Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच संजये प्रतियाते तु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः अभ्यभाषत दाशार्हमृषभं सर्वसात्वताम्
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: When Sanjaya had left, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira addressed the bull of the Satvatas,
Supplementary Passages:
5.70.1 Before 1, D8 ins.: *366 जनमेजय उवाच प्रयाते संजये साधौ पाण्डवान्प्रति वै तदा किं चक्रुः पाण्डवास्तत्र मम पूर्वपितामहाः एतत्सर्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रोतुमिच्छामि शंस मे After 1ab, S (G1.5 om. line 10) ins.: *367 अर्जुनं भीमसेनं च माद्रीपुत्रौ च भ्रातरौ विराटद्रुपदौ चैव केकयानां महारथम् अब्रवीदुपसंगम्य शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् अभियाचामहे गत्वा प्रयातुं कुरुसंसदम् यथा भीष्मेण द्रोणेन बाह्लीकेन च धीमता अन्यैश्च कुरुभिः सार्धं न युध्येमहि संयुगे एष नः प्रथमः कल्प एतन्नः श्रेय उत्तमम् एवमुक्त्वा सुमनसस्तेऽभिजग्मुर्जनार्दनम् पाण्डवैः सह राजानो मरुत्वन्तमिवामराः तथा च दुःसहाः सर्वे सदस्यैश्च नरर्षभाः T1 G1.2.4 cont.: *368 जनार्दनं समासाद्य कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः On the other hand, M1 cont.: *369 ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजन्नुपगम्य नरर्षभम्
अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो मित्राणां मे जनार्दन न च त्वदन्यं पश्यामि यो न आपत्सु तारयेत्
M. N. Dutt: This is the time arrived for friends (to show that they are so), O you devoted to the interests of your friends. Any other save yourself I do not see, who could get us through this difficulty.
त्वां हि माधव संश्रित्य निर्भया मोहदर्पितम् धार्तराष्ट्रं सहामात्यं स्वमंशमनुयुञ्ज्महे
M. N. Dutt: Depending on you, Madhava, we have without fear asked back our share (of the kingdom) from the son of Dhritarashtra and all his followers, who are filled with vain pride.
यथा हि सर्वास्वापत्सु पासि वृष्णीनरिंदम तथा ते पाण्डवा रक्ष्याः पाह्यस्मान्महतो भयात्
M. N. Dutt: As you get through the Vrishnis out of all difficulties, O chastiser of chastiser of foes; so are the Pandavas, the proper party, to be protected by you. Get them through this great difficulty.
भगवानुवाच अयमस्मि महाबाहो ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम् करिष्यामि हि तत्सर्वं यत्त्वं वक्ष्यसि भारत
M. N. Dutt: The blessed Krishna of divine attributes said Here am I, O you with long arms. Speak what you want to say. I shall do all that you will ask me to do, O Bharata.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुतं ते धृतराष्ट्रस्य सपुत्रस्य चिकीर्षितम् एतद्धि सकलं कृष्ण संजयो मां यदब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You have heard what Dhritarashtra with his son intends to do. It is, O Krishna, exactly as Sanjaya told me.
Supplementary Passages:
5.70.6 S ins. after 6 (G4, after 9ab): *370 मृदुपूर्वं साममिश्रं सान्त्वमुग्रं च माधव न तु तन्न्यायमास्थाय गर्हिताश्च ततो वयम्
तन्मतं धृतराष्ट्रस्य सोऽस्यात्मा विवृतान्तरः यथोक्तं दूत आचष्टे वध्यः स्यादन्यथा ब्रुवन्
M. N. Dutt: Such are the intentions of Dhritarashtra; for Sanjaya knows the heart and is as his very soul, so to say. As an ambassador is instructed, so dose he speak; and if he speaks otherwise he should be killed.
अप्रदानेन राज्यस्य शान्तिमस्मासु मार्गति लुब्धः पापेन मनसा चरन्नसममात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Without restoring to us our kingdom ho wants peace with us; and the covetous man behaves by his sinful heart without impartiality towards those whose interests should be looked after by him equally.
यत्तद्द्वादश वर्षाणि वने निर्व्युषिता वयम् छद्मना शरदं चैकां धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्
M. N. Dutt: For twelve years have the forests been inhabited by us; and at the command of Dhritarashtra have we lived in disguise for another year.
