Arjuna Chooses Krishna, Duryodhana His Army

Verse 1 (5.7.1)

पुरोहितं ते प्रस्थाप्य नगरं नागसाह्वयम् । दूतान्प्रस्थापयामासुः पार्थिवेभ्यस्ततस्ततः ॥

purohitaṃ te prasthāpya nagaraṃ nāgasāhvayam | dūtānprasthāpayāmāsuḥ pārthivebhyastatastataḥ

Having sent the family priest off to the city named after the elephant, they dispatched envoys to the kings in every quarter.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints these lines as star passage *0032, lines 1–2, after the heading of 5.7.1.

Verse 2 (5.7.2)

प्रस्थाप्य दूतानन्यत्र द्वारकां पुरुषर्षभः । स्वयं जगाम कौरव्यः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः ॥

prasthāpya dūtānanyatra dvārakāṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | svayaṃ jagāma kauravyaḥ kuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ

Having sent envoys elsewhere, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, a Kuru and a bull among men, went to Dvaraka himself.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); star passage *0032, lines 3–4, after the heading of 5.7.1.

Verse 3 (5.7.3)

गते द्वारवतीं कृष्णे बलदेवे च माधवे । सह वृष्ण्यन्धकैः सर्वैर्भोजैश्च शतशस्तदा ॥

gate dvāravatīṃ kṛṣṇe baladeve ca mādhave | saha vṛṣṇyandhakaiḥ sarvairbhojaiśca śataśastadā

Krishna and Baladeva, the two Madhavas, had gone to Dvaravati together with all the Vrishnis and Andhakas and the Bhojas in their hundreds.

Note on the text: Corrected कृष्ण → कृष्णे (misprint in Wikisource; the locative absolute needs कृष्णे, as the critical edition reads).

Verse 4 (5.7.4)

सर्वमागमयामास पाण्डवानां विचेष्टितम् । धृतराष्ट्रात्मजो राजा गूढैः प्रणिहितैश्चरैः ॥

sarvamāgamayāmāsa pāṇḍavānāṃ viceṣṭitam | dhṛtarāṣṭrātmajo rājā gūḍhaiḥ praṇihitaiścaraiḥ

Through secret spies he had posted, the king, Dhritarashtra's son, learned of everything the Pandavas were doing.

Verse 5 (5.7.5)

स श्रुत्वा माधवं यान्तं सदश्वैरनिलोपमैः । बलेन नातिमहता द्वारकामभ्ययात्पुरीम् ॥

sa śrutvā mādhavaṃ yāntaṃ sadaśvairanilopamaiḥ | balena nātimahatā dvārakāmabhyayātpurīm

Hearing that Madhava was on his way there, he went to the city of Dvaraka with fine horses swift as the wind and a force that was not very large.

Verse 6 (5.7.6)

तमेव दिवसं चापि कौन्तेयः पाण्डुनन्दनः । आनर्तनगरीं रम्यां जगामाशु धनञ्जयः ॥

tameva divasaṃ cāpi kaunteyaḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | ānartanagarīṃ ramyāṃ jagāmāśu dhanañjayaḥ

On that very same day Dhananjaya, Kunti's son and the joy of Pandu, also arrived swiftly at the lovely city of the Anartas.

Note on the text: Corrected आनन्रतनगरीं → आनर्तनगरीं (misprint in Wikisource; transposed akshara; the critical edition reads ānartanagarīṃ).

Verse 7 (5.7.7)

तौ यात्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रौ द्वारकां कुरुनन्दनौ । सुप्तं ददृशतुः कृष्णं शयानं चाभिजग्मतुः ॥

tau yātvā puruṣavyāghrau dvārakāṃ kurunandanau | suptaṃ dadṛśatuḥ kṛṣṇaṃ śayānaṃ cābhijagmatuḥ

Having reached Dvaraka, those two tigers among men, the delights of the Kurus, found Krishna asleep, and went in to him as he lay.

