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,
अर्धचन्द्रैश्च चन्द्रैश्च मत्स्यैः समृगपक्षिभिः । पुष्पैश्च विविधैश्चित्रं मणिरत्नैश्च सर्वशः
Beautifully decorated everywhere with crescents, full moons, fish, beasts, birds, various flowers, and all kinds of gems and jewels,
तरुणादित्यसङ्काशं बृहन्तं चारुदर्शनम् । मणिहेमविचित्राङ्गं सुध्वजं सुपताकिनम्
Resembling the young sun in brilliance, large and pleasing to behold, with parts adorned with gems and gold, bearing a fine banner and excellent pennants.
सूपस्करमनाधृष्यं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्। यशोघ्नं प्रत्यमित्राणां यदूनां नन्दिवर्धनम्
That city, well-fortified and unassailable, surrounded by tiger-like warriors, a destroyer of the fame of enemies, and an increaser of the glory of the Yadus—
वाजिभिः शैब्यसुग्रीवमेधपुष्पबलाहकैः । स्नातैः संपादयामासुः संपन्नैः सर्वसंपदा
With horses named Shaibya, Sugriva, Medha, Pushpa, and Balāhaka, all bathed and adorned with every auspicious mark, they prepared the chariot.
महिमानं तु कृष्णस्य भूय एवाभिवर्धयन्। सुघोषः पतगेन्द्रेण ध्वजेन युयुजे रथः
Further exalting Krishna’s majesty, Satyaki yoked to the chariot the banner bearing Garuda, the king of birds.
तं मेरुशिखरप्रख्यं मेघदुन्दुभिनिस्वनम् । आरुरोह रथं सौरिर्विमानमिव कामगम्
Sauri (Krishna) ascended that chariot, towering like the peak of Meru and resounding like thunderclouds, as if it were a celestial vehicle moving at will.
ततः सात्यकिमारोप्य प्रययौ पुरुषोत्तमः। पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं च रथघोषेण नादयन्
Then, having Satyaki mount, the Supreme Person set out, filling the earth and sky with the sound of his chariot.
व्यपोढाभ्रस्ततः कालः क्षणेन समपद्यत। शिवश्चानुववौ वायुः प्रशान्तमभवद्रजः
Then the clouds dispersed, the time became auspicious in a moment, the wind blew gently, and the dust settled into calm.
प्रदक्षिणानुलोमाश्च मङ्गल्या मृगपक्षिणः। प्रयाणे वासुदेवस्य बभूवुरनुयायिनः
Auspicious beasts and birds, moving in a rightward and favorable direction, followed Vasudeva on his journey.
मङ्गल्यार्थप्रदैः शब्दैरन्ववर्तन्त सर्वशः। सारसाः शतपत्राश्च हंसाश्च मधुसूदनम्
Cranes, swans, and sarasa birds accompanied Madhusudana, uttering sounds that bestowed blessings and good fortune.