जनमेजय उवाच वनवासं गते विप्र धृतराष्ट्र महीपतौ। सभार्ये नृपशार्दूले बध्वा कुन्त्या समन्विते॥ विदुरे चापि संसिद्धे धर्मराजं व्यपाश्रिते। वसत्सु पाण्डुपुत्रेषु सर्वेष्वाश्रममण्डले॥ यत् तदाश्चर्यमिति वै करिष्यामीत्युवाच ह। व्यासः परमतेजस्वी महर्षिस्तद् वदस्व मे॥
Janamejaya said Tell me, o learned Brahman, what that wonderful feat was, which the great Rishi Vyasa of great energy accomplished after he had his made promise to the old king, when Dhritarashtra, that foremost one of Kuru's race, had taken up his residence in the forest, with his wife, and with his daughter-in-law Kunti and after, indeed, Vidura had left his own body and entered into Yudhishthria, and at the time when all the sons of Pandu were living in the hermitage.
वनवासे च कौरव्यः कियन्तं कालमच्युतः। युधिष्ठिरो नरपति→वसत् सजनस्तदा॥
For how many days did the Kuru king Yudhishthira of Undecaying glory, stay with his men in the forest.
किमाहाराश्च ते तत्र ससैन्या न्यवसन् प्रभो। सान्त:पुरा महात्मान इति तद् ब्रूहि मेऽनघ॥
Of what food, O powerful one, did the great Pandavas support themselves with their men, and wives, while they lived in the forest? O sinless one, do you tell me this.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तेऽनुज्ञातास्तदा राजन् कुरुराजेन पाण्डवाः। विविधान्यन्नपानानि विश्राम्यानुभवन्ति ते॥ मासमेकं विजह्वस्ते ससैन्यान्तःपुरा वने। अथ तत्रागमद् व्यासो यथोक्तं ते मयाऽनघ॥
Vaishampayana said With the permission of the Kuru king, the Pandavas, O monarch, with their troops and the ladies of their household, lived on various kinds of food and drink and passed about a month in great happiness in that forest. Towards the close of that period, O sinless one, Vyasa came there.
तथा च तेषां सर्वेषां कथाभिर्नृपसंनिधौ। व्यासमन्वास्यतां राजन्नाजग्मुर्मुनयो परे॥
While all those princes sat around Vyasa, engaged in conversation on various topics, other Rishis came there.
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव देवलश्च महातपाः। विश्वावसुस्तुम्बुस्च चित्रसेनश्च भारत॥
They were Narada, Parvata, Devala of austere penances, Vishvavasu, Tunburu and Chitrasena, O Bharata.
तेषामपि यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रे महातपाः। धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञातः कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥
Gifted with severe penances, the Kuru king Yudhishthira, with the permission of Dhritarasthra, adored them according to due rites.
निषेदुस्ते ततः सर्वे पूजां प्राप्य युधिष्ठिरात्। आसनेषु च पुण्येषु बर्हिणेषु वरेषु च॥
Having got that worship from Yudhishthira, all of them sat down on sacred seats (made of Kusha grass as also on excellent seats made of peacock feathers.
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु स तु राजा महामतिः। पाण्डुपुत्रैः परिवृतो निषसाद कुरूद्वह॥
After they had all been seated, the Kuru king of great intelligence took his seat there, surrounded by the sons of Pandu.
गान्धारी चैव कुन्ती च द्रौपदी सात्वती तथा। स्त्रियश्चान्यास्तथान्याभिः सहोपविविशुस्ततः॥
Gandhari, Kunti and Draupadi, and she of the Satvata race, and other ladies of the royal household also sat down.
तेषां तत्र कथा दिव्या धर्मिष्ठाश्चाभवन् नृप। ऋषीणां च पुराणानां देवासुरविमिश्रिताः॥
The conversation which then arose was excellent and had reference to subjects, connected with piety, and the Rishis of old, and the celestials and the Asuras.
