अकारादीनि नामानि अर्जुनग्रस्तचेतसः। अश्वाक्षराम्बुजाश्चैव त्रासं सञ्जनयन्ति मे
The very first letters of words, the names, and even the syllables 'ashva,' 'aksha,' and 'ambuja'—all these, as my mind is seized by thoughts of Arjuna, fill me with dread.
नास्ति पार्थादृते तात परवीराद्भयं मम। प्रह्लादं वा बलिं वापि हन्याद्धि विजयो रणे
Except for Partha, O dear one, I have no fear of any other mighty hero; even Prahlada or Bali could be slain by Vijaya in battle.
तस्मात्तेन महाराज युद्धं नस्तात न क्षमम्। अहं तस्य प्रभावज्ञो नित्यं दुःखं वहामि च
Therefore, O great king, for this reason, war with him is not suitable for us; knowing his power, I constantly bear sorrow.
पुरा हि दण्डकारण्ये मारीचस्य यथा भयम्। भवेद्रामे महावीर्ये तथा पार्थे भयं मम
Just as Maricha once feared the mighty Rama in the Dandaka forest, so do I now fear Partha.
जानाम्येव महद्वीयं जिष्णोरेतद्दुरासदम्। एतद्वीरस्य पार्थस्य कार्षीस्त्वं तु विप्रियम्
I know well the great and unconquerable power of Jishnu; yet, O hero, you have acted against Partha's interests.
द्यूतं वा शस्त्रयुद्धं वा दुवाक्यं वा कथञ्चन। एतेष्वेवं कृते तस्य विग्रहश्चैव वो भवेत्
Whether it is dice, battle with weapons, or harsh words—if any of these are done, conflict with him will surely arise for you.
तस्मात्त्वं पुत्र पार्थेन नित्यं स्नेहेन वर्तय। यश्च पार्थेन सम्बन्धो वर्तते चेन्नरो भुवि
Therefore, my son, always act with affection toward Partha; and whoever maintains a relationship with Partha on earth—
तस्य नास्ति भयं किञ्चित्रिषु लोकेषु भारत। तस्मात्त्वं जिष्णुना वत्स नित्यं स्नेहेन वर्तय
—for him there is no fear at all in the three worlds, O Bharata; therefore, my child, always act with affection toward Jishnu.
द्यूते पार्थस्य कौरव्य मायया निकृतिः कृता। तस्माद्वि नो जयस्तात अन्योपायेन नो भवेत्
In the game of dice, O Kaurava, deceit was practiced against Partha by trickery; therefore, victory will not be ours, nor will it come by any other means.
उपायश्च न कर्तव्यः पाण्डवान्प्रति भारत। पार्थान्प्रति पुरा वत्स बहूपायाः कृतास्त्वया
Nor should any further schemes be devised against the Pandavas, O Bharata; in the past, my child, you have already made many attempts against Partha.
तानुपायान्हि कौन्तेया बहुशो व्यतिचक्रमुः। तस्माद्वितं जीविताय नः कुलस्य जनस्य च
The sons of Kunti have overcome all those schemes many times; therefore, let us choose peace for the sake of our lives, our family, and our people.
त्वं चिकीर्षसि चेद्वत्स समित्रः सहबान्धवः। सभ्रातृकस्त्वं पार्थेन नित्यं स्नेहेन वर्तय
If you wish, my child, for the well-being of your friends, relatives, and brothers, then always act with affection toward Partha.
धृतराष्ट्रवचः श्रुत्वा राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु विधिना चोदितोऽब्रवीत्
Hearing Dhritarashtra's words, King Duryodhana then, after reflecting for a moment and urged by fate, spoke.
पुनर्दीव्याम भद्रं ते वनवासाय पाण्डवैः। एवमेतान्वशे कर्तुं शक्ष्यामः पुरुषर्षभ।।ष
Let us play again, for the sake of the Pandavas' exile; in this way, O best of men, we will be able to bring them under our control.
ते वा द्वादश वर्षाणि वयं वा द्यूतनिर्जिताः। प्रविशेम महारण्यमजिनैः प्रतिवासिताः
Either they, for twelve years, or we, defeated at dice, shall enter the great forest, clad in deerskins.
