12-1-001
वैशंपायन उवाच
कृतोदकास्ते सुहृदां सर्वेषां पाण्डुनन्दनाः
विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रश्च सर्वाश्च भरतस्त्रियः
Vaiśampāyana said: Having offered water to all the well-wishers, the descendants of the Pāṇḍu lineage, Vidūra, Dhṛtarāṣṭra and all the women of the Bhārata lineage, dwelt there.
12-1-002
तत्र ते सुमहात्मानो न्यवसन्कुरुनन्दनाः
शौचं निवर्तयिष्यन्तो मासमेकं बहिः पुरात्
The great-souled sons of the Kuru lineage wished to spend a month of mourning outside the city.
12-1-003
कृतोदकं तु राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्
अभिजग्मुर्महात्मानः सिद्धा ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमाः
When King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, with dharma in his soul, had performed the water-rites, the great-souled siddha-s, supreme brahmarṣi-s,
12-1-004
द्वैपायनो नारदश्च देवलश्च महानृषिः
देवस्थानश्च कण्वश्च तेषां शिष्याश्च सत्तमाः
Dvaipāyana, Nārada, the great riṣi Devala, Devsthana and Kaṇva, with their supreme disciples,
12-1-005
अन्ये च वेदविद्वांसः कृतप्रज्ञा द्विजातयः
गृहस्थाः स्नातकाः सर्वे ददृशुः कुरुसत्तमम्
and many other brāhmana-s who were accomplished in wisdom and learned in the Veda-s and all the snātaka-s in the householder stage, came to see the supreme among the Kuru lineage.
12-1-006
अभिगम्य महात्मानः पूजिताश्च यथाविधि
आसनेषु महार्हेषु विविशुस्ते महर्षयः
When they came, the great-souled one worshipped them, in accordance with the prescribed rites. The maharṣi-s seated themselves on extremely expensive seats.
12-1-007
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां तत्कालसदृशीं तदा
पर्युपासन्यथान्यायं परिवार्य युधिष्ठिरम्
They accepted the honours that were appropriate for the occasion. In due order, they seated themselves around Yudhiṣṭhira.
12-1-008
पुण्ये भागीरथीतीरे शोकव्याकुलचेतसम्
आश्वासयन्तो राजानं विप्राः शतसहस्रशः
The king was on the sacred banks of the Bhāgīrathī and his senses were overcome with grief. Hundreds and thousands of brāhmana-s consoled him.
12-1-009
नारदस्त्वब्रवीत्काले धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्
विचार्य मुनिभिः सार्धं तत्कालसदृशं वचः
At that time, Nārada consulted the sages and spoke words that were appropriate for the occasion to Yudhiṣṭhira, with dharma in his soul.
12-1-010
भवतो बाहुवीर्येण प्रसादान्माधवस्य च
जितेयमवनिः कृत्स्ना धर्मेण च युधिष्ठिर
"O Yudhiṣṭhira! Through the valour of your arms and the favours of Mādhava, you have resorted to dharma and have conquered the entire earth.
12-1-011
दिष्ट्या मुक्ताः स्थ संग्रामादस्माल्लोकभयंकरात्
क्षत्रधर्मरतश्चापि कच्चिन्मोदसि पाण्डव
It is through good fortune that you have escaped from this battle, which was fearful for the worlds. O Pāṇḍava! It is perhaps because you are devoted to the dharma of kṣatriya-s that you have not rejoiced.
12-1-012
कच्चिच्च निहतामित्रः प्रीणासि सुहृदो नृप
कच्चिच्छ्रियमिमां प्राप्य न त्वां शोकः प्रबाधते
O king! Once you have slain your enemies, will you not please your wellwishers? Having obtained this prosperity, I hope that grief is not standing in the way."
12-1-013
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
विजितेयं मही कृत्स्ना कृष्णबाहुबलाश्रयात्
ब्राह्मणानां प्रसादेन भीमार्जुनबलेन च
Yudhiṣṭhira replied, "Resorting to the strength of Kṛṣṇā's arms, the favours of the brāhmana-s and the strength of Bhīmā and Arjuna, I have conquered the entire earth.
12-1-014
इदं तु मे महद्दुःखं वर्तते हृदि नित्यदा
कृत्वा ज्ञातिक्षयमिमं महान्तं लोभकारितम्
But this great grief is always circulating in my heart. Because of my avarice, I have caused a great carnage of my relatives.
12-1-015
सौभद्रं द्रौपदेयांश्च घातयित्वा प्रियान्सुतान्
जयोऽयमजयाकारो भगवन्प्रतिभाति मे
I have caused the death of Subhadrā's son and Draupadī's beloved sons. O illustrious one! To me, this victory seems to be a defeat.
