The Kuru Realm Flourishes; Pandu Becomes King

Verse 1 (1.118.1)

धृतराष्ट्रे च पाण्डौ च विदुरे च महात्मनि । एषु त्रिषु कुमारेषु जातेषु कुरुजाङ्गलम् । कुरवोऽथ कुरुक्षेत्रं त्रयमेतदवर्धत ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭre ca pāṇḍau ca vidure ca mahātmani | eṣu triṣu kumāreṣu jāteṣu kurujāṅgalam | kuravo'tha kurukṣetraṃ trayametadavardhata

Vaishampayana said: When these three princes, Dhritarashtra, Pandu and the great-souled Vidura, were born, these three, Kurujangala, the Kurus and Kurukshetra, all prospered.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick, quote mark). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the other two = 1.102.1.

Verse 2 (1.118.2)

ऊर्ध्वसस्याऽभवद्भूमिः सस्यानि फलवन्ति च । यथर्तुवर्षी पर्जन्यो बहुपुष्पफला द्रुमाः ॥

ūrdhvasasyā'bhavadbhūmiḥ sasyāni phalavanti ca | yathartuvarṣī parjanyo bahupuṣpaphalā drumāḥ

The land bore tall, abundant crops, and the crops were full of grain; the rain-god sent rain in its season, and the trees were heavy with flowers and fruit.

Verse 3 (1.118.3)

वाहनानि प्रहृष्टानि मुदिता मृगपक्षिणः । गन्धवन्ति च माल्यानि रसवन्ति फलानि च ॥

vāhanāni prahṛṣṭāni muditā mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | gandhavanti ca mālyāni rasavanti phalāni ca

The draught animals were in good heart, the beasts and birds were glad, garlands were fragrant and fruits full of flavour.

Verse 4 (1.118.4)

वणिग्भिश्चान्वकीर्यन्त नगराण्यथ शिल्पिभिः । शूराश्च कृतविद्याश्च सन्तश्च सुखिनोऽभवन् ॥

vaṇigbhiścānvakīryanta nagarāṇyatha śilpibhiḥ | śūrāśca kṛtavidyāśca santaśca sukhino'bhavan

The cities were thronged with merchants and craftsmen; the brave, the learned and the good lived in happiness.

Verse 5 (1.118.5)

नाभवन्दस्यवः केचिन्नाधर्मरुचयो जनाः । प्रदेशेष्वपि राष्ट्राणां कृतं युगमवर्तत ॥

nābhavandasyavaḥ kecinnādharmarucayo janāḥ | pradeśeṣvapi rāṣṭrāṇāṃ kṛtaṃ yugamavartata

There were no robbers, nor any people who delighted in wrongdoing; even in the outlying districts of the realm the Krita age prevailed.

Verse 6 (1.118.6)

धर्मक्रिया यज्ञशीलाः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः । अन्योन्यप्रीतिसंयुक्ता व्यवर्धन्त प्रजास्तदा ॥

dharmakriyā yajñaśīlāḥ satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ | anyonyaprītisaṃyuktā vyavardhanta prajāstadā

The people, given to righteous rites and to sacrifice, intent on truth and on their vows, and bound together by mutual affection, flourished in those days.

Verse 7 (1.118.7)

मानक्रोधविहीनाश्च नरा लोभविवर्जिताः । अन्योन्यमभ्यनन्दन्त धर्मोत्तरमवर्तत ॥

mānakrodhavihīnāśca narā lobhavivarjitāḥ | anyonyamabhyanandanta dharmottaramavartata

The men were free of pride and anger and without greed; they rejoiced in one another, and dharma held the foremost place.

Verse 8 (1.118.8)

तन्महोदधिवत्पूर्णं नगरं वै व्यरोचत । द्वारतोरणनिर्यूहैर्युक्तमभ्रचयोपमैः ॥

tanmahodadhivatpūrṇaṃ nagaraṃ vai vyarocata | dvāratoraṇaniryūhairyuktamabhracayopamaiḥ

The city, full as the great ocean, shone with gates, arches and turrets like massed clouds,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment found no match; = 1.102.8ab of the critical edition.

