Dhritarashtra's Dread of Bhima

Verse 1 (5.51.1)

सर्व एते महोत्साहा ये त्वया परिकीर्तिताः । एकतस्त्वेव ते सर्वे समेता भीम एकतः ॥

sarva ete mahotsāhā ye tvayā parikīrtitāḥ | ekatastveva te sarve sametā bhīma ekataḥ

All these men of great energy whom you have described stand together on one side — and Bhima alone stands on the other.

Verse 2 (5.51.2)

भीमसेनाद्धि मे भूयो भयं सञ्जायते महत् । क्रुद्धादमर्षणात्तात व्याघ्रादिव महारुरोः ॥

bhīmasenāddhi me bhūyo bhayaṃ sañjāyate mahat | kruddhādamarṣaṇāttāta vyāghrādiva mahāruroḥ

For it is Bhimasena, my son, who stirs a greater fear in me — the angry, unforgiving Bhima — as a great ruru deer fears a tiger.

Verse 3 (5.51.3)

जागर्मि रात्रयः सर्वा दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वसन् । भीतो वृकोदरात्तात सिंहात्पशुरिवापरः ॥

jāgarmi rātrayaḥ sarvā dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasan | bhīto vṛkodarāttāta siṃhātpaśurivāparaḥ

I lie awake through every night, sighing long and hot breaths, afraid of Vrikodara, my son, as some lesser beast is afraid of a lion.

Verse 4 (5.51.4)

न हि तस्य महाबाहोः शक्रप्रतिमतेजसः । सैन्येऽस्मिन्प्रतिपश्यामि य एनं विषहेद्युधि ॥

na hi tasya mahābāhoḥ śakrapratimatejasaḥ | sainye'sminpratipaśyāmi ya enaṃ viṣahedyudhi

For in this army I see no one who could withstand in battle that mighty-armed man, whose splendour is like Shakra's.

Verse 5 (5.51.5)

अमर्षणश्च कौन्तेयो दृढवैरश्च पाण्डवः । अनर्महासी सोन्मादस्तिर्यक्प्रेक्षी महास्वनः ॥

amarṣaṇaśca kaunteyo dṛḍhavairaśca pāṇḍavaḥ | anarmahāsī sonmādastiryakprekṣī mahāsvanaḥ

The son of Kunti is unforgiving, and the Pandava holds fast to his enmity; he laughs when there is no jest, he is wild, he looks askance, and his voice is a roar.

Verse 6 (5.51.6)

महावेगो महोत्साहो महाबाहुर्महाबलः । मन्दानां मम पुत्राणां युद्धेनान्तं करिष्यति ॥

mahāvego mahotsāho mahābāhurmahābalaḥ | mandānāṃ mama putrāṇāṃ yuddhenāntaṃ kariṣyati

Of great speed and great energy, mighty-armed and mighty in strength, he will make an end of my foolish sons in battle.

Verse 7 (5.51.7)

उरुग्राहगृहीतानां गदां बिभ्रद्वृकोदरः । कुरूणामृषभो युद्धे दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः ॥

urugrāhagṛhītānāṃ gadāṃ bibhradvṛkodaraḥ | kurūṇāmṛṣabho yuddhe daṇḍapāṇirivāntakaḥ

To those in the grip of their great obstinacy, Vrikodara, bull of the Kurus, bearing his mace in battle, will be like Death with his staff in hand.

Verse 8 (5.51.8)

अष्टाश्रिमायसीं घोरां गदां काञ्चनभूषणाम् । मनसाहं प्रपश्यामि ब्रह्मदण्डमिवोद्यतम् ॥

aṣṭāśrimāyasīṃ ghorāṃ gadāṃ kāñcanabhūṣaṇām | manasāhaṃ prapaśyāmi brahmadaṇḍamivodyatam

In my mind I see his terrible eight-edged iron mace, adorned with gold, raised like the rod of Brahma.

Verse 9 (5.51.9)

यथा मृगाणां यूथेषु सिंहो जातबलश्चरेत् । मामकेषु तथा भीमो बलेषु विचरिष्यति ॥

yathā mṛgāṇāṃ yūtheṣu siṃho jātabalaścaret | māmakeṣu tathā bhīmo baleṣu vicariṣyati

As a lion grown to his full strength ranges among herds of deer, so will Bhima range among my forces.

