05.160
Pancharatra-core: Pandavas’s response and the final preparations, night before the war.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
दुर्योधनस्य तद्वाक्यं निशम्य भरतर्षभः। नेत्राभ्यामतिताम्राभ्यां कैतव्यं समुदैक्षत ॥५-१६०-१॥
Upon hearing Duryodhana's words, the distinguished Bharata turned his very red eyes towards Kaitavya.
स केशवमभिप्रेक्ष्य गुडाकेशो महायशाः। अभ्यभाषत कैतव्यं प्रगृह्य विपुलं भुजम् ॥५-१६०-२॥
Gudakesha, the greatly renowned, looked at Keshava and spoke to Kaitavya, holding his large arm.
स्ववीर्यं यः समाश्रित्य समाह्वयति वै परान्। अभीतः पूरयञ्शक्तिं स वै पुरुष उच्यते ॥५-१६०-३॥
A man is one who, relying on his own strength, fearlessly challenges others and fills himself with power.
परवीर्यं समाश्रित्य यः समाह्वयते परान्। क्षत्रबन्धुरशक्तत्वाल्लोके स पुरुषाधमः ॥५-१६०-४॥
He who relies on the strength of others to challenge them is considered the lowest among men, a mere kshatriya in name, due to his incapability.
स त्वं परेषां वीर्येण मन्यसे वीर्यमात्मनः। स्वयं कापुरुषो मूढः परांश्च क्षेप्तुमिच्छसि ॥५-१६०-५॥
You mistakenly believe that the strength of others is your own. Being a coward and foolish, you desire to blame others.
यस्त्वं वृद्धं सर्वराज्ञां हितबुद्धिं जितेन्द्रियम्। मरणाय महाबुद्धिं दीक्षयित्वा विकत्थसे ॥५-१६०-६॥
You, who are the elder among all kings, possessing wisdom and beneficial intellect, having mastered your senses, initiated into great wisdom for the purpose of death, now you boast.
भावस्ते विदितोऽस्माभिर्दुर्बुद्धे कुलपांसन। न हनिष्यन्ति गङ्गेयं पाण्डवा घृणयेति च ॥५-१६०-७॥
Your intentions are clear to us, you evil-minded disgrace to the family. The Pandavas will not kill the son of Ganga out of compassion.
यस्य वीर्यं समाश्रित्य धार्तराष्ट्र विकत्थसे। हन्तास्मि प्रथमं भीष्मं मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम् ॥५-१६०-८॥
Relying on the strength of whom you boast, O son of Dhritarashtra, I will first slay Bhishma in the sight of all the archers.
कैतव्य गत्वा भरतान्समेत्य; सुयोधनं धार्तराष्ट्रं ब्रवीहि। तथेत्याह अर्जुनः सव्यसाची; निशाव्यपाये भविता विमर्दः ॥५-१६०-९॥
O Kaitavya, go and meet the Bharatas and speak to Suyodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra. Arjuna, the ambidextrous one, said this; there will be a conflict at the end of the night.
यद्वोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यमदीनसत्त्वो; मध्ये कुरूणां हर्षयन्सत्यसन्धः। अहं हन्ता पाण्डवानामनीकं; शाल्वेयकांश्चेति ममैष भारः ॥५-१६०-१०॥
In the midst of the Kurus, your undaunted and truthful one spoke words that gladdened them, declaring that he bears the burden of being the destroyer of the Pandavas' army and the Shalveyakas.
हन्यामहं द्रोणमृते हि लोकं; न ते भयं विद्यते पाण्डवेभ्यः। ततो हि ते लब्धतमं च राज्यं; क्षयं गताः पाण्डवाश्चेति भावः ॥५-१६०-११॥
I would kill Droṇa, except indeed the world; you have no fear from the Pāṇḍavas. Then indeed your kingdom is most secure; the Pāṇḍavas have been destroyed, thus is the meaning.
स दर्पपूर्णो न समीक्षसे त्व; मनर्थमात्मन्यपि वर्तमानम्। तस्मादहं ते प्रथमं समूहे; हन्ता समक्षं कुरुवृद्धमेव ॥५-१६०-१२॥
You, full of pride, fail to see the disaster that exists within you. Therefore, I will be your first adversary in the assembly, right in front of the elder of the Kurus.
सूर्योदये युक्तसेनः प्रतीक्ष्य; ध्वजी रथी रक्ष च सत्यसन्धम्। अहं हि वः पश्यतां द्वीपमेनं; रथाद्भीष्मं पातयितास्मि बाणैः ॥५-१६०-१३॥
At sunrise, Yuktasena, waiting with a flag, as a charioteer, protect the truthful. Indeed, I will make Bhishma fall from the chariot with arrows, as you all see this island.
