THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

                                                
            ॥    सभापर्व   ॥

 Maya builds a beautiful hall for
Pandavas – Narada’s  queries to
Yudhishthira, Krishna’s assent for Rajasuya sacrifice.                 

                              ततोऽब्रवीन्मयः पार्थं वासुदेवस्य सन्निधौ।

          त्वया त्रातोऽस्मि कौन्तेय ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते॥

Maya then
said to Arjuna in the presence of Krishna: “Arjuna, I have been saved by you;
tell me, what shall I do for you?

           चोदयामास तं कृष्णः सभा
वै क्रियतामिति।

           धर्मराजमथामन्त्र्य कृष्णोऽपि
द्वारकामगात् ॥

Krishna directed
Maya to build a hall and taking leave of Yudhishthira, he then went to Dwaraka.

           विश्रुतां त्रिषु लोकेषु
दिव्यां मणिमयीं शुभाम्।

           तां तु कृत्वा सभां श्रेष्ठां
विसृष्टः प्रययौ मयः ॥

Maya
built an excellent hall, famous in the three worlds, wonderful, completely
inlaid with precious stones and beautiful, and given leave, went away.      

           अथ तत्रोपविष्टेषु पाण्डवेषु
महात्मसु।

           नारदस्सुमहातेजाः पप्रच्छेदं
युधिष्ठिरम्॥

Then,
when the high-souled Pandavas were sitting in that hall, the supremely
magnificent Narada asked this of YudhiShthira.

          कश्चिदर्थाश्च कल्पन्ते धर्मे
च रमते मनः।

          कुलीनाश्चानुरक्ताश्च कृतास्ते
वीर मन्त्रिणः ॥

“Are
your material gains adequate?  Does your
mind delight in Dharma? Valourous Yudhishthira! 
Have you made men of birth and devotion your ministers?

                             

                              कच्चिद्दुर्गाणि सर्वाणि धनधान्यायुधोदकैः।

          यन्त्रैश्च परिपूर्णानि तथा
शिल्पिधनुर्धरैः॥ 

             

“Are all
the forts full with money, corn, missiles and water, machines, artisans and
archers?”

          कच्चिद्विनयसंपन्नः सत्कृतस्ते पुरोहितः।

“Is your priest, endowed with modesty, honoured by you?”

          कच्चिद्बलस्य भक्तं च वेतनं
च योथोचितम्।

          संप्राप्तकाले दातव्यं ददासि
न विकर्षसि ॥  

“Do you give in time the proper rations and pay
that ought to be given to your army, and not delay them?”

 

          “कश्चिद्विद्याविनीतांश्च नराञ्ज्ञानविशारदान्।

          यथार्हं गुणतश्चैव दानेनाभ्युपपद्यसे
॥“

“Do you help with gifts,  according to what they deserve and according
to their merits,  men who are disciplined
by learning and celebrated in knowledge”

          कश्चिद्दारान्मनुष्याणां तवार्थेमृत्युमीयुषाम्।

          व्यसनं चाभ्युपेतानां बिभर्षि भरतर्षभ
॥

“Distinguished scion of
Bharata! Do you maintain the wives of men who lay down their lives and come to
grief in your cause?” 

          कच्चिदायस्य चार्धेन चतुर्भागेन
वा पुनः।

          पादभागैस्त्रिभिर्वाऽपि व्ययस्संशुध्यते
तव॥

Is your expenditure
cleared with half or quarter or three quarters of your income?

          कच्चिज्ज्ञातीन्गुरून्वृद्धान्
वणिजश्शिल्पिनश्श्रितान्।

          अभीक्ष्णमनुगृह्णासि धनधान्येन
दुर्गतान् ॥

Do you frequently help
with money and grain kinsmen, teachers, old men, merchants, artists and
dependants who are in distress?

          कच्चिदर्थेषु संप्रौढान्
हितकामाननुप्रियान्।

          नापकर्षसि कर्मेभ्यः पूर्वमप्राप्य
किल्बिषम् ॥

Do you
refrain from removing from their offices without previously finding mistake in
them those who are very efficient in their works who love your welfare and are
devoted.

         
कच्चिद्राष्ट्रे तटाकानि पूर्णानि च बृहन्ति च।

          भागशो विनिविष्टानि न कृषिर्देवमातृका
॥

Are tanks in your country
full, big, and distributed in the several areas?  Is agriculture not dependent on rains only?

          कच्चित्स्वनुष्ठिता तात वार्ता
ते साधुभिर्जनैः।

          वार्तायां संश्रितस्तात लोकोऽयं
सुखमेधते ॥

Is your
economic welfare – agriculture, commerce, live-stock and banking – well-managed
by efficient men? My son! This world flourishes in happiness, if it were well
based on economic welfare.    

          कच्चित्कृतं विजानीषे
कर्तारं च प्रशंससि।

          सतां मध्ये माहाराज सत्करोषि च पूजयन्॥

“Great
King, do you recognise a work done, acclaim the doer and honour him with
rewards in the midst of good people?”

          कच्चिदग्निभयाच्चैव सर्वं
व्यालभयात्तथा।

          रोगरक्षोभायाच्चैव राष्ट्रं
स्वं परिरक्षसि ॥

Do you
guard your country from fear of fire, reptiles, diseases and evil spirits?

          कश्चिदन्धांश्च मूकांश्च पङ्गून्व्यङ्गानबान्धवान्।

          पितेव पासि धर्मज्ञ तथा प्रव्रजितानपि
॥

“You, who know Dharma! do
you protect like a father the blind, the dumb, and the lame, those who are
physically deficient (in other ways), those who have no kith and kin and those
who have renounced the world.”

           षडनर्था महाराज कच्चित्ते
पृष्ठतः कृताः।

           निद्राऽऽलस्यं भयं क्रोधो
मार्दवं दीर्घसूत्रिता॥

Great king, have these
six evils been discarded by you – sleep, laziness, fear, anger, softness and
delay?

           पिता च त्वाह कौन्तेय पाण्डुः
कौरवनन्दन।

           “समर्थोऽसि महीं जेतुं भ्रातरस्ते
स्थिता वशे।      

           राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठमाहरस्वेति
भारत ॥

“Son of Kunti! and scion
of the Kuru race ! Your father Pandu told you “You are capable of conquering
the world; Your brothers are at your command. 
Scion of Bharata! Perform Rajasuya, the greatest of sacrifices”

          ऋषेस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जगान मनसा हरिम्।

           पाण्डवो भूतगुरवे प्राहिणोद्दूतमञ्जसा॥

Hearing those words of
the sage, Yudhishthira thought of Hari(Krishna). Quickly, he despatched a
messenger to the Lord of beings (Krishna).

           दिशं धनपतेरिष्टामजयत्पाकशासनिः।

           भीमसेनस्तथा प्राचीं सहदेवस्तु
दक्षिणाम्।

           प्रतीचीं नकुलो
[राजन्] दिशं व्यजयदस्त्रवित्॥

Arjuna conquered the
quarter dear to Kubera (i.e. North), Bhima, the East; Sahadeva, the South; and
Nakula, skilled in missiles, the West.   

           उच्चावचमुपादाय धर्मराजाय
माधवः।

           धनौघं पुरुषव्याघ्रः प्रविवेश
पुरोत्तमम्॥

Taking for Yudhishthira a
heap of manifold riches, Krishna, the most distinguished of men, entered the
excellent city of Indraprastha.

           युधिष्ठिरः-

           ’त्वत्कृते पृथिवी सर्वा
मद्वशे कृष्ण वर्तते।

            धनं च बहु वार्ष्णेय त्वत्प्रासादादुपार्जितम्
।

            अनुज्ञातस्त्वया कृष्ण
प्राप्नुयां क्रतुमुत्तमम्॥

Yudhishthira:-

“Krishna, because of you
the whole world is under me; scion of the Vrishnis! By your grace, ample wealth
has been amassed.  Krishna, with your
leave, I would like to perform the best sacrifice.”

            कृष्णः-

            ’यजस्वाभीप्सितं यज्ञं
मयि श्रेयस्यवस्थिते।

            नियुङ्क्ष्व त्वं च मां
कृत्ये सर्वं कर्तास्मि ते वचः॥

Krishna-

“Perform the sacrifice
you desire when I am here for your good. 
Appoint me also to some work; I shall do all that you say.” 

   

          

            

         

        

        

       

THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                      
॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

      Arjuna marries Subhadra, Burning of Khandava
forest

           अर्जुनश्चिन्तयामास गदेन
कथितं पुरा।

           सुभद्रायाश्च माधुर्यरूपसंपद्गुणानि
च ॥

Arjuna thought of the sweetness, beauty and qualities of Subhadra
(Krishna’s sister), described (to him) by Gada ( a brother of Krishna) long
ago.

            पाण्डवस्य सुभद्रायास्सकाशे तु यशस्विनः।

            समुत्पत्तिः प्रभावश्च गदेन
कथितः पुरा।

            तस्मात्सुभद्रा चकमे पौरुषाद्भरतर्षभम्॥

In Subhadra’s presence (also), the birth and the might of the renowned Arjuna
had been previously described by Gada. 
Therefore, Subhadra loved Arjuna, the illustrious scion of Bharata, for
his valour.

       

                           ततः प्रीतिकरो यूनां विवाहपरमोत्सवः।

            भद्रवत्यै सुभद्रायै सप्तरात्रमवर्तत॥

Then the
great festival of marriage, which gives joy to the young, took place for seven
nights for the auspicious Subhadra.

            सुभद्रा सुषुवे वीरमभिमन्युं नरर्षभम्
।

            कृष्णस्य सदृशं शौर्ये वीर्ये रूपे तथऽऽकृतौ॥

Subhadra
gave birth to the heroic Abhimanyu, the best of men who was like Krishna in
courage, valour, beauty and appearance.

            युधिष्ठिरात्प्रतिविन्ध्यं सुतसोमं वृकोदरात्।

            अर्जुनाच्छ्रुतकर्माणं शतानीकं च नाकुलिम्।

            सहदेवाच्छ्रुतसेनमेतान्पञ्च महारथान्
।

            पाञ्चाली सुषुवे वीरानादित्यानदितिर्यथा॥

Like
Aditi giving birth to the gods, Draupadi gave birth to five warriors,
Prativindhya by yudhishthira, Sutasoma by Bhima, Srutakarman by Arjuna,
Satanika by Nakula and Srutasena by Sahadeva.                                        

                          

                                  दिव्यगर्भोपमैः पुत्रैर्व्यूढोरस्कैर्महारथैः।

           
अन्विता [राजशार्दूल] पाण्डवा मुदमाप्नुवन्॥

The
Pandavas rejoiced in the company of these valorous sons of broad chests, who
looked like divine children.

             ततः कतिपयाहस्य बीभत्सुः कृष्णमब्रवीत्।

             ’उष्णानि कृष्ण वर्तन्ते गच्छावो यमुनां
प्रति॥

After a
few days, Arjuna told Krishna:  “Krishna,
it hot, let us go towards the Yamuna.”

 

            आमन्त्र्य तौ धर्मराजमनुज्ञाप्य च [भारत]

            तत्र गत्वा महात्मानौ रेमाते पार्थमाधवौ॥

Asking
for the permission of Yudhishthira and being permitted by him, the two great
persons, Arjuna and Krishna, went to the Yamuna and enjoyed themselves.

            अभ्यागच्छत्तदा विप्रः प्रतप्तकनकप्रभः।

            सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं चैव वासुदेवं च सात्त्वतम्॥

At that
time, a Brahmin, of the colour of smelted gold, approached (them); he said to
Arjuna and Krishna;

             ’भिक्षे वार्ष्णेयपार्थौ वां पावकं मां
निबोधतम्।

             स युवाभ्यां सहायाभ्यामस्त्रविद्भ्यां
समागतः।

             दहेयं खाण्डवं दावमेतदन्नं वृतं मया॥’

“I beg
of you, Arjuna and Krishna, know me as Fire; with you two, who are experts with
missiles, as aids, I would burn the Khandava forest; this has been chosen by me
as (my) food.”

              प्रादाच्चैव धनूरत्नमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी।

              रथं च दिव्याश्वयुजं कपिप्रवरकेतनम्॥

He
gave (to Arjuna) an excellent bow and two great inexhaustible quivers as also a
chariot, fitted with celestial horses and a banner with a great monkey on it.

           

              वज्रनाभं ततश्चक्रं ददौ कृष्णाय पावकः।

The
god of fire then gave to Krishna a discus of adamantine nave.

              ततः पावकमब्रूतां प्रहृष्टावर्जुनाच्युतौ।

              कामं संप्रज्वलाद्यैव कल्यौ स्वस्साह्यकर्मणि॥

Overjoyed,
Arjuna and Krishna told the god of fire: “Burn as you please even now; we are
ready for your help.

              एवमुक्तस्स भगवान्दाशार्हेणार्जुनेन
च।

              ददाह खाण्डवं दावं युगान्तमिव दर्शयन् ॥

So
told by Krishna and Arjuna, the god of fire burnt the Khandava forest, as if
displaying the final destruction of the world.

              खाण्डवस्य विमोक्षार्थं प्रववर्ष सुरेश्वरः।

              तच्छरैरर्जुनो वर्षं प्रतिजघ्नेऽत्यमर्षितः॥

Indra
sent rain for the rescue of the Khandava forest; incensed very much, Arjuna
warded off that rain with his arrows.

     

              तस्मिन् वने दह्यमाने षडग्निर्न ददाह
च।

              अश्वसेनं मयं चैव चतुरश्शार्ङ्गकांस्तथा ॥

When
that forest was being burnt, the fire did not burn six  beings, – Asvasena (a serpent), Maya (the
architect of demons) and four sarnga birds.

              अहोभिरेकविंशद्भिर्विरराम सुतर्पितः
।

The
fire, fully satisfied, came to an end after twenty one days.

           

              अर्जुनो वासुदेवश्च मयोऽपि [भरतर्षभ]।

              रमणीये नदीकूले सहितास्समुपाविशन्। 

Arjuna,
Krishna and Maya sat together on a lovely river bank. 

