Stri Parva

[ज] हते दुर्यॊधने चैव हते सैन्ये च सर्वशः धृतराष्ट्रॊ महाराजः शरुत्वा किम अकरॊन मुने

Janamejaya asked, "O sage, when Duryodhana and the entire army had been slain, what did the great king Dhritarashtra do upon hearing this?"

तथैव कौरवॊ राजा धर्मपुत्रॊ महामनाः कृपप्रभृतयश चैव किम अकुर्वत ते तरयः

"And what did the noble king Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, along with Kripa and the other two survivors, do at that time?"

अश्वत्थाम्नः शरुतं कर्म शापश चान्यॊन्य कारितः वृत्तान्तम उत्तरं बरूहि यद अभाषत संजयः

"I have already heard of Ashvatthama's deed and the curses exchanged between him and the Pandavas; now tell me what happened next, as Sanjaya related it."

[व] हते पुत्रशते दीनं छिन्नशाखम इव दरुमम पुत्रशॊकाभिसंतप्तं धृतराष्ट्रं महीपतिम

Vaishampayana said: When his hundred sons had been slain, King Dhritarashtra, lord of the earth, grieved like a tree whose branches had been lopped off, consumed by sorrow for his sons.

धयानमूकत्वम आपन्नं चिन्तया समभिप्लुतम अभिगम्य महाप्राज्ञः संजयॊ वाक्यम अब्रवीत

Overwhelmed by anxiety, he fell into a mute, meditative silence; then the wise Sanjaya approached and spoke these words to him.

किं शॊचसि महाराज नास्ति शॊके सहायता अक्षौहिण्यॊ हताश चाष्टौ दश चैव विशां पते निर्जनेयं वसुमती शून्या संप्रति केवला

"Why do you grieve, great king? There is no help in sorrow. Eighteen akshauhini armies have perished, O lord of men, and now the earth lies desolate and empty."

नानादिग्भ्यः समागम्य नानादेश्या नराधिपाः सहितास तव पुत्रेण सर्वे वै निधनं गताः

"Kings from many different directions and lands, having come together and allied with your son, have all met their death."

पितॄणां पुत्रपौत्राणां जञातीनां सुहृदां तथा गुरूणां चानुपूर्व्येण परेतकार्याणि कारय

"Now perform, in due order, the funeral rites for the fathers, sons, grandsons, kinsmen, friends and elders who have died."

[व] तच छरुत्वा करुणं वाक्यं पुत्रपौत्र वधार्दितः पपात भुवि दुर्धर्षॊ वाताहत इव दरुमः

Vaishampayana said: Hearing this sorrowful speech, the mighty king, tormented by the death of his sons and grandsons, fell to the ground like a tree struck down by the wind.

[धृ] हतपुत्रॊ हतामात्यॊ हतसर्वसुहृज जनः दुःखं नूनं भविष्यामि विचरन पृथिवीम इमाम

Dhritarashtra said: "Having lost my sons, my ministers, and all my kinsmen, I shall surely spend the rest of my life wandering this earth in misery."

किं नु बन्धुविहीनस्य जीवितेन ममाद्य वै लूनपक्षस्य इव मे जरा जीर्णस्य पक्षिणः

"What use is life to me now, bereft of my kin, like an old bird with clipped, withered wings?"

हृतराज्यॊ हतसुहृद धतचक्षुश च वै तथा न भराजिष्ये महाप्राज्ञ कषीणरश्मिर इवांशुमान

"Having lost my kingdom, my friends, and my eyesight too, I shall no longer shine, O wise one, like the sun with its rays exhausted."

न कृतं सुहृदॊ वाक्यं जामदग्न्यस्य जल्पतः नारदस्य च देवर्षेः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्य च

"I did not heed the counsel of my well-wishing friends — of Parashurama, of the divine sage Narada, and of Krishna-Dvaipayana Vyasa."

सभामध्ये तु कृष्णेन यच छरेयॊ ऽभिहितं मम अलं वैरेण ते राजन पुत्रः संगृह्यताम इति

"Nor did I follow what Krishna, for my welfare, told me in the midst of the assembly: 'Enough of this enmity, O king, let your son be restrained.'"