Verse 8 (5.7.8)

दुर्योधनस्तु प्रथमं वासुदेवमुपाश्रयत् । उच्छीर्षतश्च कृष्णस्य निषसाद वरासने ॥

duryodhanastu prathamaṃ vāsudevamupāśrayat | ucchīrṣataśca kṛṣṇasya niṣasāda varāsane

Duryodhana came to Vasudeva first, and sat down on a fine seat at the head of Krishna's bed.

Note on the text: First line differs from the critical edition (5.7.6), which reads "tataḥ śayāne govinde praviveśa suyodhanaḥ"; the second line matches. Kept as a recension variant.

Verse 9 (5.7.9)

ततः किरीटी तस्यानु प्रविवेश महामनाः । पश्चार्धे तु स कृष्णस्य प्रह्वोऽतिष्ठत्कृताञ्जलिः ॥

tataḥ kirīṭī tasyānu praviveśa mahāmanāḥ | paścārdhe tu sa kṛṣṇasya prahvo'tiṣṭhatkṛtāñjaliḥ

After him the high-minded Kiriti (Arjuna) entered, and stood humbly at Krishna's feet with joined palms.

Verse 10 (5.7.10)

प्रतिबुद्धः स वार्ष्णेयो ददर्शाग्रे किरीटिनम् । सिंहासनगतं पश्चात्परिवृत्य च दृष्टवान् ॥

pratibuddhaḥ sa vārṣṇeyo dadarśāgre kirīṭinam | siṃhāsanagataṃ paścātparivṛtya ca dṛṣṭavān

On waking, the Varshneya saw Kiriti first, in front of him; then, turning round, he saw the one seated on the throne.

Note on the text: Corrected किरीटिनाम् → किरीटिनम् (misprint in Wikisource; the accusative singular is needed, as the critical edition reads). The first line is 5.7.8ab; the second line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate) — it is star passage *0033, printed after 5.7.6.

Verse 11 (5.7.11)

स तयोः स्वागतं कृत्वा यथावत्प्रतिपूज्य तौ । तदागमनजं हेतुं पप्रच्छ मधुसूदनः ॥

sa tayoḥ svāgataṃ kṛtvā yathāvatpratipūjya tau | tadāgamanajaṃ hetuṃ papraccha madhusūdanaḥ

Madhusudana welcomed them both, honoured them as was fitting, and asked the reason for their coming.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the last two lines (cd–ef) of 5.7.8, a six-line verse in the critical edition.

Verse 12 (5.7.12)

ततो दुर्योधनः कृष्णमुवाच प्रहसन्निव । विग्रहेऽस्मिन्भवान्साह्यं मम दातुमिहार्हति ॥

tato duryodhanaḥ kṛṣṇamuvāca prahasanniva | vigrahe'sminbhavānsāhyaṃ mama dātumihārhati

Then Duryodhana, as if laughing, said to Krishna: "In this coming war you ought to give me your help.

Note on the text: Corrected कृष्णामुवाच → कृष्णमुवाच (misprint in Wikisource; कृष्णाम् is the feminine, Draupadi; the critical edition reads kṛṣṇam).

Verse 13 (5.7.13)

समं हि भवतः सख्यं मम चैवार्जुनेऽपि च । तथा संबन्धकं तुल्यमस्माकं त्वयि माधव ॥

samaṃ hi bhavataḥ sakhyaṃ mama caivārjune'pi ca | tathā saṃbandhakaṃ tulyamasmākaṃ tvayi mādhava

Your friendship with me and with Arjuna is equal, Madhava, and so too our kinship with you is the same.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's direct speech continues from the previous verse without a printed heading.

