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.
अबुद्ध्वा त्वं धर्ममेतं सभाया- अथेच्छसे पाण्डवस्योपदेष्टुम् । कृष्णा त्वेतत्कर्म चकार शुद्धं सुदुष्करं तत्र सभां समेत्य
Without understanding this dharma in the assembly, you wish to instruct the Pandava; Krishna performed this pure act, exceedingly difficult, having entered the assembly.
येन कृच्छ्रात्पाण्डवानुज्जहार तथाऽऽत्मानं नौरिव सागरौघात्। यत्राब्रवीत्सूतपुत्रः सभायां कृष्णां स्थितां श्वशुराणां समीपे
By which, with great effort, she rescued the Pandavas and herself, like a boat from the flood of the ocean; where the son of the charioteer spoke to Krishna, standing in the assembly near her fathers-in-law.
न ते गतिर्विद्यते याज्ञसेनि प्रपद्येथा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य वेश्म। पराजितास्ते पतयो न सन्ति पतिं चान्यं भामिनि त्वं वृणीष्व
You have no way, O Yajnaseni; you must enter the house of Dhritarashtra; your husbands are defeated, they are not your protectors—choose another husband, O beautiful one.
यो बीभत्सोर्हृदये प्रोत आसी- दस्थि छिन्दन्मर्मघाती सुघोरः । कर्णाच्छरो वाङ्भयस्तिग्मतेजाः प्रतिष्ठितो हृदये फाल्गुनस्य
That arrow, dreadful and sharp, which was fixed in Bhimasena's heart, striking bone and vital parts, or the arrow of Karna, fierce and terrifying, was lodged in Arjuna's heart.
कृष्णाजिनानि परिधित्समानान् दुःशासनः कटुकान्यभ्यभाषत्। एते सर्वे षण्डतिला विनष्टाः क्षयं गता नरकं दीर्घकालम्
As they tried to put on the deerskins, Duhshasana spoke harsh words; all these are eunuchs, destroyed, gone to ruin, and will dwell in hell for a long time.
द्यूते वाक्यं गर्ह्यमेवं यथोक्तम्
Such blameworthy speech was uttered during the game of dice.
स्वयं त्वहं प्रार्थये तत्र गन्तुं समाधातुं कार्यमेतद्विपन्नम् । ` जानासि त्वं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य मोहं दुरात्मनः पापवशानुगस्य
I myself wish to go there to resolve this failed matter; you know the delusion of Dhritarashtra's son, evil-minded and led by sin.
अहापयित्वा यदि पाण्डवार्थं शमं कुरूणामपि चेच्छकेयम्। पुण्यं च मे स्याच्चरितं महोदयं मुच्येरंश्च कुरवो मृत्युपाशात्
If, after restoring the Pandavas' cause, I could bring peace among the Kurus, then great merit would be mine, and the Kurus would be freed from the noose of death.
अपि मे वाचं भाषमाणस्य काव्यां धर्मारामामर्थवतीमहिंस्राम् । अवेक्षेरन्धार्तराष्ट्राः समक्षं मां च प्राप्तं कुरवः पूजयेयुः
If, as I speak these words—righteous, meaningful, and harmless—the sons of Dhritarashtra would heed them in your presence, and the Kurus would honor me upon my arrival,
अतोऽन्यथा रथिना फाल्गुनेन भीमेन चैवाहवदंशितेन। बलोत्सिक्तान्धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च विद्धि प्रदह्यमानान्कर्मणा स्वेन पापान्
Otherwise, know that the sons of Dhritarashtra, intoxicated by power, will be consumed by their own evil deeds at the hands of Arjuna, the charioteer, and Bhima, eager for battle.