Krishna Defends Arjuna; Subhadra Drives Him Home

Verse 1 (1.245.1)

उक्तवन्तो यथावीर्यमसकृत्सर्ववृष्णयः । ततोऽब्रवीद्वासुदेवो वाक्यं धर्मार्थसंयुतम् ॥

uktavanto yathāvīryamasakṛtsarvavṛṣṇayaḥ | tato'bravīdvāsudevo vākyaṃ dharmārthasaṃyutam

When all the Vrishnis had spoken again and again, each according to his valour, Vasudeva spoke words grounded in dharma and in sound purpose:

Verse 2 (1.245.2)

मयोक्तं न श्रुतं पूर्वं सहितैः सर्वयादवैः । अतिक्रान्तमतिक्रान्तं न निवर्तेत कर्हिचित् । शृणुध्वं सहिताः सर्वे मम वाक्यं सहेतुकम् ॥

mayoktaṃ na śrutaṃ pūrvaṃ sahitaiḥ sarvayādavaiḥ | atikrāntamatikrāntaṃ na nivarteta karhicit | śṛṇudhvaṃ sahitāḥ sarve mama vākyaṃ sahetukam

"What I said before, you Yadavas all together did not hear. What is past is past and can never be turned back. Now all of you together hear my words and my reasons.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') and a doubled danda inside the verse. Krishna's speech (introduced in verse 1) fills verses 2–13; Wikisource prints no speaker line and carries वैशंपायन over. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (1.245.3)

नावमानं कुलस्यास्य गुडाकेशः प्रयुक्तवान् । संमानोऽभ्यधिकस्तेन प्रयुक्तोऽयं न संशयः ॥

nāvamānaṃ kulasyāsya guḍākeśaḥ prayuktavān | saṃmāno'bhyadhikastena prayukto'yaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Gudakesha has offered no insult to this family; on the contrary, he has shown it greater honour, beyond doubt.

Verse 4 (1.245.4)

अर्थलुब्धान्न वः पार्थो मन्यते सात्वतान्सदा । स्वयंवरमनाधृष्यं मन्यते चापि पाण्डवः ॥

arthalubdhānna vaḥ pārtho manyate sātvatānsadā | svayaṃvaramanādhṛṣyaṃ manyate cāpi pāṇḍavaḥ

Partha never thinks of you Satvatas as greedy for wealth; and the Pandava holds too that a svayamvara is not a sure way to win a bride.

Verse 5 (1.245.5)

प्रदानमपि कन्यायाः पशुवत्को नु मन्यते । विक्रयं चाप्यपत्यस्य कः कुर्यात्पुरुषो भुवि ॥

pradānamapi kanyāyāḥ paśuvatko nu manyate | vikrayaṃ cāpyapatyasya kaḥ kuryātpuruṣo bhuvi

Who would approve of giving away a daughter as though she were cattle? And what man on earth would sell his own child?

Verse 6 (1.245.6)

एतान्दोषांस्तु कौन्तेयो दृष्टवानिति मे मतिः । क्षत्रियाणां तु वीर्येण प्रशस्तं हरणं बलात् । अतः प्रसह्य हृतवान्कन्यां धर्मेण पाण्डवः ॥

etāndoṣāṃstu kaunteyo dṛṣṭavāniti me matiḥ | kṣatriyāṇāṃ tu vīryeṇa praśastaṃ haraṇaṃ balāt | ataḥ prasahya hṛtavānkanyāṃ dharmeṇa pāṇḍavaḥ

These faults, I believe, the son of Kunti saw. Among kshatriyas, carrying off a bride by force through valour is praised; so the Pandava carried off the maiden by force, in keeping with dharma.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Lines 1 and 3 = 1.213.5; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 7 (1.245.7)

उचितश्चैव संबन्धः सुभद्रा च यशस्विनी । एष चापीदृशः पार्थः प्रसह्य हृतवानतः ॥

ucitaścaiva saṃbandhaḥ subhadrā ca yaśasvinī | eṣa cāpīdṛśaḥ pārthaḥ prasahya hṛtavānataḥ

The match is a fitting one, Subhadra is renowned, and Partha is the kind of man he is; that is why he carried her off by force.

