सौते किं ते व्यवसितं कस्माद्यासि पराङ्मुखः। नैष वृष्णिप्रवीराणामाहवे धर्म उच्यते
O charioteer, what is your intention? Why do you turn away? This is not the proper conduct for the foremost of the Vrishnis in battle.
कच्चित्सौते न ते मोहः साल्वं दृष्ट्वा महाहवे। विषादो वा रणँ दृष्ट्वा ब्रूहि मे त्वं यथातथम्
Charioteer, are you not confused, seeing Salva in this great battle? Or are you disheartened by the fight? Tell me the truth.
जानार्दने न मे मोहो नापि मां भयमाविशत्। अतिभारं तु ते मन्ये साल्वं केशवनन्दन
O Janardana, I am not confused, nor has fear entered me; but, O son of Kesava, I consider Salva to be a heavy burden.
सोभियाति शनैर्वीर बलवानेष पापकृत्। मोहितश्च रणे शूरो रक्ष्यः सारथिना रथी
This powerful, evil-doing Salva advances slowly, O hero; a warrior bewildered in battle must be protected by his charioteer.
आयुष्मंस्त्वं मया नित्यं रक्षितव्यस्त्वयाऽप्यहम्। रक्षितव्यो रणे नित्यमिति कृत्वाऽपयाम्यहम्
You must always be protected by me, and I by you; thus, I depart, having made this resolve, to protect you in battle.
एकश्चासि महाबाहो बहवश्चापि दानवाः। न समं रौक्मिणेयाहं रणए मत्वाऽपयामि वा
You are alone, O mighty-armed one, while many Danavas are present; considering myself unequal to the son of Rukmini in battle, I depart.
एवं ब्रुवति सूते तु तदा मकरकेतुमान्। उवाच सूतं कौरव्य संनिवर्त्य रथं पुनः
When the charioteer spoke thus, then the one with the banner of the crocodile halted the chariot again and addressed the charioteer, O descendant of Kuru.
दारुकात्मज मैवं त्वं पुनः कार्षीः कथंचन। न्यपयानं रणात्सौते जीवतो मम कर्हिचित्
O son of Daruka, never again must you, in any way, retreat from battle while I am alive, O charioteer.
न स वृष्णिकुले जातो यो वै त्यजति संगरम्। यो वा निपतितं हन्ति तवास्मीति च वादिनम्
He is not born in the Vrishni clan who abandons combat, or who strikes one fallen, or who claims, 'I am yours,' and attacks.
तथा स्त्रियं च यो हन्ति बालं वृद्धं तथैव च। विरथं मुक्तकेशं च भग्नशस्त्रायुधं तथा
Likewise, whoever kills a woman, a child, or an old person, or one without a chariot, with loosened hair, or whose weapons are broken—
त्वं च सूतकुले जातो विदितः सूतकर्मणि। धर्मज्ञश्चासि वृष्णीनामाहवेष्वपि दारुके
You are born in the charioteer’s lineage, known for charioteer duties, and you are wise in righteousness among the Vrishnis, even in battle, O Daruka.
स जानंश्चरितं कृत्स्नं वृष्णीनां पृतनामुखे। अपयानं पुन सौते मैवं कार्षीः कथंचन
Knowing fully the conduct of the Vrishnis at the front of battle, do not again retreat, O charioteer, in any way.
अपयातं हतं पृष्ठे भ्रान्तं रणपलायितम्। गदाग्रजो दुराधर्षः किं मां वक्ष्यति माधवः
If I flee, am struck from behind, or wander in retreat from battle, what will the mighty Gada, elder brother, say to me, O Madhava?
केशवस्याग्रजो वाऽपि नीलवासा मदोत्कटः। किं वक्ष्यति महाबाहुर्बलदेवः समागतः
Or what will Baladeva, the elder of Kesava, clad in blue, fierce with pride, say when he arrives, O mighty-armed?
किं वक्ष्यतिशिनेर्नप्ता रणसिंहो महारथः। अपयातं रणात्सूत साम्बश्च समितिंजयः
What will Samba, the lion of battle, grandson of Sini, great chariot-warrior, say to me if I flee from the fight, O charioteer?
