Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच एवं बहुविधं सैन्यमेवं प्रविचितं वरम् व्यूढमेवं यथान्यायमेवं बहु च संजय
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Our army is possessed of many excellencies; and it is composed of various kinds of troops; its efficiency is great. O Sanjaya, it is disposed of in order in perfect accordance to the rules of military science and it is strong in numbers.
नित्यं पूजितमस्माभिरभिकामं च नः सदा प्रौढमत्यद्भुताकारं पुरस्ताद्दृढविक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: The warriors therein are ever well-treated by us and they are attached to us very much. The army is not newly recruited and its aspect is wonderful. Its efficiency has been tested previously.
नातिवृद्धमबालं च न कृशं नातिपीवरम् लघुवृत्तायतप्राणं सारगात्रमनामयम्
AI Translation: Not too old, not too young, not thin, not too fat, Light-bodied, long-lived, strong-bodied, free from disease,
आत्तसंनाहसंपन्नं बहुशस्त्रपरिच्छदम् शस्त्रग्रहणविद्यासु बह्वीषु परिनिष्ठितम्
AI Translation: endowed with armor and weapons, surrounded by many weapons, skilled in the knowledge of handling weapons.
आरोहे पर्यवस्कन्दे सरणे सान्तरप्लुते सम्यक्प्रहरणे याने व्यपयाने च कोविदम्
M. N. Dutt: They are experts in mountain upon and descending from vehicles, in moving forward and in falling back, in striking down effectually and in advancing and retreating.
नागेष्वश्वेषु बहुशो रथेषु च परीक्षितम् परीक्ष्य च यथान्यायं वेतनेनोपपादितम्
M. N. Dutt: They have before been examined in the management of steeds, elephants and cars; and after due examination, they have been employed on pay.
Supplementary Passages:
7.89.6 After 6ab, S ins.: *615 चर्मनिस्त्रिंशयुद्धे च नियुद्धे च विशारदम्
न गोष्ठ्या नोपचारेण न संबन्धनिमित्ततः नानाहूतो न ह्यभृतो मम सैन्ये बभूव ह
M. N. Dutt: And no for the sake of family relationship, nor from favour, nor from kinship. They have not come uncalled for, nor are they unpaid soldicrs.
कुलीनार्यजनोपेतं तुष्टपुष्टमनुद्धतम् कृतमानोपकारं च यशस्वि च मनस्वि च
M. N. Dutt: They are high-born, respectable, evercontented, well-fed and submissive. They have been duly honoured and rewarded by ourselves. They are all endued with fame and intelligence.
सचिवैश्चापरैर्मुख्यैर्बहुभिर्मुख्यकर्मभिः लोकपालोपमैस्तात पालितं नरसत्तमैः
M. N. Dutt: They again, O sire, are defended by our best warriors and other's of pious practices, all of whom are foremost men and resemble the Lokapalas themselves.
बहुभिः पार्थिवैर्गुप्तमस्मत्प्रियचिकीर्षुभिः अस्मानभिसृतैः कामात्सबलैः सपदानुगैः
M. N. Dutt: Numerous kings solicitous of our welfare, who have, out of their own accord, joined us with all their forces and followers, also defend them.
महोदधिमिवापूर्णमापगाभिः समन्ततः अपक्षैः पक्षिसंकाशै रथैरश्वैश्च संवृतम्
M. N. Dutt: Truly our army is like the vast ocean swelling with the waters of various stream flowing into it from all sides. It teems with chariot and steeds, which though devoid of wings are still capable of moving through the air like the winged rangers of the sky.
Supplementary Passages:
7.89.11 After 11, B Dc1 Dn2 D5 ins.: *616 प्रभिन्नकरटैश्चैव द्विरदैरावृतं महत् यदहन्यत मे सैन्यं किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
योधाक्षय्यजलं भीमं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम् क्षेपण्यसिगदाशक्तिशरप्रासझषाकुलम्
M. N. Dutt: (Ocean-like as our arrmy is), numerous warriors constitute its waters; and the various vehicles constitute its dreadful and surging waves. Innumerable maces, swords, darts, shafts and javelins constitute the oars plied on it.
ध्वजभूषणसंबाधं रत्नपट्टेन संचितम् वाहनैरपि धावद्भिर्वायुवेगविकम्पितम्
M. N. Dutt: Teeming with standards and ornaments, the combatants form the lotuses on it. The swiftmoving steeds and elephants and chargers constitute the tempest that lashes in into fury.
