Critical Edition
संजय उवाच विष्णोः स्वसानन्दिकरः स विष्ण्वायुधभूषितः रराजातिरथः संख्ये जनार्दन इवापरः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said That delighter of Vishnu's sister (Subhadra), that Atiratha Abhimanyu, then furnished with the weapon of Vishnu himself, looked highly beautiful like a second Janardana on the field of battle.
मारुतोद्धूतकेशान्तमुद्यतारिवरायुधम् वपुः समीक्ष्य पृथ्वीशा दुःसमीक्ष्यं सुरैरपि
M. N. Dutt: With the ends of his locks, blazing in the air, with that best of weapons raised in his hands, his person became difficult of being looked at even by the very gods. The rulers of the earth beholding it.
Supplementary Passages:
7.48.2 After 2, S ins.: *329 यदि पाणितलादेतच्चक्रं मुच्येत फाल्गुनेः वरदानान्मातुलस्य विष्णोश्चक्रमिवापतेत्
तच्चक्रं भृशमुद्विग्नाः संचिच्छिदुरनेकधा महारथस्ततः कार्ष्णिः संजग्राह महागदाम्
M. N. Dutt: And the wheel in his hands, became seized with anxiety. They then cut it off into many fragments. Thereupon that mighty car-warrior, the nephew of Krishna took up a heavy mace.
विधनुःस्यन्दनासिस्तैर्विचक्रश्चारिभिः कृतः अभिमन्युर्गदापाणिरश्वत्थामानमाद्रवत्
M. N. Dutt: Then the mighty-armed Abhimanyu deprived of his car, his bow, his sword and his car-wheel by the enemy, rushed (with that mace in his hand) upon Ashvatthaman.
स गदामुद्यतां दृष्ट्वा ज्वलन्तीमशनीमिव अपाक्रामद्रथोपस्थाद्विक्रमांस्त्रीन्नरर्षभः
M. N. Dutt: Then, O foremost of kings, Ashvatthaman, beholding that upraised mace resemble the blazing bolt of heaven, leapt off three steps from the terrace of his car.
तस्याश्वान्गदया हत्वा तथोभौ पार्ष्णिसारथी शराचिताङ्गः सौभद्रः श्वाविद्वत्प्रत्यदृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: Slaying with his mace the horses and the two flank-supporters of Ashvatthaman, the son of Subhadra, with his body covered all over with arrows looked like a porcupine.
ततः सुबलदायादं कालकेयमपोथयत् जघान चास्यानुचरान्गान्धारान्सप्तसप्ततिम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Abhimanyu crushed down on the ground Subala's son Kalikeya and slew seventy-seven of the latter's followers of the Gandhara race.
पुनर्ब्रह्मवसातीयाञ्जघान रथिनो दश केकयानां रथान्सप्त हत्वा च दश कुञ्जरान् दौःशासनिरथं साश्वं गदया समपोथयत्
M. N. Dutt: Next he slew ten car-warriors of the clan of Brahma-vasatiya; and then seven warriors of the Kekayas and then ten huge elephants. Then he pressed down upon the ground the car and horses of Dushasana's son.
ततो दौःशासनिः क्रुद्धो गदामुद्यम्य मारिष अभिदुद्राव सौभद्रं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O sire, Dushasana's invincible son excited with rage and upraising his mace, rushed against Abhimanyu crying at same time, “Wait" "Wait."
तावुद्यतगदौ वीरावन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ भ्रातृव्यौ संप्रजह्राते पुरेव त्र्यम्बकान्तकौ
M. N. Dutt: Then those two heroes with maces upraised, both desirous of compassing one another's death, Those two cousins, began to strike one another, like the three-eyed (Mahadeva) and the Asura Andhaka fighting in the days of yore.
तावन्योन्यं गदाग्राभ्यां संहत्य पतितौ क्षितौ इन्द्रध्वजाविवोत्सृष्टौ रणमध्ये परंतपौ
M. N. Dutt: Then striking one another by the ends of their clubs, they both fell down on the ground, like two uprooted standards raised in honour of Indra.
