धर्म्यं स्त्रियं सभां पूर्वे न नयन्तीति नः श्रुतम्। स नष्टः कौरवेयेषु पूर्वो धर्मः सनातनः
We have heard that in former times, righteous women were not brought into assemblies; that ancient, eternal righteousness is now lost among the Kauravas.
कथं हि भार्या पाण्डुनां पार्षतस्य स्वसा सती। वासुदेवस्य च सखी पार्थिवानां सभामियाम्
How can the wife of the Pāṇḍavas, the sister of the Pāñcāla, and friend of Vāsudeva, enter the assembly of kings?
तामिमां धर्मराजस्य भार्यां सदृशवर्णजाम्। ब्रूत दासीमदासीं वा तत्करिष्यामि कौरवाः
Tell me, Kauravas, whether I am the lawful wife of the king of righteousness, or a slave-woman; I will act accordingly.
अयं मां सुदृढं क्षुद्रः कौरवाणां यशोहरः. क्लिश्नाति नाहं तत्सोढुं क्षुद्रः कौरवाणां यशोहरः
This wretch, who brings disgrace to the Kauravas, torments me cruelly; I cannot endure it—this wretch, who brings disgrace to the Kauravas.
जितां वाऽप्यजितां वापि मन्यध्वं मां यथा नृपाः। तथा प्रत्युक्तमिच्छामि तत्करिष्यामि कौरवाः
Whether you consider me won or not won, O kings, let me be answered accordingly; I will do as you say, Kauravas.
उक्तवानस्मि कल्याणि धर्मस्य परमा गतिः। लोके न शक्यते ज्ञातुमपि विज्ञैर्महात्मभिः
I have spoken, O noble lady, of the highest path of righteousness; even the wise and great souls in this world cannot fully comprehend it.
बलवांश्च यथा धर्मं लोके पश्यति पुरुषः।। स धर्मो धर्मवेलायां भवत्यभिहतः परः
Just as a powerful man sees righteousness in the world, so that righteousness, at the appointed time, is struck down by another.
न विवेक्तुं च ते प्रश्नमिमं शक्नोमि निश्चयात्। सूक्ष्मत्वाद्गहनत्वाच्च कार्यस्यास्य च गौरवात्
I am truly unable to answer your question with certainty, because of its subtlety, depth, and the gravity of this matter.
नूनमन्तः कुलस्यास्य भविता न चिरादिव। तथा हि कुरवः सर्वे लोभमोहपरायणाः
Surely, the end of this family will come soon, for all the Kurus are devoted to greed and delusion.
कुलेषु जाताः कल्याणि व्यसनैराहता भृशम्। धर्म्यान्मार्गान्न च्यवन्ते येषां नस्त्वं बधूः स्थिता
O noble lady, those born in noble families, though greatly afflicted by misfortune, do not stray from righteous paths—among whom you stand as our wife.
उपपन्नं च पाञ्चालि तवेदं वृत्तमीदृशम्। यत्कृच्छ्रमपि सम्प्राप्ता धर्ममेवान्ववेक्षसे
O Pāñcālī, your conduct is fitting, for even in great distress you continue to consider only righteousness.
एते द्रोणादयश्चैव वृद्धा धर्मविदो जनाः। शून्यैः शरीरैस्तिष्ठन्ति गतासव इवानताः
And these elders like Droṇa, who know righteousness, stand here as if lifeless, their bodies empty, like those whose life has departed.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु प्रश्नोऽस्मिन्प्रमाणमिति मे मतिः। अजितां वा जितां वेति स्वयं व्याख्यातुमर्हति
In this matter, I believe Yudhiṣṭhira's answer is the authority; whether he is conquered or unconquered, he should declare it himself.
तथा तु दृष्ट्वा बहु तत्र देवीं रोरूयमाणां कुररीमिवार्ताम्। नोचुर्वचः साध्वथवाऽप्यसाधु महीक्षितो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य भीताः
Then, seeing the queen there, weeping like a distressed bird, none of the kings, out of fear of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son, spoke words either good or bad.
दृष्ट्वा तथा पार्थिवपुत्रपौत्रां- स्तूष्णींभूतान्धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रः। स्मयन्निवेदं वचनं बभाषे पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतां तदानीम्
Seeing the sons and grandsons of kings silent, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, smiling, spoke these words to the daughter of the king of Pāñcāla at that moment.
तिष्ठत्वयं प्रश्न उदारसत्वे भीमेऽर्जुने सहदेवे तथैव। पत्यौ च ते नकुले याज्ञसेनि वदन्त्वेते वचनं त्वत्प्रसूतम्
Let this question, noble in nature, remain with Bhīma, Arjuna, and Sahadeva, and with your husband Nakula, O Yājñasenī; let them speak the words you have raised.