तच च वाक्यम अकृत्वाहं भृशं तप्यामि दुर्मतिः न हि शरॊतास्मि भीष्मस्य धर्मयुक्तं परभाषितम

"Not having heeded that counsel, I, ill-minded as I am, now suffer intensely, for I would not listen to Bhishma's righteous words either."

दुर्यॊधनस्य च तथा वृषभस्येव नर्दतः दुःशासन वधं शरुत्वा कर्णस्य च विपर्ययम दरॊण सूर्यॊपरागं च हृदयं मे विदीर्यते

"Hearing of the killing of Duryodhana, who used to roar like a bull, and of Dushasana's death, and of Karna's downfall, and the eclipse of Drona's sun-like glory, my heart is torn apart."

न समराम्य आत्मनः किं चित पुरा संजय दुष्कृतम यस्येदं फलम अद्येह मया मूढेन भुज्यते

"O Sanjaya, I cannot recall having done any wrong in the past, the fruit of which I, in my folly, am today reaping."

नूनं हय अपकृतं किं चिन मया पूर्वेषु जन्मसु येन मां दुःखभागेषु धाता कर्मसु युक्तवान

"Surely I must have done some wrong in my former births, for which fate has engaged me in these sorrowful acts."

परिणामश च वयसः सर्वबन्धुक्षयश च मे सुहृन मित्र विनाशश च दैवयॊगाद उपागतः कॊ ऽनयॊ ऽसति दुःखिततरॊ मया लॊके पुमान इह

"The decline of old age has come upon me, along with the ruin of all my kinsmen and the loss of friends and companions, brought about by fate — is there any man in this world more wretched than I?"

तन माम अद्यैव पश्यन्तु पाण्डवाः संशितव्रतम विवृतं बरह्मलॊकस्य दीर्घम अध्वानम आस्थितम

"Let the Pandavas now see me, of firm vows, having taken the long road to the world of Brahma laid open before me."

[व] तस्य लालप्यमानस्य बहु शॊकं विचिन्वतः शॊकापहं नरेन्द्रस्य संजयॊ वाक्यम अब्रवीत

Vaishampayana said: To the king who was thus lamenting and dwelling deeply in his sorrow, Sanjaya spoke words meant to dispel his grief.

शॊकं राजन वयपनुद शरुतास ते वेद निश्चयाः शास्त्रागमाश च विविधा वृद्धेभ्यॊ नृपसत्तम सृञ्जये पुत्रशॊकार्ते यद ऊचुर मुनयः पुरा

"O king, cast off your grief. You have heard the settled truths of the Vedas and the various scriptures from your elders, O best of kings, and what the sages of old told King Srinjaya when he grieved for his son."

तथा यौवनजं दर्पम आस्थिते ते सुते नृप न तवया सुहृदां वाक्यं बरुवताम अवधारितम सवार्थश च न कृतः कश चिल लुब्धेन फलगृद्धिना

"O king, when your son gave way to the arrogance born of youth, you did not heed the words of your well-wishers, and, greedy for gain, you did nothing for your own true good."

तव दुःशासनॊ मन्त्री राधेयश च दुरात्मवान शकुनिश चैव दुष्टात्मा चित्रसेनश च दुर्मतिः शल्यश च येन वै सर्वं शल्य भूतं कृतं जगत

"Your counsellors were Dushasana, the wicked son of Radha (Karna), the evil Shakuni, the ill-minded Chitrasena, and Shalya, by whom the whole world was turned into a mere thorn (shalya)."

कुरुवृद्धस्य भीष्मस्य गान्धार्या विदुरस्य च न कृतं वचनं तेन तव पुत्रेण भारत

"O descendant of Bharata, your son never heeded the words of the elder Kuru Bhishma, of Gandhari, or of Vidura."

न धर्मः सत्कृतः कश चिन नित्यं युद्धम इति बरुवन कषपिताः कषत्रियाः सर्वे शत्रूणां वर्धितं यशः

"He never honoured righteousness, always insisting on war; thus all the kshatriyas were destroyed and the fame of the enemy was increased."

