Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच कथयन्नेव तु तदा वासुदेवः प्रतापवान् महाभारतयुद्धं तत्कथान्ते पितुरग्रतः
AI Translation: Vaishmapayana said While narrating, the powerful Vasudeva At the end of the story of the Mahabharata war, in front of his father,
अभिमन्योर्वधं वीरः सोऽत्यक्रामत भारत अप्रियं वसुदेवस्य मा भूदिति महामनाः
AI Translation: The great-minded one did not want to cause grief to Vasudeva, and so he passed over the death of Abhimanyu, O descendant of Bharata.
मा दौहित्रवधं श्रुत्वा वसुदेवो महात्ययम् दुःखशोकाभिसंतप्तो भवेदिति महामतिः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the intelligent Krishna did not wish that his father Vasudeva should, on hearing the dreadful intelligence of the death of his daughter's son, be afflicted with sorrow and grief.
सुभद्रा तु तमुत्क्रान्तमात्मजस्य वधं रणे आचक्ष्व कृष्ण सौभद्रवधमित्यपतद्भुवि
M. N. Dutt: (His sister) Subhadra, noticing that the slaughter of her son had not been mentioned, addressed her brother, saying, Do you narrate the death of my son, O Krishna!-and dropped down on the earth (in a swoon).
Supplementary Passages:
14.60.4 T1 G1 ins. after 4: T2 after 4b: *128 आख्यापयन्महत्तत्र ह्यभिमन्योर्वधं रणे
तामपश्यन्निपतितां वसुदेवः क्षितौ तदा दृष्ट्वैव च पपातोर्व्यां सोऽपि दुःखेन मूर्छितः
M. N. Dutt: Vasudeva saw his daughter fallen on the ground. As soon as he saw this, he also fell down, deprived of his senses by grief.
ततः स दौहित्रवधाद्दुःखशोकसमन्वितः वसुदेवो महाराज कृष्णं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Then, afflicted with grief and sorrow due to the death of his grandson, Vasudeva, the great king, spoke these words to Krishna:
ननु त्वं पुण्डरीकाक्ष सत्यवाग्भुवि विश्रुतः यद्दौहित्रवधं मेऽद्य न ख्यापयसि शत्रुहन्
AI Translation: O lotus-eyed one, you are known on earth as one who speaks the truth. O slayer of enemies, why do you not reveal to me today the death of my grandson?
तद्भागिनेयनिधनं तत्त्वेनाचक्ष्व मे विभो सदृशाक्षस्तव कथं शत्रुभिर्निहतो रणे
M. N. Dutt: O powerful one, tell me in full of the destruction of your sister's son! Having eyes resembling thine, alas, how was he killed in battle by enemies.
दुर्मरं बत वार्ष्णेय कालेऽप्राप्ते नृभिः सदा यत्र मे हृदयं दुःखाच्छतधा न विदीर्यते
M. N. Dutt: Since my heart does not from grief break into a hundred pieces, it seems, O you of the Vrishni race, that it does not die with men when its hour does not come.
किमब्रवीत्त्वा संग्रामे सुभद्रां मातरं प्रति मां चापि पुण्डरीकाक्ष चपलाक्षः प्रियो मम
M. N. Dutt: Oh, at the time of his fall, what words did he give utterance to, addressing his mother? O lotus-eyed one, what did that darling of mine, having restless eyes, say to me?
आहवं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा कच्चिन्न निहतः परैः कच्चिन्मुखं न गोविन्द तेनाजौ विकृतं कृतम्
M. N. Dutt: I hope he has not been killed by eneinies while retreating from battle with his back towards them? I hope, O Govinda, that his face did not become cheerless while fighting?
स हि कृष्ण महातेजाः श्लाघन्निव ममाग्रतः बालभावेन विजयमात्मनोऽकथयत्प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: He was possessed, O Krishna, of great energy. From a spirit of childishness, that powerful hero, boasting (of his prowess) in my presence, used to speak of his skill (in battle).
कच्चिन्न विकृतो बालो द्रोणकर्णकृपादिभिः धरण्यां निहतः शेते तन्ममाचक्ष्व केशव
M. N. Dutt: I hope that boy does not lie on the field, killed deceitfully by Drona and Karna and Kripa and others? Do you teli me this.
