Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा शोकव्याकुलचेतनः शुशोच दुःखसंतप्तः स्मृत्वा कर्णं महारथम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said The righteous Yudhishthira, with an agitated heart and burning with grief, began to grieve for that powerful car warrior Karna.
आविष्टो दुःखशोकाभ्यां निःश्वसंश्च पुनः पुनः दृष्ट्वार्जुनमुवाचेदं वचनं शोककर्शितः
AI Translation: Afflicted by grief and sorrow, sighing again and again, Seeing Arjuna, he spoke these words, afflicted by grief.
यद्भैक्षमाचरिष्याम वृष्ण्यन्धकपुरे वयम् ज्ञातीन्निष्पुरुषान्कृत्वा नेमां प्राप्स्याम दुर्गतिम्
AI Translation: If we practice begging in the city of the Vrishnis and Andhakas, making our relatives powerless, we will not fall into this misfortune.
अमित्रा नः समृद्धार्था वृत्तार्थाः कुरवः किल आत्मानमात्मना हत्वा किं धर्मफलमाप्नुमः
M. N. Dutt: Our enemies, the Kurus, have gained in prosperity, while we have been deprived of all the objects of life, for what fruits of righteousness can be ours when we have been guilty of self-destruction?
धिगस्तु क्षात्रमाचारं धिगस्तु बलमौरसम् धिगस्त्वमर्षं येनेमामापदं गमिता वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Fie on the practices of Kshatriyas, fie on might and valour, and fie on anger, since through these such a calamity has overtaken us.
साधु क्षमा दमः शौचमवैरोध्यममत्सरः अहिंसा सत्यवचनं नित्यानि वनचारिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: Blessed are forgiveness, and self-control, and purity, with renunciation and humility and abstention from injury, and truthfulness which are all practised by hermits dwelling in forests.
वयं तु लोभान्मोहाच्च स्तम्भं मानं च संश्रिताः इमामवस्थामापन्ना राज्यलेशबुभुक्षया
M. N. Dutt: Full of pride and haughtiness, we however, through covetousness and folly and from desire of enjoying the kingdom, have fallen into this plight.
त्रैलोक्यस्यापि राज्येन नास्मान्कश्चित्प्रहर्षयेत् बान्धवान्निहतान्दृष्ट्वा पृथिव्यामामिषैषिणः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing those kinsmen of ours that were determined on acquiring the sovereignty of the world killed on the field of battle, we have been so much laden with grief that one cannot gladden us by giving us even the sovereignty of the three worlds.
ते वयं पृथिवीहेतोरवध्यान्पृथिवीसमान् संपरित्यज्य जीवामो हीनार्था हतबान्धवाः
M. N. Dutt: Alas, having killed for the sake of the Earth, such kings as deserved not to be slain by us, we are carrying on the burden of existence, deprived of friends and of the very objects of life.
आमिषे गृध्यमानानामशुनां नः शुनामिव आमिषं चैव नो नष्टमामिषस्य च भोजिनः
M. N. Dutt: Like a pack of dogs fighting one another for a piece of meat, a great calamity has befallen us. That piece of meat is no longer dear to us. On the other hand, it shall be thrown aside.
न पृथिव्या सकलया न सुवर्णस्य राशिभिः न गवाश्वेन सर्वेण ते त्याज्या य इमे हताः
M. N. Dutt: They who have been killed should not have been killed for the sake of even the whole Earth of mountains of gold, or all the horses and kine in this world.
संयुक्ताः काममन्युभ्यां क्रोधामर्षसमन्विताः मृत्युयानं समारुह्य गता वैवस्वतक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: All of them filled with envy and seeking all earthly objects, and influenced by anger and pleasure, following the road of Death, have repaired to the regions of Yama.
बहु कल्याणमिच्छन्त ईहन्ते पितरः सुतान् तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण वन्दनेन तितिक्षया
M. N. Dutt: Practising asceticism, Brahmacharya, truth and renunciation, fathers wish for sons endued with every kind of prosperity.
उपवासैस्तथेज्याभिर्व्रतकौतुकमङ्गलैः लभन्ते मातरो गर्भांस्तान्मासान्दश बिभ्रति
M. N. Dutt: Likewise by facts and sacrifices and vows and sacred rites and sacred ceremonies, mothers conceive. They then hold the foetus for ten months.
