03.240
dānavā ūcuḥ॥
The Dānavas said.
bhoḥ suyodhana rājendra bharatānāṃ kulodvaha। śūraiḥ parivṛto nityaṃ tathaiva ca mahātmabhiḥ ॥03-240-1॥
O Suyodhana, O king among kings, champion of the Bharata race, you are always surrounded by heroes as well as great-souled men. (03-240-1)
akārṣīḥ sāhasam idaṃ kasmāt prāyopaveśanam। ātmatyāgī hi avāg yāti vācyatāṃ ca ayaśaskariṃ॥03-240-2॥
Why have you committed this rash act of fasting unto death? For truly, one who gives up his life descends to a lower state and receives blame and infamy. (03-240-2)
na hi kāryaviruddheṣu bahvapāyeṣu karmasu. mūlaghātiṣu sajjante buddhimanto bhavadvidhāḥ ॥03-240-3॥
Indeed, people as wise as you do not become attached to actions that are opposed to the goal, filled with many dangers, and destructive at the root. (03-240-3)
niyacchaitāṁ matiṁ rājan dharmārthasukhanaśinīm. yaśaḥ-pratāpa-dhairya-ghnīṁ śatrūṇāṁ harṣavardhanīm ॥03-240-4॥
O king, restrain this mind, which destroys righteousness, wealth, and happiness, destroys fame, splendor, and courage, and increases the joy of your enemies. (03-240-4)
śrūyatāṃ ca prabho tattvaṃ divyatāṃ cātmano nṛpa। nirmāṇaṃ ca śarīrasya tato dhairyam avāpnuhu॥03-240-5॥
O king, O lord, listen to the truth, the divinity of the self, and the creation of the body; thereafter, acquire steadfastness. (03-240-5)
purā tvaṁ tapasāsmābhirlabdhaḥ devānmaheśvarāt। pūrvakāyaśca sarvaste nirmito vajrasañcayaiḥ ॥03-240-6॥
Long ago, through our austerities, we obtained you from the gods and from the great lord Maheśvara; your previous entire body was fashioned from masses of vajra. (03-240-6)
astrair abhedyaḥ śastraiś cāpyadhaḥ-kāyaś ca te 'nagha| kṛtaḥ puṣpa-mayo devyā rūpataḥ strī-mano-haraḥ ॥03-240-7॥
O sinless one, impenetrable by missiles and weapons, your lower body has also been made by the goddess of flowers, taking the charming form of a woman. (03-240-7)
evam-īśvara-saṃyuktaḥ tava dehaḥ nṛpa-uttama। devyā ca rāja-śārdūla divyaḥ tvaṃ hi na mānuṣaḥ ॥03-240-8॥
Thus, united with the Lord, your body, O best of kings, is made divine by the goddess, O tiger among kings. You indeed are not human. (03-240-8)
kṣatriyāś ca mahāvīryā bhagadattapurogamāḥ। divyāstra-viduṣaḥ śūrāḥ kṣapayiṣyanti te ripūn ॥03-240-9॥
The warrior-nobles of great strength, led by Bhagadatta and skilled in divine weapons, these heroes will destroy your enemies. (03-240-9)
tad alaṃ te viṣādena bhayaṃ tava na vidyate। sāhyārthaṃ ca hi te vīrāḥ sambhūtā bhuvi dānavāḥ॥03-240-10॥
Therefore, let there be no more despondency for you; you need not fear. Indeed, for helping you, your heroic Danavas have arisen on earth. (03-240-10)
bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādīṁś ca pravekṣyanty apare 'surāḥ। yair āviṣṭā ghṛṇāṁ tyaktvā yotsyante tava vairibhiḥ॥03-240-11॥
Bhiṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa and others, and other warriors, will join battle. Influenced by them, abandoning compassion, they will fight against your enemies. (03-240-11)
naiva putrān na ca bhrātṝn na pitṝn na ca bāndhavān। naiva śiṣyān na ca jñātīn na bālān sthavirān na ca॥03-240-12॥
He (regards) not his sons or brothers, nor fathers or relatives; not even his disciples or kinsmen, nor children or elders. (03-240-12)
yudhi samprahariṣyanto mokṣyanti kurusattama। niḥsnehā dānavāviṣṭāḥ samākrānte'ntarātmani ॥03-240-13॥
