Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच दैवमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषादपि संजय यत्सैन्यं मम पुत्रस्य पाण्डुसैन्येन वध्यते
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said I consider, O Sanjaya, destiny to by superior to human endeavor, in as much as, the troops of my son are always being slaughtered by those of the sons of Pandu.
नित्यं हि मामकांस्तात हतानेव हि शंससि अव्यग्रांश्च प्रहृष्टांश्च नित्यं शंससि पाण्डवान्
M. N. Dutt: You always, O Suta, tell me, that my troops are slaughtered, whilst on the other hand you say that the Pandava forces are not slaughtered and are all filled with delight.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.2 After 2, S ins.: *226 विभग्नांश्च प्रणष्टांश्च नित्यं शंससि मामकान्
हीनान्पुरुषकारेण मामकानद्य संजय पतितान्पात्यमानांश्च हतानेव च शंससि
M. N. Dutt: You always, O Sanjaya, speak of my troops as being destitute of manliness, as felled and falling and massacred.
युध्यमानान्यथाशक्ति घटमानाञ्जयं प्रति पाण्डवा विजयन्त्येव जीयन्ते चैव मामकाः
M. N. Dutt: Yough they are fighting to the best of their powers, and striving hard to secure victory over them, whilst they are becoming reduced in number.
सोऽहं तीव्राणि दुःखानि दुर्योधनकृतानि च अश्रौषं सततं तात दुःसहानि बहूनि च
M. N. Dutt: So, O son, I am always hearing of numerous causes of insufferable and poignant grief, engendered by misdeeds of Duryodhana.
तमुपायं न पश्यामि जीयेरन्येन पाण्डवाः मामका वा जयं युद्धे प्राप्नुयुर्येन संजय
M. N. Dutt: I could discover no measure by which the Pandavas could be reduced, also by which, O Sanjaya, my sons would be able to secure victory in this battle.
संजय उवाच क्षयं मनुष्यदेहानां गजवाजिरथक्षयम् शृणु राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा तवैवापनयो महान्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Listen, O monarch, with patience, to the description of the destruction of human hosts and of the hosts of steeds elephants and cars this mighty evil owes its origin to you.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु शल्येन पीडितो नवभिः शरैः पीडयामास संक्रुद्धो मद्राधिपतिमायसैः
M. N. Dutt: Dhrishtadyumna, being afflicted by Shalya with nine arrows, was inflamed with wrath; and he afflicted the ruler of the Madras, in return, with dares made of steel.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम पार्षतस्य पराक्रमम् न्यवारयत यत्तूर्णं शल्यं समितिशोभनम्
M. N. Dutt: Then we saw the highly wonderful prowess of the son of Prishata, as he speedily checked (the career of) Shalya the ornament of assemblies.
नान्तरं ददृशे कश्चित्तयोः संरब्धयो रणे मुहूर्तमिव तद्युद्धं तयोः सममिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: No weakness was detected in any one of them, when enraged, they were engaged in the battle. The combat between them seemed to last only for a moment.
ततः शल्यो महाराज धृष्टद्युम्नस्य संयुगे धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च
M. N. Dutt: Then, O mighty monarch, in that fight, Shalya cut down the bow of Dhrishtadyumna with a keen pointed yellow dare.
अथैनं शरवर्षेण छादयामास भारत गिरिं जलागमे यद्वज्जलदा जलधारिणः
M. N. Dutt: Also, Bharata, he covered Dhrishtadyumna with showers of arrows, like clouds, swelling with rain, covering a mountain at the rainy season.
अभिमन्युस्तु संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्ने निपीडिते अभिदुद्राव वेगेन मद्रराजरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: When Dhrishtadyumna was being thus fermented, Abhimanyu, inflamed with wrath, rushed with violence against the car of the king of the Madras.
ततो मद्राधिपरथं कार्ष्णिः प्राप्यातिकोपनः आर्तायनिममेयात्मा विव्याध विशिखैस्त्रिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then the highly excited nephew of Krishna, that hero of immeasurable should, having reached near the car of the Madra king, pierced Artayani with three whetted shafts.
