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.
किं पुनर्मोहमासक्तस्तत्र तत्र सहस्रधा। पुत्रेषु राज्यदारेषु पौत्रेष्वपि च बन्धुषु
What then of one bound by delusion, attached in a thousand ways—to sons, kingdom, wife, grandsons, and relatives?
संशये तु महत्यस्मिन्किं नु मे क्षममुत्तरम्। विनाशं ह्येव पश्यामि कुरूणामनुचिन्ततयन्
In this great uncertainty, what answer is fitting for me? For I see only the destruction of the Kurus as I reflect.
द्यूतप्रमुखमाभाति कुरूणां व्यसनं महत्। मन्देनैश्वर्यकामेन लोभात्पापमिदं कृतम्
The great calamity of the Kurus began with the dice game; this evil was done by a fool, greedy for power.
मन्ये पर्यायधर्मोऽयं कालस्यात्यन्तगामिनः। चक्रे प्रधिरिवासक्तो नास्य शक्यं पलायितुम्
I think this is the recurring law of time, which moves inexorably; like a wheel stuck in mud, it cannot be escaped.
किं नु कुर्यां कथं कुर्यां क्व नु गच्छामि सञ्जय । एते नश्यन्ति कुरवो मन्दाः कालवशं गताः
What should I do, how should I act, where should I go, Sanjaya? These foolish Kurus are perishing, seized by time.
अवशोऽहं तदा तात पुत्राणां निहते शते। श्रोष्यामि निनदं स्त्रीणां कथं मां मरणं स्पृशेत्
Helpless then, O dear one, when a hundred sons are slain, I will hear the wailing of women—how will death not touch me?
यथा निदाघे ज्वलनः समद्धो दहेत्कक्षं वायुना चोद्यमानः । गदाहस्तः पाण्डवो वै तथैव हन्ता मदीयान्सहितोऽर्जुनेन
Just as a fire in summer, fanned by wind, burns the dry grass, so too will the club-wielding Pandava, with Arjuna, slay my men.
यस्य वै नानृता वाचः कदाचिदनुशुश्रुम । त्रैलोक्यमपि तस्य स्याद्योद्धा यस्य धनञ्जयः
We have never heard him speak an untruth; even the three worlds would belong to him whose warrior is Dhananjaya.
तस्यैव च न पश्यामि युधि गाण्डीवधन्वनः। अनिशं चिन्तयानोऽपि यः प्रतीयाद्रथेन तम्
And I see no one in battle who can withstand the wielder of Gandiva, even thinking constantly who could face him in his chariot.
अस्यतः कर्णिनालीकान्मार्गणान्हृदयच्छिदः। प्रत्येता न समः कश्चिद्युधि गाण्डीवधन्वनः
No one is equal in battle to the wielder of Gandiva, whose sharp, piercing arrows shatter the heart.