युधिष्ठिर उवाच हताः पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च भ्रातरः पितरस्तथा। श्वशुरा गुरवश्चैव मातुलाश्च पितामहाः॥ क्षत्रियाश्च महात्मानः सम्बन्धिसुहृदस्तथा। वयस्या भागिनेयाश्च ज्ञातयश्च पितामह॥ बहवश्च मनुष्येन्द्रा नानादेशसमागताः। घातिता राज्यलुब्धेन मयैकेन पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said Sons, grandsons, brothers, sires, fathers-inlaw, preceptors, maternal uncles, grandsires, many great Kshatriyas, many relatives, friends, companions, sisters' sons, and kinsmen, O grandfather, and many foremost of men hailing from various countries, have been killed. All these, O grandfather, have been caused to be killed by myself alone, from desire of kingdom.
तांस्तादृशानहं हत्वा धर्मनित्यान् महीक्षितः। असकृत् सोमपान् वीरान् किं प्राप्स्यामि तपोधन॥
Having brought about the death of so many heroic kings who were always righteous and all of whom had drunk Soma in sacrifices, what end shall I obtain, O great ascetic.
दह्याम्यनिशमद्यापि चिन्तयानः पुनः पुनः। हीनां पार्थिवसिंहैस्तैः श्रीमद्भिः पृथिवीमिमाम्॥
Thinking that this Earth has been deprived of many foremost of kings, all of whom enjoyed great prosperity, I burn continually to this day.
दृष्ट्वा ज्ञातिवधं घोरं हतांश्च शतशः परान्। कोटिशश्च नरानन्यान् परितप्ये पितामह॥
Having seen this destruction of kinsmen and of millions of other men, I burn with grief, Ograndfather.
का न तासां वरस्त्रीणामवस्थाद्य भविष्यति। विहीनानां तु तनयैः पतिभिर्धातृभिस्तथा॥
Oh, what will be the condition of those foremost of ladies who have been deprived of sons, of husbands, and of brothers.
अस्मानन्तकरान् घोरान् पाण्डवान् वृष्णिसंहतान्। आक्रोशन्त्यः कृशा दीनाः प्रपतिष्यन्ति भूतले॥
Censuring the Pandavas and the Vrishnis as cruel murderers, those ladies, reduced greatly and sunk in grief, will throw themselves on the Earth.
अपश्यन्त्यः पितॄन् भ्रातृन् पतीन् पुत्रांश्च योषितः। त्यक्त्वा प्राणान् स्त्रियः सर्वा गमिष्यन्ति यमक्षयम्॥ वत्सलत्वाद् द्विजश्रेष्ठ तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः। व्यक्तं सौक्ष्याच्च धर्मस्य प्राप्स्यामः स्त्रीवधंवयम्॥
Not seeing their father and brothers and husbands and sons, those ladies renouncing their lives in agony will go to the abode of Yama, O foremost of Brahmanas! I have no doubt of this! The course of morality is very subtile. It is clear that we shall be guilty of killing women for this.
यद् वयं सुहृदो हत्वा कृत्वा पापमनन्तकम्। नरके निपतिष्यामो ह्यधःशिरस एव ह॥
Having killed our kinsmen and friends and thereby committed a sin which cannot be expiated, we shall have tù fall into hell with heads downwards.
शरीराणि विमोक्ष्यामस्तपसोग्रेण सत्तम। आश्रमाणां विशेषं त्वमथाचक्ष्व पितामह॥
O best of men, we shall, therefore, reduce our bodies with the austerest of penances! Tell me, O grand-father, what mode of life I should follow.
वैशम्पायन उवाच युधिष्ठिरस्य तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा द्वैपायनस्तदा। निरीक्ष्य निपुणं बुद्ध्या ऋषिः प्रोवाच पाण्डवम्॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, the Dvaipayana-Rishi, having reflected keenly for sometime, said again to the son of Pandu.
व्यास उवाच मा विषादं कृथा राजन् क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्। स्वधर्मेण हता ह्येते क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ॥
Vyasa said, Remembering the duties of a Kshatriya, O king, do not indulge in grief! All those Kshatriyas, O foremost of Kshatriyas, have been killed while following their legitimate duties.
काक्षमाणाः श्रियं कृत्स्नां पृथिव्यां च महद् यशः। कृतान्तविधिसंयुक्ताः कालेन निधनं गताः॥
Pursuing great prosperity and fame on Earth, those foremost of men, all of whom were liable to death, have died through the influence of Time.
न त्वं हन्ता च भीमोऽयं नार्जुनो न यमावपि। कालः पर्यायधर्मेण प्राणानादत्त देहिनाम्॥
You have not been their slayer, nor this Bhima, nor Arjuna, nor the twins. It is Time that took away their lives according to the great law of change.
