Critical Edition
संजय उवाच श्रुत्वा तु तं महाशब्दं पाण्डूनां पुत्रगृद्धिनाम् चारैः प्रवेदिते तत्र समुत्थाय जयद्रथः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Having heard the loud uproar created by the Pandavas desirous of victory and having ascertained through spies the cause thereof, Jayadratha then rose up.
शोकसंमूढहृदयो दुःखेनाभिहतो भृशम् मज्जमान इवागाधे विपुले शोकसागरे
M. N. Dutt: With a heart confounded with grief and overwhelmed with affliction and like one sinking in an extensive and deep sea of sorrow.
जगाम समितिं राज्ञां सैन्धवो विमृशन्बहु स तेषां नरदेवानां सकाशे परिदेवयन्
M. N. Dutt: Then that ruler of the Sindhus, having reflected for a long while, proceeded to the assembly of the kings; there, before the assemblage of monarchs, expressing his grief.
अभिमन्योः पितुर्भीतः सव्रीडो वाक्यमब्रवीत् योऽसौ पाण्डोः किल क्षेत्रे जातः शक्रेण कामिना
M. N. Dutt: And afraid of the father of Abhimanyu and overwhelmed with shame, he spoke these words-"He, who was begotten upon the wife of Pandu by the lustful Indra.
स निनीषति दुर्बुद्धिर्मां किलैकं यमक्षयम् तत्स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु यास्यामि स्वगृहं जीवितेप्सया
M. N. Dutt: That one of perverse intellect is desirous of dispatching me to the abode of Death. Good be tide you all, I shall now go back to my home out of a desire for saving my life.
अथ वा स्थ प्रतिबलास्त्रातुं मां क्षत्रियर्षभाः पार्थेन प्रार्थितं वीरास्ते ददन्तु ममाभयम्
M. N. Dutt: Or, O foremost of the Kshatriyas, do you all protect me with the power of your weapons; O heroes, the son of Pritha (Arjuna) seeks to slay me; do you give me assurances of safety.
द्रोणदुर्योधनकृपाः कर्णमद्रेशबाह्लिकाः दुःशासनादयः शक्तास्त्रातुमप्यन्तकार्दितम्
AI Translation: Drona, Duryodhana, Kripa, Karna, Madri's sons, Bahlika, Dushasana and others are capable of saving even one afflicted by the end of the world.
किमङ्ग पुनरेकेन फल्गुनेन जिघांसता न त्रायेयुर्भवन्तो मां समस्ताः पतयः क्षितेः
AI Translation: How much less by one who is weak and desirous of killing me? "Will not all the lords of the earth protect me, if I am attacked by one who is weak and desirous of killing me?"" " Thus, he who is weak and desirous of killing me, will not be
Supplementary Passages:
7.52.8 After 8ab, D2 ins.: *374 प्रतिज्ञातं न जानामि सर्वान्विज्ञापयामि वः
प्रहर्षं पाण्डवेयानां श्रुत्वा मम महद्भयम् सीदन्तीव च मेऽङ्गानि मुमूर्षोरिव पार्थिवाः
M. N. Dutt: Having heard the rejoicings of the sons of Pandu, I am struck with fear and O ruler of men, my limbs are loosing strength, like those of one on the verge of death.
वधो नूनं प्रतिज्ञातो मम गाण्डीवधन्वना तथा हि हृष्टाः क्रोशन्ति शोककालेऽपि पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Without doubt, the wielder of the bow Gandiva has promised to slay me; therefore it is that, the Pandavas are shouting with delight at a time when they should grieve.
Supplementary Passages:
7.52.10 After 10, B4 ins.: *375 वशमेष्यन्ति चत्वारस्तमृते सर्वपाण्डवाः
न देवा न च गन्धर्वा नासुरोरगराक्षसाः उत्सहन्तेऽन्यथा कर्तुं कुत एव नराधिपाः
M. N. Dutt: Even the Gandharavas, the Asuras the reptiles and the Rakshasas, cannot dare baffle a vow of Arjuna, what to speak of the rulers of men?
तस्मान्मामनुजानीत भद्रं वोऽस्तु नरर्षभाः अदर्शनं गमिष्यामि न मां द्रक्ष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Therefore foremost of men, do you all accord me your permission (to go home); may good betide you; I shall go concealed and the Pandavas will not be able to detect me."
