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.
अथैतस्यामवस्थायां पौरुषं हातुमिच्छसि। निहीनसेवितं मार्गं गमिष्यस्यचिरादिव
Now, in this situation, if you wish to abandon your manliness, you will soon follow a path shunned by the lowly.
यो हि तेजो यथाशक्ति न कर्शयति विक्रमात्। क्षत्रियो जीविताकाङ्क्षी स्तेन इत्येव तं विदुः
A Kshatriya who, out of desire for life, does not exert his power and courage to his utmost is known as a thief.
अर्थवन्त्युपपन्नानि वाक्यानि गुणवन्ति च। नैव संप्राप्नुवन्ति त्वां मुमूर्षुमिव भेषजम्
Words that are meaningful, appropriate, and virtuous do not reach you, just as medicine does not benefit one who wishes to die.
सन्ति वै सिन्धुराजस्य सन्तुष्टा न तथा जनाः। दौर्बल्यादासते मूढा व्यसतौघपतीक्षिणः
Though the king of the Sindhus has wealth, the people are not satisfied; out of weakness, the foolish remain, watching the flood of misfortune.
सहायोपचितिं कृत्वा व्यवसाय्य ततस्ततः । अनुदुष्येयुरपरे पश्यन्तस्तव पौरुषम्
Having gathered allies and made firm resolutions, others will not blame you, seeing your manliness.
तैः कृत्वा सह संघातं गिरिदुर्गालयं चर । काले व्यसनमाकाङ्क्षन्नैवायमजरामरः
Unite with them and dwell in a mountain fortress; when the time comes, seek adversity, for this one is neither ageless nor immortal.
सञ्जयो नामतश्च त्वं न च पश्यामि तत्त्वयि । अन्वर्थनामा भव मे पुत्र मा व्यर्थनामकः
You are named Sanjaya, but I do not see that quality in you; my son, be true to your name, do not let it be in vain.
सम्यग्दृष्टिर्महाप्राज्ञो बालं त्वां ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्। अयं प्राप्य महत्कृच्छ्रं पुनर्वृद्धिं गमिष्यति
A wise Brahmana, seeing truly, spoke to you as a child: 'Having endured great hardship, this one will again attain prosperity.'
तस्य स्मरन्ती वचनमाशंसे विजयं तव। तस्मात्तात ब्रवीमि त्वां वक्ष्यामि च पुनःपुनः
Remembering his words, I hope for your victory; therefore, dear one, I speak to you and will speak again and again.
यस्य ह्यर्थाभिनिर्वृत्तौ भवन्त्याप्यायिताः परे । तस्यार्थसिद्धिर्नियता नयेष्वर्थानुसारिणः
He whose wealth brings nourishment to others surely attains success; for those who follow the right path, the achievement of wealth is certain.