Bhima Urges War; Brihadashva Begins the Tale of Nala

Verse 1 (3.49.1)

अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि । युधिष्ठिरप्रभृतयः किमकुर्वत पाण्डवाः ॥

astrahetorgate pārthe śakralokaṃ mahātmani | yudhiṣṭhiraprabhṛtayaḥ kimakurvata pāṇḍavāḥ

When the great-souled Partha had gone to Shakra's world for the sake of weapons, what did the Pandavas, led by Yudhishthira, do?

Verse 2 (3.49.2)

अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि । न्यवसन्कृष्णया सार्धं काम्यके भरतर्षभाः ॥

astrahetorgate pārthe śakralokaṃ mahātmani | nyavasankṛṣṇayā sārdhaṃ kāmyake bharatarṣabhāḥ

When the great-souled Partha had gone to Shakra's world for weapons, those bulls among the Bharatas lived on in the Kamyaka forest with Krishna (Draupadi).

Verse 3 (3.49.3)

ततः कदाचिदेकान्ते विविक्ते मृदुशाद्वले । दुःखार्ता भरतश्रेष्ठा निषेदुः सह कृष्णया ॥

tataḥ kadācidekānte vivikte mṛduśādvale | duḥkhārtā bharataśreṣṭhā niṣeduḥ saha kṛṣṇayā

Then one day, in a lonely, secluded spot on soft grass, the best of the Bharatas sat down with Draupadi, stricken with grief.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 3.49.3ab–cd (it reads vivikta iva śādvale for विविक्ते मृदुशाद्वले, a recension variant, kept); the alignment missed it because Wikisource divides these verses differently.

Verse 4 (3.49.4)

धनंजयं शोचमानाः साश्रुकण्ठाः सुदुःखिताः । तद्वियोगार्दितान्सर्वाञ्शोकः समभिपुप्लुवे ॥

dhanaṃjayaṃ śocamānāḥ sāśrukaṇṭhāḥ suduḥkhitāḥ | tadviyogārditānsarvāñśokaḥ samabhipupluve

They mourned Dhananjaya, their throats choked with tears, deeply unhappy; grief swept over them all, pained as they were by his absence.

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition's 3.49.3ef, the second its 3.49.4ab (tad viyogād dhi tān for तद्वियोगार्दितान्, a variant, kept); the alignment missed it.

Verse 5 (3.49.5)

धनंजयवियोगाच्च राज्यभ्रंशाच्च दुःखिताः । अथ भीमो महाबाहुर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत ॥

dhanaṃjayaviyogācca rājyabhraṃśācca duḥkhitāḥ | atha bhīmo mahābāhuryudhiṣṭhiramabhāṣata

Distressed by their separation from Dhananjaya and by the loss of their kingdom, the mighty-armed Bhima then spoke to Yudhishthira:

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition's 3.49.4cd (rājyanāśāc ca for राज्यभ्रंशाच्च, a variant, kept), the second its 3.49.5ab; the alignment missed it.

Verse 6 (3.49.6)

निदेशात्ते महाराज गतोऽसौ भरतर्षभः । अर्जुनः पाण्डुपुत्राणां यस्मिन्प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः ॥

nideśātte mahārāja gato'sau bharatarṣabhaḥ | arjunaḥ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ yasminprāṇāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ

At your command, great king, that bull of the Bharatas has gone away: Arjuna, in whom the lives of Pandu's sons are rooted.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 3.49.5cd–ef (puruṣarṣabhaḥ for भरतर्षभः, a variant, kept); the alignment missed it. Wikisource prints no speaker heading; from here to verse 34 it is Bhima's speech (verse 5 introduces him), so these verses are given to Bhima rather than Vaishampayana.

Verse 7 (3.49.7)

यस्मिन्विनष्टे पाञ्चालाः सह पुत्रैस्तथा वयम् । सात्यकिर्वासुदेवश्च विनश्येयुर्न संशयाः ॥

yasminvinaṣṭe pāñcālāḥ saha putraistathā vayam | sātyakirvāsudevaśca vinaśyeyurna saṃśayāḥ

If he were to perish, the Panchalas with their sons, and we ourselves, and Satyaki and Vasudeva too, would all perish; of that there is no doubt.

Verse 8 (3.49.8)

योऽसौ गच्छति धर्मात्मा बहून्क्लेशान्विचिन्तयन् । भवन्नियोगाद्बीभत्सुस्ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥

yo'sau gacchati dharmātmā bahūnkleśānvicintayan | bhavanniyogādbībhatsustato duḥkhataraṃ nu kim

That righteous man, Bibhatsu, has gone away at your bidding, brooding over our many hardships. What could be more painful than that?

Note on the text: Corrected योसौ → योऽसौ (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; the critical edition reads yo 'sau). धर्मात्मा … विचिन्तयन् for the critical edition's tejasvī … acintayan is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 9 (3.49.9)

यस्य बाहू समाश्रित्य वयं सर्वे महात्मनः । मन्यामहे जितानाजौ परान्प्राप्तां च मेदिनीम् ॥

yasya bāhū samāśritya vayaṃ sarve mahātmanaḥ | manyāmahe jitānājau parānprāptāṃ ca medinīm

Relying on the arms of that great-souled one, all of us think of our enemies as already beaten in battle and of the earth as already won.