Supplementary Passages:
7.48.11 After 11ab, D7.8 ins.: *330 ततो महीतलात्कार्ष्णिर्विषपीत इव स्खलन् समभ्यधावद्दष्टौष्ठो दौःशासनिमथ क्षितौ सोऽपि वेगवतीं गृह्य गदामुद्यम्य चार्जुनिम् किंचिच्छ्वासस्तु सौभद्रो दौःशासनिमताडयत् तावुभौ भ्रातरावेवं गतौ वैवस्वतक्षयम्
दौःशासनिरथोत्थाय कुरूणां कीर्तिवर्धनः प्रोत्तिष्ठमानं सौभद्रं गदया मूर्ध्न्यताडयत्
M. N. Dutt: Then that enhancer of the glory of the Kurus namely Dushasana's son rising first, smote Subhadra's son on the crown of his head as the latter was rising up.
Supplementary Passages:
7.48.12 After 12ab, D7.8 S ins.: *331 देवकल्पो महेष्वासः क्षत्रं दग्ध्वा महायशाः
गदावेगेन महता व्यायामेन च मोहितः विचेता न्यपतद्भूमौ सौभद्रः परवीरहा एवं विनिहतो राजन्नेको बहुभिराहवे
M. N. Dutt: Confounded with the great force of that mace-stroke and overpowered by the fatigue of the flight. That slayer of hostile heroes namely Subhadra's son fell down senseless on the ground. Thus, o king, was the one slain by many in battle.
क्षोभयित्वा चमूं सर्वां नलिनीमिव कुञ्जरः अशोभत हतो वीरो व्याधैर्वनगजो यथा
M. N. Dutt: One who grinded the whole army of the Kurus, like an elephant crushing lotus-stems. Then that heroic warrior slain by the Kurus, appeared beautiful like a wild elephant slain by hunter.
तं तथा पतितं शूरं तावकाः पर्यवारयन् दावं दग्ध्वा यथा शान्तं पावकं शिशिरात्यये
AI Translation: His own men surrounded the fallen hero, like a fire that has burned a forest and is extinguished at the end of the summer.
विमृद्य तरुशृङ्गाणि संनिवृत्तमिवानिलम् अस्तं गतमिवादित्यं तप्त्वा भारतवाहिनीम्
AI Translation: Having crushed the tree-tops, as if the wind had ceased, Having heated the army of the Bharatas, as if the sun had set,
उपप्लुतं यथा सोमं संशुष्कमिव सागरम् पूर्णचन्द्राभवदनं काकपक्षवृताक्षकम्
AI Translation: Like the moon when it is eclipsed, like the ocean when it is dried up, With a face like the full moon, with eyes covered by crow's feathers,
Supplementary Passages:
7.48.17 After 17, D7.8 ins. (the gloss): *332 काकपक्षाक्लिप्तकेशं पौगण्डमिति संज्ञितम्
तं भूमौ पतितं दृष्ट्वा तावकास्ते महारथाः मुदा परमया युक्ताश्चुक्रुशुः सिंहवन्मुहुः
AI Translation: Seeing him fall to the ground, those great warriors on your side were filled with great joy and repeatedly roared like lions.
आसीत्परमको हर्षस्तावकानां विशां पते इतरेषां तु वीराणां नेत्रेभ्यः प्रापतज्जलम्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, 0 king, your warriors transported with delight, while tears rolled were down from the eyes of the warriors of the other host.
अभिक्रोशन्ति भूतानि अन्तरिक्षे विशां पते दृष्ट्वा निपतितं वीरं च्युतं चन्द्रमिवाम्बरात्
M. N. Dutt: Then beholding that hero lying prostrate on the ground like the moon dropped from the skies many creatures and rulers of men, on the skies, uttered woeful cries sayingद्रोणकर्णमुखैः षड्भिर्घार्तराष्ट्रमहारथैः।
द्रोणकर्णमुखैः षड्भिर्धार्तराष्ट्रैर्महारथैः एकोऽयं निहतः शेते नैष धर्मो मतो हि नः
AI Translation: By the six great warriors of the sons of Dhritarashtra, Drona, Karna and the others, this one is slain and lies down. This is not the way we think.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते वीरे बह्वशोभत मेदिनी द्यौर्यथा पूर्णचन्द्रेण नक्षत्रगणमालिनी
M. N. Dutt: When that hero had been slaughtered, the earth appeared highly beautiful like the starry firmament decked with the full-moon herself.
