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brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
na tad-duryodhanakṛtaṁ na ca tad-bhavatā kṛtam। na karṇasaubalābhyāṁ ca kuravo yat-kṣayaṁ gatāḥ ॥15-16-1॥
It was not done by Duryodhana, nor by you; nor by Karṇa or Saubala, nor was it the Kurus by whom they went to destruction (15-16-1).
daivaṃ tat tu vijānīmo yan na śakyaṃ prabādhitum। daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa na śakyam ativartitum ॥15-16-2॥
We know that destiny is what cannot be overcome; destiny cannot be surpassed by human effort. (15-16-2)
akṣauhiṇyo mahārāja daśāṣṭau ca samāgatāḥ। aṣṭādaśāhena hatā daśabhir yodhapuṅgavaiḥ॥15-16-3॥
O great king, eighteen military divisions assembled, and in eighteen days, they were destroyed by ten chief warriors. (15-16-3)
bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādyaiś ca karṇena ca mahātmanā। yuyudhānena vīreṇa dhṛṣṭadyumnena caiva ha ॥15-16-4॥
By Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and others, as well as by the great-hearted Karna, by the heroic Yuyudhana and Dhrishtadyumna too—all these were present. (15-16-4)
caturbhiḥ pāṇḍu-putraiś ca bhīma-arjuna-yamaiḥ nṛpa। jana-kṣayaḥ ayaṃ nṛpate kṛtaḥ daiva-balāt-kṛtaiḥ ॥15-16-5॥
O king, this destruction of people has been brought about by the four sons of Pāṇḍu—Bhīma, Arjuna, and the son of Yama—whose actions have been made possible by the power of fate. (15-16-5)
avaśyameva saṅgrāme kṣatriyeṇa viśeṣataḥ। kartavyaṃ nidhanaṃ loke śastreṇa kṣatrabandhunā॥15-16-6॥
Certainly, especially in battle, death in the world ought to be inflicted by weapon by a kṣatriya, by a kṣatriya relative. (15-16-6)
tairiyaṃ puruṣavyāghrair vidyā-bāhu-bala-anvitaiḥ। pṛthivī nihatā sarvā sahayā sarathadvipā॥15-16-7॥
The entire earth, with its armies, chariots, and elephants, was conquered by courageous, tiger-like men possessing knowledge, strength, and power. (15-16-7)
na sa rājāparādhnoti putras tava mahāmanāḥ. na bhavān na ca te bhṛtyā na karṇo na ca saubalaḥ ॥15-16-8॥
Your great-minded son, the king, does not commit any offense. Nor do you, nor your servants, nor Karṇa, nor Saubala. (15-16-8)
yad vinaṣṭāḥ kuruśreṣṭhā rājānaś ca sahasraśaḥ। sarvaṃ daivakṛtaṃ tad vai ko'tra kiṃ vaktum arhati ॥15-16-9॥
O best of Kurus, thousands of kings have perished; all of that was done by fate—who here is worthy to say anything about it? (15-16-9)
gurur-mato bhavān asya kṛtsnasya jagataḥ prabhuḥ। dharmātmānam atas tubhyam anujānīmahe sutam ॥15-16-10॥
We regard you as the teacher and lord of this entire world. Therefore, as you are righteous, we allow you the son. (15-16-10)
labhatāṃ vīralokān sa-sahāyo narādhipaḥ। dvijāgryaiḥ samanujñātaḥ tridive modatāṃ sukhī ॥15-16-11॥
May the lord of men, together with his companions, attain the worlds of heroes; let him, approved by the foremost Brāhmaṇas, joyfully rejoice in heaven. (15-16-11)
prāpsyate ca bhavān puṇyaṃ dharme ca paramāṃ sthitim। veda puṇyaṃ ca kārtsnyena samyag bharatasattama ॥15-16-12॥
You will attain merit and the highest position in dharma; and, O best of the Bharatas, (he) fully and rightly knows merit. (15-16-12)
dṛṣṭāpadānāś cāsmābhiḥ pāṇḍavāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ। samarthās tridivasya api pālane kiṃ punaḥ kṣiteḥ ॥15-16-13॥
Having seen by us the feet of the Pāṇḍavas, those bulls among men who are capable of protecting even heaven, what then to say of protecting the earth? (15-16-13)
