धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ|
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya||
Dhrtarastra said: Sanjaya, gathered on the sacred soil of Kuruksetra, eager to fight, what did my children and the children of Pandu do?
सञ्जय उवाच
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्
sañjaya uvāca
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā|
ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt||
Sanjaya said: At that time, seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up for battle and approaching Dronacarya, King Duryodhana spoke these words.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता
paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm|
vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā||
Behold, Master, the mighty army of the sons of Pandu arrayed for battle by your talented pupil, Dhrstadyumna, son of Drupada.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi|
yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ||
There are in this army heroes wielding mighty bows and equal in military prowess to Bhima and Arjuna—Satyaki and Virata and the Maharathi (warrior chief) Drupada; Dhrstaketu, Chekitana and the valiant King of Kasi, and Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saivya, the best of men; and mighty Yudhamanyu, valiant Uttamauja, Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra, and the five sons of Draupadi—all of them Maharathis (warrior chiefs).
verses 4–6
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः
dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān|
purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ||
There are in this army heroes wielding mighty bows and equal in military prowess to Bhima and Arjuna—Satyaki and Virata and the Maharathi (warrior chief) Drupada; Dhrstaketu, Chekitana and the valiant King of Kasi, and Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saivya, the best of men; and mighty Yudhamanyu, valiant Uttamauja, Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra, and the five sons of Draupadi—all of them Maharathis (warrior chiefs).
verses 4–6
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः
yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān|
saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ||
There are in this army heroes wielding mighty bows and equal in military prowess to Bhima and Arjuna—Satyaki and Virata and the Maharathi (warrior chief) Drupada; Dhrstaketu, Chekitana and the valiant King of Kasi, and Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saivya, the best of men; and mighty Yudhamanyu, valiant Uttamauja, Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra, and the five sons of Draupadi—all of them Maharathis (warrior chiefs).
verses 4–6
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम
नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते
asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama|
nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te||
O best of Brahmanas, know them also who are the principal warriors on our side—the generals of my army. For your information, I mention them below.
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च
bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ|
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca||
Yourself and Bhisma and Karna and Kripa, who is ever victorious in battle; and even so Asvatthama, Vikarna and Bhurisrava (the son of Somadatta).
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ|
nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ||
And there are many other heroes, equipped with various weapons and missiles, who have staked their lives for me, all skilled in warfare.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्
aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam|
paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam||
This army of ours, fully protected by Bhisma, is unconquerable; while that army of theirs, guarded in every way by Bhima, is easy to conquer.
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ|
bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi||
Therefore, stationed in your respective positions on all fronts, you all guard Bhisma in particular on all sides.
तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्
tasya saṃjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ|
siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān||
The grand old man of the Kaurava race, their glorious grand-uncle Bhisma, cheering up Duryodhana, roared terribly like a lion and blew his conch.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्
tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ|
sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat||
Then conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums and trumpets suddenly blared forth and the noise was tumultuous.
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः
tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau|
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ||
Then, seated in a glorious chariot drawn by white horses, Sri Krsna as well as Arjuna blew their celestial conches.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः
pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ|
pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ||
Sri Krsna blew His conch named Pancajanya; Arjuna, his own called Devadatta; while Bhima of terrible deeds blew his mighty conch Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ
anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ|
nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau||
King Yudhisthira, son of Kunti, blew his conch Anantavijaya; while Nakula and Sahadeva blew theirs, known as Sughosa and Manipuspaka respectively.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः
kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ|
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ||
And the excellent archer, the King of Kasi, and Sikhandi the Maharathi (great car-warrior), Dhrstadyumna and Virata, and invincible Satyaki, Drupada as well as the five sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra—all of them, O Lord of the earth, severally blew their respective conches from all sides.
verses 17–18
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्
drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate|
saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak||
And the excellent archer, the King of Kasi, and Sikhandi the Maharathi (great car-warrior), Dhrstadyumna and Virata, and invincible Satyaki, Drupada as well as the five sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra—all of them, O Lord of the earth, severally blew their respective conches from all sides.
verses 17–18
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्
sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat|
nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan||
And the terrible sound, echoing through heaven and earth, rent the hearts of Dhrtarastra’s sons.
अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः
atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrānkapidhvajaḥ|
pravṛtte śastrasaṃpāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ||
Now, O lord of the earth, seeing your sons arrayed against him, and when missiles were ready to be hurled, Arjuna, son of Pandu, took up his bow and then addressed the following words to Sri Krsna: Krsna, place my chariot between the two armies.
verses 20–21
अर्जुन उवाच
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत
arjuna uvāca
hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate|
senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me'cyuta||
Now, O lord of the earth, seeing your sons arrayed against him, and when missiles were ready to be hurled, Arjuna, son of Pandu, took up his bow and then addressed the following words to Sri Krsna: Krsna, place my chariot between the two armies.
verses 20–21
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे
yāvadetānnirīkṣe'haṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān|
kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasminraṇasamudyame||
And keep it there till I have carefully observed these warriors drawn up for battle, and have seen with whom I have to engage in this fight.
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः
yotsyamānānavekṣe'haṃ ya ete'tra samāgatāḥ|
dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ||
I shall scan the well-wishers in this war of evil-minded Duryodhana, whoever have assembled on this side and are ready for the fight.
