तथोपविष्टेषु महारथेषु विराजमानाभरणाम्बरेषु रराज सा राजवती समृद्धा ग्रहैरिव द्यौर्विमलैरुपेता
As those great chariot-warriors, adorned with shining garments and ornaments, sat, that prosperous royal assembly shone like the sky adorned with pure stars.
ततः कथास्ते समवाययुक्ताः कृत्वा विचित्राः पुरुषप्रवीराः । तस्थुर्मुहूर्तं परिचिन्तयन्तः कृष्णं नृपास्ते समुदीक्षमाणाः
Then, those foremost men, gathered together, engaged in various conversations, stood for a moment, contemplating, their gaze fixed upon Krishna.
कथान्तमासाद्य च माधवेन संघट्टिताः पाण्डवकार्यहेतोः। ते राजसिंहाः सहिता ह्यश्रृण्व- न्वाक्यं महार्थं सुमहोदयं च
When the conversation ended, Madhava brought them together for the sake of the Pandavas' cause; those lion-like kings, united, listened to the great and significant words.
सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्विदितं यथाऽयं युधिष्ठिरः सौबलेनाक्षवत्याम्। जितो निकृत्याऽपहृतं च राज्यं वनप्रवासे समयः कृतश्च
As you all know, Yudhishthira was defeated by deceit in dice, his kingdom taken, and an agreement made for exile in the forest.
शक्तैर्विजेतुं तरसा महीं च सत्ये स्थितैः सत्यरथैर्यथावत्। पाण्डोः सुतैस्त्रद्रुतमुग्ररूपं वर्षाणि षट् सप्त च चीर्णमग्र्यैः
The sons of Pandu, steadfast in truth and possessing true chariots, endured the harsh exile for six and seven years, though capable of conquering the earth by force.
रिच्छद्भिराप्तं स्वकुलेन राज्यम्
The kingdom was regained by their own kin, though with difficulty.
एवं गते धर्मसुतस्य राज्ञो दुर्योधनस्यापि च यद्धितं स्यात्। तच्चिन्तयध्वं कुरुपाण्डवानां धर्म्यं च युक्तं च यशस्करं च
With things thus, consider what would be beneficial for King Yudhishthira and also for Duryodhana; think of what is righteous, appropriate, and brings honor to both Kurus and Pandavas.
अधर्मयुक्तं न च कामयेत राज्यं सुराणामपि धर्मराजः। धर्मार्थयुक्तं तु महीपतित्वं ग्रोमेऽपि कस्मिंश्चिदयं बुभूषेत्
The king of righteousness does not desire a kingdom gained by unrighteous means, even among the gods; but he would wish for kingship joined with righteousness and prosperity, even in a village, wherever it may be.
पित्र्यं हि राज्यं विदितं नृपाणां यथाऽपकृष्टं धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रैः। मिथ्योपचारेण यथा ह्यनेन कृच्छ्रं महत्प्राप्तमसह्यरूपम्
You know well that the kingdom, inherited from the ancestors, has been unjustly seized by Dhritarashtra’s sons from the rightful kings, through deceitful conduct, causing great and unbearable hardship.
न चापि पार्थो विजितो रणे तैः स्वतेजसा धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रैः। तथाऽपि राजा सहितः सुहृद्भि- रभीप्सतेऽनामयमेव तेषाम्
Nor was Arjuna ever defeated in battle by those sons of Dhritarashtra through their own valor; yet, even so, the king, together with his friends, desires only their well-being.
यत्तु स्वयं पाण्डुसुतैर्विजित्य समाहृतं भूमिपतीन्प्रपीड्य तत्प्रार्थयन्ते पुरुषप्रवीराः कुन्तीसुता माद्रवतीसुतौ च
What the sons of Pandu, along with the sons of Madri, now seek is only that which they themselves won—having subdued the earth’s kings by their own strength.
बलाभियुक्तैर्विविधैरुपायैः संप्रार्थिता हन्तुममित्रसङ्घैः। राज्यं जिहीर्षद्भिरसद्भिरुग्रैः सर्वं च तद्वो विदितं यथावत्
You are all aware how, with force and various means, the kingdom was sought by ruthless and wicked men, eager to destroy their foes and seize power.
तेषां च लोभं प्रसमीक्ष्य वृद्धं धर्मज्ञतां चापि युधिष्ठिरस्य। संबन्धितां चापि समीक्ष्य तेषां मतिं कुरुध्वं सहिताः पृथक्व
Considering their excessive greed, and Yudhishthira’s steadfastness in righteousness, and reflecting on your kinship with both sides, decide together or separately what your course should be.
इमे च सत्येऽभिरताः सदैव तं पालयित्वा समयं यथावत्। अतोऽन्यथा तैरुपचर्यमाणा हन्युः समेतान्धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रान्
These men are always devoted to truth, and have faithfully kept their agreement; but if they are treated otherwise, they will unite and destroy Dhritarashtra’s sons.
तैर्विप्रकारं च निशम्य कार्ये सुहृज्जनास्तान्परिवारयेयुः। युद्धेन बाधेयुरिमांस्तथैवं तैर्बाध्यमाना युधि तांश्च हन्युः
Hearing of such wrongs, their friends and allies would surround them, and, if pressed in battle, would fight back and slay those sons of Dhritarashtra.
तथाऽपि नेमेऽल्पतयाऽसमर्था- स्तेषां जयायेति भवेन्मतिर्वः । समेत्य सर्वे सहिताः सुहृद्भि- स्तेषां विनाशाय यतेयुरेव
Yet, even so, do not think they are weak or incapable of victory; if all their friends unite, they will strive for the destruction of Dhritarashtra’s sons.
