01.197
Core-Pancharatra: Vidura asks Dhritarastra to follow the advice of Bheeshma and Drona.
विदुर उवाच॥
Vidura said.
राजन्निःसंशयं श्रेयो वाच्यस्त्वमसि बान्धवैः। न त्वशुश्रूषमाणेषु वाक्यं सम्प्रतितिष्ठति ॥१-१९७-१॥
O king, without doubt, you are considered superior by your relatives; however, words do not take root among those who do not listen.
हितं हि तव तद्वाक्यमुक्तवान्कुरुसत्तमः। भीष्मः शान्तनवो राजन्प्रतिगृह्णासि तन्न च ॥१-१९७-२॥
O king, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu and the best of the Kurus, has indeed spoken words that are beneficial to you, but you do not accept them.
तथा द्रोणेन बहुधा भाषितं हितमुत्तमम्। तच्च राधासुतः कर्णो मन्यते न हितं तव ॥१-१९७-३॥
Thus, although Droṇa has spoken many excellent and beneficial things, Karṇa, the son of Radha, does not consider them beneficial for you.
चिन्तयंश्च न पश्यामि राजंस्तव सुहृत्तमम्। आभ्यां पुरुषसिंहाभ्यां यो वा स्यात्प्रज्ञयाधिकः ॥१-१९७-४॥
O king, while thinking, I do not see your best friend who may be superior in wisdom to these two lions among men.
इमौ हि वृद्धौ वयसा प्रज्ञया च श्रुतेन च। समौ च त्वयि राजेन्द्र तेषु पाण्डुसुतेषु च ॥१-१९७-५॥
These two are indeed aged in years, wisdom, and learning; you, O king, and the sons of Pāṇḍu are equal in these respects.
धर्मे चानवमौ राजन्सत्यतायां च भारत। रामाद्दाशरथेश्चैव गयाच्चैव न संशयः ॥१-१९७-६॥
O Bharata, in dharma and truthfulness, there is no one inferior to Rāma, son of Daśaratha, or to Gaya; of this, O king, there is no doubt.
न चोक्तवन्तावश्रेयः पुरस्तादपि किञ्चन। न चाप्यपकृतं किञ्चिदनयोर्लक्ष्यते त्वयि ॥१-१९७-७॥
Neither of the two has spoken anything unworthy before, nor do you observe any wrong done by either of them.
ताविमौ पुरुषव्याघ्रावनागसि नृप त्वयि। न मन्त्रयेतां त्वच्छ्रेयः कथं सत्यपराक्रमौ ॥१-१९७-८॥
O blameless king, if those two tigers among men do not consult with you about your welfare, how can they be truly valiant?
प्रज्ञावन्तौ नरश्रेष्ठावस्मिँल्लोके नराधिप। त्वन्निमित्तमतो नेमौ किञ्चिज्जिह्मं वदिष्यतः ॥ इति मे नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिर्वर्तते कुरुनन्दन ॥१-१९७-९॥
O king, these two best among men, who are wise, will not speak even a little crookedly in this world for your sake. Thus, O delight of the Kurus, this is my firm conviction.
न चार्थहेतोर्धर्मज्ञौ वक्ष्यतः पक्षसंश्रितम्। एतद्धि परमं श्रेयो मेनाते तव भारत ॥१-१९७-१०॥
O Bhārata, the knowers of dharma do not speak taking sides for the sake of gain. Indeed, this is the highest good for me, not from you.
दुर्योधनप्रभृतयः पुत्रा राजन्यथा तव। तथैव पाण्डवेयास्ते पुत्रा राजन्न संशयः ॥१-१९७-११॥
O king, just as your sons, beginning with Duryodhana, so too are the sons of Pandu—there is no doubt about it.
तेषु चेदहितं किञ्चिन्मन्त्रयेयुरबुद्धितः। मन्त्रिणस्ते न ते श्रेयः प्रपश्यन्ति विशेषतः ॥१-१९७-१२॥
If among them the counselors, lacking wisdom, deliberate on anything harmful, then they especially do not perceive what is truly beneficial.
अथ ते हृदये राजन्विशेषस्तेषु वर्तते। अन्तरस्थं विवृण्वानाः श्रेयः कुर्युर्न ते ध्रुवम् ॥१-१९७-१३॥
Now, O king, in your heart, there is a special distinction among them. Those who discern what is within may do what is better, but it is not certain for you.
एतदर्थमिमौ राजन्महात्मानौ महाद्युती। नोचतुर्विवृतं किञ्चिन्न ह्येष तव निश्चयः ॥१-१९७-१४॥
O king, for this purpose, these two great-souled and splendid ones have not openly declared anything; indeed, this is not your decision.
