न चेत्करिष्यसि वचः सुहृदामरिकर्शन । तप्स्यसे वाहिनीं दृष्ट्वा पार्थबाणप्रपीडिताम्
If you do not act according to the words of your friends, O subduer of enemies, you will suffer when you see your army crushed by Arjuna’s arrows.
भीमस्य च महानादं नदतः शुष्मिणो रणे। श्रुत्वा स्मर्तासि मे वाक्यं गाण्डीवस्य च निःश्वनम् । यद्येतदपसव्यं ते वचो मम भविष्यति
When you hear the mighty roar of Bhima, fierce in battle, and the twang of Gandiva, you will remember my words—if my advice proves unheeded by you.
एवमुक्तस्तु विमनास्तिर्यग्दृष्टिरधोमुखः। संहत्य च भ्रुवोर्मध्यं न किञ्चिद्व्याजहार ह
Thus addressed, he became dejected, his gaze averted and face cast down; knitting his brows together, he spoke not a word.
तं वै विमनसं दृष्ट्वा संप्रेक्ष्यान्योन्यमन्तिकात् । पुनरेवोत्तरं वाक्यमुक्तवन्तौ नरर्षभौ
Seeing him dispirited, and glancing at each other nearby, those two best of men again spoke further words.
शुश्रूषमनसूयं च ब्रह्मण्यं सत्यवादिनम् । प्रतियोत्स्यामहे पार्थमतो दुःखतरं नु किम्
He is obedient, free from envy, devoted to the Brahmanas, and truthful; if we must oppose Arjuna, what could be more painful than this?
अश्वत्थाम्नि यथा पुत्रे भूयो मम धनञ्जये। बहुमानः परो राजन्सन्नतिश्च कपिध्वजे
Just as I have great affection and respect for my son Ashvatthaman, O King, so too do I hold the highest regard and reverence for Dhananjaya, the bearer of the monkey-banner.
तं चेत्पुत्रात्प्रियतमं प्रतियोत्स्ये धनञ्जयम् । क्षात्रं धर्ममनुष्ठाय धिगस्तु क्षत्रिजीविकाम्
If I must oppose Dhananjaya, who is dearer to me than my own son, upholding the Kshatriya duty, then shame upon the life of a Kshatriya.
यस्य लोके समो नास्ति कश्चिदन्यो धनुर्धरः । मत्प्रसादात्स बीभत्सुः श्रेयानन्यैर्धनुर्धरैः
There is no other archer in the world equal to him; by my favor, Arjuna surpasses all other wielders of the bow.
मित्रध्रुग्दुष्टभावश्च नास्तिकोऽथानृजुः शठः। न सत्सु लभते पूजां यज्ञे मूर्ख इवागतः
A betrayer of friends, one of wicked nature, an unbeliever, crooked and deceitful—such a one receives no honor among the good, like a fool who comes to a sacrifice.
वार्यमाणोऽपि पापेभ्यः पापात्मा पापमिच्छति। चोद्यमानोऽपि पापेन शुभात्मा शुभमिच्छति
Even when restrained from evil, a wicked soul desires evil; even when urged toward evil, a virtuous soul desires what is good.
मिथ्योपचरिता ह्येते वर्तमान ह्यनुप्रिये । अहितत्वाय कल्पन्ते दोषा भरतसत्तम
These faults, though falsely attributed and seeming agreeable in the present, O best of the Bharatas, ultimately lead to harm.
त्वमुक्तः कुरुवृद्धेन मया च विदुरेण च । वासुदेवेन च तथा श्रेयो नैवाभिमन्यसे
You have been advised by the elder of the Kurus, by me, by Vidura, and by Vasudeva as well, yet you do not consider what is best.
अस्ति मे बलमित्येव सहसा त्वं तितीर्षसि। सग्राहनक्रमकरं गङ्गावेगमिवोष्णगे
Thinking only, 'I have strength,' you wish to cross over at once, like one seeking to ford the rushing Ganga, full of crocodiles, in the heat.
वाससैव यथा हि त्वं प्रावृण्वानोऽभिमन्यसे। स्रजं त्यक्तामिव प्राप्य लोभाद्यौधिष्ठिरीं श्रियम्
Just as you are satisfied merely by clothing yourself, so, out of greed, you seize the prosperity of Yudhishthira, like one taking a discarded garland.
