नीतिज्ञैर्न्यायशास्त्रज्ञैरितिहासे सुनिष्ठितैः। रक्षां मन्त्रस्य निश्छिद्रां मन्त्रान्ते निश्चयेत्स्वयम्
With those skilled in policy, versed in legal treatises, and firmly grounded in history, one should ensure flawless protection of counsel, and decide at the end by oneself.
वीरोपवर्णितात्तस्माद्धर्मार्थाभ्यामथात्मना। एकेन वाथ विप्रेण ज्ञातबुद्धिर्विनिश्चयेत्
Therefore, after hearing from heroes about dharma and artha, and after self-reflection, or with a learned Brahmin, one should determine the matter with clear understanding.
तृतीयेन न चान्येन व्रजेन्निश्चयमात्मवान्। षट्कर्णश्छिद्यते मन्त्र इति नीतिषु पठ्यते
One should not go for decision with a third or any other person; for a secret shared with six ears is broken, as is taught in the treatises on policy.
निःसृतो नाशयेन्मन्त्रो हस्तप्राप्तामपि श्रियम्। स्वमतं च परेषां च विचार्य च पुनःपुनः। गुणवद्वाक्यमादद्यान्नैव तृप्येद्विचक्षणः
A secret that has leaked destroys even wealth that is within one's grasp. One should repeatedly consider one's own opinion and that of others, and adopt words that are virtuous; the wise are never satisfied.
नाच्छित्वा परमर्माणि नाकृत्वा कर्म दारुणम्। नाहत्वा मत्स्यघातीव प्राप्नोति महतीं श्रियम्
Without knowing the innermost secrets, without performing harsh deeds, and without striking like a fisherman, one does not attain great wealth.
कर्शितं व्याधितं क्लिन्नमपानीयमघासकम्। परिविश्वस्तमन्दं च प्रहर्तव्यमरेर्बलम्
The enemy's force that is emaciated, diseased, damp, deprived of water, exhausted, overly trusting, or sluggish, should be struck.
नार्थिकोऽर्थिनमभ्येति कृतार्थे नास्ति सङ्गतम्। तस्मात्सर्वाणि साध्यानि सावशेषाणि कारयेत्
A person seeking gain does not approach one who has already achieved his purpose; there is no association with one whose aim is fulfilled. Therefore, one should accomplish all objectives, leaving nothing unfinished.
संग्रहे विग्रहे चैव यत्नः कार्योऽनसूयता। उत्साहश्चापि यत्नेन कर्तव्यो भूतिमिच्छता
In both alliance and conflict, effort must be made without envy; and one who desires prosperity must also act with enthusiasm and diligence.
नास्य कृत्यानि बुध्येरन्मित्राणि रिपवस्तथा। आरब्धान्येव पश्येरन्सुपर्यवसितान्यपि
Neither friends nor enemies should perceive his undertakings; they should see only those actions that have already been begun or are fully completed.
भीतवत्संविधातव्यं यावद्भयमनागतम्। आगतं तु भयं दृष्ट्वा प्रहर्तव्यमभीतवत्
One should act as if afraid until danger has not yet arrived; but when danger is seen to have come, one should strike as if fearless.
दैवेनोपहतं शत्रुमनुगृह्णाति यो नरः। स मृत्युमुपगृह्णाति गर्भमश्वतरी यथा
A man who supports an enemy struck down by fate embraces death, just as a she-mule that conceives brings forth her own end.
अनागतं हि बुध्येत यच्च कार्यं पुरः स्थितम्। न तु बुद्धिक्षयात्किंचिदतिक्रामेत्प्रयोजनम्
One should foresee what is yet to come and what task lies ahead; but one should not, through lack of discernment, let any purpose slip by.
उत्साहश्चापि यत्नेन कर्तव्यो भूतिमिच्छता। विभज्य देशकालौ च दैवं धर्मादयस्त्रयः। नैःश्रेयसौ तु तौ ज्ञेयौ देशकालाविति स्थितिः
Enthusiasm, too, must be exerted by one who seeks prosperity, carefully considering place and time, as well as fate and the three—duty, profit, and pleasure; but above all, place and time are to be known as the foundation of success.
तालवत्कुरुते मूलं बालः शत्रुरुपेक्षितः। गहनेऽग्निरिवोत्सृष्टः क्षिप्रं संजायते महान्
A neglected enemy, though weak, takes root like a palm tree; like a fire left in the forest, he quickly grows great.
