Critical Edition
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
AI Translation: Having bowed to Narayana, and to Nara, the best of men, and to the goddess Sarasvati, one should then proclaim victory.
Supplementary Passages:
The introductory mantra: *1 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् After the introductory mantra, D8 ins.: *2 द्वैपायनौष्ठपुटनिःसृतमप्रमेयं पुण्यं पवित्रमथ पापहरं शिवं च यो भारतं समधिगच्छति वाच्यमानं किं तस्य पुष्करजलैरभिषेचनेन यो गोशतं कण[न]कशृङ्गमयं ददाति विप्राय वेदविदुषे च बहुश्रुताय एकां च भारतकथां शृणुयात्समग्रां तुल्यं फलं भवति तस्य च तस्य चेति B3 T G1-3 M, which om. the introductory mantra, begin as follows: B3 begins with oṃ namo gaṇeśāya; T1, with śrīvedavyāsāya namaḥ | *3 व्यासं वसिष्ठनप्तारं शक्तेः पौत्रमकल्मषम् पराशरात्मजं वन्दे शुकतातं तपोनिधिम् व्यासाय विष्णुरूपाय व्यासरूपाय विष्णवे नमो वै ब्रह्मनिधये वासिष्ठाय नमो नमः नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान् नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे यस्य प्रसादाद्वक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम् The introductory mantra: *301 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् The introductory mantra: *455 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् Of the MSS. which om. the introductory mantra, K6 begins with śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |; K7 oṃ namaḥ para- mātmane |; B0 oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya |; B9 oṃ namo gaṇeśāya |; D4.9 oṃ namaḥ śrīparamātmane puruṣottamāya |; T2: *456 शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत्सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये
वैशंपायन उवाच कृतोदकास्ते सुहृदां सर्वेषां पाण्डुनन्दनाः विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रश्च सर्वाश्च भरतस्त्रियः
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: The sons of Pandu, having performed the water-rite, were with all their friends, Vidura, Dhritarashtra, and all the women of the Bharata family.
तत्र ते सुमहात्मानो न्यवसन्कुरुनन्दनाः शौचं निवर्तयिष्यन्तो मासमेकं बहिः पुरात्
AI Translation: There, those very great-souled sons of the Kurus dwelt, desiring to purify themselves, outside the city for one month.
कृतोदकं तु राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् अभिजग्मुर्महात्मानः सिद्धा ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: After king Yudhishthira had performed the water-rites, many great sages endued with ascetic success and many sainted Rishis came there to see the king.
द्वैपायनो नारदश्च देवलश्च महानृषिः देवस्थानश्च कण्वश्च तेषां शिष्याश्च सत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: Among them were the Dvaipayana Vyasa, Narada, the great Rishi Devala, Devasthana, and Kanva. They had in their company the best of their pupils.
अन्ये च वेदविद्वांसः कृतप्रज्ञा द्विजातयः गृहस्थाः स्नातकाः सर्वे ददृशुः कुरुसत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Many other Rishis, of great wisdom and well versed in the Vedic in the Vedic Lore. living as householders or belonging to the Snataka class, came to see the Kuru king.
अभिगम्य महात्मानः पूजिताश्च यथाविधि आसनेषु महार्हेषु विविशुस्ते महर्षयः
AI Translation: Having approached the great ones and been honored according to proper rites, those great sages entered the most precious seats.
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां तत्कालसदृशीं तदा पर्युपासन्यथान्यायं परिवार्य युधिष्ठिरम्
AI Translation: Having accepted the worship befitting the occasion, and having attended upon Yudhishthira in the proper manner, surrounded by his retinue,
पुण्ये भागीरथीतीरे शोकव्याकुलचेतसम् आश्वासयन्तो राजानं विप्राः शतसहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: Thousands of Brahmanas consoled and comforted that king of kings living on the sacred banks of the Bhagirathi with heart exceedingly shaken by sorrow.
नारदस्त्वब्रवीत्काले धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् विचार्य मुनिभिः सार्धं तत्कालसदृशं वचः
AI Translation: Nārada spoke to Dharma's son, Yudhiṣṭhira, at the right time, having deliberated with the sages, words befitting the occasion.
भवतो बाहुवीर्येण प्रसादान्माधवस्य च जितेयमवनिः कृत्स्ना धर्मेण च युधिष्ठिर
AI Translation: By your strength of arms and by the grace of Madhava, This entire earth has been conquered by you, O Yudhiṣṭhira, by righteousness.
दिष्ट्या मुक्ताः स्थ संग्रामादस्माल्लोकभयंकरात् क्षत्रधर्मरतश्चापि कच्चिन्मोदसि पाण्डव
M. N. Dutt: By dint of good fortune, you have escaped alive from this dreadful battle. Ever abiding by the duties of a Kshatriya, why do you not rejoice, O son of Pandu?
कच्चिच्च निहतामित्रः प्रीणासि सुहृदो नृप कच्चिच्छ्रियमिमां प्राप्य न त्वां शोकः प्रबाधते
M. N. Dutt: Having killed all you foes, will you not please your friends, O King? Having secured this prosperity, I hope, you have nothing to be sorry of now.'."
