क्षत्रे सम्राजमात्मानं कर्तुमर्हसि भारत। दुर्योधनं शान्तनवं द्रोणं द्रौणायनिं कृपम्
Therefore, O Bhārata, you should make yourself emperor in the Kṣatriya order; but Duryodhana, the son of Śāntanu, Droṇa, the son of Droṇa, and Kṛpa—
कर्णं च शिशुपालं च रुक्मिणं च धनुर्धरम्। एकलव्यं द्रुमं श्वेतं शैब्यं शकुनिमेव च
—Karna, Śiśupāla, Rukmi the archer, Ekalavya, Druma, Śveta, Śaibya, and also Śakuni—
एतानजित्वा सङ्ग्रामे कथं शक्नोषि तं क्रतुम्। तथैते गौरवेणैव न योत्स्यन्ति नराधिपाः
—without conquering these in battle, how can you accomplish that sacrifice? And these kings, out of respect, will not fight.
एकस्तत्र बलोन्मत्तः कर्णो वैकर्तनो वृषा। योत्स्यते स परामर्षी दिव्यास्रबलगर्वितः
There, Karṇa, son of Vikartana, intoxicated with strength, will fight alone, full of anger and proud of his divine weapons.
न तु शक्यं जरासन्धे जीवमाने महाबल राजसूयस्त्वयाऽवाप्तुमेषा राजन्मतिर्मम
But as long as Jarāsandha, the mighty, lives, you cannot obtain the Rājasūya, O King—this is my opinion.
तेन रुद्धा हि राजानः सर्वे जित्वा गिरिव्रजे। कन्दरे पर्वतेन्द्रस्य सिंहेनेव महाद्विपाः
For all the kings, having been conquered at Girivraja, are restrained by him, like great elephants by a lion in the mountain cave.
स हि राजा जरासन्धो यियक्षुर्वसुधाधिपैः। `अभिषिक्तः स राजन्यैः सहस्रैरुत चाष्टभिः'। महादेवं महात्मानमुमापतिमरिन्दम
That king Jarāsandha, desiring to sacrifice with the lords of the earth, was consecrated by thousands and also by eight kings, O subduer of enemies, after worshipping the great soul, Mahādeva, the lord of Umā.
आराध्य तपसोग्रेण निर्जितास्तेन पार्थिवाः। प्रतिज्ञायाश्च पारं स गतः पार्थिवसत्तम
By severe austerity he propitiated him, and by that, O best of kings, he conquered the rulers of the earth and fulfilled his vow.
स हि निर्जित्य निर्जित्य पार्थिवान्पृतनागतान्। पुरमानीय बद्ध्वा च चकार पुरुषव्रजम्
Having conquered again and again the kings who came with their armies, he brought them to his city, bound them, and made a multitude of men.
वयं चैव महाराज जरासन्धभयात्तदा। मधुरा सम्परित्यज्य गता द्वारवतीं पुरीम्
And we, O great king, out of fear of Jarāsandha at that time, abandoned Mathurā and went to the city of Dvāravatī.
यदि त्वेनं महाराज यज्ञं प्राप्तुमभीप्ससि। यतस्व तेषां मोक्षाय जरासन्धवधाय च
If, O great king, you desire to obtain that sacrifice, then strive for their release and for the slaying of Jarāsandha.
समारम्भो न शक्योऽयमन्यथा कुरुनन्दन। राजसूयस्य कार्त्स्न्येन कर्तुं मतिमतां वर
This undertaking cannot be accomplished otherwise, O joy of the Kurus, by any means; only thus can the Rājasūya be performed in its entirety, O best of the wise.
इत्येषा मे मती राजन्यथा वा मन्यसेऽनघ। एवं गते ममाचक्ष्व स्वयं निश्चित्य हेतुभिः
This is my opinion, O king; but if you think otherwise, O sinless one, then tell me your own view, having considered the reasons.
सम्राड्गुणमभीप्सन्वै युष्मान्स्वार्थपरायणः। कथं प्रहिणुयां कृष्ण सोऽहं केवलसाहसात्
Desiring the status of emperor for myself, devoted to my own interests, how could I send you, Kṛṣṇa, merely out of rashness?
भीमार्जुनावुभौ नेत्रे मनो मन्ये जनार्दनम्। मनश्चक्षुर्विहीनस्य कीदृशं जीवितं भवेत्
I consider Bhima and Arjuna to be both the eyes, and Janardana the mind; what kind of life would there be for one deprived of mind and sight?
