Vidura Joins the Pandavas in the Kamyaka Forest

Verse 1 (3.5.1)

पाण्डवास्तु वने वासमुद्दिश्य भरतर्षभाः । प्रययुर्जाह्नवीकूलात्कुरुक्षेत्रं सहानुगाः ॥

pāṇḍavāstu vane vāsamuddiśya bharatarṣabhāḥ | prayayurjāhnavīkūlātkurukṣetraṃ sahānugāḥ

The Pandavas, bulls among the Bharatas, set on living in the forest, set out with their followers from the bank of the Jahnavi for Kurukshetra.

Note on the text: Corrected भरतर्पभाः → भरतर्षभाः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, the critical edition reads bharatarṣabhāḥ).

Verse 2 (3.5.2)

सरस्वतीदृषद्वत्यौ यमुनां च निषेव्य ते । ययुर्वनेनैव वनं सततं पश्चिमां दिशम् ॥

sarasvatīdṛṣadvatyau yamunāṃ ca niṣevya te | yayurvanenaiva vanaṃ satataṃ paścimāṃ diśam

Visiting the Sarasvati, the Drishadvati and the Yamuna, they went on from forest to forest, always toward the west.

Note on the text: Corrected सरस्वतीदृपद्वत्यौ → सरस्वतीदृषद्वत्यौ and ययुर्वननैव → ययुर्वनेनैव (misprints in Wikisource; प for ष and a dropped vowel sign, the critical edition reads dṛṣadvatyau and vanenaiva).

Verse 3 (3.5.3)

ततः सरस्वतीकूले समेषु मरुधन्वसु । काम्यकं नाम ददृशुर्वनं मुनिजनप्रियम् ॥

tataḥ sarasvatīkūle sameṣu marudhanvasu | kāmyakaṃ nāma dadṛśurvanaṃ munijanapriyam

Then, on the bank of the Sarasvati, among the level deserts and dry lands, they saw the forest called Kamyaka, beloved of hermits.

Verse 4 (3.5.4)

तत्र ते न्यवसन्वीरा वने बहुमृगद्विजे । अन्वास्यमाना मुनिभिः सान्त्व्यमानाश्च भारत ॥

tatra te nyavasanvīrā vane bahumṛgadvije | anvāsyamānā munibhiḥ sāntvyamānāśca bhārata

There the heroes lived, in a forest full of deer and birds, attended and comforted by sages, O Bharata.

Verse 5 (3.5.5)

विदुरस्त्वथ पाण्डूनां सदा दर्शनलालसः । जगामैकरथेनैव काम्यकं वनमृद्धिमत् ॥

vidurastvatha pāṇḍūnāṃ sadā darśanalālasaḥ | jagāmaikarathenaiva kāmyakaṃ vanamṛddhimat

Vidura, meanwhile, who always longed to see the Pandavas, went with a single chariot to the rich Kamyaka forest.

Verse 6 (3.5.6)

ततो गत्वा विदुरः काम्यकं त- । च्छीघ्रैरश्वैर्वाहितः स्यन्दनेन । ददर्शासीनं धर्मात्मानं विविक्ते । सार्धं द्रौपद्या भ्रातृभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च ॥

tato gatvā viduraḥ kāmyakaṃ ta- | cchīghrairaśvairvāhitaḥ syandanena | dadarśāsīnaṃ dharmātmānaṃ vivikte | sārdhaṃ draupadyā bhrātṛbhirbrāhmaṇaiśca

Reaching that Kamyaka, carried in his chariot by swift horses, Vidura saw the righteous Yudhishthira seated in a secluded place with Draupadi, his brothers and the brahmins.

Verse 7 (3.5.7)

ततोऽपश्यद्विदुरं तूर्णमारा- । दभ्यायान्तं सत्यसन्धः स राजा । अथाब्रवीद्भ्रातरं भीमसेनं । किंनु क्षत्ता वक्ष्यति नः समेत्य ॥

tato'paśyadviduraṃ tūrṇamārā- | dabhyāyāntaṃ satyasandhaḥ sa rājā | athābravīdbhrātaraṃ bhīmasenaṃ | kiṃnu kṣattā vakṣyati naḥ sametya

That king, true to his word, saw Vidura approaching swiftly from afar, and said to his brother Bhimasena, "What will the Kshattri say to us when he arrives?

