Udyoga Parva/Mahabharata Book V Chapter 158
Contents
Mahabharata Book V Chapter 158:English
SECTION CLXII
"Sanjaya said, 'Having reached the Pandava camp, the gambler's son (Uluka) presented himself before the Pandavas, and addressing Yudhishthira said, 'Thou art fully conversant with what envoys say! It behoveth thee not, therefore, to be angry with me if I repeat those words only which Duryodhana hath instructed me to tell!'
"Hearing this, Yudhishthira said, 'Thou hast no fear., O Uluka! Tell us, without any anxiety what are the views of the covetous Duryodhana of limited sight!' Then in the midst and presence of the illustrious and high-souled Pandavas, of the Srinjayas, and Krishna possessed of great fame, of Drupada with his sons, of Virata, and of all monarchs, Uluka said these words.'
"Uluka said, 'Even this is what the high-souled king Duryodhana hath in the presence of all the Kuru heroes, said unto thee! Listen to those words, O Yudhishthira! Thou wert defeated at dice, and Krishna was brought into the assembly! At this, a person who regardeth himself a man would be justified in giving way to wrath! For twelve years wert thou banished from home into the woods! For one whole year didst thou live in Virata's service. Remembering the reason there is for wrath, thy exile, and the persecution of Krishna, be a man, O son of Pandu! Though weak, Bhima yet, O Pandava, made a vow! Let him, if able, drink the blood of Dussasana! Thy weapons have been properly worshipped and their presiding deities have been invoked! The field of Kurukshetra also is without mire. The roads are even. Thy steeds are well-fed. Engage in battle, therefore, on the morrow, with Kesava as thy ally! Without having yet approached Bhishma in battle, why dost thou indulge in boasts? Like a fool that boasteth of his intention to ascend the mountains of Gandhamadana, thou, O son of Kunti, art indulging in a vain boast. Without having vanquished in battle the Suta's son (Karna) who is invincible, and Shalya, that foremost of mighty persons, and that first of all warriors and equal unto Sachi's lord himself in combat, why, O son of Pritha, dost thou wish for sovereignty? A preceptor
[p. 314]:in both the Vedas and the bow, he hath reached the end of both these branches of learning. Thou desirest in vain, O son of Pritha, to vanquish that leader of troops, the illustrious Drona, who fightest in the van, is incapable of being agitated, and whose strength knows no diminution. Never have we heard that the mountains of Sumeru have been crushed by the wind! But the wind will bear away Sumeru, heaven itself will fall down on the earth, the very Yugas will be reversed if what thou hast said unto me really taketh place! Who is there fond of life, fighting from the back of an elephant or of a horse or from a car, that would return home (safe and sound), after having encountered that grinder of foes? What creature treading the earth with his feet, would escape with life from battle, having been attacked by Drona and Bhishma, or pierced with their terrible shafts? Like a frog within a well, why dost thou not realise the strength of this assembled host of monarchs, which resembleth the very celestial host, and which is protected by these kings like the gods protecting theirs in heaven, and which, swarming with the kings of the East, West, South, and North, with Kambojas, Sakas, Khasas, Shalwas, Matsyas, Kurus of the middle country, Mlechchhas, Pulindas, Dravidas, Andhras, and Kanchis, indeed, with many nations, all addressed for battle, is uncrossable like the swollen tide of Ganga? O fool of little understanding, how wilt thou fight with me while I am stationed in the midst of my elephant force?'
