युधिष्ठिर उवाच समागताः पाण्डवाः सुंजयाश्च जनार्दनो युयुधानो विराटः। यत् ते वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रानुशिष्टं गावल्गणे ब्रूहि तत् सूतपुत्र॥
Yudhishthira said Here are assembled the sons of Pandu, the Srinjayas, Yudhishthira, Virata; speak the words, you have been instructed to say by Dhritarashtra, O son of Gavalgana, O son of Suta.
संजय उवाच अजातशत्रु च वृकोदरं च धनंजय माद्रवतीसुतौ च। आमन्त्रये वासुदेवं च शौरिं युयुधान् चेकितान विराटम्॥
Sanjaya said I make my obeisance to him who has created no enemies, to Vrikodara, Dhananjaya and the two sons of the king of Madri and also the son of Shura, the son of Vasudeva, Yuyudhana, Chekitana and Virata,
पञ्चालानामधिपं चैव वृद्धं धृष्टद्युम्नं पार्ष याज्ञसेनिम्। सर्वे वाचं शृणुतेमा मदीयां वक्ष्यामि यां भूतिमिच्छन् कुरूणाम्॥
And also to the aged lord of the people of Panchala, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata and Yagaseni. All of you listen to these words which I speak, being desirous of the welfare of the Kurus.
नयोजयत् त्वरमाणो रथं मे। स्तद् रोचतां पाण्डवानां शमोऽस्तु॥
King Dhritarashtra had my car speedily got ready for he welcomed the chance of peace. Therefore may the king, with his brothers, sons and friends, find these words acceptable to them. Let there be peace.
सर्वैर्धर्मः समुपेतास्तु पार्थाः संस्थानेन मार्दवेनार्जवेन। जाताः कुले ह्यनृशंसा वदान्या ह्रीनिषेवाः कर्मणां निश्चयज्ञाः॥
With all virtues are the sons of Pritha endued, with steadiness, with mildness and with frankness. They are born in a good family, the reverse of cruel and generous, they avoid all deeds that one, should be ashamed of and know for certainly the nature of each deed.
न युज्यते कर्म युष्मासु हीनं सत्त्वं हि वस्तादृशं भीमसेनाः। उद्भासते ह्यञ्जनबिन्दवक्त च्छुभ्र वस्त्रे यद् भवेत् किल्बिषं वः॥
A mean act does not befit you for you are noble-minded and have a terrible army. If you act mean, it will get undue preponderance as does a black spot on a white cloth.
सर्वक्षयो दृश्यते यत्र कृत्स्नः पापोदयो निरयोऽभावसंस्थः। कस्तत्र् कुर्याज्जातु कर्म प्रजानन् पराजयो यत्र समो जयश्च॥
An act which on the very face of it will cause destruction to all and which is sinful and leading to hell, who will do such an act consciously, an act which gives the same result in case of victory and defeat alike.
ते वै धन्या यैः कृतं ज्ञातिकार्य ते वै पुत्राः सुहृदो बान्धवाश्च। र्यतः कुरूणां नियतो वैभव: स्यात्॥
Blessed are they who promote the interests of their cousins. They are the sons, friends and well-wishers indeed (of the Kurus) who, in order that prosperity may ever attend the Kurus, would sacrifice their life which is of small value.
ते चेत् कुरूननुशिष्याथ पार्था निर्णीय सर्वान् द्विषतो निगृह्य। समं वस्तज्जीवितं मृत्युना स्याद् यज्जीवध्वं ज्ञातिवधे न साधु॥
If after subjugating the Kurus, O you sons of Pritha and defeating all, you destroy those who despise you, then the succeeding portion of your life will be equal to death, since what is life after killing all your all your cousins?
को ह्येव युष्मान् सह केशवेन सचेकितानान् पार्षतबाहुगुप्तान्। ससात्यकीन् विषहेत प्रजेतुं लध्वाऽपि देवान् सचिवान् सहेन्द्रान्॥
Who is capable of withstanding you who are assisted by Keshava, Chekitana and Satyaki and protected by the arms of the son of Prishata even after getting Indra and all his divine followers on his side.
नश्वत्थाम्ना शल्यकृपादिभिश्च। रणे विजेतुं विषहेत राजन् राधेयगुप्तान् सह भूमिपालैः॥
Who, on the other hand, can withstand with a view to conquer in battle, the Kurus, who are protected by Drona, Bhishma, Ashvathama, Shalya, Kripa and others and also protected by the son of Radha along with other kings.
महद् बलं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञः को वै शक्तो हन्तुमक्षीयमाणः। सोऽहं जये चैव पराजये च निःश्रेयसं नाधिगच्छामि किञ्चित्॥
Who is capable of staying, without any loss to his own army, the large force of the royal son of Dhritarashtra? Therefore do I see not the slightest good in either victory or defeat.
कथं हि नीचा इव दौष्कुलेया निर्धर्मार्थं कर्म कुर्युश्च पार्थाः। सोऽहं प्रसाद्य प्रणतो वासुदेवं पञ्चालानामधिपं चैव वृद्धम्॥
Why should the sons of Pritha do an wicked act like mean people and those born in low families? Therefore having approached you, do I bow to the son of Vasudeva and the aged lord of the people of Panchala.
कृताञ्जलिः शरणं वः प्रपद्ये कथं स्वस्ति स्यात् कुरुसंजयानाम्। न ह्येवमेवं वचनं वासुदेवो धनंजयो वा जातु किंचिन्न कुर्यात्॥
With hands clasped, do I throw myself under your protection so that it may go well with the Kurus and the Srinjayas. Why should not the son of Vasudeva and Dhananjaya act in the manner indicated by me?
देतद् विद्वन् साधनार्थं ब्रवीमि। एतद् राज्ञो भीष्मपुरोगमस्य मतं यद् वः शान्तिरिहोत्तमा स्यात्॥
If so requested they would give away their lives; why should not they do this which is, I say, O learned man, for the preservation of others.