अमोक्षणीयं दैवं हि भावि मत्वा महामतिः। तथा तत्कृतवान्द्रोण आत्मकीर्त्यनुरक्षणात्
Knowing that destiny cannot be averted and wishing to protect his own fame, the wise Drona did so.
श्रुत्वा जतुगृहे वृत्तं ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः। पाञ्चालराजं द्रुपदमिदं वचनमब्रुवन्
Hearing of the event at the house of lac, the Brahmins of firm vows spoke these words to King Drupada of the Panchalas.
धार्तराष्ट्राः सहामात्या मन्त्रयित्वा परस्परम्। पाण्डवानां विनाशाय मतिं चक्रुः सुदुष्कराम्
The sons of Dhritarashtra, along with their ministers, after consulting together, formed a most wicked plan for the destruction of the Pandavas.
दुर्योधनेन प्रहितः पुरोचन इति श्रुतः। वारणावतमासाद्य कृत्वा जतुगृहं महत्
It is heard that Purochana, sent by Duryodhana, went to Varanavata and constructed a great house of lac.
तस्मिन्गृहे सुविस्रब्धान्पाण्डवान्पृथया सह। अर्धरात्रे महाराज दग्धवानतिदुर्मतिः
In that house, the evil-minded one set fire to the unsuspecting Pandavas and Kunti at midnight, O great king.
तेनाग्निना स्वयं चापि दग्धः क्षुद्रो नृशंसवत्। एतच्छ्रुत्वा सुसंहृष्टो धृतराष्ट्रः सबान्धवः
By that fire, the wretched and cruel Purochana himself was also burned; hearing this, Dhritarashtra and his relatives rejoiced greatly.
अल्पशोकः प्रहृष्टात्मा शशास विदुरं तदा। पाण्डवानां महाप्राज्ञ कुरु पिण्डोदकक्रियाम्
With little grief and a delighted heart, he then ordered Vidura, 'O wise one, perform the funeral rites for the Pandavas.'
अहो विधिवशादेव गतास्ते यमसादनम्। इत्युक्त्वा प्रारदत्तत्र धृतराष्ट्रः सबान्धवः
'Alas, by the force of fate, they have gone to the abode of Yama,' so saying, Dhritarashtra and his relatives began the funeral offerings there.
श्रुत्वा भीष्मेण विदुरः कृतवानौर्ध्वदेहिकम्। पाण्डवानां विनाशाय कृतं कर्म दुरात्मना
Hearing from Bhishma, Vidura performed the last rites, for the evil deed for the destruction of the Pandavas had been done.
एतत्कार्यस्य कर्ता तु न दृष्टो न श्रुतः पुरा। एतद्वृत्तं महाभाग पाण्डवान्प्रति नः श्रुतम्
The doer of this act was neither seen nor heard of before; this is what we have heard, O blessed one, regarding the Pandavas.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां यज्ञसेनो महामतिः। यथा तज्जनकः शोचेदौरसस्य विनाशे
Hearing those words, the wise Yajnasena grieved, just as a father would mourn the destruction of his own son.
तथाऽतप्यत वै राजा पाण्डवानां विनाशने। समाहूय प्रकृतयः सहिताः सर्वनागरैः
Thus, the king was deeply pained at the loss of the Pandavas; he summoned his ministers together with all the citizens.
कारुण्यादेव पाञ्चालः प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा
Out of compassion, the Panchala king then spoke these words.
चिन्तयामि दिवारात्रमर्जुनं प्रति बान्धवाः। भ्रातृभिः सहितो मात्रा सोऽदह्यत हुताशने
Day and night I worry about Arjuna, my kinsman, who, along with his brothers and mother, was burned in the fire.
किमाश्चर्यमितो लोके कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः। मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो लोकेषु किं करिष्यामि सांप्रतं
What wonder is there in this world? For time is insurmountable. Now that my promise has become false among people, what am I to do?
अन्तर्गतेन दुःखेन दह्यमानो दिवानिशम्। याजोपयाजौ सत्कृत्य याचितौ तौ मयाऽनघौ
Consumed by inner sorrow day and night, I earnestly sought out Yaja and Upayaja, those faultless ones.
