05.123
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो दुर्योधनममर्षणम्। केशवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच भरतर्षभ ॥५-१२३-१॥
Then Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, having heard the words of Keśava, spoke to Duryodhana, who was resentful, O best of the Bharatas. (5-123-1)
कृष्णेन वाक्यमुक्तोऽसि सुहृदां शममिच्छता। अनुपश्यस्व तत्तात मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः ॥५-१२३-२॥
You have been addressed by Kṛṣṇa, who wishes peace for friends; consider that, dear one, and do not give in to anger. (5-123-2)
अकृत्वा वचनं तात केशवस्य महात्मनः। श्रेयो न जातु न सुखं न कल्याणमवाप्स्यसि ॥५-१२३-३॥
If you do not follow the advice of Keśava, the great-souled one, dear one, you will never gain what is best, nor happiness, nor welfare. (5-123-3)
धर्म्यमर्थं महाबाहुराह त्वां तात केशवः। तमर्थमभिपद्यस्व मा राजन्नीनशः प्रजाः ॥५-१२३-४॥
The mighty-armed Keśava, dear one, has told you the righteous course; follow that course. O king, do not bring misery upon your people. (5-123-4)
इमां श्रियं प्रज्वलितां भारतीं सर्वराजसु। जीवतो धृतराष्ट्रस्य दौरात्म्याद्भ्रंशयिष्यसि ॥५-१२३-५॥
Through Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s wickedness, while he still lives, you will lose this flourishing Bhārata prosperity, supreme among all kings. (5-123-5)
आत्मानं च सहामात्यं सपुत्रपशुबान्धवम्। सहमित्रमसद्बुद्ध्या जीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यसि ॥५-१२३-६॥
Through wrongful thinking, you will cause the loss of yourself, your ministers, your son, cattle, kin, and friends from life. (5-123-6)
अतिक्रामन्केशवस्य तथ्यं वचनमर्थवत्। पितुश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ विदुरस्य च धीमतः ॥५-१२३-७॥
By disregarding the true and meaningful words of Keshava, your father, and the wise Vidura, O best of the Bharatas... (5-123-7)
मा कुलघ्नोऽन्तपुरुषो दुर्मतिः कापथं गमः। पितरं मातरं चैव वृद्धौ शोकाय मा ददः ॥५-१२३-८॥
Do not become a destroyer of your family, a man of the inner chambers, or a person with evil intent; do not go down the wrong path. Do not cause your father and mother grief in their old age. (5-123-8)
अथ द्रोणोऽब्रवीत्तत्र दुर्योधनमिदं वचः। अमर्षवशमापन्नं निःश्वसन्तं पुनः पुनः ॥५-१२३-९॥
Then Droṇa spoke these words to Duryodhana there, who was repeatedly sighing and overcome by anger. (5-123-9)
धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनमाह त्वां तात केशवः। तथा भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तज्जुषस्व नराधिप ॥५-१२३-१०॥
Dear one, Keshava spoke advice to you that was righteous and beneficial, and likewise Bhishma, son of Santanu—king, accept that. (5-123-10)
प्राज्ञौ मेधाविनौ दान्तावर्थकामौ बहुश्रुतौ। आहतुस्त्वां हितं वाक्यं तदादत्स्व परन्तप ॥५-१२३-११॥
The wise, intelligent, and self-controlled ones, desiring your welfare and learned in many things, have spoken beneficial words to you; accept them, O tormentor of enemies. (5-123-11)
अनुतिष्ठ महाप्राज्ञ कृष्णभीष्मौ यदूचतुः। मा वचो लघुबुद्धीनां समास्थास्त्वं परन्तप ॥५-१२३-१२॥
O most wise one, follow what Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣma said; do not pay heed to the words of those with little understanding, O tormentor of foes. (5-123-12)
ये त्वां प्रोत्साहयन्त्येते नैते कृत्याय कर्हिचित्। वैरं परेषां ग्रीवायां प्रतिमोक्ष्यन्ति संयुगे ॥५-१२३-१३॥
Those who are urging you on—these people will never do what is right. In battle, they will place the enmity of others upon your neck. (5-123-13)
मा कुरूञ्जीघनः सर्वान्पुत्रान्भ्रातॄंस्तथैव च। वासुदेवार्जुनौ यत्र विद्ध्यजेयं बलं हि तत् ॥५-१२३-१४॥
