किमन्यदवमनानाद्धे यदेनं राजसंसदि। अप्राप्तलक्षणं कृष्णमर्घ्येणार्चितवानसि
What else but contempt could it be, that in this royal assembly you have honored Kṛṣṇa with the arghya, though he lacks the proper qualifications?
अकस्माद्धर्मपुत्रस्य धर्मात्मेति यशो गतम्। को हि धर्मच्युते पूजामेवं युक्तां नियोजयेत्
Suddenly, the fame of the son of Dharma has spread as 'righteous'; but who would assign such fitting honor to one who has strayed from righteousness?
योयं वृष्णिकुले जातो राजानं हतवान्पुरा। जरासन्धं महात्मानमन्यायेन दुरात्मवान्
This one, born in the Vṛṣṇi clan, who once slew the noble king Jarāsandha by unjust means—how can he be called righteous?
अद्य धर्मात्मता चैव व्यपकृष्टा युधिष्ठिरात्। दर्शितं कृपणत्वं च कृष्णेऽर्घ्यस्य निवेदनात्
Today, Yudhiṣṭhira's righteousness has been diminished, and his meanness displayed, by offering the arghya to Kṛṣṇa.
यदि भीताश्च कौन्तेयाः कृपणाश्च तपस्विनः। ननु त्वयाऽपि बोद्धव्यं यां पूजां माधवार्हसि
If the sons of Kuntī are fearful and weak, though ascetic, still you should know what honor Mādhava truly deserves.
अथवा कृपणैरेतामुपनीतां जनार्दन। पूजामनर्हः कस्मात्त्वमभ्यनुज्ञातवानसि
Or if this honor, O Janārdana, was brought to you by the weak, why did you, unworthy of it, consent to accept it?
अयुक्तामात्मनः पूजां त्वं पुनर्बहुमन्यसे। हविषः प्राप्य निष्यन्दं प्राशिता श्वेव निर्जने
You esteem for yourself an honor that is unfitting, like a dog eating the clarified butter offered in sacrifice, left unattended in the wilderness.
न त्वं पार्थिवेन्द्राणामपमानः प्रयुज्यते। त्वामेव कुरवो व्यक्तं प्रलम्भन्ते जनार्दन
No insult is intended to the foremost of kings; it is clear, O Janārdana, that the Kurus are only flattering you.
क्लीबे दारक्रिया यादृगन्धे वा रूपदर्शनम्। अराज्ञो राजवत्पूजा तथा ते मधुसूदन
Just as a eunuch's marriage, or fragrance in a scentless thing, or beauty in what is ugly, so is the worship of one who is not a king as if he were a king, O Madhusudana.
दृष्टो युधिष्ठिरो राजा दृष्टो भीष्मश्च यादृशः। वासुदेवोऽप्ययं दृष्टः सर्वमेतद्यथातथम्
Yudhishthira the king has been seen, and Bhishma as he is; this Vasudeva too has been seen—this is all exactly as it is.
इत्युक्त्वा शिशुपालस्तानुत्थाय परमासनात्। निर्ययौ सदसस्तस्मात्सहितो राजभिस्तदा
Having spoken thus, Shishupala rose from the excellent seat and departed from that assembly, accompanied by the kings at that time.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा शिशुपालमुपाद्रवत्। उवाच चैनं मधुरं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः
Then King Yudhishthira approached Shishupala and spoke to him these gentle, conciliatory words.
नेदं युक्तं महीपाल यादृशं वै त्वमुक्तवान्। अधर्मश्च परो राजन्पारुष्यं च निरर्थकम्
This is not proper, O lord of the earth, what you have said; it is great unrighteousness, O king, and your harshness is pointless.
न हि धर्मं परं जातु नावबुध्येत पार्थिवः। भीष्मः शान्तनवस्त्वेनं मावमंस्थास्त्वमन्यथा
No king ever fails to understand the highest dharma; Bhishma, son of Shantanu, knows it—do not think otherwise of him.
पश्य चैतान्महीपालांस्त्वत्तो वृद्धतरान्बहून्। मृष्यन्ते चार्हणां कृष्णे तद्वत्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि
See these many kings here, older than you, who accept Krishna's honor; you too should forgive in the same way.
