मित्रकार्यं कृतमिदं पितापुत्रैर्महारथैः । भर्तृपिण्डश्च निर्विष्टो यथेष्टं गन्तुमर्हथ
This act for a friend has been done by father and son, the great chariot-warriors; you have fulfilled your duty to your master, now you may go as you wish.
भिक्षां हरस्व नित्यं त्वं यज्ञाननुचरस्व च। आमन्त्रणानि भुङ्क्षाद्य माऽस्मान्युद्धेन भीषय
You should always beg for alms and attend sacrifices; eat at invitations today, but do not frighten us with talk of battle.
भार्गवास्त्रं मया मुक्तं निर्दहेत्पृथिवीमिमाम्। किं पुनः पाण्डुपुत्राणामेकमर्जुनमाहवे
If I release the Bhargava weapon, it would burn up this earth; what then of a single Arjuna among the sons of Pandu in battle?
आगमिष्यन्ति पदवीं मात्स्याः पाण्डवमाश्रिताः । कीचकानां तु बलिनां शत्रुसेनावमर्दिनाम्
The Matsyas, who have taken refuge with the Pandavas, will come upon this path, but the mighty Kichakas, crushers of enemy armies—
तानहं निहनिष्यामि भवता गम्यतां गृहम् । किं वेदवादिनां कार्यं परस्नेहानुभाषिणाम्
I will slay them; as for you, go home. What use is there for those who speak of the Vedas, moved by affection for others?
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा अश्वत्थामा प्रतापवान् । उवाच वदतांश्रेष्ठो दुर्योधनमवेक्ष्य च
Hearing these words, the valiant Ashvatthama, foremost among speakers, spoke, looking at Duryodhana.
न च तावञ्जिता गावो न च सीमान्तरं गताः। न हास्तिनपुरं प्राप्तास्त्वं च कर्ण विकत्थसे
The cows have not yet been won, nor have they crossed the border; they have not reached Hastinapura, yet you boast, Karna.
बहूनि धर्मशास्त्राणि पठन्ति द्विजसत्तमाः । तेषु किंस्विदिदं दृष्टं द्यूते जीयेत यन्नृपः
The best of Brahmins study many treatises on law; in which of them is it seen that a king should win by gambling?
संग्रामान्विपुलाञ्जित्वा लब्धा च विपुलं धनम् । विजित्य च महीं कृत्स्नां नेह कत्थन्ति पण्डिताः
Having conquered great battles and gained vast wealth, and having won the whole earth, the wise do not boast here.
पचत्यग्निरवाक्यस्तु तूष्णीं भाति दिवाकरः । तूष्णीं धारयते लोकान्वसुधा सचराचरान्
The fire cooks without speaking, the sun shines in silence, and the earth bears all creatures, moving and unmoving, in silence.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य कर्माणि विहितानि महर्षिभिः । धनं यैरधिगन्तव्यं यच्च कुर्वन्न दुष्यति
The duties of the four orders have been prescribed by the great sages; by which one may acquire wealth and not incur blame in doing so.
अधीत्य ब्राह्मणो वेदान्याजयेत यजेत वा । क्षत्रियो धनमाहृत्य यजेतैव न याजयेत्
Having studied the Vedas, a Brahmin should officiate at sacrifices or perform them; a Kshatriya, having acquired wealth, should perform sacrifices but not officiate at them.
वैश्योऽधिगम्य वित्तानि वार्ताकर्माणि कारयेत्
The Vaiśya, having acquired wealth, should engage in activities of trade and agriculture.
शूद्रः शुश्रूषणं कुर्यात्रिषु वर्णेषु नित्यशः। वन्दनायोगविधिभिर्वैतसीं वृत्तिमाश्रितः
The Śūdra should always serve the three higher castes, following the prescribed rules of respect and conduct, and should rely on a livelihood based on service.
वर्तमाना यथाशास्त्रं प्राप्य चापि महीमिमाम् । प्रकुर्वन्ति महाभागा यज्ञान्सुविपुलानपि
Those of great merit, acting according to the scriptures and having obtained this earth, perform even the most extensive sacrifices.
का जातिस्तेषु सूतेयं केऽपि मन्त्राः क्रियाश्च काः । केयं वर्णेषु या राज्ञो वक्तृभोक्तृनियन्तृषु
What is the origin among them, what are the mantras, and what are the rites? What is this distinction among the castes—among rulers, speakers, consumers, and controllers?
दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य कर्णं च कुरुसंसाद। अश्वत्थामा भृशं क्रुद्धो दुर्योधनमतर्जयत्
Looking at Duryodhana and Karṇa in the Kuru assembly, Aśvatthāmā, greatly enraged, rebuked Duryodhana.
प्राप्य द्यूतेन को राज्यं क्षत्रियः स्तोष्टुर्महति । तथा नृशंसरूपोयं धार्तराष्ट्रश्च निर्घृणः
What Kṣatriya, having won a kingdom by gambling, would praise himself greatly? In this way, this son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra is cruel and ruthless.
तथाऽधिगम्य वित्तानि को विकत्थेद्विचक्षणः । निकृत्या वञ्चनायोगैश्चरन्वैतंसिको यथा
Who, after acquiring wealth, would boast of it with cunning, using deceitful and fraudulent means, like a cheat?
कतमद्द्वैरथं युद्धं यत्राजैषीर्धनञ्जयम्। नकुलं सहदेवं वा धनं येषां त्वया हृतम्
Which chariot duel was it in which you defeated Dhanañjaya, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, whose wealth you have taken?
युधिष्ठिरो जितः कस्मिन्भीमश्च बलिनांवरः । इन्द्रप्रस्थं त्वया कस्मिन्संग्रामे निर्जितं पुरा
In what contest was Yudhiṣṭhira defeated, or Bhīma, foremost among the strong? In what battle did you once conquer Indraprastha?
तथैव कतमद्युद्धं यस्मिन्कृष्णा जिता त्वया । एकवस्त्रा सभां नीता क्षुद्रकर्मन्रजस्वला
Likewise, in which battle did you defeat Kṛṣṇā, who was brought into the assembly in a single garment, performing a lowly act while menstruating?
मूलमेषां महत्कृत्तं सारार्थी चन्दनं यथा। क्षुद्रं कर्म समास्थाय तत्र किं विदुरोऽब्रवीत्
The great root of these things has been cut, like sandalwood by a skilled charioteer; having undertaken a base deed, what did Vidura say there?
यथाशक्ति मनुष्याणाममर्षं लक्षयामहे। अन्येषामपि सत्वानामपि कीटपिपीलिकैः
To the best of our ability, we observe anger in humans, and even in other beings, such as insects and ants.
द्रौपद्याः संपरिक्लेशं न क्षन्तुं पाण्डवोऽर्हति। क्षयाय धार्तराष्ट्राणां प्रादुर्भूतो धनञ्जयः
A Pāṇḍava should not forgive the great suffering of Draupadī; Dhanañjaya has arisen for the destruction of the Dhārtarāṣṭras.
त्वं पुनः पण्डितो भूत्वा ह्याचार्यं क्षेप्तुमिच्छसि। वैरान्तकरणो जिष्णुर्न नः शेषं करिष्यति
Yet you, though learned, wish to insult the teacher; Jishnu, who brings an end to enmity, will not leave any of us remaining.
नैव देवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न च राक्षसाः। भयादिह न युद्ध्येरन्पाण्डुपुत्रेण धीमता
Neither gods, nor Gandharvas, nor Asuras, nor Rākṣasas would fight here out of fear with the wise son of Pāṇḍu.
यं यमेकोपि संक्रुद्धः संग्रामे निपतिष्यति । वृक्षं गरुडवद्वेगाद्विनिहत्यान्तमेष्यति
Whomever he, even alone and enraged, attacks in battle, he will strike down like Garuḍa a tree, and bring him to his end.
त्वत्तो विशिष्टं वीर्येण धनुष्यमरराट्समम् । वासुदेवसमं युद्धे तं पार्थं को न पूजयेत्
Who would not honor that Pārtha, who surpasses you in valor, equals the lord of the gods in archery, and is like Vāsudeva in battle?
देवं दैवेन युद्ध्येत मानुपेण च मानुपम् । अस्त्रं ह्यस्त्रेण यो हन्यात्कोऽर्जुनेन समः पुमान्
One should fight a god with divine means, and a man with human means; who, having struck down a weapon with a weapon, is equal to Arjuna among men?