Verse 10 (3.49.10)

यस्य प्रभावाद्धि वयं सभामध्ये धनुष्मतः । जितान्मन्यामहे सर्वान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्ससौबलान् ॥

yasya prabhāvāddhi vayaṃ sabhāmadhye dhanuṣmataḥ | jitānmanyāmahe sarvāndhārtarāṣṭrānsasaubalān

Through his might we bowmen regard all the sons of Dhritarashtra, together with the son of Subala, as already conquered in the midst of the assembly hall.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (Wikisource's mark for an added passage). Corrected धार्तराष्ट्रात्ससौबलान् → धार्तराष्ट्रान्ससौबलान् (misprint in Wikisource; त् for न्, the accusative plural agreeing with सर्वान्; the apparatus reads dhārtarāṣṭrān sasaubalān). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the apparatus as 3.49.8d*201.

Verse 11 (3.49.11)

यस्य प्रभावान्न मया सभामध्ये महाबलाः । नीता लोकममुं सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्राः ससौबलाः ॥

yasya prabhāvānna mayā sabhāmadhye mahābalāḥ | nītā lokamamuṃ sarve dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ sasaubalāḥ

With his might behind me, I could have sent all the mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, with Subala's son, to the other world in the midst of the hall; yet I did not.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark. The critical edition's 3.49.9, which reads dhanuṣmataḥ for महाबलाः (a variant, kept); the alignment missed it.

Verse 12 (3.49.12)

ते वयं बाहुबलिनः क्रोधमुत्थितमात्मनः । सहामहे भवन्मूलं वासुदेवेन पालिताः ॥

te vayaṃ bāhubalinaḥ krodhamutthitamātmanaḥ | sahāmahe bhavanmūlaṃ vāsudevena pālitāḥ

We are strong in our arms and protected by Vasudeva, yet we hold back the anger that has risen in us, because of you.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (तेवयं → ते वयं).

Verse 13 (3.49.13)

मया हि सह कृष्णेन हत्वा कर्णमुखान्परान् । स्वबाहुविजितां कृत्स्नां प्रशाधीमां वसुंधराम् ॥

mayā hi saha kṛṣṇena hatvā karṇamukhānparān | svabāhuvijitāṃ kṛtsnāṃ praśādhīmāṃ vasuṃdharām

For with Krishna at my side I could kill our enemies, Karna and the rest; then rule this whole earth, won by our own arms.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रशाधीनां → प्रशाधीमां (misprint in Wikisource; न for म; प्रशाधि इमां, 'rule this', is the evident sense, where the critical edition has praśāsema). मया for vayaṃ is a variant and is kept.

Verse 14 (3.49.14)

भवतो द्यूतदोषेण सर्वे वयमुपप्लुताः । अहीनपौरुषा राजन्बलिभिर्बलवत्तराः ॥

bhavato dyūtadoṣeṇa sarve vayamupaplutāḥ | ahīnapauruṣā rājanbalibhirbalavattarāḥ

Through your fault at the dice we have all been brought to ruin, though our manhood is undiminished, O king, and we are made mightier still by the tribute of our vassals.

Note on the text: Corrected भतो → भवतो (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable व had dropped; the critical edition reads bhavato) and restored a missing word space (सर्वेवयमुपप्लुताः → सर्वे वयमुपप्लुताः). बलवत्तराः for balavattamāḥ is a variant and is kept.

Verse 15 (3.49.15)

क्षात्रं धर्मं महाराज त्वमवेक्षितुमर्हसि । न हि धर्मो महाराज क्षत्रियस्य वनाश्रयः ॥

kṣātraṃ dharmaṃ mahārāja tvamavekṣitumarhasi | na hi dharmo mahārāja kṣatriyasya vanāśrayaḥ

Look to the duty of a kshatriya, great king. Living in the forest is not the duty of a kshatriya, great king.

Note on the text: Corrected ग हिधर्मो → न हि धर्मो and त्रियस्य → क्षत्रियस्य (misprints in Wikisource; ग for न, a lost word space and a dropped क्ष; the critical edition reads na hi dharmo … kṣatriyasya). The verse is the critical edition's 3.49.13ab–cd (samavekṣitum for त्वमवेक्षितुम्, a variant, kept); the alignment missed it.

Verse 16 (3.49.16)

राज्यमेव परं धर्मं क्षत्रियस्य विदुर्बुधाः । स क्षत्रधर्मविद्राजन्माधर्म्यान्नीनशः पथः ॥

rājyameva paraṃ dharmaṃ kṣatriyasya vidurbudhāḥ | sa kṣatradharmavidrājanmādharmyānnīnaśaḥ pathaḥ

The wise know kingship alone to be the highest duty of a kshatriya. You know the kshatriya's duty, O king: do not abandon the paths of righteousness.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (परंधर्मं → परं धर्मं). The first line is the critical edition's 3.49.13ef, the second its 3.49.14ab; the alignment missed it.

