Critical Edition
संजय उवाच ततो दुर्योधनो राजा लोहितायति भास्करे संग्रामरभसो भीमं हन्तुकामोऽभ्यधावत
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then when the sun assumed a crimsons hue, king Duryodhana, ardently longing for battle, rushed towards Bhima, out of a desire for slaying him.
तमायान्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य नृवीरं दृढवैरिणम् भीमसेनः सुसंक्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding that best of human heroes, that most implacable enemy of his, make towards himself Bhimasena, excited to the highest pitch of wrath, said these words,
अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो वर्षपूगाभिकाङ्क्षितः अद्य त्वां निहनिष्यामि यदि नोत्सृजसे रणम्
M. N. Dutt: The hour has come that I have been loO king forward to so anxiously for all these years. Today I will slay you, if indeed you, you do not abandon fighting.
अद्य कुन्त्याः परिक्लेशं वनवासं च कृत्स्नशः द्रौपद्याश्च परिक्लेशं प्रणोत्स्यामि हते त्वयि
M. N. Dutt: Slaying you, I will this day soothe the sorrows of Kunti and also those of Draupadi, today will I avenge the woes that we did suffer during our exile in the woods.
यत्त्वं दुरोदरो भूत्वा पाण्डवानवमन्यसे तस्य पापस्य गान्धारे पश्य व्यसनमागतम्
M. N. Dutt: O son of Gandhari, inflated with pride in days past, you disregarded the sons of Pandu, Reap now the dire fruit of that act of yours.
कर्णस्य मतमाज्ञाय सौबलस्य च यत्पुरा अचिन्त्य पाण्डवान्कामाद्यथेष्टं कृतवानसि
M. N. Dutt: Acting upon the counsel of Karna and the son of Subala, and thoroughly disregarding the Pandavas, you formerly treated the latter as it had pleased you.
याचमानं च यन्मोहाद्दाशार्हमवमन्यसे उलूकस्य समादेशं यद्ददासि च हृष्टवत्
M. N. Dutt: You also despised the descendant of the Dasharnas (Krishna) when be begged you (for peace). Filled with joy, you sent Uluka to us with your messages.
अद्य त्वा निहनिष्यामि सानुबन्धं सबान्धवम् समीकरिष्ये तत्पापं यत्पुरा कृतवानसि
M. N. Dutt: For all these act of yours, I will, this day, slay you with all your relations, and will avenge all those wrongs you did formerly inflict on us".
एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्घोरं विकृष्योद्भ्राम्य चासकृत् समादाय शरान्घोरान्महाशनिसमप्रभान्
M. N. Dutt: Having spoken these words, and bending and repeatedly stretching his bow and taking up terrible arrows that resembled the thunder boit itself in effulgence Bhima.
षड्विंशत्तरसा क्रुद्धो मुमोचाशु सुयोधने ज्वलिताग्निशिखाकारान्वज्रकल्पानजिह्मगान्
M. N. Dutt: Excited with rage, quickly shot at Suyodhana thirty six arrows resembling the flames of a blazing fire, loO king like the thunderbolt and coursing straight through the air.
ततोऽस्य कार्मुकं द्वाभ्यां सूतं द्वाभ्यां च विव्यधे चतुर्भिरश्वाञ्जवनाननयद्यमसादनम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter he struck Duryodhana's bow with two arrows, his charioteer with another two; and with four others, he dispatched the latter's fleet steeds to the abode of Death.
द्वाभ्यां च सुविकृष्टाभ्यां शराभ्यामरिमर्दनः छत्रं चिच्छेद समरे राज्ञस्तस्य रथोत्तमात्
M. N. Dutt: Then that grinder of foes, with two other arrows drawn a long way back at the time of being discharged, cut down, in that conflict, the umbrella of the king from his excellent car.
