यस्मिञ्जाते मही कृत्स्ना निर्भरोच्छ्वासिताऽभवत्। येन मे दक्षिणा दत्ता बद्ध्वा द्रुपदमोजसा
At his birth, the whole earth breathed a sigh of relief; by his strength, Drupada was bound and given as my sacrificial fee.
विद्ध्वा वियद्गतं लक्ष्यं विनिर्जित्य च पार्थिवान् । निर्जिता येन पाञ्चाली पुरा येन स्वयंवरे
He struck the target in the sky, defeated the kings, and by him Panchali was won in the svayamvara of old.
खाण्डवे येन संतृप्तो वह्निर्जित्वा सुरासुरान् । परिणीता सुभद्रा च येन निर्जित्य यादवान्
By whom Agni was satisfied at Khandava, after conquering gods and demons; and Subhadra was married by him, after defeating the Yadavas.
निर्जितो येन युद्धेन त्रिपुरारिः स्मरार्दनः
By whom, in battle, Tripurari, the destroyer of Kama, was vanquished.
गत्वा त्रिविष्टपं येन जितेन्द्रा दानवा युधि । निवातकवचा राजन्दानवानां त्रिकोटयः। निर्जिताः कालकेयाश्च हिरण्यपुरवासिनः
By whom, having gone to heaven, the gods and Danavas were conquered in battle; O king, the three crores of Nivatakavacha Danavas and the Kalakeyas, dwellers of Hiranyapura, were subdued.
येन त्वं मोचितो बद्धश्चित्रसेनेन तद्वने
By whom you were freed when bound by Citrarathas in that forest.
येन गत्वोत्तरं मेरोरानिनाय महद्धनम् । याजितो धर्मसूनुश्च नृपान्सर्वान्विजित्य च
By whom, having gone beyond the northern Meru, great wealth was brought back; and the son of Dharma performed the sacrifice, having conquered all the kings.
यस्मिञ्शौर्यं च वीर्यं च तेजो धैर्यं पराक्रमः । औदार्यं चैव गाम्भीर्यं श्रीर्ह्रीर्धर्मो दयाऽऽर्जवम् । एवमादिगुणोपेतः सोयं पार्थो न संशयः
In whom are found courage and might, brilliance, steadfastness, valor, generosity, depth, prosperity, modesty, righteousness, compassion, and honesty—endowed with such virtues, this is Partha, without doubt.
नाजित्वा विनिवर्तेत सर्वानपि मरुद्गणान्
He would not return without conquering even all the hosts of the Maruts.
क्लेशितश्च वने शूरो वासवेन च शिक्षितः। अमर्षवशमापन्नो योत्स्यते नात्र संशयः । न ह्यस्य प्रतियोद्धारमन्यं पश्यामि कौरव
He suffered hardships in the forest, was instructed by Indra, and now, overcome by wrath, he will fight—of this there is no doubt; nor do I see, O Kaurava, any other who can oppose him.
महादेवोपि पार्थेन श्रूयते युद्धतोषितः । किरातवेषप्रच्छन्नो गिरौ हिमवति प्रभुः
It is heard that even the great god Mahadeva, disguised as a Kirata on the Himalayan mountain, was pleased in battle by Partha.
इत्येवंवादिनं द्रोणं कर्णः क्रुद्धोऽभ्यभाषत
As Drona was speaking thus, Karna, enraged, addressed him.
सदा भवान्फल्गुनस्य गुणानस्मासु कत्थसे। न चार्जुनः कलापूर्णो मम दुर्योधनस्य वा
You always boast to us of Phalguna’s virtues, but neither Arjuna nor I, nor Duryodhana, possess a full quiver.
यद्येष पार्थो राधेय कृतं कार्यं भवेन्मम । ज्ञाताः पुनश्चरिष्यन्ति द्वादशान्यांश्च वत्सरान्
If this Partha, O Radheya, accomplishes my task, then those who are recognized will again spend twelve more years.
अथवा कश्चिदेवान्यः क्लीबरूपेण देवराट् । शरैरेनं सुनिशितैः पातयिष्यामि भूतले
Or perhaps some other person, taking the form of a eunuch, O king of the gods, I will strike him down to the earth with sharp arrows.
