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.
प्रसीद राजशार्दूल विनाशो दृश्यते महान् । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्
Be gracious, O tiger among kings; great destruction is seen for the Pandavas, the Kurus, and the kings of immeasurable splendor.
विररामैवमुक्त्वा तु विदुरो दीनमानसः । प्रध्यायमानः स तदा निःश्वसंश्च पुनः पुनः
Having spoken thus, Vidura, his mind afflicted, fell silent, pondering deeply and sighing again and again.
ततोऽस्य राज्ञः सुबलस्य पुत्री धर्मार्थयुक्तं कुलनाशमीता। दुर्योधनं पापमतिं नृशंसं राज्ञां समक्षं सुतमाह कोपात्
Then the daughter of King Subala, filled with righteous indignation and intent on the destruction of her lineage, angrily addressed her son Duryodhana—wicked-minded and cruel—in the presence of the assembled kings.
ये पार्थिवा राजसभां प्रविष्टा ब्रह्मर्षयो ये च सभासदोऽन्ये। श्रृण्वन्तु वक्ष्यामि तवापराधं पापस्य सामात्यपरिच्छदस्य
Let all the kings who have entered the royal assembly, the Brahmin sages, and the other councilors hear: I will declare your offense, and that of your sinful associates and attendants.
राज्यं कुरूणामनुरूपभोज्यं क्रमागतो नः कुलधर्म एषः। त्वं पापबुद्धेऽतिनृशंसकर्मन् राज्यं कुरूणामनयाद्विहंसि
The kingdom of the Kurus, fit for rightful enjoyment, has come to us by succession; this is our family law. But you, evil-minded and excessively cruel, have ruined the kingdom of the Kurus through unrighteousness.
राज्ये स्थितो धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी तस्यानुजो विदुरो दीर्घदर्शी । एतावतिक्रम्य कथं नृपत्वं दुर्योधन प्रार्थयसेऽद्य मोहात्
Dhritarashtra, wise and established in the kingdom, and his brother Vidura, farsighted, are both present. Having disregarded them, Duryodhana, how do you, blinded by delusion, now desire kingship?
राजा च क्षत्ता च महानुभावौ भीष्मे स्थिते परवन्तौ भवेताम् । अयं तु धर्मज्ञतया महात्मा न राज्यकामो नृवरो नदीजः
The king and the charioteer, both of great renown, would have authority while Bhishma stands as their protector. Yet this noble soul, learned in righteousness, desires no kingdom; the foremost of men, born of the river.
राज्य तु पाण्डोरिदमप्रधृष्यं तस्याद्य पुत्राः प्रभवन्ति नान्ये। राज्यं तदेतन्निखिलं पाण्डवानां पैतामहं पुत्रपौत्रानुगामि
This inviolable kingdom belonged to Pandu; now only his sons possess it, none others. This entire kingdom of the Pandavas, inherited from their ancestors, follows the line of sons and grandsons.
यद्वै ब्रूते कुरुमुख्यो महात्मा देवव्रतः सत्यसन्धो मनीषी । सर्वं तदस्माभिरहत्य कार्यं राज्यं स्वधर्मान्परिपालयद्भिः
Whatever the chief of the Kurus, the great-souled Devavrata, truthful and wise, declares, must be accomplished by us without hesitation, while maintaining the kingdom according to our own duty.
अनुज्ञया चाथ महाव्रतस्य ब्रूयान्नृपोऽयं विदुरस्तथैव। कार्यं भवेत्तत्सुहृद्भिर्नियोज्यं धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य सुदीर्घकालम्
With the permission of the great vow-holder, and as King Vidura likewise commands, the task should be carried out by friends, established in righteousness for a very long time.