व्यास उवाच धृतराष्ट्र महाप्राज्ञ निबोध वचनं मम। वक्ष्यामि त्वां कौरवाणां सर्वेषां हितमुत्तमम्॥
Vyasa said: O greatly wise Dhritarashtra, hear my words. I shall tell you what will be the great good of all the Kurus.
न मे प्रियं महाबाहो यद् गताः पाण्डवा वनम्। निकृत्या निकृताश्चैव दुर्योधनपुरोगमैः॥
O mighty-armed hero, it has not pleased me that the Pandavas have gone to the forest, having been dishonestly defeated by Duryodhana and others.
ते स्मरन्तः परिक्लेशान् वर्षे पूर्णे त्रयोदशे। विमोक्ष्यन्ति विषं क्रुद्धाः कौरवेयेषु भारत॥
O descendant of Bharata, on the expiration of the thirteenth year, recollecting all their woes, they may shower virulent poisons on the Kurus.
तदयं किं नु पापात्मा तव पुत्रः सुमन्दधी। पाण्डवान् नित्यसंक्रुद्धो राज्यहेतोर्जिघांसति॥
Why does your wicked-minded and sinful son angrily want to kill the Pandavas for the sake of the kingdom?
वार्यतां साध्वयं मूढः शमं गच्छतु ते सुतः। वनस्थांस्तानयं हन्तुमिच्छन् प्राणान् विमोक्ष्यति॥
Let the fool be checked; let your son remain quiet. In attempting to kill them (the Pandavas) now living in the forest, he will loose his own life.
यथा हि विदुर: प्राज्ञो यथा भीष्मो यथा वयम्। यथा कृपश्च द्रोणश्च तथा साधुर्भवानपि॥
You are as pious as the wise Vidura, Bhishma, myself, Kripa or Drona.
विग्रहो हि महाप्राज्ञ स्वजनेन विगर्हितः। अधर्म्यमयशस्यं च मा राजन् प्रतिपद्यताम्॥
O greatly intelligent man, dissension with relatives is improper. It is sinful and reprehensible. O king, you should desist from it.
समीक्षा यादृशी ह्यस्य पाण्डवान् प्रति भारत। उपेक्ष्यमाणा स राजन् महान्तमनयं स्पृशेत्॥
O descendant of Bharata, he (Duryodhana) looks towards the Pandavas with such jealousy that unless you interfere, great harm will be the consequence.
अथवायं सुमन्दात्मा वनं गच्छतु ते सुतः। पाण्डैवः सहितो राजन्नेक एवासहायवान्॥ ततः संसर्गजः स्नेहः पुत्रस्य तव पाण्डवैः। यदि स्यात् कृतकार्योऽद्य भवेस्त्वं मनुजेश्वर।॥
Or let this wicked son of yours go to the forest alone and unaccompanied. O king, O lord of men, if the Pandavas, from association with him, feel an attachment for your son, then good fortune will be yours.
अथवा जायमानस्य यच्छीलमनुजायते। श्रूयते तन्महाराज नामृतस्यापसर्पति॥ कथं वा मन्यते भीष्मो द्रोणोऽथ विदुरोऽपि वा। भवान् वात्र क्षमं कार्य पुरा वोऽर्थोऽभिवर्धते॥
O great king, it has been heard that a man's nature derived from his birth does not leave him till death. What do Bhishma, Drona and Vidura think? What do you think? What id proper should be done at once, else your purpose will ever remain unrealised.