O best of the Kurus, in battle, those about to fight will meet their end; being devoid of affection and possessed by demons, when their inner selves are overpowered. (03-240-13)
prahariṣyanti bandhubhyaḥ sneham utsṛjya dūrataḥ। hṛṣṭāḥ puruṣaśārdūlāḥ kaluṣīkṛtamānasāḥ॥ avijñānavimūḍhāś ca daivāc ca vidhinirmitāt॥03-240-14॥
Having abandoned affection for their kinsmen from afar, delighted, the valiant men, their minds rendered impure, will attack—deluded by lack of understanding, and by fate as determined by destiny. (3-240-14)
vyābhāṣamāṇāś cānyonyaṃ na me jīvan vimokṣyase। sarvaśastrāstramokṣeṇa pauruṣe samavasthitāḥ ॥ ślāghamānāḥ kuruśreṣṭha kariṣyanti janakṣayam ॥03-240-15॥
While conversing with each other, none will escape alive from me. By the use of all sorts of weapons and missiles, as they take their stand in valor, boasting, O chief of Kurus, they will bring about the destruction of people. (03-240-15)
te'pi śaktyā mahātmānaḥ pratiyotsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ। vadhaṃ caiṣāṃ kariṣyanti daivayuktā mahābalāḥ॥03-240-16॥
They too, empowered and great-souled, will oppose the Pāṇḍavas; and the mighty ones favored by destiny will bring about the destruction of these. (03-240-16)
daityarakṣogaṇāś cāpi sambhūtāḥ kṣatrayoniṣu। yotsyanti yudhi vikramya śatrubhis tava pārthiva॥ gadābhir musalaiḥ khaḍgaiḥ śastrair uccāvacais tathā॥03-240-17॥
O king, companies of Daityas and Rākṣasas that have also arisen among kṣatriya lineages will fight in battle, attacking with your enemies, using maces, clubs, swords, and various other weapons. (03-240-17)
yacca te'ntargataṃ vīra bhayam arjuna-sambhavam। tatrāpi vihito'smābhir vadho'pāyo'rjunasya vai॥03-240-18॥
And, O hero, that inward fear of yours arising from Arjuna—there too, we have indeed devised a means for Arjuna's destruction. (03-240-18)
hatasya narakasyātmā karṇamūrtim upāśritaḥ। tad-vairaṃ saṃsmaran vīra yotsyate keśavārjunau॥03-240-19॥
The soul of the slain Naraka, having entered Karṇa's body and recalling that enmity, O hero, will fight against Keśava and Arjuna. (03-240-19)
sa te vikramaśauṇḍīro raṇe pārthaṃ vijeṣyati। karṇaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvāṃścārīnmahārathaḥ ॥03-240-20॥
He, your valiant hero, will conquer Pārtha in battle. Karṇa, the best among warriors, and the great chariot fighter, will overcome all enemies. (03-240-20)
jñātvaitacchadmanā vajrī rakṣārthaṃ savyasācinaḥ। kuṇḍale kavacaṃ caiva karṇasyāpahariṣyati॥03-240-21॥
Having understood this scheme, Indra, for the sake of Arjuna’s protection, will indeed take away the ear-rings and armor from Karṇa. (03-240-21)
tasmād asmābhir apy atra daityāḥ śata-sahasraśaḥ। niyuktā rākṣasāś caiva ye te saṃśaptakā iti ॥ prakhyātās te 'rjunaṃ vīraṃ nihaniṣyanti mā śucḥ ॥03-240-22॥
Therefore, also by us here, hundreds of thousands of Daityas and Rākṣasas have been appointed — those known as the 'Saṃśaptaka' warriors. They are famous; they will kill Arjuna, the hero. Do not grieve. (03-240-22)
asapatnā tvayā hīyaṃ bhoktavyā vasudhā nṛpa। mā viṣādaṃ nayasvāsmān naitat tvayy upapadyate॥ vinaṣṭe tvayi cāsmākaṃ pakṣo hīyeta kaurava॥03-240-23॥
O king, the earth free of rivals is to be ruled and not abandoned by you. Do not make us despair—such conduct does not befit you. If you are lost, our cause would also be weakened, O Kaurava. (03-240-23)
gaccha vīra na te buddhir anyā kāryā kathañcana. tvam asmākaṃ gatir nityaṃ devatānāṃ ca pāṇḍavāḥ ॥03-240-24॥
