एतत्समर्थं पार्थानां तव चैव यशस्करम्। क्रियमाणं भवेत्कृष्ण क्षत्रस्य च सुखावहम्
This action is fitting for the sons of Pritha and for you, and brings renown; if undertaken, O Krishna, it will bring happiness to the Kshatriyas.
क्षत्रियेण हि हन्तव्यः क्षत्रियो लोभमास्थितः। अक्षत्रियो वा दाशार्ह स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठता
For a Kshatriya who has embraced greed must be slain by a Kshatriya who upholds his own duty, O Dāśārha, or even if he is not a Kshatriya.
अन्यत्र ब्राह्मणात्तात सर्वपापेष्ववस्थितात्। गुरुर्हि सर्ववर्णानां ब्राह्मणः प्रसृताग्रभुक्
Except for a Brahmin, O father, who is established in all sins, for the Brahmin is the teacher of all castes, the foremost among those who eat first.
यथाऽवध्ये वध्यमाने भवेद्दोषो जनार्दन । स वध्यस्यावधे दृष्ट इति धर्मविदो विदुः
Just as there is fault when one kills someone who should not be slain, O Janardana, so too is fault seen when one spares someone who should be slain, according to those who know dharma.
यथा त्वां न स्पृशेदेष दोषः कृष्ण तथा कुरु। पाण्डवैः सह दाशर्हैः सृञ्जयैश्च ससैनिकैः
Act so, O Krishna, that this fault does not touch you, together with the Pandavas, the Dāśarhas, the Sṛñjayas, and their armies.
पुनरुक्तं च वक्ष्यामि विश्रम्भेण जनार्दन। का तु सीमन्तिनी मादृकं पृथिव्यामस्ति केशव
I will say again, O Janardana, with confidence: what woman like me exists on earth, O Keśava?
सुता द्रुपदराजस्य वेदिमध्यात्समुत्थिता। धृष्टद्युम्नस्य भगिनी तव कृष्ण प्रिया सखी
The daughter of King Drupada, who arose from the midst of the altar, the sister of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, your dear friend, O Krishna.
आजमूढकुलं प्राप्त स्नुषा पाण्डोर्महात्मनः । महिषी पाण्डुपुत्राणां पञ्चेन्द्रसमवर्चसाम्
Having entered the lineage of those born from the goat, I became the daughter-in-law of the great-souled Pandu, and the queen of the sons of Pandu, who possess the splendor of five Indras.
सुता मे पञ्चभिर्वीरैः पञ्च जाता महारथाः । अभिमन्युर्यथा कृष्ण तथा ते तव धर्मतः
From me, five mighty sons were born to five heroes, O Krishna, all great chariot-warriors; Abhimanyu is yours by dharma, just as they are mine.
साऽहं केशग्रहं प्राप्ता परिक्लिष्टा सभां गता। पश्यतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां त्वयि जीवति केशव
I, who have been seized by the hair and afflicted, was brought into the assembly, while the sons of Pandu watched, and you were alive, O Keśava.
जीवस्तु पाण्डुपुत्रेषु पञ्चालेष्वथ वृष्णिषु। दासीभाताऽस्मि पापानां सभामध्ये व्यवस्थिता
While the sons of Pandu, the Panchalas, and the Vrishnis lived, I became like a slave among the wicked, standing in the midst of the assembly.
निरमर्षेष्वचेष्टेषु प्रेक्ष्यमाणेषु पाण्डुषु । पाहि मामिति गोविन्द मनसा चिन्तितोसि मे
While the Pandavas, devoid of anger and action, looked on, O Govinda, I thought of you in my mind, saying, 'Protect me.'
यत्र मां भगवान्राजा श्वशुरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। वरं वृणीष्व पाञ्चालि वरार्हाऽसि मता मम
When the blessed king, my father-in-law, spoke to me, saying, 'Choose a boon, O Panchali, you are worthy of a boon and dear to me.'
अदासाः पाण्डवाः सन्तु सरथाः सायुधा इति। मयोक्ते यत्र निर्मुक्ता वनवासाय केशव
When I said, 'Let the Pandavas be freed, with their chariots and weapons,' O Keśava, they were released for exile in the forest.
एवंविधानां दुःखानामभिज्ञोऽसि जनार्दन । त्रायस्व पुण्डरीकाक्ष सभर्तृज्ञातिबान्धवान्
You are acquainted with such sorrows, O Janardana; protect me, O lotus-eyed one, together with my husbands, relatives, and kin.
