Arjuna Breaks the Compact and Goes into Exile

Verse 1 (1.233.1)

एवं ते समयं कृत्वा न्यवसंस्तत्र पाण्डवाः । वशे शस्त्रप्रतापेन कुर्वन्तोऽन्यान्महीक्षितः ॥

evaṃ te samayaṃ kṛtvā nyavasaṃstatra pāṇḍavāḥ | vaśe śastrapratāpena kurvanto'nyānmahīkṣitaḥ

Having made that compact, the Pandavas lived there, bringing other kings under their sway by the might of their arms.

Verse 2 (1.233.2)

तेषां मनुजसिंहानां पञ्चानाममितौजसाम् । बभूव कृष्णा सर्वेषां पार्थानां वशवर्तिनी ॥

teṣāṃ manujasiṃhānāṃ pañcānāmamitaujasām | babhūva kṛṣṇā sarveṣāṃ pārthānāṃ vaśavartinī

Krishna was devoted to all five of those lions among men, the sons of Pritha, men of boundless vigour.

Verse 3 (1.233.3)

ते तया तैश्च सा वीरैः पतिभिः सह पञ्चभिः । बभूव परमप्रीता नागैरिव सरस्वती ॥

te tayā taiśca sā vīraiḥ patibhiḥ saha pañcabhiḥ | babhūva paramaprītā nāgairiva sarasvatī

They delighted in her, and she in her five heroic husbands, as the river Sarasvati delights in the elephants that bathe in her.

Verse 4 (1.233.4)

वर्तमानेषु धर्मेण पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु । व्यवर्धन्कुरवः सर्वे हीनदोषाः सुखान्विताः ॥

vartamāneṣu dharmeṇa pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu | vyavardhankuravaḥ sarve hīnadoṣāḥ sukhānvitāḥ

While the great-souled Pandavas conducted themselves righteously, all the Kurus prospered, free of faults and full of happiness.

Verse 5 (1.233.5)

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन ब्राह्मणस्य विशांपते । कस्यचित्तस्करा जह्रुः केचिद्गा नृपसत्तम ॥

atha dīrgheṇa kālena brāhmaṇasya viśāṃpate | kasyacittaskarā jahruḥ kecidgā nṛpasattama

Then, after a long time, lord of the people, some thieves carried off the cows of a certain brahmin, best of kings.

Verse 6 (1.233.6)

ह्रियमाणे धने तस्मिन्ब्राह्मणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । आगम्य खाण्डवप्रस्थमुदक्रोशत्स पाण्डवान् ॥

hriyamāṇe dhane tasminbrāhmaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | āgamya khāṇḍavaprasthamudakrośatsa pāṇḍavān

As his wealth was being carried off, the brahmin, beside himself with rage, came to Khandavaprastha and cried out to the Pandavas:

Verse 7 (1.233.7)

ह्रियते गोधनं क्षुद्रैर्नृशंसैरकृतात्मभिः । प्रसह्य चास्मद्विषयादभ्यधावत पाण्डवाः ॥

hriyate godhanaṃ kṣudrairnṛśaṃsairakṛtātmabhiḥ | prasahya cāsmadviṣayādabhyadhāvata pāṇḍavāḥ

My cattle are being carried off by base, cruel and wicked men, by force, from our own land! Run after them, Pandavas!

Note on the text: Speaker set to the Brahmin: his outcry fills verses 7–10, and Wikisource resumes with वैशंपायन उवाच before verse 11.

Verse 8 (1.233.8)

ब्राह्मणस्य प्रशान्तस्य हविर्ध्वाङ्क्षैः प्रलुप्यते । शार्दूलस्य गुहां शून्यां नीचः क्रोष्टाभिमर्दति ॥

brāhmaṇasya praśāntasya havirdhvāṅkṣaiḥ pralupyate | śārdūlasya guhāṃ śūnyāṃ nīcaḥ kroṣṭābhimardati

The offering of a peaceful brahmin is being plundered by crows; a base jackal is trampling the empty den of a tiger.

