Vidura Counsels Reconciliation with the Pandavas

Verse 1 (1.224.1)

राजन्निःसंशयं श्रेयो वाच्यस्त्वमसि बान्धवैः । न त्वशुश्रूषमाणे वै वाक्यं संप्रति तिष्ठति ॥

rājanniḥsaṃśayaṃ śreyo vācyastvamasi bāndhavaiḥ | na tvaśuśrūṣamāṇe vai vākyaṃ saṃprati tiṣṭhati

O king, your kinsmen must, beyond doubt, tell you what is for your good; but words take no hold on one who does not wish to listen.

Verse 2 (1.224.2)

प्रियं हितं च तद्वाक्यमुक्तवान्कुरुसत्तमः । भीष्मः शान्तनवो राजन्प्रतिगृह्णासि तन्न च ॥

priyaṃ hitaṃ ca tadvākyamuktavānkurusattamaḥ | bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo rājanpratigṛhṇāsi tanna ca

Bhishma, son of Shantanu and best of the Kurus, spoke words that were both pleasing and beneficial, O king, and yet you do not accept them.

Verse 3 (1.224.3)

तथा द्रोणेन बहुधा भाषितं हितमुत्तमम् । तच्च राधासुतः कर्णो मन्यते न हितं तव ॥

tathā droṇena bahudhā bhāṣitaṃ hitamuttamam | tacca rādhāsutaḥ karṇo manyate na hitaṃ tava

So too Drona said at length what was excellent and for your good; but Karna, the son of Radha, does not think it good for you.

Verse 4 (1.224.4)

चिन्तयंश्च न पश्यामि राजंस्तव सुहृत्तमम् । आभ्यां पुरुषसिंहाभ्यां यो वा स्यात्प्रज्ञयाधिकः ॥

cintayaṃśca na paśyāmi rājaṃstava suhṛttamam | ābhyāṃ puruṣasiṃhābhyāṃ yo vā syātprajñayādhikaḥ

Ponder as I may, O king, I can see no one who is a truer friend to you than these two lions among men, or who surpasses them in wisdom.

Verse 5 (1.224.5)

इमौ हि वृद्धौ वयसा प्रज्ञया च श्रुतेन च । समौ च त्वयि राजेन्द्र तथा पाण्डुसुतेषु च ॥

imau hi vṛddhau vayasā prajñayā ca śrutena ca | samau ca tvayi rājendra tathā pāṇḍusuteṣu ca

These two are elders in years, in wisdom and in learning, and they are impartial, O lord of kings, toward you and toward the sons of Pandu alike.

Note on the text: Corrected राजेन्त्र → राजेन्द्र (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, as in the critical edition's rājendra).

Verse 6 (1.224.6)

धर्मे चानवरौ राजन्सत्यतायां च भारत । रामाद्दाशरथेश्चैव गयाच्चैव न संशयः ॥

dharme cānavarau rājansatyatāyāṃ ca bhārata | rāmāddāśaratheścaiva gayāccaiva na saṃśayaḥ

In righteousness and in truthfulness, O king, O Bharata, they are second neither to Rama son of Dasharatha nor to Gaya; of that there is no doubt.

Verse 7 (1.224.7)

न चोक्तवन्तावश्रेयः पुरस्तादपि किंचन । न चाप्यपकृतं किंचिदनयोर्लक्ष्यते त्वयि ॥

na coktavantāvaśreyaḥ purastādapi kiṃcana | na cāpyapakṛtaṃ kiṃcidanayorlakṣyate tvayi

Never before have they advised you anything harmful, nor can any wrong they have done you be seen.

Verse 8 (1.224.8)

तावुभौ पुरुषव्याघ्रावनागसि नृपे त्वयि । न मन्त्रयेतां त्वच्छ्रेयः कथं सत्यपराक्रमौ ॥

tāvubhau puruṣavyāghrāvanāgasi nṛpe tvayi | na mantrayetāṃ tvacchreyaḥ kathaṃ satyaparākramau

You have done these two tigers among men no wrong, O king; how then could they, men of true valour, fail to counsel what is good for you?