भारद्वाजस्य हन्तारं देवीं चाप्यर्जुनस्य वै। लोकस्तद्वेद यच्चापि तथा याजेन मे श्रुतम्
I asked Yaja and Upayaja to slay Bharadvaja’s killer and Arjuna’s enemy, the goddess herself; the world knows this, and so have I heard from Yaja.
याजेन पुत्रकामीयं हुत्वा चोत्पादिताविमौ। धृष्टद्युम्नश्च कृष्णा च मम तुष्टिकरावुभौ
Desiring a son, I performed a sacrifice with Yaja, and from it these two were born—Dhrishtadyumna and Krishna—both bringing me satisfaction.
किं करिष्यामि ते नष्टाः पाण्डवाः पृथया सह
What am I to do? The Pandavas are lost, along with Pritha.
दृष्ट्वा शोचन्तमत्यर्थं पाञ्चालमिदमब्रवीत्। पुरोधाः सत्वसंपन्नः सम्यग्विद्याविशेषवित्
Seeing the king of Panchala grieving so deeply, the wise and virtuous priest, learned in all knowledge, spoke to him.
वृद्धानुशासने सक्ताः पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः। तादृशा न विनश्यन्ति नैव यान्ति पराभवम्
The Pandavas are devoted to the instructions of their elders and follow righteousness; such as they do not perish nor do they meet with defeat.
मया दृष्टमिदं सत्यं शृणु त्वं मनुजाधिप। ब्राह्मणैः कथितं सत्यं वेदेषु च मया श्रुतम्
I have seen this to be true—listen, O king of men; the Brahmanas have told me this truth, and I have also heard it in the Vedas.
बृहस्पतिमतेनाथ पौलोम्या च पुरा श्रुतम्। नष्ट हन्द्रो बिसग्रन्थ्यामुपश्रुत्या हि दर्शितः
I have heard it of old from the doctrine of Brihaspati and from Paulomi: the lost moon was found in the lotus stalk by means of upashruti.
उपश्रुतिर्महाराज पाण्डवार्थे मया श्रुता। यत्रकुत्रापि जीवन्ति पाण्डवास्ते न संशयः
O great king, I have heard by upashruti regarding the Pandavas: wherever they may be, the Pandavas are alive—of this there is no doubt.
मया दृष्टानि लिङ्गानि इहैवैष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः। यन्निमित्तमिहायान्ति तच्छृणुष्व नराधिप
I have seen signs that the Pandavas will come here; listen, O king, to the reason why they will come.
स्वयंवरः क्षत्रियाणां कन्यादाने प्रदर्शितः। स्वयंवरस्तु नगरे घुष्यतां राजसत्तम
A svayamvara has been proclaimed for the giving of a maiden among Kshatriyas; let the svayamvara be announced in the city, O best of kings.
यत्र वा निवसन्तस्ते पाण्डवाः पृथया सह। दूरस्था वा समीपस्था स्वर्गस्था वाऽपि पाण्डवाः
Wherever the Pandavas dwell with Pritha—whether far or near, or even if they are in heaven—
श्रुत्वा स्वयंवरं राजन्समेष्यन्ति न संशयः। तस्मात्स्वयंवरो राजन्घुष्यतां मा चिरं कृथाः
Hearing of the svayamvara, O king, they will surely come—there is no doubt; therefore, let the svayamvara be proclaimed, do not delay.
श्रुत्वा पुरोहितेनोक्तं पाञ्चालः प्रीतिमांस्तदा। घोषयामास नगरे द्रौपद्यास्तु स्वयंवरम्
Hearing the words spoken by the priest, the king of the Panchalas was pleased, and at that time announced in the city the self-choice ceremony of Draupadi.
पुष्यमासे तु रोहिण्यां शुक्लपक्षे शुभे तिथौ। दिवसैः पञ्चसप्तत्या भविष्यति न संशयः
In the month of Pushya, under the Rohini constellation, on an auspicious day in the bright fortnight, after seventy-five days, it will certainly take place—there is no doubt.