यादृशे च कुले जन्म सर्वराजाभिपूजिते । बन्धुभिश्च सुहृद्भिश्च भीम त्वमसि तादृशः
Born in a lineage honored by all kings, surrounded by kin and friends, Bhima, you are such as they.
जिज्ञासन्तो हि धर्मस्य सन्दिग्धस्य वृकोदर । पर्यायं नाध्यवस्यन्ति देवमानुषयोर्जनाः
Those who inquire into righteousness when it is uncertain, O Vṛkodara, do not decide between divine and human ways.
स एव हेतुर्भूत्वा हि पुरुषस्यार्थसिद्धिषु। विनाशेऽपि स एवास्य सन्दिग्धं कर्म पौरुषम्
That alone is the cause for a man's attainment of goals; even in destruction, that same cause makes his actions uncertain.
अन्यथा परिदृष्टानि कविभिर्दोवदर्शिभिः । अन्यथा परिवर्तन्ते वेगा इव नभस्वतः
Seen differently by poets and wise observers, things turn out otherwise, like the swift changes of the wind.
सुमन्त्रितं सुनीतं च न्यायतश्चोपपादितम् । कृतं मानुष्यकं कर्म दैनेनापि विरुद्ध्यते
Well-advised, well-governed, and justly accomplished, human action is sometimes opposed even by fate.
दैवमप्यकृतं कर्म पौरुषेण विहन्यते । शीतमुष्णं तथा वर्षं क्षुत्पिपासे च भारत
Even fate, when not accomplished, is overcome by human effort—like cold, heat, rain, hunger, and thirst, O Bharata.
यदन्यद्दिष्टभावस्य पुरुषस्य स्वयं कृतम् । तस्मादनुपरोधश्च विद्यते तत्र लक्षणम्
Whatever else arises from the disposition assigned to a man, if done by himself, then restraint is found there as its mark.
लोकस्य नान्यतो वृत्तिः पाण्डवान्यत्र कर्मणः। एवंबुद्धिः प्रवर्तेत फलं स्यादुभयान्वये
There is no livelihood for people, O Pandava, apart from action; one should act with this understanding, for results come from both sources.
य एवं कृतबुद्धिः स कर्मस्वेव प्रवर्तते । नासिद्धो व्यथते तस्य न सिद्धौ हर्षमश्रुते
He whose mind is thus resolved acts only in deeds; he is not distressed by failure, nor does he rejoice upon hearing of success.
तत्रेयमनुमात्रा मे भीमसेन विवक्षिता। नैकान्तसिद्धिर्वक्तव्या शत्रुभिः सह संयुगे
Here, Bhīmasena, I wish to express only an inference; one should not declare absolute certainty regarding victory in battle with enemies.
नातिप्रहीणरश्मिः स्यात्तथा भावविपर्यये । विषादमर्च्छेद् ग्लानिं वाप्येतमर्थं ब्रवीमिते
One should not let their energy be greatly diminished, nor should their disposition be reversed; I speak this to prevent despair or fatigue.
श्वोभूते धृतराष्ट्रस्य समीपं प्राप्य पाण्डव। यतिष्ये प्रशमं कर्तुं युष्मदर्थमहापयन्
Tomorrow, having reached Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s presence, O Pāṇḍava, I will strive to bring about peace for your sake, seeking your great benefit.
शमं चेत्ते करिष्यन्ति ततोऽनन्तं यशो मम। भवतां कच कृतः कामस्तेषां च श्रेय उत्तमम्
If they make peace, then my fame will be boundless; your wishes will be fulfilled, and their highest welfare will be attained.
ते चेदभिनिवेक्ष्यन्ते नाभ्युपैष्यन्ति मे वचः । कुरवो युद्धमेवात्र घोरं कर्म भविष्यति
But if they persist and do not accept my words, then the Kurus will engage in battle here, and a terrible deed will take place.
अस्मिन्युद्धे भीमसेन त्वयि भारः समाहितः। धूरर्जुनेन धार्या स्याद्वेढव्य इतरो जनः
In this battle, Bhīmasena, the burden is placed upon you; Arjuna must bear the yoke, and the others are to be led.
