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.
स्पृष्टवन्तं शरीरं मां शववाहमिवाशुचिम्। कथं वा व्यवहार्यं वै कुर्वीथास्त्वं बृहन्नले
Having touched my body, as if I were impure like a bearer of corpses, how could you, Brihannala, engage in dealings with me?
तमुवाच ततः शूरः पार्थं परपुंरजयः। दायादं सर्वमत्स्यानां कुले जातं विशारदम्
Then the valiant one, conqueror of enemies, spoke to Partha: 'Heir to all the Matsyas, born in the royal line, skilled and wise.'
जानामि त्वां महाप्राज्ञ शुभं जात्या कुलेन च । कथं नु पापकं कर्म ब्रूयां त्वाऽहं परन्तप
I know you, O greatly wise one, noble in birth and lineage. How could I instruct you in a sinful act, O scorcher of foes?
व्यवहार्यश्च राजेन्द्र शुद्धश्चैव भविष्यसि । धनूंष्येतानि मा भैस्त्वं शरीरं नात्र विद्यते
You will be fit for dealings, O king, and pure as well. Do not fear these bows; there is no body here.
दायादं मत्स्यराजस्य कुले जातं मनस्विनम् । कथं वा नन्दितं कर्म कारये त्वां नृपात्मज
Heir to the king of the Matsyas, born in the royal line and noble in mind, how could I make you perform a pleasing task, O prince?
एवमुक्तः स पार्थेन रथात्प्रस्कन्द्य कुण्डली। आरुरोह शमीवृक्षं वैराटिरवशस्तदा
Thus addressed by Partha, the one with earrings dismounted from the chariot and, compelled, climbed the Shami tree, O King of the Viratas.
तमन्वशासच्छत्रुघ्नो रथे तिष्ठन्धनञ्जयः । अवरोपय वृक्षाग्राद्धनूंष्येतानि माचिरम्
Standing on the chariot, Dhananjaya, destroyer of enemies, commanded him: 'Bring down the bows quickly from the top of the tree.'
सोपहृत्य महार्हाणि धनूंषि पृथुवक्षसाम् । परिवेष्टनपत्राणि विमुच्य समुपानयत्
Having brought down the splendid bows of broad-chested heroes, he removed their wrappings and presented them.
परिवेष्टनमेतेषां सर्वं मुञ्चस्व माचिरम् । तेषां संनहनीयानि परिमुच्य परन्तपः। अपश्यत्तत्र गाण्डीवं चतुर्भिरपरैः सह
Remove all the wrappings from these quickly. The scorcher of foes, after unwrapping their coverings, saw Gandiva there along with four others.
तेषां विमुच्यमानानां धनुषामर्कवर्चसाम्। विनिश्चेरुः प्रभा दिव्या ग्रहाणामुदयेष्विव
As those divine bows, radiant as immortals, were being unwrapped, a brilliant light emerged, like the rising of planets.