Duryodhana Boasts of His Powers

Verse 1 (5.61.1)

पितुरेतद्वचः श्रुत्वा धार्तराष्ट्रोऽत्यमर्षणः । आधाय विपुलं क्रोधं पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत् ॥

pituretadvacaḥ śrutvā dhārtarāṣṭro'tyamarṣaṇaḥ | ādhāya vipulaṃ krodhaṃ punarevedamabravīt

Hearing these words of his father, Dhritarashtra's son, who could bear nothing, gathered a great anger and spoke once more:

Verse 2 (5.61.2)

अशक्या देवसचिवाः पार्थाः स्युरिति यद्भवान् । मन्यते तद्भयं व्येतु भवतो राजसत्तम ॥

aśakyā devasacivāḥ pārthāḥ syuriti yadbhavān | manyate tadbhayaṃ vyetu bhavato rājasattama

You believe, O best of kings, that the Parthas cannot be overcome because the gods are their allies. Let that fear of yours be gone.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's reply runs through verses 2–28 without a printed heading (it is introduced by verse 1); the page carries वैशंपायन on, so these verses are given to Duryodhana.

Verse 3 (5.61.3)

अकामद्वेषसंयोगाल्लोभद्रोहाच्च भारत । उपेक्षया च भावानां देवा देवत्वमाप्नुवन् ॥

akāmadveṣasaṃyogāllobhadrohācca bhārata | upekṣayā ca bhāvānāṃ devā devatvamāpnuvan

It is by having no part in desire and hatred, in greed and malice, O Bharata, and by detachment from worldly things, that the gods attained their godhood.

Verse 4 (5.61.4)

इति द्वैपायनो व्यासो नारदश्च महातपाः । जामदग्न्यश्च रामो नः कथामकथयत्पुरा ॥

iti dvaipāyano vyāso nāradaśca mahātapāḥ | jāmadagnyaśca rāmo naḥ kathāmakathayatpurā

So Dvaipayana Vyasa, Narada of great austerity, and Rama the son of Jamadagni told us long ago.

Note on the text: Corrected द्वैपायेनो → द्वैपायनो (misprint in Wikisource; stray e-sign, critical edition dvaipāyano).

Verse 5 (5.61.5)

नैव मानुषवद्देवाः प्रवर्तन्ते कदाचन । कामात्क्रोधात्तथा लोभाद्द्वेषाच्च भरतर्षभ ॥

naiva mānuṣavaddevāḥ pravartante kadācana | kāmātkrodhāttathā lobhāddveṣācca bharatarṣabha

The gods never act as men do, O bull of the Bharatas — out of desire, anger, greed or hatred.

Verse 6 (5.61.6)

यदा ह्यग्निश्च वायुश्च धर्म इन्द्रोऽश्विनावपि । कामयोगात्प्रवर्तेरन्न पार्था दुःखमाप्नुयुः ॥

yadā hyagniśca vāyuśca dharma indro'śvināvapi | kāmayogātpravarteranna pārthā duḥkhamāpnuyuḥ

If Agni and Vayu, Dharma, Indra and the Ashvins acted out of desire, the Parthas would never have met with suffering.

Verse 7 (5.61.7)

तस्मान्न भवता चिन्ता कार्यैषा स्यात्कथंचन । दैवेष्वपेक्षका ह्येते शश्वद्भावेषु भारत ॥

tasmānna bhavatā cintā kāryaiṣā syātkathaṃcana | daiveṣvapekṣakā hyete śaśvadbhāveṣu bhārata

So you should not give yourself this worry in any way, O Bharata; for the gods always have regard to divine qualities.

Verse 8 (5.61.8)

अथ चेत्कामसंयोगाद्द्वेषो लोभश्च लक्ष्यते । देवेषु दैवप्रामाण्यान्नैषां तद्विक्रमिष्यति ॥

atha cetkāmasaṃyogāddveṣo lobhaśca lakṣyate | deveṣu daivaprāmāṇyānnaiṣāṃ tadvikramiṣyati

And even if hatred and greed, born of attachment to desire, are seen among the gods, then by the very law of the divine order that will not avail them.

Verse 9 (5.61.9)

मयाऽभिमन्त्रितः शश्वज्जातवेदाः प्रशाम्यति । दिधक्षुः सकलाँल्लोकान्परिक्षिप्य समन्ततः ॥

mayā'bhimantritaḥ śaśvajjātavedāḥ praśāmyati | didhakṣuḥ sakalām̐llokānparikṣipya samantataḥ

When I chant my spells over it, the fire that would encircle all the worlds on every side and burn them up is always quenched.

Note on the text: Corrected मयाऽभिमन्त्रतः शश्वञ्जातवेदाः → मयाऽभिमन्त्रितः शश्वज्जातवेदाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped i-sign and ञ्ज for ज्ज, critical edition mayābhimantritaḥ śaśvaj jātavedāḥ). प्रशाम्यति (critical edition praśaṃsati) is kept as a variant.

