06.093
Core and Pancharatra: Advised by Karna, Duryodhana goes to Bhishma's camp and requests him to step down, so that Karna can takepart in the war.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tato duryodhano rājā śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ। duḥśāsanaśca putraste sūtaputraśca durjayaḥ ॥6-93-1॥
Then King Duryodhana, along with Shakuni, the son of Subala, Duhshasana, your son, and Durjaya, the son of a charioteer, were present.
samāgamya mahārāja mantraṃ cakrūrvivakṣitam। kathaṃ pāṇḍusutā yuddhe jetavyāḥ sagaṇā iti ॥6-93-2॥
The great king and his advisors gathered to deliberate on how to defeat the Pandavas and their allies in the upcoming battle.
tato duryodhano rājā sarvāṁstānāha mantriṇaḥ। sūtaputraṁ samābhāṣya saubalaṁ ca mahābalam ॥6-93-3॥
Then King Duryodhana addressed all his ministers, speaking to Karna, the son of a charioteer, and the mighty Shakuni, son of Subala.
droṇo bhīṣmaḥ kṛpaḥ śalyaḥ saumadattiśca saṃyuge। na pārthānpratibādhante na jāne tatra kāraṇam ॥6-93-4॥
Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Shalya, and Saumadatti are unable to stop the sons of Pritha in battle. I do not understand the reason for this.
avadhyamānāste cāpi kṣapayanti balaṃ mama। so'smi kṣīṇabalaḥ karṇa kṣīṇaśastraśca saṃyuge ॥6-93-5॥
"Being attacked, they are also destroying my strength. I am now weakened in strength and depleted of weapons, Karna, in this battle."
nikṛtaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ śūrairavadhyairdaivatairapi। so'haṃ saṃśayamāpannaḥ prakariṣye kathaṃ raṇam ॥6-93-6॥
Deceived by the Pandavas and the invincible heroes, even the gods, I find myself in doubt; how can I engage in battle?
tamabravīn mahārāja sūtaputro narādhipam। mā śuco bharataśreṣṭha prakariṣye priyaṃ tava ॥6-93-7॥
The son of a charioteer addressed the king, reassuring him not to worry, as he would fulfill what was dear to him.
bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavastūrṇamapayātu mahāraṇāt। nivṛtte yudhi gāṅgeye nyastaśastre ca bhārata ॥6-93-8॥
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, should quickly withdraw from the great battle. Once the battle has ended and the son of Ganga has laid down his arms, O Bharata.
ahaṁ pārthān haniṣyāmi sanitān sarvasomakaiḥ। paśyato yudhi bhīṣmasya śape satyena te nṛpa ॥6-93-9॥
I swear by truth, O king, that I will kill the sons of Pritha along with all the Somakas while Bhishma watches in battle.
pāṇḍaveṣu dayāṃ rājansadā bhīṣmaḥ karoti vai। aśaktaśca raṇe bhīṣmo jetumetānmahārathān ॥6-93-10॥
O king, Bhishma always shows compassion towards the Pandavas. However, he is unable to defeat these great warriors in battle.
abhimānī raṇe bhīṣmo nityaṃ cāpi raṇapriyaḥ। sa kathaṃ pāṇḍavānyuddhe jeṣyate tāta saṅgatān ॥6-93-11॥
The proud Bhishma, who is always fond of battle, how will he manage to defeat the Pandavas who are assembled for battle, O father?
sa tvaṃ śīghramito gatvā bhīṣmasya śibiraṃ prati। anumānya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ śastraṃ nyāsaya bhārata ॥6-93-12॥
"O Bharata, quickly go from here to Bhishma's camp, pay your respects to him in battle, and lay down your weapon."
nyastaśastre tato bhīṣme nihatānpaśya pāṇḍavān। mayaikena raṇe rājansasuhṛdgaṇabāndhavān ॥6-93-13॥
Then, O king, behold the Pandavas, who have laid down their weapons, slain by me alone in battle, along with their friends and relatives.
evamuktastu karṇena putro duryodhanastava। abravīdbhrātaraṃ tatra duḥśāsanamidaṃ vacaḥ ॥6-93-14॥
Upon being addressed by Karna, your son Duryodhana spoke these words to his brother Duhshasana at that place.
anuyātraṃ yathā sajjaṃ sarvaṃ bhavati sarvataḥ। duḥśāsana tathā kṣipraṃ sarvamevopapādaya ॥6-93-15॥
Duhshasana, make sure everything is quickly arranged as the expedition is ready everywhere.
evamuktvā tato rājan karṇam āha janeśvaraḥ। anumānya raṇe bhīṣmam ito'haṃ dvipadāṃ varam ॥6-93-16॥
After speaking thus, the lord of men addressed Karna, saying, 'O king, having saluted Bhishma in battle, I am the best among bipeds from here.'
