Karna Rebukes Shalya and the Madrakas

Verse 1 (8.34.1)

अधिक्षिप्तस्तु राधेयः शल्येनामिततेजसा । शल्यमाह सुसङ्क्रुद्धो वाक्शल्यमवधारयन् ॥

adhikṣiptastu rādheyaḥ śalyenāmitatejasā | śalyamāha susaṅkruddho vākśalyamavadhārayan

Thus rebuked by Shalya of boundless might, Radheya, filled with rage, answered Shalya, taking his words for darts in the flesh.

Verse 2 (8.34.2)

गुणान्गुणवतां शल्य गुणवान्वेत्ति नागुणः । त्वं तु नित्यं गुणैर्हीनः किं ज्ञास्यसि गुणागुणान् ॥

guṇānguṇavatāṃ śalya guṇavānvetti nāguṇaḥ | tvaṃ tu nityaṃ guṇairhīnaḥ kiṃ jñāsyasi guṇāguṇān

Only the virtuous know the virtues of the virtuous, Shalya, not the man without virtue; you are forever without virtue, so what will you know of virtues and faults?

Verse 3 (8.34.3)

अर्जुनस्य महास्त्राणि क्रोधं वीर्यं धनुः शरान् । अहं शल्याभिजानामि न त्वं जानासि तत्तथा ॥

arjunasya mahāstrāṇi krodhaṃ vīryaṃ dhanuḥ śarān | ahaṃ śalyābhijānāmi na tvaṃ jānāsi tattathā

I know Arjuna's great weapons, Shalya, his anger, his valour, his bow and his arrows; you do not know them as I do.

Verse 4 (8.34.4)

तथा कृष्णस्य माहात्म्यमृषभस्य महीक्षिताम् । यथाहं शल्य जानामि न त्वं जानासि तत्तथा ॥

tathā kṛṣṇasya māhātmyamṛṣabhasya mahīkṣitām | yathāhaṃ śalya jānāmi na tvaṃ jānāsi tattathā

And the greatness of Krishna, bull among kings: I know it, Shalya, as you do not.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records line 1 and the first half of line 2 as the star passage 8.27.55c*0317 (lines 02–03: tathā kṛṣṇasya māhātmyam ṛṣabhasya mahīkṣitām / yathāhaṃ śalya jānāmi), and Wikisource adds न त्वं जानासि तत्तथा.

Verse 5 (8.34.5)

एवमेवात्मनो वीर्यमहं वीर्यं च पाण्डवे । जानंस्तावाह्वये युद्धे शल्य नाग्निं पतङ्गवत् ॥

evamevātmano vīryamahaṃ vīryaṃ ca pāṇḍave | jānaṃstāvāhvaye yuddhe śalya nāgniṃ pataṅgavat

So, knowing my own strength and the Pandava's, I challenge the two of them to battle, Shalya, not as a moth challenges a flame.

Verse 6 (8.34.6)

अस्ति चाऽयमिषुः शल्य सुपुङ्खो रक्तभोजनः । एकस्तूणीशयः पत्री सुधौतः समलङ्कृतः ॥

asti cā'yamiṣuḥ śalya supuṅkho raktabhojanaḥ | ekastūṇīśayaḥ patrī sudhautaḥ samalaṅkṛtaḥ

I have an arrow here, Shalya, fine-shafted, feeding on blood, that lies in a single quiver, winged, well cleaned and adorned.

Verse 7 (8.34.7)

शेते चन्दनचूर्णेन पूजितो बहुलाः समाः । आहेयो विषवानुग्रो नराश्वद्विपसङ्घहा ॥

śete candanacūrṇena pūjito bahulāḥ samāḥ | āheyo viṣavānugro narāśvadvipasaṅghahā

For many years it has lain there, honoured with sandalwood powder: serpent-like, venomous, fierce, a slayer of throngs of men, horses and elephants.

Verse 8 (8.34.8)

घोररूपो महारौद्रस्तनुत्रास्थिविदारणः । निर्भिन्द्यां येन रुष्टोऽहमपि मेरुं महागिरिम् ॥

ghorarūpo mahāraudrastanutrāsthividāraṇaḥ | nirbhindyāṃ yena ruṣṭo'hamapi meruṃ mahāgirim

Of dreadful form, most terrible, a piercer of armour and bone: enraged, I could split with it even the great mountain Meru.

