द्वावेव तु महाराज तस्माद्युद्धादपेयतुः। रौहिणेयश्च वार्ष्णेयो रुक्मी च वसुधाधिप
Thus, O great king, only two withdrew from the battle: the son of Rohini, the descendant of Vrishni, and Rukmi, lord of the earth.
गते रामे तीर्थयात्रां भीष्मकस्य सुते तथा। उपाविशन्पाण्डवेया मन्त्राय पुनरेव च
When Rama, the son of Bhishmaka, had departed on pilgrimage, the sons of Pandu again sat down together for counsel.
समितिर्धर्मराजस्य सा पार्थिवसमाकुला । शुशुभे तारकैश्चित्रा द्यौश्चन्द्रेणेव भारत
The assembly of the righteous king, crowded with rulers, shone like the sky adorned with stars and the moon, O Bharata.
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु कुरुक्षेत्रे द्विजर्षभ । किमर्कुर्वंश्च कुरवः कालेनाभिप्रचोदिताः
When the armies were thus arrayed on Kurukshetra, O best of twice-born, what did the Kurus do, impelled by time?
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु यत्तेषु भरतर्षभ। धृतराष्ट्रो महाराज सञ्जयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When the armies were thus arrayed and ready, O bull among the Bharatas, King Dhritarashtra spoke these words to Sanjaya:
एहि सञ्जय सर्व मे आचक्ष्वानवशेषतः । सेनानिवेशे यद्वृत्तं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः
'Come, Sanjaya, tell me everything in detail—what happened in the deployment of the armies of the Kurus and Pandavas.'
दिष्टमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषं चाप्यनर्थकम् । यदहं बुद्ध्यमानोऽपि युद्धदोषान्क्षयोदयान्
'I consider fate supreme and human effort fruitless, for though I understand the evils and outcomes of war,'
तथापि निकृतिप्रज्ञं पुत्रं दुर्द्यूतदेविनम् । न शक्नोमि नियन्तुं वा कर्तुं वा हितमात्मनः
'Still, I am unable to restrain my son, skilled in deceit and addicted to wicked dice, nor can I do what is good for myself.'
भवत्येव हि मे सूत बुद्धिर्दोषानुदर्शिनी । दुर्योधनं समासाद्य पुनः सा परिवर्तते
'Indeed, O charioteer, my mind always perceives the faults, but when I encounter Duryodhana, it turns again.'
एवं गते वै यद्भावि तद्भविष्यति सञ्जय । क्षत्रधर्मः किल रणे तनुत्यागे हि पूजितः
'So, whatever is destined will come to pass, Sanjaya; for in battle, the kshatriya’s duty of giving up the body is honored.'
त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो महाराज यथेच्छसि। न तु दुर्योधने दोषमिममाधातुमर्हसि
'Your question is appropriate, O king, as you wish; but you should not lay this fault upon Duryodhana.'
शृणुष्वानवशेषेण वदतो मम पार्थिव । य आत्मनो दुश्चरितादशुभं प्राप्नुयान्नरः । न स कालं न वा देवानेनसा गन्तुमर्हति
'Listen fully, O king, as I speak: a man who, through his own misdeeds, attains misfortune—neither time nor the gods should be blamed for his sin.'
महाराज मनुष्येषु निन्द्यं यः सर्वमाचरेत्। स वध्यः सर्वलोकस्य निन्दितानि समाचरन्
O great king, among men, one who commits all that is blameworthy deserves death, for by acting in ways condemned by all, he becomes fit for destruction.
निकारा मनुजश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवैस्त्वत्प्रतीक्षया । अनुभूताः सहामात्यैर्निकृतैरधिदेवने
O best of men, O descendant of Manu, the Pandavas, while waiting for you, have endured insults together with their ministers, at the hands of the deceitful during the game of dice.
हयानां च गजानां च राज्ञां चामिततेजसाम् । वैशसं समरे वृत्तं यत्तन्मे शृणु सर्वशः
Hear from me in full of the slaughter that occurred in battle among horses, elephants, and kings of immeasurable energy.
