ततो वसति दुष्कर्मा नरके शाश्वतीः समाः । राजदोषेण हि जगत्स्पृश्यते जगतः स च
Then, the evildoer dwells in hell for countless ages; for by the king's fault, the world is afflicted, and he is afflicted by the world.
राजधर्मानवेक्षस्व पितृपैतामहोचितान्। नैतद्राजर्षिवृत्तं हि यत्र त्वं स्थातुमिच्छसि
Consider the royal duties as practiced by your forefathers; for this is not the conduct of royal sages, in which you wish to remain.
न हि वैक्लब्यसंसृष्ट आनृशंस्ये व्यवस्थितः । प्रजापालनसंभूतं फलं किंचन लब्धवान्
Indeed, one who is overcome by weakness and stands in compassion does not obtain any fruit arising from the protection of subjects.
न ह्येतामाशिषं पाण्डुर्न चाहं न पितामहः । प्रयुक्तवन्तः पूर्वं ते यया चरसि मेधया
Neither Pandu, nor I, nor the grandsire, have ever previously uttered the wish by which you now act with intelligence.
यज्ञो दानं तपः शौर्यं प्रज्ञा सन्तानमेव च । माहात्म्यं बलमोजश्च नित्यमाशंसितं मया
Sacrifice, charity, austerity, valor, wisdom, progeny, greatness, strength, and energy—these have always been desired by me.
नित्यं स्वाहा स्वधा नित्यं दद्युर्मानुषदेवताः । दीर्घमायुर्धनं पुत्रान्सम्यगाराधिताः शुभाः
May the human and divine beings, when properly worshipped, always grant offerings, oblations, long life, wealth, and virtuous sons.
पुत्रेष्वाशासते नित्यं पितरो दैवतानि च। दानमध्ययनं यज्ञः प्रजानां परिपालनम्
Fathers and the gods always hope for sons; charity, study, sacrifice, and the protection of people.
एतद्धर्ममधर्मं वा जन्मनैवाभ्यजायथाः । ते तु वैद्याः कुले जाता अवृत्त्या तात पीडिताः
Whether this is righteousness or unrighteousness, you were born with it from birth; but those learned, born in noble families, are afflicted by lack of means, dear one.
यत्र दानपतिं शूरं क्षुधिताः पृथिवीचराः । प्राप्य तुष्टाः प्रतिष्ठन्ते धर्मः कोऽभ्यधिकस्ततः
Where the hungry wanderers of the earth, upon meeting a generous and heroic lord, are satisfied and remain—what righteousness is greater than that?
दानेनान्यं बलेनान्यं तथा सूनृतयाऽपरम्। सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्राज्यं प्राप्येह धार्मिकः
By charity one, by strength another, and by truthfulness yet another—having obtained the kingdom here, the righteous should accept from all sides.
ब्राह्मणः प्रचरेद्भैक्षं क्षत्रियः परिपालयेत्। वैश्यो धनार्जनं कुर्याच्छूद्रः परिचरेच्च तान्
A Brahmin should practice alms, a Kshatriya should protect, a Vaishya should acquire wealth, and a Shudra should serve them.
भैक्षं विप्रतिषिद्धं ते कृषिर्नैवोपपद्यते । क्षत्रियोऽसि क्षतात्राता बाहुवीर्योपजीविता
For you, alms are forbidden, and agriculture is not fitting; you are a Kshatriya, a protector from harm, living by the strength of your arms.
पित्र्यमंशं महाबाहो निमग्नं पुनरुद्धर । साम्ना भेदेन दानेन दण्डेनाथ नयेन वा
O mighty-armed one, raise up again the ancestral share that has sunk—by conciliation, division, gift, punishment, or policy.
इतो दुःखतरं किं नु यदहं दीनबान्धवा। परपिण्डमुदीक्षे वै त्वां सूत्वा मित्रनन्दन
What could be more painful than this, that I, with helpless relatives, look to another's food, having given birth to you, O joy of your friends?
युध्यस्व राजधर्मेण मा निमञ्जीः पितामहान् । मा गमः क्षीणपुण्यस्त्वं सानुजः पापिकां गतिं
Fight according to royal duty; do not let your ancestors sink; do not, with your brothers, go to an evil fate with merit exhausted.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । विदुलायाश्च संवादं पुत्रस्य च परन्तप
Here too they cite an ancient story, O scorcher of foes, the conversation of Vidula and her son.
