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.
नाधर्मे ते धीयते पार्थ बुद्धि- र्न संरम्भात्कर्म चकर्थ पापम् । आत्थ किं तत्कारणं यस्य हेतोः प्रज्ञाविरुद्धं कर्म चिकीर्षसीदम्
Your mind is not inclined toward unrighteousness, Partha, nor have you committed evil out of anger. Tell me, then, what is the reason for which you wish to perform this act that opposes wisdom?
अव्याधिजं कटुकं शीर्षरोगि यशोमुषं पापफलोदयं वा। सतां पेयं यन्न पिबन्त्यसन्तो मन्युं महाराज पिब प्रशाम्य
That which is bitter, causes illness, brings infamy, and results in sinful fruits—good people do not drink it, but the wicked do. O great king, drink down your anger and be calm.
पापानुबन्धं को नु तं कामयेत क्षमैव ते ज्यायसी नोत भोगाः । यत्र भीष्मः शान्तनवो हतः स्या- द्यत्र द्रोणः सहपुत्रो हतः स्यात्
Who would desire that which is bound to sin? Forbearance is greater for you, not enjoyment. Where Bhishma, son of Shantanu, might be slain, where Drona and his son might be killed—
कृपः शल्यः सौमदत्तिर्विकर्णो विविंशतिः कर्णदुर्योधनौ च। एतान्हत्वा कीदृशं तत्सुखं स्या- द्यद्विन्देथास्तदनुब्रूहि पार्थ
Kripa, Shalya, Saumadatti, Vikarna, Vivimshati, Karna, and Duryodhana—after slaying these, what kind of happiness would there be? Tell me, Partha, what joy you would find in that.
लब्ध्वाऽपीमां पृथिवीं सागरान्तां जरामृत्यू नैव हि त्वं प्रजह्याः। प्रियाप्रिये सुखदुःखे च राज- न्नैवं विद्वान्नैव युद्धं कुरु त्वम्
Even if you gained this earth bounded by the ocean, you would not escape old age and death. In pleasure and pain, in what is dear and what is not, O king, the wise do not act thus; do not wage war.
अमात्यानां यदि कामस्य हेतो- रेवं युक्तं कर्म चिकीर्षसि त्वम्। अपक्रमेः स्वं प्रदायैव तेषां मागास्त्वं वै देवयानात्पथोऽद्य
If, for the sake of your ministers' desires, you wish to act in this way, then, by giving up your own interests to them, you would stray from the path of the gods today.
असंशयं सञ्जय सत्यमेत- द्धर्मो वरः कर्मणां यत्त्वमात्थ । ज्ञात्वा तु मां सञ्जय गर्हयेस्त्वं यदि धर्मं यद्यधर्मं चरामि
Without doubt, Sanjaya, what you say is true: dharma is the best of actions. But if you know me, Sanjaya, you may reproach me if I act according to dharma or adharma.
यत्राधर्मो धर्मरूपाणि धत्ते धर्मः कृत्स्नो दृश्यतोऽधर्मरूपः। बिभ्रद्धर्मो धर्मरूपं तथा च विद्वांसस्तं संप्रपश्यन्ति बुद्ध्या
Where unrighteousness takes on the form of righteousness, and righteousness appears entirely as unrighteousness, dharma may bear the guise of dharma; the wise perceive this with their intellect.
एवं तथैवापदि लिङ्गमेत- द्धर्माधर्मौ नित्यवृत्ती भजेताम्। आद्यं लिङ्गं यस्य तस्य प्रमाण- मापद्धर्मं सञ्जय तं निबोध
Thus, in adversity, this is the sign: dharma and adharma always follow their own course. The first sign is the measure for each; learn from me, Sanjaya, the dharma of adversity.
लुप्तायां तु प्रकृतौ येन कर्म निष्पादयेत्तत्परीप्सेद्विहीनः। प्रकृतिस्थश्चापदि वर्तमान उभौ गर्ह्यौ भवतः सञ्जयैतौ
When the natural order is lost, one should strive to perform the action that fulfills the purpose, even if lacking means. But one who remains in the natural order during adversity, both are to be blamed, Sanjaya.
