Critical Edition
संजय उवाच सेनापत्यं तु संप्राप्य भारद्वाजो महारथः युयुत्सुर्व्यूह्य सैन्यानि प्रायात्तव सुतैः सह
M. N. Dutt: on Then having been installed the command of the army, that mighty car-warrior, the son of Bharadvaja, arranging the troops in battle-array, marched out, accompanied by your sons, from a desire of giving battle.
सैन्धवश्च कलिङ्गश्च विकर्णश्च तवात्मजः दक्षिणं पार्श्वमास्थाय समतिष्ठन्त दंशिताः
M. N. Dutt: Donning their armours, the king of the Sindhus and the Kalingas and Vikarna, your son, stationed themselves in the right wing of Drona.
प्रपक्षः शकुनिस्तेषां प्रवरैर्हयसादिभिः ययौ गान्धारकैः सार्धं विमलप्रासयोधिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then accompanied by a numerous and picked cavalry recruited from men belonging to the Gandhara tribe and armed with lustrous lances, Shakuni marched out as their support.
कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः दुःशासनमुखा यत्ताः सव्यं पार्श्वमपालयन्
M. N. Dutt: Then Kripa, Kritavarman, Chitrasena and Vivinsati, having Dushasana at their head, proceeded, covering the left wing.
तेषां प्रपक्षाः काम्बोजाः सुदक्षिणपुरःसराः ययुरश्वैर्महावेगैः शकाश्च यवनैः सह
M. N. Dutt: Then riding on horses of great fleetness, the Kamvojas headed by Sudakshina and the Shakas with the Yavanas, marched forth, forming the support of the last mentioned party.
मद्रास्त्रिगर्ताः साम्बष्ठाः प्रतीच्योदीच्यवासिनः शिबयः शूरसेनाश्च शूद्राश्च मलदैः सह
AI Translation: The Madra, Trigarta, Sambha, Prati-Udicya, and Udicya people, The Shibi, Shurasenas, and Shudras with the Mallas,
सौवीराः कितवाः प्राच्या दाक्षिणात्याश्च सर्वशः तवात्मजं पुरस्कृत्य सूतपुत्रस्य पृष्ठतः
AI Translation: The Sauviras, Kitavas, easterners, southerners, and all others Placing your son in front and the son of a suta behind,
हर्षयन्सर्वसैन्यानि बलेषु बलमादधत् ययौ वैकर्तनः कर्णः प्रमुखे सर्वधन्विनाम्
AI Translation: Encouraging all the armies, adding strength to the strong, Vaishampāyana said: The son of the suta, Karna, went to the front of all the archers.
तस्य दीप्तो महाकायः स्वान्यनीकानि हर्षयन् हस्तिकक्ष्यामहाकेतुर्बभौ सूर्यसमद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: His mighty standard, huge and resplendent and marked with the device of the elephant's girth, imparting delight into the hearts of his own soldiers, burned with effulgence cqual to that of the sun.
न भीष्मव्यसनं कश्चिद्दृष्ट्वा कर्णममन्यत विशोकाश्चाभवन्सर्वे राजानः कुरुभिः सह
M. N. Dutt: All the kings and the Kurus, seeing Karna, did pay no heed to the calamity that had befallen them in the shape of Bhishma's death and they all were shorn of their sorrow.
हृष्टाश्च बहवो योधास्तत्राजल्पन्त संगताः न हि कर्णं रणे दृष्ट्वा युधि स्थास्यन्ति पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Numerous warriors, highly delighted, forming into groups, thus began to talk, “Surely the Pandavas, seeing Karna in the field, will not stay a while in battle.
कर्णो हि समरे शक्तो जेतुं देवान्सवासवान् किमु पाण्डुसुतान्युद्धे हीनवीर्यपराक्रमान्
M. N. Dutt: Truly, Karna is powerful enough to gain victory in battle over the celestials led by Vasava himself, not to speak of the sons of Pandu, who are devoid of prowess and energy alike.
भीष्मेण तु रणे पार्थाः पालिता बाहुशालिना तांस्तु कर्णः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नाशयिष्यत्यसंशयम्
M. N. Dutt: The sons of Pritha were tenderly treated by the mighty-armed Bhishma in battle. But Karna shall slay them in the encounter with sharpened arrows.
एवं ब्रुवन्तस्तेऽन्योन्यं हृष्टरूपा विशां पते राधेयं पूजयन्तश्च प्रशंसन्तश्च निर्ययुः
M. N. Dutt: O lord of people, thus talking to one another with joyful looks and honouring and eulogising the son of Radha, they marched along (in battle-array). Our own army, O monarch, was arrayed in the form of a Sakata (or car).
अस्माकं शकटव्यूहो द्रोणेन विहितोऽभवत् परेषां क्रौञ्च एवासीद्व्यूहो राजन्महात्मनाम् प्रीयमाणेन विहितो धर्मराजेन भारत
M. N. Dutt: The army of our high-souled enemies was formed in the shape of a Krauncha (crane). O Bharata, by the very virtuous Yudhishthira with a delighted heart.
