07.010
Pancharatra: Suddenly King Dhritarashtra had become a devotee of Krishna and recounts the various deeds of Krishna both as an adult and in his childhood days. Asks why foolish Duryodhana does not listen to his advice and then enquires about the war details.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
śṛṇu divyāni karmāṇi vāsudevasya sañjaya।kṛtavānyāni govindo yathā nānyaḥ pumānkvacit ॥7-10-1॥
Listen, O Sañjaya, to the divine acts of Vāsudeva, which Govinda performed in a manner that no other man ever could.
saṁvardhatā gopakule bālenaiva mahātmanā।vikhyāpitaṁ balaṁ bāhvostriṣu lokeṣu sañjaya ॥7-10-2॥
O Sañjaya, the great soul, nurtured in the cowherd family, manifested his strength in the three worlds through his arms.
uccaiḥśravastulyabalaṃ vāyuvegasamaṃ jave।jaghāna hayarājaṃ yo yamunāvanavāsinam ॥7-10-3॥
The dweller of the Yamuna forest killed the king of horses, who was as strong as Uccaiḥśravas and as swift as the wind.
dānavaṃ ghorakarmāṇaṃ gavāṃ mṛtyumivotthitam।vṛṣarūpadharaṃ bālye bhujābhyāṃ nijaghāna ha ॥7-10-4॥
In his childhood, he indeed killed the demon who took the form of a bull and was like the death of cows, known for his terrible deeds.
pralambaṁ narakaṁ jambhaṁ pīṭhaṁ cāpi mahāsuram।muruṁ cācalasaṅkāśamavadhītpuskarekṣaṇaḥ ॥7-10-5॥
The lotus-eyed Lord defeated the demons Pralamba, Naraka, Jambha, Pīṭha, and the mighty Muru, who was as formidable as a mountain.
tathā kaṃso mahātejā jarāsandhena pālitaḥ।vikrameṇaiva kṛṣṇena sagaṇaḥ śātito raṇe ॥7-10-6॥
Thus, the mighty Kaṃsa, who was protected by Jarāsandha, was ultimately slain in battle by Kṛṣṇa and his followers.
sunāmā nāma vikrāntaḥ samagrākṣauhiṇīpatiḥ। bhojarājasya madhyastho bhrātā kaṃsasya vīryavān ॥7-10-7॥
Sunama, a valiant and powerful commander of the entire army, served as a mediator for King Bhoja and was the brother of Kamsa.
baladevadvitīyena kṛṣṇenāmitraghātinā।tarasvī samare dagdhaḥ sasainyaḥ śūrasenarāṭ ॥7-10-8॥
The energetic king of Surasena, along with his army, was defeated in battle by Krishna, the brother of Balarama and slayer of enemies.
durvāsā nāma viprarṣistathā paramakopanaḥ।ārādhitaḥ sadāreṇa sa cāsmai pradadau varān ॥7-10-9॥
Durvasa, the sage known for his extreme irritability, was worshipped by a man with his wife, and he granted them boons.
tathā gāndhārarājasya sutāṃ vīraḥ svayaṃvare।nirjitya pṛthivīpālānavahatpuṣkarekṣaṇaḥ ॥7-10-10॥
In the svayamvara, the lotus-eyed hero defeated all the kings of the earth and married the daughter of the king of Gandhara.
amṛṣyamāṇā rājāno yasya jātyā hayā iva।rathe vaivāhike yuktāḥ pratodena kṛtavraṇāḥ ॥7-10-11॥
The kings, by their very nature, are intolerant like horses yoked to a marriage chariot and are wounded by the goad.
jarāsandhaṃ mahābāhumupāyena janārdanaḥ।pareṇa ghātayāmāsa pṛthagakṣauhiṇīpatim ॥7-10-12॥
Janārdana, through strategy, had the mighty-armed Jarāsandha killed by another, the leader of the army, separately.