Supplementary Passages:
7.52.12 After 12, D7.8 ins.: *376 वृत्तमास्थाय तन्यूज्यं (sic) सोपनीतो भवाम्यहम् दुःशला भ्रातृसौहार्दान्मां रक्षस्यथ वा ध्रुवम्
एवं विलपमानं तं भयाद्व्याकुलचेतसम् आत्मकार्यगरीयस्त्वाद्राजा दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Him thus lamenting with heart confounded with the burden of fear, king Duryodhana ever devoted to his own personal interests, said these wordsन भेतव्यं नरव्याघ्र को हि त्वां पुरुषर्षभ।
न भेतव्यं नरव्याघ्र को हि त्वा पुरुषर्षभ मध्ये क्षत्रियवीराणां तिष्ठन्तं प्रार्थयेद्युधि
AI Translation: O tiger among men, you need not fear. Who would challenge you, O bull among men, standing in the midst of the heroes of the Kshatriya caste, in battle?
Supplementary Passages:
7.52.14 After 14, S ins.: *377 एषां हि नरदेवानां मत्तमातङ्गगामिनाम् संघातमुपयातानामपि बिभ्येत्पुरंदरः
अहं वैकर्तनः कर्णश्चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः भूरिश्रवाः शलः शल्यो वृषसेनो दुरासदः
AI Translation: I am Vaikartana Karna, Chitrasena, Vivimshati, Bhurishrava, Shala, Shalya, Vrishasena, and Durasada.
पुरुमित्रो जयो भोजः काम्बोजश्च सुदक्षिणः सत्यव्रतो महाबाहुर्विकर्णो दुर्मुखः सहः
AI Translation: Purumitra, Jaya, Bhoja, Kamboja, Sudakshina, Satyavrata, the mighty-armed Vikarna, Durmukha, Saha,
दुःशासनः सुबाहुश्च कलिङ्गश्चाप्युदायुधः विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ द्रोणो द्रौणिः ससौबलः
AI Translation: Duhshāsana, Subāhu, and Kalīnga, and also Udayudha, Vindānuvindā, the Avanti brothers, Drona, Drona's son with his son, and Soubala,
Supplementary Passages:
7.52.17 After 17, N (Ś2 missing) ins.: *378 एते चान्ये च बहवो नानाजनपदेश्वराः ससैन्यास्त्वाभियास्यन्ति व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः While S ins. after 17: *379 मायावी बलवाञ्शूरो राक्षसश्चाप्यलम्बुसः इमे च त्वाभिगोप्स्यन्ति सैन्येन महता वृताः
त्वं चापि रथिनां श्रेष्ठः स्वयं शूरोऽमितद्युतिः स कथं पाण्डवेयेभ्यो भयं पश्यसि सैन्धव
M. N. Dutt: You also, O you of unrivalled effulgence, are the foremost of all heroes; why then, O ruler of the Sindhus, do you entertain fear from the Pandavas.
अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च मदीयास्तव रक्षणे यत्ता योत्स्यन्ति मा भैस्त्वं सैन्धव व्येतु ते भयम्
M. N. Dutt: These ten and one Akshouhini of my troops shall strive their best for protecting you. Be not afraid, O ruler of the Sindhus. Let fear be driven away from your heart.
एवमाश्वासितो राजन्पुत्रेण तव सैन्धवः दुर्योधनेन सहितो द्रोणं रात्रावुपागमत्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Thus comforted by your son Duryodhana, the ruler of the Sindhus, o king accompanied by the former, went that very night, to the camp of Drona.
उपसंग्रहणं कृत्वा द्रोणाय स विशां पते उपोपविश्य प्रणतः पर्यपृच्छदिदं तदा
M. N. Dutt: Then saluting Drona by touching his feet and having bowed down to him, Jayadratha, O ruler of men, sat down with humility and then asked the following question.
