अभिवादनदक्षं तं पितॄणां वचने रतम्। नाद्याहं यदि पश्यामि का शान्तिर्हृदयस्य मे
If I do not see him today, skilled in respect and devoted to his elders' commands, how can my heart find peace?
सुकुमारः सदा वीरो महार्हशयनोचितः। भूमावनाथवच्छेते नूनं नाथवतां वरः
That gentle hero, accustomed always to the finest beds, now surely lies on the ground like one without protector, though he was the best among protectors.
शयानं समुपासन्ति यं पुरा परमस्त्रियः। तमद्य विप्रविद्धाङ्गमुपासन्त्यशिवाः शिवाः
He whom noble women once attended as he slept, now lies abandoned, attended by inauspicious women, though he was blessed.
यः पुरा बोध्यते सुप्तः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः। बोधयन्त्यद्य तं नूनं श्वापदा विकृतैः स्वनैः
He who was once awakened from sleep by bards, minstrels, and praise-singers, is now surely awakened by wild beasts with their dreadful cries.
छत्रच्छायासमुचितं तस्य तद्वदनं शुभम्। नूनमद्य रजोध्वस्तं रणरेणुः करिष्यति
That beautiful face of his, accustomed to the shade of a parasol, will surely today be covered in dust, scattered by the winds of battle.
हा पुत्रकावितृप्तस्य सततं पुत्रदर्शने। भाग्यहीनस्य कालेन यथा मे नीयसे बलात्
Alas, my son, who was never satisfied with seeing his father, how cruelly fate now drags you away from me, one so bereft of fortune.
सा च संयमनी नूनं सदा सुकृतिनां गतिः। स्वभाभिर्मोहिता रम्या त्वयाऽत्यर्थं विराजते
Surely, that realm of Yama, the destined path of the virtuous, now shines resplendently with your presence, enchanted by your own radiance.
नूनं वैवस्वतश्च त्वां वरुणश्च प्रियातिथिम्। शतक्रतुर्धनेशश्च प्राप्तमर्चन्त्यभीरुकम्
Surely, Vaivasvata, Varuna, Indra, and Kubera now honor you, who have arrived as a beloved guest, though still so young and gentle.
एवं विलप्य बहुधा भिन्नपोतो वगिग्यथा। दुःखेन महताऽविष्टो युधिष्ठिरमपृच्छत
Lamenting thus in many ways, like a ship broken apart by the wind, overwhelmed by great sorrow, he questioned Yudhishthira.
कथं त्वयि च भीमे च धृष्टद्युम्ने च जीवति। सात्यके शक्रविक्रान्ते सौभद्रो निहतः परैः
How, while you, Bhima, Dhrishtadyumna, and Satyaki—heroes of Indra's valor—still live, was Subhadra's son slain by the enemy?
कच्चित्स कदनं कृत्वा परेषां कुरुनन्दन। स्वर्गतोऽभिमुखः सङ्ख्ये युध्यमानो नरर्षभैः
Did Abhimanyu, O joy of the Kurus, after striking down many foes, ascend to heaven in battle, facing the warriors like a hero?
स नूनं बहुभिर्यत्तैर्युध्यमानो नरर्षभैः। असहायः सहायार्थी मामनुध्यातवान्ध्रुवम्
Surely, while fighting those many mighty warriors, alone and seeking help, he must have remembered me—of that there is no doubt.
पीड्यमानः शरैर्बालस्तात साध्वभिधाव माम्। इति विप्रलपन्मन्ये नृशंसैर्भुवि पातितः
Pressed by arrows, that boy must have cried out, 'Father, come quickly to me!'—lamenting thus, he was cruelly struck down on the earth.
अथवा मत्प्रसूतः स स्वस्रीयो माधवस्य च। सुभद्रायां च सम्भूतो न चैवं वक्तुमर्हति
Or perhaps, being my own son, and the nephew of Madhava, born of Subhadra, he would not have spoken so.
वज्रसारमयं नूनं हृदयं सुदृढं मम। अपश्यतो दीर्घबाहुं रक्ताक्षं यन्न दीर्यते
Truly, my heart must be made of adamant, so firm that it does not break even as I see my long-armed, red-eyed son no more.
