Critical Edition
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
AI Translation: Having bowed to Narayana, and to Nara, the best of men, and to the goddess Sarasvati, one should then proclaim victory.
Supplementary Passages:
The introductory mantra: *1 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् Before the introductory mantra, Ś1 ins.: ... *2 ओं नमः सकलकल्याणदायिने चक्रपाणये विषयार्णवमग्नानां समुद्धरणसेतवे
संजय उवाच ततस्ते सहिता वीराः प्रयाता दक्षिणामुखाः उपास्तमयवेलायां शिबिराभ्याशमागताः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said “Those heroes then in a body went towards the south. At sunset they reached a spot near the (Kuru) encampment.
Supplementary Passages:
10.1.1 After 1c, Ca (wrongly) ins.: *3 सर्वे सुमनसस्तदा समीपे पाण्डवावेत्य वासुदेवोऽब्रवीदिदम्
विमुच्य वाहांस्त्वरिता भीताः समभवंस्तदा गहनं देशमासाद्य प्रच्छन्ना न्यविशन्त ते
M. N. Dutt: Letting loose their animals, they became very much frightened. Reaching then a forest, they secretly entered it.
सेनानिवेशमभितो नातिदूरमवस्थिताः निकृत्ता निशितैः शस्त्रैः समन्तात्क्षतविक्षताः
M. N. Dutt: They took up their quarters there near the encampment. Wounded with many keen weapons, they breathed and sighted heavily, thinking of the Pandavas.
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य पाण्डवानन्वचिन्तयन् श्रुत्वा च निनदं घोरं पाण्डवानां जयैषिणाम्
AI Translation: Sighing long and hot, he thought of the Pandavas, And hearing the terrible roar of the Pandavas, eager for victory,
अनुसारभयाद्भीताः प्राङ्मुखाः प्राद्रवन्पुनः ते मुहूर्तं ततो गत्वा श्रान्तवाहाः पिपासिताः
AI Translation: Frightened by the fear of the agreement, they again fled facing east. Having gone for a moment, the tired and thirsty travelers,
नामृष्यन्त महेष्वासाः क्रोधामर्षवशं गताः राज्ञो वधेन संतप्ता मुहूर्तं समवस्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: Having gone for sometime, their animals became tired and they themselves stricken with thirst. Beside themselves with anger and vindictiveness, those great bowmen could not bear what had taken place, burning as they did with grief at the slaughter of the king. They, however, rested for a while.”
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच अश्रद्धेयमिदं कर्म कृतं भीमेन संजय यत्स नागायुतप्राणः पुत्रो मम निपातितः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said "The feat, O Sanjaya, that Bhima performed seems to be incredible, since my son who was struck down as endued with the strength of ten thousand elephants.
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां वज्रसंहननो युवा पाण्डवैः समरे पुत्रो निहतो मम संजय
AI Translation: He was invincible to all beings, as hard as a thunderbolt, and young. In battle, my son was killed by the Pandavas, Sanjaya.
न दिष्टमभ्यतिक्रान्तुं शक्यं गावल्गणे नरैः यत्समेत्य रणे पार्थैः पुत्रो मम निपातितः
AI Translation: O son of Gāvalgaṇa, it is not possible for men to transgress destiny. My son was killed in battle by the Pāṇḍavas when they came together.
अद्रिसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मम संजय हतं पुत्रशतं श्रुत्वा यन्न दीर्णं सहस्रधा
AI Translation: O Sanjaya, my heart is certainly made of rock, for, on hearing of the death of a hundred sons, it is not shattered into a thousand pieces.
कथं हि वृद्धमिथुनं हतपुत्रं भविष्यति न ह्यहं पाण्डवेयस्य विषये वस्तुमुत्सहे
AI Translation: How can an old couple be without a son? I do not wish to live in the land of the Pandavas.
कथं राज्ञः पिता भूत्वा स्वयं राजा च संजय प्रेष्यभूतः प्रवर्तेयं पाण्डवेयस्य शासनात्
M. N. Dutt: Having been the father of a king and a king myself, O Sanjaya, how shall I pass my days as a slave obeying he commands of Pandu's son.
