Critical Edition
संजय उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य केशवस्य महात्मनः सुभद्रा पुत्रशोकार्ता विललाप सुदुःखिता
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Having heard these words of Keshava of high-soul, Subhadra afflicted with grief on account of her son and sorely distressed, began to lament piteously.
हा पुत्र मम मन्दायाः कथं संयुगमेत्य ह निधनं प्राप्तवांस्तात पितृतुल्यपराक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: Alas! son of my unfortunate self, why did you go to the battle? Oh son equal in prowess to your father, how could you perish?
कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं सुदंष्ट्रं चारुलोचनम् मुखं ते दृश्यते वत्स गुण्ठितं रणरेणुना
M. N. Dutt: Oh my dear child, how shall I see your face dark like the blue lotus and graced with beautiful teeth and charming eyes, soiled with the dust of battle-field!
नूनं शूरं निपतितं त्वां पश्यन्त्यनिवर्तिनम् सुशिरोग्रीवबाह्वंसं व्यूढोरस्कं निरूदरम्
AI Translation: Surely they see you, the hero, fallen, not turning back, with a well-shaped head, neck, arms, shoulders, broad chest, and slender belly,
चारूपचितसर्वाङ्गं स्वक्षं शस्त्रक्षताचितम् भूतानि त्वा निरीक्षन्ते नूनं चन्द्रमिवोदितम्
AI Translation: With all limbs well-developed, with a well-formed body, with wounds from weapons, The spirits look at you, as if at the rising moon.
शयनीयं पुरा यस्य स्पर्ध्यास्तरणसंवृतम् भूमावद्य कथं शेषे विप्रविद्धः सुखोचितः
M. N. Dutt: Alas! you who used to lie down on beds covered with precious coverlets, alas, how could you, ever used to luxuries, now lie down on the bare earth, being pierced with arrows!
योऽन्वास्यत पुरा वीरो वरस्त्रीभिर्महाभुजः कथमन्वास्यते सोऽद्य शिवाभिः पतितो मृधे
M. N. Dutt: That hero of mighty arms who used formerly to be attended upon by most beautiful damsels, Oh, how can he, prostrate on the field of battle, pass his time today in the company of the jackals!
योऽस्तूयत पुरा हृष्टैः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः सोऽद्य क्रव्याद्गणैर्घोरैर्विनदद्भिरुपास्यते
M. N. Dutt: He who formerly used to be eulogised by the joyful bards, minstrels and singers alas, he, today, is greeted by the dreadful flesh-eaters with their fierce yells!
पाण्डवेषु च नाथेषु वृष्णिवीरेषु चाभिभो पाञ्चालेषु च वीरेषु हतः केनास्यनाथवत्
M. N. Dutt: O son! having the Pandavas, the Vrishni heroes and the Panchalas for your protector, by whom have you been slain like one helpless?
Supplementary Passages:
7.55.9 After 9, S (except G5) ins.: *396 यत्र त्वं केशवे नाथे सत्यनाथो यथा हतः
अतृप्तदर्शना पुत्र दर्शनस्य तवानघ मन्दभाग्या गमिष्यामि व्यक्तमद्य यमक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: O my sinless son! my desire for looking at you is not yet satiated. Unfortunate that I am, I shall surely today go to the regions of Death.
विशालाक्षं सुकेशान्तं चारुवाक्यं सुगन्धि च तव पुत्र कदा भूयो मुखं द्रक्ष्यामि निर्व्रणम्
M. N. Dutt: When again O my son, shall I see that face of yours, graced with expansive eyes, covered with beautiful looks and from which sweet words and fragrant perfume used always to come out?
Supplementary Passages:
7.55.11 K5 B1.3 (marg.).4 Dn2 D2.5-8 ins. after 11: Bom. ed. after 15: *397 एह्येहि तृषितो वत्स स्तनौ पूर्णौ पिबाशु मे अङ्कमारुह्य मन्दाया ह्यतृप्तायाश्च दर्शने
धिग्बलं भीमसेनस्य धिक्पार्थस्य धनुष्मताम् धिग्वीर्यं वृष्णिवीराणां पाञ्चालानां च धिग्बलम्
M. N. Dutt: Fie on the strength of Bhima, fie on the 'bowmanship of Arjuna, fie on the prowess of the Vrishni heroes and fie on the mighty of the Panchalas!
धिक्केकयांस्तथा चेदीन्मत्स्यांश्चैवाथ सृञ्जयान् ये त्वा रणे गतं वीरं न जानन्ति निपातितम्
M. N. Dutt: Fie on the Kaikayas and on the Chedis and the Matsyas and the Srinjayas, who all, united together, could not protect that hero when he went to battle.
अद्य पश्यामि पृथिवीं शून्यामिव हतत्विषम् अभिमन्युमपश्यन्ती शोकव्याकुललोचना
M. N. Dutt: Today do I see the earth vacant and destitute of its beauty, inasmuch as I do not see Abhimanyu and my eyes are blinded with grief.