श्वोभूते कत्थनावाक्यं विज्ञास्यति सुयोधनः। अर्दितं शरजालेन मया दृष्ट्वा पितामहम् ॥५-१६०-१४॥
Tomorrow, Suyodhana will realize the emptiness of his boastful words when he sees his grandfather struck down by my shower of arrows.
यदुक्तश्च सभामध्ये पुरुषो ह्रस्वदर्शनः। क्रुद्धेन भीमसेनेन भ्राता दुःशासनस्तव ॥५-१६०-१५॥
In the assembly, your brother Duhshasana, who is short-sighted, was addressed by the angry Bhimasena.
अधर्मज्ञो नित्यवैरी पापबुद्धिर्नृशंसकृत्। सत्यां प्रतिज्ञां नचिराद्रक्ष्यसे तां सुयोधन ॥५-१६०-१६॥
O Suyodhana, you, who are known for unrighteousness, eternal enmity, and wickedness, will soon uphold that true promise.
अभिमानस्य दर्पस्य क्रोधपारुष्ययोस्तथा। नैष्ठुर्यस्यावलेपस्य आत्मसम्भावनस्य च ॥५-१६०-१७॥
This verse describes the negative qualities such as pride, arrogance, anger, harshness, cruelty, conceit, and self-conceit.
नृशंसतायास्तैक्ष्ण्यस्य धर्मविद्वेषणस्य च। अधर्मस्यातिवादस्य वृद्धातिक्रमणस्य च ॥५-१६०-१८॥
This verse speaks about the qualities of cruelty, sharpness, hatred towards righteousness, unrighteousness, excessive speech, and transgression against the elderly.
दर्शनस्य च वक्रस्य कृत्स्नस्यापनयस्य च। द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं फलं तीव्रमचिरेण सुयोधन ॥५-१६०-१९॥
O Suyodhana, you will soon witness the intense consequences of your crooked vision and complete removal.
वासुदेवद्वितीये हि मयि क्रुद्धे नराधिप। आशा ते जीविते मूढ राज्ये वा केन हेतुना ॥५-१६०-२०॥
O King, when I, the second of Vāsudeva, am angry, what reason do you have, foolish one, to hope for life or kingdom?
शान्ते भीष्मे तथा द्रोणे सूतपुत्रे च पातिते। निराशो जीविते राज्ये पुत्रेषु च भविष्यसि ॥५-१६०-२१॥
When Bhishma, Drona, and Karna have fallen, you will find yourself hopeless in life, in your kingdom, and with your sons.
भ्रातॄणां निधनं दृष्ट्वा पुत्राणां च सुयोधन। भीमसेनेन निहतो दुष्कृतानि स्मरिष्यसि ॥५-१६०-२२॥
Upon witnessing the demise of your brothers and sons, Suyodhana, slain by Bhimasena, you will recall the wrongdoings.
न द्वितीयां प्रतिज्ञां हि प्रतिज्ञास्यति केशवः। सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहं ह्येतत्सर्वं सत्यं भविष्यति ॥५-१६०-२३॥
Keshava will not make a second promise. I assure you, this will all come true.
इत्युक्तः कैतवो राजंस्तद्वाक्यमुपधार्य च। अनुज्ञातो निववृते पुनरेव यथागतम् ॥५-१६०-२४॥
The deceiver, having been addressed thus, O king, understood the words and, having been permitted, returned the same way he had come.
उपावृत्य तु पाण्डुभ्यः कैतव्यो धृतराष्ट्रजम्। गत्वा यथोक्तं तत्सर्वमुवाच कुरुसंसदि ॥५-१६०-२५॥
Kaitavya, the son of Dhritarashtra, approached the Pandavas and conveyed everything as instructed in the Kuru assembly.
केशवार्जुनयोर्वाक्यं निशम्य भरतर्षभः। दुःशासनं च कर्णं च शकुनिं चाभ्यभाषत ॥५-१६०-२६॥
Upon hearing the words of Krishna and Arjuna, the noble Bharata addressed Duhshasana, Karna, and Shakuni.
आज्ञापयत राज्ञश्च बलं मित्रबलं तथा। यथा प्रागुदयात्सर्वा युक्ता तिष्ठत्यनीकिनी ॥५-१६०-२७॥
The king commanded both his own army and the allied forces to be ready and in position before sunrise, ensuring that the entire army was properly arranged.
ततः कर्णसमादिष्टा दूताः प्रत्वरिता रथैः। उष्ट्रवामीभिरप्यन्ये सदश्वैश्च महाजवैः ॥५-१६०-२८॥
Then, as ordered by Karna, the messengers hurriedly set out in chariots, while others used camels and fine horses, all moving with great speed.
तूर्णं परिययुः सेनां कृत्स्नां कर्णस्य शासनात्। आज्ञापयन्तो राज्ञस्तान्योगः प्रागुदयादिति ॥५-१६०-२९॥
Quickly, by Karna's order, they circled the entire army, commanding them on behalf of the king, before the rise of the sun.
