Critical Edition
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
AI Translation: Having bowed to Narayana, and to Nara, the best of men, and to the goddess Sarasvati, one should then proclaim victory.
जनमेजय उवाच तमप्रतिमसत्त्वौजोबलवीर्यपराक्रमम् हतं देवव्रतं श्रुत्वा पाञ्चाल्येन शिखण्डिना
AI Translation: Janamejaya said: Hearing that Devavrata, who was unmatched in courage, strength, power, and valor, was killed by Shikhandi of Panchala,
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.1 The introductory mantra: *1 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् Before the introductory mantra, Ś1 ins.: oṃ svasti | śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ | oṃ namo bhagavate śrīvāsudevāya | śrīḥ; K1 oṃ svasti | oṃ namaḥ śrīgaṇeśāya | oṃ namaḥ kṛṣṇāya | oṃ namo vighnahartre | oṃ; K2 oṃ; K3 oṃ śrī- gaṇeśāya namaḥ | śrīkṛṣṇāya namaḥ | oṃ; K5 oṃ namaḥ śrī- gaṇeśāya | sarasvatyai namaḥ |; B1 oṃ namo bhagavate vāsu- devāya |; B2 oṃ namo gaṇapataye | oṃ namo bhagavate vāsu- devāya |; B3 śrīdurgā | oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya |; B4 oṃ gaṇeśāya namaḥ |; B5 śrī namo bhagavate vāsudevāya | oṃ; Dc1 śrīgurugopālagaurīgaṇapatibhyaḥ |; Dn2 śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ | *2 जयति पराशरसूनुः सत्यवतीहृदयनन्दनो व्यासः यस्यास्यकमलगलितं वाङ्मयममृतं जगत्पिबति After the introductory mantra, Ś1 K2 cont.: *3 जितं भगवता तेन हरिणा लोकधारिणा अजेन विश्वरूपेण निर्गुणेन महात्मना Of the S MSS. which om. the introductory mantra, T1 begins with: śrīgaṇādhipataye namaḥ | śrīsara- svatyai namaḥ; T2 śubham astu | śrīrāmāya namaḥ; G1 with: *4 शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत्सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये
धृतराष्ट्रस्तदा राजा शोकव्याकुलचेतनः किमचेष्टत विप्रर्षे हते पितरि वीर्यवान्
AI Translation: At that time, King Dhritarashtra, his mind agitated with grief, O brahmin sage, what did he do when his valiant father was killed?
तस्य पुत्रो हि भगवन्भीष्मद्रोणमुखै रथैः पराजित्य महेष्वासान्पाण्डवान्राज्यमिच्छति
M. N. Dutt: His son, O worshipful one, desired to obtain monarchy after having defeated the mighty warriors, the sons of Pandu, through the assistance of Bhima, Drona and other such heroes.
तस्मिन्हते तु भगवन्केतौ सर्वधनुष्मताम् यदचेष्टत कौरव्यस्तन्मे ब्रूहि द्विजोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O illustrious ascetic, tell me all that the foremost of the Kuru dynasty did, when that chief of all bowmen (Bhima) had been killed.
वैशंपायन उवाच निहतं पितरं श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः लेभे न शान्तिं कौरव्यश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having heard that his sire (Bhishma) had been slain in battle, that ruler of men, Dhritarashtra of the Kuru dynasty knew no rest of mind, being worn out with anxiety and Sorrow.
तस्य चिन्तयतो दुःखमनिशं पार्थिवस्य तत् आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा पुनर्गावल्गणिस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: When that foremost of the Kurus had been thus brooding over his grief, there came again to him the pure-souled son of Gavalgani.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.6 For 6, D2.5 subst.: *5 निःश्वासपरमो राजा ध्यायन्नास्ते ह्यधोमुखः अस्तं प्राप्ते दिनकरे निशि गावल्गणिस्तदा खिद्यमानेन मनसा जगाम गजसाह्वयम् After 6, K2 Dn2 S ins.: *6 व्यासप्रसादाद्विज्ञाय सर्वं वृत्तान्तमुत्तमम् सैनिकानां च सर्वेषां सेनयोरुभयोस्तदा
शिबिरात्संजयं प्राप्तं निशि नागाह्वयं पुरम् आम्बिकेयो महाराज धृतराष्ट्रोऽन्वपृच्छत
M. N. Dutt: O great king, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, then thus questioned Sanjaya who had that night returned from the camp of the city named after the elephant.
श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य निधनमप्रहृष्टमना भृशम् पुत्राणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्विललापातुरो यथा
M. N. Dutt: Hearing of the death of Bhishma, he became exceedingly cheerless and longing for the victory of his sons, he broke out into lamentations like one sorely distressed.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.8 After 8, D2.5 ins.: *7 धार्तराष्ट्रान्मृतान्सर्वान्मन्ये संजय संयुगे
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच संसाध्य तु महात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् किमकार्षुः परं तात कुरवः कालचोदिताः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O son, having bewailed the high-souled Bhima of terrific might, what did the Kurus, goaded by Destiny, do?
