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.
न पर्याप्तोस्मि यद्राजञ्श्रियं निष्केवलामहम् । तैः सहेमामुपाश्रीयां यावज्जीवं पितामह
O King, I am not satisfied with the unalloyed prosperity I possess; with them, I would enjoy this golden wealth as long as I live, O Grandsire.
इदं तु सुमहत्कार्यं श्रुणु मे यत्समर्थितम् । परायणं पाण्डवानां नियच्छामि जनार्दनम्
But hear from me this very great matter which I have resolved: I assign Janārdana as the refuge of the Pāṇḍavas.
तस्मिन्बद्धे भविष्यन्ति वृष्णयः पृथिवी तथा। पाण्डवाश्च विधेया मे स च प्रातरिहैप्यति
When he is bound to them, the Vṛṣṇis and the earth will also be so; the Pāṇḍavas will be subject to me, and he will arrive here in the morning.
अत्रोपायान्यथा सम्यङ्न बुद्ध्येत जनार्दनः । न चापायो भवेत्कश्चित्तद्भवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे
If Janārdana does not devise other means properly here, and if there is no danger, then let your majesty tell me so.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा घोरं कृष्णेऽभिसंहितम्। धृतराष्ट्रः सहामात्यो व्यथितो विमनाभवत्
Hearing those terrible words, directed at Krishna, Dhritarashtra, together with his ministers, became distressed and disheartened.
ततो दुर्योधनमिदं धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीद्वचः । मैवं वोचः प्रजापाल नैष धर्मः सनातनः
Then Dhritarashtra spoke these words to Duryodhana: 'Do not speak so, protector of the people; this is not the eternal law.'
दूतश्च हि हृषीकेशः संबन्धी च प्रियश्च नः। अपापः कौरवेयेषु स कथं बन्धमर्हति
For Hrishikesha is both a messenger and our relative, and dear to us; he is innocent among the Kauravas—how can he deserve imprisonment?
परीतस्तव पुत्रोऽयं धृतराष्ट्र सुमन्दधीः । वृणोत्यनर्थं नैवार्थं याच्यमानः सुहृज्जनैः
Your son, Dhritarashtra, whose understanding is very poor, is surrounded and, when urged by friends, chooses harm and not benefit.
इममुत्पथि वर्तन्तं पापं पापानुबन्धिनम्। वाक्यानि सुहृदां हित्वा त्वमप्यस्यानुवर्तसे
Abandoning the words of friends, you too follow this son of yours, who walks this evil path, bound to sin and its consequences.
कृष्णमक्लिष्टकर्माणमासाद्यायं सुदुर्मतिः । तव पुत्रः सहामात्यः क्षणेन न भविष्यति
Having approached Krishna, whose deeds are blameless, your son, together with his ministers, will not survive even a moment.
पापस्यास्य नृशंसस्य त्यक्तधर्मस्य दुर्मतेः । नोत्सहेऽनर्थसंयुक्ताः श्रोतुं वाचः कथंचन
I am unable to bear, in any way, the words of this sinful, cruel, lawless, and wicked man, filled with misfortune.
इत्युक्त्वा भरतश्रेष्ठो वृद्धः परममन्युमान् । उत्थाय तस्मात्प्रातिष्ठद्भीष्मः सत्यपराक्रमः
Having spoken thus, the venerable Bhishma, greatest of the Bharatas and full of intense anger, rose and departed from there, steadfast in truth and valor.
प्रातरुत्थाय कृष्णस्तु कृतवान्सर्वमाह्निकम्। ब्राह्मणैरभ्यनुज्ञातः प्रययौ नगरं प्रति
Rising early in the morning, Krishna performed all his daily rites; having been given leave by the Brahmanas, he set out for the city.
तं प्रयान्तं महाबाहुमनुज्ञाप्य महाबलम् । पर्यवर्तन्त ते सर्वे वृकस्थलनिवासिनः
Having taken leave of the mighty-armed Krishna as he departed, all the inhabitants of Vrikasthala turned back.
प्रददौ पुण्डरीकाक्षो रत्नानि च धनानि च। तान्प्रस्थाप्य महाबाहुरुपायात्कुरुसंसदम्
Lotus-eyed Krishna gave away jewels and wealth; after sending them off, the mighty-armed one proceeded to the Kuru assembly.
धार्तराष्ट्रास्तमायान्तं प्रत्युञ्जग्मुः स्वलङ्कृताः । दुर्योधनादृते सर्वे भीष्मद्रोणकृपादयः
The sons of Dhritarashtra, except for Duryodhana, together with Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and others, all adorned, came forth to meet him as he arrived.
पौराश्च बहुला राजन्हृषीकेशं दिदृक्षवः । यानैर्बहुविधैरन्ये पद्भिरेव तथाऽपरे
And many citizens, O King, eager to see Hrishikesha, came in various vehicles, while others came on foot.
स वै पथि समागम्य भीष्मेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । द्रोणेन धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च तैर्वृतो नगरं ययौ
Meeting on the road with Bhishma, whose deeds are blameless, with Drona, and with the sons of Dhritarashtra, Krishna entered the city surrounded by them.
कृष्णसंमाननार्थं च नगरं समलङ्कृतम्। बभूव राजमार्गश्च बहुरत्नसमाचितः
For Krishna's honoring, the city was splendidly adorned, and the royal road was heaped with many precious gems.
न च कश्चिद्गृहे राजंस्तदाऽऽसीद्भरतर्षभ। न स्त्री न वृद्धो न शिशुर्वासुदेवदिदृक्षया
At that time, O bull among the Bharatas, there was no one in their house—not a woman, not an elder, not a child—all eager to see Vasudeva.