Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच भगवन्नेवमेवैतद्यथा वदसि नारद इच्छामि चाहमप्येवं न त्वीशो भगवन्नहम्
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O you endued with divine prosperity, it is as you say O Narada, and I too wish the same thing, but you endued with heavenly prosperity, I am not the master.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा ततः कृष्णमभ्यभाषत भारत स्वर्ग्यं लोक्यं च मामात्थ धर्म्यं न्याय्यं च केशव
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Saying this the descendant of Kurus said to Krishna "O Keshava, you have said to me what leads to (the attainment of) heaven, to the benefit of the world and which is virtuous and just.
न त्वहं स्ववशस्तात क्रियमाणं न मे प्रियम् अङ्ग दुर्योधनं कृष्ण मन्दं शास्त्रातिगं मम
M. N. Dutt: But I am not my own master, O you of long arms; O best of men, try persuade, O Krishna, my wicked son Duryodhana, who disregards injunctions of the scriptures who never dose what is pleasing to me and never listens to good words.
Supplementary Passages:
5.122.3 After 3ab, T G ins.: *472 न मंस्यन्ते दुरात्मानः पुत्रा मम जनार्दन
अनुनेतुं महाबाहो यतस्व पुरुषोत्तम सुहृत्कार्यं तु सुमहत्कृतं ते स्याज्जनार्दन
AI Translation: O mighty-armed one, O best of men, try to conciliate him. O Janardana, a great favour to your friend would be done by you.
Supplementary Passages:
5.122.4 After 4ab, K4 B D (except D1; D2 marg. sec. m.) ins.: *473 न शृणोति महाबाहो वचनं साधु भाषितम् गान्धार्याश्च हृषीकेश विदुरस्य च धीमतः अन्येषां चैव सुहृदां भीष्मादीनां हितैषिणाम् स त्वं पापमतिं क्रूरं पापचित्तमचेतनम् अनुशाधि दुरात्मानं स्वयं दुर्योधनं नृपम्
ततोऽभ्यावृत्य वार्ष्णेयो दुर्योधनममर्षणम् अब्रवीन्मधुरां वाचं सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्
AI Translation: Then the son of Vasudeva, having turned back, spoke to the intolerant Duryodhana, who knew the truth of all Dharma and Artha, in sweet words.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं मद्वाक्यं कुरुसत्तम समर्थं ते विशेषेण सानुबन्धस्य भारत
AI Translation: O Duryodhana, O best of the Kurus, listen to these words of mine. They are especially appropriate for you, O descendant of the Bharata lineage, who are bound by ties.
महाप्राज्ञ कुले जातः साध्वेतत्कर्तुमर्हसि श्रुतवृत्तोपसंपन्नः सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः
AI Translation: You are born in a great family, and it is right for you to do this. Endowed with learning and conduct, endowed with all the qualities.
दौष्कुलेया दुरात्मानो नृशंसा निरपत्रपाः त एतदीदृशं कुर्युर्यथा त्वं तात मन्यसे
AI Translation: "Those of bad families, of bad characters, cruel, shameless, they would do such a thing as you think, father."
धर्मार्थयुक्ता लोकेऽस्मिन्प्रवृत्तिर्लक्ष्यते सताम् असतां विपरीता तु लक्ष्यते भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: In this world, the good are seen to be engaged in what is in accordance with dharma and artha, but the wicked are seen to be the opposite, O bull of the Bharata lineage.
विपरीता त्वियं वृत्तिरसकृल्लक्ष्यते त्वयि अधर्मश्चानुबन्धोऽत्र घोरः प्राणहरो महान्
AI Translation: But this conduct of yours is contrary to that, and is seen again and again. And the result of this is a great, terrible, life-taking evil.
अनेकशस्त्वन्निमित्तमयशस्यं च भारत तमनर्थं परिहरन्नात्मश्रेयः करिष्यसि
AI Translation: O descendant of Bharata, this is the cause of much dishonor. Avoiding that misfortune, you will do what is best for yourself.
