कृत्वा मानुष्यकं कर्म सृत्वाऽऽजिं यावदुत्तमम् । धर्मस्यानृण्यमाप्नोति न चात्मानं विगर्हते
Having performed the duty of a human, having waged the best battle, one becomes free of debt to righteousness and does not reproach oneself.
अलब्ध्वा यदि वा लब्ध्वा नानुशोचति पण्डितः । आनन्तर्यं चारभते न प्राणानां धनायते
Whether he gains or fails to gain, the wise do not grieve; they undertake what is lasting, and do not value life for the sake of wealth.
उद्भावयस्वं वीर्यं वा तां वा गच्छ ध्रुवां गतिम् । धर्मं पुत्राग्रतः कृत्वा किंनिमित्तं हि जीवसि
Awaken your strength, or else go to that certain end; having placed righteousness before your sons, for what reason do you live?
इष्टापूर्तं हि ते क्लीब कीर्तिश्च सकला हता । विच्छिन्नं भोगमूलं ते किंनिमित्तं हि जीवसि
Your sacrifices and gifts, O coward, and all your fame are destroyed; the root of your enjoyment is cut off—why do you still live?
शत्रुर्निमञ्जता ग्राह्यो जङ्घायां प्रपतिष्यता। विपरिच्छिन्नमूलोऽपि न विषीदेत्कथंचन
Even when the enemy is sinking, he must be seized; even when falling, one must strive—though his roots are cut, he should never despair.
उद्यम्य धुरमुत्कर्षेदाजानेयकतं स्मरन्। कुरु सत्वं च मानं च विद्धि पौरुषमात्मनः
Take up the burden and strive, remembering the valor of the sons of Ajā; show courage and honor, and know your own manliness.
उद्भावय कुलं मग्नं त्वत्कृते स्वयमेव हि। यस्य वृत्तं न जल्पन्ति मानवा महदद्भुतम्
Raise up your family, which has sunk because of you, by your own effort; whose conduct is not spoken of by men as great and wondrous?
राशिवर्धनमात्रं स नैव स्त्री न पुनः पुमान् । दाने तपसि सत्ये च यस्य नोच्चरितं यशः
He is merely a heap of flesh, neither woman nor man, in whom no fame is spoken of in giving, in austerity, or in truth.
विद्यायामर्थलाभे वा मातुरुच्चार एव सः। श्रुतेन तपसा वाऽपि श्रिया वा विक्रमेण वा
Whether in acquiring knowledge or wealth, it is merely the utterance of the mother; through learning, austerity, prosperity, or valor.
जनान्योऽभिभवत्यन्यान्कर्मणा हि स वै पुमान् । न त्वेव जाल्मीं कापालीं वृत्तिमेषितुमर्हसि
A man surpasses others by his actions; but you should not seek a base and shameful livelihood.
नृशंस्यामयशस्यां च दुःखां कापुरुषोचिताम्। यमेनमभिनन्देयुरमित्राः पुरुषं कृशम्
One should not pursue a cruel, infamous, painful, and unworthy livelihood, which enemies would praise in a weak man.
लोकस्य समवज्ञातं निहीनासनवाससम् । अहोलाभकरं हीनमल्पजीवनमल्पकम्
Despised by the world, clad in inferior garments, deprived of gain, lowly, with little life and little worth.
नेदृशं बन्धुमासाद्य बान्धवः सुखमेधते। अवृत्त्यैव विपत्स्यामो वयं राष्ट्रात्प्रवासिताः
No relative finds happiness upon gaining such a kinsman; deprived of livelihood, we would suffer, exiled from the kingdom.
सर्वकामरसैर्हीनाः स्थानभ्रष्टा अकिंचनाः । अवल्गुकारिण सत्सु कुलवंशस्य नाशनम्
Deprived of all desired pleasures, fallen from position, destitute, acting without restraint among the virtuous, causing the ruin of the family line.