युधिष्ठिर उवाच विजितेयं मही कृत्स्ना कृष्णबाहुबलाश्रयात् ब्राह्मणानां प्रसादेन भीमार्जुनबलेन च
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Indeed, I have conquered the whole Earth through my reliance on the might of Krishna's arms, through the favour of the Brahmanas, and through the strength of Bhima and Arjuna.
इदं तु मे महद्दुःखं वर्तते हृदि नित्यदा कृत्वा ज्ञातिक्षयमिमं महान्तं लोभकारितम्
AI Translation: This great sorrow of mine is always present in my heart: Having caused this great destruction of my relatives, which was brought about by greed,
सौभद्रं द्रौपदेयांश्च घातयित्वा प्रियान्सुतान् जयोऽयमजयाकारो भगवन्प्रतिभाति मे
AI Translation: Having killed Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi, my beloved sons, This victory appears to me to be a defeat, O Lord.
किं नु वक्ष्यति वार्ष्णेयी वधूर्मे मधुसूदनम् द्वारकावासिनी कृष्णमितः प्रतिगतं हरिम्
M. N. Dutt: What will Subhadra of Vrishni's race, that sister-in-law of mine, say to me? what also will the inhabitants of Dwaraka say to the destroyer of Madhu when he goes there from this place?
द्रौपदी हतपुत्रेयं कृपणा हतबान्धवा अस्मत्प्रियहिते युक्ता भूयः पीडयतीव माम्
M. N. Dutt: This Draupadi, again, who is eve busy with pleasing us, bereaved of son and kinsmen, is causing me great pain.
इदमन्यच्च भगवन्यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि नारद मन्त्रसंवरणेनास्मि कुन्त्या दुःखेन योजितः
M. N. Dutt: There is another subject, O holy Narada, about which I will speak to you. For Kunti having hidden a very important matter, great has been my grief.
योऽसौ नागायुतबलो लोकेऽप्रतिरथो रणे सिंहखेलगतिर्धीमान्घृणी दान्तो यतव्रतः
AI Translation: He who is the strength of ten thousand elephants, the invincible in battle, The wise one with the gait of a lion, the compassionate, the disciplined, the one of restrained vows,
आश्रयो धार्तराष्ट्राणां मानी तीक्ष्णपराक्रमः अमर्षी नित्यसंरम्भी क्षेप्तास्माकं रणे रणे
AI Translation: The supporter of the sons of Dhritarashtra, proud, of sharp prowess, Impatient, always angry, always insulting us in battle.
शीघ्रास्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च कृती चाद्भुतविक्रमः गूढोत्पन्नः सुतः कुन्त्या भ्रातास्माकं च सोदरः
AI Translation: He is quick in the use of weapons, a skilled fighter, a master of the arts, and of wondrous valor. He is the son of Kunti, born in secret, our brother and our equal.
तोयकर्मणि यं कुन्ती कथयामास सूर्यजम् पुत्रं सर्वगुणोपेतमवकीर्णं जले पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Whilst we were offering oblations of water to the dead, Kunti described him as the son of Surya (Sun-God). Possessed of every accomplishment, that child had been thrown into the water.
Supplementary Passages:
12.1.22 After 22, N (Ś1 K1 D1 missing) ins.: *4 मञ्जूषायां समाधाय गङ्गास्रोतस्यमज्जयत्
यं सूतपुत्रं लोकोऽयं राधेयं चाप्यमन्यत स ज्येष्ठपुत्रः कुन्त्या वै भ्रातास्माकं च मातृजः
AI Translation: The world considered him to be the son of Sūta, and also the son of Rādheyā. He was the eldest son of Kuntī, and the brother of us by the mother's side.
अजानता मया संख्ये राज्यलुब्धेन घातितः तन्मे दहति गात्राणि तूलराशिमिवानलः
AI Translation: I have killed him in battle, out of greed for the kingdom, not knowing who he was. That burns my body like fire burns a pile of cotton.
न हि तं वेद पार्थोऽपि भ्रातरं श्वेतवाहनः नाहं न भीमो न यमौ स त्वस्मान्वेद सुव्रतः
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna having white horses knew him not for a brother! Neither I, Nor Bhima, Nor the twins, knew him as such! He, however, a great bowman knew us (for his brothers).
गता किल पृथा तस्य सकाशमिति नः श्रुतम् अस्माकं शमकामा वै त्वं च पुत्रो ममेत्यथ
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that once Pritha went to him for seeking our well-being and addressed him, saying, You are my son.
पृथाया न कृतः कामस्तेन चापि महात्मना अतिपश्चादिदं मातर्यवोचदिति नः श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: That illustrious hero, however, refused to satisfy Pritha's desire. Subsequently, we are informed, he said to his mother these words:न हि शक्ष्याम्यहं त्यत्वें नृपं दुर्योधनं रणे॥
न हि शक्ष्याम्यहं त्यक्तुं नृपं दुर्योधनं रणे अनार्यं च नृशंसं च कृतघ्नं च हि मे भवेत्
AI Translation: I shall not be able to abandon King Duryodhana in battle. It would be unmanly, cruel and ungrateful of me.
