अधः पादतलेनैतानधिष्ठास्यामि भूतले । न हि त्वं नाभिजानासि मम विक्रममच्युत
With the sole of my foot, I will press these down upon the earth. You do not recognize my prowess, O Acyuta.
यथा मया विनिर्जित्य राजानो वशगाः कृताः । अथ चेन्मां न जानासि सूर्यस्येवोद्यतः प्रभाम्
Just as I have subdued kings and made them subject to me, if you do not know me, it is like not seeing the radiance of the sun when it rises.
विगाढे युधि संबाधे वेत्स्यसे मां जनार्दन । परुषैराक्षिपसि किं व्रणं सूच्येव चानघ
When battle grows fierce and crowded, you will know me, O Janardana. Why do you hurl harsh words, O faultless one, as if pricking a wound with a needle?
यथामति ब्रवीम्येतद्विद्धि मामधिकं ततः । द्रष्टासि युधि संबाधे प्रवृत्ते वैशसेऽहनि
I speak this as I think fit; know me as superior in this matter. You will see me when the battle is close and the day of slaughter has begun.
मया प्रणुन्नान्मातङ्गात्नथिनः सादनस्तथा । तथा नरानभिक्रुद्धं निघ्नन्तं क्षत्रियर्षभान्
By me, elephants have been struck down and their riders felled; likewise, I have slain men, unprovoked, destroying the foremost among warriors.
द्रष्टा मां त्वं च लोकश्च विकर्षन्तं वरान्वरान् । न मे सीदन्ति गात्राणि न ममोद्वेपते मनः
You and the world will see me dragging the best of the best. My limbs do not falter, nor does my mind tremble.
सर्वलोकादभिक्रुद्धान्न भयं विद्यते मम। किं तु सौहृदमेवैतत्कृपया मधुसूदन । सर्वांस्तितिक्षे संक्लेशान्मा स्म नो भरता नशन्
Even when attacked by all the worlds, I feel no fear. Yet, O Madhusudana, this is only friendship and compassion; I endure all hardships—let not the Bharatas perish.
भावं जिज्ञासमानोऽहं प्रणयादिदमब्रवम् । न चाक्षेपान्न पाण्डित्यान्न क्रोधान्न विवक्षया
Desiring to know your disposition, I spoke this out of affection—not out of reproach, nor out of cleverness, nor anger, nor intent to debate.
वेदाहं तव माहात्म्यसुत ते वेद यद्बलम्। उत ते वेद कर्माणि न त्वां परिभवाम्यहम्
I know your greatness, your strength, and your deeds, O son; I do not belittle you.
यथा चात्मनि कल्याणं संभावयसि पाण्डव । सहस्रगुणमप्येतत्त्वयि संभावयाम्यहम्
Just as you regard your own welfare, O Pandava, I regard yours a thousandfold.
यादृशे च कुले जन्म सर्वराजाभिपूजिते । बन्धुभिश्च सुहृद्भिश्च भीम त्वमसि तादृशः
Born in a lineage honored by all kings, surrounded by kin and friends, Bhima, you are such as they.
जिज्ञासन्तो हि धर्मस्य सन्दिग्धस्य वृकोदर । पर्यायं नाध्यवस्यन्ति देवमानुषयोर्जनाः
Those who inquire into righteousness when it is uncertain, O Vṛkodara, do not decide between divine and human ways.
स एव हेतुर्भूत्वा हि पुरुषस्यार्थसिद्धिषु। विनाशेऽपि स एवास्य सन्दिग्धं कर्म पौरुषम्
That alone is the cause for a man's attainment of goals; even in destruction, that same cause makes his actions uncertain.
अन्यथा परिदृष्टानि कविभिर्दोवदर्शिभिः । अन्यथा परिवर्तन्ते वेगा इव नभस्वतः
Seen differently by poets and wise observers, things turn out otherwise, like the swift changes of the wind.
सुमन्त्रितं सुनीतं च न्यायतश्चोपपादितम् । कृतं मानुष्यकं कर्म दैनेनापि विरुद्ध्यते
Well-advised, well-governed, and justly accomplished, human action is sometimes opposed even by fate.