Verse 14 (5.7.14)

अहं चाभिगतः पूर्वं त्वामद्य मधुसूदन । पूर्वं चाभिगतं सन्तो भजन्ते पूर्वसारिणः ॥

ahaṃ cābhigataḥ pūrvaṃ tvāmadya madhusūdana | pūrvaṃ cābhigataṃ santo bhajante pūrvasāriṇaḥ

And I came to you first today, Madhusudana; and the good, following ancient custom, side with the one who comes first.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (5.7.11): Wikisource prints only "अहं चाभिगतं सन्तो भजन्ते पूर्वसारिणः", the two half-lines run together (the copyist skipped from अभिगत… to …अभिगतं), losing "…ः पूर्वं त्वामद्य मधुसूदन । पूर्वं चाभिगतं". The page's verse-end mark (॥) after पूर्वसारिणः confirms the verse ends here. Speaker: Duryodhana, without a printed heading.

Verse 15 (5.7.15)

त्वं च श्रेष्ठतमो लोके सतामद्य जनार्दन । सततं संमतश्चैव सद्वृत्तमनुपालय ॥

tvaṃ ca śreṣṭhatamo loke satāmadya janārdana | satataṃ saṃmataścaiva sadvṛttamanupālaya

And you, Janardana, are today the best of the good in the world, and have always been held in honour; so keep to the conduct of the good."

Note on the text: Wikisource prints this verse across its rows 14 (second line) and 15; the page's own verse-end marks show it is one verse, as in the critical edition (5.7.12). Speaker: Duryodhana, without a printed heading.

Verse 16 (5.7.16)

भवानभिगतः पूर्वमत्र मे नास्ति संशयः । दृष्टस्तु प्रथमं राजन्मया पार्थो धनञ्जयः ॥

bhavānabhigataḥ pūrvamatra me nāsti saṃśayaḥ | dṛṣṭastu prathamaṃ rājanmayā pārtho dhanañjayaḥ

You came first, of that I have no doubt; but it was Partha Dhananjaya whom I saw first, O king.

Verse 17 (5.7.17)

तव पूर्वाभिगमनात्पूर्वं चाप्यस्य दर्शनात् । साहाय्यमुभयोरेव करिष्यामि सुयोधन ॥

tava pūrvābhigamanātpūrvaṃ cāpyasya darśanāt | sāhāyyamubhayoreva kariṣyāmi suyodhana

Because you came first, and because I saw him first, I will give help to you both, Suyodhana.

Verse 18 (5.7.18)

प्रवारणं तु बालानां पूर्वं कार्यमिति श्रुतिः । तस्मात्प्रवारणं पूर्वमर्हः पार्थो धनञ्जयः ॥

pravāraṇaṃ tu bālānāṃ pūrvaṃ kāryamiti śrutiḥ | tasmātpravāraṇaṃ pūrvamarhaḥ pārtho dhanañjayaḥ

Tradition says that the younger should be offered the choice first; therefore Partha Dhananjaya is entitled to choose first.

Verse 19 (5.7.19)

मत्संहननतुल्यानां गोपानामर्बुदं महत् । नारायणा इति ख्याताः सर्वे संग्रामयोधिनः ॥

matsaṃhananatulyānāṃ gopānāmarbudaṃ mahat | nārāyaṇā iti khyātāḥ sarve saṃgrāmayodhinaḥ

There is a great host of cowherds, an arbuda in number, as strongly built as I am. They are known as the Narayanas, and all of them fight in battle.

Verse 20 (5.7.20)

ते वा युधि दुराधर्षा भवन्त्वेकस्य सैनिकाः । अयुध्यमानः संग्रामे न्यस्तशस्त्रोऽहमेकतः ॥

te vā yudhi durādharṣā bhavantvekasya sainikāḥ | ayudhyamānaḥ saṃgrāme nyastaśastro'hamekataḥ

Let those soldiers, hard to withstand in battle, belong to one of you; and on the other side I alone, not fighting in the battle and having laid down my weapons.

Verse 21 (5.7.21)

आभ्यामन्यतरं पार्थ यत्ते हृद्यतरं मतम् । तद्वृणीतां भवानग्रे प्रवार्यस्त्वं हि धर्मतः ॥

ābhyāmanyataraṃ pārtha yatte hṛdyataraṃ matam | tadvṛṇītāṃ bhavānagre pravāryastvaṃ hi dharmataḥ

Of these two, Partha, choose first whichever is dearer to your heart, for by right you are the one to be offered the choice.

