Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna Set Out for Magadha

Verse 1 (2.20.1)

पतितौ हंसडिभिकौ कंसश्च सगणो हतः । जरासन्धस्य निधने कालोऽयं समुपागतः ॥

patitau haṃsaḍibhikau kaṃsaśca sagaṇo hataḥ | jarāsandhasya nidhane kālo'yaṃ samupāgataḥ

"Hamsa and Dibhaka have fallen, and Kamsa has been slain with his followers. The time has now come for Jarasandha's death.

Verse 2 (2.20.2)

न शक्योऽसौ रणे जेतुं सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः । प्राणयुद्धेन जेतव्यः स इत्युपलभामहे ॥

na śakyo'sau raṇe jetuṃ sarvairapi surāsuraiḥ | prāṇayuddhena jetavyaḥ sa ityupalabhāmahe

He cannot be conquered in battle even by all the gods and demons together. We understand that he must be overcome in a fight to the death, man against man.

Verse 3 (2.20.3)

मयि नीतिर्बलं भीमे रक्षिता चावयोर्जयः । मागधं साधयिष्याम इष्टिं त्रय इवाग्नयः ॥

mayi nītirbalaṃ bhīme rakṣitā cāvayorjayaḥ | māgadhaṃ sādhayiṣyāma iṣṭiṃ traya ivāgnayaḥ

Policy is in me, strength in Bhima, and Jaya (Arjuna) is the guardian of us both. We shall accomplish the Magadhan's end as the three sacred fires accomplish a sacrifice.

Verse 4 (2.20.4)

त्रिभिरासादितोऽस्माभिर्विजने स नराधिपः । न सन्देहो यथा युद्धमेकेनाप्युपयास्यति ॥

tribhirāsādito'smābhirvijane sa narādhipaḥ | na sandeho yathā yuddhamekenāpyupayāsyati

When the three of us confront that ruler of men in a lonely place, there is no doubt that he will accept a fight with one of us.

Verse 5 (2.20.5)

अवमानाच्च लोभाच्च बाहुवीर्याच्च दर्पितः । भीमसेनेन युद्धाय ध्रुवमप्युपयास्यति ॥

avamānācca lobhācca bāhuvīryācca darpitaḥ | bhīmasenena yuddhāya dhruvamapyupayāsyati

Out of contempt, out of greed, and proud of the strength of his arms, he will surely agree to fight with Bhimasena.

Verse 6 (2.20.6)

अलं तस्य महाबाहुर्भीमसेनो महाबलः । लोकस्य समुदीर्णस्य निधनायान्तको यथा ॥

alaṃ tasya mahābāhurbhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | lokasya samudīrṇasya nidhanāyāntako yathā

The mighty-armed Bhimasena, great in strength, is equal to destroying him, as Death is to destroying the world when it has grown overbearing.

Verse 7 (2.20.7)

यदि भीमबलं वेत्सि यदि ते प्रत्ययो मयि । भीमसेनार्जुनौ शीघ्रं न्यासभूतौ प्रयच्छ मे ॥

yadi bhīmabalaṃ vetsi yadi te pratyayo mayi | bhīmasenārjunau śīghraṃ nyāsabhūtau prayaccha me

If you know Bhima's strength, and if you have faith in me, then quickly give Bhimasena and Arjuna into my keeping as a trust."

Verse 8 (2.20.8)

एवमुक्तो भगवता प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरः । भीमार्जुनौ समालोक्य सम्प्रहृष्टमुखौ स्थितौ ॥

evamukto bhagavatā pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | bhīmārjunau samālokya samprahṛṣṭamukhau sthitau

Addressed thus by the Lord, Yudhishthira looked at Bhima and Arjuna, who stood there with faces full of joy, and replied:

Verse 9 (2.20.9)

अच्युताच्युत मा मैवं व्याहरामित्रकर्शन । पाण्डवानां भवान्नाथो भवन्तं चाश्रिता वयम् ॥

acyutācyuta mā maivaṃ vyāharāmitrakarśana | pāṇḍavānāṃ bhavānnātho bhavantaṃ cāśritā vayam

"Achyuta, Achyuta, do not, do not speak so, tormentor of foes! You are the protector of the Pandavas, and we depend on you.

