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.
अविस्थलं वृकस्थलं माकन्दीं वारणावतम्। अवसानं भवत्वत्र किंचिदेकं च पञ्चमम्
Let it be Avishthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata, or any one of these as a fifth—let the settlement be in any one of them.
भ्रातॄणां देहि पञ्चानां पञ्च ग्रामान्सुयोधन। शान्तिर्नोस्तु महाप्राज्ञ ज्ञातिभिः सह सञ्जय
O Suyodhana, give five villages to my brothers; let there be peace between us and our kinsmen, O wise Sanjaya.
भ्राता भ्रातरमन्वेतु पिता पुत्रेण युज्यताम्। स्मयमानाः समायान्तु पाञ्चालाः कुरुभिः सह
Let brother follow brother, let father be united with son; let the Panchalas come together with the Kurus, smiling and at peace.
अक्षतान्कुरु पाञ्चालान्पश्येयमिति कामये। सर्वे सुमनसस्तात शाम्याय भरतर्षभ
I wish to see the Panchalas unharmed, O bull of the Bharatas; let all be of good mind, O dear one, for the sake of peace.
अलमेव शमायास्मि तथा युद्धाय सञ्जय। धर्मार्थयोरलं चाहं मृदवे दारुणाय च
I am ready for peace, Sanjaya, just as I am for war; I am equally prepared for righteousness and gain, for gentleness and for severity.
द्वाःस्थं प्राह महाप्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः । विदुरं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि तमिहानय मा चिरम्
The wise king Dhritarashtra spoke to the doorkeeper: 'I wish to see Vidura—bring him here without delay.'
प्रहितो धृतराष्ट्रेण दूतः क्षत्तारमब्रवीत् । ईश्वरस्त्वां महाराजो महाप्राज्ञ दिदृक्षति
Sent by Dhritarashtra, the messenger said to the steward: 'The great king, lord of the land, wishes to see you, O wise one.'
एवमुक्तस्तु विदुरः प्राप्य राजनिवेशनम् । अब्रवीद्धृतराष्ट्राय द्वाःस्थं मां प्रतिवेदय
Thus addressed, Vidura went to the royal residence and said to the doorkeeper: 'Announce me to Dhritarashtra.'
विदुरोऽयमनुप्राप्तो राजेन्द्र तव शासनात्। द्रुष्टुमिच्छति ते पादौ किं करोतु प्रशाधि माम्
Vidura has arrived, O King, at your command; he wishes to see your feet. What should he do? Instruct me.
प्रवेशय महाप्रज्ञं विदुरं दीर्घदर्शिनम् । अहं हि विदुरस्यास्य नाकल्पो जातु दर्शने
Let the wise Vidura, farsighted, be admitted; for I am not capable of seeing Vidura myself.