उद्वृत्ता ह्यसुराः केचिन्निवातकवचा इति। विप्रियेषु स्थिताऽस्माकं वरदानेन मोहिताः
Some Asuras, known as the Nivātakavacas, have grown arrogant in strength, deluded by boons, and stand opposed to us.
तर्कयन्ते सुरान्हन्तुं बलदर्पसमन्विताः। देवान्न गणयन्त्येते तथा दत्तवरा हि ते
Filled with pride and power, they plot to destroy the gods, disregarding the deities, for such are the boons they have received.
पातालवासिनो रौद्रा दनोः पुत्रा महाबलाः। सर्वे देवनिकाया हि नालं योधयितुं हि तान्
The fierce and mighty sons of Danu, dwelling in the netherworld, cannot be fought by all the hosts of the gods together.
योसौ भूमिगतः श्रीमान्विष्णुर्मुधुनिषूदनः। कपिलो नाम देवोसौ भगवानजितो हरिः
That illustrious Viṣṇu, slayer of Madhu, who dwells on earth, is the god named Kapila, the blessed, unconquered Hari.
येन पूर्वंमहात्मानः खनमाना रसातलम्। दर्शनादेव निहताः सगरस्यात्मजा विभो
By whose mere sight, O mighty one, the great-souled sons of Sagara, while digging into the netherworld, were destroyed.
तेन कार्यं महत्कार्यमस्माकं द्विजसत्तम। पाथेन च महायुद्धे समेताभ्यामसंशयम्
By him, O best of twice-born, a great task must be accomplished for us; with his aid, we shall face the great battle without doubt.
सोऽसुरान्दर्शनादेव शक्तो हन्तुं सहानुगान्। निवातकवचान्सर्वान्नागानिव महाह्रदे
He is able, by his very sight, to destroy the Asuras along with their followers, just as he destroyed all the Nivatakavachas in the great abyss.
किंतु नाल्पेन कार्येण प्रबोध्यो मधुसूदनः। तेजसः सुमहाराशिः प्रबुद्धः प्रदहेज्जगत्
However, Madhusudana should not be awakened for a minor task; when awakened, he is a vast mass of energy and could burn up the world.
अयं तेषां समस्तानां शक्तः प्रतिसमासने। तान्निहत्यरणे शूरः पुनर्यास्यति मानुषान्
He alone is able to face all of them in battle; after slaying them in the field, the valiant one will return to the world of men.
भवानस्मन्नियोगेन यातु तावन्महीतलम्। काम्यके द्रक्ष्यसे वीरं निवसन्तं युधिष्ठिरम्
You, by our command, should go to the earth; in Kamyaka you will see the heroic Yudhishthira residing there.
सवाच्यो मम संदेशाद्धर्मात्मा सत्यसंगरः। नोत्कणअठा फल्गुने कार्या कृतास्त्रः शीघ्रमेष्यति
You must convey my message to him, the righteous one firm in truth; let Phalguna not be grieved, for, well-trained in arms, he will soon return.
नाशुद्बाहुवीर्येण नाकृतास्त्रेण वा रणे। भीष्मद्रोणादयो युद्धे शक्याः प्रतिसमासितुम्
Neither by mere strength of arms nor by one unskilled in weapons can Bhishma, Drona, and the others be faced in battle.
गृहीतास्त्रो गुडाकेशो महाबाहुर्महामनाः। नृत्तवादित्रगीतानां दिव्यानां पारमीयिवान्
Guḍākeśa, mighty-armed and great-minded, having mastered weapons, has crossed to the far shore of divine dance, music, and song.
भवानपि विविक्तानि तीर्थानि मनुजेश्वर। भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैर्द्रष्टुमर्हत्यरिंदम
You too, O lord of men, along with all your brothers, ought to visit the sacred fords in solitude, O subduer of foes.
तीर्थेष्वाप्लुत्य पुण्येषु विपाप्मा विगतज्वरः। राज्यं भोक्ष्यसि धर्मेण सुखी विगतकल्मपः
Having bathed in those holy fords, freed from sin and distress, you will enjoy your kingdom righteously, happy and free from stain.
