Krishna Reveals His Universal Form in the Kuru Court

Verse 1 (5.131.1)

विदुरेणैवमुक्तस्तु केशवः शत्रुपूगहा । दुर्योधनं धार्तराष्ट्रमभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान् ॥

vidureṇaivamuktastu keśavaḥ śatrupūgahā | duryodhanaṃ dhārtarāṣṭramabhyabhāṣata vīryavān

Addressed thus by Vidura, the mighty Keshava, destroyer of hosts of foes, spoke to Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra:

Verse 2 (5.131.2)

एकोऽहमिति यन्मोहान्मन्यसे मां सुयोधन । परिभूय सुदुर्बुद्धे ग्रहीतुं मां चिकीर्षसि ॥

eko'hamiti yanmohānmanyase māṃ suyodhana | paribhūya sudurbuddhe grahītuṃ māṃ cikīrṣasi

Because in your delusion you think I am alone, Suyodhana, you hold me in contempt, you fool, and seek to seize me.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vasudeva (Krishna): his words, announced in verse 1, fill verses 2–3 (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 3 (5.131.3)

इहैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे तथैवान्धकवृष्णयः । इहादित्याश्च रुद्राश्च वसवश्च महर्षिभिः ॥

ihaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve tathaivāndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ | ihādityāśca rudrāśca vasavaśca maharṣibhiḥ

Here are all the Pandavas, and the Andhakas and Vrishnis as well; here are the Adityas, the Rudras and the Vasus, with the great sages.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vasudeva (Krishna) (see verse 2).

Verse 4 (5.131.4)

एवमुक्त्वा जहासोच्चैः केशवः परवीरहा । तस्य संस्मयतः शौरेर्विद्युद्रूपा महात्मनः । युगपच्च विनिष्पेतुः साक्षात्सर्वास्तु देवताः ॥

evamuktvā jahāsoccaiḥ keśavaḥ paravīrahā | tasya saṃsmayataḥ śaurervidyudrūpā mahātmanaḥ | yugapacca viniṣpetuḥ sākṣātsarvāstu devatāḥ

Having said this, Keshava, slayer of enemy heroes, laughed aloud; and as the great-souled Shauri smiled, all the deities themselves, flashing like lightning, sprang forth from him at once.

Note on the text: Corrected जाहासोच्चैः → जहासोच्चैः (misprint in Wikisource; stray ā-sign; the critical edition reads jahāsoccaiḥ). Lines 1–2 are CE 5.129.4ab–cd; line 3 is not in the critical edition's text — its apparatus has it as 5.129.4d*0492 (reading sahitāḥ sarvadevatāḥ). Removed stray wiki marks around line 3 (a backtick and a quote mark with a doubled danda). The CE's 4ef opens Wikisource's verse 5.

Verse 5 (5.131.5)

अङ्गुष्ठमात्रास्त्रिदशा बभूवुः पावकार्चिषः । तस्य ब्रह्मा ललाटस्थो रुद्रो वक्षसि चाभवत् ॥

aṅguṣṭhamātrāstridaśā babhūvuḥ pāvakārciṣaḥ | tasya brahmā lalāṭastho rudro vakṣasi cābhavat

The thirty gods, no bigger than a thumb, became tongues of fire. Brahma stood on his forehead, and Rudra was on his chest;

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines differently from the critical edition: line 1 is CE 5.129.4ef (reading बभूवुः for mumucuḥ), line 2 is CE 5.129.5ab.

Verse 6 (5.131.6)

लोकपाला भुजेष्वासन्नग्निरास्यादजायत । आदित्याश्चैव साध्याश्च वसवोऽथाश्विनावपि ॥

lokapālā bhujeṣvāsannagnirāsyādajāyata | ādityāścaiva sādhyāśca vasavo'thāśvināvapi

the guardians of the worlds were on his arms, and Agni came forth from his mouth. The Adityas, the Sadhyas, the Vasus and the two Ashvins too,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 5.129.5cd, line 2 is CE 5.129.6ab (Wikisource divides the verses differently).

