अनामयं पृच्छति त्वाम्बिकेयो वृद्धो राजा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी । कच्चिद्भीमः कुशली पाण्डवाग्र्यो धनञ्जयस्तौ च माद्रीतनूजौ
Ambika's son, the aged and wise King Dhritarashtra, asks after your well-being; is Bhima, the foremost Pandava, well, and is Dhananjaya, as well as the two sons of Madri?
कच्चित्कृष्णा द्रौपदी राजपुत्री सत्यव्रता वीरपत्नी सुपुत्रा। मनस्विनी यत्र च वाञ्छसि त्व- मिष्टान्कामान्भारत स्वस्तिकामः
Is Krishna, Draupadi, the royal princess, true to her vows, wife of heroes, and blessed with noble sons, well? Wherever you desire, O Bharata, may you obtain your wishes, for I wish you prosperity.
गावल्गणे सञ्जय स्वागतं ते प्रीतात्माऽहं त्वाऽभिनन्दामि सूत। अनामयं प्रतिमाने तवाहं सहानुजैः कुशली चास्मि विद्वन्
O Gavalgani Sanjaya, you are welcome; with a joyful heart, I greet you, O charioteer; I assure you of my well-being, and together with my brothers, I am well, O wise one.
चिरादिदं कुशलं भारतस्य श्रुत्वा राज्ञः कुरुवृद्धस्य सूत। मन्ये साक्षाद्दृष्टमहं नरेन्द्रं दृष्ट्वैव त्वां सञ्जय प्रीतियोगात्
After a long time, hearing of the welfare of Bharata from the aged king, O charioteer, I feel as if I have seen the king himself, for seeing you, Sanjaya, brings me joy.
पितामहो नः स्थविरो मनस्वी महाप्राज्ञः सर्वधर्मोपपन्नः। सकौरव्यः कुशली तात भीष्मो यथापूर्वं वृत्तिरस्त्यस्य कच्चित्
Our grandfather, aged and wise, endowed with great wisdom and all virtues, is well, O dear one; Bhishma, together with the Kauravas, is well. Is his conduct as before?
कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो वैचित्रवीर्यः कुशली महात्मा। महाराजो बाह्लिकः प्रातिपेयः कच्चिद्विद्वान्कुशली सूतपुत्र
Is King Dhritarashtra, together with his son, the great-souled descendant of Vichitravirya, well? Is the great king Bahlika, son of Pratipa, well? Is the wise son of the charioteer well?
स सोमदत्तः कुशली तात कच्चि- द्भूरिश्रवाः सत्यसन्धः शलश्च। द्रोणः सपुत्रश्च कृपश्च विप्रो महेष्वासाः कच्चिदेतेऽप्यरोगाः
Is Somadatta well, dear one? And is Bhurishravas, steadfast in truth, and Shala also in good health? Is Drona with his son, and Kripa the Brahmin, those great archers—are they all unharmed?
सर्वे कुरुभ्यः स्पृहयन्ति सञ्जय धनुर्धरा ये पृथिव्यां प्रधानाः । महाप्रज्ञाः सर्वशास्त्रावदाता धनुर्भृतां मुख्यतमाः पृथिव्याम्
O Sanjaya, do all the foremost bowmen on earth, those of great wisdom and pure in all the sciences, who are the chief among archers in the world, still cherish the Kurus?
कच्चिन्मानं तात लभन्त एते धनुर्भृतः कचिदेतेऽप्यरोगाः। येषां राष्ट्रे निवसति दर्शनीयो महेष्वासः शीलवान्द्रोणपुत्रः
Are these archers, dear one, still respected and in good health? In whose kingdom resides the illustrious, virtuous son of Drona, the great archer?
वैश्यापुत्रः कुशली तात कच्चित् महाप्राज्ञो राजपुत्रो युयुत्सुः । कर्णो मानी कुशली तात कच्चित् सुयोधनो यस्य मन्दो विधेयः
Is the son of a Vaishya, the wise prince Yuyutsu, well, dear one? And is Karna, proud and mighty, in good health, dear one, he to whom the slow-witted Suyodhana is obedient?
