पूर्वे प्रजाभिसर्गे त्वामाहुरेकं प्रजापतिम्। स्रष्टारं सर्वलोकानामसितो देवलोऽब्रवीत्
In the earliest creation of beings, Asita Devala declared you to be the sole Lord of creatures, the creator of all worlds.
विष्णुस्त्वमसि दुर्धर्ष त्वं यज्ञो मधुसूदन। यष्टात्वमसि त्वमसि यष्टव्यो जामदग्न्यो यथाऽब्रवीत्
You are Vishnu, O unconquerable one; you are the sacrifice, O slayer of Madhu. You are the sacrificer, and you are the one to whom sacrifice is offered, as Jamadagni has said.
ऋषयस्त्वां क्षमामाहुः सत्यं च परुषोत्तम। सत्याद्यज्ञोसि संभूतः कश्यपस्त्वां यथाऽब्रवीत्
The sages call you the earth and truth, O supreme among men. Born from truth and sacrifice, so said Kashyapa about you.
साध्यानामपि देवानां शिवानामीश्वरेश्वर। लोकभावन लोकेश यथा त्वां नारदोऽब्रवीत्
Even among the Sādhyas, the gods, and the auspicious ones, you are the Lord of lords, the creator and ruler of the worlds, as Nārada has declared you.
ब्रह्मशंकरशक्राद्यैर्देववृन्दैः पुनः पुनः। क्रीडसे त्वं नरव्याघ्र बालः क्रीडनकैरिव
Again and again, you sport with the hosts of gods—Brahma, Shankara, Indra, and others—like a child with his playthings, O tiger among men.
द्यौश्च ते शिरसा व्याप्ता पद्भ्यां च पृथिवीप्रभो। जठरे खमिमे लोकाः पुरुषोसि सनातनः
The sky is covered by your head, and the earth by your feet, O lord of the earth; the worlds are in your belly, and you are the eternal person.
विद्यातपोभितप्तानां तपसा भावितात्मनाम्। आत्मदर्शनतृप्तानामृषीणामसि सत्तमः
Among the sages who are scorched by knowledge and austerity, whose souls are purified by penance and satisfied by self-realization, you are the best.
राजर्षीणां पुण्यकृतामाहवेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्। सर्वधर्मोपपन्नानां त्वं गतिः पुरुषर्षभ। त्वं प्रभुस्त्वं विभुश्च त्वं भूतात्मा त्वं विचेष्टसे
For the royal sages who perform virtuous deeds, who do not turn back in battle, and who possess all virtues, you are the refuge, O best of men. You are the lord, you are the all-pervading one, you are the soul of all beings, and you move within them.
लोकपालाश्च लोकाश्च नक्षत्राणि दिशे दश। नभश्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्
The guardians of the worlds, the worlds themselves, the stars, the ten directions, the sky, the moon, and the sun—all are established in you.
मंर्त्यता चैव भूतानाममरत्वं दिवौकसाम्। त्वयि सर्वं महाबाहो लोककार्यं प्रतिष्ठितम्
Mortality for beings and immortality for the dwellers in heaven—all the affairs of the worlds, O mighty-armed one, are established in you.
सा तेऽहं दुःखमाख्यास्ये प्रणयान्मधुसूदन। ईशस्त्वं सर्वभूतानां ये दिव्या ये च मानुषाः
Therefore, O slayer of Madhu, I will tell you my sorrow out of affection. You are the lord of all beings, both divine and human.
कथं नु भार्या पार्थानां तव कृष्ण सखी विभो। धृष्टद्युम्नस्य भगिनी सभां कृष्येत मादृशी
How could it be, O Krishna, O mighty one, that I, the sister of Dhrishtadyumna and wife of the Parthas, your friend, should be dragged into the assembly?
स्त्रीधर्मिणी वेपमाना शोणितेन समुक्षिता। एकवस्त्रा विकृष्टाऽस्मि दुःखिता कुरुसंसदि
A woman, trembling, covered in blood, clothed in a single garment, I was dragged, distressed, into the Kuru assembly.
राज्ञां मध्ये सभायां तु रजसाऽतिपरिप्लुता। दृष्ट्वा च मां धार्तराष्ट्राः प्राहसन्पापचेतसः
In the midst of kings, in the assembly, overwhelmed with shame, the sons of Dhritarashtra, with evil minds, laughed at me when they saw me.
दासीभावेन मां भोक्तुमीष्सुते मधुसूदन। जीवत्सु पाण्डुपुत्रेषु पाञ्चालेषु च वृष्णिषु
They wish to enjoy me as a slave, O slayer of Madhu, while the sons of Pandu, the Panchalas, and the Vrishnis are still alive.