             

                  [इत्यादिपर्वं  समाप्तम्]

                        [HERE ENDS ADI PARVA]

 
 

THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                       ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

               Return of Pandavas ,  get half of the Kingdom, Yudhishthira crowned
at Indraprastha

              विदुरस्त्वथ ताच्छ्रुत्वा द्रौपद्या
पाण्डवान्वृतान्।

      व्रीडितान्धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च
धृतराष्ट्रं [विशांपते]

      उचाच ’दिष्ट्या
कुरवो वर्धन्त ’ इति विस्मितः।

      “कृष्णया संवृताः पार्थाः पूजिता
द्रुपदेन च” ॥

Hearing
then that Pandavas had been chosen as husbands by Draupadi and that the sons of
Dhritarashtra had been stricken with shame, Vidura, with pleasant surprise,
told Dhritarashtra: “Luckily, the Kurus thrive in glory.  The Pandavas have been chosen as husbands by
Draupadi and have been honoured by Drupada”

      एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं विदुरस्य
नराधिपः।

      आकारच्छादनार्थाय दिष्ट्या दिष्ट्येति
चाब्रवीत्॥

On hearing
these words of Vidura, the king, to conceal his feeling, said: “Luckily,
luckily.”

      ततो दुर्योधनश्चाति राधेयश्च
[विशांपते]।

      धृतराष्ट्रमुपागम्य वचोऽब्रूतामिदं
तदा॥

Then,
Duryodhana and Karna, approached Dhritarashtra and said these words:

       सन्निधौ विदुरस्य त्वां दोषं
वक्तुं न शक्नुवः।

       विविक्तमिति वक्ष्यावः किं तवेदं
चिकीर्षितम्॥

“We are not
able to criticise you in Vidura’s presence; we speak (now) because we are
alone; what is this you want to do?

         ’सपत्नवृद्धिं यत्तात मन्यसे
वृद्धिमात्मनः।

         अभिष्टौषि च यत्क्षत्तुः समीपे
द्विपदां वर।

         तेषां बलविघातो हि कर्तव्यस्तात
नित्यशः॥

“You
consider the prosperity of our rivals your own! You, best among men, praise the
(Pandavas) in the presence of Vidura! Father, destruction of their power it is
that should be our constant task.”

          

         धृतराष्ट्रः-

         ’अहमप्येवमेवैतच्चिकीर्षामि
यथा युवाम्।

          विवेक्तुं नाहमिच्छामि त्वाकारं
विदुरं प्रति॥

Dhritarashtra-

“ I too am
desirous of doing this even as you are, but I do not want to disclose my
intention to Vidura.”

          “भूय एव तु भीष्मश्च द्रोणो
विदुर एव च।

           युवां च कुरुतां बुद्धिं
भवेद्या नस्सुखोदया॥

“Again let
Bhishma, Drona, Vidura and you two also think out a policy which will be productive
of weal for us.”

            तत आनाय्य तान् सर्वान्
मन्त्रयामास वै तदा॥

Bringing
then all those persons, Dhritarashtra held a consultation.

            भीष्मः-

            ’न रोचते विग्रहो मे पाण्डुपुत्रैः
कथञ्चन।

             यथैव धृतराष्ट्रो मे तथा
पाण्डुरसंशयम् 
Bhishma-

Hostility
in any manner with the sons of Pandu is not to my liking. Surely, as
Dhritarashtra is to me, so is Pandu also.

            मधुरेणैव राज्यस्य तेषामर्धं
प्रदीयताम्।

            न चापि तेषां वीराणां जीवतां
कुरुनन्दन।

           
पित्र्योंऽशः शक्य आदातुमपि वज्रभृता स्वयम् ॥

“In love,
let half of the kingdom be given to them. 
Nor is it possible, scion of Kuru, even for Indra himself to take away
their paternal share while those warriors are alive”

             द्रोणः-

             ममाप्येषा मतिस्तात या
भीष्मस्य महात्मनः॥

Drona-

“Dear king,
the opinion of the high-souled Bhishma is mine also”

                 
             विदुरः-

             ’प्रियं हितं च तद्वाक्यमुक्तवान्
कुरुसत्तमः।

             भीष्मो, द्रोणेन बहुधा भाषितं हितमुत्तमम्॥

                    

             एतद्धि परमं श्रेयो मन्येऽहं
तव भारत॥

Vidura-

“Bhishma,
the best of the Kurus, has spoken words which are pleasing and beneficial; and
what is best and salutary in various ways has been spoken by Drona”
“Scion of Bharata! I consider this as the greatest good for you”

             ‘यच्चाप्यशक्यतां तेषामाहतुः पुरुषर्षभौ।

             तत्तथा पुरुषव्याघ्र यतः
कृष्णस्ततो जयः॥

“And as to
what those two great men said of the invincibility of the Pandavas, that is
true, great man.  Where Krishna is, there
victory is.

            ‘यच्च साम्नैव शक्येत कार्यं
साधयितुं नृप।

            को दैवशप्तस्तत्कार्यं
विग्रहेण समाचरेत् ॥’

“King,
which fate-accursed person will do by conflict the thing which can be achieved
by conciliation itself?”

            “श्रुत्वा च जीवतः पार्थान्
पौरजानपदा जनाः।

             बलवद्दर्शने हृष्टाः तेषां
राजन् प्रियं कुरु॥               

 

“Hearing
that the Pandavas are alive, the citizens and the country-folk are intensely
eager to see them; king, do what pleases them.

            “दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि
सौबलः।

            अधर्मयुक्ताः दुष्प्रज्ञा
बाला मैषां वचः कृथाः॥“

“Duryodhana,
Karna and Sakuni are unrighteous, of vicious mind and (mere) boys; do not do
what they say.”

           धृतराष्ट्रः-

           “ दिष्ट्या जीवन्ति ते पार्था
दिष्ट्या जीवति सा पृथा।

            दिष्ट्या द्रुपदकन्यां
च लब्धवन्तो महारथाः।

            त्वमेव गत्वा विदुर तानिहानय
मा  चिरम् ॥“

Dhritarashtra-

“Luckily,
the Pandavas are alive; luckily, Kunti lives; luckily those warriors have
obtained the daughter of Drupada also. 
Vidura, yourself go and bring them; delay not.”

             एवमुक्तस्ततः क्षत्ता
रथमारुह्य शीघ्रगम्।

             आगात्कतिपयाहोभिः पाञ्चालान्
राजधर्मवित् ॥

So told,
Vidura who knew the royal code, then mounted a swift chariot and in a few days,
came to the Panchala country.

             ददर्श पाण्डवांस्तत्र
वासुदेवं च [भारत]।

             वचनाद् धृतराष्ट्रस्य
पप्रच्छानामयं ततः ॥

There he
saw the Pandavas and Krishna.  He then
enquired of their welfare in Dhritarashtra’s name.

             ततस्ते समनुज्ञाता द्रुपदेन
महात्मना।

             आदाय द्रौपदीं जग्मुर्नगरं
नागसाह्वयम्॥

Then, given
leave by the high souled Drupada, the Pandavas went to the city of Hastinapura,
taking Draupadi.

             पाण्डवानागताञ्छ्रुत्वा
नागरास्तु कुतूहलात्।

             मण्डयाञ्चक्रिरे तत्र
नगरं नागसाह्वयम्॥

In their
delight on hearing that the Pandavas had come, the citizens decorated the city
of Hastinapura.

             पृष्टास्तु कुशलप्रश्नं
सर्वेण नगरेण ते।

             समाविशन्त वेश्मानि धृतराष्ट्रस्य
शासनात् ||

Enquired of
their welfare by the whole city , the Pandavas took up their abodes at the
behest of Dhritarashtra.

              विश्रान्तास्ते महात्मानः
कञ्चित्कालं सकेशवाः ।

              आहूता धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा
शान्तनवेन च ॥

When they
had rested for some time along with Krishna, the high-souled Pandavas were
called by King Dhritarashtra and Bhima

           धृतराष्ट्रः-

                         भ्रातृभिस्सह कौन्तेय निबोधेदं वचो मम।

           पाण्डुना वर्धितं राज्यं पालितं शासनान्मम॥

Dhritarashtra:-

“Son of
Kunti! Harken these words of mine along with your brothers. This kingdom was
developed by Pandu and protected (by him) on my behest.           

   

          अर्धराज्यं तु संप्राप्य
खाण्डवप्रस्थमाविश।

          केशवो यदि मन्येत तत्कर्तव्यमसंशयम्॥

“Take half
of the kingdom and settle in Khandavaprastha. 
If Krishna were to approve, it must be surely done. 

          ’अभिषेकस्य संभारान् क्षत्तरानय
मा चिरम्।

           अभिषिक्तं करिष्यामि ह्यद्य
वै कुरुनन्दनम् ॥

“Vidura!,
delay not; bring the things necessary for the coronation; now shall I have the
scion of Kuru (Yudhishthira) crowned.

         ‘ब्राह्मणा नैगमश्रेष्ठाः
श्रेणीमुख्याश्च सर्वशः।

          आहूयन्तां प्रकृतयो बान्धवाश्च
विशेषतः ॥

“Let
Brahmins, the principal citizens, all the chief of guilds, the counsellors and
(our) kinsmen especially, be called.

           
 

           भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः
क्षत्ता साधुसाध्वित्यथाब्रुवन् ॥

Then, “Well
done, well done.” said Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Vidura.

           तस्मिन् क्षणे [महाराज] कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा।         

           कारयामास विधिवत् केशवानुमते
तदा।

           मूर्धाभिषक्तं कौन्तेयं
धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

At that
moment, Vyasa, with Krishna’s permission, crowned Yudhishthara in the
prescribed manner. And Dhritarashtra spoke thus:   

           समक्षं वासुदेवस्य कुरूणां
च समक्षतः।

           अभिषेकस्त्वया प्राप्तो
दुष्प्रापो ह्यकृतात्मभिः ॥

“(Yudhishthira!)  in the presence of Krishna and the Kurus, you
have had the coronation that can hardly be obtained by those who have not
conquered themselves.

           ‘गच्छ त्वं खाण्डवप्रस्थं
पुरं राष्ट्रं च वर्धय।

“Go to
Khandavaprastha and bring the city and the country to prosperity.    

          ‘प्रतिगृह्य तु तद्वाक्यं
तस्मै सर्वे प्रणम्य च।

          प्रतस्थिरे ततो घोषसंयुक्तैस्स्यन्दनैर्वरैः
॥

 

                        

Accepting
those words and bowing to Dhritarashtra, all the Pandavas started then in
excellent, rumbling chariots.

           वासुदेवो जगन्नाथश्चिन्तयामास वासवम्।

           महेन्द्रशासनाद्गत्वा विश्वकर्मा
तु केशवम्|

           प्रणम्य प्रणिपातार्हं किं
करोमीत्यभाषत॥

Vasudeva,
the Lord of the Universe, thought of Indra. 
Going to Kesava at the bidding of Indra, and bowing to him who is worthy
of salutation, Vishwakarma said:”What shall I do?”

          वासुदेवस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा
विश्वकर्माणमूचिवान्।

          कुरुष्व कुरुराजस्य महेन्द्रपुरसन्निभम्।

          इन्द्रेण कृतनामानमिन्द्रप्रस्थं
महापुरम्॥

Hearing
that Vasudeva told Vishwakarma-

“Create for
Yudhishthira the great city of Indraprastha similar to the city of Indra and
named after Indra.”

         ततस्स विश्वकर्मा तु चकार
पुरमुत्तमम्।

         प्राकारेण च संपन्नं दिवमावृत्य
तिष्ठता॥

Vishwakarma
then built an excellent city, having a rampart which stood hiding the heavens.

         तत्रागच्छन्द्विजा
[राजन्] सर्ववेदविदां वराः।

         निवासं रोचयन्ति स्म सर्वभाषाविदस्तथा।

         वणिजश्चाययुस्तत्र सर्वशिल्पविदस्तदा॥

Brahmins,
the best among those who knew all the Vedas, came to that city; similarly those
knowing all languages loved to live there; and merchants and artisans of all
kinds came there.

         उद्यानानि च रम्याणि नगरस्य
समन्ततः।

         तटाकानि च रम्याणि बृहन्ति
सुबहूनि च॥

There were
beautiful gardens around the  city and
there were also many beautiful and big tanks.

        चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकीर्णमिन्द्रप्रस्थं
युधिष्ठिरः

        कृतमङ्गलसंस्कारैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः।
        द्वैपायनं पुरस्कृत्य
धौम्यस्याभिमते स्थितः।

        भ्रातृभिस्सहितो राजा केशवेन
सहाभिभूः ।

        तोरणद्वारसुमुखं प्रविवेश महाद्युतिः॥

With
the auspicious rites and worship performed by Brahmins who were masters of the
Vedas, with Vyasa in the front and in obedience to Dhaumya, king yudhishthira
of great splendour entered, together with his brothers and Krishna,
Indraprastha, which teemed with people of the four castes and was beautiful
with arched gateways.

          प्रविश्य भवनं राजा ततो वार्ष्णेयमब्रवीत्।

          ’तव प्रसादाद्वार्ष्णेय राज्यं
प्राप्तं मयाऽनघ।

          गतिस्त्वमापत्कालेऽपि पाण्डवानां
च माधव॥       

        

 After entering the palace, king Yudhishthira
said to Krishna: “Immaculate Krishna, by your grace has this kingdom been
obtained.  In times of adversity, you are
the refuge of the Pandavas.

          कृष्णः

          त्वत्प्रभावान्महाराज्यं
संप्राप्तं हि स्वधर्मतः।

          पितृपैतामहं राज्यं कथं न
स्यात्तव प्रभो।

          यथेष्टं पालय जगच्छश्वद्धर्मधुरं
वह ॥                

Krishna-

“King, this
vast kingdom has been obtained by your greatness and by  your own Dharma.  How can this kingdom handed down by your
father and grandfather fail to be yours? Protect the world according to its wishes.  Uphold Dharma for all time.”

