देहनाशे भवेन्नाशः पितॄणामेष निश्चयः। इतरेषां त्रयाणां तु नाशे ह्यात्मा विनश्यति
At the destruction of the body, the debt to the ancestors is destroyed—this is certain; but if the other three are destroyed, the self perishes.
इह तस्मात्प्रजालाभे प्रयतन्ते द्विजोत्तमाः। यथैवाहं पितुः क्षेत्रे सृष्टस्तेन महात्मना
Therefore, the best of twice-born strive for offspring here, just as I was created in my father's field by that great soul.
तथैवास्मिन्मम क्षेत्रे कथं सृज्येत वै प्रजा
So, in this my field, how might offspring indeed be produced?
आचष्ट पुत्रलाभस्य व्युष्टिं सर्वक्रियाधिकाम्। उत्तमादवराः पुंसः काङ्क्षन्तो पुत्रमापदि
He declared the supreme importance of obtaining a son, surpassing all other duties; men, whether superior or inferior, desire a son in adversity.
अपत्यं धर्मफलदं श्रेष्ठादिच्छन्ति साधवः। अनुनीय तु ते सम्यङ्महाब्राह्मणसंसदि। ब्राह्मणं गुणवन्तं हि चिन्तयामास धर्मवित्
The virtuous desire excellent offspring, which brings the fruit of righteousness; having properly entreated them in the assembly of great Brahmins, the knower of righteousness considered a Brahmin of noble qualities.
सोऽब्रवीद्विजने कुन्तीं धर्मपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्। अपत्योत्पादने यत्नमापदि त्वं समर्थय
He spoke in private to Kunti, his illustrious wife: 'In this adversity, strive to produce offspring.'
अपत्यं नाम लोकेषु प्रतिष्ठा धर्मसंहिता। इति कुन्ति विदुर्धीराः शाश्वतं धर्मवादिनः
Offspring, joined with righteousness, is the foundation in the worlds; thus, O Kunti, say the wise who speak of eternal law.
इष्टं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं नियमश्च स्वनुष्ठितः। सर्वमेवानपत्यस्य न पावनमिहोच्यते
Sacrifice performed, gifts given, austerity practiced, and discipline observed—all these are not said to purify one who is without offspring.
सोऽहमेवं विदित्वैतत्प्रपश्यामि शुचिस्मिते। अनपत्यः शुभाँल्लोकान्नप्राप्स्यामीति चिन्तयन्
Thus knowing this, O gentle-smiling one, I see that, being without offspring, I shall not attain the auspicious worlds, so I reflect.
अनपत्यो हि मरणं कामये नैव जीवितम्।' मृगाभिशापं जानासि विजने मम केवलम्। नृशंसकर्मणा कृत्स्नं यथा ह्युपहतं तथा
Indeed, being childless, I desire death, not life; you alone know of the curse of the deer upon me in secret, and how, by a cruel deed, I have been wholly struck down.
इमे वै बन्धुदायादाः षट् पुत्रा धर्मदर्शने। षडेवाबन्धुदायादाः पुत्रास्ताञ्छृणु मे पृथे
These six sons, O Pṛthā, are considered kinsmen and heirs according to the law; and there are six others who are not kinsmen or heirs—listen to me as I explain them.
स्वयंजातः प्रणीतश्च परिक्रीतश्च यः सुतः। पौनर्भवश्च कानीनः स्वैरिण्यां यश्च जायते
A son who is self-born, one who is appointed, one who is purchased, one born of a remarried woman, one born to an unmarried woman, and one born to a woman who acts of her own will—these are the types.
दत्तः क्रीतः कृत्रिमश्च उपगच्छेत्स्वयं च यः। सहोढो ज्ञातिरेताश्च हीनयोनिधृतश्च यः
A son who is given, one who is bought, one who is artificial, one who comes of his own accord, one who is raised together, one who is a relative, and one who is born of a lower womb—these are also recognized.
पूर्वपूर्वतमाभावं मत्त्वा लिप्सेत वै सुतम्। उत्तमाद्देवरात्पुंसः काङ्क्षन्ते पुत्रमापदि
Understanding the absence of a prior or more suitable son, one may seek a son; in adversity, they desire a son from a brother-in-law or from a superior man.
अपत्यं धर्मफलदं श्रेष्ठं विन्दन्ति मानवाः। आत्मशुक्रादपि पृथे मनुः स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत्
People obtain the best offspring, fruitful in righteousness, even from their own seed, O Pṛthā; so declared Manu, son of Svāyambhuva.
