यत्तत्कर्णो मन्यते पारणीयं युद्धे गृहीतायुधमर्जुनं वै । आसंश्च युद्धानि पुरा महान्ति कथं कर्णो नाभवद्द्वीप एषाम्
What Karna thinks can be accomplished— to defeat Arjuna, armed for battle— is unfounded. There have been great wars before; how then did Karna not become their protector?
कर्णश्च जानाति सुयोधनश्च द्रोणश्च जानाति पितामहश्च। अन्ये च ये कुग्वस्तत्र सन्ति यथाऽर्जुनान्नाम्त्यपरो धनुर्धरः
Karna knows, Suyodhana knows, Drona knows, and the grandsire knows— and others, too, who are present there— that none among the bowmen can surpass Arjuna.
जानन्त्येतन्कुरवः सर्व एव ये चाप्यन्ये भूमिपालाः समेताः। दुर्योधने राज्यमिहाभवद्यथा अरिन्दमे फाल्गुनेऽविद्यमाने
All the Kurus know this, as do the other assembled kings: Duryodhana's rule here would only be possible if Phalguna, the subduer of enemies, did not exist.
तेनानुबन्धं मन्यते धार्तराष्ट्रः शक्यं हर्तुं पाण्डवानां ममत्वम् । किरीटिना तालमात्रायुधेन तद्वेदिना संयुगं तत्र गत्वा
Yet Dhritarashtra's son believes that, through alliance, he can seize the Pandavas' share. But when the diademed Arjuna, with his mighty bow, enters the battle, knowing the truth, what then?
गाण्डीवविष्फारितशब्दमात्रं श्रुत्वैव ते धार्तराष्ट्रा म्रियन्ते। क्रुद्धं न चेदीक्षते भीमसेनं सुयोधनो मन्यते सिद्धमर्थम्
At the mere sound of Gandiva's string, the sons of Dhritarashtra perish. If Suyodhana does not see the wrathful Bhimasena, he thinks his purpose is achieved.
इन्द्रोऽप्येतन्नोत्सहेत्तात हर्तु- मैश्वर्यं नो जीवति भीमसेने। धनञ्जये नकुले चैव सूत तथा वीरे सहदेवेऽसहिष्णौ
Even Indra could not take away this sovereignty while Bhimasena lives— nor while Dhananjaya, Nakula, and the mighty, intolerant Sahadeva stand, O charioteer.
सचेदेतां प्रतिपद्येत बुद्धिं वृद्धो राजा सह पुत्रेण सूत। एवं रणे पाण्डवकोपदग्धा न नश्येयुः सञ्जय धार्तराष्ट्राः
If the aged king, together with his son, would adopt this understanding, then, Sanjaya, the sons of Dhritarashtra, scorched by the Pandavas' wrath in battle, would not perish.
जानामि त्वं क्लेशमस्मासु वृत्तं त्वां पूजयन्मञ्जयाहं क्षमेयम्। वच्चास्माकं कौरवैर्भृतपूर्वं या नो वृत्तिधार्तराष्ट्रे तदाऽऽसीत्
I know, Sanjaya, the hardship that has befallen us. Honoring you, I could endure it. What was once provided to us by the Kauravas— that livelihood under Dhritarashtra— is now gone.
अद्यापि सा तत्र तथैव वर्ततां यान्ति गमिष्यामि यथा न्वमात्थ । द्वन्द्राप्रव्ये भवतु ममैव राज्यं सूयोधनो यच्छतु भाग्नाग्र्यः
Even now, let her remain there just as she is; I will go as you have said. Let the kingdom be mine only in the event of a duel; let Suyodhana, the foremost of my cousins, grant it.
धर्मनित्या पाण्डव ते विचेष्टा लोके श्रुता दृश्यते चापि पार्थ । महाश्रावं जीवित चाप्यनित्यं संपश्य त्वं पाण्डव मा व्यनीनशः
O Pandava, your conduct is always rooted in righteousness; it is renowned and visible in the world, O Partha. Fame is great, but life is impermanent—see this, Pandava, and do not act rashly.
