Brahma and Ishana Promise Arjuna the Victory

Verse 1 (8.92.1)

प्रजापतिस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा देवभागं समागतम् । अब्रवीत्तु ततो राजन्पश्यतो वै स्वयंभुवः ॥

prajāpatistu taṃ dṛṣṭvā devabhāgaṃ samāgatam | abravīttu tato rājanpaśyato vai svayaṃbhuvaḥ

Seeing him, who had come as the gods' share, Prajapati then spoke, O king, in the very sight of the Self-existent.

Note on the text: Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.46d*0993_07–08.

Verse 2 (8.92.2)

उभावतिरथौ शूरावुभौ दृढपराक्रमौ । उभौ सदृशकर्माणौ वज्रिचक्रायुधोपमौ ॥

ubhāvatirathau śūrāvubhau dṛḍhaparākramau | ubhau sadṛśakarmāṇau vajricakrāyudhopamau

"Both are great chariot-warriors, both heroes of firm valour, both alike in their deeds, equal to the wielder of the thunderbolt and the bearer of the discus.

Note on the text: Corrected वज्रिचक्रायुधौपमौ → वज्रिचक्रायुधोपमौ (misprint in Wikisource; औ for ो; आयुध + उपम gives आयुधोपम, and the critical edition (star passage) reads vajricakrāyudhopamau). Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.46d*0993_09–10. No speaker heading is printed; the speech is Prajapati's.

Verse 3 (8.92.3)

अहो बत महद्युद्धं कर्णार्जुनसमागमे । भविष्यति महाघोरं वृत्रवासवयोरिव ॥

aho bata mahadyuddhaṃ karṇārjunasamāgame | bhaviṣyati mahāghoraṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva

Ah, what a great and terrible battle there will be at the meeting of Karna and Arjuna, like that of Vritra and Vasava!"

Note on the text: Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.46d*0993_11–12. Speech of Prajapati (no heading printed).

Verse 4 (8.92.4)

प्रजापतिरथोक्त्वैवं स्वयम्भुवमचोदयत् । समोऽस्तु विजयः काममुभयोर्नरसिंहयोः ॥

prajāpatirathoktvaivaṃ svayambhuvamacodayat | samo'stu vijayaḥ kāmamubhayornarasiṃhayoḥ

Then Prajapati, having spoken so, urged the Self-existent: "By all means let victory be equal for these two lions among men.

Note on the text: No exact counterpart in the critical edition; compare 8.63.47 (the gods go to Prajapati and ask that victory be equal for the two). The second line is the content of Prajapati's request, quoted within the narration.

Verse 5 (8.92.5)

कर्णार्जुनविवादेन मा नश्येदखिलं जगत् । स्वयंभो ब्रूहि तद्वाक्यं समोऽस्तु विजयोऽनयोः ॥

karṇārjunavivādena mā naśyedakhilaṃ jagat | svayaṃbho brūhi tadvākyaṃ samo'stu vijayo'nayoḥ

Let the whole world not perish through the quarrel of Karna and Arjuna. O Self-existent, speak those words: let victory be equal for these two."

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 8.63.48c, line 2 to 49a. Speech of Prajapati (no heading printed).

Verse 6 (8.92.6)

एवमुक्तस्तु भगवाञ्जये ताभ्यामनिश्चिते । इत्यब्रवीन्महाराज महाब्रह्मा प्रजापतिम् ॥

evamuktastu bhagavāñjaye tābhyāmaniścite | ityabravīnmahārāja mahābrahmā prajāpatim

Thus addressed, the Blessed One, uncertain of victory for either of the two, spoke as follows, O great king, to Prajapati, the great Brahma.

Note on the text: Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.49b*0997_01–02.

Verse 7 (8.92.7)

द्वावप्येतौ हि कृतिनौ द्वावप्यतिबलोत्कटौ । भविष्यत्यनयोर्युद्धं त्रैलोक्यस्य भयावहम् ॥

dvāvapyetau hi kṛtinau dvāvapyatibalotkaṭau | bhaviṣyatyanayoryuddhaṃ trailokyasya bhayāvaham

"Both of these are accomplished, both exceedingly strong and fierce; the battle between them will be a terror to the three worlds."

Note on the text: Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.49b*0997_03–04. Speech of Brahma (no heading printed).

Verse 8 (8.92.8)

ततः प्रजापतिं तत्र सहस्राक्षोऽभ्यचोदयत् । विजयो ध्रुव एवास्तु पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः ॥

tataḥ prajāpatiṃ tatra sahasrākṣo'bhyacodayat | vijayo dhruva evāstu pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ

Then Sahasraksha urged Prajapati there: "Let the victory of the great-souled Pandava be certain.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the star passage 8.63.49b*0997_05; line 2 corresponds to CE 8.63.50c. The second line is Indra's request, quoted within the narration.