Verse 9 (1.224.9)

प्रज्ञावन्तौ नरश्रेष्ठावस्मिँल्लोके नराधिप । त्वन्निमित्तमतो नेमौ किंचिज्जिह्मं वदिष्यतः ॥

prajñāvantau naraśreṣṭhāvasmim̐lloke narādhipa | tvannimittamato nemau kiṃcijjihmaṃ vadiṣyataḥ

They are wise, the best of men in this world, O lord of men; and so they will never say anything crooked on your account.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides the critical edition's 1.197.9–13 differently (the critical edition's 1.197.9 has three lines); this verse is the first two lines of 1.197.9.

Verse 10 (1.224.10)

इति मे नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिर्वर्तते कुरुनन्दन । न चार्थहेतोर्धर्मज्ञौ वक्ष्यतः पक्षसंश्रितम् ॥

iti me naiṣṭhikī buddhirvartate kurunandana | na cārthahetordharmajñau vakṣyataḥ pakṣasaṃśritam

This is my settled conviction, O joy of the Kurus: these two, who know the dharma, will not speak as partisans for the sake of gain.

Note on the text: First line = third line of the critical edition's 1.197.9; second line = first line of 1.197.10 (Wikisource divides 1.197.9–13 differently).

Verse 11 (1.224.11)

एतद्धि परमं श्रेयो मन्येऽहं तव भारत । दुर्योधनप्रभृतयः पुत्रा राजन्यथा तव ॥

etaddhi paramaṃ śreyo manye'haṃ tava bhārata | duryodhanaprabhṛtayaḥ putrā rājanyathā tava

This, I believe, is your highest good, O Bharata: just as Duryodhana and the others are your sons, O king,

Note on the text: First line = second line of the critical edition's 1.197.10 (Wikisource reads मन्येऽहं for menāte); second line = first line of 1.197.11.

Verse 12 (1.224.12)

तथैव पाण्डवेयास्ते पुत्रा राजन्न संशयः । तेषु चेदहितं किंचिन्मन्त्रयेयुरतद्विदः ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍaveyāste putrā rājanna saṃśayaḥ | teṣu cedahitaṃ kiṃcinmantrayeyuratadvidaḥ

so too, without doubt, the Pandavas are your sons, O king. If ministers who do not understand this were to counsel anything harmful against them,

Note on the text: First line = second line of the critical edition's 1.197.11; second line = first line of 1.197.12 (Wikisource reads अतद्विदः for abuddhitaḥ).

Verse 13 (1.224.13)

मन्त्रिणस्ते न च श्रेयः प्रपश्यन्ति विशेषतः । अथ ते हृदये राजन्विशेषः स्वेषु वर्तते । अन्तरस्थं विवृण्वानाः श्रेयः कुर्युर्न ते ध्रुवम् ॥

mantriṇaste na ca śreyaḥ prapaśyanti viśeṣataḥ | atha te hṛdaye rājanviśeṣaḥ sveṣu vartate | antarasthaṃ vivṛṇvānāḥ śreyaḥ kuryurna te dhruvam

then those ministers of yours do not truly see your good. And if, O king, there is partiality in your heart toward your own, then those who bring out what lies hidden within you will surely not be doing you good.

Note on the text: First line = second line of the critical edition's 1.197.12; second and third lines = 1.197.13.

Verse 14 (1.224.14)

एतदर्थमिमौ राजन्महात्मानौ महाद्युती । नोचतुर्विवृतं किंचिन्न ह्येष तव निश्चयः ॥

etadarthamimau rājanmahātmānau mahādyutī | nocaturvivṛtaṃ kiṃcinna hyeṣa tava niścayaḥ

That is why, O king, these two great-souled and illustrious men said nothing openly; for that is not what you have declared to be your resolve.

Verse 15 (1.224.15)

यच्चाप्यशक्यतां तेषामाहतुः पुरुषर्षभौ । तत्तथा पुरुषव्याघ्र तव तद्भद्रमस्तु ते ॥

yaccāpyaśakyatāṃ teṣāmāhatuḥ puruṣarṣabhau | tattathā puruṣavyāghra tava tadbhadramastu te

And what these two bulls among men said, that the Pandavas cannot be overcome, is just so, O tiger among men. May good fortune be yours!