'Having said these words unto king Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, Uluka, turning his face then towards Jishnu, said unto him these words, 'Fight without bragging, O Arjuna! Why dost thou brag so much? Success resulteth from the application of method. A battle is never won by bragging. If acts in this world, O Dhananjaya, succeeded in consequence only of boasts, then all men would have succeeded in their objects, for who is there that is not competent to brag? I know that thou hast Vasudeva for thy ally. I know that thy Gandiva is full six cubits long. I know that there is no warrior equal to thee. Knowing all this, I retain thy kingdom yet! A man never winneth success in consequence of the attribute of lineage. It is the Supreme Ordainer alone who by his fiat maketh (things hostile) friendly and subservient. For these thirteen years have I enjoyed sovereignty, while ye were weeping! I shall continue to rule in the same way, slaying thee with thy kinsmen! Where was thy Gandiva then when thou wert made a slave won at dice? Where, O Falguni, was Bhimasena's might then? Your deliverance then came neither from Bhimasena armed with mace, nor from you armed with Gandiva, but from faultless Krishna. It was she, the daughter of Prishata's house, that delivered you all, sunk in slavery, engaged in occupations worthy only of the low, and working as servitors! I characterised ye as sesame seeds without kernel. That is very true, for, did not Partha bear a braid while living in Virata's city? In the cooking apartments of Virata, Bhimasena was fatigued with doing the work of a cook. Even this, O son of Kunti, is (evidence of) thy manliness! Flying
[p. 315]: from an encounter with braids and waist-bands thyself binding thy hair into a braid, thou wert employed in teaching the girls to dance! It is thus that Kshatriyas always inflict punishment on a Kshatriya! From fear of Vasudeva, or from fear of thyself, O Falguni, I will not give up the kingdom. Fight, with Kesava as thy ally! Neither deception, nor conjuror's tricks, nor jugglery can terrify an armed man ready for fight. On the other hand, all this provokes only his wrath! A thousand Vasudevas, a hundred Falgunis, approaching me whose aim and weapons never go for nothing, will fly away in all directions, Encounter Bhishma in combat, or pierce the hills with thy head, or cross with the aid of thy two arms the vast and deep main! As regards my army, it is a veritable ocean with Saradwat's son as its large fish; Vivingsati, its smaller fish; Vrihadvala its waves; Somadatta's son its whale; Bhishma its mighty force; Drona its unconquerable alligator; Karna and Salya, its fishes and whirlpools; Kamboja its equine head vomiting fire, Jayadratha its (submarine) rock, Purumitra its depth, Durmarshana its waters, and Sakuni its shores! When having plunged into this swelling ocean with its inexhaustible waves of weapons thou wilt from fatigue be deprived of thy senses, and have all thy relatives and friends slain, then will repentance possess thy heart! Then will thy heart turn away, O Partha, from the thought of ruling the earth like the heart of a person of impure deeds turning away from (hope of) heaven. Indeed, for thee to win a kingdom to rule is as impossible as for one not possessed of ascetic merit to obtain heaven!'"
