संजय उवाच श्रुत्वा तु तं महाशब्दं पाण्डूनां जयगृद्धिनाम्। चारैः प्रवेदिते तत्र समुत्थाय जयद्रथः॥
Sanjaya said Having heard the loud uproar created by the Pandavas desirous of victory and having ascertained through spies the cause thereof, Jayadratha then rose up.
शोकसम्मूढहृदयो दुःखेनाभिपरिप्लुतः। मज्जमान इवागाधे विपुले शोकसागरे॥
With a heart confounded with grief and overwhelmed with affliction and like one sinking in an extensive and deep sea of sorrow.
अगाम समिति राज्ञां सैन्धवो विमृशन् बहु। स तेषां नरदेवानां सकाशे पर्यदेवयन्॥
Then that ruler of the Sindhus, having reflected for a long while, proceeded to the assembly of the kings; there, before the assemblage of monarchs, expressing his grief.
अभिमन्योः पितुर्भीतः सव्रीडो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। योऽसौ पाण्डो:किल क्षेत्रे जातः शक्रेण कामिना॥
And afraid of the father of Abhimanyu and overwhelmed with shame, he spoke these words-"He, who was begotten upon the wife of Pandu by the lustful Indra.
स निनीषति दुर्बुद्धिर्मा किलैकं यमक्षयम्। तत् स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु यास्यामि स्वगृहं जीवितेप्सया।।५
That one of perverse intellect is desirous of dispatching me to the abode of Death. Good be tide you all, I shall now go back to my home out of a desire for saving my life.
अथवास्त्रप्रतिबलास्त्रात मां क्षत्रियर्षभाः। पार्थेन प्रार्थिनं वीरास्ते संदत्त ममाभयम्॥
Or, O foremost of the Kshatriyas, do you all protect me with the power of your weapons; O heroes, the son of Pritha (Arjuna) seeks to slay me; do you give me assurances of safety.
द्रोणदुर्योधनकृपाः कर्णमद्रेशबाह्निकाः। दुःशासनादयः शक्तास्त्रातुं मामन्तकार्दितम्॥ किमङ्ग पुनरेकेन फाल्गुनेन जिघांसता। न त्रायेयुभवन्तो मां समस्ताः पतयः क्षितेः॥
Drona, Duryodhana, Kripa, Karna, the rulers of the Madras and the Balhikas and Dushasana and others, these are competent to save even one who is seized by Death himself. Why then should not all these rulers of earth, united together, be able to protect me, when I are threatened by Phalguna who seeks to slay me?
प्रहर्षे पाण्डवेयानां श्रुत्वा मम महद् भयम्। सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुमूर्षोरिव पार्थिवाः॥
Having heard the rejoicings of the sons of Pandu, I am struck with fear and O ruler of men, my limbs are loosing strength, like those of one on the verge of death.
वधो नूनं प्रतिज्ञातो मम गाण्डीवधन्वना। तथा हि हृष्टाः क्रोशन्ति शोककाले स्म पाण्डवाः॥
Without doubt, the wielder of the bow Gandiva has promised to slay me; therefore it is that, the Pandavas are shouting with delight at a time when they should grieve.
तन्न देवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरोरगराक्षसाः। उत्सहन्तेऽन्यथाकर्तुं कुत एव नराधिपाः॥
Even the Gandharavas, the Asuras the reptiles and the Rakshasas, cannot dare baffle a vow of Arjuna, what to speak of the rulers of men?
तस्मानमामनुजानीत भद्रं वोऽस्तु नरर्षभाः। अदर्शनं गमिष्यामि न मां द्रक्ष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः॥
Therefore foremost of men, do you all accord me your permission (to go home); may good betide you; I shall go concealed and the Pandavas will not be able to detect me."
एवं विलपमानं तं भयाद् व्याकुलचेतसम्। आत्मकार्यगरीयस्त्वाद् राजा दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत्॥
Him thus lamenting with heart confounded with the burden of fear, king Duryodhana ever devoted to his own personal interests, said these wordsन भेतव्यं नरव्याघ्र को हि त्वां पुरुषर्षभ।
मध्ये क्षत्रियवीराणां तिष्ठन्तं प्रार्थयेद् युधि॥
O foremost among men, you should entertain no fear. What person, O beat of men, can seek to slay you, when you stand in the midst of the Kshatriya heroes.
अहं वैकर्तनः कर्णश्चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः। भूरिश्रवाः शल: शल्यो वृषसेनो दुरासदः॥ पुरुमित्रो जयो भोजः काम्बोजश्च सुदक्षिणः। सत्यव्रतो महाबाहुर्विकर्णो दुर्मुखश्च ह॥
a from your
दुःशासनः सुबाहुश्च कालिङ्गश्चाप्युदायुधः। विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ द्रोणो द्रौणिश्च सौबलः॥ एते चान्ये च बहवो नानाजनपदेश्वराः। ससैन्यास्त्वाभियास्यन्ति व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः॥
Myself, Vikartana's son Karna, Chitrasena, Vivinshati, Bhurishravas, Shala, Shalya, the invincible Vrishasena, Purumitra, Jaya, Bhoja, Sudakshina the ruler of the Kambojas, the mighty armed Satyavrata, Vikarna and Durmukha, Dushasana, Subahu, the ruler of the Kalingas with arms uplifted, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, Drona and the son of Drona, Subala's son, these and many other rulers of various countries, attended with all their troops, shall exert themselves in protecting you. Let the fever of fear be driven away mind.