चारुदेष्णश्च दुर्धर्षस्तथैव गदसारणौ। अक्रूरश्च महाबाहुः किं मां वक्ष्यति सारथे
What will Charudeshna, formidable, and Gada and Sarana, likewise, and mighty-armed Akrura say to me, O charioteer?
शूरं संभावितं शान्तं नित्यं पुरुषमानिनम्। स्त्रियश्च वृष्णिवीराणां किं मांवक्ष्यन्ति संगताः
What will the noble, esteemed, calm, ever proud men, and the women of the Vrishni heroes say to me when gathered together?
प्रद्युम्नोऽयमुपायाति भीतस्त्यक्त्वा महाहवम्। धिगेनमिति वक्ष्यन्ति न तु वक्ष्यन्ति साध्विति
They will say, 'Here comes Pradyumna, frightened, abandoning the great battle—shame on him!' They will not call me virtuous.
धिग्वाचा परिहासोपि मम वा मद्विधस्य वा। मृत्युनाऽभ्यधिकः सौते स त्वं माव्यपयाः पुनः
Words of reproach and mockery, whether directed at me or at one like me, O charioteer, are worse than death; so do not retreat again.
भारं हि मयि संन्यस्य यातो मधुनिहा हरिः। यज्ञं बारतसिंहस्य न हि शक्योऽद्यमर्षितुम्
Hari, the slayer of Madhu, has entrusted the burden to me and departed; the sacrifice of the lion of Bharata cannot be endured today.
कृतवर्मा मया वीरो निर्यास्यन्नेव वारितः। साल्वं निवारयिष्येऽहं तिष्ठ त्वमिति सूतज
The hero Kritavarma was stopped by me as he was setting out; I will restrain Salva—stand firm, O son of the charioteer.
स च संभावयन्मां वै निवृत्तो हृदिकात्मजः। तं समेत्य रणं त्यक्त्वा किं वक्ष्यामि महारथं
And Hridaya’s son, honoring me, withdrew; having met him, abandoning the battle, what will I say to that great warrior?
उपयान्तं दुराधर्षं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्। पुरुषं पुण्डरीकाक्षं किं वक्ष्यामि महाभुजम्
What will I say to the mighty-armed one, the invincible, lotus-eyed man, bearing conch, discus, and mace, when he approaches?
सात्यकिं बलदेवं च ये चान्येऽन्धकवृष्णयः। मया स्पर्धन्ति सततं किं नु वक्ष्यामि तानहं
What shall I say to Satyaki, Baladeva, and the other Andhaka and Vrishni warriors, who always compete with me?
त्यक्त्वा रणमिमं सौते पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः। त्वयाऽपनीती विवशो न जीवेयं कथंचन
Having abandoned this battle, Saute, and struck from behind by arrows, if I were to be carried away by you, helpless, I could never go on living.
संनिवर्त रथेनाशु पुनर्दारुकनन्दन। न चैतदेवं कर्तव्यमथापत्सु कथंचन
Turn the chariot back swiftly, O son of Daruka; such conduct must never be done in times of peril.
न जीवितमहं सौते बहु मन्ये कथंचन। अपयातो रणाद्भीतः पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः
I do not value life at all, Saute, if I flee the battle in fear, struck from behind by arrows.
कदाऽपि सूतपुत्र त्वं जानीषे मां भयार्दितम्। अपयातं रणं हित्वा यथा कापुरुषं तथा
Never, O son of the charioteer, shall you see me terrified, fleeing the battle and abandoning the field like a coward.
अयुक्तं तु मया त्यक्तुं संग्रामं दारुकात्मज। मयि युद्धार्थिनि भृशं स त्वं याहि यतो रणम्
It is not proper for me to abandon the fight, O son of Daruka, while I am eager for battle; therefore, go where the battle is.
एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेय सूतपुत्रस्ततो मृधे। प्रद्युम्नमब्रवीच्छ्लक्ष्णं मधुरं वाक्यमञ्जसा
Thus addressed, the son of the charioteer then spoke gently and sweetly to Pradyumna in the midst of battle.