व्यूहप्रमुखतस्तेषां तस्थतुः पुरुषर्षभौ वानरध्वजमुच्छ्रित्य विष्वक्सेनधनंजयौ
M. N. Dutt: At the head of their array stood the two foremost of men, Vishvaksena (Vishnu) and Dhananjaya, with their banner, bearing the emblem of the ape, uplifted.
ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां लक्ष्म सर्वधनुष्मताम् आदित्यपथगः केतुः पार्थस्यामिततेजसः
M. N. Dutt: That banner of Partha of immeasurable prowess, the hump of the whole army and the refuge of all wielders of bow, that banner which reached the orbit of the sun, seemed to illumine the whole army of Yudhishthira of high soul.
दीपयामास तत्सैन्यं पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः यथा प्रज्वलितः सूर्यो युगान्ते वै वसुंधराम्
AI Translation: He set ablaze the army of the great-souled Pandava, Just as the sun blazes at the end of the yuga, the earth.
Supplementary Passages:
7.6.18 After 18, K5 ins.: *47 अर्जुनेन तथा राजन्तापिता भारती चमूः while B Dc1 Dn2 D3.6 ins. after 18: *48 दीप्यन्दृश्येत हि तथा केतुः सर्वत्र धीमतः
अस्यतामर्जुनः श्रेष्ठो गाण्डीवं धनुषां वरम् वासुदेवश्च भूतानां चक्राणां च सुदर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: Of all the warriors Arjuna is the foremost; of all the bows Gandiva is the best. Vasudeva is the foremost of all created beings and Sudarshana is the best of all kinds of discus.
चत्वार्येतानि तेजांसि वहञ्श्वेतहयो रथः परेषामग्रतस्तस्थौ कालचक्रमिवोद्यतम्
M. N. Dutt: The chariot, to which were harnessed white horses, carrying these four kinds of energy incarnate, stood at the head of the hostile array, like the discus of Kala raised (for being hurled). Thus those two high-souled heroes stood at the head of their armies. Karna stood at the head of your army and Dhananjaya at the head of the hostile troops.
एवमेतौ महात्मानौ बलसेनाग्रगावुभौ तावकानां मुखं कर्णः परेषां च धनंजयः
AI Translation: Thus these two great souls, the leaders of the army, Karna for your side and Dhananjaya for the enemy,
ततो जाताभिसंरम्भौ परस्परवधैषिणौ अवेक्षेतां तदान्योन्यं समरे कर्णपाण्डवौ
M. N. Dutt: Oking! in that battle, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, looked at each other possessed with ire and each desirous of slaying the other.
Supplementary Passages:
7.6.22 After 22, D3.6 ins.: *49 दिधक्षन्तौ रणे क्रुद्धौ नेत्राभ्यामितरेतरम् निश्चरन्तौ महावीर्यौ धुन्वानौ धनुषी दृढौ समुच्छ्रितपताकेन ध्वजेन रथिनां वरः आचार्यः कुरुपाण्डूनां संग्रामशिरसि स्थितः
ततः प्रयाते सहसा भारद्वाजे महारथे अन्तर्नादेन घोरेण वसुधा समकम्पत
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter when the mighty car-warrior, the son of Bharadvaja, flew suddenly to the fight, the earth began to shake with the sound of terrible wails.
ततस्तुमुलमाकाशमावृणोत्सदिवाकरम् वातोद्धूतं रजस्तीव्रं कौशेयनिकरोपमम्
M. N. Dutt: Then thick clouds of dust, blown up by the storm and resembling heaps of tawny silk, intercepted from the view the welkin in and the sun. Though the sky was cloudless yet a shower of flesh bones and blood fell on the earth.
अनभ्रे प्रववर्ष द्यौर्मांसास्थिरुधिराण्युत गृध्राः श्येना बडाः कङ्का वायसाश्च सहस्रशः उपर्युपरि सेनां ते तदा पर्यपतन्नृप
M. N. Dutt: O king, vultures, hawks, cranes, kanakas and crows, by thousands swooped on your army, over and over again.
गोमायवश्च प्राक्रोशन्भयदान्दारुणान्रवान् अकार्षुरपसव्यं च बहुशः पृतनां तव चिखादिषन्तो मांसानि पिपासन्तश्च शोणितम्
M. N. Dutt: The jackals yelled forth and many dreadful and fierce rangers of the sky repeatedly placed your army to their right, being desirous of devouring flesh and thirsting for blood.
अपतद्दीप्यमाना च सनिर्घाता सकम्पना उल्का ज्वलन्ती संग्रामे पुच्छेनावृत्य सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: On the field of battle, illuminating the welkin, dropped many a burning meteor accompanied with thundering sounds and vibrating motions and covering with their tails large areas.
