सौप्तिकैषीकसंबन्धे पर्वण्युत्तमतेजसी। अत ऊर्ध्वमिदं प्राहुः स्त्रीपर्व करुणोदयम्
In this most radiant book, concerning the Sauptika and Īṣīka episodes, thereafter they speak of the Strī Parva, the rise of compassion.
पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तः प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्नराधिपः। कृष्णोपनीतां यत्रासावायसीं प्रतिमां दृढां
The king, his wisdom and sight overcome by grief for his sons, there beheld the iron image, firm, brought by Kṛṣṇa.
भीमसेनद्रोहबुद्धिर्धृतराष्ट्रो बभञ्जह। तथा शोकाभितप्तस्य धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः
The treacherous intent of Bhimasena broke the spirit of Dhritarashtra; thus, the wise Dhritarashtra was consumed by grief.
संसारदहनं बुद्ध्या हेतुभिर्मोक्षदर्शनैः। विदुरेण च यत्रास्य राज्ञ आश्वासनं कृतम्
There, Vidura comforted the king, who was scorched by the fire of worldly sorrow, with words of wisdom and teachings on liberation.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य चात्रैव कौरवायोधनं तथा। सान्तःपुरस्य गमनं शोकार्तस्य प्रकीर्तितम्
Here, too, is described the departure of Dhritarashtra and the Kaurava Yuyutsu, along with the royal household, as they were afflicted by grief.
विलापो वीरपत्नीनां यत्रातिकरुणः स्मृतः। क्रोधावेशः प्रमोहश्च गान्धारीधृतराष्ट्रयोः
There is remembered the exceedingly sorrowful lamentation of the heroes' wives, as well as the rage and bewilderment of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra.
यत्र तान्क्षत्रियाः शूरान्सङ्ग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः। पुत्रान्भ्रातृन्पितॄंश्चैव ददृशुर्निहतान्रणे
There, the Kshatriyas saw their sons, brothers, and fathers—valiant warriors who never turned from battle—lying slain on the field.
पुत्रपौत्रवधार्तायास्तथात्रैव प्रकीर्तिता। गान्धार्याश्चापि कृष्णेन क्रोधोपशमनक्रिया
Also recounted here is the anguish of Gandhari, stricken by the deaths of her sons and grandsons, and Krishna's act to pacify her wrath.
यत्र राजा महाप्राज्ञः सर्वधर्मभृतां वरः। राज्ञांतानि शरीराणि दाहयामास शास्त्रतः
There, the great and wise king, foremost among upholders of dharma, performed the scriptural rites of cremation for the bodies of the kings.
तोयकर्मणि चारब्धे राज्ञामुदकदानिके। गूढोत्पन्नस्य चाख्यानं कर्णस्य पृथयात्मनः
When the water-offering rites for the kings began, the secret birth of Karna, son of Pritha, was revealed.
सुतस्यैतदिह प्रोक्तं व्यासेन परमर्षिणा। एतदेकादशं पर्व शोकवैक्लव्यकारणम्
All this concerning her son was narrated here by the supreme sage Vyasa; this is the eleventh book, the cause of sorrow and distress.
प्रणीतं सज्जनमनोवैक्लव्याश्रुप्रवर्तकम्। सप्तविंशतिरध्यायाः पर्वण्यस्मिन्प्रकीर्तिताः
Composed to stir tears and move the hearts of the virtuous, this book is said to contain twenty-seven chapters.
श्लोकसप्तशती चापि पञ्चसप्ततिसंयुता। संख्यया भारताख्यानमुक्तं व्यासेन धीमता
And there are seven hundred and seventy-five verses; thus, the wise Vyasa has recounted the tale called the Bharata.
अतः परं शान्तिपर्व द्वादशं बुद्धिवर्धनम्। यत्र निर्वेदमापन्नो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
After this comes the twelfth book, the Shanti Parva, which increases wisdom, where King Yudhishthira, overcome by dispassion—
घातयित्वा पितॄन्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्संबन्धिमातुलान्। शान्तिपर्वणि धर्माश्च व्याख्याताःशारतल्पिकाः
Having caused the death of fathers, brothers, sons, kinsmen, and uncles, the laws of righteousness are explained in the Shanti Parva, as taught by Sharatalpika.
