Critical Edition
दुर्योधन उवाच चित्रसेनं समागम्य प्रहसन्नर्जुनस्तदा इदं वचनमक्लीबमब्रवीत्परवीरहा
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana said : That slayer of hostile army, Arjuna, then came to Chitrasena and he smilingly spoke these manly words.
भ्रातॄनर्हसि नो वीर मोक्तुं गन्धर्वसत्तम अनर्हा धर्षणं हीमे जीवमानेषु पाण्डुषु
M. N. Dutt: "O hero, O foremost of the Gandharvas, you should release my brothers. They are not to be insulted so long the Pandavas are alive."
एवमुक्तस्तु गन्धर्वः पाण्डवेन महात्मना उवाच यत्कर्ण वयं मन्त्रयन्तो विनिर्गताः द्रष्टारः स्म सुखाद्धीनान्सदारान्पाण्डवानिति
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, O Karna, the Gandharva told him of the (secret) counsel with which we came, namely we had gone there for seeing the Pandavas, with their wife in the greatest misery.
Supplementary Passages:
3.238.3 After 3, S (except G3) ins.: *1139 स्थितो राज्ये च्युतान्स्थानाच्छ्रिया हीनाञ्श्रियावृताः
तस्मिन्नुच्चार्यमाणे तु गन्धर्वेण वचस्यथ भूमेर्विवरमन्वैच्छं प्रवेष्टुं व्रीडयान्वितः
M. N. Dutt: When these counsels of ours were disclosed by the Gandharva, I desired then in great shame to enter the earth.
युधिष्ठिरमथागम्य गन्धर्वाः सह पाण्डवैः अस्मद्दुर्मन्त्रितं तस्मै बद्धांश्चास्मान्न्यवेदयन्
M. N. Dutt: The Gandharva then accompanied by the Pandavas went to Yudhishthira describing to him our (secret) counsels, bound as we were, he made us over to him.
स्त्रीसमक्षमहं दीनो बद्धः शत्रुवशं गतः युधिष्ठिरस्योपहृतः किं नु दुःखमतः परम्
M. N. Dutt: Alas, what greater sorrow could be mine than that I should thus be offered as tribute to Yudhishthira in the very sight of our women, myself in chains and in great misery and also under the complete control of our enemies!
ये मे निराकृता नित्यं रिपुर्येषामहं सदा तैर्मोक्षितोऽहं दुर्बुद्धिर्दत्तं तैर्जीवितं च मे
M. N. Dutt: Alas, they that were ever persecuted by me, they that were my everlasting enemies, released me from captivity! Wretch that I am, I am indebted to them for my life!
प्राप्तः स्यां यद्यहं वीर वधं तस्मिन्महारणे श्रेयस्तद्भविता मह्यमेवंभूतं न जीवितम्
M. N. Dutt: O hero, if I had met with my death in that great battle that would have been far better than that I have obtained my life in this way.
भवेद्यशः पृथिव्यां मे ख्यातं गन्धर्वतो वधात् प्राप्ताश्च लोकाः पुण्याः स्युर्महेन्द्रसदनेऽक्षयाः
M. N. Dutt: If I would have been killed by the Gandharvas, my fame would have spread over the earth. I would have then obtained holy regions of everlasting happiness in the abode of Indra.
यत्त्वद्य मे व्यवसितं तच्छृणुध्वं नरर्षभाः इह प्रायमुपासिष्ये यूयं व्रजत वै गृहान् भ्रातरश्चैव मे सर्वे प्रयान्त्वद्य पुरं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of men, listen to me now as to what I intend to do. I shall stay here fasting, all of you go back home.
कर्णप्रभृतयश्चैव सुहृदो बान्धवाश्च ये दुःशासनं पुरस्कृत्य प्रयान्त्वद्य पुरं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Let all my brothers also go to their own city (Hastinapur). Let all our relatives and friends headed by Dushasana go back to the city.
