05.154
Pancharatra-Core: Seven commanders and Drishtadyumna as commander-in-chief appointed by Yudhisthira. Balarama visits and departs, unwilling to witness the great destruction about to take place.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya spoke:
āpageyaṃ mahātmānaṃ bhīṣmaṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ varam। pitāmahaṃ bhāratānāṃ dhvajaṃ sarvamahīkṣitām ॥5-154-1॥
Bhishma, the great-souled son of the river, the best among warriors, the patriarch of the Bharatas, and the emblem of all earthly kings.
bṛhaspatisamaṃ buddhyā kṣamayā pṛthivīsamam। samudramiva gāmbhīrye himavantamiva sthiram ॥5-154-2॥
He is as wise as Bṛhaspati, as patient as the earth, as deep as the ocean, and as stable as the Himalayas.
prajāpatimivaudārye tejasā bhāskaropamam। mahendramiva śatrūṇāṃ dhvaṃsanaṃ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ ॥5-154-3॥
He is as generous as the lord of creatures, as splendid as the sun, and like the great Indra, he destroys his enemies with showers of arrows.
raṇayajñe pratibhaye svābhīle lomaharṣaṇe। dīkṣitaṃ cirarātrāya śrutvā rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥5-154-4॥
King Yudhishthira, having heard about the consecration for the long night in the terrifying and hair-raising battle sacrifice, was deeply moved.
kimabravīnmahābāhuḥ sarvadharmaviśāradaḥ। bhīmasenārjunau vāpi kṛṣṇo vā pratyapadyata ॥5-154-5॥
What did the mighty-armed hero, who is an expert in all dharmas, say? Did Bhimasena, Arjuna, or Krishna respond?
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
āpaddharmārthakuśalo mahābuddhiryudhiṣṭhiraḥ। sarvānbhrātṝnsamānīya vāsudevaṃ ca sātvataṃ ॥ uvāca vadatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ ॥5-154-6॥
Yudhishthira, known for his wisdom and expertise in handling crises, gathered all his brothers and Vasudeva, the descendant of Sātvata, and addressed them with conciliatory words, being the foremost among speakers.
paryākrāmata sainyāni yattāstiṣṭhata daṃśitāḥ। pitāmahena vo yuddhaṃ pūrvameva bhaviṣyati ॥5-154-7॥
The armies, prepared and standing firm, advanced. Your battle with the grandfather is destined to happen soon.
tasmātsaptasu senāsu praṇetṝnmama paśyata ॥5-154-7॥
Therefore, behold my leaders among the seven armies.
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vasudeva said:
yathārhati bhavānvaktumasmin kāla upasthite। tathedamarthavadvākyamuktaṃ te bharatarṣabha ॥5-154-8॥
O best of the Bharatas, as it is appropriate for you to speak at this present time, you have spoken this meaningful sentence.
rocate me mahābāho kriyatāṃ yadanantaram। nāyakāstava senāyāmabhiṣicyantu sapta vai ॥5-154-9॥
I am pleased, O mighty-armed one, let it be done immediately. Let the seven leaders in your army be appointed indeed.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
tato drupadamānāyya virāṭaṃ śinipuṅgavam। dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pāñcālyaṃ dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca pārthivam ॥ śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca pāñcālyaṃ sahadevaṃ ca māgadham ॥5-154-10॥
Then, they brought Drupada, Virata, the best of the Shinis, Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala prince, Dhrishtaketu, the prince, Shikhandin, the Panchala prince, Sahadeva, and the Magadha prince to the battlefield.
etān sapta maheṣvāsān vīrān yuddhābhinandinaḥ। senāpraṇetṝn vidhivad abhyaṣiñcad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥5-154-11॥
Yudhishthira ceremonially appointed these seven mighty archers, who were heroes rejoicing in battle, as commanders of the army in accordance with the prescribed rituals.
sarvasenāpatiṃ cātra dhṛṣṭadyumnamupādiśat। droṇāntahetorutpanno ya iddhāñjātavedasaḥ ॥5-154-12॥
Here, Dhṛṣṭadyumna was appointed as the commander of all armies, as he was born to bring about the end of Droṇa, having been kindled by the fire god.
sarveṣāmeva teṣāṃ tu samastānāṃ mahātmanām। senāpatipatiṃ cakre guḍākeśaṃ dhanañjayam ॥5-154-13॥
Among all the great souls, Guḍākeśa, also known as Dhanañjaya, was appointed as the commander of the army.
arjunasya api netā ca saṃyantā caiva vājinām। saṅkarṣaṇānujaḥ śrīmān mahābuddhir janārdanaḥ ॥5-154-14॥
Janardana, the glorious and wise brother of Sankarshana, is also the leader and charioteer of Arjuna's horses.
taddṛṣṭvopasthitaṃ yuddhaṃ samāsannaṃ mahātyayam। prāviśadbhavanaṃ rājñaḥ pāṇḍavasya halāyudhaḥ ॥5-154-15॥
Upon witnessing the impending battle and the great danger it posed, Halayudha entered the palace of the Pandava king.
sahākrūraprabhṛtibhirgadasāmbolmukādibhiḥ। raukmiṇeyāhukasutaaiścārudeṣṇapurogamaiḥ ॥5-154-16॥
Accompanied by Akrura and others, including Gada, Samba, and Ulmuka, along with the sons of Rukmini and Ahuka, led by Charudeshna.
