05.026

युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥

[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Yudhishthira said:)

Yudhishthira spoke:

कां नु वाचं सञ्जय मे शृणोषि; युद्धैषिणीं येन युद्धाद्बिभेषि। अयुद्धं वै तात युद्धाद्गरीयः; कस्तल्लब्ध्वा जातु युध्येत सूत ॥५-२६-१॥

kāṁ nu vācaṁ sañjaya me śṛṇoṣi; yuddhaiṣiṇīṁ yena yuddhādbibheṣi। ayuddhaṁ vai tāta yuddhādgarīyaḥ; kastallabdhvā jātu yudhyeta sūta ॥5-26-1॥

[कां (kāṁ) - which; नु (nu) - indeed; वाचं (vācaṁ) - speech; सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; मे (me) - my; शृणोषि (śṛṇoṣi) - you hear; युद्धैषिणीं (yuddhaiṣiṇīṁ) - desiring war; येन (yena) - by which; युद्धात् (yuddhāt) - from war; बिभेषि (bibheṣi) - you fear; अयुद्धं (ayuddhaṁ) - non-war; वै (vai) - indeed; तात (tāta) - dear; युद्धात् (yuddhāt) - from war; गरीयः (garīyaḥ) - better; कः (kaḥ) - who; तत् (tat) - that; लब्ध्वा (labdhvā) - having obtained; जातु (jātu) - ever; युध्येत (yudhyeta) - would fight; सूत (sūta) - charioteer;]

(Which speech, indeed, O Sanjaya, of mine do you hear, desiring war, by which you fear from war? Non-war, indeed, dear, is better than war; who, having obtained that, would ever fight, O charioteer?)

O Sanjaya, which of my words do you hear that desires war, by which you fear the war? Indeed, dear one, non-war is better than war; who, having realized this, would ever choose to fight, O charioteer?

अकुर्वतश्चेत्पुरुषस्य सञ्जय; सिध्येत्सङ्कल्पो मनसा यं यमिच्छेत्। न कर्म कुर्याद्विदितं ममैत; दन्यत्र युद्धाद्बहु यल्लघीयः ॥५-२६-२॥

akurvataś cet puruṣasya sañjaya; sidhyet saṅkalpo manasā yaṃ yam icchet। na karma kuryād viditaṃ mamait; danyatra yuddhād bahu yal laghīyaḥ ॥5-26-2॥

[अकुर्वतश् (akurvataś) - if not done; चेत् (cet) - if; पुरुषस्य (puruṣasya) - of a person; सञ्जय (sañjaya) - O Sanjaya; सिध्येत् (sidhyet) - would succeed; सङ्कल्पः (saṅkalpaḥ) - resolve; मनसा (manasā) - by mind; यं (yaṃ) - which; यम् (yam) - whichever; इच्छेत् (icchet) - desires; न (na) - not; कर्म (karma) - action; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - should do; विदितम् (viditam) - known; मम (mama) - to me; एतत् (etat) - this; अन्यत्र (anyatra) - except; युद्धात् (yuddhāt) - from battle; बहु (bahu) - much; यत् (yat) - which; लघीयः (laghīyaḥ) - lighter;]

(If not done, O Sanjaya, a person's resolve would succeed by mind, whichever he desires. Known to me, this action should not be done, except from battle, which is much lighter.)

O Sanjaya, if a person does not act, his resolve would succeed by mere thought, whatever he desires. This is known to me, that no action should be done except in battle, which is much easier.

कुतो युद्धं जातु नरः प्रजान; न्को दैवशप्तोऽभिवृणीत युद्धम्। सुखैषिणः कर्म कुर्वन्ति पार्था; धर्मादहीनं यच्च लोकस्य पथ्यम् ॥५-२६-३॥

kuto yuddhaṁ jātu naraḥ prajāna; nko daivaśapto'bhivṛṇīta yuddham। sukhaiṣiṇaḥ karma kurvanti pārthā; dharmādahīnaṁ yacca lokasya pathyam ॥5-26-3॥

[कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; युद्धम् (yuddham) - war; जातु (jātu) - ever; नरः (naraḥ) - man; प्रजान् (prajān) - people; कः (kaḥ) - who; दैवशप्तः (daivaśaptaḥ) - cursed by fate; अभिवृणीत (abhivṛṇīta) - would choose; युद्धम् (yuddham) - war; सुखैषिणः (sukhaiṣiṇaḥ) - desirous of happiness; कर्म (karma) - actions; कुर्वन्ति (kurvanti) - perform; पार्थाः (pārthāḥ) - sons of Pritha; धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from righteousness; अहीनम् (ahīnam) - devoid; यत् (yat) - which; च (ca) - and; लोकस्य (lokasya) - of the world; पथ्यम् (pathyam) - beneficial;]

(From where would a man ever choose war, cursed by fate? Desirous of happiness, the sons of Pritha perform actions devoid of righteousness, which are beneficial to the world.)

"From where would a man, cursed by fate, ever choose war? Those desirous of happiness, like the sons of Pritha, perform actions that are devoid of righteousness but are considered beneficial to the world."