Do not seek to destroy all your sons and your brothers as well. Where Vasudeva and Arjuna are, know that force to be truly invincible. (5-123-14)
एतच्चैव मतं सत्यं सुहृदोः कृष्णभीष्मयोः। यदि नादास्यसे तात पश्चात्तप्स्यसि भारत ॥५-१२३-१५॥
And this is truly the opinion of the friends Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣma; if you do not accept it, dear one, you will regret it afterwards, O descendant of Bharata. (5-123-15)
यथोक्तं जामदग्न्येन भूयानेव ततोऽर्जुनः। कृष्णो हि देवकीपुत्रो देवैरपि दुरुत्सहः ॥५-१२३-१६॥
Just as it was said by Jāmadagnya, then again, Arjuna— for Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, is hard to overcome even by the gods. (5-123-16)
किं ते सुखप्रियेणेह प्रोक्तेन भरतर्षभ। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु । न हि त्वामुत्सहे वक्तुं भूयो भरतसत्तम ॥५-१२३-१७॥
Why should I speak here again to you, lover of comfort, with what pleases you, O best of the Bharatas? All this has been told to you—do as you wish. Indeed, O best of the Bharatas, I am not able to say more to you. (5-123-17)
तस्मिन्वाक्यान्तरे वाक्यं क्षत्तापि विदुरोऽब्रवीत्। दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य धार्तराष्ट्रममर्षणम् ॥५-१२३-१८॥
Then, amidst that conversation, Vidura—the charioteer—spoke, considering Duryodhana, the proud son of Dhritarashtra. (5-123-18)
दुर्योधन न शोचामि त्वामहं भरतर्षभ। इमौ तु वृद्धौ शोचामि गान्धारीं पितरं च ते ॥५-१२३-१९॥
Duryodhana, I do not grieve for you, Bull among the Bharatas. But I grieve for these two elders—your mother Gandhari and your father. (5-123-19)
यावनाथौ चरिष्येते त्वया नाथेन दुर्हृदा। हतमित्रौ हतामात्यौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ ॥५-१२३-२०॥
As long as these two, bereft of support, live with you as their protector—a wicked-hearted one—having lost their friends and counselors, like two birds with their wings cut off... (5-123-20)
भिक्षुकौ विचरिष्येते शोचन्तौ पृथिवीमिमाम्। कुलघ्नमीदृशं पापं जनयित्वा कुपूरुषम् ॥५-१२३-२१॥
The two of you will wander as beggars, grieving over this earth, having brought forth a base, wicked destroyer of the family like this. (5-123-21)
अथ दुर्योधनं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभ्यभाषत। आसीनं भ्रातृभिः सार्धं राजभिः परिवारितम् ॥५-१२३-२२॥
Then King Dhritarashtra addressed Duryodhana, who was seated together with his brothers and surrounded by kings. (5-123-22)
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं शौरिणोक्तं महात्मना। आदत्स्व शिवमत्यन्तं योगक्षेमवदव्ययम् ॥५-१२३-२३॥
Duryodhana, listen to this teaching spoken by the great-souled Śauri; take it to heart as supremely auspicious, unfailing in providing attainment and security, and imperishable. (5-123-23)
अनेन हि सहायेन कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। इष्टान्सर्वानभिप्रायान्प्राप्स्यामः सर्वराजसु ॥५-१२३-२४॥
Indeed, with this ally—Kṛṣṇa, whose deeds are untiring—we shall achieve all our desired aims among all the kings. (5-123-24)
सुसंहितः केशवेन गच्छ तात युधिष्ठिरम्। चर स्वस्त्ययनं कृत्स्नं भारतानामनामयम् ॥५-१२३-२५॥
Having been well advised by Keśava, dear one, go to Yudhiṣṭhira and bestow a complete blessing of well-being upon all the Bhāratas. (5-123-25)
वासुदेवेन तीर्थेन तात गच्छस्व सङ्गमम्। कालप्राप्तमिदं मन्ये मा त्वं दुर्योधनातिगाः ॥५-१२३-२६॥
Dear one, go to the meeting with the holy Vasudeva; I think this is the right time—do not go beyond Duryodhana. (5-123-26)
शमं चेद्याचमानं त्वं प्रत्याख्यास्यसि केशवम्। त्वदर्थमभिजल्पन्तं न तवास्त्यपराभवः ॥५-१२३-२७॥
If you reject Keshava, who will be imploring peace for your sake, as he speaks insistently, then there will be no defeat for you. (5-123-27)