यो जितः पञ्चवर्गेण सहजेनात्मकर्षिणा । आपदस्तस्य वर्धन्ते शुक्लपक्ष इवोडुराट्
He who is conquered by the fivefold group, which is naturally tormenting the self, finds his calamities waxing like the moon in the bright fortnight.
अविजित्य य आत्मानममात्यान्विजिगीषते । अमित्रान्वा जितामात्यः सोऽवशः परिहीयते
One who, without conquering himself, seeks to conquer his ministers, or who, having conquered his ministers, seeks to conquer his enemies, is helpless and declines.
आत्मानमेव प्रथमं द्वेष्यरूपेण योजयेत् । ततोऽमात्यानमित्रांश्च न मोघं विजिगीषते
Let a man first treat himself as an object of aversion; then, having done so, he may seek to conquer his ministers and enemies, and his endeavor will not be in vain.
वश्येन्द्रियं जितामात्यं धृतदण्डं विकारिषु । परीक्ष्यकारिणं धीरमत्यन्तं श्रीर्निषेवते
Prosperity always attends one who has mastered his senses, conquered his ministers, wields discipline over the unruly, acts after examination, and is steadfast.
रथः शरीरं पुरुषस्य राज- न्नात्मा नियन्तेन्द्रियाण्यस्य चाश्वाः। तैरप्रमत्तः कुशली सदश्वै- र्दान्तैः सुखं याति रथीव धीरः
O King, the body of a person is like a chariot, the self is the driver, and the senses are its horses; with alertness and skill, one who controls these well-trained horses travels happily, like a wise charioteer.
एतान्यनिगृहीतानि व्यापादयितुमप्यलम्। अविधेया इवादान्ताः सरथं सारथिं हयम्
If these senses are not restrained, they are fully capable of destroying the chariot, the charioteer, and the horses, just like untrained and unruly steeds.
अनर्थमर्थतः पश्यन्नर्थं चैवाप्यनर्थतः। इन्द्रियैरजितैर्बालः सुदुःखं मन्यते सुखम्
A foolish person, with unmastered senses, perceives misfortune as fortune and fortune as misfortune, suffering greatly while thinking he is happy.
धर्मार्थौ यः परित्यज्य स्यादिन्द्रियवशानुगः । श्रीप्राणधनदारेभ्यः क्षिप्रं स परिहीयते
He who, abandoning righteousness and profit, follows the sway of the senses, quickly loses his prosperity, life, wealth, and wife.
अर्थानामीश्वरो यः स्यादिन्द्रियाणामनीश्वरः। इन्द्रियाणामनैश्वर्यादैश्वार्याद्भूश्यते हि सः
One who is lord over wealth but not master of his senses is, due to lack of control over the senses, deprived of his sovereignty.
आत्मनात्मानमन्विच्छेन्मनोबुद्धीन्द्रियैर्यतैः । आत्मा ह्येवात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः
Let a man seek to master himself by means of his mind, intellect, and restrained senses; for the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनैवात्मात्मना जितः। स एव नियतो बन्धुः स एव नियतो रिपुः
He whose self is conquered by himself is truly his own friend; but he whose self is not conquered is truly his own enemy.
क्षुद्राक्षेणेव जालेन झपावपिहितावुरू। कामश्च राजन्क्रोधश्च तौ प्रज्ञानं विलुम्पतः
Just as the thighs of a bird are suddenly covered by a small net, so, O King, are wisdom and discernment plundered by desire and anger.
समवेक्ष्येह धर्मार्थौ संभारान्योऽधिगच्छति। स वै संभृतसंभारः सततं सुखमेधते
One who, observing righteousness and profit, gathers the necessary means, indeed, with well-gathered means, always attains happiness.
यः पञ्चाभ्यन्तराञ्शत्रूनविजित्य मनोमयान्। जिगीषति रिपूनन्यान्रिपवोऽभिभवन्ति तम्
He who, without conquering the five inner enemies made of mind, seeks to conquer other foes, is himself overcome by his adversaries.
दृश्यन्ते हि महात्मानो बध्यमानाः स्वकर्मभिः। इन्द्रियाणामनीशत्वाद्राजानो राज्यविभ्रमैः
Indeed, even great souls are seen to be bound by their own actions, and kings, due to lack of mastery over their senses, are bewildered in their kingdoms.
