द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च पार्थिवः । भीमसेनश्च विक्रान्तो यमजौ च महारथौ
The sons of Draupadī, Abhimanyu, King Dhṛṣṭaketu, the valiant Bhīmasena, and the two sons of Madri, great chariot-warriors,
उत्पेतुरासनात्सर्वे क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः। बाहुन्प्रगृह्य रुचिरान्रक्तचन्दनरूषितान्। अङ्गदैः पारिहार्यैश्च केयूरैश्च विभूषितान्
All of them rose from their seats, their eyes red with anger, grasping their beautiful arms adorned with red sandal, armlets, and bracelets.
दन्तान्दन्तेषु निष्पिष्य सृक्किणी परिलेलिहन् । तेषामाकारभावज्ञः कुन्तीपुत्रो वृकोदरः
Gnashing their teeth together and licking the corners of their mouths, Vṛkodara, son of Kuntī, who knew their moods and intentions,
उदतिष्ठत्स वेगेन क्रोधेन प्रज्वलन्निव। उद्वृत्य सहसा नेत्रे दन्तान्कटकटाय्य च
Rose swiftly, blazing with anger, suddenly rolling his eyes and grinding his teeth.
हस्तं हस्तेन निष्पिष्य उलूकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। अशक्तानामिवास्माकं प्रोत्साहननिमित्तकम्
Crushing his hand with his own, he spoke to Ulūka these words: 'Your message is meant to provoke us, as if we are powerless.'
श्रुतं ते चवनं मूर्ख यत्त्वां दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत्। तन्मे कथयतो मन्द श्रृणु वाक्यं दुरासदम्
'You have heard, fool, what Duryodhana told you to say. Now listen to the harsh words I speak to you, slow-witted one.'
सर्वक्षत्रस्य मध्ये तं यद्वक्ष्यसि सुयोधनम् । श्रृण्वतः सूतपुत्रस्य पितुश्च त्वं दुरात्मनः
'Whatever you will say to Suyodhana in the midst of all the Kṣatriyas, in the hearing of Karṇa and his wicked father,'
अस्माभिः प्रीतिकामैस्तु भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य नित्यशः। मर्षितं ते दुराचार तत्त्वं न बहु मन्यसे
'We, always desiring the favor of our elder brother, have tolerated your misconduct, but you do not value this truth highly.'
प्रेषितश्च हृषीकेशः शमाकाङ्क्षी कुरून्प्रति । कुलस्य हितकामेन धर्मराजेन धीमता
'And Hṛṣīkeśa was sent, wishing for peace with the Kurus, by the wise king devoted to the good of the family.'
त्वं कालचोदितो नूनं गन्तुकामो यमक्षयम् । गच्छस्वाहवमस्माभिस्तच्च श्वो भविता ध्रुवम्
'You, prompted by Time, surely desire to go to the abode of Yama. Go, you will be sent there by us, and that will certainly happen tomorrow.'
मयापि च प्रतिज्ञातो वधः सभ्रातृकस्य ते। स तथा भविता पाप नात्र कार्या विचारणा
I too have vowed to slay you along with your brothers; this will certainly come to pass, O wicked one—there is no need for further deliberation.
वेलामतिक्रमेत्सद्यः सागरो वरुणालयः । पर्वताश्च विशीर्येयुर्मयोक्तं न मृषा भवेत्
The ocean, abode of Varuna, may at once overstep its bounds, and the mountains may shatter, but what I have declared shall not prove false.
सहायस्ते यदि यमः कुबेरो रुद्र एव वा। यथाप्रतिज्ञं दुर्बुद्धे प्रकरिष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः । दुःशासनस्य रुधिरं पाता चास्मि यथेप्सितम्
Even if Yama, Kubera, or Rudra himself should aid you, O evil-minded one, the Pandavas will fulfill their vow; I will drink Duhshasana’s blood as I desire.
यश्चेह प्रतिसंरब्धः क्षत्रियो माभियास्यति। अपि भीष्मं पुरुस्कृत्य तं नेष्यामि यमक्षयम्
Any Kshatriya here who, in his fury, approaches me—even if he comes with Bhishma at his head—I will send him to the abode of Yama.