न ह्यहं प्रतियास्यामि पुरं शत्रुनिराकृतः शत्रुमानापहो भूत्वा सुहृदां मानकृत्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Insulted as I am by the enemy I shall never again return to that city; I was ever respected and feared by my enemy, I who ever enhanced the respect of my friends and relatives,
Supplementary Passages:
3.238.12 After 12, T G2.4 ins.: *1140 कामं रणशिरस्यद्य शत्रुभिर्वै विमानितः On the other hand, G1 ins. after 12: *1141 कारणैरस्म्यभिहितः शत्रुभिर्वै विमानितः अकारणेऽस्म्यभिजितः शत्रुभिर्वै विमानितः
स सुहृच्छोकदो भूत्वा शत्रूणां हर्षवर्धनः वारणाह्वयमासाद्य किं वक्ष्यामि जनाधिपम्
M. N. Dutt: Have now become a source of sorrow to my friends and joy to my enemies. Having gone to Hastinapura, what shall I say to the king (Dhritarashtra)?
भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपो द्रौणिर्विदुरः संजयस्तथा बाह्लीकः सोमदत्तश्च ये चान्ये वृद्धसंमताः
AI Translation: Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Ashvatthama, Vidura, Sanjaya, Bahlika, Somadatta, and others who are considered elders,
ब्राह्मणाः श्रेणिमुख्याश्च तथोदासीनवृत्तयः किं मां वक्ष्यन्ति किं चापि प्रतिवक्ष्यामि तानहम्
AI Translation: Brahmins, leaders of guilds, and those of neutral conduct What will they say to me? And what shall I reply to them?
रिपूणां शिरसि स्थित्वा तथा विक्रम्य चोरसि आत्मदोषात्परिभ्रष्टः कथं वक्ष्यामि तानहम्
M. N. Dutt: Having hitherto stayed over the heads of my enemies, having hitherto trod upon their breasts, I have been now degraded from my position. What shall I say to them (now)?
दुर्विनीताः श्रियं प्राप्य विद्यामैश्वर्यमेव च तिष्ठन्ति न चिरं भद्रे यथाहं मदगर्वितः
M. N. Dutt: Like me who was puffed up with vanity, insolent men, even obtaining prosperity, knowledge and affluence, are never blessed for any length of time.
अहो बत यथेदं मे कष्टं दुश्चरितं कृतम् स्वयं दुर्बुद्धिना मोहाद्येन प्राप्तोऽस्मि संशयम्
M. N. Dutt: Alas, led by folly I have done a highly improper and wicked act, for which, fool that I am, I have now fallen into such distress.
तस्मात्प्रायमुपासिष्ये न हि शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम् चेतयानो हि को जीवेत्कृच्छ्राच्छत्रुभिरुद्धृतः
M. N. Dutt: I shall therefore die of starvation; I shall not be able to live. Rescued by one's own enemy, what man of manliness could dragon (a miserable) existence?
शत्रुभिश्चावहसितो मानी पौरुषवर्जितः पाण्डवैर्विक्रमाढ्यैश्च सावमानमवेक्षितः
M. N. Dutt: Proud as I am, the enemy has laughed at me when they found me deprived of all manliness. The Pandavas, who possessed great prowess (joyously) looked at me who was then in the greatest possible misery."
वैशंपायन उवाच एवं चिन्तापरिगतो दुःशासनमथाब्रवीत् दुःशासन निबोधेदं वचनं मम भारत
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : When he was thus bewailing, he thus spoke to Dushasana, "O Dushasana, O descendant of Bharata, hear my words.
प्रतीच्छ त्वं मया दत्तमभिषेकं नृपो भव प्रशाधि पृथिवीं स्फीतां कर्णसौबलपालिताम्
M. N. Dutt: Accepting this installation offered by me, becorne king. Rule over the earth protected by Karna and the son of Subala.
भ्रातॄन्पालय विस्रब्धं मरुतो वृत्रहा यथा बान्धवास्त्वोपजीवन्तु देवा इव शतक्रतुम्
M. N. Dutt: As the slayer of Vritra (Indra) cherishes the arutas, so cherish our brothers in such a way as they may trust you. Let your friends and relatives depend on you as the celestials depend on you as the celestials depend on Shatakratu (Indra).
ब्राह्मणेषु सदा वृत्तिं कुर्वीथाश्चाप्रमादतः बन्धूनां सुहृदां चैव भवेथास्त्वं गतिः सदा
M. N. Dutt: Always bestow pensions on Brahmanas; be always the refuge of your friends and relatives.
ज्ञातींश्चाप्यनुपश्येथा विष्णुर्देवगणानिव गुरवः पालनीयास्ते गच्छ पालय मेदिनीम्
AI Translation: You should look after your relatives, like Vishnu looks after the hosts of gods. Your gurus should be protected by you. Go and protect the earth.