Verse 10 (5.51.10)

सर्वेषां मम पुत्राणां स एकः क्रूरविक्रमः । बह्वाशी विप्रतीपश्च बाल्येऽपि रभसः सदा ॥

sarveṣāṃ mama putrāṇāṃ sa ekaḥ krūravikramaḥ | bahvāśī vipratīpaśca bālye'pi rabhasaḥ sadā

Of all my sons he alone was cruel in his prowess — a great eater, contrary, and always impetuous, even as a child.

Note on the text: Corrected बाल्येपि → बाल्येऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha — bālye 'pi 'even in childhood').

Verse 11 (5.51.11)

उद्वेपते मे हृदयं ये मे दुर्योधनादयः । बाल्येऽपि तेन युध्यन्तो वारणेनेव मर्दिताः ॥

udvepate me hṛdayaṃ ye me duryodhanādayaḥ | bālye'pi tena yudhyanto vāraṇeneva marditāḥ

My heart trembles — my Duryodhana and the rest, fighting him even as children, were crushed as though by an elephant.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्ध्यन्तो → युध्यन्तो (misprint in Wikisource; doubled द in the participle of yudh; the critical edition reads yudhyanto).

Verse 12 (5.51.12)

तस्य वीर्येण संक्लिष्टा नित्यमेव सुता मम । स एव हेतुर्भेदस्य भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ॥

tasya vīryeṇa saṃkliṣṭā nityameva sutā mama | sa eva heturbhedasya bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ

My sons have always been harassed by his might; Bhima of fearsome prowess is himself the cause of the rift.

Verse 13 (5.51.13)

ग्रसमानमनीकानि नरवारणवाजिनाम् । पश्यामीवाग्रतो भीमं क्रोधमूर्छितमाहवे ॥

grasamānamanīkāni naravāraṇavājinām | paśyāmīvāgrato bhīmaṃ krodhamūrchitamāhave

I seem to see Bhima before me in battle, beside himself with fury, devouring whole ranks of men, elephants and horses.

Verse 14 (5.51.14)

अस्त्रे द्रोणार्जुनसमं वायुवेगसमं जवे । महेश्वरसमं क्रोधे को हन्याद्भीममाहवे ॥

astre droṇārjunasamaṃ vāyuvegasamaṃ jave | maheśvarasamaṃ krodhe ko hanyādbhīmamāhave

Equal to Drona and Arjuna in weapons, equal to the wind in speed, equal to Maheshvara in anger — who could slay Bhima in battle?

Note on the text: The first line is CE 5.50.14ab; the second line (महेश्वरसमं क्रोधे …) is the critical edition's star passage *0330, printed after 5.50.14b and not in its constituted text. CE 5.50.14cd (सञ्जयाचक्ष्व …) opens Wikisource verse 15.

Verse 15 (5.51.15)

सञ्जयाचक्ष्व मे शूरं भीमसेनममर्षणम् । अतिलाभं तु मन्येऽहं यत्तेन रिपुघातिना । तदैव न हताः सर्वे पुत्रा मम मनस्विना ॥

sañjayācakṣva me śūraṃ bhīmasenamamarṣaṇam | atilābhaṃ tu manye'haṃ yattena ripughātinā | tadaiva na hatāḥ sarve putrā mama manasvinā

Tell me, Sanjaya, of the heroic, unforgiving Bhimasena. I count it a great gain that this high-spirited slayer of foes did not kill all my sons there and then.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (5.50.15): Wikisource prints the second and third lines with their opening words lost and replaced by dots (".......... येऽहं यत्तेन रिपुघातिना" and "..... सर्वे पुत्राः मम मनस्विना"); the missing words अतिलाभं तु मन्ये- and तदैव न हताः are supplied from the critical edition, keeping Wikisource's surviving word order पुत्रा मम, with the misprinted visarga in पुत्राः corrected for sandhi. The first line is CE 5.50.14cd.

