दाता वरिष्ठो धर्म्मिष्ठो यशस्वी पुण्यवान्सुधीः
The giver is supreme, devoted to righteousness, renowned, virtuous, and wise.
पुरातना वदन्तीति बन्दिनो धरणीतले
The bards on earth say that these things are ancient.
दुर्वाक्यं दुःसहं राजंस्तीक्ष्णास्त्रादपि जीविनाम्
O king, harsh words, unbearable to the living, are sharper than weapons.
न ददामि द्विरुक्तिं ते प्रकृतं कथयाम्यहम्
I will not repeat myself to you; I am telling you the matter as it is.
सूर्य्यचन्द्रमनूनां च वंशजाः सन्ति संसदि
In this assembly are descendants of the Sun and Moon dynasties.
शृण्वन्तु सर्वे राजेन्द्राः सदसद्वक्तुमीश्वराः
Let all the kings hear—those who are able to speak truth or falsehood.
इत्युक्त्वा रैणुकेयश्च विरराम रणस्थले
Having spoken thus, the son of Renuka ceased on the battlefield.
कार्त्तवीर्य्यार्जुन उवाच श्रुतो धर्मो मुखाद्येषां त्वं च तेषां गुरोर्गुरुः
Kārtavīrya Arjuna said: I have heard the dharma from their mouths, and you are the teacher of teachers among them.
कर्म्मणा वाऽप्यसद्बुध्या करोति ब्रह्मभावनाम् 3.35.
Whether by action or by impure understanding, one contemplates Brahman.
अन्तर्बहिश्च मननात्कुरुत कर्म्म नित्यशः
Internally and externally, through reflection, one should always perform action.
स्वर्णे लोष्टे गृहेऽरण्ये पंके सुस्निग्धचन्दने
In gold, in clay, in the house, in the forest, in mud, or in richly fragrant sandalwood,
सर्वजीवेषु यो विष्णुं भावयेत्समता धिया
Whoever contemplates Vishnu in all living beings with an equal mind,
तपोधनं ब्राह्मणानां तपः कल्पतरुर्यथा
For the Brahmins, asceticism is like the wish-fulfilling tree.
ऐश्वर्य्ये क्षत्रियाणां च वाणिज्ये च तथा विशाम्
For the Kshatriyas, it is sovereignty; for the Vaishyas, it is commerce.
ब्राह्मणानां विवादे च स्पृहाऽतीव विनिन्दिता
Among Brahmins, desire for dispute is greatly condemned.
रागी राजसिकं कार्य्यं कुरुते कर्म्म रागतः
The passionate one performs passionate action, motivated by attachment.
रागतः कामधेनुश्च मया वै याचिता मुने
Out of attachment, I too have asked you, O sage, for the wish-fulfilling cow.
कुतः कस्य मुनेरस्ति कामधेनुस्त्वया विना
How, and for whom, O sage, does the wish-fulfilling cow exist without you?
त्रिंशदक्षौहिणीं सेनां राजेन्द्राणां त्रिकोटिकाम् 3.35.
A force of thirty akshauhinis, three crores of royal armies.
आत्मानं हन्तुमायान्तमपि वेदांगपारगम्
Even one who has mastered the Vedas and their limbs comes to kill himself.
प्रायश्चित्तं हिंसकानां न वेदेषु निरूपितम्
For those who commit violence, expiation is not prescribed in the Vedas.
पित्रा ते निहता भूपा महाबलपराक्रमाः
By your father, the kings of great strength and valor were slain.
त्रिःसप्तकृत्वो निर्भूपां कृत्स्नां कर्तुं महीमिति
Three times seven times, he made the earth devoid of kings entirely.
क्षत्रियाणां रणो धर्मो रणे मृत्युर्न गर्हितः
For Kshatriyas, battle is dharma; death in battle is not blameworthy.
तपोधनानां विप्राणां वाग्बलानां युगे युगे
The strength of ascetic Brahmins lies in their speech and spiritual power, in every age.
क्षत्रियाणां बलं युद्धं व्यापारश्च बलं विशाम्
For Kshatriyas, strength is found in battle; for the people, strength is in their occupations.
हरौ भक्तिर्हरेर्दास्यं वैष्णवानां बलं हरिः
For Vaishnavas, devotion to Hari and service to Hari are their strength; Hari himself is their power.
बलं वेषश्च वेश्यानां योषितां यौवनं बलम्
For courtesans, their strength is in their appearance; for women, youth is their power.
सतां सत्यं बलं मिथ्या बलमेवासतां सदा 3.35.
For the virtuous, truth is strength; for the untruthful, falsehood is always their power.
विद्या बलं पण्डितानां धैर्य्यं साहसिनां बलम्
For scholars, knowledge is strength; for the courageous, fortitude is their power.