Krishna Proposes an Envoy

Verse 1 (5.1.1)

कृत्वा विवाहं तु कुरुप्रवीरा- । स्तदाऽभिमन्योर्मुदिताः सपक्षाः । विश्रम्य रात्रावुषसि प्रतीताः । सभां विराटस्य ततोऽभिजग्मुः ॥

kṛtvā vivāhaṃ tu kurupravīrā- | stadā'bhimanyormuditāḥ sapakṣāḥ | viśramya rātrāvuṣasi pratītāḥ | sabhāṃ virāṭasya tato'bhijagmuḥ

When they had celebrated Abhimanyu's wedding, the Kuru heroes and their allies, in high spirits, rested through the night; at dawn, refreshed, they went to Virata's assembly hall.

Note on the text: Dropped the input row before this verse (श्रीवेदव्यासाय नमः and the invocation नारायणं नमस्कृत्य … ततो जयमुदीरयेत्), which is not part of the narrative.

Verse 2 (5.1.2)

सभा तु सा मत्स्यपतेः समृद्धा । मणिप्रवेकोत्तमरत्नचित्रा । न्यस्तासना माल्यवती सुगन्धा । तामभ्ययुस्ते नरराजवर्याः ॥

sabhā tu sā matsyapateḥ samṛddhā | maṇipravekottamaratnacitrā | nyastāsanā mālyavatī sugandhā | tāmabhyayuste nararājavaryāḥ

That hall of the lord of the Matsyas was rich, bright with the finest jewels and precious stones, its seats set out, hung with garlands and fragrant. To it came those foremost kings of men.

Verse 3 (5.1.3)

अथासनान्याविशतां पुरस्ता- । दुभौ विराटद्रुपदौ नरेन्द्रौ । वृद्धौ च मान्यौ पृथिवीपतीनां । पित्रा समं रामजनार्दनौ च ॥

athāsanānyāviśatāṃ purastā- | dubhau virāṭadrupadau narendrau | vṛddhau ca mānyau pṛthivīpatīnāṃ | pitrā samaṃ rāmajanārdanau ca

Then the two kings Virata and Drupada, aged and honoured among the lords of the earth, took their seats in front, and with them Rama and Janardana together with their father.

Note on the text: Corrected तमजनार्दनौ → रामजनार्दनौ (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition has rāmajanārdanābhyām, and the page's own commentary glosses पित्रा as Vasudeva, the father of Rama and Janardana).

Verse 4 (5.1.4)

पाञ्चालराजस्य समीपतस्तु । शिनिप्रवीरः सहरौहिणेयः । मत्स्यस्य राज्ञस्तु सुसन्निकृष्टौ । जनार्दनश्चैव युधिष्ठिरश्च ॥

pāñcālarājasya samīpatastu | śinipravīraḥ saharauhiṇeyaḥ | matsyasya rājñastu susannikṛṣṭau | janārdanaścaiva yudhiṣṭhiraśca

Near the king of the Panchalas sat the hero of the Shinis together with the son of Rohini; and close beside the king of the Matsyas sat Janardana and Yudhishthira.

Verse 5 (5.1.5)

सुताश्च सर्वे द्रुपदस्य राज्ञो । भीमार्जुनौ माद्रवतीसुतौ च । प्रद्युम्नसाम्बौ च युधि प्रवीरौ । विराटपुत्रैश्च सहाभिमन्युः ॥

sutāśca sarve drupadasya rājño | bhīmārjunau mādravatīsutau ca | pradyumnasāmbau ca yudhi pravīrau | virāṭaputraiśca sahābhimanyuḥ

All the sons of King Drupada; Bhima and Arjuna and the two sons of Madri; Pradyumna and Samba, heroes in battle; Abhimanyu with the sons of Virata;

Verse 6 (5.1.6)

सर्वे च शूराः पितृभिः समाना । वीर्येण रूपेण बलेन चैव । उपाविशन्द्रौपदेयाः कुमाराः । सुवर्णचित्रेषु वरासनेषु ॥

sarve ca śūrāḥ pitṛbhiḥ samānā | vīryeṇa rūpeṇa balena caiva | upāviśandraupadeyāḥ kumārāḥ | suvarṇacitreṣu varāsaneṣu

and the young sons of Draupadi, all of them brave and equal to their fathers in valour, beauty and strength — these took their places on fine seats worked with gold.

