Krishna and Vyasa Urge Yudhishthira to Act

Verse 1 (14.2.1)

एवमुक्तस्तु राजाऽसौ धृतराष्ट्रेण धीमता । तूष्णींबभूव मेधावी तमुवाचाथ केशवः ॥

evamuktastu rājā'sau dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa dhīmatā | tūṣṇīṃbabhūva medhāvī tamuvācātha keśavaḥ

Thus addressed by the wise Dhritarashtra, the intelligent king fell silent; then Keshava spoke to him.

Verse 2 (14.2.2)

अतीव मनसा शोकः क्रियमाणो जनाधिप । सन्तापयति चैतस्य पूर्वप्रेतान्पितामहान् ॥

atīva manasā śokaḥ kriyamāṇo janādhipa | santāpayati caitasya pūrvapretānpitāmahān

Grief that is indulged in the mind to excess, O lord of men, torments the forefathers of the mourner who have passed on before.

Note on the text: Corrected सन्तपयति → सन्तापयति (misprint in Wikisource; the causative is required; the critical edition has saṃtāpayati). Speaker: Wikisource prints no heading after verse 1; Krishna's speech (verse 1 says tam uvācātha keśavaḥ) runs through verse 8, as in the critical edition. Wikisource reads ca etasya where the critical edition has vaitasya (kept).

Verse 3 (14.2.3)

यजस्व विविधैर्यज्ञैर्बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः । देवांस्तर्पय सोमेन स्वधया च पितॄनपि ॥

yajasva vividhairyajñairbahubhiḥ svāptadakṣiṇaiḥ | devāṃstarpaya somena svadhayā ca pitṝnapi

Perform sacrifices of many kinds, with generous fees well bestowed; gratify the gods with soma, and the ancestors too with offerings of svadha.

Verse 4 (14.2.4)

अतिथीनन्नपानेन कामैरन्यैरकिञ्चनान् । त्वद्विधस्य महाबुद्धे नैतदद्योपपद्यते । विदितं वेदितव्यं ते कर्तव्यमपि ते कृतम् ॥

atithīnannapānena kāmairanyairakiñcanān | tvadvidhasya mahābuddhe naitadadyopapadyate | viditaṃ veditavyaṃ te kartavyamapi te kṛtam

Gratify guests with food and drink, and the destitute with other things they desire. Such grief no longer befits one like you, O man of great wisdom: what is to be known you know, and what is to be done you have already done.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around the middle line. First line = CE star passage 14,002.003d*0005_01 (after 003c, hence ce_ref 14.2.3); second and third lines = CE 14,002.004a and 004c.

Verse 5 (14.2.5)

श्रुताश्च राजधर्मास्ते भीष्माद्भागीरथीसुतात् । कृष्णद्वैपायनाच्चैव नारदाद्विदुरात्तथा ॥

śrutāśca rājadharmāste bhīṣmādbhāgīrathīsutāt | kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāccaiva nāradādvidurāttathā

You have heard the duties of kings from Bhishma, son of Bhagirathi, from Krishna Dvaipayana, from Narada, and from Vidura as well.

Verse 6 (14.2.6)

नेमामर्हसि मूढानां वृत्तिं त्वमनुवर्तितुम् । पितृपैतामहं वृत्तमास्थाय धुरमुद्वह ॥

nemāmarhasi mūḍhānāṃ vṛttiṃ tvamanuvartitum | pitṛpaitāmahaṃ vṛttamāsthāya dhuramudvaha

You should not follow this way of the deluded; take your stand on the conduct of your father and forefathers, and bear the burden.

Verse 7 (14.2.7)

युक्तं हि यशसा क्षात्रं स्वर्गं प्राप्तुमसंशयम् । नहि कश्चिद्धि शूराणां निहतोऽत्र पराङ्मुखः ॥

yuktaṃ hi yaśasā kṣātraṃ svargaṃ prāptumasaṃśayam | nahi kaściddhi śūrāṇāṃ nihato'tra parāṅmukhaḥ

Without doubt it is fitting for a warrior to win heaven through renown; and not one of the heroes slain here was struck down with his face turned away.

