5-1-001
वैशंपायन उवाच
कृत्वा विवाहं तु कुरुप्रवीरा;स्तदाभिमन्योर्मुदितस्वपक्षाः
विश्रम्य चत्वार्युषसः प्रतीताः; सभां विराटस्य ततोऽभिजग्मुः
Vaiśampāyana said, "'When the foremost among the Kuru-s had happily celebrated Abhimanyu's wedding with their respective parties, they safely rested for four nights. Then they went to Virāṭa's assembly hall.
5-1-002
सभा तु सा मत्स्यपतेः समृद्धा; मणिप्रवेकोत्तमरत्नचित्रा
न्यस्तासना माल्यवती सुगन्धा; तामभ्ययुस्ते नरराजवर्याः
The assembly hall of the king of the Mātsya-s was prosperous. It was marvellous, decorated with the best of gems and jewels. There were seats and fragrant garlands. Those aged among the lords of men arrived there.
5-1-003
अथासनान्याविशतां पुरस्ता;दुभौ विराटद्रुपदौ नरेन्द्रौ
वृद्धश्च मान्यः पृथिवीपतीनां; पितामहो रामजनार्दनाभ्याम्
Virāṭa and Drupada, the two Indra-s among men, seated themselves on the seats that were at the front. There was also the grandfather of Rāma and Janārdana, aged and revered by the lords of the earth.
5-1-004
पाञ्चालराजस्य समीपतस्तु; शिनिप्रवीरः सहरौहिणेयः
मत्स्यस्य राज्ञस्तु सुसंनिकृष्टौ; जनार्दनश्चैव युधिष्ठिरश्च
The foremost among the Śini-s, together with Rohiṇī's son, was seated near the king of Pāñcāla. Janārdana and Yudhiṣṭhira were seated near the king of Mātsya.
5-1-005
सुताश्च सर्वे द्रुपदस्य राज्ञो; भीमार्जुनौ माद्रवतीसुतौ च
प्रद्युम्नसाम्बौ च युधि प्रवीरौ; विराटपुत्रश्च सहाभिमन्युः
All the sons of King Drupada were seated there, Bhīmā, Arjuna and Mādrī's two sons. There were Pradyumna and Sāmba, brave in battle, and Virāṭa's son, together with Abhimanyu.
5-1-006
सर्वे च शूराः पितृभिः समाना; वीर्येण रूपेण बलेन चैव
उपाविशन्द्रौपदेयाः कुमाराः; सुवर्णचित्रेषु वरासनेषु
Draupadī's sons seated themselves, on beautiful seats that were decorated with gold. They were the equals of their fathers in bravery.
5-1-007
तथोपविष्टेषु महारथेषु; विभ्राजमानाम्बरभूषणेषु
रराज सा राजवती समृद्धा; ग्रहैरिव द्यौर्विमलैरुपेता
The mahāratha-s who were seated there dazzled in their colourful garments and brilliant jewels. With all the prosperous and assembled kings, it was as if the sky was covered with unblemished planets.
5-1-008
ततः कथास्ते समवाययुक्ताः; कृत्वा विचित्राः पुरुषप्रवीराः
तस्थुर्मुहूर्तं परिचिन्तयन्तः; कृष्णं नृपास्ते समुदीक्षमाणाः
As was proper, those brave ones among men conversed with each other on various subjects. Then they reflected for some time and all the kings looked in Kṛṣṇā's direction. Having finished their conversation,
5-1-009
कथान्तमासाद्य च माधवेन; संघट्टिताः पाण्डवकार्यहेतोः
ते राजसिंहाः सहिता ह्यशृण्व;न्वाक्यं महार्थं च महोदयं च
those lions among kings who had been assembled by Mādhava, looked towards him. They listened to his words, of deep meaning and great significance, about what should be done regarding the Pāṇḍava-s.
5-1-010
कृष्ण उवाच
सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्विदितं यथायं; युधिष्ठिरः सौबलेनाक्षवत्याम्
जितो निकृत्यापहृतं च राज्यं; पुनः प्रवासे समयः कृतश्च
Kṛṣṇā said: "It is known to all of you how Yudhiṣṭhira was defeated by Saubala in a deceitful game of dice and lost his kingdom. He made an agreement that he would spend some time in exile.
5-1-011
शक्तैर्विजेतुं तरसा महीं च; सत्ये स्थितैस्तच्चरितं यथावत्
पाण्डोः सुतैस्तद्व्रतमुग्ररूपं; वर्षाणि षट्सप्त च भारताग्र्यैः
They are capable of swiftly conquering the earth. But they stuck to their pledge and conducted themselves in accordance with it. The sons of Pāṇḍu are foremost among the Bhārata-s.
5-1-012
त्रयोदशश्चैव सुदुस्तरोऽय;मज्ञायमानैर्भवतां समीपे
क्लेशानसह्यांश्च तितिक्षमाणै;र्यथोषितं तद्विदितं च सर्वम्
But they stuck to that terrible vow of six plus seven years. They spent the terrible thirteenth year near you, but were undetected. They bore many hardships. All of you know everything about that.
