Ashramavasika Parva

[ज] पराप्य राज्यं महाभागाः पाण्डवा मे पितामहाः कथम आसन महाराजे धृतराष्ट्रे महात्मनि

Janamejaya asked: After winning back their kingdom, how did my illustrious grandfathers the Pandavas conduct themselves toward the great King Dhritarashtra?

स हि राजा हतामात्यॊ हतपुत्रॊ नराश्रयः कथम आसीद धतैश्वर्यॊ गान्धारी च यशस्विनी

How did that king, who had lost his ministers and sons and now depended on others, and the illustrious Gandhari, live once their power and glory were gone?

कियन्तं चैव कालं ते पितरॊ मम पूर्वकाः सथिता राज्ये महात्मानस तन मे वयाख्यातुम अर्हसि

For how long did my great-souled forefathers, the Pandavas, remain established in the kingdom? Please explain this to me.

[वै] पराप्य राज्यं महात्मानः पाण्डवा हतशत्रवः धृतराष्ट्रं पुरस्कृत्य पृथिवीं पर्यपालयन

Vaishampayana said: Having regained the kingdom and destroyed their enemies, the great-souled Pandavas placed Dhritarashtra at the forefront and ruled the earth.

धृतराष्ट्रम उपातिष्ठद विदुरः संजयस तथा युयुत्सुश चापि मेधावी वैश्यापुत्रः स कौरवः

Vidura, Sanjaya, and the wise Yuyutsu, the Kaurava born of a Vaishya mother, all attended upon Dhritarashtra.

पाण्डवः सर्वकार्याणि संपृच्छन्ति सम तं नृपम चक्रुस तेनाभ्यनुज्ञाता वर्षाणि दश पञ्च च

The Pandavas consulted that king in all matters, and for fifteen years they acted only with his permission.

सदा हि गत्वा ते वीराः पर्युपासन्त तं नृपम पादाभिवन्दनं कृत्वा धर्मराज मते सथिताः ते मूर्ध्नि समुपाघ्राताः सर्वकार्याणि चक्रिरे

Those heroes would always go and wait upon the king, bowing at his feet as instructed by Dharmaraja; he would smell their heads in blessing, and thus they carried out all their duties.

कुन्तिभॊजसुता चैव गन्धारीम अन्ववर्तत दरौपदी च सुभद्रा च याश चान्याः पाण्डव सत्रियः समां वृत्तिम अवर्तन्त तयॊः शवश्रॊर यथाविधि

Kunti served Gandhari, and Draupadi, Subhadra, and the other wives of the Pandavas maintained an equal, proper conduct toward their two mothers-in-law.

शयनानि महार्हाणि वासांस्य आभरणानि च राजार्हाणि च सर्वाणि भक्ष्यभॊज्यान्य अनेकशः युधिष्ठिरॊ महाराज धृतराष्ट्रे ऽभयुपाहरत

O great king, Yudhishthira brought to Dhritarashtra costly beds, garments, ornaments, and every kind of food and drink fit for a king, in great abundance.

तथैव कुन्ती गान्धार्यां गुरुवृत्तिम अवर्तत विदुरः संजयश चैव युयुत्सुश चैव कौरवः उपासते सम तं वृद्धं हतपुत्रं जनाधिपम

Kunti likewise served Gandhari as an elder, while Vidura, Sanjaya, and the Kaurava Yuyutsu attended upon the aged king who had lost his sons.

सयालॊ दरुणस्य यश चैकॊ दयितॊ बराह्मणॊ महान स च तस्मिन महेष्वासः कृपः समभवत तदा

Kripa, the great archer who was Drona's beloved brother-in-law and a great Brahmin, was also there with the king.

वयासस्य भगवान नित्यं वासं चक्रे नृपेण ह कथाः कुर्वन पुराणर्षिर देवर्षिनृप रक्षसाम

The blessed sage Vyasa, ancient among seers, made his dwelling constantly with the king, telling tales of gods, sages, kings, and rakshasas.

धर्मयुक्तानि कार्याणि वयवहारान्वितानि च धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञातॊ विदुरस तान्य अकारयत

With Dhritarashtra's approval, Vidura carried out all righteous duties and matters of governance.

