Krishna Urges Arjuna to Strike Down Duryodhana

Verse 1 (7.102.1)

दुर्योधनमतिक्रान्तमेतं पश्य धनञ्जय । आपद्गतमिमं मन्ये नास्त्यस्य सदृशो रथः ॥

duryodhanamatikrāntametaṃ paśya dhanañjaya | āpadgatamimaṃ manye nāstyasya sadṛśo rathaḥ

Look, Dhananjaya, at Duryodhana, who has come forward past the others. I think him fallen into peril, though there is no chariot-warrior to match him.

Note on the text: Recension variant: Wikisource दुर्योधनम्, CE suyodhanam.

Verse 2 (7.102.2)

दूरपाती महेष्वासः कृतास्त्रो युद्धदुर्मदः । दृढहस्तश्चित्रयोधी धार्तराष्ट्रो महाबलः ॥

dūrapātī maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtāstro yuddhadurmadaḥ | dṛḍhahastaścitrayodhī dhārtarāṣṭro mahābalaḥ

A far-shooter, a great archer, skilled in weapons, wild in battle, firm-handed, a marvellous fighter, the mighty son of Dhritarashtra.

Verse 3 (7.102.3)

अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धो मानितश्च महारथैः । कृती च सततं पार्थ नित्यं द्वेष्टि च पाण्डवान् ॥

atyantasukhasaṃvṛddho mānitaśca mahārathaiḥ | kṛtī ca satataṃ pārtha nityaṃ dveṣṭi ca pāṇḍavān

Reared in utter comfort, honoured by great chariot-warriors, and accomplished, Partha, he has always hated the Pandavas.

Verse 4 (7.102.4)

तेन युद्धमहं मन्ये प्राप्तकालं तवानघ । अत्र नो द्यूतमायत्तं विजयायेतराय वा ॥

tena yuddhamahaṃ manye prāptakālaṃ tavānagha | atra no dyūtamāyattaṃ vijayāyetarāya vā

I think, faultless one, that the time has come for you to fight him. Here our wager of victory or the opposite rests.

Verse 5 (7.102.5)

अत्र क्रोधविषं पार्थ विमुञ्च चिरसम्भृतम् । एष मूलमनर्थानां पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् ॥

atra krodhaviṣaṃ pārtha vimuñca cirasambhṛtam | eṣa mūlamanarthānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām

Here, Partha, spew out the poison of anger long stored up. He is the root of the misfortunes of the great-souled Pandavas.

Note on the text: Corrected पाण्‍वानां → पाण्डवानां (misprint in Wikisource; the ड was dropped, leaving a stray zero-width joiner; CE pāṇḍavānām). Line 2 ends महात्मनाम् for CE mahārathaḥ (recension variant).

Verse 6 (7.102.6)

सोऽयं प्राप्तस्तवाक्षेपं पश्य साफल्यमात्मनः । कथं हि राजा राज्यार्थी त्वया गच्छेत संयुगम् ॥

so'yaṃ prāptastavākṣepaṃ paśya sāphalyamātmanaḥ | kathaṃ hi rājā rājyārthī tvayā gaccheta saṃyugam

Here he is, come within reach of your blows; see the fulfilment of your own purpose. For how could a king who wants a kingdom come to face you in battle?

Verse 7 (7.102.7)

दिष्ट्या त्विदानीं सम्प्राप्त एष ते बाणगोचरम् । यथाऽयं जीवितं जह्यात्तथा कुरु धनञ्जय ॥

diṣṭyā tvidānīṃ samprāpta eṣa te bāṇagocaram | yathā'yaṃ jīvitaṃ jahyāttathā kuru dhanañjaya

By good fortune he has now come within range of your arrows; so act, Dhananjaya, that he gives up his life.

Verse 8 (7.102.8)

ऐश्वर्यमदसम्मूढो नैष दुःखमुपेयिवान् । न च ते संयुगे वीर्यं जानाति पुरुषर्षभ ॥

aiśvaryamadasammūḍho naiṣa duḥkhamupeyivān | na ca te saṃyuge vīryaṃ jānāti puruṣarṣabha

Bewildered by the arrogance of power, he has never known suffering; and he does not know your valour in battle, bull among men.

