04.038
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tāṃ śamīm upasaṅgamya pārtho vairāṭim abravīt। sukumāraṃ samājñātaṃ saṅgrāme nātikovidam ॥04-38-1॥
Having approached the Śamī tree, Pārtha spoke to the princess of Virāṭa, saying that she is tender, recognized, and not very skilled in battle. (04-38-1)
samādiṣṭo mayā kṣipraṃ dhanūṃṣy avaharottara। nemāni hi tvadīyāni soḍhuṃ śakṣyanti me balam ॥04-38-2॥
Having been commanded by me, quickly bring bows; after (that), indeed, my strength will not be able to endure these of yours. (04-38-2)
bhāraṃ vāpi guruṃ hartuṃ kuñjaraṃ vā pramarditum। mama vā bāhuvikṣepaṃ śatrūniha vijeṣyataḥ॥04-38-3॥
Who here would be able to carry a burden, however heavy, or crush an elephant, or overcome my arm’s sweep and conquer the enemies here? (04-38-3)
tasmādbhūmiñ jayāroha śamīmetāṃ palāśinīm। asyāṃ hi pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ dhanūṃṣi nihitānyuta ॥04-38-4॥
Therefore, O victorious one, climb onto the ground, onto this śamī tree with palāśa leaves; for in this tree, the bows of the sons of Pāṇḍu are indeed also kept. (04-38-4)
yudhiṣṭhirasya bhīmasya bībhatsor yamayostathā। dhvajāḥ śarāś ca śūrāṇāṃ divyāni kavacāni ca ॥04-38-5॥
The banners, arrows, and divine armors of Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Bībhatsu (Arjuna), and the twins, as well as those of the heroes. (04-38-5)
atra cai tan-mahāvīryaṃ dhanuḥ pārthasya gāṇḍivam। ekaṃ śatasahasreṇa saṃmitaṃ rāṣṭravardhanam ॥04-38-6॥
Here indeed this bow of great might, Gāṇḍiva, belonging to Pārtha, is a single kingdom-enlarger, equal to a hundred thousand.
vyāyāmasa-hamatyarthaṃ tṛṇa-rājasamaṃ mahat। sarvāyudha-mahāmātraṃ śatru-sambādhakārakam ॥04-38-7॥
Great in prowess, particularly endurant to exertion, like the lord of grass (horse), chief among all weaponed animals, and one who brings affliction to enemies. (04-38-7)
suvarṇavikṛtaṃ divyaṃ ślakṣṇamāyatamavraṇam। alaṃ bhāraṃ guruṃ voḍhuṃ dāruṇaṃ cārudarśanam ॥ tādṛśānyeva sarvāṇi balavanti dṛḍhāni ca ॥04-38-8॥
They are made of gold, divine, smooth, long, without blemish; fit for bearing loads, heavy, difficult to carry, yet beautiful in appearance; all such are truly strong and firm. (04-38-8)
uttara uvāca॥
Uttara said.
asmin vṛkṣe kila udbaddhaṃ śarīram iti naḥ śrutam। tad ahaṃ rājaputraḥ san spṛśeyaṃ pāṇinā katham॥04-38-9॥
It is heard by us that a body is indeed tied up on this tree. So how, being a prince, could I touch it with my hand? (04-38-9)
naivaṃ-vidhaṃ mayā yuktam ālabdhuṃ kṣatrayoninā। mahatā rājaputreṇa mantrayajñavidā satā ॥04-38-10॥
Such an act is not proper for me to attain, being of kṣatriya birth, a great prince, a knower of rituals and mantras, and one who is virtuous. (04-38-10)
spṛṣṭavantaṃ śarīraṃ māṃ śavavāham ivāśucim। kathaṃ vā vyavahāryaṃ vai kurvīthās tvaṃ bṛhannade ॥04-38-11॥
O Bṛhannadā, having touched my body, which is impure like that of a corpse-bearer, how indeed would you make me fit for social interaction? (04-38-11)
bṛhannaḍovāca॥
Bṛhannaḍa said.
