धृतराष्ट्रं ततश्चैव विदुरं चान्वभाषत । तेषामेतमभिप्रायमाचचक्षे स्मयन्निव
Afterwards, he addressed Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Vidura, and, as if with a smile, revealed to them this plan.
धर्मादर्थाच्च कामाच्च कर्म साधुविगर्हितम् । मन्दाः कर्तुमिहेच्छन्ति न चावाप्यं कथंचन
Foolish men here wish to perform a deed condemned by righteousness, profit, and desire—a deed impossible to achieve in any way.
पुरा विकुर्वते मूढाः पापात्मानः समागताः । धर्षिताः काममन्युभ्यां क्रोधलोभवशानुगाः
Long ago, these deluded, sinful souls, gathered together, were overcome by desire and anger, following the sway of wrath and greed.
इमं हि पुण्डरीकाक्षं जिघृक्षन्त्यल्पचेतसः। पटेनाग्निं प्रज्वलितं यथा बाला यथा जडाः
These small-minded ones wish to seize this lotus-eyed one, like children or fools trying to grasp blazing fire with a cloth.
सात्यकेस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा विदुरो दीर्घदर्शिवान् । धृतराष्ट्रं महाबाहुमब्रवीत्कुरुसंसदि
Hearing those words of Sātyaki, Vidura, who sees far, spoke to mighty-armed Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the Kuru assembly.
राजन्परीतकालास्ते पुत्राः सर्वे परन्तप । असक्यमयशस्यं च कर्तुं कर्म समुद्यताः
King, your sons, scorcher of foes, are all overtaken by fate and have set out to perform a deed that cannot be accomplished and brings only disgrace.
इमं हि पुण्डरीकाक्षमभिभूय प्रसह्य च । निग्रहीतुं किलेच्छन्ति सहिता वासवानुजम्
Indeed, they wish to overpower and restrain by force this lotus-eyed one, together with the younger brother of Vāsava.
इमं पुरुषशार्दूलमप्रधृष्यं दुरसदम् । आसाद्य नभविष्यन्ति पतङ्गा इव पावकम्
But, approaching this tiger among men, unassailable and hard to reach, they will perish like moths in a flame.
अयमिच्छन्हि तान्सर्वान्युध्यमानाञ्जनार्दनः । सिंहो नागानिव क्रुद्धो गमयेद्यमसादनम्
For if Janārdana wishes, he could send all those who fight against him to the abode of Yama, like an enraged lion dispatching elephants.
न त्वयं निन्दितं कर्म कुर्यात्पापं कथंचन । न च धर्मादपक्रामदेच्युतः पुरुषोत्तमः
But this best of men, Acyuta, never performs a blameworthy or sinful act, nor does he ever stray from righteousness.
यथा वाराणसी दग्धा साश्वा सरथकुञ्जरा । सानुबन्धस्तु कृष्णेन काशीनामृषभो हतः
Just as Vārāṇasī was burned, with its horses, chariots, and elephants, and the bull among the Kāśis was slain by Kṛṣṇa with all his followers,
तथा नागपुरं दग्ध्वा शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः । स्वयं कालेश्वरो भूत्वा नाशयिष्यति कौरवान्
So too, the wielder of conch, discus, and mace, becoming the lord of time himself, will destroy the Kauravas after burning Nāgapura.
पारिजातहरं ह्येनमेकं यदुसुखावहम्। नाभ्यवर्तत संरब्धो वृत्रहा वसुभिः सह
Even Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, in his wrath, did not confront this one—who brought the Pārijāta and brings happiness to the Yadus—together with the Vasus.
प्राप्य निर्मोचने पाशान्षट्सहस्रांस्तरस्विनः । हृतास्ते वासुदेवेन ह्युपसङ्क्रम्य कौरवान्
When the swift six thousand nooses at Nirmocana were encountered, they too were taken away by Vāsudeva when he approached the Kauravas.
द्वारमासाद्य सौभस्य विधूय गदया गिरिम्। द्युमत्सेनः सहामात्यः कृष्णेन विनिपातितः
Having reached the gate of Saubha, Dyumatsena, along with his ministers, was struck down by Krishna with a mace, as if he were a mountain.