संजय उवाच
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्
saṃjaya uvāca
evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata|
senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam||
Sanjaya said: O King, thus addressed by Arjuna, Sri Krsna placed the magnificent chariot between the two armies in front of Bhisma, Drona and all the kings and said, “Arjuna, behold these Kauravas assembled here.”
verses 24–25
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति
bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām|
uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti||
Sanjaya said: O King, thus addressed by Arjuna, Sri Krsna placed the magnificent chariot between the two armies in front of Bhisma, Drona and all the kings and said, “Arjuna, behold these Kauravas assembled here.”
verses 24–25
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृ़नथ पितामहान्
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृ़न्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा
tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṛ़natha pitāmahān|
ācāryānmātulānbhrātṛ़nputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā||
Now Arjuna saw stationed there in both the armies his uncles, grand-uncles and teachers, even great-grand-uncles, maternal uncles, brothers and cousins, sons and nephews, and grand-nephews, even so friends, fathers-in-law and well-wishers as well.
verses 26–27
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्
śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi|
tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān||
Now Arjuna saw stationed there in both the armies his uncles, grand-uncles and teachers, even great-grand-uncles, maternal uncles, brothers and cousins, sons and nephews, and grand-nephews, even so friends, fathers-in-law and well-wishers as well.
verses 26–27
अर्जुन उवाच
कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्
दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्
arjuna uvāca
kṛpayā parayā''viṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt|
dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam||
Seeing all those relations present there, Arjuna was filled with deep compassion and uttered these words in sadness.
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati|
vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate||
Arjuna said: Krsna, at the sight of these kinsmen arrayed for battle my limbs give way, and my mouth is parching; nay, a shiver runs through my body and my hair stands upright.
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः
gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate|
na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ||
The bow, Gandiva, slips from my hand and my skin too burns all over; my brain is whirling, as it were, and I can stand no longer.
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava|
na ca śreyo'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave||
And, Kesava, I see such omens of evil, nor do I see any good in killing my kinsmen in battle.
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा
na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca|
kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā||
Krsna, I do not covet victory, nor kingdom nor pleasures. Govinda, of what use will kingdom, or luxuries, or even life be to us?
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च
yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca|
ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca||
Those very persons for whose sake we covet the throne, luxuries and pleasures—teachers, uncles, sons and nephews and even so grand-uncles and great-grand-uncles, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grand-nephews, brothers-in-law and other relations—are here arrayed on the battlefield, risking their lives and wealth.
verses 33–34
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः
मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा
ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ|
mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā||
Those very persons for whose sake we covet the throne, luxuries and pleasures—teachers, uncles, sons and nephews and even so grand-uncles and great-grand-uncles, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grand-nephews, brothers-in-law and other relations—are here arrayed on the battlefield, risking their lives and wealth.
verses 33–34
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते
etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato'pi madhusūdana|
api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte||
Slayer of Madhu, I do not want to kill them, though they should slay me, even for the throne of the three worlds; how much the less for earthly lordship!
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana|
pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ||
Krsna, how can we hope to be happy slaying the sons of Dhrtarastra? Killing these desperadoes, sin will surely take hold of us.
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव
tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān|
svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava||
Therefore, Krsna, it does not behove us to kill our relations, the sons of Dhrtarastra. For how can we be happy after killing our own kinsmen?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ|
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam||
Even if these people, with minds blinded by greed, perceive no evil in destroying their own race and no sin in treason to friends, why should not we, O Krsna, who see clearly the sin accruing from the destruction of one’s family, think of turning away from this crime?
verses 38–39
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन
kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum|
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana||
Even if these people, with minds blinded by greed, perceive no evil in destroying their own race and no sin in treason to friends, why should not we, O Krsna, who see clearly the sin accruing from the destruction of one’s family, think of turning away from this crime?
verses 38–39
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ|
dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta||
Age-long family traditions disappear with the destruction of a family; and virtue having been lost, vice takes hold of the entire race.
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः
adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ|
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ||
With the preponderance of vice, Krsna, the women of the family become corrupt; and with the corruption of women, O descendant of Vrsni, there ensues an intermixture of castes.
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः
saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca|
patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ||
Admixture of blood damns the destroyers of the race as well as the race itself. Deprived of the offerings of rice and water (Sraddha, Tarpana, etc.), the manes of their race also fall.
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः
doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ|
utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ||
Through these evils bringing about an intermixture of castes, the age-long caste traditions and family customs of the killers of kinsmen get extinct.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन
नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम
utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana|
narake'niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma||
Krsna, we hear that men who have lost their family traditions dwell in hell for an indefinite period of time.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः
aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam|
yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ||
Oh, what a pity! Though possessed of intelligence, we have set our mind on the commission of a great sin in that, due to lust for throne and enjoyment, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्
yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ|
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet||
It would be better for me if the sons of Dhrtarastra, armed with weapons, killed me in battle while I was unarmed and unresisting.
सञ्जय उवाच
एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः
sañjaya uvāca
evamuktvā'rjunaḥ saṃkhye rathopastha upāviśat|
visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ||
Sanjaya said: Arjuna, whose mind was agitated by grief on the battlefield, having spoken thus and having thrown aside his bow and arrows, sank into the hinder part of his chariot.