द्रोणगम्भीरपातालं कृतवर्ममहाह्रदम् जलसंधमहाग्राहं कर्णचन्द्रोदयोद्धतम्
M. N. Dutt: Drona forms its fathomless cave, Kritavarman its minghty lake and Jalasandha its dreadful alligator and Karna, the rising of the moon that makes it swell with pride and energy.
गते सैन्यार्णवं भित्त्वा तरसा पाण्डवर्षभे संजयैकरथेनैव युयुधाने च मामकम्
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, on a single car that foremost of the Pandavas viz., Arjuna has gone piercing through my ocean-like host and Yuyudhana also has followed him;
तत्र शेषं न पश्यामि प्रविष्टे सव्यसाचिनि सात्वते च रथोदारे मम सैन्यस्य संजय
M. N. Dutt: And O Sanjaya, when Savyasachin has thus penetrated into my host and also that excellent car-warrior Satyaki of the Satvata race has done so, I do not think that any one of my troops will be able to escape with his life.
तौ तत्र समतिक्रान्तौ दृष्ट्वाभीतौ तरस्विनौ सिन्धुराजं च संप्रेक्ष्य गाण्डीवस्येषुगोचरे
M. N. Dutt: Beholding those two heroes dash with speed through the vanguards of my troops and seeing the ruler of the Sindhus come within range of arrows shot from the Gandiva bow.
किं तदा कुरवः कृत्यं विदधुः कालचोदिताः दारुणैकायने काले कथं वा प्रतिपेदिरे
M. N. Dutt: What course of action did the Kurus, goaded on to destruction by Fate then adopt? What became of them at that hour when the battle raged with fury?
ग्रस्तान्हि कौरवान्मन्ये मृत्युना तात संगतान् विक्रमो हि रणे तेषां न तथा दृश्यतेऽद्य वै
M. N. Dutt: O son, I consider the assembled Kaurava host already within the jaws of Death. Their prowess in battle is no longer seen to be what it once was.
अक्षतौ संयुगे तत्र प्रविष्टौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ न च वारयिता कश्चित्तयोरस्तीह संजय
M. N. Dutt: Krishna and the son of Pandu have both entered into our troops, receiving not even the slightest wound. O Sanjaya, there is none also who can resist them.
भृताश्च बहवो योधाः परीक्ष्यैव महारथाः वेतनेन यथायोग्यं प्रियवादेन चापरे
M. N. Dutt: Many mighty car-warriors and combatants have been admitted into our army after due examination. They all have been gratified by us with due remunerations and agreeable speeches.
अकारणभृतस्तात मम सैन्ये न विद्यते कर्मणा ह्यनुरूपेण लभ्यते भक्तवेतनम्
M. N. Dutt: There is none among my troops who has been maltreated. Every one receives his pay and ration, according to his abilities.
न च योधोऽभवत्कश्चिन्मम सैन्ये तु संजय अल्पदानभृतस्तात न कुप्यभृतको नरः
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, there is none who is not a good warrior, none who receives remuneration less then what he deserves or none who receives no pay.
पूजिता हि यथाशक्त्या दानमानासनैर्मया तथा पुत्रैश्च मे तात ज्ञातिभिश्च सबान्धवैः
M. N. Dutt: The soldiers are honoured by me to the best of my resources, with gifts, honors and seats. My sons, relatives and my kinsmen, O son, all treat them in the same respectful manner as I do.
ते च प्राप्यैव संग्रामे निर्जिताः सव्यसाचिना शैनेयेन परामृष्टाः किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
M. N. Dutt: Even such troops, encountering Savayasachin in battle, are being vanquished by him; they are also being crushed by the grand son of Sini; what can it be but Destiny?
रक्ष्यते यश्च संग्रामे ये च संजय रक्षिणः एकः साधारणः पन्था रक्ष्यस्य सह रक्षिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Those who are protecting and those who are protected, are following the same road, the dcfender and the defended!
अर्जुनं समरे दृष्ट्वा सैन्धवस्याग्रतः स्थितम् पुत्रो मम भृशं मूढः किं कार्यं प्रत्यपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Arjuna stand before the ruler of the Sindhus in hostile attitude, what measure did my highly foolish son adopt?
सात्यकिं च रणे दृष्ट्वा प्रविशन्तमभीतवत् किं नु दुर्योधनः कृत्यं प्राप्तकालममन्यत
M. N. Dutt: Beholding also Satyaki dash through his troops like one fearless, what measures also did Duryodhana consider to be suitable to the situation?
