अविनाशं सञ्जय पाण्डवाना- मिच्छाम्यहं भूतिमेषां प्रियं च। तथा राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य सूत समाशंसे बहुपुत्रस्य वृद्धिम्
O Sanjaya, I desire the safety, prosperity, and happiness of the Pandavas, and likewise I wish for the growth of King Dhritarashtra’s many sons.
कामो हि मे सञ्जय नित्यमेव नान्यद्ब्रूयां तान्प्रति शाम्यतेति। राज्ञश्च हि प्रियमेतच्छृणोमि मन्ये चैतत्पाण्डवानां समक्षम्
Indeed, Sanjaya, my constant wish is that they should make peace; I would say nothing else to them. I hear this is pleasing to the king, and I believe it is also so before the Pandavas.
सुदुष्करस्तत्र शमो हि नूनं प्रदर्शितः सञ्जय पाण्डवेन। यस्मिन्गृद्धो धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रः कस्मादेषां कलहो नावमूर्च्छेत्
There, Sanjaya, the peace shown by the Pandava is truly difficult; when Dhritarashtra and his sons are greedy, why should this conflict not intensify?
न त्वं धर्मं विचरं सञ्जयेह मत्तश्च जानामि युधिष्ठिराच्च अथो कस्मात्सज्जय पाण्डवस्य उत्साहिनः पूरयतः स्वकर्म
But you, Sanjaya, do not act according to righteousness here; I know this from myself and from Yudhishthira. So why, Sanjaya, do you hinder the energetic Pandava fulfilling his own duty?
यथाख्यातमावमतः कुटुम्बे पुरा कस्मान्साधुविलोपमात्थ। अस्मिन्विधौ वर्तमाने यथाव- दुच्चावचा मतयो ब्राह्मणानाम्
As previously declared in the family, why did you, considering yourself virtuous, approve of their destruction? In this situation, as it unfolds, the opinions of Brahmins are diverse, high and low.
कर्मणाऽऽहुः सिद्धिमेके परत्र हिन्वा कर्म विद्यया सिद्धिमेके। नाभुञ्जानो भक्ष्यभोज्यस्य तृप्ये- द्विद्वानपीह विहितं ब्राह्मणानाम्
Some say success comes from action alone, others from knowledge abandoning action; yet even a learned man here does not find satisfaction without partaking of what is prescribed for Brahmins.
या वै विद्याः साधयन्तीह कर्म तासां फलं विद्यते नेतरासाम्। तत्रेह वै दृष्टफलं तु कर्म पीत्वोदकं शाम्यति तृष्णयाऽऽर्तः
Those disciplines that accomplish action here bear fruit, not the others; here, action has visible results, just as one tormented by thirst is satisfied by drinking water.
सोऽयं विधिर्विहितः कर्मणैव संवर्तते सञ्जय तत्र कर्म। तत्र योऽन्यत्कर्मणः साधु मन्ये- न्मोघं तस्यालपितं दुर्बलस्य
Thus, this is the rule: action alone brings about results, Sanjaya; there, action is supreme. If someone thinks otherwise, his words are vain, the speech of the weak.
कर्मणाऽमी भान्ति देवाः परत्र कर्मणैवेह प्लवते मातरिश्वा। अहोरात्रे विदधत्कर्मणैव अतन्द्रितो नित्यमुदेति सूर्यः
By action, the gods shine in the next world; by action alone, the wind moves here. By action, the sun tirelessly rises every day and night.
मासार्धमासानथ नक्षत्रयोगा- नतन्द्रितश्चन्द्रमाश्चाभ्युपैति। अतन्द्रितो दहते जातवेदाः समिद्ध्यमानः कर्म कुर्वन्प्रजाभ्यः
The moon, without fatigue, attains its phases and conjunctions with stars month after month; the ever-vigilant fire, when kindled, burns for the people by its action.
अतन्द्रिता भारमिमं महान्तं बिभर्ति देवी पृथिवी वलेन। अतन्द्रिताः शीघ्रसपो वहन्ति सन्तर्पयन्त्यः सर्वभूतानि नद्यः
The goddess Earth, tirelessly, bears this great burden by her strength; the swift-flowing rivers, unwearied, carry their waters, nourishing all beings.
अतन्द्रितो वर्षति भूरितेजाः सन्नादयन्नन्तरिक्षं दिशश्च। अतन्द्रितो ब्रह्मचर्यं चचार श्रेष्ठत्वमिच्छन्बलभिद्देवतानाम्
The radiant one, unwearied, rains down, resounding through the sky and quarters; unwearied, Indra practiced brahmacharya, desiring supremacy among the gods.
हित्वा सुखं मनसश्च प्रियाणि तेन शक्रः कर्मणा श्रैष्ठ्यमाप। सत्यं धर्मं पालयन्नप्रमत्तो दमं तितिक्षां समतां प्रियं च
Having abandoned pleasure and the things dear to the mind, by that act Śakra attained supremacy; upholding truth and righteousness with vigilance, practicing self-control, forbearance, equanimity, and affection.
एतानि सर्वाण्युपसेवमानो यो देवराज्यं मघवान्प्राप मुख्यम्। बृहस्पतिर्ब्रह्मचर्यं चचार समीहितः संशिमात्मा यथावत्
By practicing all these virtues, Maghavan attained the foremost lordship among the gods; Bṛhaspati, with a steady mind, observed celibacy as was proper, striving for his aim.
