05.050
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
sarva ete mahotsāhā ye tvayā parikīrtitāḥ। ekatastveva te sarve sametā bhīma ekataḥ ॥5-50-1॥
All these warriors, praised by you for their great enthusiasm, are on one side, while Bhima stands alone on the other.
bhīmasenāddhi me bhūyo bhayaṃ sañjāyate mahat। kruddhādamarṣaṇāttāta vyāghrādiva mahāruroḥ ॥5-50-2॥
O father, my great fear arises again from Bhīmasena, like from the great roar of an angry, intolerant tiger.
jāgarmi rātrayaḥ sarvā dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasan। bhīto vṛkodarāttāta siṃhātpaśurivābalaḥ ॥5-50-3॥
I stay awake all night, breathing heavily and warmly, in fear of Vrikodara, like a weak animal afraid of a lion, O father.
na hi tasya mahābāhoḥ śakrapratimatejasaḥ। sainye'sminpratipaśyāmi ya enaṃ viṣahedyudhi ॥5-50-4॥
I do not see anyone in this army who can match the mighty-armed warrior, whose splendor is equal to that of Indra, in battle.
amarṣaṇaśca kaunteyo dṛḍhavairaśca pāṇḍavaḥ। anarmahāsī sonmādastiryakprekṣī mahāsvanaḥ ॥5-50-5॥
The Pandava, son of Kunti, was impatient and harbored firm enmity. He was not laughing, appeared mad, looked askance, and made a loud sound.
mahāvego mahotsāho mahābāhurmahābalaḥ। mandānāṃ mama putrāṇāṃ yuddhenāntaṃ kariṣyati ॥5-50-6॥
He, with great speed, enthusiasm, mighty arms, and strength, will bring an end to the battle for my slow sons.
ūrugrāhagṛhītānāṃ gadāṃ bibhradvṛkodaraḥ। kurūṇāmṛṣabho yuddhe daṇḍapāṇirivāntakaḥ ॥5-50-7॥
Vrikodara, wielding his mace with great strength, stood like Yama, the god of death, with a staff in hand, as the formidable warrior of the Kurus in battle.
śaikyāyasamayīṃ ghorāṃ gadāṃ kāñcanabhūṣitām। manasāhaṃ prapaśyāmi brahmadaṇḍamivodyatam ॥5-50-8॥
In my mind, I envision a formidable mace crafted from iron and embellished with gold, resembling the raised staff of Brahma.
yathā rurūṇāṃ yūtheṣu siṃho jātabalaścaret। māmakeṣu tathā bhīmo baleṣu vicariṣyati ॥5-50-9॥
Just as a lion moves fearlessly among herds of deer, Bhima will move among my forces with strength and confidence.
sarveṣāṃ mama putrāṇāṃ sa ekaḥ krūravikramaḥ। bahvāśī vipratīpaśca bālye'pi rabhasaḥ sadā ॥5-50-10॥
Among all my sons, he stands out as a fierce warrior, known for his voracious appetite and hostility, and even as a child, he was always impetuous.
udvepate me hṛdayaṃ yadā duryodhanādayaḥ। bālye'pi tena yudhyanto vāraṇeneva marditāḥ ॥5-50-11॥
My heart trembles at the thought of Duryodhana and others who, even in their childhood, were crushed as if fighting against an elephant.
tasya vīryeṇa saṅkliṣṭā nityameva sutā mama। sa eva heturbhedasya bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ ॥5-50-12॥
Due to his strength, my daughter is perpetually troubled. He is the very reason for the discord, Bhima, who possesses formidable might.
grasamānam anīkāni naravāraṇavājinām। paśyāmīvāgrato bhīmaṃ krodhamūrchitamāhave ॥5-50-13॥
I see Bhima in front, as if devouring the troops of men, elephants, and horses, overwhelmed with anger in battle.
astre droṇārjunasamaṃ vāyuvegasamaṃ jave। sañjayācakṣva me śūraṃ bhīmasenamamarṣaṇam ॥5-50-14॥
In terms of weaponry, he is comparable to Droṇa and Arjuna, and in speed, he matches the wind. O Sañjaya, please tell me about the heroic and impatient Bhīmasena.
atilābhaṃ tu manye'haṃ yattena ripughātinā। tadaiva na hatāḥ sarve mama putrā manasvinā ॥5-50-15॥
I believe it is an excessive gain that by the enemy-slayer, then indeed not all my sons were killed by the wise one.
yena bhīmabalā yakṣā rākṣasāśca samāhatāḥ। kathaṃ tasya raṇe vegaṃ mānuṣaḥ prasahiṣyati ॥5-50-16॥
The one who struck down the mighty Yakshas and Rakshasas, how can a mere human withstand his speed in battle?