Verse 17 (3.49.17)

प्राग्द्वादश समा राजन्धार्तराष्ट्रान्निहन्महि । निवर्त्य च वनात्पार्थमानाय्य च जनार्दनम् ॥

prāgdvādaśa samā rājandhārtarāṣṭrānnihanmahi | nivartya ca vanātpārthamānāyya ca janārdanam

Before the twelve years are out, O king, let us kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, bringing Partha back from the forest and summoning Janardana.

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition's 3.49.14cd, the second its 3.49.15ab; the alignment missed it.

Verse 18 (3.49.18)

व्यूढानीकान्महाराज जवेनैव महाहवे । धार्तराष्ट्रानमुं लोकं गमयाम विशांपते ॥

vyūḍhānīkānmahārāja javenaiva mahāhave | dhārtarāṣṭrānamuṃ lokaṃ gamayāma viśāṃpate

Great king, lord of the people, let us swiftly send the sons of Dhritarashtra to the other world in a great battle, their armies drawn up in array.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 3.49.15cd–ef (gamayāmi for गमयाम, a variant, kept); the alignment missed it.

Verse 19 (3.49.19)

सर्वानहं हनिष्यामि धार्तराष्ट्रान्ससौबलान् । दुर्योधनं च कर्णं च यो वाऽन्यः प्रतियोत्स्यते ॥

sarvānahaṃ haniṣyāmi dhārtarāṣṭrānsasaubalān | duryodhanaṃ ca karṇaṃ ca yo vā'nyaḥ pratiyotsyate

I will kill all the sons of Dhritarashtra together with Subala's son, Duryodhana and Karna, and whoever else fights against me.

Verse 20 (3.49.20)

मया प्रशमिते पश्चात्त्वमेष्यसि वनं पुनः । एवं कृते न ते दोषो भविष्यति विशांपते ॥

mayā praśamite paścāttvameṣyasi vanaṃ punaḥ | evaṃ kṛte na te doṣo bhaviṣyati viśāṃpate

Once I have settled them, you may go back to the forest afterwards. Done this way, no fault will attach to you, lord of the people.

Verse 21 (3.49.21)

यज्ञैश्च विविधैस्तात कृतं पापमरिंदम । अवधूय महाराज गच्छेम स्वर्गमुत्तमम् ॥

yajñaiśca vividhaistāta kṛtaṃ pāpamariṃdama | avadhūya mahārāja gacchema svargamuttamam

And by sacrifices of many kinds, dear brother, tamer of enemies, shaking off whatever sin was done, great king, we may go to the highest heaven.

Note on the text: Restored two missing word spaces (कृतंपापमरिंदम → कृतं पापमरिंदम, महाराजगच्छेम → महाराज गच्छेम).

Verse 22 (3.49.22)

एवमेतद्भवेद्राजन्यदि राजा न बालिशः । अस्माकं दीर्घसूत्रः स्याद्भवान्धर्मपरायणः ॥

evametadbhavedrājanyadi rājā na bāliśaḥ | asmākaṃ dīrghasūtraḥ syādbhavāndharmaparāyaṇaḥ

That is how it would turn out, O king, if our king were not foolish and slow to act, devoted as you are to dharma.

Verse 23 (3.49.23)

निकृत्या निकृतिप्रज्ञा हन्तव्या इति निश्चयः । न हि नैकृतिकं हत्वा निकृत्या पापमुच्यते । तथा भारत धर्मेषु धर्मज्ञैरिह दृश्यते ॥

nikṛtyā nikṛtiprajñā hantavyā iti niścayaḥ | na hi naikṛtikaṃ hatvā nikṛtyā pāpamucyate | tathā bhārata dharmeṣu dharmajñairiha dṛśyate

Men of deceit are to be killed by deceit: that is settled. No sin is said to come from killing a deceiver by deceit. So, Bharata, do those who know dharma see it in matters of duty.

Note on the text: Corrected निकृतिप्रत्रा → निकृतिप्रज्ञा (misprint in Wikisource; त्र for ज्ञ; the critical edition reads nikṛtiprajñā). The first two lines are the critical edition's 3.49.20, the third its 3.49.21ab; the alignment missed it.

Verse 24 (3.49.24)

अहोरात्रं महाराज तुल्यं संवत्सरेण ह । तथैव वेदवचनं श्रूयते नित्यदा विभो । संवत्सरो महाराज पूर्णो भवति कृच्छ्रतः ॥

ahorātraṃ mahārāja tulyaṃ saṃvatsareṇa ha | tathaiva vedavacanaṃ śrūyate nityadā vibho | saṃvatsaro mahārāja pūrṇo bhavati kṛcchrataḥ

A day and a night, great king, are equal to a year; so the word of the Veda is always heard, my lord. A year, great king, may be fulfilled through an act of penance.

