न ह्य् अपश्यं कं चिद् अहं पृथिव्यां; श्रुतं समं वाधिकम् अर्जुनेन ॥
यस्यैकषष्टिर् निशितास् तीक्ष्णधाराः; सुवाससः संमतो हस्तवापः ॥
गदापाणिर् भीमसेनस् तरस्वी; प्रवेपयञ् शत्रुसंघान् अनीके ॥
नागः प्रभिन्न इव नड्वलासु; चङ्क्रम्यते कच्चिद् एनं स्मरन्ति ॥
माद्रीपुत्रः सहदेवः कलिङ्गान्; समागतान् अजयद् दन्तकूरे ॥
वामेनास्यन् दक्षिणेनैव यो वै; महाबलं कच्चिद् एनं स्मरन्ति ॥
उद्यन्न् अयं नकुलः प्रेषितो वै; गावल्गणे संजय पश्यतस् ते ॥
दिशं प्रतीचीं वशम् आनयन् मे; माद्रीसुतं कच्चिद् एनं स्मरन्ति ॥
अभ्याभवो द्वैतवने य आसीद्; दुर्मन्त्रिते घोषयात्रागतानाम् ॥
यत्र मन्दाञ् शत्रुवशं प्रयातान्; अमोचयद् भीमसेनो जयश् च ॥
na hy apaśyaṃ kaṃ cid ahaṃ pṛthivyāṃ; śrutaṃ samaṃ vādhikam arjunena ||
yasyaikaṣaṣṭir niśitās tīkṣṇadhārāḥ; suvāsasaḥ saṃmato hastavāpaḥ ||
gadāpāṇir bhīmasenas tarasvī; pravepayañ śatrusaṃghān anīke ||
nāgaḥ prabhinna iva naḍvalāsu; caṅkramyate kaccid enaṃ smaranti ||
mādrīputraḥ sahadevaḥ kaliṅgān; samāgatān ajayad dantakūre ||
vāmenāsyan dakṣiṇenaiva yo vai; mahābalaṃ kaccid enaṃ smaranti ||
udyann ayaṃ nakulaḥ preṣito vai; gāvalgaṇe saṃjaya paśyatas te ||
diśaṃ pratīcīṃ vaśam ānayan me; mādrīsutaṃ kaccid enaṃ smaranti ||
abhyābhavo dvaitavane ya āsīd; durmantrite ghoṣayātrāgatānām ||
yatra mandāñ śatruvaśaṃ prayātān; amocayad bhīmaseno jayaś ca ||
I hope that when they see the horde of raiders, they will remember the deeds of Arjuna, the leader on every field of battle. I hope they remember the arrows loosed from Gandiva, which flew through the air in a straight course, driven forward by the drawn bowstring touching the fingers of his hand, and made a loud sound like thunder. I have seen no warrior on earth who surpassed Arjuna, or could even rival him, one who with a single effort of his hand could loose sixty-one sharp-edged, whetted shafts fitted with excellent feathers. Do they also remember Bhima, who, endowed with great vigor, makes the hostile armies arrayed for battle tremble with fear, like an elephant in must roaming through a reed forest? Do they remember mighty Sahadeva, son of Madri, who at Dantakura conquered the Kalingas, shooting arrows with both his left and right hand? Do they remember Nakula, who, O Sanjaya, was sent under your very eyes to subdue the Shivis and the Trigartas, and who brought the western region under my sway?
586134b9db3e · published Jul 17, 2026, 3:43:08 AM UTC
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This passage (5.23.21-25) develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace is already underway against the backdrop of an inevitable war. Key theme: Sanjaya. Dharma is revealed here through speech, the choice of embassy, faithfulness to promises, and the responsibility of kings for the consequences of their decisions.