ध्वजाग्राद्वानरस्तस्य भल्लेनाभिहतो मया। अद्यैव पततां भूमौ विनदन्भैरवान्रवान्
Today, with my arrow, I will strike down the monkey on his banner, making it fall to the ground, roaring with a terrifying sound.
शत्रोर्मयाभिपन्नानां भूतानां ध्वजवासिनाम् । दिशः प्रतिष्ठमानानामस्तु शब्दो दिवं गतः
Let the sound rise to the heavens as I attack the enemies, those beings stationed on their banners, as they flee in all directions.
क्रुद्धेनास्त्रं मया मुक्तं निर्दहेत्पृथिवीमिमाम् । स्थितं संग्रामशिरसि पार्थमेकाकिनं किमु
If, in anger, I release a weapon, it could burn this earth; what then of Partha, standing alone in the midst of battle?
समाहितश्च बीभत्सुर्वर्षाण्यष्टौ च पञ्च च । जातस्नेहश्च युद्धस्य मयि संदर्शयिष्यति
Bibhatsu, focused and steadfast for thirteen years, has developed an attachment to battle and will show it to me.
पात्रीभूतस्तु कौन्तेयो ब्राह्मणो गुणवानिव । शरमालां स गृह्णातु मत्प्रसृष्टां स्वधामिव
Let the son of Kunti, who is fit as a vessel, like a worthy Brahmin, receive the garland of arrows I release, as if it were his own due.
एष चापि महेष्वासस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । अहं चापि नरश्रेष्ठादर्जुनान्नावमः क्वचित्
This great archer is renowned in the three worlds, and I too am never inferior to Arjuna among the best of men.
मम हस्तप्रमुक्तानां शराणां नतपर्वणाम्। निवृत्तिर्गच्छतां नास्ति वैश्वानरशिखार्चिषाम्
There is no return for the arrows released from my hand, with their curved joints, just as for the blazing flames of fire.
इतश्चेतश्च मुक्तानां शराणां नतपर्वणाम् । तुगुलः श्रूयतां नादः षट्पदां गायतामिव
From here and there, listen to the sound of the arrows with curved joints being released, like the humming of bees singing.
अन्तरा संपतद्भिस्तु गृध्रपत्रैः शिलाशितैः । शलभानामिवाकाशे छाया संप्रति दृश्यताम्
Between the onrushing vultures' feathers, sharp as stones, let the shadow in the sky now be seen as if it were a swarm of locusts.
अद्य मत्कार्मुकोत्सृष्टाः शिताः पार्थस्य मर्मगाः। शरीरमुपसर्पन्तु वल्मीकमिव पन्नगाः
Today, may the sharp arrows released from my bow, piercing to Partha’s vital points, approach his body like serpents entering an anthill.
बर्हिबर्हिणराजानां बर्हिणां बर्हिणामिव । पततां पततां घोषः पततां पततामिव
The sound of those falling, of the peacocks and the king of peacocks, is like the cry of peacocks as they descend, like the cry of those who fall.
अद्य त्वहमृणान्मोक्ष्ये यन्मया तत्प्रतिश्रुतम् । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य तत्काले निहत्य समरेऽर्जुनम्
Today I will free myself from the debt I once promised, by slaying Arjuna in battle at the time appointed by Dhritarashtra’s son.
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शं महेन्द्रसमविक्रमम्। अर्दयिष्याम्यहं पार्थमुल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम्
With a touch like Indra’s thunderbolt, with the might of the great Indra, I will shatter Partha with blazing missiles as a meteor strikes an elephant.
शरजालमहाज्वालमसिशक्तिगदेन्धनम् । निर्दहन्तमनीकानि शमयिष्येऽर्जुनानलम्
With a great blaze of arrows, fueled by swords, spears, and maces, burning up the troops, I will extinguish the fire that is Arjuna.
रथादतिरथं लोके सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरम् । विवशं पार्थमादास्ये गरुत्मानिव पन्नगम्
From his chariot, I will seize Partha, the foremost of all wielders of weapons, helpless, as Garuda seizes a serpent.