Verse 10 (5.61.10)

यद्वा परमकं तेजो येन युक्ता दिवौकसः । ममाप्यनुपमं भूयो देवेभ्यो विद्धि भारत ॥

yadvā paramakaṃ tejo yena yuktā divaukasaḥ | mamāpyanupamaṃ bhūyo devebhyo viddhi bhārata

Whatever supreme energy the dwellers in heaven possess, know, O Bharata, that mine is greater still, beyond compare with the gods.

Verse 11 (5.61.11)

विदीर्यमाणां वसुधां गिरीणां शिखराणि च । लोकस्य पश्यतो राजन्स्थापयाम्यभिमन्त्रणात् ॥

vidīryamāṇāṃ vasudhāṃ girīṇāṃ śikharāṇi ca | lokasya paśyato rājansthāpayāmyabhimantraṇāt

When the earth is splitting apart, and the peaks of the mountains too, I hold them firm by my spells, O king, while the world looks on.

Verse 12 (5.61.12)

चेतनाचेतनस्यास्य जङ्गमस्थावरस्य च । विनाशाय समुत्पन्नमहं घोरं महास्वनम् ॥

cetanācetanasyāsya jaṅgamasthāvarasya ca | vināśāya samutpannamahaṃ ghoraṃ mahāsvanam

The dreadful, thundering tempest that arises to destroy this whole world, the conscious and the unconscious, the moving and the unmoving — I

Verse 13 (5.61.13)

अश्मवर्षं च वायुं च शमयामीह नित्यशः । जगतः पश्यतोऽभीक्ष्णं भूतानामनुकम्पया ॥

aśmavarṣaṃ ca vāyuṃ ca śamayāmīha nityaśaḥ | jagataḥ paśyato'bhīkṣṇaṃ bhūtānāmanukampayā

calm it here at all times — the shower of stones and the gale — again and again, while the world looks on, out of compassion for living beings.

Verse 14 (5.61.14)

स्तम्भितास्वप्सु गच्छन्ति मया रथपदातयः । देवासुराणां भावानामहमेकः प्रवर्तिता ॥

stambhitāsvapsu gacchanti mayā rathapadātayaḥ | devāsurāṇāṃ bhāvānāmahamekaḥ pravartitā

When I have made the waters solid, chariots and foot-soldiers march across them. I alone set in motion the affairs of gods and asuras.

Verse 15 (5.61.15)

अक्षौहिणीभिर्यान्देशान्यामि कार्येण केनचित् । तत्रापो मे प्रवर्तन्ते यत्र यत्राभिकामये ॥

akṣauhiṇībhiryāndeśānyāmi kāryeṇa kenacit | tatrāpo me pravartante yatra yatrābhikāmaye

To whatever lands I go with my armies on any business, there the waters flow for me wherever I wish.

Verse 16 (5.61.16)

भयानकानि विषये व्यालादीनि न सन्ति मे । मन्त्रगुप्तानि भूतानि न हिंसन्ति भयंकराः ॥

bhayānakāni viṣaye vyālādīni na santi me | mantraguptāni bhūtāni na hiṃsanti bhayaṃkarāḥ

In my realm there are no terrors such as serpents and beasts of prey; creatures held in check by my spells, however fearsome, do no harm.

Note on the text: Corrected यंकराः → भयंकराः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara भ, which leaves the line a syllable short; critical edition bhayaṃkarāḥ).

Verse 17 (5.61.17)

निकामवर्षी पर्जन्यो राजन्विषयवासिनाम् । धर्मिष्ठाश्च प्रजाः सर्वा ईतयश्च न सन्ति मे ॥

nikāmavarṣī parjanyo rājanviṣayavāsinām | dharmiṣṭhāśca prajāḥ sarvā ītayaśca na santi me

The rain-cloud pours as much as is wished for those who live in my realm, O king; all my subjects are devoted to dharma, and no plagues afflict my land.

Verse 18 (5.61.18)

अश्विनावथ वाय्वग्नी मरुद्भिः सह वृत्रहा । धर्मश्चैव मया द्विष्टान्नोत्सहन्तेऽभिरक्षितुम् ॥

aśvināvatha vāyvagnī marudbhiḥ saha vṛtrahā | dharmaścaiva mayā dviṣṭānnotsahante'bhirakṣitum

The Ashvins, Vayu and Agni, Indra the slayer of Vritra with the Maruts, and Dharma himself dare not protect those whom I hate.

Verse 19 (5.61.19)

यदि ह्येते समर्थाः स्युर्मद्द्विषस्त्रातुमञ्जसा । न स्म त्रयोदश समाः पार्था दुःखमवाप्नुयुः ॥

yadi hyete samarthāḥ syurmaddviṣastrātumañjasā | na sma trayodaśa samāḥ pārthā duḥkhamavāpnuyuḥ

If they were able to save my enemies outright, the Parthas would not have suffered for thirteen years.

Note on the text: Corrected दुःखभवाप्नुयुः → दुःखमवाप्नुयुः (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म, critical edition duḥkham avāpnuyuḥ). मञ्जसा (critical edition ojasā) is kept as a variant.