त्वं चापि रथिनां श्रेष्ठः स्वयं शूरोऽमिताते। स कथं पाण्डवेयेभ्यो भयं पश्यसि सैन्धव॥
You also, O you of unrivalled effulgence, are the foremost of all heroes; why then, O ruler of the Sindhus, do you entertain fear from the Pandavas.
अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च मदीयास्तव रक्षणे। यत्ता योत्स्यन्ति मा भैस्त्वं सैन्धव व्येतु ते भयम्॥
These ten and one Akshouhini of my troops shall strive their best for protecting you. Be not afraid, O ruler of the Sindhus. Let fear be driven away from your heart.
संजय उवाच एवमाश्वासितो राजन् पुत्रेण तव सैन्धवः। दुर्योधनेन सहितो द्रोण रात्रावुपागमत्॥
Sanjaya said Thus comforted by your son Duryodhana, the ruler of the Sindhus, o king accompanied by the former, went that very night, to the camp of Drona.
उपसंग्रहणं कृत्वा द्रोणाय स विशाम्पते। उपोपविश्य प्रणतः पर्यपृच्छदिदं तदा॥
Then saluting Drona by touching his feet and having bowed down to him, Jayadratha, O ruler of men, sat down with humility and then asked the following question.
निमित्ते दूरपातित्वे लघुत्वे दृढवेधने। मम ब्रवीतु भगवान् विशेष फाल्गुनस्य च॥
“Tell me, O illustrious one, the difference between myself and Phalguna, as regards hitting the aim, hitting it from a distance, lightness of hands and the force of strokes.
विद्याविशेषमिच्छामि ज्ञातुमाचार्य तत्त्वतः। अर्जुनस्यात्मनश्चैव याथातथ्यं प्रचक्ष्व मे॥
O preceptor, I want to know exactly the difference, as regards proficiency in arms between myself and Arjuna. Say it to me truly."
द्रोण उवाच सममाचार्यकं तात तव चैवार्जुनस्य च। योगाद् दुःखोषितत्वाच्च तस्मात्त्वत्तोऽधिकोऽर्जुनः॥२५
Drona said As regards teaching you and Arjuna, O sire, have both received an equal share. But through Yoga and through the effects of hardship he had undergone, he has become superior to yourself.
न तु ते युधि संत्रासः कार्यः पार्थात् कथञ्चन। अहं हि रक्षिता तात भयात्त्वां नात्र संशयः॥
In battle, you should never entertain any fear from Pritha's son Arjuna, I am surely your protector, O sire, from ali dangers.
न हि माहुगुप्तस्य प्रभवन्त्यमरा अपि। व्यूहयिष्यामि तं व्यूहं यं पार्थो न तरिष्यति॥
Even the very gods cannot obtain victory over him who is protected with the strength of my arms. I will (tomorrow) form such an array which Partha will never be able to reach the end of.
तस्माद् युद्ध्यस्वमा भैस्त्वं स्वधर्ममनुपालय। पितृपैतामहं मार्गमनुयाहि महारथ॥
Therefore do you fight and be not afraid in the least and observe (scrupulously) the duties of your order. O foremost of car-warriors, do you follow the path chalked out by your fathers and grandfathers.
अधीत्य विधिवद् वेदानग्नयः सुहुतास्त्वया। इष्टं च बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्न ते मृत्युभयङ्करः॥
Having studied the various branches of knowledge, you have burnt due offerings on the fire, you have also celebrated various sacrifices; death therefore should not be an object of apprehension to you.
दुर्लभं मानुषैर्मन्दैमहाभाग्यमवाप्यतु। भुजवीर्यार्जिताँल्लोकान् दिव्यान् प्राप्स्यस्यनुत्तमान्।।
(On the other hand), if you die you shall attain to that good fortune so difficult of being attained by the vile men, viz., you shall ascend to those excellent regions that are acquired by the strength of our arms.
कुरुः पाण्डवाश्चैव वृष्णयोऽन्ये च मानवाः। अहं च सह पुत्रेण अध्रुवा इति चिन्त्यताम्॥
The Kurus, the Pandavas, the Vrishnis and other men and I and my son-think all these to be mortal and uncertain,
पर्यायेण वयं सर्वे कालेन बलिना हताः। परलोकं गमिष्यामः स्वैः स्वैः कर्मभिरन्विताः॥
One after another, destroyed by the powerful God of Death, we shall go to the regions of the departed, carrying with us the fruits of our respective actions.
तपस्तप्त्वा तु याँल्लोकान् प्राप्नुवन्ति तपस्विनः। क्षत्रधर्माश्रिता वीराः क्षत्रियाः प्राप्नुवन्ति तान्॥
Those regions to which the ascetics repair through their observance of ascetic austerities, even those regions the heroic Kshatriyas attain, by the observance of their own duties.”
एवमाश्वासितो राजा भारद्वाजेन सैन्धवः। अपानुदद् भयं पार्थाद् युद्धाय च मनो दधे॥३४।
Thus then was the ruler of the Sindhus comforted by the son of Bharadvaja. He then dismissed (from his heart) all fears of Partha (Arjuna) and set his heart upon battle.
ततः प्रहर्षः सैन्यानां तवाप्यासीद् विशाम्पते। वादित्राणां ध्वनिश्चोग्रः सिंहनादरवै: सह॥
Thereupon, O ruler of men, your warriors were filled with delight and the war-cries they then shouted out, became mingled with the terrible din of the musical instruments.