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition's 3.49.21cd (hi for ह), the other two its 3.49.22; the alignment missed it.

Verse 25 (3.49.25)

यदि वेदाः प्रमाणं ते दिवसादूर्ध्वमच्युत । त्रयोदशादितः कालो ज्ञायतां परिनिष्ठितः ॥

yadi vedāḥ pramāṇaṃ te divasādūrdhvamacyuta | trayodaśāditaḥ kālo jñāyatāṃ pariniṣṭhitaḥ

If the Vedas are your authority, unswerving one, then reckon a day for a year, and know that the term of thirteen has been completed.

Note on the text: Corrected तयोदशादितः → त्रयोदशादितः (misprint in Wikisource; the र of त्र had dropped; the critical edition reads trayodaśa samāḥ, and the rest of Wikisource's wording is kept as a variant).

Verse 26 (3.49.26)

कालो दुर्योधनं हन्तुं सानुबन्धमरिंदम । एकाग्रां पृथिवीं सर्वां पुरा राजन्करोति सः ॥

kālo duryodhanaṃ hantuṃ sānubandhamariṃdama | ekāgrāṃ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ purā rājankaroti saḥ

Now is the time, tamer of enemies, to kill Duryodhana with all his followers, before he brings the whole earth under his single rule, O king.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 3.49.24; the alignment missed it.

Verse 27 (3.49.27)

द्यूतप्रियेण राजेन्द्र तथा तद्भवता कृतम् । प्रायेणाज्ञातचर्यायां वयं सर्वे निपातिताः ॥

dyūtapriyeṇa rājendra tathā tadbhavatā kṛtam | prāyeṇājñātacaryāyāṃ vayaṃ sarve nipātitāḥ

You who love the dice, lord of kings, have brought this about; and as things stand, we are all as good as fallen in the year we must live unrecognised.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रायेणाज्ञातच्रयायां → प्रायेणाज्ञातचर्यायां (misprint in Wikisource; transposed र; the appendix reads prāyeṇājñātacaryāyāṃ) and restored a missing word space (सर्वेनिपातिताः → सर्वे निपातिताः). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); verses 27–34 appear in its Appendix I, No. 7 (18 lines), inserted after 3.49.24. This verse is lines 1–2.

Verse 28 (3.49.28)

न तं देशं प्रपश्यामि यत्र सोऽस्मान्सुदुर्जनः । न विज्ञास्यति दुष्टात्मा चारैरिति सुयोधनः ॥

na taṃ deśaṃ prapaśyāmi yatra so'smānsudurjanaḥ | na vijñāsyati duṣṭātmā cārairiti suyodhanaḥ

I see no country where that thorough villain, the wicked Suyodhana, would not find us out through his spies.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); Appendix I, No. 7, lines 3–4.

Verse 29 (3.49.29)

अधिगम्य च सर्वान्नो वनवासमिमं ततः । प्रव्राजयिष्यति पुनर्निकृत्याऽधमपूरुषः । यद्यस्मानभिगच्छेत पापः स हि कथंचन ॥

adhigamya ca sarvānno vanavāsamimaṃ tataḥ | pravrājayiṣyati punarnikṛtyā'dhamapūruṣaḥ | yadyasmānabhigaccheta pāpaḥ sa hi kathaṃcana

And once he has discovered us all, that vilest of men will once more drive us by trickery into this forest exile, if somehow that sinner should track us down.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (प्रव्राजयिष्यतिपुनर् → प्रव्राजयिष्यति पुनर्). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); Appendix I, No. 7, lines 5–7.

Verse 30 (3.49.30)

अज्ञातचर्यामुत्तीर्णान्दृष्ट्वा च पुनराह्वयेत् । द्यूतेन ते महाराज पुनर्युद्धं प्रवर्तते ॥

ajñātacaryāmuttīrṇāndṛṣṭvā ca punarāhvayet | dyūtena te mahārāja punaryuddhaṃ pravartate

Or, seeing us come safely through the year of concealment, he would challenge you again; through the dice, great king, the contest would begin for you all over again.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); Appendix I, No. 7, lines 8–9, which read punar dyūtam avartata for पुनर्युद्धं प्रवर्तते (a variant, kept).

Verse 31 (3.49.31)

भवांश्च पुनराहूतो द्यूतेनैवापनेष्यति । स तथाऽक्षेषु कुशलो निश्चितो गतचेतनः ॥

bhavāṃśca punarāhūto dyūtenaivāpaneṣyati | sa tathā'kṣeṣu kuśalo niścito gatacetanaḥ

Challenged once more, you would lose everything again at the dice, so skilled is he at dice, while you, once set on play, lose all judgement;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); Appendix I, No. 7, lines 10–11.

Verse 32 (3.49.32)

चरिष्यसि महाराज वनेषु वसतीः पुनः ॥

cariṣyasi mahārāja vaneṣu vasatīḥ punaḥ

and once again, great king, you will be passing your days in the forests.

Note on the text: A single line in Wikisource, as in the source passage, where it completes the sentence of the previous verse; nothing is lost. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); Appendix I, No. 7, line 12.

