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.
कुरवः पाण्डवाश्चैव वृष्णयोऽन्ये च मानवाः। अहं च सहपुत्रेण अध्रुवा इति चिन्त्यताम्
The Kurus, the Pandavas, the Vrishnis, and other men, and I with my son as well—let it be understood that all are impermanent.
पर्यायेण वयं सर्वे कालेन बलिना हताः। परलोकं गमिष्यामः स्वैःस्वैः कर्मभिरन्विताः
In turn, all of us will be struck down by mighty Time and go to the next world, each accompanied by our own deeds.
तपस्तप्त्वा तु याँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुवन्ति तपस्विनः। क्षत्रधर्माश्रिताः वीराः क्षत्रियाः प्राप्नुवन्ति तान्
The worlds that ascetics attain by their austerities—those very worlds are reached by heroic Kshatriyas who follow the warrior's duty.
एवमाश्वासितो राजा भारद्वाजेन सैन्धवः। अपानुदद्भयं पार्थाद्युद्धाय च मनो दधे
Thus reassured by Bharadvaja's son, the Sindhu king cast off his fear of Arjuna and set his mind on battle.
ततः प्रहर्षः सैन्यानां तस्य चासीद्विशाम्पते। वादित्राणां ध्वनिश्चोग्रः सिंहनादरवैः सह
Then there arose great joy among the armies and their lord; the fierce sound of instruments rang out, mingled with lion-roars.
नेह पश्यामि भवतां तथावीर्यं धनुर्धरम्। योऽर्जुनस्यास्त्रमस्त्रेण प्रतिहन्यान्महाहवे
I do not see among you any archer of such prowess who could counter Arjuna's weapon with another in the great battle.
वासुदेवसहायस्य गाण्डीवं धुन्वतो धनुः। कोऽर्जुनस्याग्रतस्तिष्ठेत्साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः
Who could stand before Arjuna, wielding the Gandiva bow with Vasudeva as his ally—even the thousand-eyed Indra could not.
महेश्वरोऽपि पार्थेन श्रूयते योधिनः पुरा। पदातिना महावीर्यो गिरौ हिमवति प्रभुः
It is said that even the mighty lord Shiva once fought Partha as a foot-soldier on the Himalayan mountain.
दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम्। जघानैकरथेनैव देवराजप्रचोदितः
He slew thousands of Danavas dwelling in Hiranyapura, alone in his chariot, urged on by the king of the gods.
समायुक्तो हि कौन्तेयो बासुदेवेन धीमता। सामरानपि लोकांस्त्रीन्हन्यादिति मतिर्मम
Indeed, with wise Vasudeva at his side, Kunti's son could destroy the three worlds along with their gods—that is my conviction.