Vidura Warns Krishna Against Entering the Assembly

Verse 1 (5.92.1)

तं भुक्तवन्तमाश्वस्तं निशायां विदुरोऽब्रवीत् । नेदं सम्यग्व्यवसितं केशवागमनं तव ॥

taṃ bhuktavantamāśvastaṃ niśāyāṃ viduro'bravīt | nedaṃ samyagvyavasitaṃ keśavāgamanaṃ tava

When he had eaten and was refreshed, Vidura said to him at night: "This coming of yours, Keshava, was not wisely decided.

Verse 2 (5.92.2)

अर्थधर्मातिगो मन्दः संरम्भी च जनार्दन । मानघ्नो मानकामश्च वृद्धानां शासनातिगः ॥

arthadharmātigo mandaḥ saṃrambhī ca janārdana | mānaghno mānakāmaśca vṛddhānāṃ śāsanātigaḥ

Dhritarashtra's son oversteps both profit and dharma, Janardana; he is dull-witted and wrathful, one who tramples on the honour of others while craving honour for himself, and who disregards the counsel of his elders.

Verse 3 (5.92.3)

धर्मशास्त्रातिगो मूढो दुरात्मा प्रग्रहं गतः । अनेयः श्रेयसां मन्दो धार्तराष्ट्रो जनार्दन ॥

dharmaśāstrātigo mūḍho durātmā pragrahaṃ gataḥ | aneyaḥ śreyasāṃ mando dhārtarāṣṭro janārdana

He oversteps the teachings of dharma; he is deluded, wicked and stubborn. This dull son of Dhritarashtra, Janardana, cannot be led towards what is good.

Verse 4 (5.92.4)

कामात्मा प्राज्ञमानी च मित्रध्रुक्सर्वशङ्किता । अकर्ता चाकृतज्ञश्च त्यक्तधर्मा प्रियानृतः ॥

kāmātmā prājñamānī ca mitradhruksarvaśaṅkitā | akartā cākṛtajñaśca tyaktadharmā priyānṛtaḥ

He is a slave of desire, thinks himself wise, betrays his friends and distrusts everyone; he does nothing for others, is ungrateful, has cast off dharma and loves falsehood.

Verse 5 (5.92.5)

मूढश्चाकृतबुद्धिश्च इन्द्रियाणामनीश्वरः । कामानुसारी कृत्येषु सर्वेष्वकृतनिश्चयः ॥

mūḍhaścākṛtabuddhiśca indriyāṇāmanīśvaraḥ | kāmānusārī kṛtyeṣu sarveṣvakṛtaniścayaḥ

He is foolish and of untrained mind, no master of his senses; he follows his desires and is irresolute in everything he has to do.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 5.90.4d*0414. Corrected मूढश्वाकृतबुद्धिश्च → मूढश्चाकृतबुद्धिश्च (misprint in Wikisource; श्व for श्च; *0414 reads mūḍhaś cākṛtabuddhiś ca).

Verse 6 (5.92.6)

एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिर्दोषैरेव समन्वितः । त्वयोच्यमानः श्रेयोऽपि संरम्भान्न ग्रहीष्यति ॥

etaiścānyaiśca bahubhirdoṣaireva samanvitaḥ | tvayocyamānaḥ śreyo'pi saṃrambhānna grahīṣyati

Possessed of these and many other faults, he will not accept what is good for him even when you tell him, because of his wrath.

Verse 7 (5.92.7)

भीष्मे द्रोणे कृपे कर्णे द्रोणपुत्रे जयद्रथे । भूयसीं वर्तते वृत्तिं न शमे कुरुते मनः ॥

bhīṣme droṇe kṛpe karṇe droṇaputre jayadrathe | bhūyasīṃ vartate vṛttiṃ na śame kurute manaḥ

He rests his greatest hopes on Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, Drona's son and Jayadratha, and he does not turn his mind to peace.

Note on the text: Wikisource orders the critical edition's 5.90.6–9 as 8, 9, 6, 7 (its verses 7–10).

Verse 8 (5.92.8)

निश्चितं धार्तराष्ट्राणां सकर्णानां जनार्दन । भीष्मद्रोणमुखान्पार्था न शक्ताः प्रतिवीक्षितुम् ॥

niścitaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ sakarṇānāṃ janārdana | bhīṣmadroṇamukhānpārthā na śaktāḥ prativīkṣitum

The sons of Dhritarashtra and Karna are convinced, Janardana, that the sons of Pritha cannot even look Bhishma, Drona and the other leaders in the face.