vyavahāryaś ca rājendra śuciś caiva bhaviṣyasi. dhanūṃṣy etāni mā bhais tvaṃ śarīraṃ nātra vidyate ॥04-38-12॥
O king, you will indeed become active and pure. Do not be afraid of these bows; your body does not exist here. (04-38-12)
dāyādaṃ matsyarājasya kule jātaṃ manasvinam। kathaṃ tvā ninditaṃ karma kārayeyaṃ nṛpātmaja ॥04-38-13॥
O prince, how could I cause you, the high-minded heir born in the family of the king of Matsya, to perform a blameworthy act? (04-38-13)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-uktaḥ sa pārthena rathāt praskandya kuṇḍalī। āruroha śamī-vṛkṣam vairāṭir avaśas tadā॥04-38-14॥
Thus, being addressed by Pārtha, Kuṇḍalī, the son of Virāṭa, helpless, jumped down from the chariot and climbed the śamī tree at that time. (04-38-14)
tam anvaśāsa chatrughno rathe tiṣṭhan dhanañjayaḥ। pariveṣṭanam eteṣāṃ kṣipraṃ ca eva vyapānuda ॥04-38-15॥
After Śatrughna ordered him, Dhanañjaya, standing in the chariot, quickly removed their surrounding. (04-38-15)
tathā saṃnahanān yeṣāṃ parimucya samantataḥ। apaśyad gāṇḍivaṃ tatra caturbhir aparaiḥ saha॥04-38-16॥
Thus, having removed the armours from all sides, he saw there the Gāṇḍiva bow along with four others. (04-38-16)
teṣāṃ vimucyamānānāṃ dhanuṣām arkavarcasām। viniśceruḥ prabhā divyā grahāṇām udayeṣv iva ॥04-38-17॥
As their bows, possessing the brilliance of the sun, were released, divine lights shone forth—like the radiances of planets at their rising. (04-38-17)
sa teṣāṃ rūpam ālokya bhoginām iva jṛmbhatām। hṛṣṭaromā bhayodvignaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata ॥04-38-18॥
As soon as he saw their appearance, like serpents swelling up, he instantly became agitated by fear, his hair standing on end. (04-38-18)
saṁspṛśya tāni cāpāni bhānumanti bṛhanti ca. vairāṭir arjunaṁ rājann idaṁ vacanam abravīt ॥04-38-19॥
O king, the king of Virata, having touched those radiant and great bows, spoke this speech to Arjuna. (04-38-19)
uttara uvāca॥
Uttara said.
bindavo jātarūpasya śataṃ yasmin nipātitāḥ। sahasrakoṭi sauvarṇāḥ kasyaitad dhanur uttamam॥04-38-20॥
In which a hundred drops of gold have been dropped and it is worth ten trillion golden coins, whose is this excellent bow? (04-38-20)
vāraṇā yasya sauvarṇāḥ pṛṣṭhe bhāsanti daṁśitāḥ. supārśvaṁ sugrahaṁ caiva kasyaitaddhanuruttamam ॥04-38-21॥
The excellent bow whose binding rings, made of gold, shine on the back—broad-sided and easy to grasp—whose bow is this? (04-38-21)
tapanīyasya śuddhasya ṣaṣṭir yasyendragopakāḥ। pṛṣṭhe vibhaktāḥ śobhante kasyaitad dhanur uttamam ॥04-38-22॥
This excellent bow, pure and of gold, on whose back sixty indragopa beetles are beautifully arrayed—whose is this?
