05.008
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
शल्यः श्रुत्वा तु दूतानां सैन्येन महता वृतः। अभ्ययात्पाण्डवान्राजन्सह पुत्रैर्महारथैः ॥५-८-१॥
Upon hearing the messengers, Shalya, surrounded by a great army, advanced towards the Pandavas along with his sons and great warriors, O king.
तस्य सेनानिवेशोऽभूदध्यर्धमिव योजनम्। तथा हि बहुलां सेनां स बिभर्ति नरर्षभः ॥५-८-२॥
His army camp extended for more than half a yojana. Indeed, he, the bull among men, supports a vast army.
विचित्रकवचाः शूरा विचित्रध्वजकार्मुकाः। विचित्राभरणाः सर्वे विचित्ररथवाहनाः ॥५-८-३॥
The heroes, adorned with various armors, banners, bows, and ornaments, all rode on different chariots and vehicles.
स्वदेशवेषाभरणा वीराः शतसहस्रशः। तस्य सेनाप्रणेतारो बभूवुः क्षत्रियर्षभाः ॥५-८-४॥
In their native attire and ornaments, countless heroes became the leaders of his army, standing out as the finest among the warriors.
व्यथयन्निव भूतानि कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम्। शनैर्विश्रामयन्सेनां स ययौ येन पाण्डवः ॥५-८-५॥
He, who caused pain to creatures as if and shook the earth as if, slowly rested the army and went where the Pāṇḍava was.
ततो दुर्योधनः श्रुत्वा महासेनं महारथम्। उपायान्तमभिद्रुत्य स्वयमानर्च भारत ॥५-८-६॥
Upon hearing about the approaching great army and the mighty chariot-warrior, Duryodhana himself hurriedly went to offer his respects, O Bharata.
कारयामास पूजार्थं तस्य दुर्योधनः सभाः। रमणीयेषु देशेषु रत्नचित्राः स्वलङ्कृताः ॥५-८-७॥
Duryodhana had his assembly halls constructed for worship in beautiful locations, decorated with jewels and elegantly adorned.
स ताः सभाः समासाद्य पूज्यमानो यथामरः। दुर्योधनस्य सचिवैर्देशे देशे यथार्हतः ॥ आजगाम सभामन्यां देवावसथवर्चसम् ॥५-८-८॥
He approached those assemblies and was honored like a god by Duryodhana's ministers in each place as deserved. Then he went to another assembly that shone like the abode of the gods.
स तत्र विषयैर्युक्तः कल्याणैरतिमानुषैः। मेनेऽभ्यधिकमात्मानमवमेने पुरंदरम् ॥५-८-९॥
He, indulging in divine and auspicious pleasures there, thought himself superior and looked down upon Indra.
पप्रच्छ स ततः प्रेष्यान्प्रहृष्टः क्षत्रियर्षभः। युधिष्ठिरस्य पुरुषाः के नु चक्रुः सभा इमाः ॥ आनीयन्तां सभाकाराः प्रदेयार्हा हि मे मताः ॥५-८-१०॥
The joyful leader among the Kshatriyas then asked his servants about the men of Yudhishthira who were responsible for creating these assemblies. He instructed that the architects be brought to him, as he considered them deserving of his gifts.
गूढो दुर्योधनस्तत्र दर्शयामास मातुलम्। तं दृष्ट्वा मद्रराजस्तु ज्ञात्वा यत्नं च तस्य तम् ॥ परिष्वज्याब्रवीत्प्रीत इष्टोऽर्थो गृह्यतामिति ॥५-८-११॥
Duryodhana, in secret, showed his uncle to the King of Madra. Upon seeing him and understanding his efforts, the King of Madra embraced him and said with pleasure, "Let the desired object be accepted."
