शीलदोषाद्धृणाविष्ट आनृशंस्यात्परंतप। क्लेशांस्तितिक्षसे राजन्नान्यः कश्चित्प्रशंसति
Possessed by compassion due to a fault in your character, scorcher of foes, you endure hardships; no one else praises this.
श्रोत्रियस्येव ते राजन्मन्दकस्याविपश्चितः। अनुवाकहता बुद्धिर्नैषा तत्त्वार्थदर्शिनी
Your understanding, O King, is like that of a slow-witted, unlearned Brahmin whose intellect is impaired by recitation; it does not see the true meaning.
घृणी ब्राह्मणरूपोसि कथं क्षत्रेष्वजायथाः। अस्यां हि योनौ जायन्ते प्रायशः क्रूरबुद्धयः
You are compassionate, resembling a Brahmin; how were you born among Kshatriyas? For in this lineage, cruel-minded ones are mostly born.
अश्रौषीस्त्वं राजधर्मान्यथा वै मनुरब्रवीत्। क्रूरान्निकृतिसंपन्नान्विहितानशमात्मकान्
You have heard the duties of kings, as declared by Manu; they are prescribed for those who are harsh, skilled in deceit, and lacking in gentleness.
धार्तराष्ट्रान्महाराज क्षमसे किं दुरात्मनः। कर्तव्ये पुरुषव्याघ्र किमास्से पीठसर्पवत्
O great king, why do you endure the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra? O tiger among men, why do you sit idly like a coiled snake when action is required?
बुद्ध्या वीर्येण संयुक्तः श्रुतेनाभिजनेन च। तृणानां मुष्टिनैकेन हिमवन्तं च पर्वतम्। छन्नमिच्छसि कौन्तेय योऽस्मान्संवर्तुमिच्छसि
Endowed with wisdom, strength, learning, and noble birth, do you wish, O son of Kunti, to conceal the Himalaya mountain with a mere handful of grass, you who wish to hide us?
अज्ञातचर्यागूढेन पृथिव्यां विश्रुतेन च। दिवीव पार्थ सूर्येण न शक्याऽऽचरितुं त्वया
With your fame spread across the earth, whether you move in disguise or openly, O Partha, you cannot go unnoticed, just as the sun cannot be hidden in the sky.
बृहत्साल इवानूपे शाखापुष्पपलावान्। हस्ती श्वेत इवाज्ञातः कथं जिष्णुश्चरिष्ति
How will Arjuna, like a great sāla tree in the marsh, full of branches, flowers, and leaves, or like a white elephant, remain unknown?
इमौ च सिंहसंकाशौ भ्रातरौ सहितौ शिशू। नकुलः सहदेवश्च कथं पार्थ चरिष्यतः
And these two brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, resembling lions and always together, how will they, O Partha, move about unrecognized?
पुण्यकीर्ती राजपुत्री द्रौपदी वीरसूरियम्। विश्रुता कथमज्ञाता कृष्णा पार्थ चरिष्यति
How will Draupadi, the royal princess of virtuous fame, renowned as the mother of heroes, O Partha, how will Krishna move about unrecognized?
मां चापि राजञ्जानन्ति ह्याकुमारमिमाः प्रजाः। अज्ञातचर्यां पश्यन्ति मेरोरिव निगूहनम्
And me too, O king, all these people know as the prince; they would see my concealment as impossible, like hiding Mount Meru.
तथैव बहव्रोऽस्माभी राष्ट्रेभ्यो विप्रवासिताः। राजानो राजपुत्राश्च धार्तराष्ट्रमनुव्रताः
Likewise, many kings and princes, exiled from their realms by us, remain devoted to the sons of Dhritarashtra.
न हि तेऽप्युपशाम्यन्ति निकृता वा निराकृताः। अवश्यं तैर्निकर्तव्यमस्माकं तत्प्रियैषिभिः
They too will not rest, whether wronged or rejected; surely, those who wish to please them will seek to destroy us.
तेऽप्यस्मासु प्रयुञ्जीरन्प्रच्छन्नान्सुबहूंश्चरान्। आचक्षीरंश्च नो ज्ञात्वा ततः स्यात्सुमहद्भयम्
They may also employ many spies against us in secret; if they discover us, then great danger will arise.
