Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच आपगेयं महात्मानं भीष्मं शस्त्रभृतां वरम् पितामहं भारतानां ध्वजं सर्वमहीक्षिताम्
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said The great-souled Bhishma, the foremost among all wielders of weapons, the grandfather of the Bharatas, the flag as it were of all the rulers of the earth,
बृहस्पतिसमं बुद्ध्या क्षमया पृथिवीसमम् समुद्रमिव गाम्भीर्ये हिमवन्तमिव स्थिरम्
M. N. Dutt: In intelligence equal to Brihaspati, in power equal to the earth, in gravity equal to the sea, in calmness equal to the Himavat,
प्रजापतिमिवौदार्ये तेजसा भास्करोपमम् महेन्द्रमिव शत्रूणां ध्वंसनं शरवृष्टिभिः
M. N. Dutt: In generosity equal to the lord of all creatures, in effulgence equal to the sun, and in destroying the enemies by downpours of arrows equal to great Indra,
रणयज्ञे प्रतिभये स्वाभीले लोमहर्षणे दीक्षितं चिररात्राय श्रुत्वा राजा युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: Was employed for life as the chief priest of that sacrifice of battle, which was fierce and hair-stirring. Healing this what did Yudhishthira,
किमब्रवीन्महाबाहुः सर्वधर्मविशारदः भीमसेनार्जुनौ वापि कृष्णो वा प्रत्यपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: Of long arms, the foremost among all wielders of weapons, say and what did Bhimasena and Arjuna and what did Krishna say?
वैशंपायन उवाच आपद्धर्मार्थकुशलो महाबुद्धिर्युधिष्ठिरः सर्वान्भ्रातॄन्समानीय वासुदेवं च सात्वतम् उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठः सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Yudhishthira, who was skillful in virtue and worldly profit especially in seasons of calamities, having summoned together all his brothers as also the eternal Vasudeva,
पर्याक्रामत सैन्यानि यत्तास्तिष्ठत दंशिताः पितामहेन वो युद्धं पूर्वमेव भविष्यति तस्मात्सप्तसु सेनासु प्रणेतॄन्मम पश्यत
M. N. Dutt: Our first encounter will be with our grandfather, therefore do you look for the seven leaders of my army.
वासुदेव उवाच यथार्हति भवान्वक्तुमस्मिन्काल उपस्थिते तथेदमर्थवद्वाक्यमुक्तं ते भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said By you, O best among the race of Bharatas, have these words pregnant with meaning been said, which indeed are proper in these circumstances which have presented themselves.
रोचते मे महाबाहो क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् नायकास्तव सेनायामभिषिच्यन्तु सप्त वै
M. N. Dutt: All this I approve of, O you of long arms, and now do what ought to be done; select seven leaders for your army.
वैशंपायन उवाच ततो द्रुपदमानाय्य विराटं शिनिपुंगवम् धृष्टद्युम्नं च पाञ्चाल्यं धृष्टकेतुं च पार्थिवम् शिखण्डिनं च पाञ्चाल्यं सहदेवं च मागधम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Then summoning before him Drupada, Virata, and that best among the Shini race, and Dhrishtadyumna the prince of Panchala, and the ruler of the earth Dhrishtaketu,
एतान्सप्त महेष्वासान्वीरान्युद्धाभिनन्दिनः सेनाप्रणेतॄन्विधिवदभ्यषिञ्चद्युधिष्ठिरः
AI Translation: These seven great archers, heroes who delight in battle, Yudhishthira consecrated as commanders of the army, in accordance with the rules.
सर्वसेनापतिं चात्र धृष्टद्युम्नमुपादिशत् द्रोणान्तहेतोरुत्पन्नो य इद्धाज्जातवेदसः
AI Translation: And he appointed Dhrishtadyumna as the general of the whole army. He who was born for the purpose of killing Drona, like the fire that is born from the rubbing of sticks,
सर्वेषामेव तेषां तु समस्तानां महात्मनाम् सेनापतिपतिं चक्रे गुडाकेशं धनंजयम्
AI Translation: All of them, all those great souls, appointed the lord of their armies, the son of Pandu, the slayer of enemies.
अर्जुनस्यापि नेता च संयन्ता चैव वाजिनाम् संकर्षणानुजः श्रीमान्महाबुद्धिर्जनार्दनः
AI Translation: He was the charioteer and the controller of Arjuna's horses. The glorious Janardana, the younger brother of Samkarṣaṇa, was of great intellect.
तद्दृष्ट्वोपस्थितं युद्धं समासन्नं महात्ययम् प्राविशद्भवनं राज्ञः पाण्डवस्य हलायुधः
AI Translation: Seeing that the battle was imminent and very destructive, Hala-yudha entered the palace of the Pandava king.
सहाक्रूरप्रभृतिभिर्गदसाम्बोल्मुकादिभिः रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश्चारुदेष्णपुरोगमैः
AI Translation: With Akrūra and others, with Gada, Sāmba, Ulūka and others, With Rukmin's sons, with Cārudeva and others, with the sons of Āhuka,
वृष्णिमुख्यैरभिगतैर्व्याघ्रैरिव बलोत्कटैः अभिगुप्तो महाबाहुर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवः
AI Translation: Protected by the foremost of the Vrishnis, who had come there, as if by fierce tigers, The mighty-armed one was guarded by them, like Vasava by the Maruts.