नचेद्भागं कुरवोऽन्यत्र युद्धा- त्प्रयच्छेरंस्तुभ्यमजातशत्रो। भैक्षचर्यामन्धकवृष्णिराज्ये श्रेयो मन्ये न तु युद्धेन राज्यम्
If the Kurus do not give you your share except through war, O Ajatashatru, I consider it better to live by begging in the kingdom of the Andhakas and Vrishnis than to gain a kingdom by war.
अल्पकालं जीवितं यन्मनुष्ये महास्रावं नित्यदुःखं चलं च। भूयश्च तद्यशसो नानुरूपं तस्मात्पापं पाण्डव मा कृथास्त्वम्
Human life is short, full of suffering, unstable, and quickly passes away; and such fame is not fitting. Therefore, Pandava, do not commit sin.
कामा मनुष्यं प्रसजन्त एते धर्मस्य ये विघ्नमूलं नरेन्द्र । पूर्वं नरस्तान्मतिमान्प्रणिघ्नन् लोके प्रशंसां लभतेऽनवद्याम्
Desires attach themselves to a person, O king, and they are the root of obstacles to righteousness. A wise man, having subdued them early, gains blameless praise in the world.
निबन्धनी ह्यर्थतृष्णेह पार्थ तामिच्छतां बाध्यते धर्म एव। धर्मं तु यः प्रणृणीते स बुद्धः कामे गृध्नो हीयतेऽर्थानुरोधात्
Here, O Partha, craving for wealth is binding; those who desire it are obstructed in righteousness. But he who overcomes desire is wise; one greedy for pleasure falls away from righteousness for the sake of wealth.
धर्मं कृत्वा कर्मणां तात मुख्यं महाप्रतापः सवितेव भाति। हीनो हि धर्मेण महीमपीमां लब्ध्वा नरः सीदति पापबुद्धिः
One who performs the principal act of righteousness shines with great splendor, like the sun. But a man lacking in righteousness, even if he gains this earth, sinks down, his mind corrupted by sin.
वेदोऽधीतश्चरितं ब्रह्मचर्यं यज्ञैरिष्टं ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च दत्तम् । परं स्थानं मन्यमानेन भूय आत्मा दत्तो वर्षपूगं सुखेभ्यः
Having studied the Veda, practiced celibacy, performed sacrifices, and given gifts to Brahmins, thinking he has attained the highest state, a man gives himself over for many years to pleasures.
सुखप्रिये सेवमानोऽतिवेलं योगाभ्यासे यो न करोति कर्म। वित्तक्षये हीनसुखोऽतिवेलं दुःखं शेते कामवेगप्रणुन्नः
One who excessively pursues pleasure and does not perform the discipline of yoga, when his wealth is gone and his happiness lost, lies in misery, driven by the force of desire.
एवं पुनर्ब्रह्मचर्याऽप्रसक्तो हित्वा धर्मं यः प्रकरोत्यधर्मम्। अश्रद्दधत्परलोकाय मूढो हित्वा देहं तप्यते प्रेत्य मन्दः
Thus, one who, abandoning celibacy, forsakes righteousness and commits unrighteous acts, lacking faith in the next world, is deluded; after leaving the body, he suffers, foolishly.
न कर्मणां विप्रणाशोऽस्त्यमुत्र पुण्यानां वाऽप्यथवा पापकानाम् । पूर्वं कर्तुर्गच्छति पुण्यपापं पश्चात्त्वेनमनुयात्येव कर्ता
There is no destruction of actions hereafter—whether of good or evil deeds. The merit or sin of the doer follows him; the doer is always accompanied by his actions.
न्यायोपेतं ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽथ दत्तं श्रद्धापूतं गन्धरसोपपन्नम् । अन्वाहार्येषूत्तमदक्षिणेषु तथारूपं कर्म विख्यायते ते
A gift made to Brahmins, in accordance with justice, purified by faith, accompanied by fragrance and taste, and given at the best of sacrificial feasts—such an act is renowned for you.