आज्ञाप्य पृथिवीं सर्वां स्थित्वा मूर्ध्नि च संजय कथमद्य भविष्यामि प्रेष्यभूतो दुरन्तकृत्
M. N. Dutt: Having commanded once the entire Earth and having trampled over the heads of all, O Sanjaya, how shall I live now as a wretched slave.
कथं भीमस्य वाक्यानि श्रोतुं शक्ष्यामि संजय येन पुत्रशतं पूर्णमेकेन निहतं मम
M. N. Dutt: How shall I be able, O Sanjaya, to endure the words of Bhima who has alone killed a full hundred sons of mine?
कृतं सत्यं वचस्तस्य विदुरस्य महात्मनः अकुर्वता वचस्तेन मम पुत्रेण संजय
M. N. Dutt: The words of the great Vidura are now realised. Alas, my son, O Sanjaya, did not listen to those words.
अधर्मेण हते तात पुत्रे दुर्योधने मम कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिः किमकुर्वत संजय
M. N. Dutt: What, however, did Kritavarman and Kripa and Drona's son do after my son Duryodhana had been unfairly killed.”
संजय उवाच गत्वा तु तावका राजन्नातिदूरमवस्थिताः अपश्यन्त वनं घोरं नानाद्रुमलताकुलम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said "They had not proceeded far, O king, when they stopped, On seeing a dense forest covered with trees and creepers.
ते मुहूर्तं तु विश्रम्य लब्धतोयैर्हयोत्तमैः सूर्यास्तमयवेलायामासेदुः सुमहद्वनम्
M. N. Dutt: Having rested for a little while, they entered that great forest, proceeding on their cars drawn by their excellent horses whose thirst had been satisfied.
नानामृगगणैर्जुष्टं नानापक्षिसमाकुलम् नानाद्रुमलताच्छन्नं नानाव्यालनिषेवितम्
M. N. Dutt: That forest abounded with various kings of species of birds. And it was covered with many trees and creepers and was filled with numerous carnivorous creatures.
नानातोयसमाकीर्णं तडागैरुपशोभितम् पद्मिनीशतसंछन्नं नीलोत्पलसमायुतम्
M. N. Dutt: It was covered with many pools of water, adorned with various kinds of flowers, and lakes overgrown with blue lotuses.
प्रविश्य तद्वनं घोरं वीक्षमाणाः समन्ततः शाखासहस्रसंछन्नं न्यग्रोधं ददृशुस्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Having entered that dense forest they looked about saw a gigantic banian tree with thousands of branches.
उपेत्य तु तदा राजन्न्यग्रोधं ते महारथाः ददृशुर्द्विपदां श्रेष्ठाः श्रेष्ठं तं वै वनस्पतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Repairing to the shade of that banian, those great car-warriors, O king, those foremost of men, founded that to be the biggest tree in those forest.
तेऽवतीर्य रथेभ्यस्तु विप्रमुच्य च वाजिनः उपस्पृश्य यथान्यायं संध्यामन्वासत प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Getting down from their cars, and letting loose their animals, they washed themselves and said their evening prayers.
ततोऽस्तं पर्वतश्रेष्ठमनुप्राप्ते दिवाकरे सर्वस्य जगतो धात्री शर्वरी समपद्यत
AI Translation: Then, when the sun had reached the best of mountains, the setting place, The night, the mother of the whole world, arrived.
ग्रहनक्षत्रताराभिः प्रकीर्णाभिरलंकृतम् नभोंऽशुकमिवाभाति प्रेक्षणीयं समन्ततः
AI Translation: Adorned with the scattered planets, constellations, and stars, The sky appears like a garment, Beautiful in every direction.
ईषच्चापि प्रवल्गन्ति ये सत्त्वा रात्रिचारिणः दिवाचराश्च ये सत्त्वास्ते निद्रावशमागताः
M. N. Dutt: Creators, ranging in the night, began to howl and utter their cries at will, while they that range in the day began to sleep.
रात्रिंचराणां सत्त्वानां निनादोऽभूत्सुदारुणः क्रव्यादाश्च प्रमुदिता घोरा प्राप्ता च शर्वरी
M. N. Dutt: The night-ranging animals set up a dreadful noise. The carnivorous creatures were full of joy, and the night, as it advanced, became awful.
तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे दुःखशोकसमन्विताः कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिरुपोपविविशुः समम्
M. N. Dutt: At that time filled with grief and sorrow, Kritavarman and Kripa and Drona's son all sat down together.
तत्रोपविष्टाः शोचन्तो न्यग्रोधस्य समन्ततः तमेवार्थमतिक्रान्तं कुरुपाण्डवयोः क्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: Seated under that banian, they began to express their sorrow regarding the destruction that had taken place of both the Kurus and the Pandavas.
निद्रया च परीताङ्गा निषेदुर्धरणीतले श्रमेण सुदृढं युक्ता विक्षता विविधैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Feeling asleep they laid themselves down on the bare Earth. They had been greatly wounded with arrows.
ततो निद्रावशं प्राप्तौ कृपभोजौ महारथौ सुखोचितावदुःखार्हौ निषण्णौ धरणीतले तौ तु सुप्तौ महाराज श्रमशोकसमन्वितौ
M. N. Dutt: The two great car-warriors, Kripa and Kritavarman, began to sleep. They ever deserving of happiness and undeserving of misery, slept on the bare ground.
Supplementary Passages:
10.1.31 After 31, N G1 (inf. lin.) ins.: *4 महार्हशयनोपेतौ भूमावेव ह्यनाथवत्
क्रोधामर्षवशं प्राप्तो द्रोणपुत्रस्तु भारत नैव स्म स जगामाथ निद्रां सर्प इव श्वसन्
M. N. Dutt: Subject to wrath and revenge, Drona's son, however, O Bharata, could not sleep, but continued to breathe like a snake.
न लेभे स तु निद्रां वै दह्यमानोऽतिमन्युना वीक्षां चक्रे महाबाहुस्तद्वनं घोरदर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: Burning with rage he could not sleep. That mighty hero looked on all sides of that terrible forest.
वीक्षमाणो वनोद्देशं नानासत्त्वैर्निषेवितम् अपश्यत महाबाहुर्न्यग्रोधं वायसायुतम्
M. N. Dutt: As he surveyed that forest filled with various kinds of creatures, the great warrior beheld large banian tree covered with crows.
तत्र काकसहस्राणि तां निशां पर्यणामयन् सुखं स्वपन्तः कौरव्य पृथक्पृथगपाश्रयाः
M. N. Dutt: On that banian thousands of crows roosted in the night. Each perching separately from its neighbour, those crows slept easily, O Kuru Chief.
सुप्तेषु तेषु काकेषु विस्रब्धेषु समन्ततः सोऽपश्यत्सहसायान्तमुलूकं घोरदर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: As, however, those birds were sleeping in security on every side, Ashvatthaman beheld a terrible owl suddenly appeared there.
महास्वनं महाकायं हर्यक्षं बभ्रुपिङ्गलम् सुदीर्घघोणानखरं सुपर्णमिव वेगिनम्
M. N. Dutt: Of frightful cries an huge body, with green eyes and tawny plumage, its nose and its talons were very large. And its speed was like that of Garuda.
सोऽथ शब्दं मृदुं कृत्वा लीयमान इवाण्डजः न्यग्रोधस्य ततः शाखां प्रार्थयामास भारत
M. N. Dutt: Crying softly that winged creature O Bharata, secretly approached the branches of that banian tree.
संनिपत्य तु शाखायां न्यग्रोधस्य विहंगमः सुप्ताञ्जघान सुबहून्वायसान्वायसान्तकः
M. N. Dutt: That sky-ranger, that slayer of crows, alighting on one of the branches of the banian, killed a large number of his sleeping enemies.
केषांचिदच्छिनत्पक्षाञ्शिरांसि च चकर्त ह चरणांश्चैव केषांचिद्बभञ्ज चरणायुधः
M. N. Dutt: He tore the wings of some and cut off the heads of others with his sharp talons and broke the legs of many. Highly strong as he was, he killed many that fell down before his eyes. was
क्षणेनाहन्स बलवान्येऽस्य दृष्टिपथे स्थिताः तेषां शरीरावयवैः शरीरैश्च विशां पते न्यग्रोधमण्डलं सर्वं संछन्नं सर्वतोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: With the limbs and bodies, O king, of the slain crows, the ground covered by the spreading branches of the banian, overspread on all sides.
