Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच गुरवे प्राङ्नमस्कृत्य मनोबुद्धिसमाधिभिः संपूज्य च द्विजान्सर्वांस्तथान्यान्विदुषो जनान्
AI Translation: Vaishmapayana said: Having bowed to the preceptor with mind, intellect, and concentration, And having worshipped all the Brahmins and other learned people,
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.1 After u., K4 ins.: *471 पातु वः कविमातङ्गो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः यस्य वाग्मदगन्धेन वासितं भुवनत्रयम् while D3.6 S (M3.5 om. line 2!) ins.: *472 शृणु राजन्यथा वीरा भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः विरोधमन्वगच्छन्त धार्तराष्ट्रैर्दुरात्मभिः
महर्षेः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतस्यास्य धीमतः प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः
AI Translation: I shall now relate the entire opinion of the highly intelligent Vyasa, the great sage, who is famous in all the worlds.
श्रोतुं पात्रं च राजंस्त्वं प्राप्येमां भारतीं कथाम् गुरोर्वक्तुं परिस्पन्दो मुदा प्रोत्साहतीव माम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, you are a proper person to hear the history of Bharata. I feel no fear to perform this great act (reciting the Bharata) encouraged as I am by my preceptor.
शृणु राजन्यथा भेदः कुरुपाण्डवयोरभूत् राज्यार्थे द्यूतसंभूतो वनवासस्तथैव च
M. N. Dutt: Hear, O king, why the quarrel between the Kurus and the Pandavas occurred and how occurred the exile (of the Pandavas) as the result of the game at dice, prompted by the desire of the Kurus to gain the kingdom,
यथा च युद्धमभवत्पृथिवीक्षयकारकम् तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि पृच्छते भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: And how the battle was fought to exterminate all men. O best of the Bharata race, I shall relate all this to you as you ask me.
मृते पितरि ते वीरा वनादेत्य स्वमन्दिरम् नचिरादिव विद्वांसो वेदे धनुषि चाभवन्
M. N. Dutt: On the death of their father, these heroes (the Pandavas) came back to their own home from the forest. They became experts in the science of archery within a very short time.
तांस्तथा रूपवीर्यौजःसंपन्नान्पौरसंमतान् नामृष्यन्कुरवो दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवाञ्श्रीयशोभृतः
M. N. Dutt: The Kauravas became jealous of the Pandavas, who were all gifted with great physical strength, energy and power of mind. They were also very popular with the citizens.
ततो दुर्योधनः क्रूरः कर्णश्च सहसौबलः तेषां निग्रहनिर्वासान्विविधांस्ते समाचरन्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, the wicked-minded Duryodhana, with Karna and the son of Subala, (Shakuni), tried to banish them and persecuted them in various ways.
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.8 S subst. for 8: Dn ins. after 8: *473 ततो दुर्योधनः क्रूरः कर्णस्य च मते स्थितः पाण्डवान्विविधोपायै राज्यहेतोरपीडयत्
ददावथ विषं पापो भीमाय धृतराष्ट्रजः जरयामास तद्वीरः सहान्नेन वृकोदरः
M. N. Dutt: That wretch of the son of Dhritarashtra gave poison to Bhima with his food, but that hero digested it.
प्रमाणकोट्यां संसुप्तं पुनर्बद्ध्वा वृकोदरम् तोयेषु भीमं गङ्गायाः प्रक्षिप्य पुरमाव्रजत्
M. N. Dutt: That wretch one day bound the sleeping Bhima on the bank of the Ganges and throwing him into the water, went away.
यदा प्रबुद्धः कौन्तेयस्तदा संछिद्य बन्धनम् उदतिष्ठन्महाराज भीमसेनो गतव्यथः
M. N. Dutt: But when the strong-armed Bhima, the son of Kunti, awoke, he tore up the strings with which he was bound and his pains were all gone.
आशीविषैः कृष्णसर्पैः सुप्तं चैनमदंशयत् सर्वेष्वेवाङ्गदेशेषु न ममार च शत्रुहा
M. N. Dutt: While asleep, he was caused to be bitten in every part of his body by black snakes of virulent poisons, but that chastiser of foes did not still perish.