यदि स्वस्ति प्रजायन्ते जाता जीवन्ति वा यदि संभाविता जातबलास्ते दद्युर्यदि नः सुखम् इह चामुत्र चैवेति कृपणाः फलहेतुकाः
M. N. Dutt: Passing their days in misery and in expectation of fruit, they always ask themselves-Shall these come out of the womb safely? Shall these live after birth? Shall they grow in power and be honoured on Earth? Will they give us happiness in this and the next world?
तासामयं समारम्भो निवृत्तः केवलोऽफलः यदासां निहताः पुत्रा युवानो मृष्टकुण्डलाः
AI Translation: This beginning of theirs is now over, fruitless and alone, When their sons, young, with fine earrings, were killed,
अभुक्त्वा पार्थिवान्भोगानृणान्यनवदाय च पितृभ्यो देवताभ्यश्च गता वैवस्वतक्षयम्
AI Translation: Without enjoying the pleasures of kingship, without repaying debts, and without going to the abode of Yama, they go to the abode of Yama.
यदैषामङ्ग पितरौ जातौ काममयाविव संजातबलरूपेषु तदैव निहता नृपाः
M. N. Dutt: Alas, O mother, those kings have been killed just at that time, when their parents expected to reap the fruits of their power and riches.
संयुक्ताः काममन्युभ्यां क्रोधहर्षासमञ्जसाः न ते जन्मफलं किंचिद्भोक्तारो जातु कर्हिचित्
M. N. Dutt: They were always envious and hankered after earthly objects, and always yielded to anger and joy. Therefore they could never expect to enjoy at any time or any place the fruits of victory.
पाञ्चालानां कुरूणां च हता एव हि येऽहताः ते वयं त्वधमाँल्लोकान्प्रपद्येम स्वकर्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: I think the Panchalas and the Kurus that have been killed (in this battle) have been lost, otherwise he who has killed would, by that act of his, obtain all blissful regions.
वयमेवास्य लोकस्य विनाशे कारणं स्मृताः धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रेण निकृत्या प्रत्यपत्स्महि
M. N. Dutt: We are the root of the destruction that has overtaken the world. The fault, however, should be attributed the of Dhritarashtra.
सदैव निकृतिप्रज्ञो द्वेष्टा मायोपजीवनः मिथ्यावृत्तः स सततमस्मास्वनपकारिषु
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana's heart was always wily. Always malicious, he addicted to to sons deception. Although we never offended him, yet he always behaved treacherously towards us.
अंशकामा वयं ते च न चास्माभिर्न तैर्जितम् न तैर्भुक्तेयमवनिर्न नार्यो गीतवादितम्
M. N. Dutt: We have not gained our object, nor have they gained theirs. We have not defeated them, nor have they defeated us. The Dhartarashtras could not enjoy this Earth, nor could they enjoy women and music.
नामात्यसमितौ कथ्यं न च श्रुतवतां श्रुतम् न रत्नानि परार्ध्यानि न भूर्न द्रविणागमः
M. N. Dutt: They did not listen to the counsels of ministers and friends and men well read in the scriptures. They could not, indeed, enjoy their rich gems and well-equipped treasury and vast territories.
Supplementary Passages:
12.7.24 After 24, K2-5 B Da Dn D2-6.8 ins.: *7 अस्मद्द्वेषेण संतप्तः सुखं न स्मेह विन्दति
ऋद्धिमस्मासु तां दृष्ट्वा विवर्णो हरिणः कृशः धृतराष्ट्रस्य नृपतेः सौबलेन निवेदितः
AI Translation: Seeing that we had the power, the pale, emaciated deer was presented to King Dhritarashtra by Soubala.
तं पिता पुत्रगृद्धित्वादनुमेनेऽनये स्थितम् अनवेक्ष्यैव पितरं गाङ्गेयं विदुरं तथा असंशयं धृतराष्ट्रो यथैवाहं तथा गतः
AI Translation: His father, out of love for his son, agreed to his going, though he was not in favor of it. Without even looking at his father, or at Vidura, the son of Ganga, Dhritarashtra has certainly gone the way I have gone.
अनियम्याशुचिं लुब्धं पुत्रं कामवशानुगम् पतितो यशसो दीप्ताद्घातयित्वा सहोदरान्
AI Translation: One who is not self-controlled, impure, greedy, a son under the control of desire, One who has fallen from the bright fame, having killed his brothers,
इमौ वृद्धौ च शोकाग्नौ प्रक्षिप्य स सुयोधनः अस्मत्प्रद्वेषसंयुक्तः पापबुद्धिः सदैव हि
AI Translation: Having thrown these two old men into the fire of grief, that Suyodhana is always of evil mind, full of hatred for us.
