Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि युधिष्ठिरप्रभृतयः किमकुर्वन्त पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said : When the illustrious son of Pritha (Arjuna) had gone to the region of Indra with a view of obtain the arms, what did Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas do?
वैशंपायन उवाच अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि न्यवसन्कृष्णया सार्धं काम्यके पुरुषर्षभाः
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: When the noble Partha had gone to Shakra's world for the sake of the weapon, The bulls among men dwelt with Krishna in Kamyaka.
ततः कदाचिदेकान्ते विविक्त इव शाद्वले दुःखार्ता भरतश्रेष्ठा निषेदुः सह कृष्णया धनंजयं शोचमानाः साश्रुकण्ठाः सुदुःखिताः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon those excellent ones of the seated one day with Krishna on a clean and solitary turf (in the forest). They were greatly afflicted with grief; their voices were choked up with the tears and also they were overwhelmed with sorrow on account of the absence of Dhananjaya. A flood of grief passed over them, tormented as they were by his separation.
तद्वियोगाद्धि तान्सर्वाञ्शोकः समभिपुप्लुवे धनंजयवियोगाच्च राज्यनाशाच्च दुःखिताः
AI Translation: For, on account of his separation from them, grief overwhelmed them all. And, because of their separation from Dhananjaya, and because of the loss of the kingdom, they were afflicted.
अथ भीमो महाबाहुर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत निदेशात्ते महाराज गतोऽसौ पुरुषर्षभः अर्जुनः पाण्डुपुत्राणां यस्मिन्प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
M. N. Dutt: "O great king, this chief of the Bharata race Arjuna, has gone away in obedience to your command. On him depend the very lives of the sons of Pandu.
यस्मिन्विनष्टे पाञ्चालाः सह पुत्रैस्तथा वयम् सात्यकिर्वासुदेवश्च विनश्येयुरसंशयम्
M. N. Dutt: Losing Arjuna, we with all our sons, the Panchalas, as also the Satyaki and Vasudeva, are sure to die.
योऽसौ गच्छति तेजस्वी बहून्क्लेशानचिन्तयन् भवन्नियोगाद्बीभत्सुस्ततो दुःखतरं नु किम्
M. N. Dutt: For what can we grieve more than this, that the righteous Vibhatsu goes away at your behest, thinking upon the various sorrows?
यस्य बाहू समाश्रित्य वयं सर्वे महात्मनः मन्यामहे जितानाजौ परान्प्राप्तां च मेदिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: Relying upon the strength of arms of that illustrious hero, we can take for granted that our enemies are already vanquished and the possession of the earth is ours,
Supplementary Passages:
3.49.8 S ins. after 8 (G1 om. line 1, ins. after 9ab): *201 यस्य प्रभावाद्धि वयं सभामध्ये धनुष्मतः जितान्मन्यामहे सर्वान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्ससौबलान्
यस्य प्रभावान्न मया सभामध्ये धनुष्मतः नीता लोकममुं सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्राः ससौबलाः
M. N. Dutt: But for the intervention of that mightyarmed hero in the meeting of warriors, I could not send the descendants of Dhritarashtra with
ते वयं बाहुबलिनः क्रोधमुत्थितमात्मनः सहामहे भवन्मूलं वासुदेवेन पालिताः
M. N. Dutt: We are supported by Vasudeva and are the mightiest warriors. We were constrained to suppress the wrath that had been awakened in ourselves, because you are the cause of that anger.
वयं हि सह कृष्णेन हत्वा कर्णमुखान्परान् स्वबाहुविजितां कृत्स्नां प्रशासेम वसुंधराम्
M. N. Dutt: As a matter of fact, assisted by Krishna, having slain all our foes with Karna at their head, we are in a position to rule the whole rld, conquered by the might of our own arms.
भवतो द्यूतदोषेण सर्वे वयमुपप्लुताः अहीनपौरुषा राजन्बलिभिर्बलवत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: Although we are not devoid of manliness yet we are the most unfortunate and that is for the reason of your gambling vice. Meanwhile the foolish sons of Dhritarashtra are growing very strong with the tributes (collected from the dependant chiefs).