Verse 9 (1.233.9)

अरक्षितारं राजानं बलिषद्भागहारिणम् । तमाहुः सर्वलोकस्य समग्रं पापचारिणम् ॥

arakṣitāraṃ rājānaṃ baliṣadbhāgahāriṇam | tamāhuḥ sarvalokasya samagraṃ pāpacāriṇam

A king who takes a sixth share as tribute and does not protect his people is called the sinner of the whole world.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.205.8*2015).

Verse 10 (1.233.10)

ब्राह्मणस्वे हृते चोरैर्धर्मार्थे च विलोपिते । रोरूयमाणे च मयि क्रियतां हस्तधारणा ॥

brāhmaṇasve hṛte corairdharmārthe ca vilopite | rorūyamāṇe ca mayi kriyatāṃ hastadhāraṇā

A brahmin's property has been stolen by thieves, dharma and wealth are being destroyed, and I am weeping aloud: take me by the hand and help me!

Verse 11 (1.233.11)

रोरूयमाणस्याभ्याशे भृशं विप्रस्य पाण्डवः । तानि वाक्यानि शुश्राव कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः ॥

rorūyamāṇasyābhyāśe bhṛśaṃ viprasya pāṇḍavaḥ | tāni vākyāni śuśrāva kuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ

The Pandava Dhananjaya, son of Kunti, heard the words of that brahmin as he wept bitterly close by.

Verse 12 (1.233.12)

श्रुत्वैव च महाबाहुर्मा भैरित्याह तं द्विजम् । आयुधानि च यत्रासन्पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् ॥

śrutvaiva ca mahābāhurmā bhairityāha taṃ dvijam | āyudhāni ca yatrāsanpāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām

As soon as he heard them, the mighty-armed one said to the brahmin, "Do not be afraid." But where the weapons of the great-souled Pandavas were kept,

Note on the text: Corrected महात्मनां → महात्मनाम् (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara for the final म् at the end of the verse, as in the critical edition's mahātmanām). = 1.205.11a–c of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 13 (1.233.13)

कृष्णया सह तत्रास्ते धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । संप्रवेशाय चाशक्तो गमनाय च पाण्डवः ॥

kṛṣṇayā saha tatrāste dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | saṃpraveśāya cāśakto gamanāya ca pāṇḍavaḥ

there sat Dharmaraja Yudhishthira with Krishna, and the Pandava could neither go in nor go away.

Note on the text: Lines correspond to 1.205.11e and 1.205.12a of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 14 (1.233.14)

तस्य चार्तस्य तैर्वाक्यैश्चोद्यमानः पुनःपुनः । आक्रन्दे तत्र कौन्तेयश्चिन्तयामास दुःखितः ॥

tasya cārtasya tairvākyaiścodyamānaḥ punaḥpunaḥ | ākrande tatra kaunteyaścintayāmāsa duḥkhitaḥ

Urged again and again by the words of that distressed man, the son of Kunti, amid the outcry, pondered in anguish.

Note on the text: = 1.205.12c–e of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 15 (1.233.15)

ह्रियमाणे धने तस्मिन्ब्राह्मणस्य तपस्विनः । अश्रुप्रमार्जनं तस्य कर्तव्यमिति निश्चयः ॥

hriyamāṇe dhane tasminbrāhmaṇasya tapasvinaḥ | aśrupramārjanaṃ tasya kartavyamiti niścayaḥ

With the wealth of that ascetic brahmin being carried off, he resolved that he must wipe away the man's tears.

Verse 16 (1.233.16)

उपप्रेक्षणजोऽधर्मः सुमहान्स्यान्महीपतेः । यद्यस्य रुदतो द्वारि न करोम्यद्य रक्षणम् ॥

upaprekṣaṇajo'dharmaḥ sumahānsyānmahīpateḥ | yadyasya rudato dvāri na karomyadya rakṣaṇam

Great would be the king's sin, born of neglect, if I do not protect this man today as he weeps at our door.

