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.
तथेति सा मया प्रोक्ता मुदिता जननी तदा । अम्बिकां प्रार्थयामास सुतार्थे काल आगते
I agreed, saying 'So be it,' and my mother was delighted; when the time came, she requested Ambika for the sake of a son.
पुत्रि व्यासं समालिङ्ग्य पुत्रमुत्पादयाद्भुतम् । कुरुवंशस्य कर्तारं राज्ययोग्यं वरानने
Daughter, embrace Vyasa and beget a wondrous son, worthy of kingship, a maker of the Kuru lineage, O beautiful one.
वधूर्लज्जान्विता किञ्चिन्नोवाच वचनं तदा । गतोऽहं शयनागारे मातुस्तद्वचनान्निशि
The bride, filled with modesty, said nothing at that time; I went to the bedchamber at night, as instructed by my mother.
दासी विचित्रवीर्यस्य रूपयौवनसंयुता । प्रेषिताम्बिकया त्वत्र विचित्राभरणाम्बरा
A maid of Vichitravirya, endowed with beauty and youth, adorned with splendid ornaments and garments, was sent there by Ambika.
चन्दनारक्तदेहा सा पुष्पमालाविभूषिता । आयाता हावसंयुक्ता सुकेशी हंसगामिनी
Her body was reddened with sandalwood, she was adorned with garlands of flowers, graceful in her movements, with lovely hair, walking like a swan—she approached me.
पर्यङ्के मां समावेश्य संस्थिता प्रेमसंयुता । प्रसन्नोऽहं तदा तस्या विलासेनाभवं मुने
She embraced me on the couch, filled with affection; O sage, I was pleased by her playful demeanor.
रात्रौ संक्रीडितं प्रेम्णा तया सह मया भृशम् । वरो दत्तः पुनस्तस्यै प्रसन्नेन तु नारद
That night, I united with her in love; O Narada, being pleased, I granted her a boon once more.
सुभगे भविता पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः । सुरूपः सर्वधर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी शमे रतः
O fortunate one, you will have a son endowed with all auspicious marks, handsome, knowing all dharma, truthful, and devoted to peace.
स तदा विदुरो जातस्त्रयः पुत्रा मयाभवन् । माया वृद्धिं गता साधो परक्षेत्रोद्भवे मम
Thus, Vidura was born at that time; I had three sons. O holy one, my power increased through this birth from another's womb.
विस्मृतः शुकसम्बन्धी विरहः शोककारणम् । दृष्ट्वा त्रीन्स्वसुतान्कामं बलिनो वीर्यसम्मतान्
The connection with Shuka was forgotten; separation became a cause of sorrow, though I saw my three sons, strong and recognized for their prowess.