Critical Edition
संजय उवाच त्रिभागमात्रशेषायां रात्र्यां युद्धमवर्तत कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च संहृष्टानां विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said When three fourths of the night had passed away, O ruler of men, once more the battle, between the delighted Kurus and Pandavas, commenced.
अथ चन्द्रप्रभां मुष्णन्नादित्यस्य पुरःसरः अरुणोऽभ्युदयां चक्रे ताम्रीकुर्वन्निवाम्बरम्
M. N. Dutt: Soon after Arjuna (the sun's charioteer) robbing the effulgence of the moon, appeared on the sky, spreading a coppery hue over it.
Supplementary Passages:
7.161.2 For 2cd, T G1-3 M subst.: *1267 प्रकाशमकरोद्व्योम जगत्संरञ्जयन्निव After 2, Dn2 D3.5.6 ins.: *1268 प्राच्यां दिशि सहस्रांशोररुणेनारुणीकृतम् तापनीयं यथा चक्रं भ्राजते रविमण्डलम् ततो रथाश्वांश्च मनुष्ययानान्य् उत्सृज्य सर्वे कुरुपाण्डुयोधाः दिवाकरस्याभिमुखं जपन्तः संध्यागताः प्राञ्जलयो बभूवुः
ततो द्वैधीकृते सैन्ये द्रोणः सोमकपाण्डवान् अभ्यद्रवत्सपाञ्चालान्दुर्योधनपुरोगमः
M. N. Dutt: The host of the Kauravas having been divided into two parts, Diona, having Duryodhana in front of him, advanced (supported by one of this divisions) against the Somakas, the Panchalas and the Pandavas.
द्वैधीभूतान्कुरून्दृष्ट्वा माधवोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत् सपत्नान्सव्यतः कुर्मि सव्यसाचिन्निमान्कुरून्
M. N. Dutt: Then beholding the Kuru army divided in twain, the scion of Madhu's race, Krishna addressing Arjuna said-"Keeping the other division of the enemy to your left, place Drona's division to your right.”
स माधवमनुज्ञाय कुरुष्वेति धनंजयः द्रोणकर्णौ महेष्वासौ सव्यतः पर्यवर्तत
M. N. Dutt: Obedient to the counsel of Madhava, regarding everything about the Kurus. Dhananjaya wheeled round so as to keep Drona and Karna, those two might bowmen, to his right.
अभिप्रायं तु कृष्णस्य ज्ञात्वा परपुरंजयः आजिशीर्षगतं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनं समासदत्
M. N. Dutt: Then seeing through the purposes of Krishna, that subduer of hostile cities viz., Bhimasena, addressing Arjuna then stationed at the van of the troop, said these words.
भीम उवाच अर्जुनार्जुन बीभत्सो शृणु मे तत्त्वतो वचः यदर्थं क्षत्रिया सूते तस्य कालोऽयमागतः
M. N. Dutt: Bhimasena said Ho, Arjuna, Arjuna, O Vibhatsu, hear these words of mine! The hour, for the realisation of that object for which Kshatriya ladies bring forth their sons, has now arrived.
अस्मिंश्चेदागते काले श्रेयो न प्रतिपत्स्यसे असंभावितरूपः सन्नानृशंस्यं करिष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: If at this opportune season you do not exert yourself to attain good, then you shall act meanly like a perfect wreath.
सत्यश्रीधर्मयशसां वीर्येणानृण्यमाप्नुहि भिन्ध्यनीकं युधां श्रेष्ठ सव्यसाचिन्निमान्कुरु
M. N. Dutt: With the assistance of mighty do you, today, pay off your debt to Prosperity and Fame! ( foremost of warriors, penetrate into this army and keep this to your right.
संजय उवाच स सव्यसाची भीमेन चोदितः केशवेन च कर्णद्रोणावतिक्रम्य समन्तात्पर्यवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Thus urged on by Bhima and Kesava, Savyasachin, disregarding Kama and Drona, began to resist the foe on all sides.
तमाजिशीर्षमायान्तं दहन्तं क्षत्रियर्षभान् पराक्रान्तं पराक्रम्य यतन्तः क्षत्रियर्षभाः नाशक्नुवन्वारयितुं वर्धमानमिवानलम्
M. N. Dutt: Then as that puissant one advanced at the head of battle, leaving the foremost of Kshatriyas, these last, putting forth all their prowess.
अथ दुर्योधनः कर्णः शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः अभ्यवर्षञ्शरव्रातैः कुन्तीपुत्रं धनंजयम्
AI Translation: Then Duryodhana, Karna, and Shakuni Soubala showered Kunti's son, Dhananjaya, with volleys of arrows.
