धृतराष्ट्र उवाच भगवन्नेवमेवैतद् यथा वदसि नारद। इच्छामि चाहमप्येवं न त्वीशो भगवन्नहम्॥
Dhritarashtra said O you endued with divine prosperity, it is as you say O Narada, and I too wish the same thing, but you endued with heavenly prosperity, I am not the master.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा ततः कृष्णमभ्यभाषत कौरवः। स्वयं लोक्यं च मामात्य धर्म्यं न्याय्यं च केशव॥
Vaishampayana said Saying this the descendant of Kurus said to Krishna "O Keshava, you have said to me what leads to (the attainment of) heaven, to the benefit of the world and which is virtuous and just.
न त्वहं स्ववशस्तात क्रियमाणं न मे प्रियम्। अङ्ग दुर्योधनं कृष्ण मन्दं शास्त्रातिगं मम॥ अनुनेतुं महाबाहो यतस्व पुरुषोत्तम। न शृणोति महाबाहो वचनं साधुभाषितम्॥
But I am not my own master, O you of long arms; O best of men, try persuade, O Krishna, my wicked son Duryodhana, who disregards injunctions of the scriptures who never dose what is pleasing to me and never listens to good words.
गान्धार्याश्च हृषीकेश विदुरस्य च धीमतः। अन्येषां चैव सुहृदां भीष्मादीनां हितैषिणाम्॥
The son of Gandhari ( does not listen to the advice of) the wise Vidura, O Hrishikesha, as also to that of other friends and of such well wishers as Bhishma and others.
स त्वं पापमति क्रूरं पापचित्तमचेतनम्। अनुशाधि दुरात्मानं स्वयं दुर्योधनं नृपम्॥
Therefore do yourself instruct the ruler of men, Duryodhana, of wicked soul crooked of evil intellect, of sinful heart and senseless.
सुहृत्कार्यं तु सुमहत् कृतं ते स्याज्जनार्दन। ततोऽभ्यावृत्य वार्ष्णेयो दुर्योधनममर्षणम्॥
Then will a very great duty of a friend have been done by you, O Janardana.” Then did the son of Vrishni addressing the wrathful Duryodhana,
अब्रवीन्मधुरां वाचं सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्। दुर्योधन निबोधेदं मद्वाक्यं कुरुसत्तम॥
Say these sweet words, conversant as he was with all virtues and worldly profit: “O Duryodhana, listen to this speech of mine, O you best among the Kurus,
शर्मार्थं ते विशेषण सानुबन्धस्य भारत। महाप्राज्ञकुले जातः साध्वेतत् कर्तुमर्हसि॥
Especially for the benefit of yourself and of your followers, O Bharata. Born as you are in a family of very wise men. it is indeed proper that you should do this honorable act.
श्रुतवृत्तोपसम्पन्नः सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः। दौष्कुलेया दुरात्मानो नृशंसा निरपत्रपाः॥
You are endue with learning and with good habits of life. Whereas these that are born in low families are wicked souled, Inhuman and shameless.
त एतदीदृशं कुर्युर्यथा त्वं तात मन्यसे। धर्मार्थयुक्ता लोकेऽस्मिन् प्रवृत्तिर्लक्ष्यते सताम्॥
These latter alone act in the way that you are contemplating; in this world the inclination of honest men seems to lie towards and virtue and worldly profit.
असतां विपरीता तु लक्ष्यते भरतर्षभ। विपरीता त्वियं वृत्तिरसकृल्लक्ष्यते त्वयि॥
And the inclination of bad men seems to lie towards the opposite direction, o best among the Bharatas, this contemplated action of yours seems to lie in this opposite direction.
अधर्मश्चानुबन्धोऽत्र घोरः प्राणहरो महान्। अनिष्टश्चानिमित्तश्च न च शक्यश्च भारत।॥
In this case, the obstinacy shown by you is vicious, frightful and greatly destructive of life; it will lead to your harm, it is without reason, and is unworthy of being pursued by you long, OBharata.
तमनर्थं परिहरन्नात्मश्रेयः करिष्यसि। भ्रातॄणामथ भृत्यानां मित्राणां च परंतप॥
Abandoning what is injurious to yourself you should do what is for your benefit and that of your brothers, followers and friends, O you chastiser of your foes.
