अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि। युधिष्ठिरप्रभृतयः किमकुर्वत पाण्डवाः
When Arjuna, the great-souled one, had gone to the world of Indra for weapons, what did Yudhiṣṭhira and the other Pāṇḍavas do?
अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि। न्यवसन्कृष्णया सार्धं काम्यके भरतर्षभाः
When Arjuna, the great-souled one, had gone to the world of Indra for weapons, the best of the Bharatas stayed with Kṛṣṇā in Kāmyaka.
ततः कदाचिदेकान्ते विविक्ते मृदुशाद्वले। दुःखार्ता भरतश्रेष्ठा निषेदुः सह कृष्णया
Then, at some time, in a secluded and quiet grassy spot, the best of the Bharatas, afflicted with sorrow, sat down together with Kṛṣṇā.
धनंजयं शोचमानाः साश्रुकण्ठाः सुदुःखिताः। तद्वियोगार्दितान्सर्वाञ्शोकः समभिपुप्लुवे
Grieving for Dhanañjaya, their throats choked with tears, overwhelmed by sorrow at his separation, all of them were seized by grief.
धनंजयवियोगाच्च राज्यभ्रंशाच्च दुःखिताः। अथ भीमो महाबाहुर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
Distressed by Arjuna's absence and the loss of their kingdom, then mighty-armed Bhīma spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira.
निदेशात्ते महाराज गतोऽसौ भरतर्षभः। अर्जुनः पाण्डुपुत्राणां यस्मिन्प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
By your command, O great king, Arjuna, in whom the lives of the Pāṇḍu sons are established, has departed, O best of the Bharatas.
यस्मिन्विनष्टे पाञ्चालाः सह पुत्रैस्तथा वयम्। सात्यकिर्वासुदेवश्च विनश्येयुर्न संशयाः
If he is lost, the Pāñcālas with their sons, as well as we, Sātyaki, and Vāsudeva, would surely perish—there is no doubt.
योसौ गच्छति धर्मात्मा बहून्क्लेशान्विचिन्तयन्। भवन्नियोगाद्बीभत्सुस्ततो दुःखतरं नु किम्
That righteous one, Bībhatsu, is going, reflecting on many hardships, by your order; what could be more painful than this?
यस्य बाहू समाश्रित्य वयं सर्वे महात्मनः। मन्यामहे जितानाजौ परान्प्राप्तां च मेदिनीम्
Relying on the arms of that great soul, we all believed we had conquered our enemies in battle and gained the earth.
यस्य प्रभावाद्धि वयं सभामध्ये धनुष्मतः। `जितान्मन्यामहे सर्वान्धार्तराष्ट्रात्ससौबलान्
By his power, in the midst of the assembly, we believed we had conquered all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the Saubalas, all armed with bows.
यस्य प्रभावान्न मया सभामध्ये महाबलाः'। नीता लोकममुं सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्राः ससौबलाः
By whose power, in the midst of the assembly, all the mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, along with their forces, were led to that other world by me.
तेवयं बाहुबलिनः क्रोधमुत्थितमात्मनः। सहामहे भवन्मूलं वासुदेवेन पालिताः
We, strong in arms, endure the anger that has arisen within us, protected by you and by Vasudeva.
मया हि सह कृष्णेन हत्वा कर्णमुखान्परान्। स्वबाहुविजितां कृत्स्नां प्रशाधीनां वसुंधराम्
Together with Krishna, I slew Karna and others, and conquered the entire earth by my own strength, making it subject to my rule.
भतो द्यूतदोषेण सर्वेवयमुपप्लुताः। अहीनपौरुषा राजन्बलिभिर्बलवत्तराः
Because of the fault of dice, we all have been overwhelmed, O King, though not lacking in valor, by those who are stronger.
क्षात्रं धर्मं महाराज त्वमवेक्षितुमर्हसि। ग हिधर्मो महाराज त्रियस्य वनाश्रयः
O great king, you ought to consider the Kshatriya duty; for the duty of a Kshatriya is not to dwell in the forest.
राज्यमेव परंधर्मं क्षत्रियस्य विदुर्बुधाः। स क्षत्रधर्मविद्राजन्माधर्म्यान्नीनशः पथः
Wise men know that kingship is the highest duty for a Kshatriya; so, O King, do not stray from the path of Kshatriya dharma.
