प्राप्तोऽस्मि पाण्डवान्गत्वा तं विजानीत कौरवाः। यथावयः कुरून्सर्वान्प्रतिनन्दन्ति पाण्डवाः
Having gone to the Pāṇḍavas, I have returned, O Kauravas; know this: the Pāṇḍavas greet all the Kurus according to their age.
अभिवादयन्ति वृद्धांश्च वयस्यांश्च वयस्यवत्। पुनश्चाभ्यवदन्पार्थाः प्रतिपूज्य यथावयः
They respectfully salute the elders and their peers as equals; again, the sons of Pāṇḍu, having honored each according to age, offered their greetings.
यथाहं धृतराष्ट्रेण शिष्टः पूर्वमितो गतः। अब्रवं पाण्डवान्गत्वा नात्र किञ्चन हापितम्
Just as I was instructed by Dhṛtarāṣṭra before departing, so I spoke to the Pāṇḍavas; nothing was omitted in my message.
पृच्छामि त्वां सञ्जय राजमध्ये यदब्रवीद्वाक्यमदीनसत्वः। जनार्दनस्तात युधां प्रणेता दुरात्मनां जीवितच्छिन्महात्मा
I ask you, Sañjaya, in the midst of the kings: what did Janārdana, the noble-souled leader of warriors and destroyer of the wicked, say with unwavering spirit?
आगुल्फेभ्योऽभिसंवीतः प्रयतोऽहं कृताञ्जलिः। शुद्धान्तं प्राविशं राजन्नाख्यातो नरसिंहयोः
With my fingers joined in reverence, pure in mind, I entered the inner chamber, O King, and announced myself to the two lion-like men.
न चाभिमन्युर्न यमौ तं देशमभिजग्मतुः । यत्र कृष्णौ च कृष्णा च सत्यभामा च भामिनी
Neither Abhimanyu nor the two Yamā brothers were present there, where Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇā, and the radiant Satyabhāmā were.
उभौ मध्वासवक्षीबौ वरचन्दनरूषितौ । स्त्रग्विणौ वरवस्त्राङ्गौ वराभरणभूषितौ
Both were adorned with garlands, anointed with excellent sandalwood paste, clad in fine garments, and decked with splendid ornaments, having drunk honeyed wine.
नैकरत्नविचित्रं च काञ्चनं च वरासनम्। नानास्तरणसंस्तीर्णं यत्रासाते नरर्षभौ
There was a golden seat, adorned with many gems and spread with various coverings, where those two best of men were seated.
सत्याङ्कमुपधानं तु कृत्वा शेते जनार्दनः। अर्जुनाङ्कगतौ पादौ केशवस्योपलक्षये। अर्जुनस्य च कृष्णायाः शुभायाश्चाङ्कगावुभौ
Janārdana lay with Satyā as his pillow; at Keśava's feet, which rested on Arjuna's lap, I saw both Kṛṣṇā and the auspicious lady with their laps supporting Arjuna's feet.
काञ्चनं पादपीठं तु पार्थो वै प्रादिशन्मुदा। दासीभ्यामाहृतं मह्यं स्पृष्ट्वा भूमावुपाविशम्
With joy, Pārtha indicated a golden footstool, brought for me by two maidservants; after touching it to the ground, I sat down.
ऊर्ध्वरेखाङ्कितौ पादौ पार्थस्य शुभलक्षणौ। पादपीठादपहृतौ धारयेतां वरस्त्रियौ
The feet of Pārtha, marked with auspicious lines, were removed from the footstool and supported by those two excellent women.
न नूनं कल्मषं किञ्चिन्मम कर्मसु विद्यते। स्त्रीरत्नाभ्यां समेतौ यन्मिथो मामभ्यभाषताम्
Surely, there is no stain of sin in my actions, since those two jewel-like women, together, spoke with me in friendship.
विस्मयो मे महानासीदास्त्रं मे बहुसङ्गतम्। हृष्टानि चैव रोमाणि दृष्ट्वा तौ सहितावुभौ
Great astonishment arose in me, for my weapon was well-prepared; and seeing those two together, the hairs on my body stood on end with joy.
श्यामौ बृहन्तौ तरुणौ नागाविव समुच्छ्रितौ । एकशय्यागतौ दृष्ट्वा भयं मे महदाविशत्
Seeing those two—dark, mighty, youthful, towering like elephants, arriving to the same bed—great fear entered me.
ततोऽभ्यचिन्तयं तत्र दृष्ट्वा तौ पुरुषर्षभौ । सङ्कल्पो धर्मराजस्य नानवाप्योऽस्ति कश्चन। निदेशगाविमौ यस्य नरनारायणावुभौ
Then, seeing those two best of men, I reflected there: there is no wish of Dharma-king Yudhishthira that cannot be attained, since these two, Nara and Narayana, follow his command.
