Krishna Counsels Yudhishthira before His Mission

Verse 1 (5.72.1)

सञ्जयस्य श्रुतं वाक्यं भवतश्च श्रुतं मया । सर्वं जानाम्यभिप्रायं तेषां च भवतश्च यः ॥

sañjayasya śrutaṃ vākyaṃ bhavataśca śrutaṃ mayā | sarvaṃ jānāmyabhiprāyaṃ teṣāṃ ca bhavataśca yaḥ

I have heard Sanjaya's words, and I have heard yours. I know everything that is in their minds and in yours.

Verse 2 (5.72.2)

तव धर्माश्रिता बुद्धिस्तेषां वैराश्रया मतिः । यदयुद्धेन लभ्येत तत्ते बहुमतं भवेत् ॥

tava dharmāśritā buddhisteṣāṃ vairāśrayā matiḥ | yadayuddhena labhyeta tatte bahumataṃ bhavet

Your mind rests on dharma; theirs rests on enmity. Whatever can be had without war you value highly.

Verse 3 (5.72.3)

न चैवं नैष्ठिकं कर्म क्षत्रियस्य विशांपते । आहुराश्रमिणः सर्वे न भैक्षं क्षत्रियश्चरेत् ॥

na caivaṃ naiṣṭhikaṃ karma kṣatriyasya viśāṃpate | āhurāśramiṇaḥ sarve na bhaikṣaṃ kṣatriyaścaret

But a lifelong vow of renunciation is not the kshatriya's work, lord of the people. Those who know the stages of life all say that a kshatriya should not live on alms.

Verse 4 (5.72.4)

जयो वधो वा सङ्ग्रामे धात्राऽऽदिष्टः सनातनः । स्वधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष कार्पण्यं न प्रशस्यते ॥

jayo vadho vā saṅgrāme dhātrā''diṣṭaḥ sanātanaḥ | svadharmaḥ kṣatriyasyaiṣa kārpaṇyaṃ na praśasyate

Victory or death in battle is what the Creator ordained from of old. This is the kshatriya's own duty; meekness is not praised in him.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रशत्यते → प्रशस्यते (misprint in Wikisource; त for स, critical edition na praśasyate).

Verse 5 (5.72.5)

न हि कार्पण्यमास्थाय शक्या वृत्तिर्युधिष्ठिर । विक्रमस्व महाबाहो जहि शत्रून्परन्तप ॥

na hi kārpaṇyamāsthāya śakyā vṛttiryudhiṣṭhira | vikramasva mahābāho jahi śatrūnparantapa

No one can make a living by taking up meekness, Yudhishthira. Show your valour, mighty-armed one, and slay your enemies, scorcher of foes.

Verse 6 (5.72.6)

अतिगृद्धाः कृतस्नेहा दीर्घकालं सहोषिताः । कृतमित्राः कृतबला धार्तराष्ट्राः परन्तप ॥

atigṛddhāḥ kṛtasnehā dīrghakālaṃ sahoṣitāḥ | kṛtamitrāḥ kṛtabalā dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ parantapa

The sons of Dhritarashtra are grasping beyond measure. They have won men's affection, lived long together with them, made friends and gathered strength, scorcher of foes.

Verse 7 (5.72.7)

न पर्यायोऽस्ति यत्साम्यं त्वयि कुर्युर्विशांपते । बलवत्तां हि मन्यन्ते भीष्मद्रोणकृपादिभिः ॥

na paryāyo'sti yatsāmyaṃ tvayi kuryurviśāṃpate | balavattāṃ hi manyante bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādibhiḥ

There is no way by which they would make peace with you, lord of the people, for they think themselves strong with Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and the rest.

Verse 8 (5.72.8)

यावच्च मार्दवेनैतान्राजन्नुपचरिष्यसि । तावदेते हरिष्यन्ति तव राज्यमरिन्दम ॥

yāvacca mārdavenaitānrājannupacariṣyasi | tāvadete hariṣyanti tava rājyamarindama

For as long as you treat them with gentleness, O king, so long will they keep taking your kingdom from you, subduer of enemies.

Verse 9 (5.72.9)

नानुक्रोशान्न कार्पण्यान्न च धर्मार्थकारणात् । अलं कर्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रस्तव काममरिन्दम ॥

nānukrośānna kārpaṇyānna ca dharmārthakāraṇāt | alaṃ kartuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrastava kāmamarindama

Neither out of pity, nor because of your humility, nor for the sake of dharma and gain will Dhritarashtra's son bring himself to do what you wish, subduer of enemies.