na sa jātu vaśe tasthau mama bālo'pi sañjaya। kiṃ punarmama duṣputraiḥ kliṣṭaḥ samprati pāṇḍavaḥ ॥5-50-17॥
O Sanjaya, even as a child, he was never under my control. How then can the Pandava, now troubled by my wicked sons, be expected to be?
niṣṭhuraḥ sa ca naiṣṭhuryādbhajyedapi na saṁnamet। tiryakprekṣī saṁhatabhrūḥ kathaṁ śāmyedvṛkodaraḥ ॥5-50-18॥
He is harsh and would not bow down even if broken due to his harshness. With side-glancing eyes and knitted brows, how could Vrikodara be pacified?
bṛhadaṃso'pratibalo gaurastāla ivodgataḥ। pramāṇato bhīmasenaḥ prādeśenādhiko'rjunāt ॥5-50-19॥
Bhimasena, of immense strength and unmatched power, stands tall and fair like a palm tree, and is taller than Arjuna by measure.
javena vājino'tyeti balenātyeti kuñjarān। avyaktajalpī madhvakṣo madhyamaḥ pāṇḍavo balī ॥5-50-20॥
The swift horse surpasses others with its speed, and with strength, it surpasses elephants. The middle Pāṇḍava, who speaks indistinctly and has sweet eyes, is strong.
iti bālye śrutaḥ pūrvaṃ mayā vyāsamukhātpurā। rūpato vīryataścaiva yāthātathyena pāṇḍavaḥ ॥5-50-21॥
In my childhood, I had heard from Vyasa about the Pandava, who was truly remarkable in both form and valor.
āyasena sa daṇḍena rathānnāgānhayānnarān। haniṣyati raṇe kruddho bhīmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ ॥5-50-22॥
With his iron club, the furious Bhima, the best among warriors, will destroy chariots, elephants, horses, and men in the battle.
amarṣī nityasaṁrabdho raudraḥ krūraparākramaḥ। mama tāta pratīpāni kurvanpūrvaṁ vimānitaḥ ॥5-50-23॥
My father, who was impatient, always enraged, fierce, and cruel in his prowess, was previously insulted while performing hostile acts.
niṣkīrṇāmāyasīṃ sthūlāṃ suparvāṃ kāñcanīṃ gadām। śataghnīṃ śatanirhrādāṃ kathaṃ śakṣyanti me sutāḥ ॥5-50-24॥
How will my sons be able to wield the heavy, well-crafted golden mace made of solid iron, known for its deadly impact and resonating sound?
apāramaplavāgādhaṃ samudraṃ śaraveginam। bhīmasenamayaṃ durgaṃ tāta mandāstitīrṣavaḥ ॥5-50-25॥
O father, the foolish ones desire to cross the boundless, boatless, unfathomable ocean, swift as an arrow, which is like a fort made of Bhimasena.
krośato me na śṛṇvanti bālāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ। viṣamaṃ nāvabudhyante prapātaṃ madhudarśinaḥ ॥5-50-26॥
My cries go unheard by the children who think themselves wise; they fail to perceive the danger of the precipice, being distracted by the sight of honey.
saṃyugaṃ ye kariṣyanti nararūpeṇa vāyunā। niyataṃ coditā dhātrā siṃheneva mahāmṛgāḥ ॥5-50-27॥
The battle that they will engage in, with Vayu in human form, is certainly urged by the creator, like great beasts are by the lion.
śaikyāṃ tāta catuṣkiṣkuṃ ṣaḍasrimamitaujasam। prahitāṃ duḥkhasaṃsparśāṃ kathaṃ śakṣyanti me sutāḥ ॥5-50-28॥
Father, how will my sons be able to withstand the immensely powerful, four-cornered, six-edged weapon made of iron that brings sorrow?
gadāṁ bhrāmayatas tasya bhindato hastimastakān। sṛkkiṇī lelihānasya bāṣpam utsṛjato muhuḥ ॥5-50-29॥
He whirled his mace, breaking the heads of elephants, while licking his cheeks and repeatedly shedding tears.
uddiśya pātānpatataḥ kurvato bhairavānravān। pratīpānpatato mattānkuñjarānpratigarjataḥ ॥5-50-30॥
Aiming at the falls, the elephants, intoxicated and roaring back, make terrifying sounds as they oppose and fall.
vigāhya rathamārgeṣu varānuddiśya nighnataḥ। agneḥ prajvalitasyeva api mucyeta me prajā ॥5-50-31॥
Having entered the paths of the chariots and aiming at the best, striking like the blazing fire, even my people would be released.
