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?'
एवमुक्ताः केशवेन मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । नारदप्रमुखाः सर्वे प्रत्यनन्दन्त केशवम्
Thus addressed by Kesava, all the sages of firm vows, with Narada at their head, welcomed him.
अधश्शिराः सर्पमाली महर्षिः स हि देवलः । अर्वावसुः सुजानुश्च मैत्रेयः शुनको बली
Devala the great sage, wearing a garland of serpents, with head bowed, Arvavasu, Sujanu, Maitreya, and mighty Sunaka,
बको दाल्भ्यः स्थूलशिराः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तथा। आपोदधौम्यो धौम्यश्च आणिमाण्डव्यकौशिकौ
Baka, Dalbhya, Sthulashira, Krishna-Dvaipayana, Apodadhaumya, Dhaumya, Animandavya, and Kaushika,
दामोष्णीषस्त्रिषवणः पर्णादो घटजानुकः। मौञ्जायनो वायुभक्षः पाराशर्योऽथ शालिकः
Dama, Ushnisha, Trishavana, Parnada, Ghatajanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parashara, and Shalika,
शीलवानशनिर्धाता शून्यपालोऽकृतव्रणः। श्वेतकेतुः कहोलश्च रामश्चैव महातपाः
Shilavana, Ashanirdhata, Shunyapala, Akritavrana, Shvetaketu, Kahola, and Rama, the great ascetic,
तमब्रवीज्जामदग्न्य उपेत्य मधुसूदनम्। परिष्वज्य च गोविन्दं सुरासुरपतेः सखा
Jamadagnya approached Madhusudana, embraced Govinda, the friend of the lord of gods and demons, and spoke to him.
देवर्षयः पुण्यकृतो ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः । राजर्षयश्च दाशार्ह मानयन्ति तपस्विनः
O Dāśārha, the divine sages who perform virtuous deeds, the learned Brāhmaṇas, and the royal sages honor those who practice austerity.
दैवासुरस्य द्रुष्टारः पुराणस्य महामते। समेत पार्थिवं क्षत्रं दिदृक्षन्तश्च सर्वतः। सभासदश्च राजानस्त्वां च सत्यं जनार्दनम्
O wise one, the seers of the ancient conflict between gods and demons, the assembled kings and warriors from all quarters, the members of the assembly, and the kings, all wish to see you, O Janārdana, who are truth itself.
एतन्महत्प्रेक्षणीयं द्रुष्टुमिच्छाम केशव
O Keśava, we wish to behold this great and wondrous sight.
धर्मार्थसहिता वाचः श्रोतुमिच्छाम माधव। त्वयोच्यमानाः कुरुषु राजमध्ये परन्तप
O Mādhava, we desire to hear words united with righteousness and profit, spoken by you among the Kurus in the midst of the kings, O scorcher of foes.