Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच अत्यद्भुतमिदं कर्म पार्थस्यामिततेजसः धृतराष्ट्रो महातेजाः श्रुत्वा विप्र किमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said : These acts of the immeasurably effulgent Partha (Arjuna) are (no doubt) wonderful. O Brahmana, what did greatly wise Dhritarashtra say on hearing (all this)?
वैशंपायन उवाच शक्रलोकगतं पार्थं श्रुत्वा राजाम्बिकासुतः द्वैपायनादृषिश्रेष्ठात्संजयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having heard from the foremost of Rishis, Krishna Dvaipayana, that Partha (Arjuna) had gone to the abode of Indra, the son of Ambika, the king Dhritarashtra, thus spoke to Sanjaya.
श्रुतं मे सूत कार्त्स्न्येन कर्म पार्थस्य धीमतः कच्चित्तवापि विदितं यथातथ्येन सारथे
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said : O charioteer, O Suta, do you know in detail the acts of the wise Arjuna which I have heard from the beginning to end?
प्रमत्तो ग्राम्यधर्मेषु मन्दात्मा पापनिश्चयः मम पुत्रः सुदुर्बुद्धिः पृथिवीं घातयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Mad in performing acts of the most vulgar kind, my wicked-minded and ever sinful son of wicked policies will destroy the earth.
यस्य नित्यमृता वाचः स्वैरेष्वपि महात्मनः त्रैलोक्यमपि तस्य स्याद्योद्धा यस्य धनंजयः
M. N. Dutt: That high-souled one (Yudhishthira) whose words are ever true and who has Dhananjaya (Arjuna) to fight for him will certainly conquer the three worlds.
अस्यतः कर्णिनाराचांस्तीक्ष्णाग्रांश्च शिलाशितान् कोऽर्जुनस्याग्रतस्तिष्ठेदपि मृत्युर्जरातिगः
M. N. Dutt: Is there any one who is even beyond the influence of death and decrepitude, that will be able to stand before Arjuna when he will shower his barbed and sharp-pointed arrows sharpened on the stone?
मम पुत्रा दुरात्मानः सर्वे मृत्युवशं गताः येषां युद्धं दुराधर्षैः पाण्डवैः प्रत्युपस्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: My wicked-minded sons, who will have to fight with the invincible Pandavas are all under the influence of Death.
तस्यैव च न पश्यामि युधि गाण्डीवधन्वनः अनिशं चिन्तयानोऽपि य एनमुदियाद्रथी
M. N. Dutt: Reflecting day and night I do not see amongst us that warrior who will be able to stand in battle before the wielder of the Gandiva (Arjuna).
द्रोणकर्णौ प्रतीयातां यदि भीष्मोऽपि वा रणे महान्स्यात्संशयो लोके न तु पश्यामि नो जयम्
M. N. Dutt: Even if Drona, Karna or Bhishma advance against him in battle, there will befall a great calamity over the world. But I do not see even there any chance of our Victory.
घृणी कर्णः प्रमादी च आचार्यः स्थविरो गुरुः अमर्षी बलवान्पार्थः संरम्भी दृढविक्रमः
AI Translation: Karna is miserly, careless, a teacher, an elder, a guru, Partha is impatient, strong, impetuous, of firm valor,
भवेत्सुतुमुलं युद्धं सर्वशोऽप्यपराजितम् सर्वे ह्यस्त्रविदः शूराः सर्वे प्राप्ता महद्यशः
AI Translation: It would be a very fierce battle, in which no one would be defeated. All of them are skilled in weapons, all of them are brave, all of them have attained great fame.
अपि सर्वेश्वरत्वं हि न वाञ्छेरन्पराजिताः वधे नूनं भवेच्छान्तिस्तेषां वा फल्गुनस्य वा
M. N. Dutt: They will not desire even the sovereignty of the whole world, if it is at all to be had by defeat; peace will be established only at the death of either of these (Bhishma etc.) or Falguni (Arjuna).
न तु हन्तार्जुनस्यास्ति जेता वास्य न विद्यते मन्युस्तस्य कथं शाम्येन्मन्दान्प्रति समुत्थितः
M. N. Dutt: But he, who will be able to kill Arjuna, does not exist, nor even he who will defeat him. How shall that wrath of his which has myself for its object be appeased?
