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.
मन्त्राय समुपानीतैर्धृतराष्ट्र हितैर्नृप। धर्म्यमर्थ्यं यशस्यं च वाच्यमित्यनुशुश्रुम
We have heard that, for counsel brought by those devoted to Dhritarashtra's welfare, one should speak what is righteous, expedient, and brings honor.
ममाप्येषा मतिस्तात या भीष्मस्य महात्मनः। संविभज्यास्तु कौन्तेया धर्म एष सनातनः
This is also my opinion, O father, as that of the great-souled Bhishma: let the sons of Kunti be given their share; this is the eternal law.
प्रेष्यतां द्रुपदायाशु नऱः कश्चित्प्रियंवदः। बहुलं रत्नमादाय तेषामर्थाय भारत
Let someone who speaks pleasantly be sent quickly to Drupada, O Bharata, bearing abundant jewels for their sake.
मिथः कृत्यं च तस्मै स आदाय वसु गच्छतु। वृद्धिं च परमां ब्रूयात्तत्संयोगोद्भवां तथा
Let him take gifts and go to them to discuss mutual matters, and let him speak of the great prosperity that will arise from this alliance.
संप्रीयमाणं त्वां ब्रूयाद्राजन्दुर्योधनं तथा। असकृद्द्रुपदे चैव धृष्टद्युम्ने च भारत
Let him repeatedly speak to King Duryodhana of your goodwill, and likewise to Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata.
उचितत्वं प्रियत्वं च योगस्यापि च वर्णयेत्। पुनःपुनश्च कौन्येयान्माद्रीपुत्रौ च सान्त्वयन्
Let him describe the appropriateness and affection of this alliance, and, again and again, console the sons of Kunti and the sons of Madri.
हिरण्मयानि शुभ्राणि बहून्याभरणानि च। वचनात्तव राजेन्द्र द्रौपद्याः संप्रयच्छतु
Let him, at your command, O king, present to Draupadi many golden, splendid ornaments.
तथा द्रुपदपुत्राणां सर्वेषां भरतर्षभ। पाण्डवानां च सर्वेषां कुन्त्या युक्तानि यानि च
Likewise, O bull among the Bharatas, let him give to all the sons of Drupada, all the Pandavas, and to Kunti whatever is suitable for them.
दत्त्वा तानि महार्हाणि पाण्डवान्संप्रहर्षय।' एवं सान्त्वसमायुक्तं द्रुपदं पाण्डवैः सह। उक्त्वा सोऽनन्तरं ब्रूयात्तेषामागमनं प्रति
Having given those precious gifts, he delighted the Pandavas; thus, having spoken conciliatory words to Drupada in the presence of the Pandavas, he would then immediately speak regarding their arrival.
अनुज्ञातेषु वीरेषु बलं गच्छतु शोभनम्। दुःशासनो विकर्णश्चाप्यानेतुं पाण्डवानिह
When the heroes have been granted permission, let the army proceed in good order; let Duhshasana and Vikarna bring the Pandavas here.
ततस्ते पाण्डवाः श्रेष्ठाः पूज्यमानाः सदा त्वया। प्रकृतीनामनुमते पदे स्थास्यन्ति पैतृके
Then those foremost Pandavas, always honored by you, with the approval of the people, will remain in their ancestral position.
एतत्तव महाराज तेषु पुत्रेषु चैव हि। वृत्तमौपयिकं मन्ये भीष्मेण सह भारत
O great king, I consider this conduct proper for you and your sons, together with Bhishma, O Bharata.
योजितावर्थमानाभ्यां सर्वकार्येष्वनन्तरौ। न मन्त्रयेतां त्वच्छ्रेयः किमद्भुततरं ततः
If two people, intent on their own interests, are joined in all matters and do not consult for your welfare, what could be more astonishing than that?
दुष्टेन मनसा यो वै प्रच्छन्नेनान्तरात्मना। ब्रूयान्नि)श्रेयसं नाम कथं कुर्यात्सतां मतम्
How could one with a wicked mind, who secretly harbors ill intent, speak of supreme good and act according to the judgment of the virtuous?
न मित्राण्यर्थकृच्छ्रेषु श्रेयसे चेतराय वा। विधिपूर्वं हि सर्वस्य दुःखं वा यदि वा सुखम्
Friends do not act for benefit or harm in times of difficulty; for all joy or sorrow comes to everyone according to destiny.
कृतप्रज्ञोऽकृतप्रज्ञो बालो वृद्धश्च मानवः। ससहायोऽसहायश्च सर्वं सर्वत्र विन्दति
Whether wise or unwise, young or old, with allies or without, every person everywhere experiences all outcomes.
श्रूयते हि पुरा कश्चिदम्बुवीच इतीश्वरः। आसीद्राजगृहे राजा मागधानां महीक्षिताम्
It is heard that long ago there was a king named Ambuvicha, lord of the Magadhas, who ruled from the royal palace.
स हीनः करणैः सर्वैरुच्छ्वासपरमो नृपः। अमात्यसंस्थः सर्वेषु कार्येष्वेवाभवत्तदा
That king, deprived of all faculties and concerned only with breathing, was entirely dependent on his ministers in all affairs.
तस्यामात्यो महाकर्णिर्बभूवैकेश्वरस्तदा। स लब्धबलमात्मानं मन्यमानोऽवमन्यते
At that time, his minister Mahakarni, the sole authority, considering himself empowered, began to despise others.
स राज्ञ उपभोग्यानि स्त्रियो रत्नधनानि च। आददे सर्वशो मूढ ऐश्वर्यं च स्वयं तदा
That foolish man took for himself all the king's enjoyments—women, jewels, and wealth—and claimed the sovereignty for himself.