मध्यस्थॊ हि तवम अप्य आसीर न कषमं किं चिद उक्तवान धूर धरेण तवया भारस तुलया न समं धृतः

"Though you stood neutral, you too said nothing befitting the occasion; bearing the yoke as one holding the reins, you did not hold the burden evenly balanced."

आदाव एव मनुष्येण वर्तितव्यं यथा कषमम यथा नातीतम अर्थं वै पश्चात तापेन युज्यते

"A man should conduct himself properly from the very beginning, so that he is not afterward tormented with regret over what has already come to pass."

पुत्रगृद्ध्या तवया राजन परियं तस्य चिकीर्षता पश्चात तापम इदं पराप्तं न तवं शॊचितुम अर्हसि

"O king, out of love for your son and a desire to please him, you have now reached this state of regret; you ought not to grieve."

मधु यः केवलं दृष्ट्वा परपातं नानुपश्यति स भरष्टॊ मधु लॊभेन शॊचत्य एव यथा भवान

"One who, seeing only the honey, does not see the precipice below, is ruined by his greed for honey and grieves just as you do now."

अर्थान न शॊचन पराप्नॊति न शॊचन विन्दते सुखम न शॊचञ शरियम आप्नॊति न शॊचन विन्दते परम

"By grieving one gains no wealth, nor happiness, nor does grieving bring prosperity or the highest good."

सवयम उत्पादयित्वाग्निं वस्त्रेण परिवेष्टयेत दह्यमानॊ मनस्तापं भजते न स पण्डितः

"Just as a man who kindles a fire himself and then wraps himself in cloth is burned, the wise do not indulge in mental torment."

तवयैव स सुतेनायं वाक्यवायुसमीरितः लॊभाज्येन च संसिक्तॊ जवलितः पार्थ पावकः

"This fire was kindled by your own son, fanned by the wind of harsh words and fed with the clarified butter of greed."

तस्मिन समिद्धे पतिताः शलभा इव ते सुताः तान केशवार्चिर निर्दग्धान न तवं शॊचितुम अर्हसि

"Your sons, having fallen into that blazing fire, were like moths falling into flame; consumed by Krishna's fiery radiance, they do not deserve to be mourned by you."

यच चाश्रुपात कलिलं वदनं वहसे नृप अशास्त्रदृष्टम एतद धि न परशंसन्ति पण्डिताः

"O king, your face is now wet with flowing tears, but the wise do not praise conduct that has no basis in scripture."

विस्फुलिङ्गा इव हय एतान दहन्ति किल मानवान जहीहि मन्युं बुद्ध्या वै धारयात्मानम आत्मना

"These sparks of grief truly burn men up; give up this sorrow through wisdom, and steady yourself by your own effort."

एवम आश्वासितस तेन संजयेन महात्मना विदुरॊ भूय एवाह बुद्धिपूर्वं परंतप

Thus consoled by the wise Sanjaya, Vidura, that scorcher of foes, once again spoke to him with deliberate wisdom.

[व] ततॊ ऽमृतसमैर वाक्यैर हलादयन पुरुषर्षभम वैचित्र वीर्यं विदुरॊ यद उवाच निबॊध तत

Vaishampayana said: Then, gladdening the foremost of men with words sweet as nectar, Vidura spoke to the son of Vichitravirya — listen to what he said.

[विदुर] उत्तिष्ठ राजन किं शेषे धारयात्मानम आत्मना सथिरजङ्गम मर्त्यानां सर्वेषाम एष निर्णयः

Vidura said: "Arise, O king! Why do you lie down thus? Steady yourself by your own strength — this is the fate ordained for all beings, moving and unmoving."

सर्वे कषयान्ता निचयाः पतनान्ताः समुच्छ्रयाः संयॊगा विप्रयॊगान्ता मरणान्तं हि जीवितम

"All accumulations end in destruction, all that rises must fall, all unions end in separation, and life itself ends in death."

यदा शूरं च भीरुं च यमः कर्षति भारत तत किं न यॊत्स्यन्ति हि ते कषत्रियाः कषत्रियर्षभ

"O Bharata, when Death drags away both the brave and the cowardly alike, why then should kshatriyas not fight, O best of kshatriyas?"

