Second Skandha · Chapter 6
Sourceसूत उवाच एवं सत्यवती तेन वृता शन्तनुना किल । द्वौ पुत्रौ च तया जातौ मृतौ कालवशादपि ॥ १ ॥ व्यासवीर्यात्तु सञ्जातो धृतराष्ट्रोऽन्ध एव च । मुनिं दृष्ट्वाथ कामिन्या नेत्रसम्मीलने कृते ॥ २ ॥ श्वेतरूपा यतो जाता दृष्ट्वा व्यासं नृपात्मजा । व्यासकोपात्समुत्पन्नः पाण्डुस्तेन न संशयः ॥ ३ ॥ सन्तोषितस्तया व्यासो दास्या कामकलाविदा । विदुरस्तु समुत्पन्नो धर्मांशः सत्यवाक् शुचिः ॥ ४ ॥ राज्ये संस्थापितः पाण्डुः कनीयानपि मन्त्रिभिः । अन्धत्वाद्धृतराष्ट्रोऽसौ नाधिकारे नियोजितः ॥ ५ ॥ भीष्मस्यानुमते राज्यं प्राप्तः पाण्डुर्महाबलः । विदुरोऽप्यथ मेधावी मन्त्रकार्ये नियोजितः ॥ ६ ॥ धृतराष्ट्रस्य द्वे भार्ये गान्धारी सौबली स्मृता । द्वितीया च तथा वैश्या गार्हस्त्येषु प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ ७ ॥ पाण्डोरपि तथा पत्न्यौ द्वे प्रोक्ते वेदवादिभिः । शौरसेनी तथा कुन्ती माद्री च मद्रदेशजा ॥ ८ ॥ गान्धारी सुषुवे पुत्रशतं परमशोभनम् । वैश्याप्येकं सुतं कान्तं युयुत्सुं सुषुवे प्रियम् ॥ ९ ॥ कुन्ती तु प्रथमं कन्या सूर्यात्कर्णं मनोहरम् । सुषुवे पितृगेहस्था पश्चात्पाण्डुपरिग्रहः ॥ १० ॥ ऋषय ऊचुः किमेतत्सूत चित्रं त्वं भाषसे मुनिसत्तम । जनितश्च सुतः पूर्वं पाण्डुना सा विवाहिता ॥ ११ ॥ सूर्यात्कर्णः कथं जातः कन्यायां वद विस्तरात् । कन्या कथं पुनर्जाता पाण्डुना सा विवाहिता ॥ १२ ॥ सूत उवाच शूरसेनसुता कुन्ती बालभावे यदा द्विजाः । कुन्तिभोजेन राज्ञा तु प्रार्थिता कन्यका शुभा ॥ १३ ॥ कुन्तिभोजेन सा बाला पुत्री तु परिकल्पिता । सेवनार्थं तु दीप्तस्य विहिता चारुहासिनी ॥ १४ ॥ दुर्वासास्तु मुनिः प्राप्तश्चातुर्मास्ये स्थितो द्विजः । परिचर्या कृता कुन्त्या मुनिस्तोषं जगाम ह ॥ १५ ॥ ददौ मन्त्रं शुभं तस्यै येनाहूतः सुरः स्वयम् । समायाति तथा कामं पूरयिष्यति वाञ्छितम् ॥ १६ ॥ गते मुनौ ततः कुन्ती निश्चयार्थं गृहे स्थिता । चिन्तयामास मनसा कं सुरं समचिन्तये ॥ १७ ॥ उदितश्च तदा भानुस्तया दृष्टो दिवाकरः । मन्त्रोच्चारं तया कृत्वा चाहूतस्तिग्मगुस्तदा ॥ १८ ॥ मण्डलान्मानुषं रूपं कृत्वा सर्वातिपेशलम् । अवातरत्तदाकाशात्समीपे तत्र मन्दिरे ॥ १९ ॥ दृष्ट्वा देवं समायान्तं कुन्ती भानुं सुविस्मिता । वेपमाना रजोदोषं प्राप्ता सद्यस्तु भामिनी ॥ २० ॥ कृताञ्जलिः स्थिता सूर्यं बभाषे चारुलोचना । सुप्रीता दर्शनेनाद्य गच्छ त्वं निजमण्डलम् ॥ २१ ॥ सूर्य उवाच आहूतोऽस्मि कथं कुन्ति त्वया मन्त्रबलेन वै । न मां भजसि कस्मात्त्वं समाहूय पुरोगतम् ॥ २२ ॥ कामार्तोऽस्म्यसितापाङ्गि भज मां भावसंयुतम् । मन्त्रेणाधीनतां प्राप्प्तं क्रीडितुं नय मामिति ॥ २३ ॥ कुन्त्युवाच ॥ कन्यास्म्यहं तु धर्मज्ञ सर्वसाक्षिन्नमाम्यहम् । तवाप्यहं न दुर्वाच्या कुलकन्यास्मि सुव्रत ॥ २४ ॥ सूर्य उवाच लज्जा मे महती चाद्य यदि गच्छाम्यहं वृथा । वाच्यतां सर्वदेवानां यास्याम्यत्र न संशयः ॥ २५ ॥ शप्स्यामि तं द्विजं चाद्य येन मन्त्रः समर्पितः । त्वां चापि सुभृशं कुन्ति नोचेन्मां त्वं भजिष्यसि ॥ २६ ॥ कन्याधर्मः स्थिरस्ते स्यान्न ज्ञास्यन्ति जनाः किल । मत्समस्तु तथा पुत्रो भविता ते वरानने ॥ २७ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा तरणिः कुन्तीं तन्मनस्कां सुलज्जिताम् । भुक्त्वा जगाम देवेशो वरं दत्त्वातिवाञ्छितम् ॥ २८ ॥ गर्भं दधार सुश्रोणी सुगुप्ते मन्दिरे स्थिता । धात्री वेद प्रिया चैका न माता न जनस्तथा ॥ २९ ॥ गुप्तः सद्मनि पुत्रस्तु जातश्चातिमनोहरः । कवचेनातिरम्येण कुण्डलाभ्यां समन्वितः ॥ ३० ॥ द्वितीय इव सूर्यस्तु कुमार इव चापरः । करे कृत्वाथ धात्रेयी तामुवाच सुलज्जिताम् ॥ ३१ ॥ कां चिन्तां करभोरु त्वमाधत्सेऽद्य स्थितास्म्यहम् । मञ्जूषायां सुतं कुन्ती मुञ्चन्ती वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ३२ ॥ किं करोमि सुतार्ताहं त्यजे त्वां प्राणवल्लभम् । मन्दभाग्या त्यजामि त्वां सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् ॥ ३३ ॥ पातुत्वां सगुणागुणा भगवती सर्वेश्वरी चाम्बिका स्तन्यं सैव ददातु विश्वजननी कात्यायनी कामदा । द्रक्ष्येऽहंमुखपङ्कजं सुललितं प्राणप्रियार्हं कदा त्यक्त्वा त्वां विजने वने रविसुतं दुष्टा यथा स्वैरिणी ॥ ३४ ॥ पूर्वस्मिन्नपि जन्मनि त्रिजगतां माता न चाराधिता न ध्यातं पदपङ्कजं सुखकरं देव्याः शिवायाश्चिरम् । तेनाहं सुत दुर्भगास्मि सततं त्यक्त्वा पुनस्त्वां वने तप्स्यामि प्रिय पातकं स्मृतवती बुद्ध्या कृतं यत्स्वयम् ॥ ३५ ॥ सूत उवाव इत्युक्त्या तं सुतं कुन्ती मञ्जूषायां धृतं किल । धात्रीहस्ते ददौ भीता जनदर्शनतस्तथा ॥ ३६ ॥ स्नात्वा त्रस्ता तदा कुन्ती पितृवेश्मन्युवास सा । मञ्जूषा वहमाना च प्राप्ता ह्यधिरथेन वै ॥ ३७ ॥ राधा सूतस्य भार्या वै तयासौ प्रार्थितः सुतः । कर्णोऽभूद्बलवान्वीरः पालितः सूतसद्मनि ॥ ३८ ॥ कुन्ती विवाहिता कन्या पाण्डुना सा स्वयम्वरे । माद्री चैवापरा भार्या मद्रराजसुता शुभा ॥ ३९ ॥ मृगयां रममाणस्तु वने पाण्डुर्महाबलः । जघान मृगबुद्ध्या तु रममाणं मुनिं वने ॥ ४० ॥ शप्तस्तेन तदा पाण्डुर्मुनिना कुपितेन च । स्त्रीसङ्गं यदि कर्तासि तदा ते मरणं धुवम् ॥ ४१ ॥ इति शप्तस्तु मुनिना पाण्डुः शोकसमन्वितः । त्यक्त्वा राज्यं वने वासं चकार भृशदुःखितः ॥ ४२ ॥ कुन्ती माद्री च भार्ये द्वे जग्मतुः सह सङ्गते । सेवनार्थं सतीधर्मं संश्रिते मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ ४३ ॥ गङ्गातीरे स्थितः पाण्डुर्मुनीनामाश्रमेषु च । शृण्वानो धर्मशास्त्राणि चकार दुश्चरं तपः ॥ ४४ ॥ कथायां वर्तमानायां कदाचिद्धर्मसंश्रितम् । अशृणोद्वचनं राजा सुपृष्टं मुनिभाषितम् ॥ ४५ ॥ अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गे गन्तुं परन्तप । येन केनाप्युपायेन पुत्रस्य जननं चरेत् ॥ ४६ ॥ अंशजः पुत्रिकापुत्रः क्षेत्रजो गोलकस्तथा । कुण्डः सहोढः कानीनः क्रीतः प्राप्तस्तथा वने ॥ ४७ ॥ दत्तः केनापि चाशक्तौ धनग्राहिसुताः स्मृताः । उत्तरोत्तरतः पुत्रा निकृष्टा इति निश्चयः ॥ ४८ ॥ इत्याकर्ण्य तदा प्राह कुन्तीं कमललोचनाम् । सुतमुत्पादयाशु त्वं मुनिं गत्वा तपोऽन्वितम् ॥ ४९ ॥ ममाज्ञया न दोषस्ते पुरा राज्ञा महात्मना । वसिष्ठाज्जनितः पुत्रः सौदासेनेति मे श्रुतम् ॥ ५० ॥ तं कुन्ती वचनं प्राह मम मन्त्रोऽस्ति कामदः । दत्तो दुर्वाससा पूर्वं सिद्धिदः सर्वथा प्रभो ॥ ५१ ॥ निमन्त्रयेऽहं यं देवं मन्त्रेणानेन पार्थिव । आगच्छेत्सर्वथासौ वै मम पार्श्वं निमन्त्रितः ॥ ५२ ॥ भर्तुर्वाक्येन सा तत्र स्मृत्वा धर्मं सुरोत्तमम् । सङ्गम्य सुषुवे पुत्रं प्रथमं च युधिष्ठिरम् ॥ ५३ ॥ वायोर्वृकोदरं पुत्रं जिष्णुं चैव शतक्रतोः । वर्षे वर्षे त्रयः पुत्राः कुन्त्या जाता महाबलाः ॥ ५४ ॥ माद्री प्राह पतिं पाण्डुं पुत्रं मे कुरु सत्तम । किं करोमि महाराज दुःखं नाशय मे प्रभो ॥ ५५ ॥ प्रार्थिता पतिना कुन्ती ददौ मन्त्रं दयान्विता । एकपुत्रप्रबन्धेन माद्री पतिमते स्थिता ॥ ५६ ॥ स्मृत्वा तदाश्विनौ देवौ मद्रराजसुता सुतौ । नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुषुवे वरवर्णिनी ॥ ५७ ॥ एवं ते पाण्डवाः पञ्च क्षेत्रोत्पन्ताः सुरात्मजाः । वर्षवर्षान्तरे जाता वने तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ ५८ ॥ एकस्मिन्समये पाण्डुर्माद्रीं दृष्ट्वाथ निर्जने । आश्रमे चातिकामार्तो जग्राहागतवैशसः ॥ ५९ ॥ मा मा मा मेति बहुधा निषिद्धोऽपितया भृशम् । आलिलिङ्ग प्रियां दैवात्पपात धरणीतले ॥ ६० ॥ यथा वृक्षगता वल्ली छिन्ने पतति वै द्रुमे । तथा सा पतिता बाला कुर्वन्ती रोदनं बहु ॥ ६१ ॥ प्रत्यागता तदा कुन्ती रुदती बालकास्तथा । मुनयश्च महाभागाः श्रुत्वा कोलाहलं तदा ॥ ६२ ॥ मृतः पाण्डुस्तदा सर्वे मुनयः संशितव्रताः । सहाग्निभिर्विधिं कृत्वा गङ्गातीरे तदादहन् ॥ ६३ ॥ चक्रे सहैव गमनं माद्री दत्त्वा सुतौ शिशू । कुन्त्यै धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य सतीनां सत्यकामतः ॥ ६४ ॥ जलदानादिकं कृत्वा मुनयस्तत्र वासिनः । पञ्चपुत्रयुतां कुन्तीमनयन्हस्तिनापुरम् ॥ ६५ ॥ तां प्राप्तां च समाज्ञाय गाङ्गेयो विदुरस्तथा । नगरीं धृतराष्ट्रस्य सर्वे तत्र समाययुः ॥ ६६ ॥ पप्रच्छुश्च जनाः सर्वे कस्य पुत्रा वरानने । पाण्डोः शापं समाज्ञाय कुन्ती दुःखान्विता तदा ॥ ६७ ॥ तानुवाच सुराणां वै पुत्राः कुरुकुलोद्भवाः । विश्वासार्थं समाहूताः कुन्त्या सर्वे सुरास्तदा ॥ ६८ ॥ आगत्य खे तदा तैस्तु कथितं नः सुताः किल । भीष्मेण सत्कृतं वाक्यं देवानां सत्कृताः सुताः ॥ ६९ ॥ गता नागपुरं सर्वे तानादाय सुतान्वधूम् । भीष्मादयः प्रीतचित्ताः पालयामासुरर्थतः ॥ ७० ॥ एवं पार्थाः समुत्पन्ना गाङ्गेयेनाथ पालिताः ॥ ७१ ॥
sūta uvāca evaṃ satyavatī tena vṛtā śantanunā kila | dvau putrau ca tayā jātau mṛtau kālavaśādapi || 1 || vyāsavīryāttu sañjāto dhṛtarāṣṭro'ndha eva ca | muniṃ dṛṣṭvātha kāminyā netrasammīlane kṛte || 2 || śvetarūpā yato jātā dṛṣṭvā vyāsaṃ nṛpātmajā | vyāsakopātsamutpannaḥ pāṇḍustena na saṃśayaḥ || 3 || santoṣitastayā vyāso dāsyā kāmakalāvidā | vidurastu samutpanno dharmāṃśaḥ satyavāk śuciḥ || 4 || rājye saṃsthāpitaḥ pāṇḍuḥ kanīyānapi mantribhiḥ | andhatvāddhṛtarāṣṭro'sau nādhikāre niyojitaḥ || 5 || bhīṣmasyānumate rājyaṃ prāptaḥ pāṇḍurmahābalaḥ | viduro'pyatha medhāvī mantrakārye niyojitaḥ || 6 || dhṛtarāṣṭrasya dve bhārye gāndhārī saubalī smṛtā | dvitīyā ca tathā vaiśyā gārhastyeṣu pratiṣṭhitā || 7 || pāṇḍorapi tathā patnyau dve prokte vedavādibhiḥ | śaurasenī tathā kuntī mādrī ca madradeśajā || 8 || gāndhārī suṣuve putraśataṃ paramaśobhanam | vaiśyāpyekaṃ sutaṃ kāntaṃ yuyutsuṃ suṣuve priyam || 9 || kuntī tu prathamaṃ kanyā sūryātkarṇaṃ manoharam | suṣuve pitṛgehasthā paścātpāṇḍuparigrahaḥ || 10 || ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kimetatsūta citraṃ tvaṃ bhāṣase munisattama | janitaśca sutaḥ pūrvaṃ pāṇḍunā sā vivāhitā || 11 || sūryātkarṇaḥ kathaṃ jātaḥ kanyāyāṃ vada vistarāt | kanyā kathaṃ punarjātā pāṇḍunā sā vivāhitā || 12 || sūta uvāca śūrasenasutā kuntī bālabhāve yadā dvijāḥ | kuntibhojena rājñā tu prārthitā kanyakā śubhā || 13 || kuntibhojena sā bālā putrī tu parikalpitā | sevanārthaṃ tu dīptasya vihitā cāruhāsinī || 14 || durvāsāstu muniḥ prāptaścāturmāsye sthito dvijaḥ | paricaryā kṛtā kuntyā munistoṣaṃ jagāma ha || 15 || dadau mantraṃ śubhaṃ tasyai yenāhūtaḥ suraḥ svayam | samāyāti tathā kāmaṃ pūrayiṣyati vāñchitam || 16 || gate munau tataḥ kuntī niścayārthaṃ gṛhe sthitā | cintayāmāsa manasā kaṃ suraṃ samacintaye || 17 || uditaśca tadā bhānustayā dṛṣṭo divākaraḥ | mantroccāraṃ tayā kṛtvā cāhūtastigmagustadā || 18 || maṇḍalānmānuṣaṃ rūpaṃ kṛtvā sarvātipeśalam | avātarattadākāśātsamīpe tatra mandire || 19 || dṛṣṭvā devaṃ samāyāntaṃ kuntī bhānuṃ suvismitā | vepamānā rajodoṣaṃ prāptā sadyastu bhāminī || 20 || kṛtāñjaliḥ sthitā sūryaṃ babhāṣe cārulocanā | suprītā darśanenādya gaccha tvaṃ nijamaṇḍalam || 21 || sūrya uvāca āhūto'smi kathaṃ kunti tvayā mantrabalena vai | na māṃ bhajasi kasmāttvaṃ samāhūya purogatam || 22 || kāmārto'smyasitāpāṅgi bhaja māṃ bhāvasaṃyutam | mantreṇādhīnatāṃ prāpptaṃ krīḍituṃ naya māmiti || 23 || kuntyuvāca || kanyāsmyahaṃ tu dharmajña sarvasākṣinnamāmyaham | tavāpyahaṃ na durvācyā kulakanyāsmi suvrata || 24 || sūrya uvāca lajjā me mahatī cādya yadi gacchāmyahaṃ vṛthā | vācyatāṃ sarvadevānāṃ yāsyāmyatra na saṃśayaḥ || 25 || śapsyāmi taṃ dvijaṃ cādya yena mantraḥ samarpitaḥ | tvāṃ cāpi subhṛśaṃ kunti nocenmāṃ tvaṃ bhajiṣyasi || 26 || kanyādharmaḥ sthiraste syānna jñāsyanti janāḥ kila | matsamastu tathā putro bhavitā te varānane || 27 || ityuktvā taraṇiḥ kuntīṃ tanmanaskāṃ sulajjitām | bhuktvā jagāma deveśo varaṃ dattvātivāñchitam || 28 || garbhaṃ dadhāra suśroṇī sugupte mandire sthitā | dhātrī veda priyā caikā na mātā na janastathā || 29 || guptaḥ sadmani putrastu jātaścātimanoharaḥ | kavacenātiramyeṇa kuṇḍalābhyāṃ samanvitaḥ || 30 || dvitīya iva sūryastu kumāra iva cāparaḥ | kare kṛtvātha dhātreyī tāmuvāca sulajjitām || 31 || kāṃ cintāṃ karabhoru tvamādhatse'dya sthitāsmyaham | mañjūṣāyāṃ sutaṃ kuntī muñcantī vākyamabravīt || 32 || kiṃ karomi sutārtāhaṃ tyaje tvāṃ prāṇavallabham | mandabhāgyā tyajāmi tvāṃ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutam || 33 || pātutvāṃ saguṇāguṇā bhagavatī sarveśvarī cāmbikā stanyaṃ saiva dadātu viśvajananī kātyāyanī kāmadā | drakṣye'haṃmukhapaṅkajaṃ sulalitaṃ prāṇapriyārhaṃ kadā tyaktvā tvāṃ vijane vane ravisutaṃ duṣṭā yathā svairiṇī || 34 || pūrvasminnapi janmani trijagatāṃ mātā na cārādhitā na dhyātaṃ padapaṅkajaṃ sukhakaraṃ devyāḥ śivāyāściram | tenāhaṃ suta durbhagāsmi satataṃ tyaktvā punastvāṃ vane tapsyāmi priya pātakaṃ smṛtavatī buddhyā kṛtaṃ yatsvayam || 35 || sūta uvāva ityuktyā taṃ sutaṃ kuntī mañjūṣāyāṃ dhṛtaṃ kila | dhātrīhaste dadau bhītā janadarśanatastathā || 36 || snātvā trastā tadā kuntī pitṛveśmanyuvāsa sā | mañjūṣā vahamānā ca prāptā hyadhirathena vai || 37 || rādhā sūtasya bhāryā vai tayāsau prārthitaḥ sutaḥ | karṇo'bhūdbalavānvīraḥ pālitaḥ sūtasadmani || 38 || kuntī vivāhitā kanyā pāṇḍunā sā svayamvare | mādrī caivāparā bhāryā madrarājasutā śubhā || 39 || mṛgayāṃ ramamāṇastu vane pāṇḍurmahābalaḥ | jaghāna mṛgabuddhyā tu ramamāṇaṃ muniṃ vane || 40 || śaptastena tadā pāṇḍurmuninā kupitena ca | strīsaṅgaṃ yadi kartāsi tadā te maraṇaṃ dhuvam || 41 || iti śaptastu muninā pāṇḍuḥ śokasamanvitaḥ | tyaktvā rājyaṃ vane vāsaṃ cakāra bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ || 42 || kuntī mādrī ca bhārye dve jagmatuḥ saha saṅgate | sevanārthaṃ satīdharmaṃ saṃśrite munisattamāḥ || 43 || gaṅgātīre sthitaḥ pāṇḍurmunīnāmāśrameṣu ca | śṛṇvāno dharmaśāstrāṇi cakāra duścaraṃ tapaḥ || 44 || kathāyāṃ vartamānāyāṃ kadāciddharmasaṃśritam | aśṛṇodvacanaṃ rājā supṛṣṭaṃ munibhāṣitam || 45 || aputrasya gatirnāsti svarge gantuṃ parantapa | yena kenāpyupāyena putrasya jananaṃ caret || 46 || aṃśajaḥ putrikāputraḥ kṣetrajo golakastathā | kuṇḍaḥ sahoḍhaḥ kānīnaḥ krītaḥ prāptastathā vane || 47 || dattaḥ kenāpi cāśaktau dhanagrāhisutāḥ smṛtāḥ | uttarottarataḥ putrā nikṛṣṭā iti niścayaḥ || 48 || ityākarṇya tadā prāha kuntīṃ kamalalocanām | sutamutpādayāśu tvaṃ muniṃ gatvā tapo'nvitam || 49 || mamājñayā na doṣaste purā rājñā mahātmanā | vasiṣṭhājjanitaḥ putraḥ saudāseneti me śrutam || 50 || taṃ kuntī vacanaṃ prāha mama mantro'sti kāmadaḥ | datto durvāsasā pūrvaṃ siddhidaḥ sarvathā prabho || 51 || nimantraye'haṃ yaṃ devaṃ mantreṇānena pārthiva | āgacchetsarvathāsau vai mama pārśvaṃ nimantritaḥ || 52 || bharturvākyena sā tatra smṛtvā dharmaṃ surottamam | saṅgamya suṣuve putraṃ prathamaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhiram || 53 || vāyorvṛkodaraṃ putraṃ jiṣṇuṃ caiva śatakratoḥ | varṣe varṣe trayaḥ putrāḥ kuntyā jātā mahābalāḥ || 54 || mādrī prāha patiṃ pāṇḍuṃ putraṃ me kuru sattama | kiṃ karomi mahārāja duḥkhaṃ nāśaya me prabho || 55 || prārthitā patinā kuntī dadau mantraṃ dayānvitā | ekaputraprabandhena mādrī patimate sthitā || 56 || smṛtvā tadāśvinau devau madrarājasutā sutau | nakulaḥ sahadevaśca suṣuve varavarṇinī || 57 || evaṃ te pāṇḍavāḥ pañca kṣetrotpantāḥ surātmajāḥ | varṣavarṣāntare jātā vane tasmindvijottamāḥ || 58 || ekasminsamaye pāṇḍurmādrīṃ dṛṣṭvātha nirjane | āśrame cātikāmārto jagrāhāgatavaiśasaḥ || 59 || mā mā mā meti bahudhā niṣiddho'pitayā bhṛśam | āliliṅga priyāṃ daivātpapāta dharaṇītale || 60 || yathā vṛkṣagatā vallī chinne patati vai drume | tathā sā patitā bālā kurvantī rodanaṃ bahu || 61 || pratyāgatā tadā kuntī rudatī bālakāstathā | munayaśca mahābhāgāḥ śrutvā kolāhalaṃ tadā || 62 || mṛtaḥ pāṇḍustadā sarve munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | sahāgnibhirvidhiṃ kṛtvā gaṅgātīre tadādahan || 63 || cakre sahaiva gamanaṃ mādrī dattvā sutau śiśū | kuntyai dharmaṃ puraskṛtya satīnāṃ satyakāmataḥ || 64 || jaladānādikaṃ kṛtvā munayastatra vāsinaḥ | pañcaputrayutāṃ kuntīmanayanhastināpuram || 65 || tāṃ prāptāṃ ca samājñāya gāṅgeyo vidurastathā | nagarīṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya sarve tatra samāyayuḥ || 66 || papracchuśca janāḥ sarve kasya putrā varānane | pāṇḍoḥ śāpaṃ samājñāya kuntī duḥkhānvitā tadā || 67 || tānuvāca surāṇāṃ vai putrāḥ kurukulodbhavāḥ | viśvāsārthaṃ samāhūtāḥ kuntyā sarve surāstadā || 68 || āgatya khe tadā taistu kathitaṃ naḥ sutāḥ kila | bhīṣmeṇa satkṛtaṃ vākyaṃ devānāṃ satkṛtāḥ sutāḥ || 69 || gatā nāgapuraṃ sarve tānādāya sutānvadhūm | bhīṣmādayaḥ prītacittāḥ pālayāmāsurarthataḥ || 70 || evaṃ pārthāḥ samutpannā gāṅgeyenātha pālitāḥ || 71 ||
English translation
1-12. Suta said Thus S’antanu married Satyavati; two sons were born to her and they died in course of time. Out of Vyasa Deva's semen, Dhritarastra was born. Ambika Devi, the mother of Dhritarastra closed her eyes on seeing Veda Vyasa; hence Dhritarastra was born blind. Seeing Dhritarastra blind Satyavati asked Vyasa to go to Ambalika (Pandu's mother); the princess Ambalika, mother of Pandu turned pale at the sight of Vyasa; hence her son became of a pale colour out of Vyasa's wrath. Hence the name of the son was Pandu. Next the maid servant, expert in the science of amorous pleasures, satisfied Vyasa; hence her son Vidura was born of Dharma's part and became truthful and holy. Though Pandu was younger, the ministers installed him on the throne. Dhritarastra could not become king, as he was blind. By the permission of Bhisma the powerful Pandu obtained the sovereignty; and the intelligent Vidura became his minister. Dhritarastra had two wives Gandhari and Sauvali; this Sauvali was Vaishya; she was engaged in the household affairs. The king Pandu had two wives, too; the first was Kunti, the daughter of Surasena; and the other was Madri, the daughter of the Madra king. Gandhari gave birth to one hundred beautiful sons; Vais'ya Sauvali gave birth to one beautiful son named Yuyutsu. While Kunti was a virgin, she gave birth, through the medium of the Sun, the lovely Kama; next he became the wife of Pandu. Hearing this, the Risis said “O Muni Suta! What are you saying? First Kunti brought forth a child and afterwards she was married to Pandu; this is wonderful, indeed! How was Kama, born of Kunti, unmarried? and how came Kunti to be married afterwards? describe all these in detail.”
