05.022
Dhritarashtra spoke:
Sanjaya, they said that the sons of Pandu have reached Upaplavya. Go and meet them. You should also honor Ajatashatru. Fortunately, O sinless one, you have arrived at the village.
Sanjaya, speak all auspicious words; having endured the unworthy difficulty of residence. Their peace will quickly exist among us, for the deceitful benefactors of the good.
Sanjaya, I have never witnessed any deceitful behavior from the Pandavas. They achieved all their success through their own strength and did it solely for my benefit.
Indeed, I do not find any fault with these; always examining, I may blame the sons of Pritha for their actions, which they perform for righteousness and wealth. They are fond of pleasure but do not pursue desires.
The sons of Pritha strive to overcome heat, cold, hunger, thirst, sleep, drowsiness, anger, joy, and negligence with firmness and wisdom, in order to pursue righteousness and wealth.
They abandon wealth among friends when necessary; their friendship does not decay with association. The sons of Pritha act as deserved; there is no one who hates them on the side of Ajamīḍha.
Elsewhere, from sin, poison, dull intellect, Duryodhana, the meanest, and Karna, these fond of low pleasures among the great souls indeed generate brilliance.
Duryodhana, confident in his efforts and strength, rejoices in comfort, believing it to be a good deed. A naive person might think it possible to take away the share of the living Pandavas.
The path followed by Arjuna, Keshava, Vrikodara, Satyaki, Ajatashatru, the sons of Madri, and all the Srinjayas before the battle was indeed noble, and his gift was commendable.
Savyasachi, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, alone could conquer the earth while standing on his chariot; similarly, Vishnu, known as Keshava, is invincible and the lord of the three worlds, a great soul.
Who among mortals can stand before him? He is the sky, most excellent and praiseworthy among all gods, scattering thunderous sounds and arrows like swift-moving swarms of birds.
Arjuna, with his Gandiva bow, single-handedly conquered the northern direction and the northern Kurus; he collected their wealth and made offerings to the army's followers.
Arjuna, known as Savyasachi and the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow, fought against the gods alongside Indra in the Khāṇḍava forest, offering to Agni and thereby enhancing the fame and honor of the Pāṇḍavas.
Today, there is no one among the mace-bearers who is equal to Bhima; nor is there anyone among elephant riders who matches him. In chariot skills, he is said to be not inferior to Arjuna; and in the strength of his arms, he possesses the might of ten thousand elephants.
The well-educated and powerful person, having made enemies, would quickly destroy the sons of Dhritarashtra in anger. Always intolerant and strong, he is invincible in battle, even by Indra himself.
The intelligent and strong brothers, swift in action and well-trained by Arjuna, like hawks destroying flocks of birds, the sons of Madri should not enter the Kuru territory here.
Among them, the energetic Dhṛṣṭadyumna stands as a prominent leader of the Pāṇḍavas here, accompanied by ministers, as the chief of the Somakas, dedicated to the victory of the Pāṇḍavas.
Virāṭa, the lord of the Śālveya people, having lived together and achieved his purpose, was of mature age. He, along with his sons, was always devoted to Yudhiṣṭhira for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas, as I have heard.
The five great archer brothers, besieged by the strong Kekayas, desire the kingdom and follow the sons of Pritha seeking battle.
All the valiant kings of the earth have gathered and are positioned for the Pandavas' cause. I hear of the devoted warriors, affectionately engaged, who have taken refuge in Dharmaraja.
Warriors residing in mountains and forts, noble-born and pure on earth, along with foreigners possessing various weapons and valor, have assembled and are stationed for the cause of the Pandavas.
King Pāṇḍya, immeasurable and like Indra, joined with many heroes in battle. The great soul arrived for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas, a world-renowned hero unmatched in valor and brilliance.
I hear about the weapon made by Droṇa, Arjuna, Vāsudeva, Kṛpa, and Bhīṣma. The one they call like Kṛṣṇa is Sātyaki, who is engaged for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas.
The dependent Cedis and Karushas, along with all the enthusiastic kings, were assembled. Among them, the king of Cedi, blazing and surrounded by splendor, shone like the sun.
Krishna, considering himself unshakeable in battle and the best archer on earth, killed all the enthusiastic warriors and crushed them with force.
He, who increased the fame and honor of the Yadavas, had formerly killed Shishupala in battle. All the kings, led by the king of Karusha, indeed honored him.
Realizing that Keshava was unbearable there, Krishna, along with Sugriva and the chariot, fled from the king of Chedi, leaving the lion behind, just as other small animals would do upon seeing it.
The one who opposed Vasudeva with great force in a duel, boasting of his prowess, was ultimately slain by Krishna and lay lifeless, like a Karnikara tree uprooted by a strong wind.
Sanjaya informed me of Keshava's valor for their sake. Remembering Vishnu's deeds in the assembly, I find no peace.
No enemy can ever withstand those led by the lion of the Vrishnis. My heart trembles with fear upon hearing that Krishna and Arjuna are together on one chariot.
If my dull-witted son, who is of confused mind, does not go to battle, Sanjaya, he will not be able to destroy the Kurus as Indra and Vishnu destroyed the demon army. For I consider Dhananjaya to be equal to Indra, and Vishnu is the eternal hero of the Vrishni clan.
The abode of dharma, who rejects modesty and is energetic, is the son of Kunti, the Pandava, whose enemies are unborn. Deceived by Duryodhana, the high-minded one, if not angry, would have burned the sons of Dhritarashtra.
I am not as afraid of Arjuna, Vāsudeva, Bhīma, or even the two Yamas as I am of the king's wrath, which is always inflamed with anger, O charioteer.
Enough with austerity and celibacy, this resolve of his mind may succeed. Sanjaya, I am greatly fearful today knowing his anger in presence and place.
He was sent quickly by chariot to reach the army of the king of Panchala. You should inquire about Ajatashatru's welfare repeatedly and speak to him with affection.
O dear, after meeting Janardana, the noble great minister of the powerful ones, Dhritarashtra should inquire about the welfare through my words, as he desires peace with the Pandavas.
One should not speak anything to him; the son of Kunti, who is the charioteer of Vasudeva, is dear to them and equal to themselves. Krishna is wise and always engaged in their actions.
After gathering the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, inquire about the well-being of Janardana, Yuyudhana, Virata, and all the five sons of Draupadi on my behalf.
Sanjaya, whatever you think is beneficial for the Bharatas at the appropriate time, speak that in the assembly of kings. Ensure that your words do not cause distress and that war does not ensue.