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.12 After 12, D3 S (except T2) ins.: *474 उपायैर्बहुभिः क्षुद्रैः संवृतैर्विवृतैरपि पाण्डवान्पीडयामास न च किंचिदसाधयत्
तेषां तु विप्रकारेषु तेषु तेषु महामतिः मोक्षणे प्रतिघाते च विदुरोऽवहितोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: In all these various persecutions of the Pandavas by the Kurus, the high-souled Vidura was always engaged in counter-acting their evil designs and in saving the persecuted Pandavas.
स्वर्गस्थो जीवलोकस्य यथा शक्रः सुखावहः पाण्डवानां तथा नित्यं विदुरोऽपि सुखावहः
M. N. Dutt: As Indra keeps the heavens and earth in happiness, so did Vidura always keep the Pandavas in happiness.
यदा तु विविधोपायैः संवृतैर्विवृतैरपि नाशक्नोद्विनिहन्तुं तान्दैवभाव्यर्थरक्षितान्
AI Translation: But when, by various means, they were concealed and revealed, he was unable to destroy them, protected by the power of destiny.
ततः संमन्त्र्य सचिवैर्वृषदुःशासनादिभिः धृतराष्ट्रमनुज्ञाप्य जातुषं गृहमादिशत्
AI Translation: Then, having consulted with his ministers, Vrishadushashana and others, and having obtained the permission of Dhritarashtra, he ordered the straw house.
तत्र तान्वासयामास पाण्डवानमितौजसः अदाहयच्च विस्रब्धान्पावकेन पुनस्तदा
AI Translation: There he settled the Pāṇḍavas, the invincible ones, and again burned them with fire, the careless ones.
विदुरस्यैव वचनात्खनित्री विहिता ततः मोक्षयामास योगेन ते मुक्ताः प्राद्रवन्भयात्
AI Translation: Then, at the words of Vidura, a well was dug. Then, by the power of yoga, he released them. Released, they fled in fear.
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.18 After 18, G1 ins. line 11 of 476*. S (except G1) ins. after 19: Dn D3.4, after line 15 of 476*: *475 प्राप्ता हिडिम्बी भीमेन यत्र जातो घटोत्कचः
ततो महावने घोरे हिडिम्बं नाम राक्षसम् भीमसेनोऽवधीत्क्रुद्धो भुवि भीमपराक्रमः
AI Translation: Then in the terrible great forest, the angry Bhimasena, of terrible prowess, killed the demon Hidimba.
अथ संधाय ते वीरा एकचक्रां व्रजंस्तदा ब्रह्मरूपधरा भूत्वा मात्रा सह परंतपाः
AI Translation: Then, having decided, those heroes, together with their mother, taking the form of Brahma, went to the one-wheeled chariot,
तत्र ते ब्राह्मणार्थाय बकं हत्वा महाबलम् ब्राह्मणैः सहिता जग्मुः पाञ्चालानां पुरं ततः
AI Translation: There, for the sake of the Brahmanas, they killed the very powerful Bakas. Together with the Brahmanas, they then went to the city of the Panchalas.
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.21 For 17-21 (both incl.) N (Ś1 missing), which contains the longer version, subst.: *476 सुतप्रियैषी तान्राजा पाण्डवानम्बिकासुतः (17ab) ततो विवासयामास राज्यभोगबुभुक्षया ते प्रातिष्ठन्त सहिता नगरान्नागसाह्वयात् प्रस्थाने चाभवन्मन्त्री क्षत्ता तेषां महात्मनाम् येन मुक्ता जतुगृहान्निशीथे प्राद्रवन्वनम् ततः संप्राप्य कौन्तेया नगरं वारणावतम् न्यवसन्त महात्मानो मात्रा सह परंतपाः धृतराष्ट्रेण चाज्ञप्ता उषिता जातुषे गृहे पुरोचनाद्रक्षमाणाः संवत्सरमतन्द्रिताः (18ab) सुरुङ्गां कारयित्वा ते विदुरेण प्रचोदिताः आदीप्य जातुषं वेश्म दग्ध्वा चैव पुरोचनम् (18cd) प्राद्रवन्भयसंविग्ना मात्रा सह परंतपाः (19ab) ददृशुर्दारुणं रक्षो हिडिम्बं वननिर्झरे हत्वा च तं राक्षसेन्द्रं भीताः समनुबोधनात् निशि संप्राद्रवन्पार्था धार्तराष्ट्रभयार्दिताः (20ab) एकचक्रां ततो गत्वा पाण्डवाः संशितव्रताः (20cd) वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नास्तेऽभवन्ब्रह्मचारिणः ते तत्र प्रयताः कालं कंचिदूषुर्नरर्षभाः मात्रा सहैकचक्रायां ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने तत्राससाद क्षुधितं पुरुषादं वृकोदरः (21ab) भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्बकं नाम महाबलम् तं चापि पुरुषव्याघ्रो बाहुवीर्येण पाण्डवः निहत्य तरसा वीरो नागरान्पर्यसान्त्वयत् ततस्ते शुश्रुवुः कृष्णां पञ्चालेषु स्वयंवराम् श्रुत्वा चैवाभ्यगच्छन्त गत्वा चैवालभन्त ताम्
ते तत्र द्रौपदीं लब्ध्वा परिसंवत्सरोषिताः विदिता हास्तिनपुरं प्रत्याजग्मुररिंदमाः
M. N. Dutt: Having obtained Draupadi, they lived there for a year. And then those chastisers of foes, having been known, went back to Hastinapur.
