सर्वथा संहतैरेव दुर्बलैर्बलवानपि। अमित्रः शक्यते हन्तुं मधुहा भ्रमरैरिव
In every way, even the strong enemy can be slain by the weak, if they unite—just as the killer of Madhu was destroyed by bees.
यथा राजन्प्रजाः सर्वाः सूर्यः पाति गभस्तिभिः। हन्ति चैव तथैव त्वं सदृशः सवितुर्भव
Just as the sun, O King, protects all creatures with his rays and also destroys them, so too should you be like the sun.
एतच्चापि तपो पाजन्पुराणमिति नः श्रुतम्। विधिना पालनं भूमेर्यत्कृतं नः पितामहैः
And we have heard that this is also the ancient penance, that the protection of the earth was performed by our ancestors according to rule.
न तथा तपसा राजँल्लोकान्प्राप्नोति क्षत्रियः। यथा सृष्टेन युद्धेन विजयेनेतरेण वा
A Kshatriya does not attain the worlds so much by penance, O King, as by battle waged according to duty, or by victory in another way.
अपेयात्किल भा सूर्याल्लक्ष्मीश्चन्द्रमसस्तथा। इतिलोको व्यवसितो दृष्ट्वेमां भवतोव्यथाम्
Just as radiance departs from the sun and beauty from the moon, so the world is convinced, seeing this present distress of yours.
भवतश्च प्रशंसाभिर्निन्दाभिरितरस्य च। कथयन्त्यः परिषदः पृथग्राजन्समागताः
The assembled councils, O King, speak separately of your praises and the reproaches of the other.
इदमभ्यधिकं राजन्ब्राह्मणाः कुरवश्च ते। समेताः कथयन्तीह मुदिताः सत्यसन्धताम्
This, O King, is what the Brahmanas and your Kurus, gathered together here, joyfully declare about your truthfulness.
यन्न मोहान्न कार्पण्यान्न लोभान्न भयादपि। अनृतं किंचिदुक्तं ते न कामान्नार्थकारणात्
Never from delusion, nor from weakness, nor from greed, nor even from fear, nor from desire or for the sake of gain, have you ever spoken a falsehood.
यदेनः कुरुते किंचिद्राजा भूमिमवाप्नुवन्। सर्वं तन्नुदते पश्चाद्यज्ञैर्विपुलदक्षिणैः
If a king commits any wrong while conquering the earth, he removes it afterwards by great sacrifices with abundant gifts.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददद्ग्रामान्गाश्च राजन्सहस्रशः। मुच्यते वीर पापेभ्यस्तमोभ्य इव चन्द्रमाः
By giving villages and cattle by the thousands to Brahmanas, O King, a hero is freed from sins, just as the moon is freed from darkness.
पौरजानपदाः सर्वे प्रायशः कुरुनन्दन। सवृद्धबालाः सहिताः शंसन्ति त्वां युधिष्ठिर
All the citizens and people, O descendant of Kuru, together with their elders and children, speak of you, Yudhishthira.
श्वदृतौ क्षीरमासक्तं ब्रह्म वा वृषले यथा। सत्यं स्तेने बलं नार्यां राज्यं दुर्योधने तथा
Just as milk is tainted by a dog, or as sacred knowledge is corrupted in a low-born person, so truth in a thief, strength in a woman, and sovereignty in Duryodhana are likewise misplaced.
इतिलोके निर्वचनं पुरश्चरति भारत। अपि चैताः स्त्रियो बालाः स्वाध्यायमधिकुर्वते
Thus, this saying circulates among people, O Bharata; even these women and children now engage in reciting it.
इमामवस्थां च गते सहास्माभिररिंदम्। हन्त नष्टाः स्म सर्वे वै भवतोपद्रवे सति
Having reached this state together with us, O subduer of foes, alas, we are all ruined if calamity comes upon you.
स भवान्रथमास्थाय सर्वोपकरणान्वितम्। त्वरमाणोऽभिनिर्यातु विप्रेभ्योऽर्थविभावकः
Therefore, mount your chariot, fully equipped with all its fittings, and swiftly depart to distribute wealth to the Brahmins.
वाचयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठानद्यैव गजसाह्वयम्। अस्त्रविद्भिः परिवृतोभ्रातृभिर्दृढधन्विभिः
After summoning the foremost Brahmins today to the elephant arena, surrounded by skilled archers and your brothers with strong bows,
आशीविषसमैर्वीरैर्मरुद्भिरिव वृत्रहा। अमित्रांस्तेजसा मृद्गन्नसुरानिव वृत्रहा। श्रियमादत्स्व कौन्तेय धार्तराष्ट्रान्महाबल
With warriors fierce as venomous serpents, like Indra among the Maruts, crush your enemies with your brilliance as Indra destroyed the Asuras, and seize prosperity from the mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, O son of Kunti.