Verse 16 (5.51.16)

येन भीमबला यक्षा राक्षसाश्च पुरा हताः । कथं तस्य रणे वेगं मानुषः प्रसहिष्यति ॥

yena bhīmabalā yakṣā rākṣasāśca purā hatāḥ | kathaṃ tasya raṇe vegaṃ mānuṣaḥ prasahiṣyati

He who long ago slew yakshas and rakshasas of fearsome strength — how will any mortal man withstand his onslaught in battle?

Verse 17 (5.51.17)

न स जातु वशे तस्थौ मम बाल्येऽपि सञ्जय । किं पुनर्मम दुष्पुत्रैः क्लिष्टः संप्रति पाण्डवः ॥

na sa jātu vaśe tasthau mama bālye'pi sañjaya | kiṃ punarmama duṣputraiḥ kliṣṭaḥ saṃprati pāṇḍavaḥ

Never, Sanjaya, did he stay under my control, even as a boy; how much less now, the Pandava, after being wronged by my wicked sons?

Verse 18 (5.51.18)

निष्ठुरो रोषणोऽत्यर्थं भज्येतापि न संनमेत् । तिर्यक्प्रेक्षी संहतभ्रूः कथं शाम्येद्वृकोदरः ॥

niṣṭhuro roṣaṇo'tyarthaṃ bhajyetāpi na saṃnamet | tiryakprekṣī saṃhatabhrūḥ kathaṃ śāmyedvṛkodaraḥ

Harsh and wrathful beyond measure, he would break before he would bend; looking askance, his brows knit together — how will Vrikodara be pacified?

Note on the text: Corrected तिर्यक्प्रेक्षीं → तिर्यक्प्रेक्षी (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara on a nominative masculine; the critical edition reads tiryakprekṣī).

Verse 19 (5.51.19)

शूरस्तथाऽप्रतिबलो गौरस्ताल इवोन्नतः । प्रमाणतो भीमसेनः प्रादेशेनाधिकोऽर्जुनात् ॥

śūrastathā'pratibalo gaurastāla ivonnataḥ | pramāṇato bhīmasenaḥ prādeśenādhiko'rjunāt

A hero, matchless in strength, fair of skin, tall as a palm tree — in stature Bhimasena exceeds Arjuna by a span.

Verse 20 (5.51.20)

जवेन वाजिनोऽत्येति बलेनात्येति कुञ्जरान् । अव्यक्तजल्पी मध्वक्षो मध्यमः पाण्डवो बली ॥

javena vājino'tyeti balenātyeti kuñjarān | avyaktajalpī madhvakṣo madhyamaḥ pāṇḍavo balī

In speed he outstrips horses, in strength he surpasses elephants; thick of speech, honey-eyed, the middle Pandava is mighty.

Note on the text: Corrected बलेनान्त्येति → बलेनात्येति (misprint in Wikisource; stray न — the verb is atyeti 'surpasses', as in the first half; the critical edition reads balenātyeti).

Verse 21 (5.51.21)

इति बाल्ये श्रुतः पूर्वं मया व्यासमुखात्पुरा । रूपतो वीर्यतश्चैव याथातथ्येन पाण्डवः ॥

iti bālye śrutaḥ pūrvaṃ mayā vyāsamukhātpurā | rūpato vīryataścaiva yāthātathyena pāṇḍavaḥ

So I heard long ago, when he was a boy, from the lips of Vyasa, of the Pandava as he truly is, in form and in valour.

Verse 22 (5.51.22)

आयसेन स दण्डेन रथान्नागान्नरान्हयान् । हनिष्यति रणे क्रुद्धो रौद्रः क्रूरपराक्रमः ॥

āyasena sa daṇḍena rathānnāgānnarānhayān | haniṣyati raṇe kruddho raudraḥ krūraparākramaḥ

With his iron staff, enraged, fierce and cruel in his valour, he will slay chariots, elephants, men and horses in battle.

Note on the text: Corrected रथन्नागान् → रथान्नागान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ā in the accusative plural rathān among the other plurals; the critical edition reads rathān nāgān).

