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.
आहूयतां परं राजन्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अगत्वा संशयमहमयुद्ध्वा च चमूमुखे
Let the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, be summoned, O king; if he does not come, I shall have doubt, and if he does not play at the assembly.
अक्षान्क्षिपन्नक्षतः सन्विद्वानविदुषो जये। ग्लहान्धनूंषि मे विद्धि शरानक्षांश्च भारत
Whether learned or unlearned in victory, let him cast the dice unhurt; know, O Bhārata, that my dice are arrows, and the stakes are my bows.
अक्षाणां हृदयं मे ज्यां रथं विद्धि ममास्फुरम्
Consider the dice as my heart, the bowstring as my chariot, which stirs within me.
अयमुत्सहते राजच्छ्रियमाहर्तुमक्षवित्। द्यूतेन पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यस्तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
This skilled gambler is capable of seizing royal fortune from the sons of Pandu by dice; you ought to permit it.
स्थितोऽस्मि शासने भ्रातुर्विदुरस्य महात्मनः। तेन सङ्गम्य वेत्स्यामि कार्यस्यास्य विनिश्चयम्
I stand under the command of my noble brother Vidura; by consulting him, I will ascertain the resolution of this matter.
कृष्णादभ्याधिकः सोऽपि क्षत्ता बोद्धा विशाम्पते। केवलं धर्ममेवाह न तद्विजयसाधकम्
Even Vidura, who surpasses Krishna in wisdom, O lord of people, speaks only of dharma, not of what brings victory.
जयश्च धर्मतोपेतस्तथैव भरतर्षभ। तस्माद्विनयतो जेता तावुभौ च विरोधिनौ
Victory accompanied by righteousness is likewise esteemed, O best of Bharatas; therefore, the one who acts with humility will conquer, even against both adversaries.
व्यपनेष्यति ते बुद्धिं विदुरो मुक्तसंशयः। पाण्डवानां हिते युक्तो न तथा मम कौरव
Vidura, free from doubt, will dispel your judgment; he is devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, not so much to mine, O Kaurava.
नारभेतान्यसामर्थ्यात्पुरुषः कार्यमात्मनः। मतिसाम्यं द्वयोर्नास्ति कार्येषु कुरुनन्दन
A man should not undertake a task beyond his own capacity; there is no equality of intellect between the two parties in these affairs, O joy of the Kurus.
भयं परिहरन्मत्त आत्मानं परिपालयन्। वर्षासु क्लिन्नवटवत्तिष्ठन्नैवावसीदति
Avoiding fear, protecting oneself, one stands like a banyan tree soaked in rain, yet does not sink.