Shvetaketu's Law and Kunti's Mantra

Verse 1 (1.128.1)

एवमुक्तस्तया राजा तां देवीं पुनरब्रवीत् । धर्मविद्धर्मसंयुक्तमिदं वचनमुत्तमम् ॥

evamuktastayā rājā tāṃ devīṃ punarabravīt | dharmaviddharmasaṃyuktamidaṃ vacanamuttamam

Addressed thus by her, the king, who knew dharma, spoke again to the queen these excellent words, filled with dharma.

Verse 2 (1.128.2)

एवमेतत्पुरा कुन्ति व्युषिताश्वश्चकार ह । यथा त्वयोक्तं कल्याणि स ह्यासीदमरोपमः ॥

evametatpurā kunti vyuṣitāśvaścakāra ha | yathā tvayoktaṃ kalyāṇi sa hyāsīdamaropamaḥ

"It is just so, Kunti. Long ago Vyushitashva did as you have told it, O fair one; for he was like an immortal."

Verse 3 (1.128.3)

अथ त्विदं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मतत्त्वं निबोध मे । पुराणमृषिभिर्दृष्टं धर्मविद्भिर्महात्मभिः ॥

atha tvidaṃ pravakṣyāmi dharmatattvaṃ nibodha me | purāṇamṛṣibhirdṛṣṭaṃ dharmavidbhirmahātmabhiḥ

"But now I shall tell you the essence of dharma; learn it from me. It is an ancient dharma, seen by the seers, great souls who knew dharma."

Verse 4 (1.128.4)

अनावृताः किल पुरा स्त्रिय आसन्वरानने । कामचारविहारिण्यः स्वतन्त्राश्चारुहासिनि ॥

anāvṛtāḥ kila purā striya āsanvarānane | kāmacāravihāriṇyaḥ svatantrāścāruhāsini

"In former times, it is said, O lovely-faced one, women were not kept confined. They went about as they pleased and took their pleasure at will; they were their own mistresses, O sweetly smiling one."

Verse 5 (1.128.5)

तासां व्युच्चरमाणानां कौमारात्सुभगे पतीन् । नाधर्मोऽभूद्वरारोहे स हि धर्मः पुराऽभवत् ॥

tāsāṃ vyuccaramāṇānāṃ kaumārātsubhage patīn | nādharmo'bhūdvarārohe sa hi dharmaḥ purā'bhavat

"Though from girlhood they strayed from their husbands, O fortunate one, it was no sin, O lovely-hipped one; for in those days that was dharma."

Verse 6 (1.128.6)

तं चैव धर्मं पौराणं तिर्यग्योनिगताः प्रजाः । अद्याप्यनुविधीयन्ते कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः ॥

taṃ caiva dharmaṃ paurāṇaṃ tiryagyonigatāḥ prajāḥ | adyāpyanuvidhīyante kāmakrodhavivarjitāḥ

"Even today creatures born from the wombs of animals follow that ancient dharma, free of desire and anger."

Verse 7 (1.128.7)

प्रमाणदृष्टो धर्मोऽयं पूज्यते च महर्षिभिः । उत्तरेषु च रम्भोरु कुरुष्वद्यापि पूज्यते । स्त्रीणामनुग्रहकरः स हि धर्मः सनातनः ॥

pramāṇadṛṣṭo dharmo'yaṃ pūjyate ca maharṣibhiḥ | uttareṣu ca rambhoru kuruṣvadyāpi pūjyate | strīṇāmanugrahakaraḥ sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

"This dharma is attested by authority and honoured by the great seers, and among the Northern Kurus, O lovely-thighed one, it is honoured even now. It is a dharma that favours women, and it is eternal."

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to 1.113.6ef (a variant reading); lines 2–3 are 1.113.7.

Verse 8 (1.128.8)

नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः । नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः ॥

nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṃ nāpagānāṃ mahodadhiḥ | nāntakaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ na puṃsāṃ vāmalocanāḥ

"Fire is never sated with firewood, nor the ocean with rivers, nor Death with all living beings, nor fair-eyed women with men."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, insertion 1189* after 1.113.7. Removed stray wiki marks (` and ').

Verse 9 (1.128.9)

एवं तृष्णा तु नारीणां पुरुषं पुरुषं प्रति । अगम्यागमनं स्त्रीणां नास्ति नित्यं शुचिस्मिते ॥

evaṃ tṛṣṇā tu nārīṇāṃ puruṣaṃ puruṣaṃ prati | agamyāgamanaṃ strīṇāṃ nāsti nityaṃ śucismite

"So it is with the craving of women, turning from one man to the next. For women, O bright-smiling one, no union is ever forbidden."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, insertion 1189* after 1.113.7.

