अन्ववाये वसोर्जातः प्रवरे मात्स्यके कुले। वृत्तविद्यातपोवृद्धः पार्थिवानां च संमतः
Born in the noble Matsya lineage, descended from Vasu, he is advanced in conduct, learning, and austerity, and is esteemed among kings.
पुत्राश्चास्य तथा पौत्राः सर्वे सुचरितव्रताः। तेषां संबन्धिनश्चान्ये बहवः सुमहाबलाः
His sons and grandsons, all steadfast in good vows, and many other powerful allies are connected to them.
यथैव पाण्डोः पुत्रास्ते ततोऽप्यभ्यधिका मम। सेयमभ्यधिकान्येभ्यो वृत्तिर्विदुर मे मता
Just as Pandu's sons are, so too—indeed, even more so—are these to me; Vidura, I consider this conduct superior to all others.
या प्रीतिः पाण्डुपुत्रेषु न साऽन्यत्र ममाभिभो। नित्योऽयं चिन्तितः क्षत्तः सत्यं सत्येन शपे
The affection I have for the sons of Pandu, O mighty one, I do not have for anyone else; this is always in my thoughts, Kshatta, and I swear by truth itself.
यत्ते कुशलिनो वीराः पाण्डुपुत्रा महारथाः। मित्रवन्तोऽभवन्पुत्रा दुर्योधनमुखास्तथा
That your heroic sons, the mighty Pandavas, are well and friendly with my sons, headed by Duryodhana, is known to me.
मया श्रुतं यदा वह्नेर्दग्धाः पाण्डुसुता इति। तदाऽदह्यं दिवारात्रं न भोक्ष्ये न स्वपामि च
When I heard that the sons of Pandu had been burned in the fire, I could neither eat nor sleep, day or night, consumed by grief.
असहायाश्चं मे पुत्रा लूनपक्षा इव द्विजाः। तत्त्वतः शृणु मे क्षत्तः सुसहायाः सुता मम। अद्य वै स्थिरसाम्राज्यमाचन्द्रार्कं ममाभवत्
My sons were without allies, like birds with their wings clipped; but hear the truth from me, Kshatta—now my sons have strong allies, and today my sovereignty has become firm, enduring as long as the moon and sun.
को हि द्रुपदमासाद्य मित्रं क्षत्तः सबान्धवम्। न बुभूषेद्भवेनार्थी गतश्रीरपि पार्थिवः
For who, having gained Drupada as a friend along with his kin, O Kshatta, would not wish to live, even a king who has lost his prosperity?
तं तथा भाषमाणं तु विदुरः प्रत्यभाषत। नित्यं भवतु ते बुद्धिरेषा राजञ्छतं समाः। इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ राजन्विदुरः स्वं निवेशनम्
To him speaking thus, Vidura replied: 'May this understanding always remain with you, O King, for a hundred years.' Having said this, Vidura departed to his own residence.
ततो दुर्योधनश्चापि राधेयश्च विशांपते। धृतराष्ट्रमुपागम्य वचोऽब्रूतामिदं तदा
Then Duryodhana and Karna, O lord of the people, approached Dhritarashtra and spoke these words to him.
सन्निधौ विदुरस्य त्वां दोषं वक्तुं न शक्नुवः। विविक्तमिति वक्ष्यावः किं तवेदं चिकीर्षितम्
In Vidura's presence we could not speak of your fault, but now, in private, we will say it—what is this that you intend to do?
सपत्नवृद्धिं यत्तात मन्यसे वृद्धिमात्मनः। अभिष्टौषि च यत्क्षत्तुः समीपे द्विपदांवर
Father, you consider the growth of your rivals as your own gain, and you praise Kshatta in the presence of all, O best of men.
अन्यस्मिन्नृप कर्तव्ये त्वमन्यत्कुरुषेऽनघ। तेषां बलविघातो हि कर्तव्यस्तात नित्यशः
When one duty is to be done, O blameless one, you do another; but it is always necessary, father, to weaken their strength.
ते वयं प्राप्तकालस्य चिकीर्षां मन्त्रयामहे। यथा नो न ग्रसेयुस्ते सपुत्रबलबान्धवान्
We are now consulting about what should be done in time, so that they, with their sons, strength, and allies, do not overpower us.
