Kunti's Message to Yudhishthira

Verse 1 (5.132.1)

प्रविश्याथ गृहं तस्याश्चरणावभिवाद्य च । आचख्यौ तत्समासेन यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि ॥

praviśyātha gṛhaṃ tasyāścaraṇāvabhivādya ca | ācakhyau tatsamāsena yadvṛttaṃ kurusaṃsadi

Entering her house, Krishna touched her feet in greeting and told her briefly what had taken place in the assembly of the Kurus.

Verse 2 (5.132.2)

उक्तं बहुविधं वाक्यं ग्रहणीयं सहेतुकम् । ऋषिभिश्चैव च मया न चासौ तद्गृहीतवान् ॥

uktaṃ bahuvidhaṃ vākyaṃ grahaṇīyaṃ sahetukam | ṛṣibhiścaiva ca mayā na cāsau tadgṛhītavān

"Many kinds of words, well reasoned and worth accepting, were spoken by the sages and by me as well, but he did not accept them.

Verse 3 (5.132.3)

कालपक्वमिदं सर्वं सुयोधनवशानुगम् । सर्वक्षत्रं क्षणेनैव दह्यते पार्थवह्निना । आपृच्छे भवतीं शीघ्रं प्रयास्ये पाण्डवान्प्रति ॥

kālapakvamidaṃ sarvaṃ suyodhanavaśānugam | sarvakṣatraṃ kṣaṇenaiva dahyate pārthavahninā | āpṛcche bhavatīṃ śīghraṃ prayāsye pāṇḍavānprati

All this host that follows Suyodhana's lead is ripe for death. The whole warrior class will be burnt up in a moment by the fire that is Partha. I take my leave of you; I shall go quickly to the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` … ') around the middle line. Lines 1 and 3 are the critical edition's 5.130.3 (it reads duryodhana- for सुयोधन-); the middle line is its star passage 5.130.3b*0500 (sarvaṃ kṣatraṃ …), not in the constituted text.

Verse 4 (5.132.4)

किं वाच्याः पाण्डवेयास्ते भवत्या वचनान्मया । तद्ब्रूहि त्वं महाप्रज्ञे शुश्रूषे वचनं तव ॥

kiṃ vācyāḥ pāṇḍaveyāste bhavatyā vacanānmayā | tadbrūhi tvaṃ mahāprajñe śuśrūṣe vacanaṃ tava

What shall I say to the sons of Pandu on your behalf? Tell me, wise lady; I wish to hear your words."

Verse 5 (5.132.5)

ब्रूयाः केशव राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् । भूयांस्ते हीयते धर्मो मा पुत्रक वृथा कृथाः ॥

brūyāḥ keśava rājānaṃ dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | bhūyāṃste hīyate dharmo mā putraka vṛthā kṛthāḥ

Keshava, say this to King Yudhishthira, whose soul is set on dharma: "Your dharma is wasting away greatly, my son; do not act to no purpose.

Verse 6 (5.132.6)

श्रोत्रियस्येव ते राजन्मन्दकस्याविपश्चितः । अनुवाकहता बुद्धिर्धर्ममेवैकमीक्षते ॥

śrotriyasyeva te rājanmandakasyāvipaścitaḥ | anuvākahatā buddhirdharmamevaikamīkṣate

O king, like that of a dull Vedic reciter who does not understand what he recites, your mind, ruined by mere repetition of the texts, sees only one kind of dharma.

Verse 7 (5.132.7)

अङ्गावेक्षस्व धर्मं त्वं यथा सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा । बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रियाः सृष्टा बाहुवीर्योपजीविनः ॥

aṅgāvekṣasva dharmaṃ tvaṃ yathā sṛṣṭaḥ svayaṃbhuvā | bāhubhyāṃ kṣatriyāḥ sṛṣṭā bāhuvīryopajīvinaḥ

Look at dharma, my dear, as the Self-born created it. Kshatriyas were created from his arms, to live by the strength of their arms,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.130.7ab; line 2 differs from its 5.130.7cd (urastaḥ kṣatriyaḥ sṛṣṭo bāhuvīryopajīvitā). The CE's third line, 5.130.7ef, opens the next verse.

Verse 8 (5.132.8)

क्रूराय कर्मणे नित्यं प्रजानां परिपालने । श्रृणु चात्रोपमामेकां या वृद्धेभ्यः श्रुता मया ॥

krūrāya karmaṇe nityaṃ prajānāṃ paripālane | śrṛṇu cātropamāmekāṃ yā vṛddhebhyaḥ śrutā mayā

for harsh deeds always and for the protection of the people. Hear one example on this matter, which I heard from the elders.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.130.7ef; line 2 is 5.130.8ab, whose remaining lines form the next verse (Wikisource's own division).