क्षात्रं धर्मं महाराज समवेक्षितुमर्हसि न हि धर्मो महाराज क्षत्रियस्य वनाश्रयः राज्यमेव परं धर्मं क्षत्रियस्य विदुर्बुधाः
M. N. Dutt: O great king, it is necessary for you to keep in view the duties of a Kshatriya. O great king, to live in the forest should not be his duty.
स क्षत्रधर्मविद्राजन्मा धर्म्यान्नीनशः पथः प्राग्द्वादश समा राजन्धार्तराष्ट्रान्निहन्महि
AI Translation: O king, you who are a follower of the law of the Kshatriyas, you have destroyed the righteous paths. O king, let us kill the sons of Dhritarashtra before twelve years have passed.
Supplementary Passages:
3.49.14 After 14c, Dc D1 ins.: *202 हृदयेन विचिन्त्यताम् तदुत्तिष्ठ महाबाहो
निवर्त्य च वनात्पार्थमानाय्य च जनार्दनम् व्यूढानीकान्महाराज जवेनैव महाहवे धार्तराष्ट्रानमुं लोकं गमयामि विशां पते
AI Translation: Having turned back from the forest and having brought back Partha and Janardana, O great king, in the great battle with the armies arrayed, I shall lead the sons of Dhritarashtra to this world, O lord of the people.
सर्वानहं हनिष्यामि धार्तराष्ट्रान्ससौबलान् दुर्योधनं च कर्णं च यो वान्यः प्रतियोत्स्यते
AI Translation: I shall kill all the sons of Dhritarashtra, together with their allies. Duryodhana, Karna, and whoever else may oppose me,
मया प्रशमिते पश्चात्त्वमेष्यसि वनात्पुनः एवं कृते न ते दोषो भविष्यति विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: The enemies thus being slain by me, you may come back to the forest again, O king of kings, there will be no fault of yours if thus acted.
यज्ञैश्च विविधैस्तात कृतं पापमरिंदम अवधूय महाराज गच्छेम स्वर्गमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: O sir, O chastiser of foes, if thus a sin be committed, we are able to wash it off by the performance of various sacrifices and we may ascend a superior heaven.
एवमेतद्भवेद्राजन्यदि राजा न बालिशः अस्माकं दीर्घसूत्रः स्याद्भवान्धर्मपरायणः
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, such may happen, if our king be not foolish or procrastinating. Indeed you are, O king, righteous.
निकृत्या निकृतिप्रज्ञा हन्तव्या इति निश्चयः न हि नैकृतिकं हत्वा निकृत्या पापमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: Undoubtedly the deceitful persons should be done away with deceitful means. Surely it is no sin. to destroy them by frauds.
तथा भारत धर्मेषु धर्मज्ञैरिह दृश्यते अहोरात्रं महाराज तुल्यं संवत्सरेण हि
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata, O great prince, the pious, who are conversant in morality, have regarded a day and a night as equivalent to an entire year.
तथैव वेदवचनं श्रूयते नित्यदा विभो संवत्सरो महाराज पूर्णो भवति कृच्छ्रतः
M. N. Dutt: O illustrious one, the Veda text is often heard to signify that a year, O great monarch, passes away like a day, if one is engaged in strict devotion.
यदि वेदाः प्रमाणं ते दिवसादूर्ध्वमच्युत त्रयोदश समाः कालो ज्ञायतां परिनिष्ठितः
M. N. Dutt: Therefore regard, O one of unfading glory, accepting the authority of the Vedas, the period of thirteen years equal to a day or so.
कालो दुर्योधनं हन्तुं सानुबन्धमरिंदम एकाग्रां पृथिवीं सर्वां पुरा राजन्करोति सः
M. N. Dutt: O chastiser of foes, this is the (proper) time to kill Duryodhana with all his attendants. Otherwise, O prince, he will bring the whole world under his subjection.
एवं ब्रुवाणं भीमं तु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः उवाच सान्त्वयन्राजा मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय पाण्डवम्
M. N. Dutt: And king Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, having consoled and smelling the crown of the head of that son of Pandu, Bhima, who thus (as above) addressed, spoke thus.
