यावन्न चरते मार्गान्पृतनामभिधर्षयन् । भीमसेनो गदापाणिस्तावत्संशाम्य पाण्डवैः
As long as Bhīmasena, with mace in hand, does not charge through the ranks, attacking the troops, let peace be maintained with the Pāṇḍavas.
यावन्न शातयत्याजौ शिरांसि गजयोधिनाम् । गदया वीरघातिन्या फलानीव वनस्पतेः । कालेन परिपक्वानि तावच्छाम्यतु वैशसम्
As long as Bhīmasena does not, in battle, strike off the heads of elephant-warriors with his deadly mace, like ripe fruits falling from a tree, let the violence be restrained.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः ।। विराटश्च शिखण्डी च शैशुपालिश्च दंशिताः
Nakula, Sahadeva, Dhṛṣṭadyumna the son of Pṛṣata, Virāṭa, Śikhaṇḍī, and Śaiśupāla, all are ready and eager.
यावन्न प्रविशन्त्येते नक्रा इव महार्णवम् । कृतास्त्राः क्षिप्रमस्यन्तस्तावच्छाम्यतु वैशसम्
As long as these warriors, skilled in weapons, do not rush like crocodiles into the great ocean, swiftly attacking, let the violence be restrained.
यावन्न सुकुमारेषु शरीरेषु महीक्षिताम्। गार्ध्रपत्राः पतन्त्युग्रास्तावच्छाम्यतु वैशसम्
As long as fierce vulture-feathered arrows do not fall upon the tender bodies of the kings, let the violence be restrained.
चन्दनागुरुदिग्धेषु हारनिष्कधरेषु च । नोरस्सु यावद्योधानां महेष्वासैर्महेषवः
As long as mighty arrows from great archers do not pierce the bodies of warriors, adorned with sandalwood, aloe, necklaces, and gold, let the violence be restrained.
कृतस्त्रैः क्षिप्रमस्यद्भिर्दूरपातिभिरायसाः । अभिलक्ष्यैर्निपात्यन्ते तावच्छाम्यतु वैशसम्
As long as iron arrows, swiftly shot by those skilled in weapons, do not strike down the marked targets from afar, let the violence be restrained.
अभिवादयमानं त्वां शिरसा राजकुञ्जरः । पाणिभ्यां प्रतिगृह्णातु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
Let King Yudhiṣṭhira, the lord of dharma, greet you with his hands, as the royal elephant bows to you with its head.
ध्वजाङ्कुशपताकाङ्कं दक्षिणं ते सुदक्षिणः । स्कन्धे निक्षिपतां बहुं शान्तये भरतर्षभ
Let Sudakṣiṇa, bearing the banner, goad, and flag, place his strong arm upon your shoulder for peace, O bull among the Bharatas.
रत्नौषधिसमेतेन रत्नाङ्गुलितलेन च। उपविष्टस्य पृष्ठं ते पाणिना परिमार्जतु
Let him, seated, gently rub your back with his hand, adorned with jewels and medicinal herbs, and with a jeweled ring.
शालस्कन्धो महाबहुस्त्वां स्वजानो वृकोदरः । साम्नाऽभिवदतां चापि शान्तये भरतर्षभ
Let Vṛkodara, broad-shouldered and mighty-armed, your kinsman, greet you with gentle words for peace, O bull among the Bharatas.
अर्जुनेन यमाभ्यां च त्रिभिस्तैरभिवादितः। मूर्ध्नि तान्समुपाघ्राय प्रेम्णाऽभिवद पार्थिव
When you are greeted by Arjuna and the two sons of Yama, bow your head to them and greet them with affection, O king.
दृष्ट्वा त्वां पाण्डवैर्वीरैर्भ्रातृभिः सह संगतम् । यावदानन्दजाश्रूणि प्रन्मुञ्चन्तु नराधिपाः
When the kings see you united with your heroic brothers, the sons of Pandu, let them shed tears of joy.
घुष्यतां राजधानीषु सर्वसंपन्महीक्षिताम् । पृथिवी भ्रातृभावेन भुज्यतां विज्वरो भव
Let it be proclaimed in the capitals of all the mighty kings: let the earth be enjoyed in brotherhood, and be free from anxiety.
श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनो वाक्यमप्रियं कुरुसंसदि। प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुं वासुदेवं यशस्विनम्
Hearing Duryodhana's harsh words in the Kuru assembly, the illustrious Vasudeva, strong-armed, replied to him.