युधिष्ठिरेण संधिं च यदि कुर्यां मते तव भीतो रणे श्वेतवाहादिति मां मंस्यते जनः
M. N. Dutt: If, in pursuance of your wishes, I make peace with Yudhishthira, people will say that I ani afraid of Arjuna having white horses.
सोऽहं निर्जित्य समरे विजयं सहकेशवम् संधास्ये धर्मपुत्रेण पश्चादिति च सोऽब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having defeated Arjuna with Keshava, therefore, in battle, I will afterwards make peace with Dharma's son! These were his words as we have heard.
तमवोचत्किल पृथा पुनः पृथुलवक्षसम् चतुर्णामभयं देहि कामं युध्यस्व फल्गुनम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus answered, Pritha once more addressed her son having broad chest and said,-'Fight with Phalguna then, but spare my four other sons.
सोऽब्रवीन्मातरं धीमान्वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः प्राप्तान्विषह्यांश्चतुरो न हनिष्यामि ते सुतान्
M. N. Dutt: The intelligent Karna, with joined palms then replied to his trembling mother, saying,-'If I get your four other sons even under my power, I will not kill them.
पञ्चैव हि सुता मातर्भविष्यन्ति हि ते ध्रुवम् सकर्णा वा हते पार्थे सार्जुना वा हते मयि
AI Translation: For, O mother, you will certainly have five sons, whether Karna is killed or Arjuna is killed by me.
तं पुत्रगृद्धिनी भूयो माता पुत्रमथाब्रवीत् भ्रातॄणां स्वस्ति कुर्वीथा येषां स्वस्ति चिकीर्षसि
M. N. Dutt: Seeking the well-being of her children, his mother once more said to him,-'Go, O Karna, do good to those brothers of yours whose good you always seek.'
तमेवमुक्त्वा तु पृथा विसृज्योपययौ गृहान् सोऽर्जुनेन हतो वीरो भ्राता भ्रात्रा सहोदरः
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words, Pritha took his leave and returned to her residence. That hero has been killed by Arjuna,-the uterine brother by the brother.
न चैव विवृतो मन्त्रः पृथायास्तस्य वा मुने अथ शूरो महेष्वासः पार्थेनासौ निपातितः
M. N. Dutt: Neither Pritha, nor he, had ever divulged the secret, O Sir! That hero and great bowman, was therefore killed by Arjuna in battle.
अहं त्वज्ञासिषं पश्चात्स्वसोदर्यं द्विजोत्तम पूर्वजं भ्रातरं कर्णं पृथाया वचनात्प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Afterwards I have come to know, O best of Rishis, that he was my uterine brother! Indeed, according to Pritha's words, I am informed that Karna was our eldest-born.
तेन मे दूयतेऽतीव हृदयं भ्रातृघातिनः कर्णार्जुनसहायोऽहं जयेयमपि वासवम्
M. N. Dutt: Having caused my brother to be killed, my heart is burning greatly. If I had both Karna and Arjuna for helping me, I could have defeated Vasudeva himself.
सभायां क्लिश्यमानस्य धार्तराष्ट्रैर्दुरात्मभिः सहसोत्पतितः क्रोधः कर्णं दृष्ट्वा प्रशाम्यति
M. N. Dutt: Whilst I was tormented in the court by the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, my anger suddenly excited, became cooled on seeing Karma.
यदा ह्यस्य गिरो रूक्षाः शृणोमि कटुकोदयाः सभायां गदतो द्यूते दुर्योधनहितैषिणः
AI Translation: When I hear his harsh words, arising from bitterness, spoken in the assembly hall, in the game of dice, for the benefit of Duryodhana,
तदा नश्यति मे क्रोधः पादौ तस्य निरीक्ष्य ह कुन्त्या हि सदृशौ पादौ कर्णस्येति मतिर्मम
AI Translation: Then, on seeing his feet, my anger would be gone. For I think that Karna's feet are like Kunti's.
सादृश्यहेतुमन्विच्छन्पृथायास्तव चैव ह कारणं नाधिगच्छामि कथंचिदपि चिन्तयन्
M. N. Dutt: To make out the reason of that resemblance between him and our mother, I thought for a long time. Even trying my level best I could not find the cause.
कथं नु तस्य संग्रामे पृथिवी चक्रमग्रसत् कथं च शप्तो भ्राता मे तत्त्वं वक्तुमिहार्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Why, indeed, did the Earth swallow up the wheels of his car at the time of battle? Why was my brother cursed? You should relate all this to me.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवंस्त्वत्तः सर्वं यथातथम् भवान्हि सर्वविद्विद्वाँल्लोके वेद कृताकृतम्
M. N. Dutt: I wish to hear everything from you, O Rishi. You know everything of this world, as also of both the past and the future.
Supplementary Passages:
12.1.44 After 44, D8 ins.: *5 अनागते वर्तमाने त्रैलोक्ये नात्र संशयः