अयुध्यमानॊ मरियते युध्यमानश च जीवति कालं पराप्य महाराज न कश चिद अतिवर्तते

"A man may die even without fighting, and another may live even while fighting; when the time comes, great king, no one can escape it."

न चाप्य एतान हतान युद्धे राजञ शॊचितुम अर्हसि परमाणं यदि शास्त्राणि गतास ते परमां गतिम

"O king, you should not grieve for those slain in battle; if the scriptures are any measure, they have attained the highest state."

सर्वे सवाध्यायवन्तॊ हि सर्वे च चरितव्रताः सर्वे चाभिमुखाः कषीणास तत्र का परिदेवना

"All of them were versed in the sacred texts, all had observed their vows, all met death facing the enemy — what cause is there for lamenting?"

अदर्शनाद आपतिताः पुनश चादर्शनं गताः न ते तव न तेषां तवं तत्र का परिदेवना

"They came into existence out of the unseen, and have returned again into the unseen; they were never truly yours nor were you truly theirs — what cause is there for lamenting?"

हतॊ ऽपि लभते सवर्गं हत्वा च लभते यशः उभयं नॊ बहुगुणं नास्ति निष्फलता रणे

"Whether slain or slaying, a warrior gains heaven and fame respectively — both are of great merit; battle never goes without its fruit."

तेषां कामदुघाँल लॊकान इन्द्रः संकल्पयिष्यति इन्द्रस्यातिथयॊ हय एते भवन्ति पुरुषर्षभ

"For such warriors, Indra will fashion worlds that grant every desire; O best of men, they become the honoured guests of Indra himself."

न यज्ञैर दक्षिणावद्भिर न तपॊभिर न विद्यया सवर्गं यान्ति तथा मर्त्या यथा शूरा रणे हताः

"Mortals do not attain heaven through sacrifices rich with gifts, nor through austerities, nor through learning, as heroes do who die in battle."

माता पितृसहस्राणि पुत्रदारशतानि च संसारेष्व अनुभूतानि कस्य ते कस्य वा वयम

"We have all had thousands of mothers and fathers and hundreds of sons and wives in this cycle of existence — whose are they truly, and whose are we?"

शॊकस्थान सहस्राणि भयस्थान शतानि च दिवसे दिवसे मूढम आविशन्ति न पण्डितम

"Thousands of causes for grief and hundreds of causes for fear assail the foolish man every single day, but never the wise one."

न कालस्य परियः कश चिन न दवेष्यः कुरुसत्तम न मध्यस्थः कव चित कालः सर्वं कालः परकर्षति

"O best of the Kurus, no one is dear to Time, none hateful to it, none spared by it anywhere; Time drags everything along equally."

अनित्यं जीवितं रूपं यौवनं दरव्यसंचयः आरॊग्यं परिय संवासॊ गृध्येद एषु न पण्डितः

"Life, beauty, youth, the accumulation of wealth, health, and the company of loved ones are all impermanent; the wise do not become attached to these."

न जानपदिकं दुःखम एकः शॊचितुम अर्हसि अप्य अभावेन युज्येत तच चास्य न निवर्तते

"You should not grieve alone over the misfortune of your subjects; even you yourself will be subject to non-existence one day, and this cannot be turned back."

अशॊचन परतिकुर्वीत यदि पश्येत पराक्रमम भैषज्यम एतद दुःखस्य यद एतन नानुचिन्तयेत चिन्त्यमानं हि न वयेति भूयश चापि विवर्धते

"One should act without grieving, if some remedy can be found; not dwelling on sorrow is the true medicine for it, for dwelling on it only makes it grow, never diminish."

अनिष्ट संप्रयॊगाच च विप्रयॊगात परियस्य च मनुष्या मानसैर दुःखैर युज्यन्ते ये ऽलपबुद्धयः

"Only men of little wisdom are afflicted with mental suffering, brought on by contact with what is disagreeable or separation from what is dear."

नार्थॊ न धर्मॊ न सुखं यद एतद अनुशॊचसि न च नापैति कार्यार्थात तरिवर्गाच चैव भरश्यते

"That over which you now grieve is neither wealth, nor righteousness, nor happiness; it does not lessen the loss already incurred, and it only makes you fall away from the threefold goals of life."

