न हि तेन मम भ्रात्रा सुसूक्ष्ममपि किंचन। व्यलीकं कृतपूर्वं वै प्राज्ञेनामितबुद्धिना
Never has my wise brother, of vast intellect, committed even the slightest fault against me.
स व्यलीकं कथं प्राप्तो मत्तः परमबुद्धिमान्। न जह्माज्जीवितं प्राज्ञ तं गच्छानय संजय
How could such a wise man have incurred blame from me? Go, Sanjaya, bring him back; a sage does not abandon life unjustly.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राज्ञस्तमनुमान्य च। संजयो बाढमित्युक्त्वा प्राद्रवत्काम्यकं प्रति
Hearing these words of the king and accepting them, Sanjaya replied, 'Certainly,' and hurried toward Kamyaka.
सोऽचिरेण समासाद्य तद्वनं यत्र पाण्डवाः। रौरवाजिनसंवीतं ददर्शाथ युधिष्ठिरम्
Soon reaching the forest where the Pandavas dwelled, Sanjaya saw Yudhishthira, clad in the skin of a ruru deer.
विदुरेण सहासीनं ब्राह्मणैश्च सहस्रशः। भ्रातृभिश्चाभिसंगुप्तं देवैरिव पुरंदरम्
He saw Yudhishthira seated with Vidura, surrounded by thousands of Brahmins and guarded by his brothers, like Indra among the gods.
युधिष्ठिरमुपागम्य पूजयामास संजयः। भीमार्जुनयमाश्चापि तद्युक्तं प्रतिपेदिरे
Approaching Yudhishthira, Sanjaya honored him; Bhima, Arjuna, and Yama's son also responded appropriately.
राज्ञा पृष्टः स कुशलं सुखासीनश्च संजयः। शशंसागमने हेतुमिदं चैवाब्रवीद्वचः
Asked by the king about his welfare, Sanjaya, comfortably seated, explained the reason for his arrival and spoke these words.
राजा स्मरति ते क्षत्तर्धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः। तं पश्य गत्वा त्वं क्षिप्रं संजीवय च पार्थिवम्
The king Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, remembers you, Kshatta; go quickly, see him, and revive the monarch.
सोऽनुमान्य नरश्रेष्ठान्पाण्डवान्कुरुनन्दनान्। नियोगाद्राजसिंहस्य गन्तुमर्हसि सत्तम्
Having received permission from the foremost men, the Pandavas, descendants of Kuru, you should depart, as commanded by the lion among kings.
एवमुक्तस्तु विदुरो धीमान्स्वजनवत्सलः। युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते पुनरायाद्गजाह्वयम्
Thus addressed, the wise and affectionate Vidura, with Yudhishthira's consent, returned again to Hastinapura.
तमब्रवीन्महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः। दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोसि धर्मज्ञ दिष्ट्या स्मरसि मेऽनघ
Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, of great energy, spoke to him: 'By fortune you have come, knower of Dharma; by fortune you remember me, O blameless one.'
अद्य चाहं दिवारात्रौ त्वत्कृते भरतर्षभ। प्रजागरे प्रपश्यामि विचित्रं देहमात्मनः
Day and night, for your sake, O bull among Bharatas, I remain awake, observing the strange condition of my own body.
सोङ्कमानीय विदुरं मूर्धन्याघ्राय चैव ह। क्षम्यतामिति चोवाचयदुक्तोसि मयाऽनघ
Bringing Vidura close, and smelling his head, he said, 'Forgive me; you have been spoken to by me, O blameless one.'
क्षान्तमेव मया राजन्गुरुर्मे परमो भवान्। तथाऽहमागतः शीघ्रं त्वद्दर्शनपरायणः
I have indeed forgiven you, O king; you are my supreme teacher. Thus I have come swiftly, devoted to seeing you.
भवन्ति हि नरव्याघ्र पुरुषा धर्मचेतनाः। दीनानुकम्पिनो राजन्नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Indeed, O tiger among men, there are people whose hearts are set on righteousness, who feel compassion for the afflicted, O King; there is no need for deliberation about this.
