The Pandava Commanders Are Consecrated; Balarama Leaves on Pilgrimage

Verse 1 (5.157.1)

आपगेयं महात्मानं भीष्मं शस्त्रभृतां वरम् । पितामहं भारतानां ध्वजं सर्वमहीक्षिताम् ॥

āpageyaṃ mahātmānaṃ bhīṣmaṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ varam | pitāmahaṃ bhāratānāṃ dhvajaṃ sarvamahīkṣitām

"When Yudhishthira heard there that Apaga's son, the great-souled Bhishma, best of all who bear arms, grandsire of the Bharatas and banner of all the kings,

Verse 2 (5.157.2)

बृहस्पतिसमं बुद्ध्या क्षमया पृथिवीसमम् । समुद्रमिव गाम्भीर्ये हिमवन्तमिव स्थिरम् ॥

bṛhaspatisamaṃ buddhyā kṣamayā pṛthivīsamam | samudramiva gāmbhīrye himavantamiva sthiram

"the equal of Brihaspati in wisdom and of the earth in forbearance, like the ocean in depth and like the Himalaya in steadfastness,

Note on the text: Corrected बृहस्पतिसं → बृहस्पतिसमं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped म, as in the critical edition's bṛhaspatisamaṃ).

Verse 3 (5.157.3)

प्रजापतिमिवौदार्ये तेजसा भास्करोपमम् । महेन्द्रमिव शत्रूणां ध्वंसनं शरवृष्टिभिः ॥

prajāpatimivaudārye tejasā bhāskaropamam | mahendramiva śatrūṇāṃ dhvaṃsanaṃ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ

"like Prajapati in generosity, like the sun in splendour, a destroyer of enemies with showers of arrows like great Indra,

Verse 4 (5.157.4)

रणयज्ञे प्रवितते सुभीमे लोमहर्षणे । दीक्षितं चिररात्राय श्रुत्वा तत्र युधिष्ठिरः ॥

raṇayajñe pravitate subhīme lomaharṣaṇe | dīkṣitaṃ cirarātrāya śrutvā tatra yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

"had been consecrated for a long session in the vast sacrifice of battle, most dreadful and hair-raising,

Verse 5 (5.157.5)

किमब्रवीन्महाबाहुः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः । भीमसेनार्जुनौ वापि कृष्णो वा प्रत्यभाषत ॥

kimabravīnmahābāhuḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | bhīmasenārjunau vāpi kṛṣṇo vā pratyabhāṣata

"what did that mighty-armed king, best of all who bear arms, say? And what did Bhimasena and Arjuna, or Krishna, answer?"

Verse 6 (5.157.6)

आपद्धर्मार्थकुशलो महाबुद्धिर्युधिष्ठिरः । सर्वान्भ्रातॄन्समानीय वासुदेवं च शाश्वतम् ॥

āpaddharmārthakuśalo mahābuddhiryudhiṣṭhiraḥ | sarvānbhrātṝnsamānīya vāsudevaṃ ca śāśvatam

Yudhishthira of great understanding, skilled in the meaning of dharma in times of distress, gathered all his brothers and the eternal Vasudeva,

Note on the text: The critical edition prints 5.154.6–7 as two three-line verses, divided by Wikisource as verses 6–8: this verse is its 5.154.6ab–cd (it reads sātvatam where Wikisource has शाश्वतम्).

Verse 7 (5.157.7)

उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठः सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः । पर्याक्रामत सैन्यानि यत्तास्तिष्ठत दंशिताः ॥

uvāca vadatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ | paryākrāmata sainyāni yattāstiṣṭhata daṃśitāḥ

and that best of speakers said these words to them gently: "Bring the troops into position; stand ready and in armour.

Note on the text: Divided differently in the critical edition: the first line is its 5.154.6ef, the second its 5.154.7ab. Yudhishthira's words begin in the second line with no heading on the page, so the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 8 (5.157.8)

पितामहेन वो युद्धं पूर्वमेव भविष्यति । तस्मात्सप्तसु सेनासु प्रणेतॄन्मम पश्यत ॥

pitāmahena vo yuddhaṃ pūrvameva bhaviṣyati | tasmātsaptasu senāsu praṇetṝnmama paśyata

"Your battle will be with the Grandsire, before all else. So look out leaders for my seven armies."

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.154.7cd–ef. Speaker: Yudhishthira's words, unheaded on the page.

