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.
एतदेव निमित्तं ते धार्तराष्ट्रो यथा त्वयि । नान्वतप्यत कोपेन तव कृत्वाऽपि दुष्करम्
This alone is the reason, that though the son of Dhritarashtra did to you what was so hard to do, he did not afterwards regret it in anger.
पितामहस्य द्रोणस्य विदुरस्य च धीमतः । ब्राह्मणानां च साधूनां राज्ञश्च नगरस्य च
In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, the wise Vidura, the virtuous Brahmanas, the king, and the people of the city—
पश्यतां कुरुमुख्यानां सर्वेषामेव तत्त्वतः। दानशीलं मृदुं दान्तं धर्मशीलमनुव्रतम्
—while all the foremost Kurus truly looked on, you, who are generous, gentle, self-controlled, devoted to righteousness and steadfast in your vows—
यत्त्वामुपधिना राजन्द्यूते वञ्चितवांस्तदा । न चापत्रपते तेन नृशंसः स्वेन कर्मणा
—when you, O King, were deceitfully defeated at dice, he did not feel any shame for that cruel act of his.
तथाशीलसमाचरे राजन्मा प्रणयं कृथाः । वध्यास्ते सर्वलोकस्य किं पुनस्तव भारत
Such is his character and conduct, O King; do not show him affection. He is fit for death at the hands of all the world, what then to you, O Bharata?
वाग्भिस्त्वप्रतिरूपाभिरतुदत्त्वां सहानुजम् । श्लाघमानः प्रहृष्टः सन्भ्रातृभिः सह भाषते
With harsh and unfitting words, he insulted you and your brothers, boasting joyfully together with his own brothers.
एतावत्पाण्डवानां हि नास्ति किंचिदिह स्वकम् । नामधेयं च गोत्रं च तदप्येषां न शिष्यते
Now, for the Pandavas, nothing here remains their own—not even their name or lineage is left to them.
कालेन महता चैषां भविष्यति पराभवः । प्रकृतिं ते भजिष्यन्ति नष्टप्रकृतयो मयि
In time, a great defeat will come upon them; their people, lost to them, will turn to you.
दुःशासनेन पापेन तदा द्यूते प्रवर्तिते । अनाथवत्तदा देवी द्रौपदी सुदुरात्मना
When that sinful Duhshasana began the dice game, the noble Draupadi was treated as one without protector by that evil-hearted man.
आकृष्य केशे रुदती सभायां राजसंसदि । भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतो गौरिति व्याहृता मुहुः
Dragged by her hair, weeping in the royal assembly hall before Bhishma, Drona, and the others, she was repeatedly called 'slave.'