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.
ततो व्यपेते तमसि सूर्ये विमल उद्गते । मैत्रे मुहूर्ते संप्राप्ते मद्वर्चिषि दिवाकरे
Then, when the darkness had departed and the pure sun had risen, at the auspicious moment, as the day began to shine with my radiance,
कौमुदे मासि रेवत्यां शरदन्ते हिमागमे । स्फीतसस्यसुखे काले कल्यः सत्ववतां वरः
In the month of Kartika, under the star Revati, at the end of autumn, as winter approached, in a season of abundant crops and happiness, the best among the strong arose early.
मङ्गल्याः पुण्यनिर्घोषा वाचः श्रृण्वंश्च सूनृताः । ब्राह्मणानां प्रतीतानामृषीणामिव वासवः
Hearing auspicious, pure, and truthful words, resounding with merit, from Brahmanas who were delighted, like Indra listening to the seers,
कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकं कृत्यं स्नातः शुचिरलङ्कृतः । उपतस्थे विवस्वन्तं पावकं च जनार्दनः
Having performed the morning rites, bathed, purified, and adorned, Janardana approached the sun and the fire.
ऋषभं पृष्ठ आलभ्य ब्राह्मणानभिवाद्य च। अग्निं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पश्यन्कल्याणमग्रतः
Touching the back of a bull and saluting the Brahmanas, having circumambulated the fire, he looked ahead for a favorable omen.
तत्प्रतिज्ञाय वचनं पाण्डवस्य जनार्दनः। शिनेर्नप्तारमासीनमभ्यभाषत सात्यकिम्
Having pledged to fulfill the words of the Pandava, Janardana spoke to Satyaki, the grandson of Sini, who was seated there.
रथ आरोप्यतां शङ्खश्चक्रं च गदया सह। उपासङ्गाश्च शक्त्यश्च सर्वप्रहरणानि च
Let the chariot be made ready, with the conch, discus, and mace, and let all the auxiliary weapons and spears be brought as well.
दुर्योधनश्च दुष्टात्मा कर्णश्च सहसौबलः । न च शत्रुरवज्ञेयो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा
Duryodhana, wicked in heart, and Karna, together with the son of Subala—one should not underestimate an enemy, even if weak, when one is strong.
ततस्तन्मतमाज्ञाय केशवस्य पुनःसराः । प्रसस्त्नुर्योजयिष्यन्तो रथं चक्रगदाभृतः
Then, understanding the command of Kesava, the skilled charioteers prepared to yoke the chariot of the wielder of the discus and mace.
तं दीप्तमिव कालाग्निमाकाशगमिवाशुगम् । सूर्यचन्द्रप्रकाशाभ्यां चक्राभ्यां समलङ्कृतम्
That chariot, blazing like the fire at the end of time, swift as if flying through the sky, adorned with two wheels shining like the sun and moon,