07.053
Pancharatra and Core: Krishna warns of the difficulty in fulfilling his vow, but Arjuna reassures himself and others.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
pratijñāte tu pārthena sindhurājavadhe tadā। vāsudevo mahābāhurdhanañjayamabhāṣata ॥7-53-1॥
When Pārtha (Arjuna) promised to kill the king of Sindhu, Vāsudeva (Krishna), the mighty-armed, then spoke to Dhanañjaya (Arjuna).
bhrātṝṇāṃ matamājñāya tvayā vācā pratiśrutam। saindhavaṃ śvo'smi hanteti tatsāhasatamaṃ kṛtam ॥7-53-2॥
Understanding the opinion of your brothers, you pledged by word to kill Saindhava tomorrow. That was indeed a very daring act.
asaṁmantrya mayā sārdhamatibhāro'yamudyataḥ। kathaṁ nu sarvalokasya nāvahāsyā bhavemahi ॥7-53-3॥
Without consulting me, this great burden has been undertaken. How can we avoid being ridiculed by the entire world?
dhārtarāṣṭrasya śibire mayā praṇihitāścarāḥ। ta ime śīghramāgamya pravṛttiṃ vedayanti naḥ ॥7-53-4॥
In the camp of Dhritarashtra, the spies I have sent come swiftly and report the information to us.
tvayā vai sampratijñāte sindhurājavadhe tadā। siṃhanādaḥ svādritraḥ sumahāniha taiḥ śrutaḥ ॥7-53-5॥
When you indeed promised to kill the king of Sindhu, then a very great lion's roar accompanied by musical instruments was heard by them.
tena śabdena vitrastā dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ sasainḍhavāḥ। nākasmātsimhanādo'yamiti matvā vyavasthitāḥ ॥7-53-6॥
The sons of Dhritarashtra and the Sindhus, frightened by that sound, stood firm, thinking that this lion's roar is not without reason.
sumahāñśabdasampātaḥ kauravāṇāṃ mahābhuja। āsīnnāgāśvapatttīnāṃ rathaghoṣaśca bhairavaḥ ॥7-53-7॥
The mighty-armed Kauravas experienced a terrifying clash of sounds from elephants, horses, infantry, and chariots.
abhimanyuvadhaṁ śrutvā dhruvamārto dhanañjayaḥ। rātrau niryāsyati krodhāditi matvā vyavasthitāḥ ॥7-53-8॥
Upon hearing of Abhimanyu's death, Arjuna was deeply distressed and it was certain that he would go out at night driven by anger. Thus, they prepared themselves for it.
tairyatadbhiriyaṃ satyā śrutā satyavatastava। pratijñā sindhurājasya vadhe rājīvalocana ॥7-53-9॥
O lotus-eyed one, by their efforts, this truthful promise of Satyavata, your heard, regarding the killing of the king of Sindhu.
tato vimanasaḥ sarve trastāḥ kṣudramṛgā iva। āsansuyodhanāmātyāḥ sa ca rājā jayadrathaḥ ॥7-53-10॥
Then all of Suyodhana's ministers and King Jayadratha were disheartened and frightened like small animals.
athotthāya sahāmātyairdīnaḥ śibiramātmanaḥ। āyātsauvīrasindhūnāmīśvaro bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ ॥7-53-11॥
Then, the distressed lord of Sauvīra and Sindhu, accompanied by his ministers, rose and came to his camp, deeply troubled.
sa mantrakāle saṃmantrya sarvā naiḥśreyasīḥ kriyāḥ। suyodhanamidaṃ vākyamabravīdrājasaṃsadi ॥7-53-12॥
In the royal assembly, he consulted and discussed all beneficial actions and then addressed Suyodhana with these words.
māmasau putrahanteti śvo'bhiyātā dhanañjayaḥ। pratijñāto hi senāyā madhye tena vadho mama ॥7-53-13॥
Arjuna, known as the son-killer, has promised to attack me tomorrow in the midst of the army, ensuring my death.
tāṁ na devā na gandharvā nāsuroragarākṣasāḥ। utsahante'nyathā kartuṁ pratijñāṁ savyasācinaḥ ॥7-53-14॥
No divine being, celestial, demon, serpent, or ogre can change the vow made by Arjuna.
