गामर्घ्यं मधुपर्कं च ह्यानीयोपाहरत्तदा। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजन्निदमासीत्तदाऽद्भुतम्
He brought the arghya—cow, honey, and curds—and offered it; at that moment, O king, a marvelous event occurred.
तां दृष्ट्वा क्षत्रियाः सर्वे पूजां कृष्णस्य भूयसीम्। सम्प्रेक्ष्यान्योन्यमासीना हृदयैस्तामधारयन्
Seeing that great honor paid to Krishna, all the assembled kshatriyas looked at one another and bore it in their hearts.
प्रतिजग्राह तां कृष्णः शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। शिशुपालस्तु तां पूजां वासुदेवे न चक्षमे
Krishna accepted that honor in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures; but Shishupala could not tolerate that worship being offered to Vasudeva.
उपालभ्य स भीष्मं च धर्मराजं च संसदि। अवाक्षिपद्वासुदेवं चेदिराजो महाबलः
Thereupon, the mighty king of Chedi reproached both Bhishma and the king of righteousness in the assembly, and he harshly criticized Vasudeva.
तेषामाकारभावज्ञः सहदेवो न चक्षमे। मानिनां बलिनां राज्ञां पुरुः सन्दर्शिते पदे
Sahadeva, who understood their expressions and intentions, did not accept this, for a proud and powerful king had been shown his place before all.
पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीत्सहदेवस्य मूर्धनि। जन्मप्रभृति वृष्णीना सुनीथः शत्रुरब्रवीत्
A great shower of flowers fell upon Sahadeva's head; from birth, the enemy of the Vrishnis, Sunitha, spoke thus.
प्रष्टा वियोनिजो राजा प्रतिवक्ता नदीसुतः। प्रतिग्रहीता गोपालः प्रदाता च वियोनिजः
The king born of the sky is the questioner, the son of the river is the responder, the cowherd is the recipient, and the one born of the sky is the giver.
सदस्या मूकवत्सर्वे आसतेऽत्र किमुच्यते। इत्युक्त्वा स विहस्याशु पाण्डुं पुनरब्रवीत्
All the members sat there silent as if mute—what is there to say? Having spoken thus and laughing, he quickly addressed Pandu's son again.
अतिपश्यसि वा सर्वान्न वा पश्यसि पाण्डव। तिष्ठत्स्वन्येषु पूज्येषु गोपमर्चितवानसि
Do you consider all, or do you not see, O Pandava? While others worthy of honor stand here, you have honored a cowherd.
एते चैवोभये तात कार्यस्य तु विनाशके। अतिदृष्टिरदृष्टिर्वा तयोः किं त्वं समास्थितः
Both of these, dear one, either excessive regard or disregard, lead to the destruction of the task; which of these two have you chosen?
नायमर्हति वार्ष्णेयस्तिष्ठत्स्विह महात्मसु। महीपतिषु कौरव्य राजवत्पार्थिवार्हणम्
This descendant of the Vrishnis does not deserve the royal honor among these great souls and kings present here, O son of Kuru.
नायं युक्तः समाचारः पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। यत्कामाद्देवकीपुत्रं पाण्डवार्चितवानसि
This conduct is not proper among the noble Pandavas, that out of desire you have honored Devaki's son.
बाला यूयं न जानीध्वं धर्मः सूक्ष्मो हि पाण्डवाः। अयं तत्राभ्यतिक्रान्तो ह्यापगेयोऽल्पदर्शनः
You are young and do not understand, O Pandavas, for righteousness is subtle; in this, the son of the river has overstepped, being short-sighted.
त्वादृशो धर्मयुक्तो हि कुर्वाणः प्रियकाम्यया। भवत्यभ्यधिकं भीष्मो लोकेष्ववमतः सताम्
One like you, devoted to righteousness, acting out of desire to please, becomes, like Bhishma, disregarded among the virtuous in the world.
कथं ह्यराजा दाशार्हो मध्ये सर्वमहीक्षिताम्। अर्हणामर्हति तथा यथा युष्माभिरर्चितः
How can the Dasharha, who is not a king, deserve such honor among all the rulers of the earth, as you have honored him?
अथवा मन्यसे कृष्णं स्थविरं कुरुपुङ्गवः। वसुदेवे स्थिते वृद्धे कथमर्हति तत्सुतः
Or, if you consider Krishna to be an elder, O best of the Kurus, with Vasudeva, the aged, present, how does his son deserve that honor?