Verse 9 (5.92.9)

सेनासमुदयं कृत्वा पार्थिवं मधुसूदन । कृतार्थं मन्यते बाल आत्मानमविचक्षणः ॥

senāsamudayaṃ kṛtvā pārthivaṃ madhusūdana | kṛtārthaṃ manyate bāla ātmānamavicakṣaṇaḥ

Having gathered an army of kings, Madhusudana, the undiscerning boy thinks his purpose already achieved.

Note on the text: Corrected अविचक्षणाः → अविचक्षणः (misprint in Wikisource; the word describes the singular बालः, and the plural does not agree; the critical edition reads avicakṣaṇaḥ). The critical edition reads dṛṣṭvā for कृत्वा.

Verse 10 (5.92.10)

एकः कर्णः पराञ्जेतुं समर्थ इति निश्चितम् । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेः स शमं नोपयास्यति ॥

ekaḥ karṇaḥ parāñjetuṃ samartha iti niścitam | dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheḥ sa śamaṃ nopayāsyati

He is convinced that Karna alone is able to conquer his enemies; that evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra will not come to peace.

Verse 11 (5.92.11)

संविच्च धार्तराष्ट्राणां सर्वेषामेव केशव । शमे प्रयतमानस्य तव सौभ्रात्रकाङ्क्षिणः ॥

saṃvicca dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ sarveṣāmeva keśava | śame prayatamānasya tava saubhrātrakāṅkṣiṇaḥ

And all the sons of Dhritarashtra have agreed among themselves, Keshava — while you strive for peace, wishing for brotherhood between the cousins —

Verse 12 (5.92.12)

न पाण्डवानामस्माभिः प्रतिदेयं यथोचितम् । इति व्यवसितास्तेषु वचनं स्यान्निरर्थकम् ॥

na pāṇḍavānāmasmābhiḥ pratideyaṃ yathocitam | iti vyavasitāsteṣu vacanaṃ syānnirarthakam

that they will not give the Pandavas their rightful due. Since they are so resolved, your words to them would be in vain.

Verse 13 (5.92.13)

यत्र सूक्तं दुरुक्तं च समं स्यान्मधुसूदन । न तत्र प्रलपेत्प्राज्ञो बधिरेष्विव गायनः ॥

yatra sūktaṃ duruktaṃ ca samaṃ syānmadhusūdana | na tatra pralapetprājño badhireṣviva gāyanaḥ

Where good words and bad are held equal, Madhusudana, a wise man should not waste his speech, any more than a singer among the deaf.

Verse 14 (5.92.14)

अविजानत्सु मूढेषु निर्मर्यादेषु माधव । तत्त्वं वाक्यं ब्रुवन्निन्द्यश्चण्डालेषु द्विजो यथा ॥

avijānatsu mūḍheṣu nirmaryādeṣu mādhava | tattvaṃ vākyaṃ bruvannindyaścaṇḍāleṣu dvijo yathā

Among the ignorant and the deluded, who know no bounds, Madhava, you would only be scorned for speaking the truth, like a brahmin among Chandalas.

Note on the text: The critical edition (5.90.13) reads the second line na tvaṃ vākyaṃ bruvan yuktaś; Wikisource's तत्त्वं वाक्यं ब्रुवन्निन्द्यः is a recension variant.

Verse 15 (5.92.15)

सोऽयं बलस्थो मूढश्चन करिष्यति ते वचः । तस्मिन्निरर्थकं वाक्यमुक्तं संपत्स्यते तव ॥

so'yaṃ balastho mūḍhaścana kariṣyati te vacaḥ | tasminnirarthakaṃ vākyamuktaṃ saṃpatsyate tava

Confident in his strength and deluded, he will not do as you say; any word you speak to him will come to nothing.

Verse 16 (5.92.16)

तेषां समुपविष्टानां सर्वेषां पापचेतसाम् । तव मध्यावतरणं मम कृष्ण न रोचते ॥

teṣāṃ samupaviṣṭānāṃ sarveṣāṃ pāpacetasām | tava madhyāvataraṇaṃ mama kṛṣṇa na rocate

I do not wish you, Krishna, to go down among them all as they sit together, men of wicked minds.

