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Core:Pandu quotes scriptures and asks Kanti to get progeny from someone superior to him.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तत्रापि तपसि श्रेष्ठे वर्तमानः स वीर्यवान् । सिद्धचारणसङ्घानां बभूव प्रियदर्शनः ॥१-१११-१॥
Abiding in supreme penance there, he, powerful, became pleasing to behold to the groups of Siddhas and Cāraṇas.
शुश्रूषुरनहंवादी संयतात्मा जितेन्द्रियः । स्वर्गं गन्तुं पराक्रान्तः स्वेन वीर्येण भारत ॥१-१११-२॥
He, eager to serve, modest in speech, self-controlled and sense-conquered, endeavored to attain heaven by his own strength, O Bhārata.
केषाञ्चिदभवद्भ्राता केषाञ्चिदभवत्सखा । ऋषयस्त्वपरे चैनं पुत्रवत्पर्यपालयन् ॥१-१११-३॥
He was like a brother to some, a friend to others, and some sages protected him like a son.
स तु कालेन महता प्राप्य निष्कल्मषं तपः । ब्रह्मर्षिसदृशः पाण्डुर्बभूव भरतर्षभ ॥१-१११-४॥
He, having attained sinless penance over a long time, became like a Brahmarṣi — Pāṇḍu, O best of the Bhāratas.
स्वर्गपारं तितीर्षन्स शतशृङ्गादुदङ्मुखः । प्रतस्थे सह पत्नीभ्यामब्रुवंस्तत्र तापसाः ॥ उपर्युपरि गच्छन्तः शैलराजमुदङ्मुखाः ॥१-१११-५॥
Desiring to reach the far side of heaven, he set out facing north from Mount Śataśṛṅga with his two wives. The ascetics there said: "Ascending higher and higher, face the king of mountains to the north."
दृष्टवन्तो गिरेरस्य दुर्गान्देशान्बहून्वयम् । आक्रीडभूतान्देवानां गन्धर्वाप्सरसां तथा ॥१-१११-६॥
We have seen many inaccessible regions of this mountain, which are the playgrounds of gods, Gandharvas, and Apsarases.
उद्यानानि कुबेरस्य समानि विषमाणि च । महानदीनितम्बांश्च दुर्गांश्च गिरिगह्वरान् ॥१-१११-७॥
There are level and uneven gardens of Kubera, flanks of great rivers, fortresses, and mountain caves.
सन्ति नित्यहिमा देशा निर्वृक्षमृगपक्षिणः । सन्ति केचिन्महावर्षा दुर्गाः केचिद्दुरासदाः ॥१-१११-८॥
There are perpetually snowy regions without trees, animals, or birds; some are rainy and others are difficult fortresses.
अतिक्रामेन्न पक्षी यान्कुत एवेतरे मृगाः । वायुरेकोऽतिगाद्यत्र सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः ॥१-१११-९॥
No bird could cross those regions — how then could other animals? Only the wind passes through, along with perfected beings and supreme sages.
गच्छन्त्यौ शैलराजेऽस्मिन्राजपुत्र्यौ कथं त्विमे । न सीदेतामदुःखार्हे मा गमो भरतर्षभ ॥१-१११-१०॥
The two princesses are going in this king of mountains; how may they, undeserving of sorrow, not suffer? Do not proceed, O best of the Bhāratas.
पाण्डुरुवाच॥
Pāṇḍu said.
अप्रजस्य महाभागा न द्वारं परिचक्षते । स्वर्गे तेनाभितप्तोऽहमप्रजस्तद्ब्रवीमि वः ॥१-१११-११॥
O highly fortunate ones, they do not indicate the path to heaven for the childless. Therefore, afflicted by this, being childless, I say this to you.
ऋणैश्चतुर्भिः संयुक्ता जायन्ते मनुजा भुवि । पितृदेवर्षिमनुजदेयैः शतसहस्रशः ॥१-१११-१२॥
Humans are born on earth burdened with fourfold debts — to ancestors, gods, sages, and men — in hundreds of thousands.