Verse 33 (3.49.33)

यद्यस्मान्सुमहाराज कृपणान्कर्तुमर्हसि । यावज्जीवमवेक्षस्व वेदधर्मांश्च कृत्स्नशः । निकृत्या निकृतिप्रज्ञो हन्तव्य इति निश्चयः ॥

yadyasmānsumahārāja kṛpaṇānkartumarhasi | yāvajjīvamavekṣasva vedadharmāṃśca kṛtsnaśaḥ | nikṛtyā nikṛtiprajño hantavya iti niścayaḥ

If you mean to keep us in this misery, great king, then look for the rest of your life to the whole of the Vedic law: the man of deceit is to be killed by deceit; that is settled.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); Appendix I, No. 7, lines 13–15 (nikṛtiprajñā hantavyā for निकृतिप्रज्ञो हन्तव्य, a variant, kept).

Verse 34 (3.49.34)

अनुज्ञातस्त्वया गत्वा यावच्छक्ति सुयोधनम् । यथैव कक्षमुत्सृष्टो दहेदनिलसारथिः । हनिष्यामि तथा मन्दमनुजानातु मे भवान् ॥

anujñātastvayā gatvā yāvacchakti suyodhanam | yathaiva kakṣamutsṛṣṭo dahedanilasārathiḥ | haniṣyāmi tathā mandamanujānātu me bhavān

With your leave I will go and, as far as my strength allows, kill that fool Suyodhana, as a fire set loose with the wind for its charioteer burns up dry grass. Give me your leave.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (गत्वायावच्छक्ति → गत्वा यावच्छक्ति). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); Appendix I, No. 7, lines 16–18 (no for मे, a variant, kept).

Verse 35 (3.49.35)

एवं ब्रुवाणं भीमं तु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । उवाच सान्त्वयन्राजा मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय पाण्डवम् ॥

evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ bhīmaṃ tu dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | uvāca sāntvayanrājā mūrdhnyupāghrāya pāṇḍavam

As Bhima spoke thus, Yudhishthira, the King of Dharma, kissed the Pandava on the head and spoke to him soothingly:

Note on the text: Corrected मूर्न्ध्युपाघ्राय → मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय (misprint in Wikisource; transposed conjunct; the critical edition reads mūrdhny upāghrāya).

Verse 36 (3.49.36)

असंशयं महाबाहो हनिष्यसि सुयोधनम् । वर्षात्रयोदशादूर्ध्वं सह गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥

asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho haniṣyasi suyodhanam | varṣātrayodaśādūrdhvaṃ saha gāṇḍīvadhanvanā

Without doubt, mighty-armed one, you will kill Suyodhana, together with the wielder of the Gandiva, once the thirteenth year is over.

Note on the text: Corrected असशयं → असंशयं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; the critical edition reads asaṃśayaṃ). Wikisource prints no speaker heading; verses 36–38 are Yudhishthira's reply (verse 35 introduces it), so they are given to him rather than Vaishampayana.

Verse 37 (3.49.37)

यत्त्वमाभाषसे पार्थ प्राप्तः काल इति प्रभो । अनृतं नोत्सहे वक्तुं न ह्येतन्मयि विद्यते ॥

yattvamābhāṣase pārtha prāptaḥ kāla iti prabho | anṛtaṃ notsahe vaktuṃ na hyetanmayi vidyate

As for what you say, Partha, that the time has come, my lord: I cannot bring myself to speak an untruth. That is not in me.

Note on the text: Corrected नत्सहे → नोत्सहे (misprint in Wikisource; न + उत्सहे; the critical edition reads notsahe). यत्त्वमाभाषसे for yac ca mā bhāṣase is a variant and is kept.

Verse 38 (3.49.38)

अन्तरेणापि कौन्तेय निकृतिं पापनिश्चयम् । हन्ता त्वमसि दुर्धर्ष सानुबन्धं सुयोधनम् ॥

antareṇāpi kaunteya nikṛtiṃ pāpaniścayam | hantā tvamasi durdharṣa sānubandhaṃ suyodhanam

Even without resorting to deceit, son of Kunti, you, the unassailable, will kill Suyodhana, that man of evil resolve, together with his followers.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (निकृतिंपापनिश्चयम् → निकृतिं पापनिश्चयम्).

Verse 39 (3.49.39)

एवं ब्रुवति भीमं तु धर्मराजे युधिष्ठिरे । आजगाम महाभागो बृहदश्वो महानृषिः ॥

evaṃ bruvati bhīmaṃ tu dharmarāje yudhiṣṭhire | ājagāma mahābhāgo bṛhadaśvo mahānṛṣiḥ

While Yudhishthira, the King of Dharma, was saying this to Bhima, the illustrious great seer Brihadashva arrived.

