Rukmi Offers His Help and Is Refused

Verse 1 (5.158.1)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भीष्मकस्य महात्मनः । हिरण्यरोम्णो नृपतेः साक्षादिन्द्रसखस्य वै ॥

etasminneva kāle tu bhīṣmakasya mahātmanaḥ | hiraṇyaromṇo nṛpateḥ sākṣādindrasakhasya vai

At that very time the son of the great-souled Bhishmaka, King Hiranyaroman, who was a friend of Indra himself,

Note on the text: Corrected एतस्मिन्नैव → एतस्मिन्नेव (misprint in Wikisource; एतस्मिन् + एव, the vowel misprinted as ै; the critical edition reads etasminn eva).

Verse 2 (5.158.2)

आकूतीनामधिपतिर्भोजस्यातियशस्विनः । दाक्षिणात्यपतेः पुत्रो दिक्षु रुक्मीति विश्रुतः ॥

ākūtīnāmadhipatirbhojasyātiyaśasvinaḥ | dākṣiṇātyapateḥ putro dikṣu rukmīti viśrutaḥ

the son of that most glorious Bhoja, lord of the southern lands, a man master of his resolves, renowned in every quarter as Rukmi;

Verse 3 (5.158.3)

यः किंपुरुषसिंहस्य गन्धमादनवासिनः । कृत्स्नं शिष्यो धनुर्वेदं चतुष्पादमवाप्तवान् ॥

yaḥ kiṃpuruṣasiṃhasya gandhamādanavāsinaḥ | kṛtsnaṃ śiṣyo dhanurvedaṃ catuṣpādamavāptavān

he who, as a pupil of the lion among Kimpurushas who dwells on Mount Gandhamadana, had mastered the whole science of archery with all its four parts;

Verse 4 (5.158.4)

यो माहेन्द्रं धनुर्लेभे तुल्यं गाण्डीवतेजसा । शार्ङ्गेण च महाबाहुः संमितं दिव्यलक्षणम् ॥

yo māhendraṃ dhanurlebhe tulyaṃ gāṇḍīvatejasā | śārṅgeṇa ca mahābāhuḥ saṃmitaṃ divyalakṣaṇam

he, the mighty-armed, who had obtained Indra's bow, equal in splendour to the Gandiva and a match for the Sharnga, a bow bearing divine marks.

Verse 5 (5.158.5)

त्रीण्येवैतानि दिव्यानि धनूंषि दिविचारिणाम् । वारुणं गाण्डिवं तत्र माहेन्द्रं विजयं धनुः । शार्ङ्गं तु वैष्णवं प्राहुर्दिव्यं तेजोमयं धनुः ॥

trīṇyevaitāni divyāni dhanūṃṣi divicāriṇām | vāruṇaṃ gāṇḍivaṃ tatra māhendraṃ vijayaṃ dhanuḥ | śārṅgaṃ tu vaiṣṇavaṃ prāhurdivyaṃ tejomayaṃ dhanuḥ

Among those who move in heaven there are only these three divine bows: the Gandiva, which belongs to Varuna; Vijaya, the bow of Indra; and the Sharnga, which they call Vishnu's, a divine bow made of splendour.

Note on the text: Corrected शार्ङ्ग तु → शार्ङ्गं तु (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; the critical edition reads śārṅgaṃ tu). The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: lines 1–2 are CE 5.155.5 and line 3 is CE 5.155.6ab.

Verse 6 (5.158.6)

धारयामास तत्कृष्णः परसेनाभयावहम् । गाण्डीवं पावकाल्लेभे खाण्डवे पाकशासनिः ॥

dhārayāmāsa tatkṛṣṇaḥ parasenābhayāvaham | gāṇḍīvaṃ pāvakāllebhe khāṇḍave pākaśāsaniḥ

Krishna bore that bow, which strikes fear into hostile armies. The son of Indra (Arjuna) received the Gandiva from Agni at the Khandava forest.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.6cd (reading yat for तत्) and the second CE 5.155.7ab.

