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.
त्रयोदश समा भुक्तं राज्यं विलपतस्तव । भूयश्चैव प्रशासिष्ये निहत्य त्वां सबान्धवम्
For thirteen years you lamented, enjoying the kingdom; and again, I shall rule after slaying you and your kin.
क्व तदा गाण्डिवं तेऽभूद्यत्त्वं दासपणैर्जितः। क्व तदा भीमसेनस्य बलमासीच्च फाल्गुना
Where was your Gandiva then, when you were defeated by dice and made a slave? Where was Bhimasena's strength then, O Phalguna?
सगदाद्भीमसेनाद्वा पार्थाद्वापि सगाण्डिवात् । न वै मोक्षस्तदा वोभूद्विना कृष्णामनिन्दिताम्
Neither from Bhimasena with his mace, nor from Partha with his Gandiva, was there escape then—except for Krishna, the blameless one.
सा वो दास्ये समापन्नान्मोचयामास पार्षती । अमानुष्यं समापन्नान्दासकर्मण्यवस्थितान्
It was Draupadi who freed you, fallen into servitude, from that inhuman state, engaged in the work of slaves.
अवोचं यत्षण्डतिलानहं वस्तथ्यमेव तत् । धृता हि वेणी पार्थेन विराटनगरे तदा
What I spoke of the eunuch and the sesame seeds is entirely true; for the braid was indeed worn by Partha in the city of Virata at that time.
सूदकर्मणि च श्रान्तं विराटस्य महानसे । भीमसेनेन कौन्तेय यच्च तन्मम पौरुषम्
And the strength I showed, son of Kunti, in the kitchen of Virata, when Bhimasena, weary from his work as a cook, displayed his prowess—this too is mine.
एवमेतत्सदां दण्डं क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रिये दधुः । वेणीं कृत्वा षण्डवेषः कन्यां नर्तितवानसि
Thus, Kshatriyas have always imposed such penalties upon Kshatriyas; you made a braid, assumed the guise of a eunuch, and danced as a maiden.
न भयाद्वासुदेवस्य न चापि तव फाल्गुन । राज्यं प्रतिप्रदाकस्यामि युद्ध्यस्व सहकेशवः
Neither out of fear of Vasudeva nor of you, Phalguna, will I restore the kingdom; fight, together with Krishna, if you wish.
न माया हीन्द्रजालं वा कुहका वापि भीषणा । आत्तशस्त्रस्य मे युद्धे वहन्ति प्रतिगर्जनाः
Neither magic, nor illusion, nor dreadful sorcery can withstand my roars in battle when I have taken up arms.
वासुदेवसहस्रं वा फाल्गुनानां शतानि वा। आसाद्य माममोघेषुं द्रविष्यन्ति दिशो दशः
Even if a thousand Vasudevas or hundreds of Phalgunas confront me, they will flee in all ten directions, unable to withstand my unfailing arrows.
संयुगं गच्छ भूष्मेण भिन्धि वा शिरसा गिरिम्। तरेमं वा महागाधं सौमदत्तितिमिङ्गिलम्
Go to battle with Bhishma, or shatter a mountain with your head, or cross this deep ocean—the great whale, Saumadatti.
शारद्वतमहामीनं विविंशतिमहोरगम् । बृहद्बलमहोद्वेलं सौमदत्तिकतिमिङ्गितम्
The great fish Sharadvata, the mighty serpent Vivimshati, the surging wave Brihadbala, and the whale Saumadatti—overcome these if you can.
भीष्मवेगमपर्यन्तं द्रोणग्राहदुरासदम्। कर्णशल्यझषावर्तं काम्भोजबडबासुखम्
The unstoppable force of Bhishma, the dreadful crocodile Drona, the whirlpool of Karna and Shalya, and the blazing fire of the Kambojas—face these in battle.
दुःशासनौघं शलशल्यमत्स्यं सुषेणचित्रायुधनागनक्रम्। जयद्रथाद्रिं पुरुमित्रगाधं दुर्मर्षणोदं शकुनिप्रपातम्
The flood of Duhshasana, the fish Shala and Shalya, the serpent Suṣeṇa, Citrāyudha, and Nāga Nakra, the mountain Jayadratha, the deep Purumitra, the fierce Durmarṣaṇa, and the abyss Shakuni—these await you.
शस्त्रौघमक्षय्यमतिप्रवृद्धं यदावगाह्य श्रमनष्टचेताः। भविष्यसि त्वं हतसर्वबान्धव- स्तदा मनस्ते परितापमेष्यति
When you plunge into that inexhaustible, ever-growing flood of weapons, exhausted and bereft of sense, all your kinsmen slain, then your mind will be seized by grief.
तदा मनस्ते त्रिदिवादिवाशुचे- र्निवर्तिता पार्थ महीप्रशासनात्। प्रशाम्य राज्यं हि सुदुर्लभं त्वया बुभूषितः स्वर्ग इवातपस्विना
Then, Partha, your mind will turn away from ruling the earth, as a soul departs from heaven; calm yourself, for the kingdom you desire is as hard to obtain as heaven is for one who has not performed austerities.
उलूकस्त्वर्जुनं भूयो यथोक्तं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। आशीविषमिव क्रुद्धं तुदन्वाक्यशलाकया
Then Uluka again addressed Arjuna with the words as instructed, stinging him with sharp speech like a furious serpent.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रुषिताः पाण्डवा भृशम् । प्रागेव भृशसंक्रुद्धाः कैतव्येनापि धर्षिताः
Hearing those words, the Pandavas became greatly enraged; already deeply angered, they had been insulted by the son of Kunti's enemy.
आसनेषूदतिष्ठन्त बाहूंश्चैव प्रचिक्षिपुः। आशीविषा इव क्रुद्धा वीक्षाञ्चक्रुः परस्परम्
They rose from their seats and brandished their arms; furious like serpents, they glared at each other.
अवाक्छिरा भीमसेनः समुदैक्षत कैतवम्। नेत्राभ्यां लोहितान्ताभ्यामाशीविष इव श्वसन्
Bhimasena, with his head lowered, glared at the son of Kunti's enemy, his bloodshot eyes blazing like a serpent's as he breathed heavily.