अन्याम अन्यां धनावस्थां पराप्य वैशेषिकीं नराः असंतुष्टाः परमुह्यन्ति संतॊषं यान्ति पण्डिताः

"Attaining one degree of wealth after another, men who remain unsatisfied fall into delusion, while the wise attain contentment."

परज्ञया मानसं दुःखं हन्याच छारीरम औषधैः एतज जञानस्य सामर्थ्यं न बालैः समताम इयात

"One should destroy mental suffering with wisdom, as bodily illness is destroyed with medicine; this is the power of true knowledge, which the foolish can never equal."

शयानं चानुशयति तिष्ठन्तं चानुतिष्ठति अनुधावति धावन्तं कर्म पूर्वकृतं नरम

"A man's past deeds follow him whether he lies down, stands, or runs — they lie down with him when he lies, stand with him when he stands, and run after him when he runs."

यस्यां यस्याम अवस्थायां यत करॊति शुभाशुभम तस्यां तस्याम अवस्थायां तत तत फलम उपाश्नुते

"In whatever state a man performs an act, good or bad, in that very state he reaps its fruit."

[धृ] सुभाषितैर महाप्राज्ञ शॊकॊ ऽयं विगतॊ मम भुय एव तु वाक्यानि शरॊतुम इच्छामि तत्त्वतः

Dhritarashtra said: "O wise one, your good words have dispelled my grief; but I wish to hear more of this truth from you."

अनिष्टानां च संसर्गाद इष्टानां च विवर्जनात कथं हि मानसैर दुःखैः परमुच्यन्ते ऽतर पण्डिताः

"How, then, do the wise free themselves from mental suffering caused by contact with what is unpleasant and separation from what is dear?"

[विदुर] यतॊ यतॊ मनॊदुःखात सुखाद वापि परमुच्यते ततस ततः शमं लब्ध्वा सुगतिं विन्दते बुधः

Vidura said: "Whenever a wise man frees himself from either mental sorrow or pleasure, from that very freedom he gains peace and attains the good path."

अशाश्वतम इदं सर्वं चिन्त्यमानं नरर्षभ कदली संनिभॊ लॊकः सारॊ हय अस्य न विद्यते

"O best of men, all this that you brood upon is impermanent — this world is like a plantain tree, for it has no real substance within it."

गृहाण्य एव हि मर्त्यानाम आहुर देहानि पण्डिताः कालेन विनियुज्यन्ते सत्त्वम एकं तु शॊभनम

"The wise say that the bodies of mortals are merely houses; in time they are consumed, but the soul alone is truly excellent and enduring."

यथा जीर्णम अजीर्णं वा वस्त्रं तयक्त्वा तु वै नरः अन्यद रॊचयते वस्त्रम एवं देहाः शरीरिणाम

"Just as a man discards worn-out or unworn clothing and chooses another garment, so do embodied souls discard their bodies for new ones."

वैचित्र वीर्यवासं हि दुःखं वायदि वा सुखम पराप्नुवन्तीह भूतानि सवकृतेनैव कर्मणा

"Whether sorrow or happiness comes to beings in this world, resembling the fortunes of Vichitravirya's line, they obtain it only through their own past deeds."

कर्मणा पराप्यते सवर्गं सुखं दुःखं च भारत ततॊ वहति तं भारम अवशः सववशॊ ऽपि वा

"O Bharata, through one's own deeds one attains heaven, happiness or sorrow; thereafter one bears that burden, whether unwillingly or willingly."

यथा च मृन मयं भाण्डं चक्रारूढं विपद्यते किं चित परकिर्यमाणं वा कृतमात्रम अथापि वा

"Just as an earthen pot, mounted on the potter's wheel, meets various fates — whether still being shaped, or freshly made,"

छिन्नं वाप्य अवरॊप्यन्तम अवतीर्णम अथापि वा आर्द्रं वाप्य अथ वा शुष्कं पच्यमानम अथापि वा

"or broken, or being taken down, or having just been placed on the wheel, or wet, or dry, or being fired in the kiln,"

अवतार्यमाणम आपाकाद उद्धृतं वापि भारत अथ वा परिभुज्यन्तम एवं देहाः शरीरिणाम

"or being taken out of the kiln, or already put to use — O Bharata, so are the bodies of embodied souls in their various states."