Verse 7 (5.158.7)

द्रुमाद्रुक्मी महातेजा विजयं प्रत्यपद्यत । संछिद्य मौरवान्पाशान्निहत्य मुरमोजसा ॥

drumādrukmī mahātejā vijayaṃ pratyapadyata | saṃchidya mauravānpāśānnihatya muramojasā

Rukmi, of great energy, received Vijaya from Druma. Having cut through Mura's nooses and slain Mura by his might,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.7cd and the second CE 5.155.8ab.

Verse 8 (5.158.8)

निर्जित्य नरकं भौममाहृत्य मणिकुण्डले । षोडश स्त्रीसहस्राणि रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥

nirjitya narakaṃ bhaumamāhṛtya maṇikuṇḍale | ṣoḍaśa strīsahasrāṇi ratnāni vividhāni ca

having conquered Naraka, son of the Earth, and carried off the jewelled earrings, together with sixteen thousand women and jewels of many kinds,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.8cd and the second CE 5.155.9ab.

Verse 9 (5.158.9)

प्रतिपेदे हृषीकेशः शार्ङ्गं च धनुरुत्तमम् । रुक्मी तु विजयं लब्ध्वा धनुर्मेघनिभस्वनम् ॥

pratipede hṛṣīkeśaḥ śārṅgaṃ ca dhanuruttamam | rukmī tu vijayaṃ labdhvā dhanurmeghanibhasvanam

Hrishikesha (Krishna) obtained the Sharnga, finest of bows. And Rukmi, having gained Vijaya, a bow that roared like a thundercloud,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.9cd and the second CE 5.155.10ab (reading meghasamasvanam for मेघनिभस्वनम्).

Verse 10 (5.158.10)

विभीषयन्निव जगत्पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तत । नामृष्यत पुरा योऽसौ स्वबाहुबलगर्वितः ॥

vibhīṣayanniva jagatpāṇḍavānabhyavartata | nāmṛṣyata purā yo'sau svabāhubalagarvitaḥ

came to the Pandavas as though striking terror into the world. He was the one who, proud of the strength of his own arms, had once refused to endure

Note on the text: Corrected स्वबाहुलगर्वितः → स्वबाहुबलगर्वितः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara ब, which leaves the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads svabāhubala-). The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.10cd and the second CE 5.155.11ab (reading -darpitaḥ for -गर्वितः).

Verse 11 (5.158.11)

रुक्मिण्या हरणं वीरो वासुदेवेन धीमता । कृत्वा प्रतिज्ञां नाहत्वा निवर्तिष्ये जनार्दनम् ॥

rukmiṇyā haraṇaṃ vīro vāsudevena dhīmatā | kṛtvā pratijñāṃ nāhatvā nivartiṣye janārdanam

the carrying-off of Rukmini by the wise Vasudeva. The hero took a vow: "I will not turn back without slaying Janardana."

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.11cd and the second CE 5.155.12ab (reading nivartiṣyāmi keśavam for निवर्तिष्ये जनार्दनम्).

Verse 12 (5.158.12)

ततोऽन्वधावद्वार्ष्णेयं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः । सेनया चतुरङ्गिण्या महत्या दूरपातया ॥

tato'nvadhāvadvārṣṇeyaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | senayā caturaṅgiṇyā mahatyā dūrapātayā

Then that best of all who bear weapons pursued the Vrishni hero with a great fourfold army that could strike from afar,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.12cd (reading varam for वरः) and the second CE 5.155.13ab.

Verse 13 (5.158.13)

विचित्रायुधवर्मिण्या गङ्गयेव प्रवृद्धया । स समासाद्य वार्ष्णेयं योगानामीश्वरं प्रभुम् ॥

vicitrāyudhavarmiṇyā gaṅgayeva pravṛddhayā | sa samāsādya vārṣṇeyaṃ yogānāmīśvaraṃ prabhum

an army with wondrous weapons and armour, swelling like the Ganga in flood. But when he came up against the Vrishni hero, the mighty lord of yoga,

Note on the text: Corrected गङ्ग्येव → गङ्गयेव (misprint in Wikisource; गङ्गया + इव, the dropped vowel leaves the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads gaṅgayeva). The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.13cd and the second CE 5.155.14ab.