           प्राप्य राज्यं महातेजास्सत्यसन्धो युधिष्ठिरः।

           पालयामास धर्मेण पृथिवीं भ्रातृभिस्सह॥

Having
obtained the kingdom, the very virtuous Yudhishthira, true to his promise,
together with his brothers, protected the world with Dharma.  

     

 

THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                      
॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

                     Pandavas escape the  Lakshagriha f ire,  Arjuna wins the hand of Draupadi          

                             सत्कृताश्चैव पौरैस्ते
पौरान्सत्कृत्य च
[अनघ]

             अलङ्कृतं जनाकीर्णं विविशुर्वारणावतम्
॥

Welcomed by the citizens with honour and honouring the citizens (in turn), the
Pandavas entered the decorated Varanavata, crowded with people.

             तेभ्यो भक्ष्याणि पानानि
शयनानि शुभानि च।

             आसनानि च मुख्यानि प्रददौ
स पुरोचनः।

             निवेदयामास गृहं शिवाख्यमशिवं
तदा॥

That
Purochana gave them food, drinks, beautiful beds and excellent seats, and offered
(them) an inauspicious house named (however) Siva (the auspicious one)

             विदुरस्य सुहृत्कश्चित्
खनकः कुशलः क्वचित्।

             चक्रे च वेश्मनस्तस्य मध्ये नातिमहद्बिलम्॥

A friend of
Vidura, an expert digger, dug somewhere in the middle of that house a fairly
big subway.

             तत्र ते सायुधास्सर्वे
वसन्ति स्म क्षपां [नृप]

             विश्वस्तवदविश्वस्ता वञ्चयन्तः
पुरोचनम् ॥

Apparently
unsuspecting but (really) suspecting, and deceiving Purochana, all the
Pandavas, equipped with arms, lived in that house for the night.

            अथ प्रवाते तुमुले निशि
सुप्ते जने तदा।

            तदुपादीपयद्भीमः शेते यत्र
पुरोचनः ॥

Then, in
the night, when a great gale arose and people were asleep, Bhima set fire to
the house in the place where Purochana was lying.

              ज्ञात्वा तु तद्गृहं सर्वमादीप्तं
पाण्डुनन्दनाः।

              बिलेन तेन निर्गत्य जग्मुर्मात्रा
परन्तपाः ॥ 

Making sure
that the whole house had caught fire on all sides, the Pandavas, the destroyers
of their enemies, escaped by the subway and, with their mother, went away.

               ततः प्रवासितो विद्वान्
विदुरेण नरस्तदा।

               पार्थानां दर्शयामास
नावं विस्रम्भिभिः कृताम्।

               तारयित्वा ततो गङ्गां
यथागतमगाद्धि सः ॥

At
that time then, a man of knowledge, who had been sent out by Vidura to live
aboard, showed to the Pandavas a boat constructed by trustworthy men and having
made them cross the Ganges, he went away as he came.     

      

     

               गङ्गामुत्तीर्य वेगेन भीमसेनो महाबलः।

               आदाय कुन्तीं भ्रातॄंश्च
जगामाशु स पावनिः॥

Having
crossed the Ganges quickly, the mighty Bhimasena, son of Vayu, walked fast,
carrying Kunti and his brothers.

               अथाम्बिकेयस्सामात्यः
सकर्णस्सहसौबलः।

               सात्मजः पार्थनाशस्य
स्मरंस्तथ्यं जहर्ष च ॥

Thinking
that the death of the Pandavas had really taken place, Dhritarashtra, along
with his ministers, Karna, Sakuni and his own sons, rejoiced.

               भीष्मश्च [राजन्] दुर्धर्षो विदुरश्च महामतिः।

               जहर्षाते स्मरन्तौ तौ
जातुषाग्नेर्विमोचनम् ॥

The
unassailable Bhishma and the wise Vidura rejoiced, knowing of the escape for
the Pandavas from the conflagration of the lac house.  

              द्रोणादयश्च धर्मैस्तु
तेषां तान्मोचितान्विदुः।

              अन्ये जना वदन्ति स्म
दग्धा जिवन्ति वा न वा॥

 

And Drona and
others new that the Pandavas must have been rescued by their Dharma.  Others, the common folk, said in doubt: ‘They
might have been burnt (to death)  or they
may be alive.

                 ततो भीमो वनं घोरं प्रविश्य
विजनं महत्।

             तत्र निक्षिप्य तान् सर्वान्
जजागार स्वयं तदा॥  

Entering
then a big, desolate and dreadful forest, Bhima placed down all of them (his
brothers and mother) (to sleep) there and himself kept awake.

            तत्र तेषु शयानेषु हिडिम्बो
नाम राक्षसः।

            अभ्यद्रवत संक्रुद्धो भीमसेनमरिन्दमम्।

            निगृह्य तं बलाद्भीमः पशुमारममारयत्  ॥

When
they were lying there, a demon named Hidimba ran at Bhima, the subduer of
enemies, in great anger; seizing him by force, Bhima killed him as he would an
animal.

            हिडिम्बा भगिनी तस्य भीमसेनमभाषत।

            अहं शुश्रूषुरिच्छेयं तव गात्रं निषेवितुम् ॥

The
demon’s sister Hidimba spoke to Bhima : ‘Desirous of attending upon you, I wish
to serve your body.”

             प्रजज्ञे राक्षसी पुत्रं
भीमसेनान्महाबलात्।

             सद्यो हि गर्भं राक्षस्यो
लभन्ते प्रसवन्ति च॥

The
demoness gave birth to a son through the mighty Bhima.

Immediately
do demonesses conceive and bring forth the child.

             कृत्यकाल उपस्थास्ये पितॄनिति
घटोत्कचः।
             आमन्त्र्य रक्षसां
श्रेष्ठः प्रतस्थे चोत्तरां दिशम् ॥

“I
shall wait on you when there is something to be done”, thus taking leaving of
his father and uncles (Bhima and his brothers), Ghatotkacha (the son Bhima and
Hidimba), the foremost among the Rakshasas, set out towards the north.

             ’यदा मां संस्मरेर्भूय
आगन्तास्म्याशु भारत।

              इति सा भावमासज्ज्य स्वां
गतिं प्रत्यपद्यत॥

’Scion of Bharata, (Bhima), I will come to you
forthwith when you think of me again.’ 
Fixing her love (on Bhima) thus, that Hidimba (also went her way).’                 

            
ततस्ते पाण्डवास्सर्वे बिभ्रतस्तापसं वपुः।

             एकचक्रां गता ऊषुर्ब्राह्मणस्यनिवेशने॥

Then, all the Pandavas, putting on an ascetic
appearance, went to Ekachakra and lived in a Brahmin’s house.

            भैक्षं चरन्तस्तु तदा जटिला ब्रह्मचारिणः।

           
बभूवुर्नागराणां च गुणैस्संप्रियदर्शनाः ॥

Going about collecting alms, with matted hair and
as Brahmacharins, they, by their qualities, became very dear to the
citizens. 

           
समीपे नगरस्यास्य बको वसति राक्षसः।

           
तेनोपसृष्टा नगरी त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति॥

In the vicinity of that city (Ekachakra), there
lived the demon Baka.  Infested by him,
the city could not get a saviour.

           आसाद्य तु वनं तस्य बकं भीमो बभञ्ज ह ।

           ततः प्रभृति रक्षांसि तत्र सौम्यनि [भारत]॥

Bhima went to the forest of Baka and killed
him..  From that time, demons were
well-behaved in Ekachakra.

           वसत्सु तेषु प्रच्छन्ने व्यासस्तान्मुनिरब्रवीत्।

When they were (thus) living incognito, sage
Vyasa told them:

          
‘आसीत्तपोवने कच्चिदृषेः कन्या महात्मनः।

          ‘
नाध्यगच्छत्पतिं सा तु कन्या रूपवती सती ॥

’In a certain penance-grove, there was the
beautiful and virtuous daughter of a sage who was a great soul.  That maiden did not get a husband.’      

          ‘तोषयामास तपसा सा किलोग्रेण शङ्करम्।

          तामथ प्रत्युवाचेदमीशानो वदतां वरः ।

         “पञ्च ते पतयो भद्रे भविष्यन्तीति भारताः”॥

“She pleased God Siva with severe penance and
then the most eloquent Siva told her this: ‘Auspicious lady! Five scions of the
Bharata line will become your husbands’

          ‘द्रुपदस्य कुले जज्ञे सा कन्या देवरूपिणी।

          निर्दिष्टा भवतां पत्नी कृष्णा पार्षत्यनिन्दिता।

          सुखिनस्तामनुप्राप्य भविष्यथ न संशयः ॥’

“That maiden has been born with divine beauty in
the family of Drupada.  That flawless
daughter of Parshata (Drupada), Krishnaa(Draupadi), has been ordained as your
wife.  Obtaining her, you shall doubtless
become happy.”

          प्रययुर्द्रौपदीं द्रष्टुं पाञ्चालान्पाण्डुनन्दनाः।

          कुम्भकारस्य शालायां निवासं चक्रिरे तदा॥

The sons of Pandu went to the Panchala country to
see Draupadi (Krishnaa) and lived in the yard of a potter.

          तान्संप्राप्तांस्तथा  वीरान् जज्ञिरे न नराः क्वचित्

The people nowhere knew those warriors, come
(there) in that manner.

          यज्ञसेनस्य कामस्तु पाण्डवाय किरीटिने।

          दास्यामि कृष्णामिति वै न चैनं विवृणोति सः ॥

And Yajnasena’s (Drupada’s) desire was that he
should give Draupadi to Arjuna, the son of Pandu; but he did not disclose this
desire.

          दृढं धनुरथानम्य कारयामास [भारत]।

          यन्त्रं वैहायसं चापि [राजन्] लक्ष्यं
च काञ्चनम्॥

He then caused to be made a firm unbendable bow,
a machine moving in the air and a target in gold.

        ‘इदं सज्यं धनुः कृत्वा सज्जैरेभिश्च सायकैः।

        अतीत्य लक्ष्यं यो वेद्धा स लब्धा मत्सुतामिति॥’

        इति स द्रुपदो राजा स्वयंवरमघोषयत् ॥

“Whosoever strings this bow and with these arrows
set (thereon) pierces, through the machine, the target, he shall obtain my
daughter” – thus did king Drupada announce the Swayamvara.

        तच्छ्रुत्व पार्थिवास्सर्वे समीयुस्तत्र [भारत]।

        दुर्योधनपुरोगाश्च सकर्णाः कुरवो [नृप]।

        ब्राह्मणाश्च महाभागा देशेभ्यस्समुपागमन्॥

Hearing that, all the kings assembled there,
including the Kurus headed by Duryodhana and accompanied by Karna.  And illustrious Brahmins also came from many
countries.

       ब्राह्मणैरेवसहिताः पाण्डवास्समुपाविशन्॥

          

The Pandavas 
sat along with the Brahmins themselves.

       मञ्चेषु च परार्ध्येषु पौरजानपदा जनाः।

       कृष्णादर्शनसिद्ध्यर्थं सर्वतस्समुपाविशन्॥

And the citizens and the country folk sat all
around in the excellent galleries for securing a glimpse of Draupadi.

       मालां च समुपादाय काञ्चनीं समलंकृताम्।

       अवतीर्णा ततो रङ्गं द्रौपदी [भरतर्षभ]॥       

        

Holding a golden ornamented garland Draupadi then
came into the amphitheatre.

     

        तेऽलंकृतः कुण्डलिनो युवानः

          परस्परं स्पर्धया प्रेक्षमाणाः।

       कृष्णा ममैवेत्यभिभाषमाणा 

          नृपास्समुत्पेतुरथासनेभ्यः॥

Those youthful kings with ear-rings and (other)
ornaments, looking at each other in rivalry, and saying “Draupadi is for me
only”, Jumped up from their seats.

       ततस्तु ते राजगणाः क्रमेण

         कृष्णानिमित्तं कृतविक्रमाश्च।

       तत्कार्मुकं संहननोपपन्नं

         सज्यं न शेकुर्मनसाऽपि कर्तुम् ॥

Then those assembled kings showed their valour
one after another for obtaining Draupadi; that firm bow, they could not string
even with their minds.   

        यदा निवृत्ता राजानो धनुषस्सज्यकर्मणः।

        कृष्णं च मनसा कृत्वा जगृहे चार्जुनो धनुः ॥

When the kings had turned back from the act of
stringing the bow, Arjuna, keeping Krishna in his mind, took the bow.

       सज्यं च चक्रे निमिषान्तरेण

       विव्याध लक्ष्यं निपपात तच्च॥

He stringed it in a minute and pierced the
target; and it fell.

       विनाऽपि हासं हसतीव कृष्णा

         पार्थस्य वक्षस्यविशङ्कमाना।

       क्षिप्त्वा स्रजं पार्थिववीरमध्ये

         वराय वव्रे मदनं रतीव ॥

Draupadi, appearing to smile even without
smiling, unhesitatingly threw the garland on Arjuna’s chest and in the midst of
royal warriors, chose him as husband, as Rati (chose) Madana.

       द्वैपायनवचः कृत्स्नं सस्मार मनुजर्षभः।

       अब्रवीत्सहितान्भ्रातॄन् मिथोभेदभयान्नृपः।

       सर्वेषां द्रौपदी भार्या भविष्यति हि नश्शुभा॥

(YudhiShthira), the best among men, thought of
the whole of Vyasa’s words.  The king
(YudhiShthira), afraid of mutual quarrel, told his brothers assembled together:
“Beautiful Draupadi shall become the wife of us all.””

     तत आहूय पाञ्चाल्यो राजपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्।

     पर्यपृच्छददीनात्मा कुन्तीपुत्रं सुवर्चसं।

     ’कथं जानीम भवतः क्षत्रियान्ब्राह्मणानुत’॥

Then the  king of the Pandavas called
prince Yudhishthira and undepressed in mind, asked that lustrous son of Kunti:
“For whom shall I know you, Kshatriyas or Brahmins?”

