धर्मार्थगुणयुक्तेन नेतरेण कथञ्चन। दैवमानुषयुक्तेन सद्भिराचरितेन च
With conduct joined to virtue, profit, and excellence, and not otherwise in any way; with actions united to both fate and human effort, and practiced by the good.
यो ह्येवमविनीतेन रमते पुत्रनप्तृणा। अनुत्थानवता चापि दुर्विनीतेन दुर्धिया
He who delights in sons and grandsons without humility, and who is inactive, ill-behaved, and of poor judgment—
रमते यस्तु पुत्रेण मोघं तस्य प्रजाफलम्। अकुर्वन्तो हि कर्माणि कुर्वन्तो निन्दितानि च
He who delights in his son, for him the fruit of progeny is vain; for they do not perform deeds, or they perform blameworthy ones.
सुखं नैवेह नामुत्र लभन्ते पुरुषाधमाः । युद्धाय क्षत्रियः सृष्टः सञ्जयेह जयाय च । `क्रूराय कर्मणे नित्यं प्रजानां परिपालने
The lowest of men find no happiness either here or hereafter. The warrior is created for battle, O Sanjaya, for victory here, and for harsh deeds always, in the protection of the people.
जयन्वा वध्यमानो वा प्राप्नोतीन्द्रसलोकताम् । न शक्रभवने पुण्ये दिवि तद्विद्यते सुखम्। यदमित्रान्वशे कृत्वा क्षत्रियः सुखमेधते
Whether victorious or slain, he attains the world of Indra. In the pure abode of Shakra in heaven, there is no happiness for one who, having subdued enemies, seeks happiness as a warrior.
मन्युना दह्यमानेह पुरुषेण मनस्विना । निकृतेनेह बहुशः शत्रून्प्रति जिगीषया
When a person of spirit is consumed by anger here, and repeatedly deceived, he desires to conquer his enemies.
आत्मानं वा परित्यज्य शत्रुं वा विनिपात्य च। प्राप्यते नेह शान्तिर्हि नित्यमेव तु सञ्जय । अतोन्येन प्रकारेण शान्तिरस्य कुतो भवेत्
By abandoning oneself or by destroying the enemy, peace is not attained here, O Sanjaya; in any other way, how could peace arise for him?
इह प्राज्ञो हि पुरुषः स्वल्पमप्रियमिच्छति। यस्य स्वल्पं प्रियं लोके ध्रुवं तस्याल्पमप्रियम्
Here, a wise person desires only a little that is unpleasant; for one whose pleasure in the world is small, surely his unpleasantness is also small.
प्रियाभावाच्च पुरुषो नैव प्राप्नोति शोभनम् । ध्रुवं चाभावमभ्येति गत्वा गङ्गेव सागरम्
And because of the absence of pleasure, a person does not attain what is good; surely he comes to absence, just as the Ganges goes to the ocean.
नेयं मतिस्त्वया वाच्या मातः पुत्रे विशेषतः । कारुण्यमेव पश्य त्वं भूत्वेह जडमूकवत्
This thought should not be spoken by you, mother, especially regarding your son; you should only see compassion, becoming here as if dull and mute.
अतो मे भूयसी नन्दिर्यदेवमनुपश्यसि। चोद्यं मां चोदयस्येतद्भृशं वै चोदयामि ते
Therefore, my joy is greater if you observe this, and you urge me, and I urge you greatly in turn.
अथ त्वां पूजयिष्यामि हत्वा वै सर्वसैन्धवान्। अहं पश्यामि विजयं कृच्छ्रभाविनमेव ते
Then I will honor you, having slain all the Sindhus; I see victory coming to you, though with difficulty.
अकोशस्यासहायस्य कुतः सिद्धिर्जयो मम। इत्यवस्थां विदित्वैतामात्मनात्मनि दारुणाम्
Without treasury and without allies, how can I achieve success or victory? Knowing this harsh state of myself within myself—
राज्याद्भावो निवृत्तो मे त्रिदिवादिव दृष्कृतः । ईदृशं भवती कंचिदुपायमनुपश्यति
My desire for kingship has ceased, as if it were seen in heaven; does your ladyship perceive any means for such a situation?
तन्मे परिणतप्रज्ञे सम्यक्प्रब्रूहि पृच्छते। करिष्यामि हि तत्सर्वं यथावदनुशासनम्
Therefore, O you of mature wisdom, tell me rightly as I ask; I will do everything according to your instruction.
