Duryodhana Rebukes Vidura

Verse 1 (2.87.1)

परेषामेव यशसा श्लाघसे त्वं । सदा क्षत्तः कुत्सयन्धार्तराष्ट्रान् । जानीमहे विदुर यत्प्रियस्त्वं । बालानिवास्मानवमन्यसे नित्यमेव ॥

pareṣāmeva yaśasā ślāghase tvaṃ | sadā kṣattaḥ kutsayandhārtarāṣṭrān | jānīmahe vidura yatpriyastvaṃ | bālānivāsmānavamanyase nityameva

You are forever praising the glory of others, Kshattri, and running down the sons of Dhritarashtra. We know, Vidura, whom you hold dear: you always look down on us as though we were children.

Note on the text: Corrected श्लोघसे → श्लाघसे (misprint in Wikisource; ślāghase, "you praise", as in the critical edition).

Verse 2 (2.87.2)

स विज्ञेयः पुरुषोऽन्यत्रकामो । निन्दाप्रशंसे हि तथा युनक्ति । जिह्वाऽऽत्मनो हृदयस्थं व्यनक्ति । जानीमहे त्वन्मनसः प्रातिकूल्यम् ॥

sa vijñeyaḥ puruṣo'nyatrakāmo | nindāpraśaṃse hi tathā yunakti | jihvā''tmano hṛdayasthaṃ vyanakti | jānīmahe tvanmanasaḥ prātikūlyam

A man whose heart is set elsewhere is easily known, for he deals out blame and praise to match. The tongue lays bare what lies in the heart; we know the hostility in your mind.

Verse 3 (2.87.3)

उत्सङ्गे च व्याल इवाहितोऽसि । मार्जारवत्पोषकं चोपहंसि । भर्तृघ्नं त्वां न हि पापीय आहु- । स्तस्मात्क्षत्तः किं न बिभेषि पापात् ॥

utsaṅge ca vyāla ivāhito'si | mārjāravatpoṣakaṃ copahaṃsi | bhartṛghnaṃ tvāṃ na hi pāpīya āhu- | stasmātkṣattaḥ kiṃ na bibheṣi pāpāt

You are like a snake set in our lap; like a cat, you harm the one who feeds you. They say nothing is more sinful than to betray one's master — so why, Kshattri, do you not fear sin?

Note on the text: Corrected मार्जरवत् → मार्जारवत् (misprint in Wikisource; mārjāra, "cat", as in the critical edition).

Verse 4 (2.87.4)

जित्वा शत्रून्फलमाप्तं महद्वै । माऽस्मान्क्षत्तः परुषाणीह वोचः । द्विषद्भिस्त्वं सम्प्रयोगाभिनन्दी । मुहुर्द्वेषं यासि नः सम्प्रयोगात् ॥

jitvā śatrūnphalamāptaṃ mahadvai | mā'smānkṣattaḥ paruṣāṇīha vocaḥ | dviṣadbhistvaṃ samprayogābhinandī | muhurdveṣaṃ yāsi naḥ samprayogāt

We have conquered our enemies and won a great prize. Kshattri, do not speak harsh words to us here. You delight in alliance with our enemies, and because of that alliance you keep turning to hatred of us.

Note on the text: Corrected परुषामीह → परुषाणीह (misprint in Wikisource; paruṣāṇi iha, "harsh words here", as in the critical edition) and मुहुर्देषं → मुहुर्द्वेषं (misprint; dveṣam, "hatred", as in the critical edition).

Verse 5 (2.87.5)

अमित्रतां याति नरोऽक्षमं ब्रुव- । न्निगूहते गुह्यममित्रसंस्तवे । तदाश्रितोऽपत्रप किं नु बाधसे । यदिच्छसि त्वं तदिहाभिभाषसे ॥

amitratāṃ yāti naro'kṣamaṃ bruva- | nnigūhate guhyamamitrasaṃstave | tadāśrito'patrapa kiṃ nu bādhase | yadicchasi tvaṃ tadihābhibhāṣase

A man who says what cannot be borne, hiding his secret purpose in praise of the enemy, makes himself an enemy. Relying on them, shameless one, why do you torment us? Whatever you please, you say here.

