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.
भीष्मेण हि महाप्राज्ञ पित्र ते बाह्लिकेन च। दत्तोंऽशः पाण्डुपुत्राणां भेदाद्भतैररिन्दम
For Bhishma, your wise father, and Bahlika have given a share to the sons of Pandu, O destroyer of foes, because of division among the warriors.
तस्थ चैतत्प्रदानस्य फलमद्यानुपश्यसि । यद्भुङ्क्षे पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां शूरैर्निहतकण्टकाम्
Now you see the result of that giving: you enjoy the whole earth, cleared of thorns by heroes.
प्रयच्छ पाण्डुपुत्राणां यथोचितमरिन्दम । यदीच्छसि सहामात्यो भोक्तुमर्धं प्रदीयताम्
Grant the sons of Pandu their proper share, O destroyer of foes; if you wish to enjoy the earth with your ministers, let their portion be given.
अलमर्धं पृथिव्यास्ते महामात्यस्य जीवितुम् । सुहृदां वचने तिष्ठन्यशः प्राप्स्यति भारत
Enough—half the earth is yours for you and your chief ministers to live; abide by the words of friends, O Bharata, and you will gain fame.
श्रीमद्भिरात्मवद्भिस्तैर्बुद्धिमद्भिर्जितेन्द्रियैः । पाण्डवैर्विग्रहस्तात भ्रंशयेन्महतः सुखात्
With those Pandavas—prosperous, self-possessed, wise, and with conquered senses—conflict, dear one, would deprive you of great happiness.
निगृह्य सुहृदां मन्युं शाधि राज्यं यथोचितम्। स्वमंशं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यः प्रदाय भरतर्षभ
Restrain the anger of your friends and rule the kingdom as is proper; give your own share to the sons of Pandu, O best of Bharatas.
अलमङ्ग निकारोऽयं त्रयोदशसमाः कृतः । शमयैनं महाप्राज्ञ कामक्रोधसमेधितम्
Enough of this hostility, which has lasted thirteen years; pacify it, O wise one, which has grown from desire and anger.
न चैष शक्तः पार्थानां यस्त्वदर्थमभीप्सति । सूतपुत्रो दृढक्रोधो भ्राता दुःशासनश्च ते
Neither the son of the charioteer, who desires your sake and is firm in anger, nor your brother Duhshasana, is able to overcome the sons of Pritha.
भीष्मे द्रोणे कृपे कर्णे भीमसेने धनञ्जये। धृष्टद्युम्ने च संक्रुद्धे न स्युः सर्वाः प्रजा ध्रुवम्
If Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, Bhimasena, Dhananjaya, and Dhrishtadyumna become enraged in battle, surely all living beings would cease to exist.
अमर्षवशमापन्नो मा कुरूंस्तात जीघनः । एषा हि पृथिवी कृत्स्ना मा गमत्त्वत्कृते वधम्
Do not, dear one, destroy the Kurus out of anger; let not this entire earth come to ruin because of you.