Pradyumna Rebukes His Charioteer

Verse 1 (3.18.1)

साल्वबाणार्दिते तस्मिन्प्रद्युम्ने बलिनां वरे । वृष्णयो भग्नसंकल्पा विव्यथुः पृतनामुखे ॥

sālvabāṇārdite tasminpradyumne balināṃ vare | vṛṣṇayo bhagnasaṃkalpā vivyathuḥ pṛtanāmukhe

When Pradyumna, the best of the strong, was struck down by Shalva's arrows, the Vrishnis lost heart and were shaken at the head of the army.

Note on the text: Corrected बलिनांवरे → बलिनां वरे (word division; two words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 2 (3.18.2)

हाहाकृतमभूत्सर्वं वृष्ण्यन्धकबलं ततः । प्रद्युम्ने मोहिते राजन्साल्वः प्रमुदितोऽभवत् ॥

hāhākṛtamabhūtsarvaṃ vṛṣṇyandhakabalaṃ tataḥ | pradyumne mohite rājansālvaḥ pramudito'bhavat

Then the whole army of the Vrishnis and Andhakas broke into cries of dismay, O king; and with Pradyumna stunned, Shalva rejoiced.

Verse 3 (3.18.3)

तं तथा मोहितं दृष्ट्वा सारथिर्जवनैर्हयैः । रणादपाहरत्तूर्णं शिक्षितो दारुकिस्तदा ॥

taṃ tathā mohitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sārathirjavanairhayaiḥ | raṇādapāharattūrṇaṃ śikṣito dārukistadā

Seeing him stunned like this, his trained charioteer, the son of Daruka, quickly carried him away from the battle with his swift horses.

Verse 4 (3.18.4)

नातिदूरापयाते तु रथे रथवरप्रणुत् । धनुर्गृहीत्वा यन्तारं लब्धसंज्ञोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

nātidūrāpayāte tu rathe rathavarapraṇut | dhanurgṛhītvā yantāraṃ labdhasaṃjño'bravīdidam

The chariot had not gone far when he who drives back the finest chariot-fighters came to his senses; taking up his bow, he said this to his charioteer:

Note on the text: Corrected लब्धसज्ञो → लब्धसंज्ञो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara, as in the critical edition's labdhasaṃjño).

Verse 5 (3.18.5)

सौते किं ते व्यवसितं कस्माद्यासि पराङ्मुखः । नैष वृष्णिप्रवीराणामाहवे धर्म उच्यते ॥

saute kiṃ te vyavasitaṃ kasmādyāsi parāṅmukhaḥ | naiṣa vṛṣṇipravīrāṇāmāhave dharma ucyate

"Son of a charioteer, what have you decided? Why are you turning away? This is not called the duty of the Vrishni heroes in battle.

Verse 6 (3.18.6)

कच्चित्सौते न ते मोहः साल्वं दृष्ट्वा महाहवे । विषादो वा रणं दृष्ट्वा ब्रूहि मे त्वं यथातथम् ॥

kaccitsaute na te mohaḥ sālvaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāhave | viṣādo vā raṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā brūhi me tvaṃ yathātatham

I hope you were not bewildered at the sight of Shalva in this great battle, or disheartened at the sight of the fighting? Tell me truly."

Note on the text: Corrected रणँ → रणं (misprint in Wikisource; candrabindu for anusvara).

Verse 7 (3.18.7)

जानार्दने न मे मोहो नापि मां भयमाविशत् । अतिभारं तु ते मन्ये साल्वं केशवनन्दन ॥

jānārdane na me moho nāpi māṃ bhayamāviśat | atibhāraṃ tu te manye sālvaṃ keśavanandana

"O son of Janardana, I am not bewildered, nor has fear entered me. But I judged Shalva to be too heavy a burden for you.

Verse 8 (3.18.8)

सोऽभियाति शनैर्वीर बलवानेष पापकृत् । मोहितश्च रणे शूरो रक्ष्यः सारथिना रथी ॥

so'bhiyāti śanairvīra balavāneṣa pāpakṛt | mohitaśca raṇe śūro rakṣyaḥ sārathinā rathī

He is pressing on, O hero, slowly, this mighty evil-doer; and a brave warrior who has been stunned in battle must be protected by his charioteer.

Note on the text: Corrected सोभियाति → सोऽभियाति (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha). The critical edition reads so 'payāmi ("so I withdraw").

