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 Of the MSS. which om. the introductroy mantra, K2 begins with śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ | *2 * * * * * * * सत्यवतीहृदयनन्दनो व्यासः यस्यास्यकमलगलितं वाङ्मधुपुण्यं जगत्पिबति
जनमेजय उवाच एवं वृष्ण्यन्धककुले श्रुत्वा मौसलमाहवम् पाण्डवाः किमकुर्वन्त तथा कृष्णे दिवं गते
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said Having heard of that fighting with iron bolts between the heroes of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races, and having been informed also Krishna's departure from this world, what did the Pandavas do?
वैशंपायन उवाच श्रुत्वैव कौरवो राजा वृष्णीनां कदनं महत् प्रस्थाने मतिमाधाय वाक्यमर्जुनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said, Having heard the particulars of the great destruction of the Vrishnis, the Kaurava king was determined on leaving the world. He addressed Arjuna saying—'O you of great intelligence, it is time which cooks every creature (in is cauldron), I thing that what has taken place is due to the cords of Time (with which he binds us all). You should also see it.'
कालः पचति भूतानि सर्वाण्येव महामते कर्मन्यासमहं मन्ये त्वमपि द्रष्टुमर्हसि
AI Translation: Time cooks all beings, O you of great intellect. I think it is the equality of action. You too should see it.
इत्युक्तः स तु कौन्तेयः कालः काल इति ब्रुवन् अन्वपद्यत तद्वाक्यं भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed by his brother, the son of Kunti only repeated the word, “Time, Time!' and fully endorsed the view of his eldest brother endured with great intelligence.
अर्जुनस्य मतं ज्ञात्वा भीमसेनो यमौ तथा अन्वपद्यन्त तद्वाक्यं यदुक्तं सव्यसाचिना
M. N. Dutt: Knowing the resolution of Arjuna, Bhimasena and the twins fully endorsed the words which Arjuna had said.
ततो युयुत्सुमानाय्य प्रव्रजन्धर्मकाम्यया राज्यं परिददौ सर्वं वैश्यापुत्रे युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: Determined upon retiring from the world for acquiring merit, they brought Yuyutsu before them. Yudhishthira made over the kingdom to the son of his uncle by his Vaishya wife.
अभिषिच्य स्वराज्ये तु तं राजानं परिक्षितम् दुःखार्तश्चाब्रवीद्राजा सुभद्रां पाण्डवाग्रजः
AI Translation: Having consecrated that King Parikshit in his own kingdom, and being afflicted with grief, the eldest of the Pandavas spoke to Subhadra.
एष पुत्रस्य ते पुत्रः कुरुराजो भविष्यति यदूनां परिशेषश्च वज्रो राजा कृतश्च ह
AI Translation: This will be your son's son, who will become the king of the Kurus. And the remnant of the Yadus will be the king Vajra.
परिक्षिद्धास्तिनपुरे शक्रप्रस्थे तु यादवः वज्रो राजा त्वया रक्ष्यो मा चाधर्मे मनः कृथाः
M. N. Dutt: Parikshit will rule in Hastinapur, while the Yadava prince, Vajra, will rule in Shakraprastha. You should protect him, Never set you heart on sin,
इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजः स वासुदेवस्य धीमतः मातुलस्य च वृद्धस्य रामादीनां तथैव च
AI Translation: Having thus spoken to the wise Vasudeva, and to his aged maternal uncle, and to Rama and the others,
भ्रातृभिः सह धर्मात्मा कृत्वोदकमतन्द्रितः श्राद्धान्युद्दिश्य सर्वेषां चकार विधिवत्तदा
AI Translation: The righteous one, along with his brothers, performed the water rites without delay. For the sake of all, he performed the śrāddhas according to the prescribed rites.
