इति पुत्रशतं राजन्कन्या चैव शताधिका। नामधेयानुपूर्व्येण विद्धि जन्मक्रमं नृप
Thus, O King, there were a hundred sons and, in addition, a hundred and one daughters; know their names and order of birth as I have recounted.
सर्वे त्वतिरथाः शूराः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः। सर्वे वेदविदश्चैव सर्वे सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः
All were great chariot-warriors, all were valiant, all were skilled in battle, all were learned in the Vedas, and all were adept in every weapon.
सर्वेषामनुरूपाश्च कृता दारा महीपते। धृतराष्ट्रेण समये परीक्ष्य विविवन्नृप
For each, O King, suitable spouses were chosen by Dhritarashtra at the proper time, after careful consideration.
दुःशलां चापि समये धृतराष्ट्रो नराधिपः। जयद्रथाय प्रददौ विधिना भरतर्षभ
And at the proper time, King Dhritarashtra gave Duḥśalā, his daughter, to Jayadratha, according to custom, O best of the Bharatas.
इति पुत्रशतं राजन्युयुत्सुश्च शताधिकः। कन्यका दुःशला चैव यथावत्कीर्तितं मया
Thus, O King, there were a hundred sons, and Yuyutsu made one more than a hundred; and the daughter Duḥśalā, as I have duly recounted.
जाते बलवतां श्रेष्ठे पाण्डुश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत्। कथमन्यो मम सुतो लोके श्रेष्ठो भवेदिति
When the best among the strong was born, Pandu became anxious, wondering how another of his sons might become the greatest in the world.
दैवे पुरुषकारे च लोकोऽयं संप्रतिष्ठितः। तत्र दैवं तु विधिना कालयुक्तेन लभ्यते
This world stands upon both fate and human effort; yet fate is attained only by the ordained course of time.
इन्द्रो हि राजा देवानां प्रधान इति नः श्रुतम्। अप्रमेयबलोत्साहो वीर्यवानमितद्युतिः
We have heard that Indra is the king and foremost among the gods, possessing immeasurable strength and energy, valor, and boundless radiance.
तं तोषयित्वा तपसा पुत्रं लप्स्ये महाबलम्। यं दास्यति स मे पुत्रं स वीरयान्भविष्यति
By pleasing him through austerity, I shall obtain a son of great might; the son whom he grants me will be endowed with heroism.
अमानुषान्मानुषांश्च संग्रामे स हनिष्यति। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तस्मात्तप्स्ये महत्तपः
He will slay both superhuman and human foes in battle, by deed, thought, and word; therefore, I shall undertake great austerity.
ततः पाण्डुर्महाराजो मन्त्रयित्वा महर्षिभिः। दिदेश कुन्त्याः कौरव्यो व्रतं सांवत्सरं शुभम्
Then King Pandu, after consulting with great sages, instructed Kunti, O Kaurava, to observe a sacred vow for a year.
आत्मना च महाबाहुरेकपादस्थितोऽभवत्। उग्रं स तप आस्थाय परमेण समाधिना
And he himself, mighty-armed, stood on one foot, engaging in fierce austerity with supreme concentration.
आरिराधयिषुर्देवं त्रिदशानां तमीश्वरम्। सूर्येण सह धर्मात्मा पर्यतप्यत भारत
Desiring to propitiate that Lord of the gods, the righteous one performed austerities together with the Sun, O Bharata.
पुत्रं तव प्रदास्यामि त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
I will grant you a son, renowned throughout the three worlds.
ब्राह्मणानां गवां चैव सुहृदां चार्थसाधकम्। दुर्हृदां शोकजननं सर्वबान्धवनन्दनम्
He will bring benefit to Brahmanas, cows, and friends; he will cause grief to the wicked, and delight all his relatives.
सुतं तेऽग्र्यं प्रदास्यामि सर्वामित्रविनाशनम्। इत्युक्तः कारैवो राजा वासवेन महात्मना
I will give you a foremost son, destroyer of all enemies—so spoke the great Indra to King Kunti's husband.
