ऋषीञ्शान्तनवो दृष्ट्वा सभाद्वारमुपस्थितान् । त्वरमाणस्ततो भृत्यानासनानीत्यचोदयत्
Seeing the sages at the entrance to the assembly, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, quickly ordered his attendants to bring seats.
आसनान्यथ मृष्टानि महान्ति विपुलानि च ।। मणिकाञ्चनचित्राणि समाजह्रुस्ततस्ततः
Then, large and splendid seats, adorned with jewels and gold, were brought there from all sides.
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु गृहीतार्घ्येषु भारत ।। निषसादासने कृष्णो राजानश्च यथासनम्
When the sages had sat down there and received the arghya, Krishna and the kings each took their seats.
दुःशासनः सात्यकये ददावासनमुत्तमम् ।। विविंशतिर्ददौ पीठं काञ्चनं कृतवर्मणे
Duhshasana gave the best seat to Satyaki, and Vivimsati gave a golden stool to Kritavarma.
अविदूरे तु कृष्णस्य कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ ।। एकासने महात्मानौ निषीदतुरमर्षणौ
Not far from Krishna, Karna and Duryodhana, both great-souled and proud, sat together on one seat.
गान्धारराजः शकुनिर्गान्धारैरभिरक्षितः ।। निषसादासने राजा सहपुत्रो विशांपते
King Shakuni of Gandhara, protected by the Gandharas, sat on a seat with his son, O lord of the people.
विदुरो मणिपीठे तु शुक्लस्पर्ध्याजिनोत्तरे ।। संस्पृशन्नासनं शौरेर्महामतिरुपाविशत्
Vidura, of great wisdom, sat on a jeweled seat covered with a white antelope skin, touching the seat of Sauri.
चिरस्य दृष्ट्वा दाशार्हं राजानः सर्व एव ते ।। अमृतस्येव नातृप्यन्प्रेक्षमाणा जनार्दनम्
After a long time, all those kings, seeing Dasarha, gazed at Janardana insatiably, as if at nectar.
अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशः पीतवासा जनार्दनः ।। व्यभ्राजत सभामध्ये हेम्नीवोपहितो मणिः
Janardana, wearing yellow garments and shining like the flax flower, blazed in the midst of the assembly like a jewel set in gold.
ततस्तूष्णीं सर्वमासीद्गोविन्दगतमानसम् । न तत्र कश्चित्किंचिद्वा व्याजहार पुमान्क्वचित्
Then all became silent, their minds fixed on Govinda; no man there uttered a word at any time.
तेष्वासीनेषु सर्वेषु तूष्णींभूतेषु राजसु। वाक्यमभ्याददे कृष्णः सुदंष्ट्रो दुन्दुभिस्वनः
When all had taken their seats and the kings had fallen silent, Krishna, whose words were sharp and thunderous as a drum, began to speak.
जीमूत इव धर्मान्ते सर्वां संश्रावयन्सभाम् । धृतराष्ट्रमभिप्रेक्ष्य समभाषत माधवः
Like a cloud at the end of the season of righteousness, he made the entire assembly hear his words; looking intently at Dhritarashtra, Madhava spoke.
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च शमः स्यादिति भारत । अप्रणशेन वीराणामेतद्याचितुमागतः
O Bharata, I have come here to request, without harm to the heroes, that peace be established between the Kurus and the Pandavas.
राजन्नान्यत्प्रवक्तव्यं तव नैःश्रेयसं वचः । विदितं ह्येव ते सर्वं वेदितव्यमरिन्दम
King, there is nothing else to be said for your highest good; for, O subduer of enemies, you already know all that must be known.
इदं ह्यद्य कुलं श्रेष्ठं सर्वराजसु पार्थिव । श्रुतवृत्तोपसंपन्नं सर्वैः समुदितं गुणैः
Today, among all kings, this is the foremost lineage, O ruler of men, endowed with noble conduct and all virtues, and renowned for its qualities.
