05.023
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रस्य सञ्जयः। उपप्लव्यं ययौ द्रष्टुं पाण्डवानमितौजसः ॥५-२३-१॥
Upon hearing King Dhritarashtra's words, Sanjaya proceeded to Upaplavya to meet the Pandavas, who were of immense strength.
स तु राजानमासाद्य धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्। प्रणिपत्य ततः पूर्वं सूतपुत्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥५-२३-२॥
He approached the righteous King Yudhishthira, bowed down, and then the son of a charioteer spoke first.
गावल्गणिः सञ्जयः सूतसूनु; रजातशत्रुमवदत्प्रतीतः। दिष्ट्या राजंस्त्वामरोगं प्रपश्ये; सहायवन्तं च महेन्द्रकल्पम् ॥५-२३-३॥
Sañjaya, the son of a charioteer, confidently addressed the enemy of silver, saying: "O king, it is fortunate that I see you in good health and accompanied by allies, resembling the great Indra."
अनामयं पृच्छति त्वाम्बिकेयो; वृद्धो राजा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी। कच्चिद्भीमः कुशली पाण्डवाग्र्यो; धनञ्जयस्तौ च माद्रीतनूजौ ॥५-२३-४॥
The wise old king Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, inquires about your well-being. He asks whether Bhima, the foremost of the Pandavas, Dhananjaya, and the two sons of Madri are doing well.
कच्चित्कृष्णा द्रौपदी राजपुत्री; सत्यव्रता वीरपत्नी सपुत्रा। मनस्विनी यत्र च वाञ्छसि त्व; मिष्टान्कामान्भारत स्वस्तिकामः ॥५-२३-५॥
O Bhārata, is Kṛṣṇā, Draupadī, the princess, who is true to her vows, the wife of a hero, and blessed with sons, doing well wherever you desire her to be, wishing for her well-being?
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira spoke:
गावल्गणे सञ्जय स्वागतं ते; प्रीतात्माहं त्वाभिवदामि सूत। अनामयं प्रतिजाने तवाहं; सहानुजैः कुशली चास्मि विद्वन् ॥५-२३-६॥
O Gāvalgaṇa, Sañjaya, welcome to you; I am pleased at heart and greet you, O charioteer. I assure you of your well-being; I am well with my brothers, O learned one.
चिरादिदं कुशलं भारतस्य; श्रुत्वा राज्ञः कुरुवृद्धस्य सूत। मन्ये साक्षाद्दृष्टमहं नरेन्द्रं; दृष्ट्वैव त्वां सञ्जय प्रीतियोगात् ॥५-२३-७॥
After a long time, hearing about the welfare of Bharata from the king, the elder of the Kuru, O charioteer, I feel as if I have directly seen the king himself, having seen you, Sanjaya, due to my affection.
पितामहो नः स्थविरो मनस्वी; महाप्राज्ञः सर्वधर्मोपपन्नः। स कौरव्यः कुशली तात भीष्मो; यथापूर्वं वृत्तिरप्यस्य कच्चित् ॥५-२३-८॥
Our grandfather, the venerable and wise Bhishma, who is greatly wise and endowed with all virtues, is well, dear descendant of Kuru. Is his conduct as before?
कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो; वैचित्रवीर्यः कुशली महात्मा। महाराजो बाह्लिकः प्रातिपेयः; कच्चिद्विद्वान्कुशली सूतपुत्र ॥५-२३-९॥
Is King Dhritarashtra, along with his sons and Vicitravirya, the noble soul, doing well? Is the great King Bahlika, son of Pratipa, doing well? Is the wise son of a charioteer doing well?
स सोमदत्तः कुशली तात कच्चिद्भूरिश्रवाः सत्यसन्धः शलश्च। द्रोणः सपुत्रश्च कृपश्च विप्रो; महेष्वासाः कच्चिदेतेऽप्यरोगाः ॥५-२३-१०॥
Is Somadatta well, father? Are Bhūriśravāḥ, the truthful Śala, Droṇa with his son, and Kṛpa, the wise archer, also healthy?
महाप्राज्ञाः सर्वशास्त्रावदाता; धनुर्भृतां मुख्यतमाः पृथिव्याम्। कच्चिन्मानं तात लभन्त एते; धनुर्भृतः कच्चिदेतेऽप्यरोगाः ॥५-२३-११॥
The greatly wise, who are versed in all scriptures, are the foremost among archers on earth. Dear, do these archers receive honor? Are they also in good health?
सर्वे कुरुभ्यः स्पृहयन्ति सञ्जय; धनुर्धरा ये पृथिव्यां युवानः। येषां राष्ट्रे निवसति दर्शनीयो; महेष्वासः शीलवान्द्रोणपुत्रः ॥५-२३-१२॥
Everyone desires to be like the Kurus, Sanjaya; the young archers of the earth. In their kingdom resides the handsome and virtuous great archer, the son of Drona.
वैश्यापुत्रः कुशली तात कच्चि; न्महाप्राज्ञो राजपुत्रो युयुत्सुः। कर्णोऽमात्यः कुशली तात कच्चि; त्सुयोधनो यस्य मन्दो विधेयः ॥५-२३-१३॥
O father, is the son of a merchant well? Is the greatly wise prince eager to fight? Is Karna, the minister, well? Is Suyodhana, in whom the slow is obedient, doing well?