vīthīṃ kurvanmahābāhurdrāvayanmama vāhinīm। nṛtyanniva gadāpāṇiryugāntaṃ darśayiṣyati ॥5-50-32॥
The mighty-armed warrior, clearing a path through my forces as if in a dance with his mace, will reveal the end of an era.
prabhinna iva mātaṅgaḥ prabhañjanpuṣpitāndrumān। pravekṣyati raṇe senāṃ putrāṇāṃ me vṛkodaraḥ ॥5-50-33॥
My Vrikodara (Bhima), like a rampaging elephant breaking through flowering trees, will charge into the army of my sons in the battle.
kurvanrathānvipuruṣānvidhvajān bhagnapuṣkarān। ārujanpuruṣavyāghro rathinaḥ sādinastathā ॥5-50-34॥
The tiger among men made the chariots devoid of men and flags, broke their axles, and destroyed the charioteers and horsemen.
gaṅgāvega ivānūpāṃstīrajānvividhāndrumān। pravekṣyati mahāsenāṃ putrāṇāṃ mama sañjaya ॥5-50-35॥
Sanjaya, like the swift flow of the Ganga, my sons will enter the diverse trees that grow along the riverbanks of Mahasena.
vaśaṃ nūnaṃ gamiṣyanti bhīmasenabalārditāḥ। mama putrāśca bhṛtyāśca rājānaścaiva sañjaya ॥5-50-36॥
O Sanjaya, certainly my sons, servants, and kings, afflicted by Bhimasena's strength, will come under control.
yena rājā mahāvīryaḥ praviśyāntaḥpuraṃ purā। vāsudevasahāyena jarāsandho nipātitaḥ ॥5-50-37॥
The king of great valor, who once entered the inner chambers with the help of Vasudeva, defeated Jarāsandha.
kṛtsneyaṃ pṛthivī devī jarāsandhena dhīmatā। māgadhendreṇa balinā vaśe kṛtvā pratāpitā ॥5-50-38॥
The wise and powerful king of Magadha, Jarasandha, brought the entire earth under his control and oppressed it.
bhīṣmapratāpātkuravo nayenāndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ। te na tasya vaśaṃ jagmuḥ kevalaṃ daivameva vā ॥5-50-39॥
Because of Bhishma's prowess, neither the Kurus through policy nor the Andhakas and Vrishnis came under his control; it was only fate or destiny.
sa gatvā pāṇḍuputreṇa tarasā bāhuśālinā। anāyudhena vīreṇa nihataḥ kiṃ tato'dhikam ॥5-50-40॥
He went and was killed by the strong-armed son of Pandu, who was a hero even without weapons. What more is there to say?
dīrghakālena saṃsiktaṃ viṣamāśīviṣo yathā। sa mokṣyati raṇe tejaḥ putreṣu mama sañjaya ॥5-50-41॥
O Sanjaya, just as a venomous snake that has been soaked for a long time releases its poison, so will he release his brilliance in battle among my sons.
mahendra iva vajreṇa dānavāndevasattamaḥ। bhīmaseno gadāpāṇiḥ sūdayiṣyati me sutān ॥5-50-42॥
O best of the gods, just as Indra destroys demons with his thunderbolt, Bhimasena will annihilate my sons with his mace.
aviṣahyam anāvāryam tīvravega parākramam। paśyāmi iva atitāmrākṣam āpatantam vṛkodaram ॥5-50-43॥
I see Vrikodara (Bhima) coming towards us with an unstoppable and intense force, his eyes appearing very red.
agadasyāpyadhanuṣo virathasya vivarmaṇaḥ। bāhubhyāṃ yudhyamānasya kastiṣṭhedagrataḥ pumān ॥5-50-44॥
Who would dare to stand in front of a man fighting with his bare arms, even if he is unarmed, without a bow, chariot, or armor?
bhīṣmo droṇaśca vipro'yaṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvatastathā। jānanti ete yathaiva ahaṃ vīryajñaḥ tasya dhīmataḥ ॥5-50-45॥
Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, are wise men who know the valor of that wise one, just as I do.
