04.036
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
sa rājadhānyā niryāya vairāṭiḥ pṛthivīñjayaḥ। prayāhītyabravītsūtaṃ yatra te kuravo gatāḥ ॥04-36-1॥
Having left the capital city, the king of Virāṭa, conqueror of kings, told the charioteer, "Go where those Kauravas have gone." (04-36-1)
samavetān kurūn yāvat jigīṣūn avajitya vai। gāś ca eṣām kṣipram ādāya punar āyāmi svaṃ puram ॥04-36-2॥
I will conquer the assembled Kurus who wish to win, take their cows swiftly, and then return again to my own city. (04-36-2)
tatastāṁś codayāmāsa sadaśvān pāṇḍunandanaḥ। te hayā narasiṁhena coditā vātaraṁhasaḥ॥ ālikhanta iva ākāśam ūhuḥ kāñcanamālinaḥ॥ 04-36-3॥
Then the son of Pāṇḍu urged on the fine horses; those horses, spurred by the lion among men, sped like the wind, as if tracing paths through the sky, adorned with golden garlands. (04-36-3)
nātidūramatho yātvā matsyaputradhanañjayau। avekṣetāmamitraghnau kurūṇāṃ balināṃ balam ॥ śmaśānamabhito gatvā āsasāda kurūnatha ॥04-36-4॥
After proceeding not too far, the son of Matsya and Dhananjaya, both destroyers of foes, should observe the strength of the mighty Kurus. Having gone near the cremation ground, then he reached the Kurus. (04-36-4)
tadanīkaṃ mahatteṣāṃ vibabhau sāgarasvanam। sarpamāṇam ivākāśe vanaṃ bahulapādapam॥04-36-5॥
That great army of theirs, resounding like the ocean, shone as it moved like a forest thick with trees in the sky. (04-36-5)
dadṛśe pārthivo reṇur janitas tena sarpatā। dṛṣṭipraṇāśo bhūtānāṃ divaspṛṅ narasattama ॥04-36-6॥
O best of men, the earthly dust raised by his moving could be seen, causing blindness to beings and reaching up to the sky. (04-36-6)
tadanīkaṃ mahad dṛṣṭvā gajāśvarathasaṅkulam। karṇa-duryodhana-kṛpair-guptaṃ śāntanavena ca ॥04-36-7॥
He saw that great army formation, crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, protected by Karṇa, Duryodhana, Kṛpa, and by the son of Śāntanu as well. (04-36-7)
droṇena ca saputreṇa maheṣvāsena dhīmatā। hṛṣṭaromā bhayodvignaḥ pārthaṃ vairāṭir abravīt ॥04-36-8॥
Hṛṣṭaromā, agitated by fear at Droṇa, his son, the great and wise archer, spoke to Pārtha on behalf of the king of Virāṭa. (04-36-8)
notsahe kurubhir yoddhuṃ romaharṣaṃ hi paśya me। bahu-pravīram atyugraṃ devair api durāsadam॥ pratiyoddhuṃ na śakṣyāmi kuru-sainyam anantakam॥04-36-9॥
I am not able to fight with the Kurus; indeed, see my hair standing on end. The Kuru army, with many heroes and exceedingly fierce—difficult even for the gods to contend with—I shall not be able to oppose in battle. (04-36-9)
nāśaṁse bhāratīṁ senāṁ praveṣṭuṁ bhīmākārmukām. rathanāgāśvakalilāṁ pattidhvajasamākulām ॥ dṛṣṭvaiva hi parānājāvātmā pravyathatīva me ॥04-36-10॥
I have no hope of entering the Bhārata army, terrible with bows, packed with chariots, elephants, and horses, crowded with foot-soldiers and banners. Indeed, just seeing the enemy in battle, my mind feels deeply disturbed. (4-36-10)
yatra droṇaś ca bhīṣmaś ca kṛpaḥ karṇo viviṃśatiḥ| aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca somadatto'tha bāhlikaḥ ॥04-36-11॥
Where Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Viviṃśati, Aśvatthāman, Vikarṇa, Somadatta, and also Bāhlika (are present). (04-36-11)