भ्रातॄणामथ भृत्यानां मित्राणां च परंतप अधर्म्यादयशस्याच्च कर्मणस्त्वं प्रमोक्ष्यसे
AI Translation: From the unrighteous and unpraiseworthy deed, O scorcher of enemies, you will be released, from the deed of your brothers, servants and friends.
प्राज्ञैः शूरैर्महोत्साहैरात्मवद्भिर्बहुश्रुतैः संधत्स्व पुरुषव्याघ्र पाण्डवैर्भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: With the wise, the brave, the very energetic, the self-controlled, the learned, O tiger among men, O bull of the Bharata lineage, make peace with the Pandavas.
तद्धितं च प्रियं चैव धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः पितामहस्य द्रोणस्य विदुरस्य महामतेः
AI Translation: The intelligent Dhritarashtra, the grandfather, Drona, and the greatly wise Vidura,
कृपस्य सोमदत्तस्य बाह्लीकस्य च धीमतः अश्वत्थाम्नो विकर्णस्य संजयस्य विशां पते
AI Translation: of Kripa, Somadatta, and the wise Bahlika, of Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and Sanjaya, O Lord of the People,
ज्ञातीनां चैव भूयिष्ठं मित्राणां च परंतप शमे शर्म भवेत्तात सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा
AI Translation: O scorcher of enemies, it is for the sake of the majority of kinsmen and friends, and for the peace and welfare of the entire world.
ह्रीमानसि कुले जातः श्रुतवाननृशंसवान् तिष्ठ तात पितुः शास्त्रे मातुश्च भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: In peace, there will be your benefit, my dear friend, as also that of the entire world; be endued with modesty, for you are born in a noble family, and be learned and human; therefore, my dear friend, do you follow the commands of your father and mother. O best among the Bharatas.
एतच्छ्रेयो हि मन्यन्ते पिता यच्छास्ति भारत उत्तमापद्गतः सर्वः पितुः स्मरति शासनम्
M. N. Dutt: People consider that to be conducive to his good which a father commands, O Bharata, and a good man, when meeting with a danger, remembers all the commands of his father.
रोचते ते पितुस्तात पाण्डवैः सह संगमः सामात्यस्य कुरुश्रेष्ठ तत्तुभ्यं तात रोचताम्
M. N. Dutt: Peace, my dear friend, with the sons of Pandu is pleasing to your father and you foremost among the Kurus, may it prove pleasing to yourself along with your advisers.
श्रुत्वा यः सुहृदां शास्त्रं मर्त्यो न प्रतिपद्यते विपाकान्ते दहत्येनं किंपाकमिव भक्षितम्
M. N. Dutt: That man, who hearing the advice of his friends, does not act according to it, in the end is consumed like one who has eaten the Kimpaka fruit.
यस्तु निःश्रेयसं वाक्यं मोहान्न प्रतिपद्यते स दीर्घसूत्रो हीनार्थः पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते
M. N. Dutt: He, who out of folly, does not act according to the advice, than which nothing is more beneficial, is visited by the effects of procrastination, does not gain his object and is afterwards struck with remorse.
यस्तु निःश्रेयसं श्रुत्वा प्राप्तमेवाभिपद्यते आत्मनो मतमुत्सृज्य स लोके सुखमेधते
M. N. Dutt: He, who having heard that, than which nothing is more beneficial, acts up to it abandoning his own opinions, gets happiness in this world.
योऽर्थकामस्य वचनं प्रातिकूल्यान्न मृष्यते शृणोति प्रतिकूलानि द्विषतां वशमेति सः
M. N. Dutt: He, who does not act to the advice of one who desires his good thinking it to be against his interests and listens to what is really so (against his interests), comes under the power of his enemies.
