Critical Edition
संजय उवाच ततो दुर्योधनो राजा शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः दुःशासनश्च पुत्रस्ते सूतपुत्रश्च दुर्जयः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then king Duryodhana, Shakuni the son of Subala, your son Dushasana and the invincible son of Suta,
समागम्य महाराज मन्त्रं चक्रूर्विवक्षितम् कथं पाण्डुसुता युद्धे जेतव्याः सगणा इति
M. N. Dutt: These assembled together, O monarch, began to consult as to 'how could the sons of Pandu with their partisans be conquered in battle.'
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वांस्तानाह मन्त्रिणः सूतपुत्रं समाभाष्य सौबलं च महाबलम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter king Duryodhana, addressing the son of Suta and the highly powerful son of Subala, spoke to all his counselors thus
द्रोणो भीष्मः कृपः शल्यः सौमदत्तिश्च संयुगे न पार्थान्प्रतिबाधन्ते न जाने तत्र कारणम्
M. N. Dutt: “Even Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Shalya, and the son of Somadatta cannot withstand the sons of Pritha in battle. I know not what the cause may be.
अवध्यमानास्ते चापि क्षपयन्ति बलं मम सोऽस्मि क्षीणबलः कर्ण क्षीणशस्त्रश्च संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Thus unslain, they (the Pandavas) are every day reducing my troops in great number. Therefore, O Karna, I am becoming weaker in strength, and my store of weapons is also being exhausted.
Supplementary Passages:
6.93.5 After 5, S ins.: *374 द्रोणस्य प्रमुखे वीरा हतास्ते भ्रातरो मम भीमसेनेन राधेय मम चैव च पश्यतः
निकृतः पाण्डवैः शूरैरवध्यैर्दैवतैरपि सोऽहं संशयमापन्नः प्रकरिष्ये कथं रणम्
AI Translation: I am defeated by the heroic Pāṇḍavas, who cannot be killed even by the gods. I am in doubt. How shall I fight?
Supplementary Passages:
6.93.6 After 6, D6 ins.: *375 महाबल महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद मन्त्रज्ञो मन्त्रवान्दक्षो नीतिमान्नीतिकोविदः स शूरः स च विक्रान्तः सूर्यपुत्रः प्रतापवान् एतन्महाभीतिकरं प्रतरिष्ये रणं कथम्
तमब्रवीन्महाराज सूतपुत्रो नराधिपम् मा शुचो भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रकरिष्ये प्रियं तव
AI Translation: He said to the king, "O king, O best of men, do not grieve. I shall do what is pleasing to you.
भीष्मः शांतनवस्तूर्णमपयातु महारणात् निवृत्ते युधि गाङ्गेये न्यस्तशस्त्रे च भारत
AI Translation: Bhishma, Shantanu's son, quickly fled from the great battle. When the battle was over and the Ganges-born one had laid down his weapons,
अहं पार्थान्हनिष्यामि सहितान्सर्वसोमकैः पश्यतो युधि भीष्मस्य शपे सत्येन ते नृप
AI Translation: I shall kill the Parthas along with all the Somakas. O King, I swear by the truth that I shall do this while Bhishma looks on in battle.
पाण्डवेषु दयां राजन्सदा भीष्मः करोति वै अशक्तश्च रणे भीष्मो जेतुमेतान्महारथान्
AI Translation: Bhishma always has compassion for the Pandavas, O king. And Bhishma is incapable of defeating those great warriors in battle.
अभिमानी रणे भीष्मो नित्यं चापि रणप्रियः स कथं पाण्डवान्युद्धे जेष्यते तात संगतान्
AI Translation: Bhishma, the conceited one, is always fond of battle. How will he defeat the Pandavas in battle, O son, when they are united?
स त्वं शीघ्रमितो गत्वा भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति अनुमान्य रणे भीष्मं शस्त्रं न्यासय भारत
AI Translation: But you should quickly go from here to Bhishma's camp and, having honored Bhishma in battle, lay down your weapons, descendant of the Bharata lineage.