Note on the text: Corrected उपर्रेक्षणजो → उपप्रेक्षणजो (misprint in Wikisource; a garbled conjunct, as in the critical edition's upaprekṣaṇajo and the Wikisource gloss उपप्रेक्षणज उपेक्षाजन्यः). Speaker set to Arjuna: verses 16–20 are his reflections in the first person (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 17 (1.233.17)

अनास्तिक्यं च सर्वेषामस्माकमपि रक्षणे । प्रतितिष्ठेत लोकेऽस्मिन्नधर्मश्चैव नो भवेत् ॥

anāstikyaṃ ca sarveṣāmasmākamapi rakṣaṇe | pratitiṣṭheta loke'sminnadharmaścaiva no bhavet

And all men in this world would lose faith in our protection, and the wrong would be ours.

Verse 18 (1.233.18)

अनापृच्छ्य तु राजानं गते मयि न संशयः । अजातशत्रोर्नृपतेर्मयि चैवानृतं भवेत् ॥

anāpṛcchya tu rājānaṃ gate mayi na saṃśayaḥ | ajātaśatrornṛpatermayi caivānṛtaṃ bhavet

Yet if I go without taking leave of the king, then without doubt I would be in the wrong towards King Ajatashatru.

Note on the text: Corrected अनापृच्छय → अनापृच्छ्य (misprint in Wikisource; the absolutive needs the conjunct च्छ्य, as in the critical edition's anāpṛcchya).

Verse 19 (1.233.19)

अनुप्रवेशे राज्ञस्तु वनवासो भवेन्मम । सर्वमन्यत्परिहृतं धर्षणात्तु महीपतेः ॥

anupraveśe rājñastu vanavāso bhavenmama | sarvamanyatparihṛtaṃ dharṣaṇāttu mahīpateḥ

If I go in where the king is, exile in the forest will be mine; every other fault is avoided, and only the affront to the king remains.

Note on the text: The first line = 1.205.17a; the second line is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.205.17*2016).

Verse 20 (1.233.20)

अधर्मो वै महानस्तु वने वा मरणं मम । शरीरस्य विनाशेन धर्म एव विशिष्यते ॥

adharmo vai mahānastu vane vā maraṇaṃ mama | śarīrasya vināśena dharma eva viśiṣyate

Let the great wrong fall on me, or death in the forest: dharma stands higher even than the destruction of the body.

Note on the text: = 1.205.17c–e of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 21 (1.233.21)

एवं विनिश्चित्य ततः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः । अनुप्रविश्य राजानमापृच्छ्य च विशांपते ॥

evaṃ viniścitya tataḥ kuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ | anupraviśya rājānamāpṛcchya ca viśāṃpate

Having so resolved, Dhananjaya, son of Kunti, went in to the king and took his leave, lord of the people;

Note on the text: Corrected आपृच्छय → आपृच्छ्य (misprint in Wikisource; the absolutive needs the conjunct च्छ्य, as in the critical edition's āpṛcchya).

Verse 22 (1.233.22)

मुखमाच्छाद्य निबिडमुत्तरीयेण वाससा । अग्रजं चार्जुनो गेहादभिवाद्याशु निःसृतः ॥

mukhamācchādya nibiḍamuttarīyeṇa vāsasā | agrajaṃ cārjuno gehādabhivādyāśu niḥsṛtaḥ

and covering his face closely with his upper garment, Arjuna bowed to his elder brother and quickly left the house.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick, a doubled danda and a quote mark). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the first line is in the CE apparatus, 1.205.18*2017, the second has no counterpart there).

