व्यास उवाच इति मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा जातश्चिन्तातुरो ह्यहम् । लज्जयाऽऽकुलचित्तस्तामब्रवं विनयानतः
Vyasa said: Hearing my mother's words, I became troubled with anxious thoughts, and, my mind disturbed by shame, I spoke to her, bowing humbly.
मातः पापाधिकं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । ज्ञात्वा धर्मपथं सम्यक्करोमि कथमादरात्
'Mother, to approach another's wife is a most sinful act. Knowing the path of righteousness, how can I do this with respect?'
तथा यवीयसो भ्रातुर्वधूः कन्या प्रकीर्तिता । व्यभिचारं कथं कुर्यामधीत्य निगमानहम्
'Moreover, the wife of my younger brother is regarded as a maiden. How can I commit such a transgression, having studied the scriptures?'
अन्यायेन न कर्तव्यं सर्वथा कुलरक्षणम् । न तरन्ति हि संसारात्पितरः पापकारिणः
'By no means should the protection of the lineage be done unjustly, for fathers who commit sin do not cross over from this world.'
लोकानामुपदेष्टा यः पुराणानां प्रवर्तकः । स कथं कुत्सितं कर्म ज्ञात्वा कुर्यान्महाद्भुतम्
How could he, who is the teacher of the worlds and the promoter of the ancient scriptures, knowingly perform a reprehensible deed? This is truly astonishing.
पुनरुक्तो ह्यहं मात्रा रुदत्या भृशमन्तिके । पुत्रशोकातितप्ता या वंशरक्षणकाम्यया
Again, I was urged by my mother, who was weeping intensely nearby, tormented by the grief of her son and desiring to preserve the lineage.
पाराशर्य न ते दोषो वचनान्मम पुत्रक । गुरूणां वचनं तथ्यं सदोषमपि मानवैः
O son of Parāśara, you are not at fault, for you acted on my words; the words of elders, even if flawed, are to be followed by people.
कर्तव्यमविचार्यैव शिष्टाचारप्रमाणतः । वचनं कुरु मे पुत्र न ते दोषोऽस्ति मानद
One must act without hesitation, guided by the conduct of the virtuous; therefore, my son, do as I say—there is no fault in you, O bestower of honor.
पुत्रस्य जननं कृत्वा सुखिनी कुरु मातरम् । विशेषेण तु सन्तप्तां मग्नां शोकार्णवे सुत
By begetting a son, make your mother happy, especially as she is deeply afflicted and submerged in an ocean of sorrow, O child.
इति तां ब्रुवतीं श्रुत्वा तदा सुरनदीसुतः । मामुवाच विशेषज्ञः सूक्ष्मधर्मस्य निर्णये
Hearing her speak thus, the son of the river goddess then addressed me, being one skilled in discerning subtle righteousness.
द्वैपायन विचारोऽत्र न कर्तव्यस्त्वयानघ । मातुर्वचनमादाय विहरस्व यथासुखम्
"O sinless one, Dvaipāyana, you should not deliberate here; accept your mother's words and act as you please."
व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मातुश्च प्रार्थनं तथा । निःशङ्कोऽहं तदा जातः कार्ये तस्मिञ्जुगुप्सिते
Vyāsa said: Hearing his words and my mother's request, I then became free of doubt regarding that censured act.
अम्बिकायां प्रवृत्तोऽहमृतुमत्यां मुदा निशि । मयि विमनसायां तु तापसे कुत्सिते भृशम्
At night, I approached Ambikā, who was in her season, with joy; but she, seeing the ascetic, was greatly disturbed.
शप्ता मया सा सुश्रोणी प्रसङ्गे प्रथमे तदा । अन्धस्ते भविता पुत्रो यतो नेत्रे निमीलिते
At that first encounter, I cursed that beautiful-hipped woman: 'Since you closed your eyes, your son will be blind.'
द्वितीयेऽह्नि मुनिश्रेष्ठ पृष्टो मात्रा रहः पुनः । भविष्यति सुतः पुत्र काशिराजसुतोदरे
On the second day, O best of sages, when my mother again asked me in private, I said, 'A son will be born in the womb of the daughter of the king of Kāśī.'