12-1-016
किं नु वक्ष्यति वार्ष्णेयी वधूर्मे मधुसूदनम्
द्वारकावासिनी कृष्णमितः प्रतिगतं हरिम्
What will my sister-in-law, Vārṣṇeyī, tell me? When Harī Madhusūdana returns, what will the residents of Dvārakā tell Kṛṣṇā?
12-1-017
द्रौपदी हतपुत्रेयं कृपणा हतबान्धवा
अस्मत्प्रियहिते युक्ता भूयः पीडयतीव माम्
With her sons slain and her relatives killed, Draupadī is distressed. She has always been engaged in our welfare. This is grieving me exceedingly.
12-1-018
इदमन्यच्च भगवन्यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि नारद
मन्त्रसंवरणेनास्मि कुन्त्या दुःखेन योजितः
O illustrious one! O Nārada! Let me tell you about something else. Kuntī kept this as a secret and this is also a reason for my sorrow.
12-1-019
योऽसौ नागायुतबलो लोकेऽप्रतिरथो रणे
सिंहखेलगतिर्धीमान्घृणी दान्तो यतव्रतः
He possessed the strength of ten thousand elephants and on this earth, was an atiratha in battle. His gait was like that of a sporting lion. He was wise and compassionate. He was generous and endeavoured about his vows.
12-1-020
आश्रयो धार्तराष्ट्राणां मानी तीक्ष्णपराक्रमः
अमर्षी नित्यसंरम्भी क्षेप्तास्माकं रणे रणे
He was the refuge of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He was proud and fierce in his valour. He was intolerant and always arrogant. From one encounter to another, he flung us away.
12-1-021
शीघ्रास्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च कृती चाद्भुतविक्रमः
गूढोत्पन्नः सुतः कुन्त्या भ्रातास्माकं च सोदरः
He was swift in the use of weapons and colourful in fighting. He was accomplished and extraordinary in his prowess. He was secretly born from Kuntī's womb. He was our brother, from the same womb.
12-1-022
तोयकर्मणि यं कुन्ती कथयामास सूर्यजम्
पुत्रं सर्वगुणोपेतमवकीर्णं जले पुरा
When the water-rites were performed, Kuntī said that he was the son of the sun god. He possessed all the qualities, and in earlier times, was cast into the water.
12-1-023
यं सूतपुत्रं लोकोऽयं राधेयं चाप्यमन्यत
स ज्येष्ठपुत्रः कुन्त्या वै भ्रातास्माकं च मातृजः
The world thought of him as Rādheya, the son of a sūta. But he was Kuntī's eldest son and our brother from the same mother.
12-1-024
अजानता मया संख्ये राज्यलुब्धेन घातितः
तन्मे दहति गात्राणि तूलराशिमिवानलः
Greedy for the kingdom, I have ignorantly caused him to be killed in the battle. This is consuming my limbs, like a mās-s of cotton in a fire.
12-1-025
न हि तं वेद पार्थोऽपि भ्रातरं श्वेतवाहनः
नाहं न भीमो न यमौ स त्वस्मान्वेद सुव्रतः
Pārtha, the one with the white horses, did not know that he was a brother. Nor did Bhīmā and the twins know this. However, the one who was excellent in his vows knew this.
12-1-026
गता किल पृथा तस्य सकाशमिति नः श्रुतम्
अस्माकं शमकामा वै त्वं च पुत्रो ममेत्यथ
We have heard that Pṛthā went to him earlier. She wished to ensure our welfare and told him, "You are my son."
12-1-027
पृथाया न कृतः कामस्तेन चापि महात्मना
अतिपश्चादिदं मातर्यवोचदिति नः श्रुतम्
But that great-souled one did not listen to Pṛthā's wishes. Muc later, we have heard that he spoke these words to his mother.
12-1-028
न हि शक्ष्याम्यहं त्यक्तुं नृपं दुर्योधनं रणे
अनार्यं च नृशंसं च कृतघ्नं च हि मे भवेत्
"I am incapable of abandoning King Duryodhana in the battle. If I do that, I will be ignoble, cruel and an ingrate.
12-1-029
युधिष्ठिरेण संधिं च यदि कुर्यां मते तव
भीतो रणे श्वेतवाहादिति मां मंस्यते जनः
If I act according to your wishes and conclude an alliance with Yudhiṣṭhira, people will say that I am frightened of the one with the white steeds in a battle.