       स तस्मै सर्वमाचख्यावानुपूर्व्येण पाण्डवः।

Yudhishthira told Drupada everything in sequence

      

       ततस्तु ते कौरवराजपुत्राः

          विभूषिताः कुण्डलिनो युवानः।

       कृताभिषेकाः कृतमङ्गलक्रिया

          वरस्त्रियास्ते जगृहु: करं तदा॥

Adorned, having ear-rings,  with bath and auspicious ceremonies done,
those youthful sons of the Kuru King (Pandu) married then that excellent lady.

       ततस्सङ्कर्षणश्चैव केशवश्च महाबलः।

       यादवैस्सह सर्वैश्च पाण्डवानभिजग्मतुः।

       रेमिरे पाण्डवैस्सार्धं ते पाञ्चालपुरे तदा॥

Then Balarama and the mighty Krishna with all the
Yadavas came to the Pandavas and they made merry with the Pandavas in the
Panchala city at that time. 

     

    

  

       

   

            

THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                      
॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

     Crowning of
Yudhishthira as Yuvaraja, Machinations of Duryodhana against Pandavas.

            धृतराष्ट्रस्तु [राजेन्द्र] यदा कौरवनन्दनम्।

        युधिष्ठरं विजानन्वै समर्थं राज्यरक्षणे।

        यौवराज्याभिषेकार्थममन्त्रयत
मन्त्रिभिः ।

        ते तु बुध्वाऽन्वतप्यन्त
धृतराष्ट्रात्मजास्तदा ॥

When, finding that Yudhishthira, the son of
Pandu (of the Kuru line), was capable of protecting the State, Dhritarashtra
took counsel with his ministers for his installation as heir-apparent, the sons
of Dhritarashtra, coming to know of this, burnt (with envy).

        ततस्संवत्स्ररस्यान्ते यौवराज्याय [पर्थिव]।

        स्थापितो धृतराष्ट्रेण पाण्डुपुत्रो
युधिष्ठिरः ॥

Then, at the end of a year, Yudhishithira, the son of Pandu,

was established as heir-apparent by Dhritarashtra.

       ततोऽदीर्घेण कालेन कुन्तीपुत्रो
युधिष्ठिरः।

       पितुरन्तर्दधे कीर्तिं शीलवृत्तसमाधिभिः
॥

Within a short time then, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, obscured his
father’s fame by his own character, behaviour and devotion to duty.

      द्रोणो जगाद वचनं समालिङ्ग्य
तु फाल्गुनम्।

Embracing Arjuna, Drona said the words:

      ‘देवा युधि न शक्तास्त्वां
योद्धुं दैत्या न दानवाः।

      नाहं त्वत्तो विशिष्टोऽस्मि
किं पुनर्मानवा रणे ॥

“The gods cannot fight you in battle, nor
can the demons.  I (myself) am not your
superior in battle; why (speak of) ordinary men?

      ‘एकस्तवाधिको लोके यो हि
वृष्णिकुलोद्भवः।

      कृष्णः कमलपत्राक्षः कंसकालियसूदनः
॥

“There is one who is your superior in this world, he who is born in the
Vrishni race, Krishna of lotus eyes, the destroyer of kamsa and of (the
serpent), Kaliya.

      ‘अपि चार्थे तव पुरा शक्रेण
किल चोदितः’

Long ago, he was urged by Indra on your behalf. 

(कृष्णः -)

      ’जानामि पाण्डवे वंशे जातं
शस्त्रभृताम् वरम्।

       आवयोस्सख्यसदृशं न च लोके
भविष्यति॥

(Krishna-)       

 “ I
know the greatest of men who carry arms who has been born in the family of
Pandu.  Equal to the friendship between
us two, there shall be none in the world.”

 

      “यस्तद्भक्तस्स मे भक्तो
यस्तं द्वेष्टि स मामपि।

      यन्मे वित्तं तु तत्तस्य
तं विनाऽहं न जीवये ॥

“He who is his friend is also mine; he who hates him hates me also.   The riches I have are his; (verily), without
him I cannot live.

     ‘इति पार्थ पुरा शक्रमाह
सर्वेश्वरो हरिः।

     तस्मात्तवापि सदृशस्तं विनाऽभ्यधिकः
पुमान्।

     न चेह भविता लोके तमेव शरणं
व्रज’॥

“So, Arjuna!, did Hari (Krishna), the lord of all, tell Indra once
(concerning you),  Therefore, equal to
you or superior to you, there will be none in the world except him; seek Him
for (thy) protection.”

     तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय द्रोणाय
कुरुपुङ्गवः ।

     उपसङ्गृह्य चरणौ युधिष्ठिरवशोऽभवत्
॥  

Promising Drona that he would do so, the best of the Kuru house, Arjuna,
prostrated at Drona’s feet and placed himself under the control of
Yudhishthira.

    न शशाक वशे कर्तुं यं पाण्डुरपि
वीर्यवान्।

    सोऽर्जुनेन वशं नीतो राजाऽऽसीद्यवनाधिपः॥

Arjuna subdued the king of the Yavanas whom even the valorous Pandu
could not bring under control.

    सुमित्रं नाम सौविरमर्जुनोऽदमयच्छरैः।

With his arrows, Arjuna subdued the Sauvira king named Sumitra.

   भीमसेनसहायश्च रथानामयुतं
च सः।

   अर्जुनस्समरे प्राच्यान्
सर्वानेकरथोऽजयत्॥

With a single chariot and with Bhima as his
aid, Arjuna conquered in battle all the kings of the East with (their) myriad
chariots.

   तथैवेकरथो गत्वा दक्षिणामजयद्दिशम्
।

   धनौघं प्रापयामास कुरुराष्ट्रं
धनञ्जयः॥

Proceeding similarly with a single chariot,
he conquered the south. Arjuna, the winner of wealth, brought a heap of
treasure to the Kuru empire.

   एवं सर्वे महात्मानः पाण्डवा
मनुजोत्तमाः।

   परराष्ट्राणि निर्जित्य
स्वराष्ट्रं ववृधुः पुरा ॥

Thus did the Pandavas, all of them great souls and best of men, conquer the
enemy kingdoms of yore and expand their own kingdom.   

    

   

     ततो बलमतिख्यातं विज्ञाय
दृढधन्विनाम्।

     दूषितस्सहसा भावो धृतराष्ट्रस्य
पाण्डुषु ।

     स चिन्तापरमो राजा न निद्रामलभन्निशि॥

Learning then that the power of the firm archers, the Pandavas, had
become very celebrated, Dhritarashtra’s feeling towards the Pandavas suddenly
turned evil. All anxiety, the king could not sleep at night.

      गुणैस्समुदितान् दृष्ट्वा
पौराः पाण्डुसुतांस्तदा।

      कथयन्ति स्म संभूय चत्वरेषु
सभासु च ॥

At that time, seeing the sons of Pandu endowed with all good qualities,
the citizens, gathering at the crossroads and assembly halls, began to speak:

      प्रज्ञाचक्षुरचक्षुष्ट्वात्
स कथं नृपतिर्भवेत्।

      तथा शान्तनवो भीष्मस्सत्यसन्धो
महाव्रतः।

      प्रत्याख्याय पुरा राज्यं
न स जातु ग्रहिष्यति॥

’Having no eye, how can Dhritarashtra be
the king?  And Bhishma, son of Santanu,
one who is true to his promise and who rigidly observes his vow, having once
renounced the kingdom, will never take it. 

       ते वयं पाण्डवज्येष्ठं तरुणं
वृद्धशीलिनम्।

       अभिषिञ्चाम साध्वद्य सत्यकारुण्यवेदिनम्
॥

“We shall therefore fittingly crown now the eldest of the Pandavas who
is youthful but experienced, truthful and compassionate.

       तेषां दुर्योधनश्श्रुत्वा
तानि वाक्यानि जल्पताम्।

       ततो विरहितं दृष्ट्वा पितरं
प्रतिपूज्य सः।

       पौरानुरागसन्तप्तः पश्चादिदमभाषत
॥

Hearing the citizens speak those words,
Duryodhana met his father when he was alone, paid his respects and, tormented
by the citizens’ love (for Yudhishthira), spoke thus:

       “श्रुता मे जल्पतां तात पौराणामशिवा
गिरः।

        त्वामनादृत्य भीष्मं च पतिमिच्छन्ति
पाण्डवम् ॥“

“Father, unhappy words of citizens talking have been heard by me.
Slighting you and Bhishma, they wish to have Yudhishthira as ruler”.

       “मतमेतच्च भीष्मस्य न स राज्यं
बुभुक्षति।

       अस्माकं तु परां पीडां चिकीर्षन्ति
पुरे जनाः ॥“

“And this is agreeable to Bhishma, for he does not want to enjoy the
kingdom.  It is to us that the people in
the city want to do great harm.”

        “पितृतः प्राप्तवान् राज्यं
पाण्डुरात्मगुणैः पुरा।

         स एव पाण्डोर्दायाद्यं यदि
प्राप्नोति पाण्डवः।

         अवज्ञाता भविष्यामः परपिण्डोपजीविनः

         न भवेम यथा राजंस्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् ॥

“In the past, Pandu, by his qualities,
inherited the kingdom from his father and if this Yudhishthira, son of Pandu,
obtains the inheritance of Pandu, we shall become despised (creatures).  Let such a policy be adopted, O King, that we
shall not have to live at the mercy of others.”

         “यदि त्वं हि पुरा राजन्निदं
राज्यमवाप्तवान्।

         ध्रुवं प्राप्स्याम च वयं
राज्यमप्यवशे जने ॥

“King, if you had secured this kingdom
previously, we should get the kingdom for certain, even if the people are not
under our control.”

         धृतराष्ट्रस्तु सञ्चिन्त्य
दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत् ।

Dhritarashtra reflected and then told Duryodhana:

        ’धर्मनिष्ठस्तथा पाण्डुस्सुप्रीतो
मयि कौरवः।

        तस्य पुत्रो यथा पण्डुस्तथा
धर्मपरस्सदा ॥’

That ever-righteous Pandu was so loving towards me and his son,
Yudhishthira is, like Pandu, always righteous.

        ’गुणवान् लोकविख्यातो नगरे
च प्रतिष्ठितः।

        स कथं शक्यतेऽस्माभिरपाक्रष्टुं
नरर्षभः ॥’  

’Gifted, famed in the world and established in the capital, how can that
excellent man, Yudhishthira, be removed from his place

by us’.

        दुर्योधनः –

        पाण्डवेभ्यो भयं नस्स्यात्
तान्विवासयतां भवान्।

        निपुणेनाभ्युपायेन नगरं
वारणावतम् ॥

Duryodhana:

There will be danger for us from the Pandavas.  Banish them to the city of Varanavata by some
clever device.

        ‘यदा प्रतिष्ठितं राज्यं
मयि राजन् भविष्यति।

         तदा कुन्ती सहापत्या पुनरेष्यति
भारत॥

’O Bharata king! when the kingdom becomes established as mine, Kunti
shall then return with her sons’.

       ततो  दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वास्तु प्रकृतीश्शनैः।

       अर्थमानप्रदानाभ्यां सञ्जहार
सहानुजः ॥

Then, king Duryodhana, along with his brothers, slowly won over all the
subjects  by bestowing on them wealth and
honour.

       धृतराष्ट्रप्रयुक्तास्तु
केचित्कुशलमन्त्रिणः।

       कथयाञ्चक्रिरे रम्यं नगरं
वारणावतम् ॥

Certain expert ministers, set up by Dhritarashtra, described the city of
Varanavata as beautiful.

       कथ्यमाने तथा रम्ये नगरे
वारणावते।

       गमने पाण्डुपुत्राणां जज्ञे
तत्र मति [र्नृप]

When the city of Varanavata was described as beautiful in that manner,
the idea of going there occurred to the sons of Pandu.

       यदा त्वमन्यत नृपो जातकौतूहला
इति।

       उवाचैतानेत्य तदा पाण्डवानम्बिकासुतः ॥

When King Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika,
understood  that the Pandavas had become
enthusiastic (about Varanavata),  he came
to them and told them then:

        ’हे ताता यदि मन्यध्वमुत्सवं
वारणावते।

        कञ्चित्कालं विहृत्यैवं
सुखिनः पुनरेष्यथ ॥

“Boys, if you have a mind for the festival (of Siva) in Varanavata,
enjoy yourselves there  for sometime and
return happily’

        धृतराष्ट्रस्य तं काममनुबुध्य
युधिष्ठरः।

        आत्मनश्चासहायत्वं तथेति
प्रत्युवाच तम्॥

Perceiving the wish of Dhritarashtra and his own helplessness,
YudhiShthira replied to him: “Even so be it”

        दुयोधनः परं हर्षमगच्छत्स
दुरात्मवान्।

        स पुरोचनमानीय सचिवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

Duryodhana, that wicked soul, exulted greatly.  He brought his minister Purochana and said:

        ‘पाण्डवा धृतराष्ट्रेण
प्रेषिता वारणावतम्।

        तत्र गत्वा चतुश्शालं गृहं
परमसंवृतम्।

        नगरोपान्तमाश्रित्य कारयेथा
महाधनम् ॥‘

“The Pandavas have been sent by
Dhritarashtra to Varanavata.  You shall
go there and construct in the outskirts of the city a costly residence, with
four apartments (facing each other in pairs) and fully enclosed (by high
walls).’

        
‘शणं तैलं घृतं चैव जतु दारूणि चैव हि।

        
तस्मिन्वेश्मनि सर्वाणि निक्षिपेयास्समन्ततः॥’

“Hemp, oil, ghee, lac, wood – all these you
shall place everywhere in that house.

        
“वेश्मन्येवं कृते तत्र कृत्वा तान् परमार्चितान्।

        
वासयेथाः पाण्डवेयान् यथा तुष्येच्च मे पिता ॥

“When the house has been thus built, you
shall give the Pandavas the best reception and make them live in it in such a
manner that my father may be pleased.”

