वासुदेव उवाच भीष्मेणोक्ते ततो द्रोणो दुर्योधनमभाषत। मध्ये नृपाणां भद्रं ते वचनं वचनक्षमः॥
Vasudeva said Bhishma having spoken thus, Drona, who was competent to speak, spoke these words to Duryodhane in the midst of those rulers of men. May it be well with you.
प्रातीपः शान्तनुस्तात कुलस्यार्थ यथा स्थितः। यथा देवव्रतो भीष्मः कुलस्यार्थं स्थितोऽभवत्॥
As Shantanu, the son of Pratipa, ever acted with the interests of his race at heart and as Bhishma, who had taken a divine vow, ever acted with the interests of his race at heart,
तथा पाण्डुनरपतिः सत्यसंधो जितेन्द्रियः। राजा कुरूणां धर्मात्मा सुव्रतः सुसमाहितः॥
So did that ruler of men Pandu, attached to truth, who had his senses under control-that virtuous-souled king of the Kurus who ever made and observed good vows and was interested in everything good.
ज्येष्ठाय राज्यमदाद् धृतराष्ट्राय धीमते। यवीयसे तथा क्षत्रे कुरूणां वंशवर्धनः॥
To his elder brother the wise Dhritarashtra, that perpetuator of the Kuru race gave the kingdom as also to his younger brother Vidura.
ततः सिंहासने राजन् स्थापयित्वैनमच्युतम्। वनं जगाम कौरव्यो भार्याभ्यां सहितो नृपः॥
Then having established him (Dhritarashtra) who never strayed away from the right path on the throne, that ruler of men (Pandu) son of the Kuru race went to woods with his two wives.
नीचैः स्थित्वा तु विदुर उपास्ते स्म विनीतवत्। प्रेष्यवत् पुरुषव्याघ्रो वालव्यजनमुक्षिपन्॥
Vidura then taking up an humble position in the kingdom humbly served the king like a slave fanning him with the branch of a young tree, O best among men.
ततः सर्वाः प्रजास्तात् धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्। अन्वपद्यन्त विधिवद् यथा पाण्डं जनाधिपम्॥
Then did all the subjects, my dear son, duly acknowledge the sovereignty of their king in a suitable manner as they had done that of Pandu, the ruler of men.
विसृज्य धृतराष्ट्राय राज्यं सविदुराय च। चचार पृथिवीं पाण्डुः सर्वां परपुरञ्जयः॥
Having made over the kingdom to Dhritarashtra and Vidura Pandu, that conqueror of the cities of his enemies, wandered over the earth.
कोशसंवनने दाने भृत्यानां चान्ववेक्षणे। भरणे चैव सर्वस्य विदुरः सत्यसङ्गरः॥
The one, ever devoted to truth namely Vidura, took charge of treasury, gifts and presents and the supervision over the subordinates and the feeding of all.
संधिविग्रहसंयुक्तो राज्ञां संवाहनक्रियाः। अवैक्षत महातेजा भीष्मः परपुरञ्जयः॥
Bhishma, of great energy, that conqueror of the cities of his enemies, looked over the making of war and peace with kings and of giving or withholding presents to them.
सिंहासनस्थो नृपतिद्धृतराष्ट्रो महाबलः। अन्वास्यमानः सततं विदुरेण महात्मना॥
That ruler of men, Dhritarashtra of great strength, while on the throne, was ever followed by the great souled Vidura.
कथं तस्य कुले जातः कुलभेदं व्यवस्यसि। सम्भूय भ्रातृभिः सार्धं भुड्क्ष्वभोगान् जनाधिप॥
How do you, born in his family, dare bringing about a dissension between the united with your brothers, enjoy objects of enjoyment, O lord of men.
ब्रवीम्यहं न कार्पण्यानार्थहेतोः कथंचन। भीष्मेण दत्तमिच्छामि न त्वया राजसत्तम॥
I do not say all this from weakness or cowardice or for the attainment of any particular selfish object of mine. I desire to earn my living from Bhishma and not from what you can give me, O best among kings.
