श्वेतोष्णीषाश्च दृश्यन्ते त्रय एते जनार्दन । धार्तराष्ट्रेषु सैन्येषु तान्विजानीहि केशव
O Janardana, these three also were seen with white turbans among the armies of Dhritarashtra; know them, O Keshava.
अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः । रक्तोष्णीषाश्च दृश्यन्ते सर्वे माधव पार्थिवाः
Ashvatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma of the Satvata clan, O Madhava, all the kings were seen with red turbans.
उष्ट्रप्रयुक्तमारूढौ भीष्मद्रोणौ महारथौ । मया सार्धं महाबाहो धार्तराष्ट्रेण वा विभो
The great chariot-warriors Bhishma and Drona were seen mounted on a camel-drawn vehicle, together with me or with the son of Dhritarashtra, O mighty-armed one.
अगस्त्यशास्तां च दिशं प्रयाताः स्म जनार्दन । अचिरेणैव कालेन प्राप्स्यामो यमसादनम्
O Janardana, we set out toward the quarter ruled by Agastya; in a short time, we shall reach the abode of Yama.
अहं चान्ये च राजानो यच्च तत्क्षत्रमण्डलम् । गाण्डिवाग्निं प्रवेक्ष्याम इति मे नास्ति संशयः
I, along with other kings and all the kshatriya hosts, shall enter the fire of Gandiva; of this I have no doubt.
अपस्थितविनाशेयं नूनमद्य वसुंधरा। यथा हि मे वचः कर्ण नोपैति हृदयं तव
Surely today the earth is destined for destruction, since, O Karna, my words do not reach your heart.
सर्वेषां तात भूतानां विनाशे प्रत्युपस्थिते। अनयो नयसङ्काशो हृदयान्नापसर्पति
When the destruction of all beings is at hand, O father, this unrighteousness, appearing as righteousness, does not depart from the heart.
अपि त्वां कृष्ण पश्यामो जीवन्तोऽस्मान्महारणात्। समुत्तीर्णा महाबाहो वीरक्षत्रविनाशनात्
O Krishna, will we see you alive, O mighty-armed one, having crossed this great battle and the destruction of heroic kshatriyas?
अथवा सङ्गमः कृष्ण स्वर्गे नो भविता ध्रुवम्। तत्रेदानीं समेष्यामः पुनः सार्धं त्वयानघ
Or perhaps, O Krishna, our meeting will surely take place in heaven; there, O faultless one, we shall come together again with you.
इत्युक्त्वा माधवं कर्णः परिष्वज्य च पीडितम्। विसर्जितः केशवेन रथोपस्थादवातरत्
Having spoken thus to Madhava, Karna, who was afflicted, embraced him; then, released by Kesava, he descended from the chariot.
ततः स्वरथामस्थाय जाम्बूनदविभूषितम्। महात्मा वै निववृते राधेयो दीनमानसः
Then the great-souled Radheya, his mind dejected, mounted his own chariot, adorned with gold, and turned back.
ततः शीघ्रतरं प्रायात्केशवः सहसात्यकिः। पुनरुच्चारयन्वाणीं याहि याहीति सारथिम्
Thereafter, Kesava, together with Satyaki, swiftly set out, repeatedly urging his charioteer, 'Go, go!'
असिद्धानुनये कृष्णे कुरुभ्यः पाण्डवान्गते। अभिगम्य पृथां क्षत्ता शनैः शोचन्निवाब्रवीत्
When Krishna's attempt at reconciliation with the Kurus failed and he departed to the Pandavas, Vidura approached Pritha and, grieving, spoke gently.
जानासि मे जीवपुत्री भावं नित्यमविग्रहे । क्रोशतो नच गृह्णीते वचनं मे सुयोधनः
You know my constant disposition toward your sons, ever free from hostility; yet, though I cry out, Suyodhana does not heed my words.
उपपन्नो ह्यसौ राजा चेदिपाञ्चालकेकयैः । भीमार्जुनाभ्यां कृष्णेन युयुधानयमैरपि
That king is supported by the Cedis, Panchalas, Kekayas, Bhima, Arjuna, Krishna, Yuyudhana, and the Yadavas.
उपप्लाव्ये निविष्टोऽपि धर्ममेव युधिष्ठिरः। काङ्क्षते ज्ञातिसौहार्दाद्बलवान्दुर्बलो यथा
Even while residing at Upaplavya, Yudhishthira, though strong, desires only righteousness out of affection for his kin, just as the weak do.