त उक्ता धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा शांतनवेन च भ्रातृभिर्विग्रहस्तात कथं वो न भवेदिति अस्माभिः खाण्डवप्रस्थे युष्मद्वासोऽनुचिन्तितः
M. N. Dutt: They were then told by the king Dhritarashtra, and the son of Shantanu, as follows: "O dear children, so that dissensions may not take place among you all brothers and cousins,
तस्माज्जनपदोपेतं सुविभक्तमहापथम् वासाय खाण्डवप्रस्थं व्रजध्वं गतमन्यवः
AI Translation: Therefore, go to Khandavaprastha, which is endowed with a country, well-divided with great roads, and free from enemies, for residence.
तयोस्ते वचनाज्जग्मुः सह सर्वैः सुहृज्जनैः नगरं खाण्डवप्रस्थं रत्नान्यादाय सर्वशः
AI Translation: At their words, they went with all their friends to the city of Khaṇḍavaprastha, taking all the jewels.
तत्र ते न्यवसन्राजन्संवत्सरगणान्बहून् वशे शस्त्रप्रतापेन कुर्वन्तोऽन्यान्महीक्षितः
AI Translation: There they lived, O king, for many years, subduing other kings by the might of their weapons.
एवं धर्मप्रधानास्ते सत्यव्रतपरायणाः अप्रमत्तोत्थिताः क्षान्ताः प्रतपन्तोऽहितांस्तदा
AI Translation: Thus they were devoted to Dharma, intent on the vow of truth, Aroused without negligence, patient, shining forth upon the wicked.
अजयद्भीमसेनस्तु दिशं प्राचीं महाबलः उदीचीमर्जुनो वीरः प्रतीचीं नकुलस्तथा
AI Translation: The mighty Bhimasena conquered the eastern direction, The hero Arjuna the northern, and Nakula the western.
दक्षिणां सहदेवस्तु विजिग्ये परवीरहा एवं चक्रुरिमां सर्वे वशे कृत्स्नां वसुंधराम्
AI Translation: Sahadeva conquered the south. Thus they all conquered the entire earth.
पञ्चभिः सूर्यसंकाशैः सूर्येण च विराजता षट्सूर्येवाबभौ पृथ्वी पाण्डवैः सत्यविक्रमैः
AI Translation: With five of them shining like the sun, and with the sun itself shining, The earth shone like six suns with the Pandavas, whose valour was truth.
ततो निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चिद्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः वनं प्रस्थापयामास भ्रातरं वै धनंजयम्
AI Translation: Then, for some reason, King Yudhishthira sent his brother Dhananjaya to the forest.
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.31 After 31ab, K0. ins.: *477 स वै संवत्सरान्दश द्वे चैव तु वने वसन् After 31c, N ins.: *478 तेजस्वी सत्यविक्रमः प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियतरं reads savyasācinaṃ for dhanaṃjayam, and after 31 ins.: *479 अर्जुनं पुरुषव्याघ्रं स्थिरात्मानं गुणैर्युतम् S ins. after 31: D3.4, after 479*: *480 धैर्याद्धर्माच्च सत्याच्च विजयाच्चाधिकं प्रियम् अर्जुनो भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं नात्यवर्तत जातु चित्
स वै संवत्सरं पूर्णं मासं चैकं वनेऽवसत् ततोऽगच्छद्धृषीकेशं द्वारवत्यां कदाचन
AI Translation: He lived in the forest for a full year and one month. Then he went to Hrishikesha in Dvaravati.