स्थाता नः समये तस्मिन्धृतराष्ट्र इति प्रभो नाहास्म समयं कृष्ण तद्धि नो ब्राह्मणा विदुः
M. N. Dutt: So that Dhritarashtra might abide by those pledges of ours, O lord; the Brahmanas, O Krishna, in our company know that we did not break our pledges.
वृद्धो राजा धृतराष्ट्रः स्वधर्मं नानुपश्यति पश्यन्वा पुत्रगृद्धित्वान्मन्दस्यान्वेति शासनम्
M. N. Dutt: The avaricious king Dhritarashtra dose not follow the path of virtue of his class, and out of affection for his son and with a desire to please him he follows the course marked out by that fool.
सुयोधनमते तिष्ठन्राजास्मासु जनार्दन मिथ्या चरति लुब्धः संश्चरन्प्रियमिवात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: The king listening to the advice of Suyodhna, O Janardana, behaves deceitfully towards his own interests.
इतो दुःखतरं किं नु यत्राहं मातरं ततः संविधातुं न शक्नोमि मित्राणां वा जनार्दन
M. N. Dutt: What is more regrettable than this that I am unable to be of any good to my mother or to my friends, O Janardana.
काशिभिश्चेदिपाञ्चालैर्मत्स्यैश्च मधुसूदन भवता चैव नाथेन पञ्च ग्रामा वृता मया
M. N. Dutt: Five villages were only asked by me, who have the Kashis, the Chedis, the Panchalas and the Matsyas for my supporters and your exalted self for my lord.
कुशस्थलं वृकस्थलमासन्दी वारणावतम् अवसानं च गोविन्द किंचिदेवात्र पञ्चमम्
M. N. Dutt: (The villages were) Avisthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata and any other, O Govinda, for the last or the fifth.
पञ्च नस्तात दीयन्तां ग्रामा वा नगराणि वा वसेम सहिता येषु मा च नो भरता नशन्
M. N. Dutt: Give as, O Sire, (so we said) five villages or towns where we may reside united together; for we do not desire the destruction of the Bharatas.
न च तानपि दुष्टात्मा धार्तराष्ट्रोऽनुमन्यते स्वाम्यमात्मनि मत्वासावतो दुःखतरं नु किम्
M. N. Dutt: Not this even dose the wicked-souled son of Dhritarashtra grant, thinking the proprietary rights of the entire earth to be vested in him. What is there more regrettable than this.
कुले जातस्य वृद्धस्य परवित्तेषु गृध्यतः लोभः प्रज्ञानमाहन्ति प्रज्ञा हन्ति हता ह्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: The avarice of man born in a noble family yet desiring to possess himself the wealth of others nullifies his wisdom; and the wisdom being destroyed, the sense of shame dose nowhere exist.
ह्रीर्हता बाधते धर्मं धर्मो हन्ति हतः श्रियम् श्रीर्हता पुरुषं हन्ति पुरुषस्यास्वता वधः
M. N. Dutt: Sense of shame being lost, desire of virtue is weakened; and the destruction of virtue causes the decline of prosperity. Prosperity being lost, the man meets with death; for poverty is death to a man.
अस्वतो हि निवर्तन्ते ज्ञातयः सुहृदर्त्विजः अपुष्पादफलाद्वृक्षाद्यथा तात पतत्रिणः
M. N. Dutt: Form a man stricken with property do cousins, friends and Brahmanas turn away; as from a tree without flowers and fruits the winged creatures turn away.
एतच्च मरणं तात यदस्मात्पतितादिव ज्ञातयो विनिवर्तन्ते प्रेतसत्त्वादिवासवः
M. N. Dutt: This I regard as death to me, O Sire, since from me the cousins away as from a fallen creature or breath forsakes an animal that is dead.
नातः पापीयसीं कांचिदवस्थां शम्बरोऽब्रवीत् यत्र नैवाद्य न प्रातर्भोजनं प्रतिदृश्यते
M. N. Dutt: Shambara was of opinion that there was no condition of life which could be more woeful than that in which a man cannot see what his food is to be tomorrow.
धनमाहुः परं धर्मं धने सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् जीवन्ति धनिनो लोके मृता ये त्वधना नराः
M. N. Dutt: Wealth is said to be the best virtue. Everything is established on wealth; and wealthy men are living in this world and men without wealth are dead.
