वैशम्पायन उवाच तदाज्ञाय हृषीकेशो विसृष्टं पापकर्मणा। हृष्यमाण इदं वाक्यं द्रौणिं प्रत्यब्रवीत्तदा॥ विराटस्य सुतां पूर्वं स्नुषां गाण्डीवधन्वनः उपप्लव्यगतां दृष्ट्वा व्रतवान् ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्॥ परिक्षीणेषु कुरुषु पुत्रस्तव भविष्यति। एतदस्य परिक्षित्त्वं गर्भस्थस्य भविष्यति॥
Vaishampayana said “Knowing that weapon was thrown into the wombs of the Pandava women by Drona's sinful son, Hrishikesha, with a cheerful heart, said these words of him:-'Seeing Virata's daughter who is now daughter-in-law to Arjuna, while she was at Upaplavya, a certain pious Brahmana said, while the Kuru line will became extinct, a son will be born to you. This your son, for the reason, will be called by the name of Parikshit.
तस्य तद् वचनं साधोः सत्यमेतद् भविष्यति। परिक्षिद् भविता ह्येषां पुनर्वंशकरः सुतः॥
The words of that pious man shall be fulfilled. The Pandavas shall have a son called Parikshit.'
एवं ब्रुवाणं गोविन्दं सात्वतां प्रवरं तदा। द्रौणिः परमसंरब्धः प्रत्युवाचेदमुत्तरम्॥ नैतदेवं यथाऽऽत्य त्वं पक्षपातेन केशव। वचनं पुण्डरीकाक्ष न च मद्वाक्यमन्यथा॥
While Govinda, that foremost one of the Satwata race, saying these words, Drona's son, filled with anger, replied, saying,-"This, O Keshava, which you say from your partiality for the Pandavas, shall never take place. O you having eyes like lotus petals, my words cannot but be fulfilled.
पतिष्यति तदस्त्रं हि गर्भे तस्या मयोद्यतम्। विराटदुहितुः कृष्ण यं त्वं रक्षितुमिच्छसि॥
Taken up by me, this weapon of mine shall fall on the foetus that is in the womb of Virata's daughter,—which, O Krishna, you are so desirous of protecting.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच अमोघः परमास्त्रस्य पातस्तस्य भविष्यति। स तु गर्भो मृतो जातो दीर्घमायुरवाप्स्यति॥
Krishna said The fall of this mighty weapon will not be useless. The foetus will die. But being dead, it will revive and have a long life.
त्वां तु कापुरुषं पापं विदुः सर्वे मनीषिणः। असकृत्पापकर्माणं बालजीवितघातकम्॥ तस्मात्त्वमस्य पापस्य कर्मणः फलमा जुहि।
As regards yourself, all wise men know you as a coward and a sinful wretch. Always engaged in sinful deeds, you are the slayer of children. Therefore, you must have to bear the fruit of your sinful deeds.
त्रीणि वर्षसहस्त्राणि चरिष्यसि महीमिमाम्॥ अप्राप्नुवन् क्वचित् काञ्चित् संविदं जातु केनचित्। निर्जनानसहायस्त्वं देशान् प्रविचरिष्यसि॥
For three thousand years you shall have to wander over this earth, without a companion and without being able to talk with any one.
भवित्री न हि ते क्षुद्र जनमध्येषु संस्थितिः। पूयशोणितगन्धी च दुर्गकान्तारसंश्रयः॥ विचरिष्ससि पापात्मन् सर्वव्याधिसमन्वितः।
Alone, and without any one with you, you shall wander through various countries, O wretch, you shall have to live out side the pale of human society. The stench of puss and blood shall come out from your body, and you shall live in dense forest and dreary moors. Thou shall wander over the earth, O sinful wight, suffering from all diseases.
वयः प्राप्य परिक्षित् तु वेदव्रतमवाप्य च॥ कृपाच्छारद्वताच्छूरः सर्वास्त्राण्युपपत्स्यते।
Coming of age and acquiring a knowledge of the Vedas, the heroic Parikshit, shall obtain all weapons from the son of Sharadvat.
विदित्वा परमास्त्राणि क्षत्रधर्मव्रते स्थितः॥ षष्टिं वर्षाणि धर्मात्मा वसुधां पालयिष्यति।
Having acquired all knowledge of all high weapons and observing all Kshatriya duties, that righteous king shall rule the earth for sixty years.
इतश्चोर्ध्वं महाबाहुः कुरुराजो भविष्यति॥ परिक्षिन्नाम नृपतिर्मिषतस्ते सुदुर्मते।
Moreover, that boy shall become the powerful king of the Kurus, known by the name of Parikshit, before your very eyes, O wicked man.
अहं तं जीवयिष्यामि दग्धं शस्त्राग्नितेजसा। पश्य मे तपसो वीर्यं सत्यस्य च नराधम॥
Thought burnt by the energy of your weapon's fire, I shall revive him. O lowest of men, witness the power of my austerities and my truth.'
व्यास उवाच यस्मादनादृत्य कृतं त्वयास्मान् कर्म दारुणम् ब्राह्मणस्य सतश्चैव यस्मात् ते वृत्तमीदृशम्॥ तस्माद् यद् देवकीपुत्र उक्तवानुत्तमं वचः असंशयं ते तद् भावि क्षत्रधर्मस्त्वयाऽऽश्रितः॥
Vyasa said Since, obeying us, you have committed this highly cruel act, and since your conduct is such, although you are a good Brahmana by birth, therefore, those excellent words that Devaki's son had said, will, forsooth, be fulfilled regarding you, because you are living the life of a Kshatriya.'