सर्वशस्त्रातिगौ सेनां प्रविष्टौ रथसत्तमौ दृष्ट्वा कां वै धृतिं युद्धे प्रत्यपद्यन्त मामकाः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding those two foremost of carwarriors, both beyond the reach of all weapons, thus penetrate into my host, what resolution did my troops then form
दृष्ट्वा कृष्णं तु दाशार्हमर्जुनार्थे व्यवस्थितम् शिनीनामृषभं चैव मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Meseems, beholding Krishna of the Dasarha race and that foremost of the Sinis, both exerting for the sake of Arjuna, my sons are giving way to grief.
दृष्ट्वा सेनां व्यतिक्रान्तां सात्वतेनार्जुनेन च पलायमानांश्च कुरून्मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding him of the Satvata race and Arjuna pass through my divisions and beholding the Kurus fly in all directions, Meseems, my sons are giving way to grief.
विद्रुतान्रथिनो दृष्ट्वा निरुत्साहान्द्विषज्जये पलायने कृतोत्साहान्मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Meseems my sons are giving way to grief, beholding the car-warriors routed and hopeless of conquering their foes and exert themselves in flying away.
शून्यान्कृतान्रथोपस्थान्सात्वतेनार्जुनेन च हतांश्च योधान्संदृश्य मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Meseems my sons are giving way to grief, beholding the terraces of cars made empty by Satvata and Arjuna and also beholding the warriors slain (by thousands).
व्यश्वनागरथान्दृष्ट्वा तत्र वीरान्सहस्रशः धावमानान्रणे व्यग्रान्मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Meseems my sons are lamenting, beholding the steeds, the chariots, the elephants and thousands of heroic soldiers flying away in haste from the field of battle.
विवीरांश्च कृतानश्वान्विरथांश्च कृतान्नरान् तत्र सात्यकिपार्थाभ्यां मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Meseems my sons are lamenting seeing steeds deprived of riders and warriors deprived of chariots, by Arjuna and Satyaki.
Supplementary Passages:
7.89.35 K5 B2-5 Dc1 D2.3.5-8 G1 M ins. after 35: B1 Dn2 after 34: *617 महानागान्विद्रवतो दृष्ट्वार्जुनशराहतान् पतितान्पततश्चान्यान्मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः हयौघान्निहतान्दृष्ट्वा द्राव्यमाणांस्ततस्ततः रणे सात्वतपार्थाभ्यां मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
पत्तिसंघान्रणे दृष्ट्वा धावमानांश्च सर्वशः निराशा विजये सर्वे मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Meseems my sons are lamenting, hopeless of their victory, by seeing the divisions of infantry fly with haste in all direction.
द्रोणस्य समतिक्रान्तावनीकमपराजितौ क्षणेन दृष्ट्वा तौ वीरौ मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
M. N. Dutt: Meseems my sons are lamenting beholding those two invincible heroes pass in a moment through the division of Drona.
संमूढोऽस्मि भृशं तात श्रुत्वा कृष्णधनंजयौ प्रविष्टौ मामकं सैन्यं सात्वतेन सहाच्युतौ
M. N. Dutt: O son, I am indeed overwhelmed with a stupor upon hearing that Krishna and Arjuna of unfading glory together with Satyaki of the Satvata race, have entered into my divisions.
तस्मिन्प्रविष्टे पृतनां शिनीनां प्रवरे रथे भोजानीकं व्यतिक्रान्ते कथमासन्हि कौरवाः
M. N. Dutt: When that foremost of car-warriors among the Sinis had plunged into my host and when he had passed through the Bhoja division, what, O Sanjaya, did the Kurus do?
तथा द्रोणेन समरे निगृहीतेषु पाण्डुषु कथं युद्धमभूत्तत्र तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, relate to me also how the battle raged there where Drona began to crush the Pandava host in battle.
द्रोणो हि बलवाञ्शूरः कृतास्त्रो दृढविक्रमः पाञ्चालास्तं महेष्वासं प्रत्ययुध्यन्कथं रणे
M. N. Dutt: Drona was a warrior of superior skill; he was endued with strength, accomplished in the use of weapons and indomitable in battle. How was it then possible for the Panchalas to pierce that hero in battle?
बद्धवैरास्तथा द्रोणे धर्मराजजयैषिणः भारद्वाजस्तथा तेषु कृतवैरो महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Solicitious of Dhanajaya's victory, the Panchalas were Drona's implacable foes, so also that mighty car-warrior the son of Bharadvaja was an inveterate enemy of theirs.
अर्जुनश्चापि यच्चक्रे सिन्धुराजवधं प्रति तन्मे सर्वं समाचक्ष्व कुशलो ह्यसि संजय
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, skilful as you are in narration, tell me all that in detail which Arjuna did for bringing about the slaughter of the Sindhu king.