अप्ययं नः कुरूणां स्याद्युगान्ते कालसंभृतः । दुर्योधनः कुलाङ्गारो जघन्यः पापपूरुषः
Perhaps this Duryodhana of the Kurus is likewise, at the end of the age, a calamity brought forth by Time, the disgrace and vilest of his lineage.
तस्मान्मृदु शनैर्ब्रूया धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् । कामानुबद्धं बहुलं नोग्रमुग्रपराक्रमम्
Therefore, speak gently and slowly, words joined with righteousness and profit, full of desire but not harsh or fiercely forceful.
अपि दुर्योधनं कृष्ण सर्वे वयमधश्चराः। नीचैर्भूत्वाऽनुयास्यामो मा स्म नो भरता नशन्
Even if Duryodhana is above us all, O Krishna, let us follow him humbly; let not the Bharatas perish because of us.
अप्युदासीनवृत्तिः स्याद्यथा नः कुरुभिः सह। वासुदेव तथा कार्यं न कुरूननयः स्पृशेत्
Let our conduct be neutral, O Vāsudeva, so that with the Kurus we may remain; act thus, so that disaster does not touch the Kurus.
वाच्यः पितामहो वृद्धो ये च कृष्ण समासदः । भ्रातॄणामस्तु सौभ्रात्रं धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रशाम्यताम्
The venerable grandsire and the elders present, O Krishna, should be addressed; let there be brotherhood among the brothers, and let the son of Dhritarashtra be pacified.
अहमेतद्ब्रवीम्येवं राजा चैव प्रशंसति । अर्जुनो नैव युद्धार्थी भूयसी हि दयाऽर्जुने
This is what I say, and the king also approves; Arjuna does not desire war, for great compassion dwells in Arjuna.
एतछ्रुत्वा महाबाहुः केशवः प्रहसन्निव। अभूतपूर्वं भीमस्य मार्दवोपहितं वचः
Hearing this, mighty-armed Kesava, as if smiling, beheld Bhima's words, softened in a way never seen before.
गिरेरिव लघुत्वं तच्छीतत्वमिव पावके। मत्वा रामानुजः शौरिः शार्ङ्गधन्वा वृकोदरम्
Just as a mountain might become light, or fire turn cold, so thought Rama's younger brother, Shauri, wielder of the Sharnga bow, regarding Bhima.
सन्तेजसंस्तदा वाग्भिर्भातरिश्वेव पावकम्। उवाच भीममासीनं कृपयाऽभिपरिप्लुतम्
Then, like fire kindled by wind, he addressed Bhima, who sat there overwhelmed by compassion, with words that rekindled his spirit.
त्वमन्यदा भीमसेन युद्धमेव प्रशंससि। वधामिनन्दिनः क्रूरान्धार्तराष्ट्रन्मिमर्दिषुः
At other times, Bhimasena, you praise only battle, delighting in the slaughter of the cruel sons of Dhritarashtra, eager to crush them.
न च स्वपिषि जागर्षि न्युब्जः शेषे परन्तप । घोरामशान्तां रुशतीं सदा वाचं प्रभाषसे
You neither sleep nor keep watch, O subduer of foes; you lie curled up, always uttering harsh, restless words.
निःश्वसन्नग्निवत्तेन सन्तप्तः स्वेन मन्युना । अप्रशान्तमना भीम सधूम इव पावकः
Sighing like fire, scorched by your own wrath, your mind never at peace, Bhima, like a smoking flame.
एकान्ते निःश्वसञ्शेपे भारार्त इव दुर्बलः । अपि त्वां केचिदुन्मत्तं मन्यन्तेऽतद्विदो जनाः
Alone, you sigh and mutter, weighed down as if by a heavy burden; some, not knowing the truth, even think you are mad.
आरुज्य वृक्षान्निर्मूलान्गजः परिरुजन्निव । निघ्नन्पद्भिः क्षितिं भीम निष्टनन्परिधावसि
Like an elephant uprooting trees and causing pain, you stamp the earth with your feet, Bhima, groaning as you pace about.
नास्मिञ्जने न रमसे रहः क्षिपसि पाण्डव । नान्यं निशि दिवा चापि कदाचिदभिनन्दसि
You find no joy among these people, nor do you linger in solitude, O Pandava; neither by night nor by day do you ever delight in anyone.
