05.025
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Yudhishthira said:)
Yudhishthira spoke:
समागताः पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयाश्च; जनार्दनो युयुधानो विराटः। यत्ते वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रानुशिष्टं; गावल्गणे ब्रूहि तत्सूतपुत्र ॥५-२५-१॥
samāgatāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayāśca; janārdano yuyudhāno virāṭaḥ। yatte vākyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrānuśiṣṭaṃ; gāvalgaṇe brūhi tatsūtaputra ॥5-25-1॥
[समागताः (samāgatāḥ) - assembled; पाण्डवाः (pāṇḍavāḥ) - Pāṇḍavas; सृञ्जयाः (sṛñjayāḥ) - Sṛñjayas; च (ca) - and; जनार्दनः (janārdanaḥ) - Janārdana; युयुधानः (yuyudhānaḥ) - Yuyudhāna; विराटः (virāṭaḥ) - Virāṭa; यत् (yat) - which; ते (te) - your; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - words; धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhṛtarāṣṭra; अनुशिष्टम् (anuśiṣṭam) - instructed; गावल्गणे (gāvalgaṇe) - Gāvalgaṇa; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - speak; तत् (tat) - that; सूतपुत्र (sūtaputra) - son of a charioteer;]
(The Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas have assembled; Janārdana, Yuyudhāna, and Virāṭa. Speak, O son of a charioteer, that which was instructed to you by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O Gāvalgaṇa.)
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॥
sañjaya uvāca॥
[सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sanjaya said:)
Sanjaya said:
अजातशत्रुं च वृकोदरं च; धनञ्जयं माद्रवतीसुतौ च। आमन्त्रये वासुदेवं च शौरिं; युयुधानं चेकितानं विराटम् ॥५-२५-२॥
ajātaśatruṃ ca vṛkodaraṃ ca; dhanañjayaṃ mādravatīsutau ca। āmantraye vāsudevaṃ ca śauriṃ; yuyudhānaṃ cekitānaṃ virāṭam ॥5-25-2॥
[अजातशत्रुं (ajātaśatruṃ) - the unborn enemy; च (ca) - and; वृकोदरं (vṛkodaraṃ) - wolf-bellied; च (ca) - and; धनञ्जयं (dhanañjayaṃ) - Dhananjaya; माद्रवतीसुतौ (mādravatīsutau) - sons of Madri; च (ca) - and; आमन्त्रये (āmantraye) - I invoke; वासुदेवं (vāsudevaṃ) - Vasudeva; च (ca) - and; शौरिं (śauriṃ) - Shouri; युयुधानं (yuyudhānaṃ) - Yuyudhana; चेकितानं (cekitānaṃ) - Cekitana; विराटम् (virāṭam) - Virata;]
(I invoke the unborn enemy and the wolf-bellied, Dhananjaya and the sons of Madri, Vasudeva and Shouri, Yuyudhana, Cekitana, and Virata.)
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॥
pāñcālānāmadhipaṃ caiva vṛddhaṃ; dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ pārṣataṃ yājñasenim। sarve vācaṃ śṛṇutemāṃ madīyāṃ; vakṣyāmi yāṃ bhūtimicchankurūṇām ॥5-25-3॥
[पाञ्चालानाम् (pāñcālānām) - of the Pāñcālas; अधिपं (adhipaṃ) - lord; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; वृद्धं (vṛddhaṃ) - old; धृष्टद्युम्नं (dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ) - Dhṛṣṭadyumna; पार्षतं (pārṣataṃ) - son of Pṛṣata; याज्ञसेनिम् (yājñasenim) - Yājñaseni; सर्वे (sarve) - all; वाचं (vācaṃ) - speech; शृणुते (śṛṇute) - hear; इमां (imāṃ) - this; मदीयां (madīyāṃ) - my; वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I will speak; यां (yāṃ) - which; भूतिम् (bhūtim) - prosperity; इच्छन् (icchan) - desiring; कुरूणाम् (kurūṇām) - of the Kurus;]
(The lord of the Pāñcālas, indeed old Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, Yājñaseni, all hear this my speech; I will speak which prosperity desiring of the Kurus.)