तेषामस्त्राणि सर्वेषामुत्तमास्त्रविदां वरः कदर्थीकृत्य राजेन्द्र शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्
AI Translation: The best of those who know the best weapons, having disregarded the weapons of all of them, O king, covered them with showers of arrows.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य लघुहस्तो धनंजयः सर्वानविध्यन्निशितैर्दशभिर्दशभिः शरैः
AI Translation: Having warded off the missiles with missiles, the dexterous Dhananjaya pierced all of them with ten sharp arrows each.
उद्धूता रजसो वृष्टिः शरवृष्टिस्तथैव च तमश्च घोरं शब्दश्च तदा समभवन्महान्
AI Translation: The rain of dust was blown away, and so was the rain of arrows. And then there was a great darkness and a terrible sound.
न द्यौर्न भूमिर्न दिशः प्राज्ञायन्त तथा गते सैन्येन रजसा मूढं सर्वमन्धमिवाभवत्
AI Translation: The sky, the earth, and the directions were not recognized when he departed. The entire army was blinded as if by darkness, deluded by the dust.
नैव ते न वयं राजन्प्रज्ञासिष्म परस्परम् उद्देशेन हि तेन स्म समयुध्यन्त पार्थिवाः
AI Translation: We did not know each other, O king. For that reason the kings fought.
Supplementary Passages:
7.161.17 After 17ab, S (G5 missing) ins.: *1269 शब्दमात्रेण जानीमो वयं ते च परस्परम्
विरथा रथिनो राजन्समासाद्य परस्परम् केशेषु समसज्जन्त कवचेषु भुजेषु च
AI Translation: The warriors, O king, dismounted from their chariots and attacked each other, grasping each other by the hair, by the armor, and by the arms.
हताश्वा हतसूताश्च निश्चेष्टा रथिनस्तदा जीवन्त इव तत्र स्म व्यदृश्यन्त भयार्दिताः
AI Translation: The charioteers and horses were killed, and the charioteers were motionless. They appeared to be alive, but were terrified.
हतान्गजान्समाश्लिष्य पर्वतानिव वाजिनः गतसत्त्वा व्यदृश्यन्त तथैव सह सादिभिः
AI Translation: The horses embraced the slain elephants, like mountains, and the horses, together with their riders, were seen to be lifeless.
ततस्त्वभ्यवसृत्यैव संग्रामादुत्तरां दिशम् अतिष्ठदाहवे द्रोणो विधूम इव पावकः
AI Translation: Then, having advanced to the northern direction from the battle, Drona stood in the battle like a smokeless fire.
तमाजिशीर्षादेकान्तमपक्रान्तं निशाम्य तु समकम्पन्त सैन्यानि पाण्डवानां विशां पते
AI Translation: Seeing him depart from the head of the army, O lord of the earth, the armies of the Pandavas trembled.
भ्राजमानं श्रिया युक्तं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा द्रोणं दृष्ट्वारयस्त्रेसुश्चेलुर्मम्लुश्च मारिष
AI Translation: Seeing Drona shining with glory, blazing with energy, O venerable one, the enemies trembled and were terrified.
आह्वयन्तं परानीकं प्रभिन्नमिव वारणम् नैनं शशंसिरे जेतुं दानवा वासवं यथा
AI Translation: He was summoning the enemy army, like a rutting elephant. The demons did not praise him as one to be conquered, like Vasava.
केचिदासन्निरुत्साहाः केचित्क्रुद्धा मनस्विनः विस्मिताश्चाभवन्केचित्केचिदासन्नमर्षिताः
AI Translation: Some were despondent, some were angry, some were proud, Some were amazed, some were about to be angry.
हस्तैर्हस्ताग्रमपरे प्रत्यपिंषन्नराधिपाः अपरे दशनैरोष्ठानदशन्क्रोधमूर्छिताः
AI Translation: The kings bit their hands and the tips of their fingers. Others, overcome with anger, bit their lips with their teeth.
Supplementary Passages:
7.161.26 After 26ab, G1 M1.2 ins.: *1270 विधूयान्ये करान्क्रुद्धाः करेष्वेव न्यपीडयन्
व्याक्षिपन्नायुधानन्ये ममृदुश्चापरे भुजान् अन्ये चान्वपतन्द्रोणं त्यक्तात्मानो महौजसः
AI Translation: Some hurled their weapons, others crushed their arms, and others, with their souls abandoned, fell upon Drona, of great prowess.
पाञ्चालास्तु विशेषेण द्रोणसायकपीडिताः समसज्जन्त राजेन्द्र समरे भृशवेदनाः
AI Translation: The Panchālas, in particular, were afflicted by Drona's arrows, O lord of kings, and suffered greatly in battle.