कलिं पुत्रप्रवादेन सञ्जय त्वामजीजनम् । निरमर्षं निरुत्साहं निर्वीर्यमरिनन्दनम्
O Sanjaya, Kali was born to you through your son, lacking anger, lacking enthusiasm, lacking strength, child of a weak man.
मा स्म सीमन्तिनी काचिञ्जनयेत्पुत्रमीदृशम्। मा धूमाय ज्वलात्यन्तमाक्रम्य जहि शात्रवान्
Let no noble woman ever give birth to such a son; do not let the flame smoke excessively, rise up and strike down your enemies.
ज्वल मूर्धन्यमित्राणां मुहूर्तमपि वा क्षणम्। एतावानेव पुरुषो यदमर्षी यदक्षमी
Burn upon the heads of your enemies, even for a moment or an instant; this alone is manhood: to be wrathful, to be unyielding.
क्षमावान्निरमर्षश्च नैव स्त्री न पुनः पुमान् । संतोषो वै श्रियं हन्ति तथाऽनुक्रोश एव च
He who is patient and without anger is neither woman nor man; contentment destroys prosperity, and so does compassion.
अनुत्थानभये चोभे निरीहो नाश्रुते महत्। एभ्यो निकृतिपापेभ्यः प्रमुञ्चात्मानमात्मना
Both fear of rising and fear of falling, indifference, and lack of great learning—free yourself from these wicked evils by your own effort.
आयसं हृदयं कृत्वा मृगयस्व पुनः स्वकम् । परं विषहते यस्मात्तस्मात्पुरुष उच्यते
Make your heart like iron and seek again your own; because he endures others, therefore one is called a man.
तमाहुर्व्यर्थनामानं स्त्रीवद्य इह जीवति। शूरस्योर्जितसत्वस्य सिंहविक्रान्तचारिणः
They call him one with a vain name, living like a woman here; but the heroic, strong, lion-like in stride—
दिष्टभावं गतस्यापि विषये मोदते प्रजा । य आत्मनः प्रियमुखे हित्वा मृगयते श्रियम्
Even after attaining a fated condition, he delights in his domain; he who, forsaking what is dear to himself, pursues prosperity.
अमात्यानामथो हर्षमादधात्यचिरेण सः
He quickly brings joy to his ministers.
किं नु मे मामपश्यन्त्याः पृथिव्या अपि सर्वया। किमाभरणकृत्यं ते किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा
What use are ornaments or pleasures or even life to me, when the whole earth does not see me?
पैरर्विहन्यमानस्य जीवितेनापि किं फलम्।' निर्मन्युकानां ये लोका द्विषन्तस्तानवाप्नुयुः । ये त्वादृतात्मनां लोकाः सुहृदस्तान्व्रजन्तु नः
What is the fruit of life for one struck by others? May those who hate us attain the worlds of the disheartened; may our friends reach the worlds of the steadfast.
भृत्यैर्विहीयमानानां परपिण्डोपजीविनाम्। कृपणानामसत्वानां मा वृत्तिमनुवर्तिथाः
Do not follow the livelihood of those deprived of servants, living off others' food, wretched and lacking strength.
अनु त्वां तात जीवन्तु ब्राह्मणाः सुहृदस्तथा । पर्यन्यमिव भूतानि देवा इव शतक्रतुम्
May the Brahmanas and friends live because of you, dear one, just as all beings depend on the rain-cloud, and as the gods depend on Indra.
यमाजीवन्ति पुरुषं सर्वभूतानि संजय। पक्वं द्रुममिवासाद्य तस्य जीवितमर्थवत्
All beings live by a man, O Sanjaya, just as they thrive upon a ripened tree; his life is truly meaningful.
यस्य शूरस्य विक्रान्तैरेधन्ते बान्धवाः सुखम्। त्रिदशा इव शक्रस्य साधु तस्येह जीवितम्
Blessed is the life of that brave and valiant one whose kinsmen prosper happily, like the gods under the rule of Indra.
स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य योहि जीवति मानवः । स लोके लभते कीर्तिं परत्र च शुभां गतिम्
He who lives relying on the strength of his own arms, that man attains fame in this world and a blessed state hereafter.