अग्निं समिद्धं शमयेद्भुजाभ्यां चन्द्रं च सूर्यं च निवारयेत। हरेद्देवानाममृतं प्रसह्य युद्धेन यो वासुदेवं जिगीषेत्
He who would try to extinguish blazing fire with his arms, or stop the moon and sun, or seize the gods' nectar by force—such is the one who seeks to conquer Vasudeva in battle.
यो रुक्मिणीमेकरथेन भोज- नुत्साद्य राज्ञः समरे प्रसह्य। उवाह भार्यां यशसा ज्वलन्तीं यस्यां जज्ञे रौक्मिणेयो महात्मा
He who, with a single chariot, defeated the Bhojas and the king in battle, and carried off Rukmini, radiant in fame, from whom was born the great-souled son of Rukmini—
अयं गान्धारांस्तरसा संप्रमथ्य जित्वा पुत्रान्नग्नजितः समग्रान् बद्धं मुमोच विनदन्तं प्रसह्य सुदर्शनं वै देवतानां ललामम्
He swiftly subdued Gandhara, conquered all the sons of Nagnajit, released Sudarshana who was bound and crying out, and seized the diadem of the gods.
अयं कवाटे निजघान पाण्ड्यं तथा कलिङ्गान्दन्तवक्रं ममर्द। अनेन दग्धा वर्षपूगान्विनाथा वाराणसी नगरी संबभूव
He struck down the Pandya at the gate, crushed the king of Kalinga and Dantavakra; by him, the city of Varanasi was burned and left desolate for many years.
अयं स्म युद्धे मन्यतेऽन्यैरजेयं तमेकलव्यं नाम निषादराजम्। वेगेनैव शैलमभिहत्य जम्भः शेते स कृष्णेन हतः परासुः
In battle, he was thought by others to be invincible; he slew Ekalavya, the king of the Nishadas, with force, just as Jambha struck a mountain, and he lay dead, his life ended by Krishna.
तथोग्रसेनस्य सुतं सुदुष्टं वृष्ण्यन्धकानां मध्यगतं सभास्थम्। अपातयद्बलदेवद्वितीयो हत्वा ददौ चोग्रसेनाय राज्यम्
He cast down the wicked son of Ugrasena, seated in the assembly among the Vrishnis and Andhakas; after slaying him, he gave the kingdom back to Ugrasena.
अयं सौभं योधयामास स्वस्थं विभीषणं मायया साल्वराजम्। सौभद्वारि प्रत्यगृह्णाच्छतघ्नीं दोर्भ्यां क एनं विषहेत मर्त्यः
He fought against Saubha, the king of Salva, who used illusions; at the gate of Saubha, he caught the hundred-slaying weapon in his hands—what mortal could withstand him?
प्राग्ज्योतिषं नाम बभूव दुर्गं पुरं घोरमसुराणामसह्यम्। महाबलो नरकस्तत्र भौमो जहारादित्या मणिकुण्डले शुभे
There was a fortress called Pragjyotisha, a dreadful city of the unconquerable asuras; the mighty Bhauma, Naraka, there seized the radiant earrings of the sun.
न तं देवाः सह शक्रेण शेकुः समागता युधि मृत्योरभीताः । दृष्ट्वा च तं विक्रमं केशवस्य बलं तथैवास्त्रमवारणीयम्
The gods, even with Indra, could not defeat him in battle, though they were fearless of death; seeing the valor, strength, and unstoppable weapons of Kesava, they were awed.
जानन्तोऽस्य प्रकृतिं केशवस्य न्ययोजयन्दस्युवधाय कृष्णम्। स तत्कर्म प्रतिशुश्राव दुष्कर- मैश्वर्यवान्सिद्धिषु वासुदेवः
Knowing the nature of Kesava, they engaged Krishna to slay the demon; Vasudeva accomplished that difficult task, possessing mastery and success in all powers.
