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.
अथैनमब्रवीत्पार्थो भयार्तं नष्टचेतसम् ।। 68
Then Partha spoke to him, terrified and out of his senses.
अहं योत्स्यामि कौरव्यैर्हयान्संयच्छ मेति माम् । आददानः किमर्थं त्वं पलायनपरोऽभवः ।। 69
I will fight the Kauravas—just restrain the horses for me. Why, when you have me, do you only think of fleeing?
युध्यस्व कौरवैः सार्धं विजयस्ते भविष्यति। यस्य यन्तास्म्यहं युद्धे संयच्छामि हयोत्तमान्। राज्ञो वा राजपुत्रस्य तस्य युद्धे जयो ध्रुवम् ।। 70
Fight the Kurus; victory will be yours. Whoever has me as his charioteer in battle, and whom I guide the finest horses for—whether king or prince—victory in battle is certain for him.
सर्वथोत्तर युध्यस्व यन्त्रा सह मया कुरून् । जित्वा महीं यशः प्राप्य भोक्ष्यसे सकलामिमाम् ।। 71
In any case, Uttara, fight the Kurus with me as your charioteer; having conquered the earth and gained fame, you will enjoy all this realm.
हतो वा प्राप्ससे स्वर्गं न श्रेयस्ते पलायनम् ।। 72
If you are slain, you will attain heaven; fleeing is not better for you.
अद्य सर्वान्कुरूञ्जित्वा यथा जयमवाप्स्यसि। तथाऽहं प्रयतिष्येऽत्र सहायोऽत्र मतो ह्यहम् ।। 73
Today, having conquered all the Kurus, as you will achieve victory, so I will strive here; for I am considered your ally here.
यदि नोत्सहसे योद्धुं शत्रुभिः शत्रुकर्शन। एहि मे त्वं हयान्यच्छ युध्यमानस्य शत्रुभिः ।। 74
If you are not able to fight the enemies, O subduer of foes, then come and drive my horses while I fight the enemies.
प्रयाह्येतद्रथानीकं मद्बाहुपरिरक्षितः । अप्रधृष्यतमं घोरं गुप्तं घोरैर्महारथैः । मा भैस्त्वं राजपुत्राग्र्य क्षत्रियोसि परंतप ।। 75
Go to this array of chariots, protected by my arms, most unassailable, terrible, guarded by fierce great warriors; do not fear, foremost of princes, you are a Kshatriya, scorcher of foes.
अहं तैः कुरुभिर्योत्स्ये प्रत्यानेष्यामि ते पशून् । प्रविशैतद्रथानीकमप्रधृष्यं दुरासदम् ।। 76
I will fight with those Kurus and bring back your cattle; enter this array of chariots, unassailable and difficult to approach.
यन्ता भव नरश्रेष्ठ योत्स्येऽहं कुरुभिः सह। शूरान्समरचण्डांश्च नयिष्ये यमसादनम् ।। 77
Be the charioteer, best of men; I will fight with the Kurus and send the brave and fierce warriors to the abode of Yama.