Verse 9 (8.92.9)

मनस्वी बलवाञ्शूरः कृतविद्यस्तपोधनः । विभर्ति च महातेजा धनुर्वेदमशेषतः ॥

manasvī balavāñśūraḥ kṛtavidyastapodhanaḥ | vibharti ca mahātejā dhanurvedamaśeṣataḥ

He is high-minded, mighty, a hero, learned in arms and rich in austerity; the great-splendoured one bears the whole science of the bow.

Note on the text: Speech of Indra (Sahasraksha); no heading is printed. Corresponds to CE 8.63.51 (the CE gives it to Brahma and Ishana).

Verse 10 (8.92.10)

पार्थः सर्वगुणोपेतो देवकार्यमिदं यतः । क्लिश्यन्ते पाण्डवा नित्यं वनवासादिभिर्भृशं ॥

pārthaḥ sarvaguṇopeto devakāryamidaṃ yataḥ | kliśyante pāṇḍavā nityaṃ vanavāsādibhirbhṛśaṃ

Partha is endowed with every virtue, since this is the gods' task; the Pandavas are ever sorely afflicted by exile in the forest and the like.

Note on the text: Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.51d*1000_01–02. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 11 (8.92.11)

सम्पन्नस्तपसा चैव पर्याप्तः पुरुषर्षभः । अतिक्रामेच्च माहात्म्याद्दिष्टमप्यविचारयन् ॥

sampannastapasā caiva paryāptaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | atikrāmecca māhātmyāddiṣṭamapyavicārayan

That best of men is rich in austerity and fully capable; through his greatness he might overstep even what is ordained, heedless of it.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the star passage 8.63.51d*1000_03; line 2 corresponds to CE 8.63.52a. Lines 1 and 2 are repeated, with the following verse, at 8-92-24. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 12 (8.92.12)

अतिक्रमे च लोकानामभावो नियतो भवेत् । नावस्थानं च पश्यामि क्रुद्धयोः कृष्णयोः क्वचित् ॥

atikrame ca lokānāmabhāvo niyato bhavet | nāvasthānaṃ ca paśyāmi kruddhayoḥ kṛṣṇayoḥ kvacit

And if he oversteps it, the destruction of the worlds would be certain; nor do I see anything anywhere that can withstand the two Krishnas when they are enraged.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 8.63.52c and 53a. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 13 (8.92.13)

स्रष्टारौ जगतश्चैतौ सतश्च पुरुषर्षभौ । नरनारायणावेतौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ ॥

sraṣṭārau jagataścaitau sataśca puruṣarṣabhau | naranārāyaṇāvetau purāṇāvṛṣisattamau

These two are the makers of the world and of all that is, O best of men — Nara and Narayana, the ancient ones, the best of sages.

Note on the text: Corrected ततश्च → सतश्च (misprint in Wikisource; त for स; the same line at 8-92-25 and the critical edition (8.63.53c) read सतश्च). Corresponds to CE 8.63.53c and 54a. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 14 (8.92.14)

अनियम्यौ नियन्तारौ जगतः पुरुषर्षभौ । नैतयोस्तु समः कश्चिद्दिवि वा मानुषेषु वा ॥

aniyamyau niyantārau jagataḥ puruṣarṣabhau | naitayostu samaḥ kaściddivi vā mānuṣeṣu vā

They cannot be restrained, and are themselves the restrainers of the world, the best of men; there is none equal to them in heaven or among men.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks ([) from the text. Line 1 is loosely related to CE 8.63.54c; line 2 is the star passage 8.63.54d*1001_01. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 15 (8.92.15)

अनुगम्यास्त्रयो लोकाः सह देवर्षिचारणैः । सर्वदेवगणाश्चापि सर्वभूतानि यानि च । अनयोस्तु प्रभावेन वर्तते निखिलं जगत् ॥

anugamyāstrayo lokāḥ saha devarṣicāraṇaiḥ | sarvadevagaṇāścāpi sarvabhūtāni yāni ca | anayostu prabhāvena vartate nikhilaṃ jagat

The three worlds, with the divine sages and Charanas, all the hosts of gods and all beings whatever, follow in their train; by their power the whole world endures."

Note on the text: Corrected जगत्।।] ॥ → जगत् ॥ (misprint in Wikisource; the closing bracket and doubled danda are stray marks). Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.54d*1001_02–04. Verses 14–15 together form the passage the page prints in square brackets (8-92-14b to 15c). Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 16 (8.92.16)

कामं तु सुकृताँल्लोकानाप्नोतु पुरुषर्षभः । कर्णो वैकर्तनः शूरो विजयस्त्वस्तु कृष्णयोः ॥

kāmaṃ tu sukṛtām̐llokānāpnotu puruṣarṣabhaḥ | karṇo vaikartanaḥ śūro vijayastvastu kṛṣṇayoḥ

Let that best of men, Karna Vaikartana the hero, win as he wishes the worlds won by good deeds; but let the victory be the two Krishnas'.

