Critical Edition
भगवानुवाच संजयस्य श्रुतं वाक्यं भवतश्च श्रुतं मया सर्वं जानाम्यभिप्रायं तेषां च भवतश्च यः
M. N. Dutt: The blessed God said The words of Sanjaya have been listened to by me as also your words. I know all their intentions and also those of yours.
तव धर्माश्रिता बुद्धिस्तेषां वैराश्रिता मतिः यदयुद्धेन लभ्येत तत्ते बहुमतं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: Your intentions are established on virtue; while their purposes are based on malice. What is gained by not having recourse to war, is much in your estimate.
न च तन्नैष्ठिकं कर्म क्षत्रियस्य विशां पते आहुराश्रमिणः सर्वे यद्भैक्षं क्षत्रियश्चरेत्
M. N. Dutt: A life-long practice of Brahmacharya vow is not the proper course of life for a Kshatriya, O lord of the universe. All the householders have said that a Kshatriya should not gain his livelihood by begging.
जयो वधो वा संग्रामे धात्रा दिष्टः सनातनः स्वधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष कार्पण्यं न प्रशस्यते
M. N. Dutt: Victory or death has been originally fixed by the Father of the universe. The proper course of life for a Kshatriya is this (war) and it is not proper to show a humiliating spirit in this course. son
न हि कार्पण्यमास्थाय शक्या वृत्तिर्युधिष्ठिर विक्रमस्व महाबाहो जहि शत्रूनरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: Earning one's livelihood is not possible by a policy based on a humiliating spirit, O Yudhishthira; show your strength, O you with long arms and conquer your enemies, O you chastiser of your enemies.
अतिगृद्धाः कृतस्नेहा दीर्घकालं सहोषिताः कृतमित्राः कृतबला धार्तराष्ट्राः परंतप
M. N. Dutt: The exceedingly avaricious of Dhritarashtra, has, O chastiser of your enemies, lived for too long a time united with other, enjoying their affection and their friendship and supported by them.
न पर्यायोऽस्ति यत्साम्यं त्वयि कुर्युर्विशां पते बलवत्तां हि मन्यन्ते भीष्मद्रोणकृपादिभिः
M. N. Dutt: The peace of the Kurus with you is therefore not expedient or desirable (they think), O lord of the universe. They think themselves strong having on their side Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and others.
यावच्च मार्दवेनैतान्राजन्नुपचरिष्यसि तावदेते हरिष्यन्ति तव राज्यमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: So long as you treat these, O king, with kindness, they will deprive you of your kingdom, O you chastiser of your foes.
नानुक्रोशान्न कार्पण्यान्न च धर्मार्थकारणात् अलं कर्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रास्तव काममरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: Not out of kindness, nor out of cowardice and not even from a desire to gain virtue or profit will the son of Dhritarashtra do as you wish, O you chastiser of your foes.
एतदेव निमित्तं ते पाण्डवास्तु यथा त्वयि नान्वतप्यन्त कौपीनं तावत्कृत्वापि दुष्करम्
M. N. Dutt: This is an example of the feeling they bear you, O son of Pandu. They are not even sorry for making you wear the Kaupinas (a strip of cloth-a sign of a mendicant and undergoing all these hardships.
पितामहस्य द्रोणस्य विदुरस्य च धीमतः पश्यतां कुरुमुख्यानां सर्वेषामेव तत्त्वतः
AI Translation: In the presence of the grandfather, Drona, and the wise Vidura, and all the foremost Kurus, who were watching,
Supplementary Passages:
5.71.11 After 11ab, N (K3 missing) T2 ins.: *373 ब्राह्मणानां च साधूनां राज्ञश्च नगरस्य च
दानशीलं मृदुं दान्तं धर्मकाममनुव्रतम् यत्त्वामुपधिना राजन्द्यूतेनावञ्चयत्तदा न चापत्रपते पापो नृशंसस्तेन कर्मणा
AI Translation: "One who is generous, of good conduct, gentle, self-controlled, desiring Dharma, and following the right path," "You, O king, were cheated by him through gambling under the pretext of a game," "The wicked one is not ashamed of that deed, the cruel one
तथाशीलसमाचारे राजन्मा प्रणयं कृथाः वध्यास्ते सर्वलोकस्य किं पुनस्तव भारत
M. N. Dutt: With one who is of such habits of life, do not, O king, contract a friendship; they are fit to be killed by any man; then why not by you, OBharata.
