Vyasa's Prophecy and Yudhishthira's Vow

Verse 1 (2.73.1)

अनुसंसार्य नृपतीन्पाण्डवाः पाण्डवाग्रजम् । अभिजग्मुर्महेष्वासा धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

anusaṃsārya nṛpatīnpāṇḍavāḥ pāṇḍavāgrajam | abhijagmurmaheṣvāsā dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram

Having escorted the kings on their way, the Pandavas, mighty archers, came to their eldest, Yudhishthira, the King of Dharma.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); these lines are not in the CE's Appendix I No. 30 either, which opens differently (samāpte rājasūye tu kratuśreṣṭhe sudurlabhe).

Verse 2 (2.73.2)

सोऽनुमेने महाबाहुर्भ्रातॄंश्च सुहृदस्तथा । शिष्यैः परिवृतो व्यासः पुरस्तात्समपद्यत ॥

so'numene mahābāhurbhrātṝṃśca suhṛdastathā | śiṣyaiḥ parivṛto vyāsaḥ purastātsamapadyata

The mighty-armed king welcomed his brothers and his friends. Then Vyasa, surrounded by his disciples, appeared before him.

Note on the text: Corrected भातॄंश्च → भ्रातॄंश्च (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र). Removed a stray wiki quote mark ('). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the first line is not in the CE's Appendix I No. 30, the second is its line 2.

Verse 3 (2.73.3)

सोऽभ्ययादासनात्तूर्णं भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः । पाद्येनासनदानेन पितामहमपूजयत् ॥

so'bhyayādāsanāttūrṇaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ | pādyenāsanadānena pitāmahamapūjayat

Surrounded by his brothers, Yudhishthira rose at once from his seat to meet him and honoured his grandsire with water for his feet and the offer of a seat.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 3–4).

Verse 4 (2.73.4)

अथोपविश्य भगवान्काञ्चने परमासने । आस्यतामिति चोवाच धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

athopaviśya bhagavānkāñcane paramāsane | āsyatāmiti covāca dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram

Then the blessed one sat down on a fine golden seat and said to Yudhishthira, the King of Dharma, "Be seated."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 5–6).

Verse 5 (2.73.5)

अथोपविष्टं राजानं भ्रातृभिः परिवारितम् । उवाच भगवान्व्यासस्तत्तद्वाक्यविशारदः ॥

athopaviṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritam | uvāca bhagavānvyāsastattadvākyaviśāradaḥ

When the king had sat down, surrounded by his brothers, the blessed Vyasa, skilled in fitting speech, said:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 7–8).

Verse 6 (2.73.6)

दिष्ट्या वर्धसि कौन्तेय साम्राज्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम् । वर्धिताः कुरवः सर्वे त्वया कुरुकुलोद्वह ॥

diṣṭyā vardhasi kaunteya sāmrājyaṃ prāpya durlabham | vardhitāḥ kuravaḥ sarve tvayā kurukulodvaha

"Good fortune, son of Kunti, that you prosper, having won an empire so hard to gain. Through you, upholder of the Kuru line, all the Kurus have prospered.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 9–10).

Verse 7 (2.73.7)

आपृच्छे त्वां गमिष्यामि पूजितोऽस्मि विशाम्पते । एवमुक्तः स कृष्णेन धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

āpṛcche tvāṃ gamiṣyāmi pūjito'smi viśāmpate | evamuktaḥ sa kṛṣṇena dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

"I take my leave of you and shall go, for I have been honoured, lord of the people." Thus addressed by Krishna Dvaipayana, Yudhishthira, the King of Dharma,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 11–12). Vyasa's words end with the first line; the second is narration.

Verse 8 (2.73.8)

अभिवाद्योपसङ्गृह्य पितामहमथाब्रवीत् ॥

abhivādyopasaṅgṛhya pitāmahamathābravīt

saluted his grandsire, clasped his feet, and said:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, line 13). Wikisource prints it as a one-line verse.

