यत्र भीष्ममुखान्सर्वाञ्शस्त्रज्ञान्योधसत्तमान्। पाण्डवानामनीकेषु योधयन्ति प्रहारिणः
Where Bhīṣma and other foremost warriors, masters of weapons, fight in the ranks of the Pāṇḍavas, striking fiercely.
केनावध्या महात्मानः पाण्डुपुत्रा महाबलाः । केन दत्तवरास्तात किं वा ज्ञानं विदन्ति ते
By whom are the mighty sons of Pāṇḍu, endowed with great strength, rendered invincible? By whom were they granted boons, or what knowledge do they possess?
येन क्षयं न गच्छन्ति दिवि तारागणा इव। पुनःपुनर्न मृष्यामि हतं सैन्यं तु पाण्डवैः
Because of which they do not perish, like the stars in the sky; again and again, I cannot bear to see my army slain by the Pāṇḍavas.
मय्येव दण्डः पतति दैवात्परमदारुणः। यथाऽवध्याः पाण्डुसुता यथा वाध्याश्च मे सुताः
Upon me alone falls this most terrible punishment of fate: that the sons of Pāṇḍu are invulnerable, while my sons are subject to death.
एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व याथातथ्येन सञ्जय । न हि पारं प्रपश्यामि दुःखस्यास्य कथंचन
Tell me all this in full detail, Sanjaya, for I see no end at all to this suffering.
समुद्रस्येव महतो भुजाभ्यां प्रतरन्नरः । पुत्राणां व्यसनं मन्ये ध्रुवं प्राप्तं सुदारुणम्
Just as a man cannot cross a vast ocean with his arms, so I think my sons have surely met with a terrible disaster.
घातयिष्यति मे स्रवान्पुत्रान्भीमो न शंसयः। न हि पश्यामि तं वीरं यो मे रक्षेत्सुतान्रणे
Bhima will kill all my sons—of this there is no doubt; for I do not see any hero who could protect my sons in battle.
ध्रुवं विनाशः संप्राप्तः पुत्रामां मम सञ्जय। तस्मान्मे कारणं सूत शक्तिं चैव विशेषतः
Destruction has certainly come upon my sons, Sanjaya; therefore, tell me the reason for this, and especially their strength.
पृच्छतो वै यथातत्त्वं सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि। दुर्योधनश्च यच्चक्रे दृष्ट्वा स्वान्विमुखान्रणे
As I ask, you should tell me everything truthfully; and what Duryodhana did when he saw his own men turning away in battle.
भीष्मद्रोणौ कृपश्चैव सौबलश्च जयद्रथः । द्रौणिर्वापि महेष्वासो विकर्णो वा महाबलः
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Saubala, Jayadratha, Drona’s son the mighty archer, or Vikarna the powerful—
निश्चयो वापि कस्तेषां तदा ह्यासीन्महात्मानाम् । विमुखेषु महाप्राज्ञ मम पुत्रेषु सञ्जय
What was the decision among those great souls, O wise Sanjaya, when my sons turned away in battle?
श्रृणु राजन्नवहितः श्रुत्वा चैवावधारय। नैव मन्त्रकृतं किंचिन्नैव मायां तथाविधाम्
Listen carefully, O King, and understand well; there was no secret counsel, nor any such illusion.
न वै विभीषिकां कांचिद्राजन्कुर्वन्ति पाण्डवाः । युध्यन्ति ते यथान्यायं शक्तिमन्तश्च संयुगे
The Pandavas, O King, do not use any terror or trick; they fight justly and with strength in battle.
धर्मेण सर्वकार्याणि जीवितादीनि भारत। आरभन्ते सदा पार्थाः प्रार्थयाना महद्यशः
The sons of Pritha always undertake all actions, even life itself, according to dharma, seeking great fame.
न ते युद्धान्निवर्तन्ते धर्मोपेता महाबलाः । श्रिया परमया युक्ता यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः
They do not turn away from battle, those mighty ones established in dharma, adorned with supreme glory; where there is dharma, there is victory.
