ये पुरा कुरुराष्ट्राणि जह्रुः कुरुधनानि च। ते नागपुरसिंहेन पाण्डुना करदीकृताः
Those who had formerly seized the Kuru realms and their wealth were made tributary by Pandu, the lion of Nagapura.
इत्यभाषन्त राजानो राजामात्याश्च सङ्गताः। प्रतीतमनसो हृष्टाः पौरजानपदैः सह
Thus spoke the assembled kings and ministers, their minds confident and joyful, together with the citizens and countryfolk.
प्रत्युद्ययुश्च तं प्राप्तं सर्वे भीष्मपुरोगमाः। ते नदूरमिवाध्वानं गत्वा नागपुरालयाः
All, led by Bhishma, went out to meet him as he arrived, and the residents of Nagapura, having traveled a long distance, welcomed him.
आवृतं ददृशुर्हृष्टा लोकं बहुविधैर्धनैः। नानायानसमानीतै रत्नैरुच्चावचैस्तदा
They saw the land, filled with various riches, brought by many vehicles, and jewels of every kind, high and low.
हस्त्यश्वरथरत्नैश्च गोभिरुष्ट्रैस्तथाऽऽविभिः। नान्तं ददृशुरासाद्य भीष्मेण सह कौरवाः
With treasures of elephants, horses, chariots, cows, camels, and sheep, the Kauravas, together with Bhishma, found no end to the wealth.
सोऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। यथाऽर्हं मानयामास पौरजानपदानपि
He, increasing the joy of Kausalya, bowed to his father's feet, and honored the citizens and countryfolk as was proper.
प्रमृद्य परराष्ट्राणि कृतार्थं पुनरागतम्। पुत्रमाश्लिष्य भीष्मस्तु हर्षादश्रूण्यवर्तयत्
Having subdued enemy kingdoms and accomplished his purpose, Bhishma returned; embracing his son, he shed tears of joy.
स तूर्यशतशङ्खानां भेरीणां च महास्वनैः। हर्षयन्सर्वशः पौरान्विवेश गजसाह्वयम्
With the mighty sounds of hundreds of trumpets, conches, and drums, delighting all the citizens, he entered Hastinapura.
धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञातः स्वबाहुविजितं धनम्। भीष्माय सत्यवत्यै च मात्रे चोपजहार सः
Permitted by Dhritarashtra, Pandu brought the wealth he had won by his own strength and offered it to Bhishma, Satyavati, and his mother.
विदुराय च वै पाण्डुः प्रेषयामास तद्धनम्। सुहृदश्चापि धर्मात्मा धनेन समतर्पयत्
Pandu also sent that wealth to Vidura, and the righteous one satisfied his friends with riches as well.
ततः सत्यवतीं भीष्मं कौसल्यां च यशस्विनीम्। शुभैः पाण्डुर्जितैरर्थैस्तोषयामास भारत
Then, O Bharata, he gratified Satyavati, Bhishma, and the illustrious Kausalya with the fine treasures Pandu had won.
ननन्द माता कौसल्या तमप्रतिमतेजसम्। जयन्तमिव पौलोमी परिष्वज्य नर्षभम्
His mother Kausalya rejoiced, embracing her son of incomparable energy, like Shachi embracing Indra, the bull among men, upon his victory.
तस्य वीरस्य विक्रान्तैः सहस्रशतदक्षिणैः। अश्वमेधशतैरीजे धृतराष्ट्रो महामखैः
With the heroic Pandu's mighty conquests and abundant gifts, Dhritarashtra performed hundreds of grand horse sacrifices.
संप्रयुक्तस्तु कुन्त्या च माद्र्या च भरतर्षभ। जिततन्द्रीस्तदा पाण्डुर्बभूव वनगोचरः
Joined by Kunti and Madri, O bull of Bharata's line, Pandu, ever tireless, became a dweller of the forest.
हित्वा प्रासादनिलयं शुभानि शयनानि च। अरण्यनित्यः सततं बभूव मृगयापरः
Leaving behind palace dwellings and luxurious beds, he lived always in the wilderness, constantly devoted to the hunt.
