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.'
भवता वारिताः सर्वे भ्रातरो भीमविक्रमाः । धर्मपाशनिबद्धाश्च न किंचित्प्रतिपेदिरे
All your brothers, mighty as Bhima, were restrained by you; bound by the bonds of righteousness, they did nothing.
एताश्चान्याश्च परुषा वाचः स समुदीरयन् । श्लाघते ज्ञातिमध्ये स्म त्वयि प्रव्रजिते वनम्
Speaking these and other harsh words, he boasted among his kin while you had gone to the forest.
ये तत्रासन्समानीतास्ते दृष्ट्वा त्वामनागसम्। अश्रुकण्ठा रुदन्तश्च सभायामासते सदा
Those who were present there, seeing you, innocent, sat in the assembly with tears in their throats, always weeping.
न चैनमभ्यनन्दंस्ते राजानो ब्राह्मणैः सह। सर्वे दुर्योधनं तत्र निन्दन्ति स्म सभासदः
Neither the kings nor the Brahmanas there approved of him; all the members of the assembly censured Duryodhana.
कुलीनस्य च या निन्दा वधो वाऽमित्रकर्शन । महागुणो वधो राजन्नु तु निन्दा कुजीविका
For a noble man, censure or death at the hands of enemies—death is a great merit, O King, but censure is a base livelihood.
तदैव निहतो राजन्यदैव निरपत्रपः। निन्दितश्च महाराज पृथिव्यां सर्वराजभिः
He was slain at that very moment, O great king, when he shamelessly acted so; he was condemned by all the kings on earth.
ईषत्करो वधस्तस्य यस्य चारित्रमीदृशम् । प्रस्कुन्देन प्रतिस्तब्धश्छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः
Death is too slight a penalty for one whose conduct is such; like a tree struck and broken at the root by a strong wind.
वध्यः सर्प इवानार्यः सर्वलोकस्य दुर्मतिः । जह्येन त्वममित्रघ्न मा राजन्विचिकित्सिथाः
Like a snake, that ignoble, evil-minded man is fit for death at the hands of all; slay him, O destroyer of foes, do not hesitate, O King.
सर्वथा त्वत्क्षमं चैतद्रोचते च ममानघ। यत्त्वं पितरि भीष्मे च प्रणिपातं समाचरेः
In every way, O faultless one, this is fitting and pleasing to me: that you should show reverence to your father and to Bhishma.
अहं तु सर्वलोकस्य गत्वा छेत्स्यामि संशयम्। येषामस्ति द्विधाभावो राजन्दुर्योधनं प्रति
But I myself will go and resolve the doubt of all the people, O King, regarding those who are divided in their minds about Duryodhana.
मध्ये राज्ञामहं तत्र प्रातिपौरुषिकान्गुणान् । तव सङ्कीर्तयिष्यामि ये च तस्य व्यतिक्रमाः
There, in the midst of the kings, I will proclaim your virtues, born of noble conduct, and also recount his transgressions.
ब्रुवतस्तत्र मे वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम्। निशम्य पार्थिवाः सर्वे नानाजनपदेश्वराः
As I speak there, words joined with righteousness and benefit, all the kings, lords of various lands, will listen.
त्वयि संप्रतिपत्स्यन्ते धर्मात्मा सत्यवागिति । तस्मिंश्चाधिगमिष्यन्ति यथा लोभादवर्तत
They will side with you, believing you to be righteous and truthful; and they will come to know how he acted out of greed.
गर्हयिष्यामि चैवैनं पौरजानपदेष्वपि । वृद्धबालानुपादाय चातुर्वर्ण्ये समागते
I will censure him even among the citizens and countryfolk, in the presence of elders and children, and all four orders assembled.
शमं वै याचमानस्त्वं नाधर्मं तत्र लप्स्यसे । कुरून्विगर्हयिष्यन्ति धृतराष्ट्रं च पार्थिवाः
As you seek peace, you will not incur any blame of unrighteousness there; the Kurus and King Dhritarashtra will be reproached by the kings.
तस्मिंल्लोकपरित्यक्ते किं कार्यमवशिष्यते। हते दुर्योधने राजन्यदन्यत्क्रियतामिति
When the world abandons him, what else remains to be done? If Duryodhana is slain, let whatever else needs to be done be done.
यात्वा चाहं कुरून्सर्वान्युष्मदर्थमहापयन् । यतिष्ये प्रशमं कर्तुं लक्षयिष्ये च चेष्टितम्
Having gone to all the Kurus for your sake, offering great gifts, I will strive to make peace and observe their conduct.
कौरवाणां प्रवृत्तिं च गत्वा युद्धाधिकारिकाम् । निशम्य विनिवर्तिष्ये जयाय तव भारत
Having learned the intentions of the Kauravas, inclined toward war, I will return, O Bharata, for your victory.
सर्वथा युद्धमेवाहमाशंसापि परैः सह । निमित्तानि हि सर्वाणि तथा प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे
In every way, I expect only war with the others; for all the omens are appearing to me in that manner.
मृगाः शकुन्ताश्च वदन्ति घोरं हस्त्यश्वमुख्येषु निशामुखेषु । घोराणि रूपाणि तथैव चाग्नि- र्वर्णान्बहून्पुष्यति घोररूपान्
Beasts and birds utter dreadful sounds; among elephants and horses, at the approach of night, terrible forms appear, and fire assumes many fierce shapes.