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.
न रिपून्वै समुद्दिश्य विमुञ्चन्ति नराः शरान्। रन्ध्र एषां विशेषेण वधकालः प्रशस्यते
Men do not release arrows at enemies without cause; their vulnerability, especially at the right time, is praised for killing.
प्रमत्तमप्रमत्तं वा विवृतं घ्नन्ति चौजसा। उपायैर्विविधैस्तीक्ष्णैः कस्मान्मृग विगर्हसे
Whether inattentive or attentive, whether exposed, they are struck down with force by various sharp means—so why, O king, do you reproach me?
नाहं घ्न्तं मृगन्राजन्विगर्हे चात्मकारणात्। मैथुनं तु प्रतीक्ष्यं मे त्वयेहाद्यानृशंस्यतः
O king of men, I do not reproach you for killing animals for your own sake; but you should have waited for the mating to be complete—here you have acted with cruelty.
सर्वभूतहिते काले सर्वभूतेप्सिते तथा। को हि विद्वान्मृगं हन्याच्चरन्तं मैथुनं वने
At a time when the welfare of all beings is sought, and when all beings desire it, what wise person would kill an animal engaged in mating in the forest?
अस्यां मृग्यां च राजेन्द्र हर्षान्मैथुनमाचरम्। पुरुषार्थफलं कर्तुं तत्त्वया विफलीकृतम्
O king, in this hunt, while I was joyfully engaged in mating, seeking the fruit of human purpose, you have rendered it fruitless.
पौरवाणां महाराज तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। वंशे जातस्य कौरव्य नानुरूपमिदं तव
O great king, born in the line of the blameless Pauravas, O Kaurava, this act of yours is not fitting.
नृशंसं कर्म सुमहत्सर्वलोकविगर्हितम्। अस्वर्ग्यमयशस्यं चाप्यधर्मिष्ठं च भारत
This is a cruel deed, greatly condemned by all people, unworthy of heaven, infamous, and unrighteous, O Bharata.
स्त्रीभोगानां विशेषज्ञः शास्त्रधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्। नार्हस्त्वं सुरसङ्काश कर्तुमस्वर्ग्यमीदृशम्
You, who know the distinctions of enjoyment with women, and understand the truths of law, wealth, and desire from the scriptures, are not worthy, O one like the gods, to commit such an unheavenly act.
त्वया नृशंसकर्तारः पापाचाराश्च मानवाः। निग्राह्याः पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ त्रिवर्गपरिवर्जिताः
Those who commit cruelty and sinful acts, O best of kings, should be restrained by you, being devoid of the three aims of life.
किं कृतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ मामिहानागसं घ्नतः। मुनिं मूलफलाहारं मृगवेषधरं नृप
O best of men, what have I done, that you kill me here though I am innocent—a sage living on roots and fruits, wearing the form of a deer, O king?