13-35. Suta then said “O Dvija! While Surasena's daughter Kunti was a virgin girl, the king Kuntibhoja asked for Kunti that she might become her girl and Surasena gave her to the king Kuntibhoja who
brought up this beautifully smiling girl. He put to her the service of Agni of Agnihotra. Once, on an occassion, Durvasa Muni, engaged in the vow, lasting for four months, came there; Kunti served him during that period; the Muni became greatly pleased and gave her a very auspicious, mantra, by virtue of which any Deva, when called upon by that mantra will come to Kunti and satisfy her desires. When the Muni went away, Kunti, remaining in her house, wanted to test the accuracy of the mantra and asked within herself “What Devata to call upon.” Seeing the God Surya had arisen in the sky, Kunti uttered the Mantra and invoked him. The Sun, then, assuming an excellent human form, came down from the Heavens and appeared before Kunti in the same room. Seeing the Deva Sun, Kunti became greatly surprised and began to shudder and instantly became endowed with the inherent natural quality of passion (had menstruation). The beautiful-eyed Kunti, with folded palm; spoke to Surya Deva standing before “I am highly pleased to-day seeing Thy form; now go back to Thy sphere.”
Surya Deva said “O Kunti! What for you called me, by virtue of the Mantra? Calling me, why do you not worship me, standing before you? O beautiful blue one! Seeing you, I have become passionate; so come to me. By means of the mantra, you have made me your subservient so take me for intercourse.” Hearing this, Kunti said “O Witness of all! O knower of Dharma! You know that I am a virgin girl. O Suvrata! I bow down to you; I am a family daughter; so do not speak ill to me.” Surya then said “If I go away in vain, I will be an object of great shame, and, no doubt, will be laughed amongst the gods; So, O Kunti! If you do not satisfy me, I will immediately curse you and the Brahmin who has given you this mantra. O Beautiful one! If you satisfy me, your virginity will remain; no body will come to know and there will be born a son to you, exactly like me.” Thus saying Surya Deva enjoyed the bashful Kunti, with her mind attracted towards him; He granted her the desired boons and went away. The beautiful Kunti became pregnant and began to remain in a house, under great secrecy. Only the dear nurse knew that; her mother or any other person was quite unaware of the fact. In time, a
very beautiful son like the second Sun and Kartikeya, decked with a lovely Kavacha coat of mail and two ear-rings, was born there. Then the nurse caught hold of the hand of the bashful Kunti and said “O Charming one! What care can you possibly have as long as I am living.” Kunti then, placed the son in a box and said “O son! What shall I do? Being afraid of shame, I am leaving you, though you are dear to me as my life itself! I am exceedingly fortunate that I am casting aside this all auspicious son. May the attributeless Bhagavati Ambika, the World Mother and the Lady of all, endowed with attributes, protect Thee! May Katyayani, the giver of all desires, feed you with Her milk! Alas! I am quitting you, born of Surya’s semen in this solitary forest like a vitiated wanton woman. I do not know, when shall I see your lotus like beautiful face, dearest to me like my self. Alas! I never worshipped in my former birth S’ivani, the mother of the three worlds; I never meditated Her lotus like feet, the Giver of all happiness; hence I am so very unfortunate. O Dear son! I must perform great tapasya to expiate for this terrible sin, that I knowingly commit in relinquishing you in the forest.”
