दुःशासनौघं शलशल्यमत्स्यं सुषेणचित्रायुधनागनक्रम्। जयद्रथाद्रिं पुरुमित्रगाधं दुर्मर्षणोदं शकुनिप्रपातम्
Duḥśāsana is the rushing current, Śala and Śalya are the fish, Suṣeṇa and Citrāyudha are the serpent's steps, Jayadratha is the mountain, Purumitra the deep, Durmarṣaṇa the water, and Śakuni the waterfall.
शश्त्रौघमक्षय्यमभिप्रवृद्धं यदावगाह्य श्रमनष्टचेताः। भविष्यसि त्वं हतसर्वबान्धव- स्तदा मनस्ते परितापमेष्यति
When you plunge into that inexhaustible torrent of weapons, ever increasing, you will lose your senses from exhaustion, and when all your kin are slain, then your mind will be filled with regret.
तदा मनस्ते त्रिदिवादिवाशुचे- र्निवर्तिता पार्थ महीप्रशासनात्। प्रशाम्य राज्यं हि सुदुर्लभं त्वया बुभूषितः स्वर्ग इवातपस्विना
Then, O son of Pṛthā, your mind will turn away from ruling the earth, just as the impure turn from heaven; calm yourself, for the kingdom you desire is as hard to obtain as heaven for one without austerity.
सेनानिवेशं संप्राप्तः कैतव्यः पाण्डवस्य ह । समागतः पाण्डवेयैर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
Kaitavya arrived at the encampment of the Pāṇḍavas and, meeting with the sons of Pāṇḍu, spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira.
अभिज्ञो दूतवाक्यानां यथोक्तं ब्रुवतो मम। दुर्योधनसमादेशं श्रुत्वा न क्रोद्धुमर्हसि
Skilled in delivering messages, I speak as instructed; having heard Duryodhana's command, do not be angry with me.
उलूक न भयं तेऽस्ति ब्रूहि त्वं विगतज्वरः । यन्मत्तं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य लुब्धस्यादीर्घदर्शिनः
Ulūka, you have nothing to fear; speak without anxiety what I, on behalf of the greedy and short-sighted son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, have to say.
ततो द्युतिमतां मध्ये पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। सृञ्जयानां च मत्स्यानां कृष्णस्य च यशस्विनः
Then, in the midst of the radiant and noble Pāṇḍavas, the Sṛñjayas, the Matsyas, and the illustrious Kṛṣṇa,
द्रुपदस्य सपुत्रस्य विराटस्य च संनिधौ । भूमिपानां च सर्वेषां मध्ये वाक्यं जगाद ह
In the presence of Drupada and his sons, Virāṭa, and all the assembled kings, he spoke these words.
इदं त्वामब्रवीद्राजा धार्तराष्ट्रो महामनाः । श्रृण्वतां कुरुवीराणां तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर
The great-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra has sent this message to you, Yudhiṣṭhira; hear it as the Kuru heroes listen.
पराजितोऽसि द्यूतेन कृष्णा चानायिता सभाम् । शक्योऽमर्षो मनुष्येण कर्तुं पुरुषमानिना
You were defeated at dice, and Kṛṣṇā was brought into the assembly; a man of pride may endure such humiliation.
द्वादशैव तु वर्षाणि वने धिष्ण्याद्विवासितः । संवत्सरं विराटस्य दास्यमास्थाय चोषितः
For twelve years you lived in the forest, exiled from your home, and for one year you dwelt in disguise in the service of Virāṭa.
अमर्षं राज्यहरणं वनवासं च पाण्डव। द्रौपद्याश्च परिक्लेशं संस्मरन्पुरुषो भव
Remembering the loss of your kingdom, your exile to the forest, and the suffering of Draupadī, be a man, O Pāṇḍava.
अशक्तेन च यच्छप्तं भीमसेनेन पाण्डव । दुःशासनस्य रुधिरं पीयतां यदि शक्यते
If Bhīmasena, who is powerless, has vowed to drink Duḥśāsana's blood, let him do so if he is able.
लोहाभिसारो निर्वृत्तः कुरुक्षेत्रमकर्दमम्। समः पन्था भृतास्तेश्वाः श्वो युध्यस्व सकेशवः
The iron armor has been donned, Kurukṣetra is cleared of mud, the path is open, your horses are ready; tomorrow, fight with Keśava at your side.
असमागम्य भीष्मेण संयुगे किं विकत्थसे । आरुरुक्षुर्यथा पङ्गुः पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्
Without first meeting Bhīṣma in battle, why do you boast? It is like a cripple wishing to climb Mount Gandhamādana.
