वैशम्पायन उवाच आगम्य हास्तिनपुरादुप्लव्यमरिंदमः। पाण्डवानां यथावृतं केशवः सर्वमुक्तवान्॥
Vaishampayana said The chastiser of foes having come to Upaplavya from Hastinapura, Keshava told all about what had happened to the sons of Pandu.
सम्भाष्य सुचिरं कालं मन्त्रयित्वा पुनः पुनः। स्वमेव भवनं शौरिर्विश्रामार्थं जगाम ह॥
Consulting together for a long time and holding repeated conferences Shouri went to his own place for rest.
विसृज्य सर्वान् नृपतीन् विराटप्रमुखांस्तदा। पाण्डवा भ्रातरः पञ्च भानावस्तं गते सति॥
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 दाशार्ह पुनमन्त्रममन्त्रयन्॥
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 उवच त्वया नागपुरं गत्वा सभायां धृतराष्ट्रजः। किमुक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्ष तन्नः शंसितुमर्हसि॥
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॥
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। किमुक्तवान् हृषीकेश दुर्योधनममर्पणम्॥
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?
आचार्यो वा महाभाग भारद्वाजः किमब्रवीत्। पिता वा धृतराष्ट्रस्तं गान्धारी वा किमब्रवीत्॥
What did the preceptor, endued with noble attributes, the son of Bharadvaja, what did his father and mother-or Dhritarashtra and Gandhari say?
पिता यवीयानस्माकं क्षत्ता धर्मविदां वरः। पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तः किमाह धृतराष्ट्रजम्॥
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 तद् ब्रूहि त्वं जनार्दन।॥
What also did all those rulers of men who were seated in the council say? You tell us, O Janardana, exactly how they happened.
उक्तवान् हि भवान् सर्वं वचनं कुरुमुख्ययोः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य तेषां हि वचनं कुरुसंसदि॥
You have already told us all the world spoken by the principal members of the Kuru race in the assembly of the Kurus to the son of Dhritarashtra,
कामलोभाभिभूतस्य मन्दस्य प्राज्ञमानिनः। अप्रियं हृदये मह्यं तन्न तिष्ठति केशव॥
Who is overpowered by lust and avarice, who is a fool and who is vain of his wisdom; but as they are not fit, they do not yet retain a place in my mind.
तेषां वाक्यानि गोविन्द श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो। यथा च नाभिपद्येत कालस्तात तथा कुरु। भवान् हि नो गतिः कृष्ण भवान् नाथो भवान् गुरुः॥
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 राजन् यथा वाक्यमुक्तो राजा सुयोधनः। मध्ये कुरूणां राजेन्द्र सभायां तन्निबोध मे॥
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 विश्राविते वाक्ये जहास धृतराष्ट्रजः। अथ भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
The one born of Dhritarashtra however laughed at them; and then Bhishma, being excited with wrath, said these words.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं कुलार्थं यद् ब्रवीमि ते। तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूल स्वकुलस्य हितं कुरु॥
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 राजन् शान्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः। तस्याहमेक एवासं पुत्रः पुत्रवतां वरः॥
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 स्यात् कथं सुतः। एकपुत्रमपुत्रं वै प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः॥
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 यायाद् विस्तीर्येच्च कथं यशः। तस्याहमीप्सितं बुद्ध्वा काली मातरमावहम्॥
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 पितुरर्थं कुलस्य च। अराजा चोर्ध्वरेताश्च यथा सुविदितं तव। प्रतीतो निवसाम्येष प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्॥
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 श्रीमान् कुरुकुलोद्वहः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा कनीयान् मम पार्थिव॥
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॥
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 सदृशान् दारान् राजेन्द्र समुपाहरम्। जित्वा पार्थिवसङ्घातमपि ते बहुशः श्रुतम्॥
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॥
Then did I engage myself in a single combat with Rama and he fled away from the city from fear of Rama.
दारेष्वप्यतिसक्तश्च यक्ष्माणं समपद्यता यदा त्वराजके राष्ट्रे न ववर्ष सुरेश्वरः। तदाभ्यधावन् मामेव प्रजाः क्षुद्भयपीडिताः॥
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। ईतीः प्रणुद भद्रं ते शान्तनोः कुलवर्धन॥
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 व्याधिभिभृशदारुणैः। अल्पावशिष्ठा गाङ्गेय ताः परित्रातुमर्हसि॥
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.
व्याधीनं प्रणुद् वीर त्वं प्रजा धर्मेण पालय। त्वयि जीवति मा राष्ट्रं विनाशमुपगच्छतु॥
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 सद् वृत्तं स्मरतस्तथा॥ ततः पौरा महाराज माताकाली च मे शुभा।
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,
भृत्याः पुरोहिताचार्या ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः। मामूचु शसंतप्ता भव राजेति संततम्॥
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।॥
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 तत्र प्रतिज्ञां पितृगौरवात्॥
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.
ऊर्ध्वरेता राजा च कुलस्यार्थं पुनः पुनः। विशेषतस्त्वदर्थं च धुरि मा मां नियोजय॥
Namely that I would not throw my seminal fluid through the regular passage and that I would not be a king for the sake of my race; I said this again and again, and requested them not to yoke me to the kingdom especially for their good.
ततोऽहं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा मातरं सम्प्रसादयम्। नाम्ब शान्तनुना जातः कौरवं वंशमुद्वहन्॥
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.
प्रतिज्ञां वितयां कुर्यामिति राजन् पुनः पुनः। विशेषतस्त्वदर्थं च प्रतिज्ञां कृतवानहम्॥
Be false to my determination;" O king, I said this again and again and also said-"It was especially for your sake that I made that determination.
अहं प्रेष्यश्च दासश्च तवाद्य सुतवत्सले। एवं तामनुनीयाहं मातरं जनमेव च॥
I am now your slave, waiting to be commanded by you, O you who are very affectionate to your children.” Having thus respectfully addressed my mother and my subjects,
अयाचं भ्रातृदारेषु तदा व्यासं महामुनिम्। सह मात्रा महाराज प्रसाद्य तमृषिं तदा॥
I begged the great Muni Vyasa, along with my mother, O great king, after having gratified that Rishi, with the wives of my brother,
अपत्यार्थ महाराज प्रसादं कृतवांश्च सः। त्रीन् स पुत्रानजनयत् तदा भरतसत्तम॥
To beget children, and great king he too complied with our request and then did he beget children, O you best among the Bharatas.
अधः करणहीनत्वान्न वै राजा पिता तव। राजा तु पाण्डुरभवन्महात्मा लोकविश्रुतः॥
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॥
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 सम्प्रशासेत् पुमानिह। मावमंस्था वचो मां शममिच्छामि वः सदा॥
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। मतमेतत् पितुस्तुभ्यं गान्धार्या विदुरस्य च॥
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 खलु वृद्धानां नाभिशङ्कीर्वचो मम। नाशयिष्यसि मा सर्वमात्मानं पृथिवी तथा॥
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."