Critical Edition
संजय उवाच त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो महाराज यथार्हसि न तु दुर्योधने दोषमिममासक्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O great king, you are in every way a deserving person. This question is worthy of you. You should not however lay biame of Duryodhana.
य आत्मनो दुश्चरितादशुभं प्राप्नुयान्नरः एनसा तेन नान्यं स उपाशङ्कितुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: The man who suffers evil for his own misconduct should not attribute it to others.
महाराज मनुष्येषु निन्द्यं यः सर्वमाचरेत् स वध्यः सर्वलोकस्य निन्दितानि समाचरन्
M. N. Dutt: O king of kings, the man who does all sorts of harm to other men deserves to be killed by all men for his these censurable deeds.
निकारो निकृतिप्रज्ञैः पाण्डवैस्त्वत्प्रतीक्षया अनुभूतः सहामात्यैः क्षान्तं च सुचिरं वने
M. N. Dutt: The Pandavas are thoroughly unacquainted with the ways of wickedness. For a long time। loO king up to your face, they (silently) suffered the injury and forgave them though exiled in the forest.
हयानां च गजानां च शूराणां चामितौजसाम् प्रत्यक्षं यन्मया दृष्टं दृष्टं योगबलेन च
AI Translation: of horses and elephants, and of heroes of immeasurable energy, which I have seen with my own eyes and which I have seen by the power of yoga,
शृणु तत्पृथिवीपाल मा च शोके मनः कृथाः दिष्टमेतत्पुरा नूनमेवंभावि नराधिप
AI Translation: Listen to that, O protector of the earth, and do not be sorrowful. This was destined from the beginning, O king, it was bound to happen.
नमस्कृत्वा पितुस्तेऽहं पाराशर्याय धीमते यस्य प्रसादाद्दिव्यं मे प्राप्तं ज्ञानमनुत्तमम्
AI Translation: Having bowed to your father, the wise Parashara, By whose grace I have attained the supreme divine knowledge.
दृष्टिश्चातीन्द्रिया राजन्दूराच्छ्रवणमेव च परचित्तस्य विज्ञानमतीतानागतस्य च
AI Translation: And the ability to see and hear at a distance, and to know the minds of others, and the past and future.
व्युत्थितोत्पत्तिविज्ञानमाकाशे च गतिः सदा शस्त्रैरसङ्गो युद्धेषु वरदानान्महात्मनः
AI Translation: The knowledge of arising and ceasing, and always moving in space, Unattached to weapons in battles, due to the great being's granting of boons,
शृणु मे विस्तरेणेदं विचित्रं परमाद्भुतम् भारतानां महद्युद्धं यथाभूल्लोमहर्षणम्
AI Translation: Listen to me in detail about this wonderful and extraordinary the great battle of the Bharatas, which was hair-raising.
तेष्वनीकेषु यत्तेषु व्यूढेषु च विधानतः दुर्योधनो महाराज दुःशासनमथाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: When the troops were arrayed according to the rule, when they were all ready for battle. O king, Duryodhana thus spoke to Dushasana.
दुःशासन रथास्तूर्णं युज्यन्तां भीष्मरक्षिणः अनीकानि च सर्वाणि शीघ्रं त्वमनुचोदय
M. N. Dutt: O Dushasana, let cars be immediately ordered for the protection of Bhishma. Speedily urge all our troops to advance.
अयं मा समनुप्राप्तो वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितः पाण्डवानां ससैन्यानां कुरूणां च समागमः
M. N. Dutt: What I have been thinking for many years has now come to me; namely the meeting of the Pandavas and the Kurus at the head of their respective armies.
नातः कार्यतमं मन्ये रणे भीष्मस्य रक्षणात् हन्याद्गुप्तो ह्यसौ पार्थान्सोमकांश्च ससृञ्जयान्
M. N. Dutt: I do not think there is any thing more important in this battle than the protection of Bhishma. If properly protected he will kill the Pandavas, the Somakas and the Srinjayas.
अब्रवीच्च विशुद्धात्मा नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम् श्रूयते स्त्री ह्यसौ पूर्वं तस्माद्वर्ज्यो रणे मम
M. N. Dutt: That pure souled warrior (Bhishma) has said, "I shall not kill Shikhandin. I have heard he was a woman before. For this reason he should be renounced by me in battle”.
तस्माद्भीष्मो रक्षितव्यो विशेषेणेति मे मतिः शिखण्डिनो वधे यत्ताः सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु मामकाः
M. N. Dutt: For this, Bhishma should be specially protected. Let all my soldiers take up their respective positions and resolve to kill Shikhandin.