Verse 7 (5.1.7)

तथोपविष्टेषु महारथेषु । विराजमानाभरणाम्बरेषु । रराज सा राजवती समृद्धा । ग्रहैरिव द्यौर्विमलैरुपेता ॥

tathopaviṣṭeṣu mahāratheṣu | virājamānābharaṇāmbareṣu | rarāja sā rājavatī samṛddhā | grahairiva dyaurvimalairupetā

With those great chariot-warriors seated there in their shining ornaments and garments, the rich hall full of kings glowed like the sky studded with bright planets.

Verse 8 (5.1.8)

ततः कथास्ते समवाययुक्ताः । कृत्वा विचित्राः पुरुषप्रवीराः । तस्थुर्मुहूर्तं परिचिन्तयन्तः । कृष्णं नृपास्ते समुदीक्षमाणाः ॥

tataḥ kathāste samavāyayuktāḥ | kṛtvā vicitrāḥ puruṣapravīrāḥ | tasthurmuhūrtaṃ paricintayantaḥ | kṛṣṇaṃ nṛpāste samudīkṣamāṇāḥ

Then those foremost of men, after talking of many things as people do when they gather, sat for a while in thought, the kings all looking towards Krishna.

Verse 9 (5.1.9)

कथान्तमासाद्य च माधवेन । संघट्टिताः पाण्डवकार्यहेतोः । ते राजसिंहाः सहिता ह्यशृण्व- । न्वाक्यं महार्थं सुमहोदयं च ॥

kathāntamāsādya ca mādhavena | saṃghaṭṭitāḥ pāṇḍavakāryahetoḥ | te rājasiṃhāḥ sahitā hyaśṛṇva- | nvākyaṃ mahārthaṃ sumahodayaṃ ca

When the talk had run its course, Madhava drew their minds to the business of the Pandavas, and those lions among kings listened together to his words, weighty in meaning and promising great good.

Note on the text: Corrected ह्यश्रृण्व- → ह्यशृण्व- (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ in अशृण्वन्, critical edition hy aśṛṇvan).

Verse 10 (5.1.10)

सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्विदितं यथाऽयं । युधिष्ठिरः सौबलेनाक्षवत्याम् । जितो निकृत्याऽपहृतं च राज्यं । वनप्रवासे समयः कृतश्च ॥

sarvairbhavadbhirviditaṃ yathā'yaṃ | yudhiṣṭhiraḥ saubalenākṣavatyām | jito nikṛtyā'pahṛtaṃ ca rājyaṃ | vanapravāse samayaḥ kṛtaśca

"You all know how Yudhishthira here was beaten at dice by the son of Subala through trickery, how his kingdom was taken from him, and how the agreement about exile in the forest was made.

Verse 11 (5.1.11)

शक्तैर्विजेतुं तरसा महीं च । सत्ये स्थितैः सत्यरथैर्यथावत् । पाण्डोः सुतैस्तद्व्रतमुग्ररूपं । वर्षाणि षट् सप्त च चीर्णमग्र्यैः ॥

śaktairvijetuṃ tarasā mahīṃ ca | satye sthitaiḥ satyarathairyathāvat | pāṇḍoḥ sutaistadvratamugrarūpaṃ | varṣāṇi ṣaṭ sapta ca cīrṇamagryaiḥ

Though the sons of Pandu could have conquered the earth by force, they stood by the truth — truth is the chariot they ride — and these foremost of men kept that fierce vow faithfully for six years and seven more.

Note on the text: Corrected सुतैस्त्रद्रुतमुग्ररूपं → सुतैस्तद्व्रतमुग्ररूपं (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjuncts, critical edition sutais tad vratam ugrarūpaṃ).

Verse 12 (5.1.12)

त्रयोदशश्चैव सुदुस्तरोऽय- । मज्ञायमानैर्भवतां समीपे । क्लेशानसह्यांश्च तितिक्षमाणै- । र्यथोषितं तद्विदितं च सर्वम् । एतैः परप्रेष्यनियोगयुक्तै- । रिच्छद्भिराप्तं स्वकुलेन राज्यम् ॥

trayodaśaścaiva sudustaro'ya- | majñāyamānairbhavatāṃ samīpe | kleśānasahyāṃśca titikṣamāṇai- | ryathoṣitaṃ tadviditaṃ ca sarvam | etaiḥ parapreṣyaniyogayuktai- | ricchadbhirāptaṃ svakulena rājyam

And the thirteenth year, hardest of all to get through, they spent unrecognised here in your midst, bearing unbearable hardships — you know all about how they lived. These men, bound to serve at others' bidding, still sought the kingdom that their own line had won.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (5.1.12 and the first line of its star passage 5.1.12*0008): Wikisource prints only this verse's last line, रिच्छद्भिराप्तं स्वकुलेन राज्यम् (numbered 5-1-12f, showing the lines before it were lost). The first four lines are 5.1.12a–d; the fifth is 5.1.12*0008_01, whose second line (icchadbhir āptaṃ svakulena rājyam) is the line Wikisource kept.

