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—
साक्षाद्धर्मादयं पुत्रस्तत्र जातो युधिष्ठिरः। तथैनं बलिनां श्रेष्ठं तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः
Dharma himself was born there as his son, Yudhishthira; thus, to that great king, the best among the strong—
मातरिश्वा ददौ पुत्रं भीमं नाम महाबलम्। पुरन्दरादयं जज्ञे कुन्त्यां सत्यपराक्रमः
Mātariśvan gave him a son named Bhima, of great might; Purandara was born to Kunti, steadfast in true valor.
अस्मिञ्जाते महेष्वासे पृथामिन्द्रस्तदाऽब्रवीत्। मत्प्रसादादयं जातः कुन्ति सत्यपराक्रमः
When this mighty archer was born, Indra then said to Pritha: 'By my favor, this son is born, O Kunti, steadfast in true valor.'
अजेयानपि जेताऽरीन्देवतादीन्न संशयः।' यस्य कीर्तिर्महेष्वासान्सर्वानभिभविष्यति
He will conquer even the unconquerable enemies and the gods, without doubt; his fame as a mighty archer will surpass all others.
युधिष्ठिरो राजसूयं भ्रातृवीर्यादवाप्स्यति। एष जेता मनुष्यांश्च सर्वान्गन्धर्वराक्षसान्
Yudhishthira will attain the Rajasuya sacrifice through the strength of his brothers; he will conquer all men, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas.
एष दुर्योधनादीनां कौरवाणां च जेष्यति। वीरस्यैतस्य विक्रान्तैर्धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
He will defeat Duryodhana and the Kauravas; by the valorous deeds of this hero, Yudhishthira, son of Dharma—
यक्ष्यते राजसूयाद्यैर्धर्म एव परः सदा।' यौ तु माद्री महेष्वासावसूत पुरुषोत्तमौ
He will perform the Rajasuya and other sacrifices, always devoted to righteousness; and those two mighty archers whom Madri bore—
अश्विभ्यां पुरुषव्याघ्राविमौ तावपि तिष्ठतः। `नकुलः सहदेवश्च तावप्यमिततेजसौ
These two tigers among men were begotten by the Ashvins; Nakula and Sahadeva, both of immeasurable brilliance.
चरता धर्मनित्येन वनवासं यशस्विना। एष पैतामहो वंशः पाण्डुना पुनरुद्धृतः
As this ever-righteous and renowned one dwelt in the forest, the ancestral line of Pandu was thus restored.
पुत्राणां जन्म वृद्धिं च वैदिकाध्ययनानि च। पश्यन्तः सततं पाण्डोः परां प्रीतिमवाप्स्यथ
Witnessing the birth, growth, and Vedic studies of the sons of Pandu, you will always obtain the highest joy.
वर्तमानः सतां वृत्ते पुत्रलाभमवाप च। पितृलोकं गतः पाण्डुरितः सप्तदशेऽहनि
Abiding in the conduct of the virtuous, he obtained sons; Pandu went to the world of the ancestors on the seventeenth day.
तं चितागतमाज्ञाय वैश्वानरमुखे हुतम्। प्रविष्टा पावकं माद्री हित्वा जीवितमात्मनः
Knowing that he had entered the funeral fire, offered into the mouth of Vaishvanara, Madri entered the flames, giving up her own life.
सा गता सह तेनैव पतिलोकमनुव्रता। तस्यास्तस्य च यत्कार्यं क्रियतां तदनन्तरम्
She, devoted to her husband, went with him to the world of her husband; whatever rites are to be performed for her and for him, let them be done thereafter.
पृथां च शरणं प्राप्तां पाण्डवांश्च यशस्विनः। यथावदनुमन्यन्तां धर्मो ह्येष सनातनः
Let Kunti, who has sought refuge, and the illustrious sons of Pandu be duly honored; for this indeed is the eternal law.
इमे तयोः शरीरे द्वे पुत्राश्चेमे तयोर्वराः। क्रियाभिरनुगृह्यन्तां सह मात्रा परंतपाः
Here are the two bodies of them, and these sons, the best of their line; let them, along with their mother, scorcher of foes, be honored with the proper rites.
प्रेतकार्ये निवृत्ते तु पितृमेधं महायशाः। लभतां सर्वधर्मज्ञः पाण्डुः कुरुकुलोद्वहः
When the funeral rites are completed, let Pandu, the illustrious knower of all dharma and the foremost of the Kuru line, receive the ancestral oblation.
एवमुक्त्वा कुरून्सर्वान्कुरूणामेव पश्यताम्। क्षणेनान्तर्हिताः सर्वे तापसा गुह्यकैः सह
Having thus spoken to all the Kurus, and as the Kurus themselves looked on, all the ascetics together with the Guhyakas vanished in an instant.
गन्धर्वनगराकारं तथैवान्तर्हितं पुनः। ऋषिसिद्धगणं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं ते परं ययुः
Having seen the company of sages and perfected beings, who appeared like a city of the Gandharvas and then vanished again, they were filled with great wonder.
पाण्डोर्विदुर सर्वाणि प्रेतकार्याणि कारय। राजवद्राजसिंहस्य माद्र्याश्चैव विशेषतः
O Vidura, perform all the funeral rites for Pandu, the lion among kings, just as for a king, and especially for Madri.
पशून्वासांसि रत्नानि धनानि विविधानि च। पाण्डोः प्रयच्छ माद्र्याश्च येभ्यो यावच्च वाञ्छितम्
Give to whomever desires, as much as they wish, the cattle, garments, jewels, and various kinds of wealth belonging to Pandu and Madri.