        
“ज्ञात्वा च तान् सुविश्वस्तान् शयानानकुतोभयान्।

          अग्निस्त्वया ततो देयो द्वारतस्तस्य वेश्मनः ॥

“Making sure that they are quite
unsuspecting, and asleep, and without fear from any quarter, you must then set
fie to the house at the entrance”

          
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय सर्वं चक्रे पुरोचनः।

           
पाण्डवास्तु कुरून्वृद्धान् अभिवाद्य यतव्रताः।

           
सर्वा  मातॄस्तथाऽऽपृच्छ्य प्रययुर्वारणावतम्
॥

Promising to do so, Purochana did
everything.  And the Pandavas, acting up
to their promises, saluted the Kuru-elders, took leave of all their mothers,
and went to Varanavata.

         
“विदुरः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

         
’कक्षघ्नः शिशिरघ्नश्च महाकक्षे बिलौकसः।

         
न दहेदिति चात्मानं यो रक्षति स जीवति

         
अनुशिक्ष्यानुगम्यैतान् विदुरः प्रययौ गृहान् ॥

Vidura spoke these words to Yudhishthira, the
best of the Pandavas: “He survives who protects himself knowing that fire which
burns wood and destroys frost in the interior of a big forest cannot burn the
creatures living in holes,” Having advised (them) thus and accompanied them (to
some distance), Vidura went back to his dwelling.          

  .

         

        

      

         

          

’          

THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                      
॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

  Arjuna displays his archery skills, Karna
competes with him, crowned king of Angas by Duryodhana

            कृतास्त्रान् धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च
पाण्डुपुत्रांश्च [भारत]

            दृष्ट्वा द्रोणोऽब्रवीद् [राजन्] धृतराष्ट्रं
जनेश्वरम् ॥

Seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra and the sons of Pandu trained well in
missiles, Drona told king Dhritarashtra:

           ‘राजन् संप्राप्तविद्यास्ते
कुमाराः कुरुसत्तम।

            ते दर्शयेयुस्स्वां शिक्षां [राजन्] अनुमते तव ॥

“ King, your sons have become fully educated; O best of the Kurus! with
your permission, they would exhibit what they have learnt.””    

           ततो राजानमामन्त्र्य विदुरानुमतोऽपि
हि।

           भारद्वाजो महाप्राज्ञो मापयामास
मेदिनीम् ॥

Taking then the permission of the king
and permitted by Vidrura also, the very wise Drona laid out the ground (for the
tournament)

        
अवघुष्टं पुरं चापि तदर्थं [भरतर्षभ]।

        
प्रेक्षागारं सुविहितं चक्रुस्ते तस्य शिल्पिनः ॥

There was proclamation in the city for that
purpose.  The architects of Dhritarashtra
built (on the ground) a well planned amphitheatre.

        
तस्मिंस्ततोऽहनि प्राप्ते राजा ससचिवस्तदा |

         शातकुंभमयं दिव्यं प्रेक्षागारमुपागमत् ॥

Then, when the day of the tournament came
off, king Dhritarashtra, accompanied by his ministers, came to that excellent
golden amphitheatre.

        
स्त्रियश्च राज्ञस्सर्वास्तास्सप्रेष्यास्सपरिच्छदाः।

        
हर्षादारुरुहुर्मञ्चान् मेरुं देवस्त्रियो यथा॥

And all the ladies of the court, with their
servants and retinue, ascended the galleries with joy, like celestial damsels
ascending Mount Meru.

       
प्रवादितैश्च वादित्रैर्जनकौतूहलेन च ।

       
महार्णव इव क्षुब्धस्समाजस्सोऽभवत्तदा॥

What with the musical instruments played
and what with the eagerness of the people, the congregation on that occasion
was tumultuous like a great ocean.

       
ततश्शुक्लाम्बरधरः शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतवान्।

       
रङ्गमध्यं तदाचार्यस्सपुत्रः प्रविवेश ह ।|

Then, clad in white cloth and wearing a
white upper garment left to right across the body, the preceptor entered into
the centre of the arena along with his son.

      
ततो बद्धाङ्गुलित्राणा विविशुर्भरतर्षभाः।

     
 चक्रुः पूजां यथान्यायं
द्रोणस्य च कृपस्य च ॥

With finger-bands, the heroes of the
Bharata race then entered.  In accordance
with propriety, they worshipped Drona and Kripa.

      
द्रोणेन समनुज्ञाता गृह्य शस्त्रं परन्तपाः।

      
ज्याघोषं तलघोषं च कृत्वा भूतान्यमोहयत्॥

Permitted by Drona, the valorous boys took
their arms and stupefied all beings with the twang of their bow-strings and the
sound of their palm-beats on their bodies. 

      
अनुज्येष्ठं च ते तत्र युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः।

      
चक्रुरस्त्रं महावीर्याः कुमाराः परमाद्भुतम् ॥

In the order of their age, those very
heroic youths headed by Yudhishthira performed great wonders with their weapons
in the arena there.

     
लाघवं सौष्ठवं शोभां स्थिरत्वं दृढमुष्टिताम्।

     
ददृशुस्तत्र सर्वेषां प्रयोगं खड्गचर्मणोः ॥

People witnessed there the agility, skill,
beauty, firmness, grip, and the actions of the swords and shields of all the
princes.

      
अथ तौ नित्यसंहृष्टौ सुयोधनवृकोदरौ।

      
अवतीर्णौ गदाहस्तावेकशृङ्गाविवाचलौ।

       चेरतुर्मण्डलगतौ समदाविव कुञ्जरौ॥

Then, those two eternal rivals, Duryodhana
and Bhima, looking like two single-peaked mountains, entered with maces in
their hands.  Like rutting elephants,
they moved, wheeling round and round.

      
कुरुराजे हि रङ्गस्थे भीमे च बलिनां वरे।

      
पक्षपातकृतस्नेहस्स द्विधेवाभवज्जनः ॥

When Duryodhana, the king of the Kurus, and
Bhima, the greatest of men of strength, were in the arena, the people assembled
there became as if split in twain, with partisan attachment.

      
जय हे कुरुराजेति जय हे भीम इत्युत।

      
पुरुषाणां सुविपुलाः प्रणादास्सहसोत्थिताः॥

“victory to you, king of the Kurus! Victory
to you, Bhima!”: thus arose, all on a sudden, the very loud shouts of the
people.

      
ततस्तावुद्यतगदौ गुरुपुत्रेण वारितौ।

Those two, Duryodhana and Bhima, having
their maces uplifted, were then separated by Ashwatthaman, the son of their
teacher.

      
ततो रङ्गाङ्गणगतो द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत्

      
यो मे पुत्रात्प्रियतरस्स पार्थो दृश्यतामिति ॥

Standing in the arena, Drona then spoke:
“Behold Arjuna, dearer to me than my son.”

      
आचार्यवचनेनाथ कृतस्वस्ययनो युवा ।

      
काञ्चनं कवचं बिभ्रत् प्रत्यदृश्यत फाल्गुनः।

      
ततस्सर्वस्य रङ्गस्य समुत्पिञ्जलकोऽभवत् ॥

Blessed with those words of his preceptor,
the youthful Arjuna appeared, wearing a golden armour; then there was a stir of
joy in the whole amphitheatre.

   

          

    

       
‘एष कुन्तीसुतश्श्रीमान् एष मध्यमपाण्डवः।

       
एषोस्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठ एष धर्मभृतां वरः।

       
इत्येवं तुमुलो वाचश्शुश्रुवुः प्रेक्षकेरिताः ॥

“This is the glorious son of Kunti; this is
the middle-born son of Pandu; he is the greatest of the masters of weapon, the
most eminent of those who uphold righteousness.”   Thus were heard the tumultuous voices of the
spectators.

       
दर्शयामास बीभत्सुराचार्यायास्त्रलाघवम् ।|

Arjuna exhibited to his teacher his
dexterity with the weapons.

       
ततस्समाप्तभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन् कर्मणि [भारत] ।

       
सहजं कवचं बिभ्रत्कुण्डलोद्योतिताननः ।

       
विवेश रङ्गं विस्तीर्णं कर्णः परपुरञ्जयः।

       
सधनुर्बद्धनिस्त्रिंशः पादचारीव पर्वतः ॥

Then, when Arjuna’s performance was almost
finished, there entered the spacious arena, like a mountain on feet, the
valorous Karna, wearing the armour with which he was born, his face lit by
ear-rings, with a bow (in his head) and a sword tied (to his waist).

  

       
स निरीक्ष्य महाबाहुस्सर्वतो रङ्गमण्डलम्।

       
प्रणामं द्रोणकृपयोर्नात्यादृतमिवाकरोत् ॥

Looking around the amphitheatre, that Karna
of mighty arm made a bow, as if not very respectfully, to Drona and Kripa.

          
स समाजजनस्सर्वो निश्चलस्थिरलोचनः।

          
कोऽयमित्यागतक्षोभः कौतूहलपरोऽभवत्॥

All the people assembled there became
motionless, looking steadfast, excited to know who he was and full of
curiosity.

          
सोऽब्रवीन्मेघगंभीरस्वरेण वदतां वरः।

          
’पार्थ यत्ते कृतं कर्म विशेषवदहं ततः।

          
करिष्ये पश्यतां नॄणां माऽऽत्मना विस्मयं गमः’॥

That excellent speaker, Karna, said in a
voice deep as thunder: “Arjuna! that which you have done, I shall do better
before these men; pride not thyself”

         
असमाप्ते ततस्तस्य वचने [वदतां वर]।

         
यन्त्रोत्क्षिप्त इवोत्तस्थौ क्षिप्रं वै सर्वतो जनः||

Then, before Karna’s speech was finished,
the people around rose up suddenly as if flung upwards by a machine.

        
प्रीतिश्च [मनुजव्याघ्र] दुर्योधनमुपाविशत्।

        
ह्रीश्च क्रोधश्च बीभत्सुं क्षणेनान्वाविवेश ह ॥

Delight filled Duryodhana, and
instantaneously shame and anger possessed Arjuna.

        
ततो द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञातः कर्णः प्रियरणस्सदा ।

        
यत्कृतं तत्र पार्थेन तच्चकार महाबलः ॥

Permitted by Drona, that mighty Karna, the
eternal lover of war, performed what Arjuna had done in the tournament.

       
अथ दुर्योधनस्तत्र भ्रातृभिस्सह [भारत]।

       
कर्णं परिष्वज्य मुदा ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

 

Accompanied by his brothers, Duryodhana
embraced Karna there in exultation and then said:

       
‘स्वागतं ते महाबाहो दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मानद।

       
भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्मया सार्धं बन्धूनां प्रियकृद्भव ।

       
दुर्हृदां कुरु सर्वेषां मूर्ध्नि पादमरिन्दम ॥’

“Welcome to you, O warrior of mighty arm!
You who have given us prestige!  It is
fortunate that you have come.  Enjoy
pleasures with me and be doing good to my kinsmen.  You subduer of enemies! Place your foot on
the heads of all foes.”

       
ततः क्षिप्तमिवात्मानं मत्वा पार्थोऽभ्यभाषत।

       
’अनाहूतोपसृष्टानामनाहूतोपजल्पिनाम्।

       
ये लोकास्तान् हतः कर्ण मया त्वं प्रतिपद्यसे ॥

Thinking himself insulted, Arjuna then
spoke: “The worlds of those who come uninvited and speak uninvited, you, Karna,
slain by me, shall reach.

       
ततो द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञातः पार्थः परपुरञ्जयः।

       
भ्रातृभिस्त्वरयाश्लिष्टो रणायोपजगाम तम् ॥

Permitted then by Drona , Arjuna, the conqueror
of enemies’ cities, hastily embraced by his brothers, approached Karna for a
fight.

       
ततो दुर्योधनेनापि सभ्रात्रा समरोद्यतः।

       
परिष्वक्तस्स्थितः कर्णः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः ॥

Then, Karna, embraced by Duryodhana along
with his brothers, stood ready for fight, taking the bow with the arrow.

       
धार्तराष्ट्रा यतः कर्णस्तस्मिन्देशे व्यवस्थिताः।

       
भारद्वाजः कृपो भीष्मो यतः पार्थस्ततोऽभवन् ॥

Where Karna was, there the sons of
Dhritarashtra stood; where Arjuna was, there Drona, Kripa and Bhishma.

       
द्विधा रङ्गस्समभवत् स्त्रीणां द्वैधमजायत ॥ 

The stadium became divided into two;
division came among the ladies.   

       
तावुद्यतमहाचापौ कृपश्शारद्वतोऽब्रवीत् ॥

Kripa, son of Saradvat, addressed those
two, Arjuna and Karna, who had taken up their great bows.

  

      
‘अयं पृथायास्तनयः कनीयान्पाण्डुनन्दनः।

      
कौरवो भवता सार्धं द्वन्द्वयुद्धं करिष्यति ॥‘

“(Karna!), this younger son of Pandu, born
of Kunti and the scion of the Kuru line, shall fight a duel with you.

      
‘त्वमप्येवं महाबाहो मातरं पितरं कुलम्।

      
कथयस्व नरेन्द्राणां येषां त्वं कुलभूषणम् ।

      
ततो विदित्वा पार्थस्त्वां प्रतियोत्स्यति वा न वा॥

“ O Karna of mighty arm, you also announce
in the same manner your mother, father, lineage and those kings of whose
dynasty you are the ornament.  Learning
these, Arjuna will then either fight with you or not”.

      
ततो राजानमामन्त्र्य गाङ्गेयं च पितामहम्।

      
अर्होऽयमङ्गराज्यस्येत्यभिषिक्तो महाबलः ॥

Then after consulting king Dhritarashtra
and (their) grandfather Bhishma, Duryodhana said: “ This Karna deserves the
kingdom of the Angas”; the mighty warrior (Karna) was (then) crowned (as the
king of the Angas).

      
उवाच कौरवं [राजन्] वचनं स वृषस्तदा।

      
’अस्य राज्यप्रदानस्य सदृशं किं ददानि ते’

At that time, Karna told Duryodhana; “What
shall I give you to equal this gift of a kingdom?”

     
अत्यन्तं सख्यमिच्छामीत्याह तं स सुयोधनः।

     
हर्षाच्चोभौ समाश्लिष्य परां मुदमवापतुः ॥

“Friendship unto the very end, I would
have”, said Duryodhana to him.  Clasping
each other in glee, the two went into raptures. 

