Yudhishthira Entreats Krishna; Krishna Promises Arjuna's Victory

Verse 1 (7.83.1)

सुखेन रजनी व्युष्टा कच्चित्ते मधुसूदन । कच्चिज्ज्ञानानि सर्वाणि प्रसन्नानि तवाच्युत ॥

sukhena rajanī vyuṣṭā kaccitte madhusūdana | kaccijjñānāni sarvāṇi prasannāni tavācyuta

Did your night pass happily, Madhusudana? Are all your faculties clear and calm, Achyuta?

Verse 2 (7.83.2)

वासुदेवोऽपि तद्युक्तं प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम् । दर्शनादेव ते सौम्य न किञ्चिदशुभं मम ॥

vāsudevo'pi tadyuktaṃ pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiram | darśanādeva te saumya na kiñcidaśubhaṃ mama

Vasudeva, too, replied to Yudhishthira in fitting words: "Gentle one, at the very sight of you nothing at all is amiss with me."

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 7.59.2a (variant: प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम् "replied to Yudhishthira" for paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiram "asked Yudhishthira"); line 2 is the critical edition's star passage 7.59.2b*0434_01 (not in its constituted text). The page's heading misprints "सञ्जाय उवाच"; the speaker is Sanjaya, narrating Krishna's reply.

Verse 3 (7.83.3)

ततश्च प्रकृतीः क्षत्ता न्यवेदयदुपस्थिताः । अनुज्ञातश्च राज्ञा स प्रावेशयत तं जनम् ॥

tataśca prakṛtīḥ kṣattā nyavedayadupasthitāḥ | anujñātaśca rājñā sa prāveśayata taṃ janam

Then the chamberlain announced that his principal men were waiting, and with the king's leave he brought those people in:

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 7.59.2c (variant: प्रकृतीः क्षत्ता न्यवेदयदुपस्थिताः for tataḥ kṣattā prakṛtayo nyavedayad upasthitāḥ); line 2 is CE 7.59.3a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 4 (7.83.4)

विराटं भीमसेनं च धृष्टद्युम्नं च सात्यकिम् । चेदिपं धृष्टकेतुं च द्रुपदं च महारथम् ॥

virāṭaṃ bhīmasenaṃ ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca sātyakim | cedipaṃ dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca drupadaṃ ca mahāratham

Virata, Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki, the lord of the Chedis, Dhrishtaketu, and the great chariot-warrior Drupada,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 7.59.3c; line 2 is the critical edition's star passage 7.59.3d*0435_01 (not in its constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 5 (7.83.5)

शिखण्डिनं यमौ चैव चेकितानं सकेकयम् । युयुप्सुं चैव कौरव्यं पाञ्चाल्यं चोत्तमौजसम् ॥

śikhaṇḍinaṃ yamau caiva cekitānaṃ sakekayam | yuyupsuṃ caiva kauravyaṃ pāñcālyaṃ cottamaujasam

Shikhandin, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, Chekitana together with the Kekaya, Yuyutsu the Kaurava, and Uttamauja the Panchala,

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner inside शिखण्डिनं. Line 1 corresponds to CE 7.59.4a (variant: सकेकयम् for kekayān); line 2 is CE 7.59.4c.

Verse 6 (7.83.6)

युधामन्यु सुबाहुं च द्रौपदेयांश्च सर्वशः । एतांश्च सुहृदश्चान्यान्दर्शयामास पाण्डवम् ॥

yudhāmanyu subāhuṃ ca draupadeyāṃśca sarvaśaḥ | etāṃśca suhṛdaścānyāndarśayāmāsa pāṇḍavam

Yudhamanyu and Subahu, and all the sons of Draupadi: these and other friends he presented to the Pandava.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; both lines are star passages: line 1 = 7.59.4d*0437_01, line 2 = 7.59.5d*0438_01 (the CE's main-text lines 7.59.5a and 5c are not on the page). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 7 (7.83.7)

