Vidura Goes to Drupada's Court

Verse 1 (1.225.1)

भीष्मः शान्तनवो विद्वान्द्रोणश्च भगवानृषिः । हितं च परमं सत्यमब्रूतां वाक्यमुत्तमम् । हितं च परमं वाक्यं त्वं च सत्यं ब्रवीषि माम् ॥

bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo vidvāndroṇaśca bhagavānṛṣiḥ | hitaṃ ca paramaṃ satyamabrūtāṃ vākyamuttamam | hitaṃ ca paramaṃ vākyaṃ tvaṃ ca satyaṃ bravīṣi mām

Bhishma, the learned son of Shantanu, and Drona, the blessed sage, have spoken words that are beneficial, supremely true and excellent; and you too tell me what is beneficial, supreme and true.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick and ।') around the second line, which is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the first and third lines are the critical edition's 1.198.1.

Verse 2 (1.225.2)

यथैव पाण्डोस्ते वीराः कुन्तीपुत्रा महारथाः । तथैव धर्मतः सर्वे मम पुत्रा न संशयः ॥

yathaiva pāṇḍoste vīrāḥ kuntīputrā mahārathāḥ | tathaiva dharmataḥ sarve mama putrā na saṃśayaḥ

Just as those heroes, the great chariot-warriors born of Kunti, are Pandu's sons, so by dharma they are all my sons too; of that there is no doubt.

Verse 3 (1.225.3)

यथैव मम पुत्राणामिदं राज्यं विधीयते । तथैव पाण्डुपुत्राणामिदं राज्यं न संशयः ॥

yathaiva mama putrāṇāmidaṃ rājyaṃ vidhīyate | tathaiva pāṇḍuputrāṇāmidaṃ rājyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Just as this kingdom is ordained for my sons, so it is for the sons of Pandu; of that there is no doubt.

Verse 4 (1.225.4)

क्षत्तरानय गच्छैतान्सह मात्रा सुसत्कृतान् । तया च देवरूपिण्या कृष्णया सह भारत ॥

kṣattarānaya gacchaitānsaha mātrā susatkṛtān | tayā ca devarūpiṇyā kṛṣṇayā saha bhārata

Go, Kshattri, and bring them here with their mother, treated with every honour, and with Krishna (Draupadi), who is as lovely as a goddess, O Bharata.

Verse 5 (1.225.5)

दिष्ट्या जीवन्ति ते पार्था दिष्ट्या जीवति सा पृथा । दिष्ट्या द्रुपदकन्यां च लब्धवन्तो महारथाः ॥

diṣṭyā jīvanti te pārthā diṣṭyā jīvati sā pṛthā | diṣṭyā drupadakanyāṃ ca labdhavanto mahārathāḥ

By good fortune the sons of Pritha are alive; by good fortune Pritha is alive; by good fortune the great chariot-warriors have won Drupada's daughter.

Verse 6 (1.225.6)

दिष्ट्या वर्धामहे सर्वे दिष्ट्या शान्तः पुरोचनः । दिष्ट्या मम परं दुःखमपनीतं महाद्युते ॥

diṣṭyā vardhāmahe sarve diṣṭyā śāntaḥ purocanaḥ | diṣṭyā mama paraṃ duḥkhamapanītaṃ mahādyute

By good fortune we all prosper; by good fortune Purochana is laid to rest; by good fortune, O glorious one, my great sorrow has been taken away.

Verse 7 (1.225.7)

त्वमेव गत्वा विदुर तानिहानय मा चिरम् ॥

tvameva gatvā vidura tānihānaya mā ciram

Go yourself, Vidura, and bring them here without delay.

Note on the text: Split: Wikisource prints the speaker line वैशंपायन उवाच inside its verse 7 (marked 1-225-7x), after this line, which closes Dhritarashtra's speech and is given here as its own verse. Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick) that opens a bracketed passage. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 8 (1.225.8)

एवमुक्तस्ततः क्षत्ता रथमारुह्य शीघ्रगम् । आगात्कतिपयाहोभिः पाञ्चालान्राजधर्मवित् ॥

evamuktastataḥ kṣattā rathamāruhya śīghragam | āgātkatipayāhobhiḥ pāñcālānrājadharmavit

Thus addressed, the Kshattri, who knew the duties of kings, mounted a swift chariot and within a few days reached the Panchalas.

