Bhagavata Purana

प्रजोपप्लवमालक्ष्य लोकव्यतिकरं च तम् । मतं च वासुदेवस्य संजहारार्जुनो द्वयम्

Observing the turmoil among the people and the disturbance in the worlds, and recalling Vāsudeva's instruction, Arjuna withdrew both weapons.

तत आसाद्य तरसा दारुणं गौतमीसुतम् । बबंधामर्षताम्राक्षः पशुं रशनया यथा

Then, swiftly approaching the fierce son of Gautamī, his eyes red with anger, Arjuna bound him with ropes as one binds an animal.

शिबिराय निनीषन्तं रज्ज्वा बद्ध्वा रिपुं बलात् । प्राहार्जुनं प्रकुपितो भगवान् अंबुजेक्षणः

As he was dragging the enemy, bound with ropes, intending to take him to the camp, the lotus-eyed Lord, enraged, spoke to Arjuna.

मैनं पार्थार्हसि त्रातुं ब्रह्मबंधुमिमं जहि । यो असौ अनागसः सुप्तान् अवधीन्निशि बालकान्

"O Pārtha, do not spare this one! Kill this so-called brāhmaṇa, who, though a brāhmaṇa in name, slew innocent, sleeping children at night."

मत्तं प्रमत्तमुन्मत्तं सुप्तं बालं स्त्रियं जडम् । प्रपन्नं विरथं भीतं न रिपुं हन्ति धर्मवित्

One who knows dharma does not kill an enemy who is intoxicated, distracted, insane, asleep, a child, a woman, helpless, surrendered, unarmed, or afraid.

स्वप्राणान्यः परप्राणैः प्रपुष्णात्यघृणः खलः । तद् वधस्तस्य हि श्रेयो यद् दोषाद्यात्यधः पुमान्

The wicked person, devoid of compassion, who sustains his own life by destroying the lives of others—his death is truly better, for by such sin a man falls down.

प्रतिश्रुतं च भवता पाञ्चाल्यै श्रृण्वतो मम । आहरिष्ये शिरस्तस्य यस्ते मानिनि पुत्रहा

And you promised to Draupadī, in my hearing, 'I will bring the head of that arrogant slayer of your sons.'

तदसौ वध्यतां पाप आतताय्यात्मबंधुहा । भर्तुश्च विप्रियं वीर कृतवान् कुलपांसनः

Therefore, let this sinful one be slain—he is an aggressor, a killer of kin, and has committed a vile act displeasing to his master, bringing disgrace to his lineage.

सूत उवाच । एवं परीक्षता धर्मं पार्थः कृष्णेन चोदितः । नैच्छद् हन्तुं गुरुसुतं यद्यप्यात्महनं महान्

Sūta said: Thus, while Arjuna was examining dharma and urged by Kṛṣṇa, he did not wish to kill the son of his teacher, though he was a great offender.

अथोपेत्य स्वशिबिरं गोविंदप्रियसारथिः । न्यवेदयत् तं प्रियायै शोचन्त्या आत्मजान् हतान्

Then, returning to his own camp, the charioteer dear to Govinda reported to his grieving wife, who mourned her slain sons.

(वंशस्थ) तथाहृतं पशुवत्पाशबद्धं अवाङ्मुखं कर्मजुगुप्सितेन । निरीक्ष्य कृष्णापकृतं गुरोः सुतं वामस्वभावा कृपया ननाम च

Seeing the son of his teacher brought like an animal, bound with ropes, his face turned downward in shame for his deed, and deprived of his glory by Kṛṣṇa, Kṛpī, tender by nature, bowed with compassion.

(अनुष्टुप्) उवाच चासहन्त्यस्य बंधनानयनं सती । मुच्यतां मुच्यतां एष ब्राह्मणो नितरां गुरुः

Unable to bear seeing him bound and led, the faithful wife said, 'Release him, release him! He is a brāhmaṇa, truly a guru.'

सरहस्यो धनुर्वेदः सविसर्गोपसंयमः । अस्त्रग्रामश्च भवता शिक्षितो यदनुग्रहात्

The secret science of archery, with its use and withdrawal, and the array of weapons—all this you learned from him by his favor.

स एष भगवान् द्रोणः प्रजारूपेण वर्तते । तस्यात्मनोऽर्धं पत्‍न्याः ते नान्वगाद् वीरसूः कृपी

That same venerable Droṇa now exists in the form of his son; half of himself remains in Kṛpī, the mother who bore this heroic child.

तद् धर्मज्ञ महाभाग भवद्‌भिः र्गौरवं कुलम् । वृजिनं नार्हति प्राप्तुं पूज्यं वन्द्यमभीक्ष्णशः

Therefore, O knower of dharma, O great one, your noble family, honored and revered, should not incur infamy through such an act.

