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.'
एवं ता भीरु रोस्त्यन्ति निहतज्ञातिबान्धवाः। हतमित्रा हतबला येषां क्रुद्धाऽसि भामिनी
Thus, O timid one, those women will weep, whose kinsmen and relatives are slain, whose friends and armies are destroyed, against whom you are angry, O beautiful lady.
अहं च तत्करिष्यामि भीमार्जुनयमैः सह । युधिष्ठिरनियोगेन दैवाच्च विधिनिर्मितात्
And I shall do this together with Bhima and Arjuna, by the command of Yudhishthira and by the decree of fate.
धार्तराष्ट्राः कालपक्वा न चेच्छृण्वन्ति मे वचः। शेष्यन्ते निहता भूमौ श्वसृगालादनीकृताः
If the sons of Dhritarashtra, ripe for death, do not heed my words, they will lie slain on the earth, abandoned to jackals and dogs.
चलेद्धि हिमवाञ्शैलो मेदिनी शतधा भवेत्। द्यौः पतेच्च सनक्षत्रा न मे मोघं वचो भवेत्
Let the mountain Himalaya move, let the earth be split a hundredfold, let the sky with its stars fall—my word will not be in vain.
शुष्येत्तोयनिधिः कृष्णे न मे मोघं वचो भवेत्।' सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि कृष्णे बाष्पो निगृह्यताम् । हतामित्राञ्श्रिया युक्तानचिदाद्द्रक्ष्यसे पतीन्
O Krishna, the ocean may dry up, but my words will not be in vain. I promise you truly—hold back your tears. You will see your husbands, adorned with glory, after their enemies are slain.
कुरूणामद्य सर्वेषां भवान्सुहृदनुत्तमः। संबन्धी दयितो नित्यमुभयोः पक्षयोरपि
Today, among all the Kurus, you are the highest friend—always beloved and related to both sides.
पाण्डवैर्धार्तराष्ट्राणां प्रतिपाद्यमनामयम्। समर्थः प्रशमं चैव कर्तुमर्हसि केशव
O Kesava, you are able to secure the well-being of both the Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra, and you are worthy to bring about peace.
त्वमित्तः पुण्डरीकाक्ष सुयोधनममर्षणम् । शान्त्यर्थं भ्रातरं ब्रूया यत्तद्वाच्यममित्रहन्
O lotus-eyed one, you should speak to Suyodhana, who is hard to endure, for the sake of peace—tell him what must be said, O destroyer of foes.
त्वया धर्मार्थयुक्तं चेदुक्तं शिवमनामयम्। हितं नादास्यते बालो दिष्टस्य वशमेष्यति
If you speak words that are righteous, beneficial, and auspicious, yet the foolish prince does not accept them, he will fall under the sway of fate.
धर्म्यमस्मद्धितं चैव कुरूणां यदनामयम्। एष यास्यामि राजानं धृतराष्ट्रमभीप्सया
What is righteous, beneficial for us, and brings well-being to the Kurus—I will go to King Dhritarashtra with this desire.