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.
प्रविशान्तःपुरं क्षत्तर्महारादजस्य धीमतः। न हि ते दर्शनेऽकल्पो जातु राजाऽब्रवीद्धि माम्
Enter the inner palace, steward, of the great and intelligent king; for the king told me that he is not incapable of seeing you.
ततः प्रविश्य विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रनिवेशनम् । अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं चिन्तयानं नराधिपम्
Then Vidura entered Dhritarashtra's residence and, with joined palms, spoke to the king who was deep in thought.
विदुरोऽहं महाप्राज्ञ संप्राप्तस्तव शासनात्। यदि किंचन कर्तव्यमयमस्मि प्रशाधि माम्
I am Vidura, O wise one, arrived at your command; if there is anything to be done, instruct me.
सञ्जयो विदुर प्राप्तो गर्हयित्वा च मां गतः। अजातशत्रोः श्वो वाक्यं सभामध्ये स वक्ष्यति
Sanjaya, Vidura, has come, reproached me, and departed; tomorrow, in the midst of the assembly, he will speak the words of Ajatasatru.
तस्याद्य कुरुवीरस्य न विज्ञातं वचो मया। तन्मे दहति गात्राणि तदकार्षीत्प्रजागरम्
I do not know today what that Kuru hero will say; that burns my limbs, and has caused me sleeplessness.
आग्रतो दह्यमानस्य श्रेयो यदनुपश्यसि। तद्ब्रूहि त्वं हि नस्तात धर्मार्थकुशलो ह्यसि
If you see any good for one burning with anxiety, speak it; for you, dear Vidura, are skilled in righteousness and wealth.
यतः प्राप्तः सञ्जयः पाण्डवेभ्यो न मे यथावन्मनसः प्रशान्तिः । सर्वेन्द्रियाण्यप्रकृतिं गतानि किं वक्ष्यतीत्येव मेऽद्य प्रचिन्ता
Since Sanjaya has returned from the Pandavas, my mind has not found peace; all my senses have lost their natural state, and I keep thinking: what will he say?
तन्मे ब्रूहि विदुर त्वं यथाव- न्मनीषितं सर्वमजातशत्रोः । यथा न नस्तात हितं भवेच्च प्रजाश्च सर्वाः सुखिता भवेयुः
So tell me, Vidura, everything as you truly understand Ajatasatru's intentions, so that, dear friend, our welfare may be ensured and all people may be happy.
अभियुक्तं बलवता दुर्बलं हीनसाधनम् । हृतस्वं कामिनं चोरमाविशन्ति प्रजागराः
Sleeplessness afflicts the weak when attacked by the strong, the one deprived of resources, the one whose wealth is stolen, the passionate, and the thief.
कच्चिदेतैर्महादोषैर्न स्पृष्टोऽसि नराधिप। कच्चिच्च परवित्तेषु गृद्ध्यन्न परितप्यसे
O King, I hope you are not touched by these great faults; I hope you do not covet others' wealth and do not grieve for it.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते धर्म्यं परं नैश्रेयसं वचः। अस्मिन्रादर्षिवंशे हि त्वमेकः प्राज्ञसंमतः
I wish to hear your righteous, supreme, and beneficial words; for in this royal lineage, you alone are esteemed as wise.
राजा लक्षणसंपन्नस्त्रैलोक्यस्याधिपो भवेत्। प्रेष्यस्ते प्रेषितश्चैव धृतराष्ट्र युधिष्ठिरः
A king endowed with proper qualities could be lord of the three worlds; but Dhritarashtra, Yudhishthira is your envoy and has been sent by you.
विपरीततरश्च त्वं भागधेये न संमतः। अर्चिषां प्रक्षयाच्चैव धर्मात्मा धर्मकोविदः
You are considered most contrary in destiny and not approved; and with the decline of radiance, the righteous and learned one is not favored.
आनृशंस्यादनुक्रोशाद्धर्मात्सत्यात्पराक्रमात्। गुरुत्वात्त्वयि संप्रेक्ष्य बहून्क्लेशांस्तितिक्षते
Because of compassion, empathy, righteousness, truth, valor, and dignity in you, many endure hardships.
दुर्योधने सौबले च कर्णे दुःशासने तथा। एतेष्वैश्वर्यमाधाय कथं त्वं भूतिमिच्छसि
How do you seek prosperity by placing authority in Duryodhana, Saubala, Karna, and Duhshasana?
आत्मज्ञानं समारम्भस्तितिक्षा धर्मनित्यता। यमर्थान्नापकर्षन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते
Self-knowledge, initiative, endurance, and constant adherence to righteousness—he whom wealth does not corrupt is called wise.
एकस्माद्वृक्षाद्यज्ञपात्राणि राज- न्स्रुक्व द्रोणी पेठनीपीडने च। एतस्माद्राजन्ब्रुवतो मे निबोध एकस्माद्वै जायतेऽसच्च सच्च
O King, from a single tree come the vessels of sacrifice: the ladle, the trough, the mortar, and the pressing stones. From this, O King, understand what I say: from one source, both truth and untruth arise.
निषेवते प्रशस्तानि निन्दितानि न सेवते। अनास्तिकः श्रद्दधान एतत्पण्डितलक्षणम्
He follows what is praised and does not pursue what is censured. He is not a skeptic, but one who has faith; this is the mark of a wise man.
क्रोधो हर्षश्च दर्पश्च ह्रीः स्तम्भो मान्यमानिता। यमर्थान्नापकर्षन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते
Anger, joy, pride, modesty, stubbornness, honor and dishonor—he whom these do not sway from his purpose is called wise.
यस्य कृत्यं न जानन्ति मन्त्रं वा मन्त्रितं परे। कृतमेवास्य जानन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He whose actions and counsel are unknown to others, but whose deeds alone are recognized—he is called wise.