Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु विमनास्तिर्यग्दृष्टिरधोमुखः संहत्य च भ्रुवोर्मध्यं न किंचिद्व्याजहार ह
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Duryodhana, being thus addressed, seemed absorbed in thoughts, with his face hanging down and casting oblique glances; he began to contract the space between the two eye-brows and said not a word.
तं वै विमनसं दृष्ट्वा संप्रेक्ष्यान्योन्यमन्तिकात् पुनरेवोत्तरं वाक्यमुक्तवन्तौ नरर्षभौ
M. N. Dutt: Seeing him absent-minded those two best among men glancing at each other again said the following words.
भीष्म उवाच शुश्रूषुमनसूयं च ब्रह्मण्यं सत्यसंगरम् प्रतियोत्स्यामहे पार्थमतो दुःखतरं नु किम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said That we shall have to fight against the son of Pritha who is devoted to the service of his elders, without jealousy, conversant with Brahma and a speaker of truth-what can be more painful than this.
द्रोण उवाच अश्वत्थाम्नि यथा पुत्रे भूयो मम धनंजये बहुमानः परो राजन्संनतिश्च कपिध्वजे
M. N. Dutt: Drona said My affection for Dhananjaya is greater than what I bear to my son Ashvathama; and the one, having the figure of a monkey on his banner, too has great respect and deference for me, Oking.
तं चेत्पुत्रात्प्रियतरं प्रतियोत्स्ये धनंजयम् क्षत्रधर्ममनुष्ठाय धिगस्तु क्षत्रजीविकाम्
M. N. Dutt: With him who is dear to me than my son namely Dhananjaya, shall I have to fight in observing the duties of a Kshatriya. Fie on the profession of a Kshatriya.
यस्य लोके समो नास्ति कश्चिदन्यो धनुर्धरः मत्प्रसादात्स बीभत्सुः श्रेयानन्यैर्धनुर्धरैः
M. N. Dutt: He who is equaled by no bowman in this earth-it is through my grace and favour, is superior to other wielders of the bow.
मित्रध्रुग्दुष्टभावश्च नास्तिकोऽथानृजुः शठः न सत्सु लभते पूजां यज्ञे मूर्ख इवागतः
M. N. Dutt: One who injures the interests of friends, who is of a wicked habit, an atheist, crooked and a deceitful man, does not get worship among the honest as an ignorant man coming to a sacrificial ceremony.
वार्यमाणोऽपि पापेभ्यः पापात्मा पापमिच्छति चोद्यमानोऽपि पापेन शुभात्मा शुभमिच्छति
M. N. Dutt: A wicked-souled man inclines to wicked deeds though dissuaded from them and a virtuous-souled man, though urged to vice, desires to do good deeds.
मिथ्योपचरिता ह्येते वर्तमाना ह्यनु प्रिये अहितत्वाय कल्पन्ते दोषा भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: These sons of Pandu, though treacherously dealt with by you, now desire only what is good for you who cherish wicked intentions, O you best among the Bharatas, for your own injury.
त्वमुक्तः कुरुवृद्धेन मया च विदुरेण च वासुदेवेन च तथा श्रेयो नैवाभिपद्यसे
M. N. Dutt: You have been spoken to by the oldest among the Kurus, and by myself and by Vidura as also by Vasudeva but you do not accept what is beneficial to you.
अस्ति मे बलमित्येव सहसा त्वं तितीर्षसि सग्राहनक्रमकरं गङ्गावेगमिवोष्णगे
M. N. Dutt: "I have got an army” with this thought you desire to overcome the Pandavas as the current of the Ganga flows into the ocean, full of sharks, alligators and crocodiles during the rainy season.
वास एव यथा हि त्वं प्रावृण्वानोऽद्य मन्यसे स्रजं त्यक्तामिव प्राप्य लोभाद्यौधिष्ठिरीं श्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: Putting on as it were cast off clothes you have taken on yourself the cast off prosperity of Yudhishthira and think it to be your own. The son of Pritha in company with Draupadi and surrounded by his brothers,
द्रौपदीसहितं पार्थं सायुधैर्भ्रातृभिर्वृतम् वनस्थमपि राज्यस्थः पाण्डवं कोऽतिजीवति
AI Translation: Duryodhana said: "How can the Pāṇḍava, who is in the forest, live better than me, who is in the kingdom, surrounded by his brothers and weapons,
निदेशे यस्य राजानः सर्वे तिष्ठन्ति किंकराः तमैलविलमासाद्य धर्मराजो व्यराजत
AI Translation: In whose command all kings stand as servants, Having reached that Ailavila, the king of Dharma shone.
कुबेरसदनं प्राप्य ततो रत्नान्यवाप्य च स्फीतमाक्रम्य ते राष्ट्रं राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः
AI Translation: Having reached Kubera's abode, and having obtained jewels, and having conquered the prosperous kingdom, the Pandavas desire the kingdom.
दत्तं हुतमधीतं च ब्राह्मणास्तर्पिता धनैः आवयोर्गतमायुश्च कृतकृत्यौ च विद्धि नौ
AI Translation: What has been given, what has been offered, what has been studied, and the Brahmins have been satisfied with wealth. Know that our life has gone and we are accomplished.
त्वं तु हित्वा सुखं राज्यं मित्राणि च धनानि च विग्रहं पाण्डवैः कृत्वा महद्व्यसनमाप्स्यसि
AI Translation: But you, having abandoned happiness, kingdom, friends, and wealth, having made war with the Pāṇḍavas, will come to great calamity.
द्रौपदी यस्य चाशास्ते विजयं सत्यवादिनी तपोघोरव्रता देवी न त्वं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम्
AI Translation: Droupadi, the truthful speaker, has predicted his victory. The goddess, with her severe austerities and vows, will not let you defeat the Pandava.
मन्त्री जनार्दनो यस्य भ्राता यस्य धनंजयः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं कथं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम्
M. N. Dutt: That lady devoted to austere asceticismhow can you defeat that son of Pandu. Him whose adviser is Janardana, whose brother is Dhananjaya, the foremost among all wielders of weapon-how will you defeat that son of Pandu.
सहाया ब्राह्मणा यस्य धृतिमन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः तमुग्रतपसं वीरं कथं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम्
M. N. Dutt: Him on whose side Brahmanas, endued with wisdom and who have controlled their senses, have declared themselves, how can you defeat that son of Pandu, that hero of rigid austerities.
पुनरुक्तं च वक्ष्यामि यत्कार्यं भूतिमिच्छता सुहृदा मज्जमानेषु सुहृत्सु व्यसनार्णवे
M. N. Dutt: I tell you again, according to the policy that ought to be adopt by a well-wisher who wishes the prosperity of a friend sunk into ocean of distress,
अलं युद्धेन तैर्वीरैः शाम्य त्वं कुरुवृद्धये मा गमः ससुतामात्यः सबलश्च पराभवम्
M. N. Dutt: That there is no necessity to fight with these heroes; make peace for the sake of prosperity of the Kurus; do not invite along with your sons and ministers and your army, defeat.