कृपानुकम्पा कारुण्यमानृशंस्यं च भारत । तथार्जवं क्षमा सत्यं कुरुष्वेतद्विशिष्यते
Compassion, sympathy, kindness, non-cruelty, straightforwardness, patience, and truth—these virtues, O Bharata, are especially found among the Kurus.
तस्मिन्नेवंविधे राजन्कुले महति तिष्ठति। त्वन्निमित्तं विशेषेण नेह युक्तमसांप्रतम्
In such a great and noble lineage, O King, it is especially unfitting that, because of you, this present situation has arisen.
त्वं हि धारयिता श्रेष्ठः कुरूणां कुरुसत्तम। मिथ्याप्रचरतां तात बाह्येष्वाभ्यन्तरेषु च
For you are the foremost upholder of the Kurus, O best of the Kurus, both in public and in private, even when others act falsely, dear father.
ते पुत्रास्तव कौरव्य दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः। धर्मार्थौ पृष्ठतः कृत्वा प्रचरन्ति नृशंसवत्
But your sons, O Kaurava, led by Duryodhana, act cruelly, disregarding righteousness and profit, putting them behind.
अशिष्टा गतमर्यादा लोभेन हृतचेतसः। स्वेषु बन्धुषु मुख्येषु तद्वेत्थ पुरुषर्षभ
Untrained, having crossed the bounds of propriety, their minds seized by greed, they act thus even towards their chief kinsmen—you know this, O best of men.
सेयमापन्महाघोरा कुरुष्वेव समुत्थिता । उपेक्ष्यमाणा कौरव्य पृथिवीं घातयिष्यति
This terrible calamity has arisen among the Kurus themselves, O Kaurava; if neglected, it will destroy the earth.
शक्या चेयं शमयितुं त्वं चेदिच्छसि भारत । न दुष्करो ह्यत्र शमो मतो मे भरतर्षभ
Yet this can be resolved if you so wish, O Bharata; in my view, peace here is not difficult, O best of the Bharatas.
त्वय्यधीनः शमो राजन्मयि चैव विशांपते । पुत्रान्स्थापय कौरव्य स्थापयिष्याम्यहं परान्
Peace depends on you, O King, and on me as well, O lord of peoples; restrain your sons, O Kaurava, and I will restrain the others.
आज्ञा तव हि राजेन्द्र कार्या पुत्रैः सहान्वयैः । हितं बलवदप्येषां तिष्ठतां तव शासने
For your command, O king of kings, must be carried out by your sons and their followers, even if it is harsh, as long as they remain under your rule.
तव चैव हितं राजन्पाण्डवानामथो हितम् । शमे प्रयतमानस्य तव शासनकाङ्क्षिणः
And what is beneficial for you, O King, and also for the Pandavas, will be achieved if you strive for peace, desiring your command to be followed.
स्वयं निष्फलमालक्ष्य संविधत्स्व विशांपते । सहायभूता भरतास्तवैव स्युर्जनेश्वर
Seeing that your own efforts have so far been fruitless, make arrangements yourself, O lord of peoples; the Bharatas will be your allies.
धर्मार्थयोस्तिष्ठ राजन्पाण्डवैरभिरक्षितः । न हि शक्यास्तथाभूता यत्नादपि नराधिप
Stand firm in righteousness and profit, O King, protected by the Pandavas; for such as they cannot be overcome even with effort, O lord of men.
न हि त्वां पाण्डवैर्जेतुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मभिः । इन्द्रोपि देवैः सहितः प्रसहेत कुतो नृपाः
Indeed, not even Indra with all the gods could defeat you if you are protected by the great-souled Pandavas—how then could mere kings?
यत्र भीष्मश्च द्रोणश्च कृपः कर्णो विविंशतिः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सोमदत्तोऽथ बाह्लिकः
Where Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, Vivimsati, Ashvatthama, Vikarna, Somadatta, and Bahlika are present,
सैन्धवश्च कलिङ्गश्च काम्भोजश्च सुदक्षिणः । युधिष्ठिरो भीमसेनः सव्यसाची यमौ तथा
And also the kings of Sindhu, Kalinga, Kamboja, Sudakshina, Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the twins,