Verse 10 (1.128.10)

पुत्रं वा किल पौत्रं वा कासांचिद्धातरं तथा । रहसीह नरं दृष्ट्वा योनिरुत्क्लिद्यते तदा ॥

putraṃ vā kila pautraṃ vā kāsāṃciddhātaraṃ tathā | rahasīha naraṃ dṛṣṭvā yonirutklidyate tadā

"Some women, it is said, on seeing a man alone in private, whether a son, a grandson or even a brother, are at once roused to desire."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, insertion 1189* after 1.113.7.

Verse 11 (1.128.11)

एतत्स्वाभाविकं स्त्रीणां न निमित्तकृतं शुभे । अस्मिंस्तु लोके नचिरान्मर्यादेयं शुचिस्मिते ॥

etatsvābhāvikaṃ strīṇāṃ na nimittakṛtaṃ śubhe | asmiṃstu loke nacirānmaryādeyaṃ śucismite

"This is in women's nature, O gracious one, and not the work of any outside cause. But in this world, O bright-smiling one, a boundary was set not long ago."

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1189*); line 2 is 1.113.8ab. Removed stray wiki marks (` and ').

Verse 12 (1.128.12)

स्थापिता येन यस्माच्च तन्मे विस्तरतः शृणु । बभूवोद्दालको नाम महर्षिरिति नः श्रुतम् ॥

sthāpitā yena yasmācca tanme vistarataḥ śṛṇu | babhūvoddālako nāma maharṣiriti naḥ śrutam

"Hear from me in full who established it and why. There was, we have heard, a great seer named Uddalaka."

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.8cd; line 2 is 1.113.9ab.

Verse 13 (1.128.13)

श्वेतकेतुरिति ख्यातः पुत्रस्तस्याभवन्मुनिः । मर्यादेयं कृता तेन धर्म्या वै श्वेतकेतुना ॥

śvetaketuriti khyātaḥ putrastasyābhavanmuniḥ | maryādeyaṃ kṛtā tena dharmyā vai śvetaketunā

"He had a son, a sage known by the name Shvetaketu. It was Shvetaketu who made this righteous boundary,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.9cd; line 2 corresponds to 1.113.10ab with a different second half.

Verse 14 (1.128.14)

कोपात्कमलपत्राक्षि यदर्थं तन्निबोध मे ॥

kopātkamalapatrākṣi yadarthaṃ tannibodha me

"and he made it in anger, O lotus-eyed one. Learn from me the reason for it."

Note on the text: Single line as printed in Wikisource; it is 1.113.10cd.

Verse 15 (1.128.15)

श्वेतकेतोः पिता देवि तप उग्रं समास्थितः । ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशगोऽभवत् ॥

śvetaketoḥ pitā devi tapa ugraṃ samāsthitaḥ | grīṣme pañcatapā bhūtvā varṣāsvākāśago'bhavat

"Shvetaketu's father, O queen, had undertaken fierce austerities. In summer he practised the penance of the five fires, and in the rains he lived beneath the open sky;"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, insertion 64* after 1.113.10. Removed stray wiki marks (` and ').

Verse 16 (1.128.16)

शिशिरे सलिलस्थायी सह पत्न्या महातपाः । उद्दालकं तपस्यन्तं नियमेन समाहितम् ॥

śiśire salilasthāyī saha patnyā mahātapāḥ | uddālakaṃ tapasyantaṃ niyamena samāhitam

"in the cold season that great ascetic stood in water, together with his wife. While Uddalaka was practising austerities, self-collected and bound by his vows,"

Note on the text: Corrected शिशइरे → शिशिरे (misprint in Wikisource; broken vowel sign, CE apparatus śiśire). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 17 (1.128.17)

तस्य पुत्रः श्वेतकेतुः परिचर्यां चकार ह । अभ्यागच्छद्द्विजः कश्चिद्वलीपलितसंततः ॥

tasya putraḥ śvetaketuḥ paricaryāṃ cakāra ha | abhyāgacchaddvijaḥ kaścidvalīpalitasaṃtataḥ

"his son Shvetaketu waited upon him. Then there came a certain brahmin, covered with wrinkles and grey hair."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 18 (1.128.18)

तं दृष्ट्वैव मुनिः प्रीतः पूजयामास शास्त्रतः । स्वागतेन च पाद्येन मृदुवाक्यैश्च भारत ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvaiva muniḥ prītaḥ pūjayāmāsa śāstrataḥ | svāgatena ca pādyena mṛduvākyaiśca bhārata