Verse 9 (7.102.9)

त्वां हि लोकास्त्रयः पार्थ ससुरासुरमानवाः । नोत्सहन्ते रणे जेतुं किमुतैकः सुयोधनः ॥

tvāṃ hi lokāstrayaḥ pārtha sasurāsuramānavāḥ | notsahante raṇe jetuṃ kimutaikaḥ suyodhanaḥ

Even the three worlds, Partha, with gods, demons and men, dare not try to conquer you in battle; what then of one Suyodhana?

Verse 10 (7.102.10)

स दिष्ट्या समनुप्राप्तस्तव पार्थ रथान्तिकम् । जह्येनं त्वं महाबाहो यथा वृत्रं पुरन्दरः ॥

sa diṣṭyā samanuprāptastava pārtha rathāntikam | jahyenaṃ tvaṃ mahābāho yathā vṛtraṃ purandaraḥ

By good fortune he has come to your chariot's side. Strike him down, mighty-armed one, as Purandara struck Vritra.

Verse 11 (7.102.11)

एष ह्यनर्थे सततं पराक्रान्तस्तवानघ । निकृत्या धर्मराजं च द्यूते वञ्चितवानयम् ॥

eṣa hyanarthe satataṃ parākrāntastavānagha | nikṛtyā dharmarājaṃ ca dyūte vañcitavānayam

He, faultless one, has always been bent on harm to you, and by fraud he cheated the king of dharma at dice.

Verse 12 (7.102.12)

बहूनि सुनृशंसानि कृतान्येतेन मानद । युष्मासु पापमतिना अपापेष्वपि नित्यदा ॥

bahūni sunṛśaṃsāni kṛtānyetena mānada | yuṣmāsu pāpamatinā apāpeṣvapi nityadā

Many most cruel deeds, giver of honour, have been done by this evil-minded man against you, always, though you were blameless.

Verse 13 (7.102.13)

तमनार्यं सदा क्रुद्धं पुरुषं कामरूपिणम् । आर्यां युद्धे मतिं कृत्वा जहि पार्थाविचारयन् ॥

tamanāryaṃ sadā kruddhaṃ puruṣaṃ kāmarūpiṇam | āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā jahi pārthāvicārayan

Setting your mind on the course of the noble in battle, kill without hesitation, Partha, that ignoble, ever-angry man who takes whatever shape he pleases.

Note on the text: Recension variant: Wikisource क्रुद्धं कामरूपिणम्, CE kṣudraṃ kāmacāriṇam.

Verse 14 (7.102.14)

निकृत्या राज्यहरणं वनवासं च पाण्डव । परिक्लेशं च कृष्णाया हृदि कृत्वा पराक्रम ॥

nikṛtyā rājyaharaṇaṃ vanavāsaṃ ca pāṇḍava | parikleśaṃ ca kṛṣṇāyā hṛdi kṛtvā parākrama

Keeping in your heart the seizure of the kingdom by fraud, the exile in the forest, O Pandava, and the torment of Krishna, show your prowess.

Verse 15 (7.102.15)

दिष्ट्यैष तव बाणानां गोचरे परिवर्तते । प्रतिघाताय कार्यस्य दिष्ट्या च यततेऽग्रतः ॥

diṣṭyaiṣa tava bāṇānāṃ gocare parivartate | pratighātāya kāryasya diṣṭyā ca yatate'grataḥ

By good fortune he moves within range of your arrows; by good fortune he strives before you to thwart your purpose.

Verse 16 (7.102.16)

दिष्ट्या जानाति सङ्ग्रामे योद्धव्यं हि त्वया सह । दिष्ट्या च सफलाः पार्थ सर्वे कामा हि कामिताः ॥

diṣṭyā jānāti saṅgrāme yoddhavyaṃ hi tvayā saha | diṣṭyā ca saphalāḥ pārtha sarve kāmā hi kāmitāḥ

By good fortune he knows that he must fight with you in battle; and by good fortune, Partha, all the desires you have wished are being fulfilled.

Note on the text: Corrected ह्यकामिताः → हि कामिताः (misprint in Wikisource; an extra अ made 'unwished' of the wished-for desires; CE kāmitāḥ, and the sense requires it).