Supplementary Passages:
7.161.28 After 28, D5 ins.: *1271 दृष्ट्वा द्रोणं महाराज समकम्पत[न्त] पाण्डवाः ततो योधा पाण्डवानां महात्मन् दृष्ट्वा द्रोणं दीप्यमानं शरौघैः ततः सर्वे सृञ्जयाः पाण्डवाश्च जिघासन्तो द्रोणमेवाभिजग्मुः
ततो विराटद्रुपदौ द्रोणं प्रतिययू रणे तथा चरन्तं संग्रामे भृशं समरदुर्जयम्
AI Translation: Then Virāta and Drupada went to fight with Drona in battle. And thus he fought in the battle, extremely difficult to conquer in battle,
द्रुपदस्य ततः पौत्रास्त्रय एव विशां पते चेदयश्च महेष्वासा द्रोणमेवाभ्ययुर्युधि
AI Translation: Then, O lord of the earth, the three grandsons of Drupada, the Chedi princes, great archers, attacked Drona in battle.
तेषां द्रुपदपौत्राणां त्रयाणां निशितैः शरैः त्रिभिर्द्रोणोऽहरत्प्राणांस्ते हता न्यपतन्भुवि
AI Translation: With sharp arrows, Drona took the lives of the three grandsons of Drupada. They fell dead on the ground.
ततो द्रोणोऽजयद्युद्धे चेदिकेकयसृञ्जयान् मत्स्यांश्चैवाजयत्सर्वान्भारद्वाजो महारथः
AI Translation: Then Drona defeated the Chedis, Kekayas and Srinjayas in battle, And all the Matsyas, the great chariot-warrior Bharadvaja's son.
ततस्तु द्रुपदः क्रोधाच्छरवर्षमवाकिरत् द्रोणं प्रति महाराज विराटश्चैव संयुगे
AI Translation: Then Drupada, in anger, showered arrows towards Drona in the battle, O great king, and Virata also.
Supplementary Passages:
7.161.33 After 33, K2 (marg.) B Dc1 Dn2 D3.5.6 ins.: *1272 तं निहत्येषुवर्षं तु द्रोणः क्षत्रियमर्दनः तौ शरैश्छादयामास विराटद्रुपदावुभौ द्रोणेन छाद्यमानौ तौ क्रुद्धौ संग्राममूर्धनि द्रोणं शरैर्विव्यधतुः परमं क्रोधमास्थितौ ततो द्रोणो महाराज क्रोधामर्षसमन्वितः भल्लाभ्यां भृशतीक्ष्णाभ्यां चिच्छेद धनुषी तयोः ततो विराटः कुपितः समरे तोमरान्दश दश चिक्षेप च शरान्द्रोणस्य वधकाङ्क्षया शक्तिं च द्रुपदो घोरामायसीं स्वर्णभूषिताम् चिक्षेप भुजगेन्द्राभां क्रुद्धो द्रोणरथं प्रति ततो भल्लैः सुनिशितैश्छित्त्वा तांस्तोमरान्दश शक्तिं कनकवैडूर्यां द्रोणश्चिच्छेद सायकैः On the other hand, G1 M1.2 ins. after 33: M3-5 after 34: *1273 स ताभ्यामर्दितो वृद्धो वृद्धाभ्यां क्रोधमूर्छितः
ततो द्रोणः सुपीताभ्यां भल्लाभ्यामरिमर्दनः द्रुपदं च विराटं च प्रैषीद्वैवस्वतक्षयम्
AI Translation: Then Drona, the destroyer of enemies, with two sharp arrows of a pale yellow color, sent Drupada and Virata to Yama's abode.
हते विराटे द्रुपदे केकयेषु तथैव च तथैव चेदिमत्स्येषु पाञ्चालेषु तथैव च हतेषु त्रिषु वीरेषु द्रुपदस्य च नप्तृषु
M. N. Dutt: As also the Chedis and the Panchalas and the Matsyas and upon the slaughter of the three heroic grandsons of Drupada.
Supplementary Passages:
7.161.35 For 35cdef, G1 M subst.: *1274 पाञ्चालराजपौत्रेषु त्रिषु चाद्भुतकर्मसु पितृपुत्रवधायस्तश्चिकीर्षन्कर्म दुष्करम्
द्रोणस्य कर्म तद्दृष्ट्वा कोपदुःखसमन्वितः शशाप रथिनां मध्ये धृष्टद्युम्नो महामनाः
M. N. Dutt: And beholding these cruel deeds accomplished by Drona, the high-souled Dhristadyumna, filled with rage and grief,
इष्टापूर्तात्तथा क्षात्राद्ब्राह्मण्याच्च स नश्यतु द्रोणो यस्याद्य मुच्येत यो वा द्रोणात्पराङ्मुखः
M. N. Dutt: "Let that man lose the merits of his Istha, Purth, Kshatra and Brahmanya, whom Drona shall escape or shall defeat in battle."
