Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच कथं समभवद्द्यूतं भ्रातॄणां तन्महात्ययम् यत्र तद्व्यसनं प्राप्तं पाण्डवैर्मे पितामहैः
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said How did that gambling take place, the play which was full of such evils to the brothers and which plunged my grandsires into such sorrow?
के च तत्र सभास्तारा राजानो ब्रह्मवित्तम के चैनमन्वमोदन्त के चैनं प्रत्यषेधयन्
M. N. Dutt: O best of all Veda-knowing men, who were the kings that were present in that Sabha and who amongst them approved of the play and who forbade it?
विस्तरेणैतदिच्छामि कथ्यमानं त्वया द्विज मूलं ह्येतद्विनाशस्य पृथिव्या द्विजसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O sinless one, O foremost of the twice borne. I desire to hear narrated by you in detail all this which became the cause of the destruction of all the world.
सूत उवाच एवमुक्तस्तदा राज्ञा व्यासशिष्यः प्रतापवान् आचचक्षे यथावृत्तं तत्सर्वं सर्ववेदवित्
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said Having been thus addressed by the king, the powerful disciple of Vyasa, (Vaishampayana), learned in all the Vedas, narrated every thing as it happened.
वैशंपायन उवाच शृणु मे विस्तरेणेमां कथां भरतसत्तम भूय एव महाराज यदि ते श्रवणे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said O best of the Bharata race, O great king, if you desire to hear it, listen to it. I narrate all this in detail.
विदुरस्य मतं ज्ञात्वा धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमुवाच विजने पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Knowing the opinion of Vidura, the son of Ambika, Dhritarashtra, thus spoke to Duryodhana in private.
अलं द्यूतेन गान्धारे विदुरो न प्रशंसति न ह्यसौ सुमहाबुद्धिरहितं नो वदिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O son of Gandhara, there is no need of playing dice. Vidura does not praise it. That greatly intelligent man will never give me advice that is not good for me.
हितं हि परमं मन्ये विदुरो यत्प्रभाषते क्रियतां पुत्र तत्सर्वमेतन्मन्ये हितं तव
M. N. Dutt: I consider that what Vidura said is greatly beneficial to me. O son, do it; for I consider it to be for your good also.
देवर्षिर्वासवगुरुर्देवराजाय धीमते यत्प्राह शास्त्रं भगवान्बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः
M. N. Dutt: The greatly learned man, Vidura, knows all the sciences with their mysteries which the illustrious, learned and wise Brihaspati, the great Rishi who is the preceptor of Vasava (Indra), taught to the intelligent king of the immortals.
तद्वेद विदुरः सर्वं सरहस्यं महाकविः स्थितश्च वचने तस्य सदाहमपि पुत्रक
AI Translation: The great poet Vidura knows all that, along with its secrets. And I, too, son, have always been present in his words.
विदुरो वापि मेधावी कुरूणां प्रवरो मतः उद्धवो वा महाबुद्धिर्वृष्णीनामर्चितो नृप
AI Translation: Or Vidura, the wise one, considered the best of the Kurus, Or Uddhava, the highly intelligent one, revered by the Vrishnis.
द्यूतेन तदलं पुत्र द्यूते भेदो हि दृश्यते भेदे विनाशो राज्यस्य तत्पुत्र परिवर्जय
AI Translation: Enough of gambling, son! Gambling leads to division. Division leads to the destruction of the kingdom. Therefore, son, avoid it.
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.12 After 12, M2 ins.: *451 अलमर्धं कुरूणां ते राष्ट्राणामिह संमतम् ज्ञातिभिर्भ्रातृभिश्चैव सहितो रंस्यसे सुखम्
पित्रा मात्रा च पुत्रस्य यद्वै कार्यं परं स्मृतम् प्राप्तस्त्वमसि तत्तात पितृपैतामहं पदम्
AI Translation: What is considered the greatest duty of a son towards his father and mother, you have attained, O son, the position of your father and grandfather.
अधीतवान्कृती शास्त्रे लालितः सततं गृहे भ्रातृज्येष्ठः स्थितो राज्ये विन्दसे किं न शोभनम्
AI Translation: You have studied, you have accomplished, you are learned in the scriptures, you have always been pampered at home. Your elder brother is established in the kingdom. Why do you not shine?