कर्मोदयं सुखमाशंसमानः; कृच्छ्रोपायं तत्त्वतः कर्म दुःखम्। सुखप्रेप्सुर्विजिघांसुश्च दुःखं; य इन्द्रियाणां प्रीतिवशानुगामी ॥ कामाभिध्या स्वशरीरं दुनोति; यया प्रयुक्तोऽनुकरोति दुःखम् ॥५-२६-४॥

karmodayaṃ sukhamāśamsamānaḥ; kr̥cchropāyaṃ tattvataḥ karma duḥkham। sukhaprepsurvijighāṃsuśca duḥkhaṃ; ya indriyāṇāṃ prītivaśānugāmī ॥ kāmābhidhyā svaśarīraṃ dunoti; yayā prayukto'nukaroti duḥkham ॥5-26-4॥

[कर्मोदयं (karmodayaṃ) - the rise of action; सुखमाशंसमानः (sukhamāśamsamānaḥ) - hoping for happiness; कृच्छ्रोपायं (kr̥cchropāyaṃ) - with difficulty; तत्त्वतः (tattvataḥ) - in reality; कर्म (karma) - action; दुःखम् (duḥkham) - suffering; सुखप्रेप्सुः (sukhaprepsuḥ) - desiring happiness; विजिघांसुः (vijighāṃsuḥ) - wishing to harm; च (ca) - and; दुःखम् (duḥkham) - suffering; यः (yaḥ) - who; इन्द्रियाणां (indriyāṇāṃ) - of the senses; प्रीतिवशानुगामी (prītivaśānugāmī) - following the dictates of pleasure; कामाभिध्या (kāmābhidhyā) - desire and contemplation; स्वशरीरं (svaśarīraṃ) - his own body; दुनोति (dunoti) - torments; यया (yayā) - by which; प्रयुक्तः (prayuktaḥ) - engaged; अनुकरोति (anukaroti) - imitates; दुःखम् (duḥkham) - suffering;]

(Hoping for happiness from the rise of action, in reality, action is suffering with difficulty. Desiring happiness and wishing to harm is suffering; who follows the dictates of pleasure of the senses. Desire and contemplation torment his own body; by which engaged, imitates suffering.)

Hoping for happiness from actions, one finds that actions are truly suffering when pursued with difficulty. The desire for happiness and the wish to harm lead to suffering; one who follows the senses' pleasures is led astray. Desire and contemplation torment one's own body, and through them, one engages in and imitates suffering.

यथेध्यमानस्य समिद्धतेजसो; भूयो बलं वर्धते पावकस्य। कामार्थलाभेन तथैव भूयो; न तृप्यते सर्पिषेवाग्निरिद्धः ॥ सम्पश्येमं भोगचयं महान्तं; सहास्माभिर्धृतराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञः ॥५-२६-५॥

yathedhyamānasya samiddhatejaso; bhūyo balaṃ vardhate pāvakasya। kāmārthalābhena tathaiva bhūyo; na tṛpyate sarpiṣevāgniriddhaḥ ॥ sampaśyemaṃ bhogacayaṃ mahāntaṃ; sahāsmābhirdhṛtarāṣṭrasya rājñaḥ ॥5-26-5॥

[यथा (yathā) - just as; इध्यमानस्य (idhyamānasya) - of the blazing; समिद्ध (samiddha) - kindled; तेजसः (tejasah) - of the fire; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; बलम् (balam) - strength; वर्धते (vardhate) - increases; पावकस्य (pāvakasya) - of the fire; कामार्थलाभेन (kāmārthalābhena) - by the gain of desires and wealth; तथैव (tathaiva) - similarly; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; न (na) - not; तृप्यते (tṛpyate) - is satisfied; सर्पिषा (sarpiṣā) - with ghee; इव (iva) - like; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; इद्धः (iddhaḥ) - kindled; सम्पश्य (sampaśya) - behold; इमम् (imam) - this; भोगचयम् (bhogacayam) - heap of enjoyments; महान्तम् (mahāntam) - great; सह (saha) - with; अस्माभिः (asmābhiḥ) - us; धृतराष्ट्रस्य (dhṛtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king;]

(Just as the strength of the blazing, kindled fire increases again, similarly, by the gain of desires and wealth, one is not satisfied, like the fire kindled with ghee. Behold this great heap of enjoyments with us, of King Dhritarashtra.)

Just as the strength of a blazing fire increases when kindled, similarly, the gain of desires and wealth never satisfies, like a fire fed with ghee. Behold this great heap of enjoyments with us, belonging to King Dhritarashtra.

नाश्रेयसामीश्वरो विग्रहाणां; नाश्रेयसां गीतशब्दं शृणोति। नाश्रेयसः सेवते माल्यगन्धा; न्न चाप्यश्रेयांस्यनुलेपनानि ॥५-२६-६॥

nāśreyasāmīśvaro vigrahāṇāṃ; nāśreyasāṃ gītaśabdaṃ śṛṇoti। nāśreyasaḥ sevate mālyagandhā; nna cāpyāśreyāṃsyanulepanāni ॥5-26-6॥

[नाश्रेयसाम् (nāśreyasām) - of the non-beneficial; ईश्वरः (īśvaraḥ) - the lord; विग्रहाणाम् (vigrahāṇām) - of the forms; नाश्रेयसाम् (nāśreyasām) - of the non-beneficial; गीतशब्दम् (gītaśabdam) - song sound; शृणोति (śṛṇoti) - hears; नाश्रेयसः (nāśreyasaḥ) - non-beneficial; सेवते (sevate) - serves; माल्यगन्धाः (mālyagandhāḥ) - flower scents; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अश्रेयांसि (aśreyāṃsi) - non-beneficial things; अनुलेपनानि (anulepanāni) - ointments;]

(The lord of the non-beneficial forms hears the song sound of the non-beneficial. The non-beneficial serves flower scents, and not also the non-beneficial things, ointments.)

The lord of the non-beneficial forms listens to the song sound of the non-beneficial. The non-beneficial one enjoys flower scents and not the non-beneficial ointments.

