तस्मान्मानसमव्यग्रं कृत्वाऽऽत्मानं नियम्य च। कुरु कार्यं महोत्साहं मन्यसे यन्नराधिप ।। 23
Therefore, compose your mind, restrain yourself, and with great enthusiasm, O king, do what you consider ought to be done.
अथाऽब्रवीत्सभामध्ये द्रोणः सूक्ष्मार्थदर्शिवान्। न तादृशा विनश्यन्ति नापि यान्ति पराभवम् ।। 1
Then, in the midst of the assembly, Droṇa, who perceives subtle meanings, spoke: Such men do not perish, nor do they meet with defeat.
शूराश्च कृतविद्याश्च बुद्धिमन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः। धर्मज्ञाः सत्यसन्धाश्च युधिष्ठिरमनुव्रताः ।। 2
They are heroes, accomplished in knowledge, intelligent, self-controlled, versed in righteousness, true to their word, and devoted to Yudhishthira.
नीतिधर्मार्थतत्वज्ञं पितृवच्च समाहितम्। धर्मे स्थितं सत्यधृतिं ज्येष्ठं श्रेष्ठापचायिनम् ।। 3
He knows the essence of policy, righteousness, and wealth, is composed like a father, steadfast in virtue and truth, the eldest, and foremost in merit.
अनुव्रता महात्मानो भ्रातरो भ्रातरं प्रियम् । अजातशत्रुं श्रीमन्तं सर्वभ्रातॄननुव्रतम् ।। 4
His noble brothers, devoted to their dear brother, follow Ajatashatru, resplendent, who himself is devoted to all his brothers.
तेषां तथाविधेयानां निभृतानां महात्मनाम् । किमर्थं नीतिमान्प्राज्ञः श्रेयो नैषां करिष्यति ।। 5
For such great-souled men, so reserved, what reason would a wise and prudent person have not to seek their welfare?
तस्माद्यत्नात्परीक्षध्वं न तावत्समयो गतः। न ते विनाशमृच्छेयुरिति मे नैष्ठिकी मतिः ।। 6
Therefore, investigate diligently; the time has not yet passed. It is my firm conviction that they have not perished.
चिन्त्यतां चैव यत्कार्यं तच्च क्षिप्रमकालिकम् । क्रियतां साधु संचिन्त्य वासश्चैषां प्रचिन्त्यतां ।। 7
Let us consider what should be done, and let it be done quickly, without delay. Let us carefully reflect, and also consider where they might be staying.
यथा च पाण्डुपुत्राणां सर्वार्थेषु धृतात्मनाम् । प्रवृत्तिरुपलभ्येत तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् ।। 8
Let policy be devised so that the activities of the steadfast sons of Pandu may be discovered in all respects.
सर्वोपायैर्यतस्व त्वं यथा पश्यसि पाण्डवान् । दुर्ज्ञेयाः खलु शूरास्ते रक्ष्या नित्यं च दैवतैः ।। 9
Exert yourself by every means so that you may see the Pandavas; for those heroes are difficult to comprehend and are always protected by the gods.
शुद्धात्मा मानवान्पार्थः सत्यवान्नीतिमाञ्शुचिः । तेजोराशिभिरापूर्णो दहेदपि च चक्षुषा ।। 10
Arjuna, pure in soul, truthful, righteous, and clean, filled with the radiance of energy, could even burn with his gaze.
तस्माद्यत्नश्च क्रियतां भूयश्च मृगयामहे। ब्राह्मणैश्चारकैः सिद्धैस्तापसैर्निपुणैरपि ।। 11
Therefore, let effort be made, and let us search again, with Brahmins, spies, accomplished ones, ascetics, and even skilled experts.
विविधैस्तत्परैः सम्यङ्विर्भीकैस्तज्ज्ञसंमतैः । अन्वेष्टव्या मनुष्येन्द्र पाण्डवाश्छन्नचारिणः ।। 12
Let the Pandavas, who move in disguise, be sought out by various capable and courageous men, approved by those who know them, O king of men.
ततः शान्तनवो धीमान्भारतानां पितामहः । श्रुतवान्देशकालज्ञो नीतिमांश्च महामतिः ।। 13
Then the wise son of Shantanu, the grandsire of the Bharatas, learned, knowing time and place, skilled in policy, and of great intellect, spoke.
तस्मिन्नुपरते वाक्ये आचार्यस्य महात्मनः । अनन्तरमुवाचेदं वाक्यं हेत्वर्थसंमितम् ।। 14
When the words of the great-souled teacher had ceased, he then spoke this statement, grounded in reason and meaning.
