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?
मम हतोर्हि राजाऽयं दिवं राजर्पिसत्तमः। न चैव तादृशी बुद्धिर्बान्धवाश्च न तादृशाः
For my king has been slain, O best of royal sages, and has gone to heaven; neither is my mind such, nor are my kinsmen thus disposed.
न चोत्सहे धारयितुं प्राणान्भर्त्रा विना कृता। तस्मात्तमनुयास्यामि यान्तं वैवस्वतक्षयम्
I am unable to sustain my life without my husband; therefore I shall follow him as he goes to the realm of Vaivasvata.
वर्तेयं न समां वृत्तिं जात्वहं न सुतेषु ते। तथाहि वर्तमानां मामधर्मः संस्पृशेन्महान्
I could never live in the same manner among your children; for if I were to do so, great unrighteousness would touch me.
तस्मान्मे सुतयोर्देवि वर्तितव्यं स्वपुत्रवत्। अन्वेष्यामि च भर्तारं व्रजन्तं यमसादनम्
Therefore, O queen, I must act toward your sons as toward my own; and I will seek my husband as he goes to the abode of Yama.
मां हि कामयमानोऽयं राजा प्रेतवशं गतः। राज्ञः शरीरेण सह मामपीदं कलेवरम्
For this king, desiring me, has gone under the sway of the departed; together with the king’s body, let this body of mine also—
दग्धव्यं सुप्रतिच्छन्नं त्वेतदार्ये प्रियं कुरु। दारकेष्वप्रमत्ता त्वं भवेश्चाभिहिता मया। अतोऽहं न प्रपश्यामि संदेष्टव्यं हितं तव
Be burned, well covered—O noble lady, do this dear thing; be vigilant regarding the children, as I have instructed you; therefore I do not see any advice to give you.
ऋषयस्तान्समाश्वास्य पाण्डवान्सत्यविक्रमान्। ऊचुः कुन्तीं च माद्रीं च समाश्वास्य तपस्विनः
The sages, comforting those truthful and valiant Pandavas, spoke to Kunti and Madri, consoling them, those devoted to austerity.
सुभगे बालपुत्रा तु न मर्तव्यं तथंचन। पाण्डवांश्चापि नेष्यामः कुरुराष्ट्रं परन्तपान्
O fortunate one, with young sons, you must not die in any way; we will take the Pandavas, those scorers of foes, to the land of the Kurus.
अधर्मेष्वर्थजातेषु धृतराष्ट्रश्च लोभवान्। स कदाचिन्न वर्तेत पाण्डवेषु यथाविधि
When unrighteousness arises from greed, Dhritarashtra is covetous; he may at some time not act toward the Pandavas as is proper.
कुन्त्याश्च वृष्णयो नाथाः कुन्तिभोजस्तथैव च। माद्र्याश्च बलिनांश्रेष्ठः शल्यो भ्राता महारथः
Among Kunti’s protectors are the Vrishnis and also Kuntibhoja; among Madri’s, the foremost of the strong, Shalya, her brother, a great chariot-warrior.