05.028
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said:
असंशयं सञ्जय सत्यमेत; द्धर्मो वरः कर्मणां यत्त्वमात्थ। ज्ञात्वा तु मां सञ्जय गर्हयेस्त्वं; यदि धर्मं यद्यधर्मं चरामि ॥५-२८-१॥
Undoubtedly, Sanjaya, what you said is true; righteousness is superior to actions. However, knowing me, Sanjaya, you might blame me if I act righteously or unrighteously.
यत्राधर्मो धर्मरूपाणि बिभ्र; द्धर्मः कृत्स्नो दृश्यतेऽधर्मरूपः। तथा धर्मो धारयन्धर्मरूपं; विद्वांसस्तं सम्प्रपश्यन्ति बुद्ध्या ॥५-२८-२॥
In situations where unrighteousness appears in the guise of righteousness, and righteousness is perceived as unrighteousness, the wise discern the true nature of things with their intellect.
एवमेतावापदि लिङ्गमेत; द्धर्माधर्मौ वृत्तिनित्यौ भजेताम्। आद्यं लिङ्गं यस्य तस्य प्रमाण; मापद्धर्मं सञ्जय तं निबोध ॥५-२८-३॥
Thus, in times of adversity, these two signs of righteousness and unrighteousness, which are eternal in conduct, should be followed. The first sign is the authority in whom this is present. O Sanjaya, understand him as the one who comprehends the duty in adversity.
लुप्तायां तु प्रकृतौ येन कर्म; निष्पादयेत्तत्परीप्सेद्विहीनः। प्रकृतिस्थश्चापदि वर्तमान; उभौ गर्ह्यौ भवतः सञ्जयैतौ ॥५-२८-४॥
O Sanjaya, when one loses their natural state and performs actions with ulterior motives, both the one who acts and the one who desires are blameworthy, especially when they are in adversity.
अविलोपमिच्छतां ब्राह्मणानां; प्रायश्चित्तं विहितं यद्विधात्रा। आपद्यथाकर्मसु वर्तमाना; न्विकर्मस्थान्सञ्जय गर्हयेत ॥५-२८-५॥
O Sanjaya, those Brahmanas who desire non-omission and are engaged in improper acts due to distress should not be criticized for being in wrong places, as the atonement is ordained by the creator.
मनीषिणां तत्त्वविच्छेदनाय; विधीयते सत्सु वृत्तिः सदैव। अब्राह्मणाः सन्ति तु ये न वैद्याः; सर्वोच्छेदं साधु मन्येत तेभ्यः ॥५-२८-६॥
The wise always prescribe good conduct for discerning truth. However, non-Brahmins who are not physicians should be completely eradicated from their midst.
तदर्था नः पितरो ये च पूर्वे; पितामहा ये च तेभ्यः परेऽन्ये। प्रज्ञैषिणो ये च हि कर्म चक्रु; र्नास्त्यन्ततो नास्ति नास्तीति मन्ये ॥५-२८-७॥
For that purpose, our ancestors, both fathers and grandfathers, who were ancient and different from others, were seekers of wisdom and indeed performed actions; ultimately, I think there is nothing, there is nothing.
यत्किञ्चिदेतद्वित्तमस्यां पृथिव्यां; यद्देवानां त्रिदशानां परत्र। प्राजापत्यं त्रिदिवं ब्रह्मलोकं; नाधर्मतः सञ्जय कामये तत् ॥५-२८-८॥
O Sanjaya, I do not desire any wealth on this earth or in the heavens, including the realms of the gods, the thirty-three deities, Prajapati, or Brahma, if it is to be obtained unrighteously.
धर्मेश्वरः कुशलो नीतिमांश्चा; प्युपासिता ब्राह्मणानां मनीषी। नानाविधांश्चैव महाबलांश्च; राजन्यभोजाननुशास्ति कृष्णः ॥५-२८-९॥
Krishna, the lord of dharma, is skillful and wise, revered by the Brahmins, and governs the diverse and mighty Kshatriya kings.
यदि ह्यहं विसृजन्स्यामगर्ह्यो; युध्यमानो यदि जह्यां स्वधर्मम्। महायशाः केशवस्तद्ब्रवीतु; वासुदेवस्तूभयोरर्थकामः ॥५-२८-१०॥
If indeed I would be blameless in abandoning my duty while fighting, let the greatly renowned Keshava say that; but Vasudeva desires benefit for both sides.
शैनेया हि चैत्रकाश्चान्धकाश्च; वार्ष्णेयभोजाः कौकुराः सृञ्जयाश्च। उपासीना वासुदेवस्य बुद्धिं; निगृह्य शत्रून्सुहृदो नन्दयन्ति ॥५-२८-११॥
The descendants of Śini, Citraka, and the Andhakas, along with the Vṛṣṇis, Bhojas, Kukuras, and Sṛñjayas, sit near Vāsudeva, controlling their enemies and pleasing their friends.
वृष्ण्यन्धका ह्युग्रसेनादयो वै; कृष्णप्रणीताः सर्व एवेन्द्रकल्पाः। मनस्विनः सत्यपराक्रमाश्च; महाबला यादवा भोगवन्तः ॥५-२८-१२॥
The Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, led by Krishna, including Ugrasena and others, were all like Indra in their might, high-minded, truly valiant, very powerful, and prosperous Yādavas.
काश्यो बभ्रुः श्रियमुत्तमां गतो; लब्ध्वा कृष्णं भ्रातरमीशितारम्। यस्मै कामान्वर्षति वासुदेवो; ग्रीष्मात्यये मेघ इव प्रजाभ्यः ॥५-२८-१३॥
Kāśya Babhru attained the highest prosperity by gaining Kṛṣṇa, the lord and brother. Vāsudeva showers blessings upon him, just as clouds bring rain to the people at the end of summer.
ईदृशोऽयं केशवस्तात भूयो; विद्मो ह्येनं कर्मणां निश्चयज्ञम्। प्रियश्च नः साधुतमश्च कृष्णो; नातिक्रमे वचनं केशवस्य ॥५-२८-१४॥
This Keshava, dear one, is known to us as the knower of the certainty of actions. Krishna is dear and most virtuous to us; he never transgresses Keshava's word.