Note on the text: Wikisource's line 1 (घोररूपो महारौद्रस्तनुत्रास्थिविदारणः) differs from CE 8.27.59a (ekavīro mahāraudras tanutrāsthividāraṇaḥ); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 9 (8.34.9)

तमहं जातु नास्येयमन्यस्मिन्फल्गुनादृते । कृष्णाद्वा देवकीपुत्रात्सत्यं चापि शृणुष्व मे ॥

tamahaṃ jātu nāsyeyamanyasminphalgunādṛte | kṛṣṇādvā devakīputrātsatyaṃ cāpi śṛṇuṣva me

I shall never loose it at anyone other than Phalguna or Krishna, son of Devaki; and hear this truth from me.

Verse 10 (8.34.10)

तेनाहमिषुणा शल्य वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ । योत्स्ये परमसंरब्धौ तत्कर्म सदृशं मम ॥

tenāhamiṣuṇā śalya vāsudevadhanañjayau | yotsye paramasaṃrabdhau tatkarma sadṛśaṃ mama

With that arrow, Shalya, I shall fight Vasudeva and Dhananjaya in my utmost fury; that deed befits me.

Verse 11 (8.34.11)

सर्वेषां वृष्णिवीराणां कृष्णे लक्ष्मीः प्रतिष्ठिता । सर्वेषां पाण्डुपुत्राणां जयः पार्थे प्रतिष्ठितः । उभयं तु समासाद्य को निवर्तितुमर्हति ॥

sarveṣāṃ vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ kṛṣṇe lakṣmīḥ pratiṣṭhitā | sarveṣāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ jayaḥ pārthe pratiṣṭhitaḥ | ubhayaṃ tu samāsādya ko nivartitumarhati

In Krishna rests the fortune of all the Vrishni heroes; in Partha rests the victory of all the sons of Pandu. Having met both together, who is able to turn back?

Verse 12 (8.34.12)

तावेतौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ समेतौ स्यन्दने स्थितौ । मामेकमभिसंयुद्धौ सुजातं पश्य शल्य मे ॥

tāvetau puruṣavyāghrau sametau syandane sthitau | māmekamabhisaṃyuddhau sujātaṃ paśya śalya me

Those two tigers among men have come together and stand on one chariot, both bearing down on me alone: see, Shalya, what a noble birth is mine.

Note on the text: Wikisource's मामेकमभिसंयुद्धौ differs from CE 8.27.63c (mām ekam abhisaṃyātau); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 13 (8.34.13)

पितृष्वसामातुलजौ भ्रातरावपराजितौ । मणी सूत्र इव प्रोतौ द्रष्टासि निहतौ मया ॥

pitṛṣvasāmātulajau bhrātarāvaparājitau | maṇī sūtra iva protau draṣṭāsi nihatau mayā

The two unconquered brothers, born of a father's sister and of a mother's brother, strung together like two jewels on one thread: you will see them slain by me.

Verse 14 (8.34.14)

अर्जुने गाण्डिवं कृष्णे चक्रं तार्क्ष्यकपिध्वजौ । भीरूणां त्रासजननं शल्य हर्षकरं मम ॥

arjune gāṇḍivaṃ kṛṣṇe cakraṃ tārkṣyakapidhvajau | bhīrūṇāṃ trāsajananaṃ śalya harṣakaraṃ mama

The Gandiva in Arjuna, the discus in Krishna, and the banners of Tarkshya and the ape: these breed terror in cowards, Shalya, but bring me joy.

Verse 15 (8.34.15)

त्वं तु दुष्प्रकृतिर्मूढो महायुद्धेष्वकोविदः । भयावदीर्णः सन्त्रासादबद्धं बहु भाषसे ॥

tvaṃ tu duṣprakṛtirmūḍho mahāyuddheṣvakovidaḥ | bhayāvadīrṇaḥ santrāsādabaddhaṃ bahu bhāṣase

But you are ill-natured, foolish and unskilled in great battles; torn open by fear, you babble much that is incoherent in your terror.

