एकः कर्णः पराञ्जेतुं समर्थ इति निश्चितम् । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेः स शमं नोपयास्यति
'He is convinced that Karna alone is able to defeat his enemies; because of the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra, there will be no peace.'
संविच्च धार्तराष्ट्राणां सर्वेषामेव केशव । शमे प्रयतमानस्य तव सौभ्रात्रकाङ्क्षिणः
'Knowing the minds of all the sons of Dhritarashtra, O Keshava, you strive for peace out of brotherly affection.'
न पाण्डवानामस्माभिः प्रतिदेयं यथोचितम् । इति व्यवसितास्तेषु वचनं स्यान्निरर्थकम्
We cannot properly return anything to the Pandavas; thus, among them, your words would be meaningless.
यत्र सूक्तं दुरुक्तं च समं स्यान्मधुसूदन । न तत्र प्रलपेत्प्राज्ञो बधिरेष्विव गायनः
Where good speech and harsh speech are treated alike, O Madhusudana, the wise should not speak, like a singer among the deaf.
अविजानत्सु मूढेषु निर्मर्यादेषु माधव । तत्त्वं वाक्यं ब्रुवन्निन्द्यश्चण्डालेषु द्विजो यथा
Among those ignorant, foolish, and without restraint, O Madhava, speaking truth is blameworthy, like a Brahmin among outcasts.
सोऽयं बलस्थो मूढश्चन करिष्यति ते वचः । तस्मिन्निरर्थकं वाक्यमुक्तं संपत्स्यते तव
This one, strong and foolish, will not act on your words; whatever you say to him will prove fruitless.
तेषां समुपविष्टानां सर्वेषां पापचेतसाम् । तव मध्यावतरणं मम कृष्ण न रोचते
Among all those assembled, whose minds are evil, O Krishna, I do not approve of your entering their midst.
दुर्बुद्धीनामशिष्टानां बहूनां दुष्टचेतसाम् । प्रतीपं वचनं मध्ये तव कृष्ण न रोचते
Among many who are ill-intentioned, undisciplined, and wicked-minded, O Krishna, I do not approve of your opposing words in their midst.
अनुपासितवृद्धत्वाच्छ्रियो दर्पाच्च मोहितः । वयोदर्पादमर्षाच्च न ते श्रेयो ग्रहीष्यति
Unacquainted with elders, deluded by wealth and pride, intoxicated by youth and anger, he will not accept what is good for him.
बलं बलवदप्यस्य यदि वक्ष्यसि माधव । त्वय्यस्य महती शङ्का न करिष्यति ते वचः
Even if you speak of his strength, O Madhava, he will have great suspicion toward you and will not act on your words.
नेदमद्य युधा शक्यमिन्द्रेणापि सहामरैः । इति व्यवसिताः सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्रा जनार्दन
Today, not even Indra with the gods could win by battle; all the sons of Dhritarashtra are resolved thus, O Janardana.
तेष्वेवमुपपन्नेषु कामक्रोधानुवर्तिषु । समर्थमपि ते वाक्यमसमर्थं भविष्यति
Among those who follow desire and anger, even your capable words will become ineffective.
मध्ये तिष्ठन्हस्त्यनीकस्य मन्दो रथाश्वयुक्तस्य बलस्य मूढः। दुर्योधनो मन्यते बीतभीतिः कृत्स्ना मयेयं पृथिवी जितेति
Standing in the midst of the elephant army, dull-minded, with chariots and horses, Duryodhana, fearful yet pretending courage, thinks the whole earth has been conquered by him.
आशंसते वै धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रो महाराज्यमसपत्नं पृथिव्याम्। तस्मिञ्शमः केवलो नोपलभ्यो बद्धं सन्तं मन्यते लब्धमर्थम्
Dhritarashtra’s son hopes for a great, unrivaled kingdom on earth; in him, pure peace cannot be found, and he thinks what is bound is gained.
पर्यस्तेयं पृथिवी कालपक्वा दुर्योधनार्थे पाण्डवान्योद्धुकामाः । समागताः सर्वयोधाः पृथिव्यां राजानश्च क्षितिपालैः समेताः
This earth is surrounded, ripe with time; for Duryodhana’s sake, the Pandavas wish for battle. All warriors have gathered on earth, and kings have assembled with their protectors.
