संरम्भमाणो विजितः प्रसह्य तत्रापराधः शकुनेर्न कश्चित्। तस्मात्प्रणम्यैव वचो ब्रवीतु वैचित्रवीर्यं बहुसामयुक्तम्
Though angered, he was forcibly defeated; yet there was no fault on Shakuni's part in that; therefore, bowing, he should speak to Vaicitravirya's son with words full of many agreements.
तथा हि शक्यो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रः स्वार्थें नियोक्तुं पुरुषेण तेन। अयुद्धमाकाङ्क्षत कौरवाणां साम्नैव दुर्योधनमाश्वसध्वम्
Indeed, the son of Dhritarashtra can be persuaded for his own benefit by such a person; he desires no war among the Kauravas—so trust that Duryodhana can be won over by conciliation.
साम्ना जितोऽर्थोऽर्थकरो भवेत युद्धेऽनयो भविता नेह सोऽर्थः
Through conciliation, the desired object may be attained and bring further gain; in war, only loss will result—there is no benefit here.
एवं ध्रुवत्येव मधुप्रवीरे शिनिप्रवीरः सहसोत्पपात तच्चापि वाक्यं परिनिन्द्य तस्य समाददे वाक्यमिदं समुन्युः
As Madhupraveera spoke thus with certainty, the mighty Shini rose up suddenly; and, criticizing those words, he, filled with anger, spoke these words.
यादृशः पुरुषस्यात्मा तादृशं संप्रभाषते। यथारूपोऽन्तरात्मा ते तथारूपं प्रभाषते
As a person's inner self is, so does he speak; as is your inner nature, so is your speech.
सन्ति वै पुरुषाः शूराः सन्ति कापुरुषास्तथा। उभावेतौ दृढौ पक्षौ दृश्येते पुरुषान्प्रति
There are indeed brave men, and there are also cowards; both these strong wings are seen among men.
एकस्मिन्नेव जायेते कुले क्लीबमहाबलौ । फलाफलवती शाखे यथैकस्मिन्वनस्पतौ
In the same family, both the impotent and the mighty are born, just as fruitful and barren branches grow on the same tree.
नाभ्यसूयामि ते वाक्यं ब्रुवतो लाङ्गलध्वज। ये तु शृण्वन्ति ते वाक्यं तानसूयामि माधव
I do not resent your words, O one with the plough-banner; but I do resent those, O Madhava, who listen to your words.
कथं हि धर्मराजस्य दोषमल्पमपि ब्रुवन्। लभते परिषन्मध्ये व्याहर्तुमकुतोभयः
How can anyone, speaking even a slight fault of the king of dharma, dare to speak unafraid in the midst of the assembly?
समाहूय महात्मानं जितवन्तोऽक्षकोविदाः। अनक्षज्ञं यथाऽश्रद्धं तेषु धर्मजयः कुतः
Having called a great soul, those skilled at dice defeated him; how could there be a victory of righteousness among them, when he was unskilled and without faith in dice?
यदि कुन्तीसुतं गेहे क्रीडन्तं भ्रातृभिः सह । अभिगम्य जयेयुस्ते तत्तेषां धर्मतो भवेत्
If you had approached Kunti's son while he played at home with his brothers and defeated him, then that would have been just according to dharma.
समाहूय तु राजानं क्षत्रधर्मरतं सदा। निकृत्या जितवन्तस्ते किं नु तेषां परं शुभम्
But having summoned the king, who always abides by the kshatriya code, and defeating him by deceit—what true merit is there in that?
कथं प्रणिपतेच्चायमिह कृत्वा पणं परम्। वनवासाद्विमुक्तरतु प्राप्तः पैतामहं पदम्
How can he bow down here, after having made such a great wager, and, freed from exile, attained his ancestral throne?
यद्ययं परवित्तानि कामयेत युधिष्ठिरः। एवमप्ययमत्यन्तं परान्नार्हति याचितुम्
Even if Yudhishthira desired the wealth of others, still, he should never have to beg from anyone in this way.
कथं च धर्मयुक्तास्ते न च राज्यं जिहीर्षवः। निवृत्तवनवासांस्तान्य आहुर्विदिता इति
How can those who are righteous and do not desire the kingdom, having completed their exile in the forest, be called known to us?
