अप्लवेऽम्भसि मग्नानामप्रतिष्ठे निमज्जताम्। पाञ्चाली पाण्डुपुत्राणां नौरेषां पारगाऽभवत्
When they were submerged in water without a raft, sinking with no support, Panchali became the boat that carried the sons of Pandu across.
तद्वै श्रुत्वा भीमसेनः कुरुमध्येऽत्यमर्षणः। स्त्री गतिः पाण्डुपुत्राणामित्युवाच सुदुर्मनाः
Hearing this, Bhimasena, burning with anger in the midst of the Kurus, spoke in great distress: 'The sons of Pandu have come to the fate of women.'
त्रीणि ज्योतींषि पुरुष इति वै देवलोऽब्रवीत्। अपत्यं कर्म विद्या च यतः सृष्टाः प्रजास्ततः
Devala said: 'The person is threefold light—offspring, action, and knowledge; from these, all beings are created.'
अमेध्ये वै गतप्रामे शून्ये ज्ञातिभिरुज्झिते। देहे त्रितयमेवैतत्पुरुषस्योपयुज्यते
When the body is impure, lifeless, empty, and abandoned by kin, only these three remain useful to a person.
तन्नो ज्योतिरभिहतं दाराणामभिमर्शनात्। धनञ्जय कथं स्वित्स्यादपत्यमभिमृष्टजम्
That light of ours is struck down by contact with another's wife; O Dhananjaya, how can offspring born of such contact be considered one's own?
न चैवोक्ता न चानुक्ता हीनतः परुषा गिरः। भारत प्रतिजल्पन्ति सदा तूत्तमपूरुषाः
Neither spoken nor unspoken, harsh words from the low-minded are ever answered by the truly noble, O Bharata.
स्मरन्ति सुकृतान्येव न वैराणि कृतान्यपि। सन्तः प्रतिविजानन्तो लब्धसम्भावनाः स्वयम्
The virtuous remember only good deeds, not even enmities done to them; recognizing virtue, they themselves become worthy of honor.
इहैवैतानहं सर्वान्हन्मि शत्रून्समागतान्। अथ निष्क्रम्य राजेन्द्र समूलान्हन्मि भारत
Here and now, I will slay all these gathered enemies; or, O king, going forth, I will destroy them utterly, root and all, O Bharata.
किं नो विवदितेनेह किमुक्तेन च भारत। अद्यैवैतान्निहन्मीह प्रशाधि पृथिवीमिमाम्
Why argue here, why speak further, O Bharata? Today itself I will slay them here—rule this earth.
इत्युक्त्वा भीमसेनस्तु कनिष्ठैर्भ्रातृभिः सह। मृगमध्ये यथा सिंहो मुहुर्मुहुरुदैक्षत
Having spoken thus, Bhimasena, with his younger brothers, looked around again and again among the assembly like a lion among beasts.
सान्त्व्यमानो वीक्षमाणः पार्थेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। खिद्यत्येव महाबाहुरन्तर्दाहेन वीर्यवान्
Though consoled and watched by Arjuna, whose deeds are pure, the mighty-armed hero, burning within, was only more distressed.
क्रुद्धस्य तस्य स्रोतोभ्यः कर्णादिभ्यो नराधिप। सधूमः सस्फुलिङ्गार्चिः पावकः समजायत
From the streams of his ears and other parts, O king, a fiery blaze arose, with smoke and sparks, as if he were fire itself.
भ्रुकुटीकृतदुष्प्रेक्ष्यमभवत्तस्य तन्मुखम्। युगान्तकाले सम्प्राप्ते कृतान्तस्येव रूपिणः
His face, with furrowed brows, became terrible to behold, like the form of Death himself at the end of an age.
युधिष्ठिरस्तमावार्य बाहुना बाहुशालिनम्। मैवमित्यब्रवीच्चैनं जोषमास्वेति भारत
Yudhishthira, restraining him with his arm, said, 'Do not act so; be patient,' O Bharata, to the strong-armed one.
निवार्य च महाबाहुं कोपसंरक्तलोचनम्। पितरं समुपातिष्ठद्धृतराष्ट्रं कृताञ्जलिः
Holding back the mighty-armed one, whose eyes were red with anger, he approached his father Dhritarashtra, joining his palms in respect.
