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.
न्यायागतं राज्यमिदं कुरूणां युधिष्ठिरः शास्तु वै धर्मपुत्रः । प्रचोदितो धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा पुरस्कृतः शान्तनवेन चैव
Let Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, rule this kingdom of the Kurus, acquired by justice, urged by King Dhritarashtra and honored by Shantanu’s descendant.
एवमुक्ते तु गान्धार्या धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। दुर्योधनमुवाचेदं राजमध्ये जनाधिप
When Gandhari had spoken thus, Dhritarashtra, lord of the people, addressed Duryodhana in the midst of the kings.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि पुत्रक । तथा तत्कुरु भद्रं ते यद्यस्ति पितृगौरवम्
Duryodhana, listen to what I am about to say to you, my son. Do as I instruct, and may it be well with you, if you have any regard for your father.
सोमः प्रजापतिः पूर्वं कुरूणां वंशवर्धनः । सोमाद्बभूव षष्ठोऽयं ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः
Soma, the lord of creatures, was once the enhancer of the Kuru lineage. From Soma came the sixth, Yayati, son of Nahusha.
तस्य पुत्रा बभूवुर्हि पञ्च राजर्षिसत्तमाः । तेषां यदुर्महातेजा ज्येष्ठः समभवत्प्रभुः
He had five sons, all eminent royal sages. Among them, Yadu, of great energy, was the eldest and became the ruler.
पूरुर्यवीयांश्च ततो योऽस्माकं वंशवर्धनः। शर्मिष्ठया संप्रसूतो दुहित्रा वृषपर्वणः
Then Puru, the youngest, became the enhancer of our lineage, born of Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan.
यदुश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ देवयान्याः सुतोऽभवत्। दौहित्रस्तात शुक्रस्य काव्यस्यामिततेजसः
And Yadu, O best of Bharatas, was the son of Devayani, grandson of Shukra, the illustrious sage of immeasurable brilliance.
यादवानां कुलकरो बलवान्वीर्यसंमतः । अवमेने स तु क्षत्रं दर्पपूर्णः सुमन्दधीः
He became the founder of the Yadava clan, powerful and renowned for his valor. Yet, filled with pride and lacking wisdom, he disregarded the Kshatriya order.
न चातिष्ठत्पितुः शस्त्रि बलदर्पविमोहितः । अवमेने च पितरं भ्रातॄंश्चाप्यपराजितः
Overcome by arrogance and delusion, he did not obey his father’s command, and, undefeated, he disrespected both his father and brothers.
पृथिव्यां चतुरन्तायां यदुदेवाभवद्बली । वशे कृत्वा स नृपतीन्न्यवसन्नागसाह्वये
On the earth, which extends in all directions, Yadu became powerful among the gods, subjugated the kings, and dwelt at Nagasahvaya.