अस्माभिरेव निकृतो वर्षाणीह त्रयोदश। सिंहः पाशविनिर्मुक्तो न नः शेषं करिष्यति
For thirteen years we ourselves have restrained him here; now, like a lion freed from its bonds, he will not leave any of us remaining.
एकान्ते पार्थमासीनं कूपेऽग्निमिव संवृतम् । अज्ञानादभ्यवस्कन्द्य प्राप्ताः स्मो भयमुत्तमम्
Having ignorantly attacked Partha, who sat apart like fire covered in a well, we have come into the greatest danger.
उत्सृष्टं तूलराशौ तु एकोऽग्निं शमयेत्कथम् । सह युद्ध्यामहे पार्थमागतं युद्धदुर्मदम्
How can one alone extinguish a fire cast into a heap of cotton? Let us together fight Partha, who has come, mad for battle.
यत्ता वयं पराक्रान्ता व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः। युद्धायावस्थितं पार्थमागतं पाकशासनिम्
Though we are valiant, arrayed in formation, and skilled in striking, Partha has come for battle, like the thunderbolt of the lord of the gods.
यत्ताः सर्वे रथश्रेष्ठं परिवार्य समन्ततः। षड्रथाः परिकीर्यन्तां वज्रपाणिमिवासुराः
Let all six of you, having surrounded the foremost chariot on every side, scatter, like the demons around the wielder of the thunderbolt.
द्रोणो दुर्योधनो भीष्मो भवान्द्रौणिस्तथा वयम्। सर्वे युद्ध्यामहे पार्थं कर्ण मा साहसं कृथाः
Drona, Duryodhana, Bhishma, myself, Drona's son, and all of us together will fight against Partha; Karna, do not act rashly.
न ह्यसंगत्य समरे पार्थं जेष्यामहे वयम्। संगत्य समरे पार्थं सर्वे जेष्यमाहे वयम् ।। 26
For without uniting in battle, we will not defeat Partha; but united in battle, we all will surely defeat him.
कृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा कर्णो राजन्युधांपतिः । पुनः प्रोवाच संरब्धो गर्हयन्ब्राह्मणं कृपम्
Hearing Kripa's words, Karna, the lord of warriors, spoke again, agitated, reproaching the Brahmin Kripa.
लक्षयाम्यहमाचार्यं भयाद्भक्तिं गतं रिपौ । भीतेन हि न योद्धव्यमहं योत्स्ये धनञ्जयम् ।। 2
I perceive, O teacher, that out of fear you have become devoted to the enemy; for the fearful should not fight, but I will fight Dhananjaya.
ननु वारुणमाग्नेयं याम्यं वायव्यमेव च। अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव सत्वहीनस्य ते वृथा
Indeed, whether it is the Varuna, Agneya, Yama, or Vayu weapon, or even the Brahmashira, all are useless to one who lacks spirit.
मित्रकार्यं कृतमिदं पितापुत्रैर्महारथैः । भर्तृपिण्डश्च निर्विष्टो यथेष्टं गन्तुमर्हथ
This act for a friend has been done by father and son, the great chariot-warriors; you have fulfilled your duty to your master, now you may go as you wish.
भिक्षां हरस्व नित्यं त्वं यज्ञाननुचरस्व च। आमन्त्रणानि भुङ्क्षाद्य माऽस्मान्युद्धेन भीषय
You should always beg for alms and attend sacrifices; eat at invitations today, but do not frighten us with talk of battle.
भार्गवास्त्रं मया मुक्तं निर्दहेत्पृथिवीमिमाम्। किं पुनः पाण्डुपुत्राणामेकमर्जुनमाहवे
If I release the Bhargava weapon, it would burn up this earth; what then of a single Arjuna among the sons of Pandu in battle?
आगमिष्यन्ति पदवीं मात्स्याः पाण्डवमाश्रिताः । कीचकानां तु बलिनां शत्रुसेनावमर्दिनाम्
The Matsyas, who have taken refuge with the Pandavas, will come upon this path, but the mighty Kichakas, crushers of enemy armies—
तानहं निहनिष्यामि भवता गम्यतां गृहम् । किं वेदवादिनां कार्यं परस्नेहानुभाषिणाम्
I will slay them; as for you, go home. What use is there for those who speak of the Vedas, moved by affection for others?
