03.238
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said;
citrasenaṃ samāgamya prahasannarjunastadā। idaṃ vacanamaklībamabravītparavīrahā ॥03-238-1॥
Then Arjuna, destroyer of enemy heroes, smiling, after approaching Citrasena, spoke these manly words. (03-238-1)
bhrātṝn arhasi no vīra moktuṃ gandharva-sattama। anarhā dharṣaṇaṃ hīme jīvamāneṣu pāṇḍuṣu ॥03-238-2॥
O best of Gandharvas, you ought to release our brothers, O hero; for these women are truly not fit to be violated while the Pāṇḍavas are alive. (03-238-2)
evam-uktas tu gandharvaḥ pāṇḍavena mahātmanā। uvāca yat karṇa vayaṃ mantrayanto vinirgatāḥ॥ draṣṭāraḥ sma sukhād dhīnān sadārān pāṇḍavān iti॥ 03-238-3॥
Thus, when addressed, the Gandharva, by the great-souled Pāṇḍava, said: "O Karṇa, it was after conferring together that we departed—to see the Pāṇḍavas, along with their wives, deprived of happiness." (03-238-3)
tasminn uccāryamāṇe tu gandharveṇa vacasya tha। bhūmer vivaram anvaiṣaṁ praveṣṭuṁ vrīḍayānvitaḥ॥03-238-4॥
But while those words were being uttered by the Gandharva, I, possessed with shame, wanted to find an opening in the earth to enter. (03-238-4)
yudhiṣṭhiram athāgamya gandharvāḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ । asmaddurmantritaṃ tasmai baddhāṃś cāsmān nyavedayan ॥03-238-5॥
Then, having come to Yudhishthira along with the Pāṇḍavas, the Gandharvas informed him of our ill-advised deed and that we had been bound. (03-238-5)
strīsamakṣamahaṃ dīno baddhaḥ śatruvaśaṃ gataḥ। yudhiṣṭhirasyopahṛtaḥ kiṃ nu duḥkhamataḥ param ॥03-238-6॥
I, afflicted and bound, have been taken away in the presence of a woman and come under the power of the enemy—what pain could be greater than this for Yudhishthira? (03-238-6)
ye me nirākṛtā nityaṃ ripur yeṣām ahaṃ sadā। tair mokṣito'haṃ durbuddhir dattaṃ tair jīvitaṃ ca me ॥03-238-7॥
Those who have always removed my enemy, by whom I have always been freed—even I, dull-minded—by them my life too has been given. (03-238-7)
prāptaḥ syāṃ yadyahaṃ vīra vadhaṃ tasminmahāraṇe। śreyastadbhavitā mahyamevaṃbhūtaṃ na jīvitam ॥03-238-8॥
If I were to attain death, O hero, being slain in that great battle, that would be better for me than living in such a condition. (03-238-8)
bhaved yaśaḥ pṛthivyāṃ me khyātaṃ gandharvato vadhāt। prāptāś ca lokāḥ puṇyāḥ syur mahendrasadane'kṣayāḥ॥03-238-9॥
May I gain fame on earth, celebrated for having slain the gandharva; and may the virtuous worlds I attain be eternal in the palace of Mahendra (Indra). (03-238-9)
yat tv adya me vyavasitaṁ tac chṛṇudhvaṁ naraṛṣabhāḥ। iha prāyam upāsiṣye yūyaṁ vrajata vai gṛhān ॥ bhrātaraś caiva me sarve prayāntv adya puraṁ prati ॥03-238-10॥
Hear today what I have resolved, O bulls among men. Here I shall observe the vow of fasting unto death; you all go home. As for my brothers, let all of them also go today towards the city. (03-238-10)
karṇaprabṛtayashcaiva suhṛdo bāndhavāśca ye। duḥśāsanaṃ puraskṛtya prayāntvadya puraṃ prati ॥03-238-11॥
Let Karna and the others, as well as the friends and kinsmen who are here, proceed towards the city today with Dushasana at the forefront. (03-238-11)
na hyahaṃ pratiyāsyāmi puraṃ śatrunirākṛtaḥ। śatrumānāpaho bhūtvā suhṛdāṃ mānakṛttathā ॥03-238-12॥
I will certainly not return to the city after driving out the enemy unless, having become one who diminishes the pride of enemies, I am also one who brings honor to friends. (03-238-12)
sa suhṛcchokado bhūtvā śatrūṇāṃ harṣavardhanaḥ। vāraṇāhvayam āsādya kiṃ vakṣyāmi janādhipam ॥03-238-13॥