Supplementary Passages:
7.55.14 T G M3-5 ins. after 14: B3 (marg.) after 8: *398 साक्षान्मघवतः पौत्रं पुत्रं गाण्डीवधन्वनः स्वस्रीयं वासुदेवस्य तं गृध्राः पर्युपासते
स्वस्रीयं वासुदेवस्य पुत्रं गाण्डीवधन्वनः कथं त्वा विरथं वीरं द्रक्ष्याम्यन्यैर्निपातितम्
M. N. Dutt: How shall we see you slain, you who are the son of the wielder of the Gandiva, the son of Vasudeva's sister, you who are a hero and a Atiratha too!
हा वीर दृष्टो नष्टश्च धनं स्वप्न इवासि मे अहो ह्यनित्यं मानुष्यं जलबुद्बुदचञ्चलम्
M. N. Dutt: Alas, O hero, you were like a hoard of treasure to me, seen and lost in dream. Alas! everything human is as transitory as even a bubble of water!
इमां ते तरुणीं भार्यां त्वदाधिभिरभिप्लुताम् कथं संधारयिष्यामि विवत्सामिव धेनुकाम्
M. N. Dutt: How shall I comfort your young wife overwhelmed by the grief caused by your death and resembling a cow bereft of its calf.
Supplementary Passages:
7.55.17 After 17ab, S ins.: *399 उत्तरामुत्तरां जात्या सुशीलां प्रियभाषिणीम् शनकैः परिरभ्यैनां स्नुषां मम यशस्विनीम् सुकुमारीं विशालाक्षीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् बालपल्लवतन्वङ्गीं मत्तमातङ्गगामिनीम् बिम्बाधरोष्ठीमबलामभिमन्यो प्रहर्षय त्वया विना कथं पुत्र जीर्णां पतितमानसाम्
अहो ह्यकाले प्रस्थानं कृतवानसि पुत्रक विहाय फलकाले मां सुगृद्धां तव दर्शने
M. N. Dutt: Alas, Oh my son, you have passed away prematurely at a time when you were on the point of bearing fruit, although I yearn to have a sight of you!
नूनं गतिः कृतान्तस्य प्राज्ञैरपि सुदुर्विदा यत्र त्वं केशवे नाथे संग्रामेऽनाथवद्धतः
M. N. Dutt: Surely the ways of the Destroyer are mysterious even to the wise, inasmuch as, you, having Keshava himself for your protector, have been slain in battle like one perfectly helpless.
यज्वनां दानशीलानां ब्राह्मणानां कृतात्मनाम् चरितब्रह्मचर्याणां पुण्यतीर्थावगाहिनाम्
AI Translation: of the sacrificers, of the generous, of the Brahmins who have controlled their souls, of those who have practiced celibacy, of those who have bathed in the holy places,
कृतज्ञानां वदान्यानां गुरुशुश्रूषिणामपि सहस्रदक्षिणानां च या गतिस्तामवाप्नुहि
AI Translation: May you attain the destiny of those who are grateful, generous, devoted to serving their teachers, and those who give a thousand cows as a gift.
या गतिर्युध्यमानानां शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम् हत्वारीन्निहतानां च संग्रामे तां गतिं व्रज
M. N. Dutt: May that end be yours which they attain who fight and never retreat or who fall in battle after slaying their numerous foes!
गोसहस्रप्रदातॄणां क्रतुदानां च या गतिः नैवेशिकं चाभिमतं ददतां या गतिः शुभा
M. N. Dutt: That blessed end which they attain who give away a thousand cows or who perform charitable deeds at a sacrifice or who give away houses and palaces to the liking of the recipients.
Supplementary Passages:
7.55.23 After 23, N ins.: *400 ब्राह्मणेभ्यः शरण्येभ्यो निधिं निदधतां च या या चापि न्यस्तदण्डानां तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक
ब्रह्मचर्येण यां यान्ति मुनयः संशितव्रताः एकपत्न्यश्च यां यान्ति तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक
M. N. Dutt: O son, may you attain to that end which sages of rigid vows attain to, by the performance of Brahmacharya or that end which is attained by the women who marry but once their husbands.
राज्ञां सुचरितैर्या च गतिर्भवति शाश्वती चतुराश्रमिणां पुण्यैः पावितानां सुरक्षितैः
AI Translation: The eternal destiny that kings attain through their good conduct, and the purified and well-guarded ones who are the four ashramas through their merit,
दीनानुकम्पिनां या च सततं संविभागिनाम् पैशुन्याच्च निवृत्तानां तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक
AI Translation: The one who is compassionate to the afflicted, who always shares, and who has turned away from slander—go to that state, my son.
व्रतिनां धर्मशीलानां गुरुशुश्रूषिणामपि अमोघातिथिनां या च तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक
M. N. Dutt: That end which is theirs, who observe their vows, theirs that are devoted to righteous practices, theirs that serve their elders and preceptors, theirs that never drive away guests from their doors, O son, may that end by yours!