अहं हि यन्ता बीभत्सोर्भविता संयुगे सति। धनञ्जयस्यैष कामो न हि युद्धं न कामये
I will be the charioteer of Bībhatsu if battle occurs; this is Dhanañjaya’s wish, for I myself do not desire war.
तस्मादाशङ्कमानोऽहं वृकोदर मतिं तव। गदतः क्लीबया वाचा तेजस्ते समदीदिपम्
Therefore, being concerned about your resolve, Vṛkodara, as you speak with unmanly words, your energy has become fully ignited.
उक्तं युधिष्ठिरेणैव यावद्वाच्यं जनार्दन । तव वाक्यं तु मे श्रुत्वा प्रतिभाति परन्तप
Yudhiṣṭhira has already spoken all that should be said, O Janārdana; but hearing your words, O scorcher of foes, they strike me profoundly.
नैव प्रशममत्र त्वं मन्यसे सुकरं प्रभो । लोभाद्वा धृतराष्ट्रस्य दैन्याद्वा समुपस्थितात्
You do not consider peace here to be easily attainable, O Lord, whether due to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s greed or the misery that has arisen.
अफलं मन्यसे वाऽपि पुरुषस्य पराक्रमम् । न चान्तरेण कर्माणि पौरुषेण बलोदयः
You think that a man’s effort is fruitless, yet without deeds, strength does not arise from courage alone.
तदिदं भाषितं वाक्यं तथाचन तथैव तत्। न चैतदेवं द्रष्टव्यमसाध्यमपि किंचन
Thus, what has been spoken is indeed so, and it should be acted upon accordingly; but nothing should be regarded as impossible.
किं चैतन्मन्यसे कृच्छ्रमस्माकमवसादकम्। कुर्वन्ति तेषां कर्माणि येषां नास्ति फलोदयः
Why do you consider this hardship to be our downfall? Those whose actions do not yield results are the ones who suffer.
संपाद्यमानं सम्यक्व स्यात्कर्म सफलं प्रभो। स तथा कृष्ण वर्तस्व यथा शर्म भवेत्परैः
When an action is properly accomplished, it becomes fruitful, O Lord; so act, Kṛṣṇa, in such a way that others may find happiness.
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च भवान्नः प्रथमः सुहृत्। सुराणामसुराणां च यथा वीर प्रजापतिः
Among the Pāṇḍavas and Kurus, you are our foremost friend; just as Prajāpati is among the gods and demons, so are you, O hero.
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च प्रतिपत्स्व निरामयम् । अस्मद्धितमनुष्ठानं मन्ये तव न दुष्करम्
Bring about well-being for both the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas; I believe that acting for our benefit is not difficult for you.
एवं च कार्यतामेति कार्यं तव जनार्दन । गमनादेवमेव त्वं करिष्यसि जनार्दन
Thus, your task is accomplished, O Janārdana; by your going, you will indeed act, O Janārdana.
चिकीर्षितमथान्यत्ते तस्मिन्वीर दुरात्मानि । भविष्यति च तत्सर्वं यथा तव चिकीर्षितम्
But whatever else you intend, O hero, the wicked-minded one will do all of that as you desire.
शर्म तैः सह वा नोऽस्तु तव वा यच्चिकीर्षितम् । विचार्यमाणो यः कामस्तव कृष्ण स नो गुरुः
Whether your wish is for peace with them or not, O Krishna, whatever desire you consider, that is our guiding principle.
न स नार्हति दुष्टात्मा वधं ससुतबान्धवः। येन धर्मसुते दृष्टा न सा श्रीरुपमर्षिता
That evil-hearted one, along with his sons and relatives, does not deserve death, for he did not see the prosperity that was lost to the son of Dharma.
यच्चाप्यपश्यतोपायं धर्मिष्ठं मधुसूदन। उपायेन नृशंसेन हृता दुर्द्यूतदेविना
And whatever righteous means Madhusudana saw, by a cruel device was she taken—she who was the goddess of ill-fated dice.