vṛṣṇimukhyairabhigatairvyāghrairiva balotkaṭaiḥ। abhigupto mahābāhurmarudbhiriva vāsavaḥ ॥5-154-17॥
The mighty-armed hero was protected by the chief warriors of the Vrishnis, who approached fiercely like tigers, just as Indra is protected by the Maruts.
nīlakauśeyavasanaḥ kailāsaśikharopamaḥ। siṃhakhelagatiḥ śrīmānmadaraktāntalocanaḥ ॥5-154-18॥
He is dressed in blue silk, resembling the peak of Mount Kailasa, moves with the majestic gait of a playful lion, and is glorious with eyes reddened at the edges due to intoxication.
taṃ dṛṣṭvā dharmarājaśca keśavaśca mahādyutiḥ। udatiṣṭhattadā pārtho bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ ॥5-154-19॥
Upon seeing him, the illustrious Dharmaraja and Keshava rose, followed by Partha, the mighty Vrikodara.
gāṇḍīvadhanvā ye cānye rājānastatra kecana। pūjayāṃ cakrurabhyetya te sma sarve halāyudham ॥5-154-20॥
Arjuna and some other kings who were present there approached and worshipped Balarama.
tatastaṃ pāṇḍavo rājā kare pasparśa pāṇinā। vāsudevapurogāstu sarva evābhyavādayan ॥5-154-21॥
Then the Pāṇḍava king touched him with his hand. However, all those led by Vāsudeva greeted him respectfully.
virāṭadrupadau vṛddhāvabhivādya halāyudhaḥ। yudhiṣṭhireṇa sahita upāviśadariṃdamaḥ ॥5-154-22॥
Halayudha, after saluting the elders Virata and Drupada, sat down with Yudhishthira, the subduer of enemies.
tatasteṣūpaviṣṭeṣu pārthiveṣu samantataḥ। vāsudevamabhiprekṣya rauhiṇeyo'bhyabhāṣata ॥5-154-23॥
Then, when all the kings were seated around, the son of Rohini, looking at Vasudeva, spoke.
bhavitāyaṃ mahāraudro dāruṇaḥ puruṣakṣayaḥ। diṣṭametaddhruvaṃ manye na śakyamativartitum ॥5-154-24॥
This fierce and terrible destruction of men is destined to happen; I believe it is certain and cannot be averted.
asmādyuddhātsamuttīrṇānapi vaḥ sasuhṛjjanān। arogānakṣatairdehaiḥ paśyeyamiti me matiḥ ॥5-154-25॥
My thought is that I may see you and your friends emerge from this battle unharmed and with intact bodies.
sametaṃ pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ kālapakvamasanśayam। vimardaḥ sumahānbhāvī māṃsaśoṇitakardamaḥ ॥5-154-26॥
A great conflict involving the earthly warrior class, matured over time, is inevitable, resulting in a mire of flesh and blood.
ukto mayā vāsudevaḥ punaḥ punarupahvare। sambandhiṣu samāṃ vṛttiṃ vartasva madhusūdana ॥5-154-27॥
I have repeatedly addressed Vasudeva in the assembly. O Madhusudana, maintain impartial conduct among your relatives.
pāṇḍavā hi yathāsmākaṃ tathā duryodhano nṛpaḥ। tasyāpi kriyatāṃ yuktyā saparyeti punaḥ punaḥ ॥5-154-28॥
The Pandavas, like our king Duryodhana, should also be honored repeatedly with strategy.
tacca me nākarodvākyaṃ tvadarthe madhusūdanaḥ। niviṣṭaḥ sarvabhāvena dhanañjayamavekṣya ca ॥5-154-29॥
Madhusudana, being fully aware and composed, did not convey my message to you after observing Dhananjaya.
dhruvo jayaḥ pāṇḍavānām iti me niścitā matiḥ। tathā hy abhiniveśo'yaṃ vāsudevasya bhārata ॥5-154-30॥
The victory of the Pandavas is certain, this is my firm belief. This is also the conviction of Vasudeva, O Bharata.
na cāham utsahe kṛṣṇamṛte lokam udīkṣitum। tato'ham anuvartāmi keśavasya cikīrṣitam ॥5-154-31॥
I cannot bear to see the world without Krishna. Hence, I follow Keshava's desire.
ubhau śiṣyau hi me vīrau gadāyuddhaviśāradau। tulyasneho'smyato bhīme tathā duryodhane nṛpe ॥5-154-32॥
Both of my disciples are valiant and skilled in mace combat. I hold equal affection for both Bhima and King Duryodhana.
tasmādyāsyāmi tīrthāni sarasvatyā niṣevitum। na hi śakṣyāmi kauravyānnaśyamānānupekṣitum ॥5-154-33॥
Therefore, I will visit the sacred places along the Sarasvati river, as I cannot bear to see the Kauravas perishing.
evamuktvā mahābāhuranujñātaśca pāṇḍavaiḥ। tīrthayātrāṃ yayau rāmo nivartya madhusūdanam ॥5-154-34॥
After speaking thus, the mighty-armed Rama, with the permission of the Pandavas, embarked on a pilgrimage after sending back Madhusudana.