अविनाशमिच्छतां ब्राह्मणानां प्रायश्चित्तं विहितं यद्विधात्रा। संपश्येथाः कर्मसु वर्तमानान् विकर्मस्थान्सञ्जय गर्हयेस्त्वम्
For those Brahmanas who desire immortality, atonement is prescribed by the Creator. You should observe those engaged in action, and reproach those who act wrongly, Sanjaya.
मनीषिणां सत्त्विच्छेदनाय विधियते सत्सु वृत्तिः सदैव। अब्राह्मणाः सन्ति तु ये न वैद्याः सर्वोत्सङ्गं साधु मन्येत तेभ्यः
For the wise, conduct among the virtuous is always prescribed for the sake of preserving purity. But those who are not Brahmanas and not physicians should be regarded as wholly unsuitable.
तदध्वानः पितरो ये च पूर्वे पितामहा ये च तेभ्यः परेऽन्ये। यज्ञैषिणो ये च हि कर्म कुर्यु- र्नान्यं ततो नास्तिकोऽस्मीति मन्ये
Those ancestors who followed this path, and their fathers and grandfathers, and others beyond them; those who seek sacrifice and perform actions—none other than this, I consider, is the path, not atheism.
यत्किंचनेदं वित्तमस्यां पृथिव्यां यद्देवानां त्रिदशानां परं यत्। प्राजापत्यं त्रिदिवं ब्रह्मलोकं नाधर्मतः सञ्जय कामयेयम्
Whatever wealth is found on this earth, whatever is highest among the gods, whatever belongs to Prajapati, the heavenly realm, or Brahma's world—I would not desire it, Sanjaya, by unrighteous means.
धर्मेश्वरः कुशलो नीतिमांश्चा- प्युपासिता ब्राह्मणानां मनीषी। नानाविधांश्चैव महाबलांश्च राजन्यभोजाननुशास्ति कृष्णः
Krishna is a master of righteousness, skilled in policy, and wise, having served learned Brahmins; he governs various powerful kings and princes.
यदि ह्यहं विसृजत्साम गर्ह्यो नियुध्यमानो यदि जह्यां स्वधर्मम् । महायशाः केशवस्तद्ब्रवीतु वासुदेवस्तूभयोरर्थकामः
If, while being challenged, I were to abandon the path of peace or forsake my own duty, let the illustrious Keshava declare it; for Vasudeva desires the welfare of both sides.
शैनेयोऽयं चेदयश्चान्धकाश्च वार्ष्णेयभोजाः कुकुराः सृञ्जयाश्च । उपासीना वासुदेवस्य बुद्धिं निगृह्य शत्रून्सुहृदो नन्दयन्ति
If Satyaki, Kritavarma, the Andhakas, the Vrishnis, the Bhojas, the Kukuras, and the Srinjayas, all sit attending to Vasudeva’s counsel, they subdue their enemies and gladden their friends.
वृष्ण्यन्धका ह्युग्रसेनादयो वै कृष्णप्रणीताः सर्व एवेन्द्रकल्पाः । मनस्विनः सत्यपरायणाश्च महाबला यादवा भोगवन्तः
The Vrishnis, Andhakas, Ugrasena and others, all led by Krishna and equal to Indra, are thoughtful, devoted to truth, mighty, prosperous Yadavas.
काश्यो बभ्रुः श्रियमुत्तमां गतो लब्ध्वा कृष्णं भ्रातरमीशितारम् । यस्मै कामान्वर्षति वासुदेवो ग्रीष्मात्यये मेघ इव प्रजाऽभ्यः
Kashi’s king Babhru attained supreme prosperity, having Krishna, his brother and lord, by whose favor Vasudeva showers blessings as a cloud pours rain upon people at summer’s end.
ईदृशोऽयं केशवस्तात विद्वान् विद्धि ह्येनं कर्मणां निश्चयज्ञम्। प्रियश्च नः साधुतमश्च कृष्णो नातिक्रामे वचनं केशवस्य
Such is this wise Keshava, O father; know him as one who discerns the essence of action. Krishna is dear to us, the most virtuous; I would never disobey Keshava’s word.