अर्थतस्ते मम मृतास्तेषां चाहं जनार्दना । ब्रूया माधव राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्
For me, O Janārdana, they are as good as dead, and I am dead to them. O Mādhava, speak to King Yudhiṣṭhira, the righteous one.
भूयांस्ते हीयते धर्मो मा पुत्रक वृथा कृथाः । पराश्रया वासुदेव या जीवति घिगस्तु ताम्
Let not your righteousness diminish further, my son; do not act in vain. O Vāsudeva, let her who lives in dependence be protected.
वृत्तेः कार्पण्यलब्धाया अप्रतिष्ठैव ज्यायसी। अथो धनञ्जयं ब्रूया नित्योद्युक्तं वृकोदरम्
Of the two courses, that which is gained by weakness is less worthy and unstable; therefore, speak to Dhananjaya and ever-ready Vrikodara.
यदर्थं क्षत्रिया सूते तस्य कालोऽयमागतः। अस्मिंश्चेदागते काले मिथ्या चातिक्रमिष्यति
The purpose for which a Kshatriya is born—now that time has come; if, at this moment, he acts falsely, he will transgress his duty.
लोकसंभाविताः संतः सुनृशंसं करिष्यथ । नृशंसेन च वो युक्तांस्त्यजेयं शाश्वतीः समाः
Those who are honored in the world, if they act with excessive compassion, will be joined with reproach; for such compassion, I would abandon even eternal happiness.
काले हि समनुप्राप्ते त्यक्तव्यमपि जीवनम् । माद्रीपुत्रौ च व्यक्तव्यौ क्षत्रधर्मरतौ सदा
When the proper time arrives, even life itself must be given up; and the sons of Madri, always devoted to the warrior's duty, must be made to understand this.
विक्रमेणार्जितान्भोगान्वृणीतं जीवितादपि । विक्रमाधिगता ह्यर्थाः क्षत्रधर्मेण जीवतः
Enjoyments gained by valor should be chosen even above life; for wealth attained through valor is fitting for one who lives by the Kshatriya code.
मनो मनुष्यस्य सदा प्रीणन्ति पुरुषोत्तम। गत्वा ब्रूहि महाबाहो सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्
O best of men, the mind of a person is always pleased by such things; go, mighty-armed one, and speak to Arjuna, foremost among all wielders of weapons.
अर्जुनं पाण्डवं वीरं द्रौपद्याः पदवीं चर । विदितौ हि तवात्यन्तं क्रुद्धौ तौ तु यथान्तकौ
Approach Arjuna, the heroic Pandava, who follows the path of Draupadi; for you know well that those two, when enraged, are like Death itself.
भीमार्जुनौ नयेतां हि देवानपि परां गतिम्। तयोश्चैतदवज्ञानं यत्सा कृष्णा सभां गता
Bhima and Arjuna could lead even the gods to the highest state; their anger is due to the insult Draupadi suffered in the assembly.
दुःशासतश्च कर्णश्च परुषाण्यभ्यभाषताम्। दुर्योधनो भीमसेनमभ्यगच्छन्मनस्विनम्
Duḥśāsana and Karṇa spoke harsh words, and Duryodhana approached the high-minded Bhimasena.
पश्यतां कुरुमुख्यानां तस्य द्रक्ष्यति यत्फलम् । न हि वैरं समासाद्य प्रशाम्यति वृकोदरः
In the presence of the foremost Kurus, he will see the result of his actions; for Vrikodara does not let enmity subside once it has arisen.
सुचिरादपि भीमस्य न हि वैरं प्रशाम्यति। यावदन्तं न नयति शात्रवाञ्चत्रुकर्शनः
Even after a long time, Bhima's enmity does not fade, until he brings his enemies to their end, he who is the tormentor of foes.
न दुःखं राज्यहरणं न च द्यूते पराजयः । प्रव्राजनं तु पुत्राणां न मे तद्दुःखकारणम्
The loss of the kingdom is not sorrowful, nor is defeat at dice; the exile of my sons is not the cause of my grief.
यत्तु सा बृहती श्यामा एकवस्त्रा सभां गता। अशृणोत्परुषा वाचः किं नु दुःखतरं ततः
But when that noble, dark-complexioned lady, clad in a single garment, entered the assembly and heard harsh words—what could be more painful than that?