नाश्रेयसः प्रावरानध्यवस्ते; कथं त्वस्मान्सम्प्रणुदेत्कुरुभ्यः। अत्रैव च स्यादवधूय एष; कामः शरीरे हृदयं दुनोति ॥५-२६-७॥

nāśreyasaḥ prāvarānadhyavaste; kathaṁ tvasmānsampraṇudetkurubhyaḥ। atraiva ca syādavadhūya eṣa; kāmaḥ śarīre hṛdayaṁ dunoti ॥5-26-7॥

[न (na) - not; श्रेयसः (śreyasaḥ) - auspicious; प्रावरान् (prāvarān) - coverings; अध्यवस्ते (adhyavaste) - he wears; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; तु (tu) - but; अस्मान् (asmān) - us; सम्प्रणुदेत् (sampraṇudet) - could remove; कुरुभ्यः (kurubhyaḥ) - from the Kurus; अत्रैव (atraiva) - here itself; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - could be; अवधूय (avadhūya) - discarding; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; कामः (kāmaḥ) - desire; शरीरे (śarīre) - in the body; हृदयं (hṛdayaṁ) - heart; दुनोति (dunoti) - afflicts;]

(Not auspicious coverings he wears; how but us could remove from the Kurus? Here itself and could be discarding this; desire in the body heart afflicts.)

He does not wear auspicious coverings; how could he remove us from the Kurus? Here itself, discarding this, desire afflicts the heart in the body.

स्वयं राजा विषमस्थः परेषु; सामस्थ्यमन्विच्छति तन्न साधु। यथात्मनः पश्यति वृत्तमेव; तथा परेषामपि सोऽभ्युपैति ॥५-२६-८॥

svayaṃ rājā viṣamasthaḥ pareṣu; sāmasthyam anvicchati tanna sādhu। yathātmanaḥ paśyati vṛttameva; tathā pareṣāmapi so'bhyupaiti ॥5-26-8॥

[स्वयं (svayam) - oneself; राजा (rājā) - king; विषमस्थः (viṣamasthaḥ) - in difficulty; परेषु (pareṣu) - in others; सामस्थ्यम् (sāmasthyam) - peace; अन्विच्छति (anvicchati) - seeks; तत् (tat) - that; न (na) - not; साधु (sādhu) - good; यथा (yathā) - as; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself; पश्यति (paśyati) - sees; वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - conduct; एव (eva) - only; तथा (tathā) - so; परेषाम् (pareṣām) - of others; अपि (api) - also; सः (saḥ) - he; अभ्युपैति (abhyupaiti) - approaches;]

(The king himself, being in difficulty, seeks peace in others; that is not good. As he sees his own conduct, so he approaches that of others also.)

A king in distress seeks peace from others, which is not appropriate. Just as he observes his own behavior, he judges others' actions similarly.

आसन्नमग्निं तु निदाघकाले; गम्भीरकक्षे गहने विसृज्य। यथा वृद्धं वायुवशेन शोचे; त्क्षेमं मुमुक्षुः शिशिरव्यपाये ॥५-२६-९॥

āsannamagniṃ tu nidāghakāle; gambhīrakakṣe gahane visṛjya। yathā vṛddhaṃ vāyuvaśena śoce; tkṣemaṃ mumukṣuḥ śiśiravyapāye ॥5-26-9॥

[आसन्नम् (āsannam) - near; अग्निम् (agnim) - fire; तु (tu) - but; निदाघकाले (nidāghakāle) - in the summer season; गम्भीरकक्षे (gambhīrakakṣe) - in a deep enclosure; गहने (gahane) - in a dense place; विसृज्य (visṛjya) - having abandoned; यथा (yathā) - as; वृद्धम् (vṛddham) - old; वायुवशेन (vāyuvaśena) - by the will of the wind; शोचेत् (śocet) - may burn; क्षेमम् (kṣemam) - safety; मुमुक्षुः (mumukṣuḥ) - one desiring liberation; शिशिरव्यपाये (śiśiravyapāye) - at the end of winter;]

(Near the fire, but in the summer season, having abandoned it in a deep enclosure, in a dense place, as the old one may burn by the will of the wind, one desiring liberation seeks safety at the end of winter.)

In the summer, one should leave the fire in a deep and dense place, as the old one may burn by the wind's will. Similarly, a person seeking liberation finds safety at the end of winter.

प्राप्तैश्वर्यो धृतराष्ट्रोऽद्य राजा; लालप्यते सञ्जय कस्य हेतोः। प्रगृह्य दुर्बुद्धिमनार्जवे रतं; पुत्रं मन्दं मूढममन्त्रिणं तु ॥५-२६-१०॥

prāptaiśvaryo dhṛtarāṣṭro'dya rājā; lālapyate sañjaya kasya hetoḥ। pragṛhya durbuddhimanārjave rataṃ; putraṃ mandaṃ mūḍhamamantriṇaṃ tu ॥5-26-10॥

[प्राप्तैश्वर्यः (prāptaiśvaryaḥ) - having obtained wealth; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; अद्य (adya) - today; राजा (rājā) - king; लालप्यते (lālapyate) - laments; सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; कस्य (kasya) - for what; हेतोः (hetoḥ) - reason; प्रगृह्य (pragṛhya) - having taken; दुर्बुद्धिम् (durbuddhim) - ill-intentioned; अनार्जवे (anārjave) - in dishonesty; रतम् (ratam) - engaged; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; मन्दम् (mandam) - foolish; मूढम् (mūḍham) - deluded; अमन्त्रिणम् (amantriṇam) - without counsel; तु (tu) - but;]

(Having obtained wealth, Dhritarashtra, the king today, laments, O Sanjaya, for what reason? Having taken his ill-intentioned, dishonest, engaged son, foolish, deluded, and without counsel, but.)

Today, King Dhritarashtra, having gained wealth, laments to Sanjaya, questioning the reason. He reflects on his son, who is engaged in dishonesty, is foolish, deluded, and lacks counsel.

