Critical Edition
संजय उवाच नकुलं रभसं युद्धे निघ्नन्तं वाहिनीं तव अभ्ययात्सौबलः क्रुद्धस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said The son of Subala (i.e. Shakuni), excited with wrath, rushed against Nakula who was slaughtering your troops with (great) impetuosity in battle and said (to him) “Wait, wait."
कृतवैरौ तु तौ वीरावन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ शरैः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः
M. N. Dutt: Those two heroes, between whom was excited a bitter enmity, desirous of slaying each other, struck each other with arrows discharged (from their bows) drawn to their fullest stretch.
यथैव सौबलः क्षिप्रं शरवर्षाणि मुञ्चति तथैव नकुलो राजञ्शिक्षां संदर्शयन्युधि
AI Translation: Just as Saubala quickly releases showers of arrows, in the same way, O king, Nakula, displaying his training, in battle,
तावुभौ समरे शूरौ शरकण्टकिनौ तदा व्यराजेतां महाराज कण्टकैरिव शाल्मली
M. N. Dutt: With arrows stricking (to their bodies) like prickly thorms, they, O mighty monarch, looked, in (that) engagement, like a couple of porcupines with erect quills.
सुजिह्मं प्रेक्षमाणौ च राजन्विवृतलोचनौ क्रोधसंरक्तनयनौ निर्दहन्तौ परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, looking delightedly at each other with expanded eyes which became red in wrath, they seemed to consume each other (with their fiery glances).
स्यालस्तु तव संक्रुद्धो माद्रीपुत्रं हसन्निव कर्णिनैकेन विव्याध हृदये निशितेन ह
M. N. Dutt: Inflamed with wrath, your brother-in-law, pierced, as it were with a smile, the son of Madri in the chest with keen and barbed dart.
नकुलस्तु भृशं विद्धः स्यालेन तव धन्विना निषसाद रथोपस्थे कश्मलं चैनमाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: Your brother-in-law wielder of bow, wounded Nakula extremely. He fell down on his chariot and filled with very grief.
अत्यन्तवैरिणं दृप्तं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुं तथागतम् ननाद शकुनी राजंस्तपान्ते जलदो यथा
M. N. Dutt: Beholding his bitter and haughty foe in that (pitiable) plight, Shakuni roared there like the clouds at the end of summer.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां नकुलः पाण्डुनन्दनः अभ्ययात्सौबलं भूयो व्यात्तानन इवान्तकः
M. N. Dutt: Then, Nakula, the son of Pandu, recovering his senses once again rushed against the son of Subala like death itself with gaping mouth.
संक्रुद्धः शकुनिं षष्ट्या विव्याध भरतर्षभ पुनश्चैव शतेनैव नाराचानां स्तनान्तरे
M. N. Dutt: He, (then), O best of the Bharatas, wrathfully pierced Shakuni with six (arrows) and again with a hundred long shafts, in the centre of the chest.
ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशे स चिच्छिदे ध्वजं च त्वरितं छित्त्वा रथाद्भूमावपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: (He then cut-off) his bow with the arrow fixed (on the string) into two fragments, at the points at which it is grasped. (Then), quickly cutting off his standard, (he) caused it to fall from his car to the ground.
Supplementary Passages:
7.144.11 D2.5 ins. after 11: Dn2 after 9ab: *1184 विशिखेन च तीक्ष्णेन पीतेन निशितेन च ऊरू निर्भिद्य चैकेन नकुलः पाण्डुनन्दनः श्येनं सपक्षं व्याधेन पातयामास तं तदा
सोऽतिविद्धो महाराज रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् तं विसंज्ञं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा स्यालं तवानघ अपोवाह रथेनाशु सारथिर्ध्वजिनीमुखात्
AI Translation: He was pierced severely, great king, and sat down on the floor of the chariot. Seeing him unconscious and fallen, your son, O sinless one, was quickly carried away by the
Supplementary Passages:
7.144.12 After 12ab, Dn2 D2.5 ins.: *1185 ध्वजयष्टिं परिष्वज्य कामिनीं कामुको यथा
ततः संचुक्रुशुः पार्था ये च तेषां पदानुगाः निर्जित्य च रणे शत्रून्नकुलः शत्रुतापनः अब्रवीत्सारथिं क्रुद्धो द्रोणानीकाय मां वह
M. N. Dutt: On the defeat of his foe in battle, Nakula. the scorcher of foes, said to his charioteer "convey me towards Drona's division."