Verse 16 (1.224.16)

कथं हि पाण्डवः श्रीमान्सव्यसाची धनञ्जयः । शक्यो विजेतुं संग्रामे राजन्मघवतापि हि ॥

kathaṃ hi pāṇḍavaḥ śrīmānsavyasācī dhanañjayaḥ | śakyo vijetuṃ saṃgrāme rājanmaghavatāpi hi

For how could the glorious son of Pandu, Dhananjaya, the archer who draws the bow with either hand, be conquered in battle, O king, even by Indra himself?

Verse 17 (1.224.17)

भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्नागायुतबलो महान् । राक्षसानां भयकरो बाहुशाली महाबलः ॥

bhīmaseno mahābāhurnāgāyutabalo mahān | rākṣasānāṃ bhayakaro bāhuśālī mahābalaḥ

Mighty-armed Bhimasena, great, with the strength of ten thousand elephants, the terror of rakshasas, strong of arm and of mighty power,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick) that opens a bracketed passage in Wikisource (to the first line of verse 19). The first line is the first line of the critical edition's 1.197.17; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 18 (1.224.18)

हिडिम्बो निहतो येन बाहुयुद्धेन भारत । यो रावणसमो युद्धे तथा च बकराक्षसः ॥

hiḍimbo nihato yena bāhuyuddhena bhārata | yo rāvaṇasamo yuddhe tathā ca bakarākṣasaḥ

by whom Hidimba was slain in a wrestling bout, O Bharata, and Baka the rakshasa too, who was Ravana's equal in battle,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (1.224.19)

स युध्यमानो राजेन्द्र भीमो भीमपराक्रमः । कथं स्म युधि शक्येत विजेतुममरैरपि ॥

sa yudhyamāno rājendra bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ | kathaṃ sma yudhi śakyeta vijetumamarairapi

that Bhima of fearsome valour, O lord of kings, once he is fighting: how could even the immortals conquer him in battle?

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (।') that close the bracketed passage. The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line is the second line of the critical edition's 1.197.17 (which reads kathaṃ hi for कथं स्म).

Verse 20 (1.224.20)

तथैव कृतिनौ युद्धे यमौ यमसुताविव । कथं विजेतुं शक्यौ तौ रणे जीवितुमिच्छता ॥

tathaiva kṛtinau yuddhe yamau yamasutāviva | kathaṃ vijetuṃ śakyau tau raṇe jīvitumicchatā

So too the twins, skilled in war like two sons of Yama: how could anyone who wishes to stay alive conquer them in battle?

Verse 21 (1.224.21)

यस्मिन्धृतिरनुक्रोशः क्षमा सत्यं पराक्रमः । नित्यानि पाण्डवे ज्येष्ठे स जीयेत रणे कथम् ॥

yasmindhṛtiranukrośaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ parākramaḥ | nityāni pāṇḍave jyeṣṭhe sa jīyeta raṇe katham

And the eldest Pandava, in whom steadfastness, compassion, forbearance, truth and valour always dwell: how could he be defeated in battle?

Verse 22 (1.224.22)

येषां पक्षधरो रामो येषां मन्त्री जनार्दनः । किं नु तैरजितं सङ्ख्ये येषां पक्षे च सात्यकिः ॥

yeṣāṃ pakṣadharo rāmo yeṣāṃ mantrī janārdanaḥ | kiṃ nu tairajitaṃ saṅkhye yeṣāṃ pakṣe ca sātyakiḥ

What could stay unconquered in war by those whose ally is Rama (Balarama), whose counsellor is Janardana, and on whose side stands Satyaki?

Verse 23 (1.224.23)

द्रुपदः श्वशुरो येषां येषां स्यालाश्च पार्षताः । धृष्टद्युम्नमुखा वीरा भ्रातरो द्रुपदात्मजाः ॥

drupadaḥ śvaśuro yeṣāṃ yeṣāṃ syālāśca pārṣatāḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhā vīrā bhrātaro drupadātmajāḥ

They whose father-in-law is Drupada, whose brothers-in-law are the descendants of Prishata, the heroic sons of Drupada led by Dhrishtadyumna,

Verse 24 (1.224.24)

चैद्यश्च येषां भ्राता च शिशुपालो महारथः । सोऽशक्यतां च विज्ञाय तेषामग्रे च भारत । दायाद्यतां च धर्मेण सम्यक्तेषु समाचर ॥

caidyaśca yeṣāṃ bhrātā ca śiśupālo mahārathaḥ | so'śakyatāṃ ca vijñāya teṣāmagre ca bhārata | dāyādyatāṃ ca dharmeṇa samyakteṣu samācara

and whose brother is the lord of Chedi, the great chariot-warrior Shishupala: knowing that they cannot be overcome, and, before all else, O Bharata, that by dharma they have a right to the inheritance, deal with them fairly.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick and ।') around the first line, which is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second and third lines are the critical edition's 1.197.22.