Verse 7 (5.131.7)

मरुतश्च सहेन्द्रेण विश्वेदेवास्तथैव च । बभूवुश्चैव यक्षाश्च गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः ॥

marutaśca sahendreṇa viśvedevāstathaiva ca | babhūvuścaiva yakṣāśca gandharvoragarākṣasāḥ

the Maruts with Indra, and the Vishvedevas likewise, and yakshas, gandharvas, serpents and rakshasas appeared.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 5.129.6cd; line 2 corresponds to CE 5.129.6ef, which reads babhūvuś caiva rūpāṇi yakṣagandharvarakṣasām (a recension variant).

Verse 8 (5.131.8)

प्रादुरास्तां तथा दोर्भ्यां सङ्कर्षणधनञ्जयौ । दक्षिणेऽथार्जुनो धन्वी हली रामश्च सव्यतः ॥

prādurāstāṃ tathā dorbhyāṃ saṅkarṣaṇadhanañjayau | dakṣiṇe'thārjuno dhanvī halī rāmaśca savyataḥ

From his two arms came forth Sankarshana and Dhananjaya: Arjuna the bowman on the right, and Rama the plough-bearer on the left.

Verse 9 (5.131.9)

भीमो युधिष्ठिरश्चैव माद्रीपुत्रौ च पृष्ठतः । अन्धका वृष्णयश्चैव प्रद्युम्नप्रमुखास्ततः ॥

bhīmo yudhiṣṭhiraścaiva mādrīputrau ca pṛṣṭhataḥ | andhakā vṛṣṇayaścaiva pradyumnapramukhāstataḥ

Bhima, Yudhishthira and the two sons of Madri were behind him, and then the Andhakas and Vrishnis, led by Pradyumna,

Note on the text: Corrected प्रद्युम्नपरमुखास् → प्रद्युम्नप्रमुखास् (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct प्र is broken into पर, which adds a syllable to the quarter; the critical edition reads pradyumnapramukhās).

Verse 10 (5.131.10)

अग्रे बभूवुः कृष्णस्य समुद्यतमहायुधाः । शङ्खचक्रगदाशक्तिशार्ङ्गलाङ्गलनन्दकाः ॥

agre babhūvuḥ kṛṣṇasya samudyatamahāyudhāḥ | śaṅkhacakragadāśaktiśārṅgalāṅgalanandakāḥ

stood before Krishna with their great weapons raised. The conch, the discus, the mace, the spear, the Sharnga bow, the plough and the sword Nandaka,

Verse 11 (5.131.11)

अदृश्यन्तोद्यतान्येव सर्वप्रहरणानि च । नानाबाहुषु कृष्णस्य दीप्यमानानि सर्वशः ॥

adṛśyantodyatānyeva sarvapraharaṇāni ca | nānābāhuṣu kṛṣṇasya dīpyamānāni sarvaśaḥ

these and every other weapon were seen raised in Krishna's many arms, blazing on every side.

Verse 12 (5.131.12)

नेत्राभ्यां नासिकाभ्यां च श्रोत्राभ्यां च समन्ततः । प्रादुरासन्महारौद्राः सधूमाः पावकार्चिषः ॥

netrābhyāṃ nāsikābhyāṃ ca śrotrābhyāṃ ca samantataḥ | prādurāsanmahāraudrāḥ sadhūmāḥ pāvakārciṣaḥ

From his eyes, his nostrils and his ears, on every side, burst fearsome, smoking flames of fire,

Note on the text: CE 5.129.11ab–cd; line 1 reads नासिकाभ्यां च where the critical edition has nas tataś caiva (a recension variant). The CE's 11ef opens Wikisource's verse 13.

Verse 13 (5.131.13)

रोमकूपेषु च तथा सूर्यस्येव मरीचयः । सहस्रचरणः श्रीमाञ्शतबाहुः सहस्रदृक् ॥

romakūpeṣu ca tathā sūryasyeva marīcayaḥ | sahasracaraṇaḥ śrīmāñśatabāhuḥ sahasradṛk

and from the pores of his skin, like the rays of the sun. Glorious, he had a thousand feet, a hundred arms and a thousand eyes.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 5.129.11ef; line 2 is not in the critical edition's text — its apparatus has it as 5.129.11f*0494, line 1. Removed stray wiki marks around line 2 (a backtick and a quote mark with a doubled danda); the passage they mark runs on to verse 16.

