BHAGAVAT-YANA PARVA: Chapter 128

Speech of Sri-Krishna,

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः प्रशम्य दाशार्हः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः। दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् कुरुसंसदि॥
Vaishampayana said Then reflecting, did the scion of the Dasharha race, speak these words to Duryodhana in that assembly of the Kurus.

लप्स्यसे वीरशयनं काममेतदवाप्स्यसि। स्थिरो भव सहामात्यो विमर्दो भविता महान्॥
To get the sleep of a hero is your desire and it will be fulfilled; wait for a short time with your ministers and there will be a great massacre.

यच्चैवं मन्यसे मूढ न मे कश्चिद् व्यतिक्रमः। पाण्डवेष्विति तत् सर्वं निबोधत नराधिपाः॥
O fool, you think that there is nothing blamable in your conduct towards the Pandavas; all the kings here know this.

श्रिया संतप्यमानेन पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। त्वया दुर्मन्त्रितं द्यूतं सौबलेन च भारत॥
Being jealous of the prosperity of the great-souled sons of Pandu you arranged for a game at dice consultation with the son of Subala, O Bharata.

कथं च ज्ञातयस्तात श्रेयांसः साधुसम्मताः अथान्याय्यमुपस्थातुं जिह्येनाजिह्मचारिणः॥
How could your cousins, my dear fellow, who are worthy in every respect and of honest turns of mind and virtuous, unite themselves with this deceitful one?

अक्षयूतं महाप्राज्ञ सतां मतिविनाशनम्। असतां तत्र जायन्ते भेदाश्च व्यसनानि च॥
O greatly wise man, dice destroys the intelligence of the honest and in the dishonest it gives rise to disputes and other troubles.

तदिदं व्यसनं घोरं त्वया द्यूतमुखं कृतम्। असमीक्ष्य सदाचारान् सार्धं पापानुबन्धनैः॥
By you and your wicked followers was planned this terrible calamity by means of dice without consulting with those who are of good habits of life.

कश्चान्यो भ्रातृभार्यां वै विप्रकर्तुं तथाऽर्हति। आनीय च सभां व्यक्तं यथोक्ता द्रौपदी त्वया।॥
Who else save yourself could treat the wife of your brother in that way and after brining Draupadi to that council hall and using insulting words as you did?

कुलीना शीलसम्पन्ना प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी। महिषी पाण्डुपुत्राणां तथा विनिकृता त्वया॥
She is of noble birth, of good behaviour and dearer to them than even their lives; and that queen of the sons of Pandu was thus insulted by you.

जानन्ति कुरवः सर्वे यथोक्ताः कुरुसंसदि। दुःशासनेन कौन्तेयाः प्रव्रजन्तः परंतपाः॥
All the Kurus know how in the assembly those chastisers of foes, the sons of Kunti, were on the eve of their exile, addressed by Dushasana.

सम्यग्वृत्तेष्वलुब्धेषु सततं धर्मचारिषु। स्वेषु बन्धुषु कः साधुश्चरेदेवमसाम्प्रतम्॥
What good man would treat in this unbecoming way his own near kinsmen of good habits of life, who are not covetous and who always practice virtues.

नृशंसानामनार्याणां पुरुषाणां च भाषणम्। कर्णदुःशासनाभ्यां च त्वया च बहुशः कृतम्॥
Speeches befitting only the cruel and dishonorable men, were used by Karna and Dushasana as also by yourself.

सह मात्रा प्रदग्धुं तान् बालकान् वारणावते। आस्थितः परमं यत्नं न समृद्धं च तत् तव।।१३
You took very great pains to burn them up when boys along with their mother at Varanavata but that attempt of yours was not successful.

ऊषुश्च सुचिरं कालं प्रच्छन्नाः पाण्डवास्तदा। मात्रा सहैकचक्रायां ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने॥
At that time did the sons of Pandu live for a long time in disguise in company with their mother in the house of a Brahmana Ekachakra.

विषेण सर्पबन्धैश्च यतिताः पाण्डवास्त्वया। सर्वोपायैर्विनाशाय न समृद्धं च तत् तव॥
By poison, by snake, and by rope, in fact by every means was the destruction of the sons of Pandu attempted by you but that attempt of yours was not successful.

एवंबुद्धिः पाण्डवेषु मिथ्यावृत्तिः सदा भवान्। कथं ते नापराधोऽस्ति पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु॥
Such was ever your inclination and treacherous treatment towards the sons of Pandu; how have you not then offended the great-souled Pandavas?

यच्चैभ्यो याचमानेभ्यः पित्र्यमंशं न दित्ससि। तच्च पाप प्रदातासि भ्रष्टैश्वर्यो निपातितः॥
If you do not give them their paternal share when they ask for it, you shall, O wicked one, have to give it when you will be overthrown, deprived of your prosperity.