मयोक्ता जननी तत्र व्रीडानम्रमुखेन ह । विनेत्रो भविता पुत्रो मातः शापान्ममैव हि
There, I told my mother, whose face was lowered in shame, 'Mother, due to my curse, your son will be blind.'
तया निर्भर्त्सितस्तत्र कठोरवचसा मुने । कथं पुत्र त्वया शप्ता पुत्रस्तेऽन्धो भविष्यति
There, I was harshly reproached by her with stern words: 'How could you curse your own son, so that he will be blind?'
; व्यासस्वकीयमोहवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच वासवी चकिता जाता श्रुत्वा मे वाक्यमीदृशम् । दाशेयी मामुवाचेदं पुत्रार्थे भृशमातुरा
Vyāsa said: Vāsavī became startled upon hearing my words; the daughter of a servant, distressed for the sake of a son, spoke to me thus.
अम्बालिका वधूर्धन्या काशिराजसुता सुत । भार्या विचित्रवीर्यस्य विधवा शोकसंयुता
Ambālikā, the virtuous bride, daughter of the king of Kāśī, was the wife of Vicitravīrya and now a widow, afflicted by sorrow.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्ना रूपयौवनशालिनी । तस्यां जनय सङ्गं त्वं कृत्वा पुत्रं सुसम्मतम्
She was endowed with all auspicious marks, possessing beauty and youth; unite with her and beget a son who will be well-accepted.
नान्धो राजाधिकारी स्यात्तस्मात्पुत्र मनोहरम् । उत्पादय राजपुत्र्यां वचनान्मम मानद
A blind man should not be king; therefore, O bestower of honor, by my command, beget a pleasing son with the princess.
इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा मात्रा स्थितस्तत्र गजाह्वये । यावदृतुमती जाता काशिराजसुता मुने
Thus addressed by my mother, I remained there in Gajāhvaya, awaiting the time when the princess of Kāśī would be in her season, O sage.
एकान्ते शयनागारे प्राप्ता सा मम सन्निधौ । लज्जमाना सुकेशान्ता स्वश्वश्रूवचनात्तदा
She came alone into the bedchamber, in my presence, shy and with her beautiful hair lowered, as her mother-in-law had instructed her.
दृष्ट्वा मां जटिलं दान्तं तापसं रसवर्जितम् । सा स्वेदवदना जाता पाण्डुरा विमना भृशम्
Seeing me—matted-haired, self-restrained, an ascetic devoid of worldly pleasures—she became pale, her face covered in sweat, and was deeply troubled.
कुपितोऽहं तदा दृष्ट्वा कामिनीं निशि सङ्गताम् । वेपमानां स्थितां पार्श्वे ह्यब्रवं तामहं रुषा
Angered at seeing this desirous woman trembling beside me at night, I spoke to her harshly.
दृष्ट्वा मां यदि गर्वेण पाण्डुवर्णा समावृता । अतस्ते तनयः पाण्डुर्भविष्यति सुमध्यमे
If, out of pride, you look upon me and become pale in complexion, then, O slender-waisted one, your son will also be pale.
इत्युक्त्वा निशि तत्रैव स्थितोऽम्बालिकया युतः । भुक्त्वा तां निशि निर्यातः स्थानमापृच्छ्य मातरम्
Having said this, I remained there that night with Ambalika; after uniting with her, I departed, taking leave of her mother.
ततस्ताभ्यां सुतौ काले प्रसूतावन्धपाण्डुरौ । धृतराष्ट्रश्च पाण्डुश्च प्रथितौ सम्बभूवतुः
In due time, from those two were born sons—one blind and one pale; Dhritarashtra and Pandu, both renowned, came into being.
माता मे विमना जाता तादृशौ वीक्ष्य तौ सुतौ । ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते मामाहूय तदाब्रवीत्
My mother became disheartened upon seeing those two sons as they were; then, at the end of a year, she called me and spoke thus.
द्वैपायन सुतौ जातौ राज्ययोग्यौ न तादृशौ । अन्यं मनोहरं पुत्रं समुत्पादय मे प्रियम्
O Dvaipayana, though two sons have been born, fit for kingship, they are not as desired; produce for me another son, pleasing and charming.