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?
तथा विराटनगरे श्रूयते महदद्भुतम्। एकस्य च बहूनां च पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्
Likewise, in the city of Virāṭa, a great and wondrous deed is heard of—one man against many; that stands as a sufficient example.
युद्धे येन महादेवः साक्षात्सन्तोषितः शिवः । तमजेयमनाधृष्यं विजेतुं जिष्णुमच्युतम् । आशंससीह समरे वीरमर्जुनमूर्जितम्
He by whom the great god Śiva himself was satisfied in battle—how can you hope to conquer that undefeated, unassailable, victorious Arjuna, mighty and steadfast, in war?
मद्द्वितीयं पुनः पार्थं कः प्रार्थयितुमर्हति । युद्धे प्रतीपमायान्तमपि साक्षात्पुरन्दरः
Who would wish to face Pārtha, with me at his side, even if the mighty Indra himself came against him in battle?
बाहुभ्यामुद्वहेद्भूमिं दहेत्क्रुद्ध इमाः प्रजाः । पातयेत्रिदिवाद्देवान्योऽर्जुनं समरे जयेत्
Who could lift the earth with his arms, burn these creatures in anger, or hurl the gods from heaven—only such a one could defeat Arjuna in battle.
पश्य पुत्रांस्तथा भ्रातॄञ्ज्ञातीन्संबन्धिनस्तथा। त्वत्कृते न विनश्येयुरिमे भरतसत्तमाः
See your sons, brothers, kinsmen, and relatives; let not these best of the Bharatas perish on your account.
अस्तु शेषं कौरवाणां मा पराभूदिदं कुलम् । कुलघ्न इति नोच्येथा नष्टकीर्तिर्नराधिप
Let there be some remnant of the Kauravas; let not this lineage be destroyed. Do not be called a slayer of your race, O king, nor one whose fame is lost.
त्वामेव स्थापयिष्यन्ति यौवराज्ये महारथाः । महाराज्येऽपि पितरं धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्
The great chariot-warriors will establish you as crown prince, and your father Dhṛtarāṣṭra as king over the people, even in the great kingdom.
मा तात श्रियमायान्तीमवमंस्थाः समुद्यताम् । अर्धं प्रदाय पार्थेभ्यो महतीं श्रियमाप्नुहि
Do not disdain the prosperity that approaches, O father. By granting half to the Pāṇḍavas, obtain great wealth.
पाण्डवैः संशमं कृत्वा कृत्वा च सुहृदां वचः । संप्रीयमाणो मित्रैश्च चिरं भद्राण्यवाप्स्यसि
By making peace with the Pāṇḍavas and following the advice of friends, rejoicing with your allies, you will long obtain prosperity.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो दुर्योधनममर्षणम् । केशवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच भरतर्षभ
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, hearing Keśava’s words, spoke to the wrathful Duryodhana, O best of the Bharatas.