Verse 17 (7.102.17)

तस्माज्जहि रणे पार्थ धार्तराष्ट्रं कुलाधमम् । यथेन्द्रेण हतः पूर्वं जम्भो देवासुरे मृधे ॥

tasmājjahi raṇe pārtha dhārtarāṣṭraṃ kulādhamam | yathendreṇa hataḥ pūrvaṃ jambho devāsure mṛdhe

So kill him in battle, Partha, that disgrace of his family, Dhritarashtra's son, as Indra killed Jambha long ago in the war of gods and demons.

Verse 18 (7.102.18)

अस्मिन्हते त्वया सैन्यमनाथं भिद्यतामिदम् । वैरस्य दिष्ट्या सहजं मूलं छिन्धि दुरात्मनाम् ॥

asminhate tvayā sainyamanāthaṃ bhidyatāmidam | vairasya diṣṭyā sahajaṃ mūlaṃ chindhi durātmanām

When he is slain by you, let this leaderless army break apart. By good fortune, cut away the natural root of the enmity of these wicked men.

Note on the text: Line 2 is a recension variant of CE 7.77.18 (CE: vairasyāsyās tv avabhṛtho mūlaṃ chindhi durātmanām).

Verse 19 (7.102.19)

तं तथेत्यब्रवीत्पार्थः कृत्यरूपमिदं मम । सर्वमन्यदनादृत्य गच्छ यत्र सुयोधनः ॥

taṃ tathetyabravītpārthaḥ kṛtyarūpamidaṃ mama | sarvamanyadanādṛtya gaccha yatra suyodhanaḥ

Partha answered him, "So be it. This is my task; setting aside everything else, go where Suyodhana is."

Note on the text: The first quarter (तं तथेत्यब्रवीत्पार्थः) is the narrator's tag and the rest is Arjuna's speech, so the verse stays with Sanjaya, as the page headed it. Arjuna's speech continues through verse 22.

Verse 20 (7.102.20)

येनैतद्दीर्घकालं नो भुक्तं राज्यमकण्टकम् । अप्यस्य युधि विक्रम्य च्छिन्द्यां मूर्धानमाहवे ॥

yenaitaddīrghakālaṃ no bhuktaṃ rājyamakaṇṭakam | apyasya yudhi vikramya cchindyāṃ mūrdhānamāhave

"May I, showing my valour in battle, cut off the head of the man by whom this kingdom of ours, free of thorns, was enjoyed for so long."

Note on the text: Arjuna's own words, filling the whole verse; no heading is printed for them (the page's heading before verse 19 is Sanjaya's), so the speaker is Arjuna.

Verse 21 (7.102.21)

अपि तस्य ह्यनर्हायाः परिक्लेशस्य माधव । कृष्णायाः शक्नुयां गन्तुं पदं केशप्रधर्षणे ॥

api tasya hyanarhāyāḥ parikleśasya mādhava | kṛṣṇāyāḥ śaknuyāṃ gantuṃ padaṃ keśapradharṣaṇe

"And, Madhava, might I be able to reach the point of requital for the undeserved torment of Krishna, for the outrage when her hair was seized."

Note on the text: Arjuna's own words, filling the whole verse; no heading is printed for them (the page's heading before verse 19 is Sanjaya's), so the speaker is Arjuna.

Verse 22 (7.102.22)

अप्यहं तानि दुःखानि पूर्ववृत्तानि माधव । दुर्योधनं रणे हत्वा प्रतिमोक्ष्ये कथञ्चन ॥

apyahaṃ tāni duḥkhāni pūrvavṛttāni mādhava | duryodhanaṃ raṇe hatvā pratimokṣye kathañcana

"Madhava, might I somehow, by slaying Duryodhana in battle, be quit of those sufferings of the past."

Note on the text: Arjuna's own words, filling the whole verse; no heading is printed for them (the page's heading before verse 19 is Sanjaya's), so the speaker is Arjuna. Removed the page's backtick and closing quote marks, which mark a bracketed insertion. Not in the critical edition's main text: the lines are the star passage *0548_01–02, printed after 7.77.21d. ce_ref is null.

