Bhishma and Drona Urge Duryodhana to Make Peace

Verse 1 (5.138.1)

कुन्त्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा भीष्मद्रोणौ महारथौ । दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमूचतुः शासनातिगम् ॥

kuntyāstu vacanaṃ śrutvā bhīṣmadroṇau mahārathau | duryodhanamidaṃ vākyamūcatuḥ śāsanātigam

Having heard Kunti's words, the great chariot-warriors Bhishma and Drona spoke these words to Duryodhana, who would not be ruled:

Note on the text: Speaker printed वैशंपायन; given as वैशम्पायन, the spelling used throughout this parva.

Verse 2 (5.138.2)

श्रुतं ते पुरुषव्याघ्र कुन्त्याः कृष्णस्य संनिधौ । वाक्यमर्थवदत्युग्रमुक्तं धर्म्यमनुत्तमम् ॥

śrutaṃ te puruṣavyāghra kuntyāḥ kṛṣṇasya saṃnidhau | vākyamarthavadatyugramuktaṃ dharmyamanuttamam

You have heard, tiger among men, the words Kunti spoke in Krishna's presence — full of meaning, fierce indeed, righteous and unsurpassed.

Note on the text: Speaker: Wikisource prints no heading here, but verse 1 introduces the speech that follows (to the end of the adhyaya) as the joint words of Bhishma and Drona, so these verses are given to them.

Verse 3 (5.138.3)

तत्करिष्यन्ति कौन्तेया वासुदेवस्य संमतम् । न हि ते जातु शाम्येरन्नृते राज्येन कौरव ॥

tatkariṣyanti kaunteyā vāsudevasya saṃmatam | na hi te jātu śāmyerannṛte rājyena kaurava

The sons of Kunti will act on it, for it has Vasudeva's approval. They will never be pacified, Kaurava, without the kingdom.

Verse 4 (5.138.4)

क्लेशिता हि त्वया पार्था धर्मपाशसितास्तदा । सभायां द्रौपदी चैव तैश्च तन्मर्षितं तव ॥

kleśitā hi tvayā pārthā dharmapāśasitāstadā | sabhāyāṃ draupadī caiva taiśca tanmarṣitaṃ tava

For you tormented the Parthas in the assembly that day, when they were bound by the noose of dharma, and Draupadi too; and they bore that from you.

Verse 5 (5.138.5)

कृतास्त्रं ह्यर्जुनं प्राप्य भीमं च कृतनिश्चयम् । गाण्डीवं चेषुधी चैव रथं च ध्वजमेव च ॥

kṛtāstraṃ hyarjunaṃ prāpya bhīmaṃ ca kṛtaniścayam | gāṇḍīvaṃ ceṣudhī caiva rathaṃ ca dhvajameva ca

But now that he has Arjuna, master of weapons, and Bhima, firm in resolve, the Gandiva bow and the two quivers, the chariot and the banner,

Note on the text: Corresponds to the first two lines (ab–cd) of 5.136.5, a three-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 6 (5.138.6)

नकुलं सहदेवं च बलवीर्यसमन्वितौ । सहायं वासुदेवं च न क्षंस्यति युधिष्ठिरः ॥

nakulaṃ sahadevaṃ ca balavīryasamanvitau | sahāyaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca na kṣaṃsyati yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Nakula and Sahadeva, full of strength and valour, and Vasudeva as his ally — Yudhishthira will not forgive.

Note on the text: The first line (नकुलं सहदेवं च …) is not in the critical edition text; it appears in its apparatus (*0520) and the vulgate. The second line = 5.136.5ef.

Verse 7 (5.138.7)

प्रत्यक्षं ते महाबाहो यथा पार्थेन धीमता । विराटनगरे पूर्वं सर्वे स्म युधि निर्जिताः ॥

pratyakṣaṃ te mahābāho yathā pārthena dhīmatā | virāṭanagare pūrvaṃ sarve sma yudhi nirjitāḥ

You saw with your own eyes, mighty-armed one, how earlier, in Virata's city, we were all defeated in battle by the wise Partha.

Verse 8 (5.138.8)

दानवा घोरकर्माणो निवातकवचा युधि । रौद्रमस्त्रं समादाय दग्धा वानरकेतुना ॥

dānavā ghorakarmāṇo nivātakavacā yudhi | raudramastraṃ samādāya dagdhā vānaraketunā

The Danavas of terrible deeds, the Nivatakavachas, were burnt up in battle by the ape-bannered hero, when he took up the fierce Raudra weapon.

Verse 9 (5.138.9)

कर्णप्रभृतयश्चेमे त्वं चापि कवची रथी । मोक्षितो घोषयात्रायां पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

karṇaprabhṛtayaśceme tvaṃ cāpi kavacī rathī | mokṣito ghoṣayātrāyāṃ paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

Karna and these others, and you yourself, armoured and in your chariot, had to be set free at the cattle-expedition: that is proof enough.

