वासुदेव उवाच पतितौ हंसडिम्भकौ कंसश्च सगणो हतः। जरासंधस्य निधने कालोऽयं समुपागतः॥
Krishna said Hansa and Dimbhaka have fallen Kansa also with his followers has been killed; the time has, therefore, come for killing Jarasandha.
न शक्योऽसौ रणे जेतुं सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः। बाहुयुद्धेन जेतव्यः स इत्युपलभामहे॥
He is incapable of being vanquished in battle by all the celestials and the Asuras. Therefore, my opinion is to defeat him in a single combat.
मयि नीतिर्बलं भीमे रक्षिता चावयोर्जयः। मागधं साधयिष्याम इष्टिं त्रय इवाग्नयः॥
In me is policy, and in Bhima is strength, and we are both protected by Arjuna. We shall vanquish the Magadha king like three (sacrifice) fires.
त्रिभिरासादितोऽस्माभिर्विजने स नराधिपः। न संदेहो यथा युद्धमेकेनाप्युपयास्यति॥
If we three go secretly to that king, there is no doubt he will be engaged in a single combat with one of us.
अवमानाच्च लोभाच्च बाहुवीर्याच्च दर्पितः। भीमसेनेन युद्धाय ध्रुवमप्युपयास्यति॥
From the fear of disgrace, from covetousness, and from the pride of strength of arms, he will certainly challenge Bhima to a single combat.
अलं तस्य महाबाहुर्भीमसेनो महाबलः। लोकस्य समुदीर्णस्य निधनायान्तको यथा॥
Like death himself who kills a person however proud he might be, the mighty armed and the greatly powerful Bhima will surely bring about the destruction of the king (Jarasandha).
यदि मे हृदयं वेत्सि यदि ते प्रत्ययो मयि। भीमसेनार्जुनौ शीघ्रं न्यासभूतौ प्रयच्छ मे॥
If you know my heart, if you have any faith in me, then without any further loss of time, give me as a pledge Bhima and Arjuna.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तो भगवता प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरः। भीमार्जुनौ समालोक्य सम्प्रहृष्टमुखौ स्थितौ॥
Vaishampayana said Having been thus addressed by that exalted being (Krishna), and having seen Bhima and Arjuna standing there with cheerful face, Yudhishthira thus replied.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच अच्युताच्युत मा मैवं व्याहरामित्रकर्शन। पाण्डवानां भवान् नाथो भवन्तं चाश्रिता वयम्॥
Yudhishthira said O Achyuta, O chastiser of foes, do not say so, You are the lord of the Pandavas. We are all dependent on you.
यथा वदसि गोविन्द सर्वं तदुपपद्यते। न हि त्वमग्रतस्तेषां येषां लक्ष्मी: पराङ्मुखी॥
O Govinda, what you say is (always) consistent with wise counsel. You never lead those on whom Lakshmi (the goddess of prosperity) has turned her back.
निहतश्च जरासंधो मोक्षिताश्च महीक्षितः। राजसूयश्च मे लब्धो निदेशे तव तिष्ठतः॥
I am, who always at your command, consider that Jarasandha is already killed, that the kings kept prisoner by him have already been liberated and that the Rajasuya sacrifice is already accomplished by me.
क्षिप्रमेव यथा त्वेतत् कार्यं समुपपद्यते। अप्रमत्तो जगन्नाथ तथा कुरु नरोत्तम॥
O lord of the universe, O best of men, act soon with care in such a way as this task may be accomplished.
त्रिभिर्भवद्भिर्हि विना नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे। धर्मकामार्थरहितो रोगात इव दुःखितः॥
Like a sorrowful man afflicted with disease and like a man without Dharma, Artha and Kama, I dare not live without you.
न शौरिणा विना पार्थो न शौरिः पाण्डवं विना। नाजेयोऽस्त्यनयोलोक कृष्णयोरिति मे मतिः॥
Partha (Arjuna) cannot live without Shauri (Krishna), and Shauri cannot live without Partha. My opinion is that there is nothing unconquerable by these two, namely Shauri and Partha.
अयं च बलिनां श्रेष्ठः श्रीमानपि वृकोदरः। युवाभ्यां सहितो वीरः किं न कुर्यान्महायशाः॥
This handsome Vrikodara (Bhima) is the foremost of all strong men. Greatly famous as he is, what may not be achieved by him with you.
सुप्रणीतो बलौधो हि कुरुते कार्यमुत्तमम्। अंधं बलं जडं प्राहुः प्रणेतव्यं विचक्षणैः॥ :॥
Troops when led properly do excellent service. The wise men say that troops without a leader is useless. Therefore, troops should be (always) led by experienced leaders.