Verse 23 (1.233.23)

धनुरादाय संहृष्टो ब्राह्मणं प्रत्यभाषत । ब्राह्मणागम्यतां शीघ्रं यावत्परधनैषिणः ॥

dhanurādāya saṃhṛṣṭo brāhmaṇaṃ pratyabhāṣata | brāhmaṇāgamyatāṃ śīghraṃ yāvatparadhanaiṣiṇaḥ

Taking up his bow, he said joyfully to the brahmin: "Come quickly, brahmin! While those who covet others' wealth,

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मणा गम्यतां → ब्राह्मणागम्यतां and परधनैर्षिणः → परधनैषिणः (misprints in Wikisource; a wrong word-break splits ब्राह्मण आगम्यतां, and a stray र् in एषिणः, as in the critical edition's brāhmaṇāgamyatāṃ … paradhanaiṣiṇaḥ).

Verse 24 (1.233.24)

न दूरे ते गताः क्षुद्रास्तावद्गच्छावहे सह । यावन्निवर्तयाम्यद्य चोरहस्ताद्धनं तव ॥

na dūre te gatāḥ kṣudrāstāvadgacchāvahe saha | yāvannivartayāmyadya corahastāddhanaṃ tava

those wretches, have not gone far, let us go together, so that I may turn your wealth back today out of the thieves' hands."

Verse 25 (1.233.25)

सोऽनुसृत्य महाबाहुर्धन्वी वर्मी रथी ध्वजी । शरैर्विध्वस्य तांश्चोरानवजित्य च तद्धनम् ॥

so'nusṛtya mahābāhurdhanvī varmī rathī dhvajī | śarairvidhvasya tāṃścorānavajitya ca taddhanam

Following them, the mighty-armed one, with bow, armour, chariot and banner, crushed those thieves with his arrows and won back the wealth.

Verse 26 (1.233.26)

ब्राह्मणं समुपाकृत्य यशः प्राप्य च पाण्डवः । ततस्तद्गोधनं पार्थो दत्त्वा तस्मै द्विजातये ॥

brāhmaṇaṃ samupākṛtya yaśaḥ prāpya ca pāṇḍavaḥ | tatastadgodhanaṃ pārtho dattvā tasmai dvijātaye

Having done the brahmin this service and won renown, the Pandava, son of Pritha, gave the cattle back to that twice-born man,

Note on the text: Corrected गेधनं → गोधनं (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel sign, as in the critical edition's apparatus godhanaṃ). The first line = 1.205.22a; the second line is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.205.22*2018).

Verse 27 (1.233.27)

आजगाम पुरं वीरः सव्यसाची धनञ्जयः । सोऽभिवाद्य गुरून्सर्वान्सर्वैश्चाप्यभिनन्दितः ॥

ājagāma puraṃ vīraḥ savyasācī dhanañjayaḥ | so'bhivādya gurūnsarvānsarvaiścāpyabhinanditaḥ

and the hero Dhananjaya, the ambidextrous archer, returned to the city. He greeted all his elders and was welcomed by them all,

Note on the text: Lines correspond to 1.205.22c and 1.205.23a of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 28 (1.233.28)

धर्मराजमुवाचेदं व्रतमादिश मे प्रभो । समयः समतिक्रान्तो भवत्संदर्शने मया ॥

dharmarājamuvācedaṃ vratamādiśa me prabho | samayaḥ samatikrānto bhavatsaṃdarśane mayā

and then he said to Dharmaraja: "Lay my vow upon me, my lord. I have broken the compact by seeing you.