Verse 14 (5.131.14)

तस्य वै नागलोकश्च गुल्फाधो ददृशे तदा । चन्द्रसूर्यौ तथा नेत्रे ग्रहा वै सर्वतः स्थिताः ॥

tasya vai nāgalokaśca gulphādho dadṛśe tadā | candrasūryau tathā netre grahā vai sarvataḥ sthitāḥ

Below his ankles the world of the serpents could then be seen; the moon and the sun were his eyes, and the planets stood all about him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 5.129.11f*0494, lines 2–3. Line 1 reads तस्य वै नागलोकश्च where it has talāni nāgalokaś ca. Corrected ग्रहः → ग्रहा (misprint in Wikisource; a singular visarga form against the plural स्थिताः; the apparatus reads grahā vai).

Verse 15 (5.131.15)

ऊर्ध्वलोकाश्च सर्वेऽपि कुक्षौ तस्य व्यवस्थिताः । सरितः सागराश्चैव स्वेदस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥

ūrdhvalokāśca sarve'pi kukṣau tasya vyavasthitāḥ | saritaḥ sāgarāścaiva svedastasya mahātmanaḥ

All the upper worlds were set within his belly, and the rivers and oceans were the sweat of that great-souled one.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 5.129.11f*0494, lines 4–5.

Verse 16 (5.131.16)

अस्थीनि पर्वताः सर्वे वृक्षा रोमाणि तस्य हि । निमेषणं रात्र्यहनी जिह्वायां शारदा तथा ॥

asthīni parvatāḥ sarve vṛkṣā romāṇi tasya hi | nimeṣaṇaṃ rātryahanī jihvāyāṃ śāradā tathā

All the mountains were his bones and the trees the hair of his body; night and day were the blinking of his eyes, and Sharada, goddess of speech, was on his tongue.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 5.129.11f*0494, lines 6–7. Removed a stray quote mark with a doubled danda at the end (the close of the passage begun in verse 13).

Verse 17 (5.131.17)

तं दृष्ट्वा घोरमात्मानं केशवस्य महात्मनः । न्यमीलयन्त नेत्राणि राजानस्त्रस्तचेतसः ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā ghoramātmānaṃ keśavasya mahātmanaḥ | nyamīlayanta netrāṇi rājānastrastacetasaḥ

Seeing that terrible form of the great-souled Keshava, the kings shut their eyes, their hearts stricken with fear,

Verse 18 (5.131.18)

ऋते द्रोणं च भीष्मं च विदुरं च महामतिम् । संजयं धृतराष्ट्रं च ऋषींश्चैव तपोधनान् ॥

ṛte droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca viduraṃ ca mahāmatim | saṃjayaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca ṛṣīṃścaiva tapodhanān

all but Drona and Bhishma, the wise Vidura, Sanjaya, Dhritarashtra and the sages rich in austerity.

Note on the text: Corrected ऋत → ऋते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped e-sign; the critical edition reads ṛte). CE 5.129.13ab–cd; line 2 reads संजयं धृतराष्ट्रं च where the critical edition has saṃjayaṃ ca mahābhāgam (a recension variant). The verse's third line (CE 13ef) is Wikisource's verse 19.

Verse 19 (5.131.19)

प्रादात्तेषां स भगवान्दिव्यं चक्षुर्जनार्दनः ॥

prādātteṣāṃ sa bhagavāndivyaṃ cakṣurjanārdanaḥ

To them the Blessed Lord Janardana gave divine sight.

Note on the text: A single line, CE 5.129.13ef, the third line of the critical edition's verse 13; Wikisource numbers it as a verse of its own, and it is kept so. Nothing is lost.

Verse 20 (5.131.20)

धृतराष्ट्राय प्रददौ भगवान्दिव्यचक्षुषी । ददर्श परमं रूपं धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭrāya pradadau bhagavāndivyacakṣuṣī | dadarśa paramaṃ rūpaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro'mbikāsutaḥ

The Blessed Lord gave divine eyes to Dhritarashtra, and Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, beheld that supreme form.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as Appendix I No. 8, lines 1–2 (printed after 5.129.13). Removed a stray backtick (`), the opening quotation mark of the passage (verses 20–24).