Note on the text: Split from Wikisource verse 7 at the printed speaker line वैशंपायन उवाच (see the previous verse); speaker changed from धृतराष्ट्र to वैशम्पायन. Removed a stray wiki mark (') that closes the bracketed passage. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (1.225.9)

ततो जगाम विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात् । सकाशं यज्ञसेनस्य पाण्डवानां च भारत ॥

tato jagāma viduro dhṛtarāṣṭrasya śāsanāt | sakāśaṃ yajñasenasya pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata

So, at Dhritarashtra's command, Vidura went to Yajnasena (Drupada) and to the Pandavas, O Bharata,

Verse 10 (1.225.10)

समुपादाय रत्नानि वसूनि विविधानि च । द्रौपद्याः पाण्डवानां च यज्ञसेनस्य चैव ह ॥

samupādāya ratnāni vasūni vividhāni ca | draupadyāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yajñasenasya caiva ha

taking with him jewels and wealth of many kinds for Draupadi, for the Pandavas and for Yajnasena.

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

Verse 11 (1.225.11)

तत्र गत्वा स धर्मज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः । द्रुपदं न्यायतो राजन्संयुक्तमुपतस्थिवान् ॥

tatra gatvā sa dharmajñaḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ | drupadaṃ nyāyato rājansaṃyuktamupatasthivān

Arriving there, he who knew the dharma and was versed in every science duly presented himself, O king, before Drupada, now joined to them by marriage.

Verse 12 (1.225.12)

स चापि प्रतिजग्राह धर्मेण विदुरं ततः । चक्रतुश्च यथान्यायं कुशलप्रश्नसंविदम् ॥

sa cāpi pratijagrāha dharmeṇa viduraṃ tataḥ | cakratuśca yathānyāyaṃ kuśalapraśnasaṃvidam

Drupada for his part received Vidura as dharma requires, and the two duly exchanged enquiries after each other's welfare.

Verse 13 (1.225.13)

ददर्श पाण्डवांस्तत्र वासुदेवं च भारत । स्नेहात्परिष्वज्य स तान्पप्रच्छानामयं ततः ॥

dadarśa pāṇḍavāṃstatra vāsudevaṃ ca bhārata | snehātpariṣvajya sa tānpapracchānāmayaṃ tataḥ

There he saw the Pandavas and Vasudeva, O Bharata; he embraced them with affection and asked after their health.

Verse 14 (1.225.14)

तैश्चाप्यमितबुद्धिः स पूजितो हि यथाक्रमम् । वचनाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्नेहयुक्तं पुनःपुनः ॥

taiścāpyamitabuddhiḥ sa pūjito hi yathākramam | vacanāddhṛtarāṣṭrasya snehayuktaṃ punaḥpunaḥ

They in turn honoured him, a man of boundless understanding, each in due order; and he, speaking for Dhritarashtra, with affection, again and again

Note on the text: Corrected अमितबुद्दिः → अमितबुद्धिः (misprint in Wikisource; द्द for द्ध, as in the critical edition's amitabuddhiḥ).

Verse 15 (1.225.15)

पप्रच्छानामयं राजंस्ततस्तान्पाण्डुनन्दनान् । प्रददौ चापि रत्नानि विविधानि वसूनि च ॥

papracchānāmayaṃ rājaṃstatastānpāṇḍunandanān | pradadau cāpi ratnāni vividhāni vasūni ca

asked the sons of Pandu after their health, O king, and presented jewels and riches of many kinds

Verse 16 (1.225.16)

पाण्डवानां च कुन्त्याश्च द्रौपद्याश्च विशांपते । द्रुपदस्य च पुत्राणां यथा दत्तानि कौरवैः ॥

pāṇḍavānāṃ ca kuntyāśca draupadyāśca viśāṃpate | drupadasya ca putrāṇāṃ yathā dattāni kauravaiḥ

to the Pandavas, to Kunti, to Draupadi, O lord of the people, and to Drupada's sons, as the Kauravas had sent them.

Verse 17 (1.225.17)

प्रोवाच चामितमतिः प्रश्रितं विनयान्वितः । द्रुपदं पाण्डुपुत्राणां सन्निधौ केशवस्य च ॥

provāca cāmitamatiḥ praśritaṃ vinayānvitaḥ | drupadaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ sannidhau keśavasya ca

Then, courteous and modest, Vidura of boundless mind spoke to Drupada in the presence of the sons of Pandu and of Keshava.

Verse 18 (1.225.18)

राजञ्छृणु सहामात्यः सपुत्रश्च वचो मम । धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रस्त्वां सहामात्यः सबान्धवः ॥

rājañchṛṇu sahāmātyaḥ saputraśca vaco mama | dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputrastvāṃ sahāmātyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ

O king, hear my words, together with your ministers and your sons. Dhritarashtra, with his sons, his ministers and his kinsmen,

Verse 19 (1.225.19)

अब्रवीत्कुशलं राजन्प्रीयमाणः पुनःपुनः । प्रीतिमांस्ते दृढं चापि संबन्धेन नराधिप ॥

abravītkuśalaṃ rājanprīyamāṇaḥ punaḥpunaḥ | prītimāṃste dṛḍhaṃ cāpi saṃbandhena narādhipa

has asked after your welfare, O king, again and again, with great pleasure; and he is deeply gladdened by this alliance with you, O lord of men.

