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.
माद्रीसुतौ चापि तथाऽऽजिमध्ये सर्वा दिशः संपतन्तौ स्मरन्ति। सेनां वर्षन्तौ शग्वैपरजमं महारथौ समरे दुष्प्रकम्पौ
They also remember the sons of Madri in the midst of battle, rushing in all directions. Those great chariot-warriors, pouring forth showers upon the enemy host, are remembered as unshakable in combat.
समीकुर्याः प्रज्ञयाऽजातशत्रो
You, Ajatasatru, should act with discernment.
न कामार्थं सन्त्यजेयुर्हि धर्मं पाण्डोः सुताः सर्व एवेन्द्रकल्पाः । त्वमेवैतत्प्रज्ञयाऽजातशत्रो समीकुर्या येन शर्माप्नुयुस्ते
The sons of Pandu, all equal to Indra, would never abandon righteousness for desire or gain. You alone, Ajatasatru, should act with wisdom so that you all may attain happiness.
धार्तराष्ट्राः पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयाश्च ये चाप्यन्ते सन्निविष्टा नरेन्द्राः । यन्मां ब्रवीद्धृतराष्ट्रो निशाया- मजातशत्रो वचनं पिता ते
The Dhartarashtras, the Pandavas, the Sringayas, and all the assembled kings—whatever Dhritarashtra says to me at night, O Ajatasatru, is your father's message.
सहामात्यः सहपुत्रश्च राजन् समेत्य तां वाचमिमां निबोध
Together with his ministers and sons, O king, he has met and spoken these words; listen to them.
समागताः पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयाश्च जनार्दनो युयुधानो विराटः। यत्ते वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रानुशिष्टं गावल्गणे ब्रूहि तत्सूतपुत्र
The Pandavas, the Sringayas, Janardana, Yuyudhana, and Virata have assembled. Whatever message Dhritarashtra has instructed you, O Gavalgana, speak it, O son of the charioteer.
अजातशत्रुं च वृकोदरं च धनञ्जयं माद्रवतीसुतौ च। आमन्त्रये वासुदेवं च शौरिं युयुधानं चेकितानं विराटम्
I greet Ajatasatru, Vrikodara, Dhananjaya, the sons of Madri, Vasudeva the mighty, Yuyudhana, Cekitana, and Virata.
पञ्चालानामधिपं चैव वृद्धं धृष्टद्युम्नं पार्षतं याज्ञसेनिम् । सर्वे वाचं शृणुतेमां मदीयां वक्ष्यामि यां भूतिमिच्छन्कुरूणाम्
And the aged ruler of the Panchalas, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, Yajnaseni—all of you, listen to my words, which I will speak desiring the prosperity of the Kurus.
शमं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिनन्द- न्नयोजयत्त्वरमाणो रथं मे। सभ्रातृपुत्रस्वजनस्य राज्ञ- स्तद्रोचतां पाण्डवानां शमोऽस्तु
King Dhritarashtra, welcoming peace, hastily sent my chariot. With his brothers, sons, and kin, the king desires peace for the Pandavas—may it be pleasing to them.
सर्वैर्धर्मैः समुपेतास्तु पार्थाः संस्थानेन मार्दनेवार्जवेन। जाताः कुले ह्यनृशंसा वदान्या हीनिषेवाः कर्मणां निश्चयज्ञाः
The Parthas are endowed with all virtues—steadfastness, gentleness, sincerity. Born in noble families, they are compassionate and generous, avoiding low deeds, and are resolute in their actions.
न युज्यते कर्म युष्मासु हीनं सत्वं हि वस्तादृशं भीमसेनाः । उद्भासते ह्यञ्जनबिन्दुवत्त- च्छुभ्रे वस्त्रे यद्भवेत्किल्बिषं वः
No ignoble act is found among you; your character is as it should be, O Bhimasena. If there were any stain among you, it would stand out like a spot of ointment on a pure white cloth.
सर्वक्षयो दृश्यते यत्र कृत्स्नः पापोदयो भावसंस्थः कुरूणाम्। कस्तत्र कुर्याञ्जातु कर्म प्रजानन् पराजयो यत्र समो जयश्च
Where total destruction is seen, where evil arises and dwells among the Kurus, who, knowing this, would ever act there, where defeat and victory are equal?
ते वै धन्या यैः कृतं ज्ञातिकार्यं ते वै पुत्राः सुहृदो बान्धवाश्च। उपक्रुष्टं जीवितं सन्त्यजेयु- र्यतः कुरूणां नियतो वै भवः स्यात्
Blessed are those by whom the duty toward kin has been fulfilled; they are true sons, friends, and relatives. Such ones would abandon a life that has been sullied, for the fate of the Kurus is indeed fixed.
ते चेत्कुरूननुशिष्याथ पार्था निर्णीय सर्वान्द्विषतो निगृह्य। समं वस्तज्जीवितं मृत्युन स्या- द्यज्जीवध्वं ज्ञातिवधेन साधु
If you, O Parthas, instruct the Kurus, having decided and restrained all adversaries, then let your lives be equally subject to death; for living by slaying kin is not righteous.
को ह्येव युष्मान्सह केशवेन सचेकितानान्पार्षतबाहुगुप्तान्। ससात्यकीन्विषहेत प्रजेतुं लब्ध्वाऽपि देवान्सचिवान्सहेन्द्रान्
Who indeed, together with you and Keshava, could withstand the Cekitānas, the sons of Prishata, and the Sātyakis, to conquer them—even after gaining the gods, their counselors, and Indra himself?
को वा कुरून्द्रोणभीष्माभिगुप्ता- नश्वत्थाम्ना शल्यकृपादिभिश्च। रणे विजेतुं विषहेत राजन् राधेयगुप्तान्सह भूमिपालैः
Who, O King, could endure to conquer in battle the Kurus protected by Drona and Bhishma, by Ashvatthama, Shalya, Kripa, and others, and those guarded by Radheya along with the kings of the earth?
महद्बलं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञः को वै शक्तो हन्तुमक्षीयमाणः । सोऽहं जये चैव पराजये च निःश्रेयसं नाधिगच्छामि किंचित्
Who is able, without being destroyed, to slay the great force of King Dhritarashtra's sons? Whether in victory or defeat, I find no supreme good for myself.
कथं हि नीचा इव दौष्कुलेया निर्धर्मार्थं कर्म कुर्युश्च पार्थाः । सोऽहं प्रसाद्य प्रणतो वासुदेवं पञ्चालानामधिपं चैव वृद्धम्
How could the Parthas, as if base-born or ignoble, perform actions devoid of righteousness and purpose? Therefore, I, having appeased and bowed to Vasudeva and the aged lord of the Panchalas,
कृताञ्जलिः शरणं वः प्रपद्ये कथं स्वस्ति स्यात्कुरुसृञ्जयानाम्। न ह्येवमेवं वचनं वासुदेवो धनञ्जयो वा जातु किंचिन्न कुर्यात्
With hands joined, I seek refuge with you. How may well-being come to the Kurus and the Srinjayas? For neither Vasudeva nor Dhananjaya would ever act otherwise, nor do anything at all.
प्रणान्दद्याद्याचमानः कुतोऽन्य- देतद्विद्वन्साधनार्थं ब्रवीमि । एतद्राज्ञो भीष्मपुरोगमस्य मतं यद्वः शान्तिरिहोत्तमा स्यात्
How could one who begs for mercy offer salutations? Therefore, O wise one, I speak this for the sake of reconciliation. This is the opinion of the king, with Bhishma at the head, that the highest peace may be attained here.