āgamiṣye tataḥ kṣipraṃ tvatsakāśam ariṃdama। tatas tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra prakariṣyasi saṃyugam ॥6-93-17॥
I will soon come to you, O subduer of enemies. Then, O tiger among men, you will engage in the battle.
niṣpapāta tatastūrṇaṃ putrastava viśāṃ pate। sahito bhrātṛbhiḥ sarvairdevairiva śatakratuḥ ॥6-93-18॥
Then your son, O lord of the people, swiftly descended, accompanied by all his brothers, just as Indra is accompanied by the gods.
tatastaṁ nṛpaśārdūlaṁ śārdūlasamavikramam। ārohayaddhayaṁ tūrṇaṁ bhrātā duḥśāsanastadā ॥6-93-19॥
Then Duhshasana quickly helped his brother, the valiant king, mount the horse.
aṅgadī baddhamukuṭo hastābharaṇavānnṛpaḥ। dhārtarāṣṭro mahārāja vibabhau sa mahendravat ॥6-93-20॥
The great king, son of Dhritarashtra, adorned with armlets and a crown, shone with ornaments on his hands, resembling the splendor of Indra.
bhāṇḍīpuṣpanikāśena tapanīyanibhena ca। anuliptaḥ parārdhyena candanena sugandhinā ॥6-93-21॥
He was adorned with fragrant sandalwood paste, appearing like Bhāṇḍī flowers and shining like gold.
arajombarasaṁvītaḥ siṁhakhelagatirnṛpaḥ। śuśubhe vimalārciṣmañśaradīva divākaraḥ ॥6-93-22॥
The king, moving with the grace of a lion and enveloped by the clear sky, shone brilliantly like the sun in the autumn season.
taṃ prayāntaṃ naravyāghraṃ bhīṣmasya śibiraṃ prati। anujagmurmaheṣvāsāḥ sarvalokasya dhanvinaḥ ॥ bhrātaraśca maheṣvāsāstridaśā iva vāsavam ॥6-93-23॥
As he departed towards Bhishma's camp, the tiger among men was followed by the great archers, the bowmen of the entire world. His brothers, who were also great archers, followed like the gods follow Indra.
hayānanye samāruhya gajānanye ca bhārata। rathairanye naraśreṣṭhāḥ parivavruḥ samantataḥ ॥6-93-24॥
O Bharata, some mounted horses, others elephants, and others surrounded on all sides with chariots, being the best among men.
āttaśastrāśca suhṛdo rakṣaṇārthaṃ mahīpateḥ। prādurbabhūvuḥ sahitāḥ śakrasyevamārā divi ॥6-93-25॥
The king's friends, armed and ready, appeared together to protect him, just like Indra's immortals in heaven.
sampūjyamānaḥ kurubhiḥ kauravāṇāṃ mahārathaḥ। prayayau sadanaṃ rājangāṅgeyasya yaśasvinaḥ ॥ anvīyamānaḥ sahitaiḥ sodaraiḥ sarvato nṛpaḥ ॥6-93-26॥
The great chariot warrior of the Kauravas, honored by the Kuru, departed to the abode of the glorious son of Ganga, followed by his brothers from all sides, O king.
dakṣiṇaṃ dakṣiṇaḥ kāle sambhṛtya svabhujaṃ tadā। hastihastopamaṃ śaikṣaṃ sarvaśatrunibarhaṇam ॥6-93-27॥
At the right moment, he gathered his strength, his arm trained and powerful like an elephant's trunk, ready to vanquish all foes.
pragṛhṇannañjalīn nṝṇām udyatān sarvatodiśam। śuśrāva madhurā vāco nānādeśanivāsinām ॥6-93-28॥
He accepted the offerings from all directions and heard the sweet voices of people from various regions.
