सञ्जयाचक्ष्व मे शूरं भीमसेनममर्षणम् । .......... येऽहं यत्तेन रिपुघातिना । ..... सर्वे पुत्राः मम मनस्विना
Sanjaya, tell me of the mighty, unyielding Bhimasena, by whom, with his enemy-destroying power, all my sons are threatened.
येन भीमबला यक्षा राक्षसाश्च पुरा हताः। कथं तस्य रणे वेगं मानुषः प्रसहिष्यति
By whose strength Yakshas and Rakshasas were once slain—how could any man withstand his force in battle?
न स जातु वशे तस्थौ मम बाल्येऽपि सञ्जय । किं पुनर्मम दुष्पुत्रैः क्लिष्टः संप्रति पाण्डवः
Even in his youth, Sanjaya, he never submitted to me; how much less now, tormented by my wicked sons, will that Pandava yield?
निष्ठुरो रोषणोऽत्यर्थं भज्येतापि न संनमेत्। तिर्यक्प्रेक्षीं संहतभ्रूः कथं शाम्येद्वृकोदरः
Harsh and exceedingly wrathful, he would break but not bend; with sidelong glances and knit brows, how could Vrikodara ever be appeased?
शूरस्तथाऽप्रतिबलो गौरस्ताल इवोन्नतः। प्रमाणतो भीमसेनः प्रादेशेनाधिकोऽर्जुनात्
He is valiant, unmatched in strength, towering like a tall palm; in stature, Bhimasena surpasses Arjuna by a span.
जवेन वाजिनोऽत्येति बलेनान्त्येति कुञ्जरान् । अव्यक्तजल्पी मध्वक्षो मध्यमः पाण्डवो बली
He outstrips horses in speed, overpowers elephants in strength; indistinct in speech, honey-eyed, the powerful middle Pandava.
इति बाल्ये श्रुतः पूर्वं मया व्यासमुखात्पुरा। रूपतो वीर्यतश्चैव याथातथ्येन पाण्डवः
Thus, in my youth, I once heard from Vyasa himself of the Pandava’s true form and might.
आयसेन स दण्डेन रथन्नागान्नरान्हयान्। हनिष्यति रणे क्रुद्धो रौद्रः क्रूरपराक्रमः
With his iron mace, in wrath, that fierce warrior will strike down chariots, elephants, men, and horses in battle.
अमर्षी नित्यसंरब्धो भीमः प्रहरतां वरः। मया तात प्रतीपानि कुर्वन्पूर्वं विमानितः
Bhima, ever impetuous and unyielding, foremost among fighters, was once insulted by me, father, as he acted against me.
निष्कर्णामायसीं स्थूलां सुपार्श्वां काञ्चनीं गदाम् । शतघ्नीं शतनिर्हादां कथं शक्ष्यन्ति मे सुताः
How will my sons withstand his massive, iron, thick, broad, golden mace, which thunders like a hundred destroyers?
अपारमप्लवागाधं समुद्रं शरवेधनम् । भीमसेनमयं दुर्गं तात मन्दास्तितीर्षवः
That fortress made of Bhimasena is like a boundless, unfathomable ocean, filled with arrows, which the feeble-minded wish to cross.
क्रोशतो मे न श्रृण्वन्ति बालाः पण्डितमानिनः । विषमं न हि मन्यन्ते प्रापतं मधुदर्शिनः
My sons, though I cry out, do not listen, thinking themselves wise; intoxicated by honeyed visions, they do not see the danger.
संयुगे ये गमिष्यन्ति नररूपेण मृत्युना। नियतं चोदिता धात्रा सिंहेनेव महामृगाः
Those who will go to battle, urged on by fate, are as if meeting death in human form, like great beasts driven by a lion.
शैक्यां तात चतुष्किष्कुं षडश्रिममितौजसम्। प्रहितां दुःखसंस्पर्शां कथं शक्ष्यन्ति मे सुताः
How will my sons withstand, father, the four-bladed, six-edged, mighty, pain-inflicting spear of Shikhandin?