Mahabharata Book V Chapter 158:Sanskrit
1 [स] सेनानिवेशं संप्राप्य कैतव्यः पाण्डवस्य ह समागतः पाण्डवेयैर युधिष्ठिरम अभाषत 2 अभिज्ञॊ थूतवाक्यानां यदॊक्तं बरुवतॊ मम थुर्यॊधन समाथेशं शरुत्वा न करॊथ्धुम अर्हसि 3 उलूक न भयं ते ऽसति बरूहि तवं विगतज्वरः यन मतं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य लुब्धस्याथीर्घ थर्शिनः 4 ततॊ थयुतिमतां मध्ये पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम सृञ्जयानां च सर्वेषां कृष्णस्य च यशस्विनः 5 थरुपथस्य सपुत्रस्य विराटस्य च संनिधौ भूमिपानां च सर्वेषां मध्ये वाक्यं जगाथ ह 6 इथं तवाम अब्रवीथ राजा धार्तराष्ट्रॊ महामनाः शृण्वतां कुरुवीराणां तन निबॊध नराधिप 7 पराजितॊ ऽसि थयूतेन कृष्णा चानायिता सभाम शक्यॊ ऽमर्षॊ मनुष्येण कर्तुं पुरुषमानिना 8 थवाथशैव तु वर्षाणि वने धिष्ण्याथ विवासिताः संवत्सरं विराटस्य थास्यम आस्दाय चॊषिताः 9 अमर्षं राज्यहरणं वनवासं च पाण्डव थरौपथ्याश च परिक्लेशं संस्मरन पुरुषॊ भव 10 अशक्तेन च यच छप्तं भीमसेनेन पाण्डव थुःशासनस्य रुधिरं पीयतां यथि शक्यते 11 लॊहाभिहारॊ निर्वृत्तः कुरुक्षेत्रम अकर्थमम समः पन्दा भृता यॊधाः शवॊ युध्यस्व सकेशवः 12 असमागम्य भीष्मेण संयुगे किं विकत्दसे आरुरुक्षुर यदा मन्थः पर्वतं गन्धमादनम 13 थरॊणं च युध्यतां शरेष्ठं शचीपतिसमं युधि अजित्वा संयुगे पार्द राज्यं कदम इहेच्छसि 14 बराह्मे धनुषि चाचार्यं वेथयॊर अन्तरं थवयॊः युधि धुर्यम अविक्षॊभ्यम अनीक धरम अच्युतम 15 थरॊणं मॊहाथ युधा पार्द यज जिगीषसि तन मृषा न हि शुश्रुम वातेन मेरुम उन्मदितं गिरिम 16 अनिलॊ वा वहेन मेरुं थयौर वापि निपतेन महीम युगं वा परिवर्तेत यथ्य एवं सयाथ यदात्द माम 17 कॊ हय आभ्यां जीविताकाङ्क्षी पराप्यास्त्रम अरिमर्थनम गजॊ वाजी नरॊ वापि पुनः सवस्ति गृहान वरजेत 18 कदम आभ्याम अभिध्यातः संसृष्टॊ थारुणेन वा रणे जीवन मिमुच्येत पथा भूमिम उपस्पृशन 19 किं थर्थुरः कूपशयॊ यदेमां; न बुध्यसे राजचमूं समेताम थुराधर्षां थेव चमू परकाशां; गुप्तां नरेन्थ्रैस तरिथशैर इव थयाम 20 पराच्यैः परतीच्यैर अद थाक्षिणात्यैर; उदीच्यकाम्बॊजशकैः खशैश च शाल्वैः समत्स्यैः कुरुमध्यदेशैर मलेच्छैः पुलिन्थैर द्रविडान्ध्र काञ्च्यैः 21 नानाजनौघं युधि संप्रवृथ्धं; गाङ्गं यदा वेगम अवारणीयम मां च सदितं नागबलस्य मध्ये; युयुत्ससे मन्थकिम अल्पबुथ्धे 22 इत्य एवम उक्त्वा राजानं धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम अभ्यावृत्य पुनर जिष्णुम उलूकः परत्यभाषत 23 अकत्दमानॊ युध्यस्व कत्दसे ऽरजुन किं बहु पर्यायात सिथ्धिर एतस्य नैतत सिध्यति कत्दनात 24 यथीथं कत्दनात सिध्येत कर्म लॊके धनंजय सर्वे भवेयुः सिथ्धार्दा बहु कत्देत थुर्गतः 25 जानामि ते वासुथेवं सहायं; जानामि ते गाण्डिवं तालमात्रम जानाम्य एतत तवाथृशॊ नास्ति; यॊधा राज्यं च ते जानमानॊ हरामि 26 न तु पर्याय धर्मेण सिथ्धिं पराप्नॊति भूयसीम मनसैव हि भूतानि धाता परकुरुते