संजय उवाच इत्येवमुक्तस्तु जनार्दनेन पार्थः प्रशस्याथ सुहृदवचस्तत्। मनुक्तपूर्वं परुषं प्रसह्य॥ काले हि
Sanjaya said Being thus spoken to by Janardana, Pritha's son Arjuna highly approved of the friendly counsels and then addressing Yudhishthira, the righteous, in a sullen tone, spoke such harsh words as he had never before done.
अर्जुन उवाच मा त्वं राजन् व्याहर व्याहरस्व यस्तिष्ठसे क्रोशमात्रे रणाद् वै। भीमस्तु मामर्हति गर्हणाय यो युध्यते सर्वलोकप्रवीरैः॥ शत्रून् परिपीड्य संख्ये हत्वा च शूरान् पृथिवीपतींस्तान्। रथप्रधानोत्तमनागमुख्यान् सादिप्रवेकानमितांश्च वीरान्॥ यः कुञ्जराणामधिकं सहस्रं हत्वा नदंस्तुमुलं सिंहनादम्। काम्बोजानामयुतं पर्वतीयान् मृगान् सिंहो विनिहत्येव चाजौ॥ सुदुष्करं कर्म करोति धीरः कर्तुं यथा नार्हसि त्वं कदाचित्। स्तया निहन्त्यश्वरथद्विपान् रणे॥ स्तथा रथाङ्गैर्धनुषा दहत्यरीन्। प्रमृद्य पद्भ्यामहितान् निहन्ति पुनस्तु दो• शतमन्युविक्रमः॥ महाबलौ वैश्रवणान्तकोपमः प्रसह्य हन्ता द्विषतामनीकिनाम्। स भीमसेनोऽर्हति गर्हणां मे न त्वं नित्यं रक्ष्यसे यः सुहृद्भिः॥
Arjuna said O king, you should upbraid me no more. You who are at a distance of about two miles from the battle-field, should not upbraid me for nothing. He who having, in fair fight, defeated the enemies and slain those chivalrous lords of Earth and their best and leading car-warriors, elephants, cavalry and innumerable combatants, has been fighting with the foremost of heroes; he, who having routed in fight more than a thousand elephants and ten thousand soldiers of the Kambojamountaineers has been yelling as a lion roars after having killed many a deer; that Bhima may upbraid me. The wonderful feats the hero Vrikodara has been achieving on jumping down from his chariot with mace in hand and the innumerable horses, cars and elephants he has been destroying, are such, the like of which you can never achieve. That hero, with the valour of Indra, has been, with the best of swords, splitting down riders with horses and elephants and has been consuming the enemies with arrows and the broken limbs of cars and spreading death all around with his feet and hands. Indeed, Bhimasena, mighty like Yama and Kubera, readily slays the hostile army. That Bhimasena may revile me and not you who are ever being protected by friends.
महारथान् नागवनरान् हयांश्च पदातिमुख्यानपि च प्रमथ्य। एको भीमो धार्तराष्ट्रेषु मग्नः स मामुपालब्धुमरिंदमोऽर्हति॥
He, who has been diving single-handed deep into the surge of Duryodhana's soldiers, carrying by storm the foremost elephants, steeds, infantry and charioteers; that Bhimsena, the slayer of foes, may reprove me.
कलिङ्गवङ्गनिषादमागधान् सदामदानीलवलाहकोपमान्। निहन्ति यः शत्रुगजाननेकान् स मामुपालब्धुमरिंदमोऽर्हति॥
He, who has been slaying, in numbers the ever-furious elephants of the hostile Anga, Banga, Kalinga, Nishada and Magadha, that look like masses of blue clouds; that Bhimasena, the chastiser of enemies, may find fault with me.
स युक्तमास्थाय रथं हि काले धनुर्विधुन्वशरपूर्णमुष्टिः। सृजत्यसौ शरवर्षाणि वीरो महाहवे मेघ इवाम्बुधाराः॥
In the battle that valiant Brikodara being seated on a superbly-decked chariot has been holding in readiness handful of arrows and opportunely hurling them down in showers, like the clouds pouring torrents of rain.
शतान्यष्टौ वारणानामवश्यं विशातितैः कुम्भकराग्रहस्तः। भीमेनाजौ निहतान्यद्य बाणैः स मां क्रूरं वक्तुमर्हत्यरिजः॥
I have seen that in today's battle Bhimasena has cut asunder with his arrows, the heads, bodies and proboscis of eight hundred elephants and thereby killed them therefore, that Brikodara, the slayer of foes, may use harsh words me.
