Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच त्वं वै ज्येष्ठो ज्यैष्ठिनेयः पुत्र मा पाण्डवान्द्विषः द्वेष्टा ह्यसुखमादत्ते यथैव निधनं तथा
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said You are my eldest son, born of my eldest wife. Therefore, O son, be not jealous of the Pandavas, He who is jealous is always unhappy and suffer the death pangs.
अव्युत्पन्नं समानार्थं तुल्यमित्रं युधिष्ठिरम् अद्विषन्तं कथं द्विष्यात्त्वादृशो भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, Yudhishthira does not know what deception is; he possesses wealth equal to yours; he has your friends for his; and he is not jealous of you. Why then are you jealous of him?
तुल्याभिजनवीर्यश्च कथं भ्रातुः श्रियं नृप पुत्र कामयसे मोहान्मैवं भूः शाम्य साध्विह
M. N. Dutt: O prince, you are equal to Yudhishthira in friends and allies. Why should you then out of folly covet the property of your cousin? Be not so. Cease to be jealous. Do not grieve.
अथ यज्ञविभूतिं तां काङ्क्षसे भरतर्षभ ऋत्विजस्तव तन्वन्तु सप्ततन्तुं महाध्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, if you desire to possess the dignity of performing a sacrifice, let Ritvijas arrange for you the great sacrifice, called Saptatantu.
आहरिष्यन्ति राजानस्तवापि विपुलं धनम् प्रीत्या च बहुमानाच्च रत्नान्याभरणानि च
M. N. Dutt: The kings will then gladly bring (for you) much wealth and many gems and ornaments.
Supplementary Passages:
2.50.5 T1 G2-5 ins. after 5: G6 (which om. 5cd), ins. after 5ab: *486 मही कामदुघा सा हि वीरपत्नीति चोच्यते तथा वीराश्रिता भूमिस्तनुते हि मनोरथम् तवाप्यस्ति हि चेद्वीर्यं भिक्ष्यसे हि महीमिमाम्
अनर्थाचरितं तात परस्वस्पृहणं भृशम् स्वसंतुष्टः स्वधर्मस्थो यः स वै सुखमेधते
M. N. Dutt: O son, to covet other's property is exceedingly mean. He, who is contended and is engaged in the practices of his own order, enjoys happiness.
Supplementary Passages:
2.50.6 T1 G3-6 ins. after 6ab: *487 उभयोर्लोकयोर्दुःखं सुहृदामवमाननम्
अव्यापारः परार्थेषु नित्योद्योगः स्वकर्मसु उद्यमो रक्षणे स्वेषामेतद्वैभवलक्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: Not to try to get the wealth of others, to perseveres in one's own affairs and to protect what has been earned, these are the indications of true greatness.
विपत्तिष्वव्यथो दक्षो नित्यमुत्थानवान्नरः अप्रमत्तो विनीतात्मा नित्यं भद्राणि पश्यति
M. N. Dutt: He who is unmoved in calamity, is skilled in his own business, is ever exerting, vigilant, and humble will always meet with prosperity.
Supplementary Passages:
2.50.8 After 8, Ś1 (hapl. om. from line 2 up to tathaiva te in line 2 of 489*) K1-3 Dn D4.5.6 (om. line 2) ins.: *488 बाहूनिवैतान्मा छेत्सीः पाण्डुपुत्रास्तथैव ते भ्रातॄणां तद्धनार्थं वै मित्रद्रोहं च मा कुरु Ś1 (om. up to tathaiva te in line 2) Dn D4.6 (ins. line 1 marg. sec. m., and like Ś1 om. tathaiva te in line 2) cont.: K4 Ñ1 V1 B D1-3 ins. after 8: *489 पाण्डोः पुत्रान्मा द्विषस्वेह राजंस् तथैव ते भ्रातृधनं समग्रम् मित्रद्रोहे तात महानधर्मः पितामहा ये तव तेऽपि तेषाम् D5 ins. after 488*: *490 मित्रद्रोहं ततः कर्म महान्धर्मः प्रकीर्तितः D5 cont.: K1-3 ins. after 488*: *491 योऽसौ पितामहस्तुभ्यं तेषामपि स एव हि
अन्तर्वेद्यां ददद्वित्तं कामाननुभवन्प्रियान् क्रीडन्स्त्रीभिर्निरातङ्कः प्रशाम्य भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, give away (wealth) in charity on the occasions of sacrifices; gratify every dear object of your desire; sport freely in the company of women, and enjoy peace.
दुर्योधन उवाच जानन्वै मोहयसि मां नावि नौरिव संयता स्वार्थे किं नावधानं ते उताहो द्वेष्टि मां भवान्
M. N. Dutt: You know everything, but you still confound me. Like a boat tied to another boat, you and I are tied to each other. Are you unmindful of your own interest? Do you entertain hostile feelings towards me?
Supplementary Passages:
2.50.10 After the ref., K4 V1 B D T1 ins.: *492 यस्य नास्ति निजा प्रज्ञा केवलं तु बहुश्रुतः न स जानाति शास्त्रार्थं दर्वी सूपरसानिव
न सन्तीमे धार्तराष्ट्रा येषां त्वमनुशासिता भविष्यमर्थमाख्यासि सदा त्वं कृत्यमात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: The sons of Dhritarashtra are doomed to destruction in as much as they are ruled by you. That which should be done at once, you say should be done in future.