त्रिभिश्च तस्य चिच्छेद ज्वलन्तं ध्वजमुत्तमम् छित्त्वा तं च ननादोच्चैस्तव पुत्रस्य पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: With three more arrows he cut down the excellent standard that was indeed blazing. Having severed it, he uttered a loud roar even before ihe very eyes of your son.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.13 After 13ab, Ś1 K0-2 ins.: *312 त्रिभिरन्यैर्महेष्वासश्चिच्छेदास्य ध्वजं तथा
रथाच्च स ध्वजः श्रीमान्नानारत्नविभूषितः पपात सहसा भूमिं विद्युज्जलधरादिव
M. N. Dutt: And that beautiful standard, decked with diverse kinds of gems, suddenly felt down on the ground from the chariot, like lighting from the clouds shooting down on the earth.
ज्वलन्तं सूर्यसंकाशं नागं मणिमयं शुभम् ध्वजं कुरुपतेश्छिन्नं ददृशुः सर्वपार्थिवाः
M. N. Dutt: And all the rulers of men then beheld that blazing and propitious standard of the Kuru king, effulgent like the sun, bearing the device of an elephants and embossed with gems, fall down, (served by Bhima).
अथैनं दशभिर्बाणैस्तोत्त्रैरिव महागजम् आजघान रणे भीमः स्मयन्निव महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Then the mighty car-warrior Bhima, as if smiling, struck Duryodhana with ten shafts, in that battle, like and elephants-rider piercing the huge animal with the hook.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.16 After 16, D3 ins.: *313 स तथाभिहतो राजा स्मयन्निव महारथः
ततस्तु राजा सिन्धूनां रथश्रेष्ठो जयद्रथः दुर्योधनस्य जग्राह पार्ष्णिं सत्पुरुषोचिताम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the king of the Sindhus, that foremost of car-warrior, that highly powerful one, stationed himself on the flank of Duryodhana, being supported by many excellent warriors.
कृपश्च रथिनां श्रेष्ठः कौरव्यममितौजसम् आरोपयद्रथं राजन्दुर्योधनममर्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: Then that foremost of car-warrior, namely Kripa took upon his own car, O king, the vindictive Duryodhana, that descendant of the Kuru race, endued with immeasurable energy.
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो भीमसेनेन संयुगे निषसाद रथोपस्थे राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Then in that conflict, king Duryodhana,, pierced deep and afflicted sore by Bhimasena, squalled down on the terrace of his car.
परिवार्य ततो भीमं हन्तुकामो जयद्रथः रथैरनेकसाहस्रैर्भीमस्यावारयद्दिशः
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter king Jayadratha, desirous of slaying Bhima, surrounded him on all sides with thousands of chariots, and warriors, and thus intercepted him.
धृष्टकेतुस्ततो राजन्नभिमन्युश्च वीर्यवान् केकया द्रौपदेयाश्च तव पुत्रानयोधयन्
AI Translation: Then King Dhrishtaketu and the valorous Abhimanyu, and the Kekayas and Drupada's sons fought with your sons.
चित्रसेनः सुचित्रश्च चित्राश्वश्चित्रदर्शनः चारुचित्रः सुचारुश्च तथा नन्दोपनन्दकौ
AI Translation: Citrasena, Sucitra, Citrāśva, Citradarśana, Cārucitra, Sucāru, Nanda, Upananda,
अष्टावेते महेष्वासाः सुकुमारा यशस्विनः अभिमन्युरथं राजन्समन्तात्पर्यवारयन्
M. N. Dutt: In that battle the eight great archer and chivalrous warriors-Chitrasena, Suchitra, Chitranga, Chitradarshana, Caruchitra, Sucharu, Nanda and Upananda had trapped in a circle the chariot of delicate Abhimanyu.
आजघान ततस्तूर्णमभिमन्युर्महामनाः एकैकं पञ्चभिर्विद्ध्वा शरैः संनतपर्वभिः वज्रमृत्युप्रतीकाशैर्विचित्रायुधनिःसृतैः
M. N. Dutt: The high-souled Abhimanyu quickly struck them all piercing each with five shafts.
अमृष्यमाणास्ते सर्वे सौभद्रं रथसत्तमम् ववर्षुर्मार्गणैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गिरिं मेरुमिवाम्बुदाः
AI Translation: Unable to bear it, all of them showered sharp arrows on Saubhādra, the best of charioteers, like clouds on Mount Meru.