Verse 13 (5.1.13)

एवं गते धर्मसुतस्य राज्ञो । दुर्योधनस्यापि च यद्धितं स्यात् । तच्चिन्तयध्वं कुरुपाण्डवानां । धर्म्यं च युक्तं च यशस्करं च ॥

evaṃ gate dharmasutasya rājño | duryodhanasyāpi ca yaddhitaṃ syāt | taccintayadhvaṃ kurupāṇḍavānāṃ | dharmyaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca yaśaskaraṃ ca

Things being so, consider what would be good for King Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, and for Duryodhana as well — what would be righteous, fitting, and bring honour to Kurus and Pandavas alike.

Verse 14 (5.1.14)

अधर्मयुक्तं न च कामयेत । राज्यं सुराणामपि धर्मराजः । धर्मार्थयुक्तं तु महीपतित्वं । ग्रामेऽपि कस्मिंश्चिदयं बुभूषेत् ॥

adharmayuktaṃ na ca kāmayeta | rājyaṃ surāṇāmapi dharmarājaḥ | dharmārthayuktaṃ tu mahīpatitvaṃ | grāme'pi kasmiṃścidayaṃ bubhūṣet

The King of Dharma would not want even the kingdom of the gods if it came through unrighteousness; but lordship that accords with righteousness and rightful gain he would accept even over some single village.

Note on the text: Corrected ग्रोमेऽपि → ग्रामेऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition grāme 'pi).

Verse 15 (5.1.15)

पित्र्यं हि राज्यं विदितं नृपाणां । यथाऽपकृष्टं धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रैः । मिथ्योपचारेण यथा ह्यनेन । कृच्छ्रं महत्प्राप्तमसह्यरूपम् ॥

pitryaṃ hi rājyaṃ viditaṃ nṛpāṇāṃ | yathā'pakṛṣṭaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraputraiḥ | mithyopacāreṇa yathā hyanena | kṛcchraṃ mahatprāptamasahyarūpam

The kings know how the sons of Dhritarashtra wrested away his ancestral kingdom, and how, through their false dealing, he has met great and unbearable hardship.

Verse 16 (5.1.16)

न चापि पार्थो विजितो रणे तैः । स्वतेजसा धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रैः । तथाऽपि राजा सहितः सुहृद्भि- । रभीप्सतेऽनामयमेव तेषाम् ॥

na cāpi pārtho vijito raṇe taiḥ | svatejasā dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putraiḥ | tathā'pi rājā sahitaḥ suhṛdbhi- | rabhīpsate'nāmayameva teṣām

Nor did the sons of Dhritarashtra defeat Partha in battle by their own prowess; even so the king and his friends wish them nothing but well.

Verse 17 (5.1.17)

यत्तु स्वयं पाण्डुसुतैर्विजित्य । समाहृतं भूमिपतीन्प्रपीड्य । तत्प्रार्थयन्ते पुरुषप्रवीराः । कुन्तीसुता माद्रवतीसुतौ च ॥

yattu svayaṃ pāṇḍusutairvijitya | samāhṛtaṃ bhūmipatīnprapīḍya | tatprārthayante puruṣapravīrāḥ | kuntīsutā mādravatīsutau ca

What the sons of Pandu won for themselves by conquering and crushing the kings of the earth — that is what these heroes ask for, the sons of Kunti and the two sons of Madri.

Verse 18 (5.1.18)

बलाभियुक्तैर्विविधैरुपायैः । संप्रार्थिता हन्तुममित्रसङ्घैः । राज्यं जिहीर्षद्भिरसद्भिरुग्रैः । सर्वं च तद्वो विदितं यथावत् ॥

balābhiyuktairvividhairupāyaiḥ | saṃprārthitā hantumamitrasaṅghaiḥ | rājyaṃ jihīrṣadbhirasadbhirugraiḥ | sarvaṃ ca tadvo viditaṃ yathāvat

Hosts of enemies, relying on force, tried by many means to kill them — wicked, cruel men who wanted to seize the kingdom. All this you know well.

Verse 19 (5.1.19)

तेषां च लोभं प्रसमीक्ष्य वृद्धं । धर्मज्ञतां चापि युधिष्ठिरस्य । संबन्धितां चापि समीक्ष्य तेषां । मतिं कुरुध्वं सहिताः पृथक् च ॥

teṣāṃ ca lobhaṃ prasamīkṣya vṛddhaṃ | dharmajñatāṃ cāpi yudhiṣṭhirasya | saṃbandhitāṃ cāpi samīkṣya teṣāṃ | matiṃ kurudhvaṃ sahitāḥ pṛthak ca

Weigh their growing greed, and Yudhishthira's knowledge of what is right, and weigh too the ties of kinship between them; then make up your minds, together and each on his own.