cedirājaṁ ca vikrāntaṁ rājasenāpatiṁ balī।arghe vivadamānaṁ ca jaghāna paśuvattadā ॥7-10-13॥
The strong Chedi king and the valiant royal general were killed like animals during their dispute over the offering.
saubhaṁ daityapuraṁ svasthaṁ śālvaguptaṁ durāsadam।samudrakukṣau vikramya pātayāmāsa mādhavaḥ ॥7-10-14॥
Madhava, having ventured into the demon city of Saubha, which was well-guarded by Shalva and considered impregnable, managed to bring it down into the depths of the ocean.
aṅgān vaṅgān kaliṅgāṃś ca māgadhān kāśikosalān।vatsagargakarūṣāṃś ca puṇḍrāṃś cāpy ajayad raṇe ॥7-10-15॥
He defeated the tribes of Angas, Vangas, Kalingas, Magadhas, Kashis, Kosalas, Vatsas, Gargas, Karushas, and Pundras in battle.
āvantyāndākṣiṇātyāṃśca pārvatīyāndaśerakān।kāśmīrakānaurasakānpiśācāṃśca samandarān ॥7-10-16॥
The text lists various groups of people, including those from Avanti, the southern regions, the mountains, Dasharaka, Kashmir, Aurasa, as well as demons and sea dwellers.
kāmbojān vāṭadhānāṃś ca colān pāṇḍyāṃś ca sañjaya। trigartān mālavāṃś caiva daradāṃś ca sudurjayān ॥7-10-17॥
O Sañjaya, the Kambojas, Vāṭadhānas, Cholas, Pāṇḍyas, Trigartas, Mālavas, Daradas, and Sudurjayas are mentioned.
nānādigbhyaśca samprāptānvraātānaśvaśakānprati।jitavānpuṇḍarīkākṣo yavanāṃśca sahānugān ॥7-10-18॥
The lotus-eyed Lord conquered the groups of horse riders coming from various directions, as well as the Yavanas and their followers.
praviśya makarāvāsaṃ yādobhirabhisaṃvṛtam।jigāya varuṇaṃ yuddhe salilāntargataṃ purā ॥7-10-19॥
Once, having entered the abode of the crocodile and surrounded by aquatic creatures, he defeated Varuna in an underwater battle.
yudhi pañcajanaṃ hatvā pātālatalavāsinam।pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo divyaṃ śaṅkhamavāptavān ॥7-10-20॥
In the battle, Hṛṣīkeśa killed the demon Pañcajana, who lived in the netherworld, and obtained the divine conch named Pāñcajanya.
khāṇḍave pārthasahitastoṣayitvā hutāśanam।āgneyamastraṃ durdharṣaṃ cakraṃ lebhe mahābalaḥ ॥7-10-21॥
In the Khandava forest, the mighty one, along with Partha, pleased the fire god and obtained the invincible fiery weapon, the discus.
vainateyaṃ samāruhya trāsayitvāmarāvatīm।mahendrabhavanādvīraḥ pārijātamupānayat ॥7-10-22॥
Garuda, the mighty bird, mounted and frightened the inhabitants of Amaravati, and the hero brought back the Parijata tree from Indra's abode.
tacca marṣitavāñśakro jānaṃstasya parākramam।rājñāṃ cāpyajitaṃ kañcitkṛṣṇeneha na śuśruma ॥7-10-23॥
Indra, recognizing his valor, forgave him. It is said that no king here has remained unconquered by Krishna.
yacca tanmahadāścaryaṃ sabhāyāṃ mama sañjaya।kṛtavānpuṇḍarīkākṣaḥ kastadanya ihārhati ॥7-10-24॥
O Sanjaya, what a great wonder has the lotus-eyed one performed in the assembly! Who else here deserves such a feat?
yacca bhaktyā prapanno'hamadrākṣaṃ kṛṣṇamīśvaram।tanme suviditaṃ sarvaṃ pratyakṣamiva cāgamat ॥7-10-25॥
With devotion, I surrendered and saw Krishna, the Lord. That knowledge became clear to me, as if I had directly perceived it.