Supplementary Passages:
17.1.11 After 11, K2-5 Dn D2-4.7 T2.3 ins.: *3 द्वैपायनं नारदं च मार्कण्डेयं तपोधनम् भारद्वाजं याज्ञवल्क्यं हरिमुद्दिश्य यत्नवान् अभोजयत्स्वादु भोज्यं कीर्तयित्वा च शार्ङ्गिणम्
ददौ रत्नानि वासांसि ग्रामानश्वान्रथानपि स्त्रियश्च द्विजमुख्येभ्यो गवां शतसहस्रशः
AI Translation: He gave jewels, garments, villages, horses, chariots, and women to the foremost of Brahmins, by the hundred thousand.
कृपमभ्यर्च्य च गुरुमर्थमानपुरस्कृतम् शिष्यं परिक्षितं तस्मै ददौ भरतसत्तमः
AI Translation: Having worshipped Kripa, the preceptor, honoured with wealth and grain, the best of the Bharatas gave him to his disciple Parikshit.
Supplementary Passages:
17.1.13 After 13ab, D5.6 T4 G1.2.4 ins.: *4 आहूय भरतश्रेष्ठ संनिवेश्यासने तदा
ततस्तु प्रकृतीः सर्वाः समानाय्य युधिष्ठिरः सर्वमाचष्ट राजर्षिश्चिकीर्षितमथात्मनः
AI Translation: Then, having summoned all the ministers, Yudhishthira told them all about his desire.
ते श्रुत्वैव वचस्तस्य पौरजानपदा जनाः भृशमुद्विग्नमनसो नाभ्यनन्दन्त तद्वचः
AI Translation: Hearing those words, the citizens and country people were greatly distressed and did not rejoice in those words.
नैवं कर्तव्यमिति ते तदोचुस्ते नराधिपम् न च राजा तथाकार्षीत्कालपर्यायधर्मवित्
AI Translation: They said to the king, "This should not be done." But the king, knowing the law of the course of time, did not act thus.
ततोऽनुमान्य धर्मात्मा पौरजानपदं जनम् गमनाय मतिं चक्रे भ्रातरश्चास्य ते तदा
AI Translation: Then, having consulted with the people of the city and countryside, the righteous-souled one made up his mind to leave, and so did his brothers at that time.
Supplementary Passages:
17.1.17 After 17, D5.6 S ins.: *5 वर्तमाने विवादे तु वास्तुविक्रयणं प्रति धनेच्छा युगपत्प्राप्ता क्षेत्रतः स्वामिभूभृताम् प्राप्तं कलियुगं ज्ञात्वा सहदेवो हसन्निव राज्ञस्तु कथयामास धर्मो नष्टस्तु भारत राजा च दुर्मना राजन्पर्याप्तं जीवितं मम M1 cont.: *6 इति चिन्त्य गते राजन्गोविन्दे धर्मधारणे
ततः स राजा कौरव्यो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः उत्सृज्याभरणान्यङ्गाज्जगृहे वल्कलान्युत
AI Translation: Then that king, the son of Dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira, having discarded ornaments from his body, took up bark garments.
भीमार्जुनौ यमौ चैव द्रौपदी च यशस्विनी तथैव सर्वे जगृहुर्वल्कलानि जनाधिप
AI Translation: Bhimasena, Arjuna, the twins, and the glorious Droupadi, and all the others, O lord of men, took up bark garments.
विधिवत्कारयित्वेष्टिं नैष्ठिकीं भरतर्षभ समुत्सृज्याप्सु सर्वेऽग्नीन्प्रतस्थुर्नरपुंगवाः
AI Translation: Having performed the final rites in accordance with the prescribed rites, O bull among the Bharatas, Having abandoned all the fires in the water, those bulls among men departed.
ततः प्ररुरुदुः सर्वाः स्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा नरर्षभान् प्रस्थितान्द्रौपदीषष्ठान्पुरा द्यूतजितान्यथा
AI Translation: Then all the women wept, seeing the bull-like men Departing, with Droupadi as the sixth, as if they had won the game.
