Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततो गाण्डीवभृच्छूरो युद्धाय समवस्थितः विबभौ युधि दुर्धर्षो हिमवानचलो यथा
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said The irresistible holder of Gandiva, ready for battle, stood immovable on the field like Himavat himself.
ततः सैन्धवयोधास्ते पुनरेव व्यवस्थिताः विमुञ्चन्तः सुसंरब्धाः शरवर्षाणि भारत
M. N. Dutt: The Saindhava warriors, more rallying, showered in great rage repeated down-pours of arrows on him.
तान्प्रसह्य महावीर्यः पुनरेव व्यवस्थितान् ततः प्रोवाच कौन्तेयो मुमूर्षूञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
M. N. Dutt: The mighty-armed hero, laughing at his enemies, who had once more rallied but who were on the point of death, addressed them in these soft words.
युध्यध्वं परया शक्त्या यतध्वं च वधे मम कुरुध्वं सर्वकार्याणि महद्वो भयमागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Do you fight to to best of your power and do you try to defeat me. Do you, however, accomplish all necessary deeds, for a great danger awaits you all.
एष योत्स्यामि वः सर्वान्निवार्य शरवागुराम् तिष्ठध्वं युद्धमनसो दर्पं विनयितास्मि वः
M. N. Dutt: See, I fight all of you, baffling your clouds of arrows! Bent as you are on battle, wait a little. I shall soon quell your pride.
एतावदुक्त्वा कौरव्यो रुषा गाण्डीवभृत्तदा ततोऽथ वचनं स्मृत्वा भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य भारत
M. N. Dutt: The holder of Gandiva, having said these words in anger, recollected, however, the words, O Bharata, of his eldest brother.
न हन्तव्या रणे तात क्षत्रिया विजिगीषवः जेतव्याश्चेति यत्प्रोक्तं धर्मराज्ञा महात्मना चिन्तयामास च तदा फल्गुनः पुरुषर्षभः
AI Translation: "O son, those who are desirous of victory should not be killed in battle. " "And what was said by the great-souled Dharmaraja, ""They should be conquered,"" " Then the bull among men, Phalguna, thought,
इत्युक्तोऽहं नरेन्द्रेण न हन्तव्या नृपा इति कथं तन्न मृषेह स्याद्धर्मराजवचः शुभम्
AI Translation: Thus addressed by the king, I was told, "Kings should not be killed." How can that not be false here? The words of the king of Dharma are auspicious.
न हन्येरंश्च राजानो राज्ञश्चाज्ञा कृता भवेत् इति संचिन्त्य स तदा भ्रातुः प्रियहिते रतः प्रोवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञः सैन्धवान्युद्धदुर्मदान्
M. N. Dutt: I must act in such a way as not to falsify the words of king Yudhishthira the just. Having arrived at this conclusion, Phalguna, that foremost of men, then said to those Saindhavas who were all dreadful in battle, these words:
बालान्स्त्रियो वा युष्माकं न हनिष्ये व्यवस्थितान् यश्च वक्ष्यति संग्रामे तवास्मीति पराजितः
M. N. Dutt: I say what is for your benefit. Though staying before me, I do not wish to kill you. He amongst you who will say to me that he has been defeated by me and that he is mine, will be spared by me.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो मह्यं कुरुध्वं हितमात्मनः अतोऽन्यथा कृच्छ्रगता भविष्यथ मयार्दिताः
M. N. Dutt: Having heard these words of mine, act towards me in that way which may best secure your well-being. By acting in a different way you will place yourselves in a situation of great fear and danger.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तान्वीरान्युयुधे कुरुपुंगवः अत्वरावानसंरब्धः संरब्धैर्विजिगीषुभिः
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words to those heroic warriors, the chief of the Kurus began to fight them. Arjuna was worked up with rage. His enemies, desirous of victory, were equally enraged.
ततः शतसहस्राणि शराणां नतपर्वणाम् मुमुचुः सैन्धवा राजंस्तदा गाण्डीवधन्वनि
M. N. Dutt: The Saindhavas then, O king, shot hundreds and thousands of straight arrows at the wielder of Gandiva.
स तानापततः क्रूरानाशीविषविषोपमान् चिच्छेद निशितैर्बाणैरन्तरैव धनंजयः
M. N. Dutt: Dhananjaya, with his own whetted arrows, cut off those arrows of sharp and terrible points, resembling stakes of dreadful poison, before could come up to him.
छित्त्वा तु तानाशुगमान्कङ्कपत्राञ्शिलाशितान् एकैकमेष दशभिर्बिभेद समरे शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Having off those sharp arrows bedecked with Kanka-feathers, Arjuna pierced each of the warriors opposed to him with a whetted arrow.
