The Elders Urge Duryodhana to Heed Krishna

Verse 1 (5.125.1)

ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो दुर्योधनममर्षणम् । केशवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच भरतर्षभ ॥

tataḥ śāntanavo bhīṣmo duryodhanamamarṣaṇam | keśavasya vacaḥ śrutvā provāca bharatarṣabha

Then, having heard Keshava's words, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, spoke to the resentful Duryodhana, O bull of the Bharatas:

Verse 2 (5.125.2)

कृष्णेन वाक्यमुक्तोऽसि सुहृदां शममिच्छता । अनुपद्यस्व तत्तात मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः ॥

kṛṣṇena vākyamukto'si suhṛdāṃ śamamicchatā | anupadyasva tattāta mā manyuvaśamanvagāḥ

"Krishna has spoken to you out of a wish for peace among friends. Follow his words, my son; do not give way to anger.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma: his speech, announced in verse 1, runs to verse 8 with no printed heading (the input carried Vaishampayana over). Corrected सृहृदां → सुहृदां (misprint in Wikisource; ृ for ु; critical edition suhṛdāṃ) and अन्वपद्यस्व → अनुपद्यस्व (misprint in Wikisource; an imperative cannot take the past augment अ-, so अन्वपद्यस्व is not a valid form — the imperative of अनु-पद्, "follow", is अनुपद्यस्व; the critical edition reads a different verb, anupaśyasva).

Verse 3 (5.125.3)

अकृत्वा वचनं तात केशवस्य महात्मनः । श्रेयो न जातु न सुखं न कल्याणमवाप्स्यसि ॥

akṛtvā vacanaṃ tāta keśavasya mahātmanaḥ | śreyo na jātu na sukhaṃ na kalyāṇamavāpsyasi

If you do not do as the great-souled Keshava says, my son, you will never find welfare, nor happiness, nor any good.

Verse 4 (5.125.4)

धर्म्यमर्थ्यं महाबाहुराह त्वां तात केशवः । तदर्थमभिपद्यस्व मा राजन्नीनशः प्रजाः ॥

dharmyamarthyaṃ mahābāhurāha tvāṃ tāta keśavaḥ | tadarthamabhipadyasva mā rājannīnaśaḥ prajāḥ

Mighty-armed Keshava has told you what is righteous and profitable, my son. Pursue that aim, king; do not destroy the people.

Verse 5 (5.125.5)

ज्वलितां त्वमिमां लक्ष्मीं भारतीं सर्वराजसु । जीवतो धृतराष्ट्रस्य दौरात्म्याद्भ्रंशयिष्यसि ॥

jvalitāṃ tvamimāṃ lakṣmīṃ bhāratīṃ sarvarājasu | jīvato dhṛtarāṣṭrasya daurātmyādbhraṃśayiṣyasi

Through your wickedness you will bring down this blazing fortune of the Bharatas, which shines among all kings, while Dhritarashtra is still alive.

Note on the text: Corrected द्भंशयिष्यसि → द्भ्रंशयिष्यसि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र in the causative of भ्रंश्; critical edition bhraṃśayiṣyasi).

Verse 6 (5.125.6)

आत्मानं च सहामात्यं सपुत्रभ्रातृबान्धवम् । अहमित्यनया बुद्ध्या जीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यसि ॥

ātmānaṃ ca sahāmātyaṃ saputrabhrātṛbāndhavam | ahamityanayā buddhyā jīvitādbhraṃśayiṣyasi

And through this thought of "I", you will bring yourself, with your ministers, your sons, brothers and kin, to the loss of life,

Note on the text: Corrected जीविताद्धंशयिष्यतसि → जीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यसि (misprint in Wikisource; ध for भ्र and a stray त in the causative of भ्रंश्, as in verse 5; critical edition jīvitād bhraṃśayiṣyasi).

Verse 7 (5.125.7)

अतिक्रामन्केशवस्य तथ्यं वचनमर्थवत् । पितुश्च भारतश्रेष्ठ विदुरस्य च धीमतः ॥

atikrāmankeśavasya tathyaṃ vacanamarthavat | pituśca bhārataśreṣṭha vidurasya ca dhīmataḥ

if you disregard the true and meaningful words of Keshava, and of your father, best of the Bharatas, and of wise Vidura.

Verse 8 (5.125.8)

मा कुलघ्नः कुपुरुषो दुर्मतिः कापथं गमः । मातरं पितरं चैव मा मञ्जीः शोकसागरे ॥

mā kulaghnaḥ kupuruṣo durmatiḥ kāpathaṃ gamaḥ | mātaraṃ pitaraṃ caiva mā mañjīḥ śokasāgare

Do not take the evil road as a wretch of perverse mind who destroys his own line; do not plunge your mother and your father into a sea of grief."

Verse 9 (5.125.9)

अथ द्रोणोऽब्रवीत्तत्र दुर्योधनमिदं वचः । अमर्षवशमापन्नं निःश्वसन्तं पुनःपुनः ॥

atha droṇo'bravīttatra duryodhanamidaṃ vacaḥ | amarṣavaśamāpannaṃ niḥśvasantaṃ punaḥpunaḥ

Then Drona, there, spoke these words to Duryodhana, who had fallen under the sway of anger and was sighing again and again:

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana: the verse is narration introducing Drona (the input carried it under Vaishampayana; no heading is printed).