हर्षोऽभवच्च सर्वेषां भ्रातॄणां गमनं प्रति युधिष्ठिरमतं ज्ञात्वा वृष्णिक्षयमवेक्ष्य च
AI Translation: All the brothers were delighted at the prospect of going. Knowing the intention of Yudhiṣṭhira and seeing the destruction of the Vṛṣṇis,
भ्रातरः पञ्च कृष्णा च षष्ठी श्वा चैव सप्तमः आत्मना सप्तमो राजा निर्ययौ गजसाह्वयात् पौरैरनुगतो दूरं सर्वैरन्तःपुरैस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Ascertaining the desire of Yudhishthira and seeing the destruction of the Vrishnis, no other course of action could satisfy them then. The five brothers, with Draupadi forming the sixth, and a dog forming the seventh, started on their Journey. Thus did king Yudhishthira depart, himself heading a party of seven, from the city of Hastinapur. The citizens and they royal ladies followed them for some distance.
न चैनमशकत्कश्चिन्निवर्तस्वेति भाषितुम् न्यवर्तन्त ततः सर्वे नरा नगरवासिनः
M. N. Dutt: None of them, however, could venture to address the king for persuading him so give up his intention. The citizens then returned.
कृपप्रभृतयश्चैव युयुत्सुं पर्यवारयन् विवेश गङ्गां कौरव्य उलूपी भुजगात्मजा
M. N. Dutt: Kripa and, others stood around Yuyutsu as their centre, Ulupi the daughter of the Naga chief, O you of Kuru's race, entered the waters of Ganga.
चित्राङ्गदा ययौ चापि मणिपूरपुरं प्रति शिष्टाः परिक्षितं त्वन्या मातरः पर्यवारयन्
M. N. Dutt: The princess Chitrangada started for the capital of Manipur. The other ladies who were the grandmothers of Parikshit gathered around him.
पाण्डवाश्च महात्मानो द्रौपदी च यशस्विनी कृतोपवासाः कौरव्य प्रययुः प्राङ्मुखास्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile the great Pandavas, O you of Kuru's race, and the illustrious Draupadi, having observed the preminary fast, started with their faces towards he est.
योगयुक्ता महात्मानस्त्यागधर्ममुपेयुषः अभिजग्मुर्बहून्देशान्सरितः पर्वतांस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Seeing themselves on Yoga those great ones, resolved to observe the religion of Renunciation, passed through various countries and teached various rivers and seas.
युधिष्ठिरो ययावग्रे भीमस्तु तदनन्तरम् अर्जुनस्तस्य चान्वेव यमौ चैव यथाक्रमम्
AI Translation: Yudhishthira went in front, then Bhima, then Arjuna, then the twins in order.
पृष्ठतस्तु वरारोहा श्यामा पद्मदलेक्षणा द्रौपदी योषितां श्रेष्ठा ययौ भरतसत्तम
AI Translation: The beautiful one with eyes like lotus petals, Droupadi, the best of women, went behind, O best of the Bharatas.
श्वा चैवानुययावेकः पाण्डवान्प्रस्थितान्वने क्रमेण ते ययुर्वीरा लौहित्यं सलिलार्णवम्
M. N. Dutt: While the Pandavas started for the forest a dog followed them, Proceeding on, those heroes reached the sea of red waters.
गाण्डीवं च धनुर्दिव्यं न मुमोच धनंजयः रत्नलोभान्महाराज तौ चाक्षय्यौ महेषुधी
M. N. Dutt: Dhananjaya had not thrown off is celestial bow Gandiva nor his couple of inexhaustible quivers, actuated, O king by the cupidity for valuable things.
अग्निं ते ददृशुस्तत्र स्थितं शैलमिवाग्रतः मार्गमावृत्य तिष्ठन्तं साक्षात्पुरुषविग्रहम्
M. N. Dutt: The Pandavas there saw the God of Fire standing before them like hill. Closing their way, the god stood there in his embodied form.
