असंभवे त्वस्य हेतुः प्रायश्चित्तं तु लक्ष्यते। कृतेकर्मणि राजेन्द्र तथाऽनृण्यमवाप्नुते
When attainment is impossible, expiation is prescribed; having performed the action, O king, one thus becomes free from debt.
अलक्ष्मीराविशत्येनं शयानमलसं नरम्। निःसंशयं फलं लब्ध्वा दक्षो भूतिमुपाश्नुते
Misfortune enters the man who lies idle and lazy; but having certainly obtained the result, the diligent enjoys prosperity.
अनर्थं संशयावस्थं गृणन्त्यामुक्तसशंयाः। धीरा नराः कर्मरता न तु निःसंशयाः क्वचित्
Those who are indecisive and uncertain praise misfortune and doubt; but wise men devoted to action are never without certainty.
एकान्ते नह्यनर्थोऽयं वर्ततेऽस्मासु सांप्रतम्। स तु निःसंशयं न स्यात्त्वयि कर्मण्यवस्थिते
Complete misfortune does not prevail among us at present; but certainty is not found when you remain inaction regarding the task.
अथवाऽसिद्धिरेव स्यान्महिमा तु तदेव ते। वृकोदरस्य बीभत्सोर्भात्रोश्च यमयोरपि
Or else, failure itself may occur; yet that is your greatness—of Vrikodara, of Bibhatsu, and of the brothers Yama also.
पृथिवीं लाङ्गलेनेह कृष्ट्वा बीजं वपत्युत। आस्तेऽथ कर्षकस्तूष्णीं पर्जन्यस्तत्र कारणम्
Having plowed the earth here with a plow and sown the seed, the farmer then sits silently; the rain is the cause in that matter.
वृष्टिश्चेन्नानुगृह्णीयादनेनास्तत्र कर्षकः। यदन्यः पुरुषः कुर्यात्तत्कृतं सफलं मया
If the rain does not favor him, the farmer remains without result; whatever another person does, that which is done by me bears fruit.
तच्चेदं फलमस्माकमपराधो न मे क्वचित्। इति धीरोऽन्ववेक्ष्यैव नात्मानं तत्रगर्हयेत्
If this result belongs to us, there is no fault in me anywhere; thus the wise, having considered, should not blame themselves in that matter.
कुर्वतो नार्थसिद्धिर्मे भवतीति ह भारत। निर्वेदो नात्र गन्तव्यो द्वावन्तौ यस्य कर्मणः
If, while acting, I do not attain the result, O Bharata, despair should not be adopted; for there are only two outcomes of action.
सिद्धिर्वाऽप्यथवाऽसिद्धिरप्रवृत्तिरतोऽन्यथा। बहूनां समवाये हि भावानां कर्म सिध्यति
Success or failure, or non-engagement otherwise; for when many factors come together, action succeeds.
गुणाभावे फलं न्यूनं भवत्यफलमेव च। अनारम्भे हि न फलं न गुणो दृश्यते क्वचित्
When qualities are lacking, the result is diminished or even fruitless; for without undertaking, neither result nor merit is ever seen.
देशकालावुपायांश्च मङ्गलं स्वस्तिसिद्धये। युनक्ति मेधया धीरो यथायोगं यथाबलम्
A wise and steadfast person, with intelligence, applies place, time, means, and auspiciousness as appropriate and according to strength, for the attainment of success and well-being.
अप्युपायेन तत्कार्यमुपदेष्टा पराक्रमः। भूयिष्ठं कर्मयोगेषु सर्व एव पराक्रमः
Even by some means, that action should be accomplished; initiative is supreme, and in all undertakings, effort is indeed most important.
यत्रधीमानवेक्षेत श्रेयासं बहुभिर्गुणैः। साम्नैवार्थं ततो लिप्सेत्कर्म चास्मै प्रयोजयेत्
Where a discerning person perceives greater benefit through many virtues, there, by conciliation, he should obtain the objective and assign work to him.
व्यसनं नाभिकाङ्क्षेत्त विनाशं वा युधिष्ठिर। अपि सिन्धोर्गिरेर्वाऽपि किं पुनर्मर्त्यधर्मिणः
One should not desire misfortune or destruction, O Yudhishthira, not even of the ocean or a mountain—how much less, then, of a mortal being.