बलं तु वाचि द्विजसत्तमानां क्षात्रं बुधा बाहुबलं वदन्तिा त्वं वाग्बलो भारत निष्ठुरश्च त्वमेव मां वेत्य यथाबलोऽहम्॥
O Bharata, the learned men say that the strength of the foremost of Brahmanas lies in words and the main strength of the Kshatriyas is in their arms; but your strength lies in your words, moreover you are wanton. As for me, it is not unknown to you what stuff I am made of.
यते हि नित्यं तव कर्तुमिष्टं दारैः सुतैर्जीवितेनात्मना च। एवं यन्मां वाग्विशिखेन हंसि त्वत्तः सुखं न वयं विद्म किंचित्॥
I am ever bent upon pandering to your inclinations with my wives, sons, life and soul; still that you has been torturing me with your pointed words, I am convinced that we cannot expect happiness at your hands.
मां मावसंस्था द्रौपदीतल्पसंस्थो महारथान् प्रतिहन्मि त्वदर्थे। तेनातिशङ्की भारत निष्ठुरोऽसि त्वत्तः सुखं नाभिजानामि किंचित्॥
O Bharata, do you be trifling with me no longer, lying all the while on Draupadi's bed. it is for you that I have been slaying many a mighty car-warrior. Perhaps that has been making you fearless and wanton still. Indeed, I could never feel any happiness from you.
स्त्व प्रियार्थं नरदेव युद्धे। वीरः शिखण्डी द्रौपदोऽसौ महात्मा मयाभिगुप्तेन हतश्च तेन॥
O God among men, the magnanimous Bhishma, true to his vows and only with a view to please you, has himself pointed out that the valiant and high-souled Shikhandin, the son of Drupada, would be the cause of his death; and when I had been shielding that Shikhandin in the battle-field he was slain by the latter.
न चाभिनन्दामि तवाधिराज्यं यतस्त्वमक्षेष्वहिताय सक्तः। मस्माभिर्वा तर्तुमिच्छस्यरीस्त्वम्॥
I do not approve of your being restored to sovereignty, because you are addicted to the vice of gambling. Having thyself committed a sin, to which the low alone are addicted, you are now trying to get off from your foes through our aid.
अक्षेपु दोषा बहवो विधर्माः श्रुतास्त्वया सहदेवोऽब्रवीद् यान्। स्तेन स्म सर्वे निरयं प्रपन्नाः॥
You had heard of the immorality and the numerous evils of playing at dice, dilated upon by Sahadeva. Yet you could not forego those evils practised by the wicked alone. It is but for this that we are steeped in distress.
सुखं त्वत्तो नाभिजानीमकिंचिद् यतस्त्वमक्षैर्देवितुं संप्रवृतः। स्वयं कृत्वा व्यसनं पाण्डव त्वमस्मास्तीवाः श्रावयस्यद्य वाचः॥
Since you wert engrossed in gambling, we could derive no happiness from you. O Pandava, having caused all these mischief's thyself, you are now heaping all these reproaches on me.
शेतेऽस्माभिनिहता शत्रुसेना छिन्नैर्गात्रैर्भूमितले नदन्ती। त्वया हि तत् कर्म कृत् नृशंसं यस्माद् दोष: कौरवाणां वधश्च॥
Lo, the hostile troops, slain by us are lying prostrate on earth with mangled limbs and are uttering the deepest groans. Indeed, it was you who didst those wrongs, for which the Kauravas have lost their lives.
हता उदीच्या निहताः प्रतीच्या नष्टाः प्राच्या दाक्षिणात्या विशस्ताः। स्तेषां योधैरस्मदीयैश्च युद्धे॥
The mighty warriors of the Kurus and ourselves have performed wonderful feats of valour in the battle-field. The hostile troops from the North, the West, the East and the South have been slain to a man.
स्त्वसम्भवं नो व्यसनं नरेन्द्र। मास्मान् क्रूरैर्वाक्प्रतोदैस्तुदंस्तवं भूयो राजन् कोपयेस्त्वल्पभाग्यः॥
O ruler of mankind, it was you who had played at dice and it was for you alone that our kingdom was lost and we have fallen on evil days. Therefore, O king, do not provoke us too much by casting cruel aspersions on us.
संजय उवाच एता वाचः परुषाः सव्यसाची स्थिरप्रज्ञः श्रावयित्वा तु रुक्षाः। बभूवासौ विमना धर्मभीरुः कृत्वा प्राज्ञाः पातकं किंचिदेवम्॥
Sanjaya said The calm, virtuous and conscientious, Sabyasachin (Arjuna) having addressed to Yudhishthira such harsh and exceedingly cruel words and having thus slightly sinned became cheerless.
तदानुतेपे सुरराजपुत्रो विनिःश्वसंश्चासिमथोद्वबह। तमाह कृष्णः किमिदं पुनर्भवान् विकोशमाकाशनिभं करोत्यसिम्॥
Then that son of Indra became repentant and sighing heavily unsheathed his sword. Seeing this, Krishna said-"Wait is this? Why do you draw your sword lustrous like the blue skies?
स्तथा प्रवक्ष्याम्यहमर्थसिद्धये। इत्येमुक्तः पुरुषोत्तमेन सुदुःखितः केशवमर्जुनोऽब्रवीत्॥
If you have anything to ask, be out with it. I will tell you how to gain your desired ends." Being thus spoken to by Keshava, the foremost of men, the remorse-stricken Dhananjaya repliedअहं हनिष्ये स्वशरीरमेव
प्रसह्य येनाहितमाचरं वै। निशम्य तत् पार्थवचोऽब्रवीदिदं धनंजय धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः॥
“I do mean to destroy my body that has thus sinned.” Hearing this from Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, Krishna the adorable of the righteous, said unto himराजानमेनं त्वमितीदमुक्त्वा
किं कश्मलं प्राविशः पार्थ घोरम्। त्वं चात्मानं हन्तुमिच्छस्यरिघ्न नेदं सद्भिः सेवितं वै किरीटिन्॥
O slayer of foes, O Kiritin (Arjuna), why have you become so much crest-fallen on addressing the king as 'you.' You intend to kill yourself, but no honest man would approve of it.
धर्मात्मानं भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठमद्य खड्ड्रेन चैनं यदि हन्या नृवीर। धर्माद् भीतस्तत् कथं नाम ते स्यात् किंचोत्तरं वाकरिष्यस्त्वमेव॥
O hero among men, what your state would have been had you, under a false religious zeal, slain your elder brother today?
सूक्ष्मो धर्मो दुर्विदश्चापि पार्थ विशेषतोऽज्ञैः प्रोच्यमानं निबोध। हत्वाऽऽत्मानमात्मना प्राप्नुयास्त्वं वधाद् भ्रातुर्नरकं चातिघोरम्॥
O Partha, religion is very subtle and awfully unintelligible, the more so to the ignorant. Hear me tell you of it. Suicide is tantamount to fratricide and in either case condemnation to the same hell would have been inevitable.
स्तथा हतात्मा भवितासि पार्थ। तथास्तु कृष्णेत्यभिनन्द्य तद्वचो धनंजयः प्राह धनुर्विनाम्य॥ युधिष्ठिरं धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठं शृणुष्व राजनिति शक्रसूनुः।
Therefore, O Partha, now recount to him your merits and valourous deeds and you shall thereby slay yourself.” Dhananjaya, the son of Sakra (Indra) hailed these words, saying-"Be it so." Then lowering his bow, he said unto Yudhishthira, the adored of the virtuous, "Hear me, O king.
न मादृशोऽन्यो नरदेव विद्यते धनुर्धरो देवमृते पिनाकिनम्॥ अहं हि तेनानुमतो महात्मना क्षणेन हन्यां सचराचरं जगत्।
O ruler of men, excepting only the wielder of Pinaka, the foremost of the Gods, there is no skilled archer like me. On receiving the sanction of that illustrious deity, whose forehead is bedecked with the crescent moon, I can surely destroy in a moment this whole universe with all its organic and inorganic creation.
मया हि राजन् सादिगीश्वरा दिशो विजित्य सर्वा भवतः कृता वशे॥ स राजसूयश्च समाप्तदक्षिणः सभा च दिव्या भवतो ममौजसा।
O king, it was I who had defeated all the nations and the chiefs of all the principalities in the world and brought them under your subjection. It was through my influence that your Rajasuya sacrifice had been brought to a happy close by gifts of Dakshina and by a meeting of celestials.
पाणौ पृषत्का निशिता ममैव धनुश्च सज्यं विततं सबाणम्॥ पादौ च मे सरथौ सध्वजौ च न मादृशं युद्धगतं जयन्ति।
In my palms there are the signs of sharp swords and stringed bows and arrows and in my soles and the marks of cars and ensigns. That is why a man like me can never be defeated in battle.
हता उदीच्या निहताः प्रतीच्याः प्राच्या निरस्ता दाक्षिणात्या विशस्ताः॥ संशप्तकानां किंचिदेवास्ति शिष्टं सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य हतं मयार्धम्। शेते मया निहता भारतीयं चमू राजन् देवचमूप्रकाशा॥
I have slain the enemies from the North, routed the foes from the West, driven off the hostile squadron from the East and exterminated the foes from the South. Indeed I have slain over half the hostile armies; there is left only a small portion of the most unflinching foes. O king, the army of Bharata, with the blazing effulgence of the celestial host, being slain by me are lying flat on the field.
