05.074

वैशम्पायन उवाच॥

Vaiśampāyana said:

तथोक्तो वासुदेवेन नित्यमन्युरमर्षणः। सदश्ववत्समाधावद्बभाषे तदनन्तरम् ॥५-७४-१॥

Thus addressed by Vāsudeva, he, always wrathful and impatient, rushed forward like a fine horse and immediately spoke these words. (5-74-1)

अन्यथा मां चिकीर्षन्तमन्यथा मन्यसेऽच्युत। प्रणीतभावमत्यन्तं युधि सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥५-७४-२॥

You think I intend one thing but act otherwise, Acyuta, though in fact I am firm in my resolve and completely true in valor in battle. (5-74-2)

वेत्थ दाशार्ह सत्त्वं मे दीर्घकालं सहोषितः। उत वा मां न जानासि प्लवन्ह्रद इवाल्पवः । तस्मादप्रतिरूपाभिर्वाग्भिर्मां त्वं समर्छसि ॥५-७४-३॥

You know my nature, O Dāśārha, having lived with me for a long time; or else, do you not know me, like a shallow stream in a lake? Is that why you address me with such unworthy words? (5-74-3)

कथं हि भीमसेनं मां जानन्कश्चन माधव। ब्रूयादप्रतिरूपाणि यथा मां वक्तुमर्हसि ॥५-७४-४॥

For, Madhava, how could anyone who truly knows me—Bhimasena—ever say such unworthy things to me, as you have? (5-74-4)

तस्मादिदं प्रवक्ष्यामि वचनं वृष्णिनन्दन। आत्मनः पौरुषं चैव बलं च न समं परैः ॥५-७४-५॥

Therefore, O joy of the Vṛṣṇis, I will declare this: my own prowess and strength are not equal to those of others. (5-74-5)

सर्वथा नार्यकर्मैतत्प्रशंसा स्वयमात्मनः। अतिवादापविद्धस्तु वक्ष्यामि बलमात्मनः ॥५-७४-६॥

In every way, praising oneself is a woman's act; but, provoked by excessive words, I will declare my own strength. (5-74-6)

पश्येमे रोदसी कृष्ण ययोरासन्निमाः प्रजाः। अचले चाप्यनन्ते च प्रतिष्ठे सर्वमातरौ ॥५-७४-७॥

Look, Kṛṣṇa, at these two worlds, in whose midst all these beings have arisen—unchanging, boundless, the grounds of support, the mothers of all. (5-74-7)

यदीमे सहसा क्रुद्धे समेयातां शिले इव। अहमेते निगृह्णीयां बाहुभ्यां सचराचरे ॥५-७४-८॥

If these two were to meet in sudden anger, like mountains clashing, I alone could restrain them with my arms, amidst all beings moving and unmoving. (5-74-8)

पश्यैतदन्तरं बाह्वोर्महापरिघयोरिव। य एतत्प्राप्य मुच्येत न तं पश्यामि पूरुषम् ॥५-७४-९॥

Look at this gap between my arms, like the space between two great iron bars. Whoever managed to escape after being seized here—I see no such person. (5-74-9)

हिमवांश्च समुद्रश्च वज्री च बलभित्स्वयम्। मयाभिपन्नं त्रायेरन्बलमास्थाय न त्रयः ॥५-७४-१०॥

Not even Himavat, the ocean, and Indra the strong-armed himself—if they relied on their strength—could rescue someone seized by me. (5-74-10)

युध्येयं क्षत्रियान्सर्वान्पाण्डवेष्वाततायिनः। अधः पादतलेनैतानधिष्ठास्यामि भूतले ॥५-७४-११॥

I could fight all the kṣatriyas who are aggressors among the Pāṇḍavas and press them down to the earth beneath my foot. (5-74-11)

न हि त्वं नाभिजानासि मम विक्रममच्युत। यथा मया विनिर्जित्य राजानो वशगाः कृताः ॥५-७४-१२॥

Truly, Acyuta, you do not know my prowess—how I have defeated the kings and brought them under my power. (5-74-12)

अथ चेन्मां न जानासि सूर्यस्येवोद्यतः प्रभाम्। विगाढे युधि सम्बाधे वेत्स्यसे मां जनार्दन ॥५-७४-१३॥

But if you do not recognize me—like not knowing the radiance of the rising sun—you will come to know me, Janardana, when the tightly pressed battle is fully joined. (5-74-13)

किं मात्यवाक्षीः परुषैर्व्रणं सूच्या इवानघ। यथामति ब्रवीम्येतद्विद्धि मामधिकं ततः ॥५-७४-१४॥

Why do you assail me with harsh words, O blameless one, like prodding a wound with a needle? I am speaking this according to my understanding—know me as better than that. (5-74-14)

द्रष्टासि युधि सम्बाधे प्रवृत्ते वैशसेऽहनि। मया प्रणुन्नान्मातङ्गान्रथिनः सादिनस्तथा ॥५-७४-१५॥

You will see, on the day when the violent battle is joined, elephants, chariot warriors, and cavalrymen driven forward by me. (5-74-15)

तथा नरानभिक्रुद्धं निघ्नन्तं क्षत्रियर्षभान्। द्रष्टा मां त्वं च लोकश्च विकर्षन्तं वरान्वरान् ॥५-७४-१६॥

Likewise, you will see me slaying men and the foremost of kshatriyas without anger, and you and the world will see me dragging away the greatest of the great. (5-74-16)

न मे सीदन्ति मज्जानो न ममोद्वेपते मनः। सर्वलोकादभिक्रुद्धान्न भयं विद्यते मम ॥५-७४-१७॥

My marrow does not sink, nor does my mind tremble; even when threatened by all the worlds, I have no fear. (5-74-17)

किं तु सौहृदमेवैतत्कृपया मधुसूदन। सर्वांस्तितिक्षे सङ्क्लेशान्मा स्म नो भरता नशन् ॥५-७४-१८॥

But rather, Madhusudana, this is only friendship—out of compassion I endure all hardships; let not our people perish, O descendant of Bharata. (5-74-18)