṛthā an excellent mantra, considering her adherence to dharma in adversity, and instructed her in its use for special purposes.
यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि। तस्य तस्य प्रभावेण तव पुत्रो भविष्यति
Whichever god you invoke with this mantra, by the power of that god, a son will be born to you.
तथोक्ता सा तु विप्रेण कुन्ती कौतूहलान्विता। कन्या सती देवमर्कमाजुहाव यशस्विनी
Thus instructed by the sage, Kuntī, filled with curiosity, invoked the god of the sun, remaining chaste and renowned.
ततो घनान्तरं कृत्वा स्वमार्गं तपनस्तदा। उपतस्थे स तां कन्यां पृथां पृथुललोचनाम्
Then, making his way through the clouds, the sun god approached that maiden, Pṛthā of broad eyes.
सा ददर्श तमायान्तं भास्करं लोकभावनम्। विस्मिता चानवद्याङ्गी दृष्ट्वा तन्महदद्भुतम्
She saw the radiant sun, the creator of the worlds, approaching; and, flawless in form, she was astonished at that great marvel.
आहूतोपस्थितं भद्रे ऋषिमन्त्रेण चोदितम्। विद्धि मां पुत्रलाभाय देवमर्कं शुचिस्मिते
Summoned and present, prompted by the sage's mantra, the sun god spoke: 'Know me, O pure-smiling one, to be the sun, come for the purpose of granting you a son.'
पुत्रस्ते निर्मितः सुभ्रु शृणु महादृक्छुभानने। आदित्ये कुण्डले बिभ्रत्कवचं चैव मामकम्
Your son, O beautiful-browed one, has been created—listen, O fair-faced one with great vision: he will bear my earrings and armor, born from the sun.
शस्त्रास्त्राणामभेद्यश्च भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते। नास्य किंचिददेयं च ब्राह्मणेभ्यो भविष्यति
He will be invulnerable to weapons and missiles, O pure-smiling one, and nothing of his will ever be refused to Brahmins.
चोद्यमानो मया चापि न क्षमं चिन्तयिष्यति। दास्यत्येव हि विप्रेभ्यो मानी चैव भविष्यति
Even if urged by me, he will not consider refusal; he will always give to Brahmins, and he will be proud as well.
एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती गोपतिं प्रत्युवाच ह। कन्या पितृसा चाहं पुरुषार्थो न चैव मे
Thus addressed, Kuntī replied to the lord of light: 'I am a maiden, given by my father, and I have no husband.'
कश्चिन्मे ब्राह्मणः प्रादाद्वरं विद्यां च शत्रुहन्। तद्विजिज्ञासयाऽऽह्वानं कृतवत्यस्मि ते विभो
'A Brahmin gave me a boon and knowledge, O destroyer of foes; out of curiosity about that, I have invoked you, O lord.'
एतस्मिन्नपराधे त्वां शिरसाऽहं प्रसादये। योषितो हि सदा रक्ष्यास्त्वपराधेऽपि नित्यशः
'For this unintended offense, I beg your pardon with bowed head; women must always be protected, even when they err.'
वेदाहं सर्वमेवैतद्यद्दुर्वासा वरं ददौ। संत्यज्य भयमेवेह क्रियतां सङ्गमो मम
'I know all that Durvāsas granted with his boon; setting aside fear, let our union take place here.'
अमोघं दर्शनं मह्यमाहूतश्चास्मि ते शुभे। वृथाऽऽह्वानेऽपि ते भीरु दोषः स्यान्नात्र संशयः
My appearance is unfailing, and you have summoned me, O auspicious one. Even if your call was in vain, timid one, blame would surely fall upon you—there is no doubt in this.
यद्येवं मन्यसे भीरु किमाह्वयसि भास्करम्। यदि मामवजानासि ऋषिः स न भविष्यति
If you think so, timid one, why did you call upon the Sun? If you disregard me, the sage's blessing will not come to pass.
मन्त्रदानेन यस्मात्त्वमवलेपेन दर्पिता। कुलं च तेऽद्य धक्ष्यामि क्रोधदीप्तेन चक्षुषा
Because you are proud from receiving the mantra, and filled with arrogance, today I will burn your lineage with my anger-ignited gaze.
एवमुक्ता बहुविधं सान्त्वपूर्वं विवस्वता। सा तु नैच्छद्वरारोहा कन्याहमिति भारत
Thus addressed in many ways, with gentle words by Vivasvat, she, the maiden, did not consent, saying, 'I am a virgin,' O Bharata.