Verse 9 (1.118.9)

प्रासादशतसंबाधं महेन्द्रपुरसन्निभम् । नदीषु वनखण्डेषु वापीपल्वलसानुषु । काननेषु च रम्येषु विजह्रुर्मुदिता जनाः ॥

prāsādaśatasaṃbādhaṃ mahendrapurasannibham | nadīṣu vanakhaṇḍeṣu vāpīpalvalasānuṣu | kānaneṣu ca ramyeṣu vijahrurmuditā janāḥ

crowded with hundreds of palaces, like the city of great Indra. In the rivers and woodlands, by the step-wells, ponds and hillsides, and in delightful forests, the people sported joyfully.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रसादशतसंबाधं → प्रासादशतसंबाधं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ा of prāsāda, "palace", as in the critical edition). The automatic alignment found no match; lines = 1.102.8c and 1.102.9 of the critical edition.

Verse 10 (1.118.10)

उत्तरैः कुरुभिः सार्धं दक्षिणाः कुरवस्तथा । विस्पर्धमाना व्यचरंस्तथा देवर्षिचारणैः ॥

uttaraiḥ kurubhiḥ sārdhaṃ dakṣiṇāḥ kuravastathā | vispardhamānā vyacaraṃstathā devarṣicāraṇaiḥ

The southern Kurus roamed about vying with the northern Kurus, and likewise with the divine seers and the Charanas.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment found no match; a variant of 1.102.10ab of the critical edition.

Verse 11 (1.118.11)

नाभवत्कृपणः कश्चिन्नाभवन्विधवाः स्त्रियः । तस्मिञ्जनपदे रम्ये कुरुभिर्बहुलीकृते ॥

nābhavatkṛpaṇaḥ kaścinnābhavanvidhavāḥ striyaḥ | tasmiñjanapade ramye kurubhirbahulīkṛte

No one was wretched and no women were widows in that delightful country, made prosperous by the Kurus.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment found no match; lines = 1.102.10c and a variant of 1.102.11a of the critical edition.

Verse 12 (1.118.12)

कूपारामसभावाप्यो ब्राह्मणावसथास्तथा । बभूवुः सर्वर्द्धियुतास्तस्मिन्राष्ट्रे सदोत्सवाः ॥

kūpārāmasabhāvāpyo brāhmaṇāvasathāstathā | babhūvuḥ sarvarddhiyutāstasminrāṣṭre sadotsavāḥ

Wells, gardens, assembly halls, step-wells and lodgings for brahmins were rich in every kind of wealth in that kingdom, where festivals were always being held.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment found no match; the first line = 1.102.11c of the critical edition; the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (1.118.13)

भीष्मेण धर्मतो राजन्सर्वतः परिरक्षिते । बभूव रमणीयश्च चैत्ययूपशताङ्कितः ॥

bhīṣmeṇa dharmato rājansarvataḥ parirakṣite | babhūva ramaṇīyaśca caityayūpaśatāṅkitaḥ

Guarded on every side by Bhishma in accordance with dharma, O king, it became a lovely land, marked with hundreds of shrines and sacrificial posts.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment found no match; lines = a variant of 1.102.11e and 1.102.12a of the critical edition.

Verse 14 (1.118.14)

स देशः परराष्ट्राणि विमृज्याभिप्रवर्धितः । भीष्मेण विहितं राष्ट्रे धर्मचक्रमवर्तत ॥

sa deśaḥ pararāṣṭrāṇi vimṛjyābhipravardhitaḥ | bhīṣmeṇa vihitaṃ rāṣṭre dharmacakramavartata

That country grew greater, sweeping aside other kingdoms, and in the realm the wheel of dharma set in motion by Bhishma kept turning.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment found no match; a variant of 1.102.12ce of the critical edition.

Verse 15 (1.118.15)

क्रियमाणेषु कृत्येषु कुमाराणां महात्मनाम् । पौरजानपदाः सर्वे बभूवुः परमोत्सुकाः ॥

kriyamāṇeṣu kṛtyeṣu kumārāṇāṃ mahātmanām | paurajānapadāḥ sarve babhūvuḥ paramotsukāḥ

As the rites for the great-souled princes were performed, all the townsfolk and country people were filled with eager joy.

Verse 16 (1.118.16)

गृहेषु कुरुमुख्यानां पौराणां च नराधिप । दीयतां भुज्यतां चेति वाचोऽश्रूयन्त सर्वशः ॥

gṛheṣu kurumukhyānāṃ paurāṇāṃ ca narādhipa | dīyatāṃ bhujyatāṃ ceti vāco'śrūyanta sarvaśaḥ

In the houses of the Kuru chiefs and of the citizens, O lord of men, the cry "Give! Eat!" was heard on every side.

