Critical Edition
अर्जुन उवाच कृतास्त्रमभिविश्वस्तमथ मां हरिवाहनः संस्पृश्य मूर्ध्नि पाणिभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: When I was skilled in weapons and gained his confidence, that one, who is borne by horses, touching my head with his hands, said these words:
न त्वमद्य युधा जेतुं शक्यः सुरगणैरपि किं पुनर्मानुषे लोके मानुषैरकृतात्मभिः अप्रमेयोऽप्रधृष्यश्च युद्धेष्वप्रतिमस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: "Not to speak of men of imperfect minds dwelling on earth, even the gods are not now capable of conquering you.
Supplementary Passages:
3.165.2 After 2, S ins.: *846 अजेयस्त्वं हि संग्रामे सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः
अथाब्रवीत्पुनर्देवः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः अस्त्रयुद्धे समो वीर न ते कश्चिद्भविष्यति
AI Translation: Then the god again spoke, with his body hairs thrilled with joy: "In the battle of weapons, there will be no one equal to you, O hero."
अप्रमत्तः सदा दक्षः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः ब्रह्मण्यश्चास्त्रविच्चासि शूरश्चासि कुरूद्वह
AI Translation: Always attentive, skillful, truthful, self-controlled, Devoted to Brahman, skilled in weapons, heroic, you are the upholder of the Kurus.
अस्त्राणि समवाप्तानि त्वया दश च पञ्च च पञ्चभिर्विधिभिः पार्थ न त्वया विद्यते समः
AI Translation: You have obtained the ten and five weapons. O Partha, there is no one equal to you in the five ways.
प्रयोगमुपसंहारमावृत्तिं च धनंजय प्रायश्चित्तं च वेत्थ त्वं प्रतिघातं च सर्वशः
AI Translation: O Dhananjaya, you know the application, the conclusion, the repetition, the atonement, and the obstruction in every way.
तव गुर्वर्थकालोऽयमुपपन्नः परंतप प्रतिजानीष्व तं कर्तुमतो वेत्स्याम्यहं परम्
AI Translation: This is the right time for you to do what is proper for your guru, O scorcher of enemies. Promise to do it, and then I will know the supreme.
ततोऽहमब्रुवं राजन्देवराजमिदं वचः विषह्यं चेन्मया कर्तुं कृतमेव निबोध तत्
AI Translation: Then I said to the king of the gods, "This is what I said: "If you can bear it, then know that I have done it."
ततो मामब्रवीद्राजन्प्रहस्य बलवृत्रहा नाविषह्यं तवाद्यास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन
AI Translation: Then, O king, the slayer of Bala and Vritra said to me, laughing: "There is nothing in the three worlds that you cannot bear today.
निवातकवचा नाम दानवा मम शत्रवः समुद्रकुक्षिमाश्रित्य दुर्गे प्रतिवसन्त्युत
AI Translation: The demons named Nivātakavacas are my enemies. They dwell in the difficult-to-reach ocean's belly.
तिस्रः कोट्यः समाख्यातास्तुल्यरूपबलप्रभाः तांस्तत्र जहि कौन्तेय गुर्वर्थस्ते भविष्यति
AI Translation: The three crores are described as having equal form, strength, and radiance. O Kounteya, slay them there. It will be for your guru's sake.
ततो मातलिसंयुक्तं मयूरसमरोमभिः हयैरुपेतं प्रादान्मे रथं दिव्यं महाप्रभम्
AI Translation: Then he gave me a divine chariot, of great splendor, equipped with horses and with the feathers of peacocks, yoked to Mātalis.
बबन्ध चैव मे मूर्ध्नि किरीटमिदमुत्तमम् स्वरूपसदृशं चैव प्रादादङ्गविभूषणम्
AI Translation: And he bound on my head this excellent crown, And gave me ornaments for my body, like my own form.
अभेद्यं कवचं चेदं स्पर्शरूपवदुत्तमम् अजरां ज्यामिमां चापि गाण्डीवे समयोजयत्
AI Translation: This armor is impenetrable, and is the best of all forms and touch. He also strung this bowstring, which is ageless, on the Gandīva bow.
ततः प्रायामहं तेन स्यन्दनेन विराजता येनाजयद्देवपतिर्बलिं वैरोचनिं पुरा
AI Translation: Then I went with that shining chariot, by which the lord of the gods formerly conquered Bali, the son of Virochana.
ततो देवाः सर्व एव तेन घोषेण बोधितः मन्वाना देवराजं मां समाजग्मुर्विशां पते दृष्ट्वा च मामपृच्छन्त किं करिष्यसि फल्गुन
M. N. Dutt: And mistaking me for the king of the gods, O lord of the earth, approached me. (But) having beheld me they asked “O Falguni, what will you do?"
तानब्रुवं यथाभूतमिदं कर्तास्मि संयुगे निवातकवचानां तु प्रस्थितं मां वधैषिणम् निबोधत महाभागाः शिवं चाशास्त मेऽनघाः
M. N. Dutt: I related to them exactly what had passed and said "I will do this in battle, O sinless ones, O highly fortunate beings; know I have set out with the desire of slaying the Nivalakavachas and bless me for my success.” (And) being pleased, they paid their adoration to me as to the god, Purandara.
Supplementary Passages:
3.165.17 After 17, S ins.: *847 ततो वाग्भिः प्रशस्ताभिस्त्रिदशाः पृथिवीपते
तुष्टुवुर्मां प्रसन्नास्ते यथा देवं पुरंदरम् रथेनानेन मघवा जितवाञ्शम्बरं युधि नमुचिं बलवृत्रौ च प्रह्लादनरकावपि
M. N. Dutt: (And said): “ascending this car, Maghavana had conquered in battle, Samvara, Namuchi, Vritra, Bala, Prahrada and Naraka.
बहूनि च सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च रथेनानेन दैत्यानां जितवान्मघवान्युधि
M. N. Dutt: And riding on this car also Maghavana had conquered in battle several thousands and millions and hundreds of millions of Daityas.
त्वमप्येतेन कौन्तेय निवातकवचान्रणे विजेता युधि विक्रम्य पुरेव मघवान्वशी
M. N. Dutt: You too, O son of Kunti, mounted on this (car) shall, displaying your prowess, obtain victory over the Nivatakavachas in fight as of yore the self-contained Maghavana did.
अयं च शङ्खप्रवरो येन जेतासि दानवान् अनेन विजिता लोकाः शक्रेणापि महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: Here is that excellent conch by which you will conquer the Danavas. By (the help of) it, the high-souled Sakra conquered the worlds.
प्रदीयमानं देवैस्तु देवदत्तं जलोद्भवम् प्रत्यगृह्णं जयायैनं स्तूयमानस्तदामरैः
M. N. Dutt: And then the gods presented to me this shell, Devadatta, having its origin in the sea. I too accepted it for victory. Then the immortals began to eulogise me.
स शङ्खी कवची बाणी प्रगृहीतशरासनः दानवालयमत्युग्रं प्रयातोऽस्मि युयुत्सया
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of fighting, I then set out for the terrible abode of the Danavas equipped with conch, armour and bow."