रुक्मपुङ्खैश्च संपूर्णा रुधिरौघपरिप्लुता उत्तमाङ्गैश्च वीराणां भ्राजमानैः सकुण्डलैः
AI Translation: Filled with golden arrows, flooded with streams of blood, And with the heads of heroes, shining with earrings,
विचित्रैश्च परिस्तोमैः पताकाभिश्च संवृता चामरैश्च कुथाभिश्च प्रविद्धैश्चाम्बरोत्तमैः
AI Translation: and with various kinds of parasistoma and flags, and with chowries, blankets, and the best of garments,
रथाश्वनरनागानामलंकारैश्च सुप्रभैः खड्गैश्च निशितैः पीतैर्निर्मुक्तैर्भुजगैरिव
AI Translation: With the ornaments of chariots, horses, men, and elephants, and with the sharp, yellow swords, like snakes released,
चापैश्च विशिखैश्छिन्नैः शक्त्यृष्टिप्रासकम्पनैः विविधैरायुधैश्चान्यैः संवृता भूरशोभत
AI Translation: With bows, arrows, and other weapons, the earth was covered with various weapons and looked beautiful.
Supplementary Passages:
7.48.26 After 26, S ins.: *333 निष्टनद्भिरतीवार्तैरुद्वमद्रुधिरस्रवैः नरैः पतद्भिः पतितैरवनिस्त्वधिकं बभौ
वाजिभिश्चापि निर्जीवैः स्वपद्भिः शोणितोक्षितैः सारोहैर्विषमा भूमिः सौभद्रेण निपातितैः
M. N. Dutt: In many places the field of battle became impassable being choked with dead any dying steeds bespattered with blood all felled by the son of Subhadra and lying with their riders slain.
साङ्कुशैः समहामात्रैः सवर्मायुधकेतुभिः पर्वतैरिव विध्वस्तैर्विशिखोन्मथितैर्गजैः
AI Translation: with goads, with great ministers, with armor, weapons, and banners, with elephants shattered like mountains, mangled by arrows,
पृथिव्यामनुकीर्णैश्च व्यश्वसारथियोधिभिः ह्रदैरिव प्रक्षुभितैर्हतनागै रथोत्तमैः
AI Translation: With horses, charioteers, and warriors scattered across the earth, With the best chariots, like agitated ponds, with fallen elephants,
पदातिसंघैश्च हतैर्विविधायुधभूषणैः भीरूणां त्रासजननी घोररूपाभवन्मही
AI Translation: With foot soldiers killed, adorned with various weapons, The earth became terrifying in form, causing fear to the timid.
तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ चन्द्रार्कसदृशद्युतिम् तावकानां परा प्रीतिः पाण्डूनां चाभवद्व्यथा
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Abhimanyu equal to the sun or the moon in splendour lie dead on the field, your troops obtained great joy whilst the Pandavas were highly distressed.
अभिमन्यौ हते राजञ्शिशुकेऽप्राप्तयौवने संप्राद्रवच्चमूः सर्वा धर्मराजस्य पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: When the young Abhimanyu still in his minority was slain, all the troops of the Pandavas fled even before the very eyes of the very virtuous king Yudhishthira.
दीर्यमाणं बलं दृष्ट्वा सौभद्रे विनिपातिते अजातशत्रुः स्वान्वीरानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Then upon the death of Abhimanyu, seeing his troops routed, Ajatasatru Yudhishthira addressed these words to the heroic warriors of his army-
Supplementary Passages:
7.48.33 After 33, K2 ins.: *334 अस्तं गतोऽयं द्युमणिस्तापयित्वा महाबलः सौभद्रः शत्रुदमनः किं जातं न विद्म वै एवं ब्रुवाणो नृपतिः सैन्येन महता वृतः व्यूहद्वारं समासाद्य बाष्पपूर्याकुलेक्षणः तच्छ्रुत्वा च हतं पुत्रं कौरवैर्जिह्मकारिभिः लोकैः संकथितं सर्वमभिमन्योः पराक्रमम् श्रुत्वा च तैर्हतं वीरं धैर्यमालम्ब्य सत्वरम् परमं सत्त्वमालम्ब्य प्रत्युवाच युधां वरः
स्वर्गमेष गतः शूरो यो हतो नपराङ्मुखः संस्तम्भयत मा भैष्ट विजेष्यामो रणे रिपून्
M. N. Dutt: This heroic son of Subhadra who without turning back from the battle has been slain by the enemy, has ascended to heaven. Stay you all and do not fear. We shall yet conquer the foe.
