Critical Edition
संजय उवाच आत्मापराधात्संभूतं व्यसनं भरतर्षभ प्राप्य प्राकृतवद्वीर न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O foremost of the Bharatas, it behoves you not to lament like an ordinary person, when you are overtaken, O hero, by a calamity which owes its origin to your own misconduct.
Supplementary Passages:
7.90.1 After 1, K4 B Dc1 Dn D1.5 ins.: *618 पुरा यदुच्यसे प्राज्ञैः सुहृद्भिर्विदुरादिभिः माहार्षीः पाण्डवान्राजन्निति तन्न त्वया श्रुतम् सुहृदां हितकामानां वाक्यं यो न शृणोति ह स महद्व्यसनं प्राप्य शोचते वै यथा भवान् याचितोऽसि पुरा राजन्दाशार्हेण शमं प्रति न च तं लब्धवान्कामं त्वत्तः कृष्णो महायशाः
तव निर्गुणतां ज्ञात्वा पक्षपातं सुतेषु च द्वैधीभावं तथा धर्मे पाण्डवेषु च मत्सरम् आर्तप्रलापांश्च बहून्मनुजाधिपसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Knowing your worthlessness, your partiality for your sons, your duplicity in virtue, your animosity against the sons of Pandu and ascertaining your crooked intentions against them and listening to many of your incoherent and delirious bewailings, 0 foremost of kings.
Supplementary Passages:
7.90.2 After 2cd, K4 B Dc1 Dn2 D1 ins.: *619 तव जिह्ममभिप्रायं विदित्वा पाण्डवान्प्रति
सर्वलोकस्य तत्त्वज्ञः सर्वलोकगुरुः प्रभुः वासुदेवस्ततो युद्धं कुरूणामकरोन्महत्
M. N. Dutt: That puissant lord of all the worlds, that one conversant with the truth of everything in the worlds, namely, the son of Vasudeva, caused the drums of war to be sounded among the Kurus.
आत्मापराधात्सुमहान्प्राप्तस्ते विपुलः क्षयः न हि ते सुकृतं किंचिदादौ मध्ये च भारत दृश्यते पृष्ठतश्चैव त्वन्मूलो हि पराजयः
M. N. Dutt: As these incidents developed themselves, no good action was performed by you either in the beginning, in the middle or in the end, O Bharata. The defeat that can be anticipated now, is entirely owing to your fault.
Supplementary Passages:
7.90.4 B ins. after 4ab: Dn1 after the repetition of 4ab: Dn2 cont. after 619*: D5 ins. after 2cd: *620 नैवं दुर्योधने दोषं कर्तुमर्हसि मानद B ins. after 4: Dc1 after 2ef: Dn1 cont. after 620*: *621 आर्तप्रलापानिह यानिदानीं कुरुषे नृप नैतद्वृद्धस्य ते साधु गतासोरिव मण्डलम्
तस्मादद्य स्थिरो भूत्वा ज्ञात्वा लोकस्य निर्णयम् शृणु युद्धं यथा वृत्तं घोरं देवासुरोपमम्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, knowing as you do, the fate of this world, quietly and attentively hear how the battle that resembled that between the gods and the Asuras, took place.
प्रविष्टे तव सैन्यं तु शैनेये सत्यविक्रमे भीमसेनमुखाः पार्थाः प्रतीयुर्वाहिनीं तव
M. N. Dutt: When Sini's grandson of invincible prowess had entered into your troops, the troops of the Parthas headed by Bhimasena, fell upon your troops.
आगच्छतस्तान्सहसा क्रुद्धरूपान्सहानुगान् दधारैको रणे पाण्डून्कृतवर्मा महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Then the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, single-headed, received in that battle, the enraged Pandava troops who had been rushing to the battle with their followers.
यथोद्वृत्तं धारयते वेला वै सलिलार्णवम् पाण्डुसैन्यं तथा संख्ये हार्दिक्यः समवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: Just as the banks resist the surging waves of the sea, so did the son of Hridika resist the Pandava troops in battle.
Supplementary Passages:
7.90.8 For 8ab, M3-5 subst.: *622 उद्वृत्तं सागरं यद्वद्वेला वारयते सदा
तत्राद्भुतममन्यन्त हार्दिक्यस्य पराक्रमम् यदेनं सहिताः पार्था नातिचक्रमुराहवे
M. N. Dutt: Then we beheld the wonderful prowess of Hridika's son inasmuch as the united divisions of the Parthas were unable to bear him down in battle.
