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.
यद्यद्धर्मेण संयुक्तमुपपद्येद्धितं वचः। तत्तत्केशव भाषेथाः सान्त्वं वा यदि वेतरत्
Whatever words, O Kesava, are proper and beneficial according to righteousness, those you should speak—whether conciliatory or otherwise.
सञ्जयस्य श्रुतं वाक्यं भवतश्च श्रुतं मया। सर्वं जानाम्यभिप्रायं तेषां च भवतश्च यः
I have heard Sanjaya’s words and yours as well; I know fully the intentions of both them and you.
तव धर्माश्रिता बुद्धिस्तेषां वैराश्रया मतिः। यदयुद्धेन लभ्येत तत्ते बहुमतं भवेत्
Your mind is set on righteousness, theirs is fixed on enmity; what can be gained without war is what you value most.
न चैवं नैष्ठिकं कर्म क्षत्रियस्य विशांपते। आहुराश्रमिणः सर्वे न भैक्षं क्षत्रियश्चरेत्
But such conduct is not the final duty of a kshatriya, O lord of men; all those who live by the ashramas say a kshatriya should not live by begging.
जयो वधो वा सङ्ग्रामे धात्राऽऽदिष्टः सनातनः। स्वधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष कार्पण्यं न प्रशत्यते
Victory or death in battle is ordained by fate from ancient times; this is the true duty of a kshatriya—cowardice is not approved.
न हि कार्पण्यमास्थाय शक्या वृत्तिर्युधिष्ठिर । विक्रमस्व महाबाहो जहि शत्रून्परन्तप
By resorting to weakness, O Yudhishthira, one cannot maintain one’s livelihood; act with courage, mighty-armed one, and destroy your enemies, scorcher of foes.
अतिगृद्धाः कृतस्नेहा दीर्घकालं सहोषिताः । कृतमित्राः कृतबला धार्तराष्ट्राः परन्तप
The sons of Dhritarashtra, scorcher of foes, are excessively greedy, have formed alliances, lived together for a long time, made friends, and gathered strength.
न पर्यायोऽस्ति यत्साम्यं त्वयि कुर्युर्विशांपते । बलवत्तां हि मन्यन्ते भीष्मद्रोणकृपादिभिः
There is no way they would seek equality with you, O lord of men; for they consider themselves strong because of Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and others.
यावच्च मार्दवेनैतान्राजन्नुपचरिष्यसि। तावदेते हरिष्यन्ति तव राज्यमरिन्दम
As long as you treat them with gentleness, O king, so long will they seize your kingdom, O subduer of enemies.
नानुक्रोशान्न कार्पण्यान्न च धर्मार्थकारणात्। अलं कर्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रस्तव काममरिन्दम
Neither out of compassion, nor out of weakness, nor for the sake of righteousness or profit, will the son of Dhritarashtra ever act in your interest, O subduer of enemies.