Critical Edition
संजय उवाच ते सेने शिबिरं गत्वा न्यविशेतां विशां पते यथाभागं यथान्यायं यथागुल्मं च सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O lord of men, the troops having retired to their camps, duly took up their quarters, according to the divisions and ranks to which they belonged.
कृत्वावहारं सैन्यानां द्रोणः परमदुर्मनाः दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य सव्रीडमिदमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having withdrawn his soldiers, Drona, with a dejected heart, seeing Duryodhana, spoke these words in shame.
उक्तमेतन्मया पूर्वं न तिष्ठति धनंजये शक्यो ग्रहीतुं संग्रामे देवैरपि युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: ‘I have told you before, that when Dhananjaya stays by the side of Yudhishthira, even the celestials will not be able to capture the latter in battle.
इति तद्वः प्रयततां कृतं पार्थेन संयुगे मातिशङ्कीर्वचो मह्यमजेयौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ
M. N. Dutt: You all assaulted Partha in battle, but he defeated all of you; do not doubt my words; Krishna and the son of Pandu are incapable of being vanquished in battle.
अपनीते तु योगेन केनचिच्छ्वेतवाहने तत एष्यति ते राजन्वशमद्य युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: If however by any means Arjuna owning white steeds cab be taken away from the side of Yudhishthira , then, O king, even today may Yudhishthira be brought under your sway.
कश्चिदाह्वयतां संख्ये देशमन्यं प्रकर्षतु तमजित्वा तु कौन्तेयो न निवर्तेत्कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: Let some one challenging him (Arjuna) in battle take him to another part of the field. The son of Kunti will not return without having vanquished him.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शून्ये धर्मराजमहं नृप ग्रहीष्यामि चमूं भित्त्वा धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, during that interval when Yudhishthira will be deprived of the help of Arjuna, I, penetrating through the Pandava hosts, will capture the very virtuous king, even before the very eyes of Dhrishtadyumna.
अर्जुनेन विहीनस्तु यदि नोत्सृजते रणम् मामुपायान्तमालोक्य गृहीतमिति विद्धि तम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus, O monarch, I will today with certitude bring under your control Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, with all his followers.
एवं ते सहसा राजन्धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् समानेष्यामि सगणं वशमद्य न संशयः
AI Translation: Thus, O king, I shall suddenly bring the son of Dharma, Yudhishthira, together with his followers, under my control today, there is no doubt.
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.9 For 9ab, S subst.: *124 क्षोभयित्वा बलं तेषां पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्
यदि तिष्ठति संग्रामे मुहूर्तमपि पाण्डवः अथापयाति संग्रामाद्विजयात्तद्विशिष्यते
AI Translation: If the Pāṇḍava stands in battle for even a moment, then if he withdraws from battle, he is superior to victory.
द्रोणस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा त्रिगर्ताधिपतिस्ततः भ्रातृभिः सहितो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Thereat, having listened to these words of Drona, the ruler of the Trigarttas united with his brothers, spoke these words, O monarch.
वयं विनिकृता राजन्सदा गाण्डीवधन्वना अनागःस्वपि चागस्कृदस्मासु भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: 'O monarch, we have been very often humiliated by the wielder of the Gandiva bow; O foremost of the Bharatas, though we have done him no harm yet he bears malice against us.
ते वयं स्मरमाणास्तान्विनिकारान्पृथग्विधान् क्रोधाग्निना दह्यमाना न शेमहि सदा निशाः
M. N. Dutt: We, remembering those various occasions of humiliation, are ever consumed with the fire of wrath and at night can never enjoy sleep.
स नो दिव्यास्त्रसंपन्नश्चक्षुर्विषयमागतः कर्तारः स्म वयं सर्वं यच्चिकीर्षाम हृद्गतम्
M. N. Dutt: By good fortune it is that Arjuna bearing arms, will become the object of our sight; so we will achieve that feat which our hearts long to accomplish.
भवतश्च प्रियं यत्स्यादस्माकं च यशस्करम् वयमेनं हनिष्यामो निकृष्यायोधनाद्बहिः
M. N. Dutt: This act will be agreeable to you and shall redound to our renown. Drawing him out of the field of battle we shall slay him.
अद्यास्त्वनर्जुना भूमिरत्रिगर्ताथ वा पुनः सत्यं ते प्रतिजानीमो नैतन्मिथ्या भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Today the earth will be relieved of the burden of Arjuna or that of the Trigarttas. Truly we resolve this before you and this our resolution will never be falsified?
एवं सत्यरथश्चोक्त्वा सत्यधर्मा च भारत सत्यवर्मा च सत्येषुः सत्यकर्मा तथैव च
AI Translation: Thus Satyārtha, Satyadharma, and Satyavarma, O descendant of Bharata, Satyēshu and Satyakarma also.
सहिता भ्रातरः पञ्च रथानामयुतेन च न्यवर्तन्त महाराज कृत्वा शपथमाहवे
AI Translation: Together with their five brothers and a hundred thousand chariots, they turned back, O great king, having taken an oath in battle.
मालवास्तुण्डिकेराश्च रथानामयुतैस्त्रिभिः सुशर्मा च नरव्याघ्रस्त्रिगर्तः प्रस्थलाधिपः
M. N. Dutt: The Malavas and the Tundikeras, with thirty thousand cars and that foremost of men Susharman of the Trigartta race, the ruler of Prasthala together with the Mavelakas the Lalithyas and the Madrakas and with ten thousand cars and accompanied by his biothers.
माचेल्लकैर्ललित्थैश्च सहितो मद्रकैरपि रथानामयुतेनैव सोऽशपद्भ्रातृभिः सह
AI Translation: Together with the Mācellas, the Lallitas, and the Mādrakas, with a multitude of chariots, he cursed his brothers.
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.20 After 20, S ins.: *125 मलदाश्च करूशाश्च दरदाश्च महारथाः तङ्कणाश्च परादाश्च युगपत्ते समागताः
नानाजनपदेभ्यश्च रथानामयुतं पुनः समुत्थितं विशिष्टानां संशपार्थमुपागतम्
M. N. Dutt: And with another ten thousand excellent cars come from various kingdoms, came forward to take the oath.
ततो ज्वलनमादाय हुत्वा सर्वे पृथक्पृथक् जगृहुः कुशचीराणि चित्राणि कवचानि च
M. N. Dutt: Then bringing fire, and every one having separately kindled one for himself, they took up mats of kusa grass and excellent mail-coats.
ते च बद्धतनुत्राणा घृताक्ताः कुशचीरिणः मौर्वीमेखलिनो वीराः सहस्रशतदक्षिणाः
M. N. Dutt: Then having donned their armours and having smeared themselves with clarified butter and wearing those mattresses of kusa grass and with their bow strings as their belts, those heroes, who had given away hundreds and thousands as Dakshina.
यज्वानः पुत्रिणो लोक्याः कृतकृत्यास्तनुत्यजः योक्ष्यमाणास्तदात्मानं यशसा विजयेन च
M. N. Dutt: Who had accomplished many sacrifices, who had been blessed with sons, who deserved regions of bliss hereinafter, who had done what ought to be done, who were ready to lay down their bodies, who had devoted their souls to the acquirement of fame and victory.
ब्रह्मचर्यश्रुतिमुखैः क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः प्राप्य लोकान्सुयुद्धेन क्षिप्रमेव यियासवः
M. N. Dutt: Who were intent speedily on going to the regions, by being killed in a fair fight, that are attained my means of sacrifices attended with profuse Dakshinas, and by means also of many such other rites, the foremost of which are Brahmacharya and the study of the Vedas.
ब्राह्मणांस्तर्पयित्वा च निष्कान्दत्त्वा पृथक्पृथक् गाश्च वासांसि च पुनः समाभाष्य परस्परम्
AI Translation: Having satisfied the Brahmins and having given them gold coins separately, and having again addressed each other about the cows and garments,
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.26 T G M1. 2.5 ins. after 26: M3.4 after 25a: *126 द्विजमुख्यैः समुदितैः कृतस्वस्त्ययनाशिषः मुदिताश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च जलं संस्पृश्य निर्मलम्
प्रज्वाल्य कृष्णवर्त्मानमुपागम्य रणे व्रतम् तस्मिन्नग्नौ तदा चक्रुः प्रतिज्ञां दृढनिश्चयाः
AI Translation: Having kindled the black path, having approached the battle, they performed the vow. In that fire, they made a firm resolution.
शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानामुच्चैर्वाचः स्म मेनिरे धृत्वा धनंजयवधे प्रतिज्ञां चापि चक्रिरे
M. N. Dutt: Having formed that firm resolution for the death of Dhananjaya they said these words aloud in the hearing of all present.
ये वै लोकाश्चानृतानां ये चैव ब्रह्मघातिनाम् पानपस्य च ये लोका गुरुदाररतस्य च
AI Translation: Those who are not truthful, those who kill Brahmins, those who drink alcohol, those who indulge in their teacher's wife,
ब्रह्मस्वहारिणश्चैव राजपिण्डापहारिणः शरणागतं च त्यजतो याचमानं तथा घ्नतः
AI Translation: Those who steal the property of Brahmins, those who steal the funeral offerings of the king, Those who abandon those who have sought refuge, those who kill those who beg,
अगारदाहिनां ये च ये च गां निघ्नतामपि अपचारिणां च ये लोका ये च ब्रह्मद्विषामपि
AI Translation: Those who burn houses, those who kill cows, those who are unfaithful, and those who hate the Brahmins.
जायां च ऋतुकाले वै ये मोहादभिगच्छताम् श्राद्धसंगतिकानां च ये चाप्यात्मापहारिणाम्
AI Translation: Those who approach their wives during the menstrual period out of delusion, Those who are associated with the Śrāddha rite, and those who take their own lives,
न्यासापहारिणां ये च श्रुतं नाशयतां च ये कोपेन युध्यमानानां ये च नीचानुसारिणाम्
AI Translation: Those who steal deposits, those who destroy what is heard, Those who fight out of anger, those who follow the low,
नास्तिकानां च ये लोका येऽग्निहोरापितृत्यजाम् तानाप्नुयामहे लोकान्ये च पापकृतामपि
AI Translation: May we attain those worlds of the unbelievers, of those who have not offered the Agnihotra or the offerings to the ancestors, and also those worlds of the evildoers.
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.34 After 34ab, S Cv ins.: *127 सत्यमाक्रमतां ये च प्रत्यादित्यं प्रमेहताम्
यद्यहत्वा वयं युद्धे निवर्तेम धनंजयम् तेन चाभ्यर्दितास्त्रासाद्भवेम हि पराङ्मुखाः
AI Translation: If we turn back from the battle without killing Dhananjaya, and are harassed by him, we will be turned away in fear.
यदि त्वसुकरं लोके कर्म कुर्याम संयुगे इष्टान्पुण्यकृतां लोकान्प्राप्नुयाम न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: If, on the other hand, we can accomplish in battle that feat difficult of achieving, then, for certain, today we shall attain to the most desirable regions.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजंस्तेऽभ्यवर्तन्त संयुगे आह्वयन्तोऽर्जुनं वीराः पितृजुष्टां दिशं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, having thus spoken, they then proceeded to the fight summoning Arjuna to the southern part of the field.
आहूतस्तैर्नरव्याघ्रैः पार्थः परपुरंजयः धर्मराजमिदं वाक्यमपदान्तरमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of men, that conqueror of hostile fortresses, namely the son of Pritha, being summoned by them, said these words without delay to the very virtuous king Yudhishthira.
आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम् संशप्तकाश्च मां राजन्नाह्वयन्ति पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: 'Challenged, I will never turn back. This is my firm resolution. These Samshaptakas (those who are sworn to die or to conquer) O king, are calling me to meet them in battle.
