05.008
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
śalyaḥ śrutvā tu dūtānāṃ sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ। abhyayāt pāṇḍavān rājan saha putrair mahārathaiḥ ॥5-8-1॥
Upon hearing the messengers, Shalya, surrounded by a great army, advanced towards the Pandavas along with his sons and great warriors, O king.
tasya senāniveśo'bhūdadhyardhamiva yojanam। tathā hi bahulāṃ senāṃ sa bibharti nararṣabhaḥ ॥5-8-2॥
His army camp extended for more than half a yojana. Indeed, he, the bull among men, supports a vast army.
vicitrakavacāḥ śūrā vicitradhvajakārmukāḥ। vicitrābharaṇāḥ sarve vicitrarathavāhanāḥ ॥5-8-3॥
The heroes, adorned with various armors, banners, bows, and ornaments, all rode on different chariots and vehicles.
svadeśaveṣābharaṇā vīrāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ। tasya senāpraṇetāro babhūvuḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ ॥5-8-4॥
In their native attire and ornaments, countless heroes became the leaders of his army, standing out as the finest among the warriors.
vyathayanniva bhūtāni kampayanniva medinīm। śanairviśrāmayansenāṃ sa yayau yena pāṇḍavaḥ ॥5-8-5॥
He, who caused pain to creatures as if and shook the earth as if, slowly rested the army and went where the Pāṇḍava was.
tato duryodhanaḥ śrutvā mahāsenaṃ mahāratham। upāyāntamabhidrutya svayamānarca bhārata ॥5-8-6॥
Upon hearing about the approaching great army and the mighty chariot-warrior, Duryodhana himself hurriedly went to offer his respects, O Bharata.
kārayāmāsa pūjārthaṃ tasya duryodhanaḥ sabhāḥ। ramaṇīyeṣu deśeṣu ratnacitrāḥ svalaṅkṛtāḥ ॥5-8-7॥
Duryodhana had his assembly halls constructed for worship in beautiful locations, decorated with jewels and elegantly adorned.
sa tāḥ sabhāḥ samāsādya pūjyamāno yathāmaraḥ। duryodhanasya sacivairdeśe deśe yathārhataḥ ॥ ājagāma sabhāmanyāṃ devāvasathavarcasam ॥5-8-8॥
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.
sa tatra viṣayairyuktaḥ kalyāṇairatimānuṣaiḥ। mene'bhyadhikamātmānamavāmene puraṃdaram ॥5-8-9॥
He, indulging in divine and auspicious pleasures there, thought himself superior and looked down upon Indra.
papraccha sa tataḥ preṣyānprahṛṣṭaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ। yudhiṣṭhirasya puruṣāḥ ke nu cakruḥ sabhā imāḥ ॥ ānīyantāṃ sabhākārāḥ pradeyārhā hi me matāḥ ॥5-8-10॥
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.
gūḍho duryodhanastatra darśayāmāsa mātulam। taṃ dṛṣṭvā madrarājastu jñātvā yatnaṃ ca tasya tam ॥ pariṣvajyābravītpīta iṣṭo'rtho gṛhyatāmiti ॥5-8-11॥
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."
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana spoke:
satyavāgbhava kalyāṇa varo vai mama dīyatām। sarvasenāpraṇetā me bhavānbhavitumarhati ॥5-8-12॥
May I be granted the boon of speaking the truth and auspiciousness. You are worthy of becoming the leader of all my armies.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
kṛtam ity abravīt śalyaḥ kim anyat kriyatām iti। kṛtam ity eva gāndhāriḥ pratyuvāca punaḥ punaḥ ॥5-8-13॥
Śalya said, "It is done. What else should be done?" Gandhari repeatedly replied, "It is indeed done."
sa tathā śalyamāmantrya punarāyātsvakaṃ puram। śalyo jagāma kaunteyānākhyātuṃ karma tasya tat ॥5-8-14॥
After addressing Śalya, he returned to his city. Śalya went to inform the sons of Kunti about his actions.
upaplavyaṁ sa gatvā tu skandhāvāraṁ praviśya ca। pāṇḍavānatha tānsarvāñśalyastatra dadarśa ha ॥5-8-15॥
Shalya went to Upaplavya, entered the camp, and saw all the Pandavas there.
sametya tu mahābāhuḥ śalyaḥ pāṇḍusutais tadā। pādyam arghyaṃ ca gāṃ caiva pratyagṛhṇād yathāvidhi ॥5-8-16॥
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.
tataḥ kuśalapūrvaṃ sa madrarājo'risūdanaḥ। prītyā paramayā yuktaḥ samāśliṣya yudhiṣṭhiram ॥5-8-17॥
Then, the king of Madra, destroyer of enemies, with supreme affection and well-being, embraced Yudhishthira.
tathā bhīmārjunau hṛṣṭau svasrīyau ca yamāvubhau। āsane copaviṣṭastu śalyaḥ pārthamuvāca ha ॥5-8-18॥
Thus, Bhima and Arjuna, the joyful brothers and twins of Yama, were seated, and Shalya spoke to Partha.
