Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच आगम्य हास्तिनपुरादुपप्लव्यमरिंदमः पाण्डवानां यथावृत्तं केशवः सर्वमुक्तवान्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said The chastiser of foes having come to Upaplavya from Hastinapura, Keshava told all about what had happened to the sons of Pandu.
संभाष्य सुचिरं कालं मन्त्रयित्वा पुनः पुनः स्वमेवावसथं शौरिर्विश्रामार्थं जगाम ह
M. N. Dutt: Consulting together for a long time and holding repeated conferences Shouri went to his own place for rest.
विसृज्य सर्वान्नृपतीन्विराटप्रमुखांस्तदा पाण्डवा भ्रातरः पञ्च भानावस्तंगते सति
M. N. Dutt: Then after sending all the rulers of men headed by king Virata, the five Pandavas brothers, when the sun had set,
संध्यामुपास्य ध्यायन्तस्तमेव गतमानसाः आनाय्य कृष्णं दाशार्हं पुनर्मन्त्रममन्त्रयन्
M. N. Dutt: Having said their evening prayers began to think of him (Krishna) with their minds fixed on him, and getting Krishna of the Dasharha race, they again held a consultation.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच त्वया नागपुरं गत्वा सभायां धृतराष्ट्रजः किमुक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्ष तन्नः शंसितुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Having gone to Nagapur what did you, O you of lotus eyes, say to him who is born of Dhritarashtra in the council? It is proper that you should tell us that.
वासुदेव उवाच मया नागपुरं गत्वा सभायां धृतराष्ट्रजः तथ्यं पथ्यं हितं चोक्तो न च गृह्णाति दुर्मतिः
M. N. Dutt: Vasudeva said Going to Nagapur I said to him who is born of Dhritarashtra words which are true, opportune and conducive to his interests but he of wicked mind did not accept them.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच तस्मिन्नुत्पथमापन्ने कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः किमुक्तवान्हृषीकेश दुर्योधनममर्षणम् आचार्यो वा महाबाहो भारद्वाजः किमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said To the one who is following the wrong course, namely the wrathful Duryodhana what did the oldest among the Kurus, our grandfather, say, O Hrishikesha?
Supplementary Passages:
5.145.7 After 7, N (except B5 D7; Dn2 D5 missing) ins.: *534 पिता वा धृतराष्ट्रस्तं गान्धारी वा किमब्रवीत्
पिता यवीयानस्माकं क्षत्ता धर्मभृतां वरः पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तः किमाह धृतराष्ट्रजम्
M. N. Dutt: What did our uncle Kshattri, that foremost among those conversant with virtue, who is stricken with grief for his sons (at our exile) say to him who is born of Dhritarashtra?
किं च सर्वे नृपतयः सभायां ये समासते उक्तवन्तो यथातत्त्वं तद्ब्रूहि त्वं जनार्दन
M. N. Dutt: What also did all those rulers of men who were seated in the council say? You tell us, O Janardana, exactly how they happened.
उक्तवान्हि भवान्सर्वं वचनं कुरुमुख्ययोः कामलोभाभिभूतस्य मन्दस्य प्राज्ञमानिनः
AI Translation: For you have spoken all the words of the two chief men, Of one who is overcome by desire and greed, of one who is dull and conceited with wisdom,
Supplementary Passages:
5.145.10 After 10ab, B Dn1 Ds D3.4.6-8.10 ins.: *535 धार्तराष्ट्रस्य तेषां हि वचनं कुरुसंसदि On the other hand, S (except G5) ins. after 10ab. *536 प्रतिकूलमयुक्तं च हृदयं नोपसर्पति
अप्रियं हृदये मह्यं तन्न तिष्ठति केशव तेषां वाक्यानि गोविन्द श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो
AI Translation: That is not pleasing to my heart, O Keshava, it does not remain. O Govinda, I wish to hear those words, O Lord.
यथा च नाभिपद्येत कालस्तात तथा कुरु भवान्हि नो गतिः कृष्ण भवान्नाथो भवान्गुरुः
M. N. Dutt: Their words, O Govinda, do I desire to hear O lord, and act in such a way that time may not be lost, my dear friend; you are our refuge, O Krishna, you are lord, and you are our preceptor.