सतां मतमतिक्रम्य योऽसतां वर्तते मते शोचन्ते व्यसने तस्य सुहृदो नचिरादिव
M. N. Dutt: The friends of him, who disregarding the opinions of the honest, follows that of dishonest men, soon grave at his distress,
मुख्यानमात्यानुत्सृज्य यो निहीनान्निषेवते स घोरामापदं प्राप्य नोत्तारमधिगच्छति
M. N. Dutt: He, who abandoning his principal advisers according to the injunctions of inferior ones, meets with grave dangers and does not come out of them safe.
योऽसत्सेवी वृथाचारो न श्रोता सुहृदां सदा परान्वृणीते स्वान्द्वेष्टि तं गौः शपति भारत
M. N. Dutt: He, who acts according to the advice of dishonest men, who behaves falsely and does not listen to the advice of good friends and prefers others to those who are his own, is cast off by the earth, O Bharata.
स त्वं विरुध्य तैर्वीरैरन्येभ्यस्त्राणमिच्छसि अशिष्टेभ्योऽसमर्थेभ्यो मूढेभ्यो भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Yourself, being opposed to those heroes, desire to be served by those who are strangers to you, and who are dishonest, incompetent and fools, O best among the Bharatas.
को हि शक्रसमाञ्ज्ञातीनतिक्रम्य महारथान् अन्येभ्यस्त्राणमाशंसेत्त्वदन्यो भुवि मानवः
M. N. Dutt: What man, besides yourself in this world, abandoning kinsmen who are mighty carwarriors and each equal to Shakra himself, expects safely with the help of others.
जन्मप्रभृति कौन्तेया नित्यं विनिकृतास्त्वया न च ते जातु कुप्यन्ति धर्मात्मानो हि पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Ever since their birth, have the sons of Kunti been persecuted by you but those virtuous-souled sons of Pandu are not vindictive at your conduct.
मिथ्याप्रचरितास्तात जन्मप्रभृति पाण्डवाः त्वयि सम्यङ्महाबाहो प्रतिपन्ना यशस्विनः
M. N. Dutt: O friend, ever since birth the sons of Pandu have been treated with deception but those renowned men, O you of long arms, have treated you generously.
त्वयापि प्रतिपत्तव्यं तथैव भरतर्षभ स्वेषु बन्धुषु मुख्येषु मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः
M. N. Dutt: By you too should they be treated in the same way, O you best among the race of Bharata; do not show anger towards your own kinsmen.
त्रिवर्गयुक्ता प्राज्ञानामारम्भा भरतर्षभ धर्मार्थावनुरुध्यन्ते त्रिवर्गासंभवे नराः
M. N. Dutt: The energy of wise men follows all the three objects (virtue, profit and desire) O best among the race of Bharata and in the event of it being impossible to follow all the three objects people choose virtue and profit.
पृथक्तु विनिविष्टानां धर्मं धीरोऽनुरुध्यते मध्यमोऽर्थं कलिं बालः काममेवानुरुध्यते
M. N. Dutt: If these three are to be pursued separately a wise inan chooses virtue; an indifferent man (i.e. neither wise nor a fool) chooses worldly good, while a boy chooses desire.
इन्द्रियैः प्रसृतो लोभाद्धर्मं विप्रजहाति यः कामार्थावनुपायेन लिप्समानो विनश्यति
M. N. Dutt: The fool, who out of avarice and desire for sexual pleasure, abandons virtue and desires to gain his desire and profit by improper means, is ruined.
कामार्थौ लिप्समानस्तु धर्ममेवादितश्चरेत् न हि धर्मादपैत्यर्थः कामो वापि कदाचन
M. N. Dutt: The man, who is desirous of gaining the object of desire or worldly profit, must first of all practice virtue; desire or profit is seldom detached from virtue.
उपायं धर्ममेवाहुस्त्रिवर्गस्य विशां पते लिप्समानो हि तेनाशु कक्षेऽग्निरिव वर्धते
M. N. Dutt: It is said that virtue is the means of gaining the three objects, O lord of the universe; and he, who is desirous of getting them by this means increases in prosperity as fire in a heap of dry grass.