राजभिर्वेदितव्यास्ते सम्यग्ज्ञानबुभुत्सुभिः। आपद्धर्माश्च तत्रैव कालहेतुप्रदर्शिनः
Those laws, which should be known by kings who seek true knowledge, are set forth there, as well as the duties in times of distress, explained according to time and circumstance.
यान्बुद्ध्वा पुरुषः सम्यक्सर्वज्ञत्वमवाप्नुयात्। मोक्षधर्माश्च कथिता विचित्रा बहुविस्तराः
By understanding these, a person may truly attain omniscience; also, the diverse and extensive teachings on the laws of liberation are expounded.
द्वादशं पर्व निर्दिष्टमेतत्प्राज्ञजनप्रियम्। अत्र पर्वणि विज्ञेयमध्यायानां शतत्रयम्
This twelfth book, beloved of the wise, is thus designated; in this book, three hundred chapters are to be known.
विंशच्चैव तथाध्याया नव चैव तपोधाः। चतुर्दशसहस्राणि तथा सप्तशतानि च
And there are also twenty-nine chapters, and nine concerning asceticism, and fourteen thousand seven hundred verses.
सप्तश्लोकास्तथैवात्र पञ्चविंशतिसंख्यया। अत ऊर्ध्वं च विज्ञेयमनुशासनमुत्तमम्
And here, too, there are seven verses, numbering twenty-five; beyond this, one should know the supreme Anushasana.
यत्र प्रकृतिमापन्नः श्रुत्वा धर्मविनिश्चयम्। भीष्माद्भागीरथीपुत्रात्कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः
There, having assumed his natural disposition, King Yudhishthira of the Kurus, after hearing the determination of righteousness from Bhishma, the son of Bhagirathi—
व्यवहारोऽत्र कार्त्स्न्येन धर्मार्थीयः प्रकीर्तितः। विविधानां च दानानां फलयोगाः प्रकीर्तिताः
Here, the procedures of legal practice in their entirety, relating to righteousness and wealth, are described; and also the results connected with various kinds of gifts are declared.
तथा पात्रविशेषाश्च दानानां च परो विधिः। आचारविधियोगश्च सत्यस्य च परा गतिः
Likewise, the special recipients of gifts and the supreme rule regarding giving are set forth, as well as the proper conduct and discipline, and the highest course of truth.
महाभाग्यं गवां चैव ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च। रहस्यं चैव धर्माणां देशकालोपसंहितम्
The great merit of cows, and likewise of Brahmanas, is explained here; also the secret of righteousness, together with its relation to place and time.
एतत्सुबहुवृत्तान्तमुत्तमं चानुशासनम्। भीष्मस्यात्रैव संप्राप्तिः स्वर्गस्य परिकीर्तिता
This, containing many narratives and excellent instruction, is described here; and Bhishma’s attainment of heaven is also recounted in this section.
एतत्त्रयोदशं पर्व धर्मनिश्चयकारकम्। अध्यायानां शतं त्वत्र षट्चत्वारिंशदेव तु
This is the thirteenth book, which establishes the determination of righteousness; it contains exactly one hundred and forty-six chapters.
श्लोकानां तु सहस्राणि प्रोक्तान्यष्टौ प्रसंख्यया। ततोऽश्वमेधिकं नाम पर्व प्रोक्तं चतुर्दशम्
There are, by count, eight thousand verses declared here; after this, the fourteenth book called the Ashvamedhika is described.
तत्संवर्तमरुत्तीयं यत्राख्यानमनुत्तमम्। सुवर्णकोशसंप्राप्तिर्जन्म चोक्तं परीक्षितः
Its content is the story of Samvarta and Marutta, an excellent narrative; the acquisition of the golden treasury, and the birth of Parikshit are told.
दग्धस्यास्त्राग्निना पूर्वं कृष्णात्संजीवनं पुनः। चर्यायां हयमुत्सृष्टं पाण्डवस्यानुगच्छतः
The revival of the one previously burned by the weapon-fire through Krishna, and the horse released for the rite, followed by the journey of the Pandava in pursuit, are described.
तत्र तत्र च युद्धानि राजपुत्रैरमर्षणैः। चित्राङ्गदायाः पुत्रेण स्वपुत्रेण धनंजयः
There, in various places, battles with unyielding princes are narrated; Dhananjaya with the son of Chitrangada, and with his own son.