Verse 9 (2.73.9)

संशयो द्विपदां श्रेष्ठ ममोत्पन्नः सुदुर्लभः । तस्य नान्योऽस्ति वक्ता वै त्वामृते द्विजपुङ्गव ॥

saṃśayo dvipadāṃ śreṣṭha mamotpannaḥ sudurlabhaḥ | tasya nānyo'sti vaktā vai tvāmṛte dvijapuṅgava

"A doubt has arisen in me, best of men, one very hard to resolve; and there is no one but you, foremost of the twice-born, who can answer it.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 14–15).

Verse 10 (2.73.10)

उत्पातांस्त्रिविधान्प्राह नारदो भगवानृषिः । दिव्यांश्चैवान्तरिक्षांश्च पार्थिवांश्च पितामह ॥

utpātāṃstrividhānprāha nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ | divyāṃścaivāntarikṣāṃśca pārthivāṃśca pitāmaha

"The blessed sage Narada spoke of three kinds of portents, grandsire: those of the heavens, those of the middle air, and those of the earth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 16–17).

Verse 11 (2.73.11)

सुमहच्च फलं तेषां भवितेति न संशयः । अपि चैद्यस्य पतनाच्छान्तमौत्पातिकं महत् ॥

sumahacca phalaṃ teṣāṃ bhaviteti na saṃśayaḥ | api caidyasya patanācchāntamautpātikaṃ mahat

"There is no doubt that their consequence will be very great. Has the great portent been stilled by the fall of the king of Chedi?"

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the first line is not in the CE's Appendix I No. 30, the second is its line 18 (reading channam for शान्तम्).

Verse 12 (2.73.12)

राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा पराशरसुतः प्रभुः । कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यास इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

rājñastu vacanaṃ śrutvā parāśarasutaḥ prabhuḥ | kṛṣṇadvaipāyano vyāsa idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Hearing the king's words, the lord Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, son of Parashara, spoke these words:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 19–20).

Verse 13 (2.73.13)

त्रयोदश समा राजन्नुत्पातानां फलं महत् । सर्वक्षत्रविनाशाय भविष्यति विशाम्पते ॥

trayodaśa samā rājannutpātānāṃ phalaṃ mahat | sarvakṣatravināśāya bhaviṣyati viśāmpate

"For thirteen years, O king, the portents will bear great fruit, lord of the people, and it will end in the destruction of all the kshatriyas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 21–22).

Verse 14 (2.73.14)

त्वामेकं कारणं कृत्वा कालेन भरतर्षभ । समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं क्षयं यास्यति भारत । दुर्योधनापराधेन भीमार्जुनबलेन च ॥

tvāmekaṃ kāraṇaṃ kṛtvā kālena bharatarṣabha | sametaṃ pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ kṣayaṃ yāsyati bhārata | duryodhanāparādhena bhīmārjunabalena ca

"In time, bull of the Bharatas, with you alone as the occasion, the assembled kshatriyas of the earth will go to destruction, Bharata, through the offence of Duryodhana and the might of Bhima and Arjuna.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 23–25).

Verse 15 (2.73.15)

स्वप्नं द्रक्ष्यसि राजेन्द्र तस्मिन्काल उपस्थिते । तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥

svapnaṃ drakṣyasi rājendra tasminkāla upasthite | tatte'haṃ sampravakṣyāmi tannibodha yudhiṣṭhira

"When that time is at hand, lord of kings, you will see a dream. I shall tell you of it; hear it, Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); this verse is not in the CE's Appendix I No. 30 either.