न्यस्तशस्त्रे ततो भीष्मे निहतान्पश्य पाण्डवान् मयैकेन रणे राजन्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान्
AI Translation: Then, when Bhishma had laid down his weapons, see the Pandavas slain by me alone in battle, O king, along with their friends and relatives.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं तत्र दुःशासनमिदं वचः
M. N. Dutt: With all their kinsmen and allies, by my single self in battle" Sanjaya said Thus spoke spoken to by Karna, your son Duryodhana,
अनुयात्रं यथा सज्जं सर्वं भवति सर्वतः दुःशासन तथा क्षिप्रं सर्वमेवोपपादय
AI Translation: Make sure that everything is ready for the procession in every way. O Duhshāsana, quickly arrange everything.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्कर्णमाह जनेश्वरः अनुमान्य रणे भीष्ममितोऽहं द्विपदां वरम्
AI Translation: Having said this, O king, the lord of the people then said to Karna: "Having honoured Bhishma in battle, I shall go to the best of men."
आगमिष्ये ततः क्षिप्रं त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम ततस्त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र प्रकरिष्यसि संयुगम्
M. N. Dutt: “Having persuaded that foremost of men, Bhishma to withdraw himself from the battle, I shall soon come back to you, O redresser of foes.
निष्पपात ततस्तूर्णं पुत्रस्तव विशां पते सहितो भ्रातृभिः सर्वैर्देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
M. N. Dutt: When Bhishma will be withdrawn from the fight, you shall slay the Pandavas in battle." Then, O ruler of men your son, without any more loss of time, set out,
ततस्तं नृपशार्दूलं शार्दूलसमविक्रमम् आरोहयद्धयं तूर्णं भ्राता दुःशासनस्तदा
AI Translation: Then his brother Duhshāsana quickly made the tiger-like king, whose valor was like a tiger's, mount the horse.
अङ्गदी बद्धमुकुटो हस्ताभरणवान्नृपः धार्तराष्ट्रो महाराज विबभौ स महेन्द्रवत्
AI Translation: The king, with his arms bound, his crown removed, and his ornaments taken off, Shone like the great Indra, O great king, Dhritarashtra.
भाण्डीपुष्पनिकाशेन तपनीयनिभेन च अनुलिप्तः परार्ध्येन चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना
AI Translation: Adorned with a garland of flowers, shining like gold, smeared with the most precious, fragrant sandalwood.
अरजोम्बरसंवीतः सिंहखेलगतिर्नृपः शुशुभे विमलार्चिष्मञ्शरदीव दिवाकरः
AI Translation: The king, clad in a spotless garment, with a gait like a lion's, shone like the autumn sun, with its pure rays.
तं प्रयान्तं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासाः सर्वलोकस्य धन्विनः भ्रातरश्च महेष्वासास्त्रिदशा इव वासवम्
AI Translation: The tiger among men was going to Bhishma's camp, followed by the great archers, the archers of the whole world. The brothers, great archers, like the thirty gods to Vasava,
हयानन्ये समारुह्य गजानन्ये च भारत रथैरन्ये नरश्रेष्ठाः परिवव्रुः समन्ततः
AI Translation: Others mounted horses, others elephants, and others chariots, O descendant of Bharata, and surrounded him from all sides.
Supplementary Passages:
6.93.24 After 24, T G M2 ins.: *376 पदातयश्च त्वरिता नखरप्रासयोधिनः परिवव्रुर्महेष्वासं धार्तराष्ट्रं महारथम्
आत्तशस्त्राश्च सुहृदो रक्षणार्थं महीपतेः प्रादुर्बभूवुः सहिताः शक्रस्येवामरा दिवि
AI Translation: And the friends, taking up their weapons, appeared for the protection of the king, like the gods of Indra in heaven.
संपूज्यमानः कुरुभिः कौरवाणां महारथः प्रययौ सदनं राजन्गाङ्गेयस्य यशस्विनः अन्वीयमानः सहितैः सोदरैः सर्वतो नृपः
AI Translation: The great chariot-warrior of the Kurus, worshipped by the Kurus, went to the abode of the glorious son of Ganga, O king. Followed by his brothers, the king went everywhere.
दक्षिणं दक्षिणः काले संभृत्य स्वभुजं तदा हस्तिहस्तोपमं शैक्षं सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम्
AI Translation: Having gathered his right arm, the right one, at the right time, the elephant-like arm of the learner, the destroyer of all enemies,
प्रगृह्णन्नञ्जलीन्नॄणामुद्यतान्सर्वतोदिशम् शुश्राव मधुरा वाचो नानादेशनिवासिनाम्
AI Translation: Taking the folded hands of people who were raising them in all directions, He heard sweet words from people living in various countries.