"The sage was pleased the moment he saw him and honoured him as the scriptures direct, O Bharata, with words of welcome, water to wash his feet and gentle speech,"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 19 (1.128.19)

शाकमूलफलाद्यैश्च वन्यैरन्यैरपूजयत् । क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमेणार्तः पूजितश्च महर्षिणा ॥

śākamūlaphalādyaiśca vanyairanyairapūjayat | kṣutpipāsāśrameṇārtaḥ pūjitaśca maharṣiṇā

"and with greens, roots, fruits and other fare of the forest. Worn out with hunger, thirst and fatigue, the brahmin was honoured in this way by the great seer."

Note on the text: Corrected श्रमेंणार्तः → श्रमेणार्तः (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 20 (1.128.20)

विश्रान्तो मुनिमासाद्य पर्यपृच्छद्द्विजस्तदा । उद्दालक महर्षे त्वं सत्यं मे ब्रूहि माऽनृतम् ॥

viśrānto munimāsādya paryapṛcchaddvijastadā | uddālaka maharṣe tvaṃ satyaṃ me brūhi mā'nṛtam

"When he had rested, the brahmin came to the sage and asked him: 'Uddalaka, great seer, tell me the truth and not a falsehood.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 21 (1.128.21)

ऋषिपुत्रः कुमारोऽयं दर्शनीयो विशेषतः । तव पुत्रमिमं मन्ये कृतकृत्योऽसि तद्वद ॥

ṛṣiputraḥ kumāro'yaṃ darśanīyo viśeṣataḥ | tava putramimaṃ manye kṛtakṛtyo'si tadvada

"'This youth, a seer's son, is uncommonly handsome. I take him to be your son. Then you have done what life requires of you; tell me.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 22 (1.128.22)

मम पत्नी महाप्राज्ञ कुशिकस्य सुता मता । मामेवानुगता पत्नी मम नित्यमनुव्रता ॥

mama patnī mahāprājña kuśikasya sutā matā | māmevānugatā patnī mama nityamanuvratā

"My wife, O wise one, is known to be the daughter of Kushika. She alone has followed me as my wife and is ever devoted to me."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 23 (1.128.23)

अरुन्धतीव पत्नीनां तपसा कर्शितस्तनी । अस्यां जातः श्वेतकेतुर्मम पुत्रो महातपाः ॥

arundhatīva patnīnāṃ tapasā karśitastanī | asyāṃ jātaḥ śvetaketurmama putro mahātapāḥ

"She is like Arundhati among wives, her breasts wasted by austerity. Of her was born Shvetaketu, my son, a great ascetic."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 24 (1.128.24)

वेदवेदाङ्गविद्विप्र मच्छासनपरायणः । लोकज्ञः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः सत्यवाग्घृणी ॥

vedavedāṅgavidvipra macchāsanaparāyaṇaḥ | lokajñaḥ sarvalokeṣu viśrutaḥ satyavāgghṛṇī

"He knows the Vedas and the Vedangas, O brahmin, and is devoted to my commands. He knows the ways of the world, is renowned in all the worlds, truthful in speech and compassionate."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 25 (1.128.25)

अपुत्री भार्यया चार्थी वृद्धोऽहं मन्दचाक्षुषः । पित्र्यादृणादनिर्मुक्तः पूर्वमेवाकृतस्त्रियः ॥

aputrī bhāryayā cārthī vṛddho'haṃ mandacākṣuṣaḥ | pitryādṛṇādanirmuktaḥ pūrvamevākṛtastriyaḥ

"I have no son and I want a wife; I am old and my sight is dim. I am not freed from my debt to the ancestors, for I never took a wife before."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 26 (1.128.26)

प्रजारणिस्तु पत्नी ते कुलशीलसमन्विता । सदृशी मम गोत्रेण वहाम्येनां क्षमस्व मे ॥

prajāraṇistu patnī te kulaśīlasamanvitā | sadṛśī mama gotreṇa vahāmyenāṃ kṣamasva me

"Your wife is a kindling-stick for offspring, endowed with good family and good character, and suited to my lineage. I shall take her away with me; forgive me."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 27 (1.128.27)

इत्युक्त्वा मृगशावाक्षीं चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम् । यष्ट्याधारः स्रस्तगात्रो मन्दचक्षुरबुद्धिमान् ॥

ityuktvā mṛgaśāvākṣīṃ cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarām | yaṣṭyādhāraḥ srastagātro mandacakṣurabuddhimān

"So saying, the brahmin, propped on his staff, his limbs slack, dim of sight and devoid of sense, laid claim to the doe-eyed woman clad in bark and black antelope skin,"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 64*.