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.32 After 32ab, D2-5 S ins.: *481 तीर्थयात्रां च कृतवान्नागकन्यामवाप्य च अथ पाण्ड्यस्य तनयां लब्ध्वा ताभ्यां सहोषितः
लब्धवांस्तत्र बीभत्सुर्भार्यां राजीवलोचनाम् अनुजां वासुदेवस्य सुभद्रां भद्रभाषिणीम्
AI Translation: There, Bibhatsu obtained as his wife Subhadra, the sister of Vasudeva, who had eyes like lotus petals and spoke auspicious words.
सा शचीव महेन्द्रेण श्रीः कृष्णेनेव संगता सुभद्रा युयुजे प्रीता पाण्डवेनार्जुनेन ह
AI Translation: She was like Śrī with Mahendra, or like Śrī with Kṛṣṇa. Subhadrā was united with the delighted Ārjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu.
अतर्पयच्च कौन्तेयः खाण्डवे हव्यवाहनम् बीभत्सुर्वासुदेवेन सहितो नृपसत्तम
AI Translation: And Kounteya satisfied the bearer of oblations in the forest of Khandava With Vasudeva, Bibhatsu, best of kings,
नातिभारो हि पार्थस्य केशवेनाभवत्सह व्यवसायसहायस्य विष्णोः शत्रुवधेष्विव
AI Translation: The burden on Partha was not too great when he was with Keshava, just as Vishnu's burden was not too great when he had the help of his resolve in killing his enemies.
पार्थायाग्निर्ददौ चापि गाण्डीवं धनुरुत्तमम् इषुधी चाक्षयैर्बाणै रथं च कपिलक्षणम्
AI Translation: Agni gave the best bow, Gandiva, to Partha, and a quiver with inexhaustible arrows, and a chariot with tawny horses.
मोक्षयामास बीभत्सुर्मयं तत्र महासुरम् स चकार सभां दिव्यां सर्वरत्नसमाचिताम्
AI Translation: Then Bibhatsu released the great Asura Maya from his bondage. And he built a divine assembly hall, filled with all kinds of jewels.
तस्यां दुर्योधनो मन्दो लोभं चक्रे सुदुर्मतिः ततोऽक्षैर्वञ्चयित्वा च सौबलेन युधिष्ठिरम्
AI Translation: In that, the evil-minded Duryodhana became greedy. Then, having cheated Yudhishthira with dice, with Soubala,
वनं प्रस्थापयामास सप्त वर्षाणि पञ्च च अज्ञातमेकं राष्ट्रे च तथा वर्षं त्रयोदशम्
AI Translation: He banished him to the forest for seven and a half years, and he lived incognito in the kingdom for one year and thirteen years.
ततश्चतुर्दशे वर्षे याचमानाः स्वकं वसु नालभन्त महाराज ततो युद्धमवर्तत
AI Translation: Then, in the fourteenth year, when they were asking for their own wealth, they did not receive it from the great king, and then war broke out.
ततस्ते सर्वमुत्साद्य हत्वा दुर्योधनं नृपम् राज्यं विद्रुतभूयिष्ठं प्रत्यपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः
AI Translation: Then, having destroyed everything and killed King Duryodhana, the Pandavas regained the kingdom, which was mostly deserted.
Supplementary Passages:
1.55.42 After 42, D3-5 S (except M6.8) ins.: *482 इष्ट्वा क्रतूंश्च विविधानश्वमेधादिकान्बहून् धृतराष्ट्रे गते स्वर्गं विदुरे पञ्चतां गते गमयित्वा स्त्रियः स्वर्गं राज्ञाममिततेजसाम् वार्ष्णेये निलयं प्राप्ते कृष्णदारान्प्ररक्ष्य च महाप्रस्थानिकं कृत्वा गताः स्वर्गमनुत्तमम्
एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तं तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम् भेदो राज्यविनाशश्च जयश्च जयतां वर
AI Translation: Thus it happened in the past to those of unblemished deeds, The division, the destruction of the kingdom, and the victory, O best of the victorious.