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.
कृष्णेन वाक्यमुक्तोऽसि सृहृदां शममिच्छता । अन्वपद्यस्व तत्तात मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः
You have been addressed by Kṛṣṇa, who desires peace among friends. Follow that, O son, and do not be led by anger.
अकृत्वा वचनं तात केशवस्य महात्मनः । श्रेयो न जातु न सुखं न कल्याणमवाप्स्यसि
If you do not act according to the words of Keśava, the great-souled one, you will never attain welfare, happiness, or good fortune.
धर्म्यमर्थ्यं महाबाहुराह त्वां तात केशवः । तदर्थमभिपद्यस्व मा राजन्नीनशः प्रजाः
Keśava, mighty-armed, has spoken to you words that are righteous and beneficial. Therefore, O king, act accordingly and do not destroy your people.
ज्वलितां त्वमिमां लक्ष्मीं भारतीं सर्वराजसु । जीवतो धृतराष्ट्रस्य दौरात्म्याद्भंशयिष्यसि
You will shatter this blazing fortune of the Bhāratas among all kings, while Dhṛtarāṣṭra still lives, through your wickedness.
आत्मानं च सहामात्यं सपुत्रभ्रातृबान्धवम् । अहमित्यनया बुद्ध्या जीविताद्धंशयिष्यतसि
Thinking 'I alone am everything,' you will destroy yourself, your ministers, your sons, brothers, and relatives, losing life itself by such understanding.
अतिक्रामन्केशवस्य तथ्यं वचनमर्थवत्। पितुश्च भारतश्रेष्ठ विदुरस्य च धीमतः
If you transgress the true and meaningful words of Keśava, as well as those of your father and the wise Vidura, O best of the Bhāratas—
मा कुलघ्नः कुपुरुषो दुर्मतिः कापथं गमः। मातरं पितरं चैव मा मञ्जीः शोकसागरे
Do not become a destroyer of your lineage, a wicked man, or one of evil mind who follows a wrong path; do not plunge your mother and father into an ocean of sorrow.
अथ द्रोणोऽब्रवीत्तत्र दुर्योधनमिदं वचः। अमर्षवशमापन्नं निःश्वसन्तं पुनःपुनः
Then Drona spoke these words to Duryodhana, who was overcome by anger and sighing again and again.
धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनमाह त्वां तात केशवः । तथा भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तञ्जुषस्व नराधिप
Keśava has spoken to you, son, words grounded in righteousness and purpose; likewise Bhishma, son of Shantanu—embrace them, O king.
प्राज्ञौ मेधाविनौ दान्तावर्थकामौ बहुश्रुतौ । आहतुस्त्वां हितं वाक्यं तञ्जुषस्व नराधिप
Wise, intelligent, self-controlled, seekers of wealth and virtue, and learned—these two have spoken to you words for your welfare; accept them, O king.