वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु राज्ञा स धृतराष्ट्रेण धीमता। तूष्णीं बभूव मेधावी तमुवाचाथ केशवः॥
Thus accosted by the intelligent king Dhritarashtra, Yudhishthira, gifted with understanding, became calm. And then Keshava (Krishna) said to him.
अतीव मनसा शोकः क्रियमाणो जनाधिप। संतापयति चैतस्य पूर्वप्रेतान् पितामहान्॥
If a person indulges excessively in sorrow for his departed manes he grieves them.
यजस्व विविधैर्यज्ञैर्बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः। देवांस्तर्पय सोमेन स्वधया च पितॄनपि॥
Do you (now) celebrate many a sacrifice with suitable presents to the priests; and do you please the celestials with Soma juice and the manes of your forefathers, with their due food and drink.
अतिथीनन्नपानेन कामैरन्यैरकिंचनान्। विदितं वेदितव्यं ते कर्तव्यमपि ते कृतम्॥
Do you also please your guests with meat and drink and the poor with gifts after their hearts. A person of your high intelligence should not act thus.
श्रुताश्च राजधर्मास्ते भीष्माद् भागीरथीसुतात्। कृष्णद्वैपायनाच्चैव नारदाद् विदुरात्तथा॥
You knew what ought to be known, you have performed what ought to be donc, and you have heard the duties of the Kshatriyas, recit ed by Bhishma, the son of Bhagirathi, by Krishna Dvaipayana, Narada and Vidura.
नेमामर्हसि मूढानां वृत्तिं त्वमनुवर्तितुम्। पितृपैतामहं वृत्तिमास्थाय धुरमुद्वह॥
Therefore you should not act like a stupid; but following the course of your forefathers, sustain the burthen (of the Empire).
युक्तं हि यशसा क्षात्रं स्वर्ग प्राप्तुमसंशयम्। न हि कश्चिद्धि शूराणां निहतोऽत्र पराङ्मुखः॥
It is proper that a Kshatriya should attain the celestial region for certain by his (own) renown. Of heroes, those who came to be killed never shall have to turn away.
त्यज शोक महाराज भवितव्यं हि तत्तथा। न शक्यास्ते पुनर्द्रष्टुं त्वया येऽस्मिन् रणे हताः।८।
Renounce your grief, O powerful king. Indeed, what has taken place was destined to happen so. You can in no way see those that have been killed in this war.
एतावदुक्त्वा गोविन्दो धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरम्। विरराम महातेजास्तमुवाच युधिष्ठिरः॥
Having said this to Yudhishthira, prince of the pious, the high-spirited Govinda stopped; and Yudhishthira answered him thus.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच गोविन्द मयि या प्रीतिस्तव सा विदिता मम सौहृदेन तथा प्रेम्णा सदा मय्यनुकम्पसे॥
O Govinda, Is know full well your fondness for me. You have ever favoured me with your love and friendship.
प्रियं त मे तु मे स्यात् सुमहत्कृतं चक्रगदाधर। श्रीमन् प्रीतेन मनसा सर्वे यादवनन्दन॥ यदि मामनुजानीयाद् भवान् गन्तुं तपोवनम्।
And, O holder of the mace and the discus, O scion of Yudhu's race, O glorious one, if (now) do you gladly permit me to retire into the woods, then you would do what is greatly desired by me.
न हि शान्तिं प्रपश्यामि पातयित्वा पितामहम्॥ कर्णं च पुरुषव्याघ्र संग्रामेष्वपलायिनम्।
After having killed my grandfather, and that foremost of men, Karna, who never fled from the field of battle, I find no peace.
कर्मणा येन मुच्येयमस्मात् क्रूरादरिंदम॥ कर्मणा तद् विधत्स्वेह येन शुध्यति मे मनः।
Do you, O Janardana, so ordain that I may be feed from this heinous sin and that iny mind may be purified.
तमेवं वादिनं पार्थं व्यासः प्रोवाच धर्मवित्॥ सान्त्वयन् सुमहातेजाः शुभं वचनमर्थवत्।
As Pritha's son was speaking thus, the highly energetic Vyasa, knowing the duties of life, soothing him, spoke these excellent words.
अकृता ते मतिस्तात पुनर्बाल्येन मुह्यसे॥ किमाकारा वयं तात प्रलपामो मुहुर्मुहुः।
My child, your mind is not yet calmed; and therefore you are again stupefied by childish feelings. And wherefore, O child, do we over and over again throw our words to the winds?
विदिताः क्षत्रधर्मास्ते येषां युद्धेन जीविका॥ तथा प्रवृत्तो नृपतिर्नाधिबधेन युज्यसे।
You know the duties of the Kshatriyas, who live by warfare. A king who has done his duty, should not allow himself to be overwhelmed by grief.
मोक्षधर्माश्च निखिला याथातथ्येन ते श्रुताः॥ असकृच्चापि संदेहाश्छिन्नास्ते कामजा मया।
You have faithfully listened to the entire doctrine of salvation; and I have repeatedly removed your misgivings originating from desire.
वैशम्पायन उवाच अश्रद्दधानो दुर्मेधा लुप्तस्मृतिरसि ध्रुवम्॥ मैवं भव न ते युक्तमिदमज्ञानमीदृशम्।
Vaishampayana said, But not paying due heed to what I have unfolded, you of perverse understanding have doubtless forgotten it clean. Be it not so. Such ignorance is not worthy of you.
प्रायश्चित्तानि सर्वाणि विदितानि च तेऽनघ। राजधर्माश्च ते सर्वे दानधर्माश्च ते श्रुताः॥
O sinless one, you are cognizant of all kinds of expiation; and you have also heard of the virtues of kings, as well as the merits of gifts.
स कथं सर्वधर्मज्ञः सर्वागमविशारदः। परिमुह्यसि भूयस्त्वमज्ञानादिव भारत॥
Wherefore then, O Bharata, knowing every form of morality and versed in all the Agamas, are you overwhelmed (with grief) as if from ignorance.