Verse 22 (5.7.22)

एतद्विदित्वा कौन्तेय विचार्य च पुनः पुनः । तान्वा वरय साहाय्ये मां साचिव्येऽथवा पुनः ॥

etadviditvā kaunteya vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ | tānvā varaya sāhāyye māṃ sācivye'thavā punaḥ

Knowing this, son of Kunti, and weighing it again and again, choose either them for your help, or else me as your counsellor.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it is star passage *0040, which the critical edition places after 5.7.17 (reading "sācivyena vā punaḥ"). Removed Wikisource's interpolation marks (` … ') and added the closing ॥ missing on the page.

Verse 23 (5.7.23)

एवमुक्तस्तु कृष्णेन कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः । अयुध्यमानं संग्रामे वरयामास केशवम् ॥

evamuktastu kṛṣṇena kuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ | ayudhyamānaṃ saṃgrāme varayāmāsa keśavam

Thus addressed by Krishna, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, chose Keshava, who would not fight in the battle—

Note on the text: Corrected कुन्तीपुत्रे → कुन्तीपुत्रो (misprint in Wikisource; the subject is nominative, as the critical edition reads).

Verse 24 (5.7.24)

नारायणममित्रघ्नं कामाज्जातमजं नृषु । सर्वक्षत्रस्य पुरतो देवदानवयोरपि ॥

nārāyaṇamamitraghnaṃ kāmājjātamajaṃ nṛṣu | sarvakṣatrasya purato devadānavayorapi

Narayana, the slayer of foes, the Unborn who was born among men by his own will—before the eyes of all the kshatriyas, and even of the gods and Danavas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); star passage *0041, after 5.7.19. Corrected नारायणममिघ्नं → नारायणममित्रघ्नं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; *0041 reads amitraghnaṃ).

Verse 25 (5.7.25)

दुर्योधनस्तु तत्सैन्यं सर्वमावरयत्तदा । सहस्राणां सहस्रं तु योधानां प्राप्य भारत ॥

duryodhanastu tatsainyaṃ sarvamāvarayattadā | sahasrāṇāṃ sahasraṃ tu yodhānāṃ prāpya bhārata

Duryodhana then chose that whole army; and having gained those warriors, thousands upon thousands, O Bharata,

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate) — it is star passage *0042, after 5.7.19; the second line is 5.7.20ab. Corrected महस्रं → सहस्रं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads sahasraṃ).

Verse 26 (5.7.26)

कृष्णं चापहृतं ज्ञात्वा संप्राप परमां मुदम् । दुर्योधनस्तु तत्सैन्यं सर्वमादाय पार्थिवः ॥

kṛṣṇaṃ cāpahṛtaṃ jñātvā saṃprāpa paramāṃ mudam | duryodhanastu tatsainyaṃ sarvamādāya pārthivaḥ

and reckoning that Krishna had been parted from his army, he felt the greatest joy. Then King Duryodhana, taking that whole army with him,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.7.20cd + 5.7.21ab (Wikisource divides this passage half a verse later than the critical edition).

Verse 27 (5.7.27)

ततोऽभ्ययाद्भीमबलो रौहिणेयं महाबलम् । सर्वं चागमने हेतुं स तस्मै संन्यवेदयत् । प्रत्युवाच ततः शौरिर्धार्तराष्ट्रमिदं वचः ॥

tato'bhyayādbhīmabalo rauhiṇeyaṃ mahābalam | sarvaṃ cāgamane hetuṃ sa tasmai saṃnyavedayat | pratyuvāca tataḥ śaurirdhārtarāṣṭramidaṃ vacaḥ

went, mighty as he was, to the powerful son of Rohini (Balarama), and told him the whole reason for his coming. Then Shauri (Balarama) answered Dhritarashtra's son with these words:

Note on the text: Corresponds to 5.7.21cd + 5.7.22 (a three-line verse in Wikisource).