Verse 9 (3.18.9)

आयुष्मंस्त्वं मया नित्यं रक्षितव्यस्त्वयाऽप्यहम् । रक्षितव्यो रणे नित्यमिति कृत्वाऽपयाम्यहम् ॥

āyuṣmaṃstvaṃ mayā nityaṃ rakṣitavyastvayā'pyaham | rakṣitavyo raṇe nityamiti kṛtvā'payāmyaham

Long may you live! You must always be protected by me, and I by you; a warrior in battle must always be protected. With this in mind I am withdrawing.

Verse 10 (3.18.10)

एकश्चासि महाबाहो बहवश्चापि दानवाः । न समं रौक्मिणेयाहं रणं मत्वाऽपयामि वा ॥

ekaścāsi mahābāho bahavaścāpi dānavāḥ | na samaṃ raukmiṇeyāhaṃ raṇaṃ matvā'payāmi vā

You are alone, mighty-armed one, and the Danavas are many. Judging the fight unequal, son of Rukmini, I am drawing back."

Note on the text: Corrected रणए → रणं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads raṇaṃ).

Verse 11 (3.18.11)

एवं ब्रुवति सूते तु तदा मकरकेतुमान् । उवाच सूतं कौरव्य संनिवर्त्य रथं पुनः ॥

evaṃ bruvati sūte tu tadā makaraketumān | uvāca sūtaṃ kauravya saṃnivartya rathaṃ punaḥ

While the charioteer was speaking thus, O Kauravya, he whose banner bears the makara turned the chariot back once more and said to him:

Verse 12 (3.18.12)

दारुकात्मज मैवं त्वं पुनः कार्षीः कथंचन । व्यपयानं रणात्सौते जीवतो मम कर्हिचित् ॥

dārukātmaja maivaṃ tvaṃ punaḥ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana | vyapayānaṃ raṇātsaute jīvato mama karhicit

"Son of Daruka, never do this again in any way: never, charioteer, retreat from battle while I am alive.

Note on the text: Corrected न्यपयानं → व्यपयानं (misprint in Wikisource; न्यपयान is not a word; the critical edition reads vyapayānaṃ).

Verse 13 (3.18.13)

न स वृष्णिकुले जातो यो वै त्यजति संगरम् । यो वा निपतितं हन्ति तवास्मीति च वादिनम् ॥

na sa vṛṣṇikule jāto yo vai tyajati saṃgaram | yo vā nipatitaṃ hanti tavāsmīti ca vādinam

He is not born in the Vrishni line who abandons a battle, or who kills a man who has fallen or who says, 'I am yours.'

Verse 14 (3.18.14)

तथा स्त्रियं च यो हन्ति बालं वृद्धं तथैव च । विरथं मुक्तकेशं च भग्नशस्त्रायुधं तथा ॥

tathā striyaṃ ca yo hanti bālaṃ vṛddhaṃ tathaiva ca | virathaṃ muktakeśaṃ ca bhagnaśastrāyudhaṃ tathā

Nor one who kills a woman, a child or an old man, one who has lost his chariot, one whose hair has come loose, or one whose weapons are broken.

Verse 15 (3.18.15)

त्वं च सूतकुले जातो विदितः सूतकर्मणि । धर्मज्ञश्चासि वृष्णीनामाहवेष्वपि दारुके ॥

tvaṃ ca sūtakule jāto viditaḥ sūtakarmaṇi | dharmajñaścāsi vṛṣṇīnāmāhaveṣvapi dāruke

You were born in a family of charioteers and are known for your skill in the charioteer's craft; and you know the code of the Vrishnis in battle, son of Daruka.

Verse 16 (3.18.16)

स जानंश्चरितं कृत्स्नं वृष्णीनां पृतनामुखे । अपयानं पुनः सौते मैवं कार्षीः कथंचन ॥

sa jānaṃścaritaṃ kṛtsnaṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ pṛtanāmukhe | apayānaṃ punaḥ saute maivaṃ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana

Knowing as you do the whole conduct of the Vrishnis at the front of battle, charioteer, never again in any way make such a retreat.

Note on the text: Corrected पुन → पुनः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga).

