प्रातिपेयाः शान्तनवा भीमसेनाः सबाह्निकाः। दुर्योधनापराधेन कृच्छ्रं प्राप्स्यन्ति सर्वशः
The sons of Shantanu and Bhimasena with their forces will all suffer hardship because of Duryodhana’s offense.
दुर्योधनो मदेनैव क्षेमं व्यपोहति। विषाणं गौरिव मदात्स्वयमारुजतेत्मनः
Duryodhana, intoxicated by arrogance, destroys his own welfare, like a bull maddened by rut who breaks his own horn.
यश्चित्तमन्वेति परस्य राजन् वीरः कविः स्वामवमत्य दृष्टिम्। नावं समुद्र इव बालनेत्रा- मारुह्य घोरे व्यसने निमज्जेत्
O king, a hero or wise man who follows another’s mind, disregarding his own judgment, is like a boat on the ocean steered by a child’s eyes—he sinks in terrible disaster.
दुर्योधनो ग्लहते पाण्डवेन प्रीयायसे त्वं जयतीति तच्च। अतिनर्मा जायते संप्रहारो यतो विनाशः समुपैति पुंसाम्
Duryodhana gambles with the Pandava, and you rejoice, thinking, ‘He will win!’ But excessive jest leads to conflict, and from that, destruction comes upon men.
आकर्षस्तेऽवाक्फलः सुप्रणीतो हृदि प्रौढो मन्त्रपदः समाधिः। युधिष्ठिरेण कलहस्तवाय- मचिन्तितोऽभिमतः स्वबन्धुना
Your attraction is fruitless, though well-guided; the counsel, deeply lodged in your heart, is fixed on strife with Yudhishthira, unconsidered, yet desired by your own kin.
प्रातिपेयाः शान्तनवाः शृणुध्वं काव्यां वाचं संसदि कौरवाणाम्। वैश्वानरं प्रज्वलितं सुघोरं मा यास्यध्वं मन्दमनुप्रपन्नः
O sons of Shantanu, listen to the poetic speech spoken in the Kaurava assembly; do not, moving slowly, enter the blazing, dreadful fire.
यदा मन्युं पाण्डवोऽजातशत्रु- र्न संयच्छेदक्षमदाभिभूतः। वृकोदरः सव्यसाची यमौ च कोऽत्र द्वीपः स्यात्तुमुले वस्तदानीम्
When the Pandava, Ajatashatru, cannot restrain his wrath, overpowered by anger, and Bhimasena, Savyasachi, and the twins join him—who then could stand firm in the tumult of battle?
महाराज प्रभवस्त्वं धनानां पुरा द्यूतान्मनसा यावदिच्छेः। बहुवित्तान्पाण्डवांश्चेज्जयस्त्वं किं ते तत्स्याद्वसु विन्देह पार्थान्
O great king, you are the source of wealth; as long as you wish for gambling in your mind, even if you win the Pandavas’ great riches, what would that wealth be to you? Win over the sons of Pritha instead.
जानीमहे देवितं सौबलस्य वेद द्यूते निकृतिं पार्वतीयः। यतः प्राप्तः शकुनिस्तत्र यातु मा यूयुधो भारत पाण्डवेयान्
We know the cunning of Saubala’s dice; the son of Parvati knows the deceit in gambling. Since Shakuni has come for this, let him go; do not, O Bharata, fight with the sons of Pandu.
परेषामेव यशसा श्लोघसे त्वं सदा क्षत्तः कुत्सयन्धार्तराष्ट्रान्। जानीमहे विदुर यत्प्रियस्त्वं बालानिवास्मानवमन्यसे नित्यमेव
You always praise the fame of others, O Kshatta, while belittling the sons of Dhritarashtra; we know, Vidura, that you are partial, and you always treat us like children.
स विज्ञेयः पुरुषोऽन्यत्रकामो निन्दाप्रशंसे हि तथा युनक्ति। जिह्वाऽऽत्मनो हृदयस्थं व्यनक्ति जानीमहे त्वन्मनसः प्रातिकूल्यम्
That man is to be known as one whose heart is elsewhere, for praise and blame are joined in that way; the tongue reveals what is in the heart, and we know your mind is hostile to us.
उत्सङ्गे च व्याल इवाहितोऽसि मार्जरवत्पोषकं चोपहंसि। भर्तृघ्नं त्वां न हि पापीय आहु- स्तस्मात्क्षत्तः किं न बिभेषि पापात्
You are like a snake placed in one’s lap, harming your benefactor like a cat; they do not call you a worse betrayer of your master—so, Kshatta, why do you not fear evil?
जित्वा शत्रून्फलमाप्तं महद्वै माऽस्मान्क्षत्तः परुषामीह वोचः। द्विषद्भिस्त्वं सम्प्रयोगाभिनन्दी मुहुर्देषं यासि नः सम्प्रयोगात्
Having conquered enemies, a great reward has been obtained; do not speak harsh words to us here, O Kshatta. You delight in conflict with adversaries, yet you repeatedly leave us at the moment of confrontation.
अमित्रतां याति नरोऽक्षमं ब्रुव- न्निगूहते गुह्यममित्रसंस्तवे। तदाश्रितोऽपत्रप किं नु बाधसे यदिच्छसि त्वं तदिहाभिभाषतसे
A man who speaks intemperately becomes an enemy; he conceals secrets while praising foes. Why do you, who have taken refuge here, shamelessly trouble us? If you wish to say something, speak it openly here.
मा नोऽवमंस्था विद्य मानस्तवेदं शिक्षस्व बुद्धिं स्थविराणां सकाशात्। यशो रक्षस्व विदुर सम्प्रणीतं मा व्यापृतः परकार्येशु भूस्त्वम्
Do not look down on us, nor overvalue your own knowledge. Learn wisdom from the elders. Preserve your reputation, Vidura, which is well-regarded; do not become entangled in the affairs of others.
