Kuntibhoja Entrusts Pritha with the Brahmin's Care

Verse 1 (3.304.1)

किं तद्गुह्यं न चाख्यातं कर्णायेहोष्णरश्मिना । कीदृशे कुण्डले ते च कवचं चैव कीदृशम् ॥

kiṃ tadguhyaṃ na cākhyātaṃ karṇāyehoṣṇaraśminā | kīdṛśe kuṇḍale te ca kavacaṃ caiva kīdṛśam

"What was that secret which the hot-rayed Sun did not reveal to Karna here? What were those earrings like, and what was the armour like?"

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (कीदृशेकुण्डले → कीदृशे कुण्डले). Corrected कवचं रचैव → कवचं चैव (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र; the critical edition reads kavacaṃ caiva).

Verse 2 (3.304.2)

कुतश्च कवचं तस्य कुण्डले चैव सत्तम । एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन ॥

kutaśca kavacaṃ tasya kuṇḍale caiva sattama | etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ tanme brūhi tapodhana

"And where did his armour and his earrings come from, O most virtuous one? This I wish to hear; tell it to me, O rich in austerity."

Note on the text: Corrected तस्यं → तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara; the critical edition reads tasya). Restored a missing word space (कुण्डलेचैव → कुण्डले चैव).

Verse 3 (3.304.3)

अहं राजन्ब्रवीम्येतत्तस्य गुह्यं विभावसोः । यादृशे कुण्डले ते च कवचं चैव यादृशम् ॥

ahaṃ rājanbravīmyetattasya guhyaṃ vibhāvasoḥ | yādṛśe kuṇḍale te ca kavacaṃ caiva yādṛśam

I shall tell you, O king, that secret of the Sun, and what the earrings and the armour were like.

Note on the text: Corrected कवचं वैव → कवचं चैव (misprint in Wikisource; व for च; the critical edition reads kavacaṃ caiva).

Verse 4 (3.304.4)

कुन्तिभोजं पुरा राजन्ब्राह्मणः पर्युपस्थितः । तिग्मतेजा महान्प्रांशुः श्मश्रुदण्डजटाधरः ॥

kuntibhojaṃ purā rājanbrāhmaṇaḥ paryupasthitaḥ | tigmatejā mahānprāṃśuḥ śmaśrudaṇḍajaṭādharaḥ

Long ago, O king, a Brahmin came to Kuntibhoja — of fierce splendour, tall and great, bearing a beard, a staff and matted locks,

Verse 5 (3.304.5)

दर्शनीयोऽनवद्याङ्गस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव । मधुपिङ्गो मधुरवाक्तपःस्वाध्यायभूषणः ॥

darśanīyo'navadyāṅgastejasā prajvalanniva | madhupiṅgo madhuravāktapaḥsvādhyāyabhūṣaṇaḥ

handsome to behold, flawless in every limb, as if blazing with his own energy, honey-tawny in colour, sweet of speech, adorned with austerity and Vedic study.

Note on the text: Corrected दर्सनीयो → दर्शनीयो (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads darśanīyo).

Verse 6 (3.304.6)

स राजानं कुन्तिभोजमब्रवीत्सुमहातपाः । भिक्षामिच्छामि वै भोक्तुं तव गेहे विमत्सर ॥

sa rājānaṃ kuntibhojamabravītsumahātapāḥ | bhikṣāmicchāmi vai bhoktuṃ tava gehe vimatsara

That man of great austerity said to King Kuntibhoja: "I wish to take my alms-food in your house, O you who are free of envy."

Verse 7 (3.304.7)

न मे व्यलीकं कर्तव्यं त्वया वा तव चानुगैः । एवं वत्स्यामि ते गेहे यदि ते रोचतेऽनघ ॥

na me vyalīkaṃ kartavyaṃ tvayā vā tava cānugaiḥ | evaṃ vatsyāmi te gehe yadi te rocate'nagha

"Neither you nor your attendants must do anything to displease me. On these terms I will live in your house, if it pleases you, sinless one."