Note on the text: Corrected मामैवं → मा मैवं (misprint in Wikisource; the run-together words lose the prohibition; critical edition mā maivaṃ). The speaker heading is printed युधिष्ठर; normalised to युधिष्ठिर.

Verse 10 (2.20.10)

यथा वदसि गोविन्द सर्वं तदुपपद्यते । नहि त्वमग्रतस्तेषां येषां लक्ष्मीः पराङ्मुखी ॥

yathā vadasi govinda sarvaṃ tadupapadyate | nahi tvamagratasteṣāṃ yeṣāṃ lakṣmīḥ parāṅmukhī

All that you say, Govinda, is fitting. You never stand at the head of those from whom Lakshmi, fortune, has turned her face.

Verse 11 (2.20.11)

येषामभिमुखी लक्ष्मीस्तेषां कृष्ण त्वमग्रतः । निहतश्च जरासन्धो मोक्षिताश्च महीक्षितः । राजसूयश्च मे लब्धो निदेशे तव तिष्ठतः ॥

yeṣāmabhimukhī lakṣmīsteṣāṃ kṛṣṇa tvamagrataḥ | nihataśca jarāsandho mokṣitāśca mahīkṣitaḥ | rājasūyaśca me labdho nideśe tava tiṣṭhataḥ

Krishna, you stand at the head of those towards whom Lakshmi turns her face. While I abide by your direction, it is as if Jarasandha were already slain, the kings already freed, and the Rajasuya already mine.

Note on the text: Removed wiki quote marks (` ') around the first line. Corrected त्व → तव (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel; critical edition tava). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the other two lines are 2.18.11.

Verse 12 (2.20.12)

क्षिप्रमेव यथा त्वेतत्कार्यं समुपपद्यते । अप्रमत्तो जगन्नाथ तथा कुरु नरोत्तम ॥

kṣiprameva yathā tvetatkāryaṃ samupapadyate | apramatto jagannātha tathā kuru narottama

Lord of the world, best of men, act with vigilance so that this task may be accomplished swiftly.

Note on the text: Corrected the second line's closing समुपपद्यते → नरोत्तम (misprint in Wikisource; the end of the first line is repeated, leaving the line two syllables too long; critical edition tathā kuru narottama). The first half is a recension variant of 2.18.12.

Verse 13 (2.20.13)

त्रिभिर्भवद्भिर्हि विना नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे । धर्मकामार्थरहितो रोगार्त इव दुःखितः ॥

tribhirbhavadbhirhi vinā nāhaṃ jīvitumutsahe | dharmakāmārtharahito rogārta iva duḥkhitaḥ

Without the three of you I have no wish to live; I would be like a man stricken with disease, wretched and bereft of dharma, desire and wealth.

Verse 14 (2.20.14)

न शौरिणा विना पार्थो न शौरिः पाण्डवं विना । नाजेयोऽस्त्यनयोर्लोके कृष्णयोरिति मे मतिः ॥

na śauriṇā vinā pārtho na śauriḥ pāṇḍavaṃ vinā | nājeyo'styanayorloke kṛṣṇayoriti me matiḥ

Partha does not go without Shauri, nor Shauri without the son of Pandu. There is nothing in the world these two Krishnas cannot conquer; that is my belief.

Note on the text: Corrected नाजेयोस्त्यनयोऽर्लोके → नाजेयोऽस्त्यनयोर्लोके (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced avagraha; critical edition nājeyo 'sty anayor loke).

Verse 15 (2.20.15)

अयं च बलिनां श्रेष्ठः श्रीमानपि वृकोदरः । युवाभ्यां सहितो वीर किं न कुर्यान्महायशाः ॥

ayaṃ ca balināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ śrīmānapi vṛkodaraḥ | yuvābhyāṃ sahito vīra kiṃ na kuryānmahāyaśāḥ

And this glorious Vrikodara, foremost among the strong — joined with you two, O hero, what could that famous man not do?

Verse 16 (2.20.16)

सुप्रणीतो बलौघो हि कुरुते कार्यमुत्तमम् । अन्धं बलं जडं प्राहुः प्रणेतव्यं विचक्षणैः ॥

supraṇīto balaugho hi kurute kāryamuttamam | andhaṃ balaṃ jaḍaṃ prāhuḥ praṇetavyaṃ vicakṣaṇaiḥ

A mass of strength, when well led, achieves the highest ends. Strength alone, they say, is blind and inert; it must be guided by the wise.

