तं तथा शायिनं पुत्रा ऋषयः सह चारणैः। अभ्येत्य सहिताः सर्वे शोकादश्रूण्यवर्तयन्
The sons, together with the sages and celestial singers, approached him as he lay thus, and all, overwhelmed by grief, shed tears.
अस्तं गतमिवादित्यं संशुष्कमिव सागरम्। दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुं नरव्याघ्रं शोचन्ति स्म महर्षयः
Seeing Pāṇḍu, tiger among men, as if the sun had set, as if the ocean had dried up, the great sages grieved.
समानशोका ऋषयः पाण्डवाश्च बभूविरे। ते समाश्वासिते विप्रैर्विलेपतुरनिन्दिते
The sages and the Pāṇḍavas shared the same grief; comforted by the wise, they lamented the blameless ones.
हा राजन्कस्य नो हित्वा गच्छसि त्रिदशालयम्। हा राजन्मम मन्दायाः कथं माद्रीं समेत्य वै
Alas, O king, for whose sake do you leave us and go to the abode of the gods? Alas, O king, how, meeting Mādrī, did you—
निधनं प्राप्तवान्राजन्मद्भाग्यपरिसंक्षयात्। युधिष्ठिरं भीमसेनमर्जुनं च यमावुभौ
O King, having reached his end due to the exhaustion of my good fortune, Pandu has departed, leaving behind Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the twin sons.
कस्य हित्वा प्रियान्पुत्रान्प्रयातोऽसि विशांपते। नूनं त्वां त्रिदशा देवाः प्रतिनन्दन्ति भारत
For whose sake, O lord of the people, have you abandoned your beloved sons and departed? Surely, the gods are now welcoming you, O descendant of Bharata.
यतो हि तप उग्रं वै चरितं ब्रह्मसंसदि। आवाभ्यां सहितो राजन्गमिष्यसि दिवं शुभम्
Because you performed severe austerities in the assembly of Brahman, O King, together with us you will attain the blessed heavens.
आजमीढाजमीढानां कर्मणा चरतां गतिम्। ननु नाम सहावाभ्यां गमिष्यामीति यत्त्वया
The path attained by the Ajamīḍhas through their deeds—surely, you said you would go there together with us.
प्रतिज्ञाता कुरुश्रेष्ठ यदाऽस्मि वनमागता। आवाभ्यां चैव सहितो गमिष्यसि विशांपते। मुहूर्तं क्षम्यतां राजन्द्रक्ष्येऽहं च मुखं तव
O best of the Kurus, when I came to the forest, you promised that you would go together with us, O lord of the people. Grant me a moment, O King, so I may see your face.
विलपित्वा भृशं चैव निःसंज्ञे पतिते भुवि। यथा हते मृगे मृग्यौ लुब्धैर्वनगते तथा
Lamenting greatly, she fell unconscious to the ground, just as a hunted deer collapses in the forest when struck by hunters.
युधिष्ठिरमुखाः सर्वे पाण्डवा वेदपरागाः। तेऽभ्यागत्य पितुर्मूले निःसंज्ञाः पतिता भुवि
All the Pandavas, led by Yudhishthira and devoted to the Vedas, came to their father's side and fell unconscious to the ground.
पाण्डोः पादौ परिष्वज्य विलपन्ति स्म पाण्डवाः। हा विनष्टाः स्म तातेति हा अनाथा भवामहे
Embracing Pandu's feet, the Pandavas lamented, 'Alas, we are destroyed, father! Alas, we are left without protection!'
त्वद्विहीना महाप्राज्ञ कथं जीवाम बालकाः। लोकनाथस्य पुत्राः स्मो न सनाथा भवामहे
Deprived of you, O great and wise one, how shall we children live? Though we are sons of the lord of the world, we are now without a protector.
क्षणेनैव महाराज अहो लोकस्य चित्रता। नास्मद्विधा राजपुत्रा अधन्याः सन्ति भारत
In a single moment, O great king, see the strangeness of the world: there are no princes as unfortunate as us, O descendant of Bharata.
