Vidula Spurs Her Son to Fight

Verse 1 (5.135.1)

कृष्णायसस्येव च ते संहत्य हृदयं कृतम् । मम मातस्त्वकरुणे वीरप्रज्ञे ह्यमर्षणे ॥

kṛṣṇāyasasyeva ca te saṃhatya hṛdayaṃ kṛtam | mama mātastvakaruṇe vīraprajñe hyamarṣaṇe

Mother, your heart seems to have been forged by hammering together black iron, pitiless, heroic of mind and unforgiving as you are.

Verse 2 (5.135.2)

अहो क्षत्रसमाचारो यत्र मामितरं यथा । नियोजयसि युद्धाय परमातेव मां तथा ॥

aho kṣatrasamācāro yatra māmitaraṃ yathā | niyojayasi yuddhāya paramāteva māṃ tathā

Alas for the code of the kshatriyas, by which you send me into battle as if I were a stranger, as though you were some other person's mother!

Note on the text: First line = 5.133.2ab; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition has it only in its apparatus (*0507).

Verse 3 (5.135.3)

ईदृशं वचनं ब्रूयाद्भवती पुत्रमेकजम् । किं नु ते मामपश्यन्त्याः पृथिव्या अपि सर्वया ॥

īdṛśaṃ vacanaṃ brūyādbhavatī putramekajam | kiṃ nu te māmapaśyantyāḥ pṛthivyā api sarvayā

Would you speak such words to your only son? What would the whole earth be worth to you if you could no longer see me?

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.2cd + 5.133.3ab.

Verse 4 (5.135.4)

किमाभरणकृत्येन किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा । मयि वा सङ्गरहते प्रियपुत्रे विशेषतः ॥

kimābharaṇakṛtyena kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā | mayi vā saṅgarahate priyaputre viśeṣataḥ

What use would ornaments be to you, or pleasures, or life itself, if I, your beloved son above all, were slain in battle?

Note on the text: First line = 5.133.3cd; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition has it only in its apparatus (*0508).

Verse 5 (5.135.5)

सर्वावस्था हि विदुषां तात धर्मार्थकारणात् । तावेवाभिसमीक्ष्याहं सञ्जय त्वामचूचुदम् ॥

sarvāvasthā hi viduṣāṃ tāta dharmārthakāraṇāt | tāvevābhisamīkṣyāhaṃ sañjaya tvāmacūcudam

For the wise, my son, every station of life exists for the sake of dharma and artha. Looking to those two alone, Sanjaya, I have urged you on.

Note on the text: Corrected अचूजुदम् → अचूचुदम् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads acūcudam, and the Wikisource commentary glosses अचूचुदं).

Verse 6 (5.135.6)

स समीक्ष्य क्रमोपेतो मुख्यः कालोऽयमागतः । अस्मिंश्चेदागते काले कार्यं न प्रतिपद्यसे ॥

sa samīkṣya kramopeto mukhyaḥ kālo'yamāgataḥ | asmiṃścedāgate kāle kāryaṃ na pratipadyase

Consider it well: the decisive moment has come, in its proper course. If, now that the time has come, you do not take up what must be done,

Note on the text: Corresponds to the first two lines (ab–cd) of 5.133.5, a three-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 7 (5.135.7)

असंभावितरूपस्त्वमानृशंस्यं करिष्यसि । तं त्वामयशसा स्पृष्टं न ब्रूयां यदि सञ्जय ॥

asaṃbhāvitarūpastvamānṛśaṃsyaṃ kariṣyasi | taṃ tvāmayaśasā spṛṣṭaṃ na brūyāṃ yadi sañjaya

and instead show mercy, you will become a man held in contempt. And if I did not speak out to you, Sanjaya, now that you are stained by disgrace,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.5ef + 5.133.6ab.

Verse 8 (5.135.8)

खरीवात्सल्यमाहुस्तन्निःसामर्थ्यमहेतुकम् । सद्भिर्विगर्हितं मार्गं त्यज मूर्खनिषेवितम् ॥

kharīvātsalyamāhustanniḥsāmarthyamahetukam | sadbhirvigarhitaṃ mārgaṃ tyaja mūrkhaniṣevitam

my love would be what people call the love of a she-ass: powerless and pointless. Abandon this path, which the good condemn and only fools follow.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.6cd + 5.133.7ab.