te māṃ rakṣata saṅgrāme mā vo mūrdhni dhanañjayaḥ। padaṃ kṛtvāpnu yāllakṣyaṃ tasmādatra vidhīyatām ॥7-53-15॥
"They protect me in battle; let not Arjuna take a step on your head and reach the target; therefore, let it be arranged here."
atha rakṣā na me saṅkhye kriyate kurunandana। anujānīhi māṃ rājan gamiṣyāmi gṛhān prati ॥7-53-16॥
Now, O descendant of Kuru, there is no protection for me in battle. Permit me, O king, to return home.
evamuktastvavākṣīrṣo vimanāḥ sa suyodhanaḥ। śrutvābhiśaptavantaṃ tvāṃ dhyānamevānvapadyata ॥7-53-17॥
Thus addressed, with his head bowed and disheartened, Suyodhana, upon hearing that he was cursed by you, entered into meditation.
tamārtamabhisamprekṣya rājā kila sa saindhavaḥ। mṛdu cātmahitaṃ caiva sāpekṣamidamuktavān ॥7-53-18॥
Upon seeing him distressed, the Sindhu king gently and considerately spoke for his own benefit.
nāhaṃ paśyāmi bhavatāṃ tathāvīryaṃ dhanurdharam। yo'rjunasyāstramastreṇa pratihanyānmahāhave ॥7-53-19॥
I do not see any archer among you with the strength to counter Arjuna's weapon in the great battle.
vāsudevasahāyasya gāṇḍīvaṃ dhunvato dhanuḥ। ko'rjunasya agrataḥ tiṣṭhet sākṣād api śatakratuḥ ॥7-53-20॥
Even Indra himself cannot stand before Arjuna, who wields the Gāṇḍīva bow with Vāsudeva's assistance.
maheśvaro'pi pārthena śrūyate yodhitaḥ purā। padātinā mahātejā girau himavati prabhuḥ ॥7-53-21॥
It is said that the great lord Shiva, in his splendor, once fought with Arjuna on foot in the Himalayas.
dānavānāṃ sahasrāṇi hiraṇyapuravāsinām। jaghānekarathenaiva devarājapracoditaḥ ॥7-53-22॥
Urged by the king of gods, he destroyed thousands of demons residing in Hiranyapura with just one chariot.
samāyukto hi kaunteyo vāsudevena dhīmatā। sāmarānapi lokāṃstrīnnihanyāditi me matiḥ ॥7-53-23॥
In my opinion, when united with the wise Vasudeva, the son of Kunti could even destroy the three worlds along with their enemies.
so'hamicchāmyanujñātuṃ rakṣituṃ vā mahātmanā। droṇena sahaputreṇa vīreṇa yadi manyase ॥7-53-24॥
I wish to be permitted or protected by the great soul, Drona, along with his heroic son, if you think so.
sa rājñā svayamācāryo bhṛśamākrandito'rjuna। saṁvidhānaṁ ca vihitaṁ rathāśca kila sajjitāḥ ॥7-53-25॥
The teacher himself, greatly lamented by the king, ensured that the arrangements were made and the chariots were prepared.
karṇo bhūriśravā drauṇirvṛṣasenaśca durjayaḥ। kṛpaśca madrarājaśca ṣaḍete'sya purogamāḥ ॥7-53-26॥
Karna, Bhūriśravā, Aśvatthāmā (son of Droṇa), Vṛṣasena, Durjaya, Kṛpa, and the king of Madra are the six foremost warriors leading his army.
śakaṭaḥ padmapaścārdho vyūho droṇena kalpitaḥ। padmakarṇikamadhyasthaḥ sūcīpāśe jayadrathaḥ ॥ sthāsyate rakṣito vīraiḥ sindhurāḍyuddhadurmadaiḥ ॥7-53-27॥
The cart formation, resembling a half-lotus, was strategically arranged by Drona. Jayadratha is positioned at the center of this formation, within the needle trap, and will be protected by valiant warriors, including the Sindhu king and those fierce in battle.
dhanuṣyastre ca vīrye ca prāṇe caiva tathorasi। aviṣahyatamā hyete niścitāḥ pārtha ṣaḍrathāḥ ॥ etānajitvā sagaṇānnaiva prāpyo jayadrathaḥ ॥7-53-28॥
O son of Pritha, these six chariots are most formidable in bow, weapon, strength, life, and chest. Without defeating them and their followers, Jayadratha cannot be captured.
teṣāmekaikaśo vīryaṃ ṣaṇṇāṃ tvamanucintaya। sahitā hi naravyāghrā na śakyā jetumañjasā ॥7-53-29॥
Reflect on the strength of each of the six individually. Together, these formidable warriors are not easily defeated.
bhūyaśca cintayiṣyāmi nītimātmahitāya vai। mantrajñaiḥ sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ suhṛdbhiḥ kāryasiddhaye ॥7-53-30॥
"I will once again deliberate on the strategy for my own benefit, in consultation with wise counselors, ministers, and friends to ensure the success of the task."
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said:
ṣaḍrathāndhārtarāṣṭrasya manyase yānbalādhikān। teṣāṃ vīryaṃ mamārdhena na tulyamiti lakṣaye ॥7-53-31॥
You believe that the six chariots of Dhritarashtra's sons are stronger, but I see that their strength is not even half of mine.
astramastreṇa sarveṣāmetēṣāṁ madhusūdana। mayā drakṣyasi nirbhinnaṁ jayadrathavadhaiṣiṇā ॥7-53-32॥
O Madhusudana, you will see all these weapons pierced by my desire to kill Jayadratha.
droṇasya miṣataḥ so'haṃ sagaṇasya vilapyataḥ। mūrdhānaṃ sindhurājasya pātayiṣyāmi bhūtale ॥7-53-33॥
I will make the head of the Sindhu king fall to the ground while Drona watches and laments with his followers.
yadi sādhyāśca rudrāśca vasavaśca sahāśvinaḥ। marutaśca sahendreṇa viśvedevāstathāsurāḥ ॥7-53-34॥
If the Sādhyas, Rudras, Vasus, along with the Aśvins, Maruts with Indra, Viśvedevas, and also the Asuras, are present.
pitaraḥ sahagandharvāḥ suparṇāḥ sāgarādrayaḥ। dyaurviyatpṛthivī ceyaṃ diśaśca sadigīśvarāḥ ॥7-53-35॥
The ancestors along with the Gandharvas, Suparnas, oceans, and mountains; the sky, space, this earth, and the directions along with their lords.
grāmyāraṇyāni bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca। trātāraḥ sindhurājasya bhavanti madhusūdana ॥7-53-36॥
O Madhusudana, both domestic and wild beings, whether immobile or mobile, become protectors of the ocean king.
tathāpi bāṇairnihataṃ śvo draṣṭāsi raṇe mayā। satyena te śape kṛṣṇa tathaivāyudhamālabhe ॥7-53-37॥
Nevertheless, you will see tomorrow in battle that I have killed with arrows. I swear to you by truth, O Krishna, that I will take up the weapon in the same way.
yaśca goptā maheṣvāsastasya pāpasya durmateḥ। tameva prathamaṃ droṇamabhiyaāsyāmi keśava ॥7-53-38॥
Kṛṣṇa, I will first approach Droṇa, who is the protector and great archer of the sinful and evil-minded.
tasmin dyūtam idaṃ baddhaṃ manyate sma suyodhanaḥ। tasmāt tasyaiva senāgraṃ bhittvā yāsyāmi saindhavam ॥7-53-39॥
Suyodhana indeed thinks that this is bound in that gambling. Therefore, I will pierce through his vanguard and go to Sindhu.
draṣṭāsi śvo maheṣvāsānnārācaiḥ tigmatejanaiḥ। śṛṅgāṇīva girervajrairdāryamāṇānmayā yudhi ॥7-53-40॥
Tomorrow, you will witness the great archers, armed with sharp iron arrows, being shattered by me in battle, just like the peaks of a mountain are shattered by thunderbolts.
naranāgāśvadehebhyo visraviṣyati śoṇitam। patadbhyaḥ patitebhyaśca vibhinnebhyaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-53-41॥
Blood will flow from the bodies of men, elephants, and horses, as they are struck down by sharp arrows, whether they are falling, fallen, or pierced.
gāṇḍīvapreṣitā bāṇā manonilasamā jave। nṛnāgāśvānvidehāsūnkartāraśca sahasraśaḥ ॥7-53-42॥
The arrows shot from Gandiva were as swift as the mind and wind, rendering thousands of men, elephants, and horses lifeless.
yamātkuberādvaruṇādrudrādindrācca yanmayā। upāttamastraṃ ghoraṃ vai taddraṣṭāro narā yudhi ॥7-53-43॥
The men in battle witnessed the terrible weapon that I had obtained from Yama, Kubera, Varuṇa, Rudra, and Indra.
brāhmeṇāstreṇa cāstrāṇi hanyamānāni saṃyuge। mayā draṣṭāsi sarveṣāṃ saindhavasyābhirakṣiṇām ॥7-53-44॥
In the battle, you will see all the weapons being destroyed by the Brahma weapon and other weapons, as I protect the Sindhu prince.