न तस्य मातापितरौ नानुग्राह्यो हि कश्चन। कर्मसाक्षी प्रजानां यस्तेन कालेन संहृताः॥
Time has neither mother, nor father, nor anybody to whom he shows any mercy. He is the witness of the acts of all creatures, By him have they been snatched away.
हेतुमात्रमिदं तस्य विहितं भरतर्षभ। यद्धन्ति भूतैर्भूतानि तदस्मै रूपमैश्वरम्॥
This battle, O foremost of Bharata's race, was only an occasion ordained by him. He brought out the destruction of creatures through the instrumentality of Time. In this manner it displays its irresistible power.
कर्मसूत्रात्मकं विद्धि साक्षिणं शुभपापयोः। सुखदुःखगुणोदक कालं कालफलप्रदम्॥
Know that Time depends upon the fetters of action and is the witness of all actions good and evil. It is Time that brings about the fruits, pleasurable or miserable, of our actions.
तेषामपि महाबाहो कर्माणि परिचिन्तय। विनाशहेतुकानि त्वं यैस्ते कालवशं गताः॥
Think, O mighty-armed one, of the acts of those Kshatriyas that have been killed. Those acts were the causes of their destruction and it is on account of them that they have died.
आत्मनश्च विजानीहि नियतव्रतशासनम्। यदा त्वमीदृशं कर्म विधिनाऽऽक्रम्य कारितः॥
Think also of your own acts of observances of vows with controlled mind, And think also how you have been compelled by the Supreme Ordainer to do such an act.
त्वष्ट्रेव विहितं यन्त्रं यथा चेष्टयितुर्वशे। कर्मणा कालयुक्तेन तथेदं चेष्टते जगत्॥
As a weapon made by a smith or carpenter is under the control of the person who uses it, and moves as moves it, likewise this universe, controlled by actions done in Time, moves as those actions move it.
पुरुषस्य हि दृष्ट्वेमामुत्पत्तिमनिमित्ततः। यदृच्छया विनाशं च शोकहर्षावनर्थकौ॥
Beholding that the births and deaths of creatures take place without any perceptible cause and order, grief and joy are absolutely useless.
व्यलीकमपि यत् त्वत्र चित्तवैतंसिकं तव। तदर्थमिष्यते राजन् प्रायश्चित्तं तदाचर॥
Although this confusion of your heart is a mere delusion, still, if you like, O king, perform expiatory rites.
इदं तु श्रूयते पार्थ युद्धे देवासुरे पुरा। असुरा भ्रातरो ज्येष्ठा देवाश्चापि यवीयसः॥
It is heard, O Partha, that the gods and the Asuras fought against each other. The Asuras were the elder, and the gods the younger brothers.
तेषामपि श्रीनिमित्तं महानासीत् समुच्छ्रयः। युद्धं वर्षसहस्राणि द्वात्रिंशदभवत् किल॥
Seeking prosperity, they fought a dreadful battle between them. The fight lasted for thirtytwo thousand years.
एकार्णवां महीं कृत्वा रुधिरेण परिप्लुताम्। जघ्नुर्दैत्यांस्तथा देवास्त्रिदिवं चाभिलेभिरे॥
Converting the Earth to one vast sea of blood, the gods killed the Daityas and occupied the celestial region.
तथैव पृथिवीं लब्ध्वा ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। संश्रिता दानवानां वै साह्यार्थं दर्पमोहिताः॥
Having occupied the Earth, a host of Brahmanas, conversant with the Vedas, armed themselves, stupefied with pride, with the Danavas for helping in the fight.
शालावृका इति ख्यातास्त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत। अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि ते चापि विबुधैर्हताः॥
They were known by the name of Shalavrika and were eighty-eight thousand in number. All of them, however, were killed by the gods.
धर्मव्युच्छित्तिमिच्छन्तो येऽधर्मस्य प्रवर्तकाः। हन्तव्यास्ते दुरात्मानो देवैर्दैत्या इवोल्बणाः॥
Those wicked persons who desire to root out virtue and encourage sinfulness deserve io be killed even as the furious Daityas were killed by the gods.
एकं हत्वा यदि कुले शिष्टानां स्यादनामयम्। कुलं हत्वा च राष्ट्रं च न तद् वृत्तोपघातकम्॥
If by killing a single individual a family may be saved, or, if by killing a single family the whole kingdom may be saved, such an act of slaughter is not sinful.
अधर्मरूपो धर्मो हि कश्चिदस्ति नराधिप। धर्मश्चाधर्मरूपोऽस्ति तच्च ज्ञेयं विपश्चिता॥
Sin, O king, sometimes becomes virtue, and virtue sometimes becomes sin. The learned know which is which.
