Life in Ekachakra and the Brahmin's Lament

Verse 1 (1.171.1)

एकचक्रां गतास्ते तु कुन्तीपुत्रा महारथाः । अत ऊर्ध्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ किमकुर्वत पाण्डवाः ॥

ekacakrāṃ gatāste tu kuntīputrā mahārathāḥ | ata ūrdhvaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha kimakurvata pāṇḍavāḥ

When the sons of Kunti, those great warriors, had reached Ekachakra, what did the Pandavas do after that, best of brahmins?

Verse 2 (1.171.2)

एकचक्रां गतास्ते तु कुन्तीपुत्रा महारथाः । ऊषुर्नातिचिरं कालं ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने ॥

ekacakrāṃ gatāste tu kuntīputrā mahārathāḥ | ūṣurnāticiraṃ kālaṃ brāhmaṇasya niveśane

Having reached Ekachakra, the sons of Kunti, the great warriors, lived for a short while in the house of a brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected कन्तीपुत्रा → कुन्तीपुत्रा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped u-sign, as in the critical edition).

Verse 3 (1.171.3)

रमणीयानि पश्यन्तो वनानि विविधानि च । पार्थिवानपि चोद्देशान्सरितश्च सरांसि च ॥

ramaṇīyāni paśyanto vanāni vividhāni ca | pārthivānapi coddeśānsaritaśca sarāṃsi ca

Gazing at many lovely forests, at the royal domains, at rivers and lakes,

Verse 4 (1.171.4)

चेरुर्भैक्षं तदा ते तु सर्व एव विशांपते । युधिष्ठिरं च कुन्तीं च चिन्तयन्त उपासते ॥

cerurbhaikṣaṃ tadā te tu sarva eva viśāṃpate | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca kuntīṃ ca cintayanta upāsate

they all went about begging for alms then, O lord of the people, and they waited upon Yudhishthira and Kunti, ever mindful of them.

Note on the text: Corrected भैश्रं → भैक्षं (misprint in Wikisource; श्र for क्ष, as elsewhere in this adhyaya). Removed a stray backtick (wiki mark). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 5 (1.171.5)

भैक्षं चरन्तस्तु तदा जटिला ब्रह्मचारिणः । बभूवुर्नागराणां च गुणैः संप्रियदर्शनाः ॥

bhaikṣaṃ carantastu tadā jaṭilā brahmacāriṇaḥ | babhūvurnāgarāṇāṃ ca guṇaiḥ saṃpriyadarśanāḥ

Going about for alms then, with matted hair, as celibate students, they won the affection of the townsfolk by their virtues.

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

Verse 6 (1.171.6)

दर्शनीया द्विजाः शुभ्रा देवगर्भोपमाः शुभाः । भैक्षानर्हाश्च राज्यार्हाः सुकुमारास्तपस्विनः ॥

darśanīyā dvijāḥ śubhrā devagarbhopamāḥ śubhāḥ | bhaikṣānarhāśca rājyārhāḥ sukumārāstapasvinaḥ

"These brahmins are handsome and radiant, auspicious, like offspring of the gods; delicate ascetics who do not deserve to live on alms but are worthy of a kingdom.

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

Verse 7 (1.171.7)

नैते यथार्थतो विप्राः सुकुमारास्तपस्विनः । चरन्ति भूमौ प्रच्छन्नाः कस्माच्चित्कारणादिह ॥

naite yathārthato viprāḥ sukumārāstapasvinaḥ | caranti bhūmau pracchannāḥ kasmāccitkāraṇādiha

These delicate ascetics are not truly brahmins. They wander the earth here in disguise for some reason.

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

Verse 8 (1.171.8)

सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना भैक्षं नार्हन्ति नित्यशः । कार्यार्थिनश्चरन्तीति तर्कयन्त इति ब्रुवन् ॥

sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpannā bhaikṣaṃ nārhanti nityaśaḥ | kāryārthinaścarantīti tarkayanta iti bruvan

Endowed with every auspicious mark, they ought never to live on alms; they go about with some purpose in view" — so they said, reasoning among themselves.