ततस्तु तावका राजन्परीप्सन्तोऽऽर्जुनिं रणे मद्रराजरथं तूर्णं परिवार्यावतस्थिरे
M. N. Dutt: Thereat, O monarch, your troops desirous of resting the son of Arjuna in battle, speedily formed themselves in a circle around the chariot of the ruler of the Madras.
दुर्योधनो विकर्णश्च दुःशासनविविंशती दुर्मर्षणो दुःसहश्च चित्रसेनश्च दुर्मुखः
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana, Vikarna, Dushasana, Vivingshati, Durmarshana Dusaha, Chitrasena, Durmukha.
सत्यव्रतश्च भद्रं ते पुरुमित्रश्च भारत एते मद्राधिपरथं पालयन्तः स्थिता रणे
M. N. Dutt: Satyavrata, Purumitra and the mighty carwarrior Vikarna, these stationed themselves in the filed for protecting the chariot of the ruler of the Madras.
तान्भीमसेनः संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ
M. N. Dutt: Threat Bhimsena, excited with rage, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, the sons of Draupadi and Abhimanyu, the twin sons of Pandu by Madri.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.18 After 18, N ins.: *227 धार्तराष्ट्रान्दश रथान्दशैव प्रत्यवारयन्
नानारूपाणि शस्त्राणि विसृजन्तो विशां पते अभ्यवर्तन्त संहृष्टाः परस्परवधैषिणः ते वै समीयुः संग्रामे राजन्दुर्मन्त्रिते तव
M. N. Dutt: It is, O monarch, through the wicked policy of yours that those warriors inflamed with rage then approached and encountered one another in battle, out of a desire for slaying one another.
तस्मिन्दाशरथे युद्धे वर्तमाने भयावहे तावकानां परेषां च प्रेक्षका रथिनोऽभवन्
M. N. Dutt: When those ten warriors, wrought up with wrath, met the other ten in that awful battle, thereat of the car-warriors of your army and of the army of your foes became sight seers.
शस्त्राण्यनेकरूपाणि विसृजन्तो महारथाः अन्योन्यमभिनर्दन्तः संप्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे
M. N. Dutt: Those mighty car-warriors shooting weapons of diverse shape and roaring at one another began to smite one bother.
ते यत्ता जातसंरम्भाः सर्वेऽन्योन्यं जिघांसवः महास्त्राणि विमुञ्चन्तः समापेतुरमर्षणाः
AI Translation: They, all of them, were full of anger and desirous of killing each other. They, the intolerant ones, released great weapons and came together.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.22 After 22ab, K4 B Da Dn1 D4.5.7 ins.: *228 अन्योन्यमभिनर्दन्तः स्पर्धमानाः परस्परम् K4 B Da Dn1 D4.5.7 cont.: Ś1 K0-3.5 D1.3. 6.7 ins. after 22ab: Dn2 after 21ab: D8 after 21c: *229 अन्योन्यस्पर्धया राजञ्ज्ञातयः संगता मिथः D1.3 cont.: *230 समागता महाराज ज्ञातयः शस्त्रपाणयः
दुर्योधनस्तु संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नं महारणे विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैश्चतुर्भिस्त्वरितो भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Inflamed with wrath, Duryodhana in that fierce battle pierced Dhrishtadyumna with four whetted arrows; and in battle, the feat was wonderful.
दुर्मर्षणश्च विंशत्या चित्रसेनश्च पञ्चभिः दुर्मुखो नवभिर्बाणैर्दुःसहश्चापि सप्तभिः विविंशतिः पञ्चभिश्च त्रिभिर्दुःशासनस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Durmarshana pierced him (Dhrishtadyumna) with twenty shafts, Chitrasena with five, Durmukha with nine, Dusaha with seven.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.24 After 24, D2 (marg. sec. m.) ins.: *231 विकर्णो दशभिर्बाणैः पुरुमित्रश्च पञ्चभिः सत्यव्रतः सप्तभिश्च पार्षतं समरेऽहनत् while D1 ins.: *232 मद्राधिपस्त्रिभिश्चैव विकर्णः पञ्चभिः शरैः
तान्प्रत्यविध्यद्राजेन्द्र पार्षतः शत्रुतापनः एकैकं पञ्चविंशत्या दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम्
AI Translation: To them, the king of kings, Parshata, the tormentor of enemies, pierced them, showing the dexterity of his hands by piercing each of them with twenty-five arrows.
