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?
भीष्मो द्रोणश्च विप्रोऽयं कृपः शारद्वतस्तथा। जान्त्येते यथैवहं वीर्यज्ञस्तस्य धीमतः
Bhishma, Drona, and this Brahmin Kripa, son of Sharadvata, know his strength and valor just as I do.
आर्यव्रतं तु जानन्तः सङ्गरान्तं विधित्सवः । सेनामुखेषु स्थास्यन्ति मामकानां नरर्षभाः
Yet, knowing the noble vow and resolved to fight to the end, the foremost of my men will stand at the front lines.
बलीयः सर्वतो दिष्टं पुरुषस्य विशेषतः। पश्यन्नपि जयं तेषां न नियच्छामि यत्सुतान्
Fate is powerful in all things, especially for a person; though I see their victory, I do not restrain your sons.
ते पुराणं महेष्वासा मार्गमैन्द्रं समास्थिताः। त्यक्ष्यन्ति तुमुले प्राणान्रक्षन्तः पार्थिवं यशः
Those mighty archers of old, established on the path of Indra, will give up their lives in the tumult, protecting royal fame.
यथैषां मामकास्तात तथैषां पाण्डवा अपि। पौत्रा भीष्मस्य शिष्याश्च द्रोणस्य च कृपस्य च
Just as mine are to them, so are the Pandavas to them as well—Bhishma’s grandsons, and disciples of Drona and Kripa.
ये त्वस्मदाश्रयं किञ्चिद्दत्तमिष्टं च सञ्जय। तस्यापचितिमार्यत्वात्कर्तारः स्थविरास्त्रयः
Whatever little has been given or offered by us, O Sanjaya, those three elders will repay out of nobility.
आददानस्य शस्त्रं हि क्षत्रधर्मं परीप्सतः। निधनं क्षत्रियस्याजौ वरमेवाद्दुरुत्तमम्
For one who takes up weapons, seeking the duty of a warrior, death in battle is far better than the worst disgrace.
स वै शोचामि सर्वान्वै ये युयुत्सन्ति पाण्डवैः । विक्रुष्टं विदुरोणादौ तदेतद्भयमागतम्
Indeed, I grieve for all who fight against the Pandavas; Vidura and others have cried out, and now this fear has come.
न तु मन्ये विघाताय ज्ञानं दुःखस्य सञ्जय । भवत्यतिबलं ह्येतज्ज्ञानस्याप्युपघातकम्
But I do not think knowledge removes suffering, Sanjaya; this is too powerful, and even knowledge is struck down by it.
ऋषयो ह्यपि निर्मुक्ताः पश्यन्तो लोकसङ्ग्रहान्। सुखैर्भवन्ति सुखिनस्तथा दुःखेन दुःखिताः
Even sages, though freed, seeing the bonds of the world, are happy with happiness and sorrowful with sorrow.