Krishna Reports Bhishma's Counsel

Verse 1 (5.147.1)

आगम्य हास्तिनपुरादुपप्लाव्यमरिन्दमः । पाण्डवानां यथावृत्तं केशवः सर्वमुक्तवान् ॥

āgamya hāstinapurādupaplāvyamarindamaḥ | pāṇḍavānāṃ yathāvṛttaṃ keśavaḥ sarvamuktavān

Having come back from Hastinapura to Upaplavya, Keshava, the subduer of enemies, told the Pandavas everything just as it had happened.

Verse 2 (5.147.2)

संभाष्य सुचिरं कालं मन्त्रयित्वा पुनः पुनः । स्वमेव भवनं शौरिर्विश्रमार्थं जगाम ह ॥

saṃbhāṣya suciraṃ kālaṃ mantrayitvā punaḥ punaḥ | svameva bhavanaṃ śaurirviśramārthaṃ jagāma ha

After talking with them for a long while and taking counsel again and again, Shauri went to his own residence to rest.

Verse 3 (5.147.3)

विसृज्य सर्वान्नृपतीन्विराटप्रमुखांस्तदा । पाण्डवा भ्रातरः पञ्च भानावस्तंगते सति ॥

visṛjya sarvānnṛpatīnvirāṭapramukhāṃstadā | pāṇḍavā bhrātaraḥ pañca bhānāvastaṃgate sati

When the sun had set, the five Pandava brothers dismissed all the kings, headed by Virata.

Verse 4 (5.147.4)

सन्ध्यामुपास्य ध्यायन्तस्तमेव गतमानसाः । आनाय्य कृष्णं दाशार्हं पुनर्मन्त्रममन्त्रयन् ॥

sandhyāmupāsya dhyāyantastameva gatamānasāḥ | ānāyya kṛṣṇaṃ dāśārhaṃ punarmantramamantrayan

After performing the evening worship they sat thinking, their minds fixed on that one matter; then they had Krishna of the Dasharhas brought back and took counsel once more.

Verse 5 (5.147.5)

त्वया नागपुरं गत्वा सभायां धृतराष्ट्रजः । किमुक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्ष तन्नः शंसितुमर्हसि ॥

tvayā nāgapuraṃ gatvā sabhāyāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ | kimuktaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣa tannaḥ śaṃsitumarhasi

Lotus-eyed one, when you went to the City of the Elephant, what did you say to Dhritarashtra's son in the assembly? Please tell us that.

Verse 6 (5.147.6)

मया नागपुरं गत्वा सभायां धृतराष्ट्रजः । तथ्यं पथ्यं हितं चोक्तो न च गृह्णाति दुर्मतिः ॥

mayā nāgapuraṃ gatvā sabhāyāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ | tathyaṃ pathyaṃ hitaṃ cokto na ca gṛhṇāti durmatiḥ

When I went to the City of the Elephant, I told Dhritarashtra's son in the assembly what was true, wholesome and beneficial; but that evil-minded man does not accept it.

Note on the text: The page ends this row with a single danda; it is kept as a separate verse, as the page numbers it (and as the critical edition has it, 5.145.6).

Verse 7 (5.147.7)

तस्मिन्नुत्पथमापन्ने कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः । किमुक्तवान्हृषीकेश दुर्योधनममर्षणम् ॥

tasminnutpathamāpanne kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ | kimuktavānhṛṣīkeśa duryodhanamamarṣaṇam

When he had strayed onto the wrong path, Hrishikesha, what did the grandsire, the eldest of the Kurus, say to the intolerant Duryodhana?

Note on the text: Wikisource divides 5.145.7–12 differently from the critical edition: this verse is the critical edition's 5.145.7ab–cd.

Verse 8 (5.147.8)

आचार्यो वा महाभाग भारद्वाजः किमब्रवीत् । पितरौ धृतराष्ट्रस्तं गान्धारी वा किमब्रवीत् ॥

ācāryo vā mahābhāga bhāradvājaḥ kimabravīt | pitarau dhṛtarāṣṭrastaṃ gāndhārī vā kimabravīt

Or what did the teacher, the illustrious son of Bharadvaja, say? And his parents — what did Dhritarashtra or Gandhari say to him?