अथवा वासुदेवोऽपि प्रियकामोऽनुवृत्तवान्। द्रुपदे तिष्ठति कथं माधवोऽर्हति पूजनम्
Or, if Vasudeva too is one whom you wish to please, with Drupada present, how does Madhava deserve the worship?
आचार्यं मन्यसे कृष्णमथवा कुरुनन्दन। द्रोणे तिष्ठति वार्ष्णेयं कस्मादर्चितवानसि
If you consider Krishna to be the teacher, O joy of the Kurus, with Drona present, why have you honored the descendant of the Vrishnis?
ऋत्विजं मन्यसे कृष्णमथवा कुरुनन्दन। द्वौपायने स्थिते वृद्धे कथं कृष्णोऽर्चितस्त्वया
If you consider Krishna to be the priest, O joy of the Kurus, with the aged Vyasa present, how has Krishna been honored by you?
भीष्मे शान्तनवे राजन्स्थिते पुरुषसत्तमे। स्वच्छन्दमृत्युके राजन्कथं कृष्णोऽर्चितस्त्वया
With Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the foremost of men, present—one who chooses his time of death—how has Krishna been honored by you, O king?
अश्वत्थाम्नि स्थिते वीरे सर्वशास्त्रविशारदे। कथं कृष्णस्त्वया राजन्नर्चितः कुरुनन्दन
With the mighty warrior Aśvatthāman present, master of all weapons and scriptures, how, O king, did you honor Kṛṣṇa, O joy of the Kurus?
दुर्योधने च राजेन्द्रे स्थिते पुरुषसत्तमे। कृपे च भारताचार्ये कथं कृष्णस्त्वयाऽर्चितः
With Duryodhana, foremost among men, present, and with Kṛpa, the teacher of the Bhāratas, O king of kings, how did you honor Kṛṣṇa?
द्रुमं कम्पुरुषाचार्यमतिक्रम्य तथाऽर्चितः। भीष्मके चैव दुर्धर्षे पाण्डुवत्कृतलक्षणे
Passing over Droṇa, the supreme teacher of heroes, and also the indomitable Bhīṣma, marked by kingly virtues like a Pāṇḍava, you thus honored Kṛṣṇa.
नृपे च रुक्मिणि श्रेष्ठे एकलव्ये तथैव च। शल्ये मद्राधिपे चैव कथं कृष्णस्त्वयार्चितः
With King Rukmiṇī's illustrious father present, and likewise Ekalavya, and with Śalya, the ruler of Madra, how did you honor Kṛṣṇa?
अयं च सर्वराज्ञां वै बलश्लाघी महाबलः। जामदग्न्यस्य दयितः शिष्यो विप्रस्य भारत
Here is one who boasts of his strength among all kings, mighty in power, the beloved disciple of Jāmadagnya, O Bhārata, son of a Brāhmaṇa.
येनात्मबलमाश्रित्य राजानो युधि निर्जिताः। तं च कर्णमतिक्रम्य कथं कृष्णस्त्वयार्चितः
By relying on his own strength, he has conquered kings in battle; passing over Karṇa as well, how did you honor Kṛṣṇa?
नैवर्त्विङ्नैव चाचार्यो न राजा मधुसूदनः। अर्चितश्च कुरुश्रेष्ठ किमन्यत्प्रियकाम्यया
He is neither officiating priest, nor teacher, nor king, O Madhusūdana; yet, O best of Kurus, you have honored him—what else but favoritism could be the reason?
अथवाऽभ्यर्चनीयोऽयं युष्माकं मधुसूदनः। किं राजभिरिहानीतैरवमानाय भारत
Or perhaps this Madhusūdana is worthy of your worship; then why have these kings been brought here, O Bhārata, only to be insulted?
वयं तु न भयादस्य कौन्तेयस्य महात्मनः। प्रयच्छामः करान्सर्वे न लोभान्न च सान्त्वनात्
But we do not offer tribute to this high-souled son of Kuntī out of fear, nor out of greed, nor for conciliation.
अस्य धर्मप्रवृत्तस्य पार्थिवत्वं चिकीर्षतः। करानस्मै प्रयच्छामः सोऽयमस्मान्न मन्यते
To this one devoted to righteousness, who seeks sovereignty, we offer tribute; yet he does not regard us.