वासुदेव उवाच शृणु राजन्यथा वाक्यमुक्तो राजा सुयोधनः मध्ये कुरूणां राजेन्द्र सभायां तन्निबोध मे
M. N. Dutt: Vasudeva said Hear, O king, the words that were said by me to the king Suyodhana in the midst of the kings in that council; listen to them, O chief among kings.
मया वै श्राविते वाक्ये जहास धृतराष्ट्रजः अथ भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: The one born of Dhritarashtra however laughed at them; and then Bhishma, being excited with wrath, said these words.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं कुलार्थे यद्ब्रवीमि ते तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूल स्वकुलस्य हितं कुरु
M. N. Dutt: O Duryodhana, listen to these words, which I say for the benefit of my race and hearing that, O best among kings, effect the benefit of your race.
मम तात पिता राजञ्शंतनुर्लोकविश्रुतः तस्याहमेक एवासं पुत्रः पुत्रवतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: My father, my dear son, was Shantanu, well known in this world, O king. I was his only son at first-of that best among those who had sons.
तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना द्वितीयः स्यात्कथं सुतः एकपुत्रमपुत्रं वै प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: A desire rose in his mind "How shall I have a second son, for wise men speak of one son as no son at all.
न चोच्छेदं कुलं यायाद्विस्तीर्येत कथं यशः तस्याहमीप्सितं बुद्ध्वा कालीं मातरमावहम्
M. N. Dutt: Let my family be not extinct; how can my fame spread?” I coming to know of this desire of his got Kali as my stepmother.
प्रतिज्ञां दुष्करां कृत्वा पितुरर्थे कुलस्य च अराजा चोर्ध्वरेताश्च यथा सुविदितं तव प्रतीतो निवसाम्येष प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्
M. N. Dutt: My hard determination, for the sake of my father and for the sake of my race, of never being a king and of never throw in down vital fluid by the regular passage, is well known to you; observing these vows I am now living in joy.
तस्यां जज्ञे महाबाहुः श्रीमान्कुरुकुलोद्वहः विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा कनीयान्मम पार्थिवः
M. N. Dutt: In her was born my younger brother endued with prosperity, of long arms and the supporter of the Kuru race, the virtuous-souled Vichitravirya, O ruler of this eartlı.
स्वर्यातेऽहं पितरि तं स्वराज्ये संन्यवेशयम् विचित्रवीर्यं राजानं भृत्यो भूत्वा ह्यधश्चरः
M. N. Dutt: My father having gone to heaven I placed that Vichitravirya at the head of my own kingdom and myself become a subordinate to him.
तस्याहं सदृशान्दारान्राजेन्द्र समुदावहम् जित्वा पार्थिवसंघातमपि ते बहुशः श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: I found out suitable wives for him, O chief among kings, after conquering an assemblage of the rulers of the earth; you heave heard of all that many times.
ततो रामेण समरे द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागमम् स हि रामभयादेभिर्नागरैर्विप्रवासितः दारेष्वतिप्रसक्तश्च यक्ष्माणं समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: Then did I engage myself in a single combat with Rama and he fled away from the city from fear of Rama.
यदा त्वराजके राष्ट्रे न ववर्ष सुरेश्वरः तदाभ्यधावन्मामेव प्रजाः क्षुद्भयपीडिताः
M. N. Dutt: He was soon attacked with pthysis for being too much attached to his wives, and in that kingdom without a king the lord of the gods did not pour rain."
प्रजा ऊचुः उपक्षीणाः प्रजाः सर्वा राजा भव भवाय नः ईतयो नुद भद्रं ते शंतनोः कुलवर्धन
M. N. Dutt: The subjects said All the subjects are weakened, you be our king for our good and put an end to this draught and other calamities; and it will be well with you, O son of Shantanu, O perpetuator of your race.
पीड्यन्ते ते प्रजाः सर्वा व्याधिभिर्भृशदारुणैः अल्पावशिष्टा गाङ्गेय ताः परित्रातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: All your subjects are being very much troubled by serve diseases and 0 son of Ganga, it is proper that you should save the few that are alive.