Verse 8 (3.304.8)

यथाकामं च गच्छेयमागच्छेयं तथैव च । शय्यासने च मे राजन्नापराध्येत कश्चन ॥

yathākāmaṃ ca gaccheyamāgaccheyaṃ tathaiva ca | śayyāsane ca me rājannāparādhyeta kaścana

"I shall go and come just as I please, and no one, O king, shall give offence concerning my bed or my seat."

Verse 9 (3.304.9)

तमब्रवीत्कुन्तिभोजः प्रीतियुक्तमिदं वचः । एवमस्तु परं चेति पुनश्चैवमथाब्रवीत् ॥

tamabravītkuntibhojaḥ prītiyuktamidaṃ vacaḥ | evamastu paraṃ ceti punaścaivamathābravīt

Kuntibhoja spoke these affectionate words to him: "So be it, and gladly." And then he said further:

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (परंचेति → परं चेति).

Verse 10 (3.304.10)

मम कन्या महाप्राज्ञ पृथा नाम यशस्विनी । शीलवृत्तान्विता साध्वी नियताऽनवमानिनी ॥

mama kanyā mahāprājña pṛthā nāma yaśasvinī | śīlavṛttānvitā sādhvī niyatā'navamāninī

"I have a daughter, wise one, named Pritha, of good renown, endowed with good character and conduct, virtuous, disciplined and never disdainful."

Verse 11 (3.304.11)

उपस्थास्यति सा त्वां वै पूजयाऽनवमत्य च । तस्याश्च शीलवृत्तेन तुष्टिं समुपयास्यसि ॥

upasthāsyati sā tvāṃ vai pūjayā'navamatya ca | tasyāśca śīlavṛttena tuṣṭiṃ samupayāsyasi

"She will attend on you with reverence, never slighting you, and you will be well pleased with her character and conduct."

Verse 12 (3.304.12)

एवमुक्त्वा तु तं विप्रमभिपूज्य यथाविधि । उवाच कन्यामभ्येत्य पृथां पृथुललोचनाम् ॥

evamuktvā tu taṃ vipramabhipūjya yathāvidhi | uvāca kanyāmabhyetya pṛthāṃ pṛthulalocanām

Having said this and honoured the Brahmin according to rule, he went to his daughter, wide-eyed Pritha, and said:

Verse 13 (3.304.13)

अयं वत्से महाभागो ब्राह्मणो वस्तुमिच्छति । मम गेहे मया चास्य तथेत्येवं प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥

ayaṃ vatse mahābhāgo brāhmaṇo vastumicchati | mama gehe mayā cāsya tathetyevaṃ pratiśrutam

"Child, this illustrious Brahmin wishes to stay in my house, and I have promised him, saying, 'So be it.'"

Verse 14 (3.304.14)

त्वयि वत्से परायत्तं ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधनम् । तन्मे वाक्यममिथ्या त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि कर्हिचित् ॥

tvayi vatse parāyattaṃ brāhmaṇasyābhirādhanam | tanme vākyamamithyā tvaṃ kartumarhasi karhicit

"On you, child, depends the pleasing of this Brahmin; you must never make my word false."

Verse 15 (3.304.15)

अयं तपस्वी भगवान्स्वाध्यायनियतो द्विजः । यद्यद्ब्रूयान्महातेजास्तत्तद्देयममत्सरात् ॥

ayaṃ tapasvī bhagavānsvādhyāyaniyato dvijaḥ | yadyadbrūyānmahātejāstattaddeyamamatsarāt

"This blessed ascetic is a twice-born devoted to Vedic study; whatever that man of great splendour asks for must be given without grudging."

Note on the text: Corrected तत्तद्देयमात्सरात् → तत्तद्देयममत्सरात् (misprint in Wikisource; an akshara dropped; the critical edition reads deyam amatsarāt).

Verse 16 (3.304.16)

ब्राह्मणा हि परं तेजो ब्राह्मणा हि परं तपः । ब्राह्मणानां नमस्कारैः सूर्यो दिवि विराजते ॥

brāhmaṇā hi paraṃ tejo brāhmaṇā hi paraṃ tapaḥ | brāhmaṇānāṃ namaskāraiḥ sūryo divi virājate

"For Brahmins are the highest energy, Brahmins the highest austerity; through the salutations of Brahmins the sun shines in the sky."

