Vidura Counsels Dhritarashtra and Is Sent Away

Verse 1 (3.4.1)

वनं प्रविष्टेष्वथ पाण्डवेषु । प्रज्ञाचक्षुस्तप्यमानोऽम्बिकेयः । धर्मात्मानं विदुरमगाधबुद्धिं । सुखासीनो वाक्यमुवाच राजा ॥

vanaṃ praviṣṭeṣvatha pāṇḍaveṣu | prajñācakṣustapyamāno'mbikeyaḥ | dharmātmānaṃ viduramagādhabuddhiṃ | sukhāsīno vākyamuvāca rājā

When the Pandavas had entered the forest, the son of Ambika, whose eyes were his wisdom, was tormented with grief. Seated at ease, the king spoke to Vidura, the righteous one of fathomless understanding.

Verse 2 (3.4.2)

प्रज्ञा च ते भार्गवस्येव शुद्धा । धर्मं च त्वं परमं वेत्थ सूक्ष्मम् । समश्च त्वं संमतः कौरवाणां । पथ्यं चैषां मम चैव ब्रवीहि ॥

prajñā ca te bhārgavasyeva śuddhā | dharmaṃ ca tvaṃ paramaṃ vettha sūkṣmam | samaśca tvaṃ saṃmataḥ kauravāṇāṃ | pathyaṃ caiṣāṃ mama caiva bravīhi

"Your wisdom is as pure as Bhargava's, and you know the highest and subtlest dharma. You are impartial, and the Kauravas all respect you. Tell me what is good for them and for me.

Verse 3 (3.4.3)

एवं गते विदुर यदद्य कार्यं । पौराश्चेमे कथमस्मान्भजेरन् । ते चाप्यस्मान्नोद्धरेयुः समूला- । न्न कामये तांश्च विनश्यमानान् ॥

evaṃ gate vidura yadadya kāryaṃ | paurāśceme kathamasmānbhajeran | te cāpyasmānnoddhareyuḥ samūlā- | nna kāmaye tāṃśca vinaśyamānān

Now that things have come to this, Vidura, what should be done? How might these citizens be won over to us? And how might the Pandavas be kept from tearing us out by the roots? For I do not wish to see them destroyed either.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (विदुरयदद्य → विदुर यदद्य).

Verse 4 (3.4.4)

सौबलेनैव पापेन दुर्योधनहितैषिणा । क्रूरमाचरितं क्षत्तर्न मे प्रियमनुष्ठितम् ॥

saubalenaiva pāpena duryodhanahitaiṣiṇā | krūramācaritaṃ kṣattarna me priyamanuṣṭhitam

It was the wicked son of Subala, seeking Duryodhana's advantage, who did this cruel thing, Kshattri; what was done was not to my liking.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 24*, after 3.5.3).

Verse 5 (3.4.5)

तथैवाङ्गीकृते तत्र तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति । उत्तरं प्राप्तकालं च किमन्यन्मन्यते क्षमम् ॥

tathaivāṅgīkṛte tatra tadbhavānvaktumarhati | uttaraṃ prāptakālaṃ ca kimanyanmanyate kṣamam

Since the matter has been accepted as it stands, you ought to tell me what answer fits the occasion, or what else you think would be proper.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 24*).

Verse 6 (3.4.6)

नास्ति धर्मे सहायत्वमिति मे दीर्यते मनः । यत्र पाण्डुसुताः सर्वे क्लिश्यन्ति वनमागताः ॥

nāsti dharme sahāyatvamiti me dīryate manaḥ | yatra pāṇḍusutāḥ sarve kliśyanti vanamāgatāḥ

My heart is torn at the thought that dharma has no one to help it, when all the sons of Pandu have come to the forest and are suffering."

Note on the text: Corrected वानमागताः → वनमागताः (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign, the critical edition's apparatus reads vanam āgatāḥ) and removed a stray wiki mark ('). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 24*).

