भेजिरे पुरुषव्याघ्रा वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथाः। सिंहासनानि शतशो धिष्ण्यानीव हुताशनाः
The tiger-like men, the great chariot-warriors of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, occupied hundreds of thrones, like sacrificial seats for the fire.
तेषां समुपविष्टानां देवानामिव सन्नये। आचख्यौ चेष्टितं जिष्णोः सभापालः सहानुगः
As they sat together, like gods in council, the hall guardian, accompanied by his attendants, recounted the actions of Jiṣṇu.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वृष्णिवीरास्ते मदसंरक्तलोचनाः। अमृष्यमाणाः पार्थस्य समुत्पेतुरहङ्कृताः
Hearing this, the heroic Vṛṣṇis, their eyes reddened with intoxication, unable to bear Pārtha’s deed, rose up, filled with pride.
योजयध्वं रथानाशु प्रासानाहरतेति च। धनूंषि च महार्हाणि कवचानि बृहन्ति च
‘Quickly harness the chariots! Bring the spears!’ they cried, and also the finest bows and great armor.
सूतानुच्चुक्रुशुः केचिद्रथान्योजयतेति च। स्वयं च तुरगान्केचिदयुञ्जन्हेमभूषितान्
Some charioteers shouted, ‘Harness the chariots!’ while others themselves yoked horses adorned with gold.
रथेष्वानीयमानेषु कवचेषु ध्वजेषु च। अभिक्रन्दे नृवीराणां तदासीत्तुमुलं महत्
As chariots, armor, and banners were being brought forth, the cries of the warrior men became tumultuous and immense.
वनमाली ततः क्षीबः कैलासशिखरोपमः। नीलवासा मदोत्सिक्त इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Vanamālī, swift and towering like the peak of Kailāsa, clad in blue garments and intoxicated with pride, spoke these words:
किमिदं कुरुथाप्रज्ञास्तूष्णींभूते जनार्दने। अस्य भावमविज्ञाय संक्रुद्धा मोघगर्जिताः
‘What is this you are doing, lacking in wisdom, while Janārdana remains silent? Not understanding his intent, you roar in vain, enraged.’
एष तावदभिप्रायमाख्यातु स्वं महामतिः। यदस्य रुचिरं कर्तुं तत्कुरुध्वमतन्द्रिताः
This wise one has now expressed his intention; whatever he finds agreeable to do, carry that out without delay.
ततस्ते तद्वचः श्रुत्वा ग्राह्यरूपं हलायुधात्। तूष्णींभूतास्ततः सर्वे साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्
Then, having heard those words from Halayudha, which were reasonable, all of them fell silent, and then said, 'Well spoken, well spoken.'
समं वचो निशम्यैव बलदेवस्य धीमतः। पुनरेवसभामध्ये सर्वे ते समुपाविशन्
Hearing the impartial words of the wise Baladeva, all of them again sat down together in the midst of the assembly.
ततोऽब्रवीद्वासुदेवं वचो रामः परन्तपः। `त्रैलोक्यनाथ हे कृष्ण भूतभव्यभविष्यकृत्।' किमवागुपविष्टोऽसि प्रेक्षमाणो जनार्दन
Then Rama, subduer of foes, spoke these words to Vasudeva: 'O Krishna, Lord of the Three Worlds, creator of what has been, is, and will be, why do you sit here silently, watching, O Janardana?'
सत्कृतस्त्वत्कृते पार्थः सर्वैरस्माभिरच्युत। न च सोऽर्हति तां पूजां दुर्बुद्धिः कुलपांसनः
For your sake, O Achyuta, Partha was honored by all of us, but that evil-minded one, a disgrace to his lineage, does not deserve such respect.
को हि तत्रैव भुक्तावान्नं भाजनं भेत्तुमर्हति। मन्यमानः कुले जातमात्मानं पुरुषः क्वचित्
Who, having eaten there, would break the dish, thinking himself born in a noble family, and being a man, at any time?
इच्छन्नेव हि संबन्धं कृतं पूर्वं च मानयन्। को हि नाम भवेनार्थी साहसेन समाचरेत्
Who, desiring a relationship and honoring what was done before, would ever act rashly in pursuit of his aim?
सोऽवमन्य तथाऽस्माकमनादृत्य च केशवम्। प्रसह्य हृतवानद्य सुभद्रां मृत्युमात्मनः
He has insulted us in this way, disregarding even Kesava, and has forcibly taken Subhadra today, bringing death upon himself.