Verse 10 (5.138.10)

प्रशाम्य भरतश्रेष्ठ भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवैः । रक्षेमां पृथिवीं सर्वां मृत्योर्दंष्ट्रान्तरं गताम् ॥

praśāmya bharataśreṣṭha bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ | rakṣemāṃ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ mṛtyordaṃṣṭrāntaraṃ gatām

Make peace, best of the Bharatas, with your brothers the Pandavas, and save this whole earth, which has passed between the fangs of death.

Verse 11 (5.138.11)

ज्येष्ठो भ्राता धर्मशीलो वत्सलः श्लक्ष्णवाक्कविः । तं गच्छ पुरुषव्याघ्रं व्यपनीयेह किल्बिषम् ॥

jyeṣṭho bhrātā dharmaśīlo vatsalaḥ ślakṣṇavākkaviḥ | taṃ gaccha puruṣavyāghraṃ vyapanīyeha kilbiṣam

Your eldest brother is righteous by nature, affectionate, gentle of speech and wise. Go to that tiger among men, putting aside your wrongdoing.

Verse 12 (5.138.12)

दृष्टश्चेत्त्वं पाण्डवेन व्यपनीतशरासनः । प्रशान्तभ्रुकुटिः श्रीमान्कृता शान्तिः कुलस्य नः ॥

dṛṣṭaścettvaṃ pāṇḍavena vyapanītaśarāsanaḥ | praśāntabhrukuṭiḥ śrīmānkṛtā śāntiḥ kulasya naḥ

If the son of Pandu sees you with your bow laid aside and your frown smoothed away, glorious one, peace will have been made for our family.

Note on the text: Separated शान्तिःकुलस्य → शान्तिः कुलस्य (missing word space in Wikisource).

Verse 13 (5.138.13)

तमभ्येत्य सहामात्यः परिष्वज्य नृपात्मजम् । अभिवादय राजानं यथापूर्वमरिन्दम ॥

tamabhyetya sahāmātyaḥ pariṣvajya nṛpātmajam | abhivādaya rājānaṃ yathāpūrvamarindama

Go to him with your ministers, embrace the prince, and greet the king as you used to, subduer of foes.

Verse 14 (5.138.14)

अभिवादयमानं त्वां पाणिभ्यां भीमपूर्वजः । प्रतिगृह्णातु सौहार्दात्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

abhivādayamānaṃ tvāṃ pāṇibhyāṃ bhīmapūrvajaḥ | pratigṛhṇātu sauhārdātkuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

And as you greet him, let Kunti's son Yudhishthira, Bhima's elder brother, take you by both hands in friendship.

Verse 15 (5.138.15)

सिंहस्कन्धोरुबाहुस्त्वां वृत्तायतमहाभुजः । परिष्वजतु बाहुभ्यां भीमः प्रहरतां वरः ॥

siṃhaskandhorubāhustvāṃ vṛttāyatamahābhujaḥ | pariṣvajatu bāhubhyāṃ bhīmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ

Let Bhima, best of fighters, with a lion's shoulders and broad arms, long and rounded, clasp you in his arms.

Verse 16 (5.138.16)

कम्बुग्रीवो गुडाकेशस्ततस्त्वां पुष्करेक्षणः । अभिवादयतां पार्थः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः ॥

kambugrīvo guḍākeśastatastvāṃ puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ | abhivādayatāṃ pārthaḥ kuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ

Then let Partha Dhananjaya, son of Kunti, Gudakesha, with his conch-like neck and lotus eyes, salute you.

Verse 17 (5.138.17)

आश्विनेयौ नरव्याघ्रौ रूपेणाप्रतिमौ भुवि । तौ च त्वां गुरुवत्प्रेम्णा पूजया प्रत्युदीयताम् ॥

āśvineyau naravyāghrau rūpeṇāpratimau bhuvi | tau ca tvāṃ guruvatpremṇā pūjayā pratyudīyatām

And the two sons of the Ashvins, tigers among men, unmatched on earth in beauty — let them come forward to meet you with love and honour, as they would an elder.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रोम्णा → प्रेम्णा (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads premṇā).

Verse 18 (5.138.18)

मुञ्चन्त्वानन्दजाश्रूणि दाशार्हप्रमुखा नृपाः । संगच्छ भ्रातृभिः सार्धं मानं संत्यज्य पार्थिव ॥

muñcantvānandajāśrūṇi dāśārhapramukhā nṛpāḥ | saṃgaccha bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ mānaṃ saṃtyajya pārthiva

Let the kings led by the Dasharha shed tears of joy. Join your brothers, O king, and set aside your pride.