असंशयं महाबाहो हनिष्यसि सुयोधनम् वर्षात्त्रयोदशादूर्ध्वं सह गाण्डीवधन्वना
M. N. Dutt: “You shall, O mighty-armed warrior, assisted by the wielder of the Gandiva, slay, without doubt, Suyodhana after the expiration of the pledged period of thirteen years.
यच्च मा भाषसे पार्थ प्राप्तः काल इति प्रभो अनृतं नोत्सहे वक्तुं न ह्येतन्मयि विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: O son of Pritha, as for what you say, that “O Lord, the period is complete," I dare not tell a lie, for it never finds place in my heart.
अन्तरेणापि कौन्तेय निकृतिं पापनिश्चयम् हन्ता त्वमसि दुर्धर्ष सानुबन्धं सुयोधनम्
M. N. Dutt: O son of Kunti, you shall without the help of deceit, which is doubtlessly a sin, slay that irrepressible Suyodhana with all his adherents."
एवं ब्रुवति भीमं तु धर्मराजे युधिष्ठिरे आजगाम महाभागो बृहदश्वो महानृषिः
M. N. Dutt: Whilst Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, was thus speaking to Bhima, there came before him that great and most illustrious sage, Brihadashva.
तमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मात्मा संप्राप्तं धर्मचारिणम् शास्त्रवन्मधुपर्केण पूजयामास धर्मराट्
M. N. Dutt: That righteous and high-souled monarch, Yudhishthira, worshipped the virtuous ascetic with the respectful offerings of Madhuparka (made of honey, curd clarified-butter, sugar and milk in a small cup made of some metal) whom he beheld standing before him.
आश्वस्तं चैनमासीनमुपासीनो युधिष्ठिरः अभिप्रेक्ष्य महाबाहुः कृपणं बह्वभाषत
M. N. Dutt: When the great sage was seated, the mightyarmed Yudhishthira, having supplied him with the refreshments, sat before him, looking and spoke to him in the most piteous terms.
अक्षद्यूतेन भगवन्धनं राज्यं च मे हृतम् आहूय निकृतिप्रज्ञैः कितवैरक्षकोविदैः
M. N. Dutt: "O almighty one, summoned by those evilminded and mischievous but skillful gamblers at dice. I have been deprived of my wealth and kingdom (through gambling).
अनक्षज्ञस्य हि सतो निकृत्या पापनिश्चयैः भार्या च मे सभां नीता प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
M. N. Dutt: I am not an expert at dice, the sinful men, having recourse to the foul means, defeated me at dice and even brought my wife, who is dearer to me that life itself, into the midst of the assembly (of herocs).
Supplementary Passages:
3.49.33 After 33, K1.2 B D (except D1-3) S (T G M2 om. line 10) ins.: *203 पुनर्द्यूतेन मां जित्वा वनवासं सुदारुणम् प्राव्राजयन्महारण्यमजिनैः परिवारितम् अहं वने दुर्वसतीर्वसन्परमदुःखितः अक्षद्यूताधिकारे च गिरः शृण्वन्सुदारुणाः आर्तानां सुहृदां वाचो द्यूतप्रभृति शंसताम् अहं हृदि श्रिताः स्मृत्वा सर्वरात्रीर्विचिन्तयन् यस्मिंश्चैव समस्तानां प्राणा गाण्डीवधन्वनि विना महात्मना तेन गतसत्त्व इवाभवम् कदा द्रक्ष्यामि बीभत्सुं कृतास्त्रं पुनरागतम् प्रियवादिनमक्षुद्रं दयायुक्तमतन्द्रितम् S cont.: *204 इति सर्वे महेष्वासं चिन्तयाना धनंजयम् अनेन तु विषण्णोऽहं कारणेन सहानुजः वनवासान्निवृत्तं मां पुनस्ते पापबुद्धयः जयन्तः प्रीयमाणा वै देवने भ्रातृभिः सह द्यूतेनैवाह्वयिष्यन्ति बलादक्षेषु तद्विदः आहूतश्च पुनर्द्यूते नास्मि शक्तो निवर्तितुम् पणे च मम नास्त्यर्थं विद्यते वसु किंचन एतत्सर्वमनुध्यायंश्चिन्तयानो दिवानिशम् न मत्तो दुःखिततरः पुमानस्तीह कश्चन
अस्ति राजा मया कश्चिदल्पभाग्यतरो भुवि भवता दृष्टपूर्वो वा श्रुतपूर्वोऽपि वा भवेत् न मत्तो दुःखिततरः पुमानस्तीति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: Is there a prince, on the earth, who is more wretched than I am? Have you ever heard of or seen such a one before. So far as I think, there is no such person, who is more afflicted with grief than myself."