दैवमप्यकृतं कर्म पौरुषेण विहन्यते । शीतमुष्णं तथा वर्षं क्षुत्पिपासे च भारत
Even fate, when not accomplished, is overcome by human effort—like cold, heat, rain, hunger, and thirst, O Bharata.
यदन्यद्दिष्टभावस्य पुरुषस्य स्वयं कृतम् । तस्मादनुपरोधश्च विद्यते तत्र लक्षणम्
Whatever else arises from the disposition assigned to a man, if done by himself, then restraint is found there as its mark.
लोकस्य नान्यतो वृत्तिः पाण्डवान्यत्र कर्मणः। एवंबुद्धिः प्रवर्तेत फलं स्यादुभयान्वये
There is no livelihood for people, O Pandava, apart from action; one should act with this understanding, for results come from both sources.
य एवं कृतबुद्धिः स कर्मस्वेव प्रवर्तते । नासिद्धो व्यथते तस्य न सिद्धौ हर्षमश्रुते
He whose mind is thus resolved acts only in deeds; he is not distressed by failure, nor does he rejoice upon hearing of success.
तत्रेयमनुमात्रा मे भीमसेन विवक्षिता। नैकान्तसिद्धिर्वक्तव्या शत्रुभिः सह संयुगे
Here, Bhīmasena, I wish to express only an inference; one should not declare absolute certainty regarding victory in battle with enemies.
नातिप्रहीणरश्मिः स्यात्तथा भावविपर्यये । विषादमर्च्छेद् ग्लानिं वाप्येतमर्थं ब्रवीमिते
One should not let their energy be greatly diminished, nor should their disposition be reversed; I speak this to prevent despair or fatigue.
श्वोभूते धृतराष्ट्रस्य समीपं प्राप्य पाण्डव। यतिष्ये प्रशमं कर्तुं युष्मदर्थमहापयन्
Tomorrow, having reached Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s presence, O Pāṇḍava, I will strive to bring about peace for your sake, seeking your great benefit.
शमं चेत्ते करिष्यन्ति ततोऽनन्तं यशो मम। भवतां कच कृतः कामस्तेषां च श्रेय उत्तमम्
If they make peace, then my fame will be boundless; your wishes will be fulfilled, and their highest welfare will be attained.
ते चेदभिनिवेक्ष्यन्ते नाभ्युपैष्यन्ति मे वचः । कुरवो युद्धमेवात्र घोरं कर्म भविष्यति
But if they persist and do not accept my words, then the Kurus will engage in battle here, and a terrible deed will take place.
अस्मिन्युद्धे भीमसेन त्वयि भारः समाहितः। धूरर्जुनेन धार्या स्याद्वेढव्य इतरो जनः
In this battle, Bhīmasena, the burden is placed upon you; Arjuna must bear the yoke, and the others are to be led.
अहं हि यन्ता बीभत्सोर्भविता संयुगे सति। धनञ्जयस्यैष कामो न हि युद्धं न कामये
I will be the charioteer of Bībhatsu if battle occurs; this is Dhanañjaya’s wish, for I myself do not desire war.
तस्मादाशङ्कमानोऽहं वृकोदर मतिं तव। गदतः क्लीबया वाचा तेजस्ते समदीदिपम्
Therefore, being concerned about your resolve, Vṛkodara, as you speak with unmanly words, your energy has become fully ignited.
उक्तं युधिष्ठिरेणैव यावद्वाच्यं जनार्दन । तव वाक्यं तु मे श्रुत्वा प्रतिभाति परन्तप
Yudhiṣṭhira has already spoken all that should be said, O Janārdana; but hearing your words, O scorcher of foes, they strike me profoundly.
नैव प्रशममत्र त्वं मन्यसे सुकरं प्रभो । लोभाद्वा धृतराष्ट्रस्य दैन्याद्वा समुपस्थितात्
You do not consider peace here to be easily attainable, O Lord, whether due to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s greed or the misery that has arisen.
अफलं मन्यसे वाऽपि पुरुषस्य पराक्रमम् । न चान्तरेण कर्माणि पौरुषेण बलोदयः
You think that a man’s effort is fruitless, yet without deeds, strength does not arise from courage alone.