पराजयश्च मरणान्मन्ये नैव विशिष्यते। यस्य स्याद्विजयः कृष्ण तस्यप्यपचयो ध्रुवम्
I consider defeat to be no better than death; even for one who attains victory, O Krishna, loss is certain.
अन्ततो दयितं ध्नन्ति केचिदप्यपरे जनाः । तस्याङ्गबलहीनस्य पुत्रान्भ्रातॄनपश्यतः
In the end, some people kill even those they love, while others kill those who are weak in body, before their sons and brothers.
निर्वेदो जीविते कृष्ण सर्वतश्चोपजायते। ये ह्येव धीरा ह्रीमन्त आर्याः करुणवेदिनः
Disgust with life arises everywhere, O Krishna; especially among those who are wise, modest, noble, and compassionate.
त एव युद्धे हन्यन्ते यवीयान्मुच्यते जनः। हत्वाऽप्यनुशयो नित्यं परानपि जनार्दन
Those very ones are slain in battle, while the younger are spared; even after killing, there is always remorse for others, O Janardana.
अनुबद्धश्च पापोऽत्र शेषश्चाप्यवशिष्यते। शेषो हि बलमासाद्य न शेषमनुशेषयेत्
Sin remains attached here, and a remnant always persists; for, when the remnant gains strength, it does not spare the remaining.
सर्वोच्छेदे च यतते वैरस्यान्तविधित्सया। जयो वैरं प्रसृजति दुःखमास्ते पराजितः
One strives for total destruction, seeking to end enmity; victory breeds hostility, and the defeated dwell in sorrow.
सुखं प्रशान्तः स्वपिति हित्वा जयपराजयौ । जातवैरश्च पुरुषो दुःखं स्वपिति नित्यदा
The peaceful person sleeps happily, having abandoned victory and defeat; but one who has become an enemy always sleeps in sorrow.
अनिर्वृत्तेन मनसा ससर्प इव वेश्मनि। उत्सादयति यः सर्वं यशसा स विमुच्यते
With a restless mind, like a snake in a house, one who destroys everything is freed by fame.
अकीर्तिं सर्वभूतेषु शाश्वतीं स नियच्छति। न हि वैराणि शाम्यन्ति दीर्घकालधृतान्यपि
He incurs everlasting infamy among all beings; for enmities do not cease, even when held for a long time.
आख्यातारश्च विद्यन्ते पुमांश्चेद्विद्यते कुले। न चापि वैरं वैरेण केशव व्युपशाम्यति
There are always storytellers if a man exists in the family; nor, O Keshava, does enmity end by enmity.
हविषाऽग्निर्यथा कृष्ण भूय एवाभिवर्धते। अतोऽन्यथा नास्ति शान्तिर्नित्यमन्तरमन्ततः
Just as fire grows again with offerings, O Krishna, so otherwise there is no peace, neither within nor at the end.
अन्तरं लिप्समानानामयं दोषो निरन्तरः । पौरुषे यो हि बलवानाधिर्हृदयबाधनः। तस्य त्यागेन वा शान्तिर्मरणेनापि वा भवेत्
For those seeking a gap, this fault is uninterrupted; the anxiety of the strong in manhood is a torment to the heart; by renouncing it or by death, peace may be attained.
अथवा मूलघातेन द्विषतां मधुसूदन । फलनिर्वृत्तिरिद्धा स्यात्तन्नृशंसतरं भवेत्
Or else, by uprooting the enemies, O Madhusudana, the fruition of the result may be achieved, but that would be even more cruel.
या तु त्यागेन शान्तिः स्यात्तदृते वध एव सः। संशयाच्च समुच्छेदाद्द्विषतामात्मनस्तथा
But the peace that comes by renunciation is, apart from that, nothing but killing; and by doubt and destruction, so too for enemies and oneself.
न च त्यक्तुं तदिच्छामो न चेच्छामः कुलक्षयम्। अत्र या प्रणिपातेन शान्तिः सैव गरीयसी
We do not wish to abandon that, nor do we desire the destruction of our lineage; among the possible paths, the peace achieved through supplication is the weightiest.