पाण्डोः पुत्रा यादृशास्ते तादृशा मे सुतास्तव। दीना इतीव मे बुद्धिरभिपन्नाऽद्य तान्प्रति
As the sons of Pandu are, so are my own sons and yours; my mind today is filled with pity for them, seeing them as destitute.
अन्योन्यमनुनीयैवं भ्रातरौ द्वौ महाद्युती। विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रश्च लेभाते परमां मुदम्
Thus, after consoling each other, those two illustrious brothers, Vidura and Dhritarashtra, attained great joy.
श्रुत्वा च विदुरं प्राप्तं राज्ञा च परिसान्त्वितम्। धृताराष्ट्रात्मजो राजा पर्यतप्यत दुर्मतिः
Hearing that Vidura had arrived and that the king had been appeased, the evil-minded prince, son of Dhritarashtra, was greatly troubled.
स सौबलेयमानाय्य कर्णदुःशासनौ तथा। अब्रवीद्वचनं राजा प्रविश्याबुद्धिजं तमः
He then summoned Saubala, Karna, and Duhshasana, and the king spoke these words, entering into a darkness born of ignorance.
एष प्रत्यागतो मन्त्री धृतराष्ट्रस्य संमतः। विदुरः पाण्डुपुत्राणां सुहृद्विद्वान्हिते रतः
This counselor, Vidura, esteemed by Dhritarashtra, has returned; he is a friend of the Pandavas, wise, and devoted to their welfare.
यावदस्य पुनर्बुद्धिं विदुरो नापकर्षति। पाण्डवानयने तावन्मन्त्रयध्वं हितं मम
Before Vidura turns Dhritarashtra’s mind again, you must quickly devise a plan for bringing the Pandavas here that serves my interests.
अथ पश्याम्यहं पार्थान्प्राप्तानिह कथंचन। पुनः शोषं गमिष्यामि निरसुर्निष्परिग्रहः
Otherwise, if I see the sons of Pandu somehow arrive here, I will again fall into misery, deprived and without support.
विषमुद्बन्धनं चैव शस्त्रमग्निप्रवेशनम्। करिष्ये न हि तानृद्धान्पुनर्द्रष्टुमिहोत्सहे
I will resort to poison, binding, weapons, or fire; for I cannot bear to see those prosperous ones here again.
किं बालिशमतिं राजन्नास्थितोसि विशांपते। गतास्ते समयं कृत्वा नैतदेवं भविष्यति
Why, O king, do you persist in such childish thinking, lord of the people? They have departed after making an agreement; it will not be as you wish.
सत्यवाक्येः स्विताः सर्वे पाण्डवा भरतषभ। पितुस्ते वचनं तात न ग्रहीष्यन्ति कर्हिचिति
All the Pandavas, O bull of the Bharatas, are devoted to truth; O dear one, they will never accept your father’s words.
अथवा ते ग्रहीष्यन्ति पुनरेष्यन्ति वा पुरम्। निरस्य समयं सर्वे पणोऽस्माकं भविष्यति
Or perhaps they will accept, and return again to the city; but if they break the agreement, then the forfeit will be ours.
सर्वे भवामो मध्यस्था राज्ञश्छन्दानुवर्तिनः। छिद्रं बहु प्रपश्यन्तः पाण्डवानां सुसंवृताः
Let us all remain neutral, following the king’s wishes, ever watchful for any opening, for the Pandavas are well-guarded.
एवमेतन्महाप्राज्ञ यथा वदसि मातुल। नित्यं हि मे कथयतस्तव बुद्धिर्विरोचते
So it is, O wise one, as you say, uncle; your counsel always shines forth to me as you speak.
काममीक्षामहे सर्वे दुर्योधन तवेप्सितम्। ऐकमत्यं हि नो राजन्सर्वेषामेव लक्षये
Indeed, Duryodhana, we all look to what you desire; for I see that all of us are united in purpose, O king.
[नागमिष्यन्ति ते धीरा अकृत्वा कालसंविदम्। आगमिष्यन्ति चेन्मोहात्पुनर्द्यूतेन ताञ्जय ।।]
Your steadfast ones will not come without fixing a proper time; but if they come out of delusion, then let us defeat them again at dice.