वचः श्रुत्वैव भीष्मस्य चेदिराडुरुविक्रमः। युयुत्सुर्वासुदेवेन वासुदेवमुवाच ह
Hearing Bhishma's words, the mighty king of Cedi, eager to fight with Vasudeva, spoke to Vasudeva.
आह्वये त्वां रणं गच्छ मया सार्धं जनार्दन। यावदद्य निहन्मि त्वां सहितं सर्वपाण्डवैः
I challenge you to battle, Janardana; come fight me now, and today I will slay you together with all the Pandavas.
सह त्वया हि मे वध्याः सर्वथा कृष्ण पाण्डवाः। नृपतीन्समतिक्रम्य यैरराजा त्वमर्चितः
For with you, Krishna, the Pandavas must surely be slain by me—those kings who, disregarding other rulers, have worshipped you.
ये त्वां दासमराजानं बाल्यादर्चन्ति दुर्मतिम्। अनर्हमर्हवत्कृष्ण वध्यास्त इति मे मतिः
Those who, out of folly, honor you, Krishna, as a king or as a servant, though you are unworthy, as if you were worthy—they too deserve death, so I think.
इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूल `शार्दूल इव नादयन्। पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां शिशुपालः प्रतापवान्
Having spoken thus, O tiger among kings, roaring like a lion, the valiant Shishupala, before all beings, made his challenge.
स रणायैव सङ्क्रुद्धः सन्नद्धः सर्वराजभिः। सुनीथः प्रययौ क्षिप्रं पार्थयज्ञजिघांसया
Then, enraged for battle, armored and joined by all the kings, Sunitha quickly advanced, intent on disrupting the Pandava's sacrifice.
ततश्चक्रगदापाणिः केशवः केशिहा हरिः। सध्वजं रथमास्थाय दारुकेण सुसत्कृतम्। भीष्मेण दत्तहस्तोऽसावारुहोह रथोत्तमम्
Then Krishna, slayer of Kesi, Hari, armed with discus and mace, ascended the splendid chariot, well-attended by Daruka, and, with Bhishma's hand upon him, mounted the excellent car.
तेन पापस्वभावेन कोपितान्सर्वपार्थिवान्। आससाद रणे कृष्णः सज्जितैकरथः स्थितः
With his wicked nature, he incited all the kings to anger; Krishna, ready on his single chariot, stood firm on the battlefield.
ततः पुष्करपत्राक्षं तार्क्ष्यध्वजरथे स्थितम्। दिवाकरमिवोद्यन्तं ददृशुः सर्वपार्थिवाः
Then all the kings beheld Krishna, with lotus-petal eyes, standing on a chariot bearing the banner of Garuda, shining like the rising sun.
आरोपयन्तं ज्यां कृष्णं प्रतपन्तमिवौजसा। स्थितं पुष्परथे दिव्ये पुष्पकेतुमिवापरम्
They saw Krishna stringing his bow, blazing with energy, standing on his divine flower-adorned chariot, like another Pushpaka-bannered one.
दृष्ट्वा कृष्णं तथा यान्तं प्रतपन्तमिवौजसा। यथार्हं केशवे वृत्तिमवशाः प्रतिपेदिरे
Seeing Krishna advancing thus, blazing with might, all, powerless, rendered him due honor as was fitting.
तानुवाच महाबाहुर्महाऽसुरनिबर्हणः। वृष्णिवीरस्तदा राजन्सान्त्वयन्परवीरहा
Then the mighty-armed, destroyer of great asuras, the Vrishni hero, O king, consoled the assembled kings, speaking these words.
अपेत सबलाः सर्व आस्वस्ता मम शासनात्। मा दृष्टो दूषयेत्पाप एष वः सर्वपार्थिपाः
All of you, with your forces, withdraw and be at ease by my command; let not this wicked one insult you in my presence, O kings.
एष नः शत्रुरत्यन्तमेष वृष्णिविमर्दनः। सात्वतां सात्वतीपुत्रो वैरं चरति शाश्वतम्
This one is our relentless enemy, the oppressor of the Vrishnis; the son of Satyavati bears eternal enmity toward the Satvatas.
प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरं यातानस्माञ्ज्ञात्वा नृशंसकृत्। अदहद्द्वारकामेष स्वस्त्रीयः सन्नराधिपाः
Knowing that we had gone to Prāgjyotiṣapura, this cruel one, desiring Dvārakā, set fire to it, though he was related to us by marriage and was a king.