राजन्किं करवामस्ते प्रशाध्यस्मांस्त्वमीश्वरः। नित्यं हि स्थातुमिच्छामस्तव भारत शासने
O king, what shall we do for you? Rule us, for you are the lord; we always wish to remain under your command, O Bharata.
अजातशत्रो भद्रं ते अरिष्टं स्वस्ति गच्छत। अनुज्ञाताः सहधनाः स्वराज्यमनुशासत
O Ajatashatru, blessings to you, may you be unharmed—go in peace; with my permission, rule your own kingdom with your wealth.
इदं चैवावबोद्धव्यं वृद्धस्य मम शासनम्। मया निगदितं सर्वं पथ्यं निःश्रेयसं परम्
This also must be understood: the command of me, the elder; all I have spoken is wholesome and leads to the highest good.
वेत्थ त्वं तात धर्माणां गतिं सूक्ष्मां युधिष्ठिर। विनीतोऽसि महाप्राज्ञ वृद्धानां पर्युपासिता
You know, dear Yudhishthira, the subtle path of righteousness; you are disciplined, great in wisdom, and have served the elders.
यतो बुद्धिस्ततः शान्तिः प्रशमं गच्छ भारत। नादारुणि पतेच्छस्त्रं दारुण्येतन्निपात्यते
Where there is understanding, there is peace; seek tranquility, O Bharata. Let not a harsh weapon fall, for harshness brings destruction.
न वैराण्यभिजानन्ति गुणान्पश्यन्ति नागुणान्। विरोधं नाधिगच्छन्ति ये त उत्तमपूरुषाः
Those who are the highest among men do not recognize enmities; they see virtues, not faults; they do not engage in conflict.
स्मरन्ति सुकृतान्येव न वैराणि कृतान्यपि। सन्तः परार्थं कुर्वाणा नावेक्षन्ति प्रतिक्रियाम्
The virtuous remember only good deeds, not even the wrongs done to them; acting for the sake of others, they do not seek retaliation.
संवादे परुषाण्याहुर्युधिष्ठिर नराधमाः। प्रत्याहुर्मध्यमास्त्वेतेऽनुक्ताः नराधमाः
In conversation, the lowest of men speak harsh words, O Yudhishthira; the middling reply in kind, while the lowest remain unspoken.
न चोक्ता नैव चानुक्तास्त्वहिताः परुषा गिरः। प्रतिजल्पन्ति वै धीराः सदा तूत्तमपुरुषाः
Neither spoken nor unspoken harsh words are beneficial; the wise always respond calmly, and the highest among men do so unfailingly.
स्मरन्ति सुकृतान्येव न वैराणि कृतान्यपि। सन्तः प्रतिविजानन्तो लब्ध्वा प्रत्ययमात्मनः
The virtuous remember only good deeds, not even the wrongs done to them; knowing the truth within themselves, they recognize what is right.
असम्भिन्नार्यमर्यादाः साधवः प्रियदर्शनाः। तथा चरित्तंमार्येण त्वयाऽस्मिन्सत्समागमे
The noble, steadfast in their code of conduct, are pleasant to behold; so too should your behavior be noble in this assembly of the virtuous.
दुर्योधनस्य पारुष्यं तत्तात हृदि मा कृथाः। मातरं चैव गान्धारीं मां च त्वं गुणकाङ्क्षया
Do not let Duryodhana’s harshness dwell in your heart, dear one; for the sake of virtue, honor Gandhari your mother and me as well.
उपस्थितं वृद्धमन्धं पितरं पश्य भारत। प्रेक्षापूर्वं मया द्यूतमिदमासीदुपेक्षितम्
Behold your aged, blind father, O Bharata; I overlooked this game of dice, having first sought his permission.
मित्राणि द्रष्टुकामेन पुत्राणां च बलाबलम्। अशोच्याः कुरवो राजन्येषां त्वमनुशासिता
Desiring to see friends and to know the strength and weakness of your sons, the Kurus are not to be grieved; you are their guide among kings.
मन्त्री च विदुरो धीमान्सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। त्वयि धर्मोऽर्जुने धैर्यं भीमसेने पराक्रमः
Vidura, wise and skilled in all scriptures, is your counselor; in you is righteousness, in Arjuna courage, in Bhimasena valor.