पृथग्जनैरलभ्यं यद्भोजनाच्छादनं परम् तत्प्राप्तोऽसि महाबाहो कस्माच्छोचसि पुत्रक
AI Translation: O mighty one, you have attained that which is not attainable by ordinary people, the supreme food and clothing. Why do you grieve, O son?
स्फीतं राष्ट्रं महाबाहो पितृपैतामहं महत् नित्यमाज्ञापयन्भासि दिवि देवेश्वरो यथा
AI Translation: O mighty one, your kingdom is prosperous, and it is great, the ancestral kingdom of your father and grandfather. You shine like the lord of the gods in heaven, always giving orders.
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.16 After 16, S ins.: *452 यादृशं च तवैश्वर्यं तदन्येषां सुदुर्लभम् ये चोपभोगास्ते राजन्मया पूर्वं प्रकीर्तिताः
तस्य ते विदितप्रज्ञ शोकमूलमिदं कथम् समुत्थितं दुःखतरं तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि
AI Translation: O you of known wisdom, how has this root of sorrow arisen in you? Please tell me that which has arisen as more painful.
दुर्योधन उवाच अश्नाम्याच्छादयामीति प्रपश्यन्पापपूरुषः नामर्षं कुरुते यस्तु पुरुषः सोऽधमः स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana said I am a sinful wretch that I eat and dress, though see the prosperity of the enemy. It has been said that a man is a wretch who does not feel jealousy at the sight of his enemy's prosperity.
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.18 After 18ab, K1.2 ins.: *453 अन्यान्स्वादधिकान्राजन्प्रपश्यन्नाप्तपूरुषः
न मां प्रीणाति राजेन्द्र लक्ष्मीः साधारणा विभो ज्वलितामिव कौन्तेये श्रियं दृष्ट्वा च विव्यथे
M. N. Dutt: O king of kings, O lord, this ordinary prosperity does not please me. I am greatly pained on seeing the burning prosperity of the son of Kunti.
सर्वां हि पृथिवीं दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरवशानुगाम् स्थिरोऽस्मि योऽहं जीवामि दुःखादेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
M. N. Dutt: I tell you, my life must be very hard to be parted with from my body, and therefore I am still alive after seeing all the kings of the world enduring the sway of Yudhishthira.
आवर्जिता इवाभान्ति निघ्नाश्चैत्रकिकौकुराः कारस्करा लोहजङ्घा युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने
M. N. Dutt: The Nipas, the Chitrakas, the Kukuras, the Karaskaras and the Lohajanghas are living in the Yudhishthira's palace like bondsmen.
हिमवत्सागरानूपाः सर्वरत्नाकरास्तथा अन्त्याः सर्वे पर्युदस्ता युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने
M. N. Dutt: The Himalayas, the ocean, the regions on the sea-shore and the numberless other regions that yield gems and jewels have all acknowledged their inferiority to the palace of Yudhishthira.
ज्येष्ठोऽयमिति मां मत्वा श्रेष्ठश्चेति विशां पते युधिष्ठिरेण सत्कृत्य युक्तो रत्नपरिग्रहे
M. N. Dutt: O king, on consideration of my being the eldest and the foremost. I was engaged in receiving the gems and jewels (brought as tribute by the kings).
उपस्थितानां रत्नानां श्रेष्ठानामर्घहारिणाम् नादृश्यत परः प्रान्तो नापरस्तत्र भारत
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, the limit and the like of the excellent and the invaluable jewels that were brought there have never been seen.
न मे हस्तः समभवद्वसु तत्प्रतिगृह्णतः प्रातिष्ठन्त मयि श्रान्ते गृह्य दूराहृतं वसु
M. N. Dutt: O king, my hands were tired to receive that wealth. When I became tired they that brought that wealth from distant places waited (till I could resume my task).
कृतां बिन्दुसरोरत्नैर्मयेन स्फाटिकच्छदाम् अपश्यं नलिनीं पूर्णामुदकस्येव भारत
M. N. Dutt: Having brought jewels from Bindu lake, Maya built a lake-like ground made of crystal. O descendant of Bharata, seeing the place full of lotuses, I mistook it for waster.