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

Verse 9 (1.171.9)

बन्धूनामागमान्नित्यमुपचारैस्तु नागराः । भाजनानि च पूर्णानि भक्ष्यभोज्यैरकारयन् ॥

bandhūnāmāgamānnityamupacāraistu nāgarāḥ | bhājanāni ca pūrṇāni bhakṣyabhojyairakārayan

Treating them always with courtesy, as one does kinsmen who have come to visit, the townsfolk had vessels filled for them with every kind of food.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from नागर (carried over in the extraction) to वैशम्पायन: the citizens' speech ends with verse 8 and the narration resumes here. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (1.171.10)

मौनव्रतेन संयुक्ता भैक्षं गृह्णन्ति पाण्डवाः । माता चिरगतान्ज्ञात्वा शोचन्ती पाण्डवान्प्रति ॥

maunavratena saṃyuktā bhaikṣaṃ gṛhṇanti pāṇḍavāḥ | mātā ciragatānjñātvā śocantī pāṇḍavānprati

Keeping a vow of silence, the Pandavas accepted alms. Their mother, knowing they had been gone a long while, grieved for the Pandavas

Note on the text: Corrected भैश्रं → भैक्षं (misprint in Wikisource; श्र for क्ष). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (1.171.11)

दुःखाश्रुपूर्णनयना लिखन्त्यास्ते महीतलम् । भिक्षित्वा द्विजगेहेषु चिन्तयन्तश्च मातरम् ॥

duḥkhāśrupūrṇanayanā likhantyāste mahītalam | bhikṣitvā dvijageheṣu cintayantaśca mātaram

and sat scratching the ground, her eyes full of tears of sorrow. Having begged at the brahmins' houses, and thinking of their mother,

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

Verse 12 (1.171.12)

त्वरमाणा निवर्तन्ते मातृगौरवयन्त्रिताः । मात्रे निवेदयन्ति स्म कुन्त्यै भैक्षं दिवानिशम् ॥

tvaramāṇā nivartante mātṛgauravayantritāḥ | mātre nivedayanti sma kuntyai bhaikṣaṃ divāniśam

they hurried back, held fast by their reverence for her, and day after day they handed over the alms to Kunti, their mother.

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

Verse 13 (1.171.13)

सर्वं संपूर्णभैक्षान्नं मातृदत्तं पृथक्पृथक् । विभज्याभुञ्जतेष्टं ते यथाभागं पृथक्पृथक् ॥

sarvaṃ saṃpūrṇabhaikṣānnaṃ mātṛdattaṃ pṛthakpṛthak | vibhajyābhuñjateṣṭaṃ te yathābhāgaṃ pṛthakpṛthak

All the food from the full alms, given out by their mother to each in turn, they divided and ate as they liked, each his own share.

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

Verse 14 (1.171.14)

अर्धं स्म भुञ्जते पञ्च सह मात्रा परन्तपाः । अर्धं सर्वस्य भैक्षस्य भीमो भुङ्क्ते महाबलः ॥

ardhaṃ sma bhuñjate pañca saha mātrā parantapāḥ | ardhaṃ sarvasya bhaikṣasya bhīmo bhuṅkte mahābalaḥ

Half of it was eaten by the five, those scorchers of foes, together with their mother; the other half of all the alms the mighty Bhima ate.

Verse 15 (1.171.15)

स नाशितश्च भवति कल्याणान्नभुजिः पुरा । स वैवर्ण्यं च कार्श्यं च जगामातृप्तिकारितम् ॥

sa nāśitaśca bhavati kalyāṇānnabhujiḥ purā | sa vaivarṇyaṃ ca kārśyaṃ ca jagāmātṛptikāritam

Yet he was never satisfied, he who had once eaten fine food; and from never having his fill he grew pale and thin.

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

Verse 16 (1.171.16)

आज्यबिन्दुर्यथा वह्नौ महति ज्वलिते भवेत् । तथार्धभागं भीमस्य भिक्षान्नस्य नरोत्तम ॥

ājyabinduryathā vahnau mahati jvalite bhavet | tathārdhabhāgaṃ bhīmasya bhikṣānnasya narottama

Like a drop of ghee in a great blazing fire, best of men, so was half the alms-food to Bhima.

