Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 8.72
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8.72.1
युधिष्ठिरेणै…क्तः कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः ।
असिं जग्राह सङ्क्रुद्धो जिघांसुर्भरतर्षभम् ॥ ८.७२.१ ॥
When Yudhiṣṭhira had spoken…, the son of Kuntī, whose horses are white, enraged and desiring to slay the bull of the Bharatas, seized his sword.
8.72.2
तस्य कोपं समाज्ञाय चित्तज्ञः केशवस्तदा ।
उवाच किमिदं खङ्गं गृह्णास्यर्जुन शंम मे ॥ ८.७२.२ ॥
Keśava (Kṛṣṇa), knower of minds, perceiving his anger fully, then said: 'Arjuna, why do you take up this sword? Tell me.'
8.72.3
नेह पश्यामि योद्धव्यं त्वया किञ्चिद्वनञ्जय ।
नेहागता धार्तराष्ट्राः सर्वे भीमेन वारिताः ॥ ८.७२.३ ॥
Arjuna, I see nothing here for you to fight; none of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra have come here, all having been held back by Bhīma.
8.72.4
उपागतोऽसि कौन्तेय राजा द्रष्टव्य इत्यसौ ।
स राजा भवता दृष्टः कुशली च युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ८.७२.४ ॥
Son of Kuntī, you have approached to see the king; that king Yudhiṣṭhira has been seen by you, and he is well.
8.72.5
तं दृष्ट्वा नृपशार्दूलं शार्दूलसमविक्रमम् ।
हर्षकाले च सम्प्राप्ते कस्मात्त्वां मन्युराविशत् ॥ ८.७२.५ ॥
Having seen him, that tiger among kings, whose valor is like a tiger's, why did anger enter you when the time of joy had come?
8.72.6
न तं पश्यामि कौन्तेय यस्ते वध्यो भवेदिह ।
प्रहर्तुमिच्छसे कस्मात्किं वा ते चित्तविभ्रमः ॥ ८.७२.६ ॥
Son of Kuntī, I see no one here who ought to be slain by you; why do you wish to strike? Or is your mind confused?
8.72.7
कस्माद्भवान्महाखङ्गं परिगृह्णात्यकारणात्। ॥ ८.७२.७ ॥
Why, without cause, do you take up this great sword?
8.72.8
तत्त्वां पृच्छामि कौन्तेय किमिदं ते चिकीर्षितम् ।
परामृशसि यत्क्रुद्धः खङ्गमद्भुतविक्रम ॥ ८.७२.८ ॥
Therefore I ask you, son of Kuntī: what is this you intend, that in anger you grasp a sword of wondrous valour?
8.72.9
एवमुक्तः कटाक्षेण प्रेक्षमाणो युधिष्ठिरम् ।
अर्जुनः प्राह गोविन्दं क्रुद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन् ॥ ८.७२.९ ॥
Thus addressed, glancing sidelong at Yudhiṣṭhira, the angry Arjuna, hissing like a serpent, spoke to Govinda.
8.72.10
अन्यस्मै देहि गाण्डीवमिति मां यः प्रचोदयेत् ।
भिन्द्यामहं तस्य शिर इत्युपांशु व्रतं मम।
युधिष्ठिरेण तेनाहमुक्तश्चास्मि जनार्दन ॥ ८.७२.१० ॥
"Give Gāṇḍīva to another": whoever urges me so, I will cleave his head — this is my secret vow. O Janārdana, Yudhiṣṭhira himself has spoken to me thus.
8.72.11
यदुक्तोऽहमदीनार्थं राज्ञाऽनेन यशस्विना ।
समक्षं तव गोविन्द न तत्क्षन्तुमिहोत्सहे ॥ ८.७२.११ ॥
O Govinda, what this famed king has said to me in your presence, with resolute purpose — I cannot endure it here.
8.72.12
तस्मादेनं विधिष्यामि राजानं धर्मचारिणाम् ।
प्रतिज्ञां पालयिष्यामि हत्वैनं नरसत्तमम् ॥ ८.७२.१२ ॥
Therefore I will strike down this king, foremost among those who walk in dharma; having slain this best of men, I will keep my vow.