sūryā yatra ca sauvārṇāstrayo bhāsanti daṁśitāḥ। tejasā prajvalanto hi kasyaitaddhanuruttamam॥04-38-23॥
Where three gold suns shine and are inlaid, blazing with radiance—indeed, whose is this excellent bow? (04-38-23)
śālabhā yatra sauvarṇās tapanīya-vicitritāḥ। suvarṇa-maṇi-citraṃ ca kasya etat dhanur uttamam ॥04-38-24॥
Where the locusts are golden and adorned with gold. Whose is this excellent bow ornamented with gold and jewels? (04-38-24)
ime ca kasya nārācāḥ sahasrā lomavāhinaḥ। samantāt kaladhautāgrā upāsaṅge hiraṇmaye ॥04-38-25॥
These thousands of iron arrows, each carrying hair, whose ends are polished like the moon, stand on all sides at the golden junction. (04-38-25)
vipāṭhāḥ pṛthavaḥ kasya gārdhrapatrāḥ śilāśitāḥ। hāridravarṇāḥ sunasāḥ pītāḥ sarvāyasāḥ śarāḥ॥04-38-26॥
These arrows are well-polished, broad, with vulture feathers, sharpened on stone, yellow in color, with fine points, steeped, and entirely made of iron. (04-38-26)
kasyāyam asitāvāpaḥ pañca-śārdūla-lakṣaṇaḥ। varāha-karṇa-vyāmiśraḥ śarān dhārayate daśa ॥04-38-27॥
Whose is this (person) with a black quiver, marked with five tiger signs, mingled with boar’s ear, who holds ten arrows? (04-38-27)
kasyeme pṛthavo dīrghāḥ sarvapāraśavāḥ śarāḥ। śatāni sapta tiṣṭhanti nārācā rudhirāśanāḥ॥04-38-28॥
Whose are these broad and long arrows, made entirely of iron? Seven hundred iron shafts that thirst for blood are standing here. (04-38-28)
kasyeme śukapatrābhaiḥ pūrvairardhaiḥ suvāsasaḥ। uttarairāyasaiḥ pītairhemapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ॥04-38-29॥
Whose are these fine-bodied (horses), with their fronts like parrot feathers, their middle parts so, their hindparts of iron, yellow, with golden tips, sharpened on stone? (4-38-29)
kasyāyaṃ sāyako dīrghaḥ śilīpṛṣṭhaḥ śilīmukhaḥ। vaiyāghrakośe nihito hemacitrasarurmahān ॥04-38-30॥
Whose is this long arrow with a stone back and stone tip, kept in a tiger-skin quiver, with a shaft adorned with gold designs, and which is large? (04-38-30)
suphalaś citrakośaś ca kiṅkiṇīsāyakaḥ mahān। kasya hematsarur divyaḥ khaḍgaḥ paramanirvraṇaḥ ॥04-38-31॥
Who possesses the sword that is fruitful, with a variegated sheath, a handle adorned with bells, great, having a golden hilt, divine, and supremely flawless? (04-38-31)
kasyāyaṁ vimalaḥ khaḍgo gavye kośe samarpitaḥ। hemat sarur anādhṛṣyo naiṣadhyo bhārasādhanaḥ॥04-38-32॥
Whose is this flawless sword, kept in a cow-hide sheath, with a golden hilt, unconquerable, belonging to Nala, capable of bearing weight? (04-38-32)
kasya pāñcanakhe kośe sāyako hemavigrahaḥ। pramānarūpasampannaḥ pīta ākāśasaṁnibhaḥ॥04-38-33॥
Whose arrow in the five-clawed quiver is golden-bodied, of perfect form, yellow and resembling the sky? (04-38-33)
kasya hemamaye kośe sutapte pāvakaprabhe। nistriṃśo'yaṃ guruḥ pītaḥ saikyaḥ paramanirvraṇaḥ ॥04-38-34॥
Whose is this sword, which is heavy, of iron, supremely flawless, well-forged, kept in a golden scabbard and shining like fire, and has been tempered? (04-38-34)
nirdiśasva yathā-tattvaṃ mayā pṛṣṭā bṛhannaḍe। vismayo me paro jāto dṛṣṭvā sarvam idaṃ mahat ॥04-38-35॥
O Bṛhannaḍa, as I have asked, instruct me according to the real nature. Seeing all this greatness, supreme astonishment has arisen in me. (04-38-35)
bṛhannaḍo-vāca॥
Bṛhannaḍa said.
