वैश्यांश्चाप्यूरुतो राजञ्शूद्रान्पद्भ्यां तथैवच। तपसा नियतं देवं निधानं सर्वदेहिनाम्
O King, the Vaiśyas are said to have arisen from his thighs, and the Śūdras likewise from his feet; through austerity, the divine source of all embodied beings is established.
ब्रह्मभूतममावास्यां पौर्णमास्यां तथैव च। योगभूतं परिचरन्केशवं महदाप्नुयात्
One who worships Keśava, who is of the nature of Brahman, on the new moon and full moon days, and who is absorbed in yoga, attains great reward.
केशवः परमं तेजः सर्वलोकपितामहः । एवमार्हुर्हृषीकेशं मुनयो वै नराधिप
Keśava is the supreme radiance, the grandfather of all worlds; thus do the sages speak of Hṛṣīkeśa, O ruler of men.
एवमेनं विजानीहि आचार्यं पितरं गुरुम् । कृष्णो यस्य प्रसीदेत लोकास्तेनाक्षया जिताः
Thus, know him as teacher, father, and guru; whoever pleases Kṛṣṇa, all worlds are conquered by him without decay.
यश्चैवैनं भयस्थाने केशवं शरणं व्रजेत् । सदा नरः पठंश्चेदं स्वस्तिमान्स सुखी भवेत्
And whoever, in a place of fear, seeks refuge in Keśava, and always recites this, becomes auspicious and happy.
ये च कृष्णं प्रपद्यन्ते ते न मुह्यन्ति मानवाः । भये महति मग्नांश्च पाति नित्यं जनार्दनःक
Those men who surrender to Kṛṣṇa do not become deluded; Janārdana always protects those who are plunged in great fear.
स तं युधिष्ठिरो ज्ञात्वा याथातथ्येन भारत। सर्वात्मना महात्मानं केशवं जगदीश्वरम्। प्रपन्नः शरणं राजन्योगानां प्रभुमीश्वरम्
Thus, Yudhiṣṭhira, knowing him truly, surrendered with all his being to Keśava, the great soul, lord of the world, master of yogas, and ruler of kings.
स्तवं वै ब्रह्मसंयुक्तं शृणु कृष्णस्य भारत। ब्रह्मर्षिभिश्च देवैश्च यः पुरा कथितो भुवि
Hear, O Bhārata, the hymn joined with Brahman, which was spoken of Kṛṣṇa by Brahmarṣis and gods in ancient times on earth.
साध्यानामपि देवानां देवदेवेश्वरः प्रभुः । लोकभावनभावज्ञ इति त्वां नारदोऽब्रवीत्
Even among the Sādhyas and gods, you are the lord of lords, the master; Nārada called you the knower of the creation and its nature.
भूतं भव्यं भविष्यच्च मार्कण्डेयोऽभ्युवाच ह। यज्ञं त्वां चैव यज्ञानां तपश्च तपसामपि
Mārkaṇḍeya declared you to be the past, present, and future, the sacrifice, and the highest among sacrifices, and also the austerity among austerities.
देवानामपि देवं च त्वामाह भगवान्भृगुः । पुराणां चैव परमं विष्णो रूपं तवेति च
Bhṛgu, the blessed one, called you the god of gods, and the supreme form of Viṣṇu among the ancient ones.
वासुदेवो वसूनां त्वं शक्रं स्थापयिता तथा। देवदेवोऽसि देवानामिति द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्
Vāsudeva, you are among the Vasus, and the establisher of Śakra; Dvaipāyana said, 'You are the god of gods among the deities.'
पूर्वे प्रजानिसर्गे च दक्षमाहुः प्रजापतिम्। स्रष्टारं सर्वभूतानामङ्गिरास्त्वां तथाऽब्रवीत्
In the former creation of beings, Dakṣa was called the lord of creatures, the creator of all beings; Aṅgiras likewise spoke of you.
अव्यक्तं ते शरीरोत्थं व्यक्तं ते मनसि स्थितम् । देवास्त्वत्संभवाश्चैव देवलस्त्वसितोऽब्रवीत्
Your unmanifest arises from your body, and your manifest is established in your mind; the gods are born from you, so said Asita Devala.