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा अश्वत्थामा प्रतापवान् । उवाच वदतांश्रेष्ठो दुर्योधनमवेक्ष्य च
Hearing these words, the valiant Ashvatthama, foremost among speakers, spoke, looking at Duryodhana.
न च तावञ्जिता गावो न च सीमान्तरं गताः। न हास्तिनपुरं प्राप्तास्त्वं च कर्ण विकत्थसे
The cows have not yet been won, nor have they crossed the border; they have not reached Hastinapura, yet you boast, Karna.
बहूनि धर्मशास्त्राणि पठन्ति द्विजसत्तमाः । तेषु किंस्विदिदं दृष्टं द्यूते जीयेत यन्नृपः
The best of Brahmins study many treatises on law; in which of them is it seen that a king should win by gambling?
संग्रामान्विपुलाञ्जित्वा लब्धा च विपुलं धनम् । विजित्य च महीं कृत्स्नां नेह कत्थन्ति पण्डिताः
Having conquered great battles and gained vast wealth, and having won the whole earth, the wise do not boast here.
पचत्यग्निरवाक्यस्तु तूष्णीं भाति दिवाकरः । तूष्णीं धारयते लोकान्वसुधा सचराचरान्
The fire cooks without speaking, the sun shines in silence, and the earth bears all creatures, moving and unmoving, in silence.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य कर्माणि विहितानि महर्षिभिः । धनं यैरधिगन्तव्यं यच्च कुर्वन्न दुष्यति
The duties of the four orders have been prescribed by the great sages; by which one may acquire wealth and not incur blame in doing so.
अधीत्य ब्राह्मणो वेदान्याजयेत यजेत वा । क्षत्रियो धनमाहृत्य यजेतैव न याजयेत्
Having studied the Vedas, a Brahmin should officiate at sacrifices or perform them; a Kshatriya, having acquired wealth, should perform sacrifices but not officiate at them.
वैश्योऽधिगम्य वित्तानि वार्ताकर्माणि कारयेत्
The Vaiśya, having acquired wealth, should engage in activities of trade and agriculture.
शूद्रः शुश्रूषणं कुर्यात्रिषु वर्णेषु नित्यशः। वन्दनायोगविधिभिर्वैतसीं वृत्तिमाश्रितः
The Śūdra should always serve the three higher castes, following the prescribed rules of respect and conduct, and should rely on a livelihood based on service.
वर्तमाना यथाशास्त्रं प्राप्य चापि महीमिमाम् । प्रकुर्वन्ति महाभागा यज्ञान्सुविपुलानपि
Those of great merit, acting according to the scriptures and having obtained this earth, perform even the most extensive sacrifices.
का जातिस्तेषु सूतेयं केऽपि मन्त्राः क्रियाश्च काः । केयं वर्णेषु या राज्ञो वक्तृभोक्तृनियन्तृषु
What is the origin among them, what are the mantras, and what are the rites? What is this distinction among the castes—among rulers, speakers, consumers, and controllers?
दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य कर्णं च कुरुसंसाद। अश्वत्थामा भृशं क्रुद्धो दुर्योधनमतर्जयत्
Looking at Duryodhana and Karṇa in the Kuru assembly, Aśvatthāmā, greatly enraged, rebuked Duryodhana.
प्राप्य द्यूतेन को राज्यं क्षत्रियः स्तोष्टुर्महति । तथा नृशंसरूपोयं धार्तराष्ट्रश्च निर्घृणः
What Kṣatriya, having won a kingdom by gambling, would praise himself greatly? In this way, this son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra is cruel and ruthless.
तथाऽधिगम्य वित्तानि को विकत्थेद्विचक्षणः । निकृत्या वञ्चनायोगैश्चरन्वैतंसिको यथा
Who, after acquiring wealth, would boast of it with cunning, using deceitful and fraudulent means, like a cheat?
कतमद्द्वैरथं युद्धं यत्राजैषीर्धनञ्जयम्। नकुलं सहदेवं वा धनं येषां त्वया हृतम्
Which chariot duel was it in which you defeated Dhanañjaya, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, whose wealth you have taken?