तत: कथान्ते व्यासस्तं प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम्। प्रोवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठः पुनरेव स तद् वचः॥ प्रीयमाणो महातेजाः सर्ववेदविदां वरः। विदितं मम राजेन्द्र यत् ते हृदि विवक्षितम्॥ दह्यमानस्य शोकेन तव पुत्रकृतेन वै। गान्धार्याश्चैव यद् दुःखं हृदि तिष्ठति नित्यदा॥ कुन्त्याश्च यन्महाराज द्रौपद्याश्च हृदि स्थितम्। यच्च धारयते तीव्र दुःखं पुत्रविनाशजम्॥ सुभद्रा कृष्णभगिनी तच्चापि विदितं मम। श्रुत्वा समागममिमं सर्वेषां वस्तुतो नृप॥ संशयच्छेदनार्थाय प्राप्तः कौरवनन्दन। इमे च देवगन्धर्वाः सर्वे चेमे महर्षयः॥ पश्यन्तु तपसो वीर्यमद्य मे चिरसम्भृतम्। तदुच्यतां महाप्राज्ञ कं कामं प्रददामि ते॥
At the close of the conversation the highly energetic Vyasa, that foremost of eloquent men, that first of all persons knowing the Vedas highly pleased, addressed the blind monarch and once more said, 'Burning as you are with grief on account of your children, I know, O king of kings, what object is cherished by you in your heart. I know the sorrow which always exists in the heart of Gandhari, that which exists in the heart of Kunti, and that also which is cherished by Draupadi in her heart, and that burning grief, on. account of the death of her son, which Krishna's sister Subhadra also cherishes. Hearing of this meeting, O king, of yours with all these princes and princesses of your house., I have come here, O delighter of the Kauravas, for removing your doubts. Let the celestials and Gandharvas and all these great Rishis, see today the energy of those penances which I have acquired for these long years. Therefore, O king, tell me what wish of yours I shall grant today.
प्रवणोऽस्मि वरं दातुं पश्य मे तपसः फलम्। एवमुक्तः स राजेन्द्रो व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना॥ मुहूर्तमिव संचिन्त्य वचनायोपचक्रमे। धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतश्च सफलं जीवितं च मे॥ यन्मे समागमोऽोह भवद्भिः सह साधुभिः। अद्य चाप्यवगच्छामि गतिमिष्टामिहात्मनः॥ ब्रह्मकल्पैर्भवद्भिर्यत् समेतोऽहं तपोधनाः। दर्शनादेव भवतां पूतोऽहं नात्र संशयः॥
I am powerful enough to grant you a boon. See the fruit of my penances. Thus addressed by Vyasa of great understanding, king Dhritarashtra thought for a moment and then prepared to speak. He said, 'I ain greatly fortunate. Lucky am I in obtaining your favour. My life is crowned with success today, since this meeting has taken place between me and you all of great piety. To-day I shall attain to that highly happy end which is reserved for me, since, you ascetics who have penances for wealth, you who are equal to Brahma himself, I have succeeded in obtaining this meeting with you all. There is not the least doubt that this sight that I have obtained of you all has purged me of every sin. son
विद्यते न भयं चापि परलोकान्ममानधाः। किं तु तस्य सुदुर्बुद्धेर्मन्दस्यापनयैर्भृशम्॥ दूयते मे मनो नित्यं स्मरतः पृत्रगृद्धिनः। अपापाः पाण्डवा येन निकृताः पापबुद्धिना॥
O sinless ones, I have no longer any fear about my end in the next world. Full as I am of love for my children, I always remember them. My mind, however is always pained by the recollection of the various acts of wrong which my wicked of exceedingly evil understanding perpetrated. Having a sinful understanding, he always persecuted the innocent Pandavas.