Verse 10 (5.72.10)

एतदेव निमित्तं ते धार्तराष्ट्रो यथा त्वयि । नान्वतप्यत कोपेन तव कृत्वाऽपि दुष्करम् ॥

etadeva nimittaṃ te dhārtarāṣṭro yathā tvayi | nānvatapyata kopena tava kṛtvā'pi duṣkaram

This alone is proof enough for you: that Dhritarashtra's son, in his anger, felt no remorse even after doing you so cruel a wrong.

Verse 11 (5.72.11)

पितामहस्य द्रोणस्य विदुरस्य च धीमतः । ब्राह्मणानां च साधूनां राज्ञश्च नगरस्य च ॥

pitāmahasya droṇasya vidurasya ca dhīmataḥ | brāhmaṇānāṃ ca sādhūnāṃ rājñaśca nagarasya ca

Before the eyes of the grandsire, of Drona and of the wise Vidura, of the brahmins and good men, of the king and of the city,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.71.11a; line 2 is its star passage 5.71.11b*0373 (line 1). Wikisource's verses 11–13 hold the critical edition's 5.71.11–12 with this added line.

Verse 12 (5.72.12)

पश्यतां कुरुमुख्यानां सर्वेषामेव तत्त्वतः । दानशीलं मृदुं दान्तं धर्मशीलमनुव्रतम् ॥

paśyatāṃ kurumukhyānāṃ sarveṣāmeva tattvataḥ | dānaśīlaṃ mṛduṃ dāntaṃ dharmaśīlamanuvratam

before the eyes of all the chief men of the Kurus, you, who are generous, gentle, self-controlled, devoted to dharma and obedient to your elders,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.71.11c; line 2 is 5.71.12a (reading dharmakāmam for धर्मशीलम्).

Verse 13 (5.72.13)

यत्त्वामुपधिना राजन्द्यूते वञ्चितवांस्तदा । न चापत्रपते तेन नृशंसः स्वेन कर्मणा ॥

yattvāmupadhinā rājandyūte vañcitavāṃstadā | na cāpatrapate tena nṛśaṃsaḥ svena karmaṇā

were cheated by him then at dice through a trick, O king, and yet the cruel man feels no shame at that deed of his own.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.71.12cd (reading dyūtenāvañcayat and na cāpatrapate pāpo nṛśaṃsas tena karmaṇā).

Verse 14 (5.72.14)

तथाशीलसमाचारे राजन्मा प्रणयं कृथाः । वध्यास्ते सर्वलोकस्य किं पुनस्तव भारत ॥

tathāśīlasamācāre rājanmā praṇayaṃ kṛthāḥ | vadhyāste sarvalokasya kiṃ punastava bhārata

Show no friendliness, O king, to one of such character and conduct. Such men deserve death at the hands of the whole world; how much more at yours, Bharata?

Note on the text: Corrected तथाशीलसमाचरे → तथाशीलसमाचारे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ा, critical edition tathāśīlasamācāre).

Verse 15 (5.72.15)

वाग्भिस्त्वप्रतिरूपाभिरतुदत्त्वां सहानुजम् । श्लाघमानः प्रहृष्टः सन्भ्रातृभिः सह भाषते ॥

vāgbhistvapratirūpābhiratudattvāṃ sahānujam | ślāghamānaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ sanbhrātṛbhiḥ saha bhāṣate

He wounded you and your younger brothers with unseemly words, and now, boastful and delighted, he says among his brothers:

Verse 16 (5.72.16)

एतावत्पाण्डवानां हि नास्ति किंचिदिह स्वकम् । नामधेयं च गोत्रं च तदप्येषां न शिष्यते ॥

etāvatpāṇḍavānāṃ hi nāsti kiṃcidiha svakam | nāmadheyaṃ ca gotraṃ ca tadapyeṣāṃ na śiṣyate

"Now the Pandavas have nothing at all of their own here. Only their name and lineage are left, and even those will not remain to them.

Verse 17 (5.72.17)

कालेन महता चैषां भविष्यति पराभवः । प्रकृतिं ते भजिष्यन्ति नष्टप्रकृतयो मयि ॥

kālena mahatā caiṣāṃ bhaviṣyati parābhavaḥ | prakṛtiṃ te bhajiṣyanti naṣṭaprakṛtayo mayi

In the course of time they will be overthrown. Their spirit broken in my presence, they will go the way of all flesh."