हित्वा सुख प्रतिरुध्येन्द्रियाणि तेन देवानामगमद्गौरवं सः। तथा नक्षत्राणि कर्मणाऽमुत्र भान्ति रुद्रादित्या वसवोऽथापि विश्वे
Having renounced pleasure and restraining the senses, he gained honor among the gods by that; likewise, by their deeds, the stars shine there, as do the Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus, and all the Viśve gods.
यमो राजा वैश्रवणः कुबेरो गन्धर्वयक्षाप्सरसश्च सूत। ब्रह्मविद्यां ब्रह्मचर्यं क्रियां च निपेवमाणा ऋषयोऽमुत्र भान्ति
Yama, King Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Apsarases, and charioteers—by practicing sacred knowledge, celibacy, and rites, the sages shine there as well.
जानन्निमं सर्वलोकस्य धर्मं विप्रेन्द्राणां क्षत्रियाणां विशां च। स कस्मात्त्वं जानतां ज्ञानवान्सन् व्यायच्छसेक सञ्जय कौरवार्थे
Knowing this law of all the worlds, of the foremost brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and people—why, though knowing, O wise Sañjaya, do you hesitate regarding the cause of the Kauravas?
आम्नायेषु नित्यसंयोगमस्य तथाऽश्वमेधे राजसूये च विद्धि। संयुज्यते धनुपा वर्मणा च हस्त्यश्वाद्यै रथशस्त्रैश्च भूयः
Know that in the Vedas, as well as in the Aśvamedha and Rājasūya sacrifices, there is always association with weapons, armor, elephants, horses, chariots, and arms.
ते चेदिमे कौरवाणाम्रुपाय- मवगच्छेयुवधेनैव पार्थाः। धर्मत्राणं पुण्यमेषां कृतं स्या- दार्ये वृत्ते भीमसेनं निगृह्य
If these Kauravas understood this means, the Pāṇḍavas would be destroyed by killing; their act would be righteous and meritorious, restraining Bhīmasena in noble conduct.
ते चेत्पित्र्ये कर्मणि वर्तमाना आपद्येरन्दिष्टवशेन मृत्युम्। यथाशक्त्यापूरयन्तः स्वकर्म तदप्येषां निधनं स्यात्प्रशस्तम्
If, while performing ancestral duties, they should meet death by fate, fulfilling their own duties as best they can, even that end would be praiseworthy for them.
उताहो त्वं मन्यसे शाम्यमेव राज्ञां युद्धे वर्तते धर्मतन्त्रम्। अयुद्धे वा वर्तते धर्मतन्त्रं तथैव ते वाचमिमां श्रृणोमि
Or perhaps you think that peace alone is the true law for kings, and that righteousness lies in abstaining from war; I hear these words from you as well.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य प्रथमं संविभाग- मवेक्ष्य त्वं सञ्जय स्वं च कर्म। निशम्याथो पाण्डवानां च कर्म प्रशंस वा निन्द वा या मतिस्ते
Considering first the original division of the four varṇas and your own duty, Sañjaya, and then hearing of the Pāṇḍavas' actions, praise or blame as you think fit.
अधीयीत ब्राह्मणो वै यजेत दद्यादीयात्तीर्थमुख्यानि चैव। अध्याप्रयेद्याजयेच्चापि याज्यान् प्रतिग्रहान्वा विहितान्प्रतीच्छेत्
A brāhmaṇa should study, perform sacrifices, give, receive, visit holy places, teach, officiate at sacrifices, and accept prescribed gifts.
अधीयीत क्षत्रियोऽथो यजेत दद्याद्धनं न तु याचेत किंचित्। न याजयेन्न तु चाध्यापयीत एवं स्मृतः क्षत्रधर्मः पुराणः
A kṣatriya should study and perform sacrifices, give wealth but not beg for anything; he should not officiate at sacrifices nor teach—such is the ancient law of the kṣatriya.
तथा राजन्यो रक्षणं वै प्रजानां कृत्वा धर्मेणाप्रमत्तोऽथ दत्त्वा। यज्ञैदिष्ट्वा सर्ववेदानधीत्य दारान्कृवा पुण्यकृदावसेद्गृहान्
Likewise, a king, protecting his subjects with righteousness and vigilance, giving, performing sacrifices, mastering all the Vedas, marrying, and doing good, should dwell in his house.
स धर्मात्मा धर्ममधीत्य पुण्यं यदृच्छया व्रजति ब्रह्मलोकम्। वैश्योऽधीत्य कृषिगोरक्षपण्यै- र्वित्तं चिन्वन्पालयन्नप्रमत्तः
He, being righteous, having studied righteousness and virtue, attains the world of Brahman by chance; the vaiśya, studying, gathering wealth through agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade, protects it with vigilance.
देवं स्मृतः शूद्रधर्मः पुराणः
This is said to be the ancient duty of the śūdra.
एतान्राजा पालयन्नप्रमत्तो नियोजयन्सर्ववर्णान्स्वधर्मे। अकामात्मा समवृत्तिः प्रजासु नाधार्मिकाननुरुध्येत कामात्
A king, protecting all these without negligence, assigning each varṇa to its own duty, impartial among his people and free from desire, should not, out of passion, support the unrighteous.
श्रेयांस्तस्माद्यदि विद्येत कश्चि- दभिज्ञातः सर्वधर्मोपपन्नः । स तं द्रष्टुमनुशिष्यन्प्रजानां न चैतद्बुध्येदिति तस्मिन्नसाधुः
Therefore, if there is someone known to be learned and endowed with all virtues, let him instruct the people; if he does not understand this, he is not fit for that role.
उत्पादितं वर्म शस्त्रं धनुश्च
Armor, weapons, and bows have been produced.