किरीटि बलवान्पार्थः कृतास्त्रश्च महारथः । को हि पाण्डुसुतं युद्धे विषहेत धनञ्जयम्
Arjuna, the son of Pandu, is crowned, mighty, accomplished in arms, and a great chariot-warrior; who indeed could withstand Dhananjaya in battle?
अपि वज्रधरः साक्षात्किमुतान्ये धनुर्भृतः । त्रयाणामपि लोकानां समर्थ इति मे मतिः
Even the wielder of the thunderbolt himself could not, let alone other bowmen; in my judgment, he is capable of overcoming even the three worlds.
भीष्मे ब्रुवति तद्वाक्यं धृष्टमाक्षिप्य मन्युना। दुर्योधनं समालोक्य कर्णो वचनमब्रवीत्
As Bhishma spoke these words, Karna, inflamed with anger and glancing at Duryodhana, replied boldly.
न तत्राविदितं ब्रह्मँल्लोके भूतेन केनचित् । पुनरुक्तेन किं तेन भाषितेन पुनः पुनः
There is nothing unknown here to anyone in this assembly, O Brahmin; what is the use of repeating the same thing again and again?
दुर्योधनार्थे शकुनिर्द्यूते निर्जितवान्पुरा । समयेन गतोऽरण्यं पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
For Duryodhana's sake, Shakuni once defeated Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, at dice; by agreement, he went to the forest.
स तं समयमाश्रित्य राज्यं नेच्छति पैतृकम्। बलमाश्रित्य मत्स्यानां पाञ्चालानां च मूर्खवत्
Relying on that agreement, he does not seek his ancestral kingdom, but like a fool, relies on the strength of the Matsyas and Panchalas.
दुर्योधनो भयाद्विद्वन्न दद्यात्पादमन्ततः। धर्मतस्तु महीं कृत्स्नां प्रदद्याच्छत्रवेऽपि च
Out of fear, learned one, Duryodhana would not give even a foot of land; but by righteousness, he would give the whole earth even to an enemy.
यदि काङ्क्षन्ति ते राज्यं पितृपैतामहं पुनः । यथाप्रतिज्ञं कालं तं चरन्तु वनमाश्रिताः
If they desire again the kingdom of their fathers and grandfathers, let them, as promised, spend that time in the forest.
ततो दुर्योधनस्याङ्के वर्तन्तामकुतोभयाः । अधार्मिकीं तु मा बुद्धिं मौर्ख्यात्कुर्वन्तु केवलात्
Then, let them remain without fear in Duryodhana's care; but let them not, out of sheer folly, form an unrighteous resolve.
अथ ते धर्ममुत्सृत्य युद्धमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः। आसाद्येमान्कुरुश्रेष्ठान्स्मरिष्यन्ति वचो मम
But if the Pandavas, abandoning righteousness, desire war, then, upon meeting these foremost of Kurus, they will remember my words.
किं नु राधेय वाचा ते कर्म तत्स्मर्तुमर्हसि। एक एव यदा पार्थः षड्रथाञ्जितवान्युधि
What use are your words, son of Radha? You should recall that deed—when Arjuna alone vanquished six chariot-warriors in battle.
विराटनगरे धीरः किं त्वं तत्रैव नागतः'। बहुशो जीयमानस्य कर्म दृष्टं तदैव ते
In the city of Virata, O steadfast one, why did you not come there yourself? On many occasions, you saw your own defeat there.
न चेदेवं करिष्यामो यदयं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्। ध्रुवं युधि हतास्तेन भक्षयिष्याम पांसुकान्
If we do not act as this Brahmin has spoken, then surely, slain in battle, we shall eat dust.
धृतराष्ट्रस्ततो भीष्ममनुमान्य प्रसाद्य च। अवभर्त्स्य च राधेयमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Dhritarashtra, having agreed with and appeased Bhishma, and having reproached Karna, spoke these words.
अस्मद्धितं वाक्यमिदं भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्। पाण्डवानां हितं चैव सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा
This speech of Bhishma, son of Shantanu, was spoken for our benefit, for the good of the Pandavas, and indeed for the welfare of the whole world.
चिन्तयित्वा तु पार्थेभ्यः प्रेषयिष्यामि सञ्जयम् । स भवान्प्रतियात्वद्य पाण्डवानेव माचिरम्
Having considered, I will send Sanjaya to the Pandavas; let him return to you today, without delay, from the Pandavas.
स तं सत्कृत्य कौरव्यः प्रेषयामास पाण्डवान् । सभामध्ये समाहूय सञ्जयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then the Kaurava, having honored him, sent Sanjaya to the Pandavas; and, summoning him in the midst of the assembly, spoke these words.
प्राप्तानाहुः सञ्जय पाण्डुपुत्रा- नुपप्लव्ये तान्विजानीहि गत्वा। अजातशत्रुं च सभाजयेथा दिष्ट्या वनाद्ग्राममुपस्थितस्त्वम्
Sanjaya, they say the sons of Pandu have arrived at Upaplavya—go there and find out. Honor Ajatashatru, and rejoice that you have come from the forest to the town.