Verse 25 (1.224.25)

इदं निर्दिष्टमयशः पुरोचनकृतं महत् । तेषामनुग्रहेणाद्य राजन्प्रक्षालयात्मनः ॥

idaṃ nirdiṣṭamayaśaḥ purocanakṛtaṃ mahat | teṣāmanugraheṇādya rājanprakṣālayātmanaḥ

This great infamy that Purochana brought about is laid at your door; by showing them favour today, O king, wash yourself clean of it.

Verse 26 (1.224.26)

तेषामनुग्रहश्चायं सर्वेषां चैव नः कुले । जीवितं च परं श्रेयः क्षत्रस्य च विवर्धनम् ॥

teṣāmanugrahaścāyaṃ sarveṣāṃ caiva naḥ kule | jīvitaṃ ca paraṃ śreyaḥ kṣatrasya ca vivardhanam

This favour to them is a favour to all of us in our house as well; it is life itself, the highest good, and the growth of kshatriya power.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 27 (1.224.27)

द्रुपदोऽपि महान्राजा कृतवैरश्च नः पुरा । तस्य संग्रहणं राजन्स्वपक्षस्य विवर्धनम् ॥

drupado'pi mahānrājā kṛtavairaśca naḥ purā | tasya saṃgrahaṇaṃ rājansvapakṣasya vivardhanam

Drupada too is a great king, and in the past we made him our enemy; to win him over, O king, is to strengthen our own side.

Verse 28 (1.224.28)

बलवन्तश्च दाशार्हा बहवश्च विशांपते । यतः कृष्णस्ततः सर्वे यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः ॥

balavantaśca dāśārhā bahavaśca viśāṃpate | yataḥ kṛṣṇastataḥ sarve yataḥ kṛṣṇastato jayaḥ

The Dasharhas are mighty and many, O lord of the people; where Krishna is, there they will all be, and where Krishna is, there is victory.

Verse 29 (1.224.29)

यच्च साम्नैव शक्येत कार्यं साधयितुं नृप । को दैवशप्तस्तत्कार्यं विग्रहेण समाचरेत् ॥

yacca sāmnaiva śakyeta kāryaṃ sādhayituṃ nṛpa | ko daivaśaptastatkāryaṃ vigraheṇa samācaret

When a matter can be settled by conciliation alone, O king, who but a man cursed by fate would pursue it through war?

Verse 30 (1.224.30)

श्रुत्वा च जीवतः पार्थान्पौरजानपदा जनाः । बलवद्दर्शने हृष्टास्तेषां राजन्प्रियं कुरु ॥

śrutvā ca jīvataḥ pārthānpaurajānapadā janāḥ | balavaddarśane hṛṣṭāsteṣāṃ rājanpriyaṃ kuru

The people of the city and the countryside, hearing that the sons of Pritha are alive, are overjoyed and long to see them; do what pleases them, O king.

Verse 31 (1.224.31)

दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । अधर्मयुक्ता दुष्प्रज्ञा बाला मैषां वचः कृथाः ॥

duryodhanaśca karṇaśca śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ | adharmayuktā duṣprajñā bālā maiṣāṃ vacaḥ kṛthāḥ

Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni son of Subala are unrighteous, foolish and immature; do not act on what they say.

Verse 32 (1.224.32)

उक्तमेतत्पुरा राजन्मया गुणवतस्तव । दुर्योधनापराधेन प्रजेयं वै विनङ्क्ष्यति ॥

uktametatpurā rājanmayā guṇavatastava | duryodhanāparādhena prajeyaṃ vai vinaṅkṣyati

I told you this long ago, O king, you who are rich in virtues: through Duryodhana's offence these people will surely perish.

Note on the text: Matches the first two lines of the critical edition's 1.197.29 (with a different word order in the first line).