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.145.7ef (mahābāho for महाभाग). Line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it is recorded in its apparatus as 5.145.7f*0534 (pitā vā for पितरौ).

Verse 9 (5.147.9)

पिता यवीयानस्माकं क्षत्ता धर्मविदां वरः । पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तः किमाह धृतराष्ट्रजम् ॥

pitā yavīyānasmākaṃ kṣattā dharmavidāṃ varaḥ | putraśokābhisantaptaḥ kimāha dhṛtarāṣṭrajam

And our younger father, the Kshattri, foremost of those who know dharma, tormented by grief for us, his sons — what did he say to Dhritarashtra's son?

Verse 10 (5.147.10)

किंच सर्वे नृपतयः सभायां ये समासते । उक्तवन्तो यथातत्त्वं तद्ब्रूहि त्वं जनार्दन ॥

kiṃca sarve nṛpatayaḥ sabhāyāṃ ye samāsate | uktavanto yathātattvaṃ tadbrūhi tvaṃ janārdana

And what did all the kings who sit in the assembly say? Tell us that truly, Janardana.

Verse 11 (5.147.11)

उक्तवान्हि भवान्सर्वं वचनं कुरुमुख्ययोः । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य तेषां हि वचनं कुरुसंसदि ॥

uktavānhi bhavānsarvaṃ vacanaṃ kurumukhyayoḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrasya teṣāṃ hi vacanaṃ kurusaṃsadi

You have indeed told us, in all, the words of the two foremost Kurus; and what Dhritarashtra's son and the others said in the Kuru assembly —

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.145.10ab. Line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it is recorded in its apparatus as 5.145.10b*0535.

Verse 12 (5.147.12)

कामलोभाभिभूतस्य मन्दस्य प्राज्ञमानिनः । अप्रियं हृदये मह्यं तन्न तिष्ठति केशव ॥

kāmalobhābhibhūtasya mandasya prājñamāninaḥ | apriyaṃ hṛdaye mahyaṃ tanna tiṣṭhati keśava

the words of that dull fool, overcome by desire and greed, who thinks himself wise — such unpleasant talk does not stay in my heart, Keshava.

Note on the text: This verse joins the critical edition's 5.145.10cd and 5.145.11ab.

Verse 13 (5.147.13)

तेषां वाक्यानि गोविन्द श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो । यथा च नाभिपद्येत कालस्तात तथा कुरु । भवान्हि नो गतिः कृष्ण भवान्नाथो भवान्गुरुः ॥

teṣāṃ vākyāni govinda śrotumicchāmyahaṃ vibho | yathā ca nābhipadyeta kālastāta tathā kuru | bhavānhi no gatiḥ kṛṣṇa bhavānnātho bhavānguruḥ

I wish to hear what they said, Govinda, my lord. And act, dear friend, so that the time does not slip past us; for you are our refuge, Krishna, you are our protector and our teacher.

Note on the text: This verse joins the critical edition's 5.145.11cd and 5.145.12.

Verse 14 (5.147.14)

शृणु राजन्यथा वाक्यमुक्तो राजा सुयोधनः । मध्ये कुरूणां राजेन्द्र सभायां तन्निबोध मे ॥

śṛṇu rājanyathā vākyamukto rājā suyodhanaḥ | madhye kurūṇāṃ rājendra sabhāyāṃ tannibodha me

Listen, king, to the words that were spoken to King Suyodhana in the assembly, in the midst of the Kurus; learn them from me, lord of kings.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृणु → शृणु (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ, as in the critical edition's śṛṇu).

