05.054
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
na bhetavyaṃ mahārāja na śocyā bhavatā vayam। samarthāḥ sma parānrājanvijetuṃ samare vibho ॥5-54-1॥
Do not fear, O great king, nor lament for us. We are capable, O king, of conquering the enemies in battle, O lord.
vanaṃ pravrājitānpārthānyadāyānmadhusūdanaḥ। mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā ॥5-54-2॥
Krishna, with his great military force, oppressed the enemy's kingdom and exiled the sons of Pritha to the forest upon his arrival.
kekayā dhṛṣṭaketuśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ। rājānaścānvayuḥ pārthānbahavo'nye'nuyāyinaḥ ॥5-54-3॥
Kekaya, Dhrishtaketu, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, and many other kings followed the sons of Pritha.
indraprasthasya cādūrātsamājagmurmahārathāḥ। vyagarha yaṃśca saṅgamya bhavantaṃ kurubhiḥ saha ॥5-54-4॥
The great warriors from near Indraprastha gathered and criticized you along with the Kauravas.
te yudhiṣṭhiram āsīnam ajinaiḥ prativāsitam। kṛṣṇapradhānāḥ saṃhatya paryupāsanta bhārata ॥5-54-5॥
The group, led by Krishna, gathered to pay homage to Yudhishthira, who was seated and adorned with deer-skins, O Bharata.
pratyādānaṃ ca rājyasya kāryamūcur narādhipāḥ। bhavataḥ sānubandhasya samucchedaṃ cikīrṣavaḥ ॥5-54-6॥
The kings declared that it is their duty to return the kingdom, intending to destroy you and your followers.
śrutvā caitanmayoktāstu bhīṣmadroṇakṛpāstadā। jñātikṣayabhayādrājanbhītena bharatarṣabha ॥5-54-7॥
Upon hearing these words from me, Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa were filled with fear, O king, dreading the destruction of their kinsmen, O best of the Bharatas.
na te sthāsyanti samaye pāṇḍavā iti me matiḥ। samucchedaṃ hi naḥ kṛtsnaṃ vāsudevaścikīrṣati ॥5-54-8॥
In my opinion, the Pāṇḍavas will not be able to stand when the time comes. Vāsudeva indeed intends to completely destroy us.
ṛte ca viduraṃ sarve yūyaṃ vadhyā mahātmanaḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭraśca dharmajño na vadhyaḥ kurusattamaḥ ॥5-54-9॥
All of you, except Vidura, are to be killed, O noble ones. Dhritarashtra, who understands dharma, should not be harmed, O esteemed Kuru.
samucchedaṁ ca kṛtsnaṁ naḥ kṛtvā tāta janārdanaḥ। ekarājyaṁ kurūṇāṁ sma cikīrṣati yudhiṣṭhire ॥5-54-10॥
O father, Janardana has completely destroyed us and now desires to establish a unified kingdom of the Kurus under Yudhishthira.
tatra kiṃ prāptakālaṃ naḥ praṇipātaḥ palāyanam। prāṇānvā samparityajya pratiyudhyāmahe parān ॥5-54-11॥
There, what should we do at this appropriate time: surrender, retreat, or fight back the enemies even at the cost of our lives?
pratiyuddhe tu niyataḥ syādasmākaṃ parājayaḥ। yudhiṣṭhirasya sarve hi pārthivā vaśavartinaḥ ॥5-54-12॥
In a counter-battle, our defeat is certain because all the kings are indeed under Yudhishthira's control.
viraktarāṣṭrāśca vayaṃ mitrāṇi kupitāni naḥ। dhikṛtāḥ pārthivaiḥ sarvaiḥ svajanena ca sarvaśaḥ ॥5-54-13॥
We are alienated from the kingdoms, and our friends are angry with us. We have been disgraced by all the kings and completely by our own people.
praṇipāte tu doṣo'sti bandhūnāṃ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ। pitaraṃ tveva śocāmi prajñānetraṃ janeśvaram ॥ matkṛte duḥkhamāpannaṃ kleśaṃ prāptamanantakam ॥5-54-14॥
In bowing down, there is a fault that lasts for eternal years among relatives. However, I mourn my father, the wise leader and lord of the people, who has suffered endless sorrow and trouble because of me.
