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.
न तु वाच्यो मृदुवचो धार्तराष्ट्रः कथंचन । नहि मार्दवसाध्योऽसौ पापबुद्धिर्मतो मम
Dhritarashtra's son should never be addressed with gentle speech; for, in my opinion, one of evil mind cannot be won over by mildness.
गर्दभे मार्दवं कुर्याद्गोषु तीक्ष्णं समाचरेत् । मृदु दुर्योधने वाक्यं यो ब्रूयात्पापचेतसि
One should be gentle with donkeys and harsh with cows; whoever speaks gently to Duryodhana, whose mind is evil, is mistaken.
मृदुं वै मन्यते पापो भाषमाणमशक्तिकम् । हितमर्थं न जानीयादबुद्धिर्मार्दवे सति
The wicked one considers a gentle speaker to be weak and powerless; a foolish person does not recognize beneficial counsel when it is spoken with mildness.
एतच्चैव करिष्यामो यत्नश्च क्रियतामिह । प्रस्थापयाम मित्रेभ्यो बलान्युद्योजयन्तु नः
Let us do this very thing, and let effort be made here; let us send word to our allies so that they may mobilize their forces for us.
शल्यस्य धृष्टकेतोश्च जयत्सेनस्य वा विभो । केकयानां च सर्वेषां दूता गच्छन्तु शीघ्रगाः
Let swift messengers go to Shalya, Dhrishtaketu, Jayatsena, and all the Kekaya princes, O mighty one.
स च दुर्योधनो नूनं प्रेषयिष्यति सर्वशः । पूर्वाभिपन्नाः सन्तश्च भजन्ते पूर्वचोदनम्
And surely Duryodhana will also send messengers everywhere; those who have been approached first tend to follow the earlier summons.
तत्वरध्वं नरेन्द्राणां पूर्वमेव प्रचोदने । महद्धि कार्यं वोढव्यमिति मे वर्तते मतिः
Therefore, urge the kings beforehand, for a great task must be undertaken—this is my conviction.
शल्यस्य प्रेष्यतां शीघ्रं ये च तस्यानुगा नृपाः । भगदत्ताय राज्ञे च पूर्वसागरवासिने
Let messengers be quickly sent to Shalya and the kings who follow him, to King Bhagadatta who dwells by the eastern sea,
अमितौजसे तथोग्राय हार्दिक्यायान्धकाय च। दीर्घप्रज्ञाय शूराय रोचमानाय वा विभो
To Amitaujas, the fierce Hardikya, the Andhaka, the wise and valiant Dirghaprajna, and to the illustrious Rocamana, O mighty one.
आनीयतां बृहन्तश्च सेनाबिन्दुश्च पार्थिवः । सेनजित्प्रतिबिन्ध्यश्च चित्रवर्मा सुवास्तुकः
Let Brihanta be brought, and Senabindu the king, as well as Senajit, Pratibindhya, Chitravarma, and Suvastuka.