Verse 17 (1.118.17)

धृतराष्ट्रश्च पाण्डुश्च विदुरश्च महामतिः । जन्मप्रभृति भीष्मेण पुत्रवत्परिपालिताः ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭraśca pāṇḍuśca viduraśca mahāmatiḥ | janmaprabhṛti bhīṣmeṇa putravatparipālitāḥ

Dhritarashtra, Pandu and the wise Vidura were cared for by Bhishma like his own sons from their birth.

Verse 18 (1.118.18)

संस्कारैः संस्कृतास्ते तु व्रताध्ययनसंयुताः । श्रमव्यायामकुशलाः समपद्यन्त यौवनम् ॥

saṃskāraiḥ saṃskṛtāste tu vratādhyayanasaṃyutāḥ | śramavyāyāmakuśalāḥ samapadyanta yauvanam

Purified by the sacraments, given to vows and study, and skilled both in learning and in bodily exercise, they reached their youth.

Verse 19 (1.118.19)

धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च गदायुद्धेऽसिचर्मणि । तथैव गजशिक्षायां नीतिशास्त्रेषु पारगाः ॥

dhanurvede ca vede ca gadāyuddhe'sicarmaṇi | tathaiva gajaśikṣāyāṃ nītiśāstreṣu pāragāḥ

They became masters of archery and of the Veda, of fighting with the mace and with sword and shield, of the training of elephants, and of the science of statecraft.

Verse 20 (1.118.20)

इतिहासपुराणेषु नानाशिक्षासु बोधिताः । वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञाः सर्वत्र कृतनिश्चयाः ॥

itihāsapurāṇeṣu nānāśikṣāsu bodhitāḥ | vedavedāṅgatattvajñāḥ sarvatra kṛtaniścayāḥ

They were schooled in the histories and the Puranas and in many disciplines; they knew the essence of the Vedas and the Vedangas and were of settled judgement in every matter.

Verse 21 (1.118.21)

वैदिकाध्ययने युक्तो नीतिशास्त्रेषु पारगः । भीष्मेण राजा कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिषेचितः ॥

vaidikādhyayane yukto nītiśāstreṣu pāragaḥ | bhīṣmeṇa rājā kauravyo dhṛtarāṣṭro'bhiṣecitaḥ

Bhishma consecrated as king Dhritarashtra of the Kuru line, who was devoted to Vedic study and had mastered the science of statecraft.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 22 (1.118.22)

धनुर्वेदेऽश्वपृष्ठे च गदायुद्धेऽसिचर्मणि । तथैव गजशिक्षायामस्त्रेषु विविधेषु च ॥

dhanurvede'śvapṛṣṭhe ca gadāyuddhe'sicarmaṇi | tathaiva gajaśikṣāyāmastreṣu vividheṣu ca

In archery, in horsemanship, in fighting with the mace and with sword and shield, likewise in the training of elephants and in weapons of many kinds,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 23 (1.118.23)

अर्थधर्मप्रधानासु विद्यासु विविधासु च । गतः पारं यदा पाण्डुस्तदा सेनापतिः कृतः ॥

arthadharmapradhānāsu vidyāsu vividhāsu ca | gataḥ pāraṃ yadā pāṇḍustadā senāpatiḥ kṛtaḥ

and in the many branches of learning chiefly concerned with wealth and dharma: when Pandu had mastered them all, he was made commander of the army.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (quote mark, doubled danda). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 24 (1.118.24)

पाण्डुर्धनुषि विक्रान्तो नरेष्वभ्यधिकोऽभवत् । अन्येभ्यो बलवानासीद्धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः ॥

pāṇḍurdhanuṣi vikrānto nareṣvabhyadhiko'bhavat | anyebhyo balavānāsīddhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ

Pandu was valiant with the bow and surpassed other men; King Dhritarashtra was stronger than all others.

Note on the text: Corrected अभ्यदिको → अभ्यधिको (misprint in Wikisource; द for ध, as in the critical edition's 'bhyadhiko).

