09.003
Pancharatra and Core: Kripa advises Duryodhana to make peace with Yudhishthira, so that he will forgive and appoint him as the king for half the kingdom.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
शृणु राजन्नवहितो यथा वृत्तो महान्क्षयः। कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च समासाद्य परस्परम् ॥९-३-१॥
Listen attentively, O King, to how the great destruction occurred when the Kauravas and the Pandavas confronted each other.
निहते सूतपुत्रे तु पाण्डवेन महात्मना। विद्रुतेषु च सैन्येषु समानीतेषु चासकृत् ॥९-३-२॥
After the son of the charioteer was slain by the noble Pandava, the armies were repeatedly scattered and regrouped.
विमुखे तव पुत्रे तु शोकोपहतचेतसि। भृशोद्विग्नेषु सैन्येषु दृष्ट्वा पार्थस्य विक्रमम् ॥९-३-३॥
When your son turned away, overwhelmed by grief, and the soldiers were greatly distressed upon seeing Arjuna's prowess.
ध्यायमानेषु सैन्येषु दुःखं प्राप्तेषु भारत। बलानां मथ्यमानानां श्रुत्वा निनदमुत्तमम् ॥९-३-४॥
O Bharata, amidst the armies meditating and having obtained sorrow, upon hearing the excellent sound of the agitated forces.
अभिज्ञानं नरेन्द्राणां विकृतं प्रेक्ष्य संयुगे। पतितान्रथनीडांश्च रथांश्चापि महात्मनाम् ॥९-३-५॥
Upon witnessing the distorted recognition of the kings in battle, along with the fallen chariots and those of the great souls, a profound realization dawned.
रणे विनिहतान्नागान्दृष्ट्वा पत्तींश्च मारिष। आयोधनं चातिघोरं रुद्रस्याक्रीडसंनिभम् ॥९-३-६॥
O lord, upon seeing the slain elephants and infantry in the battle, and the very terrible battle resembling a sport of Rudra.
अप्रख्यातिं गतानां तु राज्ञां शतसहस्रशः। कृपाविष्टः कृपो राजन्वयःशीलसमन्वितः ॥९-३-७॥
Kṛpa, filled with compassion and endowed with good character, though unknown to the hundreds of thousands of kings, belonged to a royal lineage.
अब्रवीत्तत्र तेजस्वी सोऽभिसृत्य जनाधिपम्। दुर्योधनं मन्युवशाद्वचनं वचनक्षमः ॥९-३-८॥
The radiant one approached King Duryodhana there and, driven by anger, spoke words with eloquence.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वा वक्ष्यामि कौरव। श्रुत्वा कुरु महाराज यदि ते रोचतेऽनघ ॥९-३-९॥
"Duryodhana, listen to what I am about to say to you, Kaurava. If it pleases you, O great king, act upon it, O sinless one, after hearing."
न युद्धधर्माच्छ्रेयान्वै पन्था राजेन्द्र विद्यते। यं समाश्रित्य युध्यन्ते क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ ॥९-३-१०॥
O king of kings, there is truly no path superior to the duty of war, which the warriors undertake and fight, O best of the warriors.
पुत्रो भ्राता पिता चैव स्वस्रेयो मातुलस्तथा। सम्बन्धिबान्धवाश्चैव योध्या वै क्षत्रजीविना ॥९-३-११॥
The son, brother, father, sisters, maternal uncle, relatives, and kinsmen, as well as the warriors, are certainly those who live by the sword.
वधे चैव परो धर्मस्तथाधर्मः पलायने। ते स्म घोरां समापन्ना जीविकां जीवितार्थिनः ॥९-३-१२॥
In the act of killing, duty is considered superior, while fleeing is seen as wrong. They were indeed engaged in a terrible livelihood, desiring to live.
तत्र त्वां प्रतिवक्ष्यामि किञ्चिदेव हितं वचः। हते भीष्मे च द्रोणे च कर्णे चैव महारथे ॥९-३-१३॥
There, I will tell you something truly beneficial, now that Bhishma, Drona, and Karna, the great warriors, have been slain.