अकस्मात्स्मयमानश्च रहस्यास्से रुदन्निव। जान्वोर्मूर्धानमाधाय चिरमास्ते प्रमीलितः
Suddenly you smile, and in secret you sit as if weeping, resting your head on your knees, remaining long in a daze.
भ्रुकिटिं च पुनः कुर्वन्नोष्ठौ च विदशन्निव । अभीक्ष्णं दृश्यसे भीम सर्वं तन्मन्युकारितम्
Again you knit your brows and bite your lips, Bhima; you are often seen thus, all this done out of anger.
यथा तपुरस्तात्सविता दृश्यते शुक्रमुच्चरन् । यथा च पश्चान्निर्मुक्तो ध्रुवं पर्येति रश्मिवान्
Just as the sun is seen shining in the east, and then, released, surely circles in the west with his rays,
तथा सत्यं ब्रवीम्येतन्नास्ति तस्य व्यतिक्रमः । हन्ताहं गदयाभ्येत्य दुर्योधनममर्पणम्
So I truly say this: there is no deviation from it—coming upon Duryodhana with my mace, I shall slay him without fail.
इति स्म मध्ये भ्रातृणां सत्येनालभसे वदाम्। तस्य ते प्रशमे बुद्धिर्ध्रियतेऽद्य परन्तप
Thus, in the midst of your brothers, you speak with truth as your witness; today, O subduer of foes, your mind is set on peace.
अहो युद्धाभिकाङ्क्षाणां युद्धकाल उपस्थिते । चेतांसि विप्रतीपानि यत्त्वां भीभीम विन्दति
Ah, when the time for battle has come for those who long for war, how strange that your mind, O Bhima, is seized by hesitation.
अहो पार्थ निमित्तानि विपरीतानि पश्यसि। स्वप्नान्ते जागरान्ते च तस्मात्प्रशममिच्छसि
Ah, Partha, you see omens reversed; at the end of dreams and at the end of wakefulness, therefore you desire peace.
अहो नाशंससे किंचित्पुंस्त्वं क्लीब इवात्मनि । कश्मलेनाभिपन्नोऽसि तेन ते विकृतं मनः
Alas, you show only a trace of manliness, like a eunuch within yourself; you are overcome by weakness, and so your mind is disturbed.
उद्वेपते ते हृदयं मनस्ते प्रतिसीदति । ऊरुस्तम्भगृहीतोऽसि तस्मात्प्रशममिच्छसि
Your heart trembles, your mind sinks; your thighs are seized by stiffness, and thus you desire peace.
अनित्यं किल मर्त्यस्य पार्थ चित्तं चलाचलम् । वातवेगप्रचलिता अष्ठीला शाल्मलेरिव
Indeed, O Partha, the mind of mortals is unstable and inconstant, like the cottony silk of the śālmalī tree tossed by a gust of wind.
तवैषा विकृता बुद्धिर्गवां वागिव मानुषी । मनांसि पाण्डुपुत्राणां मञ्जयत्यप्लवानिव
This distorted understanding of yours is like the speech of cows among men; it unsettles the minds of the sons of Pāṇḍu, as a boat is rocked by waves.
इदं मे महादाश्चर्यं पर्वतस्येव सर्पणम्। यदीदृशं प्रभाषेथा भीमसेनासमं वचः
This is a great wonder to me, like a serpent on a mountain, that you would speak such words, equal to Bhīmasena.
स दृष्ट्वा स्वानि कर्माणि कुले जन्म च भारत । उत्तिष्ठस्व विषादं मा कृथा वीर स्थिरो भव
Seeing your deeds and your noble birth, O Bhārata, rise up! Do not give in to despair; be firm, O hero.
न चैतदनुरूपं ते यत्ते ग्लानिररिन्दम। यदोजसा न लभते क्षत्रियो न तदश्रुते
This faintheartedness does not befit you, O subduer of enemies; that which a kṣatriya does not attain by strength is not to be heard of.
तथोक्तो वासुदेवेन नित्यमन्युरमर्षणः। सदश्ववत्समाधावद्बभाषे तदनन्तरम्
Thus addressed by Vāsudeva, Bhīmasena, ever wrathful and unyielding, leapt up like a spirited horse and then spoke.