ततो भीमस्त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा कृतवर्माणमायसैः शङ्खं दध्मौ महाबाहुर्हर्षयन्सर्वपाण्डवान्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the mighty-armed Bhima piercing Kritavarman with three swift-coursing arrows, blew his conch-shell, imparting thereby delight unto the Pandava troops.
सहदेवस्तु विंशत्या धर्मराजश्च पञ्चभिः शतेन नकुलश्चापि हार्दिक्यं समविध्यत
M. N. Dutt: Then Sahadeva pierced Hridika's son with twenty, Yudhishthira the virtuous with five and Nakula with a hundred shafts.
द्रौपदेयास्त्रिसप्तत्या सप्तभिश्च घटोत्कचः धृष्टद्युम्नस्त्रिभिश्चापि कृतवर्माणमार्दयत् विराटो द्रुपदश्चैव याज्ञसेनिश्च पञ्चभिः
M. N. Dutt: The son of Draupadi pierced him with three and seventy, Ghatotkacha with seven and Dhristadyumna pierced Kritavarman with three arrows.
शिखण्डी चापि हार्दिक्यं विद्ध्वा पञ्चभिराशुगैः पुनर्विव्याध विंशत्या सायकानां हसन्निव
AI Translation: And Śikhaṇḍin, having pierced Hārdikya with five swift arrows, again pierced him with twenty arrows, smiling as it were.
कृतवर्मा ततो राजन्सर्वतस्तान्महारथान् एकैकं पञ्चभिर्विद्ध्वा भीमं विव्याध सप्तभिः धनुर्ध्वजं च संयत्तो रथाद्भूमावपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: He then once more smilingly pierced him with twenty shafts. Thereupon, Oking, Kritavarman piercing each of these mighty carwarriors separately with five shafts, pierced Bhima with another seven shafts. Then he felled from the latter's car his standard and cutoff his bow.
अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं त्वरमाणो महारथः आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धः सप्तत्या निशितैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Then that mighty car-warrior making haste and burning with rage, pierced Bhima whose bow had been severed, on the breast, with seventy sharp arrows.
स गाढविद्धो बलवान्हार्दिक्यस्य शरोत्तमैः चचाल रथमध्यस्थः क्षितिकम्पे यथाचलः
M. N. Dutt: That hero (Bhima) endued with prowess, thus deeply pierced by the excellent shafts of Hridika's son, began to tremble in the terrace of his car, like a mountain shaking during an earthquake.
भीमसेनं तथा दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजपुरोगमाः विसृजन्तः शरान्घोरान्कृतवर्माणमार्दयन्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Bhima thus involved in a dangerous situation, O king, the Pandava warriors headed by Yudhishthira, began to afflict Kritavarman by shooting numerous arrows.
तं तथा कोष्ठकीकृत्य रथवंशेन मारिष विव्यधुः सायकैर्हृष्टा रक्षार्थं मारुतेर्मृधे
M. N. Dutt: Then impaling Kritavarman within a circle of chariots, the Pandava warriors, O sire, filled with delight, began to wound him with their arrows, out of a desire for rescuing the son of Maruta.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां भीमसेनो महाबलः शक्तिं जग्राह समरे हेमदण्डामयस्मयीम् चिक्षेप च रथात्तूर्णं कृतवर्मरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter the highly puissant Bhimasena regaining his senses, grasped, in that battle, a dreadful lance of golden staff and iron head.
सा भीमभुजनिर्मुक्ता निर्मुक्तोरगसंनिभा कृतवर्माणमभितः प्रजज्वाल सुदारुणा
AI Translation: Released from the arm of Bhima, it blazed fiercely towards Kritavarma, like a snake released from its slough.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा युगान्ताग्निसमप्रभाम् द्वाभ्यां शराभ्यां हार्दिक्यो निचकर्त द्विधा तदा
AI Translation: When she was about to fall, with a brilliance like the fire at the end of the yuga, Hārdikya cut her in two with two arrows.
सा छिन्ना पतिता भूमौ शक्तिः कनकभूषणा द्योतयन्ती दिशो राजन्महोल्केव दिवश्च्युता शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा भीमश्चुक्रोध वै भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: And, O king, it there began to illumine the points of the compass like a mighty meteor dropping from the heavens. Thereat Bhima beholding his lance baffled, became excited to the highest pitch of fury.
ततोऽन्यद्धनुरादाय वेगवत्सुमहास्वनम् भीमसेनो रणे क्रुद्धो हार्दिक्यं समवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter, taking up another bow of great toughness and emitting loud twang, the enraged Bhimasena in that battle began to resist the son of Hridika.