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॥
śamaṃ rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro'bhinand; nnayojayattvaramāṇo rathaṃ me। sabhrātṛputrasvajanasya rājñ; stadrocatāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ śamo'stu ॥5-25-4॥
[शमम् (śamam) - peace; राजा (rājā) - king; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; अभिनन्दन् (abhinandan) - welcoming; न्योजयत् (nyojayat) - engaged; त्वरमाणः (tvaramāṇaḥ) - hastily; रथम् (ratham) - chariot; मे (me) - my; सभ्रातृपुत्रस्वजनस्य (sabhrātṛputrasvajanasya) - with brothers, sons, and relatives; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; तत् (tat) - that; रोचताम् (rocatām) - be pleasing; पाण्डवानाम् (pāṇḍavānām) - of the Pandavas; शमः (śamaḥ) - peace; अस्तु (astu) - let there be;]
(King Dhritarashtra, welcoming peace, hastily engaged my chariot. With brothers, sons, and relatives of the king, let that be pleasing to the Pandavas, let there be peace.)
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॥
sarvair dharmaiḥ samupetāḥ stha pārthāḥ; prasthānena mārdavenārjavena। jātāḥ kule anṛśaṁsā vadānyā; hrīniṣedhāḥ karmaṇāṁ niścayajñāḥ ॥5-25-5॥
[सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - by all; धर्मैः (dharmaiḥ) - virtues; समुपेताः (samupetāḥ) - endowed; स्थ (stha) - are; पार्थाः (pārthāḥ) - sons of Pritha; प्रस्थानेन (prasthānena) - by departure; मार्दवेन (mārdavena) - with gentleness; आर्जवेन (ārjavena) - with straightforwardness; जाताः (jātāḥ) - born; कुले (kule) - in family; अनृशंसा (anṛśaṁsā) - compassionate; वदान्या (vadānyā) - generous; ह्री (hrī) - modesty; निषेधाः (niṣedhāḥ) - prohibitions; कर्मणां (karmaṇāṁ) - of actions; निश्चयज्ञाः (niścayajñāḥ) - determined;]
(Endowed with all virtues, you are the sons of Pritha; by departure with gentleness and straightforwardness. Born in a family, compassionate, generous; modesty, prohibitions of actions, determined.)
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॥
na yujyate karma yuṣmāsu hīnaṃ; sattvaṃ hi vastādṛśaṃ bhīmasenāḥ। udbhāsate hyañjanabinduvatta; cchukle vastre yadbhavetkilbiṣaṃ vaḥ ॥5-25-6॥
[न (na) - not; युज्यते (yujyate) - is joined; कर्म (karma) - action; युष्मासु (yuṣmāsu) - among you; हीनं (hīnaṃ) - deficient; सत्त्वं (sattvaṃ) - nature; हि (hi) - indeed; वस्तु (vastu) - thing; आदृशं (ādṛśaṃ) - such; भीमसेनाः (bhīmasenāḥ) - Bhimasena; उद्भासते (udbhāsate) - shines; हि (hi) - indeed; अञ्जनबिन्दुवत् (añjanabinduvat) - like a spot of collyrium; च्छुक्ले (cchukle) - on white; वस्त्रे (vastre) - cloth; यत् (yat) - which; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; किल्बिषं (kilbiṣaṃ) - sin; वः (vaḥ) - your;]
(Not joined is the action among you deficient; indeed, such is the nature of things, O Bhimasena. Indeed, it shines like a spot of collyrium on white cloth; which may be your sin.)
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॥
sarvakṣayo dṛśyate yatra kṛtsnaḥ; pāpodayo nirayo'bhāvasaṃsthaḥ। kastatkuryājjātu karma prajān; naparājayo yatra samo jayaśca ॥5-25-7॥
[सर्वक्षयः (sarvakṣayaḥ) - complete destruction; दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen; यत्र (yatra) - where; कृत्स्नः (kṛtsnaḥ) - entire; पापोदयः (pāpodayaḥ) - rise of sin; निरयः (nirayaḥ) - hell; अभावसंस्थः (abhāvasaṃsthaḥ) - state of non-existence; कः (kaḥ) - who; तत् (tat) - that; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - would do; जातु (jātu) - ever; कर्म (karma) - action; प्रजान् (prajān) - beings; न (na) - not; पराजयः (parājayaḥ) - defeat; यत्र (yatra) - where; समः (samaḥ) - equal; जयः (jayaḥ) - victory; च (ca) - and;]
(Where complete destruction is seen, where the entire rise of sin and hell is in a state of non-existence; who would ever perform actions for beings, where defeat and victory are equal.)