नन्दयन्सुहृदः सर्वाञ्शात्रवांश्चावभर्त्सयन् कण्ठे चैनं परिष्वज्य गम्यतामित्युवाच ह
AI Translation: Delighting all his friends and intimidating his enemies, and embracing him around the neck, he said, "Go!"
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दीनो दुःशासनोऽब्रवीत् अश्रुकण्ठः सुदुःखार्तः प्राञ्जलिः प्रणिपत्य च सगद्गदमिदं वाक्यं भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठमात्मनः
AI Translation: Hearing his words, Dushashana, distressed, said: With a choked voice, greatly afflicted, with folded hands, bowing down, He spoke these words falteringly to his elder brother:
प्रसीदेत्यपतद्भूमौ दूयमानेन चेतसा दुःखितः पादयोस्तस्य नेत्रजं जलमुत्सृजन्
AI Translation: With a sorrowful mind, he fell to the ground, saying, "Be pleased." Sorrowing, he shed tears from his eyes at his feet.
उक्तवांश्च नरव्याघ्रो नैतदेवं भविष्यति विदीर्येत्सनगा भूमिर्द्यौश्चापि शकलीभवेत् रविरात्मप्रभां जह्यात्सोमः शीतांशुतां त्यजेत्
AI Translation: The tiger among men said, "This will not happen." The earth with its rivers would split open, and the sky would be shattered. The sun would lose its own radiance, and the moon would abandon its cool rays.
वायुः शैघ्र्यमथो जह्याद्धिमवांश्च परिव्रजेत् शुष्येत्तोयं समुद्रेषु वह्निरप्युष्णतां त्यजेत्
AI Translation: The wind would lose its swiftness, the Himalayas would wander, The water in the oceans would dry up, and even fire would abandon its heat.
न चाहं त्वदृते राजन्प्रशासेयं वसुंधराम् पुनः पुनः प्रसीदेति वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह त्वमेव नः कुले राजा भविष्यसि शतं समाः
AI Translation: And I cannot rule the earth without you, O king. And again and again he said, "Be pleased." "You alone will be the king in our family for a hundred years."
Supplementary Passages:
3.238.31 After 31cd, S (except G3) ins.: *1142 शत्रूणां शोककृद्राजन्सुहृदां शोकनाशनः
एवमुक्त्वा स राजेन्द्र सस्वनं प्ररुरोद ह पादौ संगृह्य मानार्हौ भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य भारत
AI Translation: Having said this, the lord of kings wept aloud. Taking hold of the feet of his elder brother, who was worthy of respect, O descendant of the Bharata lineage,
तथा तौ दुःखितौ दृष्ट्वा दुःशासनसुयोधनौ अभिगम्य व्यथाविष्टः कर्णस्तौ प्रत्यभाषत
AI Translation: Seeing those two, Duhshāsana and Suyodhana, afflicted, Karna, overcome with distress, approached them and spoke to them.
विषीदथः किं कौरव्यौ बालिश्यात्प्राकृताविव न शोकः शोचमानस्य विनिवर्तेत कस्यचित्
AI Translation: Why do you grieve, O son of Kuru, like ordinary people, out of childishness? For no one who grieves will ever be free from grief.
यदा च शोचतः शोको व्यसनं नापकर्षति सामर्थ्यं किं त्वतः शोके शोचमानौ प्रपश्यथः धृतिं गृह्णीत मा शत्रूञ्शोचन्तौ नन्दयिष्यथः
M. N. Dutt: What do you gain by thus giving way to sorrow? Summon patience. Do not grieve and thus give joy to your enemies.
Supplementary Passages:
3.238.35 After 35, G1 ins.: *1143 धृतिमन्तो जयं शत्रूञ्शोचन्तौ नाभविष्यथ
कर्तव्यं हि कृतं राजन्पाण्डवैस्तव मोक्षणम् नित्यमेव प्रियं कार्यं राज्ञो विषयवासिभिः पाल्यमानास्त्वया ते हि निवसन्ति गतज्वराः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the Pandavas did only their duty in rescuing you. Those that reside in the dominions of the king should always do what is agreeable to the king.
