द्वादशेमानि वर्षाणि वने निर्व्युषितानि नः। त्रयोदशं तथाऽज्ञातैः सजने परिवत्सरम्
For twelve years we have dwelled in the forest, and for the thirteenth year we have lived in disguise among people, completing the full term.
स्थाता नः समये तस्मिन्पितेति कृतनिश्चयाः । नाहास्म समयं तात तच्च नो ब्राह्मणा विदुः
We are resolved, father, to abide by that agreement; we have not broken it, and the Brahmanas know this to be true.
तस्मिन्नः समये तिष्ठ स्थितानां भरतर्षभ । नित्यं संक्लेशिता राजन्स्वराज्यांशं लभेमहि
Abide by that agreement with us, O best of the Bharatas, for we have upheld it; always afflicted, O King, let us obtain our share of the kingdom.
त्वं धर्ममर्थं संजानन्सम्यङ्वस्त्रातुमर्हसि ।। गुरुत्वं भवति प्रेक्ष्य बहून्क्लेशांस्तितिक्ष्महे
Knowing righteousness and wealth, you ought rightly to protect us; seeing your greatness, we endure many hardships.
स भवान्मातृपितृव्रदस्मासु प्रतिपद्यताम् ।। गुरोर्गरीयसी वृत्तिर्या च शिष्यस्य भारत
Let your conduct towards us be as that of a mother and father; for the conduct of a teacher is weightier than that of the disciple, O Bharata.
वर्तामहे त्वयि च तां त्वं च वर्तस्व नस्तथा ।। पित्रा स्थापयितव्या हि वयमुत्पथमास्थिताः
We conduct ourselves with you in that way, and you should act towards us likewise; for when we stray from the path, it is the father who must set us right.
संस्थापय पथिप्वस्मांस्तिष्ठ धर्मे सुवर्त्मनि ।। आहुश्चेमां परिषदं पुत्रास्ते भरतर्षभ
Establish us on the right path and stand firm in righteousness; your sons, O best of the Bharatas, have spoken these words in this assembly.
धर्मज्ञेषु सभासत्सु नेह युक्तमसांप्रतम् ।। यत्र धर्मो ह्यधर्मेण सत्यं यत्रानृतेन च
In an assembly of those who know righteousness, it is not proper to act otherwise; where righteousness is overcome by unrighteousness, and truth by falsehood—
हन्यते प्रेक्षमाणानां हतास्तत्र सभासदः ।। विद्धो धर्मो ह्यधर्मेण सभां यत्र प्रपद्यते
—there, while others look on, righteousness is slain, and those in the assembly are destroyed; when righteousness, wounded by unrighteousness, enters the assembly—
नचास्य शल्यं कृन्तन्ति विद्धास्तत्र सभासदः ।। धर्म एतानारुजति यथा नद्यनुकूलजान्
—and its wound is not cut out, those in the assembly are struck down; righteousness abandons them as water leaves those born on the riverbank.
ये धर्ममनुपश्यन्तस्तूष्णीं ध्यायन्त आसते । ते सत्यमाहुर्धर्म्यं च न्याय्यं च भरतर्षभ
Those who perceive righteousness and sit silently, pondering, are said to speak what is true, righteous, and just, O best of the Bharatas.
शक्यं किमन्यद्वक्तुं ते दानादन्यञ्जनेश्वर । ब्रुवन्तु ते महीपालाः सभायां ये समासते
What else can be said to you, O lord of men, beyond giving and justice? Let the kings who are assembled in this hall speak.
धर्मार्थौ संप्रधार्यैव यदि सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम् । प्रमुञ्चोमान्मृत्युपाशात्क्षत्रियान्पुरुषर्षभ
If, having considered righteousness and wealth, I speak the truth, then release us Kshatriyas from the noose of death, O best of men.
प्रशाम्य भरतश्रेष्ठ मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः । पित्र्यं तेभ्यः प्रदायांशं पाण्डवेभ्यो यथोचितम् । ततः सपुत्रः सिद्धार्थो भुङ्क्ष भोगान्परन्तप
Calm yourself, O best of the Bharatas, do not give way to anger; give the Pandavas their rightful paternal share, as is proper; then, with your sons, enjoy prosperity and happiness, O subduer of foes.
अजातशत्रुं जानीषे स्थितं धर्मे सतां सदा। सपुत्रे त्वयि वृत्तिं च वर्तते यां नराधिप
You know Ajātaśatru, who always stands firm in righteousness among the virtuous; O ruler of men, he has always maintained his conduct toward you and your sons.
