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.
एतेन वा सारथिना तदाऽर्जुनः सदेवगन्धर्वमहासुरोरगान् । सर्वाणि भूतान्यजयस्तस वीर्यवानतर्पयच्चापि हिरण्यरेतसम् ।। 21
With that very charioteer, Arjuna once conquered all beings—gods, Gandharvas, great asuras, and serpents—and satisfied the golden-seeded one with his valor.
यदस्य संस्थामपि तस्य संयुगे जानामि वीर्यं परवीरमध्यगम् । संगृह्य रश्मीनपि चास्य वीर्यवानादाय चापं प्रययौ रथे स्थितः ।। 22
I know his prowess in battle, for I have seen him among mighty warriors; seizing the reins and taking up the bow, that valiant one stood firm on the chariot.
न सर्वभूतानि न देवदानवा न चापि सर्वे कुरवः समागताः। धनं हरेयुस्तव जातु धन्विनो बृहन्नला तूत्तरसारथिर्यदि ।। 23
Neither all beings, nor gods and asuras, nor even all the assembled Kurus could ever seize your wealth if Brihannala, Uttara’s charioteer, holds the reins.
धनुष्यनवमश्चासीत्तस्य शिष्यो महात्मनः । सुदृष्टपूर्वो हि मया चरन्त्या पाण्डवालये ।। 24
He was not inferior with the bow, and was a disciple of that great soul; I have seen him before, while moving about in the Pandava’s house.
स चानेन सहायेन खाण्डवं चादहत्पुरा । अर्जुनस्य तदाऽनेन संगृहीता हयोत्तमाः ।। 25
With this very companion, he once burned Khandava; at that time, this one held the excellent horses for Arjuna.
तेन सारथिना पार्थः सर्वभूतानि सर्वशः। अजयत्खाण्डवप्रस्थे न हि यन्ताऽस्ति तादृशः ।। 26
With that charioteer, Partha conquered all beings entirely on the field of Khandava; there is truly no charioteer like him.
ततः सैरन्ध्रिसहिता उत्तरा भ्रातुरब्रवीत्। अभ्यर्थयैनां सारथ्ये वीर शीघ्रं बृहन्नलाम् ।। 27
Then, accompanied by Sairandhri, Uttara spoke to her brother: ‘O hero, quickly ask Brihannala to be your charioteer.’
शिक्षितैषा हि सारथ्ये नर्तने गीतवादिते । सैरन्ध्य्राह महाप्राज्ञा स्तुवन्ती वै बृहन्नलाम् ।। 28
She is skilled in charioteering, in dancing, and in singing and playing instruments; Sairandhri, wise and praising, spoke thus of Brihannala.
सैरन्ध्रि जानासि मम व्रतं हि क्लीबेन पुंसा न हि संवदाम्यहम्। सोहं न शक्ष्यामि बृहन्नलां शुभे वक्तुं स्वयं यच्छ हयान्ममेति ।। 29
Sairandhri, you know my vow: I do not converse with a man who is a eunuch; so, O lovely one, I will not be able to ask Brihannala myself to take up the horses for me.
भयकाले तु संप्राप्ते न व्रतं नाव्रतं पुनः। यथा दुःखं प्रतरति कर्तुं युक्तं चरेद्बुधः । इति धर्मविदः प्राहुस्तस्माद्वाच्या बृहन्नला ।। 30
But when a time of danger arrives, neither vow nor non-vow matters; a wise person should act as is fitting to overcome distress—so say those who know dharma. Therefore, Brihannala should be asked.