पुत्र नात्मावमन्तव्यः पूर्वाभिरसमृद्धिभिः । अभूत्वा हि भवन्त्यर्था भूत्वा नश्यन्ति चापरे। अमर्षेणैव चाप्यर्था नारब्धव्याः सुबालिशैः
Son, one should not despise oneself because of former failures; for things come into being and others perish, and through impatience, the foolish should not undertake pursuits.
सर्वेषां कर्मणां तात फले नित्यमनित्यता। अनित्यमिति जानन्तो न भवन्ति भवन्ति च
For all actions, O child, their fruits are always impermanent; knowing them to be impermanent, some do not come to be, while others do.
अथ ये नैव कुर्वन्ति नैव जातु भवन्ति ते। ऐकगुण्यमनीहायामभावः कर्मणां फलम्
But those who never act, never come to be; the fruit of actions is non-existence when there is only one quality and no effort.
अथ द्वैगुण्यमीहायां फलं भवति वा नवा । यस्य प्रागेव विदिता सर्वार्थानामनित्यता
Here, the result may or may not be doubled, for one who has already understood the impermanence of all things.
नुदेद्वृद्धिसमृद्धी स प्रतिकूले नृपात्मज । उत्थातव्यं जागृतव्यं योक्तव्यं भूतिकर्मसु
O prince, when growth and prosperity are hindered, one must rise up, stay alert, and engage in actions that bring success.
भविष्यतीत्येव मनः कृत्वा सततमव्यथैः । मङ्गलानि पुरस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणांश्चेश्वरैः सह
Always keeping the thought, 'It will be,' free from anxiety, and placing auspicious acts and the Brahmins with the lords at the forefront.
प्राज्ञस्य नृपतेराशु वृद्धिर्भवति पुत्रक । अभिवर्तति लक्ष्मीस्तं प्राचीमिव दिवाकरः
For a wise king, O child, prosperity quickly arises; fortune approaches him as the sun rises in the east.
निदर्शनान्युपायांश्च बहून्युद्धर्षणानि च। अनुदर्शितरूपोऽसि पश्यामि कुरु पौरुषम्
You have shown many examples, means, and ways of encouragement; I see you as one who demonstrates them—show your strength.
पुरुषार्थमभिप्रेतं समाहर्तुमिहार्हसि। क्रुद्धान्लुब्धान्परिक्षीणानवलिप्तान्विमानितान्
You ought to gather here what is desired through human effort: those who are angry, greedy, diminished, arrogant, or insulted.
स्पर्धिनश्चैव ये केचित्तान्युक्त उपधारय। एतेन त्वं प्रकारेण महतो भेत्स्यसे गणान्। महावेग इवोद्धूतो मातरिश्वा बलाहकान्
And whoever else is competitive—take note of them as I have said; in this way, you will break through great groups, like the wind driving clouds with great force.
तेषामग्रप्रदायी स्याः कल्पोत्थायी प्रियंवदः । ते त्वां प्रियं करिष्यन्ति पुरोधास्यन्ति च ध्रुवम्
You should be the first to give among them, rise at the right time, and speak kindly; then they will surely make you dear and place you at the forefront.
यदैव शत्रुर्जानीयात्सपत्नं त्यक्तजीवितम्। तदैवास्मादुद्विजेत सर्पाद्वेश्मगतादिव
When an enemy knows that a rival has given up his life, he should immediately fear him, as one fears a snake that has entered the house.
तं विदित्वा पराक्रान्तं वशे न कुरुते यदि। निर्वादैर्निर्वदेदेनमन्ततस्तद्भविष्यति
If, knowing him to be resolute, he does not bring him under control, then he should defeat him with blameless means; in the end, that will be the result.
निर्वादादास्पदं लब्धा धनवृद्धिर्भविष्यति। धनवन्तं हि मित्राणि भजन्ते चाश्रयन्ति च
Having gained a foothold through blamelessness, wealth will increase; for friends gather around and depend on the wealthy.
स्खलितार्थं पुनस्तानि सन्त्यजन्ति च बान्धवाः । नह्यस्मिन्नाश्रयन्ते च जुगुप्सन्ते च तादृशम्
But when wealth is lost, those same relatives abandon him; for such a one, they neither take refuge nor do they respect him.