तस्य पुत्रो यथा पाण्डुस्तथा धर्मपरः सदा। गुणावाँल्लोकविख्यातो नगरे च प्रतिष्ठितः
His son, too, is always devoted to righteousness just as Pandu was—virtuous, renowned throughout the world, and firmly established in the city.
स कथं शक्यतेऽस्माभिरपाक्रष्टुं नरर्षभः। राज्यमेष हि नः प्राप्तः ससहयो विशेषतः
How could we possibly remove that bull among men? For this kingdom has truly come to him, especially with his allies.
भृता हि पाण्डुनाऽमात्या बलं च सततं मतम्। धृताः पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तेषामपि विशेषतः
For Pandu had won over the ministers and the army, and their sons and grandsons as well, in particular.
ते तथा संस्तुतास्तात विषये पाण्डुना नराः। कथं युधिष्ठिरस्यार्थे न नो हन्युः सबान्धवान्
Those men, so honored by Pandu in his realm, O dear one, how would they not slay us and our kin for Yudhishthira’s sake?
नैते विषयमिच्छेयुर्धर्मत्यागे विशेषतः। ते वयं कौरवेन्द्राणामेतेषां च महात्मनाम्
They would not desire the kingdom, especially at the cost of abandoning righteousness; we, the lords of the Kauravas, and these great souls as well.
कथं न वाच्यतां तात गच्छेम जगतस्तथा
How could it not be said, dear one, that we would thus go forth from the world?
मध्यस्थः सततं भीष्मो द्रोणपुत्रो मयि स्थितः। यतः पुतस्ततो द्रोणो भविता नात्र संशयः
Bhishma is always neutral, and Drona’s son stands with me; and since the son follows, so too will Drona—of this there is no doubt.
कृपः शारद्वतश्चैव यत एव वयं ततः। बागिनेयं ततो द्रौणिं न त्यक्ष्यति कथंचन
Kripa, son of Sharadvat, is with us for the same reason; and the son of Drona will never abandon his maternal uncle.
क्षत्ता तु बन्धुरस्माकं प्रच्छन्नस्तु ततः परैः। न चैकः स समर्थोऽस्मान्पाण्डवार्थे प्रबाधितुम्
Vidura is our kinsman, but he is secretly on the other side; and he alone is not capable of opposing us for the sake of the Pandavas.
सुविस्रब्धान्पाण्डुसुतान्सह मात्रा विवासय। वारणावतमद्यैव नात्र दोषो भविष्यति
Confidently exile the sons of Pandu along with their mother today to Varanavata; there will be no fault in this.
विनिद्राकरणं घोरं हृदि शल्यमिवार्पितम्। शोपकपावकमुद्धूतं कर्मणानेन नाशय
Destroy this dreadful, sleepless torment, like a thorn lodged in the heart, this blazing fire fanned by action.
श्रुत्वा पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान्बलोद्रिक्तान्महौजसः। धृतराष्ट्रो महीपालश्चिन्तामगमदातुरः
Hearing of the sons of Pandu—heroes, overflowing with strength and great energy—King Dhritarashtra was seized by anxious thought.
तत आहूय मन्त्रज्ञं राजशास्त्रार्थवित्तमम्। कणिकं मन्त्रिणां श्रेष्ठं धृतराष्ट्रऽब्रवीद्वचः
Then, summoning Kanika, the foremost among ministers, expert in counsel and the science of kingship, Dhritarashtra spoke these words.
उत्सक्ताः पाण्डवा नित्यं तेभ्योऽसूये द्विजोत्तम। तत्र मे निश्चिततमं सन्धिविग्रहकारणम्। कणिक त्वं ममाचक्ष्व करिष्ये वचनं तव
The Pandavas are always ambitious, O best of Brahmins, and I am envious of them; so tell me, Kanika, the surest course for peace or conflict—I will follow your advice.
दुर्योधनोऽथ शकुनिः कर्णदुःशासनावपि। कणिकं ह्युपसंगृह्य मन्त्रिणं सौबलस्य च
Then Duryodhana, Shakuni, Karna, and Duhshasana also approached Kanika, the minister of the Saubala.