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा माद्रीपुत्रस्य धीमतः प्रायात्तेन रणे राजन्येन द्रोणोऽन्वयुध्यत
M. N. Dutt: Hearing those words of the son of Madri, his charioteer, conveyed him to the spot where, O king, Drona took his stand.
शिखण्डिनं तु समरे द्रोणप्रेप्सुं विशां पते कृपः शारद्वतो यत्तः प्रत्युद्गच्छत्सुवेगितः
M. N. Dutt: Kripa, the son of Saradvata, rushed with great impetuosity and resoluteness, against the highly-powerful Sikhandi who was advancing in order to slay Drona.
गौतमं द्रुतमायान्तं द्रोणान्तिकमरिंदमम् विव्याध नवभिर्भल्लैः शिखण्डी प्रहसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Sikhandi, the subduer of foes, pierced as it were with a smile the son of Goutama advancing furiously (again him) towards the vicinity of Drona, with nine arrows.
तमाचार्यो महाराज विद्ध्वा पञ्चभिराशुगैः पुनर्विव्याध विंशत्या पुत्राणां प्रियकृत्तव
M. N. Dutt: The preceptor, devoted to the welfare of your sons, having, O great monarch, pierced him with five shafts, struck him again with twenty (more).
महद्युद्धं तयोरासीद्घोररूपं विशां पते यथा देवासुरे युद्धे शम्बरामरराजयोः
M. N. Dutt: (Then), O lord of the earth, the encounter that ensued between them was as dreadful as that between the (Asura) Samvara and the lord of the immortals in the war between the celestials and the Asuras.
शरजालावृतं व्योम चक्रतुस्तौ महारथौ प्रकृत्या घोररूपं तदासीद्घोरतरं पुनः
AI Translation: Those two great warriors covered the sky with a net of arrows. Then it became even more terrible than it was by nature.
Supplementary Passages:
7.144.19 After 19ab, B Dc1 Dn ins.: *1186 मेघाविव तपापाये वीरौ समरदुर्मदौ
रात्रिश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ योधानां युद्धशालिनाम् कालरात्रिनिभा ह्यासीद्घोररूपा भयावहा
AI Translation: And the night, O best of Bharatas, of the warriors skilled in battle, was like the night of the god of death, terrible and frightening.
शिखण्डी तु महाराज गौतमस्य महद्धनुः अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद सज्यं सविशिखं तदा
AI Translation: O great king, Shikhandi cut off the great bow of Goutama with a half-moon-shaped arrow, along with the bowstring and arrows.
तस्य क्रुद्धः कृपो राजञ्शक्तिं चिक्षेप दारुणाम् स्वर्णदण्डामकुण्ठाग्रां कर्मारपरिमार्जिताम्
AI Translation: O king, when he was angry, Kripa hurled a terrible spear with a golden handle, sharp at the tip, polished by a blacksmith.
तामापतन्तीं चिच्छेद शिखण्डी बहुभिः शरैः सापतन्मेदिनीं दीप्ता भासयन्ती महाप्रभा
AI Translation: Śikhaṇḍi cut her down with many arrows as she fell. She fell on the ground, blazing and shining with great brilliance.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय गौतमो रथिनां वरः प्राच्छादयच्छितैर्बाणैर्महाराज शिखण्डिनम्
AI Translation: Then Gautama, the best of charioteers, taking up another bow, Covered Shikhándin with sharp arrows, great king.
स छाद्यमानः समरे गौतमेन यशस्विना व्यषीदत रथोपस्थे शिखण्डी रथिनां वरः
AI Translation: Covered in battle by the glorious Goutama, Shikhandi, the best of charioteers, was despondent on the chariot seat.
सीदन्तं चैनमालोक्य कृपः शारद्वतो युधि आजघ्ने बहुभिर्बाणैर्जिघांसन्निव भारत
AI Translation: Seeing him sinking, Kripa Sharadvat, in the battle, Struck him with many arrows, as if wishing to kill him, O descendant of Bharata.
विमुखं तं रणे दृष्ट्वा याज्ञसेनिं महारथम् पाञ्चालाः सोमकाश्चैव परिवव्रुः समन्ततः
AI Translation: Seeing that great chariot-warrior, Yajnaseni, defeated in battle, the Panchalas and Somakas surrounded him from all sides.