Verse 9 (5.157.9)

यथार्हति भवान्वक्तुमस्मिन्काले ह्युपस्थिते । तथेदमर्थवद्वाक्यमुक्तं ते भरतर्षभ ॥

yathārhati bhavānvaktumasminkāle hyupasthite | tathedamarthavadvākyamuktaṃ te bharatarṣabha

"You have spoken these meaningful words just as befits you, now that this hour has come, bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 10 (5.157.10)

रोचते मे महाबाहो क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् । नायकास्तव सेनायां क्रियन्तामिह सप्त वै ॥

rocate me mahābāho kriyatāṃ yadanantaram | nāyakāstava senāyāṃ kriyantāmiha sapta vai

"It pleases me, mighty-armed one; let what comes next be done. Let seven leaders be appointed here for your army."

Verse 11 (5.157.11)

ततो द्रुपदमानाय्य विराटं शिनिपुङ्गवम् । धृष्टद्युम्नं च पाञ्चाल्यं धृष्टकेतुं च पार्थिव । शिखण्डिनं च पाञ्चाल्यं सहदेवं च मागधम् ॥

tato drupadamānāyya virāṭaṃ śinipuṅgavam | dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pāñcālyaṃ dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca pārthiva | śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca pāñcālyaṃ sahadevaṃ ca māgadham

Then he sent for Drupada, for Virata, for the bull of the Shinis, for Dhrishtadyumna of Panchala and for Dhrishtaketu, O king, for Shikhandin of Panchala and for Sahadeva of Magadha.

Verse 12 (5.157.12)

एतान्सप्त महाभागान्वीरान्युद्धाभिकाङ्क्षिणः । सेनाप्रणेतॄन्विधिवदभ्यषिञ्चद्युधिष्ठिरः ॥

etānsapta mahābhāgānvīrānyuddhābhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ | senāpraṇetṝnvidhivadabhyaṣiñcadyudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Yudhishthira duly consecrated these seven fortunate heroes, eager for battle, as leaders of his armies.

Verse 13 (5.157.13)

सर्वसेनापतिं चात्र धृष्टद्युम्नं चकार ह । द्रोणान्तहेतोरुत्पन्नो य इद्धाञ्जातवेदसः ॥

sarvasenāpatiṃ cātra dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ cakāra ha | droṇāntahetorutpanno ya iddhāñjātavedasaḥ

And there he made Dhrishtadyumna commander of all the armies, he who had been born from the blazing fire to bring about Drona's end.

Verse 14 (5.157.14)

सर्वेषामेव तेषां तु समस्तानां महात्मनाम् । सेनापतिपतिं चक्रे गुडाकेशं धनञ्जयम् ॥

sarveṣāmeva teṣāṃ tu samastānāṃ mahātmanām | senāpatipatiṃ cakre guḍākeśaṃ dhanañjayam

Over all of those great-souled men together he made Gudakesha Dhananjaya the commander of commanders.

Note on the text: Corrected गडाकेशं → गुडाकेशं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ु, as in the critical edition's guḍākeśaṃ).

Verse 15 (5.157.15)

अर्जुनस्यापि नेता च संयन्ता चैव वाजिनाम् । सङ्कर्षणानुजः श्रीमान्महाबुद्धिर्जनार्दनः ॥

arjunasyāpi netā ca saṃyantā caiva vājinām | saṅkarṣaṇānujaḥ śrīmānmahābuddhirjanārdanaḥ

And Arjuna's own guide and the driver of his horses was the glorious Janardana of great understanding, younger brother of Sankarshana.

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्कर्णणानुजः → सङ्कर्षणानुजः (misprint in Wikisource; ण for ष, as in the critical edition's saṃkarṣaṇānujaḥ).

Verse 16 (5.157.16)

तद्दृष्ट्वोपस्थितं युद्धं समासन्नं महात्ययम् । प्राविशद्भवनं राज्ञः पाण्डवानां हलायुधः ॥

taddṛṣṭvopasthitaṃ yuddhaṃ samāsannaṃ mahātyayam | prāviśadbhavanaṃ rājñaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ halāyudhaḥ

Seeing that the war was at hand, drawing close and bringing great ruin, Halayudha entered the dwelling of the king of the Pandavas,

Verse 17 (5.157.17)

सहाक्रूरप्रभृतिभिर्गदसाम्बोद्धवादिभिः । रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश्चारुदेष्णपुरोगमैः ॥

sahākrūraprabhṛtibhirgadasāmboddhavādibhiḥ | raukmiṇeyāhukasutaiścārudeṣṇapurogamaiḥ

together with Akrura and others, with Gada, Samba, Uddhava and the rest, with the sons of Rukmini and of Ahuka, with Charudeshna at their head;

Note on the text: Corrected ददसाम्बो… → गदसाम्बो… (misprint in Wikisource; द for ग, the name Gada, as in the critical edition's gadasāmbolmukādibhiḥ). Wikisource's Uddhava (उद्धव) for the critical edition's Ulmuka is kept as a recension variant.