स्तस्माल्लोकानेष करोभि भस्मसात्। जैत्रं रथं भीममास्थाय कृष्ण यावः शीघ्रं सूतपुत्र निहन्तुम्॥
With weapons, I slay those alone that are skilled in the use of weapons, that is why I do not make a wholesale massacre of the entire hostile army. O Krishna, let us hasten to slay the son of Suta, riding upon my awe-inspiring and victorious chariot.
राजा भवत्वद्य सुनिर्वृतोऽयं कर्णं रणे नाशयितासि बाणैः। इत्येवमुक्त्वा पुनराह पार्थो युधिष्ठिरं धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठम्॥
Today a king Yudhishthira will be pleased. I shall distroyed Karna by my arrows. Thus addressing Arjuna, again said to Yudhishthira, the foremost of man of duties.
अद्यापुत्र सूतमाता भवित्री कुन्ती वाथो वा मया तेन वापि। सत्यं वदाम्यद्य न कर्णमाजी शरैरहत्वा कवचं विमोक्ष्ये॥
Today either dame Suta will be bereft of her son by me, or Kunti will be bereft of me by Karna. Verily do I tell you that I won't unlock my mail-cloak today without slaying Karna in battle with my arrows.
संजय उवाच इत्येवमुक्त्वा पुनरेव पार्थो युधिष्ठिरं धर्मभृता वरिष्ठम्। विमुच्य शस्त्राणि धनुर्विसृज्य कोशे च खङ्ग विनिधाय तूर्णम्॥ स वीडया नम्रशिराः किरीटी युधिष्ठिरं प्राञ्जलिरभ्युवाच। प्रसीद राजन् क्षम यन्मयोक्तं काले भवान् वेत्सस्यति तन्नमस्ते॥
Sanjaya said Having again thus addressed Yudhishthira, the foremost of the righteous, the diademdecked. Arjuna readily laid aside his weapons and bow and thursted his sword into the scabbard, having thus appeased Yudhishthira he huge down his head in shame and with joined hands thus addressed him-"O king, I bow unto you, be pleased with me; you will understand in due course the gist of all that I have told you."
प्रसाद्य राजानममित्रसाह स्थितोऽब्रवीचैव पुन: प्रवीरः। त्यावर्ततेऽसाध्वभियामि चैनम्॥
The valiant Arjuna, having thus appeased Yudhishthira, capable of bearing all enemies and having stood there awhile, said again, “It shall not be deferred, it must be done ere long. There is Karna coming towards me. I must proceed against him.
याम्येष भीमं समरात् प्रमोक्तुं सर्वात्मना सूतपुत्रं च हन्तुम्। तव प्रियार्थं मम जीवितं हि ब्रवीमि सत्यं तदवेहि राजन्॥
I am going to extricate Bhimasena from the battle by all means and slay the son of Suta. My life is devoted to perform truth, know it for certain."
इति प्रयास्यन्नुपदृह्य पादौ समुत्थितौ दीप्ततेजाः किरीटी। एतच्छ्रुत्वा पाण्डवो धर्मराजो भ्रातुर्वाक्यं परुषं फाल्गुनस्य॥ उत्थाय तस्माच्छयनादुवाच पार्थं ततो दुःखपरीतचेताः।
The diadem-decked Arjuna of blazing effulgence having said this and worshipped Yudhishthira by his feet, rose to proceed to the battle. After having heard these harsh words of Phalguna (Arjuna). Yudhishthira, the foremost of the righteous, with a heavy heart rose from the bed (on which he had been reclining) and said unto him.
कृतं मया पार्थ यथा न साधु येन प्राप्त व्यसनं वः सुघोरम्॥ तस्माच्छिरश्छिन्धि ममेदमद्य कुलान्तकस्याधमपूरुषस्य। पापस्य पापाव्यसनान्वितस्य विमूढबुद्धेरलसस्य भीरोः॥
O Arjuna, the wicked deed that I have done has brought upon you this terrible calamity; do you, therefore, chop off today the head of this exterminator of the race, the worst of the family.
वृद्धावमन्तुः परुषस्य चैव किं ते चिरं मे ह्यनुसृत्य रुक्षम्। गच्छाम्यहं वनमेवाद्य पापः सुखं भवान् वर्ततां मद्विहीनः॥
A wretch, sinner, dull-headed, idle, coward, insulator of the aged and wanton that I am, what is the good of your thus behaving towards me, after having addressed such rude words?
