Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच भीमसेनवचः श्रुत्वा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः निःश्वस्य पुरुषव्याघ्रः संप्रदध्यौ परंतपः
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: Having heard the words of Bhimasena, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, sighed and pondered, the tiger among men, the scorcher of enemies.
Supplementary Passages:
3.37.1 After 1, K2 B D (except D1.2; D3 missing) S ins.: *136 श्रुता मे राजधर्माश्च वर्णानां च पृथक्पृथक् आयत्यां च तदात्वे च यः पश्यति स पश्यति धर्मस्य जानमानोऽहं गतिमग्र्यां सुदुर्विदाम् कथं बलात्करिष्यामि मेरोरिव विमर्दनम्
स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा विनिश्चित्येतिकृत्यताम् भीमसेनमिदं वाक्यमपदान्तरमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having thus reflected for a moment and having also settled in his mind) what he should do, he thus spoke to Bhimasena without allowing him to say anything.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत इदमन्यत्समाधत्स्व वाक्यं मे वाक्यकोविद
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said: O descendant of Bharata, O mighty-armed hero, what you say is true. O best of speakers, listen (also) to what I say.
महापापानि कर्माणि यानि केवलसाहसात् आरभ्यन्ते भीमसेन व्यथन्ते तानि भारत
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, O Bhimasena, the greatly sinful deeds that one wants to perforin depending only on his courage become a source of pain to him.
सुमन्त्रिते सुविक्रान्ते सुकृते सुविचारिते सिध्यन्त्यर्था महाबाहो दैवं चात्र प्रदक्षिणम्
M. N. Dutt: But, O mighty-armed hero, whatever is performed with (due) deliberation, with welldirected prowess, with all (necessary) appliances and with much previous thought, is (always) seen to be successful (at the end.) The celestials themselves favour such acts.
त्वं तु केवलचापल्याद्बलदर्पोच्छ्रितः स्वयम् आरब्धव्यमिदं कर्म मन्यसे शृणु तत्र मे
M. N. Dutt: Hear something about the act which you think should be at once done from your pride of strength and restlessness of mind.
भूरिश्रवाः शलश्चैव जलसंधश्च वीर्यवान् भीष्मो द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च द्रोणपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान्
AI Translation: Bhuri shravas, Shala, the powerful Jalasan dhaka, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, the powerful son of Drona,
धार्तराष्ट्रा दुराधर्षा दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः सर्व एव कृतास्त्राश्च सततं चाततायिनः
AI Translation: The sons of Dhritarashtra, led by Duryodhana, are invincible. All of them are skilled in the use of weapons and are always bent on killing.
राजानः पार्थिवाश्चैव येऽस्माभिरुपतापिताः संश्रिताः कौरवं पक्षं जातस्नेहाश्च सांप्रतम्
AI Translation: The kings and lords whom we have harassed have taken refuge in the Kaurava faction and now have affection for them.
दुर्योधनहिते युक्ता न तथास्मासु भारत पूर्णकोशा बलोपेताः प्रयतिष्यन्ति रक्षणे
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, they are engaged in seeking to do good to Duryodhana and not to us. With their treasury full and large army, they will try their best in the war (to defeat us).
सर्वे कौरवसैन्यस्य सपुत्रामात्यसैनिकाः संविभक्ता हि मात्राभिर्भोगैरपि च सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: All the officers of the Kuru army with their sons and relatives have been honoured by Duryodhana with the presentation of wealth according to proper divisions.
दुर्योधनेन ते वीरा मानिताश्च विशेषतः प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यन्ति संग्रामे इति मे निश्चिता मतिः
M. N. Dutt: These heroes have been much honored by Duryodhana. My firm conviction is that they will give their lives in battle for him,
समा यद्यपि भीष्मस्य वृत्तिरस्मासु तेषु च द्रोणस्य च महाबाहो कृपस्य च महात्मनः
AI Translation: O mighty-armed one, though the conduct of Bhishma, Drona and the great-souled Kripa was towards us and towards them,
अवश्यं राजपिण्डस्तैर्निर्वेश्य इति मे मतिः तस्मात्त्यक्ष्यन्ति संग्रामे प्राणानपि सुदुस्त्यजान्
AI Translation: It is my opinion that they will certainly give up their lives in battle, even though they are difficult to give up.
