03.046
Pancharatra: Conversation between Dhritarastra and Sanjaya on glories of Arjuna.
Janamejaya said.
O brāhmaṇa, after hearing of this most wonderful deed of Pārtha, who possesses immeasurable energy, what did the great and powerful Dhṛtarāṣṭra say? (3-46-1)
Vaiśampāyana said.
When the king, the son of Ambikā, heard from the sage Dvaipāyana that Pārtha had gone to Indra's world, he spoke to Sañjaya. (3-46-2)
O charioteer, I have heard in full the deeds of the wise Pārtha; do you also know them truly, O charioteer? (3-46-3)
My son, who is negligent, dull-minded, resolved on evil, and of very wicked intellect, will destroy the earth. (3-46-4)
He whose words are always immortal, even among the independent great souls—if Dhananjaya (Arjuna) is his warrior, even the three worlds would be his. (3-46-5)
Who could stand before Arjuna, as he shoots ear-tipped arrows with sharp and stone-edged points? Not even Death, the conqueror of old age, could do so. (3-46-6)
All my sons, who were wicked-minded, have fallen under the sway of death, as the battle with the unassailable Pāṇḍavas has come upon them. (3-46-7)
And of him alone, I do not see in battle, among the wielders of the Gandiva bow, anyone who, even after constant thought, could surpass him as a chariot-warrior. (3-46-8)
Let Droṇa and Karṇa go forth; even if Bhīṣma himself enters the battle, there may be great doubt in the world, but I do not see our victory. (3-46-9)
Karṇa is compassionate, negligent, and a teacher; he is an elder and preceptor. Pārtha is intolerant, strong, impetuous, and firm in his prowess. (3-46-10)
There may be a very tumultuous battle, entirely undefeated. All are indeed skilled in weapons, all are heroes, and all have attained great fame. (3-46-11)
Indeed, the defeated would not desire supremacy over all; in killing, certainly, there would be peace for them or for Phalguna. (3-46-12)
But there is no one who can slay Arjuna, nor is there anyone who can conquer him. How could his anger, which has arisen towards the dull-witted, be calmed? (3-46-13)
The hero, who was equal to the lord of the gods, satisfied Agni in the Khāṇḍava forest and conquered all the kings at the great Rājasūya sacrifice. (3-46-14)
O Sañjaya, let the remainder be accomplished by the thunderbolt falling from the mountain onto the head, but not by the arrows of the crowned one, O dear one. (3-46-15)
Just as the rays of the sun burn everything, both moving and unmoving, so too will the arrows released from Arjuna's arm scorch my sons. (3-46-16)
Indeed, by the sound of the chariots, the army of the Bhāratas, afflicted by fear of Savyasācin (Arjuna), appears as if torn apart on all sides. (3-46-17)
Just as, raising and shooting arrows, the crowned aggressor who stands in battle, created as a destroyer and all-destroyer by the creator, would be not to be overcome, so is he. (3-46-18)
Sañjaya said.
O king, all that you have spoken regarding Duryodhana is just as you have said; this is not false, O lord of the earth. (3-46-19)
The Pāṇḍavas, possessed of immeasurable energy, were indeed overcome by anger when they saw their illustrious lawful wife Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) led into the assembly. (3-46-20)
O great king, having heard those words of Duḥśāsana, they, aroused to cruelty, and Karṇa, I think, will not sleep. (3-46-21)
O great king, you have indeed heard how, in battle, Sthāṇu (Śiva) with eleven forms was satisfied by Pārtha (Arjuna) with his bow. (3-46-22)
The lord of all gods, the matted-haired, blessed one himself, desiring to know, assumed the form of a Kirāta and made Phalguna (Arjuna) fight. (3-46-23)
There, the guardians of the worlds showed Arjuna, the bull among the Kurus, who had excelled in austerity for the sake of weapons. (3-46-24)
No one else except Phalguna (Arjuna) is able to obtain this; on earth, a man cannot directly see these lords. (3-46-25)
O king, who is the man that can defeat in battle that hero, who, though worn out and having a consumed form, was empowered by Maheśvara? (3-46-26)
This dreadful, tumultuous, and hair-raising event has occurred: Draupadī is being dragged about, provoking the anger of the Pāṇḍavas. (3-46-27)
At that place, Bhima, his lip quivering, spoke powerful words; for he had seen both thighs displayed to Draupadi by Duryodhana. (3-46-28)
O wicked one, at the end of thirteen years, I will break your thighs with a mace as strong as a thunderbolt, O evil gambler. (3-46-29)
All of them are the best among warriors, all possess immeasurable energy, all are skilled in every weapon, and even the gods find them very difficult to conquer. (3-46-30)
I think that, stirred up by anger, the sons of Pritha, endowed with heroism and wrath, will bring about the end of your sons in battle. (3-46-31)
Dhritarashtra said.
O charioteer, what has Karṇa done by speaking harsh words? This much enmity is sufficient, that Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) went into the assembly. (3-46-32)
Now, my sons, who are dull-minded, might remain as they are, since their eldest brother, who is their superior, does not abide by discipline. (3-46-33)
O charioteer, the unfortunate one does not heed my words either; seeing me deprived of sight, motionless and unconscious. (3-46-34)
And those dull ministers of his, such as Karna, Saubala and others, they too, being unwise, further increase his many faults. (3-46-35)
Even arrows released freely by Pārtha, who possesses immeasurable energy, would burn my sons; how much more so those arrows that are impelled by wrath. (3-46-36)
Divine weapons, released by the strength of Arjuna's arm and emerging from his great bow, empowered by mantras, could have destroyed even the gods. (3-46-37)
For one whose counselor, protector, and true friend is Janardana—Hari, the lord of the three worlds—what indeed can remain unconquered for him? (3-46-38)
O Sañjaya, here is this very great and wonderful thing of Arjuna; it is said in tradition that it was joined by the arms of Mahadeva. (3-46-39)
What was done long ago in the Khāṇḍava forest, openly before all beings, by Phalguna (Arjuna) to help Agni, and by Dāmodara (Krishna), (3-46-40)
In every way, I have no son, nor ministers, nor kinsmen, when Partha, Bhima, Vasudeva, and Sātvata are enraged. (3-46-41)