anuvatsyanti cā-pīmāḥ sameṣu viṣameṣu ca । prajāḥ kurukulaśreṣṭha pāṇḍavāñśīlabhūṣaṇān ॥15-16-14॥
O best of the Kuru family, the subjects will follow these Pāṇḍavas, who are adorned with virtue, in both prosperous and adverse times. (15-16-14)
brahmadeyāgrahārāṁś ca parihārāṁś ca pārthiva। pūrvarājātisargāṁś ca pālayaty eva pāṇḍavaḥ ॥15-16-15॥
O king, the descendant of Pandu indeed protects the Brahmin endowments, the agrahāras, the tax-free grants, and the donations from previous kings. (15-16-15)
dīrghadarśī kṛtaprajñaḥ sadā vaiśravaṇo yathā। akṣudrasacivaścāyaṃ kuntīputro mahāmanāḥ॥15-16-16॥
This son of Kuntī, like Vaiśravaṇa, is always far-seeing, grateful, attended by ministers who are not low, and is great-minded. (15-16-16)
apyamitre dayāvāṁś ca śuciś ca bharatarṣabha। ṛju paśyati medhāvī putravat pāti naḥ sadā ॥15-16-17॥
O best of Bharatas, the wise man, even towards an enemy, is compassionate and pure; he regards all with straightforwardness and always protects us like a son. (15-16-17)
vipriyaṃ ca janasya asya saṃsargāt dharmajasya vai। na kariṣyanti rājarṣe tathā bhīmārjunādayaḥ ॥15-16-18॥
O royal sage, indeed, because of their association with Dharma's son, neither the people nor Bhīma, Arjuna, and the others will do anything unpleasant. (15-16-18)
mandā mṛduṣu kauravyās-tīkṣṇeṣv-āśīviṣopamāḥ. vīryavanto mahātmānaḥ paurāṇāṃ ca hite ratāḥ ॥15-16-19॥
The Kauravas are gentle towards the mild but like poisonous serpents towards the harsh; they are powerful, noble-hearted, and dedicated to the welfare of the citizens. (15-16-19)
na kuntī na ca pāñcālī na ca ulūpī na sātvatī। asmin jane kariṣyanti pratikūlāni karhicit॥15-16-20॥
Neither Kuntī nor Pāñcālī, nor Ulūpī, nor Sātvati will ever act contrary to this person. (15-16-20)
bhavatkṛtam imaṁ snehaṁ yudhiṣṭhira-vivardhitam। na pṛṣṭhataḥ kariṣyanti paura-jānapadā janāḥ॥15-16-21॥
The affection you have shown, strengthened by Yudhishthira, the people—both of the town and country—will not display behind your back. (15-16-21)
adharmiṣṭhān api sataḥ kuntīputrā mahārathāḥ। mānavān pālayiṣyanti bhūtvā dharmaparāyaṇāḥ॥15-16-22॥
Even those who were established in unrighteousness, the sons of Kunti—the great warriors—having become devoted to righteousness, will protect mankind. (15-16-22)
sa rājan mānasaṃ duḥkham apanīya yudhiṣṭhirāt। kuru kāryāṇi dharmyāṇi namas te bharatarṣabha ॥15-16-23॥
O king, after relieving Yudhiṣṭhira of his mental sorrow, perform righteous duties. Salutations to you, O best of the Bharatas. (15-16-23)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tasya tadvacanaṃ dharmyamanubandhaguṇottaram. sādhu sādhviti sarvaḥ sa janaḥ pratigṛhītavān ॥15-16-24॥
All the people accepted his words, which were righteous and of excellent consequence, saying, "Well done, well done." (15-16-24)
dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca tadvākyam abhipūjya punaḥ punaḥ। visarjayāmāsa tadā sarvās tu prakṛtīḥ śanaiḥ॥15-16-25॥
Dhritarashtra, having honored that speech again and again, then slowly dismissed all the ministers. (15-16-25)
sa taiḥ sampūjito rājā śivenāvekṣitastadā। prāñjaliḥ pūjayāmāsa taṁ janaṁ bharatarṣabha ॥15-16-26॥
O best of the Bharatas, the king, honored by them and observed by Śiva at that time, with joined palms, worshipped that person. (15-16-26)
tato viveśa bhuvanaṃ gāndhāryā sahito nṛpaḥ। vyuṣṭāyāṃ caiva śarvaryāṃ yaccakāra nibodha tat ॥15-16-27॥
Then the king, together with Gāndhārī, entered the palace; when night had ended and dawn broke, learn what he did. (15-16-27)