duryodhanas tathā vīro rājā ca rathināṃ varaḥ। dyutimanto maheṣvāsāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ ॥04-36-12॥
Duryodhana, likewise a hero, a king and the best among chariot-warriors, and all the resplendent, great bowmen are skilled in battle. (04-36-12)
dṛṣṭvaiva hi kurūnetān vyūḍhānīkān prahāriṇaḥ। hṛṣitāni ca romāṇi kaśmalaṃ cāgataṃ mama॥04-36-13॥
As soon as I saw these Kurus arrayed for battle and ready to strike, my hairs stood on end and a weakness came upon me. (04-36-13)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
aviyāto viyātasya maurkhyāddhūrtasya paśyataḥ। paridevayate mandaḥ sakāśe savyasācinaḥ ॥04-36-14॥
Out of his own foolishness and carelessness regarding a rogue, the foolish man laments before Savyasācin (Arjuna), even while seeing what is happening. (04-36-14)
trigartān me pitā yātaḥ śūnye sampraṇidhāya mām। sarvāṁ senām upādāya na me santīha sainikāḥ॥04-36-15॥
My father has gone from Trigarta, having left me alone in this empty place, taking all the army with him; there are no soldiers of mine here. (04-36-15)
so'ham-eko bahūn-bālaḥ kṛtāstrān-akṛtaśramaḥ। pratiyoddhuṃ na śakṣyāmi nivartasva bṛhannade ॥04-36-16॥
He—I am alone, a young man, facing many who are armed and not yet wearied; I shall not be able to fight them. Turn back, O Bṛhannadā. (04-36-16)
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
bhayena dīnarūpo'si dviṣatāṃ harṣavardhanaḥ। na ca tāvatkṛtaṃ kiñcitparaiḥ karma raṇājire ॥04-36-17॥
Through fear you appear pitiable, and you bring joy to your enemies. Yet, nothing at all has been done by others in the battlefield. (4-36-17)
svayameva ca mām āttha vaha māṃ kauravān prati। so'haṃ tvāṃ tatra neṣyāmi yatraite bahulā dhvajāḥ ॥04-36-18॥
You yourself told me, 'Carry me to the Kauravas.' So I will lead you there, where these numerous standards are. (04-36-18)
madhyamāmiṣagṛdhrāṇāṃ kurūṇām ātatāyinām। neṣyāmi tvāṃ mahābāho pṛthivyām api yudhyatām॥04-36-19॥
O mighty-armed one, I shall take you even among those fighting, to the midst of the Kurus—those offenders greedy for flesh—upon the earth. (04-36-19)
tathā strīṣu pratiśrutya pauruṣaṃ puruṣeṣu ca। katthamāno'bhiniryāya kimarthaṃ na yuyutsase॥04-36-20॥
Having thus promised manliness among women and among men, and having boasted as you went forth, for what reason do you now not wish to fight? (04-36-20)
na ced vijitya gās tāstvaṃ gṛhān vai pratiyāsyasi। prahasiṣyanti vīra tvāṃ narā nāryaś ca saṃgatāḥ॥04-36-21॥
O hero, if you do not return to the houses having conquered those cows, the assembled men and women will laugh at you. (04-36-21)
aham apy atra sairaṃdhr-yā stutaḥ sārathyakarmaṇi। na hi śakṣyāmi anirjitya gāḥ prayātuṃ puraṃ prati॥04-36-22॥
Here, I too have been praised by Sairandhri for my charioteer's task. But I surely cannot go towards the city without first recovering the cows. (04-36-22)
stotreṇa caiva sairandhryās tava vākyena tena ca। kathaṁ na yudhyeyam ahaṁ kurūn sarvān sthiro bhava॥04-36-23॥
Owing to the hymn, Sairandhri's statement, your words and that too, how could I not fight all the Kurus — I shall be firm. (04-36-23)
uttara uvāca॥
Uttara said.