तथा प्राच्याः प्रतीच्याश्च दाक्षिणात्योत्तरापथाः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकुशलास्ते रक्षन्तु पितामहम्
M. N. Dutt: Let all the troops for the east, west, north and south skilled in all weapons protect the grand father (Bhishma).
अरक्ष्यमाणं हि वृको हन्यात्सिंहं महाबलम् मा सिंहं जम्बुकेनेव घातयामः शिखण्डिना
M. N. Dutt: Even a highly powerful lion may be killed, if left unprotected, by an wolf. Let us not therefore allow (by any means) Bhishma to be killed by Shikhandin as a lion killed by a jackal. two
वामं चक्रं युधामन्युरुत्तमौजाश्च दक्षिणम् गोप्तारौ फल्गुनस्यैतौ फल्गुनोऽपि शिखण्डिनः
M. N. Dutt: Yudhamanyu protects the left and Uttamaujas protects the right of Phalguna (Arjuna). Thus protected by these Phalguna himself protects Shikhandin.
संरक्ष्यमाणः पार्थेन भीष्मेण च विवर्जितः यथा न हन्याद्गाङ्गेयं दुःशासन तथा कुरु
M. N. Dutt: O Dushasana, act in such a way that Shikhandin, who is protected by Arjuna and whom Bhishma will avoid may not (finally) kill the son of Ganga (Bhishma).
ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां शब्दः समभवन्महान् क्रोशतां भूमिपालानां युज्यतां युज्यतामिति
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said When the night passed away loud was the noise made by the kings by their all shouting "Array, array".
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषैः सिंहनादैश्च भारत हयहेषितशब्दैश्च रथनेमिस्वनैस्तथा
AI Translation: With the sounds of conch shells and drums, and the roars of lions, O descendant of Bharata, With the neighing of horses and the sounds of chariot wheels,
गजानां बृंहतां चैव योधानां चाभिगर्जताम् क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैस्तुमुलं सर्वतोऽभवत्
AI Translation: of elephants trumpeting and of warriors roaring, and with the sounds of hissing, clapping, and shouting, it became tumultuous in every direction.
उदतिष्ठन्महाराज सर्वं युक्तमशेषतः सूर्योदये महत्सैन्यं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः तव राजेन्द्र पुत्राणां पाण्डवानां तथैव च
M. N. Dutt: O king, rising at sunrise, the large armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas made all their arrangements complete.
Supplementary Passages:
6.16.24 After 24, K3-5 B D S ins.: *64 दुष्प्रधृष्याणि चास्त्राणि सशस्त्रकवचानि च ततः प्रकाशे सैन्यानि समदृश्यन्त भारत त्वदीयानां परेषां च शस्त्रवन्ति महान्ति च
तत्र नागा रथाश्चैव जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताः विभ्राजमाना दृश्यन्ते मेघा इव सविद्युतः
M. N. Dutt: The elephants and chariots adorned and decked with gold looked like resplendent clouds charged with lightning.
Supplementary Passages:
6.16.25 After 25, D7 ins. (cf. 37ab): *65 संनाहाः समदृश्यन्त स्वेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः
रथानीकान्यदृश्यन्त नगराणीव भूरिशः अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पिता ते पूर्णचन्द्रवत्
M. N. Dutt: The line of chariots standing in countless number looked like so many cities, your father (Bhishma) standing there looked as brilliant as full moon.
धनुर्भिरृष्टिभिः खड्गैर्गदाभिः शक्तितोमरैः योधाः प्रहरणैः शुभ्रैः स्वेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: Then the warriors armed with bows, swords, scimitars, maces, javelins, lances, and shining weapons of various kinds took up their respective positions.
गजा रथाः पदाताश्च तुरगाश्च विशां पते व्यतिष्ठन्वागुराकाराः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: O king, elephants, foot soldiers, carwarriors and horseman stood there by hundred and thousands like a net work,
ध्वजा बहुविधाकारा व्यदृश्यन्त समुच्छ्रिताः स्वेषां चैव परेषां च द्युतिमन्तः सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: Thousands of brilliant standards of various forms were seen belonging both to ourselves and to the enemy.
काञ्चना मणिचित्राङ्गा ज्वलन्त इव पावकाः अर्चिष्मन्तो व्यरोचन्त ध्वजा राज्ञां सहस्रशः
AI Translation: With golden bodies adorned with jewels, they shone like blazing fires. The thousands of flags of the kings shone with radiance.
महेन्द्रकेतवः शुभ्रा महेन्द्रसदनेष्विव संनद्धास्तेषु ते वीरा ददृशुर्युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः
AI Translation: The white banners of the great Indra were like those in the abode of the great Indra. The warriors, eager for battle, saw them arrayed there.