Verse 17 (2.20.17)

यतो हि निम्नं भवति नयन्ति हि ततो जलम् । यतश्छिद्रं ततश्चापि नयन्ते धीवरा जलम् ॥

yato hi nimnaṃ bhavati nayanti hi tato jalam | yataśchidraṃ tataścāpi nayante dhīvarā jalam

Water is led to wherever the ground lies low; and where there is a gap, there too fishermen guide the water.

Verse 18 (2.20.18)

तस्मान्नयविधानज्ञं पुरुषं लोकविश्रुतम् । वयमाश्रित्य गोविन्दं यतामः कार्यसिद्धये ॥

tasmānnayavidhānajñaṃ puruṣaṃ lokaviśrutam | vayamāśritya govindaṃ yatāmaḥ kāryasiddhaye

Therefore we rely on Govinda, the man famed throughout the world who knows the ways of policy, and strive for the success of our undertaking.

Verse 19 (2.20.19)

एवं प्रज्ञानयबलं क्रियोपायसमन्वितम् । पुरस्कुर्वीत कार्येषु कृष्णकार्यार्थसिद्धये ॥

evaṃ prajñānayabalaṃ kriyopāyasamanvitam | puraskurvīta kāryeṣu kṛṣṇakāryārthasiddhaye

In the same way, in all undertakings one should place in front one who has wisdom, policy and strength and is skilled in action and its means — and so Krishna, for the accomplishment of this task.

Note on the text: Corrected पुरस्कृर्वीत → पुरस्कुर्वीत (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel sign; critical edition puraskurvīta).

Verse 20 (2.20.20)

एवमेव यदुश्रेष्ठ यावत्कार्यार्थसिद्धये । अर्जुनः कृष्णमन्वेतु भीमोऽन्वेतु धनञ्जयम् । नयो जयो बलं चैव विक्रमे सिद्धिमेष्यति ॥

evameva yaduśreṣṭha yāvatkāryārthasiddhaye | arjunaḥ kṛṣṇamanvetu bhīmo'nvetu dhanañjayam | nayo jayo balaṃ caiva vikrame siddhimeṣyati

So be it, best of the Yadus: until the purpose of the task is achieved, let Arjuna follow Krishna, and let Bhima follow Dhananjaya. Policy, victory and strength together will bring success to this bold venture."

Note on the text: Corrected कार्याथिसिद्धये → कार्यार्थसिद्धये (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र् and a wrong vowel sign; critical edition kāryārthasiddhaye).

Verse 21 (2.20.21)

एवमुक्तास्ततः सर्वे भ्रातरो विपुलौजसः । वार्ष्णेयः पाण्डवेयौ च प्रतस्थुर्मागधं प्रति ॥

evamuktāstataḥ sarve bhrātaro vipulaujasaḥ | vārṣṇeyaḥ pāṇḍaveyau ca pratasthurmāgadhaṃ prati

Addressed thus, all the brothers of mighty energy — the Varshneya and the two sons of Pandu — set out for Magadha.

Verse 22 (2.20.22)

वर्चस्विनां ब्राह्मणानां स्नातकानां परिच्छदैः । आच्छाद्य सुहृदां वाक्यैर्मनोज्ञैरभिनन्दिताः ॥

varcasvināṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ snātakānāṃ paricchadaiḥ | ācchādya suhṛdāṃ vākyairmanojñairabhinanditāḥ

They disguised themselves in the garb of radiant snataka brahmins, and were sent off with the pleasing words of their friends.

Verse 23 (2.20.23)

माधवः पाण्डवेयौ च प्रतस्थुर्व्रतधारिणः । अमर्षादभितप्तानां ज्ञात्यर्थं मुख्यतेजसाम् । रविसोमाग्निवपुषां दीप्तमासीत्तदा वपुः ॥

mādhavaḥ pāṇḍaveyau ca pratasthurvratadhāriṇaḥ | amarṣādabhitaptānāṃ jñātyarthaṃ mukhyatejasām | ravisomāgnivapuṣāṃ dīptamāsīttadā vapuḥ

Madhava and the two sons of Pandu set out, keeping their vows. Burning with indignation on behalf of their kin, those men of supreme energy, whose forms were like the sun, the moon and fire, shone with a blazing radiance.