Verse 14 (5.158.14)

व्यंसितो व्रीडितो राजन्नाजगाम स कुण्डिनम् । यत्रैव कृष्णेन रणे निर्जितः परवीरहा ॥

vyaṃsito vrīḍito rājannājagāma sa kuṇḍinam | yatraiva kṛṣṇena raṇe nirjitaḥ paravīrahā

he was thwarted and put to shame, O king, and did not return to Kundina. At the very place where Krishna had defeated that slayer of enemy heroes in battle,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.14cd and the second CE 5.155.15ab.

Verse 15 (5.158.15)

तत्र भोजकटं नाम कृतं नगरमुत्तमम् । सैन्येन महता तेन प्रभूतगजवाजिना ॥

tatra bhojakaṭaṃ nāma kṛtaṃ nagaramuttamam | sainyena mahatā tena prabhūtagajavājinā

there a fine city named Bhojakata was built. With that great army, rich in elephants and horses,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.15cd (reading cakre for कृतं) and the second CE 5.155.16ab.

Verse 16 (5.158.16)

पुरं तद्भुवि विख्यातं नाम्ना भोजकटं नृप । स भोजराजः सैन्येन महता परिवारितः ॥

puraṃ tadbhuvi vikhyātaṃ nāmnā bhojakaṭaṃ nṛpa | sa bhojarājaḥ sainyena mahatā parivāritaḥ

that city became famous on earth by the name of Bhojakata, O king. That king of the Bhojas, surrounded by a great army,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.16cd and the second CE 5.155.17ab.

Verse 17 (5.158.17)

अक्षौहिण्या महावीर्यः पाण्डवान्क्षिप्रमागमत् । ततः स कवची धन्वी तली खड्गी शरासनी ॥

akṣauhiṇyā mahāvīryaḥ pāṇḍavānkṣipramāgamat | tataḥ sa kavacī dhanvī talī khaḍgī śarāsanī

a full akshauhini, came swiftly to the Pandavas, mighty in valour. Then, clad in armour, a bowman with arm-guards, carrying sword and bow,

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गी → खड्गी (misprint in Wikisource; खड्ग, "sword", misspelt with ङ्; the critical edition reads khaḍgī). The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.17cd (reading samupāgamat for क्षिप्रमागमत्) and the second CE 5.155.18ab (reading kavacī khaḍgī śarī dhanvī talī rathī).

Verse 18 (5.158.18)

रथेनादित्यवर्णेन प्रविवेश महाचमूम् । विदितः पाण्डवेयानां वासुदेवप्रियेप्सया ॥

rathenādityavarṇena praviveśa mahācamūm | viditaḥ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ vāsudevapriyepsayā

he entered the great host on a chariot bright as the sun. He made himself known to the Pandavas, wishing to do what would please Vasudeva.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.18cd (reading dhvajena for रथेन) and the second CE 5.155.19ab.

Verse 19 (5.158.19)

युधिष्ठिरस्तु तं राजा प्रत्युद्गम्याभ्यपूजयत् । स पूजितः पाण्डुपुत्रैर्यथान्यायं सुसंस्तुतः ॥

yudhiṣṭhirastu taṃ rājā pratyudgamyābhyapūjayat | sa pūjitaḥ pāṇḍuputrairyathānyāyaṃ susaṃstutaḥ

King Yudhishthira went out to meet him and honoured him. Honoured by the sons of Pandu as was fitting, and warmly praised,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.19cd and the second CE 5.155.20ab (reading pāṇḍusutair and susatkṛtaḥ).