Verse 21 (5.131.21)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः किन्नराश्च महोरगाः । ऋषयश्च महाभागा लोकपालैः समन्विताः । प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं तुष्टुवुः प्राञ्जलिस्थिताः ॥

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ kinnarāśca mahoragāḥ | ṛṣayaśca mahābhāgā lokapālaiḥ samanvitāḥ | praṇamya śirasā devaṃ tuṣṭuvuḥ prāñjalisthitāḥ

Then the gods with the gandharvas, the kinnaras and the great serpents, and the illustrious sages with the guardians of the worlds, bowed their heads to the god and, standing with joined palms, praised him:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as Appendix I No. 8, lines 3–5 (printed after 5.129.13).

Verse 22 (5.131.22)

क्रोधं प्रभो संहर संहर स्वं । रूपं च यद्दर्शितमात्मसंस्थम् । यावत्त्विमे देवगणैः समेता । लोकाः समस्ता भुवि नाशमीयुः ॥

krodhaṃ prabho saṃhara saṃhara svaṃ | rūpaṃ ca yaddarśitamātmasaṃstham | yāvattvime devagaṇaiḥ sametā | lokāḥ samastā bhuvi nāśamīyuḥ

Withdraw your wrath, O Lord, withdraw this form of yours that you have revealed from within yourself, before these worlds, with all the hosts of the gods, perish on earth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as Appendix I No. 8, lines 6–9 (printed after 5.129.13). Speaker set to the Gods: the praise spoken by the gods with the gandharvas, sages and world-guardians (verse 21) fills verses 22–23 (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 23 (5.131.23)

त्वं च कर्ता विकर्ता च त्वमेव परिरक्षसे । त्वया व्याप्तमिदं सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥

tvaṃ ca kartā vikartā ca tvameva parirakṣase | tvayā vyāptamidaṃ sarvaṃ jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam

You are the maker and the unmaker; you alone protect. By you this whole world is pervaded, all that moves and all that does not.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as Appendix I No. 8, lines 10–11 (printed after 5.129.13). Speaker set to the Gods (see verse 22).

Verse 24 (5.131.24)

कियन्मात्रा महीपालाः किंवीर्याः किंपराक्रमाः । तेषामर्थे महाबाहो दिव्यं रूपं प्रदर्शिवान् । एवमुच्चारिता वाचः सह देवैर्विभुं तदा ॥

kiyanmātrā mahīpālāḥ kiṃvīryāḥ kiṃparākramāḥ | teṣāmarthe mahābāho divyaṃ rūpaṃ pradarśivān | evamuccāritā vācaḥ saha devairvibhuṃ tadā

"How small are these kings, how slight their strength and valour, that for their sake, mighty-armed one, you have shown your divine form?" So, together with the gods, they addressed these words to the all-pervading Lord.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as Appendix I No. 8, lines 12–14 (printed after 5.129.13). Lines 1–2 end the praise; line 3 is narration, so the verse stays with the narrator. Corrected देवार्विभुं → देवैर्विभुं (misprint in Wikisource; ā-sign for ai-sign; the apparatus reads saha devair vibhus tathā). Removed a stray quote mark with a doubled danda at the end (the close of the passage begun in verse 20).

Verse 25 (5.131.25)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं माधवस्य सभातले । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुः पुष्पवर्षं पपात च ॥

taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ mādhavasya sabhātale | devadundubhayo neduḥ puṣpavarṣaṃ papāta ca

Seeing that great wonder of Madhava in the hall, the drums of the gods sounded and a rain of flowers fell.

Verse 26 (5.131.26)

त्वमेव पुण्डरीकाक्ष सर्वस्य जगतो हितः । तस्मान्मे यादवश्रेष्ठ प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

tvameva puṇḍarīkākṣa sarvasya jagato hitaḥ | tasmānme yādavaśreṣṭha prasādaṃ kartumarhasi

You alone, lotus-eyed one, are the benefactor of the whole world. Therefore, best of the Yadavas, be gracious to me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records verses 26–28 in its apparatus as the star passage 5.129.14d*0496 (this verse is lines 1–2, reading prabhuḥ for हितः).

