श्रीभगवानुवाच भावं जिज्ञासमानोऽहं प्रणयादिदमब्रुवम्। न चौक्षेपान्न पाण्डित्यान क्रोधान्न विवक्षया॥
The blessed God said Desiring to know your intentions, I said this of affection and out of a desire to find fault with you, nor out of a desire to show my learning, not from anger, nor from a desire of saying something.
वेदाहं तव माहात्म्यमुत ते वेद यद् बलम्। उत ते वेद कर्माणि न त्वां परिभवाम्यहम्॥
I know the greatness of your soul; and I know what strength you possess; and I know also your deeds; and I do not find fault with you.
यथा चात्मनि कल्याणं सम्भावयसि पाण्डव। सहस्रगुणमप्येतत् त्वयि सम्भावयाम्यहम्॥
What good you yourself consider possible to do to the Pandavas, I consider it possible for you to do a thousand times of that.
यादृशे च कुले जन्म सर्वराजाभिपूजिते। बन्धुमिश्च सुहृद्धिश्च भीम त्वमसि तादृशः॥
You along with your friend and wellwishers, are just what you ought to be, being born in such a family worshipped by all the kings.
जिज्ञासन्तो हि धर्मस्य संदिग्धस्य वृकोदर। पर्यायं नाध्यवस्यन्ति देवमानुषयोर्जनाः॥
O Vrikodara, those men, who enquire after the certainty of the consequence of virtue and vice in the next world in a spirit of doubt any matter regarding god or man, can never arrive at the right conclusion.
स एव हेतुर्भुत्वा हि पुरुषस्यार्थसिद्धिषु। विनाशेऽपि स एवास्य संदिग्धं कर्म पौरुषम्॥
The same thing which is the cause of the attainment of the object of man is (sometimes) also the cause of his ruin. The effect of human acts therefore is doubtful.
अन्यथा परिदृष्टानि कविभिर्दोषदर्शिभिः। अन्यथा परिवर्तन्ते वेगा इव नभस्वतः॥
The act recommended to be followed by wise men competent to foresee the evil effects of actions have consequences other than those foreseen, like the winds from heaven (the direction taken by which no one can predict).
सुमन्त्रितं सुनीतं च न्यायतश्चोपपादितम्। कृतं मानुष्यकं कर्भ दैवेनापि विस्थ्यते॥
The acts performed by a man well advised, well controlled and done in a way not injurious to any body has contrary effect by the dispensations of Providence.
दैवमप्यकृतं कर्म पौरुषेण विहन्यते। शीतमुष्णं तथा वर्षं क्षुत्पिपासे च भारत॥
Then, again, the dispensation of the gods, that are not the results of any particular actions, are neutralized by the actions of men; as for instance cold, heat and rain and hunger and thirst, O Bharata.
यदन्यद् दिष्टभावस्य पुरुषस्य स्वयं कृतम्। तस्मादनुपरोधश्च विद्यते तत्र लक्षणम्॥
Over and above the actions that a man is destined to perform, he can do away with others as well at his will; which the Shastras testify.
लोकस्य नान्यतो वृत्तिः पाण्डवान्यत्र कर्मणः। एवंबुद्धिः प्रवर्तेत फलं स्यादुभयान्वये॥
Since, O son of Pandu, there is no other way for than action. A man should engage in acts with this knowledge; and the result will be brought about by both preordainment and action.
य एवं कृतबुद्धिः स कर्मस्वेव प्रवर्तते। नासिद्धो व्यथते तस्य न सिद्धौ हर्षमश्नुते॥
He who engages in action with this knowledge is not annoyed at failure; nor is he elated with success.
तत्रेयमनुमात्रा मे भीमसेन विवक्षिता। नैकान्तसिद्धिर्वक्तव्या शत्रुभिः सह संयुगे॥
In this sense, O Bhimasena, did I speak; and I did not mean that in a battle with the enemy; success would be absolutely theirs.
नातिप्रहीणरश्मिः स्यात् तथा भावविपर्यये। विषादमछेद् ग्लानि वाप्येतमर्थं ब्रवीमि ते॥
I am speaking all this to you; as when a man's intellect is confused, he should not be wholly devoid of cheerfulness; nor yield wholly to sadness or dullness.
श्वोभूते धृतराष्ट्रस्य समीपं प्राप्य पाण्डव। यतिष्ये प्रशमं कर्तुं युष्मदर्थमहापयन्॥
At the dawn of day, going near Dhritarashtra, O son of Pandu, shall I try to effect peace without a sacrifice of your interests.
शमं चेत् ते करिष्यन्ति ततोऽनन्तं यशोमम। भवतां च कृतः कामस्तेषां च श्रेय उत्तमम्॥
If they consent to peace, then unending fame will be mine; while your desires will be fulfilled and advantage will accrue to them.
ते चेदभिनिवेक्ष्यन्ते नाभ्युपैष्यन्ति मे वचः। कुरवो युद्धमेवात्र घोरं कर्म भविष्यति॥
If however they stick to their resolve and not listen to my advice, in that case there will be a terrible war among the sons of Kuru.
अस्मिन् युद्धे भीमसेन त्वयि भारः समाहितः। धूरर्जुनेन धार्या स्याद् वोढव्य इतरो जनः॥
In this battle, O 0 Bhimasena, the responsibility of guiding the car of war rests on you; while Arjuna will draw the car, on which will be seated other persons.
अहं हि यन्ता बीभत्सोर्भविता संयुगे सति। धनंजयस्यैष कामो न हि युद्धं न कामये॥
The war taking place, I shall drive Vibhatsu's car; for such is the desire of Dhananjaya and not because I myself am desirous of fight.
तस्मादाशङ्कमानोऽहं वृकोदर मतिं तवा गदतः क्लीबया वाचा तेजस्ते समदीदिपम्॥
Therefore did I, fearful of the direction your inclination might follow from your words which were like those of an eunuch, rekindle your energy, O Vrikodara.