संस्तूयमानः सूतैश्च मागधैश्च महायशाः पूजयानश्च तान्सर्वान्सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: He heard sweet words uttered by the assembled inhabitants of various countries. moon That illustrious one was applauded and eulogised by the bards and minstrels.
प्रदीपैः काञ्चनैस्तत्र गन्धतैलावसेचनैः परिवव्रुर्महात्मानं प्रज्वलद्भिः समन्ततः
AI Translation: With golden lamps, perfumed with oil, they surrounded the great being, blazing all around.
Supplementary Passages:
6.93.30 After 30, D6 ins.: *377 देवासुरे यथेन्द्रोऽसौ संग्रामे च भयंकरे
स तैः परिवृतो राजा प्रदीपैः काञ्चनैः शुभैः शुशुभे चन्द्रमा युक्तो दीप्तैरिव महाग्रहैः
AI Translation: Surrounded by those shining golden lamps, the king shone like the moon surrounded by the bright great planets.
कञ्चुकोष्णीषिणस्तत्र वेत्रझर्झरपाणयः प्रोत्सारयन्तः शनकैस्तं जनं सर्वतोदिशम्
M. N. Dutt: Shone resplendent like the surrounded by blazing mighty planets. Then attendants, graced with golden turbans, and bearing canes and Jharjharas in their hands,
संप्राप्य तु ततो राजा भीष्मस्य सदनं शुभम् अवतीर्य हयाच्चापि भीष्मं प्राप्य जनेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: Gradually cleared the crowd that surrounded the king on all sides. Thereafter, the king, reaching the beautiful tent of Bhishma.
अभिवाद्य ततो भीष्मं निषण्णः परमासने काञ्चने सर्वतोभद्रे स्पर्ध्यास्तरणसंवृते उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भीष्मं बाष्पकण्ठोऽश्रुलोचनः
M. N. Dutt: And then descending from his horse, that ruler of men approached Bhishma. Thereafter doing obeisance to Bhishma, he seated himself on a beautiful seat,
त्वां वयं समुपाश्रित्य संयुगे शत्रुसूदन उत्सहेम रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रानपि सुरासुरान्
AI Translation: O destroyer of enemies, we have resorted to you in this battle. We are eager to conquer even Indra and the gods and demons in battle.
किमु पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान् तस्मादर्हसि गाङ्गेय कृपां कर्तुं मयि प्रभो जहि पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान्महेन्द्र इव दानवान्
M. N. Dutt: What to speak of the sons of Pandu though they may be warlike and supported by their friends, allies and kinsmen. Therefore, O son of Ganga, O lord, it behold you to be merciful on me.
पूर्वमुक्तं महाबाहो निहनिष्यामि सोमकान् पाञ्चालान्पाण्डवैः सार्धं करूषांश्चेति भारत
M. N. Dutt: Do you slay the heroic sons of Pandu like the great Indra slaying the Danavas. 'O monarch, I shall slaughter all the Somakas,
तद्वचः सत्यमेवास्तु जहि पार्थान्समागतान् सोमकांश्च महेष्वासान्सत्यवाग्भव भारत
M. N. Dutt: The Panchalas, the Kauravas, O Bharata.' These were your words to me, verify them by slaying the assembled sons of Pritha,
दयया यदि वा राजन्द्वेष्यभावान्मम प्रभो मन्दभाग्यतया वापि मम रक्षसि पाण्डवान्
M. N. Dutt: As also the Somakas, all fierce bowmen. Prove, O Bharata, the truth of your words. But if out of mercy, or out of your hatred, O lord,
अनुजानीहि समरे कर्णमाहवशोभिनम् स जेष्यति रणे पार्थान्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान्
M. N. Dutt: For my unfortunate self, you are inclined to spare the sons of Pandu, then permit Karna, that ornament of battle, to join the fight.
एतावदुक्त्वा नृपतिः पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव नोवाच वचनं किंचिद्भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: He will conquer the sons of Pritha together with all their friends, allies and kinsmen." Having thus spoken, your royal son dreadful prowess. airunn