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.
अतीव सर्वान्पुत्रांस्ते भागधेयपुरस्कृतः। तेजसा प्रज्ञया चैव युक्तो धर्मर्थतत्त्ववित्
Surpassing all your sons in destiny, endowed with energy and wisdom, and knowing the essence of righteousness and profit, he is fit to rule.
अनुक्रोशादानृशंस्याद्योऽसौ धर्मभृतां वरः। गौरवात्तव राजेन्द्र बहून्क्लेशांस्तितिक्षति
Out of compassion and non-cruelty, that foremost of the righteous, O King, endures many hardships out of respect for you.
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। आत्रेयस्य च संवादं साध्यानां चेति नः श्रुतम्
Here they recite an ancient story, the dialogue between Ātreya and the Sādhyas, as we have heard.
चरन्तं हंसरूपेण महर्षिं संशितव्रतम्। साध्या देवा महाप्राज्ञं पर्यपृच्छन्त वै पुरा
Once, the Sādhyas questioned the great sage of firm vows, who was wandering in the form of a swan.
साध्या देवा वयमेते महर्षे दृष्ट्वा भवन्तं न शक्नुमोऽनुमातुम्। श्रुतेन धीरो बुद्धिमांस्त्वं मतो नः काव्यां वाचं वक्तुमर्हस्युदाराम्
O great sage, we Sādhyā gods, upon seeing you, are unable to comprehend you. You are esteemed by us as wise and learned through your hearing; you are worthy to speak noble speech and poetic words.
एतत्कार्यममराः संश्रुतं मे धृतिः शमः सत्यधर्मानुवृत्तिः। ग्रन्थिं विनीय हृदयस्य सर्वं प्रियाप्रिये चात्मसमं नयीत
This duty, O immortals, has been declared to me: steadfastness, self-restraint, adherence to truth and righteousness. Having removed all knots from the heart, one should treat both pleasant and unpleasant as equal to oneself.
आक्रुश्यमानो नाक्रोशेन्मन्युरेव तितिक्षतः। आक्रोष्टारं निर्दहति सुकृतं चास्य विन्दति
When insulted, one should not insult in return; anger alone must be endured. The one who insults is consumed, and the patient person attains merit.
नाक्रोशी स्यान्नावमानी परस्य मित्रद्रोही नोत नीचोपसेवी। न चाभिमानी न च हीनवृत्तो रूक्षां वाचं रुशतीं वर्जयीत
One should not be an insulter, nor disrespect others, nor betray friends, nor serve the lowly. One should not be arrogant, nor act basely, and should avoid harsh and angry speech.
मर्माण्यस्थीनि हृदयं तथासू- न्रूक्षा वाचो निर्दहन्तीह पुंसाम्। तस्माद्वाचमुशतीं रूक्षरूपां धर्मारामो नित्यशो वर्जयीत
Harsh words burn the vital points, bones, heart, and even life of men. Therefore, one devoted to righteousness should always avoid angry and harsh speech.
अरुन्तुदं परुषं रूक्षवाचं वाक्कण्टकैर्वितुदन्तं मनुष्यान्। विद्यादलक्ष्मीकतमं जननां मुखे निबद्धां निर्ऋतिं वै वहन्तम्
A person who is abusive, harsh, and speaks rough words, who wounds others with verbal thorns, is marked by lack of learning and fortune, and carries ruin bound to his mouth.