यच्चैतदुक्तं वचनं मया क्षत्रस्य संसदि। यथैतद्भविता सत्यं तथैवात्मानमालभे
This word I have spoken in the assembly of Kshatriyas—may it come true as I have declared, and so I pledge my very self.
भीमसेनवचः श्रुत्वा सहदेवोऽप्यमर्षणः । क्रोधसंरक्तनयनस्ततो वाक्यमुवाच ह
Hearing Bhimasena’s words, Sahadeva too, filled with wrath, his eyes reddened with anger, then spoke these words:
शौटीरशूरसदृशमनीकजनसंसदि। श्रृणु पाप वचो मह्यं यद्वाच्यो हि पितात्वया
Hear, O wicked one, in the midst of this army, words befitting a Kshatriya hero—what a father ought to be told by you, I shall now declare.
नास्माकं भविता भेदः कदाचित्कुरुभिः सह । धृतराष्ट्रस्य संबन्धो यदि न स्यात्त्वया सह
There would never have been discord between us and the Kurus, had you not been allied with Dhritarashtra.
त्वं तु लोकविनाशाय धृतराष्ट्रकुलस्य च। उत्पन्नो वैरपुरुषः स्वकुलघ्नश्च पापकृत्
You were born for the destruction of the world and of Dhritarashtra’s line—a man of enmity, a destroyer of your own kin, a doer of evil deeds.
जन्मप्रभृति चास्माकं पिता ते पापपूरुषः । अहितानि नृशंसानि नित्यशः कर्तुमिच्छति
From the moment of your birth, your father, O wicked one, has always wished to commit hostile and cruel acts against us.
तस्य वैरानुषङ्गस्य गन्तास्म्यन्तं सुदुर्गमम्। अहमादौ निहत्य त्वां शकुनेः संप्रपश्यतः
I will bring to an end, however difficult, the chain of enmity arising from him; first, I will slay you before Shakuni’s eyes.
ततोऽस्मि शकुनिं हन्ता मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम्। भीमस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सहदेवस्य चोभयोः
Then, as all the bowmen look on, I will slay Shakuni; thus, having heard the words of both Bhima and Sahadeva—
उवाच फाल्गुनो वाक्यं भीमसेनं स्मयन्निव। भीमसेन न ते सन्ति येषां वैरं त्वया सह
Phalguna, smiling as if in amusement, spoke to Bhimasena: ‘Bhimasena, those who are your enemies do not exist.’
मन्दा गृहेषु सुखिनो मृत्युपाशवशं गताः। उलूकश्च न ते वाच्यः परुषं पुरुषोत्तम
They are weak, content in their homes, already ensnared by the noose of death; and Uluka, O best of men, is not to be harshly addressed by you.
दूताः किमपराध्यन्ते यथोक्तस्यानुभाषिणः । एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुर्भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्
What fault is there in messengers, who merely repeat what has been told them? Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed one addressed Bhima, whose valor equals that of Bhima himself.
धृष्टद्युम्नसुखान्वीरान्सुहृदः समभाषत। श्रुतं वस्तस्य पापस्य धार्तराष्ट्रस्य भाषितम्
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, seeking the welfare of his friends, spoke to the heroic allies: ‘You have heard the wicked words spoken by Dhritarashtra’s son.’
कुत्सनं वासुदेवस्य मम चैव विशेषतः। श्रुत्वा भवन्तः संरब्धा अस्माकं हितकाम्यया
You have heard the insults directed at Vāsudeva and especially at myself; you have become enraged, wishing for our welfare.
प्रभावाद्वासुदेवस्य भवतां च प्रयत्नतः। समग्रं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं सर्वं न गणयाम्यहम्
Because of Vāsudeva’s power and your own efforts, I do not reckon the assembled kings and all the Kshatriyas as anything.
भवद्भिः समनुज्ञातो वाक्यमस्य यदुत्तरम् । उलूके प्रापयिष्यामि यद्वक्ष्यति सुयोधनम्
With your permission, I will send this reply to Uluka, so that he may deliver it to Suyodhana.
श्वो भूते कत्थितस्यास्य प्रतिवाक्यं चमूमुखे। गाण्डीवेनाभिधास्याकमि क्लीबा हि वचनोत्तराः
Tomorrow, in the presence of the army, I will answer his boasting with Gandiva; for words alone are weak replies.