Note on the text: Corrected महायुद्वेष्वकोविदः → महायुद्धेष्वकोविदः (ध printed as द्व) and बहुः भाषसे → बहु भाषसे (misprint in Wikisource; a stray visarga; CE bahu bhāṣase).

Verse 16 (8.34.16)

संस्तौषि तौ तु केनापि हेतुना त्वं कुदेशज । तौ हत्वा समरे हन्ता त्वामद्य सह बान्धवम् ॥

saṃstauṣi tau tu kenāpi hetunā tvaṃ kudeśaja | tau hatvā samare hantā tvāmadya saha bāndhavam

For some reason or other you praise those two, you man of a base country; but when I have killed them in battle, I shall kill you today together with your kinsmen.

Verse 17 (8.34.17)

पापदेशज दुर्बुद्धे क्षुद्र क्षत्रियपांसन । सुहृद्रूपो रिपुः किं मां कृष्णाभ्यां भीषयिष्यसि ॥

pāpadeśaja durbuddhe kṣudra kṣatriyapāṃsana | suhṛdrūpo ripuḥ kiṃ māṃ kṛṣṇābhyāṃ bhīṣayiṣyasi

Man of a wicked country, evil-minded, petty disgrace of the Kshatriyas! An enemy in the form of a friend, why do you try to frighten me with the two Krishnas?

Verse 18 (8.34.18)

तौ वा मामद्य हन्तारौ हनिष्ये वाऽपि तावहम् । नाहं बिभेमि कृष्णाभ्यां विजानन्नात्मनो बलम् ॥

tau vā māmadya hantārau haniṣye vā'pi tāvaham | nāhaṃ bibhemi kṛṣṇābhyāṃ vijānannātmano balam

Either the two will kill me today, or I shall kill them; knowing my own strength, I do not fear the two Krishnas.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording (तौ वा मामद्य हन्तारौ हनिष्ये वाऽपि तावहम्) differs from CE 8.27.69a–c (tau vā mamādya hantārau hantāsmi samare sthitau); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 19 (8.34.19)

वासुदेवसहस्रं वा फल्गुनानां शतानि वा । अहमेको हनिष्यामि जोषमास्स्व कुदेशज ॥

vāsudevasahasraṃ vā phalgunānāṃ śatāni vā | ahameko haniṣyāmi joṣamāssva kudeśaja

Be it a thousand Vasudevas or hundreds of Phalgunas, I alone shall slay them; keep silent, man of a base country.

Verse 20 (8.34.20)

स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च प्रायः क्रीडागता जनाः ॥

striyo bālāśca vṛddhāśca prāyaḥ krīḍāgatā janāḥ

Women, boys and the aged, people for the most part gone out to amuse themselves,

Note on the text: Corrected वृद्वाश्च → वृद्धाश्च (ध printed as द्व). The page prints this single line as a verse of its own (8-34-20a); in the critical edition it is line 1 of the three-line verse 8.27.71, whose lines 2–3 are the next verse here.

Verse 21 (8.34.21)

या गाथाः सम्प्रगायन्ति कुर्वतोऽध्ययनं यथा । ता गाथाः शृणु मे शल्य मद्रकेषु दुरात्मसु ॥

yā gāthāḥ sampragāyanti kurvato'dhyayanaṃ yathā | tā gāthāḥ śṛṇu me śalya madrakeṣu durātmasu

The songs that they sing aloud, as if reciting their lessons: hear those songs from me, Shalya, about the wicked Madrakas.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 of this verse are lines 2–3 of the three-line CE verse 8.27.71 (see the previous verse).

Verse 22 (8.34.22)

ब्राह्मणैः कथिताः पूर्वं यथावद्राजसन्निधौ । श्रुत्वा चैकमना मूढ मम वा ब्रूहि चोत्तरम् ॥

brāhmaṇaiḥ kathitāḥ pūrvaṃ yathāvadrājasannidhau | śrutvā caikamanā mūḍha mama vā brūhi cottaram

They were told long ago by brahmins, exactly as they should be, in the presence of the king. Hear them single-mindedly, fool, and then give me your answer.