Verse 28 (1.128.28)

स्वव्यापाराक्षमां श्रेष्ठामचित्तामात्मनि द्विजः । श्वेतकेतोः किल पुरा समक्षं मातरं पितुः ॥

svavyāpārākṣamāṃ śreṣṭhāmacittāmātmani dvijaḥ | śvetaketoḥ kila purā samakṣaṃ mātaraṃ pituḥ

"that excellent woman, powerless to act for herself and unwilling at heart. Long ago, it is said, before the very eyes of Shvetaketu's father, a brahmin took Shvetaketu's mother"

Note on the text: Corrected श्रेष्ठम् → श्रेष्ठाम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ā-sign — the adjective must agree with the feminine object). Line 1 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 64*); line 2 is 1.113.11ab. Removed stray wiki marks (` and ').

Verse 29 (1.128.29)

जग्राह ब्राह्मणः पाणौ गच्छाव इति चाब्रवीत् । ऋषिपुत्रस्तदा कोपं चकारामर्षितस्तदा ॥

jagrāha brāhmaṇaḥ pāṇau gacchāva iti cābravīt | ṛṣiputrastadā kopaṃ cakārāmarṣitastadā

"by the hand and said, 'Let us go.' Then the seer's son grew angry and could not bear it,"

Note on the text: Corrected पापौ → पाणौ (misprint in Wikisource; CE pāṇau, "by the hand"). Line 1 is 1.113.11cd; line 2 is 1.113.12ab.

Verse 30 (1.128.30)

मातरं तां तथा दृष्ट्वा नीयमानां बलादिव । तपसा दीप्तवीर्यो हि श्वेतकेतुर्न चक्षमे ॥

mātaraṃ tāṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā nīyamānāṃ balādiva | tapasā dīptavīryo hi śvetaketurna cakṣame

"seeing his mother led away as if by force. Shvetaketu, blazing with the power of his austerities, would not endure it."

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.12cd; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 65*). Removed stray wiki marks (` and ').

Verse 31 (1.128.31)

संगृह्य मातरं हस्ते श्वेतकेतुरभाषत । दुर्ब्राह्मण विमुञ्च त्वं मातरं मे पतिव्रताम् ॥

saṃgṛhya mātaraṃ haste śvetaketurabhāṣata | durbrāhmaṇa vimuñca tvaṃ mātaraṃ me pativratām

"Holding his mother by the hand, Shvetaketu said: 'Wicked brahmin, let go of my mother; she is faithful to her husband.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65* after 1.113.12.

Verse 32 (1.128.32)

स्वयं पिता मे ब्रह्मर्षिः क्षमावान्ब्रह्मवित्तमः । शापानुग्रहयोः शक्तः तूष्णींभूतो महाव्रतः ॥

svayaṃ pitā me brahmarṣiḥ kṣamāvānbrahmavittamaḥ | śāpānugrahayoḥ śaktaḥ tūṣṇīṃbhūto mahāvrataḥ

"'My father himself is a brahmin seer, forbearing, foremost among the knowers of Brahman, able both to curse and to bless; yet that man of great vows sits silent.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65*.

Verse 33 (1.128.33)

तस्य पत्नी दमोपेता मम माता विशेषतः । पतिव्रतां तपोवृद्धां साध्वाचारैरलङ्कृताम् ॥

tasya patnī damopetā mama mātā viśeṣataḥ | pativratāṃ tapovṛddhāṃ sādhvācārairalaṅkṛtām

"'His wife, and my mother above all, is self-restrained, faithful to her husband, rich in austerity and adorned with virtuous conduct.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65*.

Verse 34 (1.128.34)

अप्रमादेन ते ब्रह्मन्मातृभूतां विमुञ्च वै ॥

apramādena te brahmanmātṛbhūtāṃ vimuñca vai

"'Take heed, O brahmin, and release her; she is as a mother to you.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65*. Single line as printed in Wikisource.

Verse 35 (1.128.35)

एवमुक्त्वा तु याचन्तं विमुञ्चेति मुहुर्मुहुः । प्रत्यवोचद्द्विजो राजन्नप्रगल्भमिदं वचः ॥

evamuktvā tu yācantaṃ vimuñceti muhurmuhuḥ | pratyavocaddvijo rājannapragalbhamidaṃ vacaḥ

"As Shvetaketu kept begging him, 'Let her go,' again and again, the brahmin, O king, gave him this mild reply."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65*.