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.9 For 9cd, D2.5 subst.: *8 हतं श्रुत्वा मम सुतः किमकार्षीच्च संजय
तस्मिन्विनिहते शूरे दुराधर्षे महौजसि किं नु स्वित्कुरवोऽकार्षुर्निमग्नाः शोकसागरे
M. N. Dutt: When that unconquerable and high-souled hero was slain, what, for sooth, did the Kurus, deep down into the sea of sorrow, do?
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.10 After 10, T G2-5 read for the second time 11ab and thereafter ins.: *9 संप्राप्ताः कुरवो युद्धे केऽत्रातिष्ठन्परंतपाः
तदुदीर्णं महत्सैन्यं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि संजय भयमुत्पादयेत्तीव्रं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्
AI Translation: That great army, when aroused, would produce great fear in the three worlds, O Sanjaya, even in the great souls of the Pandavas.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.11 After the first occurrence of 11ab, T G2-5 Cv ins.: while K5 Dn2 D4.7.8 G1 M ins. after the repetition of 11ab: *10 भीष्मतः कौरवेयाणामभियास्यति कः पुमान् K5 Dn2 D4.7.8 cont. after 10*: Dn1 D2.5 ins. after 11: *11 को हि दौर्योधने सैन्ये पुमानासीन्महारथः यं प्राप्य सुमहायुद्धे तन्नः शंस महाभये
देवव्रते तु निहते कुरूणामृषभे तदा यदकार्षुर्नृपतयस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Therefore, O Sanjaya, recount to me what the kings did, when Devarata, the foremost of the Kurus, had been slain.
संजय उवाच शृणु राजन्नेकमना वचनं ब्रुवतो मम यत्ते पुत्रास्तदाकार्षुर्हते देवव्रते मृधे
M. N. Dutt: Hear, O monarch, with singleness of mind, the words, falling from my lips, regarding what your sons did when Devavrata had fallen.
निहते तु तदा भीष्मे राजन्सत्यपराक्रमे तावकाः पाण्डवेयाश्च प्राध्यायन्त पृथक्पृथक्
M. N. Dutt: 0 monarch, when Bhishma of invincible prowess had been slain, your own warriors and also those of the Pandava host, began to think of the duties of the Kshatriya sect; and,
विस्मिताश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च क्षत्रधर्मं निशाम्य ते स्वधर्मं निन्दमानाश्च प्रणिपत्य महात्मने
AI Translation: Seeing the Kshatra Dharma, they were amazed and delighted. Condemning their own Dharma, they bowed to the great-souled one.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.15 After 15ab, B5 ins.: *12 जुगुप्समानाः परमं क्षात्रं कर्म विशां पते
शयनं कल्पयामासुर्भीष्मायामिततेजसे सोपधानं नरव्याघ्र शरैः संनतपर्वभिः
AI Translation: They made a bed for Bhishma, the infinitely energetic one, with arrows with straight joints, O tiger among men.
विधाय रक्षां भीष्माय समाभाष्य परस्परम् अनुमान्य च गाङ्गेयं कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्
AI Translation: Having performed the protection, having addressed each other, and having honored and circumambulated Gāṅgeya,
क्रोधसंरक्तनयनाः समवेक्ष्य परस्परम् पुनर्युद्धाय निर्जग्मुः क्षत्रियाः कालचोदिताः
AI Translation: With eyes red with anger, they looked at each other And again went out to fight, the Kshatriyas urged on by time.
ततस्तूर्यनिनादैश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनैः तावकानामनीकानि परेषां चापि निर्ययुः
M. N. Dutt: Then to the voice of the trumpets and to the roar of the drums, the army of your sons and that of their adversaries, formed in battle-array.
व्यावृत्तेऽहनि राजेन्द्र पतिते जाह्नवीसुते अमर्षवशमापन्नाः कालोपहतचेतसः
AI Translation: When the day was over, O king, when the son of Jahnavi had fallen, They were overcome by impatience, their minds destroyed by time,
अनादृत्य वचः पथ्यं गाङ्गेयस्य महात्मनः निर्ययुर्भरतश्रेष्ठाः शस्त्राण्यादाय सर्वशः
AI Translation: Ignoring the wise words of the great Ganga's son, all of them, best of Bharatas, took up their weapons.
मोहात्तव सपुत्रस्य वधाच्छांतनवस्य च कौरव्या मृत्युसाद्भूताः सहिताः सर्वराजभिः
M. N. Dutt: Owing to your own foolishness and that of your sons and owing to the death of the son of Shantanu, the descendants of the Kuru race together with all the (assembled) kings, appeared to be summoned by the God of death.