kuśalaṃ rājaśārdūla kaccitte kurunandana। araṇyavāsāddiṣṭyāsi vimukto jayatāṃ vara ॥5-8-19॥
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.
suduṣkaraṃ kṛtaṃ rājannirjane vasatā vane। bhrātṛbhiḥ saha rājendra kṛṣṇayā cānayā saha ॥5-8-20॥
O King, a very difficult task was accomplished by living in the solitude of the forest with the brothers and with Kṛṣṇā (Draupadi).
ajñātavāsaṃ ghoraṃ ca vasatā duṣkaraṃ kṛtam। duḥkham eva kutaḥ saukhyaṃ rājyabhraṣṭasya bhārata ॥5-8-21॥
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?
duḥkhasyaitasya mahato dhārtarāṣṭrakṛtasya vai। avāpsyasi sukhaṃ rājanhatvā śatrūnparantapa ॥5-8-22॥
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.
viditaṁ te mahārāja lokatattvaṁ narādhipa। tasmāllobhakṛtaṁ kiñcittava tāta na vidyate ॥5-8-23॥
O great king, you are aware of the essence of the world, and thus, dear lord, nothing driven by greed is found in you.
tato'syākathayadrājā duryodhanasamāgamam। tacca śuśrūṣitaṃ sarvaṃ varadānaṃ ca bhārata ॥5-8-24॥
Then the king narrated to him the meeting with Duryodhana, and everything that was heard along with the boon, O Bhārata.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira spoke:
sukṛtaṃ te kṛtaṃ rājanprahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā। duryodhanasya yadvīra tvayā vācā pratiśrutam ॥ ekaṃ tvicchāmi bhadraṃ te kriyamāṇaṃ mahīpate ॥5-8-25॥
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.
bhavān iha mahārāja vāsudevasamo yudhi। karṇārjunābhyāṃ samprāpte dvairathe rājasattama ॥ karṇasya bhavatā kāryaṃ sārathyaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ ॥5-8-26॥
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.
tatra pālyo'rjuno rājanyadi matpriyamicchasi। tejovadhaśca te kāryaḥ sauterasmajjayāvahaḥ ॥ akartavyamapi hyetatkartumarhasi mātula ॥5-8-27॥
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.
śalya uvāca॥
Shalya spoke:
śṛṇu pāṇḍava bhadraṃ te yadbravīṣi durātmanaḥ। tejovadhanimitttaṃ māṃ sūtaputrasya saṃyuge ॥5-8-28॥
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.
ahaṁ tasya bhaviṣyāmi saṅgrāme sārathirdhruvam। vāsudevena hi samaṁ nityaṁ māṁ sa hi manyate ॥5-8-29॥
I will certainly be his charioteer in the battle, as he always considers me to be with Vasudeva.
tasyāhaṃ kuruśārdūla pratīpamahitaṃ vacaḥ। dhruvaṃ saṅkathayiṣyāmi yoddhukāmasya saṃyuge ॥5-8-30॥
O tiger among the Kurus, I will certainly tell you the unpleasant words of the one who wishes to fight in the battle.
yathā sa hṛtadarpaśca hṛtatejāśca pāṇḍava। bhaviṣyati sukhaṃ hantuṃ satyametadbravīmi te ॥5-8-31॥
I assure you, O son of Pandu, that he will become easy to kill as he loses his pride and energy.
evametat kariṣyāmi yathā tāta tvamāttha mām। yaccānyadapi śakṣyāmi tatkariṣyāmi te priyam ॥5-8-32॥
I will do exactly as you have instructed me, father, and whatever else I can do, I will do it to please you.
yacca duḥkhaṃ tvayā prāptaṃ dyūte vai kṛṣṇayā saha। paruṣāṇi ca vākyāni sūtaputrakṛtāni vai ॥5-8-33॥
The sorrow you experienced during the gambling match with Draupadi, and the harsh words spoken by Karna, the son of a charioteer.
jaṭāsurātparikleśaḥ kīcakācca mahādyute। draupadyādhigataṃ sarvaṃ damayantyā yathāśubham ॥5-8-34॥
O great one, the torment faced by Draupadī from Jatāsura and Kīcaka was as auspiciously overcome as by Damayantī.
sarvaṁ duḥkhamidaṁ vīra sukhodarkaṁ bhaviṣyati। nātra manyustvayā kāryo vidhirhi balavattaraḥ ॥5-8-35॥
All this suffering, O hero, will eventually lead to happiness. Do not harbor anger here, as fate is indeed stronger.
duḥkhāni hi mahātmānaḥ prāpnuvanti yudhiṣṭhira। devairapi hi duḥkhāni prāptāni jagatīpate ॥5-8-36॥
O Yudhishthira, even great souls experience sorrows. Indeed, even the gods have encountered sorrows, O lord of the earth.
indreṇa śrūyate rājansabhāryeṇa mahātmanā। anubhūtaṃ mahadduḥkhaṃ devarājena bhārata ॥5-8-37॥
O Bharata, it is heard that the great soul Indra, along with his wife, experienced great sorrow, O king.