Verse 36 (1.128.36)

अपत्यार्थी श्वेतकेतो वृद्धोऽहं मन्दचाक्षुषः । पिता ते ऋणनिर्मुक्तस्त्वया पुत्रेण काश्यप ॥

apatyārthī śvetaketo vṛddho'haṃ mandacākṣuṣaḥ | pitā te ṛṇanirmuktastvayā putreṇa kāśyapa

"'I want offspring, Shvetaketu; I am old and my sight is dim. Your father has been freed from his debt through you, his son, O Kashyapa.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65*.

Verse 37 (1.128.37)

ऋणादहमनिर्मुक्तो वृद्धोऽहं विगतस्पृहः । मम को दास्यति सुतां कन्यां संप्राप्तयौवनाम् ॥

ṛṇādahamanirmukto vṛddho'haṃ vigataspṛhaḥ | mama ko dāsyati sutāṃ kanyāṃ saṃprāptayauvanām

"'I am not freed from the debt; I am old and past desire. Who will give me his daughter, a maiden come of age?'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65*.

Verse 38 (1.128.38)

प्रजारणिमिमां पत्नीं विमुञ्च त्वं महातपः । एकया प्रजया प्रीतो मातरं ते ददाम्यहम् ॥

prajāraṇimimāṃ patnīṃ vimuñca tvaṃ mahātapaḥ | ekayā prajayā prīto mātaraṃ te dadāmyaham

"'Release this wife, a kindling-stick for offspring, O great ascetic. Content with a single child, I will give your mother back.'"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 65*.

Verse 39 (1.128.39)

एवमुक्तः श्वेतकेतुर्लज्जया क्रोधमेयिवान् । क्रुद्धं तं तु पिता दृष्ट्वा श्वेतकेतुमुवाच ह ॥

evamuktaḥ śvetaketurlajjayā krodhameyivān | kruddhaṃ taṃ tu pitā dṛṣṭvā śvetaketumuvāca ha

"At these words Shvetaketu, out of shame, was seized with anger. Seeing him enraged, his father said to Shvetaketu:"

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 65*); line 2 is 1.113.13ab. Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु: the brahmin's speech ends at verse 38 and Pandu resumes the story.

Verse 40 (1.128.40)

मा तात कोपं कार्षीस्त्वमेष धर्मः सनातनः । अनावृता हि सर्वेषां वर्णानामङ्गना भुवि ॥

mā tāta kopaṃ kārṣīstvameṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | anāvṛtā hi sarveṣāṃ varṇānāmaṅganā bhuvi

"'Do not be angry, my son; this is the eternal dharma. The women of all the varnas on earth are unconfined.'"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.13cd; line 2 is 1.113.14ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 41 (1.128.41)

यथा गावः स्थिताः पुत्र स्वेस्वे वर्णे तथा प्रजाः । तथैव च कुटुम्बेषु न प्रमाद्यन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥

yathā gāvaḥ sthitāḥ putra svesve varṇe tathā prajāḥ | tathaiva ca kuṭumbeṣu na pramādyanti karhicit

"'As cows behave, my son, so do people, each within their own varna. Yet within their households they were never careless:'"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.14cd; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1191*). Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 42 (1.128.42)

ऋतुकाले तु संप्राप्ते भर्तारं न जहुस्तदा । ऋषिपुत्रोऽथ तं धर्मं श्वेतकेतुर्न चक्षमे ॥

ṛtukāle tu saṃprāpte bhartāraṃ na jahustadā | ṛṣiputro'tha taṃ dharmaṃ śvetaketurna cakṣame

"'when their season came, they did not forsake their husbands.' But the seer's son Shvetaketu would not accept that dharma,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1191*); line 2 is 1.113.15ab. Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 43 (1.128.43)

चकार चैव मर्यादामिमां स्त्रीपुंसयोर्भुवि । मानुषेषु महाभागे न त्वेवान्येषु जन्तुषु ॥

cakāra caiva maryādāmimāṃ strīpuṃsayorbhuvi | mānuṣeṣu mahābhāge na tvevānyeṣu jantuṣu

"and he laid down this boundary between women and men on earth, among human beings, O blessed one, but not among other creatures."