जयद्रथे च निहते तव भ्रातृषु चानघ। लक्ष्मणे तव पुत्रे च किं शेषं पर्युपास्महे ॥९-३-१४॥
O sinless one, with Jayadratha and your brothers slain, and your son Lakshmana gone, what is left for us to wait for?
येषु भारं समासज्य राज्ये मतिमकुर्महि। ते सन्त्यज्य तनूर्याताः शूरा ब्रह्मविदां गतिम् ॥९-३-१५॥
The heroes, in whom we placed our trust and burden in the kingdom, have left their bodies and attained the path of the knowers of Brahman.
वयं त्विह विनाभूता गुणवद्भिर्महारथैः। कृपणं वर्तयिष्याम पातयित्वा नृपान्बहून् ॥९-३-१६॥
We find ourselves here without the support of the virtuous great charioteers, and thus, having slain many kings, we shall live in misery.
सर्वैरपि च जीवद्भिर्बीभत्सुरपराजितः। कृष्णनेत्रो महाबाहुर्देवैरपि दुरासदः ॥९-३-१७॥
He is fearsome and undefeated by all living beings; dark-eyed and mighty-armed, even the gods find him difficult to approach.
इन्द्रकार्मुकवज्राभमिन्द्रकेतुमिवोच्छ्रितम्। वानरं केतुमासाद्य सञ्चचाल महाचमूः ॥९-३-१८॥
The great army advanced towards the monkey banner, which was raised high like Indra's banner, resembling Indra's bow and thunderbolt.
सिंहनादेन भीमस्य पाञ्चजन्यस्वनेन च। गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषात्संहृष्यन्ति मनांसि नः ॥९-३-१९॥
Our hearts are thrilled by the lion's roar of Bhima, the sound of the Panchajanya, and the twang of the Gandiva.
चरन्तीव महाविद्युन्मुष्णन्ति नयनप्रभाम्। अलातमिव चाविद्धं गाण्डीवं समदृश्यत ॥९-३-२०॥
The Gandiva bow appeared as if it was moving like great lightning, stealing the brilliance of the eyes, and like a pierced firebrand.
जाम्बूनदविचित्रं च धूयमानं महद्धनुः। दृश्यते दिक्षु सर्वासु विद्युदभ्रघनेष्विव ॥९-३-२१॥
A magnificent bow, adorned with gold and trembling, appears in every direction, resembling lightning among the clouds.
उह्यमानश्च कृष्णेन वायुनेव बलाहकः। तावकं तद्बलं राजन्नर्जुनोऽस्त्रविदां वरः ॥ गहनं शिशिरे कक्षं ददाहाग्निरिवोत्थितः ॥९-३-२२॥
Arjuna, the best among those skilled in weaponry, was carried by Krishna like a cloud by the wind. O king, your force burned the dense forest in winter like a fire that has arisen.
गाहमानमनीकानि महेन्द्रसदृशप्रभम्। धनञ्जयमपश्याम चतुर्दन्तमिव द्विपम् ॥९-३-२३॥
We saw Dhananjaya, with a splendor like that of Indra, entering the armies like a majestic four-tusked elephant.
विक्षोभयन्तं सेनां ते त्रासयन्तं च पार्थिवान्। धनञ्जयमपश्याम नलिनीमिव कुञ्जरम् ॥९-३-२४॥
We observed Dhananjaya causing turmoil in your army and instilling fear in the kings, much like an elephant in a lotus pond.
त्रासयन्तं तथा योधान्धनुर्घोषेण पाण्डवम्। भूय एनमपश्याम सिंहं मृगगणा इव ॥९-३-२५॥
Thus frightening the warriors with the sound of his bow, we saw the Pāṇḍava again, like a lion among a herd of deer.