Verse 16 (2.73.16)

यान्तं द्रक्ष्यसि राजेन्द्र क्षपान्ते त्वं वृषध्वजम् । नीलकण्ठं भवं स्थाणुं कपालिं त्रिपुरान्तकम् ॥

yāntaṃ drakṣyasi rājendra kṣapānte tvaṃ vṛṣadhvajam | nīlakaṇṭhaṃ bhavaṃ sthāṇuṃ kapāliṃ tripurāntakam

"At the close of night, lord of kings, you will see the bull-bannered god going on his way: the blue-throated Bhava, Sthanu, the skull-bearer, destroyer of the three cities;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 26–27).

Verse 17 (2.73.17)

उग्रं रुद्रं पशुपतिं महादेवमुमापतिम् । हरं शर्वं वृषं शूलिं पिनाकिं कृत्तिवाससम् ॥

ugraṃ rudraṃ paśupatiṃ mahādevamumāpatim | haraṃ śarvaṃ vṛṣaṃ śūliṃ pinākiṃ kṛttivāsasam

"Ugra, Rudra, Pashupati, Mahadeva, the lord of Uma; Hara, Sharva, Vrisha, the trident-bearer, the wielder of Pinaka, the one clad in hide;

Note on the text: Corrected शूलं → शूलिं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ि — in this list of Shiva's epithets the word is "the trident-bearer", not "the trident"; the CE's appendix reads śūliṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 28–29).

Verse 18 (2.73.18)

कैलासकूटप्रतिमे वृषभेऽवस्थितं शिवम् । निरीक्षमाणं सततं पितृराजाश्रितां दिशम् ॥

kailāsakūṭapratime vṛṣabhe'vasthitaṃ śivam | nirīkṣamāṇaṃ satataṃ pitṛrājāśritāṃ diśam

"Shiva, seated on a bull like a peak of Kailasa, gazing steadily toward the quarter of the king of the ancestors.

Note on the text: Corrected कूड → कूट (misprint in Wikisource; ड for ट — the CE's appendix reads kailāsakūṭa-). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 30–31).

Verse 19 (2.73.19)

एवमीदृशकं स्वप्नं द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं विशाम्पते । मा तत्कृते ह्यनुध्याहि कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥

evamīdṛśakaṃ svapnaṃ drakṣyasi tvaṃ viśāmpate | mā tatkṛte hyanudhyāhi kālo hi duratikramaḥ

"Such is the dream you will see, lord of the people. Do not brood over it, for time is hard to overcome.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 32–33).

Verse 20 (2.73.20)

स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि कैलासं पर्वतं प्रति । अप्रमत्तः स्थितो दान्तः पृथिवीं परिपालय ॥

svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi kailāsaṃ parvataṃ prati | apramattaḥ sthito dāntaḥ pṛthivīṃ paripālaya

"Fare you well; I shall go to Mount Kailasa. Stay watchful and self-controlled, and protect the earth."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 34–35).

Verse 21 (2.73.21)

एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्कैलासं पर्वतं ययौ । कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासः सह शिष्यैः सहानुगैः ॥

evamuktvā sa bhagavānkailāsaṃ parvataṃ yayau | kṛṣṇadvaipāyano vyāsaḥ saha śiṣyaiḥ sahānugaiḥ

Having said this, the blessed Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa went to Mount Kailasa with his disciples and followers.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 36–37).

Verse 22 (2.73.22)

गते पितामहे राजा चिन्ताशोकसमन्वितः । निःश्वसन्नुष्णमसकृत्तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन् ॥

gate pitāmahe rājā cintāśokasamanvitaḥ | niḥśvasannuṣṇamasakṛttamevārthaṃ vicintayan

When the grandsire had gone, the king, full of anxiety and grief, sighed hot sighs again and again, pondering that very matter:

Note on the text: Joined निः श्वसन् → निःश्वसन् (spacing error in Wikisource splitting the word). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 38–39).

Verse 23 (2.73.23)

कथं तु दैवं शक्येत पौरुषेण प्रबाधितुम् । अवश्यमेव भविता यदुक्तं परमर्षिणा ॥

kathaṃ tu daivaṃ śakyeta pauruṣeṇa prabādhitum | avaśyameva bhavitā yaduktaṃ paramarṣiṇā

"How could fate be held back by human effort? What the supreme seer has said will surely come to pass."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 40–41).