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana spoke:
सत्यवाग्भव कल्याण वरो वै मम दीयताम्। सर्वसेनाप्रणेता मे भवान्भवितुमर्हति ॥५-८-१२॥
May I be granted the boon of speaking the truth and auspiciousness. You are worthy of becoming the leader of all my armies.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
कृतमित्यब्रवीच्छल्यः किमन्यत्क्रियतामिति। कृतमित्येव गान्धारिः प्रत्युवाच पुनः पुनः ॥५-८-१३॥
Śalya said, "It is done. What else should be done?" Gandhari repeatedly replied, "It is indeed done."
स तथा शल्यमामन्त्र्य पुनरायात्स्वकं पुरम्। शल्यो जगाम कौन्तेयानाख्यातुं कर्म तस्य तत् ॥५-८-१४॥
After addressing Śalya, he returned to his city. Śalya went to inform the sons of Kunti about his actions.
उपप्लव्यं स गत्वा तु स्कन्धावारं प्रविश्य च। पाण्डवानथ तान्सर्वाञ्शल्यस्तत्र ददर्श ह ॥५-८-१५॥
Shalya went to Upaplavya, entered the camp, and saw all the Pandavas there.
समेत्य तु महाबाहुः शल्यः पाण्डुसुतैस्तदा। पाद्यमर्घ्यं च गां चैव प्रत्यगृह्णाद्यथाविधि ॥५-८-१६॥
Upon meeting, the mighty-armed Śalya was duly received by the sons of Pandu with the traditional offerings of water for washing the feet, an offering, and a cow, in accordance with the customary rites.
ततः कुशलपूर्वं स मद्रराजोऽरिसूदनः। प्रीत्या परमया युक्तः समाश्लिष्य युधिष्ठिरम् ॥५-८-१७॥
Then, the king of Madra, destroyer of enemies, with supreme affection and well-being, embraced Yudhishthira.
तथा भीमार्जुनौ हृष्टौ स्वस्रीयौ च यमावुभौ। आसने चोपविष्टस्तु शल्यः पार्थमुवाच ह ॥५-८-१८॥
Thus, Bhima and Arjuna, the joyful brothers and twins of Yama, were seated, and Shalya spoke to Partha.
कुशलं राजशार्दूल कच्चित्ते कुरुनन्दन। अरण्यवासाद्दिष्ट्यासि विमुक्तो जयतां वर ॥५-८-१९॥
O noble prince among the Kurus, is your well-being assured? It is fortunate that you have been freed from the forest exile, O best among the victorious.
सुदुष्करं कृतं राजन्निर्जने वसता वने। भ्रातृभिः सह राजेन्द्र कृष्णया चानया सह ॥५-८-२०॥
O King, a very difficult task was accomplished by living in the solitude of the forest with the brothers and with Kṛṣṇā (Draupadi).
अज्ञातवासं घोरं च वसता दुष्करं कृतम्। दुःखमेव कुतः सौख्यं राज्यभ्रष्टस्य भारत ॥५-८-२१॥
O Bharata, living in disguise was a terrible and arduous task. For one who has lost his kingdom, there is only suffering; where is the happiness?
दुःखस्यैतस्य महतो धार्तराष्ट्रकृतस्य वै। अवाप्स्यसि सुखं राजन्हत्वा शत्रून्परन्तप ॥५-८-२२॥
O king, by defeating the enemies, you will find happiness and relief from the great sorrow caused by the sons of Dhritarashtra, O conqueror of enemies.
विदितं ते महाराज लोकतत्त्वं नराधिप। तस्माल्लोभकृतं किञ्चित्तव तात न विद्यते ॥५-८-२३॥
O great king, you are aware of the essence of the world, and thus, dear lord, nothing driven by greed is found in you.
ततोऽस्याकथयद्राजा दुर्योधनसमागमम्। तच्च शुश्रूषितं सर्वं वरदानं च भारत ॥५-८-२४॥
Then the king narrated to him the meeting with Duryodhana, and everything that was heard along with the boon, O Bhārata.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira spoke:
सुकृतं ते कृतं राजन्प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना। दुर्योधनस्य यद्वीर त्वया वाचा प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥ एकं त्विच्छामि भद्रं ते क्रियमाणं महीपते ॥५-८-२५॥
O King, your act was well-done with inner joy. O hero, you promised Duryodhana by word. However, I wish for one good thing to be done, O lord of the earth.