स पीड्यमानः समरे कृतास्त्रो युद्धदुर्मदः अभिमन्युर्महाराज तावकान्समकम्पयत् यथा देवासुरे युद्धे वज्रपाणिर्महासुरान्
M. N. Dutt: Namely, Abhimanyu, O king, made your warriors tremble, like the wielder of the thunder-bolt making the Asuras tremble in the war between them and the celestial.
विकर्णस्य ततो भल्लान्प्रेषयामास भारत चतुर्दश रथश्रेष्ठो घोरानाशीविषोपमान् ध्वजं सूतं हयांश्चास्य छित्त्वा नृत्यन्निवाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter, O Bharata, that foremost of carwarrior, hurled at Vikarna fourteen mortal broad-headed shafts that looked like snakes of most virulent venom.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.27 After 27d, N ins.: *314 स तैर्विकर्णस्य रथात्पातयामास वीर्यवान्
पुनश्चान्याञ्शरान्पीतानकुण्ठाग्राञ्शिलाशितान् प्रेषयामास सौभद्रो विकर्णाय महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: Again that mighty car-warrior viz., the son of Subhadra shot at Vikarna other arrows, well tempered, kcen-pointed and straight-coursing.
ते विकर्णं समासाद्य कङ्कबर्हिणवाससः भित्त्वा देहं गता भूमिं ज्वलन्त इव पन्नगाः
M. N. Dutt: Those arrows decked with the feathers of the Kanka bird, coming upon Vikarna and passing through his body stuck on the ground like so many hissing snakes.
ते शरा हेमपुङ्खाग्रा व्यदृश्यन्त महीतले विकर्णरुधिरक्लिन्ना वमन्त इव शोणितम्
M. N. Dutt: Those arrows, with wings and points decorated with gold and bathed in the blood of Vikarna, and stuck on the earth appeared to the vomit-blood.
विकर्णं वीक्ष्य निर्भिन्नं तस्यैवान्ये सहोदराः अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे सौभद्रप्रमुखान्रथान्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Vikarna thus penetrated through and through, his other uterine brothers, rushed in that conflict against those warriors who were headed by the son of Subhadra.
अभियात्वा तथैवाशु रथस्थान्सूर्यवर्चसः अविध्यन्समरेऽन्योन्यं संरब्धा युद्धदुर्मदाः
M. N. Dutt: When those warriors formidable in battle riding on their own chariots quickly came upon the combatant of the Pandava army seated on their car like so many effulgent suns, they began to pierce one another in that battle.
दुर्मुखः श्रुतकर्माणं विद्ध्वा सप्तभिराशुगैः ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद सारथिं चास्य सप्तभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then Durmukha piercing Shrutakarma with five swift-coursing arrows cut down the latter's standard with a single arrow, and pierced his charioteer also with seven others.
अश्वाञ्जाम्बूनदैर्जालैः प्रच्छन्नान्वातरंहसः जघान षड्भिरासाद्य सारथिं चाभ्यपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: Advancing closer, with six arrows he pierced Shrutakarman's steedscaparisoned with a net work of gold and fleet as the wind itself; he also felled the letters charioteer.
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठञ्श्रुतकर्मा महारथः शक्तिं चिक्षेप संक्रुद्धो महोल्कां ज्वलितामिव
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon standing on that chariot of his of which the steeds were slain, that mighty carwarrior Shrutakarma, excited to the highest pitch of fury, hurled a great dart blazing like a fierce meteor.
सा दुर्मुखस्य विपुलं वर्म भित्त्वा यशस्विनः विदार्य प्राविशद्भूमिं दीप्यमाना सुतेजना
M. N. Dutt: That very resplendent dart charge with great energy penetrating through the massive armour of the renowned Durmukha, and shattering it, stuck itself on the ground.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.36 After 36, S ins.: *315 दुर्मुखो विह्वलस्तत्र निषसाद रथे विभो विसंज्ञं प्रेक्ष्य ते सर्वे भ्रातरः पर्यवारयन्
तं दृष्ट्वा विरथं तत्र सुतसोमो महाबलः पश्यतां सर्वसैन्यानां रथमारोपयत्स्वकम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Sutosoma, possessed of great prowess beholding Shrutakarma deprived of his chariot, took him up on his car even before the very eyes of the assembled host.