Verse 18 (5.72.18)

दुःशासनेन पापेन तदा द्यूते प्रवर्तिते । अनाथवत्तदा देवी द्रौपदी सुदुरात्मना ॥

duḥśāsanena pāpena tadā dyūte pravartite | anāthavattadā devī draupadī sudurātmanā

When the dicing had been set going by the wicked Duhshasana, then the queen Draupadi, as though she had no protector, was by that utterly evil man

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records verses 18–20 in its apparatus as the star passage 5.71.16d*0374, lines 1–6.

Verse 19 (5.72.19)

आकृष्य केशे रुदती सभायां राजसंसदि । भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतो गौरिति व्याहृता मुहुः ॥

ākṛṣya keśe rudatī sabhāyāṃ rājasaṃsadi | bhīṣmadroṇapramukhato gauriti vyāhṛtā muhuḥ

dragged by the hair, weeping, into the hall, into the assembly of kings, and before Bhishma, Drona and the others she was called "Cow!" again and again.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 5.71.16d*0374, lines 3–4.

Verse 20 (5.72.20)

भवता वारिताः सर्वे भ्रातरो भीमविक्रमाः । धर्मपाशनिबद्धाश्च न किंचित्प्रतिपेदिरे ॥

bhavatā vāritāḥ sarve bhrātaro bhīmavikramāḥ | dharmapāśanibaddhāśca na kiṃcitpratipedire

All your brothers, terrible in valour, were held back by you; bound by the noose of dharma, they did nothing at all.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 5.71.16d*0374, lines 5–6.

Verse 21 (5.72.21)

एताश्चान्याश्च परुषा वाचः स समुदीरयन् । श्लाघते ज्ञातिमध्ये स्म त्वयि प्रव्रजिते वनम् ॥

etāścānyāśca paruṣā vācaḥ sa samudīrayan | ślāghate jñātimadhye sma tvayi pravrajite vanam

Uttering these and other harsh words, he boasted in the midst of his kinsmen when you had gone away to the forest.

Verse 22 (5.72.22)

ये तत्रासन्समानीतास्ते दृष्ट्वा त्वामनागसम् । अश्रुकण्ठा रुदन्तश्च सभायामासते सदा ॥

ye tatrāsansamānītāste dṛṣṭvā tvāmanāgasam | aśrukaṇṭhā rudantaśca sabhāyāmāsate sadā

Those who had been brought there, seeing you blameless, sat in the hall weeping, their throats choked with tears, the whole time.

Verse 23 (5.72.23)

न चैनमभ्यनन्दंस्ते राजानो ब्राह्मणैः सह । सर्वे दुर्योधनं तत्र निन्दन्ति स्म सभासदः ॥

na cainamabhyanandaṃste rājāno brāhmaṇaiḥ saha | sarve duryodhanaṃ tatra nindanti sma sabhāsadaḥ

The kings and the brahmins did not applaud him; every member of the assembly there censured Duryodhana.

Verse 24 (5.72.24)

कुलीनस्य च या निन्दा वधो वाऽमित्रकर्शन । महागुणो वधो राजन्न तु निन्दा कुजीविका ॥

kulīnasya ca yā nindā vadho vā'mitrakarśana | mahāguṇo vadho rājanna tu nindā kujīvikā

For a man of good family, tormentor of foes, there is either disgrace or death. Death is by far the better, O king, not disgrace, which is a wretched way to live.

Note on the text: Corrected राजन्नु तु → राजन्न तु (misprint in Wikisource; नु for न, critical edition rājan na tu).

Verse 25 (5.72.25)

तदैव निहतो राजन्यदैव निरपत्रपः । निन्दितश्च महाराज पृथिव्यां सर्वराजभिः ॥

tadaiva nihato rājanyadaiva nirapatrapaḥ | ninditaśca mahārāja pṛthivyāṃ sarvarājabhiḥ

He was slain, O king, at the very moment that the shameless man was censured on earth by all the kings, great king.

Verse 26 (5.72.26)

ईषत्करो वधस्तस्य यस्य चारित्रमीदृशम् । प्रस्कुन्देन प्रतिस्तब्धश्छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः ॥

īṣatkaro vadhastasya yasya cāritramīdṛśam | praskundena pratistabdhaśchinnamūla iva drumaḥ

It takes little to kill one whose conduct is like this. He is like a tree with its roots cut, held up only by a ring of stones around it.

