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.
आत्मनो मृगशापेन जानन्नुपहतां क्रियाम्
Knowing that his own rites were hindered by the curse of the deer, he reflected.
अथ पारसवीं कन्यां देवकस्य महीपतेः। रूपयौवनसंपन्नां स सुश्रावापगासुतः
Then the son of the river heard of the maiden of Parashara, daughter of King Devaka, endowed with beauty and youth.
ततस्तु वरयित्वा तामानीय भरतर्षभः। विवाहं कारयामास विदुरस्य महामतेः
Then, having chosen her, the bull among the Bharatas brought her and arranged the marriage for Vidura, the wise one.
तस्यां चोत्पादयामास विदुरः कुरुनन्दन। पुत्रान्विनयसंपन्नानात्मनः सदृशान्गुणैः
And in her, Vidura, joy of the Kurus, begot sons endowed with good conduct and virtues like his own.
ततः पुत्रशतं जज्ञे गान्धार्या जनमेजय। धृतराष्ट्रस्य वैश्यायामेकश्चापि शतात्परः
Then, O Janamejaya, a hundred sons were born to Gandhari, and one more, surpassing the hundred, was born to Dhritarashtra by a Vaishya woman.
पाण्डोः कृन्त्यां च माद्र्यां च पुत्राः पञ्च महारथाः। देवेभ्यः समपद्यन्त सन्तानाय कुलस्य वै
And to Pandu, from Kunti and Madri, five mighty sons were born, equal to the gods, for the continuation of the lineage.
कथं पुत्रशतं जज्ञे गान्धार्यां द्विजसत्तम। कियता चैव कालेन तेषामायुश्च किं परम्
How was a hundred sons born to Gandhari, O best of twice-born? In how much time, and what was their highest lifespan?
कथं चैकः स वैश्यायां धृतराष्ट्रसुतोऽभवत्। कथं च सदृशीं भार्यां गान्धारीं धर्मचारिणीम्
And how was one son born to Dhritarashtra by a Vaishya woman? And how did Gandhari, the virtuous wife, obtain a suitable husband?
आनुकूल्ये वर्तमानां धृतराष्ट्रोऽत्यवर्तत। कथं च शप्तस्य सतः पाण्डोस्तेन महात्मना
How did Dhritarashtra behave toward Gandhari, who acted with devotion? And how did the great-souled Pandu, though cursed, have sons from the gods?
समुत्पन्ना दैवतेभ्यः पुत्राः पञ्च महारथाः। एतद्विद्वन्यथान्यायं विस्तरेण तपोधन
How were five mighty sons born from the gods? O learned one, tell me all this in detail, O possessor of austerity.