05.151
Pancharatra-core: Keshava urges Yudhisthira to fight the war against evil Duryodhana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
वासुदेवस्य तद्वाक्यमनुस्मृत्य युधिष्ठिरः। पुनः पप्रच्छ वार्ष्णेयं कथं मन्दोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥५-१५१-१॥
Yudhishthira, recalling Vasudeva's words, inquired once more to the Vrishni descendant about how the slow-witted one expressed this.
अस्मिन्नभ्यागते काले किं च नः क्षममच्युत। कथं च वर्तमाना वै स्वधर्मान्न च्यवेमहि ॥५-१५१-२॥
O Acyuta, at this time of arrival, what is appropriate for us? And how can we ensure that we do not deviate from our duties?
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णस्य शकुनेः सौबलस्य च। वासुदेव मतज्ञोऽसि मम सभ्रातृकस्य च ॥५-१५१-३॥
Vasudeva, you understand the thoughts of Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni, and Saubala, as well as mine and my brothers'.
विदुरस्यापि ते वाक्यं श्रुतं भीष्मस्य चोभयोः। कुन्त्याश्च विपुलप्रज्ञ प्रज्ञा कार्त्स्न्येन ते श्रुता ॥५-१५१-४॥
You have completely heard the words of Vidura and Bhishma, as well as the profound wisdom of Kunti.
सर्वमेतदतिक्रम्य विचार्य च पुनः पुनः। यन्नः क्षमं महाबाहो तद्ब्रवीह्यविचारयन् ॥५-१५१-५॥
O mighty-armed one, after surpassing and considering everything repeatedly, please tell us what is appropriate without any hesitation.
श्रुत्वैतद्धर्मराजस्य धर्मार्थसहितं वचः। मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः कृष्णो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥५-१५१-६॥
Upon hearing the righteous and meaningful words of Dharmaraja, Krishna, whose voice was as resonant as a thunderous cloud, responded.
उक्तवानस्मि यद्वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम्। न तु तन्निकृतिप्रज्ञे कौरव्ये प्रतितिष्ठति ॥५-१५१-७॥
I have spoken words that are righteous and purposeful, beneficial indeed. However, they do not hold ground with the deceitful-minded Kaurava.
न च भीष्मस्य दुर्मेधाः शृणोति विदुरस्य वा। मम वा भाषितं किञ्चित्सर्वमेवातिवर्तते ॥५-१५१-८॥
The evil-minded person ignores the words of Bhishma, Vidura, and myself, disregarding everything completely.
न स कामयते धर्मं न स कामयते यशः। जितं स मन्यते सर्वं दुरात्मा कर्णमाश्रितः ॥५-१५१-९॥
He neither desires virtue nor fame. The wicked soul, relying on Karna, believes he has conquered all.
बन्धमाज्ञापयामास मम चापि सुयोधनः। न च तं लब्धवान्कामं दुरात्मा शासनातिगः ॥५-१५१-१०॥
Suyodhana ordered my capture, but the wicked one, being disobedient, did not achieve his desire.
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो युक्तं तत्राहतुर्वचः। सर्वे तमनुवर्तन्ते ऋते विदुरमच्युत ॥५-१५१-११॥
Neither Bhishma nor Drona found it appropriate to speak there. Everyone followed him except Vidura, O Acyuta.
शकुनिः सौबलश्चैव कर्णदुःशासनावपि। त्वय्ययुक्तान्यभाषन्त मूढा मूढममर्षणम् ॥५-१५१-१२॥
Shakuni, the son of Subala, along with Karna and Duhshasana, spoke improperly to you, driven by foolish impatience.
किं च तेन मयोक्तेन यान्यभाषन्त कौरवाः। सङ्क्षेपेण दुरात्मासौ न युक्तं त्वयि वर्तते ॥५-१५१-१३॥
What I have spoken, and what the Kauravas have said, in brief, that wicked soul does not suit you.
