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.
कर्शयामः स्वमित्राणि नन्दयामश्च शात्रवान्। आत्मानं भवतः शास्त्रैर्नियम्य भरतर्षभ
We cause our friends to waste away and gladden our enemies, restraining ourselves by your teachings, O bull among the Bharatas.
यद्वयं न तदैवैतान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्निहन्म हि। भवतः शास्त्रमादाय तन्नस्तपति दुष्कृतम्
That we did not then slay these sons of Dhritarashtra, taking up your doctrine, weighs upon us as a wrongful deed.
अथैनामन्ववेक्षस्व मृगचर्यामिवात्मनः। अवीराचरितां राजन्नबलस्थैर्निषेविताम्
Now consider this way of life, O King, like the wandering of beasts—practiced by the powerless, unworthy of the brave.
यां न कृष्णो न बीभत्सुर्नाभिमन्युर्न सृञ्जयाः। न चाहमभिनन्दामि न च माद्रीसुतावुभौ
This path is not approved by Krishna, nor by Arjuna, nor by Abhimanyu, nor by the Srinjayas, nor do I or the sons of Madri welcome it.
भवान्धर्मो धर्म इति सततं व्रतकर्शितः। कच्चिद्राजन्न निर्वेदादापन्नः क्लीबजीविकाम्
You, always emaciated by vows, are called righteousness itself, O King—surely you have not, out of despair, adopted a life fit for the impotent?
दुर्मनुष्या हि निर्वेदमफलं सर्वघातकम्। अशक्ताः श्रियमाहर्तुमात्मनः कुर्वते प्रियम्
For those of weak spirit, despair is fruitless and destroys all; unable to win prosperity for themselves, they do what pleases them.
स भवान्दृष्टिमाञ्शक्तः पश्यन्नस्मासु पौरुषम्। आनृशंस्यपरो राजन्नात्मार्थमवबुध्यसे
You, endowed with discernment and strength, see our valor, O King, yet, devoted to compassion, you do not consider your own interest.
अस्मानमी धार्तराष्ट्राः क्षममाणानहिंसतः। अशक्तानेव मन्यन्ते तद्दुःखं नाहवे वधः
These sons of Dhritarashtra, seeing us patient and non-violent, think us powerless; that pain is greater than death in battle.
तत्रचेद्युध्यमानानामजिह्ममनिवर्तिनाम्। सर्वशो हि वधः श्रेयान्प्रेत्य लोकांल्लभेमहि
If, fighting there without turning back, we should all be slain, that death would be better, for we would attain the worlds beyond.
अधवा वयमेवैतान्निहत्य भरतर्षभ। आददीमहि गां सर्वां तथापि श्रेय एव नः
Or, O bull among the Bharatas, if we ourselves were to slay them and seize all the land, even then it would be better for us.