स हि द्रोणं च भीष्मं च कर्णं च रथिनां वरम् स्पर्धते स्म रणे नित्यं दुहितुः पुत्रको मम
M. N. Dutt: That son of my daughter always used to challenge Bhishma and that foremost of all powerful warriors, viz., Karna, in battle.
एवंविधं बहु तदा विलपन्तं सुदुःखितम् पितरं दुःखिततरो गोविन्दो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Thus lamenting in great sorrow, his father, Govinda spoke these words to him, who was even more sorrowful.
न तेन विकृतं वक्त्रं कृतं संग्राममूर्धनि न पृष्ठतः कृतश्चापि संग्रामस्तेन दुस्तरः
AI Translation: He did not distort his face in the midst of battle. He did not flee from the battle, which is difficult to cross.
निहत्य पृथिवीपालान्सहस्रशतसंघशः खेदितो द्रोणकर्णाभ्यां दौःशासनिवशं गतः
M. N. Dutt: Having killed hundreds and thousands of kings of Earth, he was distressed by Drona and Karna and at last was killed by the son of Dushasana.
एको ह्येकेन सततं युध्यमानो यदि प्रभो न स शक्येत संग्रामे निहन्तुमपि वज्रिणा
M. N. Dutt: If, O lord, he had been encountered, one to one, without intermission, he was incapable of being killed in battle by even the holder of the thunder-bolt.
समाहूते तु संग्रामे पार्थे संशप्तकैस्तदा पर्यवार्यत संक्रुद्धैः स द्रोणादिभिराहवे
M. N. Dutt: When his father Arjuna was withdrawn from the main body by the Samsaptakas, Abhimanyu was surrounded by the enraged Kaurava-heroes headed by Drona in battle.
ततः शत्रुक्षयं कृत्वा सुमहान्तं रणे पितुः दौहित्रस्तव वार्ष्णेय दौःशासनिवशं गतः
M. N. Dutt: Then, O father, after he had killed a very large number of enemies in battle, your daughter's son at last succumbed to the son of Dushasana.
नूनं च स गतः स्वर्गं जहि शोकं महामते न हि व्यसनमासाद्य सीदन्ते सन्नराः क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, he has gone to the celestial region! Kill this grief of thine, O you of great intelligence! They who who are of purified understandings never languish when they meet with any calamity.
द्रोणकर्णप्रभृतयो येन प्रतिसमासिताः रणे महेन्द्रप्रतिमाः स कथं नाप्नुयाद्दिवम्
M. N. Dutt: He by whom Drona and Karna and others were checked in battle, heroes who were equal to Indra himself in power, why would not he ascend to the celestial region.
स शोकं जहि दुर्धर्ष मा च मन्युवशं गमः शस्त्रपूतां हि स गतिं गतः परपुरंजयः
M. N. Dutt: O irresistible one, do you kill this grief of thine! Do not allow yourself to be swayed by anger. That conqueror of hostile cities has attained to that sanctified and which depends upon death at the edge of weapons.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते वीरे सुभद्रेयं स्वसा मम दुःखार्ताथो पृथां प्राप्य कुररीव ननाद ह
M. N. Dutt: After the fall of that hero, this my sister Subhadra, stricken with grief, bewailed aloud, when she saw Kunti, like a female as prey.
द्रौपदीं च समासाद्य पर्यपृच्छत दुःखिता आर्ये क्व दारकाः सर्वे द्रष्टुमिच्छामि तानहम्
M. N. Dutt: When she met Draupadi, she asked her in grief, O reverend lady, where are all our sons? I wish to see them.
अस्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वास्ताः कुरुयोषितः भुजाभ्यां परिगृह्यैनां चुक्रुशुः परमार्तवत्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing her lamentations, all the Kauravaladies embraced her and wept sitting around her.
उत्तरां चाब्रवीद्भद्रा भद्रे भर्ता क्व ते गतः क्षिप्रमागमनं मह्यं तस्मै त्वं वेदयस्व ह
M. N. Dutt: Seeing (her daughter-in-law) Uttara, she said, O blessed girl, where has your husband gone? when he returns, do you without losing a moment apprise me of it.