भवानिह महाराज वासुदेवसमो युधि। कर्णार्जुनाभ्यां सम्प्राप्ते द्वैरथे राजसत्तम ॥ कर्णस्य भवता कार्यं सारथ्यं नात्र संशयः ॥५-८-२६॥
O great king, you are as mighty as Vāsudeva in battle. When the duel between Karṇa and Arjuna takes place, it is your duty to act as the charioteer for Karṇa; there is no doubt about it.
तत्र पाल्योऽर्जुनो राजन्यदि मत्प्रियमिच्छसि। तेजोवधश्च ते कार्यः सौतेरस्मज्जयावहः ॥ अकर्तव्यमपि ह्येतत्कर्तुमर्हसि मातुल ॥५-८-२७॥
There, Arjuna must be protected, O king, if you desire my favor. The destruction of Karna's power, who is our bringer of victory, is your duty. Even if it is something that should not be done, you must do it, O uncle.
शल्य उवाच॥
Shalya spoke:
शृणु पाण्डव भद्रं ते यद्ब्रवीषि दुरात्मनः। तेजोवधनिमित्तं मां सूतपुत्रस्य संयुगे ॥५-८-२८॥
Listen, O Pāṇḍava, to what you say about the wicked one, as it is intended to destroy my power in the battle with the charioteer's son.
अहं तस्य भविष्यामि सङ्ग्रामे सारथिर्ध्रुवम्। वासुदेवेन हि समं नित्यं मां स हि मन्यते ॥५-८-२९॥
I will certainly be his charioteer in the battle, as he always considers me to be with Vasudeva.
तस्याहं कुरुशार्दूल प्रतीपमहितं वचः। ध्रुवं सङ्कथयिष्यामि योद्धुकामस्य संयुगे ॥५-८-३०॥
O tiger among the Kurus, I will certainly tell you the unpleasant words of the one who wishes to fight in the battle.
यथा स हृतदर्पश्च हृततेजाश्च पाण्डव। भविष्यति सुखं हन्तुं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥५-८-३१॥
I assure you, O son of Pandu, that he will become easy to kill as he loses his pride and energy.
एवमेतत्करिष्यामि यथा तात त्वमात्थ माम्। यच्चान्यदपि शक्ष्यामि तत्करिष्यामि ते प्रियम् ॥५-८-३२॥
I will do exactly as you have instructed me, father, and whatever else I can do, I will do it to please you.
यच्च दुःखं त्वया प्राप्तं द्यूते वै कृष्णया सह। परुषाणि च वाक्यानि सूतपुत्रकृतानि वै ॥५-८-३३॥
The sorrow you experienced during the gambling match with Draupadi, and the harsh words spoken by Karna, the son of a charioteer.
जटासुरात्परिक्लेशः कीचकाच्च महाद्युते। द्रौपद्याधिगतं सर्वं दमयन्त्या यथाशुभम् ॥५-८-३४॥
O great one, the torment faced by Draupadī from Jatāsura and Kīcaka was as auspiciously overcome as by Damayantī.
सर्वं दुःखमिदं वीर सुखोदर्कं भविष्यति। नात्र मन्युस्त्वया कार्यो विधिर्हि बलवत्तरः ॥५-८-३५॥
All this suffering, O hero, will eventually lead to happiness. Do not harbor anger here, as fate is indeed stronger.
दुःखानि हि महात्मानः प्राप्नुवन्ति युधिष्ठिर। देवैरपि हि दुःखानि प्राप्तानि जगतीपते ॥५-८-३६॥
O Yudhishthira, even great souls experience sorrows. Indeed, even the gods have encountered sorrows, O lord of the earth.
इन्द्रेण श्रूयते राजन्सभार्येण महात्मना। अनुभूतं महद्दुःखं देवराजेन भारत ॥५-८-३७॥
O Bharata, it is heard that the great soul Indra, along with his wife, experienced great sorrow, O king.
