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.
देवा ब्रह्मर्षयश्चैव चक्रुः कर्म स्वयं तदा। व्युषिताश्वस्ततो राजन्नति मर्त्यान्व्यरोचत
Then the gods and the Brahmin sages themselves performed the rites; King Vyushitasva shone brighter than mortals.
सर्वभूतान्प्रति यथा तपनः शिशिरात्यये। स विजित्य गृहीत्वा च नृपतीन्राजसत्तमः
Just as the sun outshines all beings at the end of winter, so did that foremost king, having conquered and subdued other rulers.
प्राच्यानुदिच्यान्पाश्चात्यान्दाक्षिणात्यानकालयत्। अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे व्युषिताश्वः प्रतापवान्
Vyushitasva, powerful in glory, subdued the kings of the east, north, west, and south at the great horse sacrifice.
बभूव स हि राजेन्द्रो दशनागबलान्वितः। अप्यत्र गाथां गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जनाः
That king, endowed with the strength of ten elephants, became renowned; indeed, those versed in ancient lore sing his praises.
व्युषिताश्वे यशोवृद्धे मनुष्येन्द्रे कुरूत्तम। व्युषिताश्वः समुद्रान्तां विजित्येमां वसुन्धराम्
O best of Kurus, when Vyushitasva's fame increased among men, he conquered the earth up to the ocean's edge.
अपालयत्सर्ववर्णान्पिता पुत्रानिवौरसान्। यजमानो महायज्ञैर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं ददौ
He protected all classes as a father protects his own sons; the sacrificer gave wealth to Brahmins through great sacrifices.
अनन्तरत्नान्यादाय स जहार महाक्रतून्। सुषाव च बहून्सोमान्सोमसंस्थास्ततान च
He acquired countless treasures and performed grand rituals; he pressed much Soma and established many Soma rites.
आसीत्काक्षीवती चास्य भार्या परमसंमता। भद्रा नाम मनुष्येन्द्र रूपेणासदृशी भुवि
His wife was Kakshivati, highly esteemed; her name was Bhadra, unmatched in beauty among mortals.
कामयामासतुस्तौ च परस्परमिति श्रुतम्। स तस्यां कामसंपन्नो यक्ष्मणा समपद्यत
It is heard that the two desired each other; he, fulfilled in love with her, was struck by illness.
तेनाचिरेण कालेन जगामास्तमिवांशुमान्। तस्मिन्प्रेते मनुष्येन्द्रे भार्याऽस्य भृशदुःखिता
Within a short time, like the sun setting, he departed; when the king died, his wife was overwhelmed with grief.
अपुत्रा पुरुषव्याघ्र विललापेति नः श्रुतम्। भद्रा परमदुःखार्ता तन्निबोध जनाधिप
Without a son, O tiger among men, she lamented; Bhadra, deeply afflicted, grieved—hear this, O ruler of people.
नारी परमधर्मज्ञ सर्वा भर्तृविनाकृता। पतिं विना जीवति या न सा जीवति दुःखिता
A woman, though supremely righteous, is incomplete without her husband; one who lives without her spouse does not truly live, but suffers.
पतिं विना मृतं श्रेयो नार्याः क्षत्रियपुंगव।। त्वद्गतिं गन्तुमिच्छामि प्रसीदस्वनयस्वमाम्
It is better for a woman to die than to live without her husband, O foremost of Kshatriyas; I wish to follow your path, be gracious and take me with you.
त्वया हीना क्षणमपि नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे। प्रसादं कुरु मे राजन्नितस्तूर्णं नयस्व माम्
Even for a moment, I cannot bear to live without you; grant me your favor, O king, and swiftly take me from here.
पृष्ठतोऽनुगमिष्यामि समेषु विषमेषु च। त्वामहं नरशार्दूल गच्छन्तमनिवर्तितुम्
I will follow behind you, whether the path is smooth or rough; O tiger among men, I will not turn back as you go.
छायेवानुगता राजन्सततं वशवर्तिनी। भविष्यामि नरव्याघ्र नित्यं प्रियहिते रता
Like a shadow, I will always follow you, obedient; O tiger among men, I will ever be devoted to your pleasure and welfare.
अद्यप्रभृति मां राजन्कष्टा हृदयशोषणाः। आधयोऽभिभविष्यन्ति त्वामृते पुष्करेक्षण
From this day forward, O King, sorrows that dry up the heart will overwhelm me, lotus-eyed one, in your absence.
अभाग्यया मया नूनं वियुक्ताः सहचारिणः। तेन मे विप्रयोगोऽयमुपपन्नस्त्वया सह
Surely, because of my misfortune, my companions have been separated from me; thus, this separation from you has come upon me.
विप्रयुक्ता तु या पत्या मुहूर्तमपि जीवति। दुःखं जीवति सा पापा नरकस्थेव पार्थिव
A woman who, separated from her husband, lives even for a moment, O King, lives in misery—she is wretched, as if dwelling in hell.
संयुक्ता विप्रयुक्ताश्च पूर्वदेहे कृता मया। तदिदं कर्मभिः पापैः पूर्वदेहेषु संचितम्
Unions and separations with husbands were made by me in previous lives; this suffering now is the result of sinful deeds accumulated in former births.