यच्चाप्यशक्यतां तेषामाहतुः पुरुषर्षभौ। तत्तथा पुरुषव्याघ्र तव तद्भद्रमस्तु ते ॥१-१९७-१५॥
O tiger among men, may that welfare which was the impossibility of striking those two bulls among men, be yours.
कथं हि पाण्डवः श्रीमान्सव्यसाची परन्तपः। शक्यो विजेतुं सङ्ग्रामे राजन्मघवता अपि ॥
O king, how indeed can the prosperous, ambidextrous son of Pāṇḍu, the scorcher of foes, be conquered in battle, even by Maghavat (Indra)?
भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्नागायुतबलो महान्। कथं हि युधि शक्येत विजेतुममरैरपि ॥१-१९७-१७॥
How could Bhīmasena, the mighty-armed and great hero with the strength of ten thousand elephants, possibly be defeated in battle, even by the gods themselves?
तथैव कृतिनौ युद्धे यमौ यमसुताविव। कथं विषहितुं शक्यौ रणे जीवितुमिच्छता ॥१-१९७-१८॥
Just so, the two accomplished warriors in battle, like the sons of Yama, how could they possibly withstand and survive in battle, wishing to live?
यस्मिन्धृतिरनुक्रोशः क्षमा सत्यं पराक्रमः। नित्यानि पाण्डवश्रेष्ठे स जीयेत कथं रणे ॥१-१९७-१९॥
How could one in whom steadfastness, compassion, forbearance, truth, and valor are always present, especially in the best of the Pāṇḍavas, ever be conquered in battle?
येषां पक्षधरो रामो येषां मन्त्री जनार्दनः। किं नु तैरजितं सङ्ख्ये येषां पक्षे च सात्यकिः ॥१-१९७-२०॥
How can anything remain unconquered in battle by those on whose side are Rāma as supporter, Janārdana as counselor, and Sātyaki as well?
द्रुपदः श्वशुरो येषां येषां श्यालाश्च पार्षताः। धृष्टद्युम्नमुखा वीरा भ्रातरो द्रुपदात्मजाः ॥१-१९७-२१॥
Drupada is their father-in-law, and their brothers-in-law are the sons of Drupada, the heroic brothers headed by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, descendants of Pṛṣata.
सोऽशक्यतां च विज्ञाय तेषामग्रेण भारत। दायाद्यतां च धर्मेण सम्यक्तेषु समाचर ॥१-१९७-२२॥
O Bhārata, having understood what is impossible for them through the foremost, and succession according to righteousness, act properly among the worthy.
इदं निर्दिग्धमयशः पुरोचनकृतं महत्। तेषामनुग्रहेणाद्य राजन्प्रक्षालयात्मनः ॥१-१९७-२३॥
O king, today, by their favor, cleanse yourself in this great unpierced iron structure made by Purocana.
द्रुपदोऽपि महान्राजा कृतवैरश्च नः पुरा। तस्य सङ्ग्रहणं राजन्स्वपक्षस्य विवर्धनम् ॥१-१९७-२४॥
Drupada, the great king who was once our enemy, has now joined us; O king, his alliance strengthens our own side.
बलवन्तश्च दाशार्हा बहवश्च विशां पते। यतः कृष्णस्ततस्ते स्युर्यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः ॥१-१९७-२५॥
O lord of men, the strong and the Daśārhas and many others are present; wherever Kṛṣṇa is, they will be there; wherever Kṛṣṇa is, there is victory.
यच्च साम्नैव शक्येत कार्यं साधयितुं नृप। को दैवशप्तस्तत्कार्तुं विग्रहेण समाचरेत् ॥१-१९७-२६॥
O king, whatever task can be accomplished by conciliation alone, who, being cursed by fate, would undertake to accomplish that by conflict?
श्रुत्वा च जीवतः पार्थान्पौरजानपदो जनः। बलवद्दर्शने गृध्नुस्तेषां राजन्कुरु प्रियम् ॥१-१९७-२७॥
O king, having heard that the sons of Pṛthā are alive, the citizens and country people, eager to see them, desire something favourable for them; do what is pleasing to them.
दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। अधर्मयुक्ता दुष्प्रज्ञा बाला मैषां वचः कृथाः ॥१-१९७-२८॥
Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni, the son of Subala, are joined with unrighteousness, of evil understanding, and immature; do not act upon the words of these.
उक्तमेतन्मया राजन्पुरा गुणवतस्तव। दुर्योधनापराधेन प्रजेयं विनशिष्यति ॥१-१९७-२९॥
O king, I had previously told you this: because of Duryodhana's offence, your virtuous people will perish.