Note on the text: Variant of CE 8.63.55. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 17 (8.92.17)

वसूनां समलोकत्वं मरुतां वासमाप्नुयात् । सहितो द्रोणभीष्माभ्यां नाकपृष्ठे महीयताम् ॥

vasūnāṃ samalokatvaṃ marutāṃ vāsamāpnuyāt | sahito droṇabhīṣmābhyāṃ nākapṛṣṭhe mahīyatām

May he share the world of the Vasus and reach the abode of the Maruts, and, joined with Drona and Bhishma, be honoured in the vault of heaven.

Note on the text: Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 18 (8.92.18)

क्लेशितो हि वने पार्थो दीर्घकालं पितामह । तस्मादेष जयेद्युद्धे तपसाऽभ्यधिकोऽर्जुनः ॥

kleśito hi vane pārtho dīrghakālaṃ pitāmaha | tasmādeṣa jayedyuddhe tapasā'bhyadhiko'rjunaḥ

Partha was tormented a long time in the forest, Grandfather; therefore let Arjuna, who is greater in austerity, win in the battle.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (`) from the text. Corrected दिर्घकालं → दीर्घकालं (misprint in Wikisource; short ि for long ी; the critical edition reads dīrghakālaṃ). Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.56d*1002_01–02. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 19 (8.92.19)

पूर्वं भगवता प्रोक्तः कृष्णयोर्विजयो ध्रुवः । तत्तथास्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु प्रभो ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

pūrvaṃ bhagavatā proktaḥ kṛṣṇayorvijayo dhruvaḥ | tattathāstu namaste'stu prabho brūhi pitāmaha

Earlier the Blessed One said that the victory of the two Krishnas is certain. Let it be so; salutation to you; speak, Lord, Grandfather."

Note on the text: Corrected प्रमो → प्रभो (misprint in Wikisource; म for भ; the critical edition reads prabho). Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.56d*1002_03–04. Speech of Indra (no heading printed).

Verse 20 (8.92.20)

तत्सहस्राक्षवचनं निशम्य भगवान्प्रभुः । नोवाच तज्जयं तुल्यं तयोः कर्णकिरीटिनोः ॥

tatsahasrākṣavacanaṃ niśamya bhagavānprabhuḥ | novāca tajjayaṃ tulyaṃ tayoḥ karṇakirīṭinoḥ

Hearing Sahasraksha's words, the Blessed Lord, the master, did not declare an equal victory for Karna and Kiritin.

Note on the text: Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.56d*1002_05–06.

Verse 21 (8.92.21)

तस्मादाशां गतः शक्रस्तूष्णीम्भूते पितामहे । विजयः पाण्डवेयस्य कर्णस्य च वधो भवेत् ॥

tasmādāśāṃ gataḥ śakrastūṣṇīmbhūte pitāmahe | vijayaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya karṇasya ca vadho bhavet

So, as the Grandfather stayed silent, Shakra was left with his hope: that victory would be the Pandava's and Karna would meet his death.

Note on the text: Not in the CE's constituted text; it is the star passage 8.63.56d*1002_07–08 (there in the accusative: vijayaṃ … vadhaṃ).

Verse 22 (8.92.22)

ब्रह्मेशानौ ततो वाक्यमूचतुर्भुवनेश्वरम् । विजयो ध्रुव एवास्तु पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः ॥

brahmeśānau tato vākyamūcaturbhuvaneśvaram | vijayo dhruva evāstu pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ

Then Brahma and Ishana said to the lord of the worlds: "Let the victory of the great-souled Pandava be certain.

Note on the text: The second line is the opening of the speech of Brahma and Ishana, quoted within the narration.

Verse 23 (8.92.23)

मनस्वी जयतां शूरः कृतविद्यस्तपोधनः । बिभर्ति च महातेजा धनुर्वेदमशेषतः ॥

manasvī jayatāṃ śūraḥ kṛtavidyastapodhanaḥ | bibharti ca mahātejā dhanurvedamaśeṣataḥ

He is high-minded, foremost among the victorious, a hero, learned in arms and rich in austerity; the great-splendoured one bears the whole science of the bow.

Note on the text: Repeats verse 9 with two small changes (जयतां for बलवाञ्, बिभर्ति for विभर्ति); the vulgate says the same twice, once in Indra's speech and again in that of Brahma and Ishana. Corresponds to CE 8.63.51. Speech of Brahma and Ishana (no heading printed).