व्याधीन्प्रणुद्य वीर त्वं प्रजा धर्मेण पालय त्वयि जीवति मा राष्ट्रं विनाशमुपगच्छतु
M. N. Dutt: Put an end to these calamities, O hero, and rule over your subjects with justice; yourself being alive let not this kingdom meet destruction.
भीष्म उवाच प्रजानां क्रोशतीनां वै नैवाक्षुभ्यत मे मनः प्रतिज्ञां रक्षमाणस्य सद्वृत्तं स्मरतस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said My heart remained unmoved at that grief of the subjects remembering that the observance of a vow is the duty of a good man. Then did my citizens, O great king, and my mother, the blessed Kali,
ततः पौरा महाराज माता काली च मे शुभा भृत्याः पुरोहिताचार्या ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः मामूचुर्भृशसंतप्ता भव राजेति संततम्
M. N. Dutt: My servants, my priests, my preceptors and other Brahmanas well versed in holy books said to me, being struck with great sorrow "Yourself be the king.
प्रतीपरक्षितं राष्ट्रं त्वां प्राप्य विनशिष्यति स त्वमस्मद्धितार्थं वै राजा भव महामते
M. N. Dutt: The kingdom protected by Pratipa is being ruined, though it can claim you as its ruler; therefore do you, for the good of ourselves, be the king, O you of great intelligence.”
इत्युक्तः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा दुःखितो भृशमातुरः तेभ्यो न्यवेदयं पुत्र प्रतिज्ञां पितृगौरवात् ऊर्ध्वरेता ह्यराजा च कुलस्यार्थे पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Being thus spoken to an having joined my hands and being very much stuck with sorrow I represented to them the vow I was observing for the respect of my father.
ततोऽहं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा मातरं संप्रसादयम् नाम्ब शंतनुना जातः कौरवं वंशमुद्वहन् प्रतिज्ञां वितथां कुर्यामिति राजन्पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Then clasping my hands I gratified my mother by saying thus “O mother, I shall not, being begotten by Shantanu and being a supporter of the Kuru family.
विशेषतस्त्वदर्थं च धुरि मा मां नियोजय अहं प्रेष्यश्च दासश्च तवाम्ब सुतवत्सले
AI Translation: Especially for your sake, do not put me to the yoke. I am your servant and slave, O mother, who loves your son.
एवं तामनुनीयाहं मातरं जनमेव च अयाचं भ्रातृदारेषु तदा व्यासं महामुनिम्
AI Translation: Thus having appeased my mother and father, I then requested the great sage Vyasa for the hand of my brothers' wives.
सह मात्रा महाराज प्रसाद्य तमृषिं तदा अपत्यार्थमयाचं वै प्रसादं कृतवांश्च सः त्रीन्स पुत्रानजनयत्तदा भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: To beget children, and great king he too complied with our request and then did he beget children, O you best among the Bharatas.
अन्धः करणहीनेति न वै राजा पिता तव राजा तु पाण्डुरभवन्महात्मा लोकविश्रुतः
M. N. Dutt: Being blind and therefore deprived of the usual rites, your father could not be a king and the great souled Pandu, well known in this world, became the king.
स राजा तस्य ते पुत्राः पितुर्दायाद्यहारिणः मा तात कलहं कार्षी राज्यस्यार्धं प्रदीयताम्
M. N. Dutt: Himself being a king these sons of his must get a share of their paternal wealth; do not, my dear son, quarrel over the matter but give them half of the kingdom.
मयि जीवति राज्यं कः संप्रशासेत्पुमानिह मावमंस्था वचो मह्यं शममिच्छामि वः सदा
M. N. Dutt: When I am alive what other man can rule over this kingdom? Do not treat slightingly my words for we ever wish peace.
न विशेषोऽस्ति मे पुत्र त्वयि तेषु च पार्थिव मतमेतत्पितुस्तुभ्यं गान्धार्या विदुरस्य च
M. N. Dutt: There is no difference between my treatment to you and that to them, o ruler of the earth; and the same is the opinion of your father, of Gandhari, as also of Vidura.
श्रोतव्यं यदि वृद्धानां मातिशङ्कीर्वचो मम नाशयिष्यसि मा सर्वमात्मानं पृथिवीं तथा
M. N. Dutt: The words of the aged should be listened to; and do not treat slightingly these words of mine for otherwise will you destroy all that have, as also this earth."