ध्रुवस्ते विजयो राजन्यस्य मन्त्री हरिस्तव । अहं त्वामभिजानामि रणे शत्रून्विजेष्यसि
Your victory is certain, O king, for your counselor is Krishna; I know you—you will conquer your enemies in battle.
यतो धर्मस्ततः कृष्णो यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः। युध्यस्व गच्छ कौन्तेय पृच्छ मां किं ब्रवीमि ते
Where there is dharma, there is Krishna; where there is Krishna, there is victory. Fight, go forth, son of Kunti—ask me, what shall I say to you?
पृच्छामि त्वां द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रृणु यन्मेऽभिकाङ्क्षितम्। कथं जयेयं संग्रामे भवन्तमपराजितम्
I ask you, best of twice-born, listen to what I desire: how might I conquer you in battle, you who are unconquered?
न तेऽस्ति विजयस्तावद्यावद्युद्ध्याम्यहं रणे। ममाशु निधने राजन्यतस्व सह सदरैः
You shall not be victorious as long as I fight in the field; only upon my swift death, O king, may you take the kingdom with your allies.
हन्त तस्मान्महाबाहो वधोपायं वदात्मनः। आचार्य प्रणिपत्यैष पृच्छामि त्वां नमोऽस्तु ते
Therefore, mighty-armed one, tell me the means of your own death; O teacher, bowing to you, I ask—salutations to you.
न शत्रुं तात पश्यामि यो मां हन्याद्रथे स्थितम्। युध्यमानं सुसंरब्धं शरवर्षौघवर्षिणम्
Father, I see no enemy who could slay me while I stand on my chariot, fighting fiercely, showering torrents of arrows.
ऋते प्रायगतं रजन्न्यस्तशस्त्रमचेतनम् । हन्यान्मां युधि योधानां सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
Except if I am overcome by fate, O king, having laid down my weapons and become insensible—then I could be slain in battle by warriors; this is the truth I tell you.
शस्त्रं चाहं रणे जह्यां श्रुत्वा तु महदप्रियम्। श्रद्धेपवाक्यात्पुरुषादेतत्सत्यं ब्रवीति ते
I would lay down my weapon in battle only upon hearing some great misfortune; by the trustworthy word of a man, I speak this truth to you.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाराज भारद्वाजस्य धीमतः। अनुमान्य तमाचार्यं प्रायाच्छारद्वतं प्रति
Hearing this from the wise Bhāradvāja, O great king, and having obtained his permission, he went to Śāradvata.
सोऽभिवाद्य कृपं राजा कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम् । उवाच दुर्धर्षतमं वाक्यं वाक्यविदां वरः
The king, having bowed to Kṛpa and circumambulated him, spoke to the most formidable, the best among speakers, these words.
अनुमानये त्वां योत्स्येऽहं गुरो विगतकल्मषः । जयेयं च रिपून्सर्वाननुज्ञातस्त्वयाऽनघ
I seek your permission, O pure one, teacher; I will fight, free from sin, and, with your approval, may I conquer all my foes.
यदि मां नाभिगच्छेथा युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः। शपेयं त्वां महाराज परीभावाय सर्वशः
If you do not come against me, firmly resolved for battle, I would curse you, O great king, to utter disgrace.
अर्थस्य पुरुषो दासो दासस्त्वर्थो न कस्यचित् । इति सत्यं महाराज बद्धोऽस्म्यर्थेन कौरवैः
A man is the servant of wealth; wealth is servant to none—this is the truth, O great king; I am bound by wealth to the Kauravas.
तेषामर्थे महाराज योद्धव्यमिति मे मतिः । अतस्त्वां क्लीबवद्ब्रूयांयुद्धादन्यत्किमिच्छसि
For their sake, O king, it is my resolve to fight; therefore, I would call you unmanly—what do you seek besides battle?
हन्त पृच्छामि ते तस्मादाचार्य श्रृणु मे वचः। इत्युक्त्वा व्यथितो राजा नोवाच गतचेतनः
Therefore, I ask you, O teacher, listen to my words; having spoken thus, the troubled king, his senses departing, said nothing.