शेषवत्त्वात्कुरूणां तु धर्मापेक्षी तथाऽच्युतः । क्षमते पुण्डरीकाक्षः शक्तः सन्पापकर्मणाम्
Yet, because some of the Kurus remain, and out of regard for righteousness, Achyuta, the lotus-eyed one, endures them, though he is capable of destroying those who act wickedly.
एते हि यदि गोविन्दमिच्छन्ति सह राजभिः । अद्यैवातिथयः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति यमस्य ते
If these men, along with the kings, desire to oppose Govinda, then today all of them will become guests of Yama.
यथा वायोस्तृणाग्रणि वशं यान्ति बलीयसः। तथा चक्रभृतः सर्वे वशमेष्यन्ति कौरवाः
Just as blades of grass are bent by the force of the wind, so too will all the Kauravas come under the power of the wielder of the discus.
विदुरेणैवमुक्ते तु केशवो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । धृतराष्ट्रमभिप्रेक्ष्य सुहृदां श्रृण्वतां मिथः
When Vidura had spoken thus, Kesava addressed Dhritarashtra, glancing at him while the friends listened to one another.
राजन्नेते यदि क्रुद्धा मां निगृह्णीयुरोजसा । एते वा मामहं वैनाननुजानीहि पार्थिव
O King, if these men, enraged, try to restrain me with force, or if I restrain them, grant me your permission, O ruler.
एतान्हि सर्वान्संरब्धान्नियन्तुमहमुत्सहे । न त्वहं निन्दितं कर्म कुर्यां पापं कथंचन
For I am able to restrain all these who are enraged, but I would never perform a blameworthy or sinful act in any way.
पाण्डवार्थे हि लुभ्यन्तः स्वार्थान्हास्यन्ति ते सुताः । एते चेदेवमिच्छन्ति कृतकार्यो युधिष्ठिरः
Desiring the cause of the Pandavas, your sons will abandon their own interests; and if these men so wish, Yudhishthira's purpose will be accomplished.
अद्यैव ह्यहमेनांश्च ये चैनाननु भारत । निगृह्य राजन्पार्थेभ्यो दद्यां किं दुष्कृतं भवेत्
Even today, O Bharata, I could subdue these men and those who follow them, and hand them over to the Pandavas—what wrong would there be in that?
एष मे निश्चयो राजन्यद्येषोऽस्य विनिश्चयः । नर्दन्तु सहिताः शङ्खाः पणवानकनिस्वनैः
This is my resolve, O King; if this is also your decision, let the conches and drums resound together.
अनायासेन पार्थानां पर्वतां च शिवं महत्। निगृह्य राजन्पार्थेभ्यो दद्यां चेत्सुकृतं भवेत्
If, without effort, I could subdue the great and auspicious mountain for the sake of the Pandavas and give it to them, that would be a virtuous act.
इदं तु न प्रवर्तेयं निन्दितं कर्म भारत । सन्निधौ ते महाराज क्रोधजं पापबुद्धिजम्
But this I would not do, O Bharata—a blameworthy act, born of anger and evil intent, in your presence, O great king.
एष दुर्योधनो राजन्यथेच्छति तथाऽस्तु तत्। अहं तु सर्वांस्तनयाननुजानामि ते नृप
Let it be as this Duryodhana wishes, O King; but as for me, I grant permission to all your sons.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु विदुरं धृतराष्ट्रोऽभ्यभाषत । क्षिप्रमानय तं पापं राज्यलुब्धं सुयोधनम्
Hearing this, Dhritarashtra spoke to Vidura: 'Quickly bring here that sinful, kingdom-coveting Suyodhana.'
सहमित्रं सहामात्यं ससोदर्यं सहानुगम्। शक्नुयां यदि पन्थानमवतारयितुं पुनः
If I could once more turn him back from his path, along with his friends, ministers, brothers, and followers—
ततो दुर्योधनं क्षत्ता पुनः प्रावेशयत्मभाम् । अकामं भ्रातृभिः सार्धं राजभिः परिवारितम्
Then Vidura brought Duryodhana back again, unwilling, surrounded by his brothers and the kings.