Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच तथोक्तो वासुदेवेन नित्यमन्युरमर्षणः सदश्ववत्समाधावद्बभाषे तदनन्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thus spoken by the son of Vasudeva, the one who was ever wrathful and who was accustomed to return insults immediately woke up like a good horse and instantly said reply-
अन्यथा मां चिकीर्षन्तमन्यथा मन्यसेऽच्युत प्रणीतभावमत्यन्तं युधि सत्यपराक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhimasena said You regard me, who desire to act in a certain way, in a different light, O Acchyuta. I am in an exceedingly cheerful state of mind at the prospect of war. I am of true prowess.
वेत्थ दाशार्ह सत्त्वं मे दीर्घकालं सहोषितः उत वा मां न जानासि प्लवन्ह्रद इवाप्लवः तस्मादप्रतिरूपाभिर्वाग्भिर्मां त्वं समर्छसि
M. N. Dutt: You know the truth of this, you of the Dasharha race, owing to your living for a long time with me; or it is possible that you do not know me like one swimming in a lake not knowing its depth.
कथं हि भीमसेनं मां जानन्कश्चन माधव ब्रूयादप्रतिरूपाणि यथा मां वक्तुमर्हसि
AI Translation: How can anyone, knowing me to be Bhimasena, O Madhava, speak to me in such an improper way, as you are about to do.
तस्मादिदं प्रवक्ष्यामि वचनं वृष्णिनन्दन आत्मनः पौरुषं चैव बलं च न समं परैः
AI Translation: Therefore, I shall speak these words to you, descendant of the Vrishni clan. My own manliness and strength are not equal to others.
सर्वथा नार्यकर्मैतत्प्रशंसा स्वयमात्मनः अतिवादापविद्धस्तु वक्ष्यामि बलमात्मनः
AI Translation: In every way, this is the praise of one's own self, which is not the duty of a woman. But, being rejected by excessive praise, I shall speak of my own strength.
पश्येमे रोदसी कृष्ण ययोरासन्निमाः प्रजाः अचले चाप्यनन्ते च प्रतिष्ठे सर्वमातरौ
AI Translation: O Krishna, we see the two worlds, from which these beings have come. O Unwavering and Infinite, the two who are the foundation of all, the two who are the mothers of all.
यदीमे सहसा क्रुद्धे समेयातां शिले इव अहमेते निगृह्णीयां बाहुभ्यां सचराचरे
AI Translation: If these two were to come together suddenly, like two rocks, I would restrain them with my arms, with the moving and the unmoving.
पश्यैतदन्तरं बाह्वोर्महापरिघयोरिव य एतत्प्राप्य मुच्येत न तं पश्यामि पूरुषम्
AI Translation: Look at the space between these two arms, like two great clubs, I do not see any man who, having attained this, would be released.
हिमवांश्च समुद्रश्च वज्री च बलभित्स्वयम् मयाभिपन्नं त्रायेरन्बलमास्थाय न त्रयः
AI Translation: The Himalayas, the ocean, and the thunderbolt-wielding Indra himself, when I am attacked, do not protect me, relying on their strength, even though they are three.
युध्येयं क्षत्रियान्सर्वान्पाण्डवेष्वाततायिनः अधः पादतलेनैतानधिष्ठास्यामि भूतले
AI Translation: I shall fight all the Kshatriyas who are bent on killing the Pandavas. I shall trample them down with the soles of my feet.
न हि त्वं नाभिजानासि मम विक्रममच्युत यथा मया विनिर्जित्य राजानो वशगाः कृताः
AI Translation: You do not know, O unerring one, my prowess, how I have conquered the kings and brought them under my control.
अथ चेन्मां न जानासि सूर्यस्येवोद्यतः प्रभाम् विगाढे युधि संबाधे वेत्स्यसे मां जनार्दन
AI Translation: But if you do not know me, like the rising sun's radiance, You will know me in the midst of the battle, O Janardana.
किं मात्यवाक्षीः परुषैर्व्रणं सूच्या इवानघ यथामति ब्रवीम्येतद्विद्धि मामधिकं ततः
AI Translation: O sinless one, did you not feel the wound inflicted by harsh words, like a needle? I am telling you this according to my understanding. Know me to be superior to that.
द्रष्टासि युधि संबाधे प्रवृत्ते वैशसेऽहनि मया प्रणुन्नान्मातङ्गान्रथिनः सादिनस्तथा
AI Translation: You will see me in the battle, when the great battle begins, when I drive the elephants, the chariots and the cavalry.
तथा नरानभिक्रुद्धं निघ्नन्तं क्षत्रियर्षभान् द्रष्टा मां त्वं च लोकश्च विकर्षन्तं वरान्वरान्
AI Translation: And the angry one killing the bulls among the Kshatriyas, You and the world will see me dragging the best of the best.
न मे सीदन्ति मज्जानो न ममोद्वेपते मनः सर्वलोकादभिक्रुद्धान्न भयं विद्यते मम
AI Translation: My marrow does not ache, my mind is not agitated. I am not afraid of the whole world, even if it is angry.
किं तु सौहृदमेवैतत्कृपया मधुसूदन सर्वांस्तितिक्षे संक्लेशान्मा स्म नो भरता नशन्
M. N. Dutt: I have no fear from all the worlds moved with wrath against me. But I am evincing these good wishes only out of mercy, O destroyer of Madhu. I can bear all sorts of troubles, if the Bharatas are not annihilated.