सामन्तेभ्यः परियाण्य अस्य कार्याणि सुगुरूण्य अपि पराप्यन्ते ऽरथैः सुलघुभिः परभावाद विदुरस्य वै

By the influence of Vidura, favorable and even difficult matters were obtained from the neighboring rulers with very little expense.

अकरॊद बन्धमॊक्षांश च वध्यानां मॊक्षणं तथा न च धर्मात्मजॊ राजा कदा चित किं चिद अब्रवीत

He arranged the release of prisoners and even the freeing of those condemned to death, and the righteous king Yudhishthira never objected to anything he did.

विहारयात्रासु पुनः कुरुराजॊ युधिष्ठिरः सर्वान कामान महातेजाः परददाव अम्बिका सुते

During pleasure excursions, the mighty King Yudhishthira of the Kurus fulfilled every wish of Ambika's son.

आरालिकाः सूपकारा रागखाण्डविकास तथा उपातिष्ठन्त राजानं धृतराष्ट्रं यथा पुरा

Cooks and confectioners attended upon King Dhritarashtra just as they had done in former times.

वासांसि च महार्हाणि माल्यानि विविधानि च उपाजह्रुर यथान्यायं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवाः

The Pandavas duly presented Dhritarashtra with precious garments and various garlands as was fitting.

मैरेयं मधु मांसानि पानकानि लघूनि च चित्रान भक्ष्यविकारांश च चक्रुर अस्य यथा पुरा

They provided him wine, honey, meats, light beverages, and varied delicacies just as before.

ये चापि पृथिवीपालाः समाजग्मुः समन्ततः उपातिष्ठन्त ते सर्वे कौरवेन्द्रं यथा पुरा

All the kings of the earth who gathered from every direction likewise attended upon the lord of the Kurus as before.

कुन्ती च दरौपदी चैव सात्वती चैव भामिनी उलूपी नागकन्या च देवी चित्र अङ्गदा तथा

Kunti, Draupadi, the beautiful Satvati, the serpent-maiden Ulupi, and the lady Chitrangada—all served her.

धृष्टकेतॊश च भगिनी जरा सन्धस्य चात्मजा किंकराः समॊपतिष्ठन्ति सर्वाः सुबलजां तथा

Dhrishtaketu's sister, the daughter of Jarasandha, and all the maidservants of Subala's daughter attended upon her as well.

यथा पुत्र वियुक्तॊ ऽयं न किं चिद दुःखम आप्नुयात इति राजन वशाद भरातॄन नित्यम एव युधिष्ठिरः

O king, Yudhishthira constantly kept his brothers under his own restraint so that Dhritarashtra, being deprived of his son, would suffer no distress at all.

एवं ते धर्मराजस्य शरुत्वा वचनम अर्थवत सविशेषम अवर्तन्त भीमम एकं विना तदा

Hearing Dharmaraja's meaningful words, they all behaved with special devotion toward him—all except Bhima alone.

न हि तत तस्य वीरस्य हृदयाद अपसर्पति धृतराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर यद्वृत्तं दयूतकारितम

For that heroic Bhima could never let go of the memory of what the evil-minded Dhritarashtra had done through the gambling match.

[वै] एवं संपूजितॊ राजा पाण्डवैर अम्बिका सुतः विजहार यथापूर्वम ऋषिभिः पर्युपासितः

Vaishampayana said: Thus honored by the Pandavas, King Dhritarashtra, Ambika's son, passed his time as before, attended also by sages.

बरह्म देयाग्र हारांश च परददौ स कुरूद्वहः तच च कुन्तीसुतॊ राजा सर्वम एवान्वमॊदत

The lord of the Kurus made grants of land and gifts to Brahmins, and King Yudhishthira, Kunti's son, approved of all this.

आनृशंस्य परॊ राजा परीयमाणॊ युधिष्ठिरः उवाच स तदा भरातॄन अमात्यांश च महीपतिः

King Yudhishthira, most compassionate and kindly disposed, then spoke to his brothers and ministers.

