एवमुक्त्वा तदा राजन्मद्रराजसुता शुभा। ददौ कुन्त्यै यमौ माद्री शिरसाऽभिप्रणम्य च
Having spoken thus, O King, the auspicious daughter of the Madra king, Madri, bowed her head to Kunti and entrusted the twins to her.
अभिवाद्य महर्षीन्सा परिष्वज्य च पाण्डवान्। मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय बहुशः पार्थानात्मसुतौ तदा
She saluted the great sages, embraced the Pandavas, and repeatedly kissed her two sons on the head.
हस्ते युधिष्ठिरं गृह्य माद्री वाक्यमभाषत। कुन्ती माता अहं धात्री युष्माकं तु पिता मृतः
Taking Yudhishthira by the hand, Madri spoke these words: 'Kunti is your mother, I am your nurse, and your father is dead.'
युधिष्ठिरः पिता ज्येष्ठश्चतुर्णां धर्मतः सदा। वृद्धाद्युपासनासक्ताः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः
Yudhishthira is the eldest and, by righteousness, always the father among the four; be devoted to serving elders, and steadfast in truth and virtue.
तादृशा न विनश्यन्ति नैव यान्ति पराभवम्। तस्मात्सर्वे कुरुध्वं वै गुरुवृत्तिमतन्द्रिताः
Such ones do not perish nor meet with defeat; therefore, all of you should diligently fulfill your duties to your elders.
ऋषीणां च पृथायाश्च नमस्कृत्य पुनःपुनः। आयासकृपणा माद्री प्रत्युवाच पृथां तदा
Having repeatedly bowed to the sages and to Pritha, sorrowful Madri then addressed Pritha.
ऋषीणां संनिधावेषां यथा वागभ्युदीरिता। दिदृक्षमाणायाः स्वर्गं न ममैषा वृथा भवेत्
In the presence of these sages, as these words have been spoken, let my desire to see heaven not be in vain.
धन्या त्वमसि वार्ष्णेयि नास्ति स्त्री सदृशी त्वया। वीर्यं तेजश्च योगं च माहात्म्यं च यशस्विनाम्
Blessed are you, O daughter of the Vrishni, there is no woman equal to you; your strength, brilliance, discipline, greatness, and the glory of the illustrious are unmatched.
कुन्ति द्रक्ष्यसि पुत्राणां पञ्चानाममितौजसाम्। आर्या चाप्यभिवाद्या च मम पूज्या च सर्वतः
Kunti, you will see your five sons of immeasurable might; and the noble lady, honored and revered by me in every way.
ज्येष्ठा वरिष्ठा त्वं देवि भूषिता स्वगुणैः शुभैः। अभ्यनुज्ञातुमिच्छामि त्वया यावनन्दिनि
You are the eldest and most distinguished, O goddess, adorned with your own auspicious virtues; I wish to receive your permission, O joyful one.
धर्मं स्वर्गं च कीर्तिं च त्वत्कृतेऽहमवाप्नुयाम्। यथा तथा विधत्स्वेह मा च कार्षीर्विचारणां
May I attain righteousness, heaven, and fame because of you; do as you see fit here, and do not hesitate.
बाष्पसंदिग्धया वाचा कुन्त्युवाच यशस्विनी। अनुज्ञाताऽसि कल्याणि त्रिदिवे सङ्गमोऽस्तु ते
With a voice choked by tears, illustrious Kunti said: 'You are permitted, blessed one; may your union be in heaven.'
भर्त्रा सह विशालिक्षि क्षिप्रमद्यैव भामिनि। संगतास्वर्गलोके त्वं रमेथाः शाश्वतीः समाः
With your husband, O wide-eyed and beautiful one, may you quickly today be united in the world of the gods and enjoy eternal years.
ततः पुरोहितः स्नात्वा प्रेतकर्मणि पारगः। हिरण्यशकलानाज्यं तिलं दधि च तण्डुलान्
Then the priest, having bathed and accomplished in funeral rites, brought gold pieces, clarified butter, sesame seeds, curds, and rice grains.
उदकुम्भांश्च परशुं समानीय तपस्विभिः। अश्वमेधाग्निमाहृत्य यथान्यायं समन्ततः
He also brought water pots and an axe, together with ascetics; and, having brought the sacrificial fire as prescribed, arranged everything properly.
