मात्रा सहैव कौरव्यः कथं कालवशं गतः। पालितः सुचिरं कालं फलकाले यथा द्रुमः
How has the Kaurava, together with his mother, come under the sway of time, though long protected like a tree cared for until the time of fruit?
भग्नः स्याद्वायुवेगेन तथा राजा युधिष्ठिरः। यौवराज्येऽभिषिक्तेन पितुर्येनाहृतं यशः
Just as a tree might be broken by the force of the wind, so too has King Yudhishthira, who was consecrated as crown prince and brought glory to his father.
आत्मनश्च पितुश्चैव सत्यधर्मप्रवृत्तिभिः। यच्च सा वनवासेन तन्माता दुःखभागिनी
By his own truth and righteousness, and his father’s as well, and by his mother’s suffering in exile, he bore much sorrow.
कालेन सह संमग्नो धिक्कृतान्तमनर्थकम्। यच्च सा वनवासेन तन्माता दुःखभागिनी
Immersed in time, condemned by death, and rendered fruitless; and by her exile in the forest, his mother became a sharer in sorrow.
पुत्रगृध्नुतया कुन्ती न भर्तारं मृतात्वनु। अल्पकालं कुले जाता भर्तुः प्रीतिमवाप या
Because of her longing for sons, Kunti did not follow her husband in death; though born in a noble house, she enjoyed her husband’s affection only briefly.
दग्धाऽद्य सह पुत्रैः सा असंपूर्णमनोरा। मृतो भीम इति श्रुत्वा मनो न श्रद्दधाति मे
Today, she has been burned with her sons, her desires unfulfilled; even hearing that Bhima is dead, my mind cannot believe it.
एतच्च चिन्तयानस्य व्यथितं बहुधा मनः। अवधूय च मे देहं हृदयेन विदीर्यते
Thinking on this, my mind is greatly troubled in many ways; casting aside my body, my heart is torn apart.
पीनस्कन्धश्चारुबाहुर्मेरुकूटसमो युवा। मृतो भीम इति श्रुत्वा मनो न श्रद्दधाति मे
Broad-shouldered, with beautiful arms, youthful, like the peak of Meru—hearing that Bhima is dead, my mind cannot believe it.
अतित्यागी च योधी च क्षिप्रहस्तो दृढायुधः। प्रपत्तिमाँल्लब्धलक्षो रथयानविशारदः
He was generous, a warrior, swift-handed, firm with weapons, skilled in attack and marksmanship, and expert in chariot-driving.
दूरपाती त्वसंभ्रान्तो महावीर्यो महास्त्रवान्। अदीनात्मा नरश्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्
A far-shooter, unshaken, of great courage, master of mighty weapons, undaunted in spirit, best among men, and foremost of all archers.
येन प्राच्याश्च सौवीरा दाक्षिणात्याश्च निर्जिताः। ख्यापितं येन शूरेण त्रिषु लोकेषु पौरुषम्
By whom the peoples of the east, the Sauviras, and the southerners were conquered; by whose valor manliness was proclaimed in the three worlds.
यस्मिञ्जाते विशोकाऽभूत्कुन्ती पाण्डुश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरन्दरसमो जिष्णुः कथं कालवशं गतः
At his birth, Kunti and the mighty Pandu became free from sorrow; how has Jishnu, equal to Indra, come under the power of time?
कथं तावृषभष्कन्धौ सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनौ। मर्त्यधर्ममनुप्राप्तौ यमावरिनिवर्हणौ
How is it that these two, strong as bulls and moving with the stride of lions, who could not be restrained even by Yama’s attendants, have come under the law of mortality?
वत्सा गताः क्व मां वृद्धं विहाय भृशमातुरम्। हा स्नुषे मम वार्ष्णेयि निधाय हृदि मे शुचम्
Where have my sons gone, leaving me, old and deeply afflicted, behind? Alas, daughter-in-law of the Vrishni line, you have left sorrow lodged in my heart.
वारणावतयात्रायां के स्युर्वै शकुनाः पथि। एवमल्पायुषो लोके भविष्यन्ति पृथासुताः
What omens appeared on the road during their journey to Varanavata? Thus, in this world of short-lived men, the sons of Pritha will meet their fate.