मया चैव भवद्भिश च मान्य एष नराधिपः निदेशे धृतराष्ट्रस्य यः सथास्यति स मे सुहृत विपरीतश च मे शत्रुर निरस्यश च भवेन नरः

He said this ruler must be honored by me and by all of you; whoever remains obedient to Dhritarashtra's command is my friend, and whoever acts contrary to him is my enemy, to be cast out.

परिदृष्टेषु चाहःसु पुत्राणां शराद्धकर्मणि ददातु राजा सर्वेषां यावद अस्य चिकीर्षितम

On the appointed days of the shraddha rites for his sons, let the king give to everyone as much as he desires.

ततः स राजा कौरव्यॊ धृतराष्ट्रॊ महामनाः बराह्मणेभ्यॊ महार्हेभ्यॊ ददौ वित्तान्य अनेकशः

Then the noble Kaurava King Dhritarashtra gave abundant wealth to worthy and deserving Brahmins.

धर्मराजश च भीमश च सव्यसाची यमाव अपि तत सर्वम अन्ववर्तन्त धृतराष्ट्र वयपेक्षया

Dharmaraja, Bhima, Arjuna, and the twins all followed this out of consideration for Dhritarashtra.

कथं नु राजा वृद्धः सन पुत्रशॊकसमाहतः शॊकम अस्मत कृतं पराप्य न मरियेतेति चिन्त्यते

They were concerned lest the aged king, already struck by grief for his sons, might die of the sorrow caused by them.

यावद धि कुरुमुख्यस्य जीवत पुत्रस्य वै सुखम बभूव तद अवाप्नॊतु भॊगांश चेति वयवस्थिताः

They resolved that whatever comforts the chief of the Kurus enjoyed while his son was alive, he should obtain those same comforts and pleasures now.

ततस ते सहिताः सर्वे भरातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः तथा शीलाः समातस्थुर धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासने

So all five Pandava brothers together, of similar disposition, remained under the authority of Dhritarashtra.

धृतराष्ट्रश च तान वीरान विनीतान विनये सथितान शिष्यवृत्तौ सथितान नित्यं गुरुवत पर्यपश्यत

And Dhritarashtra always looked upon those heroes, disciplined and firm in humility, as disciples devoted to their teacher.

गान्धारी चैव पुत्राणां विविधैः शराद्धकर्मभिः आनृष्यम अगमत कामान विप्रेभ्यः परतिपाद्य वै

Gandhari, having offered gifts to Brahmins, freed herself of debt through various shraddha rites for her sons and thereby obtained her desires.

एवं धर्मभृतां शरेष्ठॊ धर्मराजॊ युधिष्ठिरः भरातृभिः सहितॊ धीमान पूजयाम आस तं नृपम

Thus Yudhishthira, best of the upholders of righteousness, along with his brothers, wise as he was, honored that king.

[वै] स राजा सुमहातेजा वृद्धः कुरुकुलॊद्वहः नापश्यत तदा किं चिद अप्रियं पाण्डुनन्दने

Vaishampayana said: That aged, greatly powerful king, the elder of the Kuru line, saw nothing unpleasant at all from Pandu's sons.

वर्तमानेषु सद्वृत्तिं पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु परीतिमान अभवद राजा धृतराष्ट्रॊ ऽमबिका सुतः

Seeing the great-souled Pandavas behaving so well, King Dhritarashtra, Ambika's son, was filled with affection.

सौबलेयी च गान्धारी पुत्रशॊकम अपास्य तम सदैव परीतिम अत्यासीत तनयेषु निजेष्व इव

Gandhari, daughter of Subala, setting aside her grief for her sons, always felt affection for the Pandavas as if they were her own children.

परियाण्य एव तु कौरव्यॊ नाप्रियाणि कुरूद्वह वैचित्रवीर्ये नृपतौ समाचरति नित्यदा

Yudhishthira, chief of the Kurus, always did only pleasing things and never anything displeasing toward Vichitravirya's son.

