ते साधुकृतसर्वार्था ज्ञात्वऽऽत्यन्तिकमातमनः । मनसा धारयामासुर्वैकुठचरणाम्बुजम
Having fulfilled all duties virtuously and knowing the ultimate goal of the self, they fixed their minds on the lotus feet of the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha.
तद्धनोद्रिक्यया भक्त्या विशुद्धधिषणाः परे । तस्मिन नारायणपदे एकान्तमतयो गतिम
With unwavering devotion and purified intellect, they fixed their minds solely on that supreme abode of Nārāyaṇa.
अवापुर्दुरवापां ते असद्भिर्विषयात्मभिः । विहुतकल्मषास्थाने विरजेनात्मनैव हि
They attained that exceedingly rare state, which cannot be reached by those attached to sense objects and impurity, but is gained only by the pure soul.
विदुरोऽपि परित्यज्य प्रभासे देहमात्मवान । कृष्णावेशेन तच्चित्तः पितृभिः स्वक्षयं ययौ
Vidura too, renouncing his body at Prabhāsa, absorbed his mind in Kṛṣṇa and, united in consciousness with his forefathers, went to his own abode.
द्रौपदी च तदाऽऽज्ञाय पतीनामनपेक्षताम । वासुदेवे भगवति ह्योकान्तमतिराप तम
At that time, Draupadī, perceiving the detachment of her husbands, fixed her mind exclusively on Lord Vāsudeva, the Blessed One, and attained that state.
यः श्रद्धयैतद भगवत्प्रियाणां पाण्डोः सुतानामिती सम्प्रयाणम । श्रुणोत्यलं स्वत्ययनं पवित्रं लब्ध्या हरौ भक्तिमुपैति सिद्धिम
Whoever faithfully hears this account of the departure of Pāṇḍu's beloved sons, which is most purifying and brings auspiciousness, attains devotion to Hari and perfection.
सूत उवाच ततः परीक्षिद्द्विजवर्यशिक्षया महीं महाभागवतः शशास ह । यथा हि सूत्यामभिजातकोविदाः समादिशन् विप्र महद्गुणस्तथा
Sūta said: Then Parīkṣit, the great devotee, ruled the earth according to the instructions of the foremost brāhmaṇas, just as expert guides direct a noble child at birth.
स उत्तरस्य तनयामुपयेम इरावतीम् । जनमेजयादींश्चतुरस्तस्यामुत्पादयत्सुतान्
He married Irāvatī, the daughter of Uttara, and from her he begot four sons, beginning with Janamejaya.
आजहाराश्वमेधांस्त्रीन् गङ्गायां भूरिदक्षिणान् । शारद्वतं गुरुं कृत्वा देवा यत्राक्षिगोचराः
He performed three Aśvamedha sacrifices on the banks of the Gaṅgā, giving abundant gifts, with Śāradvata as his priest, where even the gods became visible.
निजग्राहौजसा वीरः कलिं दिग्विजये क्वचित् । नृपलिङ्गधरं शूद्रं घ्नन्तं गोमिथुनं पदा
Once, during his conquest of the directions, the heroic king seized Kali, who, disguised as a king but actually a śūdra, was striking a cow and a bull with his foot.
शौनक उवाच कस्य हेतोर्निजग्राह कलिं दिग्विजये नृपः । नृदेवचिह्नधृक्शूद्र कोऽसौ गां यः पदाहनत् । तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग यदि कृष्णकथाश्रयम्
Śaunaka said: For what reason did the king capture Kali during his conquest? Who was this śūdra, bearing royal insignia, who struck the cow with his foot? O blessed one, please tell us, if it relates to the stories of Kṛṣṇa.
अथवास्य पदाम्भोज मकरन्दलिहां सताम् । किमन्यैरसदालापैरायुषो यदसद्व्ययः
Or, for those devoted to tasting the nectar of the Lord's lotus feet, what use are other fruitless talks, which only waste the span of life?
क्षुद्रायुषां नृणामङ्ग मर्त्यानामृतमिच्छताम् । इहोपहूतो भगवान्मृत्युः शामित्रकर्मणि
O gentle one, for mortal men of short life who desire immortality, the Lord, as Death, has been invited here by the sage Śāmīka.
न कश्चिन्म्रियते तावद्यावदास्त इहान्तकः । एतदर्थं हि भगवानाहूतः परमर्षिभिः । अहो नृलोके पीयेत हरिलीलामृतं वचः
No one dies as long as Death remains here; for this reason, the Lord was called by the great sages. Oh, let the nectar of Hari's pastimes be drunk in the world of men!
मन्दस्य मन्दप्रज्ञस्य वयो मन्दायुषश्च वै । निद्रया ह्रियते नक्तं दिवा च व्यर्थकर्मभिः
In this age, people are slow, of dull intelligence, and short-lived; their nights are wasted in sleep, and their days in vain activities.
