Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच एवमेतन्महाप्राज्ञ यथा वदसि नो मुने अहं चैव विजानामि सर्वे चेमे नराधिपाः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said: O greatly intelligent Rishi, it is exactly as you say. I know it well, as do all these kings.
भवांस्तु मन्यते साधु यत्कुरूणां सुखोदयम् तदेव विदुरोऽप्याह भीष्मो द्रोणश्च मां मुने
M. N. Dutt: O Rishi, what you consider beneficial for the Kurus was pointed out to me by Vidura, Bhishma and Drona.
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यः कौरवेषु दया यदि अनुशाधि दुरात्मानं पुत्रं दुर्योधनं मम
M. N. Dutt: If I deserve your grace and if you have kindness for the Kurus, then teach my wicked son Duryodhana (to be good).
व्यास उवाच अयमायाति वै राजन्मैत्रेयो भगवानृषिः अन्वीय पाण्डवान्भ्रातॄनिहैवास्मद्दिदृक्षया
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said: O king, after having seen the Pandava brothers, there comes the illustrious. Rishi Maitreya with the desire of seeing us.
एष दुर्योधनं पुत्रं तव राजन्महानृषिः अनुशास्ता यथान्यायं शमायास्य कुलस्य ते
M. N. Dutt: O king, this great Rishi will admonish your son Duryodhana for the sake of the welfare of this race.
ब्रूयाद्यदेष राजेन्द्र तत्कार्यमविशङ्कया अक्रियायां हि कार्यस्य पुत्रं ते शप्स्यते रुषा
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Kuru, what he will advise should be done without any hesitation, for if what he will recommend is not done, the Rishi will curse your son in anger.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा ययौ व्यासो मैत्रेयः प्रत्यदृश्यत पूजया प्रतिजग्राह सपुत्रस्तं नराधिपः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having said this, Vyasa went away and Maitreya came there. The king with his sons received with all respect.
Supplementary Passages:
3.11.7 After 7ab, K2 ins.: *38 तमागतमृषिं दृष्ट्वा धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं पप्रच्छागमनक्रियाम्
दत्त्वार्घ्याद्याः क्रियाः सर्वा विश्रान्तं मुनिपुंगवम् प्रश्रयेणाब्रवीद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः
M. N. Dutt: That way-worn chief of the Rishis, by offering him Arghya and performing other rites. The son of Ambika, king Dhritarashtra, then asked him these questions.
सुखेनागमनं कच्चिद्भगवन्कुरुजाङ्गले कच्चित्कुशलिनो वीरा भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said: O illustrious one, has your journey from the Kurujangal been a pleasant one? Are the heroes, the five Pandava brothers, living happily (there)?
समये स्थातुमिच्छन्ति कच्चिच्च पुरुषर्षभाः कच्चित्कुरूणां सौभ्रात्रमव्युच्छिन्नं भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Do those foremost (heroes) of the Kuru race intend to pass all the time (they have pledged?) Will the brotherly affection of the Kurus remain unimpaired?
मैत्रेय उवाच तीर्थयात्रामनुक्रामन्प्राप्तोऽस्मि कुरुजाङ्गलम् यदृच्छया धर्मराजं दृष्टवान्काम्यके वने
M. N. Dutt: Maitreya said : Setting out on a pilgrimage, I arrived at the Kurujangala. I suddenly met there Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) in the forest of Kamyaka.
तं जटाजिनसंवीतं तपोवननिवासिनम् समाजग्मुर्महात्मानं द्रष्टुं मुनिगणाः प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Attiring himself in deer skin and wearing matted locks, he is living in the forest in asceticism. O lord, many Rishis have assembled there to see him.
तत्राश्रौषं महाराज पुत्राणां तव विभ्रमम् अनयं द्यूतरूपेण महापायमुपस्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: O great king, it was there that I heard of the grave errors that your sons liave committed and also of the approaching) calamity and fearful danger that have arisen from gambling.