उत्थानयुक्तः सततं परेषामन्तरैषणे। आनृण्यमाप्नोति नरः परस्यात्मन एव च
A man who is always diligent in seeking opportunities among others attains freedom from debt, both towards others and himself.
न त्वेवात्माऽवमन्तव्यः पुरुषेण कदाचन। न ह्यात्मपरिभूतस् भूतिर्भवति शोभना
But one should never despise oneself; for when a person belittles himself, prosperity does not become splendid.
एवं संस्थितिका सिद्धिरियं लोकस्य भारत। चित्रा सिद्धिगतिः प्रोक्ता कालावस्थाविभागशः
Thus, O Bharata, this is the established way to success in the world; the path to accomplishment is said to be varied, according to divisions of time and circumstance.
ब्राह्मणं मे पिता पूर्वं वासयामास पण्डितम्। सर्वं चार्थमिमं प्राह पित्रे मे भरतर्षभ
My father once hosted a learned Brahmin, O best of the Bharatas, and he explained all this matter to my father.
नीतिं बृहस्पतिप्रोक्तां भ्रातृन्मेऽग्राहयन्पुरा। तेषां सकाशादश्रौषमहमेतां तदा गृहे
Long ago, my brothers received from him the polity taught by Brihaspati; from them I heard this, at home, at that time.
स मां राजन्कर्मवतीमागतामाह सान्त्वयन्। शुश्रूषमाणामासीनां पितुरङ्के युधिष्ठिर
He spoke to me, O king, when I had come, skilled in action, consoling me as I sat on my father's lap, eager to listen.
अन्येषां कर्म सफलमस्माकमपि वा पुनः। विप्रकर्षेण बुद्ध्येत कृतकर्मा यथा फलम्
The result of action may belong to others or to us; by difference, one who has acted discerns the result as it comes.
याज्ञसेन्या वचः श्रुत्वा भीमसेनो ह्यमर्षणः। निश्वसन्नुपसंगम्य क्रुद्धो राजानमब्रवीत्
Hearing the words of Yajnaseni, Bhimasena, unable to endure, approached, sighing, and angrily spoke to the king.
राजन्सत्पदवीं धर्म्यां व्रज सत्पुरुषोचिताम्। धर्मकामार्थहीनानां किं नो वस्तुं तपोवने
King, follow the righteous path befitting noble men; what is the use for us to dwell in the forest of austerities, bereft of righteousness, desire, and wealth?
नैव धर्मेण तद्राज्यं नार्जवेण न चौजसा। अक्षकूटमधिष्ठाय हृतं दुर्योधनेन वै
That kingdom was not taken by righteousness, nor by honesty, nor by strength; it was seized by Duryodhana through deceit at dice.
गोमायुनेव सिंहानां दिर्बलेन बलीयसाम्। आमिपं विघसाशेन तद्वद्राज्यं हि नो हृतम्
Just as a jackal snatches the prey of lions, the weak from the strong, so our kingdom was taken, like leftover meat, by one greedy for gain.
धर्मलेशप्रतिच्छन्नः प्रभवं धर्मकामयोः। अर्थमुत्सृज्य किं राजन्दुःखेन परितप्यसे
Concealed by a semblance of righteousness, you, devoted to virtue and desire, have abandoned wealth; why, O king, do you grieve in sorrow?
भवतोऽनुविधानेन राज्यं नः पश्यतां हृतम्। अहार्यमपि शक्रेण गुप्तं गाण्डीवधन्वना
By following your lead, our kingdom was taken before our eyes—even that which could not be seized by Indra, guarded by the wielder of Gandiva.
कुणीनामिव बिल्वानि पङ्गूनामिव धेनवः। हृतमैश्वर्यमस्माकं जीवतां भवतः कृते
Like bilva fruits to the hunchbacked, like cows to the lame, our prosperity has been taken from us, though we still live, for your sake.
भवतः प्रियमित्येवं महद्व्यसनमीदृशम्। धर्मकामे प्रतीतस्य प्रतिपन्नाः स्म भारत
Only because it was dear to you have we endured such great misfortune, O Bharata, firmly devoted to righteousness and desire.