8.72.13
एतदर्थं मया खह्गो गृहीतो यदुनन्दन ।
सोऽहं युधिष्ठिरं हत्वा सत्यस्यानृण्यतां गतः।
विशोको विज्वरश्चापि भविष्यामि जनार्दन ॥ ८.७२.१३ ॥
For this very purpose have I taken up the sword, O delight of the Yadus. Having slain Yudhiṣṭhira, I shall be freed from the debt owed to truth, and I shall be without grief and without fever, O Janārdana.
8.72.14
किं वा त्वं मन्यसे प्राप्तमस्मिन्कार्य उपस्थिते ।
त्वमस्य जगतस्तात वेत्थ सर्वं गतागतम् ॥ ८.७२.१४ ॥
What, then, do you think is fitting now that this matter has arisen? Dear one, you know all of this world's coming and going.
8.72.15
जातस्त्वत्तो हि धर्मश्चाधर्मश्चेति परा श्रुतिः ।
तत्तथा प्रकरिष्यामि यथा मां वक्ष्यते भवान् ॥ ८.७२.१५ ॥
Dharma and adharma both arise from you, so the supreme revelation declares. Therefore I shall act just as you will tell me.
8.72.16
धिग्धिगित्येव गोविन्दः पार्थमुक्त्वाब्रवीत्पुनः ॥ ८.७२.१६ ॥
"Shame, shame," having said just this, Govinda spoke again to Pārtha.
8.72.17
इदानीं पार्थ जानामि न वृद्धाः सेवितास्त्वया ।
अकाले पुरुषव्याघ्र संरम्भं यद्भवानगात् ॥ ८.७२.१७ ॥
Now I understand, Pārtha, that you have not served the elders. O tiger among men, you have given way to wrath at an unfit time.
8.72.18
न हि धर्मविगज्ञैरेवं कार्यं धनञ्जय ।
यथा त्वं पाण्डवाद्येह धर्मभीरुरण्डितः ॥ ८.७२.१८ ॥
Those who know dharma must not act in this way, O Dhanañjaya, as you do here, though you are foremost among the Pāṇḍavas and fearful of dharma.
8.72.19
योऽकार्याणां क्रियायाश्च संयोगं नावबुध्यते ।
कार्याणामक्रियायाश्च स पार्थ पुरुषाधमः ॥ ८.७२.१९ ॥
He who does not understand the connection between what should not be done and the not-doing of what should be done — he, son of Pṛthā, is the lowest of men.
8.72.20
अनुसृत्य तु ये धर्मं कवयः समुपस्थिताः ।
समासविस्तरविदां न तेषां वेत्सि निश्चयम् ॥ ८.७२.२० ॥
But you do not know the certainty of those wise men who have come, following dharma, who know both the brief and the detailed.
8.72.21
अनिश्चयज्ञो हि नरः कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये ।
एवं स मुह्यत्यवशो यथा त्वं पार्थ मुह्यसि ॥ ८.७२.२१ ॥
A man who does not know certainty is thus bewildered, helpless, in determining what should and should not be done — just as you, son of Pṛthā, are bewildered.
8.72.22
न हि कार्यमकार्यं वा सुखं ज्ञातुं कथञ्चन ।
श्रुतेन ज्ञायते सर्वं तच्च त्वं नावहुध्यसे ॥ ८.७२.२२ ॥
What should or should not be done cannot be easily known in any way; all is known through śruti, and that you do not understand.
8.72.23
अविज्ञानादिह भवान्सत्यं रक्षति धर्मवित् ।
प्राणिनां त्वं वधं पार्थ धार्मिको नावबुध्यसे ॥ ८.७२.२३ ॥
Through ignorance here, you, knower of dharma, protect the truth. But you, son of Pṛthā, though righteous, do not understand the killing of living beings.
8.72.24
प्राणिनां हि वधात्तात वृथा धर्मो मतो मम ।
अनृतं तु भवेद्वाच्यं न तु हिंसा कदाचन ॥ ८.७२.२४ ॥
Dear one, I hold that dharma is in vain through the killing of living beings. Falsehood may be spoken, but violence never.
8.72.25
स कथं भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं राजानं धर्मकोविदम् ।
हन्याद्भवान्नरश्रेष्ठ प्राकृतोऽन्यः पुमानिव ॥ ८.७२.२५ ॥
Best of men, how could you kill your elder brother, the king who knows dharma, as an ordinary man might kill another?
8.72.26
अयुध्यमानस्य गुरोस्तथाऽशत्रोश्च मानद ।
पराङ्मुखस्य द्रवतः शरणं चापि गच्छतः ॥ ८.७२.२६ ॥
O giver of honour, one who is not fighting, a teacher, one who is not an enemy, one who has turned his back and flees, or one going for refuge—these should not be killed.
8.72.27
कृताञ्जलेः प्रपन्नस्य प्रमत्तस्य तथैव च ।
न वधः पूज्यते सद्भिस्तच्च सर्वं गुरौ तव ॥ ८.७२.२७ ॥
To kill one with folded hands, one who has surrendered, or one who is heedless is not praised by the good. And all of this applies to your teacher.
8.72.28
त्वया चैतद्व्रतं पार्थ बालेनेव कृतं पुरा ।
तस्मादधर्मसंयुक्तं मौर्ख्यादेव व्यवस्यसि ॥ ८.७२.२८ ॥
Pārtha, you undertook this vow long ago as if you were a child. Therefore you resolve on this course, joined with adharma, out of sheer folly.
8.72.29
स्वगुरुं पार्थ कस्मात्त्वं हन्तुकामोऽभिधावसि ।
असम्प्रधार्य धर्माणां गतिं सूक्ष्मां दुरत्ययाम् ॥ ८.७२.२९ ॥
Pārtha, why do you rush at your own teacher with the desire to kill him, without having considered the subtle and hard-to-overcome course of the dharmas?
8.72.30
इदं धर्मरहस्यं च तव वक्ष्यामि पाण्डव ।
यद्ब्रूयात्तव भीष्मो वा राजा वापि युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ८.७२.३० ॥
Pāṇḍava, I will tell you this secret of dharma, which Bhīṣma or even King Yudhiṣṭhira would tell you.
8.72.31
विदुरो वा पुनः क्षत्ता गान्धारी वा यशस्विनी ।
कुन्ती वा भरतश्रेष्ठ द्रौपदी वा यशस्विनी।
तत्ते वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वेन निबोधैतद्धनञ्जय ॥ ८.७२.३१ ॥
Whether it be Vidura or the steward, or the glorious Gāndhārī, or Kuntī, best of the Bharatas, or the glorious Draupadī — I shall tell you this truly; understand it, Dhanañjaya.
8.72.32
सत्यस्यं वचनं साधु न सत्याद्विद्यते परम् ।
सुदुर्विदं हि तत्त्वेन तत्सत्यमिति मे सतिः ॥ ८.७२.३२ ॥
The word of truth is good; nothing is higher than truth. Yet it is very hard to know truly — this is my conviction, that it is truth.
8.72.33
भवेत्सत्यमवक्तव्यं वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत् ।
यत्रानृतं भवेत्सत्यं सत्यं चाप्यनृतं भवेत् ॥ ८.७२.३३ ॥
Sometimes truth may be what must not be spoken, and falsehood may be what must be spoken — where falsehood becomes truth, and truth becomes falsehood.
8.72.34
विवाहकाले रतिसम्प्रयोगे ।
प्राणात्यये सर्वत्रनापहारे।
विप्रस्य चार्थे ह्यनृतं वदेत ।
पञ्चानृतान्याहुरपातकानि ॥ ८.७२.३४ ॥
At the time of marriage, in sexual union, at peril of life, not in every case, nor in theft — one may speak falsehood for the sake of a brahmin; these five falsehoods are called sinless.
8.72.35
सर्वस्वस्यापहारे तु वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत् ।
तत्रानृतं भवेत्सत्यं सत्यं चाप्यनृतं भवेत् ॥ ८.७२.३५ ॥
But at the seizure of all one's wealth, falsehood may be what must be spoken; there falsehood becomes truth, and truth becomes falsehood.
8.72.36
तादृशो हन्यते बालो यस्य सत्यमनिश्चितम् ।
सत्यानृते विनिश्चित्य ततो भवति धर्मवित् ॥ ८.७२.३६ ॥
Such a fool is destroyed whose truth is uncertain; only having ascertained truth and falsehood does one become a knower of dharma.
8.72.37
किमाश्चर्यं कृतप्रज्ञः पुरुषोऽपि सुदारुणः ।
सुमहत्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यं बलाकोऽन्धवधादिव ॥ ८.७२.३७ ॥
What is there to wonder at, if a man of developed wisdom, even though very cruel, should obtain great merit, like the crane from killing the blind man?
8.72.38
किमाश्चर्यं पुनर्मूढो धर्मकामो ह्यपण्डितः ।
सुमहत्प्राप्नुयात्पापमापगास्विव कौशिकः ॥ ८.७२.३८ ॥
What is there to wonder at, if a fool, unlearned though desiring dharma, should obtain great sin, like the owl in the rivers?
8.72.39
आचक्ष्व भगवन्नेतद्यथा विन्दाम्यहं तथा ।
वलाकस्यानुसम्बद्धं नदीनां कौशिकस्य च ॥ ८.७२.३९ ॥
Revered one, tell me this, that I may understand — the story of the crane, and what is connected with the rivers and the owl.
8.72.40
मृगव्याधोऽभवत्कश्चिद्बलाको नाम भारत ।
यात्रार्थं पुत्रदाराणां मृगान्हन्ति न कामतः ॥ ८.७२.४० ॥
O Bhārata, there was a certain deer-hunter named Balāka. For the sake of sustaining his sons and wife he killed deer, not out of desire.
8.72.41
वृद्धौ च मातापितरौ बिभर्त्यन्यांश्च संश्रितान् ।
स्वधर्मनिरतो नित्यं संविभज्यानसूयकः ॥ ८.७२.४१ ॥
He supported his aged mother and father and others who depended on him. Always devoted to his own duty, sharing, he was without envy.
8.72.42
स कदाचिन्मृगप्रेप्सुर्नान्वविन्दन्मृगं क्वचित् ।
अथापश्यत्स पीवानं श्वापदं घ्राणचक्षुषम् ॥ ८.७२.४२ ॥
Once, seeking a deer, he found no deer anywhere. Then he saw a plump beast of prey whose eyes were in its nose.
8.72.43
अदृष्टपूर्वमपि तत्सत्वं तेन हतं तदा ।
अन्धे हते ततो व्योम्नः पुष्पवर्षं पपात च ॥ ८.७२.४३ ॥
That creature, never seen before, was then killed by him. When the blind one was slain, a shower of flowers fell from the sky.
8.72.44
अप्सरोगीतवादित्रैर्नादितं च मनोरमम् ।
विमानमगमत्स्वर्गान्मृगव्याधनिनीषया ॥ ८.७२.४४ ॥
The lovely celestial chariot, resounding with the songs and instruments of the apsarases, went to heaven, wishing to take the hunter there.
8.72.45
तद्भूतं सर्वभूतानामभावाय किलार्जुन ।
तपस्तप्त्वा वरं प्राप्तं कृतमन्धं स्वयम्भुवा ॥ ८.७२.४५ ॥
That creature, O Arjuna, was meant for the destruction of all beings. Having performed austerities and obtained a boon, it was made blind by Svayambhū himself.
8.72.46
तद्धत्वा सर्वभूतानामभावकृतनिश्चयम् ।
बलाकोऽगात्स्वर्गलोकमेवं धर्मः सुदुर्विदः ॥ ८.७२.४६ ॥
Having killed that crane, resolved on the destruction of all beings, he went to the heaven-world. Thus dharma is very hard to know.
8.72.47
कौशिकोऽप्यभवद्विप्रस्तपस्वीनो बहुश्रुतः ।
नदीनां सङ्गमे ग्रामाददूरे स किलावसत् ॥ ८.७२.४७ ॥
Kauśika too became a brahmin, an ascetic and very learned. He dwelt at the confluence of rivers, not far from the village.
8.72.48
सत्यं मया सदा वाच्यमिति तस्याभवद्द्वतम् ।
सत्यवादीति विख्यातः स तदासीद्धनञ्जय ॥ ८.७२.४८ ॥
His resolve was: 'I must always speak the truth.' O Dhanañjaya, he then became renowned as 'the truth-speaker.'
8.72.49
अथ दस्युभयात्केचित्तदा तद्वनमाविशन् ।
तत्रापि दस्यवः क्रुद्धास्तानमार्गन्त यत्नतः ॥ ८.७२.४९ ॥
Then, fearing robbers, some people entered that forest. There too the enraged robbers searched carefully for them.
8.72.50
अथ कौशिकमभ्येत्य प्रोचुस्ते सत्यवादिनम् ।
कतरेण पथा याता भगवन्निति वै जनाः।
सत्येन पृष्टः प्रब्रूहि यदि तद्वेत्थ शंस नः ॥ ८.७२.५० ॥
Then they approached Kauśika, the truth-speaker, and said: 'Revered sir, by which path have the people gone? We ask in the name of truth; if you know, tell us.'
8.72.51
सत्यस्य त्वविभागज्ञः सत्यं तेभ्यः शशंस ह ।
बहुवृक्षलतागुल्ममेतद्गहनमाश्रिताः।
इति तान्ख्यापयामास तेभ्यस्तत्त्वं स कौशिकः ॥ ८.७२.५१ ॥
But Kauśika, who did not know the fine distinction of truth, told them the truth: 'They have taken refuge in this dense forest, full of many trees, creepers and thickets.' Thus he made the fact known to them.
8.72.52
ततस्ते तान्समासाद्य क्रूरा जघ्नुरिति श्रुतिः ।
ततोऽधर्मेण महता वाग्दुरुक्तेन कौशिकः ॥ ८.७२.५२ ॥
Then, as tradition relates, the cruel robbers reached them and killed them. Then Kauśika, through great unrighteousness and harsh speech,
8.72.53
गतः सुकष्टं निरयं धर्मसूक्ष्मेष्वतत्त्ववित् ।
दृष्टपूर्वश्रुतो मूढो धर्माणामविशारदः ॥ ८.७२.५३ ॥
Kauśika, ignorant of the truth in the subtle points of dharma, deluded and unskilled in dharma, went to a dreadful hell, though he had seen and heard these things before.
8.72.54
वृद्धानपृच्छन्सन्देहानन्धः श्वभ्रमिवर्च्छति ॥ ८.७२.५४ ॥
One who does not ask the elders about his doubts falls like a blind man into a pit.
8.72.55
तत्र ते लक्षणोद्देशः कश्चिदेव भविष्यति ।
दुष्करं प्रतिसंख्यानं कार्त्स्न्येनात्र व्यवस्थितिः ॥ ८.७२.५५ ॥
There, for you, some indication of the marks of dharma will surely be found; to examine it fully is difficult, and no complete settlement is fixed in this matter.
8.72.56
सत्यं धर्म इति ह्येके वदन्ति बहवो जनाः ।
न च पार्थाभ्यसूयामि नैतत्सर्वत्र शिष्यते ॥ ८.७२.५६ ॥
Some, indeed, and many people say that truth is dharma. I do not find fault with Pārtha, but this does not hold good everywhere.
8.72.57
श्रुतिस्तु धार्या इत्येके वदन्ति बहवो जनाः ।
न त्वेतत्प्रत्यसूयामि तत्र सर्वं विधीयते ॥ ८.७२.५७ ॥
Many people say that scripture (śruti) must be upheld. But I do not object to this; there, everything is prescribed.
8.72.58
यत्स्यादहिंसासंयुक्तं स धर्म इति निश्चयः ।
अहिंसार्थाय हिंस्राणां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम्।
धारणाद्धर्ममित्याहुर्धर्मो धारयते प्रजाः ॥ ८.७२.५८ ॥
That which is united with non-violence is dharma; this is the certain conclusion. The teaching of dharma was given to the violent for the sake of non-violence. They call it dharma because it upholds; dharma upholds the people.
8.72.59
प्रभवार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् ।
यस्मात्प्रभवसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥ ८.७२.५९ ॥
The teaching of dharma was given for the flourishing of beings; that which is united with flourishing is dharma, this is the certain conclusion.
8.72.60
येऽन्यायेन जिगीषन्तो धर्मं पृच्छन्ति मानवाः ।
अकूजनेन चेन्मोक्षो नात्र कूजेत्कथञ्चन ॥ ८.७२.६० ॥
Men who, desiring to conquer by unjust means, ask about dharma: if release comes through silence, then here one should not make a sound in any way.
8.72.61
अवश्यं कूजितव्ये ह शङ्केरन्वाप्यकूजनात् ।
येऽन्यायेन जिहीर्षन्तो धर्मं पृच्छन्ति कस्यचित्।
श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं सत्यादिति विनिश्चित्म् ॥ ८.७२.६१ ॥
If one must speak, silence may cause suspicion. When those who wish to win by injustice ask someone about dharma, it has been determined that speaking falsehood is better than truth there.
8.72.62
प्राणात्यये विवाहे वा सर्वजात्या महाभये ।
सर्वस्वस्य च लोपे वा वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत् ॥ ८.७२.६२ ॥
At the peril of life, in marriage, in every kind of great danger, or in the loss of all one's wealth, falsehood may have to be spoken.
8.72.63
अधर्मं हि न पश्यन्ति मृषोद्यं तत्र पण्डिताः ।
सर्वथाऽभिवदेत्तत्तु नानृतं स्याद्विचक्षणः ॥ ८.७२.६३ ॥
There the wise do not see falsehood spoken as unrighteousness. The discerning one should speak it fully; it will not be a lie.
8.72.64
यः स्तेनैः सह सम्बन्धो मुच्यते शपथादपि ।
भवेत्तत्रानृतं श्रेयः सत्यादिति विचारितम् ॥ ८.७२.६४ ॥
In a bond with thieves from which one is released even by an oath, falsehood is considered better than truth there.
8.72.65
न च तेभ्यो धनं देयं सत्यादिति कथञ्चन ।
पापेभ्योऽपि धनं दत्तं दातारमपि पीडयेत्।
तस्माद्धर्मार्थमनृतमुक्त्वा नानृतवाग्भवेत् ॥ ८.७२.६५ ॥
Wealth should not be given to them under any circumstances, even in the name of truth. Wealth given to the wicked torments even the giver. Therefore one who speaks falsehood for the sake of dharma does not become a speaker of falsehood.
8.72.66
एष ते लक्षणोद्देशो मयोद्दिष्टो यथाविधि ।
एतज्ज्ञात्वा ब्रूहि पार्थ यदि वध्यो युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ८.७२.६६ ॥
This indication of the marks I have declared to you according to rule. Knowing this, speak, Pārtha, whether Yudhiṣṭhira is to be slain.
8.72.67
यथा ब्रूयान्महाप्राज्ञो यथा ब्रूयान्महायशाः ॥ ८.७२.६७ ॥
As the very wise and very glorious one would speak.
8.72.68
सुहृद्ब्रूयाद्यथाऽस्माकं तथोक्तं वचनं त्वया ।
भवान्मातृसमोऽस्माकं भवान्पितृसमोऽपि च।
गतिश्च परमा कृष्ण त्वमेव च परायणम् ॥ ८.७२.६८ ॥
As a friend would speak to us, so you have spoken. You are like a mother to us, and like a father too. Kṛṣṇa, you alone are our supreme refuge and final resort.
8.72.69
न हि ते त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यतेऽविदितं क्वचित् ।
तस्माद्भवान्परं धर्मं वेद सर्वं यथातथम् ॥ ८.७२.६९ ॥
Nothing is ever unknown to you in the three worlds. Therefore you know the supreme dharma, all of it, exactly as it is.
8.72.70
अवध्यं पाण्डवं मन्ये धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् ।
अधर्मयुक्ते संयोगे ब्रूहि किञ्चिदनुग्रहम् ॥ ८.७२.७० ॥
I consider Yudhiṣṭhira, the Pāṇḍava king of dharma, not to be slain. In this encounter, which is joined in adharma, tell me some favour.
8.72.71
इदं चापरमत्रैव ब्रूहि तत्त्वं विवक्षितम् ॥ ८.७२.७१ ॥
Here, tell also one more thing: the truth you intend to speak.
8.72.72
जानासि दाशार्ह मम व्रतं तु ।
यो मां ब्रूयात्कश्चन मानुषेषु।
अन्यस्मै त्वं गाण्डिवं देहि पार्थ ।
यो मत्तोऽस्त्रे वीर्यतो वा विशिष्टः ॥ ८.७२.७२ ॥
O Dāśārha, you know my vow. Whoever among men says to me, 'Pārtha, give the Gāṇḍīva to another,' who is superior to me in weapons or in prowess.
8.72.73
हन्यामहं केशव तं प्रसह्य ।
भीमो हन्यात्तूवरकेति चोक्तः।
वन्मां राजा ह्युक्तवांस्ते समक्षं ।
धनुर्देहीत्यसकृद्वृष्णिवीरे ॥ ८.७२.७३ ॥
Keśava, I will slay him by force. Bhīma called him 'Tūvaraka'. The king, in your presence, said to me again and again, 'Give the bow,' O hero of the Vṛṣṇis.
8.72.74
तं हन्यां चेत्केशव जीवलोके ।
स्थाता नाहं कालमप्यल्पमात्रम्।
ध्यात्वा नूनं ह्येनसा चापि मुक्तो ।
वधं राज्ञो भ्रष्टवीर्यो विचेताः ॥ ८.७२.७४ ॥
Keśava, if I slay him in this world, I shall not remain alive even for a short time. Thinking that by slaying the king I shall surely be freed from sin, my valour lost and my mind bewildered…
8.72.75
यथा प्रतिज्ञा मम लोकबुद्धौ ।
भवेत्सत्या धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठ।
यथा जीवत्पाण्डवोऽहं च कृष्ण ।
तथा बुद्धिं दातुमप्यर्हसि त्वम् ॥ ८.७२.७५ ॥
O best of those who bear dharma, so that my vow may be proven true in the minds of people, and, O Kṛṣṇa, so that I may live as a Pāṇḍava — you are worthy to grant me such understanding.
8.72.76
राजा श्रान्तो विक्षतो दुःखितश्च ।
कर्णेन सह्ख्ये निशितैर्बाणसङ्घैः।
यश्चानिशं सूतपुत्रेण वीर ।
शरैर्भृशं ताडितो युध्यमानः ॥ ८.७२.७६ ॥
The king, exhausted, wounded and grieved, who in battle with Karṇa, the charioteer's son, was struck severely and without cease by volleys of sharp arrows, O hero, while fighting on.
8.72.77
अतस्त्वमेतेन सरोषमुक्तो ।
दुःखान्वितेनेदमयुक्तरूपम्।
अकोपितो ह्येष यदि स्म सङ्ख्ये ।
कर्णं न हन्यादिति चाब्रवीत्सः ॥ ८.७२.७७ ॥
Therefore hear these unfitting words spoken in anger by this man, who is filled with grief. He said that if he were not angry, he would not have slain Karṇa in battle.
8.72.78
जानाति तं पाण्डव एष चापि ।
पापं लोके कर्णमसह्यमन्यैः।
ततस्त्वमुक्तो भृशरोषितेन ।
राज्ञा समक्षं परुषाणि पार्थ ॥ ८.७२.७८ ॥
The Pāṇḍava knows this too: in the world Karṇa is regarded as a sinner intolerable to others. Then the king, greatly enraged, spoke harsh words to you in everyone's presence, O son of Pṛthā.
8.72.79
नित्योद्युक्ते सततं चाप्रसह्ये ।
कर्णे द्यूतं ह्यद्य रणे निबद्धम्।
तस्मिन्हते कुरवो निर्जिताः स्यु… ।
रेवं बुद्धिः पार्थिवे धर्मपुत्रे ॥ ८.७२.७९ ॥
Karṇa is always ready and constantly unassailable; today in battle the wager has been staked on him. If he is slain, the Kurus will be defeated. Such is the intention of the king, of Dharmaputra.
8.72.80
ततो बधं नार्हति धर्मपुत्र… ।
स्त्वया प्रतिज्ञाऽर्जुन पालनीया।
जीवन्नयं येन मृतो भवेद्धि ।
तन्मे निबोधेह तवानुरूपम् ॥ ८.७२.८० ॥
Therefore the slaying of Dharmaputra is not fitting; O Arjuna, your vow must be kept. Hear from me here what is fitting for you, by which he would be dead even while living.
8.72.81
यदा मानं लभते माननार्ह… ।
स्तदा स वै जीवति जीवलोके।
यदाऽवमानं लभते महान्तं ।
तदा जीवन्मृत इत्युच्यते सः ॥ ८.७२.८१ ॥
When a man worthy of honour obtains honour, then indeed he lives in the world of the living; but when he receives great dishonour, then, though living, he is called dead.
8.72.82
सम्मानितः पार्थिवोऽयं सदैव ।
त्वया च भीमेन तथा यमाभ्याम्।
वृद्धैश्च लोके पुरुषैश्च शूरै… ।
स्तस्यापमानं कलया प्रयुङ्क्ष्व ॥ ८.७२.८२ ॥
This king has always been honoured by you, by Bhīma, and likewise by the two Yamas; and in the world he has been honoured by the elders, by men and by heroes. Therefore bring about for him a small measure of dishonour.
8.72.83
त्वमित्यत्रभवन्तं हि ब्रूहि पार्थ युधिष्ठिरम् ।
त्वमित्युक्तो हि निहतो गुरुर्भवति भारत ॥ ८.७२.८३ ॥
O Pārtha, speak to the revered Yudhiṣṭhira as 'you' (tvam); for, O Bhārata, a teacher is considered slain once he is addressed as 'you'.
8.72.84
एवमाचर कौन्तेय धर्मराजे युधिष्ठिरे ।
अधर्मयुक्तं संयोगं कुरुष्वैनं कुरूद्वह ॥ ८.७२.८४ ॥
O son of Kuntī, behave in this way toward King Yudhiṣṭhira of dharma; O best of the Kurus, deal with him in a manner joined with unrighteousness.
8.72.85
अथर्वाङ्गिरसी ह्येषा श्रुतीनामुत्तमा श्रुतिः ।
अविचार्यैव कार्यैषा श्रेयस्कामैर्नरैः सदा ॥ ८.७२.८५ ॥
This Atharva-Āṅgirasa is the highest of the Vedic revelations; men who desire welfare should always act upon it without deliberation.
8.72.86
अवधेन वधः प्रोक्तो यद्गुरुस्त्वमिति प्रभुः ।
तद्ब्रूहि त्वं यन्मयोक्तं धर्मराजस्य धर्मवित् ॥ ८.७२.८६ ॥
O lord, since to address a teacher as 'you' is declared a killing by non-killing, speak to the king of dharma what I have said, O knower of dharma.
8.72.87
यदा ह्यं पाण्डव धर्मराज… ।
सत्वत्तोऽयुक्तं लप्स्यते चैव साधु।
ततोऽस्य पादावभिवाद्य पश्चा… ।
च्छ्रेयो ब्रूयात्सान्त्वयुक्तं हितं च ॥ ८.७२.८७ ॥
O son of Pāṇḍu, when this king of dharma… shall obtain from you what is unfitting and also good; then, having bowed at his feet, afterward… he should speak words that are welfare-giving, conciliatory and beneficial.
8.72.88
भ्राता प्राज्ञस्तव कोपं न जातु ।
कुर्याद्राजा धर्ममार्गानुसारी।
मुक्तोऽनृताद्वातृवधाच्च पापा… ।
द्धृष्टः कर्णं त्वं जहि पार्थ पश्चात् ॥ ८.७२.८८ ॥
Let your wise brother never indulge in anger. Let the king who follows the path of dharma be freed from falsehood, from the killing of a brother, and from sin. Bold one, son of Pṛthā, slay Karṇa without fear; afterwards…