ननु नाम स वैराटि श्रुत्वा मम गिरं पुरा भवनान्निष्पतत्याशु कस्मान्नाभ्येति ते पतिः
M. N. Dutt: Alas, O daughter of Virata, as soon he heard my voice, he used to come out of his chamber without the loss of a moment. Why does not your husband come out today.
अभिमन्यो कुशलिनो मातुलास्ते महारथाः कुशलं चाब्रुवन्सर्वे त्वां युयुत्सुमिहागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Alas, O Abhimanyu, your maternal uncles, powerful car-warriors, are all hale. They used to bless you when they saw you come here prepared to go out for battle.
आचक्ष्व मेऽद्य संग्रामं यथापूर्वमरिंदम कस्मादेव विलपतीं नाद्येह प्रतिभाषसे
M. N. Dutt: Do you tell me the incidents of battle today as before, O chastiser of enemies. Oh, why do you not answer me today, me who am weeping so bitterly?
एवमादि तु वार्ष्णेय्यास्तदस्याः परिदेवितम् श्रुत्वा पृथा सुदुःखार्ता शनैर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Thus did Varshnéyi lament, and when Pritha heard it, she was greatly afflicted and slowly spoke these words:
सुभद्रे वासुदेवेन तथा सात्यकिना रणे पित्रा च पालितो बालः स हतः कालधर्मणा
AI Translation: Subhadra, Vasudeva, and Satyaki in battle, and the child who was protected by his father, was killed by the law of time.
Supplementary Passages:
14.60.32 After 32b, K2 ins.: *129 एवं विलपतीं तां तु सात्यकिस्तु तदाब्रवीत्
ईदृशो मर्त्यधर्मोऽयं मा शुचो यदुनन्दिनि पुत्रो हि तव दुर्धर्षः संप्राप्तः परमां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: O daughter of Yadu's race, mortal your son was. Do not grieve. Irresistible in battle, your son has, forsooth, attained to the highest end.
कुले महति जातासि क्षत्रियाणां महात्मनाम् मा शुचश्चपलाक्षं त्वं पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणे
M. N. Dutt: You are born in a high family of great Kshatriyas. Do not grieve, O you of restless glances, O girl of eyes like lotus petals!
उत्तरां त्वमवेक्षस्व गर्भिणीं मा शुचः शुभे पुत्रमेषा हि तस्याशु जनयिष्यति भामिनी
M. N. Dutt: Do you cast your eyes on Uttara, who is quick with child. O blessed lady do not give way to grief. This auspicious girl will soon bring forth a son to that hero!
एवमाश्वासयित्वैनां कुन्ती यदुकुलोद्वह विहाय शोकं दुर्धर्षं श्राद्धमस्य ह्यकल्पयत्
AI Translation: Having thus consoled her, Kunti, the upholder of the Yadu clan, abandoned grief and performed the funeral rites for him, who was difficult to assail.
समनुज्ञाप्य धर्मज्ञा राजानं भीममेव च यमौ यमोपमौ चैव ददौ दानान्यनेकशः
AI Translation: Having granted permission to the wise king and to Bhima, and to the twins who were like Yama, he gave many gifts.
ततः प्रदाय बह्वीर्गा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यदूद्वह समहृष्यत वार्ष्णेयी वैराटीं चाब्रवीदिदम्
AI Translation: Then, O descendant of the Yadus, having given many cows to the Brahmanas, the Varshneyi rejoiced and said this to Vairaṭi:
वैराटि नेह संतापस्त्वया कार्यो यशस्विनि भर्तारं प्रति सुश्रोणि गर्भस्थं रक्ष मे शिशुम्
AI Translation: O Vairāṭi, O you of good fame, you should not be distressed. O you of beautiful hips, protect my child who is in the womb.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः कुन्ती विरराम महाद्युते तामनुज्ञाप्य चैवेमां सुभद्रां समुपानयम्
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words, O you of great splendour Kunti ceased. With her perinission I have brought Subhadra here.
एवं स निधनं प्राप्तो दौहित्रस्तव माधव संतापं जहि दुर्धर्ष मा च शोके मनः कृथाः
M. N. Dutt: It was thus, O giver of honours, that your daughter's son was killed. Cast off your burning grief, O irresistible one! Indeed, do not set your heart on sorrow. burning grief, O irresistible one! Indeed, do not set your heart on sorrow.