नन्वहं कृष्ण भीष्मस्य धृतराष्ट्रस्य चोभयोः। स्नुषा भवामि धर्मेण साऽहं दासीकृता बलात्
Surely, O Krishna, I am the lawful daughter-in-law of both Bhishma and Dhritarashtra; yet I have been forcibly made a slave.
गर्हयेपाण्डवांस्त्वेव युधि श्रेष्ठान्महाबलान्। यत्क्लिश्यमानां प्रेक्षन्ते धर्मपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्
I must reproach the Pandavas, the best and most powerful in battle, for watching their virtuous wife, renowned, being tormented.
धिग्बलं भीमसेनस्य धिक्पार्थस् च गाण्डिवम्। यौ मां विप्रकृतां क्षुद्रैर्मर्षयेतां जनार्दन
Shame on Bhimasena's strength, shame on Arjuna's Gandiva bow, that they tolerate me being wronged by these wretches, O Janardana.
शाश्वतोऽयं धर्मपथः सद्भिराचरितः सदा। यद्भार्यां परिरक्षन्ति भर्तारोऽल्पबला अपि
This path of righteousness is eternal, always followed by the virtuous: that husbands protect their wives, even if they are of little strength.
भार्यायां रक्ष्यमाणायां प्रजा भवति रक्षिता। प्रजायां रक्ष्यमाणायामात्मा भवति रक्षितः
When a wife is protected, the family is protected; when the family is protected, the self is protected.
आत्मा हि जायेत तस्यां तस्मज्जाया भवत्युत। भर्ता च भार्यया रक्ष्यः कथं जायान्ममोदरे
For the self is indeed born in her; therefore, the wife is truly important. And the husband too must be protected by the wife—how else would a son be born from my womb?
नन्विमे शरणं प्राप्तं न त्यजन्ति कदाचन। ते मां शरणमापन्नां नान्वपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः
Surely, those who have sought refuge are never abandoned; the Pāṇḍavas did not forsake me when I sought their protection.
पञ्चभिः पतिभिर्जाताः कुमासरा मे महौजसः। एतेषामप्यवेक्षार्थं त्रातव्याऽस्मि जनार्दन
My sons, born of five husbands and possessing great might, are Kumāras; for the sake of these also, O Janārdana, I must be protected.
प्रतिविन्ध्यो युधिष्ठिरात्सुतसोमो वृकोदरात्। अर्जुनाच्छ्रुतकीर्तिश्च शतानीकस्तु नाकुलिः
Prativindhya is from Yudhiṣṭhira, Sutasoma from Vṛkodara, and from Arjuna is Śrutakīrti; Śatānīka is the son of Nakula.
कनिष्ठाच्छ्रुतकर्मा च सर्वे सत्यपराक्रमा। प्रद्युम्नो यादृशः कृष्ण तादृशास्ते महारथाः
From the youngest is Śrutakarman; all are true in valor. O Kṛṣṇa, they are great warriors, equal to Pradyumna.
नन्विमे धनुषि श्रेष्ठा अजेया युधि शात्रवैः। किमर्थं धार्तराष्ट्राणां सहन्ते दुर्बलीयसाम्
Surely, these are the best with the bow, invincible in battle against enemies—why then do they endure the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who are weaker?
अधर्मेण हृतं राज्यं सर्वे दासाः कृतास्तथा। सभायां परिकृष्टाऽहमेकवस्त्रा रजस्वला
The kingdom was taken unrighteously, and all were made slaves; I was dragged in the assembly, wearing a single garment, during my period.
नाधिज्यमपि यच्छक्यं कर्तुमन्येन गाण्डिवम्। अन्यत्रार्जुनभीमाभ्यां त्वया वा मधुसूदन
No one but Arjuna, Bhīma, or you, O Madhusūdana, can even string the Gāṇḍīva bow.
धिग्बलं भीमसेनस्य धिक्पार्थस्य च पौरुषम्। यत्र दुर्योधनः कृष्ण मुहूर्तमपि जीवति
Shame on Bhīmasena's strength, shame on Arjuna's manliness, when Duryodhana, O Kṛṣṇa, still lives even for a moment.
य एतानाक्षिपद्राष्टात्सह मात्राऽविहिंसकान्। अधीयानान्पुरा बालान्व्रतस्थान्मधुसूदन
He who insulted these, who were harmless, with their mother, studying as children, observing vows, O Madhusūdana—