Verse 7 (3.4.7)

त्रिवर्गोऽयं धर्ममूलो नरेन्द्र । राज्यं चेदं धर्ममूलं वदन्ति । धर्मे राजन्वर्तमानः स्वशक्त्या । पुत्रान्सर्वान्पाहि कुन्तीसुतांश्च ॥

trivargo'yaṃ dharmamūlo narendra | rājyaṃ cedaṃ dharmamūlaṃ vadanti | dharme rājanvartamānaḥ svaśaktyā | putrānsarvānpāhi kuntīsutāṃśca

"These three aims of life, king of men, are rooted in dharma, and they say this kingdom too is rooted in dharma. Abide in dharma, king, as far as you are able, and protect all your sons, the sons of Kunti included.

Verse 8 (3.4.8)

स वै धर्मो विप्रलब्धः सभायां । पापात्मभिः सौबलेयप्रधानैः । आहूय कुन्तीसुतमक्षवत्यां । पराजैषीत्सत्यसन्धं सुतस्ते ॥

sa vai dharmo vipralabdhaḥ sabhāyāṃ | pāpātmabhiḥ saubaleyapradhānaiḥ | āhūya kuntīsutamakṣavatyāṃ | parājaiṣītsatyasandhaṃ sutaste

That dharma was cheated in the assembly hall by wicked men led by Subala's son, when your son summoned Kunti's son, true to his word, to the dice and defeated him.

Note on the text: Corrected ध्रमो → धर्मो (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced र, the critical edition reads dharmo).

Verse 9 (3.4.9)

एतस्य ते दुष्प्रणीतस्य राज- । न्द्वेषस्याहं परिपश्याम्युपायम् । यथा पुत्रस्तव कौरव्य पापा- । न्मुक्तो लोके प्रतितिष्ठेत साधु ॥

etasya te duṣpraṇītasya rāja- | ndveṣasyāhaṃ paripaśyāmyupāyam | yathā putrastava kauravya pāpā- | nmukto loke pratitiṣṭheta sādhu

For this enmity, so wrongly brought about by you, king, I see a remedy by which your son, O Kauravya, may be freed from sin and stand well established in the world.

Verse 10 (3.4.10)

तद्वै सर्वं पाण्डुपुत्रा लभन्तां । यत्तद्राजन्नतिसृष्टं त्वयाऽऽसीत् । एष धर्मः परमो यत्स्वकेन । राजा तुष्येन्न परस्वेषु गृद्ध्येत् ॥

tadvai sarvaṃ pāṇḍuputrā labhantāṃ | yattadrājannatisṛṣṭaṃ tvayā''sīt | eṣa dharmaḥ paramo yatsvakena | rājā tuṣyenna parasveṣu gṛddhyet

Let the sons of Pandu receive all that you once gave them, king. This is the highest dharma: that a king be content with what is his own and not covet what belongs to others.

Verse 11 (3.4.11)

यशो न नश्येज्ज्ञातिभेदश्च न स्या- । द्धर्मो न स्यान्नैव चैवं कृते त्वाम् । एतत्कार्यं तव सर्वप्रधानं । तेषां तुष्टिः शकुनेश्चावमानः ॥

yaśo na naśyejjñātibhedaśca na syā- | ddharmo na syānnaiva caivaṃ kṛte tvām | etatkāryaṃ tava sarvapradhānaṃ | teṣāṃ tuṣṭiḥ śakuneścāvamānaḥ

If this is done, your fame will not perish, there will be no rift among kinsmen, and dharma cannot fail to be yours. This is your foremost task: to satisfy the Pandavas and to humble Shakuni.

Note on the text: Corrected यशो ने → यशो न and एतत्कार्ये → एतत्कार्यं (misprints in Wikisource; a wrong vowel sign, and े for the anusvara; the critical edition reads yaśo na and etat kāryaṃ). Removed the square brackets around the first two lines (editorial marks in Wikisource). The first two lines are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 25*); the last two are the first half of CE 3.5.8. Wikisource divides verses 11–17 one half-verse out of step with the critical edition.

