एवमुक्ते ततः कृष्णः प्रत्युवाच महामनाः। स्निग्धगमभीरया वाचा वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।। xकृष्ण उवाच
When he had spoken thus, Krishna, great of mind and skilled in speech, replied with gentle and fearless words.
स्नातकान्ब्राह्मणान्राजन्विद्ध्यस्मांस्त्वं नराधिप। स्नातकव्रतिनो राजन्ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया विशः
Krishna said: 'Know us, O king, to be brahmins who have taken the vow after bathing. O ruler of men, brahmins, kshatriyas, and vaishyas all take the vow after bathing.'
विशेषनियमाश्चैषामविशेषाश्च सन्त्युत। विशेषवांश्च सततं क्षत्रियः श्रियमृच्छति
'There are both special and general rules for them, indeed. Yet it is always the kshatriya who attains prosperity.'
पुष्पवत्सु ध्रुवा श्रीश्च पुष्पवन्तस्ततो वयम्। क्षत्रियो बाहुवीर्यस्तु न तथा वाक्यवीर्यवान्।। अम्प्रगल्भं वचस्तस्य तस्माद्बार्हद्रथेरितम्
'Where there are flowers, there is surely fortune; and so, we are adorned with flowers. The kshatriya has strength of arms, but not so much strength in words. Therefore, his speech is not bold, but restrained, as befits the lineage of Bharata.'
स्ववीर्यं क्षत्रियाणां तु बाह्वोर्धाता न्यवेशयत्। तद्दिदृक्षसि चेद्राजन्द्रष्टास्यद्य न संशयटः
'The Creator placed the strength of kshatriyas in their arms. If you wish to see it, O king, you shall witness it today, without doubt.'
अद्वारेण रिम्पोर्गेहं द्वारेण सुहृदो गृहान्। प्रविशन्ति नरा धीरा द्वाराण्येतानि धर्मतः
'The brave enter a house by a secret way, and friends by the door; these are the proper ways to enter houses, according to dharma.'
कार्यवन्तो गृहानेत्य शत्रुतो नार्हणां वयम्। प्रतिगृह्णीम् तद्विद्वि एतन्नः शाश्वतं व्रतम्
'We have come to your house with a purpose, not as enemies, and so we do not deserve hospitality. Accept this from us—this is our enduring vow.'
न स्मरामि कदा वैरं कृतं युष्माभिरित्युत। चिन्तयंश्च न पश्यामि भवतां प्रति वैकृतम्
'I do not recall any enmity ever committed by you, nor, upon reflection, do I see any fault on your part.'
वैकृते वा सति कथं मन्यध्वं मामनागसम्। अरिं वै ब्रूत हे विप्राः सतां समय एष हि
'Even if there were some fault, why do you consider me blameless? Speak, O brahmins, for this is the custom among the virtuous.'
अर्थधर्मोपघाताद्धि मनः समुपतप्यते। योऽनागसि प्रसजति क्षत्रियो हि न संशयटः
'The mind is tormented by harm done to wealth or dharma; whoever attacks the innocent, surely, is a kshatriya—there is no doubt.'
अतोऽन्यथा चरँल्लोके धर्मज्ञः सन्महारथः। वृजिनां गतिमाप्नोति श्रेयसोऽप्युपहन्ति च
If, being a knower of righteousness and a great warrior, one acts otherwise in the world, he attains the path of wrongdoing and even destroys what is good.
त्रैलोक्ये क्षत्रधर्मो हि श्रेयान्वै साधुचारिणाम्। नान्यं धर्मं प्रशंसन्ति ये च धर्मविदो जनाः
For in the three worlds, the duty of a kshatriya is truly the highest for those who act rightly; those who know dharma do not praise any other duty.
तस्य मेऽद्य स्थितस्येह स्वधर्मे नियतात्मनः। अनागसं प्रजानां च प्रमादादिव जल्पथ
Therefore, as I stand here today, firm in my own duty and self-controlled, without fault toward people, you speak words as if from heedlessness.
कुलकार्यं महाबाहो कश्चिदेकः कुलोद्वहः। वहते यस्तन्नियोगाद्वयमभ्युद्यतास्त्वयि
O mighty-armed one, in a family, some one person, a foremost upholder of the line, bears the family’s duty by command; for you, two have arisen for this task.
त्वया चोपहृता राजन्क्षत्रिया लोकवासिनः। तदागः क्रूरमुत्पाद्य मन्यसे किमनागसम्
O king, by you, the kshatriyas dwelling in the world have been seized; having committed this cruel offense, why do you consider yourself blameless?