Verse 40 (3.49.40)

तमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मात्मा संप्राप्तं धर्मचारिणम् । शास्त्रवन्मधुपर्केण पूजयामास धर्मराट् ॥

tamabhiprekṣya dharmātmā saṃprāptaṃ dharmacāriṇam | śāstravanmadhuparkeṇa pūjayāmāsa dharmarāṭ

Seeing that follower of dharma arrive, the righteous King of Dharma honoured him with the madhuparka offering, as the scriptures prescribe.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (तमभिप्रेक्ष्यधर्मात्मा → तमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मात्मा).

Verse 41 (3.49.41)

आश्वस्तं चैनमासीनमुपासीनो युधिष्ठिरः । अभिप्रेक्ष्य महाबाहुः कृपणं बह्वभाषत ॥

āśvastaṃ cainamāsīnamupāsīno yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | abhiprekṣya mahābāhuḥ kṛpaṇaṃ bahvabhāṣata

When the seer had rested and was seated, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira, sitting beside him, looked at him and spoke at length, piteously:

Note on the text: Corrected उपासनो → उपासीनो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads upāsīno).

Verse 42 (3.49.42)

अक्षद्यूते च भगवन्धनं राज्यं च मे हृतम् । आहूय निकृतिप्रज्ञैः कितवैरक्षकोविदैः ॥

akṣadyūte ca bhagavandhanaṃ rājyaṃ ca me hṛtam | āhūya nikṛtiprajñaiḥ kitavairakṣakovidaiḥ

Holy one, my wealth and my kingdom were taken from me at dice by cunning gamblers skilled in the dice, who challenged me to play.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints no speaker heading; verses 42–53 are Yudhishthira's words to the seer (verse 41 introduces them), so they are given to him rather than Vaishampayana. अक्षद्यूते च for akṣadyūtena is a variant and is kept.

Verse 43 (3.49.43)

अनक्षज्ञस्य हि सतो निकृत्या पापनिश्चयैः । भार्या च मे सभां नीता प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी ॥

anakṣajñasya hi sato nikṛtyā pāpaniścayaiḥ | bhāryā ca me sabhāṃ nītā prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī

I do not know the dice, and those men of evil purpose, by trickery, had my wife, dearer to me than life itself, dragged into the assembly hall.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राणेभ्योपि → प्राणेभ्योऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; the critical edition reads prāṇebhyo 'pi).

Verse 44 (3.49.44)

पुनर्द्यूतेन मां जित्वा वनवासं सुदारुणम् । प्राव्राजयन्महारण्यमजिनैः परिवारितम् ॥

punardyūtena māṃ jitvā vanavāsaṃ sudāruṇam | prāvrājayanmahāraṇyamajinaiḥ parivāritam

Beating me again at dice, they drove me, clad in deerskins, into a dreadful exile in the great forest.

Note on the text: Corrected वनवासां → वनवासं and मंहारण्यम → महारण्यम (misprints in Wikisource; a stray long vowel and a stray anusvara; the apparatus reads vanavāsaṃ … mahāraṇyam). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); verses 44–48 appear in its apparatus as 3.49.33d*203, this verse being lines 1–2.

Verse 45 (3.49.45)

अहं वने दुर्वसतीर्वसन्परमदुःखितः । अक्षद्यूताभिषङ्गेण गिरः शृण्वन्सुदारुणाः ॥

ahaṃ vane durvasatīrvasanparamaduḥkhitaḥ | akṣadyūtābhiṣaṅgeṇa giraḥ śṛṇvansudāruṇāḥ

Living a hard life in the forest, utterly miserable, I hear harsh words spoken about my weakness for the dice.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); 3.49.33d*203, lines 3–4 (akṣadyūtādhikāre ca for अक्षद्यूताभिषङ्गेण, a variant, kept).

Verse 46 (3.49.46)

आर्तानां सुहृदां वाचो द्यूतप्रभृति शंसताम् । अहं हृदि श्रिताः स्मृत्वा सर्वरात्रीर्विचिन्तयन् ॥

ārtānāṃ suhṛdāṃ vāco dyūtaprabhṛti śaṃsatām | ahaṃ hṛdi śritāḥ smṛtvā sarvarātrīrvicintayan

Recalling the words of my grieving friends, who tell of everything since the dicing, words that have lodged in my heart, I spend every night in brooding.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); 3.49.33d*203, lines 5–6.

Verse 47 (3.49.47)

यस्मिंश्च वयमायत्ताः सदा गाण्डीवधन्वनि । स चेन्द्रलोकं गतवानस्त्रहेतोर्महाबलः ॥

yasmiṃśca vayamāyattāḥ sadā gāṇḍīvadhanvani | sa cendralokaṃ gatavānastrahetormahābalaḥ

And he on whom we have always relied, the wielder of the Gandiva, that mighty one has gone to Indra's world for weapons.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick, a quote mark and a doubled danda. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the first line is a variant of 3.49.33d*203, line 7 (yasmiṃś caiva samastānāṃ prāṇā gāṇḍīvadhanvani), and the second line has no counterpart there.