यतो हि निम्नं भवति नयन्ति हि ततो जलम्। यतश्छिद्रं ततश्चापि नयन्ते धीवरा जलम्॥
The wise always conduct the water to place that are low. The fisherman take the water through the place where there are holes.
तस्मान्नयविधानज्ञं पुरुषं लोकविश्रुतम्। वयमाश्रित्य गोविन्दं यतामः कार्यसिद्धये॥
We shall, therefore, try to accomplish our object by following the leadership of Govinda (Krishna), who is learned in the science of politics, and whose fame has spread all over the world.
एवं प्रज्ञानयबलं क्रियोपायसमन्वितम्। पुरस्कुर्वीत कार्येषु कृष्णं कार्यार्थसिद्धये॥
If one desires to have a successful end of his purpose, he should always place Krishna at the head, he is the foremost of all men whose strength consists in wisdom and policy; he is the man who possesses the knowledge of both the means and the methods.
एवमेव यदुश्रेष्ठ यावत्कार्यार्थसिद्धये। अर्जुनः कृष्णमन्वेतु भीमोऽन्वेतु धनंजयम्। नयो जयो बलं चैव विक्रमे सिद्धिमेष्यति॥
For the accomplishment of our purpose, let the son of Pritha (Arjuna) follow the best of the Yadava, Krishna and let Bhima follow Dhananjaya (Arjuna). Policy, victory and prowess will bring about success in a matter requiring velour.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तास्ततः सर्वे भ्रातरो विपुलौजसः। वार्ष्णेयः पाण्डवेयौ च प्रतस्थुर्मागधं प्रति॥
Vaishampayana said Having been thus addressed (by Yudhishthira) all the three brothers, the two Pandavas and the Varshneya (Krishna), all possessing great prowess, started for the kingdom of Magadha.
वर्चस्विनां ब्राह्मणानां स्नातकानां परिच्छदम्। आच्छाद्य सुहृदां वाक्यैर्मनोहरभिनन्दिताः॥
They were attired in the grab of Snataka Brahmanas of effulgent bodies; they were blessed by the agreeable speeches of friends and relatives, (when they started).
अमर्षादभितप्तानां ज्ञात्यर्थं मुख्यतेजसाम्। रविसोमाग्निवपुषां दीप्तमासीत् तदा वपुः॥
They possessed great prowess, and their bodies were like the sun, the moon and the fire. Being inflamed by the wrath wrath for the persecution that was perpetrated by Jarasandha on their relatives), their bodies now looked more blazing than before.
हतं मेने जरासंधं दृष्ट्वा भीमपुरोगमौ। एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ कृष्णौ युद्धेऽपराजितौ॥
Seeing the two Krishnas (Krishna and Arjuna) who are invincible in battle, and seeing Bhima at their head, all the three bent upon performing the same act, the people considered that Jarasandha was already killed.
ईशौ हि तौ महात्मानौ सर्वकार्यप्रवर्तिनौ। धर्मकामार्थलोकानां कार्याणां च प्रवर्तकौ॥
The illustrious pair (Krishna and Arjuna) were the masters that directed the every operation of the universe; they directed all acts relating Dharma, Artha and Kama.
कुरुभ्यः प्रस्थितास्ते तु मध्येन कुरुजाङ्गलम्। रम्यं पद्मसरो गत्वा कालकूटमतीत्य च॥
Having started from the Kuru country, they passed through the Kurujangala. They then arrived at the (lake) Padmasara, whence they went to the Kalakuta (mountains). Crossing it,
गण्डकी च महाशोणं सदानीरां तथैव च। एकपर्वतके नद्यः क्रमेणैत्याव्रजन्त ते॥
They (finally) crossed the (rivers) Gandaki, the Sadanira and the Ekaparavata and others rivers, all these (rivers) taking either rise from the same mountain.
उत्तीर्य सरयूं रम्यां दृष्ट्वा पूर्वांच कोसलान्। अतीत्य जग्मुर्मिथिलां पश्यन्तो विपुला नदीः॥
They then crossed the charming Sarayu and saw the eastern Kosalas. Crossing through it, they went to Mithila; and then crossing the rivers Mala and Charmanvati,
अतीत्य गङ्गां शोणं च त्रयस्ते प्राङ्मुखास्तदा। कुशचीरच्छदा जग्मुर्मागधं क्षेत्रमच्युताः॥
The Ganges, and the Shone, they proceeded eastwards, Going to the heart of the Kusamva (country), the matchlessly effulgent heroes arrived at Magadha.
ते शश्वद् गोधनाकीर्णमम्बुमन्तं शुभदुमम्। गोरथं गिरिमासाद्य ददृशुर्मागधं पुरम्॥
Getting on the (hill) Goratha, they saw the city of the Magadha king, full of kine, wealth and water. It was very beautiful with the trees that stood everywhere in it.