Note on the text: Corrected अथाब्रवीद्धातरं → अथाब्रवीद्भ्रातरं (misprint in Wikisource; ध for भ्र, the critical edition reads bhrātaraṃ) and restored a missing word space (वक्ष्यतिनः → वक्ष्यति नः).

Verse 8 (3.5.8)

कच्चिन्नायं वचनात्सौबलस्य । समाह्वातुं देवनायोपयाति । कच्चित्क्षुद्रः कुशली चाऽयुधानि । जेष्यत्यस्माकं पुनरेवाक्षवत्याम् ॥

kaccinnāyaṃ vacanātsaubalasya | samāhvātuṃ devanāyopayāti | kaccitkṣudraḥ kuśalī cā'yudhāni | jeṣyatyasmākaṃ punarevākṣavatyām

Can it be that he comes at Shakuni's bidding to summon us to dice? Will that petty, cunning player win our weapons from us too, once again at the dice?

Verse 9 (3.5.9)

समाहूतः केनचिदाहवाय । नाहं शक्तो भीमसेनापयातुम् । गाण्डीवे च संशयिते कथं नु । राज्यप्राप्तिः संशयिता भवेन्नः ॥

samāhūtaḥ kenacidāhavāya | nāhaṃ śakto bhīmasenāpayātum | gāṇḍīve ca saṃśayite kathaṃ nu | rājyaprāptiḥ saṃśayitā bhavennaḥ

If anyone challenges me to a contest, Bhimasena, I cannot back away. And if the Gandiva were staked, how could we ever regain the kingdom? It would be put in doubt."

Verse 10 (3.5.10)

तत उत्थाय विदुरं पाण्डवेयाः । प्रत्यगृह्णन्नृपते सर्व एव । तैः सत्कृतः स च तानाजमीढो । यथोचितं पाण्डुपुत्रान्समेयात् ॥

tata utthāya viduraṃ pāṇḍaveyāḥ | pratyagṛhṇannṛpate sarva eva | taiḥ satkṛtaḥ sa ca tānājamīḍho | yathocitaṃ pāṇḍuputrānsameyāt

Then all the Pandavas rose and received Vidura, O king; and honoured by them, the descendant of Ajamidha greeted the sons of Pandu as was fitting.

Verse 11 (3.5.11)

समाश्वस्तं विदुरं ते नरर्षभा- । स्ततोऽपृच्छन्नागमनाय हेतुम् । स चापि तेभ्यो विस्तरतः शशंस । यथावृत्तं धृतराष्ट्रेऽम्बिकेये ॥

samāśvastaṃ viduraṃ te nararṣabhā- | stato'pṛcchannāgamanāya hetum | sa cāpi tebhyo vistarataḥ śaśaṃsa | yathāvṛttaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭre'mbikeye

When Vidura had rested, those bulls among men asked him why he had come, and he told them in detail all that had passed with Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika.

Verse 12 (3.5.12)

अवोचन्मां धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिगुप्त- । मजातशत्रो परिगृह्याभिपूज्य । एवं गते समतामभ्युपेत्य । पथ्यं तेषां मम चैव ब्रवीहि ॥

avocanmāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro'bhigupta- | majātaśatro parigṛhyābhipūjya | evaṃ gate samatāmabhyupetya | pathyaṃ teṣāṃ mama caiva bravīhi

"Ajatashatru, Dhritarashtra took me aside, honoured me as his protector, and said: 'Now that things have come to this, take an impartial view and tell me what is good for them and for me.'

