Mahabharata
Bhagavad-yāna (096) (Kṛṣṇa's Embassy to the Kurus, Chapters 71-137)5.96.21-25
4675 / 15823
Mahabharata · 5.96.21-25
Devanāgarī

अशास्यान् अपि शास्त्य् एष रक्षोबन्धुषु राजसु ॥
सृष्टः प्रथमजो दण्डो ब्रह्मणा ब्रह्मवादिना ॥
एतच् छत्रं नरेन्द्राणां महच् छक्रेण भाषितम् ॥
पुत्राः सलिलराजस्य धारयन्ति महोदयम् ॥
एतत् सलिलराजस्य छत्रं छत्रगृहे स्थितम् ॥
सर्वतः सलिलं शीतं जीमूत इव वर्षति ॥
एतच् छत्रात् परिभ्रष्टं सलिलं सोमनिर्मलम् ॥
तमसा मूर्छितं याति येन नार्छति दर्शनम् ॥
बहून्य् अद्भुतरूपाणि द्रष्टव्यानीह मातले ॥
तव कार्योपरोधस् तु तस्माद् गच्छाव माचिरम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

aśāsyān api śāsty eṣa rakṣobandhuṣu rājasu ||
sṛṣṭaḥ prathamajo daṇḍo brahmaṇā brahmavādinā ||
etac chatraṃ narendrāṇāṃ mahac chakreṇa bhāṣitam ||
putrāḥ salilarājasya dhārayanti mahodayam ||
etat salilarājasya chatraṃ chatragṛhe sthitam ||
sarvataḥ salilaṃ śītaṃ jīmūta iva varṣati ||
etac chatrāt paribhraṣṭaṃ salilaṃ somanirmalam ||
tamasā mūrchitaṃ yāti yena nārchati darśanam ||
bahūny adbhutarūpāṇi draṣṭavyānīha mātale ||
tava kāryoparodhas tu tasmād gacchāva māciram ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अशास्यान्aśāsyānthose beyond instruction; the unmanageable
अपिapieven; also
शास्त्य्śāstypunishes; rules
एषeṣathis; he
रक्षोबन्धुषुrakṣobandhuṣuamong kin of rakshasas; among allies of demons
राजसुrājasuamong kings; among rulers
सृष्टःsṛṣṭaḥcreated; brought forth
प्रथमजोprathamajofirstborn; first brought forth
दण्डोdaṇḍothe rod of punishment; the punishing staff
ब्रह्मणाbrahmaṇāby Brahma; by the creator
ब्रह्मवादिनाbrahmavādināby the knower of Brahman; by the expounder of Brahman
एतच्etacthis; such
छत्रंchatraṃumbrella; royal umbrella
नरेन्द्राणांnarendrāṇāṃof kings; of lords of men
महच्mahacgreat; large
छक्रेणchakreṇaby Shakra; by Indra
भाषितम्bhāṣitamspoken; the speech
पुत्राःputrāḥsons; children
सलिलराजस्यsalilarājasyaof the king of waters; of Varuna
धारयन्तिdhārayantihold; bear
महोदयम्mahodayamgreat splendor; great dignity
एतत्etatthis; such
सलिलराजस्यsalilarājasyaof the king of waters; of Varuna
छत्रंchatraṃumbrella; royal umbrella
छत्रगृहेchatragṛhein the umbrella's storehouse; in the house of the umbrella
स्थितम्sthitamstanding; resting
सर्वतःsarvataḥfrom every side; on all sides
सलिलंsalilaṃa stream of water; a flow of water
शीतंśītaṃcold; cool
जीमूतjīmūtarain cloud; a cloud
इवivalike; as if
वर्षतिvarṣatirains; pours down
एतच्etacthis; such
छत्रात्chatrātfrom the umbrella; from the royal umbrella
परिभ्रष्टंparibhraṣṭaṃfalling; dropping
सलिलंsalilaṃa stream of water; a flow of water
सोमनिर्मलम्somanirmalampure as soma; clear as the moon
तमसाtamasāby darkness; by ignorance
मूर्छितंmūrchitaṃclouded; darkened
यातिyātimoves; flows
येनyenato where; to the place where
नार्छतिnārchatidoes not reach; does not attain
दर्शनम्darśanamsight; vision
बहून्य्bahūnymany; numerous
अद्भुतरूपाणिadbhutarūpāṇiof wondrous form; of marvelous appearance
द्रष्टव्यानीहdraṣṭavyānīhaworth seeing here; which should be seen here
मातलेmātaleO Matali; Matali
तवtavayour; yours
कार्योपरोधस्kāryoparodhasdelay of your task; hindrance to your purpose
तुtuindeed; but
तस्माद्tasmādtherefore; for that reason
गच्छावgacchāvalet us go together; let us set off
माचिरम्māciramwithout delay; without tarrying
Translation

Struck by them, men fall into confusion and move about, having lost their wits in frenzy. Under their influence, men ever sleep heavily, caper about wildly, retch, urinate and defecate, weep and laugh without end. Truly, that Arjuna is irresistible in battle who has as his friend Narayana — the Creator and Lord of all worlds — who fully knows the course of all things. Who in the three worlds, O Bharata, would dare to defeat this hero, Jishnu of the monkey banner, who has no equal in battle? Countless are the virtues that dwell in Partha. Janardana, again, surpasses him. You yourself are well acquainted with Dhananjaya, son of Kunti. Those who in former times were Nara and Narayana have now become Arjuna and Keshava. Know, then, O great king, who these brave and eminent men are. If you believe this and do not trust me, make the virtuous choice and make peace with the sons of Pandu. If you consider this to be for your good — that is, so that there be no discord in your family — then make peace, O foremost of the Bharata line, and do not set your heart on battle. O you, foremost of the Kuru race, the lineage to which you belong is held in high regard on earth. May it continue to be so regarded. Blessed are you; consider what will promote your own welfare.

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e431e709e953 · published Jul 17, 2026, 5:18:56 AM UTC

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