Verse 17 (5.92.17)

दुर्बुद्धीनामशिष्टानां बहूनां दुष्टचेतसाम् । प्रतीपं वचनं मध्ये तव कृष्ण न रोचते ॥

durbuddhīnāmaśiṣṭānāṃ bahūnāṃ duṣṭacetasām | pratīpaṃ vacanaṃ madhye tava kṛṣṇa na rocate

I do not wish you, Krishna, to speak words against their will in the midst of so many evil-minded, ill-bred and wicked-hearted men.

Verse 18 (5.92.18)

अनुपासितवृद्धत्वाच्छ्रियो दर्पाच्च मोहितः । वयोदर्पादमर्षाच्च न ते श्रेयो ग्रहीष्यति ॥

anupāsitavṛddhatvācchriyo darpācca mohitaḥ | vayodarpādamarṣācca na te śreyo grahīṣyati

Never having waited on his elders, deluded by the pride of fortune, by the arrogance of youth and by resentment, he will not accept good counsel from you.

Verse 19 (5.92.19)

बलं बलवदप्यस्य यदि वक्ष्यसि माधव । त्वय्यस्य महती शङ्का न करिष्यति ते वचः ॥

balaṃ balavadapyasya yadi vakṣyasi mādhava | tvayyasya mahatī śaṅkā na kariṣyati te vacaḥ

Even if you speak to him of overwhelming strength, Madhava, he harbours deep suspicion of you and will not do as you say.

Verse 20 (5.92.20)

नेदमद्य युधा शक्यमिन्द्रेणापि सहामरैः । इति व्यवसिताः सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्रा जनार्दन ॥

nedamadya yudhā śakyamindreṇāpi sahāmaraiḥ | iti vyavasitāḥ sarve dhārtarāṣṭrā janārdana

"Not even Indra with the immortals could take this from us in battle today" — so all the sons of Dhritarashtra have decided, Janardana.

Verse 21 (5.92.21)

तेष्वेवमुपपन्नेषु कामक्रोधानुवर्तिषु । समर्थमपि ते वाक्यमसमर्थं भविष्यति ॥

teṣvevamupapanneṣu kāmakrodhānuvartiṣu | samarthamapi te vākyamasamarthaṃ bhaviṣyati

When they are in this state, given over to desire and anger, even your powerful words will be powerless.

Verse 22 (5.92.22)

मध्ये तिष्ठन्हस्त्यनीकस्य मन्दो । रथाश्वयुक्तस्य बलस्य मूढः । दुर्योधनो मन्यते वीतभीतिः । कृत्स्ना मयेयं पृथिवी जितेति ॥

madhye tiṣṭhanhastyanīkasya mando | rathāśvayuktasya balasya mūḍhaḥ | duryodhano manyate vītabhītiḥ | kṛtsnā mayeyaṃ pṛthivī jiteti

Standing in the midst of his host of elephants and his army of chariots and horses, the dull and deluded Duryodhana, free of fear, thinks: "This whole earth has been conquered by me."

Note on the text: Corrected बीतभीतिः → वीतभीतिः (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व, बीत is not a word; the critical edition reads vīta- here, vītamanyuḥ).

Verse 23 (5.92.23)

आशंसते वै धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रो । महाराज्यमसपत्नं पृथिव्याम् । तस्मिञ्शमः केवलो नोपलभ्यो । बद्धं सन्तं मन्यते लब्धमर्थम् ॥

āśaṃsate vai dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putro | mahārājyamasapatnaṃ pṛthivyām | tasmiñśamaḥ kevalo nopalabhyo | baddhaṃ santaṃ manyate labdhamartham

The son of Dhritarashtra hopes for great sovereignty over the earth without a rival; in him there is no peace to be found at all. He believes the prize he holds in his grasp is secure.

Verse 24 (5.92.24)

पर्यस्तेयं पृथिवी कालपक्वा । दुर्योधनार्थे पाण्डवान्योद्धुकामाः । समागताः सर्वयोधाः पृथिव्यां । राजानश्च क्षितिपालैः समेताः ॥

paryasteyaṃ pṛthivī kālapakvā | duryodhanārthe pāṇḍavānyoddhukāmāḥ | samāgatāḥ sarvayodhāḥ pṛthivyāṃ | rājānaśca kṣitipālaiḥ sametāḥ

This earth has been overturned, ripe for death. For Duryodhana's sake all the warriors on earth have gathered, kings together with the rulers of lands, eager to fight the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Wikisource labels this verse's last line 5-29-24d, a typo for 5-92-24d; the line belongs here.