मा रोदीदस्य जननी गौतमी पतिदेवता । यथाहं मृतवत्साऽर्ता रोदिम्यश्रुमुखी मुहुः

Let his mother Gautamī, devoted to her husband, not weep as I, with a face wet with tears, have wept again and again for my dead sons.

यैः कोपितं ब्रह्मकुलं राजन्यैरजितात्मभिः । तत् कुलं प्रदहत्याशु सानुबंधं शुचार्पितम्

If the brāhmaṇa lineage is angered by unruly kṣatriyas, that lineage quickly destroys them and their kin, even if they are pure.

सूत उवाच । धर्म्यं न्याय्यं सकरुणं निर्व्यलीकं समं महत् । राजा धर्मसुतो राज्ञ्याः प्रत्यनंदद् वचो द्विजाः

Sūta said: The son of Dharma, the king, accepted the queen's words, which were righteous, just, compassionate, honest, and impartial, O brāhmaṇas.

नकुलः सहदेवश्च युयुधानो धनंजयः । भगवान् देवकीपुत्रो ये चान्ये याश्च योषितः

Nakula, Sahadeva, Yuyudhāna, Dhanañjaya, the divine son of Devakī, and the others, both men and women, were present there.

तत्राहामर्षितो भीमः तस्य श्रेयान् वधः स्मृतः । न भर्तुर्नात्मनश्चार्थे योऽहन् सुप्तान् शिशून् वृथा

Then Bhīma, enraged, said that death was the proper fate for one who, without cause, kills sleeping children, not for the sake of his master or himself.

निशम्य भीमगदितं द्रौपद्याश्च चतुर्भुजः । आलोक्य वदनं सख्युः इदमाह हसन्निव

Hearing Bhīma's words and those of Draupadī, the four-armed Lord, looking at his friend's face, spoke these words with a gentle smile.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । ब्रह्मबंधुर्न हन्तव्य आततायी वधार्हणः । मयैवोभयमाम्नातं परिपाह्यनुशासनम्

The Blessed Lord said: A brāhmaṇa, even if an aggressor, should not be killed; yet an aggressor deserves death. I have taught both sides—uphold my instruction.

कुरु प्रतिश्रुतं सत्यं यत्तत् सांत्वयता प्रियाम् । प्रियं च भीमसेनस्य पाञ्चाल्या मह्यमेव च

Fulfill the promise you made to Kuru, which you gave to comfort your beloved; and what is dear to Bhīmasena, to Draupadī, and to me as well.

सूत उवाच । अर्जुनः सहसाऽऽज्ञाय हरेर्हार्दमथासिना । मणिं जहार मूर्धन्यं द्विजस्य सहमूर्धजम्

Sūta said: Arjuna, suddenly understanding the intention of Hari, with his sword cut off the jewel along with the hair from the head of the twice-born one.

विमुच्य रशनाबद्धं बालहत्याहतप्रभम् । तेजसा मणिना हीनं शिबिरान् निरयापयत्

Releasing him, bound with a girdle and his brilliance dimmed by the sin of killing a child, deprived of the jewel's radiance, he led him out from the camp.

वपनं द्रविणादानं स्थानान् निर्यापणं तथा । एष हि ब्रह्मबंधूनां वधो नान्योऽस्ति दैहिकः

Shaving the head, taking away wealth, and expelling from one's place—this is the bodily punishment for those who are brahmin in name only; there is no other.

पुत्रशोकातुराः सर्वे पाण्डवाः सह कृष्णया । स्वानां मृतानां यत्कृत्यं चक्रुर्निर्हरणादिकम्

All the Pāṇḍavas, afflicted with grief for their son, together with Kṛṣṇā, performed the necessary rites for their dead, such as carrying out the bodies.

अथ सप्तमोऽध्यायः । श्रीभगवानुवाच। यदात्थ मां महाभाग तच्चिकीर्षितमेव मे। ब्रह्मा भवो लोकपालाः स्वर्वासं मेऽभिकाङ्क्षिणः

Then, the seventh chapter. Śrī Bhagavān said: What you have asked of me, O greatly fortunate one, is exactly what I wish to do. Brahmā, Śiva, the guardians of the worlds, all desire to dwell in my realm.

प्रजाः पुपुषतुः प्रीतौ दम्पती पुत्रवत्सलौ। शृण्वन्तौ कूजितं तासां निर्वृतौ कलभाषितैः

The people flourished in happiness, as the loving couple cared for their children, listening with delight to their cooing and babbling speech.