प्रवर्तमाने द्यूते तु मात्स्यः पाण्डवमब्रवीत्
As the game of dice commenced, the king of Matsya spoke to the Pandava.
पश्य पुत्रेण मे युद्धे तादृशाः कुरवो जिताः । कुरवोऽतिरथाः सर्वे देवैरपि सुदुर्जयाः
See, by my son in battle, such Kurus have been defeated—Kurus who are all great chariot-warriors, difficult to conquer even for the gods.
ततोऽब्रवीद्धर्मराजो द्यूते मात्स्यं युधिष्ठिरः। दिष्ट्या ते विजिता गावः कुरवश्च पराजिताः
Then Yudhishthira, king of dharma, said to the Matsya king at the dice game: 'By fortune, your cows have been saved and the Kurus defeated.'
अत्यद्भुततमं मन्ये उत्तरश्चेत्कूरूञ्जयेत्। यन्ता बृहन्नला यस्य स कथंचिद्विजेष्यते
I think it would be most astonishing if Uttara were to defeat the Kurus; for the charioteer of Brihannala, he might somehow achieve victory.
ततो विराटः क्षुभितो मन्युना च परिप्लुतः। उवाच वचनं क्रुद्धः परिव्राजमनन्तरम्
Then Virata, agitated and filled with anger, spoke these words in wrath to the wandering Brahmana.
तादृशेन तु योधेन महेष्वासेन धीमता। कुरवो निर्जिता युद्धे तत्र किं ब्राह्मणाद्भुतम्
With such a warrior, a great archer and wise, the Kurus were defeated in battle; what is so astonishing in that, O Brahmana?
समं षण्डेन मे पुत्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो प्रशंससि। वाच्यावाच्यं न जानीषे नूनं मामवमन्यसे
You praise my son as equal to a eunuch, O so-called Brahmin; you do not know what should or should not be said—surely you hold me in contempt.
समं षण्डेन मे पुत्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो प्रशंससि। वाच्यावाच्यं न जानीषे नूनं मामवमन्यसे
You praise my son as equal to a eunuch, O so-called Brahmin; you do not know what should or should not be said—surely you hold me in contempt.
पुमांसो बहवो दृष्टाः सूताश्च बहवो मया। विक्रम्य यन्ता योद्धा च न मे दृष्टः कदाचन
I have seen many men and many charioteers; I have never seen one who, having mounted a chariot, is also a warrior.
विप्रियं न चरेद्राज्ञामनुकूलं प्रियं वदेत्। आचरन्विप्रियं राज्ञां न जातु सुखमेधते
One should not act against the wishes of kings, but should speak what is agreeable; he who acts contrary to kings never attains happiness.
वयस्यत्वात्तु ते सर्वमपराधमिमं क्षमे। नेदृशीं प्रवदर्वाचं यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि
Because of your friendship, I forgive this entire offense of yours; do not speak such words again if you wish to live.
ततोऽब्रवीत्पुनः कङ्कः प्रहस्य कुरुवर्धनः । बृहन्नलाया सजेन्द्र धुष्यतां नगरे जयः
Then Kanka, the joy of the Kurus, laughed and said: 'Let victory be to Brihannala, O king, in the city of Duhshasana!'
उत्तरेण तु सारथ्यं कृतं नूनं भविष्यति। निमित्तं किंचिदुत्पन्नं तर्कश्चापि दृढो मम। यतो जानामि राजेन्द्र नान्यथा तद्भविष्यति
Surely Uttara has already performed charioteering; some omen has arisen, and my reasoning is firm, O king—there is no other way it will be.
कुरवोऽपि महावीर्या देवैरपि सुदुर्जयाः। ससोमवरुणादित्यैः सयक्षेशहुताशनैः
Even the Kurus, of great might, are very difficult to conquer, even for the gods—together with Soma, Varuna, Aditya, the Yaksha-lord, and Agni.
