संजय उवाच ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा प्रतिनन्द्य जनार्दनम्। उवाच परमप्रीतः कौन्तेयो देवकीसुतम्॥
Sanjaya said King Yudhishthira the son of Kunti then welcoming the son of Devaki, that assuager of the grief of men, cheerfully addressed the following words to himसुखेन रजनी व्युष्टा कच्चित् ते मधुसूदन।
कच्चिज्ज्ञानानि सर्वाणि प्रसन्नानि तवाच्युत॥
"Having you, O slayer of Madhu, passed the night in happiness? Are all your senseorgans, O undeteriorating one, as keen as ever?"
वासुदेवोऽपि तद्युक्तं पर्यपृच्छद् युधिष्ठिरम्। ततश्च प्रकृतीः क्षत्ता न्यवेदयदुपस्थिताः॥
The son of Vasudeva also put similar questions to Yudhishthira. Then an orderly came there and said that other Kshatriya warriors were waiting to be ushered in.
अनुज्ञातश्च राज्ञा स प्रावेशयत तं जनम्। विराटं भीमसेनं च धृष्टद्युम्नं च सात्यकिम्॥ चेदिपं धृष्टकेतुं च द्रुपदं च महारथम्। शिखण्डिनं यमो चैव चेकितानं सकेकयम्॥ युयुत्सुं चैव कौरव्यं पाञ्चाल्यं चोत्तमौजसम्। युधामन्युं सुबाहुं च द्रौपदेयांश्च सर्वशः॥
Permitted by the king, the orderly introduced that influx of men, numbering it, Virat, Bhimasena, Dhristadyumna and Satyaki and the ruler of the Chedis, Dhrishtaketu the mighty car-warriors Drupada, Sikhandin, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, Chekitana with the prince of the Kekayas. As also Yuyutsu of Kuru race and Uttamaujas of the Panchala tribe and Yudhamanyu and Subahu and the five sons of Draupadi.
एते चान्ये च बहवः क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभम्। उपतस्थुर्महात्मानं विविशुश्चासने शुभे॥
These and many other Kshatriyas approached that best of Kshatriyas of illustrious fame; and they sat down on auspicious seats.
एकस्मिन्नासने वीरावुपविष्टौ महाबलौ। कृष्णश्च युयुधानश्च महात्मानौ महाद्युती॥
The two mighty heroes, Krishna and Yuyudhana, of illustrious souls and great effulgence, both sat on a single seat.
ततो युधिष्ठिरस्तेषां श्रृण्वतां मधुसूदनम्। अब्रवीत् पुण्डरीकाक्षमाभाष्य मधुरं वचः॥
Thereafter king Yudhishthira, at the hearing of those assembled Kshatriyas, said these sweet words addressing that slayer of Madhu, who
एकं त्वां वयमाश्रित्य सहस्राक्षमिवामराः। प्रार्थमायो जयं युद्धे शाश्वतानि सुखानि च॥
Like celestials depending on the strength of the thousand-eyed (Indra), we relying on you alone, seek victory in battle and eternal happiness.
त्वं हि राज्यविनाशं न द्विषद्भिश्चनिराक्रियाम्। क्लेशांश्च विविधान् कृष्ण सर्वांस्तानपि वेद नः॥
You, () Krishna, know all about the despoliation of our kingdom, our exile by the that, my enemy and also all the miseries we had to suffer.
त्वयि सर्वेश सर्वेषामस्माकं भक्तवत्सल। सुखमायत्तमत्यर्थे यात्रा च मधुसूदन॥
O Lord of everything, O you who are merciful to all devoted to you, upon you rest all our happiness and even our existence, O slayer of Madhu.
स तथा कुरु वार्ष्णेय यथा त्वयि मनो मम। अर्जुनस्य यथा सत्या प्रतिज्ञा स्याच्चिकीर्षिता॥
O descendant of the Vrishni race, so do you manage heart may always rely on you and Arjuna's oath may remain inviolate.
स भवांस्तारयत्वस्माद् दुःखामर्षमहार्णवात्। पारं तितीर्षतामद्य प्लवो नो भव माधव॥
Help us to cross this veritable ocean of grief and wrath. O Madhava, be you our raft today, as we desire to cross this ocean (of troubles).
न हि तत् कुरुते संख्ये रथी रिपुवधोद्यतः। यथा वै कुरुते कृष्ण सारथिर्यलमास्थितः॥
A car-warrior desirous of slaying his adversary cannot, in battle, do that (to achieve his purpose) which, O Krishna, his driver can do, if this latter strides with due caution.
