तार्क्ष्यश्चारिष्टनेमिश्च गरुडश्चासितध्वजः। अरुणश्चारुणिश्चैव वैनतेया व्यवस्थिताः
Tārkṣya, Ariṣṭanemi, Garuḍa with the dark banner, Aruṇa, Āruṇi, and the sons of Vinatā were present.
तांश्च देवगणान्सर्वांस्तपःसिद्धा महर्षयः। विमानगिर्यग्रगतान्ददृशुर्नेतरे जनाः
All those hosts of gods, perfected in asceticism, the great sages, saw them from the mountain palaces; others did not.
तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं विस्मिता मुनिसत्तमाः। अधिकां स्म ततो वृत्तिमवर्तन्पाण्डवं प्रति
Seeing that great wonder, the foremost sages were astonished; then they increased their attention toward Pāṇḍu.
पाण्डुः प्रीतेन मनसा देवतादीनपूजयत्। पाण्डुना पूजिता देवाः प्रत्यूचुर्नरसत्तमम्
With a joyful mind, Pāṇḍu worshipped the gods and others; the gods, honored by Pāṇḍu, addressed the foremost of men.
प्रादुर्बूतो ह्ययं धर्मो देवतानां प्रसादतः। मातरिश्वा ह्ययं भीमो बलवानरिमर्दनः
This Dharma has appeared through the favor of the gods; Mātariśvā is Bhīma, strong and crusher of enemies.
साक्षादिन्द्रः स्वयं जातः प्रसादाच्च शतक्रतोः। पितृत्वाद्देवतानां हि नास्ति पुण्यतरस्त्वया
Indra himself was born directly, by the grace of Śatakratu; among the gods, none is more blessed in fatherhood than you.
पितॄणामृणनिर्मुक्तः स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यसि पुण्यभाक्। इत्युक्त्वा देवताः सर्वा विप्रजग्मुर्यथागतम्
Freed from the debt to the ancestors, you shall attain heaven and share in merit; having spoken thus, all the deities departed as they had come.
पाण्डुस्तु पुनरेवैनां पुत्रलोभान्महायशाः। प्रादिशद्दर्शनीयार्थी कुन्ती त्वेनमथाब्रवीत्
But Pandu, renowned among men, again, out of longing for sons, addressed her, desiring to see her, and Kunti then spoke to him.
नातश्चतुर्थं प्रसवमापस्त्वपि वदन्त्युत। अतःपरं स्वैरिणी स्याद्बन्धकी पञ्चमे भवेत्
No woman, it is said, should have a fourth birth; after that, she becomes wanton, and with a fifth, she would be considered a courtesan.
स त्वं विद्वन्धर्ममिममधिगम्य कथं नु माम्। अपत्यार्थं समुत्क्रम्य प्रमादादिव भाषसे
So you, learned in dharma, knowing this rule, how can you speak to me, as if in error, about seeking offspring beyond what is proper?
कुन्तीपुत्रेषु जातेषु धृतराष्ट्रात्मजेषु च। मद्रराजसुता पाण्डुं रहो वचनमब्रवीत्
When Kunti's sons were born, and the sons of Dhritarashtra as well, the daughter of the king of Madra spoke privately to Pandu.
न मेऽस्ति त्वयि सन्तापो विगुणेऽपि परन्तप। नावरत्वे वरार्हायाः स्थित्वा चानघ नित्यदा
O subduer of foes, even if you lack virtues, I have no grief because of you; nor have I ever wavered, though I am worthy of a better husband, O sinless one.
गान्धार्याश्चैव नृपते जातं पुत्रशतं तथा। श्रुत्वा न मे तथा दुःखमभवत्कुरुनन्दन
O joy of the Kurus, even when I heard that Gandhari, the queen, had borne a hundred sons, I did not feel such sorrow.
इदं तु मे महद्दुःखं तुल्यतायामपुत्रता। दिष्ट्या त्विदानीं भर्तुर्मे कुन्त्यामप्यस्ति सन्ततिः
But this great grief is mine—my childlessness amidst equals; yet by fortune, now my husband has progeny through Kunti.
यदि त्वपत्यसन्तानं कुन्तिराजसुता मयि। कुर्यादनुग्रहो मे स्यात्तव चापि हितं भवेत्
If Kunti, the royal daughter, would grant me offspring, it would be a favor to me and would also be for your good.
