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.
द्वारिणं तापसा ऊचू राजानं च प्रकाशय। ते तु गत्वा क्षणेनैव सभायां विनिवेदिताः
The ascetics said to the gatekeeper, 'Announce us to the king.' They went at once and were presented in the assembly hall.
तं चारणसहस्राणां मुनीनामागमं तदा। श्रुत्वा नागपुरे नॄणां विस्मयः समपद्यत
Hearing then of the arrival of thousands of ascetics and sages, the people of Nagapura were filled with wonder.
मुहूर्तोदित आदित्ये सर्वे बालपुरस्कृताः। सदारास्तापसान्द्रष्टुं निर्ययुः पुरवासिनः
When the sun had risen for a short while, all the townspeople, led by children and with their wives, went out to see the ascetics.
स्त्रीसङ्घाः क्षत्रसङ्घाश्च यानसङ्घसमास्थिताः। ब्राह्मणैः सह निर्जग्मुर्ब्राह्मणानां च योषितः
Groups of women and warriors, some riding in vehicles, together with Brahmanas and the wives of Brahmanas, went out.
तथा विट्शूद्रसङ्घानां महान्यतिकरोऽभवत्। न कश्चिदकरोदीर्ष्यामभवन्धर्मबुद्धयः
Likewise, there was a great crowd of merchants and Shudras; no one felt envy, for all were mindful of righteousness.
तथा भीष्मः शान्तनवः सोमदत्तो।ञथ बाह्लिकः। प्रज्ञाचक्षुश्च राजर्षिः क्षत्ता च विदुरः स्वयम्
So too Bhishma, son of Shantanu, Somadatta, and Bahlikā, the royal sage Prajnachakshu, and Vidura the minister himself,
सा च सत्यवती देवी कौसल्या च यशस्विनी। राजदारैः परिवृता गान्धारी चापि निर्ययौ
And Queen Satyavati, the illustrious Kausalya, surrounded by royal ladies, and Gandhari also went out.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य दायादा दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः। भूषिता भूषणैश्चित्रैः शतसङ्ख्या विनिर्ययुः
The heirs of Dhritarashtra, led by Duryodhana, adorned with various ornaments, numbering in the hundreds, went out.
तान्महर्षिगणान्दृष्ट्वा शिरोभिरभिवाद्य च। उपोपविविशुः सर्वे कौरव्याः सपुरोहिताः
Seeing those great sages, all the Kauravas, along with their priests, bowed their heads in reverence and sat nearby.
तथैव शिरसा भूमावभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च। उपोपविविशुः सर्वे पौरजानपदा अपि
In the same way, after bowing and paying respect with their heads to the ground, all the townspeople and country folk sat nearby.
तमकूजमभिज्ञाय जनौघं सर्वशस्तदा। पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं पाद्येनार्घ्येण च प्रभो
Recognizing that great multitude, all the people then honored them properly, O lord, with water for the feet and offerings.
भीष्मो राज्यं च राष्ट्रं च महर्षिभ्यो न्यवेदयत्। तेषामथो वृद्धतमः प्रत्युत्थाय जटाजिनी। ऋषीणां मतमाज्ञाय महर्षिरिदमब्रवीत्
Bhishma presented the kingdom and the realm to the great sages; then the eldest among them, wearing matted hair and deer skin, after learning the opinion of the sages, spoke these words:
यः स कौरव्यदायादः पाण्डुर्नाम नराधिपः। कामभोगान्परित्यज्य शतशृङ्गमितो गतः
That heir of the Kauravas, the king named Pandu, having renounced pleasures, went from Shatashringa.
राजा भोगान्परित्यज्य तपस्वी संबभूव ह। स यथोक्तं तपस्तेपे पत्रमूलफलाशनः
The king, having given up enjoyments, became an ascetic; he performed the prescribed austerities, living on leaves, roots, and fruits.
पत्नीभ्यां सह धर्मात्मा संचित्कालमतन्द्रितः। तेन वृत्तसमाचारैस्तपसा च तपस्विनः
Together with his wives, the righteous one spent his time without sloth; by his conduct and austerity, he pleased the ascetics.
तोषितास्तापसास्तत्र शतशृङ्गनिवासिनः। स्वर्गलोकं गन्तुकामं तापसाः संनिवार्य तम्
Those ascetics, dwelling on Hundred Peaks, being satisfied with his austerity, restrained him as he wished to go to the heavenly world.
उद्यन्तं सह पत्नीभ्यां विप्रा वचनमब्रुवन्। अनपत्यस्य राजेन्द्र पुण्या लोका न सन्ति ते
As he was departing with his wives, the brahmins spoke to him: 'O king, for one without offspring, there are no blessed worlds.'
तस्माद्धर्मं च वायुं च महेन्द्रं च तथाऽश्विनौ। आराधयस्व राजेन्द्र पत्नीभ्यां सह देवताः
Therefore, O king, worship Dharma, Vayu, Mahendra, and the Ashvins, together with your wives, as deities.
प्रीताः पुत्रान्प्रदास्यन्ति ऋणमुक्तो भविष्यसि। तपसा दिव्यचक्षुष्ट्वात्पश्यामस्ते तथा सुतान्
Pleased, they will grant you sons, and you will be freed from your debts; by our divine vision through austerity, we see such sons for you.
अस्माकं वचनं श्रुत्वा देवानाराधयत्तदा।' ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतस्थस्य तस्य दिव्येन हेतुना
Hearing our words, he then worshipped the gods; as he observed the vow of celibacy, by a divine cause—