Verse 23 (7.102.23)

इत्येवंवादिनौ कृष्णौ हृष्टौ श्वेतान्हयोत्तमान् । प्रेषयामासतुः सङ्ख्ये प्रेप्सन्तौ तं नराधिपम् ॥

ityevaṃvādinau kṛṣṇau hṛṣṭau śvetānhayottamān | preṣayāmāsatuḥ saṅkhye prepsantau taṃ narādhipam

Speaking thus, the two Krishnas, rejoicing, urged the splendid white horses forward in the battle, eager to reach that lord of men.

Verse 24 (7.102.24)

तयोः समीपं सम्प्राप्य पुत्रस्ते भरतर्षभ । न चकार भयं प्राप्ते भये महति मारिष ॥

tayoḥ samīpaṃ samprāpya putraste bharatarṣabha | na cakāra bhayaṃ prāpte bhaye mahati māriṣa

When they came near, your son, O best of the Bharatas, showed no fear, though great fear had come, O revered one.

Verse 25 (7.102.25)

तदस्य क्षत्रियाः कर्म सर्व एवाभ्यपूजयन् । यदर्जुनहृषीकेशौ प्रत्युद्यातौ न्यवारयत् ॥

tadasya kṣatriyāḥ karma sarva evābhyapūjayan | yadarjunahṛṣīkeśau pratyudyātau nyavārayat

All the kshatriyas praised that deed of his, that he checked Arjuna and Hrishikesha as they advanced upon him.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 7.77.24 (CE: tad asya kṣatriyās tatra …, pratyudyāto 'vicārayan).

Verse 26 (7.102.26)

ततः सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य तावकस्य विशाम्पते । महानादो ह्यभूत्तत्र दृष्ट्वा राजानमाहवे ॥

tataḥ sarvasya sainyasya tāvakasya viśāmpate | mahānādo hyabhūttatra dṛṣṭvā rājānamāhave

Then, O lord of the people, a great shout rose from all your army on seeing the king in the battle.

Verse 27 (7.102.27)

तस्मिञ्जनसमुन्नादे प्रवृत्ते भैरवे सति । कदर्थीकृत्य ते पुत्रः प्रत्यमित्रमवारयत् ॥

tasmiñjanasamunnāde pravṛtte bhairave sati | kadarthīkṛtya te putraḥ pratyamitramavārayat

When that fearful uproar of the people arose, your son, making light of his foe, held him back.

Verse 28 (7.102.28)

आवारितस्तु कौन्तेयस्तव पुत्रेण धन्विना । संरम्भमगमद्भूयः स च तस्मिन्परन्तपः ॥

āvāritastu kaunteyastava putreṇa dhanvinā | saṃrambhamagamadbhūyaḥ sa ca tasminparantapaḥ

But the son of Kunti, held back by your bowman son, grew furious again, that scorcher of foes.

Verse 29 (7.102.29)

तौ दृष्ट्वा प्रतिसंरब्धौ दुर्योधनधनञ्जयौ । अभ्यवैक्षन्त राजानो भीमरूपाः समन्ततः ॥

tau dṛṣṭvā pratisaṃrabdhau duryodhanadhanañjayau | abhyavaikṣanta rājāno bhīmarūpāḥ samantataḥ

Seeing Duryodhana and Dhananjaya filled with rage, the kings looked on from all sides, grim in appearance.

Verse 30 (7.102.30)

दृष्ट्वा तु पार्थं संरब्धं वासुदेवं च मारिष । प्रहसन्नेव पुत्रस्ते योद्धुकामः समाह्वयत् ॥

dṛṣṭvā tu pārthaṃ saṃrabdhaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca māriṣa | prahasanneva putraste yoddhukāmaḥ samāhvayat

Seeing Partha and Vasudeva enraged, O revered one, your son, laughing as it were, eager to fight, challenged them.

Verse 31 (7.102.31)

ततः प्रहृष्टो दाशार्हः पाण्डवश्च धनञ्जयः । व्यक्रोशेतां महानादं दध्मतुश्चाम्बुजोत्तमौ ॥

tataḥ prahṛṣṭo dāśārhaḥ pāṇḍavaśca dhanañjayaḥ | vyakrośetāṃ mahānādaṃ dadhmatuścāmbujottamau

Then Dasharha, delighted, and the Pandava Dhananjaya raised a great shout and blew their excellent conches.