Verse 9 (5.132.9)

मुचुकुन्दस्य राजर्षेरददत्पृथिवीमिमाम् । पुरा वैश्रवणः प्रीतो न चासौ तद्गृहीतवान् ॥

mucukundasya rājarṣeradadatpṛthivīmimām | purā vaiśravaṇaḥ prīto na cāsau tadgṛhītavān

Long ago Vaishravana, pleased, offered this earth to the royal sage Muchukunda, but he did not accept it.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.130.8cd–ef (it reads tāṃ for तद् in the last quarter).

Verse 10 (5.132.10)

बाहुवीर्यार्जितं राज्यमश्नीयामिति कामये । ततो वैश्रवणः प्रीतो विस्मितः समपद्यत ॥

bāhuvīryārjitaṃ rājyamaśnīyāmiti kāmaye | tato vaiśravaṇaḥ prīto vismitaḥ samapadyata

"I wish to enjoy a kingdom won by the strength of my own arms," he said. Then Vaishravana was pleased and filled with wonder.

Note on the text: Corrected अश्रीयामिति → अश्नीयामिति (misprint in Wikisource; र for न, the critical edition reads aśnīyām iti).

Verse 11 (5.132.11)

मुचुकुन्दस्ततो राजा सोऽन्वशासद्वसुन्धराम् । बाहुवीर्यार्जितां सम्यक् क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः ॥

mucukundastato rājā so'nvaśāsadvasundharām | bāhuvīryārjitāṃ samyak kṣatradharmamanuvrataḥ

Then King Muchukunda, faithful to the kshatriya's dharma, ruled well the earth he had won by the strength of his arms.

Verse 12 (5.132.12)

यं हि धर्मं चरन्तीह प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः । चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा विन्दति भारत ॥

yaṃ hi dharmaṃ carantīha prajā rājñā surakṣitāḥ | caturthaṃ tasya dharmasya rājā vindati bhārata

Of the dharma that the people practise here while the king protects them well, the king receives a fourth part, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected विन्देन → विन्दति (misprint in Wikisource; विन्देन is not a verb form, the critical edition reads vindati).

Verse 13 (5.132.13)

राजा चरति चेद्धर्मं देवत्वायैव कल्पते । स चेदधर्मं चरति नरकायैव गच्छति ॥

rājā carati ceddharmaṃ devatvāyaiva kalpate | sa cedadharmaṃ carati narakāyaiva gacchati

If the king practises dharma, he becomes fit for godhood; if he practises adharma, he goes to hell.

Verse 14 (5.132.14)

दण्डनीतिः स्वधर्मेण चातुर्वर्ण्यं नियच्छति । प्रयुक्तास्वामिना सम्यगधर्मेभ्यो नियच्छति ॥

daṇḍanītiḥ svadharmeṇa cāturvarṇyaṃ niyacchati | prayuktāsvāminā samyagadharmebhyo niyacchati

The science of government, by its own proper working, holds the four varnas in check; rightly applied by the ruler, it restrains them from unrighteousness.

Verse 15 (5.132.15)

दण्डनीत्यां यदा राजा सम्यक्कार्त्स्न्येन वर्तते । तदा कृतयुगं नाम कालः श्रेष्ठः प्रवर्तते ॥

daṇḍanītyāṃ yadā rājā samyakkārtsnyena vartate | tadā kṛtayugaṃ nāma kālaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ pravartate

When the king lives by the science of government fully and rightly, then the best of ages, called the Krita, comes into being.

Note on the text: Corrected कृतयुं → कृतयुगं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the critical edition reads kṛtayugaṃ).

Verse 16 (5.132.16)

कालो वा कारणं राज्ञो राजा वा कालकारणम् । इति ते संशयो मा भूद्राजा कालस्य कारणम् ॥

kālo vā kāraṇaṃ rājño rājā vā kālakāraṇam | iti te saṃśayo mā bhūdrājā kālasya kāraṇam

Is the age the cause of the king, or the king the cause of the age? Let there be no doubt in you about this: the king is the cause of the age.

Verse 17 (5.132.17)

राजा कृतयुगस्रष्टा त्रेताया द्वापरस्य च । युगस्य च चतुर्थस्य राजा भवति कारणम् ॥

rājā kṛtayugasraṣṭā tretāyā dvāparasya ca | yugasya ca caturthasya rājā bhavati kāraṇam

The king is the maker of the Krita age, of the Treta and of the Dvapara; the king is the cause of the fourth age as well.

