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.'
प्रतस्थे सर्वमुत्सृज्य सभार्यः कुरुनन्दनः। ततस्तस्यानुयातारस्ते चैव परिचारकाः
Then, having renounced everything, the son of Kuru set out with his wives, and his attendants followed after him.
श्रुत्वा भरतसिंहस्य विधिधाः करुणा गिरः। भममार्तस्वरं कृत्वा हाहेति परिचुक्रुशुः
Hearing the king's sorrowful words, spoken according to custom, the attendants wailed aloud in distress, crying 'Alas!'
उष्णमश्रु विमुञ्चन्तस्तं विहाय महीपतिम्। ययुर्नागपुरं तूर्णं सर्वमादाय तद्धनम्
Shedding hot tears, leaving behind the great king, they quickly went to Nagapura, taking all that wealth.
ते गत्वा नगरं राज्ञो यथावृत्तं महात्मनः। कथयांचक्रिरे राज्ञस्तद्धनं विविधं ददुः
Arriving at the city, they reported to the king all that had happened to the great-souled one, and delivered all the various treasures.
श्रुत्वा तेभ्यस्ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तं महावने। धृतराष्ट्रो नरश्रेष्ठः पाण्डुमेवान्वशोचत
Hearing from them everything that had happened in the great forest, Dhritarashtra, best of men, grieved only for Pandu.
न शय्यासनभोगेषु रतिं विन्दति कर्हिचित्। भ्रातृशोकसमाविष्टस्तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्
He found no pleasure in beds, seats, or enjoyments, overwhelmed by grief for his brother, his mind dwelling only on that matter.
राजपुत्रस्तु कौरव्य पाण्डुर्मूलफलाशनः। जगाम सह पत्नीभ्यां ततो नागशतं गिरिम्
O Kaurava, the prince, Pandu, subsisting on roots and fruits, journeyed with his wives to the mountain of a hundred peaks.
स चैत्ररथमासाद्य कालकूटमतीत्य च। हिमवन्तमतिक्रम्य प्रययौ गन्धमादनम्
He reached Citraratha, passed beyond Kalakuta, crossed over Himavat, and proceeded to Gandhamadana.
रक्ष्यमाणो महाभूतैः सिद्धैश्च परमर्षिभिः। उवास स महाराज समेषु विषमेषु च
Protected by great beings, perfected ones, and eminent sages, he dwelled, O great king, in both level and rugged places.
इन्द्रद्युम्नसरः प्राप्य हंसकूटमतीत्य च। शतशृङ्गे महाराज तापसः समतप्यत
Arriving at Indradyumna Lake and passing beyond Hamsakuta, at Shata-shringa, O king, the ascetic performed austerities.
तत्रापि तपसि श्रेष्ठे वर्तमानः स वीर्यवान्। सिद्धचारणसङ्घानां बभूव प्रियदर्शनः
There, engaged in supreme austerity, that mighty one became pleasing to the assemblies of Siddhas and Charanas.
सुश्रूषुरनहंवादी संयतात्मा जितेन्द्रियः। स्वर्गं गन्तुं पराक्रान्तः स्वेन वीर्येण भारत
Attentive, humble, self-controlled, and master of his senses, he strove by his own prowess, O Bharata, to attain heaven.
केषांचिदभवद्भ्राता केषांचिदभवत्सखा। ऋषयस्त्वपरे चैनं पुत्रवत्पर्यपालयन्
To some he became a brother, to others a friend; and certain sages cared for him as for a son.
स तु कालेन महता प्राप्य निष्कल्मषं तपः। ब्रह्मर्षिसदृशः पाण्डुर्बभूव भरतर्षभ
In due course, having attained flawless austerity, Pandu became like a Brahmarshi, O foremost of Bharatas.
अमावास्यां तु सहिता ऋषयः संशितव्रताः। ब्रह्माणं द्रष्टुकामास्ते संप्रतस्थुर्महर्षयः
On the new moon, the sages, steadfast in their vows, gathered together, desiring to see Brahma.
संप्रयातानृषीन्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुर्वचनमब्रवीत्। भवन्तः क्व गमिष्यन्ति ब्रूत मे वदतां वराः
Seeing the sages departing, Pandu spoke: 'Where are you going, O best of speakers? Tell me.'
समावायो महानद्य ब्रह्मलोके महात्मनाम्। देवानां च ऋषीणां च पितॄणां च महात्मनाम्। वयं तत्र गमिष्यामो द्रष्टुकामाः स्वयंभुवम्
A great assembly of the noble ones in Brahma's world, of gods, sages, and ancestors, is to be held; we are going there, desiring to see the Self-born.
पाण्डुरुत्थाय सहसा गन्तुकामो महर्षिभिः। स्वर्गपारं तितीर्षुः स शतशृङ्गादुदङ्मुखः
Pandu, rising suddenly, wished to go with the great sages, eager to cross to the realm of heaven, facing north from Shata-shringa.
प्रतस्थे सह पत्नीभ्यामब्रुवंस्तं च तापसाः। उपर्युपरि गच्छन्तः शैलराजमुदङ्मुखाः
He set out with his wives, and the ascetics said to him: 'Ascending higher and higher, we go northward over the king of mountains.'
दृष्टवन्तो गिरौ रम्ये दुर्गान्देशान्बहून्वयम्। विमानशतसंबाधां गीतस्वरनिनादिताम्
We have seen, on the beautiful mountain, many difficult regions, crowded with hundreds of flying palaces, resounding with song and melody.