yan māṃ pūrvam ihāpṛcchaḥ śatrusenānibarhaṇam। gāṇḍīvam etat pārthasya lokeṣu viditaṃ dhanuḥ॥04-38-36॥
That which you previously asked me here about the destruction of enemy armies—this Gāṇḍīva bow of Pārtha (Arjuna) is known in all the worlds as such. (04-38-36)
sarvāyudhamahāmātraṃ śātakumbhapariṣkṛtam। etat tad arjunasya āsīd gāṇḍīvaṃ paramāyudham ॥04-38-37॥
Gāṇḍīva, of great might among all weapons and beautifully adorned with refined gold, was the supreme weapon of Arjuna. (04-38-37)
yat tac chatasahasreṇa saṁmitaṁ rāṣṭravardhanam। yena devān manuṣyāṁś ca pārtho viṣahate mṛdhe ॥04-38-38॥
That which, measured as one hundred thousand and kingdom-strengthening, by which Pārtha (Arjuna) overcomes both gods and men in battle. (04-38-38)
devadānavagandharvaiḥ pūjitaṁ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ। etadvarṣasahasraṁ tu brahmā pūrvam adhārayat ॥04-38-39॥
This, worshipped for eternal years by the devas, dānavas, and gandharvas, Brahmā once supported for a thousand years. (04-38-39)
tato'nantaramevātha prajāpati radhārayat। trīṇi pañcaśataṃ caiva śakro'ṣīti ca pañca ca ॥04-38-40॥
Then, immediately afterwards, Prajapati bore one thousand five hundred, and Śakra bore eighty-five as well. (04-38-40)
somaḥ pañcaśataṃ rājā tathaiva varuṇaḥ śatam। pārthaḥ pañca ca ṣaṣṭiṃ ca varṣāṇi śvetavāhanaḥ ॥04-38-41॥
Soma as king (reigned for) five hundred (years), likewise Varuṇa (reigned for) a hundred. Pārtha (Arjuna) Śvetavāhana (reigned for) sixty-five years. (04-38-41)
mahāvīryaṃ mahaddivyam etat tad dhanur uttamam। pūjitaṃ suramartyeṣu bibharti paramaṃ vapuḥ॥04-38-42॥
This excellent bow, endowed with great and divine strength, honored among gods and men, bears a supreme form. (04-38-42)
supārśvaṃ bhīmasenasya jātarūpagrahaṃ dhanuḥ। yena pārtho'jayatkṛtsnāṃ diśaṃ prācīṃ parantapaḥ ॥04-38-43॥
The bow with excellent sides and a golden handle, belonging to Bhīmasena, by which Arjuna, the scorcher of enemies, conquered the entire eastern direction. (04-38-43)
indragopakacitraṁ ca yad etac cāruvigraham। rājño yudhiṣṭhirasyaitad vairāṭe dhanur uttamam॥04-38-44॥
This supreme bow of King Yudhishthira in Virata's city is adorned with indragopa and has a beautiful form. (04-38-44)
sūryā yasmiṁstu sauvarṇāḥ prabhāsante prabhāsinaḥ। tejasā prajvalanto vai nakulasya etad āyudham ॥04-38-45॥
This is the weapon of Nakula, in which golden, shining suns indeed blaze with brilliance. (04-38-45)
śalabhā yatra sauvarṇās tapanīya-vicitritāḥ। etan mādrī-sutasya api sahadevasya kārmukam॥04-38-46॥
This is the bow of Sahadeva, the son of Mādrī, where the grasshoppers are golden and inlaid with refined gold. (04-38-46)
ye tv ime kṣurasaṅkāśāḥ sahasrā lomavāhinaḥ। ete'rjunasya vairāṭe śarāḥ sarpaviṣopamāḥ॥04-38-47॥