Verse 17 (3.18.17)

अपयातं हतं पृष्ठे भ्रान्तं रणपलायितम् । गदाग्रजो दुराधर्षः किं मां वक्ष्यति माधवः ॥

apayātaṃ hataṃ pṛṣṭhe bhrāntaṃ raṇapalāyitam | gadāgrajo durādharṣaḥ kiṃ māṃ vakṣyati mādhavaḥ

I retreated, struck in the back, confused, a runaway from the fight: what will Madhava, Gada's invincible elder brother, say to me?

Verse 18 (3.18.18)

केशवस्याग्रजो वाऽपि नीलवासा मदोत्कटः । किं वक्ष्यति महाबाहुर्बलदेवः समागतः ॥

keśavasyāgrajo vā'pi nīlavāsā madotkaṭaḥ | kiṃ vakṣyati mahābāhurbaladevaḥ samāgataḥ

Or what will Keshava's elder brother say when we meet, the mighty-armed Baladeva, dark-robed and fierce with wine?

Verse 19 (3.18.19)

किं वक्ष्यति शिनेर्नप्ता रणसिंहो महारथः । अपयातं रणात्सूत साम्बश्च समितिंजयः ॥

kiṃ vakṣyati śinernaptā raṇasiṃho mahārathaḥ | apayātaṃ raṇātsūta sāmbaśca samitiṃjayaḥ

What will Shini's grandson say, that lion of battle and great chariot-fighter, when I have run from the fight, charioteer? And Samba, victor in battle?

Note on the text: Corrected वक्ष्यतिशिनेर्नप्ता → वक्ष्यति शिनेर्नप्ता (word division; two words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 20 (3.18.20)

चारुदेष्णश्च दुर्धर्षस्तथैव गदसारणौ । अक्रूरश्च महाबाहुः किं मां वक्ष्यति सारथे ॥

cārudeṣṇaśca durdharṣastathaiva gadasāraṇau | akrūraśca mahābāhuḥ kiṃ māṃ vakṣyati sārathe

What will the invincible Charudeshna say to me, charioteer, and likewise Gada and Sarana, and the mighty-armed Akrura?

Verse 21 (3.18.21)

शूरं संभावितं शान्तं नित्यं पुरुषमानिनम् । स्त्रियश्च वृष्णिवीराणां किं मां वक्ष्यन्ति संगताः ॥

śūraṃ saṃbhāvitaṃ śāntaṃ nityaṃ puruṣamāninam | striyaśca vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ kiṃ māṃ vakṣyanti saṃgatāḥ

I have always been thought brave, respected, self-possessed, a man proud of his manhood: what will the wives of the Vrishni heroes say to me when they gather?

Note on the text: Corrected मांवक्ष्यन्ति → मां वक्ष्यन्ति (word division; two words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 22 (3.18.22)

प्रद्युम्नोऽयमुपायाति भीतस्त्यक्त्वा महाहवम् । धिगेनमिति वक्ष्यन्ति न तु वक्ष्यन्ति साध्विति ॥

pradyumno'yamupāyāti bhītastyaktvā mahāhavam | dhigenamiti vakṣyanti na tu vakṣyanti sādhviti

'Here comes Pradyumna, who left the great battle in fear!' 'Shame on him!' they will say; they will not say, 'Well done.'

Verse 23 (3.18.23)

धिग्वाचा परिहासोऽपि मम वा मद्विधस्य वा । मृत्युनाऽभ्यधिकः सौते स त्वं मा व्यपयाः पुनः ॥

dhigvācā parihāso'pi mama vā madvidhasya vā | mṛtyunā'bhyadhikaḥ saute sa tvaṃ mā vyapayāḥ punaḥ

For me, or for anyone like me, even mockery spoken with the word 'shame' is worse than death, charioteer. So never withdraw again.

Note on the text: Corrected परिहासोपि → परिहासोऽपि (missing avagraha) and माव्यपयाः → मा व्यपयाः (word division) — misprints in Wikisource.

Verse 24 (3.18.24)

भारं हि मयि संन्यस्य यातो मधुनिहा हरिः । यज्ञं भरतसिंहस्य न हि शक्योऽद्यमर्षितुम् ॥

bhāraṃ hi mayi saṃnyasya yāto madhunihā hariḥ | yajñaṃ bharatasiṃhasya na hi śakyo'dyamarṣitum

For Hari, the slayer of Madhu, laid this burden on me when he went to the sacrifice of the lion of the Bharatas; this cannot be endured today.

Note on the text: Corrected बारतसिंहस्य → भरतसिंहस्य (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads bharatasiṃhasya). The second half-line differs from the critical edition (pārthasyāmitatejasaḥ) and is kept.