ये धनादपकर्षन्ति नरं स्वबलमाश्रिताः ते धर्ममर्थं कामं च प्रमथ्नन्ति नरं च तम्
M. N. Dutt: Those, who by force of their physical strength, deprived a man of his wealth, destroy the virtue, profit and pleasure of that man.
एतामवस्थां प्राप्यैके मरणं वव्रिरे जनाः ग्रामायैके वनायैके नाशायैके प्रवव्रजुः
M. N. Dutt: Having reached this condition (i.e. poverty) one class of men prefer death; another retire to villages (form cities); a third to the wilderness; while the fourth rove about with a view to meet speedy death.
उन्मादमेके पुष्यन्ति यान्त्यन्ये द्विषतां वशम् दास्यमेके निगच्छन्ति परेषामर्थहेतुना
M. N. Dutt: One class of men become insane; another go under the control of their enemies; and a third become slaves for the sake of getting the wealth of others.
आपदेवास्य मरणात्पुरुषस्य गरीयसी श्रियो विनाशस्तद्ध्यस्य निमित्तं धर्मकामयोः
M. N. Dutt: Poverty is a more potent evil to a man than death; for it destroys his prosperity. Wealth is the source of a man's virtue well as his pleasure.
यदस्य धर्म्यं मरणं शाश्वतं लोकवर्त्म तत् समन्तात्सर्वभूतानां न तदत्येति कश्चन
M. N. Dutt: The natural death of a man is like the ever recurring point of the wheel of this world. It is the unavoidable path of all creatures and none can avoid it.
न तथा बाध्यते कृष्ण प्रकृत्या निर्धनो जनः यथा भद्रां श्रियं प्राप्य तया हीनः सुखैधितः
M. N. Dutt: A man without wealth from his very birth does not suffer so much, 0 Krishna, as one who after the possession of great prosperity and a life of great happiness is deprived of it.
स तदात्मापराधेन संप्राप्तो व्यसनं महत् सेन्द्रान्गर्हयते देवान्नात्मानं च कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: The man steeped in gigantic difficulties by his own short comings blames the gods with Indra and rarely himself.
न चास्मिन्सर्वशास्त्राणि प्रतरन्ति निगर्हणाम् सोऽभिक्रुध्यति भृत्यानां सुहृदश्चाभ्यसूयति
M. N. Dutt: His intimacy with all the holy books cannot procure him a mitigation of his sufferings. Sometimes he feels wrathful towards his servants; and afterwards he envies his friends.
तं तदा मन्युरेवैति स भूयः संप्रमुह्यति स मोहवशमापन्नः क्रूरं कर्म निषेवते
M. N. Dutt: Ever subject to outbursts of passion, he sometimes loses his senses and getting himself under the control of his folly he attaches himself to the performance of evil deeds.
पापकर्मात्ययायैव संकरं तेन पुष्यति संकरो नरकायैव सा काष्ठा पापकर्मणाम्
M. N. Dutt: From his evil deeds spring confusion of castes; and a mixing up of castes is the way to hell, for it is the very culminating point of sinful deeds.
न चेत्प्रबुध्यते कृष्ण नरकायैव गच्छति तस्य प्रबोधः प्रज्ञैव प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्न रिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: If he does not awake, he goes to hell O Krishna, wisdom alone is his awakening; the ey.es of wisdom alone can rescue him.
प्रज्ञालाभे हि पुरुषः शास्त्राण्येवान्ववेक्षते शास्त्रनित्यः पुनर्धर्मं तस्य ह्रीरङ्गमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: A man on obtaining the gift of wisdom follows the holy books. Observance of what is enjoyed in the holy books is the best virtue and modesty is the beautiful accompaniment of such a life.
ह्रीमान्हि पापं प्रद्वेष्टि तस्य श्रीरभिवर्धते श्रीमान्स यावद्भवति तावद्भवति पूरुषः
M. N. Dutt: A man endued with a senses of shame despises sins and his prosperity ever increases. When he becomes endued with prosperity, then he is a man.
धर्मनित्यः प्रशान्तात्मा कार्ययोगवहः सदा नाधर्मे कुरुते बुद्धिं न च पापेषु वर्तते
M. N. Dutt: That clam soul, ever engaged in the practice of virtue and ever attached to action after mature thought, never turns his mind towards vice, nor ever turns to sin.
अह्रीको वा विमूढो वा नैव स्त्री न पुनः पुमान् नास्याधिकारो धर्मेऽस्ति यथा शूद्रस्तथैव सः
M. N. Dutt: The one without a sense of shame is neither a woman nor a man. He has no claims upon virtue; he is as a Shudra.