Verse 23 (5.51.23)

अमर्षी नित्यसंरब्धो भीमः प्रहरतां वरः । मया तात प्रतीपानि कुर्वन्पूर्वं विमानितः ॥

amarṣī nityasaṃrabdho bhīmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ | mayā tāta pratīpāni kurvanpūrvaṃ vimānitaḥ

Unforgiving and ever furious is Bhima, finest of fighters; and in the past, my son, when he crossed me, I humiliated him.

Verse 24 (5.51.24)

निष्कर्णामायसीं स्थूलां सुपार्श्वां काञ्चनीं गदाम् । शतघ्नीं शतनिर्ह्रादां कथं शक्ष्यन्ति मे सुताः ॥

niṣkarṇāmāyasīṃ sthūlāṃ supārśvāṃ kāñcanīṃ gadām | śataghnīṃ śatanirhrādāṃ kathaṃ śakṣyanti me sutāḥ

His heavy iron mace, straight and true, well-sided and covered in gold, a hundred-slayer with a hundredfold roar — how will my sons endure it?

Note on the text: Corrected शतनिर्हादां → शतनिर्ह्रादां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र in nirhrāda 'roar' — the page's own footnote reads शतनिर्ह्रादां; the critical edition reads śatanirhrādāṃ).

Verse 25 (5.51.25)

अपारमप्लवागाधं समुद्रं शरवेधनम् । भीमसेनमयं दुर्गं तात मन्दास्तितीर्षवः ॥

apāramaplavāgādhaṃ samudraṃ śaravedhanam | bhīmasenamayaṃ durgaṃ tāta mandāstitīrṣavaḥ

Bhimasena is an ocean with no farther shore, no raft and no bottom, piercing with arrows — an impassable fortress; and these fools, my son, mean to cross it.

Verse 26 (5.51.26)

क्रोशतो मे न शृण्वन्ति बालाः पण्डितमानिनः । विषमं न हि मन्यन्ते प्रपातं मधुदर्शिनः ॥

krośato me na śṛṇvanti bālāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ | viṣamaṃ na hi manyante prapātaṃ madhudarśinaḥ

Though I cry out, these children who think themselves wise do not listen; seeing only the honey, they do not reckon with the dreadful precipice.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृण्वन्ति → शृण्वन्ति and प्रापतं → प्रपातं (misprints in Wikisource; श्रृ is a broken spelling of शृ, and the noun is prapāta 'precipice'; the critical edition reads śṛṇvanti … prapātaṃ).

Verse 27 (5.51.27)

संयुगे ये गमिष्यन्ति नररूपेण मृत्युना । नियतं चोदिता धात्रा सिंहेनेव महामृगाः ॥

saṃyuge ye gamiṣyanti nararūpeṇa mṛtyunā | niyataṃ coditā dhātrā siṃheneva mahāmṛgāḥ

Those who go into battle against Death in human form are surely driven on by the Ordainer, like great beasts toward a lion.

Verse 28 (5.51.28)

शैक्यां तात चतुष्किष्कुं षडश्रिममितौजसम् । प्रहितां दुःखसंस्पर्शां कथं शक्ष्यन्ति मे सुताः ॥

śaikyāṃ tāta catuṣkiṣkuṃ ṣaḍaśrimamitaujasam | prahitāṃ duḥkhasaṃsparśāṃ kathaṃ śakṣyanti me sutāḥ

His mace, my son, carried in its sling — four cubits long, six-edged, of boundless force, agonising to the touch when hurled — how will my sons withstand it?

Verse 29 (5.51.29)

गदां भ्रामयतस्तस्य भिन्दतो हस्तिमस्तकान् । सृक्किणी लेलिहानस्य बाष्पमुत्सृजतो मुहुः ॥

gadāṃ bhrāmayatastasya bhindato hastimastakān | sṛkkiṇī lelihānasya bāṣpamutsṛjato muhuḥ

When he whirls his mace and shatters the heads of elephants, licking the corners of his mouth and again and again blowing out hot breath,

Verse 30 (5.51.30)

उद्दिश्य नागान्पततः कुर्वतो भैरवान्रवान् । प्रतीपं पततो मत्तान्कुञ्जरान्प्रति गर्जतः ॥

uddiśya nāgānpatataḥ kurvato bhairavānravān | pratīpaṃ patato mattānkuñjarānprati garjataḥ

when he charges at the elephants with fearful roars, rushing headlong at the maddened tuskers and roaring back at them,

Verse 31 (5.51.31)

विगाह्य रथमार्गेषु वरानुद्दिश्य निघ्नतः । अग्नेः प्रज्वलितस्येव अपि मुच्येत मे प्रजा ॥

vigāhya rathamārgeṣu varānuddiśya nighnataḥ | agneḥ prajvalitasyeva api mucyeta me prajā

when he plunges along the lanes of chariots, singling out the finest warriors and striking them down — could my people escape him, any more than a blazing fire?

