Critical Edition
दुर्योधन उवाच न भेतव्यं महाराज न शोच्या भवता वयम् समर्थाः स्म परान्राजन्विजेतुं समरे विभो
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana said There is nothing to fear, O great king; nor should you grieve for us. We are capable, O king, of winning victory over our battle, O king.
वनं प्रव्राजितान्पार्थान्यदायान्मधुसूदनः महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना
AI Translation: When the slayer of Madhu came to the forest to which the Parthas had retired, with a great army, crushing the kingdoms of others,
केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः राजानश्चान्वयुः पार्थान्बहवोऽन्येऽनुयायिनः
AI Translation: The Kekayas, Dhrishtaketu, and Parshata Dhrishtadyumna, and many other kings and followers followed the Parthas.
इन्द्रप्रस्थस्य चादूरात्समाजग्मुर्महारथाः व्यगर्हयंश्च संगम्य भवन्तं कुरुभिः सह
M. N. Dutt: And when not far from Indraprastha there assembled together the car-warriors and having joined together, they blamed you along with the Kurus.
ते युधिष्ठिरमासीनमजिनैः प्रतिवासितम् कृष्णप्रधानाः संहत्य पर्युपासन्त भारत
AI Translation: They approached Yudhishthira, who was seated, covered with deer-skins, and surrounded by Krishna and the others, O descendant of Bharata.
प्रत्यादानं च राज्यस्य कार्यमूचुर्नराधिपाः भवतः सानुबन्धस्य समुच्छेदं चिकीर्षवः
AI Translation: The kings said, "The taking back of the kingdom should be done. We desire to destroy you and your followers."
श्रुत्वा चैतन्मयोक्तास्तु भीष्मद्रोणकृपास्तदा ज्ञातिक्षयभयाद्राजन्भीतेन भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: Hearing this, I told Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa at that time. O king, out of fear for the destruction of the family, I was afraid, O bull of the Bharata lineage.
न ते स्थास्यन्ति समये पाण्डवा इति मे मतिः समुच्छेदं हि नः कृत्स्नं वासुदेवश्चिकीर्षति
AI Translation: I think that the Pandavas will not abide by the agreement. For Vasudeva desires the complete annihilation of us all.
ऋते च विदुरं सर्वे यूयं वध्या महात्मनः धृतराष्ट्रश्च धर्मज्ञो न वध्यः कुरुसत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: That with the exception of Vidura, will you be slain, is my opinion; and Dhritarashtra, who knows the nature of virtue-that best one among the Kurus cannot possibly be slain.
समुच्छेदं च कृत्स्नं नः कृत्वा तात जनार्दनः एकराज्यं कुरूणां स्म चिकीर्षति युधिष्ठिरे
M. N. Dutt: O dear, having effected our extinction, Janardana desires to bestow on Yudhishthira the entire kingdom of the Kurus.
तत्र किं प्राप्तकालं नः प्रणिपातः पलायनम् प्राणान्वा संपरित्यज्य प्रतियुध्यामहे परान्
M. N. Dutt: When the time comes, what should we do? Surrender or fly or shall we fight against the enemies and give up (all hopes of) our lives.
प्रतियुद्धे तु नियतः स्यादस्माकं पराजयः युधिष्ठिरस्य सर्वे हि पार्थिवा वशवर्तिनः
M. N. Dutt: In a fight against them, defeat shall surely be ours; all the rulers are on the side of Yudhishthira.
विरक्तराष्ट्राश्च वयं मित्राणि कुपितानि नः धिक्कृताः पार्थिवैः सर्वैः स्वजनेन च सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: On their being dispossessed of their kingdom, our friends are angry with us; and we are reviled by all the kings and by all our kinsmen.
प्रणिपाते तु दोषोऽस्ति बन्धूनां शाश्वतीः समाः पितरं त्वेव शोचामि प्रज्ञानेत्रं जनेश्वरम् मत्कृते दुःखमापन्नं क्लेशं प्राप्तमनन्तकम्
AI Translation: But in bowing down, there is a fault for my kinsmen for eternal years. I grieve only for my father, the lord of men, the eye of wisdom, who has fallen into
कृतं हि तव पुत्रैश्च परेषामवरोधनम् मत्प्रियार्थं पुरैवैतद्विदितं ते नरोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: And who may for my doings be beset with troubles and endless woes. The enemies were opposed by your sons simply for our good; which is known to you before, O best among men.