ह्रीमानवति देवांश्च पितॄनात्मानमेव च तेनामृतत्वं व्रजति सा काष्ठा पुण्यकर्मणाम्
M. N. Dutt: The man endued with a sense of shame pleases the gods, the Pitris and his own self; and by this does he obtain immortality which is the goal of men attached to virtuous acts.
तदिदं मयि ते दृष्टं प्रत्यक्षं मधुसूदन यथा राज्यात्परिभ्रष्टो वसामि वसतीरिमाः
M. N. Dutt: All this has been seen by you in me, o slayer of Madhu, namely, how I have lived these years, deprived of our kingdom.
ते वयं न श्रियं हातुमलं न्यायेन केनचित् अत्र नो यतमानानां वधश्चेदपि साधु तत्
M. N. Dutt: There is no need for us to abandon that prosperity. In this case the death of ourselves, struggling to obtain back our prosperity, would be better.
तत्र नः प्रथमः कल्पो यद्वयं ते च माधव प्रशान्ताः समभूताश्च श्रियं तामश्नुवीमहि
M. N. Dutt: With regard to that our intention the first thing is to enjoy that prosperity, themselves and ourselves united in peace and with the same interests, O Madhava.
तत्रैषा परमा काष्ठा रौद्रकर्मक्षयोदया यद्वयं कौरवान्हत्वा तानि राष्ट्राण्यशीमहि
M. N. Dutt: It is the greatest of all vicious deeds for us to prosper after this destruction-that we should obtain the kingdoms after slaying the sons of Kuru.
ये पुनः स्युरसंबद्धा अनार्याः कृष्ण शत्रवः तेषामप्यवधः कार्यः किं पुनर्ये स्युरीदृशाः
M. N. Dutt: Those that are not related to us, O Krishna, those dishonourable foes-the refrainment of slaying them too is our duty. What then is our duty towards those who are so closely related to us.
ज्ञातयश्च हि भूयिष्ठाः सहाया गुरवश्च नः तेषां वधोऽतिपापीयान्किं नु युद्धेऽस्ति शोभनम्
M. N. Dutt: We have many cousins; and our elders are supporters (on both sides). Their destruction is extremely vicious. What then is the good in engaging in battle?
पापः क्षत्रियधर्मोऽयं वयं च क्षत्रबान्धवाः स नः स्वधर्मोऽधर्मो वा वृत्तिरन्या विगर्हिता
M. N. Dutt: These practices of the Kshatriyas are sinful; but, alas, we are born in Kshatriya families and whether such practices are virtuous or the reverse; any other course of life would not be right!
शूद्रः करोति शुश्रूषां वैश्या विपणिजीविनः वयं वधेन जीवामः कपालं ब्राह्मणैर्वृतम्
M. N. Dutt: A Shudra serves (the other classes); a Vaishya lives by trade and commerce; we live by massacre; and the wooden plate (profession of begging) has been selected by the Brahmanas.
क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियं हन्ति मत्स्यो मत्स्येन जीवति श्वा श्वानं हन्ति दाशार्ह पश्य धर्मो यथागतः
M. N. Dutt: A Kshatriya kills another Kshatriya; a fish lives on another fish; a dog kills another dog. See how each follows his rule of life, O you of the Dasharha race.
युद्धे कृष्ण कलिर्नित्यं प्राणाः सीदन्ति संयुगे बलं तु नीतिमात्राय हठे जयपराजयौ
M. N. Dutt: In battle, O Krishna, Kali is ever present; in a battle lives are lost; but, in spite of fixed policy applied to fighting, success and defeat.
नात्मच्छन्देन भूतानां जीवितं मरणं तथा नाप्यकाले सुखं प्राप्यं दुःखं वापि यदूत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Are not dependent on the will (of the combatants); as life and death are independent of the will of creatures. Until the right time happiness cannot be attained, nor misery, O you best of the Yadu race.
एको ह्यपि बहून्हन्ति घ्नन्त्येकं बहवोऽप्युत शूरं कापुरुषो हन्ति अयशस्वी यशस्विनम्
M. N. Dutt: One man kills many; and many also united kill one. A coward kills a real hero, known to fame, a renowned warrior.