परिवेषो महांश्चापि सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुमान् भास्करस्याभवद्राजन्प्रयाते वाहिनीपतौ
M. N. Dutt: Then, O monarch, when the commander of the host (Drona) set out for battle, the wide circumference of the lustrous orb of day, emitted flashes of lightving and thundering sounds.
एते चान्ये च बहवः प्रादुरासन्सुदारुणाः उत्पाता युधि वीराणां जीवितक्षयकारकाः
M. N. Dutt: These and many other terrible portents appeared indicating a great loss of life of many heroes in the ensuing encounter.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं परस्परवधैषिणाम् कुरुपाण्डवसैन्यानां शब्देनानादयज्जगत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter the fight between the Kurus and the Pandus, both desirous of killing one another, commenced; and the terrible din rising therefrom filled the whole world.
ते त्वन्योन्यं सुसंरब्धाः पाण्डवाः कौरवैः सह प्रत्यघ्नन्निशितैर्बाणैर्जयगृद्धाः प्रहारिणः
M. N. Dutt: Then, burning with wrath, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, all first-class smiters, began to pierce one another with sharpened weapons, ardently longing for victory.
स पाण्डवानां महतीं महेष्वासो महाद्युतिः वेगेनाभ्यद्रवत्सेनां किरञ्शरशतैः शितैः
M. N. Dutt: Then that mighty champion (Drona) of great effulgence, charged, with headlong speed, the army of the sons of Pandu, shooting hundreds of sharpened shafts.
द्रोणमभ्युद्यतं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवाः सह सृञ्जयैः प्रत्यगृह्णंस्तदा राजञ्शरवर्षैः पृथक्पृथक्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Drona charge, the Pandavas along with the Srinjayas received him, o monarch, with showers of shafts in distinct sets.
संक्षोभ्यमाणा द्रोणेन भिद्यमाना महाचमूः व्यशीर्यत सपाञ्चाला वातेनेव बलाहकाः
M. N. Dutt: That mighty host (of the Pandavas) along with the Panchalas agitated and routed by Drona, was shattered like rows of cranes by the wind.
बहूनीह विकुर्वाणो दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि संयुगे अपीडयत्क्षणेनैव द्रोणः पाण्डवसृञ्जयान्
M. N. Dutt: In the encounter, invoking various celestial weapons Drona, in a moment, sorely oppressed the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.
ते वध्यमाना द्रोणेन वासवेनेव दानवाः पाञ्चालाः समकम्पन्त धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः
M. N. Dutt: The Panchalas having Dhrishtadyumna at their head being slaughtered by Drona, like the Danavas by Vasava, began to quake.
ततो दिव्यास्त्रविच्छूरो याज्ञसेनिर्महारथः अभिनच्छरवर्षेण द्रोणानीकमनेकधा
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon that mighty car-warriors, the heroic Yajnaserma versed in the knowledge of the celestial weapons, produced by his showers of arrows many a breach, in the columns of Drona.
द्रोणस्य शरवर्षैस्तु शरवर्षाणि भागशः संनिवार्य ततः सेनां कुरूनप्यवधीद्बली
M. N. Dutt: Then that powerful son of Prishata, checking the showers of Drona's arrows with those of his own, slew many a Kuru warrior.
संहृत्य तु ततो द्रोणः समवस्थाप्य चाहवे स्वमनीकं महाबाहुः पार्षतं समुपाद्रवत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Drona of mighty arms, again rallying has soldiers and re-arranging them, charged the son of Prishata in battle.
स बाणवर्षं सुमहदसृजत्पार्षतं प्रति मघवान्समभिक्रुद्धः सहसा दानवेष्विव
M. N. Dutt: Then towards the son of Prishata he directed a close shower of arrows, like Meghavat exceedingly enraged shooting his shafts towards the Danavas.
ते कम्प्यमाना द्रोणेन बाणैः पाण्डवसृञ्जयाः पुनः पुनरभज्यन्त सिंहेनेवेतरे मृगाः
M. N. Dutt: Thus, agitated by Drona with his arrows, the Pandavas and Srinjays, again and again, broke their lines, like a herd of inferior beasts attacked by a lion.
अथ पर्यपतद्द्रोणः पाण्डवानां बलं बली अलातचक्रवद्राजंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Then O monarch, like a circle of firebrands, the mighty Drona careered through the army of the Pandavas; and that was a wonderful sight.
खचरनगरकल्पं कल्पितं शास्त्रदृष्ट्या; चलदनिलपताकं ह्रादिनं वल्गिताश्वम् स्फटिकविमलकेतुं तापनं शात्रवाणां; रथवरमधिरूढः संजहारारिसेनाम्
M. N. Dutt: Riding on his own excellent cars, that resembled a city careering through the skies; that was well supplied with the implements of war according to the military science, the banner of which was fluttering on the air, the rattle of which was resounding all round the field, the steeds of which were well-driven and the flagstaff of which was shining like a rod of crystal-riding on such a chariot. Drona inspired the hostile army with terror and massacred (right and left).