कथं हि शिरसो मध्ये कृतं तेन पदं मम। मर्षयिष्यामि गोविन्द पादस्पर्शमिवोरगः
How can I endure that he placed his foot upon my head, O Govinda, as if a serpent endured the touch of a foot?
अद्य निष्कौरवामेकः करिष्यामि वसुन्धराम्। न हि मे मर्षणीयोऽयमर्जुनस्य व्यतिक्रमः
Today I will make the earth free of Kauravas, alone; for I cannot tolerate this transgression of Arjuna.
तं तथा गर्जमानं तु मेघदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनम्। अन्वपद्यन्त ते सर्वे भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकास्तदा
As he thundered thus, like the sound of a storm cloud and drum, all the Bhojas, Vrishnis, and Andhakas followed him then.
उक्तवन्तो यथावीर्यमसकृत्सर्ववृष्णयः। ततोऽब्रवीद्वासुदेवो वाक्यं धर्मार्थसंयुतम्
All the Vrishnis, many times, spoke according to their strength; then Vasudeva spoke words joined with righteousness and purpose.
मयोक्तं न श्रुतं पूर्वं सहितैः सर्वयादवैः। अतिक्रान्तमतिक्रान्तं न निवर्तेत कर्हिचित्। शृणुध्वं सहिताः सर्वे मम वाक्यं सहेतुकम्
What I said before was not heard by all the Yadavas together; what is done is done and cannot be undone. Listen now, all of you together, to my reasoned words.
नावमानं कुलस्यास्य गुडाकेशः प्रयुक्तवान्। संमानोऽभ्यधिकस्तेन प्रयुक्तोऽयं न संशयः
Gudakesha did not show disrespect to this family; rather, he showed even greater honor—of this there is no doubt.
अर्थलुब्धान्न वः पार्थो मन्यते सात्वतान्सदा। स्वयंवरमनाधृष्यं मन्यते चापि पाण्डवः
Partha does not always think the Satvatas are greedy for wealth; and the Pandava considers the svayamvara to be inviolable.
प्रदानमपि कन्यायाः पशुवत्को नु मन्यते। विक्रयं चाप्यपत्यस्य कः कुर्यात्पुरुषो भुवि
Who would consider the giving of a maiden to be like the sale of cattle? And who on earth would sell his own child?
एतान्दोषांस्तु कौन्तेयो दृष्टवानिति मे मतिः। `क्षत्रियाणां तु वीर्येण प्रशस्तं हरणं बलात्।' अतः प्रसह्य हृतवान्कन्यां धर्मेण पाण्डवः
It is my view that Kaunteya saw these faults: 'For kshatriyas, the forceful taking of a bride is praised.' Therefore, the Pandava took the maiden by force, in accordance with dharma.
उचितश्चैव संबन्धः सुभद्रा च शयस्विनी। एष चापीदृशः पार्थः प्रसह्य हृतवानतः
The alliance is proper, and Subhadra is virtuous; and this Partha is also worthy—therefore, he took her by force.
भरतस्यान्वये जातं शान्तनोश्च यशस्विनः। कुन्तिभोजात्माजापुत्रं का बुभूषेत नार्जुनम्
Who would wish to claim as her son a man born in the line of Bharata, the illustrious son of Shantanu, and the son of Kuntibhoja’s daughter, other than Arjuna?
न तं पश्यामि यः पार्थं विजयेत रणे बलात्। वर्जयित्वा विरूपाक्षं भगनेत्रहरं हरम्
I do not see anyone who could conquer Partha by force in battle, except for Virupaksha, the remover of Bhaga’s eye—Hara himself.
अपि सर्वेषु लोकेषु सेन्द्ररुद्रेषु मारिष। स च नाम रथस्तादृङ्मदीयास्ते च वाजिनः
Even among all the worlds, with Indra and Rudra, O dear one, is there such a chariot as his, and such are his horses?
मम शस्त्रं विशेषेण तूणौ चाक्षयसायकौ।' योद्धा पार्थश्च शीघ्रास्त्रः को नु तेन समो भवेत्। तमभिद्रुत्य सान्त्वेन परमेण धनञ्जयम्
My weapon especially, and my inexhaustible quivers—who could be equal to Partha, the swift-armed warrior, in battle? Approaching Dhananjaya with conciliation, supreme among men—