इष्वस्त्रनिपुणो योधः सदा वीरश्च मे सुतः। समर्थः समरे योद्धुं कौरवैः सह तादृशै ।। 13
My son is always a skilled archer, a warrior, and a hero, fully capable of fighting in battle against such as the Kurus.
तस्य तत्सत्यमेवास्तु मनुष्येन्द्रस्य भाषितम् । जयश्च नियतो युद्धे कौरवाश्च ध्रुवं हताः ।। 14
Let the words spoken by that lord of men be proven true—victory in battle is certain, and the Kurus will surely be destroyed.
आवर्तय कुरूञ्जित्वा पशून्पशुपतिर्यथा। निर्दर्हषामनीकानि भीमेन शरतेजसा ।। 15
Having defeated the Kurus, bring back the cattle, as Paśupati would, shattering their ranks with the fiery arrows of Bhima.
धनुश्च्युतै रुक्मपुङ्खैश्चित्रैः संनतपर्वभिः । द्विषतां भिन्ध्यनीकानि गजानामिव यूथपः ।। 16
With your bow, let arrows with golden feathers and curved joints, swift and varied, pierce the enemy ranks like a leader of elephants scattering herds.
पाशोपधानां ज्यातन्त्रीं चापदण्डां महास्वनाम् । शरवर्णां धनुर्वीणां शत्रुमध्ये प्रवादय ।। 17
Sound in the midst of the enemy your bow, strung with the cord and fitted with the arrow-rest, resounding like a great instrument, raining arrows like a lute of war.
निर्याहि नगराच्छीघ्रं राजपुत्र किमास्यते । श्वेताः काञ्चनसंनाहा रथे युज्यन्तु ते हयाः । ध्वजं च सिहं सौवर्णमुच्छ्रयस्व तथा विभो ।। 18
Go forth quickly from the city, prince—why do you delay? Let white horses adorned with gold be yoked to your chariot, and raise high your golden lion banner, O lord.
रुक्मपुङ्खाः प्रसन्नाग्रा मुक्ता हस्तवता त्वया। छादयन्तु शराः सूर्यं राज्ञमायुर्निरोधकाः ।। 19
Let your arrows, with golden feathers and shining tips, released by your mighty hand, cover the sun and cut short the lives of kings.
रणे जित्वा कुरून्सर्वान्वज्रपाणिरिवासुरान् । यशो महदवाप्य त्वं प्रविरोदं पुरं पुनः ।। 20
Having conquered all the Kurus in battle, as Indra with the thunderbolt defeated the Asuras, win great fame and return again to the city.
त्वं हि राष्ट्रस्य परमा गतिर्मात्स्यपतेः सुतः। गतिमन्तो भवन्त्वद्य सर्वे विषयवासिनः ।। 21
For you are the chief refuge of the kingdom, O son of the Matsya king; today, all the people of the land look to you for protection.
यथा हि पाण्डुपुत्राणामर्जुनो जयतांवरः । एवमेव गतिर्नूनं भवान्विपयवासिनाम् ।। 22
Just as Arjuna, foremost among victors, is the refuge of the sons of Pandu, so surely are you the refuge of the people of this land.
महाजनसमक्षं तु स्त्रीणां मध्ये विशेषतः । गवाध्यक्षेण संप्रोक्तो विराटतनयस्तदा ।। 1
Then, in the presence of the great assembly, especially among the women, the chief of the cattle, the son of Virata, spoke thus.
स्त्रीमध्य उक्तस्तेनासौ वाक्यं तेजःप्रवर्धनम्। अन्तःपुरे श्लाघमान इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 2
There, in the midst of the women, he spoke these words, increasing his own glory, boasting within the inner chambers.
अद्याहमनुगच्छेयं दृढधन्वा गवां पदम्। यदि मे सारथिः कश्चिद्भवेदश्वेषु कोविदः ।। 3
Today I would go to the cattle station, armed with a strong bow, if only I had a charioteer skilled with horses.
तमेव नाधिगच्छामि यो मे यन्ता समो भवेत् । पश्यध्वं सारथिं शीघ्रं मम युक्तं प्रयास्यतः ।। 4
But I cannot find anyone who could be my equal as a driver; see if you can quickly find a charioteer fit for me as I set out.
अष्टाविंशतिरात्रं वा मासं वा नूनमन्ततः । यत्तदासीन्महायुद्धं तत्र मे सारथिर्हतः ।। 5
For twenty-eight nights, or perhaps a month, during that great battle, my charioteer was killed.