नन्वहं कृष्ण भीष्मस्य धृतराष्ट्रस्य चोभयोः । श्नुषा भवामि धर्मेण साऽहं दासीकृता बलात्
Indeed, O Krishna, I am the daughter-in-law of both Bhishma and Dhritarashtra by dharma, yet I have been made a slave by force.
धिक्पार्थस्य धनुष्मत्तां भीमसेनस्य धिग्बलम्। यत्र दुर्योधनः कृष्ण मुहूर्तमपि जीवति
Shame on the prowess of Arjuna, shame on the strength of Bhimasena, when Duryodhana, O Krishna, still lives even for a moment.
यदि तेऽहमनुग्राह्या यदि तेऽस्ति कृपा मयि। धार्तराष्ट्रेषु वै कोपः सर्वः कृष्ण विधीयताम्
If I am worthy of your compassion, if you have any mercy for me, then let all your anger, Krishna, be directed at the sons of Dhritarashtra.
इत्युक्त्वा मृदुसंहारं वृजिनाग्रं सुदर्शनम्। सुनीलमसितापाङ्गी सर्वगन्धादिवासितम्
Having spoken thus, she of gentle destruction, foremost in suffering, beautiful to behold, with dark blue and black eyes, fragrant with all perfumes,
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं महाभुजगवर्चसम् । केशपक्षं वरारोहा गृह्व वामेन पाणिना
Endowed with all auspicious marks, possessing the radiance of a great serpent, the high-hipped lady seized her hair with her left hand.
पद्माक्षी पुण्डरीकाक्षमुपेत्य गजगामिनी । अश्रुपूर्णेक्षणा कृष्णा कृष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्
The lotus-eyed, elephant-gaited Krishna, her eyes filled with tears, approached Krishna and spoke these words.
अयं ते पुण्डरीकाक्ष दुःशासनकरोद्धृतः। स्मर्तव्यः सर्वकार्येषु परेषां सन्धिमिच्छताम्
This, O lotus-eyed one, is the hair seized by Duhshasana's hand; it must be remembered in all your undertakings by those who seek peace with others.
यदि भीमार्जुनौ कृष्ण कृपणौ सन्धिकामुकौ । पिता मे योत्स्यते वृद्धः सह पुत्रैर्महारथैः
If Bhima and Arjuna, Krishna, are pitiful and inclined toward peace, my aged father will fight with his sons, the great chariot-warriors.
पञ्च चैव महावीर्याः पुत्रा मे मधुसूदन । अभिमन्युं पुरस्कृत्य योत्स्यन्ते कुरुभिः सह
And my five mighty sons, O Madhusudana, led by Abhimanyu, will fight alongside the Kurus.
दुःशासनभुजं श्यामं संछिन्नं पांसुकुण्ठितम्। यद्यहं तु न पश्यामि का शान्तिर्हृदयस्य मे
If I do not see Duhshasana's dark arm, severed and soiled with dust, what peace can there be for my heart?
त्रयोदश हि वर्षाणि प्रतीक्षन्त्या गतानि मे। विधाय हृदये मन्युं प्रदीप्तमिव पावकम्
Thirteen years have passed as I waited, harboring in my heart a wrath blazing like fire.
विदीर्यते मे हृदयं भीमवाक्शल्यपीडितम् । योऽयमद्य महाबाहुर्धर्ममेवानुपश्यति
My heart is torn, afflicted by Bhima's harsh words, when this mighty-armed one today only considers righteousness.
इत्युक्त्वा बाष्परुद्धेन कण्ठेनायतलोचना । रुरोद कृष्णा सोत्कम्पं सस्वरं बाष्पगद्गदम्
Having spoken thus, with her throat choked by tears, her eyes wide, Krishna wept aloud, her voice trembling and broken by sobs.
स्तनौ पीनायतश्रोणी सहितावभिवर्षती। द्रवीभूतमिवात्युष्णं मुञ्चन्ती वारि नेत्रजम्
Her full breasts and broad hips heaving, she shed from her eyes a flood of hot tears, as if melting away.
तामुवाच महाबाहुः केशवः परिसान्त्वयन्। अचिराद्द्रक्ष्यसे कृष्णे रुदतीर्भरतस्त्रियः
The mighty-armed Kesava comforted her, saying, 'Soon, Krishna, you will see the women of the Bharatas weeping.'