सत्यव्रतं तु समरे पुरुमित्रं च भारत अभिमन्युरविध्यत्तौ दशभिर्दशभिः शरैः
AI Translation: In the battle, O descendant of Bharata, he pierced Satyavrata and Purumitra with ten arrows each.
माद्रीपुत्रौ तु समरे मातुलं मातृनन्दनौ छादयेतां शरव्रातैस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
AI Translation: But the sons of Madri, the nephews of their maternal uncle, covered him with showers of arrows in the battle, and that was indeed wonderful.
ततः शल्यो महाराज स्वस्रीयौ रथिनां वरौ शरैर्बहुभिरानर्छत्कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणौ छाद्यमानौ ततस्तौ तु माद्रीपुत्रौ न चेलतुः
AI Translation: Then, O great king, Shalya, the best of charioteers, with many arrows attacked the two nephews who were seeking to counterattack. Being covered by him, the sons of Madri did not move.
अथ दुर्योधनं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनो महाबलः विधित्सुः कलहस्यान्तं गदां जग्राह पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter the Pandava Bhimasena endued with great might beholding Duryodhana and desirous of putting and end to the strife, grasped his mace.
तमुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम् भीमसेनं महाबाहुं पुत्रास्ते प्राद्रवन्भयात्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that mighty armed Bhimsena with uplifted mace look like the Kailasa mount towering with its peaks your sons fled out of terror.
दुर्योधनस्तु संक्रुद्धो मागधं समचोदयत् अनीकं दशसाहस्रं कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम् मागधं पुरतः कृत्वा भीमसेनं समभ्ययात्
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana however wrought up with anger urged against Bhima the Magadha division consisting of ten thousands swiftcoursing elephants.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.31 After 31cd, N ins.: *233 गजानीकेन सहितस्तेन राजा सुयोधनः
आपतन्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा गजानीकं वृकोदरः गदापाणिरवारोहद्रथात्सिंह इवोन्नदन्
M. N. Dutt: Thereat Vrikodara, beholding that division of elephants make towards himself,, descended from his car, holding a mace in his hands and roaring out like a lion.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.32 After 32, K5 ins.: *234 घोरः प्रतिभयश्चासीत्पिनाकीव पिनाकधृक् निर्मथ्यमानां क्रुद्धेन प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्
अद्रिसारमयीं गुर्वीं प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् अभ्यधावद्गजानीकं व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः
M. N. Dutt: Grasping a mighty and heavy mace made of the essence of adamant, Bhimasena charged that division of elephants, like Death himself with his mouth wide open.
स गजान्गदया निघ्नन्व्यचरत्समरे बली भीमसेनो महाबाहुः सवज्र इव वासवः
M. N. Dutt: Then like the slayer of Vritra moving amidst the Danava host, the mighty armed Bhimasena, endued with great strength, careered on the filed of battle, slaughtering elephants with his mace.
तस्य नादेन महता मनोहृदयकम्पिना व्यत्यचेष्टन्त संहत्य गजा भीमस्य नर्दतः
M. N. Dutt: Then at the defending shouts of the roaring Bhima-shouts that were capable of producing a tremor in the hare and in the mind, the elephants huddling together were deprived of the power of moving.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.35 After 35ab, D1 ins.: *235 विप्रध्वस्ता गजा राजन्मदं त्यक्त्वा भयं गताः
ततस्तु द्रौपदीपुत्राः सौभद्रश्च महारथः नकुलः सहदेवश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
M. N. Dutt: Then the sons of Draupadi, the mighty carwarrior the son of Subhadra, and Nakula, Sahadeva and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata.
