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?
इति ब्रुवन्नन्वचरत्स राजा पृथिवीमिमाम्। दर्पेण महता मत्तः कञ्चिदन्यमचिन्तयन्
Thus speaking, that king roamed this earth, intoxicated with great pride, considering no one else.
तं च वैद्या अकृपणा ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतोऽभयाः। प्रत्यषेधन्त राजानं श्लाघमानं पुनः पुनः
But the learned, fearless brahmins everywhere, not pitying him, repeatedly restrained that boasting king.
निषिध्यमानोऽप्यसकृत्पृच्छत्येव स वै द्विजान् । अतिमानं श्रिया मत्तं तमूचुर्ब्राह्मणास्तदा
Though repeatedly forbidden, he continues to question the twice-born; intoxicated by wealth and pride, he is addressed by the Brahmins at that time.
तपस्विनो महात्मानो वेदप्रत्ययदर्शिनः । उदीर्यमाणं राजानं क्रोधदीप्ता द्विजातयः
Ascetics of great soul, who perceive the certainty of the Vedas, the twice-born, inflamed with anger, spoke to the king as he persisted.
अनेकजयिनौ शङ्ख्ये यौ वै पुरुषसत्तमौ । तयोस्त्वं न समो राजन्भवितासि कदाचन
Those two, renowned for many victories, are foremost among men; O king, you will never be their equal.
एवमुक्तः स राजा तु पुनः पप्रच्छ तान्द्विजान्। क्व तौ वीरौ क्वजन्मानौ किंकर्माणौ च कौ च तौ
Thus addressed, the king again questioned those Brahmins: 'Where are those heroes? What is their birth? What are their deeds, and who are they?'
नरो नारायणश्चैव तापसाविति नः श्रुतम्। आयातौ मानुषे लोके ताभ्यां युद्ध्यस्व पार्थिव
'Nara and Narayana, ascetics—so we have heard; they have come to the human world. Fight with them, O ruler.'
श्रूयेते तौ महात्मानौ नरनारायणावुभौ । तपो घोरमनिर्देश्यं तप्येते गन्धमादने
Both Nara and Narayana, great souls, are famed; they perform severe, indescribable austerities on Gandhamadana.
स राजा महतीं सेनां योजयित्वा षडङ्गिनीम् । अमृष्यमाणः संप्रायाद्यत्र तावपराजितौ
The king, unable to bear it, assembled a mighty sixfold army and set out to where those two were undefeated.
स गत्वा विषमं घोरं पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्। मार्गमाणोऽन्वगच्छत्तौ तापसौ वनमाश्रितौ
He went to the harsh, dreadful mountain Gandhamadana, seeking those ascetics who dwelled in the forest.
तौ दृष्ट्वा क्षुत्पिपासाभ्यां कृशौ धमनिसन्ततौ । शीतवातातपैश्चैव कर्शितौ पुरुषोत्तमौ
Seeing them, emaciated by hunger and thirst, their veins prominent, and worn by cold, wind, and heat—those supreme men.
अभिगम्योपसङ्गृह्य पर्यपृच्छदनामयम्। तमर्चित्वा मूलफलैरासनेनोदकेन च
Approaching and greeting them, he inquired after their welfare; honoring them with roots, fruits, a seat, and water.
न्यमन्त्रयेतां राजानं किं कार्यं क्रियतामिति। ततस्तामानुपूर्वी स पुनरेवान्वकीर्तयत्
They invited the king, asking, 'What should be done?' Then he recounted the sequence of events once more.
बाहुभ्यां मे जिता भूमिर्निहताः सर्वशत्रवः। भवद्भ्यां युद्धमाकाङ्क्षन्नुपयातोऽस्मि पर्वतम्
'By my arms I have conquered the earth; all enemies are slain. Desiring battle with you both, I have come to this mountain.'
आतिथ्यं दीयतामेतत्काङ्क्षितं मे चिरं प्रति
'Grant me hospitality, which I have long desired.'
न ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे युद्धं कुतः शस्त्रं कुतोऽनृजुः । अन्यत्र युद्धमाकाङ्क्ष बहवः क्षत्रियाः क्षितौ
'There is no battle in this hermitage; whence weapons, whence unrighteousness? Seek battle elsewhere—many Kshatriyas are on the earth.'
उच्यमानस्तथाऽपि स्म भूय एवाभ्यभाषत। पुनः पुनः क्षाम्यमाणः सान्त्व्यमानश्च भारत
Though thus addressed, he spoke again and again, repeatedly excused and soothed, O Bharata.
दम्भोद्भवो युद्धमिच्छन्नाह्वयत्येव तापसौ । ततो नरस्त्विषीकाणां मुष्टिमादाय भारत
Born of pride, desiring battle, he kept summoning the ascetics; then Nara, taking a fistful of blades of grass, O Bharata—
अब्रवीदेहि युद्ध्यस्व युद्धकामुक क्षत्रिय। सर्वशस्त्राणि चादत्स्व योजयस्व च वाहिनीम्
Said, 'Come, fight, you battle-seeking Kshatriya; take up all your weapons and assemble your army.'
अहं हि ते विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धामितः परम् । `यदाह्वयसि दर्पेण ब्राह्मणप्रमुखाञ्जनान्
'I will destroy your devotion to battle, which is excessive; since you summon the people, led by Brahmins, out of arrogance.'