Verse 17 (3.304.17)

अमानयन्हि दाण्डक्यो वातापिश्च महासुरः । निहतो ब्रह्मदण्डेन तालजङ्घस्तथैव च । विन्ध्याद्रिश्च समुद्रश्च नहुषश्च विहिंसितः ॥

amānayanhi dāṇḍakyo vātāpiśca mahāsuraḥ | nihato brahmadaṇḍena tālajaṅghastathaiva ca | vindhyādriśca samudraśca nahuṣaśca vihiṃsitaḥ

"For failing to honour them, Dandakya was struck down by the Brahmin's rod, as were the great asura Vatapi and Talajangha too; and the Vindhya mountain, the ocean and Nahusha were brought low."

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 = CE 3.287.17 (the critical edition reads mānārhān, "those worthy of honour", where Wikisource names दाण्डक्यो, a recension variant kept). The third line (the Vindhya, the ocean and Nahusha), set off in Wikisource, is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Corrected वैन्ध्याद्रिश्च → विन्ध्याद्रिश्च (misprint in Wikisource; ai-sign for i; the Vindhya mountain). Corrected नद्दुषश्च → नहुषश्च (misprint in Wikisource; द्दु for हु; King Nahusha). Removed stray wiki quote marks (` ') that set off this passage in Wikisource.

Verse 18 (3.304.18)

सोयं वत्से महाभार आहितस्त्वयि सांप्रतम् । त्वं सदा नियता कुर्या ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधनम् ॥

soyaṃ vatse mahābhāra āhitastvayi sāṃpratam | tvaṃ sadā niyatā kuryā brāhmaṇasyābhirādhanam

"This great burden, child, is now laid upon you; with self-restraint you must always serve to please the Brahmin."

Verse 19 (3.304.19)

जानामि प्रणिधानं ते बाल्यात्प्रभृति नन्दिनि । ब्राह्मणेष्विह सर्वेषु गुरुबन्धुषु चैव ह ॥

jānāmi praṇidhānaṃ te bālyātprabhṛti nandini | brāhmaṇeṣviha sarveṣu gurubandhuṣu caiva ha

"I know your devotion since childhood, daughter, toward all Brahmins here and toward elders and kinsfolk,"

Verse 20 (3.304.20)

तथा प्रेष्येषु सर्वेषु मित्रसंबन्धिमातृषु । मयि चैव यथावत्त्वं सर्वमावृत्य वर्तसे ॥

tathā preṣyeṣu sarveṣu mitrasaṃbandhimātṛṣu | mayi caiva yathāvattvaṃ sarvamāvṛtya vartase

"and likewise toward all the servants, toward friends, relations and the mothers, and toward me: you behave rightly, with care for all."

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (त्वंसर्वमावृत्य → त्वं सर्वमावृत्य).

Verse 21 (3.304.21)

न ह्यतुष्टो जनोऽस्तीह पुरे चान्तःपुरे च ते । सम्यग्वृत्त्याऽनवद्याङ्गि तव भृत्यजनेष्वपि ॥

na hyatuṣṭo jano'stīha pure cāntaḥpure ca te | samyagvṛttyā'navadyāṅgi tava bhṛtyajaneṣvapi

"There is no one, in the city or in the inner apartments, whom your right conduct has not satisfied, flawless one — even among your servants."

Verse 22 (3.304.22)

संदेष्टव्यां तु मन्ये त्वां द्विजातिं कोपनं प्रति । पृथे बालेति कृत्वा वै सुता चासि ममेति च ॥

saṃdeṣṭavyāṃ tu manye tvāṃ dvijātiṃ kopanaṃ prati | pṛthe bāleti kṛtvā vai sutā cāsi mameti ca

"Yet I think I must give you instructions about this irascible Brahmin, Pritha, because you are young and because you are my daughter."

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (चासिममेति → चासि ममेति).

