धर्मज्ञो धृतिमान्प्राज्ञः सर्वभूतेषु केशवः । ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां देवदेवः सनातनः
Keshava, who knows righteousness, is steadfast and wise; he is the Lord of all beings, the God of gods, eternal.
तं सर्वगुणसंपन्नं श्रीवत्सकृतलक्षणम्। संरिष्वज्य कौन्तेयः सन्देष्टुमुपचक्रमे
Having embraced him, who is endowed with all virtues and marked by the Śrīvatsa, Kaunteya began to deliver his message.
या सा बाल्यात्प्रभृत्यस्मान्पर्यवर्धयताबला। उपवासतपःशीला सदा स्वस्त्ययने रता
She who, from our childhood, raised us with great care, always devoted to fasting, austerity, and auspicious rites—
देवतातिथिपूजासु गुरुशुश्रूषणे रता। वत्सला प्रियपुत्रा च माताऽस्माकं जनार्दन
Devoted to honoring gods and guests, attentive in serving elders, loving her dear sons—she is our mother, Janardana.
सुयोधनभयाद्या नो त्रायतामित्रकर्शन । महतो मृत्युसंबाधुद्दुस्तरान्नौरिवार्णवात्
O subduer of enemies, may she save us from the fear of Suyodhana, from the great peril of death, as a boat saves from the ocean.
अस्मत्कृते च सततं यया दुःखानि माधव । अनुभूतान्यदुःखार्हां तां स्म पृच्छेरनामयम्
And for our sake, O Madhava, she has constantly endured sufferings undeserved by her; inquire after her well-being.
भृशमाश्वासयेश्चैनां पुत्रशोकपरिप्लुताम् । अभिवाद्य स्वजेथास्त्वं पाण्डवान्परिकीर्तयन्
Greatly comfort her, who is overwhelmed by grief for her sons; after saluting her, speak of the Pandavas.
ऊढात्प्रभृति दुःखानि श्वशुराणामरिन्दम। निराकाराऽतदर्हा च पश्यन्ती दुःखमश्रुते
From the time of her marriage, O subduer of foes, she has seen only undeserved suffering from her fathers-in-law, and has endured sorrow unheard of.
अपि जातु स कालः स्यात्कृष्ण दुःखविपर्ययः । यदहं मातरं क्लिष्टां सुखं दद्यामरिन्दम
O Krishna, may that time come when her sorrow is reversed, so that I, subduer of enemies, may bring happiness to my afflicted mother.
प्रव्रजन्तोऽनुधावन्तीं कृपणां पुत्रगृद्धिनीम् । रुदतीमपहायैनामगच्छाम वयं वनम्
As we departed for the forest, we left her behind, wretched and longing for her sons, following us and weeping.
सा नूनं म्रियते दुःखैः सा चेज्जीवति केशव। तथा पुत्राधिभिर्गाढमार्तामर्चय सत्कृत
Surely, she is dying of sorrow; if she yet lives, O Keshava, honor her, deeply afflicted by grief for her sons.
अभिवाद्याऽथ सा कृष्ण त्वया मद्वचवाद्विभो । धृतराष्ट्रश्च कौरव्यो राजानश्च वयोधिकाः
Then, O Krishna, after saluting her, speak to her on my behalf, and also to Dhritarashtra, the Kaurava, and the elder kings.
भीष्मं द्रोणं कृपं चैव महाराजं च वाह्लिकम्। द्रौणिं च सोमदत्तं च सर्वांश्च भरतान्पृथक्
To Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, the great king Vahlika, Drona's son, Somadatta, and all the Bharatas individually—
यथावयो यथास्थानं प्रपद्यस्व जनार्दन।' विदुरं च महाप्राज्ञं कुरूणां मन्त्रधारिणम्। अगाधबुद्धिं मर्मज्ञं स्वजेथा मधुसूदन
According to their age and rank, approach them, Janardana; and to Vidura, the wise counselor of the Kurus, deep in understanding and knowing the heart, speak, O Madhusudana.
इत्युक्त्वा केशवं तत्र राजमध्ये युधिष्ठिरः। अनुज्ञातो निववृते कृष्णं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
Having thus spoken to Keshava in the midst of the kings, Yudhishthira, having been permitted, circled Krishna and withdrew.