राजा तु धृतराष्ट्रोऽयं वयोवृद्धो न शाम्यति। मत्तः पुत्रमदेनैव विधर्मे पथि वर्तते
But this king Dhritarashtra, though advanced in years, does not desist; intoxicated by love for his son, he follows the path of unrighteousness.
जयद्रथस्य कर्णस्य तथा दुःशासनस्य च। सौबलस्य च दुर्बुद्ध्या मिथो भेदः प्रपत्स्यते
Because of the evil-minded Jayadratha, Karna, Duhshasana, and Saubala, division will arise among them.
अधर्मेम हि धर्मिष्ठं ह्रियते राज्यमीदृशम्। येषां तेषामयं धर्मः सानुबन्धो भविष्यति
Indeed, by unrighteousness, such a kingdom is taken from the righteous; for those who act thus, this is the law that will befall them, along with their followers.
क्रियमाणे बलाद्धर्मे कुरुभिः को न संज्वरेत्। असाम्ना केशवे याते समुद्योक्ष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः
Who would not burn with grief when the Kurus, by force, commit unrighteousness? With Kesava gone without success, the Pandavas will be roused to action.
ततः कुरूणामनयो भविता वीरनाशनः। चिन्तयन्न लभे निद्रामहःसु च निशासु च
Then, disaster will befall the Kurus, bringing destruction to heroes; thinking on this, I find no sleep, neither by day nor by night.
श्रुत्वा तु कुन्ती तद्वाक्यमर्थकामेन भाषितम्। सा निःश्वसन्ती दुःखार्ता मनसा विममर्श ह
Hearing those words, spoken by Vidura with concern for their welfare, Kunti, sighing and afflicted with sorrow, pondered in her mind.
धिगस्त्वर्थं यत्कृतेयं सुमहाञ्ज्ञातिसंक्षयः। वर्त्स्यते सुहृदां चैव युद्धेऽस्मिन्वै पराभवः
Fie upon that gain for which such a great destruction of kin will occur, and for which the defeat of friends in this battle will come about.
पाण्डवाश्चेदिपञ्चाला यादवाश्च समागताः। भारतैः सह योत्स्यन्ति किं नु दुःखमतःपरम्
If the Pandavas, Cedis, Panchalas, and Yadavas, united with the Bharatas, fight together, what sorrow could be greater than this?
पश्ये दोषं ध्रुवं युद्धे तथाऽयुद्धे पराभवम् । अधनस्य मृतं श्रेयो न हि ज्ञातिक्षयो जयः। इति मे चिन्तयन्त्या वै हृदि दुःखं प्रवर्तते
I see certain evil in war, and in peace, defeat; for the poor, death is better than victory that brings the destruction of kin. Thus, as I ponder, grief arises in my heart.
पितामहः शान्तनव आचार्यश्च युधां पतिः। कर्णश्च धार्तराष्ट्रार्थं वर्धयन्ति भयं मम
The grandsire, son of Shantanu, the preceptor, lord of battles, and Karna—all, for the sake of Dhritarashtra's sons, increase my fear.
नाचार्यः कामवाञ्शिष्यैद्रौणोयुद्ध्येत जातुचित्। पाण्डवेषु कथं हार्दं कुर्यान्न च पितामहः
Neither the teacher, who desires nothing, nor Drona's son would ever fight against their disciples; how then could the grandsire bear enmity toward the Pandavas?
अयं त्वेको वृथादृष्टिर्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः। मोहानुवर्ती सततं पापो द्वेष्टि च पाण्डवान्
But this one alone, Karna, driven by the misguided Duryodhana, always follows delusion and wickedness, and harbors hatred toward the Pandavas.
महत्यनर्थे निर्बन्धी बलवांश्च विशेषतः। कर्णः सदा पाण्डवानां तन्मे दहति संप्रति
He is determined in this great calamity, and especially powerful; Karna always opposes the Pandavas—this now burns me within.
आशंसे त्वद्य कर्णस्य मनोऽहं पाण्डवान्प्रति । ग्रसादयितुमासाद्य दर्शयन्ती यथातथम्
Today, I suspect Karna's mind is set upon destroying the Pandavas, having found the opportunity, and will show his intent plainly.