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.
परश्चेदेनमभिविद्ध्येत बाणै- र्भृशं सुतीक्ष्णैरनलार्कदीप्तैः । विरिच्यमानोऽप्यतिरिच्यमानो विद्यात्कविः सुकृतं मे दधाति
Even if someone strikes him with arrows—sharp, blazing like fire and the sun—though afflicted and overwhelmed, the wise poet knows that merit is gained for me.
यदि सन्तं सेवति यद्यसन्तं तपस्विनं यदि वा स्तेनमेव। वासो यथा रङ्गवशं प्रयाति तथा स तेषां वशमभ्युपैति
Whether he serves the virtuous, the wicked, the ascetic, or even a thief, just as a garment follows the will of the stage, so he comes under their influence.
अतिवादं न प्रवदेन्न वादये- द्यो नाहतः प्रतिहन्यान्न घातयेत् । हन्तुं च यो नेच्छति पापकं वै तस्मै देवाः स्पृहयन्त्यागताय
One should not speak excessive words nor argue; one who is not attacked should not retaliate nor harm. He who does not wish to kill the wicked is desired by the gods who have come.
अव्याहृतं व्याहृताच्छ्रेय आहुः सत्यं वदेद्व्याहृतं तद्द्वितीयम्। प्रियं वदेद्व्याहृतं तत्तृतीयं धर्म्यं वदेद्व्याहृतं तच्चतुर्थम्
They say unspoken words are better than spoken. One should speak truth—that is the second. One should speak pleasant words—that is the third. One should speak righteous words—that is the fourth.
यादृशैः सन्निविशते यादृशांश्चोपसेवते। यादृगिच्छेच्च भवितुं तादृग्भवति पूरुषः
As one associates, as one serves, as one desires to become, so does a person become.
यतो यतो निवर्तते ततस्ततो विमुच्यते। निवर्तनाद्धि सर्वतो न वेत्ति दुःखमण्वपि ।। न जीयते चानुजिगीषतेऽन्या- न्न वैरकृच्चाप्रतिघातकश्च
From wherever one withdraws, from there one is freed. By withdrawing from everything, one does not experience even a little sorrow. He is not conquered, nor does he seek to conquer others, nor does he create enmity or retaliation.
निन्दाप्रशंसासु समस्वभावो न शोचते हृष्यति नैव चायम्
He is equal-minded in both blame and praise, neither grieving nor rejoicing.
भावमिच्छति सर्वस्य नाभावे कुरुते मनः। सत्यवादी मृदुर्दान्तो यः स उत्तमपूरुषः
He desires the well-being of all, does not set his mind on their absence, speaks truth, is gentle and self-controlled—such a person is the highest.
नानर्थकं सान्त्वयति प्रतिज्ञाय ददाति च। रन्ध्रं परस्य जानाति यः स मध्यमपूरुषः
He does not offer empty consolation, gives what he promises, and knows the faults of others—such a person is the middling type.
निराकरोति मित्राणि यो वै सोऽधमपूरुषः
He who rejects friends is the lowest type of person.