सर्वे दिव्यास्त्रविद्वांसः सर्वे धर्मपरायणाः अजेयाश्चेति मे बुद्धिरपि देवैः सवासवैः
M. N. Dutt: They are all masters in celestials weapons and they are all devoted to virtue. My opinion is that they cannot be vanquished even by the celestials with Vasava (Indra) at their head.
अमर्षी नित्यसंहृष्टस्तत्र कर्णो महारथः सर्वास्त्रविदनाधृष्य अभेद्यकवचावृतः
M. N. Dutt: There is Karna, the great car-warrior, who is impetuous. ever angry, invincible, accomplished in all weapons and encased in impenetrable armour.
अनिर्जित्य रणे सर्वानेतान्पुरुषसत्तमान् अशक्यो ह्यसहायेन हन्तुं दुर्योधनस्त्वया
M. N. Dutt: Without first defeating in battle all these foremost of men, you cannot, unaided as you are, kill Duryodhana.
न निद्रामधिगच्छामि चिन्तयानो वृकोदर अति सर्वान्धनुर्ग्राहान्सूतपुत्रस्य लाघवम्
M. N. Dutt: O Vrikodara, I cannot sleep as I ponder upon the lightness of hand that the Suta's son (Karna) possesses. I consider him to be the foremost of all wielders of bows.
एतद्वचनमाज्ञाय भीमसेनोऽत्यमर्षणः बभूव विमनास्त्रस्तो न चैवोवाच किंचन
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having heard these words, the impetuous Bhimasena became alarmed and pensive; and he did not utter a word.
तयोः संवदतोरेवं तदा पाण्डवयोर्द्वयोः आजगाम महायोगी व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
M. N. Dutt: When the Pandavas were talking one another, there came to that place the great ascetic Vyasa, the son of Satyavati.
सोऽभिगम्य यथान्यायं पाण्डवैः प्रतिपूजितः युधिष्ठिरमिदं वाक्यमुवाच वदतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: When he arrived, he was duly worshipped by the sons of Pandu. That best of speakers then thus spoke to Yudhishthira.
युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो वेद्मि ते हृदि मानसम् मनीषया ततः क्षिप्रमागतोऽस्मि नरर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said : O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O best of men, knowing by my intelligence what is passing in your mind, I have speedily come to this place.
भीष्माद्द्रोणात्कृपात्कर्णाद्द्रोणपुत्राच्च भारत यत्ते भयममित्रघ्न हृदि संपरिवर्तते
AI Translation: O slayer of enemies, whatever fear is revolving in your heart from Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna and Drona's son.
Supplementary Passages:
3.37.23 After 23ab, K2 B Dc Dn D4-6 ins.: *137 दुर्योधनान्नृपसुतात्तथा दुःशासनादपि
तत्तेऽहं नाशयिष्यामि विधिदृष्टेन हेतुना तच्छ्रुत्वा धृतिमास्थाय कर्मणा प्रतिपादय
AI Translation: I shall destroy it for you by means of a cause seen in the scriptures. Having heard that, take recourse to patience and demonstrate it by means of action.
Supplementary Passages:
3.37.24 After 24, K2 B D (except D2; D3 missing) ins.: *138 प्रतिपाद्य तु राजेन्द्र ततः क्षिप्रं ज्वरं जहि
तत एकान्तमुन्नीय पाराशर्यो युधिष्ठिरम् अब्रवीदुपपन्नार्थमिदं वाक्यविशारदः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : That foremost of all eloquent men, the son of Parasara (Vyasa), taking him aside thus spoke to Yudhishthira in words of deep import.
श्रेयसस्ते परः कालः प्राप्तो भरतसत्तम येनाभिभविता शत्रून्रणे पार्थो धनंजयः
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said: O best of the Bharatas, that prosperous time has come when the son of Pritha, Dhananjaya (Arjuna), will kill your enemies in battle.
गृहाणेमां मया प्रोक्तां सिद्धिं मूर्तिमतीमिव विद्यां प्रतिस्मृतिं नाम प्रपन्नाय ब्रवीमि ते यामवाप्य महाबाहुरर्जुनः साधयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Accept from me this knowledge, called Pratismriti. Uttered by me it is like success personified. You are capable of accepting it; I shall tell it to you.