Note on the text: Wikisource's मम वा ब्रूहि चोत्तरम् differs from CE 8.27.72d (kṣama vā brūhi vottaram); the page's own gloss notes क्षम वा ब्रूहि चोत्तरम् as another manuscript's reading. A recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 23 (8.34.23)

मित्रध्रुङ्मद्रको नित्यं यो नो द्वेष्टि स मद्रकः । मद्रके सङ्गतं नास्ति क्षुद्रवाक्ये नराधमे ॥

mitradhruṅmadrako nityaṃ yo no dveṣṭi sa madrakaḥ | madrake saṅgataṃ nāsti kṣudravākye narādhame

A Madraka is always a betrayer of friends; whoever hates us is a Madraka. There is no fellowship with a Madraka, with that lowest of men and his petty speech.

Verse 24 (8.34.24)

दुरात्मा मद्रको नित्यं नित्यमानृतिकोऽनृजुः । यच्चान्यदपि दौरात्म्यं मद्रकेष्विति नः श्रुतम् ॥

durātmā madrako nityaṃ nityamānṛtiko'nṛjuḥ | yaccānyadapi daurātmyaṃ madrakeṣviti naḥ śrutam

The Madraka is always evil-natured, always false and crooked; and whatever other wickedness there is among the Madrakas, so we have heard.

Verse 25 (8.34.25)

पिता पुत्रश्च माता च श्वश्रूश्वशुरमातुलाः । भगिनी दुहिता भ्राता नप्ताऽन्ये ते च बान्धवाः ॥

pitā putraśca mātā ca śvaśrūśvaśuramātulāḥ | bhaginī duhitā bhrātā naptā'nye te ca bāndhavāḥ

Father, son and mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law and maternal uncles, sister, daughter, brother, grandson, and the other kinsmen,

Verse 26 (8.34.26)

वयस्याभ्यागताश्चान्ये दासीदासाश्च सङ्गताः । पुम्भिर्विमिश्रा नार्यश्च ज्ञाताज्ञाताः स्वयेच्छया ॥

vayasyābhyāgatāścānye dāsīdāsāśca saṅgatāḥ | pumbhirvimiśrā nāryaśca jñātājñātāḥ svayecchayā

friends, arrived guests and other people, slave-women and slaves, all gathered together; women mingled with men, known and unknown, as they please.

Verse 27 (8.34.27)

येषां गृहेष्वशिष्टानां सक्तुमद्याशिनां सदा । पीत्वा शीधु सगोमांसं क्रन्दन्ति च हसन्ति च ॥

yeṣāṃ gṛheṣvaśiṣṭānāṃ saktumadyāśināṃ sadā | pītvā śīdhu sagomāṃsaṃ krandanti ca hasanti ca

In whose houses the ill-mannered, ever eating barley-meal and drinking liquor, drink spirits and eat beef, and shout and laugh,

Verse 28 (8.34.28)

गायन्ति चाप्यबद्धानि प्रवर्तन्ते च कामतः । कामप्रलापिनोऽन्योन्यं तेषु धर्मः कथं भवेत् ॥

gāyanti cāpyabaddhāni pravartante ca kāmataḥ | kāmapralāpino'nyonyaṃ teṣu dharmaḥ kathaṃ bhavet

and sing disjointed songs and behave as desire moves them, babbling to one another as lust prompts: how could there be dharma among them?

Note on the text: Spacing fixed: धर्मःकथं → धर्मः कथं (a missing space after the visarga).

Verse 29 (8.34.29)

मद्रकेष्ववलिप्तेषु प्रख्याताशुभकर्मसु । नापि वैरं न सौहार्दं मद्रकेण समाचरेत् ॥

madrakeṣvavalipteṣu prakhyātāśubhakarmasu | nāpi vairaṃ na sauhārdaṃ madrakeṇa samācaret

Among the arrogant Madrakas, notorious for their evil deeds, one should practise neither enmity nor friendship with a Madraka.

Verse 30 (8.34.30)

मद्रके सङ्गतं नास्ति मद्रको हि सदा मलः । मद्रकेषु च संसृष्टं शौचं गान्धारकेषु च ॥

madrake saṅgataṃ nāsti madrako hi sadā malaḥ | madrakeṣu ca saṃsṛṣṭaṃ śaucaṃ gāndhārakeṣu ca

There is no fellowship with a Madraka, for a Madraka is ever filth; whatever is mixed with the Madrakas is spoiled, and purity is lost among the Gandharakas too.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording (मद्रको हि सदा मलः; मद्रकेषु च संसृष्टं) differs from CE 8.27.80 (madrako hi sacāpalaḥ; madrakeṣu ca duḥsparśaṃ); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept (translated with the page's own gloss).