दाहितश्च निरस्तश्च त्वामेवोपाश्रितः पुनः । इन्द्रप्रस्थं त्वयैवासौ सपुत्रेण विवासितः
Though burned and cast out, he again sought refuge with you; it was by you that he, along with his sons, was exiled from Indraprastha.
स तत्र विवसन्सर्वान्वशमानीय पार्थिवान्। त्वन्मुखानकरोद्राजन्न च त्वामत्यवर्तत
While living there in exile, he brought all the kings under his sway by your command, O king, and he never disobeyed you.
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य सौबलेन जिहीर्षता। राष्ट्राणि धनधान्यं च प्रयुक्तः परमोपधिः
While he was thus conducting himself, the son of Subala, desiring to deprive him, employed the highest deceit regarding his kingdom, wealth, and grain.
स तामवस्थां संप्राप्य कृष्णां प्रेक्ष्य सभां गताम्। क्षत्रधर्मादमेयात्मा नाकम्पत युधिष्ठिरः
Having reached that state, seeing Kṛṣṇā brought into the assembly, Yudhiṣṭhira, whose self is unfathomable, did not waver from the duty of a kṣatriya.
अहं तु तव तेषां च श्रेय इच्छामि भारत । धर्मादर्थात्सुखाच्चैव मा राजन्नीनशः प्रजाः
But I desire the welfare of both you and them, O Bhārata; let not the people perish, O king, for the sake of righteousness, profit, or even happiness.
अनर्थमर्थं मन्वानोऽप्यर्थं चानर्थमात्मनः । लोभेऽतिप्रसृतान्पुत्रान्निगृह्णीष्व विशांपते
Even considering misfortune as fortune, and fortune as misfortune for oneself, O lord of the people, restrain your sons whose greed has grown excessive.
स्थिताः शुश्रूषितुं पार्थाः स्थिता योद्धुमरिन्दमाः । यत्ते पथ्यतमं राजंस्तस्मिंतिष्ठ परन्तप
The sons of Pāṇḍu stand ready to serve, and the slayers of enemies are prepared to fight; O king, hold to that path which is best for you, O scorcher of foes.
तद्वाक्यं पार्थिवाः सर्वे हृदयैः समपूजयन्। न तत्र कश्चिद्वक्तुं हि वाचं प्राक्रामदग्रतः
All the kings honored those words in their hearts; there, no one dared to speak a word in response.
तस्मिन्नभिहिते वाक्ये केशवेन महात्मना। स्तिमिता हृष्टरोमाण आसन्सर्वे सभासदः
When that speech was uttered by the great-souled Keśava, all the members of the assembly sat motionless, their hair standing on end.
कस्स्विदुत्तरमेतेषां वक्तुमुत्सहते पुमान्। इति सर्वे मनोभिस्ते चिन्तयन्ति स्म पार्थिवाः
Who among these men dares to reply?—thus all the kings pondered in their minds.
तथा तेषु च सर्वेषु तूष्णींभूतेषु राजसु । जामदग्न्य इदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्कुरुसंसदि
As all those kings sat silent, Jāmadagnya spoke these words in the assembly of the Kurus.
इमां मे सोपमां वाचं श्रृणु सत्यामशङ्कितः । तां श्रुत्वा श्रेय आदत्स्व यदि साध्विति मन्यसे
Hear my words, accompanied by an example, spoken in truth and without doubt; having heard them, take what is best if you think it right.
राजा दम्भोद्भवो नाम सार्वभौमः पुराऽभवत्। अखिलां बुभुजे सर्वां पृथिवीमिति नः श्रुतम्
Once there was a universal emperor named Dambhodbhava; it is said that he enjoyed the entire earth.
स स्म नित्यं निशापाये प्रातरुत्थाय वीर्यवान् । ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियान्वैश्यान्पृच्छन्नास्ते महारथः
That mighty king, rising every morning at the end of night, would question brahmins, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas.
अस्ति कश्चिद्विशिष्टो वा मद्विधो वा भवेद्युधि । शूद्रो वैश्यः क्षत्रियो वा ब्राह्मणो वाऽपि शस्त्रभृत्
Is there anyone superior to me, or equal to me in battle—be he śūdra, vaiśya, kṣatriya, or even a brahmin bearing arms?