त्वं ह्येवात्र भृशं गर्ह्यो धृतराष्ट्र सुतप्रियः । यो जानन्पापतामस्य तत्प्रज्ञामनुवर्तसे
You, Dhritarashtra, are greatly to be blamed, being fond of your son; for, knowing his evil darkness, you still follow his judgment.
स एष काममन्युभ्यां प्रलब्धो लोभमास्थितः । अशक्योऽद्य त्वया राजन्विनिवर्तयितुं बलात्
He, overcome by desire and anger, has embraced greed; today, O king, you are unable to turn him back by force.
राष्ट्रप्रदाने मूढस्य बालिशस्य दुरात्मनः । दुःसहायस्य लुब्धस्य धृतराष्ट्रोऽश्रुते फलम्
When a kingdom is entrusted to a foolish, childish, wicked, friendless, and greedy person, Dhritarashtra, the result is as you now see.
कथं हि स्वजने भेदमुपेक्षेत महीपतिः। भिन्नं हि स्वजनेन त्वां प्रहरिष्यन्ति शत्रवः
How can a king overlook division among his own people? For, once you are divided from your kin, enemies will strike you down.
या हि शक्या महाराज साम्ना भेदेन वा पुनः । निस्तर्तुमापदः स्वेषु दण्डं कस्तत्र पातयेत्
O great king, if dangers among one's own can be resolved by conciliation or division, who would resort to punishment in such a case?
शासनाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य दुर्योधनममर्षणम्। मातुश्च वचनात्क्षत्ता सभां प्रावेशयत्पुनः
By Dhritarashtra's command, Duryodhana, unable to bear it, and by his mother's words, the charioteer again brought him into the assembly.
स मातुर्वचनाकाङ्क्षी प्रविवेश पुनः सभाम् । अभिताम्रेक्षणः क्रोधान्निश्वसन्निव पन्नगः
Desiring his mother's words, he entered the assembly again, glaring all around in anger, breathing like a serpent.
तं प्रविष्टमभिप्रेक्ष्य पुत्रमुत्पथमास्थितम् । विगर्हमाणा गान्धारी शमार्थं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Seeing her son enter, set on a wrongful path, Gandhari reproached him and spoke words aimed at peace.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं वचनं मम पुत्रक । हितं ते सानुबन्धस्य तथाऽऽयत्यांसुखोदयम्
Duryodhana, listen to these words of mine, my son; they are for your good, for your kin, and will bring happiness in the future.
दुर्योधन यदाह त्वां पिता भरतसत्तम । भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः क्षत्ता सुहृदां कुरु तद्वचः
Duryodhana, whatever your father, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and the charioteer say to you, O best of the Bharatas, heed the words of your friends.
भीष्मस्य तु पितुश्चैव मम चापचितिः कृता । भवेद्द्रोणमुखानां च सुहृदां शाम्यता त्वया
Honor has been shown to Bhishma, your father, and to me; now, by you, let peace be made with Drona and the other friends.
न हि राज्यं महाप्राज्ञ स्वेन कामेन शक्यते । अवाप्तुं रक्षितुं वाऽपि भोक्तुं भरतसत्तम
O wise one, a kingdom cannot be gained, protected, or enjoyed by one's own desire alone, O best of the Bharatas.
न ह्यवश्येन्द्रियो राज्यमश्रीयाद्दीर्घमन्तरम्। विजितात्मा तु मेधावी स राज्यमभिपालयेत्
One who is ruled by his senses cannot long hold a kingdom; but a self-controlled and intelligent man can truly protect it.
कामक्रोधौ हि पुरुषमर्थेभ्यो व्यपकर्षतः । तौ तु शत्रू विनिर्जित्य राजा विजयते महीम्
Desire and anger pull a man away from his aims; but a king who conquers these enemies wins the earth.
लोकेश्वर प्रभुत्वंहि महदेतद्दुरात्मभिः । राज्यं नामेप्सितं स्थानं न शक्यमभिरक्षितुम्
O lord of the world, rulership is a great thing, but for those of wicked nature, the cherished position of kingship cannot be protected.
