Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच तस्मिन्प्रयाते दुर्धर्षे यदूनामृषभस्ततः अब्रवीत्पुण्डरीकाक्षः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: When that invincible bull of the Yadus had departed, the lotus-eyed one spoke to Kunti's son Yudhishthira:
एष पाण्डव ते भ्राता पुत्रशोकमपारयन् जिघांसुर्द्रौणिमाक्रन्दे याति भारत भारतः
AI Translation: This is your brother, Pandava, who is crossing the ocean of grief for his sons. The descendant of the Bharata lineage, the descendant of the Bharata lineage, is going to cry out to Drona's son.
भीमः प्रियस्ते सर्वेभ्यो भ्रातृभ्यो भरतर्षभ तं कृच्छ्रगतमद्य त्वं कस्मान्नाभ्यवपद्यसे
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata chief, of all your brothers, Bhima is dearest. Seeing him in a great danger, why do you not stir yourself.
Supplementary Passages:
10.12.3 After 3, K4 repeats 40*, while K2 ins.: *56 स्यास्तु मे परमं गुह्यं श्रुत्वा च क्रियतां पुनः On the other hand, M ins. after 3: *57 तं प्रयान्तं महाबाहुं भीमसेनं महाबलम् द्रोणपुत्रवधप्रेप्सुं कस्मान्नाभ्यवपत्स्यसे स हि क्रोधपरीतात्मा शांकरं वपुरास्थितः अवध्यः सर्वलोकानां द्रौणिः परमकोपनः क्रोधेन परमाविष्टं भीमं पुत्रवधार्दितम् दृष्टमात्रेण तं शूरो वधिष्यति महास्त्रवित् स शूरः स च विक्रान्तः समन्युर्नाशयिष्यति तस्माद्भीमं महाराज प्रयाम भरतर्षभ
यत्तदाचष्ट पुत्राय द्रोणः परपुरंजयः अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम दहेद्यत्पृथिवीमपि
M. N. Dutt: The weapon, called Brahmashira, which Drona, gave his son, is capable of consuming the whole world.
तन्महात्मा महाभागः केतुः सर्वधनुष्मताम् प्रत्यपादयदाचार्यः प्रीयमाणो धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: Pleased with Dhananjaya, the illustrious preceptor, that foremost of all wielders of bows, and given him that very weapon.
तत्पुत्रोऽस्यैवमेवैनमन्वयाचदमर्षणः ततः प्रोवाच पुत्राय नातिहृष्टमना इव
M. N. Dutt: His only son also then begged it of him. Unwillingly he communicated the knowledge of that weapon to Ashvatthaman.
Supplementary Passages:
10.12.6 After 6ab, K2 D4 ins.: *58 अथार्जुनस्य संप्राप्तं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मशिरस्तथा तमुवाच स्वपितरमश्वत्थामा महाबलः क्रोधेन महताविष्टो दृष्ट्वा स्नेहविपर्ययम् पुत्रोऽहं गुणवांस्तात किमर्थं मे न दत्तवान् ब्रह्मास्त्रं सरहस्यं च अर्जुनायोपपादितम् तं क्रुद्धमिति स ज्ञात्वा पुत्रस्नेहाच्च भारत
विदितं चापलं ह्यासीदात्मजस्य महात्मनः सर्वधर्मविदाचार्यो नान्विषत्सततं सुतम्
AI Translation: The great-souled son's fickleness was known. The teacher, who knew all the teachings, never sought his son.
Supplementary Passages:
10.12.7 After 7ab, M1-3 ins.: *59 क्रुद्धरूपस्य शूरस्य वीरस्याप्यत्यमर्षिणः
परमापद्गतेनापि न स्म तात त्वया रणे इदमस्त्रं प्रयोक्तव्यं मानुषेषु विशेषतः
AI Translation: Even when you are in the greatest danger, O son, you should not use this weapon in battle, especially against humans.
इत्युक्तवान्गुरुः पुत्रं द्रोणः पश्चादथोक्तवान् न त्वं जातु सतां मार्गे स्थातेति पुरुषर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Thus the preceptor Drona spoke to his son. Some time after he again spoke, saying,-O foremost of men, it seems, you will not, follow the path of the righteous.
स तदाज्ञाय दुष्टात्मा पितुर्वचनमप्रियम् निराशः सर्वकल्याणैः शोचन्पर्यपतन्महीम्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing those bitter words of his father the wicked Ashvatthaman, giving up all hopes of prosperity, began to wander sorrowfully over the Earth.
