कुन्त्याः पाण्डोश्च राजेन्द्र कुन्तिभोजो महीपतिः। कृत्वोद्वाहं तदा तं तु नानावसुभिरर्चितम्। स्वपुरं प्रेषयामास स राजा कुरुसत्तम
After the marriage of Kuntī and Pāṇḍu, King Kuntibhoja, having honored them with various treasures, sent them, O best of Kurus, to his own city.
ततो बलेन महता नानाध्वजपताकिना। स्तूयमानः स चाशीर्भिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः
Then, with a great army adorned with various banners, and praised with blessings by Brāhmaṇas and great sages—
संप्राप्य नगरं राजा पाण्डुः कौरवनन्दनः। न्यवेशत तां भार्यां कुन्तीं स्वभवने प्रभुः
—King Pāṇḍu, delight of the Kurus, reached his city and established Kuntī, his wife, in his own palace.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो राज्ञः पाण्डोर्यशस्विनः। विवाहस्यापरस्यार्थे चकार मतिमान्मतिम्
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, wise and renowned, considered the matter of another marriage for King Pāṇḍu.
सोऽमात्यैः स्थविरैः सार्धं ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः। बलेन चतुरङ्गेण ययौ मद्रपतेः पुरम्
With his aged ministers, Brāhmaṇas, and great sages, and with a fourfold army, he went to the city of the king of Madra.
तमागतमभिश्रुत्य भीष्मं वाहीकपुङ्गवः। प्रत्युद्गम्यार्चयित्वा च पुरं प्रावेशयन्नृपः
Hearing of Bhīṣma’s arrival, the foremost of the Vāhīkas went out to meet him, honored him, and brought him into the city.
दत्त्वा तस्यासनं शुभ्रं पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथैव च। मधुपर्कं च मद्रेशः पप्रच्छागमनेऽर्थिताम्
The king of Madra offered him a splendid seat, water for washing feet, arghya, and madhuparka, and inquired about the purpose of his visit.
तं भीष्मः प्रत्युवाचेदं मद्रराजं कुरूद्वहः। आगतं मां विजानीहि कन्यार्थिनमरिन्दम
Bhīṣma, the glory of the Kurus, replied to the king of Madra: 'Know me to have come seeking a bride, O subduer of foes.'
श्रूयते भवतः साध्वी स्वसा माद्री यशस्विनी। तामहं वरयिष्यामि पाण्डोरर्थे यशस्विनीम्
'It is heard that your virtuous sister Mādrī is renowned; I wish to choose her as a bride for the illustrious Pāṇḍu.'
युक्तरूपो हि संबन्धे त्वं नो राजन्वयं तव। एतत्संचिन्त्य मद्रेश गृहाणास्मान्यथाविधि
'You are indeed suitable for alliance with us, O King, and our lineage matches yours; consider this, O king of Madra, and accept us as is proper.'
तमेवंवादिनं भीष्मं प्रत्यभाषत मद्रपः। न हि मेऽन्यो वरस्त्वत्तः श्रेयानिति मतिर्मम
To Bhishma, who spoke thus, the king of Madra replied: 'There is no other choice better than you; this is my conviction.'
पूर्वैः प्रवर्तितं किंचित्कुलेऽस्मिन्नृपसत्तमैः। साधु वा यदि वाऽसाधु तन्नातिक्रान्तुमुत्सहे
Whatever has been established by the noble ancestors in this lineage, whether good or not, I am unable to transgress it.
व्यक्तं तद्भवतश्चापि विदितं नात्र संशयः। न च युक्तं तथा वक्तुं भवान्देहीति सत्तम
This is clearly known to you as well; there is no doubt about it. And it is not proper for you, O noble one, to speak in such a manner.
कुलधर्मः स नो वीर प्रमाणं परमं च तत्। तेन त्वां न ब्रवीम्येतदसंदिग्धं वचोऽरिहन्
The tradition of the family, O hero, is our highest authority. Therefore, I do not say this to you with any uncertainty, O destroyer of foes.
तं भीष्मः प्रत्युवाचेदं मद्रराजं जनाधिपः। धर्म एष परो राजन्स्वयमुक्तः स्वयंभुवा
Bhishma, the lord of men, replied to the king of Madra: 'This is the supreme dharma, O king, declared by the Self-born himself.'