स चरन्दक्षिणं पार्श्वं रम्यं हिमवतो गिरः। उवास गिरिपृष्ठेषु महाशालवनेषु च
Roaming the southern slopes of the beautiful Himalayas, he dwelled on mountain ridges and in great sal forests.
रराज कुन्त्या माद्र्या च पाण्डुः सह वने चरन्। करेण्वोरिव मध्यस्थः श्रीमान्पौरन्दरो गजः
Pandu shone in the forest with Kunti and Madri, like the glorious Indra among two she-elephants.
भारतं सह भार्याभ्यां खङ्गबाणधनुर्धरम्। विचित्रकवचं वीरं परमास्त्रविदं नृपम्। देवोऽयमित्यमन्यन्त चरन्तं वनवासिनः
Seeing the king, armed with sword, bow, and arrows, clad in splendid armor, and skilled in supreme weapons, living in the forest with his wives, the forest-dwellers thought, 'This is a god.'
तस्य कामांश्च भोगांश्च नरा नित्यमतन्द्रिताः। उपजह्रुर्वनान्तेषु धृतराष्ट्रेण चोदिताः
At Dhritarashtra's command, men, ever diligent, brought him all his desires and pleasures even at the forest's edge.
तदासाद्य महारण्यं मृगव्यालनिषेवितम्। तत्र मैथुनकालस्थं ददर्श मृगयूथपम्
Then, reaching a great forest inhabited by beasts and predators, he saw the leader of a herd of deer engaged in mating.
ततस्तं च मृगीं चैव रुक्मपुङ्खैः सुपत्रिभिः। निर्बिभेद शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पाण्डुः पञ्चभिराशुगैः
Thereupon, Pandu pierced both the stag and the doe with five swift, sharp arrows tipped with golden feathers.
स च राजन्महातेजा ऋषिपुत्रस्तपोधनः। भार्यया सह तेजस्वी मृगरूपेण सङ्गतः
O King, that mighty ascetic, a sage's son rich in austerity, was united with his wife in the form of deer.
स संयुक्तस्तया मृग्या मानुषीं वाचमीरयन्। क्षणेन पतितो भूमौ विललापातुरो मृगः
Joined with the doe, he uttered human speech; in a moment, fallen to the ground, the deer lamented in agony.
काममन्युवशं प्राप्ता बुद्ध्यन्तरगता अपि। वर्जयन्ति नृशंसानि पापेष्वपि रता नराः
Even those whose minds know better, when overcome by desire and anger, refrain from cruel deeds, though they may delight in sin.
न विधिं ग्रसते प्रज्ञा प्रज्ञां तु ग्रसते विधिः। विधिपर्यागतानर्थान्प्रज्ञावान्प्रतिपद्यते
Law does not overpower wisdom, but law does overpower wisdom; the wise one discerns misfortunes that come from the reversal of law.
शस्वद्धर्मात्मनां मुख्ये कुले जातस्य भारत। कामलोभाभिभूतस्य कथं ते चलिता मतिः
O Bharata, how has your mind wavered, you who were born in a noble family devoted to righteousness, now overcome by desire and greed?
शत्रूणां या वधे वृत्तिः सा मृगाणां वधे स्मृता। राज्ञां मृग न मां मोहात्त्वं गर्हयितुमर्हसि
The way of killing enemies is said to be the same as the way of killing animals; O king, do not, out of delusion, reproach me like an animal.
अच्छद्मनाऽमायया च मृगाणां वध इष्यते। स एव धर्मो राज्ञां तु तद्धि त्वं किं नु गर्हसे
The killing of animals is accepted when done openly and without deceit; that same law applies to kings—so why do you reproach me?
अगस्त्यः सत्रमासीनश्चकार मृगयामृषिः। आरण्यान्सर्वदैवत्यान्मृगान्प्रोक्ष्य महावने
Agastya, the sage, while conducting a sacrifice, hunted animals in the great forest, sprinkling them with sacred water as prescribed for all deities.
प्रमाणदृष्टधर्मेण कथमस्मान्विगर्हसे। अगस्त्यस्याभिचारेण युष्माकं विहितो वधः
By the standard of established law, why do you reproach us? By Agastya’s ritual, your act of killing us is sanctioned.