      ततस्स्रस्तोत्तरपटस्सप्रस्वेदस्सवेपथुः।

     
विवेशाधिरथो रङ्गं यष्टिप्राणो ह्वयन्निव ॥

Then, with the upper garment slipped, with
profuse perspiration and tremor, Adhiratha (Karna’s foster father) entered the
arena, supporting himself on a staff and as if calling (his son).

     
तमालोक्य धनुस्त्यक्त्वा पितृगौरवयन्त्रितः।

     
कर्णोऽभिषेकार्द्रशिराश्शिरसा समवन्दत ॥

On seeing him, Karna, bound by his respect
of his father, threw the bow and, with head wet with the coronation-water,
bowed 

     
तं दृष्ट्वा सूतपुत्रोऽयमिति सञ्चिन्त्य पाण्डवः।

     
भीमसेनस्तदा वाक्यमब्रवीत्प्रहसन्निव ॥

On seeing him(Adhiratha), Bhima, son of
Pandu, thought that Karna was the son of a charioteer and at that time spoke,
as if laughing (at him);

     
‘न त्वमर्हसि पार्थेन सूतपुत्र रणे वधम्।

     
कुलस्य सदृशस्तूर्णं प्रतोदो गृह्यतां त्वया॥

     
अङ्गराज्यं च नार्हस्त्वमुपभोक्तुं  नराधम ॥

“You, son of a charioteer,  you are not fit to be killed by Arjuna in a
fight; quick, take up the whip that is proper to your family.  Nor are you fit, you low man,  to enjoy the kingdom of the Angas.”

      
ततो दुर्योधनः कोपादुत्पपात महाबलः।

      
सोऽब्रवीद्भीमकर्माणं भीमसेनमवस्थितम् ॥

The mighty Duryodhana then jumped up in ire
and spoke to that Bhima, of terrible deeds,  standing there;

      
’ वृकोदर न युक्तं ते वचनं वक्तुमीदृशम्।

       
शूराणां च नदीनां च प्रभवो दुर्विभावनः।

       
भवतां च यथा जन्म तदप्यागमितं मया॥

“Bhima, it is not meet that you should talk
such words.  It is improper to enquire
into the origin of warriors and rivers. 
And the manner of your birth has also been learnt by me.

        
’सकुण्डलं सकवचं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्।

        
कथमादित्यसदृशं मृगो व्याघ्रं जनिष्यति ॥’

“How can a doe give birth to this tiger,
this Karna (born) with ear-rings and armour, marked with every mark of beauty
and equal to the sun?

       
’पृथिवीराज्यमर्होऽयं नाङ्गराज्यं नरेश्वरः

       
यस्य वा मनुजस्येदं न क्षान्तं मद्विचेष्टितम्।

       
रथमारुह्य पद्भ्यां स विनामयतु कार्मुकम् ॥

 

This ruler of men merits the kingdom of the
whole world, not the kingdom of the Angas only. 
And to whomsoever this act of mine is not bearable, let him mount the
chariot and, with his feet, bend his bow.”

        
ततस्सर्वस्य रङ्गस्य हाहाकारो महानभूत्।

        
साधुवादानुसंबद्धः सूर्यश्चास्तमुपागमत् ॥

Then, loud cries of “Hah, Hah” arose from
the whole amphitheatre.  And, close upon
the applause, the sun also set.

       
ततो दुर्योधनः कर्णमालम्ब्याग्रकरे नृपः।

       
दीपिकाभिः कृतालोकस्तस्माद्रङ्गाद्विनिर्ययौ॥

Taking Karna by the hand and (with his way)
lighted up by lamps, king Duryodhana then went out of the stadium.

       
पाण्डवाश्च सहद्रोणास्सकृपाश्च [विशांपते]।

       
भीष्मेण सहितास्सर्वे ययुस्स्वं स्वं निवेशनम् ॥

The Pandavas also, together with Drona,
Kripa and Bhishma, all went, each to his own above.

       
अर्जुनेति जनः कश्चित् कश्चित्कर्णेति [भारत]।

        कश्चिद्दुर्योधनेत्येवं ब्रुवन्तः प्रस्थितास्तदा
॥

’Arjuna’ says one; ‘Karna’ says another;
‘Duryodhana’ says a third; so saying, the people then departed.

       
दुर्योधनस्यापि तदा कर्णमास्थाय [पार्थिव]।

       
भयमर्जुनसंप्राप्तं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत ॥

And obtaining then the support of Karna,
Duryodhana soon lost his fear of Arjuna.

      ARJUNA’S 

THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                  By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                    ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

                   Death of Pandu,  Training of Pandavas and Kauravas in archery
under Drona.   

             सुपुष्पितवने काले कदाचिन्मधुमाधवे।

         भूतसंमोहने राजा सभार्यो व्यचरद्वनम्॥

Once, in spring
time when forests were in full bloom and (all) beings were entranced, king
Pandu wandered in the forest with his wife.

        तं माद्र्यनुजगामैका वसनं बिभ्रती शुभम्।

        तत एनां बलाद्राजा निजग्राह रहोगताम्॥

Wearing bright
attire Madri, herself alone, was following him. The king then seized her
forcibly in private.

        स तया सह संगम्य युयुजे कालधर्मणा ।

Uniting with
her, Pandu died

        ततो माद्र्यब्रवीत् [राजन्] आर्ता कुन्तीमिदं
वचः।

        ’नाहं त्वमिव पुत्राणां समर्था धारणे तथा।

        साऽहं भर्तारमन्विष्ये देवी मामनुमन्यताम्’
॥

Sorrow-stricken,
Madri then told Kunti these words: “ I am not so capable as you are of
fostering sons.  I therefore follow my
husband; let your ladyship give me leave”

        मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय बहुशः पार्थानात्मसुतौ
तदा।

        हस्ते युधिष्ठिरं गृह्य माद्री वाक्यमभाषत
॥

Kissing the son
of Kunti and her own two sons many times on their foreheads and taking
Yudhishthira’s hand, Madri spoke these words:

        “कुन्ती
माता अहं धात्री युष्माकं तु पिता मृतः।

        युधिष्ठिरः पिता ज्येष्ठश्चतुर्णां धर्मतस्सदा
॥“

“Kunti is your
mother; I am your nurse; your father is dead. According to Dharma,
Yudhishthira, the eldest, is the father for you for all time.

         “वृद्धाद्युपासनासक्तास्सत्यधर्मपरायणाः।

          तादृशा न विनश्यन्ति नैव यान्ति पराभवम्
|

          तस्मात्सर्वे कुरुध्वं वै गुरुवृत्तिमतन्द्रिताः
॥’

“ Such as are
devoted to the service of their elders and adhere to Truth and Right, never
come to grief, never get humiliation. Therefore, all of you, serve your elder
diligently”

          नमस्कृत्य चिताग्निस्थं धर्मपत्नी नरर्षभं
।

          मद्रराजसुता तूर्णमन्वारोहद्यशस्विनी॥

Bowing to that
best of men, Pandu, lying then on the funeral pyre, his devoted wife, the
distinguished daughter of the Madra king, mounted the pyre quickly.

          पाण्डोरुपरमं दृष्ट्वा देवकल्पा महर्षयः।

         
भीष्माय पाण्डवान्दातुं तानादाय प्रतस्थिरे॥

Seeing the death
of Pandu, the godlike sages (in the forest there) set out, taking the sons of
Pandu, to entrust them to Bhishma.   

          ततः क्षत्ता च भीष्मश्च व्यासो राजा च बन्धुभिः।

          ददुश्श्राद्धं तदा पाण्डोर्भोजयित्वा सहस्रशः
॥

Then, Vidura,
Bhishma, Vyasa and Dhritarashtra, along with their relatives, offered the manes’
obsequial oblation to Pandu, and feasted people by the thousands.    

  

          अथाप्तवन्तो वेदोक्तान् संस्कारान्पाण्डवास्तदा।

          धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च सहिताः क्रीडन्तो मुदितास्सुखम्
॥

Undergoing then
the purificatory rites mentioned in the Vedas, the sons of Pandu lived happily,
playing in joy along with the sons of Dhritarashtra.

          बालक्रीडासु सर्वासु विशिष्टास्तेजसाऽभवन्।

In all juvenile
sports, the sons of Pandu distinguished themselves by their might.   

       

         
शतमेकोत्तरं तेषां कुमाराणां महौजसाम्।

          एक एव निगृह्णाति नातिकृच्छ्राद्वृकोदरः
॥

Those hundred
and one sons of great valour (of Dhritarashtra), Bhima overpowers single-handed,
without much difficulty.

          ततोबलमतिख्यातं  धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्।

          भीमसेनस्य तज्ञात्वा दुष्टभावमदर्शयत्।

          नित्यमेवान्तरप्रेक्षी भीमस्यासीन्महात्मनः
॥   

Knowing then the
very  celebrated strength of Bhimasena,
the powerful son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) showed evil feelings.

He was always on
the look out for an opportune moment to harm the mighty Bhima. 

           प्रमाणकोट्यां संसुप्तं गङ्गायां प्राक्षिपज्जले।

           उदतिष्ठद्बलात् भूयस्तत्रैव प्रास्वपद्बली॥

He threw into the water Bhima who was sleeping at (the
place called) Pramanakoti on the Ganges; but the mighty Bhima emerged by virtue
of his strength and slept again in the same place.

           सुप्तं चापि पुनस्सर्पैस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रैर्महाविषैः।

           कुपितैर्दंशयामास प्रबुद्धस्तानपोथयत्॥
 

And again, as
Bhima was sleeping, Duryodhana caused furious, highly poisonous and
sharp-toothed serpents to bite him; but waking up, Bhima killed all the
serpents.

           वलनेन सहामन्त्र्य सौबलस्य मते स्थितः।

           भोजने भीमसेनस्य ततः प्राक्षेपयद्विषम्।

           तच्चापि भुक्त्वाऽजरयदविकारो वृकोदरः ॥

Plotting with (an ally) Valana and in accordance with (his
uncle) Sakuni’s advice, Duryodhana then caused poison to be thrown into Bhima’s
food.  And that also, Bhima ate and
digested without being affected.

              

            पाण्डवा ह्यपि  तत्सर्वं प्रत्यजानन्नरिन्दमाः।

            उद्भावनमकुर्वन्तो विदुरस्य मते स्थिताः
॥

And the Pandavas
themselves who could subdue their enemies, knew all this, but abiding by Vidura’s
advice, they did not reveal their awareness.

          ततो द्रोणः पाण्डुपुत्रानस्त्राणि विविधानि
च।

          ग्राहयामास दिव्यानि मानुषाणि च वीर्यवान्
॥

The valorous
Drona then taught the sons of Pandu (the use of)

manifold missiles,
divine and human.

          राजपुत्रास्तथा चान्ये समेत्य [भरतर्षभ]।

          अभिजग्मुस्ततो द्रोणमस्त्रार्थे द्विजसत्तमम्
॥

Other princes
also approached in large numbers that best of Brahmins, Drona, for (learning) (the
use) of missiles.

         स्पर्धमानस्तु पार्थेन सूतपुत्रोऽत्यमर्षणः।

         अभ्ययात्स ततो द्रोणं धनुर्वेदचिकीर्षया
॥

Vying with Arjuna, Karna, the very irascible son of
the Charioteer  (named adhiratha), approached
Drona then for learning the science of archery,

         सर्वेषामेव शिष्याणां बभूवाभ्यधिकोऽर्जुनः।

         अर्जुनः परमं यत्नमातिष्ठद्गुरुपूजने।

         अस्त्रे च परमं योगम्, आह चैनं पुनर्गुरुः।

         भविता
त्वत्समो नान्यः पुमान् लोके धनुर्धरः ॥

Arjuna was far superior to all other pupils; he took
the greatest effort in the service of his preceptor and had the utmost
concentration on the practising of the missiles.  And his teacher told him again: “There shall
be no archer equal to you in the world”

       

             

                                        THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                              
॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

              Birth of Kauravas and Pandavas

                      

                      भीष्मेण राजा कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिषेचितः।

           अमात्यो मनुजेन्द्रस्य
[भीष्मेण] विदुरः कृतः।

           त्रिषु लोकेषु न त्वासीत्
कश्चिद्विदुरसंमितः ॥

Dhritarashtra,
the descendant of Kuru, was crowned king by Bhishma; and Vidura was made the
king’s minister.  There was none equal to
Vidura in all the three worlds.

           धृतराष्ट्रस्त्वचक्षुष्ट्वाद्
राज्यं न प्रत्यपद्यत ।

           पारशवत्वाद् विदुरो,
राजा पाण्डुर्बभुव ह ॥

But, being
blind, Dhritarashtra did not accept the kingdom; being of mixed caste, Vidura
did not; Pandu became king.

 

           कदाचिदथ गाङ्गेयस्सर्वनीतिमतां
वरः।

          
विदुरं धर्मतत्त्वज्ञं वाक्यमाह यथोचितम् ॥

Once
Bhishma, the foremost among prudent men, appropriately said these words to
Vidura who knew the principles of Dharma.

          ’श्रूयते यादवी कन्या स्वनुरूपा
कुलस्य नः।

           सुबलस्यात्मजा चैव तथा मद्रेश्वरस्य
च ॥

“We hear
that there is a Yadava maiden, suited to our family, and a daughter of Subala,
and also a daughter of the king of the Madras”

          ‘कुलीना रूपवत्यश्च ताः कन्याः
पुत्र सर्वशः।

           उचिताश्चैव संबन्धे तेऽस्माकं
क्षत्रियर्षभाः ॥

“My
son, all the (three) maidens are of good lineage and beautiful.  Those kings also are fit for matrimonial
alliance with us.”      

          “मन्ये वरयितव्यास्ता इत्यहं
धीमतां वर।

           सन्तानार्थं कुलस्यास्य
यद्वा विदुर मन्यसे ॥

“O
you best among the wise, I think these maidens should be  sought as brides for the continuity of this
line.  What do you think, Vidura?”