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

Verse 17 (1.171.17)

तथैव वसतां तत्र तेषां राजन्महात्मनाम् । अतिचक्राम सुमहान्कालोऽथ भरतर्षभ ॥

tathaiva vasatāṃ tatra teṣāṃ rājanmahātmanām | aticakrāma sumahānkālo'tha bharatarṣabha

As those great-souled ones lived there in this way, O king, a long time went by, bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 18 (1.171.18)

भीमोऽपि क्रीडयित्वाथ मिथो ब्राह्मणबन्धुषु । कुम्भकारेण संबन्धाल्लेभे पात्रं महत्तरम् ॥

bhīmo'pi krīḍayitvātha mitho brāhmaṇabandhuṣu | kumbhakāreṇa saṃbandhāllebhe pātraṃ mahattaram

Bhima, for his part, after spending time in play among the brahmins' kinsfolk, came to know a potter and obtained from him a very large vessel.

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

Verse 19 (1.171.19)

कुम्भकारोऽददात्पात्रं महत्कृत्वातिमात्रकम् । प्रहसन्भीमसेनाय विस्मितस्तस्य कर्मणा ॥

kumbhakāro'dadātpātraṃ mahatkṛtvātimātrakam | prahasanbhīmasenāya vismitastasya karmaṇā

Laughing, the potter made a vessel of enormous size and gave it to Bhimasena, amazed at the work he had done for him.

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

Verse 20 (1.171.20)

तस्याद्भुतं कर्म कुर्वन्मृद्भारं महदाददे । मृद्भारैः शतसाहस्रैः कुम्भकारमतोषयत् ॥

tasyādbhutaṃ karma kurvanmṛdbhāraṃ mahadādade | mṛdbhāraiḥ śatasāhasraiḥ kumbhakāramatoṣayat

Doing a wondrous task for him, Bhima carried great loads of clay; with a hundred thousand loads of clay he pleased the potter.

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

Verse 21 (1.171.21)

चक्रे चक्रे च मृद्भाण्डान्सततं भैक्षमाचरन् । तदादायागतं दृष्ट्वा हसन्ति प्रहसन्ति च ॥

cakre cakre ca mṛdbhāṇḍānsatataṃ bhaikṣamācaran | tadādāyāgataṃ dṛṣṭvā hasanti prahasanti ca

He worked the wheel making clay pots, while going about for alms all the time; and seeing him come back carrying that vessel, people laughed and laughed.

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

Verse 22 (1.171.22)

भक्ष्यभोज्यानि विविधान्यादाय प्रक्षिपन्ति च । एवमेव सदा भुक्त्वा मात्रे वदति वै रहः । न चाशितोऽस्मि भवति कल्याणान्नभृतः पुरा ॥

bhakṣyabhojyāni vividhānyādāya prakṣipanti ca | evameva sadā bhuktvā mātre vadati vai rahaḥ | na cāśito'smi bhavati kalyāṇānnabhṛtaḥ purā

They would throw into it foods of every kind, to be chewed and eaten. Yet even after eating like this every day, he would tell his mother in private, "I am not satisfied, mother, I who used to be fed on fine food."

Note on the text: Removed a stray double danda and quote mark (') before the closing ॥ (wiki marks). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 23 (1.171.23)

ततः कदाचिद्भैक्षाय गतास्ते पुरुषर्षभाः । संगत्य भीमसेनस्तु तत्रास्ते पृथया सह ॥

tataḥ kadācidbhaikṣāya gatāste puruṣarṣabhāḥ | saṃgatya bhīmasenastu tatrāste pṛthayā saha

Then one day, when those bulls among men had gone out for alms, Bhimasena happened to be staying at the house with Pritha.

Note on the text: Corrected पुरषर्षभाः → पुरुषर्षभाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped u-sign).

Verse 24 (1.171.24)

अथार्तिजं महाशब्दं ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने । भृशमुत्पतितं घोरं कुन्ती शुश्राव भारत ॥

athārtijaṃ mahāśabdaṃ brāhmaṇasya niveśane | bhṛśamutpatitaṃ ghoraṃ kuntī śuśrāva bhārata

Then, O Bharata, Kunti heard a great, terrible cry of distress rise loudly in the brahmin's house.

Verse 25 (1.171.25)

रोरूयमाणांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा परिदेवयतश्च सा । कारुण्यात्साधुभावाच्च कुन्ती राजन्न चक्षमे ॥

rorūyamāṇāṃstāndṛṣṭvā paridevayataśca sā | kāruṇyātsādhubhāvācca kuntī rājanna cakṣame

Seeing them weeping aloud and lamenting, Kunti, out of compassion and the goodness of her nature, could not bear it, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected रोरुयमाणां → रोरूयमाणां (misprint in Wikisource; the intensive participle of रु has long ū, as in the critical edition).