श्रुतकीर्तिस्तथा वीरो जयत्सेनं सुतं तव अभ्ययात्समरे राजन्हन्तुकामो यशस्विनम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter, 0 monarch, Shrutakirti possessed of heroism, rushed, in that battle, against your illustrious son Jayatsena, out of a desire for slaying him.
तस्य विक्षिपतश्चापं श्रुतकीर्तेर्महात्मनः चिच्छेद समरे राजञ्जयत्सेनः सुतस्तव क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन प्रहसन्निव भारत
M. N. Dutt: Then in that conflict ( monarch your son Jayatsena with a sharp edged Kshurapra (horse-shoe-headed shaft), as if smiling, cut off the bow of that high-souled warrior, namely Shrutakirti, 0 Bharata, as the latter came repeatedly stretching it. Thereupon Shatanika seeing his uterine brother deprived of his bow.
तं दृष्ट्वा छिन्नधन्वानं शतानीकः सहोदरम् अभ्यपद्यत तेजस्वी सिंहवद्विनदन्मुहुः
AI Translation: Seeing his brother with his bow broken, Shātanika, the brilliant one, attacked him, roaring like a lion again and again.
शतानीकस्तु समरे दृढं विस्फार्य कार्मुकम् विव्याध दशभिस्तूर्णं जयत्सेनं शिलीमुखैः
AI Translation: But Shatānīka, in the battle, drawing his bowstring tight, quickly pierced Jayatsena with ten arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.41 Ś1 K0-2.4 B3 S (T2 om.) ins. after 41: K5 (om. 41cd) ins. after 41ab: *316 ननाद सुमहानादं प्रभिन्न इव वारणः
अथान्येन सुतीक्ष्णेन सर्वावरणभेदिना शतानीको जयत्सेनं विव्याध हृदये भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Then again with another sharp arrow capable of penetrating through all kinds of main, Shatanika deeply pierced Jayatsena on the breast.
तथा तस्मिन्वर्तमाने दुष्कर्णो भ्रातुरन्तिके चिच्छेद समरे चापं नाकुलेः क्रोधमूर्छितः
M. N. Dutt: At this crisis, Dushkarna, who was near his brother, overwhelmed with wrath cut off the bow and arrows of the son of Nakula (Shatanika).
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.43 After 43ab, S ins.: *317 मुमोचास्मै शितान्बाणांस्तीक्ष्णानाशीविषोपमान्
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय भारसाधनमुत्तमम् समादत्त शितान्बाणाञ्शतानीको महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: Thereat, grasping another bow of excellent make and capable of bearing great strain the highly powerful Shatanika fixed on the bow string shafts of exceeding sharpness.
तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चामन्त्र्य दुष्कर्णं भ्रातुरग्रतः मुमोच निशितान्बाणाञ्ज्वलितान्पन्नगानिव
M. N. Dutt: Then he (Shatanika) challenged Dushkarna before his brothers, saying "Wait” “Wait", and then he discharged at him those keen pointed arrows that resembled so many blazing snakes.
ततोऽस्य धनुरेकेन द्वाभ्यां सूतं च मारिष चिच्छेद समरे तूर्णं तं च विव्याध सप्तभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then the former cut off the latter's bow with a single shaft; and pierced his charioteer with two shafts; and, O sire, in that conflict the former also quickly pierced the latter with feathered shafts.
अश्वान्मनोजवांश्चास्य कल्माषान्वीतकल्मषः जघान निशितैस्तूर्णं सर्वान्द्वादशभिः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter that sinless warriors, with twelve shafts of great sharpness, pierced all the steeds of Dushkarna, steeds that we effect as the mind and decked with gold trappings.
अथापरेण भल्लेन सुमुक्तेन निपातिना दुष्कर्णं समरे क्रुद्धो विव्याध हृदये भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Then highly excited with rage, he in that conflict, deeply pierced, Dushkarna on the chest with another broad-headed arrow welldirected and swift coursing.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.48 After 48, K4 B Da Dn D4-8 ins.: *318 स पपात ततो भूमौ वज्ररुग्ण इव द्रुमः On the other hand, S ins. after 48: *319 स विह्वलो रथोपस्थे निषसाद सुतस्तव
दुष्कर्णं निहतं दृष्ट्वा पञ्च राजन्महारथाः जिघांसन्तः शतानीकं सर्वतः पर्यवारयन्
AI Translation: Seeing Duḥkṣaṇa slain, O king, the five great warriors wishing to kill Śatānīka, surrounded him from all sides.
