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.
तदादाय च लुब्धस्य लोभाल्लोभोऽभ्यवर्धत। तथाहि सर्वमादाय राज्यमस्य जिहीर्षति
Having seized these out of greed, his greed only increased; thus, after taking everything, he sought to seize the kingdom itself.
हीनस्य करणैः सर्वैरच्छ्वासपरमस्य च। यतमानोऽपि तद्राज्यं न शशाकेति नः श्रुतं
Though the king was deprived of all faculties and concerned only with breathing, still, even with effort, he could not maintain the kingdom, as we have heard.
किमन्यद्विहिता नूनं तस्य सा पुरुषेन्द्रता। यदि ते विहितं राज्यं भविष्यति विशांपते
What else but destiny granted him that lordship among men? If the kingdom is destined for you, O ruler of the people, it will be yours.
मिषतः सर्वलोकस्य स्थास्यते त्वयि तद्धुवम्। अतोऽन्यथा चेद्विहितं यतमानो न लप्स्यसे
While all the world looks on, it will surely remain with you; but if destiny ordains otherwise, you will not obtain it, however much you strive.
एवं विद्वन्नुपादत्स्व मन्त्रिणां साध्वसाधुताम्। दुष्टानां चैव बोद्धव्यमदुष्टानां च भाषितम्
Thus, O wise one, discern well the virtue or vice of your counselors; you must understand the words of the wicked and the blameless alike.
विद्म ते भावदोषेण यदर्थमिदमुच्यते। दुष्ट पाण्डवहेतोस्त्वं दोषमाख्यापयस्युत
We know that you speak these words because of your own bias; indeed, you point out faults because of your hostility toward the Pandavas.
हितं तु परमं कर्ण ब्रवीमि कुलवर्धनम्। अथ त्वं मन्यसे दुष्टं ब्रूहि यत्परमं हितम्
I speak what is supremely beneficial, O Karna, and brings honor to the lineage; but if you consider it harmful, then tell me what you deem most beneficial.
अतोऽन्यथा चेत्क्रियते यद्ब्रवीमि परं हितम्। कुरवो वै विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति नचिरेणैव मे मतिः
If, however, things are done differently from what I declare as the highest good, then, in my judgment, the Kurus will surely perish soon.
राजन्निःसंशयं श्रेयो वाच्यस्त्वमसि बान्धवैः। न त्वशुश्रूषमाणे वै वाक्यं संप्रति तिष्ठति
O King, you are undoubtedly worthy of counsel from your kinsmen for your welfare; yet, when you do not listen, their words hold no weight at this time.
प्रियं हितं च तद्वाक्यमुक्तवान्कुरुसत्तमः। भीष्मः शान्तनवो राजन्प्रतिगृह्णासि तन्न च
Bhishma, son of Shantanu and foremost among the Kurus, has spoken words that are both pleasing and beneficial, O King, but you neither accept nor heed them.
तथा द्रोणेन बहुधा भाषितं हितमुत्तमम्। तच्च राधासुतः कर्णो मन्यते न हितं तव
Likewise, Drona has spoken many times, offering the highest benefit; yet Karna, son of Radha, does not consider it beneficial for you.
चिन्तयंश्च न पश्यामि राजंस्तव सुहृत्तमम्। आभ्यां पुरुषसिंहाभ्यां यो वा स्यात्प्रज्ञयाधिकः
Reflecting, O King, I do not see anyone among your friends who surpasses those two lion-like men in wisdom.
इमौ हि वृद्धौ वयसा प्रज्ञया च श्रुतेन च। समौ च त्वयि राजेन्त्र तथा पाण्डुसुतेषु च
These two are advanced in age, wisdom, and learning; and among you, O King, and the sons of Pandu, they are equal in these respects.
धर्मे चानवरौ राजन्सत्यतायां च भारत। रामाद्दाशरथेश्चैव गयाच्चैव न संशयः
O Bharata, in virtue and truthfulness, O King, they are unsurpassed; there is no doubt, even compared to Rama, son of Dasharatha, and Gaya.
न चोक्तवन्तावश्रेयः पुरस्तादपि किंचन। न चाप्यपकृतं किंचिदनयोर्लक्ष्यते त्वयि
Neither of them has ever spoken anything unworthy in the past, nor is any wrongdoing observed in either of them towards you.
तावुभौ पुरुषव्याघ्रावनागसि नृपे त्वयि। न मन्त्रयेतां त्वच्छ्रेयः कथं सत्यपराक्रमौ
Both these tiger-like men among humans, O King, are blameless towards you; how could those steadfast in truth and valor not deliberate for your welfare?
प्रज्ञावन्तौ नरश्रेष्ठावस्मिँल्लोके नराधिप। त्वन्निमित्तमतो नेमौ किंचिज्जिह्मं वदिष्यतः
Wise and foremost among men in this world, O ruler of men, they would never utter anything crooked because of you.
इति मे नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिर्वर्तते कुरुनन्दन। न चार्थहेतोर्धर्मज्ञौ वक्ष्यतः पक्षसंश्रितम्
Thus, O joy of the Kurus, this is my firm conviction: those two, versed in dharma, will not speak anything partial for the sake of gain.
एतद्धि परमं श्रेयो मन्येऽहं तव भारत। दुर्योधनप्रभृतयः पुत्रा राजन्यथा तव
This, I believe, is the highest welfare for you, O Bharata; but your sons, led by Duryodhana, think otherwise, O King.
तथैव पाण्डवेयास्ते पुत्रा राजन्न संशयः। तेषु चेदहितं किंचिन्मन्त्रयेयुरतद्विदः
Likewise, the Pandava sons, O King, are your children without doubt; if any among them should plot harm, those who know would recognize it.