ततोऽहं त्वामनुप्राप्तः कौरवाणामवेक्षया सदा ह्यभ्यधिकः स्नेहः प्रीतिश्च त्वयि मे प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, I have come to you for the good of the Kurus. O lord, my affection for you is great and I am always pleased with you.
नैतदौपयिकं राजंस्त्वयि भीष्मे च जीवति यदन्योन्येन ते पुत्रा विरुध्यन्ते नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: O king, when yourself and Bhishma are (still) alive, it is not proper that your sons should quarrel amongst themselves.
मेढीभूतः स्वयं राजन्निग्रहे प्रग्रहे भवान् किमर्थमनयं घोरमुत्पतन्तमुपेक्षसे
M. N. Dutt: O king, you are (as it were) the stake at which bulls are tied. You are competent to punish and reward. Why do you then overlook this great evil that is about to overtake all?
दस्यूनामिव यद्वृत्तं सभायां कुरुनन्दन तेन न भ्राजसे राजंस्तापसानां समागमे
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Kuru, O king, as these wrongs have been perpetrated in your Sabha, wrongs that are like the acts of thieves, you cannot shine in the assembly of ascetics.
वैशंपायन उवाच ततो व्यावृत्य राजानं दुर्योधनममर्षणम् उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा मैत्रेयो भगवानृषिः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Thereupon turning to the angry Duryodhana, the illustrious Rishi Maitreya spoke to him thus in soft words.
दुर्योधन महाबाहो निबोध वदतां वर वचनं मे महाप्राज्ञ ब्रुवतो यद्धितं तव
M. N. Dutt: Maitreya said : O mighty-armed Duryodhana, O best of all eloquent me.l, O blessed one, listen to the words I utter for your good.
मा द्रुहः पाण्डवान्राजन्कुरुष्व हितमात्मनः पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च लोकस्य च नरर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O king, do not quarrel with the Pandavas. O best of men, thus accomplish the good of your own, of the Pandavas, of the Kurus and of all the world.
ते हि सर्वे नरव्याघ्राः शूरा विक्रान्तयोधिनः सर्वे नागायुतप्राणा वज्रसंहनना दृढाः
M. N. Dutt: All these foremost of men (the Pandavas) are heroes of great prowess in war. They are endued with strength of ten thousand elephants; their bodies are as hard as the thunder.
सत्यव्रतपराः सर्वे सर्वे पुरुषमानिनः हन्तारो देवशत्रूणां रक्षसां कामरूपिणाम् हिडिम्बबकमुख्यानां किर्मीरस्य च रक्षसः
M. N. Dutt: They are all truthful and proud of their manliness. They have killed the enemies of the celestials, the Rakshasas, who are able to assume.any from at will. (The Rakshasas) such as were headed by Hidimba, Baka and Kirmira.
इतः प्रच्यवतां रात्रौ यः स तेषां महात्मनाम् आवृत्य मार्गं रौद्रात्मा तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
AI Translation: From here, in the night, he who was one of those great souls stood, covering the path, with a fierce mind, like an immovable mountain.
तं भीमः समरश्लाघी बलेन बलिनां वरः जघान पशुमारेण व्याघ्रः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा
AI Translation: The mighty Bhimasena, who delighted in battle, the best of the strong, killed him with a blow of his fist, like a tiger a small deer.
पश्य दिग्विजये राजन्यथा भीमेन पातितः जरासंधो महेष्वासो नागायुतबलो युधि
AI Translation: Look, O king, how Jarasandha, the great archer, who was equal in strength to ten thousand elephants in battle, was brought down by Bhima in the conquest of the directions.