यद यद बरूते च किं चित सा धृतराष्ट्रॊ नराधिपः गुरु वा लघु वा कार्यं गान्धारी च यशस्विनी

O great king, whatever Dhritarashtra or the illustrious Gandhari asked for, whether a great or small matter—

तत स राजा महाराज पाण्ण्डवानां धुरंधरः पूजयित्वा वचस तत तद अकार्षीत परवीरहा

the chief of the Pandavas, that destroyer of heroes, would honor their word and fulfill it accordingly.

तेन तस्याभवत परीतॊ वृत्तेन स नराधिपः अन्वतप्यच च संस्मृत्य पुत्रं मन्दम अचेतसम

Pleased by this conduct, the king was also filled with remorse, remembering his foolish, weak-minded son.

सदा च परातर उत्थाय कृतजप्यः शुचिर नृपः आशास्ते पाण्डुपुत्राणां समरेष्व अपराजयम

Every morning, having risen and performed his silent recitation, the pure king would pray for the Pandavas' victory in battles.

बराह्मणान वाचयित्वा च हुत्वा चैव हुताशनम आयुष्यं पाण्डुपुत्राणाम आशास्ते स नराधिपः

Having Brahmins recite the scriptures and offering oblations into the fire, the king prayed for the long life of Pandu's sons.

न तां परीतिं मराम आप पुत्रेभ्यः स महीपतिः यां परीतिं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यः समवाप तदा नृपः

That king did not feel toward his own sons the affection he then felt for the sons of Pandu.

बराह्मणानां च वृद्धानां कषत्रियाणां च भारत तथा विट शूद्र संघानाम अभवत सुप्रियस तदा

O Bharata, he became equally dear then to the aged Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, and the assemblies of Vaishyas and Shudras.

यच च किं चित पुरा पापं धृतराष्ट्र सुतैः कृतम अकृत्वा हृदि तद राजा तं नृपं सॊ ऽनववर्तत

Whatever wrongs Dhritarashtra's sons had once committed, the king put out of his heart and stopped dwelling on them.

यश च कश चिन नरः किं चिद अप्रियं चाम्बिका सुते कुरुते दवेष्यताम एति स कौन्तेयस्य धीमतः

Whoever did anything displeasing to Ambika's son incurred the hatred of the wise son of Kunti, Yudhishthira.

न राज्ञॊ धृतराष्ट्रस्य न च दुर्यॊधनस्य वै उवाच दुष्कृतं किं चिद युधिष्ठिर भयान नरः

Out of fear of Yudhishthira, no one ever spoke any evil about King Dhritarashtra or about Duryodhana.

धृत्या तुष्टॊ नरेन्द्रस्य गान्धारी विदुरस तथा शौचेन चाजात शत्रॊर न तु भीमस्य शत्रुहन

The king was pleased by Yudhishthira's steadfastness, by Gandhari and Vidura's purity, and by the innocence of Yudhishthira—but not by Bhima, that slayer of foes.

अन्ववर्तत भीमॊ ऽपि निष्टनन धर्मजं नृपम धृतराष्ट्रं च संप्रेक्ष्य सदा भवति दुर्मनाः

Bhima too, sighing repeatedly, followed the righteous king, but seeing Dhritarashtra his mind always turned sorrowful.

राजानम अनुवर्तन्तं धर्मपुत्रं महामतिम अन्ववर्तत कौरव्यॊ हृदयेन पराङ्मुखः

The Kaurava Bhima followed the great-minded Dharmaputra as he served the king, but his heart remained turned away from Dhritarashtra.

[वै] युधिष्ठिरस्य नृपतेर दुर्यॊधन पितुस तथा नान्तरं ददृशू राजन पुरुषाः परणयं परति

Vaishampayana said: O king, no one ever perceived any difference in the outward affection between King Yudhishthira and Duryodhana's father.

यदा तु कौरवॊ राजा पुत्रं सस्मार बालिशम तदा भीमं हृदा राजन्न अपध्याति स पार्थिवः

But whenever the Kaurava king remembered his foolish son, that ruler in his heart, O king, felt resentment toward Bhima.

तथैव भीमसेनॊ ऽपि धृतराष्ट्रं जनाधिपम नामर्षयत राजेन्द्र सदैवातुष्टवद धृदा

Likewise Bhimasena, O lord of kings, could never forgive lord Dhritarashtra and always remained displeased with him at heart.

