Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच द्वैधीभवति मे चित्तं ह्रिया तुष्ट्या च संजय मम पुत्रस्य यत्सैन्यं सौभद्रः समवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Upon hearing that Subhadra's son, singleheaded as he was, held in bay the entire army of my son, my heart, my heart, O Sanjaya, is simultaneously filled with shame and delight.
Supplementary Passages:
7.38.1 After 1c, D7.8 ins.: *277 मम पौत्रो जिघांसति यथा चैव हि यत्सैन्यं For 1cd, S subst.: *278 यत्सैन्यं मम पुत्रस्य मम पौत्रः प्रबाधते
विस्तरेणैव मे शंस सर्वं गावल्गणे पुनः विक्रीडितं कुमारस्य स्कन्दस्येवासुरैः सह
M. N. Dutt: O son of Gavalgani, relate to me in detail the fight with prince Abhimanyu, that seems to be much like that between Skanda and the Asuras.
संजय उवाच हन्त ते संप्रवक्ष्यामि विमर्दमतिदारुणम् एकस्य च बहूनां च यथासीत्तुमुलो रणः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Yes; I will tell you all about the dreadful carnage, the dreadful battle that was fought between the one and the many.
अभिमन्युः कृतोत्साहः कृतोत्साहानरिंदमान् रथस्थो रथिनः सर्वांस्तावकानप्यहर्षयत्
M. N. Dutt: Then mounted upon his car and exerting his best, Abhimanyu began to shower shafts upon your warriors, all subduers of their foes, mounted on cars and exerting to the best of their might.
द्रोणं कर्णं कृपं शल्यं द्रौणिं भोजं बृहद्बलम् दुर्योधनं सौमदत्तिं शकुनिं च महाबलम्
AI Translation: Drona, Karna, Kripa, Shalya, Ashvatthama, Bhoja, Brihadbala, Duryodhana, Somadatta, Shakuni and the immensely strong one,
नानानृपान्नृपसुतान्सैन्यानि विविधानि च अलातचक्रवत्सर्वांश्चरन्बाणैः समभ्ययात्
AI Translation: He attacked the various kings, princes, and armies with arrows, moving like a whirling firebrand.
निघ्नन्नमित्रान्सौभद्रः परमास्त्रः प्रतापवान् अदर्शयत तेजस्वी दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत
M. N. Dutt: With his excellent weapons slaying his focs, the highly puissant son of Subhadra, endued with fierce energy, was then scen, O Bharata, on all directions.
तद्दृष्ट्वा चरितं तस्य सौभद्रस्यामितौजसः समकम्पन्त सैन्यानि त्वदीयानि पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding those feats of Subhadra's son of immeasurable prowess, your troops trembled repeatedly.
अथाब्रवीन्महाप्राज्ञो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् हर्षेणोत्फुल्लनयनः कृपमाभाष्य सत्वरम्
AI Translation: Then the very wise and powerful Bharadvaja spoke, with eyes wide open with joy, quickly addressing Kripa,
घट्टयन्निव मर्माणि तव पुत्रस्य मारिष अभिमन्युं रणे दृष्ट्वा तदा रणविशारदम्
AI Translation: O friend, as if striking at the vital parts of your son, Seeing Abhimanyu, skilled in battle, in the battle,
एष गच्छति सौभद्रः पार्थानामग्रतो युवा नन्दयन्सुहृदः सर्वान्राजानं च युधिष्ठिरम्
AI Translation: This young Sāubhādra is going ahead of the Pāṇḍavas, pleasing all his friends and King Yudhiṣṭhira.
नकुलं सहदेवं च भीमसेनं च पाण्डवम् बन्धून्संबन्धिनश्चान्यान्मध्यस्थान्सुहृदस्तथा
AI Translation: Nakula, Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, and other relatives, kinsmen, and neutral friends.
नास्य युद्धे समं मन्ये कंचिदन्यं धनुर्धरम् इच्छन्हन्यादिमां सेनां किमर्थमपि नेच्छति
M. N. Dutt: I do not regard any other bowman equal to him in fight. If he wills, he can annihilate this vast host; but why does he not wish it?
द्रोणस्य प्रीतिसंयुक्तं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तवात्मजः आर्जुनिं प्रति संक्रुद्धो द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा स्मयन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon hearing the words of Drona that betrayed how delighted he (at Abhimanyu's feat), your son cnraged with Abhimanyu, smiled looking Drona. Thereafter, king Duryodhana addressing Karna, king Balhika, Dushasana, the ruler of the Madras and many other mighty carwarriors present, said-
अथ दुर्योधनः कर्णमब्रवीद्बाह्लिकं कृपम् दुःसासनं मद्रराजं तांस्तांश्चान्यान्महारथान्
AI Translation: Then Duryodhana spoke to Karna, Bahlika, Kripa, Duhshasana, the king of Madra, and those other great warriors,
सर्वमूर्धावसिक्तानामाचार्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः अर्जुनस्य सुतं मूढं नाभिहन्तुमिहेच्छति
M. N. Dutt: “The preceptor of all venerable Kshatriyas, this one foremost of all those conversant with Brahma, does not, out of affection, wish to slay the son of Arjuna.