भवांश्चैनं द्विजश्रेष्ठ पर्यटन्तं महीतलम्। त्रातुमर्हति विप्राग्र्य तपोबलसमन्वितः
You, O best of Brahmins, endowed with ascetic power, should protect him as he wanders the earth.
गिरिदुर्गेषु च सदा देशेषु विषमेषु च। वसन्ति रासा रौद्रास्तेभ्योरक्षां विधास्यति
In mountain fortresses and difficult regions, fierce bands dwell; you must provide protection from them.
एवमुक्ते महेन्द्रेण बीभत्सुरपि लोमशम्। उवाच प्रयतो वाक्यं रक्षेथाः पाण्डुनन्दनम्
When Mahendra had spoken thus, Bhībhatsu also addressed Lomasha with reverence, saying, 'Protect the son of Pandu.'
[यथा गुप्तस्त्वया राजा चरेत्तीर्थानि सत्तम। दानं दद्याद्यथा चैव तथा कुरु महामुने ।।]
[As the king, guarded by you, should visit the fords, O noble one, and give gifts as is proper, so do, O great sage.]
तथेति संप्रतिज्ञाय लोमशः सुमहातपाः। कामय्कं वनमुद्दिश्य समुपायान्महीतलम्
Having promised, 'So be it,' Lomasha, of great ascetic power, set out for the earth, aiming for the Kamyaka forest.
ददर्श तत्र कौन्तेयं धर्मराजमरिंदमम्। तापसैर्भ्रातृभिश्चैव सर्वतः परिवारितम्
There he saw the son of Kunti, the righteous king, subduer of enemies, surrounded on all sides by ascetics and his brothers.
अत्यद्भुतमिदं कर्म पार्थस्यामिततेजसः। धृतराष्ट्रो महातेजाः श्रुत्वा तत्र किमब्रवीत्
This deed of Partha, of immeasurable energy, is truly wondrous; what did the mighty Dhritarashtra say upon hearing it?
शक्रलोकगतं पार्थं श्रुत्वा राजाऽम्बिकासुतः। द्वैपायनादृषिश्रेष्ठात्संजयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing that Partha had gone to the realm of Indra, King Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, spoke these words to Sanjaya, after learning from the great sage Vyasa.
श्रुतं मे सूत कार्त्स्न्येन कर्म पार्थस् धीमतः। कच्चित्तवापि विदितं याथातथ्येन सारथे
Charioteer, I have heard in full of the deeds of wise Partha; but do you also know them truly and in detail, O driver?
प्रमत्तो ग्राम्यधर्मेषु मन्दात्मा पापनिश्चयः। मम पुत्रः सुदुर्बुद्धिः पृथिवीं घातयिष्यति
My son, heedless in worldly matters, dull-minded and intent on evil, will bring destruction to the earth.
यस्य नित्यमृता वाचः स्वैरेष्वपि महात्मनः। त्रैलोक्यमपि तस्य स्याद्योद्धा यस्य धनंजयः
He whose words are always true, even among the free-spirited great ones—if Dhananjaya is his warrior, he could win even the three worlds.
अस्यतः कर्णिनाराचांस्तीक्ष्णाग्रांश्च शिलाशितान्। नार्जुनस्याग्रतस्तिष्ठेदपि मृत्युर्जरातिगः
Even Death, who surpasses old age, would not stand before Arjuna, as he lets fly sharp, stone-tipped arrows from his bow.
मम पुत्रा दुरात्मानः सर्वे मृत्युवशंगताः। येषां युद्धं दुराधर्षैः पाण्डवैः समुपस्थितम्
All my sons, wicked in spirit, are under the sway of death, for battle with the unconquerable Pandavas now awaits them.
तस्यैव च न पश्यामि युधि गाण्डीवधन्वनः। अनिशं चिन्तयानोऽपि य एनमुदियाद्युधि
Even as I constantly ponder, I see no one in battle who could withstand the wielder of Gandiva; who could face him in war?
द्रोणकर्णौ प्रतीयातां यदि भीष्मोऽपि वा रणे। महान्स्यात्संशयोलोके न तु पश्यामि नो जयम्
If Drona and Karna, or even Bhishma, were to face him in battle, there would be great doubt in the world—but I do not see victory for us.