इत्येवं स महातेजा दुःखितेभ्यो महाद्युतिः धर्मराजो युधां श्रेष्ठो ब्रुवन्दुःखमपानुदत्
M. N. Dutt: Possessed of great energy and great effulgence, the virtuous king Yudhishthira thar best of all warriors, himself overwhelmed with grief, tried to console them with those words.
युद्धे ह्याशीविषाकारान्राजपुत्रान्रणे बहून् पूर्वं निहत्य संग्रामे पश्चादार्जुनिरन्वगात्
M. N. Dutt: (He went on)-Having at first slain many hostile princes resembling snakes of virulent poison, the son of Arjuna has followed in their wake.
हत्वा दशसहस्राणि कौसल्यं च महारथम् कृष्णार्जुनसमः कार्ष्णिः शक्रसद्म गतो ध्रुवम्
M. N. Dutt: Having slain ten thousand car-warriors and that mighty car-warrior namely the ruler of the Kosalas, Abhimanyu, equal to Krishna and Arjuna, has indubitably gone to the manson of Shakra (Indra).
रथाश्वनरमातङ्गान्विनिहत्य सहस्रशः अवितृप्तः स संग्रामादशोच्यः पुण्यकर्मकृत्
M. N. Dutt: Having slain car-warriors, steeds footsoldiers and elephants by thousand, he was not satiated with what he achieved in battle. We should not bewail this performer of pious deeds; he surely has attained the regions of righteousness, that men acquire by deeds of piety.
Supplementary Passages:
7.48.38 After 38, K2 (marg.).5 Dn D2.4-6 ins.: *335 गतः पुण्यकृतां लोकान्भास्वरान्पुण्यनिर्जितान् K2 cont.: *336 पुत्रशोकात्परं नास्ति दुःखमन्यन्महत्तरम् ऐहिकामुत्रिको दाता फलस्यान्यो न विद्यते स पुत्रो निहतो मेऽद्य नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे किं मया जीवितेनार्थः सौभद्रेण विना भुवि while K5 cont.: *337 अक्षयां गतिमासाद्य स गतः शाश्वतीः समाः
वयं तु प्रवरं हत्वा तेषां तैः शरपीडिताः निवेशायाभ्युपायाम सायाह्ने रुधिरोक्षिताः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Thus having slain one of their best warriors and having been afflicted with their shafts and covered with blood, we returned to our quarters in the evening.
निरीक्षमाणास्तु वयं परे चायोधनं शनैः अपयाता महाराज ग्लानिं प्राप्ता विचेतसः
M. N. Dutt: Gazed at by the foe and nearly senseless and overpowered with fatigue, we then, O mighty monarch, slowly left the field of battle.
ततो निशाया दिवसस्य चाशिवः; शिवारुतः संधिरवर्तताद्भुतः कुशेशयापीडनिभे दिवाकरे; विलम्बमानेऽस्तमुपेत्य पर्वतम्
M. N. Dutt: Then approached that wonderful hour, that joining between the day and the night, harbingered by the inauspicious yells of the jackals; and the sun then assuming the pale-red tint of the lotus-filaments, went down below the horizon, having neared the western hills.
वरासिशक्त्यृष्टिवरूथचर्मणां; विभूषणानां च समाक्षिपन्प्रभाम् दिवं च भूमिं च समानयन्निव; प्रियां तनुं भानुरुपैति पावकम्
M. N. Dutt: Then the sun robbed the radiance of our excellent swords, lances, scimitars, car-fences, shields and ornaments; and causing the sky and the earth to assume the self-same hue, he then betook to his favourite shape of fire.
महाभ्रकूटाचलशृङ्गसंनिभै;र्गजैरनेकैरिव वज्रपातितैः सवैजयन्त्यङ्कुशवर्मयन्तृभि;र्निपातितैर्निष्टनतीव गौश्चिता
AI Translation: With many elephants, resembling the peaks of great cloud-mountains, struck down by the thunderbolt, With their banners, goads, armor, and charioteers, struck down, as if
हतेश्वरैश्चूर्णितपत्त्युपस्करै;र्हताश्वसूतैर्विपताककेतुभिः महारथैर्भूः शुशुभे विचूर्णितैः; पुरैरिवामित्रहतैर्नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: The field of battle appeared beautiful with huge chariots splintered into pieces and with their warriors, drivers ornaments, steeds, standards streamers crushed, shattered and torn to pieces. Those cars then, o monarch, resembled animate beings deprived of their vital breaths by the enemy with his arrows.
