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.
तत्र पुण्यं दस्युवधेन लभ्यते सोऽयं दोषः कुरुभिस्तीव्ररूपः । अधर्मज्ञैर्धर्ममबुध्यमानैः प्रादुर्भूतः सञ्जय साधु तन्न
There, virtue is gained by slaying robbers; yet this fault, severe in form, has arisen among the Kurus, O Sanjaya, from those ignorant of righteousness, unable to comprehend dharma—this is manifest, and it is not good.
तत्र राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो धर्म्यं हरेत्पाण्डवानामकस्मात्। नावेक्षन्ते राजधर्मं पुराणं तदन्वयाः कुरवः सर्व एव
There, King Dhritarashtra with his sons unjustly seizes what belongs to the Pandavas; none of them regard the ancient royal law, and all the Kurus follow after him.
स्तेनो हरेद्यत्र धनं ह्यदृष्टः प्रसह्य वा यत्र हरेत दृष्टः । उभौ गर्ह्यौ भवतः सञ्जयैतौ किं वै पृथत्कं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रे
Where a thief takes wealth unseen, or where one forcibly takes it in sight, both are blameworthy, O Sanjaya; what difference is there between them and the son of Dhritarashtra?
सोऽयं लोभान्मन्यते धर्ममेतं यमिच्छति क्रोधवशानुगामी। भागः पुनः पाण्डवानां निविष्ट- स्तं नः कस्मादाददीरन्परे वै
He, out of greed, imagines this to be righteousness, desiring what is led by anger; yet the Pandavas' share is established—why should others take it from us?
अस्मिन्पदे युध्यतां नो वधोऽपि श्लाघ्यः पित्र्यं पपराज्याद्विशिष्टम्। एतान्धर्मान्कौरवाणां पुराणा- नाचक्षीथाः सञ्जय राजमध्ये
Even if we are slain in this position while fighting, it is praiseworthy, for the ancestral kingdom is superior to another's; declare these ancient laws of the Kauravas, O Sanjaya, in the midst of the kings.
एते मदान्मृत्युवशाभिपन्नाः समानीता धार्तराष्ट्रेण मूढाः। इदं पुनः कर्म पापीय एव सभामध्ये पश्य वत्तं कुरूणाम्
These, overcome by pride and subject to death, have been gathered by Dhritarashtra's son, deluded; again, this act is even more sinful—behold, in the assembly, the destruction of the Kurus.
प्रियं भार्यां द्रौपदीं पाण्डवानां यशस्विनीं शीलवृत्तोपपन्नाम्। यदुपैक्षन्त कुरवो भीष्ममुख्याः कामानिगेनोपरुद्धां व्रजन्तीम्
The beloved wife of the Pandavas, Draupadi, renowned and endowed with virtue and conduct, was seen by the Kurus, with Bhishma at their head, as she was obstructed by lustful men while departing.
तां चेत्तदा ते सकुमारवृद्धा अवारयिष्यन्कुरवः समेताः । मम प्रियं धृतराष्ट्रोऽकरिष्यत् पुत्राणां च कृतमस्याभविष्यत्
If, at that time, the assembled Kurus, with their sons and elders, had prevented it, Dhritarashtra would have done what was dear to me, and the deed of his sons would not have occurred.
दुःशासनः प्रतिलोम्यान्निनाय सभामध्ये श्वशुराणां च कृष्णाम्। सा तत्र नीता करुणं व्यपेक्ष्य नान्यं क्षत्तुर्नाथमवाप किंचित्
Duhshasana dragged Krishna into the midst of the assembly and before her fathers-in-law; she, brought there, looked around in distress, and found no protector or refuge from injury.
कार्पण्यादेव सहितास्तत्र भूपा नाशक्नुवन्प्रतिवक्तुं सभायाम्। एकः क्षत्ता धर्म्यमर्थं ब्रुवाणो धर्मबुद्ध्या प्रत्युवाचाल्पबुद्धिम्
Out of compassion, the kings present there were unable to respond in the assembly; only the charioteer, speaking righteous words with understanding of dharma, answered the one of little wisdom.