अधादयशस्याच्च कर्मणस्त्वं प्रमोक्ष्यसे। प्राज्ञैः शूरैर्महोत्साहैरात्मवद्भिर्बहुश्रुतैः॥
You will escape the blame of an act which is opposed to virtue and which will lead to notoriety. With the sons of Pandu who are wise, heroic, of great energy, of noble souls and very much conversant with our holy books,
संधत्स्व पुरुषव्याघ्र पाण्डवैर्भरतर्षभ। तद्धितं च प्रियं चैव धृतराष्ट्रस्य
O foremost among men, make peace-it is beneficial to the wise Dhritarashtra and also pleasing to him,
पितामहस्य द्रोणस्य विदुरस्य महामतेः। कृपस्य सोमदत्तस्य बाह्रीकस्य च धीमतः॥
As also to your grandfather and Drona and Vidura of great intelligence and to Kripa and Somadatta and to the wise Balhika,
अश्वत्थाम्नो विकर्णस्य संजस्य विविंशतेः। ज्ञातीनां चैव भूयिष्ठं मित्राणां च परंतप॥
And to Ashvathama, and Vikarna, and Sanjaya and Vivingshati and very much so to your cousins and also to your friends, O chastiser of foes.
शमे शर्म भवेत् तात सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा। ह्रीमानसि कुले जातः श्रुतवाननृशंसवान्। धीमतः॥ तिष्ठ तात पितुः शास्त्रे मातुश्च भरतर्षभ॥
In peace, there will be your benefit, my dear friend, as also that of the entire world; be endued with modesty, for you are born in a noble family, and be learned and human; therefore, my dear friend, do you follow the commands of your father and mother. O best among the Bharatas.
एतच्छ्रेयो हि मन्यन्ते पिता यच्छास्ति भारत। उत्तमापद्गतः सर्वः पितुः स्मरति शासनम्॥
People consider that to be conducive to his good which a father commands, O Bharata, and a good man, when meeting with a danger, remembers all the commands of his father.
रोचते ते पितुस्तात पाण्डवैः सह संगमः। सामात्यस्य कुरुश्रेष्ठ तत् तुभ्यं तात रोचताम्॥
Peace, my dear friend, with the sons of Pandu is pleasing to your father and you foremost among the Kurus, may it prove pleasing to yourself along with your advisers.
श्रुत्वा यः सुहृदां शास्त्रं मर्यो न प्रतिपद्यते। विपाकान्ते दहत्येनं किम्पाकमिव भक्षितम्॥
That man, who hearing the advice of his friends, does not act according to it, in the end is consumed like one who has eaten the Kimpaka fruit.
यस्तु निःश्रेयसं वाक्यं मोहान्न प्रतिपद्यते। स दीर्घसूत्रो हीनार्थः पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते॥
He, who out of folly, does not act according to the advice, than which nothing is more beneficial, is visited by the effects of procrastination, does not gain his object and is afterwards struck with remorse.
यस्तु निःश्रेयसं श्रुत्वा प्राक् तदेवाभिपद्यते। आत्मनो मतमुत्सृज्य स लोके सुखमेधते॥
He, who having heard that, than which nothing is more beneficial, acts up to it abandoning his own opinions, gets happiness in this world.
योऽर्थकामस्य वचनं प्रातिकूल्यान मृष्यते। शृणोति प्रतिकूलानि द्विषतां वशमेति सः॥
He, who does not act to the advice of one who desires his good thinking it to be against his interests and listens to what is really so (against his interests), comes under the power of his enemies.
सतां मतमतिक्रम्य योऽसतां वर्तते मते। शोचन्ते व्यसने तस्य सुहृदो न चिरादिव॥
The friends of him, who disregarding the opinions of the honest, follows that of dishonest men, soon grave at his distress,
मुख्यानमात्यानुत्सृज्य यो निहीनान् निषेवते। स घोरामापदं प्राप्य नोत्तारमधिगच्छति॥
He, who abandoning his principal advisers according to the injunctions of inferior ones, meets with grave dangers and does not come out of them safe.
योऽसत्सेवीवृथाचारो न श्रोता सुहृदां सताम्। परान् वृणीते स्वान् द्वेष्टि तं गौस्त्यजति भारत॥
He, who acts according to the advice of dishonest men, who behaves falsely and does not listen to the advice of good friends and prefers others to those who are his own, is cast off by the earth, O Bharata.
स त्वं विरुध्य तैवीरैरन्येभ्यस्त्राणमिच्छसि। अशिष्टेभ्योऽसमर्थेभ्यो मूढेभ्यो भरतर्षभ।॥
Yourself, being opposed to those heroes, desire to be served by those who are strangers to you, and who are dishonest, incompetent and fools, O best among the Bharatas.
को हि शक्रसमान् ज्ञातीनतिक्रम्य महारथान्। अन्येभ्यस्त्राणमाशंसेत् त्वदन्यो भुवि मानवः॥
What man, besides yourself in this world, abandoning kinsmen who are mighty carwarriors and each equal to Shakra himself, expects safely with the help of others.
जन्मप्रभृति कौन्तेया नित्यं विनिकृतास्त्वया। न च ते जातु कुप्यन्ति धर्मात्मानो हि पाण्डवा॥
Ever since their birth, have the sons of Kunti been persecuted by you but those virtuous-souled sons of Pandu are not vindictive at your conduct.