अनीश्वरं विब्रुवन्त्वार्यमध्ये युधिष्ठिरं तव पाञ्चालि हेतोः। कुर्वन्तु सर्वे चानृतं धर्मराजं पाञ्चालि त्वं मोक्ष्यसे दासभावात्
Let all these, in the midst of the noble, declare Yudhiṣṭhira powerless for your sake, O Pāñcālī; let them all call the king of righteousness false, and you will be freed from servitude.
धर्मे स्थितो धर्मसुतो महात्मा स्वयं चेदं कथयत्विन्द्रकल्पः। ईशो वा ते ह्यनीशोऽथवैष वाक्यादस्य क्षिप्रमेकं भजस्व
The great-souled son of Dharma, steadfast in righteousness, equal to Indra, should himself declare whether he is master or not; quickly choose one of his words.
सर्वे हीमे कौरवेयाः सभायां दुःखान्तरे वर्तमानास्तवैव। न विब्रुवन्त्यार्यसत्वा यथाव- त्पतींश्च ते समवेक्ष्याल्पभाग्यान्
All these Kauravas in the assembly, suffering in sorrow for your sake, do not speak as noble men should, seeing your husbands, so unfortunate.
ततः सभ्याः कुरुराजस्य तस्य वाक्यं सर्वे प्रशशंसुस्तथोच्चैः। चेलावेधांश्चापि चक्रुर्नदन्तो हाहेत्यासीदपि चैवार्तनादः
Then all the members of the Kuru king's assembly loudly praised those words, and, shouting, made gestures of approval; there arose cries of 'Alas!' and sounds of distress.
श्रुत्वा तुं तद्वाक्यमनोहरं त- द्धर्षश्चासीत्कौरवाणां सभायाम्। सर्वे चासन्पार्थिवाः प्रीतिमन्तः कुरुश्रेष्ठं धार्मिकं पूजयन्तः
Hearing those pleasing words, there was delight among the Kauravas in the assembly; all the kings were joyful, honoring the righteous Kuru chief.
युधिष्ठिरं च ते सर्वे समुदैक्षन्त पार्थिवाः। किं नु वक्ष्यति धर्मज्ञ इति साचीकृताननाः
And all those kings looked intently at Yudhiṣṭhira, their faces turned toward him, wondering, 'What will the knower of righteousness say?'
किं नु वक्ष्यति बीभत्सुरजितो युधि पाण्डवः। भीमसेनो यमौ चोभौ भृशं कौतूहलान्विताः
And with great curiosity, they wondered, 'What will the unconquered Pāṇḍava, Bhīmasena, and the twin sons of Madri say in battle?'
तस्मिन्नुपरते शब्दे भीमसेनोऽब्रवीदिदम्। प्रगृह्य रुचिरं दिव्यं भुजं चन्दनचर्चितम्
When the noise subsided, Bhīmasena, grasping his beautiful, divine arm anointed with sandalwood, spoke these words.
यद्येष गुरुरस्माकं धर्मराजो महामनाः। न प्रभुः स्यात्कुलस्यास्य न वयं मर्षयेमहि
If this great-minded king of righteousness is not the master of our lineage, we would not endure this.
ईशो नः पुण्यतपसां प्राणानामपि चेश्वरः। मन्यते जितमात्मानं यद्येष विजिता वयम्
He is lord over us, over those who possess sacred austerities, and even over our lives; if he considers himself conquered, then we too are defeated.
न हि मुच्येत मे जीवन्पदा भूमिमुपस्पृशन्। मर्त्यधर्मा परामृश्य पाञ्चाल्या मूर्धजानिमान्
While living, touching the earth with my feet, I would not be released, having considered the mortal law, from the humiliation of Draupadi’s hair.
पश्यध्वं ह्यायतौ वृत्तौ भुजौ मे परिघाविव। नैतयोरन्तरं प्राप्य मुच्येतापि शतक्रतुः
Behold my arms, strong as iron bars, grown through righteous conduct; even Indra could not escape if caught between them.
धर्मपाशसितस्त्वेवमधिगच्छामि सङ्कटम्। गौरवेण निरुद्धश्च निग्रहादर्जुनस्य च
Bound by the cords of righteousness, I find myself in distress, restrained by respect and by Arjuna’s restraint.
धर्मराजनिसृष्टस्तु सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव। धार्तराष्टारानिमान्पापान्निष्पषेयं तलासिभिः
Released by the king of righteousness, I would scatter these wicked sons of Dhritarashtra like a lion scatters small animals, with my sword and club.