कृत्वा बहून्यकार्याणि पाण्डवेषु नृशंसवत्। मिथ्यावृत्तिरनार्यः सन्नद्य विप्रतिपद्यसे॥
Having done many wicked deeds like a cruel man towards them and behaved like a dishonorable man, you now try to took different.

मातापितृभ्यां भीष्मेण द्रोणेन विदुरेण च। शाम्येति मुहुरुक्तोऽसि न च शाम्यसि पार्थिव॥
By your mother and by your father as also by Bhishma, Drona and Vidura have you been told again and again to make peace but, О ruler of the earth, you do not make peace.

शमे हि सुमहाँल्लाभस्तव पार्थस्य चोभयोः। न च रोचयसे राजन् किमन्यद् बुद्धिलाघवात्॥
In peace is your great gain, O ruler of the earth, in fact that of both parties, but it does not seem pleasing to you owing to no other cause save the scarcity of your intelligence.

न शर्म प्राप्स्यसे राजन्नुत्क्रम्य सुहृदां वचः। अधर्म्यमयशस्यं च क्रियते पार्थिव त्वया॥
By going against the advice of your wellwishers, will you not attain to your highest good; for what is about to be done by you is not virtuous and will not lead you to fame.

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं ब्रुवति दाशार्हे दुर्योधनममर्षणम्। दुःशासन इदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् कुरुसंसदि॥
Vaishampayana said The scion of the Dasharha race having thus spoken to the wrathful Duryodhana, Dushasana said these words in the assembly of the Kurus.

न चेत् संधास्यसे राजन् स्वेन कामेन पाण्डवैः। बद्ध्वा किल त्वां दास्यन्ति कुन्तीपुत्राय कौरवाः॥
If you do not make peace, O king, of your own free will with the sons of Pandu, the Kauravas will make you over to the son of Kunti bound hand and foot.

वैकर्तनं त्वां च मां च त्रीनेतान् मनुजर्षभ। पाण्डवेभ्यः प्रदास्यन्ति भीष्मो द्रोण: पिता च ते॥
The son of Vikartana, yourself and myself, these three, O best among the sons of Manu, your father and Bhishma and Drona will make over to the sons of Pandu.

भ्रातुरेतद् वचः श्रुत्वा धार्तराष्ट्रः सुयोधनः। क्रुद्धः प्रातिष्ठतोत्थाय महानाग इव श्वसन्॥
Suyodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, hearing those words of his brother was very angry and got up from his seat breathing like a huge serpent.

विदुरं धृतराष्ट्रं च महाराजं च बाह्निकम्। कृपं च सोमदत्तं च भीष्मं द्रोणं जनार्दनम्॥
Vidura, Dhritarashtra, the great king Balhika, and Kripa, and Somadatta, Bhishma, Drona and Janardana,

सर्वानेताननादृत्य दुर्मतिर्निरपत्रपः। अशिष्टवदमर्यादो मानी मान्यावमानिता।॥
Disregarding all these that shameless one of wicked intellect, like a dishonorable man, vain and yet not commanding respect and given to insulting those who ought to be respected, went out of the court.

तं प्रस्थितमभिप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातरो मनुजर्षभम्। अनुजग्मुः सहामात्या राजानश्चापि सर्वशः॥
His brothers, having seen him, that best among those born of Manu, go out, followed him along with the ministers and the entire body to the kings.

सभायामुत्थित क्रुद्धं प्रस्थितं भ्रातृभिः सह। दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्॥
Seeing Duryodhana rise up in that council and go away accompanied by his brothers, Bhishma the son of Shantanu said.

धर्मार्थावभिसंत्यज्य संरम्भं योऽनुमन्यते। हसन्ति व्यसने तस्य दुर्लदो न चिरादिव॥
He who inclines towards wrath abandoning virtue and worldly profit, is soon rejoiced over by wicked men in his troubles.

दुरात्मा राजपुत्रोऽयं धार्तराष्ट्रोऽनुपायकृत्। मिथ्याभिमानी राज्यस्य क्रोधलोभवशानुगः॥
son This wicked prince, the of Dhritarashtra, who does not know the proper means of suitable ends and is vain of the kingdom, is come under the influence of wrath and avarice.

कालपक्वमिदं मन्ये सर्वं क्षत्रं जनार्दन। सर्वे ह्यनुसृता मोहात् पार्थिवाः सह मन्त्रिभिः॥
I think that the time for the end of all Kshatriyas is come, O Janardana, for all the rulers of the earth along with the ministers have followed him out of folly."

भीष्मस्याथ वचः श्रुत्वा दाशार्हः पुष्करेक्षणः। भीष्मद्रोणमुखान् सर्वानभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान्॥
That heroic scion of the Dasharha race, with eyes like the petals of the lotus, hearing the words of Bhishma, said to all of them headed by Bhishma and Drona.