यद्यहं त्वधिगच्छेयं यो मे यन्ता भवेद्युधि । त्वरावानद्य यास्यामि समुच्छ्रितमहाध्वजः ।। 6
If I could obtain someone who would be my driver in battle, today I would go forth swiftly, my great banner raised high.
विगाह्य तत्परानीकं गजवाजिरथाकुलम् । शस्त्रप्रतापान्निर्वीर्यान्कुरूञ्जित्वाऽऽनये पशून् ।। 7
Penetrating that hostile army, crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, I would defeat the Kurus, weakened by the force of my weapons, and bring back the cattle.
दुर्योधनं विकर्णं च कर्णं वैकर्तनं कृपम्। द्रोणं च सह पुत्रेण महेष्वासान्समागतान् ।। 8
Duryodhana, Vikarna, Karna the son of Vikartana, Kripa, and Drona with his son—all these great archers assembled there—
विद्रावयित्वा संग्रामे दानवान्मघवानिव । अनेनैव मुहूर्तेन पुनः प्रत्यानये पशून् ।। 9
I would rout them in battle, as Maghavan did the demons, and in this very moment bring the cattle back again.
शून्यमाज्ञाय कुरवः प्रयान्त्यादाय गोधनम् । किं न शक्यं च तैः कर्तुं यदहं तत्र नाभवम् ।। 10
The Kurus, finding the place empty, took away the cattle; what could they not accomplish, since I was not there?
पश्ययुरद्य मे वीर्यं कुरवस्ते समागताः । किंनु पार्थोऽर्जुनः साक्षादिति मंस्यन्ति मां परे ।। 11
Today, those assembled Kurus will witness my valor; they will wonder, 'Is this not Partha, Arjuna himself?'
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्त्रीषु चात्मप्रशंसनम् । नामर्षयत पाञ्चाली बीभत्सोः परिकीर्तनम् ।। 12
Hearing his self-praise among the women, Draupadi could not tolerate the mention of Bhībhatsu.
श्रुत्वा तदर्जुनो वाक्यमुत्तरेण प्रभाषितम्। अतीतसमये काले प्रियां भार्यामभाषत ।। 13
Hearing those words spoken by Uttara, Arjuna addressed his beloved wife at the proper time, recalling the past.
द्रुपदस्य सुतां राज्ञः पाञ्चालीं रूपसंमताम् । सत्यार्जवगुणोपेतां भर्तुः प्रियहितैषिणीम् । उवाच रहसि प्रीतः कृष्णां सर्वार्थकोविदः ।। 14
He, wise in all matters, joyfully spoke in secret to Krishna, the daughter of King Drupada, renowned for her beauty, endowed with truth and virtue, ever seeking her husband's welfare.
उत्तरां ब्रूहि पाञ्चालि गत्वा क्षिप्रं शुचिस्मिते ।। 15
Go quickly, O Pāñcālī of pure smile, and speak to Uttara.
इयं किल पुरा युद्धे खाण्डवे सव्यसाचिनः । सारथिः पाण्डुपुत्रस्य पार्थस्य तु बृहन्नला। महाञ्जयो भवेद्युद्धे सा चेद्यन्ता बृहन्नला ।। 16
It is said that in the past, during the battle at Khāṇḍava, Bṛhannalā was the charioteer of Savyasācin, the son of Pāṇḍu, Partha; if Bṛhannalā is the driver, victory in battle is assured.
सा चोदिता तदा ह्येन ह्यर्जुनेन शुचिस्मिता। पाञ्चाली च तदाऽऽगम्य उत्तराया निवेशनम् ।। 17
Thus urged by Arjuna, the pure-smiling Pāñcālī went to Uttara's quarters.
ज्ञात्वा तु समयान्मुक्तं चन्द्रं राहुमुखादिव । युधिष्ठिरं धर्मपरं सत्यार्जवपथे स्थितम् ।। 18
Recognizing Yudhishthira, devoted to righteousness and steadfast in truth and honesty, as one freed from his vow, like the moon emerging from Rahu's mouth—
अमर्षयन्ती तद्दुःखं कृष्णा कमललोचना। उत्तरामाह वचनं सखीमध्ये विलासिनीम् ।। 19
Krishna, lotus-eyed, distressed by that sorrow, spoke to Uttara, the graceful one, in the midst of her companions.
योऽयं युवा वारणयूथपोपमो बृहन्नलाऽस्मीति जनोऽभ्यभाषत। पुराऽपि पार्थस्य स सारथिस्तदा धनुर्धराणां प्रवरस्य मन्ये ।। 20
That young man, whom people call Brihannala, resembling a leader of elephant herds—he was once Partha’s charioteer, I believe, the foremost among archers.