स्त्रियो वृद्धा भारतानां जनन्यो महादास्यो दासभार्याश्च सूत। वध्वः पुत्रा भागिनेया भगिन्यो दौहित्रा वा कच्चिदप्यव्यलीकाः
Are the women, elders, mothers of the Bharatas, the great servants, the wives of servants, O charioteer, the daughters-in-law, sons, nephews, sisters, and grandsons—all unharmed?
कच्चिद्राजा ब्राह्मणानां यथावत् प्रवर्तते पूर्ववत्तात वृत्तिम्। कच्चिद्दायान्मामकान्धार्तराष्ट्रो द्विजातीनां सञ्जय नोपहन्ति
Does the king still conduct himself toward the Brahmins as before, dear one, maintaining their welfare? Does Dhritarashtra’s son, O Sanjaya, refrain from harming the property of the twice-born?
कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्र उपेक्षते ब्राह्मणातिक्रमान्वै। स्वर्गस्य कच्चिन्न तथा वर्त्मभूता- मुपेक्षते तेषु सदैव वृत्तिम्
Does King Dhritarashtra with his sons overlook transgressions against Brahmins? Does he always maintain proper conduct toward them, which is the path to heaven?
एतञ्ज्योतिश्चोत्तमं जीवलोके शुक्लं प्रजानां विहितं विधात्रा। ते चेद्दोषं न नियच्छन्ति मन्दाः कृत्स्नो नाशो भविता कौरवाणाम्
This supreme light among living beings, pure and ordained by the Creator for the people—if the foolish do not restrain their faults, then total destruction will come upon the Kauravas.
कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो बुभूषते वृत्तिममात्यवर्गे। कच्चिन्न भेदेन जिजीविषन्ति मुहृद्रूपा दुर्हृदश्चैकमत्यात्
Does King Dhritarashtra with his son desire proper conduct among his ministers? Do they not seek to survive by sowing division, but rather remain united in purpose, avoiding ill-willed counselors?
कच्चिन्न पापं कथयन्ति तात ते पाण्डवानां कुरवः सर्व एव। द्रोणः सपुत्रश्च कृपश्च वीरो नास्मासु पापानि वदन्ति कच्चित्
Surely, dear one, the Kurus do not speak evil of the Pandavas? Drona with his son, and the valiant Kripa, do not speak ill of us, do they?
कच्चिद्राज्ये धृतराष्ट्रं सपुत्रं समेत्याहुः कुरवः सर्व एव। कच्चिद्दृष्ट्वा दस्युसङ्घान्समेता- न्स्मरन्ति पार्थस्य युधां प्रणेतुः
Do all the Kurus, having assembled, acknowledge Dhritarashtra and his son as rulers? When they see bands of robbers gathered, do they recall Partha, the foremost in battle?
मौर्वीभुजाग्रप्रहितान्स्म तात दोधूयमानेन धनुर्धरेण। गाण्डीवनुन्नांस्तनयित्नुघोषा- नजिह्मगान्कच्चिदनुस्मरन्ति
Do they remember, dear one, the thunderous sounds made by Gandiva’s bowstring, launched by the archer, shaking the enemies, like the roar of thunder, straight and unerring?
न चापश्यं कंचिदहं पृथिव्यां योधं समं वाऽधिकमर्जुनेन। यस्यैकषष्टिर्निशितास्तीक्ष्णधाराः सुवाससः समंतो हस्तवापः
I have not seen any warrior on earth, equal or superior to Arjuna, who could simultaneously shoot sixty sharp, keen-edged, well-feathered shafts from his hand.
गदापाणिर्भीमसेनस्तरस्वी प्रवेपयञ्छत्रुसङ्घाननीके। नागः प्रभिन्न इव नङ्घलेषु चंक्रम्यते कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति
Does anyone remember Bhimasena, mace in hand, swift and shaking the ranks of enemy forces, moving among them like a great elephant breaking through reeds?