Verse 32 (5.51.32)

वीथीं कुर्वन्महाबाहुर्द्रावयन्मम वाहिनीम् । नृत्यन्निव गदापाणिर्युगान्तं दर्शयिष्यति ॥

vīthīṃ kurvanmahābāhurdrāvayanmama vāhinīm | nṛtyanniva gadāpāṇiryugāntaṃ darśayiṣyati

Cutting a lane through my host and putting it to flight, the mighty-armed one, mace in hand, as though dancing, will show us the end of an age.

Verse 33 (5.51.33)

प्रभिन्न इव मातङ्गः प्रभञ्जन्पुष्पितान्द्रुमान् । प्रवेक्ष्यति रणे सेनां पुत्राणां मे वृकोदरः ॥

prabhinna iva mātaṅgaḥ prabhañjanpuṣpitāndrumān | pravekṣyati raṇe senāṃ putrāṇāṃ me vṛkodaraḥ

Like an elephant in rut breaking down flowering trees, Vrikodara will burst into my sons' army in battle.

Verse 34 (5.51.34)

कुर्वन्रथान्विपुरुषान्विसारथिहयध्वजान् । आरुजन्पुरुषव्याघ्रो रथिनः सादिनस्तथा ॥

kurvanrathānvipuruṣānvisārathihayadhvajān | ārujanpuruṣavyāghro rathinaḥ sādinastathā

Stripping chariots of their fighters, their drivers, horses and banners, that tiger among men will crush the chariot-warriors and the horsemen as well.

Verse 35 (5.51.35)

गङ्गावेग इवानूपांस्तीरजान्विविधान्द्रुमान् । प्रभङ्क्ष्यति रणे सेनां पुत्राणां मम सञ्जय ॥

gaṅgāvega ivānūpāṃstīrajānvividhāndrumān | prabhaṅkṣyati raṇe senāṃ putrāṇāṃ mama sañjaya

As the Ganga's flood breaks the many kinds of trees that grow on its marshy banks, so, Sanjaya, will he break my sons' army in battle.

Verse 36 (5.51.36)

वधं नूनं गमिष्यन्ति भीमसेनभयार्दिताः । मम पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च राजानश्चैव सञ्जय ॥

vadhaṃ nūnaṃ gamiṣyanti bhīmasenabhayārditāḥ | mama putrāśca bhṛtyāśca rājānaścaiva sañjaya

Surely, Sanjaya, my sons, my servants and the kings, tormented by fear of Bhimasena, will go to their deaths.

Verse 37 (5.51.37)

येन राजा महावीर्यः प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं पुरा । वासुदेवसहायेन जरासन्धो निपातितः ॥

yena rājā mahāvīryaḥ praviśyāntaḥpuraṃ purā | vāsudevasahāyena jarāsandho nipātitaḥ

It was he who long ago, with Vasudeva's help, entered the inner palace and struck down the mighty King Jarasandha.

Verse 38 (5.51.38)

कृत्स्नेयं पृथिवी देवी जरासन्धेन धीमता । मागधेन्द्रेण बलिना वशे कृत्वा प्रतापिता ॥

kṛtsneyaṃ pṛthivī devī jarāsandhena dhīmatā | māgadhendreṇa balinā vaśe kṛtvā pratāpitā

This whole goddess Earth had been brought under his sway and scorched by his might — by the wise and powerful Jarasandha, lord of Magadha.

