05.147
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vasudeva said:
evamukte tu gāndhāryā dhṛtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ । duryodhanamuvācedaṃ nṛpamadhye janādhipa ॥5-147-1॥
Upon hearing Gāndhārī's words, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra addressed Duryodhana amidst the assembly of kings, O ruler of men.
duryodhana nibodhedaṁ yattvāṁ vakṣyāmi putraka . tathā tatkuru bhadraṁ te yadyasti pitṛgauravam ..5-147-2..
Duryodhana, listen to what I am going to tell you, my son. Do accordingly for your own good if you have respect for your father.
somaḥ prajāpatiḥ pūrvaṃ kurūṇāṃ vaṃśavardhanaḥ । somādbabhūva ṣaṣṭho vai yayātirnahuṣātmajaḥ ॥5-147-3॥
Soma, the progenitor and lord of all beings, was once the enhancer of the Kuru dynasty. From Soma was born the sixth descendant, Yayati, the son of Nahusha.
tasya putrā babhūvuśca pañca rājarṣisattamāḥ । teṣāṃ yadurmahātejā jyeṣṭhaḥ samabhavatprabhuḥ ॥5-147-4॥
His sons were five in number, all excellent royal sages. Among them, Yadu, known for his great power, became the eldest and the leader.
pūruryavīyāṃśca tato yo'smākaṃ vaṃśavardhanaḥ । śarmiṣṭhāyāḥ samprasūto duhiturvṛṣaparvaṇaḥ ॥5-147-5॥
Puru, the younger, who is the enhancer of our dynasty, was born to Sharmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparva.
yaduśca bharataśreṣṭha devayānyāḥ suto'bhavat । dauhitrastāta śukrasya kāvyasyāmitatejasaḥ ॥5-147-6॥
Yadu, the illustrious son of Devayani, was also the grandson of the wise and radiant Shukra, O esteemed Bharata.
yādavānāṃ kulakaro balavānvīryasaṃmataḥ । avamene sa tu kṣatraṃ darpapūrṇaḥ sumandadhīḥ ॥5-147-7॥
The leader of the Yadavas, known for his strength and valor, arrogantly disregarded the Kshatriyas, being full of pride and quite foolish.
na cātiṣṭhatpituḥ śāstre baladarpavimohitaḥ । avamene ca pitaraṃ bhrātṝṃścāpyaparājitaḥ ॥5-147-8॥
He, deluded by the pride of his strength, did not adhere to his father's teachings and disrespected his father and his undefeated brothers.
pṛthivyāṃ caturantāyāṃ yadurevābhavadbalī । vaśe kṛtvā sa nṛpatīnavasannāgasāhvaye ॥5-147-9॥
Yadu became powerful on the earth extending to all four corners; he brought the kings under his control and resided in Nāgasāhvaya.
taṃ pitā paramakrudhdo yayātirnahuṣātmajaḥ । śaśāpa putraṃ gāndhāre rājyācca vyaparopayat ॥5-147-10॥
Yayati, the son of Nahusha, in great anger, cursed his son in Gandhara and removed him from the kingdom.
ya cai nam anvavartanta bhrātaro baladarpitam । śaśāpa tān api kruddho yayātis tanayān atha ॥5-147-11॥
Yayati, in his anger, cursed his sons who were arrogant with their strength and followed him.
yavīyāṁsaṁ tataḥ pūruṁ putraṁ svavaśavartinam । rājye niveśayāmāsa vidheyaṁ nṛpasattamaḥ ॥5-147-12॥
The noble king then appointed his younger son Puru, who was obedient and submissive, to rule the kingdom.
evaṃ jyeṣṭho'pyathotsikto na rājyamabhijāyate । yavīyāmso'bhijāyante rājyaṃ vṛddhopasevayā ॥5-147-13॥
Thus, even if the elder is arrogant, he does not inherit the kingdom; the younger ones inherit the kingdom by serving the elders.
tathaiva sarvadharmajñaḥ piturmama pitāmahaḥ । pratīpaḥ pṛthivīpālastriṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ ॥5-147-14॥
Similarly, my grandfather Pratipa, known for his wisdom and as the ruler of the earth, was renowned across the three worlds.
tasya pārthivasiṃhasya rājyaṃ dharmeṇa śāsataḥ । trayaḥ prajajñire putrā devakalpā yaśasvinaḥ ॥5-147-15॥
The lion among kings ruled his kingdom with righteousness, and he had three glorious sons who were like gods.
devāpirabhavajjyeṣṭho bāhlīkastadanantaram । tṛtīyaḥ śantanustāta dhṛtimānme pitāmahaḥ ॥5-147-16॥
Devāpi was the eldest, followed by Bahlika, and then Shantanu, who was my steadfast grandfather, O father.
devāpistu mahātejāstvagdoṣī rājasattamaḥ । dhārmikaḥ satyavādī ca pituḥ śuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ ॥5-147-17॥
Devāpi, although afflicted with a skin disease, was a greatly powerful and righteous king, known for speaking the truth and devoted to serving his father.
paurajanapadānāṃ ca saṃmataḥ sādhusatkṛtaḥ । sarveṣāṃ bālavṛddhānāṃ devāpirhṛdayaṅgamaḥ ॥5-147-18॥
Devapi, respected and honored by the virtuous, is beloved by all citizens and countrymen, young and old.
prājñaśca satyasandhaśca sarvabhūtahite rataḥ । vartamānaḥ pituḥ śāstre brāhmaṇānāṃ tathaiva ca ॥5-147-19॥
He is wise and truthful, dedicated to the welfare of all beings, and follows the teachings of his father and the Brahmins.
