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.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। नातिहृष्टमनाः क्षिप्रमभवत्स पराङ्मुखः
Thus addressed by Karna, King Duryodhana then, his mind not greatly pleased, quickly turned away.
उपलभ्य ततः कर्णो विवृत्य नयने शुभे। रोषाद्दुःशासनं चैव सौबलं च तमेव च
Then Karna, perceiving this, opened his beautiful eyes wide, and in anger looked at Duhshasana, Saubala, and the king himself.
उवाच परमक्रुद्ध उद्यम्यात्मानमात्मना। अथो मम मतं यत्तु तन्निबोधत भूमिपाः
He, exceedingly enraged, composed himself with effort and spoke: 'Now, hear my opinion, O kings.'
प्रियं सर्वे करिष्यामो राज्ञः किं करवामहे। न चास्य शक्नुमः स्थातुं प्रिये सर्वे ह्यतन्द्रिताः
'We will all do what pleases the king; what else should we do? None of us is able to resist him in what he desires, for we are all diligent.'
वयं तु शस्त्राण्यादाय रथानास्थाय दंशिताः। गच्छामः सहिता हन्तुं पाण्डवान्वनगोचरान्
'But let us, armed and resolute, mount our chariots and go together to slay the Pandavas, who dwell in the forest.'
तेषु सर्वेषु शान्तेषु गतेष्वविदितां गतिम्। निर्विवादा भविष्यन्ति धार्तराष्ट्रास्तथा वयम्
'When all of them are slain and have gone to an unknown fate, the sons of Dhritarashtra—and we as well—will be without dispute.'
यावदेव परिद्यूना यावच्छोकपरायणाः। यावन्मित्रविहीनाश्च तावद्गच्छाम माचिरम्
'While they are still afflicted, absorbed in sorrow, and bereft of friends, let us go without delay.'
तस्यतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पूजयन्तः पुनः पुनः। प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुः सूतजं तदा
Hearing those words, they honored him again and again; all, with delighted hearts, then replied to the son of the charioteer.
एवमुक्त्वा सुसंरब्धा रथैः सर्वे पृथक्पृथक्। निर्ययुः पाण्डवान्हन्तुं सहिताः कृतनिश्चयाः
Having spoken thus, all, greatly enraged, set out separately in their chariots, united and firmly resolved to slay the Pandavas.
तान्प्रस्थितान्परिज्ञाय कृष्णद्वैपायनः प्रभुः। आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा दृष्ट्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा
Perceiving their departure, the lord Krishna Dvaipayana, pure in mind and seeing with divine sight, came there.
प्रतिषिध्याथ तान्सर्वान्भगवाँल्लोकपूजितः। प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमासीनमुवाचाभ्येत्य सत्वरम्
Then the revered one, honored by the world, restrained them all and, approaching swiftly, addressed the wise Vidura, who was seated there.
भगवन्नाहमप्येतद्रोचये द्यूतसंभवम्। मन्ये तद्विधिनाऽऽकृष्य कारितोस्मीति वै मुने
'O revered one, I myself do not approve of this gambling; I think I was drawn into it by fate, O sage.'
नैतद्रोचयते भीष्मो न द्रोणो विदुरो न च। गान्धार्या नेष्यते द्यूतं तत्र मोहात्प्रवर्तितम्
'Neither Bhishma nor Drona nor Vidura approves of this, nor does Gandhari; this gambling was undertaken out of delusion.'
परित्यक्तुं न शक्नोमि दुर्योधनमचेतनम्। पुत्रस्नेहेन भगवञ्जानन्नपि यतव्रत
'I am unable to abandon Duryodhana, though he is senseless, O revered one, even knowing this, due to my affection for my son.'
वैचित्रवीर्य नृपते सत्यमाह यथा भवान्। दृढं विझः परं पुत्रं परं पुत्रान्न विद्यते
'O king, son of Vichitravirya, you have spoken truly: for a father, there is nothing dearer than a son.'
इन्द्रोप्यश्रुनिपातेन सुरभ्या प्रतिबोधितः। अन्यैः समृद्धैरप्यर्थैर्न सुतानमन्यते परम्
'Even Indra, awakened by Surabhi's tears, did not value anything above his sons, though offered other great riches.'
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि गहदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। सुरभ्याश्चैव संवादमिन्द्रस्य च विशांपते
'Here I will tell you an excellent ancient tale, the conversation between Surabhi and Indra, O lord of men.'
त्रिविष्टपगता राजन्सुरभी प्रारुदत्किल। गवां माता पुरा तात तामिन्द्रोऽन्वकृपायत
'Once, O king, Surabhi, mother of cows, dwelling in heaven, wept; Indra felt compassion for her.'
किमिदं रोदिषि शुभे कच्चित्क्षेमं दिवौकसाम्। मनुष्येष्वथवा गोषु नैतदल्पं भविष्यति
'O beautiful one, why do you weep? Is all well with the gods, or among men, or with the cows? This cannot be a small matter.'
विनिपातो न वः कश्चिद्दृश्यते त्रिदशाधिप। अहं तु पुत्रं शोचामि तेन रोदिमि कौशिक
'No calamity is seen among you, O lord of the gods; but I grieve for my son, O Kaushika, and that is why I weep.'