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.
शातकुम्भस्य शुद्धस्य श्रेष्ठस्य रजतस्य च। ददामि शतनिष्कं ते मुञ्च मां त्वं बृहन्नले ।। 58
I will give you a hundred nishkas of pure, excellent gold and silver; release me, O Brihannala.
षष्टिं स्वलंकृताः कन्या ग्राममेकं ददामि ते। मुञ्च मां त्वं भृशं दीनं विह्वलं भयकम्पितम् ।। 59
I will give you sixty well-adorned maidens and a village; release me, for I am greatly distressed, agitated, and trembling with fear.
मणीनष्टौ च वैडूर्यान्हेमबद्धान्महाप्रभान्। हेमदण्डप्रतिच्छन्नं रथं युक्तं तु वाजिभिः ।। 60
Eight great, radiant cat's-eye gems set in gold, and a chariot covered with golden poles, yoked with horses, I will give you.
मत्तांश्च दश मातङ्गान्मुञ्च मां त्वं बृहन्नले । गमिष्यामि पुरं षण्ड द्रष्टुं मातरमद्य ताम् ।। 61
And ten intoxicated elephants—release me, O Brihannala! I will go today to the city, O eunuch, to see my mother.
एकोऽहमेव मे मातुः कुमारः किं ब्रुवे ततः। विधिरेवंविधे काले त्वद्वशं कुरुते हि माम् ।। 62
I am my mother's only son—what shall I say to her then? In such a time, fate itself brings me under your power.
मात्स्यस्य पुत्रो बालोऽहं तेन चास्मि सुपोषितः। मातृपार्श्वशयानोऽहमस्पृष्टातपवायुमान् ।। 63
I am the young son of the Matsya king, and by him I have been well cared for; I sleep beside my mother, untouched by sun or wind.
अदृष्टबालयुद्धोऽहं कुतस्ते कुरवः कुतः। मातृपार्श्वं गमिष्यामि मुञ्च मां त्वं बृहन्नले ।। 64
I have never seen a child's battle—how could I face the Kurus? I wish to go to my mother's side; release me, O Brihannala.
प्रलयार्णवसंकाशं दृश्यते कौरवं बलम् ।। 65
The Kaurava army appears like a deluge at the end of the world.
स्त्रीणां मध्येऽहमज्ञानाद्वीर्यशौर्याङ्कितां गिरम्। उक्तो यौवनगर्वेण को जेतुं शक्नुयात्कुरून् । अमुक्त्वा मां यदि नयेर्मरिष्यामि तवाग्रतः ।। 66
Among women, out of ignorance and youthful pride, I uttered words marked by valor and heroism—who could conquer the Kurus? If you do not let me go, I will die before your eyes.
एवमादीनि वाक्यानि विलपन्तमचेतसम्। प्रसभं पुरुषव्याघ्रो रथस्यान्तिकमानयत् ।। 67
As he wailed such words, his mind distraught, the tiger among men forcibly brought him near the chariot.