Verse 19 (5.138.19)

प्रशाधि पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां ततस्त्वं भ्रातृभिः सह । समालिङ्ग्य च हर्षेण नृपा यान्तु परस्परम् ॥

praśādhi pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ tatastvaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | samāliṅgya ca harṣeṇa nṛpā yāntu parasparam

Then rule the whole earth together with your brothers, and let the kings embrace one another in joy and go home.

Verse 20 (5.138.20)

अलं युद्धेन राजेन्द्र सुहृदां शृणु वारणम् । ध्रुवं विनाशो युद्धे हि क्षत्रियाणां प्रदृश्यते ॥

alaṃ yuddhena rājendra suhṛdāṃ śṛṇu vāraṇam | dhruvaṃ vināśo yuddhe hi kṣatriyāṇāṃ pradṛśyate

Enough of war, king of kings; listen to your friends, who would hold you back. In war the destruction of the kshatriyas is plainly certain.

Verse 21 (5.138.21)

ज्योतींषि प्रतिकूलानि दारुणा मृगपक्षिणः । उत्पाता विविधा वीर दृश्यन्ते क्षत्रनाशनाः ॥

jyotīṃṣi pratikūlāni dāruṇā mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | utpātā vividhā vīra dṛśyante kṣatranāśanāḥ

The heavenly bodies stand adverse, beasts and birds cry out fearfully, and portents of many kinds are seen, hero, that foretell the ruin of the kshatriyas.

Verse 22 (5.138.22)

विशेषत इहास्माकं निमित्तानि विनाशने । उल्काभिर्हि प्रदीप्ताभिर्बाध्यते पृतना तव ॥

viśeṣata ihāsmākaṃ nimittāni vināśane | ulkābhirhi pradīptābhirbādhyate pṛtanā tava

Here above all the omens point to our destruction: your army is beset by blazing meteors.

Verse 23 (5.138.23)

वाहनान्यप्रहृष्टानि रुदन्तीव विशांपते । गृध्रास्ते पर्युपासन्ते सैन्यानि च समन्ततः ॥

vāhanānyaprahṛṣṭāni rudantīva viśāṃpate | gṛdhrāste paryupāsante sainyāni ca samantataḥ

The beasts of burden are cheerless and seem to weep, lord of the people; vultures hover all around your armies.

Verse 24 (5.138.24)

नगरं न यथापूर्वं तथा राजनिवेशनम् । शिवाश्चाशिवनिर्घोषा दीप्तां सेवन्ति वै दिशम् ॥

nagaraṃ na yathāpūrvaṃ tathā rājaniveśanam | śivāścāśivanirghoṣā dīptāṃ sevanti vai diśam

The city is not as it was, nor is the royal palace; jackals with ill-omened howls haunt the blazing quarter of the sky.

Note on the text: Corrected दिशं → दिशम् at the verse end (misprint in Wikisource; final म् before a pause, as in the critical edition's diśam).

Verse 25 (5.138.25)

कुरु वाक्यं पितुर्मातुरस्माकं च हितैषिणाम् । त्वय्यायत्तो महाबाहो शमो व्यायाम एव च ॥

kuru vākyaṃ piturmāturasmākaṃ ca hitaiṣiṇām | tvayyāyatto mahābāho śamo vyāyāma eva ca

Do as your father and mother tell you, and as we, who wish you well, tell you. Peace and war alike rest with you, mighty-armed one.

Verse 26 (5.138.26)

न चेत्करिष्यसि वचः सुहृदामरिकर्शन । तप्स्यसे वाहिनीं दृष्ट्वा पार्थबाणप्रपीडिताम् ॥

na cetkariṣyasi vacaḥ suhṛdāmarikarśana | tapsyase vāhinīṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthabāṇaprapīḍitām

If you do not heed the words of your friends, scourge of foes, you will suffer when you see your army tormented by Partha's arrows.

Verse 27 (5.138.27)

भीमस्य च महानादं नदतः शुष्मिणो रणे । श्रुत्वा स्मर्तासि मे वाक्यं गाण्डीवस्य च निःस्वनम् । यद्येतदपसव्यं ते वचो मम भविष्यति ॥

bhīmasya ca mahānādaṃ nadataḥ śuṣmiṇo raṇe | śrutvā smartāsi me vākyaṃ gāṇḍīvasya ca niḥsvanam | yadyetadapasavyaṃ te vaco mama bhaviṣyati

When you hear the mighty roar of the powerful Bhima bellowing in battle, and the twang of the Gandiva, you will remember my words — if you now go against what I say.

Note on the text: Corrected निःश्वनम् → निःस्वनम् (misprint in Wikisource; निःस्वन 'sound', the critical edition reads nisvanam).