05.028
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
asaṁśayaṁ sañjaya satyameta; dharmo varaḥ karmaṇāṁ yattvamāttha। jñātvā tu māṁ sañjaya garhayestvaṁ; yadi dharmaṁ yadyadharmaṁ carāmi ॥5-28-1॥
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.
yatrādharmaḥ dharmarūpāṇi bibhrad dharmaḥ kṛtsno dṛśyate'dharmarūpaḥ। tathā dharmo dhārayan dharmarūpaṃ; vidvāṃsastaṃ samprapaśyanti buddhyā ॥5-28-2॥
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.
evametāvāpadi liṅgameta; dharmādharmau vṛttinityau bhajetām। ādyaṃ liṅgaṃ yasya tasya pramāṇa; māpaddharmaṃ sañjaya taṃ nibodha ॥5-28-3॥
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.
luptāyāṃ tu prakṛtau yena karma; niṣpādayettaparīpsedvihīnaḥ। prakṛtisthaścāpadi vartamāna; ubhau garhyau bhavataḥ sañjayaitau ॥5-28-4॥
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.
avilopamicchatāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ; prāyaścittaṃ vihitaṃ yadvidhātrā। āpadyathākarmasu vartamānā; nvikarmasthānsañjaya garhayeta ॥5-28-5॥
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.
manīṣiṇāṃ tattvavicchedanāya; vidhīyate satsuvṛttiḥ sadaiva। abrāhmaṇāḥ santi tu ye na vaidyāḥ; sarvocchedaṃ sādhu manyeta tebhyaḥ ॥5-28-6॥
The wise always prescribe good conduct for discerning truth. However, non-Brahmins who are not physicians should be completely eradicated from their midst.
tadarthā naḥ pitaro ye ca pūrve; pitāmahā ye ca tebhyaḥ pare'nye। prajñaiṣiṇo ye ca hi karma cakru; rnāstyantato nāsti nāstīti manye ॥5-28-7॥
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.
yatkiñcidetadvittamasyāṃ pṛthivyāṃ; yaddevanāṃ tridaśānāṃ paratra। prājāpatyaṃ tridivaṃ brahmalokaṃ; nādharmataḥ sañjaya kāmaye tat ॥5-28-8॥
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.
dharmeśvaraḥ kuśalo nītimāṃścā; pyupāsitā brāhmaṇānāṃ manīṣī। nānāvidhāṃścaiva mahābalāṃśca; rājanyabhojānanuśāsti kṛṣṇaḥ ॥5-28-9॥
Krishna, the lord of dharma, is skillful and wise, revered by the Brahmins, and governs the diverse and mighty Kshatriya kings.
yadi hyahaṁ visṛjanyāmagarhyo; yudhyamāno yadi jahyāṁ svadharmam। mahāyaśāḥ keśavastadbravītu; vāsudevastūbhayorarthakāmaḥ ॥5-28-10॥
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.
śaineyā hi caitrakāścāndhakāśca; vārṣṇeyabhojāḥ kaukurāḥ sṛñjayāśca। upāsīnā vāsudevasya buddhiṃ; nigṛhya śatrūnsuhṛdo nandayanti ॥5-28-11॥
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.
vṛṣṇyandhakā hyugrasenādayo vai; kṛṣṇapraṇītāḥ sarva evendrakalpāḥ। manasvinaḥ satyaparākramāśca; mahābalā yādavā bhogavantaḥ ॥5-28-12॥
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.
kāśyo babhruḥ śriyamuttamāṃ gato; labdhvā kṛṣṇaṃ bhrātaramīśitāram। yasmai kāmānvārṣati vāsudevo; grīṣmātyaye megha iva prajābhyaḥ ॥5-28-13॥
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.
īdṛśo'yaṃ keśavastāta bhūyo; vidmo hyenaṃ karmaṇāṃ niścayajñam। priyaśca naḥ sādhutamaśca kṛṣṇo; nātikrame vacanaṃ keśavasya ॥5-28-14॥
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.
