The Pandava Gita is a post-Mahabharat anthology comprising of inspiring devotional verses that were taken mainly from the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata and the Vishnu Purana.
The Pandava Gita famously contains the popular “Tvameva maataa cha pitaa tvameva” verse among others.
Most verses are about faith and devotion to God (Krishna), yet there is deep philosophy contained in the verses that capture ethics, faith, worship and surrender to the Almighty.
The Pandava Gita is also known as the Prapanna Gita (प्रपन्नगीता). The verses are the voiced teachings of the many famous persons in Hinduism. For example, there are verses from Lord Brahma and Lord Krishna as well as verses from Duryodhana and others. Each verse is a surrender to the Great God.
The construct of the Pandava Gita gives hope to the devoted as well as to those who are distant from worship. It brings everyone to the feet of the Almighty.
1. Homage
प्रह्लादनारदपराशरपुण्डरीक व्यासाम्बरीषशुकशौनकभीष्मदाल्भ्यान्।
रुक्माङ्गदार्जुनावशिष्ठाविभीषणादीन् पुन्यानिमान् परमभागवतान् नमामि ॥
Prahlaad, Naarada, Paraashar, Puṇḍareek
Vyaasa, Ambareeṣha, Shuka, Shounaka, Bheeṣham, Daalbhyaan.
Rukmaangad, Arjuna, Vashiṣhṭha, Visheeṣhaṇaadeen
Puṇyaanimaan paramabhaagvataan namaami
Homage and salutations to the great ones who exemplified the greatness of devotion to God. I bow to Prahlada, Narada, Parashara, Pundareeka, Vyasa, Ambareesha, Shuka, Shaunaka, Bheeshmaka, Rukmangada, Arjuna, Vasishtha, Vibheeshana and the many great ones like them.
2 Lomaharshana:
धर्मो विवर्धति युधिष्ठिरकीर्तनेन पापं प्रणश्यति वृकोदरकीर्तनेन ।
शत्रुर्विनश्यति धनञ्जयकीर्तनेन माद्रीसुतौ कथयतां न भवन्ति रोगाः ॥
Dharmo vivar-dhati yudhiṣhṭhira-keertan-ena
paapam praṇash-yati vrikodara-keertan-ena.
Shatrur-vinash-yati dhananjaya-keertan-ena
maadree-su-tou katha-yataam na bhavanti rogaah.
By glorifying the attributes of Yudhishthira, one’s power is increased. By glorifying the attributes of Arjuna, one can overcome evil. By glorifying the attributes of Bheema all rivals and enemies are foiled and perish. By glorifying the attributes of Nakula and Sahadev one is always protected from disease and sickness.
3 Brahma:
ये मानवा विगतरागपराऽपराज्ञा नारायण सुरगुरुं सततं स्मरन्ति।
ध्यानेन तेन हतकिल्बिषचेतनास्ते मातुः पयोधररसं न पुनः पिबन्ति ॥३ ॥
Ye maanavaa vigata-raaga-paraa’paraag-yaa
naaraayaṇa sura-gurum smaranti.
Dhyaanena tena hata-kil-biṣha-chetana-aaste maatuh
payo-dhara-ra-sam nah punah pibanti.
Those who are free of desires and are free from likes and dislikes; those who attentively remember God, the Guru of Gurus will be freed of sins and their meditation will result in the purification of their conscience and consciousness with no more attachment to childish needs.
4. Indra:
नारायणो नाम नरोनराणां प्रसिद्धचौरः कथितः पृथिव्याम्।
अनेकजन्मार्जितपापसंचयं हरत्यशेषं स्मृतमात्र एव यः ॥ ४ ॥
Naaraayaṇo naam naro-naraaṇaan
prasiddha-chourah kathitah prithivyaam.
Anek-ajanma-arjita-paapasam-chayam
haratya-sheṣham smrita-maatra eva yah.
Let it be told that, among all on earth there is one who is known as Narayan, who is not subject to birth and death and who is the unique remover of our collective sins. But thinking of Him, He can seize and permanently carry away our sins.