अप्रकाशान्य अप्रियाणि चकारास्य वृकॊदरः आज्ञां परत्यहरच चापि कृतकैः पुरुषैः सदा

Vrikodara secretly did things displeasing to him, and he would even countermand the king's orders through men he had suborned.

अथ भीमः सुहृन्मध्ये बाहुशब्दं तथाकरॊत संश्रवे धृतराष्ट्रस्य गान्धार्याश चाप्य अमर्षणः

Then Bhima, filled with impatience, would flex his arms and make sounds so that Dhritarashtra and Gandhari would hear, among his friends.

समृत्वा दुर्यॊधनं शत्रुं कर्ण दुःशासनाव अपि परॊवाचाथ सुसंरब्धॊ भीमः स परुषं वचः

Remembering his enemy Duryodhana, along with Karna and Duhshasana, Bhima, enraged, would speak harsh words.

अन्धस्य नृपतेः पुत्रा मया परिघबाहुना नीता लॊकम अमुं सर्वे नानाशस्त्रात्त जीविताः

He would say: All the sons of the blind king were sent to that other world by me, with my mace-like arms, deprived of life by various weapons.

इमौ तौ परिघप्रख्यौ भुजौ मम दुरासदौ ययॊर अन्तरम आसाद्य धार्तराष्ट्राः कषयं गताः

These two arms of mine, resembling iron clubs and hard to withstand, are the ones by whose might the sons of Dhritarashtra met their doom.

ताव इमौ चन्दनेनाक्तौ वन्दनीयौ च मे भुजौ याभ्यां दुर्यॊधनॊ नीतः कषयं ससुत बान्धवः

These arms of mine, anointed with sandal paste, deserve worship—for it was by them that Duryodhana, with his sons and kinsmen, was brought to ruin.

एताश चान्याश च विविधाः शल्य भूता जनाधिपः वृकॊदरस्य ता वाचः शरुत्वा निर्वेदम आगमत

Hearing these and other such various words of Vrikodara, which pierced him like thorns, the king fell into deep despair.

सा च बुद्धिमती देवी कालपर्याय वेदिनी गान्धारी सर्वधर्मज्ञा तान्य अलीकानि शुश्रुवे

And that wise queen Gandhari, learned in all righteousness and knowing the course of time, heard these hurtful words too.

ततः पञ्चदशे वर्षे समतीते नराधिपः राजा निर्वेदम आपेदे भीम वाग बाणपीडितः

Then, when fifteen years had passed, the king, tormented by Bhima's cutting words, fell into utter despondency.

नान्वबुध्यत तद राजा कुन्तीपुत्रॊ युधिष्ठिरः शवेताश्वॊ वाथ कुन्ती वा दरौपदी व यशस्विनी

King Yudhishthira, Kunti's son, never came to know of this, nor did Arjuna, nor Kunti, nor the illustrious Draupadi.

माद्रीपुत्रौ च भीमस्य चित्तज्ञाव अन्वमॊदताम राज्ञस तु चित्तं रक्षन्तौ नॊचतुः किं चिद अप्रियम

Madri's two sons, who understood Bhima's mind, approved of it but, guarding the king's feelings, never spoke anything unpleasant themselves.

ततः समानयाम आस धृतराष्ट्रः सुहृज्जनम बाष्पसंदिग्धम अत्यर्थम इदम आह वचॊ भृशम

Then Dhritarashtra summoned his well-wishers and, his voice choked with tears, spoke these earnest words to them.

[धृ] विदितं भवताम एतद यथावृत्तः कुरु कषयः ममापराधात तत सर्वम इति जञेयं तु कौरवाः

Dhritarashtra said: You all know how the destruction of the Kurus came about; O Kauravas, know that all of it happened through my own fault.

यॊ ऽहं दुष्टमतिं मूढं जञातीनां भयवर्धनम दुर्यॊधनं कौरवाणाम आधिपत्ये ऽभयषेचयम

For it was I who anointed that dull-witted, evil-minded Duryodhana, the source of fear for his kinsmen, as ruler of the Kauravas.

