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.
यस्तु न्निःश्रेयसं श्रुत्वा प्राक्तदेवाभिपद्यते। आत्मनो मतमुत्सृज्य स लोके सुखमेधते
But he who, having heard what leads to the highest good, acts upon it as the ancients did, setting aside his own opinion, attains happiness in this world.
योऽर्थकामस्य वचनं प्रातिकूल्यान्न मृष्यते। शृणोति प्रतिकूलानि द्विषतां वशमेति सः
He who, out of opposition, cannot endure the words of one who seeks his welfare, listens instead to the hostile, and falls under the power of his enemies.
सतां मतमतिक्रम्य योऽसतां वर्तते मते। शोचन्ते व्यसने तस्य सुहृदो नचिरादिव
He who abandons the counsel of the virtuous and follows the advice of the wicked, soon brings grief to his friends in times of trouble.
मुख्यानमात्यानुत्सृज्य यो निहीनान्निषेवते । स घोरामापदं प्राप्य नोत्तारमधिगच्छति
He who forsakes chief ministers and serves the unworthy, falls into terrible misfortune and finds no escape.
योऽसत्सेवी वृथाचारो न श्रोता सुहृदां सताम्। परान्वृणीति स्वान्द्वेष्टि तं गौस्त्यजति भारत
He who associates with the wicked, acts vainly, does not listen to the words of good friends, favors outsiders, and despises his own, is abandoned even by the cow, O Bharata.
तत्वं विरुद्धा तैर्वीरैस्येतत्राणमिच्छसि । अशिष्टेभ्योऽसमर्थेभ्यो मूढेभ्यो भरतर्षभ
If you seek protection from those who are opposed to you—those who are undisciplined, incapable, and foolish, O best of Bharatas—
को हि शक्रसमाञ्ज्ञातीनतिक्रम्य महारथान् । अन्येभ्यस्त्राणमाशंसेत्त्वदन्यो भुवि मानवः
Who else on earth, passing over kinsmen equal to Indra and mighty chariot-warriors, would hope for protection from others, apart from you?
जन्मप्रभृति कौन्तेया नित्यं विनिकृतास्त्वया । न च ते जातु कुप्यन्ति धर्मात्मानो हि पाण्डवाः
From birth, O son of Kunti, you have always wronged them, yet the righteous Pandavas never become angry with you.
मिथ्योपचरितास्तात जन्मप्रभृति बान्धवाः । त्वयि सम्यङ्भहाबाहो प्रतिपन्ना यशस्विनः
From birth, dear one, your kinsmen have been falsely treated, yet those illustrious ones have remained steadfastly loyal to you.
त्वयाऽपि प्रतिपत्तव्यं तथैव भरतर्षभ । स्वेषु बन्धुषु मुख्येषु मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः
So you too, O best of Bharatas, must act likewise toward your chief kinsmen; do not be led by anger against your own.