स्वासु प्रजास्विव सदा समः प्राणभृतः प्रति। एककालं चरन्भैक्षं कुलानि दश पञ्च च
Always impartial among living beings, as one is among one's own children, he would beg for alms at one time only, from ten or fifteen households.
असंभवे वा भैक्षस्य चरन्ननशनान्यपि। अल्पमल्पं च भुञ्जानः पूर्वालाभे न जातुचित्
If alms were not available, he would go without food, eating little when little was obtained, and never seeking more before what was previously received was finished.
अन्यान्यपि चरँल्लोभादलाभे सप्त पूरयन्। अलाभे यदि वा लाभे समदर्शी महातपाः
Even when lacking, he would, out of desire, beg from other households, filling up to seven more; in gain or lack, the great ascetic remained even-minded.
वास्यैकं तक्षतो बाहुं चन्दनेनैकमुक्षतः। नाकल्याणं न कल्याणं चिन्तयन्नुभयोस्तयोः
If one arm was being cut by a carpenter and the other smeared with sandal paste, he would not think either misfortune or good fortune about those two.
न जिजीविषुवत्किंचिन्न मुमूर्षुवदाचरन्। जीवितं मरणं चैव नाभिन्दन्न च द्विषन्
He acted neither as one who desires to live nor as one who wishes to die; he did not cling to life or hate death.
याः काश्चिज्जीवता शक्याः कर्तुमभ्युदयक्रियाः। ताः सर्वाः समतिक्रम्य निमेषादिव्यवस्थितः
All the actions that can be performed in life for prosperity, he completely abandoned, remaining as steady as the blink of an eye.
तासु चाप्यनवस्थासु त्यक्तसर्वेन्द्रियक्रियः। संपरित्यक्तधर्मार्थः सुनिर्णिक्तात्मकल्मषः
In those unstable conditions, having given up all actions of the senses, having renounced both righteousness and wealth, his soul was thoroughly cleansed of all stain.
निर्मुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो व्यतीतः सर्ववागुराः। न वशे कस्यचित्तिष्ठन्सधर्मा मातरिश्वनः
Freed from all sins, having crossed beyond all snares, not under anyone's control, he became like the wind in its own nature.
एतया सततं वृत्त्या चरन्नेवंप्रकारया। देहं संस्थापयिष्यामि निर्भयं मार्गमास्थितः
By living always in this manner, following such a path, I will sustain my body, fearless, having set out on this way.
नाहं सुकृपणे मार्गे स्ववीर्यक्षयशोचिते। स्वधर्मात्सततापेते चरेयं वीर्यवर्जितः
I will not follow a pitiable path, grieving over the loss of my own strength, or stray from my own duty, devoid of vigor.
सत्कृतोऽसत्कृतो वाऽपि योऽन्यां कृपणचक्षुषा। उपैति वृत्तिं कामात्मा स शुनां वर्तते पथि
Whoever, whether honored or dishonored, seeks a livelihood with a mind attached to desire, looking upon others with a dog's gaze, walks the path of dogs.
एवमुक्त्वा सुदुःखार्तो निःश्वासपरमो नृपः। अवेक्षमाणः कुन्तीं च मान्द्रीं च समभाषत
Having spoken thus, deeply afflicted with sorrow and sighing heavily, the king looked upon Kunti and Madri and addressed them.
कौसल्या विदुरः क्षत्ता राजा च सह बन्धुभिः। आर्या सत्यवती भीष्मस्ते च राजपुरोहिताः
Kausalya, Vidura the minister, the king together with his relatives, the noble Satyavati, Bhishma, and the royal priests—
ब्राह्मणाश्च महात्मानः सोमपाः संशितव्रताः। पौरवृद्धाश्च ये तत्र निवसन्त्यस्मदाश्रयाः। प्रसाद्य सर्वे वक्तव्याः पाण्डुः प्रव्राजितो वने
And the great-souled Brahmanas, drinkers of soma, firm in their vows, and the elders of the city who dwell there under our protection—all must be respectfully informed that Pandu has departed to the forest.
निशम्य वचनं भर्तुस्त्यागधर्मकृतात्मनः। तत्समं वचनं कुन्ती माद्री च समभाषताम्
Hearing the words of her husband, whose soul was set on the path of renunciation, Kunti and Madri spoke words in agreement.
