07.157
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
ekavīravadhe moghā śaktiḥ sūtātmaje yadā। kasmātsarvānsamutsṛjya sa tāṃ pārthe na muktavān ॥7-157-1॥
When the power became ineffective in killing the one hero, why did he, leaving everyone else, not unleash it upon Arjuna?
tasmin hate hatā hi syuḥ sarve pāṇḍavasṛñjayāḥ। ekavīravadhe kasmānna yuddhe jayamādadhat ॥7-157-2॥
In that event, if he were slain, all the Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas would indeed be destroyed. Why did they not secure victory in the battle with the slaying of just one hero?
āhūto na nivarteyamiti tasya mahāvratam। svayamāhvayitavyaḥ sa sūtaputreṇa phalgunaḥ ॥7-157-3॥
Arjuna, known for his great vow of not turning back when called, must be personally invited by Karna, the son of a charioteer.
tato dvairathamānīya phalgunaṃ śakradattayā। na jaghāna vṛṣā kasmāttanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥7-157-4॥
Then, Sanjaya, tell me why Vrisha did not kill Arjuna, who was brought to the chariot duel by Indra's gift.
nūnaṃ buddhivihīnaścāpyasahāyaśca me sutaḥ। śatrubhirvyaṃsitopāyaḥ kathaṃ nu sa jayedarīn ॥7-157-5॥
"Certainly, my son is devoid of intelligence and without any help. His plans are thwarted by enemies. How can he possibly conquer the enemies?"
yā hy asya paramā śaktir jayasya ca parāyaṇam। sā śaktir vāsudevena vyaṃsitāsya ghaṭotkace ॥7-157-6॥
The supreme power and refuge of victory that he possessed was destroyed by Vāsudeva in Ghaṭotkaca.
kuṇeryathā hastagataṃ hriyedbilvaṃ balīyasā। tathā śaktiramoghā sā moghībhūtā ghaṭotkace ॥7-157-7॥
Just as a fruit held by a mongoose is snatched away by someone stronger, similarly, the unfailing power becomes ineffective in Ghatotkacha.
yathā varāhasya śunaśca yudhyato; stayorabhāve śvapacasya lābhaḥ। manye vidvanvāsudevasya tadva; dyuddhe lābhaḥ karṇahaiḍimbyorvai ॥7-157-8॥
"Just as the gain of the outcaste occurs when the boar and the dog are absent from fighting, O wise one, I believe that similarly, in the battle, the gain is indeed of Karṇa and Haiḍimba."
ghaṭotkaco yadi hanyāddhi karṇaṁ; paro lābhaḥ sa bhavetpāṇḍavānām। vaikartano vā yadi taṁ nihanyā; ttathāpi kṛtyaṁ śaktināśātkṛtaṁ syāt ॥7-157-9॥
If Ghatotkacha kills Karna, it would be a significant advantage for the Pandavas. However, if Vaikartana (Karna) kills him, the objective would still be achieved due to the loss of power.
iti prājñaḥ prajñayaitadvicārya; ghaṭotkacaṃ sūtaputreṇa yuddhe। ayodhayadvāsudevo nṛsiṃhaḥ; priyaṃ kurvanpāṇḍavānāṃ hitaṃ ca ॥7-157-10॥
Thus, the wise Vasudeva, considering the situation wisely, engaged Ghatotkacha in battle with Karna, the son of a charioteer, acting as Narasimha to ensure the welfare and favor of the Pandavas.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
etacchikīrṣitaṃ jñātvā karṇe madhunihā nṛpa। niyojayāmāsa tadā dvairathe rākṣaseśvaram ॥7-157-11॥
Upon realizing this intention, O king, Krishna, the slayer of Madhu, then arranged for Karna to engage in a duel with the lord of the Rakshasas.
ghaṭotkacaṁ mahāvīryaṁ mahābuddhirjanārdanaḥ। amoghāyā vighātārthaṁ rājandurmantrite tava ॥7-157-12॥
O King, Janardana, with great heroism and intellect, obstructed the unfailing Ghatotkacha due to your ill-advised actions.
tadaiva kṛtakāryā hi vayaṃ syāma kurūdvaha। na rakṣedyadi kṛṣṇastaṃ pārthaṃ karṇānmahārathāt ॥7-157-13॥
"O carrier of the Kuru lineage, our tasks would only be accomplished if Krishna does not protect Arjuna from Karna, the great chariot-warrior."
sāśvadhvajarathaḥ saṅkhye dhṛtarāṣṭra patedbhuvi। vinā janārdanaṃ pārtho yogānāmīśvaraṃ prabhum ॥7-157-14॥
In the battle, Dhritarashtra's forces, with their horses, banners, and chariots, would fall to the ground without Janardana, as Arjuna, the lord and master of the yogas, was absent.