नात्र कश्चन दोषोऽस्ति पूर्वैर्विधिरयं कृतः। विदितेयं च ते शल्य मर्यादा साधुसंमता
There is no fault here; this rule was established by the ancestors. And this boundary, O Shalya, is known to you and approved by the virtuous.
इत्युक्त्वा स महातेजाः शातकुम्भं कृताकृतम्। रत्नानि च विचित्राणि शल्यायादात्सहस्रशः
Having spoken thus, the mighty Bhishma gave to Shalya thousands of crafted and uncrafted golden vessels and various precious gems.
गजानश्वान्रथांश्चैव वासांस्याभरणानि च। मणिमुक्ताप्रवालं च गाङ्गेयो व्यसृजच्छुभम्
Ganga's son bestowed auspicious gifts: elephants, horses, chariots, garments, ornaments, and strings of jewels, pearls, and coral.
तत्प्रगृह्य धनं सर्वं शल्यः संप्रतीमानसः। ददौ तां समलङ्कृत्य स्वसारं कौरवर्षभे
Taking all that wealth, Shalya, his mind satisfied, adorned his sister and gave her to the bull among the Kauravas.
स तां माद्रीमुपादाय भीष्मः सागरगासुतः। आजगाम पुरीं धीमान्प्रविष्टो गजसाह्वयम्
Bhishma, the wise son of the ocean-born, took Madri and entered the city called Elephant-gate.
तत इष्टेऽहनि प्राप्ते मुहूर्ते साधुसंमते। `विवाहं कारायामास भीष्मः पाण्डोर्महात्मनः।' जग्राह विधिवत्पाणिं माद्र्याः पाण्डुर्नराधिपः
When the auspicious day arrived, Bhishma arranged the wedding for the great Pandu. The king Pandu took Madri's hand according to the proper rites.
ततो विवाहे निर्वृत्ते स राजा कुरुनन्दनः। स्थापयामास तां भार्यां शुभे वेश्मनि भामिनीं
After the wedding was completed, the Kuru king established his radiant wife in a beautiful residence.
स ताभ्यां व्यचरत्सार्धं भार्याभ्यां राजसत्तमः। कुन्त्या माद्र्या च राजेन्द्रो यथाकामं यथासुखम्
The noble king lived happily with his two wives, Kunti and Madri, as he wished and as pleased him.
ततः स कौरवो राजा विहृत्य त्रिदशा निशाः। जिगीषया महीं पाण्डुर्निरक्रामत्पुरात्प्रभो
Then, after spending three nights, the Kuru king Pandu, desiring to conquer the earth, departed from the city, O lord.
स भीष्मप्रमुखान्वृद्धानभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च। धृतराष्ट्रं च कौरव्यं तथान्यान्कुरुसत्तमान्। आमन्त्र्य प्रययौ राजा तैश्चैवाप्यनुमोजितः
He honored and bowed to the elders led by Bhishma, to Dhritarashtra and other distinguished Kurus, took leave, and departed, with their approval.
मङ्गलाचारयुक्ताभिराशीर्भिरभिनन्दितः। गजवाजिरथौघेन बलेन महताऽगमत्
Blessed with auspicious rites and congratulated with good wishes, he set out with a great force of elephants, horses, and chariots.
स राजा देवगर्भाभो विजिगीषुर्वसुन्धराम्। हृष्टपुष्टबलैः प्रायात्पाण्डुः शत्रूननेकशः
That king, resembling a child of the gods, Pandu, eager to conquer the earth, marched forth with joyful and strong troops against many enemies.
पूर्वमागस्कृतो गत्वा दशार्णाः समरे जिताः। पाण्डुना नरसिंहेन कौरवाणां यशोभृता
First, having gone to the Dasharna country, the lion-like Pandu, the glory of the Kurus, defeated them in battle.
ततः सेनामुपादाय पाण्डुर्नानाविधध्वजाम्। प्रभूतहस्त्यश्वयुतां पदातिरथसंकुलाम्
Then Pandu, assembling his army adorned with various banners, abundant with elephants and horses, crowded with infantry and chariots,
आगस्कारी महीपानां बहूनां बलदर्पितः। गोप्ता मगधराष्ट्रस्य दीर्घो राजगृहे हतः
He, bold among many kings and proud of his strength, the protector of the Magadha realm, was slain in the long city of Rajagriha.