36-48. Suta said:-- Thus saying to the son within the casket, Kunti gave over that to the hands of her nurse, terrified, lest some one might see her. Kunti then bathed and remained with a fearful heart in her father's house. A carpenter (charioteer?) named Adhiratha got accidentally that casket floating in the Ganges. The carpenter's wife Radha, prayed for the son and nourished him under her care. Thus nourished in the carpenter's house, the famous Kunti's son Kama became a very powerful warrior. The king Pandu then married Kunti in a Svayamvara, a marriage in which the girl chooses her husband from among a number of suitors, assembled together. And the all auspicious daughter of the king of Madra became also the second wife of Pandu. Once, on an occasion, the powerful Pandu, while hunting in the forest killed a Muni, in the form of a deer, engaged in the act of co-habitation, thinking it to be a deer. The dying Muni became inflated with wrath, cursed Pandu “If you co-habit.
certainly you will die.” Thus cursed by the Muni, Pandu became very sorrowful and abandoned his kingdom and began to live in the forest. O Munis! His two wives Kunti and Madri, followed their husband as chaste women do, to serve him in the forest. Dwelling in the hermitage of the Munis, Pandu listened to the Dharma S’astras and practised severe penance. Once while he was listening to the religious discourses of the Munis, he heard unmistakeably the Munis telling that the man who is sonless can never go to the Heavens; so he must get a son somehow or other. The Pundits declare that the sons born of the father's semen, the sons born of their daughters, the Ksettraja, the Goloka, the Kunda, the Sahoda, the Kanina, the Krita, one obtained in the forest, or one offered by another father, unable to nourish his son, all are entitled to inherit the wealth of the father; but the sons, enumerated successively are more and more inferior.
N.B.: Ksettraja - of a son, the off spring of the wife by a kinsman appointed to procreate issue to the husband.
Goloka - Bastard child of a widow.
Kunda - a child born in adultery.
Sahoda - the son of a woman pregnant at the time of marriage. Kanina - the son born of a young and unmarried woman.
Krita - purchased
49-52. Hearing this, Pandu spoke to the lotus-eyed Kunti to procreate sons for him soon by a great ascetic Muni “By my order, you will not incur any sin in doing this. I heard that in ancient times the high souled kin Saudasa got son from Vas'istha.” Kunti, then spoke to the king “O Lord! I know one Siddha mantra; it was given to me before by the Muni Durvasa. Whichever Devata I will invoke by
that Mantra, he will instantly come to my side, controlled by that Mantra.”
53-71. At the request of the husband, Kunti invoked Dharma, the best of the Devas; and after being impregnated by him, gave birth to Yudhisthira. Then she got through Pavana Deva, the son Vrikodara; and through Indra the Lord of the Devas, Arjuna. Thus, in every year, Kunti gave birth to one son and so in three years she gave birth to three very powerful and mighty sons. At this Madri spoke to her husband “O king, the best of the Kurus! What shall I do now? Kindly suggest to me the means of procreating sons; O Lord, remove my pain.” Pandu asked Kunti for this; Kunti, moved with pity, gave her the mantra, so that she might get one son. Then the beautiful Madri, invoked the twin AsVin under the advice of her husband and got a pair of twins Nakula and Sahadeva through them. O Munis! Thus five Pandavas were born successively in every following year to the wives of Pandu by the seed of the Devas. Once on a time Pandu, whose end was drawing nigh became very passionate at the sight of Madri in that solitary hermitage. He, though forbidden repeatedly by Madri, warmly embraced her, as if dictated by the great destroyer, and fell to the ground. As the creeper falls down when the tree is felled, so Madri dropped on the ground and began to cry violently. Having heard the wailings of Madri, Kunti and the five sons of Pandu came there weeping and crying; a tumult then ensued and the great Munis also appeared on the scene. Then those Munis, practising great vows, knew that Pandu was dead and performed duly, on the banks of the Ganges, the ceremony of burning the dead.
At that time Madri gave over to Kunti the charge of her two sons and followed the Sati practice along with her husband to go to Satyaloka.
The Munis, then, performed Tarpana ceremonies in honour of Pandu and Madri and took Kunti and the five sons to Hastinapur. Knowing that Kunti has come, Bhisma, Vidura and the relatives of Dhritarastra within the city, all came to Kunti. They all asked Kunti “O beautiful
one! Whose are these five sons?” Kunti, then, remembered the curse on Pandu and sorrowfully expressed “ These are the Deva's sons born in Kuru family.” In order to convince the people assembled there, Kunti invoked the Devas who came in the celestial space above and said “Yes, these are the sons born of our seeds.” Bhisma, then, paid respect to the words of the Devas and honoured duly the boys. Bhisma then took the five sons and Pandu's wife to Hastina and gladly nourished them. O Munis! The sons of Pritha were thus born and nourished by Bhisma.
Thus ends the sixth chapter of the second Adhyaya on the birth of the Pandavas in the Mahapuranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24720, revision 75573 (2016-08-03T10:51:23Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk02ch06.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.