āryavrataṃ tu jānantaḥ saṅgarānna bibhitsavaḥ। senāmukheṣu sthāsyanti māmakānāṃ nararṣabhāḥ ॥5-50-46॥
The noble warriors, aware of their vows and unafraid of battles, will stand at the forefront of my army, like bulls among men.
balīyaḥ sarvato diṣṭaṃ puruṣasya viśeṣataḥ। paśyannapi jayaṃ teṣāṃ na niyacchāmi yatsutān ॥5-50-47॥
Fate is stronger from all directions, especially for a man. Even when I see their victory, I cannot control their sons.
te purāṇaṃ maheṣvāsā mārgamaindraṃ samāsthitāḥ। tyakṣyanti tumule prāṇānrakṣantaḥ pārthivaṃ yaśaḥ ॥5-50-48॥
The ancient great archers, positioned on the path of Indra, will sacrifice their lives amidst the tumult to protect the earthly glory.
yathaiṣāṃ māmakāstāta tathaaiṣāṃ pāṇḍavā api। pautrā bhīṣmasya śiṣyāśca droṇasya ca kṛpasya ca ॥5-50-49॥
Just as these are my own, so too are the Pandavas, who are grandsons of Bhishma and disciples of Drona and Kripa.
yattvasmadāśrayaṃ kiñciddattamiṣṭaṃ ca sañjaya। tasyāpacitimāryatvātkartāraḥ sthavirāstrayaḥ ॥5-50-50॥
O Sanjaya, whatever is dependent on us, whether given or desired, the honor of that is upheld by the three noble elders.
ādadānasya śastraṃ hi kṣatradharmaṃ parīpsataḥ। nidhanaṃ brāhmaṇasyājau varamevāhuruttamam ॥5-50-51॥
It is said that for a warrior who takes up arms to fulfill his duty, the death of a Brahmin in battle is considered the most noble and excellent.
sa vai śocāmi sarvānvai ye yuyutsanti pāṇḍavān। vikruṣṭaṃ vidureṇādau tadetadbhayamāgatam ॥5-50-52॥
He indeed laments for all those who wish to fight the Pāṇḍavas. This fear, initially shouted by Vidura, has now come to pass.
na tu manye vighātāya jñānaṃ duḥkhasya sañjaya। bhavatyatibale hyetajjñānamapyupaghātakam ॥5-50-53॥
However, O Sañjaya, I believe that knowledge does not necessarily lead to the eradication of sorrow. In fact, O mighty one, this knowledge can also be detrimental.
ṛṣayo hyapi nirmuktāḥ paśyanto lokasaṅgrahān। sukhe bhavanti sukhinastathā duḥkhena duḥkhitāḥ ॥5-50-54॥
Even liberated sages, when they see the welfare of the world, become happy in happiness and sorrowful in sorrow.
kiṁ punaryo'hamāsaktastatra tatra sahasradhā। putreṣu rājyadāreṣu pautreṣvapi ca bandhuṣu ॥5-50-55॥
What then, of me who is attached in thousands of ways to sons, kingdom, wives, grandsons, and relatives?
saṁśaye tu mahatyasmin kiṁ nu me kṣamam uttamam। vināśaṁ hyeva paśyāmi kurūṇām anucintayan ॥5-50-56॥
In this great doubt, what indeed is the best course of action for me? Reflecting, I certainly see the destruction of the Kurus.
dyūtapramukham ābhāti kurūṇāṃ vyasanaṃ mahat। mandena aiśvaryakāmena lobhāt pāpam idaṃ kṛtam ॥5-50-57॥
Gambling is seen as the greatest vice among the Kurus. This sin was committed by the foolish due to their greed and desire for wealth.
manye paryāyadharmo'yaṃ kālasyātyantagāminaḥ। cakre pradhirivāsakto nāsya śakyaṃ palāyitum ॥5-50-58॥
I believe that the nature of time is ever-changing and transient. Just as an axle is fixed to a wheel, it is impossible to escape from it.
kiṁ nu kāryaṁ kathaṁ kuryāṁ kva nu gacchāmi sañjaya। ete naśyanti kuravo mandāḥ kālavaśaṁ gatāḥ ॥5-50-59॥
What should I do, Sanjaya? Where should I go? These foolish Kurus are perishing, succumbing to the inevitable passage of time.
avaśo'haṃ purā tāta putrāṇāṃ nihate śate। śroṣyāmi ninadaṃ strīṇāṃ kathaṃ māṃ maraṇaṃ spṛśet ॥5-50-60॥
O father, once I was helpless when a hundred of my sons were slain. How can death touch me when I hear the cries of women?
yathā nidāghe jvalanaḥ samiddho; dahetkakṣaṃ vāyunā codyamānaḥ। gadāhastaḥ pāṇḍavastadvadeva; hantā madīyānsahito'rjunena ॥5-50-61॥
Just as a kindled fire in summer, driven by the wind, consumes the forest, so too does the Pāṇḍava with his mace, alongside Arjuna, destroy my people.