मिथ्योपचरितास्तात जन्मप्रभृति बान्धवाः। त्वयि सम्यङ्महाबाहो प्रतिपन्ना यशस्विनः॥
O friend, ever since birth the sons of Pandu have been treated with deception but those renowned men, O you of long arms, have treated you generously.
त्वयापि प्रतिपत्तव्यं तथैव भरतर्षभ। स्वेषु बन्धुषु मुख्येषु मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः॥
By you too should they be treated in the same way, O you best among the race of Bharata; do not show anger towards your own kinsmen.
त्रिवर्गयुक्तः प्राज्ञानामारम्भो भतर्षभ। धर्मार्थावनुरुध्यन्ते त्रिवर्गासम्भवे नराः॥
The energy of wise men follows all the three objects (virtue, profit and desire) O best among the race of Bharata and in the event of it being impossible to follow all the three objects people choose virtue and profit.
पृथक् च विनिविष्टानां धर्मं धीरोऽनुरुध्यते। मध्यमोऽर्थं कलिं बालः काममेवानुरुध्यते॥
If these three are to be pursued separately a wise inan chooses virtue; an indifferent man (i.e. neither wise nor a fool) chooses worldly good, while a boy chooses desire.
इन्द्रियैः प्राकृतो लोभाद् धर्मं विप्रजहाति यः। कामार्थावनुपायेन लिप्समानो विनश्यति॥
The fool, who out of avarice and desire for sexual pleasure, abandons virtue and desires to gain his desire and profit by improper means, is ruined.
कामार्थों लिप्समानस्तु धर्ममेवादितश्चरेत्। न हि धर्मादपैत्यर्थः कामो वाऽपि कदाचन॥
The man, who is desirous of gaining the object of desire or worldly profit, must first of all practice virtue; desire or profit is seldom detached from virtue.
उपायं धर्ममेवाहुस्त्रिवर्गस्य विशाम्पते। लिप्समानो हि तेनाशु कक्षेऽग्निरिव वर्धते॥
It is said that virtue is the means of gaining the three objects, O lord of the universe; and he, who is desirous of getting them by this means increases in prosperity as fire in a heap of dry grass.
स त्वं तातानुपायेन लिप्ससे भरतर्षभ। आधिराज्यं महद् दापितं प्रथितं सर्वराजसु॥
You however, my dear friend, desire to get by improper means a greatly extensive kingdom well known among all the kings.
आत्मानं तक्षति ह्येष वनं परशुना यथा। यः सम्यग्वर्तमानेषु मिथ्या राजन् प्रवर्तते॥
He, who behaves deceitfully towards those following the right path, O king, cuts himself down as the forest by an axe; one does not cut off the intellect of another whose defeat he does not desire.
न तस्य हि मतिं छिन्द्याद् यस्य नेच्छेत् पराभवम्। अविच्छिन्नमतेरस्य कल्याणे धीयते मतिः। आत्मवान् नावमन्येत त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत॥
For one, whose intellect has been clouded, cannot direct his attention to what is conducive to his good. One who keeps his soul under proper control does not think lightly of anything in the three worlds, O Bharata,
अप्यन्यं प्राकृतं किंचित् किमु तान् पाण्डवर्षभान्। अमर्षवशमापन्नो न किंचिद् बुध्यते जनः॥
Not even an ordinary creature-not to speak to those foremost among men, those sons of Pandu; a man, who is under the influence of wrath, can not discern anything.
छिद्यते ह्याततं सर्वं प्रमाणं पश्य भारत। श्रेयस्ते दुर्जनात् तात पाण्डवैः सह संगतम्॥
All the rank growth must be cut off; O Bharata, look at the proofs; peace with the sons of Pandu is more to your interest than union with wicked people.
तैर्हि सम्प्रीयमाणस्त्वं सर्वान् कामानवाप्स्यसि। पाण्डवैनिर्मितां भूमि भुञ्जानो राजसत्तम॥
Living in peace with them you will succeed in all your objects enjoying the territories built up by the sons of Pandu, O best among kings,
पाण्डवान् पृष्ठतः कृत्वा त्राणमाशंससेऽन्यतः। दुःशासने दुर्विषहे कर्णे चापि ससौबले॥
Keeping the sons of Pandu behind you, you repose your hopes for safety on other sources, namely on Dushasana, Durvisha, Karna and the son of Subala.
एतेष्वैश्वर्यमाधाय भूतिमिच्छसि भारत। न चैते तव पर्याप्ता ज्ञाने धर्मार्थयोस्तथा॥
Reposing your kingly prosperity on them you wish for prosperity, O Bharata; but these friends of yours have not sufficient knowledge of virtue of worldly profit.