इति तेषां प्रतिश्रुत्य मध्ये सर्वधनुष्मताम् आयाद्द्रोणं सहानीकः पाञ्चाल्यः परवीरहा पाञ्चालास्त्वेकतो द्रोणमभ्यघ्नन्पाण्डवान्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Thus having sworn in the midst of all bowmen, that slayer of foes, viz., the Panchala prince rushed upon Drona, supported by his own division.
दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः सोदर्याश्च यथा मुख्यास्तेऽरक्षन्द्रोणमाहवे
AI Translation: Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni Soubala, and the foremost of his brothers protected Drona in the battle.
रक्ष्यमाणं तथा द्रोणं समरे तैर्महात्मभिः यतमानापि पाञ्चाला न शेकुः प्रतिवीक्षितुम्
AI Translation: And Drona, though protected by those great souls in battle, The Panchālas, though trying, were unable to look at him.
तत्राक्रुध्यद्भीमसेनो धृष्टद्युम्नस्य मारिष स एनं वाग्भिरुग्राभिस्ततक्ष पुरुषर्षभ
AI Translation: There, O venerable one, Bhimasena became angry with Dhrishtadyumna. That bull among men struck him with fierce words.
द्रुपदस्य कुले जातः सर्वास्त्रेष्वस्त्रवित्तमः कः क्षत्रियो मन्यमानः प्रेक्षेतारिमवस्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhimasena said What man is there who, being regarded as a Kshatriya and who being born in the Dynasty of Drupada and who being foremost of all men possessing knowledge of weapons, would only thus passively look at his foe, stationed before him?
पितृपुत्रवधं प्राप्य पुमान्कः परिहापयेत् विशेषतस्तु शपथं शपित्वा राजसंसदि
M. N. Dutt: What person, having seen his father and son slain by his foes and having also sworn such a terrible oath in the assemblage of kings, would thus suffer his foe to stand before him?
एष वैश्वानर इव समिद्धः स्वेन तेजसा शरचापेन्धनो द्रोणः क्षत्रं दहति तेजसा
M. N. Dutt: Yonder stands Drona like a fire swelling with its own energy; indeed with bow and arrows constituting fuel he is consuming all the Kshatriyas with his energy.
पुरा करोति निःशेषां पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् स्थिताः पश्यत मे कर्म द्रोणमेव व्रजाम्यहम्
M. N. Dutt: Soon will he completely destroy the Pandava army; stand here passively as spectators of the feat I am going to perform; I myself assail Drona.
इत्युक्त्वा प्राविशत्क्रुद्धो द्रोणानीकं वृकोदरः दृढैः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैर्द्रावयंस्तव वाहिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Having thus spoken, Vrikodara, worked up with rage, penetrated into Drona's division; and he then routed your troops with arrows shot from his bow drawn to the fullest stretch.
Supplementary Passages:
7.161.46 After 46, K2 ins.: *1275 अथोद्यम्य गदां भीमः कालदण्डमिवान्तकः द्रोणाय व्यसृजद्राजन्रथहयपपल्वुवे (sic) साश्वसूतध्वजं राजन्द्रोणस्यापोथयत्तदा प्रामृद[द्न]न्स्वबहून्योधान्वायुवृक्षानिवौजसा अन्यं तु रथमास्थाय द्रोणः प्रहरतां वरः व्यूहद्वारं समास्थाय युद्धाय समवस्थितः
धृष्टद्युम्नोऽपि पाञ्चाल्यः प्रविश्य महतीं चमूम् आससाद रणे द्रोणं तदासीत्तुमुलं महत्
M. N. Dutt: The Panchala price Dhristadyumna also, pushing into the heart your mighty troops, approached Drona; whereupon a confused and terrible encounter commenced.
नैव नस्तादृशं युद्धं दृष्टपूर्वं न च श्रुतम् यथा सूर्योदये राजन्समुत्पिञ्जोऽभवन्महान्
M. N. Dutt: We never saw nor heard of such a battle before as, O king, was fought during that hour of sun-rise.
संसक्तानि व्यदृश्यन्त रथवृन्दानि मारिष हतानि च विकीर्णानि शरीराणि शरीरिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: () sire, the chariots were then entangled with one another; thousands of corpses of slain creatures were also seen lying on the field of battle.
केचिदन्यत्र गच्छन्तः पथि चान्यैरुपद्रुताः विमुखाः पृष्ठतश्चान्ये ताड्यन्ते पार्श्वतोऽपरे
M. N. Dutt: Some, when going to other parts of the field, were assailed by their foe on the way. Some, in flying away, were wounded on their backs and others on their sides.
तथा संसक्तयुद्धं तदभवद्भृशदारुणम् अथ संध्यागतः सूर्यः क्षणेन समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: Thus then that general engagement raged furiously. Soon however the morning sun made its appearance of the sky,