5-1-013
एवं गते धर्मसुतस्य राज्ञो; दुर्योधनस्यापि च यद्धितं स्यात्
तच्चिन्तयध्वं कुरुपाण्डवानां; धर्म्यं च युक्तं च यशस्करं च
With that over, think about what is best for the king who is Dharma's son and for Duryodhana. Think about what is best for the Kuru-s and the Pāṇḍava-s, what is in accordance with dharma, is appropriate, and also ensures glory.
5-1-014
अधर्मयुक्तं च न कामयेत; राज्यं सुराणामपि धर्मराजः
धर्मार्थयुक्तं च महीपतित्वं; ग्रामेऽपि कस्मिंश्चिदयं बुभूषेत्
Dharmarāja will not crave the kingdom of the gods, if that is not in accordance with dharma. He will instead desire the lordship of a village, if that is in accordance with dharma and artha.
5-1-015
पित्र्यं हि राज्यं विदितं नृपाणां; यथापकृष्टं धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रैः
मिथ्योपचारेण तथाप्यनेन; कृच्छ्रं महत्प्राप्तमसह्यरूपम्
It is known to all the kings that he was robbed of his ancestral kingdom by Dhṛtarāṣṭra's sons through falsehood. They confronted great and unbearable difficulties.
5-1-016
न चापि पार्थो विजितो रणे तैः; स्वतेजसा धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रैः
तथापि राजा सहितः सुहृद्भि;रभीप्सतेऽनामयमेव तेषाम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra's sons did not vanquish the Pārtha-s in battle, through their own energy. But even then the king, together with his well-wishers, desires to see them healthy and happy.
5-1-017
यत्तत्स्वयं पाण्डुसुतैर्विजित्य; समाहृतं भूमिपतीन्निपीड्य
तत्प्रार्थयन्ते पुरुषप्रवीराः; कुन्तीसुता माद्रवतीसुतौ च
The sons of Kuntī and the sons of Mādrī are heroes among men. They only wish to obtain what the sons of Pāṇḍu won for themselves, by conquering and subjugating the kings of the earth.
5-1-018
बालास्त्विमे तैर्विविधैरुपायैः; संप्रार्थिता हन्तुममित्रसाहाः
राज्यं जिहीर्षद्भिरसद्भिरुग्रैः; सर्वं च तद्वो विदितं यथावत्
You know everything about how they used different means to kill these destroyers of enemies, even when they were children. They seized their kingdom through unholy and terrible means.
5-1-019
तेषां च लोभं प्रसमीक्ष्य वृद्धं; धर्मात्मतां चापि युधिष्ठिरस्य
संबन्धितां चापि समीक्ष्य तेषां; मतिं कुरुध्वं सहिताः पृथक्च
Witness their increasing avarice and Yudhiṣṭhira's devotion to dharma in his soul. Reflect on the relationship between them. Separately and collectively, decide on a course of action.
5-1-020
इमे च सत्येऽभिरताः सदैव; तं पारयित्वा समयं यथावत्
अतोऽन्यथा तैरुपचर्यमाणा; हन्युः समेतान्धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रान्
They have always been devoted to the truth and have faithfully completed the period of the covenant. Therefore, if they are not treated fairly now, let them kill all the assembled sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
5-1-021
तैर्विप्रकारं च निशम्य राज्ञः; सुहृज्जनास्तान्परिवारयेयुः
युद्धेन बाधेयुरिमांस्तथैव; तैर्वध्यमाना युधि तांश्च हन्युः
On learning that the king is oppressing them, all their wellwishers will gather around them. Let them be brought down in battle. Those who wish to fight will be slain.
5-1-022
तथापि नेमेऽल्पतया समर्था;स्तेषां जयायेति भवेन्मतं वः
समेत्य सर्वे सहिताः सुहृद्भि;स्तेषां विनाशाय यतेयुरेव
But if it is your view that they are too feeble and too few to be able to defeat them, let all the well-wishers gather together and endeavour to destroy all of them.
5-1-023
दुर्योधनस्यापि मतं यथाव;न्न ज्ञायते किं नु करिष्यतीति
अज्ञायमाने च मते परस्य; किं स्यात्समारभ्यतमं मतं वः
Duryodhana's intentions are still not known now. Nor does one know what he plans to do. With the intentions of the enemy not being known, how can one decide on an appropriate course of action?
5-1-024
तस्मादितो गच्छतु धर्मशीलः; शुचिः कुलीनः पुरुषोऽप्रमत्तः
दूतः समर्थः प्रशमाय तेषां; राज्यार्धदानाय युधिष्ठिरस्य
Therefore, let someone who is devoted to dharma go there, a man who is controlled, pure and born of a noble lineage. Let the messenger try to persuade them that half of the kingdom should be returned to Yudhiṣṭhira."
5-1-025
निशम्य वाक्यं तु जनार्दनस्य; धर्मार्थयुक्तं मधुरं समं च
समाददे वाक्यमथाग्रजोऽस्य; संपूज्य वाक्यं तदतीव राजन्
O king! On hearing Janārdana's sweet and calm words, full of dharma and artha, his elder brother strongly welcomed and applauded those words and spoke these words of his own.