Verse 18 (5.157.18)

वृष्णिमुख्यैरधिगतैर्व्याघ्रैरिव बलोत्कटैः । अभिगुप्तो महाबाहुर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवः ॥

vṛṣṇimukhyairadhigatairvyāghrairiva balotkaṭaiḥ | abhigupto mahābāhurmarudbhiriva vāsavaḥ

guarded by those Vrishni chiefs who had come with him, mighty as tigers, the mighty-armed one was like Vasava among the Maruts.

Verse 19 (5.157.19)

नीलकौशेयवसनः कैलासशिखरोपमः । सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान्मदरक्तान्तलोचनः ॥

nīlakauśeyavasanaḥ kailāsaśikharopamaḥ | siṃhakhelagatiḥ śrīmānmadaraktāntalocanaḥ

Clad in blue silk, like a peak of Kailasa, glorious, with the playful gait of a lion and eyes reddened at the corners with wine,

Verse 20 (5.157.20)

तं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजश्च केशवश्च महाद्युतिः । उदतिष्ठत्ततः पार्थो भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā dharmarājaśca keśavaśca mahādyutiḥ | udatiṣṭhattataḥ pārtho bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ

seeing him, the Dharma King and the radiant Keshava rose, and so did Partha Vrikodara of terrible deeds,

Verse 21 (5.157.21)

गाण्डीवधन्वा ये चान्ये राजानस्तत्र केचन । पूजयाञ्चक्रिरे ते वै समायान्तं हलायुधम् ॥

gāṇḍīvadhanvā ye cānye rājānastatra kecana | pūjayāñcakrire te vai samāyāntaṃ halāyudham

and the wielder of Gandiva, and whatever other kings were there; they all paid honour to Halayudha as he approached.

Verse 22 (5.157.22)

ततस्तं पाण्डवो राजा करे पस्पर्श पाणिना । वासुदेवपुरोगास्तं सर्व एवाभ्यवादयन् ॥

tatastaṃ pāṇḍavo rājā kare pasparśa pāṇinā | vāsudevapurogāstaṃ sarva evābhyavādayan

Then the Pandava king touched his hand with his own, and all of them, with Vasudeva at their head, greeted him with reverence.

Verse 23 (5.157.23)

विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धावभिवाद्य हलायुधः । युधिष्ठिरेण सहित उपाविशदरिन्दमः ॥

virāṭadrupadau vṛddhāvabhivādya halāyudhaḥ | yudhiṣṭhireṇa sahita upāviśadarindamaḥ

Halayudha, tamer of foes, saluted the aged Virata and Drupada and sat down beside Yudhishthira.

Verse 24 (5.157.24)

ततस्तेषूपविष्टेषु पार्थिवेषु समन्ततः । वासुदेवमभिप्रेक्ष्य रौहिणेयोऽभ्यभाषत ॥

tatasteṣūpaviṣṭeṣu pārthiveṣu samantataḥ | vāsudevamabhiprekṣya rauhiṇeyo'bhyabhāṣata

When the kings had taken their seats all around, the son of Rohini looked at Vasudeva and spoke.

Verse 25 (5.157.25)

भवितायं महारौद्रो दारुणः पुरुषक्षयः । दिष्टमेतद्ध्रुवं मन्ये न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम् ॥

bhavitāyaṃ mahāraudro dāruṇaḥ puruṣakṣayaḥ | diṣṭametaddhruvaṃ manye na śakyamativartitum

"There will be a most terrible and cruel slaughter of men. I think this is fate, fixed and certain, and it cannot be escaped.

Note on the text: Speaker: Balarama's words (verses 25–34), unheaded on the page.

Verse 26 (5.157.26)

तस्माद्युद्धात्समुत्तीर्णानपि वः ससुहृज्जनान् । अरोगानक्षतैर्देहैर्द्रष्टास्मीति मतिर्मम ॥

tasmādyuddhātsamuttīrṇānapi vaḥ sasuhṛjjanān | arogānakṣatairdehairdraṣṭāsmīti matirmama

"Yet it is my hope that I shall see you all, with your friends, come safely through that war, free from harm and with bodies unhurt.

Note on the text: Corrected समुहृञ्जानान् → ससुहृज्जनान् (misprint in Wikisource; garbled स and ज्ज with a stray long ā, as in the critical edition's sasuhṛjjanān).

Verse 27 (5.157.27)

समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं कालपक्वमसंशयम् । विमर्दश्च महान्भावी मांसशोणितकर्दमः ॥

sametaṃ pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ kālapakvamasaṃśayam | vimardaśca mahānbhāvī māṃsaśoṇitakardamaḥ

"The warrior class of the earth gathered here is ripe for death, beyond doubt; there will be a great clash, a mire of flesh and blood.