ततस्तदा कुरुश्रेष्ठ वनस्थे त्वयि भारत अवसद्द्वारकामेत्य वृष्णिभिः परमार्चितः
M. N. Dutt: Then, O Kuru chief, while you were living in the forest, he came to Dwaraka and lived there, adored of the Vrishnis.
स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते वसन्द्रारवतीमनु एक एकं समागम्य मामुवाच हसन्निव
AI Translation: Once, on the shore of the ocean, he approached me one by one, and said to me with a smile.
यत्तदुग्रं तपः कृष्ण चरन्सत्यपराक्रमः अगस्त्याद्भारताचार्यः प्रत्यपद्यत मे पिता
AI Translation: O Krishna, it was by practising that fierce penance that my father, the teacher of the Bharatas, obtained it from Agastya.
अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम देवगन्धर्वपूजितम् तदद्य मयि दाशार्ह यथा पितरि मे तथा
AI Translation: The weapon named Brahmashira, worshipped by gods and gandharvas, That, O Dasharha, give to me today, as to my father.
अस्मत्तस्तदुपादाय दिव्यमस्त्रं यदूत्तम ममाप्यस्त्रं प्रयच्छ त्वं चक्रं रिपुहरं रणे
M. N. Dutt: O foremost one of Yadu, in exchange for that celestial weapon, give me your discus which is capable of killing all enemies in battle.
स राजन्प्रीयमाणेन मयाप्युक्तः कृताञ्जलिः याचमानः प्रयत्नेन मत्तोऽस्त्रं भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: O king, he was pleased with me and I said to him with folded hands: "O bull among the Bharatas, I am earnestly requesting you for the weapon."
देवदानवगन्धर्वमनुष्यपतगोरगाः न समा मम वीर्यस्य शतांशेनापि पिण्डिताः
AI Translation: Gods, demons, gandharvas, humans, birds, and elephants are not equal to my power, even if multiplied by a hundred.
इदं धनुरियं शक्तिरिदं चक्रमियं गदा यद्यदिच्छसि चेदस्त्रं मत्तस्तत्तद्ददानि ते
M. N. Dutt: I have this bow, this arrow, this discus, and the mace! I will give you whichever amongst them you wish to have from me.
यच्छक्नोषि समुद्यन्तुं प्रयोक्तुमपि वा रणे तद्गृहाण विनास्त्रेण यन्मे दातुमभीप्ससि
M. N. Dutt: Without giving me the weapon you wish to give, take from among these weapons of mine that which you will be able to wield and use in battle.
स सुनाभं सहस्रारं वज्रनाभमयस्मयम् वव्रे चक्रं महाबाहो स्पर्धमानो मया सह
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed, the illustrious son of Drona, as if challenging me, wanted my discus of excellent have and hard as thunder, having thousand spokes, and made of iron.
गृहाण चक्रमित्युक्तो मया तु तदनन्तरम् जग्राहोपेत्य सहसा चक्रं सव्येन पाणिना न चैतदशकत्स्थानात्संचालयितुमच्युत
M. N. Dutt: I said to him take it. Thus spoken to, he rose all on a sudden and seized the discus with his left hand.
अथ तद्दक्षिणेनापि ग्रहीतुमुपचक्रमे सर्वयत्नेन तेनापि गृह्णन्नेतदकल्पयत्
AI Translation: Then he tried to seize it from the south, but even with all his efforts he could not grasp it.
ततः सर्वबलेनापि यच्चैतन्न शशाक सः उद्धर्तुं वा चालयितुं द्रौणिः परमदुर्मनाः कृत्वा यत्नं परं श्रान्तः स न्यवर्तत भारत
M. N. Dutt: Having caught it then very firmly and displaying all his strength, he still failed to either wield or move it. At this, Drona's son became sorry. Being worn out with the exertions he stooped.
निवृत्तमथ तं तस्मादभिप्रायाद्विचेतसम् अहमामन्त्र्य सुस्निग्धमश्वत्थामानमब्रुवम्
AI Translation: Then, having turned away from that intention, he was despondent. Having addressed Ashvatthama, who was very affectionate, I said:
यः स देवमनुष्येषु प्रमाणं परमं गतः गाण्डीवधन्वा श्वेताश्वः कपिप्रवरकेतनः
AI Translation: He who is the supreme authority among gods and humans, The wielder of the Gandīva bow, with white horses, and the banner of the best of monkeys,
यः साक्षाद्देवदेवेशं शितिकण्ठमुमापतिम् द्वंद्वयुद्धे पराजिष्णुस्तोषयामास शंकरम्
AI Translation: He who directly propitiated Śiva, the lord of the gods, the lord of Umā, the conqueror in dual combat,
यस्मात्प्रियतरो नास्ति ममान्यः पुरुषो भुवि नादेयं यस्य मे किंचिदपि दाराः सुतास्तथा
AI Translation: There is no man on earth who is dearer to me than you. There is nothing that I cannot give you, not even my wife or my son.