तस्मात् संस्तम्भयात्मानं श्रुतवानसि पाण्डव। देवैः पूर्वगतं मार्गमनुयातोऽसि भारत॥
Therefore, console yourself, O son of Pandu, for you are well read in the scriptures. You have, O Bharata, only followed the path of the very gods.
न हीदृशा गमिष्यन्ति नरकं पाण्डवर्षभ। भ्रातृनाश्वासयैतांस्त्वं सुहृदश्च परंतप॥
Men like yourselves never go to hell, o foremost of Pandu's race! Comfort these your brothers and all your friends, O scorcher of foes.
यो हि पापसमारम्भे कार्ये तद्भावभावितः। कुर्वन्नपि तथैव स्यात् कृत्वा च निरपत्रपः॥ तस्मिंस्तत् कलुषं सर्वं समाप्तमिति शब्दितम्। प्रायश्चित्तं न तस्यास्ति ह्रासो वा पापकर्मणः॥
He who deliberately commits sinful acts, and committing them feels no compunction but continues the same as before, is known as a great sinner. There is no expiation for him, and his sins never disappear.
त्वं तु शुक्लाभिजातीयः परदोषेण कारितः। अनिच्छमानः कर्मेदं कृत्वा च परितप्यसे॥
You are born in a noble family. Urged by the sons of others, you have most reluctantly done this, and having done this you repent for it.
अश्वमेधो महायज्ञः प्रायश्चित्तमुदाहृतम्। तमाहर महाराज विपाष्मैवं भविष्यसि॥
The rite of Horse-sacrifice, has been indicated as an expiation for you. Make preparations for that sacrifice, O king, and you ! will be freed off of all your sins.
मरुद्भिः सह जित्वारीन् भगवान् पाकशासनः। एकैकं क्रतुमाहृत्य शतकृत्व: शतक्रतुः॥
Having defeated his foes with the help of the Maruts, Indra gradually celebrated a hundred sacrifices and became Shatakratu.
धूतपामाजितस्वर्गो लोकान् प्राप्य सुखोदयान्। मरुद्गणैर्वृतः शक्रः शुशुभे भासयन् दिशः॥
Freed from sin, occupying heaven, and having obtained many blissful regions and great happiness and prosperity, Shakra surrounded by the Maruts, is shining in beauty, and lighting up all the quarters with his effulgence.
स्वर्गे लोके महीयन्तमप्सरोभिः शचीपतिम्। ऋषयः पर्युपासन्ते देवाश्च विबुधेश्वरम्॥
The lord of Shachi is worshipped in the heaven by the Apsaras. The Rishis and the other gods all adore himn with respect.
सेयं त्वामनुसम्प्राप्ता विक्रमेण वसुन्धरा। निर्जिताच महीपाला विक्रमेण त्वयानध॥
You have obtained the Earth through your prowess. All the kings have been defeated by you, O sinless one, through your prowess.
तेषां पुराणि राष्ट्राणि गत्वा राजन् सुहृवृतः। भ्रातॄन् पुत्रांश्चपौत्रांश्च स्वे स्वे राज्येऽभिषेचय॥
Proceeding with your friends to their kingdoms, O king, install their brothers, sons, or grandsons on their thrones.
बालानपि च गर्भस्थान् सान्त्वेन समुदाचरन्। रञ्जयन् प्रकृती: सर्वाः परिपाहि वसुन्धराम्॥
Treating kindly even the children in the womb, make you subjects glad and happy, and govern the Earth,
कुमारो नास्ति येषां च कन्यास्तत्राभिषेचय। कामाशयो हि स्त्रीवर्गः शोकमेवं प्रहास्यसि॥
Install on their thrones the daughters of those that have no sons. Women are fond of pleasure and power. By this they will shake off their sorrows and become happy.
एवमाश्वासनं कृत्वा सर्वराष्ट्रेषु भारत। यजस्व वाजिमेधेन यथेन्द्रो विजयी पुरा॥ अशोच्यास्ते महात्मानः क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभा स्वकर्मभिर्गता नाशं कृतान्तबलमोहिताः॥
Having comforted the entire empire in this way, O Bharata, worship the gods in a Horsesacrifice as did the victorious Indra in days of yore. It is not proper for us to grieve for those great Kshatriyas, O foremost of Kshatriyas. Stupefied by the power of the Destroyer, they have died while satisfying the duties of their own order.
अवाप्तः क्षत्रधर्मस्ते राज्यं प्राप्तमकण्टकम्। रक्षस्व धर्म कौन्तेय श्रेयान् यः प्रेत्य भारत॥
You have performed the duties of a Kshatriya and obtained the Earth thornless. Follow your own duties, O son of Kunti, for then, O Bharata, you will enjoy happiness in the next world.