तं गौतमः प्रत्युवाच विज्ञायास्य विवक्षितम्। अवध्योऽहं महीपाल यद्ध्यस्व जयमाप्नुहि
Gautama, perceiving his intention, replied to him: 'I am invulnerable, O king; fight and attain victory.'
प्रीतस्तेऽभिगमेनाहं जयं तव नराधिप । आशासिष्ये सदोत्थाय सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
I am pleased by your approach, O lord of men; I always wish for your victory—this is the truth I tell you.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाराज गौतमस्य विशांपते। अनुमान्य कृपं राजा प्रययौ येन मद्रराट्
Hearing this from Gautama, O king of the people, and having received Kṛpa's permission, the king went to the ruler of Madra.
स शल्यमभिवाद्याथ कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम् । उवाच राजा दुर्धर्षमात्मनिःश्रेयसं वचः
He bowed to Śalya, circumambulated him, and the king spoke to the formidable one words for his own highest good.
अनुमानये त्वां दुर्धर्ष योत्स्ये विगतकल्मषः । जयेयं नु परान्राजन्ननुज्ञातस्त्वया रिपून्
I seek your permission, O formidable one; I will fight, free from sin—O king, if permitted by you, may I conquer my enemies.
यदि मां नाधिगच्छेथा युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः । शपेयं त्वां महाराज परीभावाय वै रणे
If, O great king, you, firmly resolved on battle, do not obtain me, I would curse you in the fight for your disgrace.
तुष्टोऽस्मि पूजितश्चास्मि यत्काङ्क्षसि तदस्तु ते । अनुजानामि चैव त्वां युध्यस्व जयमाप्नुहि
I am pleased and honored; whatever you desire, let it be granted to you. I also give you permission—fight and win victory.
ब्रूहि चैष परं वीर केनार्थः किं ददामि ते। एवं गते महाराज युद्धादन्यत्किमिच्छसि
Tell me, O hero, what is your highest purpose? What shall I give you? In this situation, O great king, what do you wish besides battle?
अर्थस्य पुरुषो दासो दासस्त्वर्थो न कस्यचित्। इति सत्यं महाराज बद्धोस्म्यर्थेन कौरवैः
A man is a servant to wealth; wealth is servant to none. This is the truth, O great king—I am bound by wealth to the Kauravas.
करिष्यामि हि ते कामं भागिनेय यथेप्सितम्। ब्रवीम्यतः क्लीबवत्त्वां युद्धादन्यत्किमिच्छसि
I will indeed do whatever you, O son of my sister, desire. Therefore, speak—what do you wish besides battle, that you do not seem unmanly?
मन्त्रयस्व महाराज नित्यं मद्धितमुत्तमम्। कामं युद्ध्य परस्यार्थे वरमेतं वृणोम्यहम्
Always consult, O great king, for my highest benefit. Freely fight for another's sake; I choose this boon.
किमत्र ब्रूहि साह्यं ते करोमि नृपसत्तम। कामं योत्स्ये परस्यार्थे बद्धोऽस्म्यर्थेन कौरवैः
Speak—what here can I do to assist you, O best of kings? Freely will I fight for another's sake; I am bound by wealth to the Kauravas.
स एव मे वरः शल्य उद्योगे यस्त्वया कृतः। सूतपुत्रस्य संग्रामे कार्यस्तेजोवधस्त्वया
That very boon, O Shalya, which you granted in the preparations—that is your task in battle: to restrain the prowess of the son of the charioteer.
संपत्स्यत्येष ते कामः कुन्तीपुत्र यथेप्सितम् । गच्छ युध्यस्व विस्रब्धः प्रतिजाने वचस्तव
This desire of yours, O son of Kunti, will be fulfilled as you wish. Go, fight with confidence—I pledge you my word.
अनुमान्याथ कौन्तेयो मातुलं मद्रकेश्वरम् । निर्जगाम महासैन्याद्भ्रतृभिः परिवारितः
Then, having taken leave of his maternal uncle, the king of Madra, the son of Kunti departed from the great army, surrounded by his brothers.