09.004
Pancharatra and Core: Duryodhana rejects Kripa's proposal, as he thinks he will go to heaven and enjoy with the ladies after death.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said.
evamuktastato rājā gautamena yaśasvinā। niḥśvasya dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca tūṣṇīmāsīdviśāṃ pate ॥9-4-1॥
After being addressed in this way by the illustrious Gautama, the king sighed deeply and warmly, and remained silent, O lord of the people.
tato muhūrtaṃ sa dhyātvā dhārtarāṣṭro mahāmanāḥ। kṛpaṃ śāradvataṃ vākyamityuvāca parantapaḥ ॥9-4-2॥
Then, after meditating for a moment, the wise son of Dhritarashtra addressed Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, with these words.
yatkiñcitsuhr̥dā vācyaṃ tatsarvaṃ śrāvito hyaham। kṛtaṃ ca bhavatā sarvaṃ prāṇānsantyajya yudhyatā ॥9-4-3॥
I have been informed of everything that was to be said by a friend. You have done everything, even abandoning lives, to fight.
gāhamānam anīkāni yudhyamānaṃ mahārathaiḥ। pāṇḍavair atitejobhir lokas tvām anudṛṣṭavān ॥9-4-4॥
The world witnessed you deeply engaged in the battle formations, fighting alongside the mighty charioteers, as the Pāṇḍavas, with their extraordinary prowess, observed you.
suhṛdā yadidaṃ vācyaṃ bhavatā śrāvito hyaham। na māṃ prīṇāti tatsarvaṃ mumūrṣoriva bheṣajam ॥9-4-5॥
I was made to hear by you, my friend, what is to be spoken. However, none of it pleases me, just like medicine does not please a dying person.
hetukāraṇasaṁyuktaṁ hitaṁ vacanamuttamam। ucyamānaṁ mahābāho na me viprāgrya rocate ॥9-4-6॥
O mighty-armed, the speech that is combined with cause and reason, though beneficial and excellent, does not please me, best of the Brahmins.
rājyādvinikṛto'smābhiḥ kathaṃ so'smāsu viśvaset। akṣadyūte ca nṛpatirjito'smābhirmahādhanaḥ ॥ sa kathaṃ mama vākyāni śraddadhyādbhūya eva tu ॥9-4-7॥
Having been deprived of his kingdom by us, how can he trust us? Moreover, the king, who was defeated by us in the dice game and lost great wealth, how can he believe my words again?
tathā dautyena samprāptaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pārthahite rataḥ। pralabdhaśca hṛṣīkeśastacca karma virodhitam ॥ sa ca me vacanaṃ brahmankathamevābhimaṃsyate ॥9-4-8॥
Thus, Krishna, acting as a messenger, came for the welfare of the Pandavas but was insulted, and Hrishikesha opposed this action. O Brahman, how will my words be regarded?
vilalāpa hi yatkṛṣṇā sabhāmadhye sameyuṣī। na tanmarṣayate kṛṣṇo na rājyaharaṇaṃ tathā ॥9-4-9॥
Kṛṣṇā lamented in the assembly, and Kṛṣṇa does not forgive that act, nor does he forgive the seizure of the kingdom.
ekaprāṇāvubhau kṛṣṇāvanyonyaṃ prati saṃhatau। purā yacchrutamevāsīdadya paśyāmi tatprabho ॥9-4-10॥
Both Krishnas, who are like one soul, are united towards each other. What was once only heard of, today I see it, O lord.
svasrīyaṃ ca hataṃ śrutvā duḥkhaṃ svapiti keśavaḥ। kṛtāgaso vayaṃ tasya sa madarthaṃ kathaṃ kṣamet ॥9-4-11॥
Keshava, upon hearing of the death of his sister's son, is engulfed in sorrow and sleeps. How can he forgive us for the sins committed for my sake?
abhimanyorvināśena na śarma labhate'rjunaḥ। sa kathaṁ maddhite yatnaṁ prakariṣyati yācitaḥ ॥9-4-12॥
Arjuna is unable to find peace after Abhimanyu's death. How will he, when asked, make an effort for my benefit?