Supplementary Passages:
3.49.34 After 34, K4 D2 ins.: *205 अल्पभाग्यतरो वापि कश्चिदस्ति महामुने while D1.3 ins.: *206 इति ब्रुवाणं राजानं बृहदश्वोऽब्रवीन्मुनिः and finally, S ins.: *207 एवं ब्रुवन्तं दुःखार्तमुवाच भगवानृषिः शोकं व्यपनुदन्राज्ञो धर्मराजस्य धीमतः
बृहदश्व उवाच यद्ब्रवीषि महाराज न मत्तो विद्यते क्वचित् अल्पभाग्यतरः कश्चित्पुमानस्तीति पाण्डव
AI Translation: Brihadbala said: O great king, you say that there is no one who is more unfortunate than me. O Pandava, there is no man who is more unfortunate than me.
Supplementary Passages:
3.49.35 After the ref., S ins.: *208 न विषादे मनः कार्यं त्वया बुद्धिमतां वर आगमिष्यति बीभत्सुरमित्रांश्च विजेष्यते
अत्र ते कथयिष्यामि यदि शुश्रूषसेऽनघ यस्त्वत्तो दुःखिततरो राजासीत्पृथिवीपते
AI Translation: Here I shall tell you, if you wish to hear, O sinless one, The king who was more miserable than you, O lord of the earth.
वैशंपायन उवाच अथैनमब्रवीद्राजा ब्रवीतु भगवानिति इमामवस्थां संप्राप्तं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पार्थिवम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said: Thereupon the king spoke to the great sage, "O most glorious one, relate as I am desirous to hear, the history of the king who had fallen in the most distressful condition of life.”
बृहदश्व उवाच शृणु राजन्नवहितः सह भ्रातृभिरच्युत यस्त्वत्तो दुःखिततरो राजासीत्पृथिवीपते
M. N. Dutt: Brihadashva said : O prince, O you that never lapse hear attentively, with your brothers the history of the king who was more miserable than yourself.
निषधेषु महीपालो वीरसेन इति स्म ह तस्य पुत्रोऽभवन्नाम्ना नलो धर्मार्थदर्शिवान्
M. N. Dutt: O great king, there lived a famous prince among the Nishadhas, who was known by the name of Virasena. He had a son, named Nala, who was versed in religion (virtue) and (in the knowledge of acquiring) wealth).
स निकृत्या जितो राजा पुष्करेणेति नः श्रुतम् वनवासमदुःखार्हो भार्यया न्यवसत्सह
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that the king was deceitfully defeated by Pushkara; and in consequence defeated by Pushkara; and in consequence thereof he dwelt in the forest with his spouse, pressed with distress.
न तस्याश्वो न च रथो न भ्राता न च बान्धवाः वने निवसतो राजञ्शिष्यन्ते स्म कदाचन
M. N. Dutt: O king, while living in the forest, Nala had neither servants nor chariots, (nor charioteers), neither he had a brother or friends with him.
भवान्हि संवृतो वीरैर्भ्रातृभिर्देवसंमितैः ब्रह्मकल्पैर्द्विजाग्र्यैश्च तस्मान्नार्हसि शोचितुम्
M. N. Dutt: But you are encircled by your war-like brothers, who are equal to the celestials and also by the best of the twice-born Brahmanas, who arelike unto Brahma himself. Consequently, O king, you should not lament.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच विस्तरेणाहमिच्छामि नलस्य सुमहात्मनः चरितं वदतां श्रेष्ठ तन्ममाख्यातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said: O foremost of the story-tellers, I am very desirous of hearing in detail the history of that illustrious king, Nala. It behoves you therefore, to tell me.