क्षुद्रकैर्विविधैर्भल्लैर्निपतद्भिश्च मामकैः । संमूढचेताः कौन्तेयः कर्तव्यं नाभिपद्यताम्
Let Kaunteya, his mind bewildered by the many small, diverse arrows falling from my men, not be able to accomplish his purpose.
अद्य दुर्योधनस्याहं शोकं हृदि चिरं स्थितम् । समूलमपनेष्यामि हरन्पार्थशिरः शरैः
Today I will remove from Duryodhana’s heart the long-standing grief, uprooting it completely by taking off Partha’s head with my arrows.
अद्य मत्कार्मुकोत्सृष्टैर्भल्लैश्च नतपर्वभिः। हताश्वं विरथं पार्थं पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितम् । निश्वसन्तं यथा नागमद्य पश्यन्तु कौरवाः
Today, with the curved arrows released from my bow, let the Kauravas see Partha, his horses slain, his chariot lost, standing firm in courage, gasping like a serpent.
जामदग्न्यान्मया लब्धं दिव्यास्रमृषिसत्तमात्। तदुपाश्रित्य वीर्यं च युध्येयमपि वासवम्
Having obtained the divine weapons from the best of sages, Jamadagni’s son, relying on that power, I could even fight Indra himself.
ध्वजाग्रे वानरस्तिष्ठन्भल्लेन निहतो मया। अद्यैव पततां भूमौ विनदन्भैरवान्रवान्
The monkey on the banner, struck down by my arrow, will fall to the ground today, roaring with terrifying cries.
कामं गच्छन्तु कुरवो गाः प्रगृह्य परंतपाः । रथेषु वाऽपि तिष्ठन्तो युद्धं पश्यन्तु मामकम्
Let the Kurus, O scorcher of foes, go and seize the cows if they wish, or remain on their chariots and witness my battle.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नीतिशास्त्रविशारदः। आचार्यः कुरुवीराणां कृपः शारद्वतोऽब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, the teacher of the Kurus, Kripa, son of Sharadvat, expert in the science of policy, spoke.
सदैव तव राधेय युद्धे क्रूरतरा मतिः। नार्थानां प्रकृतिं वेत्सि नानुबन्धमवेक्षसे
Rādheya, your mind is always most cruel in battle; you do not understand the true nature of things, nor do you consider the consequences.
नया हि बहवः सन्ति शास्त्राण्याश्रित्य चिन्तिताः । तेषां युद्धं सुपापिष्ठं वेदयन्ति पुराविदः
Indeed, many treatises on policy have been composed, and those who know the ancient lore declare that among them, war is the worst course.
देशकालेन संयुक्तं युद्धं विजयदं भवेत्। हीनकालं तदेवेह अनर्थायोपकल्पते
A battle joined at the right place and time brings victory; but if fought at the wrong time, it leads only to disaster.
देशे काले च विक्रान्तं कल्याणाय विधीयते। आनुकूल्येन कार्याणामुत्तरं तु विधीयते
A bold act, done in the right place and time, brings good fortune; but only when circumstances are favorable should one proceed to the next step.
भारं हि रथकारस्य न व्यवस्यन्ति पण्डिताः। परिचिन्त्य तु पार्थेन संनिपातो न नः क्षमः
Wise men do not assign the burden of a charioteer to a cartwright; having considered, O Partha, a confrontation is not suitable for us.
एको हि शत्रून्समरे समर्थः प्रतिबाधितुम् । एकः कुरूनभ्यरक्षदेकश्चाग्निमतर्पयत्
For alone he is able to repel enemies in battle; alone he protected the Kurus, and alone he satisfied the fire.
एकश्च पञ्च वर्षाणि ब्रह्मचर्यमधारयत् । एकः सुभद्रामारोप्य द्वैरथे कृष्णमाह्वयम्
Alone he observed celibacy for five years; alone, placing Subhadra on his chariot, he challenged Krishna to a duel.
सैन्धवं वनवासे तु जित्वा कृष्णामथानयत् । एकश्च पञ्च वर्षाणि शक्रादस्राण्यशिक्षत
In exile, alone he defeated the Sindhu king and brought Krishna; alone, for five years, he learned weapons from Indra.