धृतराष्ट्र उवाच दुर्योधन विजानीहि यत् त्वां वक्ष्यामि पुत्रका उत्पथं मन्यसे मार्गमनभिज्ञ इवाध्वगः॥
Dhritarashtra said O Duryodhana, think well on what I am telling you, my dear son. You think the wrong way to be the right one like an inexperienced wayfarer.
पञ्चानां पाण्डुपुत्राणां यत् तेजः प्रजिहीर्षसि। पञ्चानामिव भूतानां महतां लोकधारिणाम्॥
The energy of the five sons of Pandu, which you are desirous of eclipsing, is like the energy of the five elements in their subtle state supporting the universe.
युधिष्ठिरं हि कौन्तेयं परं धर्ममिहास्थितम्। परां गतिमसम्प्रेत्य न त्वं जेतुमिहार्हसि॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, is established on sound and strict virtue in this world. You are not fit to vanquish him without losing your life.
भीमसेनं च कौन्तेयं यस्य नास्ति समो बले। रणान्तकं तर्जयसे महावातमिव दुमः॥
Bhimasena too whose equal there it none in strength, you are roaring at this one who is equal to Yama himself in battle.
सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं मेरुं शिखरिणमिव। युधि गाण्डीवधन्वानं को नु युध्येत बुद्धिमान्॥
The foremost of the wielder of weapons, that Meru among the mountains, what intelligent man would fight with that wielder of the Gandiva bow.
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यः कमिवाद्य न शातयेत्। शत्रुमध्ये शरान् मुञ्चन् देवराडशनीमिव॥
What man is there is this world whom Dhrishtadyumna cannot vanquish, shooting arrows among the enemy like the king of the gods hurling his thunderbolt.
सात्यक्श्चिापि दुर्धर्षः सम्मतोऽन्धकवृष्णिषु। ध्वंसयिष्यत्ति ते सेनां पाण्डवेयहिते रतः॥
Satyaki, too, that one hard to be vanquished, who is respected among the Andhakas and the Vrishnis, will destroy your host; for he is ever attached to what is good for the Pandavas.
यः पुनः प्रतिमानेन त्रीनल्लोकानतिरिच्यते। तं कृष्णं पुण्डरीकाक्षं को नु युद्ध्येत बुद्धिमान्॥
Then again, he who in measure of strength surpasses the three worlds, what intelligent man would fight with that Krishna, whose eyes are like lotuses.
एकतो ह्यस्य दाराश्च ज्ञातयश्च सबान्धवाः। आत्मा च पृथिवी चेयमेकतश्च धनंजयः॥
Krishna considers his wives, cousins and his friends, his soul and the earth on one side equal to Dhananjaya on the other.
वासुदेवोऽपि दुर्धर्षो यतात्मा यत्र पाण्डवः। अविषां पृथिव्यापि तद् बलं यत्र केशवः॥
The son of Vasudeva too who is relied on by the son of Pandu, is hard to be vanquished and the army in which Keshava takes part is invincible even by the whole world.
तिष्ठ तात सतां वाक्ये सुहृदामर्थवादिनाम्। वृद्धं शान्तनवं भीष्मं तितिक्षस्व पितामहम्॥
Abide then, my dear, by what your friends who tell you to do only what is conducive to your interests say. Accept the old Bhishma, the son of Shantanu and your grandfather as your guides.
मां च ब्रुवाणं शुश्रूष कुरूणामर्थदर्शिनम्। द्रोणं कृपं विकर्णं च महाराजं च बाह्निकम्॥
Listen therefore to what these seekers of good to the Kurus-Drona, Kripa, Vikarna and the great king Bahlika, say and to myself as well.
एते ह्यपि यथैवाहं मन्तुमर्हसि तांस्तथा। सर्वे धर्मविदो ह्येते तुल्यस्नेहाश्च भारत॥
These stand in the same relation to you as I myself and it is proper that you should regard them in the same light. All of them know what virtue is and have the same degree of affection for you, O Bharata.
यत् तद् विराटनगरे सह भ्रातृभिरग्रतः। उत्सृज्य गाः सुसंत्रस्तं बलं ते समशीर्यत॥
Your host headed by your brothers fled from that city of Virata leaving the king to surrender.
यच्चैव नगरे तस्मिञ्छूयते महदद्भुतम्। एकस्य च बहूनां च पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्॥
This tall story that we hear of what occurred in that city-the struggle between one and many is sufficient proof (of what I say regarding their superiority).
अर्जुनस्तत् तथाकार्षीत् किं पुनः सर्व एव ते। स भ्रातृनभिजानीहि वृत्त्या तं प्रतिपादय॥
Such was the feat of Arjuna single; what will they all united not do? Treat them as your own brothers and give them their rights.