kāmaṃ harantu matsyānāṃ bhūyāṃsaṃ kuravo dhanam। prahasantu ca māṃ nāryo narā vāpi bṛhannade ॥04-36-24॥
Let the Kurus take the greater part of the Matsyas' wealth as they wish; let women or men, O Bṛhannadā, laugh at me as well. (04-36-24)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ity uktvā prādravad bhīto rathāt praskandya kuṇḍalī. tyaktvā mānaṃ sa mandātmā visṛjya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ ॥04-36-25॥
Having thus spoken, Kuṇḍalī, frightened, jumped down from the chariot, abandoned his pride, and that weak-minded one threw aside his bow and arrows. (04-36-25)
bṛhannaḍovāca॥
Bṛhannaḍa said.
naiṣa pūrvaiḥ smṛto dharmaḥ kṣatriyasya palāyanam। śreyas te maraṇaṃ yuddhe na bhītasya palāyanam॥04-36-26॥
This fleeing has not been considered the duty of a kṣatriya by the ancients; death in battle is better for you, not flight from fear. (04-36-26)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-uktvā tu kaunteyaḥ so'vaplutya rathottamāt। tam-anvadhāvad-dhāvantaṃ rājaputraṃ dhanañjayaḥ॥ dīrghāṃ veṇīṃ vidhunvānaḥ sādhu rakte ca vāsasī॥04-36-27॥
After speaking thus, Kaunteya leapt down from the excellent chariot and Dhanañjaya chased the prince as he ran, his long braid shaking and his garments brightly red. (4-36-27)
vidhūya veṇīṃ dhāvantam ajānantaḥ arjunam tadā। sainikāḥ prāhasan kecit tathā-rūpam avekṣya tam॥04-36-28॥
Then, not recognizing Arjuna, some soldiers laughed on seeing him running with his braid loosened in such a manner. (04-36-28)
taṁ śīghramabhidhāvantaṁ samprekṣya kuravo'bruvan. ka eṣa veṣapracchanno bhasmaneva hutāśanaḥ ॥04-36-29॥
Seeing him swiftly running towards, the Kurus said: Who is this, disguised in appearance, like fire covered with ash? (04-36-29)
kiñcidasya yathā puṁsaḥ kiñcidasya yathā striyaḥ। sārūpyamarjunasyeva klībarūpaṁ bibharti ca ॥04-36-30॥
It bears a form that is somewhat like that of a man and somewhat like that of a woman, resembling Arjuna, and also has a neuter aspect. (04-36-30)
tadevaitacchirogrīvaṁ tau bāhū parighopamau। tadvadevāsya vikrāntaṁ nāyamanyo dhanañjayāt॥04-36-31॥
This is indeed that head and neck, those two arms are like iron clubs; in just the same way, his valor—this is none other than Dhananjaya (Arjuna). (04-36-31)
amareṣviva devendro mānuṣeṣu dhanañjayaḥ। ekaḥ ko'smānupāyāyādanyo loke dhanañjayāt ॥04-36-32॥
Just as Indra is among the immortals, so is Dhanañjaya among humans; who else in the world is there besides Dhanañjaya for accomplishing our purpose? (04-36-32)
ekaḥ putro virāṭasya śūnye saṁnihitaḥ pure. sa eṣa kila niryāto bālabhāvān na pauruṣāt ॥04-36-33॥
One son of Virāṭa, present in the deserted city—this is he, who left due to childishness, not out of manliness. (04-36-33)
satreṇa nūnaṃ channaṃ hi carantaṃ pārtham arjunam। uttaraḥ sārathiṃ kṛtvā niryāto nagarād bahiḥ॥04-36-34॥
Surely, Uttara, making Pārtha Arjuna—who is concealed and moving about under cover—his charioteer, has gone outside the city. (04-36-34)
sa no manye dhvajān dṛṣṭvā bhīta eṣa palāyati. taṁ nūnam eṣa dhāvantaṁ jighṛkṣati dhanañjayaḥ ॥04-36-35॥
I think he, frightened after seeing our banners, is fleeing. Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) certainly wishes to catch that one who is running. (04-36-35)
iti sma kuravaḥ sarve vimṛśantaḥ pṛthak-pṛthak। na ca vyavasituṃ kiñcid uttaraṃ śaknuvanti te॥ channaṃ tathā taṃ satreṇa pāṇḍavaṃ prekṣya bhārata॥ 04-36-36॥
Thus, all the Kurus, though each deliberated separately, were unable to reach any decision in reply, having seen the Pāṇḍava hidden by the assembly in this way, O Bhārata. (04-36-36)
uttaraṃ tu pradhāvantam anudrutya dhanañjayaḥ। gatvā padaśataṃ tūrṇaṃ keśapakṣe parāmṛśat ॥04-36-37॥
But Dhanañjaya, having run after the one going north, quickly covered a hundred steps and seized him by the hair.