न हि गाण्डीवमुक्तानां शराणां गार्ध्रवाससाम्। स्पर्शमाशीविषाभानां मर्त्यः कश्चन संसहेत्
No mortal can withstand the touch of arrows released from Gandiva, clad in eagle feathers, fierce as venomous snakes.
न स वीरो न मातङ्गो न च सोऽश्वोस्ति भारत। यः सहेत गदावेगं मम क्रुद्धस्य संयुगे
There is no hero, no elephant, nor any horse, O Bharata, who can endure the force of my mace when I am enraged in battle.
सृञ्जयैः सहकैकेयैर्वृष्णीनां वृषभेण च। कथंस्विद्युधि कौन्तेय न राज्यं प्राप्नुयामहे
With the Sṛñjayas, the Kaikeyas, and the chief of the Vrishnis, O son of Kunti, how could we not attain the kingdom in battle?
शत्रुहस्तगतां राजन्कथंस्विन्नाहरेर्महीम्। इह यत्नमुपाहृत्य बलेन महताऽन्वितः
How could we reclaim the earth, O king, now held by the enemy, unless we exert ourselves here with great strength?
स एवमुक्तस्तु महानुभावः सत्यव्रतो भीमसेनेन राजा। अजातशत्रुस्तदनन्तरं वै धैर्यान्वितो वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
Thus addressed, the great-souled, truth-abiding king, Ajatasatru, fortified with patience, spoke these words to Bhimasena.
असंशयं भारत सत्यमेत- द्यन्मां तुदन्वाक्यशल्यैः क्षिणोषि। न त्वां विगर्हे प्रतिकूलमेत- न्ममानयाद्धि व्यसनं व आगात्
Without doubt, O Bharata, it is true that your words, piercing me like arrows, wear me down; yet I do not blame you, for this adversity has come upon us because of me.
अहं ह्यक्षानन्वपद्यं जिहीर्षन् राज्यंसराष्ट्रं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रात्। तन्मां शठः कितव प्रत्यदेवी- त्सुयोधनार्थं सुबलस्य पुत्रः
Desiring to win the kingdom and realm from Dhritarashtra's son, I entered the dice game; but the deceitful gambler, Subala's son, opposed me for Duryodhana's sake.
महामायः शकुनिः पार्वतीयः सभामध्ये प्रवपन्नक्षपूगान्। अमायिनं मायया प्रत्यजैषी- त्ततोऽपश्यं वृजिनं भीमसेन
The great trickster, Shakuni of the mountains, cast the dice in the assembly; by his cunning, he defeated me, who was guileless, and then I saw calamity, Bhimasena.
अक्षांश्च दृष्ट्वा शकुनेर्यथावत् कामानुकूलानयुजो युजश्च। शक्यो नियन्तुमभविष्यदात्मा मन्युस्तु हन्यात्पुरुषस्य धैर्यम्
Seeing Shakuni's dice, some favorable, some unfavorable, and some neutral, it was possible to restrain oneself; but anger destroys a man's patience.
यन्तुं नात्मा शक्यते पौरुषेण मानेन वीर्येण च तात नद्धः। न ते वाचो भीमसेनाभ्यसूये मन्ये तथा तद्भवितव्यमासीत्
One's self cannot be controlled by strength, pride, or valor, O father; therefore, Bhimasena, I do not resent your words, for I think it was destined to be so.
स नो राजा धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रो न्यपातयद्व्यसने राज्यमिच्छन्। दास्यं च नोऽगमयद्भीमसेन यत्राभवच्छरणं द्रौपदी नः
The king, Dhritarashtra's son, cast us into misfortune, desiring the kingdom; and made us slaves, Bhimasena, when Draupadi became our refuge.
त्वं चापि तद्वेत्थ धनंजयश्च पुनर्द्यूतायागतास्तां सभां नः। यन्माऽब्हवीद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्र एकग्लहार्थं भरतानां समक्षम्
You and Dhananjaya know this well: we returned to that assembly for another game of dice, as ordered by Dhritarashtra's son, before all the Bharatas, for the sake of a single wager.
वने समा द्वादश राजपुत्र यथाकामं विदितमजातशत्रो। अथापरं चाविदितश्चरेथाः सर्वैः सह भ्रातृभिश्छद्मरूपः
O prince, we spent twelve years in the forest as known to all, free to act as we wished, and then another period, unknown, wandering with all our brothers in disguise.