युधिष्ठिरे समायुक्तां धर्मज्ञे धर्मसंहिताम्। पाण्डवे नित्यमव्यग्रां गिरं भीष्मः समाददे ।। 15
Bhīṣma addressed Yudhiṣṭhira, who was steadfast in righteousness, with words always composed, focused, and filled with dharma, as he spoke to the Pandava.
असत्सु दुर्लभां नित्यं सतां चाभिमतां सद। भीष्मस्त्वभ्यवदत्तत्र गिरं साधुभिरर्चिताम् ।। 16
Bhīṣma then uttered, in that assembly, words honored by the virtuous—words rare among the unrighteous, yet always cherished by the righteous.
यथा नो ब्राह्मणोऽवादीदाचार्यः सर्वधर्मवित्। श्रुतवृत्तोपसंपन्ना नाशं नायान्ति पाण्डवाः ।। 17
Just as the Brahmin teacher, knower of all dharmas, declared to us: the Pandavas, endowed with conduct and learning, will not come to ruin.
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नाः साधुवृत्तसमन्विताः। वृद्धानुशासने यत्ताः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः ।। 18
They possess all marks of excellence, are joined with noble conduct, devoted to the instructions of elders, and dedicated to truth and righteousness.
समयं समयज्ञास्ते पालयन्तः शुभव्रताः। न विषीदन्ति ते पार्था उद्वहन्तः सतां धुरम् ।। 19
Those who know the proper codes, observing their vows, uphold their agreements; the sons of Pāṇḍu do not despair, bearing the burden of the virtuous.
तपसा चैव गुप्तास्ते स्ववीर्येण च पाण्डवाः। न नाशमभिगच्छेयुरिति मे नैष्ठिकी मतिः ।। 20
Protected by austerity and their own strength, the Pandavas will not meet destruction—this is my firm conviction.
क्षत्रधर्मरता नित्यं केशवानुगताः सदा। प्रवीरपुरुषास्ते वै महात्मानो महाबलाः ।। 21
Always devoted to the warrior's dharma, ever following Keśava, those mighty men are truly great-souled and of immense strength.
तत्र बुद्धिं प्रवक्ष्यामि पाण्डवान्वेषणे शृणु। न तु नीतिः सुनीतस्य शक्यते वेदितुं परैः ।। 22
Now I shall declare my judgment regarding the search for the Pandavas; listen. Yet the policy of one who is well-guided cannot be discerned by others.
यत्तु शक्यमिहास्माभिस्तान्वै संचिन्त्य पाण्डवान्। बुद्ध्या प्रणेतुं तत्तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि निबोध तत् ।। 23
Whatever can be accomplished by us here, considering the Pandavas, I shall lay out for you with reason; listen and understand.
न त्वियं साधु वक्तव्या तस्य नीतिः कथंचन । वृद्धानुशासने तात तिष्ठतः सत्यशीलिनः ।। 24
Yet, it is not proper to speak ill of them, nor of their policy, for they stand firm in the guidance of elders and possess truthfulness of character.
अयुक्तं तु मया वक्तुं तुल्या मे कुरुपाण्डवाः। निवासं पाण्डुपुत्राणां संचिन्त्य च वदाम्यहम्। बहुना किं प्रलापेन यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ।। 25
It is not fitting for me to speak otherwise; the Kurus and Pandavas are equal to me. Considering the dwelling of the sons of Pandu, I shall speak. Why prolong the discussion? Where there is dharma, there is victory.
अवश्यं तु नियुक्तेन सभामध्ये विवक्षता। यथार्हमिह वक्तव्यं सर्वथा धर्मलिप्सया ।। 26
Yet, when one is compelled to speak in the midst of the assembly, it must be spoken as is appropriate, always with the desire for righteousness.
यत्र नाहं तथा मन्ये यथाऽन्ये मेनिरे जनाः। निवासं पाण्डुपुत्राणां शृणुष्वं मनुजाधिप ।। 27
Where I do not think as others have thought regarding the dwelling of the sons of Pandu—listen, O king of men.
[भ्रातृभिः सहितो वीरैः कृष्णया च महायशाः। किमर्थं स महाराजो नात्मश्रेयो भविष्यति ।। 28
[Accompanied by his heroic brothers and by Kṛṣṇā of great fame, why should that great king not attain his own welfare?]
पाण्डवो निकृतः पूर्वं यथावद्विदितं तव। क्लेशितश्च पुरे नित्यं राज्यकामैश्च सांप्रतम्। छन्नश्चरति तस्मात्स प्रकृत्या नीतिमान्नृपः ।। 29
The Pandava was previously deceived, as you well know, and has always suffered in the city, now also troubled by those desiring the kingdom. Therefore, he moves concealed, for he is by nature a man of policy, O king.