सर्वा मातॄस्तथाऽऽपृच्छ्य कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम्। प्रकृतीरपि सर्वाश्च प्रययुर्वारणावतम्
They took leave of all their mothers, circumambulated them, and departed for Varanavata along with all their people.
विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञस्तथाऽन्ये कुरुपुङ्गवाः। पौराश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रानन्वीयुः शोककर्शिताः
Vidura, the wise one, and other eminent Kurus, as well as the citizens, followed the tiger-like men, afflicted by sorrow.
तत्र केचिद्ब्रुवन्ति स्म ब्राह्मणा निर्भयास्तदा। दीनान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुसुतानतीव भृशदुःखिताः
There, some fearless Brahmins spoke, seeing the Pandava sons so distressed and deeply afflicted.
विषमं पश्यते राजा सर्वथा स सुमन्दधीः। कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रस्तु न च धर्मं प्रपश्यति
The king, with very poor judgment, acts unjustly in every way; Kaurava Dhritarashtra does not see righteousness.
न हि पापमपापात्मा रोचयिष्यति पाण्डवः। भीमो वा बलिनां श्रेष्ठः कौन्तेयो वा धनञ्जयः
For the pure-hearted Pandava will never choose evil, nor Bhima, the foremost of the strong, nor Arjuna, son of Kunti.
कुत एव महात्मानौ माद्रीपुत्रौ करिष्यतः। तान्राज्यं पितृतः प्राप्तान्धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यति
How much less, then, would the noble sons of Madri act so? Dhritarashtra cannot tolerate that they have inherited the kingdom from their father.
अधर्म्यमिदमत्यन्तं कथं भीष्मोऽनुमन्यते। विवास्यमानानस्थाने नगरे योऽभिमन्यते
How is it that Bhishma approves this utterly unrighteous act—he who supports the expulsion of those who have rightful place in the city?
पितेव हि नृपोऽस्माकमभूच्छान्तनवः पुरा। विचित्रवीर्यो राजर्षिः पाण्डुश्च कुरुनन्दनः
For Shantanu, the king, was once like a father to us, as was the royal sage Vichitravirya and Pandu, O joy of the Kurus.
स तस्मिन्पुरुषव्याघ्रे देवभावं गते सति। राजपुत्रानिमान्बालान्धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यति
Now that that tiger among men has attained a divine state, Dhritarashtra cannot bear these young princes, his nephews.
वयमेतदनिच्छन्तः सर्व एव पुरोत्तमात्। गृहान्विहाय गच्छामो यत्र गन्ता युधिष्ठिरः
All of us, unwilling, shall leave our homes and follow wherever Yudhishthira goes, O best of the city-dwellers.
तांस्तथा वादिनः पौरान्दुःकितान्दुःखकर्शितः। उवाच मनसा ध्यात्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
To those citizens, speaking thus in sorrow and worn by grief, King Yudhishthira, pondering in his mind, spoke these words.
पिता मान्यो गुरुः श्रेष्ठो यदाह पृथिवीपतिः। अशङ्कमानैस्तत्कार्यमस्माभिरिति नो व्रतम्
The king, our father, is to be honored, the highest teacher; whatever he commands, we must do without hesitation—such is our vow.
भवन्तः सुहृदोऽस्माकं यात कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। प्रतिनन्द्य तथाऽऽशीर्भिर्निवर्तध्वं यथागृहम्
You are our friends; after circling us in respect and blessing us, return to your homes.
यदा तु कार्यमस्माकं भवद्भिरुपपत्स्यते। तदा करिष्यथास्माकं प्रियाणि च हितानि च
When the time comes that we need your help, then you shall do for us what is dear and beneficial.
एवमुक्तास्तदा पौराः कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्। आशीर्भिश्चाभिनन्द्यैताञ्जग्मुर्नगरमेव हि
Thus addressed, the citizens circumambulated them, blessed them, and then returned to the city.
पौरेषु विनिवृत्तेषु विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। बोधयन्पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमिदंवचनमब्रवीत्
When the citizens had departed, Vidura, knower of all dharma, spoke these words to the foremost Pandava, to instruct him.
