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.
तैर्हि संप्रीपमाणस्त्वं सर्वान्कामानवाप्स्यसि। पाण्डवैर्निर्मितां भूमिं भुञ्जानो राजसत्तम
For by being reconciled with them, you will obtain all desires, O best of kings, enjoying the land established by the Pandavas.
पाण्डवान्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा त्राणमाशससऽन्वतः । दुःशासने दुर्विषहे कर्णे चापि ससौबले
Having placed the Pandavas behind you as protection, and relying on hope, with Duhshasana, Durvishaha, Karna, and Saubala.
एतेष्वैश्वर्यमाधाय भूतिमिच्छसि भारत । न चैते तव पर्याप्ता ज्ञाने धर्मार्थयोस्तथा
You wish for prosperity by relying on these, O Bharata; but they are not sufficient for you in knowledge, nor in dharma and artha.
विक्रमे चाप्यपर्याप्तः पाण्डवान्प्रति भारत। न हीमे सर्वराजानः पर्याप्ताः सहितास्त्वया
Nor are you sufficient in prowess against the Pandavas, O Bharata; nor are all these kings together sufficient for you.
क्रुद्धस्य भीमसेनस्य प्रेक्षितुं मुखमाहवे। इदं सनिहितं तात समग्रं पार्थिवं बलम्
To behold the face of Bhimasena, enraged, in battle, O son, this entire royal army is assembled here.
अयं भीष्मस्तथा द्रोणः कर्णश्चायं तथा कृपः । भूरिश्रवाः सौमदत्तिरश्वत्थामा जयद्रथः
Here are Bhishma, likewise Drona, Karna, and also Kripa, Bhurishrava, Saumadatti, Ashvatthama, and Jayadratha.
अशक्ताः सर्व एवैते प्रतियोद्धुं धनञ्जयम् । अजेयो ह्यर्जुनः सङ्ख्ये सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः । मानुषैरपि गन्धर्वैर्मा युद्धे चेत आधिथाः
All these are unable to withstand Dhananjaya in battle; Arjuna is unconquerable in combat by all gods and demons, by men and Gandharvas; do not set your heart on war.
दृश्यतां वा पुमान्कश्चित्समग्रे पार्थिवे बले। योऽर्जुनं समरे प्राप्य स्वस्तिमानाव्रजेद्गृहान्
Let someone be seen in this assembled royal army who, having met Arjuna in battle, would return safely to his home.
किं ते जनक्षयेणेह कृतेन भरतर्षभ । यस्मिञ्चिते जितं ते स्यात्पुमानेकः स दृश्यतां
O best of the Bharatas, what will you gain here by causing the destruction of your kin? If you desire victory, let that one man be shown who can defeat you.
यः सदेवान्सगन्धर्वान्सयक्षासुरपन्नगान् । अजयत्खाण्डवप्रस्थे कस्तं युद्धेय मानवः
Who among men could fight with him who, at Khāṇḍava-prastha, conquered the gods, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Asuras, and serpents?