5. Yudhishthira
मेघश्यामं पितकौशेयवासं श्रीवत्साङ्कंकौस्तु भोद्भसिताङ्गम्।
पुण्योपेतं पुण्डरीकायताक्षं विष्णुं वन्दे सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥५॥
Megha-shyaa-mam pita-kousheya-vaasam
shree-vat-saaǹka-kou-astu bhobh-da-sitaaǹgam.
Punyo-petam puṇḍaree-kaa-yataa-ksham
viṣhṇum vande sarva-lokaai-kanaatham.
Like the cloud with golden lining, shining through the temple and giving victory to those who worship, He is the unrestrained One known through worship and righteousness. That Almighty One, the Master of the entire world, I give my praises.
6. Bhima
जलौघमग्ना सचराऽचरा धरा विषाणकोट्याऽखिलविश्व मूर्तिना।
समुद्धृता येन वराहरूपिणा स मे स्वयम्भूर्भगवान् प्रसीदतु ॥६॥
Jalou-gham-agnaa sacharaa-charaa dharaa
viṣhaaṇ-koṭyaa-‘khila-vishva-moorti-naa.
Samud-dhritaa yena viraaha-roopiṇaa
sa me svayam-bhoor-bhagvaan prasee-datu.
That Universal God, who, like a bull uplifted the earth from its immersion in waters with the very tip of its horns; that God who uplifts the entire creation without leaving a gap unattended; that God who is in every shape and form and who is the beauty of every shape and form; May that self-existent God be pleased with me.
7 Arjuna
अचिन्त्यमव्यक्तमनन्तमव्ययं विभुं प्रभुं भावितविश्वभावनम् ।
त्रैलोक्यविस्तारविचारकारकं हरिं प्रपन्नोऽस्मि गतिं महात्मनाम् ॥७॥
Achint-yam-av-yaktam-anantam-av-yayam vibhum
prabhum bhaavita-vishva-bhaa-vanam.
Trailoki-vis-taara-vichaara-kaa-rakam harim
prapanno-asmi gatim mahaat-manaam.
He who is beyond comprehension, who is perceptible, and yet infinite, imperishable and omnipresent; He who is the powerful cause that manifested by divine will the expanse and details of all the worlds, to that Hari, the distinguished One, I surrender and seek refuge.
8. Nakula
यदि गमनमधस्तात् कालपाशानुबन्धाद् यदि च कुलविहीने जायते पक्षिकीटे।
कृमिशतमपि गत्वा जायते चान्तरात्मा मम भवतु हृदिस्था केशवे भक्तिरेका ॥८॥
Yadi gamanam-adhastaat kaala-paasha-anuban-dhaad
yadi cha kula-vihee-ne jaayate pakshi-keeṭe.
Krimi-shatampi gatvaa jaayate chaantar-aatmaa
mama bhavatu hridis-thaa keshave bhaktir-ekaa.
If I were to depart to lower existence by death, if I were to be born as an insect of small bird, if I were to be born innumerable times without family or clan, still, through all those lives, may I have unshakeable faith to Lord Krishna
9 Sahadeva
तस्य यज्ञवराहस्य विष्णोरतुलतेजसः।
प्रणामं ये प्रकुर्वन्ति तेषामपि नमो नमः ॥९॥
Tasya yagya-varaah-asya
viṣhṇor-atula-teja-sah.
Praṇaamam ye prakur-vanti
teṣhaam-pi namo namah
I prostrate myself to the mighty Vishnu who is unequalled in brilliance and power. Salutations also to all those who salute the mighty One.
10 Kunti
स्वकर्मफलनिर्दिष्टां यां यां योनिं व्रजाम्यहम्।
तस्यां तस्यां हृषिकेश त्वयि भाक्तिर्दृढाऽस्तु मे ॥१०॥
Sva-karma-phal-nir-diṣh-ṭaam
yaam yaam yonim vrajaam-yaham.
Tasyaam tasyaam hriṣhikesha
tvayi bhaktir-dridhaa’stu me.
O Lord of my Senses, as I roam through life and fade from one life to emerge into another; as I come and go through various lifetimes as specified by the fruits of my actions – may I remain steadfast in my worship to you.