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.
ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे प्रशशंसुर्धनञ्जयम् । तेन वाक्योपचारेण विस्मिता राजसत्तमाः
Then all the kings praised Dhananjaya; the royal chiefs were astonished by his manner of speech.
अनुनीय च तान्सर्वान्यथामान्यं यथावयः। धर्मराजं तदा वाक्यं तत्प्राप्यं प्रत्यभाषत
After respectfully addressing them all according to their rank and age, he then spoke these words to Dharmaraja.
आत्मानमवमन्वानो न हि स्यात्पार्थिवोत्तमः । तत्रोत्तरं प्रवक्ष्यामि तव शुश्रूषणे रतः
One who belittles himself cannot be a foremost king; therefore, I will speak a fitting reply for you, eager to serve.
उलूकं भरतश्रेष्ठ सामपूर्वमथोर्जितम् । दुर्योधनस्य तद्वाक्यं निशम्य भरतर्षभः
Uluka, best of Bharatas, having heard Duryodhana’s words, delivered them with both conciliation and force.
अतिलोहितनेत्राभ्यामाशीविष इव श्वसन् । स्मयमान इव क्रोधात्सृक्किणी परिसंलिहन्
With eyes bloodshot like a hissing serpent, smiling in anger, he licked his lips.
जनार्दनमभिप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातॄंश्चैवेदमब्रवीत् । अभ्यभाषत कैतव्यं प्रगृह्य विपुलं भुजम्
Looking at Janardana and his brothers, he spoke these deceitful words, grasping his mighty arm.
उलूक गच्छ कैतव्य ब्रूहि तात सुयोधनम् । कृतघ्नं वैरपुरुषं दुर्मतिं कुलपांसनम्
Uluka, go, O cunning one, and say to Suyodhana: ungrateful, enemy of men, evil-minded, disgrace of your lineage.
पाण्डवेषु सदा पाप नित्यं जिह्मं प्रवर्तते। स्ववीर्याद्यः पराक्रम्य पाप आह्वयते परान्। अभीतः पूरयन्वाक्यमेष वैः क्षत्रियः पुमान्
He always acts wickedly toward the Pandavas, ever crooked in conduct; relying on his own strength, he challenges others, and, fearless, fills the air with words—such is this Kshatriya.
स पापः क्षत्रियो भूत्वा अस्मानाहूय संयुगे। मान्यामान्यान्पुरस्कृत्य युद्धं मा गाः कुलाधम
That wicked Kshatriya, having challenged us to battle, honors and dishonors before him—do not enter the fight, O disgrace of your clan.
आत्मवीर्यं समाश्रिकत्य भृत्यवीर्यं च कौरव । आह्वयस्व रणे पार्थान्सर्वथा क्षत्रियो भव
Rely on your own strength and that of your servants, O Kaurava; challenge the Pandavas in battle, and be a true Kshatriya in every way.
परवीर्यं समाश्रित्य यः समाह्वयते परान्। अशक्तः स्वयमादातुमेतदेव नपुंसकम्
One who relies on others’ strength to challenge foes, unable to seize victory himself, is truly unmanly.
स त्वं परेषां वीर्येण आत्मानं बहुमन्यसे । कथमेवमशक्तस्त्वमस्मान्समभिगर्जसि
You value yourself highly because of others’ strength; how, being so powerless, do you roar at us?
मद्वचश्चापि भूयस्ते वक्तव्यः स सुयोधनः। श्व इदानीं प्रपद्येथाः पुरुषो भव दुर्मते
Tell Suyodhana further from me: tomorrow, surrender—be a man, O evil-minded one.
मन्यसे यच्च मूढ त्वं न योत्स्यति जनार्दनः। सारथ्येन वृतः पार्थैरिति त्वं न बिभेषि च
You foolishly think Janardana will not fight, since he is chosen as charioteer by the Pandavas, and so you do not fear.
जघन्यकालमप्येतन्न भवेत्सर्वपार्थिवान्। निर्दहेयमहं क्रोधात्तृणानीव हुताशनः
Even at the lowest moment for all kings, I could burn them in anger like dry grass in fire.
युधिष्ठिरनियोगात्तु फाल्गुनस्य महात्मनः । करिष्ये युध्यमानस्य सारथ्यं विजितात्मनः
By Yudhishthira’s command, I, the self-controlled Phalguna, will serve as charioteer for the great-souled one in battle.
यद्युत्पतसि लोकांस्त्रीन्यद्याविशसि भूतलम् । तत्रतत्रार्जुनरथं प्रभाते द्रक्ष्यसे पुनः
Even if you ascend to the three worlds, or enter the earth itself, there too, at dawn, you will again see Arjuna’s chariot.
यच्चापि भीमसेनस्य मन्यसे मोघभाषितम् । दुःशासनस्य रुधिरं पीतमद्यावधारय
And if you think Bhimasena’s words are empty, remember well that Duhshasana’s blood has been drunk today.
न त्वां समीक्षते पार्थो नापि राजा युधिष्ठिरः। न भीमसेनो न यमौ प्रतिकूलप्रभाषिणम्
Partha does not look upon you, nor does King Yudhishthira, nor Bhimasena, nor the twins, for you speak with hostility.
दुर्योधनस्य तद्वाक्यं निशम्य भरतर्षभ । नेत्राभ्यामतिताम्राभ्यां कैतव्यं समुदैक्षत
Hearing those words of Duryodhana, O best of the Bharatas, he looked at him with eyes reddened in anger, full of deceit.