The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 6.21: ekaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

6.21.1

saṃjaya uvāca |
bṛhatīṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ dṛṣṭvā senāṃ samudyatām |
viṣādamagamadrājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || 1 ||

Sanjaya said,--"Beholding the vast Dhartarashtra army ready for battle, king Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, gave way to grief. Seeing that impenetrable array formed by Bhishma and regarding it as really impenetrable, the king became pale and addressed Arjuna, saying,--O, mighty-armed Dhananjaya, how shall we be able to fight in battle with the Dhartarashtras who have the Grandsire for their (chief) combatant? Immovable and impenetrable is this array that hath been designed, according to the rules laid down in the scriptures, by that grinder of foes, Bhishma, of transcendent glory. With our troops we have become doubtful (of success), O grinder of foes. How, indeed, will victory be ours in the face of this mighty array?'--Thus addressed, that slayer of foes Arjuna answered Yudhisthira, the son of Pritha, who had been plunged into grief at sight, O king, of thy army, in these words,--Hear, O king, how soldiers that are few in number may vanquish the many that are possessed of every quality. Thou art without malice; I shall, therefore, tell thee means, O king. The Rishi Narada knows it, as also both Bhishma and Drona. Referring to this means, the Grandsire himself in days of old on the occasion of the battle between the Gods and the Asuras said unto Indra and the other celestials.--They that are desirous of victory do not conquer by might and energy so much as by truth, compassion, righteousness and energy. Discriminating then between righteousness, and unrighteousness, and understanding what is meant by covetousness and having recourse to exertion fight without arrogance, for victory is there where righteousness is.--For this know, O king, that to us victory is certain in (this) battle. Indeed, as Narada said,--There is victory where Krishna is.--Victory is inherent to Krishna. Indeed, it followeth Madhava. And as victory is one of its attributes, so humility is his another attribute. Govinda is possessed of energy that is infinite. Even in the midst of immeasurable foes he is without pain. He is the most eternal of male beings. And there victory is where Krishna is. Even he, indestructible and of weapons incapable of being baffled, appearing as Hari in olden days, said in a loud voice unto the Gods and the Asuras,--Who amongst you would be victorious?--Even the conquered who said.--With Krishna in the front we will conquer. --And it was through Hari's grace that the three worlds were obtained by the gods headed by Sakra. I do not, therefore, behold the slightest cause of sorrow in thee, thee that hast the Sovereign of the Universe and the Lord himself of the celestials for wishing victory to thyself."

6.21.2

vyūhaṃ bhīṣmeṇa cābhedyaṃ kalpitaṃ prekṣya pāṇḍavaḥ |
abhedyamiva saṃprekṣya viṣaṇṇo'rjunamabravīt || 2 ||

6.21.3

dhanaṃjaya kathaṃ śakyamasmābhiryoddhumāhave |
dhārtarāṣṭrairmahābāho yeṣāṃ yoddhā pitāmahaḥ || 3 ||

6.21.4

akṣobhyo'yamabhedyaśca bhīṣmeṇāmitrakarśinā |
kalpitaḥ śāstradṛṣṭena vidhinā bhūritejasā || 4 ||

6.21.5

te vayaṃ saṃśayaṃ prāptāḥ sasainyāḥ śatrukarśana |
kathamasmānmahāvyūhādudyānaṃ no bhaviṣyati || 5 ||

6.21.6

athārjuno'bravītpārthaṃ yudhiṣṭhiramamitrahā |
viṣaṇṇamabhisaṃprekṣya tava rājannanīkinīm || 6 ||

6.21.7

prajñayābhyadhikāñśūrānguṇayuktānbahūnapi |
jayantyalpatarā yena tannibodha viśāṃ pate || 7 ||

6.21.8

tattu te kāraṇaṃ rājanpravakṣyāmyanasūyave |
nāradastamṛṣirveda bhīṣmadroṇau ca pāṇḍava || 8 ||

6.21.9

etamevārthamāśritya yuddhe devāsure'bravīt |
pitāmahaḥ kila purā mahendrādīndivaukasaḥ || 9 ||

6.21.10

na tathā balavīryābhyāṃ vijayante jigīṣavaḥ |
yathā satyānṛśaṃsyābhyāṃ dharmeṇaivodyamena ca || 10 ||

6.21.11

tyaktvādharmaṃ ca lobhaṃ ca mohaṃ codyamamāsthitāḥ |
yudhyadhvamanahaṃkārā yato dharmastato jayaḥ || 11 ||

6.21.12

evaṃ rājanvijānīhi dhruvo'smākaṃ raṇe jayaḥ |
yathā me nāradaḥ prāha yataḥ kṛṣṇastato jayaḥ || 12 ||

6.21.13

guṇabhūto jayaḥ kṛṣṇe pṛṣṭhato'nveti mādhavam |
anyathā vijayaścāsya saṃnatiścāparo guṇaḥ || 13 ||

6.21.14

anantatejā govindaḥ śatrupūgeṣu nirvyathaḥ |
puruṣaḥ sanātanatamo yataḥ kṛṣṇastato jayaḥ || 14 ||

6.21.15

purā hyeṣa harirbhūtvā vaikuṇṭho'kuṇṭhasāyakaḥ |
surāsurānavasphūrjannabravītke jayantviti || 15 ||

6.21.16

anu kṛṣṇaṃ jayemeti yairuktaṃ tatra tairjitam |
tatprasādāddhi trailokyaṃ prāptaṃ śakrādibhiḥ suraiḥ || 16 ||

6.21.17

tasya te na vyathāṃ kāṃcidiha paśyāmi bhārata |
yasya te jayamāśāste viśvabhuktridaśeśvaraḥ || 17 ||