उपस्थितरथं शौरिं प्रयास्यन्तमरिन्दमम् । धृतराष्ट्रो महाराजः पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत
As Shauri, the destroyer of enemies, stood ready in his chariot to depart, King Dhritarashtra spoke to him once more.
यावद्बलं मे पुत्रेषु पश्यतस्ते जनार्दन । प्रत्यक्षं ते न ते किंचित्परोक्षं शत्रुकर्शन
O Janardana, see for yourself the extent of my sons' strength; nothing is hidden from you, O crusher of foes, all is before you.
कुरूणां शममिच्छन्तं यतमानं च केशव । विदित्वैतामवस्थां मे नातिशङ्कितुमर्हसि
O Keshava, knowing my desire for peace among the Kurus and my efforts toward it, you should not harbor excessive suspicion upon seeing my situation.
न मे पापोऽस्त्यभिप्रायः पाण्डवान्प्रति केशव । ज्ञातमेव हितं वाक्यं यन्मयोक्तः सुयोधनः
O Keshava, I have no evil intent toward the Pandavas; Suyodhana has spoken only what he knows to be beneficial, as I have advised.
जानन्ति कुरवः सर्वे राजानश्चैव पार्थिवाः । शमे प्रयतमानं मां सर्वयत्नेन माधव
All the Kurus and the kings know, O Madhava, that I strive for peace with all my effort.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाबाहुर्धृतराष्ट्रं जनार्दनः। द्रोणं पितामहं भीष्मं क्षत्तारं बाह्लिकं कृपम्
Then Janardana, mighty-armed, addressed Dhritarashtra, as well as Drona, Bhishma the grandsire, Vidura, Bahlika, and Kripa.
प्रत्यक्षमेतद्भवतां यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि। यथा चाशिष्टवन्मन्दो रोषादद्य समुत्थितः
This is evident to you all, what has transpired in the Kuru assembly; and how, like a foolish man, anger has arisen today.
वदत्यनीशमात्मानं धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः । आपृच्छे भवतः सर्वान्गमिष्यामि युधिष्ठिरम्
King Dhritarashtra, speaking as one powerless over himself, took leave of you all, saying he would go to Yudhishthira.
आमन्त्र्य प्रस्थितं शौरिं रथस्थं पुरुषर्षभ । अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासाः प्रवीरा भरतर्षभाः
Having addressed Shauri, who was departing in his chariot, the foremost men of Bharata, great archers and heroes, followed him.
भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः क्षत्ता धृतराष्ट्रोऽथ बाह्लिकः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च युयुत्सुश्च महारथः
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Vidura, Dhritarashtra, Bahlika, Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the great warrior Yuyutsu.
ततो रथेन शुभ्रेण महता किङ्किणीकिना । कुरूणां पश्यतां द्रष्टुं स्वसारं स पितुर्ययौ
Then, in a splendid chariot, great and adorned with tinkling bells, before the Kurus, he went to see his sister and father.
प्रविश्याथ गृहं तस्याश्चरणावभिवाद्य च। आचख्यौ तत्समासेन यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि
Entering her house, and bowing at her feet, he briefly recounted what had transpired in the Kuru assembly.
उक्तं बहुविधं वाक्यं ग्रहणीयं सहेतुकम्। ऋषिभिश्चैव च मया न चासौ तद्गृहीतवान्
Much was spoken, varied and reasoned, by the sages and by me; yet he did not accept it.
कालपक्वमिदं सर्वं सुयोधनवशानुगम्। ` सर्वक्षत्रं क्षणेनैव दह्यते पार्थवह्निना ।' आपृच्छे भवतीं शीघ्रं प्रयास्ये पाण्डवान्प्रति
All is ripe with time, subject to Suyodhana's will; in a moment, the entire Kshatriya order will be consumed by the fire of the Pandavas. I take leave of you; I will swiftly go to the Pandavas.
किं वाच्याः पाण्डवेयास्ते भवत्या वचनान्मया । तद्ब्रूहि त्वं महाप्रज्ञे शुश्रूषे वचनं तव
What should I say to the sons of Pandu on your behalf? Therefore, O wise lady, speak yourself; I am ready to listen to your words.