राजा राज्ञः कथं साधून्हिंस्यान्नृपतिसत्तम। तद्राज्ञः सन्निगृह्य त्वं रुद्रायोपजिहीर्षसि
O best of kings, how could a king harm righteous kings? Having restrained that king, you wish to offer him to Rudra.
अस्मांस्तदेनोपगच्छेत्कृतं बार्हद्रथ त्वया। वयं हिं शक्ता धर्मस्य रक्षणे धर्मचारिणः
If you approach us with that intent, O Bharhadratha, know that we are capable of protecting righteousness, being followers of dharma.
तस्मादद्योपगच्छामस्तव बार्हद्रथान्तिकम्'। मनुष्याणां समालम्भो न च दृष्टः कदाचन। स कथं मानुषैर्देवं यष्टुमिच्छसि शङ्करम्
Therefore today we come before you, O Bharhadratha; never has reliance on men been seen; so how do you, with human means, wish to worship Shankara, the god?
सवर्णो हि सवर्णानां पशुसञ्ज्ञां करिष्यसि। कोऽन्यं एवं यथा हि त्वं जरासन्ध वृथामतिः
For you would make those of your own class into sacrificial victims for those of your own class; who else, like you, Jarasandha, is so misguided in thought?
यस्यां यस्यामवस्थायां यद्यत्कर्म करोति यः। तस्यां तस्यामवस्थायां तत्फलं समवाप्नुयात्
Whatever deed a person does in whatever situation, in that very situation he obtains the corresponding result.
ते त्वां ज्ञातिक्षयकरं यममार्तानुसारिणः। ज्ञातिवृद्धिनिमित्तार्थं विनिहन्तुमिहागताः
They, following the path of Yama, destroyers of your kin, have come here to slay you for the sake of increasing their own kin.
नास्ति लोके पुमानन्यः क्षत्रियोष्विति चैव तत्। मन्यसे स च ते राजन्सुमहान्बुद्धिविप्लवः
There is no other man in the world among kshatriyas, you think; but, O king, that is a great confusion of your understanding.
को हि जानन्नभिजनमात्मवान्क्षत्रियो नृप। नाविशेत्स्वर्गमतुलं रणानन्तरमव्ययम्
For what kshatriya, knowing his noble birth and possessing self-mastery, would not enter the matchless, eternal heaven after battle, O king?
स्वर्गं ह्येव समास्थाय रणयज्ञेषु दीक्षिताः। जयन्ति क्षत्रिया लोकांस्तद्विद्धि मनुजर्षभ
Indeed, having taken up the vow for the sacrifice of battle, kshatriyas attain heaven; know this, O best of men.
स्वर्गयोनिर्महद्ब्रह्म स्वर्गयोनिर्महद्यशः। स्वर्गं योनिस्तपो युद्धे मृत्युः सोऽव्यभिचारवान्
Heaven is the source of great Brahman, heaven is the source of great fame; heaven is the source—through asceticism, and in battle, death comes to the steadfast.
एष ह्यैन्द्रो वैजयन्तो गुणैर्नित्यं समाहितः। येनासुरान्पराजित्य जगत्पाति शतक्रतुः
For this Indra, ever intent on virtues, by whom the Asuras were defeated, rules the world, O hundred-sacrificed one.
स्वर्गमार्गाय कस्य स्याद्विग्रहो वै यथा तव। मागधैर्विपुलैः सैन्यैर्बाहुल्यबलदर्पितः
Who would seek conflict for the path to heaven as you do, proud with the great armies of the Magadhas, swollen with abundant strength?
माऽवमंस्थाः परान्राजन्नास्ति वीर्यं नरे नरे। समं चेजस्त्वया चैव विशिष्टं वा नरेश्वर
Do not look down on others, O king; valor is not the same in every man; some may be equal to you in energy, or even surpass you, O lord of men.
यावदेतदसम्बुद्धं तावदेव भवेत्तव। विषह्यमेतदस्माकमतो राजन्ब्रवीमि ते
As long as this remains unknown, so long it is bearable for us; therefore, O King, I speak to you thus.
जहि त्वं सदृशेष्वेव मानं दर्पं च मागध। मा गमः ससुतामात्यः सबलश्च यमक्षयम्
Abandon your pride and arrogance, O Magadha, only among your equals; do not, with your sons, ministers, and army, go to the abode of Yama.