उवाच कुन्तीं धर्मात्मा देवराजवचः स्मरन्। उदर्कस्तव कल्याणि तुष्टो देवगणेश्वरः
Remembering the words of the king of the gods, the righteous one spoke to Kunti: 'O blessed one, the Lord of the gods is pleased with you.'
दातुमिच्छति ते पुत्रं यथा संकल्पितं त्वया। अतिमानुषकर्माणं यशस्विनमरिन्दमम्
He wishes to give you a son, just as you have desired—one of superhuman deeds, famed, and unconquerable by foes.
नीतिमन्तं महात्मानमादित्यसमतेजसम्। दुराधर्षं क्रियावन्तमतीवाद्भुतदर्शनम्
A son possessing virtue, great soul, brilliance equal to the Sun, difficult to defeat, accomplished in action, and of wondrous appearance.
पुत्रं जनय सुश्रोणि धाम क्षत्रियतेजसाम्। लब्धः प्रसादो देवेन्द्रात्तमाह्वय शुचिस्मिते
Bear a son, O fair-hipped one, the very abode of Kshatriya energy; having gained the favor of Indra, name him thus, O pure-smiled one.
एवमुक्ता ततः शक्रमाजुहाव यशस्विनी। अथाजगाम देवेन्द्रो जनयामास चार्जुनम्
Thus addressed, the illustrious Kunti invoked Shakra; then Indra, lord of the gods, came and begot Arjuna.
उत्तराभ्यां तु पूर्वाभ्यां फल्गुनीभ्यां ततो दिवा। जातस्तु फाल्गुने मासि तेनासौ फल्गुनःस्मृतः
When the lunar asterisms Uttarā and Pūrvā Phalgunī were in conjunction during the day, he was born in the month of Phalguna; therefore he is called Phalguna.
जातमात्रे कुमारे तु `सर्वभूतप्रहर्षिणी। सूतके वर्तमानां तां' वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। महागम्भीरनिर्घोषा नभो नादयती तदा
At the very moment the boy was born, a bodiless voice, deep and resonant, resounded in the sky, bringing joy to all beings and addressing Kunti, who was in the period of impurity.
शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानां तेषां चाश्रमवासिनाम्। कुन्तीमाभाष्य विस्पष्टमुवाचेदं शुचिस्मिताम्
Heard by all beings and the residents of the hermitage, that voice clearly spoke to Kunti, the pure-smiled one.
कार्तवीर्यसमः कुन्ति शिवतुल्यपराक्रमः। एष शक्र इवाजय्यो यशस्ते प्रथयिष्यति
'O Kunti, he will be equal to Kartavirya, with prowess like Shiva; unconquerable like Shakra, he will spread your fame.'
अदित्या विष्णुना प्रीतिर्यथाऽभूदभिवर्धिता। तथा विष्णुसमः प्रीतिं वर्धयिष्यति तेऽर्जुनः
'As Aditi's joy was increased by Vishnu, so too will Arjuna, equal to Vishnu, increase your happiness.'
एष मद्रान्वशे कृत्वा कुरूंश्च सह सोमकैः। चेदिकाशिकरूषांश्च कुरुलक्ष्मीं वहिष्यति
'He will subdue the Madras, the Kurus along with the Somakas, and the Cedis, Kasis, and Karushas, and will uphold the glory of the Kurus.'
एतस्य भुजवीर्येण खाण्डवे हव्यवाहनः। मेदसा सर्वभूतानां तृप्तिं यास्यति वै पराम्
'By the strength of his arms, in Khandava, Agni will attain supreme satisfaction with the fat of all beings.'
ग्रामणीश्च महीपालानेष जित्वा महाबलः। भ्रातृभिः सहितो वीरस्त्रीन्मेधानाहरिष्यति
'This mighty hero, having conquered the foremost kings, will, together with his brothers, perform three great sacrifices.'
जामदग्न्यसमः कुन्ति विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमः। एष वीर्यवतां श्रेष्ठो भविष्यति महायशाः
'O Kunti, he will be equal to Jamadagni's son, with valor like Vishnu; he will be the foremost among the mighty, and attain great fame.'