संबन्धी वासुदेवश्च येषां श्यालश्च पार्षतः कस्तान्युधि समासीत जरामरणवान्नरः
AI Translation: Who is he who, being subject to old age and death, would sit down to fight with those who are related to Vāsudeva, who are the friends of Śyāma, and who
तस्य ते शम एवास्तु पाण्डवैर्भरतर्षभ कुरु मे वचनं राजन्मा मृत्युवशमन्वगाः
M. N. Dutt: Who is there such a hero who being subject to old age and death will cope with them? O best of the Bharata race, let there be peace between you and the Pandavas. Follow my advice; surrender not yourself to danger.
एवं तु ब्रुवतस्तस्य मैत्रेयस्य विशां पते ऊरुं गजकराकारं करेणाभिजघान सः
AI Translation: Thus speaking, O Lord of the people, to Maitreya, he struck his thigh, shaped like an elephant's trunk, with his hand.
दुर्योधनः स्मितं कृत्वा चरणेनालिखन्महीम् न किंचिदुक्त्वा दुर्मेधास्तस्थौ किंचिदवाङ्मुखः
AI Translation: Duryodhana smiled and drew a line on the ground with his foot. Not saying anything, the evil-minded one stood with his face slightly lowered.
तमशुश्रूषमाणं तु विलिखन्तं वसुंधराम् दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं राजन्मैत्रेयं कोप आविशत्
AI Translation: Seeing Duryodhana, who was not listening to him, writing on the ground, Maitreya became angry.
स कोपवशमापन्नो मैत्रेयो मुनिसत्तमः विधिना संप्रयुक्तश्च शापायास्य मनो दधे
AI Translation: The excellent sage Maitreya, overcome by anger, and in accordance with the rules, directed his mind towards cursing him.
ततः स वार्युपस्पृश्य कोपसंरक्तलोचनः मैत्रेयो धार्तराष्ट्रं तमशपद्दुष्टचेतसम्
AI Translation: Then, touching the water, with eyes red with anger, Maitreya cursed that wicked-minded son of Dhritarashtra:
यस्मात्त्वं मामनादृत्य नेमां वाचं चिकीर्षसि तस्मादस्याभिमानस्य सद्यः फलमवाप्नुहि
AI Translation: Since you have disregarded me and do not wish to speak these words, Therefore, immediately experience the fruit of this pride.
त्वदभिद्रोहसंयुक्तं युद्धमुत्पत्स्यते महत् यत्र भीमो गदापातैस्तवोरुं भेत्स्यते बली
M. N. Dutt: In the great war which will spring out of the wrongs perpetrated by you (on the Pandavas) the mighty Bhima shall smash your that thigh with a blow of his club.
इत्येवमुक्ते वचने धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः प्रसादयामास मुनिं नैतदेवं भवेदिति
M. N. Dutt: When the Rishi had thus spoken, the ruler of earth, Dhritarashtra, began to gratify the Rishi, so that what he had said may not happen.
मैत्रेय उवाच शमं यास्यति चेत्पुत्रस्तव राजन्यथा तथा शापो न भविता तात विपरीते भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Maitreya said : O king, if your son make peace (with the Pandavas) then, O child, my curse will not take effect. Otherwise it would.
वैशंपायन उवाच स विलक्षस्तु राजेन्द्र दुर्योधनपिता तदा मैत्रेयं प्राह किर्मीरः कथं भीमेन पातितः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : The king of kings, the father of Duryodhana (Dhritarashtra), thus averting the curse, asked Maitreya (to tell him) how Kirmira had been kiiled by Bhima.
मैत्रेय उवाच नाहं वक्ष्याम्यसूया ते न ते शुश्रूषते सुतः एष ते विदुरः सर्वमाख्यास्यति गते मयि
M. N. Dutt: Maitreya said: I shall not again speak to you as my words are not accepted by your son. When I shall go away. Vidura will tell you all.
वैशंपायन उवाच इत्येवमुक्त्वा मैत्रेयः प्रातिष्ठत यथागतम् किर्मीरवधसंविग्नो बहिर्दुर्योधनोऽगमत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having said this, Maitreya went away whence he came. Duryodhana (also) went away much agitated by the thought of the death of Kirmira.