ऋजुवक्रविशालानां प्रयोक्ता फाल्गुनोऽभवत्। लाघवे सौष्ठवे चैव नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते
Arjuna became the foremost wielder of straight, curved, and broad weapons; in speed and skill, no one else could match him.
बीभत्सुसदृशो लोक इति द्रोणो व्यवस्थितः। ततोऽब्रवीद्गुडाकेशं द्रोणः कौरवसंसदि
Drona, convinced that no one in the world was equal to Arjuna, said this to Gudakesha in the Kaurava assembly.
अगस्त्यस्य धनुर्वेदे शिष्यो मम गुरुः पुरा। अग्निवेश्य इति ख्यातस्तस्य शिष्योऽस्मि भारत
In the science of archery, my teacher was once the disciple of Agastya, known as Agniveshya; I am his disciple, O Bharata.
तीर्थात्तीर्थं गमयितुमहमेतत्समुद्यतः। तपसा यन्मया प्राप्तममोघमशनिप्रभम्
I set out to visit holy places, and through austerity I obtained a weapon, unfailing and brilliant as lightning.
अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम यद्दहेत्पृथिवीमपि। ददता गुरुणा चोक्तं न मनुष्येष्विदंत्वया
That weapon is called Brahmashira, which could burn even the earth; my teacher gave it to me, saying, 'Do not use this among men.'
भारद्वाज विमोक्तव्यमल्पवीर्येषु संयुगे। यद्यदन्तर्हितं भूतं किंचिद्युद्ध्येत्त्वया सह
O Bharadvaja, it is to be released only against beings of little strength in battle, or if any hidden being fights with you.
महातेजस्त्वमेतेन हन्याः शस्त्रेण संयुगे। त्वया प्राप्तमिदं वीर दिव्यं नान्योऽर्हति त्विदम्
With this weapon of great power, you could destroy in battle; you alone, O hero, have obtained this divine weapon—no other is worthy.
समयस्तु त्वया रक्ष्यो मुनिसृष्टो विशांपते। आचार्यदक्षिणां देहि ज्ञातिग्रामस्य पश्यतः
But you must keep the vow established by the sage, O lord of men: give your teacher's fee in the presence of your kinsmen and village.
ददानीति प्रतिज्ञाते फाल्गुनेनाब्रवीद्गुरुः। युद्धेऽहं प्रतियोद्धव्यो युध्यमानस्त्वयाऽनघ
When Phalguna promised to give, the teacher said, 'You must fight me in battle, O sinless one, as your teacher's fee.'
तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय द्रोणाय कुरुपुङ्गवः। उपसंगृह्य चरणावुपतस्थे विनीतवत्
Having agreed, the best of the Kurus bowed respectfully, embraced Drona's feet, and stood before him with humility.
द्रोणो जगाद वचनं समालिङ्ग्य तु फाल्गुनम्। यन्मयोक्तं पुरा पार्थ तव लोके नरं क्वचित्
Drona, embracing Phalguna, spoke these words: 'O Partha, as I once said, there is no man in the world equal to you.'
सदृशं कारये नैव सर्वप्रहरणे युधि। तत्कृतं च मया सम्यक्तव तुल्यो न वर्तते
I have ensured that in all weapons and in battle, no one is your equal; I have truly accomplished this, and none matches you.
देवा युधि न शक्तास्त्वां योद्धुं दैत्या न दानवाः। नाहं त्वत्तो विशिष्टोऽस्मि किं पुनर्मानवा रणे
Even the gods, demons, and Danavas are not able to fight you in battle; I am not superior to you—how much less, then, are men in war?
एकस्तवाधिको लोके यो हि वृष्णिकुलोद्भवः। कृष्णः कमलपत्राक्षः कंसकालियसूदनः
There is only one in the world superior to you: Krishna, lotus-eyed, born in the Vrishni line, slayer of Kamsa and Kaliya.
स जेता सर्वलोकानां सर्वप्रहरणायुधः। नैतावता ते पार्थाहं भवाम्यनृतवागिह
He who is armed with all weapons will conquer all worlds; yet, O son of Pritha, by this alone I do not become one who speaks untruth here.