Verse 10 (5.125.10)

धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनमाह त्वां तात केशवः । तथा भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तज्जुषस्व नराधिप ॥

dharmārthayuktaṃ vacanamāha tvāṃ tāta keśavaḥ | tathā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavastajjuṣasva narādhipa

"Keshava has spoken to you words joined with dharma and artha, my son, and so has Bhishma, son of Shantanu. Accept them, lord of men.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Drona: his speech, announced in verse 9, runs to verse 17 with no printed heading (the input carried Vaishampayana over). Corrected तञ्जुषस्व → तज्जुषस्व (misprint in Wikisource; त् before ज becomes ज्ज, not ञ्ज; critical edition taj juṣasva).

Verse 11 (5.125.11)

प्राज्ञौ मेधाविनौ दान्तावर्थकामौ बहुश्रुतौ । आहतुस्त्वां हितं वाक्यं तज्जुषस्व नराधिप ॥

prājñau medhāvinau dāntāvarthakāmau bahuśrutau | āhatustvāṃ hitaṃ vākyaṃ tajjuṣasva narādhipa

These two, wise, intelligent, self-controlled, wishing you well and deeply learned, have told you what is for your good. Accept it, lord of men.

Note on the text: Corrected तञ्जुषस्व → तज्जुषस्व (misprint in Wikisource; त् before ज becomes ज्ज, not ञ्ज, as in verse 10).

Verse 12 (5.125.12)

अनुतिष्ठ महाप्राज्ञ कृष्णभीष्मौ यदूचतुः । माधवं बुद्धिमोहेन माऽवमंस्थाः परन्तप ॥

anutiṣṭha mahāprājña kṛṣṇabhīṣmau yadūcatuḥ | mādhavaṃ buddhimohena mā'vamaṃsthāḥ parantapa

Do what Krishna and Bhishma have said, wise one. Do not, through confusion of mind, slight Madhava, scorcher of foes.

Verse 13 (5.125.13)

ये त्वां प्रोत्साहयन्त्येते नैते कृत्याय कर्हिचित् । वैरं परेषां ग्रीवायां प्रतिमोक्ष्यन्ति संयुगे ॥

ye tvāṃ protsāhayantyete naite kṛtyāya karhicit | vairaṃ pareṣāṃ grīvāyāṃ pratimokṣyanti saṃyuge

Those who are urging you on will never be of use to you; when battle comes, they will hang the feud round other men's necks.

Verse 14 (5.125.14)

मा जीघनः प्रजाः सर्वाः पुत्रान्भ्रातॄंस्तथैव च । वासुदेवार्जुनौ यत्र विद्ध्यजेयानलं हि तान् ॥

mā jīghanaḥ prajāḥ sarvāḥ putrānbhrātṝṃstathaiva ca | vāsudevārjunau yatra viddhyajeyānalaṃ hi tān

Do not bring death on all the people, on your sons and your brothers. Know that those on whose side Vasudeva and Arjuna stand are invincible; let it be enough.

Verse 15 (5.125.15)

एतच्चैव मतं सत्यं सुहृदोः कृष्णभीष्मयोः । यदि नादास्यसे तात पश्चात्तप्स्यसि भारत ॥

etaccaiva mataṃ satyaṃ suhṛdoḥ kṛṣṇabhīṣmayoḥ | yadi nādāsyase tāta paścāttapsyasi bhārata

This is the true judgement of your friends Krishna and Bhishma. If you do not accept it, my son, you will repent later, Bharata.

Verse 16 (5.125.16)

यथोक्तं जामदग्न्येन भूयानेष ततोऽर्जुनः । कृष्णो हि देवकीपुत्रो देवैरपि सुदुःसहः । किं ते सुखप्रियेणेह प्रोक्तेन भरतर्षभ ॥

yathoktaṃ jāmadagnyena bhūyāneṣa tato'rjunaḥ | kṛṣṇo hi devakīputro devairapi suduḥsahaḥ | kiṃ te sukhapriyeṇeha proktena bharatarṣabha

Arjuna is even greater than Jamadagni's son described him, and Krishna, the son of Devaki, is hard to withstand even for the gods. But what use is it, bull of the Bharatas, to speak to you here of what is good and pleasing?

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 5.123.16 (reading bhūyān eva for भूयानेष and durutsahaḥ for सुदुःसहः); line 3 is 5.123.17ab.

Verse 17 (5.125.17)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु । न हि त्वामुत्सहे वक्तुं भूयो भरतसत्तम ॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yathecchasi tathā kuru | na hi tvāmutsahe vaktuṃ bhūyo bharatasattama

I have told you all this; do as you wish. I cannot bring myself to speak to you again, best of the Bharatas."

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 5.123.17cd–ef.