क्रीडतो भोजराजस्य एव रैवतके गिरौ। हत्वा बध्वा च तान्सार्वानुपायात्स्वपुरं पुरा
While the Bhoja king was playing on Mount Raivataka, he killed and bound all those men, and by deceit, took them earlier to his own city.
अश्वमेधे हयं मेध्यमुत्सृष्टं रक्षिभिर्वृतम्। पितुर्मे यज्ञविघ्नार्थमहरत्पापनिश्चयः
During the Aśvamedha sacrifice, he seized the consecrated horse, which was guarded, with the intention of obstructing my father's sacrifice, determined to commit sin.
सौवीरान्प्रतियातां च बभ्रोरेष तपस्विनः। भार्यामभ्यहरन्मोहादकामां तामितो गताम्
He abducted the wife of the ascetic Babhru, who had gone to the Sauvīras, out of delusion, though she was unwilling and had come here.
एष मायाप्रतिच्छन्नः कारूशार्थे तपस्विनीम्। जहार भद्रां वैशालीं मातुलस्य नृशंसकृत्
Disguised by illusion, this cruel one abducted Bhadrā of Vaiśālī, the ascetic, for the sake of the Kāruśa king, though she was my maternal uncle’s daughter.
वृष्णिदारान्विलाप्यैव हत्वा च कुकुरान्धकान्। पापाबुद्धिरुपातिष्ठत्स प्रविश्य ससम्भ्रमम्
Having caused grief to the wives of the Vṛṣṇis and slain the Kukuras and Andhakas, this wicked-minded one entered with agitation.
विशालराज्ञो दुहितां मम पित्रा वृतां सतीम्। अनेन कृत्वा सन्धानं करूशेन जिगीषया
The virtuous daughter of King Viśāla, whom my father had chosen, he took by making an alliance with the Kāruśa king, out of desire for conquest.
जरासन्धं समाश्रित्य कृतवान्विप्रियाणि मे। तानि सर्वाणि सङ्ख्यातुं न शक्नोमि नराधिपाः
Relying on Jarāsandha, he committed wrongs against me; O kings, I am unable to enumerate all those offenses.
एवमेतदपर्यन्तमेष वृष्णिषु किल्बिषी। अस्माकमयमारम्भांश्चकार परभानृजुः
Thus, this sinner among the Vṛṣṇis has endlessly committed offenses against us, undertaking hostile acts with crooked intent.
शतं क्षन्तव्यमस्माभिर्वधार्हाणां किलागसाम्। बद्धोऽस्मि समयैर्घोरैर्मातुरस्यैव सङ्गरे
A hundred grave offenses deserving death have been forgiven by us; I am bound by terrible agreements made in battle for the sake of my mother.
तत्तथा शतमस्माकं क्षान्तं क्षयकरं मया। द्वौ तु मे वधकालेऽस्मिन्न क्षन्तव्यौ कथञ्चन
Thus, a hundred destructive offenses have been forgiven by me; but at this time of execution, two cannot be forgiven by me in any way.
यज्ञविघ्नकरं हन्यां पाण्डवानां च दुर्हृदम्। इति मे वर्तते भावस्तमतीयां कथं न्वहम्
I should slay the one who obstructed the sacrifice and the ill-wisher of the Pāṇḍavas; such is my resolve—how can I now let it pass?
पितृष्वसुः कृते दुःखं सुमहन्मर्षयाम्यहम्। दिष्ट्या हीदं सर्वराज्ञां सन्निधावद्य वर्तते
For the sake of my paternal aunt, I have endured great sorrow; by fortune, this matter is now present before all the kings.
पश्यन्ति हि भवन्तोऽद्य मय्यतीव व्यतिक्रमम्। कृतानि तु परोक्षं मे यानि तानि निबोधत
Today, you all witness the great transgression against me; but hear also of the wrongs done to me in secret.
इमं त्वस्य न शक्ष्यामि क्षन्तुमद्य व्यतिक्रमम्। अवलेपाद्वधार्हस्य समग्रे राजमण्डले
But this offense of his today, committed out of arrogance and deserving death, in the presence of the entire royal assembly, I cannot forgive.
रुक्मिण्यामस्य मूढस्य प्रार्थनाऽऽसीन्मुमूर्षतः। न च तां प्राप्तवान्मूढः शूद्रो वेदश्रुतीमिव
This deluded one, desiring Rukmiṇī, sought her while wishing for death; but, like a Śūdra seeking Vedic knowledge, the fool did not obtain her.