वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रज्ञावृद्धो महाद्युतिः। सम्पूज्यैनं यथाकालं भीष्मो वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Vaishampayana said Having heard these words of his, Bhishma, of great luster and old in wisdom, did him due honours and spoke these words to him as suited the occasion.
दिष्ट्या कुशलिन: सर्वे सह दामोदरेण ते। दिष्ट्या सहायवन्तश्चदिष्ट्या धर्मे च ते रताः॥
It is lucky that they all along with Damodara are doing well; it is lucky that have secured aid and it is lucky that they are intent on acting virtuously.
दिष्ट्या च संधिकामास्ते भ्रातरः कुरुनन्दनाः। दिष्ट्या न युद्धमनसः पाण्डवाः सह बान्धवैः॥
And it is lucky that our cousins, the sons of Kuru, desire peace, it is lucky that the sons of Pandu are not desirous of war with their relations.
भवता सत्यमुक्तं तु सर्वमेतन्न संशयः। अतितीक्ष्णं तु ते वाक्यं ब्राह्मण्यादिति मे मतिः॥
Truth has been spoken by you; it is so; no doubt your words are very sharp; in my opinion that is so because you are a Brahmana.
असंशयं क्लेशितास्ते वने चेह च पाण्डवाः। प्राप्ताश्च धर्मतः सर्वं पितुर्धनमसंशयम्॥
Kiritin the son of Pritha is strong, well coached in handling weapons and of mighty prowess; who is there to stand against Dhananjaya the son of Pandu?
किरीटी बलवान् पार्थः कृतास्त्रश्च महारथः। को हि पाण्डुसुतं युद्धे विषहेत धनंजयम्॥
These sons, of Pandu, have doubtless borne much troubles here and in the forest and rightly speaking they are doubtless entitled to the wealth of their fathers.
अपि वज्रधरः साक्षात् किमुतान्ये धनुर्भृतः। त्रयाणामपि लोकानां समर्थ इति मे मतिः॥
Even the holder of the thunderbolt himself (cannot withstand him) how can others bearing the bow? He is capable of standing against the three worlds; this is my opinion.
भीष्मे ब्रुवति तद् वाक्यं धृष्टमाक्षिप्य मन्युना। दुर्योधनं समालोक्य कर्णो वचनमब्रवीत्॥
While Bhishma was speaking Karna, having interrupted his words in anger and insolence and looking at Duryodhana, said-
न तत्राविदितं ब्रह्माल्लोके भूतेन केनचित्। पुनरुक्तेन किं तेन भाषितेन पुनः पुनः॥
Brahmana, what you say is not unknown in this world nor by any being; why do you repeat it again and again?
दुर्योधनार्थं शकुनि ते निर्जितवान् पुरा। समयेन गतोऽरण्यं पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥
In days of old, Shakuni on behalf of Duryodhana defeated (Yudhishthira) at a game of dice and it was according to a stipulation that Yudhishthira the son of Pandu went to the forest.
स तं समयमाश्रित्य राज्यं नेच्छति पैतृकम्। बलमाश्रित्य मत्स्यानां पञ्चालानां च मूर्खवत्॥
He now, like a fool disregarding that stipulation, wants his paternal wealth depending on the armies supplied him by the Matsyas and by the king of Panchala.
दुर्योधनो भयाद् विद्वन् न दद्यात् पादमन्ततः। धर्मतस्तु महीं कृत्स्नां प्रदद्याच्छत्रवेऽपि च॥
O learned one, Duryodhana will not yield even one foot of ground through fear, but responding to the call of virtue he will yield even the entire world to his enemy.
यदि काक्षन्ति ते राज्यं पितृपैतामहं पुनः। यथाप्रतिज्ञं कालं तं चरन्तु वनमाश्रिताः॥
If they want back the kingdom of their forefathers let them, as stipulated, reside in the forest to the end of the period (agreed on).
ततो दुर्योधनस्याङ्के वर्तन्तामकुतोभयाः। अधार्मिकी तु मा बुद्धि मौात् कुर्वन्तु केवलात्।।१४।
Then may they come to seek refuse with Duryodhana without any fear; let them not through folly adopt an unrighteous course,
अथ ते धर्ममुत्सृज्य युद्धमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः। आसाद्येमान् कुरुश्रेष्ठान् स्मरिष्यन्ति वचो मम॥
If the sons of Pandu, bidding adieu to a righteous course, desire war, then will they, after coming face to face with these foremost among the race of Kurus, have occasion to remember my words.
भीष्म उवाच किं नु राधेय वाचा ते कर्म तत् स्मर्तुमर्हसि। एक एव यदा पार्थः षड्रस्थाञ्जितवान् युधि॥
Bhishma said O son of Radha, why do you talk so much? It is fitting that you should remember his deeds; alone the son of Pritha vanquished in battle six charioteers.
बहुशो जीयमानस्य कर्म दृष्टं तदैव ते। न चेदेवं करिष्यामो यदयं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्। ध्रुवं यधि हतास्तेन भक्षयिष्याम पांसुकान्॥
You have seen the deeds of him who had been victories on many occasions; if we do not do what this Brahmana has said most certainly shall we be killed by him.
वैशम्पायन उवाच धृतराष्ट्रस्ततो भीष्ममनुमान्य प्रसाद्य च। अवभय॑ च राधेयमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Vaishampayana said Then Dhritarashtra, having pleased Bhishma by approving of his words and having rebuked the son of Radha, said these words.
अस्मद्धितं वाक्यमिदं भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्। पाण्डवानां हितं चैव सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा॥
What Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, has said is calculated to promote sur interests and those of the entire world.
चिन्तयित्वा तु पार्थेभ्यः प्रेषयिष्यामि संजयम्। स भवान् प्रति यात्वद्य पाण्डवानेव मा चिरम्॥
After mature deliberation, shall I send Sanjaya to the sons of Pritha, therefore do you go back at once this day to the sons of Pandu.
स तं सत्कृत्य कौरव्यः प्रेषयामास पाण्डवान्। सभामध्ये समाहूय संजयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
And the son of Kuru, having done him honours, sent him to the sons of Pandu and having summoned Sanjaya to the council, said these words.