Verse 27 (5.72.27)

वध्यः सर्प इवानार्यः सर्वलोकस्य दुर्मतिः । जह्येनं त्वममित्रघ्न मा राजन्विचिकित्सिथाः ॥

vadhyaḥ sarpa ivānāryaḥ sarvalokasya durmatiḥ | jahyenaṃ tvamamitraghna mā rājanvicikitsithāḥ

Like a snake, this ignoble, evil-minded man deserves death from the whole world. Slay him, slayer of foes; do not hesitate, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected जह्येन → जह्येनं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara of एनम्, critical edition jahy enaṃ).

Verse 28 (5.72.28)

सर्वथा त्वत्क्षमं चैतद्रोचते च ममानघ । यत्त्वं पितरि भीष्मे च प्रणिपातं समाचरेः ॥

sarvathā tvatkṣamaṃ caitadrocate ca mamānagha | yattvaṃ pitari bhīṣme ca praṇipātaṃ samācareḥ

Still, it is in every way worthy of you, sinless one, and it pleases me too, that you should bow in submission to your father and to Bhishma.

Verse 29 (5.72.29)

अहं तु सर्वलोकस्य गत्वा छेत्स्यामि संशयम् । येषामस्ति द्विधाभावो राजन्दुर्योधनं प्रति ॥

ahaṃ tu sarvalokasya gatvā chetsyāmi saṃśayam | yeṣāmasti dvidhābhāvo rājanduryodhanaṃ prati

But I shall go and dispel the doubt of the whole world, of all those who are of two minds about Duryodhana, O king.

Verse 30 (5.72.30)

मध्ये राज्ञामहं तत्र प्रातिपौरुषिकान्गुणान् । तव सङ्कीर्तयिष्यामि ये च तस्य व्यतिक्रमाः ॥

madhye rājñāmahaṃ tatra prātipauruṣikānguṇān | tava saṅkīrtayiṣyāmi ye ca tasya vyatikramāḥ

There, in the midst of the kings, I shall proclaim your manly virtues one by one, and his transgressions too.

Verse 31 (5.72.31)

ब्रुवतस्तत्र मे वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् । निशम्य पार्थिवाः सर्वे नानाजनपदेश्वराः ॥

bruvatastatra me vākyaṃ dharmārthasahitaṃ hitam | niśamya pārthivāḥ sarve nānājanapadeśvarāḥ

Hearing the words I speak there, beneficial and in keeping with dharma and right purpose, all the rulers, lords of many lands,

Verse 32 (5.72.32)

त्वयि संप्रतिपत्स्यन्ते धर्मात्मा सत्यवागिति । तस्मिंश्चाधिगमिष्यन्ति यथा लोभादवर्तत ॥

tvayi saṃpratipatsyante dharmātmā satyavāgiti | tasmiṃścādhigamiṣyanti yathā lobhādavartata

will agree that you are righteous and true to your word, and they will understand how he acted out of greed.

Verse 33 (5.72.33)

गर्हयिष्यामि चैवैनं पौरजानपदेष्वपि । वृद्धबालानुपादाय चातुर्वर्ण्ये समागते ॥

garhayiṣyāmi caivainaṃ paurajānapadeṣvapi | vṛddhabālānupādāya cāturvarṇye samāgate

I shall denounce him before the townsfolk and the country people as well, old and young alike, when all four classes have gathered.

Verse 34 (5.72.34)

शमं वै याचमानस्त्वं नाधर्मं तत्र लप्स्यसे । कुरून्विगर्हयिष्यन्ति धृतराष्ट्रं च पार्थिवाः ॥

śamaṃ vai yācamānastvaṃ nādharmaṃ tatra lapsyase | kurūnvigarhayiṣyanti dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca pārthivāḥ

In asking for peace you will incur no wrong there; the kings will censure the Kurus and Dhritarashtra.

Verse 35 (5.72.35)

तस्मिंल्लोकपरित्यक्ते किं कार्यमवशिष्यते । हते दुर्योधने राजन्यदन्यत्क्रियतामिति ॥

tasmiṃllokaparityakte kiṃ kāryamavaśiṣyate | hate duryodhane rājanyadanyatkriyatāmiti

Once he is abandoned by the world, what is left to do? With Duryodhana as good as slain, O king, let whatever else is needed be done.