          विदुरः-

          “भवान् पिता भवान्माता भवान्नः
परमो गुरुः।

          तस्मात्स्वयं कुलस्यास्य
विचार्यं कुरु यद्धितम्॥

Vidura-

“You
are our father, mother and greatest preceptor. Therefore, whatever  may be for the good of this house, you
yourself consider and do.

           ततो गान्धारराजस्य पुत्रः
शकुनिरभ्ययात्।

           स्वसारं धृतराष्ट्राय ददौ
परमसत्कृताम् ॥

Then,
Sakuni, the son of the king of the Gandharas (Subala), came and gave in
marriage to Dhritarashtra his most honoured sister ( Gandhari)

           शूरो नाम यदुश्रेष्ठो वसुदेवपिताऽभवत्।

           तस्य कन्या पृथा नाम रूपेणाप्रतिमा
भुवि।

           तस्या विवाहमकरोत्कुन्त्याः
पाण्डोर्महिपतिः ॥

There
was the chief of the Yadus, named Shura, the father of Vasudeva.  He had a daughter, Pritha by name, unequalled
in beauty in the world.  King(Kuntibhoja,
her adopted father) celebrated the marriage of Kunti (Pritha) with Pandu.

           ततः [शान्तनवो] भीष्मो ययौ मद्रपतेः पुरम्।

           स तां माद्रीमुपादाय प्रविष्टो
गजसाह्वयम्।

           जग्राह विधिवत्पाणिं  माद्र्याः पाण्डुर्नराधिपः॥

Bhishma
then went to the city of the king of Madra and entered Hastinapura, bringing
with him Madri (the Madra princess). 
King Pandu married Madri, in the manner prescribed.

           ततस्स कौरवो  राजा विहृत्या त्रिदशा निशाः।

           जिगीषया महीं पाण्डुर्निरक्रामत्पुरात्
[प्रभो] ॥

Living
then in happiness for thirty nights, king Pandu issued forth from the city,
desiring to conquer the world.

           तेन ते निर्जितास्सर्वे
पृथिव्यां सर्वपार्थिवाः।

           तमेकं मेनिरे शूरं देवेष्विव
पुरन्दरम् ॥

Defeated
by him, all the kings of the world regarded him as the only warrior, like Indra
among the gods.

  

           संप्रयुक्तस्तु कुन्त्या
च माद्र्या च [भरतर्षभ]।

           जिततन्द्रिस्तदा पाण्डुर्बभूव
वनगोचरः ॥

Along
with Kunti and Madri, the active  Pandu
went out to the forest (hunting).

           अथ पारशवीं कन्यां देवकस्यापगासुतः
।

           विवाहं कारयामास विदुरस्य
महामतेः॥

Then,
Bhishma, the son of river Ganga, married the daughter of king Devaka by a Sudra
wife to the lofty-minded Vidura.

          तस्यां चोत्पादयामास विदुरः
[कुरुनन्दन]।

          पुत्रान्विनयसंपन्नान् आत्मनस्सदृशान्गुणैः॥

And
on her, Vidura begot sons endowed with modesty, his own equals in virtues.

         गान्धार्यामाहिते गर्भे पाण्डुरम्बालिका
सुतः।

         अपत्यार्थं कृतमना इदं वचनमब्रवीत्   ॥

When
Gandhari conceived, Pandu, the son of Ambalika, who was intent on offspring,
said these words

        ‘चतुर्भिरृणवान्नित्यं जायते
मनुजो भुवि।

         ऋषिदेवमनुष्याणामृणान्मुक्तोस्मि धर्मतः।

         पिॠणां  तु न मुक्तोऽस्मि तच्च तेभ्यो विशिष्यते॥‘

“
Man is thus born on earth, a fourfold debtor. 
By doing my duties, I am released from the debts to the Seers, the gods
and the people; but I am not released from the debt to the ancestors; and that
debt is greater than those (other debts)

        “ अपत्यं नाम लोकेषु प्रतिष्ठा
धर्मसंमिता|

          इति कुन्ति विदुर्धीराः शाश्वतं
धर्मवादिनः ॥“

“Offspring
is an everlasting and virtuous glory in (all) the worlds; Kunti, so do the wise
exponents of virtue consider for all time. “

          प्रत्युवाच वरारोहा भर्तुः
प्रियहिते रता ॥

That
Kunti of shapely body, delighting in doing that which was pleasing and good to
her lord, replied:

         “पितुर्वेश्मन्यहं बाला नियुक्ताऽतिथिपूजने।

         उग्रं पर्यचरं तत्र ब्राह्मणं
संशितव्रतम् ॥

“
As a girl, I was enjoined in my father’s house to attend upon the guests.
There, I served a fierce Brahmin of severe austerities.

       
‘स मेऽभिचारसंयुक्तमाचष्ट भगवान्वरम्।

       
मन्त्रं त्विदं च मे प्रादात् तस्य कालोऽयमागतः’ ॥

“That venerable Brahmin gave me a boon
together with the power to bring the gods in person.  He gave me this Mantra also and the time for
its use has come.

       
अनुज्ञाता त्वया देवमाह्वयेयमहं नृप।

       
अनपत्यकृतं यस्ते शोकं वीर विनेष्यति ॥

“Permitted by you O heroic king! I will
invoke a god who will remove your sorrow in having no children.”

       जातमात्रे सुते तस्मिन् वागुवाचाशरीरिणी।

    
  ’एष धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो भविष्यति नरोत्तमः
।

     
  युधिष्ठिर इति ख्यातः पाण्डोः प्रथमजस्सुतः’॥

As soon as that son was born, an
incorporeal voice said: “This, the first son of Pandu, famed as Yudhishthira,
will become most eminent among the righteous and greatest of all men”

       धार्मिकं च सुतं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुः कुन्तीमथाब्रवीत्।

      
’वायुमावाहयस्वेति स देवो बलवत्तरः॥

And seeing the reighteous son, Pandu then
told Kunti “ Invoke Vayu; that god is mightier”

     
तथोक्तवति सा काले वायुमेवाजुहाव ह।

     
तस्यां जज्ञे महावीर्यो भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ॥

When he said so, she invoked Vayu at the
proper time and Bhima of great heroism and terrible valour was born of her.

      तमप्यतिबलं जातं वागुवाचाशरीरिणी।

     
सर्वेषां बलिनां श्रेष्ठो जातोऽयमिति भारत ॥

And of that son of surpassing strength
born also, an incorporeal voice said: “ The greatest of all men of strength has
been born.”

     
इदं चाद्भुतमत्रासीज्जातमात्रे वृकोदरे।

     
यदङ्कात्पतितो मातुश्शिलां गात्रैरचूर्णयत्॥

And as soon as Vrikodara
(Bhima) was born, there happened this miracle; falling from the lap of his
mother, (the child), with his limbs, reduced to dust the stone (underneath).   

     यस्मिन्नहनि भीमस्तु जज्ञे भीमपराक्रमः।

     तामेव रात्रिं पूर्वां तु जज्ञे
दुर्योधनो नृपः ॥

On the night preceding
the day on which that Bhima of terrible valour was born, king Duryodhana was
born.

    स जातमात्र एवाथ धृतराष्ट्रसुतो
[नृप]

    रासभारावसदृशं रुराव च ननाद च ॥

As soon as he was born,
that son of Dhritarashtra brayed like an ass.   

   लक्षयित्वा निमित्तानि तानि घोराणि
सर्वशः।

   अब्रुवन्ब्राह्मणा [राजन्] विदुरश्च महामतिः ॥

Observing these terrible
omens all around, the Brahmins [of the court] and the wise vidura said [to
Dhritarashtra]

   “व्यक्तं कुलान्तकरणो भवितैव सुतस्तव।

    तस्य शान्तिः परित्यागे गुप्तावपनयो
महान् ॥“

“It is clear, this son of
yours is going to be the cause of the annihilation of the race; peace can be
secured by abandoning him;great will be the impolicy in keeping him.”

    ‘न केवलं कुलस्यान्तं क्षत्रियान्तं
करिष्यति।

     त्यजैनमेकं शान्तिं चेत् कुलस्येच्छसि
भारत॥

“Scion of Bharata! not
only of the family, but of all kshatriyas, will he cause the end. Sacrifice
this one individual, if you desire peace for your house”

     स तथा विदुरेणोक्तस्तैश्च सर्वैर्द्विजोत्तमैः।

     न चकार तथा राजा पुत्रस्नेहसमन्वितः
॥

(Though) told so by
Vidura and all those great Brahmins, the king in his affection for the son,
failed to act accordingly.

     ततः पुत्रशतं पूर्णं धृतराष्ट्रस्य
[पार्थिव]

     अह्नां शतेन संजज्ञे कन्या चैका
शताधिका।

     युयुत्सुश्च महातेजा वैश्यापुत्रः
प्रतापवान् ॥

  

 Then, a full century of sons was born to
Dhritarashtra in a century of days;  and
over and above that century of sons, a single daughter;  also, a pwerful and valorous son named
Yuyutsu to a Vaisya wife of Dhritaraashtra.

      सर्वेषामनुरूपाश्च कृता दारा
[महीपते] ।

      दुश्शलां चापि समये धृतराष्ट्रो
नराधिपः।

      जयद्रथाय प्रददौ विधिना
[भरतर्षभ]

And, wives suitable to
all of them, were married. In the proper time, and in the manner prescribed,
king Dhritarashtra gave his daughter Dussala in marriage to Jayadratha (the
king of the Sindhus)

      जाते बलवतां श्रेष्ठे पाण्डुश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत्।

      कथमन्यो मम सुतो लोके श्रेष्ठो
भवेदिति॥

After that greatest of
the strong, (Bhima), had been born, Pandu began to think of how there might be
for him another son who would the greatest person in the world.

     ततः पाण्डुर्महाराजो मन्त्रयित्वा
महर्षिभिः  ।

     दिदेश कुन्त्याः कौरव्यो व्रतं
सांवत्सरं शुभम् ॥

Consulting then the great
sages, king Pandu of the Kuru line directed Kunti to observe an auspicious vow
for a year.

    

     अथाजगाम देवेन्द्रो जनयामास चार्जुनम्।

Then came the king of the
gods, Indra, and caused the birth of Arjuna (from Kunti). 

   

     जातमात्रे कुमारे तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी।

     ’कार्तवीर्यसमः कुन्ति शिवतुल्यपराक्रमः।

     तथा विष्णुसमः प्रितिं वर्धयिष्यति
तेऽर्जुनः ॥

As soon as that son was
born, an incorporeal voice said: “Kunti! Equal to Kartavirya, equal to Siva in
valour and equal to Vishnu, (this) Arjuna will increase your happiness.”

     ततः कुन्तीं पुनः पाण्डुर्विविक्त
इदमब्रवीत्।

     ’अनुगृह्णीष्व कल्याणि मद्रराजसुतामपि’

Then Pandu said this to
Kunti in private: “ Fortunate lady! Bless the daughter of the Madra king also”  

    एवमुक्ताऽब्रवीन्माद्रीं सकृच्चिन्तय
दैवतम्।

    ततो माद्री विचार्यैका जगाम मनसाऽश्विनौ
॥

So told, (Kunti) asked
Madri to meditate once on some deity. 
Then, after deliberation and alone, Madri meditated on the Ashwins. 

    तावागम्य सुतौ तस्यां जनयामासतुर्यमौ।

    नकुलं सहदेवं च रूपेणाप्रतिमौ भुवि
॥

    
They two appeared and begot on her twin-sons Nakula and Sahadeva, unequalled in
the world in beauty.

    तथैव तावपि बभौ वागुवाचाशरीरिणी}

    सत्त्वरूपगुणोपेतौ भवतोऽत्यश्विनाविति॥

In the same manner (as
before), an incorporeal voice told of those twins also:  “ These two, endowed with qualities of
strength and beauty, surpass the Ashwins”

    ततस्तु वृष्णयस्सर्वं वसुदेवपुरोगमाः।

    पाण्डोः पुत्रागमं श्रुत्वा सर्वे
हर्षसमन्विताः ॥

Then,
the Vrishnis, headed by Vasudeva, rejoiced on hearng of the birth of sons to
Pandu.

    ते च पञ्चशतं चैव कुरुवंशविवर्धनाः।

    सर्वे ववृधिरेऽल्पेन कालेनाप्स्विव
पङ्कजाः ॥

These
five and the hundred scions of the Kuru house grew up in a short time, like
lotuses on the waters.       

  

THE MAHABHARATA

                                 CONDENSED IN
THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                                    By PANDIT
A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                                              
॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

                Birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura

          ततो विवाहे निर्वृत्ते सत्यवत्यामजायत।

          वीरश्चित्राङ्गदो नाम वीर्यवान्पुरुषेश्वरः
॥

Then after the marriage was celebrated, was born to satyavati (the fisherman’s
daughter) a heroic son, a warrior and lord of men, named Chitrangada.

          अथापरं महेष्वासं सत्यवत्यां
सुतं प्रभुः।

          विचित्रवीर्यं राजानं जनयामास
वीर्यवान् ॥

 

The powerful king
then begot by Satyavati another son, King Vichitraveerya, a great archer.

              स्वर्गते शान्तनौ भीष्मश्चित्राङ्गदमरिन्दमम्।

           स्थापयामास वै राज्ये सत्यवत्या
मते स्थितः ॥

When
Shantanu attained to heaven, Bishma, standing by Satyavati’s intention,
established Chitrangada, the vanquisher of enemies, as king.

           गन्धर्वराजो बलवांस्तुल्यनामाऽभ्ययात्तदा।

           तेनास्य सुमहद्युद्धं कुरुक्षेत्रे
बभूव ह ।

           मायाधिकोऽवधीद्वीरं गन्धर्वः
कुरुसत्तमम्॥

At that
time, a powerful Gandharva king of the same name came against Chitrangada.  Between him and Chitrangada was a very great
battle in Kurukshetra. His superior in deceitful warfare, the Gandharva
killed that warrior (Chitrangada), the best of the Kurus.

