एतद्धि रुचिराकारैः प्रासादैरुपशोभितम् । शिवं च रमणीयं च सर्वर्तु सुमहाधनम्
This house, adorned with splendid mansions, is auspicious and delightful, suitable in every season, and of immense wealth.
सर्वमस्मिन्गृहे रत्नं मम दुर्योधनस्य च। यद्यदर्हति वार्ष्णेयस्तत्तद्देयमसंशयम्
All the treasures in this house, mine and Duryodhana’s—whatever Vārṣṇeya deserves, let that be given to him without doubt.
राजन्बहुमतश्चासि त्रैलोक्यस्यापि सत्तमः। संभावितश्च लोकस्य संमतश्चासि भारत
O King, you are highly esteemed, even among the three worlds, best of men; you are honored by the people and respected among the Bhāratas.
यत्त्वमेवंगते ब्रूयाः पश्चिमे वयसि स्थितः। शास्त्राद्वा सुप्रतर्काद्वा सुस्थिरः स्थविरो ह्यसि
That you, standing at the end of life, speak thus—whether from scripture or sound reasoning—shows your steadiness and wisdom.
लेखा शशिनिभाः सूर्ये महोर्मिरिव सागरे। धर्मस्त्वयि तथा राजन्निति व्यवसिताः प्रजाः
Just as lines like the moon’s on the sun, or great waves on the ocean, so do the people believe that righteousness is established in you, O King.
सदैव भावितो लोको गुणौघैस्तव पार्थिव । गुणानां रक्षणे नित्यं प्रयतस्व सबान्धवः
The world has always regarded you, O ruler, as possessing a multitude of virtues; strive constantly, along with your kin, to protect those virtues.
आर्जवं प्रतिपद्यस्व मा बाल्याद्ब्रहु नीनशः। राजन्पुत्रांश्च पौत्रांश्च सुहृदश्चैव सुप्रियान्
Embrace integrity; do not, out of childishness, become ignoble. O King, cherish your sons, grandsons, and beloved friends.
यत्त्वं दित्ससि कृष्णाय राजन्नतिथये बहु । एतदन्यच्च दाशार्हः पृथिवीमपि चार्हति
What you wish to give to Kṛṣṇa, O King, as a great guest—this and more, the Dāśārha deserves, even the whole earth.
न तु त्वं धर्ममुद्दिश्य तस्य वा प्रियकारणात्। एतद्दित्ससि कृष्णाय सत्येनात्मानमालभे
But you do not offer this to Kṛṣṇa out of righteousness or affection for him; by truth I assert this about you.
मायैषा सत्यमेवैतच्छद्मैतद्भूरिदक्षिणा । जानामि त्वन्मतं राजन्गूढं बाह्येन कर्मणा
This is not deception, but truly so; this apparent generosity is but a pretense. I know your hidden intent, O King, concealed by outward action.
पञ्च पञ्चैव लिप्स्यन्ति ग्रामकान्पाण्डवा नृप । न च दित्ससि तेभ्यस्तांस्तच्छमं न करिष्यसि
The Pāṇḍavas, O King, only seek five villages each, yet you do not wish to give them even those; you will not make peace.
अर्थेन तु महाबाहुं वार्ष्णेयं त्वं जिहीर्षसि । अनेन चाप्युपायेन पाण्डवेभ्यो विभेत्स्यसि
You wish to win over mighty-armed Vārṣṇeya with wealth, and by this means you hope to frighten the Pāṇḍavas.
न च वित्तेन शक्योऽसौ नोद्यमेन न गर्हया। अन्यो धनञ्जयात्कर्तुमेतत्तत्त्वं ब्रवीमि ते
But he cannot be swayed by wealth, nor by effort, nor by reproach; no one but Dhanañjaya can accomplish this—I tell you the truth.
वेद कृष्णस्य माहात्म्यं वेदास्य दृढभक्तिताम्। अत्याज्यमस्य जानामि प्राणैस्तुल्यं धनञ्जयम्
I know the greatness of Kṛṣṇa and his steadfast devotion; I know that Dhanañjaya is as dear to him as life itself and cannot be abandoned.
अन्यत्कुम्भादपांपूर्णादन्यत्पादावसेचनात्। अन्यत्कुशलसंप्रश्नान्नैवेक्ष्यति जनार्दनः
Janārdana will not regard as equal the water from a full jar and that for washing the feet, nor polite inquiries about well-being.