Verse 31 (8.34.31)

राजयाजकयाज्ये हि यथा दत्तं हविर्नशेत् । शूद्रसंस्कारको विप्रो यथा याति पराभवम् ॥

rājayājakayājye hi yathā dattaṃ havirnaśet | śūdrasaṃskārako vipro yathā yāti parābhavam

As an offering made for one whose priest is a king is lost, and as a brahmin who performs the rites of a Shudra goes to ruin,

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 8.27.81 (rājayājakayājyena naṣṭaṃ dattaṃ havir bhavet; Wikisource's wording differs) and line 2 to CE 8.27.82a (śūdrasaṃskārako vipro yathā yāti parābhavam).

Verse 32 (8.34.32)

यथा ब्रह्मद्विषो नित्यं गच्छन्तीह पराभवम् । यथैव संगतं कृत्वा नरः पतति मद्रकैः ॥

yathā brahmadviṣo nityaṃ gacchantīha parābhavam | yathaiva saṃgataṃ kṛtvā naraḥ patati madrakaiḥ

as those who hate the brahmins always come to ruin here, and as a man falls who makes an alliance with the Madrakas,

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 8.27.82c (tathā brahmadviṣo nityaṃ gacchantīha parābhavam; Wikisource has यथा for tathā) and line 2 is the CE star passage 8.27.82d*0318_01 (tathaiva saṃgataṃ kṛtvā naraḥ patati madrakaiḥ).

Verse 33 (8.34.33)

बालेष्वपि सदा न स्म हतं वृश्चिक ते विषम् । आथर्वणेन मन्त्रेण सर्वशान्तिः कृता मया ॥

bāleṣvapi sadā na sma hataṃ vṛścika te viṣam | ātharvaṇena mantreṇa sarvaśāntiḥ kṛtā mayā

so, scorpion, your poison is destroyed, even in the young, always; by the Atharvan mantra I have brought every cure about.

Note on the text: Corrected धनं → हतं (misprint in Wikisource; CE hataṃ vṛścikato viṣam, and the page's own gloss reads तव विषं हतम्, "your poison is destroyed"). The first line (बालेष्वपि सदा न स्म ...) is unclear in Wikisource and differs from CE 8.27.83a (madrake saṃgataṃ nāsti); it is translated by the sense the gloss gives, as the conclusion of the comparisons in the two previous verses. Line 2 corresponds to CE 8.27.83c (Wikisource: सर्वशान्तिः कृता मया for CE sarvā śāntiḥ kṛtā bhavet).

Verse 34 (8.34.34)

इति वृश्चिकदष्टस्य विषवेगहतस्य च । कुर्वन्ति भेषजं प्राज्ञाः सत्यं तच्चापि दृश्यते ॥

iti vṛścikadaṣṭasya viṣavegahatasya ca | kurvanti bheṣajaṃ prājñāḥ satyaṃ taccāpi dṛśyate

So, for one bitten by a scorpion and overcome by the force of poison, the wise make a remedy, and that is seen to be true.

Verse 35 (8.34.35)

एवं विद्वञ्जोषमास्स्व ब्रूहि चात्रोत्तरं वचः । वासांस्युत्सृज्य नृत्यन्ति स्त्रियो मद्यविमोहिताः ॥

evaṃ vidvañjoṣamāssva brūhi cātrottaraṃ vacaḥ | vāsāṃsyutsṛjya nṛtyanti striyo madyavimohitāḥ

Knowing this, keep silent, or give your answer here. Women bewildered by drink cast off their clothes and dance,

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 8.27.84e (evaṃ vidvañ joṣam āssva śṛṇu cātrottaraṃ vacaḥ; Wikisource has ब्रूहि for śṛṇu) and line 2 to CE 8.27.85a.

