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.
द्रोणाकर्णौ प्रतीयातां यदि वीरौ नरर्षभौ । कृतास्त्रौ बलिनां श्रेष्ठौ समरेष्वपराजितौ
If the two mighty heroes, Drona and Karna, both masters of weapons, best among the strong, and undefeated in battle, advance together—
महान्स्यात्संशयो लोके न त्वस्ति विजयो मम। घृणी कर्णः प्रमादी च आचार्यः स्थविरो गुरुः
—then there would be great uncertainty in the world, but for me, there is no victory. Karna is proud and reckless, while the teacher is aged and venerable.
समर्थो बलवान्पार्थो दृढधन्वा जितक्लमः । भवेत्सुतुमुलं युद्धं सर्वशोऽप्यपराजयः
Partha is capable and powerful, firm in his bow, tireless in battle; the fight will be exceedingly fierce, and he is, in every way, unconquered.
सर्वे ह्यस्त्रविदः शूराः सर्वे प्राप्ता महद्यशः । अपि सर्वामरैश्वर्यं त्यजेयुर्न पुनर्जयम्
All are skilled in weapons, all are valiant, all have attained great fame; yet they would abandon even the sovereignty of the gods, but never accept defeat.
वधे नूनं भवेच्छान्तिस्तयोर्वा फाल्गुनस्य च। न तु हन्तार्जुनस्यास्ति जेता चास्य न विद्यते
Only in their death, or perhaps in Phalguna's, would there be peace; but Arjuna cannot be slain, nor is there anyone who can defeat him.
मन्युस्तस्य कथं शाम्येन्मन्दान्प्रति य उत्थितः । अन्येऽप्यस्त्राणि जानन्ति जीयन्ते च जयन्ति च। एकान्तविजयस्त्वेव श्रूयते फाल्गुनस्य ह
How could his wrath subside, which has arisen against the dull-witted? Others too know weapons, and are both conquered and conquer; but it is heard that Phalguna alone is always victorious.
त्रयस्त्रिंशत्समाहूय खाण्डवेऽग्निमतर्पयत्। जिगाय च सुरान्सर्वान्नास्य विद्मः पराजयम्
He summoned thirty-three (gods) and satisfied the fire in Khandava; he defeated all the gods—we do not know of his defeat.
यस्य यन्ता हृषीकेशः शीलवृत्तसमो युधि। ध्रुवस्तस्य जयस्तात यथेन्द्रस्य जयस्तथा
He whose charioteer is Hrishikesha, equal in character and conduct in battle—his victory is certain, O father, just as Indra's victory is assured.
कृष्णावेकरथे यत्तावधिज्यं गाण्डिवं धनुः। युगपत्रीणि तेजांसि समेतान्यनुशुश्रुम
When Krishna and he are together on a single chariot, and the Gandiva bow is strung, we have heard that all powers unite at once.
नैवास्ति नो धनुस्तदृङ्व योद्धा न च सारथिः । तच्च मन्दा न जानन्ति दुर्योधनवशानुगाः
Neither do we have such a bow, nor a warrior like him, nor a charioteer; and those who follow Duryodhana's will, being dull, do not understand this.