निर्मोचने षट्सहस्राणि हत्वा संच्छिद्य पाशान्सहसा क्षुरान्तान्। मुरं हत्वा विनिहत्यौघरक्षो निर्मोचनं चापि जगाम वीरः
He slew six thousand in the liberation, swiftly cut the bonds with razors, killed Mura, destroyed the hordes of guards, and reached the place of liberation, heroic.
तत्रैव तेनास्य बभूव युद्धं महाबलेनातिबलस्य विष्णोः । शेते स कृष्णेन हतः परासु- र्वातेनेव मथितः कर्णिकारः
There, he fought a battle with the mighty Vishnu, who was even stronger; struck down by Krishna, he lay lifeless, like a golden flower battered by the wind.
आहृत्य कृष्णो मणिकुण्डले ते हत्वा च भौमं नरकं मुर च। श्रिया वृतो यशसा चैव विद्वा- न्प्रत्याजगामाप्रतिमप्रभावः
Krishna retrieved those earrings, slew Bhauma, Naraka, and Mura; adorned with glory and fame, wise and of unmatched power, he returned.
अस्मै वराण्यददंस्तत्र देवा दृष्ट्वा भीमं कर्म कृतं रणे तत्। श्रमश्च ते युध्यमानस्य न स्या- दाकाशे चाप्सु च ते क्रमः स्यात्
There, the gods granted him boons, seeing the terrible deeds he performed in battle; he would not tire in fighting, and could move in the sky and waters.
शस्त्राणि गात्रे न च ते क्रमेर- न्नित्येव कृष्णश्च ततः कृतार्थः । एवं रूपे वासुदेवेऽप्रमेये महाबले गुणसंपत्सदैव
Weapons could not touch his body, and Krishna was always fulfilled; thus, in the immeasurable, mighty, and ever-virtuous Vasudeva, such qualities are always found.
तमसह्यं विष्णुमनन्तवीर्य- माशंसते धार्तराष्ट्रो विजेतुम् । सदा ह्येनं तर्कयते दुरात्मा तच्चाप्ययं सहतेऽस्मान्समीक्ष्य
The son of Dhritarashtra hopes to conquer the unconquerable Vishnu of endless might; the wicked one always schemes against him, yet Krishna endures, observing us.
पर्यागतं मम कृष्णस्य चैव यो मन्यते कलहं संप्रसह्य। शक्यं हर्तुं पाण्डवानां ममत्वं तद्वेदिता संयुगं तत्र गत्वा
Whoever thinks he can forcibly seize the kingdom from me or Krishna, or take away the Pandavas' rights, will know the truth when he enters the battle.
नमस्कृत्वा शान्तनवाय राज्ञे द्रोणायाथो सहपुत्राय चैव। शारद्वतायाप्रतिद्वन्द्विने च योत्स्याम्यहं राज्यमभीप्समानः
Having bowed to King Shantanu, to Drona and his son, and to Sharadvata, peerless in battle, I will fight, desiring the kingdom.
धर्मेणाप्तं निधनं तस्य मन्ये यो योत्स्यते पाण्डवैर्धर्मचारी । मिथ्या ग्लहे निर्जिता वै नृशंसैः संवत्सरान्वै द्वादश राजपुत्राः
I believe that one who fights the Pandavas in righteousness will meet his end justly; the princes, defeated by the cruel in a false contest, spent twelve years in exile.
वासः कृच्छ्रो विहितश्चाप्यरण्ये दीर्घं कालं चैकमज्ञातवर्षम्। ते हि कस्माज्जीवतां पाण्डवानां नन्दिष्यन्ते धार्तराष्ट्राः पदस्थाः
A harsh dwelling was imposed in the forest, and one long year in disguise; why should the sons of Dhritarashtra, established in power, rejoice while the Pandavas live?