kṛtaṃ hi tava putraiśca pareṣāmavarodhanam। matpriyārthaṃ puraivaitadviditaṃ te narottama ॥5-54-15॥
O best of men, your sons have indeed obstructed others for my sake; you were aware of this beforehand.
te rājño dhṛtarāṣṭrasya sāmātyasya mahārathāḥ। vairaṃ pratikariṣyanti kulocchedena pāṇḍavāḥ ॥5-54-16॥
The great warriors of King Dhritarashtra, along with his ministers, will retaliate against the Pandavas by destroying their lineage.
tato droṇo'bravīdbhīṣmaḥ kṛpo drauṇiśca bhārata। matvā māṃ mahatīṃ cintāmāsthitaṃ vyathitendriyam ॥5-54-17॥
Then Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, and Drauṇi, O Bhārata, perceived that I was in great distress and anxiety, with my senses disturbed, and they spoke to me.
abhidrugdhāḥ pare cenno na bhetavyaṃ parantapa। asamarthāḥ pare jetumasmānyudhi janeśvara ॥5-54-18॥
O scorcher of foes, if others are angered, we should not fear. They are incapable of defeating us in battle, O lord of people.
ekaikaśaḥ samarthāḥ smo vijetuṃ sarvapārthivān। āgacchantu vineṣyāmo darpameṣāṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥5-54-19॥
We are capable of defeating each king individually. Let them come; we will shatter their pride with our sharp arrows.
puraikena hi bhīṣmeṇa vijitāḥ sarvapārthivāḥ। mṛte pitaryabhikruddho rathenaikena bhārata ॥5-54-20॥
Once, all the kings were defeated by Bhishma alone. After the death of their father, O Bharata, someone became enraged and took to the chariot.
jaghāna subahūṃsteṣāṃ saṃrabdhaḥ kurusattamaḥ। tataste śaraṇaṃ jagmurdevavratamimaṃ bhayāt ॥5-54-21॥
The enraged best of the Kurus killed many of them. Out of fear, they sought refuge with Bhishma.
sa bhīṣmaḥ susamartho'yamasmābhiḥ sahito raṇe। parānvijetuṃ tasmātte vyetu bhīrbharatarṣabha ॥ ityeṣāṃ niścayo hyāsīttatkālamamitaujasām ॥5-54-22॥
Bhishma, who was very capable and accompanied by us in battle, was determined to conquer the enemies. Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, let go of your fear. This was indeed the decision of the immensely powerful at that time.
purā pareṣāṃ pṛthivī kṛtsnāsīdvaśavartinī। asmānpunaramī nādya samarthā jetumāhave ॥ chinnapakṣāḥ pare hyadya vīryahīnāśca pāṇḍavāḥ ॥5-54-23॥
In the past, the entire earth was under the control of others. However, today, they are not capable of defeating us in battle. The others are like those with broken wings, and the Pāṇḍavas lack strength.
asmatsaṁsthā ca pṛthivī vartate bharatarṣabha। ekārthāḥ sukhaduḥkheṣu mayānītāśca pārthivāḥ ॥5-54-24॥
O best of the Bharatas, our institution, the earth, exists. The kings are united in purpose and are led by me through both happiness and sorrow.
apy agniṃ praviśeyus te samudraṃ vā parantapa। madarthe pārthivāḥ sarve tadviddhi kurusattama ॥5-54-25॥
O best of the Kurus, understand that all the kings would even enter fire or the ocean for my sake, O scorcher of foes.
unmattamiva cāpi tvāṃ prahasantīha duḥkhitam। vilapantaṃ bahuvidhaṃ bhītaṃ paravikatthane ॥5-54-26॥
Here, like a madman, you are laughed at, sorrowful and lamenting in many ways, frightened by the boasting of others.
eṣāṃ hyekaikaśo rājñāṃ samarthaḥ pāṇḍavānprati। ātmānaṃ manyate sarvo vyetu te bhayamāgatam ॥5-54-27॥
Each of these kings believes himself to be capable of facing the Pandavas. Let their fear that has come upon them be dispelled.