सर्वे चैते कृतवैराः पुरस्ता- त्त्वया राजानो हृतसाराश्च कृष्ण । तवोद्वेगात्संश्रिता धार्तराष्ट्रा- न्सुसंहताः सह कर्णेन वीराः
All these kings, previously made hostile by you, O Krishna, have lost their strength; out of fear of you, the sons of Dhritarashtra have gathered together with Karna and the heroes.
न तन्मतं मम दाशार्हवीर
That is not my opinion, O heroic descendant of Dasharha.
तेषां समुपविष्टानां बहूनां दुष्टचेतसाम्। कथं मध्यं प्रपद्येथाः शत्रूणां शत्रुकर्शन
Among those many assembled with evil minds, how could you enter the midst of enemies, O destroyer of foes?
सर्वथा त्वं महाबाहो देवैरपि दुरुत्सहः । प्रभावं पौरुषं बुद्धिं जानामि तव शत्रुहन्
In every way, O mighty-armed, you are hard to overcome even for the gods; I know your power, valor, and wisdom, O slayer of enemies.
या मे प्रीतिः पाण्डवेषु भूयःक सा त्वयि माधव । प्रेम्णा च बहुमानाच्च सौहृदाच्च ब्रवीम्यहम्
The affection I have for the Pandavas is even greater for you, O Madhava; out of love, respect, and friendship, I speak thus.
या मे प्रीतिः पुष्कराक्ष त्वद्दर्शनसमुद्भवा। सा किमाख्यायते तुभ्यमन्तरात्माऽसि देहिनां
O lotus-eyed one, the affection that has arisen in me from seeing you—why should I speak of it to you? You are the inner soul of all embodied beings.
विदुरस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रश्रितं पुरुषोत्तमः । इदं होवाच वचनं मधुरं मधुसूदनः
Having heard Vidura’s courteous words, the supreme among men, Madhusudana, spoke these sweet words.
यथा व्रूयान्महाप्राज्ञो यथा ब्रूयाद्विचक्षणः। सथा वाच्यस्त्वद्विधेन भवता मद्विधः सुहृत्
As a wise and discerning person would speak, so should a friend like you address a friend like me.
धर्मार्थयुक्तं तथ्यं च यथा त्वय्युपपद्यते। तथा वचनमुक्तोऽस्ति त्वयैतत्पितृमातृवत्
Words that are true and aligned with righteousness and purpose, as you have spoken to me, are as fitting as those from a father or mother.
सत्यं प्राप्तं च युक्तं वाऽप्येवमेव यथाऽऽत्थ माम्। श्रृणुष्वागमने हेतुं विदुरावहितो मम
What you have said is true and proper, just as you have addressed me. Listen now with attention, Vidura, to the reason for my coming.
दौरात्म्यं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य क्षत्रियाणां च वैरिताम्। सर्वमेतदहं जानन्क्षत्तः प्राप्तोऽद्य कौरवान्
Knowing well the wickedness of Dhritarashtra’s sons and the enmity among the Kshatriyas, I have come today, O Kshatta, to the Kauravas.
पर्यस्तां पृथिवीं सर्वां साश्वां सरथकुञ्जराम् । यो मोचयेन्मृत्युपाशात्प्राप्नुयाद्धर्ममुत्तमम्
Whoever can rescue the whole earth, with its horses, chariots, and elephants, from the noose of death, attains the highest righteousness.
धर्मकार्यं यतञ्शक्त्या नो चेत्प्राप्नोति मानवः । प्राप्तो भवति तत्पुण्यमत्र मे नास्ति संशयः
If a person strives to the best of their ability for a righteous cause but does not succeed, they still gain merit; of this I have no doubt.
मनसा चिन्तयन्पापं कर्मणा नातिरोचयन्। न प्राप्नोति फलं तस्येत्येवं धर्मविदो विदुः
One who contemplates evil in mind but does not act upon it does not reap its fruit; thus the knowers of dharma declare.
सोऽहं यतिष्ये प्रशमं क्षत्तः कर्तुममायया। कुरूणां सृञ्जयानां च सङ्ग्राने विनशिष्यताम्
Therefore, O Kshatta, I will strive sincerely to bring peace between the Kurus and the Sṛñjayas, so that they may not perish in battle.