06.023
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ। māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya ॥6-23-1॥
In the field of dharma at Kurukshetra, my party and the Pandavas, eager for battle, were assembled. What did they do, O Sanjaya?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā। ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ॥6-23-2॥
Upon seeing the Pandava army arranged in a military formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher and spoke:
paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm। vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ॥6-23-3॥
Behold, O teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arranged by your wise disciple, the son of Drupada.
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi। yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ ॥6-23-4॥
Here, there are heroes who are great archers, comparable to Bhima and Arjuna in battle, including Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior.
dhṛṣṭaketuś cekitānaḥ kāśirājaś ca vīryavān। purujit kuntibhojaś ca śaibyaś ca narapuṅgavaḥ ॥6-23-5॥
Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant Kashiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya are all great warriors, the best among men.
yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān। saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ ॥6-23-6॥
Yudhāmanyu, Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra, and the sons of Draupadi are all great warriors.
asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama। nāyakā mama sainyasya sañjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te ॥6-23-7॥
"O best of the twice-born, let me tell you about the distinguished leaders of my army for your information."
bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ। aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca ॥6-23-8॥
You, along with Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta, are all victorious in battle.
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ। nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ ॥6-23-9॥
There are many other heroes who have also sacrificed their lives for my cause, all equipped with various weapons and skilled in the art of war.
aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam। paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam ॥6-23-10॥
Our forces, under the protection of Bhishma, are inadequate, whereas their forces, protected by Bhima, are adequate.
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ। bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi ॥6-23-11॥
In all strategic points, you should all be stationed according to your divisions and protect Bhishma at all costs.
tasya sañjanayan harṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ। siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān ॥6-23-12॥
The glorious elder of the Kuru dynasty, his grandfather, filled with joy, loudly blew his conch shell, producing a sound akin to a lion's roar.
tataḥ śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ। sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat ॥6-23-13॥
Then, suddenly, the conch shells, kettle drums, small drums, large drums, and cow-horns were sounded, creating a tumultuous noise.
tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau। mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ ॥6-23-14॥
Then, Madhava and Pandava, standing on the great chariot drawn by white horses, blew their divine conches.
pāñcajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ। pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṁ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ ॥6-23-15॥
Krishna blew his conch named Panchajanya, Arjuna blew his conch named Devadatta, and Bhima, known for his terrible deeds, blew his mighty conch Paundra.
anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau ॥6-23-16॥
King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conch Anantavijaya. Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conches, Sughosha and Manipushpaka, respectively.
kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ ॥6-23-17॥
Kāśya, the supreme archer, along with Śikhaṇḍī, the mighty warrior; Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa, and the invincible Sātyaki.
drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate। saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak ॥6-23-18॥
Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and Abhimanyu, the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all blew their conches individually, O lord of the earth.
sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat। nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan ॥6-23-19॥
The tumultuous sound pierced the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra and echoed through the sky and the earth.
atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrānkapidhvajaḥ। pravṛtte śastrasampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ ॥6-23-20॥
Then, as the battle commenced and the sons of Dhritarashtra were arrayed, Arjuna, whose banner bore the emblem of Hanuman, took up his bow.
hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate। senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me'cyuta ॥6-23-21॥
Then, O King, he said to Hrishikesha, "O Acyuta, place my chariot between the two armies."
yāvadetānnirīkṣe'haṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān। kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasminraṇasamudyame ॥6-23-22॥
I am observing those who are standing here, eager to fight, to see with whom I must engage in battle.
yotsyamānānavekṣe'haṁ ya ete'tra samāgatāḥ। dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ ॥6-23-23॥
I will observe those who have gathered here to fight, intending to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra in battle.
evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata। senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ॥6-23-24॥
O Bhārata, thus addressed by Guḍākeśa, Hṛṣīkeśa placed the magnificent chariot in the midst of the two armies.
bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām। uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkūrūniti ॥6-23-25॥
In front of Bhishma and Drona, and all the kings, Arjuna, the son of Pritha, was told to behold the assembled Kurus.
tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝn atha pitāmahān। ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṃs tathā ॥6-23-26॥
There, Arjuna saw his kinsmen including fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends, all standing there.
śvaśurān suhṛdaś caiva senayor ubhayor api। tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān ॥6-23-27॥
Arjuna, the son of Kunti, saw all his relatives, including fathers-in-law and friends, arrayed in both armies.
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt। dṛṣṭvemānsvajanānkṛṣṇa yuyutsūnsamavasthitān ॥6-23-28॥
Overcome with deep compassion and sorrow, he spoke: "O Krishna, seeing my own kinsmen arrayed and eager for battle, I am filled with despair."
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati। vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate ॥6-23-29॥
My limbs are collapsing, my mouth is drying up, and my body is trembling with horripilation.
gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate। na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ ॥6-23-30॥
The Gandiva bow slips from my hand, my skin burns, and I am unable to stand as my mind seems to whirl.
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava। na ca śreyo'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave ॥6-23-31॥
O Keśava, I see adverse omens, and I do not foresee any good coming from killing my own kinsmen in battle.
na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca। kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā ॥6-23-32॥
O Krishna, I do not wish for victory, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. O Govinda, of what use is the kingdom, enjoyment, or even life to us?
yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca। ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca ॥6-23-33॥
Those for whom we desired the kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures, they stand here in battle, having given up their lives and wealth.
ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ। mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ syālāḥ sambandhinastathā ॥6-23-34॥
Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives are all present.
etān na hantum icchāmi ghnato'pi madhusūdana। api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte ॥6-23-35॥
O Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill these, even if they are attacking me. What to speak of the earth, I do not desire the sovereignty of the three worlds.
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana। pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ ॥6-23-36॥
O Janardana, what joy would we find in killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? By slaying these aggressors, we would only incur sin.
tasmānnārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ dhārtarāṣṭrānsabāndhavān। svajanaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava ॥6-23-37॥
Therefore, O Madhava, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra along with our relatives. How can we be happy after killing our own people?
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ। kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam ॥6-23-38॥
Even though these people, whose minds are overpowered by greed, do not see the fault in the destruction of family and the sin in enmity with friends.
kathaṁ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum। kulakṣayakṛtaṁ doṣaṁ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana ॥6-23-39॥
O Janardana, how can we, who see the fault caused by the destruction of a family, not know to turn away from sin?
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ। dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta ॥6-23-40॥
When the family is destroyed, the eternal family traditions perish, and when these traditions are lost, the entire family is overwhelmed by irreligion.
adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ। strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ ॥6-23-41॥
O Krishna, when irreligion prevails, the women of the family become corrupted, and from the corruption of women, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, arises unwanted progeny.
saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca। patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ ॥6-23-42॥
Confusion leads to hell for both the family destroyers and the family itself; the forefathers fall because their traditional rites of food and water offerings are neglected.
doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ। utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ ॥6-23-43॥
Due to these faults of the family destroyers, which cause confusion of castes, the eternal community and family duties are destroyed.
utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana। narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma ॥6-23-44॥
O Janardana, it is said that those men whose family duties are destroyed are destined to reside in hell.
aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam। yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ ॥6-23-45॥
"Alas, how unfortunate it is that we are resolved to commit such a great sin by being ready to kill our own kinsmen out of greed for royal happiness."
yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ। dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataram bhavet ॥6-23-46॥
If the sons of Dhritarashtra, armed and ready, were to kill me in battle while I am unarmed and unresisting, it would be more fortunate for me.
evamuktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśat। visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ ॥6-23-47॥
After speaking in this manner, Arjuna sat down on the seat of the chariot in the battlefield, letting go of his bow and arrows, his mind overwhelmed with sorrow.
