भीष्म उवाच साधु पश्यति वै द्रौणिः कृपः साध्वनुपश्यति। कर्णस्तु क्षत्रधर्मेण केवलं योद्भुमिच्छति॥
Bhishma said Drona's son observes well. Kripa observes well. Only for the observance of Kshatriya duties Karna wishes to fight.
आचार्यो नाभिवक्तव्यं पुरुषेण विजानता। देशकालौ तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य योद्धव्यमिति मे मतिः॥
No wise man can find fault with the preceptor. In my view we must fight considering time and place.
यस्य सूर्यसमाः पञ्च सपत्नाः स्युः प्रहारिणः। कथमभ्युदये तेषां न प्रमुह्येत पण्डितः॥
Why should not a wise man be bewildered who has five adversaries effulgent as the sun, who are experts in smiting and have just come out from adversity?
स्वार्थे सर्वे विमुह्यन्ति येऽपि धर्मविदो जनाः। तस्माद् राजन् ब्रवीम्येष वाक्यं ते यदि रोचते॥
Even persons, conversant with morality, are bewildered in their own interests. It is for this I tell you, O king, whether my words be acceptable to you or not.
कर्णो हि यदवोचत् त्वां तेजः संजननाय तत्। आचार्यपुत्रः क्षमतां महत् कार्यमुपस्थितम्॥
What Karna said to you was for inciting our energy. The preceptor's son should forgive us for a very important business is present.
नायं कालो विरोधस्य कौन्तेये समुपस्थिते। क्षन्तव्यं भवता सर्वमाचार्येण कृपेण च॥
When the son of Kunti has come it is not the time for dissension. Yourself and the preceptor and Kripa should forgive everything
भवतां हि कृतास्त्रत्वं यथाऽऽदित्ये प्रभा तथा। यथा चन्द्रमसो लक्ष्मीः सर्वथा नापकृष्यते॥ एवं भवत्सु ब्राह्मण्यं ब्रह्मास्त्रं च प्रतिष्ठितम्। चत्वार एकतो वेदाः क्षात्रमेकत्र दृश्यते॥
The mastery of weapons is in you as the rays are in the sun. As Lakshmi is never separated from the moon, so the Vedas and the Brahma weapons are always established in you. It is seen that the four Vedas exist in one place and all the attributes of a Kshatriya exist in another place.
नैतत् समस्तमुभयं कस्मिंसश्चिदनुशुश्रुम। अन्यत्र भारताचार्यात् सपुत्रादिति मे मतिः॥
We have never heard of these two living together in any man than in the preceptor of the Bharata's race and his son. This is my conviction.
वेदान्ताश्च पुराणानि इतिहासं पुरातनम्। जामदग्न्यमृते राजन् को द्रोणादधिको भवेत्॥
In Vedantas, in Puranas and in Itihasas, who, O king except Jamadagni, is superior to Drona?
ब्रह्मास्त्रं चैव वेदाश्च नैतदन्यत्र दृश्यते। आचार्यपुत्रः क्षमतां नायं कालो विभेदने॥ सर्वे संहत्य युध्यामः पाकशासनिमागतम्॥
The (mastery) of Brahma weapons and (the knowledge of) the Vedas combined are not seen in any other person than that best of men, the preceptor of Bharatas. The preceptor's son should forgive us. This is not the time for disunion. Let us all united fight with the son of the chastiser of Paka (Arjuna) who has come here.
बलस्य व्यसनानीह यान्युक्तानि मनीषिभिः। मुख्यो भेदो हि तेषां तु पापिष्ठो विदुषां मतः॥
Of all the dangers to an army described by the intelligent the worst is the disunion amongst the leaders.
अश्वत्थामोवाच नैव न्याय्यमिदं वाच्यमस्माकं पुरुषर्षभ। किं तु रोषपरीतेन गुरुणा भाषिता गुणाः॥
Ashvatthama said O foremost of men, the words that you have spoken to us are all just. The preceptor, filled with anger, has dilated upon his (Arjuna's) accomplishments.
शत्रोरपि गुणा ग्राह्या दोषा वाच्या गुरोरपि। सर्वथा सर्वयत्नेन पुत्रे शिष्ये हितं वदेत्॥
The accomplishments even of the enemies should be mentioned and the defect of a preceptor should be pointed out. Therefore, one should, to the best of his power, describe the merit of his son or disciple.
दुर्योधन उवाच आचार्य एव क्षमतां शान्तिरत्र विधीयताम्। अभिद्यमाने तु गुरौ तद् वृत्तं रोषकारितम्॥
Duryodhana said May the preceptor forgive us and establish peace. If the preceptor is not alienated everything would be done.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो दुर्योधनो द्रोणं क्षपयामास भारत। सह कर्णेन भीष्मेण कृपेण च महात्मना॥
Vaishampayana said Thereupon, O Bharata, along with Karna, Bhishma and the high-souled Kripa Duryodhana made Drona to forgive them.
द्रोण उवाच यदेतत् प्रथमं वाक्यं भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्। तेनैवाहं प्रसन्नो वै नीतिरत्र विधीयताम्॥ यथा दुर्योधनं पार्थो नोपसर्पति संगरे।
Drona said I have already been pleased by the words, which Bhishma, the son of Shantanu at first gave vent to. Such a procedure should now be resorted to that the son of Pritha may not approach Duryodhana in the encounter and the latter may not pass into the hands of the enemies,
साहसाद् यदि वा मोहात् तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्॥ वनवासे ह्यनिर्वृत्ते दर्शयेन धनंजयः।
Either through bravery or through foolishness. Let such a procedure be adopted. Arjuna shall not bring himself into our view before the expiration of the period of exile.
धनं चालभमानोऽत्र नाद्य तत् क्षन्तुमर्हति॥ यथा नायं समायद्याद् धार्तराष्ट्रान् कथंचन। न च सेनाः पराजय्यात् तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्॥ उक्तं दुर्योधनेनापि पुरस्ताद् वाक्यमीदृशम्। तदनुस्मृत्य गाङ्गेय यथावद् वक्तुमर्हसि॥
By (merely) recovering the kine he will not forgive us. let therefore such a procedure be adopted that he can, by no means, vanquish the sons of Dhritarashtra and defeat our army. Similarly did Duryodhana speak before. Remembering all this, O Bhishma, tell us what you think proper.