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.
यच्च त्वं मन्यसे मूढ भीष्मद्रोणकृपादयः। योत्स्यन्ते सर्वशक्त्येति नैतदद्योपपद्यते
And what you think, in your delusion, that Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and the others will fight with all their might—this is not possible today.
समं हि राज्यं प्रीतिश्च स्थानं हि विदितात्मनाम् । पाण्डवेष्वथ युष्मासु धर्मस्त्वभ्यधिकस्ततः
For the kingdom, affection, and position are equal for those who know themselves; but in the Pandavas, righteousness is greater than in you.
राजपिण्डभयादेते यदि हास्यन्ति जीवितम् । न हि शक्ष्यन्ति राजानं युधिष्ठिरमुदीक्षितुम्
If these men abandon their lives out of fear for the king’s wrath, they will not be able to look upon King Yudhishthira in battle.
न लोभादर्थसंपत्तिर्नराणामिह दृश्यते । तदलं तात लोभेन प्रशाम्य भरतर्षभ
Among men, wealth is not seen to arise from greed; therefore, enough of greed, dear one—be calm, O bull of the Bharatas.
तत्तु वाक्यमनादृत्य सोऽर्थवन्मातृभाषितम् । पुनः प्रतस्थे संरम्भात्सकाशमकृतात्मनाम्
But disregarding those meaningful words spoken by his mother, he again set out in anger toward those who lacked self-control.
ततः सभाया निर्गम्य मन्त्रयामास कौरवः। सौबलेन मताक्षेण राज्ञा शकुनिना सह
Then, leaving the assembly, the Kaurava conferred with Saubala, whose glance revealed his thoughts, and with King Shakuni.
दुर्योधनं धार्तराष्ट्रं कर्णं दुःशासनोऽब्रवीति । नोचेत्सन्धास्यसे राजन्स्वेन कामेन पाण्डवैः । बद्ध्वैव त्वां प्रदास्यन्ति पाण्डुपुत्राय भारत
Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, said to Karna and Duhshasana: 'If you do not make peace with the Pandavas according to your own desire, the sons of Pandu will bind you and hand you over.'
वैकर्तनं त्वां च मां च त्रीनेतान्भरतर्षभ । पाण्डवेभ्यः प्रदास्यन्ति भीष्मद्रोणौ पिता च ते
'They will hand over Karna, you, and me—the three of us, O bull of the Bharatas—to the Pandavas, along with Bhishma, Drona, and your father.'
दुःशासनस्य तद्वाक्यं निशम्य भरतर्षभ । दुर्योधनो धार्तराष्ट्रो निश्वस्य प्रहसन्निव
Hearing these words of Duhshasana, O bull of the Bharatas, Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, sighed and laughed as if in scorn.
एकान्तमुपसृत्येह मन्त्रं पुनरमन्त्रयत् । सौबलेन मताक्षेण राज्ञा शकुनिना सह
Withdrawing to a secluded place, he again held counsel with Saubala, whose glance revealed his mind, and with King Shakuni.