nānto vikramayuktasya buddhyā yuktasya vā punaḥ।karmaṇaḥ śakyate gantuṃ hṛṣīkeśasya sañjaya ॥7-10-26॥
O Sañjaya, there is no end to the valor and intelligence of one who is engaged in action; it is possible to reach Hṛṣīkeśa.
tathā gadaśca sāmbaśca pradyumno'tha vidūrathaḥ। āgāvaho'niruddhaśca cārudeṣṇaśca sāraṇaḥ ॥7-10-27॥
Thus, Gada, Sāmba, Pradyumna, Vidūratha, Āgāvaha, Aniruddha, Cārudeṣṇa, and Sāraṇa were present.
ulnuko niśaṭhaścaiva jhallī babhruśca vīryavān।pṛthuśca vipṛthuścaiva samīko'thārimejayaḥ ॥7-10-28॥
Ulmuka, Nishatha, Jhalli, Babhru, the powerful Prithu, Viprithu, Samika, and Arimejaya were present.
ete vai balavantaśca vṛṣṇivīrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ।kathañcitpāṇḍavānīkaṃ śrayeyuḥ samare sthitāḥ ॥7-10-29॥
These strong and striking heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan might somehow join the Pāṇḍava army standing in battle.
āhūtā vṛṣṇivīreṇa keśavena mahātmanā।tataḥ saṃśayitaṃ sarvaṃ bhavediti matirmama ॥7-10-30॥
When called by the great soul Keśava, the hero of the Vṛṣṇis, I believe that everything would then become doubtful.
nāgāyutabalo vīraḥ kailāsaśikharopamaḥ|vanamālī halī rāmas tatra yatra janārdanaḥ ॥7-10-31॥
The mighty hero, as strong as ten thousand elephants and resembling the peak of Kailasa, the forest-dweller and ploughman Rama, is present wherever Janardana is.
yamāhuḥ sarvapitaraṃ vāsudevaṃ dvijātayaḥ।api vā hyeṣa pāṇḍūnāṃ yotsyate'rthāya sañjaya ॥7-10-32॥
The twice-born refer to Vasudeva as the universal father. Indeed, this one will fight for the cause of the Pandavas, O Sanjaya.
sa yadā tāta saṁnahyet pāṇḍavārthāya keśavaḥ। na tadā pratyanīkeṣu bhavitā tasya kaścana ॥7-10-33॥
O father, when Krishna prepares himself for the Pandavas, there will be no one among the opposing forces to stand against him.
yadi sma kuravaḥ sarve jayeyuḥ sarvapāṇḍavān।vārṣṇeyo'rthāya teṣāṃ vai gṛhṇīyācchastramuttamam ॥7-10-34॥
If all the Kurus were to defeat all the Pandavas, Krishna would indeed take up the best weapon for their cause.
tataḥ sarvān naravyāghro hatvā narapatīn raṇe। kauravāṁś ca mahābāhuḥ kuntyai dadyāt sa medinīm ॥7-10-35॥
Then the mighty-armed hero, having slain all the kings and the Kauravas in battle, would give the earth to Kunti.
yasya yantā hṛṣīkeśo yoddhā yasya dhanañjayaḥ।rathasya tasya kaḥ saṅkhye pratyanīko bhavedrathaḥ ॥7-10-36॥
With Hṛṣīkeśa as the charioteer and Dhanañjaya as the warrior, who can stand as an opposing chariot in the battle?
na kenacidupāyena kurūṇāṃ dṛśyate jayaḥ।tasmānme sarvamācakṣva yathā yuddhamavartata ॥7-10-37॥
"There seems to be no way for the Kurus to achieve victory. Therefore, tell me everything about how the battle unfolded."
arjunaḥ keśavasyātmā kṛṣṇo'pyātmā kirīṭinaḥ।arjune vijayo nityaṃ kṛṣṇe kīrtiśca śāśvatī ॥7-10-38॥
Arjuna is the soul of Keshava, and Krishna is also the soul of the crowned one. Victory always resides with Arjuna, and everlasting fame with Krishna.