वशे 27 तरयॊथश समा भुक्तं राज्यं विलपतस तव भूयश चैव परशासिष्ये निहत्य तवां सबान्धवम 28 कव तथा गाण्डिवं ते ऽभूथ यत तवं थासपणे जितः कव तथा भीमसेनस्य बलम आसीच च फल्गुन 29 सगथाथ भीमसेनाच च पार्दाच चैव सगाण्डिवात न वै मॊक्षस तथा वॊ ऽभूथ विना कृष्णाम अनिन्थिताम 30 सा वॊ थास्यं समापन्नान मॊक्षयाम आस भामिनी अमानुष्य समायुक्तान थास्य कर्मण्य अवस्दितान 31 अवॊचं यत षण्ढतिलान अहं वस तद्यम एव तत धृता हि वेणी पार्देन विराटनगरे तथा 32 सूथकर्मणि च शरान्तं विराटस्य महानसे भीमसेनेन कौन्तेय यच च तन मम पौरुषम 33 एवम एव सथा थण्डं कषत्रियाः कषत्रिये थधुः शरेण्यां कक्ष्यां च वेण्यां च संयुगे यः पलायते 34 न भयाथ वासुथेवस्य न चापि तव फल्गुन राज्यं परतिप्रथास्यामि युध्यस्व सह केशवः 35 न माया हीन्थ्र जालं वा कुहका वा विभीषणी आत्तशस्त्रस्य मे युथ्धे वहन्ति परतिगर्जनाः 36 वासुथेव सहस्रं वा फल्गुनानां शतानि वा आसाथ्य माम अमॊघेषुं थरविष्यन्ति थिशॊ थश 37 संयुगं गच्छ भीष्मेण भिन्धि तवं शिरसा गिरिम परतरेमं महागाधं बाहुभ्यां पुरुषॊथधिम 38 शारथ्वत महीमानं विविंशति झषाकुलम बृहथ्बलसमुच्चालं सौमथत्ति तिमिंगिलम 39 थुःशासनौघं शल शल्य मत्स्यं; सुषेण चित्रायुधनागनक्रम जयथ्रदाथ्रिं पुरुमित्र गाधं; थुर्मर्षणॊथं शकुनिप्रपातम 40 शस्त्रौघम अक्षय्यम अतिप्रवृथ्धं; यथावगाह्य शरमनष्टचेताः भविष्यसि तवं हतसर्वबान्धवस; तथा मनस ते परितापम एष्यति 41 तथा मनस ते तरिथिवाथ इवाशुचेर; निवर्ततां पार्द मही परशासनात राज्यं परशास्तुं हि सुथुर्लभं तवया; बुभूषता सवर्ग इवातपस्विना
Mahabharata Book V Chapter 158:Transliteration
1 [s] senāniveśaṃ saṃprāpya kaitavyaḥ pāṇḍavasya ha samāgataḥ pāṇḍaveyair yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata 2 abhijño dūtavākyānāṃ yathoktaṃ bruvato mama duryodhana samādeśaṃ śrutvā na kroddhum arhasi 3 ulūka na bhayaṃ te 'sti brūhi tvaṃ vigatajvaraḥ yan mataṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya lubdhasyādīrgha darśinaḥ 4 tato dyutimatāṃ madhye pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām sṛñjayānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ kṛṣṇasya ca yaśasvinaḥ 5 drupadasya saputrasya virāṭasya ca saṃnidhau bhūmipānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ madhye vākyaṃ jagāda ha 6 idaṃ tvām abravīd rājā dhārtarāṣṭro mahāmanāḥ śṛṇvatāṃ kuruvīrāṇāṃ tan nibodha narādhipa 7 parājito 'si dyūtena kṛṣṇā cānāyitā sabhām śakyo 'marṣo manuṣyeṇa kartuṃ puruṣamāninā 8 dvādaśaiva tu varṣāṇi vane dhiṣṇyād vivāsitāḥ saṃvatsaraṃ virāṭasya dāsyam āsthāya coṣitāḥ 9 amarṣaṃ rājyaharaṇaṃ vanavāsaṃ ca pāṇḍava draupadyāś ca parikleśaṃ saṃsmaran puruṣo bhava 10 aśaktena ca yac chaptaṃ bhīmasenena pāṇḍava duḥśāsanasya rudhiraṃ pīyatāṃ yadi śakyate 11 lohābhihāro nirvṛttaḥ kurukṣetram akardamam samaḥ panthā bhṛtā yodhāḥ śvo yudhyasva sakeśavaḥ 12 asamāgamya bhīṣmeṇa saṃyuge kiṃ vikatthase ārurukṣur yathā mandaḥ parvataṃ gandhamādanam 13 droṇaṃ ca yudhyatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ śacīpatisamaṃ yudhi ajitvā saṃyuge pārtha rājyaṃ katham ihecchasi 14 brāhme dhanuṣi cācāryaṃ vedayor antaraṃ dvayoḥ yudhi dhuryam avikṣobhyam