अनाप्तः सन्नाप्ततमस्य वाचं; सुयोधनो विदुरस्यावमन्य। सुतस्य राजा धृतराष्ट्रः प्रियैषी; सम्बुध्यमानो विशतेऽधर्ममेव ॥५-२६-११॥

anāptaḥ sannāptatamasya vācaṁ; suyodhano vidurasyāvamanya। sutasya rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ priyaiṣī; sambudhyamāno viśate'dharmameva ॥5-26-11॥

[अनाप्तः (anāptaḥ) - unattained; सन् (san) - being; आप्ततमस्य (āptatamasya) - of the most trustworthy; वाचं (vācaṁ) - speech; सुयोधनः (suyodhanaḥ) - Suyodhana; विदुरस्य (vidurasya) - of Vidura; अवमन्य (avamanya) - disregarding; सुतस्य (sutasya) - of the son; राजा (rājā) - king; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; प्रियैषी (priyaiṣī) - well-wisher; सम्बुध्यमानः (sambudhyamānaḥ) - being aware; विशते (viśate) - enters; अधर्मम् (adharmam) - unrighteousness; एव (eva) - indeed;]

(Being unattained, disregarding the speech of the most trustworthy, Suyodhana, the son of King Dhritarashtra, a well-wisher, being aware, indeed enters unrighteousness.)

Despite being aware and a well-wisher, King Dhritarashtra's son, Suyodhana, disregards the trustworthy words of Vidura and indeed embraces unrighteousness.

मेधाविनं ह्यर्थकामं कुरूणां; बहुश्रुतं वाग्मिनं शीलवन्तम्। सूत राजा धृतराष्ट्रः कुरुभ्यो; न सोऽस्मरद्विदुरं पुत्रकाम्यात् ॥५-२६-१२॥

medhāvinaṃ hyarthakāmaṃ kurūṇāṃ; bahuśrutaṃ vāgminaṃ śīlavantam। sūta rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ kurubhyo; na so'smaradviduraṃ putrakāmyāt ॥5-26-12॥

[मेधाविनं (medhāvinam) - wise; हि (hi) - indeed; अर्थकामं (arthakāmam) - desirous of wealth; कुरूणां (kurūṇāṃ) - of the Kurus; बहुश्रुतं (bahuśrutam) - well-learned; वाग्मिनं (vāgminam) - eloquent; शीलवन्तम् (śīlavantam) - virtuous; सूत (sūta) - charioteer; राजा (rājā) - king; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; कुरुभ्यः (kurubhyaḥ) - from the Kurus; न (na) - not; सः (saḥ) - he; अस्मरत् (asmarat) - remembered; विदुरं (viduram) - Vidura; पुत्रकाम्यात् (putrakāmyāt) - due to desire for a son;]

(Indeed, the wise, desirous of wealth, well-learned, eloquent, and virtuous charioteer king Dhritarashtra did not remember Vidura from the Kurus due to his desire for a son.)

King Dhritarashtra, despite being wise, desirous of wealth, well-learned, eloquent, and virtuous, did not remember Vidura from the Kurus because of his desire for a son.

मानघ्नस्य आत्मकामस्य चेर्ष्योः; संरम्भिणश्चार्थधर्मातिगस्य। दुर्भाषिणो मन्युवशानुगस्य; कामात्मनो दुर्हृदो भावनस्य ॥५-२६-१३॥

mānaghnasya ātmakāmasya cerṣyoḥ; saṁrambhiṇaścārthadharmātigasya। durbhāṣiṇo manyuvaśānugasya; kāmātmano durhṛdo bhāvanasya ॥5-26-13॥

[मानघ्नस्य (mānaghnasya) - of one who destroys honor; आत्मकामस्य (ātmakāmasya) - of one who desires self; च (ca) - and; ईर्ष्योः (īrṣyoḥ) - of the envious; संरम्भिणः (saṁrambhiṇaḥ) - of the angry; च (ca) - and; अर्थधर्मातिगस्य (arthadharmātigasya) - of one who transgresses wealth and duty; दुर्भाषिणः (durbhāṣiṇaḥ) - of the harsh speaker; मन्युवशानुगस्य (manyuvaśānugasya) - of one who follows anger; कामात्मनः (kāmātmanaḥ) - of one whose soul is desire; दुर्हृदः (durhṛdaḥ) - of the wicked-hearted; भावनस्य (bhāvanasya) - of the thinker;]

(Of one who destroys honor, desires self, is envious, angry, transgresses wealth and duty, speaks harshly, follows anger, whose soul is desire, is wicked-hearted, and is a thinker.)

This verse describes a person who destroys honor, is self-centered, envious, angry, transgresses the principles of wealth and duty, speaks harshly, is driven by anger, whose soul is consumed by desire, is wicked-hearted, and is contemplative.

अनेयस्याश्रेयसो दीर्घमन्यो; र्मित्रद्रुहः सञ्जय पापबुद्धेः। सुतस्य राजा धृतराष्ट्रः प्रियैषी; प्रपश्यमानः प्रजहाद्धर्मकामौ ॥५-२६-१४॥

aneyasyāśreyaso dīrghamanyo; mitradruhaḥ sañjaya pāpabuddheḥ। sutasya rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ priyaiṣī; prapaśyamānaḥ prajahāddharmakāmau ॥5-26-14॥

[अनेयस्य (aneyasya) - of the one who leads; अश्रेयसः (aśreyasaḥ) - of misfortune; दीर्घमन्यः (dīrghamanyaḥ) - long-minded; मित्रद्रुहः (mitradruhaḥ) - enemy of friends; सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; पापबुद्धेः (pāpabuddheḥ) - of evil mind; सुतस्य (sutasya) - of the son; राजा (rājā) - king; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; प्रियैषी (priyaiṣī) - well-wisher; प्रपश्यमानः (prapaśyamānaḥ) - foreseeing; प्रजहात् (prajahāt) - abandoned; धर्मकामौ (dharmakāmau) - righteousness and desire;]

(The king Dhritarashtra, the well-wisher of his son, foresaw the misfortune of the long-minded enemy of friends, Sanjaya, of evil mind, and abandoned righteousness and desire.)