Note on the text: Corrected शयस्विनी → यशस्विनी (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas, as in the critical edition's yaśasvinī).

Verse 8 (1.245.8)

भरतस्यान्वये जातं शान्तनोश्च यशस्विनः । कुन्तिभोजात्मजापुत्रं का बुभूषेत नार्जुनम् ॥

bharatasyānvaye jātaṃ śāntanośca yaśasvinaḥ | kuntibhojātmajāputraṃ kā bubhūṣeta nārjunam

Born in the line of Bharata and of the renowned Shantanu, the son of Kuntibhoja's daughter — what woman would not wish for Arjuna?

Note on the text: Corrected कुन्तिभोजात्माजापुत्रं → कुन्तिभोजात्मजापुत्रं (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign in आत्मजा, as in the critical edition).

Verse 9 (1.245.9)

न तं पश्यामि यः पार्थं विजयेत रणे बलात् । वर्जयित्वा विरूपाक्षं भगनेत्रहरं हरम् ॥

na taṃ paśyāmi yaḥ pārthaṃ vijayeta raṇe balāt | varjayitvā virūpākṣaṃ bhaganetraharaṃ haram

I see no one who could defeat Partha by force in battle, except Virupaksha, Hara, who destroyed Bhaga's eyes —

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to 1.213.8a, which reads differently; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). From here to verse 13 Wikisource's verse division runs half a verse ahead of the critical edition's.

Verse 10 (1.245.10)

अपि सर्वेषु लोकेषु सेन्द्ररुद्रेषु मारिष । स च नाम रथस्तादृङ्मदीयास्ते च वाजिनः ॥

api sarveṣu lokeṣu sendrarudreṣu māriṣa | sa ca nāma rathastādṛṅmadīyāste ca vājinaḥ

no, not in all the worlds, Indra and Rudra included, good sirs. And that chariot of his is what it is, and the horses are mine,

Note on the text: Line 1 = 1.213.8b; line 2 = 1.213.9a.

Verse 11 (1.245.11)

मम शस्त्रं विशेषेण तूणौ चाक्षयसायकौ । योद्धा पार्थश्च शीघ्रास्त्रः को नु तेन समो भवेत् । तमभिद्रुत्य सान्त्वेन परमेण धनञ्जयम् ॥

mama śastraṃ viśeṣeṇa tūṇau cākṣayasāyakau | yoddhā pārthaśca śīghrāstraḥ ko nu tena samo bhavet | tamabhidrutya sāntvena parameṇa dhanañjayam

and above all the weapons are mine, with the two quivers of inexhaustible arrows; and Partha is a warrior swift with his missiles — who could be his match? Hurry after Dhananjaya and, with the greatest conciliation,

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Line 1 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); line 2 = 1.213.9b; line 3 = 1.213.10a.

Verse 12 (1.245.12)

निवर्तयत संहृष्टा ममैषा परमा मतिः । यदि निर्जित्य वः पार्थो बलाद्गच्छेत्स्वकं पुरं ॥

nivartayata saṃhṛṣṭā mamaiṣā paramā matiḥ | yadi nirjitya vaḥ pārtho balādgacchetsvakaṃ puraṃ

gladly bring him back: that is my firm advice. If Partha were to defeat you and go by force to his own city,

Note on the text: Line 1 = 1.213.10b; line 2 = 1.213.11a.