Note on the text: Corrected तदिहाभिभाषतसे → तदिहाभिभाषसे (misprint in Wikisource; a stray akshara in abhibhāṣase, "you say").

Verse 6 (2.87.6)

मा नोऽवमंस्था विद्म मनस्तवेदं । शिक्षस्व बुद्धिं स्थविराणां सकाशात् । यशो रक्षस्व विदुर सम्प्रणीतं । मा व्यापृतः परकार्येषु भूस्त्वम् ॥

mā no'vamaṃsthā vidma manastavedaṃ | śikṣasva buddhiṃ sthavirāṇāṃ sakāśāt | yaśo rakṣasva vidura sampraṇītaṃ | mā vyāpṛtaḥ parakāryeṣu bhūstvam

Do not despise us; we know this mind of yours. Learn wisdom at the feet of the elders. Guard the good name you have earned, Vidura, and do not busy yourself with other people's affairs.

Note on the text: Corrected विद्य मानस्तवेदं → विद्म मनस्तवेदं (misprint in Wikisource; vidma manas tavedam, "we know this mind of yours", as in the critical edition) and परकार्येशु → परकार्येषु (misprint; locative plural).

Verse 7 (2.87.7)

अहं कर्तेति विदुर मा च मंस्था । मा नो नित्यं परुषाणीह वोचः । न त्वां पृच्छामि विदुर यद्धितं मे । स्वस्ति क्षत्तर्मा तितिक्षून् क्षिणु त्वम् ॥

ahaṃ karteti vidura mā ca maṃsthā | mā no nityaṃ paruṣāṇīha vocaḥ | na tvāṃ pṛcchāmi vidura yaddhitaṃ me | svasti kṣattarmā titikṣūn kṣiṇu tvam

Do not think, Vidura, "I am the one who decides." Do not keep speaking harsh words to us here. I do not ask you, Vidura, what is good for me. Farewell, Kshattri: do not wound those who are bearing with you.

Note on the text: Corrected विदूर → विदुर (misprint in Wikisource; the name) and क्षिण् त्वम् → क्षिणु त्वम् (misprint; the imperative kṣiṇu, "wound", as in the critical edition).

Verse 8 (2.87.8)

एकः शास्ता न द्वितीयोऽस्ति शास्ता । गर्भे शयानं पुरुषं शास्ति शास्ता । तेनानुशिष्टः प्रवणादिवाम्भो । यथा नियुक्तोऽस्ति तथा भवामि ॥

ekaḥ śāstā na dvitīyo'sti śāstā | garbhe śayānaṃ puruṣaṃ śāsti śāstā | tenānuśiṣṭaḥ pravaṇādivāmbho | yathā niyukto'sti tathā bhavāmi

There is one ruler; there is no second. That ruler governs a man even as he lies in the womb. Directed by him, as water runs down a slope, so I am, just as I am appointed.

Verse 9 (2.87.9)

भिनत्ति शिरसा शैलमहिं भोजयते च यः । धीरेव कुरुते तस्य कार्याणामनुशासनम् । यो बलादनुशास्तीह सोऽमित्रं तेन विन्दति ॥

bhinatti śirasā śailamahiṃ bhojayate ca yaḥ | dhīreva kurute tasya kāryāṇāmanuśāsanam | yo balādanuśāstīha so'mitraṃ tena vindati

Whether a man would split a rock with his head or feed a serpent, it is his own mind that directs his actions. He who lays down the law to others by force only makes an enemy by it.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: corresponds to CE 2.57.9 (which reads sa eva for धीरेव) and 2.57.10ab.