घातिता पृथिवी येन सहया सनरद्विपा। राजानश्च महात्मानो नानाजनपदेश्वराः॥ आगम्य मम पुत्रार्थे सर्वे मृत्युवशं गताः। ये ते पितूंश्च दारांश्च प्राणांश्च मनसः प्रियान्॥ परित्यज्य गताः शूराः प्रेतराजनिवेशनम्। का नु तेषां गतिर्ब्रह्मन् मित्रार्थे ये हता मृधे॥ तथैव पुत्रपौत्राणां मम ये निहता युधि। दूयते मे मनोऽभीक्ष्णं घातयित्वा महाबलम्॥ भीष्मं शान्तनवं वृद्धं द्रोणं च द्विजसत्तमम्। मम पुत्रेण मूढेन पापेनाकृतबुद्धिना॥
Alas, the whole Earth has been devastated by him, with her horses, elephants and men. Many great kings, rulers of various kingdoms, came for helping my son and succumbed to death. Alas, leaving their beloved father and wives and their very life-breaths, all those heroes have become guests of the king of the dead. What end, O twice-born one, has been attained by those men who have killed, for the sake of their friend, in battle? What end also has attained by my sons and grandsons who have fallen in the battle? My heart is always pained at the thought of my having brought about the destruction of the powerful Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, and of Drona, that foremost of Brahmanas, through my foolish and sinful son who was an injurer of his friends.
क्षयं नीतं कुलं दीप्तं पृथिवीराज्यमिच्छता। एतत् सर्वमनुस्मृत्य दह्यमानो दिवानिशम्॥
Desirous of getting the sovereignty of the Earth, he caused the Kuru race, blazing with prosperity, to be annihilated. Thinking of all this, I burn day and night with grief.
न शान्तिमधिगच्छापि दुःखशोकसमाहतः। इति मे चिन्तयानस्य पितः शान्तिन विद्यते॥
Deeply afflicted with pain and grief, I am unable to get peace of mind. Indeed, O sire, thinking of all this, I have no peace of man.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तच्छुत्वा विविधं तस्य राजर्षेः परिदेवितम्। पुनर्नवीकृतः शोको गान्धार्या जनमेजय॥
Hearing these lamentation expressed in various ways, of that royal sage, the grief, O Janamejaya of Gandhari, became fresh.
कुन्त्या दुपदपुत्र्याश्च सुभद्रायास्तथैव च। तासां च वरनारीणां वधूनां कौरवस्य हा॥
The grief, also, of Kunti, of the daughter of Drupada, of Subhadra, and of the other members male and female, and the daughterin-law of the royal house of Kuru became equally green.
पुत्रशोकसमाविष्टा गान्धारी त्विदमब्रवीत्। श्वशुरं बद्धनयना देवी प्राञ्जलिरुत्थिता॥ षोडशेमानि वर्षाणि गतानि मुनिपुङ्गव। अस्य राज्ञो हतान् पुत्राशोचतो न शमो विभो॥
Queen Gandhari, with bandaged eyes, joining her hands, addressed her father-in-law. Deeply afflicted with grief on account of the destruction of her sons, she said-O foremost of ascetics, this king has passed sixteen years grieving for the death of his sons and shorn of peace of mind.
पुत्रशोकसमाविष्टो निःश्वसन् ह्येष भूमिपः। न शेते वसतीः सर्वा धृतराष्ट्रो महामुने॥
Afflicted with grief on account of the destruction of his his children, this king Dhritarashtra, always breathes heavily, and never sleeps at night, O great Rishi.
लोकानन्यान् समर्थोऽसि स्रष्टुं सर्वांस्तपोबलात्। किमु लोकान्तरगतान् राज्ञो दर्शयितुं सुतान्॥
Through the power of your penances you are competent to create new worlds. What need I say then about showing this king his children who are now in the other world?
