स्वस्त्यस्तु कुशलं राजन्निति तत्र व्यवस्थिताः। तं नृपं नृपशार्दूल प्रेक्षमाणाः परस्परम्
Standing there, they said, 'May there be well-being, may all be well, O king,' as they gazed at that tiger among kings and at each other.
तानब्रवीञ्जरासन्धस्तथा पाण्डवयादवान्। आस्यतामिति राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणच्छद्मसंवृतान्
Jarasandha then spoke to the Pandavas and Yadavas, who were disguised as brahmins: 'Be seated,' O king.
अथोपविविशुः सर्वे त्रयस्ते पुरुषर्षभाः। सम्प्रदीप्तास्त्रयो लक्ष्म्या महाध्वर इवाग्नयः
Then all three of those best of men sat down, blazing with splendor like three fires at a great sacrifice.
तानुवाच जरासन्धः सत्यसन्धो नराधिपः। विगर्हमाणः कौरव्य वेषग्रहणवैकृतान्।। न स्नातकव्रता विप्रा वहिर्माल्यानुलेपनाः
Jarasandha, the truthful king, addressed them, reproaching the Kaurava for their odd adoption of disguises: 'You are not wearing the garlands and ointments of brahmins who have taken the vow after bathing.'
भवन्तीति नृलोकेऽस्मिन्विदितं मम सर्वशः। के यूयं पुष्पवन्तश्च भुजैर्ज्याकृतलक्षणैः
'It is well known to me in this world that you are not such men. Who are you, adorned with flowers, with arms marked by the bowstring?'
बिभ्रतः क्षात्रमोजश्च ब्राह्मण्यं प्रतिजानथ। एवं विरागवसना बहिर्माल्यानुलेपनाः
'You bear the energy of warriors, yet you claim to be brahmins. Thus, dressed in faded garments, adorned with garlands and ointments on the outside—'
क्षत्रिया एव लोकेऽस्मिन्विदिता मम सर्वशः'।। सत्यं वदत के यूयं सत्यं राजसु शोभते
'It is clear to me that you are kshatriyas in this world. Speak the truth—who are you? Truth befits kings.'
चैत्यकस्य गिरेः शृङ्गं भित्त्वा किमिह सद्मनि। अद्वारेण प्रविष्टाः स्थ निर्भया राजकिल्विषात्
'Having broken through the peak of the Caityaka mountain, how did you enter this house? You have come in by a secret way, unafraid of royal wrongdoing.'
वदध्वं वाचि वीर्यं च ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः। कर्म चैतद्विलिङ्गस्थं किं वोऽद्य प्रसमीक्षितम्
'Speak your purpose and your prowess, especially if you are brahmins. This action of yours reveals your true nature—what do you seek here today?'
एवं च मामुपास्थाय कस्माच्च विधिर्नाहणाम्। प्रणीतां नानुगृह्णीत कार्यं किं वाऽस्मदागमे
'And why, having approached me in this way, have you not spoken the proper words? Why do you not accept the hospitality offered? What is your purpose in coming to us?'
एवमुक्ते ततः कृष्णः प्रत्युवाच महामनाः। स्निग्धगमभीरया वाचा वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।। xकृष्ण उवाच
When he had spoken thus, Krishna, great of mind and skilled in speech, replied with gentle and fearless words.
स्नातकान्ब्राह्मणान्राजन्विद्ध्यस्मांस्त्वं नराधिप। स्नातकव्रतिनो राजन्ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया विशः
Krishna said: 'Know us, O king, to be brahmins who have taken the vow after bathing. O ruler of men, brahmins, kshatriyas, and vaishyas all take the vow after bathing.'
विशेषनियमाश्चैषामविशेषाश्च सन्त्युत। विशेषवांश्च सततं क्षत्रियः श्रियमृच्छति
'There are both special and general rules for them, indeed. Yet it is always the kshatriya who attains prosperity.'
पुष्पवत्सु ध्रुवा श्रीश्च पुष्पवन्तस्ततो वयम्। क्षत्रियो बाहुवीर्यस्तु न तथा वाक्यवीर्यवान्।। अम्प्रगल्भं वचस्तस्य तस्माद्बार्हद्रथेरितम्
'Where there are flowers, there is surely fortune; and so, we are adorned with flowers. The kshatriya has strength of arms, but not so much strength in words. Therefore, his speech is not bold, but restrained, as befits the lineage of Bharata.'