Verse 26 (1.171.26)

मथ्यमानेव दुःखेन हृदयेन पृथा तदा । उवाच भीमं कल्याणी कृपान्वितमिदं वचः ॥

mathyamāneva duḥkhena hṛdayena pṛthā tadā | uvāca bhīmaṃ kalyāṇī kṛpānvitamidaṃ vacaḥ

Her heart churned as it were by grief, the gracious Pritha then spoke these words, full of compassion, to Bhima:

Verse 27 (1.171.27)

वसामः सुसुखं पुत्र ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने । अज्ञाता धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सत्कृता वीतमन्यवः ॥

vasāmaḥ susukhaṃ putra brāhmaṇasya niveśane | ajñātā dhārtarāṣṭrasya satkṛtā vītamanyavaḥ

"We are living very happily, son, in the brahmin's house, unknown to the son of Dhritarashtra, honoured and free from resentment.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from नागर (carried over in the extraction) to Kunti, whose speech is introduced in the previous verse and runs to verse 30. Corrected सत्कृतां → सत्कृता (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative plural सत्कृताः agreeing with the subject, as in the critical edition).

Verse 28 (1.171.28)

सा चिन्तये सदा पुत्र ब्राह्मणस्यास्य किं न्वहम् । कदा प्रियं करिष्यामि यत्कुर्युरुषिताः सुखम् ॥

sā cintaye sadā putra brāhmaṇasyāsya kiṃ nvaham | kadā priyaṃ kariṣyāmi yatkuryuruṣitāḥ sukham

So I always wonder, son, when I might do this brahmin some kindness, such as those who have lived happily in a house would do.

Verse 29 (1.171.29)

एतावान्पुरुषस्तात कृतं यस्मिन्न नश्यति । यावच्च कुर्यादन्योऽस्य कुर्यादभ्यधिकं ततः ॥

etāvānpuruṣastāta kṛtaṃ yasminna naśyati | yāvacca kuryādanyo'sya kuryādabhyadhikaṃ tataḥ

He alone is truly a man, my dear, in whom a kindness done is never lost; whatever another has done for him, he should do still more in return.

Verse 30 (1.171.30)

तदिदं ब्राह्मणस्यास्य दुःखमापतितं ध्रुवम् । न तत्र यदि साहाय्यं कुर्याम सुकृतं भवेत् ॥

tadidaṃ brāhmaṇasyāsya duḥkhamāpatitaṃ dhruvam | na tatra yadi sāhāyyaṃ kuryāma sukṛtaṃ bhavet

Now some grief has surely befallen this brahmin. Should we not give him help in it? That would be a good deed."

Verse 31 (1.171.31)

ज्ञायतामस्य यद्दुःखं यतश्चैव समुत्थितम् । विदित्वा व्यवसिष्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुष्करम् ॥

jñāyatāmasya yadduḥkhaṃ yataścaiva samutthitam | viditvā vyavasiṣyāmi yadyapi syātsuduṣkaram

"Let us find out what his grief is and from where it has arisen. When I know that, I will resolve what to do, however hard it may be."

Verse 32 (1.171.32)

एवं तौ कथयन्तौ च भूयः शुश्रुवतुः स्वनम् । आर्तिजं तस्य विप्रस्य सभार्यस्य विशांपते ॥

evaṃ tau kathayantau ca bhūyaḥ śuśruvatuḥ svanam | ārtijaṃ tasya viprasya sabhāryasya viśāṃpate

As the two were talking thus, they heard once more the cry of distress of that brahmin and his wife, O lord of the people.

Note on the text: Corrected सुश्रुवतुः → शुश्रुवतुः (misprint in Wikisource; the perfect of श्रु, as in the critical edition).

Verse 33 (1.171.33)

अन्तःपुरं ततस्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मनः । विवेश त्वरिता कुन्ती बद्धवत्सेव सौरभी ॥

antaḥpuraṃ tatastasya brāhmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | viveśa tvaritā kuntī baddhavatseva saurabhī

Then Kunti hurried into the inner rooms of that great-souled brahmin, like a cow whose calf is tied up.