King Dhritarashtra, foreseeing the misfortune brought by his son, who was long-minded and an enemy of friends, abandoned righteousness and desire, despite being a well-wisher.

तदैव मे सञ्जय दीव्यतोऽभू; न्नो चेत्कुरूनागतः स्यादभावः। काव्यां वाचं विदुरो भाषमाणो; न विन्दते धृतराष्ट्रात्प्रशंसाम् ॥५-२६-१५॥

tadaiva me sañjaya dīvyato'bhū; nno cetkurūnāgataḥ syādabhāvaḥ। kāvyāṃ vācaṃ viduro bhāṣamāṇo; na vindate dhṛtarāṣṭrātpraśaṃsām ॥5-26-15॥

[तदैव (tadaiva) - then only; मे (me) - my; सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; दीव्यतः (dīvyataḥ) - playing dice; अभूत् (abhūt) - was; नो (no) - not; चेत् (cet) - if; कुरून् (kurūn) - Kurus; आगतः (āgataḥ) - arrived; स्यात् (syāt) - would be; अभावः (abhāvaḥ) - absence; काव्यां (kāvyāṃ) - in poetry; वाचं (vācaṃ) - speech; विदुरः (viduraḥ) - Vidura; भाषमाणः (bhāṣamāṇaḥ) - speaking; न (na) - not; विन्दते (vindate) - finds; धृतराष्ट्रात् (dhṛtarāṣṭrāt) - from Dhritarashtra; प्रशंसाम् (praśaṃsām) - praise;]

(Then only, O Sanjaya, while playing dice, if the Kurus had not arrived, there would be absence. Vidura, speaking in poetry, does not find praise from Dhritarashtra.)

At that very moment, Sanjaya, while engaged in a game of dice, if the Kurus had not come, there would have been nothing. Vidura, speaking poetically, does not receive any praise from Dhritarashtra.

क्षत्तुर्यदा अन्ववर्तन्त बुद्धिं; कृच्छ्रं कुरून्न तदाभ्याजगाम। यावत्प्रज्ञामन्ववर्तन्त तस्य; तावत्तेषां राष्ट्रवृद्धिर्बभूव ॥५-२६-१६॥

kṣatturyadā anvavartanta buddhiṁ; kṛcchraṁ kurūnna tadābhyājagāma. yāvatprajñāmanvavartanta tasya; tāvatteṣāṁ rāṣṭravṛddhirbabhūva ॥5-26-16॥

[क्षत्तुः (kṣattuḥ) - of the minister; यदा (yadā) - when; अन्ववर्तन्त (anvavartanta) - followed; बुद्धिं (buddhiṁ) - intelligence; कृच्छ्रं (kṛcchraṁ) - difficulty; कुरून् (kurūn) - the Kurus; न (na) - not; तदा (tadā) - then; अभ्याजगाम (abhyājagāma) - approached; यावत् (yāvat) - as long as; प्रज्ञाम् (prajñām) - wisdom; अन्ववर्तन्त (anvavartanta) - followed; तस्य (tasya) - his; तावत् (tāvat) - so long; तेषाम् (teṣām) - their; राष्ट्रवृद्धिः (rāṣṭravṛddhiḥ) - prosperity of the kingdom; बभूव (babhūva) - became.;]

(When the minister followed intelligence, difficulty did not approach the Kurus. As long as they followed his wisdom, so long their kingdom's prosperity increased.)

When the minister adhered to intelligence, the Kurus did not face difficulties. As long as they followed his wisdom, their kingdom prospered.

तदर्थलुब्धस्य निबोध मेऽद्य; ये मन्त्रिणो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सूत। दुःशासनः शकुनिः सूतपुत्रो; गावल्गणे पश्य संमोहमस्य ॥५-२६-१७॥

tadarthalubdhasya nibodha me'dya; ye mantriṇo dhārtarāṣṭrasya sūta। duḥśāsanaḥ śakuniḥ sūtaputro; gāvalgaṇe paśya saṃmohamasya ॥5-26-17॥

[तदर्थलुब्धस्य (tadarthalubdhasya) - greedy for that purpose; निबोध (nibodha) - understand; मे (me) - my; अद्य (adya) - today; ये (ye) - who; मन्त्रिणः (mantriṇaḥ) - ministers; धार्तराष्ट्रस्य (dhārtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra; सूत (sūta) - charioteer; दुःशासनः (duḥśāsanaḥ) - Duhshasana; शकुनिः (śakuniḥ) - Shakuni; सूतपुत्रः (sūtaputraḥ) - son of a charioteer; गावल्गणे (gāvalgaṇe) - O Gavalgana; पश्य (paśya) - see; संमोहमस्य (saṃmohamasya) - confusion of his;]

(Understand today my words, O Gavalgana, about those ministers of Dhritarashtra who are greedy for that purpose: Duhshasana, Shakuni, the son of a charioteer; see his confusion.)

Today, understand my words, O Gavalgana, about the ministers of Dhritarashtra who are greedy for their own purposes: Duhshasana, Shakuni, and the son of a charioteer; see how confused he is.