अनुज्ञाताश्च पार्थेन स्वासीना आसनेषु ते । सर्वेष्वथ परार्ध्येषु यथार्हं वन्द्य पाण्डवम् ॥

anujñātāśca pārthena svāsīnā āsaneṣu te | sarveṣvatha parārdhyeṣu yathārhaṃ vandya pāṇḍavam

With Partha's leave, they sat comfortably, after saluting the Pandava, each as was fitting, on all the costly seats.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; both lines are star passages: line 1 = 7.59.5d*0438_02 (variant: स्वासीना for āsīnā), line 2 = 7.59.5d*0439_01 (variants: सर्वेष्वथ परार्ध्येषु for sthiteṣv adhiparārdhyeṣu; वन्द्य पाण्डवम् for vaṃdya pārthivam). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 8 (7.83.8)

एकस्मिन्नासने वीरावुपविष्टौ महाबलौ । कृष्णश्च युयुधानश्च वेद्यामिव हुताशनौ ॥

ekasminnāsane vīrāvupaviṣṭau mahābalau | kṛṣṇaśca yuyudhānaśca vedyāmiva hutāśanau

On one seat sat the two mighty heroes, Krishna and Yuyudhana, like two fires on an altar.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 7.59.6a; line 2 is a variant of CE 6c (the CE reads kṛṣṇaś ca yuyudhānaś ca mahātmānau mahādyutī; here the second half is वेद्यामिव हुताशनौ, a reading found nowhere in the CE text or apparatus).

Verse 9 (7.83.9)

ततो युधिष्ठिरस्तेषां शृण्वतां मधुसूदनम् । अब्रवीत्पुण्डरीकाक्षमाभाष्य मधुरं वचः ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhirasteṣāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ madhusūdanam | abravītpuṇḍarīkākṣamābhāṣya madhuraṃ vacaḥ

Then, with all of them listening, Yudhishthira addressed the lotus-eyed slayer of Madhu and spoke sweet words:

Verse 10 (7.83.10)

एकं त्वां वयमाश्रित्य सहस्राक्षमिवामराः । प्रार्थयामो जयं युद्धे शाश्वतानि सुखानि च ॥

ekaṃ tvāṃ vayamāśritya sahasrākṣamivāmarāḥ | prārthayāmo jayaṃ yuddhe śāśvatāni sukhāni ca

Relying on you alone, as the immortals rely on the thousand-eyed Indra, we pray for victory in battle and for lasting happiness.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues.

Verse 11 (7.83.11)

त्वं हि राज्यविनाशं च द्विषद्भिश्च निराक्रियाम् । क्लेशांश्च विविधान्कृष्ण सर्वांस्तानपि वेत्थ नः ॥

tvaṃ hi rājyavināśaṃ ca dviṣadbhiśca nirākriyām | kleśāṃśca vividhānkṛṣṇa sarvāṃstānapi vettha naḥ

You know, Krishna, the loss of our kingdom, our being cast out by our enemies, and all the many sufferings we have borne.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues.

Verse 12 (7.83.12)

त्वयि सर्वेश सर्वेषामस्माकं भक्तवत्सल । सुखमायत्तमत्यर्थं यात्रा च मधुसूदन ॥

tvayi sarveśa sarveṣāmasmākaṃ bhaktavatsala | sukhamāyattamatyarthaṃ yātrā ca madhusūdana

O lord of all, O you who are tender to your devotees, the happiness of all of us, and our very way of life, Madhusudana, rest wholly on you.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues.

Verse 13 (7.83.13)

स तथा कुरु वार्ष्णेय यथा त्वयि मनो मम । अर्जुनस्य यथा सत्या प्रतिज्ञा स्याच्चिकीर्षिता ॥

sa tathā kuru vārṣṇeya yathā tvayi mano mama | arjunasya yathā satyā pratijñā syāccikīrṣitā

So act, Varshneya, that my heart may rest on you, and that Arjuna's vow, as he means to fulfil it, may come true.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues.

