Drona's Counsel and Karna's Retort

Verse 1 (1.223.1)

मन्त्राय समुपानीतैर्धृतराष्ट्र हितैर्नृप । धर्म्यमर्थ्यं यशस्यं च वाच्यमित्यनुशुश्रुम ॥

mantrāya samupānītairdhṛtarāṣṭra hitairnṛpa | dharmyamarthyaṃ yaśasyaṃ ca vācyamityanuśuśruma

Those who are summoned to counsel, King Dhritarashtra, being well-wishers, should speak what is righteous, profitable and conducive to fame; so we have heard.

Verse 2 (1.223.2)

ममाप्येषा मतिस्तात या भीष्मस्य महात्मनः । संविभज्यास्तु कौन्तेया धर्म एष सनातनः ॥

mamāpyeṣā matistāta yā bhīṣmasya mahātmanaḥ | saṃvibhajyāstu kaunteyā dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ

My view too, father, is that of the great-souled Bhishma: the sons of Kunti must be given their share. This is the eternal law.

Verse 3 (1.223.3)

प्रेष्यतां द्रुपदायाशु नरः कश्चित्प्रियंवदः । बहुलं रत्नमादाय तेषामर्थाय भारत ॥

preṣyatāṃ drupadāyāśu naraḥ kaścitpriyaṃvadaḥ | bahulaṃ ratnamādāya teṣāmarthāya bhārata

Let some pleasant-spoken man be sent quickly to Drupada, O Bharata, taking with him a wealth of jewels on their behalf.

Note on the text: Corrected नऱः → नरः (misprint in Wikisource; ऱ for र, as in the critical edition "naraḥ").

Verse 4 (1.223.4)

मिथः कृत्यं च तस्मै स आदाय वसु गच्छतु । वृद्धिं च परमां ब्रूयात्तत्संयोगोद्भवां तथा ॥

mithaḥ kṛtyaṃ ca tasmai sa ādāya vasu gacchatu | vṛddhiṃ ca paramāṃ brūyāttatsaṃyogodbhavāṃ tathā

Let him go to Drupada bearing wealth, the gifts that families joined by marriage exchange, and let him speak too of the great prosperity that springs from this alliance.

Verse 5 (1.223.5)

संप्रीयमाणं त्वां ब्रूयाद्राजन्दुर्योधनं तथा । असकृद्द्रुपदे चैव धृष्टद्युम्ने च भारत ॥

saṃprīyamāṇaṃ tvāṃ brūyādrājanduryodhanaṃ tathā | asakṛddrupade caiva dhṛṣṭadyumne ca bhārata

Let him tell Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna again and again, O king, O Bharata, how greatly pleased you and Duryodhana are.

Verse 6 (1.223.6)

उचितत्वं प्रियत्वं च योगस्यापि च वर्णयेत् । पुनःपुनश्च कौन्तेयान्माद्रीपुत्रौ च सान्त्वयन् ॥

ucitatvaṃ priyatvaṃ ca yogasyāpi ca varṇayet | punaḥpunaśca kaunteyānmādrīputrau ca sāntvayan

Let him describe how fitting and how welcome the alliance is, comforting the sons of Kunti and the two sons of Madri again and again.

Note on the text: Corrected कौन्येयान् → कौन्तेयान् (misprint in Wikisource; य for त, as in the critical edition "kaunteyān").

Verse 7 (1.223.7)

हिरण्मयानि शुभ्राणि बहून्याभरणानि च । वचनात्तव राजेन्द्र द्रौपद्याः संप्रयच्छतु ॥

hiraṇmayāni śubhrāṇi bahūnyābharaṇāni ca | vacanāttava rājendra draupadyāḥ saṃprayacchatu

At your command, king of kings, let him present many bright ornaments of gold to Draupadi,

Verse 8 (1.223.8)

तथा द्रुपदपुत्राणां सर्वेषां भरतर्षभ । पाण्डवानां च सर्वेषां कुन्त्या युक्तानि यानि च ॥

tathā drupadaputrāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ bharatarṣabha | pāṇḍavānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ kuntyā yuktāni yāni ca

and likewise to all the sons of Drupada, bull of the Bharatas, and to all the Pandavas and to Kunti, whatever befits them.

Verse 9 (1.223.9)

दत्त्वा तानि महार्हाणि पाण्डवान्संप्रहर्षय । एवं सान्त्वसमायुक्तं द्रुपदं पाण्डवैः सह । उक्त्वा सोऽनन्तरं ब्रूयात्तेषामागमनं प्रति ॥

dattvā tāni mahārhāṇi pāṇḍavānsaṃpraharṣaya | evaṃ sāntvasamāyuktaṃ drupadaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha | uktvā so'nantaraṃ brūyātteṣāmāgamanaṃ prati

Delight the Pandavas by giving them these costly gifts. When he has spoken such words of conciliation to Drupada and the Pandavas, let him then speak of their coming here.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick, a danda and a closing quote mark). The first line is in the vulgate only (CE apparatus 1.196.8*1968); the second and third lines are the critical edition's 1.196.9.