Verse 20 (5.158.20)

प्रतिगृह्य तु तान्सर्वान्विश्रान्तः सहसैनिकः । उवाच मध्ये वीराणां कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम् ॥

pratigṛhya tu tānsarvānviśrāntaḥ sahasainikaḥ | uvāca madhye vīrāṇāṃ kuntīputraṃ dhanañjayam

he returned their courtesies, rested with his soldiers, and then, in the midst of the heroes, said to Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti:

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.155.20cd–ef (reading pratipūjya ca for प्रतिगृह्य तु).

Verse 21 (5.158.21)

सहायोऽस्मि स्थितो युद्धे यदि भीतोऽसि पाण्डव । करिष्यामि रणे साह्यमसह्यं तव शत्रुभिः ॥

sahāyo'smi sthito yuddhe yadi bhīto'si pāṇḍava | kariṣyāmi raṇe sāhyamasahyaṃ tava śatrubhiḥ

"If you are afraid, son of Pandu, I am here to stand by you in the battle. I will give you such help in the fight as your enemies will not be able to withstand.

Note on the text: Corrected सहायोस्मि → सहायोऽस्मि and भीतोसि → भीतोऽसि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagrahas; the critical edition reads sahāyo 'smi and bhīto 'si). Speaker: Rukmi's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 22 (5.158.22)

न हि मे विक्रमे तुल्यः पुमानस्तीह कश्चन । हनिष्यामि रणे भागं यन्मे दास्यसि पाण्डव ॥

na hi me vikrame tulyaḥ pumānastīha kaścana | haniṣyāmi raṇe bhāgaṃ yanme dāsyasi pāṇḍava

There is no man in this world equal to me in valour. Whatever share of the enemy you assign to me in battle, son of Pandu, I will slay,

Note on the text: Corrected हनिष्यामिरणे → हनिष्यामि रणे (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together). The first line is CE 5.155.22ab; the second is not in the critical edition's text — it appears in its apparatus as star passage 5.155.22b*0552, line 1 (found in the vulgate recension). Speaker: Rukmi's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 23 (5.158.23)

अपि द्रोणकृपौ वीरौ भीष्मकर्णावथो पुनः । अथवा सर्व एवैते तिष्ठन्तु वसुधाधिपाः ॥

api droṇakṛpau vīrau bhīṣmakarṇāvatho punaḥ | athavā sarva evaite tiṣṭhantu vasudhādhipāḥ

even the heroes Drona and Kripa, or Bhishma and Karna as well. Or let all these lords of the earth stand aside:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in its apparatus as star passage 5.155.22b*0552, lines 2–3. Speaker: Rukmi's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 24 (5.158.24)

निहत्य समरे शत्रूंस्तव दास्यामि मेदिनीम् ॥

nihatya samare śatrūṃstava dāsyāmi medinīm

I will slay your enemies in battle and give you the earth."

Note on the text: Wikisource verse 24 is split here: its first line (row 5-158-24a) ends Rukmi's speech and its second line returns to the narration, though no heading is printed. This line is CE 5.155.22cd (reading phalguna for मेदिनीम्). Speaker: Rukmi's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 25 (5.158.25)

इत्युक्तो धर्मराजस्य केशवस्य च संनिधौ ॥

ityukto dharmarājasya keśavasya ca saṃnidhau

Spoken to in this way in the presence of the King of Dharma and of Keshava,

Note on the text: Second line of Wikisource verse 24 (row 5-158-24b), split off where Rukmi's speech ends; it is narration (CE 5.155.23ab).