Note on the text: Lines correspond to 1.205.23c and 1.205.24a of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 29 (1.233.29)

वनवासं गमिष्यामि समयो ह्येष नः कृतः । इत्युक्तो धर्मराजस्तु सहसा वाक्यमप्रियम् ॥

vanavāsaṃ gamiṣyāmi samayo hyeṣa naḥ kṛtaḥ | ityukto dharmarājastu sahasā vākyamapriyam

I will go to live in the forest, for that is the compact we made." At these unwelcome words Dharmaraja at once

Note on the text: Corrected धर्मरास्तु → धर्मराजस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, as in the critical edition's dharmarājas tu). Lines correspond to 1.205.24c and 1.205.25a of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 30 (1.233.30)

कथमित्यब्रवीद्वाचा शोकार्तः सज्जमानया । युधिष्ठिरो गुडाकेशं भ्राता भ्रातरमच्युतम् ॥

kathamityabravīdvācā śokārtaḥ sajjamānayā | yudhiṣṭhiro guḍākeśaṃ bhrātā bhrātaramacyutam

cried "How so?" in a faltering voice, stricken with grief. Then Yudhishthira, the brother, to Gudakesha, his steadfast brother,

Note on the text: = 1.205.25c–e of the critical edition (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 31 (1.233.31)

उवाच दीनो राजा च धनञ्जयमिदं वचः । प्रमाणमस्मि यदि ते मत्तः शृणु वचोऽनघ ॥

uvāca dīno rājā ca dhanañjayamidaṃ vacaḥ | pramāṇamasmi yadi te mattaḥ śṛṇu vaco'nagha

the king, downcast, spoke these words to Dhananjaya: "If I am an authority for you, listen to my words, sinless one."

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.205.25*2019); the second line = 1.205.26a.

Verse 32 (1.233.32)

अनुप्रवेशे यद्वीर कृतवांस्त्वं ममाप्रियम् । सर्वं तदनुजानामि व्यलीकं न च मे हृदि ॥

anupraveśe yadvīra kṛtavāṃstvaṃ mamāpriyam | sarvaṃ tadanujānāmi vyalīkaṃ na ca me hṛdi

Whatever displeasure you caused me, hero, by coming in, I forgive it all; there is no grievance in my heart.

Note on the text: = 1.205.26c–e of the critical edition. Speaker set to Yudhishthira: his speech, begun in the previous verse, fills verses 32–34 (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 33 (1.233.33)

गुरोरनुप्रवेशो हि नोपघातो यवीयसः । यवीयसोऽनुप्रवेशो ज्येष्ठस्य विधिलोपकः ॥

guroranupraveśo hi nopaghāto yavīyasaḥ | yavīyaso'nupraveśo jyeṣṭhasya vidhilopakaḥ

When the younger brother comes in upon the elder, it does no harm; it is the elder coming in upon the younger that breaks the rule.

Verse 34 (1.233.34)

निवर्तस्व महाबाहो कुरुष्व वचनं मम । न हि ते धर्मलोपोऽस्ति न च ते धर्षणा कृता ॥

nivartasva mahābāho kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama | na hi te dharmalopo'sti na ca te dharṣaṇā kṛtā

Turn back, mighty-armed one, and do as I say. There has been no breach of dharma on your part, nor have you committed any offence.

Note on the text: Corrected धर्पणा → धर्षणा (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, as in the critical edition's dharṣaṇā).

Verse 35 (1.233.35)

न व्याजेन चरेद्धर्ममिति मे भवतः श्रुतम् । न सत्याद्विचलिष्यामि सत्येनायुधमालभे ॥

na vyājena careddharmamiti me bhavataḥ śrutam | na satyādvicaliṣyāmi satyenāyudhamālabhe

I have heard from you yourself that dharma must not be practised by subterfuge. I will not swerve from the truth; by the truth I took up my weapon.

Verse 36 (1.233.36)

सोऽभ्यनुज्ञाय राजानं वनचर्याय दीक्षितः । वने द्वादश मासांस्तु वासायानुजगाम ह ॥

so'bhyanujñāya rājānaṃ vanacaryāya dīkṣitaḥ | vane dvādaśa māsāṃstu vāsāyānujagāma ha

Taking leave of the king and consecrated for life in the forest, he set out to dwell in the forest for twelve months.