को हि बन्धुः कुलीनः संस्तथा ब्रूयात्सुहृज्जने यथासावुक्तवान्क्षुद्रो युयुत्सुर्वृष्णिसंनिधौ
AI Translation: Who, being a relative and a noble person, would speak to a friend in the way that that mean person spoke to Yuyutsu in the presence of the Vrishnis?
आत्मनो हि वयं दोषाद्विनष्टाः शाश्वतीः समाः प्रदहन्तो दिशः सर्वास्तेजसा भास्करा इव
M. N. Dutt: We also have through Duryodhana's folly, been lost for ever, like suns burning everything around them with their own heat.
सोऽस्माकं वैरपुरुषो दुर्मन्त्रिप्रग्रहं गतः दुर्योधनकृते ह्येतत्कुलं नो विनिपातितम् अवध्यानां वधं कृत्वा लोके प्राप्ताः स्म वाच्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: The wicked man, that embodiment of enmity, was our evil star. Alas, Alas, for Duryodhana's deeds alone, this race of ours has been rooted out. Having killed those whom we should never have killed, we have incurred the blame of the world.
कुलस्यास्यान्तकरणं दुर्मतिं पापकारिणम् राजा राष्ट्रेश्वरं कृत्वा धृतराष्ट्रोऽद्य शोचति
M. N. Dutt: Having installed that wicked prince of sinful acts, that exterminator of his race, as the monarch, King Dhritarashtra is obliged to grieve today.
हताः शूराः कृतं पापं विषयः स्वो विनाशितः हत्वा नो विगतो मन्युः शोको मां रुन्धयत्ययम्
M. N. Dutt: Our heroic enemies have been killed. We have committed sin. His wealth and kingdom are gone. Having killed them, our anger has been pacified. But grief is overcoming me.
धनंजय कृतं पापं कल्याणेनोपहन्यते त्यागवांश्च पुनः पापं नालं कर्तुमिति श्रुतिः
AI Translation: The sin committed by Dhananjaya is destroyed by the good. And the scripture says that the giver of gifts is not capable of committing sin.
Supplementary Passages:
12.7.34 After 35ab, K2.4 B Da Dn D2-8 ins.: *8 ख्यापनेनानुतापेन दानेन तपसापि वा निवृत्त्या तीर्थगमनाच्छ्रुतिस्मृतिजपेन च
त्यागवाञ्जन्ममरणे नाप्नोतीति श्रुतिर्यदा प्राप्तवर्त्मा कृतमतिर्ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
M. N. Dutt: The Shrutis say that he who practices renunciation escapes from birth and death, and obtaining the right way, that person of controlled mind, attains Brahman.
स धनंजय निर्द्वंद्वो मुनिर्ज्ञानसमन्वितः वनमामन्त्र्य वः सर्वान्गमिष्यामि परंतप
M. N. Dutt: I shall, therefore, O Dhananjaya, go to the forest, with your permission, O scorcher of enemies, disregarding all the pairs of opposites, adopting the vow of silence, and walking in the way pointed out by knowledge.
न हि कृत्स्नतमो धर्मः शक्यः प्राप्तुमिति श्रुतिः परिग्रहवता तन्मे प्रत्यक्षमरिसूदन
M. N. Dutt: O destroyer of foes, the Shrutis say it, and I myself have seen it with my eyes, that one who is addicted to worldly objects can never obtain any kind of religious merit.
मया निसृष्टं पापं हि परिग्रहमभीप्सता जन्मक्षयनिमित्तं च शक्यं प्राप्तुमिति श्रुतिः
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of obtaining worldly objects, I have committed sin, which as the Shrutis declare, begets birth and death.
स परिग्रहमुत्सृज्य कृत्स्नं राज्यं तथैव च गमिष्यामि विनिर्मुक्तो विशोको विज्वरस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Abandoning the whole of my kingdom, therefore, and all the worldly objects, I shall go to the forest, escaping from the worldly fetters, freed from grief, and without affection for anything.
प्रशाधि त्वमिमामुर्वीं क्षेमां निहतकण्टकाम् न ममार्थोऽस्ति राज्येन न भोगैर्वा कुरूत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Do you govern this Earth, on which peace has been restored, and which has been freed of all its thorns. O best of Kuru's race, I do not require kingdom or pleasure.'
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः व्युपारमत्ततः पार्थः कनीयान्प्रत्यभाषत
M. N. Dutt: Having said so, King Yudhishthira just stopped. His younger brother Arjuna then addressed him as follows.