न च ते व्यसनैर्योक्तुं शक्या दिष्टकृतेन च। शकिताश्चेप्सवश्चैव पितृपैतामहं पदम्
Nor can they be removed by misfortunes or by fate; and they are capable and desirous of attaining the position of their fathers and grandfathers.
परस्परेण भेदश्च नाधातुं तेषु शक्यते। एकस्यां ये रताः पत्न्यां न भिद्यन्ते परस्परम्
No division can be created among them by mutual dissension; those who are devoted to a single wife do not break apart from one another.
न चापि कृष्णा शक्येत तेभ्यो भेदयितुं परैः। परिद्यूनान्वृतवती किमुताद्य मृजावतः
Nor can Krishna be separated from them by others; she stayed with them even when they were destitute—how much more now, when they are prosperous?
ईप्सितश्च गुणः स्त्रीणामेकस्या बहुभर्तृता। तं च प्राप्तवती कृष्णा न सा भेदयितुं क्षमा
The quality most desired by women is to have many husbands, and Krishna has attained that; she is not fit to be turned away from them.
आर्यव्रतश्च पाञ्चाल्यो न स राजा धनप्रियः। न संत्यक्ष्यति कौन्तेयान्राज्यदानैरपि ध्रुवम्
The son of Panchala follows the noble vow; that king is not greedy for wealth, and he will not abandon the sons of Kunti, even for the sake of a kingdom—this is certain.
तथाऽस्म पुत्रो गुणवाननुरक्तश्च पाण्डवान्। तस्मान्नोपायसाध्यांस्तानहं मन्ये कथंचन
Likewise, his son is virtuous and devoted to the Pandavas; therefore, I do not think they can be subdued by any means whatsoever.
इदं त्वद्य क्षमं कर्तुमस्माकं पुरुषर्षभ। यावन्न कृतमूलास्ते पाण्डवेया विशांपते
This, O best of men, is what is fitting for us to do now, before the sons of Pandu have firmly established themselves, O lord of the people.
तावत्प्रहरणीयास्ते तत्तुभ्यं तात रोचताम्। अस्मत्पक्षो महान्यावद्यावत्पाञ्चालको लघुः। तावत्प्रहरणं तेषां क्रियतां मा विचारय
Until then, they must be struck down—let this please you, dear one; our side is strong as long as the Panchala party is weak; let action be taken against them now, do not hesitate.
वाहनानि प्रभूतानि मित्राणि च कुलानि च। यावन्न तेषां गान्धारे तावद्विक्रम पार्थिव
While they do not yet have abundant vehicles, allies, and clans, O king of Gandhara, act with vigor.
यावच्च राजा पाञ्चाल्यो नोद्यमे कुरुते मनः। सह पुत्रैर्महावीर्यैस्तावद्विक्रम पार्थिव
As long as the king of Panchala does not set his mind on action, along with his mighty sons, O king, act with vigor.
यावन्नायाति वार्ष्णेयः कर्षन्यादववाहिनीम्। राज्यार्थे पाण्डवेयानां पाञ्चाल्यसदनं प्रति
As long as the son of Vrishni does not come, leading the Yadava army, to the house of Panchala for the sake of the Pandavas' kingdom—
वसूनि विविधान्भोगान्राज्यमेव च केवलम्। नात्याज्यमस्ति कृष्णस्य पाण्डवार्थे कथंचन
There is no wealth, enjoyment, or even the kingdom itself that Krishna would ever abandon for the sake of the Pandavas, under any circumstances.
विक्रमेण मही प्राप्ता भरतेन महात्मना। विक्रमेण च लोकांस्त्रीञ्जितवान्पाकशासनः
By valor, the great-souled Bharata gained the earth; and by valor, the lord of the Pāka demons conquered the three worlds.
विक्रमं च प्रशंसन्ति क्षत्रियस्य विशांपते। स्वको हि धर्मः शूराणां विक्रमः पार्थिवर्षभ
Valor is praised as the virtue of a Kṣatriya, O lord of the people; for valor is indeed the proper duty of heroes, O foremost of kings.
ते बलेन वयं राजन्महता चतुरङ्गिणा। प्रमथ्य द्रुपदं शीघ्रमानयामेह पाण्डवान्
With our great fourfold army, O king, let us swiftly overpower Drupada by force and bring the Pāṇḍavas here.