Verse 9 (5.135.9)

अविद्या वै महत्यस्ति यामिमां संश्रिताः प्रजाः । तव स्याद्यदि सद्वृत्तं तेन मे त्वं प्रियो भवेः ॥

avidyā vai mahatyasti yāmimāṃ saṃśritāḥ prajāḥ | tava syādyadi sadvṛttaṃ tena me tvaṃ priyo bhaveḥ

Great indeed is the ignorance in which these people take refuge. Only if your conduct were that of the good would you be dear to me,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.7cd + 5.133.8ab.

Verse 10 (5.135.10)

धर्मार्थगुणयुक्तेन नेतरेण कथञ्चन । दैवमानुषयुक्तेन सद्भिराचरितेन च ॥

dharmārthaguṇayuktena netareṇa kathañcana | daivamānuṣayuktena sadbhirācaritena ca

conduct joined with dharma, artha and virtue, and in no other way at all; conduct that unites divine favour with human effort and is practised by the good.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the last two lines (cd–ef) of 5.133.8, a three-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 11 (5.135.11)

यो ह्येवमविनीतेन रमते पुत्रनप्तृणा । अनुत्थानवता चापि दुर्विनीतेन दुर्धिया ॥

yo hyevamavinītena ramate putranaptṛṇā | anutthānavatā cāpi durvinītena durdhiyā

He who takes delight in such an ill-trained son or grandson, one without enterprise, unruly and dull-witted,

Note on the text: The second half of the second line (दुर्विनीतेन दुर्धिया) is not in the critical edition text, which reads moghaṃ tasya prajāphalam here; it appears in the critical apparatus (*0511) and the vulgate.

Verse 12 (5.135.12)

रमते यस्तु पुत्रेण मोघं तस्य प्रजाफलम् । अकुर्वन्तो हि कर्माणि कुर्वन्तो निन्दितानि च ॥

ramate yastu putreṇa moghaṃ tasya prajāphalam | akurvanto hi karmāṇi kurvanto ninditāni ca

he who delights in such a son has borne offspring in vain. Those who do no deeds, and those who do blameworthy ones,

Note on the text: The opening words रमते यस्तु पुत्रेण are found only in the critical apparatus (*0511) and the vulgate; मोघं तस्य प्रजाफलम् = 5.133.9d; the second line = 5.133.10ab.

Verse 13 (5.135.13)

सुखं नैवेह नामुत्र लभन्ते पुरुषाधमाः । युद्धाय क्षत्रियः सृष्टः सञ्जयेह जयाय च । क्रूराय कर्मणे नित्यं प्रजानां परिपालने ॥

sukhaṃ naiveha nāmutra labhante puruṣādhamāḥ | yuddhāya kṣatriyaḥ sṛṣṭaḥ sañjayeha jayāya ca | krūrāya karmaṇe nityaṃ prajānāṃ paripālane

those lowest of men find happiness neither here nor hereafter. The kshatriya was created, Sanjaya, for battle in this world and for victory, for stern deeds always, and for the protection of the people.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick and ।।') around the third line. Corresponds to 5.133.10cd + 5.133.11ab–cd.

Verse 14 (5.135.14)

जयन्वा वध्यमानो वा प्राप्नोतीन्द्रसलोकताम् । न शक्रभवने पुण्ये दिवि तद्विद्यते सुखम् । यदमित्रान्वशे कृत्वा क्षत्रियः सुखमेधते ॥

jayanvā vadhyamāno vā prāpnotīndrasalokatām | na śakrabhavane puṇye divi tadvidyate sukham | yadamitrānvaśe kṛtvā kṣatriyaḥ sukhamedhate

Whether he conquers or is slain, he reaches the world of Indra. Not even in Shakra's holy abode in heaven is there such happiness as a kshatriya enjoys when he has brought his enemies under his power.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.11ef + 5.133.12.

Verse 15 (5.135.15)

मन्युना दह्यमानेन पुरुषेण मनस्विना । निकृतेनेह बहुशः शत्रून्प्रति जिगीषया ॥

manyunā dahyamānena puruṣeṇa manasvinā | nikṛteneha bahuśaḥ śatrūnprati jigīṣayā

A proud man burning with anger, who has been wronged many times, must go out against his enemies with the will to conquer them.

Note on the text: Corrected दह्यमानेह → दह्यमानेन (misprint in Wikisource; the participle must agree with पुरुषेण, and the critical edition reads dahyamānena).