परप्रणेयोऽग्रणीर्हि यश्च मार्गात्प्रमुह्यति पन्थानमनुगच्छेयुः कथं तस्य पदानुगाः
M. N. Dutt: He often loses his way whose guide follows the instruction of others. How can those who follow him obtain the right path?
राजन्परिगतप्रज्ञो वृद्धसेवी जितेन्द्रियः प्रतिपन्नान्स्वकार्येषु संमोहयसि नो भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, you are of mature wisdom; you wait on the old, and your passions are also under complete control. You should not confound us, when we are ready to seek our own interest.
लोकवृत्ताद्राजवृत्तमन्यदाह बृहस्पतिः तस्माद्राज्ञा प्रयत्नेन स्वार्थश्चिन्त्यः सदैव हि
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati has said that the usage of kings are different from those of common people. Therefore, kings should always look to their interest with vigilance.
क्षत्रियस्य महाराज जये वृत्तिः समाहिता स वै धर्मोऽस्त्वधर्मो वा स्ववृत्तौ भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O great king, the character of a Kshatriya is to be known from (his) success. Whether sinful or virtuous, what scruples can there be in performing the duties of one's own (caste).
प्रकालयेद्दिशः सर्वाः प्रतोदेनेव सारथिः प्रत्यमित्रश्रियं दीप्तां बुभूषुर्भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, he, who is desirous of securing the blazing prosperity of his enemy, should bring all directions under his subjection, as the charioteer does his steeds with his whip.
प्रच्छन्नो वा प्रकाशो वा यो योगो रिपुबाधनः तद्वै शस्त्रं शस्त्रविदां न शस्त्रं छेदनं स्मृतम्
M. N. Dutt: The men, skilled in arms, say that the means, either covered or open, which can vanquish the enemy, is to be called the (true) weapon and not that which cuts.
Supplementary Passages:
2.50.17 After 17, K4 V1 B D ins.: *493 शत्रुश्चैव हि मित्रं च न लेख्यं न च मातृका यो वै संतापयति यं स शत्रुः प्रोच्यते नृप
असंतोषः श्रियो मूलं तस्मात्तं कामयाम्यहम् समुच्छ्रये यो यतते स राजन्परमो नयी
M. N. Dutt: O king, discontent is the root of prosperity. Therefore, I desire to have it. O king, he who tries to acquire prosperity is truly a man of policy.
ममत्वं हि न कर्तव्यमैश्वर्ये वा धनेऽपि वा पूर्वावाप्तं हरन्त्यन्ये राजधर्मं हि तं विदुः
M. N. Dutt: None should love his wealth and affluence, for the wealth, that has been earned and hoarded, might be plundered. This (such plundering) is the usage of the kings.
अद्रोहे समयं कृत्वा चिच्छेद नमुचेः शिरः शक्रः सा हि मता तस्य रिपौ वृत्तिः सनातनी
M. N. Dutt: It was during an armistice and also at the time when a pledge was given (not to fight) that Shakra (Indra) cut off the head of Namuchi. As he approved of this eternal usage towards the enemy, he did act in this way.
द्वावेतौ ग्रसते भूमिः सर्पो बिलशयानिव राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम्
M. N. Dutt: Like a snake that swallows up frogs and other animals living in holes, the earth swallows up a king who is peaceful and (also) a Brahmana who does not stir out of his house.
नास्ति वै जातितः शत्रुः पुरुषस्य विशां पते येन साधारणी वृत्तिः स शत्रुर्नेतरो जनः
M. N. Dutt: O king, none can by nature by any person's foe. He, and none else, is one's enemy who has common pursuits with another.
शत्रुपक्षं समृध्यन्तं यो मोहात्समुपेक्षते व्याधिराप्यायित इव तस्य मूलं छिनत्ति सः
M. N. Dutt: He who foolishly neglects a growing foe cuts off his root, as a disease which he keeps without treatment (destroys his body).
अल्पोऽपि ह्यरिरत्यन्तं वर्धमानपराक्रमः वल्मीको मूलज इव ग्रसते वृक्षमन्तिकात्
M. N. Dutt: If a foe, however insignificant he is, be allowed to grow in prowess, he swallows one as the white ants at the root of a tree eat up the tree itself.
आजमीढ रिपोर्लक्ष्मीर्मा ते रोचिष्ट भारत एष भारः सत्त्ववतां नयः शिरसि धिष्ठितः
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Ajamida, O descendant of Bharata, let not the enemy's prosperity be acceptable to you. The wise men should carry on their heads this policy like a load.
जन्मवृद्धिमिवार्थानां यो वृद्धिमभिकाङ्क्षते एधते ज्ञातिषु स वै सद्योवृद्धिर्हि विक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: He, who always wishes for the increase of his wealth, grows and prospers amongst his relatives, as the body naturally grows from the day of birth. Prowess brings speedy growth.
नाप्राप्य पाण्डवैश्वर्यं संशयो मे भविष्यति अवाप्स्ये वा श्रियं तां हि शेष्ये वा निहतो युधि
M. N. Dutt: Covet as much as I do the wealth and prosperity of the Pandavas, they have not as yet become my own. I am doubtful about my ability; I am, however, determined to remove my doubt. I will either obtain their wealth or lay my own life in battle.
अतादृशस्य किं मेऽद्य जीवितेन विशां पते वर्धन्ते पाण्डवा नित्यं वयं तु स्थिरवृद्धयः
M. N. Dutt: O king, when the state of my mind is such, when the Pandavas are daily growing in prosperity and our possessions are daily decreasing, what do I care for life?