जयश्चैवोभयोर्दृष्ट उभयोश्च पराजयः तथैवापचयो दृष्टो व्यपयाने क्षयव्ययौ
M. N. Dutt: Both parties cannot live to behold victory nor can both parties live to see defeat but the waste and the loss may be seen to be on both sides. To a man attempting to fly there come both loss (of life, and expense.
सर्वथा वृजिनं युद्धं को घ्नन्न प्रतिहन्यते हतस्य च हृषीकेश समौ जयपराजयौ
M. N. Dutt: In all cases fight is an evil. Who that strikes is not struck in return? But victory and defeat, O Hrishikesha, are of the same moment to one that is killed.
पराजयश्च मरणान्मन्ये नैव विशिष्यते यस्य स्याद्विजयः कृष्ण तस्याप्यपचयो ध्रुवम्
M. N. Dutt: Defeat is not very much better than death I think; he on whose side victory is declared, O Krishna, also has surely to meet with a loss.
अन्ततो दयितं घ्नन्ति केचिदप्यपरे जनाः तस्याङ्ग बलहीनस्य पुत्रान्भ्रातॄनपश्यतः निर्वेदो जीविते कृष्ण सर्वतश्चोपजायते
M. N. Dutt: At least the men on the other side kill some one who is dear; and a man, thus rendered weak, O adorable one and not seeing his sons and brothers.
ये ह्येव वीरा ह्रीमन्त आर्याः करुणवेदिनः त एव युद्धे हन्यन्ते यवीयान्मुच्यते जनः
AI Translation: Those who are brave, modest, noble, and compassionate are the ones who are killed in battle, while the younger ones are spared.
हत्वाप्यनुशयो नित्यं परानपि जनार्दन अनुबन्धश्च पापोऽत्र शेषश्चाप्यवशिष्यते
AI Translation: Even after killing, there is always a sense of remorse, O Janardana, and there is also the bondage of sin that remains.
शेषो हि बलमासाद्य न शेषमवशेषयेत् सर्वोच्छेदे च यतते वैरस्यान्तविधित्सया
AI Translation: For, having attained strength, Śeṣa would not leave Śeṣa. And in the complete annihilation, he strives for the end of enmity.
जयो वैरं प्रसृजति दुःखमास्ते पराजितः सुखं प्रशान्तः स्वपिति हित्वा जयपराजयौ
AI Translation: Victory brings enmity, defeat brings sorrow, But he who is at peace sleeps happily, having abandoned victory and defeat.
जातवैरश्च पुरुषो दुःखं स्वपिति नित्यदा अनिर्वृतेन मनसा ससर्प इव वेश्मनि
AI Translation: A man who has become an enemy sleeps in constant sorrow, with an unsatisfied mind, like a snake in a house.
उत्सादयति यः सर्वं यशसा स वियुज्यते अकीर्तिं सर्वभूतेषु शाश्वतीं स नियच्छति
AI Translation: He who destroys everything becomes separated from fame. He brings about eternal infamy among all beings.
न हि वैराणि शाम्यन्ति दीर्घकालकृतान्यपि आख्यातारश्च विद्यन्ते पुमांश्चोत्पद्यते कुले
AI Translation: For feuds do not subside even after a long time. And there are those who proclaim (the truth), and a man is born in a family.
न चापि वैरं वैरेण केशव व्युपशाम्यति हविषाग्निर्यथा कृष्ण भूय एवाभिवर्धते
AI Translation: And enmity is not appeased by enmity, O Keshava, Just as fire is increased by fuel, O Krishna.
अतोऽन्यथा नास्ति शान्तिर्नित्यमन्तरमन्ततः अन्तरं लिप्समानानामयं दोषो निरन्तरः
AI Translation: Therefore, there is no peace in any other way. There is always an internal conflict. For those who seek internal peace, this fault is incessant.
पौरुषेयो हि बलवानाधिर्हृदयबाधनः तस्य त्यागेन वा शान्तिर्निवृत्त्या मनसोऽपि वा
AI Translation: For the affliction of the heart is a powerful enemy, and it is human. There is peace by giving it up, or by the cessation of the mind.
अथ वा मूलघातेन द्विषतां मधुसूदन फलनिर्वृत्तिरिद्धा स्यात्तन्नृशंसतरं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: By putting an end to the enemy to the roots, O slayer of Madhu, we can attain to our object; but it is most cruel.