Verse 13 (1.245.13)

प्रणश्येद्वो यशः सद्यो न तु सान्त्वे पराजयः । पितृष्वसायाः पुत्रो मे संबन्धं नार्हति द्विषाम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवस्य तथा कर्तुं जनाधिप ॥

praṇaśyedvo yaśaḥ sadyo na tu sāntve parājayaḥ | pitṛṣvasāyāḥ putro me saṃbandhaṃ nārhati dviṣām | tacchrutvā vāsudevasya tathā kartuṃ janādhipa

your fame would perish at once; but there is no defeat in conciliation. My father's sister's son does not deserve to be treated as an enemy." Hearing this from Vasudeva, O lord of men, to act accordingly,

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Line 1 = 1.213.11b; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); line 3 = 1.213.12a. The last line is narration; the verse is given to Krishna, whose words open it.

Verse 14 (1.245.14)

उद्योगं कृतवन्तस्ते भेरीं सन्नाद्य यादवाः । अर्जुनस्तु तदा श्रुत्वा भेरीसन्नादनं महत् ॥

udyogaṃ kṛtavantaste bherīṃ sannādya yādavāḥ | arjunastu tadā śrutvā bherīsannādanaṃ mahat

the Yadavas made ready and sounded the drum. Arjuna, hearing the great roll of the drum,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 15 (1.245.15)

कौन्तेयस्त्वरमाणस्तु सुभद्रामभ्यभाषत । आयान्ति वृष्णयः सर्वे ससुहृज्जनबान्धवाः ॥

kaunteyastvaramāṇastu subhadrāmabhyabhāṣata | āyānti vṛṣṇayaḥ sarve sasuhṛjjanabāndhavāḥ

the son of Kunti, in haste, said to Subhadra: "All the Vrishnis are coming, with their friends and kinsmen,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (1.245.16)

त्वदर्थं योद्धुकामास्ते मदरक्तान्तलोचनाः । प्रमत्तानशुचीन्मूढान्सुरामत्तान्नराधमान् ॥

tvadarthaṃ yoddhukāmāste madaraktāntalocanāḥ | pramattānaśucīnmūḍhānsurāmattānnarādhamān

eager to fight for your sake, their eyes red at the corners with wine. Those reckless, unclean, befuddled wretches, the lowest of men, drunk on liquor,

Note on the text: Arjuna's words (begun in verse 15) fill verses 16–17; Wikisource prints no speaker line. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 17 (1.245.17)

वमनं पानशीलांस्तान्करिष्यामि शरोत्तमैः । उताहो वा मदोन्मत्तान्नयिष्यामि यमक्षयम् ॥

vamanaṃ pānaśīlāṃstānkariṣyāmi śarottamaiḥ | utāho vā madonmattānnayiṣyāmi yamakṣayam

given to drink — I will make them vomit it up with my finest arrows, or else send them, mad with intoxication, to the abode of Yama."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 18 (1.245.18)

एवमुक्त्वा प्रियां पार्थो न्यवर्तत महाबलः । निवर्तमानं दृष्ट्वैव सुभद्रा त्रस्ततां गता ॥

evamuktvā priyāṃ pārtho nyavartata mahābalaḥ | nivartamānaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva subhadrā trastatāṃ gatā

Saying this to his beloved, mighty Partha turned back; and Subhadra, seeing him turn back, was filled with fear.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (1.245.19)

एवं मा वद पार्थेति पादयोः पतिता तदा । सुभद्रा तु कलिर्जाता वृष्णीनां निधनाय च ॥

evaṃ mā vada pārtheti pādayoḥ patitā tadā | subhadrā tu kalirjātā vṛṣṇīnāṃ nidhanāya ca

"Do not speak so, Partha," she said, falling at his feet. "'Subhadra was born to be strife and ruin for the Vrishnis' —

Note on the text: Corrected निधाय → निधनाय (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the line is a syllable short and निधनाय, "for the ruin", fits the sense). The verse opens with Subhadra's words (falling at his feet is narration), and her plea runs through verse 20; Wikisource prints no speaker line. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 20 (1.245.20)