Verse 39 (5.51.39)

भीष्मप्रतापात्कुरवो नयेनान्धकवृष्णयः । यन्न तस्य वशे जग्मुः केवलं दैवमेव तत् ॥

bhīṣmapratāpātkuravo nayenāndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ | yanna tasya vaśe jagmuḥ kevalaṃ daivameva tat

That the Kurus, through Bhishma's might, and the Andhakas and Vrishnis, through their statecraft, did not fall under his sway was the work of fate alone.

Verse 40 (5.51.40)

स गत्वा पाण्डुपुत्रेण तरसा बाहुशालिना । अनायुधेन वीरेण निहतः किं ततोऽधिकम् ॥

sa gatvā pāṇḍuputreṇa tarasā bāhuśālinā | anāyudhena vīreṇa nihataḥ kiṃ tato'dhikam

Yet the son of Pandu went to him and, unarmed, by sheer force of his mighty arms, slew that hero. What could be greater than that?

Verse 41 (5.51.41)

दीर्घकालसमासक्तं विषमाशीविषो यथा । स मोक्ष्यति रणे तेजः पुत्रेषु मम सञ्जय ॥

dīrghakālasamāsaktaṃ viṣamāśīviṣo yathā | sa mokṣyati raṇe tejaḥ putreṣu mama sañjaya

As a venomous snake releases poison stored up for a long time, so will he release his fury in battle upon my sons, Sanjaya.

Note on the text: Corrected विशमाशीविषो → विषमाशीविषो (misprint in Wikisource; श for ष in viṣam 'poison'; the critical edition reads viṣam āśīviṣo).

Verse 42 (5.51.42)

महेन्द्र इव वज्रेण दानवान्देवसत्तमः । भीमसेनो गदापाणिः सूदयिष्यति मे सुतान् ॥

mahendra iva vajreṇa dānavāndevasattamaḥ | bhīmaseno gadāpāṇiḥ sūdayiṣyati me sutān

As great Indra, best of the gods, slew the Danavas with his thunderbolt, so will Bhimasena, mace in hand, destroy my sons.

Verse 43 (5.51.43)

अविषह्यमनावार्यं तीव्रवेगपराक्रमम् । पश्यामीवातिताम्राक्षमापतन्तं वृकोदरम् ॥

aviṣahyamanāvāryaṃ tīvravegaparākramam | paśyāmīvātitāmrākṣamāpatantaṃ vṛkodaram

I seem to see Vrikodara bearing down upon us — irresistible, unstoppable, of fierce speed and valour, his eyes deep red.

Verse 44 (5.51.44)

अगदस्याप्यधनुषो विरथस्य विवर्मणः । बाहुभ्यां युध्यमानस्य कस्तिष्ठेदग्रतः पुमान् ॥

agadasyāpyadhanuṣo virathasya vivarmaṇaḥ | bāhubhyāṃ yudhyamānasya kastiṣṭhedagrataḥ pumān

Even without mace or bow, without chariot or armour, fighting with his bare arms — what man could stand before him?

Verse 45 (5.51.45)

भीष्मो द्रोणश्च विप्रोऽयं कृपः शारद्वतस्तथा । जानन्त्येते यथैवाहं वीर्यज्ञस्तस्य धीमतः ॥

bhīṣmo droṇaśca vipro'yaṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvatastathā | jānantyete yathaivāhaṃ vīryajñastasya dhīmataḥ

Bhishma, Drona the brahmin here, and Kripa son of Sharadvat — they all know, as well as I do, the prowess of that wise man.

Note on the text: Corrected जान्त्येते यथैवहं → जानन्त्येते यथैवाहं (misprints in Wikisource; dropped न in jānanti and dropped ā in yathaivāham; the critical edition reads jānanty ete yathaivāhaṃ).

Verse 46 (5.51.46)

आर्यव्रतं तु जानन्तः सङ्गरान्तं विधित्सवः । सेनामुखेषु स्थास्यन्ति मामकानां नरर्षभाः ॥

āryavrataṃ tu jānantaḥ saṅgarāntaṃ vidhitsavaḥ | senāmukheṣu sthāsyanti māmakānāṃ nararṣabhāḥ

Yet, knowing the noble warrior's vow and resolved to carry the battle through to its end, these bulls among men will stand at the head of my armies.

