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.
भर्त्रा तु मरणं सार्धं फलवन्नात्र संशयः। युवाभ्यां दुष्करं चैतद्वदन्ति द्विजपुङ्गवाः
There is no doubt that dying together with one's husband bears fruit; yet, O youths, the foremost of twice-born say this is difficult to accomplish.
मृते भर्तरि साध्वी स्त्री ब्रह्मचर्यव्रते स्थिता। यमैश्च नियमैः पूता मनोवाक्कायजैः शुभा
A virtuous woman, after her husband's death, who remains steadfast in the vow of chastity, purified by self-restraint and discipline, and by pure thought, word, and deed—she is auspicious.
भर्तारं चिन्तयन्ती सा भर्तारं निस्तरेच्छुभा। तारितश्चापि भर्ता स्यादात्मा पुत्रस्तथैव च
Thinking of her husband, that auspicious woman can deliver her husband; and the husband, as well as herself and her son, would be saved.
तस्माञ्जीवितमेवैतद्युवयोर्विद्म शोभनम्
Therefore, we consider it best for you both to continue living.
यथा पाण्डोस्तु निर्देशस्तथा विप्रगणस्य च। आज्ञा शिरसि निक्षिप्ता करिष्यामि च तत्तथा
As is the command of Pandu and likewise of the assembly of Brahmins, that order has been placed upon my head, and I shall act accordingly.
यदाद्दुर्भगवन्तोऽपि तन्मन्ये शोभनं परम्। भर्तुश्च मम पुत्राणामात्मनश्च न संशयः
Even when misfortune befalls, I believe this is truly best—for my husband, for my sons, and for myself—there is no doubt.
कुन्ती समर्था पुत्राणां योगक्षेमस्य धारणे। अस्या हि न समा बुद्ध्या यद्यपि स्यादरुन्धती
Kunti is capable of maintaining the welfare and security of her sons; in wisdom, there is none equal to her, not even Arundhati.
कुन्त्याश्च वृष्णयो नाथाः कुन्तिभोजस्तथैव च। नाहं त्वमिव पुत्राणां समर्था धारणे तथा
The Vrishnis and Kuntibhoja are protectors of Kunti; but I am not, like you, able to care for the children in the same way.
साऽहं भर्तारमन्विष्ये संतृप्ता नापि भोगतः। भर्तृलोकस्य तु ज्येष्ठा देवी मामनुमन्यताम्
I, who have not been satisfied with enjoyment, will follow my husband; let the chief queen of the world of husbands grant me permission.
धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य सत्यसन्धस्य धीमतः। पादौ परिचरिष्यामि तथार्याऽद्यानुमन्यताम्
I shall serve at the feet of the righteous, grateful, truthful, and wise one; let the noble lady grant me leave today.