अथैनं पञ्चभिर्बाणैराजघान स्तनान्तरे भीमो भीमबलो राजंस्तव दुर्मन्त्रितेन ह
M. N. Dutt: Then, Oking, Bhima of awful prowess, pierced Kritavarman, on the centre of his breast, with five arrows. All this is the result of your wicked policy.
भोजस्तु क्षतसर्वाङ्गो भीमसेनेन मारिष रक्ताशोक इवोत्फुल्लो व्यभ्राजत रणाजिरे
M. N. Dutt: Then, O sire, the ruler of the Bhojas wounded on all parts of his body, appeared on the field of battle like a red Ashoka tree covered with blossoms.
ततः क्रुद्धस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्भीमसेनं हसन्निव अभिहत्य दृढं युद्धे तान्सर्वान्प्रत्यविध्यत
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter Kritavarman inflamed with rage, smilingly striking Bhimasena with three arrows, began, in return, to pierce the other warriors (with his arrows).
त्रिभिस्त्रिभिर्महेष्वासो यतमानान्महारथान् तेऽपि तं प्रत्यविध्यन्त सप्तभिः सप्तभिः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: That mighty bowman then pierced those car-warriors exerting their best in battle, each with three shafts. They then also pierced him in return, each with seven shafts.
शिखण्डिनस्ततः क्रुद्धः क्षुरप्रेण महारथः धनुश्चिच्छेद समरे प्रहसन्निव भारत
M. N. Dutt: Then that mighty car-warrior of the Satvata race, inflamed with rage, smilingly cut-off the bow of Sikhandin with a razor-headed arrow.
शिखण्डी तु ततः क्रुद्धश्छिन्ने धनुषि सत्वरम् असिं जग्राह समरे शतचन्द्रं च भास्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon on the severance of his bow, Sikhandin burning with rage and hastening as much as possible, took up a sword and a buckler decked with hundreds of moons.
भ्रामयित्वा महाचर्म चामीकरविभूषितम् तमसिं प्रेषयामास कृतवर्मरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Whirling that mighty sword decked with gold, Sikhandin hurled it at the chariot of Kritavarman.
Supplementary Passages:
7.90.30 For 30bcd, M3-5 subst.: *623 निस्त्रिंशं च महाप्रभम् कृतवर्माणमुद्दिश्य प्रेषयत्तमसिं द्रुतम्
स तस्य सशरं चापं छित्त्वा संख्ये महानसिः अभ्यगाद्धरणीं राजंश्च्युतं ज्योतिरिवाम्बरात्
M. N. Dutt: O king, then that mighty sword, cutting off his bow with arrows placed on its string, dropped, O king, on the ground like a luminous body falling down from the skies.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु त्वरमाणा महारथाः विव्यधुः सायकैर्गाढं कृतवर्माणमाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile many mighty car-warriors, making haste began to pierce Kritavarman deeply and quickly with their arrows.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय त्यक्त्वा तच्च महद्धनुः विशीर्णं भरतश्रेष्ठ हार्दिक्यः परवीरहा
M. N. Dutt: Then, O foremost of the Bharatas, taking up a fresh bow and leaving the one cut-off, that slayer of hostile heroes, namely Hridika's son.
विव्याध पाण्डवान्युद्धे त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिह्मगैः शिखण्डिनं च विव्याध त्रिभिः पञ्चभिरेव च
M. N. Dutt: Pierced the Pandavas in battle, each with three straight-flying arrows. He then pierced Sikhandin at first with three and then with five arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
7.90.34 After 34, Dn2 ins.: *624 पुनरन्येन बाणेन धनुरस्याच्छिनद्द्रुतम् On the other hand, after 34, G1 M ins.: *625 शिखण्डिनं त्रिभिर्बाणैविद्ध्वा चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्
धनुरन्यत्समादाय शिखण्डी तु महायशाः अवारयत्कूर्मनखैराशुगैर्हृदिकात्मजम्
M. N. Dutt: Then the highly renowned Sikhandin also, taking up another bow, covered the son of Hridika with swift-flying arrows. Furnished with heads resembling the mouth of tortoises.
ततः क्रुद्धो रणे राजन्हृदिकस्यात्मसंभवः अभिदुद्राव वेगेन याज्ञसेनिं महारथम्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O king, the son of Hridika, excited with wrath, in that battle, quickly rushed upon that mighty car-warrior that son of Yajnasena.
