ब्राह्मणौ क्षत्रियौ जातौ कारणं तन्मुने वद । यादवानां विनाशश्च ब्रह्मशापादिति श्रुतः
Tell me, O sage, the reason why Brāhmaṇas became Kṣatriyas; and the destruction of the Yādavas is heard to be due to Brahmā's curse.
कृष्णस्यापि हि गान्धार्याः शापेनैव कुलक्षयः । प्रद्युम्नहरणं चैव शम्बरेण कथं कृतम्
Even for Kṛṣṇa, the destruction of his lineage was caused by the curse of Gāndhārī; and how was the abduction of Pradyumna accomplished by Śambara?
वर्तमाने वासुदेवे देवदेवे जनार्दने । पुत्रस्य सूतिकागेहाद्धरणं चातिदुर्घटम्
While Vāsudeva, the god of gods, Janārdana, was present, the abduction of his son from the maternity chamber was exceedingly difficult.
द्वारकादुर्गमध्याद्वै हरिवेश्माद्दुरत्ययात् । न ज्ञातं वासुदेवेन तत्कथं दिव्यचक्षुषा
From the midst of the fortress of Dvārakā, from the impenetrable house of Hari, how was it not known by Vāsudeva, who possesses divine vision?
सन्देहोऽयं महान्ब्रह्मन्निसन्देहं कुरु प्रभो । यत्पत्न्यो वासुदेवस्य दस्युभिर्लुण्ठिता हृताः
This is a great doubt, O Brahman, dispel it completely, O Lord: how were the wives of Vāsudeva plundered and abducted by robbers?
स्वर्गते देवदेवे तु तत्कथं मुनिसत्तम । संशयो जायते ब्रह्मंश्चित्तान्दोलनकारकः
When the god of gods had ascended to heaven, how did this happen, O eminent sage? This doubt arises, O Brahman, causing disturbance of mind.
विष्णोरंशः समुद्भूतः शौरिर्भूभारहारकृत् । स कथं मथुराराज्यं भयात्त्यक्त्वा जनार्दनः
Śauri, who arose as a portion of Viṣṇu and removed the burden of the earth, how did Janārdana abandon the kingdom of Mathurā out of fear?
द्वारवत्यां गतः साधो ससैन्यः ससुहृद्गणः । अवतारो हरेः प्रोक्तो भूभारहरणाय वै
He went to Dvāravatī, O holy one, with his army and circle of friends; the descent of Hari is said to be for the removal of the earth's burden.
पापात्मनां विनाशाय धर्मसंस्थापनाय च । तत्कथं वासुदेवेन चौरास्ते न निपातिताः
For the destruction of the wicked and the establishment of righteousness, how is it that Vāsudeva did not slay those thieves?
यैर्हृता वासुदेवस्य पत्न्यः संलुण्ठिताश्च ताः । स्तेनास्ते किं न विज्ञाताः सर्वज्ञेन सता पुनः
By whom were Vāsudeva's wives abducted and plundered? Why were those thieves not recognized by the omniscient one, again and again?
भीष्मद्रोणवधः कामं भूभारहरणे मतः । अर्चिताश्च महात्मानः पाण्डवा धर्मतत्पराः
The killing of Bhīṣma and Droṇa is indeed considered as removal of the earth's burden; and the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, devoted to righteousness, were honored.
कृष्णभक्ताः सदाचारा युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः । ते कृत्वा राजसूयञ्च यज्ञराजं विधानतः
The followers of Kṛṣṇa, of virtuous conduct, led by Yudhiṣṭhira, performed the Rājasūya and the king of sacrifices according to the prescribed method.
दक्षिणा विविधा दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽतिभावतः । पाण्डुपुत्रास्तु देवांशा वासुदेवाश्रिता मुने
Having given various gifts to the Brahmins with great devotion, the sons of Pandu, who are portions of the gods and devoted to Vasudeva, O sage—
घोरं दुःखं कथं प्राप्ताः क्व गतं सुकृतञ्च तत् । किं तत्पापं महारौद्रं येन ते पीडिताः सदा
How did they come to experience such terrible suffering? Where did their merit go? What is that dreadful sin by which they were always afflicted?