Verse 16 (5.135.16)

आत्मानं वा परित्यज्य शत्रुं वा विनिपात्य च । प्राप्यते नेह शान्तिर्हि नित्यमेव तु सञ्जय । अतोऽन्येन प्रकारेण शान्तिरस्य कुतो भवेत् ॥

ātmānaṃ vā parityajya śatruṃ vā vinipātya ca | prāpyate neha śāntirhi nityameva tu sañjaya | ato'nyena prakāreṇa śāntirasya kuto bhavet

He must either give up his own life or bring down his enemy; short of that, Sanjaya, he never finds peace in this world. By what other means could peace come to him?

Note on the text: Corrected अतोन्येन → अतोऽन्येन (missing avagraha in Wikisource; the critical edition reads ato 'nyena). The middle line (प्राप्यते नेह शान्तिर्हि …) is not in the critical edition text; it appears in its apparatus (*0513) and the vulgate.

Verse 17 (5.135.17)

इह प्राज्ञो हि पुरुषः स्वल्पमप्रियमिच्छति । यस्य स्वल्पं प्रियं लोके ध्रुवं तस्याल्पमप्रियम् ॥

iha prājño hi puruṣaḥ svalpamapriyamicchati | yasya svalpaṃ priyaṃ loke dhruvaṃ tasyālpamapriyam

The wise man in this world counts a little as something to be shunned; for the man who is content with little in this world, that little will surely turn to his harm.

Verse 18 (5.135.18)

प्रियाभावाच्च पुरुषो नैव प्राप्नोति शोभनम् । ध्रुवं चाभावमभ्येति गत्वा गङ्गेव सागरम् ॥

priyābhāvācca puruṣo naiva prāpnoti śobhanam | dhruvaṃ cābhāvamabhyeti gatvā gaṅgeva sāgaram

Lacking what he should hold dear, a man never attains anything fine; he surely goes to ruin, as the Ganga goes to the sea and is lost.

Verse 19 (5.135.19)

नेयं मतिस्त्वया वाच्या मातः पुत्रे विशेषतः । कारुण्यमेव पश्य त्वं भूत्वेह जडमूकवत् ॥

neyaṃ matistvayā vācyā mātaḥ putre viśeṣataḥ | kāruṇyameva paśya tvaṃ bhūtveha jaḍamūkavat

Mother, you ought not to urge such a view, least of all on your own son. Look only to compassion, and be here as one who is dumb and dull.

Verse 20 (5.135.20)

अतो मे भूयसी नन्दिर्यदेवमनुपश्यसि । चोद्यं मां चोदयस्येतद्भृशं वै चोदयामि ते ॥

ato me bhūyasī nandiryadevamanupaśyasi | codyaṃ māṃ codayasyetadbhṛśaṃ vai codayāmi te

That only adds to my joy, since this is how you see things. You press on me the very objection that calls for an answer; all the harder do I press you.

Verse 21 (5.135.21)

अथ त्वां पूजयिष्यामि हत्वा वै सर्वसैन्धवान् । अहं पश्यामि विजयं कृच्छ्रभाविनमेव ते ॥

atha tvāṃ pūjayiṣyāmi hatvā vai sarvasaindhavān | ahaṃ paśyāmi vijayaṃ kṛcchrabhāvinameva te

I will honour you when you have slain all the Sindhus. I see victory ahead for you, even if it comes through hardship.

Verse 22 (5.135.22)

अकोशस्यासहायस्य कुतः सिद्धिर्जयो मम । इत्यवस्थां विदित्वैतामात्मनात्मनि दारुणाम् ॥

akośasyāsahāyasya kutaḥ siddhirjayo mama | ityavasthāṃ viditvaitāmātmanātmani dāruṇām

Without treasury and without allies, how can success and victory be mine? Knowing for myself this grim condition of mine,

Note on the text: Corresponds to the first two lines (ab–cd) of 5.133.20, a three-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 23 (5.135.23)

राज्याद्भावो निवृत्तो मे त्रिदिवादिव दुष्कृतः । ईदृशं भवती कंचिदुपायमनुपश्यति ॥

rājyādbhāvo nivṛtto me tridivādiva duṣkṛtaḥ | īdṛśaṃ bhavatī kaṃcidupāyamanupaśyati

my heart has turned away from the kingdom, as an evildoer's hope turns from heaven. If you, lady, see any means of the kind,

Note on the text: Corrected दृष्कृतः → दुष्कृतः (misprint in Wikisource; दृष्कृत is not a word, and the critical edition reads duṣkṛteḥ). Corresponds to 5.133.20ef + 5.133.21ab.