या तु त्यागेन शान्तिः स्यात्तदृते वध एव सः संशयाच्च समुच्छेदाद्द्विषतामात्मनस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: The peace that we can obtain by foregoing our claim to the kingdom is in effect the same thing as the total extinction of ourselves and the enemy or the uncertainly of victory.
न च त्यक्तुं तदिच्छामो न चेच्छामः कुलक्षयम् अत्र या प्रणिपातेन शान्तिः सैव गरीयसी
M. N. Dutt: We do not wish to give up that (kingdom); nor do you wish death of our family; and in such a case that peace which we can obtain through bending ourselves to the will of the other side is preferable.
सर्वथा यतमानानामयुद्धमभिकाङ्क्षताम् सान्त्वे प्रतिहते युद्धं प्रसिद्धमपराक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: When all the attempts of those, who are trying to obtain the kingdom by all means without war, fail; then war is proper for them and not a show of weakness.
प्रतिघातेन सान्त्वस्य दारुणं संप्रवर्तते तच्छुनामिव गोपादे पण्डितैरुपलक्षितम्
M. N. Dutt: On the event of these (attempts at obtaining the desired object without war), the results that follow are terrible. All these have been observed by wise men in a war between dogs.
लाङ्गूलचालनं क्ष्वेडः प्रतिरावो विवर्तनम् दन्तदर्शनमारावस्ततो युद्धं प्रवर्तते
M. N. Dutt: First there comes the wagging of tails, then the bark, then the replying back, then the turning of one round the other, then the show of teeth, then the roaring and then comes the commencement of the fight.
तत्र यो बलवान्कृष्ण जित्वा सोऽत्ति तदामिषम् एवमेव मनुष्येषु विशेषो नास्ति कश्चन
M. N. Dutt: In the fight the one, who is stronger, O Krishna, gains the victory and eats the other's flesh. Such is the case with men; there is no difference whatever.
सर्वथा त्वेतदुचितं दुर्बलेषु बलीयसाम् अनादरो विरोधश्च प्रणिपाती हि दुर्बलः
M. N. Dutt: It should always be the duty of a strong man not to crush hostility with the weak; and the weak should be deferential to the strong.
पिता राजा च वृद्धश्च सर्वथा मानमर्हति तस्मान्मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च धृतराष्ट्रो जनार्दन
M. N. Dutt: It is proper that the father, the king and the aged should be treated always with respect; therefore is Dhritarashtra the object of our worship and respect, O Janardana.
पुत्रस्नेहस्तु बलवान्धृतराष्ट्रस्य माधव स पुत्रवशमापन्नः प्रणिपातं प्रहास्यति
M. N. Dutt: The feeling of affection for his son is stronger in Dhritarashtra, O Madhava. Subject to the will of his son, he will laugh away our respectful submission.
तत्र किं मन्यसे कृष्ण प्राप्तकालमनन्तरम् कथमर्थाच्च धर्माच्च न हीयेमहि माधव
M. N. Dutt: What then do you think, O Krishna, to be suitable to the occasion. By what means shall I not deviate from virtue and from worldly good, O Madhava.
ईदृशे ह्यर्थकृच्छ्रेऽस्मिन्कमन्यं मधुसूदन उपसंप्रष्टुमर्हामि त्वामृते पुरुषोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: In such a difficulty whom other, 0 slayer of Madhu, but yourself is it proper for us to consult, O best among men.
प्रियश्च प्रियकामश्च गतिज्ञः सर्वकर्मणाम् को हि कृष्णास्ति नस्त्वादृक्सर्वनिश्चयवित्सुहृत्
M. N. Dutt: Who is there, O Krishna, who is so dear a friend to ourselves, who desires our welfare so much, who knows so well the course of all acts and who is so well acquainted with the results of everything.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजं जनार्दनः उभयोरेव वामर्थे यास्यामि कुरुसंसदम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thus addressed, Janardana said to the king of virtue in reply. For the good for the good cause of both to you shall I go to the encampment of the Kurus.
शमं तत्र लभेयं चेद्युष्मदर्थमहापयन् पुण्यं मे सुमहद्राजंश्चरितं स्यान्महाफलम्
M. N. Dutt: If I succeed in ensuring peace there without a sacrifice of our interests, then will an act of great virtue and of large fruits be done by me, O king.