पप्रच्छुर्भरतश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवान्प्रति नैकधा। प्रबुद्धाः पाण्डवा नित्यं सर्वे तेभ्यस्त्रसामहे
They questioned Kanika, best of the Bharatas, in many ways concerning the Pandavas; for the Pandavas are always alert, and all of them excel in the science of weapons.
अनूनं सर्वपक्षाणां यद्भवेत्क्षेमकारकम्। भारद्वाज तदाचक्ष्व करिष्यामः कथं वयम्
O Bharadvaja, tell us what would bring welfare to all parties without deficiency; how should we act?
स प्रसन्नमनास्तेन परिपृष्टो द्विजोत्तमः। उवाच वचनं तीक्ष्णं राजशास्त्रार्थदर्शनम्
Questioned thus by him with a cheerful mind, the eminent Brahmin spoke sharp words, revealing the meaning of royal science.
शृणु राजन्निदं तत्र प्रोच्यमानं मयानघ। न मेऽभ्यसूया कर्तव्या श्रुत्वैतत्कुरुसत्तम
Listen, O king, to what I am about to say here, O sinless one; do not resent it, best of Kurus, upon hearing.
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डः स्यान्नित्यं विवृतपौरुषः। अच्छिद्रश्छिद्रदर्शी स्यात्परेषां विवरानुगः
He should always be ready with punishment, always display his prowess; he should be without flaws, yet keen to detect flaws, and follow the weaknesses of others.
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डाद्धि भऋशमुद्विजते जनः। तस्मात्सर्वाणि कार्याणि दण्डेनैव विधारयेत्
People greatly fear constant readiness for punishment; therefore, all affairs should be regulated by punishment alone.
नास्य च्छिद्रं परः पश्येच्छिद्रेण परमन्वियात्। गूहेत्कूर्म इवाङ्गानि रक्षेद्विवरमात्मनः
Let no one see his flaw, nor pursue him through a flaw; he should conceal his limbs like a tortoise and guard his own vulnerabilities.
नित्यं च ब्राह्मणाः पूज्या नृपेण हितमिच्छता। सृष्टो नृपो हि विप्रामां पालने दुष्टनिग्रहे
A king who desires benefit should always honor Brahmins; for the king was created for protecting Brahmins and restraining the wicked.
उभाब्यां वर्धते धर्मो धर्मवृद्ध्या जितावुभौ। लोकश्चायं परश्चैव ततो धर्मं समाचरेत्
By both, righteousness grows; with the growth of righteousness, both are victorious—the world and the other realm; therefore, one should practice righteousness.
कृतापराधं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा यः क्षमते नृपः। तेनावमानमाप्नोति पापं चेह परत्र च
A king who, seeing a man guilty of offense, forgives him, thereby incurs disrespect and sin in this world and the next.
यो विभूतिमवाप्योच्चै राज्ञो विकुरुतेऽधमः। तमानयित्वा हत्वा च दद्याद्धीनाय तद्धनम्
If a wicked person, having attained wealth, acts against the king, he should be brought, killed, and his wealth given to the needy.
नो चेद्धुरि नियुक्ता ये स्थास्यन्ति वशमात्मनः। राजा नियुञ्ज्यात्पुरुषानाप्तान्धर्मार्थकोविदान्
If those appointed to duty do not remain under control, the king should appoint trustworthy men skilled in righteousness and wealth.
ये नियुक्तास्तथा केचिद्राष्ट्रं वा यदि वा पुरम्। ग्रामं जनपदं वापि बाधेयुर्यदि वा न वा
Those appointed, whether over a kingdom, city, village, or district, may restrain or may not restrain; so be it.
परीक्षणार्थं विसृजेदानतांश्छन्नरूपिणः। परीक्ष्य पापकं जह्याद्धनमादाय सर्वशः
For the purpose of investigation, he should send disguised agents; after examining the wicked, he should dismiss them, taking all their wealth.
नासम्यक्कृत्यकारी स्यादुपक्रम्य कदाचन। कण्टको ह्यपि दुश्छिन्न आस्रावं जनयेच्चिरम्
He should never act improperly, even when beginning a task; for even a thorn, badly cut, can cause prolonged bleeding.