सर्वलोकमहेष्वासौ वृषभौ सर्वधन्विनाम्। आमुक्तकवचौ कृष्णौ लोकमध्ये विरेजतुः ॥९-३-२६॥
The Krishnas, the greatest archers and the foremost among all bowmen, wearing their armor, shone brilliantly in the midst of the world.
अद्य सप्तदशाहानि वर्तमानस्य भारत। सङ्ग्रामस्यातिघोरस्य वध्यतां चाभितो युधि ॥९-३-२७॥
Today marks the seventeenth day of the ongoing, extremely fierce war in India, with slaughter occurring all around in the battle.
वायुनेव विधूतानि तवानीकानि सर्वशः। शरदम्भोदजालानि व्यशीर्यन्त समन्ततः ॥९-३-२८॥
Your armies were scattered everywhere by the wind, just like clusters of autumn clouds are dispersed in all directions.
तां नावमिव पर्यस्तां भ्रान्तवातां महार्णवे। तव सेनां महाराज सव्यसाची व्यकम्पयत् ॥९-३-२९॥
Arjuna, like a boat caught in a stormy sea, shook your army, O great king.
क्व नु ते सूतपुत्रोऽभूत्क्व नु द्रोणः सहानुगः। अहं क्व च क्व चात्मा ते हार्दिक्यश्च तथा क्व नु ॥ दुःशासनश्च भ्राता ते भ्रातृभिः सहितः क्व नु ॥९-३-३०॥
Where indeed was your son of Suta? Where indeed was Drona with his followers? Where was I, and where was your self, and also Hārdikya? Where indeed was Duḥśāsana, your brother, along with his brothers?
बाणगोचरसम्प्राप्तं प्रेक्ष्य चैव जयद्रथम्। सम्बन्धिनस्ते भ्रातॄंश्च सहायान्मातुलांस्तथा ॥९-३-३१॥
Seeing Jayadratha within the range of arrows, your relatives, brothers, allies, and uncles also came forward.
सर्वान्विक्रम्य मिषतो लोकांश्चाक्रम्य मूर्धनि। जयद्रथो हतो राजन्किं नु शेषमुपास्महे ॥९-३-३२॥
Having conquered all the worlds and attacked them unaware, Jayadratha has been slain, O king. What indeed remains for us to wait for?
को वेह स पुमानस्ति यो विजेष्यति पाण्डवम्। तस्य चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि विविधानि महात्मनः ॥ गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषो वीर्याणि हरते हि नः ॥९-३-३३॥
Who here can defeat the Pāṇḍava? His weapons are divine and varied, belonging to a great soul. The sound of the Gāṇḍīva bow indeed diminishes our strength.
नष्टचन्द्रा यथा रात्रिः सेनेयं हतनायका। नागभग्नद्रुमा शुष्का नदीवाकुलतां गता ॥९-३-३४॥
The army, like a moonless night, is without its leader. It resembles a dry river with broken elephants and trees, having descended into chaos.
ध्वजिन्यां हतनेत्रायां यथेष्टं श्वेतवाहनः। चरिष्यति महाबाहुः कक्षेऽग्निरिव सञ्ज्वलन् ॥९-३-३५॥
In the army, where the vision is obscured, Śvetavāhana, the mighty-armed, will move freely, blazing like a fire in the vicinity.
सात्यकेश्चैव यो वेगो भीमसेनस्य चोभयोः। दारयेत गिरीन्सर्वाञ्शोषयेत च सागरान् ॥९-३-३६॥
The combined force of Satyaki and Bhimasena is so immense that it could shatter mountains and dry up the seas.
उवाच वाक्यं यद्भीमः सभामध्ये विशां पते। कृतं तत्सकलं तेन भूयश्चैव करिष्यति ॥९-३-३७॥
Bhima said those words in the assembly, O lord of men. All that was done by him, he will indeed do again.
प्रमुखस्थे तदा कर्णे बलं पाण्डवरक्षितम्। दुरासदं तथा गुप्तं गूढं गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥९-३-३८॥
Then, in the forefront, Karna's strength, protected by the Pandavas, was formidable and hidden, concealed by Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow.