तदधीनं जगत्सर्वं तत्प्रलीनं तदुद्भवम्। तत्पदं न विजानन्ति ब्रह्मेशानादयोऽपि वा
All the universe depends on him, dissolves into him, and arises from him; even Brahma and Ishana and others do not know his supreme state.
तन्नाभिप्रभवो ब्रह्मा सर्वभूतानि निर्ममे। स एव कर्ता भोक्ता च संहर्ता च जगन्मयम्
From his navel was born Brahma, who created all beings; he alone is the creator, enjoyer, and destroyer of the universe.
स एव भूतं भव्यं च भवच्च पुरुषः परः। नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः
He alone is the supreme person—past, future, and present; eternal, all-pervading, unchanging, immovable, and ancient.
प्रादुर्भवति योगात्मा पालनार्थं स लीलया। तत्तुल्यो हि न जायेत न जातो न जनिष्यते
He manifests himself, endowed with yoga, for the protection of the world, by his own play; none equal to him is born, has been born, or will be born.
स हि मातुलजोऽभूत्ते चराचरगुरुः पिता। को हि तं जेतुमीहेत जानन्नात्महितं नरः
He, the son of his maternal uncle, became the teacher and father of all moving and unmoving beings; what man, knowing his own good, would wish to conquer him?
श्यालश्च ते सखा चासौ तस्य त्वं प्राणवल्लभः। स्नेहमभ्यधिकं तस्य तव सख्यमवस्थितम्
He is your brother-in-law and your friend, and you are dear to him as life itself; his affection for you is greater, and your friendship with him is established.
न तेन भवतो युद्धं भविता नर्मतोऽपि वा। अपिचार्थे तव पुरा शक्रेण किल चोदितः
There will not be a battle between you and him, not even in jest; indeed, once before, for your sake, he was urged by Shakra.
गोकुले वर्धमानस्तु नन्दगोपस्य कारणात्। ममांशः पाण्डवो लोके पृथिव्यां पुरुषोत्तमः
Growing up in Gokula, because of Nanda the cowherd, my portion, the best among men, Pandava, has appeared on earth.
कौन्तेयावरजः श्रीमानर्जुनो नाम वीर्यवान्। भुवो भारापहरणे साहाय्यं ते करिष्यति
The illustrious Arjuna, younger brother of the sons of Kunti, mighty in valor, will assist you in removing the burden of the earth.
तदर्थमभयं देहि पाहि चास्मत्कृते प्रभो। इत्युक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्षस्तदा शक्रेण फल्गुन
For that purpose, grant him fearlessness and protect him for our sake, O Lord; thus was Phalguna addressed by Shakra, O lotus-eyed one.
तमुवाच ततः श्रीमाञ्शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः। जानामि पाण्डवे वंशे जातं पार्थं पितृष्वसुः
Then the illustrious bearer of the conch, discus, and mace spoke to him: 'I know the son of my father's sister, born in the Pandava line, O Partha.'
पुत्रं परमधर्मिष्ठं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्। पालयामि त्वदंशं तं सर्वलोकमहाभुजम्
He is a son supremely righteous, the best among all wielders of weapons; I will protect that portion of you, the mighty-armed one, lord of all worlds.
आवयोः सख्यसदृशं न च लोके भविष्यति। यस्तद्भक्तः समद्भक्तो यस्तं द्वेष्टि स मामपि
There will not be, in the world, a friendship like ours; whoever is devoted to him is equally devoted to me, and whoever hates him, hates me as well.
यन्मे वित्तं तु तत्तस्य तं विनाहं न जीवये। इति पार्थ पुरा शक्रमाह सर्वेश्वरो हरिः
What is mine is his; without him, I would not live; thus, O Partha, did Hari, the Lord of all, speak to Shakra long ago.
तस्मात्तवापि सदृशस्तं विनाभ्यधिकः पुमान्। न चेह भविता लोके तमेव शरणं व्रज
Therefore, there will not be, in this world, a man equal or superior to him; take refuge in him alone.