Note on the text: Corrected शूरणां → शूराणां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped long ā; the critical edition has śūrāṇāṃ).

Verse 8 (14.2.8)

त्यज शोकं महाराज भवितव्यं हि तत्तथा । न शक्यास्ते पुनर्द्रष्टुं त्वया येऽस्मिन्रणे हताः ॥

tyaja śokaṃ mahārāja bhavitavyaṃ hi tattathā | na śakyāste punardraṣṭuṃ tvayā ye'sminraṇe hatāḥ

Give up your grief, great king; it was bound to be so. Those who were slain in this battle you can never see again.

Verse 9 (14.2.9)

एतावदुक्त्वा गोविन्दो धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । विरराम महातेजास्तमुवाच युधिष्ठिरः ॥

etāvaduktvā govindo dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | virarāma mahātejāstamuvāca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Having said this much to Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, the radiant Govinda fell silent; then Yudhishthira answered him.

Verse 10 (14.2.10)

गोविन्द मयि या प्रीतिस्तव सा विदिता मम । सौहृदेन तथा प्रेम्णा सदा मय्यनुकम्पसे ॥

govinda mayi yā prītistava sā viditā mama | sauhṛdena tathā premṇā sadā mayyanukampase

Govinda, I know the affection you bear me; out of friendship and love you always show me compassion.

Verse 11 (14.2.11)

प्रियं तु मे स्यात्सुमहत्कृतं चक्रगदाधर । श्रीमन्प्रीतेन मनसा सर्वं यादवनन्दन ॥

priyaṃ tu me syātsumahatkṛtaṃ cakragadādhara | śrīmanprītena manasā sarvaṃ yādavanandana

It would be a very great kindness to me, O bearer of the discus and mace, O glorious joy of the Yadavas, if with a gracious heart you would grant me everything:

Note on the text: Removed stray footnote letter क after मनसा.

Verse 12 (14.2.12)

यदि मामनुजानीयाद्भवान्गन्तुं तपोवनम् । कृतकृत्यो भविष्यामि इति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥

yadi māmanujānīyādbhavāngantuṃ tapovanam | kṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyāmi iti me niścitā matiḥ

if you would permit me to go to the forest of ascetics, I shall have done all that was to be done: so my mind is resolved.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around the second line. First line = CE 14,002.012a; second line = CE star passage 14,002.012b*0006_01.

Verse 13 (14.2.13)

न हि शान्तिं प्रपश्यामि पातयित्वा पितामहम् । नृशंसः पुरुषव्याघ्रं गुरुं वीर्यबलान्वितम् । कर्णं च पुरुषव्याघ्रं सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनम् ॥

na hi śāntiṃ prapaśyāmi pātayitvā pitāmaham | nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣavyāghraṃ guruṃ vīryabalānvitam | karṇaṃ ca puruṣavyāghraṃ saṅgrāmeṣvapalāyinam

I find no peace, having struck down my grandsire; cruel that I am, I brought down that tiger among men, my elder, rich in valour and strength; and Karna too, a tiger among men, who never fled in battle.

Note on the text: Corrected पुरुषव्याघ्नं → पुरुषव्याघ्रं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition has puruṣavyāghraṃ). Removed the backtick and quote marks around the middle line. First and third lines = CE 14,002.012c and 012e; the middle line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 14 (14.2.14)

कर्मणा येन मुच्येयमस्मात्क्रूरादरिंदम । कर्मणा तद्विधत्स्वेह येन शुध्यति मे मनः ॥

karmaṇā yena mucyeyamasmātkrūrādariṃdama | karmaṇā tadvidhatsveha yena śudhyati me manaḥ

By what action I may be freed from this cruel deed, O subduer of foes, prescribe that action here, by which my mind may be purified.