Verse 28 (5.7.28)

विदितं ते नरव्याघ्र सर्वं भवितुमर्हति । यन्मयोक्तं विराटस्य पुरा वैवाहिके तदा ॥

viditaṃ te naravyāghra sarvaṃ bhavitumarhati | yanmayoktaṃ virāṭasya purā vaivāhike tadā

You must surely know everything, tiger among men—what I said earlier, at Virata's, at the time of the wedding.

Verse 29 (5.7.29)

निगृह्योक्तो हृषीकेशस्त्वदर्थं कुरुनन्दन । मया संबन्धकं तुल्यमिति राजन्पुनःपुनः ॥

nigṛhyokto hṛṣīkeśastvadarthaṃ kurunandana | mayā saṃbandhakaṃ tulyamiti rājanpunaḥpunaḥ

For your sake, delight of the Kurus, I checked Hrishikesha and told him again and again, O king, that our kinship with both sides is equal.

Verse 30 (5.7.30)

न च तद्वाक्यमुक्तं वै केशवं प्रत्यपद्यत । न चाहमुत्सहे कृष्णं विना स्थातुमपि क्षणम् ॥

na ca tadvākyamuktaṃ vai keśavaṃ pratyapadyata | na cāhamutsahe kṛṣṇaṃ vinā sthātumapi kṣaṇam

But what I said did not find favour with Keshava; and I cannot bear to stand apart from Krishna even for a moment.

Verse 31 (5.7.31)

नाहं सहायः पार्थस्य नापि दुर्योधनस्य वै । इति मे निश्चिता बुद्धिर्वासुदेवमवेक्ष्य ह ॥

nāhaṃ sahāyaḥ pārthasya nāpi duryodhanasya vai | iti me niścitā buddhirvāsudevamavekṣya ha

Having regard to Vasudeva, I have firmly resolved that I will be the ally neither of Partha nor of Duryodhana.

Verse 32 (5.7.32)

जातोऽसि भारते वंशे सर्वपार्थिवपूजिते । गच्छ युध्यस्व धर्मेण क्षात्रेण पुरुषर्षभ ॥

jāto'si bhārate vaṃśe sarvapārthivapūjite | gaccha yudhyasva dharmeṇa kṣātreṇa puruṣarṣabha

You were born in the line of Bharata, honoured by all kings. Go, bull among men, and fight according to the law of the kshatriyas.

Verse 33 (5.7.33)

इत्येवमुक्तस्तु तदा परिष्वज्य हलायुधम् । कृष्णं चापि महाबाहुमामन्त्र्य भरतर्षभ ॥

ityevamuktastu tadā pariṣvajya halāyudham | kṛṣṇaṃ cāpi mahābāhumāmantrya bharatarṣabha

Thus addressed, he embraced Halayudha (Balarama) and took leave of mighty-armed Krishna as well, O bull of the Bharatas;

Note on the text: The first line matches 5.7.28; the second differs (the critical edition reads "kṛṣṇaṃ cāpahṛtaṃ jñātvā yuddhān mene jitaṃ jayam"). Kept as a recension variant.

Verse 34 (5.7.34)

सोऽभ्ययात्कृतवर्माणं धृतराष्ट्रसुतो नृपः । कृतवर्मा ददौ तस्य सेनामक्षौहिणीं तदा ॥

so'bhyayātkṛtavarmāṇaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasuto nṛpaḥ | kṛtavarmā dadau tasya senāmakṣauhiṇīṃ tadā

then the king, Dhritarashtra's son, went to Kritavarman, and Kritavarman gave him an army of one akshauhini.

Verse 35 (5.7.35)

स तेन सर्वसैन्येन भीमेन कुरुनन्दनः । वृतः परिययौ हृष्टः सुहृदः संप्रहर्षयन् ॥

sa tena sarvasainyena bhīmena kurunandanaḥ | vṛtaḥ pariyayau hṛṣṭaḥ suhṛdaḥ saṃpraharṣayan

Surrounded by that whole formidable army, the delight of the Kurus went on his way in high spirits, gladdening his friends.