Verse 34 (1.171.34)

ततस्तं ब्राह्मणं तत्र भार्यया च सुतेन च । दुहित्रा चैव सहितं ददर्श विकृताननम् ॥

tatastaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ tatra bhāryayā ca sutena ca | duhitrā caiva sahitaṃ dadarśa vikṛtānanam

There she saw the brahmin with his wife, his son and his daughter, his face distorted with grief.

Verse 35 (1.171.35)

धिगिदं जीवितं लोके गतसारमनर्थकम् । दुःखमूलं पराधीनं भृशमप्रियभागि च ॥

dhigidaṃ jīvitaṃ loke gatasāramanarthakam | duḥkhamūlaṃ parādhīnaṃ bhṛśamapriyabhāgi ca

"Shame on this life in the world, hollow and pointless, rooted in sorrow, at the mercy of others, and full of what we do not want!

Verse 36 (1.171.36)

जीविते परमं दुःखं जीविते परमो ज्वरः । जीविते वर्तमानस्य द्वन्द्वानामागमो ध्रुवः ॥

jīvite paramaṃ duḥkhaṃ jīvite paramo jvaraḥ | jīvite vartamānasya dvandvānāmāgamo dhruvaḥ

In life lies the greatest sorrow, in life the greatest fever; for one who goes on living, the coming of the pairs of opposites is certain.

Verse 37 (1.171.37)

आत्मा ह्येको हि धर्मार्थौ कामं चैव निषेवते । एतैश्च विप्रयोगोऽपि दुःखं परमनन्तकम् ॥

ātmā hyeko hi dharmārthau kāmaṃ caiva niṣevate | etaiśca viprayogo'pi duḥkhaṃ paramanantakam

The self alone pursues dharma, wealth and desire, and to be parted from them is also boundless sorrow.

Verse 38 (1.171.38)

आहुः केचित्परं मोक्षं स च नास्ति कथंचन । अर्थप्राप्तौ तु नरकः कृत्स्न एवोपपद्यते ॥

āhuḥ kecitparaṃ mokṣaṃ sa ca nāsti kathaṃcana | arthaprāptau tu narakaḥ kṛtsna evopapadyate

Some say liberation is the highest good, but that is not to be had in any way; and in gaining wealth a whole hell comes with it.

Verse 39 (1.171.39)

अर्थेप्सुता परं दुःखमर्थप्राप्तौ ततोऽधिकम् । जातस्नेहस्य चार्थेषु विप्रयोगे महत्तरम् ॥

arthepsutā paraṃ duḥkhamarthaprāptau tato'dhikam | jātasnehasya cārtheṣu viprayoge mahattaram

To crave wealth is great sorrow, to gain it is greater still, and for one who has grown attached to wealth, to be parted from it is greater yet.

Verse 40 (1.171.40)

यावन्तो यस्य संयोगा द्रव्यैरिष्टैर्भवन्त्युत । तावन्तोऽस्य निखन्यन्ते हृदये शोकशङ्कवः ॥

yāvanto yasya saṃyogā dravyairiṣṭairbhavantyuta | tāvanto'sya nikhanyante hṛdaye śokaśaṅkavaḥ

As many ties as a man has with things he holds dear, so many stakes of grief are driven into his heart.

Note on the text: Corrected निख्यन्ते → निखन्यन्ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara of the passive of खन्, as in the critical edition's apparatus). Removed a stray backtick (wiki mark). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 41 (1.171.41)

तदिदं जीवितं प्राप्य अल्पकालं महाभयम् । त्यागो हि न मया प्राप्तो भार्यया सहितेन च ॥

tadidaṃ jīvitaṃ prāpya alpakālaṃ mahābhayam | tyāgo hi na mayā prāpto bhāryayā sahitena ca

Having come into this life, so brief and so full of fear, I could not bring myself, with my wife, to give it all up and leave.

Note on the text: Removed a stray double danda and quote mark (') before the closing ॥ (wiki marks). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 42 (1.171.42)

न हि योगं प्रपश्यामि येन मुच्येयमापदः । पुत्रदारेण वा सार्धं प्राद्रवेयमनामयम् ॥

na hi yogaṃ prapaśyāmi yena mucyeyamāpadaḥ | putradāreṇa vā sārdhaṃ prādraveyamanāmayam

I see no means by which I might escape this calamity, or flee to safety with my son and wife.