इन्द्रियाणि महत्प्रेप्सुर्नियच्छेदर्थधर्मयोः । इन्द्रियैर्नियतैर्बुद्धिर्वर्धतेऽग्निरिवेन्धनैः
One who seeks great prosperity should restrain his senses in matters of wealth and duty; with controlled senses, the intellect grows, like fire fed by fuel.
अविधेयानि हीमानि व्यापादयितुमप्यलम् । अविधेया इवादान्ता हयाः पथि कुसारथिम्
These unrestrained senses are quite capable of causing ruin, just as unbroken horses destroy a charioteer on the road.
अविजित्य य आत्मानममात्यान्विजिगीषते। अमित्रान्वाऽजितामात्यः सोऽवशः परिहीयते
He who has not conquered himself but seeks to conquer his ministers, or enemies, will, being uncontrolled, be ruined.
आत्मानमेव प्रथमं द्वेष्यरूपेण योजयेत् । ततोऽमात्यानमित्रांश्च न मोघं विजिगीषते
Let a man first subdue himself, as if he were his own enemy; then, subduing ministers and foes, he will not strive in vain for victory.
वश्येन्द्रियं जितामात्यं धृतदण्डं विकारिषु । परीक्ष्यकारिणं धीरमत्यर्थं श्रीर्निषेवते
Fortune especially attends the one who has mastered his senses, subdued his ministers, is firm in punishment when needed, careful in action, and steadfast.
क्षुद्राक्षेणेव जालेन झषावपिहितावुभौ । कामक्रोधौ शरीरस्थौ प्रज्ञानं तौ विलुम्पतः
Just as both fish are trapped by a net with small holes, so too desire and anger, residing in the body, plunder wisdom.
याभ्यां हि देवाः स्वर्यातुः स्वर्गस्य पिदधुर्मुखम् । बिभ्यतोऽनुपरागस्य कामक्रोधौ स्म वर्धितौ
It is by these two—desire and anger—that the gods, having ascended to heaven, closed the gate of heaven, fearing the stain of attachment, and thus desire and anger increased.
कामं क्रोधं च लोभं च दम्भं दर्पं च भूमिपः । सम्यग्विजेतुं यो वेद स महीमभिजायते
He who knows how to properly conquer desire, anger, greed, deceit, and pride, O king, is the one who attains the earth.
सततं निग्रहे युक्त इन्द्रियाणां भवेन्नृपः । ईप्सन्नर्थं च धर्मं च द्विषतां च पराभवम्
A king should always be devoted to the restraint of the senses, seeking both purpose and righteousness, and the defeat of enemies.
कामाभिभूतः क्रोधाद्वा यो मिथ्या प्रतिपद्यते। स्वेषु चान्येषु वा तस्य न सहाया भवन्त्युत
One who, overcome by desire or anger, acts falsely—whether among his own or others—finds that no one becomes his ally.
एकीभूतैर्महाप्राज्ञैः शूरैररिनिबर्हणैः । पाण्डवैः पृथिवीं तात भोक्ष्यसे सहितः सुखी
Together with the Pandavas, who are united, wise, heroic, and destroyers of enemies, you will happily enjoy the earth, dear one.
यथा भीष्मः शान्तनवो द्रोणश्चापि महारथः। आहतुस्तात तत्सत्यमजेयौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ
Just as Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and Drona, the great chariot-warrior, have declared, O dear one, it is true: Krishna and the Pandavas are unconquerable.
प्रपद्यष्व महाबाहुं कृष्णमक्लिष्टकारिणम्। प्रसन्नो हि सुखाय स्यादुभयोरेव केशवः
Take refuge in mighty-armed Krishna, the doer of flawless deeds; for when pleased, Keshava brings happiness to both sides.
सुहृदामर्थकामानां यो न तिष्ठति शासने। प्राज्ञानां कृतविद्यानां स नरः शत्रुनन्दनः
He who does not abide by the counsel of wise, accomplished, and learned friends who seek his welfare and desires, O joy of enemies, is not a true man.
न युद्धे तात कल्याणं न धर्मार्थौ कुतः सुखम्। न चापि विजयो नित्यं मा युद्धे चेत आधिथाः
There is no good in battle, dear one; how can there be happiness in righteousness or wealth? Nor is victory always assured—do not set your mind on war.