Verse 24 (8.92.24)

अतिक्रामेच्च माहात्म्याद्दिष्टमप्यविचारयन् । अतिक्रमे च लोकानामभावो नियतो भवेत् ॥

atikrāmecca māhātmyāddiṣṭamapyavicārayan | atikrame ca lokānāmabhāvo niyato bhavet

He might overstep even what is ordained, through his greatness, heedless of it; and if he oversteps it, the destruction of the worlds would be certain.

Note on the text: Speech of Brahma and Ishana (no heading printed). Lines 1 and 2 are repeated from verses 11 and 12.

Verse 25 (8.92.25)

न च विद्म ह्यवस्थानं क्रुद्धयोः कृष्णयोः क्वचित् । स्रष्टारौ जगतश्चैव सतश्च पुरुषर्षभौ ॥

na ca vidma hyavasthānaṃ kruddhayoḥ kṛṣṇayoḥ kvacit | sraṣṭārau jagataścaiva sataśca puruṣarṣabhau

We know of nothing anywhere that can stand when the two Krishnas are angry; they are the makers of the world and of all that is, the best of men.

Note on the text: Speech of Brahma and Ishana (no heading printed).

Verse 26 (8.92.26)

कामं तु सुकृताँल्लोकान्प्राप्नोत्वेष परन्तपः । कर्णो वैकर्तनः शूरो विजयस्तु नरे ध्रुवः ॥

kāmaṃ tu sukṛtām̐llokānprāpnotveṣa parantapaḥ | karṇo vaikartanaḥ śūro vijayastu nare dhruvaḥ

Let this scorcher of foes, Karna Vaikartana the hero, win as he wishes the worlds won by good deeds; but victory is sure with Nara."

Note on the text: A second statement of CE 8.63.55 in different words. Speech of Brahma and Ishana (no heading printed).

Verse 27 (8.92.27)

तथोक्ते देवदेवाभ्यां सहस्राक्षोऽब्रवीद्वचः । आमन्त्र्य सर्वभूतानि ब्रह्मेशानानुशासनात् ॥

tathokte devadevābhyāṃ sahasrākṣo'bravīdvacaḥ | āmantrya sarvabhūtāni brahmeśānānuśāsanāt

When the two chief gods had spoken thus, Sahasraksha, addressing all beings at the command of Brahma and Ishana, said:

Verse 28 (8.92.28)

श्रुतं भवद्भिर्यत्प्रोक्तं भगवद्भ्यां जगद्धितम् । तत्तथा व्येतु ते रोगः शमाप्नुत विमन्यवः ॥

śrutaṃ bhavadbhiryatproktaṃ bhagavadbhyāṃ jagaddhitam | tattathā vyetu te rogaḥ śamāpnuta vimanyavaḥ

"You have heard what the two Blessed Ones have declared for the good of the world. Let it be so; let your sickness leave you; be calm and free of anger."

Note on the text: Speech of Indra (no heading printed). Line 2 differs from CE 8.63.58c (tat tathā nānyathā tad dhi tiṣṭhadhvaṃ gatamanyavaḥ).

Verse 29 (8.92.29)

इति श्रुत्वेन्द्रवचनं सर्वभूतानि मारिष । विस्मितान्यभवन्राजन्पूजयाञ्चक्रिरे तदा । नोचुस्तदा जयं तुल्यं तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः ॥

iti śrutvendravacanaṃ sarvabhūtāni māriṣa | vismitānyabhavanrājanpūjayāñcakrire tadā | nocustadā jayaṃ tulyaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ

Hearing Indra's words, all beings, O sire, were filled with wonder, O king, and honoured them; they did not say then that victory was equal for those two lions among men.

Note on the text: Corrected मानिष → मारिष (misprint in Wikisource; न for र; the critical edition reads māriṣa). Line 1 corresponds to CE 8.63.59a; line 2 to 59c (varied); line 3 is the star passage 8.63.59d*1003_01.

Verse 30 (8.92.30)

व्यसृजंश्च सुगन्धीनि पुष्पवर्षाणि हर्षिताः । नानारूपाणि विबुधा देवतूर्याण्यवादयन् ॥

vyasṛjaṃśca sugandhīni puṣpavarṣāṇi harṣitāḥ | nānārūpāṇi vibudhā devatūryāṇyavādayan

The gods, delighted, rained down fragrant flowers of many kinds from the sky and played the divine drums.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 8.63.60, in different words.

Verse 31 (8.92.31)

दिदृक्षवश्चाप्रतिमं द्वैरथं नरसिंहयोः । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना नान्या बुबुधिरे क्रियाः ॥

didṛkṣavaścāpratimaṃ dvairathaṃ narasiṃhayoḥ | vismayotphullanayanā nānyā bubudhire kriyāḥ

Eager to see the matchless chariot-duel of the two lions among men, their eyes wide with wonder, they attended to nothing else.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.63.61a; line 2 is the star passage 8.63.61d*1004_01.