त्रयोदशं च स्वजनैरज्ञाताः परिवत्सरम्। ज्ञाताश्च पुनरन्यानि वने वर्षाणि द्वादश
And for the thirteenth year, let them or us live unrecognized among our own people; if discovered, again let there be twelve years in the forest.
निवसेम वयं ते वा तथा द्यूतं प्रवर्तताम्। अक्षानुप्त्वा पुनर्द्यूतमिदं कुर्वन्तु पाण्डवः
Let us or they dwell thus; let the dice game proceed in this way. Without casting the dice, let the Pandavas play this game again.
एतत्कृत्यतमं राजन्नस्माकं भरतर्षभ। अयं हि शकुनिर्वेद सविद्यामक्षसम्पदम्
This, O king, is the most advantageous course for us, O bull of the Bharatas; for Shakuni knows well the art and mastery of dice.
दृढमूलं वयं राज्ये मित्राणि परिगृह्य च। सारवद्विपुलं सैन्यं सत्कृत्य च दुरासदम्
We are firmly established in the kingdom, having gathered allies, and our army is strong, vast, and formidable, honored and difficult to overcome.
ते च त्रयोदशं वर्षं पारयिष्यन्ति चेद्व्रतम्। जेष्यामस्तान्वयं राजत्रोचतां ते परन्तप
If they complete the thirteen-year vow, O king, then we shall defeat them; let this be decided by you, scorcher of foes.
तूर्णं प्रत्यानयस्वैतान्कामं व्यध्वगतानपि। आगच्छन्तु पुनर्द्यूतमिदं कुर्वन्तु पाण्डवः
Quickly summon them back, even if they have departed as they wish; let the Pandavas come and play this game of dice again.
ततो द्रोणः सोमदत्तो बाह्लीकश्चैव गौतमः। विदुरो द्रोणपुत्रश्च वैश्यापुत्रश्च वीर्यवान्
Then Drona, Somadatta, Bahlika, Gautama, Vidura, Drona's son, and the mighty son of a Vaishya,
भूरिश्रवाः शान्तनवो विकर्णश्च महारथः। मा द्यूतमित्यभाषन्त शमोऽस्त्विति च सर्वशः
Bhuriśravas, descendant of Shantanu, and the great chariot-warrior Vikarna—all said, 'Let there be no dice game,' and all declared, 'Let there be peace.'
अकामानां च सर्वेषां सुहृदामर्थदर्शिनाम्। अकरोत्पाण्डवाह्वानं धृतराष्ट्रः सुतप्रियः
But Dhritarashtra, devoted to his son, called for the Pandavas, against the wishes of all his well-meaning friends who saw the true interest.
अथाब्रवीन्महाराज धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्। पुत्रहार्दाद्धर्मयुक्ता गान्धारी शोककर्शिता
Then Gandhari, afflicted with grief, righteous and devoted to her son, spoke to King Dhritarashtra, lord of men.
जाते दुर्योधने क्षत्ता महामतिरभाषत। नीयतां परलोकाय साध्वयं कुलपांसनः
When Duryodhana was born, the wise charioteer spoke: 'Let this destroyer of the family be sent to the other world.'
व्यनदज्जातमात्रो हि गोमायुरिव भारत। अन्तो नूनं कुलस्यास्य कुरवस्तन्निबोधत
For at birth he howled like a jackal, O Bharata; know that this surely marks the end of this family of the Kurus.
मा निमज्जीः स्वदोषेण महाप्सु त्वं हि भारत। मा बालानामशिष्टानामभिमंस्था मतिं प्रभो
Do not, O Bharata, sink by your own fault into great ruin; do not, lord, approve the counsel of foolish, untrained youths.
मा कुलस्य क्षये घोरे कारणं त्वं भविष्यसि। बद्धं सेतुं को नु भिन्द्याद्धमेच्छान्तं च पावकम्
Do not become the cause of the dreadful destruction of the family; who would break a well-built dam, or wish to extinguish a fire that is dying down?
शमे स्थितान्को नु पार्थान्कोपयेद्भरतर्षभ। स्मरन्तं त्वामाजमीढं स्मारयिष्याम्यहं पुनः
Who would provoke the sons of Pandu, who are devoted to peace, O bull of the Bharatas? I will remind you again of your ancestor, Ajamidha.