संरम्भो हि सपत्नीत्वाद्वक्तुं कुन्तिसुतां प्रति। यदि तु त्वं प्रसन्नो मे स्वयमेनां प्रचोदय
Because of rivalry between co-wives, there is agitation in speaking to Kunti's son; but if you are pleased with me, urge her yourself.
ममाप्येष सदा माद्रि हृद्यर्थः परिवर्तते। न तु त्वां प्रसहे वक्तुमिष्टानिष्टविवक्षया
This wish, O Madri, always turns in my heart as well; but I cannot bring myself to speak to you, whether for good or ill.
तव त्विदं मतं मत्वा प्रयतिष्याम्यतः परम्। मन्ये ध्रुवं मयोक्ता सा वचनं प्रतिपत्स्यते
But considering your view, I will now make the effort; I think, surely, if I speak, she will accept my words.
ततः कुन्तीं पुनः पाण्डुर्विविक्त इदमब्रवीत्। `अनुगृह्णीष्व कल्याणि मद्रराजसुतामपि।' कुलस्य मम सन्तानं लोकस्य च कुरु प्रियम्
Then Pandu again spoke these words to Kunti in private: 'O blessed one, favor also the daughter of the king of Madra; for the sake of our lineage and for the world's welfare, do what is pleasing.'
मम चापिण्डनाशाय पूर्वेषां च महात्मनाम्। मत्प्रियार्थं च कल्याणि कुरु कल्याणमुत्तमम्
For the sake of my own deliverance from the loss of ancestral offerings, and for the sake of the great souls before me, and for my happiness, O blessed one, do this supreme good.
यशसोऽर्थाय चैव त्वं कुरु कर्म सुदुष्करम्। प्राप्याधिपत्यमिन्द्रेण यज्ञैरिष्टं यशोऽर्थिना
For the sake of fame, do this most difficult act; just as Indra, desiring renown, attained lordship through sacrifices.
तथा मन्त्रविदो विप्रास्तपस्तप्त्वा सुदुष्करम्। गुरूनभ्युपगच्छन्ति यशसोऽर्थाय भामिनि
In the same way, O beautiful one, the Brahmins who know the mantras, having performed severe austerities, approach their teachers for the sake of fame.
तथा राजर्षयः सर्वे ब्राह्मणाश्च तपोधनाः। चक्रुरुच्चावचं कर्म यशसोऽर्थाय दुष्करम्
So too, all royal sages and Brahmins rich in penance have performed various difficult deeds for the sake of fame.
सा त्वं माद्रीं प्लवेनैव तारयैनामनिन्दिते। अपत्यसंविधानेन परां कीर्तिमवाप्नुहि
Therefore, O blameless one, carry Madri across by this means, and by providing her with offspring, attain supreme renown.
धर्मं वै धर्मशास्त्रोक्तं यथा वदसि तत्तथा। तस्मादनुग्रहं तस्याः करोमि कुरुनन्दन
Indeed, what you say is in accordance with the dharma as taught in the scriptures; therefore, O joy of the Kurus, I will grant her my favor.
एवमुक्ताऽब्रवीन्मार्द्रीं सकृच्चिन्तय दैवतम्। तस्मात्ते भविताऽपत्यमनुरूपमसंशयम्
Thus addressed, he said to Mādrī: 'Concentrate your mind just once upon the deity; then you will certainly obtain a child suited to you, without doubt.'
ततो मन्त्रे कृते तस्मिन्विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा। ततो राजसुता स्नाता शयने संविवेश ह
Then, after the prescribed rite was performed according to the ordinance, the royal lady, having bathed, entered her bedchamber.
ततो माद्री विचार्यैका जगाम मनसाऽश्विनौ। तावागम्य सुतौ तस्यां जनयामासतुर्यमौ। नकुलं सहदेवं च रूपेणाप्रतिमौ भुवि
Thereupon Mādrī, reflecting alone, invoked the Aśvins in her mind; they came and begot upon her two sons, Nakula and Sahadeva, unrivaled on earth in beauty.
तथैव तावपि यमौ वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। `धर्मतो भक्तितश्चैव शीलतो विनयैस्तथा
In the same way, a bodiless voice spoke to those twins: 'Through righteousness, devotion, good conduct, and humility—'
सत्वरूपगुणोपेतौ भवतोऽत्यश्विनाविति। मासते तेजसाऽत्यर्थं रूपद्रविणसंपदा
'Endowed with swiftness, beauty, and virtue, you two shall surpass even the Aśvins; you will excel greatly in splendor, appearance, and wealth.'