03.019
Pancharatra: After gaining consciousness Pradyumna urges the charioteer to return to the battlefield.
Vāsudeva said.
When Pradyumna, the foremost among the strong, was struck by Śālva's arrow, the Vṛṣṇis, whose resolve was broken, who had come to the battle, were filled with distress. (3-19-1)
At that time, O king, when Pradyumna fell, all the Vṛṣṇi and Andhaka forces cried out in distress, while the opposing side became joyful. (3-19-2)
Seeing him thus bewildered, the trained charioteer Dāruka quickly carried him away from the battlefield with swift horses. (3-19-3)
When the chariot had not gone very far, and as he regained consciousness, he took up his bow and spoke these words to the charioteer. (3-19-4)
O son of Suta, what have you decided? Why are you turning away? For the mighty Vṛṣṇis, this is not considered righteousness in battle. (3-19-5)
O son of Suta, tell me truly: did you not feel delusion on seeing Śālva in the great battle, or did you feel despondency on seeing the battle? Tell me exactly as it happened. (3-19-6)
The charioteer said.
O Jānārdana, I have neither delusion nor has fear entered me. But I consider Śālva to be an excessive burden for you, O son of Keśava. (3-19-7)
O hero, I am restraining this strong evil-doer slowly; though valiant, the chariot-warrior, being deluded in battle, must be protected by the charioteer. (3-19-8)
O long-lived one, you are always to be protected by me, and I too must always be protected by you, the charioteer. Thinking thus, I withdraw. (3-19-9)
O mighty-armed, you are one, and the Dānavas are many; considering the battle not to be equal, O son of Rukmiṇī, I withdraw. (3-19-10)
Vāsudeva said.
While the charioteer was thus speaking, at that moment Makaraketu said to the charioteer, "O Kauravya, turn the chariot back again." (3-19-11)
O son of Dāruka, never again should you, O charioteer, in any way leave the battlefield while I am alive. (3-19-12)
He who abandons battle, or who kills the fallen, or who slays one saying 'I am yours', is not born in the Vṛṣṇi family. (3-19-13)
In the same way, whoever kills a woman, an old person, a child, one who is without a chariot, disheveled, or whose weapons and arms are broken, is also condemned. (3-19-14)
O Dāruka, you were born in the charioteer family, are trained in the duties of a charioteer, are a knower of dharma, and are also among the Vṛṣṇis in battles. (3-19-15)
He, knowing all the deeds of the Vṛṣṇis at the front of battle, said, "O charioteer, do not ever retreat again in this way." (3-19-16)
If I depart, slain on the back, frightened, fleeing from battle, what will the elder brother of Gadā, the unconquerable Mādhava, say to me? (3-19-17)
What will Baladeva, the mighty-armed elder brother of Keśava, who is also clad in blue and intensely proud, say now that he has arrived? (3-19-18)
O charioteer, what will Śini's grandson Narasiṁha, the great bowman, say about Sāmba and the conqueror of assemblies having left the battlefield? (3-19-19)
Cārudeṣṇa, Durdharṣa, as well as Gada and Sāraṇa, and also Akrūra, the mighty-armed—O charioteer, what will they say about me? (3-19-20)
What will the assembled women of the Vṛṣṇi heroes say about me, who am always brave, honored, virtuous, and proud of my manliness? (3-19-21)
This Pradyumna, having abandoned the great battle out of fear, is approaching. People will say "Shame on him", but they will not say "Well done". (3-19-22)
O Sauti, even mockery by words, whether of me or of one like me, is worse than death; therefore, do not repeat it again. (3-19-23)
Indeed, having placed the burden upon me, Hari, the slayer of Madhu, departed. The sacrifice of Partha, the lion of the Bharatas, who possesses immeasurable energy, (was thus left to me). (3-19-24)
Kṛtavarmā, the hero, was stopped by me just as he was about to depart. I will restrain Śālva; you stay here, O son of the charioteer. (3-19-25)
And he, the son of Hṛidika, having honoured me, has withdrawn; having approached him and abandoned the battle, what shall I say to the great chariot-warrior? (3-19-26)
What can I say about the mighty-armed, lotus-eyed person, who has approached, who is difficult to overcome, and who bears the conch, discus, and mace? (3-19-27)
Sātyaki, Baladeva, and the other Andhaka and Vṛṣṇi clansmen always compete with me; what indeed shall I say about them? (3-19-28)
O charioteer, having abandoned this battle and being struck from behind by arrows, if I am removed by you and rendered helpless, I would not wish to live in any way. (3-19-29)
Return quickly by chariot again, O son of Dāruka. This should not be done in this way, except in cases of danger, in any way. (3-19-30)
O charioteer, I never value life much if one flees from battle in fear and is struck from behind by arrows. (3-19-31)
O son of a charioteer, when have you ever seen me, afflicted by fear, abandon the battle and flee like a coward? (3-19-32)
It is not proper for you to abandon the battle, O son of Dāruka; since I am greatly desiring battle, therefore you go where the battle is. (3-19-33)
