येन त्वां नाभिजानन्ति ततोऽज्ञातोसि पातितः । प्रीत्यैव चासि दौहित्रैस्तारितस्त्वमिहागतः
Because of this, they did not recognize you, and so you were cast down; but out of affection, your grandsons have rescued you and brought you here.
स्थानं च प्रतिपन्नोऽसि कर्मणा स्वेन निर्जितम् । अचलं शाश्वतं पुण्यमुत्तमं ध्रुवमव्ययम्
You have regained your place, conquered by your own deeds; it is steadfast, eternal, virtuous, supreme, fixed, and undecaying.
भगवन्संशयो मेऽस्ति कश्चितं छेत्तुमर्हसि । न ह्यन्यमहमर्हामि प्रष्टुं लोकपितामह
O blessed one, I have a certain doubt which you should resolve; for I am not fit to ask anyone else but you, O grandsire of the worlds.
बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम्। अनेकक्रतुदानौघैरार्जितं मे महत्फलम्
For thousands of years, I protected and nurtured my subjects; through countless sacrifices and gifts, I acquired a great reward.
कथं तदल्पकालेन क्षीणं येनास्मि पातितः । भगवन्वेत्थ लोकांश्च शाश्वतान्मम निर्मितान् । कथं नु मम तत्सर्वं विप्रनष्टं महाद्युते
How was that, in such a short time, diminished, by which I was cast down? O blessed one, you know the worlds, even those I established as eternal; how then was all that lost from me, O radiant one?
बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम्। अनेकक्रतुदानौघैर्यत्त्वयोपार्जितं फलम्
For thousands of years, you protected and nurtured your subjects; through countless sacrifices and gifts, you acquired that reward.
तदनेनैव दोषेण क्षीणं येनासि पातितः। अभिमानेन राजेन्द्र धिक्कृतः स्वर्गवासिभिः
But through this very fault, it was diminished, and you were cast down; O king, through pride, you were scorned by the dwellers of heaven.
नायं मानेन राजर्षे न बलेन न हिंसया। न शाठ्येन न मायाभिर्लोको भवति शाश्वतः
This world is not eternal for a royal sage through pride, nor through strength, nor through violence, nor through deceit, nor through trickery.
नावमान्यास्त्वया राजन्नधमोत्कृष्टमध्यमाः। न हि मानप्रदग्धानां कश्चिदस्ति शमः क्वचित्
You should not disdain, O king, those who are low, high, or middling; for there is never any peace for those burned by pride.
पतनारोहणमिदं कथयिष्यन्ति ये नराः । विषमाण्यपि ते प्राप्तास्तरिष्यन्ति न संशयः
Those men who recount this descent and ascent, even if they encounter hardships, will surely overcome them—there is no doubt.
एष दोषोऽभिमानेन पुरा प्राप्तो ययातिना । निर्बध्नताऽतिमात्रं च गालवेन महीपते
This fault of pride was formerly incurred by Yayati; and by excessive insistence, O king, by Galava as well.
श्रोतव्यं हितकामानां सुहृदां हितमिच्छताम्। न कर्तव्यो हि निर्बन्धो निर्बन्धो हि क्षयोदयः
One should listen to what is beneficial from friends who wish well; insistence should not be made, for insistence leads to loss and gain.
तस्मात्त्वमपि गान्धारे मानं क्रोधं च वर्जय । सन्धत्स्व पाण्डवैर्वीर संरम्भं त्यज पार्थिव
Therefore, you too, O Gandhari's son, abandon pride and anger; make peace with the Pandavas, O hero, and renounce hostility, O king.
स भवान्सुहृदां पथ्यं वचो गृह्णातु माऽनृतम् । समर्थैर्विग्रहं कृत्वा विषमस्थो भविष्यसि
Let you accept the wholesome words of friends, not falsehood; if you engage in conflict with the capable, you will find yourself in difficulty.
ददाति यत्पार्थिव यत्करति यद्वा तपस्तप्यति यञ्जुहोति। न तस्य नाशोऽस्ति न चापकर्षो नान्यस्तदश्नाति स एव कर्ता
Whatever a king gives, whatever he does, whatever austerity he performs, whatever offering he makes—none of it is ever lost or diminished; no one else partakes of it, for he alone is the doer.