तस्मात्प्रहेष्याम्यद्य त्वां हीनः प्रजननात्स्वयम्
Therefore, I will urge you today, since I am myself deprived of procreation.
सदृशाच्छ्रेयसो वा त्वं विद्ध्यपत्यं यशस्विनि। शृणु कुन्ति कथामेतां शारदण्डायिनीं प्रति
Know, illustrious one, that offspring from one equal or superior is to be desired; listen, Kuntī, to this story concerning Śāradaṇḍāyinī.
या हि ते भगिनी साध्वी श्रुतसेना यशस्विनी। अवाह तां तु कैकेयः शारदाण्डायनिर्महान्
Your virtuous sister, renowned Śrutasenā, was wedded by the great Kaikeya, the illustrious Śāradāṇḍāyana.
सा वीरपत्नी गुरुणा नियुक्ता पुत्रजन्मनि। पुष्पेण प्रयता स्नाता निशि कुन्ति चतुष्पथे
That heroic wife, instructed by her elder in the matter of bearing a son, bathed with devotion at night at the crossroads, O Kuntī.
वरयित्वा द्विजं सिद्धं हुत्वा पुंसवनेऽनलम्। कर्मण्यवसिते तस्मिन्सा तेनैव सहावसत्
Having chosen a learned and accomplished Brahmin, and having offered the fire in the rite for a son, when the act was completed, she lived with him.
तत्र त्रीञ्जनयामास दुर्जयादीन्महारथान्। तथा त्वमपि कल्याणि ब्राह्मणात्तपसाधिकात्। मन्नियोगाद्यत क्षिप्रमपत्योत्पादनं प्रति
There she bore three great warriors—Durjaya and the others; so you too, blessed one, by my instruction, quickly strive to produce offspring from a Brahmin endowed with ascetic power.
एवमुक्ता महाराज कुन्ती पाण्डुमभाषत। कुरूणामृषभं वीरं तदा भूमिपतिं पतिम्
Thus addressed, O great king, Kuntī spoke to Pāṇḍu, the bull among the Kurus, her heroic and royal husband.
न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ वक्तुमेवं कथंचन। धर्मपत्नीमभिरतां त्वयि राजीवलोचने
You should not, O knower of righteousness, speak to me in this way at all, for I am your devoted wife, O lotus-eyed one.
त्वमेव तु महाबाहो मय्यपत्यानि भारत। वीर वीर्योपपन्नानि धर्मतो जनयिष्यसि
O mighty-armed Bhārata, you yourself will beget sons in me, heroic and endowed with strength, according to righteousness.
स्वर्गं मनुजशार्दूल गच्छेयं सहिता त्वया। अपत्याय च मां गच्छ त्वमेव कुरुनन्दन
O tiger among men, I wish to go to heaven together with you; for the sake of offspring, you alone approach me, O joy of the Kurus.
न ह्यहं मनसाप्यन्यं गच्छेयं त्वदृते नरम्। त्वत्तः प्रति विशिष्टश्च कोऽन्योऽस्ति भुवि मानवः
Indeed, I would not even in thought approach another man besides you; who else on earth is superior to you?
इमां च तावद्धर्मात्मन्पौराणीं शृणु मे कथाम्। परिश्रुतां विशालाक्ष कीर्तयिष्यामि यामहम्
Now, O righteous one, listen to this ancient story of virtue, O wide-eyed one, which is well-known—I will recount it.
व्युषइताश्व इति ख्यातो बभूव किल पार्थिवः। पुरा परमधर्मिष्ठः पूरोर्वंशविवर्धनः
There was once a king named Vyuṣitāśva, famed as a most righteous one, who increased the line of Puru.
तस्मिंश्च यजमाने वै धर्मात्मनि महाभुजे। उपागमंस्ततो देवाः सेन्द्रा देवर्षिभिः सह
When that righteous, mighty sacrificer was performing the rite, the gods, along with Indra and the divine sages, arrived there.
अमाद्यदिन्द्रः सोमेन दक्षिणाभिर्द्विजातयः। व्युषिताश्वस्य राजर्षेस्ततो यज्ञे महात्मनः
Indra rejoiced with Soma, and the twice-born received gifts, at the sacrifice of the great-souled king Vyushitasva.