असंत्यागात्पापकृतामपापां- स्तुल्यो दण्डः स्पृशते मिश्रभावात्। शुष्केणार्द्रं दह्यते मिश्रभावा- त्तस्मात्पापैः सह सन्धिं न कुर्यात्
Because of association, the innocent are touched by the same punishment as the wicked; just as the dry is burned with the wet, therefore one should not make alliances with the wicked.
निजानुत्पततः शत्रून्पश्च पञ्चप्रयोजनान्। यो मोहान्न निगृह्णाति तमापद्ग्रसते नरम्
A man who, out of delusion, does not restrain his enemies when they arise, nor considers the fivefold aims, is overtaken by misfortune.
अनसूयार्जवं शौचं सन्तोषः प्रियवादिता। दमः सत्यमनायासो न भवन्ति दुरात्मनाम्
Freedom from envy, straightforwardness, purity, contentment, pleasant speech, self-control, truthfulness, and effortlessness do not exist in the wicked.
आत्मज्ञानमानायासस्तितिक्षा धर्मनित्यता। वाक्चैव गुप्ता दानं च नैतान्यन्त्येषु भारत
Self-knowledge, humility, endurance, constancy in righteousness, guarded speech, and generosity—these are not found among the lowest of men, O Bharata.
आक्रोशपरिवादाभ्यां विहिंसन्त्यबुधा बुधान्। वक्ता पापमुपादत्ते क्षममाणो विमुच्यते
The ignorant harm the wise with abuse and harsh words; the speaker of evil incurs sin, but the one who endures is freed.
हिंसा बलमसाधूनां राज्ञां दण्डविधिर्बलम् । शुश्रूपा तु वलं स्त्रीणां क्षमा गुणवतां बलम्
Violence is the strength of the unrighteous, punishment is the strength of kings, service is the strength of women, and forgiveness is the strength of the virtuous.
वाक्संयमो हि नृपते सुदुष्करतमो मतः। अर्थवच्च विचित्रं च न शक्यं बहु भाषितुम्
Restraint of speech, O King, is considered most difficult; for it is not possible to speak much that is both meaningful and varied.
अभ्यावहति कल्याणं विविधं वाक् सुभाषिता । सैव दुर्भाषिता राजन्ननर्थायोपपद्यते
Well-spoken words bring manifold good, but harsh words, O King, lead to misfortune.
रोहते सायकैर्विद्धं वनं परशुना हतम्। वाचा दुरुक्तं बीभत्सं न संरोहति वाक्क्षतम्
A forest pierced by arrows or cut down by axes grows again, but a wound inflicted by cruel words does not heal.
कर्णिनालीकनाराचान्निर्हरन्ति शरीरतः। वाक्छशल्यस्तु न निर्हर्तुं शक्यो हृदिशयो हि सः
Arrows, darts, and shafts can be drawn out from the body, but the barb of speech, once lodged in the heart, cannot be removed.
वाक्सायका वदनान्निष्पतन्ति यैराहतः शोचति रात्र्यहानि। परस्य नामर्मसु ते पतन्ति तान्पण्डितो नावसृजेत्परेभ्यः
Verbal arrows issue from the mouth; one struck by them grieves day and night. Though they do not strike the vital parts, the wise do not let such words fly at others.
यस्मै देवाः प्रयच्छन्ति पुरुषाय पराभवम्। बुद्धिं तस्यापकर्षन्ति सोऽवाचीनानि पश्यति
When the gods intend defeat for a man, they take away his discernment, so that he sees what is improper as proper.
बुद्धौ कलुषभूतायां विनाशे प्रत्युपस्थिते। अनयो नयसङ्काशो हृदयान्नापसर्पति
When the mind is corrupted and destruction approaches, what is unrighteous appears as righteous and does not depart from the heart.
सेयं बुद्धिः परीता ते पुत्राणां भरतर्षभ । पाण्डवानां विरोधेन न चैनानवबुध्यसे
This very delusion has seized your sons, O bull of the Bharatas, in their enmity toward the Pandavas, and you do not perceive it.
राजा लक्षणसंपन्नस्त्रैलोक्यस्यापि यो भवेत्। शिष्यस्ते शासिता सोऽस्तु धृतराष्ट्र युधिष्ठिरः
If Yudhishthira, endowed with the marks of a king, were to rule even the three worlds, let him be your instructor and ruler, O Dhritarashtra.