Verse 15 (14.2.15)

तमेवंवादिनं पार्थं व्यासः प्रोवाच धर्मवित् । सान्त्वयन्सुमहातेजाः शुभं वचनमर्थवत् ॥

tamevaṃvādinaṃ pārthaṃ vyāsaḥ provāca dharmavit | sāntvayansumahātejāḥ śubhaṃ vacanamarthavat

To Partha, speaking thus, the radiant Vyasa, knower of dharma, consoling him, spoke auspicious and meaningful words.

Verse 16 (14.2.16)

सुकृता ते मतिस्तात पुनर्बाल्येन मुह्यसे । किमाकाशे वयं सर्वे प्रलपामो मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

sukṛtā te matistāta punarbālyena muhyase | kimākāśe vayaṃ sarve pralapāmo muhurmuhuḥ

Your mind is well formed, my child, and yet you are bewildered again like a boy. Why do we all keep prattling into the empty sky?

Note on the text: Wikisource has सुकृता ते मतिः where the critical edition has अकृता ते मतिः (recension variant, kept).

Verse 17 (14.2.17)

विदिताः क्षत्रधर्मास्ते येषां युद्धेन जीविका । तथा प्रवृत्तो नृपतिर्नाधिबन्धेन युज्यसे ॥

viditāḥ kṣatradharmāste yeṣāṃ yuddhena jīvikā | tathā pravṛtto nṛpatirnādhibandhena yujyase

You know the duties of warriors, whose livelihood is battle; so acting, you, a king, are not bound by any guilt.

Verse 18 (14.2.18)

मोक्षधर्माश्च निखिला याथातथ्येन ते श्रुताः । यथा वै कामजां मायां परित्यक्तुं त्वमर्हसि ॥

mokṣadharmāśca nikhilā yāthātathyena te śrutāḥ | yathā vai kāmajāṃ māyāṃ parityaktuṃ tvamarhasi

You have heard all the teachings on liberation exactly as they are; therefore you ought to be able to cast off the illusion born of desire.

Note on the text: Corrected परित्युक्तं → परित्यक्तुं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition's star line has parityaktuṃ). Removed the backtick, quote marks and the stray double danda around the second line. First line = CE 14,002.017a; second line = CE star passage 14,002.017b*0007_01.

Verse 19 (14.2.19)

असकृच्चापि सन्देहाश्छिन्नास्ते कामजा मया । अश्रद्दधानो दुर्मेधा लुप्तस्मृतिरसि ध्रुवम् ॥

asakṛccāpi sandehāśchinnāste kāmajā mayā | aśraddadhāno durmedhā luptasmṛtirasi dhruvam

Time and again I have cut away your doubts that spring from desire. Yet you are surely without faith, dull of mind, your memory lost.

Note on the text: First line = CE 14,002.017c; second line = CE 14,002.018a (Wikisource divides the critical edition's verses 017 and 018 differently).

Verse 20 (14.2.20)

मैवं भव न ते युक्तमिदमज्ञानमीदृशम् ॥

maivaṃ bhava na te yuktamidamajñānamīdṛśam

Do not be so; such ignorance does not befit you.

Note on the text: A one-line verse in Wikisource's numbering = CE 14,002.018c; nothing is lost.

Verse 21 (14.2.21)

प्रायश्चित्तानि सर्वाणि विदितानि च तेऽनघ । राजधर्माश्च ते सर्वे दानधर्माश्च ते श्रुताः ॥

prāyaścittāni sarvāṇi viditāni ca te'nagha | rājadharmāśca te sarve dānadharmāśca te śrutāḥ

All the expiations are known to you, sinless one; the duties of kings and the duties of giving you have heard as well.

Note on the text: Second line has राजधर्माश्च where the critical edition has युद्धधर्माश्च (recension variant, kept).

Verse 22 (14.2.22)

स कथं सर्वधर्मज्ञः सर्वागमविशारदः । परिमुह्यसि भूयस्त्वमज्ञानादिव भारत ॥

sa kathaṃ sarvadharmajñaḥ sarvāgamaviśāradaḥ | parimuhyasi bhūyastvamajñānādiva bhārata

How then, knowing every dharma and skilled in all the scriptures, do you fall again into bewilderment as if from ignorance, O Bharata?