अश्वत्थामोवाच सहैव भवता ब्रह्मन् स्थास्यामि पुरुषेष्विह। सत्यवागस्तु भगवानयं च पुरुषोत्तमः॥
Ashvatthaman said was With yourself among all men, O Rishi, I shall reside. Let the words of this illustrious and foremost of men prove true.'
वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रदायाथ मणिं द्रौणिः पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। जगाम विमनास्तेषां सर्वेषां पश्यतां वनम्॥
Having made over his gem to the great Pandavas, Drona's son cheerlessly proceeded, in their presence, to the forest.
पाण्डवाश्चापि गोविन्दं पुरस्कृत्य हतद्विषः। कृष्णद्वैपायनं चैव नारदं च महामुनिम्॥ द्रोणपुत्रस्य सहजं मणिमादाय सत्वराः। द्रौपदीमभ्यधावन्त प्रायोपेतां मनस्विनीम्॥
The Pandavas, who had killed all their foes, put Govinda and the Krishna-Dvaipayana and the great ascetic Narada at their head, and taking the gem that born with Ashvatthaman, quickly returned to the intelligent Draupadi who was observing the Praya vow."
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततस्ते पुरुषव्याघ्राः सदश्वरनिलोपमैः। अभ्ययुः सहदाशार्हाः शिविरं पुनरेव हि॥
Vaishampayana said “Those foremost of men, borne by their excellent horses, quick-coursing like the wind, came back with Dasharha hero, to their encampment.
अवतीर्य रथेभ्यस्तु त्वरमाणा महारथाः। ददृशुद्रौपदी कृष्णामार्तामार्ततराः स्वयम्॥
Quickly getting down from their cars, those great car-warriors, themselves much more afflicted, saw Draupada's daughter Krishna stricken with misery.
तामुपेत्य निरानन्दा दुःखशोकसमन्विताम्। परिवार्य व्यतिष्ठन्त पाण्डवाः सहकेशवाः॥
Approaching the cheerless princess laden with sorrow and grief, the Pandavas with Keshava, sat round her.
ततो राज्ञाभ्यनुज्ञातो भीमसेनो महाबलः। प्रददौ तं मणि दिव्यं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ अयं भद्रे तव मणिः पुत्रहन्तुर्जितः स ते। उत्तिष्ठ शोकमुत्सृज्य क्षात्रधर्ममनुस्मर॥
Then the powerful Bhimasena, desired by the king, gave that celestial gem to her and said these words: 'This gem, O amiable lady, is yours. The slayer of your sons had been defeated. Rise, shake off your sorrow, and recollect the duties of a Kshatriya lady.
प्रयाणे वासुदेवस्य शमार्थमसितेक्षणे। यान्युक्तानि त्वया भीरु वाक्यानि मधुघातिनि॥
O you of black eyes, when Vasudeva was about to start (from Upaplavya.) on his mission of pace, you had said these words to the slayer of Madhu.
नैव मे पतयः सन्ति न पुत्रा भ्रातरो न च। न वै त्वमिति गोविन्द शममिच्छन्ति राजनि॥
I have no husbands. I have no sons, nor brothers. Nor are you alive, O Govinda, since the king seeks peace.
उक्तवत्यसि तीव्राणि वाक्यानि पुरुषोत्तमम्। क्षत्रधर्मानुरूपाणि तानि संस्मर्तुमर्हसि॥
Those bitter words were addressed by you to Krishna, that foremost of persons. You should recollect these words that were so consistent with Kshatriya usages.
हतो दुर्योधन: पापो राज्यस्य परिपन्थिकः। दुःशासनस्य रुधिरं पीतं विस्फुरतो मया॥
The wretched Duryodhana, that thorn in the way of our sovereignty, has been killed. I have quaffed the blood of the living Dusshasana.
वैरस्य गतमानृण्यं न स्म वाच्या विवक्षताम्। जित्वा मुक्तो द्रोणपुत्रो ब्राह्मण्याद् गौरवेण च॥
We have satisfied the debt we owed to our enemy! People, will not able to blame us any longer! Having defeated Drona's son, we have released him for his being a Brahmana and for the respect that should be shown to our deceased preceptor.
यशोऽस्य पतितं देवि शरीरं त्ववशेषितम्। वियोजितश्च मणिना भ्रंशितश्चायुधं भुवि॥
His faine has been spoiled, O goddess, only his body remains! He has been divested of his gem and on earth he has been deprived of his gem and on Earth he has been deprived of his weapons.
द्रौपद्युवाच केवलानृण्यमाप्तास्मि गुरुपुत्रो गुरुर्मम। शिरस्येतं मणिं राजा प्रतिबध्नातु भारत॥
Draupadi said I desired only to satisfy our debt for the injury we have suffered. The preceptor's son deserves my respect as the preceptor himself.
तं गृहीत्वा ततो राजा शिरस्येवाकरोत् तदा। गुरोरुच्छिष्टमित्येव द्रौपद्या वचनादपि॥
Let the king put this gem on his head, O Bharata!'-The king then, taking that gem, placed it on his head, as desired by Draupadi and taking it as a gift from the preceptor.
ततो दिव्यं मणिवरं शिरसा धारयन् प्रभुः। शुशुभे स तदा राजा सचन्द्र इव पर्वतः॥
Holding on his head that excellent and celestial gem, the powerful king shone like a mountain with the moon above it.
उत्तस्थौ पुत्रशोकार्ता ततः कृष्णा मनस्विनी। कृष्णं चापि महाबाहुः परिपप्रच्छ धर्मराट्॥
Though laden with grief for the death of her sons, the princess Draupadi, possessed of great mental strength, gave up her vow. Then king Yudhishthira enquired of the powerful Krishna, saying the following words.