सोऽहं न पश्यामि परीक्षमाणः; कथं स्वस्ति स्यात्कुरुसृञ्जयानाम्। आत्तैश्वर्यो धृतराष्ट्रः परेभ्यः; प्रव्राजिते विदुरे दीर्घदृष्टौ ॥५-२६-१८॥

so'haṁ na paśyāmi parīkṣamāṇaḥ; kathaṁ svasti syātkurusṛñjayānām। āttaiśvaryo dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ parebhyaḥ; pravrājite vidure dīrghadṛṣṭau ॥5-26-18॥

[सः (saḥ) - he; अहम् (aham) - I; न (na) - not; पश्यामि (paśyāmi) - see; परीक्षमाणः (parīkṣamāṇaḥ) - examining; कथम् (katham) - how; स्वस्ति (svasti) - welfare; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; कुरु-सृञ्जयानाम् (kuru-sṛñjayānām) - of the Kurus and Sṛñjayas; आत्त-ऐश्वर्यः (ātta-aiśvaryaḥ) - having obtained sovereignty; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; परेभ्यः (parebhyaḥ) - from others; प्रव्राजिते (pravrājite) - having been exiled; विदुरे (vidure) - Vidura; दीर्घ-दृष्टौ (dīrgha-dṛṣṭau) - far-sighted;]

(He, examining, does not see; how may there be welfare for the Kurus and Sṛñjayas? Dhritarashtra, having obtained sovereignty from others, with Vidura, the far-sighted, having been exiled.)

He is examining and does not see how there can be welfare for the Kurus and Sṛñjayas. Dhritarashtra, having gained sovereignty from others, has exiled the far-sighted Vidura.

आशंसते वै धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो; महाराज्यमसपत्नं पृथिव्याम्। तस्मिञ्शमः केवलं नोपलभ्यो; अत्यासन्नं मद्गतं मन्यतेऽर्थम् ॥५-२६-१९॥

āśaṁsate vai dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputro; mahārājyamasapatnaṁ pṛthivyām। tasmiñśamaḥ kevalaṁ nopalabhyo; atyāsannaṁ madgataṁ manyate'rtham ॥5-26-19॥

[आशंसते (āśaṁsate) - desires; वै (vai) - indeed; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; सपुत्रः (saputraḥ) - with sons; महाराज्यम् (mahārājyam) - great kingdom; असपत्नम् (asapatnam) - without rivals; पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām) - on earth; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; शमः (śamaḥ) - peace; केवलम् (kevalam) - only; न (na) - not; उपलभ्यः (upalabhyaḥ) - attainable; अत्यासन्नम् (atyāsannam) - very near; मद्गतम् (madgatam) - related to me; मन्यते (manyate) - thinks; अर्थम् (artham) - purpose;]

(Dhritarashtra, along with his sons, indeed desires a great kingdom on earth without rivals. In that, peace alone is not attainable; he thinks the purpose related to me is very near.)

Dhritarashtra, with his sons, desires an unrivaled great kingdom on earth. In this, peace is not attainable; he believes the purpose concerning me is imminent.

यत्तत्कर्णो मन्यते पारणीयं; युद्धे गृहीतायुधमर्जुनेन। आसंश्च युद्धानि पुरा महान्ति; कथं कर्णो नाभवद्द्वीप एषाम् ॥५-२६-२०॥

yattatkarṇo manyate pāraṇīyaṃ; yuddhe gṛhītāyudhamarjunena। āsaṃśca yuddhāni purā mahānti; kathaṃ karṇo nābhavaddvīpa eṣām ॥5-26-20॥

[यत् (yat) - which; तत् (tat) - that; कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karna; मन्यते (manyate) - thinks; पारणीयं (pāraṇīyaṃ) - to be crossed; युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle; गृहीतायुधम् (gṛhītāyudham) - having taken up arms; अर्जुनेन (arjunena) - by Arjuna; आसन् (āsan) - there were; च (ca) - and; युद्धानि (yuddhāni) - battles; पुरा (purā) - before; महान्ति (mahānti) - great; कथम् (katham) - how; कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karna; न (na) - not; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; द्वीपः (dvīpaḥ) - island; एषाम् (eṣām) - of these;]

(Which Karna thinks to be crossed; having taken up arms in battle by Arjuna. There were great battles before; how Karna did not become an island of these.)

Karna, who thinks he can overcome, took up arms in battle against Arjuna. There were great battles in the past; how did Karna not become a refuge for these?

कर्णश्च जानाति सुयोधनश्च; द्रोणश्च जानाति पितामहश्च। अन्ये च ये कुरवस्तत्र सन्ति; यथार्जुनान्नास्त्यपरो धनुर्धरः ॥५-२६-२१॥

karṇaśca jānāti suyodhanaśca; droṇaśca jānāti pitāmahaśca। anye ca ye kuravastatra santi; yathārjunānnāstyaparo dhanurdharaḥ ॥5-26-21॥

[कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karna; च (ca) - and; जानाति (jānāti) - knows; सुयोधनः (suyodhanaḥ) - Suyodhana; च (ca) - and; द्रोणः (droṇaḥ) - Drona; च (ca) - and; जानाति (jānāti) - knows; पितामहः (pitāmahaḥ) - grandfather; च (ca) - and; अन्ये (anye) - others; च (ca) - and; ये (ye) - who; कुरवः (kuravaḥ) - Kurus; तत्र (tatra) - there; सन्ति (santi) - are; यथा (yathā) - as; अर्जुनात् (arjunāt) - than Arjuna; न (na) - not; अस्ति (asti) - is; अपरः (aparaḥ) - another; धनुर्धरः (dhanurdharaḥ) - archer;]

(Karna and Suyodhana know; Drona and the grandfather know. Others who are the Kurus there; as there is no other archer than Arjuna.)