दुर्योधनस्यापि मतं यथाव- न्न ज्ञायते किं नु करिष्यतीति अज्ञायमाने च मते परस्य मन्त्रस्य पारं कथमभ्युपेमः
Nor is it known what Duryodhana truly intends or will do; and when the mind of the other side is unknown, how can we reach the end of this counsel?
तस्मादितो गच्छतु धर्मशीलः शुचिः कुलीनः पुरुषोऽप्रमत्तः। दूतः समर्थः प्रशमाय तेषां राज्यार्धदानाय युधिष्ठिरस्य
Therefore, let a virtuous, pure, noble, and vigilant man go as an able envoy to bring peace, and to seek for Yudhishthira the gift of half the kingdom.
निशम्य वाक्यं तु जनार्दनस्य धर्मार्थयुक्तं मधुरं समं च। समाददे वाक्यमथाग्रजोऽस्य संपूज्य वाक्यं तदतीव राजन्
Hearing Janardana’s words, which were righteous, just, sweet, and impartial, the eldest brother, honoring those words greatly, accepted them, O King.
श्रुतं भवद्भिर्गदपूर्वजस्य वाक्यं यथा धर्मवदर्थवच्च। अजातशत्रोश्च हितं च युक्तं दुर्योधनस्यापि तथैव राज्ञः
You have all heard the words of Krishna, the elder of the Vrishnis, which were righteous and beneficial, and fitting for Ajatashatru, and likewise for King Duryodhana.
अर्धं हि राज्यस्य विसृज्य वीराः कुन्तीसुतास्तस्य कृते यतन्ते। प्रदाय चार्धं धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रः सुखी सहास्माभिरतीव मोदेत्
The sons of Kunti, those mighty heroes, are striving to give up half the kingdom for his sake; and if the son of Dhritarashtra grants half, he will rejoice greatly with us in happiness.
लब्ध्वा हि राज्यं पूरुषप्रवीराः सम्यक्प्रवृत्तेषु परेषु चैव । ध्रुवं प्रशान्ताः सुखमाविशेयु- स्तेषां प्रशान्तिश्च हितं प्रजानाम्
Having gained the kingdom, those foremost of men, with all others acting rightly, would surely dwell in peace and happiness; and their peace would be for the good of the people.
दुर्योधनस्यापि मतं च वेत्तुं वक्तुं च वाक्यानि युधिष्ठिरस्य। प्रियं च मे स्याद्यदि तत्र कश्चि- द्व्रजेच्छमार्थं कुरुपाण्डवानाम्
If someone would go to learn Duryodhana’s true intention, and to speak Yudhishthira’s words, it would please me greatly—if anyone would go for the good of both Kurus and Pandavas.
स भीष्ममामन्त्र्य कुरुप्रवीरं वैचित्रवीर्यं च महानुभावम् । द्रोणं सपुत्रं विदुरं कृपं च गान्धारराजं च समूतपुत्रम्
Let him address Bhishma, the foremost of the Kurus, the mighty son of Vichitravirya, as well as Drona and his son, Vidura, Kripa, and the king of Gandhara with his sons.
सवे च येऽन्ये धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रा बलप्रधाना निगमप्रधानाः । स्थिताश्च धर्मेषु यथा स्वकेषु लोकप्रवीराः श्रुतशीलवृद्धाः
And all the other sons of Dhritarashtra, strong in might or versed in policy, those steadfast in their own duties, renowned in the world, learned, virtuous, and aged.
एतेषु सर्वेषु समागतेषु पौरेषु वृद्धेषु च संगतेषु। ब्रवीतु वाक्यं प्रणिपातयुक्तं कुन्तीसुतस्यार्थकरं यथा स्यात्
When all these are assembled, along with the elders and citizens, let him speak words with due respect, seeking the interest of Kunti’s son.
सर्वास्ववस्थासु च ते न कोप्या ग्रस्तो हि सोऽर्थो बलमाश्रितैस्तैः। प्रियाभ्युपेतस्य युधिष्ठिरस्य द्यूते प्रसक्तस्य हृतं च राज्यम्
In all situations, none of those who relied on force could seize that wealth; for Yudhishthira, surrounded by his beloved ones, lost his kingdom only because he was engrossed in the game of dice.
निवार्यमाणश्च कुरुप्रवीरः सर्वैः सुहृद्भिर्ह्यमप्यतञ्झः। स दीव्यमानः प्रतिदीव्य चैनं गान्धारराजस्य सुतं मताक्षम्
Though all his friends tried to restrain him, that foremost of the Kurus did not desist; as he played, he kept challenging the son of the Gandhara king, skilled with the dice.
हित्वा हि कर्णं च सुयोधनं च समाह्वयद्देवितुमाजमीढः। दुरोदरास्तत्र सहस्रशोऽन्ये युधिष्ठिरो यान्विषहेत जेतुम्
Ignoring Karna and Suyodhana, the illustrious son of Pandu invited only him to play; among the thousands present, Yudhishthira chose to challenge only those he believed he could defeat.
उत्सृज्य तान्सौबलमेव चायं समाह्वयत्तेन जितोऽक्षवत्याम्। स दीव्यमानः प्रतिदेवनेन अक्षेषु नित्यं स्वपराङ्भुखेषु
Abandoning the others, he called only Saubala to play; and in that game of dice, he was defeated by him; as they played, with each counter-challenge, the dice always fell in favor of the other side.