गान्धारराजः शकुनिः पार्वतीयो निकर्तने योऽद्वितीयोऽक्षदेवी। मानं कुर्वन्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सूत मिथ्याबुद्धेः कुशलं तात पृच्छेः
The king of Gandhara, Shakuni, from the mountains, unrivaled in cutting down and a master of dice—who flatters Dhritarashtra’s son and is of crooked mind—ask after his welfare, dear one.
यः पाण्डवानेकरथेन वीरः समुत्सहत्यप्रधृप्यान्विजेतुम् । यो मुह्यतां मोहयिताऽद्वितीयो वैकर्तनः कुशलं तस्य पृच्छेः
He who alone, with a single chariot, dares to conquer the Pandavas, who is unmatched in bewildering the bewildered—ask after the welfare of Vaikartana (Karna).
स एव भक्तः स गुरुः स भर्ता स वै पिता स च माता सुहृच्च। अगाधबुद्धिर्विदुरो दीर्घदर्शी स नो मन्त्री कुशलं तं स्म पृच्छेः
He is our devotee, our teacher, our master, our father, our mother, and our friend; Vidura, of unfathomable intellect and far-seeing wisdom, is our counselor—ask after his welfare.
वृद्धाः स्त्रियो याश्च गुणोपपन्ना ज्ञायन्ते नः सञ्जय मातरस्ताः। ताभिः सर्वाभिः सहिताभिः समेत्य स्त्रीभिः सवृद्धाभिरभिवादं वदेथाः
The elderly women, and those mothers of ours who are endowed with virtues, whom you know, Sanjaya—greet all of them, together with the other women and elders, with my salutations.
कच्चित्पुत्रा जीवपुत्राः सुसम्य- ग्वर्तन्ते वो वृत्तिमनृशंसरूपाः । इति स्मोत्का सञ्जय ब्रूहि पश्चा- दजातशत्रुः कुशली सपुत्रः
Are your sons, living sons, well and conducting themselves with virtue and compassion? Thus, Sanjaya, after asking this, say that Ajatashatru and his sons are also well.
राज्ञो भार्याः सञ्जय वेत्थ तत्र तासां सर्वासां कुशलं तात पृच्छेः । सुसंगुप्ताः सुरभयोऽनवद्याः कच्चिद्गृहानावसथाप्रमत्ताः
You know, Sanjaya, the wives of the king there; ask after the welfare of all of them, dear one. Are they well-protected, fragrant, and blameless? Are they attentive to their households and residences?
कच्चिद्वृत्तिं श्वशुरेषु भद्राः कल्याणीं वर्तध्वमनृशंसरूपाम्। यथा च वः स्युः पतयोऽनुकूला- स्तथा वृत्तिमात्मनः स्थापयध्वम्
Are you conducting yourselves with good and virtuous behavior toward your fathers-in-law, with compassion? And just as your husbands should be favorable to you, so too should you maintain proper conduct yourselves.
या नः स्नुषाः सञ्जय वेत्थ तत्र प्राप्ताः कुलेभ्यश्च गुणोपपन्नाः। प्रजावत्यो ब्रूहि समेत्य ताश्च युधिष्ठिरो वोऽभ्यवदत्प्रसन्नः
Those daughters-in-law of ours, Sanjaya, whom you know there, who have come from noble families and are endowed with virtues—gather them together and tell them that Yudhishthira greets them with favor.
कन्याः स्वजेथाः सदनेषु सञ्जय अनामयं मद्वचनेन पृष्ट्वा। कल्याणा वः सन्तु पतयोऽनुकूला यूयं पतीनां भवतानुकूलाः
The young women in their homes, Sanjaya, ask after their health in my name. May your husbands be favorable to you, and may you be favorable to your husbands.
अलङ्कृता वस्त्रवत्यः सुगन्धा अबीभत्साः सुखिता भोगवत्यः। लघु यासां दर्शनं वाक्व लघ्वी वेशस्त्रियः कुशलं तात पृच्छेः
Those women who are adorned, well-dressed, fragrant, free from reproach, happy, and enjoying pleasures—those whose presence and speech are light—ask after the welfare of the women of the inner chambers, dear one.
दास्यः स्युर्या ये च दासाः कुरूणां तदाश्रया बहवः कुब्जखञ्जाः। आख्याय मां कुशलिनं स्म तेभ्यो- ऽप्यनामयं परिपृच्छेर्जघन्यम्
The maidservants and male servants of the Kurus, and the many hunchbacks and lame who depend on them—announce to them also that I am well, and inquire after the welfare of even the lowest among them.
कच्चिद्वृत्तिं वर्तते वै पुराणीं कच्चिद्भोगान्दार्तराष्ट्रो ददाति। अङ्गहीनान्कृपणान्वामनान्वा यानानृशंस्याद्धार्तराष्ट्रो बिभर्ति
Is the old custom still maintained? Does Dhritarashtra provide enjoyments? The crippled, the unfortunate, the dwarfs—does Dhritarashtra care for them out of compassion?
अन्धाश्च सर्वे बधिरास्तथैव हस्ताजीवा बहवो येऽत्र सन्ति। आख्याय मां कुशलिनं स्म तेभ्यो- ऽप्यनामयं परिपृच्छेर्जघन्यम्
And all those here who are blind and deaf, and the many who live by their hands—announce to them also that I am well, and kindly ask after the welfare of the least among them.