न पार्थिवेषु सर्वेषु य इमे तव सैनिकाः। यत्पापं यन्न कल्याणं सर्वं तस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥५-१५१-१४॥
Among all the earthly beings, your soldiers are not the ones in whom all sins and inauspiciousness are established.
न चापि वयमत्यर्थं परित्यागेन कर्हिचित्। कौरवैः शममिच्छामस्तत्र युद्धमनन्तरम् ॥५-१५१-१५॥
We do not wish for peace with the Kauravas at any cost; rather, we seek it after the war.
तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्थिवाः सर्वे वासुदेवस्य भाषितम्। अब्रुवन्तो मुखं राज्ञः समुदैक्षन्त भारत ॥५-१५१-१६॥
Upon hearing Vasudeva's words, all the kings turned their gaze towards the king's face, O Bharata.
युधिष्ठिरस्त्वभिप्रायमुपलभ्य महीक्षिताम्। योगमाज्ञापयामास भीमार्जुनयमैः सह ॥५-१५१-१७॥
Yudhishthira, realizing the intentions of the kings, commanded Bhima, Arjuna, and the twins to unite.
ततः किलकिलाभूतमनीकं पाण्डवस्य ह। आज्ञापिते तदा योगे समहृष्यन्त सैनिकाः ॥५-१५१-१८॥
Then, the troops of the Pandava were filled with joy when the preparations were ordered, and the soldiers rejoiced.
अवध्यानां वधं पश्यन्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। निष्टनन्भीमसेनं च विजयं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥५-१५१-१९॥
Witnessing the slaughter of those who should not be killed, Yudhishthira, the king of righteousness, sighed and spoke to Bhimasena and Arjuna.
यदर्थं वनवासश्च प्राप्तं दुःखं च यन्मया। सोऽयमस्मानुपैत्येव परोऽनर्थः प्रयत्नतः ॥५-१५१-२०॥
The purpose for which I endured the forest dwelling and suffering now indeed approaches us as another misfortune despite all efforts.
यस्मिन्यत्नः कृतोऽस्माभिः स नो हीनः प्रयत्नतः। अकृते तु प्रयत्नेऽस्मानुपावृत्तः कलिर्महान् ॥५-१५१-२१॥
The effort we made was not lacking, but where effort was absent, the great Kali has come upon us.
कथं ह्यवध्यैः सङ्ग्रामः कार्यः सह भविष्यति। कथं हत्वा गुरून्वृद्धान्विजयो नो भविष्यति ॥५-१५१-२२॥
How can a battle be fought with those who are invincible? How can we achieve victory by killing our teachers and elders?
तच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य सव्यसाची परन्तपः। यदुक्तं वासुदेवेन श्रावयामास तद्वचः ॥५-१५१-२३॥
Upon hearing this, Arjuna, the mighty warrior, conveyed the message spoken by Lord Krishna to King Yudhishthira.
उक्तवान्देवकीपुत्रः कुन्त्याश्च विदुरस्य च। वचनं तत्त्वया राजन्निखिलेनावधारितम् ॥५-१५१-२४॥
The son of Devaki, Krishna, addressed the words of Kunti and Vidura, saying: O King, you have completely understood the message.
न च तौ वक्ष्यतोऽधर्ममिति मे नैष्ठिकी मतिः। न चापि युक्तं कौन्तेय निवर्तितुमयुध्यतः ॥५-१५१-२५॥
I firmly believe that they will not speak anything unrighteous. Moreover, O son of Kunti, it is not appropriate to retreat from the battle.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवोऽपि सव्यसाचिवचस्तदा। स्मयमानोऽब्रवीत्पार्थमेवमेतदिति ब्रुवन् ॥५-१५१-२६॥
Upon hearing those words from Savyasaci, Vasudeva, with a smile, said to Partha, "Indeed, it is so," affirming thus.
ततस्ते धृतसङ्कल्पा युद्धाय सहसैनिकाः। पाण्डवेया महाराज तां रात्रिं सुखमावसन् ॥५-१५१-२७॥
Then, O great king, the sons of Pandu, firm in their resolve and accompanied by their soldiers, spent that night happily.