sarvāṃ samagrāṃ senāṃ me vāsavo'pi na śaknuyāt। hantumakṣayyarūpeyaṃ brahmaṇāpi svayambhuvā ॥5-54-28॥
Even Indra cannot destroy my entire army; this form is imperishable, created by Brahma, the self-born.
yudhiṣṭhiraḥ puraṃ hitvā pañca grāmānsa yācati। bhīto hi māmakātsainyātprabhāvāccaiva me prabho ॥5-54-29॥
Yudhishthira, having left the city, requests five villages. He is indeed afraid of the power of my army, O lord.
samarthaṃ manyase yacca kuntīputraṃ vṛkodaram। tanmithyā na hi me kṛtsnaṃ prabhāvaṃ vettha bhārata ॥5-54-30॥
You believe that Vrikodara, the son of Kunti, is capable, but that is not true, as you are not aware of my full power, O Bharata.
matsamo hi gadāyuddhe pṛthivyāṃ nāsti kaścana। nāsītkaścidatikrānto bhavitā na ca kaścana ॥5-54-31॥
There is truly no one on earth who is my equal in mace fighting; there has been none who surpassed me, nor will there be anyone in the future.
yukto duḥkhocitaścāhaṃ vidyāpāragatastathā। tasmānna bhīmānnānyebhyo bhayaṃ me vidyate kvacit ॥5-54-32॥
I am engaged and accustomed to suffering, and thus accomplished in knowledge. Therefore, I have no fear from the fearful ones or from others anywhere.
duryodhanasamo nāsti gadāyāmiti niścayaḥ। saṅkarṣaṇasya bhadraṃ te yattadainamupāvasam ॥5-54-33॥
Balarama is certain that there is no one like Duryodhana in mace fighting. Blessings to you as he observes fasting.
yuddhe saṅkarṣaṇasamo balenābhyadhiko bhuvi। gadāprahāraṃ bhīmo me na jātu viṣahedyudhi ॥5-54-34॥
In battle, Bhīma, who is equal to Saṅkarṣaṇa in strength and superior on earth, could never withstand my mace blow.
ekaṁ prahāraṁ yaṁ dadyāṁ bhīmāya ruṣito nṛpa। sa evainaṁ nayedghoraṁ kṣipraṁ vaivasvatakṣayam ॥5-54-35॥
An enraged king would strike Bhima with such force that it would swiftly send him to the dreadful realm of Yama.
iccheyaṁ ca gadāhastaṁ rājandraṣṭuṁ vṛkodaram। suciraṁ prārthito hyeṣa mama nityaṁ manorathaḥ ॥5-54-36॥
I have always desired to see Vrikodara, the one with the mace in hand, O king; this has been my long-standing wish.
gadayā nihato hyājau mama pārtho vṛkodaraḥ। viśīrṇagātraḥ pṛthivīṃ parāsuḥ prapatiṣyati ॥5-54-37॥
My son Arjuna, known as Vrikodara, will be struck down in battle by a mace, and with his limbs shattered, he will fall lifeless to the ground.
gadāprahārābhihato himavānapi parvataḥ। sakṛnmayā viśīryeta giriḥ śatasahasradhā ॥5-54-38॥
Even the mighty mountain Himavan, if struck once by my mace, would shatter into a hundred thousand pieces.
sa cāpyetadvijānāti vāsudevārjunau tathā। duryodhanasamo nāsti gadāyāmiti niścayaḥ ॥5-54-39॥
He is aware that Vasudeva and Arjuna are present, and it is certain that no one equals Duryodhana in mace fighting.
tatte vṛkodaramayaṃ bhayaṃ vyetu mahāhave। vyapaneṣyāmyahaṃ hyenaṃ mā rājanvimanā bhava ॥5-54-40॥
May your fear related to Vrikodara vanish in the great battle. I will surely remove it. O king, do not be disheartened.