Verse 13 (3.5.13)

मयाप्युक्तं यत्क्षमं कौरवाणां । हितं पथ्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य चैव । तद्वै पथ्यं तन्मनो नाभ्युपैति । ततश्चाहं क्षममन्यन्न मन्ये ॥

mayāpyuktaṃ yatkṣamaṃ kauravāṇāṃ | hitaṃ pathyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya caiva | tadvai pathyaṃ tanmano nābhyupaiti | tataścāhaṃ kṣamamanyanna manye

I told him what was fitting for the Kauravas, and good and wholesome for Dhritarashtra as well. But that wholesome advice did not appeal to his mind, and I can think of nothing else that is fitting.

Verse 14 (3.5.14)

परं श्रेयः पाण्डवेया मयोक्तं । न मे तच्च श्रुतवानाम्बिकेयः । यथाऽऽतुरस्येव हि पथ्यमौषधं । न रोचते स्मास्य तदुच्यमानम् ॥

paraṃ śreyaḥ pāṇḍaveyā mayoktaṃ | na me tacca śrutavānāmbikeyaḥ | yathā''turasyeva hi pathyamauṣadhaṃ | na rocate smāsya taducyamānam

I told him what was best, Pandavas, but the son of Ambika would not listen to me. As wholesome medicine does not please a sick man, so what I said did not please him.

Note on the text: Corrected शुतवानाम्बिकेयः → श्रुतवानाम्बिकेयः, पथ्यमौपधं → पथ्यमौषधं and न रोचनते → न रोचते (misprints in Wikisource; a dropped र, प for ष, and an extra syllable that breaks the metre; the critical edition reads śrutavān and rocate).

Verse 15 (3.5.15)

न श्रेयसे यततेऽजातशत्रो । स्त्री श्रोत्रियस्येव गृहे प्रदुष्टा । ध्रुवं न रोचेद्भरतर्षभस्य । पतिः कुमार्या इव षष्टिवर्षः ॥

na śreyase yatate'jātaśatro | strī śrotriyasyeva gṛhe praduṣṭā | dhruvaṃ na rocedbharatarṣabhasya | patiḥ kumāryā iva ṣaṣṭivarṣaḥ

He does not strive for his own good, Ajatashatru, any more than a corrupt wife does in the house of a learned brahmin. Good counsel will surely not please that bull of the Bharatas, just as a husband of sixty does not please a young girl.

Verse 16 (3.5.16)

ध्रुवं विनाशो नृप कौरवाणां । न वै श्रेयो धृतराष्ट्रः परैति । यथा च पर्णे पुष्करस्यावसिक्तं । जलं न तिष्ठेत्पथ्यमुक्तं तथाऽस्मिन् ॥

dhruvaṃ vināśo nṛpa kauravāṇāṃ | na vai śreyo dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ paraiti | yathā ca parṇe puṣkarasyāvasiktaṃ | jalaṃ na tiṣṭhetpathyamuktaṃ tathā'smin

The destruction of the Kauravas is certain, king, for Dhritarashtra pays no heed to what is good. As water sprinkled on a lotus leaf does not stay there, so wholesome advice does not stay with him.

Verse 17 (3.5.17)

ततः क्रुद्धो धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीन्मां । यस्मिञ्श्रद्धा तव तत्र प्रयाहि । नाहं भूयः कामये त्वां सहायं । महीमिमां पालयितुं पुरं वा ॥

tataḥ kruddho dhṛtarāṣṭro'bravīnmāṃ | yasmiñśraddhā tava tatra prayāhi | nāhaṃ bhūyaḥ kāmaye tvāṃ sahāyaṃ | mahīmimāṃ pālayituṃ puraṃ vā

Then Dhritarashtra grew angry and said to me, 'Go to the one you put your faith in. I no longer want you as my helper in ruling this earth or this city.'

Verse 18 (3.5.18)

सोहं त्यक्तो धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा । प्रशासितुं त्वामुपयातो नरेन्द्र । तद्वै सर्वं यन्मयोक्तं सभायां । तद्धार्यतां यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि भूयः ॥

sohaṃ tyakto dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa rājñā | praśāsituṃ tvāmupayāto narendra | tadvai sarvaṃ yanmayoktaṃ sabhāyāṃ | taddhāryatāṃ yatpravakṣyāmi bhūyaḥ

So, cast off by King Dhritarashtra, I have come to you, lord of men, to advise you. Keep in mind all that I said in the assembly hall, and what I shall tell you now.