तेनापि सुहृदा ब्रह्मन्पार्थेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा नोक्तपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं यत्त्वं मामभिभाषसे
AI Translation: O Brahman, by that friend, Partha, who is not afflicted by action, This statement has not been spoken before, which you are addressing to me.
ब्रह्मचर्यं महद्घोरं चीर्त्वा द्वादशवार्षिकम् हिमवत्पार्श्वमभ्येत्य यो मया तपसार्चितः
AI Translation: Having practiced the great and terrible vow of celibacy for twelve years, and having approached the side of the Himalayas, he who was worshipped by me with austerities,
समानव्रतचारिण्यां रुक्मिण्यां योऽन्वजायत सनत्कुमारस्तेजस्वी प्रद्युम्नो नाम मे सुतः
AI Translation: He who was born to Rukmini, who was of the same vows, was my son, the brilliant Pradyumna, named Sanatkumara.
तेनाप्येतन्महद्दिव्यं चक्रमप्रतिमं मम न प्रार्थितमभून्मूढ यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया
AI Translation: "By him also this great divine wheel of mine, which is incomparable, was not sought after, O fool, if it is sought after by you."
रामेणातिबलेनैतन्नोक्तपूर्वं कदाचन न गदेन न साम्बेन यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया
M. N. Dutt: The highly powerful Rama never said such words to me! Neither Gada nor Shamva, have ever asked for this.
द्वारकावासिभिश्चान्यैर्वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथैः नोक्तपूर्वमिदं जातु यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया
M. N. Dutt: None among the other great car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka race living in Dwaraka has ever asked this of me.
भारताचार्यपुत्रः सन्मानितः सर्वयादवैः चक्रेण रथिनां श्रेष्ठ किं नु तात युयुत्ससे
M. N. Dutt: You are the son of the preceptor of the Bharatas, you are esteemed by all the Yadavas! Let me ask you, O best of car-warriors, with whom do you wish to fight with this weapon?'
Supplementary Passages:
10.12.34 After 34, K2.4 ins.: *60 धारणे न समर्थस्त्वं कुतः क्षेप्तुं महाहवे
एवमुक्तो मया द्रौणिर्मामिदं प्रत्युवाच ह प्रयुज्य भवते पूजां योत्स्ये कृष्ण त्वयेत्युत
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed by rne, Drona's son replied, saying,-'After adoring you O Krishna, it was my desire of fight with you, you of unfading glory.
ततस्ते प्रार्थितं चक्रं देवदानवपूजितम् अजेयः स्यामिति विभो सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
M. N. Dutt: It was for this, O Krishna, that I prayed for your discus which is worshipped by gods and Danavas! Had I got it I would then have become invincible in the world.
त्वत्तोऽहं दुर्लभं काममनवाप्यैव केशव प्रतियास्यामि गोविन्द शिवेनाभिवदस्व माम्
M. N. Dutt: Having failed, O Keshava, to my almost unattainable desire, I wish to leave you, O Govinda! Address me plainly now.
एतत्सुनाभं वृष्णीनामृषभेण त्वया धृतम् चक्रमप्रतिचक्रेण भुवि नान्योऽभिपद्यते
M. N. Dutt: This terrible weapon is with you, who are the foremost of all terrible persons! You are unrivaled for this weapon. There is none else in this world capable of having it.'
एतावदुक्त्वा द्रौणिर्मां युग्यमश्वान्धनानि च आदायोपययौ बालो रत्नानि विविधानि च
M. N. Dutt: Having said so the son of Drona taking many horses and much wealth and various kinds of gems, left Dvaraka.
स संरम्भी दुरात्मा च चपलः क्रूर एव च वेद चास्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्तस्माद्रक्ष्यो वृकोदरः
M. N. Dutt: He is wrathful, wicked, restless, and very cruel. He knows the use of the weapon called Brahmashira. Vrikodara should be saved.”