tasminmayā hate kṣipramarjunaṃ bahavo rathāḥ। tulyarūpā viśiṣṭāśca kṣepsyanti bharatarṣabha ॥5-54-41॥
O best of the Bharatas, when Arjuna is quickly killed by me, many chariots, both similar and distinguished, will attack.
bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpo drauṇiḥ karṇo bhūriśravāstathā। prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ śalyaḥ sindhurājo jayadrathaḥ ॥5-54-42॥
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Ashwatthama (son of Drona), Karna, Bhurishrava, along with the king of Pragjyotisha, Shalya, the king of Sindhu, and Jayadratha were present.
ekaika eṣāṃ śaktastu hantuṃ bhārata pāṇḍavān। samastāstu kṣaṇenaitānneṣyanti yamasādanam ॥5-54-43॥
Each one of these warriors is capable of killing the Pandavas, O Bharata; however, together, they will send them to the abode of Yama in an instant.
samagrā pārthivī senā pārthamekaṃ dhanañjayam। kasmādaśaktā nirjetumiti heturna vidyate ॥5-54-44॥
The entire army of the earth cannot defeat Arjuna, known as Dhananjaya. There is no reason for this inability.
śaravrātaistu bhīṣmeṇa śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ। droṇadrauṇikṛpaiścaiva gantā pārtho yamakṣayam ॥5-54-45॥
Arjuna, with showers of arrows from Bhishma, Drona, Drona's son, and Kripa, in hundreds and thousands, will reach the abode of Yama.
pitāmaho hi gāṅgeyaḥ śantanoradhi bhārata। brahmarṣisadṛśo jajñe devairapi durutsahaḥ ॥ pitrā hyuktaḥ prasannena nākāmastvaṃ mariṣyasi ॥5-54-46॥
O Bharata, the grandfather, the son of Ganga, was born above Shantanu, like a Brahmarshi, and was difficult to withstand even by the gods. His father, pleased, told him that he would not die against his will.
brahmarṣeśca bharadvājāddroṇyāṃ droṇo vyajāyata। droṇājjajñe mahārāja drauṇiśca paramāstravit ॥5-54-47॥
Drona was born to the sage Brahmarshi and Bharadvaja in Droni. From Drona, O great king, was born Drauni, the supreme master of weapons.
kṛpaścācāryamukhyo'yaṃ maharṣergautamādapi। śarastambodbhavaḥ śrīmānavadhya iti me matiḥ ॥5-54-48॥
Kṛpa, the chief among teachers, is considered to be from the lineage of the great sage Gautama. He is believed to have emerged from the arrow pillar and is regarded as prosperous and invincible, according to my opinion.
ayonijaṃ trayaṃ hyetatpitā mātā ca mātulaḥ। aśvatthāmno mahārāja sa ca śūraḥ sthito mama ॥5-54-49॥
O great king, indeed, this trio—father, mother, and uncle—of Ashwatthama is not born from a womb. He stands as a hero of mine.
sarva ete mahārāja devakalpā mahārathāḥ। śakrasya api vyathāṃ kuryuḥ saṃyuge bharatarṣabha ॥5-54-50॥
O great king, all these warriors, who are like gods, could cause even Indra to suffer in battle, O best of the Bharatas.
bhīṣmadroṇakṛpāṇāṃ ca tulyaḥ karṇo mato mama। anujñātaśca rāmeṇa matsamo'sīti bhārata ॥5-54-51॥
Karna is regarded by me as equal to Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa. Furthermore, with Rama's permission, you are considered my equal, O Bharata.
kuṇḍale rucire cāstāṃ karṇasya sahaje śubhe। te śacyarthe mahendreṇa yācitaḥ sa parantapaḥ ॥ amoghayā mahārāja śaktyā paramabhīmayā ॥5-54-52॥
The beautiful and auspicious earrings of Karna were requested by Mahendra for the sake of Shachi. O great king, with his infallible and formidable power, he is known as the scorcher of foes.
tasya śaktyopagūḍhasya kasmājjīveddhanañjayaḥ। vijayo me dhruvaṃ rājanphalaṃ pāṇāvivāhitam ॥ abhivyaktaḥ pareṣāṃ ca kṛtsno bhuvi parājayaḥ ॥5-54-53॥
Why would Arjuna, who is concealed by his power, continue to live? My victory is assured, O king, as if the fruit is already in hand. The total defeat of the enemies is evident on earth.