Verse 15 (5.147.15)

मया विश्राविते वाक्ये जहास धृतराष्ट्रजः । अथ भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

mayā viśrāvite vākye jahāsa dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ | atha bhīṣmaḥ susaṃkruddha idaṃ vacanamabravīt

When I had made my words heard, Dhritarashtra's son laughed. Then Bhishma, greatly angered, spoke these words:

Verse 16 (5.147.16)

दुर्योधन निबोधेदं कुलार्थे यद्ब्रवीमि ते । तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूल स्वकुलस्य हितं कुरु ॥

duryodhana nibodhedaṃ kulārthe yadbravīmi te | tacchrutvā rājaśārdūla svakulasya hitaṃ kuru

Duryodhana, understand what I tell you for the sake of the family. Having heard it, tiger among kings, do what is good for your own line.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma: his speech, announced by Krishna in verse 15, fills verses 16–25 with no printed heading in Wikisource (nor in the critical edition).

Verse 17 (5.147.17)

मम तात पिता राजञ्शन्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः । तस्याहमेक एवासं पुत्रः पुत्रवतां वरः ॥

mama tāta pitā rājañśantanurlokaviśrutaḥ | tasyāhameka evāsaṃ putraḥ putravatāṃ varaḥ

My father, dear son, was King Shantanu, renowned in the world, and I was the only son of that best of fathers.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16).

Verse 18 (5.147.18)

तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना द्वितीयः स्यात्कथं सुतः । एकपुत्रमपुत्रं वै प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः ॥

tasya buddhiḥ samutpannā dvitīyaḥ syātkathaṃ sutaḥ | ekaputramaputraṃ vai pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ

The thought arose in him: "How might I have a second son? For the wise say that a man with one son is as good as sonless.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16).

Verse 19 (5.147.19)

न चोच्छेदं कुलं यायाद्विस्तीर्येच्च कथं यशः । तस्याहमीप्सितं बुद्ध्वा कालीं मातरमावहम् ॥

na cocchedaṃ kulaṃ yāyādvistīryecca kathaṃ yaśaḥ | tasyāhamīpsitaṃ buddhvā kālīṃ mātaramāvaham

How may the family escape extinction, and how may its fame spread?" Knowing his wish, I brought Kali to be my mother.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16).

Verse 20 (5.147.20)

प्रतिज्ञां दुष्करां कृत्वा पितुरर्थे कुलस्य च । अराजा चोर्ध्वरेताश्च यथा सुविदितं तव । प्रतीतो निवसाम्येष प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन् ॥

pratijñāṃ duṣkarāṃ kṛtvā piturarthe kulasya ca | arājā cordhvaretāśca yathā suviditaṃ tava | pratīto nivasāmyeṣa pratijñāmanupālayan

For my father's sake and the family's I made a vow hard to keep — to be no king and to remain celibate, as you know well. Content, I live on here, keeping that vow.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16).

Verse 21 (5.147.21)

तस्यां जज्ञे महाबाहुः श्रीमान्कुरुकुलोद्वहः । विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा कनीयान्मम पार्थिव ॥

tasyāṃ jajñe mahābāhuḥ śrīmānkurukulodvahaḥ | vicitravīryo dharmātmā kanīyānmama pārthiva

Of her was born the mighty-armed and glorious Vichitravirya, upholder of the Kuru line, righteous, my younger brother, O king.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16).

Verse 22 (5.147.22)

स्वर्यातेऽहं पितरि तं स्वराज्ये सन्न्यवेशयम् । विचित्रवीर्यं राजानं भृत्यो भूत्वा ह्यधश्चरः ॥

svaryāte'haṃ pitari taṃ svarājye sannyaveśayam | vicitravīryaṃ rājānaṃ bhṛtyo bhūtvā hyadhaścaraḥ

When my father had gone to heaven, I installed Vichitravirya as king in his own kingdom, and became his servant, standing below him.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16).

Verse 23 (5.147.23)

तस्याहं सदृशान्दारान्राजेन्द्र समुपाहरम् । जित्वा पार्थिवसङ्घातमपि ते बहुशः श्रुतम् ॥

tasyāhaṃ sadṛśāndārānrājendra samupāharam | jitvā pārthivasaṅghātamapi te bahuśaḥ śrutam

I brought him wives worthy of him, lord of kings, after defeating the assembled kings, as you have often heard.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16).

