अन्धः करणहीनत्वान्न वै राजा पिता तव। राजा तु पाण्डुरभवन्महात्मा लोकविश्रुतः
Because your father was blind and impaired in his senses, he was not made king; rather, the high-souled and renowned Pandu became king.
स राजा तस्य ते पुत्राः पितुर्दायाद्यहारिणः । मा तात कलहं कार्षी राज्यस्यार्धं प्रदीयताम्
That king's sons, O dear one, are the rightful heirs to your father's inheritance; do not cause conflict, let half the kingdom be given.
मयि जीवति राज्यं कः संप्रशासेत्पुमानिह। मावमंस्या वचो मह्यं शममिच्छामि वः सदा
While I am alive, who else here could rule the kingdom? Do not disregard my words; I always desire peace for you.
न विशेषोऽस्ति मे पुत्र त्वयि तेषु च षार्थिव। मतमेतत्पितुस्तुभ्यं गान्धार्या विदुरस्य च
My son, there is no difference for me between you and them; this is the opinion of your father, Gandhari, and Vidura as well.
श्रोतव्यं खलु वृद्धानां नाभिशङ्कीर्वचो मम। नाशयिष्यसि मा सर्वमात्मानं पृथिवीं तथा
The words of elders must indeed be heard, do not doubt my speech; do not destroy yourself and the whole earth.
भीष्मेणोक्ते ततो द्रोणो दुर्योधनमभाषत । मध्ये नृपाणां भद्रं ते वचनं वचनक्षमः
When Bhishma had spoken, Drona addressed Duryodhana in the midst of the kings, saying, 'May it be well with you,' for his words were worthy to be spoken.
प्रातीपः शन्तनुस्तात कुलस्यार्थे यथा स्थितः । यथा देवव्रतो भीष्मः कुलस्यार्थे स्थितोऽभवत्
Just as Pratipa and Shantanu, O dear one, stood for the good of the lineage, so too did Devavrata Bhishma stand for the good of the family.
तथा पाण्डुर्नरपतिः सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः। राजा कुरूणां धर्मात्मा सुव्रतः सुसमाहिताः
In the same way, Pandu, the truthful king, self-controlled and righteous, upholder of vows, ruled the Kurus with a steady mind.
ज्येष्ठाय राज्यमददद्धृतराष्ट्राय धीमते। यवीयसे तथा क्षत्रे कुरूणां वंशवर्धनः
He gave the kingdom to his elder, the wise Dhritarashtra, and likewise entrusted the rule to the younger, the enhancer of the Kuru line.
ततः सिंहासने राजन्स्थापयित्वैनमच्युतम् ।। वनं जगाम कौरव्यो भार्याभ्यां सहितो नृपः
Then, O King, after installing him firmly on the throne, the Kaurava prince went to the forest with his two wives.
नीचैः स्थित्वा तु विदुर उपास्ते स्म विनीतवत्। प्रेष्यवत्पुरुषव्याघ्रो वालव्यजनमुत्क्षिपन्
Vidura, remaining in a humble position, served with discipline, like a servant, waving the yak-tail fan, though he was a tiger among men.
ततः सर्वाः प्रजास्तात धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम् । अन्वपद्यन्त विधिवद्यथा पाण्डुं जनाधिपम्
Then, O dear one, all the subjects accepted Dhritarashtra as their lord, just as they had accepted Pandu as king.
विसृज्य धृतराष्ट्राय राज्यं स विदुराय च। चचार पृथिवीं पाण्डुः सर्वां परपुरञ्जयः
Having entrusted the kingdom to Dhritarashtra and Vidura, Pandu, the conqueror of enemy cities, wandered over the whole earth.
कोशसंवनने दाने भृत्यानां चान्ववेक्षणे । भरणे चैव सर्वस्य विदुरः सत्यसङ्गरः
In gathering wealth, in giving gifts, in caring for servants, and in supporting everyone, Vidura was steadfast in truth.
सन्धिविग्रहसंयुक्तो राज्ञां संवाहनक्रियाः । अवैक्षत महातेजा भीष्मः परपुरञ्जयः
Bhishma, of great splendor and conqueror of enemy cities, observed the activities of kings, filled with alliances and hostilities.
