तद्देवदेव भवतश्चरणारविन्द सेवानुभावमिह पश्यतु लोक एषः । ये त्वां भजन्ति न भजन्त्युत वोभयेषां निष्ठां प्रदर्शय विभो कुरुसृञ्जयानाम्
O Lord of lords, by your lotus feet’s service, let this world witness its effect here. Among those who worship you, and those who do not, and both, O mighty one, reveal the true standing of the Kurus and Sṛñjayas.
न ब्रह्मणः स्वपरभेदमतिस्तव स्यात् सर्वात्मनः समदृशः स्वसुखानुभूतेः । संसेवतां सुरतरोरिव ते प्रसादः सेवानुरूपमुदयो न विपर्ययोऽत्र
For you, who are the soul of all and perceive equally, there is no notion of difference between self and others; experiencing your own bliss. Like the wish-fulfilling tree, your favor arises according to service rendered, never otherwise.
श्रीभगवानुवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) सम्यग् व्यवसितं राजन् भवता शत्रुकर्शन । कल्याणी येन ते कीर्तिः लोकान् अनुभविष्यति
The Blessed Lord said: O king, destroyer of enemies, your resolve is proper; by it, your auspicious fame will be experienced throughout the worlds.
ऋषीणां पितृदेवानां सुहृदामपि नः प्रभो । सर्वेषामपि भूतानां ईप्सितः क्रतुराडयम्
O master, this great sacrifice is desired by sages, ancestors, gods, friends—even by us—and by all beings.
विजित्य नृपतीन् सर्वान् कृत्वा च जगतीं वशे । सम्भृत्य सर्वसम्भारान् आहरस्व महाक्रतुम्
Having conquered all kings and brought the world under your control, gather all the necessary materials and perform the great sacrifice.
एते ते भ्रातरो राजन् लोकपालांशसंभवाः । जितोऽस्म्यात्मवता तेऽहं दुर्जयो योऽकृतात्मभिः
O king, these brothers of yours are born from portions of the guardians of the worlds. I am conquered by you, who are self-controlled; I am unconquerable by those who lack self-mastery.
न कश्चिन्मत्परं लोके तेजसा यशसा श्रिया । विभूतिभिर्वाभिभवेद् देवोऽपि किमु पार्थिवः
No one in this world surpasses me in power, fame, wealth, or opulence—not even the gods, much less earthly kings.
श्रीशुक उवाच - निशम्य भगवद्गीतं प्रीतः फुल्लमुखाम्बुजः । भ्रातॄन् दिग्विजयेऽयुङ्क्त विष्णुतेजोपबृंहितान्
Śuka said: Hearing the words of the Lord, with his face blooming in delight, he sent his brothers, empowered by Viṣṇu’s energy, to conquer the directions.
सहदेवं दक्षिणस्यां आदिशत् सह सृञ्जयैः । दिशि प्रतीच्यां नकुलं उदीच्यां सव्यसाचिनम् । प्राच्यां वृकोदरं मत्स्यैः केकयैः सह मद्रकैः
He dispatched Sahadeva with the Sṛñjayas to the southern quarter; Nakula to the west; Arjuna to the north; Bhīma to the east, along with the Matsyas, Kekayas, and Madras.
ते विजित्य नृपान् वीरा आजह्रुर्दिग्भ्य ओजसा । अजातशत्रवे भूरि द्रविणं नृप यक्ष्यते
Those heroes, having conquered the kings in all directions by their strength, brought abundant wealth to Ajātaśatru, who would perform the sacrifice.
श्रुत्वाजितं जरासन्धं नृपतेर्ध्यायतो हरिः । आहोपायं तमेवाद्य उद्धवो यमुवाच ह
Hearing that Jarāsandha remained unconquered, as the king pondered, Hari spoke of the means, the very one that Uddhava had previously described.
भीमसेनोऽर्जुनः कृष्णो ब्रह्मलिङ्गधरास्त्रयः । जग्मुर्गिरिव्रजं तात बृहद्रथसुतो यतः
Bhīmasena, Arjuna, and Kṛṣṇa—three who bore the marks of Brahmins—went to Girivraja, where the son of Bṛhadratha dwelled.
ते गत्वाऽऽतिथ्यवेलायां गृहेषु गृहमेधिनम् । ब्रह्मण्यं समयाचेरन् राजन्या ब्रह्मलिङ्गिनः
Arriving at the proper time for guests, they entered the house of the householder, and, disguised as Brahmins, the royal men acted according to custom.
राजन् विद्ध्यतिथीन् प्राप्तान् अर्थिनो दूरमागतान् । तन्नः प्रयच्छ भद्रं ते यद् वयं कामयामहे
O king, know that guests have arrived—seekers who have come from afar. Grant us, O fortunate one, what we desire.