Verse 47 (5.51.47)

बलीयः सर्वतो दिष्टं पुरुषस्य विशेषतः । पश्यन्नपि जयं तेषां न नियच्छामि यत्सुतान् ॥

balīyaḥ sarvato diṣṭaṃ puruṣasya viśeṣataḥ | paśyannapi jayaṃ teṣāṃ na niyacchāmi yatsutān

Destiny is stronger than all things, and above all for a man — for though I see that victory will be theirs, I do not hold back my sons.

Verse 48 (5.51.48)

ते पुराणं महेष्वासा मार्गमैन्द्रं समास्थिताः । त्यक्ष्यन्ति तुमुले प्राणान्रक्षन्तः पार्थिवं यशः ॥

te purāṇaṃ maheṣvāsā mārgamaindraṃ samāsthitāḥ | tyakṣyanti tumule prāṇānrakṣantaḥ pārthivaṃ yaśaḥ

Those great archers, keeping to the ancient path of Indra, will lay down their lives in the tumult of battle, guarding their kingly honour.

Verse 49 (5.51.49)

यथैषां मामकास्तात तथैषां पाण्डवा अपि । पौत्रा भीष्मस्य शिष्याश्च द्रोणस्य च कृपस्य च ॥

yathaiṣāṃ māmakāstāta tathaiṣāṃ pāṇḍavā api | pautrā bhīṣmasya śiṣyāśca droṇasya ca kṛpasya ca

As my sons are theirs, my son, so too are the Pandavas: grandsons of Bhishma, and pupils of Drona and of Kripa.

Verse 50 (5.51.50)

ये त्वस्मदाश्रयं किञ्चिद्दत्तमिष्टं च सञ्जय । तस्यापचितिमार्यत्वात्कर्तारः स्थविरास्त्रयः ॥

ye tvasmadāśrayaṃ kiñciddattamiṣṭaṃ ca sañjaya | tasyāpacitimāryatvātkartāraḥ sthavirāstrayaḥ

Those who have had our support — whatever was given them and whatever honour was shown them, Sanjaya — the three elders, being noble, will repay it.

Verse 51 (5.51.51)

आददानस्य शस्त्रं हि क्षत्रधर्मं परीप्सतः । निधनं क्षत्रियस्याजौ वरमेवाहुरुत्तमम् ॥

ādadānasya śastraṃ hi kṣatradharmaṃ parīpsataḥ | nidhanaṃ kṣatriyasyājau varamevāhuruttamam

For one who has taken up arms and seeks to keep the warrior's dharma, death in battle, they say, is the best and highest thing for a kshatriya.

Note on the text: Corrected वरमेवाद्दुरुत्तमम् → वरमेवाहुरुत्तमम् (misprint in Wikisource; द्द for ह in āhur 'they say'; the critical edition reads varam evāhur uttamam).

Verse 52 (5.51.52)

स वै शोचामि सर्वान्वै ये युयुत्सन्ति पाण्डवैः । विक्रुष्टं विदुरेणादौ तदेतद्भयमागतम् ॥

sa vai śocāmi sarvānvai ye yuyutsanti pāṇḍavaiḥ | vikruṣṭaṃ vidureṇādau tadetadbhayamāgatam

So I grieve for all who mean to fight the Pandavas. What Vidura cried out at the very beginning — that very terror has now arrived.

Note on the text: Corrected विदुरोणादौ → विदुरेणादौ (misprint in Wikisource; the instrumental is vidureṇa 'by Vidura'; the critical edition reads vidureṇādau).

Verse 53 (5.51.53)

न तु मन्ये विघाताय ज्ञानं दुःखस्य सञ्जय । भवत्यतिबलं ह्येतज्ज्ञानस्याप्युपघातकम् ॥

na tu manye vighātāya jñānaṃ duḥkhasya sañjaya | bhavatyatibalaṃ hyetajjñānasyāpyupaghātakam

I do not think, Sanjaya, that knowledge serves to destroy sorrow; rather, sorrow grown very strong destroys even knowledge.