ते राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य सामात्यस्य महारथाः वैरं प्रतिकरिष्यन्ति कुलोच्छेदेन पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: The sons of Pandu, these mighty carwarriors, will have their revenge for their wrongs by the extinction of the race of the king Dhritarashtra with that of his ministers.
ततो द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्भीष्मः कृपो द्रौणिश्च भारत मत्वा मां महतीं चिन्तामास्थितं व्यथितेन्द्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: Then did Drona and Bhima and Kripa and the son of Drona thus speak, O Bharata, thinking me to be in the midst of great anxiety and with the senses tortured.
अभिद्रुग्धाः परे चेन्नो न भेतव्यं परंतप असमर्थाः परे जेतुमस्मान्युधि जनेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: The enemies ready to fight need not be feared, 0 subduer of foes; for the foes when in the battle field are incapable of conquering us.
एकैकशः समर्थाः स्मो विजेतुं सर्वपार्थिवान् आगच्छन्तु विनेष्यामो दर्पमेषां शितैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Each one of us by himself can conquer all the rulers of the earth. Let them come; we shall curb their pride by sharp arrows.
पुरैकेन हि भीष्मेण विजिताः सर्वपार्थिवाः मृते पितर्यभिक्रुद्धो रथेनैकेन भारत
M. N. Dutt: In days of old, all the rulers of the earth were conquered by the single Bhima seated on the single car, extremely wrathful on the death of his father.
जघान सुबहूंस्तेषां संरब्धः कुरुसत्तमः ततस्ते शरणं जग्मुर्देवव्रतमिमं भयात्
M. N. Dutt: That best one among the race of the Kurus, wrathful, killed many among them (enemies); them they out of fear sought the protection of this Devavrata.
स भीष्मः सुसमर्थोऽयमस्माभिः सहितो रणे परान्विजेतुं तस्मात्ते व्येतु भीर्भरतर्षभ इत्येषां निश्चयो ह्यासीत्तत्कालममितौजसाम्
M. N. Dutt: That Bhishma is well capable to fight along with us and to conquer to enemies; therefore, O bull among the race of Bharata, let your fears be dispelled.
पुरा परेषां पृथिवी कृत्स्नासीद्वशवर्तिनी अस्मान्पुनरमी नाद्य समर्था जेतुमाहवे छिन्नपक्षाः परे ह्यद्य वीर्यहीनाश्च पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Now they are not capable of again conquering us; the Pandavas are now shorn of their wings and devoid of strength.
अस्मत्संस्था च पृथिवी वर्तते भरतर्षभ एकार्थाः सुखदुःखेषु मयानीताश्च पार्थिवाः
M. N. Dutt: The earth, too, O bull among the race of Bharata, is now under our subjection and the rulers of the earth assembled are of the same mind with me in happiness or misery.
अप्यग्निं प्रविशेयुस्ते समुद्रं वा परंतप मदर्थे पार्थिवाः सर्वे तद्विद्धि कुरुसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O subduer of foes, for my sake, the rulers of the earth, can enter into fireor even the ocean; know this, O you best among the race of Kurus.
उन्मत्तमिव चापि त्वां प्रहसन्तीह दुःखितम् विलपन्तं बहुविधं भीतं परविकत्थने
M. N. Dutt: In this case they laugh at you, who are grieved and like one insane and giving vent to many sorts of lamentations, struck with fear by the descriptions of the enemies.
