Critical Edition
विदुर उवाच महाराज विजानीहि यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु मुमूर्षोरौषधमिव न रोचेतापि ते श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: Vidura Said O great, O descendant of Bharata, attend to what I say, although it may not be agreeable to you like medicine to one who is at the point of death.
Supplementary Passages:
2.55.1 Before 1, K4 V1 B D (D6 marg. sec. m.) T1 ins. (Cn glosses): *514 वैशंपायन उवाच एवं प्रवर्तिते द्यूते घोरे सर्वापहारिणि सर्वसंशयनिर्मोक्ता विदुरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
यद्वै पुरा जातमात्रो रुराव; गोमायुवद्विस्वरं पापचेताः दुर्योधनो भारतानां कुलघ्नः; सोऽयं युक्तो भविता कालहेतुः
M. N. Dutt: When this sinful wretch Duryodhana, this destroyer of the Bharata race, cried like jackal immediately after his, it was well-known that he had been ordained to bring about the destruction of you all.
गृहे वसन्तं गोमायुं त्वं वै मत्वा न बुध्यसे दुर्योधनस्य रूपेण शृणु काव्यां गिरं मम
M. N. Dutt: A jackal is in your house in the form of Duryodhana. You do not know this out of folly. Listen to what Kavya (Shukra) said.
मधु वै माध्विको लब्ध्वा प्रपातं नावबुध्यते आरुह्य तं मज्जति वा पतनं वाधिगच्छति
M. N. Dutt: Those that collect honey, having received what they seek, do not (at all) mark that they are about to fall (down from the tree). Ascending dangerous heights and being deeply engaged in what they seek, they fall down and perish.
सोऽयं मत्तोऽक्षदेवेन मधुवन्न परीक्षते प्रपातं बुध्यते नैव वैरं कृत्वा महारथैः
M. N. Dutt: He (Duryodhana) too maddened with the gambling, is absent-indeed (in the pursuit of the play) like the collector of honey. he dose not mark its (future) consequences. Creating hostilities with these great car-warriors, he dose not see the fall (which is before him).
Supplementary Passages:
2.55.5 After 5, D1 ins.: *515 विषादंति च दैवेन देवनेन महारथैः
विदितं ते महाराज राजस्वेवासमञ्जसम् अन्धका यादवा भोजाः समेताः कंसमत्यजन्
AI Translation: O great king, you know that the Yadavas, Bhojas, and Andhakas, who were like the king's own sons, abandoned Kamsa.
Supplementary Passages:
2.55.6 After 6ab, K4 Dn (!) D6 ins.: *516 पुत्रं संत्यक्तवान्पूर्वं पौराणां हितकाम्यया
नियोगाच्च हते तस्मिन्कृष्णेनामित्रघातिना एवं ते ज्ञातयः सर्वे मोदमानाः शतं समाः
AI Translation: And when that enemy of his enemies, Krishna, was killed by his order, Thus all your relatives, rejoicing, lived for a hundred years.
त्वन्नियुक्तः सव्यसाची निगृह्णातु सुयोधनम् निग्रहादस्य पापस्य मोदन्तां कुरवः सुखम्
AI Translation: May the left-handed one, appointed by you, restrain Suyodhana. May the Kurus rejoice in happiness through the restraint of this evil one.
काकेनेमांश्चित्रबर्हाञ्शार्दूलान्क्रोष्टुकेन च क्रीणीष्व पाण्डवान्राजन्मा मज्जीः शोकसागरे
M. N. Dutt: Let the Kurus be glad and pass their time in happiness by the death of this wrench. O king, purchase these peacocks (Pandavas) at the exchange of this crow (Duryodhana); and buy these tiger, the Pandavas, at the exchange of this jackal (Duryodhana). Do not sink into the ocean of grief.
त्यजेत्कुलार्थे पुरुषं ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत्
M. N. Dutt: For the sake of a family a member (of that family) may be sacrificed; for the sake of a village, a family may be scarified; for the sake of a town, village may be sacrificed; and for the sake of one's own soul, the earth may be sacrificed.
सर्वज्ञः सर्वभावज्ञः सर्वशत्रुभयंकरः इति स्म भाषते काव्यो जम्भत्यागे महासुरान्
M. N. Dutt: The omniscient, the knower of all creatures' thoughts, the terror to all foes, Kavya, thus spoke to the great Asuras (to induce them) to abandon Jambha (Asura).
हिरण्यष्ठीविनः कश्चित्पक्षिणो वनगोचरान् गृहे किल कृतावासाँल्लोभाद्राजन्नपीडयत्
AI Translation: A certain Hiranyasthivina, O king, out of greed, oppressed the birds that had taken up residence in his house, though they were living in the forest.
सदोपभोज्याँल्लोभान्धो हिरण्यार्थे परंतप आयतिं च तदात्वं च उभे सद्यो व्यनाशयत्
AI Translation: Out of greed for the enjoyments of the world, the son of the sun, the scorcher of enemies, destroyed both the future and the present.
तदात्वकामः पाण्डूंस्त्वं मा द्रुहो भरतर्षभ मोहात्मा तप्यसे पश्चात्पक्षिहा पुरुषो यथा
AI Translation: O bull of the Bharata lineage, do not harm the Pandus, who are your own kin. You will be tormented later, like a bird-killer, because of your delusion.
Supplementary Passages:
2.55.14 After 14, T1 G3.5.6 M1 ins.: *517 एतेन तव नाशः स्याद्बळिशाच्छबरो यथा
जातं जातं पाण्डवेभ्यः पुष्पमादत्स्व भारत मालाकार इवारामे स्नेहं कुर्वन्पुनः पुनः
AI Translation: O descendant of the Bharata lineage, take the flowers that are born for the Pandavas, like a garland maker in a garden, again and again, out of affection.
वृक्षानङ्गारकारीव मैनान्धाक्षीः समूलकान् मा गमः ससुतामात्यः सबलश्च पराभवम्
AI Translation: Like a charcoal-maker, cut down the trees, the Māgadhas, with their roots. Do not go to defeat, along with your sons, ministers, and army.
समवेतान्हि कः पार्थान्प्रतियुध्येत भारत मरुद्भिः सहितो राजन्नपि साक्षान्मरुत्पतिः
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, who is capable of fighting with the sons of Pritha if they stand together? O king, not to speak of others, even the chief of the celestial with all the celestial cannot do it.
Supplementary Passages:
2.55.17 After 17, G2.3 ins.: *518 युधि जेतुमशक्तो हि पाण्डवान्पुरुषोत्तमः