Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच के लोका युध्यमानानां शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम् भवन्ति निधनं प्राप्य तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grandfather, what regions are earned by unretreating heroes by meeting with death in battle! Bhishma said
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् अम्बरीषस्य संवादमिन्द्रस्य च युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: 'Regarding it, O Yudhishthira, is cited the old story of the discourse between Ambarisha and Indra.
अम्बरीषो हि नाभागः स्वर्गं गत्वा सुदुर्लभम् ददर्श सुरलोकस्थं शक्रेण सचिवं सह
M. N. Dutt: Having gone to heaven that is so difficult of acquisition, Ambarisha, the son of Nabhaga, saw his own commander in chief in those celestial regions in the company of Indra.
सर्वतेजोमयं दिव्यं विमानवरमास्थितम् उपर्युपरि गच्छन्तं स्वं वै सेनापतिं प्रभुम्
M. N. Dutt: The king saw his powerful general shining with every kind of energy, gifted with celestial forin, seated on a very beautiful car, and going up and up towards still higher regions.
स दृष्ट्वोपरि गच्छन्तं सेनापतिमुदारधीः ऋद्धिं दृष्ट्वा सुदेवस्य विस्मितः प्राह वासवम्
M. N. Dutt: Witnessing the prosperity of his general Sudeva, and observing how he passed through regions that were still higher, the great Ambarisha, stricken with wonder addressed Vasava, in the following manner.
Supplementary Passages:
12.99.5 D7 T G M2 ins. after 5ab: M1.3 after 4: M4 after 4ab: *230 शूरस्थानमनुप्राप्तं सुदेवं नाम नामतः
सागरान्तां महीं कृत्स्नामनुशिष्य यथाविधि चातुर्वर्ण्ये यथाशास्त्रं प्रवृत्तो धर्मकाम्यया
AI Translation: Having instructed the entire earth up to the ocean in accordance with the prescribed method, he engaged in the four castes according to the scriptures, desiring Dharma.
ब्रह्मचर्येण घोरेण आचार्यकुलसेवया वेदानधीत्य धर्मेण राजशास्त्रं च केवलम्
AI Translation: By the terrible practice of celibacy, by serving the teacher's family, Having studied the Vedas according to the rules, and the science of kingship alone,
अतिथीनन्नपानेन पितॄंश्च स्वधया तथा ऋषीन्स्वाध्यायदीक्षाभिर्देवान्यज्ञैरनुत्तमैः
AI Translation: By offering food and drink to guests, and by offering oblations to the ancestors, By reciting the Vedas and performing austerities for the sages, and by performing supreme sacrifices for the gods,
क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितो भूत्वा यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि उदीक्षमाणः पृतनां जयामि युधि वासव
AI Translation: Having established myself in the duty of a kshatriya, according to the scriptures and the rules, Looking at the army, I conquer in battle, O Vasava.
Supplementary Passages:
12.99.9 After 9, D4 ins.: *231 तेन पुण्यविपाकेन प्राप्तोऽहं तव संनिधिम्
देवराज सुदेवोऽयं मम सेनापतिः पुरा आसीद्योधः प्रशान्तात्मा सोऽयं कस्मादतीव माम्
M. N. Dutt: This Sudeva, O king of the deities, was formerly the commander-in-chief of my army. It is true, he was a warrior of a controlled soul. For what reason, however, has he succeeded in superseding me?
Supplementary Passages:
12.99.10 After 10, D7 S ins.: *232 विमानं सूर्यसंकाशमास्थितो मोदते दिवि
नानेन क्रतुभिर्मुख्यैरिष्टं नैव द्विजातयः तर्पिता विधिवच्छक्र सोऽयं कस्मादतीव माम्
M. N. Dutt: He never adored the gods in high and great sacrifices. He never pleased the Brahmanas according to the ordinance. Why then, has he succeeded in superseding me?
इन्द्र उवाच एतस्य विततस्तात सुदेवस्य बभूव ह संग्रामयज्ञः सुमहान्यश्चान्यो युध्यते नरः
M. N. Dutt: Indra said About this Sudeva, Osire, the great sacrifice of battle had often been performed by him. And such becomes the case with every other man who engages himself in battle.