प्राग्द्वादश समा राजन्धार्तराष्ट्रान्निहन्महि। निवर्त्य च वनात्पार्थमानाय्य च जनार्दनम्
Before twelve years, O King, let us slay the sons of Dhritarashtra, bring Partha back from the forest, and summon Janardana.
व्यूढानीकान्महाराज जवेनैव महाहवे। धार्तराष्ट्रानमुं लोकं गमयाम विशांपते
With swiftly arrayed troops in the great battle, O King, let us send the sons of Dhritarashtra to that other world, O lord of men.
सर्वानहं हनिष्यामि धार्तराष्ट्रान्ससौबलान्। दुर्योधनं च कर्णं च यो वाऽन्यः प्रतियोत्स्यते
I will slay all the sons of Dhritarashtra along with their forces, Duryodhana, Karna, and whoever else may oppose.
मया प्रशमिते पश्चात्त्वमेष्यसि वनं पुनः। एवं कृते न ते दोषो भविष्यति विशांपते
After I have subdued them, you may return to the forest again; in this way, O lord of men, no blame will attach to you.
यज्ञैश्च विविधैस्तात कृतंपापमरिंदम। अवधूय महाराजगच्छेम स्वर्गमुत्तमम्
By various sacrifices, O subduer of enemies, the sin has been expiated; casting it off, O great king, let us attain the highest heaven.
एवमेतद्भवेद्राजन्यदि राजा न बालिशः। अस्माकं दीर्घसूत्रः स्याद्भवान्धर्मपरायणः
So it would be, O King, if the king were not foolish; if you were devoted to dharma, our delay would be long.
निकृत्या निकृतिप्रत्रा हन्तव्या इति निश्चयः। न हि नैकृतिकं हत्वा निकृत्या पापमुच्यते। तथा भारत धर्मेषु धर्मज्ञैरिह दृश्यते
The settled rule is that those who act deceitfully must be slain by deceit; for one is not freed from sin by slaying the deceitful with deceit, so is seen by the wise in matters of dharma, O Bharata.
अहोरात्रं महाराज तुल्यं संवत्सरेण ह। तथैव वेदवचनं श्रूयते नित्यदा विभो। संवत्सरो महाराज पूर्णो भवति कृच्छ्रतः
O great king, a day and night are equal to a year; so the Vedic statement is always heard, O mighty one; a year, O king, is completed with difficulty.
यदि वेदाः प्रमाणं ते दिवसादूर्ध्वमच्युत। तयोदशादितः कालो ज्ञायतां परिनिष्ठितः
If the Vedas are your authority, O infallible one, then let the time be reckoned from the eleventh day onward as completed.
कालो दुर्योधनं हन्तुं सानुबन्धमरिंदम। एकाग्रां पृथिवीं सर्वां पुरा राजन्करोति सः
Time, O subduer of enemies, will destroy Duryodhana and his followers; it once made the whole earth single-minded under a king.
द्यूतप्रियेण राजेन्द्र तथा तद्भवता कृतम्। प्रायेणाज्ञातच्रयायां वयं सर्वेनिपातिताः
Because of your fondness for dice, O king, such was done by you; through ignorance, we all have been cast down.
न तं देशं प्रपश्यामि यत्र सोऽस्मान्सुदुर्जनः। न विज्ञास्यति दुष्टात्मा चारैरिति सुयोधनः
I do not see any place where that wicked man will not discover us by spies, O Suyodhana, evil-minded as he is.
अधिगम्य च सर्वान्नो वनवासमिमं ततः। प्रव्राजयिष्यतिपुनर्निकृत्याऽधमपूरुषः। यद्यस्मानभिगच्छेत पापः स हि कथंचन
And after sending us all into this forest exile, that vile man, skilled in deceit, will again try to banish us; if that wicked one ever approaches us, by any means—
अज्ञातचर्यामुत्तीर्णान्दृष्ट्वा च पुनराह्वयेत्। द्यूतेन ते महाराज पुनर्युद्धं प्रवर्तते
Seeing us return after completing our incognito, he will summon us once more, O King, and again provoke a contest through dice.