Verse 12 (3.4.12)

एवं शेषं यदि पुत्रेषु ते स्या- । देतद्राजंस्त्वरमाणः कुरुष्व । अथैतदेवं न करोषि राजन् । ध्रुवं कुरूणां भविता विनाशः ॥

evaṃ śeṣaṃ yadi putreṣu te syā- | detadrājaṃstvaramāṇaḥ kuruṣva | athaitadevaṃ na karoṣi rājan | dhruvaṃ kurūṇāṃ bhavitā vināśaḥ

If you want something to be left for your sons, king, do this quickly. But if you do not do it, king, the destruction of the Kurus is certain.

Note on the text: The second half of CE 3.5.8 and the first half of 3.5.9.

Verse 13 (3.4.13)

नहि क्रुद्धो भीमसेनोऽर्जुनो वा । शेषं कुर्याच्छात्रवाणामनीके । येषां योद्धा सव्यसाची कृतास्त्रो । धनुर्येषां गाण्डिवं लोकसारम् ॥

nahi kruddho bhīmaseno'rjuno vā | śeṣaṃ kuryācchātravāṇāmanīke | yeṣāṃ yoddhā savyasācī kṛtāstro | dhanuryeṣāṃ gāṇḍivaṃ lokasāram

For when Bhimasena or Arjuna is angry, he will leave no one alive in the enemy's ranks: they whose warrior is Savyasachin, master of weapons, and whose bow is the Gandiva, the mightiest in the world,

Note on the text: The second half of CE 3.5.9 and the first half of 3.5.10.

Verse 14 (3.4.14)

येषां भीमो बाहुशाली च योद्धा । तेषां लोके किंनु न प्राप्यमस्ति । उक्तं पूर्वं जातमात्रे सुते ते । मया यत्ते हितमासीत्तदानीम् ॥

yeṣāṃ bhīmo bāhuśālī ca yoddhā | teṣāṃ loke kiṃnu na prāpyamasti | uktaṃ pūrvaṃ jātamātre sute te | mayā yatte hitamāsīttadānīm

and whose warrior is the strong-armed Bhima: what is there in the world they cannot win? I told you long ago, as soon as your son was born, what was then for your good:

Note on the text: The second half of CE 3.5.10 and the first quarter-pair of 3.5.11.

Verse 15 (3.4.15)

पुत्रं त्यजेममहितं कुलस्य । हितं परं न च तत्त्वं चकर्थ । इदानीं ते हितमुक्तं न चेत्त्व- । मेवं कर्ता परितप्ताऽसि पश्चात् ॥

putraṃ tyajemamahitaṃ kulasya | hitaṃ paraṃ na ca tattvaṃ cakartha | idānīṃ te hitamuktaṃ na cettva- | mevaṃ kartā paritaptā'si paścāt

"Abandon this son, who will harm the family." That was the best counsel, but you did not follow it. Now I have told you what is for your good; if you do not act on it, you will regret it later.

Note on the text: The remaining four quarters of CE 3.5.11, with variants.

Verse 16 (3.4.16)

यद्येतदेवमनुमन्ता सुतस्ते । संप्रीयमाणः पाण्डवैरेकराज्यम् । तापो न ते भविता प्रीतियोगा- । त्त्वं चेन्न गृह्णासि सुतं सहायैः ॥

yadyetadevamanumantā sutaste | saṃprīyamāṇaḥ pāṇḍavairekarājyam | tāpo na te bhavitā prītiyogā- | ttvaṃ cenna gṛhṇāsi sutaṃ sahāyaiḥ

If your son agrees to this and, on friendly terms with the Pandavas, shares one kingdom with them, you will have no grief, thanks to that friendship; and if he will not, you must restrain your son with the help of your allies.

