अस्त्रेण योधयुग्या च शीघ्रत्वे कौशले तथा। सर्वे स्म समजातीयाः सर्वे मानुषयोनयः
In weapons, in readiness for battle, in speed, and in skill, we are all of the same kind—all born of human lineage.
पितामह विजानीषे पार्थेषु विजयं कथम्। नाहं भवति न द्रोणे न कृपे न च बाह्लिके
Grandsire, how do you know that victory will be with the Pandavas? Not with you, nor Drona, nor Kripa, nor the Bahlika.
अन्येषु च नरेन्द्रेषु पराक्रम्य समारभे। अहं वैकर्तनः कर्णो भ्राता दुःशासनश्च मे
Nor with other kings who are mighty in battle. I am Karna, son of Radha, and my brother is Duhshasana.
पाण्डवान्समरे पञ्च हनिष्यामः शितैः शरैः । ततो राजन्महायज्ञैर्विविधैर्भूरिदक्षिणैः
With sharp arrows, we will slay the five Pandavas in battle. Then, O King, with great sacrifices of many kinds and abundant gifts—
ब्राह्मणांस्तर्पयिष्यामि गोभिरश्वैर्धनेन च । यदा परिकरिष्यन्ति ऐणेयानिव तन्तुना । अतरित्रानिव जले बाहुभिर्मामका रणे
I will satisfy the Brahmanas with cows, horses, and wealth, when my men in battle will bind the sons of Pandu as animals are tied with a cord, or as those who cannot swim are seized in water, with their arms.
पश्यन्तस्ते परांस्तत्र रथनागसमाकुलान्। तदा दर्पं विमोक्ष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः स च केशवः
When they see their own fleeing there, amid the confusion of chariots and elephants, then the Pandavas and even Kesava will abandon their pride.
सुखान्यवाप्य सहिताः कृत्वा कर्म सुदुस्तरम्। विस्रब्धास्तु भविष्यामः प्राप्ते काले गतज्वराः
Having attained happiness together, having accomplished a most difficult task, we will be at ease, free from anxiety, when the time comes.
अथाब्रवीन्महाराजो धृतराष्ट्रः सुदुर्मनाः । विदुरं विदुषां श्रेष्ठं सर्वपार्थिवसंनिधौ
Then King Dhritarashtra, greatly distressed, spoke to Vidura, the best of the wise, in the presence of all the kings.
मोहितो मृत्युपाशेन कालस्य वशमागतः। तात कर्णेन सहितः पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम
My son Duryodhana, together with Karna, is deluded by the noose of death, and has fallen under the power of Time, O dear one.
इह निःश्रेयसं प्राहुर्वृद्धा निश्चितदर्शिनः । ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण दमो धर्मः सनातनः
Here, the elders who see truly declare supreme blessedness, especially for a Brahmana, to be self-restraint, which is the eternal dharma.
तस्य दानं क्षमा सिद्धिर्यथावदुपपद्यते । दमो दानं तपो ज्ञानमधीतं चानुवर्तते
For him, charity, forgiveness, and success arise properly; self-restraint supports charity, austerity, and knowledge that has been learned.
दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्रं दम उत्तमम् । विपाप्मा वृद्धतेजास्तु पुरुषो विन्दते महत्
Self-restraint increases brilliance; self-restraint is the highest purity. A man of great self-restraint, free from evil, attains greatness.
क्रव्याद्भ्य इव भूतानामदान्तेभ्यः सदा भयम् । येषां च प्रतिषेधार्थं क्षत्रं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा
Just as all beings fear flesh-eaters, so too is there always fear of the unrestrained; for restraining them, the Kshatriya order was created by the Self-born.
आश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वाहुर्दममेवोत्तमं व्रतम्। तस्य लिङ्गं प्रवक्ष्यामि येषां समुदयो दमः
In the four orders of life, self-restraint is said to be the highest vow; I will tell you its marks, from which self-restraint arises.
क्षमा धृतिरहिंसा च समता सत्यमार्जवम् । इन्द्रियाभिजयो धैर्यं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्
Forgiveness, steadfastness, non-violence, equanimity, truthfulness, sincerity, mastery over the senses, courage, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness—
अकार्पण्यमसंरम्भः सन्तोषं श्रद्दधानता । एतानि यस्य राजेन्द्र स दान्तः पुरुषः स्मृतः
Freedom from miserliness, absence of agitation, contentment, and faith—O king, a person in whom these qualities are found is considered self-restrained.