स्त्रियो वृद्धा भारतानां जनन्यो; महानस्यो दासभार्याश्च सूत। वध्वः पुत्रा भागिनेया भगिन्यो; दौहित्रा वा कच्चिदप्यव्यलीकाः ॥५-२३-१४॥
Are the women, elderly, and mothers of the Bharatas; the great ones, wives of servants, and charioteers, as well as the brides, sons, nephews, sisters, and grandsons, all unharmed?
कच्चिद्राजा ब्राह्मणानां यथाव; त्प्रवर्तते पूर्ववत्तात वृत्तिम्। कच्चिद्दायान्मामकान्धार्तराष्ट्रो; द्विजातीनां सञ्जय नोपहन्ति ॥५-२३-१५॥
O Sanjaya, does the king continue to act properly towards the Brahmanas as before, and does Dhritarashtra's son not harm my inheritance meant for the twice-born?
कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्र; उपेक्षते ब्राह्मणातिक्रमान्वै। कच्चिन्न हेतोरिव वर्त्मभूत; उपेक्षते तेषु स न्यूनवृत्तिम् ॥५-२३-१६॥
Is King Dhritarashtra, along with his sons, ignoring the wrongdoings of the Brahmins? Does he, like a path, overlook their shortcomings for any reason?
एतज्ज्योतिरुत्तमं जीवलोके; शुक्लं प्रजानां विहितं विधात्रा। ते चेल्लोभं न नियच्छन्ति मन्दाः; कृत्स्नो नाशो भविता कौरवाणाम् ॥५-२३-१७॥
This supreme light in the world of the living is pure and ordained by the creator for beings. If the foolish do not restrain their greed, it will lead to the complete destruction of the Kauravas.
कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो; बुभूषते वृत्तिममात्यवर्गे। कच्चिन्न भेदेन जिजीविषन्ति; सुहृद्रूपा दुर्हृदश्चैकमित्राः ॥५-२३-१८॥
Is King Dhritarashtra, along with his sons, seeking prosperity among his ministers? Are those who appear as friends but are actually enemies, and a single ally, not trying to survive through division?
कच्चिन्न पापं कथयन्ति तात; ते पाण्डवानां कुरवः सर्व एव। कच्चिद्दृष्ट्वा दस्युसङ्घान्समेता; न्स्मरन्ति पार्थस्य युधां प्रणेतुः ॥५-२३-१९॥
Father, do the Kurus speak no ill of the Pandavas? Do they remember Partha, the leader of battles, when they see the assembled groups of bandits?
मौर्वीभुजाग्रप्रहितान्स्म तात; दोधूयमानेन धनुर्धरेण। गाण्डीवमुक्तान्स्तनयित्नुघोषा; नजिह्मगान्कच्चिदनुस्मरन्ति ॥५-२३-२०॥
Father, do they remember the arrows released from the Gandiva bow, which made a thunderous sound, and were sent straight from the tip of the arm by the shaking of the archer?
न ह्यपश्यं कञ्चिदहं पृथिव्यां; श्रुतं समं वाधिकमर्जुनेन। यस्यैकषष्टिर्निशितास्तीक्ष्णधाराः; सुवाससः संमतो हस्तवापः ॥५-२३-२१॥
Indeed, I have not seen anyone on earth, nor heard of anyone equal to or greater than Arjuna, whose sixty-one sharp and keen-edged arrows are well-dressed and respected.
गदापाणिर्भीमसेनस्तरस्वी; प्रवेपयञ्शत्रुसङ्घाननीके। नागः प्रभिन्न इव नड्वलासु; चङ्क्रम्यते कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥५-२३-२२॥
Mighty Bhimasena, with his mace in hand, shakes the enemy troops on the battlefield; like a broken elephant wandering through the reeds, perhaps they remember him.
माद्रीपुत्रः सहदेवः कलिङ्गा; न्समागतानजयद्दन्तकूरे। वामेनास्यन्दक्षिणेनैव यो वै; महाबलं कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥५-२३-२३॥
Sahadeva, the son of Madri, defeated the gathered Kalingas at Dantakura. With his left and right, he showed great strength, and perhaps they still remember him.
उद्यन्नयं नकुलः प्रेषितो वै; गावल्गणे सञ्जय पश्यतस्ते। दिशं प्रतीचीं वशमानयन्मे; माद्रीसुतं कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥५-२३-२४॥
As Nakula rises, he was indeed sent by Gāvalgaṇa. Sañjaya, as you see towards the west, bringing under control my Mādrī's son, perhaps they remember him.
अभ्याभवो द्वैतवने य आसी; द्दुर्मन्त्रिते घोषयात्रागतानाम्। यत्र मन्दाञ्शत्रुवशं प्रयाता; नमोचयद्भीमसेनो जयश्च ॥५-२३-२५॥
In the Dvaita forest, Bhimasena overcame those who were ill-advised and had come to the cow-pen, where the slow-witted had fallen under enemy control, ensuring victory.
अहं पश्चादर्जुनमभ्यरक्षं; माद्रीपुत्रौ भीमसेनश्च चक्रे। गाण्डीवभृच्छत्रुसङ्घानुदस्य; स्वस्त्यागमत्कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥५-२३-२६॥
I protected Arjuna afterwards, and Bhimasena along with the sons of Madri did the same. The wielder of Gandiva, after driving away the enemy groups, returned safely; I wonder if they remember him.
न कर्मणा साधुनैकेन नूनं; कर्तुं शक्यं भवतीह सञ्जय। सर्वात्मना परिजेतुं वयं चे; न्न शक्नुमो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रम् ॥५-२३-२७॥
Indeed, Sanjaya, it is not possible to achieve anything here by the action of a good person alone. We are unable to conquer the son of Dhritarashtra with all our efforts.