so'rujūnena parāmṛṣṭaḥ paryadevayad ārtavat। bahulaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ caiva virāṭasya sutas tadā ॥04-36-38॥
When struck by Arjuna, the son of Virata then lamented profusely and pitiably, like one in distress. (04-36-38)
śātakumbhasya śuddhasya śataṃ niṣkān dadāmi te। maṇīn aṣṭau ca vaiḍūryān hemabaddhān mahāprabhān ॥04-36-39॥
I give you one hundred pure electrum niṣka coins, and also eight gems of lapis lazuli bound in gold, all of great luster. (04-36-39)
hemadaṇḍapraticchannaṃ rathaṃ yuktaṃ ca su-vrajaiḥ. mattāṃś ca daśa mātaṅgān muñca māṃ tvaṃ bṛhannade ॥04-36-40॥
O Bṛhannadā, you release me along with the chariot covered with golden poles, yoked with excellent horses, and ten intoxicated elephants. (04-36-40)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evamādīni vākyāni vilapantam acetasaṃ | prahasya puruṣavyāghraḥ rathasya antikam ānayat ॥04-36-41॥
Having laughed at him as he lamented such statements in an unconscious state, the tiger among men brought (him) close to the chariot. (04-36-41)
athainamabravīt pārtho bhayārtaṃ naṣṭacetasam। yadi notsahase yoddhuṃ śatrubhiḥ śatrukarśana ॥ ehi me tvaṃ hayān yaccha yudhyamānasya śatrubhiḥ ॥04-36-42॥
Then Arjuna said to him, who was afflicted by fear and had lost his mind: "If you are not able to fight with the enemies, O subduer of enemies, then come, you take hold of my horses as I fight with the enemies." (04-36-42)
prayāhy etad rathānīkaṃ mad-bāhu-bala-rakṣitaḥ। apradhṛṣyatamaṃ ghoraṃ guptaṃ vīrair mahārathaiḥ॥04-36-43॥
Go forward to this chariot-army, protected by the strength of my arms—most unassailable, dreadful, guarded by heroes and mighty chariot-warriors. (04-36-43)
mā bhaistvaṃ rājaputrāgrya kṣatriyo'si parantapa। ahaṃ vai kurubhir yotsyāmyavajeṣyāmi te paśūn ॥04-36-44॥
Do not fear, O foremost of princes, you are a Kshatriya and a conqueror of enemies. I will fight the Kurus and retrieve your cattle for you. (04-36-44)
praviśyaitadrathānikamapradhṛṣyaṁ durāsadam। yantā bhūstvaṁ naraśreṣṭha yotsye'haṁ kurubhiḥ saha ॥04-36-45॥
Enter this invincible and hard-to-approach chariot-division; you be the charioteer, O best of men, and I will fight along with the Kurus. (04-36-45)
evaṁ bruvāṇo bībhatsur vairāṭim aparājitaḥ। samāśvāsya muhūrtaṁ tam uttaraṁ bharatarṣabha ॥04-36-46॥
O bull among the Bharatas, thus Bībhatsu (Arjuna), unvanquished, having spoken to Uttara, comforted him for a moment. (04-36-46)
tat enaṃ viceṣṭantam-akāmaṃ bhayapīḍitam। ratham-āropayāmāsa pārthaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ ॥04-36-47॥
Then Pārtha, the foremost of warriors, caused him—struggling, unwilling, and afflicted by fear—to ascend the chariot. (04-36-47)
