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.
सर्वे कौरवसैन्यस् सपुत्रामात्यसैनिकाः। संविभक्ता हि मात्राभिर्भोगैरपि च सर्वशः
All the Kaurava armies, with sons, ministers, and soldiers, are well provided for in every way, sharing enjoyments in equal measure.
दुर्योधनेन ते वीरा मानिताश्च विशेषतः। प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यन्ति संग्रामे इति मे निश्चिता मतिः
Those warriors have been especially honored by Duryodhana; they will lay down their lives in battle—this is my firm conviction.
समा यद्यपि भीष्मस्य वृत्तिरस्मासु तेषु च। द्रोणस् च महाबाहो कृषस्य च महात्मनः
Though Bhishma’s conduct is equal toward us and them, O mighty-armed one, so too Drona and the great-souled Kripa—
अवश्यं राजपिण्डस्तैर्निर्वेश्य इति मे मतिः। तस्मात्त्यक्ष्यन्ति संग्रामे प्राणानपि सुदुस्त्यजान्
Yet, I believe they must fulfill their duty to the king; therefore, they will give up even their most precious lives in battle.
सर्वेदिव्यास्त्रविद्वांसः सर्वे धर्मपरायणाः। अजेयाश्चेति मे बुद्धिरपि देवैः सवासवैः
All are masters of divine weapons, all devoted to righteousness; my judgment is that they are unconquerable, even by the gods with Vasava.
अमर्षी नित्यसंरब्धस्तत्र कर्णो महारथः। सर्वास्त्रविदनाधृष्यो ह्यभेद्यकवचावृतः
There, Karna the great chariot-warrior is ever wrathful and impatient; skilled in all weapons, invincible, and clad in impenetrable armor.
अनिर्जित्यरणे सर्वानेतान्पुरुषसत्तमान्। अशक्यो ह्यसहायेन हन्तुं दुर्योधनस्त्वया
Without defeating all those foremost men in battle, it is impossible for you alone, without allies, to slay Duryodhana.
न निद्रामधिगच्छामि चिन्तयानो वृकोदर। अतिसर्वान्धनुर्ग्राहान्सूतपुत्रस्य लाघवम्
I find no sleep, O Vrikodara, as I ponder the extraordinary skill in archery of the son of the charioteer, surpassing all others.
एतद्वचनमाज्ञाय भीमसेनोऽत्यमर्षणः। बभूव शान्तिसंयुक्तो गुरोर्वचनवारितः
Hearing these words, Bhimasena, though deeply angered, became calm, restrained by the words of his teacher.
तयोः संवदतोरेवं तदा पाण्डवयोर्द्वयोः। आजगाम महायोगी व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
As the two Pandavas thus conversed, the great yogi Vyasa, son of Satyavati, arrived.