व्रजन्नेव तु बीभत्सुः सखायं पुरुषर्षभम् । अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्रं दाशार्हमपराजितम्
As he departed, Arjuna spoke to his friend, the best of men, the slayer of enemy heroes, the unconquered Dasharha.
यदस्माकं विभो वृत्तं पुरा वै मन्त्रनिश्चये । अर्धराज्यस्य गोविद विदितं सर्वराजसु
O mighty one, what happened among us before, in the council regarding the division of the kingdom, is known to all the kings.
तच्चेद्दद्यादखङ्गेन सत्कृत्यानवमत्य च। प्रियं मे स्यान्महाबाहो मुच्येरन्महतो भयात्
If they would grant that without deceit, with due honor and without contempt, O mighty-armed one, it would please me, and we would be freed from great fear.
अतश्चेदन्यथाकर्ता धार्तराष्ट्रोऽनुपायवित्। अन्तं नूनं करिष्यामि क्षत्रियाणां जनार्दन
But if Dhritarashtra's son acts otherwise, lacking in right means, I will surely bring about the end of the Kshatriyas, O Janardana.
एवमुक्ते पाण्डवेन समहृष्यद्वृकोदरः। मुहुर्मुहुः क्रोधवशात्प्रावेपत च पाण्डवः
When the son of Pandu spoke thus, Bhima, filled with joy, trembled again and again under the sway of anger.
वेपमानश्च कौन्तेयः प्राक्रोशन्महतो रजन्। धनञ्जयवचः श्रुत्वा हर्षोत्सिक्तमना भृशम्
And the son of Kunti, trembling, let out a great roar, his mind overflowing with delight upon hearing Dhananjaya's words.
तस्य तं निनदं श्रुत्वा संप्रावेपन्त धन्विनः । वाहनानि च सर्वामि शकृन्मूत्रे प्रमुस्रुवुः
Hearing that roar, the bowmen all trembled, and all the animals released their dung and urine on the spot.
इत्युक्त्वा केशवं तत्र तथा चोह्वा विनिश्चयम्। अनुज्ञातो निववृते परिष्वज्य जनार्दनम्
Having spoken thus to Kesava, and having declared his resolve, he embraced Janardana, received permission, and withdrew.
तेषु राजसु सर्वेषु निवृत्तेषु जनार्दनः। तूर्णमभ्यगमद्धृष्टः शैब्यसुग्रीववाहनः
When all the kings had departed, Janardana, bold and swift, mounted the chariot drawn by Shaibya and Sugriva.
ते हया वासुदेवस्य दारुकेण प्रचोदिताः । पन्थानमाचेमुरिव ग्रसमाना इवाम्बरम्
Those horses of Vasudeva, urged on by Daruka, sped along the path as if devouring the sky.
अथापश्यन्महाबाहुर्ऋषीनध्वनि केशवः । ब्राह्या श्रिया दीप्यमानान्स्थितानुभयतः पथि
Then mighty-armed Kesava saw great sages on the road, shining with Brahmanic splendor, standing on both sides of the path.
सोऽवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णमभिवाद्य जनार्दनः। यथावृत्तानृषीन्सर्वानभ्यभाषत पूजयन्
Swiftly descending from the chariot, Janardana greeted all the sages according to custom, honoring them as he spoke.
कच्चिल्लोकेषु कुशलं कच्चिद्धर्मः स्वनुष्ठितः । ब्राह्मणानां त्रयो वर्णाः कच्चित्तिष्ठन्ति शासने । ` पितृदेवातिथिभ्यश्च कच्चित्पूता स्वनुष्ठिताः
Is all well in the world? Is righteousness being properly observed? Do the three classes of Brahmins remain under discipline? Are the rites for ancestors, gods, and guests duly performed?
तेभ्यः प्रयुज्य तां पूजां प्रोवाच मधुसूदनः। भगवन्तः क्व संसिद्धाः कोऽवधिर्भवतामिह
After offering them due honor, Madhusudana said: 'O venerable ones, where are you bound? What is your purpose here?'
किं वा कार्यं भगवतामहं किं करवाणि यः । केनार्थेनोपप्तंप्राप्ता भगवन्तो महीतलम्
'What task do you have, O blessed ones? What should I do for you? For what reason have you come to this earth, O revered ones?'