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.
अद्रोहसमंय कृत्वा चिच्छेद नमुचेः शिरः। शक्रः साऽभिमता तस्य रिपौ वृत्तिः सनातनी
Having made a pact of non-aggression, Indra cut off Namuci's head; such conduct toward an enemy is considered eternal practice.
द्वावेतौ ग्रसते भूमिः सर्पो बिलशयानिव। राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम्
The earth devours these two, as a serpent does those who dwell in its hole: a king who does not resist, and a Brahmin who does not travel.
नास्ति वै जातितः शत्रुः पुरुषस्य विशाम्पते। येन साधारणी वृत्तिः स शत्रुर्नेतरो जनः
There is truly no enemy by birth for a man, O lord of men; he with whom one's interests conflict is the enemy, not any other person.
शत्रुपक्षं समृध्यन्तं यो मोहात्समुपेक्षते। व्याधिराप्यायित इव तस्य मूलं छिनत्ति सः
He who, out of delusion, overlooks the growing strength of the enemy's side, cuts off his own root, like a disease that is allowed to increase.
अल्पोऽपि ह्यरिरत्यर्थं वर्धमानः पराक्रमैः। वल्मीको मूलज इव ग्रसते वृक्षमन्तिकात्
Even a small enemy, greatly increasing in power, devours one from nearby, like a root-born ant-hill consuming a tree.
आजमीढ रिपोर्लक्ष्मीर्मा ते रोचिष्ट भारत। एष भारः सत्ववतां न यः शिरसि धिष्ठितः
O descendant of Ajamīḍha, may the fortune of the enemy not please you, O Bhārata; this burden is for the strong, not for one on whose head it is placed.
जन्मवृद्धिमिवार्थानां यो वृद्धिमाभिकाङ्क्षते। एधते ज्ञातिषु स वै सद्यो वृद्धिर्हि विक्रमः
He who desires the growth of wealth as one desires the growth of offspring, prospers among his kin; for increase, indeed, is valor.
नाप्राप्य पाण्डवैश्वर्यं संशयो मे भविष्यति। अवाप्स्ये वा श्रियं तां हि शयिष्ये वा हतो युधि
Without obtaining the sovereignty of the Pāṇḍavas, I shall remain in doubt; either I will attain that fortune, or I shall lie slain in battle.
एतादृशस्य किं मेऽद्य जीवितेन विशाम्पते। वर्धन्ते पाण्डवा नित्यं वयं स्वस्थिरवृद्धयः
What use is life to me today, O lord of men, when the Pāṇḍavas ever prosper and we remain unchanged and unadvanced?
यां त्वमेतां श्रियं पाण्डुपुत्रे युधिष्ठिरे। तप्यसे तां हरिष्यामि द्यूतेन जयतां वर
That fortune in Yudhishthira, son of Pāṇḍu, for which you grieve, I shall seize by gambling, O best of the victorious.