रथाश्ववृन्दैः सहसादिभिर्हतैः; प्रविद्धभाण्डाभरणैः पृथग्विधैः निरस्तजिह्वादशनान्त्रलोचनै;र्धरा बभौ घोरविरूपदर्शना
M. N. Dutt: Then the earth assumed a dreadful and repulsive aspect, being strewn over with numerous horses and their riders all lying dead, with precious housings and blankets of various kind scattered about and in consequence of the tongues, teeth, entrails and eyes of those creatures being drawn out of their places.
प्रविद्धवर्माभरणा वरायुधा; विपन्नहस्त्यश्वरथानुगा नराः महार्हशय्यास्तरणोचिताः सदा; क्षितावनाथा इव शेरते हताः
M. N. Dutt: Men adorned with precious armours ornaments and garments and weapons, deprived of life, lay prostrate on the field with slain horses and elephants and shattered chariots, on the naked earth, totally helpless, although quite deserving of precious blankets and beds.
अतीव हृष्टाः श्वसृगालवायसा; बडाः सुपर्णाश्च वृकास्तरक्षवः वयांस्यसृक्पान्यथ रक्षसां गणाः; पिशाचसंघाश्च सुदारुणा रणे
M. N. Dutt: Greatly delighted dogs, jackals and crows and numerous other flesh-eating birds and wolves and hyenas and ravens and other blooddrinking animals animals and various clans of Rakshasas and large bodies of Pisachas, repairing to the field of battle.
त्वचो विनिर्भिद्य पिबन्वसामसृ;क्तथैव मज्जां पिशितानि चाश्नुवन् वपां विलुम्पन्ति हसन्ति गान्ति च; प्रकर्षमाणाः कुणपान्यनेकशः
M. N. Dutt: Tore open the corpses and drank their fat marrow and blood and then fell upon eating their flesh. They began also to drink the secretions of rotten corpses, while some of the Rakshasa laughed terribly and dragged out dead bodies by thousands.
शरीरसंघाटवहा असृग्जला; रथोडुपा कुञ्जरशैलसंकटा मनुष्यशीर्षोपलमांसकर्दमा; प्रविद्धनानाविधशस्त्रमालिनी
AI Translation: With the flow of blood, the body-heap, the chariot-heap, the elephant-heap, the mountain-heap, With human heads, stones, flesh, and mud, adorned with various weapons.
महाभया वैतरणीव दुस्तरा; प्रवर्तिता योधवरैस्तदा नदी उवाह मध्येन रणाजिरं भृशं; भयावहा जीवमृतप्रवाहिनी
AI Translation: The river of battle, difficult to cross, like the Vaitarani, was set flowing by the best of warriors. It carried away the battlefield in the middle, causing great fear, flowing with the living and the dead.
पिबन्ति चाश्नन्ति च यत्र दुर्दृशाः; पिशाचसंघा विविधाः सुभैरवाः सुनन्दिताः प्राणभृतां भयंकराः; समानभक्षाः श्वसृगालपक्षिणः
M. N. Dutt: Drinking and eating in that stream numerous Pisachas of terrible and repulsive aspect rejoiced. Dogs and jackals and flesh eating birds, all partaking of the same food and striking terror into the hearts of the living creatures held a great feast (on its banks).
तथा तदायोधनमुग्रदर्शनं; निशामुखे पितृपतिराष्ट्रसंनिभम् निरीक्षमाणाः शनकैर्जहुर्नराः; समुत्थितारुण्डकुलोपसंकुलम्
M. N. Dutt: Then at the advent of night, looking upon that fierce field of battle that had increased largely the population of Deaths regions and that was infested with dancing headless trunks of soldiers, they slowly went away from it.
अपेतविध्वस्तमहार्हभूषणं; निपातितं शक्रसमं महारथम् रणेऽभिमन्युं ददृशुस्तदा जना; व्यपोढहव्यं सदसीव पावकम्
M. N. Dutt: Then as they left if, they saw the mighty car-warrior Abhimanyu, who resembled Indra himself, lying on the field of battle, with precious ornaments displaced and falling off and appearing like a sacrificial fire on the alter no longer fed by oblations of clarified butter.