दृष्टिप्रणाशो भूतानां दिवस्पृक्कुरुसत्तम ।। 8 ।। तदनीकमथो वीक्ष्य गजाश्वरथसंकुलम्
The dust obscured the vision of all creatures, O best of the Kurus; then, seeing that army crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots—
कर्णदुर्योधनकृपैर्गुप्तं शान्तनवेन च । द्रोणेन सह पुत्रेण महेष्वासेन धीमता ।। 9
—guarded by Karna, Duryodhana, Kripa, and also by Shantanu's son, along with Drona and his mighty, wise son—
हृष्टरोमा भयोद्विग्नो निमील्य स्वदृशौ तदा। कम्पमानशरीरश्च पार्थं वैराटिरब्रवीत् ।। 10
Virata, his hair standing on end, seized by fear, closed his eyes, his body trembling, and spoke to Partha:
नोत्सहे कुरुभिर्योद्धुं रोमहर्षं हि पश्य मे। बहुप्रवीरमत्युग्रं देवैरपि दुरासदम्। प्रतियोद्धुं न शक्नोमि कुरुसैन्यं भयानकम् ।। 11
'I am not able to fight with the Kurus; see, my hair stands on end. Their army is filled with many mighty heroes, fierce and hard to approach even for the gods. I cannot withstand the terrifying Kuru army.'
नाशंसे भारतीं सेनां प्रवेष्टुं भीमकार्मुकाम्। देवैरपि सहेन्द्रेण न शक्यं किंपुनर्नरैः ।। 12
'I do not hope to enter the Bharata army, armed with Bhima's bow. Not even the gods with Indra could do so—how much less men?'
रथनागाश्वकलिलं पत्तिध्वजसमाकुलम् । दृष्ट्वैव हि परानीकं मनः प्रव्यथतीव मे ।। 13
'Seeing the enemy's army, crowded with chariots, elephants, horses, foot soldiers, and banners, my mind is greatly disturbed.'
यत्र द्रोणश्च भीष्मश्च कृपः कर्णो विविंशतिः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सोमदत्तश्च बाह्लिकः । दुर्योधनस्तथा राजा वीरो दुर्मर्षणः परः ।। 14
'There are Drona and Bhishma, Kripa, Karna, Vivimsati, Ashvatthama, Vikarna, Somadatta, Bahlika, King Duryodhana, and the mighty hero Durmarshana.'
नीतिमन्तो महेष्वासाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः । मत्ता इव महानागा युक्तध्वजपताकिनः ।। 15
'All are wise, great archers, skilled in battle, like intoxicated great elephants, their chariots adorned with banners and standards.'
नीतिमन्तो महेष्वासाः सर्वार्थकृतनिश्चयाः । ताञ्जेतुं समरे शूरान्दुर्बुद्धिरहमागतः ।। 16
'All are wise, great archers, resolute in all undertakings. It was foolish of me to come here to fight these valiant warriors in battle.'
दृष्ट्वैव हि कुरून्सर्वान्व्यूढानीकान्प्रहारिणः । हृषितानि च रोमाणि कश्मलेनाहतं मनः ।। 17
'Just seeing all the Kurus, arrayed in battle formation and eager to strike, my hair stands on end and my mind is struck with faintness.'
दृष्ट्वा तु महतीं सेनां कुरूणां दृढधन्विनाम्। परिदेवयते मन्दः सकाशे सव्यसाचिनः ।। 18
Seeing the great army of the Kurus, strong in their bows, this foolish one laments in the presence of Savyasācin.
त्रिगर्तान्मे पिता यातः शून्ये वै प्रणिधाय माम्। सर्वां सेनामुपादाय न मे सन्तीह सैनिकाः ।। 19
My father has gone after the Trigartas, having left me here alone; he has taken the whole army, and I have no soldiers here.
अहमेको बहून्बालः कृतास्त्रानकृतश्रमः। प्रतियोद्धुं न शक्नोति निवर्तय बृहन्नले ।। 20
I am alone, young, untested in arms, and not accustomed to hardship; I cannot oppose the many—turn back, Bṛhannalā.
तं तथा वादिनं तत्र बीभत्सुः प्रत्यभाषत। संप्रहस्य पुनस्तं वै सर्वलोकमहारथः ।। 21
To him, speaking thus, Bībhatsu replied there, laughing again, that great chariot-warrior renowned in all the worlds.
भयेन दीनरूपोऽसि द्विषतां हर्षवर्धनः । न च तावत्कृतं किंचित्परैः कर्म रणाजिरे ।। 22
Out of fear you appear dejected, bringing joy to your enemies; yet nothing has been done by the foe on the field of battle.