सर्वान्वदेः सञ्जय स्वस्तिमन्तः कृच्छ्रं वासमतदर्हा निरुष्य। तेषां शान्तिर्विद्यतेऽस्मासु शीघ्रं मिथ्यापेतानामुपकारिणां सताम्
Greet all of them, Sanjaya, and wish them well; though they have endured hardship unworthy of them. If there is peace between us and those true, helpful men who have been wronged, it will come swiftly.
नाहं क्वचित्सञ्जय पाण्डवानां मिथ्यावृत्तिं कांचन जात्वपश्यम्। सर्वां श्रियं ह्यात्मवीर्येण लब्धां पर्याकार्षुः पाण्डवा मह्यमेव
Never, Sanjaya, have I seen any false conduct in the Pandavas at any time. All their prosperity was gained by their own strength, yet the Pandavas have ascribed it to me alone.
दोषं ह्येषां नाध्यगच्छं परीच्छ- न्सूक्ष्मं कंचिद्येन गर्हेय पार्थान्। धर्मार्थाभ्यां कर्म कुर्वन्ति नित्यं सुखप्रिये नानुरुध्यन्ति कामात्
Examining them closely, I have found no fault in them by which I could reproach the sons of Pritha. They always act for righteousness and profit, and do not pursue pleasure out of desire.
धर्मं शीतं क्षुत्पिपासे तथैव निद्रां तन्द्रीं क्रोधहर्षौ प्रमादम्। धृत्या चैव प्रज्ञया चाभिभूय धर्मार्थयोगान्प्रयतन्ति पार्थाः
The sons of Pritha, by steadfastness and wisdom, overcome cold, hunger and thirst, sleep, fatigue, anger, delight, and carelessness, and strive for the union of righteousness and profit.
र्दुर्योधनात्क्षुद्रतराच्च कर्णात्
Duryodhana is more base, and Karna even more so.
पुत्रो मह्यं मृत्युवशं जगाम दुर्योधनः सञ्जय रागबुद्धिः।' तेषां हीमौ हीनसुखप्रियाणां महात्मनां संजनयतो हि तेजः
My son Duryodhana, Sanjaya, driven by passion, has come under the power of death. The brilliance of those great souls, who are not attached to pleasure, is thus kindled.
उत्थानवीर्यः सुखमेधमानो दुर्योधः सुकृतं मन्यते तत्। तेषां भागं यच्च मन्येत बालः शक्यं हर्तुं जीवतां पाण्डवानाम्
Duryodhana, thinking himself energetic and strong, believes he is enjoying happiness by his own merit. But whatever share a child might think to take from the living Pandavas, it cannot be seized.
यस्यार्जुनः पदवीं केशवश्च वृकोदरः सात्यकोऽजातशत्रोः । माद्रीपुत्रौ सृञ्जयाश्चापि यान्ति पुरा युद्धात्साधु तस्य प्रदानम्
He whose path is followed by Arjuna, by Keshava, by Bhima, by Satyaki, by the sons of Madri, and by the Srinjayas—truly, it is right to grant him what he seeks before battle.
सह्येवैकः पृथिवीं सव्यसाची गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रणुदेद्रथस्थः। तथा जिष्णुः केशवोऽप्यप्रधृष्यो लोकत्रयस्याधिपतिर्महात्मा
Alone, Arjuna, the left-handed archer, standing on his chariot with the Gandiva bow, could conquer the earth. Likewise, Jishnu—Krishna—is invincible, the great-souled lord of the three worlds.
तिष्ठेत कस्तस्य मर्त्यः पुरस्ता- द्यः सर्वलोकेषु वरेण्य एकः। पर्जन्यघोषान्प्रवपञ्शरौघा- न्पतङ्गसङ्घानिव शीघ्रवेगान्
Who among mortals could stand before him—he who is unique and honored in all the worlds—when he sends forth volleys of arrows with the roar of thunderclouds, swift as swarms of locusts?
दिशं ह्युदीचीमपि चोत्तरान्कुरून् गाण्डीवधन्वैकरथो जिगाय। धनं चैपामाहरत्सव्यसाची सेनानुगान्द्रविडांश्चैव चक्रे
Even in the northern direction, among the northern Kurus, the lone chariot-warrior with the Gandiva bow conquered; and Arjuna brought wealth, followers, and Dravidian kings.
यश्चैव देवान्खाण्डवे सव्यसाची गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रजिगाय सेन्द्रान्। उपाहरत्पाण्डवो जातवेदसे यशो मानं वर्धयन्पाण्डवानाम्
And Arjuna, the left-handed archer, who defeated the gods and Indra at Khandava, brought offerings to Agni, increasing the fame and honor of the Pandavas.