Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच अतितीव्राणि दुःखानि दुःसहानि बहूनि च तवाहं संजयाश्रौषं पुत्राणां मम संक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, I have heard from you of great and intolerable grief's of fierce character as well as of the destruction of my sons.
तथा तु मे कथयसे यथा युद्धं तु वर्तते न सन्ति सूत कौरव्या इति मे नैष्ठिकी मतिः
M. N. Dutt: O Suta (charioteer), from what you describe to me and also from how the battle was fought, my certain conclusion is that the Kauravas are not alive.
दुर्योधनस्तु विरथः कृतस्तत्र महारणे धर्मपुत्रः कथं चक्रे तस्मिन्वा नृपतिः कथम्
M. N. Dutt: In that fair battle, Duryodhana was deprived of his car. How did the son of Dharma fight; and how also did that prince (Duryodhana)?
अपराह्णे कथं युद्धमभवल्लोमहर्षणम् तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन कुशलो ह्यसि संजय
M. N. Dutt: How did take place the battle, that made the hairs to stand on points, in the afternoon? O Sanjaya, relate to me all these in detail; for you are an expert in this
संजय उवाच संसक्तेषु च सैन्येषु युध्यमानेषु भागशः रथमन्यं समास्थाय पुत्रस्तव विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said While the soldiers on both sides were thus engaged in fighting in their respective divisions your son, king Duryodhana, O lord of earth, ascending upon another car and being filled with great wrath, like a snake possessing virulent poison, addressed his charioteer, saying-
क्रोधेन महताविष्टः सविषो भुजगो यथा दुर्योधनस्तु दृष्ट्वा वै धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् उवाच सूत त्वरितं याहि याहीति भारत
AI Translation: He was possessed by great anger, like a venomous snake. Duryodhana, seeing Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, said to the charioteer, "Drive quickly,
Supplementary Passages:
8.20.6 After 6ab, S ins.: *174 सर्वसैन्यमुदीक्ष्यैव क्रोधादुद्वृत्तलोचनः दृष्ट्वा धर्मसुतं चापि सैन्यमध्ये व्यवस्थितम् श्रिया ज्वलन्तं कौन्तेयं यथा वज्रधरं युधि
अत्र मां प्रापय क्षिप्रं सारथे यत्र पाण्डवः ध्रियमाणेन छत्रेण राजा राजति दंशितः
AI Translation: Quickly take me to where the Pandava is, charioteer. The king shines, wearing armor and holding an umbrella.
स सूतश्चोदितो राज्ञा राज्ञः स्यन्दनमुत्तमम् युधिष्ठिरस्याभिमुखं प्रेषयामास संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Then the charioteer, being thus urged by the king, led the foremost of cars belonging to the king to the presence of king Yudhishthira in the battle. were an
ततो युधिष्ठिरः क्रुद्धः प्रमत्त इव सद्गवः सारथिं चोदयामास याहि यत्र सुयोधनः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Yudhishthira, being filled with wrath and resembling an infuriate elephant, urged his charioteer, asking him to proceed to the place, where Suyodhana took his stand.
तौ समाजग्मतुर्वीरौ भ्रातरौ रथसत्तमौ समेत्य च महावीर्यौ संनद्धौ युद्धदुर्मदौ ततक्षतुर्महेष्वासौ शरैरन्योन्यमाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Those two heroic warriors, who were brothers to each other and who were the best of car-warriors and who were possessed of immense prowess and who also invincible in battle, coming in contact with each other, engaged themselves in encounter. Moreover these two mighty bowmen began to strike each other with numerous shafts in that battle.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा धर्मशीलस्य मारिष शिलाशितेन भल्लेन धनुश्चिच्छेद संयुगे तं नामृष्यत संक्रुद्धो व्यवसायं युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O sire, the king Duryodhana severed the bow of that righteous one (Yudhishthira) by means of a broad-headed arrows, sharpened on a stone, in the battle.
