3-1-001
जनमेजय उवाच
एवं द्यूतजिताः पार्थाः कोपिताश्च दुरात्मभिः
धार्तराष्ट्रैः सहामात्यैर्निकृत्या द्विजसत्तम
Janamejaya asked, "O supreme among brāhmana-s! When the Pārtha-s were defeated at the gambling match through deceit by the evil-hearted sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and their advisers and were angered,
3-1-002
श्राविताः परुषा वाचः सृजद्भिर्वैरमुत्तमम्
किमकुर्वन्त कौरव्या मम पूर्वपितामहाः
and also heard the harsh words uttered by those who created the enmity, what did the Kauravya-s, my ancestors and supreme among men, do?
3-1-003
कथं चैश्वर्यविभ्रष्टाः सहसा दुःखमेयुषः
वने विजह्रिरे पार्थाः शक्रप्रतिमतेजसः
Equal to Śākra in their energy, but having been suddenly dislodged from their riches and confronted with great misery, how did the Pārtha-s spend their time in the forest?
3-1-004
के चैनानन्ववर्तन्त प्राप्तान्व्यसनमुत्तमम्
किमाहाराः किमाचाराः क्व च वासो महात्मनाम्
Who followed those who had attained that great misfortune? What did they eat? How did they conduct themselves? Where did those great-souled ones dwell?
3-1-005
कथं द्वादश वर्षाणि वने तेषां महात्मनाम्
व्यतीयुर्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ शूराणामरिघातिनाम्
O best among brāhmana-s! How did twelve years paś-s in the forest for those great-souled ones who were the destroyers of enemies?
3-1-006
कथं च राजपुत्री सा प्रवरा सर्वयोषिताम्
पतिव्रता महाभागा सततं सत्यवादिनी
वनवासमदुःखार्हा दारुणं प्रत्यपद्यत
How did the princess, supreme among women, immensely fortunate and always devoted to her husbands, one who always spoke the truth, endure the terrible misery of living in the forest, though she did not deserve it?
3-1-007
एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं विस्तरेण तपोधन
श्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं भूरिद्रविणतेजसाम्
कथ्यमानं त्वया विप्र परं कौतूहलं हि मे
O one blessed with the power of austerities! I wish to hear about the characters of those greatly radiant and energetic ones. O brāhmaṇa! Tell me, because my curiosity is great."
3-1-008
वैशंपायन उवाच
एवं द्यूतजिताः पार्थाः कोपिताश्च दुरात्मभिः
धार्तराष्ट्रैः सहामात्यैर्निर्ययुर्गजसाह्वयात्
Vaiśampāyana said: Having been defeated at the gamble with dice by the evil-hearted sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and their advisers, the Pāṇḍava-s were angered and left Gajasahrya.
3-1-009
वर्धमानपुरद्वारेणाभिनिष्क्रम्य ते तदा
उदङ्मुखाः शस्त्रभृतः प्रययुः सह कृष्णया
They emerged through the gate of the city known as Vardhamāna. With Kṛṣṇā and with all their weapons, they headed towards the north.
3-1-010
इन्द्रसेनादयश्चैनान्भृत्याः परिचतुर्दश
रथैरनुययुः शीघ्रैः स्त्रिय आदाय सर्वशः
Indrasenā and the other servants, fourteen in number, followed them in swift chariots, accompanied by their wives.
3-1-011
व्रजतस्तान्विदित्वा तु पौराः शोकाभिपीडिताः
गर्हयन्तोऽसकृद्भीष्मविदुरद्रोणगौतमान्
ऊचुर्विगतसंत्रासाः समागम्य परस्परम्
On learning that they were leaving, the citizens were overwhelmed with great grief. They assembled together, and speaking to each other, fearlessly censured Bhīṣma, Vidūra, Droṇa and Gautama repeatedly.
3-1-012
नेदमस्ति कुलं सर्वं न वयं न च नो गृहाः
यत्र दुर्योधनः पापः सौबलेयेन पालितः
कर्णदुःशासनाभ्यां च राज्यमेतच्चिकीर्षति
"Everything in this lineage is insecure. We are not secure. Our houses are not secure, when the evil Duryodhana, aided by Saubala, Karṇa and Duḥśāsana, are covetous of the kingdom.
3-1-013
नो चेत्कुलं न चाचारो न धर्मोऽर्थः कुतः सुखम्
यत्र पापसहायोऽयं पापो राज्यं बुभूषते
When there is no lineage, there is no good conduct and no dharma, how can there be happiness?
3-1-014
दुर्योधनो गुरुद्वेषी त्यक्ताचारसुहृज्जनः
अर्थलुब्धोऽभिमानी च नीचः प्रकृतिनिर्घृणः
Duryodhana hates his superiors. He has abandoned good conduct and his well-wishers. He is avaricious of riches and insolent. He is mean and his character is reprehensible.