अजावय इवागोपा वने श्वापदसंकुले भृशमुद्विग्नमनसो हीना देवव्रतेन ते
M. N. Dutt: Like a herd of goats without a herdsman in wood infested with beasts of prey, they were exceedingly oppressed with fear, being deprived of Devavrata.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.23 After 23ab, S (G5 om.) ins.: *13 कर्ण कर्णेति चक्रन्दुः शेषा भारत पार्थिवाः
पतिते भरतश्रेष्ठे बभूव कुरुवाहिनी द्यौरिवापेतनक्षत्रा हीनं खमिव वायुना
AI Translation: When the best of the Bharatas fell, the Kuru army was like the sky without stars, like the sky without wind.
विपन्नसस्येव मही वाक्चैवासंस्कृता यथा आसुरीव यथा सेना निगृहीते पुरा बलौ
AI Translation: The earth without crops, or speech without grammar, Or the demon army when the city is captured.
विधवेव वरारोहा शुष्कतोयेव निम्नगा वृकैरिव वने रुद्धा पृषती हतयूथपा
AI Translation: She was like a widow, like a river with dried up waters, like a doe in the forest surrounded by wolves, with its leader killed.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.26 After 26ab, D8 ins.: *14 लक्ष्मीरिव सुरैस्त्यक्ता श्रुतिहीना यथा द्विजाः
स्वाधर्षा हतसिंहेव महती गिरिकन्दरा भारती भरतश्रेष्ठ पतिते जाह्नवीसुते
AI Translation: Like a great mountain cave, when the lion is killed, the river Ganges, O best of Bharatas, when the son of Jahnu falls,
विष्वग्वातहता रुग्णा नौरिवासीन्महार्णवे बलिभिः पाण्डवैर्वीरैर्लब्धलक्षैर्भृशार्दिता
M. N. Dutt: Resembled a tiny bark thrown up and down on the bosom of the mighty main, driven by the gale rushing from all sides. It was then greatly harassed by the powerful Pandavas heroes of infallible aims.
सा तदासीद्भृशं सेना व्याकुलाश्वरथद्विपा विषण्णभूयिष्ठनरा कृपणा द्रष्टुमाबभौ
M. N. Dutt: Then that host, with its elephants, horses and car-warriors, was much distressed and exceedingly jeopardised and rendered helpless and terror-stricken.
तस्यां त्रस्ता नृपतयः सैनिकाश्च पृथग्विधाः पाताल इव मज्जन्तो हीना देवव्रतेन ते कर्णं हि कुरवोऽस्मार्षुः स हि देवव्रतोपमः
M. N. Dutt: Then, in that army, bereft of Devavrata, the kings and the (common) soldiers, individually struck with panic, seemed to be sinking into the nethermost regions.
सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं रोचमानमिवातिथिम् बन्धुमापद्गतस्येव तमेवोपागमन्मनः
AI Translation: The best of all weapon-bearers, like a guest, The mind approached him alone, like a relative in distress.
चुक्रुशुः कर्ण कर्णेति तत्र भारत पार्थिवाः राधेयं हितमस्माकं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम्
AI Translation: O descendant of Bharata, the kings there cried out, "Karna, Karna!" "Radheya, the son of a suta, who was beneficial to us, has abandoned his body."
स हि नायुध्यत तदा दशाहानि महायशाः सामात्यबन्धुः कर्णो वै तमाह्वयत माचिरम्
AI Translation: For ten days, that greatly renowned one did not fight. Karna, with his ministers and relatives, called out to him, "Do not delay!"
भीष्मेण हि महाबाहुः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पश्यतः रथेषु गण्यमानेषु बलविक्रमशालिषु संख्यातोऽर्धरथः कर्णो द्विगुणः सन्नरर्षभः
AI Translation: For, while all the Kshatriyas looked on, the mighty-armed Bhishma counted the chariots, which were full of strength and valour, and Karna, the bull among men, was counted as half a chariot, but twice as strong.
रथातिरथसंख्यायां योऽग्रणीः शूरसंमतः पितृवित्ताम्बुदेवेशानपि यो योद्धुमुत्सहेत्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed in that enumeration of Rathas and Atirathas, Karna was thus reckoned-Karna who is the foremost (of all fighters), who is held in high respect by the heroes and who would dare give battle even to Yama, Kubera, Varuna and Indra.
स तु तेनैव कोपेन राजन्गाङ्गेयमुक्तवान् त्वयि जीवति कौरव्य नाहं योत्स्ये कथंचन
AI Translation: But out of anger, he said to the son of Ganga, "O king, as long as you are alive, O descendant of Kuru, I will never fight.
