05.156
Core: Narration of war by Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra starts.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya spoke:
tathā vyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu kurukṣetre dvijarṣabhaḥ। kimakurvanta kuravaḥ kālenābhipracoditāḥ ॥5-156-1॥
O best of the twice-born, what actions did the Kauravas take in the arranged armies at Kurukshetra, driven by the force of time?
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
tathā vyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu yatteṣu bharatarṣabha। dhṛtarāṣṭro mahārāja sañjayaṃ vākyamabravīt ॥5-156-2॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, Dhritarashtra, the great king, spoke to Sanjaya about the arranged armies and those who are attentive.
ehi sañjaya me sarvamācakṣvānavaśeṣataḥ। senāniveśe yadvṛttaṃ kurupāṇḍavasenayoḥ ॥5-156-3॥
Come, Sanjaya, tell me everything in detail about what transpired in the battle formations of the Kuru and Pandava armies.
diṣṭameva paraṃ manye pauruṣaṃ cāpyanarthakam। yadahaṃ jānamāno'pi yuddhadoṣānkṣayodayān ॥5-156-4॥
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.
tathāpi nikṛtiprajñaṃ putraṃ durdyūtadevinam। na śaknomi niyantuṃ vā kartuṃ vā hitamātmanaḥ ॥5-156-5॥
Still, I find myself unable to control or benefit my deceitful son who is addicted to gambling.
bhavatyeva hi me sūta buddhirdoṣānudarśinī। duryodhanaṃ samāsādya punaḥ sā parivartate ॥5-156-6॥
O charioteer, my intellect, which perceives faults, indeed becomes so; but upon approaching Duryodhana, it changes again.
evaṃ gate vai yadbhāvi tadbhaviṣyati sañjaya। kṣatradharmaḥ kila raṇe tanutyāgo'bhipūjitaḥ ॥5-156-7॥
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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya spoke:
tvadyukto'yamanupraśno mahārāja yathārhasi। na tu duryodhane doṣamimamāsaktumarhasi ॥ śṛṇuṣvānaśeṣeṇa vadato mama pārthiva ॥5-156-8॥
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.
ya ātmanaḥ duścaritādaśubhaṃ prāpnuyānnaraḥ। enasā na sa daivaṃ vā kālaṃ vā gantumarhati ॥5-156-9॥
A man who suffers misfortune due to his own misdeeds does not deserve to blame fate or time for his condition.
mahārāja manuṣyeṣu nindyaṃ yaḥ sarvamācaret। sa vadhyaḥ sarvalokasya ninditāni samācaran ॥5-156-10॥
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.
nikārā manujaśreṣṭha pāṇḍavaistvatpratīkṣayā। anubhūtāḥ sahāmātyairnikṛtairadhidevane ॥5-156-11॥
O best of men, the Pandavas, while waiting for you, faced obstacles and deceptions in the divine assembly along with their ministers.
hayānāṃ ca gajānāṃ ca rājñāṃ cāmitatejasām। vaiśasaṃ samare vṛttaṃ yattanme śṛṇu sarvaśaḥ ॥5-156-12॥
Listen to the complete account from me of the destruction that befell the horses, elephants, and kings of immeasurable splendor in the battle.
sthiro bhūtvā mahārāja sarvalokakṣayodayam। yathābhūtaṃ mahāyuddhe śrutvā mā vimanā bhava ॥5-156-13॥
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.
na hyeva kartā puruṣaḥ karmaṇoḥ śubhapāpayoḥ। asvatantro hi puruṣaḥ kāryate dāruyantravat ॥5-156-14॥
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.
kecid īśvara nirdiṣṭāḥ kecid eva yadṛcchayā। pūrvakarmabhir apy anye traidham etad vikṛṣyate ॥5-156-15॥
Some are guided by divine will, some by mere chance, and others by their past deeds; thus, this unfolds in three distinct manners.
