Bhima and Krishna Urge Action Against Jarasandha

Verse 1 (2.15.1)

उक्तं त्वया बुद्धिमता यन्नान्यो वक्तुमर्हति । संशयानां हि निर्मोक्ता त्वन्नान्यो विद्यते भुवि ॥

uktaṃ tvayā buddhimatā yannānyo vaktumarhati | saṃśayānāṃ hi nirmoktā tvannānyo vidyate bhuvi

You have said what no one else could say, wise as you are. There is no one on earth but you to resolve doubts.

Verse 2 (2.15.2)

गृहे गृहे हि राजानः स्वस्य स्वस्य प्रियङ्कराः । न च साम्राज्यमाप्तास्ते सम्राट्शब्दो हि कृच्छ्रभाक् ॥

gṛhe gṛhe hi rājānaḥ svasya svasya priyaṅkarāḥ | na ca sāmrājyamāptāste samrāṭśabdo hi kṛcchrabhāk

In house after house there are kings, each doing what pleases himself; yet they have not attained empire, for the title of emperor is hard to win.

Verse 3 (2.15.3)

कथं परानुभावज्ञः स्वं प्रशंसितुमर्हति । परेण समवेतस्तु यः प्रशस्यः स पूज्यते ॥

kathaṃ parānubhāvajñaḥ svaṃ praśaṃsitumarhati | pareṇa samavetastu yaḥ praśasyaḥ sa pūjyate

How can one who knows the power of others praise himself? It is he who proves worthy of praise when matched against another that is honoured.

Verse 4 (2.15.4)

विशाला बहुला भूमिर्बहुरत्नसमाचिता । दूरं गत्वा विजानाति श्रेयो वृष्णिकुलोद्वह ॥

viśālā bahulā bhūmirbahuratnasamācitā | dūraṃ gatvā vijānāti śreyo vṛṣṇikulodvaha

The earth is wide and vast, laden with many treasures; only by going far does one come to know what is best, scion of the Vrishni race.

Verse 5 (2.15.5)

शममेव परं मन्ये शमात्क्षेमं भवेन्मम । आरम्भे पारमेष्ठ्यं तु न प्राप्यमिति मे मतिः ॥

śamameva paraṃ manye śamātkṣemaṃ bhavenmama | ārambhe pārameṣṭhyaṃ tu na prāpyamiti me matiḥ

I hold peace to be the highest; from peace my well-being will come. By setting out on this undertaking the supreme station is not to be won — that is my view.

Verse 6 (2.15.6)

एवमेते हि जानन्ति कुले जाता मनस्विनः । कश्चित्कदाचिदेतेषां भवेच्छ्रेष्ठो जनार्दन ॥

evamete hi jānanti kule jātā manasvinaḥ | kaścitkadācideteṣāṃ bhavecchreṣṭho janārdana

So do high-minded men born in noble houses understand it: now and then, Janardana, one among them may become the foremost.

Verse 7 (2.15.7)

वयं चैव महाभाग जरासन्धभयात्तदा । शङ्किताः स्म महाभाग दौरात्म्यात्तस्य चानघ ॥

vayaṃ caiva mahābhāga jarāsandhabhayāttadā | śaṅkitāḥ sma mahābhāga daurātmyāttasya cānagha

And we too, fortunate one, were then in dread of Jarasandha, fearful of his wickedness, sinless one.

Note on the text: Corrected यैव → चैव and द्वौरात्म्यात् → दौरात्म्यात् (misprints in Wikisource; य for च, and a stray व in दौरात्म्य, "wickedness"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 8 (2.15.8)

अहं हि तव दुर्धर्ष भुजवीर्याश्रयः प्रभो । नात्मानं बलिनं मन्ये त्वयि तस्माद्विशङ्किते ॥

ahaṃ hi tava durdharṣa bhujavīryāśrayaḥ prabho | nātmānaṃ balinaṃ manye tvayi tasmādviśaṅkite

For I rest on the strength of your arms, invincible lord. When you yourself are doubtful, I cannot count myself strong.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (2.15.9)

त्वत्सकाशाच्च रामाच्च भीमसेनाच्च माधव । अर्जुनाद्वा महाबाहो हन्तुं शक्यो नवेति वै । एवं जानन्हि वार्ष्णेय विमृशामि पुनः पुनः ॥

tvatsakāśācca rāmācca bhīmasenācca mādhava | arjunādvā mahābāho hantuṃ śakyo naveti vai | evaṃ jānanhi vārṣṇeya vimṛśāmi punaḥ punaḥ

Whether he can be slain by you, by Rama, by Bhimasena, Madhava, or by Arjuna, mighty-armed one — knowing how things stand, descendant of Vrishni, I turn it over again and again.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (2.15.10)

त्वं मे प्रमाणभूतोऽसि सर्वकार्येषु केशव ॥

tvaṃ me pramāṇabhūto'si sarvakāryeṣu keśava

You are my authority in every undertaking, Keshava.