त्वया तु पाण्डवेयेषु निहतेषु महामृधे दुर्योधनमनुज्ञाप्य वनं यास्यामि कौरव
AI Translation: But when the sons of Pandu are killed in the great battle, I will seek your permission, O Duryodhana, and go to the forest, O Kaurava.
पाण्डवैर्वा हते भीष्मे त्वयि स्वर्गमुपेयुषि हन्तास्म्येकरथेनैव कृत्स्नान्यान्मन्यसे रथान्
M. N. Dutt: If, O Bhisma, on the contrary, you, being slain by the Pandavas, are transported to heaven, then will I, riding on a single car, slay those whom you consider to be the mightiest of all car-warriors.
एवमुक्त्वा महाराज दशाहानि महायशाः नायुध्यत ततः कर्णः पुत्रस्य तव संमते
M. N. Dutt: Having thus spoken, the mighty-armed Karna of illustrious renown, refrained, with the perinission of your son, from taking part in the battle for these ten days.
भीष्मः समरविक्रान्तः पाण्डवेयस्य पार्थिव जघान समरे योधानसंख्येयपराक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: 0 Bharata, Bhishma of immeasurable prowess, displaying his might in battle, slew a large number of warriors of the Pandava host in that (sanguinary) engagement.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते शूरे सत्यसंधे महौजसि त्वत्सुताः कर्णमस्मार्षुस्तर्तुकामा इव प्लवम्
M. N. Dutt: On the fall of that most powerful hero of linerring aim, your sons remembered Karna, like persons desirous of crossing the ocean) remembering a raft.
तावकास्तव पुत्राश्च सहिताः सर्वराजभिः हा कर्ण इति चाक्रन्दन्कालोऽयमिति चाब्रुवन्
M. N. Dutt: Your sons and the warriors of your party, together with the (assembled) monarchs then, began to bewail saying 'Karna' they also said 'It is time for you to come.'
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.42 After 42, D2.5 ins. (cf. 32cd): *15 एवं ते स्म हि राधेयं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम् D2.5 cont.: K4 Dn2 D8 ins. after 42: *16 चुक्रुशुः सहिता योधास्तत्र तत्र महाबलाः
जामदग्न्याभ्यनुज्ञातमस्त्रे दुर्वारपौरुषम् अगमन्नो मनः कर्णं बन्धुमात्ययिकेष्विव
M. N. Dutt: As during emergencies the heart flies to a friend, so our hearts then flew to Karna of irrepressible manhood who had acquired his knowledge of weapons from the son of Jamadagni.
स हि शक्तो रणे राजंस्त्रातुमस्मान्महाभयात् त्रिदशानिव गोविन्दः सततं सुमहाभयात्
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, he only was capable of saving us from the great dangers of battle, iike Govinda protecting the celestials from all calamities.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.44 For 44cd, Dn2 D3 subst.: while, B5 ins. after 44: *17 देवानिव यथा विष्णुस्त्रायते महतो भयात्
वैशंपायन उवाच तथा कर्णं युधि वरं कीर्तयन्तं पुनः पुनः आशीविषवदुच्छ्वस्य धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thereupon breathing (heavily) out like a snake, Dhritarashtra spoke these words to Sanjaya who had been thus repeatedly extolling Karna.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.45 After 45ab, K1.5 Dn1 D4.7.8 ins.: *18 गावल्गणिं संजयं तु शोकव्याकुललोचनः
यत्तद्वैकर्तनं कर्णमगमद्वो मनस्तदा अप्यपश्यत राधेयं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम्
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said As your heart then were drawn to wards Karna, the son of Vikartana, you surely saw that son of Radha, that descendant of Suta, who was ever-ready to lay down his life for you.
अपि तन्न मृषाकार्षीद्युधि सत्यपराक्रमः संभ्रान्तानां तदार्तानां त्रस्तानां त्राणमिच्छताम्
M. N. Dutt: Did that Karna, of infallible prowess in battle, disappoint Duryodhana and his brothers, who had been all exceedingly distressed, panicstruck and anxious for being extricated from their difficulties?
अपि तत्पूरयां चक्रे धनुर्धरवरो युधि यत्तद्विनिहते भीष्मे कौरवाणामपावृतम्
M. N. Dutt: Was that foremost of bowmen in battle capable of filling up the void created by the fall of Bhishma, the shelter of the Kurus?
तत्खण्डं पूरयामास परेषामादधद्भयम् कृतवान्मम पुत्राणां जयाशां सफलामपि
AI Translation: He filled that gap, instilling fear in the enemy. He made the hope of victory for my sons fruitful.
Supplementary Passages:
7.1.49 After 49ab, K2.4 Dn D1.2.4.5.7.8 ins.: *19 स हि वै पुरुषव्याघ्रो लोके संजय कथ्यते आर्तानां बान्धवानां च क्रन्दतां च विशेषतः परित्यज्य रणे प्राणांस्तत्त्राणार्थं च शर्म च