यत्र शान्तनवो भीष्मो द्रोणकर्णौ सुदुर्जयौ। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सोमदत्तो जयद्रथः
Where Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and the unconquerable Drona and Karna are, as well as Ashvatthama, Vikarna, Somadatta, and Jayadratha,
भूरिश्रवाः शलो भूरिर्जलसन्धिश्च वीर्यवान्। दुर्योधनो दुष्प्रसहो दुःशासनविविंशती
Bhuriśravas, Shala, Bhuri, the mighty Jalasaṃdhi, Duryodhana, difficult to overcome, Duhshasana, and Vivimshati,
वृषसेनोऽश्ववेगश्च वायुवेगसुवर्चसौ । बाह्लीकः शूरसेनश्च युयुत्सुश्च परन्तपः
Vrishasena, Ashvavega, Vayu-vega, Suvarcas, Bahlika, Shurasena, and Yuyutsu, the scorcher of foes,
सौबलः शकुनिश्चैव द्युमत्सेनश्च साल्वराट् । अन्ये च बहवः शूरा नानाजनपदेश्वराः
Saubala, Shakuni, Dyumatsena, king of the Salvas, and many other heroes, lords of various peoples,
कृपेणाचार्यमुख्येन सहिताः कुरवो नृपाः। सञ्जकार्मुकनिस्त्रिंशा रथिनो रथयूथपाः। अन्ये चैव महावीर्या राजपुत्रा महारथाः
The Kuru kings, together with Kripa, the foremost teacher, armed with bows and swords, chariot-warriors and leaders of chariot-divisions, and other mighty princes and great chariot-warriors,
मरुद्गणैः परिवृतः साक्षादपि पुरंदरः । तद्बलं न जयेत्क्रुद्धो भीष्मद्रोणादिभिर्वृतम्
Even Indra himself, surrounded by the hosts of Maruts, would not defeat that force, protected by Bhishma, Drona, and the others, even if enraged.
कस्तद्बृहन्नलादन्यो मनुष्यः प्रतियोत्स्यति। यस्य बाहुबले तुल्यो न भविष्यति कश्चन
Who else but Brihannala among men will contend with them, for there is no one whose strength of arms will be equal to his.
अतीव समरं दृष्ट्वा हर्षो यस्याभिवर्धते। किमेवं पुरुषो लोको दिवि वा भुवि विद्यते
Who is that man in the world, or even in heaven or on earth, whose joy increases exceedingly upon seeing battle?
तेन संक्षुभितो राजा दीर्यमाणेन चेतसा । अब्रवीद्वचनं क्रूरमजानन्वै युधिष्ठिरम्
Agitated by this, the king, his mind greatly disturbed, spoke harsh words, not knowing it was Yudhishthira.
कङ्ख मा ब्रूहि मे वाक्यं प्रतिकूलं द्विजोत्तम । बहुशः प्रतिषिद्धस्त्वं न च वाचं नियच्छसि
Kanka, do not speak words to me that are contrary, O best of Brahmins; though forbidden many times, you do not restrain your speech.
नियन्ता चेन्न विद्येत न कश्चिद्धर्ममाचरेत्। इति प्रक्षुभितो राजा सोऽक्षेणाभ्यहनद्भृशम्
If there were no one to restrain, no one would act according to dharma; thus, agitated, the king struck fiercely with the dice.
तस्य तक्षकभोगाभं बाहुमुत्क्षिप्य दक्षिणम्। विराटः प्राहनत्क्रुद्धः कर्णमाश्रित्य दक्षिणम्
Raising his right arm, resembling the coil of a serpent, the enraged Virata struck Karna with his right hand.
मुखे युधिष्ठिरं कोपान्मैवमित्यवभर्त्सयन्। बलवत्प्रतिविद्धस्य नस्तः शोणितमास्रवत्
Rebuking Yudhishthira in anger, saying 'Do not do so,' he struck him forcefully in the face, causing blood to flow.
अक्षेणाभिहतो राजा विराटेन युधिष्ठिरः । तूष्णीमासीन्महाबाहुः कृष्णां पश्यन्सुदुःखिताम्
Struck by King Virata with the dice, mighty-armed Yudhishthira sat in silence, gazing sorrowfully at Krishna.
तस्य रक्तोत्पलनिभं शिरसः शोणितं तदा। प्रावर्तत महाबाहोरभिघातान्महात्मनः
Then, from the head of that great-souled, mighty-armed one, blood like a red lotus began to flow from the blow.
तदप्राप्तं महीं पार्थः पाणिभ्यां समधारयत्। अवैक्षत च धर्मात्मा द्रौपदीं पार्श्वतः स्थिताम्
Before the blood reached the ground, Partha caught it with his hands and, righteous-souled, glanced at Draupadi standing at his side.