Verse 36 (8.34.36)

मैथुनेऽसङ्गताश्चापि यथाकामवराश्च ताः । तासां पुत्र कथं धर्मं मद्रको वक्तुमर्हति ॥

maithune'saṅgatāścāpi yathākāmavarāśca tāḥ | tāsāṃ putra kathaṃ dharmaṃ madrako vaktumarhati

and, unrestrained in lovemaking, go choosing as they please; how can a Madraka, the son of such women, speak of dharma?

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 8.27.85c and line 2 to CE 8.27.85e.

Verse 37 (8.34.37)

यास्तिष्ठन्त्यः प्रमेहन्ति यथैवोष्ट्रदशेरकाः । तासां विभ्रष्टधर्माणां निर्लज्जानां ततस्ततः । त्वं पुत्रस्तादृशीनां हि धर्मं वक्तुमिहेच्छसि ॥

yāstiṣṭhantyaḥ pramehanti yathaivoṣṭradaśerakāḥ | tāsāṃ vibhraṣṭadharmāṇāṃ nirlajjānāṃ tatastataḥ | tvaṃ putrastādṛśīnāṃ hi dharmaṃ vaktumihecchasi

Women who stand and pass water, just like she-camels and asses, fallen from dharma, shameless, here and there: you, the son of such women, want to speak of dharma here!

Verse 38 (8.34.38)

सौवीरकं याच्यमाना मद्रिका कर्षति स्फिचौ । अदातुकामा वचनमिदं वदति दारुणम् ॥

sauvīrakaṃ yācyamānā madrikā karṣati sphicau | adātukāmā vacanamidaṃ vadati dāruṇam

A Madraka woman, when asked for sauvira gruel, scratches her hips, and, unwilling to give it, speaks these harsh words:

Verse 39 (8.34.39)

मा मां सौवीरकं कश्चिद्याचतां दयितं मम । पुत्रं दद्यां पतिं दद्यां न तु दद्यां सुवीरकम् ॥

mā māṃ sauvīrakaṃ kaścidyācatāṃ dayitaṃ mama | putraṃ dadyāṃ patiṃ dadyāṃ na tu dadyāṃ suvīrakam

"Let no one ask me for sauvira, which is dear to me. I would give my son, I would give my husband, but I would not give sauvira."

Verse 40 (8.34.40)

गौर्यो बृहत्यो निर्हीका मद्रिकाः कम्बलावृताः । घस्मरा नष्टशौचाश्च प्राय इत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥

gauryo bṛhatyo nirhīkā madrikāḥ kambalāvṛtāḥ | ghasmarā naṣṭaśaucāśca prāya ityanuśuśruma

Fair, tall, shameless Madraka women wrapped in blankets, gluttonous and devoid of cleanliness: so, for the most part, we have heard.

Note on the text: Corrected कम्पलावृताः → कम्बलावृताः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ब; CE kambalāvṛtāḥ).

Verse 41 (8.34.41)

प्रमेहित्वा स्फिचौ भूमौ घर्षन्त्यो हीनशोधनाः । शुद्धा नाद्भिर्न मृद्भिश्च नित्योच्छिष्टा भवन्ति हि ॥

pramehitvā sphicau bhūmau gharṣantyo hīnaśodhanāḥ | śuddhā nādbhirna mṛdbhiśca nityocchiṣṭā bhavanti hi

Having passed water, they rub their hips on the ground, careless of cleansing; purified neither with water nor with clay, they are always unclean.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 8.27.89d*0320 (lines 01–02: pramehitvā sphijā bhūmiṃ karṣantyo hīnaśodhanāḥ / spṛṣṭvā vāgbhir na mṛdbhiś ca nityocchiṣṭā bhavanti hi). Corrected पमेहित्वा → प्रमेहित्वा (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped र).

Verse 42 (8.34.42)

एवमादि मयाऽन्यैर्वा शक्यं वक्तुं भवेद्बहु । आकेशान्तान्नखाग्राच्च वक्तव्येषु कुकर्मसु ॥

evamādi mayā'nyairvā śakyaṃ vaktuṃ bhavedbahu | ākeśāntānnakhāgrācca vaktavyeṣu kukarmasu

I or others could say much more of this kind: of those who are to be censured from the tips of the hair to the tips of the nails, for their evil ways.