He, having caused grief to his friends and increased the joy of his enemies, upon reaching Vāraṇāhvaya, what shall I say to the lord of men? (03-238-13)
bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpo drauṇir viduraḥ sañjayas tathā। bāhlīkaḥ somadattaś ca ye cānye vṛddhasaṁmatāḥ ॥03-238-14॥
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Asvatthama (the son of Drona), Vidura, Sanjaya, Bahlika, Somadatta, and all those others respected by elders. (03-238-14)
brāhmaṇāḥ śreṇimukhyāś ca tathodāsīnavṛttayaḥ। kiṃ māṃ vakṣyanti kiṃ cāpi prativakṣyāmi tān aham॥03-238-15॥
What will the Brāhmaṇas, guild-leaders, and those who act indifferently say to me, and what shall I reply to them? (03-238-15)
ripūṇāṃ śirasi sthitvā tathā vikramya ca urasi. ātma-doṣāt paribhraṣṭaḥ kathaṃ vakṣyāmi tān aham ॥03-238-16॥
Having stood triumphant upon the heads of my enemies and having advanced upon their very chests, now fallen because of my own fault, how can I face them? (03-238-16)
durvinītāḥ śriyaṃ prāpya vidyāmaiśvaryam eva ca। tiṣṭhanti na ciraṃ bhadre yathāhaṃ madagarvitaḥ॥03-238-17॥
O blessed one, the ill-disciplined, having attained prosperity, knowledge, and dominion, do not long remain—just as I, puffed up with pride, did not. (03-238-17)
aho bata yathedaṃ me kaṣṭaṃ duścaritaṃ kṛtam। svayaṃ durbuddhinā mohādyena prāpto'smi saṃśayam ॥03-238-18॥
Alas, indeed, how have I committed this difficult misdeed by my own bad understanding and delusion, by which I have come to doubt. (03-238-18)
tasmāt prāyam upāsiṣye na hi śakṣyāmi jīvitum। cetayānaḥ hi kaḥ jīvet kṛcchrāt śatrubhiḥ uddhṛtaḥ॥03-238-19॥
Therefore, I shall undertake a fast unto death, for I truly am not able to go on living. For after regaining consciousness, who would survive after being rescued from hardship by enemies? (03-238-19)
śatrubhiś cāvahasito mānī pauruṣavarjitaḥ। pāṇḍavair vikramāḍhyaiś ca sāvamānam avekṣitaḥ ॥03-238-20॥
He, being proud and devoid of manliness, was laughed at by his enemies and regarded with disrespect by the valorous Pāṇḍavas. (03-238-20)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evaṁ cintāparigato duḥśāsanamathābravīt। duḥśāsana nibodhedaṁ vacanaṁ mama bhārata ॥03-238-21॥
Thus, overcome by anxiety, he then spoke to Duḥśāsana: "Duḥśāsana, listen to these words of mine, O Bhārata." (03-238-21)
pratīccha tvaṁ mayā dattam abhiṣekaṁ nṛpo bhava। praśādhi pṛthivīṁ sphītāṁ karṇasaubala-pālitām ॥03-238-22॥
Accept the anointing given by me; become the king; rule the prosperous earth protected by Karṇa and Śaubala. (03-238-22)
bhrātṝn pālaya visrabdhaṃ maruto vṛtrahā yathā। bāndhavās tv upajīvantu devā iva śatakratum ॥03-238-23॥
Confidently protect your brothers as Vṛtrahan protects the Maruts; let your relatives live upon you as the gods do upon Śatakratu (Indra). (03-238-23)
brāhmaṇeṣu sadā vṛttiṃ kurvīthāś cāpramādataḥ। bandhūnāṃ suhṛdāṃ caiva bhavethās tvaṃ gatiḥ sadā॥03-238-24॥
You should always act properly towards Brāhmaṇas without any negligence; and you should always be the refuge of your relatives and friends. (03-238-24)
jñātīṁś cāpy anupaśyethā viṣṇur devagaṇān iva। guravaḥ pālanīyās te gaccha pālaya medinīm॥03-238-25॥
You should regard your kinsmen as Viṣṇu regards the hosts of gods; protect your elders; now go and take care of the earth. (03-238-25)
nandayan suhṛdaḥ sarvān śātravāṁś ca avabhartsayan. kaṇṭhe ca enaṁ pariṣvajya gamyatām iti uvāca ha ॥03-238-26॥