Verse 43 (1.171.43)

यतितं वै मया पूर्वं वेत्थ ब्राह्मणि तत्तथा । क्षेमं यतस्ततो गन्तुं त्वया तु मम न श्रुतम् ॥

yatitaṃ vai mayā pūrvaṃ vettha brāhmaṇi tattathā | kṣemaṃ yatastato gantuṃ tvayā tu mama na śrutam

I tried before, as you well know, brahmin lady, to go wherever there was safety, but you would not listen to me.

Verse 44 (1.171.44)

इह जाता विवृद्धाऽस्मि पिता माता ममेति वै । उक्तवत्यसि दुर्मेधे याच्यमाना मयाऽसकृत् ॥

iha jātā vivṛddhā'smi pitā mātā mameti vai | uktavatyasi durmedhe yācyamānā mayā'sakṛt

"Here I was born and here I grew up; here are my father and my mother" — that is what you said, foolish woman, when I begged you again and again.

Verse 45 (1.171.45)

स्वर्गतोऽपि पिता वृद्धस्तथा माता चिरं तव । बान्धवा भूतपूर्वाश्च तत्र वासे तु का रतिः ॥

svargato'pi pitā vṛddhastathā mātā ciraṃ tava | bāndhavā bhūtapūrvāśca tatra vāse tu kā ratiḥ

Your aged father has gone to heaven, and your mother long ago; your kinsmen too are of the past. What joy is there in staying on there?

Note on the text: Corrected बन्धवा → बान्धवा (misprint in Wikisource; बन्धवः would not take this sandhi, and the critical edition reads bāndhavā).

Verse 46 (1.171.46)

न भोजनं विरुद्धं स्यान्न स्त्रीदेशो निबन्धनः । सुदूरमपि तं देशं व्रजेद्गरुडहंसवत् ॥

na bhojanaṃ viruddhaṃ syānna strīdeśo nibandhanaḥ | sudūramapi taṃ deśaṃ vrajedgaruḍahaṃsavat

Food need not be disagreeable elsewhere, nor need a wife's homeland be a fetter; one should go even to a very distant land, like Garuda or the swan.

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

Verse 47 (1.171.47)

सोऽयं ते बन्धुकामाया अशृण्वन्त्या वचो मम । बन्धुप्रणाशः संप्राप्तो भृशं दुःखकरो मम ॥

so'yaṃ te bandhukāmāyā aśṛṇvantyā vaco mama | bandhupraṇāśaḥ saṃprāpto bhṛśaṃ duḥkhakaro mama

And so, because you longed for your kin and would not heed my words, this destruction of our kin has come upon us, a grief beyond bearing to me.

Verse 48 (1.171.48)

अथवा मद्विनाशोऽयं न हि शक्ष्यामि कंचन । परित्यक्तुमहं बन्धुं स्वयं जीवन्नृशंसवत् ॥

athavā madvināśo'yaṃ na hi śakṣyāmi kaṃcana | parityaktumahaṃ bandhuṃ svayaṃ jīvannṛśaṃsavat

Or rather, this is my own ruin, for I cannot, like a heartless man, give up any one of my kin and go on living myself.

Note on the text: Corrected मद्विनाशो यं → मद्विनाशोऽयं (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha turns अयं into the relative यं, as in the critical edition).

Verse 49 (1.171.49)

सहधर्मचरीं दान्तां नित्यं मातृसमां मम । सखायं विहितां देवैर्नित्यं परमिकां गतिम् ॥

sahadharmacarīṃ dāntāṃ nityaṃ mātṛsamāṃ mama | sakhāyaṃ vihitāṃ devairnityaṃ paramikāṃ gatim

My partner in dharma, self-controlled, always like a mother to me, the companion the gods appointed for me, ever my highest refuge,

Verse 50 (1.171.50)

पित्रा मात्रा च विहितां सदा गार्हस्थ्यभागिनीम् । वरयित्वा यथान्यायं मन्त्रवत्परिणीय च ॥

pitrā mātrā ca vihitāṃ sadā gārhasthyabhāginīm | varayitvā yathānyāyaṃ mantravatpariṇīya ca

given to me by my father and mother, always the sharer of my household life, whom I chose in due form and married with sacred mantras —

Verse 51 (1.171.51)

