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?
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यः कमिवाद्य न शातयेत्। शत्रुमध्ये शरान्मुञ्चन्देवराडशनीमिव
And Dhrishtadyumna, son of Drupada—whom would he not destroy today, as he releases arrows among his enemies like the king of gods hurling his thunderbolt?
सात्यकिश्चापि दुर्धर्षः संमतोऽन्धकवृष्णिषु। ध्वंसयिष्यति ते सेनां पाण्डवेयहिते रतः
And Satyaki, too, is unconquerable, honored among the Andhakas and Vrishnis; devoted to the Pandavas' welfare, he will crush your army.
यः पुनः प्रतिमानेन त्रील्लोकानतिरिच्यते । तं कृष्णं पुण्डरीकाक्षं को नु युद्ध्येत बुद्धिमान्
And who, being wise, would fight Krishna, the lotus-eyed, who by his greatness surpasses the three worlds?
एकतो ह्यस्य दाराश्च ज्ञातयश्च सबान्धवाः। आत्मा च पृथिवी चेयमेकतश्च धनञ्जयः
On one side are his wives, relatives, and kin; on the other side are himself, this earth, and Dhananjaya.
वासुदेवोऽपि दुर्धर्षो यतात्मा यत्र पाण्डवः । अविषह्यं पृथिव्यापि तद्बलं यत्र केशवः
Vasudeva, too, is unconquerable and self-mastered; wherever the Pandava is, that strength is irresistible on earth, for there is Kesava.
तिष्ठ तात सतां वाक्ये सुहृदामर्थवादिनाम्। वृद्धं शान्तनवं भीष्मं तितिक्षस्व पितामहम्
Stay, my son, with the words of the virtuous and your well-wishing friends; bear with the elder Bhishma, son of Shantanu, your grandsire.
मां च ब्रुवाणं शुश्रूष कुरूणामर्थदर्शिनम् । द्रोणं कृपं विकर्णं च महाराजं च बाह्लिकम्
Listen also to me as I speak, who understand the interests of the Kurus, and to Drona, Kripa, Vikarna, and the great king of Bahlika.
एते ह्यपि यतैवाहं मन्तुमर्हसि तांस्तथा। सर्वे धर्मविदो ह्येते तुल्यस्नेहाश्च भारत
You should consider these men just as you consider me; all of them are knowledgeable in dharma and have equal affection, O Bharata.
यत्तद्विराटनगरे सह भ्रातृभिरग्रतः। उत्सृज्य गाः सुसन्त्रस्तं बलं ते समशीर्यत
Recall what happened in the city of Virata, when, with your brothers, you abandoned the cattle—your well-guarded force was utterly destroyed.
यच्चैव नगरे तस्मिञ्श्रूयते महदद्भुतम्। एकस्य च बहूनां च पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्
And also, the great and wondrous event heard of in that city—where one man and many were enough—let that be your example.