योग्यो राजा भीमसेनो महात्मा कीबस्य वा मम किं राज्यकृत्यम्। न चापि शक्तः परुषाणि सोढुं पुनस्तवेमानि रुषान्वितस्य॥
A sinner that I am, I would repair to the woods this very day, relived of my company may you live in happiness. The magnanimous Bhimasena is worthy of the throne. An impotent that I am, what the use of my having the sovereignty?
भीमोऽस्तु राजा मम जीवितेन न कार्यमद्यावमतस्य वीर। इत्येवमुक्त्वा सहसोत्पपात राजा ततस्तच्छयनं विहाय॥ इयेष निर्गन्तुमथो वनाय तं वासुदेवः प्रणतोभ्युवाच॥
I cannot any longer bear the harsh words you spoke being excited with anger. Therefore, let Bhimasena be the king. It is not worth my while to live after being thus insulted." Having expressed himself thus, the king Yudhishthira leaving that bed stood up suddenly and then expressed his intention of proceeding to the woods. Upon this Vasudeva bowing down, said unto him.
राजन् विदितमेतद् वै यथा गाण्डीवधन्वनः। प्रतिज्ञा सत्यसंधस्य गाण्डीवं प्रति विश्रुता॥
O king! you know already the vow of the veracious wielder of the Gandiva, in respect of his Gandiva.
ब्रूयाद् एवं गाण्डीवमन्यस्मै देयमित्युत। वध्योऽस्य स पुमाँल्लोके त्वया चोक्तोऽयमीदृशम्॥५०
Whoever in this world tells him, 'Give your Gandiva to anotehr,' would be slain by him. And even these words you addressed him just now.
ततः सत्यां प्रतिज्ञां ता पार्थेन प्रतिरक्षता। मच्छन्दादवमानोऽयं कृतस्तव महीपते॥ गुरूणामवमानो हि वध इत्यभिधीयते।
O lord of the Earth! that is why Partha simply to keep up that solemn vow, under my instructions, addressed you with those insulting words. Because it is said, that insults to superiors are tantamount to death.
तस्मात् त्वं वै महाबाहो मम पार्थस्य चोभयोः॥ व्यतिक्रममिमं राजन् सत्यसंरक्षणं प्रति।
Therefore, O long armed king! forgive us of the unmannerly behaviour of us both, Arjuna and myself.
शरणं त्वां महाराज प्रपन्नौ स्व उभावपि॥ क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे राजन् प्रणतस्याभियाचतः।
O king! we both of us surrender ourselves to you. I beseech you, by all means vouchsafe us your pardon.
राधेयस्याद्य पापस्य भूमि: पास्यति शोणितम्॥ सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि हतं विद्ध्यद्य सूतजम्। यस्येच्छसि वधं तस्य गतमप्यस्य जीवितम्॥
Today the earth shall soak the blood of that reprobate son of Radha; solemnly I swear before you that you may count upon Suta's son as slain today and know it for certain that whomever you like, he loses his life today.
इति कृष्णवचः श्रुत्वा धर्मराजौ युधिष्ठिरः। ससम्भ्रमं हृषीकेशमुत्थाप्य प्रणतं तदा॥ कृताञ्जलिस्ततो वाक्यमुवाचानन्तरं वचः।
Upon this Yudhishthira, the foremost of the righteous, hastened to raise the prostrate Hrishikesha with due honor. Then, folding his hands together, he said unto him these opportune words-
एवमेव यथाऽऽत्य त्वमस्त्येषोऽतिक्रमो मम॥ अनुनीतोऽस्मि गोविन्द तारितश्चास्मि माधव। मोचिता व्यसनाद् घोराद् वयमद्य त्वयाच्युत॥
It is just as you said, O Govinda! Let this transgression be in respect of me; there is no harm in that. O Madhava, O Achyuta! I am obliged, to and saved by you; you have rescued us today from a grave calamity.
भवन्तं नाथमासाद्य ह्यावां व्यसनसागरात्। घोरादद्य समुत्तीर्णाबुभावज्ञानमोहितौ॥ त्वबुद्धिप्लवमासाद्य दुःखशोकार्णवाद् वयम्। समुत्तीर्णाः सहामात्याः सनाथाः स्म त्वयाच्युत।।६०
Both of us were steeped in ignorance today. It is only through your help that we have been rescued from an ocean of distress. O Achyuta! It is through having obtained your intelligence at your raft that this day we have safely passed over an ocean of grief and remorse. In fact, it is through you that we have been blessed with our relatives and allies.