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.15cd; line 2 is 1.113.16ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 44 (1.128.44)

तदाप्रभृति मर्यादा स्थितेयमिति नः श्रुतम् । व्युच्चरन्त्याः पतिं नार्या अद्यप्रभृति पातकम् ॥

tadāprabhṛti maryādā sthiteyamiti naḥ śrutam | vyuccarantyāḥ patiṃ nāryā adyaprabhṛti pātakam

"From that time on, we have heard, this boundary has stood: 'From this day, for a woman to stray from her husband shall be a sin,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.16cd; line 2 is 1.113.17ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 45 (1.128.45)

भ्रूणहत्यासमं घोरं भविष्यत्यसुखावहम् । अद्याप्यनुविधीयन्ते कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः ॥

bhrūṇahatyāsamaṃ ghoraṃ bhaviṣyatyasukhāvaham | adyāpyanuvidhīyante kāmakrodhavivarjitāḥ

"a dreadful sin equal to killing an unborn child, and it shall bring misery.' Animals, free of desire and anger, still follow the old way today,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.17cd; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1192*). Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 46 (1.128.46)

उत्तरेषु महाभागे कुरुष्वेवं यशस्विनि । पुराणदृष्टो धर्मोऽयं पूज्यते च महर्षिभिः ॥

uttareṣu mahābhāge kuruṣvevaṃ yaśasvini | purāṇadṛṣṭo dharmo'yaṃ pūjyate ca maharṣibhiḥ

"and so it is among the Northern Kurus, O blessed and glorious one. This dharma, seen in ancient times, is honoured by the great seers."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension): line 1 is in the CE apparatus (1192*), line 2 repeats 1.113.6ef. Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 47 (1.128.47)

भार्यां तथा व्युच्चरतः कौमारब्रह्मचारिणीम् । पतिव्रतामेतदेव भविता पातकं भुवि ॥

bhāryāṃ tathā vyuccarataḥ kaumārabrahmacāriṇīm | pativratāmetadeva bhavitā pātakaṃ bhuvi

"And a man who strays from a wife who has kept chaste from girlhood and is faithful to him shall incur this same sin on earth."

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 48 (1.128.48)

नियुक्ता पतिना भार्या यद्यपत्यस्य कारणात् । न कुर्यात्तत्तथा भीरु सैनः सुमहदाप्नुयात् । इति तेन पुरा भीरु मर्यादा स्थापिता बलात् ॥

niyuktā patinā bhāryā yadyapatyasya kāraṇāt | na kuryāttattathā bhīru sainaḥ sumahadāpnuyāt | iti tena purā bhīru maryādā sthāpitā balāt

"'A wife who is appointed by her husband for the sake of offspring and does not do as he asks, O timid one, incurs great guilt.' Thus, O timid one, was the boundary firmly established long ago"

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1193*, standing in place of 1.113.19); line 3 is 1.113.20ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 49 (1.128.49)

उद्दालकस्य पुत्रेण धर्म्या वै श्वेतकेतुना । सौदासेन च रम्भोरु नियुक्ता पुत्रजन्मनि ॥

uddālakasya putreṇa dharmyā vai śvetaketunā | saudāsena ca rambhoru niyuktā putrajanmani

"by Uddalaka's son, the righteous Shvetaketu. And, O lovely-thighed one, Madayanti, appointed by Saudasa to bear a son,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.20cd; line 2 is 1.113.21ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 50 (1.128.50)

मदयन्ती जगामर्षिं वसिष्ठमिति नः श्रुतम् । तस्माल्लेभे च सा पुत्रमश्मकं नाम भामिनी ॥

madayantī jagāmarṣiṃ vasiṣṭhamiti naḥ śrutam | tasmāllebhe ca sā putramaśmakaṃ nāma bhāminī

"went to the seer Vasishtha, so we have heard, and from him the lovely lady obtained a son named Ashmaka."

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.21cd; line 2 is 1.113.22ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 51 (1.128.51)

एवं कृतवती सापि भर्तुः प्रियचिकीर्षया । अस्माकमपि ते जन्म विदितं कमलेक्षणे ॥

evaṃ kṛtavatī sāpi bhartuḥ priyacikīrṣayā | asmākamapi te janma viditaṃ kamalekṣaṇe

"She too did this, wishing to please her husband. And you know, O lotus-eyed one, how we ourselves were born:"

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to 1.113.22cd (different wording); line 2 is 1.113.23ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 52 (1.128.52)

कृष्णद्वैपायनाद्भीरु कुरूणां वंशवृद्धये । अत एतानि सर्वाणि कारणानि समीक्ष्य वै ॥

kṛṣṇadvaipāyanādbhīru kurūṇāṃ vaṃśavṛddhaye | ata etāni sarvāṇi kāraṇāni samīkṣya vai

"from Krishna Dvaipayana, O timid one, for the increase of the Kuru line. Therefore, having weighed all these reasons,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.23cd; line 2 is 1.113.24ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 53 (1.128.53)