भीष्मस्य समरे राजन्मृत्योर्हेतुं महात्मनः विदर्शयन्बलं शूरः शार्दूल इव कुञ्जरम्
M. N. Dutt: Who had been, Oking, the cause of death of the illustrious Bhima. Then the heroic Kritavarman displaying his prowess fell upon Sikhandin like a tiger falling upon an elephant.
तौ दिशागजसंकाशौ ज्वलिताविव पावकौ समासेदतुरन्योन्यं शरसंघैररिंदमौ
M. N. Dutt: Then those to subduers of foes, resembling two elephants guarding the points of the compass and looking like two blazing fires, attacked each other with their showers of arrows.
विधुन्वानौ धनुःश्रेष्ठे संदधानौ च सायकान् विसृजन्तौ च शतशो गभस्तीनिव भास्करौ
M. N. Dutt: They stretched their two excellent bows and placed many arrows on their bow-strings. Like two suns shooting numerous rays, they also shot myriad arrows.
तापयन्तौ शरैस्तीक्ष्णैरन्योन्यं तौ महारथौ युगान्तप्रतिमौ वीरौ रेजतुर्भास्कराविव
M. N. Dutt: Those two mighty car-warriors afflicting one another with their sharp-arrows, appeared beautiful like two suns that rise at the end of a Yuga.
कृतवर्मा तु रभसं याज्ञसेनिं महारथम् विद्ध्वेषूणां त्रिसप्तत्या पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभिः
M. N. Dutt: In that battle then, Kritavarman pierced that mighty car-warrior the son of Yajanasena at first with seventy three and then again with seven arrowS.
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् विसृजन्सशरं चापं मूर्छयाभिपरिप्लुतः
M. N. Dutt: Thus deeply pierced and extremely pained, the latter squatted down on the terrace of his car; and he lost hold of his arrows and bow and was overwhelmed with a swoon.
तं विषण्णं रथे दृष्ट्वा तावका भरतर्षभ हार्दिक्यं पूजयामासुर्वासांस्यादुधुवुश्च ह
M. N. Dutt: Then your troops, O foremost of men, beholding Sikhandin cheerless in battle, began to applaud Hridika's son and they waived their garments in the air.
शिखण्डिनं तथा ज्ञात्वा हार्दिक्यशरपीडितम् अपोवाह रणाद्यन्ता त्वरमाणो महारथम्
M. N. Dutt: Then knowing Sikhandin to be afflicted sore with the arrows of the son of Hridika, his driver, in all haste, carried that mighty carwarrior away from the field of battle.
सादितं तु रथोपस्थे दृष्ट्वा पार्थाः शिखण्डिनम् परिवव्रू रथैस्तूर्णं कृतवर्माणमाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Sikhandin overthrown on the terrace of his car, the Parthas in that battle quickly surrounded Kritavarman with their chariots.
तत्राद्भुतं परं चक्रे कृतवर्मा महारथः यदेकः समरे पार्थान्वारयामास सानुगान्
M. N. Dutt: Then the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman filled his enemies with wonder, in asmuch as the alone succeeded in resisting the sons of Pritha and their followers in battle.
पार्थाञ्जित्वाजयच्चेदीन्पाञ्चालान्सृञ्जयानपि केकयांश्च महावीर्यान्कृतवर्मा महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Conquering the Parthas, the mighty carwarrior Kritavarman vanquished the Chedis, the Panchaias, the Srinjayas and the valourous Kekayas.
ते वध्यमानाः समरे हार्दिक्येन स्म पाण्डवाः इतश्चेतश्च धावन्तो नैव चक्रुर्धृतिं रणे
M. N. Dutt: Thus slaughtered by Hridika's son in battle, the Pandavas began to run hither and thither and they could not then fight steadily.
जित्वा पाण्डुसुतान्युद्धे भीमसेनपुरोगमान् हार्दिक्यः समरेऽतिष्ठद्विधूम इव पावकः
M. N. Dutt: Conquering the son of Pandu viz., Bhimasena in battle, Hridika's son then remained on the field, like a blazing fire free from even a single curl of smoke.
ते द्राव्यमाणाः समरे हार्दिक्येन महारथाः विमुखाः समपद्यन्त शरवृष्टिभिरर्दिताः
M. N. Dutt: Those mighty car-warriors routed by the son of Hridika, were compelled to turn their faces leack, afflicted as they were with incessant showers of arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
7.90.50 After 50, M3-5 ins.: *626 लज्जयावनता भूत्वा न किंचित्प्रवदन्ति ते