Supplementary Passages:
7.38.16 After 16ab, Dn2 reads 18ab for the first time, repeating it in its proper place. G2 ins. after 16ab: *279 अभिमन्युं महासत्त्वं श्लाघते वन्दिनो यथा तस्मात्संपश्यतस्तस्य द्रोणाचार्यस्य धीमतः
न ह्यस्य समरे मुच्येदन्तकोऽप्याततायिनः किमङ्ग पुनरेवान्यो मर्त्यः सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः
M. N. Dutt: None can escape him in battle, no, not even the Des.royer himself, if he comes as an was at antagonist. What then, O friends, shall we say of a mortal! I say this forsooth.
अर्जुनस्य सुतं त्वेष शिष्यत्वादभिरक्षति पुत्राः शिष्याश्च दयितास्तदपत्यं च धर्मिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: He spares the son of Arjuna for he is his pupil. Pupils, their sons and grandsons, are ever dear to the righteous people.
संरक्ष्यमाणो द्रोणेन मन्यते वीर्यमात्मनः आत्मसंभावितो मूढस्तं प्रमथ्नीत माचिरम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus protected by Drona Abhimanyu is prizing his valour highly. Indeed he is a fool proud of himself. Crush him without delay."
एवमुक्तास्तु ते राज्ञा सात्वतीपुत्रमभ्ययुः संरब्धास्तं जिघांसन्तो भारद्वाजस्य पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Thus spoken to, O king, they rushed against the son of Subhadra the daughter of the Satvata race, all inspired with wrath and a desire to slay the latter, before the very eyes of Bharadvaja's son.
दुःशासनस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा दुर्योधनवचस्तदा अब्रवीत्कुरुशार्दूलो दुर्योधनमिदं वचः
M. N. Dutt: Then that foremost of the Kurus, viz., Dushasana, having heard the words of Duryodhana, addressed these words to him in reply.
Supplementary Passages:
7.38.21 For 21, S subst.: *280 दुःशासनस्तु संरब्धं ज्ञात्वा भ्रातरमग्रजम् तान्निवर्त्य रथोदारानथ भ्रातरमब्रवीत्
अहमेनं हनिष्यामि महाराज ब्रवीमि ते मिषतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां पाञ्चालानां च पश्यताम् ग्रसिष्याम्यद्य सौभद्रं यथा राहुर्दिवाकरम्
M. N. Dutt: “I tell you, O mighty monarch, I will slay this one before the very eyes of the sons of Pandu and at the sight of the Panchalas themselves.
उत्क्रुश्य चाब्रवीद्वाक्यं कुरुराजमिदं पुनः श्रुत्वा कृष्णौ मया ग्रस्तं सौभद्रमतिमानिनौ गमिष्यतः प्रेतलोकं जीवलोकान्न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: "Hearing that the son of Subhadra has been slain by me, the two Krishnas, both braggards, will surely go to the regions of the departed, leaving this world of animate beings.
तौ च श्रुत्वा मृतौ व्यक्तं पाण्डोः क्षेत्रोद्भवाः सुताः एकाह्ना ससुहृद्वर्गाः क्लैब्याद्धास्यन्ति जीवितम्
M. N. Dutt: Then it is evident also, that hearing of the death of these latter, the other sons of Pandi, with all their allies and friends, will give up their lives in the course of a single day, out of despair.
तस्मादस्मिन्हते शत्रौ हताः सर्वेऽहितास्तव शिवेन ध्याहि मा राजन्नेष हन्मि रिपुं तव
M. N. Dutt: It seems therefore, that this one enemy of yours being slain, all the rest of them will be destroyed. Wish me well, O king, even I will slay this your enemy.
एवमुक्त्वा नदन्राजन्पुत्रो दुःशासनस्तव सौभद्रमभ्ययात्क्रुद्धः शरवर्षैरवाकिरन्
M. N. Dutt: Having thus spoken, o king, your son Dushasana waxing wroth and sending up a loud war cry, rushed at Subhadra's son, covering him at the same time with a shower of arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
7.38.26 For 26ab, K1-4 D1 subst.: *281 दुःशासनस्तथेत्युक्तो भ्रात्रा तव सुतस्तदा
तमभिक्रुद्धमायान्तं तव पुत्रमरिंदमः अभिमन्युः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः षड्विंशत्या समर्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O subduer of your foes, beholding your wrathful son advance furiously towards himself, Abhimanyu wounded him, with twenty-six arrows of exceeding sharpness.
दुःशासनस्तु संक्रुद्धः प्रभिन्न इव कुञ्जरः अयोधयत सौभद्रमभिमन्युश्च तं रणे
M. N. Dutt: Then like an elephant with its ternples rent, Dushasana infuriate with rage, fought on with Abhimanyu the illustrious son of Subhadra.
तौ मण्डलानि चित्राणि रथाभ्यां सव्यदक्षिणम् चरमाणावयुध्येतां रथशिक्षाविशारदौ
M. N. Dutt: Then those two heroes well-versed in the art of driving cars, fought on describing beautiful circles, right and left, with their ears.
अथ पणवमृदङ्गदुन्दुभीनां; कृकरमहानकभेरिझर्झराणाम् निनदमतिभृशं नराः प्रचक्रु;र्लवणजलोद्भवसिंहनादमिश्रम्
M. N. Dutt: The combatants then set up a loud din, with the sounds of their Pandavas Mridangas Dundubhis, Krakachas, mighty Anakas, Bheris and Jharjharas, mingled with their war-cries, such as is produced by the great reservoir of saline water. The combatants then set up a loud din, with the sounds of their Pandavas Mridangas Dundubhis, Krakachas, mighty Anakas, Bheris and Jharjharas, mingled with their war-cries, such as is produced by the great reservoir of saline water.