अश्वत्थामोवाच न च तावज्जिता गावो न च सीमान्तरं गताः। न हास्तिनपुरं प्राप्तास्त्वं च कर्ण विकत्थसे॥
Ashvathama said The kine have not yet been acquired. Nor have they gone over the boundary. Nor have they gone to Hastinapur. Why do you, Karna, boast?
संग्रामांश्च बहूञ्जित्वा लब्ध्वा च विपुलं धनम्। विजित्य च परां सेनां नाहुः किंचन पौरुषम्॥
Even having won many a battle, amassed a vast fortune, vanquished their enemies, armies, truly heroic men do not utter a single word of their prowess.
दहत्यग्निरवाक्यस्तु तूष्णीं भाति दिवाकरः। तूष्णीं धारयते लोकान् वसुधा सचराचरान्॥
Fire burns silently and silently does the sun shine. And the earth does bear creatures mobile and immobile without a single word.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य कर्माणि विहितानि स्वयम्भुवा। धनं यैरधिगन्तव्यं यच्च कुर्वन् न दुष्यति॥
The actions of the four orders have been ordained by the Self Sprung (Brahma) so that they may acquire wealth without committing a sinful act.
अधीत्य ब्राह्मणो वेदान् याजयेत यजेत वा। क्षत्रियो धनुराश्रित्य यजेच्चैव न याजयेत्॥
Having studied the Vedas, the Brahmanas should perform sacrifices and officiate as priests. Resorting to their vows the Kshatriyas should perform sacrifices and never officiate as priests.
वैश्योऽधिगम्य वित्तानि ब्रह्मकर्माणि कारयेत्। शूद्रः शुश्रूषणं कुर्यात् त्रिषु वर्णेषु नित्यशः। वन्दनायोगविधिभिर्वैतसी वृत्तिमास्थितः॥
Having amassed wealth the Vaishyas should perform the Vedic rites there with. A Shudra should always attend to and serve the other three orders, having recourse to flattery as the means of livelihood and behaving (cringlingly) like the cane.
वर्तमाना यथाशास्त्रं प्राप्य चापि महीमिमाम्। सत्कुर्वन्ति महाभागा गुरून् सुविगुणानपि॥
Duly following the the scriptures they obtained this entire earth and those great men always act respectfully to their elders even if the latter prove adverse to them,
प्राप्य द्यूतेन को राज्यं क्षत्रियस्तोष्टुमर्हति। तथा नृशंसरूपोऽयं धार्तराष्ट्रश्च निघृणः॥
What Kshatriya on this earth expresses joy for having acquired a kingdom by gambling like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra?
तथाधिगम्य वित्तानि को विकत्थेद् विचक्षणः। निकृत्या वञ्चनायोगैश्चरन् वैतंसिको यथा।॥
Having acquired riches in this way by deceit and fraud like a seller of meat what wise man would boast of it?
कतमद् द्वैरथं युद्धं यत्राजैषीर्धनंजयम्। नकुलं सहदेवं वा धनं येषां त्वया हतम्॥
In what single combat did you ever defeat Dhananjaya, Nakula or Sahadeva although you have robbed them of their riches?
युधिष्ठिरो जित: कस्मिन् भीमश्च बलिनां वरः। इन्द्रप्रस्थं त्वया कस्मिन् संग्रामे निर्जितं पुरा॥
Has Yudhishthira, or Bhima the foremost of the strong, been defeated by you? In what battle was Indraprastha conquered by you?
तथैव कतमद् युद्धं यस्मिन् कृष्णा जिता त्वया। एकवस्त्रा सभां नीता दुष्टकर्मन् रजस्वला॥
By what battle did you win Krishna, that, O you of wicked deeds, you did drag her to the assembly when she was in her course and had one cloth on?
मूलमेषां महत् कृत्तं साराथी चन्दनं यथा। कर्म कारयिथाः सूत तत्र किं विदुरोऽब्रवीत्॥
You have cut the great root of the Sala tree. Actuated by greed when you made them work as slaves what did Vidura say?
यथाशक्ति मनुष्याणां शममालक्षयामहे। अन्येषामपि सत्त्वानामपि कीटपिपीलिकैः।
Men and others, even insects and ants show forgiveness as much as lies in their power.
