Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.6

12.6.1

एतावदुक्त्वा देवर्षिर्विरराम स नारदः ।
युधिष्ठिरस्तु राजर्षिर्दध्यौ शोकपरिप्लुतः ॥ १२.६.१ ॥

Having said this much, the divine sage Nārada fell silent. But the royal sage Yudhiṣṭhira, overwhelmed with grief, sat lost in thought.

तं दीनमनसं वीरमधोवदनमातुरम् ।
निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागं पर्यश्रुनयनं तथा ॥ १२.६.२ ॥

That hero, with a dejected mind, face bowed down and distressed, sighing like an elephant, his eyes full of tears.

कुन्ती शोकपरीताङ्गी दुःखोपहतचेतना ।
अब्रवीन्मधुराभाषा काले वचनमर्थवत् ॥ १२.६.३ ॥

Kuntī, her body enveloped in grief and her mind struck by sorrow, spoke sweet words at the proper time, full of meaning.

युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो नैनं शोचितुमर्हसि ।
जहि शोकं महाप्राज्ञ श्रृणु चेदं वचो मम ॥ १२.६.४ ॥

O mighty-armed Yudhiṣṭhira, you should not grieve for him. O greatly wise one, abandon grief and listen to these words of mine.

याचितः स मया पूर्वं भ्राता ज्ञापयितुं तव ।
भास्करेण च देवेन पित्रा धर्मभृतां वरः ॥ १२.६.५ ॥

Earlier I asked that brother to make this known to you; and your father, the god Bhāskara (the Sun), best of those who uphold dharma, did so as well.

यद्वाच्यं हितकामेन सुहृदां भूतिमिच्छता ।
तथा दिवाकरेणोक्तः स्वप्नान्ते मम चाग्रतः ॥ १२.६.६ ॥

What one who wishes well and desires the prosperity of friends ought to say, the sun (Divākara) said just so before me at the end of a dream.

न चैनमशकद्भानुरहं वा स्नेहकारणैः ।
पुरा प्रत्यनुनेतुं वा नेतुं वाऽप्येकतां त्वया ॥ १२.६.७ ॥

Neither the Sun nor I, by reasons of affection, could before reconcile him or bring him into unity with you.

ततः कालपरीतः स वैरस्योद्धरणे रतः ।
प्रतीपकारी युष्माकमिति चोपेक्षितो मया ॥ १२.६.८ ॥

Then, seized by time and bent on removing enmity, he acted as your adversary; and so he was disregarded by me.

इत्युक्तो धर्मराजस्तु मात्रा बाष्पाकुलेक्षणः ।
उवाच वाक्यं धर्मात्मा शोकव्याकुललोचनः ॥ १२.६.९ ॥

Thus addressed by his mother, Dharmarāja, the righteous-souled one, his eyes clouded with tears and troubled with sorrow, spoke these words.

भवत्या गूढमन्त्रत्वाद्वञ्चिताः स्म तदा भृशम् ॥ १२.६.१० ॥

Because of your secret counsel, we were then greatly deceived.

शशाप च महातेजाः सर्वलोकेषु योषितः ।
न गुह्यं धारयिष्यन्तीत्येवं दुःखसमन्वितः ॥ १२.६.११ ॥

And the greatly brilliant one, afflicted with sorrow, cursed the women of all worlds, saying they would not keep a secret.

स राजा पुत्रपौत्राणां संबन्धिसुहृदां तदा ।
स्मरन्नुद्विग्नहृदयो बभूवोद्विग्नचेतनः ॥ १२.६.१२ ॥

That king, remembering his sons, grandsons, kinsmen and friends, became anxious at heart and agitated in mind.

ततः शोकपरीतात्मा सधूम इव पावकः ।
निर्वेदमगमद्धीमान्राज्ये संतापपीडितः ॥ १२.६.१३ ॥

Then the wise king, his self overcome by grief, like a fire veiled in smoke, fell into dispassion, tormented by distress in his kingdom.