यत्त्वस्य प्रियमातिथ्यं मानार्हस्य महात्मनः । तदस्मै क्रियतां राजन्मानार्होऽसौ जनार्दनः
Whatever honor and hospitality is due to this great-souled, worthy guest, let it be done for him, O King, for Janārdana is worthy of honor.
आशंसमानः कल्याणं कुरूनभ्येति केशवः । येनैव राजन्नर्थेन तदेवास्मा उपाकुरु
Keśava comes to the Kurus, hoping for their welfare; O King, whatever purpose he has, fulfill that for us.
शममिच्छति दाशार्हस्तव दुर्योधनस्य च। पाण्डवानां च राजेन्द्र तदस्य वचनं कुरु
The son of the Daśārhas desires peace for you, for Duryodhana, and for the Pāṇḍavas, O King; therefore, follow his counsel.
पिताऽसि राजन्पुत्रास्ते वृद्धस्त्वं शिशवः परे। वर्तस्व पितृवत्तेषु वर्तन्ते ते हि पुत्रवत्
You are the father, O King, and they are your sons; you are aged, and the others are young; behave toward them as a father, for they act toward you as sons.
यदाह विदुरः कृष्णे सर्वं तत्सत्यमच्युते। अनुरक्तो ह्यसंहार्यः पार्थान्प्रति जनार्दनः
Whatever Vidura said to Kṛṣṇa, all that is true regarding Acyuta; for Janārdana is deeply attached and unwavering toward the Pārthas.
यत्तत्सत्कारसंयुक्तं देयं वसु जनार्दने । अनेकरूपं राजेन्द्र न तद्देयं कदाचन
Whatever honor, accompanied by gifts and respect, is to be given to Janārdana, O King, in many forms, that should never be withheld.
देशः कालस्तथाऽयुक्तो न हि नार्हति केशवः । मंस्यत्यधोक्षजो राजन्भयादर्चति मामिति
If the place or time is not suitable, still Keśava is worthy; otherwise, Adhokṣaja may think, 'Out of fear, he honors me.'
अवमानश्च यत्र स्यात्क्षत्रियस्य विशांपते। न तत्कुर्याद्बुधः कार्यमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः
Wherever there is disrespect toward a kṣatriya, O lord of the people, a wise man should not act in that way—this is my firm conviction.
स हि पूज्यतमो लोके कृष्णः पृथुललोचनः । त्रयाणामपि लोकानां विदितं मम सर्वथा
Kṛṣṇa, broad-eyed, is the most worthy of honor in the world; this is certainly known to me regarding all the three worlds.
न तु तस्मै प्रदेयं स्यात्तथा कार्यगतिः प्रभो । विग्रहः समुपारब्धो न हि शाम्यत्यविग्रहात्
But if nothing is given to him, and such is the course of action, O lord, then conflict has begun, and without conflict, it will not cease.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः। वैचित्रवीर्यं राजानमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, Bhīṣma, the grandsire of the Kurus, spoke this speech to King Vaicitravīrya's son.
सत्कृतोऽसत्कृतो वाऽपि न क्रुध्येत जनार्दनः । `नावमंस्यत्यवज्ञातॄनवज्ञातोऽपि केशवः।' नालमेनमवज्ञातुं नावज्ञेयो हि केशवः
Whether honored or dishonored, Janārdana does not become angry; even if insulted, Keśava will not despise those who insult him. He is not to be despised, nor is it right to despise him.
यत्तु कार्यं महाबाहो मनसा कार्यतां गतम् । सर्वोपायैर्न तच्छक्यं केनचित्कर्तुमन्यथा
Whatever action, O mighty-armed one, has been resolved in the mind, that cannot be altered by any means by anyone.
स यद्ब्रूयान्महाबाहुस्तत्कार्यमविशङ्कया । वासुदेवेन तीर्थेन क्षिप्रं संशाभ्य पाण्डवैः
Whatever the mighty-armed one may say, that should be done without doubt; let it be quickly communicated to the Pāṇḍavas by Vāsudeva, the holy one.
धर्म्यमर्थ्यं च धर्मात्मा ध्रुवं वक्ता जनार्दनः। तस्मिन्वाच्याः प्रिया वाचो भवता बान्धवैः सह
Janārdana, who is righteous and devoted to righteousness, will surely speak what is just and beneficial; to him, let kind words be spoken by you together with your kinsmen.