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.
अनुतिष्ठ महाप्राज्ञ कृष्णभीष्मौ यदूचतुः । माधवं बुद्धिमोहेन माऽवमंस्थाः परन्तप
Follow, O greatly wise one, what Krishna and Bhishma have said; do not, out of delusion, disregard Madhava, O subduer of foes.
ये त्वां प्रोत्साहयन्त्येते नैते कृत्याय कर्हिचित् । वैरं परेषां ग्रीवायां प्रतिमोक्ष्यन्ति संयुगे
Those who are urging you on are never fit for the task; in battle, they will fasten the enmity of your foes around your neck.
मा जीघनः प्रजाः सर्वाः पुत्रान्भ्रातॄंस्तथैव च । वासुदेवार्जुनौ यत्र विद्ध्यजेयानलं हि तान्
Do not destroy all your people, your sons and brothers as well; where Vasudeva and Arjuna are, know them to be truly invincible.
एतच्चैव मतं सत्यं सुहृदोः कृष्णभीष्मयोः। यदि नादास्यसे तात पश्चात्तप्स्यसि भारत
This is indeed the true opinion of your friends, Krishna and Bhishma; if you do not give, son, you will regret it later, O Bharata.
यथोक्तं जामदग्न्येन भूयानेष ततोऽर्जुनः। कृष्णो हि देवकीपुत्रो देवैरपि सुदुःसहः । किं ते सुखप्रियेणेह प्रोक्तेन भरतर्षभ
As declared by Jamadagni’s son, Arjuna is superior; Krishna, son of Devaki, is exceedingly difficult even for the gods to withstand—what use is it to speak further, O best of the Bharatas?
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु। न हि त्वामुत्सहे वक्तुं भूयो भरतसत्तम
All this has been told to you; do as you wish. I am unable to speak to you further, O best of the Bharatas.
तस्मिन्वाक्यान्तरे वाक्यं क्षत्ताऽपि विदुरोऽब्रवीत्। दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य धार्तराष्ट्रममर्षणम्
At the end of those words, Vidura, the wise counselor, also spoke, looking at Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, who was unyielding.
दुर्योधन न शोचामि त्वामहं भरतर्षभ । इमो तु वृद्धौ शोचामि गान्धारीं पितरं च ते
Duryodhana, I do not grieve for you, O best of the Bharatas; but I grieve for your aged mother Gandhari and your father.
यावनाथौ चरिष्येते त्वया नाथेन दुर्हृदा। हतमित्रौ हतामात्यौ लूनपक्षाविवाण्डजौ
As long as they live, with you as their ill-hearted protector, with their friends and ministers slain, they will wander like birds with their wings cut.
भिक्षुकौ विचरिष्येते शोचन्तौ पृथिवीमिमाम्। कुलघ्नमीदृशं पापं जनयित्वा कुपूरुषम्
They will roam as beggars, lamenting over this earth, having begotten such a wicked, sinful destroyer of the family.