यदाश्रौषं विविधास्तत्र चेष्टा धर्मात्मनां प्रस्थितानां वनाय। ज्येष्ठप्रीत्या क्लिश्यतां पाण्डवानां तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard of the many hardships endured there by the righteous Pandavas, who set out for the forest, suffering out of love for their elder brother, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽ?श्रौषं स्नातकानां सहस्रै- रन्वागतं धर्मराजं वनस्थम्। भिक्षाभुजां ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनां तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that King Yudhishthira, dwelling in the forest, was followed by thousands of graduates—great-souled Brahmanas who lived on alms, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं वनवासेन पार्था- न्समागतान्महर्षिभिः पुराणैः। उपास्यमानान्सगणैर्जातसख्यां- स्तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजर्य
When I heard that the sons of Pritha, during their forest exile, were visited by ancient great sages, who, along with their disciples, became their friends and attendants, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाश्रौषं त्रिदिवस्थं धनंजयं शक्रात्साक्षाद्दिव्यमस्त्रं यथावत्। अधीयानं शंसितं सत्यसन्धं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Dhananjaya, while in heaven, received divine weapons directly from Indra, learning them properly and being praised as truthful, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रोषं कालकेयास्ततस्ते पौलोमानो वरदानाच्च दृप्ताः। देवैरजेया निर्जिताश्चार्जुनेन तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that the Kālaka keyas and the proud Paulomas, invincible even to the gods due to boons, were defeated by Arjuna, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषमसुराणां वधार्थे किरीटिनं यान्तममित्रकर्शनम्। कृतार्थं चाप्यागतं शक्रलोका- त्तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that the diademed one, the tormentor of foes, went for the destruction of the Asuras and returned successful from Indra's world, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं तीर्थयात्राप्रवृत्तं पाण्डोः सुतं सहितं लोमशेन। बृहदश्वादक्षहृदयं च प्राप्तं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that the son of Pandu, accompanied by Lomasha, began the pilgrimage to holy places and obtained the secret of dice from Brihadashva, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं वैश्रवणेन सार्धं समागतं भीमन्यांश्च पार्थान्। तस्मिन्देशे मानुषाणामगम्ये तदा नाशंसि विजयाय संजया
When I heard that Bhima and the other sons of Pritha met with Vaisravana in that region inaccessible to men, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं घोषयात्रागतानां बन्धं गन्धर्वैर्मोक्षणं चार्जुनेन। स्वेषां सुतानां कर्णबुद्धौ रतानां तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that, during the cattle expedition, my sons were captured by the Gandharvas and released by Arjuna, who delighted in Karna's wisdom, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं यक्षरूपेण धर्मं समागतं धर्मराजेन सूत। प्रश्नान्कांश्चिद्विब्रुवाणं च सम्यक् तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Yudhishthira, O charioteer, encountered Dharma in the form of a Yaksha, who questioned him thoroughly, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं न विदुर्मामकास्तान् प्रच्छन्नरूपान्वसतः पाण्डवेयान्। विराटराष्ट्रे सह कृष्णया च तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that my people did not recognize the Pandavas, who lived in disguise with Krishna in the kingdom of Virata, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं कीचकानां वरिष्ठं निषूदितं भ्रातृशतेन सार्धम्। द्रौपद्यर्थे भीमसेनेन सङ्ख्ये तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Bhimasena, in battle, slew Kichaka, the foremost among the Kichakas, along with his hundred brothers, for the sake of Draupadi, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं मामकानां वरिष्ठा- न्धनंजयेनैकरथेन भग्नान्। विराटराष्ट्रे वसता महात्मना तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that the foremost of my sons were defeated by Dhananjaya, alone on his chariot, while he dwelt in the kingdom of Virata, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं सत्कृतं मत्स्यराज्ञा सुतां दत्तामुत्तरामर्जुनाय। तां चार्जुनः प्रत्यगृह्णात्सुतार्थे तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that the king of the Matsyas honored Arjuna and gave his daughter Uttara to him, and Arjuna accepted her for his son, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं निर्जितस्याधनस्य प्रव्राजितस्य स्वजनात्प्रच्युतस्य। अक्षौहिणीः सप्त युधिष्ठिरस्य तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय।। 196
When I heard that Yudhishthira, though defeated, deprived of wealth, exiled, and separated from his kin, still assembled seven divisions of troops, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं माधवं वासुदेवं सर्वात्मना पाण्डवार्थे निविष्टम्। यस्येमां गां विक्रममेकमाहु- स्तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Madhava, Vasudeva, was wholly devoted to the cause of the Pandavas—he whose single stride encompasses the earth—O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं नरनारायणौ तौ कृष्णार्जुनौ वदतो नारदस्य। अहं द्रष्टा ब्रह्मलोके च सम्यक् तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard Narada declare that Krishna and Arjuna are the two ancient sages, Nara and Narayana, and that I myself saw this clearly in Brahma's world, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं लोकहिताय कृष्णं शमार्थिनमुपयातं कुरूणाम्। शमं कुर्वाणमकृतार्थं च यातं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय।। 199
When I heard that Krishna came to the Kurus seeking peace for the good of the world, and, though he strove for peace, returned unsuccessful, O Sanjaya, then I did not hope for victory.