ममैतद्वचनं धर्म्यं कर्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दिते । ऋतावृतौ राजपुत्रि स्त्रिया भर्ता पतिव्रते ॥

mamaitadvacanaṃ dharmyaṃ kartumarhasyanindite | ṛtāvṛtau rājaputri striyā bhartā pativrate

"you should carry out this righteous word of mine, O blameless one. At each season, O princess faithful to your husband, a woman must not pass over her husband;"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.24cd; line 2 is 1.113.25ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 54 (1.128.54)

नातिवर्तव्य इत्येवं धर्मं धर्मविदो विदुः । शेषेष्वन्येषु कालेषु स्वातन्त्र्यं स्त्री किलार्हति ॥

nātivartavya ityevaṃ dharmaṃ dharmavido viduḥ | śeṣeṣvanyeṣu kāleṣu svātantryaṃ strī kilārhati

"so those who know dharma understand it. At all other times, it is said, a woman may have her freedom."

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.25cd; line 2 is 1.113.26ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 55 (1.128.55)

धर्ममेवं जनाः सन्तः पुराणं परिचक्षते । भर्ता भार्यां राजपुत्रि धर्म्यं वाऽधर्म्यमेव वा ॥

dharmamevaṃ janāḥ santaḥ purāṇaṃ paricakṣate | bhartā bhāryāṃ rājaputri dharmyaṃ vā'dharmyameva vā

"So do good people declare the ancient dharma. Whatever a husband tells his wife, O princess, whether it accords with dharma or not,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.26cd; line 2 is 1.113.27ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 56 (1.128.56)

यद्ब्रूयात्तत्तथा कार्यमिति वेदविदो विदुः । विशेषतः पुत्रगृद्धी हीनः प्रजननात्स्वयम् ॥

yadbrūyāttattathā kāryamiti vedavido viduḥ | viśeṣataḥ putragṛddhī hīnaḥ prajananātsvayam

"must be done just as he says; so hold those who know the Veda. This is all the more so when he longs for a son and cannot himself beget one,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.27cd; line 2 is 1.113.28ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 57 (1.128.57)

यथाऽहमनवद्याङ्गि पुत्रदर्शनलालसः । अयं रक्ताङ्गुलिनखः पद्मपत्रनिभः शुभे ॥

yathā'hamanavadyāṅgi putradarśanalālasaḥ | ayaṃ raktāṅgulinakhaḥ padmapatranibhaḥ śubhe

"as I am, O flawless one, yearning to see a son. These joined palms of mine, O gracious one, red-nailed and like a lotus petal,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.28cd; line 2 is 1.113.29ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 58 (1.128.58)

प्रसादनार्थं सुश्रोणि शिरस्यभ्युद्यतोऽञ्जलिः । मन्नियोगात्सुकेशान्ते द्विजातेस्तपसाऽधिकात् ॥

prasādanārthaṃ suśroṇi śirasyabhyudyato'ñjaliḥ | manniyogātsukeśānte dvijātestapasā'dhikāt

"are raised to my head to win your favour, O fair-hipped one. At my bidding, O lady of lovely hair, by a brahmin who excels in austerity"

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.29cd (different wording); line 2 is 1.113.30ab. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 59 (1.128.59)

पुत्रान्गुणसमायुक्तानुत्पादयितुमर्हसि । त्वत्कृतेऽहं पृथुश्रोणि गच्छेयं पुत्रिणां गतिम् ॥

putrānguṇasamāyuktānutpādayitumarhasi | tvatkṛte'haṃ pṛthuśroṇi gaccheyaṃ putriṇāṃ gatim

"you should bring forth sons endowed with virtues. Through you, O broad-hipped one, may I reach the destiny of those who have sons."

Note on the text: Lines are 1.113.30cd–ef. Speaker corrected from ब्राह्मण (carry-over) to पाण्डु.

Verse 60 (1.128.60)

एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती पाण्डुं परपुरञ्जयम् । प्रत्युवाच वरारोहा भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता ॥

evamuktā tataḥ kuntī pāṇḍuṃ parapurañjayam | pratyuvāca varārohā bhartuḥ priyahite ratā

Addressed thus, the lovely Kunti, devoted to her husband's pleasure and welfare, replied to Pandu, the conqueror of enemy cities.

