यथाऽतिमात्रं कौन्तेयः श्रिया परमया युतः। राजसूयमवाप्यैवं हरिश्चन्द्र इव प्रभुः
Just as Kunti's son, endowed with supreme splendor, attained the Rajasuya sacrifice, so did the lordly Harishchandra.
एतां दृष्टा श्रियं पार्थे हरिश्चन्द्रे यथा विभो। कथं तु जीवितं श्रेयो मम पश्यसि भारत
Having seen this glory in Partha, as in Harishchandra, O mighty one, how can you see any good in life for me now, O Bharata?
अन्धेनेव युगं नद्धं विपर्यस्तं नराधिप। कनीयांसो विवर्धन्ते ज्येष्ठा हीयन्त एव च
It is as if an age is bound in darkness, O king of men, when the younger rise and the elders decline.
एवं दृष्ट्वा नाभिविन्दामि शर्म समीक्षमाणोऽपि कुरुप्रवीर। तेनाहमेवं कृशतां गतश्च विवर्णतां चैव सशोकतां च
Seeing this, I find no comfort, O best of Kurus, though I reflect on it; thus I have become emaciated, discolored, and full of sorrow.
त्वं वै ज्येष्ठो ज्यैष्ठिनेयः पुत्र मा पाण्डवान्द्विषः। द्वेषा ह्यसुखमादत्ते यथैव निघनं तथा
You are the eldest, born to the eldest, my son; do not hate the Pandavas. Hatred brings only misery, just as thunder brings destruction.
अव्युत्पन्नं समानार्थं तुल्यमित्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। अद्विषन्तं कथं द्विष्यात्त्वादृशो भरतर्षभ
How could someone like you, O bull among the Bharatas, hate Yudhishthira, who is unlearned in deceit, equal to all, a friend to all, and free from enmity?
तुल्याभिजनवीर्यश्च कथं भ्रातुः श्रियं नृप। पुत्र कामयसे मोहान्मैवं भूः शाम्य मा शुचः
O king, since you are equal in birth and strength, why do you, out of delusion, desire your brother’s prosperity? Do not act so; calm yourself, do not grieve.
अथ यज्ञविभूतिं तां काङ्क्षसे भरतर्षभ। ऋत्विजस्तव तन्वन्तु सप्ततन्तुं महाध्वरम्
But if you desire that glory which comes from sacrifice, O best of the Bharatas, let your priests perform for you the great sacrifice with the sevenfold ritual.
आहरिष्यन्ति राजानस्तवापि विपुलं धनम्। प्रीत्या च बहुमानाच्च रत्नान्याभरणानि च
Kings will bring you abundant wealth, and out of affection and respect, they will offer you jewels and ornaments.
अनार्याचरितं तात परस्वस्पृहणं भृशम्। स्वसन्तुष्टः स्वधर्मस्थो यः स वै सुखमेधते
Craving another’s wealth, dear one, is truly unworthy conduct; the one who is content with his own and stands in his own duty alone attains happiness.
मही कामदुघा सा हि वीरपत्नीति चोच्यते। तथा वीरस्य भार्या श्रीस्ते इमे हि कलत्रवत्
The earth is said to yield desires like a wish-fulfilling cow, and she is called the wife of heroes; likewise, fortune is the wife of the valiant—these are like spouses to the worthy.
तवाप्यस्ति हे चेद्वीर्यं भोक्ष्यसे हि महीमिमाम्
If you too possess the strength, you shall indeed enjoy this earth.
अयुक्तमिदमेतत्तु परस्वहरणं भृशम्। उभयोर्लोकयोर्दुःखं सुहृदां काङ्क्षतोऽनयम्
But this seizing of another’s wealth is truly improper; desiring what belongs to friends brings suffering in both worlds.
अव्यापारः परार्तेषु नित्योद्योगः स्वकर्मसु। रक्षणं समुपात्तानामेतद्वैभवलक्षणम्
Not interfering in others’ affairs, always diligent in one’s own duties, and protecting what has been acquired—these are marks of prosperity.
विपत्तिष्वव्यथो दक्षो नित्यमुत्थानवान्नरः। अप्रमत्तो विनीतात्मा नित्यं भद्राणि पश्यति
A man who is undisturbed in misfortune, skilled, ever industrious, vigilant, and self-controlled always sees auspicious things.
बाहूनिवैतान्मा च्छेत्सीः पाण्डुपुत्रास्तथैव ते। भ्रातृणां तद्धनार्थं वै मित्रद्रोहं च मा कुरु
Do not cut off the arms of the sons of Pandu, who are your own; do not, for the sake of wealth, betray your brothers or your friends.
पाण्डोः पुत्रान्मा द्विषस्वेह राजं- स्तथैव ते भ्रातृधनं समग्रम्। मित्रद्रोहे तात महानघर्मः पितामहा ये तव तेऽपि तेषाम्
Do not bear enmity towards the sons of Pandu here, O king, nor covet all your brothers’ wealth; betraying friends, dear one, brings great misfortune—even your ancestors are theirs as well.
अन्तर्वेद्यां ददद्वित्तं कामाननुभवन्प्रियान्। क्रीडन्स्त्रीभिर्निरातङ्कः प्रशाम्य भरतर्षभ
Giving wealth in the midst of the sacrificial arena, enjoying desires with your loved ones, playing with women, and free from danger—be at peace, O best of the Bharatas.
यस्य नास्ति निजा प्रज्ञा केवलं तु बहुश्रुतः। न स जानाति शास्त्रार्थं दर्वी सूपरसानिव
He who has no wisdom of his own but only much learning does not understand the meaning of scripture, just as a ladle does not taste the soup.
जानन्वै मोहयति मां नावि नौरिव संयता। स्वार्थे किं नावधानं ते उताहो द्वेष्टि मां भवान्
Knowing, you bewilder me, like a boat that is not properly steered; are you inattentive to your own interests, or do you bear me ill will?
न सन्तीमे धार्तराष्ट्रा येषां त्वमनुशासिता। भविष्यमर्थमाख्यासि सर्वदा कृत्यमात्मनः
Those Dhartarashtras whom you instruct are not truly my kin; you always speak of what is to be done for your own benefit.
परनेयोऽग्रणीर्यस्य स मार्गान्प्रतिमुह्यति। पन्थानमनुगच्छेयुः कथं तस्य पदानुगाः
If the leader himself is misguided, how can those who follow his path not go astray as well?
राजन्परिणतप्रज्ञो वृद्धसेवी जितेन्द्रियः। प्रतिपन्नान्स्वकार्येषु संमोहयसि नो भृशम्
O king, though you are mature in wisdom, serve the elders, and have mastered your senses, you greatly confuse us who are engaged in our own duties.
लोकवृत्ताद्राजवृत्तमन्यदाह बृहस्पतिः। तस्माद्राज्ञाऽप्रमत्तेन स्वार्थश्चिन्त्यः सदैव हि
Brihaspati has said that the conduct of kings is different from that of the world; therefore, a king must always carefully consider his own interests.
क्षत्रियस्य महाराज जये वृत्तिः समाहिता। स वै धर्मस्त्वधर्मो वा स्ववृत्तौ का परीक्षणा
For a Kshatriya, O great king, livelihood is established in victory; whether that is righteous or unrighteous, what examination is there in one's own duty?
प्रकालयेद्दिशः सर्वाः प्रतोदेनेव सारथिः। प्रत्यमित्रश्रियं दीप्तां जिघृक्षुर्भरतर्षभ
Like a charioteer urging on all directions with his goad, he seeks to seize the blazing fortune of the enemy, O bull of the Bharatas.
प्रच्छन्नो वा प्रकाशो वा योगो योऽरिं प्रबाधते। तद्वै शस्त्रं शस्त्रविदां न शस्त्रं छेदनं स्मृतम्
Whether concealed or open, whatever strategy overcomes the foe—that, for those skilled in weapons, is truly weaponry; not merely the act of cutting.
शत्रुश्चैव हि मित्रं च न लेख्यं न च मातृका। यो वै सन्तापयति यं स शत्रुः प्रोच्यते नृप
Neither enmity nor friendship is fixed or written, O king; he who causes another pain is called the enemy.
असन्तोषः श्रियो मूलं तस्मात्तं कामयाम्यहम्। समुच्छ्रये यो यतते स राजन्परमो नयः
Discontent is the root of prosperity; therefore I desire it. He who strives for advancement, O king, follows the highest policy.
ममत्वं हि न कर्तव्यमैश्वर्ये वा धनेऽपि वा। पूर्वावाप्तं हरन्त्यन्ये राजध्रमं हि तं विदुः
One should not become attached, whether to power or to wealth; others may seize what was previously gained—this, indeed, is known as the law of kings.