सत्कृतश्चान्नपानाभ्यामाच्छन्नो लब्धसत्क्रियः । अञ्जलिं मूर्ध्नि सन्धाय सन्देशं चाभ्यचोदयम्
Having been honored with food and drink, and having received due hospitality, I placed my joined palms upon my head and pressed the message upon them.
धनुर्धरोचितेनाथ पाणिनैकं सलक्षणम्। पादमानाययत्पार्थः केशवस्य यशस्विनः
Then Partha, with a hand skilled in bearing the bow, respectfully brought the foot of illustrious Kesava.
इन्द्रकेतुरिवोत्थाय दिव्याभरणभूषितः। इन्द्रवीर्योपमः कृष्णः संविष्टो माऽभ्यभाषत
Krishna, adorned with divine ornaments, rising like Indra’s banner, possessing Indra’s might, sat down and spoke to me.
स वाचं वदतां श्रेष्ठ आददे वचनक्षमाम्। दीपनीं धार्तराष्ट्राणां मृदुपूर्वां सुदारुणाम्
He, the best among speakers, took up words fit for utterance—illuminating for the sons of Dhritarashtra, gentle at first, yet exceedingly harsh.
बहिश्चरस्य प्राणस्य प्रियस्य प्रियकारिणः। मतिमान्मतिमास्थाय केशवः सन्दधे वचः
Wise Kesava, considering well, spoke words for the one whose life moves outside, who is dear and does what is dear.
वचनं वचनज्ञस्य शिक्षाक्षरसमन्वितम्। मनःप्रह्लादनं श्रेष्ठं पश्चाद्धृदयतापनम्
The speech of that knower of words, adorned with the marks of instruction, was supremely pleasing to the mind, but afterward brought pain to the heart.
सञ्जयैतद्वचो ब्रूयाः प्राप्य क्षत्रियसंसदम्। श्रृण्वतः कुरुवृद्धस्य आचार्यस्य च धीमतः
Sanjaya, speak these words when you reach the assembly of kings, in the hearing of the aged Kuru and the wise teacher.
अर्थांस्त्यजत पार्थेषु सुखमाप्नुत कामजम्। प्रियं प्रियेभ्यश्चरत राजा हि त्वरते जये
Abandon your aims regarding the sons of Pritha, gain the happiness born of desire; do what is dear to your loved ones, for the king is eager for victory.
यजध्वं विविधैर्यज्ञैर्दक्षिणाश्च प्रयच्छत। पुत्रेर्दारैश्च मोदध्वमागतं वो महद्भयम्
Perform sacrifices of various kinds, give gifts; rejoice with your sons and wives, for great fear has come upon you.
ऋणं प्रवृद्धमिव मे हृदयान्नापसर्पति। गोविन्देति यदाक्रन्दत्कृष्णा मां दूरवासिनम्
A debt, grown vast, does not depart from my heart—when Krishna cried out to me, 'Govinda!' though I was far away.
तेजोमयं दुराधर्पं बिभ्रता गाण्डिवं धनुः। मद्द्वितीयेन पार्थेन वैरं वः प्रत्युपस्थितम्
Bearing the Gandiva bow, radiant with energy, unconquerable, with Partha as my second, your enmity has come upon you.
कृष्णस्यैतद्वचः श्रुत्वा महन्मे भयमाविशत्। तव पुत्रस्य लोभं च वर्धमानं प्रपश्यतः
Hearing these words of Krishna, great fear entered me, as I saw the ever-growing greed of your son.
सोमेन्द्रसदृशौ वीरौ तौ मन्दो नावबुध्यते। भीष्मद्रोणाश्रयाच्चैव कर्णस्य च विकत्थनात्
Those two heroes, like Soma and Indra, are not recognized by the dull-witted, due to reliance on Bhishma and Drona, and the boasting of Karna.
पृच्छामि त्वां सञ्जय राजमध्ये किमब्रवीद्वाक्यमदीनसत्वः। धनञ्जयस्तात युधां प्रेणता दुरात्मनां जीवितच्छिन्महात्मा
I ask you, Sanjaya, in the midst of the kings: what did the undaunted Arjuna say, the great-souled one, destroyer of the lives of the wicked, bowing to the warriors?
दुर्योधनो वाचमिमां श्रृणोतु यदब्रवीदर्जुनो योत्स्यमानः। युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते महात्मा धनञ्जयः श्रृण्वतः केशवस्य
Let Duryodhana hear these words that Arjuna spoke, prepared for battle, with the consent of the great-souled Yudhishthira, as Krishna listened.