सर्वथा यतमानानामयुद्धमभिकाङ्क्षताम्। सान्त्वे प्रतिहते युद्धं प्रसिद्धं नापराक्रमः
When all efforts are made by those who seek to avoid battle, and conciliation is thwarted, then war becomes established—no other course remains.
प्रतिघातेन सान्त्वस्य दारुणं संप्रवर्तते। तच्छुनामिव संपाते पण्डितैरुपलक्षितम्
When conciliation is obstructed, a dreadful conflict arises; this has been observed by the wise, like the clash of dogs.
लाङ्गूलचालनं क्ष्वेडा प्रतिवाचो विवर्तनम् । दन्तदर्शनमारावस्ततो युद्धं प्रवर्तते
The wagging of tails, growling, retorts, turning away, baring of teeth—after these, battle ensues.
तत्र यो बलवान्कृष्ण जित्वा सोत्ति तदामिषम्। एवमेव मनुष्येषु विशेषो नास्ति कश्चन
There, O Krishna, whoever is stronger seizes the prize after victory; in this way, among humans, there is truly no distinction.
सर्वथा त्वेतदुचितं दुर्बलेषु बलीयसाम्। अनादरो विरोधश्च प्रणिपाती हि दुर्बलः
In every way, this is fitting: the strong disregard and oppose the weak, for the weak must submit.
पिता राजा च वृद्धश्च सर्वथा मानमर्हति। तस्मान्मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च धृतराष्ट्रो जनार्दन
A father, a king, and an elder always deserve respect; therefore, Dhritarashtra is to be honored and revered, O Janardana.
पुत्रस्नेहश्च बलवान्धृतराष्ट्रस्य माधव । स पुत्रवशमापन्नः प्रणिपातं प्रहास्यति
Dhritarashtra’s affection for his son is strong, O Madhava; being under his son’s influence, he will abandon submission.
तत्र किं मन्यसे कृष्ण प्राप्तकालमनन्तरम् । कथमर्थाच्च धर्माच्च न हीयेमहि माधव
So, Krishna, what do you think is timely and proper now? How can we avoid loss of both wealth and righteousness, O Madhava?
ईदृशेऽत्यर्थकृच्छ्रेऽस्मिन्कमन्यं मधुसूदन। उपसंप्रष्टुमर्हामि त्वामृते पुरुषोत्तम
In such extreme difficulty as this, O Madhusudana, I should ask no one else but you, O best of men.
प्रियश्च प्रियकामश्च गतिज्ञः सर्वकर्मणाम्। को हि कृष्णास्ति नस्त्वादृक्सर्वनिश्चयवित्सुहृत्
Who else but you, Krishna, is dear, wishes us well, knows all courses of action, and is a true friend who understands every decision?
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजं जनार्दनः । उभयोरेव वामर्थे यास्यामि कुरुसंसदम्
Thus addressed, Janardana replied to Dharmaraja: ‘For the sake of both sides, I will go to the Kuru assembly.’
शमं तत्र लभेयं चेद्युष्मदर्थमहापयन् । पुण्यं मे सुमहद्राजंश्चरितं स्यान्महाफलम्
If I can secure peace there, even at great cost to you, O King, my act will be most virtuous and yield great fruit.
मोचयेयं मृत्युपाशात्संरब्धान्कुरुसृञ्जयान्। पाण्डवान्धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च सर्वां च पृथिवीमिमाम्
I would release the enraged Kurus and Srinjayas, the Pandavas and Dhritarashtras, and this entire earth from the noose of death.
न ममैतन्मतं कृष्ण यत्त्वं यायाः कुरून्प्रति । सुयोधनः सूक्तमपि न करिष्यति ते वचः
This is not my opinion, Krishna, that you should go to the Kurus; for even if you speak well, Suyodhana will not act on your words.
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं दुर्योधनवशानुगम्। तेषां मध्यावतरणं तव कृष्ण न रोचये
The assembled royal warriors are under Duryodhana’s sway; I do not approve, Krishna, of your entering their midst.