anīka dharam acyutam 15 droṇaṃ mohād yudhā pārtha yaj jigīṣasi tan mṛṣā na hi śuśruma vātena merum unmathitaṃ girim 16 anilo vā vahen meruṃ dyaur vāpi nipaten mahīm yugaṃ vā parivarteta yady evaṃ syād yathāttha mām 17 ko hy ābhyāṃ jīvitākāṅkṣī prāpyāstram arimardanam gajo vājī naro vāpi punaḥ svasti gṛhān vrajet 18 katham ābhyām abhidhyātaḥ saṃsṛṣṭo dāruṇena vā raṇe jīvan mimucyeta padā bhūmim upaspṛśan 19 kiṃ darduraḥ kūpaśayo yathemāṃ; na budhyase rājacamūṃ sametām durādharṣāṃ deva camū prakāśāṃ; guptāṃ narendrais tridaśair iva dyām 20 prācyaiḥ pratīcyair atha dākṣiṇātyair; udīcyakāmbojaśakaiḥ khaśaiś ca śālvaiḥ samatsyaiḥ kurumadhyadeśair; mlecchaiḥ pulindair draviḍāndhra kāñcyaiḥ 21 nānājanaughaṃ yudhi saṃpravṛddhaṃ; gāṅgaṃ yathā vegam avāraṇīyam māṃ ca sthitaṃ nāgabalasya madhye; yuyutsase mandakim alpabuddhe 22 ity evam uktvā rājānaṃ dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram abhyāvṛtya punar jiṣṇum ulūkaḥ pratyabhāṣata 23 akatthamāno yudhyasva katthase 'rjuna kiṃ bahu paryāyāt siddhir etasya naitat sidhyati katthanāt 24 yadīdaṃ katthanāt sidhyet karma loke dhanaṃjaya sarve bhaveyuḥ siddhārthā bahu kattheta durgataḥ 25 jānāmi te vāsudevaṃ sahāyaṃ; jānāmi te gāṇḍivaṃ tālamātram jānāmy etat tvādṛśo nāsti; yodhā rājyaṃ ca te jānamāno harāmi 26 na tu paryāya dharmeṇa siddhiṃ prāpnoti bhūyasīm manasaiva hi bhūtāni dhātā prakurute vaśe 27 trayodaśa samā bhuktaṃ rājyaṃ vilapatas tava bhūyaś caiva praśāsiṣye nihatya tvāṃ sabāndhavam 28 kva tadā gāṇḍivaṃ te 'bhūd yat tvaṃ dāsapaṇe jitaḥ kva tadā bhīmasenasya balam āsīc ca phalguna 29 sagadād bhīmasenāc ca pārthāc caiva sagāṇḍivāt na vai mokṣas tadā vo 'bhūd vinā kṛṣṇām aninditām 30 sā vo dāsyaṃ samāpannān mokṣayām āsa bhāminī amānuṣya samāyuktān dāsya karmaṇy avasthitān 31 avocaṃ yat ṣaṇḍhatilān ahaṃ vas tathyam eva tat dhṛtā hi veṇī pārthena virāṭanagare tadā 32 sūdakarmaṇi ca śrāntaṃ virāṭasya mahānase bhīmasenena kaunteya yac ca tan mama pauruṣam 33 evam eva sadā daṇḍaṃ kṣatriyāḥ kṣatriye dadhuḥ śreṇyāṃ kakṣyāṃ ca veṇyāṃ ca saṃyuge yaḥ palāyate 34 na bhayād vāsudevasya na cāpi tava phalguna rājyaṃ pratipradāsyāmi yudhyasva saha keśavaḥ 35 na māyā hīndra jālaṃ vā kuhakā vā vibhīṣaṇī āttaśastrasya me yuddhe vahanti pratigarjanāḥ 36 vāsudeva sahasraṃ vā phalgunānāṃ śatāni vā āsādya mām amogheṣuṃ draviṣyanti diśo daśa 37 saṃyugaṃ gaccha bhīṣmeṇa bhindhi tvaṃ śirasā girim prataremaṃ mahāgādhaṃ bāhubhyāṃ puruṣodadhim 38 śāradvata mahīmānaṃ viviṃśati jhaṣākulam bṛhadbalasamuccālaṃ saumadatti timiṃgilam 39 duḥśāsanaughaṃ śala śalya matsyaṃ; suṣeṇa citrāyudhanāganakram jayadrathādriṃ purumitra gādhaṃ; durmarṣaṇodaṃ śakuniprapātam 40 śastraugham akṣayyam atipravṛddhaṃ; yadāvagāhya śramanaṣṭacetāḥ bhaviṣyasi tvaṃ hatasarvabāndhavas; tadā manas te paritāpam eṣyati 41 tadā manas te tridivād ivāśucer; nivartatāṃ pārtha mahī praśāsanāt rājyaṃ praśāstuṃ hi sudurlabhaṃ tvayā; bubhūṣatā svarga ivātapasvinā