एषां ह्येकैकशो राज्ञां समर्थः पाण्डवान्प्रति आत्मानं मन्यते सर्वो व्येतु ते भयमागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Each of these kings by himself are capable of opposing the Pandavas. Every one considers himself all in all. Let the fear which has come on you be dispelled,
सर्वां समग्रां सेनां मे वासवोऽपि न शक्नुयात् हन्तुमक्षय्यरूपेयं ब्रह्मणापि स्वयम्भुवा
M. N. Dutt: To conquer my entire army, which is endless, cannot be annihilated even by Brahma, who is born of himself.
युधिष्ठिरः पुरं हित्वा पञ्च ग्रामान्स याचति भीतो हि मामकात्सैन्यात्प्रभावाच्चैव मे प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: That Yudhishthira foregoing his claims to the entire kingdom begs only five villages; he is afraid of my army and my prowess, O Lord.
समर्थं मन्यसे यच्च कुन्तीपुत्रं वृकोदरम् तन्मिथ्या न हि मे कृत्स्नं प्रभावं वेत्थ भारत
M. N. Dutt: The impression you have of the might of Vrikodara, the son of Kunti, has no foundation; you do not know my prowess, O Bharata.
मत्समो हि गदायुद्धे पृथिव्यां नास्ति कश्चन नासीत्कश्चिदतिक्रान्तो भविता न च कश्चन
M. N. Dutt: My equal in a fight with the mace, there is none in the world; there has been none my equal, nor will there be any.
युक्तो दुःखोचितश्चाहं विद्यापारगतस्तथा तस्मान्न भीमान्नान्येभ्यो भयं मे विद्यते क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: Suffering a lot of troubles and employing myself earnestly to my task, have I lived at the abode of my preceptor and learnt my lessons; therefore have I not the slightest fear from Bhima, nor from any other.
दुर्योधनसमो नास्ति गदायामिति निश्चयः संकर्षणस्य भद्रं ते यत्तदैनमुपावसम्
M. N. Dutt: In a fight with the mace there is none equal to Duryodhana-this is sure; for he used to live with Sankarshana (his preceptor), good betide you.
युद्धे संकर्षणसमो बलेनाभ्यधिको भुवि गदाप्रहारं भीमो मे न जातु विषहेद्युधि
M. N. Dutt: In a fight I am Sankarshana's equal and in strength there is none my equal in the world; Bhima will not be able to bear the blows of my mace in battle.
एकं प्रहारं यं दद्यां भीमाय रुषितो नृप स एवैनं नयेद्घोरं क्षिप्रं वैवस्वतक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: Being enraged, the one blow that I shall deal Bhima, o king, will strike him severely and speedily send him to the palace of death.
इच्छेयं च गदाहस्तं राजन्द्रष्टुं वृकोदरम् सुचिरं प्रार्थितो ह्येष मम नित्यं मनोरथः
M. N. Dutt: I am desirous, O king, to see Vrikodara with the mace in his hand; this has been prayed for by me for a long time, this has ever been the desire of my heart.
गदया निहतो ह्याजौ मम पार्थो वृकोदरः विशीर्णगात्रः पृथिवीं परासुः प्रपतिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Struck by me with the mace, Vrikodara, the son of Pritha, will fall lifeless on the ground with his body smashed.
गदाप्रहाराभिहतो हिमवानपि पर्वतः सकृन्मया विशीर्येत गिरिः शतसहस्रधा
M. N. Dutt: Struck by a blow from my mace, even the Himavat mountain can be split up into a hundred thousand pieces.
स चाप्येतद्विजानाति वासुदेवार्जुनौ तथा दुर्योधनसमो नास्ति गदायामिति निश्चयः
M. N. Dutt: It is very well known to both Vasudeva and Arjuna that it is certain that in a fight with the mace there is none equal to Duryodhana.
तत्ते वृकोदरमयं भयं व्येतु महाहवे व्यपनेष्याम्यहं ह्येनं मा राजन्विमना भव
M. N. Dutt: There let your fear proceeding from Vrikodara be dispelled; for I shall kill this one. Do not, O king, yield to grief.
तस्मिन्मया हते क्षिप्रमर्जुनं बहवो रथाः तुल्यरूपा विशिष्टाश्च क्षेप्स्यन्ति भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: He being slain by me, many car-warriors, educed with similar qualities, speedily throw down Arjuna, o bull among the race of Bharata.
भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपो द्रौणिः कर्णो भूरिश्रवास्तथा प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः शल्यः सिन्धुराजो जयद्रथः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Drona's son and Bhurishrava, Shalya, the king of the Pragjyotish and Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus,
एकैक एषां शक्तस्तु हन्तुं भारत पाण्डवान् समस्तास्तु क्षणेनैतान्नेष्यन्ति यमसादनम्
M. N. Dutt: Each one of these by himself is competent to kill the Pandavas, O Bharata, Acting together they will in an instant bring them to the abode of death.
समग्रा पार्थिवी सेना पार्थमेकं धनंजयम् कस्मादशक्ता निर्जेतुमिति हेतुर्न विद्यते
AI Translation: The entire army of the king was unable to defeat the single Partha Dhananjaya. There is no reason for this.
शरव्रातैस्तु भीष्मेण शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः द्रोणद्रौणिकृपैश्चैव गन्ता पार्थो यमक्षयम्
AI Translation: With showers of arrows, Bhishma, hundreds and thousands of times, And Drona, Drona's son, and Kripa, Partha will go to Yama's abode.
पितामहो हि गाङ्गेयः शंतनोरधि भारत ब्रह्मर्षिसदृशो जज्ञे देवैरपि दुरुत्सहः पित्रा ह्युक्तः प्रसन्नेन नाकामस्त्वं मरिष्यसि
AI Translation: For the grandfather of the Gāṅgeya, O descendant of Bharata, was born to Shantanu, like a sage of the Vedas, and was invincible even to the gods.
Supplementary Passages:
5.54.46 After 46cd, N (K2.3 D9 missing) ins.: *338 न हन्ता विद्यते चापि राजन्भीष्मस्य कश्चन
ब्रह्मर्षेश्च भरद्वाजाद्द्रोण्यां द्रोणो व्यजायत द्रोणाज्जज्ञे महाराज द्रौणिश्च परमास्त्रवित्
AI Translation: From the brahmin sage Bharadvaja was born Drona in the womb of Dronā. From Drona was born the great king Drona's son, the knower of the supreme weapons.
कृपश्चाचार्यमुख्योऽयं महर्षेर्गौतमादपि शरस्तम्बोद्भवः श्रीमानवध्य इति मे मतिः
AI Translation: This Kripa is the chief teacher, and he is greater than the great sage Gautama. He is born from a bow-shaped tree, and I think he is glorious and invincible.
अयोनिजं त्रयं ह्येतत्पिता माता च मातुलः अश्वत्थाम्नो महाराज स च शूरः स्थितो मम
AI Translation: This is the three that are born without a womb: father, mother, and maternal uncle. O great king, Ashvatthama is one of them, and that hero is standing by me.
सर्व एते महाराज देवकल्पा महारथाः शक्रस्यापि व्यथां कुर्युः संयुगे भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: All these, O great king, are like gods, great warriors, would cause even Indra to be distressed in battle, O bull of the Bharatas.
Supplementary Passages:
5.54.50 After 50, N (K2.3 D9 missing) ins.: *339 नैतेषामर्जुनः शक्त एकैकं प्रति वीक्षितुम् सहितास्तु नरव्याघ्रा हनिष्यन्ति धनंजयम्
भीष्मद्रोणकृपाणां च तुल्यः कर्णो मतो मम अनुज्ञातश्च रामेण मत्समोऽसीति भारत
AI Translation: I consider Karna to be equal to Bhishma, Drona and Kripa. And, O descendant of the Bharata lineage, he was granted permission by Rama, who said, "You are equal to me."
कुण्डले रुचिरे चास्तां कर्णस्य सहजे शुभे ते शच्यर्थे महेन्द्रेण याचितः स परंतपः अमोघया महाराज शक्त्या परमभीमया
M. N. Dutt: These two were asked by the great Indra himself for the sake of Sachi, O subduer of foes, in exchange, O great king of greatly terrific strength and infallible.
तस्य शक्त्योपगूढस्य कस्माज्जीवेद्धनंजयः विजयो मे ध्रुवं राजन्फलं पाणाविवाहितम् अभिव्यक्तः परेषां च कृत्स्नो भुवि पराजयः
M. N. Dutt: How can Dhananjaya escape (after a struggle with) from him who is thus protected; therefore is my victory certain, O king, as a fruit comes within the grasp of my two hands.