कुलीनां शीलसंपन्नामपत्यजननीमपि । त्वामहं जीवितस्यार्थे साध्वीमनपकारिणीम् ॥

kulīnāṃ śīlasaṃpannāmapatyajananīmapi | tvāmahaṃ jīvitasyārthe sādhvīmanapakāriṇīm

you, of good family and good character, the mother of my children, virtuous and never doing me wrong —

Verse 52 (1.171.52)

परित्यक्तुं न शक्ष्यामि भार्यां नित्यमनुव्रताम् । कुत एव परित्यक्तुं सुतां शक्ष्याम्यहं स्वयम् ॥

parityaktuṃ na śakṣyāmi bhāryāṃ nityamanuvratām | kuta eva parityaktuṃ sutāṃ śakṣyāmyahaṃ svayam

my ever-devoted wife, I cannot abandon to save my own life. How then could I bring myself to abandon my daughter,

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition's 1.145.33e and the second its 1.145.34a; Wikisource divides these verses differently.

Verse 53 (1.171.53)

बालामप्राप्तवयसमजातव्यञ्जनाकृतिम् । भर्तुरर्थाय निक्षिप्तां न्यासं धात्रा महात्मना ॥

bālāmaprāptavayasamajātavyañjanākṛtim | bharturarthāya nikṣiptāṃ nyāsaṃ dhātrā mahātmanā

a child not yet of age, on whom the marks of womanhood have not yet appeared, placed in my keeping by the great-souled Creator as a trust for her husband;

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition's 1.145.34c and the second its 1.145.35a; Wikisource divides these verses differently.

Verse 54 (1.171.54)

यया दौहित्रजाँल्लोकानाशंसे पितृभिः सह । स्वयमुत्पाद्य तां बालां कथमुत्स्रष्टुमुत्सहे ॥

yayā dauhitrajām̐llokānāśaṃse pitṛbhiḥ saha | svayamutpādya tāṃ bālāṃ kathamutsraṣṭumutsahe

through whom I hope, together with my ancestors, to win the worlds that a daughter's sons bestow? How could I bring myself to cast away the child I begot myself?

Note on the text: The critical edition's 1.145.35c–e (with यस्यां for यया).

Verse 55 (1.171.55)

मन्यन्ते केचिदधिकं स्नेहं पुत्रे पितुर्नराः । कन्यायां केचिदपरे मम तुल्यावुभौ स्मृतौ ॥

manyante kecidadhikaṃ snehaṃ putre piturnarāḥ | kanyāyāṃ kecidapare mama tulyāvubhau smṛtau

Some men think a father's love is greater for a son, and others for a daughter; for me the two are held equal.

Verse 56 (1.171.56)

यस्यां लोकाः प्रसूतिश्च स्थिता नित्यमथो सुखम् । अपापां तामहं बालां कथमुत्स्रष्टुमुत्सहे ॥

yasyāṃ lokāḥ prasūtiśca sthitā nityamatho sukham | apāpāṃ tāmahaṃ bālāṃ kathamutsraṣṭumutsahe

She in whom rest the worlds to come, our line of descent and lasting happiness — how could I bring myself to cast away that innocent child?

Verse 57 (1.171.57)

कुत एव परित्यक्तुं सुतं शक्ष्याम्यहं स्वयम् । प्रार्थयेयं परां प्रीतिं यस्मिन्स्वर्गफलानि च ॥

kuta eva parityaktuṃ sutaṃ śakṣyāmyahaṃ svayam | prārthayeyaṃ parāṃ prītiṃ yasminsvargaphalāni ca

How then could I bring myself to abandon my son, in whom I look for the highest joy and the rewards of heaven,

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

Verse 58 (1.171.58)

यस्य जातस्य पितरो मुखं दृष्ट्वा दिवं गताः । अहं मुक्तः पितृऋणाद्यस्य जातस्य तेजसा ॥

yasya jātasya pitaro mukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā divaṃ gatāḥ | ahaṃ muktaḥ pitṛṛṇādyasya jātasya tejasā

at whose birth the ancestors saw his face and went to heaven, by whose birth and splendour I was freed from my debt to the ancestors?