madhyamaḥ pāṇḍavastīkṣṇo bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ। pratijñātaṃ ca tenograṃ sa bhajyeta na saṃnamet ॥9-4-13॥
The middle Pāṇḍava, Bhīmasena, known for his sharpness and might, had fiercely promised that he would break but never bend.
ubhau tau baddhanistriṁśāvubhau cābaddhakaṅkaṭau। kṛtavairāvubhau vīrau yamāvapi yamopamau ॥9-4-14॥
Both of them, with their swords drawn and armor untied, stood as fierce warriors, resembling Yama, the god of death, in their enmity.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kṛtavairau mayā saha। tau kathaṃ maddhite yatnaṃ prakuryātāṃ dvijottama ॥9-4-15॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍī, who have enmity with me, how could they possibly make an effort for my benefit, O esteemed sage?
duḥśāsanena yatkṛṣṇā ekavastrā rajasvalā। parikliṣṭā sabhāmadhye sarvalokasya paśyataḥ ॥9-4-16॥
Duhshasana humiliated Draupadi, who was single-clothed and in her period, in the assembly in front of everyone.
tathā vivasanāṃ dīnāṃ smarantyadyāpi pāṇḍavāḥ। na nivārayituṃ śakyāḥ saṅgrāmātte parantapāḥ ॥9-4-17॥
Even today, the Pandavas remember the distress and humiliation they faced, and they cannot refrain from engaging in battle, O subduer of enemies.
yadā ca draupadī kṛṣṇā madvināśāya duḥkhitā। ugraṃ tepe tapaḥ kṛṣṇā bhartṝṇāmarthasiddhaye ॥ sthaṇḍile nityadā śete yāvadvairasya yātanā ॥9-4-18॥
When Draupadi was sorrowful for my destruction, she performed intense penance. Krishna, for the attainment of her husbands' purpose, always lies on the bare ground as long as the suffering of enmity continues.
nikṣipya mānaṃ darpaṃ ca vāsudevasahodarā। kṛṣṇāyāḥ preṣyavadbhūtvā śuśrūṣāṃ kurute sadā ॥9-4-19॥
The sister of Vasudeva, having set aside her pride and arrogance, serves Krishna like a devoted servant at all times.
iti sarvaṃ samunnaddhaṃ na nirvāti kathaṃcana। abhimanyorvināśena sa sandheyaḥ kathaṃ mayā ॥9-4-20॥
Thus, everything that has been raised does not cease in any way. How can I reconcile him with the destruction of Abhimanyu?
kathaṁ ca nāma bhuktvemāṁ pṛthivīṁ sāgarāmbarām। pāṇḍavānāṁ prasādena bhuñjīyāṁ rājyamalpakam ॥9-4-21॥
How could I, having enjoyed this vast earth surrounded by the ocean, now be content with ruling a small kingdom by the grace of the Pandavas?
uparyupari rājñāṃ vai jvalito bhāskaro yathā। yudhiṣṭhiraṃ kathaṃ paścād anuyāsyāmi dāsavat ॥9-4-22॥
Just as the sun shines above all kings, how can I follow Yudhishthira afterwards like a servant?
kathaṁ bhuktvā svayaṁ bhogāndattvā dāyāṁśca puṣkalān। kṛpaṇaṁ vartayiṣyāmi kṛpaṇaiḥ saha jīvikām ॥9-4-23॥
How can I, after enjoying pleasures and giving away abundant shares, live a miserly life with other misers?
nābhyasūyāmi te vākyamuktaṃ snigdhaṃ hitaṃ tvayā। na tu sandhimahaṃ manye prāptakālaṃ kathañcana ॥9-4-24॥
I do not resent your affectionate and beneficial words, but I do not think the alliance is timely in any way.