ब्रूयाः केशव राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् । भूयांस्ते हीयते धर्मो मा पुत्रक वृथा कृथाः
O Kesava, you should tell the righteous king Yudhishthira: 'Your virtue is diminishing; do not act in vain, dear child.'
श्रोत्रियस्येव ते राजन्मन्दकस्याविपश्चितः । अनुवाकहता बुद्धिर्धर्ममेवैकमीक्षते
O King, just as the understanding of a slow-witted, unlearned Brahmin is impaired by misrecitation, so too does your mind consider only a single aspect of righteousness.
अङ्गावेक्षस्व धर्मं त्वं यथा सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा । बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रियाः सृष्टा बाहुवीर्योपजीविनः
Consider righteousness, O King, as it was established by the Self-born; Kshatriyas were created from the arms, living by the strength of their arms.
क्रूराय कर्मणे नित्यं प्रजानां परिपालने। श्रृणु चात्रोपमामेकां या वृद्धेभ्यः श्रुता मया
Always engaged in harsh deeds for the protection of the people, listen now to a parable I heard from the elders.
मुचुकुन्दस्य राजर्षेरददत्पृथिवीमिमाम्। पुरा वैश्रवणः प्रीतो न चासौ तद्गृहीतवान्
Long ago, the royal sage Mucukunda was offered this earth by the pleased Vaisravana, but he did not accept it.
बाहुवीर्यार्जितं राज्यमश्रीयामिति कामये। ततो वैश्रवणः प्रीतो विस्मितः समपद्यत
He said, 'I do not desire a kingdom not won by the strength of my own arms.' Then Vaisravana, pleased and astonished, agreed.
मुचुकुन्दस्ततो राजा सोऽन्वशासद्वसुन्धराम् । बाहुवीर्यार्जितां सम्यक् क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः
Thereafter, King Mucukunda ruled the earth, having gained it by the strength of his arms, faithfully observing the duty of a Kshatriya.
यं हि धर्मं चरन्तीह प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः । चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा विन्देन भारत
O Bharata, whatever righteousness the people practice under the king's protection, the king receives a fourth part of that righteousness.
राजा चरति चेद्धर्मं देवत्वायैव कल्पते। स चेदधर्मं चरति नरकायैव गच्छति
If the king practices righteousness, he attains divinity; but if he acts unrighteously, he goes to hell.
दण्डनीतिः स्वधर्मेण चातुर्वर्ण्यं नियच्छति। प्रयुक्तास्वामिना सम्यगधर्मेभ्यो नियच्छति
The science of punishment, when rightly applied by the ruler according to his own duty, maintains the four orders and restrains them from unrighteousness.
दण्डनीत्यां यदा राजा सम्यक्कार्त्स्न्येन वर्तते। तदा कृतयुं नाम कालः श्रेष्ठः प्रवर्तते
When the king conducts himself fully and properly in the science of punishment, then the excellent age called Krita Yuga prevails.
कालो वा कारणं राज्ञो राजा वा कालकारणम् । इति ते संशयो मा भूद्राजा कालस्य कारणम्
Let there be no doubt in your mind whether time is the cause of the king, or the king is the cause of time; the king is indeed the cause of time.
राजा कृतयुगस्रष्टा त्रेताया द्वापरस्य च। युगस्य च चतुर्थस्य राजा भवति कारणम्
The king is the creator of the Krita age, of Treta, of Dvapara, and also of the fourth age; the king is the cause of the age.
कृतस्य करणाद्राजा स्वर्गमत्यन्तमश्रुते । त्रेतायाः करणाद्राजा स्वर्गं नात्यन्तमश्रुते
By establishing the Krita age, the king attains the highest heaven, never heard of before; by establishing the Treta, he attains heaven, though not the highest.
प्रवर्तनाद्द्वापरस्य यथाभागमुपाश्रुते । कलेः प्रवर्तनाद्राजा पापमत्यन्तमश्रुते
By promoting Dvapara, he attains heaven according to his share; but by promoting Kali, the king attains extreme sin, never heard of before.