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.
यस्य कृत्यं न विघ्नन्ति शीतमुष्णं भयं रतिः। समृद्धिरसमृद्धिर्वा स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He whose actions are not hindered by cold, heat, fear, or pleasure, whether in prosperity or adversity—he is called wise.
यस्य संसारिणी प्रज्ञा धर्मार्थावनुवर्तते। कामादर्थं वृणीते यः स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He whose discerning intellect follows righteousness and wealth in worldly life, and who chooses wealth only for the sake of desire—he is called wise.
यथाशक्ति चिकीर्षन्ति यथाशक्ति च कुर्वते। किंचिदवमन्यन्ते नराः पण्डितबुद्धयः
According to their ability, they strive and act; according to their ability, they accomplish. Wise men with discernment sometimes disregard a little.
क्षिप्रं विजानाति चिरं श्रृणोति विज्ञाय चार्थं भजते न कामात्। नासंपृष्टो ह्युपयुङ्क्ते परार्थे तत्प्रज्ञानं प्रथमं पण्डितस्य
He quickly understands, listens for a long time, and having discerned the matter, acts not out of desire. He does not use what is not asked for, for the sake of others; this discernment is foremost in the wise.
नाप्राप्यमभिवाञ्छन्ति नष्टं नेच्छन्ति शोचितुम्। आपत्सु च न मुह्यन्ति नराः पण्डितबुद्धयः
They do not desire what cannot be attained, nor do they wish to grieve over what is lost. In adversity, wise men do not become confused.
निश्चित्य यः प्रक्रमते नान्तर्वसति कर्मणः। अवन्ध्यकालो वश्यात्मा स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He who acts after careful consideration and does not linger over his task, whose time is never wasted and whose self is controlled—he is called wise.
आर्यकर्मणि रज्यन्ते भूतिकर्माणि कुर्वते हितं च नाभ्यसूयन्ति पण्डिता भरतर्षभ
They delight in noble deeds, perform acts for prosperity, and do not envy what is beneficial, O best of Bharatas; such are the wise.
न हृष्यत्यात्मसंमाने नावमानेन तप्यते। गाङ्गो ह्रद इवाक्षोभ्यो यः स पण्डित उच्यते
He does not rejoice in self-honor nor is he troubled by disrespect. Like the Ganges in a deep pool, he is unshaken; such a one is called wise.
तत्त्वज्ञः सर्वभूतानां योगज्ञः सर्वकर्मणाम्। उपायज्ञो मनुष्याणां नरः पण्डित उच्यते
He who knows the essence of all beings, who knows the yoga of all actions, and who knows the means among men—such a person is called wise.
प्रवृत्तवाक् चित्रकथ ऊहवान्प्रतिभानवान्। आशु ग्रन्थस्य वक्ता च यः स पण्डित उच्यते
He whose speech is active, whose stories are varied, who is skilled in inference and possesses insight, and who can quickly expound a text—he is called wise.
श्रुतं प्रज्ञानुगं यस्य प्रज्ञा चैव श्रुतानुगा । असंभिन्नार्यमर्यादः पण्डिताख्यां लभेत सः
He whose learning follows discernment, and whose discernment follows learning, whose noble conduct is unbroken—he attains the name of wise.
अर्थं महान्तमासाद्य विद्यामेश्वर्यमेव च। विचरत्यसमुन्नद्धो यः स पण्डित उच्यते
He who, having attained great wealth and knowledge, moves about without arrogance—he is called wise.
अश्रुतश्च समुन्नद्धो दरिद्रश्च महामनाः । अर्थांश्चाकर्मणा प्रेप्सुर्मूढ इत्युच्यते बुधैः
He who is unlearned yet arrogant, poor yet high-minded, and who seeks wealth without effort—such a one is called foolish by the wise.
स्वमर्थं यः परित्यज्य परार्थमनुतिष्ठति। मिथ्या चरति मित्रार्थे यश्च मूढः स उच्यते
He who abandons his own interests to pursue those of others, and who acts falsely for the sake of a friend—such a one is called foolish.
अकामान्कामयति यः कामयानान्परित्यजेत्। बलवन्तं च यो द्वेष्टि तमाहुर्मूढचेतसम्
He who desires what is undesired, who abandons desires, and who hates the powerful—they call him one of deluded mind.
अमित्रं कुरुते मित्रं मित्रं द्वेष्टि हिनस्ति च । कर्म चारभते दुष्टं तमाहुर्मूढचेतसम्
He makes an enemy of a friend, hates and harms a friend, and undertakes wicked deeds—they call him one of deluded mind.
संसारयति कृत्यानि सर्वत्र विचिकित्सते। चिरं करोति क्षिप्रार्थे स मूढो भरतर्षभ
He complicates actions, doubts everywhere, and takes a long time for what is quickly done—such a fool, O best of Bharatas.
श्राद्धं पितृभ्यो न ददाति दैवतानि न चार्चति । सुहृन्मित्रं न लभते तमाहुर्मूढचेतसम्
He does not offer śrāddha to his ancestors, nor worships the gods, nor gains a good friend—they call him one of deluded mind.
अनाहूतः प्रविशति ह्यपृष्टो बहु भाषते। अविश्वस्ते विश्वसिति मूढचेता नराधमः
Uninvited, he enters; unasked, he speaks much; he trusts the untrustworthy—the man of deluded mind is the lowest of men.
परं क्षिपति दोषेण वर्तमानः स्वयं तथा। यश्च क्रुध्यत्यनीशानः स च मूढतमो नरः
He casts blame on others while himself at fault, and who becomes angry though powerless—such a man is the most foolish.