Supplementary Passages:
7.52.21 T G1 ins. after 21: M1.2 after 21ab: *380 अर्जुनस्यात्मनश्चार्थे विशेषं पर्यपृच्छत
निमित्ते दूरपातित्वे लघुत्वे दृढवेधने मम ब्रवीतु भगवान्विशेषं फल्गुनस्य च
M. N. Dutt: “Tell me, O illustrious one, the difference between myself and Phalguna, as regards hitting the aim, hitting it from a distance, lightness of hands and the force of strokes.
विद्याविशेषमिच्छामि ज्ञातुमाचार्य तत्त्वतः ममार्जुनस्य च विभो यथातत्त्वं प्रचक्ष्व मे
M. N. Dutt: O preceptor, I want to know exactly the difference, as regards proficiency in arms between myself and Arjuna. Say it to me truly."
द्रोण उवाच सममाचार्यकं तात तव चैवार्जुनस्य च योगाद्दुःखोचितत्वाच्च तस्मात्त्वत्तोऽधिकोऽर्जुनः
M. N. Dutt: Drona said As regards teaching you and Arjuna, O sire, have both received an equal share. But through Yoga and through the effects of hardship he had undergone, he has become superior to yourself.
न तु ते युधि संत्रासः कार्यः पार्थात्कथंचन अहं हि रक्षिता तात भयात्त्वां नात्र संशयः
M. N. Dutt: In battle, you should never entertain any fear from Pritha's son Arjuna, I am surely your protector, O sire, from ali dangers.
न हि मद्बाहुगुप्तस्य प्रभवन्त्यमरा अपि व्यूहिष्यामि च तं व्यूहं यं पार्थो न तरिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Even the very gods cannot obtain victory over him who is protected with the strength of my arms. I will (tomorrow) form such an array which Partha will never be able to reach the end of.
तस्माद्युध्यस्व मा भैस्त्वं स्वधर्ममनुपालय पितृपैतामहं मार्गमनुयाहि नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: Therefore do you fight and be not afraid in the least and observe (scrupulously) the duties of your order. O foremost of car-warriors, do you follow the path chalked out by your fathers and grandfathers.
अधीत्य विधिवद्वेदानग्नयः सुहुतास्त्वया इष्टं च बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्न ते मृत्युभयाद्भयम्
M. N. Dutt: Having studied the various branches of knowledge, you have burnt due offerings on the fire, you have also celebrated various sacrifices; death therefore should not be an object of apprehension to you.
दुर्लभं मानुषैर्मन्दैर्महाभाग्यमवाप्य तु भुजवीर्यार्जिताँल्लोकान्दिव्यान्प्राप्स्यस्यनुत्तमान्
M. N. Dutt: (On the other hand), if you die you shall attain to that good fortune so difficult of being attained by the vile men, viz., you shall ascend to those excellent regions that are acquired by the strength of our arms.
कुरवः पाण्डवाश्चैव वृष्णयोऽन्ये च मानवाः अहं च सह पुत्रेण अध्रुवा इति चिन्त्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: The Kurus, the Pandavas, the Vrishnis and other men and I and my son-think all these to be mortal and uncertain,
पर्यायेण वयं सर्वे कालेन बलिना हताः परलोकं गमिष्यामः स्वैः स्वैः कर्मभिरन्विताः
M. N. Dutt: One after another, destroyed by the powerful God of Death, we shall go to the regions of the departed, carrying with us the fruits of our respective actions.
तपस्तप्त्वा तु याँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुवन्ति तपस्विनः क्षत्रधर्माश्रिताः शूराः क्षत्रियाः प्राप्नुवन्ति तान्
M. N. Dutt: Those regions to which the ascetics repair through their observance of ascetic austerities, even those regions the heroic Kshatriyas attain, by the observance of their own duties.”
संजय उवाच एवमाश्वासितो राजन्भारद्वाजेन सैन्धवः अपानुदद्भयं पार्थाद्युद्धाय च मनो दधे
M. N. Dutt: Thus then was the ruler of the Sindhus comforted by the son of Bharadvaja. He then dismissed (from his heart) all fears of Partha (Arjuna) and set his heart upon battle.
Supplementary Passages:
7.52.33 After 33, K5 B D (except D1) S ins.: *381 ततः प्रहर्षः सैन्यानां तवाप्यासीद्विशां पते वादित्राणां ध्वनिश्चोग्रः सिंहनादरवैः सह