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॥
te vai dhanyā yaiḥ kṛtaṃ jñātikāryaṃ; ye vaḥ putrāḥ suhṛdo bāndhavāśca। upakruṣṭaṃ jīvitaṃ santyajeyu; stataḥ kurūṇāṃ niyato vai bhavaḥ syāt ॥5-25-8॥
[ते (te) - they; वै (vai) - indeed; धन्या (dhanyā) - blessed; यैः (yaiḥ) - by whom; कृतं (kṛtaṃ) - done; ज्ञातिकार्यं (jñātikāryaṃ) - duty towards relatives; ये (ye) - who; वः (vaḥ) - your; पुत्राः (putrāḥ) - sons; सुहृदः (suhṛdaḥ) - friends; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; च (ca) - and; उपक्रुष्टं (upakruṣṭaṃ) - abandoned; जीवितं (jīvitaṃ) - life; सन्त्यजेयुः (santyajeyuḥ) - would abandon; स्ततः (stataḥ) - then; कुरूणां (kurūṇāṃ) - of the Kurus; नियतः (niyataḥ) - certain; वै (vai) - indeed; भवः (bhavaḥ) - existence; स्यात् (syāt) - would be;]
(They indeed are blessed by whom the duty towards relatives is done; your sons, friends, and relatives who would abandon life; then the existence of the Kurus would indeed be certain.)
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॥
te cet kurūn anuśāsya stha pārthā; ninīya sarvān dviṣato nigṛhya। samaṃ vas tajjīvitaṃ mṛtyunā syā; dyajjīvadhvaṃ jñātivadhe na sādhu ॥5-25-9॥
[ते (te) - they; चेत् (cet) - if; कुरून् (kurūn) - Kurus; अनुशास्य (anuśāsya) - having ruled; स्थ (stha) - are; पार्था (pārthā) - sons of Pritha; निनीय (ninīya) - having subdued; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; द्विषतः (dviṣataḥ) - enemies; निगृह्य (nigṛhya) - having restrained; समम् (samam) - equally; वः (vaḥ) - your; तज्जीवितम् (tajjīvitam) - that life; मृत्युना (mṛtyunā) - by death; स्यात् (syāt) - would be; यत् (yat) - which; जीवध्वम् (jīvadhvam) - you live; ज्ञातिवधे (jñātivadhe) - in killing relatives; न (na) - not; साधु (sādhu) - good;]
(If you, the sons of Pritha, having ruled the Kurus, subdue all enemies and restrain them, your life would equally be by death, which you live in killing relatives, not good.)
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॥
ko hyeva yuṣmānsaha keśavena; sacekitānānpārṣatabāhuguptān। sasātyakīnviṣaheta prajetuṃ; labdhvāpi devānsacivānsahendrān ॥5-25-10॥
[कः (kaḥ) - who; हि (hi) - indeed; एव (eva) - certainly; युष्मान् (yuṣmān) - you; सह (saha) - with; केशवेन (keśavena) - Keshava; सचेकितानान् (sacekitānān) - with Cekitana; पार्षतबाहुगुप्तान् (pārṣatabāhuguptān) - protected by Parshata's arms; ससात्यकीन् (sasātyakīn) - with Satyaki; विषहेत (viṣaheta) - can withstand; प्रजेतुम् (prajetum) - to conquer; लब्ध्वा (labdhvā) - having obtained; अपि (api) - even; देवान् (devān) - gods; सचिवान् (sacivān) - allies; सहेन्द्रान् (sahendrān) - with Indra;]
(Who indeed can withstand you, with Keshava, with Cekitana, protected by Parshata's arms, with Satyaki, to conquer, having obtained even the gods as allies with Indra?)
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॥
ko vā kurūndroṇabhīṣmābhiguptā; naśvatthāmnā śalyakṛpādibhiśca। raṇe prasoḍhuṃ viṣaheta rāja; nrādheyaguptānsaha bhūmipālaiḥ ॥5-25-11॥
[कः (kaḥ) - who; वा (vā) - or; कुरून् (kurūn) - Kurus; द्रोण (droṇa) - Drona; भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma; अभिगुप्ता (abhiguptā) - protected; न (na) - not; अश्वत्थाम्ना (aśvatthāmnā) - by Ashwatthama; शल्य (śalya) - Shalya; कृप (kṛpa) - Kripa; आदिभिः (ādibhiḥ) - and others; च (ca) - and; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; प्रसोढुम् (prasoḍhum) - to withstand; विषहेत (viṣaheta) - can endure; राजन् (rājan) - O king; राधेय (rādheya) - Radheya; गुप्तान् (guptān) - protected; सह (saha) - with; भूमिपालैः (bhūmipālaiḥ) - by kings;]
(Who, O king, can withstand the Kurus protected by Drona and Bhishma, not by Ashwatthama, Shalya, Kripa, and others, in battle, and endure Radheya protected with kings?)