Verse 24 (5.135.24)

तन्मे परिणतप्रज्ञे सम्यक्प्रब्रूहि पृच्छते । करिष्यामि हि तत्सर्वं यथावदनुशासनम् ॥

tanme pariṇataprajñe samyakprabrūhi pṛcchate | kariṣyāmi hi tatsarvaṃ yathāvadanuśāsanam

then tell it to me plainly, you whose wisdom is ripe, for I am asking. I will do all of it, exactly as you instruct.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the last two lines (cd–ef) of 5.133.21, a three-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 25 (5.135.25)

पुत्र नात्मावमन्तव्यः पूर्वाभिरसमृद्धिभिः । अभूत्वा हि भवन्त्यर्था भूत्वा नश्यन्ति चापरे । अमर्षेणैव चाप्यर्था नारब्धव्याः सुबालिशैः ॥

putra nātmāvamantavyaḥ pūrvābhirasamṛddhibhiḥ | abhūtvā hi bhavantyarthā bhūtvā naśyanti cāpare | amarṣeṇaiva cāpyarthā nārabdhavyāḥ subāliśaiḥ

Son, do not despise yourself because of earlier failures. Wealth that was not comes into being, and other wealth that was, perishes. But undertakings should not be begun by fools out of mere resentment.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.22 + 5.133.23ab.

Verse 26 (5.135.26)

सर्वेषां कर्मणां तात फले नित्यमनित्यता । अनित्यमिति जानन्तो न भवन्ति भवन्ति च ॥

sarveṣāṃ karmaṇāṃ tāta phale nityamanityatā | anityamiti jānanto na bhavanti bhavanti ca

In the fruit of every action, my son, there is always uncertainty. Knowing that it is uncertain, men sometimes prosper and sometimes do not.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.23cd + 5.133.24ab.

Verse 27 (5.135.27)

अथ ये नैव कुर्वन्ति नैव जातु भवन्ति ते । ऐकगुण्यमनीहायामभावः कर्मणां फलम् ॥

atha ye naiva kurvanti naiva jātu bhavanti te | aikaguṇyamanīhāyāmabhāvaḥ karmaṇāṃ phalam

But those who do nothing at all never prosper. Where there is no effort there is only one outcome: no fruit of action at all.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.24cd + 5.133.25ab.

Verse 28 (5.135.28)

अथ द्वैगुण्यमीहायां फलं भवति वा नवा । यस्य प्रागेव विदिता सर्वार्थानामनित्यता ॥

atha dvaiguṇyamīhāyāṃ phalaṃ bhavati vā navā | yasya prāgeva viditā sarvārthānāmanityatā

Where there is effort the outcome is twofold: the fruit may come or it may not. The man who knows from the outset that all things are impermanent

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.25cd + 5.133.26ab.

Verse 29 (5.135.29)

नुदेद्वृद्धिसमृद्धी स प्रतिकूले नृपात्मज । उत्थातव्यं जागृतव्यं योक्तव्यं भूतिकर्मसु ॥

nudedvṛddhisamṛddhī sa pratikūle nṛpātmaja | utthātavyaṃ jāgṛtavyaṃ yoktavyaṃ bhūtikarmasu

should, in adversity, thrust aside both his own distress and his adversary's prosperity, O prince. One must rise up, stay alert and apply oneself to the works that bring prosperity,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.26cd + 5.133.27ab.

Verse 30 (5.135.30)

भविष्यतीत्येव मनः कृत्वा सततमव्यथैः । मङ्गलानि पुरस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणांश्चेश्वरैः सह ॥

bhaviṣyatītyeva manaḥ kṛtvā satatamavyathaiḥ | maṅgalāni puraskṛtya brāhmaṇāṃśceśvaraiḥ saha

always unshaken, with the mind set on the thought 'It will come to pass', putting auspicious rites first, together with brahmins and men of power.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the last two lines (cd–ef) of 5.133.27, a three-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 31 (5.135.31)

प्राज्ञस्य नृपतेराशु वृद्धिर्भवति पुत्रक । अभिवर्तति लक्ष्मीस्तं प्राचीमिव दिवाकरः ॥

prājñasya nṛpaterāśu vṛddhirbhavati putraka | abhivartati lakṣmīstaṃ prācīmiva divākaraḥ

For a wise king, my son, prosperity grows swiftly; Lakshmi turns towards him as the sun turns towards the east.