तांस्तु हत्वा ततः काकान्कौशिको मुदितोऽभवत् प्रतिकृत्य यथाकामं शत्रूणां शत्रुसूदनः
M. N. Dutt: Having killed those crows, the owl became overjoyed like a slayer of foes after having dealt with his foes according to his pleasure.
तद्दृष्ट्वा सोपधं कर्म कौशिकेन कृतं निशि तद्भावकृतसंकल्पो द्रौणिरेको व्यचिन्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: Witnessing that deed perpetrated in the night by the owl, Drona's son began to reflect on it, desirous of guiding his own conduct after that example.
उपदेशः कृतोऽनेन पक्षिणा मम संयुगे शत्रूणां क्षपणे युक्तः प्राप्तकालश्च मे मतः
M. N. Dutt: He said to him, "This owl teaches me a lesson in battle. Bent as I am upon the destruction of the enemy, the time for action is come.
नाद्य शक्या मया हन्तुं पाण्डवा जितकाशिनः बलवन्तः कृतोत्साहा लब्धलक्षाः प्रहारिणः राज्ञः सकाशे तेषां च प्रतिज्ञातो वधो मया
M. N. Dutt: The victorious Pandavas are incapable of being killed by me! They are possessed of power and perseverance, sure of aim, and skilled in smiting.
पतंगाग्निसमां वृत्तिमास्थायात्मविनाशिनीम् न्यायतो युध्यमानस्य प्राणत्यागो न संशयः छद्मना तु भवेत्सिद्धिः शत्रूणां च क्षयो महान्
AI Translation: Having resorted to a conduct like a moth in a fire, leading to self-destruction, There is no doubt that one who fights according to justice will give up his life. But by deceit, there will be success and a great destruction of enemies.
तत्र संशयितादर्थाद्योऽर्थो निःसंशयो भवेत् तं जना बहु मन्यन्ते येऽर्थशास्त्रविशारदाः
AI Translation: There, the person who is doubtful about the meaning, that meaning becomes free from doubt. That is highly regarded by people who are skilled in the science of economics.
यच्चाप्यत्र भवेद्वाच्यं गर्हितं लोकनिन्दितम् कर्तव्यं तन्मनुष्येण क्षत्रधर्मेण वर्तता
AI Translation: And whatever is to be spoken here, condemned and censured by the world, that should be done by a man following the duty of a kshatriya.
निन्दितानि च सर्वाणि कुत्सितानि पदे पदे सोपधानि कृतान्येव पाण्डवैरकृतात्मभिः
AI Translation: All the censured and despised things, which the Pandavas, who had lost their self-control, had done,
अस्मिन्नर्थे पुरा गीतौ श्रूयेते धर्मचिन्तकैः श्लोकौ न्यायमवेक्षद्भिस्तत्त्वार्थं तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Regarding this matter, certain ancient verses, full of truth, are heard, sung by truthseeing and righteous persons.
परिश्रान्ते विदीर्णे च भुञ्जाने चापि शत्रुभिः प्रस्थाने च प्रवेशे च प्रहर्तव्यं रिपोर्बलम्
M. N. Dutt: They are:-The enemy's force, even which fatigued, or wounded, or while eating, or when retiring, or when resting within their camp, should be beaten.
निद्रार्तमर्धरात्रे च तथा नष्टप्रणायकम् भिन्नयोधं बलं यच्च द्विधा युक्तं च यद्भवेत्
AI Translation: When the army is afflicted by sleep, or when the leader is lost in the middle of the night, or when the army is divided into two parts, or when it is united in two parts,
Supplementary Passages:
10.1.52 After 52, K2-4.6 ins.: *5 न शत्रुघाते विद्वद्भिर्धर्मो द्रष्टव्य इत्युत येन केन प्रकारेण रिपुं हन्यात्तदाचरेत् न च वध्यः कदाचिद्धि रिपुर्न्यायमवेक्षता यदि शक्यो भवेत्कश्चिच्छेत्तुमामूलतो रिपुः तत्र यत्नः प्रकर्तव्यस्तस्य सिद्धिर्भवेद्यथा
इत्येवं निश्चयं चक्रे सुप्तानां युधि मारणे पाण्डूनां सह पाञ्चालैर्द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
AI Translation: Thus he made up his mind to kill the sleeping ones in battle. The powerful son of Drona, together with the Panchālas, of the Pandus,
स क्रूरां मतिमास्थाय विनिश्चित्य मुहुर्मुहुः सुप्तौ प्राबोधयत्तौ तु मातुलं भोजमेव च
M. N. Dutt: Having formed this wicked resolution and promised to execute it, he awoke both his maternal uncle and the chief of the Bhojas. a
Supplementary Passages:
10.1.54 After 53, K6 B Dn D1-5.7 G (G3 marg.) ins.: *6 तौ प्रबुद्धौ महात्मानौ कृपभोजौ महाबलौ
नोत्तरं प्रतिपेदे च तत्र युक्तं ह्रिया वृतः स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पविह्वलमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: He did not reply, being ashamed to do so. After a moment's reflection, he said in a faltering voice,
हतो दुर्योधनो राजा एकवीरो महाबलः यस्यार्थे वैरमस्माभिरासक्तं पाण्डवैः सह
AI Translation: The king Duryodhana, the single hero of great strength, has been killed. For whose sake we have had enmity with the Pandavas.
एकाकी बहुभिः क्षुद्रैराहवे शुद्धविक्रमः पातितो भीमसेनेन एकादशचमूपतिः
AI Translation: The one who was the lord of eleven armies, who was alone, who was brave in battle, who was attacked by many small ones, was brought down by Bhimasena.
वृकोदरेण क्षुद्रेण सुनृशंसमिदं कृतम् मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य शिरः पादेन परिमृद्नता
M. N. Dutt: Another wicked act has been perpetrated by the mean Vrikodara for the latter has touched with his foot the head of a crowned person.
विनर्दन्ति स्म पाञ्चालाः क्ष्वेडन्ति च हसन्ति च धमन्ति शङ्खाञ्शतशो हृष्टा घ्नन्ति च दुन्दुभीन्
M. N. Dutt: The Panchalas are sending up loud roars and cries and loud bursts of laughter. Overjoyed, they are blowing their conchs and beating their drums.
वादित्रघोषस्तुमुलो विमिश्रः शङ्खनिस्वनैः अनिलेनेरितो घोरो दिशः पूरयतीव हि
M. N. Dutt: The loud sound of their instruments, mingled with the blare of conchs, is fearful to the ear, and carried by the winds, is filling all the points of the horizon.
अश्वानां हेषमाणानां गजानां चैव बृंहताम् सिंहनादश्च शूराणां श्रूयते सुमहानयम्
M. N. Dutt: Loud also is the neighing of their steeds and the grunting of their elephants and the roaring of their warriors.
दिशं प्राचीं समाश्रित्य हृष्टानां गर्जतां भृशम् रथनेमिस्वनाश्चैव श्रूयन्ते लोमहर्षणाः
M. N. Dutt: That defending noise made by the rejoicing warriors as they are going to their quarters, as also the clatter of their car-wheels, comes to us from the east.
पाण्डवैर्धार्तराष्ट्राणां यदिदं कदनं कृतम् वयमेव त्रयः शिष्टास्तस्मिन्महति वैशसे
M. N. Dutt: So great has been the havoc made by the Pandavas on the Dhartarashtras that we three are the only survivors.
केचिन्नागशतप्राणाः केचित्सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः निहताः पाण्डवेयैः स्म मन्ये कालस्य पर्ययम्
M. N. Dutt: Some were gifted with the strength of a hundred elephants and some were masters of all weapons. Yet they have been killed by the son of Pandu. I consider this to be an instance of the reverses caused by Destiny.
एवमेतेन भाव्यं हि नूनं कार्येण तत्त्वतः यथा ह्यस्येदृशी निष्ठा कृते कार्येऽपि दुष्करे
M. N. Dutt: Truly, this is the end of which such acts leads. Although the Pandavas have achieved such difficult feats, yet this should be the result of those feats.
भवतोस्तु यदि प्रज्ञा न मोहादपचीयते व्यापन्नेऽस्मिन्महत्यर्थे यन्नः श्रेयस्तदुच्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: If you have not lost your wisdom out of stupefaction, then say what is proper for us to do under these circumstances.