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.
आक्रीडभूमिं देवानां गन्धर्वाप्सरसां तथा। उद्यानानि कुबेरस्य समानि विषमाणि च
There are playgrounds of the gods, Gandharvas, and Apsaras, and gardens of Kubera, both level and uneven.
महानदीनितम्बांश्च गहनान्गिरिगह्वरान्। सन्ति नित्यहिमा देशा निर्वृक्षमृगपक्षिणः
There are great river valleys and dense mountain caves; regions perpetually snowy, devoid of trees, beasts, and birds.
सन्ति क्वचिन्महादर्यो दुर्गाः काश्चिद्दुरासदाः। नातिक्रामेत पक्षी यान्कुत एवेतरे मृगाः
In some places there are vast deserts, and certain impassable strongholds; not even a bird can cross them, much less other creatures.
वायुरेको हि यात्यत्र सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। गच्छन्त्यौ शैलराजेऽस्मिन्राजपुत्र्यौ कथं न्विमे
Only the wind passes here, and perfected ones and eminent sages; how, then, O prince, will your wives traverse this king of mountains?
अप्रजस्य महाभागा न द्वारं परिचक्षते
O blessed one, for the childless, no gateway is recognized.
स्वर्गे तेनाभितप्तोऽहमप्रजस्तु ब्रवीमि वः। सोऽहमुग्रेण तपसा सभार्यस्त्यक्तजीवितः
Because of this, I am tormented regarding heaven; being childless, I speak to you: I, together with my wife, will undertake fierce austerity, ready to give up my life.
अनपत्योऽपि विन्देयं स्वर्गमुग्रेण कर्मणा
Even without offspring, I may attain heaven through severe deeds.
अपत्यमनघं राजन्वयं दिव्येन चक्षुषा। दैवोद्दिष्टं नरव्याघ्र कर्मणेहोपपादय
O king, with divine sight, see a faultless child, a lineage destined by fate; O tiger among men, bring it about through action.
अक्लिष्टं फलमव्यग्रो विन्दते बुद्धिमान्नरः। तस्मिन्दृष्टे फले राजन्प्रयत्नं कर्तुमर्हसि
A wise man, undisturbed, obtains untainted fruit; seeing such a result, O king, you ought to make effort.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तापसवचः पाण्डुस्चिन्तापरोऽभवत्
Hearing those words of the ascetic, Pandu became absorbed in thought.