गदां भ्रामयतस्तस्य भिन्दतो हस्तिमस्तकान्। सृक्किणी लेलिहानस्य बाष्पमुत्सृजतो मुहुः
As he whirled his mace, smashing the heads of elephants, licking his lips and constantly shedding tears,
उद्दिश्य नागान्पततः कुर्वतो भैरवान्रवान्। प्रतीपं पततो मत्तान्कुञ्जरान्प्रति गर्जतः
Aiming at the elephants as he rushed, making terrifying roars, charging against the maddened tuskers and bellowing in reply,
विगाह्य रथमार्गेषु वरानुद्दिश्य निघ्नतः । अग्नेः प्रज्वलितस्येव अपि मुच्येत मे प्रजा
Plunging into the chariot paths, striking down the foremost warriors, it is as if my people could not escape from blazing fire.
वीथीं कुर्वन्महाबाहुर्द्रावयन्मम वाहिनीम् । नृत्यन्निव गदापाणिर्युगान्तं दर्शयिष्यति
With mighty arms, he will carve a path, scattering my army, and, mace in hand, dancing as if to show the end of the age.
प्रभिन्न इव मातङ्गः प्रभञ्जन्पुष्पितान्द्रुमान्। प्रवेक्ष्यति रणे सेनां पुत्राणां मे वृकोदरः
Like a rampaging elephant shattering blossoming trees, Vrikodara will break into the army of my sons in battle.
कुर्वन्रथान्विपुरुषान्विसारथिहयध्वजान् । आरुजन्पुरुषव्याघ्रो रथिनः सादिनस्तथा
The tiger among men will destroy chariots, mighty warriors, charioteers, horses, and banners, tearing apart both chariot-fighters and cavalry.
गङ्गावेग इवानूपांस्तीरजान्विविधान्द्रुमान्। प्रभङ्क्ष्यति रणे सेनां पुत्राणां मम सञ्जय
Like the force of the Ganga breaking through riverbanks and various trees on the shore, he will shatter the army of my sons in battle, O Sanjaya.
वधं नूनं गमिष्यन्ति भीमसेनभयार्दिताः । मम पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च राजानश्चैव सञ्जय
Surely, struck with fear of Bhimasena, my sons, my servants, and even the kings, O Sanjaya, will meet their destruction.
येन राजा महावीर्यः प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं पुरा। वासुदेवसहायेन जरासन्धो निपातितः
He, by whom the mighty king Jarasandha was once slain inside his own palace, aided by Vasudeva,
कृत्स्नेयं पृथिवी देवी जरासन्धेन धीमता। मागधेन्द्रेण बलिना वशे कृत्वा प्रतापिता
This entire earth, the goddess, was subdued and tormented by the wise and powerful king Jarasandha of Magadha.
भीष्मप्रतापात्कुरवो नयेनान्धकवृष्णयः । यन्न तस्य वशे जग्मुः केवलं दैवमेव तत्
It was only by Bhishma's prowess, by policy, and by the Andhakas and Vrishnis, that they did not fall under his sway; that alone was due to fate.
स गत्वा पाण्डुपुत्रेण तरसा बाहुशालिना। अनायुधेन वीरेण निहतः किं ततोऽधिकम्
He was slain by the son of Pandu, strong-armed and swift, unarmed yet valiant—what could be greater than that?
दीर्घकालसमासक्तं विशमाशीविषो यथा। स मोक्ष्यति रणे तेजः पुत्रेषु मम सञ्जय
Long restrained, like venom in a dangerous serpent, he will unleash his energy in battle upon my sons, O Sanjaya.
महेन्द्र इव वज्रेण दानवान्देवसत्तमः । भीमसेनो गदापाणिः सूदयिष्यति मे सुतान्
Just as mighty Indra with his thunderbolt destroys the Danavas, so Bhimasena, mace in hand, will slay my sons.
अविषह्यमनावार्यं तीव्रवेगपराक्रमम् । पश्यामीवातिताम्राक्षमापतन्तं वृकोदरम्
Unbearable, unstoppable, with fierce speed and power, I see Vrikodara, his eyes bloodshot, rushing upon us.
अगदस्याप्यधनुषो विरथस्य विवर्मणः । बाहुभ्यां युध्यमानस्य कस्तिष्ठेदग्रतः पुमान्
Who could stand before him—unwounded, without a bow, without a chariot, without armor, fighting with only his arms?