दुर्योधनेनैवमुक्तः कर्णेन च विशांपते। पुत्रं च सूतपुत्रं च धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Thus addressed by Duryodhana and Karna, O lord of the people, Dhritarashtra spoke to his son and to the son of the charioteer.
अहमप्येवमेवैतच्चिकीर्षामि यथा युवाम्। विवेक्तुं नाहमिच्छामि त्वाकारं विदुरं प्रति
I too wish to act just as you both do, but I do not wish to reveal my intentions regarding Vidura.
ततस्तेषां गुणानेव कीर्तयामि विशेषतः। नावबुध्येत विदुरो ममाभिप्रायमिङ्गितैः
Then I will especially recount their virtues; Vidura would not discern my intention from my gestures.
यच्च त्वं मन्यसे प्राप्तं तद्ब्रवीहि सुयोधन। राधेय मन्यसे यच्च प्राप्तकालं वदाशु मे
And whatever you think is appropriate, speak it, Suyodhana; and Radheya, whatever you consider timely, quickly tell me.
अद्य तान्कुशलैर्विप्रैः सुगुप्तैराप्तकारिभिः। कुन्तीपुत्रान्भेदयामो माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ
Today, let us divide the sons of Kunti and the Pandavas born of Madri, using skilled, well-guarded, and loyal Brahmins.
अथवा द्रुपदो राजा महद्भिर्वित्तसंचयैः। पुत्राश्चास्य प्रलोभ्यन्ताममात्याश्चैव सर्वशः
Or, let King Drupada and all his ministers and sons be enticed with great heaps of wealth.
परित्यजेद्यथा राजा कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। अथ तत्रैव वा तेषां निवासं रोचयन्तु ते
So that the king abandons Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, or else let them arrange for their residence to remain there itself.
इहैषां दोषवद्वासं वर्णयन्तु पृथक्पृथक्। ते भिद्यमानास्तत्रैव मनः कुर्वन्तु पाण्डवाः
Let them describe the faults of their dwelling here, each separately; thus, as they are divided, let the Pandavas fix their minds there.
अथवा कुशळाः केचिदुपायनिपुणा नराः। इतरेतरतः पार्थान्भेदयन्त्वनुरागतः
Or, let some clever men, skilled in intrigue, devoted to us, sow discord among the Parthas, one against another.
व्युत्थापयन्तु वा कृष्णां बहुत्वात्सुकरं हि तत्। अथवा पाण्डवांस्तस्यां भेदयन्तु ततश्च ताम्
Or, let them separate Krishna, for that is easily done due to her many connections; or else, let them divide the Pandavas through her, and then her as well.
भीमसेनस्य वा राजन्नुपायकुशलैर्नरैः। मृत्युर्विधीयतां छन्नैः स हि तेषां बलाधिकः
Or, O King, let Bhimasena be killed by men skilled in deceit, for he is the strongest among them.
तमाश्रित्य हि कौन्तेयः पुरा चास्मान्न मन्यते। सहि तीक्ष्णश्च शूरश्च तेषां चैव परायणम्
For relying on him, Kaunteya does not regard us; he is fierce, valiant, and their chief refuge.
तस्मिंस्त्वभिहते राजन्हतोत्साहा हतौजसः। यतिष्यन्ते न राज्याय स हि तेषां व्यपाश्रयः
If he is struck down, O King, their spirit and strength will be destroyed; they will not strive for the kingdom, for he is their main support.
अजेयो ह्यर्जुनः सङ्ख्ये पृष्ठगोपे वृकोदरे। तमृते फाल्गुनो युद्धे राधेयस्य न पादभाक्
Arjuna is invincible in battle when protected from behind by Bhimasena; without Phalguna in war, Radheya is not his equal.
ते जानानास्तु दौर्बल्यं भीमसेनमृते महत्। अस्मान्बलवतो ज्ञात्वा न यतिष्यन्ति दुर्बलाः
Knowing their great weakness without Bhimasena, they, being weak, will not contend with us, the strong.
इहागतेषु वा तेषु निदेशवशवर्तिषु। प्रवर्तिष्यामहे राजन्यथाशास्त्रं निबर्हणम्
Or, when they come here and are under our command, we shall act, O King, according to the treatises, to suppress them.