taistairupāyairbahubhī rakṣyamāṇaḥ sa pārthiva। jayatyabhimukhaḥ śatrūnpārthaḥ kṛṣṇena pālitaḥ ॥7-157-15॥
Arjuna, protected by Krishna, uses various strategies to defeat his enemies in battle.
saviśeṣaṃ tvamoghāyāḥ kṛṣṇo'rakṣata pāṇḍavam। hanyātkṣiptā hi kaunteyaṃ śaktirvṛkṣamivāśaniḥ ॥7-157-16॥
Especially, your infallible Krishna protected the Pandava. The weapon hurled would indeed kill the son of Kunti like a thunderbolt strikes a tree.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
virodhī ca kumantrī ca prājñamānī mamātmajaḥ। yasya eṣa samatikrānto vadhopāyo jayaṃ prati ॥7-157-17॥
My son, who is both an opponent and a bad counselor, considers himself wise, and has surpassed the means of destruction aimed at victory.
tavāpi samatikrāntametadgāvalgaṇe katham। etamarthaṃ mahābuddhe yattvayā nāvabodhitaḥ ॥7-157-18॥
"How did you, O Gavalgaṇa, also let this pass without understanding its meaning, O wise one?"
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
duryodhanasya śakuner mama duḥśāsanasya ca। rātrau rātrau bhavaty eṣā nityam eva samarthanā ॥7-157-19॥
This always indeed becomes the support of Duryodhana, Shakuni, myself, and Duhshasana at night.
śvaḥ sarvasainyānutsṛjya jahi karṇa dhanañjayam। preṣyavatpāṇḍupāñcālānupabhokṣyāmahe tataḥ ॥7-157-20॥
Tomorrow, after leaving all the armies, defeat Karna and Dhananjaya. Then, we shall enjoy the Pandavas and Panchalas as if they were our servants.
atha vā nihate pārthe pāṇḍuṣvanyatamaṃ tataḥ। sthāpayedyudhi vārṣṇeyastasmāt kṛṣṇo nipātyatām ॥7-157-21॥
Then, if Arjuna (Pārtha) is slain, Vārṣṇeya should place another among the Pāṇḍavas in battle; therefore, Kṛṣṇa should be killed.
kṛṣṇo hi mūlaṃ pāṇḍūnāṃ pārthaḥ skandha ivodgataḥ। śākhā ivetare pārthāḥ pāñcālāḥ patrasañjñitāḥ ॥7-157-22॥
Krishna is indeed the root of the Pandavas, with Arjuna as the trunk that has risen. The other sons of Pritha are like branches, and the Panchalas are known as the leaves.
kṛṣṇāśrayāḥ kṛṣṇabalāḥ kṛṣṇanāthāśca pāṇḍavāḥ। kṛṣṇaḥ parāyaṇaṃ caiṣāṃ jyotiṣāmiva candramāḥ ॥7-157-23॥
The Pandavas, who rely on Krishna, are empowered by him and have him as their lord. Krishna is their ultimate refuge, akin to how the moon is among the stars.
tasmātparṇāni śākhāśca skandhaṃ cotsṛjya sūtaja। kṛṣṇaṃ nikṛndhi pāṇḍūnāṃ mūlaṃ sarvatra sarvadā ॥7-157-24॥
Therefore, O son of Sūta, leave aside the leaves, branches, and trunk, and cut off Kṛṣṇa, who is the root of the Pāṇḍavas, at all times and in all places.
hanyādyadi hi dāśārhaṃ karṇo yādavanandanam। kṛtsnā vasumatī rājanvaśe te syānna saṃśayaḥ ॥7-157-25॥
If Karna were to kill Krishna, the joy of the Yadavas, then, O king, the entire earth would undoubtedly be under your control.
yadi hi sa nihataḥ śayīta bhūmau; yadukulapāṇḍavanandano mahātmā। nanu tava vasudhā narendra sarvā; sagirisamudravanā vaśaṃ vrajet ॥7-157-26॥
If indeed he, the noble soul and delight of the Yadu and Pandava clans, were to be slain and lay upon the earth, then surely, O king, your entire realm, with its mountains, seas, and forests, would fall under your dominion.
sā tu buddhiḥ kṛtāpyevaṃ jāgrati tridaśeśvare। aprameye hṛṣīkeśe yuddhakāle vyamuhyata ॥7-157-27॥
But even though her intelligence was thus awakened in the lord of the thirty gods, the immeasurable Hṛṣīkeśa, she became confused at the time of battle.
arjunaṁ cāpi kaunteyaṁ sadā rakṣati keśavaḥ। na hyenamaicchatpramukhe sauteḥ sthāpayituṁ raṇe ॥7-157-28॥
Keshava always protects Arjuna, the son of Kunti. He did not want to position him in front of the charioteer during the battle.