प्रसमीक्ष्य भवानेतद्वक्तुमर्हति केशव। मामेव हि विशेषेण विभाष्य परिगर्हसे
You, O Kesava, ought to consider this carefully before speaking; for you single me out and reproach me in particular.
भक्तिवादेन पार्थानामकस्मान्मधुसूदन। भवान्गर्हयति नित्यं किं समीक्ष्य बलाबलम्
Why, O slayer of Madhu, do you always censure me, praising the sons of Pritha with words of devotion, without considering strength and weakness?
भवान्क्षत्ता च राजा वाऽप्याचार्यो वा पितामहः । मामेव परिगर्हन्ते नान्यं कंचन पाण्डवम्
You, the charioteer, the king, the teacher, and the grandsire—all of you reproach only me, and not any of the Pandavas.
न चाहं लक्षये कंचिद्व्यभिचारमिहात्मनः । अथ सर्वे भवन्तो मां विद्विषन्ति सराजकाः
I do not perceive any fault in myself here; yet all of you, along with the kings, bear enmity towards me.
न चाहं कंचिदत्यर्थमपराधमरिन्दम । विचिन्तयन्प्रपश्यामि सुसूक्ष्ममपि केशव
Nor, O subduer of foes, do I see in myself any excessive wrongdoing, even upon careful and subtle reflection, O Kesava.
प्रियाभ्युपगते द्यूते पाण्डवा मधूसूदन। जिताः शकुनिना राज्यं तत्र किं मम दुष्कृतम्
When the Pandavas, having accepted the invitation to dice, were defeated by Shakuni and lost their kingdom, what wrong did I commit there, O slayer of Madhu?
यत्पुनर्द्रविणं किंचित्तत्राजीयन्त पाण्डवाः । तेभ्य एवाभ्यनुज्ञातं तत्तद मधुसूदन
And whatever wealth the Pandavas staked again in that game, it was with their own consent, O slayer of Madhu.
अपराधो न चास्माकं यत्ते ह्यक्षैः पराजिताः। अजेया जयतां श्रेष्ठ पार्थाः प्रव्राजिता वनम्
There is no fault of ours in their defeat at dice; the Pandavas, though unconquerable and foremost among victors, went to the forest.
केन वाऽप्यपवादेन विरुद्ध्यन्त्यरिभिः सह। अशक्ताः पाण्डवाः कृष्ण प्रहृष्टाः प्रत्यमित्रवत्
By what accusation do the Pandavas, though powerless, oppose us along with their allies, O Krishna, rejoicing as if facing an enemy?
किमस्माभिः कृतं तेषां कस्मिन्वा पुनरागसि। धार्तराष्ट्राञ्जिघांसन्ति पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयैः सह
What have we done to them, or in what matter, that the Pandavas, along with the Srinjayas, seek to destroy the sons of Dhritarashtra?
न चापि वयमुग्रेण कर्मणा वचनेन वा। प्रभ्रष्टाः प्रणमामेह भयादपि शतक्रतुम्
Neither by harsh deed nor by word have we been cast down, nor do I bow here to Indra, even out of fear.
न च तं कृष्ण पश्यामि क्षत्रधर्ममनुष्ठितम् । उत्सहेत युधा जेतुं यो नः शत्रुनिबर्हण
Nor do I see, O Krishna, any warrior who upholds the duty of a kshatriya and could hope to defeat us in battle, who are destroyers of foes.
न हि भीष्मकृपद्रोणाः सकर्णा मधुसूदन। देवैरपि युधा जेतुं शक्याः किमुत पाण्डवैः
For Bhishma, Kripa, Drona, and Karna, O slayer of Madhu, cannot be conquered in battle even by the gods—how much less by the Pandavas.
स्वधर्ममनुपश्यन्तो यदि माधव संयुगे। अस्त्रेण निधनं काले प्राप्स्यामः स्वर्ग्यमेव तत्
If, O Madhava, we kshatriyas, disregarding our own duty, should meet our end in battle by weapons at the appointed time, that itself would be heaven for us.
मुख्यश्चैवैष नो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां जनार्दन । यच्छयीमहि सङ्ग्रामे शरतल्पगता वयम्
Indeed, this is our foremost duty as kshatriyas, O Janardana: that we should lie upon a bed of arrows in battle.