सिंहासनस्थो नृपतिर्धृतराष्ट्रो महाबलः । अन्वास्यमानः सततं विदुरेण महात्मना
King Dhritarashtra, mighty and seated upon his throne, was constantly attended by the high-souled Vidura.
कथं तस्य कुले जातः कुलभेदं व्यवस्यसि। संभूय भ्रातृभिः सार्धं भुङ्क्ष भोगाञ्जनाधिप
How can you, born in his lineage, intend to break the family? Enjoy the pleasures together with your brothers, O lord of men.
ब्रवीम्यहं न कार्पण्यान्नार्थहेतोः कथञ्चन । भीष्मेण दत्तमिच्छामि न त्वया राजसत्तम
I speak not out of weakness, nor for any gain; I desire what Bhishma has granted, not what you offer, O foremost of kings.
नाहं त्वत्तोऽभिकाङ्क्षिष्ये वृत्त्युपायं जनाधिप । यतो भीष्मस्ततो द्रोणो यद्भीष्मस्त्वाह तत्कुरु
I will not seek any means of livelihood from you, O lord of men; where Bhishma stands, there stands Drona—do what Bhishma has told you.
दीयतां पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यो राज्यार्धमरिकर्शन । सममाचार्यकं तात तव तेषां च मे सदा
Let half the kingdom be given to the sons of Pandu, O subduer of foes; let the preceptor's status, O father, be always equal for you, for them, and for me.
अश्वत्थामा यथा मह्यं तथा श्वेतहयो मम । बहुना किं प्रलापेन यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः
As Ashvatthama is to me, so is Shvetahaya to me; what need is there for much talk? Where there is righteousness, there is victory.
एवमुक्ते महाराज द्रोणेनामिततेजसा। व्याजहार ततो वाक्यं विदुरः सत्यसङ्गरः । पितुर्वदनमन्वीक्ष्य परिवृत्त्य च धर्मवित्
When the mighty Drona had spoken thus, Vidura, steadfast in truth, looked at his father's face, turned, and spoke these words, knowing righteousness.
देवव्रत निबोधेदं वचनं मम भाषतः। प्रनष्टः कौरवो वंशस्त्वयायं पुनरुद्धृतः
Devavrata, listen to these words of mine: the Kaurava line, once destroyed, has been restored by you.
तन्मे विलपमानस्य वचनं समुपेक्षसे। कोयं दुर्योधनो नाम कुलेऽस्मिन्कुलपांसनः
Yet you disregard my words as I lament; who is this Duryodhana, a disgrace to the family, born in our lineage?
यस्य लोभाभिभूतस्य मतिं समनुवर्तसे । अनार्यस्याकृतज्ञस्य लोभेन हृतचेतसः । अतिक्रामति यः शास्त्रं पितुर्धर्मार्थदर्शिनः
You follow the mind of this one overcome by greed, unworthy, ungrateful, whose heart is seized by avarice, who transgresses the teachings of his righteous father.
एते नश्यन्ति कुरवो दुर्योधनकृतेन वै। यथा ते न प्रणश्येयुर्महाराज तथा कुरु
The Kurus are perishing because of Duryodhana; O great king, act so that they do not perish.
मां चैव धृतराष्ट्रं च पूर्वमेव महामते। चित्रकार इवालेख्यं कृत्वा स्थापितवानसि
You have already set both me and Dhritarashtra, O greatly wise one, as if painted by an artist and placed aside.
प्रजापतिः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा यथा संहरते तथा। नोपेक्षश्व महाबाहो पश्यमानः कुलक्षयम्
Just as the Lord of creatures, having created beings, withdraws them again, so do not remain indifferent, O mighty-armed one, while witnessing the destruction of the family.
अथ तेऽद्य मतिर्नष्टा विनाशे प्रत्युपस्थिते । वनं गच्छ मया सार्धं धृतराष्ट्रेण चैव ह
But if today your mind is lost as destruction approaches, go to the forest with me and Dhritarashtra.
बद्ध्वा वा निकृतिप्रज्ञं धार्तराष्ट्रं सुदुर्मतिम् । शाधीदं राज्यमद्याशु पाण्डवैरभिरक्षितम्
Or bind that son of Dhritarashtra, skilled in deceit and of evil mind, and quickly establish this kingdom under the protection of the Pandavas.