भुञ्जानानां तु सव्येन उत्सङ्गे चापि खादताम्। पालाशमासनं चैव तिन्दुकैर्दन्तधावनम्
Those who eat with their left hand, who eat while sitting on their haunches, who use palāśa leaves as seats, or who clean their teeth with tinduka sticks—
ये चावर्जयतां लोकाः स्वपतां च तथोषसि। शीतभीताश्च ये विप्रा रणभीताश्च क्षत्रियाः
The worlds of those who bow to the wicked, who sleep with their own wives during the forbidden season, of brahmins who fear the cold, and of kshatriyas who fear battle—
एककूपोदकग्रामे वेदध्वनिविवर्जिते। षण्मासं तत्र वसतां तथा शास्त्रं विनिन्दताम्
Those who dwell for six months in a village with only one well and no sound of the Veda, and those who revile the scriptures—
दिवामैथुनिनां चापि दिवसेषु च शेरते। अगारदाहिनां चैव गरदानां च ये मताः
Those who have intercourse by day, who sleep during the day, those who burn houses, and those who give poison—
अग्न्यातिथ्यविहीनाश्च गोपानेषु च विघ्नदाः। रजस्वलां सेवयन्तः कन्यां शुल्केन दायिनः
Those who neglect the fire and hospitality rites, those who obstruct cows on their way, those who have intercourse with a menstruating woman, and those who give away a maiden for a price—
या च वै बहुयाजिनां ब्राह्मणानां श्ववृत्तिनाम्। आस्यमैथुनिकानां च ये दिवामैथुने रताः
And the fate of brahmins who, though having performed many sacrifices, live like dogs, and of those who indulge in oral sex, and those who delight in intercourse by day—
ब्राह्मणस्य प्रतिश्रुत्य यो वै लोभाद्ददाति न। तेषां गतिं गमिष्यामि श्वो न हन्यां जयद्रथम्
If, having promised a brāhmaṇa, someone gives out of greed and not truly, may I attain their fate if tomorrow I do not slay Jayadratha.
धर्मादपेता ये चान्ये मया नात्रानुकीर्तिताः। ये चानुकीर्तितास्तेषां गतिं क्षिप्रमवाप्नुयाम्
And whatever other unrighteous ones, not mentioned by me here, or those I have named—may I swiftly reach their fate.
यदि व्युष्टामिमां रात्रिं श्वो न हन्यां जयद्रथम्। इमां चाप्यपरां भूयः प्रतिज्ञां मे निबोधत
If, after this night passes, I do not kill Jayadratha tomorrow, then hear now this further vow of mine.
यद्यस्मिन्न हत्ते पापे सूर्योऽस्तमुपयास्यति। इहैव सम्प्रवेष्टाऽहं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्
If, while that sinner yet lives, the sun sets, then here itself I shall enter the blazing fire.
असुरसुरमनुष्याः पक्षिणो वोरगा वा पितृरजनिचरा वा ब्रह्मदेवर्षयो वा। चरमचरमपीदं यत्परं चापि तस्मा-- त्तदपि मम रिपुं तं रक्षितुं नैव शक्ताः
Neither gods nor demons, humans, birds, serpents, ancestors, spirits, Brahmā, gods, or sages—none among the moving or unmoving, nor anything higher—shall be able to protect that enemy of mine.
यदि विशति रसातलं तदग्र्यं वियदपि देवपुरं दितेः पुरं वा। तदपि शरशतैरहं प्रभाते भृशमभिमन्युरिपोः शिरोऽभिहर्ता
Even if he enters the nethermost abyss, or the sky, or the city of the gods, or the city of Diti, still, with hundreds of arrows at dawn, I shall surely strike off the head of Abhimanyu’s foe.
एवमुक्त्वा विचिक्षेप गाण्डीवं सव्यदक्षिणम्। तस्य सर्वमतिक्रम्य धनुःशब्दोऽस्पृशद्दिवम्
Having spoken thus, he twirled the Gāṇḍīva bow with both hands, and the sound of his bow surpassed all, reaching the heavens.
अर्जुनेन प्रतिज्ञाते पाञ्चजन्यं जनार्दनः। प्रदध्मौ तत्र सङ्क्रुद्धो देवदत्तं च फल्गुनः
When Arjuna had made his vow, Janārdana, enraged, blew the Pāñcajanya conch, and Phālguna sounded Devadatta.