Verse 10 (2.87.10)

मित्रतामनुवृत्तं तु समुपेक्षत्यपण्डितः । प्रदीप्य यः प्रदीप्ताग्निं प्राक्चिरं नाभिधावति । भस्मापि न स विन्देत शिष्टं क्वचन भारत ॥

mitratāmanuvṛttaṃ tu samupekṣatyapaṇḍitaḥ | pradīpya yaḥ pradīptāgniṃ prākciraṃ nābhidhāvati | bhasmāpi na sa vindeta śiṣṭaṃ kvacana bhārata

The unwise man disregards a friendship that goes along with him. He who kindles a fire into a blaze and does not run from it in good time, O Bharata, will not find even its ashes left anywhere.

Note on the text: Corrected दीप्य यः → प्रदीप्य यः (Wikisource has dropped an akshara, leaving the line a syllable short; pradīpya, as in the critical edition) and प्राच्किरं → प्राक्चिरं (misprint; prāk ciram, the conjunct garbled). Not matched by the alignment: corresponds to CE 2.57.10cd (which reads samupekṣeta paṇḍitaḥ) and 2.57.11 (which reads prāk tvaran).

Verse 11 (2.87.11)

न वासयेत्पारवर्ग्यं द्विषन्तं । विशेषतः क्षत्तरहितं मनुष्यम् । स यत्रेच्छसि विदुर तत्र गच्छ । सुसान्त्विता ह्यसती स्त्री जहाति ॥

na vāsayetpāravargyaṃ dviṣantaṃ | viśeṣataḥ kṣattarahitaṃ manuṣyam | sa yatrecchasi vidura tatra gaccha | susāntvitā hyasatī strī jahāti

One should not give shelter to a man of the enemy's party who hates us — least of all, Kshattri, to one who wishes us ill. Go wherever you please, Vidura. An unfaithful wife leaves however kindly she is treated.

Note on the text: Corrected मनुप्यम् → मनुष्यम् (misprint in Wikisource; manuṣyam).

Verse 12 (2.87.12)

एतावता पुरुषं ये त्यजन्ति । तेषां सख्यमन्तवद्ब्रूहि राजन् । राज्ञां हि चित्तानि परिप्लुतानि । सान्त्वं दत्त्वा मुसलैर्घातयन्ति ॥

etāvatā puruṣaṃ ye tyajanti | teṣāṃ sakhyamantavadbrūhi rājan | rājñāṃ hi cittāni pariplutāni | sāntvaṃ dattvā musalairghātayanti

Tell me, O king: what end awaits the friendship of those who cast a man off for so little? The minds of kings are fickle; they offer soothing words, then have one beaten to death with clubs.

Note on the text: Corrected दत्वा → दत्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara in dattvā, as in the critical edition).

Verse 13 (2.87.13)

अबालत्वं मन्यसे राजपुत्र । बालोऽहमित्येव सुमन्दबुद्धे । यः सौहृदे पुरुषं स्थापयित्वा । पश्चादेनं दूषयते स बालः ॥

abālatvaṃ manyase rājaputra | bālo'hamityeva sumandabuddhe | yaḥ sauhṛde puruṣaṃ sthāpayitvā | paścādenaṃ dūṣayate sa bālaḥ

Prince, you think yourself no child, and me a child, you dull-witted one. But he who first takes a man into friendship and afterwards reviles him — he is the child.

Verse 14 (2.87.14)

न श्रेयसे नीयते मन्दबुद्धिः । स्त्री श्रोत्रियस्येव गृहे प्रदुष्टा । ध्रुवं न रोचेद्भरतर्षभस्य । पतिः कुमार्या इव षष्टिवर्षः ॥

na śreyase nīyate mandabuddhiḥ | strī śrotriyasyeva gṛhe praduṣṭā | dhruvaṃ na rocedbharatarṣabhasya | patiḥ kumāryā iva ṣaṣṭivarṣaḥ

A dull-witted man cannot be led to what is good, any more than a wayward wife in a learned brahmin's house. Surely good counsel does not please this bull of the Bharatas, just as a husband of sixty does not please a young girl.

