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.
अभिवाद्य च वक्तव्यस्ततोऽस्माकं पितामहः । भवता शन्तनोर्वंशो निमग्नः पुनरुद्धृतः
And after offering due respects, you should say to our grandsire: 'By you, the lineage of Shantanu, which had sunk, has been raised up again.'
स त्वं कुरु तथा तात स्वमतेन पितामह । यथा जीवन्ति ते पौत्राः प्रीतिमन्तः परस्परम्
Therefore, O grandsire, do as you think best, so that your grandsons may live in harmony and affection with one another.
तथैव विदुरं ब्रूयाः कुरूणां मन्त्रधारिणम्। अयुद्धं सौम्य भाषस्व हितकामो युधिष्ठिरे
In the same way, speak to Vidura, the keeper of the Kuru counsel: 'Speak for peace, gentle one, out of goodwill for Yudhishthira.'
अथ दुर्योधनं ब्रूया राजपुत्रममर्षणम्। मध्ये कुरूणामासीनमनुनीय पुनः पुनः
Then speak to Duryodhana, the prince who does not tolerate insult, seated among the Kurus, and repeatedly try to persuade him.
अपापां यदुपैक्षस्त्वं कृष्णामेतां सभागताम् । तद्दुःखमतितिक्षाम मा वधीष्म कुरूनिति
Say: 'You overlooked this innocent Krishna, who was present in the assembly; let us endure that pain and not destroy the Kurus.'
एवं पूर्वापरान्क्लेशानतितिक्षन्त पाण्डवाः। बलीयांसोऽपि सन्तो यत्तत्सर्वं कुरवो विदुः
Thus, though the Pandavas are strong, they have endured former and later hardships; all the Kurus know this well.
यन्नः प्रव्राजयेः सौम्य अजिनैः प्रतिवासितान्। तद्दुःखमतितिक्षाम मा वधीषय कुरूनिति
Say: 'O gentle one, the suffering you caused us by sending us into exile, clothed in deerskins, we have endured; do not seek the destruction of the Kurus.'
यत्कुन्तीं समतिक्रम्य कृष्णां केशेष्वधर्षयत्। दुःशासनस्तेऽनुमते तच्चास्माभिरुपेक्षितम्
What Duhshasana did, with your approval, by dragging Krishna by the hair, disregarding Kunti—this too we have overlooked.
अथोचितं स्वकं भागं लभेमहि परन्तप। निवर्तय परद्रव्याद्बुद्धिं गृद्धां नरर्षभ
Now, O subduer of foes, let us receive our rightful share; restrain your greed for the possessions of others, O bull among men.
शान्तिरेवं भवेद्राजन्प्रीतिश्चैव परस्परम् । राज्यैकदेशमपि नः प्रयच्छ शममिच्छताम्
In this way, O king, there will be peace and mutual affection; grant us even a single portion of the kingdom, for we desire harmony.