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.
अथ दुरोयधनं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभ्यभाषत । कर्णदुःशासनाभ्यां च राजभिश्चापि संवृतम्
Then King Dhritarashtra addressed Duryodhana, who was surrounded by Karna, Duhshasana, and the other kings.
नृशंस पापभूयिष्ठ क्षुद्रकर्मसहायवान्। पापैः सहायैः संहत्य पापं कर्म चिकीर्षसि
Cruel one, most sinful, accompanied by those who perform base deeds, you seek to commit a wicked act, having joined with evil companions.
अशक्यमयशस्यं च सद्भिश्चापि विगर्हितम् । यथा त्वादृशको मूढो व्यवस्येत्कुलपांसनः
Such an act is impossible, brings disgrace, and is condemned by the virtuous—yet you, a fool and a stain upon your lineage, have resolved upon it.
त्वमिमं पुण्डरीकाक्षमप्रधृष्यं दुरासदम् । पापैः सहायैः संहत्य निग्रहीतुं किलेच्छसि
You wish, it seems, to subdue this lotus-eyed one—unassailable and difficult to approach—by gathering wicked allies.
यो न शक्यो बलात्कर्तुं देवैरपि सवासवैः । तं त्वं प्रार्थयसे मन्द बालश्चन्द्रमसं यथा
He whom even the gods with Indra cannot overpower by force—him you, foolish child, desire to seize, as a boy might wish for the moon.
देवैर्मनुष्यैर्गन्धर्वैरसुरैरुरगैश्च यः। न सोढुं समरे शक्यस्तं न बुध्यसि केशवम्
He whom gods, men, gandharvas, asuras, and serpents cannot withstand in battle—that Keśava you do not understand.
दुर्ग्राह्यः पाणिना वायुर्दुस्पर्शः पाणिना शशी । दुर्धरा पृथिवी मूर्ध्ना दुर्ग्राह्यः केशवो बलात्
As the wind cannot be grasped by the hand, as the moon cannot be touched by the hand, as the earth cannot be borne upon the head, so Keśava cannot be seized by force.
इत्युक्ते धृतराष्ट्रेण क्षत्ताऽपि विदुरोऽब्रवीत्। दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य धार्तराष्ट्रममर्षणम्
When Dhṛtarāṣṭra had spoken thus, Vidura, the wise counselor, looking at the wrathful son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Duryodhana, also spoke.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं वचनं मम सांप्रतम्। सौभद्वारे वानरेन्द्रो द्विविदो नाम नामतः। शिलावर्षेण महता छादयामास केशवम्
Duryodhana, listen now to my words: Once, at the gateway of Saubha, the monkey king named Dvivida covered Keśava with a great shower of stones.
ग्रहीतुकामो विक्रम्य सर्वयत्नेन माधवम् । ग्रहीतुं नाशकच्चैनं तं त्वं प्रार्थयसे बलात्
Desiring to capture Mādhava, Dvivida exerted all his strength, but could not seize him; yet you wish to overpower him by force.