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.
संभूताः कीर्तिमन्तश्च कुरुवंशविवर्धनाः। शुभलक्षणसंपन्नाः सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनाः
They were born renowned, enhancers of the Kuru lineage, endowed with auspicious marks, and as delightful to behold as the moon.
सिंहदर्पा महेष्वासाः सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनः। सिंहग्रीवा मनुष्येन्द्रा ववृधुर्देवविक्रमाः
Proud as lions, great archers, moving with lion-like stride, lion-necked, O king of men, they grew up with the might of the gods.
विवर्धमानास्ते तत्र पुण्ये हैमवते गिरौ। विस्मयं जनयामासुर्महर्षीणां समेयुषाम्
As they grew there on the sacred Himalayan mountain, they inspired wonder in the great sages who gathered.
जातमात्रानुपादाय शतशृङ्गनिवासिनः। पाण्डोः पुत्रानमन्यन्त तापसाः स्वानिवात्मजान्
From the moment of their birth, the ascetics dwelling on Śataśṛṅga regarded Pāṇḍu’s sons as their own children.
ततस्तु वृष्णयः सर्वे वसुदेवपुरोगमाः
Then all the Vṛṣṇis, with Vasudeva at their head,
पाण्डुः शापभयाद्भीतः शतशृङ्गमुपेयिवान्। तत्रैव मुनिभिः सार्धं तापसोऽभूत्तपस्विभिः
Pāṇḍu, fearful of the curse, had gone to Śataśṛṅga; there, together with the sages, he lived as an ascetic among ascetics.
शाकमूलफलाहारस्तपस्वी नियतेन्द्रियः। योगध्यानपरो राजा बभूवेति च वादकाः
Sustained by roots, vegetables, and fruits, devoted to austerity and self-restraint, the king became absorbed in yoga and meditation, so it is said.
प्रबुवन्ति स्म बहवस्तच्छ्रुत्वा शोककर्शिताः। पाण्डोः प्रीतिसमायुक्ताः कदा श्रोष्याम संकथाः
Many, hearing this, were afflicted by sorrow, yet filled with affection for Pāṇḍu, they would say, 'When shall we hear news of them?'
इत्येवं कथयन्तस्ते वृष्णयः सह बान्धवैः। पाण्डोः पुत्रागमं श्रुत्वा सर्वे हर्षसमन्विताः
Thus, as the Vṛṣṇis spoke together with their kin, upon hearing of the arrival of Pāṇḍu’s sons, they were all filled with joy.
सभाजयन्तस्तेऽन्योन्यं वसुदेवं वचोऽब्रुवन्। न भवेरन्क्रियाहीनाः पाण्डुपुत्रा महाबलाः
They honored one another and said to Vasudeva, 'May the mighty sons of Pāṇḍu never lack in sacred rites.'