Note on the text: Removed wiki quote marks (` ') around the first line. The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the other two lines are 2.18.23, with variants.

Verse 24 (2.20.24)

हतं मेने जरासन्धं दृष्ट्वा भीमपुरोगमौ । एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ कृष्णौ युद्धेऽपराजितौ ॥

hataṃ mene jarāsandhaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmapurogamau | ekakāryasamudyantau kṛṣṇau yuddhe'parājitau

Seeing the two Krishnas, unconquered in battle, setting out together on one purpose with Bhima at their head, Yudhishthira counted Jarasandha as already slain.

Note on the text: Corrected इतं → हतं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped stroke of ह; critical edition hataṃ).

Verse 25 (2.20.25)

ईशौ हितौ महात्मानौ सर्वकार्यप्रवर्तिनौ । धर्मकामार्थलोकानां कार्याणां च प्रवर्तकौ ॥

īśau hitau mahātmānau sarvakāryapravartinau | dharmakāmārthalokānāṃ kāryāṇāṃ ca pravartakau

For they were two great-souled lords, benefactors, movers of every undertaking, who set in motion the works of dharma, desire and wealth in the world.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 2.18.25; the second line differs.

Verse 26 (2.20.26)

कुरुभ्यः प्रस्थितास्ते तु मध्येन कुरुजाङ्गलम् । रम्यं पद्मसरो गत्वा कालकूटमतीत्य च ॥

kurubhyaḥ prasthitāste tu madhyena kurujāṅgalam | ramyaṃ padmasaro gatvā kālakūṭamatītya ca

Setting out from the Kuru land, they went through the middle of Kurujangala, came to the lovely Padmasaras lake, and passed beyond Mount Kalakuta.

Note on the text: Corrected कालकूड → कालकूट (misprint in Wikisource; ड for ट in the mountain's name; critical edition kālakūṭam).

Verse 27 (2.20.27)

गण्डकीं च महाशोणं सदानीरां तथैव च । एकपर्वतके नद्यः क्रमेणैत्याव्रजन्त ते ॥

gaṇḍakīṃ ca mahāśoṇaṃ sadānīrāṃ tathaiva ca | ekaparvatake nadyaḥ krameṇaityāvrajanta te

Then, one after another, they reached and crossed the rivers Gandaki, the great Shona and the Sadanira, all rising in the same mountain range.

Verse 28 (2.20.28)

उत्तीर्य सरयूं रम्यां दृष्ट्वा पूर्वांश्च कोसलान् । अतीत्य जग्मुर्मिथिलां मालां चर्मण्वतीं नदीम् ॥

uttīrya sarayūṃ ramyāṃ dṛṣṭvā pūrvāṃśca kosalān | atītya jagmurmithilāṃ mālāṃ carmaṇvatīṃ nadīm

Crossing the lovely Sarayu and seeing the eastern Kosalas, they passed on and went to Mithila, and to the rivers Mala and Charmanvati.

Verse 29 (2.20.29)

अतीत्य गङ्गां शोणं च त्रयस्ते प्राङ्मुखास्तदा । कुशचीरच्छदा जग्मुर्मागधं क्षेत्रमच्युताः ॥

atītya gaṅgāṃ śoṇaṃ ca trayaste prāṅmukhāstadā | kuśacīracchadā jagmurmāgadhaṃ kṣetramacyutāḥ

Crossing the Ganga and the Shona, the three of them, the unfallen ones, clad in kusha grass and bark, went eastward into the land of Magadha.

Verse 30 (2.20.30)

ते शश्वद्गोधनाकीर्णमम्बुमन्तं शुभद्रुमम् । गोरथं गिरिमासाद्य ददृशुर्मागधं पुरम् ॥

te śaśvadgodhanākīrṇamambumantaṃ śubhadrumam | gorathaṃ girimāsādya dadṛśurmāgadhaṃ puram

Reaching Mount Goratha, ever thronged with herds of cattle, rich in water and lovely with trees, they beheld the city of Magadha.