Verse 24 (2.73.24)

ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजाः सर्वान्भ्रातॄन्युधिष्ठिरः । श्रुतं वै पुरुषव्याघ्रा यन्मां द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् ॥

tato'bravīnmahātejāḥ sarvānbhrātṝnyudhiṣṭhiraḥ | śrutaṃ vai puruṣavyāghrā yanmāṃ dvaipāyano'bravīt

Then mighty Yudhishthira said to all his brothers: "Tigers among men, you have heard what Dvaipayana told me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 42–43). Narration in the first line; Yudhishthira's speech begins with the second.

Verse 25 (2.73.25)

तदा तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मरणे निश्चिता मतिः । सर्वक्षत्रस्य निधने यद्यहं हेतुरीप्सितः ॥

tadā tadvacanaṃ śrutvā maraṇe niścitā matiḥ | sarvakṣatrasya nidhane yadyahaṃ heturīpsitaḥ

"Having heard those words, my mind is set on dying, if I am the one destined to be the cause of the death of all the kshatriyas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 44–45).

Verse 26 (2.73.26)

कालेन निर्मितस्तात को ममार्थोऽस्ति जीवतः । एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं फाल्गुनः प्रत्यभाषत ॥

kālena nirmitastāta ko mamārtho'sti jīvataḥ | evaṃ bruvantaṃ rājānaṃ phālgunaḥ pratyabhāṣata

"If time has fashioned me for this, brothers, what is the use of my living?" As the king spoke thus, Phalguna answered him:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 46–47). Yudhishthira's words end with the first line; the second is narration.

Verse 27 (2.73.27)

मा राजन्कश्मलं घोरं प्रविशो बुद्धिनाशनम् । सम्प्रधार्य महाराज यत्क्षमं तत्समाचर ॥

mā rājankaśmalaṃ ghoraṃ praviśo buddhināśanam | sampradhārya mahārāja yatkṣamaṃ tatsamācara

"O king, do not give way to this dreadful despondency that destroys the understanding. Consider well, great king, and do what is fitting."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 48–49).

Verse 28 (2.73.28)

ततोऽब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिर्भ्रातॄन्सर्वान्युधिष्ठिरः । द्वैपायनस्य वचनं तत्रैव समचिन्तयत् ॥

tato'bravītsatyadhṛtirbhrātṝnsarvānyudhiṣṭhiraḥ | dvaipāyanasya vacanaṃ tatraiva samacintayat

Then Yudhishthira, steadfast in truth, spoke to all his brothers, still pondering Dvaipayana's words:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 50–51).

Verse 29 (2.73.29)

अद्यप्रभृति भद्रं वः प्रतिज्ञां मे निबोधत । त्रयोदश समास्तात को ममार्थोऽस्ति जीवतः ॥

adyaprabhṛti bhadraṃ vaḥ pratijñāṃ me nibodhata | trayodaśa samāstāta ko mamārtho'sti jīvataḥ

"Bless you all; hear the vow I make from this day. For these thirteen years, brothers (for what else have I to live for?),

Note on the text: Joined ममार्थो ऽस्ति → ममार्थोऽस्ति (stray space before the avagraha in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 52–53).

Verse 30 (2.73.30)

न प्रवक्ष्यामि परुषं भ्रातॄनन्यांश्च पार्थिवान् । स्थितो निदेशे ज्ञातीनां योक्ष्ये तत्समुदाहरन् ॥

na pravakṣyāmi paruṣaṃ bhrātṝnanyāṃśca pārthivān | sthito nideśe jñātīnāṃ yokṣye tatsamudāharan

"I shall speak no harsh word to my brothers or to other kings. Abiding by the bidding of my kinsmen, I shall hold to this, declaring it openly.