वाग्भिस्त्वप्रतिरूपाभिरतुदत्सकनीयसम् श्लाघमानः प्रहृष्टः सन्भाषते भ्रातृभिः सह
M. N. Dutt: With improper speeches against you did they boast rejoicingly with their brothers, at yourself and your younger.
एतावत्पाण्डवानां हि नास्ति किंचिदिह स्वकम् नामधेयं च गोत्रं च तदप्येषां न शिष्यते
M. N. Dutt: He said-Now have the sons of Pandu nothing to call their own in this world. Their very names and the name of their family even no longer exist.
कालेन महता चैषां भविष्यति पराभवः प्रकृतिं ते भजिष्यन्ति नष्टप्रकृतयो जनाः
M. N. Dutt: As great time rolls on, they will meet with defeat. Your subjects no longer yours will now adhere to me.
Supplementary Passages:
5.71.16 After 16, N (K3 missing; K5 om.; B3 om. lines 4-6; D2 marg. sec. m.; D10 marg.) T2 ins.: *374 दुःशासनेन पापेन तदा द्यूते प्रवर्तिते अनाथवत्तदा देवी द्रौपदी सुदुरात्मना आकृष्य केशे रुदती सभायां राजसंसदि भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतो गौरिति व्याहृता मुहुः भवता वारिताः सर्वे भ्रातरो भीमविक्रमाः धर्मपाशनिबद्धाश्च न किंचित्प्रतिपेदिरे
एताश्चान्याश्च परुषा वाचः स समुदीरयन् श्लाघते ज्ञातिमध्ये स्म त्वयि प्रव्रजिते वनम्
M. N. Dutt: He pronounced these cruel words and others and he expressed plea are among his cousins at your being exiled into the forest.
ये तत्रासन्समानीतास्ते दृष्ट्वा त्वामनागसम् अश्रुकण्ठा रुदन्तश्च सभायामासते तदा
M. N. Dutt: Those who were assembled there, seeing you without any fault at the time sat in the council weeping with choked voices.
न चैनमभ्यनन्दंस्ते राजानो ब्राह्मणैः सह सर्वे दुर्योधनं तत्र निन्दन्ति स्म सभासदः
M. N. Dutt: Those kings along with the Brahmanas did not praise him for this; and all the courtiers there spoke ill of Duryodhana,
कुलीनस्य च या निन्दा वधश्चामित्रकर्शन महागुणो वधो राजन्न तु निन्दा कुजीविका
M. N. Dutt: Blame to one born in a high family is death itself, O you chastiser of your foes. Worthless life with blame attached is death many times over, Oking.
तदैव निहतो राजन्यदैव निरपत्रपः निन्दितश्च महाराज पृथिव्यां सर्वराजसु
M. N. Dutt: Since that time is he dead, when he was without shame, though blamed by all the kings on earth, O great king.
ईषत्कार्यो वधस्तस्य यस्य चारित्रमीदृशम् प्रस्कम्भनप्रतिस्तब्धश्छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः
M. N. Dutt: He whose character is of this description can be killed with very little effort like a tree with all its roots cut asunder and standing only on its principal root.
वध्यः सर्प इवानार्यः सर्वलोकस्य दुर्मतिः जह्येनं त्वममित्रघ्न मा राजन्विचिकित्सिथाः
M. N. Dutt: Like a serpent is that dishonourable and wicked-souled wretch fit to he slain by everyone. Kill him therefore, O you slayer of your foes; and do not hesitate, Oking.
सर्वथा त्वत्क्षमं चैतद्रोचते च ममानघ यत्त्वं पितरि भीष्मे च प्रणिपातं समाचरेः
M. N. Dutt: It is proper by all means and my wish, too, that you should pay proper respects to him who is like a father to you, as also to Bhishma.
अहं तु सर्वलोकस्य गत्वा छेत्स्यामि संशयम् येषामस्ति द्विधाभावो राजन्दुर्योधनं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: I, too, going there, shall remove the doubts of all men, who are of one opinion and now of another regarding Duryodhana, O king.
