मनुष्यलोकक्षयकृत्सुघोरो नो चेदनुप्राप्त इहान्तकः स्यात्। शस्त्राणि यन्त्रं कवचान्रथांश्च नागान्हयांश्च प्रतिपादयित्वा
A great destruction of mankind is at hand, unless Death himself has already arrived here; for weapons, machines, armor, chariots, elephants, and horses are being prepared.
योधाश्च सर्वे कृतनिश्चयास्ते भवन्तु हस्त्यश्वरथेषु यत्ताः। साङ्ग्रामिकं ते यदुपार्जनीयं सर्वं समग्रं कुरु तन्नरेन्द्र
Let all the warriors, having resolved firmly, be ready on elephants, horses, and chariots; whatever is to be acquired for battle, O king, gather it all together.
दुर्योधनो न ह्यलमद्य दातुं जीवंस्तवैतन्नृपते कथंचित्। यत्ते पुरस्तादभवत्समृद्धं द्यूते हृतं पाण्डवमुख्य राज्यम्
Duryodhana is in no way willing to give this to you today while he lives, O king; that prosperous kingdom, once yours, lost in the game by the foremost of the Pandavas.
यथायथैव शान्तिः स्यात्कुरूणां मधुसूदन। तथातथैव भाषेथा मा स्म युद्धेन भीषयेः
O Madhusudana, in whatever way peace may be achieved among the Kurus, speak accordingly; do not frighten them with talk of war.
अमर्षी जातसंरम्भः श्रेयोद्वेषी महामनाः। नोग्रं दुर्योधनो वाच्यः साम्नैवेनं समाचरेः
Duryodhana is impatient, quick to anger, envious of virtue, and proud; do not address him harshly, but deal with him gently.
प्रकृत्या पापसत्वश्च तुल्यचेतास्तु दस्युभिः । ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तश्च कृतवैरश्च पाण्डवैः
By nature he is of wicked disposition, his mind is like that of robbers, intoxicated by power, and hostile to the Pandavas.
अदीर्घदर्शी निष्ठूरी क्षेप्ता क्रूरपराक्रमः । दीर्घमन्युरनेयश्च पापात्मा निकृतिप्रियः
He is short-sighted, harsh, a reviler, fierce in his valor; long in anger, unrestrained, wicked in soul, and fond of deceit.
म्रियेतापि न भज्येत नैव जह्यात्स्वकं मतम्। तादृशेन शमः कृष्ण मन्ये परमदुष्करः
Even if he were to die, he would not break, nor ever abandon his own opinion; with such a one, O Krishna, peace is, I think, extremely difficult.
सुहृदामप्यवाचीनस्त्यक्तधर्मा प्रियानृतः । प्रतिहन्त्ये सुहृदां वाचश्चैव मनांसि च
He is disrespectful even to friends, has abandoned righteousness, delights in falsehood; he opposes the words and hearts of his friends.
स मन्युवशमापन्नः स्वभावं दुष्टमास्थितः । स्वभावात्पापमभ्येति तृणैश्छन्न इवोरगः
He, overcome by wrath, has adopted a wicked nature; by his own nature he attains evil, like a serpent hidden beneath grass.
दुर्योधनो हि यत्सेनः सर्वथा विदितस्तव । यच्छीलो यत्स्वभावश्च यद्बलो यत्पराक्रमः
Duryodhana and his army are entirely known to you: what his character is, what his nature, what his strength, and what his prowess.
पुरा प्रसन्नाः कुरवः सहपुत्रास्तथा वयम्। इन्द्रज्येष्ठा इवाभूम मोदमानाः सबान्धवाः
Once, the Kurus with their sons, and we as well, were content and joyful together with our kin, like the gods with Indra as their chief.
दुर्योधनस्य क्रोधेन भरता मधुसूदन। धक्ष्यन्ते शिशिरापाये वनानीव हुताशनैः
Because of Duryodhana's anger, O descendant of Bharata, O Madhusudana, the Bharatas will be consumed, like forests by fire at winter's end.
अष्टादशेमे राजानः प्रख्यात मधुसूदन । ये समुच्चिच्छिदुर्ज्ञातीन्सुहृदश्च सबान्धवान्
These eighteen renowned kings, O Madhusudana, have destroyed their kinsmen, friends, and relatives.
असुराणां समृद्धानां ज्वलतामिव तेजसा। पर्यायकाले धर्मस्य प्राप्ते कलिरजायत
Among the prosperous Asuras, blazing with energy, when the time of righteousness had turned, the age of discord arose.
