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.
इत्येवं सैनिकाः प्राहुर्द्रोणस्तानिदमब्रवीत् । आचार्यः कुरुपाण्डूनां मतौ शुक्राङ्गिरोपमः ।। 38
Thus the soldiers spoke, and Drona said to them, 'He is the teacher of the Kurus and Pandavas, equal in wisdom to Shukra.'
किं विचारेण वः कार्यमेतेनानुसृतेन वा। धावन्तमनुधावंश्च निर्भयो भयविप्लुतम् । वेणीकलापं निर्धूय प्रविभाति नरर्षभः ।। 39
Why do you need to investigate or pursue him? The fearless pursues the terrified as he runs, shaking loose his braided hair, shining like a bull among men.
आकारमर्जुनस्येव क्लीबरूपं बिभर्ति च। रूपेण पार्थसदृशः स्त्रीवेषसमलंकृतः ।। 40
His form is like Arjuna's, though he bears a feminine appearance; in features he resembles Partha, adorned in a woman's dress.
तदेवैतच्छिरोग्रीवं तौ बाहू परिघोपमौ । तत्तदेवास्य विक्रान्तं नायमन्यो धनञ्जयात् ।। 41
That same head and neck, those two arms like iron clubs, and that same valor—this is none other than Dhananjaya.
अमरेष्विव देवेन्द्रो मनुष्येषु धनञ्जयः। एकः कोस्मानुपायायादन्यो लोके धनञ्जयात् ।। 42
Among the gods, Indra is foremost; among men, Dhananjaya. Who else in the world could approach us alone except Dhananjaya?
द्रोणेन चैवमुक्तस्तु कर्णः प्रोवाच बुद्धिमान्। एकः पुत्रो विराटस्य शून्ये संनिहितः पुरे ।। 43
Then, addressed thus by Drona, Karna, wise in counsel, said, 'The only son of Virata is present in the empty city.'
स एष किल निर्यातो बालभावान्न पौरुषात्। क्लीबं वै सारथिं कृत्वा निर्यातो नगराद्बहिः ।। 44
It is said that he has gone out, not from valor but from youthful impulse, taking a eunuch as his charioteer and leaving the city.
छन्नं सत्रेण वै नूनं जानीध्वं यान्तमर्जुनम् । ते हि नः प्रतिसंयातुं संग्रामे न हि शक्नुयुः । कथमेकतरस्तेषां समस्तान्योधयेत्कुरून् ।। 45
Know for certain that Arjuna is going, disguised in this way. For none of them could face us in battle; how could any one of them alone fight all the Kurus?
उत्तरः सारथिं कृत्वा निर्यातो नगराद्बहिः। स नो मन्ये ध्वजं दृष्ट्वा भीत एष पलायति ।। 46
Uttara has taken a eunuch as his charioteer and left the city; seeing our banner, I think he is fleeing in fear.
नूनं तमेव धावन्तं जिघृक्षति धनञ्जयः। सारथिं ह्युत्तरं कृत्वा स्वयं योद्धुमिहेच्छति ।। 47
Surely Dhananjaya intends to seize him as he runs, having made Uttara his charioteer, desiring to fight himself.
इति स्म कुरवः सर्वे विमृशन्तः पृथक्पृथक्। न च व्यवसितुं वीरा अर्जुनं शक्नुवन्ति ते ।। 48
Thus all the Kurus, discussing separately, could not determine with certainty whether it was Arjuna.
दुर्योधन उवाचेदं सैनिकान्रथसत्तमान् । अर्जुनो वासुदेवो वा रामः प्रद्युम्न एव वा। ते हि नः प्रतिसंयातुं संग्रामे न हि शक्नुयुः ।। 49
Duryodhana said to the soldiers and the best of charioteers, 'Whether it is Arjuna, Vasudeva, Rama, or even Pradyumna, none of them could withstand us in battle.'
अन्यो वै क्लीबरूपेण यद्यागच्छेद्गवां पदम्। शस्त्रैस्तीक्ष्णैरर्पयित्वा पातयिष्यामि भूतले । कथमेकतरस्तेषां समस्तान्योधयेत्कुरून् ।। 50
If anyone else, disguised as a eunuch, comes to the place of the cows, I will strike him down with sharp weapons and lay him on the ground. How could any one of them alone fight all the Kurus?
छन्नं तथा तं वेषेण पाण्डवं प्रेक्ष्य सैनिकाः। अर्जुनेति च नेत्येव न व्यवस्यन्ति ते पुनः। इति स्म कुरवः सर्वे विमृशन्तः पुनः पुनः ।। 51
Thus, seeing that Pandava disguised in such a way, the soldiers could not decide whether it was Arjuna or not, and so all the Kurus kept discussing again and again.
दृढेवधी महासत्त्वः शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः । अद्यागच्छति चेद्योद्धुं सर्वं संशयितं बलम् ।। 52
If today that mighty one, firm in resolve, of great courage and equal in prowess to Indra, comes to fight, then all our forces are in doubt.
न चाप्यन्यतरं तत्र व्यवस्यन्ति धनञ्जयात् ।। 53
And yet, they could not determine that it was anyone other than Dhananjaya.
उत्तरं तु प्रधावन्तमनुद्रुत्य धनञ्जयः। गत्वा शतपदं तूर्णं केशपक्षे परामृशत् ।। 54
Dhananjaya swiftly pursued Uttara as he fled, and after running a hundred paces, seized him by the hair.
मा मा गृहाण भद्रं ते दासोऽहं ते बृहन्नले। इति वादिनमेवाशु धावन्तं तरसाऽग्रहीत्। विराटपुत्रं बीभत्सुर्बलवानरिमर्दनः ।। 55
As Uttara cried, 'Do not seize me, good sir! I am your servant, O Brihannala!'—even as he spoke and ran, the mighty, enemy-crushing Bhimasena's son grasped him with force.
सोऽर्जुनेन परामृष्टः पर्यदेवयदार्तवत् । बहुलं कृपणं चैव वित्तं प्रावेदयद्बहु ।। 56
Seized by Arjuna, he lamented in distress, and sorrowfully revealed much about his wealth.
सुवर्णमणिमुक्तानां यद्यदिच्छसि दद्मि ते। हस्तिनोश्वान्रथान्गावः स्त्रियश्च समलङ्कृताः ।। 57
I will give you whatever you desire of gold, gems, and pearls—elephants, horses, chariots, cows, and women adorned with ornaments.