मा भैष्ट दुःखेन कुजीवितेन नूनं कृतं परलोकेषु पापम्। निगृह्य शत्रून्सुहृदोऽनुगृह्य वासोभिरन्नेन च वो भरिष्ये
Do not be afraid because of hardship or a difficult life; surely, some sin was committed in a previous existence. I will restrain enemies, show kindness to friends, and provide you with clothing and food.
त्वयोच्यमानां श्रृणुयुक्तथा कुरु
Speak to them as you are instructed by me, and act accordingly.
सन्त्येव मे ब्राह्मणेभ्यः कृतानि भावीन्यथो नो बत वर्तयन्ति । तान्पश्यामि युक्तरूपांस्तथैव तामेव सिद्धिं श्रावयेथा नृपं तम्
Indeed, I have performed rites for the Brahmins, and though the results are yet to come, they do not manifest now. I see those who are worthy, and you should report this accomplishment to that king.
ये चानाथा दुर्बलाः सर्वकाल- मात्मन्येव प्रयतन्तेऽथ मूढाः। तांश्चापि त्वं कृपणान्सर्वथैव ह्यस्मद्वाक्यात्कुशलं तात पृच्छेः
And those who are destitute and weak, who always strive for themselves, and those who are confused—ask after the welfare of all such unfortunate ones, as I have instructed, dear one.
ये चाप्यन्ये संश्रिता धार्तराष्ट्रा- न्नानादिग्भ्योऽभ्यागताः सूतपुत्र । दृष्ट्वा तांश्चैवार्हतश्चापि सर्वा- न्संपृच्छेथाः कुशलं चाव्ययं च
And all others who have sought refuge with the sons of Dhritarashtra, who have come from various directions, O son of a charioteer—seeing them and those who are worthy, inquire after their welfare and unchanging well-being.
एवं सर्वानागताभ्यागतांश्च राज्ञो दूतान्सर्वदिग्भ्योभ्युपेतान् । पृष्ट्वा सर्वान्कुशलं तांश्च सूत पश्चादहं कुशली तेषु वाच्यः
Thus, having asked after the welfare of all who have arrived and those who are present, all the king’s envoys who have come from every direction, then, O charioteer, you should say that I am well among them.
न हीदृशाः सन्त्यपरे पृथिव्यां ये योधका धार्तराष्ट्रेण लब्धाः। धर्मस्तु नित्यो मम धर्म एव महाबलः शत्रुनिबर्हणाय
There are truly no other warriors on earth like those obtained by Dhritarashtra’s son; but righteousness is eternal for me, and it is righteousness alone, mighty as it is, that will destroy the enemy.
इदं पुनर्वचनं धार्तराष्ट्रं सुयोधनं सञ्जय श्रावयेथाः । यस्ते शरीरे हृदयं दुनोति कामः कुरूनसपत्नोऽनुशिष्याम्
Now, Sanjaya, deliver this message to Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra: The desire that torments your heart for the Kurus’ rivals—I will instruct you about it.
न विद्यते युक्तिरेतस्य काचि- न्नैवं विधास्यामि यथा प्रियं ते। ददस्व वा शक्रपुरीं ममैव युध्वस्व वा भारतमुख्यवीर
There is no proper course of action in this; I will not act as you wish. Either give me Indra’s city itself, or, chief among Bharata’s heroes, prepare to fight.
उत सन्तमसन्तं वा बालं वृद्धं च सञ्जय। उताबलं बलीयांसं धाता प्रकुरुते वशे
Whether one is good or bad, young or old, weak or strong, the Creator brings all under His control.
उत बालाय पाण्डित्यं पण्डितायोत बालताम्। ददाति सर्वमीशानः पुरस्ताच्छुक्रमुच्चरन्
To the child He gives wisdom, and to the wise He gives childishness; the Lord bestows all, as He utters the sacred syllable at the beginning.
बलं जिज्ञासमानस्य आचक्षीथा यथातथम्। अथ मन्त्र मन्त्रयित्वा याथातथ्येन हृष्टवत्
If you wish to know the strength of someone, declare it as it truly is; then, after consulting in counsel, act with joy according to the reality.
गावल्गणे कुरून्गत्वा धृतराष्ट्रं महाबलम् । अभिवाद्योपसंगृह्य ततः पृच्छेरनामयम्
O Gavalgana, go to the mighty Dhritarashtra of the Kurus, greet him respectfully, and then ask after his welfare.
ब्रूयाश्चैनं त्वमासीनं कुरुभिः परिवारितम् । तवैव राजन्वीर्येण सुखं जीवन्ति पाण्डवाः
Say to him, as he sits surrounded by the Kurus: 'By your own valor, O King, the Pandavas live in happiness.'
तव प्रसादाद्बालास्ते प्राप्ता राज्यमरिन्दम। राज्ये तान्स्थापयित्वाऽग्रे नोपेक्षस्व विनश्यतः
By your favor, those boys have attained the kingdom, O subduer of enemies; having established them in the kingdom, do not neglect them as they perish.
सर्वमप्येतदेकस्य नालं सञ्जय कस्यचित् । तात संहत्य जीवामो द्विषतां मा वशं गमः
All this is not sufficient for one alone, O Sanjaya, not for anyone; dear one, let us live together, and not fall under the power of our enemies.
तथा भीष्मं शान्तनवं भारतानां पितामहम्। शिरसाऽभिवदेथास्त्वं मम नाम प्रकीर्तयन्
In the same way, bow your head to Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the grandsire of the Bharatas, mentioning my name.