Verse 18 (5.132.18)

कृतस्य करणाद्राजा स्वर्गमत्यन्तमश्नुते । त्रेतायाः करणाद्राजा स्वर्गं नात्यन्तमश्नुते ॥

kṛtasya karaṇādrājā svargamatyantamaśnute | tretāyāḥ karaṇādrājā svargaṃ nātyantamaśnute

By bringing about the Krita age a king enjoys heaven without end; by bringing about the Treta a king enjoys heaven, but not without end.

Note on the text: Corrected अश्रुते → अश्नुते twice (misprint in Wikisource; र for न, the critical edition reads aśnute). The critical edition reads kāraṇād for करणाद्.

Verse 19 (5.132.19)

प्रवर्तनाद्द्वापरस्य यथाभागमुपाश्नुते । कलेः प्रवर्तनाद्राजा पापमत्यन्तमश्नुते ॥

pravartanāddvāparasya yathābhāgamupāśnute | kaleḥ pravartanādrājā pāpamatyantamaśnute

By setting the Dvapara in motion he enjoys heaven according to his share; by setting the Kali in motion a king reaps sin without end.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.130.17ef; line 2 is its star passage 5.130.17f*0501, not in the constituted text. Corrected उपाश्रुते → उपाश्नुते and अश्रुते → अश्नुते (misprints in Wikisource; र for न, the critical edition reads upāśnute, aśnute).

Verse 20 (5.132.20)

ततो वसति दुष्कर्मा नरके शाश्वतीः समाः । राजदोषेण हि जगत्स्पृश्यते जगतः स च ॥

tato vasati duṣkarmā narake śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | rājadoṣeṇa hi jagatspṛśyate jagataḥ sa ca

Then that evil-doer dwells in hell for endless years. For the world is stained by the king's fault, and he by the world's.

Verse 21 (5.132.21)

राजधर्मानवेक्षस्व पितृपैतामहोचितान् । नैतद्राजर्षिवृत्तं हि यत्र त्वं स्थातुमिच्छसि ॥

rājadharmānavekṣasva pitṛpaitāmahocitān | naitadrājarṣivṛttaṃ hi yatra tvaṃ sthātumicchasi

Look to the duties of kings, which befit your fathers and grandfathers. The course in which you wish to stand is not the conduct of royal sages.

Verse 22 (5.132.22)

न हि वैक्लव्यसंसृष्ट आनृशंस्ये व्यवस्थितः । प्रजापालनसंभूतं फलं किंचन लब्धवान् ॥

na hi vaiklavyasaṃsṛṣṭa ānṛśaṃsye vyavasthitaḥ | prajāpālanasaṃbhūtaṃ phalaṃ kiṃcana labdhavān

No one mingled with faintheartedness and set on gentleness alone has ever gained any fruit that comes from protecting the people.

Note on the text: Corrected वैक्लब्य → वैक्लव्य (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व, the word is वैक्लव्य "faintheartedness", as the critical edition reads vaiklavya-). The second line differs from the critical edition (kiṃ cit prāpa phalaṃ nṛpaḥ).

Verse 23 (5.132.23)

न ह्येतामाशिषं पाण्डुर्न चाहं न पितामहः । प्रयुक्तवन्तः पूर्वं ते यया चरसि मेधया ॥

na hyetāmāśiṣaṃ pāṇḍurna cāhaṃ na pitāmahaḥ | prayuktavantaḥ pūrvaṃ te yayā carasi medhayā

Neither Pandu nor I nor your grandfather ever asked for you in blessing the kind of mind by which you now act.

Verse 24 (5.132.24)

यज्ञो दानं तपः शौर्यं प्रज्ञा सन्तानमेव च । माहात्म्यं बलमोजश्च नित्यमाशंसितं मया ॥

yajño dānaṃ tapaḥ śauryaṃ prajñā santānameva ca | māhātmyaṃ balamojaśca nityamāśaṃsitaṃ mayā

Sacrifice, giving, austerity, heroism, wisdom and offspring, greatness, strength and vigour: these I always prayed for on your behalf.

Verse 25 (5.132.25)

नित्यं स्वाहा स्वधा नित्यं दद्युर्मानुषदेवताः । दीर्घमायुर्धनं पुत्रान्सम्यगाराधिताः शुभाः ॥

nityaṃ svāhā svadhā nityaṃ dadyurmānuṣadevatāḥ | dīrghamāyurdhanaṃ putrānsamyagārādhitāḥ śubhāḥ

May men and gods, duly worshipped and well disposed, always grant you the rites of svaha and svadha, long life, wealth and sons.

Verse 26 (5.132.26)

पुत्रेष्वाशासते नित्यं पितरो दैवतानि च । दानमध्ययनं यज्ञः प्रजानां परिपालनम् ॥

putreṣvāśāsate nityaṃ pitaro daivatāni ca | dānamadhyayanaṃ yajñaḥ prajānāṃ paripālanam

The ancestors and the gods always look to sons for giving, study, sacrifice and the protection of the people.

