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.
तमनर्थं परिहरन्नात्मश्रेयः करिष्यसि। भ्रातॄणामथ भृत्यानां मित्राणां च परन्तप
By avoiding this misfortune, you will act for your own highest good, and for that of your brothers, servants, and friends, O subduer of foes.
अधर्म्यादयशस्याच्च कर्मणस्त्वं प्रमोक्ष्यसे
You will be freed from this unrighteous and disgraceful deed.
प्राज्ञैः शूरैर्महोत्साहैरात्मवद्भिर्बहुश्रुतैः। सन्धत्स्व पुरुषव्याघ्र पाण्डवैर्भरतर्षभ। तद्धितं च प्रियं चैव धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः
O tiger among men, unite with the Pandavas—wise, valiant, high-spirited, self-possessed, and learned—O best of Bharatas, in a way that is beneficial and pleasing to the wise Dhritarashtra.
पितामहस्य द्रोणस्य विदुरस्य महामतेः । कृपस्य सोमदत्तस्य बाह्लीकस्य च धीमतः
Also with Bhishma, Drona, the wise Vidura, Kripa, Somadatta, and the intelligent Bahlika.
अश्वत्थाम्नो विकर्णस्य सञ्जयस्य विविंशतेः। ज्ञातीनां चैव भूयिष्ठं मित्राणां च परन्तप
With Ashvatthama, Vikarna, Sanjaya, Vivimsati, and most of your kinsmen and friends, O scorcher of foes.
शमे शर्म भवेत्तात सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा। ह्रीमानसि कुले जातः श्रुतवानानृशंस्यवान् । तिष्ठ तात पितुः शास्त्रे मातुश्च भरतर्षभ
Let there be peace and safety for all the world, dear one; you are born in a noble line, learned, and compassionate. Stand firm, O best of Bharatas, in the teachings of your father and mother.
एतच्छ्रेयो हि मन्यन्ते पिता यच्छास्ति भारत । उक्तमापद्गतः पूर्वं पितुः स्मरसि शासनम्
For this, O Bharata, is what your father considers best for you. Remember the instruction your father gave you in times of distress.
रोचते ते पितुस्तात पाण्डवैः सह सङ्गमः। सामात्यस्य कुरुश्रेष्ठ तत्तुभ्यां तात रोचताम्
If, dear one, you find it agreeable to unite with the Pandavas, may it also please you, O best of Kurus, along with your ministers.
श्रुत्वा यः सुहृदां शास्त्रं मर्त्यो न प्रतिपद्यते । विपाकान्ते दहत्येनं किंपाकमिव भक्षितम्
If a mortal, having heard the counsel of friends, does not act upon it, he is burned in the end, like one who eats unripe fruit.
यस्तु निःश्रेयसं वाक्यं मोहान्न प्रतिपद्यते। स दीर्घसूत्रो हीनार्थः पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते
But he who, out of delusion, does not accept words that lead to the highest good, is slow and deprived, and later suffers regret.