स्वयमेव च मामात्थ नय मां कौरवान्प्रति । सोहं त्वां तत्र नेष्यामि यत्रैते बहुला ध्वजाः ।। 23
You yourself have asked me, 'Lead me against the Kauravas'; so I will take you there, where those many banners stand.
मध्यमामिषगृध्रूनां कुरूणामाततायिनाम् । नेष्यामि त्वां महाबाहो मा त्वं हि विमना भव। समुद्रमिव गम्भीरं कुरुसैन्यमरिन्दम ।। 24
I will take you, mighty-armed one, into the midst of the Kurus, those greedy for the flesh of their foes; do not lose heart, subduer of enemies, for the Kuru army is deep as the ocean.
स्त्रीसकाशे प्रतिज्ञाय पुरुषाणां हि शृण्वताम्। विकत्थमानो निर्यात्वा ब्रूषि किं नात्र युद्ध्यसे ।। 25
Having made a vow before women, with men listening, boasting as you set out—why do you now say you will not fight?
तथा स्त्रीषु प्रतिश्रुत्य पौरुषं पुरुषेषु च। रथमारुह्य निर्यात्वा किमर्थं नावबुध्यसे ।। 26
Having promised valor among women and men, and mounting the chariot to go forth, why do you now hesitate?
न चेद्विजित्य गास्त्वं हि नगरं प्रतियास्यसि। प्रहसिष्यन्ति वीरास्त्वां नरा नार्यश्च संगताः ।। 27
If you do not win back the cows and return to the city, the gathered heroes, men, and women will laugh at you.
अहमप्यस्मि सैरन्ध्र्या स्तुतः सारथ्यकर्मणि । नाहं शक्नोम्यनिर्जित्य गाः प्रयातुं पुरं प्रति ।। 28
I too have been praised by Sairandhrī for my skill as a charioteer; but I cannot return to the city without recovering the cows.
स्तोत्रेण चैव सैरन्ध्र्यास्तव वाक्येन चोदितः । कथं न युद्ध्येयमहं कुरूनेतान्स्थिरो भव ।। 29
Urged by Sairandhrī’s praise and your words, how could I not fight the leaders of the Kurus? Stand firm.
कामं हरन्तु मात्स्यानां भूयांसः कुरवो धनम्। प्रहसन्तु च मां नार्यो नरा वाऽपि बृहन्नले ।। 30
Let the Kurus, if they wish, take the Matsyas’ wealth; let the women and men of Bṛhannalā laugh at me.
संग्रामेण न मे कार्यं गावो गच्छन्तु चापि मे । नगरं च प्रवेक्ष्यामि पश्यतस्ते बृहन्नले ।। 31
I have no need for battle; let the cows go, and I will enter the city—see for yourself, Bṛhannalā.
इत्युक्त्वा प्राद्रवद्भीतो रथात्प्रस्कन्द्य कुण्डली। त्यक्त्वा मानं सुसंत्रस्तो विसृज्य सशरं धनुः ।। 32
Saying this, terrified, Kuṇḍalī leapt from the chariot and fled, abandoning his honor in great fear, casting aside his bow and arrows.
नैष शूरैः स्मृतो धर्मः क्षत्रियस्य पलायनम्। श्रेयो हि मरणं युद्धे न भीतस्य पलायनम् ।। 33
Flight is not considered righteous for a kṣatriya by the brave; better to die in battle than to flee in fear.
एवमुक्त्वा तु कौरव्यः सोऽवप्लुत्य रथोत्तमात्। तमन्वधावद्धावन्तं राजपुत्रं धनञ्जयः । दीर्घां वेणीं विधून्वानः साधु रक्ते च वाससी ।। 34
Having spoken thus, the Kaurava leapt from the excellent chariot; Dhanañjaya pursued the fleeing prince, shaking his long braid and wearing bright red garments.
विक्रमन्तं पदन्यासैर्नमयन्तं च भूतलम् । विधूय वेणीं धावन्तमजानन्तोऽर्जुनं तदा। सैनिकाः प्राहसन्केचिद्योषिद्रूपमवेक्ष्य तम् ।। 35
As he ran, stepping boldly and bending the earth, tossing his braid, not knowing he was Arjuna, some soldiers laughed, seeing him in a woman’s form.
तं च शीघ्रं प्रधावन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य कुरवोऽब्रुवन् । कोऽयं धावत्यसङ्गेन पूर्वं मुक्त्वा रथोत्तमम् ।। 36
Seeing him running swiftly, the Kurus said, 'Who is this, running alone, having left behind the excellent chariot?'
क एष वेषसंच्छन्नो भस्मनेव हुताशनः। किंचिदस्य यथा पुंसः किंचिदस्य यथा स्त्रियः ।। 37
Who is this, disguised in strange attire, like fire hidden in ashes? In some ways he appears like a man, in others like a woman.