These, however, are thousands of razor-sharp, hair-crested arrows of Arjuna in the land of Virāṭa, resembling the venom of serpents. (04-38-47)
ete jvalantaḥ saṅgrāme tejasā śīghragāminaḥ। bhavanti vīrasyākṣayyā vyūhataḥ samare ripūn ॥04-38-48॥
These flaming, swift-moving ones in the battle, by their energy, become the hero's invincible enemies, formed as an array in combat. (04-38-48)
ye ceme pṛthavo dīrghāścandrabimbārdhadarśanāḥ। ete bhīmasya niśitā ripukṣayakarāḥ śarāḥ॥04-38-49॥
These broad and long arrows, resembling half the disk of the moon, are the sharp, enemy-destroying arrows of Bhima. (04-38-49)
hāridravarṇā ye tvete hemapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ। nakulasya kalāpo'yaṃ pañcaśārdūlalakṣaṇaḥ॥04-38-50॥
These, of turmeric color, with golden tail-feathers and stone-tipped points, are Nakula's quiver marked with five tigers. (04-38-50)
yenāsau vyajayat kṛtsnāṃ pratīcīṃ diśamāhave. kalāpo hyeṣa tasyāsīn mādrīputrasya dhīmataḥ ॥04-38-51॥
This is indeed the quiver of the wise son of Mādrī, by which he conquered the entire western direction in battle. (04-38-51)
ye tv ime bhāskarākārāḥ sarvapāraśavāḥ śarāḥ। ete citrāḥ kriyopetāḥ sahadevasya dhīmataḥ॥04-38-52॥
These sun-like arrows with all-iron heads, ornate and ready to be used, belong to the wise Sahadeva. (04-38-52)
ye tv ime niśitāḥ pītāḥ pṛthavo dīrghavāsasaḥ। hemapuṅkhās triparvāṇo rājña ete mahāśarāḥ॥04-38-53॥
These here are the king's great arrows, sharp, yellow, broad, long-shafted, with golden feathers, and having three joints. (04-38-53)
yastvayaṃ sāyako dīrghaḥ śilīpṛṣṭhaḥ śilīmukhaḥ। arjunasyaiṣa saṅgrāme gurubhārasaho dṛḍhaḥ॥04-38-54॥
But this arrow, which is long with a stone shaft and stone head, belonging to Arjuna, is firm and capable of bearing heavy loads in battle. (04-38-54)
vaiyāghrakośas tu mahān bhīmasenasya sāyakaḥ। gurubhārasaho divyaḥ śātravāṇāṃ bhayaṅkaraḥ ॥04-38-55॥
But the tiger-quiver, the great arrow of Bhīmasena, was divine, could bear heavy weight, and was terrifying to his enemies. (04-38-55)
suphalaś citrakośaś ca hemat sarur anuttamaḥ. nistriṁśaḥ kauravasya eṣa dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ ॥04-38-56॥
This unsurpassed sword, with a good hilt and a decorated sheath, made of gold, belongs to the Kaurava, the wise Dharmarāja. (4-38-56)
yastu pāñcanakhe kośe nihitaś citrasevane। nakulasya eṣa nistriṃśo gurubhārasaho dṛḍhaḥ॥04-38-57॥
But the sword of Nakula, which is placed in a sheath for five-clawed weapons, in a beautifully adorned case, is firm and capable of bearing heavy weight. (04-38-57)
yas tv ayaṃ vimalaḥ khaḍgo gavyē kōśē samarpitaḥ। sahadēvasya vidhy ēnaṃ sarvabhārasahaṃ dṛḍham ॥04-38-58॥
But know this spotless sword, placed in a cow-hide sheath, as belonging to Sahadeva—firm and able to bear all burdens. (04-38-58)