Verse 19 (3.5.19)

क्लेशैस्तीव्रैर्युज्यमानः सपत्नैः । क्षमां कुर्वन्कालमुपासते यः । संवर्धयन्स्तोकमिवाग्निमात्मवान् । स वै भुङ्क्ते पृथिवीमेक एव ॥

kleśaistīvrairyujyamānaḥ sapatnaiḥ | kṣamāṃ kurvankālamupāsate yaḥ | saṃvardhayanstokamivāgnimātmavān | sa vai bhuṅkte pṛthivīmeka eva

The self-possessed man who, though his enemies afflict him with bitter hardships, bears them patiently and waits for his time, building up his strength as one feeds a small fire, comes to enjoy the earth alone.

Note on the text: Corrected क्लेशैस्तीर्व्रर्युज्यमानः → क्लेशैस्तीव्रैर्युज्यमानः and स्तोकमिवाग्रिमात्मवान् → स्तोकमिवाग्निमात्मवान् (misprints in Wikisource; garbled conjuncts, the critical edition reads tīvrair and ivāgnim).

Verse 20 (3.5.20)

यस्याविभक्तं वसु राजन्सहायै- । स्तस्य दुःखस्यांशभाजः सहायाः । सहायानामेष संग्रहणेऽभ्युपायः । सहायाप्तौ पृथिवीप्राप्तिमाहुः ॥

yasyāvibhaktaṃ vasu rājansahāyai- | stasya duḥkhasyāṃśabhājaḥ sahāyāḥ | sahāyānāmeṣa saṃgrahaṇe'bhyupāyaḥ | sahāyāptau pṛthivīprāptimāhuḥ

When a king shares his wealth with his allies, undivided, his allies share in his sorrow. This is the way to win allies; and they say that to win allies is to win the earth.

Note on the text: Corrected संग्रगणेऽभ्युपायः → संग्रहणेऽभ्युपायः (misprint in Wikisource; ग for ह, the critical edition reads saṃgrahaṇe).

Verse 21 (3.5.21)

सत्यं श्रेष्ठं पाण्डवा निष्प्रलापं । तुल्यं चान्नं सह भोज्यं सहायैः । आत्मा चैषामग्रतो नातिवर्ते- । देवं वृत्तिर्वर्धते भूमिपाल ॥

satyaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ pāṇḍavā niṣpralāpaṃ | tulyaṃ cānnaṃ saha bhojyaṃ sahāyaiḥ | ātmā caiṣāmagrato nātivarte- | devaṃ vṛttirvardhate bhūmipāla

Truthful speech without idle talk is best, Pandavas, and food shared equally and eaten together with one's allies. One should not put oneself ahead of them; in this way one's fortune grows, O protector of the earth."

Note on the text: Corrected श्रेष्टं → श्रेष्ठं (misprint in Wikisource; ट for ठ) and marked with a hyphen the words divided across the third and fourth lines (नातिवर्ते- / देवं, i.e. nātivarted evaṃ; the critical edition reads nātivarted evaṃvṛttir).

Verse 22 (3.5.22)

एवं करिष्यामि यथा ब्रवीषि । परां बुद्धिमुपगम्याप्रमत्तः । यच्चाप्यन्यद्देशकालोपपन्नं । तद्वै वाच्यं तत्करिष्यामि कृत्स्नम् ॥

evaṃ kariṣyāmi yathā bravīṣi | parāṃ buddhimupagamyāpramattaḥ | yaccāpyanyaddeśakālopapannaṃ | tadvai vācyaṃ tatkariṣyāmi kṛtsnam

"I shall do as you say, adopting this excellent counsel and staying watchful. And whatever else suits the place and the time, tell me, and I will carry it all out."

Note on the text: Corrected ब्रवीपि → ब्रवीषि (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, the critical edition reads bravīṣi).