माद्रीपुत्रः सहदेवः कलिङ्गान् समागतानजयद्दन्तकूरे। वामेनास्यन्दक्षिणेनैव यो वै महाबलं कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति
Does anyone recall Sahadeva, son of Madri, who once defeated the assembled Kalingas in battle, striking with his left and right hands, he of great strength?
पुरा जेतुं नकुलः प्रेषितोऽयं शिबींस्त्रिगर्तान्सञ्जय पश्यतस्ते। दिशं प्रतीचीं वशमानयन्मे माद्रीसुतं कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति
Long ago, Nakula was sent to conquer the Shibis and Trigartas, O Sanjaya, and brought the western direction under my sway—does anyone remember the son of Madri?
पराभवो द्वैतवने य आसी- द्दुर्मन्विते घोपयात्रागतानाम् । यत्र मन्दाञ्छत्रुवशं प्रयाता- नमोचयद्भीमसेनो जयश्च
That defeat in the Dvaita forest, when the cattle were driven away and the dispirited ones fell under enemy control—does anyone recall how Bhimasena freed them and brought victory?
अहं पश्चादर्जुनमभ्यरक्षं माद्रीपुत्रौ भीमसेनोऽप्यरक्षत्। गाण्डीवधन्वा शत्रुसङ्घानुदस्य स्वस्त्यागमत्कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति
I protected Arjuna from behind, and Bhimasena guarded the sons of Madri; Gandiva-wielding Arjuna scattered the enemy hosts and returned safely—does anyone remember this?
न कर्मणा साधुनैकेन नूनं सुखं शक्यं वै भवतीह सञ्जय । सर्वात्मना परिजेतुं वयं चे- न्न शक्नुमो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रम्
By a single good deed alone, happiness surely cannot be attained here, O Sanjaya. If we are unable to overcome the son of Dhritarashtra in every way, then—
यथाऽऽत्थ मे पाण्डव तत्तथैव कुरून्कुरुश्रेष्ठ जनं च पृच्छसि। अनामयास्तात मनस्विनस्ते कुरुश्रेष्ठान्पृच्छसि पार्थ यांस्त्वम्
As you have asked me, O best of the Kurus, so I answer you about the Kurus and their people. You inquire about the well-being of those noble-minded ones, O Partha, whom you yourself ask about among the Kurus.
सन्त्येव वृद्धाः साधवो धार्तराष्ट्रे सन्त्येव पापाः पाण्डव तस्य विद्धि। दद्याद्रिपुभ्योऽपि हि धार्तराष्ट्रः कुतो दायांल्लोपयेद्ब्राह्मणानाम्
Indeed, there are elders and virtuous men among the Dhartarashtras, and there are wicked ones as well, O Pandava, know this. The Dhartarashtra would give even to his enemies; how then could he withhold gifts from the Brahmanas?
यद्युष्मासु वर्ततेऽसावधर्म्य- मद्रुग्धेषु द्रुग्धवत्तन्न साधु। मित्रध्रुक् स्याद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रो युष्मान्द्विपन्साधुवृत्तानसाधुः
If he acts unrighteously toward you, who have done no wrong, then that is not good. The son of Dhritarashtra would be a betrayer of friends, opposing you who are virtuous, though he himself is not.
स चापि जानाति भृशं च तप्यते शोचत्यन्तः स्थविरोऽजातशत्रो। शृणोति हि ब्राह्मणानां समेत्य मित्रद्रोहः पातकेभ्यो यरीयान्
He knows this and suffers greatly; the aged Ajatasatru grieves inwardly. For he hears, when the Brahmanas gather, that betrayal of friends is a greater sin than other offenses.
स्मरन्ति तुभ्यं नरदेव सङ्गमे युद्धे च जिष्णोश्च युधां प्रणेतुः। समुद्धुष्टे दुन्दुभिशङ्खशब्दे गदापाणिं भीमसेनं स्मरन्ति
They remember you, O king, at the meeting and in battle, and also Arjuna, the foremost among warriors. When the drums and conch-shells resound, they recall Bhimasena wielding the mace.