स्त्रीधर्मिणी वरारोहा क्षत्रधर्मरता सदा। नाभ्यगच्छत्तदा नाथं कृष्णा नाथवती सती
That high-hipped woman, ever devoted to the warrior's duty, though a true wife, did not find a protector then—Krishna, who deserved a guardian.
यस्या मम सपुत्रायास्त्वं नाथो मधुसूदन । रामश्च बलिनां श्रेष्ठः प्रद्युम्नश्च महारथः
For her, for me, and for my sons, you are the protector, O Madhusudana, as is Rama, best of the strong, and Pradyumna, the great chariot-warrior.
साऽहमेवंविधं दुःखं सहेयं पुरुषोत्तम । भीमे जीवति दुर्धर्षे विजये चापलायिनि
Such suffering as this, O best of men, I could endure, while Bhima, the unconquerable, lives, and Vijaya does not turn away.
तत आश्वासयामास पुत्राधिभिरभिप्लुताम्। पितृष्वसारं शोचन्तीं शौरिः पार्थसखः पृथाम्
Then Krishna, friend of the Parthas, comforted Kunti, who was overwhelmed by sorrow for her sons and grieving for her sister.
का नु सीमन्तिनी त्वादृग्लोकेष्वस्ति पितृष्वसः । शूरस्य राज्ञो दुहिता आजमीढकुलं गता
What other noble lady like you exists in the world, O father's sister—daughter of a heroic king, who entered the line of Ajamidha?
महाकुलीना भवती ह्रदाद्ध्रदमिवागता। ईश्वरी सर्वकल्याणी भर्त्रा परमपूजिता
You are of noble lineage, as if arisen from one deep pool to another; a sovereign, auspicious in every way, honored supremely by your husband.
वीरसूर्वीरपत्नी त्वं सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः । मुखदुःखे महाप्राज्ञे त्वादृशी सोढुमर्हति
You, the mother of heroes, wife of a hero, endowed with every virtue, O wise one, are fit to endure such sorrow of heart.
निद्रातन्द्रे क्रोधहर्षौ क्षुत्पिपासे हिमातपौ। एतानि पार्था निर्जित्य नित्यं वीरसुखे रताः
The sons of Pāṇḍu, always delighting in the happiness of heroes, have conquered sleep and drowsiness, anger and joy, hunger and thirst, cold and heat.
त्यक्तग्राम्यसुखाः पार्था नित्यं वीरसुखप्रियाः । न तु स्वल्पेन तुष्येयुर्महोत्साहा महाबलाः
The Pāṇḍavas, having abandoned worldly pleasures, ever cherish the joy of heroes; they, mighty and energetic, would not be satisfied with little.
अन्तं धीरा निषेवन्ते मध्यं ग्राम्यसुखप्रियाः । उत्तमांश्च परिक्लेशान्भोगांश्चातीव मानुषान्
The steadfast pursue the end; those attached to ordinary pleasures remain in the middle; but the best endure great hardships and enjoyments beyond the human.
अन्तेषु रेमिरे धीरा न ते मध्येषु रेमिरे । अन्तप्राप्तिं सुखं प्राहुर्दुःखमन्तरमन्तयोः
The steadfast rejoice at the end, not in the middle; they say happiness is found at the end, and sorrow lies between the two ends.
अभिवादयन्ति भवतीं पाण्डवाः सह कृष्णया । आत्मानं ते कुशलिनं निवेद्याहुरनामयम्
The Pāṇḍavas, along with Kṛṣṇā, send you their respectful greetings, declaring themselves well and free from illness.
अरोगान्सर्वसिद्धार्थान्क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि पाण्डवान् । ईश्वरान्सर्वलोकस्य हतामित्राञ्श्रिया वृतान्
You will soon see the Pāṇḍavas, healthy and having attained all their aims, lords of all the world, their enemies slain, adorned with prosperity.
एवमाश्वासिता कुन्ती प्रत्युवाच जनार्दनम् । पुत्राधिभिरभिध्वस्ता निगृह्याबुद्धिजं तमः
Thus comforted, Kuntī replied to Janārdana, restraining the darkness born of confusion, though afflicted by sorrow for her sons.
यद्यत्तेषां महाबाहो पथ्यं स्यान्मधुसूदन। यथायथा त्वं मन्येथाः कुर्याः कृष्ण तथातथा
If, O mighty-armed Mādhava, what you propose is beneficial for them, then do as you think best, O Kṛṣṇa.