त्रिदशेशसमो वीरः खाण्डवेऽग्निमतर्पयत् जिगाय पार्थिवान्सर्वान्राजसूये महाक्रतौ
M. N. Dutt: That hero, equal to the lord of the celestials gratified Agni at Khandava. He vanquished all the rulers of the earth at the time of the great Rajasuya sacrifice.
शेषं कुर्याद्गिरेर्वज्रं निपतन्मूर्ध्नि संजय न तु कुर्युः शराः शेषमस्तास्तात किरीटिना
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, O child, even the thunderbolt, that falls on the mountain peak, leaves a portion unburnt, but the arrows, shot by Kirti (Arjuna) do not leave anything behind.
यथा हि किरणा भानोस्तपन्तीह चराचरम् तथा पार्थभुजोत्सृष्टाः शरास्तप्स्यन्ति मे सुतान्
M. N. Dutt: As the rays of the sun scorch mobile and immobile universe, so will the arrows, shot by the arins of Partha, scorch all my sons.
अपि वा रथघोषेण भयार्ता सव्यसाचिनः प्रतिभाति विदीर्णेव सर्वतो भारती चमूः
M. N. Dutt: It seems to me that the Chamus (armies) of the Bharatas have already run away in all directions, being terrified at the clatter of Arjuna's chariot wheels.
यदुद्वपन्प्रवपंश्चैव बाणा;न्स्थाताततायी समरे किरीटी सृष्टोऽन्तकः सर्वहरो विधात्रा; भवेद्यथा तद्वदपारणीयः
M. N. Dutt: Vidhata (creator) has created Kirti (Arjuna) as our all-destroying, destroyer. He stands as a foe in the battle, scattering and vomiting swarms of arrows. Who is there that will defeat him?
संजय उवाच यदेतत्कथितं राजंस्त्वया दुर्योधनं प्रति सर्वमेतद्यथात्थ त्वं नैतन्मिथ्या महीपते
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said : O king, what you have said as regards, Duryodhana is true. O ruler of earth, nothing what you have said is untrue.
मन्युना हि समाविष्टाः पाण्डवास्तेऽमितौजसः दृष्ट्वा कृष्णां सभां नीतां धर्मपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्
AI Translation: The Pandavas, who were full of anger, were overcome with grief. Seeing their illustrious wife, Krishna, being led to the assembly hall,
दुःशासनस्य ता वाचः श्रुत्वा ते दारुणोदयाः कर्णस्य च महाराज न स्वप्स्यन्तीति मे मतिः
AI Translation: Hearing those words of Duhshāsana, which were of terrible import, and of Karna, O great king, I do not think they will sleep.
श्रुतं हि ते महाराज यथा पार्थेन संयुगे एकादशतनुः स्थाणुर्धनुषा परितोषितः
M. N. Dutt: O great king, I have heard how Arjuna has gratified in battle by means of his bow the god of gods, Sthanu of eleven forms.
कैरातं वेषमास्थाय योधयामास फल्गुनम् जिज्ञासुः सर्वदेवेशः कपर्दी भगवान्स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: The exalted lord of all the gods, Kapardin (Shiva) himself, having assumed the disguise of a Kirata, fought with Falguni (Arjuna) to test his prowess.
Supplementary Passages:
3.46.23 After 23, S ins.: *196 लेभे पाशुपतं चापि परमास्त्रं महाद्युतिः
तत्रैनं लोकपालास्ते दर्शयामासुरर्जुनम् अस्त्रहेतोः पराक्रान्तं तपसा कौरवर्षभम्
M. N. Dutt: It was then that the Lokapalas appeared before that hero of undeterioating ascetic prowess in order to give away their weapons to that chief of the Kuru race.
नैतदुत्सहतेऽन्यो हि लब्धुमन्यत्र फल्गुनात् साक्षाद्दर्शनमेतेषामीश्वराणां नरो भुवि
M. N. Dutt: What other man, on earth except Falguni canı ever attempt to get a sight of these gods in their own real forms?
महेश्वरेण यो राजन्न जीर्णो ग्रस्तमूर्तिमान् कस्तमुत्सहते वीरं युद्धे जरयितुं पुमान्
M. N. Dutt: O king, who is there who will be able to weaken that hero who was not weakened by Maheswara (Shiva) himself with eight forms?
आसादितमिदं घोरं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् द्रौपदीं परिकर्षद्भिः कोपयद्भिश्च पाण्डवान्
M. N. Dutt: Having dragged Draupadi (into the Sabha) and thus provoked the Pandavas, your sons have brought upon themselves this terrible, fearful and hair-stirring calamity.