Note on the text: Corrected सुमुदाहरन् → समुदाहरन् (misprint in Wikisource; सु for स gives no word — the CE's appendix reads samudāharan). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 54–55).

Verse 31 (2.73.31)

एवं मे वर्तमानस्य स्वसुतेष्वितरेषु च । भेदो न भविता लोके भेदमूलो हि विग्रहः ॥

evaṃ me vartamānasya svasuteṣvitareṣu ca | bhedo na bhavitā loke bhedamūlo hi vigrahaḥ

"If I conduct myself thus toward my own sons and toward others, there will be no discord in the world; and discord is the root of strife.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वसुतेऽष्वितरेषु → स्वसुतेष्वितरेषु (misprint in Wikisource; a stray avagraha and misplaced vowel — the CE's appendix reads svasuteṣv itareṣu). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 56–57).

Verse 32 (2.73.32)

विग्रहं दूरतो रक्षन्प्रियाण्येव समाचरन् । वाच्यतां न गमिष्यामि लोकेषु मनुजर्षभाः ॥

vigrahaṃ dūrato rakṣanpriyāṇyeva samācaran | vācyatāṃ na gamiṣyāmi lokeṣu manujarṣabhāḥ

"Keeping strife far away and doing only what pleases others, I shall not incur reproach in the world, bulls among men."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 58–59).

Verse 33 (2.73.33)

भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य वचनं पाण्डवाः संनिशम्य तत् । तमेव समवर्तन्त धर्मराजहिते रताः ॥

bhrāturjyeṣṭhasya vacanaṃ pāṇḍavāḥ saṃniśamya tat | tameva samavartanta dharmarājahite ratāḥ

Having heard these words of their eldest brother, the Pandavas, devoted to the good of the King of Dharma, followed him in this.

Note on the text: Corrected भ्रातृर्ज्येष्ठस्य → भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य (misprint in Wikisource; ृ for ु in the genitive) and तत → तत् (missing virama). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 60–61).

Verse 34 (2.73.34)

संसत्सु समयं कृत्वा धर्मराड्भ्रातृभिः सह । पितॄंस्तर्प्य यथान्यायं देवताश्च विशाम्पते ॥

saṃsatsu samayaṃ kṛtvā dharmarāḍbhrātṛbhiḥ saha | pitṝṃstarpya yathānyāyaṃ devatāśca viśāmpate

Having made this compact with his brothers in the assembly, the King of Dharma duly offered libations to the ancestors and to the gods, lord of the people.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 62–63).

Verse 35 (2.73.35)

कृतमङ्गलकल्याणो भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः । गतेषु क्षत्रियेन्द्रेषु सर्वेषु भरतर्षभ ॥

kṛtamaṅgalakalyāṇo bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ | gateṣu kṣatriyendreṣu sarveṣu bharatarṣabha

When the auspicious rites had been performed and all the lords of the kshatriyas had gone, bull of the Bharatas, surrounded by his brothers

Note on the text: Corrected कल्यामो → कल्याणो (misprint in Wikisource; म for ण) and पिरवारितः → परिवारितः (misprint; misplaced vowel sign). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 64–65).

Verse 36 (2.73.36)

युधिष्ठिरः सहामात्यः प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम् । दुर्योधनो महाराज शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । सभायां रमणीयायां तत्रैवास्ते नराधिप ॥

yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sahāmātyaḥ praviveśa purottamam | duryodhano mahārāja śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ | sabhāyāṃ ramaṇīyāyāṃ tatraivāste narādhipa

Yudhishthira, with his ministers, entered his splendid city. But Duryodhana, great king, and Shakuni, son of Subala, stayed on there in that delightful hall, lord of men.

Note on the text: Corrected समणीयायां → रमणीयायां (misprint in Wikisource; स for र — the CE's appendix reads ramaṇīyāyāṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I No. 30, after 2.42.60, lines 66–68).