While rejoicing all his friends and reproaching his enemies, he embraced him by the neck and said, "Let him go." (03-238-26)
tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā dīno duḥśāsano 'bravīt। aśru-kaṇṭhaḥ suduḥkhārtah prāñjaliḥ praṇipatya ca॥ sagadgadam idaṃ vākyaṃ bhrātaraṃ jyeṣṭham ātmanaḥ॥03-238-27॥
Hearing those words, the distressed Duḥśāsana, with his throat choked by tears, deeply afflicted by sorrow, joined his hands, bowed, and with a faltering voice addressed this speech to his own elder brother. (03-238-27)
prasīdetyapatad bhūmau dūyamānena cetasā। duḥkhitaḥ pādayos tasya netra-jaṃ jalam utsṛjan ॥03-238-28॥
Saying 'be pleased', he fell on the ground with a disturbed mind, distressed, at his feet, shedding tears. (03-238-28)
uktavāṃś ca naravyāghro naitad evaṃ bhaviṣyati. vidīryet sanagā bhūmir dyaūś cāpi śakalībhavet ॥ ravir ātmaprabhāṃ jahyāt somaḥ śītāṃśutāṃ tyajet ॥03-238-29॥
Having said this, the tiger among men declared, "This will never come to pass; the earth with its mountains could be split apart, the sky too could be shattered, the sun might abandon his radiance, and the moon might relinquish its coolness—but this will not happen." (03-238-29)
vāyuḥ śaighryam atho jahyād himavāṃś ca parivrajet | śuṣyet toyaṃ samudreṣu vahnir apy uṣṇatāṃ tyajet ||03-238-30||
The wind might abandon its swiftness, the snowy mountain might depart, water in the oceans might dry up, and even fire might give up its heat. (03-238-30)
na cāhaṃ tvadṛte rājan praśāseyaṃ vasundharām। punaḥ punaḥ prasīdeti vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha ॥ tvam eva naḥ kule rājā bhaviṣyasi śataṃ samāḥ ॥03-238-31॥
O King, I would not govern the earth without you. Again and again he said these words: 'Be pleased.' You alone shall be king in our family for a hundred years. (03-238-31)
evam-uktvā sa rājendra sasvanaṁ praruroda ha। pādau saṅgṛhya mānārhau bhrātuḥ jyeṣṭhasya bhārata ॥03-238-32॥
After saying this, he, O king, seized the honored feet of his elder brother and wept aloud, O descendant of Bharata. (03-238-32)
tathā tau duḥkhitau dṛṣṭvā duḥśāsanasuyodhanau। abhigamya vyathāviṣṭaḥ karṇas tau pratyabhāṣata ॥03-238-33॥
Then, seeing Duḥśāsana and Suyodhana in sorrow, Karṇa, overwhelmed with grief, approached them and addressed them. (03-238-33)
viṣīdathaḥ kiṃ kauravyau bāliśyāt prākṛtāv iva। na śokaḥ śocamānasya vinivarteta kasyacit ॥03-238-34॥
Why do you both grieve, O Kauravas, simply out of childishness, as if you were ordinary men? Grief does not leave anyone just because they grieve. (03-238-34)
yadā ca śocataḥ śokaḥ vyasanaṃ nāpakarṣati। sāmarthyaṃ kiṃ tvataḥ śoke śocamānau prapaśyathaḥ ॥ dhṛtiṃ gṛhṇīta mā śatrūñ śocantau nandayiṣyathaḥ ॥03-238-35॥
When grief does not remove misfortune even for those who grieve, what ability do you two see in sorrow while grieving? Seize firmness; do not delight the enemies by your grieving. (03-238-35)
kartavyaṁ hi kṛtaṁ rājan pāṇḍavais tava mokṣaṇam। nityam eva priyaṁ kāryaṁ rājño viṣayavāsibhiḥ॥ pālyamānās tvayā te hi nivasanti gatajvarāḥ॥03-238-36॥
O king, the duty has indeed been performed by the Pāṇḍavas — your release. The subjects of a kingdom should always do what is dear to the king. Protected by you, they live free from distress. (03-238-36)
nārhasyevaṅgate manyuṃ kartuṃ prākṛtavadyathā। viṣaṇṇāstava sodaryāstvayi prāyaṃ samāsthite ॥ uttiṣṭha vraja bhadraṃ te samāśvāsaya sodarān ॥03-238-37॥