न हि साम्ना न दानेन न भदेन च पाण्डवाः। शक्याः साधयितुं तस्माद्विक्रमेणैव ताञ्जहि
The Pāṇḍavas cannot be subdued by conciliation, nor by gifts, nor by deception; therefore, strike them down only by valor.
तान्विक्रमेण जित्वेमामखिलां भुङ्क्ष्व मेदिनीम्। अतो नान्यं प्रपश्यामि कार्योपायं जनाधिप
Having conquered them by valor, enjoy the entire earth as your own; I see no other means for this task, O ruler of men.
श्रुत्वा तु राधेयवचो धृतराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्। अभिपूज्य ततः पश्चादिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing Karṇa's words, the mighty Dhṛtarāṣṭra honored him, and then spoke these words.
उपपन्नं महाप्राज्ञे कृतास्त्रे सूतनन्दने। त्वयि विक्रमसंपन्नमिदं वचनमीदृशम्
It is fitting, O wise one, O son of the charioteer, skilled in weapons, that such words should be spoken by you, endowed with valor.
भूय एव तु भीष्मश्च द्रोणो विदुर एव च। युवां च कुरुतं बुद्धिं भवेद्या नः सुखोदया
Yet let Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Vidura, and you two as well, devise a plan that may bring us happiness.
तत आनाय्य तान्सर्वान्मन्त्रिणः सुमहायशाः। धृतराष्ट्रो महाराज मन्त्रयामास वै तदा
Then, having summoned all the renowned counselors, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra held a consultation.
न रोचते विग्रहो मे पाण्डुपुत्रैः कथंचन। यथैव धृतराष्ट्रो मे तथा पाण्डुरसंशयम्
I do not approve of conflict with the sons of Pāṇḍu in any way; just as Dhṛtarāṣṭra is mine, so is Pāṇḍu, without doubt.
गान्धार्याश्च यथा पुत्रास्तथा कुन्तीसुता मम। यथा च मम ते रक्ष्या धृतराष्ट्र तथा तव
Just as the sons of Gāndhārī are mine, so too are the sons of Kuntī; and as mine are to be protected, O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, so are yours.
यथा च मम राज्ञश्च तथा दुर्योधनस्य ते। तथा कुरूणां सर्वेषामन्येषामपि पार्थिव
Just as mine and the king’s, so too are yours and Duryodhana’s; likewise, all the Kurus and other kings, O best of rulers.
एवं गते विग्रहं तैर्न रोचे सन्धाय वीरैर्दीयतामर्धभूमिः। तेषामपीदं प्रपितामहानां राज्यं पितुश्चैव कुरूत्तमानाम्
Thus, in this situation, I do not approve of conflict with them; let half the kingdom be given to the heroes in peace. This realm belongs to their ancestors and to their father, as well as to the foremost Kurus.
दुर्योधन यथा र्जायं त्वमिदं तात पश्यसि। मम पैतृकमित्येवं तेऽपि पश्यन्ति पाण्डवाः
Just as you, Duryodhana, see this kingdom as your paternal inheritance, so too do the Pāṇḍavas see it in the same way.
यदि राज्यं न ते प्राप्ताः पाण्डवेया यशस्विनः। कुत एव तवापीदं भारतस्यापि कस्यचित्
If the illustrious sons of Pāṇḍu have not obtained the kingdom, then how could it belong to you, or to anyone else in Bhārata?
अधर्मेण च राज्यं त्वं प्राप्तवान्भरतर्षभ। तेऽपि राज्यमनुप्राप्ताः पूर्वमेवेति मे मतिः
And if you have obtained the kingdom by unrighteous means, O best of Bharatas, then they too have previously acquired it; such is my conviction.
मधुरेणैव राज्यस्य तेषामर्धं प्रदीयताम्। एतद्धि पुरुषव्याघ्र हितं सर्वजनस्य च
Let half of the kingdom be given to them gently; this is indeed beneficial for all people, O tiger among men.
अतोऽन्यथा चेत्क्रियते न हितं नो भविष्यति। तवाप्यकीर्तिः सकला भविष्यति न संशयः
If it is done otherwise, it will not be for our good; your infamy will become widespread, without doubt.