युष्माभिस्तानि चीर्णानि यान्यसाधूनि साधुषु। अकारणकृतान्येव तेषां वः फलमागतम् ॥९-३-३९॥
The consequences of your unjust actions towards the righteous, which were done without any reason, have indeed come upon you.
आत्मनोऽर्थे त्वया लोको यत्नतः सर्व आहृतः। स ते संशयितस्तात आत्मा च भरतर्षभ ॥९-३-४०॥
"O best of the Bharatas, for your own purpose, you have diligently gathered the entire world. Yet, dear one, your own self remains in doubt."
रक्ष दुर्योधनात्मानमात्मा सर्वस्य भाजनम्। भिन्ने हि भाजने तात दिशो गच्छति तद्गतम् ॥९-३-४१॥
"Protect Duryodhana, for he is the vessel of all. When the vessel is broken, dear one, its contents scatter in all directions."
हीयमानेन वै सन्धिः पर्येष्टव्यः समेन च। विग्रहो वर्धमानेन नीतिरेषा बृहस्पतेः ॥९-३-४२॥
When one is declining, an alliance should be sought with an equal, and when one is increasing, conflict is advisable; this is the policy of Bṛhaspati.
ते वयं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यो हीनाः स्वबलशक्तितः। अत्र ते पाण्डवैः सार्धं सन्धिं मन्ये क्षमं प्रभो ॥९-३-४३॥
O lord, I think it is proper for us, who are deprived of our own strength, to make peace here with the Pandavas.
न जानीते हि यः श्रेयः श्रेयसश्चावमन्यते। स क्षिप्रं भ्रश्यते राज्यान्न च श्रेयोऽनुविन्दति ॥९-३-४४॥
He who does not recognize what is truly beneficial and looks down upon it will soon lose his kingdom and fail to achieve true prosperity.
प्रणिपत्य हि राजानं राज्यं यदि लभेमहि। श्रेयः स्यान्न तु मौढ्येन राजन्गन्तुं पराभवम् ॥९-३-४५॥
"Indeed, having bowed to the king, it would be better if we could obtain the kingdom; but not through foolishness, O king, to go towards defeat."
वैचित्रवीर्यवचनात्कृपाशीलो युधिष्ठिरः। विनियुञ्जीत राज्ये त्वां गोविन्दवचनेन च ॥९-३-४६॥
Yudhishthira, known for his compassionate nature, should appoint you to the kingdom following the counsel of Vaicitravīrya and Govinda.
यद्ब्रूयाद्धि हृषीकेशो राजानमपराजितम्। अर्जुनं भीमसेनं च सर्वं कुर्युरसंशयम् ॥९-३-४७॥
If Hṛṣīkeśa were to instruct the unconquered king, Arjuna and Bhīmasena would undoubtedly comply with everything.
नातिक्रमिष्यते कृष्णो वचनं कौरवस्य ह। धृतराष्ट्रस्य मन्येऽहं नापि कृष्णस्य पाण्डवः ॥९-३-४८॥
Krishna will not go against the words of the Kaurava. I believe that the Pandava will not go against the words of either Dhritarashtra or Krishna.
एतत्क्षममहं मन्ये तव पार्थैरविग्रहम्। न त्वा ब्रवीमि कार्पण्यान्न प्राणपरिरक्षणात् ॥ पथ्यं राजन्ब्रवीमि त्वां तत्परासुः स्मरिष्यसि ॥९-३-४९॥
I believe that avoiding conflict with the sons of Pṛthā is wise for you. I am not saying this out of pity or to save lives. I am advising you for your own good, O king, and you will remember this advice when you are no longer alive.
इति वृद्धो विलप्यैतत्कृपः शारद्वतो वचः। दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य शुशोच च मुमोह च ॥९-३-५०॥
Thus, the elderly Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, lamented these words, sighed deeply and hotly, grieved, and then fainted.