Verse 20 (5.61.20)

नैव देवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न च राक्षसाः । शक्तास्त्रातुं मया द्विष्टं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

naiva devā na gandharvā nāsurā na ca rākṣasāḥ | śaktāstrātuṃ mayā dviṣṭaṃ satyametadbravīmi te

Neither gods nor gandharvas, neither asuras nor rakshasas can save one whom I hate. This I tell you truly.

Verse 21 (5.61.21)

यदभिध्याम्यहं शश्वच्छुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् । नैतद्विपन्नपूर्वं मे मित्रेष्वरिषु चोभयोः ॥

yadabhidhyāmyahaṃ śaśvacchubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham | naitadvipannapūrvaṃ me mitreṣvariṣu cobhayoḥ

Whatever I resolve upon, good or ill, has never yet failed me, whether for friends or for foes.

Note on the text: Corrected दयभिध्याम्यहं → यदभिध्याम्यहं (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas, critical edition yad abhidhyāmy aham; the page's own commentary glosses अभिध्यामि).

Verse 22 (5.61.22)

भविष्यतीदमिति वा यद्ब्रवीमि परन्तप । नान्यथा भूतपूर्वं च सत्यवागिति मां विदुः ॥

bhaviṣyatīdamiti vā yadbravīmi parantapa | nānyathā bhūtapūrvaṃ ca satyavāgiti māṃ viduḥ

Whatever I declare, saying 'This will come to pass', O scorcher of foes, has never turned out otherwise; men know me as one whose word is true.

Verse 23 (5.61.23)

लोकसाक्षिकमेतन्मे माहात्म्यं दिक्षु विश्रुतम् । आश्वासनार्थं भवतः प्रोक्तं न श्लाघया नृप ॥

lokasākṣikametanme māhātmyaṃ dikṣu viśrutam | āśvāsanārthaṃ bhavataḥ proktaṃ na ślāghayā nṛpa

This greatness of mine, which the world has witnessed, is renowned in every quarter. I have spoken of it to reassure you, O king, not to praise myself.

Verse 24 (5.61.24)

न ह्यहं श्लाघनो राजन्भूतपूर्वः कदाचन । असदाचरितं ह्येतद्यदात्मानं प्रशंसति ॥

na hyahaṃ ślāghano rājanbhūtapūrvaḥ kadācana | asadācaritaṃ hyetadyadātmānaṃ praśaṃsati

For I have never been one to boast, O king; to praise oneself is the conduct of the base.

Verse 25 (5.61.25)

पाण्डवांश्चैव मत्स्यांश्च पाञ्चालान्केकयैः सह । सात्यकिं वासुदेवं च श्रोतासि विजितान्मया ॥

pāṇḍavāṃścaiva matsyāṃśca pāñcālānkekayaiḥ saha | sātyakiṃ vāsudevaṃ ca śrotāsi vijitānmayā

You will hear that the Pandavas and the Matsyas, the Panchalas with the Kekayas, Satyaki and Vasudeva have been conquered by me.

Verse 26 (5.61.26)

सरितः सागरं प्राप्य यथा नश्यन्ति सर्वशः । तथैव ते विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति मामासाद्य सहान्वयाः ॥

saritaḥ sāgaraṃ prāpya yathā naśyanti sarvaśaḥ | tathaiva te vinaṅkṣyanti māmāsādya sahānvayāḥ

As rivers that reach the ocean are wholly lost, so they will perish with all their kin when they come up against me.

Verse 27 (5.61.27)

परा बुद्धिः परं तेजो वीर्यं च परमं मम । परा विद्या परो योगो मम तेभ्यो विशिष्यते ॥

parā buddhiḥ paraṃ tejo vīryaṃ ca paramaṃ mama | parā vidyā paro yogo mama tebhyo viśiṣyate

Supreme is my understanding, supreme my energy, and supreme my valour; supreme is my learning and supreme my yoga — in these I surpass them.

Verse 28 (5.61.28)

पितामहश्च द्रोणश्च कृपः शल्यः शलस्तथा । अस्त्रेषु यत्प्रजानन्ति सर्वं तन्मयि विद्यते ॥

pitāmahaśca droṇaśca kṛpaḥ śalyaḥ śalastathā | astreṣu yatprajānanti sarvaṃ tanmayi vidyate

Whatever the Grandsire, Drona, Kripa, Shalya and Shala know of weapons, all of it is in me.

Verse 29 (5.61.29)

इत्युक्ते सञ्जयं भूयः पर्यपृच्छत भारत । ज्ञात्वा युयुत्सोः कार्याणि प्राप्तकालमरिन्दमः ॥

ityukte sañjayaṃ bhūyaḥ paryapṛcchata bhārata | jñātvā yuyutsoḥ kāryāṇi prāptakālamarindamaḥ

When this had been said, O Bharata, the subduer of foes, having learned the designs of the one bent on war, questioned Sanjaya once more, as the moment required.