छाद्यमानं शरव्रातैः शतानीकं यशस्विनम् अभ्यधावन्त संरब्धाः केकयाः पञ्च सोदराः
AI Translation: The glorious Shatānīka was being covered by a mass of arrows, and the five Kekaya brothers, angry, attacked him.
तानभ्यापततः प्रेक्ष्य तव पुत्रा महारथाः प्रत्युद्ययुर्महाराज गजा इव महागजान्
AI Translation: Seeing them rushing towards them, your sons, the great warriors, advanced against them, O great king, like elephants against great elephants.
दुर्मुखो दुर्जयश्चैव तथा दुर्मर्षणो युवा शत्रुंजयः शत्रुसहः सर्वे क्रुद्धा यशस्विनः प्रत्युद्याता महाराज केकयान्भ्रातरः समम्
M. N. Dutt: Shatrunjaya and Shatrusaha, all these illustrious warriors, proceeded, O king, in a body against the Kaikeya brothers.
रथैर्नगरसंकाशैर्हयैर्युक्तैर्मनोजवैः नानावर्णविचित्राभिः पताकाभिरलंकृतैः
M. N. Dutt: Riding their chariots resembling (fortified) cities, to which were steed decked with precious caparisons and which were decorated wonderful streamers of variegated hue.
वरचापधरा वीरा विचित्रकवचध्वजाः विविशुस्ते परं सैन्यं सिंहा इव वनाद्वनम्
M. N. Dutt: on Those heroes, welding excellent bows, owing finest armours and best standards, entered the hostile array like lions going from one forest to another.
तेषां सुतुमुलं युद्धं व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम् अवर्तत महारौद्रं निघ्नतामितरेतरम् अन्योन्यागस्कृतां राजन्यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम्
M. N. Dutt: Then between them and the foe, raged a fierce and dreadful combat in which cars and elephants got entangled together and in which the combatants (mercilessly) slew one another,
मुहूर्तास्तमिते सूर्ये चक्रुर्युद्धं सुदारुणम् रथिनः सादिनश्चैव व्यकीर्यन्त सहस्रशः
AI Translation: When the sun had set, they fought a terrible battle. Horsemen and charioteers were scattered in thousands.
ततः शांतनवः क्रुद्धः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः नाशयामास सेनां वै भीष्मस्तेषां महात्मनाम् पाञ्चालानां च सैन्यानि शरैर्निन्ये यमक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: Then car-warriors and cavalry-soldiers were strewn by thousand on the filed of battle. Thereupon excited with wrath, the son of Shantanu namely Bhishma, with straightknotted shafts, began to slay the troops of the high-souled Pandavas. with his arrows he also dispatched to the regions of Death the troops belonging to the Panchala Princes.
एवं भित्त्वा महेष्वासः पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् कृत्वावहारं सैन्यानां ययौ स्वशिबिरं नृप
M. N. Dutt: Thus, O king, having broken the ranks of the Pandava host, the grandsire, withdrawing his force, retired to his own encampment.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.58 After 58, S ins.: *320 नाशयामासतुर्वीरौ धृष्टद्युम्नवृकोदरौ कौरवाणामनीकानि शरैः संनतपर्वभिः
धर्मराजोऽपि संप्रेक्ष्य धृष्टद्युम्नवृकोदरौ मूर्ध्नि चैतावुपाघ्राय संहृष्टः शिबिरं ययौ
M. N. Dutt: The very virtuous king Yudhishthira also seeing Dhrishtadyumna and Vrikodara, smelt their heads, and with a delighted heart repaired to his camps.
Supplementary Passages:
6.75.59 After 59, B3 reads 6.76.1. On the other hand, S ins. after 59: *321 अर्जुनो वासुदेवश्च कौरवाणामनीकिनीम् हत्वा विद्राव्य च शरैः शिबिरायैव जग्मतुः