sunītamanupaśyāmi suyuddhena parantapa। nāyaṃ klībayituṃ kālaḥ saṃyoddhuṃ kāla eva naḥ ॥9-4-25॥
"O scorcher of foes, I perceive that good conduct is through a noble fight. This is not the time for weakness; it is indeed the time for us to engage in battle."
iṣṭaṃ me bahubhiryañjairdattā vipreṣu dakṣiṇāḥ। prāptāḥ kramaśrutā vedāḥ śatrūṇāṃ mūrdhni ca sthitam ॥9-4-26॥
The gifts desired by me were given to the priests through many sacrifices. The Vedas, systematically learned, were obtained and established on the heads of the enemies.
bhṛtyā me subhṛtāstāta dīnaścābhyuddhṛto janaḥ। yātāni pararāṣṭrāṇi svarāṣṭramanupālitam ॥9-4-27॥
"Dear father, my servants are well taken care of, the distressed people have been uplifted, other kingdoms have been visited, and my own kingdom is well-governed."
bhuktāśca vividhā bhogāstrivargaḥ sevito mayā। pitṝṇāṃ gatamānṛṇyaṃ kṣatradharmasya cobhayoḥ ॥9-4-28॥
I have enjoyed various pleasures and served the threefold aim of life. I have fulfilled my duties towards my ancestors and the warrior's duty, both are now complete.
na dhruvaṁ sukhamastīha kuto rājyaṁ kuto yaśaḥ। iha kīrtirvidhātavyā sā ca yuddhena nānyathā ॥9-4-29॥
In this world, happiness is not permanent, so where is the kingdom, and where is the fame? Here, glory must be established, and that can only be achieved through battle, not by any other means.
gṛhe yatkṣatriyasyāpi nidhanaṃ tadvigarhitam। adharmaḥ sumahāneṣa yacchayyāmaraṇaṃ gṛhe ॥9-4-30॥
The death of a warrior in his own home is considered disgraceful. It is a great sin to die in bed at home.
araṇye yo vimuñceta saṅgrāme vā tanuṃ naraḥ। kratūnāhṛtya mahato mahimānaṃ sa gacchati ॥9-4-31॥
A man who sacrifices his body in the forest or in battle, after performing great sacrifices, attains great glory.
kṛpaṇaṃ vilapannārto jarayābhipariplutaḥ। mriyate rudatāṃ madhye jñātīnāṃ na sa pūruṣaḥ ॥9-4-32॥
A miserable person, lamenting and afflicted by old age, overwhelmed by it, dies in the midst of crying relatives; such a person is not considered a true man.
tyaktvā tu vividhānbhogānprāptānāṃ paramāṃ gatim। apīdānīṃ suyuddhena gaccheyaṃ satsalokatām ॥9-4-33॥
Having given up various pleasures and reached the highest state, now I wish to attain the realm of the virtuous through honorable combat.
śūrāṇām āryavṛttānāṃ saṅgrāmeṣv anivartinām। dhīmatāṃ satyasandhānāṃ sarveṣāṃ kratuyājinām ॥9-4-34॥
The brave ones of noble conduct, who do not retreat in battles, who are wise and truthful, and who perform all sacrifices.
śastrāvabhṛthamāptānāṃ dhruvaṃ vāsastriviṣṭape। mudā nūnaṃ prapaśyanti śubhrā hyapsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ ॥9-4-35॥
The pure groups of celestial nymphs, indeed, behold with joy those who have certainly attained residence in the heavenly abode after completing the weapon ceremony.
paśyanti nūnaṃ pitaraḥ pūjitāñśakrasaṃsadi। apsarobhiḥ parivṛtānmodamānāṃstriviṣṭape ॥9-4-36॥
The ancestors certainly witness those who are honored in Indra's assembly, surrounded by celestial nymphs, rejoicing in the heavenly realm.
panthānam amarair yātaṃ śūraiś caiva anivartibhiḥ। api taiḥ saṅgataṃ mārgaṃ vayam api āruhemahi ॥9-4-37॥
May we also ascend the path traveled by immortals and heroes who do not turn back, joining them in their journey.