नाहं त्वत्तोऽभिकाक्षिष्ये वृत्त्युपायं जनाधिप। यतो भीष्मस्ततो द्रोणो यद् भीष्मस्त्वाह तत् कुरु॥
I do not desire, O lord of men, to earn the means of living from you. Do that which Bhishma told you to do and Drona is ever on the side to which Bhishma inclines.
दीयतां पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यो राज्यामिरिकर्शन। सममाचार्यकं तात तव तेषां च मे सदा॥
Give to the sons of Pandu half of the kingdom, O grinder of your enemies; the office of a preceptor has been filled by me equally for both yourself and them, my dear son,
अश्वत्थामा यथा मह्यं तथा श्वेतहयो मम। बहुना किं प्रलापेन यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः॥
What Ashvathama is to me, so is he with white horses (Arjuna); what is the necessity of talking much; where there is virtue there is victory.
वासुदेव उवाच एवमुक्ते महाराज द्रोणेनामिततेजसा। व्याजहार ततो वाक्यं विदुरः सत्यसङ्गरः। पितुर्वदनमन्वीक्ष्य परिवृत्य च धर्मवित्॥
Vasudeva said Words like these having been spoken by Drona of immeasurable energy, Vidura, ever devoted to truth, then said these words turning towards his father's uncle and looking at him.
विदुर उवाच देवव्रत निबोधेदं वचनं मम भाषतः। प्रणष्टः कौरवो वंशस्त्वयाऽयं पुनरुद्भूतः॥
Vidura said O you of divine vows, listen to these words spoken by me; this race of Kurus made extinct by you, had again been saved from extermination.
तन्मे विलपमानस्य वचनं समुपेक्षसे। कोऽयं दुर्योधनो नाम कुलेऽस्मिन् कुलपांसनः॥
on Therefore do you not treat slightingly the words spoken by me who am lamenting. Who is this one named Duryodhana in this race but a stain,
यस्य लोभाभिभूतस्य मतिं समनुवर्तसे। अनार्यस्याकृतज्ञस्य लोभेन हृतचेतसः॥
Whose inclination overpowered by avarice you follow? He leads a dishonest life, is ungrateful and deprived of his senses by avarice.
अतिक्रामति यः शास्त्रं पितुर्धर्मार्थदर्शिनः। एते नश्यन्ति कुरवो दुर्योधनकृतेन वै॥
He does not obey the commands of his father who follows the path of virtue and worldly benefit. Duryodhana will bring on the destruction of the Kurus by his acts.
यथा ते न प्रणश्येयुर्महाराज तथा कुरु। मां चैव धृतराष्ट्रं च पूर्वमेव महामते॥
Do that, O great king, which will not bring their extermination. Myself and Dhritarashtra, you before, O lord of the earth,
चित्रकार इवालेख्यं कृत्वा स्थापितवानसि। प्रजापतिः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा यथा संहरते तथा॥
Brought into being as a painter does a picture. Do not act like the lord of creatures, who having created living beings again destroys them.
नोपेक्षस्व महाबाहो पश्यमानः कुलक्षयम्। अथ तेऽद्य मतिर्नष्टा विनाशे प्रत्युपस्थिते॥
Do not look with indifference on this impending massacre of your race; ruin being now near at hand, your intellect is lost to you.
वनं गच्छ मया साधु धृतराष्ट्रेण चैव ह। बद्ध्वा वा निकृतिप्रज्ञं धार्तराष्ट्र सुदुर्मतिम्॥
Go to the woods in company with myself and Dhritarashtra, or binding down the very wretched intentioned son of Dhritarashtra, whose wisdom is lost,
शीधीदं राज्यमद्याशु पाण्डवैरभिरक्षितम्। प्रसीद राजशार्दूल विनाशो दृश्यते महान्॥
Rule over this kingdom now, protected and supported by the sons of Pandu. O best among kings, rest satisfied that a great massacre is near at hand,
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्। विररामैवमुक्त्वा तु विदुरो दीनमानसः। प्रध्यायमानः स तदा निःश्वसंश्च पुनः पुनः॥
Of the sons of Panda, the Kurus, and of kings of immeasurable energy.” Saying this Vidura stopped with his heart sad. And thinking of the situation he began to sign again and again.
