05.137
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
एवमुक्तस्तु विमनास्तिर्यग्दृष्टिरधोमुखः । संहत्य च भ्रुवोर्मध्यं न किञ्चिद्व्याजहार ह ॥५-१३७-१॥
Having been thus addressed, he was dejected, glanced sideways, and with his head down, joining his eyebrows, he did not say anything at all.
तं वै विमनसं दृष्ट्वा सम्प्रेक्ष्यान्योन्यमन्तिकात् । पुनरेवोत्तरं वाक्यमुक्तवन्तौ नरर्षभौ ॥५-१३७-२॥
Seeing him disheartened, the two best among men looked at each other nearby and again spoke a reply.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
शुश्रूषुमनसूयं च ब्रह्मण्यं सत्यसङ्गरम् । प्रतियोत्स्यामहे पार्थमतो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥५-१३७-३॥
Desiring to serve without envy and being devoted to Brahman, truthful in battle, we will fight against Arjuna. Therefore, what indeed could be more painful?
द्रोण उवाच॥
Drona said:
अश्वत्थाम्नि यथा पुत्रे भूयो मम धनञ्जये । बहुमानः परो राजन्संनतिश्च कपिध्वजे ॥५-१३७-४॥
O king, my respect and reverence for Dhananjaya, the one with the monkey banner, are even greater than for Ashvatthama, as they are for my own son.
तं चेत्पुत्रात्प्रियतरं प्रतियोत्स्ये धनञ्जयम् । क्षत्रधर्ममनुष्ठाय धिगस्तु क्षत्रजीविकाम् ॥५-१३७-५॥
If I must fight Arjuna, who is dearer to me than my own son, by following the warrior's duty, then shame on the life of a warrior.
यस्य लोके समो नास्ति कश्चिदन्यो धनुर्धरः । मत्प्रसादात्स बीभत्सुः श्रेयानन्यैर्धनुर्धरैः ॥५-१३७-६॥
In the world, there is no archer equal to him; by my grace, Bibhatsu (Arjuna) surpasses all other archers.
मित्रध्रुग्दुष्टभावश्च नास्तिकोऽथानृजुः शठः । न सत्सु लभते पूजां यज्ञे मूर्ख इवागतः ॥५-१३७-७॥
A betrayer of friends, who is evil-minded, atheist, dishonest, and deceitful, does not receive respect among the virtuous, just as a fool does not gain honor when he arrives at a sacrifice.
वार्यमाणोऽपि पापेभ्यः पापात्मा पापमिच्छति । चोद्यमानोऽपि पापेन शुभात्मा शुभमिच्छति ॥५-१३७-८॥
Even when restrained from sins, a sinful person desires sin, while a virtuous person, even when urged by sin, desires virtue.
मिथ्योपचरिता ह्येते वर्तमाना ह्यनु प्रिये । अहितत्वाय कल्पन्ते दोषा भरतसत्तम ॥५-१३७-९॥
O best of the Bharatas, these faults, which are indeed falsely conducted and exist after the beloved, are intended for harm.
त्वमुक्तः कुरुवृद्धेन मया च विदुरेण च । वासुदेवेन च तथा श्रेयो नैवाभिपद्यसे ॥५-१३७-१०॥
You have been advised by the elder of the Kurus, by me, by Vidura, and also by Vāsudeva, yet you do not follow the path of righteousness.
अस्ति मे बलमित्येव सहसा त्वं तितीर्षसि । सग्राहनक्रमकरं गङ्गावेगमिवोष्णगे ॥५-१३७-११॥
You claim to have strength, yet you suddenly wish to cross the Ganges' current, filled with crocodiles, as if it were the hot season.
वास एव यथा हि त्वं प्रावृण्वानोऽद्य मन्यसे । स्रजं त्यक्तामिव प्राप्य लोभाद्यौधिष्ठिरीं श्रियम् ॥५-१३७-१२॥
Just as you think today, wearing clothes, having obtained the abandoned garland out of greed, the prosperity of Yudhishthira.
द्रौपदीसहितं पार्थं सायुधैर्भ्रातृभिर्वृतम् । वनस्थमपि राज्यस्थः पाण्डवं कोऽतिजीवति ॥५-१३७-१३॥
Who can survive the Pandava, who, even while dwelling in the forest with Draupadi and surrounded by his brothers with weapons, appears like a king?
निदेशे यस्य राजानः सर्वे तिष्ठन्ति किङ्कराः । तमैलविलमासाद्य धर्मराजो व्यराजत ॥५-१३७-१४॥
Dharmaraja, having approached Ailavila, shone in whose command all kings stand as servants.
कुबेरसदनं प्राप्य ततो रत्नान्यवाप्य च । स्फीतमाक्रम्य ते राष्ट्रं राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥५-१३७-१५॥
The Pandavas, after reaching Kubera's abode and acquiring gems, aspire to rule the prosperous kingdom.
दत्तं हुतमधीतं च ब्राह्मणास्तर्पिता धनैः । आवयोर्गतमायुश्च कृतकृत्यौ च विद्धि नौ ॥५-१३७-१६॥
Know that we have given, offered sacrifices, studied, and satisfied the Brahmins with wealth; our life is gone, and we have accomplished our duties.
त्वं तु हित्वा सुखं राज्यं मित्राणि च धनानि च । विग्रहं पाण्डवैः कृत्वा महद्व्यसनमाप्स्यसि ॥५-१३७-१७॥
However, by forsaking happiness, your kingdom, friends, and wealth, and engaging in conflict with the Pandavas, you will bring upon yourself a great disaster.
द्रौपदी यस्य चाशास्ते विजयं सत्यवादिनी । तपोघोरव्रता देवी न त्वं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम् ॥५-१३७-१८॥
Draupadi, the truth-speaking goddess with a terrible vow of austerity, desires victory. You will not conquer the Pandava.
मन्त्री जनार्दनो यस्य भ्राता यस्य धनञ्जयः । सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं कथं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम् ॥५-१३७-१९॥
How will you conquer the Pandava, whose minister is Krishna and brother is Arjuna, the best among all warriors?
सहाया ब्राह्मणा यस्य धृतिमन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः । तमुग्रतपसं वीरं कथं जेष्यसि पाण्डवम् ॥५-१३७-२०॥
How do you plan to defeat the Pāṇḍava, who is supported by brāhmaṇas that are steadfast and self-controlled, and who himself is heroic and practices severe austerities?
पुनरुक्तं च वक्ष्यामि यत्कार्यं भूतिमिच्छता । सुहृदा मज्जमानेषु सुहृत्सु व्यसनार्णवे ॥५-१३७-२१॥
I will reiterate what should be done by someone seeking prosperity, especially by a friend, when friends are drowning in the ocean of troubles.
अलं युद्धेन तैर्वीरैः शाम्य त्वं कुरुवृद्धये । मा गमः ससुतामात्यः सबलश्च पराभवम् ॥५-१३७-२२॥
Enough of war with those heroes; you should cease for the prosperity of the Kuru dynasty. Do not proceed with your sons, ministers, and army towards defeat.