संनद्धो दीक्षितः सर्वो योधः प्राप्य चमूमुखम् युद्धयज्ञाधिकारस्थो भवतीति विनिश्चयः
M. N. Dutt: Every warrior clad a in coat of mail by advancing against enemies in battle, becomes installed in that sacrifice. Indeed, it is settled that such a person, by acting in this wise is regarded as the performer of the sacrifice of battle.
अम्बरीष उवाच कानि यज्ञे हवींष्यत्र किमाज्यं का च दक्षिणा ऋत्विजश्चात्र के प्रोक्तास्तन्मे ब्रूहि शतक्रतो
M. N. Dutt: Ambarisha said What are the libations in that sacrifice? What are its liquid offerings? What is its Dakshina? Who, again, are its Ritwijas? Tell me all this, Operformer of a hundred sacrifices.
इन्द्र उवाच ऋत्विजः कुञ्जरास्तत्र वाजिनोऽध्वर्यवस्तथा हवींषि परमांसानि रुधिरं त्वाज्यमेव च
M. N. Dutt: Elephants are the Ritwijas of that sacrifice, and horses are its Adhyaryus. The flesh of foes are its libations, and blood is its liquid offering.
सृगालगृध्रकाकोलाः सदस्यास्तत्र सत्रिणः आज्यशेषं पिबन्त्येते हविः प्राश्नन्ति चाध्वरे
M. N. Dutt: Jackals, vultures, and ravens, winged arrows are its Sadasyas. These drink the residue of the liquid offering in this sacrifice and eat the remnants of its libations. as also
प्रासतोमरसंघाताः खड्गशक्तिपरश्वधाः ज्वलन्तो निशिताः पीताः स्रुचस्तस्याथ सत्रिणः
M. N. Dutt: Masses of blazing, sharp, and welltempered, lances and spears, of swords and darts and axes from the ladles of the sacrificer.
चापवेगायतस्तीक्ष्णः परकायावदारणः ऋजुः सुनिशितः पीतः सायकोऽस्य स्रुवो महान्
M. N. Dutt: Straight, sharp, and well-tempered shafts, with keen points and capable of piercing the bodies of enemies, shot off well-stretched bows, from its large double mouthed ladles.
द्वीपिचर्मावनद्धश्च नागदन्तकृतत्सरुः हस्तिहस्तगतः खड्गः स्फ्यो भवेत्तस्य संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Sheathed in scabbard made of tiger-skin and equip with in ivory handle, and capable of cutting off the elephant's trunk, the sword forms the wooden-stick of this sacrifice.
ज्वलितैर्निशितैः पीतैः प्रासशक्तिपरश्वधैः शैक्यायसमयैस्तीक्ष्णैरभिघातो भवेद्वसु
M. N. Dutt: The strokes inflicted with shining and keen lances and darts and swords and axes, all made of hard iron, from its profuse wealth collected from the respectable people by agreement regarding the amount and period.
Supplementary Passages:
12.99.20 After 20, Dn G1 ins.: *233 संख्यासमयविस्तीर्णमभिजातोद्भवं बहु
आवेगाद्यत्तु रुधिरं संग्रामे स्यन्दते भुवि सास्य पूर्णाहुतिर्होत्रे समृद्धा सर्वकामधुक्
M. N. Dutt: The blood that runs over the field for the fury of that attack, forms the final libation, which yields great merit and is capable of granting every wish in the Homa of this sacrifice.
छिन्धि भिन्धीति यस्यैतच्छ्रूयते वाहिनीमुखे सामानि सामगास्तस्य गायन्ति यमसादने
M. N. Dutt: 'Cut, Pierce,' and such other sounds, that are heard in the front ranks of the army, are the Samans sung by its Vedic chanters in the abode of Yama.
हविर्धानं तु तस्याहुः परेषां वाहिनीमुखम् कुञ्जराणां हयानां च वर्मिणां च समुच्चयः अग्निः श्येनचितो नाम तस्य यज्ञे विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: The front ranks of the enemy's army form the vessel for keeping libations. The number of elephant and horses and men equipt with shields form the Shyenachit fire of that sacrifice.
