कृष्णाव् एकरथे यत्ताव् अधिज्यं गाण्डिवं धनुः ॥
युगपत् त्रीणि तेजांसि समेतान्य् अनुशुश्रुमः ॥
नैव नो ऽस्ति धनुस् तादृङ् न योद्धा न च सारथिः ॥
तच् च मन्दा न जानन्ति दुर्योधनवशानुगाः ॥
शेषयेद् अशनिर् दीप्तो निपतन् मूर्ध्नि संजय ॥
न तु शेषं शराः कुर्युर् अस्तास् तात किरीटिना ॥
अपि चास्यन्न् इवाभाति निघ्नन्न् इव च फल्गुनः ॥
उद्धरन्न् इव कायेभ्यः शिरांसि शरवृष्टिभिः ॥
अपि बाणमयं तेजः प्रदीप्तम् इव सर्वतः ॥
गाण्डीवेद्धं दहेताजौ पुत्राणां मम वाहिनीम् ॥
kṛṣṇāv ekarathe yattāv adhijyaṃ gāṇḍivaṃ dhanuḥ ||
yugapat trīṇi tejāṃsi sametāny anuśuśrumaḥ ||
naiva no 'sti dhanus tādṛṅ na yoddhā na ca sārathiḥ ||
tac ca mandā na jānanti duryodhanavaśānugāḥ ||
śeṣayed aśanir dīpto nipatan mūrdhni saṃjaya ||
na tu śeṣaṃ śarāḥ kuryur astās tāta kirīṭinā ||
api cāsyann ivābhāti nighnann iva ca phalgunaḥ ||
uddharann iva kāyebhyaḥ śirāṃsi śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ ||
api bāṇamayaṃ tejaḥ pradīptam iva sarvataḥ ||
gāṇḍīveddhaṃ dahetājau putrāṇāṃ mama vāhinīm ||
Crushing my forces and cutting a path through them, this mighty, armed hero, dancing with mace in hand, will display a scene such as the universal Dissolution witnessed at the end of the Age. Like a maddened elephant trampling trees adorned with blossoms, Vrikodara will furiously plunge into the ranks of my sons in battle. Stripping my warriors of their chariots, drivers, horses, and banners, and striking down all who fight upon chariots and on the backs of elephants, this tiger among men, O Sanjaya, like the swift current of the Ganga sweeping away the many trees standing on its banks, will crush in battle the armies of my sons. Without doubt, O Sanjaya, seized with fear of Bhimasena, my sons, their followers, and all the allied kings will scatter in every direction. It was this very Bhima who, entering long ago with Vasudeva's aid into the innermost chambers of Jarasandha, overthrew that king endowed with immense energy; that lord of Magadha, mighty Jarasandha, having wholly subdued the goddess Earth, oppressed her with his might. That the Kauravas, through Bhishma's valor, and the Andhakas and Vrishnis, through their policy, were not made to submit to him, was owed only to their good fortune. What could be more wondrous than that the heroic son of Pandu, mighty-armed and unarmed, drawing near to that king, slew him in a single instant? Like a venomous serpent whose poison has gathered for years, Bhima, O Sanjaya, will pour out in battle the venom of his wrath upon my sons! Like the foremost of gods, great Indra, striking down the Danavas with his thunderbolt, Bhimasena, mace in hand, will slay all my sons! Unable to withstand or resist him, possessed of furious force and strength, his eyes tinged with copper, I see even now Vrikodara falling upon my sons. Without mace or bow, without chariot or armor, fighting with bare hands alone, what man could stand against him? Bhishma, Drona reborn, and Kripa, son of Saradvata — they, as well as I myself, know full well the energy of the wise Bhima. Having learned the practice of noble men eager for death in battle, these bulls among men will stand in the vanguard of our army. Fate is powerful everywhere, especially in the case of a man, for, seeing the Pandavas' victory in battle, I still do not restrain my sons.
e22b39d2d946 · published Jul 17, 2026, 4:51:25 AM UTC
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This passage (5.51.11-15) develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace is already unfolding against the backdrop of an unavoidable war. Key themes: Krishna, Duryodhana, Sanjaya. Dharma is revealed here through speech, the choice of embassy, faithfulness to one's word, and the responsibility of kings for the consequences of their decisions.