ततः श्रेयश्च भूयश्च यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि । यशस्विनी मन्युमती कुले जाता विभावरी
Therefore, you should properly speak what is better and more beneficial; illustrious, intelligent, born in a noble family, and radiant.
क्षत्रधर्मरता दान्ता विदुला दीर्घदर्शिनी । विश्रुता राजसंसत्सु श्रुतवाक्या बहुश्रुता
Devoted to the duty of warriors, self-controlled, Vidula, far-sighted, renowned among royal assemblies, learned in many sayings.
विदुला नाम राजन्या जगर्हे पुत्रमौरसम् । निर्जितं सिन्धुराजेन शयानं दीनचेतसम्
A royal woman named Vidula rebuked her own son, who was defeated by the king of Sindhu, lying down with a dejected heart.
अनन्दन मया जात द्विषतां हर्षवर्धन । न मया त्वं न पित्रा च जातः क्वाभ्यागतोह्यसि
Unfortunate one, you were born from me, but you increase the joy of enemies; neither from me nor from your father were you born—where have you come from?
निर्मन्युश्चाप्यसङ्ख्येयः पुरुषः क्लीबसाधनः । यावज्जीवं निराशोऽसि कल्याणाय धुरं वह
A man who is free from anger, countless in number, and of impotent means, lives his whole life without hope—bear the burden for what is good.
माऽऽत्मानमवमन्यस्व मैनमल्पेन बीभरः । मनः कृत्वा सुकल्याणं मा भैस्त्वं प्रतिसंहर
Do not belittle yourself, nor bear fear for a small thing; set your mind on what is truly good—do not be afraid, withdraw yourself.
उत्तिष्ठ हे कापुरुष मा शेष्वैवं पराजितः। अमित्रान्नन्दयन्सर्वान्निर्मानो बन्धुशोकदः
Rise up, O coward, do not lie there defeated; delighting all your enemies, you bring grief to your kin, stripped of honor.
सुपूरा वै कुनदिका सुपूरो मुषिकाञ्जलिः । सुसंतोषः कापुरुषः स्वल्पकेनैव तुष्यति
A small river may be full, a handful of grain for a mouse may be plenty; a coward is easily satisfied with little.
अप्यहेरारुजन्दंष्ट्रामाश्वेव निधनं व्रज । अपि वा संशयं प्राप्य जीवितेऽपि पराक्रमेः
Even if you meet death, like a serpent baring its fangs, or like a horse rushing to its end, or if you face uncertainty, show your valor even in life.
अप्यरेः श्येनवच्छिद्रं पश्येस्त्वं विपरिक्रमन् । विवदन्वाऽथवा तूष्णीं व्योम्नीवापरिशङ्कितः
Even if you see a gap in the enemy's ranks, like a hawk swooping down, advance boldly—whether arguing or silent, like the sky, without fear.
त्वमेवं प्रेतवच्छेषे कस्माद्वज्रहतो यथा। उत्तिष्ठ हे कापुरुष मा स्वाप्सीः शत्रुनिर्जितः
Why do you lie there like one dead, as if struck by a thunderbolt? Rise up, O coward, do not sleep conquered by your enemies.
माऽस्तं गमस्त्वं कृपणो वि श्रूयस्व स्वकर्मणा । मा मध्ये मा जघन्ये त्वं माऽधो भूस्तिष्ठ गर्जितः
Do not fade away in misery, do not be known for your own deeds as wretched; do not remain in the middle or the lowest—stand tall, resounding.
अलातं तिन्दुकस्येव मुहूर्तमपि हि ज्वल । मा तुषाग्निरिवानर्चिर्धूमायस्व जिजीविषुः
Burn, even for a moment, like the firebrand of the tinduka tree; do not, wishing to live, smolder like a fire of chaff, without flame.
मुहूर्तं ज्वलितं श्रेयो न च धूमायितं चिरम् । मा ह स्म कस्यचिद्गेहे जनी राज्ञः स्वरीमृदुः
It is better to blaze for a moment than to smolder in smoke for long; let no one in a king's house be born as a woman with a soft heart.