पृष्ठं भीमस्य रक्षन्तः शरवर्षेण वारणान् अभ्यधावन्त वर्षन्तो मेघा इव गिरीन्यथा
M. N. Dutt: Supporting Bhima's car, proceeded behind him, checking the foe with their shower of arrows, like clouds drenching the mountains with rain.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.37 After 37, S ins.: *236 नाकुलिस्तु शतानीकः समरे शत्रुपूगहा
क्षुरैः क्षुरप्रैर्भल्लैश्च पीतैरञ्जलिकैरपि पातयन्तोत्तमाङ्गानि पाण्डवा गजयोधिनाम्
M. N. Dutt: With Kshuras the Kshurapras and Bhallas and Anjalikas, all well-sharpened and tempered, the Pandava warriors cut down the heads of those who were fighting on the backs of elephants.
शिरोभिः प्रपतद्भिश्च बाहुभिश्च विभूषितैः अश्मवृष्टिरिवाभाति पाणिभिश्च सहाङ्कुशैः
M. N. Dutt: In consequence of the thick falling of the heads (of elephants-riders), their arms decked with ornaments and their hands grasping the iron hook, a shower of stones appeared to fall.
हृतोत्तमाङ्गाः स्कन्धेषु गजानां गजयोधिनः अदृश्यन्ताचलाग्रेषु द्रुमा भग्नशिखा इव
M. N. Dutt: And elephants-riders deprived of heads, seated as they were on the necks of those beasts, appeared like ties on a mountain with their heads broken.
धृष्टद्युम्नहतानन्यानपश्याम महागजान् पतितान्पात्यमानांश्च पार्षतेन महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: We also saw many other mighty elephants, felled and falling, slain by Dhrishtadyumna, the high-souled son of Prishata.
मागधोऽथ महीपालो गजमैरावतोपमम् प्रेषयामास समरे सौभद्रस्य रथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter, the ruler of the Magadha territory, goaded in that battle, against the car not of Subhadra's son, an elephants that resembled Airavata itself.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य मागधस्य गजोत्तमम् जघानैकेषुणा वीरः सौभद्रः परवीरहा
M. N. Dutt: Then the heroic son of Subhadra, that slayer of hostile heroes, beholding that mighty elephant of the ruler of the Magadhas make towards himself, killed it with a single shaft.
तस्यावर्जितनागस्य कार्ष्णिः परपुरंजयः राज्ञो रजतपुङ्खेन भल्लेनापहरच्छिरः
M. N. Dutt: Then the nephew of Krishna that conqueror of hostile cities cut down with a Bhalla of silvery wings, the head of the king who could extricate himself from the (falling)elephants.
विगाह्य तद्गजानीकं भीमसेनोऽपि पाण्डवः व्यचरत्समरे मृद्नन्गजानिन्द्रो गिरीनिव
M. N. Dutt: Then Bhimasena the son of Pandu, also penetrating that division of elephants, careered in the filed, crushing the elephants, like Indra crushing the mountains.
एकप्रहाराभिहतान्भीमसेनेन कुञ्जरान् अपश्याम रणे तस्मिन्गिरीन्वज्रहतानिव
M. N. Dutt: In that battle, we also beheld elephants smashed by Bhimasena, each with a single stoke, like cliffs rent open by the thunder-bolt.
भग्नदन्तान्भग्नकटान्भग्नसक्थांश्च वारणान् भग्नपृष्ठान्भग्नकुम्भान्निहतान्पर्वतोपमान्
AI Translation: Elephants with broken tusks, broken backs, broken knees, with broken backs, broken heads, killed, like mountains,
नदतः सीदतश्चान्यान्विमुखान्समरे गजान् विमूत्रान्भग्नसंविग्नांस्तथा विशकृतोऽपरान्
AI Translation: and others who were fleeing, and those who were facing away from the battle, and those who were urinating, and those who were broken and frightened, and others who were defecating,
भीमसेनस्य मार्गेषु गतासून्पर्वतोपमान् अपश्याम हतान्नागान्निष्टनन्तस्तथापरे
AI Translation: We saw elephants, equal to mountains, fallen on the path of Bhimasena, and others groaning.