कथं बाले महेष्वासा नृशंसा मर्मभेदिनः। स्वस्रीये वासुदेवस्य मम पुत्रेऽक्षिपञ्शरान्
How could cruel warriors, skilled in piercing vital points, shoot arrows at my son—the nephew of Vasudeva, a mere boy, yet a mighty archer?
यो मां नित्यमदीनात्मा प्रत्युद्गम्याभिनन्दति। उपयान्तं रिपून्हत्वा सोऽद्य मां किं न पश्यति
He, who always greeted me joyfully, never downcast, returning victorious from battle—why does he not come to me today?
नूनं स पातितः शेते धरण्यां रुधिरोक्षितः। शोभयन्मेदिनीं गात्रैरादित्य इव पातितः
Surely, he lies fallen on the earth, bathed in blood, his body adorning the ground like the sun fallen from the sky.
सुभद्रामनुशोचामि या पुत्रमपलायिनम्। रणे विनिहतं श्रुत्वा शोकार्ता वै विनङ्क्षति
I grieve for Subhadra, who, upon hearing that her son—who never fled from battle—has been slain, will be consumed by sorrow.
सुभद्रा वक्ष्यते किं मामबिमन्युमपश्यती। द्रौपदीं चैव दुःखार्तां किं वा वक्ष्यामि तामहम्
What will Subhadra say to me, when she does not see Abhimanyu? And what shall I say to Draupadi, who is also stricken with grief?
वज्रसारमयं नूनं हृदयं यन्न यास्यति। सहस्रधा वधूं दृष्ट्वा रुदतीं शोककर्शिताम्
Truly, my heart must be made of adamant, for it does not shatter into a thousand pieces upon seeing the bride, weeping and wasted by sorrow.
हृष्टानां धार्तराष्ट्राणां सिंहनादो मया श्रुतः। युयुत्सुश्चापि कृष्णेन श्रुतो वीरानुपालभन्
I have heard the lion's roar of the delighted sons of Dhritarashtra, and Yuyutsu too has told Krishna of the fate of the heroes.
अशक्नुवन्तः पार्थस्य बालं हत्वा महाबलम्। किं न लज्जन्त्यधर्मज्ञाः पार्थिवा दृश्यतां बलम्
Unable to overcome the mighty son of Partha, they killed a youth; do those ignorant of righteousness not feel shame? Let the strength of the kings be seen.
किं तयोर्विप्रियं कृत्वा केशवार्जुनयोर्मृधे। सिंहवन्नदथ प्रीताः शोककाल उपस्थिते
Having done harm to Keshava and Arjuna in battle, will you roar like lions in delight when the time of sorrow arrives?
आगमिष्यति वः क्षिप्रं फलं पापस्य कर्मणः। अधर्मो हि कृतस्तीव्रः कथं स्यादफलश्चिरम्
The fruit of your sinful deed will come to you swiftly; for when severe unrighteousness is committed, how can its result be delayed long?
इति तान्परिभाषन्वै वैश्यापुत्रो महामतिः। अपायाच्छस्त्रमुत्सृज्य कोपदुःखसमन्वितः
Thus, rebuking them, the wise son of a merchant, filled with anger and grief, departed, casting aside his weapon.
किमर्थमेतन्नाख्यातं त्वया कृष्ण रणे मम। अधक्ष्यं तानहं क्रूरांस्तदा सर्वान्महारथान्
Krishna, why did you not tell me this in battle? I would have burned those cruel great chariot-warriors then and there.
पुत्रशोकार्दितं पार्थं ध्यायन्तं साश्रुलोचनम्। निगृह्य वासुदेवस्तं पुत्राधिभिरभिप्लुतम्। मैवमित्यब्रवीत्कृष्णस्तीव्रशोकसमन्वितम्
Vasudeva restrained Partha, who was overwhelmed with grief for his son, lost in thought with tear-filled eyes, and said to him, 'Do not be thus,' though he was himself filled with intense sorrow.
सर्वेषामेष वै पन्थाः शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्। क्षत्रियाणां विशेषेण येषां नः शस्त्रजीविका
This is indeed the path for all valiant warriors who do not turn back, especially for Kshatriyas whose livelihood is the weapon.
एषा वै युध्यमानानां शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्। विहिता सर्वशास्त्रज्ञैर्गतिर्मतिमतां वर
This is the destiny prescribed by all the learned in the scriptures for those who fight bravely and do not retreat, O best of the wise.