Mahabharata
Bhagavad-yāna (078) (Kṛṣṇa's Embassy to the Kurus, Chapters 71-137)5.78.16-18
4534 / 15823
Mahabharata · 5.78.16-18
Devanāgarī

विदुरश् चैव भीष्मश् च द्रोणश् च सहबाह्लिकः ॥
श्रेयः समर्था विज्ञातुम् उच्यमानं त्वयानघ ॥
ते चैनम् अनुनेष्यन्ति धृतराष्ट्रं जनाधिपम् ॥
तं च पापसमाचारं सहामात्यं सुयोधनम् ॥
श्रोता चार्थस्य विदुरस् त्वं च वक्ता जनार्दन ॥
कम् इवार्थं विवर्तन्तं स्थापयेतां न वर्त्मनि ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

viduraś caiva bhīṣmaś ca droṇaś ca sahabāhlikaḥ ||
śreyaḥ samarthā vijñātum ucyamānaṃ tvayānagha ||
te cainam anuneṣyanti dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janādhipam ||
taṃ ca pāpasamācāraṃ sahāmātyaṃ suyodhanam ||
śrotā cārthasya viduras tvaṃ ca vaktā janārdana ||
kam ivārthaṃ vivartantaṃ sthāpayetāṃ na vartmani ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
विदुरश्viduraśVidura; wise Vidura
चैवcaivaand also; and indeed
भीष्मश्bhīṣmaśBhishma; grandsire Bhishma
caand; also
द्रोणश्droṇaśDrona; teacher Drona
caand; also
सहबाह्लिकःsahabāhlikaḥtogether with Bahlika; with Bahlika
श्रेयःśreyaḥthe good; the best
समर्थाsamarthācapable; able
विज्ञातुम्vijñātumto understand; to discern
उच्यमानंucyamānaṃbeing spoken; being said
त्वयानघtvayānaghaby you, O blameless one; by you, O sinless one
तेtethey; those
चैनम्cainamand him; such a one
अनुनेष्यन्तिanuneṣyantiwill persuade; will try to win over
धृतराष्ट्रंdhṛtarāṣṭraṃDhritarashtra; King Dhritarashtra
जनाधिपम्janādhipamlord of the people; the king
तंtaṃthat; him
caand; also
पापसमाचारंpāpasamācāraṃof evil conduct; of sinful behavior
सहामात्यंsahāmātyaṃwith his counselors; together with his ministers; surrounded by his dignitaries
सुयोधनम्suyodhanamSuyodhana; Duryodhana
श्रोताśrotālistener; the one who listens
चार्थस्यcārthasyaand of the matter; and of the point
विदुरस्vidurasVidura; wise Vidura
त्वंtvaṃyou; you indeed
caand; also
वक्ताvaktāthe speaker; the one who speaks
जनार्दनjanārdanaO Janardana; O Krishna
कम्kamwhom; which
इवार्थंivārthaṃwhat purpose, as it were; what point
विवर्तन्तंvivartantaṃhaving strayed; having gone astray
स्थापयेतांsthāpayetāṃwould set; would establish
nanot; no
वर्त्मनिvartmanion the path; on the road
Translation

Or, if you think their immediate destruction is preferable, let it be carried out soon without further deliberation. You surely know how Duryodhana, that sinful soul, insulted Draupadi in the midst of the assembly, and how we patiently bore it. I cannot believe that Duryodhana, O Madhava, will deal justly with the Pandavas. Wise counsel will be lost on him, like seed sown on barren soil. Therefore act without delay on whatever you, O scion of Vrishni, deem right and beneficial for the Pandavas, or whatever indeed ought to be done next.'

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c02f0a25ace9 · published Jul 17, 2026, 4:51:55 AM UTC

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