सर्वथा धर्ममूलोऽर्थो धर्मश्चार्थपरिग्रहः। इतरेतरयोर्नीतौ विद्धि मेघोदधी यथा
In every way, wealth is rooted in righteousness, and righteousness is supported by wealth; know their mutual relationship as that between cloud and ocean.
द्रव्यार्थस्पर्शसंयोगे या प्रीतिरुपजायते। स कामश्चित्तसंकल्पः शरीरं नास्य दृश्यते
The pleasure that arises from contact with objects of wealth is desire, a resolve of the mind; its form is not seen in the body.
अर्थार्थी पुरुषो राजन्बृहन्तं धर्ममिच्छति। अर्थमिच्छति कामार्थीन कामादन्यमिच्छति
O King, a man seeking gain desires abundant righteousness; one seeking wealth desires pleasure, and from pleasure, he desires something else.
न हि कामेन कामोऽन्यः सिध्यते फलमेव तत्। उषयोगात्फलस्यैव काष्ठाद्भस्मेव पण्डितः
Indeed, one desire is not fulfilled by another desire; it is only the result that is achieved, just as fire consumes wood and leaves only ashes, O wise one.
इमाञ्शकुनकान्राजन्हन्ति वैतंसिको यथा। एतद्रूपमधर्मस्य भूतेषु च विहिंसनम्
O King, just as a fowler kills birds, so is the nature of unrighteousness—harming creatures.
कामाल्लोभाच्च धर्मस्य प्रवृत्तिं यो न पश्ति। स वध्यः सर्वभूतानां प्रेत्य चेहैच दुर्मतिः
He who, out of desire and greed, does not see the course of righteousness is to be condemned by all beings, both after death and here, as one of evil mind.
व्यक्तं ते विदितो राजन्नर्थो द्रव्यपरिग्रहः। प्रकृतिं चापि वेत्थास्य विकृतिं चापि भूयसीम्
O King, the meaning of wealth, the acquisition of possessions, is clearly known to you; you know its nature and also its greater distortion.
तस्य नाशं विनाशं वा जरया मरणेन वा। अनर्थ इति मन्यन्ते सोयमस्मासु वर्तते
Its destruction or loss, whether by old age or by death, is considered misfortune; this is what occurs among us.
इन्द्रियाणां च पञ्चानां मनसो हृदयस्य च। विपये वर्तमानानां या प्रीतिरुपजायते
The pleasure that arises from the five senses, the mind, and the heart, when they are engaged in their objects—
स काम इति मे बुद्धिः कर्मणां फलमुत्तमम्। एवमेव पृथग्दृष्ट्वा धर्मार्थौ काममेव च
That is called desire, in my understanding, the highest fruit of actions; thus, seeing righteousness, wealth, and desire as distinct—
न धर्मपर एव स्यान्न चार्थपरमो नरः। न कामपरमो वा स्यात्सर्वान्सेवेत सर्वदा
Let no one be devoted solely to righteousness, nor to wealth, nor to desire; let him always serve all of them.
धर्मं पूर्वे धनं मध्ये जघन्ये काममाचरेत्। अहन्यनुचरेदेवमेष शास्त्रकृतो विधिः
Let one pursue righteousness first, wealth in the middle, and desire last; let him act thus each day—this is the rule established by scripture.
कामं पूर्वे धनं मध्ये जघन्ये धर्ममाचरेत्। वयस्यनुचरेदेवमेष शास्त्रकृतो विधिः
Let one pursue desire first, wealth in the middle, and righteousness last; let him act thus in youth—this is the rule established by scripture.
धर्मं चार्थं च कामं च यथावद्वदतांवर। विभज्य काले कालज्ञः सर्वान्सेवेत पण्डितः
O best of speakers, let the wise man, knowing the proper time, divide righteousness, wealth, and desire accordingly, and serve them all.
मोक्षो वा परमं श्रेय एष राजन्सुखार्थिनाम्। प्राप्तिं वा बुद्धिमास्थाय सोपायां कुरुनन्दन
O King, liberation is the highest good for those who seek happiness; or, Kurunandana, attain your goal by adopting intelligent means.