अहं कर्तेति विदूर मा च मंस्था मा नो नित्यं परुषाणीह वोचः। न त्वां पृच्छामि विदुर यद्धितं मे स्वस्ति क्षत्तर्मा तितिक्षून् क्षिण् त्वम्
Do not think, Vidura, that you alone are the doer; do not always speak harshly to us here. I do not ask you, Vidura, for what is good for me. Farewell, Kshatta; you may leave, for you do not tolerate us.
एकः शास्ता न द्वितीयोऽस्ति शास्ता गर्भे शयानं पुरुषं शास्ति शास्ता। तेनानुशिष्टः प्रवणादिवाम्भो यथा नियुक्तोऽस्ति तथा भवामि
There is one ruler; there is no second ruler. The ruler governs a person even while he lies in the womb. Instructed by him, I act as water flows downward; as I am directed, so I behave.
भिनत्ति शिरसा शैलमहिं भोजयते च यः। धीरेव कुरुते तस्य कार्याणामनुशासनम्। यो बलादनुशास्तीह सोऽमित्रं तेन विन्दति
He who can split a mountain with his head or feed a serpent—only the wise should be instructed in their duties. But one who forces instruction upon another here finds only an enemy thereby.
मित्रतामनुवृत्तं तु समुपेक्षत्यपण्डितः। दीप्य यः प्रदीप्ताग्निं प्राच्किरं नाभिधावति। भस्मापि न स विन्देत शिष्टं क्वचन भारत
The unwise neglect one who is loyal in friendship. Just as one who, seeing a blazing fire, does not run to extinguish it, he will not find even ashes left anywhere, O Bharata.
न वासयेत्पारवर्ग्यं द्विषन्तं विशेषतः क्षत्तरहितं मनुप्यम्। स यत्रेच्छसि विदुर तत्र गच्छ सुसान्त्विता ह्यसती स्त्री जहाति
One should not keep an enemy, especially one without a protector, in one's house. Go wherever you wish, Vidura; just as a wicked woman abandons a well-settled home.
एतावता पुरुषं ये त्यजन्ति तेषां सख्यमन्तवद्ब्रूहि राजन्। राज्ञां हि चित्तानि परिप्लुतानि सान्त्वं दत्वा मुसलैर्घातयन्ति
Those who abandon a person for such a reason—tell me, O king, how long their friendship lasts. The minds of kings are unstable; after offering soothing words, they strike with clubs.
अबालत्वं मन्यसे राजपुत्र बालोऽहमित्येव सुमन्दबुद्धे। यः सौहृदे पुरुषं स्थापयित्वा पश्चादेनं दूषयते स बालः
You think me a child, O prince, saying, 'I am but a boy,' O dull-witted one. He who, after winning a man's trust, later slanders him—that one is truly a child.
न श्रेयसे नीयते मन्दबुद्धिः स्त्री श्रोत्रियस्येव गृहे प्रदुष्टा। ध्रुवं न रोचेद्भरतर्षभस्य पतिः कुमार्या इव षष्टिवर्षः
A fool is not led to welfare, just as a corrupted woman in a Brahmin's house brings no good. Surely, the bull among the Bharatas will not be pleased, like a husband with a girl of six years.
अतः प्रियं चेदनुकाङ्क्षसे त्वं सर्वेषु कार्येषु हिताहितेषु स्त्रियश्च राजञ्जडपङ्गुकांश्च पृच्छ त्वं वै तादृशांश्चैव सर्वान्
Therefore, if you desire what is pleasing, in all matters, whether beneficial or harmful, consult women, the foolish, the lame, and all such as these, O king.
लभ्यते खलु पापीयान्नरोऽनु प्रियवागिह। अप्रियस्य हि पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः
Indeed, a man who speaks pleasing words is easily found; but one who speaks or listens to unpleasant yet wholesome advice is rare.
यस्तु धर्मपरश्च स्याद्धित्वा भर्तुः प्रियाप्रिये। अप्रियाण्याह पथ्यानि तेन राजा सहायवान्
But he who is devoted to righteousness, disregarding his master's likes and dislikes, speaks wholesome yet unpleasant words—by such a one the king is truly supported.
अव्याधइजं कटुजं तीक्ष्णमुष्णं यशोमुषं परुषं पूतिगन्धिम्। सतां पेयं यन्न पिबन्त्यसन्तो मन्युं महाराज पिब प्रशाम्य
That which is unpalatable, bitter, sharp, hot, fame-destroying, harsh, and foul-smelling—good men drink it, but the wicked do not. O great king, drink down your anger and be calm.
वैचित्रवीर्यस्य यशो धनं च वाञ्छाम्यहं सहपुत्रस्य शश्वत्। यथा तथा तेऽस्तु नमश्चतेऽस्तु ममापि च स्वस्ति दिशन्तु विप्राः
I always desire the fame and wealth of Vichitravirya and his sons. May it be so for you; salutations to you. May the Brahmins grant me well-being also.
आशीविषान्नेत्रविषान्कोपयेन्न च पण्डितः। एवं तेऽहं वदामीदं प्रयतः कुरुनन्दन
A wise man does not provoke those whose eyes are like serpents, nor those filled with poison. Thus, O joy of the Kurus, I have spoken this to you with care.
बहुवित्तं पराजैषीः पाण्डवानां युधिष्ठिर। आचक्ष्व वित्तं कौन्तेय यदि तेऽस्त्यपराजितम्
You have defeated the sons of Pandu and gained much wealth, O Yudhishthira. Declare, O son of Kunti, if you have any wealth left undefeated.