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.
त्रिवर्गयुक्तः प्राज्ञानामारम्भो भरतर्षभ । धर्मार्थावनुरुद्ध्यन्ते त्रिवर्गासंभवे नराः
O best of Bharatas, the undertaking of the wise is joined with the three pursuits; when dharma and artha are supported, people attain the threefold aim.
पृथक्व विनिविष्टानां धर्मं धीरोऽनुरुध्यते। मध्यमोऽर्थं कलिं बालः काममेवानुरुद्ध्यते
The resolute follows dharma when the aims are set apart; the middling pursues artha, the child pursues only desire.
इन्द्रियैः प्राकृतो लोभाद्धर्मं विप्रजहाति यः । कामार्थावनुपायेन लिप्समानो विनश्यति
One who is ruled by the senses, out of greed, abandons dharma; seeking desire and wealth by improper means, he perishes.
कामार्थौ लिप्समानस्तु धर्ममेवादितश्चरेत्। न हि धर्मादपैत्यर्थः कामो वाऽपि कदाचन
But one who seeks desire and wealth should act first according to dharma; for neither wealth nor desire ever departs from dharma.
उपायं धर्ममेवाहुस्त्रिवर्गस्य विशांपते । लिप्समानो हि तेनाशु कक्षेऽग्निरिव वर्धते
They declare dharma alone to be the means for the threefold aim, O lord of men; one who seeks by that means quickly grows, like fire in the brush.
स त्वं तातानुपायेन लिप्ससे भरतर्षभ । आधिराज्यं महद्दीप्तं प्रथितं सर्वराजसु
But you, O best of Bharatas, seek by improper means the great, blazing sovereignty renowned among all kings.
आत्मानं तक्षति ह्येष वनं परशुना यथा। यः सम्यग्वर्तमानेषु मिथ्या राजन्प्रवर्तते । न तस्य हि मतिं छिन्द्याद्यस्य नेच्छेत्पराभवम्
He harms himself, like one who cuts a forest with an axe, who acts falsely among those who act rightly, O king; one should not break the resolve of one who does not wish defeat.
अविच्छिन्नमतेरस्य कल्याणे धीयते मतिः। आत्मवान्नावमन्येत त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत
His resolve remains unbroken, and his mind is set on what is good; the self-possessed should not despise anyone in the three worlds, O Bharata.
अप्यन्यं प्राकृतं कञ्चित्किमु तान्पाण्डवर्षभान्। अमर्षवशमापन्नो न किंचिद्बुद्व्यते जनः
Even if another is ordinary, what then of those mighty Pandavas? One overcome by anger perceives nothing at all.
छिद्यते ह्याततं सर्वं प्रमाणं पश्य भारत । श्रेयस्ते दुर्जनात्तात पाण्डवैः सह सङ्गतम्
All established authority is cut down, see, O Bharata; it is better for you, O son, to join with the Pandavas than with evil men.