अह्ना ह्येकेन भीष्मोऽयमयुतं हन्ति भारत तत्समाश्च महेष्वासा द्रोणद्रौणिकृपा अपि
AI Translation: For, Bhishma, in a single day, kills ten thousand, O descendant of Bharata, And so do the great archers Drona, Drona's son, and Kripa.
संशप्तानि च वृन्दानि क्षत्रियाणां परंतप अर्जुनं वयमस्मान्वा धनंजय इति स्म ह
AI Translation: O scorcher of enemies, the groups of Kshatriyas were cursed, saying, "We will follow Arjuna or Dhananjaya."
तांश्चालमिति मन्यन्ते सव्यसाचिवधे विभो पार्थिवाः स भवान्राजन्नकस्माद्व्यथते कथम्
AI Translation: They think that it is enough to kill the son of Pandu. O lord, why are you so distressed, O king, when the kings are like that?
भीमसेने च निहते कोऽन्यो युध्येत भारत परेषां तन्ममाचक्ष्व यदि वेत्थ परंतप
AI Translation: If Bhimasena is killed, who else will fight, O descendant of Bharata? Tell me that, O scorcher of enemies, if you know it.
Supplementary Passages:
5.54.57 After 57, S ins.: *340 पाञ्चालेषु च भग्नेषु कोऽन्यः स्थातुमिहार्हति
पञ्च ते भ्रातरः सर्वे धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः परेषां सप्त ये राजन्योधाः परमकं बलम्
AI Translation: You have five brothers, all of them, Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki, and the seven warriors of the enemy, who are the greatest strength.
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये भीष्मद्रोणकृपादयः द्रौणिर्वैकर्तनः कर्णः सोमदत्तोऽथ बाह्लिकः
AI Translation: But we have the best of warriors, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and others, Karna, the son of a suta, Drona's son, Vaikartana, Somadatta and Bahlika,
प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः शल्य आवन्त्योऽथ जयद्रथः दुःशासनो दुर्मुखश्च दुःसहश्च विशां पते
AI Translation: Shalya, the lord of Pragjyotisha, Avanti, Jayadratha, Duhshasana, Duhmukha, Duhsaha, O lord of the people,
श्रुतायुश्चित्रसेनश्च पुरुमित्रो विविंशतिः शलो भूरिश्रवाश्चोभौ विकर्णश्च तवात्मजः
AI Translation: Śrutayus, Citrasena, Purumitra, Vivīnshati, Śala, Bhuriśravas, both of them, and Vikarṇa, your son,
अक्षौहिण्यो हि मे राजन्दशैका च समाहृताः न्यूनाः परेषां सप्तैव कस्मान्मे स्यात्पराजयः
AI Translation: O king, I have assembled ten and one akṣauhiṇīs, and the enemy has only seven. Why should I be defeated?
बलं त्रिगुणतो हीनं योध्यं प्राह बृहस्पतिः परेभ्यस्त्रिगुणा चेयं मम राजन्ननीकिनी
M. N. Dutt: That of the enemies is less, it is only seven; why thus should defeat be mine; an army less by a third should be fought with, said Brihaspati. My army, o king, exceeds that of the enemy by a third.
गुणहीनं परेषां च बहु पश्यामि भारत गुणोदयं बहुगुणमात्मनश्च विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: Then again do I see the enemy without any accomplishment, O Bharata; while ours, many accomplishments.
एतत्सर्वं समाज्ञाय बलाग्र्यं मम भारत न्यूनतां पाण्डवानां च न मोहं गन्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: O lord, knowing well all this the superiority of my army, O Bharata; and the inferior number of the Pandavas, it is not proper that you should lose your senses.
वैशंपायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा संजयं भूयः पर्यपृच्छत भारत विधित्सुः प्राप्तकालानि ज्ञात्वा परपुरंजयः
M. N. Dutt: Having thus addressed, he asked again of Sanjaya, O Bharata, desirous of knowing more of the enemies thinking that the proper time has come.