Verse 32 (5.135.32)

निदर्शनान्युपायांश्च बहून्युद्धर्षणानि च । अनुदर्शितरूपोऽसि पश्यामि कुरु पौरुषम् ॥

nidarśanānyupāyāṃśca bahūnyuddharṣaṇāni ca | anudarśitarūpo'si paśyāmi kuru pauruṣam

Examples, means and many things to rouse your spirit have been shown to you; you have been shown the way. I am watching: now show your manhood.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the first two lines (ab–cd) of 5.133.29, a three-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 33 (5.135.33)

पुरुषार्थमभिप्रेतं समाहर्तुमिहार्हसि । क्रुद्धान्लुब्धान्परिक्षीणानवलिप्तान्विमानितान् ॥

puruṣārthamabhipretaṃ samāhartumihārhasi | kruddhānlubdhānparikṣīṇānavaliptānvimānitān

You must here achieve the goal of manly effort that you desire. The angry, the greedy, the impoverished, the proud and the dishonoured,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.29ef + 5.133.30ab.

Verse 34 (5.135.34)

स्पर्धिनश्चैव ये केचित्तान्युक्त उपधारय । एतेन त्वं प्रकारेण महतो भेत्स्यसे गणान् । महावेग इवोद्धूतो मातरिश्वा बलाहकान् ॥

spardhinaścaiva ye kecittānyukta upadhāraya | etena tvaṃ prakāreṇa mahato bhetsyase gaṇān | mahāvega ivoddhūto mātariśvā balāhakān

and any who are rivals, keep them carefully in view. In this way you will break up great factions, as a mighty gale, once roused, scatters the clouds.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.133.30cd + 5.133.31.

Verse 35 (5.135.35)

तेषामग्रप्रदायी स्याः कल्योत्थायी प्रियंवदः । ते त्वां प्रियं करिष्यन्ति पुरोधास्यन्ति च ध्रुवम् ॥

teṣāmagrapradāyī syāḥ kalyotthāyī priyaṃvadaḥ | te tvāṃ priyaṃ kariṣyanti purodhāsyanti ca dhruvam

Be the first to give to them, rise early and speak kindly; then they will do what pleases you and will surely set you at their head.

Note on the text: Corrected कल्पोत्थायी → कल्योत्थायी (misprint in Wikisource; कल्य 'early morning', as in the critical edition's kalyotthāyī).

Verse 36 (5.135.36)

यदैव शत्रुर्जानीयात्सपत्नं त्यक्तजीवितम् । तदैवास्मादुद्विजेत सर्पाद्वेश्मगतादिव ॥

yadaiva śatrurjānīyātsapatnaṃ tyaktajīvitam | tadaivāsmādudvijeta sarpādveśmagatādiva

As soon as an enemy learns that his rival has given up all care for his own life, he grows as afraid of him as of a snake that has got into the house.

Verse 37 (5.135.37)

तं विदित्वा पराक्रान्तं वशे न कुरुते यदि । निर्वादैर्निर्वदेदेनमन्ततस्तद्भविष्यति ॥

taṃ viditvā parākrāntaṃ vaśe na kurute yadi | nirvādairnirvadedenamantatastadbhaviṣyati

If, knowing him to be valiant, one cannot bring him under one's control, one should come to terms with him through envoys; in the end that will come about.

Verse 38 (5.135.38)

निर्वादादास्पदं लब्ध्वा धनवृद्धिर्भविष्यति । धनवन्तं हि मित्राणि भजन्ते चाश्रयन्ति च ॥

nirvādādāspadaṃ labdhvā dhanavṛddhirbhaviṣyati | dhanavantaṃ hi mitrāṇi bhajante cāśrayanti ca

Once a footing is gained through such a settlement, wealth will grow; and friends attend upon and resort to a man of wealth.

Note on the text: Corrected लब्धा → लब्ध्वा (misprint in Wikisource; the absolutive is needed, as in the critical edition's labdhvā).

Verse 39 (5.135.39)

स्खलितार्थं पुनस्तानि सन्त्यजन्ति च बान्धवाः । नह्यस्मिन्नाश्रयन्ते च जुगुप्सन्ते च तादृशम् ॥

skhalitārthaṃ punastāni santyajanti ca bāndhavāḥ | nahyasminnāśrayante ca jugupsante ca tādṛśam

But when a man's fortune slips, those friends, and his kinsmen too, abandon him again; they no longer rely on such a man, and they shun him.

Verse 40 (5.135.40)

शत्रुं कृत्वा यः सहायं विश्वासमुपगच्छति । स न संभाव्यमेवैतद्यद्राज्यं प्राप्नुयादिति ॥

śatruṃ kṛtvā yaḥ sahāyaṃ viśvāsamupagacchati | sa na saṃbhāvyamevaitadyadrājyaṃ prāpnuyāditi

He who makes an enemy his ally and puts his trust in him — it is not to be expected that such a man will ever gain a kingdom.