उत्तिष्ठति कबन्धोऽत्र सहस्रे निहते तु यः स यूपस्तस्य शूरस्य खादिरोऽष्टाश्रिरुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: The headless trunks that rise up after thousands have been killed from the octagonal stake, made of Khadira wood, for the hero who celebrates that sacrifice.
इडोपहूतं क्रोशन्ति कुञ्जरा अङ्कुशेरिताः व्याघुष्टतलनादेन वषट्कारेण पार्थिव उद्गाता तत्र संग्रामे त्रिसामा दुन्दुभिः स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: The cries of the elephant when urged on with hooks, form its Ida Mantras. The kettledrums, with the striking of palms forming the Vashats, O king, are its Trisaman Udgatri.
ब्रह्मस्वे ह्रियमाणे यः प्रियां युद्धे तनुं त्यजेत् आत्मानं यूपमुच्छ्रित्य स यज्ञोऽनन्तदक्षिणः
M. N. Dutt: When the property of a Brahmana is being taken away, he who renounces his dear body for protecting that property, does, by that act of self-devotion, acquire the merit of a sacrifice accompanied with numberless presents.
भर्तुरर्थे तु यः शूरो विक्रमेद्वाहिनीमुखे भयान्न च निवर्तेत तस्य लोका यथा मम
M. N. Dutt: That hero, who, for sake of his master, shows prowess at the van of the array and does not retreat through fear, acquires those re of happiness that are mine.
नीलचन्द्राकृतैः खड्गैर्बाहुभिः परिघोपमैः यस्य वेदिरुपस्तीर्णा तस्य लोका यथा मम
M. N. Dutt: He, who covers the altar of the sacrifice formed by battle, with swords cased in bluescabbards and severed arms resembling heavy bludgeons, acquires the happy regions like mine.
यस्तु नावेक्षते कंचित्सहायं विजये स्थितः विगाह्य वाहिनीमध्यं तस्य लोका यथा मम
M. N. Dutt: That warrior, who determined upon gaining victory, enters into the midst of the enemy's ranks without waiting for any help, acquires happy regions like mine.
यस्य तोमरसंघाटा भेरीमण्डूककच्छपा वीरास्थिशर्करा दुर्गा मांसशोणितकर्दमा
AI Translation: Where the earth is covered with the dust of the bones of heroes, with the mud of flesh and blood,
असिचर्मप्लवा सिन्धुः केशशैवलशाद्वला अश्वनागरथैश्चैव संभिन्नैः कृतसंक्रमा
AI Translation: The river is a boat made of sword and shield, with hair and moss as its oars. It is crossed by broken horses, elephants, and chariots.
पताकाध्वजवानीरा हतवाहनवाहिनी शोणितोदा सुसंपूर्णा दुस्तरा पारगैर्नरैः
AI Translation: With banners, flags, and boats, with armies of slain warriors and riders, With blood as water, completely full, difficult to cross by men who have attained the other shore,
हतनागमहानक्रा परलोकवहाशिवा ऋष्टिखड्गध्वजानूका गृध्रकङ्कवडप्लवा
AI Translation: With the great demon Nāga slain, flowing to the other world, inauspicious, With spears, swords, flags, and arrows, with vultures, crows, and jackals.
पुरुषादानुचरिता भीरूणां कश्मलावहा नदी योधमहायज्ञे तदस्यावभृथं स्मृतम्
AI Translation: The river is the follower of the men, the cause of fear and grief for the timid. In the great sacrifice of the warriors, this is remembered as the concluding bath.
वेदी यस्य त्वमित्राणां शिरोभिरवकीर्यते अश्वस्कन्धैर्गजस्कन्धैस्तस्य लोका यथा मम
M. N. Dutt: That hero, whose altar is covered with the heads of foes, of horses, and of elephants, acquires regions of felicity like mine.
पत्नीशाला कृता यस्य परेषां वाहिनीमुखम् हविर्धानं स्ववाहिन्यस्तदस्याहुर्मनीषिणः
AI Translation: The place where his wife is kept is the vanguard of the enemy's army. The place where his own army is kept is the sacrificial altar. The wise ones say this about him.
