Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच अथाब्रवीन्महावीर्यो द्रोणस्तत्त्वार्थदर्शिवान् न तादृशा विनश्यन्ति नापि यान्ति पराभवम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thereupon the highly energetic and greatly wise Drona said : "Persons like them can never meet with destruction of discomfiture."
शूराश्च कृतविद्याश्च बुद्धिमन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः धर्मज्ञाश्च कृतज्ञाश्च धर्मराजमनुव्रताः
AI Translation: Heroes, learned, wise, and self-controlled, Knowers of Dharma, grateful, and devoted to the Dharma-king.
नीतिधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञं पितृवच्च समाहितम् धर्मे स्थितं सत्यधृतिं ज्येष्ठं ज्येष्ठापचायिनम्
AI Translation: Knowing the truth of policy, dharma, and wealth, like a father, composed, Established in dharma, steadfast in truth, the eldest, honoring the eldest,
अनुव्रता महात्मानं भ्रातरं भ्रातरो नृप अजातशत्रुं ह्रीमन्तं तं च भ्रातॄननुव्रतम्
AI Translation: The great-souled brothers followed their brother, the king, Ajaatashatru, the modest one, and those brothers who followed him.
तेषां तथा विधेयानां निभृतानां महात्मनाम् किमर्थं नीतिमान्पार्थः श्रेयो नैषां करिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Why not Partha conversant with policy should look to the well being of such highsouled brothers obedient to him?
तस्माद्यत्नात्प्रतीक्षन्ते कालस्योदयमागतम् न हि ते नाशमृच्छेयुरिति पश्याम्यहं धिया
M. N. Dutt: It is for this they are carefully waiting for the opportune hour. Such persons never die; this is what I perceive by my good sense.
सांप्रतं चैव यत्कार्यं तच्च क्षिप्रमकालिकम् क्रियतां साधु संचिन्त्य वासश्चैषां प्रचिन्त्यताम्
AI Translation: And now, whatever is to be done, let it be done quickly and without delay. Let it be well considered and decided, and let their residence be determined.
Supplementary Passages:
4.26.7 After 7, B5 (irrelevantly) ins.: *525 तथाभिवादिनं मत्स्यं कौरवेयाः पृथक्पृथक् ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः प्रतिनन्दाम ते वाक्यं सर्व एव विशां पते
यथावत्पाण्डुपुत्राणां सर्वार्थेषु धृतात्मनाम् दुर्ज्ञेयाः खलु शूरास्ते अपापास्तपसा वृताः
AI Translation: As they are to the sons of Pandu, who are steadfast in all their aims. The brave ones are indeed difficult to know, they are sinless, surrounded by asceticism.
Supplementary Passages:
4.26.8 After 8ab, S ins.: *526 प्रवृत्तिरुपलभ्येत तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् सर्वोपायैर्यतस्व त्वं यथा पश्यसि पाण्डवान्
शुद्धात्मा गुणवान्पार्थः सत्यवान्नीतिमाञ्शुचिः तेजोराशिरसंख्येयो गृह्णीयादपि चक्षुषी
M. N. Dutt: The pure-souled, accomplished, truthful, honest son of Pritha, conversant with policy, and a very collection of effulgence, is capable of consuming by his very look.
विज्ञाय क्रियतां तस्माद्भूयश्च मृगयामहे ब्राह्मणैश्चारकैः सिद्धैर्ये चान्ये तद्विदो जनाः
M. N. Dutt: Knowing this, do (what you should); we shall again search them through Brahmana spies, Siddhas and others who know them.