अन्येऽपि ह्याश्रमाः सन्ति ये शक्या भरतर्षभ। `आवाभ्यां सह वस्तुं वै धर्ममाश्रित्य चिन्त्यताम्।' आवाभ्यां धर्मपत्नीभ्यां सह तप्तुं तपो महत्
There are other hermitages, O best of the Bharatas, where it is possible for us to dwell; let it be considered how we two, your lawful wives, may practice great austerity together with you.
शरीरस्यापि मोक्षाय धर्मं प्राप्य महाफलम्। त्वमेव भविता भर्ता स्वर्गस्यापि न संशयः
By attaining the great fruit of righteousness, even to the release of the body, you alone will be our lord, and there is no doubt even in heaven.
प्रणिधायेन्द्रियग्रामं भर्तृलोकपरायणे। त्यक्त्वा कामसुखे ह्यावां तप्स्यवो विपुलं तपः
Having restrained our senses, devoted to our husband's world, abandoning all pleasures of desire, we two will perform great austerity.
यदि चावां महाप्राज्ञ त्यक्ष्यसि त्वं विशांपते। अद्यैवावां प्रहास्यावो जीवितं नात्र संशयः
O wise king, if you abandon us, then today itself we both shall give up our lives—of this there is no doubt.
यदि व्यवसितं ह्येतद्युवयोर्धर्मसंहितम्। स्ववृत्तिमनुवर्तिष्ये तामहं पितुरव्ययाम्
If this is indeed your firm resolve, in accordance with righteousness, then I shall follow the same path as my father, unwavering.
त्यक्त्वा ग्राम्यसुखाहारं तप्यमानो महत्तपः। वल्कली फलमूलाशी चरिष्यामि महावने
Renouncing the pleasures and foods of the world, enduring great austerity, clad in bark, living on fruits and roots, I shall dwell in the great forest.
अग्नौ जुह्वन्नुभौ कालावुभौ कालावुपस्पृशन्। कृशः परिमिताहारश्चीरचर्मजटाधरः
Offering oblations into the fire at the proper times, performing ablutions at the proper times, emaciated, eating little, wearing worn garments of bark and skin, and matted hair.
शीतवातातपसहः क्षुत्पिपासानवेक्षकः। तपसा दुश्चरेणेदं शरीरमुपशोषयन्
Enduring cold, wind, and heat, disregarding hunger and thirst, I shall waste away this body through severe austerity.
एकान्तशीली विमृशन्पक्वापक्वेन वर्तयन्। पितृन्देवांश्च वन्येन वाग्भिरद्भिश्च तर्पयन्
Living in solitude, reflecting, subsisting on ripe and unripe forest fare, I shall satisfy the ancestors and gods with words and water from the forest.
वानप्रस्थजनस्यापि दर्शनं कुलवासिनः। नाप्रियाण्याचरिष्यामि किं पुनर्ग्रामवासिनाम्
Even for the forest-dwellers, I shall do nothing disagreeable—how much more so for those living in the village.
एवमारण्यशास्त्राणामुग्रमुग्रतरं विधिम्। काङ्क्षमाणोऽहमास्थास्ये देहस्यास्याऽऽसमापनात्
Thus, desiring the most rigorous of the forest disciplines, I shall undertake it until the end of this body.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा भार्ये ते राजा कौरवनन्दनः। ततश्चूडामणिं निष्कमङ्गदे कुण्डलानि च
Having spoken thus to his wives, the king, descendant of Kuru, then removed his crest-jewel, gold necklace, armlets, and earrings.
वासांसि च महार्हाणि स्त्रीणामाभरणानि च। `वाहनानि च मुख्यानि शस्त्राणि कवचानि च
He gave away costly garments, women's ornaments, principal vehicles, weapons, and armor.
हेमभाण्डानि दिव्यानि पर्यङ्कास्तरणानि च। मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानि रत्नानि विविधानि च
He gave away golden vessels, divine couches and bedding, jewels of every kind—gems, pearls, and corals.
प्रदाय सर्वं विप्रेभ्यः पाण्डुर्भृत्यानभाषत। गत्वा नागपुरं वाच्यं पाण्डुः प्रव्राजितो वने। अर्थं कामं सुखं चैव रतिं च परमात्मिकाम्
Having given everything to the Brahmins, Pandu spoke to his attendants: 'Go to Nagapura and announce: Pandu has departed to the forest, renouncing wealth, pleasure, comfort, and even the highest personal delight.'