Verse 14 (7.83.14)

स भवांस्तारयत्वस्माद्दुःखामर्षमहार्णवात् । परां तितीर्षतामद्य प्लुवो नो भव माधव ॥

sa bhavāṃstārayatvasmādduḥkhāmarṣamahārṇavāt | parāṃ titīrṣatāmadya pluvo no bhava mādhava

Carry us across this great ocean of sorrow and wrath; for we long to cross to the farther shore. Be our raft today, Madhava.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues.

Verse 15 (7.83.15)

नहि तत्कुरुते योधः कार्तवीर्यसमोऽपि यः । युधि यत्कुरुषे कृष्ण सारथ्यं त्वं समास्थितः ॥

nahi tatkurute yodhaḥ kārtavīryasamo'pi yaḥ | yudhi yatkuruṣe kṛṣṇa sārathyaṃ tvaṃ samāsthitaḥ

No warrior, even one equal to Kartavirya, does in battle what you do, Krishna, when you take up the post of charioteer.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues. A variant of CE 7.59.13 with both lines recast (नहि तत्कुरुते योधः … for na hi tat kurute saṃkhye …; युधि यत्कुरुषे कृष्ण सारथ्यं त्वं समास्थितः for rathī yat kurute kṛṣṇa sārathir yatnam āsthitaḥ). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 16 (7.83.16)

यथैव सर्वास्वापत्सु पासि वृष्णीञ्जनार्दन । तथैवास्मान्महाबाहो वृजिनात्त्रातुमर्हसि ॥

yathaiva sarvāsvāpatsu pāsi vṛṣṇīñjanārdana | tathaivāsmānmahābāho vṛjināttrātumarhasi

As you protect the Vrishnis in every calamity, Janardana, so, mighty-armed one, you should save us from this distress.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues. Not in the critical edition's main text; it appears there as star passage 7.59.13d*0440_01-02 (placed after 7.59.13). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 17 (7.83.17)

त्वमगाधेऽप्लवे मग्नान्पाण्डवान्कुरुसागरे । समुद्धर प्लुवो भूत्वा शङ्खचक्रगदाधर ॥

tvamagādhe'plave magnānpāṇḍavānkurusāgare | samuddhara pluvo bhūtvā śaṅkhacakragadādhara

O bearer of conch, discus and mace, become a raft and lift out the Pandavas, who are sunk in the fathomless, raftless sea of the Kurus.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues. Not in the critical edition's main text; it appears there as star passage 7.59.13d*0440_03-04. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 18 (7.83.18)

नमस्ते देवदेवेश सनातन विशातन । विष्णो जिष्णो हरे कृष्ण वैकुण्ठ पुरुषोत्तम ॥

namaste devadeveśa sanātana viśātana | viṣṇo jiṣṇo hare kṛṣṇa vaikuṇṭha puruṣottama

Homage to you, God of gods, Eternal One, Destroyer; Vishnu, Jishnu, Hari, Krishna, Vaikuntha, Purushottama!

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues. Not in the critical edition's main text; it appears there as star passage 7.59.13d*0440_05-06. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 19 (7.83.19)

नारदस्त्वां समाचख्यौ पुराणमृषिसत्तमम् । वरदं शार्ङ्गिणं श्रेष्ठं तत्सत्यं कुरु माधव ॥

nāradastvāṃ samācakhyau purāṇamṛṣisattamam | varadaṃ śārṅgiṇaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tatsatyaṃ kuru mādhava

Narada described you as the ancient one, the best of sages, the giver of boons, the wielder of the Sharnga bow, the supreme; make that true, Madhava.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira's speech continues. Not in the critical edition's main text; it appears there as star passage 7.59.13d*0440_07-08 (variant: श्रेष्ठं for devaṃ). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 20 (7.83.20)

इत्युक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्षो धर्मराजेन संसदि । तोयमेघस्वनो वाग्मी प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

ityuktaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣo dharmarājena saṃsadi | toyameghasvano vāgmī pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiram

So addressed in the assembly by the king of Dharma, the lotus-eyed one, eloquent and with a voice like a rain-cloud's thunder, answered Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it appears there as star passage 7.59.13d*0440_09-10 (immediately before the heading "वासुदेव उवाच" of 7.59.14). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (7.83.21)

सामरेष्वपि लोकेषु सर्वेषु न तथाविधः । शरासनधरः कश्चिद्यथा पार्थो धनञ्जयः ॥

sāmareṣvapi lokeṣu sarveṣu na tathāvidhaḥ | śarāsanadharaḥ kaścidyathā pārtho dhanañjayaḥ

In all the worlds, even those with the gods, there is no bowman of his kind, such as Partha Dhananjaya.