गर्भस्थॊ वा परसूतॊ वाप्य अथ वा दिवसान्तरः अर्धमास गतॊ वापि मासमात्रगतॊ ऽपि वा

"Whether still in the womb, or newly born, or a few days old, or a fortnight old, or a month old,"

संवत्सरगतॊ वापि दविसंवत्सर एव वा यौवनस्थॊ ऽपि मध्यस्थॊ वृद्धॊ वापि विपद्यते

"or a year old, or two years old, or in youth, or in middle age, or in old age — a being may perish at any of these stages."

पराक कर्मभिस तु भूतानि भवन्ति न भवन्ति च एवं सांसिद्धिके लॊके किमर्थम अनुतप्यसे

"By virtue of past deeds beings come into existence, and by the same they cease to exist; since this is the settled way of the world, why do you grieve?"

यथा च सलिले राजन करीडार्थम अनुसंचरन उन्मज्जेच च निमज्जेच च किं चित सत्त्वं नराधिप

"O king, just as a man sporting in the water may, for the sake of play, rise up and dive down again and again,"

एवं संसारगहनाद उन्मज्जन निमज्जनात कर्म भॊगेन बध्यन्तः कलिश्यन्ते ये ऽलपबुद्धयः

"so too, in the thick forest of worldly existence, those of little wisdom, bound by the enjoyment of their deeds, rise and sink and suffer."

ये तु पराज्ञाः सथिताः सत्ये संसारान्त गवेषिणः समागमज्ञा भूतानां ते यान्ति परमां गतिम

"But those wise ones who remain firm in truth, seeking the end of this cycle of existence, and who understand the meeting and parting of beings, attain the highest state."

[धृ] कथं संसारगहनं विज्ञेयं वदतां वर एतद इच्छाम्य अहं शरॊतुं तत्त्वम आख्याहि पृच्छतः

Dhritarashtra said: "O best of speakers, how is this thick forest of worldly existence to be understood? I wish to hear this truth from you; please tell one who asks."

[विदुर] जन्मप्रभृति भूतानां करियाः सर्वाः शृणु परभॊ पूर्वम एवेह कलले वसते किं चिद अन्तरम

Vidura said: "O lord, hear of all the processes that beings undergo from the moment of birth onward. First, for some time, the being dwells in the embryonic mass in the womb."

ततः स पञ्चमे ऽतीते मासे मासं परकल्पयेत ततः सर्वाङ्गसंपूर्णॊ गर्भॊ मासे परजायते

"Then, when the fifth month has passed, month by month it develops further; and in the tenth month the fully-formed embryo is born."

अमेध्यमध्ये वसति मांसशॊणितलेपने ततस तु वायुवेगेन ऊर्ध्वपादॊ हय अधःशिराः

He dwells amid filth, smeared with flesh and blood; then, driven by the force of the wind within, he hangs head-down and feet-up.

यॊनिद्वारम उपागम्य बहून कलेशान समृच्छति यॊनिसंपीडनाच चैव पूर्वकर्मभिर अन्वितः

Approaching the birth canal, he undergoes many afflictions, crushed by its pressure and bound still by the deeds of his past lives.

तस्मान मुक्तः स संसाराद अन्यान पश्यत्य उपद्रवान गरहास तम उपसर्पन्ति सारमेया इवामिषम

Freed from that womb-bondage through birth, he then faces other troubles; the seizing forces approach him as dogs approach a piece of meat.

ततः पराप्तॊत्तरे काले वयाधयश चापि तं तथा उपसर्पन्ति जीवन्तं बध्यमानं सवकर्मभिः

Then, as time passes, diseases too approach him in the same way while he lives on, bound by his own deeds.

बद्धम इन्द्रियपाशैस तं सङ्गस्वादुभिर आतुरम वयसनान्य उपवर्तन्ते विविधानि नराधिप बध्यमानश च तैर भूयॊ नैव तृप्तिम उपैति सः

Bound by the nooses of the senses and tormented by the sweet lure of attachment, O king, he is beset by many kinds of calamity, and though bound again and again, he never attains satisfaction.