3-1-015
नेयमस्ति मही कृत्स्ना यत्र दुर्योधनो नृपः
साधु गच्छामहे सर्वे यत्र गच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः
Where Duryodhana is king, the earth cannot remain healthy. Let us all go where the virtuous Pāṇḍava-s are going.
3-1-016
सानुक्रोशा महात्मानो विजितेन्द्रियशत्रवः
ह्रीमन्तः कीर्तिमन्तश्च धर्माचारपरायणाः
They are great-souled and not given to wrath. They have control over their senses and enemies. They are modest and the performers of deeds. Their conduct is in accordance with dharma."
3-1-017
एवमुक्त्वानुजग्मुस्तान्पाण्डवांस्ते समेत्य च
ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे तान्कुन्तीमाद्रिनन्दनान्
Having spoken these words, all together, they followed the Pāṇḍava-s. With hands joined in salutation, they spoke to the sons of Kuntī and the sons of Mādrī.
3-1-018
क्व गमिष्यथ भद्रं वस्त्यक्त्वास्मान्दुःखभागिनः
वयमप्यनुयास्यामो यत्र यूयं गमिष्यथ
"O fortunate ones! Where will you go, leaving us who share in your grief? We will follow you, wherever you are going.
3-1-019
अधर्मेण जिताञ्श्रुत्वा युष्मांस्त्यक्तघृणैः परैः
उद्विग्नाः स्म भृशं सर्वे नास्मान्हातुमिहार्हथ
We are greatly distressed at learning that you have been defeated by reprehensible enemies, in ways that are not in accordance with dharma. All of us are anxious.
3-1-020
भक्तानुरक्ताः सुहृदः सदा प्रियहिते रतान्
कुराजाधिष्ठिते राज्ये न विनश्येम सर्वशः
We have always been devoted to your happiness and well-being. We are devoted and attached to you. We have always been engaged in that which brings you pleasure. We do not wish to be completely destroyed by living in a kingdom that is ruled by a bad king.
3-1-021
श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामो गुणदोषान्नरर्षभाः
शुभाशुभाधिवासेन संसर्गं कुरुते यथा
O bulls among men! Listen. We will tell you about merits and demerits that result from associating with those who possess good qualities and evil ones.
3-1-022
वस्त्रमापस्तिलान्भूमिं गन्धो वासयते यथा
पुष्पाणामधिवासेन तथा संसर्गजा गुणाः
Garments, water, sesame seeds and the ground become fragrant through association with flowers. It is the same from association with good qualities.
3-1-023
मोहजालस्य योनिर्हि मूढैरेव समागमः
अहन्यहनि धर्मस्य योनिः साधुसमागमः
Association with foolish ones gives birth to a net of delusion. Regular association with the righteous gives birth to dharma.
3-1-024
तस्मात्प्राज्ञैश्च वृद्धैश्च सुस्वभावैस्तपस्विभिः
सद्भिश्च सह संसर्गः कार्यः शमपरायणैः
Therefore, those who desire equanimity should associate with the wise, the old, the good, the austere and the righteous.
3-1-025
येषां त्रीण्यवदातानि योनिर्विद्या च कर्म च
तान्सेवेत्तैः समास्या हि शास्त्रेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
One should serve those who are pure in three ways—learning, birth and deeds. They are superior to the sacred texts.
3-1-026
निरारम्भा ह्यपि वयं पुण्यशीलेषु साधुषु
पुण्यमेवाप्नुयामेह पापं पापोपसेवनात्
Without performing rites, we will obtain merit by associating with righteous and meritorious ones, just as one obtains demerit by serving evil ones.
3-1-027
असतां दर्शनात्स्पर्शात्संजल्पनसहासनात्
धर्माचाराः प्रहीयन्ते न च सिध्यन्ति मानवाः
The sight and touch of, and conversing and sitting with, evil ones, diminish those who follow dharma and make men unsuccessful.
3-1-028
बुद्धिश्च हीयते पुंसां नीचैः सह समागमात्
मध्यमैर्मध्यतां याति श्रेष्ठतां याति चोत्तमैः
Association with mean ones diminishes the intelligence of men. Association with those who are medium gives birth to mediocrity and association with the best makes one supreme.
3-1-029
ये गुणाः कीर्तिता लोके धर्मकामार्थसंभवाः
लोकाचारात्मसंभूता वेदोक्ताः शिष्टसंमताः
There are qualities that are talked about in the world as giving rise to dharma, kāmā and artha. These have been mentioned in the Veda-s and are sanctioned by the good and are the sources of conduct in the world.