शिरसा ते दिव्यं व्याप्तं बाहुभ्यां पृथिवी तथा । जठरं ते त्रयो लोकाः पुरुषोऽसि सनातनः
Your head pervades the heavens, your arms the earth; your belly contains the three worlds; you are the eternal person.
एवं त्वामभिजानन्ति तपसा भाविता नराः। आत्मदर्शनतृप्तानामृषीणां चासि सत्तमः
Thus, men purified by austerity recognize you; among sages satisfied by self-realization, you are the best.
राजर्षीणामुदाराणामाहवेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् । सर्वधर्मप्रधानानां त्वं गतिर्मधुसूदन
Among noble royal sages who do not retreat in battle, and who are foremost in all duties, you are the goal, O Madhusūdana.
इति नित्यं योगविर्द्भिर्भगवान्पुरुषोत्तमः। सनत्कुमारप्रमुखैः स्तूयतेऽभ्यर्च्यते हरिः
Thus, the blessed supreme person, Hari, is always praised and worshipped by those accomplished in yoga, headed by Sanatkumāra.
एष ते विस्तरस्तात संक्षेपश्च प्रकीर्तितः । केशवस्य यथा तत्त्वं सुप्रीतो भज केशवम्
This, O dear one, is the detailed account and its summary as told to you; as is the truth of Keśava, worship Keśava with great delight.
पुण्यं श्रुत्वैतदाख्यानं महाराज सुतस्तव। केशवं बहुमेने स पाण्डवांश्च महारथान्
Hearing this sacred narration, O great king, your son honored Keśava and also the mighty Pandavas.
तमब्रवीन्महाराज भीष्मः शान्तनवः पुनः । माहात्म्यं ते श्रुतं राजन्केशवस्य महात्कमनः
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, spoke again to you, O king: You have heard the greatness of Keśava, whose deeds are wondrous.
नरस्य च यथातत्त्वं यन्मां त्वं पृच्छसे नृप। यदर्थं नृषु संभूतौ नरानारायणावृषी
As for the truth concerning the man, which you ask me, O king, for what purpose Nara and Nārāyaṇa were born among men as sages—
अवध्यौ च यथा वीरौ संयुगेष्वपराजितौ । यथा च पाण्डवा राजन्नवध्या युधि कस्यचित्
How those two heroes are invincible and undefeated in battle, and how, O king, the Pandavas are invincible by anyone in war—
प्रीतिमान्हि दृढं कृष्णः पाण्डवेषु यशस्विषु । तस्माद्ब्रवीमि राजेन्द्र शमो भवतु पाण्डवैः
For Kṛṣṇa holds firm affection for the illustrious Pandavas; therefore, O king of kings, I say: let there be peace with the Pandavas.
पृथिवीं भुङ्क्ष्व सहितो भ्रातृभिर्बलिभिर्वशी । नरानारायणौ देवाववज्ञाय नशिष्यसि
Enjoy the earth together with your powerful brothers, O ruler; if you disregard the divine Nara and Nārāyaṇa, you will perish.
एवमुक्त्वा तव पिता तूष्णीमासीद्विशांपते । व्यसर्जयच्च राजानं शयनं च विवेश ह
Having spoken thus, your father became silent, O lord of peoples; he dismissed the king and entered his bed.
राजा च शिबिरं प्रायात्प्रणिपत्य महात्मने । शिश्ये च शयने शुभ्रे रात्रिं तां भरतर्षभ
And the king went to his tent, having bowed to the great-souled one; he lay down on a pure bed that night, O bull among the Bharatas.
व्युषितायां तु शर्वर्यामुदिते च दिवाकरे। उभे सेने महाराज युद्धायैव समीयतुः
When the night had passed and the sun had risen, both armies, O king, gathered for battle.
अभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धाः परस्परजिगीषवः । ते सर्वे सहिता युद्धे समालोक्य परस्परम्
They rushed forward, enraged, each desiring victory over the other; all together, they met in battle, gazing at one another.
पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च राजन्दर्मन्त्रिते तव। व्यूहौ च व्यूह्य संरब्धाः संप्रहृष्टाः प्रहारिणः
The Pandavas and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O king, after consulting with their counselors, arrayed their troops, eager and delighted to fight.