बुद्धिं कृतां निग्रहे केशवस्य। तं चात्मानं बहुधा दर्शयानं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Krishna had resolved to restrain his mind, and that he revealed himself in many forms, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं वासुदेवे प्रयाते रथस्यैकामग्रतस्तिष्ठमानाम्। आर्तां पृथां सान्त्वितां केशवेन तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Vasudeva departed, standing at the front of the chariot, and that distressed Kunti was comforted by Krishna, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं मन्त्रिणं वासुदेवं तथा भीष्मं शान्तनवं च तेषाम्। भारद्वाजं चाशिषोऽनुब्रुवाणं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard Vasudeva as counselor, and Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and Bharadvaja offering blessings to them, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदा कर्णो भीष्ममुवाच वाक्यं नाहं योत्स्ये युध्यमाने त्वयीति। हित्वा सेनामपचक्राम चापि तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When Karna spoke to Bhishma, saying, 'I will not fight while you are engaged in battle,' and withdrew from the army, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं वासुदेवार्जुनौ तौ तथा धनुर्गाण्डिवमप्रमेयम्। त्रीण्युग्रवीर्याणि समागतानि तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard of Vasudeva and Arjuna together, and the incomparable bow Gandiva, and three mighty warriors united, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं कश्ललेनाभिपन्ने रथोपस्थे सीदमानेऽर्जुने वै। कृष्णं लोकान्दर्शयानं शरीरे तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Arjuna, overcome with exhaustion, was seated in the chariot, and Krishna revealed the worlds within his body, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं भीष्ममित्रकर्शनं निघ्नन्तमाजावयुतं रथानाम्। नैषां कश्चिद्वध्यते ख्यातरूप- स्तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard Bhishma, the destroyer of enemies, striking countless chariots in battle, yet none among them were slain, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं चापगेयेन सङ्ख्ये स्वयं मृत्युं विहितं धार्मिकेण। तच्चाकार्षुः पाण्डवेयाः प्रहृष्टा- स्तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Bhishma, descended from the river, had himself arranged his death in battle according to righteousness, and the Pandavas rejoiced at this, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं भीष्ममत्यन्तशूरं हतं पार्थेनाहवेष्वप्रधृष्यम्। शिखण्डिनं पुरतः स्थापयित्वा तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Bhishma, the exceedingly brave and unconquerable in battle, was slain by Partha, with Shikhandi placed before him, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं शरतल्पे शयानं वृद्धं वीरं सादितं चित्रपुङ्खैः। भीष्मं कृत्वा सोमकानल्पशेषां- स्तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard Bhishma, the aged hero, lying on a bed of arrows, struck by brightly-feathered shafts, and the Somakas left with few survivors, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाऽश्रौषं शान्तनवे शयाने पानीयार्थे चोदितेनार्जुनेन। भूमिं भित्त्वा तर्पितं तत्र भीष्मं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that, as Shantanu's son lay, Arjuna was urged to fetch water, and Bhishma was satisfied after piercing the earth, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.
यदाश्रौषं शुक्रसूर्यौ च युक्तौ कौन्तेयानामनुलोमौ जयाय। नित्यं चास्माञ्श्वापदा भीषयन्ति तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय
When I heard that Venus and the Sun were aligned favorably for the sons of Kunti, and that omens constantly threatened us, then, O Sanjaya, I did not expect victory.