Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत संजय
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said What did my sons and the Pandava do, o Sanjaya, when desirous of battle they all assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra?
Supplementary Passages:
6.23.1 Before the ref. of 6.23.1, K0-2 ins. a passage given in App. I (No. 2); while Ś1 ins. atha gītā likhyate | śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |; K5 ataḥ paraṃ gītā likhyate; D1 atha gītā; D2 ataḥ paraṃ gītā bhaviṣyati | oṃ namo nārāyaṇāya | śrīkṛṣṇāya namaḥ |; G2 śrīkṛṣṇāya namaḥ | śrīmate rāmānujāya namaḥ | hariḥ oṃ śubham astu | followed by: *85 कृष्णं कमलपत्राक्षं पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनम् वासुदेवं जगद्योनिं नौमि नारायणं हरिम्
संजय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Seeing the Pandava army in battle array,
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता
M. N. Dutt: “Behold, O Preceptor, the grand army of the Pandavas, drawn up in battle array by your intelligent pupil the son of Drupada.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः
M. N. Dutt: There are in it mighty bowmen, equals of Bhima and Arjuna in battle. There are Yudhishthira, Virata and the great car-warrior Drupada.
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुंगवः
M. N. Dutt: There are Dhrishtaketu, Chekitan and valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and that kings of men, Shaivya.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः
M. N. Dutt: There are mighty Yudhamanyu, heroic Uttamaujas, Subhadra's son and sons of Draupadi, all great car-warriors.
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते
M. N. Dutt: O best of Brahmanas, learn, I shall tell you also for your information who are the most distinguished amongst us, and who are the leaders of my army.
Supplementary Passages:
6.23.7 After 7, Ś3 D6 ins.: *86 सैन्ये महति ये सर्वे नेतारः शूरसंमताः
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिंजयः अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च
M. N. Dutt: Yourself, and Bhishma, and Karna, and ever-victorious Kripa, Ashvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः
M. N. Dutt: There are (besides these) many warriors, all well-skilled in the art of war and (all) armed with various weapons, ready to die for me.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्
M. N. Dutt: Our army protected by Bhishma is unlimited (more then sufficient) their army protected by Bhima is limited, (may be sufficient).
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि
M. N. Dutt: Therefore all of you, place yourselves at the head of your respective phalanx, and protect (and support) Bhishma only".
तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्
M. N. Dutt: Then the older of the Kurus, the mighty Grandsire Bhishma, roaring like a lion, blew his conch, thus affording him (Duryodhana) great delight.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: And then conchs, drums, trumpets and cymbals were all at once sounded, and there rose a great uproar (from all sides).
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः
M. N. Dutt: Then Madhava (Srikrishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in a great car yoked with white steeds, blew their celestial conchs.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः
M. N. Dutt: Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Dhananjaya, Devadatta, and the doer of fearful deeds, Bhima his great conch Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ
M. N. Dutt: The son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira, Ananta Vijaya and Nakula and Sahadeva Sughosha and Mani Pushpaka respectively.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः
M. N. Dutt: The great bowman the king of Kashi the mighty car warrior Shikhandin, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and ever-victorious Satyaki.
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्
M. N. Dutt: Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi and the mighty armed son of Subhadra, O king of all the world, each blew his conch separately.
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्
M. N. Dutt: Echoing heaven and earth, the tumultous din rent the hearts of Dhritarashtra's people.
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: O king of the world, the ape standard son of Pandu secing Dhritarashtra's people marshalled in battle bent, and missiles having been just began to be discharged, raised up his bow, and spoke thus to Hrishikesh :
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत
AI Translation: Then the lord of the earth spoke these words to Hrishikesha: "O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies."
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे
M. N. Dutt: "O undeteriorating one, place my car between the two armies. While I see those who stand here desirous of battle, and with whom I shall have to fight in this war-struggle.
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः
M. N. Dutt: I shall see those who have assembled here to fight, wishing to do good to the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O Bharata, thus addressed by Gudakesha (Arjuna), Hrishikesh, placing the excellent car between the two armies.
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति
M. N. Dutt: In front of Bhishma, Drona and all the kings of the earth, said, “Behold Partha, the assembled Kaurava".
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Partha saw in the two armies fathers, grandfathers, preceptors, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, fathers-in-law, and well-wishers.
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing in the two armies all friends and Kinsmen (present), the son of Kunti was ency said.
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् दृष्ट्वेमान्स्वजनान्कृष्ण युयुत्सून्समवस्थितान्
AI Translation: Overwhelmed by compassion, he spoke these words: "Seeing these kinsmen of mine standing ready for battle,
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते
AI Translation: My limbs are sinking, my mouth is drying up, and my body is trembling and my hair is standing on end.
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः
AI Translation: The Gandīva bow slips from my hand, and my skin is burning. I am unable to stand still, and my mind is whirling.
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे
AI Translation: I see omens that are contrary, O Keshava. I do not see any good in killing my own people in battle.
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा
AI Translation: I do not desire victory, O Krishna, nor the kingdom, nor happiness. What is the kingdom to us, O Govinda, what is the enjoyment, what is life?
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च
AI Translation: For whose sake we desire the kingdom, enjoyments, and happiness, They are standing in the battle, having given up their lives and wealth.
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः स्यालाः संबन्धिनस्तथा
AI Translation: Teachers, fathers, sons, and grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and relatives,
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते
AI Translation: I do not wish to kill these, O Madhusudana, even if they kill me. For the sake of the kingdom of the three worlds, or even for the sake of the earth,
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः
AI Translation: O Janardana, what pleasure can there be for us after having killed the sons of Dhritarashtra? We would be committing sin by killing these assassins.
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्सबान्धवान् स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव
M. N. Dutt: Even killing these felons, we shall incur sin. Therefore, it is not proper that we shall kill our own kinsmen, these sons of Dhritarashtra. How can we, O Madhava, be happy by killing our own relatives?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्
M. N. Dutt: If they, blinded by avarice, cannot see the sin they commit by exterminating the (Kuru) race, and playing enmity with friends.
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन
M. N. Dutt: Why should we not, O Janardana who know that sin is the result of exterminating the race, learn to desist from it?
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत
M. N. Dutt: On the extinction of a family, the old and ever continuing family rites are destroyed), nobody being alive to solemnize them). When religious rites are thus destroyed, sin predominates over all.
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसंकरः
M. N. Dutt: From the predominance of sin, O Krishna, women become corrupt, and then O descendant of Vrishni, cross-breeds (mixed-castes) are borm.
संकरो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः
M. N. Dutt: Such cross-breeding leads both the exterminator of the race and the race itself to hell. The (deceased) ancestors whose Sraddha ceremonies have ceased, (to whom children have stopped to give food and water), fall (from heaven to hell).
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसंकरकारकैः उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः
M. N. Dutt: Both the caste and family-rites of the exterminators of the race, (who are) guilty of the sin of cross-breeding, are destroyed.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम
M. N. Dutt: We have heard, O Janardana, that those whose family-rites are thus destroyed, live for ever in hell.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः
M. N. Dutt: Alas, we are engaged in committing a great sin. We are to kill our own kinsmen for the greed of the pleasures of sovereignty.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: Better would it be if unretaliating and unarmed myself, the armed sons of Dhritarashtra kill in battle".
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Having thus spoken on the field of battle, Arjuna, with a sorrowful heart, sat down on the car, casting aside his bow and arrows.