ते चेदस्मान्युध्यमानाञ्जयेयु- र्देवैर्महेन्द्रप्रमुखैः सहायैः। धर्मादधर्मश्चरितो गरीयां- स्ततो ध्रुवं नास्ति कृतं च साधु
If they, with the help of the gods led by Mahendra, should conquer us while we are fighting, then unrighteousness has become greater than righteousness, and surely no good deed remains.
न चेदिदं पौरुषं कर्मबद्धं न चेदस्मान्मन्यतेऽसौ विशिष्टान्। आशंसेऽहं वासुदेवद्वितीयो दुर्योधनं सानुबन्धं निहन्तुम्
If this action is not bound by human effort, and if he does not consider us superior, then I hope that Vāsudeva, together with another, will destroy Duryodhana and his allies.
न चेदिदं कर्म नरेन्द्र वन्ध्यं न चेद्भवेत्सुकृतं निष्फलं वा। इदं च तच्चाभिसमीक्ष्य नूनं पराजयो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य साधुः
If this act, O king, is not fruitless, and if good deeds do not become vain, then, considering this and that, certainly the defeat of the Dhārtarāṣṭras is just.
प्रत्यक्षं वः कुरवो यद्ब्रवीमि युद्ध्यमाना धार्तराष्ट्रा न सन्ति। अन्यत्र युद्धात्कुरवो यदि स्यु- र्न युद्धे वै शेष इहास्ति कश्चित्
What I say to you Kauravas is evident: the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, fighting, will not remain; if the Kauravas survive apart from battle, then in battle, truly, none will be left here.
हत्वा त्वहं धार्तराष्ट्रान्सकर्णा- न्राज्यं कुरूणामवजेता समग्रम्। यद्वः कार्यं तत्कुरुध्वं यथास्व- मिष्टान्दरानात्मभोगान्भजध्वम्
But if I slay the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra along with Karṇa, I shall win the entire kingdom of the Kurus; do then what you wish, enjoy the pleasures of kings as you desire.
अप्येवं नो ब्राह्मणाः सन्ति वृद्धा बहुश्रुताः शीलवन्तः कुलीनाः। सांवत्सरा ज्योतिषि चाभियुक्ता नक्षत्रयोगेषु च निश्चयज्ञाः
Even so, there are among us aged Brāhmaṇas, learned, virtuous, of noble lineage, skilled in the science of the stars, and expert in determining the conjunctions of constellations.
उच्चावचं दैवयुक्तं रहस्यं दिव्याः प्रश्ना मृगचक्रा मुहूर्ताः । क्षयं महान्तं कुरुसृञ्जयानां निवेदयन्ते पाण्डवानां जयं च
They declare, through various divine omens and secret signs, through celestial questions, the circles of deer, and moments, a great destruction for the Kurus and Sṛñjayas, and victory for the Pāṇḍavas.
यथा हि नो मन्यतेऽजातशत्रुः संसिद्धार्थो द्विपतां निग्रहाय। जनार्दनश्चाप्यपरोक्षविद्यो न संशयं पश्यति वृष्णिसिंहः
Just as Ajātaśatru believes, with his purpose accomplished for the subjugation of men, so too Janārdana, the lion of the Vṛṣṇis, who knows all directly, sees no doubt.
अहं तथैनं खलु भाविरूपं पश्यामि बुद्धया स्वयमप्रमत्तः। दृष्टिश्च मे न व्यथते पुराणी संयुध्यमाना धार्तराष्ट्रा न सन्ति
So too, with steady mind, I myself see this future event clearly; my ancient vision does not falter—the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, fighting, will not remain.
अनालब्धं जृम्भति गाण्डिवं धनु- रनाहता कम्पति मे धनुर्ज्या। बाणाश्च मे तूणमुखाद्विसृत्य मुहुर्मुहुर्गन्तुमुशन्ति चैव
The Gāṇḍīva bow stretches unbidden, its string trembles though unstruck, and my arrows, leaping from the quiver's mouth, repeatedly long to go forth.