जरासन्धबलं प्राप्य दुष्पारं भीमविक्रमम्। यमोपि न विजेताऽऽजौ तत्र वः किं विचेष्टितम्
Having encountered the army of Jarasandha, insurmountable and fierce with Bhima's valor—where even Yama could not prevail in battle—what could you possibly accomplish there?
अस्मिंस्त्वर्थान्तरे युक्तमनर्थः प्रतिपद्यते। तस्मान्न प्रतिपत्तिस्तु कार्या युक्ता मता मम
In this matter, pursuing an unsuitable course leads to disaster; therefore, I do not think it is proper to proceed in that way.
यथाऽहं विमृशाम्येकस्तत्तावच्छ्रूयतां मम। संन्यासं रोचये साधु कार्यस्यास्य जनार्दन। प्रतिहन्ति मनो मेऽद्य राजसूयो दूराहरः
Hear now my own considered view, Janardana: I favor renunciation as the right course in this matter; today my mind is dissuaded by the distant and difficult Rajasuya sacrifice.
पार्थः प्राप्य धनुः श्रेष्ठमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी। रथं ध्वजं हयांश्चैव युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
Partha, having obtained the finest bow, two inexhaustible quivers, a chariot, a banner, and horses, spoke to Yudhishthira.
धनुः शस्त्रं शरा वीर्यं पक्षो भूमिर्यशो बलम्। प्राप्तमेतन्मय राजन्दुष्प्रापं यदभीप्सितम्
O King, bow, weapons, arrows, strength, allies, land, fame, and power—all that was difficult to obtain, I have now acquired as I desired.
कुले जन्म प्रशंसन्ति वैद्याः साधु सुनिष्ठिताः। बलेन सदृशं नास्ति वीर्यं तु मम रोचते
Physicians, skilled and well-trained, praise noble birth in a family; but for me, strength is what I value, for nothing compares to it.
कृतवीर्यकुले जातो निर्वीर्यः किं करिष्यति। निर्वीर्ये तु कुले जातो वीर्यवांस्तु विशिष्यते
What can one born in the line of Krtavirya do if he lacks strength? But one born in a weak family, if endowed with strength, surpasses the rest.
क्षत्रियः सर्वशो राजन्यस्य वृत्तिर्द्विषज्जये। सर्वैगुणैर्विहीनोऽपि वीर्यवान्हि तरेन्द्रिपून्
For a Kshatriya, the whole duty of a king is victory over enemies; even if lacking all virtues, a man of strength overcomes the best of foes.
सर्वैरपि गुणैर्युक्तो निर्वीर्यः किं करिष्यति। जयस्य हेतुः सिद्धिर्हि कर्म दैवं च संश्रितम्
What can one endowed with all virtues accomplish if he lacks strength? Success in victory depends on action and on fate.
संयुक्तो हि बलैः कश्चित्प्रमादान्नोपयुज्यते
Even someone well-supported by forces may, through negligence, fail to make use of them.
तेन द्वारेण शत्रुभ्यः क्षीयते सबलो रिपुः
Through that very opening, the enemy, along with his forces, is diminished by foes.
दैन्यं यथा बलवति तथा मोहो बलान्विते। तावुभौ नाशकौ हेतू राज्ञा त्याज्यौ जयार्थिना
Just as dejection afflicts the strong, so too does delusion affect the powerful; both are causes of ruin and must be avoided by a king seeking victory.
जरासन्धिविनाशं च राज्ञां च परिरक्षणम्। यदि कुर्याम् यज्ञार्थं किं ततः परमं भवेत्
If we were to destroy Jarasandha and protect the kings for the sake of the sacrifice, what greater achievement could there be than that?
अनारम्भे हि नियतो भवेदगुणनिश्चयः। गुणान्निः संशयाद्राजन्नैर्गुण्यं मन्यसे कथम्
For when nothing is undertaken, the certainty of qualities remains untested; O King, how can you judge lack of merit without putting virtues to the test?
काषायं सुलभं पश्चान्मुनीनां शममिच्छताम्। साम्राज्यं तु भवेच्छक्यं वयं योत्स्यामहे परान्
The ochre robe is easily attained later by sages seeking tranquility; but an empire is possible now—we shall fight against our foes.