किं दुर्मर्षं तितिक्षूणां किं अकार्यं असाधुभिः । किं न देयं वदान्यानां कः परः समदर्शिनाम्
What is unbearable for the patient? What is improper for the unrighteous? What is not to be given by the generous? Who is superior to those who see all equally?
योऽनित्येन शरीरेण सतां गेयं यशो ध्रुवम् । नाचिनोति स्वयं कल्पः स वाच्यः शोच्य एव सः
He who, with his impermanent body, does not himself earn lasting fame among the virtuous, though able, is to be spoken of as truly pitiable.
हरिश्चन्द्रो रन्तिदेव उञ्छवृत्तिः शिबिर्बलिः । व्याधः कपोतो बहवो ह्यध्रुवेण ध्रुवं गताः
Hariścandra, Rantideva, Śibi, Bali, the hunter, the pigeon—many have attained the eternal by means of the impermanent.
श्रीशुक उवाच - स्वरैराकृतिभिस्तांस्तु प्रकोष्ठैर्ज्याहतैरपि । राजन्यबन्धून् विज्ञाय दृष्टपूर्वानचिन्तयत्
Śuka said: By their voices, appearances, and even their hands marked by bowstring scars, he recognized the royal guests, having seen them before, and pondered.
राजन्यबन्धवो ह्येते ब्रह्मलिङ्गानि बिभ्रति । ददानि भिक्षितं तेभ्य आत्मानमपि दुस्त्यजम्
These relatives of the royal order are bearing the marks of Brahmins; I will give even my own self, which is difficult to relinquish, as alms to them.
बलेर्नु श्रूयते कीर्तिः वितता दिक्ष्वकल्मषा । ऐश्वर्याद् भ्रंशितस्यापि विप्रव्याजेन विष्णुना
It is heard that the fame of Bali, pure and widespread in all directions, remained even after he was deprived of his wealth by Vishnu, who took the guise of a Brahmin.
श्रियं जिहीर्षतेन्द्रस्य विष्णवे द्विजरूपिणे । जानन्नपि महीं प्रादाद् वार्यमाणोऽपि दैत्यराट्
Desiring the wealth of Indra, Vishnu, appearing as a Brahmin, received the earth from the king of the Daityas, who, though aware and restrained, still gave it.
जीवता ब्राह्मणार्थाय को न्वर्थः क्षत्रबन्धुना । देहेन पतमानेन नेहता विपुलं यशः
What purpose does the body of a kshatriya relative serve, if living only for the sake of Brahmins? When the body falls here, great fame is attained.
इत्युदारमतिः प्राह कृष्णार्जुनवृकोदरान् । हे विप्रा व्रियतां कामो ददाम्यात्मशिरोऽपि वः
Thus, with noble intent, he spoke to Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhimasena: 'O Brahmins, choose your desire; I will give even my own head to you.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच - युद्धं नो देहि राजेन्द्र द्वन्द्वशो यदि मन्यसे । युद्धार्थिनो वयं प्राप्ता राजन्या नान्यकाङ्क्षिणः
The Blessed Lord said: 'O king, grant us battle, if you consider it fitting to fight in pairs. We have come seeking combat, desiring nothing else but battle with the royal order.'
असौ वृकोदरः पार्थः तस्य भ्रातार्जुनो ह्ययम् । अनयोर्मातुलेयं मां कृष्णं जानीहि ते रिपुम्
This is Bhimasena, O Partha; his brother is Arjuna. Know me, Krishna, as their maternal uncle and your enemy.
एवमावेदितो राजा जहासोच्चैः स्म मागधः । आह चामर्षितो मन्दा युद्धं तर्हि ददामि वः
Thus informed, the king of Magadha laughed loudly and, angered, said: 'Then, I will grant you battle, O fools.'
न त्वया भीरुणा योत्स्ये युधि विक्लवतेजसा । मथुरां स्वपुरीं त्यक्त्वा समुद्रं शरणं गतः
I will not fight with you, coward, whose valor is uncertain; you abandoned your own city, Mathura, and took refuge by the sea.
अयं तु वयसा तुल्यो नातिसत्त्वो न मे समः । अर्जुनो न भवेद् योद्धा भीमस्तुल्यबलो मम
This one is equal to me in age, but not in strength; Arjuna is not fit to fight, but Bhima is equal in might to me.
इत्युक्त्वा भीमसेनाय प्रादाय महतीं गदाम् । द्वितीयां स्वयमादाय निर्जगाम पुराद् बहिः
Having spoken thus, he gave a great mace to Bhimasena, took another himself, and went out from the city.
ततः समे खले वीरौ संयुक्तावितरेतरौ । जघ्नतुर्वज्रकल्पाभ्यां गदाभ्यां रणदुर्मदौ
Then, the two heroes, equally matched, met on the field; wild with battle, they struck each other with maces as mighty as thunderbolts.