मध्ये राज्ञामहं तत्र प्रातिपौरुषिकान्गुणान् तव संकीर्तयिष्यामि ये च तस्य व्यतिक्रमाः
M. N. Dutt: In the midst of the kings shall I describe all your good qualities among men, as also defects.
ब्रुवतस्तत्र मे वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् निशम्य पार्थिवाः सर्वे नानाजनपदेश्वराः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing me, speak beneficial words conducive to both virtue and worldly good. All the rulers of the earth, the lords of the different provinces,
त्वयि संप्रतिपत्स्यन्ते धर्मात्मा सत्यवागिति तस्मिंश्चाधिगमिष्यन्ति यथा लोभादवर्तत
M. N. Dutt: Will know you to be virtuous shouted and truthful of speech and will know how avariciously inclined he is.
गर्हयिष्यामि चैवैनं पौरजानपदेष्वपि वृद्धबालानुपादाय चातुर्वर्ण्यसमागमे
M. N. Dutt: I shell speak of his defects before both people of towns and villages, before both old and young and before all the members of the four orders assembled there.
शमं चेद्याचमानस्त्वं न धर्मं तत्र लप्स्यसे कुरून्विगर्हयिष्यन्ति धृतराष्ट्रं च पार्थिवाः
M. N. Dutt: You will not be called sinful there; for you ask peace and the rulers of the earth will blame the Kurus and Dhritarashtra.
तस्मिँल्लोकपरित्यक्ते किं कार्यमवशिष्यते हते दुर्योधने राजन्यदन्यत्क्रियतामिति
M. N. Dutt: When he is forsaken by men, what shall there be left to be done and Duryodhana is killed; do whatever remains to be accomplished.
यात्वा चाहं कुरून्सर्वान्युष्मदर्थमहापयन् यतिष्ये प्रशमं कर्तुं लक्षयिष्ये च चेष्टितम्
M. N. Dutt: Going to all the Kurus, I shall seek to effect peace without any sacrifice of your interests; and shall observe their intentions.
कौरवाणां प्रवृत्तिं च गत्वा युद्धाधिकारिकाम् निशाम्य विनिवर्तिष्ये जयाय तव भारत
M. N. Dutt: Having observed and made out the intentions of the sons of Kuru and their preparations for war I shall come back to make victory yours, O Bharata.
सर्वथा युद्धमेवाहमाशंसामि परैः सह निमित्तानि हि सर्वाणि तथा प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे
M. N. Dutt: I anticipate war with the enemy by all mcans. It seems to me that all the signs indicate the same.
मृगाः शकुन्ताश्च वदन्ति घोरं; हस्त्यश्वमुख्येषु निशामुखेषु घोराणि रूपाणि तथैव चाग्नि;र्वर्णान्बहून्पुष्यति घोररूपान् मनुष्यलोकक्षपणोऽथ घोरो; नो चेदनुप्राप्त इहान्तकः स्यात्
AI Translation: In the evening, animals and birds utter terrible cries, and in the morning, elephants and horses. The fire also assumes terrible forms and produces many terrible forms. If the terrible destruction of the
शस्त्राणि पत्रं कवचान्रथांश्च; नागान्ध्वजांश्च प्रतिपादयित्वा योधाश्च सर्वे कृतनिश्रमास्ते; भवन्तु हस्त्यश्वरथेषु यत्ताः सांग्रामिकं ते यदुपार्जनीयं; सर्वं समग्रं कुरु तन्नरेन्द्र
AI Translation: Having given away weapons, armor, chariots, elephants, and banners, and having made all the warriors rest, may they be ready on elephants, horses, and chariots. O king, may you accomplish all that is to be accomplished in battle,
दुर्योधनो न ह्यलमद्य दातुं; जीवंस्तवैतन्नृपते कथंचित् यत्ते पुरस्तादभवत्समृद्धं; द्यूते हृतं पाण्डवमुख्य राज्यम्
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana, O lord of men, will not be able to return you any portion of your prosperous territories which were yours in days of old and which he stole from you at a game of dice.