सदश्चान्तरयोधाग्निराग्नीध्रश्चोत्तरां दिशम् शत्रुसेनाकलत्रस्य सर्वलोकानदूरतः
AI Translation: The fire of the Antarayodha, the Agnidhra, and the northern direction The wife of the enemy's army, and all the worlds, not far away.
यदा तूभयतो व्यूहो भवत्याकाशमग्रतः सास्य वेदी तथा यज्ञे नित्यं वेदास्त्रयोऽग्नयः
M. N. Dutt: The open space, lying between two armies drawn up for fight, forms the altar of such as sacrificer, and the three Vedas are his three sacrificial fires. Upon that altar, helped by the recitation of the Vedas, he celebrates his sacrifice.
यस्तु योधः परावृत्तः संत्रस्तो हन्यते परैः अप्रतिष्ठं स नरकं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः
M. N. Dutt: That infamous warrior, who retreating from the fight in fear, is killed by foes, sinks into hell. There is no doubt in this.
यस्य शोणितवेगेन नदी स्यात्समभिप्लुता केशमांसास्थिसंकीर्णा स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: That warrior, on the other hand, whose blood drenches the sacrificial altar already covered with hair and flesh and bones, forsooth, succeeds in acquiring a glorious end.
यस्तु सेनापतिं हत्वा तद्यानमधिरोहति स विष्णुविक्रमक्रामी बृहस्पतिसमः क्रतुः
M. N. Dutt: That powerful warrior, who, having killed the commander of the hostile army, gets upon the car of his fallen antagonist, is considered as powerful as Vishnu himself and as intelligent as Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods.
नायकं वा प्रमाणं वा यो वा स्यात्तत्र पूजितः जीवग्राहं निगृह्णाति तस्य लोका यथा मम
M. N. Dutt: That warrior, who can capture alive the commander of the hostile army or his son or some other respected leader, acquires regions of felicity like mine.
आहवे निहतं शूरं न शोचेत कदाचन अशोच्यो हि हतः शूरः स्वर्गलोके महीयते
M. N. Dutt: One should never lament for a hero killed in battle. A killed hero, if nobody grieves for him, goes to heaven and acquires the respect of its residents.
न ह्यन्नं नोदकं तस्य न स्नानं नाप्यशौचकम् हतस्य कर्तुमिच्छन्ति तस्य लोकाञ्शृणुष्व मे
M. N. Dutt: Men do not wish to give food and drink. Nor do they bathe nor enter into mourning for him. Listen to me as I describe the happiness that is in store for such a person.
वराप्सरःसहस्राणि शूरमायोधने हतम् त्वरमाणा हि धावन्ति मम भर्ता भवेदिति
AI Translation: Thousands of celestial nymphs, the best of women, have been killed in battle by the hero. They are running quickly, thinking, 'He will be my husband.'
एतत्तपश्च पुण्यं च धर्मश्चैव सनातनः चत्वारश्चाश्रमास्तस्य यो युद्धे न पलायते
AI Translation: This is the austerity, the merit, and the eternal Dharma. And the four stages of life are for him who does not flee in battle.
वृद्धं बलं न हन्तव्यं नैव स्त्री न च वै द्विजः तृणपूर्णमुखश्चैव तवास्मीति च यो वदेत्
M. N. Dutt: The aged and the children should not be killed; nor a woman nor one who is flying away; nor one that holds a straw in his lips (sign of unconditional surrender); nor one who says—I am yours.
अहं वृत्रं बलं पाकं शतमायं विरोचनम् दुरावार्यं च नमुचिं नैकमायं च शम्बरम्
AI Translation: I am Vritra, Bala, Paka, Shatamāya, Virochana, Durāvarya, Namuchi, and the many-formed Shambara,
विप्रचित्तिं च दैतेयं दनोः पुत्रांश्च सर्वशः प्रह्रादं च निहत्याजौ ततो देवाधिपोऽभवम्
AI Translation: And Viprachitti, and all the sons of Danu, And having slain Prahlada in battle, I became the lord of the gods.
भीष्म उवाच इत्येतच्छक्रवचनं निशम्य प्रतिगृह्य च योधानामात्मनः सिद्धिमम्बरीषोऽभिपन्नवान्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma continued Hearing these words of Shakra and approving of them, king Ambarisha understood how warriors succeed in achieving success for themselves.