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॥
mahadbalaṁ dhārtarāṣṭrasya rājñaḥ; ko vai śakto hantumakṣīyamāṇaḥ। so'haṁ jaye caiva parājaye ca; niḥśreyasaṁ nādhigacchāmi kiñcit ॥5-25-12॥
[महद्बलम् (mahadbalam) - great strength; धार्तराष्ट्रस्य (dhārtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra's; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; कः (kaḥ) - who; वै (vai) - indeed; शक्तः (śaktaḥ) - capable; हन्तुम् (hantum) - to kill; अक्षीयमाणः (akṣīyamāṇaḥ) - undiminished; सः (saḥ) - he; अहम् (aham) - I; जये (jaye) - in victory; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - also; पराजये (parājaye) - in defeat; च (ca) - and; निःश्रेयसम् (niḥśreyasam) - ultimate good; न (na) - not; अधिगच्छामि (adhigacchāmi) - I attain; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything;]
(Great strength of Dhritarashtra's king; who indeed is capable to kill undiminished. He I in victory and also in defeat; ultimate good not I attain anything.)
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॥
kathaṁ hi nīcā iva dauṣkuleyā; nirdharmārthaṁ karma kuryuśca pārthāḥ। so'haṁ prasādya praṇato vāsudevaṁ; pāñcālānāmadhipaṁ caiva vṛddham ॥5-25-13॥
[कथं (katham) - how; हि (hi) - indeed; नीचा (nīcā) - lowly ones; इव (iva) - like; दौष्कुलेया (dauṣkuleyā) - of bad family; निर्धर्मार्थं (nirdharmārtham) - without righteousness and purpose; कर्म (karma) - action; कुर्युश्च (kuryuśca) - would do; पार्थाः (pārthāḥ) - sons of Pritha; सः (saḥ) - he; अहम् (aham) - I; प्रसाद्य (prasādya) - having pleased; प्रणतः (praṇataḥ) - bowed down; वासुदेवं (vāsudevam) - to Vasudeva; पाञ्चालानाम् (pāñcālānām) - of the Panchalas; अधिपं (adhipam) - lord; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; वृद्धम् (vṛddham) - elder;]
(How indeed could the sons of Pritha, like lowly ones of bad family, act without righteousness and purpose? Having pleased and bowed down to Vasudeva and the elder lord of the Panchalas, I am.)
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॥
kṛtāñjaliḥ śaraṇaṃ vaḥ prapadye; kathaṃ svasti syātkurusṛñjayānām। na hyeva te vacanaṃ vāsudevo; dhanañjayo vā jātu kiñcinna kuryāt ॥5-25-14॥
[कृताञ्जलिः (kṛtāñjaliḥ) - with folded hands; शरणं (śaraṇam) - refuge; वः (vaḥ) - your; प्रपद्ये (prapadye) - I seek; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; स्वस्ति (svasti) - welfare; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; कुरुसृञ्जयानाम् (kurusṛñjayānām) - of the Kurus and Sṛñjayas; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; एव (eva) - certainly; ते (te) - your; वचनं (vacanam) - word; वासुदेवः (vāsudevaḥ) - Vāsudeva; धनञ्जयः (dhanañjayaḥ) - Dhanañjaya; वा (vā) - or; जातु (jātu) - ever; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; न (na) - not; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - would do;]
(With folded hands, I seek your refuge; how may there be welfare for the Kurus and Sṛñjayas? Indeed, neither Vāsudeva nor Dhanañjaya would ever fail to act on your word.)
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॥
prāṇānādau yācyamānaḥ kuto'nya; detadvidvansādhanārthaṃ bravīmi। etadrājño bhīṣmapurogamāsya; mataṃ yadvaḥ śāntirihottamā syāt ॥5-25-15॥
[प्राणान् (prāṇān) - lives; आदौ (ādau) - in the beginning; याच्यमानः (yācyamānaḥ) - being requested; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - other; देतद् (detad) - this; विद्वन् (vidvan) - O learned one; साधनार्थम् (sādhanārtham) - for the purpose of means; ब्रवीमि (bravīmi) - I speak; एतत् (etat) - this; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; भीष्मपुरोगमस्य (bhīṣmapurogamāsya) - headed by Bhishma; मतम् (matam) - opinion; यत् (yat) - which; वः (vaḥ) - your; शान्तिः (śāntiḥ) - peace; इह (iha) - here; उत्तमा (uttamā) - best; स्यात् (syāt) - may be;]
(Lives in the beginning being requested, from where other; this, O learned one, for the purpose of means I speak. This is the opinion of the king headed by Bhishma; which your peace here may be best.)
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.