Verse 25 (5.92.25)

सर्वे चैते कृतवैराः पुरस्ता- । त्त्वया राजानो हृतसाराश्च कृष्ण । तवोद्वेगात्संश्रिता धार्तराष्ट्रा- । न्सुसंहताः सह कर्णेन वीराः ॥

sarve caite kṛtavairāḥ purastā- | ttvayā rājāno hṛtasārāśca kṛṣṇa | tavodvegātsaṃśritā dhārtarāṣṭrā- | nsusaṃhatāḥ saha karṇena vīrāḥ

And all these kings, Krishna, were made your enemies long ago, when you stripped them of their wealth. Out of fear of you, these heroes have taken refuge with the sons of Dhritarashtra and stand united with Karna.

Verse 26 (5.92.26)

त्यक्तात्मानः सह दुर्योधनेन । सृष्टा योद्धुं पाण्डवान्सर्वयोधाः । मृत्युर्जयो वेति कृतैकभावाः । कामात्मानो मन्युवशाविनीताः । तेषां मध्ये प्रविशेथा यदि त्वं । न तन्मतं मम दाशार्हवीर ॥

tyaktātmānaḥ saha duryodhanena | sṛṣṭā yoddhuṃ pāṇḍavānsarvayodhāḥ | mṛtyurjayo veti kṛtaikabhāvāḥ | kāmātmāno manyuvaśāvinītāḥ | teṣāṃ madhye praviśethā yadi tvaṃ | na tanmataṃ mama dāśārhavīra

Ready to give up their lives along with Duryodhana, all these warriors are set loose to fight the Pandavas; they have made up their minds to one thing, death or victory, and they are slaves of desire, ruled by wrath and undisciplined. That you should go in among them, heroic Dasharha, is not what I would wish.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (5.90.25 and its star passage 5.90.25b*0416): Wikisource prints only this verse's last line, न तन्मतं मम दाशार्हवीर (numbered 5-92-26f, showing that lines a–e were lost). Lines 1–2 are 5.90.25ab, lines 3–4 are *0416 (vulgate), line 5 is 5.90.25c; the last line is Wikisource's own (the critical edition reads dāśārha vīra as two words).

Verse 27 (5.92.27)

तेषां समुपविष्टानां बहूनां दुष्टचेतसाम् । कथं मध्यं प्रपद्येथाः शत्रूणां शत्रुकर्शन ॥

teṣāṃ samupaviṣṭānāṃ bahūnāṃ duṣṭacetasām | kathaṃ madhyaṃ prapadyethāḥ śatrūṇāṃ śatrukarśana

How could you go into the midst of so many evil-hearted enemies seated together, O tormentor of foes?

Verse 28 (5.92.28)

सर्वथा त्वं महाबाहो देवैरपि दुरुत्सहः । प्रभावं पौरुषं बुद्धिं जानामि तव शत्रुहन् ॥

sarvathā tvaṃ mahābāho devairapi durutsahaḥ | prabhāvaṃ pauruṣaṃ buddhiṃ jānāmi tava śatruhan

In every way, mighty-armed one, you are hard for even the gods to withstand. I know your power, your manliness and your wisdom, slayer of foes.

Verse 29 (5.92.29)

या मे प्रीतिः पाण्डवेषु भूयः सा त्वयि माधव । प्रेम्णा च बहुमानाच्च सौहृदाच्च ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥

yā me prītiḥ pāṇḍaveṣu bhūyaḥ sā tvayi mādhava | premṇā ca bahumānācca sauhṛdācca bravīmyaham

The affection I feel for the Pandavas, Madhava, I feel even more for you. I speak out of love, deep respect and friendship.

Note on the text: Corrected भूयःक → भूयः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray क, a footnote mark, follows the visarga).

Verse 30 (5.92.30)

या मे प्रीतिः पुष्कराक्ष त्वद्दर्शनसमुद्भवा । सा किमाख्यायते तुभ्यमन्तरात्माऽसि देहिनां ॥

yā me prītiḥ puṣkarākṣa tvaddarśanasamudbhavā | sā kimākhyāyate tubhyamantarātmā'si dehināṃ

Lotus-eyed one, how can I describe to you the joy that seeing you brings me? You are the inner self of all embodied beings."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 5.90.28d*0417.