युधिष्ठिर उवाच उत सन्तमसन्तं वा बालं वृद्धं च संजय। उताबलं बलीयांसं धाता प्रकुरुते वशे॥
Yudhishthira said The creator has, under his control, the good and the bad, the young and the old the weak and the strong.
उत बालाय पाण्डित्यं पण्डितायोत बालताम्। ददाति सर्वमीशानः पुरस्ताच्छुक्रमुच्चरन्॥
The supreme lord gives wisdom to the child and childishness to the wise, developing the seed in a being.
बलं जिज्ञासमानस्य आचक्षीथा यथातथम्। अथ मन्त्रं मन्त्रयित्वा याथातथ्येन हृष्टवत्॥
To him (Dhritarashtra) desirous of knowing our strength should you say how matters really stand, having cheerfully held a consultation with a view to knowing the true information.
गावल्गणे कुरून् गत्वा धृतराष्ट्र महाबलम्। अभिवाद्योपसंगृह्य ततः पृच्छेरनामयम्॥
O son of Gavalgani, going to the Kauravas, you should great king Dhritarashtra of great strength hand touching his feet ask him regarding his health.
ब्रूयाश्चैनं त्वमासीनं कुरुभिः परिवारितम्। तवैव राजन् वीर्येण सुखं जीवन्ति पाण्डवाः॥
And you shall say to him, who will be seated surrounded by the Kurus-The sons of Pandu are living happily solely through your prowess.
तव प्रसादाद बालास्ते प्राप्ता राज्यमरिंदम्। राज्ये तान् स्थापयित्वाग्रे नोपेक्षस्व विनश्यतः॥
It was through your grace, O subduer of enemies, that they thought mere boys obtained a kingdom. First establishing them in the kingdom, do not treat them with carelessness or they would be ruined.
सर्वमप्येतदेकस्य नालं संजय कस्यचित्। तात संहत्य जीवामो द्विषतां मा वशं गमः॥
All this kingdom is too much, O Sanjaya, for any body. You should say this speaking on our behalf-Sire, we shall live united; do not go into the clutches of despisers.
तथा भीष्मं शान्तनवं भारतानां पितामहम्। शिरसाभिवदेथास्त्वं मम नाम प्रकीर्तयन्॥
In the same way should you bow down your head, on my behalf, to the grandsire of the race of Bharata, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu.
अभिवाद्य च वक्तव्यस्ततोऽस्माकं पितामहः। भवता शन्तनोवंशो निमग्नः पुनरुद्धृतः॥
After being greeted, our grandsire should thus be addressed-By you was the race, of Shantanu when about to be involved in ruin, was extricated.
स त्वं कुरु तथा तात स्वमतेन पितामह। यथा जीवन्ति ते पौत्राः प्रीतिमन्तः परस्परम्॥
You, who have done this, now do what according to your own opinion, O Grandsire, will enable your grandsons to live in peace and amity with each other.
तथैव विदुरं ब्रूयाः कुरूणां मन्त्रधारिणम्। अयुद्धं सौम्य भाषस्व हितकामो युधिष्ठिरे॥
In the same way should you thus speak to Vidura, the adviser of the Kurus, "O you peaceful one, advice peace, O you well wisher of Yudhishthira."
अथ दुर्योधनं ब्रूया राजपुत्रममर्षणम्। मध्ये कुरूणामासीनमनुनीय पुनः पुनः॥
And then speak to the wrathful prince Duryodhana seated in the midst of the Kurus entreating him again and again.
अपापां यदुपैक्षस्त्वं कृष्णामेतां सभागताम्। तद् दुःखमतितिक्षाम मा वधीष्म कुरूनिति॥
"The insults you have offered to the blameless Krishna who had been brought to this council hall, we will quietly endure so that the Kurus may not be slaughtered.
एवं पूर्वापरान् क्लेशानतितिक्षन्त पाण्डवाः। बलीयांसोऽपि सन्तो यत् तत् सर्वं कुरवो विदुः॥
The Pandavas will quietly bear similar insults offered before and after that though they are strong enough. All this the Kauravas know.
यन्नः प्रव्राजयः सौम्य अजिनैः प्रतिवासितान्। तद् दुःखमतितिक्षाम मा वधिष्म कुरूनिति॥
O amiable one, you sent us into exile with raiment's made of deer skin on. This hardship shall we quietly bear so that the Kurus may not be slaughtered.
यत् कुन्ती समतिक्रम्य कृष्णां केशेष्वधर्षयत्। दुःशासनस्तेऽनुमते तच्चास्माभिरुपेक्षतम्॥
O Dushasana, it was at your bidding that Krishna was dragged here by the hair setting at naught the protest of Kunti. That too is forgiven by us.
अथोचितं स्वकं भागं लभेमहि परंतप। निवर्तय परद्रव्याद् बुद्धिं गृद्धां नरर्षभ॥
But o repressor of enemies, we want our due share; O best among men, turn away your avaricious inclination from what belongs to others.
शान्तिरेवं भवेद् राजन् प्रीतिश्चैव परस्परम्। राज्यैकदेशमपि नः प्रयच्छ शममिच्छताम्॥
By this means, O king, there shall be peace and good will among each other; give back to us, who are desirous of peace, even one province out of the kingdom.
अविस्थलं वृकस्थलं माकन्दी वारणावतम्। अवसानं भवत्वत्र किंचिदेकं च पञ्चमम्॥
Give us Avisthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi and Varanavata, with any other village for a fifth and let there be an end of our quarrel over this matter.
भ्रातृणां देहि पञ्चानां पञ्च ग्रामान् सुयोधन। शान्ति!ऽस्तु महाप्राज्ञ ज्ञातिभिः सह संजया॥
O Suyodhana, give but five villages to your five cousins and let there be peace among ourselves and our cousins, O Sanjaya of great wisdom.
भ्राता भ्रातरमन्वेतु पिता पुत्रेण युज्यताम्। स्मयमानाः समायान्तु पाञ्चालाः कुरुभिः सह।॥
Let brother follow brother and let father unite with son. Let the Panchala join the Kurus with a smiling face.
अक्षतान् कुरुपाञ्चालान् पश्येयमिति कामये। सर्वे सुमनसस्तात शाम्याम भरतर्षभ॥
I desire that I shall see the Kauravas and the Panchalas, without any wounds and we shall all establish peace with cheerful hearts, O you best among the race of Bharata.
अलमेव शमायास्मि तथा युद्धाय संजय। धर्मार्थयोरलं चाहं मृदवे दारुणाय च॥
I am surely ready for peace and to war as well, O Sanjaya. For the acquirement of wealth, am I surely prepared to mild measures and harsh ones.