Note on the text: Corrected मांसशोणितकदर्दमः → मांसशोणितकर्दमः (misprint in Wikisource; a doubled syllable, as in the critical edition's māṃsaśoṇitakardamaḥ).

Verse 28 (5.157.28)

उक्तो मया वासुदेवः पुनः पुनरुपह्वरे । संबन्धिषु समां वृत्तिं वर्तस्व मधुसूदन ॥

ukto mayā vāsudevaḥ punaḥ punarupahvare | saṃbandhiṣu samāṃ vṛttiṃ vartasva madhusūdana

"Again and again I said to Vasudeva in private: 'Madhusudana, behave alike toward our kinsmen.

Verse 29 (5.157.29)

पाण्डवा हि यथास्माकं तथा दुर्योधनो नृपः । तस्यापि क्रियतां साह्यं स पर्येति पुनःपुनः ॥

pāṇḍavā hi yathāsmākaṃ tathā duryodhano nṛpaḥ | tasyāpi kriyatāṃ sāhyaṃ sa paryeti punaḥpunaḥ

"'For as the Pandavas are to us, so is King Duryodhana. Let help be given to him as well; he comes to us again and again.'

Verse 30 (5.157.30)

तच्च मे नाकरोद्वाक्यं त्वदर्थे मधुसूदनः । निर्विष्टः सर्वभावेन धनञ्जयमवेक्ष्य ह ॥

tacca me nākarodvākyaṃ tvadarthe madhusūdanaḥ | nirviṣṭaḥ sarvabhāvena dhanañjayamavekṣya ha

"But for your sake Madhusudana did not do as I said; he has given himself to you with his whole being, his eyes on Dhananjaya.

Verse 31 (5.157.31)

ध्रुवो जयः पाण्डवानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः । तथा ह्यभिनिवेशोऽयं वासुदेवस्य भारत ॥

dhruvo jayaḥ pāṇḍavānāmiti me niścitā matiḥ | tathā hyabhiniveśo'yaṃ vāsudevasya bhārata

"My mind is settled that victory for the Pandavas is certain, for such is Vasudeva's resolve, O Bharata.

Verse 32 (5.157.32)

न चाहमुत्सहे कृष्णमृते लोकमुदीक्षितुम् । ततोऽहमनुवर्तामि केशवस्य चिकीर्षितम् ॥

na cāhamutsahe kṛṣṇamṛte lokamudīkṣitum | tato'hamanuvartāmi keśavasya cikīrṣitam

"And I cannot bear to look upon the world without Krishna; so I go along with what Keshava means to do.

Note on the text: Corrected चाहमृत्सहे → चाहमुत्सहे (misprint in Wikisource; ऋ for उ, as in the critical edition's cāham utsahe).

Verse 33 (5.157.33)

उभौ शिष्यौ हि मे वीरौ गदायुद्धविशारदौ । तुल्यस्नेहोऽस्म्यतो भीमे तथा दुर्योधने नृपे ॥

ubhau śiṣyau hi me vīrau gadāyuddhaviśāradau | tulyasneho'smyato bhīme tathā duryodhane nṛpe

"Both these heroes, masters of fighting with the mace, are my pupils; so I bear equal affection for Bhima and for King Duryodhana.

Note on the text: Corrected गदायद्धविशारदौ → गदायुद्धविशारदौ and भीते → भीमे (misprints in Wikisource; a dropped ु and त for म, as in the critical edition's gadāyuddhaviśāradau and bhīme).

Verse 34 (5.157.34)

तस्माद्यास्यामि तीर्थानि सरस्वत्या निषेवितुम् । न हि शक्ष्यामि कौरव्यान्नश्यमानानवेक्षितुम् ॥

tasmādyāsyāmi tīrthāni sarasvatyā niṣevitum | na hi śakṣyāmi kauravyānnaśyamānānavekṣitum

"So I shall go to the sacred fords of the Sarasvati to bathe in them; for I could not bear to look on while the Kauravas perish."

Verse 35 (5.157.35)

एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुरनुज्ञातश्च पाण्डवैः । तीर्थयात्रां ययौ रामो निवर्त्य मधुसूदनम् ॥

evamuktvā mahābāhuranujñātaśca pāṇḍavaiḥ | tīrthayātrāṃ yayau rāmo nivartya madhusūdanam

Having said this, the mighty-armed Rama took leave of the Pandavas and, turning Madhusudana back, set out on his pilgrimage to the sacred fords.