Brihadashva said: O great prince, O son of Pandu, you say that on this earth there is no such a person more wretched than yourself. O sinless monarch, I will narrate to you if you would listen to me, the history of a king who was (really) more miserable than yourself.
बृहदश्व उवाच यद् ब्रवीषि महाराज न मत्तो विद्यते क्वचित्। अल्पभाग्यतरः कश्चित् पुमानस्तीति पाण्डव॥ अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि यदि शुश्रूषसेऽनघ। यस्त्वत्तो दुःखितारो राजाऽऽसीत् पृथिवीपते॥