Verse 22 (7.83.22)

वीर्यवानस्त्रसम्पन्नः पराक्रान्तो महाबलः । युद्धशौण्डः सदामर्षी तेजसा परमो नृणाम् ॥

vīryavānastrasampannaḥ parākrānto mahābalaḥ | yuddhaśauṇḍaḥ sadāmarṣī tejasā paramo nṛṇām

He is valiant and skilled in weapons, bold and of great strength; eager for battle, never able to bear an insult, and supreme among men in splendour.

Verse 23 (7.83.23)

स युवा वृषभस्कन्धो दीर्घबाहुर्महाबलः । सिंहर्षभगतिः श्रीमान्द्विषतस्ते हनिष्यति ॥

sa yuvā vṛṣabhaskandho dīrghabāhurmahābalaḥ | siṃharṣabhagatiḥ śrīmāndviṣataste haniṣyati

Young, bull-shouldered, long-armed and very strong, moving with the gait of a lion or a bull, that glorious man will slay your enemies.

Verse 24 (7.83.24)

अहं च तत्करिष्यामि तथा कुन्तीसुतोऽर्जुनः । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैन्यानि धक्ष्यत्यग्निरिवेन्धनम् ॥

ahaṃ ca tatkariṣyāmi tathā kuntīsuto'rjunaḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrasya sainyāni dhakṣyatyagnirivendhanam

I will do it too, and so will Arjuna, son of Kunti: he will burn the armies of Dhritarashtra's son as fire burns fuel.

Verse 25 (7.83.25)

अद्य तं पापकर्माणं क्षुद्रं सौभद्रघातिनम् । अपुनर्दर्शनं मार्गमिषुभिः क्षेप्स्यतेऽर्जुनः ॥

adya taṃ pāpakarmāṇaṃ kṣudraṃ saubhadraghātinam | apunardarśanaṃ mārgamiṣubhiḥ kṣepsyate'rjunaḥ

Today Arjuna will drive that evildoer, that wretch who killed Subhadra's son, with his arrows onto the road from which no one is seen again.

Verse 26 (7.83.26)

तस्याद्य गृध्राः श्येनाश्च चण्डगोमायवस्तथा । भक्षयिष्यन्ति मांसानि ये चान्ये पुरुषादकाः ॥

tasyādya gṛdhrāḥ śyenāśca caṇḍagomāyavastathā | bhakṣayiṣyanti māṃsāni ye cānye puruṣādakāḥ

Today vultures, hawks, fierce jackals and other eaters of flesh will devour his flesh.

Verse 27 (7.83.27)

यद्यस्य देवा गोप्तारः सेन्द्राः सर्वे तथाऽप्यसौ । राजधानीं यमस्याद्य हतः प्राप्स्यति दुर्मतिः ॥

yadyasya devā goptāraḥ sendrāḥ sarve tathā'pyasau | rājadhānīṃ yamasyādya hataḥ prāpsyati durmatiḥ

Even if all the gods with Indra were his protectors, that evil-minded man, struck down today, will reach the capital of Yama.

Verse 28 (7.83.28)

निहत्य सैन्धवं जिष्णुरद्य त्वामुपयास्यति । विशोको विज्वरो राजन्भव शान्ति पुरस्कृतः ॥

nihatya saindhavaṃ jiṣṇuradya tvāmupayāsyati | viśoko vijvaro rājanbhava śānti puraskṛtaḥ

Having slain the Saindhava, Jishnu will come to you today. Be free of grief and fever, O king, and be at peace.