नार्हस्येवंगते मन्युं कर्तुं प्राकृतवद्यथा विषण्णास्तव सोदर्यास्त्वयि प्रायं समास्थिते उत्तिष्ठ व्रज भद्रं ते समाश्वासय सोदरान्
M. N. Dutt: 'Behold, your brothers are all sad and miserable on seeing you resolved to die by starvation. Be blessed. Rise up and come to your city and console your brothers.'
Supplementary Passages:
3.238.37 After 37cd, S (except T1 G3) ins.: *1144 तदलं दुःखितानेतान्कर्तुं सर्वान्नराधिप
राजन्नद्यावगच्छामि तवेह लघुसत्त्वताम् किमत्र चित्रं यद्वीर मोक्षितः पाण्डवैरसि सद्यो वशं समापन्नः शत्रूणां शत्रुकर्शन
M. N. Dutt: Karna said.: O king, your today's conduct is childish. O hero, what is to be wondered at in all this, that you were rescued by the Pandavas.
Supplementary Passages:
3.238.38 After 38ab, S (except G3) ins.: *1145 अल्पत्वं च तथा बुद्धेः कार्याणामविवेकिताम्
सेनाजीवैश्च कौरव्य तथा विषयवासिभिः अज्ञातैर्यदि वा ज्ञातैः कर्तव्यं नृपतेः प्रियम्
AI Translation: By the army, by the people of the country, by the unknown or the known, the king's pleasure should be done.
प्रायः प्रधानाः पुरुषाः क्षोभयन्त्यरिवाहिनीम् निगृह्यन्ते च युद्धेषु मोक्ष्यन्ते च स्वसैनिकैः
AI Translation: Most of the leading men, like the army, are agitated. They are restrained in battles and will be released by their own troops.
सेनाजीवाश्च ये राज्ञां विषये सन्ति मानवाः तैः संगम्य नृपार्थाय यतितव्यं यथातथम्
AI Translation: Those who live by the army, those who live by the king, should associate with them and strive for the king's purpose as best they can.
यद्येवं पाण्डवै राजन्भवद्विषयवासिभिः यदृच्छया मोक्षितोऽद्य तत्र का परिदेवना
AI Translation: If it is so, O king, by the Pandavas and the residents of your kingdom, I have been released today by chance. Why lament there?
न चैतत्साधु यद्राजन्पाण्डवास्त्वां नृपोत्तम स्वसेनया संप्रयान्तं नानुयान्ति स्म पृष्ठतः
AI Translation: And it is not right, O king, that the Pandavas, best of kings, should not follow you from behind as you go with your army.
शूराश्च बलवन्तश्च संयुगेष्वपलायिनः भवतस्ते सभायां वै प्रेष्यतां पूर्वमागताः
AI Translation: The brave and strong ones who do not flee in battles Those who have come to the assembly first, please send them.
पाण्डवेयानि रत्नानि त्वमद्याप्युपभुञ्जसे सत्त्वस्थान्पाण्डवान्पश्य न ते प्रायमुपाविशन् उत्तिष्ठ राजन्भद्रं ते न चिन्तां कर्तुमर्हसि
AI Translation: You are still enjoying the jewels of the Pandavas. Look at the Pandavas, who are steadfast. They did not go to the forest. Arise, O king, for your good. You should not be anxious.
Supplementary Passages:
3.238.45 After 45cd, S (except G3) ins.: *1146 तदलं ते महाबाहो बुद्धिः प्रायोपवेशने
अवश्यमेव नृपते राज्ञो विषयवासिभिः प्रियाण्याचरितव्यानि तत्र का परिदेवना
M. N. Dutt: O lord of men, it is the certain duty of those who live in a king's dominion to do which is agreeable to that king, what is there then to be Sorry for?
मद्वाक्यमेतद्राजेन्द्र यद्येवं न करिष्यसि स्थास्यामीह भवत्पादौ शुश्रूषन्नरिमर्दन
M. N. Dutt: O king of kings, O chastiser of foes, if you do not act as I say, I shall then stay here and serve at your feet with all respect.
नोत्सहे जीवितुमहं त्वद्विहीनो नरर्षभ प्रायोपविष्टस्तु नृप राज्ञां हास्यो भविष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: O forernost of men, O king, I do not desire to live without you. If you resolve to die by fasting, you will simply be the laughing-stock of all other kings.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा नैवोत्थातुं मनश्चक्रे स्वर्गाय कृतनिश्चयः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana, being firmly resolved to die, determined not to rise from the place where he sat.