Supplementary Passages:
8.20.11 After 11, S (except T2; M4 om.) ins.: *175 दुर्योधनस्य कौरव्य तव पुत्रस्य मारिष
अपविध्य धनुश्छिन्नं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः अन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय धर्मपुत्रश्चमूमुखे
AI Translation: Having discarded the broken bow, with eyes red with anger, And taking up another bow, Dharma's son at the head of the army,
दुर्योधनस्य चिच्छेद ध्वजं कार्मुकमेव च अथान्यद्धनुरादाय प्रत्यविध्यत पाण्डवम्
AI Translation: He cut through Duryodhana's banner and bow, Then, taking up another bow, he shot back at the Pandava.
Supplementary Passages:
8.20.13 After 13, S (except T2) ins.: *176 युधिष्ठिरस्य चिक्षेप शरान्कनकभूषणान् रुक्मपुङ्खान्प्रसन्नाग्रान्सविषानिव पन्नगान्
तावन्योन्यं सुसंरब्धौ शरवर्षाण्यमुञ्चताम् सिंहाविव सुसंक्रुद्धौ परस्परजिगीषया
AI Translation: They both, very angry with each other, released showers of arrows Like two very angry lions, desiring to conquer each other.
अन्योन्यं जघ्नतुश्चैव नर्दमानौ वृषाविव अन्योन्यं प्रेक्षमाणौ च चेरतुस्तौ महारथौ
AI Translation: They struck each other, roaring like bulls. Those two great warriors roamed, looking at each other.
Supplementary Passages:
8.20.15 After 15, D8 ins.: *177 अन्तरं नागमत्तत्र राजा नैव सुयोधनः
ततः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैरन्योन्यं सुकृतव्रणौ विरेजतुर्महाराज पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ
AI Translation: Then, with wounds inflicted by each other with fully drawn and released arrows, the two shone like blossoming kimśhuka trees, great king.
ततो राजन्प्रतिभयान्सिंहनादान्मुहुर्मुहुः तलयोश्च तथा शब्दान्धनुषोश्च महाहवे
AI Translation: Then, O king, from the terrifying roars of lions again and again, and from the sounds of the palms and the bow in the great battle,
शङ्खशब्दरवांश्चैव चक्रतुस्तौ रथोत्तमौ अन्योन्यं च महाराज पीडयां चक्रतुर्भृशम्
AI Translation: Those two supreme chariots made the sound of conch shells. And, O great king, they inflicted great harm on each other.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा तव पुत्रं त्रिभिः शरैः आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धो वज्रवेगो दुरासदः
AI Translation: Then King Yudhishthira, angry, struck your son in the chest with three arrows, like the irresistible Vajravega.
प्रतिविव्याध तं तूर्णं तव पुत्रो महीपतिम् पञ्चभिर्निशितैर्बाणैर्हेमपुङ्खैः शिलाशितैः
M. N. Dutt: Your son, that ruler of earth, most quickly pierced him (Yudhishthira) in return with five keen arrows, that were equipt with the wings of gold and sharpened on a stone.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा शक्तिं चिक्षेप भारत सर्वपारशवीं तीक्ष्णां महोल्काप्रतिमां तदा
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O descendant of the Bharata race, the king Duryodhana shot an arrows, called Sakti, that was capable of slaughtering all creatures and was sharp-edged and also that looked like a large, resplendent brand.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा धर्मराजः शिलाशितैः त्रिभिश्चिच्छेद सहसा तं च विव्याध सप्तभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then the king of righteousness (Yudhishthira) severed into three fragments that arrows, which coursed towards him suddenly by means of numerous sharp shafts; and again, he, all on a sudden, pierced the prince himself (Duryodhana) with five others.
निपपात ततः साथ हेमदण्डा महाघना निपतन्ती महोल्केव व्यराजच्छिखिसंनिभा
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon that arrow, which was furnished with a golden staff and that was capable of producing a lould whizz, dropped down (upon the ground); and its falling, like a great brand attended with the blazing flames, looked most resplendent.
शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा पुत्रस्तव विशां पते नवभिर्निशितैर्भल्लैर्निजघान युधिष्ठिरम्
M. N. Dutt: O ruler of earth, your son, beholding that Shakti-arrow thus severed into pieces, struck Yudhishthira with nine whetted and sharppointed arrows.
सोऽतिविद्धो बलवतामग्रणीः शत्रुतापनः दुर्योधनं समुद्दिश्य बाणं जग्राह सत्वरः
M. N. Dutt: That scorcher of antagonists, being thus deeply penetrated by the most powerful enemy, quickly equipped himself and took up an arrow, aiming at Duryodhana.
समाधत्त च तं बाणं धनुष्युग्रं महाबलः चिक्षेप च ततो राजा राज्ञः क्रुद्धः पराक्रमी
AI Translation: The immensely powerful one then countered that arrow with his own bow. Then the king, enraged, threw a powerful arrow at the king.
स तु बाणः समासाद्य तव पुत्रं महारथम् व्यमोहयत राजानं धरणीं च जगाम ह
M. N. Dutt: O mighty monarch, thereupon that hero, possessed of immense strength and great powers, being greatly wrathful, put that arrow upon his bow-string and directed it (at his antagonist). Indeed, that arrow, approaching towards your son, that powerful car-warrior stupefied that prince and then went down the earth.
ततो दुर्योधनः क्रुद्धो गदामुद्यम्य वेगितः विधित्सुः कलहस्यान्तमभिदुद्राव पाण्डवम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Duryodhana, who was filled with wrath, most quickly raising his mace, afflicted the king of righteousness (Yudhishthira) with the desire of piercing him through, in order to put an end to all hostilities (between the Kurus Pandavas).
तमालक्ष्योद्यतगदं दण्डहस्तमिवान्तकम् धर्मराजो महाशक्तिं प्राहिणोत्तव सूनवे दीप्यमानां महावेगां महोल्कां ज्वलितामिव
M. N. Dutt: Beholding him thus raising his mace like Death himself armed with his rod, the king of righteousness (Yudhishthira) shot that mighty Shakti-arrow at your son, that blazed forth most brilliantly and was endued with great impetuosity and also that resembled a large and resplendent brand
Supplementary Passages:
8.20.29 After 29, S (except T2) ins.: *178 यमदण्डनिभां घोरां कालरात्रिमिवापरम्
रथस्थः स तया विद्धो वर्म भित्त्वा महाहवे भृशं संविग्नहृदयः पपात च मुमोह च
M. N. Dutt: Then he (the Kuru prince), who stayed on his car, having been pierced on the chest by that arrow, first piercing his vitals and also having been greatly pained a heart, fell down and became senseless.
Supplementary Passages:
8.20.30 After 30, K4 Dn1 D4 (marg.).7.8 T2 ins.: *179 भीमस्तमाह च ततः प्रतिज्ञामनुचिन्तयन् नायं वध्यस्तव नृप इत्युक्तः स न्यवर्तत
ततस्त्वरितमागत्य कृतवर्मा तवात्मजम् प्रत्यपद्यत राजानं मग्नं वै व्यसनार्णवे
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Kritavarman, most quickly approaching towards your son, got near that prince, who was then drowned in the great ocean of calamity.
भीमोऽपि महतीं गृह्य गदां हेमपरिष्कृताम् अभिदुद्राव वेगेन कृतवर्माणमाहवे एवं तदभवद्युद्धं त्वदीयानां परैः सह
AI Translation: Bhima also took up a huge iron club decorated with gold, and rushed at Kritavarma in the battle with great speed. Thus there was a battle between your men and the enemy.
Supplementary Passages:
8.20.32 After 32cd, T1 ins.: *180 दुर्योधनं समादाय पलायनपरोऽभवत् After 32, K3 Dn1 D8 T2 ins.: *181 क्रुद्धानां पुरुषव्याघ्र निघ्नतामितरेतरम् On the other hand, K4 B Da1 D1.3-5.7 ins. after 32: *182 अपराह्णे महाराज काङ्क्षतां विजयं युधि Finally, V1 D2.6 ins. after 32: *183 क्षयं नराश्वनागानां यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम्