यानसन्धि पर्व — यानसन्धिमा अर्जुनका वचन

Dhritarashtra said I ask you, O Sanjaya, in the midst of these kings, what words the noble minded Dhananjaya of Pure habits, the leader in battles, the destroyer of the lives of men of vicious habits, said.

Sanjaya said Let Duryodhana listen to this speech which was made by Arjuna, who was eager to fight, with the permission of Yudhishthira and in the hearing of Keshava.

Without the slightest fear and conscious of the strength of his arms, in the presence of Vasudeva, the wise one spoke to me. Kiritin, eager to fight, said to me. “Tell the son of Dhritarashtra in the midst of the Kurus."

And in the hearing of the son of Suta of wicked soul, of disagreeable speech, O Suta, who is ever desirous of a fight with me and who is of stupid intellect and of extreme ignorance and whose time is come.

And also in the hearing of those kings who have been assembled to fight the Pandavas, the entire collection of words used by me; let that king with his ministers hear what I say.

As all the gods hear what is said by the chief of the deities, with the thunderbolt in his hands, so did the Pandavas and the Srinjaya listen to the able speech made by Kiritin.

Thus spoke Arjuna eager for fight armed with the Gandharva-bow and with his lotus eyes looking red-If the son of Dhritarashtra does not surrender the kingdom of Yudhishthira, the king of Ajmida.

Then there are surely some acts done before (by them), the fruits of which have not been obtained by the son of Dhritarashtra of wicked souls for which battle is desired with Bhimasena and Arjuna and the same with the sons of Ashvin and Vamdeva.

And with the son of Shini and with Dhrishtadyumna of sure arms and with Shikhandin and with Yudhishthira who is equal to Indra and who can consume the Earth and the Heaven by the strength of his asceticism.

If war with them is thought of by the son of Dhritarashtra, then are all the subjects of the Pandavas gained. Therefore do not propose peace for gaining the end of the Pandavas; let there be war if you please.

The bed of woe which the son of Pandu attached to virtuous habits lay, exiled in woods-let the son of Dhritarashtra when dead in the field obtain a bed of greater endless woe.

The son of Dhritarashtra of wicked soul and of unrighteous conduct could never conquer the son of Kuru and Pandu (at the game of dice) by means of modesty, knowledge, asceticism, self-control, heroism or by strength accompanied with righteousness,

Graced with meekness and benevolence, with asceticism and self-control and with might attended with virtue, speaking the truth, (Yudhishthira), a prey to deception, has borne great sufferings.

When the eldest son of Pandu, who has brought his soul under control, will direct his wrath nursed during a series of years towards the Kurus, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

As blazing fire, raging in all directions, burns up and withers dry grass during summer, so will the army of the son of Dhritarashtra be withered by the mere glance of Yudhishthira fired by wrath.

When the son of Dhritarashtra sees Bhimasena, riding his car with mace in his hand and vomiting the poison of his wrath, that wrathful Pandava of terrible strength, then will he repent for the war.

When that exceedingly vain one beholds Bhimasena sled in iron, fighting in the front ranks of his army, incapable of being grazed at even by his own men, killing the heroes of other side and sending them to the abode of the God of death, then will these words be remembered by him.

When the son of Dhritarashtra sees elephants felled to the ground by Bhimasena looking like the summits of mountains with their pierced pot-like heads pouring blood like pots pouring water, then will he repent for the war.

When like a huge lion falling upon battle, with a mace in hand, Bhimasena like a slayer of terrible appearance approaches the son of Dhritarashtra, then will that son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When that one who is without fear even in great dangers and skilled in the use of weapons and the slayer of the enemies armies, riding on his beautiful car works havoc with his mace among the numerous cars and foot-soldiers;

Fastening quickly the elephants by nooses, when he fells down the army of the son of Dhritarashtra like a sturdy man cutting down a forest with an axe, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When like a village containing several huts of straw burnt up by fire, he sees the army of the son of Dhritarashtra consumed or when he sees his vast hosts of armies scattered like ripe corns struck by lightning.

With their heroic leaders killed and his soldiers struck with fear flying with their backs towards the field and their vast army dispersed, consumed as it were by the fire of the arms of Bhimasena, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When Nakula, the chief among carwarriors, of great skill in the use of weapons skillfully shoots hundreds of arrows and kill the car-warriors of the other side, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent of the war.

Accustomed to comforts, Nakula for a long time slept on an uncomfortable bed in the woods; and when like an angry snake he will vomit poison, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

Desperate of their lives the rulers of the earth, directed to fight by the king of Dharma (virtue), O Suta, riding on white cars will work havoc among the (enemies') army. Seeing that the son of Dhritarashtra will afterwards repent.

When the sons of Kuru see the five heroes, children in years but old in acts, desperate of their lives, working havoc among the sons of Kuru; then will the sons of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When Sahadeva, mounted on a car with well trained horses, proceeding in the wished for direction, having noiseless wheels and adorned with golden stars, will fell down the heads of kings with innumerable arrows.

Seeing that warrior skilled in the use of weapons, mounted on a car, present in the battlefield on working havoc and filling soldiers in all directions, the son of Dhritarashtra will repent for the war.

When Sahadeva who is modest, skillful in battle truthful, of great strength and graced with all virtues, active, capable of speedily doing things, meets the son of Gandhara in terrible and fells down his men.

When he sees the son of Draupadi, the mighty heroes, skillful in the use of weapons and having a knowledge of fighting on cars, darting at the enemies like serpents of quick poison, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When Abhimanyu the slayer of heroes on the other side, shoots arrows on the enemies as the clouds pour water-when he, skilled in the weapons like Krishna, overpowers the enemies, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When he sees the son of Subhadra, who though a child is not a child in heroism is like Indra is skillful in the use of weapons falling on the men of the enemies like death itself; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When the young Prabhadrakas having great activity, skilled in battle and having the might equal to that of lions, fell down the sons of Dhritarashtra along with their armies; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When he sees those veterans in war, Virata and Drupada, mighty car-warriors, each present in his own post separately attack the sons of Dhritarashtra with their armies; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war,

When Drupada, skilled in the use of weapons, from the car down the heads of young warriors in battle; and when, wrathful, he shoots arrows from his bow; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When Virata, the slayer of heroes in the other side, penetrates into the ranks of the enemy and works havoc among them with the aid of the Matsyas of cool courage. then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When he sees the eldest son of Virata, the king of the Matsyas of cool courage, clad in iron, in his chariot in the front ranks of his army on the side of the Pandavas, then will the son of Dhritarashira repent for the war.

The virtuous son of Shantanu; that hero among the sons of Kuru, being killed in battle by Shikhandin; then our enemies will undoubtedly perish. I speak this truly.

When cutting down the car-warriors, Shikhandin, on a car well protected goes forth to meet Bhishma leveling to the dust the host of cars by his celestial horses, then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When he sees, seated in the front ranks of the Srinjayas, effulgent in his splendour, Dhrishtadyumna, whom the wise Drona initiated in to the mysteries of the use of wcapons; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent.

When that leader of armies, of immeasurable strength, working havoc among the armies of the sons of Dhritarashtra by his arrows, goes forth to encounter Drona and the enemy in battle; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

No foe can withstand them who have for their leader of the lion of the Vrishni race, that chief of the Somaka tribe, who is modest, wise, powerful, independent, blessed with prosperity.

Tell this also (to Duryodhana); Do not desire (the kingdom), we have chosen Satyaki, the guard of Shini for our leader; he is unequaled in battle in this world, a car-warrior of dauntless and powerful might and skilled in the use of weapons,

Of broad chest and long arms, the slayer of enemies unequaled in battle and acquainted with the best of weapons, the grandson of Shini well versed in the use of weapons, a mighty car-warrior who knows no fear has a bow measuring four cubits.

When the ruler of the Shinis, the slayer of foes directed by me, will shower volleys of arrows on the enemy, as the clouds do (the rain) and completely cover them then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When that one with long arms and of firm grasp on the bow makes up his mind for fight; then will the foes before the battle act like cattle who have got scent of a lion.

He, of long arms of firm grasp on the bow and of a large fond, can pierce the mountain and destroy the whole world. Acquainted with the use of weapons, skillful and of an agile, hand, he shores like the sun in the sky.

The lion of the Vrishni race, that descendant of Yadu of superior training, has many delicate and wonderful weapons. Satyaki has competent knowledge of the use of excellent arms; and he is endued with all the good qualities that are said to be good.

When he sees the golden car of Satyaki, the descendant of Madhu with four white horses; then that foolish son of Dhritarashtra with a soul addicted to vices repent for the war.

When also he sees my terrible car, guided by Keshava, shining with gold and precious stones, with white horses and with a banner having the figure of a monkey; then will that vicious-souled fool repent.

When that fool hears the fierce twanging sound produced by the contact of the leather covering fingers with the string of the bow, resembling the roaring of thunder and the great battle field covered with smoke by my Gandiva bow; then will the foolish son of Dhritarashtra of weak intellect repent on seeing himself helpless, his soldiers destroyed in the darkness produced by the raining of arrows like herds of cows, before the actual fighting commences.