स्थिरो भूत्वा महाप्राज्ञ सर्वलोकक्षयोदयम्। यथाभूतं महायुद्धे श्रुत्वा मा विमना भव
Remain steadfast, O greatly wise one, and listen as I recount, just as it happened, the rise and fall of all people in the great war; do not let your mind be troubled.
न ह्येव कर्ता पुरुषः कर्मणोः शुभपापयोः । अस्वतन्त्रो हि पुरुषः कार्यते दारुयन्त्रवत्
For a person is not truly the agent of good or evil deeds; being not independent, he is made to act like a wooden puppet.
केचिदीश्वरनिर्दिष्टाः केचिदेव यदृच्छया। पूर्वकर्मभिरप्यन्ये त्रैधमेतत्प्रदृश्यते। तस्मादनर्थमापन्नः स्थिरो भूत्वा निशामय
Some act as directed by the Lord, some by mere chance, and others by their past actions; this threefold cause is seen. Therefore, having encountered misfortune, remain firm and listen.
हिरण्वत्यां निविष्टेषु पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। न्यविशन्त महाराज कौरवेया यथाविधि
When the high-souled Pandavas had encamped on the Hiranvati, O king, the Kauravas also encamped there according to proper order.
तत्र दुर्योधनो राजा निवेस्य बलमोजसा । संमानयित्वा नृपतीन्न्यस्य गुल्मांस्तथैव च
There, King Duryodhana, having arranged his army with vigor, honored the kings and stationed the battalions accordingly.
आरक्षस्य विधिं कृत्वा योधानां तत्र भारत । कर्णं दुःशासनं चैव शकुनिं चापि सौबलम्
Having established the rules for security of the warriors there, O Bharata, he assigned Karna, Duhshasana, and also Shakuni, son of Subala.
आनाय्य नृपतिस्तत्र मन्त्रयामास भारत। तत्र दुर्योधनो राजा कर्णेन सह भारत
Then the king summoned them there and took counsel, O Bharata; there King Duryodhana deliberated together with Karna.
सौबलेन च राजेन्द्र मन्त्रयित्वा नरर्षभ । आहूयोपह्वरे राजन्नुलूकमिदमब्रवीत्
And after conferring with Saubala, O bull among men, the king called for Uluka in private and spoke these words to him.
उलूक गच्छ कैतव्य पाण्डवान्सहसोमकान्। गत्वा मम वचो ब्रूहि वासुदेवस्य श्रृण्वतः
Uluka, go, O son of Saubala, to the Pandavas and the Somakas; having gone, speak my words in the hearing of Vasudeva.
इदं तत्समनुप्राप्तं वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितम् । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च युद्धं लोकभयङ्करम्
This is that long-contemplated war, dreadful to the world, which has now come upon both the Pandavas and the Kurus.
यदेतत्कत्थनावाक्यं सञ्जयो महदब्रवीत्। वासुदेवसहायस्य गर्जतः सानुजस्य ते
That boastful speech which Sanjaya spoke, great in import, on behalf of you, who roar with Vasudeva and your brothers—
मध्ये करूणां कौन्तेय तस्य कालोयमागतः । यथावत्संप्रतिज्ञातं तत्सर्वं क्रियतामिति
O son of Kunti, in the midst of the Kurus, the time has now come for all that was promised to be carried out exactly as declared.
ज्येष्ठं तथैव कौन्तेयं ब्रूयास्त्यं वचनान्मम
In the same way, speak these words of mine to the eldest son of Kunti.
भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैः सोमकैश्च सकेकयैः। कथं वा धार्मिको भूत्वा त्वमधर्मे मनः कृथाः। य इच्छसि जगत्सर्वं नश्यमानं नृशंसवत्
Surrounded by all your brothers, the Somakas, and the Kekayas, how can you, claiming to be righteous, set your mind on unrighteousness, wishing for the destruction of the whole world like a cruel man?
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो पाता त्वमिति मे मतिः
It is my opinion that you should grant safety to all beings and desist.