Verse 15 (2.87.15)

अतः प्रियं चेदनुकाङ्क्षसे त्वं । सर्वेषु कार्येषु हिताहितेषु । स्त्रियश्च राजञ्जडपङ्गुकांश्च । पृच्छ त्वं वै तादृशांश्चैव सर्वान् ॥

ataḥ priyaṃ cedanukāṅkṣase tvaṃ | sarveṣu kāryeṣu hitāhiteṣu | striyaśca rājañjaḍapaṅgukāṃśca | pṛccha tvaṃ vai tādṛśāṃścaiva sarvān

So if in all your affairs, good or ill, you want only what pleases you, O king, go and ask women, the dull-witted and the lame, and all such people.

Verse 16 (2.87.16)

लभ्यते खलु पापीयान्नरोऽनु प्रियवागिह । अप्रियस्य हि पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥

labhyate khalu pāpīyānnaro'nu priyavāgiha | apriyasya hi pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ

A worthless man who speaks to please is easily found here; but one who speaks unwelcome words that do good is rare, and so is one who will listen to them.

Verse 17 (2.87.17)

यस्तु धर्मपरश्च स्याद्धित्वा भर्तुः प्रियाप्रिये । अप्रियाण्याह पथ्यानि तेन राजा सहायवान् ॥

yastu dharmaparaśca syāddhitvā bhartuḥ priyāpriye | apriyāṇyāha pathyāni tena rājā sahāyavān

But one who is devoted to dharma and, setting aside what his master likes or dislikes, speaks unwelcome words that do him good — through such a man a king has a true ally.

Verse 18 (2.87.18)

अव्याधिजं कटुकं तीक्ष्णमुष्णं । यशोमुषं परुषं पूतिगन्धिम् । सतां पेयं यन्न पिबन्त्यसन्तो । मन्युं महाराज पिब प्रशाम्य ॥

avyādhijaṃ kaṭukaṃ tīkṣṇamuṣṇaṃ | yaśomuṣaṃ paruṣaṃ pūtigandhim | satāṃ peyaṃ yanna pibantyasanto | manyuṃ mahārāja piba praśāmya

Anger is not born of disease, yet it is bitter, sharp and burning; it robs a man of fame; it is harsh and foul-smelling. The good drink it down; the wicked cannot. Great king, drink down your anger and be at peace.

Note on the text: Corrected अव्याधइजं → अव्याधिजं (misprint in Wikisource; a broken vowel sign in avyādhijam) and कटुजं → कटुकं (misprint; kaṭukam, "bitter", as in the critical edition and in the same verse at Udyoga Parva 5.37).

Verse 19 (2.87.19)

वैचित्रवीर्यस्य यशो धनं च । वाञ्छाम्यहं सहपुत्रस्य शश्वत् । यथा तथा तेऽस्तु नमश्चतेऽस्तु । ममापि च स्वस्ति दिशन्तु विप्राः ॥

vaicitravīryasya yaśo dhanaṃ ca | vāñchāmyahaṃ sahaputrasya śaśvat | yathā tathā te'stu namaścate'stu | mamāpi ca svasti diśantu viprāḥ

I wish always for the glory and wealth of the son of Vichitravirya and his sons. Let it be with you as it will; I bow to you. And may the brahmins bless me too with well-being.

Verse 20 (2.87.20)

आशीविषान्नेत्रविषान्कोपयेन्न च पण्डितः । एवं तेऽहं वदामीदं प्रयतः कुरुनन्दन ॥

āśīviṣānnetraviṣānkopayenna ca paṇḍitaḥ | evaṃ te'haṃ vadāmīdaṃ prayataḥ kurunandana

A wise man should not provoke serpents whose very glance is poison. This is what I tell you, with a mind made pure, O joy of the Kurus.