अनुनीता हि भीष्मेण द्रोणेन विदुरेण च। न व्यवस्यन्ति पाण्डूनां प्रदातुं पैतृकं वसु
Though Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura have urged them, they do not resolve to return the ancestral wealth to the Pandavas.
अहं तु ताञ्छितैर्बाणैरनुनीय रणे बलात्। पादयोः पातयिष्यामि कौन्तेयस्य महात्मनः
But I, with sharp arrows, will compel them in battle and make them bow at the feet of the great-souled son of Kunti.
अथ ते न व्यवस्यन्ति प्रणिपाताय धीमतः। गमिष्यन्ति सहामात्या यमस्य सदनं प्रति
If they do not decide to bow before the wise one, then, together with their ministers, they will go to the abode of Yama.
न हि ते युयुधानस्य संरब्धस्य युयुत्सतः। वेगं समर्थाः संसोद्धुं वज्रस्येव महीधराः
They are not capable of withstanding the force of Satyaki, eager and fierce in battle, just as mountains cannot withstand the thunderbolt.
को हि गाण्डीवधन्वानं कश्च चक्रायुधं युधि । मां चापि विषहेत्क्रुद्धं कश्च भीमं दुरासदम्
Who can endure in battle the wielder of Gandiva, the wielder of the discus, myself when enraged, or Bhima, who is hard to approach?
यमौ च दृढधन्वानौ यमकल्पौ महाद्युती। विराटद्रुपदौ वीरौ यमकालोपमद्युती
The two sons of Madri, firm in their bows and radiant as Yama, Virata and Drupada, heroes whose brilliance rivals Yama's.
को जिजीविषुरासादेद्धृष्टद्युम्नं च पार्षतम्। पञ्चैतान्पाण्डवेयांस्तु द्रौपद्याः कीर्तिवर्धनान्
Who, desiring to live, would approach Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, and these five sons of Pandavas, enhancers of Draupadi's fame?
समप्रमाणान्पाण्डूनां समवीर्यान्मदोत्कटान् । सौभद्रं च महेष्वासममरैरपि दुःसहम्
Equal in stature, equal in strength, fierce with pride, and Subhadra's son, a mighty archer, difficult even for the immortals to withstand.
गदप्रद्युम्नसाम्बांश्च कालसूर्यानलोपमान्। ते वयं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रं शकुनिना सह
Gada, Pradyumna, Samba, whose power is like time, the sun, and fire; we, together with Shakuni, will face Dhritarashtra's son.
कर्णं चैव निहत्याजावभिषेक्ष्याम पाण्डवम् । नाधर्मो विद्यते कश्चिच्छत्रून्हत्वाऽऽततायिनः
Having slain Karna in battle, we will anoint the Pandava; there is no unrighteousness in killing enemies who are aggressors.
अधर्म्यमयशस्यं च शात्रवाणां प्रयाचनम्। हृद्भतस्तस्य यः कामस्तं कुरुध्वमतन्द्रिताः
To beg from enemies is unrighteous and brings disgrace; whatever desire arises in his heart, fulfill it without delay.
धार्तराष्ट्रो ह्ययुद्धेन न राज्यं दातुमिच्छति। अद्य पाण्डुसुतो राज्यं लभतां वा युधिष्ठिरः। निहता वा रणे सर्वे स्वप्स्यन्ति वसुधातले
Dhritarashtra's son does not wish to give the kingdom without battle; today let Yudhishthira obtain the kingdom, or, if slain in battle, let all sleep upon the earth.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो भविष्यति न संशयः। न हि दुर्योधनो राज्यं मधुरेण प्रदास्यति
So it will be, O mighty-armed one, without doubt; for Duryodhana will not give the kingdom with gentle words.
अनुवर्त्स्यति तं चापि धृतराष्ट्रः सुतप्रियः। भीष्मद्रोणौ च कार्पण्यान्मौर्ख्याद्राधेयसौबलौ
Dhritarashtra, fond of his son, will follow him; Bhishma and Drona, out of compassion and folly, will support Radheya and Saubala.
बलदेवस्य वाक्यं तु मम ज्ञाने न युज्यते। एतद्धि पुरुषेणाग्रे कार्यं सुनयमिच्छता
But the words of Baladeva do not accord with my understanding; for one who desires wise conduct, this should be done first.