Verse 27 (5.131.27)

भगवन्मम नेत्राभ्यामन्तर्धानं वृणे पुनः । भवन्तं दृष्टवानस्मि नान्यं द्रष्टुमिहोत्सहे ॥

bhagavanmama netrābhyāmantardhānaṃ vṛṇe punaḥ | bhavantaṃ dṛṣṭavānasmi nānyaṃ draṣṭumihotsahe

Blessed Lord, I ask that my eyes be closed to sight once more. Now that I have seen you, I have no wish to look on anything else here.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 5.129.14d*0496, lines 3–4.

Verse 28 (5.131.28)

ततोऽब्रवीन्महाबाहुर्धृतराष्ट्रं जनार्दनः । अदृश्यमाने नेत्रे द्वे भवेतां कुरुनन्दन ॥

tato'bravīnmahābāhurdhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janārdanaḥ | adṛśyamāne netre dve bhavetāṃ kurunandana

Then the mighty-armed Janardana said to Dhritarashtra, "Let your two eyes be sightless again, joy of the Kurus."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 5.129.14d*0496, lines 5–6. Speaker set to Vaishampayana: line 1 is narration and line 2 Krishna's brief reply; the input carried Dhritarashtra over from the heading at verse 26, and verses 28–40 are all narration.

Verse 29 (5.131.29)

तत्राद्भुतं महाराज धृतराष्ट्रश्च चक्षुषी । लब्धवान्वासुदेवाच्च विश्वरूपदिदृक्षया ॥

tatrādbhutaṃ mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭraśca cakṣuṣī | labdhavānvāsudevācca viśvarūpadidṛkṣayā

It was a marvel, great king: through his longing to see the universal form, Dhritarashtra had received sight from Vasudeva.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records verses 29–30 in its apparatus as the star passage 5.129.13f*0495 (this verse is lines 1–2; printed after 5.129.13, where Wikisource has them after 5.129.14). Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 30 (5.131.30)

लब्धचक्षुषमासीनं धृतराष्ट्रं नराधिपाः । विस्मिता ऋषिभिः सार्धं तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम् ॥

labdhacakṣuṣamāsīnaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ narādhipāḥ | vismitā ṛṣibhiḥ sārdhaṃ tuṣṭuvurmadhusūdanam

Seeing Dhritarashtra seated there with his sight restored, the kings, amazed, joined the sages in praising Madhusudana.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 5.129.13f*0495, lines 3–4. Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 31 (5.131.31)

चचाल च मही कृत्स्ना सागरश्चापि चुक्षुभे । विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः पार्थिवा भरतर्षभ ॥

cacāla ca mahī kṛtsnā sāgaraścāpi cukṣubhe | vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmuḥ pārthivā bharatarṣabha

The whole earth shook and the ocean was churned; the kings were filled with the utmost wonder, O bull among the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 32 (5.131.32)

ततः स पुरुषव्याघ्रः सञ्जहार वपुः स्वकम् । तां दिव्यामद्भुतां चित्रामृद्धिमत्तामरिन्दमः ॥

tataḥ sa puruṣavyāghraḥ sañjahāra vapuḥ svakam | tāṃ divyāmadbhutāṃ citrāmṛddhimattāmarindamaḥ

Then that tiger among men, the tamer of foes, withdrew his own body, that divine, wondrous and many-hued splendour.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 33 (5.131.33)

ततः सात्यकिमादाय पाणौ विदुरमेव च । ऋषिभिस्तैरनुज्ञातो निर्ययौ मधुसूदनः ॥

tataḥ sātyakimādāya pāṇau vidurameva ca | ṛṣibhistairanujñāto niryayau madhusūdanaḥ

Then, taking Satyaki and Vidura by the hand, and with the leave of the sages, Madhusudana went out.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28). Line 1 reads विदुरमेव च where the critical edition has hārdikyam eva ca (a recension variant).