Verse 48 (3.49.48)

विना महात्मना तेन गतसत्व इवास्महे । कदा द्रक्ष्यामि बीभत्सुं कृतास्त्रं पुनरागतम् ॥

vinā mahātmanā tena gatasatva ivāsmahe | kadā drakṣyāmi bībhatsuṃ kṛtāstraṃ punarāgatam

Without that great-souled one we are like men bereft of life. When shall I see Bibhatsu come back, master of the weapons?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); 3.49.33d*203, lines 8–9 (ivābhavam for इवास्महे, a variant, kept).

Verse 49 (3.49.49)

इति सर्वे महेष्वासं चिन्तयाना धनंजयम् । अनेन तु विषण्णोऽहं कारणेन सहानुजः ॥

iti sarve maheṣvāsaṃ cintayānā dhanaṃjayam | anena tu viṣaṇṇo'haṃ kāraṇena sahānujaḥ

So all of us keep thinking of the great archer Dhananjaya. But I and my younger brothers are dejected for this reason:

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); verses 49–52 appear in its apparatus as 3.49.33d*204, this verse being lines 1–2.

Verse 50 (3.49.50)

वनवासान्निवृत्तं मां पुनस्ते पापबुद्धयः । जानन्तः प्रीयमाणा वै देवने भ्रातृभिः सह । द्यूतेनैवाह्वयिष्यन्ति बलादक्षेषु तद्विदः ॥

vanavāsānnivṛttaṃ māṃ punaste pāpabuddhayaḥ | jānantaḥ prīyamāṇā vai devane bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | dyūtenaivāhvayiṣyanti balādakṣeṣu tadvidaḥ

When I return from the forest exile, those evil-minded men, knowing my weakness and delighting in play together with their brothers, will force me to dice again, skilled in it as they are.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); 3.49.33d*204, lines 3–5, which read jayantaḥ for जानन्तः (Wikisource's own note records जयन्तः as a manuscript reading).

Verse 51 (3.49.51)

आहूतश्च पुनर्द्यूते नास्मि शक्तो निवर्तितुम् । पणे च मम नात्यर्थं वसु किंचन विद्यते ॥

āhūtaśca punardyūte nāsmi śakto nivartitum | paṇe ca mama nātyarthaṃ vasu kiṃcana vidyate

Once challenged to dice again, I cannot turn back; and I have hardly any wealth left to stake.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); 3.49.33d*204, lines 6–7.

Verse 52 (3.49.52)

एतत्सर्वमनुध्यायंश्चिन्तयानो दिवानिशम् । न मत्तो दुःखिततरः पुमानस्तीह कश्चन ॥

etatsarvamanudhyāyaṃścintayāno divāniśam | na matto duḥkhitataraḥ pumānastīha kaścana

Pondering all this, thinking of it day and night, I believe there is no man here more unhappy than I.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); 3.49.33d*204, lines 8–9.

Verse 53 (3.49.53)

नास्ति राजा मया कश्चिदल्पभाग्यतरो भुवि । भवता दृष्टपूर्वो वा श्रुतपूर्वोऽपि वा क्वचित् । न मत्तो दुःखिततरः पुमानस्तीति मे मतिः ॥

nāsti rājā mayā kaścidalpabhāgyataro bhuvi | bhavatā dṛṣṭapūrvo vā śrutapūrvo'pi vā kvacit | na matto duḥkhitataraḥ pumānastīti me matiḥ

There is no king on earth, I think, more unfortunate than I, whom you have ever seen or heard of anywhere. No man is more unhappy than I: that is my belief.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रुतपूर्वोपि → श्रुतपूर्वोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; the critical edition reads śrutapūrvo 'pi). नास्ति for asti and क्वचित् for bhavet are recension variants and are kept.

Verse 54 (3.49.54)

एवं ब्रुवन्तं दुःखार्तमुवाच भगवानृषिः । शोकं व्यपनुदन्राज्ञो धर्मराजस्य धीमतः ॥

evaṃ bruvantaṃ duḥkhārtamuvāca bhagavānṛṣiḥ | śokaṃ vyapanudanrājño dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ

As he spoke thus, stricken with sorrow, the holy seer spoke to the wise King of Dharma, dispelling the king's grief.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the apparatus as 3.49.34f*207.

Verse 55 (3.49.55)

न विषादे मनः कार्यं त्वया बुद्धिमतां वर । आगमिष्यति बीभत्सुरमित्रांश्च विजेष्यते ॥

na viṣāde manaḥ kāryaṃ tvayā buddhimatāṃ vara | āgamiṣyati bībhatsuramitrāṃśca vijeṣyate

Do not let your mind sink into despair, best of the wise. Bibhatsu will come back, and he will conquer his enemies.

Note on the text: Restored कार्यं, which had dropped from the first line (Wikisource reads न विषादे मनः त्वया, two syllables short and without a verb; the apparatus passage reads na viṣāde manaḥ kāryaṃ tvayā), restored a missing word space (बुद्धिमतांवर → बुद्धिमतां वर) and removed a stray quote mark. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the apparatus as 3.49.35d*208.