स पाञ्चजन्योऽच्युतवक्त्रवायुना भृशं सुपूर्णोदरनिःसृतध्वनिः। जगत्सपातालवियद्दिगीश्वरं प्रकम्पयामास युगात्यये यथा
That Pāñcajanya, filled with the wind from Acyuta’s mouth, roared forth with a deep, full sound, shaking the world with its lords of earth, underworld, sky, and directions, as at the end of an age.
ततो वादित्रघोषाश्च प्रादुरासन्सहस्रशः। सिंहनादश्च पाण्डूनां प्रतिज्ञाते महात्मना
Then thousands of musical instruments resounded, and the Pāṇḍavas’ lion-roars arose when the great-souled one made his vow.
प्रानृत्यदिव गाण्डीवं शरास्तूणीगता मुदा। निराक्रामन्निव तदा स्वयमेव मृधैषिणः
The Gāṇḍīva seemed to dance with joy, and the arrows in the quiver, eager for battle, appeared to leap forth on their own.
भीमसेनः सुसंहृष्टः प्रत्यभाषत भारत। धनञ्जयमभिप्रेक्ष्य हर्षगद्गदया गिरा
Bhīmasena, greatly delighted, spoke to Dhanañjaya, his voice choked with joy, O Bhārata, as he gazed upon him.
प्रतिज्ञोद्भवशब्देन कृष्णशङ्खस्वनेन च। निहतो धार्तराष्ट्रोऽयं सानुबन्धः सुयोधनः
By the sound of the vow and Krishna’s conch, this Duryodhana and all his followers are as good as slain.
अथ मृदिततमाग्र्यदाममाल्यं तव सुतशोकमयं च रोषजातम्। व्यपनुदति महाप्रभावसेन-- न्नरवर वाक्यमिदं महार्थमिष्टम्
Then, as the mighty-armed one dispelled the garland of great obstacles—your son’s grief and the anger born from it—this excellent and desired speech was spoken by the best of men.
अथ शङ्ख्यैश्च भेरीभिः पणवैः सैनिकास्तथा। ससूतमागधा जिष्णुं स्तुतिभिः समपूजयन्
Then, with conches, drums, and tabors, the soldiers, along with bards and minstrels, honored Jishnu with praises.
तदा भीमं बलं सर्वे तेन नादेन मोहितम्। तावकं तन्महाराज विषण्णं समपद्यत
At that time, O great king, all your army was bewildered by that sound, and Bhīma’s force became downcast.
निमित्ते दूरपातित्वे लघुत्वे दृढवेधने। मम ब्रवीतु भगवान्विशेषं फल्गुनस्य च
Let the venerable one tell me the special qualities of Phālguna’s arrows—their range, swiftness, and firmness of penetration.
विद्याविशेषमिच्छामि ज्ञातुमाचार्य तत्त्वतः। अर्जुनस्यात्मनश्चैव याथातथ्यं प्रचक्ष्व मे
O teacher, I wish to know in truth the special knowledge—tell me accurately the reality of Arjuna’s and my own abilities.
सममाचार्यकं तात तव चैवार्जुनस्य च। योगाद्दुःखोषितत्वाच्च तस्मात्त्वत्तोऽधिकोऽर्जुनः
O dear one, your training and Arjuna's are equal, but because of the hardship endured through discipline, Arjuna surpasses you.
न तु ते युधि सन्त्रासः कार्यः पार्थात्कथञ्चन। अहं हि रक्षिता तात भयात्त्वां नात्र संशयः
Yet you should never feel fear of Arjuna in battle; I will protect you from danger—of this, there is no doubt.
न हि मद्बाहुगुप्तस्य प्रभवन्त्यमरा अपि। व्यूहयिष्यामि तं व्यूहं यं पार्थो न तरिष्यति
Even the gods cannot prevail against one protected by my arms; I will arrange a formation that Arjuna will not be able to break.
तस्माद्युध्यस्व माभैस्त्वं स्वधर्ममनुपालय। पितृपैतामहं मार्गमनुयाहि महारथ
Therefore, fight without fear and uphold your own duty; follow the path of your fathers and grandfathers, O great chariot-warrior.
अधीता विधिवद्वेदा अग्नयः सुहुतास्त्वया। इष्टं च बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्न ते मृत्युर्भयङ्करः
You have properly studied the Vedas and offered the sacred fires; you have performed many sacrifices—death holds no terror for you.
दुर्लभं मानुषैर्मन्दैर्महाभाग्यमवाप्य तु। भुजवीर्यार्जिताँल्लोकान्दिव्यान्प्राप्स्यस्यनुत्तमान्
Having attained great fortune, which is rare among ordinary men, you will reach the highest divine worlds earned by the strength of your arms.