वेद तत्त्वेन कृष्णं हि भीष्णश्चेदिपते भृशम्। न ह्येनं त्वं तथा यथैनं वेद कौरवः
Indeed, Bhishma knows Krishna truly, O lord of the Chedis, far more than you do; you do not know him as the Kaurava does.
नास्मै देयो ह्यनुनयो नायमर्हति सान्त्वनम्। लोकवृद्धतमे कृष्णे योऽर्हणां नाभिमन्यते
No persuasion should be offered to him, nor does he deserve conciliation—he who does not accept the honoring of Krishna, the most venerable in the world.
क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियं जित्वा रणे रणकृतां वरः। यो मुञ्चति वशे कृत्वा गुरुर्भवति तस्य सः
A kshatriya who, having conquered another kshatriya in battle, releases him after bringing him under control, becomes his superior.
अस्यां हि समितौ राज्ञामेकमप्यजितं युधि। न पश्यामि महीपालं सात्वतीपुत्रतेजसा
In this assembly of kings, I do not see even one ruler undefeated in battle by the energy of the son of Satyavati.
न हि केवलमस्माकमयमर्च्यतमोऽच्युतः। त्रयाणामपि लोकानामर्चनीयो महाभुजः
Not only for us is this Achyuta the most worthy of worship; this mighty-armed one is to be honored by all three worlds.
कृष्णेन हि जिता युद्धे बहवः क्षत्रियर्षभाः। जगत्सर्वं च वार्ष्णेये निखिलेन प्रतिष्ठितम्
For Krishna has defeated many foremost kshatriyas in battle, and the whole world stands firmly in the Vrishni prince.
तस्मात्सत्स्वपि वृद्धेषु कृष्णमर्चाम नेतरान्। एवं वक्तुं न चार्हस्त्वं मा तेऽभूद्बुद्धिरीदृशी
Therefore, even though there are elders present, we worship Krishna and not others; you should not speak otherwise, nor let such a thought arise in you.
ज्ञानवृद्धा मया राजन्बहवः पर्युपासिताः। `यस्य राजन्प्रभावज्ञाः पुरा सर्वे च रक्षिताः'। तेषां कथयतां शौरेरहं गुणवतो गुणान्
O king, I have served many elders renowned for wisdom; 'those whose glory was known, and who protected all in former times'—when they spoke of the virtues of the noble Sauri, I listened to his qualities.
समागतानामश्रौषं बहून्बहुमतान्सताम्। कर्माण्यपि च यान्यस्य जन्मप्रभृति धीमतः
I have heard, from many respected and virtuous people gathered together, of the deeds performed by this wise one since his birth.
बहृशः कथ्यमानानि नरैर्भूयः श्रुतानि मे। न केवलं वयं कामाच्चेदिगज जनार्दनम्
These have been repeatedly told by men and often heard by me; not merely out of desire do we, the Chedis and the elephants, honor Janardana.
न सम्बन्धं पुरस्कृत्य कृतार्थं वा कथञ्चन। अर्चामहेऽर्चितं सद्भिर्भुवि भूतसुखावहम्
Not because of relationship, nor for any accomplished purpose, do we worship him; he is honored by the good on earth and brings happiness to all beings.
यशः शौर्यं जयं चास्य विज्ञायार्चां प्रयुञ्ज्महे न च कश्चिदिहास्माभिः सुवालोप्यपरीक्षितः
Recognizing his fame, valor, and victory, we offer him worship; and among us here, not even a child has been honored without careful consideration.
गुणैर्वृद्धानतिक्रम्य हरिरर्च्यतमो मतः। ज्ञानवृद्धो द्विजातीनां क्षत्रियाणां बलाधिकः
Surpassing elders in virtues, Hari is considered most worthy of worship; among the twice-born, he excels in wisdom, and among warriors, in strength.
वैश्यानां धान्यधनवाञ्शूद्राणामेव जन्मतः। पूज्यतायां च गोविन्दे हेतू द्वावपि संस्थितौ
Among merchants, he is rich in grain and wealth; among servants, by birth itself; and in Govinda, both these causes of honor are established.
वेदवेदाङ्गविज्ञानं बलं चाभ्यधिकं तथा। नृणां लोके हि कोऽन्योस्ति विशिष्टः केशवादृते
Knowledge of the Vedas and their branches, and superior strength as well—who else among men in this world is distinguished above Keśava?