ततः प्रासांश्च शक्तीश्च पुनरेव धनंजये जयद्रथं हतं स्मृत्वा चिक्षिपुः सैन्धवा नृपाः
M. N. Dutt: The Saindhava Kshatriyas, recollecting that it was Dhananjaya who had killed their king Jayadarth, then hurled at him darts and javelins with great force.
तेषां किरीटी संकल्पं मोघं चक्रे महामनाः सर्वांस्तानन्तरा छित्त्वा मुदा चुक्रोश पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: The diadem-decked Dhananjaya of great power baffled their aim by cutting off all those weapons before any of them could reach him. At length the son of Pandu became highly angry.
तथैवापततां तेषां योधानां जयगृद्धिनाम् शिरांसि पातयामास भल्लैः संनतपर्वभिः
M. N. Dutt: With many straight and broad headed arrows, he cut off the heads of many of those warriors who were rushing at him from desire of victory.
तेषां प्रद्रवतां चैव पुनरेव च धावताम् निवर्ततां च शब्दोऽभूत्पूर्णस्येव महोदधेः
M. N. Dutt: Many fled, many rushed at Arjuna; many moved not; all of them, however, uttered such a loud noise that it resembled the roar of the Ocean,
ते वध्यमानास्तु तदा पार्थेनामिततेजसा यथाप्राणं यथोत्साहं योधयामासुरर्जुनम्
M. N. Dutt: As they were killed by Partha of immeasurable power, they fought him, each according to his strength and prowess.
ततस्ते फल्गुनेनाजौ शरैः संनतपर्वभिः कृता विसंज्ञा भूयिष्ठाः क्लान्तवाहनसैनिकाः
M. N. Dutt: Their animals being all exhausted, Partha succeeded in depriving a large number of those warriors of their senses by means of his sharpest arrows in that battle.
तांस्तु सर्वान्परिग्लानान्विदित्वा धृतराष्ट्रजा दुःशला बालमादाय नप्तारं प्रययौ तदा सुरथस्य सुतं वीरं रथेनानागसं तदा
M. N. Dutt: Then Dushala, their queen, the daughter of Dhritarastra, knowing that they were rendered cheerless by Arjuna, took her grandson in her arms and went to Arjuna.
शान्त्यर्थं सर्वयोधानामभ्यगच्छत पाण्डवम् सा धनंजयमासाद्य मुमोचार्तस्वरं तदा धनंजयोऽपि तां दृष्ट्वा धनुर्विससृजे प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: The queen, arrived before Dhananjaya, began to weep in sorrow. Seeing her, the powerful Dhananjaya cast off his bow.
समुत्सृष्टधनुः पार्थो विधिवद्भगिनीं तदा प्राह किं करवाणीति सा च तं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Having given away his bow, Partha, in accordance with the rules, to his sister, asked, "What can I do for you?" And she spoke these words to him:
एष ते भरतश्रेष्ठ स्वस्रीयस्यात्मजः शिशुः अभिवादयते वीर तं पश्य पुरुषर्षभ
AI Translation: This is your nephew's son, O best of Bharatas, a child. He is saluting you, O hero, O bull among men, look at him.
इत्युक्तस्तस्य पितरं स पप्रच्छार्जुनस्तदा क्वासाविति ततो राजन्दुःशला वाक्यमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Thus addressed, Arjuna asked his father, "Where is he?" Then the king said, "Duhshala spoke these words:
पितृशोकाभिसंतप्तो विषादार्तोऽस्य वै पिता पञ्चत्वमगमद्वीर यथा तन्मे निबोध ह
AI Translation: His father, afflicted with grief for his son, was tormented by sorrow. O hero, he went to the state of death. Know that from me.
स पूर्वं पितरं श्रुत्वा हतं युद्धे त्वयानघ त्वामागतं च संश्रुत्य युद्धाय हयसारिणम् पितुश्च मृत्युदुःखार्तोऽजहात्प्राणान्धनंजय
AI Translation: Hearing that his father had been killed in battle by you, O sinless one, and hearing that you had come to fight on horseback, afflicted by the grief of his father's death, Dhananjaya gave up his life.
प्राप्तो बीभत्सुरित्येव नाम श्रुत्वैव तेऽनघ विषादार्तः पपातोर्व्यां ममार च ममात्मजः
AI Translation: Hearing the name "Bībhatsu" alone, O sinless one, my son, afflicted with grief, fell on the ground and died.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा निपतितं ततस्तस्यात्मजं विभो गृहीत्वा समनुप्राप्ता त्वामद्य शरणैषिणी
AI Translation: Seeing him fall, O Lord, she then took her own son and came to you today, seeking refuge.
इत्युक्त्वार्तस्वरं सा तु मुमोच धृतराष्ट्रजा दीना दीनं स्थितं पार्थमब्रवीच्चाप्यधोमुखम्
AI Translation: Having spoken in a distressed voice, the daughter of Dhritarashtra released him. The distressed one, standing in a distressed manner, spoke to Partha, who was also looking down.