इह क्षेत्रे क्रियते पार्थ कार्यं न वै किंचित्क्रियते प्रेत्य कार्यम् । कृतं त्वया पारलोक्यं च कर्म पुण्यं महत्सद्भिरतिप्रशस्तम्
Here, O Partha, is the field where action is performed; nothing is done after death. The good deeds you have performed here, for the next world, are greatly praised by the virtuous.
जहाति मृत्युं च जरां भयं च न क्षुत्पिपासे मनसोऽप्रियाणि। न कर्तव्यं विद्यते तत्र किंचि- दन्यत्र वै चेन्द्रियप्रीणनाद्धि
There, one abandons death, old age, and fear; there is no hunger, thirst, or mental distress. Nothing needs to be done there, except the enjoyment of the senses.
एवंरूपं कर्मफलं नरेन्द्र मातापित्रोर्हृदयस्याप्रियेण। त्यज क्रोधं पाण्डव हर्षजं च लोकावुभौ मा प्रहासीश्चिराया
Such is the fruit of action, O king, when the heart of one's parents is not pleased. Abandon anger, O Pandava, and also the joy born of pride; do not forsake both worlds for a long time.
अन्तं गत्वा कर्मणां या प्रशंसा सत्यं दमं चार्जवमानृशंस्यम् । अश्वमेधं राजसूयं तथेष्ट्वा पापस्यान्तं कर्मणो मा पुनर्गाः
When the praise of actions has reached its end—truth, self-control, honesty, and compassion—having performed the Ashvamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices, do not again pursue sinful deeds.
तच्चेदेवं द्वेषरूपेण पार्थाः करिष्यध्वं कर्म पापं चिराय। निवसध्वं वर्षपूगान्वनेषु दुःखं वासं पाण्डवा धर्म एव
If, O Parthas, you act out of hatred and commit sinful deeds for a long time, then dwell for many years in the forests, Pandavas, living in hardship, but in righteousness.
प्रव्रज्यया यातयित्वा पुरस्ता- दात्माधीनं यद्बलं ते तदाऽसीत्। नित्यं च वश्याः सचिवास्तवेमे जनार्दनो युयुधाश्च वीरः
Having previously gone forth into exile, your strength was then dependent on yourself; and your counselors were always obedient—Janardana and the heroic Yuyudhana.
मत्स्यो राजा रुक्मरथः सपुत्रः प्रहारिभिः सहपुत्रैर्विराटः। राजानस्ते ये विजिताः पुरस्ता- त्त्वामेव ते संश्रयेयुः समस्ताः
The king of the Matsyas, Rukmaratha, together with his sons, and Virata with his sons and warriors—those kings whom you have conquered before, all of them would now seek refuge in you.
महासहायः प्रतपन्बलस्थः पुरस्कृतो वासुदेवार्जुनाभ्याम्। वरान्हनिष्यन्द्विषतो रङ्गमध्ये व्यनेष्यथा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दर्पम्
With great allies, established in strength, and led by Vasudeva and Arjuna, you will slay your enemies in the midst of battle and subdue the pride of Dhritarashtra's sons.
बलं कस्माद्वर्धयित्वा परस्य निजान्कस्मात्कर्शयित्वा सहायान्। निरुष्य कस्माद्वर्षपूगान्वनेषु युयुत्ससे पाण्डव हीनकाले
Why do you increase the strength of your foes and diminish your own allies? Why, after enduring years in the forests, do you wish to fight now, Pandava, at such an unfavorable time?
अप्राज्ञो वा पाण्डव युद्ध्यमानो- ऽधर्मज्ञो वा भूतिमथोऽभ्युपैति। प्रज्ञावान्वा बुद्ध्यमानोऽपि धर्मं संस्तम्भाद्वा सोऽपि भूतेरपैति
A Pandava who fights without wisdom or knowledge of righteousness may attain prosperity; but even one who fights wisely and upholds dharma, if obstructed, may lose prosperity.