प्राज्ञः प्राज्ञं प्रलापज्ञः प्रलापज्ञमिदं वचः। यो जानाति परप्रज्ञां नीतिशास्त्रानुसारिणीम्। विज्ञायेह तथा कुर्यादापदं निस्तरेद्यथा
The wise man speaks to the wise, the eloquent to the eloquent; one who knows another’s mind, following the science of polity, should act accordingly, so as to overcome adversity.
अलोहं निशितं शस्त्रं शरीपरिकर्तनम्। यो वेत्ति न तु तं घ्नन्ति प्रतिघातविदं द्विषः
One who knows of a sharp, iron weapon meant to cut the body, but also knows how to counter it, is not slain by his enemies.
कक्षघ्नः शिशिरघ्नश्च महाकक्षे बिलौकसः। न दहेदिति चात्मानं यो रक्षति स जीवति
He who lives in a great hollow, escaping the destroyer of hollows and the destroyer of cold, and protects himself so as not to be burned, survives.
नाचक्षुर्वेत्ति पन्थानं नाचक्षुर्विन्दते दिशः। नाधृतिर्भूतिमाप्नोति बुध्यस्वैवं प्रबोधितः
The eye does not know the path, nor does it find the directions; without resolve, one does not attain prosperity—understand this, having been instructed.
अनाप्तैर्दत्तमादत्ते नरः शस्त्रमलोहजम्। श्वाविच्छरणमासाद्य प्रमुच्येत हुताशनात्
A man may take up a weapon of iron given by strangers; reaching a dog’s shelter, he may escape from the blazing fire.
चरन्मार्गान्विजानाति नक्षत्रैर्विन्दते दिशः। आत्मना चात्मनः पञ्च पीडयन्नानुपीड्यते
By traveling the paths, one learns them; by the stars, one finds the directions; by restraining his own five senses, a man is not overcome.
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। विदुरं विदुषां श्रेष्ठं ज्ञातमित्येव पाण्डवः
Having been spoken to in this way, King Yudhishthira, the lord of dharma, replied to Vidura, the foremost among the wise, saying, 'It is understood,' thus spoke the son of Pandu.
अनुशिक्ष्यानुगम्यैतान्कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम्। पाण्डवानभ्यनुज्ञाय विदुरः प्रययौ गृहान्
After instructing and following them, and circumambulating them, Vidura, having granted permission to the Pandavas, departed for his home.
निवृत्ते विदुरे चापि भीष्मे पौरजने तथा। अजातशत्रुमासाद्य कुन्ती वचनमब्रवीत्
When Vidura had withdrawn, and likewise Bhishma and the townspeople, Kunti approached Ajatashatru and spoke these words.
क्षत्ता यदब्रवीद्वाक्यं जनमध्येऽब्रुवन्निव। त्वया च स तथेत्युक्तो जानीमो न च तद्वयम्
The words spoken by the kshatta, as if uttered in the midst of the people, you replied to him, 'So be it,' but we do not know what it was.
यदीदं शक्यमस्माभिर्ज्ञातुं नैव च दोषवत्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं संवादं तव तस्य च
If it is possible for us to know this and it is not improper, I wish to hear all that conversation between you and him.
विषादग्नेश्च बोद्धव्यमिति मां विदुरोऽब्रवीत्। पन्थानो वेदितव्याश्च नक्षत्रैश्च तथा दिशः। `कुड्याश्चविदिताःकार्याःस्याच्छुद्धिरितिचाब्रवीत्
Vidura told me, 'You must understand the fire of poison, and also learn the paths by the stars and directions; unknown walls must be made, and purity must be maintained,' thus he said.
जितेन्द्रियश्च वसुधां प्राप्स्यतीति च मेऽब्रवीत्। विज्ञातमिति तत्सर्वं प्रत्युक्तो विदुरो मया
He also told me, 'One who has conquered his senses will obtain the earth.' I replied to Vidura, 'All this is understood.'
अष्टमेऽहनि रोहिण्यां प्रयाताः फाल्गुनस्य ते। वारणावतमासाद्य ददृशुर्नागरं जनम्
On the eighth day under the Rohini star in the month of Phalguna, they departed, and upon reaching Varanavata, they saw the townspeople.