Verse 61 (1.128.61)

अधर्मः सुमहानेष स्त्रीणां भरतसत्तम । यत्प्रसादयते भर्ता प्रसाद्यः क्षत्रियर्षभ । शृणु चेदं महाबाहो मम प्रीतिकरं वचः ॥

adharmaḥ sumahāneṣa strīṇāṃ bharatasattama | yatprasādayate bhartā prasādyaḥ kṣatriyarṣabha | śṛṇu cedaṃ mahābāho mama prītikaraṃ vacaḥ

"It is a great wrong for women, O best of the Bharatas, that a husband should have to beg their favour, when it is he, O bull among kshatriyas, whose favour is to be sought. But hear this, mighty-armed one, which I am glad to tell you."

Note on the text: Corrected सुमहानेषु → सुमहानेष (misprint in Wikisource; CE apparatus eṣa) and चः → वचः (misprint; dropped akshara, CE apparatus vacaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 1195* after 1.113.31. Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती: Kunti's reply begins here (introduced by प्रत्युवाच in verse 60).

Verse 62 (1.128.62)

पितृवेश्मन्यहं बाला नियुक्ताऽतिथिपूजने । उग्रं पर्यचरं तत्र ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम् ॥

pitṛveśmanyahaṃ bālā niyuktā'tithipūjane | ugraṃ paryacaraṃ tatra brāhmaṇaṃ saṃśitavratam

"When I was a girl in my father's house, I was charged with honouring the guests. There I waited upon a fierce brahmin of rigid vows,"

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती.

Verse 63 (1.128.63)

निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः । तमहं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयम् ॥

nigūḍhaniścayaṃ dharme yaṃ taṃ durvāsasaṃ viduḥ | tamahaṃ saṃśitātmānaṃ sarvayatnairatoṣayam

"whose resolve in dharma is hidden, the one known as Durvasas. With every effort I pleased that man of disciplined soul."

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती.

Verse 64 (1.128.64)

स मेऽभिचारसंयुक्तमाचष्ट भगवान्वरम् । मन्त्रं त्विमं च मे प्रादादब्रवीच्चैव मामिदम् ॥

sa me'bhicārasaṃyuktamācaṣṭa bhagavānvaram | mantraṃ tvimaṃ ca me prādādabravīccaiva māmidam

"The holy one granted me a boon joined with the power of summoning. He gave me this mantra and spoke these words to me:"

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती.

Verse 65 (1.128.65)

यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि । अकामो वा सकामो वा वशं ते समुपैष्यति ॥

yaṃ yaṃ devaṃ tvametena mantreṇāvāhayiṣyasi | akāmo vā sakāmo vā vaśaṃ te samupaiṣyati

"'Whatever god you summon with this mantra, whether he is willing or unwilling, will come under your power."

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती.

Verse 66 (1.128.66)

तस्य तस्य प्रसादात्ते राज्ञि पुत्रो भविष्यति । इत्युक्ताऽहं तदा तेन पितृवेश्मनि भारत ॥

tasya tasya prasādātte rājñi putro bhaviṣyati | ityuktā'haṃ tadā tena pitṛveśmani bhārata

"And by the grace of each of them, O queen, you will have a son.' So he told me then, O Bharata, in my father's house."

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1196*); line 2 is 1.113.36ab. Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती.

Verse 67 (1.128.67)

ब्राह्मणस्य वचस्तथ्यं तस्य कालोऽयमागतः । अनुज्ञाता त्वया देवमाह्वयेयमहं नृप ॥

brāhmaṇasya vacastathyaṃ tasya kālo'yamāgataḥ | anujñātā tvayā devamāhvayeyamahaṃ nṛpa

"The brahmin's word was true, and its time has now come. With your leave, O king, I may summon a god."

Note on the text: Line 1 is 1.113.36cd; line 2 is 1.113.37ab. The critical edition continues with a line (1.113.37cd) that Wikisource lacks. Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती.

Verse 68 (1.128.68)

यां मे विद्यां महाराज अददात्स महायशाः । तयाऽऽहूतः सुरः पुत्रं प्रदास्यति सुरोपमम् । अनपत्यकृतं यस्ते शोकं वीर विनेष्यति ॥

yāṃ me vidyāṃ mahārāja adadātsa mahāyaśāḥ | tayā''hūtaḥ suraḥ putraṃ pradāsyati suropamam | anapatyakṛtaṃ yaste śokaṃ vīra vineṣyati

"Summoned by the knowledge that illustrious one gave me, great king, a god will give you a son like the gods, one who will take away, O hero, the grief you bear for want of offspring."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); CE apparatus, insertion 1197* after 1.113.37, where some manuscripts mark Kunti as speaker. Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Speaker corrected from वैशंपायन (carry-over) to कुन्ती.