Verse 25 (3.18.25)

कृतवर्मा मया वीरो निर्यास्यन्नेव वारितः । साल्वं निवारयिष्येऽहं तिष्ठ त्वमिति सूतज ॥

kṛtavarmā mayā vīro niryāsyanneva vāritaḥ | sālvaṃ nivārayiṣye'haṃ tiṣṭha tvamiti sūtaja

I held back the hero Kritavarman just as he was about to go out, saying, 'I will check Shalva; you stay here,' O son of a charioteer.

Verse 26 (3.18.26)

स च संभावयन्मां वै निवृत्तो हृदिकात्मजः । तं समेत्य रणं त्यक्त्वा किं वक्ष्यामि महारथं ॥

sa ca saṃbhāvayanmāṃ vai nivṛtto hṛdikātmajaḥ | taṃ sametya raṇaṃ tyaktvā kiṃ vakṣyāmi mahārathaṃ

And Hridika's son turned back, trusting in me. Having abandoned the battle, what shall I say when I meet that great chariot-fighter?

Verse 27 (3.18.27)

उपयान्तं दुराधर्षं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् । पुरुषं पुण्डरीकाक्षं किं वक्ष्यामि महाभुजम् ॥

upayāntaṃ durādharṣaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam | puruṣaṃ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ kiṃ vakṣyāmi mahābhujam

When the invincible one returns, bearing conch, discus and mace, the lotus-eyed Purusha, the mighty-armed, what shall I say to him?

Verse 28 (3.18.28)

सात्यकिं बलदेवं च ये चान्येऽन्धकवृष्णयः । मया स्पर्धन्ति सततं किं नु वक्ष्यामि तानहं ॥

sātyakiṃ baladevaṃ ca ye cānye'ndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ | mayā spardhanti satataṃ kiṃ nu vakṣyāmi tānahaṃ

Satyaki and Baladeva, and the other Andhakas and Vrishnis who always vie with me: what shall I say to them?

Verse 29 (3.18.29)

त्यक्त्वा रणमिमं सौते पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः । त्वयाऽपनीतो विवशो न जीवेयं कथंचन ॥

tyaktvā raṇamimaṃ saute pṛṣṭhato'bhyāhataḥ śaraiḥ | tvayā'panīto vivaśo na jīveyaṃ kathaṃcana

Having left this battle, charioteer, struck by arrows in the back and carried off by you helpless, I could not live on in any way.

Note on the text: Corrected त्वयाऽपनीती → त्वयाऽपनीतो (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads tvayāpanīto).

Verse 30 (3.18.30)

संनिवर्त रथेनाशु पुनर्दारुकनन्दन । न चैतदेवं कर्तव्यमथापत्सु कथंचन ॥

saṃnivarta rathenāśu punardārukanandana | na caitadevaṃ kartavyamathāpatsu kathaṃcana

Turn back quickly with the chariot, son of Daruka. Never do such a thing, not even in times of danger.

Verse 31 (3.18.31)

न जीवितमहं सौते बहु मन्ये कथंचन । अपयातो रणाद्भीतः पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः ॥

na jīvitamahaṃ saute bahu manye kathaṃcana | apayāto raṇādbhītaḥ pṛṣṭhato'bhyāhataḥ śaraiḥ

I set no great value on life, charioteer, if I have fled from battle in fear, struck by arrows in the back.

Verse 32 (3.18.32)

कदाऽपि सूतपुत्र त्वं जानीषे मां भयार्दितम् । अपयातं रणं हित्वा यथा कापुरुषं तथा ॥

kadā'pi sūtaputra tvaṃ jānīṣe māṃ bhayārditam | apayātaṃ raṇaṃ hitvā yathā kāpuruṣaṃ tathā

Have you ever, son of a charioteer, known me to be stricken with fear, leaving the battle and running off like a coward?

Verse 33 (3.18.33)

अयुक्तं तु मया त्यक्तुं संग्रामं दारुकात्मज । मयि युद्धार्थिनि भृशं स त्वं याहि यतो रणम् ॥

ayuktaṃ tu mayā tyaktuṃ saṃgrāmaṃ dārukātmaja | mayi yuddhārthini bhṛśaṃ sa tvaṃ yāhi yato raṇam

It is not right for me to abandon the fight, son of Daruka, while I am so eager for battle. So drive to where the fighting is."