Verse 26 (5.158.26)

शृण्वतां पार्थिवेन्द्राणामन्येषां चैव सर्वशः । वासुदेवमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मराजं च पाण्डवम् । उवाच धीमान्कौन्तेयः प्रहस्य सखिपूर्वकम् ॥

śṛṇvatāṃ pārthivendrāṇāmanyeṣāṃ caiva sarvaśaḥ | vāsudevamabhiprekṣya dharmarājaṃ ca pāṇḍavam | uvāca dhīmānkaunteyaḥ prahasya sakhipūrvakam

while the lords of kings and all the others listened, the wise son of Kunti looked at Vasudeva and at Dharmaraja the Pandava, and with a laugh spoke to him as a friend:

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृण्वतां → शृण्वतां (misprint in Wikisource; श्र + ृ is a broken conjunct; the critical edition reads śṛṇvatāṃ). The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.155.23cd and the second and third lines CE 5.155.24.

Verse 27 (5.158.27)

युध्यमानस्य मे वीर गन्धर्वैः सुमहाबलैः । सहायो घोषयात्रायां कस्तदासीत्सखा मम ॥

yudhyamānasya me vīra gandharvaiḥ sumahābalaiḥ | sahāyo ghoṣayātrāyāṃ kastadāsītsakhā mama

"When I fought the mighty Gandharvas at the time of the cattle-expedition, hero, what friend was there to help me then?

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 28 (5.158.28)

तथा प्रतिभये तस्मिन्देवदानवसंकुले । खाण्डवे युध्यमानस्य कः सहायस्तदाभवत् ॥

tathā pratibhaye tasmindevadānavasaṃkule | khāṇḍave yudhyamānasya kaḥ sahāyastadābhavat

And in that fearful battle at Khandava, thronged with gods and Danavas, who was my helper as I fought?

Note on the text: Corrected तदावभवत् → तदाभवत् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray व makes the line a syllable too long; the critical edition and the next verse read tadābhavat). Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 29 (5.158.29)

निवातकवचैर्युद्धे कालकेयैश्च दानवैः । तत्र मे युध्यमानस्य कः सहायस्तदाभवत् ॥

nivātakavacairyuddhe kālakeyaiśca dānavaiḥ | tatra me yudhyamānasya kaḥ sahāyastadābhavat

When I fought the Nivatakavachas and the Kalakeya Danavas, who was my helper as I fought there?

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 30 (5.158.30)

तथा विराटनगरे कुरुभिः सह सङ्गरे । युध्यतो बहुभिस्तत्र कः सहायोऽभवन्मम ॥

tathā virāṭanagare kurubhiḥ saha saṅgare | yudhyato bahubhistatra kaḥ sahāyo'bhavanmama

And at Virata's city, in the battle with the Kurus, when I fought against so many there, who was my helper?

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 31 (5.158.31)

उपजीव्य रणे रुद्रं शक्रं वैश्रवणं यमम् । वरुणं पावकं चैव कृपं द्रोणं च माधवम् ॥

upajīvya raṇe rudraṃ śakraṃ vaiśravaṇaṃ yamam | varuṇaṃ pāvakaṃ caiva kṛpaṃ droṇaṃ ca mādhavam

I have won the favour, for battle, of Rudra, Shakra, Vaishravana and Yama, of Varuna and Agni, of Kripa and Drona, and of Madhava;

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 32 (5.158.32)

धारयन्गाण्डिवं दिव्यं धनुस्तेजोमयं दृढम् । अक्षय्यशरसंयुक्तो दिव्यास्त्रपरिबृंहितः ॥

dhārayangāṇḍivaṃ divyaṃ dhanustejomayaṃ dṛḍham | akṣayyaśarasaṃyukto divyāstraparibṛṃhitaḥ

I bear the divine Gandiva, a firm bow made of splendour; I am furnished with inexhaustible arrows and strengthened by divine weapons;

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 33 (5.158.33)

कौरवाणां कुले जातः पाण्डोः पुत्रो विशेषतः । द्रोणं व्यपदिशञ्छिष्यो वासुदेवसहायवान् ॥

kauravāṇāṃ kule jātaḥ pāṇḍoḥ putro viśeṣataḥ | droṇaṃ vyapadiśañchiṣyo vāsudevasahāyavān

I was born in the line of the Kauravas, and above all I am the son of Pandu; I name Drona as my teacher and have Vasudeva for my ally.