यच चाहं वासुदेवस्य वाक्यं नाश्रौषम अर्थवत वध्यतां साध्व अयं पापः सामात्य इति दुर्मतिः

And it was I who did not heed the wise counsel of Vasudeva, that this wicked man, along with his ministers, ought to be put to death—such was my folly.

पुत्रस्नेहाभिभूतश च हितमुक्तॊ मनीषिभिः विदुरेणाथ भीष्मेण दरॊणेन च कृपेण च

Overcome by love for my son, I did not act even when repeatedly counseled for my good by Vidura, Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa,

पदे पदे भगवता वयासेन च महात्मना संजयेनाथ गान्धार्या तद इदं तप्यते ऽदय माम

nor at every step by the blessed, great-souled Vyasa, nor by Sanjaya, nor by Gandhari—and it is this that torments me today.

यच चाहं पाण्डुपुत्रेण गुणवत्सु महात्मसु न दत्तवाञ शरियं दीप्तां पितृपैतामहीम इमाम

And because I did not give over the blazing, ancestral royal fortune to the virtuous, great-souled son of Pandu—

विनाशं पश्यमानॊ हि सर्वराज्ञां गदाग्रजः एतच छरेयः स परमम अमन्यत जनार्दनः

Janardana, foreseeing the destruction of all these kings, had considered handing the kingdom to the Pandavas to be the highest good.

सॊ ऽहम एतान्य अलीकानि निवृत्तान्य आत्मनः सदा हृदये शल्य भूतानि धारयामि सहस्रशः

So I carry within my heart, by the thousand, these wrongs that have now come back to me, lodged there like thorns.

विशेषतस तु दह्यामि वर्षं पञ्चदशं हि वै अस्य पापस्य शुद्ध्य अर्थं नियतॊ ऽसमि सुदुर्मतिः

Especially through this fifteenth year I have burned, disciplined and self-restrained though most foolish, seeking purification from this sin.

चतुर्थे नियते काले कदा चिद अपि चाष्टमे तृष्णा विनयनं भुञ्जे गान्धारी वेद तन मम

Every fourth day, and sometimes even on the eighth, I take only water to quench my thirst as my meal—Gandhari knows this about me.

करॊत्य आहारम इति मां सर्वः परिजनः सदा युधिष्ठिर भयाद वेत्ति भृशं तप्यति पाण्डवः

"All my attendants always prepare food for me," said Dhritarashtra, "but I eat it out of fear of Yudhishthira; the son of Pandu is deeply pained by this."

भूमौ शये जप्यपरॊ दर्भेष्व अजिन संवृतः नियमव्यपदेशेन गान्धारी च यशस्विनी

He lay on the bare ground absorbed in silent prayer, covered with a deer skin over kusha grass; and the illustrious Gandhari too observed this same vow of austerity beside him.

हतं पुत्रशतं शूरं संग्रामेष्व अपलायिनम नानुतप्यामि तच चाहं कषत्रधर्मं हि तं विदुः इत्य उक्त्वा धर्मराजानम अभ्यभाषत कौरवः

"I do not grieve that my hundred brave sons, who never fled from battle, were slain — for that is known to be the duty of a kshatriya," said the Kaurava, having spoken thus to the King of Dharma.

भद्रं ते यादवी मातर वाक्यं चेदं निबॊध मे सुखम अस्म्य उषितः पुत्र तवया सुपरिपालितः

"May you be blessed, O son of the Yadava mother; hear now these words of mine — I have lived happily here, well cared for by you, my son."

महादानानि दत्तानि शराद्धानि च पुनः पुनः परकृष्टं मे वयः पुत्र पुण्यं चीर्णं यथाबलम गान्धारी हतपुत्रेयं धैर्येणॊदीक्षते च माम

"Great gifts have been given, and shraddha rites performed again and again; my life has advanced greatly, my son, and I have performed merit according to my strength, while this Gandhari, bereft of her sons, watches over me with patience."

दरौपद्या हय अपकर्तारस तव चैश्वर्यहारिणः समतीता नृशंसास ते धर्मेण निहता युधि

"Those cruel men who had wronged Draupadi and stripped you of your kingdom have all perished, slain justly in battle."