त्वद्विनाशाच्च राजेन्द्र राज्यप्रस्खलनात्तदा। पाण्डवाश्च वयं सर्वे प्राप्ताः स्म व्यसनं महत्
Because of your death, O king, and the loss of the kingdom, all of us Pandavas have now fallen into great misfortune.
किं करिष्यामहे राजन्कर्तव्यं च प्रसीदताम्
What shall we do, O king? What is to be done? Please show us your favor.
त्वया लब्धाः स्म राजेन्द्र महता तपसा वयम्। हित्वा मानं वनं गत्वा स्वयमाहृत्य भक्षणम्
By your great austerity, O king, you obtained us; giving up pride, you went to the forest and yourself gathered food for us.
शाकमूलफलैर्वन्यैर्भरणं वै त्वया कृतम्। पुत्रानुत्पाद्य पितरो यमिच्छ्ति महातम्नः
With wild vegetables, roots, and fruits, you sustained us; fathers who desire greatness wish for sons like you.
त्रिवर्गफलमिच्छन्तस्तस्य कालोऽयमागतः। अभुक्त्वैव फलं राजन्गन्तुं नार्हसि भारत
Desiring the fruit of the three goals of life, now that time has come; O king, you should not depart, O descendant of Bharata, without enjoying that fruit.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा पितरं भीमोऽपि विललाप
Having spoken thus to their father, Bhima also lamented.
प्रनष्टं भारतं वंशं पाण्डुना पुनरुद्धृतम्। तस्मिंस्तदा वनगते नष्टं राज्यमराजकम्
The Bharata dynasty, once destroyed, was restored by Pandu; when he went to the forest, the kingdom was lost and left without a ruler.
पुनर्निःसारितं क्षत्रं पाण्डुपुत्रैश्च पञ्चभिः। एतच्छ्रुत्वाऽनुमोदित्वा गन्तुमर्हसि शङ्कर
Once again, the kshatriya order was expelled, but restored by Pandu's five sons; hearing and approving this, you should now depart, O Shankara.
दुःसहं च तपः कृत्वा लब्ध्वा नो भरतर्षभ
Having performed arduous austerities, we obtained you, O best of the Bharatas.
पुत्रलाभस्य महतः शुश्रूषादिफलं त्वया। न चावाप्तं किंचिदेव पुरा दशरथो यथा
Yet the fruit of great attainment—such as service and the like—has not been gained by you; nor was it ever gained before, as in the case of Dasharatha.
एवमुक्त्वा यमौ चापि विलेपतुरथातुरौ
Having spoken thus, the two Yamas, afflicted, began to lament.
अहं ज्येष्ठा धर्मपत्नी ज्येष्ठं धर्मफलं मम। अवश्यं भाविनो भावान्मा मां माद्रि निवर्तय
I am the eldest lawful wife; the highest fruit of righteousness is mine; what is destined must surely come to pass—O Madri, do not restrain me.
अन्विष्यामीह भर्तारमहं प्रेतवशं गतम्। उत्तिष्ठ त्वं विसृज्यैनमिमान्रक्षस्व दारकान्
I will seek my husband here, who has gone under the sway of the departed; arise, abandon this, and protect these children.
अवाप्य पुत्रांल्लब्धार्थान्वीरपत्नीत्वमर्थये
Having obtained sons and fulfilled my purpose, I now seek the state of a hero’s wife.
अहमेवानुयास्यामि भर्तारमपलापिनम्। न हि तृप्ताऽस्मि कामानां ज्येष्ठा मामनुमन्यताम्
I alone will follow my husband, who has departed; I am not satisfied with desires—O elder, let me be permitted.
मां चाभिगम्य क्षीणोऽयं कामाद्भरतसत्तमः। समुच्छिद्यामि तत्कामं कथं नु यमसादने
Having approached me, this best of the Bharatas is exhausted by desire; how then shall I sever that desire in the abode of Yama?