द्रौपदी च महाभागा वेदीमध्यात्समुत्थिता । रमांशजा च साध्वी च कृष्णभक्तियुता तथा
And Draupadi, greatly fortunate, who arose from the midst of the altar, born from a portion of Lakshmi, virtuous, and endowed with devotion to Krishna—
सा कथं दुःखमतुलं प्राप घोरं पुनः पुनः । दुःशासनेन सा केशे गृहीता पीडिता भृशम्
How did she come to suffer incomparable, terrible pain again and again? She was seized by the hair and grievously tormented by Duhshasana.
रजस्वला सभायां तु नीता भीतैकवाससा । विराटनगरे दासी जाता मत्स्यस्य सा पुनः
Menstruating, she was brought into the assembly, frightened and clad in a single garment; in the city of Virata she again became a servant of Matsya.
धर्षिता कीचकेनाथ रुदती कुररी यथा । हृता जयद्रथेनाथ क्रन्दमानातिदुःखिता
She was violated by Kichaka, weeping like a curlew; then abducted by Jayadratha, crying out in great distress.
मोचिता पाण्डवैः पश्चाद्बलवद्भिर्महात्मभिः । पूर्वजन्मकृतं पापं किं तद्येन च पीडिताः
Later, she was rescued by the mighty and noble Pandavas. What was the sin committed in a previous birth by which they were afflicted?
दुःखान्यनेकान्याप्तास्ते कथयाद्य महामते । राजसूयं क्रतुवरं कृत्वा ते मम पूर्वजाः
They encountered many sufferings—tell me of these today, O wise one. Having performed the great Rajasuya sacrifice, my ancestors—
दुःखं महत्तरं प्राप्ताः पूर्वजन्मकृतेन वै । देवांशानां कथं तेषां संशयोऽयं महान्हि मे
They experienced even greater suffering, indeed, due to deeds from a previous birth. How could such things befall those who are portions of the gods? This is a great doubt for me.
सदाचारैस्तु कौन्तेयैर्भीष्मद्रोणादयो हताः । छलेन धनलाभार्थं जानानैर्नश्वरं जगत्
Though the sons of Kunti were of good conduct, they slew Bhishma, Drona, and others, by stratagem, for the sake of gaining wealth, knowing the world to be transient.
प्रेरिता वासुदेवेन पापे घोरे महात्मना । कुलं क्षयितवन्तस्ते हरिणा परमात्मना
Urged by the great-souled Vasudeva into that dreadful sin, they destroyed their own lineage, guided by Hari, the Supreme Self.
वरं भिक्षाटनं साधोर्नीवारैर्जीवनं वरम् । योधान्न हत्वा लोभेन शिल्पेन जीवनं वरम्
It is better for a sage to live by begging, subsisting on wild grains; better to live by craft than to kill warriors out of greed.
विच्छिन्नस्तु त्वया वंशो रक्षितो मुनिसत्तम । समुत्पाद्य सुतानाशु गोलकाच्छत्रुनाशनान्
Though the lineage was cut off by you, O best of sages, it was protected—having quickly produced sons to destroy the enemies of the race.
सोऽल्पेनैव तु कालेन विराटतनयासुतः । तापसस्य गले सर्पं न्यस्तवान्कथमद्भुतम्
Yet, in a short time, the son of Virata's daughter placed a serpent on the neck of the ascetic—how did this wondrous thing happen?
नकोऽपि ब्राह्मणं द्वेष्टि क्षत्रियस्य कुलोद्भवः । तापसं मौनसंयुक्तं पित्रा किं तत्कृतं मुने
No one born of a Kshatriya family hates a Brahmin or an ascetic devoted to silence. What was done by his father, O sage?
एतैरन्यैश्च सन्देहैर्विकलं मे मनोऽधुना । स्थिरं कुरु पितः साधो सर्वज्ञोऽसि दयानिधे
Because of these and other doubts, my mind is now unsettled. Make it firm, O father, O holy one—you are all-knowing, a treasure of compassion.
कर्मणो जन्मादिकारणत्वनिरूपणम् सूत उवाच एवं पृष्टः पुराणज्ञो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । परीक्षितसुतं शान्तं ततो वै जनमेजयम्
The determination of karma as the cause of birth and other matters.
उवाच संशयच्छेत्तृ वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः । व्यास उवाच राजन् किमेतद्वक्तव्यं कर्मणां गहना गतिः
Sūta said: Thus questioned, Vyasa, the knower of the Purāṇas and son of Satyavati, addressed the calm son of Parikshit, Janamejaya.