न तेषु परतिकर्तव्यं पश्यामि कुरुनन्दन सर्वे शस्त्रजिताँल लॊकान गतास ते ऽभिमुखं हताः

"O joy of the Kurus, I see nothing more to be done against them now; all of them, having conquered the worlds won by weapons, met death facing the enemy."

आत्मनस तु हितं मुख्यं परतिकर्तव्यम अद्य मे गान्धार्याश चैव राजेन्द्र तदनुज्ञातुम अर्हसि

"Now what remains is chiefly to do good for myself, O lord of kings; you should grant permission for this, to me and to Gandhari as well."

तवं हि धर्मभृतां शरेष्ठः सततं धर्मवत्सलः राजा गुरुः पराणभृतां तस्माद एतद बरवीम्य अहम

"You are the foremost upholder of dharma, ever devoted to righteousness, the king and guru of all living beings — that is why I speak this to you."

अनुज्ञातस तवया वीर संश्रयेयं वनान्य अहम चीरवल्कल भृद राजन गान्धार्या सहितॊ ऽनया तवाशिषः परयुञ्जानॊ भविष्यामि वनेचरः

"With your permission, O hero, I shall take refuge in the forests, O king, wearing bark and rags, together with Gandhari, living as a forest-dweller enjoying your blessing."

उचितं नः कुले तात सर्वेषां भरतर्षभ पुत्रेष्व ऐश्वर्यम आधाय वयसॊ ऽनते वनं नृप

"O son, O bull among the Bharatas, it is fitting for all of us of this lineage that, having placed sovereignty upon our sons, we go to the forest at the end of life, O king."

तत्राहं वायुभक्षॊ वा निराहारॊ ऽपि वा वसन पत्न्या सहानया वीर चरिष्यामि तपः परम

"There, O hero, living on air alone or even without food, together with my wife, I shall practise the supreme austerity."

तवं चापि फलभाक तात तपसः पार्थिवॊ हय असि फलभाजॊ हि राजानः कल्याणस्येतरस्य वा

"And you too, my son, being a king, shall share in the fruit of this austerity, for kings partake of the fruit of good and evil alike done by others under their rule."

[य] न मां परीणयते राज्यं तवय्य एवं दुःखिते नृप धिन माम अस्तु सुदुर्बुद्धिं राज्यसक्तं परमादिनम

Yudhishthira said: "O king, the kingdom brings me no joy while you remain thus grief-stricken; let me, of such wretched, evil mind, attached to the kingdom and negligent, be condemned."

यॊ ऽहं भवन्तं दुःखार्तम उपवासकृशं नृप यताहारं कषितिशयं नाविन्दं भरातृभिः सह

"I, who did not, O king, find you along with my brothers when you were afflicted with grief, emaciated by fasting, taking meagre food and lying on the ground —"

अहॊ ऽसमि वञ्चितॊ मूढॊ भवता गूढबुद्धिना विश्वासयित्वा पूर्वं मां यद इदं दुःखम अश्नुथाः

"Alas, I have been deceived, foolish that I am, by you of concealed intent, who first won my trust and then let this suffering befall you."

किं मे राज्येन भॊगैर वा किं यज्ञैः किं सुखेन वा यस्य मे तवं महीपाल दुःखान्य एतान्य अवाप्तवान

"What use to me are kingdom or enjoyments, sacrifices or happiness, O king, for whose sake you, my father, have endured these sorrows?"

पीडितं चापि जानामि राज्यम आत्मानम एव च अनेन वचसा तुभ्यं दुःखितस्य जनेश्वर

"I know that both the kingdom and myself, O lord of men, are afflicted by this suffering caused to you by these very words spoken to me who am now grieved."

भवान पिता भवान माता भवान नः परमॊ गुरुः भवता विप्रहीणा हि कव नु तिष्ठामहे वयम

"You are our father, you are our mother, you are our supreme guru; where indeed shall we stand, bereft of you?"

औरसॊ भवतः पुत्रॊ युयुत्सुर नृपसत्तम अस्तु राजा महाराज यं चान्यं मन्यते भवान

"O best of kings, let Yuyutsu, your own son, or whomever else you consider fit, become king, O great king."