ahnā hyekena bhīṣmo'yamayutaṃ hanti bhārata। tatsamāśca maheṣvāsā droṇadrauṇikṛpā api ॥5-54-54॥
During the day, Bhishma alone slays ten thousand warriors, O Bharata. Equally skilled are the great archers Drona, Ashwatthama, and Kripa.
saṃśaptāni ca vṛndāni kṣatriyāṇāṃ parantapa। arjunaṃ vayamasmānvā dhanañjaya iti sma ha ॥5-54-55॥
O scorcher of foes, the sworn groups of warriors, either Arjuna or us, are certainly known as Dhananjaya.
tāṁś cālam iti manyante savyasācivadhe vibho। pārthivāḥ sa bhavān rājan na-kasmād vyathate katham ॥5-54-56॥
The kings think that it is enough to kill Arjuna, O lord. How is it that you, O king, are agitated without cause?
bhīmasene ca nihate ko'nyo yudhyeta bhārata। pareṣāṃ tanmamācakṣva yadi vettha parantapa ॥5-54-57॥
O Bharata, if Bhimasena is slain, who else would fight the enemies? Tell me that, if you know, O chastiser of the foes.
pañca te bhrātaraḥ sarve dhṛṣṭadyumno'tha sātyakiḥ। pareṣāṃ sapta ye rājanyodhāḥ paramakaṃ balam ॥5-54-58॥
Your five brothers, along with Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki, are all there. Among the enemies, there are seven royal warriors who are supreme in strength.
asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādayaḥ। drauṇirvaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ somadatto'tha bāhlikaḥ ॥5-54-59॥
Among our ranks, the most distinguished are Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and others, including the son of Drona, Karna, the son of Vikartana, Somadatta, and Bahlika.
prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ śalya āvantyo'tha jayadrathaḥ। duḥśāsano durmukhaśca duḥsahaśca viśāṃ pate ॥5-54-60॥
The king of Prāgjyotiṣa, Śalya, the king of Avanti, Jayadratha, Duḥśāsana, Durmukha, and Duḥsaha are present, O lord of the people.
śrutāyuś citrasenaś ca purumitro viviṁśatiḥ। śalo bhūriśravāś cobhau vikarṇaś ca tavātmajaḥ ॥5-54-61॥
Śrutāyu, Citrasena, Purumitra, Viviṁśati, Śala, Bhūriśravā, and both Vikarṇa and your son were present.
akṣauhiṇyo hi me rājandaśaikā ca samāhṛtāḥ। nyūnāḥ pareṣāṃ saptaiva kasmānme syātparājayaḥ ॥5-54-62॥
O king, I have assembled eleven divisions of army. They are only seven less than those of others, so why should I face defeat?
balaṁ triguṇato hīnaṁ yodhyaṁ prāha bṛhaspatiḥ। parebhyastriguṇā ceyaṁ mama rājannanīkinī ॥5-54-63॥
Brihaspati said, "The strength is three times less than others, and this army of mine, O king, is three times stronger."
guṇahīnaṃ pareṣāṃ ca bahu paśyāmi bhārata। guṇodayaṃ bahuguṇamātmanaśca viśāṃ pate ॥5-54-64॥
O Bharata, I observe many lacking qualities in others, but the rise of many qualities in oneself, O lord of the people.
etatsarvaṁ samājñāya balāgryaṁ mama bhārata। nyūnatāṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ ca na mohaṁ gantum arhasi ॥5-54-65॥
O Bhārata, having comprehended all this, including my supreme strength and the shortcomings of the Pāṇḍavas, you should not fall into delusion.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
ityuktvā sañjayaṃ bhūyaḥ paryapṛcchata bhārata। vidhitsuḥ prāptakālāni jñātvā parapurañjayaḥ ॥5-54-66॥
After speaking to Sañjaya once more, the conqueror of enemy cities, eager to understand, inquired about the right moments, O descendant of Bharata.