Note on the text: Split: Wikisource prints this line and the next under one number (2-15-10), but the second line is narration introducing Bhima, so it is given as the next verse, spoken by Vaishampayana. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (2.15.11)

तच्छ्रुत्वा चाब्रवीद्भीमो वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः ॥

tacchrutvā cābravīdbhīmo vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ

Hearing this, Bhima, skilled in speech, spoke these words.

Note on the text: Second line of Wikisource 2-15-10 (see the previous verse): narration, so Vaishampayana's. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (2.15.12)

अनारम्भपरो राजा वल्मीक इव सीदति । दुर्बलश्चानुपायेन बलिनं योऽधितिष्ठति ॥

anārambhaparo rājā valmīka iva sīdati | durbalaścānupāyena balinaṃ yo'dhitiṣṭhati

A king who shrinks from every undertaking sinks down like an anthill; so does a weak man who takes on a strong one without the proper means.

Verse 13 (2.15.13)

अतन्द्रितश्च प्रायेण दुर्बलो बलिनं रिपुम् । जयेत्सम्यक्प्रयोगेण नीत्याऽर्थानात्मनो हितान् ॥

atandritaśca prāyeṇa durbalo balinaṃ ripum | jayetsamyakprayogeṇa nītyā'rthānātmano hitān

But a weak man who stays ever watchful can often defeat a strong enemy by the right use of means, and by policy win the ends that serve him.

Verse 14 (2.15.14)

कृष्णे नयो मयि बलं जयः पार्थे धनञ्जये । मागधं साधयिष्याम इष्टिं त्रय इवाग्नयः ॥

kṛṣṇe nayo mayi balaṃ jayaḥ pārthe dhanañjaye | māgadhaṃ sādhayiṣyāma iṣṭiṃ traya ivāgnayaḥ

In Krishna is policy, in me strength, in Partha Dhananjaya victory. We shall overcome the Magadha king, as the three fires accomplish a sacrifice.

Verse 15 (2.15.15)

त्वद्बुद्धिबलमाश्रित्य सर्वं प्राप्स्यति धर्मराट् । जयोऽस्माकं हि गोविन्द येषां नाथो भवान्सदा ॥

tvadbuddhibalamāśritya sarvaṃ prāpsyati dharmarāṭ | jayo'smākaṃ hi govinda yeṣāṃ nātho bhavānsadā

Relying on the strength of your wisdom, the King of Dharma will gain everything. Victory is ours, Govinda, for you are ever our protector.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (2.15.16)

अर्थानारभते बालो नानुबन्धमवेक्षते । तस्मादरिं न मृष्यन्ति बालमर्थपरायणम् ॥

arthānārabhate bālo nānubandhamavekṣate | tasmādariṃ na mṛṣyanti bālamarthaparāyaṇam

A fool sets about his aims without looking to the consequences. That is why men will not tolerate a foolish enemy bent only on gain.

Verse 17 (2.15.17)

जित्वा जय्यान्यौवनाश्विः पालनाच्च भगीरथः । कार्तवीर्यस्तपोवीर्याद्बलात्तु भरतो विभुः ॥

jitvā jayyānyauvanāśviḥ pālanācca bhagīrathaḥ | kārtavīryastapovīryādbalāttu bharato vibhuḥ

Yauvanashvi by conquering those who could be conquered, Bhagiratha by protecting his people, Kartavirya by the power of austerity, lord Bharata by strength,

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.14.11abcd, with this recension's readings जित्वा जय्यान् and तपोवीर्यात् where the critical edition has hitvā karān and tapoyogāt.

Verse 18 (2.15.18)

ऋद्ध्या मरुत्तस्तान्पञ्च सम्राजस्त्वनुशुश्रुम । सर्वान्वंश्याननुमृशन्नैते सन्ति युगे युगे ॥

ṛddhyā maruttastānpañca samrājastvanuśuśruma | sarvānvaṃśyānanumṛśannaite santi yuge yuge

and Marutta by prosperity — these five, we have heard, were emperors. Look through every royal line, and such men are not found in every age.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). The first line corresponds to CE 2.14.11ef; the second, which Wikisource marks as inserted, is not in the critical edition.

Verse 19 (2.15.19)

साम्राज्यमिच्छतस्ते तु सर्वाकारं युधिष्ठिर । निग्राह्यलक्षणं प्राप्तिर्धर्मार्थनयलक्षणैः ॥

sāmrājyamicchataste tu sarvākāraṃ yudhiṣṭhira | nigrāhyalakṣaṇaṃ prāptirdharmārthanayalakṣaṇaiḥ

But you, Yudhishthira, desire empire in every form, and gain guided by the marks of dharma, artha and right policy is within your reach. The one who bears the marks of a man to be subdued

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension); the second corresponds to CE 2.14.12ab (प्राप्तिः where the critical edition has prāpto).