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

Verse 59 (1.171.59)

दयितं मे कथं बालमहं त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे । तमहं ज्येष्ठपुत्रं मे कुलनिर्हारकं विभुम् ॥

dayitaṃ me kathaṃ bālamahaṃ tyaktumihotsahe | tamahaṃ jyeṣṭhaputraṃ me kulanirhārakaṃ vibhum

How could I bring myself to give up my beloved boy here — my eldest son, the mighty one who will perform the last rites of our family,

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

Verse 60 (1.171.60)

मम पिण्डोदकनिधिं कथं त्यक्ष्यामि पुत्रकम् । त्यागोऽयं मम संप्राप्तो मम वा मे सुतस्य वा ॥

mama piṇḍodakanidhiṃ kathaṃ tyakṣyāmi putrakam | tyāgo'yaṃ mama saṃprāpto mama vā me sutasya vā

the keeper of my offerings of rice-balls and water — how can I give up my little son? This sacrifice has fallen to my lot: of myself, or of my son,

Note on the text: Corrected ममन्वा → मम वा (misprint in Wikisource; a stray न, as in the critical edition's apparatus). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 61 (1.171.61)

तव वा तव पुत्र्या वा अत्र वासस्य तत्फलम् । न शृणोषि वचो मह्यं तत्फलं भुङ्क्ष्व भामिनि ॥

tava vā tava putryā vā atra vāsasya tatphalam | na śṛṇoṣi vaco mahyaṃ tatphalaṃ bhuṅkṣva bhāmini

or of you, or of your daughter — that is the fruit of staying here. You would not listen to my words; now taste that fruit, proud lady.

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

Verse 62 (1.171.62)

अथवाहं न शक्ष्यामि स्वयं मर्तुं सुतं मम । एकं त्यक्तुं न शक्नोमि भवतीं च सुतामपि ॥

athavāhaṃ na śakṣyāmi svayaṃ martuṃ sutaṃ mama | ekaṃ tyaktuṃ na śaknomi bhavatīṃ ca sutāmapi

Or else — I cannot bring myself to die, nor to give up my son; I cannot abandon even one of you, neither you nor our daughter.

Note on the text: Corrected शक्नोति → शक्नोमि (misprint in Wikisource; the speaker is the subject, first person, as in the critical edition's apparatus). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 63 (1.171.63)

अथ मद्रक्षणार्थं वा न हि शक्ष्यामि कंचन । परित्यक्तुमहं बन्धुं स्वयं जीवन्नृशंसवत् ॥

atha madrakṣaṇārthaṃ vā na hi śakṣyāmi kaṃcana | parityaktumahaṃ bandhuṃ svayaṃ jīvannṛśaṃsavat

Or else, to save myself, I cannot, like a heartless man, give up any one of my kin and go on living myself.

Note on the text: Repeats the second line of verse 48 with a different first line; the critical edition has this verse once (1.145.30, matched at verse 48).

Verse 64 (1.171.64)

आत्मानमपि चोत्सृज्य गते प्रेतवशं मयि । त्यक्ता ह्येते मया व्यक्तं नेह शक्ष्यन्ति जीवितुम् ॥

ātmānamapi cotsṛjya gate pretavaśaṃ mayi | tyaktā hyete mayā vyaktaṃ neha śakṣyanti jīvitum

And if I give up my own life and pass into the power of death, these, abandoned by me, will plainly not be able to live on here.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark (') after मयि (wiki mark).

Verse 65 (1.171.65)

एषां चान्यतमत्यागो नृशंसो गर्हितो बुधैः । आत्मत्यागे कृते चेमे मरिष्यन्ति मया विना ॥

eṣāṃ cānyatamatyāgo nṛśaṃso garhito budhaiḥ | ātmatyāge kṛte ceme mariṣyanti mayā vinā

To give up any one of them is cruel and condemned by the wise; and if I give up my own life, these will die without me.

Verse 66 (1.171.66)

स कृच्छ्रामहमापन्नो न शक्तस्तर्तुमापदम् । अहो धिक्कां गतिं त्वद्य गमिष्यामि सबान्धवः । सर्वैः सह मृतं श्रेयो न च मे जीवितुं क्षमम् ॥

sa kṛcchrāmahamāpanno na śaktastartumāpadam | aho dhikkāṃ gatiṃ tvadya gamiṣyāmi sabāndhavaḥ | sarvaiḥ saha mṛtaṃ śreyo na ca me jīvituṃ kṣamam

I have fallen into dire straits and have no power to cross this calamity. Alas, shame! What course shall I take today, with my kin? Better to die together with all of them; I cannot bear to live."