कामो लोभश्च दर्पश्च मन्युर्निद्रा विकत्थनम्। मान ईर्ष्यां च शोकश्च नैतद्दान्तो निषेवते। अजिह्ममशठं शुद्धमेतद्दान्तस्य लक्षणम्
Desire, greed, arrogance, anger, sleep, boasting, pride, envy, and sorrow—one who is self-restrained does not indulge in these; straightforwardness, honesty, and purity are the marks of the self-restrained.
अलोलुपस्तथाऽल्पेप्सुः कामानामविचिन्तिता । समुद्रकल्पः परुषः स दान्तः परिकीर्तितः
He who is not greedy, who desires little, who does not brood over pleasures, who is unfathomable like the ocean, and who is harsh—he is called self-restrained.
सुवृत्तः शीलसंपन्नः प्रसन्नात्माऽत्मविद्बुधः । प्राप्येह लोके संमानं सुगतिं प्रेत्य गच्छति
A man of good conduct, endowed with virtue, with a clear mind, wise and self-knowing, attains honor in this world and a good state after death.
अभयं यस्य भूतेभ्यः सर्वेषामभयं यतः। स वै परिणतप्रज्ञः प्रख्यातो मनुजोत्तमः
He from whom all beings have no fear, and who causes fear to none—he, with mature wisdom, is renowned as the best of men.
सर्वभूतहितो मैत्रस्तस्मान्नोद्विजते जनः। समुद्र इव गम्भीरः प्रज्ञातृप्तः प्रशाम्यति
He who is devoted to the welfare of all beings, friendly to all, from whom people do not shrink, who is deep as the ocean and satisfied in wisdom, finds peace.
कर्मणाऽचरितं पूर्वं सद्भिराचरितं च यत्। तदेवास्थाय मोदन्ते दान्ताः शमपरायणाः
The self-restrained, devoted to tranquility, rejoice in that conduct which was practiced by the virtuous in the past and is still practiced now.
नैष्कर्म्यं वा समास्थाय ज्ञानतृप्तो जितेन्द्रियः। कालाकाङ्क्षी चरँल्लोके ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते
One who, established in non-action, satisfied by knowledge, and self-controlled, moves in the world awaiting the right time—such a person is fit to become one with Brahman.
शकुनीनामिवाकाशे पदं नैवोपलभ्यते। एवं प्रज्ञानतृप्तस्य मुनेर्वर्त्म न दृश्यते
Just as the path of birds in the sky cannot be traced, so too the course of a sage who is content in wisdom is not seen.
उत्सृज्यैव गृहान्यस्तु मोक्षमेवाभिमन्यते । लोकास्तेजोमयास्तस्य कल्पन्ते शाश्वता दिवि
But the one who abandons his home and seeks only liberation—his worlds, radiant and eternal, are established in heaven.
दुर्योधन विजानीहि यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि पुत्रक। उत्पथं मन्यसे मार्गमनभिज्ञ इवाध्वगः
Know this, Duryodhana, my son, what I am about to tell you: you think the wrong path is the right one, like a traveler ignorant of the road.
पञ्चानां पाण्डुपुत्राणां यत्तेजः प्रजिहीर्षसि। पञ्चानामिव भूतानां महतां लोकधारिणाम्
You wish to diminish the power of the five sons of Pandu, which is like trying to lessen the might of the five great elements that uphold the worlds.
युधिष्ठिरं हि कौन्तेयं परं धर्ममिहास्थितम्। परां गतिमसंप्रेत्य न त्वं जेतुमिहार्हसि
Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, stands firmly in supreme righteousness; having not attained the highest goal, you are not fit to defeat him here.
भीमसेनं च कौन्तेयं यस्य नास्ति समो बले। रणान्तकं तर्जयसे महावातमिव द्रुमः
And Bhimasena, son of Kunti, who has no equal in strength—you threaten him in battle, like a tree challenging a mighty wind.
सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं मेरुं सिखरिणामिव। युधि गाण्डिवधन्वानं को नु युध्येत बुद्धिमान्
Who, being wise, would fight in battle with Arjuna, wielder of Gandiva, the best among all warriors, as Meru is among mountains?