Verse 56 (3.49.56)

यद्ब्रवीषि महाराज न मत्तो विद्यते क्वचित् । अल्पभाग्यतरः कश्चित्पुमानस्तीति पाण्डव ॥

yadbravīṣi mahārāja na matto vidyate kvacit | alpabhāgyataraḥ kaścitpumānastīti pāṇḍava

You say, great king, son of Pandu, that nowhere is there any man more unfortunate than you.

Note on the text: Corrected विद्ते → विद्यते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped य; the critical edition reads vidyate).

Verse 57 (3.49.57)

अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि यदि शुश्रूषसेऽनघ । यस्त्वत्तो दुःखिततरो राजाऽऽसीत्पृथिवीपते ॥

atra te varṇayiṣyāmi yadi śuśrūṣase'nagha | yastvatto duḥkhitataro rājā''sītpṛthivīpate

On that, sinless one, if you wish to hear it, I will tell you of a king, lord of the earth, who was more unhappy than you.

Verse 58 (3.49.58)

अथैनमब्रवीद्राजा ब्रवीतु भगवानिति । इमामवस्थां संप्राप्तं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पार्थिवम् ॥

athainamabravīdrājā bravītu bhagavāniti | imāmavasthāṃ saṃprāptaṃ śrotumicchāmi pārthivam

Then the king said to him, 'Let the holy one speak. I wish to hear of the king who came to such a state.'

Verse 59 (3.49.59)

शृणु राजन्नवहितः सह भ्रातृभिरच्युत । यस्त्वत्तो दुःखिततरो राजाऽऽसीत्पृथिवीपते ॥

śṛṇu rājannavahitaḥ saha bhrātṛbhiracyuta | yastvatto duḥkhitataro rājā''sītpṛthivīpate

Listen attentively, O king, unswerving one, together with your brothers, to the story of a king, lord of the earth, who was more unhappy than you.

Note on the text: Corrected पृथिवोपते → पृथिवीपते (misprint in Wikisource; ो for ी; the critical edition reads pṛthivīpate).

Verse 60 (3.49.60)

निषधेषु महीपालो वीरसेन इति श्रुतः । तस्य पुत्रोऽभवन्नाम्ना नलो धर्मार्थकोविदः ॥

niṣadheṣu mahīpālo vīrasena iti śrutaḥ | tasya putro'bhavannāmnā nalo dharmārthakovidaḥ

Among the Nishadhas there was a king famed as Virasena. He had a son named Nala, learned in dharma and in worldly affairs.

Note on the text: Corrected धर्मार्तकोविदः → धर्मार्थकोविदः (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ; the critical edition reads dharmārthadarśivān). इति श्रुतः for iti sma ha and कोविदः for darśivān are variants and are kept.

Verse 61 (3.49.61)

स निकृत्या जितो राजा पुष्करेणेति नः श्रुतम् । वनवासं सुदुःखार्तो भार्यया न्यवसत्सह ॥

sa nikṛtyā jito rājā puṣkareṇeti naḥ śrutam | vanavāsaṃ suduḥkhārto bhāryayā nyavasatsaha

That king, we have heard, was defeated by Pushkara through trickery, and in great misery he lived in exile in the forest with his wife.

Note on the text: Corrected निकृत्याजतो → निकृत्या जितो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign and word space; the critical edition reads nikṛtyā jito). सुदुःखार्तो for aduḥkhārho is a variant and is kept.

Verse 62 (3.49.62)

न तस्य दासा न रथो न भ्राता न च बान्धवाः । वने निवसतो राजन्नश्रूयन्त कदाचन ॥

na tasya dāsā na ratho na bhrātā na ca bāndhavāḥ | vane nivasato rājannaśrūyanta kadācana

While he lived in the forest, O king, he had no servants, no chariot, no brother and no kinsmen; none were ever heard of with him.

Note on the text: Corrected भान्धवाः → बान्धवाः (misprint in Wikisource; भ for ब; the critical edition reads bāndhavāḥ). दासा for aśvo and अश्रूयन्त for śiṣyante sma are variants and are kept.

Verse 63 (3.49.63)

भवान्हि संवृतो वीरैर्भ्रातृभिर्देवसंमितैः । ब्रह्मकल्पैर्द्विजाग्र्यैश्च तस्मान्नार्हसि शोचितुम् ॥

bhavānhi saṃvṛto vīrairbhrātṛbhirdevasaṃmitaiḥ | brahmakalpairdvijāgryaiśca tasmānnārhasi śocitum

But you are surrounded by heroic brothers equal to the gods, and by eminent brahmins who are like Brahma himself. So you should not grieve.

Verse 64 (3.49.64)

विस्तरेणाहमिच्छामि नलस्य सुमहात्मनः । चरितं वदतां श्रेष्ठ तन्ममाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

vistareṇāhamicchāmi nalasya sumahātmanaḥ | caritaṃ vadatāṃ śreṣṭha tanmamākhyātumarhasi

I wish to hear in full the story of the great-souled Nala. Best of speakers, please tell it to me.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (वदतांश्रेष्ठ → वदतां श्रेष्ठ).