तदिदं निश्चित्तं बुद्ध्या पूर्वैरपि महात्मभिः । दैवे च मानुषे चैव संयुक्तं लोककारणम्
This has been determined by the wise of old: the cause of worldly events is a combination of destiny and human effort.
अहं हि तत्करिष्यामि परं पुरुषकारतः । देवं तु न मया शक्यं कर्म कर्तुं कथंचन
I will do what is possible by human effort, but I cannot perform the work of the gods in any way.
स हि धर्मं च लोकं च त्यक्त्वा चरति दुर्मतिः। न हि सन्तप्यते तेन तथारूपेण कर्मणा
For that wicked-minded one, abandoning righteousness and the world, acts as he pleases, and does not grieve for such deeds.
तथापि बुद्धिं पापिष्ठां वर्धयन्त्यस्य मन्त्रिणः । शकुनिः सूतपुत्रश्च भ्राता दुःशासनस्तथा
Even so, his counselors—Shakuni, the son of the charioteer, and his brother Duhshasana—encourage his most evil mind.
स हि त्यागेन राज्यस्य न शमं समुपैष्यति। अन्तरेण वधं पार्थ सानुबन्धः सुयोधनः
For by renouncing the kingdom, Suyodhana, along with his allies, O Partha, will not attain peace without being slain.
न चापि प्रणिपातेन त्यक्तुमिच्छति धर्मराट् । याच्यमानश्च राज्यं स न प्रजास्यति दुर्मतिः
Nor does the king of righteousness wish to give up the kingdom through submission; even when entreated, that wicked-minded one will not relinquish the realm.
न तु मन्ये स तद्वाच्यो यद्युधिष्ठिरशातनम् । उक्तं प्रयोजनं यत्तु धर्मराजेन भारत
But I do not think he should be spoken to thus, if Yudhishthira is not overpowered; the purpose stated by the king of righteousness, O Bharata, has been declared.
तथा पापस्तु तत्सर्वं न करिष्यति कौरवः । तस्मिंश्चाक्रियमाणेऽसौ लोके वध्यो भविष्यति
Yet the sinful Kaurava will not do any of that; and if he does not act thus, he will become liable to death in the eyes of the world.
मम चापि स वध्यो हि जगतश्चापि भारत । तेन कौमारके यूयं सर्वे विप्रकृताः सदा
And he is indeed deserving of death from me and from the world, O Bharata; by him, all of you were always wronged in your youth.
विप्रलुप्तं च वो राज्यं नृशंसेन दुरात्मना। न चोपशाम्यते पापः श्रियं दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरे
Your kingdom was usurped by that cruel, evil-minded one; nor does that wicked man cease, seeing Yudhishthira's prosperity.
असकृच्चाप्यहं तेन त्वत्कृते पार्थ भेदितः । न मया तद्गृहीतं च पापं तस्य चिकीर्षेतम्
More than once, O Partha, I was divided by him for your sake; yet I did not accept that sin which he intended.
जानासि हि महाबाहो त्वमप्यस्य परं मतम्। प्रियं चिकीर्षमाणं च धर्मराजस्य मामपि
You know well, O mighty-armed one, his highest intention, as do I, wishing to do what is dear to the king of righteousness.
संजानंस्तस्य चात्मानं मम चैव परं मतम्। अजानन्निव मां कस्मादर्जुनाद्याभिशङ्कसे
Knowing his mind and mine, his highest purpose, why, Arjuna, do you suspect me as if I were ignorant?
यच्चापि परमं दिव्यं तच्चाप्यनुगतं त्वया। विधानं विहितं पार्थ कथं शर्म भवेत्परैः
And that supreme, divine ordinance has also been followed by you, O Partha; how can there be peace with others when the rule has been established?
यत्तु वाचा मया शक्यं कर्मणा वाऽपि पाण्डव । करिष्ये तदहं पार्थ न त्वाशंसे शमं परैः
Whatever can be done by word or deed, O Pandava, that I shall do, O Partha; but I do not expect peace from the others.