Note on the text: Corrected कौरवामां → कौरवाणां (misprint in Wikisource; म printed for ण; the critical edition reads kauravāṇāṃ). Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 34 (5.158.34)

कथमस्मद्विधो ब्रूयाद्भीतोऽस्मीति यशोहरम् । वचनं नरशार्दूल वज्रायुधसमस्वनम् ॥

kathamasmadvidho brūyādbhīto'smīti yaśoharam | vacanaṃ naraśārdūla vajrāyudhasamasvanam

How could one like me say "I am afraid", tiger among men — words that would rob me of my fame and that fall like the crash of the thunderbolt?

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 35 (5.158.35)

नास्मि भीतो महाबाहो सहायार्थश्च नास्ति मे । यथाकामं यथायोगं गच्छ वात्रैव तिष्ठ वा ॥

nāsmi bhīto mahābāho sahāyārthaśca nāsti me | yathākāmaṃ yathāyogaṃ gaccha vātraiva tiṣṭha vā

I am not afraid, mighty-armed one, and I have no need of an ally. Go, or stay here, as you wish and as suits you."

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's direct speech, without a printed heading (the input carried वैशंपायन).

Verse 36 (5.158.36)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विजयस्य च धीमतः । विनिवर्त्य ततो रुक्मी सेनां सागरसंनिभाम् । दुर्योधनमुपागच्छत्तथैव भरतर्षभ ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya vijayasya ca dhīmataḥ | vinivartya tato rukmī senāṃ sāgarasaṃnibhām | duryodhanamupāgacchattathaiva bharatarṣabha

Hearing these words of the wise Vijaya (Arjuna), Rukmi turned back his army, vast as the ocean, and went in the same way to Duryodhana, O bull of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: The heading वैशंपायन उवाच (printed on its own row just above) had slipped into the verse text; it is made the speaker. Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') and the extra danda that closed the bracketed line. The first line is not in the critical edition's text — it appears in its apparatus as star passage 5.155.33d*0554 (found in the vulgate recension); the second and third lines are CE 5.155.34.

Verse 37 (5.158.37)

तथैव चाभिगम्यैनमुवाच वसुधाधिपः । प्रत्याख्यातश्च तेनापि स तदा शूरमानिना ॥

tathaiva cābhigamyainamuvāca vasudhādhipaḥ | pratyākhyātaśca tenāpi sa tadā śūramāninā

Approaching him in the same way, that lord of the earth made the same offer; and he too, who prided himself on his own valour, turned him away.

Verse 38 (5.158.38)

द्वावेव तु महाराज तस्माद्युद्धादपेयतुः । रौहिणेयश्च वार्ष्णेयो रुक्मी च वसुधाधिप ॥

dvāveva tu mahārāja tasmādyuddhādapeyatuḥ | rauhiṇeyaśca vārṣṇeyo rukmī ca vasudhādhipa

So only two men kept away from that war, great king: Rauhineya (Balarama) of the Vrishnis, and Rukmi, O lord of the earth.

Verse 39 (5.158.39)

गते रामे तीर्थयात्रां भीष्मकस्य सुते तथा । उपाविशन्पाण्डवेया मन्त्राय पुनरेव च ॥

gate rāme tīrthayātrāṃ bhīṣmakasya sute tathā | upāviśanpāṇḍaveyā mantrāya punareva ca

When Rama had gone on his pilgrimage to the sacred fords, and the son of Bhishmaka had likewise left, the Pandavas sat down once more to take counsel.

Verse 40 (5.158.40)

समितिर्धर्मराजस्य सा पार्थिवसमाकुला । शुशुभे तारकैश्चित्रा द्यौश्चन्द्रेणेव भारत ॥

samitirdharmarājasya sā pārthivasamākulā | śuśubhe tārakaiścitrā dyauścandreṇeva bhārata

That assembly of the King of Dharma, crowded with kings, shone, O Bharata, like the sky bright with stars and the moon.