ततो देवः स सप्तार्चिः पाण्डवानिदमब्रवीत् भो भो पाण्डुसुता वीराः पावकं मां विबोधत
M. N. Dutt: The deity of seven flames then addressed the Pandavas, saving—'O heroic sons of Pandu, known me as the God of Fire.
युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो भीमसेन परंतप अर्जुनाश्विसुतौ वीरौ निबोधत वचो मम
M. N. Dutt: O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O Bhimasena who are a scorcher of enemies, O Arjuna, and O twines of great courage, listen to what I say!
अहमग्निः कुरुश्रेष्ठा मया दग्धं च खाण्डवम् अर्जुनस्य प्रभावेण तथा नारायणस्य च
M. N. Dutt: Oforemost ones of Kuru's race, I am the God of Fire. The forest of Khandava was burnt by me, through the power of Arjuna and of Narayana himself.
अयं वः फल्गुनो भ्राता गाण्डीवं परमायुधम् परित्यज्य वनं यातु नानेनार्थोऽस्ति कश्चन
M. N. Dutt: Let your brother Phalguna proceed to the forest after casting off Gandiva, that great weapon. He has no longer any necessity for it.
चक्ररत्नं तु यत्कृष्णे स्थितमासीन्महात्मनि गतं तच्च पुनर्हस्ते कालेनैष्यति तस्य ह
M. N. Dutt: That precious discus, which was with the great Krishna, has disappeared (from the world).. When the time again comes, it will return into and his hands.
वरुणादाहृतं पूर्वं मयैतत्पार्थकारणात् गाण्डीवं कार्मुकश्रेष्ठं वरुणायैव दीयताम्
M. N. Dutt: This foremost of hows viz., Gandiva, was procured by me from Varuna for the us of Partha. let it be made over to Varuna himself.
ततस्ते भ्रातरः सर्वे धनंजयमचोदयन् स जले प्राक्षिपत्तत्तु तथाक्षय्यौ महेषुधी
M. N. Dutt: At this, all the brothers requested Dhananjaya to do what the god said. He then threw into the waters (of the sea) both the bow and the couple of inexhaustible quivers.
Supplementary Passages:
17.1.40 After 40, K2.3 D4.7 T2.3 ins.: *7 यथा घनस्य गगने शब्दो भवति भारत सलिले क्षिप्यमाणस्य गाण्डीवस्य तथा ह्यभूत्
ततोऽग्निर्भरतश्रेष्ठ तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ययुश्च पाण्डवा वीरास्ततस्ते दक्षिणामुखाः
M. N. Dutt: After this, O chief of Bharata's race the God of Fire disappeared then and these the heroic sons of Pandu next went out with their faces turned towards the South.
ततस्ते तूत्तरेणैव तीरेण लवणाम्भसः जग्मुर्भरतशार्दूल दिशं दक्षिणपश्चिमम्
M. N. Dutt: Then, by the northern coast of the salt sea, those princes of Bharata's race, went to the south west.
Supplementary Passages:
17.1.42 For 42, T1 subst.: *8 जग्मुर्भरतशार्दूल तीरेण लवणाम्भसः ततः पुनः समावृत्ता जग्मुर्दक्षिणपश्चिमाम्
ततः पुनः समावृत्ताः पश्चिमां दिशमेव ते ददृशुर्द्वारकां चापि सागरेण परिप्लुताम्
M. N. Dutt: Turning next towards the west, they saw the city of Dwraka covered by the ocean.
Supplementary Passages:
17.1.43 After 43, K2.4 D3.4 T3 ins.: *9 हरिपादाङ्कविन्यासतीर्थीकृतमहाभुवम् मनोभिः पूजयन्तश्च जनार्दनमनिन्दिताः
उदीचीं पुनरावृत्त्य ययुर्भरतसत्तमाः प्रादक्षिण्यं चिकीर्षन्तः पृथिव्या योगधर्मिणः
M. N. Dutt: Turning next to the north, those foremost ones went on observant of Yoga, they were desirous of going round the whole earth.