कथं गोहरणे ह्युक्तो नैतच्छर्म तथा हितम् । याच्यमानो हि भीष्मेण संवत्सरगतेऽध्वनि
How, when urged regarding the seizure of the cows, was this peace not so beneficial? For even when entreated by Bhishma after a year had passed,
तदैव ते पराभूता यदा सङ्कल्पितास्त्वया। लवशः क्षणशश्चापि न च तुष्टः सुयोधनः
At that very moment you were defeated, when you, having resolved, O Partha, not even for an instant or a moment, was Suyodhana satisfied.
सर्वथा तु मया कार्यं धर्मराजस्य शासनम् । विभाव्यं तस्य भूयश्च कर्म पापं दुरात्मनः
In every way, I must carry out the command of the king of righteousness; and the evil deed of that wicked soul must be considered again.
उक्तं बहुविधं वाक्यं धर्मराजेन माधव। धर्मज्ञेन वदान्येन श्रुतं चैव हि तत्त्वया
Many kinds of words have been spoken by the king of righteousness, O Madhava, who knows dharma and is generous, and you have indeed heard them in truth.
मतमाज्ञाय राज्ञश्च भीमसेनेन माधव । संशमो बाहुवीर्य च ख्यापितं माधवात्मनः
Having understood the opinion of the king, O Madhava, Bhimasena has made known both forbearance and strength of arms, as has your own self.
तथैव फाल्गुनेनापि यदुक्तं तत्त्वया श्रुतम् । आत्मनश्च मतं वीर कथितं भवताऽसकृत्
Likewise, what was said by Phalguna, you have heard in truth; and your own opinion, O hero, has been stated by you more than once.
सर्वमेतदतिक्रम्य श्रुत्वा परमतं भवान्। यत्प्राप्तकालं मन्येथास्तत्कुर्याः पुरुषोत्तम
Having heard all this and the highest counsel, O best of men, you should do that which you deem timely.
तस्मिंरतस्मिन्निमित्ते हि मतं भवति केशव । प्राप्तकालं मनुष्येण क्षमं कार्यमरिन्दम
O Keśava, when the time and omen are right, it is considered proper for a man to act, O subduer of enemies.
अन्यथा चिन्तितो ह्यर्थः पुनर्भवति सोऽन्यथा । अनित्यमतयो लोके नराः पुरुषसत्तम
Indeed, a matter thought of in one way turns out differently; people in this world, O best of men, have minds that are inconstant.
अन्यथाबुद्धयो ह्यासन्नस्मासु वनवासिषु। अदृश्येष्वन्यथा कृष्ण दृश्येषु पुनरन्यथा
Those who dwell in the forest with us have minds that change; O Kṛṣṇa, in unseen matters they think one way, and in seen matters, yet another.
अस्माकमपि वार्ष्णेय वने विचरतां तदा। न तथा प्रणयो राज्ये यथा संप्रति वर्तते
Even for us, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, while we wandered in the forest, our affection for the kingdom was not as it is now.
निवृत्तवनवासान्नः श्रुत्वा वीर समागताः । अक्षौहिण्यो हि सप्ते मास्त्वत्प्रसादाज्जनार्दन
O hero, after our forest exile ended, we heard that seven akṣauhiṇīs have assembled for us, O Janārdana, by your favor.
इमान्हि पुरुषव्याघ्रानचिन्त्यबलपौरुषात्। आत्तशस्त्रान्रणे दृष्ट्वा न व्यथेदिह कः पुमान्
Who, seeing these tiger-like men with unimaginable strength and valor, armed with weapons in battle, would not be shaken here?
स भवान्कुरुमध्ये तं सान्त्वपूर्वं भयोत्तरम्। ब्रूयाद्वाक्यं यथा मन्दो न व्यथेत सुयोधनः
Therefore, you should speak to Suyodhana among the Kurus with words that begin gently but end with warning, so that the foolish one does not become fearful.
युधिष्ठिरं भीमसेनं बीभत्सुं चापराचितम् । सहदेवं च मां चैव त्वां च रामं च केशव
Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena, the undefeated Arjuna, Sahadeva, myself, you, and Rāma, O Keśava,