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.
न व्याधयो नापि यमः प्राप्तुं श्रेयः प्रतीक्षते। यावदेव भवेत्कल्पस्तावच्छ्रेयः समाचरेत्
Neither disease nor death waits for one to attain excellence; as long as one is able, one should pursue what is good.
सर्वथा पुत्र बलिभिर्विग्रहो मे रोचते। वैरं विकारं सृजति तद्वै शस्त्रमनायसम्
In every way, I favor conflict with my sons who are strong; enmity produces distortion, and that is the weapon without injury.
अनर्थमर्थं मन्यसे राजपुत्र सङ्ग्रन्थनं कलहस्यातियाति। तद्वै प्रवृत्तं तु यथाकथञ्चित् सृजेदसीन्निशितान्सायकांश्च
You consider misfortune as fortune, O prince; the weaving of quarrel exceeds all bounds. Once begun, it may, by any means, produce sharp swords and arrows.
द्यूते पुराणैर्व्यवहारः प्रणीत- स्तत्रात्ययो नास्ति न सम्प्रहारः। तद्रोचतां शकुनेर्वाक्यमद्य सभां क्षिप्रं त्वमिहाज्ञापयस्व
In gambling, ancient custom prescribes conduct; there is no disaster nor conflict there. Let Shakuni's words be pleasing today; quickly command the assembly here.
स्वर्गद्वारं दीव्यतां नो विशिष्टं तद्वर्तिनां चापि तथैव युक्तम्। भवेदेवं ह्यात्मना तुल्यमेव दुरोदरं पाण्डवैस्त्वं कुरुष्व
Let the gateway to heaven be through gambling for us, which is fitting for those who walk that path. Thus, let it be equal for oneself; arrange the dice game with the Pandavas.
वाक्यं न मे रोचते यत्त्वयोक्तं यत्ते प्रियं तत्क्रियतां नरेन्द्र। पश्चात्तप्स्यसे तदुपाक्रम्य वाक्यं न हीदृशं भावि वचो हि धर्म्यम्
The words you have spoken do not please me; let what you desire be done, O king. Afterwards, you will regret having undertaken it; such speech is not righteous nor destined to be.
दृष्टं ह्येतद्विदुरेणै सर्वं विपश्चिता बुद्धिविद्यानुगेन। तदेवैतदवशस्याभ्युपैति महद्भयं क्षत्रियजीवघाति
All this has been perceived by Vidura, wise and guided by intellect and knowledge. That very thing, when disregarded, leads to great danger, destructive of the lives of Kshatriyas.
एवमुक्त्वा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी दैवं मत्वा परमं दुस्तरं च। शशासोच्चैः पुरुषान्पुत्रवाक्ये स्थितो राजा दैवसंमूढचेताः
Having spoken thus, Dhritarashtra, thoughtful, considering fate as supreme and difficult to overcome, loudly commanded the men according to his son's words, the king standing bewildered by destiny.
सहस्रस्तम्भां हेमवैदूर्यचित्रां शतद्वारां तोरणस्फाटिकाढ्याम्। सभामग्र्यां क्रोशमात्रायतां मे तद्विस्तारामाशु कुर्वन्तु युक्ताः
Let skilled men quickly prepare the splendid hall, adorned with a thousand pillars of gold and beryl, with a hundred doors and crystal gateways, extending a krosha in length.
श्रुत्वा तस्य त्वरिता निर्विशङ्काः प्राज्ञा दक्षास्तां तदा चक्रुराशु। सर्वद्रव्याण्युपजह्रुः सभायां सहस्रशः शिल्पिनश्चैव युक्ताः
Hearing his command, wise and capable craftsmen, without hesitation, swiftly constructed it; they brought all materials into the hall by the thousands, and the skilled artisans were ready.