वमन्तो रुधिरं चान्ये भिन्नकुम्भा महागजाः विह्वलन्तो गता भूमिं शैला इव धरातले
AI Translation: Others vomited blood, like great elephants with broken jars, Staggering, they fell to the ground, like mountains on the earth's surface.
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.50 After 50, D1 ins.: *237 मार्गेण गच्छमानस्य भीमस्योभयपार्श्वतः दृश्यन्ते पतिता नागा वज्रेणेव शिलोच्चयाः
मेदोरुधिरदिग्धाङ्गो वसामज्जासमुक्षितः व्यचरत्समरे भीमो दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः
AI Translation: His body smeared with fat and blood, covered with marrow and fat, Bhīma roamed in the battle like the staff-bearing Antaka.
गजानां रुधिराक्तां तां गदां बिभ्रद्वृकोदरः घोरः प्रतिभयश्चासीत्पिनाकीव पिनाकधृक्
AI Translation: Bearing that club smeared with the blood of elephants, Vrikodara was terrible and frightening, like Pinaki with his Pinaka.
निर्मथ्यमानाः क्रुद्धेन भीमसेनेन दन्तिनः सहसा प्राद्रवञ्शिष्टा मृद्नन्तस्तव वाहिनीम्
AI Translation: The elephants, when churned by the angry Bhimasena, suddenly fled, crushing your army.
तं हि वीरं महेष्वासाः सौभद्रप्रमुखा रथाः पर्यरक्षन्त युध्यन्तं वज्रायुधमिवामराः
AI Translation: The chariot-warriors led by Subhadra's son, the great archers, protected that hero as he fought, like the immortals protecting the wielder of the thunderbolt.
शोणिताक्तां गदां बिभ्रदुक्षितो गजशोणितैः कृतान्त इव रौद्रात्मा भीमसेनो व्यदृश्यत
AI Translation: Bearing a club smeared with blood, smeared with the blood of elephants, Bhimasena appeared, with a terrible nature like the end of the world.
व्यायच्छमानं गदया दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत नृत्यमानमपश्याम नृत्यन्तमिव शंकरम्
AI Translation: O descendant of Bharata, we saw him wielding his mace in all directions, dancing, as it were, like Shiva dancing.
यमदण्डोपमां गुर्वीमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनाम् अपश्याम महाराज रौद्रां विशसनीं गदाम्
M. N. Dutt: Like the dreadful club of the destroyer himself, and like the effulgent thunderbolt of Indra himself, was seen the terrible-loO king and death-dealing club of Bhimasena.
विमिश्रां केशमज्जाभिः प्रदिग्धां रुधिरेण च पिनाकमिव रुद्रस्य क्रुद्धस्याभिघ्नतः पशून्
AI Translation: smeared with a mixture of hair and marrow and blood, like Rudra's Pināka, when he is angry and striking down animals,
Supplementary Passages:
6.58.58 For 58, S subst.: *238 केशमज्जासृगभ्यक्तो रौद्रं बिभ्रत्तदा वपुः मारुतिः शूलहस्तस्य पुरेवाभिघ्नतः पशून्
यथा पशूनां संघातं यष्ट्या पालः प्रकालयेत् तथा भीमो गजानीकं गदया पर्यकालयत्
AI Translation: Just as a herdsman would drive a herd of cattle with a stick, so Bhima drove the elephant army with his mace.
गदया वध्यमानास्ते मार्गणैश्च समन्ततः स्वान्यनीकानि मृद्नन्तः प्राद्रवन्कुञ्जरास्तव
AI Translation: Being struck by the mace and arrows from all sides, your elephants fled, crushing their own troops.
महावात इवाभ्राणि विधमित्वा स वारणान् अतिष्ठत्तुमुले भीमः श्मशान इव शूलभृत्
AI Translation: Having scattered the elephants like the great wind the clouds, Bhīma stood in the midst of the battle, like a trident-bearing (god) in a cremation ground.