Verse 43 (8.34.43)

मद्रकाः सिन्धुसौवीरा धर्मं विद्युः कथं त्विह । पापदेशोद्भवा म्लेच्छा धर्माणामविचक्षणाः ॥

madrakāḥ sindhusauvīrā dharmaṃ vidyuḥ kathaṃ tviha | pāpadeśodbhavā mlecchā dharmāṇāmavicakṣaṇāḥ

How indeed could the Madrakas, Sindhus and Sauviras know dharma here? Born in a sinful land, barbarians, they are unskilled in the ways of dharma.

Verse 44 (8.34.44)

एष मुख्यतमो धर्मः क्षत्रियस्येति नः श्रुतम् । यदाजौ निहतः शेते सद्भिः समभिपूजितः ॥

eṣa mukhyatamo dharmaḥ kṣatriyasyeti naḥ śrutam | yadājau nihataḥ śete sadbhiḥ samabhipūjitaḥ

This, we have heard, is the foremost dharma of a Kshatriya: to lie slain in battle, honoured by the good.

Verse 45 (8.34.45)

आयुधानां साम्पराये यन्मुञ्चेयमहं ततः । ममैष प्रथमः कल्पो निधने स्वर्गमिच्छतः ॥

āyudhānāṃ sāmparāye yanmuñceyamahaṃ tataḥ | mamaiṣa prathamaḥ kalpo nidhane svargamicchataḥ

That I should give up my life in the clash of weapons: this is my first choice, who desire heaven in death.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.27.93 (āyudhānāṃ saṃparāye yan mucyeyam ahaṃ tataḥ; na me sa prathamaḥ kalpo nidhane svargam icchataḥ); ममैष for na me sa reverses the sense, a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept (the page's gloss supplies जीवितम् with मुञ्जेयम्).

Verse 46 (8.34.46)

सोऽयं प्रियसखा चास्मि धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः । तदर्थे हि मम प्राणा यच्च मे विद्यते वसु ॥

so'yaṃ priyasakhā cāsmi dhārtarāṣṭrasya dhīmataḥ | tadarthe hi mama prāṇā yacca me vidyate vasu

Such as I am, I am the dear friend of Dhritarashtra's wise son; for his sake are my life and whatever wealth I have.

Note on the text: Corrected सोयं → सोऽयं (missing avagraha in Wikisource; सः + अयम्). Wikisource's सोऽयं differs from CE so 'haṃ; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 47 (8.34.47)

व्यक्तं त्वमप्युपहितः पाण्डवैः पापदेशज । यथा चामित्रवत्सर्वं त्वमस्मासु प्रवर्तसे ॥

vyaktaṃ tvamapyupahitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ pāpadeśaja | yathā cāmitravatsarvaṃ tvamasmāsu pravartase

It is plain that you too have been won over by the Pandavas, man of a sinful land, since you behave towards us in every way like an enemy.

Verse 48 (8.34.48)

कामं न खलु शक्योऽहं त्वद्विधानां शतैरपि । सङ्ग्रामाद्विमुखः कर्तुं धर्मज्ञ इव नास्तिकैः ॥

kāmaṃ na khalu śakyo'haṃ tvadvidhānāṃ śatairapi | saṅgrāmādvimukhaḥ kartuṃ dharmajña iva nāstikaiḥ

Surely not even hundreds like you could turn me away from battle, as unbelievers cannot turn away one who knows dharma.

Verse 49 (8.34.49)

सारङ्ग इव घर्मार्तः कामं विलप शुष्य च । नाहं भीषयितुं शक्यः क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थितः ॥

sāraṅga iva gharmārtaḥ kāmaṃ vilapa śuṣya ca | nāhaṃ bhīṣayituṃ śakyaḥ kṣatradharme vyavasthitaḥ

Wail and wither as you like, like a deer tormented by the heat; I cannot be frightened, standing firm in the Kshatriya way.

