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.
स केशवमभिप्रेक्ष्य गुडाकेशो महायशाः । अभ्यभाषत कैतव्यं प्रगृह्य विपुलं भुजम्
Then Gudakesha, famed and mighty, glancing at Kesava, addressed the deceitful one, grasping his broad arm.
स्ववीर्यं यः समाश्रित्य समाह्वयति वै परान् । अभीतो युध्यते शत्रून्स वै पुरुष उच्यते
He who, relying on his own strength, challenges others and fearlessly fights his enemies, he alone is called a man.
परवीर्यं समाश्रित्य यः समाह्वयते परान् । क्षत्रबन्धुरशक्तत्वाल्लोके स पुरुषाधमः
But he who, relying on the strength of others, challenges foes—being powerless and only kin to warriors—is called the lowest of men in the world.
स त्वं परेषां वीर्येण मन्यसे वीर्यमात्मनः । स्वयं कापुरुषो मूढ परांश्च क्षेप्तुमिच्छसि
You, relying on the strength of others, imagine that strength as your own; though a coward and deluded, you wish to cast others into danger.
यस्त्वं वृद्धं सर्वराज्ञां हितबुद्धिं जितेन्द्रियम् । मरणाय महाप्रज्ञं दीक्षयित्वा विकत्थसे
You boast after sending to death the elder of all kings, wise, self-controlled, and devoted to their welfare.
भावस्ते विदितोऽस्माभिर्दुर्बुद्धे कुलपांसन । न हनिष्यन्ति गाङ्गेयं पाण्डवा घृणयेति हि
Your intent is known to us, O fool, disgrace of your lineage; you think the Pandavas will not slay Bhishma out of compassion.
यस्य वीर्यं समाश्रित्य धार्तराष्ट्र विकत्थसे। हन्तास्मि प्रथमं भीष्मं मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम्
Relying on whose strength, O Dhartarashtra, you boast—I will first slay Bhishma before the eyes of all archers.
कैतव्य गत्वा भरतान्समेत्य सुयोधनं धार्तराष्ट्रं वदस्व। तथेत्युवाचार्जुनः सव्यसाची निशाव्यपाये भविता विमर्दः
O deceitful one, go and tell the assembled Bharatas and Suyodhana, son of Dhritarashtra: ‘So be it,’ said Arjuna, the ambidextrous; at the end of the night, the clash will take place.
सुयोधनं धार्तराष्ट्रं वदस्व
Go and tell Suyodhana, son of Dhritarashtra.
हन्यामहं द्रोणमृतेऽपि लोकं न ते भयं विद्यते पाण्डवेभ्यः । ततो हि ते लब्धमतं च राज्य- मापद्गताः पाण्डवाश्चेति भावः
Even if I must slay Drona or the world itself, you need not fear the Pandavas; for thus you have gained the kingdom, while the Pandavas are beset by calamity—such is your thought.