BHAGAVAD-YANA PARVA: Chapter 88

Speech of Duryodhana and others

दुर्योधन उवाच यदाह विदुरः कृष्णे सर्वं तत् सत्यमच्युते। अनुरक्तो ह्यसंहार्यः पार्थान् प्रति जनार्दनः॥
Duryodhana said What Vidura has said regarding Krishna has been truly spoken; for Janardana is firmly attached to the son of Pritha and inseparable from them.

यत् तत् सत्कारसंयुक्तं देयं वसु जनार्दने। अनेकरूपं राजेन्द्र न तद् देयं कदाचन॥
The diverse kinds of wealth therefore that is proposed to be bestowed on Janardana for his honour, O chief among kings, should on no account be given.

देशः कालस्तथाऽयुक्तो न हि नार्हति केशवः। मंस्यत्यधोक्षजो राजन् भयादर्चति मामिति॥
Though Keshava is worthy of all that, yet place and time render it in-expedient; for he will come to think on receiving our worship, O king, that we are honoring him out of fear.

अवमानश्च यत्र स्यात् क्षत्रियस्य विशाम्पते। न तत् कुर्याद् बुधः कार्यमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः॥
O Lord of the world, what would conduce to the disgrace of the Kshatriya race should not be done by a wise man. Such is my decided opinion.

स हि पूज्यतमो लोके कृष्णः पृथुललोचनः। त्रयाणामपि लोकानां विदितं मम सर्वथा॥
Krishna of big eyes is most worthy of worship in this world by all the three worlds. This fact is always present in my mind.

न तु तस्मै प्रदेयं स्यात् तथा कार्यगतिः प्रभो। विग्रहः समुपारब्धो न हि शाम्यत्यविग्रहात्॥
But circumstances are such, my lord, that nothing should be given him. War having been decided on will not turn into peace by delaying the former.

वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः। वैचित्रवीर्यं राजानमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Vaishampayana said Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, having heard these words of his said these words to the royal son of Vichitravirya.

सत्कृतोऽसत्कृतो वापि न क्रुद्ध्येत जनार्दनः। नालमेनमवज्ञातुं नावज्ञेयो हि केशवः॥
Janardana will not get angry, whether he is properly received or not. He cannot be insulted; for Keshava is not capable of being SO.

यत् तु कारयं महाबाहो मनसा कार्यतां गतम्। सर्वोपायैर्न तच्छक्यं केनचित् कर्तुमन्यथा॥
Whatever act, O you with long arms, is fructified in his mind's eye cannot be prevented by any man by every mean in his power.

स यद् ब्रूयान्महाबाहुस्तत कार्यमविशङ्कया। वासुदेवेन तीर्थेन क्षिप्रं संशाम्य पाण्डवैः॥
What that being with long arms says, should be done without hesitation. Effect peace quickly with the Pandavas through the instrumentality of Vasudeva.

धर्म्यमर्थ्यं च धर्मात्मा ध्रुवं वक्ता जनार्दनः। तस्मिन् वाच्याः प्रिया वाचो भवता बान्धवैः सह।॥
Janardana, inclined to virtue, will surely say what is conducive to morality as well as worldly profit; and he should be spoken to in agreeable words by yourself along with your friends.

दुर्योधन उवाच न पर्यायोऽस्ति यद् राजश्रियं निष्केवलामहम्। तैः सहेमामुपाश्नीयां यावज्जीवं पितामह॥
Duryodhana said Since, O king, there is no likelihood of my being the sole enjoy of royalty and since, O grandsire, I cannot share it for life with them.

इदं तु सुमहत् कार्यं शृणु मे यत् समर्थितम्। परायणं पाण्डवानां नियच्छामि जनार्दनम्॥
Listen to this great deed which I have fixed in my mind. I shall make Janardana-the refuge of the Pandavas, the captive.

तस्मिन् बद्धे भविष्यन्ति वृष्णयः पृथिवी तथा। पाण्डवाश्च विधेया मे स च प्रातरिहैष्यति॥
On his imprisonment, the Vrishnis and the Pandavas, in fact the whole world, will be at my disposal. Krishna, too, will be here tomorrow morning.

अत्रोपायान् यथा सम्यगन बुद्ध्येत जनार्दनः। न चापायो भवेत् कश्चित् तद् भवान् प्रब्रवीतु मे॥
Some means for executing this in such a way that Janardana may not at all anticipate it; and so that we way not fall into any danger, should be told me by you.

वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा घोरं कृष्णाभिसंहितम्। धृतराष्ट्रः सहामात्यो व्यथितो विमनाऽभवत्॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of terrible import, namely of making of making Krishna a captive, Dhritarashtra with his ministers became oppressed with pain.

ततो दुर्योधनमिदं धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीद् वचः। मैवं वोचः प्रजापाल नैष धर्मः सनातनः॥
Dhritarashtra then said these words to Duryodhana, do not say so, O you protector of men. This is against eternal virtue.

दूतश्च हि हृषीकेशः सम्बन्धी च प्रियश्च नः। अपापः कौरवेयेषु स कथं बन्धमर्हति॥
Hrishikesha is an ambassador; and in relation he is dear to ourselves. He has done no wrong to the Kurus. How then is it proper that he should be made a captive?

भीष्म उवाच परीतस्तव पुत्रोऽयं धृतराष्ट्र सुमन्दधीः।। वृणोत्यनर्थं नैवार्थं याच्यमानः सुहृज्जनैः॥
Bhishma said This wicked son of yours, O Dhritarashtra, is on the verge of eternity. He selects the evil and not what is good, though begged by persons who wish well to him.

इममुत्पथि वर्तन्तं पापं पापानुबन्धिनम्। वाक्यानि सुहृदां हित्वा त्वमप्यस्यानुवर्तसे॥
Instead of listening to the advice of your well-wishers, you too follow him, who is established on this unrighteous path and whose surroundings are sinful.

कृष्णमक्लिष्टकर्माणमासाद्यायं सुदुर्मतिः। तव पुत्रः सहामात्यः क्षणेन न भविष्यति॥
This son of Dhritarashtra of exceedingly wicked purposes, along with his advisers, will cease to exist in a moment when he comes against Krishna, who can do a work without the least trouble.

पापस्यास्य नृशंसस्य त्यक्तधर्मस्य दुर्मतेः। नोत्सहेऽनर्थसंयुक्ताः श्रोतुं वाचः कथंचन॥
I dare not listen to any words of this man of wicked purpose, who has abandoned virtue and who is cruel and sinful.

इत्युक्त्वा भरतश्रेष्ठो वृद्धः परममन्युमान्। उत्थाय तस्मात् प्रातिष्ठद् भीष्मः सत्यपराक्रमः॥
Having said this, the foremost of aged men among the Bharata Bhishma of true prowess got up and went away from that place, fired with great rage.