Supplementary Passages:
7.55.27 Ś1 K5 B Dc1 Dn D2.3.5-8 ins. after 27: Ś2 K1-4 D1.4 after 26: *401 कृच्छ्रेषु या धारयतामात्मानं व्यसनेषु च गतिः शोकाग्निदग्धानां तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक पितुर्मातुश्च शुश्रूषां कल्पयन्तीह ये सदा स्वदारनिरतानां च या गतिस्तामवाप्नुहि
ऋतुकाले स्वकां पत्नीं गच्छतां या मनस्विनाम् न चान्यदारसेवीनां तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक
M. N. Dutt: May you attain, O son, to the end of those who hold sexual intercourse with their own wives during their seasons, of those who restrain themselves from enjoying others; wives! even
साम्ना ये सर्वभूतानि गच्छन्ति गतमत्सराः नारुंतुदानां क्षमिणां या गतिस्तामवाप्नुहि
M. N. Dutt: May you attain to the end of those, who, free from malice, look upon every one with an eye of peace or who are forgiving and never enflict distress on others!
मधुमांसनिवृत्तानां मदाद्दम्भात्तथानृतात् परोपतापत्यक्तानां तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक
M. N. Dutt: O son, may you attain to the end of those who ever hold themselves aloof from money, meat, intoxicating drinks, pride and falsehood or who never cause pain to any body else!
ह्रीमन्तः सर्वशास्त्रज्ञा ज्ञानतृप्ता जितेन्द्रियाः यां गतिं साधवो यान्ति तां गतिं व्रज पुत्रक
M. N. Dutt: O son, may you attain that end which they attain who are modest, learned in all the Shastras, content in knowledge and hold their passions under check.
एवं विलपतीं दीनां सुभद्रां शोककर्शिताम् अभ्यपद्यत पाञ्चाली वैराटीसहिता तदा
M. N. Dutt: While the distressed Subhadra, overwhelmed with grief, had been thus lamenting, Panchali accompanied by Vairata's daughter, came to her.
ताः प्रकामं रुदित्वा च विलप्य च सुदुःखिताः उन्मत्तवत्तदा राजन्विसंज्ञा न्यपतन्क्षितौ
M. N. Dutt: Then copiously lamenting and bewailing under the weight of their grief, they fell down, Oking, on the earth, senseless and like so many mad creatures.
Supplementary Passages:
7.55.33 For 33ab, G5 subst.: *402 द्रौपदी शोकसंतप्ता रुदित्वा च विलप्य च
सोपचारस्तु कृष्णस्तां दुःखितां भृशदुःखितः सिक्त्वाम्भसा समाश्वास्य तत्तदुक्त्वा हितं वचः
AI Translation: But Krishna, who was himself in great distress, comforted her with water and spoke to her words of comfort.
विसंज्ञकल्पां रुदतीमपविद्धां प्रवेपतीम् भगिनीं पुण्डरीकाक्ष इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: "To the unconscious, trembling, weeping, abandoned one, The lotus-eyed one spoke these words: " "
सुभद्रे मा शुचः पुत्रं पाञ्चाल्याश्वासयोत्तराम् गतोऽभिमन्युः प्रथितां गतिं क्षत्रियपुंगवः
M. N. Dutt: 0 Subhadra, bewail not your son; O Panchali, console the sister of Ullara. Abhimany'i, that foremost of Kshatriyas, has atlaired in the most excellent state.
ये चान्येऽपि कुले सन्ति पुरुषा नो वरानने सर्वे ते वै गतिं यान्तु अभिमन्योर्यशस्विनः
M. N. Dutt: you of charming countenance, may all the other people of our race that are yet alive attain to that state which the illustrious Abhimanyu has attained!
कुर्याम तद्वयं कर्म क्रियासुः सुहृदश्च नः कृतवान्यादृगद्यैकस्तव पुत्रो महारथः
M. N. Dutt: We, supported by our allies, desire to accomplish that feat in this battle, the like of which, O lady, your son, that mighty carwarrior, achieved single-handed.
एवमाश्वास्य भगिनीं द्रौपदीमपि चोत्तराम् पार्थस्यैव महाबाहुः पार्श्वमागादरिंदमः
M. N. Dutt: Thus having consoled his sister and Draupadi and Uttara, that subduer of foes, that mighty-armed one, (viz., Krishna) came back to Partha's side.
ततोऽभ्यनुज्ञाय नृपान्कृष्णो बन्धूंस्तथाभिभूः विवेशान्तःपुरं राजंस्तेऽन्ये जग्मुर्यथालयम्
M. N. Dutt: Then with the permission of his relatives and of the kings and of Arjuna, O monarch, Krishna retired to the inner apartments of the latter's pavilion; the rest of the kings then retired to their respective quarters.