Note on the text: Corrected पृथक्व → पृथक् च (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition pṛthak ca).

Verse 20 (5.1.20)

इमे च सत्येऽभिरताः सदैव । तं पालयित्वा समयं यथावत् । अतोऽन्यथा तैरुपचर्यमाणा । हन्युः समेतान्धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रान् ॥

ime ca satye'bhiratāḥ sadaiva | taṃ pālayitvā samayaṃ yathāvat | ato'nyathā tairupacaryamāṇā | hanyuḥ sametāndhṛtarāṣṭraputrān

These men have always delighted in truth, and they have kept that agreement to the letter. If they are now treated otherwise, they would kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, all of them together.

Verse 21 (5.1.21)

तैर्विप्रकारं च निशम्य कार्ये । सुहृज्जनास्तान्परिवारयेयुः । युद्धेन बाधेयुरिमांस्तथैवं । तैर्बाध्यमाना युधि तांश्च हन्युः ॥

tairviprakāraṃ ca niśamya kārye | suhṛjjanāstānparivārayeyuḥ | yuddhena bādheyurimāṃstathaivaṃ | tairbādhyamānā yudhi tāṃśca hanyuḥ

And their friends, hearing of the wrong done to them in this affair, would rally around them; and if the others pressed them with war, then, harried in battle, they would kill them too.

Verse 22 (5.1.22)

तथाऽपि नेमेऽल्पतया समर्था- । स्तेषां जयायेति भवेन्मतिर्वः । समेत्य सर्वे सहिताः सुहृद्भि- । स्तेषां विनाशाय यतेयुरेव ॥

tathā'pi neme'lpatayā samarthā- | steṣāṃ jayāyeti bhavenmatirvaḥ | sametya sarve sahitāḥ suhṛdbhi- | steṣāṃ vināśāya yateyureva

And should you think that these men, being few, are not able to defeat them, still they would all join together with their friends and strive for the others' destruction.

Note on the text: Corrected नेमेऽल्पतयाऽसमर्था- → नेमेऽल्पतया समर्था- (misprint in Wikisource; the stray avagraha turns समर्थाः into असमर्थाः, which with न reverses the sense; critical edition neme 'lpatayā samarthās).

Verse 23 (5.1.23)

दुर्योधनस्यापि मतं यथाव- । न्न ज्ञायते किं नु करिष्यतीति । अज्ञायमाने च मते परस्य । मन्त्रस्य पारं कथमभ्युपेमः ॥

duryodhanasyāpi mataṃ yathāva- | nna jñāyate kiṃ nu kariṣyatīti | ajñāyamāne ca mate parasya | mantrasya pāraṃ kathamabhyupemaḥ

Nor is Duryodhana's mind properly known — what he means to do. And while the other side's intention is unknown, how can we bring our deliberation to its end?

Verse 24 (5.1.24)

तस्मादितो गच्छतु धर्मशीलः । शुचिः कुलीनः पुरुषोऽप्रमत्तः । दूतः समर्थः प्रशमाय तेषां । राज्यार्धदानाय युधिष्ठिरस्य ॥

tasmādito gacchatu dharmaśīlaḥ | śuciḥ kulīnaḥ puruṣo'pramattaḥ | dūtaḥ samarthaḥ praśamāya teṣāṃ | rājyārdhadānāya yudhiṣṭhirasya

So let an envoy go from here — a man of righteous conduct, pure, well-born and watchful, able to make peace with them and to secure half the kingdom for Yudhishthira."

Verse 25 (5.1.25)

निशम्य वाक्यं तु जनार्दनस्य । धर्मार्थयुक्तं मधुरं समं च । समाददे वाक्यमथाग्रजोऽस्य । संपूज्य वाक्यं तदतीव राजन् ॥

niśamya vākyaṃ tu janārdanasya | dharmārthayuktaṃ madhuraṃ samaṃ ca | samādade vākyamathāgrajo'sya | saṃpūjya vākyaṃ tadatīva rājan

Having heard Janardana's words — righteous, sensible, gentle and even-handed — his elder brother then took up the discussion, O king, first praising warmly what he had said.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected to Vaishampayana: this verse is narration (Krishna's speech ends with the previous verse); Wikisource has no heading here and the input had carried Krishna over.