Verse 36 (5.7.36)

ततः पीताम्बरधरो जगत्स्रष्टा जनार्दनः । गते दुर्योधने कृष्णः किरीटिनमथाब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ pītāmbaradharo jagatsraṣṭā janārdanaḥ | gate duryodhane kṛṣṇaḥ kirīṭinamathābravīt

When Duryodhana had gone, Janardana Krishna, wearer of yellow garments and creator of the world, said to Kiriti:

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (vulgate) — it is star passage *0043, after 5.7.30; the second line is 5.7.31ab.

Verse 37 (5.7.37)

अयुध्यमानः कां बुद्धिमास्थायाहं वृतस्त्वया ॥

ayudhyamānaḥ kāṃ buddhimāsthāyāhaṃ vṛtastvayā

"I will not fight. With what thought in mind have you chosen me?"

Note on the text: First part of Wikisource's verse 37 (= 5.7.31cd), split off because the page prints the heading "अर्जुन उवाच" after this line. Speaker: Krishna's question, which follows "किरीटिनमथाब्रवीत्" without a printed heading. Corrected बृद्धिम् → बुद्धिम् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads buddhim).

Verse 38 (5.7.38)

भवान्समर्थस्तान्सर्वान्निहन्तुं नात्र संशयः । निहन्तुमहमप्येकः समर्थः पुरुषर्षभः ॥

bhavānsamarthastānsarvānnihantuṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | nihantumahamapyekaḥ samarthaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ

You are able to slay them all, there is no doubt of it; and I too, a bull among men, am able to slay them alone.

Note on the text: Second part of Wikisource's verse 37, after the heading "अर्जुन उवाच". Corrected अष्येकः → अप्येकः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads apy ekaḥ). पुरुषर्षभः (CE puruṣottama, vocative) kept as Wikisource's reading.

Verse 39 (5.7.39)

भवांस्तु कीर्तिमाँल्लोके तद्यशस्त्वां गमिष्यति । यशसां चाहमप्यर्थी तस्मादसि मया वृतः ॥

bhavāṃstu kīrtimām̐lloke tadyaśastvāṃ gamiṣyati | yaśasāṃ cāhamapyarthī tasmādasi mayā vṛtaḥ

But you are renowned in the world, and that glory will be yours; and I too am a seeker of glory, so I have chosen you.

Verse 40 (5.7.40)

सारथ्यं तु त्वया कार्यमिति मे मानसं सदा । चिररात्रेप्सितं कामं तद्भवान्कर्तुमर्हति ॥

sārathyaṃ tu tvayā kāryamiti me mānasaṃ sadā | cirarātrepsitaṃ kāmaṃ tadbhavānkartumarhati

It has always been my heart's wish that you should drive my chariot. Please fulfil this desire I have long cherished.

Verse 41 (5.7.41)

उपपन्नमिदं पार्थ यत्स्पर्धसि मया सह । सारथ्यं ते करिष्यामि कामः संपद्यतां तव ॥

upapannamidaṃ pārtha yatspardhasi mayā saha | sārathyaṃ te kariṣyāmi kāmaḥ saṃpadyatāṃ tava

It befits you, Partha, that you vie with me. I will be your charioteer; may your wish be fulfilled.

Verse 42 (5.7.42)

एवं प्रमुदितः पार्थः कृष्णेन सहितस्तदा । वृतो दाशार्हप्रवरैः पुनरायाद्युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

evaṃ pramuditaḥ pārthaḥ kṛṣṇena sahitastadā | vṛto dāśārhapravaraiḥ punarāyādyudhiṣṭhiram

Delighted in this way, Partha, together with Krishna and accompanied by the foremost of the Dasharhas, returned to Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Corrected कुष्णेन → कृष्णेन (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads kṛṣṇena).