When he sees the terrible host of arrows, with sharp edges having beautiful feathers and able to penetrate into the vitals shot from the string of the Gandiva bow, like terrible flashes of lightning proceeding from clouds, killing thousands of the host of enemies and devouring innumerable horses and elephants clad in mail; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When the fool sees the arrows shot from the bows of our enemies being struck by my arrows twined back or cut off being pierced obliquely by my shafts; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When the arrows shot by me cut off the five figures of young men on the other side as birds pluck off fruits from the top of trees then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When he sees excellent warriors falling dead from their chariots and huge elephants struck by my arrows in the field then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When he sees the (other) sons of Dhritarashtra before even reaching within the range of the enemies' weapons fall down dead without even doing anything in the field; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When I shall fell down by pouring down burning arrows the enemies and their hosts of infantry and car-warriors in all directions like death with his mouth open, then will that man of weak intellect repent for the war.

When he sees his own army covered by the dust of my chariot going in all sides cut down by my Gandiva and rendered senseiess; then will that man of weak intellect repent.

When Duryodhana sees all his soldiers overpowered and runring away all sides with their bodies cut open, senseless and his horses, commanders rulers killed, his army thirsty, struck with fear, crying piteously for help, dead and dying, with their animals rendered faint and hair, bones and heads strewn about as if they were really the work of the Lord of creatures; then will that man of weak intellect repent.

When he sees in the chariot, the Gandiva bow, Vasudeva, the heavenly conch Panchajanya, my horses, the two arrow-holders which are never emptied, Devadatta and myself; then will the son of Dhritarashtra repent for the war.

When I shall burn the sons of Kuru like the god of fire burning at the time of bringing in this world a Yoga, at the end of another a large number of wicked souls, then will Dhritarashtra with his sons repent for the war.

The son of Dhritarashtra, wrathful and of wicked heart, having lost his property along with his brothers, his soldiers and his dependents, at the end of the period of pride, trembling will afterwards repent.

One day before this when I had finished my prayers a certain Brahmana said to me, after my getting up from the water, these pleasing words-A difficult task will have to be performed by you, O son of Pritha, O Savyasachin, you will have to fight with your enemies.

Either Indra on his steed, thunderbolt in his hand will go before you in battle, killing your enemies or mounted on a chariot with Sugriva (name of horse) and other steeds Krishna, the son of Vasudeva will protect you from behind.

In this war, have I preferred the help of Vasudeva to Indra with the thunderbolt in his hand. That Krishna has come over to my side for the purpose of slaying these wicked men. This I consider has been ordained by the gods.

That man whose victory is merely desired by Krishna, even if the latter does not fight, is sure to triumph over all enemies though they be the gods themselves with Indra. If they are men, there is no anxiety.

That man is desirous of crossing the ocean of vast expanse and unfathomable waters, with his two arms, who is desirous of vanquishing in fight the exceedingly heroic Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, of great prowess.

He, who desires to pierce by the palm of his hand the high white mountain of huge dimensions, has his hand with his nails only wasted away; and absolutely no harm is done to the mountain.

He who aspires to vanquish the son of Vasudeva after encountering him in battle, would rob the gods of nectar by force and with his two hands would put out a blazing fire and stop the Sun and the Moon in their course.

That Krishna, who alone in his chariot having encountered in battle vanquished the army of the king of the Bhojas, married Rukmini of great fame and effulgence; in her was born the high-souled Pradyumna.

This favorite of the gods, who had speedily vanquished the Gandharvas and conquered all the sons of Nagnajita by sheer force, liberated the imprisoned Sudarshana of great power.

He by striking his breast slew the king of Pandya and vanquished the Kalingas in battle; burnt by the city of Varanasi for series of years remained without a lord.

He was challenged by the king of Nishadas, named Ekalavya, who was incapable of being vanquished by others; but he being struck with force by Krishna lay dead smashed on the hillock like Jambha.

Then did he, having Baladeva as his coadjutor, fell down the extremely wicked son of Baladeva who was seated in court amidst the Vrishnis and Andhakas and then bestowed the kingdom on Ugrasena.

He fought with the terrible king Shalva, the lord of Saubha, without being beside himself (through fear) in consequence of his power of producing effect; and near the gate of Saubha caught hold of Shataghni with his hand; what being on this earth can withstand him in fight?

There was fastness of the Asuras, terrible and impenetrable, named Pragjyotisha. There Naraka, son of the Earth of great strength stole the beautiful earrings of Aditi bedecked with gems and kept them.

The very gods with Indra who gathered together fearless of death for fight could not fight with him; and seeing the prowess and strength and the irresistible weapons of Krishna.

And knowing his nature, they employed Krishna far slaying that wicked being. And Vasudeva undertook (endued with all kinds of prosperity), the accomplishment of that difficult task.

Having slain six thousand near the city of Nirmochana and having broken sharp-edged arrows suddenly coming on him, having killed Mura and also having killed crowds of Rakshasas, that hero went into the city of Nirmochana.

