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.
किरीटि बलवान्पार्थः कृतास्त्रश्च महारथः । को हि पाण्डुसुतं युद्धे विषहेत धनञ्जयम्
Arjuna, the son of Pandu, is crowned, mighty, accomplished in arms, and a great chariot-warrior; who indeed could withstand Dhananjaya in battle?
अपि वज्रधरः साक्षात्किमुतान्ये धनुर्भृतः । त्रयाणामपि लोकानां समर्थ इति मे मतिः
Even the wielder of the thunderbolt himself could not, let alone other bowmen; in my judgment, he is capable of overcoming even the three worlds.
भीष्मे ब्रुवति तद्वाक्यं धृष्टमाक्षिप्य मन्युना। दुर्योधनं समालोक्य कर्णो वचनमब्रवीत्
As Bhishma spoke these words, Karna, inflamed with anger and glancing at Duryodhana, replied boldly.
न तत्राविदितं ब्रह्मँल्लोके भूतेन केनचित् । पुनरुक्तेन किं तेन भाषितेन पुनः पुनः
There is nothing unknown here to anyone in this assembly, O Brahmin; what is the use of repeating the same thing again and again?
दुर्योधनार्थे शकुनिर्द्यूते निर्जितवान्पुरा । समयेन गतोऽरण्यं पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
For Duryodhana's sake, Shakuni once defeated Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, at dice; by agreement, he went to the forest.
स तं समयमाश्रित्य राज्यं नेच्छति पैतृकम्। बलमाश्रित्य मत्स्यानां पाञ्चालानां च मूर्खवत्
Relying on that agreement, he does not seek his ancestral kingdom, but like a fool, relies on the strength of the Matsyas and Panchalas.
दुर्योधनो भयाद्विद्वन्न दद्यात्पादमन्ततः। धर्मतस्तु महीं कृत्स्नां प्रदद्याच्छत्रवेऽपि च
Out of fear, learned one, Duryodhana would not give even a foot of land; but by righteousness, he would give the whole earth even to an enemy.
यदि काङ्क्षन्ति ते राज्यं पितृपैतामहं पुनः । यथाप्रतिज्ञं कालं तं चरन्तु वनमाश्रिताः
If they desire again the kingdom of their fathers and grandfathers, let them, as promised, spend that time in the forest.
ततो दुर्योधनस्याङ्के वर्तन्तामकुतोभयाः । अधार्मिकीं तु मा बुद्धिं मौर्ख्यात्कुर्वन्तु केवलात्
Then, let them remain without fear in Duryodhana's care; but let them not, out of sheer folly, form an unrighteous resolve.
अथ ते धर्ममुत्सृत्य युद्धमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः। आसाद्येमान्कुरुश्रेष्ठान्स्मरिष्यन्ति वचो मम
But if the Pandavas, abandoning righteousness, desire war, then, upon meeting these foremost of Kurus, they will remember my words.