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.
कथं हि पुरुषो जातः क्षत्रियेषु धनुर्धरः । समाहूतो निवर्तेत प्राणत्यागेऽप्युपस्थिते
How can a man born among warriors, skilled with the bow, turn back when challenged, even if the risk is to his life?
अधर्मेण जितान्दृष्ट्वा वने प्रवृजितांस्तथा। वध्यतां मम वार्ष्णेय निर्गतोऽसौ सुयोधनः
Seeing them defeated by unrighteousness and exiled to the forest, O descendant of Vrishni, let that Duryodhana be slain by me.
न चैतदद्भुतं कृष्ण मित्रार्थे यच्चिकीर्षसि। क्रिया कथंच मुख्या स्यान्मृदुना चेतरेण वा
Nor is it surprising, Krishna, that you act for the sake of friends; how could an important action be done gently or otherwise?
अथवा मन्यसे ज्यायान्वधस्तेषामनन्तरम् । तदेव क्रियतामाशु न विचार्यमतस्त्वया
Or, if you think their death is preferable, then let that be done at once, without further deliberation on your part.
जानासि हि यथैतेन द्रौपदी पापबुद्धिना । परिक्लिष्टा सभामध्ये तच्च तस्योपमर्षितम्
For you know how Draupadi was tormented in the assembly by that evil-minded one, and that too was endured by her.
स नाम सम्यग्वर्तेत पाण्डवेष्विति माधव। न मे सञ्जायते बुद्धिर्बीजमुप्तमिवोषरे
How could he act rightly toward the Pandavas, O Madhava? I do not conceive such a thought, like a seed sown in barren ground.
तस्माद्यन्मन्यसे युक्तं पाण्डवानां हितं च यत्। तथाऽऽशु कुरु वार्ष्णेय यन्नः कार्यमनन्तरम्
Therefore, whatever you think is proper and beneficial for the Pandavas, do that swiftly, O descendant of Vrishni, whatever is to be done next for us.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि पाण्डव। पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च प्रतिपत्स्ये निरामयम्। सर्वं त्विदं ममायत्तं बीभत्सो कर्मणोर्द्वयोः
So it is, mighty-armed one, as you say, O Pandava; I will act impartially for both the Pandavas and the Kurus. Yet all this depends on the deeds of you and Bhima.
क्षेत्रं हि रसवच्छुद्धं कर्मणैवोपपादितम्। ऋते वर्षान्न कौन्तेय जातु निर्वर्तयेत्फलम्
For a field, though fertile and pure, yields fruit only through action; without rain, O son of Kunti, it never bears fruit.
तत्र वै पौरुषं ब्रूयुरासेकं यत्र कारितम्। तत्र चापि ध्रुवं पश्येच्छोषणं दैवकारितम्
There, they attribute effort to the irrigation that is done, but certainly see drought as caused by fate.