स त्वं तातानुपायेन लिप्ससे भरतर्षभ आधिराज्यं महद्दीप्तं प्रथितं सर्वराजसु
M. N. Dutt: You however, my dear friend, desire to get by improper means a greatly extensive kingdom well known among all the kings.
आत्मानं तक्षति ह्येष वनं परशुना यथा यः सम्यग्वर्तमानेषु मिथ्या राजन्प्रवर्तते
M. N. Dutt: He, who behaves deceitfully towards those following the right path, O king, cuts himself down as the forest by an axe; one does not cut off the intellect of another whose defeat he does not desire.
Supplementary Passages:
5.122.38 After 38, T G ins.: *474 अमित्रो नातिकर्तव्यो नातिदेयः कदाचन जीवितं ह्यपि दुःखार्ता न त्यजन्ति कदाचन
न तस्य हि मतिं छिन्द्याद्यस्य नेच्छेत्पराभवम् अविच्छिन्नस्य धीरस्य कल्याणे धीयते मतिः
M. N. Dutt: For one, whose intellect has been clouded, cannot direct his attention to what is conducive to his good. One who keeps his soul under proper control does not think lightly of anything in the three worlds, O Bharata,
त्यक्तात्मानं न बाधेत त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत अप्यन्यं प्राकृतं किंचित्किमु तान्पाण्डवर्षभान्
AI Translation: O descendant of Bharata, he who has renounced his self is not to be harmed in the three worlds. What to say of those bulls among the Pandavas, who are not ordinary at
अमर्षवशमापन्नो न किंचिद्बुध्यते नरः छिद्यते ह्याततं सर्वं प्रमाणं पश्य भारत
AI Translation: A man who falls under the power of anger does not understand anything. Everything that is stretched out is cut off. See, O descendant of Bharata,
श्रेयस्ते दुर्जनात्तात पाण्डवैः सह संगमः तैर्हि संप्रीयमाणस्त्वं सर्वान्कामानवाप्स्यसि
AI Translation: It is better for you to have contact with the Pandavas than with the wicked. By pleasing them, you will obtain all your desires.
पाण्डवैर्निर्जितां भूमिं भुञ्जानो राजसत्तम पाण्डवान्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा त्राणमाशंससेऽन्यतः
AI Translation: O best of kings, you enjoy the land conquered by the Pandavas, and with the Pandavas behind you, you seek protection elsewhere.
दुःशासने दुर्विषहे कर्णे चापि ससौबले एतेष्वैश्वर्यमाधाय भूतिमिच्छसि भारत
AI Translation: In Duhshāsana, in the invincible Karna, and in the son of Subala, you wish to place your prosperity, O descendant of Bharata.
न चैते तव पर्याप्ता ज्ञाने धर्मार्थयोस्तथा विक्रमे चाप्यपर्याप्ताः पाण्डवान्प्रति भारत
AI Translation: And they are not enough for you to know about dharma and artha, and they are not enough for you to match the Pandavas in valour, O descendant of the Bharata lineage.
न हीमे सर्वराजानः पर्याप्ताः सहितास्त्वया क्रुद्धस्य भीमसेनस्य प्रेक्षितुं मुखमाहवे
AI Translation: Even all these kings together are not enough to match you, to look at the face of the angry Bhimasena in battle.
इदं संनिहितं तात समग्रं पार्थिवं बलम् अयं भीष्मस्तथा द्रोणः कर्णश्चायं तथा कृपः
AI Translation: This entire army of the king is present here, father. This is Bhishma, and Drona, and Karna, and Kripa.
भूरिश्रवाः सौमदत्तिरश्वत्थामा जयद्रथः अशक्ताः सर्व एवैते प्रतियोद्धुं धनंजयम्
AI Translation: Bhuri-shravas, Souma-datta, Ashva-tthama, Jayad-ratha, all of them were unable to fight with Dhanan-jaya.