anyāṁścāsmai rathodārānupasthāpayadacyutaḥ। amoghāṁ tāṁ kathaṁ śaktiṁ moghāṁ kuryāmiti prabho ॥7-157-29॥
Acyuta presented other magnificent chariots to him. O lord, how could I render that infallible power ineffective?
tataḥ kṛṣṇaṃ mahābāhuḥ sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ। papraccha rathaśārdūla karṇaṃ prati mahāratham ॥7-157-30॥
Then, the mighty-armed Satyaki, known for his true prowess, asked Krishna, the tiger among charioteers, about Karna, the great chariot-warrior.
ayaṃ ca pratyayaḥ karṇe śaktyā cāmitavikrama। kimarthaṃ sūtaputreṇa na muktā phalgune tu sā ॥7-157-31॥
This belief in Karna's power and immeasurable valor, why was it not unleashed by the son of a charioteer upon Arjuna, but instead withheld?
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vasudeva said:
duḥṣāsanaśca karṇaśca śakuniśca ssaindhavaḥ। satataṃ mantrayanti sma duryodhanapurogamāḥ ॥7-157-32॥
Duhshasana, Karna, Shakuni, and Saindhava were constantly consulting, led by Duryodhana.
karṇa karṇa maheṣvāsa raṇe'mitaparākrama। nānyasya śaktireṣā te moktavyā jayatāṃ vara ॥7-157-33॥
Karna, Karna, you are a great archer with immeasurable valor in battle. This power is unique to you and should not be released by anyone else, O best among the victorious.
ṛte mahārathāt pārthāt kuntīputrād dhanañjayāt। sa hi teṣām atiyaśā devānām iva vāsavaḥ ॥7-157-34॥
Without Arjuna, the great charioteer and son of Kunti, he is indeed the most glorious among them, akin to Indra among the gods.
tasmin vinihate sarve pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha। bhaviṣyanti gatātmānaḥ surā iva niragnayaḥ ॥7-157-35॥
In that event, when all are slain, the Pāṇḍavas along with the Sṛñjayas will become spiritless, like gods who have lost their fire.
tatheti ca pratijñātaṃ karṇena śinipuṅgava। hṛdi nityaṃ tu karṇasya vadho gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ ॥7-157-36॥
Thus, Karna promised, O bull among the Shinis. However, in Karna's heart, there is always the intent to kill Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow.
ahameva tu rādheyaṃ mohayāmi yudhāṃ varaḥ। yato nāvasṛjacchaktiṃ pāṇḍave śvetavāhane ॥7-157-37॥
I am the one who deludes Radheya, the greatest among warriors, because he did not release his weapon at Arjuna, who is also known as Shvetavahana.
phalgunasya hi tāṃ mṛtyumavagamya yuyutsataḥ। na nidrā na ca me harṣo manaso'sti yudhāṃ vara ॥7-157-38॥
Having realized the impending death of Arjuna, who is eager to fight, I find neither sleep nor joy in my mind, O best among warriors.
ghaṭotkace vyaṁsitāṁ tu dṛṣṭvā tāṁ śinipuṅgava। mṛtyorāsyāntarānmuktaṁ paśyāmyadya dhanañjayam ॥7-157-39॥
O Ghaṭotkaca, seeing you defeated, O best of the Śinis, I perceive today that Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) has been freed from the jaws of death.
na pitā na ca me mātā na yūyaṃ bhrātarastathā। na ca prāṇāstathā rakṣyā yathā bībhatsurāhave ॥7-157-40॥
Neither my father nor my mother, nor you brothers, nor even lives are as worthy of protection as the abhorrent in battle.
trailokyarājyādyatkiñcidbhavedanyatsudurlabham। neccheyaṃ sātvatāhaṃ tadvina pārthaṃ dhanañjayam ॥7-157-41॥
I do not desire anything else, even if it is as rare as the kingdom of the three worlds, O descendant of Sātvata, without Arjuna, Dhanañjaya.
ataḥ praharṣaḥ sumahānyuyudhānādya me'bhavat। mṛtaṃ pratyāgatamiva dṛṣṭvā pārthaṃ dhanañjayam ॥7-157-42॥
Therefore, today I experienced immense joy from Yuyudhāna, as if seeing Pārtha Dhanañjaya return from the dead.
ataśca prahito yuddhe mayā karṇāya rākṣasaḥ। na hyanyaḥ samare rātrau śaktaḥ karṇaṃ prabādhitum ॥7-157-43॥
Therefore, I sent a demon to Karna in the battle, as no one else could overpower Karna during the night in the battlefield.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
iti sātyakaye prāha tadā devakinandanaḥ। dhanañjayahite yuktastatpriye satataṃ rataḥ ॥7-157-44॥
Thus, Devaki's son, always engaged in Arjuna's welfare and delighted in him, spoke to Sātyaki.