Verse 10 (1.223.10)

अनुज्ञातेषु वीरेषु बलं गच्छतु शोभनम् । दुःशासनो विकर्णश्चाप्यानेतुं पाण्डवानिह ॥

anujñāteṣu vīreṣu balaṃ gacchatu śobhanam | duḥśāsano vikarṇaścāpyānetuṃ pāṇḍavāniha

When the heroes have been given leave, let a fine escort go, with Duhshasana and Vikarna, to bring the Pandavas here.

Verse 11 (1.223.11)

ततस्ते पाण्डवाः श्रेष्ठाः पूज्यमानाः सदा त्वया । प्रकृतीनामनुमते पदे स्थास्यन्ति पैतृके ॥

tataste pāṇḍavāḥ śreṣṭhāḥ pūjyamānāḥ sadā tvayā | prakṛtīnāmanumate pade sthāsyanti paitṛke

Then those excellent Pandavas, honoured by you always, will take their place in their ancestral seat with the consent of the people.

Verse 12 (1.223.12)

एतत्तव महाराज तेषु पुत्रेषु चैव हि । वृत्तमौपयिकं मन्ये भीष्मेण सह भारत ॥

etattava mahārāja teṣu putreṣu caiva hi | vṛttamaupayikaṃ manye bhīṣmeṇa saha bhārata

This, great king, I hold together with Bhishma to be the fitting course for you toward those who are also your sons, O Bharata.

Verse 13 (1.223.13)

योजितावर्थमानाभ्यां सर्वकार्येष्वनन्तरौ । न मन्त्रयेतां त्वच्छ्रेयः किमद्भुततरं ततः ॥

yojitāvarthamānābhyāṃ sarvakāryeṣvanantarau | na mantrayetāṃ tvacchreyaḥ kimadbhutataraṃ tataḥ

These two have been honoured with wealth and esteem and are your close confidants in every affair, yet they do not counsel what is good for you. What could be more astonishing than that?

Verse 14 (1.223.14)

दुष्टेन मनसा यो वै प्रच्छन्नेनान्तरात्मना । ब्रूयान्निःश्रेयसं नाम कथं कुर्यात्सतां मतम् ॥

duṣṭena manasā yo vai pracchannenāntarātmanā | brūyānniḥśreyasaṃ nāma kathaṃ kuryātsatāṃ matam

A man of corrupt mind who hides his inner self may speak of what he calls the highest good; but how could he do what the virtuous approve?

Note on the text: Corrected नि)श्रेयसं → निःश्रेयसं (misprint in Wikisource; a bracket printed for the visarga, as in the critical edition "niḥśreyasaṃ").

Verse 15 (1.223.15)

न मित्राण्यर्थकृच्छ्रेषु श्रेयसे चेतराय वा । विधिपूर्वं हि सर्वस्य दुःखं वा यदि वा सुखम् ॥

na mitrāṇyarthakṛcchreṣu śreyase cetarāya vā | vidhipūrvaṃ hi sarvasya duḥkhaṃ vā yadi vā sukham

In times of hardship friends bring about neither good nor ill; for everyone's sorrow or joy comes as it has been ordained.

Verse 16 (1.223.16)

कृतप्रज्ञोऽकृतप्रज्ञो बालो वृद्धश्च मानवः । ससहायोऽसहायश्च सर्वं सर्वत्र विन्दति ॥

kṛtaprajño'kṛtaprajño bālo vṛddhaśca mānavaḥ | sasahāyo'sahāyaśca sarvaṃ sarvatra vindati

Wise or unwise, child or old, with allies or without, a man meets with everything, everywhere.

Verse 17 (1.223.17)

श्रूयते हि पुरा कश्चिदम्बुवीच इतीश्वरः । आसीद्राजगृहे राजा मागधानां महीक्षिताम् ॥

śrūyate hi purā kaścidambuvīca itīśvaraḥ | āsīdrājagṛhe rājā māgadhānāṃ mahīkṣitām

It is told that long ago there was a powerful king named Ambuvicha, lord of the Magadhan princes, who ruled in Rajagriha.

Verse 18 (1.223.18)

स हीनः करणैः सर्वैरुच्छ्वासपरमो नृपः । अमात्यसंस्थः सर्वेषु कार्येष्वेवाभवत्तदा ॥

sa hīnaḥ karaṇaiḥ sarvairucchvāsaparamo nṛpaḥ | amātyasaṃsthaḥ sarveṣu kāryeṣvevābhavattadā

That king, bereft of all his faculties, with nothing left to him but his breath, came to depend on his minister in all his affairs.