Note on the text: The first four quarters of CE 3.5.12.

Verse 17 (3.4.17)

दुर्योधनं त्वहितं वै निगृह्य । पाण्डोः पुत्रं प्रकुरुष्वाधिपत्ये । ध्रुवं विनाशस्तव पुत्रेण धीमन् । सबन्धुवर्गेण सहैव राजभिः ॥

duryodhanaṃ tvahitaṃ vai nigṛhya | pāṇḍoḥ putraṃ prakuruṣvādhipatye | dhruvaṃ vināśastava putreṇa dhīman | sabandhuvargeṇa sahaiva rājabhiḥ

Restrain Duryodhana, who works harm, and set Pandu's son in sovereignty. Otherwise, wise king, ruin will certainly come to you through your son, together with your kinsmen and the kings.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) before the third line. The first two lines correspond to the last two quarters of CE 3.5.12 (with variants); the last two lines are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 27*).

Verse 18 (3.4.18)

चतुर्दशे चैव वर्षे नरेन्द्र । कुलक्षयं प्राप्स्यसि राजसिंह । तस्मात्कुरुष्वाधिपत्ये नरेन्द्र । युधिष्ठिरं धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठम् ॥

caturdaśe caiva varṣe narendra | kulakṣayaṃ prāpsyasi rājasiṃha | tasmātkuruṣvādhipatye narendra | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ variṣṭham

In the fourteenth year, king of men, lion among kings, you will meet the destruction of your family. Therefore, king of men, make Yudhishthira, the foremost of those who uphold dharma, sovereign.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a doubled danda and a closing quote mark). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 27*).

Verse 19 (3.4.19)

अजातशत्रुर्हि विमुक्तरागो । धर्मेणेमां पृथिवीं शास्तु राजन् । ततो राजन्पार्थिवाः सर्व एव । वैश्या इवास्मानुपतिष्ठन्तु सद्यः ॥

ajātaśatrurhi vimuktarāgo | dharmeṇemāṃ pṛthivīṃ śāstu rājan | tato rājanpārthivāḥ sarva eva | vaiśyā ivāsmānupatiṣṭhantu sadyaḥ

Let Ajatashatru, free of passion, rule this earth according to dharma, king. Then all the kings of the earth will at once wait on us like vaishyas.

Note on the text: Corrected धर्मोणेमां → धर्मेणेमां (misprint in Wikisource; ो for े, the critical edition reads dharmeṇemāṃ).

Verse 20 (3.4.20)

दुर्योधनः शकुनिः सूतपुत्रः । प्रीत्या राजन्पाण्डुपुत्रान्भजन्तु । दुःशासनो याचतु भीमसेनं । सभामध्ये द्रुपदस्यात्मजां च ॥

duryodhanaḥ śakuniḥ sūtaputraḥ | prītyā rājanpāṇḍuputrānbhajantu | duḥśāsano yācatu bhīmasenaṃ | sabhāmadhye drupadasyātmajāṃ ca

Let Duryodhana, Shakuni and the charioteer's son show friendship to the sons of Pandu, king. Let Duhshasana ask pardon of Bhimasena and of Drupada's daughter in the middle of the assembly.

Verse 21 (3.4.21)

युधिष्ठिरं त्वं परिसान्त्वयस्व । राज्ये चैनं स्थापयस्वाभिपूज्य । त्वया पृष्टः किमहमन्यद्वदेय- । मेतत्कृत्वा कृतकृत्योसि राजन् ॥

yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tvaṃ parisāntvayasva | rājye cainaṃ sthāpayasvābhipūjya | tvayā pṛṣṭaḥ kimahamanyadvadeya- | metatkṛtvā kṛtakṛtyosi rājan

Conciliate Yudhishthira, honour him and establish him in the kingdom. You have asked me; what else could I tell you? Do this, king, and you will have done what you must."