Verse 24 (5.147.24)

ततो रामेण समरे द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागमम् । स हि रामभयादेभिर्नागरैर्विप्रवासितः ॥

tato rāmeṇa samare dvandvayuddhamupāgamam | sa hi rāmabhayādebhirnāgarairvipravāsitaḥ

After that I met Rama in single combat on the battlefield. Out of fear of Rama, the citizens sent Vichitravirya far away.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16). This verse is the critical edition's 5.145.23ab–cd; Wikisource divides 5.145.23–24 differently.

Verse 25 (5.147.25)

दारेष्वप्यतिसक्तश्च यक्ष्माणं समपद्यत । यदा त्वराजके राष्ट्रे न ववर्ष सुरेश्वरः । तदाभ्यधावन्मामेव प्रजाः क्षुद्भयपीडिताः ॥

dāreṣvapyatisaktaśca yakṣmāṇaṃ samapadyata | yadā tvarājake rāṣṭre na vavarṣa sureśvaraḥ | tadābhyadhāvanmāmeva prajāḥ kṣudbhayapīḍitāḥ

Too attached to his wives, he fell ill with consumption. And when the realm was without a king and Indra, lord of the gods, sent no rain, the people, tormented by fear of famine, ran to me alone.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (see verse 16). This verse joins the critical edition's 5.145.23ef and 5.145.24.

Verse 26 (5.147.26)

उपक्षीणाः प्रजाः सर्वा राजा भव भवाय नः । ईतीः प्रणुद भद्रं ते शन्तनोः कुलवर्धन ॥

upakṣīṇāḥ prajāḥ sarvā rājā bhava bhavāya naḥ | ītīḥ praṇuda bhadraṃ te śantanoḥ kulavardhana

All your subjects are wasting away. Become king, for our welfare. Drive away these calamities — may it go well with you — O you who increase Shantanu's line.

Note on the text: Corrected भद्रं शन्तनोः → भद्रं ते शन्तनोः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara leaves the third quarter a syllable short; the critical edition has bhadraṃ te).

Verse 27 (5.147.27)

पीड्यन्ते ते प्रजाः सर्वा व्याधिभिर्भृशदारुणैः । अल्पावशिष्टा गाङ्गेय ताः परित्रातुमर्हसि ॥

pīḍyante te prajāḥ sarvā vyādhibhirbhṛśadāruṇaiḥ | alpāvaśiṣṭā gāṅgeya tāḥ paritrātumarhasi

All these subjects of yours are afflicted by terrible diseases; only a few are left, son of Ganga. You ought to save them.

Verse 28 (5.147.28)

व्याधीन्प्रणुद्य वीर त्वं प्रजा धर्मेण पालय । त्वयि जीवति मा राष्ट्रं विनाशमुपगच्छतु ॥

vyādhīnpraṇudya vīra tvaṃ prajā dharmeṇa pālaya | tvayi jīvati mā rāṣṭraṃ vināśamupagacchatu

Drive away the diseases, hero, and protect the people righteously. While you live, let the kingdom not go to ruin.

Note on the text: Corrected जिवती → जीवति (misprint in Wikisource; vowel signs reversed, as in the critical edition's jīvati).

Verse 29 (5.147.29)

प्रजानां क्रोशतीनां वै नैवाक्षुभ्यत मे मनः । प्रतिज्ञां रक्षमाणस्य तद्वृत्तं स्मरतस्तथा । ततः पौरा महाराज माता काली च मे शुभा ॥

prajānāṃ krośatīnāṃ vai naivākṣubhyata me manaḥ | pratijñāṃ rakṣamāṇasya tadvṛttaṃ smaratastathā | tataḥ paurā mahārāja mātā kālī ca me śubhā

Though the people cried out, my mind was not shaken at all, for I was guarding my vow and remembering what had happened. Then, great king, the citizens, my good mother Kali,

Note on the text: This verse joins the critical edition's 5.145.28 and 5.145.29ab; Wikisource divides 5.145.28–29 differently.