उद्यतैरायुधैश्चित्रास्तलबद्धाः कलापिनः ऋषभाक्षा मनुष्येन्द्राश्चमूमुखगता बभुः
M. N. Dutt: Many foremost of men, with bull-like large eyes, with quivers and with finger protectors stood at the head of their respective troops.
शकुनिः सौबलः शल्यः सैन्धवोऽथ जयद्रथः विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ काम्बोजश्च सुदक्षिणः
AI Translation: Shakuni Soubala, Shalya, Saindhava Jayadratha, Vind and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Sudakshina of Kamboja,
Supplementary Passages:
6.16.33 For 33cd, M4 subst.: *66 भगदत्तो महावीर्यः कौसल्यश्च बृहद्रथः
श्रुतायुधश्च कालिङ्गो जयत्सेनश्च पार्थिवः बृहद्बलश्च कौशल्यः कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः
AI Translation: Śrutayu, the king of Kaliṅga, Jayatsena, the king of the Pāṇḍavas, Bṛhadbala, the Kṣatriya, and Kṛtavarman, the Sātvatas,
दशैते पुरुषव्याघ्राः शूराः परिघबाहवः अक्षौहिणीनां पतयो यज्वानो भूरिदक्षिणाः
AI Translation: These ten tiger-like men, brave, with arms like clubs, are the lords of armies, sacrificers, givers of abundant gifts.
एते चान्ये च बहवो दुर्योधनवशानुगाः राजानो राजपुत्राश्च नीतिमन्तो महाबलाः
AI Translation: These and many others who follow Duryodhana's lead, Kings and princes, wise and mighty,
संनद्धाः समदृश्यन्त स्वेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः बद्धकृष्णाजिनाः सर्वे ध्वजिनो मुञ्जमालिनः
AI Translation: They were seen to be armored, standing in their own armies, All bound with black antelope skin, with flags, wearing garlands of muñja grass,
सृष्टा दुर्योधनस्यार्थे ब्रह्मलोकाय दीक्षिताः समृद्धा दश वाहिन्यः परिगृह्य व्यवस्थिताः
AI Translation: They were created for Duryodhana's sake, initiated for the world of Brahma. Ten divisions, prosperous, having taken possession, were established.
एकादशी धार्तराष्ट्री कौरवाणां महाचमूः अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां यत्र शांतनवोऽग्रणीः
M. N. Dutt: The eleventh great division of the Kuru army stood in advance (of all others) at the head of these troops stood the son of Shantanu Bhishma.
श्वेतोष्णीषं श्वेतहयं श्वेतवर्माणमच्युतम् अपश्याम महाराज भीष्मं चन्द्रमिवोदितम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, with his white head dress, with his white armour, we saw greatly powerful Bhishma look like the rising moon.
हेमतालध्वजं भीष्मं राजते स्यन्दने स्थितम् श्वेताभ्र इव तीक्ष्णांशुं ददृशुः कुरुपाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma was rode on a fantastic chariot made-up of silver. His Tala marked flag was of golden colour and waving with the wind in sky. He was seen as sun god covered within the cluster of white clouds by Kauravas,
दृष्ट्वा चमूमुखे भीष्मं समकम्पन्त पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयाश्च महेष्वासा धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः
AI Translation: Seeing Bhishma at the head of the army, the Pandavas trembled, and the Srinjayas, great archers, led by Dhrishtadyumna,
जृम्भमाणं महासिंहं दृष्ट्वा क्षुद्रमृगा यथा धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाः सर्वे समुद्विविजिरे मुहुः
AI Translation: Seeing the great lion yawning, like small deer, All of them, with Dhrishtadyumna at the forefront, were repeatedly terrified.
एकादशैताः श्रीजुष्टा वाहिन्यस्तव भारत पाण्डवानां तथा सप्त महापुरुषपालिताः
AI Translation: These eleven armies, O Bhārata, are resorted to by Śrī. And the seven of the Pāṇḍavas are protected by great men.
उन्मत्तमकरावर्तौ महाग्राहसमाकुलौ युगान्ते समुपेतौ द्वौ दृश्येते सागराविव
AI Translation: Like two oceans at the end of the world, they are seen to be filled with mad crocodiles and whirlpools, and crowded with great sharks.
नैव नस्तादृशो राजन्दृष्टपूर्वो न च श्रुतः अनीकानां समेतानां समवायस्तथाविधः
AI Translation: O king, we have never seen or heard of such a thing. Such a gathering of armies has never been seen before.