1Sri Aurobindo
Translations
CWSA.- Volume 5
Part One. Translations from Sanskrit
Section Two. The Mahabharata
Two Renderings of the First Adhyaya
Let the reciter bow down to Naraian, likewise to Nara the Highest Male, also to our Lady the Muse, thereafter1 utter the word of Hail!
But the hero Kurus and who clove to them thereafter having performed joyously the marriage of Abhimanyu rested that night and then at dawn went glad to the Assembly-hall of Virata. Now wealthy was that hall of the lord of Matsya with mosaic of gems excellent and perfect jewels, with seats set out, garlanded, perfumed; thither went those great among the kings of men. Then took their seats in front the two high kings Drupada and Virata, old they and honoured of earth’s lords, and Rama and Janardan with their father; now by the Panchala king was the hero Shini with the son of Rohinnie2, but very near likewise to the Matsya king Janardan and Yudhisthere3; and all the sons of Drupada, Bheme4, Urjouna5 and the sons of Madravatie, and Prodyumna6 and Samba, heroes in the strife, and Abhimanyu with the children of Virata; and all those heroes equal to their fathers in heroism and beauty and strength sat down, the princely boys, sons of Draupadie, on noble seats curious with gold. Thus as those great warriors sat with shining ornaments and shining robes, rich shone that senate of kings like wide heaven with its stainless stars.
“To all of you it is known how Yudhisthere7 here was conquered by Saubala in the hall of the dicing; by fraud was he conquered and his kingdom torn from him and contract made of exile in the forest; and though infallible in the mellay, though able by force impetuous to conquer the whole earth, yet the sons 
of Pandu stood by their honour religiously; harsh and austere their vow but for the six years and the seven they kept it, noblest of men, the sons of Pandu; and this the thirteenth year and most difficult they have passed before all your eyes unrecognised; in exile they passed it, the mighty-minded ones, suffering many and intolerable hardships, in the service of strangers, in menial employments, cherishing their desire of the kingdom that belongeth to their lineage.
Since this is so, do ye think out somewhat that shall be for the good both of the King, the son of Righteousness, and of Duryodhan8, just and glorious and worthy of great9 Kurus.
For Yudhisthere10 the just would not desire even the kingship of the Gods unjustly, yet would he cling to the lordship of some small village which he might hold with expediency and with justice11.
For it is known to you kings how12 by dishonest proceeding his father’s kingdom was torn from him by the sons of Dhritarashtra and himself cast into great and unbearable danger; for not in battle did they conquer him by their own prowess, these sons of Dhritarashtra; even so the King with his friends desires13 the welfare of his wrongers.
But what the sons of Pandu with their own hands amassed by conquest crushing the lords of earth that these mighty ones demand, even Kuntie’s14 sons and Madravatie’s.
But even when they were children, they were sought by various means to be slain of their banded foemen, savage and unrighteous, for greed of their kingdom; yea all this is known to you utterly.
Considering therefore their growing greed and the righteousness of Yudhisthere15, considering also their close kinship, form you a judgment each man to himself and together.
And since these have always clung to truth and loyally observed the contract, if now they16 are wronged, they may well slay all the sons of Dhritarashtra.
And hearing of any wrong done by these in this business their friends would gather round the Pandavas, yea and repel war with war and slay them.
If natheless ye deem these too weak in numbers for victory, yet would they all band together and with their friends at last strive17 to destroy them.
Moreover none knoweth the mind of Duryodhan18 rightly, what he meaneth to do, and what can you decide that shall be the best to set about when you know not the mind of your foeman?
Therefore let one 
go hence, some virtuous, pureminded and careful man such as shall be an able envoy for their appeasement and the gift of half the kingdom to Yudhisthere19.”
This hearing, the just, expedient, sweet and impartial speech of Janardan, the elder brother of him took up the word, O prince, honouring the younger’s speech even greatly.
1 1972 ed.: Muse (Goddess Saraswati), and thereafter
2 1972 ed.: Rohinie
3 1972 ed.: Yudhishthira
4 1972 ed.: Bhima
5 1972 ed.: Arjuna
6 1972 ed.: Pradyumna
7 1972 ed.: Yudhishthira
8 1972 ed.: Duryodhana
9 1972 ed.: of the great
10 1972 ed.: Yudhishthira
11 1972 ed.: and justice
12 1972 ed.: kings that how
13 1972 ed.: desired
14 1972 ed.: Kunti’s
15 1972 ed.: Yudhishthira
16 1972 ed.: if they know they
17 1972 ed.: last to strive
18 1972 ed.: Duryodhana
19 1972 ed.: Yudhishthira