Verse 20 (2.15.20)

बार्हद्रथो जरासन्धस्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ । न चैनं प्रत्ययुध्यन्त कुलान्येकशतं नृपाः ॥

bārhadratho jarāsandhastadviddhi bharatarṣabha | na cainaṃ pratyayudhyanta kulānyekaśataṃ nṛpāḥ

is Jarasandha, son of Brihadratha; know that, bull of the Bharatas. The hundred and one royal houses did not fight back against him, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रत्यत्युद्ध्यन्त → प्रत्ययुध्यन्त (misprint in Wikisource; a garbled verb — the imperfect of prati-yudh, "fought back"; the critical edition has a different verb here, anurudhyante). The lines correspond to CE 2.14.12cd and 2.14.13ab.

Verse 21 (2.15.21)

तस्मादिह बलादेव साम्राज्यं कुरुते हि सः ॥

tasmādiha balādeva sāmrājyaṃ kurute hi saḥ

That is why he holds his empire here by force alone.

Note on the text: A single line in Wikisource, closing the sentence of the previous verse; it corresponds to CE 2.14.13cd.

Verse 22 (2.15.22)

रत्नभाजो हि राजानो जरासन्धमुपासते । न च तुष्यति तेनापि बाल्यादनयमास्थितः ॥

ratnabhājo hi rājāno jarāsandhamupāsate | na ca tuṣyati tenāpi bālyādanayamāsthitaḥ

Kings rich in treasure wait upon Jarasandha; yet even that does not satisfy him, for in his folly he has taken to wrongdoing.

Verse 23 (2.15.23)

मूर्धाभिषिक्तं नृपतिं प्रधानपुरुषो बलात् । आदत्ते न च नो दृष्टोऽभागः पुरुषतः क्वचित् ॥

mūrdhābhiṣiktaṃ nṛpatiṃ pradhānapuruṣo balāt | ādatte na ca no dṛṣṭo'bhāgaḥ puruṣataḥ kvacit

That chief among men seizes by force even a king anointed on the head; and we have never seen anyone among men whom he has left untaken.

Verse 24 (2.15.24)

एवं सर्वान्वशे चक्रे जरासन्धः शतावरान् । तं दुर्बलतरो राजा कथं पार्थ उपैष्यति ॥

evaṃ sarvānvaśe cakre jarāsandhaḥ śatāvarān | taṃ durbalataro rājā kathaṃ pārtha upaiṣyati

In this way Jarasandha has brought under his sway kings no fewer than a hundred. How then can a weaker king, Partha, go against him?

Verse 25 (2.15.25)

तण्डुलप्रस्थके राजा कपर्दिनमुपासते । प्रोक्षितानां प्रमृष्टानां राज्ञां पशुपतेर्गृहे । पशूनामिव का प्रीतिर्जीविते भरतर्षभ ॥

taṇḍulaprasthake rājā kapardinamupāsate | prokṣitānāṃ pramṛṣṭānāṃ rājñāṃ paśupatergṛhe | paśūnāmiva kā prītirjīvite bharatarṣabha

With a prastha measure of rice the king worships Kapardin, the matted-haired Shiva. For kings sprinkled and cleansed like sacrificial beasts in the house of Pashupati, what joy is there in life, bull of the Bharatas?

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Corrected the third line पशूनामिव प्रमृष्टानां राज्ञां पशुपतेर्गृहे → पशूनामिव का प्रीतिर्जीविते भरतर्षभ (Wikisource repeats the end of the line above in place of this line's own words, leaving the sentence without a verb or sense; restored from the critical edition, 2.14.17cd). The first line, which Wikisource marks as inserted, is not in the critical edition; the second corresponds to CE 2.14.17ab.

Verse 26 (2.15.26)

क्षत्रियः शस्त्रमरणो यदा भवति सत्कृतः । ततः स्म मागधं सङ्ख्ये प्रतिबाधेम यद्वयम् ॥

kṣatriyaḥ śastramaraṇo yadā bhavati satkṛtaḥ | tataḥ sma māgadhaṃ saṅkhye pratibādhema yadvayam

Since a kshatriya who dies by weapons is held in honour, let us then resist the Magadha in battle.

Verse 27 (2.15.27)

षडशीतिः समानीताः शेषा राजंश्चतुर्दश । जरासन्धेन राजानस्ततः क्रूरं प्रवर्त्स्यते ॥

ṣaḍaśītiḥ samānītāḥ śeṣā rājaṃścaturdaśa | jarāsandhena rājānastataḥ krūraṃ pravartsyate

Eighty-six kings have already been brought in by Jarasandha, O king; fourteen remain. After that, something cruel will be set in motion.

Verse 28 (2.15.28)

प्राप्नुयात्स यशो दीप्तं तत्र यो विघ्नमाचरेत् । जयेद्यश्च जरासन्धं स सम्राण्नियतं भवेत् ॥

prāpnuyātsa yaśo dīptaṃ tatra yo vighnamācaret | jayedyaśca jarāsandhaṃ sa samrāṇniyataṃ bhavet

Whoever puts an obstacle in his way there will win shining fame; and whoever conquers Jarasandha will surely become emperor.

Note on the text: Corrected सम्राण्णियतं → सम्राण्नियतं (misprint in Wikisource; the second word is नियतम्, "surely" — only the final of सम्राट् becomes ण् in sandhi; the critical edition reads samrāṇ niyataṃ).