ततोऽथ राज्ञः सुबलस्य पुत्री धर्मार्थयुक्तं कुलनाशभीता। दुर्योधनं पापमतिं नृशंसं राज्ञां समक्षं सुतमाह कोपात्॥
Then did the daughter of king Subala, afraid of the extinction of her race, said out of anger these words which were virtuous and conducive to the benefit of her inhuman and wicked-souled son Duryodhana in the midst of these kings.
ये पार्थिवा राजसभां प्रविष्टा ब्रह्मर्षयो ये च सभासदोऽन्ये। शृण्वन्तु वक्ष्यामि तवापराधं पापस्य सामात्यपरिच्छदस्य॥
"Let these rulers of the earth, who have entered this royal council as also these regenerate Rishis and all others in this council, hear what I am going to say about the sin committed by yourself. O wretch and your ministers and followers.
राज्यं कुरूणामनुपूर्वभोज्यं क्रमागतो नः कुलधर्म एषः। त्वं पापबुद्धेऽतिनृशंसकर्मन् राज्य कुरूणामनयाद् विहंसि॥
The kingdom is obtainable by us in a certain fixed order; this has been the custom with our race, but you, O you of sinful intellect and of very inhuman deeds, desire unjustly to ruin the kingdom of the Kurus.
राज्ये स्थितो धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी तस्यानुजो विदुरो दीर्घदर्शी। एतावतिक्रम्य कथं नृपत्वं दुर्योधन प्रार्थयसेऽद्य मोहात्॥
The wise Dhritarashtra is now established on the throne and under him as a subordinate is Vidura of great foresight; superseding these two how can you, O Duryodhana, desire the kingdom out of folly?
राजा च क्षत्ता च महानुभावौ भीष्मे स्थिते परवन्तौ भवेताम्। अयं तु धर्मज्ञतया महात्मा न कामयेद् यो नृवरो नदीजः॥
The king himself and Vidura of great soul, are so long as Bhishma is alive, but his subordinates; in fact owing to his being conversant with virtue, the one born of the river (Ganga), that foremost of kings does not desire the kingship.
राज्यं तु पाण्डोरिदमप्रधृष्यं तस्याद्य पुत्राः प्रभवन्ति नान्ये। राज्यं तदेतन्निखिलं पाण्डवानां पैतामहं पुत्रपौत्रानुगामि॥
This kingdom, incapable of being subjugated, belongs to Pandu and now his sons are lords over it and none else. This entire kingdom, coming from their father, goes to the sons of Pandu, and to their sons of grandsons.
यद् वै ब्रूते कुरुमुख्यो महात्मा देवव्रतः सत्यसंधो मनीषी। सर्वं तदस्माभिरहत्य कार्य राज्यं स्वधर्मान् परिपालयद्भिः॥
What, that foremost among the Kurus, that great-souled one of divine vows, ever attached to truth, endued with intelligence, says, should is its entirely, be done by us, for the sake of our kingdom, and the duties of our order.
अनुज्ञया चाथ महाव्रतस्य ब्रूयावृपोऽयं विदुरस्तथैव। कार्यं भवेत् तत् सुहृद्भिनियोज्यं धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य सुदीर्घकालम्॥
Let this ruler of men as also Vidura by the command of the one of great vows speak the same thing; that is an act that should be done by our well wishers who should place virtue above all consideration.
न्यायागतं राज्यमिदं कुरूणां युधिष्ठिरः शास्तु वै धर्मपुत्रः। प्रचोदितो धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा पुरस्कृतः शान्तनवेन चैव॥
Let the son of Dharma Yudhishthira rule over the kingdom of the Kurus, obtained justly, led by Dhritarashtra and placing the son of Shantanu at the helm of affairs."