Verse 27 (5.132.27)

एतद्धर्ममधर्मं वा जन्मनैवाभ्यजायथाः । ते तु वैद्याः कुले जाता अवृत्त्या तात पीडिताः ॥

etaddharmamadharmaṃ vā janmanaivābhyajāyathāḥ | te tu vaidyāḥ kule jātā avṛttyā tāta pīḍitāḥ

Whether this is dharma or adharma, you know it by your very birth. Yet they — you and your brothers, learned men born in a noble line — are suffering, my dear, for want of a livelihood.

Verse 28 (5.132.28)

यत्र दानपतिं शूरं क्षुधिताः पृथिवीचराः । प्राप्य तुष्टाः प्रतिष्ठन्ते धर्मः कोऽभ्यधिकस्ततः ॥

yatra dānapatiṃ śūraṃ kṣudhitāḥ pṛthivīcarāḥ | prāpya tuṣṭāḥ pratiṣṭhante dharmaḥ ko'bhyadhikastataḥ

Where the hungry who roam the earth come to a generous and heroic lord and settle there content, what dharma could be greater than that?

Verse 29 (5.132.29)

दानेनान्यं बलेनान्यं तथा सूनृतयाऽपरम् । सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्राज्यं प्राप्येह धार्मिकः ॥

dānenānyaṃ balenānyaṃ tathā sūnṛtayā'param | sarvataḥ pratigṛhṇīyādrājyaṃ prāpyeha dhārmikaḥ

One by gifts, another by force, another by kind words: having gained a kingdom here, a righteous king should win people over on every side.

Verse 30 (5.132.30)

ब्राह्मणः प्रचरेद्भैक्षं क्षत्रियः परिपालयेत् । वैश्यो धनार्जनं कुर्याच्छूद्रः परिचरेच्च तान् ॥

brāhmaṇaḥ pracaredbhaikṣaṃ kṣatriyaḥ paripālayet | vaiśyo dhanārjanaṃ kuryācchūdraḥ paricarecca tān

A brahmin should live on alms, a kshatriya should protect, a vaishya should earn wealth, and a shudra should serve them.

Verse 31 (5.132.31)

भैक्षं विप्रतिषिद्धं ते कृषिर्नैवोपपद्यते । क्षत्रियोऽसि क्षतात्त्राता बाहुवीर्योपजीविता ॥

bhaikṣaṃ vipratiṣiddhaṃ te kṛṣirnaivopapadyate | kṣatriyo'si kṣatāttrātā bāhuvīryopajīvitā

Begging is forbidden to you, and farming does not suit you. You are a kshatriya, a protector from harm, one who lives by the strength of his arms.

Note on the text: Corrected क्षतात्राता → क्षतात्त्राता (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त in क्षतात् त्राता, as the critical edition reads kṣatāt trātā).

Verse 32 (5.132.32)

पित्र्यमंशं महाबाहो निमग्नं पुनरुद्धर । साम्ना भेदेन दानेन दण्डेनाथ नयेन वा ॥

pitryamaṃśaṃ mahābāho nimagnaṃ punaruddhara | sāmnā bhedena dānena daṇḍenātha nayena vā

Mighty-armed one, raise up again your father's share that has sunk, by conciliation, by sowing division, by gifts, by force, or by policy.

Verse 33 (5.132.33)

इतो दुःखतरं किं नु यदहं दीनबान्धवा । परपिण्डमुदीक्षे वै त्वां सूत्वा मित्रनन्दन ॥

ito duḥkhataraṃ kiṃ nu yadahaṃ dīnabāndhavā | parapiṇḍamudīkṣe vai tvāṃ sūtvā mitranandana

What could be more painful than this, that I, my kin brought low, having given birth to you, O joy of your friends, must look to others for my food?

Verse 34 (5.132.34)

युध्यस्व राजधर्मेण मा निमज्जीः पितामहान् । मा गमः क्षीणपुण्यस्त्वं सानुजः पापिकां गतिम् ॥

yudhyasva rājadharmeṇa mā nimajjīḥ pitāmahān | mā gamaḥ kṣīṇapuṇyastvaṃ sānujaḥ pāpikāṃ gatim

Fight by the dharma of kings; do not let your forefathers sink. Do not, with your merit spent, go with your brothers to an evil end."

Note on the text: Corrected निमञ्जीः → निमज्जीः (misprint in Wikisource; ञ्ज for ज्ज, the root is मज्ज्, as the critical edition reads nimajjīḥ) and verse-final गतिं → गतिम्.