सर्वेषां कुरुवृद्धानां महानयमतिक्रमः। प्रसह्य मन्दमैश्वर्ये न नियच्छत यन्नृपम्॥
"This is the great defeat of all the elders among the Kurus that they do not with force obstruct this wicked king in the enjoyment of prosperity.

तत्र कार्यमहं मन्ये कालप्राप्तमरिंदमाः। क्रियमाणे भवेच्छ्रेयस्तत् सर्वं शृणुतानघाः॥
O chastiser of foes, I therefore consider that the time has come for you to act; O sinless men, listen to that by doing which you will obtain benefit.

प्रत्यक्षमेतद् भवतां यद् वक्ष्यामि हितं वचः। भवतामानुकूल्येन यदि रोचेत भारताः॥
What I shall tell you is clearly for your benefit, if in consequence of its being favourable to you it is approved by you, o Bharatas.

भोजराजस्य वृद्धस्य दुराचारो ह्यनात्मवान्। जीवतः पितुरैश्वर्यं हृत्वा मृत्युवशं गतः॥
During the life time of the old king of Bhoja, his son, of wicked behaviour and a slave to his passions, having usurped the throne of his father subjected himself to death.

उग्रसेनसुतः कंसः परित्यक्तः स बान्धवैः। ज्ञातीनां हितकामेन मया शस्तो महामृधे॥
Kansa, the son of Ugrasena, being forsaken by his own friends, was killed by me in a great battle from a desire to do good to my kinsmen.

आहुकः पुनरस्माभिमा॑तिभिश्चापि सत्कृतः। उग्रसेनः कृतो राजा भोजराजन्यवर्धनः॥
Ugrasena, the son of Ahuka, being duly honored by ourselves with our kinsmen, was anointed king and he extended the territories of the kingdom of Bhoja.

कंसमेकं परित्यज्य कुलार्थं सर्वयादवाः। सम्भूय सुखमेधन्ते भारतान्धकवृष्णयः॥
Abandoning the one, namely Kansa, for the sake of the whole race, did all the Yadavas, Andhakas and Vrishnis attain to happiness, O Bharata.

अपि चाप्यवदद् राजन् परमेष्ठी प्रजापतिः। व्यूढे देवासुरे युद्धेऽब्युद्यतेष्वायुधेषु च॥
Paramesthi, the lord of all creatures said, O king, when the gods and the Asuras were prepared for battle and were under arms.

द्वैधीभूतेषु लोकेषु विनश्यत्सु च भारत। अब्रवीत् सृष्टिमान् देवो भगवाँल्लोकभावनः॥
When the world was divided into two parties and was about to be ruined, O Bharata-that god endued with divine prosperity, the creator and the protector of the world said

पराभविष्यन्त्यसुरा दैतेया दानवैः सह। आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा भविष्यन्ति दिवौकसः॥
In a fight with the Daityas, the Danavas, and the Asuras will be defeated, and the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras and the denizens of heaven will be victorious.

देवासुरमनुष्याश्च गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः। अस्मिन् युद्धे सुसंक्रुद्धा हनिष्यन्ति परस्परम्॥
The gods, the Asuras, the human beings, the Gandharvas and the Rakshasas will, in this battle in their race, kill one another.

इति मत्वाब्रवीद् धर्मं परमेष्ठी प्रजापतिः। वरुणाय प्रयच्छतान् बद्ध्वा दैतेयदानवान्॥
Thus thinking Paramesthi, the lord of all creatures, said to Dharma-"Binding these Daityas and Danavas make them over to Varuna."

एवमुक्तस्ततो धर्मो नियोगात् परमेष्ठिनः। वरुणाय ददौ सर्वान् बद्ध्वा दैतेयदानवान्॥
Dharma being thus spoken to, by the command of Paramesthi binding the Daityas na.

तान् बद्ध्वा धर्मपाशैश्च स्वैश्च पाशैर्जलेश्वरः। वरुणः सागरे यत्तो नित्यं रक्षति दानवान्॥
Having bound them with the aids of Dharma as also by his own power, the lord of the caters, Varuna keeps the Danavas ever in the sea.

तथा दुर्योधनं कर्णं शकुनि चापि सौबलम्। बद्ध्वा दुःशासनं चापि पाण्डवेभ्यः प्रयच्छथ॥
In the same way, binding Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni as also Dushasana make them over to the Pandavas.

त्यजेत् कुलार्थं पुरुष ग्रामस्या) कुलं त्यजेत्। ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थं आत्मार्थं पृथिवीं त्यजेत्॥
One man should be sacrificed for the benefit of a race; a race should be sacrificed for he good a town; a town should be sacrificed for the good of the community, and for the sake of the soul should even the earth be sacrificed.

राजन् दुर्योधनं बद्ध्वा ततः संशाम्य पाण्डवैः। त्वत्कृते न विनश्येयुः क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ।॥
O king, having bound Duryodhana make peace with the sons of Pandu. By so doing will the Kshatriyas not be exterminated, O foremost among the Kshatriyas.