prādhānyena hi bhūyiṣṭhamameyāḥ keśave guṇāḥ। mohādduryodhanaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ yanna vettīha mādhavam ॥7-10-39॥
Duryodhana, due to his delusion, fails to recognize the immeasurable and abundant qualities of Keśava, who is Kṛṣṇa, here as Mādhava.
mohito daivayogena mṛtyupāśapuraskṛtaḥ।na veda kṛṣṇaṃ dāśārhamarjunaṃ caiva pāṇḍavam ॥7-10-40॥
Under the influence of divine will and bound by the noose of death, he fails to recognize Krishna, the descendant of Dasharha, as well as Arjuna and the Pandava.
pūrvadevau mahātmānau naranārāyaṇāvubhau।ekātmānau dvidhābhūtau dṛśyete mānavairbhavi ॥7-10-41॥
The great souls, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, who were once the former gods, are perceived by humans on earth as two distinct entities, though they are one in essence.
manasāpi hi durdharṣau senāmetāṃ yaśasvinau।nāśayetām ihecchantau mānuṣatvāttu necchataḥ ॥7-10-42॥
Even in thought, the invincible and glorious ones could destroy this army here if they wished, but due to their human nature, they do not wish to do so.
yugasyeva viparyāso lokānāmiva mohanam।bhīṣmasya ca vadhastāta droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ ॥7-10-43॥
O father, it is like the reversal of the age and the delusion of the people, the killing of the great souls Bhishma and Drona.
na hyeva brahmacaryeṇa na vedādhyayanena ca।na kriyābhirna śastreṇa mṛtyoḥ kaścidvimucyate ॥7-10-44॥
Indeed, no one is liberated from death by celibacy, study of the Vedas, rituals, or weapons.
lokasambhāvitau vīrau kṛtāstrau yuddhadurmadau।bhīṣmadroṇau hatau śrutvā kiṃ nu jīvāmi sañjaya ॥7-10-45॥
Sanjaya, having heard that the revered heroes Bhishma and Drona, who were honored by the world and skilled in weapons, have been slain, how can I continue to live?
yāṃ tāṃ śriyam asūyāmaḥ purā yātāṃ yudhiṣṭhire। adya tām anujānīmo bhīṣmadroṇavadena ca ॥7-10-46॥
The prosperity that we once envied in Yudhishthira, which had departed, today we accept due to the fall of Bhishma and Drona.
tathā ca matkṛte prāptaḥ kurūṇāmeṣa saṅkṣayaḥ।pakvānāṃ hi vadhe sūta vajrāyante tṛṇānyapi ॥7-10-47॥
Thus, for my sake, this destruction of the Kurus has come about. Indeed, O charioteer, even the most insignificant things become powerful in the killing of the ripe.
ananyamidamaiśvaryaṃ loke prāpto yudhiṣṭhiraḥ।yasya kopānmaheṣvāsau bhīṣmadroṇau nipātitau ॥7-10-48॥
Yudhishthira attained unmatched sovereignty in the world, and it was by his wrath that the great warriors Bhishma and Drona were defeated.
prāptaḥ prakṛtito dharmo nādharmo mānavānprati।krūraḥ sarvavināśāya kālaḥ samativartate ॥7-10-49॥
Righteousness is naturally attained, not unrighteousness towards humans. Cruel time surpasses everything, leading to total destruction.
anyathā cintitā hyarthā naraistāta manasvibhiḥ।anyathaiva hi gacchanti daivāditi matirmama ॥7-10-50॥
Dear, the purposes thought by wise men often turn out differently due to fate; this is my belief.
tasmādaparihārye'rthe samprāpte kṛcchra uttame।apāraṇīye duścintye yathābhūtaṃ pracakṣva me ॥7-10-51॥
Therefore, in this inevitable and worrisome situation that has come upon us, tell me exactly as it is, despite the great difficulty.