bāhlīkasya priyo bhrātā śantanośca mahātmanaḥ । saubhrātraṃ ca paraṃ teṣāṃ sahitānāṃ mahātmanām ॥5-147-20॥
Bahlika's beloved brother Śantanu, who was a great soul, shared a supreme brotherhood with those great souls.
atha kālasya paryāye vṛddho nṛpatisattamaḥ । sambhārānabhiṣekārthaṃ kārayāmāsa śāstrataḥ ॥ maṅgalāni ca sarvāṇi kārayāmāsa cābhibhūḥ ॥5-147-21॥
Then, as time passed, the wise and aged king arranged for the consecration materials to be prepared as per the scriptures. The conqueror also ensured that all auspicious ceremonies were conducted.
taṃ brāhmaṇāśca vṛddhāśca paurajanapadaiḥ saha । sarve nivārayāmāsurdevāperabhiṣecanam ॥5-147-22॥
The Brahmins, elders, and all the citizens and countrymen together prevented the consecration of Devapi.
sa tacchrutvā tu nṛpatirabhiṣekanivāraṇam । aśrukaṇṭho'bhavad rājā paryaśocata cātmajam ॥5-147-23॥
Upon hearing the prevention of the consecration, the king, with a choked throat, lamented for his son.
evaṃ vadānyo dharmajñaḥ satyasandhaśca so'bhavat । priyaḥ prajānāmapi saṃstvagdoṣeṇa pradūṣitaḥ ॥5-147-24॥
Thus, he became generous, knowledgeable in dharma, truthful, and dear to the people, although he was blemished with a skin defect.
hīnāṅgaṃ pṛthivīpālaṃ nābhinandanti devatāḥ । iti kṛtvā nṛpaśreṣṭhaṃ pratyaṣedhandvijarṣabhāḥ ॥5-147-25॥
The gods do not praise a king with physical defects. With this understanding, the foremost of the twice-born advised against the best of kings.
tataḥ pravyathitātmāsau putraśokasamanvitaḥ । mamāra taṃ mṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā devāpiḥ saṃśrito vanam ॥5-147-26॥
Then, overwhelmed with sorrow for his son, he passed away upon seeing him dead. Devapi sought refuge in the forest.
bāhlīko mātulakule tyaktvā rājyaṃ vyavasthitaḥ । pitṛbhrātṝnparityajya prāptavānpuramṛddhimat ॥5-147-27॥
Bahlika, after leaving his kingdom in the care of his maternal uncle's family, settled down. He left his father and brothers and acquired a prosperous city.
bāhlīkena tvanujñātaḥ śantanuḥ lokaviśrutaḥ । pitaryuparate rājanrājā rājyamakarayat ॥5-147-28॥
Permitted by Bahlika, the world-renowned Shantanu ruled the kingdom after his father's demise, O king.
tathaivāhaṃ matimatā paricintyeha pāṇḍunā । jyeṣṭhaḥ prabhraṃśito rājyāddhīnāṅga iti bhārata ॥5-147-29॥
Thus, O Bhārata, I, the eldest, considered by the wise Pāṇḍu, am deprived of the kingdom and defective in limb.
pāṇḍustu rājyaṃ samprāptaḥ kanīyānapi sannṛpaḥ । vināśe tasya putrāṇāmidaṃ rājyamariṃdama ॥ mayyabhāgini rājyāya kathaṃ tvaṃ rājyamicchasi ॥5-147-30॥
Pandu, despite being the younger king, acquired the kingdom. O conqueror of enemies, with the demise of his sons, this kingdom is mine. How can you desire the kingdom when I am so unfortunate?
yudhiṣṭhiro rājaputro mahātmā; nyāyāgataṃ rājyamidaṃ ca tasya । sa kauravasyāsya janasya bhartā; praśāsitā caiva mahānubhāvaḥ ॥5-147-31॥
Yudhishthira, the noble prince, rightfully owns this kingdom. He is the leader and ruler of the Kaurava people, a person of great character.
sa satyasandhaḥ satatāpramattaḥ; śāstre sthito bandhujanasya sādhuḥ । priyaḥ prajānāṃ suhṛdānukampī; jitendriyaḥ sādhujanasya bhartā ॥5-147-32॥
He is truthful and ever vigilant, established in the scriptures, virtuous among his relatives, dear to his subjects, a compassionate friend, self-controlled, and the protector of virtuous people.
kṣamā titikṣā dama ārjavaṃ ca; satyavratatvaṃ śrutamapramādaḥ । bhūtānukampā hyanuśāsanaṃ ca; yudhiṣṭhire rājaguṇāḥ samastāḥ ॥5-147-33॥
In Yudhishthira, all royal qualities such as forgiveness, forbearance, self-control, honesty, truthfulness, learning, vigilance, compassion for beings, and discipline are present.
arājaputrastvamanāryavṛtto; lubdhastathā bandhuṣu pāpabuddhiḥ । kramāgataṃ rājyamidaṃ pareṣāṃ; hartuṃ kathaṃ śakṣyasi durvinītaḥ ॥5-147-34॥
You, the son of a non-king, of ignoble conduct, greedy and wicked-minded among relatives, how will you, being ill-behaved, be able to steal this kingdom that rightfully belongs to others?
prayaccha rājyārdhamapetamohaḥ; savāhanaḿ tvaḿ saparicchadaḿ ca | tato'vaśeṣaḿ tava jīvitasya; sahānujasyaiva bhavennarendra ||5-147-35||
O king, give half of the kingdom, free from delusion, along with vehicles and retinue. Then, the remainder of your life shall be with your younger brother.