द्रौपद्याः सम्परिक्लेशं न क्षन्तुं पाण्डवोऽर्हति॥ क्षयाय धार्तराष्ट्राणां प्रादुर्भूतो धनंजयः।
The Pandava can never forgive your distressing Draupadi. Dhananjaya is born for the destruction of Dhritarashtra's sons.
त्वं पुनः पण्डितो भूत्वा वाचं वक्तुमिहेच्छसि॥ वैरान्तकरणो जिष्णुर्न नः शेषं करिष्यति॥
Appearing as a learned man you are making speeches, but will not Bibhatsu, the slayer of enemies, exterminate us all?
नैष देवान् न गन्धर्वान् नासुरान् न च राक्षसान्। भयादिह न युध्येत कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजयः॥
Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, never from fear, withdraws himself from fighting even if it be with the Gandharvas, Asuras or Rakshasas.
यं यमेषोऽतिसंक्रुद्धः संग्रामे निपतिष्यति। वृक्षं गरुत्मान् वेगेन विनिहत्य तमेष्यति॥
On whom he will fall enraged in battle he will over-throw him like a tree by the velocity of Garuda.
त्वत्तो विशिष्टं वीर्येण धनुष्यमरराट्समम्। वासुदेवसमं युद्धे तं पार्थं को न पूजयेत्॥
Who will not praise Partha, who is superior to yourself in prowess, equal to the king of the gods in bowmanship and equal to Vasudeva himself in battle?
देवं दैवेन युध्येत मानुषेण च मानुषम्। अस्त्रं ह्यस्त्रेण यो हन्यात् कोऽर्जुनेन समः पुमान्।।२०
What man is equal to Arjuna who counteracts the celestials weapons with celestials and human weapons with human?
पुत्रादनन्तरं शिष्य इति धर्मविदो विदुः। एतेनापि निमित्तेन प्रियो द्रोणस्य पाण्डवः॥
Persons conversant with virtue say that a disciple is not different from a son. It is for this reason Arjuna is favourite with Drona.
यथा त्वमकरो तमिन्द्रप्रस्थं यथाऽऽहरः। यथाऽऽनैषीः सभां कृष्णां तथा युध्यस्व पाण्डवम्॥
Do you fight with the Pandavas in the same way by which you defeated them at dice, by which you conquered Indraprastha and dragged Krishna to the assembly hall.
अयं ते मातुल: प्राज्ञः क्षत्रधर्मस्य कोविदः। दुर्दूतदेवी गान्धारः शकुनियुध्यतामिह॥
Let your uncle the deceitful gambler Shakuni, the prince of Gandhara, fully versed in the duties of the Kshatriyas, fight now.
नाक्षान् क्षिपति गाण्डीवं न कृतं द्वापरं न च। ज्वलतो निशितान् बाणांस्तांस्तान् क्षिपति गाण्डिवम्॥
The Gandiva (bow) does not cast dice such as, the Krita or Dwapara but it discharges burning and sharpened arrows.
न हि गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्ता गार्धपक्षाः सुतेजनाः। नान्तरेष्ववतिष्ठन्ते गिरीणामपि दारणाः॥
The dreadful arrows, shot from Gandiva of great might and winged like vultures, can rend even the mountains.
अन्तकः पवनो मृत्युस्तथाग्निर्वडवामुखः। कुर्युरेते क्वचिच्छेषं न तु क्रुद्धो धनंजयः॥
The regent of Dead, the god of air and the horse-faced god of fire, leave some thing behind but Dhananjaya, worked up with anger, never does so.
यथा सभायां द्यूतं त्वं मातुलेन सहाकरोः। तथा युध्यस्व संग्रामे सौबलेन सुरक्षितः॥
As backed by your uncle you played at dice in the assembly hall so do you now fight well-protected by Subala's son?
युध्यन्तां कामतो योधा नाहं योत्स्ये धनंजयम्। मत्स्यो ह्यस्माभिरायोध्यो यद्यागच्छेद् गवां पदम्॥२८।
Let any one else, if he likes, fight, I shall not fight with Dhananjaya. We shall fight with the king of Matsya's if he comes following the track of kine.