वस्त्रमुत्कर्षति मयि प्राहसत्स वृकोदरः शत्रोरृद्धिविशेषेण विमूढं रत्नवर्जितम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing me draw up my clothes, Vrikodara (Bhima) laughed at me, considering me as destitute of jewels and deprived of my reason at the affluence of the enemy.
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.27 After 27ab, S ins.: *454 किंकराश्च सभापाला जहसुर्भरतर्षभ
तत्र स्म यदि शक्तः स्यां पातयेयं वृकोदरम् सपत्नेनावहासो हि स मां दहति भारत
AI Translation: If I were able to do so, I would bring down Vrikódara. For, O Bhārata, the scorn of my enemy burns me.
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.28 After 28ab, Dn (!) D4 ins.: *455 यदि कुर्यां समारम्भं भीमं हन्तुं नराधिप शिशुपाल इवास्माकं गतिः स्यान्नात्र संशयः
पुनश्च तादृशीमेव वापीं जलजशालिनीम् मत्वा शिलासमां तोये पतितोऽस्मि नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: O king, again seeing a similar lake full of water, I mistook it for a crystal surface, and I fell into it.
तत्र मां प्राहसत्कृष्णः पार्थेन सह सस्वनम् द्रौपदी च सह स्त्रीभिर्व्यथयन्ती मनो मम
M. N. Dutt: At this Bhima with Partha (Arjuna) laughed aloud, and Draupadi with other females laughed also. This greatly pains my heart.
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.30 After 30, Ñ1 ins.: *456 भृत्यवर्गश्च यः कश्चित्सोऽपि प्रहसतेऽनघ
क्लिन्नवस्त्रस्य च जले किंकरा राजचोदिताः ददुर्वासांसि मेऽन्यानि तच्च दुःखतरं मम
M. N. Dutt: My robes having been wet, the servants gave me other clothes at the command of the king (Yudhishthira). That also is my great sorrow.
प्रलम्भं च शृणुष्वान्यं गदतो मे नराधिप अद्वारेण विनिर्गच्छन्द्वारसंस्थानरूपिणा अभिहत्य शिलां भूयो ललाटेनास्मि विक्षतः
M. N. Dutt: O king, listen to another mistake (I made) which I speak of. In attempting to pass through what was exactly of the shape of a door, but which was not really a door, I struck my forehead against it and injured myself. Thereupon the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), seeing from a distance that I was struck, came and supported me in their arms, and expressed great concern (for my injury).
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.32 After 32, T1 G3-5 ins.: *457 स्त्रियश्च तत्र मां दृष्ट्वा जहसुस्तादृशं नृप इदं द्वारमिदं राजन्नद्वारमिति मां प्रति अग्रतः प्रहसन्वाक्यं बभाषे स वृकोदरः
तत्र मां यमजौ दूरादालोक्य ललितौ किल बाहुभिः परिगृह्णीतां शोचन्तौ सहितावुभौ
AI Translation: There, the twins, seeing me from afar, were delighted. They embraced me with their arms, both of them grieving together.
उवाच सहदेवस्तु तत्र मां विस्मयन्निव इदं द्वारमितो गच्छ राजन्निति पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Sahadeva then again and again told me with smiles, “O king, this is the door, Go this way.”
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.34 After 34, Ñ1 V1 B4 Dn D1 (marg.).4 ins.: *458 भीमसेनेन तत्रोक्तो धृतराष्ट्रात्मजेति च संबोध्य प्रहसित्वा च इतो द्वारं नराधिप
नामधेयानि रत्नानां पुरस्तान्न श्रुतानि मे यानि दृष्टानि मे तस्यां मनस्तपति तच्च मे
M. N. Dutt: I had not even heard the names of the gems that I saw in that palace. It is for this reason my heart is so much burning.
Supplementary Passages:
2.46.35 After 35, T1 G3-5 ins.: *459 हुताशनं प्रवेक्ष्यामि प्रविशे वा महोदधिम् संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते