तथा रोहितकारण्यं मरुभूमिश्च केवला। अहिच्छत्रं कालकूटं गङ्गाकूलं च भारत
Likewise, the Rohitaka forest, the whole desert region, Ahichhatra, Kalakuta, and the banks of the Ganga, O Bharata,
वारणं वाटधानं च यामुनश्चैव पर्वतः। एष देशः सुविस्तीर्णः प्रभूतधनधान्यवान्
Varana, Vatadhana, and the Yamuna mountains—this vast region, rich in wealth and grain,
बभूव कौरवेयाणां बलेनातीव संवृतः। तत्र सैन्यं तथा युक्तं ददर्श स पुरोहितः
became densely filled with the Kaurava army; there, the priest saw the army so arrayed.
यः स पाञ्चालराजेन प्रेषितः कौरवान्प्रति
He was the one sent by the king of the Panchalas to the Kauravas.
स च कौरव्यमासाद्य द्रुपदस्य पुरोहितः। सत्कृतो धृतराष्ट्रेण भीष्मेण विदुरेण च
That priest of Drupada, having reached the Kaurava camp, was honored by Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, and Vidura.
सर्वकौशल्यमुक्त्वाऽऽदौ पृष्ट्वा चैवमनामयम्। सर्वसेनाप्रणेतॄणां मध्ये वाक्यमुवाच ह
After first offering all courtesies and inquiring about their well-being, he spoke these words in the midst of all the commanders.
सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्विदितो राजधर्मः सनातनः। वाक्योपादानहेतोस्तु वक्ष्यामि विदिते सति
You all know well the eternal law of kings; yet, for the sake of discussion, I will speak, even though it is already understood.
धृतराष्ट्रश्च पाण्डुश्च सुतावेकस्य विश्रुतौ । तयोः समानं द्रविणं पैतृकं नात्र संशयः
Dhritarashtra and Pandu are both renowned sons of the same father; their paternal wealth is equally shared, of this there is no doubt.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य ये पुत्राः प्राप्तं तैः पैतृकं वसु। पाण्डुपुत्राः कथं नाम न प्राप्ताः पैतृकं वसु
The sons of Dhritarashtra have received their paternal wealth; how is it that the sons of Pandu have not obtained their paternal wealth?
वनं गतैः पाण्डवेयैर्विदितं वः पुरा यथा। न प्राप्तं पैतृकं द्रव्यं धृतराष्ट्रेण यद्धृतम्
You know well how, when the Pandavas went to the forest, they did not receive their paternal property, which was seized by Dhritarashtra.
प्राणान्तिकैरप्युपायैः प्रयतद्भिरनेकशः । शेषवन्तो न शकिता नेतुं वै यमसादनम्
Though the Pandavas made many efforts, even risking their lives, they were unable to bring Dhritarashtra to the abode of Yama.
पुनश्च वर्धितं राज्यं स्वबलेन महात्मभिः । छद्मनाऽपहृतं क्षुद्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्रैः ससौबलैः
Again, the kingdom was strengthened by those great souls through their own power, but it was deceitfully taken by the lowly sons of Dhritarashtra, along with their allies.
तदप्यनुमतं कर्म यथा युक्तमनेन वै। वासिताश्च महारण्ये वर्षाणीह त्रयोदश
Even that act was approved, as it was considered proper at the time; and here, they have dwelled in the great forest for thirteen years.
सभायां क्लेशितैर्वीरैः सहभार्यैस्तथा भृशम् । अरण्ये विविधाः क्लेशाः संप्राप्तास्तैः सुदारुणाः
In the assembly, those heroes, along with their wives, were greatly afflicted; and in the forest, they endured many severe hardships.
तथा विराटनगरे योन्यन्तरगतैरिव। प्राप्तः परमसंक्लेशो यथा पापैर्महात्मभिः
Likewise, in the city of Virata, they suffered extreme distress, as if hidden in another womb, just as the great-souled ones suffered at the hands of the wicked.
ते सर्वं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तत्पूर्वं कर्म किल्विषम् । साम्नैव कुरुभिः सन्धिमिच्छन्ति कुरुपुङ्गवाः
Having endured all that and set aside their earlier misdeeds, the foremost of the Kurus now seek peace with the Kurus through conciliation alone.
तेषां च वृत्तमाज्ञाय वृत्तं दुर्योधनस्य च। अनुनेतुमिहार्हन्ति धार्तराष्ट्रं सुहृज्जनाः
Knowing their conduct and also that of Duryodhana, friends here ought to persuade the son of Dhritarashtra.
न हि ते विग्रहं वीराः कुर्वन्ति कुरुभिः सह। अविनाशेन लोकस्य काङ्क्षन्ते पाण्डवाः स्वकम्
For those heroes do not seek conflict with the Kurus; the Pandavas only desire their own, wishing for the world's preservation.
यश्चापि धार्तराष्ट्रस्य हेतुः स्याद्विग्रहं प्रति। स च हेतुर्न मन्तव्यो बलीयांसस्तथा हि ते
And whatever reason there may be for the sons of Dhritarashtra to seek conflict, that reason should not be considered, for the Pandavas are stronger.
अक्षौहिण्यश्च सप्तैव धर्मपुत्रस्य सङ्गताः। युयुत्समानाः कुरुभिः प्रतीक्षन्तेऽस्य शासनम्
Seven akshauhinis have assembled for the son of Dharma, ready for battle with the Kurus, awaiting his command.
अपरे पुरुषव्याघ्राः सहस्राक्षौहिणीसमाः । सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च यमौ च सुमहाबलौ
Other tiger-like men, equal to a thousand akshauhinis, are Satyaki, Bhimasena, and the mighty twins.
एकादशैताः पृतना एकतश्च समागताः । एकतश्च महाबाहुर्बहुरूपी धनञ्जयः
These eleven divisions of troops have gathered on one side, and on the other stands the mighty-armed, many-formed Dhananjaya.
यथा किरीटी सर्वाभ्यः सेनाभ्यो व्यतिरिच्यते। एवमेव महाबाहुर्वासुदेवो महाद्युतिः
Just as the one with the diadem surpasses all the armies, so too does the mighty-armed, radiant Vasudeva.
बहुलत्वं च सेनानां विक्रमं च किरीटिनः। बुद्धिमत्त्वं च कृष्णस्य बुद्ध्वा युध्येत को नरः
Seeing the vastness of the armies, the valor of the one with the diadem, and the wisdom of Krishna, what man would dare to fight?
ते भवन्तो यथाधर्मं यथासमयमेव च। प्रयच्छन्तु प्रदातव्यं मा वः कालोऽत्यगादयम्
Let your honors give what is to be given, in accordance with righteousness and the proper time; do not let this time pass you by.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रज्ञावृद्धो महाद्युतिः। संपूज्यैनं यथाकालं भीष्मो वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing those words, the wise and illustrious Bhishma, after duly honoring him at the proper moment, spoke as follows.
दिष्ट्या कुशलिनः सर्वे सह दामोदरेण ते। दिष्ट्या सहायवन्तश्च दिष्ट्या धर्मे च ते रताः
It is by good fortune that all of you, along with Damodara, are safe; by good fortune you have allies, and by good fortune you are devoted to righteousness.
दिष्ट्या च सन्धिकामास्ते भ्रातरः कुरुनन्दनाः । दिष्टा न युद्धमनसः पाण्डवाः सह बान्धवैः
It is by good fortune, O joy of the Kurus, that your brothers desire peace; it is by good fortune that the Pandavas, together with their kin, are not intent on war.
भवता सत्यमुक्तं तु सर्वमेतन्न संशयः। अतितीक्ष्णं तु ते वाक्यं ब्राह्मण्यादिति मे मतिः
You have spoken the truth in all respects, of this there is no doubt; yet your words are exceedingly sharp, as is fitting for a Brahmin—so I think.
असंशयं क्सेशितास्ते वने चेह च पाण्डवाः। प्राप्ताश्च धर्मतः सर्वं पितुर्धनमसंशयम्
Without doubt, the Pandavas have been wronged both in the forest and here; and without doubt, they have rightfully obtained all their father's wealth.