śaravegasamutkṛttai rājñāṃ keśava mūrdhabhiḥ। āstīryamāṇāṃ pṛthivīṃ draṣṭāsi śvo mayā yudhi ॥7-53-45॥
O Keśava, tomorrow you will witness the earth covered with the heads of kings, severed by the swift arrows, in the battle by me.
kravyādāṁstarpayiṣyāmi drāvayiṣyāmi śātravān। suhṛdo nandayiṣyāmi pātayiṣyāmi saindhavam ॥7-53-46॥
I will appease the carnivores, repel the enemies, bring joy to the friends, and let the salt fall.
bahvāgaskṛtkusambandhī pāpadeśasamudbhavaḥ। mayā saindhavako rājā hataḥ svāñśocayiṣyati ॥7-53-47॥
The king of the Saindhava, who was sinful and had bad relations, originating from an evil country, has been killed by me; he will mourn for his own people.
sarvakṣīrānna-bhoktāraḥ pāpācārā raṇājire। mayā sarājakā bāṇairnunnā naṅkṣyanti saindhavāḥ ॥7-53-48॥
All those who consume milk and rice and are wicked in their conduct will perish in the battlefield, pierced by my arrows along with the kings, the Sindhus.
tathā prabhāte kartāsmi yathā kṛṣṇa suyodhanaḥ। nānyaṃ dhanurdharaṃ loke maṃsyate matsamaṃ yudhi ॥7-53-49॥
Thus, in the morning, I will act like Krishna and Suyodhana. No other archer in the world will think of themselves as equal to me in battle.
gāṇḍīvaṁ ca dhanurdivyaṁ yoddhā cāhaṁ nararṣabha। tvaṁ ca yantā hṛṣīkeśa kiṁ nu syādajitaṁ mayā ॥7-53-50॥
With the Gandiva bow and divine weapons, as a warrior and I being the best among men, and you as the charioteer Hrishikesha, what indeed could remain unconquered by me?
yathā hi lakṣma candre vai samudre ca yathā jalam। evametāṃ pratijñāṃ me satyāṃ viddhi janārdana ॥7-53-51॥
Just as the mark on the moon and the water in the ocean are certain, know this promise of mine to be true, O Janardana.
māvamaṃsthā mamāstrāṇi māvamaṃsthā dhanurdṛḍham। māvamaṃsthā balaṃ bāhvormāvamaṃsthā dhanañjayam ॥7-53-52॥
Do not underestimate my weapons, the firmness of my bow, the strength of my arms, or Arjuna.
yathā hi yātvā saṅgrāme na jīye vijayāmi ca। tena satyena saṅgrāme hataṃ viddhi jayadratham ॥7-53-53॥
"As I go to battle, I am neither defeated nor do I conquer. By this truth, know that Jayadratha has been slain in battle."
dhruvaṁ vai brāhmaṇe satyaṁ dhruvā sādhuṣu saṁnatiḥ। śrīrdhruvā cāpi dakṣeṣu dhruvo nārāyaṇe jayaḥ ॥7-53-54॥
Indeed, truth is steadfast in a brāhmaṇa; humility resides in the virtuous; prosperity is assured in the skillful; and victory is certain in Nārāyaṇa.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
evamuktvā hṛṣīkeśaṃ svayamātmānamātmanā। sandideśārjuno nardanvāsaviḥ keśavaṃ prabhum ॥7-53-55॥
After speaking in this manner to Hrishikesha, Arjuna, the descendant of Nardana and Vasava, gave instructions to Lord Keshava himself.
yathā prabhātāṃ rajanīṃ kalpitaḥ syādratho mama। tathā kāryaṃ tvayā kṛṣṇa kāryaṃ hi mahadudyatam ॥7-53-56॥
Just as the night is imagined to be dawn, so too, Krishna, a great task is indeed undertaken by you.
