THE MAHABHARATA (CONDENSED) - BIRTH OF DHRITARASHTRA, PANDU AND VIDURA
॥ 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 ॥
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॥
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 inSwayamvara 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.
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