अस्त्रहेतोर्महेन्द्रं च रुद्रं चैवाभिगच्छतु वरुणं च धनेशं च धर्मराजं च पाण्डव शक्तो ह्येष सुरान्द्रष्टुं तपसा विक्रमेण च
M. N. Dutt: Receiving it, the mighty-armed Arjuna will be able to accomplish his desire. O son of Pandu, let him go for the acquisition of weapons to Mahendra. Rudra, Varuna, Kubera and Yama. He is competent to see the celestials on account of his asceticism and prowess.
ऋषिरेष महातेजा नारायणसहायवान् पुराणः शाश्वतो देवो विष्णोरंशः सनातनः
AI Translation: This sage, of great splendor, is accompanied by Narayana. He is ancient, eternal, a god, an eternal part of Vishnu.
अस्त्राणीन्द्राच्च रुद्राच्च लोकपालेभ्य एव च समादाय महाबाहुर्महत्कर्म करिष्यति
AI Translation: He will take the weapons from Indra, Rudra, and the guardians of the world, and the mighty-armed one will perform a great deed.
वनादस्माच्च कौन्तेय वनमन्यद्विचिन्त्यताम् निवासार्थाय यद्युक्तं भवेद्वः पृथिवीपते
M. N. Dutt: O son of Kunti, O ruler of the world, think of going from this forest to another (forest) that may be fit for your abode.
एकत्र चिरवासो हि न प्रीतिजननो भवेत् तापसानां च शान्तानां भवेदुद्वेगकारकः
M. N. Dutt: To reside in one place for a length of time is never pleasant. It might produce anxieties to the ascetics.
मृगाणामुपयोगश्च वीरुदोषधिसंक्षयः बिभर्षि हि बहून्विप्रान्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान्
M. N. Dutt: As you support numerous Brahmanas, learned in the Vedas, your continued residence here (in this forest) may exhaust the deer of the forest and may be destructive of the creepers and plant.
एवमुक्त्वा प्रपन्नाय शुचये भगवान्प्रभुः प्रोवाच योगतत्त्वज्ञो योगविद्यामनुत्तमाम्
AI Translation: Having thus spoken to the one who had taken refuge, to the pure one, the Blessed Lord, the knower of the essence of Yoga, spoke the supreme knowledge of Yoga.
धर्मराज्ञे तदा धीमान्व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः अनुज्ञाय च कौन्तेयं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
AI Translation: Then the wise Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, gave the Dharma to the Dharma King. And having given his permission to Kounteya, he disappeared right there.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा तद्ब्रह्म मनसा यतः धारयामास मेधावी काले काले समभ्यसन्
M. N. Dutt: Having received that knowledge, the virtuous-minded and the intelligent Yudhishthira carefully retained it in his memory and always repeated it at the proper times.
स व्यासवाक्यमुदितो वनाद्द्वैतवनात्ततः ययौ सरस्वतीतीरे काम्यकं नाम काननम्
M. N. Dutt: Being glad at the words of Vyasa, he, leaving the Dvaiytavana, went to the forest of Kamyaka on the banks of the Sarasvati.
तमन्वयुर्महाराज शिक्षाक्षरविदस्तथा ब्राह्मणास्तपसा युक्ता देवेन्द्रमृषयो यथा
M. N. Dutt: O great king, the Brahmanas, possessing ascetic merits and versed in the science of ortheopy and orthography, followed him, as the Rishis follow the king of the celestials (Indra).
ततः काम्यकमासाद्य पुनस्ते भरतर्षभाः न्यविशन्त महात्मानः सामात्याः सपदानुगाः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon arriving at Kamyaka, those highsouled chief's of the Bharata race took up their residence there with their friends and followers.
Supplementary Passages:
3.37.39 After 39a, K4 ins.: *139 र्षयो देवपतिं यथा संप्राप्य तद्वनं रम्यं
तत्र ते न्यवसन्राजन्कंचित्कालं मनस्विनः धनुर्वेदपरा वीराः शृण्वाना वेदमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, those intelligent heroes then lived there for some time, devoting themselves to the science of archery and hearing the excellent Vedas.
चरन्तो मृगयां नित्यं शुद्धैर्बाणैर्मृगार्थिनः पितृदैवतविप्रेभ्यो निर्वपन्तो यथाविधि
M. N. Dutt: They went about the forest every day with non-poisoned arrows in search of deer. They duly performed all the rites in honour of the Pitris, the celestials and the Brahmanas.