saṁstūyamānaḥ sūtaiśca māgadhaiśca mahāyaśāḥ। pūjayānaśca tānsarvānsarvalokeśvareśvaraḥ ॥6-93-29॥
The greatly renowned lord of all worlds was being praised by charioteers and bards, and was worshipped by all.
pradīpaiḥ kāñcanaiḥ tatra gandhatailāvasecanaiḥ। parivavruḥ mahātmānaṃ prajvaladbhiḥ samantataḥ ॥6-93-30॥
They surrounded the great soul with golden lamps and fragrant oil offerings, illuminating him from all sides.
sa taiḥ parivṛto rājā pradīpaiḥ kāñcanaiḥ śubhaiḥ। śuśubhe candramā yukto dīptairiva mahāgrahaiḥ ॥6-93-31॥
The king, surrounded by those auspicious golden lamps, shone like the moon accompanied by brilliant great planets.
kañcukoṣṇīṣiṇastatra vetrajharjharapāṇayaḥ। protsārayantaḥ śanakaistaṃ janaṃ sarvatodiśam ॥6-93-32॥
There, the armored and turbaned men, holding canes and whisks, were gently dispersing the crowd from all sides.
samprāpya tu tato rājā bhīṣmasya sadanaṃ śubham। avatīrya hayāccāpi bhīṣmaṃ prāpya janeśvaraḥ ॥6-93-33॥
The king, after reaching Bhishma's auspicious abode and descending from his horse, approached Bhishma, the lord of men.
abhivādya tato bhīṣmaṃ niṣaṇṇaḥ paramāsane। kāñcane sarvatobhadre spardhyāstaraṇasaṃvṛte ॥ uvāca prāñjalirbhīṣmaṃ bāṣpakaṇṭho'śrulocanaḥ ॥6-93-34॥
After saluting Bhishma, he sat on the supreme golden seat, which was auspicious and splendidly covered, and with folded hands, a choked throat, and tearful eyes, he spoke to Bhishma.
tvāṃ vayaṃ samupāśritya saṃyuge śatrusūdana। utsahema raṇe jetuṃ sendrānapi surāsurān ॥6-93-35॥
By relying on you, O destroyer of foes, we are confident in our ability to defeat even the gods and demons, including Indra, in battle.
kimu pāṇḍusutānvīrānsasuhṛdgaṇabāndhavān। tasmādarhasi gāṅgeya kṛpāṃ kartuṃ mayi prabho ॥ jahi pāṇḍusutānvīrānmahendra iva dānavān ॥6-93-36॥
What indeed are the sons of Pandu, the heroes, with their friends, groups, and relatives? Therefore, O son of Ganga, you should show mercy on me, O lord. Conquer the sons of Pandu, the heroes, just as the great Indra conquered the demons.
pūrvamuktaṃ mahābāho nihaniṣyāmi somakān। pāñcālānpāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ karūṣāṃśceti bhārata ॥6-93-37॥
O mighty-armed one, it was previously declared that I will destroy the Somakas, the Panchalas, along with the Pandavas and the Karushas, thus, O Bharata.
tadvacaḥ satyamevāstu jahi pārthānsamāgatān। somakāṃśca maheṣvāsānsatyavāgbhava bhārata ॥6-93-38॥
"Let your words be true; defeat the gathered sons of Pritha and the Somakas, the great archers; be a speaker of truth, O Bharata."
dayayā yadi vā rājan dveṣyabhāvān mama prabho। mandabhāgyatayā vāpi mama rakṣasi pāṇḍavān ॥6-93-39॥
O king, whether it is out of compassion, enmity, or my misfortune, my lord, you protect the Pandavas.
anujānīhi samare karṇamāhavaśobhinam। sa jeṣyati raṇe pārthānsasuḥṛdgaṇabāndhavān ॥6-93-40॥
Allow Karna, who shines in battle, to engage in the fight. He will defeat the sons of Pritha along with their friends and relatives in the battle.
etāvad uktvā nṛpatiḥ putro duryodhanas tava। novāca vacanaṃ kiñcid bhīṣmaṃ bhīma-parākramam ॥6-93-41॥
After saying this, your son, King Duryodhana, remained silent and did not address Bhishma, who was known for his formidable strength.