Verse 36 (5.72.36)

यात्वा चाहं कुरून्सर्वान्युष्मदर्थमहापयन् । यतिष्ये प्रशमं कर्तुं लक्षयिष्ये च चेष्टितम् ॥

yātvā cāhaṃ kurūnsarvānyuṣmadarthamahāpayan | yatiṣye praśamaṃ kartuṃ lakṣayiṣye ca ceṣṭitam

Going to all the Kurus, I shall strive to make peace without giving up anything of your interest, and I shall watch what they do.

Verse 37 (5.72.37)

कौरवाणां प्रवृत्तिं च गत्वा युद्धाधिकारिकाम् । निशम्य विनिवर्तिष्ये जयाय तव भारत ॥

kauravāṇāṃ pravṛttiṃ ca gatvā yuddhādhikārikām | niśamya vinivartiṣye jayāya tava bhārata

Having gone there and learned the Kauravas' disposition, bent on war, I shall come back, Bharata, to bring you victory.

Verse 38 (5.72.38)

सर्वथा युद्धमेवाहमाशंसामि परैः सह । निमित्तानि हि सर्वाणि तथा प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे ॥

sarvathā yuddhamevāhamāśaṃsāmi paraiḥ saha | nimittāni hi sarvāṇi tathā prādurbhavanti me

In every way I expect war with the enemy, for all the omens that appear to me point that way.

Note on the text: Corrected आशंसापि → आशंसामि (misprint in Wikisource; प for म, critical edition āśaṃsāmi).

Verse 39 (5.72.39)

मृगाः शकुन्ताश्च वदन्ति घोरं । हस्त्यश्वमुख्येषु निशामुखेषु । घोराणि रूपाणि तथैव चाग्नि- । र्वर्णान्बहून्पुष्यति घोररूपान् ॥

mṛgāḥ śakuntāśca vadanti ghoraṃ | hastyaśvamukhyeṣu niśāmukheṣu | ghorāṇi rūpāṇi tathaiva cāgni- | rvarṇānbahūnpuṣyati ghorarūpān

Beasts and birds cry out fearfully; at nightfall dreadful shapes appear among the finest elephants and horses; and fire, too, takes on many terrible colours.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.71.35a–d (its 5.71.35 is a six-line verse whose last two lines open Wikisource's verse 40).

Verse 40 (5.72.40)

मनुष्यलोकक्षयकृत्सुघोरो । नो चेदनुप्राप्त इहान्तकः स्यात् । शस्त्राणि यन्त्रं कवचान्रथांश्च । नागान्हयांश्च प्रतिपादयित्वा ॥

manuṣyalokakṣayakṛtsughoro | no cedanuprāpta ihāntakaḥ syāt | śastrāṇi yantraṃ kavacānrathāṃśca | nāgānhayāṃśca pratipādayitvā

This would not be so unless the dreadful Ender, destroyer of the world of men, had come here. Make ready weapons, engines, armour and chariots, elephants and horses,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 5.71.35ef (reading manuṣyalokakṣapaṇo 'tha ghoro); lines 3–4 are 5.71.36ab (reading patraṃ and dhvajāṃś ca for यन्त्रं and हयांश्च).

Verse 41 (5.72.41)

योधाश्च सर्वे कृतनिश्चयास्ते । भवन्तु हस्त्यश्वरथेषु यत्ताः । साङ्‌ग्रामिकं ते यदुपार्जनीयं । सर्वं समग्रं कुरु तन्नरेन्द्र ॥

yodhāśca sarve kṛtaniścayāste | bhavantu hastyaśvaratheṣu yattāḥ | sāṅgrāmikaṃ te yadupārjanīyaṃ | sarvaṃ samagraṃ kuru tannarendra

let all your warriors stand resolved and ready on elephants, horses and chariots. Whatever you must gather for the war, gather it all in full, lord of men.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.71.36c–f (reading kṛtaniśramās for कृतनिश्चयास्).

Verse 42 (5.72.42)

दुर्योधनो न ह्यलमद्य दातुं । जीवंस्तवैतन्नृपते कथंचित् । यत्ते पुरस्तादभवत्समृद्धं । द्यूते हृतं पाण्डवमुख्य राज्यम् ॥

duryodhano na hyalamadya dātuṃ | jīvaṃstavaitannṛpate kathaṃcit | yatte purastādabhavatsamṛddhaṃ | dyūte hṛtaṃ pāṇḍavamukhya rājyam

For while he lives, Duryodhana will by no means consent today to give you back what was once yours, O king: your prosperous kingdom, chief of the Pandavas, taken from you at dice.