काश्यपः कारयामास पाण्डोः प्रेतस्य तां क्रियाम्। पुरोहितोक्तविधिना पाण्डोः पुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
Kashyapa performed the funeral rites for the deceased Pandu; Yudhishthira, son of Pandu, did so according to the instructions of the priest.
तेनाग्निनाऽदहत्पाण्डुं कृत्वा चापि क्रियास्तदा। रुदञ्छोकाभिसंतप्तः पपात भुवि पाण्डवः
With that fire, he burned Pandu and performed the rites; then, overwhelmed by grief and weeping, the son of Pandu fell to the ground.
ऋषीन्पुत्रान्पृथां चैव विसृज्य च नृपात्मज।' नमस्कृत्य चिताग्निस्थं धर्मपत्नी नरर्षभम्
Having taken leave of the sages, the sons, and Pritha, the prince bowed to the bull among men, his lawful wife, who was on the funeral pyre.
मद्रराजसुता तूर्णमन्वारोहद्यशस्विनी
The illustrious daughter of the king of Madra quickly mounted after him.
अहताम्बरसंवीतो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघः। उदकं कृतवांस्तत्र पुरोहितमते स्थितः
Clad in untorn garments, pure, together with his brothers, he performed the water-rite there, following the priest's instructions.
अर्हतस्तस्य कृत्यानि शतशृङ्गनिवासिनः। तापसा विधिवच्चक्रुश्चारणा ऋषिभिः सह
The ascetics dwelling at Shataśṛṅga, worthy of honor, together with the sages and the Charanas, performed all the proper rites for him.
पाण्डोरुपरमं दृष्ट्वा देवकल्पा महर्षयः। ततो मन्त्रविदः सर्वे मन्त्रयांचक्रिरे मिथः
Seeing Pandu's passing, the great sages, equal to the gods, all versed in sacred formulas, conferred together.
हित्वा राज्यं च राष्ट्रं च स महात्मा महायशाः। अस्मिंस्थाने तपस्तप्त्वा तापसाञ्शरणं गतः
Having renounced the kingdom and the realm, that great-souled, illustrious one performed austerities here and took refuge among the ascetics.
स जातमात्रान्पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च भवतामिह। प्रादायोपनिधिं राजा पाण्डुः स्वर्गमितो गतः
Having entrusted his newborn sons and wives to you here, King Pandu has departed from this world to heaven.
तस्येमानात्मजान्देहं भार्यां च सुमहात्मनः। स्वराष्ट्रं गृह्य गच्छामो धर्म एष हि नः स्मृतः
Let us take the sons, the body, and the wife of that great-souled one, and his own kingdom; for this is the duty remembered by us.
ते परस्परमामन्त्र्य देवकल्पा महर्षयः। पाण्डोः पुत्रान्पुरस्कृत्य नगरं नागसाह्वयम्
Thus, having taken counsel with one another, the great sages, equal to the gods, set out for the city named Nagasahvaya, placing Pandu's sons at the forefront.
उदारमनसः सिद्धा गमने चक्रिरे मनः। भीष्माय पण्डवान्दातुं धृतराष्ट्राय चैव हि
Those accomplished sages, generous in heart, set their minds on going to give the Pandavas to Bhishma and also to Dhritarashtra.
तस्मिन्नेव क्षणे सर्वे तानादाय प्रतस्थिरे। पाण्डोर्दारांश्च पुत्रांश्च शरीरे ते च तापसाः
At that very moment, all of them departed, taking with them Pandu's wives and sons, and those ascetics in their bodies.
सुखिनी सा पुरा भूत्वा सततं पुत्रवत्सला। प्रपन्ना दीर्घमध्वानं संक्षिप्तं तदमन्यत
She, who was once always happy and devoted to her sons, now entered upon a long journey, which seemed to her to be short.
सा त्वदीर्घेण कालेन संप्राप्ता कुरुजाङ्गलम्। वर्धमानपुरद्वारमाससाद यशस्विनी
After a long time, that illustrious lady reached the land of the Kurus and arrived at the gate of the city of Vardhamana.