एवं कत्थसि कौन्तेय अकत्थन्पुरुषो भव। सूतपुत्रं सुदुर्घर्षं शल्यं च बलिनां वरम्
Thus you boast, O son of Kuntī; be not one who boasts but does not act. Face the son of the charioteer, fierce in battle, and Śalya, foremost among the strong.
द्रोणं च बलिनां श्रेष्ठं शचीपतिसमं युधि। अजित्वा संयुगे पार्थ राज्यं कथमिहेच्छसि
Without defeating Drona, the foremost of the mighty, equal to the lord of Sachi in battle, how do you desire the kingdom here, Partha?
ब्राह्मे धनुषि चाचार्यं वेदयोरन्तगं द्वयोः। युधि धुर्यमविक्षोभ्यमनीकचरमच्युतम्
He is the master of the divine bow, the teacher in the two Vedas, the ender of both, the unshakable leader in battle, moving among the troops, unwearied.
द्रोणं महाद्युतिं पार्थ जेतुमिच्छसि तन्मृषा । न हि शुश्रुम वातेन मेरुमुन्मथितं गिरिम्
You wish to conquer Drona, of great brilliance, Partha—that is vain; for we have never heard of Mount Meru being shattered by the wind.
अनिलो वा वहेन्मेरुं द्यौर्वापि निपतेन्महीम् । युगं वा परिवर्तेत यद्येवं स्याद्यथात्थ माम्
The wind might carry away Meru, or the sky might fall to earth, or an age might turn back—if what you say of me were so.
को ह्यस्ति जीविताकाङ्क्षी प्राप्येममरिमर्दनम् । गजो वाजी रथो वापि पुनः स्वस्ति गृहान्व्रजेत्
Who, desiring life, having encountered this crusher of enemies, would return safely home again—whether elephant, horse, or chariot?
कथमाभ्यामभिध्यातः संसृष्टो दारुणेन वा । रणे जीवन्विमुच्येत पदा भूमिमुपस्पृशन्
How could one, struck by both of us or assailed by fierce force, escape alive in battle, touching the ground with his foot?
किं दुर्दुरः कूपशयो यथेमां न बुध्यमे राजचमूं समेताम्। दुराधरषां देवचमूप्रकाशां गुप्तां नरेन्द्रैस्त्रिदशैरिव द्याम्
Why do you not understand this assembled royal army, difficult to subdue, shining like the host of gods, guarded by kings as heaven by immortals—are you lying in a deep well?
प्राच्यैः प्रतीच्यैरथ दाक्षिणात्यै- रुदीच्यकाम्भोजशकैः खशैश्च। साल्वैः समत्स्यैः कुरुमुख्यदेश्यै- र्म्लेच्छैः पुलिन्दैर्द्रविडान्ध्रकाञ्च्यैः
With easterners, westerners, southerners, northerners, Kambojas, Shakas, Khasas, Salvas, Matsyas, the chief Kurus, Mlecchas, Pulindas, Dravidas, Andhras, and Kanchis—
नानाजनौघं युधि संप्रवृद्धं नाङ्गं यथा वेगमपारकणीयम्। मां च स्थितं नागबलस्य मध्ये युयुत्समे मन्द किमल्पबुद्धे
This multitude of various peoples, grown strong in battle, cannot be crossed, like a swift river; and I, standing in the midst of elephant forces, eager for combat—what do you see, dull-witted one?
इत्येवमुक्त्वा राजानं धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। अभ्यवृत्य पुनर्जिष्णुमुलूकः प्रत्यभाषत
Having thus spoken to King Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, Uluka then turned and addressed Jishnu again.
अकत्थमानो युध्यस्व कत्थेसेऽर्जुन किं बहु। पर्यायात्सिद्धिरेस्य नैतत्सिध्यति कत्थनात्
Without boasting, fight, Arjuna; why speak so much? Success comes by effort in turn, not by boasting.
यदीदं कत्थनाल्लोके सिध्येत्कर्म धनञ्जय । सर्वे भवेयुः सिद्धार्थाः कत्थने को हि दुर्गतः
If, Dhananjaya, deeds in this world were accomplished by boasting, then all would achieve their aims—who is poor in boasting?
जानामि ते वासुदेवं सहायं जानामि ते गाण्डिवं तालमात्रम्। जानाम्येतत्त्वादृशो नास्ति योद्धा जानानस्ते राज्यमेतद्धरामि
I know you have Vasudeva as ally; I know your Gandiva bow, of the measure of a palm; I know there is no warrior like you; knowing this, I bear this kingdom for you.
न तु पर्यायधर्मेण राज्यं प्राप्नोति मानुषः । मनसैवानुकूलानि विधाता कुरुते वशे
But a man does not obtain a kingdom by mere customary law; the Creator arranges favorable things according to his will.