तथैव तव पुत्राश्च परिवव्रुर्द्विजोत्तमम् महत्या सेनया सार्धं ततो युद्धमभूत्पुनः
AI Translation: Similarly, your sons surrounded the best of Brahmins. Then there was a battle again, along with a great army.
रथानां च रणे राजन्नन्योन्यमभिधावताम् बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो मेघानां नदतामिव
AI Translation: In the battle, O king, the chariots, rushing at each other, made a tumultuous sound like that of thundering clouds.
द्रवतां सादिनां चैव गजानां च विशां पते अन्योन्यमभितो राजन्क्रूरमायोधनं बभौ
AI Translation: O lord of the earth, the cavalry, the infantry and the elephants were running towards each other. O king, the battle was fierce and terrible.
पत्तीनां द्रवतां चैव पदशब्देन मेदिनी अकम्पत महाराज भयत्रस्तेव चाङ्गना
AI Translation: The earth trembled at the sound of the horses' hooves, like a woman terrified by fear, O great king.
रथा रथान्समासाद्य प्रद्रुता वेगवत्तरम् न्यगृह्णन्बहवो राजञ्शलभान्वायसा इव
AI Translation: Chariots, having reached other chariots, fled even faster. Many of them, O king, seized (other chariots) like birds seizing insects.
तथा गजान्प्रभिन्नांश्च सुप्रभिन्ना महागजाः तस्मिन्नेव पदे यत्ता निगृह्णन्ति स्म भारत
AI Translation: And the elephants, broken and very broken, were broken by the great elephants. In that very place, O descendant of Bharata, they restrained them.
सादी सादिनमासाद्य पदाती च पदातिनम् समासाद्य रणेऽन्योन्यं संरब्धा नातिचक्रमुः
AI Translation: The foot-soldier, having reached the foot-soldier, the horseman having reached the horseman, having reached each other in battle, they were not able to overpower each other.
धावतां द्रवतां चैव पुनरावर्ततामपि बभूव तत्र सैन्यानां शब्दः सुतुमुलो निशि
AI Translation: to those who were running, fleeing, and returning again. There was a great tumult of the soldiers at night.
दीप्यमानाः प्रदीपाश्च रथवारणवाजिषु अदृश्यन्त महाराज महोल्का इव खाच्च्युताः
AI Translation: The lamps were burning on the chariots, elephants and horses. They were seen, great king, like great meteors falling from the sky.
सा निशा भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रदीपैरवभासिता दिवसप्रतिमा राजन्बभूव रणमूर्धनि
AI Translation: That night, O best of the Bharatas, was illuminated by lamps. O king, it was like daytime on the battlefield.
आदित्येन यथा व्याप्तं तमो लोके प्रणश्यति तथा नष्टं तमो घोरं दीपैर्दीप्तैरलंकृतम्
AI Translation: Just as darkness in the world is destroyed by the sun, so the terrible darkness is destroyed by the lamps that are bright and adorned.
Supplementary Passages:
7.144.38 Dn2 D2 ins. after 38: D5 after 37: *1187 दिवं च पृथिवीं चैव दिशश्च प्रदिशस्तथा रजसा तमसा व्याप्ता द्योतिताः प्रभया पुनः
शस्त्राणां कवचानां च मणीनां च महात्मनाम् अन्तर्दधुः प्रभाः सर्वा दीपैस्तैरवभासिताः
AI Translation: The weapons, armours and great gems all lost their radiance, illuminated by those lamps.
तस्मिन्कोलाहले युद्धे वर्तमाने निशामुखे अवधीत्समरे पुत्रं पिता भरतसत्तम
AI Translation: When that battle was going on at the beginning of the night, the father killed his son in battle, best of Bharatas.
Supplementary Passages:
7.144.40 After 40ab, B Dc1 Dn1 ins.: *1188 न केचिद्विदुरात्मानमयमस्मीति भारत
पुत्रश्च पितरं मोहात्सखायं च सखा तथा संबन्धिनं च संबन्धी स्वस्रीयं चापि मातुलः
M. N. Dutt: Son (his) father and kinsmen (killed kinsmen, friends (slew) friends and maternal uncles (killed) sister's sons, through ignorance.
स्वे स्वान्परे परांश्चापि निजघ्नुरितरेतरम् निर्मर्यादमभूद्युद्धं रात्रौ घोरं भयावहम्
M. N. Dutt: (And) O Bharata, warrior killed warriors of the same party and enemies killed their own O king, in that awful nocturnal engagement (the combatants) lost all regard for one another. men.