05.025
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira spoke:
समागताः पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयाश्च; जनार्दनो युयुधानो विराटः। यत्ते वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रानुशिष्टं; गावल्गणे ब्रूहि तत्सूतपुत्र ॥५-२५-१॥
The Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas have gathered along with Janārdana, Yuyudhāna, and Virāṭa. O son of a charioteer, convey the message that Dhṛtarāṣṭra has instructed you, O Gāvalgaṇa.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
अजातशत्रुं च वृकोदरं च; धनञ्जयं माद्रवतीसुतौ च। आमन्त्रये वासुदेवं च शौरिं; युयुधानं चेकितानं विराटम् ॥५-२५-२॥
I call upon Ajatashatru, Vrikodara, Dhananjaya, the sons of Madri, Vasudeva, Shouri, Yuyudhana, Cekitana, and Virata.
पाञ्चालानामधिपं चैव वृद्धं; धृष्टद्युम्नं पार्षतं याज्ञसेनिम्। सर्वे वाचं शृणुतेमां मदीयां; वक्ष्यामि यां भूतिमिच्छन्कुरूणाम् ॥५-२५-३॥
The old lord of the Pāñcālas, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, Yājñaseni, all listen to my speech; I will speak of the prosperity that the Kurus desire.
शमं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिनन्द; न्नयोजयत्त्वरमाणो रथं मे। सभ्रातृपुत्रस्वजनस्य राज्ञ; स्तद्रोचतां पाण्डवानां शमोऽस्तु ॥५-२५-४॥
King Dhritarashtra, eager for peace, quickly ordered my chariot to be prepared. Along with the brothers, sons, and relatives of the king, may this be agreeable to the Pandavas, and let there be peace.
सर्वैर्धर्मैः समुपेताः स्थ पार्थाः; प्रस्थानेन मार्दवेनार्जवेन। जाताः कुले अनृशंसा वदान्या; ह्रीनिषेधाः कर्मणां निश्चयज्ञाः ॥५-२५-५॥
You, the sons of Pritha, are endowed with all virtues; departing with gentleness and straightforwardness. Born in a noble family, you are compassionate and generous, with modesty and determined in your actions.
न युज्यते कर्म युष्मासु हीनं; सत्त्वं हि वस्तादृशं भीमसेनाः। उद्भासते ह्यञ्जनबिन्दुवत्त; च्छुक्ले वस्त्रे यद्भवेत्किल्बिषं वः ॥५-२५-६॥
O Bhimasena, no deficient action is associated with you; indeed, such is the nature of things. It shines like a spot of collyrium on a white cloth, which may be your sin.
सर्वक्षयो दृश्यते यत्र कृत्स्नः; पापोदयो निरयोऽभावसंस्थः। कस्तत्कुर्याज्जातु कर्म प्रजान; न्पराजयो यत्र समो जयश्च ॥५-२५-७॥
Where there is complete destruction and the entire rise of sin and hell is absent, who would ever act for beings, where defeat and victory are the same?
ते वै धन्या यैः कृतं ज्ञातिकार्यं; ये वः पुत्राः सुहृदो बान्धवाश्च। उपक्रुष्टं जीवितं सन्त्यजेयु; स्ततः कुरूणां नियतो वै भवः स्यात् ॥५-२५-८॥
Those are truly blessed who fulfill their duties towards their relatives; your sons, friends, and kin who would give up their lives, then the existence of the Kurus would indeed be assured.
ते चेत्कुरूननुशास्य स्थ पार्था; निनीय सर्वान्द्विषतो निगृह्य। समं वस्तज्जीवितं मृत्युना स्या; द्यज्जीवध्वं ज्ञातिवधे न साधु ॥५-२५-९॥
If you, the sons of Pritha, rule over the Kurus and subdue all your enemies, your life would be equally ended by death, which is not good when it involves killing your relatives.
को ह्येव युष्मान्सह केशवेन; सचेकितानान्पार्षतबाहुगुप्तान्। ससात्यकीन्विषहेत प्रजेतुं; लब्ध्वापि देवान्सचिवान्सहेन्द्रान् ॥५-२५-१०॥
Who indeed can withstand you, accompanied by Keshava, Cekitana, protected by Parshata's arms, and Satyaki, even if they have obtained the gods as allies along with Indra?
को वा कुरून्द्रोणभीष्माभिगुप्ता; नश्वत्थाम्ना शल्यकृपादिभिश्च। रणे प्रसोढुं विषहेत राज; न्राधेयगुप्तान्सह भूमिपालैः ॥५-२५-११॥
O king, who can withstand the Kurus protected by Drona and Bhishma, and not by Ashwatthama, Shalya, Kripa, and others, in battle, and endure Radheya protected along with the kings?
महद्बलं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञः; को वै शक्तो हन्तुमक्षीयमाणः। सोऽहं जये चैव पराजये च; निःश्रेयसं नाधिगच्छामि किञ्चित् ॥५-२५-१२॥
The great strength of King Dhritarashtra is such that who indeed can kill him while he remains undiminished? As for me, in both victory and defeat, I do not attain any ultimate good.
कथं हि नीचा इव दौष्कुलेया; निर्धर्मार्थं कर्म कुर्युश्च पार्थाः। सोऽहं प्रसाद्य प्रणतो वासुदेवं; पाञ्चालानामधिपं चैव वृद्धम् ॥५-२५-१३॥
How could the sons of Pritha, who are noble, act like those of a bad family without righteousness and purpose? I have pleased and bowed down to Vasudeva and the elder lord of the Panchalas.
कृताञ्जलिः शरणं वः प्रपद्ये; कथं स्वस्ति स्यात्कुरुसृञ्जयानाम्। न ह्येव ते वचनं वासुदेवो; धनञ्जयो वा जातु किञ्चिन्न कुर्यात् ॥५-२५-१४॥
With folded hands, I seek your refuge; how can there be welfare for the Kurus and Sṛñjayas? Indeed, neither Vāsudeva nor Dhanañjaya would ever fail to act on your word.
प्राणानादौ याच्यमानः कुतोऽन्य; देतद्विद्वन्साधनार्थं ब्रवीमि। एतद्राज्ञो भीष्मपुरोगमस्य; मतं यद्वः शान्तिरिहोत्तमा स्यात् ॥५-२५-१५॥
In the beginning, when lives are being requested, where else can they come from? O learned one, I speak for the purpose of means. This is the opinion of the king, led by Bhishma, that your best peace may be here.
