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.
कीर्तिरक्षणमातिष्ठ कीर्तिर्हि परमं बलम्। नष्टकीर्तेर्मनुष्यस्य जीवितं ह्यफळं स्मृतम्
Uphold the protection of your honor, for honor is the highest strength; the life of a man whose honor is lost is indeed considered fruitless.
यावत्कीर्तिर्मनुष्यस्य न प्रणश्यति कौरव। तावज्जीवति गान्धरे नष्टकीर्तिस्तु नश्यति
As long as a man's honor does not perish, O Kaurava, so long does he live, O Gandhari; but one whose honor is lost perishes.
तमिमं समुपातिष्ठ धर्मं कुरुकुलोचितम्। अनुरूपं महाबाहो पूर्वेषामात्मनः कुरु
Embrace this conduct, which is fitting for the Kuru lineage; mighty-armed one, act in a manner worthy of your ancestors and yourself.
दिष्ट्या ध्रियन्ते पार्था हि दिष्ट्या जीवति सा पृथा। दिष्ट्या पुरोचनः पापो न सकामोऽत्ययं गतः
By fortune, the sons of Pritha are preserved; by fortune, she herself lives; by fortune, the wicked Purocana did not achieve his desire and met his end.
यदाप्रभृति दग्धास्ते कुन्तिभोजसुतासुताः। तदाप्रभृति गान्धारे न शक्नोम्यभिवीक्षितुम्
From the moment the sons of Kunti and their children were burned, O Gandhari, from that time I have not been able to look upon you.
लोके प्राणभृतां किंचिच्छ्रुत्वा कुन्तीं तथागताम्। न चापि दोषेण तथा लोको मन्येत्पुरोचनम्। यथा त्वां पुरुषव्याघ्र लोको दोषेण गच्छति
In the world, when people hear that Kunti has come to such a state, they do not blame Purocana as much as, O tiger among men, they blame you.
तदिदं जीवितं तेषां तव किल्बिषनाशनम्। संमन्तव्यं महाराज पाण्डवानां च दर्शनम्
This survival of theirs should be regarded, O great king, as the destruction of your sin, and the sight of the Pandavas likewise.
न चापि तेषां वीराणां जीवतां कुरुनन्दन। पित्र्योंशः शक्य आदातुमपि वज्रभृता स्वयं
Nor, O joy of the Kurus, could even the wielder of the thunderbolt himself take the ancestral share from those heroic men while they live.
ते सर्वेऽवस्थिता धर्मे सर्वे चैवैकचेतसः। अधर्मेण निरस्ताश्च तुल्ये राज्ये विशेषतः
All of them stand firm in righteousness, all with united purpose; yet they were deprived by unrighteousness, especially regarding their equal share in the kingdom.
यदि धर्मस्त्वया कार्यो यदि कार्यं प्रियं च मे। क्षेमं च यदि कर्तव्यं तेषामर्धं प्रदीयताम्
If you wish to act righteously, if you wish to do what pleases me, and if you wish to ensure their welfare, then grant them half the kingdom.