Go, O hero. Let your mind not be otherwise in any way. You are always our refuge, as well as that of the gods, O Pāṇḍava. (03-240-24)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-uktvā pariṣvajya daityās taṃ rāja-kuñjaram। samāśvāsya ca durdharṣam putra-vad dānava-rṣabhāḥ ॥03-240-25॥
Having spoken thus, the Daityas, eminent among the Dānavas, embraced that royal elephant-like one, consoled him—unassailable as he was—like a son. (03-240-25)
sthirāṃ kṛtvā buddhimasya priyāṇyuktvā ca bhārata। gamyatāmityanujñāya jayamāpnuhī cetyatha ॥03-240-26॥
After making his mind firm and having said his dear things, and having given permission, saying "let him go," O Bhārata, (it was also said) "may you attain victory". (03-240-26)
tair-visṛṣṭaṃ mahābāhuṃ kṛtyā saivānayat-punaḥ। tam-eva deśaṃ yatrāsau tadā prāyam-upāviśat॥03-240-27॥
She, the magical being, having been released by them, brought the strong-armed one again to the very place where he had earlier sat in fasting. (03-240-27)
pratinikṣipya taṁ vīraṁ kṛtyā samabhipūjya ca। anujñātā ca rājñā sā tatraivāntaradhīyata ॥03-240-28॥
After placing that hero down and duly honoring him, the kṛtyā, having received permission from the king, disappeared right there. (03-240-28)
gatāyām atha tasyāṃ tu rājā duryodhanas tadā। svapnabhūtam idaṃ sarvam acintayata bhārata ॥ vijeṣyāmi raṇe pāṇḍūn iti tasyābhavan matiḥ ॥03-240-29॥
Then, when the night had passed, King Duryodhana at that time thought all this to have been as if a dream, O Bhārata. "I shall conquer the Pāṇḍavas in battle"—this thought arose in him. (03-240-29)
karṇaṃ saṃśaptakāṃścaiva pārthasyāmitraghātinaḥ। amanyata vadhe yuktānsamarthāṃśca suyodhanaḥ ॥03-240-30॥
Suyodhana considered Karna and the Saṃśaptakas, who were the foe-slayers of Pārtha (Arjuna), as being capable and ready for the act of slaying. (03-240-30)
evam āśā dṛḍhā tasya dhārtarāṣṭrasya durmateḥ. vinirjaye pāṇḍavānām abhavad bharatarṣabha ॥03-240-31॥
Thus, O bull among the Bhāratas, firm hope arose in Dhritarashtra's evil-minded son regarding the defeat of the Pāṇḍavas. (03-240-31)
karṇo'py āviṣṭacittātmā narakasyāntarātmanā. arjunasya vadhe krūrām akaroch matim tadā ॥03-240-32॥
Karṇa also, possessed in mind and with the spirit of Naraka, then formed a cruel resolve to slay Arjuna. (03-240-32)
saṁśaptakāś ca te vīrā rākṣasāviṣṭacetasāḥ। rajastamobhyām ākrāntāḥ phalgunasya vadhaiṣiṇaḥ॥03-240-33॥
Those oath-bound warriors, those heroes whose minds were possessed by demons, dominated by passion and darkness, were intent on killing Phalguna. (03-240-33)
bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādyāś ca dānavākrāntacetasaḥ। na tathā pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ snehavanto viśāṃ pate॥ na cācacakṣe kasmaicid etad rājā suyodhanaḥ॥03-240-34॥
Bhiṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa and the rest, whose hearts were seized by a demonic influence, were not so affectionate towards the sons of Pāṇḍu, O king. And King Suyodhana did not disclose this matter to anyone. (03-240-34)
duryodhanaṁ niśānte ca karṇo vaikartano'bravīt। smayannivāñjaliṁ kṛtvā pārthivaṁ hetumadvacaḥ ॥03-240-35॥
At the end of night, Karṇa, the son of Vikartana, addressed Duryodhana, speaking meaningful words to the king with folded hands, as if smiling. (03-240-35)
na mṛto jayate śatrūñjīvanbhadrāṇi paśyati। mṛtasya bhadrāṇi kutaḥ kauraveya kuto jayaḥ ॥ na kālo'dya viṣādasya bhayasya maraṇasya vā ॥03-240-36॥