Verse 54 (5.51.54)

ऋषयो ह्यपि निर्मुक्ताः पश्यन्तो लोकसङ्ग्रहान् । सुखैर्भवन्ति सुखिनस्तथा दुःखेन दुःखिताः ॥

ṛṣayo hyapi nirmuktāḥ paśyanto lokasaṅgrahān | sukhairbhavanti sukhinastathā duḥkhena duḥkhitāḥ

Even sages who are free, looking on at the workings of the world, are made happy by joys and made sorrowful by sorrow.

Verse 55 (5.51.55)

किं पुनर्मोहमासक्तस्तत्र तत्र सहस्रधा । पुत्रेषु राज्यदारेषु पौत्रेष्वपि च बन्धुषु ॥

kiṃ punarmohamāsaktastatra tatra sahasradhā | putreṣu rājyadāreṣu pautreṣvapi ca bandhuṣu

How much more one sunk in delusion, attached in a thousand ways to this and that — to sons, kingdom and wives, to grandsons and kin!

Verse 56 (5.51.56)

संशये तु महत्यस्मिन्किं नु मे क्षममुत्तरम् । विनाशं ह्येव पश्यामि कुरूणामनुचिन्तयन् ॥

saṃśaye tu mahatyasminkiṃ nu me kṣamamuttaram | vināśaṃ hyeva paśyāmi kurūṇāmanucintayan

In this great peril, what answer is fitting for me? Pondering it again and again, I see only the destruction of the Kurus.

Note on the text: Corrected अनुचिन्ततयन् → अनुचिन्तयन् (misprint in Wikisource; doubled त; the critical edition reads anucintayan).

Verse 57 (5.51.57)

द्यूतप्रमुखमाभाति कुरूणां व्यसनं महत् । मन्देनैश्वर्यकामेन लोभात्पापमिदं कृतम् ॥

dyūtapramukhamābhāti kurūṇāṃ vyasanaṃ mahat | mandenaiśvaryakāmena lobhātpāpamidaṃ kṛtam

The great calamity of the Kurus seems to have begun with the dice; this evil was done out of greed by a fool hungry for sovereignty.

Verse 58 (5.51.58)

मन्ये पर्यायधर्मोऽयं कालस्यात्यन्तगामिनः । चक्रे प्रधिरिवासक्तो नास्य शक्यं पलायितुम् ॥

manye paryāyadharmo'yaṃ kālasyātyantagāminaḥ | cakre pradhirivāsakto nāsya śakyaṃ palāyitum

I think this is the law by which Time, which runs on without end, turns everything about; like the rim fixed to a wheel, there is no escaping it.

Verse 59 (5.51.59)

किं नु कुर्यां कथं कुर्यां क्व नु गच्छामि सञ्जय । एते नश्यन्ति कुरवो मन्दाः कालवशं गताः ॥

kiṃ nu kuryāṃ kathaṃ kuryāṃ kva nu gacchāmi sañjaya | ete naśyanti kuravo mandāḥ kālavaśaṃ gatāḥ

What should I do? How should I do it? Where can I go, Sanjaya? These foolish Kurus are perishing, fallen into the power of Time.

Verse 60 (5.51.60)

अवशोऽहं तदा तात पुत्राणां निहते शते । श्रोष्यामि निनदं स्त्रीणां कथं मां मरणं स्पृशेत् ॥

avaśo'haṃ tadā tāta putrāṇāṃ nihate śate | śroṣyāmi ninadaṃ strīṇāṃ kathaṃ māṃ maraṇaṃ spṛśet

Helpless, my son, when my hundred sons have been slain, I shall then hear the wailing of the women. How I wish death would take me!

Verse 61 (5.51.61)

यथा निदाघे ज्वलनः समिद्धो । दहेत्कक्षं वायुना चोद्यमानः । गदाहस्तः पाण्डवो वै तथैव । हन्ता मदीयान्सहितोऽर्जुनेन ॥

yathā nidāghe jvalanaḥ samiddho | dahetkakṣaṃ vāyunā codyamānaḥ | gadāhastaḥ pāṇḍavo vai tathaiva | hantā madīyānsahito'rjunena

As a fire blazing in the hot season, driven by the wind, burns up the dry brush, so will the Pandava, mace in hand, together with Arjuna, slay my people.

Note on the text: Corrected समद्धो → समिद्धो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped i in samiddha 'kindled'; the critical edition reads samiddho).