यथैव सर्वास्वापत्सु पासि वृष्णीञ्जनार्दन। तथैवास्मान् महाबाहो वृजिनात् त्रातुमर्हसि॥
O mighty-armed Janardana, as you save the Vrishnis from all calamities, so also, it behoves you to save us from this impending ruin.
त्वमगाधेऽप्लवे मग्नान् पाण्डवान् कुरुसागरे। समुद्धर प्लवो भूत्वा शङ्खचक्रगदाधर॥
O you the bearer of the conch, the discus and the mace, do you save the sons of Pandu sunk in the deep and boatless Kurn ocean, by becoming even a boat to them.
नमस्ते देवदेवेश सनातन विशातन। विष्णो जिष्णो हरे कृष्ण वैकुण्ठ पुरुषोत्तम॥
Salutations unto you, the Lord of the foremost of celestials, the eternal one, the supreme destroyer, O Vishnu, O Jishnu, O Hari, O Krishna, O Vaikuntha and.O foremost of all male beings.
नारदस्त्वां समाचख्यौ पुराणमृषिसत्तमम्। वरदं शाङ्गिणं श्रेष्ठं तत् सत्यं कुरु माधव॥
Narada had pronounced you to be that best and most ancient of sages viz., (Narayana), who accord boons, who wields the Sharnga bow and who are the foremost of all. Make, O Madhava, all these words true.
इत्युक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्षो धर्मराजेन संसदि। तोयमेघस्वनो वाग्मी प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम्॥
Thus spoken to in the midst of the assembly by the very virtuous king Yudhishthira, that most fluent speaker Keshava replied to the former, in a voice sonorous like the rumbling of clouds charged with rain.
वासुदेव उवाच सामरेष्वपि लोकेषु सर्वेषु न तथाविधः। शरासनधरः कश्चिद् यथा पार्थो धनजंयः॥
Krishna said In all the worlds, including the regions of celestials, there is no such wielder of bow who can equal Dhananjaya the son of Pritha.
वीर्यवानस्त्रसम्पन्नः पराक्रान्तो महाबलः। युद्धशोण्डः सदामर्षी तेजसा परमो नृणाम्॥
Endowed with energy, accomplished in the use of weapons, possessed of great prowess and might, ever brave in battle and wrathful and agile, he is the foremost of all men.
स युवा वृषभस्कन्धो दीर्घबाहुर्महाबलः। सिंहर्षभगतिः श्रीमान् द्विषतस्ते हनिष्यति॥
Moreover is youthful, of shoulders strong like those of the bull, of long-arms and mighty prowess; his gait resembles that of the lion itself. That handsome hero will slay all your enemies.
अहं च तत् करिष्यामि यथा कुन्तीसुतोऽर्जुनः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैन्यानि धक्ष्यत्यग्निरिवेन्धनम्॥
On my part, I shall so act as Kunti's son Arjuna may be able to consume the troops of Dhritarashtra's son, like raging conflagration.
अद्य तं पापकर्माणं क्षुद्रं सौभद्रघातिनम्। अपुनर्दर्शनं मार्गमिषुभिः क्षेप्स्यतेऽर्जुनः॥
even Even this very day, with the help of his arrows, Arjuna will compel that one of sinful acts, that mean-minded slayer of Subhadra's son viz., Jayadratha, to travel on a road from which no traveller ever returns.
तस्याद्य गृध्राः श्येनाश्च चण्डगोमायवस्तथा। भक्षयिष्यन्ति मांसानि ये चान्ये पुरुषादकाः॥
The vultures, the hawks, the fierce jackals and other carnivorous animals, will today hold a feast on the flesh of that one.
यद्यस्य देवा गोप्तारः सेन्द्राः सर्वे तथाप्यसौ। राजधानी यमस्याद्य हतः प्राप्स्यति संकुले॥
O Yudhishthira, even if the Gods with Indra at their head today become the protectors of Jayadratha, yet, slain in the thick of the fight, he shall undoubtedly be borne to the capital of Death's domain.
निहत्य सैन्धवं जिष्णुरद्य त्वामुपयास्यति। विशोको विज्वरो राजन् भव भूतिपुरस्कृतः॥
The victorious Arjuna shall this day come to you, having slain in battle the ruler of the Sindhus. Dismiss the grief of your heart and free yourself of the fever of anxiety and O king, be you attended with prosperity!