Verse 20 (1.225.20)

तथा भीष्मः शान्तनवः कौरवैः सह सर्वशः । कुशलं त्वां महाप्राज्ञः सर्वतः परिपृच्छति ॥

tathā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavaḥ kauravaiḥ saha sarvaśaḥ | kuśalaṃ tvāṃ mahāprājñaḥ sarvataḥ paripṛcchati

So too wise Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, together with all the Kauravas, asks after your welfare in every respect.

Verse 21 (1.225.21)

भारद्वाजो महाप्राज्ञो द्रोणः प्रियसखस्तव । समाश्लेषमुपेत्य त्वां कुशलं परिपृच्छति ॥

bhāradvājo mahāprājño droṇaḥ priyasakhastava | samāśleṣamupetya tvāṃ kuśalaṃ paripṛcchati

Wise Drona, son of Bharadvaja, your dear friend, embraces you in spirit and asks after your welfare.

Verse 22 (1.225.22)

धृतराष्ट्रश्च पाञ्चाल्य त्वया संबन्धमेयिवान् । कृतार्थं मन्यतेऽऽत्मानं तथा सर्वेऽपि कौरवाः ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭraśca pāñcālya tvayā saṃbandhameyivān | kṛtārthaṃ manyate''tmānaṃ tathā sarve'pi kauravāḥ

Now that he is allied with you, O prince of Panchala, Dhritarashtra counts himself fulfilled, and so do all the Kauravas.

Note on the text: Corrected मन्यतेत्मानं → मन्यतेऽऽत्मानं (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha for the elided ā of आत्मानम्, as in the critical edition's manyate ''tmānaṃ).

Verse 23 (1.225.23)

न तथा राज्यसंप्राप्तिस्तेषां प्रीतिकरी मता । यथा संबन्धकं प्राप्य यज्ञसेन त्वया सह ॥

na tathā rājyasaṃprāptisteṣāṃ prītikarī matā | yathā saṃbandhakaṃ prāpya yajñasena tvayā saha

Winning a kingdom would not have pleased them as much, O Yajnasena, as winning this alliance with you.

Verse 24 (1.225.24)

एतद्विदित्वा तु भवान्प्रस्थापयतु पाण्डवान् । द्रष्टुं हि पाण्डुपुत्रांश्च त्वरन्ति कुरवो भृशम् ॥

etadviditvā tu bhavānprasthāpayatu pāṇḍavān | draṣṭuṃ hi pāṇḍuputrāṃśca tvaranti kuravo bhṛśam

Knowing this, may you send the Pandavas on their way; for the Kurus are in great haste to see the sons of Pandu.

Verse 25 (1.225.25)

विप्रोषिता दीर्घकालमेते चापि नरर्षभाः । उत्सुका नगरं द्रष्टुं भविष्यन्ति तथा पृथा ॥

viproṣitā dīrghakālamete cāpi nararṣabhāḥ | utsukā nagaraṃ draṣṭuṃ bhaviṣyanti tathā pṛthā

These bulls among men have been away from home a long time; they, and Pritha too, will be longing to see their city.

Verse 26 (1.225.26)

कृष्णामपि च पाञ्चालीं सर्वाः कुरुवरस्त्रियः । द्रष्टुकामाः प्रतीक्षन्ते पुरं च विषयाश्च नः ॥

kṛṣṇāmapi ca pāñcālīṃ sarvāḥ kuruvarastriyaḥ | draṣṭukāmāḥ pratīkṣante puraṃ ca viṣayāśca naḥ

All the noble women of the Kurus long to see Krishna, the princess of Panchala; our city and our lands are waiting.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रतीक्ष्ते → प्रतीक्षन्ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, as in the critical edition's pratīkṣante).

Verse 27 (1.225.27)

स भवान्पाण्डुपुत्राणामाज्ञापयतु मा चिरम् । गमनं सहदाराणामेतदत्र मतं मम ॥

sa bhavānpāṇḍuputrāṇāmājñāpayatu mā ciram | gamanaṃ sahadārāṇāmetadatra mataṃ mama

So may you without delay give leave to the sons of Pandu to go, together with their wife. This is my view in the matter.

Verse 28 (1.225.28)

निसृष्टेषु त्वया राजन्पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु । ततोऽहं प्रेषयिष्यामि धृतराष्ट्रस्य शीघ्रगान् । आगमिष्यन्ति कौन्तेयाः कुन्ती च सह कृष्णया ॥

nisṛṣṭeṣu tvayā rājanpāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu | tato'haṃ preṣayiṣyāmi dhṛtarāṣṭrasya śīghragān | āgamiṣyanti kaunteyāḥ kuntī ca saha kṛṣṇayā

Once you have let the great-souled Pandavas go, O king, I shall send swift messengers to Dhritarashtra: the sons of Kunti are coming, and Kunti with Krishna.