अस्माभिरुषिताः सम्यग्वने मासास्त्रयोदश। परिमाणएन तान्पश्य तावतः परिवत्सरान्
We have already dwelled properly in the forest for thirteen months; consider that as the measure for the full year.
अस्ति मासः प्रतिनिधिर्यथा प्राहुर्मनीषिणः। पूतिकानिव सोमस्य तथेदं क्रियतामिति
There is a substitute month, as the wise have said; just as there are intercalary months for Soma, so let it be done here.
अथवाऽनडुहे राजन्साधने साधुवाहिने। सौहित्यदानादेतस्मादेनसः प्रतिमुच्यते
Or, O king, as with a cow that is not milked, or with a worthy vehicle, or by giving friendship, one is released from that offense.
तस्माच्छत्रुवधे राजन्क्रियतां निश्चयस्त्वया। क्षत्रियस्य हि सर्वस्य नान्यो धर्मोस्ति संयुगात्
Therefore, O king, resolve upon the destruction of the enemy; for a Kshatriya, there is no other duty greater than battle.
भीमसेनवचः श्रुत्वा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। निःश्वस्य पुरुषव्याघ्रः संप्रदध्यौ परंतपः
Hearing the words of Bhimasena, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti and subduer of foes, sighed deeply and pondered.
श्रुता मे राजधर्माश्च वर्णानां च पृथक्पृथक्। आयत्यां च तदात्वे च यः पश्यति स पश्यति
I have learned the duties of kings and the distinct duties of the castes; he who sees both the present and the future truly sees.
धर्मस्य जानमानोऽहं गतिमग्र्यां सुदुर्विदाम्। कथं बलात्करिष्यामि मेरोरिव विवर्तनम्
Though I know well the highest and most difficult path of dharma, how can I forcibly overturn it, like turning Mount Meru?
स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा विनिश्चित्येतिकृत्यताम्। भीमसेनमिद वाक्यमपदान्तरमब्रवीत्
After reflecting for a moment and deciding what should be done, he spoke these words to Bhimasena, without pause.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत। इदमन्यत्समादत्स्व वाक्यं मे वाक्यकोविद
So it is, O mighty-armed one, just as you say, O descendant of Bharata. Now accept this other counsel of mine, you who are skilled in speech.
महापापानि कर्माणि यानि केवलसाहसात्। आरभ्यन्ते भीमसेन व्यथन्ते तानि भारत
Great sins are committed solely out of recklessness, O Bhimasena, but such deeds bring suffering, O Bharata.
सुमन्त्रिते सुविक्रान्ते सुकृतेसुविचारिते। सिद्ध्यन्त्यर्था महाबाहो दैवं चात्र प्रदक्षिणम्
O mighty-armed one, objectives succeed when well deliberated, bravely undertaken, and rightly considered; and fate must also be honored in this.
यत्तु केवलचापल्याद्बलदर्पोत्थितः स्वयम्। आरब्धव्यमिदं कार्यं मन्यसे शृणु तत्रमे
But if you think this task should be undertaken merely out of impulsiveness, arising from pride in strength, then listen to my words about this.
भूरिश्रवाः शलश्चैव जलसन्धश्च वीर्यवान्। भीष्मो द्रोणश्च कर्णशच् द्रोणपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान्
Bhurishravas, Shala, the valiant Jalasandha, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Drona’s heroic son—
धार्तराष्ट्रा दुराधर्षा दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः। सर्व एव कृताशस्त्राश्च सततं चाततायिनः
The sons of Dhritarashtra, difficult to overcome, led by Duryodhana, all skilled in weapons and ever ready for battle—
राजानः पार्थिवाश्चैव येऽस्माभिरुपतापिताः। ते श्रिताः कौरवं पक्षं जातस्नेहाश्च सांप्रतम्
The kings and rulers whom we have subdued have now joined the Kaurava side, and at present are bound by affection.
दुर्योधनहिते युक्ता न तथाऽस्मासु भारत। पूर्णकोशा बलोपेताः प्रयतिष्यन्ति रक्षणे
They are devoted to Duryodhana’s interests, not so much to ours, O Bharata; with full treasuries and armed strength, they will strive to protect him.