Mahabharata, Book 5, Section XXउद्योगपर्व

Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 5.20.

20Sanskrit adhyāya 5.20 · Sanskrit source · English source

Sanskrit

वैशंपायन उवाच।
स च कौरव्यमासाद्य द्रुपदस्य पुरोहितः।
सत्कृतो धृतराष्ट्रेण भीष्मेण विदुरेण च ।।
सर्वकौशल्यमुक्त्वाऽऽदौ पृष्ट्वा चैवमनामयम्।
सर्वसेनाप्रणेतॄणां मध्ये वाक्यमुवाच ह ।।
सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्विदितो राजधर्मः सनातनः।
वाक्योपादानहेतोस्तु वक्ष्यामि विदिते सति ।।
धृतराष्ट्रश्च पाण्डुश्च सुतावेकस्य विश्रुतौ ।
तयोः समानं द्रविणं पैतृकं नात्र संशयः ।।
धृतराष्ट्रस्य ये पुत्राः प्राप्तं तैः पैतृकं वसु।
पाण्डुपुत्राः कथं नाम न प्राप्ताः पैतृकं वसु ।।
वनं गतैः पाण्डवेयैर्विदितं वः पुरा यथा।
न प्राप्तं पैतृकं द्रव्यं धृतराष्ट्रेण यद्धृतम्।।
प्राणान्तिकैरप्युपायैः प्रयतद्भिरनेकशः ।
शेषवन्तो न शकिता नेतुं वै यमसादनम् ।।
पुनश्च वर्धितं राज्यं स्वबलेन महात्मभिः ।
छद्मनाऽपहृतं क्षुद्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्रैः ससौबलैः ।।
तदप्यनुमतं कर्म यथा युक्तमनेन वै।
वासिताश्च महारण्ये वर्षाणीह त्रयोदश ।।
सभायां क्लेशितैर्वीरैः सहभार्यैस्तथा भृशम् ।
अरण्ये विविधाः क्लेशाः संप्राप्तास्तैः सुदारुणाः ।।
तथा विराटनगरे योन्यन्तरगतैरिव।
प्राप्तः परमसंक्लेशो यथा पापैर्महात्मभिः ।।
ते सर्वं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तत्पूर्वं कर्म किल्विषम् ।
साम्नैव कुरुभिः सन्धिमिच्छन्ति कुरुपुङ्गवाः ।।
तेषां च वृत्तमाज्ञाय वृत्तं दुर्योधनस्य च।
अनुनेतुमिहार्हन्ति धार्तराष्ट्रं सुहृज्जनाः ।।
न हि ते विग्रहं वीराः कुर्वन्ति कुरुभिः सह।
अविनाशेन लोकस्य काङ्क्षन्ते पाण्डवाः स्वकम् ।।
यश्चापि धार्तराष्ट्रस्य हेतुः स्याद्विग्रहं प्रति।
स च हेतुर्न मन्तव्यो बलीयांसस्तथा हि ते ।।
अक्षौहिण्यश्च सप्तैव धर्मपुत्रस्य सङ्गताः।
युयुत्समानाः कुरुभिः प्रतीक्षन्तेऽस्य शासनम् ।।
अपरे पुरुषव्याघ्राः सहस्राक्षौहिणीसमाः ।
सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च यमौ च सुमहाबलौ ।।
एकादशैताः पृतना एकतश्च समागताः ।
एकतश्च महाबाहुर्बहुरूपी धनञ्जयः ।।
यथा किरीटी सर्वाभ्यः सेनाभ्यो व्यतिरिच्यते।
एवमेव महाबाहुर्वासुदेवो महाद्युतिः ।।
बहुलत्वं च सेनानां विक्रमं च किरीटिनः।
बुद्धिमत्त्वं च कृष्णस्य बुद्ध्वा युध्येत को नरः ।।
ते भवन्तो यथाधर्मं यथासमयमेव च।
प्रयच्छन्तु प्रदातव्यं मा वः कालोऽत्यगादयम् ।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि
सञ्जययानपर्वणि विंशोऽध्यायः ।।

English Ganguli

Vaisampayana said, “Then Drupada’s priest, having approached the Kaurava chief, was honoured by Dhritarashtra as also by Bhishma and Vidura. And having first told the news of the welfare of the Pandavas, he enquired about the welfare of the Kauravas. And he spoke the following words in the midst of all the leaders of Duryodhana’s army, ‘The eternal duties of kings are known to you all. But though known, I shall yet recite them as an introduction to what I am going to say. Both Dhritarashtra and Pandu are known to be sons of the same father. There is no doubt that the share of each to the paternal wealth should be equal. The sons of Dhritarashtra obtained the paternal wealth. Why did not the sons of Pandu at all receive their paternal portion? Ye are aware how formerly the sons of Pandu did not receive their paternal property which was all usurped by Dhritarashtra’s sons. The latter endeavoured in various ways to remove the sons of Pandu from their path by employment even of murderous contrivances; but as their destined terms of life had not wholly run out, the sons of Pandu could not be sent to the abode of Yama. Then again, when those high-souled princes had carved out a kingdom by their own strength, the mean-minded sons of Dhritarashtra, aided by Suvala’s son, robbed them of it by deceit. This Dhritarashtra gave his sanction even to that act as hath been usual with him. And for thirteen years they were then sent to sojourn in the great wilderness. In the council-hall, they had also been subjected to indignities of various kinds, along with their wife, valiant though they were. And great also were the sufferings that they had to endure in the woods. Those virtuous princes had also to endure unspeakable woes in the city of Virata,—such as are endured only by vicious men when their souls transmigrate into the forms of inferior beings. Ye best of Kuru’s race, overlooking all these injuries of yore they desire nothing but a peaceful settlement with the Kurus! Remembering their behaviour, and that of Duryodhana also, the latter’s friends should entreat him to consent to peace! The heroic sons of Pandu are not eager for war with the Kurus. They desire to get back their own share without involving the world in ruin. If Dhritarashtra’s son assigns a reason in favour of war, that can never be a proper reason. The sons of Pandu are more powerful. Seven Akshauhinis of troops have been collected on behalf of Yudhishthira, all eager to fight with the Kurus, and they are now awaiting his word of command. Others there are tigers among men, equal in might to a thousand Akshauhinis, such as Satyaki and Bhimasena, and the twin brothers of mighty strength. It is true that these eleven divisions of troops are arrayed on one side, but these are balanced on the other by the mighty-armed Dhananjaya of manifold form. And as Kiritin exceeds in strength even all these troops together, so also doth Vasudeva’s son of great effulgence and powerful intellect. Who is there that would fight, in view of the magnitude of the opposing force, the valour of Arjuna, and the wisdom of Krishna? Therefore, I ask you to give back what should be given, as dictated by morality and compact. Do not let the opportunity pass!’"