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.
सोऽहमिच्छाम्यनुज्ञातुं रक्षितुं वा महात्मना। द्रोणेन सहपुत्रेण वीरेण यदि मन्यसे
Therefore, if you think it right, I wish to seek permission or protection from the great-souled Drona and his heroic son.
स राज्ञा स्वयमाचार्यो भृशमत्रार्थितोऽर्जुन। संविधानं च विहितं रथाश्च किल सज्जिताः
Thus earnestly requested by the king, the teacher himself arranged everything, and the chariots, it is said, were made ready.
कर्णो भूरिश्रवा द्रौणिर्वृषसेनश्च दुर्जयः। कृपश्च मद्रराजश्च षडेतेऽस्य पुरोगमाः
Karna, Bhurishravas, Drona's son, Vrishasena the unconquerable, Kripa, and the king of Madra—these six are his foremost warriors.
शकटः पद्मकश्चार्धो व्यूहो द्रोणेन निर्मितः। पद्मकर्णिकमध्यस्थः सूची पार्श्वे जयद्रथः
Drona has arranged the formation as half-cart and half-lotus; Jayadratha stands at the needle-pointed side, in the center of the lotus's pericarp.
स्थास्यते रक्षिते वीरैः सिन्धुराट् स सुदुर्मदः। धनुष्यस्त्रे च वीर्ये च प्राणे चैव तथौरसे
The Sindhu king, fierce and proud, will stand there protected by heroes—unassailable in archery, weapons, life, and chest.
अविषह्यतमा ह्येते निश्चिताः पार्थ षड्रथाः। एतानजित्वा सगणान्नैव प्राप्यो जयद्रथः
These six chariot-warriors, O Partha, are considered utterly invincible; without defeating them and their forces, Jayadratha cannot be reached.
तेषामेकैकशो वीर्यं षण्णां त्वमनुचिन्तय। सहिता हि नरव्याघ्र न शक्या जेतुमञ्जसा
Consider carefully the strength of each of these six; for, O tiger among men, together they cannot be easily conquered.
भूयस्तु मन्त्रयिष्यामि नीतिमात्महिताय वै। मन्त्रज्ञैः सचिवैः सार्धं सुहृद्भिः कार्यसिद्धये
Yet I will further counsel you, for your own good, with ministers skilled in strategy and friends, so that the task may succeed.
तव प्रसादाद्भगवन्किंनावाप्तं रणे मम। अविषह्यं हृषीकेश किं जानन्मां विगर्हसे
O Lord, what have I failed to achieve in battle by your grace? O Hrishikesha, knowing me to be invincible, why do you reproach me?
यथा लक्ष्म स्थिरं चन्द्रे समुद्रे च यथा जलम्। एवमेतां प्रतिज्ञां मे सत्यां विद्धि जनार्दन
As the mark on the moon is steadfast, as water is in the ocean, so too, Janardana, know my vow to be true.
मावमंस्था ममास्त्राणि मावमंस्थाश्च गाण्डिवम्। मावमंस्था बलं बाह्वोर्मावमंस्था धनञ्जयम्
Do not underestimate my weapons, do not underestimate Gandiva, do not underestimate the strength of my arms, nor Dhananjaya himself.
गाण्डीवं च धनुर्दिव्यं योद्धा चाहं नरर्षभ। त्वं च यन्ता हृषीकेश किन्नु स्यादजितं मया
Gandiva is a divine bow, and I am a warrior, O bull among men; you are the charioteer, O Hrishikesha—how could victory elude me?
यथाभियाय सङ्ग्रमं न जितो वै जयामि च। तेन सत्येन सङ्ग्रामे हतं विद्धि जयद्रथम्
As I have never been defeated when I have entered battle, by that truth, know that Jayadratha will be slain in the fight.
त्वं च माधव सर्वं तत्तथा प्रतिविधास्यसि। यथा रिपूणां मिषतां प्रमथिष्यामि सैन्धवम्
And you, Madhava, will act in every way so that, before the eyes of our enemies, I will destroy the Sindhu king.
ध्रुवं वै ब्राह्मणे सत्यं ध्रुवा साधुषु सन्नतिः। श्रीर्ध्रुवाऽपि च दक्षेषु ध्रुवो नारायणे जयः
Truth is certain in a Brahmin, humility is certain in the virtuous, prosperity is certain in the diligent, and victory is certain in Narayana.
एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं स्वयमात्मानमात्मना। सन्दिदेशार्जुनो नर्दन्वासविः केशवं प्रभुम्
Having spoken thus to Hrishikesha, Arjuna, the son of Vasava, instructed himself and the lord Keshava.
यथा प्रभातां रजनीं कल्पितः स्याद्रथोत्तमः। तथा कार्यं त्वया कृष्ण प्रतिज्ञा स्याद्यथा ध्रुवा
Just as the best chariot is readied for the coming dawn, so, O Krishna, you must act, so that my vow is fulfilled as surely as daybreak.
श्वः शिरः पादमूलं ते सैन्धवस्याहृतं ध्रुवम्। पद्ध्यां प्रमथितासि त्वं विशोका भव मा रुदः
Tomorrow, the head of the Sindhu king will surely be brought to your feet; you will see him struck down in battle—be at peace, do not weep.
क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य गतः शूरः सतां गतिम्। वयं च प्राप्नुयामेह ये चान्ये शस्त्रजीविनः
Having followed the duty of a warrior, your brave son has attained the path of the righteous; may we and all others who live by the sword attain the same.
व्यूढोरस्को महाबाहुरनिवर्ती रिपुव्रजात्। गतस्तव वरारोहे पुत्रः स्वर्गं ज्वरं जहि
Your son, broad-chested, mighty-armed, unyielding before the enemy host, has gone to heaven, O lovely one—cast off your grief.