Verse 32 (7.102.32)

तौ हृष्टरूपौ सम्प्रेक्ष्य कौरवेयास्तु सर्वशः । निराशाः समपद्यन्त पुत्रस्य तव जीविते ॥

tau hṛṣṭarūpau samprekṣya kauraveyāstu sarvaśaḥ | nirāśāḥ samapadyanta putrasya tava jīvite

Seeing those two so glad, the Kauravas on every side fell into despair over your son's life.

Verse 33 (7.102.33)

शोकमापुः परं चैव कुरवः सर्व एव ते । अमन्यन्त च पुत्रं ते वैश्वानरमुखे हुतम् ॥

śokamāpuḥ paraṃ caiva kuravaḥ sarva eva te | amanyanta ca putraṃ te vaiśvānaramukhe hutam

All those Kurus sank into the deepest grief, and thought your son already offered into the mouth of fire.

Verse 34 (7.102.34)

तथा तु दृष्ट्वा योधास्ते प्रहृष्टौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ । हतो राजा हतो राजेत्यूचिरे च भयार्दिताः ॥

tathā tu dṛṣṭvā yodhāste prahṛṣṭau kṛṣṇapāṇḍavau | hato rājā hato rājetyūcire ca bhayārditāḥ

Seeing Krishna and the Pandava so elated, those warriors, stricken with fear, cried out, "The king is slain! The king is slain!"

Verse 35 (7.102.35)

जनस्य सन्निनादं तु श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत् । व्येतु वो भीरहं कृष्णौ प्रेषयिष्यामि मृत्यवे ॥

janasya sanninādaṃ tu śrutvā duryodhano'bravīt | vyetu vo bhīrahaṃ kṛṣṇau preṣayiṣyāmi mṛtyave

Hearing the uproar of the people, Duryodhana said, "Let your fear go; I shall send the two Krishnas to their death."

Note on the text: Line 1 is the narrator's; line 2 is Duryodhana's speech, so the verse stays with Sanjaya.

Verse 36 (7.102.36)

इत्युक्त्वा सैनिकान्सर्वाञ्जयापेक्षी नराधिपः । पार्थमाभाष्य संरम्भादिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

ityuktvā sainikānsarvāñjayāpekṣī narādhipaḥ | pārthamābhāṣya saṃrambhādidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Having said this to all the soldiers, the king, bent on victory, addressed Partha and in his rage spoke these words.

Verse 37 (7.102.37)

पार्थ यच्छिक्षितं तेऽस्त्रं दिव्यं पार्थिवमेव च । तद्दर्शय मयि क्षिप्रं यदि जातोऽसि पाण्डुना ॥

pārtha yacchikṣitaṃ te'straṃ divyaṃ pārthivameva ca | taddarśaya mayi kṣipraṃ yadi jāto'si pāṇḍunā

"Partha, whatever divine and earthly weapons you have learned, show them to me quickly, if you were truly born of Pandu."

Note on the text: Duryodhana's own words, filling the whole verse; no heading is printed for them, so the speaker is Duryodhana. Removed a stray zero-width joiner in पाण्‍डुना. Wikisource पार्थिवम्, CE mānuṣam (recension variant).

Verse 38 (7.102.38)

यद्बलं तव वीर्यं च केशवस्य तथैव च । तत्कुरुष्व मयि क्षिप्रं पश्यामस्तव पौरुषम् ॥

yadbalaṃ tava vīryaṃ ca keśavasya tathaiva ca | tatkuruṣva mayi kṣipraṃ paśyāmastava pauruṣam

"Whatever your strength and your prowess, and Keshava's as well, show it against me quickly; let us see your manhood."

Note on the text: Duryodhana's own words, filling the whole verse; no heading is printed for them, so the speaker is Duryodhana.

Verse 39 (7.102.39)

अस्मत्परोक्षं कर्माणि कृतानि प्रवदन्ति ते । स्वामिसत्कारयुक्तानि यानि तानीह दर्शय ॥

asmatparokṣaṃ karmāṇi kṛtāni pravadanti te | svāmisatkārayuktāni yāni tānīha darśaya

"People tell of deeds you did out of our sight; those deeds done in loyal service to your master, show them here."

Note on the text: Duryodhana's own words, filling the whole verse; no heading is printed for them, so the speaker is Duryodhana.