          तस्मिन्पुरुषशार्दूले निहते
भूरितेजसि।

          विचित्रवीर्यं च तदा बालमप्राप्तयौवनम्।

          कुरुराज्ये महाबाहुरभ्यषिञ्चदनन्तरम्
॥

When
the foremost of men, (Chitrangada) of great prowess, was killed, the powerful
Bhishma crowned, in the kingdom of the Kurus in succession to Chitrangada,
Vichigtraveerya, a boy not yet attained to youth at that time.

          संप्राप्तयौवनं दृष्ट्वा
भ्रातरं धीमतां वरः।
          भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्यस्य
विवाहायाकरोन्मतिम्॥

When he saw
that his brother had attained youth, Bhishma, the foremost of the wise,
considered Vichitraveerya’s marriage.

          अथ काशीपतेः कन्या वृण्वाना
वै स्वयंवरम्।

          भीष्मो विचित्रविर्याय प्रददौ
विक्रमाहृताः 

           

Then,
Bhishma presented to Vichitraveerya the daughters of the king of Kasis, who
were (then) choosing their husbands in Swayamvara and whom Bhishma had
carried off by his valour.

          ज्येष्ठा तासामिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद्धसती
तदा।

          ’मया सौभपतिः पूर्वं मनसा
हि वृतः पतिः’॥

The
eldest of the princesses (Amba) spoke, smiling at that time: “The king of the
Saubhas has already, in my mind, been chosen by me as my husband.”

          विनिश्चित्य स धर्मज्ञो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः|

          अनुजज्ञे तदा ज्येष्ठामम्बां काशिपतेस्सुताम्॥

Deciding
in consultation with Brahmins who were complete masters of the Vedas, Bhishma
who knew Dharma, permitted at that time Amba, the eldest daughter of the king of
the Kasis (to marry the Saubha king).

          अम्बिकाम्बालिके भार्ये प्रादात् भ्रात्रे
यवीयसे।

(Bhishma)
gave Ambika and Ambalika as wives to his younger brother, Vichitravirya. 

          तयोः पाणी गृहीत्वा तु रूपयौविनदर्पितः।

         
ताभ्यां सह समास्सप्त विहरन्पृथिवीपतिः।

          विचित्रवीर्यस्तरुणो यक्ष्मणा समगृह्यत
॥

Marrying
them and enjoying them for seven years, the youthful king Vichitravirya, proud
of his beauty and youth, was seized by consumption.

.

           जगामास्तमिवादित्यः कौरव्यो यमसादनम्।

And
like the sun setting, the descendant of Kuru passed into the abode of Death.   

  

 

           ततस्सत्यवती दीना गात्ङ्गेयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।

           ’जानामि ते स्थितिं सत्ये परां सत्यपराक्रम।

           यथा ते कुलतन्तुश्च धर्मश्च न पराभवेत्।

           सुहृदश्च प्रहर्ष्येरंस्तथा कुरु परन्तप’
॥

Then,
the dejected Satyavati spoke to Bhishma: “I know your great devotion to truth,
you hero of Truth; valorous Bhishma! act in such a manner that neither the
continuity of your family nor your Dharma will suffer and that friends, too,
will rejoice”

           भीष्मः-

          ’ त्वमेव कुलवृद्धाऽसि गौरवं तु परं त्वयि।

           सोपायं कुलसन्ताने वक्तुमर्हसि नः परम्
॥’

Bhishma:

“
You are the eldest of the family; great respect attaches to you;

  you must tell us the best means of the
continuation of the    

  line.”  

            सत्यवती-

           ’विश्वासात्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि सन्तानाय कुलस्य नः।

            कन्यापुत्रो मम पुरा द्वैपायन इति श्रुतः
।

            स नियुक्तो मया व्यक्तमपत्यं जनयिष्यति॥’

“Because
of my confidence in you and for the continuation of our line, I shall tell
you.  There is a son known as Dwaipayana
born to me long ago, when I was a maiden. 
Appointed by me, that Dwaipayana will surely beget issue.”

           ततस्तस्मिन्प्रतिज्ञाते भीष्मेण [कुरुनन्दन]

           प्रादुर्बभूवाविदितो व्यासो वचनमब्रवीत्।

           भवत्या  यदभिप्रेतं तदहं कर्तुमागतः ॥

When
it was accepted by Bhishma, Vyasa manifested himself unperceived and said (to
his mother, Satyavati): “I have come to carry out your intention.”

          जज्ञिरे देवगर्भाभा: कुरुवंशविवर्धनाः।

          ध्रुतराष्ट्रश्च पाण्डुश्च विदुरश्च महामतिः॥

Like
sons of gods, continuers of the Kuru dynasty were born,

Dhritarashtra,
Pandu and the lofty-minded Vidura.

          जन्मप्रभृतिभीष्मेण पुत्रवत्परिपालिताः।

          संस्कारैस्संस्कृतास्ते तु समपद्यन्त यौवनम्
॥

Protected
like his own sons by Bhishma from their birth, and purified by rites, they
attained youth.

THE MAHABHARATA

                           CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

                              By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

         Translated By Dr V, Raghavan M.A.,
Ph.D. & Published By G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras

                                       

            आद्यं पुरुषमीशानं पुरुहूतं पुरुष्टुतम्।

            नमस्कृत्य हृषीकेशं चराचरगुरुं हरिम्।

            प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः ॥

    

Having made obeisance unto Hari, the primeval Being,
the Master who is invoked and praised by many, the lord of our senses and the
father of all that moves and all that moves not, I shall expound the whole of
the thought of Vyasa of wonderful deeds.

         नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे।

         यस्य प्रसादात् वक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम्॥

Obeisance unto the divine Vyasa of immense splendour
by whosegrace I shall relate the story of Narayana.

         जयो नामेतिहासोऽयं श्रोतव्यो विजिगीषुणा।

This Epic named Jaya must be listened to by him who is
desirous of success

                    
——–       

                ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

            भीष्मप्रतिज्ञा (Vow of Bhishma)

       

        भरतानां महज्जन्म महाभारतमुच्यते।

        भरताद् भरती किर्तिः येनेदं भारतं कुलम्|

The great
nativity and the life of the Bharatas is called the Mahabharata.  Through Bharata is the glory of the Bharatas;

And after
Bharata is this lineage named Bhaarata.

        भरतस्यान्वये जाता देवकल्पा महारथाः।

        तेषां प्रतीपो राजाऽऽसीत् सर्वभूतहितस्सदा ॥

Warriors who were almost gods, were born in the line
of Bharata.

Of them was king Pratipa, always good to all beings.

        तपस्तेपे सुतस्यार्थे सभार्यः [कुरुनन्दन]

        शान्तस्य जज्ञे सन्तानस्तस्मादासीत्स शान्तनुः॥

He, along with his wife, performed penance, for the
sake of a son.  To the Santa (Pratipa in
quietude) was born a son to continue the race; and so the son came to be called
Santanu.

         स्वे च राज्येऽभिषिच्यैनं वनं राजा विवेश ह ।

Crowning Santanu in his kingdom, the king (Pratipa)
retired into the forest.

         स राजा शान्तनुर्धीमान् क्षत्रधर्मविशेषवित्।

         वशे चक्रे महीमेको विजित्य वसुधाधिपान्॥

That wise king Santanu, who knew the kingly code of
detail, conquered all kings single-handed, and brought the world under his
control.

         वयोरूपेण संपन्नः पौरुषेण बलेन च।

         स हस्तिनाम्नि धर्मात्मा विहरन् कुरुनन्दनः।

         चचार मृगयाशीलश्शान्तनुर्वनगोचरः॥

Endowed with beauty and youth, manliness and strength,
the virtuous Santanu, the descendant of Kuru, living happily in Hastinapura,
roved (often) hunting in the forests.

         स कदाचित् [महाराज] ददर्श परमां स्त्रियम्।

         यशस्विनी च साऽगच्छान्तनोर्भूतये सदा ॥

He once saw a most excellent woman. That illustrious
woman (Ganga) came at that time for Santanu’s weal.

         गङ्गा –

       

         भविष्यामि महीपाल महिषी ते वशानुगा।

         वारिता विप्रियं चोक्ता त्यजेयं त्वामसंशयम्।

         एष मे समयो राजन् भज मां त्वं यथेप्सितम्॥

Ganga – “King, I shall become thine obedient queen; if
I am crossed or told unpleasant words, I will undoubtedly leave you; this is my
condition, king!  Have me as you desire.”

         प्रतिज्ञाय तु तत्तस्यास्तथेति मनुजाधिपः।

         आसाद्य शान्तनुश्श्रीमान् मुमुदे योषितां वराम् ॥

Promising her that it shall be so, the handsome king
Santanu rejoiced, having obtained the best of women.

        अष्टावजनयत्पुत्रांस्तस्मादमरसन्निभान्।

        जातं जातं च सा पुत्रं क्षिपत्यंभसि [भारत]।

        शान्तनुर्धर्मभङ्गाच्च नापृच्छत्तां कथञ्चन ॥

Eight godlike sons she bore to Santanu.  As each son was born, she cast him on the
water. Lest he should break (his) promise, Santanu questioned her not in any
manner.

     अष्टमं तु जिघांसन्त्यां चुक्षुभे शान्तनोर्धृतिः।

     अब्रवीत् भरतश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं परमदुःखितः।

     ’पुत्रघ्नि सुमहत्पापं संप्राप्तं ते सुगर्हितम्’॥

But as she was about to kill the eighth, Santanu’s
firmness was shaken..  Greatly dejected,
that chief of the Bharatas spoke the words: Muderess of sons! A very great and
despicable sin hath come upon you””

     गङ्गा-

     

     ’पुत्रकाम न ते हन्मि पुत्रं पुत्रवतां वर।

     जीर्णस्तु  मम वासोऽयं यथा स समयः कृतः ।

     स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि पुत्रं पाहि महाव्रतम् ॥’     

            

 Ganga-

“ You who are desirous of a son!  You, the best of fathers! I do not kill
(this) son of yours; but, according to the condition, this life of mine has
come to an end; well be with you’ I will go’ protect (this) son who will
observe a great vow””

      एतदाख्याय सा देवी तत्रैवान्तरधीयत।

      स तु देवव्रतो नाम गाङ्गेय इति चाभवत् ।

Having said this, that divine lady disappeared at that
very place. That son was Devavrata, also known as Gangeya, (the son of Ganga).        

 

       तयैवं समनुज्ञातः पुत्रमादाय शान्तनुः।

       गुणवन्तं महात्मानं यौवराज्येऽभ्यषेचयत् ॥

Thus permitted by her, Santanu took his son and
installed that great and gifted person as heir-apparent.

       स तथा सह पुत्रेण रममाणो महीपतिः।

       वर्तयामास वर्षाणि चत्वार्यमितविक्रमः ॥

Living thus happily with his son, the king of immense
heroism spent four years.   

       स कदाचिद्वनं यातो यमुनामभितो नदीम्।

       समीक्ष्य राजा दाशेयीं कामयामास शान्तनुः ॥

Once, going to the forest adjoining the river Yamuna,
the king (Santanu) saw a fisherman’s daughter and fell in love (with her).

       पर्यपृच्छत्ततस्तस्याः पितरं सोऽऽत्मकारणात्।

       स च तं प्रत्युवाचेदं दाशराजो महीपतिम् ॥

For his own sake, he then asked her father (for her hand);
and the chief of the fishermen replied to the king:

       समयेन प्रदद्यां ते कन्यामहमिमां नृप।

       न हि मे त्वत्समः कश्चिद् वरो जातु भविष्यति।

       अस्यां जायेत यः पुत्रस्स राजा पृथिवीपते ॥

        

“ O King!, I will give this daughter to you on one
condition; I can never have a son-in-law equal to you; (but) king! the son born
to this woman must be the king”

       नाकामयत तं दातुं वरं दाशाय शान्तनुः।

       प्रत्ययाद्धस्तिनपुरं कामोपहतचेतनः॥

Santanu did not like to grant the fisherman that boon.  Love-mad, he returned to Hastinapura.

       विवर्तुं नाशकत्तस्य पिता पुत्रस्य शान्तनुः।

       ततस्स पितुराज्ञाय मतं सम्यगवेक्ष्य च।

       उच्चैः श्रवसमागम्य कन्यां वव्रे पितुस्स्वयम्॥

Santanu, the father, could not disclose (his love) to
his son.  Having (however) learnt his
father’s intention and having thought about it deeply, the son came to Ucchaishravas,
the fisherman, and himself requested his daughter for (Santanu) his father.

      ”अद्यप्रभृति मे दाश ब्रह्मचर्यं भविष्यति।

       अपुत्रस्यापि मे लोका भविष्यन्त्यक्षया दिवि।

       ऊर्ध्वरेता भविष्यामि दाश सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥“

“ Fisherman, from today I will be a celibate.  Though I become issueless, the imperishable
worlds in heaven shall be mine. I tell you in truth, fisherman, I will remain
continent”

       ददानीत्येव तं दाशो धर्मात्मा प्रत्यभाषत ।

“I shall give (her)” replied the righteous fisherman.

       ततोऽन्तरिक्षेऽप्सरसो देवास्सर्षिगणास्तदा।

       अभ्यवर्षन्त कुसुमैः भीष्मोऽयमितिचाब्रुवन् ॥

From heaven at that time, the celestial damsels, the
gods and assemblage of sages showered flowers and said : “This man is
Bhishma  – the terrible one.””

      अधिरोह रथं मातर्गच्छावस्स्वगृहानिति।

      एवमुक्त्वा तु भीष्मस्तां रथमारोप्य भामिनीम्।

      आगम्य हास्तिनपुरं शान्तनोस्सन्न्यवेदयत् ॥

“Mother, asceend the chariot, we shall proceed to our
mansion.”  Having said so, Bhishma took
her in the chariot, reached Hastinapura and offered her to Santanu.

      स तेन कर्मणा सूनोः प्रीतस्तस्मै वरं ददौ।

      ’त्वत्तो ह्यनुज्ञां संप्राप्य मृत्युः प्रभविताऽनघ’ ॥

Pleased with that act of his son, Santanu gave him a
boon: “ Impeccable soul!  Only after
obtaining your permission shall Death prevail upon you”.