Verse 22 (3.4.22)

एतद्वाक्यं विदुर यत्ते सभाया- । मिह प्रोक्तं पाण्डवान्प्राप्य मां च । हितं तेषामहितं मामकाना- । मेतत्सर्वं मम नावैति चेतः ॥

etadvākyaṃ vidura yatte sabhāyā- | miha proktaṃ pāṇḍavānprāpya māṃ ca | hitaṃ teṣāmahitaṃ māmakānā- | metatsarvaṃ mama nāvaiti cetaḥ

"Vidura, these words you spoke in the assembly hall and here, concerning the Pandavas and me, are good for them and bad for my own; my mind accepts none of it.

Note on the text: Corrected नावैदि → नावैति (misprint in Wikisource; द for त; the commentary glosses नावैति).

Verse 23 (3.4.23)

इदं त्विदानीं गत एव निश्चितं । तेषामर्थे पाण्डवानां यदात्थ । तेनाद्य मन्ये नासि हितो ममेति । कथं हि पुत्रं पाण्डवार्थे त्यजेयम् ॥

idaṃ tvidānīṃ gata eva niścitaṃ | teṣāmarthe pāṇḍavānāṃ yadāttha | tenādya manye nāsi hito mameti | kathaṃ hi putraṃ pāṇḍavārthe tyajeyam

And what you now say in the Pandavas' interest makes it plain that you have gone over to them. So today I believe you do not wish me well. How could I abandon my son for the sake of the Pandavas?

Verse 24 (3.4.24)

असंशयं तेऽपि ममैव पुत्रा । दुर्योधनस्तु मम देहात्प्रसूतः । स्वं वै देहं परहेतोस्त्यजेति । कोनु ब्रूयात्समतामन्ववेक्षन् ॥

asaṃśayaṃ te'pi mamaiva putrā | duryodhanastu mama dehātprasūtaḥ | svaṃ vai dehaṃ parahetostyajeti | konu brūyātsamatāmanvavekṣan

No doubt they too are my sons, but Duryodhana was born of my own body. Who that looks to fairness would tell a man, "Give up your own body for the sake of another"?

Note on the text: Corrected प्रमूतः → प्रसूतः (misprint in Wikisource; म for स, the critical edition reads prasūtaḥ).

Verse 25 (3.4.25)

स मां जिह्मं विदुर सर्वं ब्रवीषि । मन्युं तेऽहमधिकं धारयामि । यथेच्छकं गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा त्वं । सुसान्त्व्यमानाऽप्यसती स्त्री जहाति ॥

sa māṃ jihmaṃ vidura sarvaṃ bravīṣi | manyuṃ te'hamadhikaṃ dhārayāmi | yathecchakaṃ gaccha vā tiṣṭha vā tvaṃ | susāntvyamānā'pyasatī strī jahāti

Vidura, everything you tell me is crooked, and I hold great anger against you. Go or stay, as you please: an unfaithful woman leaves, however kindly she is coaxed."

Note on the text: Corrected ब्रवीपि → ब्रवीषि (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, the critical edition reads bravīṣi).

Verse 26 (3.4.26)

एतावदुक्त्वा धृतराष्ट्रोऽन्वपद्य- । दन्तर्वेश्म सहसोत्थाय राजन् । नेदमस्तीत्यथ विदुरो भाषमाणः । संप्राद्रवद्यत्र पार्था बभूवुः ॥

etāvaduktvā dhṛtarāṣṭro'nvapadya- | dantarveśma sahasotthāya rājan | nedamastītyatha viduro bhāṣamāṇaḥ | saṃprādravadyatra pārthā babhūvuḥ

Having said this much, Dhritarashtra rose abruptly, king, and went into the inner apartments. And Vidura, saying, "This house is finished," hurried away to where the Parthas were.

Note on the text: Corrected भापमाप्पः → भाषमाणः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष and a garbled ending, the critical edition reads bhāṣamāṇaḥ). Wikisource prints the speaker heading as वैशेपायन.