एवं ब्रुवन्तः पौरास्ते ह्यपवादरताः प्रभो । मम शोकं वर्धयन्ति तस्मान्नाशं न चिन्तये । परिवादभयान्मुक्ता त्वत्प्रसादाद्भवाम्यहम् ॥

evaṃ bruvantaḥ paurāste hyapavādaratāḥ prabho | mama śokaṃ vardhayanti tasmānnāśaṃ na cintaye | parivādabhayānmuktā tvatprasādādbhavāmyaham

saying this, the townsfolk, ever eager to find fault, would only deepen my grief, my lord; that is why I cannot think of their destruction. By your grace, let me be free from the fear of reproach."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 21 (1.245.21)

एवमुक्तस्ततः पार्थः प्रियया भद्रया तदा । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे पार्थः सत्यपराक्रमः ॥

evamuktastataḥ pārthaḥ priyayā bhadrayā tadā | gamanāya matiṃ cakre pārthaḥ satyaparākramaḥ

Thus addressed by his beloved Bhadra, Partha of true valour then made up his mind to go on.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 22 (1.245.22)

स्मितपूर्वं तदाऽऽभाष्य परिष्वज्य प्रियां तदा । उत्थाप्य च पुनः पार्थो याहि याहीति चाब्रवीत् ॥

smitapūrvaṃ tadā''bhāṣya pariṣvajya priyāṃ tadā | utthāpya ca punaḥ pārtho yāhi yāhīti cābravīt

Smiling as he spoke to her, Partha embraced his beloved, raised her up, and said, "Go, go!"

Note on the text: Corrected स्तितपूर्वं → स्मितपूर्वं (misprint in Wikisource; त for म, "with a smile"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 23 (1.245.23)

ततः सुभद्रा त्वरिता रश्मीन्संगृह्य पाणिना । चोदयामास जवनाञ्शीघ्रमश्वान्कृतत्वरा ॥

tataḥ subhadrā tvaritā raśmīnsaṃgṛhya pāṇinā | codayāmāsa javanāñśīghramaśvānkṛtatvarā

Then Subhadra quickly took the reins in her hand and, in haste, drove the swift horses on at speed.

Note on the text: Corrected शीग्रम् → शीघ्रम् (misprint in Wikisource; ग for घ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 24 (1.245.24)

ततस्तु कृतसन्नाहा वृष्णिवीराः समाहिताः । प्रत्यानयार्थं पार्थस्य जवनैस्तुरगोत्तमैः ॥

tatastu kṛtasannāhā vṛṣṇivīrāḥ samāhitāḥ | pratyānayārthaṃ pārthasya javanaisturagottamaiḥ

Then the Vrishni heroes, armed and in good order, set out on swift, excellent horses to bring Partha back.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 25 (1.245.25)

राजमार्गमनुप्राप्ता दृष्ट्वा पार्थस्य विक्रमम् । प्रासादपङ्क्तिस्तम्भेषु वेदिकासु ध्वजेषु च ॥

rājamārgamanuprāptā dṛṣṭvā pārthasya vikramam | prāsādapaṅktistambheṣu vedikāsu dhvajeṣu ca

Reaching the royal road, they saw Partha's prowess: on the rows of mansions, on the pillars, on the terraces and on the banners

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 26 (1.245.26)

अर्जुनस्य शरान्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गताः । केशवस्य वचस्तथ्यं मन्यमानास्तु यादवाः ॥

arjunasya śarāndṛṣṭvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ | keśavasya vacastathyaṃ manyamānāstu yādavāḥ

they saw Arjuna's arrows and were utterly amazed, and the Yadavas judged Keshava's words to be true.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 27 (1.245.27)

अतीत्य तं रैवतकं श्रुत्वा तु विपृथोर्वचः । अर्जुनेन कृतं श्रुत्वा गन्तुकामास्तु वृष्णयः ॥

atītya taṃ raivatakaṃ śrutvā tu vipṛthorvacaḥ | arjunena kṛtaṃ śrutvā gantukāmāstu vṛṣṇayaḥ

Passing Raivataka, they heard Viprithu's report of what Arjuna had done; the Vrishnis still wished to go on,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 28 (1.245.28)