Verse 23 (3.304.23)

वृष्णीनां च कुले जाता शूरस्य दयिता सुता । दत्ता प्रीतिमता मह्यं पित्रा बाला पुरा स्वयम् ॥

vṛṣṇīnāṃ ca kule jātā śūrasya dayitā sutā | dattā prītimatā mahyaṃ pitrā bālā purā svayam

"You were born in the family of the Vrishnis, the beloved daughter of Shura, and long ago, while you were a child, your father himself gave you to me out of affection —"

Note on the text: Corrected शूरस् दयिता → शूरस्य दयिता (misprint in Wikisource; the ending broken off; the critical edition reads śūrasya). Restored a missing word space (पुरास्वयम् → पुरा स्वयम्).

Verse 24 (3.304.24)

वसुदेवस्य भगिनी सुतानां प्रवरा मम । अग्र्यमग्रे प्रतिज्ञाय तेनासि दुहिता मम ॥

vasudevasya bhaginī sutānāṃ pravarā mama | agryamagre pratijñāya tenāsi duhitā mama

"you, the sister of Vasudeva, the foremost of my children. He had first promised me his first-born, and so you are my daughter."

Note on the text: Corrected वसुदेवस् भगिनी → वसुदेवस्य भगिनी (misprint in Wikisource; the ending broken off; the critical edition reads vasudevasya).

Verse 25 (3.304.25)

तादृशे हि कुले जाता कुले मम विवर्धिता । सुखात्सुखमनुप्राप्ता ह्रदाद्ध्रदमिवापगा ॥

tādṛśe hi kule jātā kule mama vivardhitā | sukhātsukhamanuprāptā hradāddhradamivāpagā

"Born in such a family and raised in mine, you have passed from happiness to happiness, like a river flowing from one lake into another."

Verse 26 (3.304.26)

दौष्कुलेया विशेषेण कथंचित्प्रग्रहं गताः । बालभावाद्विकुर्वन्ति प्रायशः प्रमदाः शुभे ॥

dauṣkuleyā viśeṣeṇa kathaṃcitpragrahaṃ gatāḥ | bālabhāvādvikurvanti prāyaśaḥ pramadāḥ śubhe

"Women of low birth especially, once they somehow gain a hold on power, mostly behave badly out of childishness, auspicious one."

Verse 27 (3.304.27)

पृथे राजकुले जन्म रूपं चापि तवाद्भुतम् । तेन तेनासि संपन्ना समुपेता च भामिनि ॥

pṛthe rājakule janma rūpaṃ cāpi tavādbhutam | tena tenāsi saṃpannā samupetā ca bhāmini

"Pritha, your birth is in a royal house, and your beauty too is wonderful; you are endowed and furnished with each of these, proud lady."

Verse 28 (3.304.28)

सा त्वं दर्पं परित्यज्य दम्भं मानं च भामिनि । आराध्य वरदं विप्रं श्रेयसा योक्ष्यसे पृथे ॥

sā tvaṃ darpaṃ parityajya dambhaṃ mānaṃ ca bhāmini | ārādhya varadaṃ vipraṃ śreyasā yokṣyase pṛthe

"So cast off pride, deceit and arrogance, proud lady; by pleasing the boon-granting Brahmin you will be blessed with good fortune, Pritha."

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (आराध्यवरदं → आराध्य वरदं).

Verse 29 (3.304.29)

एवं प्राप्स्यसि कल्याणि कल्याणमनघे ध्रुवम् । कोपिते च द्विजश्रेष्ठे कृत्स्नं दह्येत मे कुलम् ॥

evaṃ prāpsyasi kalyāṇi kalyāṇamanaghe dhruvam | kopite ca dvijaśreṣṭhe kṛtsnaṃ dahyeta me kulam

"In this way, lovely and sinless one, you will surely win blessings; but if the best of Brahmins is angered, my whole family may be burned."

Note on the text: Corrected कुत्स्नं → कृत्स्नं (misprint in Wikisource; u-sign for ṛ; the critical edition reads kṛtsnaṃ).