तस्मिन्वदति तां वाचं धार्तराष्ट्रे परन्तपे। भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपो द्रौणिः पौरुषं तदपूजयन्
As the scorcher of foes among the Dhartarashtras spoke these words, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and Drona’s son honored that manliness.
तां शमीमभिसंगम्य पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्। सुखसंवर्धितं पित्रा समराणामकोविदम्
Approaching that Shami tree, Partha spoke to the prince of Virata, who was raised in comfort by his father and skilled in the ways of battle.
एहि भूमिंजयारुह्य वैराटे महतीं शमीम्। समादिष्टो मया क्षिप्रं धनुर्गाण्डीवमानय
Come, O Bhuminjaya, ascend the great Shami tree in Virata’s land and quickly bring me the Gandiva bow as I command you.
नेमानीष्वासनानीह सोढुं शक्ष्यन्ति मे बलम् । नालं भारं गुरुं भेत्तुं कुञ्जरं वा प्रमर्दितुम्
My strength will not be able to endure these bows here; nor is it sufficient to break a heavy burden or crush an elephant.
मम वा बाहुविक्षेपं शत्रूनिह विजेष्यतः। नेच्छामि तैरहं कर्तुं कर्म वैजयिकं त्विह
Nor do I wish to perform a victorious deed here with those weapons, as I defeat the enemies with the casting of my arms.
अतिसूक्ष्माणि ह्रस्वानि सर्वाणि च मृदूनि च। आयुधानि महाबाहो तवैतानि महाबल
All these weapons, O mighty-armed one, are too fine, too small, and too soft for you, O greatly powerful one.
तस्माद्भूमिंजयारुह्य शमीमेतां पलाशिनीम् । अस्यां हि पाण्डुपुत्राणां धनूंषि निहितात्युत
Therefore, O Bhuminjaya, climb this leafy Shami tree, for upon it indeed the bows of the Pandu sons are truly placed.
युधिष्ठिरस्य भीमस्य बीभत्सोर्यमयोस्तथा । ध्वजा शराश्च शूराणां दिव्यानि कवचानि च
There are the banners, arrows, and divine armors of the heroic Yudhishthira, Bhima, Bibhatsu, and the twins.
अत्रैव तु महावीर्यं धनुः पार्थस्य गाण्डिवम् । एकं शतसहस्रेण संमितं राष्ट्रवर्धनम्
Here too is the great and mighty bow Gandiva of Partha, alone equal to a hundred thousand, increasing the kingdom.
व्यायामसहमत्यर्थं तृणराजसमं महत् । सर्वायुधमहामात्रं सर्वारिक्षयकारकम्
It endures great exertion, is as large as a bundle of grass, is the greatest among all weapons, and is the destroyer of all enemies.
सुवर्णविकृतं दिव्यं श्लक्ष्णमायतमव्रणम्। अलं भारं गुरुं सोढुं वारुणं च सुदर्शनम्
It is fashioned of gold, divine, smooth, long, unblemished, fit to bear a heavy load, Varuna’s, and beautiful to behold.
तादृशान्येव सर्वाणि बलवन्ति दृढानि च। युधिष्ठिरस्य भीमस्य बीभत्सोर्यमयोस्तथा । प्रथितानि विशिष्टानि दुर्दशानि भवन्त्युत
All the weapons of Yudhishthira, Bhima, Bibhatsu, and the twins are likewise strong, firm, renowned, distinguished, and difficult to look upon.
शरीरमिह चासक्तं शम्यां शुष्कं पुरा किल। तदहं राजपुत्रः सन्स्पृशेयं पाणिना कथम्
Here too, long ago, a dry Shami tree was attached to a body; how then, O prince, could I touch it with my hand?
न मामेवंविधं कर्म कारयस्व बृहन्नले । कथं वा शक्यते कर्तुं बुद्ध्या त्वं मन्यसे कथं
Do not make me perform such a task in the great fire, Brihannala. How could it be accomplished, or how do you think it might be done with reason?
नैवंविधं मया युक्तमालब्धुं क्षत्रयोनिना । महता राजपुत्रेण मन्त्रयज्ञविदा सता
Such a thing is not proper for me to undertake, born of the warrior lineage, a great prince, versed in counsel and sacrifice, and a virtuous man.