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.
कर्णस्तु क्षत्रधर्मेण केवलं योद्धुमिच्छति। आचार्यो नावमन्तव्यः पुरुषेण विजानता। देशकालौ तु संप्रेक्ष्य योद्धव्यमिति मे मतिः
Karna wishes only to fight according to kshatriya dharma; but a wise man should not disrespect the teacher. Considering place and time, one should fight—this is my view.
यस्य सूर्यसमाः प़ञ्च सपत्नाः स्युः प्रहारिणः। कथमभ्युदये तेषां न प्रमुह्येत पण्डितः
If someone has five rivals equal to the sun in striking power, how could a wise man not be bewildered when they rise up?
स्वार्थे सर्वे विमुह्यन्ति येऽपि धर्मविदो जनाः । तस्मात्तत्वं न जानाति यत्तु कार्यं नराधिपः
All people, even those who know dharma, become confused for their own interests; therefore, the king does not know what ought to be done.
धार्तराष्ट्रोपि दुर्बुद्धिः पश्यन्नपि धनञ्जयम् । नैव पश्यति नाघ्राति मन्दः क्रोधवशं गतः
Even though the ill-minded son of Dhritarashtra sees Dhananjaya, he does not truly see or sense him, blinded by anger.
एवमुक्त्वा तु राजानं पुनर्द्रौणिमुवाच ह। प्राञ्जलिर्भरतश्रेष्ठः साम्ना बुद्धिमतांवरः
Having spoken thus to the king, he again addressed Drona's son, with joined palms, O best of Bharatas, gently, as one wise among the wise.
कर्णो हि यदवोचत्त्वां तेजस्संजननाय तत्। आचार्यपुत्रः क्षमतां महत्कार्यमुपस्थितम्
What Karna said to you was meant to stir up your energy; let the teacher's son endure, for a great task is at hand.
नायं कालो विरोधस्य कौन्तेये समुपस्थिते । क्षन्तव्यं भवता सर्वमाचार्येण कृपेण च
This is not the time for conflict, with the son of Kunti present; you and the teacher and Kripa must endure everything.
भवतां हि कृतास्त्रत्वं यथाऽऽदित्ये प्रभा तथा । यथा चन्द्रमसो लक्ष्मीः सर्वथा नापकृष्यते । एवं भवत्सु ब्राह्मण्यं ब्रह्मास्त्रं च प्रतिष्ठितम्
Your mastery of weapons is as radiant as sunlight, just as the moon's beauty is never diminished; so among you, brahminhood and the Brahma weapon are firmly established.
चत्वार एकतो वेदाः क्षात्रमेकत्र दृश्यते। नैतत्समस्तमुभयं कस्मिंश्चिदनुशुश्रुम। अन्यत्र भारताचार्यात्सुपुत्रादिति मे मतिः
On one side are the four Vedas, and on the other, the science of arms; never have I heard of both being found together in anyone, except in the son of Bharata’s teacher—so I believe.
वेदान्ताश्च पुराणानि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । जामदग्न्यमृते राजन्को द्रोणादधिको भवेत्
The ends of the Vedas, the Purāṇas, the ancient histories—except for the son of Jamadagni, no king surpasses Droṇa in these.