एतानि तु यथाकालं यो न बुध्यति मानवः । न तस्य लोकाः सन्तीति धर्मविद्भिः प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१-१११-१३॥
But he who does not understand these in due time, his worlds do not exist — so it is established by the knowers of dharma.
यज्ञैश्च देवान्प्रीणाति स्वाध्यायतपसा मुनीन् । पुत्रैः श्राद्धैः पितृंश्चापि आनृशंस्येन मानवान् ॥१-१११-१४॥
One pleases the gods with sacrifices, the sages with study and austerity, the ancestors with sons and oblations, and humans with kindness.
ऋषिदेवमनुष्याणां परिमुक्तोऽस्मि धर्मतः । पित्र्यादृणादनिर्मुक्तस्तेन तप्ये तपोधनाः ॥१-१११-१५॥
I am freed by dharma from the debts to sages, gods, and men, but not from the ancestral debt; therefore I am tormented, O ascetics rich in austerity.
देहनाशे ध्रुवो नाशः पितृणामेष निश्चयः । इह तस्मात्प्रजाहेतोः प्रजायन्ते नरोत्तमाः ॥१-१११-१६॥
Upon the body’s destruction, the destruction of ancestors is certain — this is the firm conclusion. Therefore, the best of men are born for the sake of offspring.
यथैवाहं पितुः क्षेत्रे सृष्टस्तेन महात्मना । तथैवास्मिन्मम क्षेत्रे कथं वै सम्भवेत्प्रजा ॥१-१११-१७॥
Just as I was begotten by that great-souled one in my father’s field, so how indeed could offspring arise in this field of mine?
तापसा ऊचुः॥
The ascetics said:
अस्ति वै तव धर्मात्मन्विद्म देवोपमं शुभम् । अपत्यमनघं राजन्वयं दिव्येन चक्षुषा ॥१-१११-१८॥
Indeed, O righteous-souled one, we know by divine vision that there is god-like, auspicious, and sinless offspring for you, O king.
दैवदिष्टं नरव्याघ्र कर्मणेहोपपादय । अक्लिष्टं फलमव्यग्रो विन्दते बुद्धिमान्नरः ॥१-१११-१९॥
O tiger among men, bring about the divinely ordained action here; the wise man obtains untroubled results without agitation.
तस्मिन्दृष्टे फले तात प्रयत्नं कर्तुमर्हसि । अपत्यं गुणसम्पन्नं लब्ध्वा प्रीतिमवाप्स्यसि ॥१-१११-२०॥
When that result is seen, dear one, you should make effort; having obtained virtuous offspring, you will attain joy.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तच्छ्रुत्वा तापसवचः पाण्डुश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत् । आत्मनो मृगशापेन जानन्नुपहतां क्रियाम् ॥१-१११-२१॥
Having heard the ascetic’s words, Pāṇḍu became full of anxiety, knowing that his own function was obstructed by the curse of a deer.
सोऽब्रवीद्विजने कुन्तीं धर्मपत्नीं यशस्विनीम् । अपत्योत्पादने योगमापदि प्रसमर्थयन् ॥१-१११-२२॥
He spoke in private to his righteous and illustrious wife Kuntī, urging her to take recourse for producing offspring in this difficulty.
अपत्यं नाम लोकेषु प्रतिष्ठा धर्मसंहिता । इति कुन्ति विदुर्धीराः शाश्वतं धर्ममादितः ॥१-१११-२३॥
Offspring, O Kuntī, is known among people as the foundation tied to dharma; the wise know this as eternal dharma from the beginning.
इष्टं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं नियमश्च स्वनुष्ठितः । सर्वमेवानपत्यस्य न पावनमिहोच्यते ॥१-१११-२४॥
All sacrifices, gifts, penance, and observances properly performed are said to be not purifying here for the childless.