Verse 25 (1.118.25)

अमात्यो मनुजेन्द्रस्य बाल एव यशस्विनः । भीष्मेण सर्वधर्माणां प्रणेता विदुरः कृतः ॥

amātyo manujendrasya bāla eva yaśasvinaḥ | bhīṣmeṇa sarvadharmāṇāṃ praṇetā viduraḥ kṛtaḥ

While still a boy, the illustrious Vidura was made by Bhishma the king's minister and the guide in all matters of dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 26 (1.118.26)

सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञो बुद्धिमेधापटुर्युवा । भावेनागमयुक्तेन सर्वं वेदयते जगत् ॥

sarvaśāstrārthatattvajño buddhimedhāpaṭuryuvā | bhāvenāgamayuktena sarvaṃ vedayate jagat

Young as he was, he knew the essence and meaning of all the shastras and was keen of understanding and of memory; with insight grounded in scripture he made the whole world understand.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick, quote mark, doubled danda). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 27 (1.118.27)

त्रिषु लोकेषु न त्वासीत्कश्चिद्विदुरसंमितः । धर्मनित्यस्तथा राजन्धर्मं च परमं गतः ॥

triṣu lokeṣu na tvāsītkaścidvidurasaṃmitaḥ | dharmanityastathā rājandharmaṃ ca paramaṃ gataḥ

In the three worlds there was no one equal to Vidura; he was ever devoted to dharma, O king, and had attained the highest dharma.

Verse 28 (1.118.28)

प्रनष्टं शान्तनोर्वंशं समीक्ष्य पुनरुद्धृतम् । ततो निर्वचनं लोके सर्वराष्ट्रेष्ववर्तत ॥

pranaṣṭaṃ śāntanorvaṃśaṃ samīkṣya punaruddhṛtam | tato nirvacanaṃ loke sarvarāṣṭreṣvavartata

Seeing Shantanu's line, which had been lost, restored once more, people in every kingdom of the world took up a saying:

Verse 29 (1.118.29)

वीरसूनां काशिसुते देशानां कुरुजाङ्गलम् । सर्वधर्मविदां भीष्मः पुराणां गजसाह्वयम् ॥

vīrasūnāṃ kāśisute deśānāṃ kurujāṅgalam | sarvadharmavidāṃ bhīṣmaḥ purāṇāṃ gajasāhvayam

"Of mothers of heroes, the daughters of Kashi are first; of countries, Kurujangala; of all who know dharma, Bhishma; of cities, the City of the Elephant."

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वध्रमविदां → सर्वधर्मविदां (misprint in Wikisource; transposed र, as in the critical edition's sarvadharmavidāṃ).

Verse 30 (1.118.30)

धृतराष्ट्रस्त्वचक्षुष्ट्वाद्राज्यं न प्रत्यपद्यत । पारसवत्वाद्विदुरो राजा पाण्डुर्बभूव ह ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭrastvacakṣuṣṭvādrājyaṃ na pratyapadyata | pārasavatvādviduro rājā pāṇḍurbabhūva ha

Because he was blind, Dhritarashtra did not receive the kingdom, nor did Vidura, being the son of a shudra mother; so Pandu became king.

Note on the text: Corrected रज्यं → राज्यं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ा, as in the critical edition's rājyaṃ). The automatic alignment found no match; a variant of 1.102.23 of the critical edition (second line differs).

Verse 31 (1.118.31)

अथ शुश्राव विप्रेभ्यः कुन्तिभोजमहीपतेः । रूपयौवनसंपन्नां सुतां सागरगासुतः ॥

atha śuśrāva viprebhyaḥ kuntibhojamahīpateḥ | rūpayauvanasaṃpannāṃ sutāṃ sāgaragāsutaḥ

Then Bhishma, son of the sea-bound river, heard from brahmins of the daughter of King Kuntibhoja, endowed with beauty and youth,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 32 (1.118.32)

सुबलस्य च कल्याणीं गान्धाराधिपतेः सुताम् । सुतां च मद्रराजस्य रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि ॥

subalasya ca kalyāṇīṃ gāndhārādhipateḥ sutām | sutāṃ ca madrarājasya rūpeṇāpratimāṃ bhuvi

of the fair daughter of Subala, lord of Gandhara, and of the daughter of the king of Madra, unequalled on earth in beauty.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (quote mark, doubled danda). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 33 (1.118.33)

कदाचिदथ गाङ्गेयः सर्वनीतिमतां वरः । विदुरं धर्मतत्त्वज्ञं वाक्यमाह यथोचितम् ॥

kadācidatha gāṅgeyaḥ sarvanītimatāṃ varaḥ | viduraṃ dharmatattvajñaṃ vākyamāha yathocitam

Then one day the son of Ganga, best of all who know statecraft, spoke fitting words to Vidura, who knew the essence of dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).