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.
ध्रुवं हि युद्धे मरणं शूरामामनिवर्तिनाम्। गतः पुण्यकृतां लोकानभिमन्युर्न संशयः
For those valiant ones who do not turn back, death in battle is certain; Abhimanyu has surely attained the worlds of the righteous, there is no doubt.
एतच्च सर्ववीराणां काङ्क्षितं भरतर्षभ। सङ्ग्रामेऽभिमुखा मृत्युं प्राप्नुयामेति मानद
This is what all heroes desire, O bull among the Bharatas: to meet death face to face in battle, O giver of honor.
स च वीरान्रणे हत्वा राजपुत्रान्महाबलान्। वीरैराकाङ्क्षितं मृत्युं सम्प्राप्तोऽभिमुखं रणे
He, having slain mighty royal sons in battle, has attained the death longed for by heroes, meeting it face to face in the fight.
मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र पूर्वैरेष सनातनः। धर्मकृद्भिः कृतो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां रणे क्षयः
Do not grieve, tiger among men; this is the ancient law established by the righteous for Kshatriyas: destruction in battle.
इमे ते भ्रातरः सर्वे दीना भरतसत्तम। त्वयि शोकसमाविष्टे नृपाश्च सुहृदस्तव
All your brothers, O best of the Bharatas, are afflicted and dejected, as are the kings and your friends, seeing you overwhelmed by grief.
एतांश्च वचसा साम्ना समाश्वासय मानद। विदितं वेदितव्यं ते न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि
Comfort them with gentle words, O giver of honor; you know what is to be known, you should not give in to sorrow.
एवमाश्वासितः पार्थः कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा। ततोऽब्रवीत्तदा भ्रातॄन्सर्वान्पार्थः सगद्गदम्
Thus consoled by Krishna, the doer of wondrous deeds, Partha then spoke to all his brothers, his voice choked with emotion.
स दीर्घबाहुः पृथ्वंसो दीर्घराजीवलोचनः। अभिमन्युर्यथा वृत्तः श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं तथा
That long-armed, broad-shouldered, lotus-eyed Abhimanyu—tell me exactly how he met his end.
सनागस्यन्दनहयान्सङ्ग्रामे निहतान्मया। क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यन्ति ते नूनं मम पुत्रं निहत्य वै
Having slain elephants, chariots, and horses in battle, they will soon see my son, indeed, slain by me.
कथं च वः कृतास्त्राणां सर्वेषां शस्त्रपाणिनाम्। सौभद्रो निधनं गच्छेद्वज्रिणापि समागतः
How did Saubhadra meet his end among you all, skilled in weapons and bearing arms, even with the wielder of the thunderbolt present?
यद्येवमहमज्ञास्यमशक्तान्रक्षणे मम। सूनोः पाण्डवपाञ्चालानगोप्स्यं तं महारणे
If I had known that you were powerless to protect my son, the Pandavas and Panchalas, I would not have entrusted him to you in the great battle.
कथं च वो रथस्यानां शरवर्षाणि मुञ्चताम्। नीतोऽभिमन्युर्निधनं कदर्थीकृत्य वः परैः
How, while you were releasing volleys of arrows from your chariots, was Abhimanyu led to his death, humiliated by your enemies?
अहो वः पौरुषं नास्ति न च वोऽस्ति पराक्रमः। यत्राभिमन्युः समरे पश्यतां वो निपातितः
Alas, you have no valor, nor any prowess, since Abhimanyu was struck down in battle before your very eyes.
आत्मानमेव गर्हेयं यदहं वै सुदुर्बलान्। युष्मानाज्ञाय निर्यातो भीरूनकृतनिश्चयान्
I should blame myself, for I went forth, not knowing you were so weak, fearful, and indecisive.
आहोस्विद्भूषणार्थाय वर्मशस्त्रायुधानि वः। वाचस्तु वक्तुं संसत्सु मम पुत्रमरक्षताम्
Or perhaps your armor, weapons, and arms are only for ornament, and your words in assemblies are merely for speaking, since you did not protect my son.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो वाक्यमतिष्ठद्वै वरासिमान्। न स्माशक्यत बीभत्सुः केनचित्प्रसमीक्षितुम्
Having spoken thus, the mighty wielder of the best swords stood silent; none could bear to look upon Arjuna.
तमन्तकमिव क्रुद्धं निःश्वसन्तं मुहुर्मुहुः। `महेन्द्रमिव तिष्ठन्तं वज्रोद्यतमहाभुजम्'। पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तमश्रुपूर्णमुखं तदा
Like Death himself, enraged and breathing heavily again and again, like Mahendra standing with thunderbolt raised, his face full of tears, scorched by grief for his son.
न भाषितुं शक्नुवन्ति द्रष्टुं वा सुहृदोऽर्जुनम्। अन्यत्र वासुदेवाद्वा ज्येष्ठाद्वा पाण्डुनन्दनात्
His friends could neither speak to Arjuna nor even look at him, except for Vasudeva or the eldest son of Pandu.
सर्वास्ववस्थासु हितावर्जुनस्य मनोनुगौ। बहुमानात्प्रियत्वाच्च तावेनं वक्तमर्हतः
In all circumstances, those devoted to Arjuna, out of respect and affection, alone were fit to address him.
ततस्तं पुत्रशोकेन भृशं पीडितमानसम्। राजीवलोचनं क्रुद्धं राजा वचनमब्रवीत्
Then the king spoke to him, whose mind was deeply afflicted by grief for his son, whose eyes were like lotuses, and who was enraged.