नीलकौशेयवसनः कैलासशिखरोपमः सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान्मदरक्तान्तलोचनः
AI Translation: Wearing blue silk garments, resembling the peak of Mount Kailash, Graceful in gait like a lion, majestic, with eyes red with passion,
तं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजश्च केशवश्च महाद्युतिः उदतिष्ठत्तदा पार्थो भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः
AI Translation: Seeing him, Dharma's son and the very radiant Keshava, Partha, the one of terrible deeds, Vrikodara, then rose.
गाण्डीवधन्वा ये चान्ये राजानस्तत्र केचन पूजयां चक्रुरभ्येत्य ते स्म सर्वे हलायुधम्
AI Translation: The bow-wielding Gandīva, and other kings who were there, All of them approached and honored Hālāyudha.
ततस्तं पाण्डवो राजा करे पस्पर्श पाणिना वासुदेवपुरोगास्तु सर्व एवाभ्यवादयन्
AI Translation: Then the king of the Pandavas touched him with his hand. Vasudeva and the others all greeted him.
विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धावभिवाद्य हलायुधः युधिष्ठिरेण सहित उपाविशदरिंदमः
AI Translation: Having saluted the aged Virāta and Drupada, the slayer of enemies, the wielder of the plough-share, sat down with Yudhiṣṭhira.
ततस्तेषूपविष्टेषु पार्थिवेषु समन्ततः वासुदेवमभिप्रेक्ष्य रौहिणेयोऽभ्यभाषत
M. N. Dutt: That chastiser of foes then sat down with Yudhishthira and the son of Rohini then said, with his eyes on Vasudeva, to those rulers of the earth seated together.
भवितायं महारौद्रो दारुणः पुरुषक्षयः दिष्टमेतद्ध्रुवं मन्ये न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम्
M. N. Dutt: There will be a very fierce and harsh massacre of men, it is ordained by the fate surely, I think, and cannot be avoided.
अस्माद्युद्धात्समुत्तीर्णानपि वः ससुहृज्जनान् अरोगानक्षतैर्देहैः पश्येयमिति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: And I entertain the hope that I shall see you come out of that battle along with your well wishers without any disease, and without any scars on your persons.
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं कालपक्वमसंशयम् विमर्दः सुमहान्भावी मांसशोणितकर्दमः
M. N. Dutt: All these Kshatriyas, these rulers of the earth have their hour come and there will be a great massacre which will make the earth one mass of clay of flesh and blood.
उक्तो मया वासुदेवः पुनः पुनरुपह्वरे संबन्धिषु समां वृत्तिं वर्तस्व मधुसूदन
M. N. Dutt: Vasudeva was thus addressed by me again and again in private: “Behave with impartiality to those who are equally related to you, O slayer of Madhu.
पाण्डवा हि यथास्माकं तथा दुर्योधनो नृपः तस्यापि क्रियतां युक्त्या सपर्येति पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: As the sons of Pandu are to us, so is that ruler of men Duryodhana; and do you therefore help him also for he applied for it again and again.
तच्च मे नाकरोद्वाक्यं त्वदर्थे मधुसूदनः निविष्टः सर्वभावेन धनंजयमवेक्ष्य च
M. N. Dutt: For your sake, however, did the slayer of Madhu, not act up to my words. He has with all his heart set himself to your interests, with his eye on the interests of Dhananjaya.
ध्रुवो जयः पाण्डवानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः तथा ह्यभिनिवेशोऽयं वासुदेवस्य भारत
M. N. Dutt: Victory will surely come to the sons of Pandu; such is my opinion, for such is the purpose of Vasudeva.
न चाहमुत्सहे कृष्णमृते लोकमुदीक्षितुम् ततोऽहमनुवर्तामि केशवस्य चिकीर्षितम्
M. N. Dutt: I do not dare to look on this world separated from Krishna and therefore shall I remain inactive in what Krishna wishes.
उभौ शिष्यौ हि मे वीरौ गदायुद्धविशारदौ तुल्यस्नेहोऽस्म्यतो भीमे तथा दुर्योधने नृपे
M. N. Dutt: Both of these heroes, well skilled in fighting with maces, are my pupils and I bear the same affection for Duryodhana as for that ruler of men Bhima.
तस्माद्यास्यामि तीर्थानि सरस्वत्या निषेवितुम् न हि शक्ष्यामि कौरव्यान्नश्यमानानुपेक्षितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore shall I now go to make a pilgrimage to the sacred places on the banks of the Sarasvati for I shall not be able to look on with indifference at this massacre of the Kurus.
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुरनुज्ञातश्च पाण्डवैः तीर्थयात्रां ययौ रामो निवर्त्य मधुसूदनम्
M. N. Dutt: The one of long arms, Rama saying this with the leave of the sons of Pandava, went to visit the holy places making the slayer of Madhu return, (he had accompanied him for some distance)