सोऽहमेवं विदित्वैतत्प्रपश्यामि शुचिस्मिते । अनपत्यः शुभाँल्लोकान्नावाप्स्यामीति चिन्तयन् ॥१-१११-२५॥
Thus knowing this, O pure-smiling one, I foresee that being childless, I shall not attain the auspicious worlds — so I think.
मृगाभिशापान्नष्टं मे प्रजनं ह्यकृतात्मनः । नृशंसकारिणो भीरु यथैवोपहतं तथा ॥१-१११-२६॥
Indeed, due to the curse of the deer-sage, my progeny is lost — like that of a fearful and undisciplined one who acted cruelly, it stands obstructed.
इमे वै बन्धुदायादाः षट्पुत्रा धर्मदर्शने । षडेवाबन्धुदायादाः पुत्रास्ताञ्शृणु मे पृथे ॥१-१११-२७॥
These are the six types of sons who are kinsmen-heirs according to the dharma tradition. There are six more who are not such heirs — hear them from me, O Pṛthā.
स्वयञ्जातः प्रणीतश्च परिक्रीतश्च यः सुतः । पौनर्भवश्च कानीनः स्वैरिण्यां यश्च जायते ॥१-१११-२८॥
The son begotten by oneself, appointed, purchased, born of a remarried woman, born of an unmarried girl, and born of a self-willed woman.
दत्तः क्रीतः कृत्रिमश्च उपगच्छेत्स्वयं च यः । सहोढो जातरेताश्च हीनयोनिधृतश्च यः ॥१-१११-२९॥
Given, bought, artificial, one who comes of his own accord, born of an already married woman, and one held by a lower womb.
पूर्वपूर्वतमाभावे मत्वा लिप्सेत वै सुतम् । उत्तमादवराः पुंसः काङ्क्षन्ते पुत्रमापदि ॥१-१११-३०॥
In the absence of the earlier and best types, one should desire a son from the next; men desire a son from the best source, even in difficulty.
अपत्यं धर्मफलदं श्रेष्ठं विन्दन्ति साधवः । आत्मशुक्रादपि पृथे मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत् ॥१-१११-३१॥
O Pṛthā, the virtuous obtain supreme offspring, givers of the fruit of dharma, even from one's own seed — so said Manu, son of Svayambhū.
तस्मात्प्रहेष्याम्यद्य त्वां हीनः प्रजननात्स्वयम् । सदृशाच्छ्रेयसो वा त्वं विद्ध्यपत्यं यशस्विनि ॥१-१११-३२॥
Therefore, being myself deprived of generation, today I shall send you; know the offspring, O illustrious one, to be from one equal or superior.
शृणु कुन्ति कथां चेमां शारदण्डायनीं प्रति । या वीरपत्नी गुरुभिर्नियुक्तापत्यजन्मनि ॥१-१११-३३॥
Hear this story, O Kuntī, of the daughter of Śāradaṇḍāyana, who was a hero's wife, appointed by elders for bearing offspring.
पुष्पेण प्रयता स्नाता निशि कुन्ति चतुष्पथे । वरयित्वा द्विजं सिद्धं हुत्वा पुंसवनेऽनलम् ॥१-१११-३४॥
Purified and bathed with flowers, at night, at a crossroad, O Kuntī, she chose an accomplished twice-born and, having offered into the fire in the puṁsavana rite—
कर्मण्यवसिते तस्मिन्सा तेनैव सहावसत् । तत्र त्रीञ्जनयामास दुर्जयादीन्महारथान् ॥१-१११-३५॥
When the ritual was completed, she lived with him there and gave birth to three great warriors, beginning with Durjaya.
तथा त्वमपि कल्याणि ब्राह्मणात्तपसाधिकात् । मन्नियोगाद्यत क्षिप्रमपत्योत्पादनं प्रति ॥१-१११-३६॥
Likewise, O auspicious one, from a Brāhmaṇa superior in austerity, by my instruction, endeavor quickly for the generation of offspring.
