03.232
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
अस्मानभिगतांस्तात भयार्ताञ्शरणैषिणः। कौरवान्विषमप्राप्तान्कथं ब्रूयास्त्वमीदृशम् ॥०३-२३२-१॥
O dear one, how could you say such things to us Kauravas, who have approached you, afflicted by fear and seeking refuge, being in difficulty? (03-232-1)
भवन्ति भेदा ज्ञातीनां कलहाश्च वृकोदर। प्रसक्तानि च वैराणि ज्ञातिधर्मो न नश्यति ॥०३-२३२-२॥
Divisions and quarrels arise among relatives, O Vṛkodara; and even when enmities persist, the bond of kinship does not disappear. (03-232-2)
यदा तु कश्चिज्ज्ञातीनां बाह्यः प्रार्थयते कुलम्। न मर्षयन्ति तत्सन्तो बाह्येनाभिप्रमर्षणम् ॥०३-२३२-३॥
But when an outsider seeks the family of the kinsmen, the virtuous do not tolerate that offence caused by an outsider. (03-232-3)
जानाति ह्येष दुर्बुद्धिरस्मानिह चिरोषितान्। स एष परिभूयास्मानकार्षीदिदमप्रियम् ॥०३-२३२-४॥
This evil-minded one knows indeed that we have long dwelt here; he, having disregarded us, has done this unpleasant deed. (03-232-4)
दुर्योधनस्य ग्रहणाद्गन्धर्वेण बलाद्रणे। स्त्रीणां बाह्याभिमर्शाच्च हतं भवति नः कुलम् ॥०३-२३२-५॥
Our family is destroyed due to Duryodhana being forcefully captured by a Gandharva in battle, and also due to the external contact with women. (03-232-5)
शरणं च प्रपन्नानां त्राणार्थं च कुलस्य नः। उत्तिष्ठध्वं नरव्याघ्राः सज्जीभवत माचिरम् ॥०३-२३२-६॥
Be the refuge of those who have sought protection and for the sake of our family; arise, tiger-like men, get ready without delay. (03-232-6)
अर्जुनश्च यमौ चैव त्वं च भीमापराजितः। मोक्षयध्वं धार्तराष्ट्रं ह्रियमाणं सुयोधनम् ॥०३-२३२-७॥
Arjuna, the twins (the sons of Yama), you, and the invincible Bhīma—release Suyodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, who is being carried away. (03-232-7)
एते रथा नरव्याघ्राः सर्वशस्त्रसमन्विताः। इन्द्रसेनादिभिः सूतैः संयताः कनकध्वजाः ॥०३-२३२-८॥
These chariots, bearing golden banners, manned and controlled by charioteers such as Indrasena, are filled with tiger-like heroes fully equipped with every weapon. (03-232-8)
एतानास्थाय वै तात गन्धर्वान्योद्धुमाहवे। सुयोधनस्य मोक्षाय प्रयतध्वमतन्द्रिताः ॥०३-२३२-९॥
O dear one, depending on these, strive without sloth to fight the Gandharvas in battle for the release of Suyodhana. (03-232-9)
य एव कश्चिद्राजन्यः शरणार्थमिहागतम्। परं शक्त्याभिरक्षेत किं पुनस्त्वं वृकोदर ॥०३-२३२-१०॥
Indeed, whoever is a kṣatriya who has come here for refuge, another should protect him to the best of his ability; how much more so you, Vṛkodara? (03-232-10)
क इहान्यो भवेत्त्राणमभिधावेति चोदितः। प्राञ्जलिं शरणापन्नं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुमपि ध्रुवम् ॥०३-२३२-११॥
Who else here would provide protection and rush forward when invoked, surely, upon seeing someone with joined palms and seeking refuge, even if that person is an enemy? (03-232-11)
वरप्रदानं राज्यं च पुत्रजन्म च पाण्डव। शत्रोश्च मोक्षणं क्लेशात्त्रीणि चैकं च तत्समम् ॥०३-२३२-१२॥
O Pāṇḍava, granting a boon, acquiring a kingdom, begetting a son, and releasing an enemy from suffering—these four, they are equal. (03-232-12)
किं ह्यभ्यधिकमेतस्माद्यदापन्नः सुयोधनः। त्वद्बाहुबलमाश्रित्य जीवितं परिमार्गति ॥०३-२३२-१३॥
What could be greater than this, that Suyodhana, having fallen into difficulty, seeks his life relying on your strength of arms? (03-232-13)
स्वयमेव प्रधावेयं यदि न स्याद्वृकोदर। विततोऽयं क्रतुर्वीर न हि मेऽत्र विचारणा ॥०३-२३२-१४॥
O Vṛkodara, if it were not so, I would indeed go forth alone; this sacrifice is already commenced, O hero, for I have no further deliberation here. (03-232-14)
साम्नैव तु यथा भीम मोक्षयेथाः सुयोधनम्। तथा सर्वैरुपायैस्त्वं यतेथाः कुरुनन्दन ॥०३-२३२-१५॥
But, Bhīma, just as you might release Suyodhana by conciliation alone, so also, O delight of the Kurus, you should strive by every possible means. (03-232-15)
न साम्ना प्रतिपद्येत यदि गन्धर्वराडसौ। पराक्रमेण मृदुना मोक्षयेथाः सुयोधनम् ॥०३-२३२-१६॥
If the king of the Gandharvas does not yield to conciliation, then you should gently and valiantly release Suyodhana. (03-232-16)
अथासौ मृदुयुद्धेन न मुञ्चेद्भीम कौरवान्। सर्वोपायैर्विमोच्यास्ते निगृह्य परिपन्थिनः ॥०३-२३२-१७॥
Therefore, he should not allow Bhīma to release the Kauravas by mild battle; having captured those adversaries, they should be set free only by every possible means. (03-232-17)
एतावद्धि मया शक्यं संदेष्टुं वै वृकोदर। वैताने कर्मणि तते वर्तमाने च भारत ॥०३-२३२-१८॥
O Vṛkodara, this much indeed can be done by me in the performance of this sacrifice while it is ongoing, O Bhārata. (03-232-18)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
अजातशत्रोर्वचनं तच्छ्रुत्वा तु धनञ्जयः। प्रतिजज्ञे गुरोर्वाक्यं कौरवाणां विमोक्षणम् ॥०३-२३२-१९॥
Having heard the words of Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira), Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) promised to fulfill the guru’s command to release the Kauravas. (03-232-19)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
यदि साम्ना न मोक्ष्यन्ति गन्धर्वा धृतराष्ट्रजान्। अद्य गन्धर्वराजस्य भूमिः पास्यति शोणितम् ॥०३-२३२-२०॥
If the Gandharvas do not release the sons of Dhritarashtra through conciliation, today the earth belonging to the king of the Gandharvas will drink blood. (03-232-20)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
अर्जुनस्य तु तां श्रुत्वा प्रतिज्ञां सत्यवादिनः। कौरवाणां तदा राजन्पुनः प्रत्यागतं मनः ॥०३-२३२-२१॥
But, O king, on hearing that vow of truthful Arjuna, the mind of the Kauravas was restored again. (03-232-21)