स्वसारं मामवेक्षस्व स्वस्रीयात्मजमेव च कर्तुमर्हसि धर्मज्ञ दयां मयि कुरूद्वह विस्मृत्य कुरुराजानं तं च मन्दं जयद्रथम्
M. N. Dutt: O perpetuator of Kuru's race, O you who are fully conversant with every duty, you should show mercy to this child, forgetting the Kuru prince (Duryodhana) and the wicked Jayadratha. in
अभिमन्योर्यथा जातः परिक्षित्परवीरहा तथायं सुरथाज्जातो मम पौत्रो महाभुज
M. N. Dutt: As that destroyer of hostile heroes, Parikshit, has been born of Abhimanyu, so has this mighty-armed child, my grandson, originated from Suratha.
तमादाय नरव्याघ्र संप्राप्तास्मि तवान्तिकम् शमार्थं सर्वयोधानां शृणु चेदं वचो मम
M. N. Dutt: Taking him with me, O king, I have come to you desirous of the safety of all the warriors! Do you listen to these words of mine.
आगतोऽयं महाबाहो तस्य मन्दस्य पौत्रकः प्रसादमस्य बालस्य तस्मात्त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: This child of that wicked enemy of yours has now come to you, O mighty armed hero. You should, therefore, show mercy to this infant.
एष प्रसाद्य शिरसा मया सार्धमरिंदम याचते त्वां महाबाहो शमं गच्छ धनंजय
M. N. Dutt: O chastiser of enemies this intent seeks to please you by bending his head. He solicits you for peace! O mighty armed hero, be inclined to make peace.
बालस्य हतबन्धोश्च पार्थ किंचिदजानतः प्रसादं कुरु धर्मज्ञ मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः
M. N. Dutt: O you who know every duty, be pleased with the child whose friends and kinsmen have all been killed and who himself knows nothing of what has taken place. Do not yield to anger.
तमनार्यं नृशंसं च विस्मृत्यास्य पितामहम् आगस्कारिणमत्यर्थं प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Forgetting his disreputable and cruel grandfather, who offended against you so highly, it is but fit that you should extend your grace towards this child.
एवं ब्रुवत्यां करुणं दुःशलायां धनंजयः संस्मृत्य देवीं गान्धारीं धृतराष्ट्रं च पार्थिवम् प्रोवाच दुःखशोकार्तः क्षत्रधर्मं विगर्हयन्
M. N. Dutt: Recollecting queen Gandhari and king Dhritarashtra, Dhananjaya, afflicted with grief, addressed Dushala who had said so to him, and answered her, censuring Kshatriya practices all the time.
धिक्तं दुर्योधनं क्षुद्रं राज्यलुब्धं च मानिनम् यत्कृते बान्धवाः सर्वे मया नीता यमक्षयम्
AI Translation: Fie on that wicked Duryodhana, greedy for the kingdom and proud, For whose sake all my kinsmen have been led by me to Yama's abode.
इत्युक्त्वा बहु सान्त्वादि प्रसादमकरोज्जयः परिष्वज्य च तां प्रीतो विससर्ज गृहान्प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Having said so, Dhananjaya comforted his sister and became inclined to make peace. Cheerfully, he embraced her and then dismissed her, asking her to return to her palace.
दुःशला चापि तान्योधान्निवार्य महतो रणात् संपूज्य पार्थं प्रययौ गृहान्प्रति शुभानना
M. N. Dutt: Dushala asked all her warriors to desert from that great battle, and adoring Partha, she of beautiful face returned towards her palace.
ततः सैन्धवकान्योधान्विनिर्जित्य नरर्षभः पुनरेवान्वधावत्स तं हयं कामचारिणम्
AI Translation: Then the bull among men, having defeated the Sindhu princes, again pursued that horse, which was roaming as it pleased.
Supplementary Passages:
14.77.43 For 43ab, K1 B Dc1 D2-6 subst.: *151 एवं निर्जित्य तान्वीरान्सैन्धवान्स धनंजयः
ससार यज्ञियं वीरो विधिवत्स विशां पते तारामृगमिवाकाशे देवदेवः पिनाकधृक्
AI Translation: The hero performed the sacrificial rite in the proper manner, O lord of the people. The god of gods, holding the Pināka bow, like a star-deer in the sky,
स च वाजी यथेष्टेन तांस्तान्देशान्यथासुखम् विचचार यथाकामं कर्म पार्थस्य वर्धयन्
M. N. Dutt: The horse, at its will, passed through various kingdoms successively, multiplying the feats of Arjuna.
क्रमेण स हयस्त्वेवं विचरन्भरतर्षभ मणिपूरपतेर्देशमुपायात्सहपाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: In course of time, O king, the horse wandering at its pleasure, at last arrived within the kingdom of Manipura, followed by the son of Pandu.