अजेयो ह्यर्जुनः क्रुद्धः सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः मानुषैरपि गन्धर्वैर्मा युद्धे चेत आधिथाः
M. N. Dutt: All these are incapable of fighting against Dhananjaya. This Arjuna is invincible in battle by all the Gods and Asuras and by all human beings and Gandharvas. Do not fix your mind on battle.
दृश्यतां वा पुमान्कश्चित्समग्रे पार्थिवे बले योऽर्जुनं समरे प्राप्य स्वस्तिमानाव्रजेद्गृहान्
M. N. Dutt: Do you see any man in this entire army who, having met Arjuna face to face in battle, has returned home safe?
किं ते जनक्षयेणेह कृतेन भरतर्षभ यस्मिञ्जिते जितं ते स्यात्पुमानेकः स दृश्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: Of what advantage will a massacre of men be to you, O best among the Bharatas. Show me the man who will defeat the one whose defeat will mean victory to you,
यः स देवान्सगन्धर्वान्सयक्षासुरपन्नगान् अजयत्खाण्डवप्रस्थे कस्तं युध्येत मानवः
M. N. Dutt: Him who vanquished the gods along with the Gandharvas and Yakshas, and Asuras and Serpents in Khandava Prastha-who will fight against that son of Pandavas?
तथा विराटनगरे श्रूयते महदद्भुतम् एकस्य च बहूनां च पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: In the same way in the city of Virata is heard a very strange tale in the fight of one against many; that is a sufficient proof.
Supplementary Passages:
5.122.53 After 53, K4 Dn D3.4.6.8.9 ins.: *475 युद्धे येन महादेवः साक्षात्संतोषितः शिवः
तमजेयमनाधृष्यं विजेतुं जिष्णुमच्युतम् आशंससीह समरे वीरमर्जुनमूर्जितम्
M. N. Dutt: Do you wish to defeat that unconquerable, irrepressible and undetoriating Jishnu, the heroic Arjuna when enraged in battle, by whom in an encounter even Mahadeva was gratified?
मद्द्वितीयं पुनः पार्थं कः प्रार्थयितुमर्हति युद्धे प्रतीपमायान्तमपि साक्षात्पुरंदरः
M. N. Dutt: Who can wish to defeat him having me as his help when he goes to the battle field like Indra (himself)?
बाहुभ्यामुद्धरेद्भूमिं दहेत्क्रुद्ध इमाः प्रजाः पातयेत्त्रिदिवाद्देवान्योऽर्जुनं समरे जयेत्
M. N. Dutt: He, who would defeat Arjuna in battle, could bear the earth with his arms and being excited with wrath could burn up all earthy creatures, and could hurl down the gods from heaven.
पश्य पुत्रांस्तथा भ्रातॄञ्ज्ञातीन्संबन्धिनस्तथा त्वत्कृते न विनश्येयुरेते भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Look at your sons and at your brothers and at your kinsmen and other relations; let them not be destroyed by an act done by you, O you best among the race of Bharata.
अस्तु शेषं कौरवाणां मा पराभूदिदं कुलम् कुलघ्न इति नोच्येथा नष्टकीर्तिर्नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: Let not this race of Kurus be exterminated ard let not yourself be spoken of as the destroyer of the race and be of great notoriety, O lord of men.
त्वामेव स्थापयिष्यन्ति यौवराज्ये महारथाः महाराज्ये च पितरं धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Those mighty car warriors will establish yourself as the viceroy and your father Dhritarashtra, the lord of men, as the emperor.
मा तात श्रियमायान्तीमवमंस्थाः समुद्यताम् अर्धं प्रदाय पार्थेभ्यो महतीं श्रियमाप्स्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Do you not, my dear friend, disregard this prosperity which has appeared in the horizon and is about to come to you; having given half to the sons of Pritha attain to great prosperity.
पाण्डवैः संशमं कृत्वा कृत्वा च सुहृदां वचः संप्रीयमाणो मित्रैश्च चिरं भद्राण्यवाप्स्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Having effected peace with the sons of Pandu and listening to the advice to your friends and living in peace with your friends will you ever attain to blessing.