अग्निस्तोकमिवात्मानं सन्धुक्षयति यो नरः। स वर्धमानो ग्रसते महान्तमपि संचयम्
A man who stirs himself like a small fire, even if he starts small, consumes a great accumulation as he grows.
आदावेव ददानीति प्रियं ब्रूयान्निरर्थकम्
At the very beginning, one should speak pleasant words, saying, 'I will give,' even if it is empty of substance.
आशां कालवतीं कुर्यात्कालं विघ्नेन योजयेत्। विघ्नं निमित्ततो ब्रूयान्निमित्तं वाऽपि हेतुतः
One should make hope dependent on time, and delay by means of obstacles; one should cite obstacles as reasons, or give reasons as causes.
क्षुरो भूत्वा हरेत्प्राणान्निशितः कालसाधनः। प्रतिच्छन्नो लोमहारी द्विषतां परिकर्तनः
Becoming like a razor, sharp and timely, one should take the lives of enemies; concealed, stripping away their strength, cutting down adversaries.
पाण्डवेषु यथान्यायमन्येषु च कुरूद्वह। वर्तमानो न मज्जेस्त्वं तथा कृत्यं समाचर
Just as you have conducted yourself rightly among the Pandavas and others, O best of the Kurus, so should you act in all matters, so that you do not sink.
सर्वकल्याणसंपन्नो विशिष्ट इति निश्चयः। तस्मात्त्वं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यो रक्षात्मानं नराधिप
It is certain that one endowed with all virtues is superior; therefore, O king, protect yourself from the sons of Pandu.
भ्रातृव्या बलवन्तस्ते पाण्डुपुत्रा नराधिप। पश्चात्तापो यथा न स्यात्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
The sons of Pandu, O king, are your powerful rivals; let your policy be such that you do not suffer regret later.
एवमुक्त्वा संप्रतस्थे कणिकः स्वगृहं ततः। धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि कौरव्यः शोकार्तः समपद्यत
Having spoken thus, Kanika departed for his own house; and Dhritarashtra, the Kaurava, was overcome with sorrow.
कणिकस्य मतं श्रुत्वा कार्त्स्न्येन भरतर्षभ। दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। दुशासनचतुर्थास्ते मन्त्रयामासुरेकदा
Hearing Kanika's counsel in full, O bull among the Bharatas, Duryodhana, Karna, and Shakuni son of Subala, along with Duhshasana as the fourth, once held a council together.
ते कौरव्यमनुज्ञाप्य धृतराष्ट्रं नराधिपम्। दहने तु सपुत्रायाः कुन्त्या बुद्धिमकारयन्
Having obtained the approval of the Kaurava king Dhritarashtra, they devised a plan concerning the burning of Kunti and her sons.
तेषामिङ्गितभावज्ञो विदुरस्तत्त्वदर्शिवान्। आकारेण च तं मन्त्रं बुबुधे दुष्टचेतसाम्
Vidura, wise in discerning intentions and understanding truth, perceived by their expressions the scheme of those with evil minds.
ततो विदितवेद्यात्मा पाण्डवानां हिते रतः। पलायने मतिं चक्रे कुन्त्याः पुत्रैः सहानघः
Then, knowing what was to be known and devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, he resolved upon escape together with Kunti’s sons, O sinless one.
ततो वातसहां नावं यन्त्रयुक्तां पताकिनीम्। ऊर्मिक्षमां दृढां कृत्वा कुन्तीमिदमुवाच ह
He then prepared a boat, sturdy, equipped with machinery, bearing a flag and able to withstand the wind, and spoke thus to Kunti.
एष जातः कुलस्यास्य कीर्तिवंशप्रणाशनः। धृतराष्ट्रः परीतात्मा धर्मं त्यजति शाश्वतम्
This Dhritarashtra, born in this lineage, has become the destroyer of its fame and line; overwhelmed in spirit, he abandons eternal righteousness.
इयं वारिपथे युक्ता तरङ्गपवनक्षमा। नौर्यया मृत्युपाशात्त्वं सपुत्रा मोक्ष्यसे शुभे
This boat, fit for the waterway and able to endure waves and wind, will free you, O auspicious one, together with your sons, from the noose of death.
तच्छ्रुत्वा व्यथिता कुन्ती पुत्रैः सह यशस्विनी। नावमारुह्य गङ्गायां प्रययौ भरतर्षभ
Hearing this, Kunti, renowned and distressed, together with her sons, boarded the boat and departed upon the Ganga, O bull among Bharatas.