05.156
Core: Narration of war by Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra starts.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya spoke:
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु कुरुक्षेत्रे द्विजर्षभ। किमकुर्वन्त कुरवः कालेनाभिप्रचोदिताः ॥५-१५६-१॥
O best of the twice-born, what actions did the Kauravas take in the arranged armies at Kurukshetra, driven by the force of time?
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु यत्तेषु भरतर्षभ। धृतराष्ट्रो महाराज सञ्जयं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥५-१५६-२॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, Dhritarashtra, the great king, spoke to Sanjaya about the arranged armies and those who are attentive.
एहि सञ्जय मे सर्वमाचक्ष्वानवशेषतः। सेनानिवेशे यद्वृत्तं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः ॥५-१५६-३॥
Come, Sanjaya, tell me everything in detail about what transpired in the battle formations of the Kuru and Pandava armies.
दिष्टमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषं चाप्यनर्थकम्। यदहं जानमानोऽपि युद्धदोषान्क्षयोदयान् ॥५-१५६-४॥
I believe that fate is ultimately supreme and human effort is futile, as I am aware of the consequences of war, both its destructive and beneficial outcomes.
तथापि निकृतिप्रज्ञं पुत्रं दुर्द्यूतदेविनम्। न शक्नोमि नियन्तुं वा कर्तुं वा हितमात्मनः ॥५-१५६-५॥
Still, I find myself unable to control or benefit my deceitful son who is addicted to gambling.
भवत्येव हि मे सूत बुद्धिर्दोषानुदर्शिनी। दुर्योधनं समासाद्य पुनः सा परिवर्तते ॥५-१५६-६॥
O charioteer, my intellect, which perceives faults, indeed becomes so; but upon approaching Duryodhana, it changes again.
एवं गते वै यद्भावि तद्भविष्यति सञ्जय। क्षत्रधर्मः किल रणे तनुत्यागोऽभिपूजितः ॥५-१५६-७॥
Thus, O Sanjaya, what is destined will happen. The duty of a warrior is indeed honored in battle through the sacrifice of one's body.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya spoke:
त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो महाराज यथार्हसि। न तु दुर्योधने दोषमिममासक्तुमर्हसि ॥ शृणुष्वानवशेषेण वदतो मम पार्थिव ॥५-१५६-८॥
Your question is appropriate, O great king, as you deserve. However, you should not blame Duryodhana for this fault. Listen carefully to what I have to say, O prince.
य आत्मनो दुश्चरितादशुभं प्राप्नुयान्नरः। एनसा न स दैवं वा कालं वा गन्तुमर्हति ॥५-१५६-९॥
A man who suffers misfortune due to his own misdeeds does not deserve to blame fate or time for his condition.
महाराज मनुष्येषु निन्द्यं यः सर्वमाचरेत्। स वध्यः सर्वलोकस्य निन्दितानि समाचरन् ॥५-१५६-१०॥
O king, a man who engages in all blameworthy acts among people deserves to be punished, as he performs acts condemned by the entire world.
निकारा मनुजश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवैस्त्वत्प्रतीक्षया। अनुभूताः सहामात्यैर्निकृतैरधिदेवने ॥५-१५६-११॥
O best of men, the Pandavas, while waiting for you, faced obstacles and deceptions in the divine assembly along with their ministers.
हयानां च गजानां च राज्ञां चामिततेजसाम्। वैशसं समरे वृत्तं यत्तन्मे शृणु सर्वशः ॥५-१५६-१२॥
Listen to the complete account from me of the destruction that befell the horses, elephants, and kings of immeasurable splendor in the battle.
स्थिरो भूत्वा महाराज सर्वलोकक्षयोदयम्। यथाभूतं महायुद्धे श्रुत्वा मा विमना भव ॥५-१५६-१३॥
O great king, remain steady and do not lose heart after hearing about the destruction and emergence of all worlds as it occurred in the great war.
न ह्येव कर्ता पुरुषः कर्मणोः शुभपापयोः। अस्वतन्त्रो हि पुरुषः कार्यते दारुयन्त्रवत् ॥५-१५६-१४॥
Man is not truly the doer of his actions, whether they are good or bad. He is not independent, as he is compelled to act like a puppet controlled by strings.
केचिदीश्वरनिर्दिष्टाः केचिदेव यदृच्छया। पूर्वकर्मभिरप्यन्ये त्रैधमेतद्विकृष्यते ॥५-१५६-१५॥
Some are guided by divine will, some by mere chance, and others by their past deeds; thus, this unfolds in three distinct manners.
