Mahabharata
Yāna-saṃdhi (053) (Discussions of Peace and War, Chapters 46–70)5.53.16-19
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Mahabharata · 5.53.16-19
Devanāgarī

न हि भीमभयाद् भीता लप्स्यन्ते विजयं विभो ॥
तव पुत्रा महाराज राजानश् चानुसारिणः ॥
मत्स्यास् त्वाम् अद्य नार्चन्ति पाञ्चालाश् च सकेकयाः ॥
शाल्वेयाः शूरसेनाश् च सर्वे त्वाम् अवजानते ॥
पार्थं ह्य् एते गताः सर्वे वीर्यज्ञास् तस्य धीमतः ॥
अनर्हान् एव तु वधे धर्मयुक्तान् विकर्मणा ॥
सर्वोपायैर् नियन्तव्यः सानुगः पापपूरुषः ॥
तव पुत्रो महाराज नात्र शोचितुम् अर्हसि ॥
द्यूतकाले मया चोक्तं विदुरेण च धीमता ॥
यद् इदं ते विलपितं पाण्डवान् प्रति भारत ॥
अनीशेनेव राजेन्द्र सर्वम् एतन् निरर्थकम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

na hi bhīmabhayād bhītā lapsyante vijayaṃ vibho ||
tava putrā mahārāja rājānaś cānusāriṇaḥ ||
matsyās tvām adya nārcanti pāñcālāś ca sakekayāḥ ||
śālveyāḥ śūrasenāś ca sarve tvām avajānate ||
pārthaṃ hy ete gatāḥ sarve vīryajñās tasya dhīmataḥ ||
anarhān eva tu vadhe dharmayuktān vikarmaṇā ||
sarvopāyair niyantavyaḥ sānugaḥ pāpapūruṣaḥ ||
tava putro mahārāja nātra śocitum arhasi ||
dyūtakāle mayā coktaṃ vidureṇa ca dhīmatā ||
yad idaṃ te vilapitaṃ pāṇḍavān prati bhārata ||
anīśeneva rājendra sarvam etan nirarthakam ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
nanot; no
हिhiindeed; for
भीमभयाद्bhīmabhayādout of fear of Bhima; from dread of Bhima; because of terror of Bhima
भीताbhītāfrightened; terrified; seized with fear
लप्स्यन्तेlapsyantewill obtain; will gain; will achieve
विजयंvijayaṃvictory; success
विभोvibhoO lord; master
तवtavayour; yours
पुत्राputrāsons; children
महाराजmahārājaO great king; great lord
राजानश्rājānaśkings; rulers
चानुसारिणःcānusāriṇaḥand followers; and allies; and those who follow him
मत्स्यास्matsyāsthe Matsyas; the Matsya people; the Matsya warriors
त्वाम्tvāmto you; you
अद्यadyatoday; now
नार्चन्तिnārcantido not honor; do not respect; do not revere
पाञ्चालाश्pāñcālāśthe Panchalas; the Panchala warriors; the Panchala people
caand; also
सकेकयाःsakekayāḥtogether with the Kekayas; with the Kekayas; and the Kekayas
शाल्वेयाःśālveyāḥthe Shalveyas; the Shalva warriors; the Shalva people
शूरसेनाश्śūrasenāśthe Shurasenas; the Shurasena warriors; the Shurasena people
caand; also
सर्वेsarveall; each of them
त्वाम्tvāmto you; you
अवजानतेavajānatedespise; disrespect; look down upon
पार्थंpārthaṃPartha; the son of Pritha; Yudhishthira
ह्य्hyindeed; surely
एतेetethese; they
गताःgatāḥhave gone; have turned
सर्वेsarveall; each of them
वीर्यज्ञास्vīryajñāsknowing his valor; aware of his strength; understanding his might
तस्यtasyahis; of that one
धीमतःdhīmataḥwise; intelligent
अनर्हान्anarhānundeserving; unworthy; not liable
एवevaindeed; surely
तुtuindeed; but
वधेvadhein slaying; in destruction; in defeat
धर्मयुक्तान्dharmayuktānjoined with dharma; righteous; possessed of duty
विकर्मणाvikarmaṇāby an unrighteous act; by a wicked deed; by an unlawful act
सर्वोपायैर्sarvopāyairby all means; by every method; by all devices
नियन्तव्यःniyantavyaḥmust be restrained; should be curbed
सानुगःsānugaḥwith his followers; with his retinue; with his adherents
पापपूरुषःpāpapūruṣaḥthe sinful man; the wicked person; the evil man
तवtavayour; yours
पुत्रोputroson; offspring
महाराजmahārājaO great king; great lord
नात्रnātrathere is none here; in this there is not
शोचितुम्śocitumto mourn; to grieve over
अर्हसिarhasiyou ought; you should
द्यूतकालेdyūtakāleat the time of the dice game; during the hour of gambling
मयाmayāby me; by myself
चोक्तंcoktaṃand said; and uttered; also said
विदुरेणvidureṇaby Vidura; by wise Vidura
caand; also
धीमताdhīmatāwise; intelligent
यद्yadthat; which
इदंidaṃthis; this very thing
तेtethey; those
विलपितंvilapitaṃlament; wailing; complaint
पाण्डवान्pāṇḍavānto the Pandavas; of the Pandavas
प्रतिpratitoward; among
भारतbhārataO Bharata; descendant of Bharata
अनीशेनेवanīśenevaas if powerless; as if without authority; as if lacking power
राजेन्द्रrājendraO best of kings; O king of kings
सर्वम्sarvamall; entirely
एतन्etanthis; such is
निरर्थकम्nirarthakamuseless; futile
Translation

What fool, doomed to destruction and bereft of reason, would leap like a moth into this blazing and unconquerable fire that is the Pandava! Alas, I have dealt with him deceitfully. The king, like a fire of long flame, will destroy in battle all my foolish sons, leaving not one alive. Therefore I think we ought not to make war upon them. O Kauravas, be of the same mind. Without doubt, should hostilities begin, the whole race of Kuru will be destroyed. This seems to me very clear, and if we act accordingly, my mind will find peace. If war with them does not seem advantageous to you, then let us strive to secure peace. Yudhishthira will never remain indifferent when he sees us in distress, for he blames me alone as the cause of this unjust war.'

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09fc99c8881b · published Jul 17, 2026, 4:51:25 AM UTC

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