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?
पुत्रादनवमः शिष्य इति धर्मविदो विदुः। एतेनापि निमित्तेन प्रियो द्रोणस्य पाण्डवः
Those who know dharma say that a disciple is like a ninth son; for this reason too, Drona holds the Pandava dear.
यथा त्वमकरोर्द्यूतमिन्द्रप्रस्थं यथाऽहरः । यथाऽनैषीः सभां कृष्णां तथा युध्यस्व पाण्डवं
Just as you played dice at Indraprastha, just as you seized, just as you brought Krishna to the assembly, so fight against the Pandava.
अयं ते मातुलः प्राज्ञः क्षत्रधर्मस्य कोविदः । दुर्द्यूतदेवी गान्धारः शकुनिर्युद्ध्यतामिह
Here is your maternal uncle, wise and skilled in the ways of kshatriyas; Shakuni of Gandhara, master of ill-fated dice, let him fight here.
नाक्षान्क्षिपति गाण्डीवं न कृतं द्वापरं न च। ज्वलतो निशितान्बाणांस्तांस्तान्क्षिपति गाण्डिवं
He does not throw dice, nor Gandiva, nor the Dvapara die; but he hurls burning, sharp arrows again and again from Gandiva.
न हि गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्ता गृध्रपक्षाः सुतेजनाः । नान्तरेष्ववतिष्ठन्ते गिरीणामपि दारणाः
The vulture-feathered, well-made arrows released from Gandiva do not remain in gaps, even among mountains they pierce through.
अन्तकः पवनो मृत्युस्तथाऽग्निर्बडवामुखः । कुर्युरेते क्वचिच्छेषं न तु क्रुद्धो धनञ्जयः
Death, wind, time, fire, and the submarine fire may leave some survivors at times, but not Dhananjaya when enraged.
यथा सभायां द्यूतं त्वं मातुलेन महाकरोः । तथा युद्धस्व संग्रामे सौबलेन सुरक्षितः
Just as you played dice in the assembly with your uncle, so fight in battle with Saubala, well protected.
युद्ध्यतां काममाचार्यो नाहं योत्स्ये धनञ्जयम् । मत्स्यो ह्यस्माभिरायोध्यो यद्यागच्छेद्गवांपदम्
Let the teacher fight as he wishes; I will not battle Dhananjaya. If the Matsya comes to claim the cows, he is ours to fight.
ततः शान्तनवस्तत्र धर्मार्थकुशलं हितम् । दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्कुरुसंसदि
Then Shantanu's descendant, skilled in dharma and artha, spoke these beneficial words to Duryodhana in the Kuru assembly.
साधु पश्यति वै द्रोणः कृपः साध्वनुपश्यति । आचार्यपुत्रः सहजं निश्चितं साधु भाषते
Drona sees rightly, Kripa sees rightly, the teacher's son certainly speaks rightly, naturally and with certainty.