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.
न हि नः प्रीणयेद्द्रव्यं न देवत्वं कुतः सुखम्। न च सर्वामरैश्वर्यं तव द्रोहेण माधव
Neither wealth nor divinity would please us, nor any happiness, O Madhava, if gained by betraying you.
जानाम्येतां महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पापताम्। अवाच्यास्तु भविष्यामः सर्वलोके महीक्षितां
I know well, O great king, the wickedness of Dhritarashtra’s son; we rulers of the earth will become reviled throughout the world.
न चापि मम पर्याप्ताः सहिताः सर्वपार्थिवाः । क्रुद्धस्य संयुगे स्थातुं सिंहस्येवेतरे मृगाः
Nor, even if all the kings were united, could they withstand me in battle when I am enraged, just as other beasts cannot stand before a lion.
अथ चेत्ते प्रवर्तेरन्मयि किंचिदसांप्रतम्। निर्दहेयं कुरून्सर्वानिति मे धीयते मतिः
But if they should act in any way untimely toward me, I could burn up all the Kurus; this is my firm resolve.
न जातु गमनं पार्थ भवेत्तत्र निरर्थकम् । अर्थप्राप्तिः कदाचित्स्यादन्ततो वाप्यवाच्यता
O son of Pritha, a journey there will never be fruitless; sometimes one may gain advantage, or at the very least, avoid blame.
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजो जनार्दनम् । भातॄणां समवेतानां सकाशे पुरुषोत्तमम्
Thus addressed, King Yudhishthira replied to Janardana in the presence of his assembled brothers, the best among men.
यत्तुभ्यं रोचते कृष्ण स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि कौरवान्। कृतार्थं स्वस्तिमन्तं त्वां द्रक्ष्यामि पुनरागतम्
Whatever pleases you, Krishna, may you bring welfare to the Kauravas; I hope to see you return, accomplished and unharmed.
विष्वक्सेन कुरून्गत्वा भरताञ्शमयन्प्रभो। यथा सर्वे सुमनसः सह स्याम सुचेतसः
O Lord, having gone to the Kurus and persuaded the Bharatas, may we all, with peaceful and clear minds, be united together.
भ्राता चासि सखा चासि बीभत्सोर्मम च प्रियः। सौहृदेनाविशङ्ख्योऽसि स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भूतये
You are a brother, a friend, and dear to Arjuna and to me; because of your goodwill, you are beyond suspicion—may you return safely for the good of all.
अस्मान्वेत्थ परान्वेत्थ वेत्थार्थान्वेत्थ भाषितुम्। यद्यदस्मद्धितं कृष्ण तत्तद्वाच्यः सुयोधनः
You know us, you know the others, you know what is to be said and what is to be done; whatever is for our benefit, Krishna, that you should say to Suyodhana.