Verse 30 (5.147.30)

भृत्याः पुरोहिताचार्या ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः । मामूचुर्भृशसंतप्ता भव राजेति सन्ततम् ॥

bhṛtyāḥ purohitācāryā brāhmaṇāśca bahuśrutāḥ | māmūcurbhṛśasaṃtaptā bhava rājeti santatam

the servants, the family priests and teachers, and learned brahmins, sorely distressed, said to me again and again, "Become king!"

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 5.145.29cd–ef.

Verse 31 (5.147.31)

प्रतीपरक्षितं राष्ट्रं त्वां प्राप्य विनशिष्यति । स त्वमस्मद्धितार्थं वै राजा भव महामते ॥

pratīparakṣitaṃ rāṣṭraṃ tvāṃ prāpya vinaśiṣyati | sa tvamasmaddhitārthaṃ vai rājā bhava mahāmate

The kingdom that Pratipa guarded will perish in your hands. So, for our good, become king, wise one.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the citizens, Kali and the court (पौरादय ऊचुः): their plea, announced in verses 29–30 (मामूचुः … भव राजेति), fills this verse with no printed heading in Wikisource (nor in the critical edition).

Verse 32 (5.147.32)

इत्युक्तः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा दुःखितो भृशमातुरः । तेभ्यो न्यवेदयं तत्र प्रतिज्ञां पितृगौरवात् ॥

ityuktaḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā duḥkhito bhṛśamāturaḥ | tebhyo nyavedayaṃ tatra pratijñāṃ pitṛgauravāt

Thus addressed, I joined my palms, grieved and deeply troubled, and there, out of reverence for my father, I told them of my vow:

Note on the text: Speaker restored to Bhishma after the plea of the citizens and the court. Corrected पितृगोरवात् → पितृगौरवात् (misprint in Wikisource; ो for ौ, as in the critical edition's pitṛgauravāt). This verse is the critical edition's 5.145.31ab–cd (putra for तत्र).

Verse 33 (5.147.33)

ऊर्ध्वरेता ह्यराजा च कुलस्यार्थे पुनः पुनः । विशेषतस्त्वदर्थं च धुरि मा मां नियोजय ॥

ūrdhvaretā hyarājā ca kulasyārthe punaḥ punaḥ | viśeṣatastvadarthaṃ ca dhuri mā māṃ niyojaya

"For the family's sake I am celibate and no king," I said again and again; "and especially for your sake, do not yoke me to this burden."

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.145.31ef; line 2 is its 5.145.33ab, which the critical edition places after the plea to the mother.

Verse 34 (5.147.34)

ततोऽहं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा मातरं संप्रसादयम् । नाम्ब शन्तनुना जातः कौरवं वंशमुद्वहन् ॥

tato'haṃ prāñjalirbhūtvā mātaraṃ saṃprasādayam | nāmba śantanunā jātaḥ kauravaṃ vaṃśamudvahan

Then, palms joined, I tried to win my mother over: "Mother, I who was born of Shantanu and uphold the Kaurava line

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 5.145.32ab–cd.

Verse 35 (5.147.35)

प्रतिज्ञां वितथां कुर्यामिति राजन्पुनः पुनः । विशेषतस्त्वदर्थं च प्रतिज्ञां कृतवानहम् ॥

pratijñāṃ vitathāṃ kuryāmiti rājanpunaḥ punaḥ | viśeṣatastvadarthaṃ ca pratijñāṃ kṛtavānaham

could never make my vow false" — so I said again and again, O king — "and it was especially for your sake that I made that vow.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.145.32ef. Line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 36 (5.147.36)

अहं प्रेष्यश्च दासश्च तवाद्य सुतवत्सले । एवं तामनुनीयाहं मातरं जनसन्निधौ ॥

ahaṃ preṣyaśca dāsaśca tavādya sutavatsale | evaṃ tāmanunīyāhaṃ mātaraṃ janasannidhau

Today I am your messenger and your servant, mother who loves her son." Having thus won over my mother before the people,

Note on the text: This verse joins the critical edition's 5.145.33cd (tavāmba for तवाद्य) and 5.145.34ab.