Karna, Suyodhana, Drona, and the grandfather know this; and others among the Kurus present there also know that there is no archer greater than Arjuna.

जानन्त्येते कुरवः सर्व एव; ये चाप्यन्ये भूमिपालाः समेताः। दुर्योधनं चापराधे चरन्त; मरिंदमे फल्गुनेऽविद्यमाने ॥५-२६-२२॥

jānantyete kuravaḥ sarva eva; ye cāpyanye bhūmipālāḥ sametāḥ। duryodhanaṃ cāparādhe caranta; mariṃdame phalgune'vidyamāne ॥5-26-22॥

[जानन्ति (jānanti) - know; एते (ete) - these; कुरवः (kuravaḥ) - Kurus; सर्व (sarva) - all; एव (eva) - indeed; ये (ye) - who; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अन्ये (anye) - other; भूमिपालाः (bhūmipālāḥ) - kings; समेताः (sametāḥ) - assembled; दुर्योधनं (duryodhanam) - Duryodhana; च (ca) - and; अपराधे (aparādhe) - in fault; चरन्त (caranta) - acting; मरिंदमे (mariṃdame) - O slayer of enemies; फल्गुने (phalgune) - O Arjuna; अविद्यमाने (avidyamāne) - in absence;]

(These Kurus, all indeed, and also other kings assembled, know Duryodhana acting in fault, O slayer of enemies, O Arjuna, in absence.)

All these Kurus and other assembled kings know that Duryodhana is acting wrongly, O slayer of enemies, O Arjuna, in your absence.

तेनार्थबद्धं मन्यते धार्तराष्ट्रः; शक्यं हर्तुं पाण्डवानां ममत्वम्। किरीटिना तालमात्रायुधेन; तद्वेदिना संयुगं तत्र गत्वा ॥५-२६-२३॥

tenārthabaddhaṃ manyate dhārtarāṣṭraḥ; śakyaṃ hartuṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mamatvam। kirīṭinā tālamātrāyudhena; tadvedinā saṃyugaṃ tatra gatvā ॥5-26-23॥

[तेन (tena) - by him; अर्थबद्धं (arthabaddhaṃ) - bound by purpose; मन्यते (manyate) - thinks; धार्तराष्ट्रः (dhārtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra's son; शक्यं (śakyaṃ) - possible; हर्तुं (hartuṃ) - to take away; पाण्डवानां (pāṇḍavānāṃ) - of the Pandavas; ममत्वम् (mamatvam) - affection; किरीटिना (kirīṭinā) - by Arjuna; तालमात्रायुधेन (tālamātrāyudhena) - with a weapon of the size of a palm tree; तद्वेदिना (tadvedinā) - by the knower of that; संयुगं (saṃyugaṃ) - battle; तत्र (tatra) - there; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone;]

(By him, bound by purpose, Dhritarashtra's son thinks it is possible to take away the Pandavas' affection. By Arjuna, with a weapon of the size of a palm tree, having gone there, by the knower of that, the battle.)

Dhritarashtra's son believes that it is possible to take away the Pandavas' affection by Arjuna, who wields a weapon the size of a palm tree, and having gone there, knows the battle.

गाण्डीवविस्फारितशब्दमाजा; वशृण्वाना धार्तराष्ट्रा ध्रियन्ते। क्रुद्धस्य चेद्भीमसेनस्य वेगा; त्सुयोधनो मन्यते सिद्धमर्थम् ॥५-२६-२४॥

gāṇḍīvavisphāritaśabdamājā; vaśṛṇvānā dhārtarāṣṭrā dhriyante। kruddhasya cedbhīmasenasya vegā; tsuyodhano manyate siddhamartham ॥5-26-24॥

[गाण्डीव (gāṇḍīva) - Gandiva; (the bow of Arjuna) विस्फारित (visphārita) - twanging; (sound) शब्द (śabda) - sound; माजा (mājā) - illusion; व (va) - and; शृण्वाना (śṛṇvānā) - hearing; धार्तराष्ट्रा (dhārtarāṣṭrā) - sons of Dhritarashtra; ध्रियन्ते (dhriyante) - are enduring; क्रुद्धस्य (kruddhasya) - of the angry; च (ca) - and; भीमसेनस्य (bhīmasenasya) - of Bhimasena; वेगात् (vegāt) - by the force; सुयोधनः (suyodhanaḥ) - Suyodhana; मन्यते (manyate) - thinks; सिद्धम् (siddham) - accomplished; अर्थम् (artham) - purpose;]

(The sons of Dhritarashtra, hearing the twanging sound of Gandiva and the illusion, are enduring. Suyodhana thinks the purpose is accomplished by the force of the angry Bhimasena.)

The sons of Dhritarashtra are enduring the sound of Gandiva's twang and the illusion. Suyodhana believes that the purpose has been accomplished by the force of the enraged Bhimasena.

इन्द्रोऽप्येतन्नोत्सहेत्तात हर्तु; मैश्वर्यं नो जीवति भीमसेने। धनञ्जये नकुले चैव सूत; तथा वीरे सहदेवे मदीये ॥५-२६-२५॥

indro'pyetannot.sahettāta hartu; maiśvaryaṃ no jīvati bhīmasene। dhanañjaye nakule caiva sūta; tathā vīre sahadeve madīye ॥5-26-25॥

[इन्द्रः (indraḥ) - Indra; अपि (api) - also; एतत् (etat) - this; न (na) - not; उत्सहेत् (utsahet) - be able; तात (tāta) - O father; हर्तु (hartu) - to take away; मैश्वर्यम् (maiśvaryam) - prosperity; नः (naḥ) - our; जीवति (jīvati) - lives; भीमसेने (bhīmasene) - Bhīmasena; धनञ्जये (dhanañjaye) - Dhanañjaya; नकुले (nakule) - Nakula; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; सूत (sūta) - O charioteer; तथा (tathā) - also; वीरे (vīre) - heroic; सहदेवे (sahadeve) - Sahadeva; मदीये (madīye) - my own;]

(O father, even Indra would not be able to take away this prosperity of ours while Bhīmasena, Dhanañjaya, Nakula, and indeed the heroic Sahadeva, my own, live, O charioteer.)