इदं महाख्यानमनुत्तमं हितं बहुश्रुतानां गतरोषरागिणाम्। समीक्ष्य लोके बहुधा प्रधारितं त्रिवर्गदृष्टिः पृथिवीमुपाश्नुते
This great and unsurpassed tale is beneficial for those well-versed in the scriptures, whose anger and passion have subsided; having been carefully considered and widely taught in the world, one who sees the three aims of life enjoys the earth.
एतत्पुण्यतमं राजन्ययातेश्चरितं महत्। यच्छ्रुत्वा श्रावयित्वा च स्वर्गं यान्तीह मानवाः
This is the most sacred and noble account of royal conduct; those who hear it and cause it to be heard attain heaven in this very world.
भगवन्नेवमेवैतद्यथा वदसि नारद। इच्छामि चाहमप्येवं न त्वीशो भगवन्नहम्
O venerable one, it is exactly as you say, Nārada; I too wish for this, but O Lord, I am not master of myself.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः कृष्णमभ्यभाषत कौरवः । स्वर्ग्यं लोक्यं च मामात्थ धर्म्यं न्याय्यं च केशव
Having spoken thus, the Kaurava addressed Krishna: 'You have spoken to me of what leads to heaven, to prosperity, to righteousness, and to justice, O Keśava.'
न त्वहं स्ववशस्तात क्रियमाणं न मे प्रियम् । `न मंस्यन्ते दुरात्मानः पुत्रा मम जनार्दन
But I am not my own master, dear one; what is being done is not pleasing to me. The wicked-hearted sons will not consider me, O Janārdana.
अङ्ग दुर्योधनं कृष्ण मन्दं शास्त्रातिगं मम। अनुनेतुं महाबाहो यतस्व पुरुषोत्तम
O Krishna, strive to persuade my slow-witted son Duryodhana, who has strayed from the scriptures, O mighty-armed, best of men.
न श्रृणोति महाबाहो वचनं साधु भाषितम् । गान्धार्याश्च हृषीकेश विदुरस्य च धीमतः । अन्येषां चैव सुहृदां भीष्मादीनां हितैषिणाम्
He does not listen, O mighty-armed, to the good words spoken by Gandhari, by the wise Vidura, or by other friends like Bhishma and those who wish him well, O Hrishikesha.
स त्वं पापमतिं क्रूरं पापचित्तमचेतनम् । अनुशाधि दुरात्मानं स्वयं दुर्योधनं नृपम्
Therefore, you must instruct Duryodhana yourself, O Krishna—he is evil-minded, cruel, wicked in thought, and senseless, a king with a wicked soul.
सुहृत्कार्यं तु सुमहत्कृतं ते स्याञ्जनार्दन
If you do this, O Janārdana, you will have accomplished a truly great act of friendship.
ततोऽभ्यावृत्य वार्ष्णेयो दुर्योधनममर्षणम् । अब्रवीन्मधुरां वाचं सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्
Then the descendant of Vrishni, approaching the unyielding Duryodhana, spoke sweet words, knowing the true essence of all righteousness and purpose.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं मद्वाक्यं कुरुसत्तम। शर्मार्थं ते विशेषेण सानुबन्धस्य भारत
Duryodhana, listen to my words, O best of the Kurus; they are especially for your welfare and that of all your kin, O descendant of Bharata.
महाप्रज्ञकुले जातः साध्वेतत्कर्तुमर्हसि । श्रुतवृत्तोपसंपन्नः सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः
Born in a family of great wisdom, you ought to act rightly; you are endowed with learning, conduct, and all virtues.
दौष्कुलेया दुरात्मानो नृशंसा निरपत्रपाः । त एतदीदृशं कुर्युर्यथा त्वं तात मन्यसे
Those of ignoble birth, wicked souls, cruel and shameless—such as these would act as you, dear one, now intend.
धर्मार्थयुक्ता लोकेऽस्मिन्प्रवृत्तिर्लक्ष्यते सताम्। असतां विपरीता तु लक्ष्यते भरतर्षभ । विपरीता त्वियं वृत्तिरसकृल्लक्ष्यते त्वयि
Among the virtuous in this world, conduct joined with righteousness and purpose is observed; among the unvirtuous, the opposite is seen, O bull of the Bharatas. But this contrary conduct is repeatedly seen in you.
अधर्मश्चानुबन्धोऽत्र घोरः प्राणहरो महान् । अनिष्टश्चानिमित्तश्च न च शक्यश्च भारत
Here, the consequence is a terrible, life-destroying, great unrighteousness, which is both undesirable and without cause, and cannot be accomplished, O Bharata.