There did take place a battle between him (Naraka) possessed of great strength and this Vishnu also endued with great strength. And he lay killed by Krishna like a Karnikara tree uprooted by a gale.

Having killed Naraka, the son of the earth and Mura and taking back that pair of earrings bedecked with gems, the learned one endued with prosperity and fame and of unparalled proves came back.

To him the gods seeing the terrible tasks done in that battle granted boons there, saying-“When you are fighting, you will not have fatigue and there shall be no impediment in your way either in the sky or below the waters.

Nor shall arms stick on your body. Krishna, too, at this considered himself gratificd. Such are ever the virtues of the son of Vasudeva of immeasurable fame and the great strength.

The son of Dhritarashtra aspires to vanquish this Vishnu, who cannot be withstood in fight and who is of endless strength; and that one of wicked soul is ever trying to imprison him. This Krishna however endures even this for our sake.

He, however, who desires to get our Krishna on his side after creating disunion between us will know how far he can take away the affection of Krishna for us, aiter going to the field of battle.

Having paid due respects to the son of Shantanu and also the king Drona with his son and also to the son of Sharadvata and being desirous of getting back the kingdom, shall I oppose them in battle.

That man of wicked intelligence fights with the Pandavas. I shall regard this death as being justly got. Conquered by deceit at the game of dice by those inhuman ones, we ourselves, the sons of a king, for twelve long years.

Had to reside in the forest encountering all sorts of troubles and difficulties and one year in disguise. During the life time of these Pandavas how shall the sons of Dhritarashtra rejoice possessed of a royal status.

If they conquer us engaged in fight being aided by the gods, headed by the great Indra, then will the practice of vice be better than that of virtue and there will surely be no use of behaving honestly.

If the effects of a man's actions redound on him; and if we be superior to him, as I think we are, I hope that with the son of Vasudeva as my coadjutor, I shall kill Duryodhana with all his assistants.

This act, O chief of me, (sending us into exile and themselves possessing our kingdom) cannot but be wicked; and all our good deeds cannot be totally devoid of good fruits. Having considered this as well as that (I think that) the defeat of the son of Dhritarashtra is certain.

You will yourselves be witnesses, O son of Kuru, to (the events) I prophesy; the sons of Dhritarashtra will cease to exist, if they fight. If they do not fight, then they may live; but in a fight with us, none of them will be alive.

Having killed the sons of Dhritarashtra along with Karna, I shall take the whole of the kingdom from the sons of Kúru. (In the mean time) do whatever work you may have and enjoy yourselves and your wives and everything sweet.

Even among ourselves there are Brahmanas, old, well versed in the knowledge of the holy books, of good conduct of noble birth, acquainted with the events of the year and certain of their interpretation of the motion of the planets,

Capable of explaining the mysteries of the gods and of answering questions regarding coming events, understanding the signs of the zodiac, prophesying the great overthrow of the Kurus and the Srinjayas and the triumph of the Pandavas.

Owing to this he who has created no enemies considers his objects attained by reason of the overthrow of his enemies. Janardana, too, the lion among the race of the Vrishnis, who has a knowledge of what is to came in the future, undoubtedly sees all this.

I, too, who have not lost my senses see all these events of the future by my foresight. My power of vision into the future) acquired a long time ago does not pain me. I see clearly that the sons of Dhritarashtra fighting shall cease to exist.

Without any touch, my Gandiva bow yawns. Though my bow remains untouched, yet the string shakes. My arrows, too, coming near the mouth of my arrow holder try to fly away every moment.

The polished sword comes out of the scabbard, as a snake does out of its own worn out skin, and near my banners are heard terrific words like these-'O Kiritin, when will your chariot be yoked?'

At night crowds of jackals make their rejoicing; and from the sky do Rakshasas come down as also the deer and jackals, peacocks and crows and vultures and cranes and wolves.

Also birds, having golden feathers, come down and having seen my chariot with white steeds follow it. I alone unaided can send to the regions of death all the rulers and warriors by showing my arrows.

I shall fling the great weapons, called Sthuna, Karna, Pashupata and Brahma all of which Shakra gave me, in different directions; as fire in the hot season burns up a forest.

Bringing all my powers and by the aid of my work of destruction, shall I fling these weapons and leave no trace of those that come to the field; and then shall I obtain rest. Such a state of rest is excellent. This is my determination. Tell them this, O son of Gavalgani.

Those who are victors in battle even with the entire body of gods headed by Indra, O Suta-the son of Dhritarashtra thinks that in a battle with them, he will be the victor. Look at his folly.

The aged Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, Kripa, Drona with his son and the wise Vidura, what all these say, let that be. May all the sons of Kuru attain to old age.