O father, even Indra would not be able to take away our prosperity while Bhīmasena, Dhanañjaya, Nakula, and the heroic Sahadeva, who are my own, are alive, O charioteer.

स चेदेतां प्रतिपद्येत बुद्धिं; वृद्धो राजा सह पुत्रेण सूत। एवं रणे पाण्डवकोपदग्धा; न नश्येयुः सञ्जय धार्तराष्ट्राः ॥५-२६-२६॥

sa cedetāṃ pratipadyeta buddhiṃ; vṛddho rājā saha putreṇa sūta। evaṃ raṇe pāṇḍavakopadagdhā; na naśyeyuḥ sañjaya dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ ॥5-26-26॥

[स (sa) - he; चेत् (cet) - if; एताम् (etām) - this; प्रतिपद्येत (pratipadyeta) - would adopt; बुद्धिं (buddhiṃ) - intelligence; वृद्धः (vṛddhaḥ) - old; राजा (rājā) - king; सह (saha) - with; पुत्रेण (putreṇa) - son; सूत (sūta) - charioteer; एवम् (evam) - thus; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; पाण्डव (pāṇḍava) - Pandava; कोपदग्धाः (kopadagdhāḥ) - angered; न (na) - not; नश्येयुः (naśyeyuḥ) - would perish; सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; धार्तराष्ट्राः (dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ) - Dhartarashtras;]

(If he, the old king, would adopt this intelligence with his son, O charioteer, thus in battle, the Dhartarashtras, angered by the Pandavas, would not perish, O Sanjaya.)

If the old king, along with his son, were to adopt this wisdom, then, O charioteer, the Dhartarashtras, inflamed by the Pandavas in battle, would not meet their end, O Sanjaya.

जानासि त्वं क्लेशमस्मासु वृत्तं; त्वां पूजयन्सञ्जयाहं क्षमेयम्। यच्चास्माकं कौरवैर्भूतपूर्वं; या नो वृत्तिर्धार्तराष्ट्रे तदासीत् ॥५-२६-२७॥

jānāsi tvaṃ kleśamasmāsu vṛttaṃ; tvāṃ pūjayansañjayāhaṃ kṣameyam। yaccāsmākaṃ kauravairbhūtapūrvaṃ; yā no vṛttirdhārtarāṣṭre tadāsīt ॥5-26-27॥

[जानासि (jānāsi) - you know; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; क्लेशम् (kleśam) - suffering; अस्मासु (asmāsu) - in us; वृत्तं (vṛttaṃ) - occurred; त्वां (tvāṃ) - you; पूजयन (pūjayan) - worshipping; सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; अहम् (aham) - I; क्षमेयम् (kṣameyam) - may forgive; यत् (yat) - what; च (ca) - and; अस्माकम् (asmākam) - our; कौरवैः (kauravaiḥ) - with the Kauravas; भूतपूर्वम् (bhūtapūrvam) - in the past; या (yā) - which; नः (naḥ) - our; वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - conduct; धार्तराष्ट्रे (dhārtarāṣṭre) - in the Dhartarashtra; तदा (tadā) - then; आसीत् (āsīt) - was;]

(You know the suffering that occurred in us; worshipping you, O Sanjaya, I may forgive. What was our conduct with the Kauravas in the past; that was then in the Dhartarashtra.)

You are aware of the suffering that has happened to us; by worshipping you, O Sanjaya, I may find it in my heart to forgive. Our past conduct with the Kauravas was what it was in the Dhartarashtra.

अद्यापि तत्तत्र तथैव वर्ततां; शान्तिं गमिष्यामि यथा त्वमात्थ। इन्द्रप्रस्थे भवतु ममैव राज्यं; सुयोधनो यच्छतु भारताग्र्यः ॥५-२६-२८॥

adyāpi tattatra tathaiva vartatāṁ; śāntiṁ gamiṣyāmi yathā tvamāttha। indraprasthe bhavatu mamaiva rājyaṁ; suyodhano yacchatu bhāratāgryaḥ ॥5-26-28॥

[अद्यापि (adyāpi) - even today; तत् (tat) - that; तत्र (tatra) - there; तथैव (tathaiva) - in the same way; वर्ततां (vartatāṁ) - may it remain; शान्तिं (śāntiṁ) - peace; गमिष्यामि (gamiṣyāmi) - I will go; यथा (yathā) - as; त्वम् (tvam) - you; आत्थ (āttha) - said; इन्द्रप्रस्थे (indraprasthe) - in Indraprastha; भवतु (bhavatu) - let it be; मम (mama) - my; एव (eva) - only; राज्यं (rājyaṁ) - kingdom; सुयोधनः (suyodhanaḥ) - Suyodhana; यच्छतु (yacchatu) - may give; भारताग्र्यः (bhāratāgryaḥ) - the foremost of the Bharatas;]

(Even today, let that remain there in the same way; I will go to peace as you said. Let my kingdom be in Indraprastha; let Suyodhana, the foremost of the Bharatas, give it.)

Even today, let it remain as it is there; I will find peace as you have said. Let my kingdom be in Indraprastha; let Suyodhana, the foremost of the Bharatas, grant it.