You should not indulge in anger in this situation as an ordinary person would. Your brothers are dejected, with you lying down in this way. Get up, go—may well-being be yours—comfort your brothers. (03-238-37)
rājann adyāvagacchāmi taveha laghusattvatām । kim atra citraṃ yad vīra mokṣitaḥ pāṇḍavair asi ॥ sadyo vaśaṃ samāpannaḥ śatrūṇāṃ śatrukarśana ॥03-238-38॥
O king, today I realize here your weakness of character. O hero, what is surprising in your being released by the Pāṇḍavas? You were at once brought under the power of your enemies, O tormentor of foes. (03-238-38)
senājīvaiś ca kauravya tathā viṣayavāsibhiḥ। ajñātair yadi vā jñātaiḥ kartavyaṃ nṛpateḥ priyam॥03-238-39॥
O Kauravya, whether by soldiers, residents of the kingdom, or others, whether known or unknown, what is pleasing to the king should be done. (03-238-39)
prāyaḥ pradhānāḥ puruṣāḥ kṣobhayanty arivāhinīm। nigṛhyante ca yuddeṣu mokṣyante ca svasainikaiḥ॥03-238-40॥
Usually, the leading men disturb the enemy forces; in battle, they are restrained and also rescued by their own troops. (03-238-40)
senājīvāś ca ye rājñāṃ viṣaye santi mānavāḥ। taiḥ saṅgamya nṛpārthāya yatitavyaṃ yathātatham ॥03-238-41॥
All those who live by the army, and all men who are within the kings’ domains, should, coming together, strive in whatever way possible for the king’s sake. (03-238-41)
yadyevaṃ pāṇḍavai rājan bhavad-viṣaya-vāsibhiḥ। yadṛcchayā mokṣito'dya tatra kā paridevanā ॥03-238-42॥
O king, if it is so that today I have been freed by chance by the Pāṇḍavas and those dwelling in your land, what cause is there for lamentation? (03-238-42)
na caitat sādhu yad rājan pāṇḍavās tvām nṛpotama। sva-senayā samprayāntam na anuyānti sma pṛṣṭhataḥ॥03-238-43॥
And it is not proper, O King, that the Pāṇḍavas, O best of kings, did not follow you with their army as you were departing. (03-238-43)
śūrāś ca balavantaś ca saṁyugeṣv apalāyinaḥ। bhavatas te sabhāyāṁ vai preṣyatāṁ pūrvam āgatāḥ॥03-238-44॥
Let those of your men who are valiant, mighty, and do not flee in battle, who have arrived before in the assembly, indeed be sent first. (03-238-44)
pāṇḍaveyāni ratnāni tvam adyāpy upabhuñjase। sattvasthān pāṇḍavān paśya na te prāyam upāviśan॥ uttiṣṭha rājan bhadraṃ te na cintāṃ kartum arhasi॥03-238-45॥
You still enjoy the jewels belonging to the Pāṇḍavas even today. Look at the steadfast Pāṇḍavas—they have not undertaken a fast because of you. Arise, O king, welfare be with you; you should not worry. (03-238-45)
avaśyameva nṛpate rājño viṣayavāsibhiḥ। priyāṇyācaritavyāni tatra kā paridevanā ॥03-238-46॥
Certainly, O king, the inhabitants of the kingdom must do things pleasing to the king; what cause is there for lamentation in this. (03-238-46)
madvākyaṁ etad rājendra yadi evaṁ na kariṣyasi। sthāsyāmi iha bhavat-pādau śuśrūṣan narimardana ॥03-238-47॥
O king, if you do not carry out this command of mine thus, I will remain here at your feet, serving you, O destroyer of enemies. (03-238-47)
notsahe jīvitumahaṃ tvad-vihīno naraṛṣabha। prāyopaviṣṭastu nṛpa rājñāṃ hāsyo bhaviṣyasi॥03-238-48॥
O best of men, I am not able to live deprived of you; but if you, O king, resolve to fast unto death, you will become an object of ridicule among kings. (03-238-48)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evamuktastu karṇena rājā duryodhanastadā। naivotthātuṃ manaścakre svargāya kṛtaniścayaḥ ॥03-238-49॥
Thus, when Karṇa had spoken in this way, king Duryodhana then did not make up his mind to rise, having firmly resolved to attain heaven. (03-238-49)