श्रुत्वा दीर्घं गतं पार्थं न्यवर्तन्त महारथाः । पुरोद्यानमतिक्रम्य विशालं च गिरिव्रजम् ॥

śrutvā dīrghaṃ gataṃ pārthaṃ nyavartanta mahārathāḥ | purodyānamatikramya viśālaṃ ca girivrajam

but hearing that Partha had gone far, the great warriors turned back. Partha, passing the city's gardens and broad Girivraja,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 29 (1.245.29)

सानुमुज्जयिनीं चैव वनान्युपवनानि च । पुण्येष्वानर्तराष्ट्रेषु वापीपद्मसरांसि च ॥

sānumujjayinīṃ caiva vanānyupavanāni ca | puṇyeṣvānartarāṣṭreṣu vāpīpadmasarāṃsi ca

the hill country and Ujjayini, the forests and groves, the wells, lotus-pools and lakes of the holy Anarta lands,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 30 (1.245.30)

प्राप्य धेनुमतीतीर्थमश्वरोधसरः प्रति । प्रेक्षावर्तं ततः शैलमम्बुदं च नगोत्तमम् ॥

prāpya dhenumatītīrthamaśvarodhasaraḥ prati | prekṣāvartaṃ tataḥ śailamambudaṃ ca nagottamam

reached the tirtha of Dhenumati and went on toward the lake Ashvarodha, then to the mountain Prekshavarta and Ambuda, best of mountains;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 31 (1.245.31)

आराच्छृङ्गमथासाद्य तीर्णः करवतीं नदीम् । प्राप्य साल्वेयराष्ट्राणि निषधानप्यतीत्य च ॥

ārācchṛṅgamathāsādya tīrṇaḥ karavatīṃ nadīm | prāpya sālveyarāṣṭrāṇi niṣadhānapyatītya ca

then, coming to Arachchhringa, he crossed the river Karavati; reaching the kingdoms of the Salveyas, he passed beyond the Nishadhas too,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 32 (1.245.32)

देवापृथुपुरं पश्यन् सर्वतः सुसमाहितः । तमतीत्य महाबाहुर्देवारण्यमपश्यत ॥

devāpṛthupuraṃ paśyan sarvataḥ susamāhitaḥ | tamatītya mahābāhurdevāraṇyamapaśyata

and looking on Devaprithupura, watchful on every side, the mighty-armed one passed it and came in sight of Devaranya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 33 (1.245.33)

पूजयामासुरायान्तं देवारण्ये महर्षयः । स वनानि नदीः शैलान् गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च ॥

pūjayāmāsurāyāntaṃ devāraṇye maharṣayaḥ | sa vanāni nadīḥ śailān giriprasravaṇāni ca

The great seers in Devaranya honoured him as he came. Passing forests, rivers, mountains and mountain springs,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (1.245.34)

अतीत्य च तदा पार्थः सुभद्रासारथिस्तदा । कौरवं विषयं प्राप्य विशोकः समपद्यत ॥

atītya ca tadā pārthaḥ subhadrāsārathistadā | kauravaṃ viṣayaṃ prāpya viśokaḥ samapadyata

Partha, with Subhadra as his charioteer, reached the country of the Kurus and was free of sorrow.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 35 (1.245.35)

सोदर्याणां महाबाहुः सिंहाशयमिवाशयम् । दूरादुपवनोपेतं समन्तात्सलिलावृतम् ॥

sodaryāṇāṃ mahābāhuḥ siṃhāśayamivāśayam | dūrādupavanopetaṃ samantātsalilāvṛtam

Far off the mighty-armed one made out the dwelling of his brothers, like a lion's lair, ringed by gardens and surrounded by water on every side;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 36 (1.245.36)

भद्रया मुदितो जिष्णुर्ददर्श वृजिनं पुरम् ॥

bhadrayā mudito jiṣṇurdadarśa vṛjinaṃ puram

rejoicing with Bhadra, Jishnu gazed upon that city of Vrijina.

Note on the text: A single line in Wikisource (it completes verse 35). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).