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.
किं नु राधेय वाचा ते कर्म तत्स्मर्तुमर्हसि। एक एव यदा पार्थः षड्रथाञ्जितवान्युधि
What use are your words, son of Radha? You should recall that deed—when Arjuna alone vanquished six chariot-warriors in battle.
विराटनगरे धीरः किं त्वं तत्रैव नागतः'। बहुशो जीयमानस्य कर्म दृष्टं तदैव ते
In the city of Virata, O steadfast one, why did you not come there yourself? On many occasions, you saw your own defeat there.
न चेदेवं करिष्यामो यदयं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्। ध्रुवं युधि हतास्तेन भक्षयिष्याम पांसुकान्
If we do not act as this Brahmin has spoken, then surely, slain in battle, we shall eat dust.
धृतराष्ट्रस्ततो भीष्ममनुमान्य प्रसाद्य च। अवभर्त्स्य च राधेयमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Dhritarashtra, having agreed with and appeased Bhishma, and having reproached Karna, spoke these words.
अस्मद्धितं वाक्यमिदं भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्। पाण्डवानां हितं चैव सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा
This speech of Bhishma, son of Shantanu, was spoken for our benefit, for the good of the Pandavas, and indeed for the welfare of the whole world.
चिन्तयित्वा तु पार्थेभ्यः प्रेषयिष्यामि सञ्जयम् । स भवान्प्रतियात्वद्य पाण्डवानेव माचिरम्
Having considered, I will send Sanjaya to the Pandavas; let him return to you today, without delay, from the Pandavas.
स तं सत्कृत्य कौरव्यः प्रेषयामास पाण्डवान् । सभामध्ये समाहूय सञ्जयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then the Kaurava, having honored him, sent Sanjaya to the Pandavas; and, summoning him in the midst of the assembly, spoke these words.
प्राप्तानाहुः सञ्जय पाण्डुपुत्रा- नुपप्लव्ये तान्विजानीहि गत्वा। अजातशत्रुं च सभाजयेथा दिष्ट्या वनाद्ग्राममुपस्थितस्त्वम्
Sanjaya, they say the sons of Pandu have arrived at Upaplavya—go there and find out. Honor Ajatashatru, and rejoice that you have come from the forest to the town.
सर्वान्वदेः सञ्जय स्वस्तिमन्तः कृच्छ्रं वासमतदर्हा निरुष्य। तेषां शान्तिर्विद्यतेऽस्मासु शीघ्रं मिथ्यापेतानामुपकारिणां सताम्
Greet all of them, Sanjaya, and wish them well; though they have endured hardship unworthy of them. If there is peace between us and those true, helpful men who have been wronged, it will come swiftly.
नाहं क्वचित्सञ्जय पाण्डवानां मिथ्यावृत्तिं कांचन जात्वपश्यम्। सर्वां श्रियं ह्यात्मवीर्येण लब्धां पर्याकार्षुः पाण्डवा मह्यमेव
Never, Sanjaya, have I seen any false conduct in the Pandavas at any time. All their prosperity was gained by their own strength, yet the Pandavas have ascribed it to me alone.