संशप्ता इति कैर्यूयं वत्सान्दर्शय मे पृथे। ममैव नाथा मन्नाथा मम नेत्राणि पाण्डवाः
If you are truly unslain, show my sons to me, O Pritha! The Pandavas are my protectors, my eyes, my only refuge.
हा पाण्डवा मे हे वत्सा हा सिंहशिशवो मम। मातङ्गा हा ममोत्तुङ्गा हा ममानन्दवर्धनाः
Alas, my Pandavas! Alas, my sons! Alas, my lion-cubs! Alas, my mighty elephants! Alas, my exalted ones, my bringers of joy!
मम हीनस्य युष्माभिः सर्वलोकास्तमोवृताः। कदा द्रष्टाऽस्मि कौन्तेयांस्तरुणादित्यवर्चसः
Bereft of you, all the worlds are shrouded in darkness for me. When shall I see the sons of Kunti again, radiant as young suns?
अदृष्ट्वा वो महाबाहून्पुत्रवन्मम नन्दनाः। क्व गतिर्मे क्व गच्छामि कुतो द्रक्ष्यामि मे शिशून्
Not seeing you, my strong-armed children, who are as dear as sons to me—where is my path, where shall I go, from where will I see my boys?
हा युधिष्ठिर हा भीम हा हा फल्गुन हा यमौ। मा गच्छत निवर्तध्वं मयि कोपं विमुञ्चत
Alas, Yudhishthira! Alas, Bhima! Alas, Arjuna! Alas, the twins! Do not go, turn back, release your anger towards me.
श्रुत्वा तत्क्रन्दितं तस्य तिलोदं च प्रसिञ्चतः। देशं कालं समाज्ञाय विदुरः प्रत्यभाषत
Hearing his lament and seeing him pour out the water offering, Vidura, understanding the time and place, spoke to him.
मा शोचीस्त्वं नरव्याघ्र जहि शोकं महाधृते। न तेषां विद्यते मृत्युः प्राप्तकालं कृतं मया
Do not grieve, tiger among men; cast off your sorrow, steadfast one. Death does not touch them; their destined time has not come, I assure you.
एतच्च तेभ्य उदकं विप्रसिञ्च न भारत। क्षत्तेदमब्रवीद्भीष्मं कौरवाणामशृण्वताम्
Do not offer water to them, O Bharata; this is what Kshatta said to Bhishma, as the Kauravas listened.
क्षत्तारमुपसंगम्य बाष्पोत्पीडकलस्वरः। मन्दंमन्दमुवाचेदं विदुरं संगमे नृप
Approaching Kshatta, with a voice choked by tears, the king slowly spoke these words to Vidura at the gathering.
कथं ते तात जीवन्ति पाण्डोः पुत्रा महाबलाः। कथमस्मत्कृते पक्षः पाण्डोर्न हि निपातितः
How do the mighty sons of Pandu still live, dear Kshatta? How is it that, for my sake, Pandu’s line has not been destroyed?
कथं मत्प्रमुखाः सर्वे प्रमुक्ता महतो भयात्। जननी गरुडेनेव कुरवस्ते समुद्धृताः
How were all my kinsmen, led by me, saved from great danger? How were the Kurus rescued, like a mother by Garuda?
एवमुक्तस्तु कौरव्य कौरवाणामशृण्वताम्। आचचक्षे स धर्मात्मा भीष्मायाद्भुतकर्मणे
Thus addressed, O Kaurava, as the Kauravas listened, that righteous Vidura reported everything to Bhishma, performer of wondrous deeds.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य शकुने राज्ञो दुर्योधनस्य च। विनाशे पाण्डुपुत्राणां कृतो मतिविनिश्चयः
A firm resolve was made for the destruction of the sons of Pandu by Dhritarashtra, Shakuni, the king, and Duryodhana.
तत्राहमपि च ज्ञात्वा तस्य पापस्य निश्चयम्। तं जिघांसुरहं चापि तेषामनुमते स्थितः
Knowing the wicked intention of that one, I too, wishing to slay him, remained among them with their consent.
ततो जतुगृहं गत्वा दहनेऽस्मिन्नियोजिते। पृथायाश्च सपुत्राया धार्तराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्
Then, when the house of lac was set on fire by the order of Dhritarashtra, Kunti with her sons went there.