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.'
नामानि चक्रिरे तेषां शतशृङ्गनिवासिनः। भक्त्या च कर्मणा चैव तथाऽऽशीर्भिर्विशांपते
The dwellers of Śataśṛṅga gave them their names, O lord of men, with devotion, with deeds, and with blessings.
ज्येष्ठं युधिष्ठिरेत्येवं भीमसेनेति मध्यमम्। अर्जुनेति तृतीयं च कुन्तीपुत्रानकल्पयन्
They named the eldest Yudhiṣṭhira, the middle one Bhīmasena, and the third Arjuna—thus were the sons of Kuntī designated.
पूर्वजं नकुलेत्येवं सहदेवेति चापरम्। माद्रीपुत्रावकथयंस्ते विप्राः प्रीतमानसाः
The elder of Mādrī's sons was called Nakula, and the younger Sahadeva; so spoke those delighted brahmins regarding the sons of Mādrī.
अनुसंवत्सरं जाता अपि ते कुरुसत्तमाः। पाण्डुपुत्रा व्यराजन्त पञ्चसंवत्सरा इव
Though born within a single year, those foremost of the Kurus, the sons of Pāṇḍu, shone as if they were five years apart in age.
महासत्त्वा महावीर्या महाबलपराक्रमाः। पाण्डुर्दृष्ट्वा सुतांस्तांस्तु देवरूपान्महौजसः
Great in spirit, mighty in valor, and possessing immense strength and prowess, Pāṇḍu beheld his sons, radiant as gods.
मुदं परमिकां लेभे ननन्द च नराधिपः। ऋषीणामपि सर्वेषां शतशृङ्गनिवासिनाम्
He attained supreme joy and the king rejoiced; they became dear to all the sages dwelling at Śataśṛṅga.
प्रिया बभूवुस्तासां च तथैव मुनियोषिताम्। कुन्तीमथ पुनः पाण्डुर्माद्र्यर्थे समचोदयत्
They were likewise beloved by the wives of the sages; then Pāṇḍu again urged Kuntī for Mādrī's sake.
तमुवाच पृथा राजन् रहस्युक्ता तदा सती। उक्ता सक्वद्द्वन्द्वमेषा लेभे तेनास्मि वञ्चिता
Then Pṛthā, O king, spoke to him privately: 'I was told that this mantra could be used only once for each deity; thus I have been deceived.'
बिभेम्यस्याः परिभवात्कुस्त्रीणां गतिरिदृशी। नाज्ञासिषमहं मूढा द्वन्द्वाह्वाने फलद्वयम्
'I fear the reproach of women, for such is their fate; I did not know, in my ignorance, that invoking the twins would yield twofold fruit.'
तस्मान्नाहं नियोक्तव्या त्वयैषोऽस्तु वरो मम। एवं पाण्डोः सुताः पञ्च देवदत्ता महाबलाः
Therefore, you must not command me again; let this be my boon. Thus, the five mighty sons of Pāṇḍu were born, given by the gods.