तेनावध्या रणे पार्था जययुक्ताश्च पार्थिव । तव पुत्रा दुरात्मानः पापेष्वभिरताः सदा
Therefore, the sons of Pritha are invincible in battle and destined for victory, O King; but your sons, of evil mind, are always devoted to wickedness.
निष्ठुरा हीनकर्माणस्तेन हीयन्ति संयुगे। सुबहूनि नृशंसानि पुत्रैस्तव जनेश्वरे
They are harsh and of low deeds, and thus are defeated in battle; your sons, O lord of men, have committed many cruel acts.
निकृतानीह पाण्डूनां नीचैरिव यथा नरैः । सर्वं च तदनादृत्य पुत्राणां तव किल्बिषम्
They have wronged the Pandavas here, just as base men would do; disregarding all this, your sons have committed sin.
धर्ममूलाः सदैवासन्पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज। न चैतान्बहुमन्यन्ते पुत्रास्तव विशांपते
The Pandavas, O eldest son of Pandu, have always been rooted in dharma; but your sons, O lord of peoples, do not honor them.
तस्य पापस्य सततं क्रियमाणस्य कर्मणः। सांप्रतं सुमहद्धोरं फलं प्राप्तं जनेश्वर
Because of those constant evil deeds, a great and dreadful result has now come, O lord of men.
स त्वं भुङ्क्ष्व महाराज सपुत्रः समुहृञ्जनः। नावबुध्यसि यद्राजन्वार्यमाणः सुहृज्जनैः
So now, O great king, enjoy with your sons and all your people the consequences; for you did not understand, though restrained by your well-wishers.
विदुरेणाथ भीष्मेण द्रोणेन न महात्मना। तथा मया चाप्यसकृद्वार्यमाणो न बुध्यसे
By Vidura, by Bhishma, by the great-souled Drona, and by me also, you were often restrained, but you did not understand.
वाक्यं हितं च पथ्यं च मर्त्यः पथ्यमिवौषधम् । पुत्राणां मतमास्थाय जितान्मन्यसि पाण्डवान्
You have accepted the counsel of your sons, which is beneficial and wholesome, like medicine is to the sick; thus you think the Pāṇḍavas are defeated.
शृणु भूयो यथातत्त्वं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। कारणं भरतश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवानां जयं प्रति
Hear again, as it truly is, the answer to what you ask me, O best of the Bharatas, regarding the reason for the Pāṇḍavas' victory.
तत्तेऽहं कथयिष्यामि यथाश्रुतमरिन्दम। दुर्योधनेन संपृष्ट एतमर्थं पितामहः
I will tell you, as I have heard it, O subduer of enemies, what the grandsire said when Duryodhana questioned him on this matter.
दृष्ट्वा भ्रातॄन्रणे सर्वान्निर्जितांस्तु महारथान् । शोकसंमूढहृदयो निशाकाले स्म कौरवः
Seeing all his brothers, the great chariot-warriors, defeated in battle, the Kaurava, his heart bewildered by grief, approached at night.
पितामहं महाप्राज्ञं विनयोपगम्य ह। यदब्रवीत्सुतस्तेऽसौ तन्मे शृणु जनेश्वर
With humility, he approached the wise grandsire and said to him what your son spoke; listen to that, O lord of men.
भवान्द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च कृपो द्रौणिस्तथैव च। कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यः काम्भोजश्च सुदक्षिणः
You, Droṇa, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Drauṇi as well, Kṛtavarmā son of Hārdika, and Sudakṣiṇa the Kāmbhoja,
भूरिश्रवा विकर्णश्च भगदत्तश्च वीर्यवान् । महारथाः समाख्याताः कुलपुत्रास्तनुत्यजः
Bhūriśravā, Vikarṇa, and the mighty Bhagadatta—these are renowned as great chariot-warriors, sons of noble families, strong in battle.
त्रयाणामपि लोकानां पर्याप्ता इति मे मतिः। पाण्डवानां समस्ताश्च न तिष्ठन्ति पराक्रमे
In my judgment, all of you together are sufficient to conquer the three worlds; yet none among you can match the Pāṇḍavas in valor.