Verse 37 (5.147.37)

अयाचं भ्रातृदारेषु तदा व्यासं महामुनिम् । सह मात्रा महाराज प्रसाद्य तमृषिं तदा ॥

ayācaṃ bhrātṛdāreṣu tadā vyāsaṃ mahāmunim | saha mātrā mahārāja prasādya tamṛṣiṃ tadā

I then entreated the great sage Vyasa on behalf of my brother's wives; and when, great king, my mother and I had won the favour of that seer,

Note on the text: Corrected भ्रतृदारेषु → भ्रातृदारेषु (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, as in the critical edition's bhrātṛdāreṣu). Restored from the critical edition (5.145.35a): Wikisource repeats महामुनिम् from line 1 in place of तदा, making the quarter two syllables too long; the critical edition has tam ṛṣiṃ tadā. This verse joins the critical edition's 5.145.34cd and 5.145.35ab. The page ends this row with a single danda; it is kept as a separate verse, as the page numbers it.

Verse 38 (5.147.38)

अपत्यार्थं महाराज प्रसादं कृतवांश्च सः । त्रीन्स पुत्रानजनयत्तदा भरतसत्तम ॥

apatyārthaṃ mahārāja prasādaṃ kṛtavāṃśca saḥ | trīnsa putrānajanayattadā bharatasattama

he granted his favour, great king, for the sake of offspring, and fathered three sons then, best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 5.145.35cd–ef (apatyārtham ayācaṃ vai for अपत्यार्थं महाराज).

Verse 39 (5.147.39)

अन्धः करणहीनत्वान्न वै राजा पिता तव । राजा तु पाण्डुरभवन्महात्मा लोकविश्रुतः ॥

andhaḥ karaṇahīnatvānna vai rājā pitā tava | rājā tu pāṇḍurabhavanmahātmā lokaviśrutaḥ

Your father, being blind and lacking a sense, did not become king; the king was the great-souled Pandu, renowned in the world.

Verse 40 (5.147.40)

स राजा तस्य ते पुत्राः पितुर्दायाद्यहारिणः । मा तात कलहं कार्षी राज्यस्यार्धं प्रदीयताम् ॥

sa rājā tasya te putrāḥ piturdāyādyahāriṇaḥ | mā tāta kalahaṃ kārṣī rājyasyārdhaṃ pradīyatām

He was the king, and his sons are heirs to their father's inheritance. Do not quarrel, dear son; let half the kingdom be given to them.

Verse 41 (5.147.41)

मयि जीवति राज्यं कः संप्रशासेत्पुमानिह । मावमंस्था वचो मह्यं शममिच्छामि वः सदा ॥

mayi jīvati rājyaṃ kaḥ saṃpraśāsetpumāniha | māvamaṃsthā vaco mahyaṃ śamamicchāmi vaḥ sadā

While I live, what man here can rule the kingdom? Do not disregard my words; I always want peace among you.

Note on the text: Corrected मावमंस्या → मावमंस्था (misprint in Wikisource; the aorist needs थ, as in the critical edition's māvamaṃsthā).

Verse 42 (5.147.42)

न विशेषोऽस्ति मे पुत्र त्वयि तेषु च पार्थिव । मतमेतत्पितुस्तुभ्यं गान्धार्या विदुरस्य च ॥

na viśeṣo'sti me putra tvayi teṣu ca pārthiva | matametatpitustubhyaṃ gāndhāryā vidurasya ca

I make no distinction, son, between you and them, O king. This is your father's view as well, and Gandhari's and Vidura's.

Note on the text: Corrected षार्थिव → पार्थिव (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प, as in the critical edition's pārthiva).

Verse 43 (5.147.43)

श्रोतव्यं खलु वृद्धानां नाभिशङ्कीर्वचो मम । नाशयिष्यसि मा सर्वमात्मानं पृथिवीं तथा ॥

śrotavyaṃ khalu vṛddhānāṃ nābhiśaṅkīrvaco mama | nāśayiṣyasi mā sarvamātmānaṃ pṛthivīṃ tathā

The elders must surely be heeded; do not distrust my words. Do not destroy everything — yourself and the earth as well.