सूत उवाच यदा परीक्षित्कुरुजाङ्गलेऽवसत्कलिं प्रविष्टं निजचक्रवर्तिते । निशम्य वार्तामनतिप्रियां ततः शरासनं संयुगशौण्डिराददे
Sūta said: When Parīkṣit, residing in the land of the Kurus, heard the unwelcome news that Kali had entered his kingdom, the valiant archer took up his bow.
स्वलङ्कृतं श्यामतुरङ्गयोजितं रथं मृगेन्द्रध्वजमाश्रितः पुरात् । वृतो रथाश्वद्विपपत्तियुक्तया स्वसेनया दिग्विजयाय निर्गतः
He mounted his well-adorned chariot, yoked with dark horses and bearing the lion banner, and, surrounded by his army of chariots, horses, elephants, and infantry, set out to conquer the directions.
भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च भारतं चोत्तरान् कुरून् । किम्पुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि विजित्य जगृहे बलिम्
He conquered Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Bhārata, the northern Kurus, and the regions of Kimpuruṣa and others, and collected tribute from them.
नगरांश्च वनांश्चैव नदीश्च विमलोदकाः । पुरुषान् देवकल्पांश्च नारीश्च प्रियदर्शनाः
He subdued cities and forests, rivers with pure waters, men resembling the gods, and women of pleasing appearance.
अदृष्टपूर्वान् सुभगान् स ददर्श धनञ्जयः । सदनानि च शुभ्राणि नारीश्चाप्सरसां निभाः
Dhanañjaya beheld wondrous sights never seen before, splendid dwellings, and women resembling celestial nymphs.
तत्र तत्रोपशृण्वानः स्वपूर्वेषां महात्मनाम् । प्रगीयमाणं च यशः कृष्णमाहात्म्यसूचकम्
There and elsewhere, he heard the glories of his noble ancestors being sung—praises that revealed the greatness of Krishna.
आत्मानं च परित्रातमश्वत्थाम्नोऽस्त्रतेजसः । स्नेहं च वृष्णिपार्थानां तेषां भक्तिं च केशवे
He also heard of how he himself was saved from the fiery weapon of Ashvatthāman, of the affection between the Vṛṣṇis and the sons of Pāṇḍu, and of their devotion to Keśava.
तेभ्यः परमसन्तुष्टः प्रीत्युज्जृम्भितलोचनः । महाधनानि वासांसि ददौ हारान्महामनाः
Greatly pleased with them, his eyes wide with joy, the noble-hearted one gave them abundant wealth, garments, and necklaces.
सारथ्यपारषदसेवनसख्यदौत्य वीरासनानुगमनस्तवनप्रणामान् । स्निग्धेषु पाण्डुषु जगत्प्रणतिं च विष्णोर् भक्तिं करोति नृपतिश्चरणारविन्दे
The king, devoted to the lotus feet of Viṣṇu, serves the Pāṇḍavas with affection—acting as charioteer, companion, attendant, friend, envoy, sharing their seat of valor, following them, praising and bowing to them, and thus brings the world to bow before Viṣṇu.
* तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहम् । नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत्तन्निबोध मे
While he was thus engaged, following the conduct of his forebears day by day, a marvelous event occurred not far away—listen as I recount it to you.
धर्मः पदैकेन चरन् विच्छायामुपलभ्य गाम् । पृच्छति स्माश्रुवदनां विवत्सामिव मातरम्
Dharma, moving on one foot, saw the Earth, her shadow diminished, weeping like a cow separated from her calf, and questioned her.
धर्म उवाच कच्चिद्भद्रेऽनामयमात्मनस्ते विच्छायासि म्लायतेषन्मुखेन । आलक्षये भवतीमन्तराधिं दूरे बन्धुं शोचसि कञ्चनाम्ब
Dharma said: O gentle one, is all well with you? Why do you appear so pale and withered? I perceive some inner sorrow in you—are you grieving for a distant relative, O mother?
पादैर्न्यूनं शोचसि मैकपादमात्मानं वा वृषलैर्भोक्ष्यमाणम् । आहो सुरादीन् हृतयज्ञभागान् प्रजा उत स्विन्मघवत्यवर्षति
Are you grieving for your missing limb, for yourself about to be consumed by the wicked, or for the gods whose shares of sacrifice have been stolen, or for the people, since Indra no longer sends rain?
अरक्ष्यमाणाः स्त्रिय उर्वि बालान् शोचस्यथो पुरुषादैरिवार्तान् । वाचं देवीं ब्रह्मकुले कुकर्मण्यब्रह्मण्ये राजकुले कुलाग्र्यान्
Are you mourning for women and children left unprotected on earth, suffering at the hands of cruel men? Or for the sacred speech of the goddess, corrupted in the brahmin class, or for the noble families degraded by unrighteous kings?
किं क्षत्रबन्धून् कलिनोपसृष्टान् राष्ट्राणि वा तैरवरोपितानि । इतस्ततो वाशनपानवासः स्नानव्यवायोन्मुखजीवलोकम्
Is it for the kṣatriya clans afflicted by Kali, or for the kingdoms they have ruined? Or for the people who wander here and there, seeking food, drink, shelter, and baths, their livelihoods disrupted?