तद्वाऽऽशु क्रियतां राजन्प्राप्तिर्वाप्यधिगम्यताम्। जीवितं ह्यातुरस्येव दुःखमन्तरवर्तिनः
Therefore, O King, let this be done quickly, or let the objective be achieved; for life, when troubled by suffering, is like that of a sick man.
विदितश्चैव मे धर्मः सततं चरितश्च ते। जानन्तस्त्वयि शंसन्ति सुहृदः कर्मचोदनाम्
I know your righteousness, and it has always been practiced by you; your friends, knowing this in you, urge you toward action.
एष नार्थविहीनेन शक्यो राजन्निपेवितुम्। अखिलाः पुरुषव्याघ्र गुणाः स्युर्यद्यपीनरे
O King, all virtues cannot be maintained by one who lacks wealth, even if he is a tiger among men.
धर्ममूलं जगद्राजन्नान्यद्धर्माद्विशिष्यते। धर्मश्चार्थेन महता शक्यो राजन्निषेवितुम्
O King, the world is rooted in righteousness; nothing surpasses righteousness; and righteousness can indeed be pursued by means of great wealth.
न चार्थो भैक्ष्यचर्येण नापि क्लैब्येन कर्हिचित्। वेत्तुं शक्यस्तथा राजन्केवलं धर्मबुद्धिना
And wealth is never attained through begging or by weakness, O King, nor by mere righteous intention alone.
प्रतिष्द्धा हि ते याच्ञा यया सिध्यति वै द्विजः। तेजसैवार्थलिप्सायां यतस्व पुरुषर्षभ
Begging, by which a Brahmin succeeds, has been forbidden to you; strive, O best of men, to obtain wealth by your own power.
भैक्ष्यचर्या न विहिता न च विट्शूद्रजीविका। क्षत्रियस् विशेषेण धर्मस्तु बलमौरसम्
Begging is not prescribed, nor is the livelihood of Vaishyas or Shudras, especially for Kshatriyas; for them, righteousness is their own strength.
स्वधर्मं प्रतिपद्यस्व जहि शत्रून्समागतान्। धार्तराष्ट्रवनं पार्थ मया पार्थेन नाशय
Embrace your own duty, destroy the gathered enemies; O Partha, with my support, destroy the sons of Dhritarashtra.
उदारमेव विद्वांसो धर्मं प्राहुर्मनीषिणः। उदारं प्रतिपद्यस्व नावरे स्थातुमर्हसि
The wise and learned declare noble conduct to be righteousness; adopt nobility, you should not remain in what is base.
अनुबुध्यस्व राजेन्द्र वेत्थ धर्मान्सनातनान्। क्रूरकर्माऽभिजातोसि यस्मादुद्विजते जनः
Understand, O king of kings, you know the eternal laws; you are born to fierce deeds, on account of which people are in awe of you.
प्रजापालनसंभूतं फलं तव न गर्हितम्। एष ते विहितो राजन्धात्रा धर्मः सनातनः
The fruit that arises from protecting your people is not to be blamed; this eternal duty has been ordained for you by the Creator, O King.
तस्माद्विचलितः पार्थ लोके हास्यं गमिष्यसि। स्वधर्माद्धि मनुष्याणां चलनं न प्रशस्यते
Therefore, O Partha, if you stray from this, you will become an object of ridicule in the world; for deviation from one's own duty is not praised among men.
स क्षात्रं हृदयं कृत्वा त्यक्त्वेदं शिथिलं मनः। वीर्यमास्थाय कौरव्य धुरमुद्वह धुर्यवत्
So, making your heart steadfast in the Kshatriya way, casting off this weakness of mind, take up your strength, O Kaurava, and bear your burden like a leader.
न हि केवलधर्मात्मा पृथिवीं जातु कश्चन। पार्थिवो व्यजयद्राजन्न भूतिं न पुनः श्रियम्
No king, being solely devoted to righteousness, has ever conquered the earth, nor attained prosperity or wealth, O King.
जिह्वां दत्ता बहूनां हि क्षुद्राणां लुब्धचेतसाम्। निकृत्या लभते राज्यमाहारमिव शल्यकः
A tongue has been given to many low-minded, greedy men; by deceit they obtain kingdoms, just as a heron gets its food.