pitāmahena vṛddhena tathācāryeṇa dhīmatā। jayadrathena karṇena tathā duḥśāsanena ca ॥9-4-38॥
The wise and elder grandfather, along with the teacher, Jayadratha, Karna, and Duhshasana, were involved.
ghaṭamānā madarthe'sminhatāḥ śūrā janādhipāḥ। śerate lohitāktāṅgāḥ pṛthivyāṃ śaravikṣatāḥ ॥9-4-39॥
The heroes and kings, striving for my sake, have been killed in this battle and now lie on the earth with their limbs stained with blood, wounded by arrows.
uttamāstravidaḥ śūrā yathoktakratuyājinaḥ। tyaktvā prāṇānyathānyāyamindrasadmasu dhiṣṭhitāḥ ॥9-4-40॥
The excellent warriors, skilled in weaponry and heroic in nature, who performed sacrifices as prescribed, having given up their lives unjustly, are now residing in the abode of Indra.
taistvayaṃ racitaḥ panthā durgamo hi punarbhavet। sampatadbhirmahāvegairito yādbhiśca sadgatim ॥9-4-41॥
The path you have constructed becomes difficult again, indeed, by those who are flying with great speed from here, leading to a good path.
ye madarthe hatāḥ śūrāsteṣāṃ kṛtamanusmaran। ṛṇaṃ tatpratimuñcāno na rājye mana ādadhe ॥9-4-42॥
Reflecting on the sacrifice of the heroes who died for me, I released that debt and did not focus my mind on ruling the kingdom.
pātayitvā vayasyāṃśca bhrātṝnatha pitāmahān। jīvitaṃ yadi rakṣeyaṃ loko māṃ garhayed dhruvam ॥9-4-43॥
If I were to save my life by causing the downfall of my friends, brothers, and grandfathers, the world would surely blame me.
kīdṛśaṃ ca bhaved rājyaṃ mama hīnasya bandhubhiḥ। sakhibhiś ca suhṛdbhiś ca praṇipatya ca pāṇḍavam ॥9-4-44॥
What kind of kingdom would I have, being deprived of my relatives, friends, and well-wishers, after bowing down to Pāṇḍava?
so'hametādṛśaṃ kṛtvā jagato'sya parābhavam। suyuddhena tataḥ svargaṃ prāpsyāmi na tadanyathā ॥9-4-45॥
"Having caused such a defeat of this world, I shall attain heaven by a good fight; there is no other way."
evaṃ duryodhanenoktaṃ sarve sampūjya tadvacaḥ। sādhu sādhviti rājānaṃ kṣatriyāḥ sambabhāṣire ॥9-4-46॥
Thus, after Duryodhana spoke, all the warriors honored his words and addressed the king, saying "Well done, well done."
parājayamaśocantaḥ kṛtacittāśca vikrame। sarve suniścitā yoddhumudagramanaso'bhavan ॥9-4-47॥
Without lamenting their defeat and with determined minds, all were firmly resolved to fight with uplifted spirits.
tato vāhānsamāśvāsya sarve yuddhābhinandinaḥ। ūne dviyojane gatvā pratyatiṣṭhanta kauravāḥ ॥9-4-48॥
Then, after reassuring their vehicles, all the Kauravas, who were rejoicing in the battle, proceeded less than two yojanas and stood firm.
ākāśe vidrume puṇye prasthe himavataḥ śubhe। aruṇāṃ sarasvatīṃ prāpya papuḥ sasnuśca tajjalam ॥9-4-49॥
In the sky, on the auspicious plateau of the Himalayas, they reached the reddish Sarasvati and drank and bathed in its waters.
tava putrāḥ kṛtotsāhāḥ paryavartanta te tataḥ। paryavasthāpya cātmānamanyonyena punastadā ॥ sarve rājannyavartanta kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ ॥9-4-50॥
Your sons, having been encouraged, turned back at that time. After arranging themselves with each other once more, all the warriors, O king, returned, driven by the force of time.