Verse 34 (5.131.34)

ऋषयोऽन्तर्हिता जग्मुस्ततस्ते नारदादयः । तस्मिन्कोलाहले वृत्ते तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

ṛṣayo'ntarhitā jagmustataste nāradādayaḥ | tasminkolāhale vṛtte tadadbhutamivābhavat

Then the sages led by Narada vanished from sight and departed; and in the uproar that followed, it all seemed a marvel.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 35 (5.131.35)

तं प्रस्थितमभिप्रेक्ष्य कौरवाः सह राजभिः । अनुजग्मुर्नरव्याघ्रं देवा इव शतक्रतुम् ॥

taṃ prasthitamabhiprekṣya kauravāḥ saha rājabhiḥ | anujagmurnaravyāghraṃ devā iva śatakratum

Seeing him depart, the Kauravas and the kings followed that tiger among men, as the gods follow Shatakratu.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28). Corrected शतक्रतम् → शतक्रतुम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped u-sign; the critical edition reads śatakratum).

Verse 36 (5.131.36)

अचिन्तयन्नमेयात्मा सर्वं तद्राजमण्डलम् । निश्चक्राम ततः शौरिः सधूम इव पावकः ॥

acintayannameyātmā sarvaṃ tadrājamaṇḍalam | niścakrāma tataḥ śauriḥ sadhūma iva pāvakaḥ

Heedless of that whole circle of kings, Shauri of immeasurable spirit went out like a fire wreathed in smoke.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 37 (5.131.37)

ततो रथेन शुभ्रेण महता किङ्किणीकिना । हेमजालविचित्रेण लघुना मेघनादिना ॥

tato rathena śubhreṇa mahatā kiṅkiṇīkinā | hemajālavicitreṇa laghunā meghanādinā

Then Daruka came into view with a great gleaming chariot hung with tinkling bells, decked with golden netting, light, and rumbling like a cloud,

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 38 (5.131.38)

सूपस्करेण शुभ्रेण वैयाघ्रेण वरूथिना । शैब्यसुग्रीवयुक्तेन प्रत्यदृश्यत दारुकः ॥

sūpaskareṇa śubhreṇa vaiyāghreṇa varūthinā | śaibyasugrīvayuktena pratyadṛśyata dārukaḥ

well furnished and bright, covered with tiger skin, fitted with a guard, and yoked to Shaibya and Sugriva.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 39 (5.131.39)

तथैव रथमास्थाय कृतवर्मा महारथः । वृष्णीनां संमतो वीरो हार्दिक्यः समदृश्यत ॥

tathaiva rathamāsthāya kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ | vṛṣṇīnāṃ saṃmato vīro hārdikyaḥ samadṛśyata

Likewise Kritavarma, the great chariot-warrior, the hero Hardikya esteemed by the Vrishnis, was seen mounted on his chariot.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 40 (5.131.40)

उपस्थितरथं शौरिं प्रयास्यन्तमरिन्दमम् । धृतराष्ट्रो महाराजः पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत ॥

upasthitarathaṃ śauriṃ prayāsyantamarindamam | dhṛtarāṣṭro mahārājaḥ punarevābhyabhāṣata

As Shauri, tamer of foes, was about to set out with his chariot standing ready, the great king Dhritarashtra spoke to him once more:

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (see verse 28).

Verse 41 (5.131.41)

यावद्बलं मे पुत्रेषु पश्यतस्ते जनार्दन । प्रत्यक्षं ते न ते किंचित्परोक्षं शत्रुकर्शन ॥

yāvadbalaṃ me putreṣu paśyataste janārdana | pratyakṣaṃ te na te kiṃcitparokṣaṃ śatrukarśana

You have seen for yourself, Janardana, how much power I have over my sons. Nothing is hidden from you; all lies before your eyes, tormentor of foes.

Note on the text: Dhritarashtra's words, announced in verse 40; Wikisource prints no heading here (the input's Dhritarashtra was a carry-over from verse 26, but is correct for verses 41–44).

Verse 42 (5.131.42)

कुरूणां शममिच्छन्तं यतमानं च केशव । विदित्वैतामवस्थां मे नातिशङ्कितुमर्हसि ॥

kurūṇāṃ śamamicchantaṃ yatamānaṃ ca keśava | viditvaitāmavasthāṃ me nātiśaṅkitumarhasi

Knowing that I want peace among the Kurus and am striving for it, Keshava, and knowing my plight, you should not suspect me too far.