3-1-030
ते युष्मासु समस्ताश्च व्यस्ताश्चैवेह सद्गुणाः
इच्छामो गुणवन्मध्ये वस्तुं श्रेयोऽभिकाङ्क्षिणः
These good qualities exist in you, separately and collectively. We wish to ensure our welfare and desire to live among those who possess these good qualities."
3-1-031
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
धन्या वयं यदस्माकं स्नेहकारुण्ययन्त्रिताः
असतोऽपि गुणानाहुर्ब्राह्मणप्रमुखाः प्रजाः
Yudhiṣṭhira replied: "We are fortunate that our subjects, with the brāhmana-s at the forefront, driven by affection and compassion, credit us with good qualities that we do not possess.
3-1-032
तदहं भ्रातृसहितः सर्वान्विज्ञापयामि वः
नान्यथा तद्धि कर्तव्यमस्मत्स्नेहानुकम्पया
With my brothers, I am requesting you. For the sake of that affection and compassion, do not act otherwise.
3-1-033
भीष्मः पितामहो राजा विदुरो जननी च मे
सुहृज्जनश्च प्रायो मे नगरे नागसाह्वये
Our grandfather Bhīṣma, the king, Vidūra, our mother and all our wellwishers are there in Nagasahrya.
3-1-034
ते त्वस्मद्धितकामार्थं पालनीयाः प्रयत्नतः
युष्माभिः सहितैः सर्वैः शोकसंतापविह्वलाः
If you wish to do something for our pleasure, all of you must unite to take care of them and protect them. They are beside themselves with sorrow and grief.
3-1-035
निवर्ततागता दूरं समागमनशापिताः
स्वजने न्यासभूते मे कार्या स्नेहान्विता मतिः
You have assembled from distant places. Please return now. It is certain that we will meet again. Let your minds be driven by affection for our kin, whom we leave in your care.
3-1-036
एतद्धि मम कार्याणां परमं हृदि संस्थितम्
सुकृतानेन मे तुष्टिः सत्कारश्च भविष्यति
Please perform this act, because that is the act that is placed supreme in my heart. If you do this, you will satisfy me and show me homage."
3-1-037
वैशंपायन उवाच
तथानुमन्त्रितास्तेन धर्मराजेन ताः प्रजाः
चक्रुरार्तस्वरं घोरं हा राजन्निति दुःखिताः
Vaiśampāyana said: Having been thus advised by Dharmarāja, the subjects raised a terrible sound of wailing. "Āla-s! O king!" They were miserable and extremely grief-stricken.
3-1-038
गुणान्पार्थस्य संस्मृत्य दुःखार्ताः परमातुराः
अकामाः संन्यवर्तन्त समागम्याथ पाण्डवान्
Remembering the good qualities of the Pārtha-s, though unwilling, they returned after meeting the Pāṇḍava-s.
3-1-039
निवृत्तेषु तु पौरेषु रथानास्थाय पाण्डवाः
प्रजग्मुर्जाह्नवीतीरे प्रमाणाख्यं महावटम्
When the citizens returned, the Pāṇḍava-s ascended their chariots and went to a large banyan tree named Pramāṇa, situated on the banks of the Jāhnavī.
3-1-040
तं ते दिवसशेषेण वटं गत्वा तु पाण्डवाः
ऊषुस्तां रजनीं वीराः संस्पृश्य सलिलं शुचि
उदकेनैव तां रात्रिमूषुस्ते दुःखकर्शिताः
The Pāṇḍava-s reached the banyan tree at the close of the day. The brave warriors touched the pure water and spent the night there. Stricken with grief, they spent the night there, subsisting only on water.
3-1-041
अनुजग्मुश्च तत्रैतान्स्नेहात्केचिद्द्विजातयः
साग्नयोऽनग्नयश्चैव सशिष्यगणबान्धवाः
स तैः परिवृतो राजा शुशुभे ब्रह्मवादिभिः
Some brāhmana-s had followed them out of the love they bore for them, with their disciples and relatives. Some maintained the fire, while others did not. Surrounded by those who knew the brāhman, the king was radiant.
3-1-042
तेषां प्रादुष्कृताग्नीनां मुहूर्ते रम्यदारुणे
ब्रह्मघोषपुरस्कारः संजल्पः समजायत
At the hour that is both beautiful and terrible, the fires were lit and after chanting the name of the brāhman, conversations continued.
3-1-043
राजानं तु कुरुश्रेष्ठं ते हंसमधुरस्वराः
आश्वासयन्तो विप्राग्र्याः क्षपां सर्वां व्यनोदयन्
In voices that were as soft as those of swans, the foremost among the brāhmana-s consoled the king, supreme among Kuru-s, and they spent the entire night.