द्रौपदीसहितं पार्थं सायुधैर्भ्रातृभिर्वृतम्। वनस्थमपि राज्यस्थः पाण्डवं को विजेष्यति
Who can defeat the Pandava, surrounded by his armed brothers and Draupadi, even if he dwells in the forest, while you possess the kingdom?
निदेशे यस्य राजानः सर्वे तिष्ठन्ति किङ्कराः । तमैलविलमासाद्य धर्मराजो व्यराजत
At whose command all kings stand as servants, upon approaching that son of Ila, King Yudhishthira shone with splendor.
कुबेरसदनं प्राप्य ततो रत्नान्यवाप्य च । स्फीतमाक्रम्य ते राष्ट्रं राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः
Having reached Kubera’s abode and obtained treasures from there, the Pandavas, having prospered, now seek to rule your kingdom.
दत्तं हुतमधीतं च ब्राह्मणास्तर्पिता धनैः । आवयोर्गतमायुश्च कृतकृत्यौ च विद्धि नौ
Know that we have performed gifts, sacrifices, and studies, and have satisfied the Brahmanas with wealth; our allotted lifespan is spent, and our duties are fulfilled.
त्वं तु हित्वा सुखं राज्यं मित्राणि च धनानि च । विग्रहं पाण्डवैः कृत्वा महद्व्यसनमाप्स्यसि
But you, abandoning the happiness of kingship, friends, and wealth, by making conflict with the Pandavas, will encounter great calamity.
द्रौपदी यस्य चाशास्ते विजयं सत्यवादिनी । तपोघोरव्रता देवी कथं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम्
How will you defeat the Pandava whose victory is desired by Draupadi, the truth-speaking goddess, devoted to severe vows and austerity?
मन्त्री जनार्दनो यस्य भ्राता यस्य धनञ्जयः। सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठः कथं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम्
How will you defeat the Pandava whose counselor is Janardana, whose brother is Dhananjaya, the foremost among all wielders of weapons?
सहाया ब्राह्मणा यस्य धृतिमन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः। तमुग्रतपसं वीरं कथं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम्
How will you defeat the heroic Pandava, whose allies are steadfast Brahmanas, self-controlled and resolute, and who himself is fierce in austerity?
पुनरुक्तं च वक्ष्यामि यत्कार्यं भूतिमिच्छता। सुहृदा मञ्जमानेषु सुहृत्सु व्यसनार्णवे
I will say again what should be done by one who desires prosperity: when friends are sinking in the ocean of misfortune, be a friend to them.
अलं युद्धेन तैर्वीरैः शाम्य त्वं कुरुवृद्धये । मा गमः सतुतामात्यःसमित्रश्च यमक्षयम्
Enough of war with those heroes; make peace for the good of the Kurus. Do not, with your counselors and allies, go to the abode of Yama.
राजपुत्रैः परिवृतस्तथा भृत्यैश्च सत्तम। उपारोप्य रथे कर्णं निर्यातो मधुसूदनः
Surrounded by princes and excellent attendants, Madhusudana set Karna upon the chariot and departed.
किमब्रवीद्रथोपस्थे राधेयं परवीरहा । कानि सान्त्वानि गोविन्दः सूतपुत्रे प्रयुक्तवान्
What did Govinda say to Radheya, the slayer of enemy heroes, as he sat upon the chariot? What words of conciliation did he address to the son of the charioteer?
उद्यन्मेघस्वनः काले यत्कृष्णः कर्णमब्रवीत्। मृदु वा यदि वा तीक्ष्णं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सर्वशः
Tell me in full what Krishna said to Karna, whether gentle or harsh, like the sound of rising thunderclouds at the proper time.
आनुपूर्व्येण वाक्यानि तीक्ष्णानि च मृदूनि च। प्रियाणि धर्मयुक्तानि सत्यानि च हितानि च
Tell me all the words, in order, both harsh and gentle, pleasing, righteous, true, and beneficial.
हृदयग्रहणीयानि राधेयं मधुसूदनः । यान्यब्रवीदमेयात्मा तानि मे श्रृणु भारत
Hear from me, O Bharata, those words that Madhusudana, whose mind is immeasurable, spoke to Radheya—words that seize the heart.
उपासितास्ते राधेय ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। तत्त्वार्थं परिपृष्टाश्च नियतेनानसूयया
O Radheya, you have served Brahmanas who are accomplished in the Vedas, and you have questioned them about the true meaning, with discipline and without envy.