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.
एवं ब्रुवाणो वैराटिं बीभत्सुरपराजितः। समाश्वास्य भयार्तं तमुत्तरं भरतर्षभः ।। 78
Thus speaking to the fearful and distressed Uttara, the unconquered Bhībhatsu, bull among the Bharatas, reassured him.
इतस्ततो विवेष्टन्तमकामं भयपीडितम् । रथमारोपमायास पार्थः परपुरंजयः ।। 79
Seeing him turning here and there, unwilling and afflicted by fear, Pārtha, conqueror of enemy cities, made him ascend the chariot.
तमारोप्य रथोपस्थे विलपन्तं धनञ्जयः। गाण्डीवं धनुरादातुमुपायात्तां शमीं प्रति
Having made him ascend the chariot, as he lamented, Dhanañjaya went towards that Shami tree to take up the Gāṇḍīva bow.
उत्तरं तं समाश्वास्य कृत्वा यन्तारमर्जुनः ।। 80
Having reassured Uttara and made him the charioteer, Arjuna—
तं दृष्ट्वा क्लीबरूपेण रथस्थं रथिपुङ्गवम्। शमीमभिमुखं यान्तं रथमारोप्य चोत्तरम्
Seeing that foremost of chariot-warriors, standing on the chariot in the guise of a eunuch, going towards the Shami tree, having made Uttara ascend the chariot—
द्रोणभीष्मादयः शूराः कुरूणां रथिसत्तमाः । वित्रस्तमनसश्चासन्धनञ्जयकृताद्भयात्
Drona, Bhishma, and other heroes, the foremost chariot-warriors of the Kurus, became fearful in mind because of Dhanañjaya, and were struck with terror.
तानवेक्ष्य हतोत्साहानुत्पातानपि चाद्भुतान्। गुरुः शस्त्रभृतांश्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजोऽभ्यभाषत
Seeing those whose enthusiasm was destroyed and also the wondrous omens, the venerable Bharadvāja, best of weapon-bearers, spoke.
स्वराश्च वाताः संयान्ति रूक्षाः परुषनिस्वनाः । भस्मवर्षप्रकाशेन तमसा संवृतं नभः
Harsh winds blow with rough, grating sounds; the sky is covered with darkness, shining with a shower of ashes.
रूक्षवर्णाश्च जलदा दृश्यन्तेऽद्भुतदर्शनाः । निःसरन्ति च कोशेभ्यः शस्त्राणि विविधानि च
Clouds of harsh color, wondrous to behold, are seen; and various weapons emerge from their sheaths.
शिवाश्च विनदन्त्येता दीप्तायां दिशि दारुणाः । हयाश्चाश्रूणि मुञ्चन्ति ध्वजाः कम्पन्त्यकम्पिताः
These fierce jackals howl in the blazing direction; the horses shed tears, and the unmoving banners tremble.
यादृशान्यत्र दृश्यन्ते रूपाणि विविधानि च। यत्ता भवन्तस्तिष्ठन्तु युद्धं स्यात्समुपस्थितम्
Such various forms as are seen elsewhere are seen here; let those who are yours stand firm, for battle is at hand.
रक्षध्वमपि राजानं व्यूहध्वं वाहिनीमपि । वैशसं च प्रतीक्षध्वं रक्षध्वं चापि गोधनम्
Protect the king, array the army, prepare for calamity, and guard the cattle as well.
एष वीरो महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः। आगतः क्लीबवेषेण पार्थो नास्त्यत्र संशयः
This hero, mighty-armed, foremost among all wielders of weapons, has come here in the guise of a eunuch—this is Arjuna, of that there is no doubt.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं भीष्ममालोक्य चाब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, he looked at Bhishma and addressed him.
नदीज लङ्केशवनारिकेतुर्नगाह्वयो नाम नगारिसूनुः । गत्या सुरेशः क्वचिदङ्गनेव गुरुर्बभाषे वचनं तदानीम्
The son of the city, called Nadija, the lord of Lanka’s forests, known as Turagāhvaya by name—by his gait he resembled the lord of gods, and at times, like a woman in the inner chambers, the teacher spoke these words then.
इत्युक्त्वा संज्ञया द्रोणस्तूष्णीमासीद्विशांपते। भारद्वाजवचः श्रुत्वा गाङ्गेयः संज्ञयाऽब्रवीत्
Having said this by way of a sign, Drona remained silent, O lord of men; hearing the words of Bharadvaja, Bhishma, son of Ganga, spoke in turn by way of a sign.
अतीतं चक्रमस्माकं विषयान्तरमागताः । अतीतः समयश्चोक्त अस्माभिर्यः सभातले। न भयं शत्रुतः कार्यं शङ्कां त्यज नरर्षभ
Our allotted period has passed, and we have entered another’s domain; the agreement we made on the assembly floor has expired; there is no need to fear the enemy—cast away your doubts, O best of men.
देवव्रतेनैवमुक्ते वचने हितकारिणा । दुर्योधनमथालोक्य संज्ञया द्रोण अब्रवीत्
When Devavrata, who always seeks your welfare, had spoken these words, Drona looked at Duryodhana and addressed him by way of a sign.
एष वीरो महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । आगतः क्लीबरूपेण पार्थो नास्त्यत्र संशयः
This hero, mighty-armed, foremost among all wielders of weapons, has come here in the form of a eunuch—this is Arjuna, of that there is no doubt.
एष पार्थो हि विक्रान्तः सव्यसाची परन्तपः। ये जेतारो महीपानाममुना कुरवो हताः
This is indeed Partha, valiant, ambidextrous, a scorcher of foes; by him the Kurus, who were conquerors of kings, were slain.