Verse 18 (5.125.18)

तस्मिन्वाक्यान्तरे वाक्यं क्षत्ताऽपि विदुरोऽब्रवीत् । दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य धार्तराष्ट्रममर्षणम् ॥

tasminvākyāntare vākyaṃ kṣattā'pi viduro'bravīt | duryodhanamabhiprekṣya dhārtarāṣṭramamarṣaṇam

In the midst of this talk Vidura the steward too spoke, looking at Duryodhana, the resentful son of Dhritarashtra:

Note on the text: Speaker heading वैशंपायन उवाच printed above this verse.

Verse 19 (5.125.19)

दुर्योधन न शोचामि त्वामहं भरतर्षभ । इमौ तु वृद्धौ शोचामि गान्धारीं पितरं च ते ॥

duryodhana na śocāmi tvāmahaṃ bharatarṣabha | imau tu vṛddhau śocāmi gāndhārīṃ pitaraṃ ca te

"Duryodhana, it is not for you that I grieve, bull of the Bharatas; I grieve for these two old people, Gandhari and your father,

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vidura: his words, announced in verse 18, run to verse 21 with no printed heading (the input carried Vaishampayana over). Corrected इमो → इमौ (misprint in Wikisource; the dual इमौ agreeing with वृद्धौ; critical edition imau).

Verse 20 (5.125.20)

यावनाथौ चरिष्येते त्वया नाथेन दुर्हृदा । हतमित्रौ हतामात्यौ लूनपक्षाविवाण्डजौ ॥

yāvanāthau cariṣyete tvayā nāthena durhṛdā | hatamitrau hatāmātyau lūnapakṣāvivāṇḍajau

who, with you as their evil-hearted protector, will go about unprotected, their friends slain and their ministers slain, like birds whose wings have been clipped,

Verse 21 (5.125.21)

भिक्षुकौ विचरिष्येते शोचन्तौ पृथिवीमिमाम् । कुलघ्नमीदृशं पापं जनयित्वा कुपूरुषम् ॥

bhikṣukau vicariṣyete śocantau pṛthivīmimām | kulaghnamīdṛśaṃ pāpaṃ janayitvā kupūruṣam

and will wander this earth as beggars, grieving, for having begotten such a wicked wretch, the destroyer of his line."

Verse 22 (5.125.22)

अथ दुर्योधनं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभ्यभाषत । आसीनं भ्रातृभिः सार्धं राजभिः परिवारितम् ॥

atha duryodhanaṃ rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro'bhyabhāṣata | āsīnaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ rājabhiḥ parivāritam

Then King Dhritarashtra spoke to Duryodhana, who sat with his brothers, surrounded by kings:

Note on the text: Corrected दुर्योधं → दुर्योधनं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped न in the name; critical edition duryodhanaṃ). Speaker kept as Vaishampayana: the verse is narration (no heading is printed).

Verse 23 (5.125.23)

दुर्योधन निबोधेदं शौरिणोक्तं महात्मना । आदत्स्व शिवमत्यन्तं योगक्षेमवदव्ययम् ॥

duryodhana nibodhedaṃ śauriṇoktaṃ mahātmanā | ādatsva śivamatyantaṃ yogakṣemavadavyayam

"Duryodhana, understand what the great-souled Shauri has said. Take up what is supremely auspicious and lasting, and secures both gain and its keeping.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra: his words, announced in verse 22, run to the end of the adhyaya with no printed heading (the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 24 (5.125.24)

अनेन हि सहायेन कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । इष्टान्सर्वानभिप्रायान्प्राप्स्यामः सर्वराजसु ॥

anena hi sahāyena kṛṣṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā | iṣṭānsarvānabhiprāyānprāpsyāmaḥ sarvarājasu

With Krishna, whose deeds are untiring, as our ally, we shall attain all our cherished aims among all kings.

Verse 25 (5.125.25)

सुसंहतः केशवेन तात गच्छ युधिष्ठिरम् । चर स्वस्त्ययनं कृत्स्नं भरतानामनामयम् ॥

susaṃhataḥ keśavena tāta gaccha yudhiṣṭhiram | cara svastyayanaṃ kṛtsnaṃ bharatānāmanāmayam

Firmly united with Keshava, my son, go to Yudhishthira, and bring about the full welfare of the Bharatas and their freedom from harm.

Verse 26 (5.125.26)

वासुदेवेन तीर्थेन तात गच्छस्व संशमम् । कालप्राप्तमिदं मन्ये मा त्वं दुर्योधनातिगाः ॥

vāsudevena tīrthena tāta gacchasva saṃśamam | kālaprāptamidaṃ manye mā tvaṃ duryodhanātigāḥ

With Vasudeva as your means, my son, go and make peace. I think the time for it has come; Duryodhana, do not let it pass you by.

Verse 27 (5.125.27)

शमं चेद्याचमानं त्वं प्रत्याख्यास्यसि केशवम् । त्वदर्थमभिजल्पन्तं न तवास्त्यपराभवः ॥

śamaṃ cedyācamānaṃ tvaṃ pratyākhyāsyasi keśavam | tvadarthamabhijalpantaṃ na tavāstyaparābhavaḥ

If you turn Keshava away when he asks for peace and pleads for your own sake, there will be no victory for you."