The dead does not conquer enemies; it is the living who sees good things. For the dead, from where are good things, O son of Kuru, from where is victory? Today is not the time for despair, fear, or death. (03-240-36)
pariṣvajyābravīcchainaṃ bhujābhyāṃ sa mahābhujaḥ। uttiṣṭha rājankiṃ śeṣe kasmācchocasi śatruhan ॥ śatrūnpratāpya vīryeṇa sa kathaṃ martumicchasi ॥03-240-37॥
Having embraced him with his two arms, the mighty-armed (one) said to him: "Arise, O king! Why are you lying down, for what reason do you grieve, O destroyer of foes? Having conquered enemies with valor, how can you now wish to die?" (03-240-37)
atha vā te bhayaṃ jātaṃ dṛṣṭvārjunaparākramam. satyaṃ te pratijānāmi vadhiṣyāmi raṇe'rjunam ॥03-240-38॥
Now, perhaps fear has arisen in you upon seeing Arjuna's valor. Truly I promise you, I shall slay Arjuna in battle. (03-240-38)
gate trayodaśe varṣe satyenāyudham ālabhe। ānayiṣyāmy ahaṃ pārthān vaśaṃ tava janādhipa॥03-240-39॥
When the thirteenth year has passed, I will truly take up weapons and bring the Pāṇḍavas under your control, O lord of men. (03-240-39)
evam uktas tu karṇena daityānāṃ vacanāt tathā। praṇipātena ca anyeṣām udatiṣṭhat suyodhanaḥ॥ daityānāṃ tad vacaḥ śrutvā hṛdi kṛtvā sthirāṃ matim॥03-240-40॥
Thus, having been addressed by Karṇa and by the words of the Daityas, Suyodhana stood up after showing obeisance to the others. Having heard those words of the Daityas, he determined in his heart with a firm resolve. (03-240-40)
tato manujaśārdūlo yojayāmāsa vāhinīm। rathanāgāśvakalilāṃ padātijana-saṅkulām॥03-240-41॥
Then the tiger among men arranged the army, which was full of chariots, elephants, horses, and dense with foot-soldiers. (03-240-41)
gaṅgaughapratimā rājan prayātā sā mahācamūḥ। śvetacchatraiḥ patākābhiś caāmaraiś ca supāṇḍuraiḥ॥03-240-42॥
O king, that great army, resembling the flow of the Ganga, set out adorned with white umbrellas, banners, and exceedingly white yak-tail fans. (03-240-42)
rathairnāgaiḥ padātaiz ca śuśubhe'tīva saṅkulā। vyapetābhraghane kāle dyaur ivāvyaktaśāradī॥03-240-43॥
Crowded with chariots, elephants, and foot-soldiers, it appeared exceedingly dense, like the sky in autumn when the thick clouds have departed and it becomes clear. (03-240-43)
jayāśīrbhirdvijendraistu stūyamāno'dhirājavat। gṛhṇannañjalimālāśca dhārtarāṣṭro janādhipaḥ ॥03-240-44॥
But while being praised by the foremost brahmins with victorious blessings, like an overlord, the son of Dhritarashtra, lord of the people, accepted garlands of joined hands. (03-240-44)
suyodhano yayāv agre śriyā paramayā jvalan। karṇena sārdhaṃ rājendra saubalena ca devinā ॥03-240-45॥
Suyodhana, shining with supreme splendor, went at the head along with Karna, O king, as well as Saubala and the godlike one. (03-240-45)
duḥśāsanādayaś cāsya bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te। bhūriśravāḥ somadatto mahārājaś ca bāhlikaḥ॥03-240-46॥
Duhshasana and his other brothers, all of them; as well as Bhurishravas, Somadatta, the great king, and Bahlik. (03-240-46)
rathair nānāvidhākārair hayair gajavarais tathā। prayāntaṃ nṛpa-siṃhaṃ tam anujagmuḥ kurūdvahāḥ ॥ kālena alpena rājan te viviśuḥ svapuraṃ tadā ॥03-240-47॥
The chief Kurus followed the lion among kings as he departed, traveling by chariots of various kinds, by horses, and by excellent elephants. In a short time, O king, they entered their own city. (03-240-47)