Verse 43 (5.131.43)

न मे पापोऽस्त्यभिप्रायः पाण्डवान्प्रति केशव । ज्ञातमेव हितं वाक्यं यन्मयोक्तः सुयोधनः ॥

na me pāpo'styabhiprāyaḥ pāṇḍavānprati keśava | jñātameva hitaṃ vākyaṃ yanmayoktaḥ suyodhanaḥ

I bear no evil intent toward the Pandavas, Keshava. You know the good counsel I gave Suyodhana.

Verse 44 (5.131.44)

जानन्ति कुरवः सर्वे राजानश्चैव पार्थिवाः । शमे प्रयतमानं मां सर्वयत्नेन माधव ॥

jānanti kuravaḥ sarve rājānaścaiva pārthivāḥ | śame prayatamānaṃ māṃ sarvayatnena mādhava

All the Kurus and the kings of the earth know that I am striving for peace with all my might, Madhava.

Verse 45 (5.131.45)

ततोऽब्रवीन्महाबाहुर्धृतराष्ट्रं जनार्दनः । द्रोणं पितामहं भीष्मं क्षत्तारं बाह्लिकं कृपम् ॥

tato'bravīnmahābāhurdhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janārdanaḥ | droṇaṃ pitāmahaṃ bhīṣmaṃ kṣattāraṃ bāhlikaṃ kṛpam

Then the mighty-armed Janardana spoke to Dhritarashtra, and to Drona, the grandsire Bhishma, Vidura the steward, Bahlika and Kripa:

Verse 46 (5.131.46)

प्रत्यक्षमेतद्भवतां यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि । यथा चाशिष्टवन्मन्दो रोषादद्य समुत्थितः ॥

pratyakṣametadbhavatāṃ yadvṛttaṃ kurusaṃsadi | yathā cāśiṣṭavanmando roṣādadya samutthitaḥ

You have all seen for yourselves what happened in the assembly of the Kurus: how that fool rose up today in anger, like a man without breeding,

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vasudeva (Krishna): his words, announced in verse 45, fill verses 46–47 (no heading in Wikisource).

Verse 47 (5.131.47)

वदत्यनीशमात्मानं धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः । आपृच्छे भवतः सर्वान्गमिष्यामि युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

vadatyanīśamātmānaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ | āpṛcche bhavataḥ sarvāngamiṣyāmi yudhiṣṭhiram

and how King Dhritarashtra, lord of the earth, calls himself powerless. I take leave of you all; I shall go to Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vasudeva (Krishna) (see verse 46).

Verse 48 (5.131.48)

आमन्त्र्य प्रस्थितं शौरिं रथस्थं पुरुषर्षभ । अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासाः प्रवीरा भरतर्षभाः ॥

āmantrya prasthitaṃ śauriṃ rathasthaṃ puruṣarṣabha | anujagmurmaheṣvāsāḥ pravīrā bharatarṣabhāḥ

When Shauri, bull among men, had taken his leave and set out, standing in his chariot, the great archers, heroes and bulls of the Bharatas followed him:

Verse 49 (5.131.49)

भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः क्षत्ता धृतराष्ट्रोऽथ बाह्लिकः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च युयुत्सुश्च महारथः ॥

bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ kṣattā dhṛtarāṣṭro'tha bāhlikaḥ | aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca yuyutsuśca mahārathaḥ

Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Vidura the steward, Dhritarashtra and Bahlika, Ashvatthama, Vikarna and Yuyutsu, the great chariot-warrior.

Verse 50 (5.131.50)

ततो रथेन शुभ्रेण महता किङ्किणीकिना । कुरूणां पश्यतां द्रष्टुं स्वसारं स पितुर्ययौ ॥

tato rathena śubhreṇa mahatā kiṅkiṇīkinā | kurūṇāṃ paśyatāṃ draṣṭuṃ svasāraṃ sa pituryayau

Then, in his great gleaming chariot hung with tinkling bells, he went off, as the Kurus looked on, to see his father's sister.

Note on the text: Line 1 repeats the first line of verse 37, as the critical edition does; line 2 reads द्रष्टुं स्वसारं स पितुर्ययौ where the critical edition has prāyāt pṛthāṃ draṣṭuṃ pitṛṣvasām (a recension variant).