इयं च द्रौपदी कृष्णा हतज्ञातिसुता भृशम्। शौचत्यतीव सर्वासां स्नुषाणां दयिता स्नुषा॥
This Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, has lost all her kinsmen and children. Therefore, she who is the dearest of my daughters-in-law grieves greatly.
तथा कृष्णस्य भगिनी सुभद्रा भद्रभाषिणी। सौभद्रवधसंतप्ता भृशं शोचति भाविनी॥
The sister of Krishna, viz., Subhadra of sweet words, burning with the loss of her son, grieves as deeply.
इयं च भूरिश्रवसो भार्या परमसम्मता। भर्तृव्यसनशोकार्ता भृशं शोचति भाविनी॥
This lady who is respected by all, who is the wife of Bhurishravas, stricken with grief on account of the fate of her husband, always indulges in heart-rending lamentations.
यस्यास्तुश्वशुरो धीमान् बाह्निकः स कुरूद्वहः। निहतः सोमदत्तश्च पित्रा सह महारणे॥
Her father-in-law the intelligent Valhika of Kuru's race. Alas, Somadatta also was was killed, along with his father, in the great battle.
श्रीमतोऽस्य महाबुद्धेः संग्रामेष्वपलायिनः। पुत्रस्य ते पुत्रशतं निहतं यद् रणाजिरे॥
Alas, a hundred sons, heroes who never retreated from battle, belonging to this son of yours, this king of great intelligence and great prosperity, has been killed in battle.
तस्य भार्याशतमिदं दुःखशोकसमाहतम्। पुनः पुनर्वर्धयानं शोकं राज्ञो ममैव च॥ तेनारम्भेण महता मामुपास्ते महामुने।
The hundred wives of those sons are all grieving and repeatedly increasing the grief of both the king and myself. O great ascetic, stricken by that great onslaught, they have gathered round me.
ये च शूरा महात्मानः श्वशुरा मे महारथाः॥ सोमदत्तप्रभृतयः का नु तेषां गतिः प्रभो।
Alas, those great heroes, those great carwarriors, my father-in-law, Somadatta and others, alas, what end has been theirs, O powerful one.
तव प्रसादाद् भगवन् विशोकोऽयं महीपतिः॥ यथा स्याद् भविता चाहं कुन्ती चेयं वधूस्तव।
Through your favour, O holy one, that will take place for which this king, myself and this daughter-in-law of yours, viz., Kunti, shall all become freed from our grief.
इत्युक्तवत्यां गान्धार्यो कुन्ती व्रतकृशानना॥ प्रच्छन्नजातं पुत्रं तं सस्मारादित्यसंनिधम्।
After Gandhari had said so, Kunti, whose face had become waste through observance of many hard vows, began to think of her secretborn son gifted with solar effulgence.
तामृषिर्वरदो व्यासो दूरश्रवणदर्शनः॥ अपश्यद् दुःखितां देवीं मातरं सव्यसाचिनः।
The boon-giving Rishi Vyasa capable of both seeing and hearing what took place at a remote distance, saw that the royal mother of Arjuna was afflicted with grief.
तामुवाच ततो व्यासो यत् ते कार्यं विवक्षितम्॥ तद् ब्रूहि त्वं महाभागे यत् ते मनसि वर्तते।
To her Vyasa said, 'Tell me, O blessed one, what is in your mind. Tell me what you wish to say.'
श्वशुराय तत: कुन्ती प्रणम्य शिरसा तदा॥ उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा विवृण्वाना पुरातनम्॥
At this, Kunti, bending her head to herfather-in-law, and overcome with bashfulness, said these words to him, recounting the past incidents of her life. To her Vyasa said, 'Tell me, O blessed one, what is in your mind. Tell me what you wish to say.'
श्वशुराय तत: कुन्ती प्रणम्य शिरसा तदा॥ उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा विवृण्वाना पुरातनम्॥
At this, Kunti, bending her head to herfather-in-law, and overcome with bashfulness, said these words to him, recounting the past incidents of her life.