विक्रमे चाप्यपर्याप्ताः पाण्डवान् प्रति भारत। न हीमे सर्ववराजानः पर्याप्ताः सहितास्त्वया॥
They are not competent too in prowess or in strength, to be a match against the sons of Pandu; nor are all these kings united with you competent,
क्रुद्धस्य भीमसेनस्य प्रेक्षितुं मुखमाहवे। इदं संनिहितं तात समग्रं पार्थिवं बलम्॥
To look at the face of Bhimasena when exercised by anger in battle field. This entire assembled army of the earth is at your elbow.
अयं भीष्मस्तथा द्रोणः कर्णश्चायं तथा कृपः। भूरिश्रवाः सौमदत्तिरश्वत्थामा जयद्रथः॥
This Bhishma, Drona, as also this Karna, Kripa as also Bhurishravas, Ashvathama, the son of Somadatta and Janardana,
अशक्ताः सर्वं एवैते प्रतियोद्धं धनंजयम्। अजेयो ह्यर्जुनः संख्ये सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः। मानुषैरिप गन्धर्वैर्मा युद्धे चेत आधिथाः॥
All these are incapable of fighting against Dhananjaya. This Arjuna is invincible in battle by all the Gods and Asuras and by all human beings and Gandharvas. Do not fix your mind on battle.
दृश्यतां वा पुमान् कश्चितं समग्रे पार्थिवे बले। योऽर्जुनं समरे प्राप्य स्वस्तिमानाव्रजेद् गृहान्॥
Do you see any man in this entire army who, having met Arjuna face to face in battle, has returned home safe?
किं ते जनक्षयेणेह कृतेन भरतर्षभ। यस्मिञ्जिते जितं तत् स्यात् पुमानेकः स दृश्यताम्॥५२
Of what advantage will a massacre of men be to you, O best among the Bharatas. Show me the man who will defeat the one whose defeat will mean victory to you,
यः स देवान् सगन्धर्वान् सयक्षासुरपन्नगान्। अजयत् खाण्डवप्रस्थे कस्तं युध्येत मानवः॥
Him who vanquished the gods along with the Gandharvas and Yakshas, and Asuras and Serpents in Khandava Prastha-who will fight against that son of Pandavas?
तथा विराटनगरे श्रूयते महदद्भुतम्। एकस्य च बहूनां च पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्॥
In the same way in the city of Virata is heard a very strange tale in the fight of one against many; that is a sufficient proof.
युद्धे येन महादेवः साक्षात् संतोषितः शिवः। तमजेयमनाधृष्यं विजेतुं जिष्णुमच्युतम्। आशंससीह समरे वीरमर्जुनमूर्जितम्॥
Do you wish to defeat that unconquerable, irrepressible and undetoriating Jishnu, the heroic Arjuna when enraged in battle, by whom in an encounter even Mahadeva was gratified?
मद् द्वितीयं पुनः पार्थं कः प्रार्थयितुमर्हति। युद्धे प्रतीपमायान्तमपि साक्षात् पुरंदरः॥
Who can wish to defeat him having me as his help when he goes to the battle field like Indra (himself)?
बाहुभ्यामुद्वहेद् भूमि दहेत् क्रुद्ध इमाः प्रजाः। पातयेत् त्रिदिवाद् देवान् योऽर्जुनं समरे जयेत्॥
He, who would defeat Arjuna in battle, could bear the earth with his arms and being excited with wrath could burn up all earthy creatures, and could hurl down the gods from heaven.
पश्य पुत्रांस्तथा भ्रातृज्ञातीन् सम्बन्धिनस्तथा। त्वत्कृते न विनश्येयुरिमे भरतसत्तमाः॥
Look at your sons and at your brothers and at your kinsmen and other relations; let them not be destroyed by an act done by you, O you best among the race of Bharata.
अस्तु शेषं कौरवाणां मा पराभूदिदं कुलम्। कुलन इति नोच्येथा नष्टकीर्तिनराधिप॥
Let not this race of Kurus be exterminated ard let not yourself be spoken of as the destroyer of the race and be of great notoriety, O lord of men.
त्वामेव स्थापयिष्यन्ति यौवराज्ये महारथाः। महाराज्येऽपि पितरं धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्॥
Those mighty car warriors will establish yourself as the viceroy and your father Dhritarashtra, the lord of men, as the emperor.
मा तात श्रियमायान्तीमवमंस्थाः समुद्यताम्। अर्धं प्रदाय पार्थेभ्यो महतीं श्रियमाप्नुहि॥
Do you not, my dear friend, disregard this prosperity which has appeared in the horizon and is about to come to you; having given half to the sons of Pritha attain to great prosperity.
पाण्डवैः संशमं कृत्वा कृत्वा च सुहृदां वचः। सम्प्रीयमाणोमित्रैश्च चिरं भद्राण्यवाप्सस्यसि॥
Having effected peace with the sons of Pandu and listening to the advice to your friends and living in peace with your friends will you ever attain to blessing.