12-1-030
सोऽहं निर्जित्य समरे विजयं सहकेशवम्
संधास्ये धर्मपुत्रेण पश्चादिति च सोऽब्रवीत्
Having defeated Vijayā and Keśava in the battle, I will then conclude an agreement of peace with Dharma's son."
12-1-031
तमवोचत्किल पृथा पुनः पृथुलवक्षसम्
चतुर्णामभयं देहि कामं युध्यस्व फल्गुनम्
This is what we heard. Pṛthā again spoke to the one with the broad chest. "Then fight with Phālguna, but grant me safety for my other four sons."
12-1-032
सोऽब्रवीन्मातरं धीमान्वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः
प्राप्तान्विषह्यांश्चतुरो न हनिष्यामि ते सुतान्
The intelligent one joined his hands in salutation and told his trembling mother, "Even if the other four sons come under my control, I will not kill them.
12-1-033
पञ्चैव हि सुता मातर्भविष्यन्ति हि ते ध्रुवम्
सकर्णा वा हते पार्थे सार्जुना वा हते मयि
O mother! Whether Pārtha is slain by Karṇa, or whether I am slain by Arjuna, it is certain that you will continue to have five sons."
12-1-034
तं पुत्रगृद्धिनी भूयो माता पुत्रमथाब्रवीत्
भ्रातॄणां स्वस्ति कुर्वीथा येषां स्वस्ति चिकीर्षसि
Out of great affection for her sons, the mother told the son, "As you desire their safety, ensure the safety of your brothers."
12-1-035
तमेवमुक्त्वा तु पृथा विसृज्योपययौ गृहान्
सोऽर्जुनेन हतो वीरो भ्राता भ्रात्रा सहोदरः
Having said this, Pṛthā took his leave and returned home. Our brave brother has been slain by Arjuna. A brother, by a brother.
12-1-036
न चैव विवृतो मन्त्रः पृथायास्तस्य वा मुने
अथ शूरो महेष्वासः पार्थेनासौ निपातितः
O sage. Neither Pṛthā, nor he, ever divulged the secret. The brave and great archer was brought down by Pārtha.
12-1-037
अहं त्वज्ञासिषं पश्चात्स्वसोदर्यं द्विजोत्तम
पूर्वजं भ्रातरं कर्णं पृथाया वचनात्प्रभो
O supreme among brāhmana-s! I only got to know later that he was our brother. O lord! Pṛthā told us that Karṇa was our eldest brother.
12-1-038
तेन मे दूयतेऽतीव हृदयं भ्रातृघातिनः
कर्णार्जुनसहायोऽहं जयेयमपि वासवम्
I have caused my brother to be slain and this is greatly paining my heart. Had Karṇa and Arjuna both been my aides, I would have been able to defeat even Vāsudeva.
12-1-039
सभायां क्लिश्यमानस्य धार्तराष्ट्रैर्दुरात्मभिः
सहसोत्पतितः क्रोधः कर्णं दृष्ट्वा प्रशाम्यति
When I was oppressed by the evil-souled sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the assembly hall, my anger was suddenly pacified on seeing Karṇa.
12-1-040
यदा ह्यस्य गिरो रूक्षाः शृणोमि कटुकोदयाः
सभायां गदतो द्यूते दुर्योधनहितैषिणः
This is despite the harsh and bitter words we heard from him in the assembly hall at the time of the gambling match, spoken for the sake of bringing Duryodhana pleasure.
12-1-041
तदा नश्यति मे क्रोधः पादौ तस्य निरीक्ष्य ह
कुन्त्या हि सदृशौ पादौ कर्णस्येति मतिर्मम
When I glanced at his feet, my wrath was destroyed. It seemed to me that Karṇa's feet were like those of Kuntī's.
12-1-042
सादृश्यहेतुमन्विच्छन्पृथायास्तव चैव ह
कारणं नाधिगच्छामि कथंचिदपि चिन्तयन्
I wished to determine the reason for this similarity between Pṛthā and him. But in spite of thinking about this, I did not understand.
12-1-043
कथं नु तस्य संग्रामे पृथिवी चक्रमग्रसत्
कथं च शप्तो भ्राता मे तत्त्वं वक्तुमिहार्हसि
During the battle, why did the earth swallow up the wheel of his chariot? Why was my brother cursed? You should tell me this.
12-1-044
श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवंस्त्वत्तः सर्वं यथातथम्
भवान्हि सर्वविद्विद्वाँल्लोके वेद कृताकृतम्
O illustrious one! I wish to hear everything, exactly as it happened. You know everything that is to be known in this world, that which has happened, and that which will occur."