Verse 19 (1.223.19)

तस्यामात्यो महाकर्णिर्बभूवैकेश्वरस्तदा । स लब्धबलमात्मानं मन्यमानोऽवमन्यते ॥

tasyāmātyo mahākarṇirbabhūvaikeśvarastadā | sa labdhabalamātmānaṃ manyamāno'vamanyate

His minister Mahakarni then became sole master. Thinking that he had gained power, he held the king in contempt.

Verse 20 (1.223.20)

स राज्ञ उपभोग्यानि स्त्रियो रत्नधनानि च । आददे सर्वशो मूढ ऐश्वर्यं च स्वयं तदा ॥

sa rājña upabhogyāni striyo ratnadhanāni ca | ādade sarvaśo mūḍha aiśvaryaṃ ca svayaṃ tadā

The fool took for himself all the king's possessions for enjoyment, his women, his jewels and his wealth, and the sovereignty itself.

Verse 21 (1.223.21)

तदादाय च लुब्धस्य लोभाल्लोभोऽभ्यवर्धत । तथाहि सर्वमादाय राज्यमस्य जिहीर्षति ॥

tadādāya ca lubdhasya lobhāllobho'bhyavardhata | tathāhi sarvamādāya rājyamasya jihīrṣati

Having taken these, the greedy man's greed grew upon greed, and so, having taken everything, he sought to seize the king's realm.

Verse 22 (1.223.22)

हीनस्य करणैः सर्वैरुच्छ्वासपरमस्य च । यतमानोऽपि तद्राज्यं न शशाकेति नः श्रुतं ॥

hīnasya karaṇaiḥ sarvairucchvāsaparamasya ca | yatamāno'pi tadrājyaṃ na śaśāketi naḥ śrutaṃ

Yet, though the king was bereft of all his faculties and had nothing left but his breath, the minister could not take that kingdom for all his efforts; so we have heard.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वैरच्छ्वास- → सर्वैरुच्छ्वास- (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel, as in verse 18 and in the critical edition "sarvair ucchvāsa-").

Verse 23 (1.223.23)

किमन्यद्विहिता नूनं तस्य सा पुरुषेन्द्रता । यदि ते विहितं राज्यं भविष्यति विशांपते ॥

kimanyadvihitā nūnaṃ tasya sā puruṣendratā | yadi te vihitaṃ rājyaṃ bhaviṣyati viśāṃpate

What else can it mean, but that his kingship was surely ordained? If the kingdom is ordained for you, lord of the people,

Verse 24 (1.223.24)

मिषतः सर्वलोकस्य स्थास्यते त्वयि तद्धुवम् । अतोऽन्यथा चेद्विहितं यतमानो न लप्स्यसे ॥

miṣataḥ sarvalokasya sthāsyate tvayi taddhuvam | ato'nyathā cedvihitaṃ yatamāno na lapsyase

it will surely remain with you while all the world looks on. If it is ordained otherwise, you will not gain it, however hard you strive.

Verse 25 (1.223.25)

एवं विद्वन्नुपादत्स्व मन्त्रिणां साध्वसाधुताम् । दुष्टानां चैव बोद्धव्यमदुष्टानां च भाषितम् ॥

evaṃ vidvannupādatsva mantriṇāṃ sādhvasādhutām | duṣṭānāṃ caiva boddhavyamaduṣṭānāṃ ca bhāṣitam

Knowing this, wise king, judge for yourself the honesty or dishonesty of your counsellors, and weigh the words both of the corrupt and of those who are not.

Verse 26 (1.223.26)

विद्म ते भावदोषेण यदर्थमिदमुच्यते । दुष्ट पाण्डवहेतोस्त्वं दोषमाख्यापयस्युत ॥

vidma te bhāvadoṣeṇa yadarthamidamucyate | duṣṭa pāṇḍavahetostvaṃ doṣamākhyāpayasyuta

We know the purpose behind these words, born of the fault in your own nature. Wicked one, it is for the Pandavas' sake that you proclaim a fault in us.

Verse 27 (1.223.27)

हितं तु परमं कर्ण ब्रवीमि कुलवर्धनम् । अथ त्वं मन्यसे दुष्टं ब्रूहि यत्परमं हितम् ॥

hitaṃ tu paramaṃ karṇa bravīmi kulavardhanam | atha tvaṃ manyase duṣṭaṃ brūhi yatparamaṃ hitam

What I am telling you, Karna, is for the highest good and will make the family prosper. If you think it wrong, then say what the highest good is.

Verse 28 (1.223.28)

अतोऽन्यथा चेत्क्रियते यद्ब्रवीमि परं हितम् । कुरवो वै विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति नचिरेणैव मे मतिः ॥

ato'nyathā cetkriyate yadbravīmi paraṃ hitam | kuravo vai vinaṅkṣyanti nacireṇaiva me matiḥ

If what I advise, the highest good, is not done, the Kurus will perish before long. That is my view.