मोचयेयं मृत्युपाशात्संरब्धान्कुरुसृञ्जयान् पाण्डवान्धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च सर्वां च पृथिवीमिमाम्
M. N. Dutt: Then shall I free the band of the fated Kurus and Pandavas from the trap of death, as also this earth and all the sons of Dhritarashtra.
Supplementary Passages:
5.70.81 After 81, S ins.: *371 एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजो जनार्दनम् भ्रातॄणां समवेतानां स काले पुरुषोत्तमम्
युधिष्ठिर उवाच न ममैतन्मतं कृष्ण यत्त्वं यायाः कुरून्प्रति सुयोधनः सूक्तमपि न करिष्यति ते वचः
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said It is not my wish, O Krishna, that you should go to the Kurus. For Suyodhana, though spoken in a most friendly manner and for his own good, will not listen to your words.
Supplementary Passages:
5.70.82 After 83, T1 G1.5 ins.: *372 सुयोधनश्च दुष्टात्मा कर्णश्च सहसौबलः
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं सुयोधनवशानुगम् तेषां मध्यावतरणं तव कृष्ण न रोचये
M. N. Dutt: It is not proper for you, O Krishna, to go into the midst of that assembly of Kshatriya rulers of the earth, who follow the lead of Duryodhana.
न हि नः प्रीणयेद्द्रव्यं न देवत्वं कुतः सुखम् न च सर्वामरैश्वर्यं तव रोधेन माधव
M. N. Dutt: The gain of our object will not make us cheerful and what happiness shall we obtain from god-ship or the lordship over the immortals, if any ill happens to you.
भगवानुवाच जानाम्येतां महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पापताम् अवाच्यास्तु भविष्यामः सर्वलोके महीक्षिताम्
M. N. Dutt: The blessed God said I know the vicious nature, O great king, of that son of Dhritarashtra; but (by doing as I say) shall we not be spoken ill of in all these worlds in the universe.
न चापि मम पर्याप्ताः सहिताः सर्वपार्थिवाः क्रुद्धस्य प्रमुखे स्थातुं सिंहस्येवेतरे मृगाः
M. N. Dutt: All the rulers of the earth united together are not powerful enough to stand before me in battle when I am angry, like all other animals before a lion.
अथ चेत्ते प्रवर्तेरन्मयि किंचिदसांप्रतम् निर्दहेयं कुरून्सर्वानिति मे धीयते मतिः
M. N. Dutt: If they offer insult to me desiring for their good, I shall consume all the Kurus-such is my intention.
न जातु गमनं तत्र भवेत्पार्थ निरर्थकम् अर्थप्राप्तिः कदाचित्स्यादन्ततो वाप्यवाच्यता
M. N. Dutt: O son of Pritha, my going there shall not be without results. There will be some gain in going there, at least we shall not be blamed by others.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच यत्तुभ्यं रोचते कृष्ण स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि कौरवान् कृतार्थं स्वस्तिमन्तं त्वां द्रक्ष्यामि पुनरागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said As you please, O Krishna. May all that is good come out of it. Go to the sons of Kuru. May I see you return with your object gained and in health.
विष्वक्सेन कुरून्गत्वा भारताञ्शमयेः प्रभो यथा सर्वे सुमनसः सह स्यामः सुचेतसः
M. N. Dutt: Going to the Kurus, establish such peace among the sons of Bharata, O Lord, that we may live with all of them with cheerful minds and in contentment.
भ्राता चासि सखा चासि बीभत्सोर्मम च प्रियः सौहृदेनाविशङ्क्योऽसि स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भूतये
M. N. Dutt: You are my brother and you are my friend dear to me as Vibhatsa. Relying on your friendship we are not at all anxious. May all that is good attend you, who are going for our interests.
अस्मान्वेत्थ परान्वेत्थ वेत्थार्थं वेत्थ भाषितम् यद्यदस्मद्धितं कृष्ण तत्तद्वाच्यः सुयोधनः
M. N. Dutt: You know us and you know our enemy; you know what is conducive to our interests and you know what to say. Suyodhana should be addressed in such a way as will be for our benefit.
यद्यद्धर्मेण संयुक्तमुपपद्येद्धितं वचः तत्तत्केशव भाषेथाः सान्त्वं वा यदि वेतरत्
M. N. Dutt: Even if words that are beneficial (to both parties) do not strictly conform to virtue (e.g. peace even by our getting only five villages, which is a sin) or whatever they are (e.g. even if I am to play at a game of dice again) should be spoken by you, O Keshava.