एष च भ्रातृभिः सार्धं सुशर्माह्वयते रणे वधाय सगणस्यास्य मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: This Susarman with his brothers is summoning me to battle. It behoves you to permit me to slay him and his followers.
नैतच्छक्नोमि संसोढुमाह्वानं पुरुषर्षभ सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि हतान्विद्धि परान्युधि
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of men, I cannot brook this challenge; I do tell you truly, know these hostile heroes to be already slain in battle.
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.41 After 41, S ins.: *128 न ह्यर्जुनो रणे राजन्मिथ्या किंचित्प्रवक्ष्यति हतांस्त्रैगर्तकान्पश्य मा स्म ते कश्मलं भवेत्
युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुतमेतत्त्वया तात यद्द्रोणस्य चिकीर्षितम् यथा तदनृतं तस्य भवेत्तद्वत्समाचर
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O child, you are perfectly aware of what Drona is intent on doing. Act in such a manner so that his intention may be frustrated.
द्रोणो हि बलवाञ्शूरः कृतास्त्रश्च जितश्रमः प्रतिज्ञातं च तेनैतद्ग्रहणं मे महारथ
M. N. Dutt: Drona is endued with prowess and he is heroic, accomplished in the use of weapons, and indifatigable (in battle). O mighty carwarrior, even he has resolved to bring about my capture.
अर्जुन उवाच अयं वै सत्यजिद्राजन्नद्य ते रक्षिता युधि ध्रियमाणे हि पाञ्चाल्ये नाचार्यः काममाप्स्यति
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said This Satyajit, O monarch, will protect you in battle today; and so long as the prince of the Panchalas lives, the preceptor will not attain the fruition of his desires,
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.44 Ś2 missing (cf. v.l. 19). M3.4 om. the ref. After the ref., S ins.: *129 सर्वथा न निवर्तेयमाहूतोऽहं परंतप त्रिगर्तो भ्रातृभिः सार्धं स मामाह्वयते भृशम् तवापि तु रणे रक्षा विहिता मे जनाधिप निरपेक्षो गमिष्यामि वधायैषां दुरात्मनाम्
हते तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे रणे सत्यजिति प्रभो सर्वैरपि समेतैर्वा न स्थातव्यं कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: If, on the other hand, O master, this foremost of men, Satyajit, be slain in battle, then you shall not stay in the field even if surrounded by all (our warriors).
संजय उवाच अनुज्ञातस्ततो राज्ञा परिष्वक्तश्च फल्गुनः प्रेम्णा दृष्टश्च बहुधा आशिषा च प्रयोजितः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then king Yudhishthira gave Phalguna the permission he sought; and embraced him and cast affectionate glances him and pronounced numerous benedictions on him.
विहायैनं ततः पार्थस्त्रिगर्तान्प्रत्ययाद्बली क्षुधितः क्षुद्विघातार्थं सिंहो मृगगणानिव
M. N. Dutt: Having made these arrangement, puissant son of Pritha went to meet the Trigarttas, like a hungry lion falling upon a herd of deer, for assuaging its hunger.
ततो दौर्योधनं सैन्यं मुदा परमया युतम् गतेऽर्जुने भृशं क्रुद्धं धर्मराजस्य निग्रहे
M. N. Dutt: on Thereafter the army of Duryodhana highly delighted at the absence of Arjuna from Yudhishthira's side, became infuriated at the thought of the capture of the virtuous monarch.
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.48 For 48cd, S subst.: *130 ग्रहणे धर्मराजस्य कृतोत्साहं महामृधे
ततोऽन्योन्येन ते सेने समाजग्मतुरोजसा गङ्गासरय्वोर्वेगेन प्रावृषीवोल्बणोदके
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon both armies clashed against each other with great vehemence, like the conflux of the rivers Ganga and Sarayu in the rainy season, when they are both swollen with water.
Supplementary Passages:
7.16.49 After 49ab, S ins.: *131 वेगेन शङ्खानापूर्य हर्षयुक्ते महास्वने