यत्र विस्फुरमाणोष्ठो भीमः प्राह वचो महत् दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनेनोरू द्रौपद्या दर्शितावुभौ
M. N. Dutt: Seeing Duryodhana in the act of displaying his both thighs to Draupadi. Bhima, with quivering lips, spoke these words.
ऊरू भेत्स्यामि ते पाप गदया वज्रकल्पया त्रयोदशानां वर्षाणामन्ते दुर्द्यूतदेविनः
M. N. Dutt: "O sinful wretch, as you are a great gambler, I will smash with the fearfully forcible maces, your these two thighs on the expiration of the thirteenth year."
सर्वे प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठाः सर्वे चामिततेजसः सर्वे सर्वास्त्रविद्वांसो देवैरपि सुदुर्जयाः
M. N. Dutt: All (the Pandavas) are the foremost of smiters, all immeasurably effulgent, all skilled in every weapon, all invincible even before the celestials.
मन्ये मन्युसमुद्धूताः पुत्राणां तव संयुगे अन्तं पार्थाः करिष्यन्ति वीर्यामर्षसमन्विताः
M. N. Dutt: I am sure, the sons of Pritha, angry as they are at the insult offered to their wedded wife, will kill all your sons in battle.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच किं कृतं सूत कर्णेन वदता परुषं वचः पर्याप्तं वैरमेतावद्यत्कृष्णा सा सभां गता
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said: O charioteer, what (great) mischief has been done by Karna by his uttering cruel words? Was it not enmity to the extreme by bringing Krishna (Draupadi) to the assembly-hall?
अपीदानीं मम सुतास्तिष्ठेरन्मन्दचेतसः येषां भ्राता गुरुर्ज्येष्ठो विनये नावतिष्ठते
M. N. Dutt: How can my wicked minded sons live when their eldest brother and superior does not walk in the path of righteousness?
ममापि वचनं सूत न शुश्रूषति मन्दभाक् दृष्ट्वा मां चक्षुषा हीनं निर्विचेष्टमचेतनम्
M. N. Dutt: O Suta, seeing me blind and incapable of taking any active steps, my wicked son considers me a fool and does not listen to what I say. are
ये चास्य सचिवा मन्दाः कर्णसौबलकादयः तेऽप्यस्य भूयसो दोषान्वर्धयन्ति विचेतसः
M. N. Dutt: Those wretches also, who his counsellors, namely, Karna, the son of Subala (Shakuni) and others, always encourage him in his course of vice; he is incapable of understanding things.
स्वैरमुक्ता अपि शराः पार्थेनामिततेजसा निर्दहेयुर्मम सुतान्किं पुनर्मन्युनेरिताः
M. N. Dutt: The arrows, that the immeasurably powerful Arjuna shoots in playfulness are able to consume all my sons, what to speak of his those arrows which are shot by him in anger!
पार्थबाहुबलोत्सृष्टा महाचापविनिःसृताः दिव्यास्त्रमन्त्रमुदिताः सादयेयुः सुरानपि
M. N. Dutt: The arrows, pulled by the strength of Arjuna's arms and shot from his bows and also inspired with mantras which convert them to celestials weapons, can chastise even the celestials.
यस्य मन्त्री च गोप्ता च सुहृच्चैव जनार्दनः हरिस्त्रैलोक्यनाथः स किं नु तस्य न निर्जितम्
M. N. Dutt: What is there which is unconquerable by him who has for his protector, counsellor and friend, the Lord of the three worlds, Hari, Janardana (Krishna).
इदं च सुमहच्चित्रमर्जुनस्येह संजय महादेवेन बाहुभ्यां यत्समेत इति श्रुतिः
AI Translation: And this is a great wonder of Arjuna, O Sanjaya, That he is said to be united with the arms of the great god.
प्रत्यक्षं सर्वलोकस्य खाण्डवे यत्कृतं पुरा फल्गुनेन सहायार्थे वह्नेर्दामोदरेण च
AI Translation: The fire that was created in the past in Khandava for the sake of Phalguna and Vāmana by Dāmodara is clearly seen by all the world.
सर्वथा नास्ति मे पुत्रः सामात्यः सहबान्धवः क्रुद्धे पार्थे च भीमे च वासुदेवे च सात्वते
M. N. Dutt: When these Bhima, Partha (Arjuna) and Vasudeva (Krishna) of the Satvata race are angry, my sons with their friends and the son of Subala are surely not at all capable to fight with them.