हैहयानामुदावर्तो नीपानां जनमेजयः । बहुलस्तालजङ्घानां कृमीणामुद्धतो वसुः
There was Udāvarta among the Haihayas, Janamejaya among the Nipas, Bahula among the Talajanghas, and Vasuh, the arrogant among the Krimis.
अजबिन्दुः सुवीराणां सुराष्ट्राणां रुषर्द्धिकः। अर्कजश्च बलीहानां चीनानां धौतमूलकः
Ajabindu among the Suviras, Rushardhika among the Surashtras, Arkaja among the Balihanas, and Dhautamulaka among the Chinas.
हयग्रीवो विदेहानां वरयुश्च महौजसाम् । बाहुः सुन्दरवंशानां दीप्ताक्षाणां पुरूरवाः
Hayagriva among the Videhas, Varayu among the mighty, Bahu among the Sundaravamsas, and Pururavas among the radiant-eyed.
सहजश्चेदिमत्स्यानां प्रवीराणां वृषध्वजः । धारणश्चन्द्रवत्सानां मुकुटानां विगाहनः
Sahaja among the Chedis and Matsyas, Vrishadhvaja among the valiant, Dharana among the Chandravatsas, and Vigahana among the Mukutas.
शमश्च नन्दिवेगानामित्येते कुलपांसनाः । युगान्ते कृष्ण संभूताः कुलेषु पुरुषाधमाः
Shama among the Nandivegas—these, O Krishna, are the disgraces of their lines, arising at the end of the age, the lowest of men in their families.
अप्ययं नः कुरूणां स्याद्युगान्ते कालसंभृतः । दुर्योधनः कुलाङ्गारो जघन्यः पापपूरुषः
Perhaps this Duryodhana of the Kurus is likewise, at the end of the age, a calamity brought forth by Time, the disgrace and vilest of his lineage.
तस्मान्मृदु शनैर्ब्रूया धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् । कामानुबद्धं बहुलं नोग्रमुग्रपराक्रमम्
Therefore, speak gently and slowly, words joined with righteousness and profit, full of desire but not harsh or fiercely forceful.
अपि दुर्योधनं कृष्ण सर्वे वयमधश्चराः। नीचैर्भूत्वाऽनुयास्यामो मा स्म नो भरता नशन्
Even if Duryodhana is above us all, O Krishna, let us follow him humbly; let not the Bharatas perish because of us.
अप्युदासीनवृत्तिः स्याद्यथा नः कुरुभिः सह। वासुदेव तथा कार्यं न कुरूननयः स्पृशेत्
Let our conduct be neutral, O Vāsudeva, so that with the Kurus we may remain; act thus, so that disaster does not touch the Kurus.
वाच्यः पितामहो वृद्धो ये च कृष्ण समासदः । भ्रातॄणामस्तु सौभ्रात्रं धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रशाम्यताम्
The venerable grandsire and the elders present, O Krishna, should be addressed; let there be brotherhood among the brothers, and let the son of Dhritarashtra be pacified.
अहमेतद्ब्रवीम्येवं राजा चैव प्रशंसति । अर्जुनो नैव युद्धार्थी भूयसी हि दयाऽर्जुने
This is what I say, and the king also approves; Arjuna does not desire war, for great compassion dwells in Arjuna.
एतछ्रुत्वा महाबाहुः केशवः प्रहसन्निव। अभूतपूर्वं भीमस्य मार्दवोपहितं वचः
Hearing this, mighty-armed Kesava, as if smiling, beheld Bhima's words, softened in a way never seen before.
गिरेरिव लघुत्वं तच्छीतत्वमिव पावके। मत्वा रामानुजः शौरिः शार्ङ्गधन्वा वृकोदरम्
Just as a mountain might become light, or fire turn cold, so thought Rama's younger brother, Shauri, wielder of the Sharnga bow, regarding Bhima.
सन्तेजसंस्तदा वाग्भिर्भातरिश्वेव पावकम्। उवाच भीममासीनं कृपयाऽभिपरिप्लुतम्
Then, like fire kindled by wind, he addressed Bhima, who sat there overwhelmed by compassion, with words that rekindled his spirit.
त्वमन्यदा भीमसेन युद्धमेव प्रशंससि। वधामिनन्दिनः क्रूरान्धार्तराष्ट्रन्मिमर्दिषुः
At other times, Bhimasena, you praise only battle, delighting in the slaughter of the cruel sons of Dhritarashtra, eager to crush them.