Verse 50 (8.34.50)

तनुत्यजां नृसिंहानामाहवेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् । या गतिर्गुरुणा प्रोक्ता प्रेम्णा रामेण तां स्मरे ॥

tanutyajāṃ nṛsiṃhānāmāhaveṣvanivartinām | yā gatirguruṇā proktā premṇā rāmeṇa tāṃ smare

The goal that my teacher Rama lovingly declared for the lions among men who give up their bodies and never turn back in battle: that I remember.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording (प्रेम्णा रामेण तां स्मरे) differs from CE 8.27.98c (prāṅ me proktā rāmeṇa tāṃ smara); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 51 (8.34.51)

स्वेषां त्राणार्थमुद्यन्तं वधार्थं द्विषतामपि । विद्धि मामास्थितं वृत्तं पौरूरवसमुत्तमम् ॥

sveṣāṃ trāṇārthamudyantaṃ vadhārthaṃ dviṣatāmapi | viddhi māmāsthitaṃ vṛttaṃ paurūravasamuttamam

Know that I stand firm in the highest conduct of Pururavas's line, ready to protect my own and to slay my foes.

Verse 52 (8.34.52)

न तद्भूतं प्रपश्यामि त्रिषु लोकेषु मद्रप । यो मामस्मादभिप्रायाद्वारयेदिति मे मतिः ॥

na tadbhūtaṃ prapaśyāmi triṣu lokeṣu madrapa | yo māmasmādabhiprāyādvārayediti me matiḥ

I see no being in the three worlds, king of the Madras, who could turn me from this resolve: so I believe.

Verse 53 (8.34.53)

एवं विद्वञ्जोषमास्स्व त्रासात्किं बहु भाषसे । न त्वां हत्वा प्रदास्यामि क्रव्याद्भ्यो मद्रकाधम् ॥

evaṃ vidvañjoṣamāssva trāsātkiṃ bahu bhāṣase | na tvāṃ hatvā pradāsyāmi kravyādbhyo madrakādham

Knowing this, keep silent; why babble so much out of fear? I shall not kill you and give you to the flesh-eaters, lowest of the Madrakas.

Note on the text: Wikisource has न त्वां हत्वा where CE 8.27.101c reads mā tvā hatvā; a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 54 (8.34.54)

मित्रप्रतीक्षया शल्य धृतराष्ट्रस्य चोभयोः । अपवादतितिक्षाभिस्त्रिभिरेतैर्हि जीवसि ॥

mitrapratīkṣayā śalya dhṛtarāṣṭrasya cobhayoḥ | apavādatitikṣābhistribhiretairhi jīvasi

Shalya, you live by these three things: my regard for my friend and for Dhritarashtra, for both of them, and my patient endurance of your insults.

Note on the text: Wikisource's धृतराष्ट्रस्य for CE dhārtarāṣṭrasya, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 55 (8.34.55)

पुनश्चेदीदृशं वाक्यं मद्रराज वदिष्यसि । शिरस्ते पातयिष्यामि गदया वज्रकल्पया ॥

punaścedīdṛśaṃ vākyaṃ madrarāja vadiṣyasi | śiraste pātayiṣyāmi gadayā vajrakalpayā

If you speak such words again, king of the Madras, I shall strike off your head with my mace, which is like a thunderbolt.

Note on the text: Corrected पातयिष्यासि → पातयिष्यामि (misprint in Wikisource; an impossible second-person ending for the first-person future; CE pātayiṣyāmi).

Verse 56 (8.34.56)

श्रोतारस्त्विदमद्येह द्रष्टारो वा कुदेशज । कर्णं वा जघ्नतुः कृष्णौ कर्णो वा निजघान तौ ॥

śrotārastvidamadyeha draṣṭāro vā kudeśaja | karṇaṃ vā jaghnatuḥ kṛṣṇau karṇo vā nijaghāna tau

You will hear of this today, or see it, man of a base country: either the two Krishnas will have slain Karna, or Karna will have slain them.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रष्टारो व्रा → द्रष्टारो वा (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र). Wikisource's wording (श्रोतारस्त्विदमद्येह; निजघान) differs slightly from CE 8.27.104 (jaghāna), a recension variant, kept.

Verse 57 (8.34.57)

एवमुक्त्वा तु राधेयः पुनरेव विशाम्पते । अब्रवीन्मद्रराजानं याहियाहीत्यसम्भ्रमम् ॥

evamuktvā tu rādheyaḥ punareva viśāmpate | abravīnmadrarājānaṃ yāhiyāhītyasambhramam

Having said this, Radheya, O lord of men, said again to the king of the Madras, without any agitation, "Drive on, drive on!"