05.125
Pancharatra: Duryodhana rejects Pandavas claim to the kingdom and sights the dharma of the kshatriyas to fight and give up lives in battle field.
Śavaiśampāyana spoke:
Upon hearing the unpleasant words in the Kuru assembly, Duryodhana responded to the mighty and illustrious Vasudeva.
O Keśava, after considering, you are worthy to speak this. You indeed criticize me especially after speaking.
O Madhusudana, why do you always criticize the sons of Pritha without reason, considering their strengths and weaknesses, by the argument of devotion?
You, whether as a minister, king, teacher, or grandfather, blame only me and no other prince.
I do not see any fault in myself here. Yet, all of you, along with the kings, despise me.
O Keśava, I do not perceive any significant fault, not even a very subtle one, O subduer of enemies, as I contemplate.
O Madhusudana, when the dear one approached the game of dice, the Pandavas were defeated by Shakuni. What fault is mine in that situation?
The wealth that was conquered by the Pandavas was permitted to them by you, O Madhusudana, at that time.
It is not our fault, but yours, as you are unconquered in dice. The invincible sons of Pritha, the best among the victorious, have been exiled to the forest.
O Krishna, by what slander are the powerless Pandavas opposed by enemies, yet they seem delighted as if facing their foes?
What have we done to them, or what offense have we committed again? The Pandavas, along with the Srinjayas, intend to harm the sons of Dhritarashtra.
We are not frightened by fierce actions or words to bow here out of fear of Indra.
O Kṛṣṇa, I do not see the warrior's duty being upheld. Who among us could conquer by fighting, O destroyer of enemies?
O Madhusudana, neither Bhishma, Kripa, nor Drona with their troops can be conquered in battle even by the gods, let alone by the Pandavas.
O Mādhava, if we perform our own duty in battle and meet death by weapon in due time, we shall indeed obtain heaven.
O Janardana, it is indeed the primary duty of us Kshatriyas that we should lie on the battlefield on a bed of arrows.
O Mādhava, we will attain the hero's bed in battle without bowing to the enemies; they will not torment us.
Whoever is born in a noble family and lives by the warrior's code, considering their conduct out of fear, would bow to anyone here.
Effort should be like the rising sun, never bowing down; true manliness lies in this. Even in adversity, one may break but should never bow to anyone.
Thus, those who seek welfare listen to the words of Matanga. A person like me should bow to the Brahmins and uphold dharma.
One should act without considering anyone else for the entirety of their life. This is the duty of the Kshatriyas, and this has always been my belief.
O Keśava, the portion of the kingdom that my father once allowed me is not obtainable again as long as I live.
O Janardana, as long as King Dhritarashtra is supported, we have laid down our arms and depend on you, O Madhava.
O Janardana, whatever kingdom was given to Paravata by me in the past, whether out of ignorance or fear, when I was a child.
O Keśava, the joy of the Vṛṣṇis, today that cannot be obtained by the Pāṇḍavas, as it is currently supported by me, O mighty-armed one.
O Mādhava, as long as the sharp point of a needle can pierce, we must not abandon our land to the Pāṇḍavas.
