05.080

Vaiśaṃpāyana said:

But Kṛṣṇā, wearied by grief, after hearing the king’s words—words in accord with righteousness and expediency, and beneficial—addressed the seated Dāśārha. (5-80-1)

The daughter of King Drupada, breathing deeply with heavy sighs, respectfully greeted Sahadeva and the great charioteer Satyaki. (5-80-2)

Seeing Bhīmasena calmed, she—her eyes filled with tears, deeply troubled and high-minded—spoke these words. (5-80-3)

O mighty-armed Madhusudana, you who know righteousness, you know how the Pāṇḍavas were deprived of their happiness through deceit. (5-80-4)

How, O Janardana, the son of Dhritarashtra—together with his ministers—and also how Sanjaya was made to hear the king's secret counsel in private... (5-80-5)

O Dāśārha, that too, as stated by Yudhishthira, is known to you; and all that which Sanjaya spoke has also been heard by you. (5-80-6)

“Let five villages be given to us, O father,”—namely Kushasthala, Vrikasthala, Asandi, and Varanavata... (5-80-7)

O mighty-armed one, but as a fifth, only a suburb; thus Duryodhana and his friends are to be told, Keshava. (5-80-8)

But even after hearing those words, Suyodhana did not do so, O Kṛṣṇa, nor did he act on the wish for peace of the modest Yudhiṣṭhira, O Dāśārha. (5-80-9)

If, Kṛṣṇa, Suyodhana should wish for peace without giving up the kingdom, having gone there, it should not be made in any way. (5-80-10)

For, O mighty-armed one, the Pāṇḍavas together with the Sṛñjayas will indeed be able to withstand the terrible and enraged army of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's sons. (5-80-11)

For by conciliation or by gifts, nothing can be accomplished with them in any way; therefore, you should show no compassion toward them, Madhusudana. (5-80-12)

Kṛṣṇa, those enemies who cannot be pacified by conciliation or gifts, punishment should be inflicted upon them by one who wishes to preserve his own life. (5-80-13)

Therefore, a severe punishment should be inflicted upon them at once, O Achyuta, by you together with the Pandavas and the Sṛñjayas, O mighty-armed one. (5-80-14)

This action, Kṛṣṇa, is suitable for the Pāṇḍavas and for you as well, would bring fame, and if carried out would bring happiness to the warrior order. (5-80-15)

Indeed, O Dāśārha, a kṣatriya who has become greedy, or even one who is not a kṣatriya, should be slain by a kṣatriya carrying out his own duty. (5-80-16)

Except for a Brahmin, dear one, even if established in all kinds of sin—for a Brahmin is the spiritual teacher of all classes, and he partakes first of the offered food. (5-80-17)

O Janardana, just as there is fault in slaying one who should not be killed, so those versed in dharma know that the same applies to slaying one who should be killed. (5-80-18)

Therefore, Kṛṣṇa, act in such a way that this fault does not touch you—together with the Pāṇḍavas, descendant of the Daśārhas, and the Sṛñjayas with their armies. (5-80-19)

I will again say what has already been said, Janardana, speaking openly: what married woman like me is there on earth, Keshava? (5-80-20)

She is the daughter of King Drupada, arisen from the midst of the sacrificial altar, the sister of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, your beloved friend, Kṛṣṇa. (5-80-21)

She has entered the house of Ājamīḍha’s line as the daughter-in-law of great-souled Pāṇḍu, the wife of the sons of Pāṇḍu, who are as radiant as five Indras. (5-80-22)

My five sons, born of the five heroic great warriors, are all great chariot fighters—just as Abhimanyu is yours by Kṛṣṇa in rightful wedlock, so are they rightfully yours. (5-80-23)

I, that very woman, tormented and dragged by the hair into the assembly while the sons of Pandu looked on, while you, Keshava, are still alive— (5-80-24)

While the sons of Dhritarashtra, the sons of Drupada, and the Vrishnis are still alive, I have become a slave to the wicked and am placed in the middle of the assembly. (5-80-25)

While the Pāṇḍavas, unfeeling and motionless, only looked on, I thought in my mind, "Govinda, save me!" and longed for you. (5-80-26)

When that venerable king, my father-in-law, spoke to me, saying, 'Choose a boon, Pāñcālī—you are worthy of a boon and dear to me'... (5-80-27)

When I said, 'The Pāṇḍavas should not be enslaved, but should depart armed and with their chariots,' Keśava, it was then that they were sent off to the forest exile. (5-80-28)

Janardana, you know about such kinds of suffering; protect me, Pundarikaksha, along with my husband, relatives, and family. (5-80-29)

Surely, Kṛṣṇa, I am the lawful daughter-in-law of both Bhīṣma and Dhṛtarāṣṭra; yet I have been made a slave. (5-80-30)

Shame on the strength of Bhimasena, shame on Arjuna, wielder of the bow, when Duryodhana, Kṛṣṇa, still lives even for a moment. (5-80-31)

If I am worthy of your compassion, if you have any pity for me, Krishna, let all your anger be directed against the sons of Dhritarashtra. (5-80-32)

Having spoken thus—her hair, gentle in its loosening, foremost in its entanglement, very beautiful, deep blue in hue, with dark side-glances, and perfumed with sacred fragrance— (5-80-33)

The noble lady, endowed with all auspicious marks and shining like a mighty serpent, took up the mass of hair with her left hand. (5-80-34)

The lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇā, walking with the gait of an elephant and her eyes filled with tears, approached the lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa and spoke these words: (5-80-35)

O lotus-eyed one, this act—having been seized by Duḥśāsana's hands—should be remembered by you at all times by anyone wishing for peace with others. (5-80-36)

If Bhīma, Arjuna, and Kṛṣṇa are weak and eager for peace, then my old father will fight, together with his sons who are great warriors. (5-80-37)

And, Madhusudana, my five sons, all of great valor, will fight alongside Abhimanyu at the front, together with the Kurus. (5-80-38)

If I do not see the dark, severed, dust-covered arm of Duḥśāsana, what peace is there for my heart? (5-80-39)

For thirteen years, as I waited, time has passed for me, keeping anger in my heart like a blazing fire. (5-80-40)

My heart, afflicted by Bhīma’s harshness, is being torn apart, seeing this mighty-armed one today contemplate what is right. (5-80-41)

Having said this, Kṛṣṇā, her throat choked by tears, wide-eyed, wept, her voice trembling, faltering with emotion and heavy with tears. (5-80-42)

Her full breasts and broad hips trembling together, she shed tears from her eyes, very hot, as if melted. (5-80-43)

Keśava, the mighty-armed, soothing her, said, "O Kṛṣṇā, soon you will see the women of the Bhāratas weeping." (5-80-44)

Thus, those women, timid one, whose relatives and kinsmen have been slain, whose friends and protectors have been killed, against whom you are angry, will weep. (5-80-45)

I too will do that, together with Bhīma, Arjuna, and Yudhiṣṭhira, by Yudhiṣṭhira's command and through fate, as ordained by destiny. (5-80-46)

The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, whose time has come, do not listen to my words; they will lie slain on the ground, left as food for dogs and jackals. (5-80-47)

The Himavat mountain might move, the earth might be shattered into a hundred pieces, the sky with its stars might fall, but my word shall not be in vain. (5-80-48)

Truly, Kṛṣṇā, I promise you—hold back your tears; soon you will see your husbands, resplendent and triumphant over their slain foes. (5-80-49)