स्ववीर्यं क्षत्रियाणां तु बाह्वोर्धाता न्यवेशयत्। तद्दिदृक्षसि चेद्राजन्द्रष्टास्यद्य न संशयटः
'The Creator placed the strength of kshatriyas in their arms. If you wish to see it, O king, you shall witness it today, without doubt.'
अद्वारेण रिम्पोर्गेहं द्वारेण सुहृदो गृहान्। प्रविशन्ति नरा धीरा द्वाराण्येतानि धर्मतः
'The brave enter a house by a secret way, and friends by the door; these are the proper ways to enter houses, according to dharma.'
कार्यवन्तो गृहानेत्य शत्रुतो नार्हणां वयम्। प्रतिगृह्णीम् तद्विद्वि एतन्नः शाश्वतं व्रतम्
'We have come to your house with a purpose, not as enemies, and so we do not deserve hospitality. Accept this from us—this is our enduring vow.'
न स्मरामि कदा वैरं कृतं युष्माभिरित्युत। चिन्तयंश्च न पश्यामि भवतां प्रति वैकृतम्
'I do not recall any enmity ever committed by you, nor, upon reflection, do I see any fault on your part.'
वैकृते वा सति कथं मन्यध्वं मामनागसम्। अरिं वै ब्रूत हे विप्राः सतां समय एष हि
'Even if there were some fault, why do you consider me blameless? Speak, O brahmins, for this is the custom among the virtuous.'
अर्थधर्मोपघाताद्धि मनः समुपतप्यते। योऽनागसि प्रसजति क्षत्रियो हि न संशयटः
'The mind is tormented by harm done to wealth or dharma; whoever attacks the innocent, surely, is a kshatriya—there is no doubt.'
अतोऽन्यथा चरँल्लोके धर्मज्ञः सन्महारथः। वृजिनां गतिमाप्नोति श्रेयसोऽप्युपहन्ति च
If, being a knower of righteousness and a great warrior, one acts otherwise in the world, he attains the path of wrongdoing and even destroys what is good.
त्रैलोक्ये क्षत्रधर्मो हि श्रेयान्वै साधुचारिणाम्। नान्यं धर्मं प्रशंसन्ति ये च धर्मविदो जनाः
For in the three worlds, the duty of a kshatriya is truly the highest for those who act rightly; those who know dharma do not praise any other duty.
तस्य मेऽद्य स्थितस्येह स्वधर्मे नियतात्मनः। अनागसं प्रजानां च प्रमादादिव जल्पथ
Therefore, as I stand here today, firm in my own duty and self-controlled, without fault toward people, you speak words as if from heedlessness.
कुलकार्यं महाबाहो कश्चिदेकः कुलोद्वहः। वहते यस्तन्नियोगाद्वयमभ्युद्यतास्त्वयि
O mighty-armed one, in a family, some one person, a foremost upholder of the line, bears the family’s duty by command; for you, two have arisen for this task.
त्वया चोपहृता राजन्क्षत्रिया लोकवासिनः। तदागः क्रूरमुत्पाद्य मन्यसे किमनागसम्
O king, by you, the kshatriyas dwelling in the world have been seized; having committed this cruel offense, why do you consider yourself blameless?
राजा राज्ञः कथं साधून्हिंस्यान्नृपतिसत्तम। तद्राज्ञः सन्निगृह्य त्वं रुद्रायोपजिहीर्षसि
O best of kings, how could a king harm righteous kings? Having restrained that king, you wish to offer him to Rudra.
अस्मांस्तदेनोपगच्छेत्कृतं बार्हद्रथ त्वया। वयं हिं शक्ता धर्मस्य रक्षणे धर्मचारिणः
If you approach us with that intent, O Bharhadratha, know that we are capable of protecting righteousness, being followers of dharma.
तस्मादद्योपगच्छामस्तव बार्हद्रथान्तिकम्'। मनुष्याणां समालम्भो न च दृष्टः कदाचन। स कथं मानुषैर्देवं यष्टुमिच्छसि शङ्करम्
Therefore today we come before you, O Bharhadratha; never has reliance on men been seen; so how do you, with human means, wish to worship Shankara, the god?
सवर्णो हि सवर्णानां पशुसञ्ज्ञां करिष्यसि। कोऽन्यं एवं यथा हि त्वं जरासन्ध वृथामतिः
For you would make those of your own class into sacrificial victims for those of your own class; who else, like you, Jarasandha, is so misguided in thought?
यस्यां यस्यामवस्थायां यद्यत्कर्म करोति यः। तस्यां तस्यामवस्थायां तत्फलं समवाप्नुयात्
Whatever deed a person does in whatever situation, in that very situation he obtains the corresponding result.