अयं न बुध्यते तावद यम लॊकम अथागतम यमदूतैर विकृष्यंश च मृत्युं कालेन गच्छति

He does not realize, until he reaches the world of Yama, that Yama's messengers are dragging him along; in time he goes to his death.

वाग घीनस्य च यन मात्रम इष्टानिष्टं कृतं मुखे भूय एवात्मनात्मानं बध्यमानम उपेक्षते

Whatever pleasing or displeasing words he once spoke with his own mouth return to bind him again; yet he pays no heed even as he finds himself thus bound by his own self.

अहॊ विनिकृतॊ लॊकॊ लॊभेन च वशीकृतः लॊभक्रॊधमदॊन्मत्तॊ नात्मानम अवबुध्यते

Alas, this world is utterly deceived and ruled by greed; maddened by greed, anger and pride, a man fails to understand his own self.

कुलीनत्वेन रमते दुष्कुलीनान विकुत्सयन धनदर्पेण दृप्तश च दरिद्रान परिकुत्सयन

He takes delight in his noble birth, scorning those of low family, and puffed up with the pride of wealth, he despises the poor.

मूर्खान इति परान आह नात्मानं समवेक्षते शिक्षां कषिपति चान्येषां नात्मानं शास्तुम इच्छति

He calls others fools without ever examining himself; he flings instruction at others but has no wish to discipline his own self.

अध्रुवे जीवलॊके ऽसमिन यॊ धर्मम अनुपालयन जन्मप्रभृति वर्तेत पराप्नुयात परमां गतिम

In this impermanent world of the living, one who upholds dharma from birth onward attains the supreme state.

एवं सर्वं विदित्वा वै यस तत्त्वम अनुवर्तते स परमॊक्षाय लभते पन्थानं मनुजाधिप

O lord of men, one who, knowing all this, follows the truth finds the path to supreme liberation.

[धृ] यद इदं धर्मगहनं बुद्ध्या समनुगम्यते एतद विस्तरशः सर्वं बुद्धिमार्गं परशंस मे

[Dhritarashtra] This deep mystery of dharma that is grasped by wisdom - explain it all to me in full, this path of the wise.

[विदुर] अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि नम ः कृत्वा सवयं भुवे यथा संसारगहनं वदन्ति परमर्षयः

[Vidura] Bowing to the earth, I shall explain to you what the great sages say of this dense forest of worldly existence.

कश चिन महति संसारे वर्तमानॊ दविजः किल वनं दुर्गम अनुप्राप्तॊ महत करव्यादसंकुलम

There was once a brahmin, wandering amid this great cycle of existence, who came upon an impenetrable forest crowded with fierce flesh-eating creatures.

सिंहव्याघ्र गजाकारैर अतिघॊरैर महाशनैः समन्तात संपरिक्षिप्तं मृत्यॊर अपि भयप्रदम

It was surrounded on every side by terrifying, voracious beasts shaped like lions, tigers and elephants - a forest fearsome even to Death itself.

तद अस्य दृष्ट्वा हृदयम उद्वेगम अगमत परम अभ्युच्छ्रयश च रॊम्णां वै विक्रियाश च परंतप

Seeing it, O scorcher of foes, his heart was seized with extreme terror, his hair stood on end, and he was overcome with agitation.

स तद वनं वयनुसरन विप्रधावन इतस ततः वीक्षमाणॊ दिशः सर्वाः शरणं कव भवेद इति

Running through that forest here and there, he looked in every direction, wondering where refuge might be found.

स तेषां छिद्रम अन्विच्छन परद्रुतॊ भयपीडितः न च निर्याति वै दूरं न च तैर विप्रयुज्यते

Seeking some gap among the beasts, he fled in terror, yet could neither get far away nor free himself from them.

अथापश्यद वनं घॊरं समन्ताद वागुरावृतम बाहुभ्यां संपरिष्वक्तं सत्रिया परमघॊरया

Then he saw that the terrible forest was encircled on all sides by a net, and held fast in the arms of a most terrible woman.