Critical Edition
संजय उवाच प्रयानेव तदा कर्णो हर्षयन्वाहिनीं तव एकैकं समरे दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवं पर्यपृच्छत
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said After Karna, gladdening your army, had started for battle he addressed to every Pandava soldier he met with these harsh words.
यो ममाद्य महात्मानं दर्शयेच्छ्वेतवाहनम् तस्मै दद्यामभिप्रेतं वरं यं मनसेच्छति
M. N. Dutt: I shall give him whatever riches he will want who will point out to me today the highsouled (Arjuna) of white horses.
स चेत्तदभिमन्येत तस्मै दद्यामहं पुनः शकटं रत्नसंपूर्णं यो मे ब्रूयाद्धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: I shall further more confer upon him, if he is not satisfied, a cart-load of jewels who will tell me where Dhananjaya is.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.3 For 3, S (except T2) subst.: *303 अथ वा शकटं पूर्णं रत्नानां षड्गवायुतम् धुरि क्षमैर्बृहद्भिश्च गोभिर्युक्तमकालिकम्
स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान् अन्यं तस्मै पुनर्दद्यां सौवर्णं हस्तिषड्गवम्
AI Translation: If that man, who is like Arjuna, should desire it, I would give him another golden elephant and six cows.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.4 After 4ab, Ś2 K4 read 6c-8d and V1 B D (except Dn1 D2) S (except T2) ins.: *304 शतं दद्यां गवां तस्मै नैत्यकं कांस्यदोहनम् V1 B1.3.4 D3.4.6.7 cont.: *305 शतं ग्रामवरांश्चैव दद्यामर्जुनदर्शिने V1 B1.3.4 D3.4.6.7 cont.: B2.5 Da1 D1.5.8 S (except T2) ins. after 304*: *306 तथा तस्मै पुनर्दद्यां श्वेतमश्वतरीरथम् युक्तमञ्जनकेशीभिर्यो मे ब्रूयाद्धनंजयम् S (except T2) cont.: *307 अथ वास्मै पुनर्दद्यां वरमन्यद्यथेप्सितम् युक्तं हयवरैर्जैत्रं काम्बोजैरभिनिष्ठितम् S (except T2) cont.: V1 B1.4 D3.4.6.7 ins. after 306*: *308 स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान्
तथा तस्मै पुनर्दद्यां स्त्रीणां शतमलंकृतम् श्यामानां निष्ककण्ठीनां गीतवाद्यविपश्चिताम्
AI Translation: And again I would give him a hundred adorned women, Dark-skinned, with gold necklaces, skilled in singing and playing instruments.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.5 Ś2 K1.3.4 V1 B Da1 D1.3-5.7.8 T2 ins. after 5: Dn1 D2 after 4ab: D6 after 307*: *309 स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान् तस्मै दद्यां शतं नागाञ्शतं ग्रामाञ्शतं रथान् सुवर्णस्य च मुख्यस्य हयाग्र्याणां शतं शतान् ऋद्ध्या गुणैः सुदान्तांश्च धुर्यवाहान्सुशिक्षितान् तथा सुवर्णशृङ्गीणां गोधेनूनां चतुःशतम् दद्यां तस्मै सवत्सानां यो मे ब्रूयाद्धनंजयम्
स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान् अन्यं तस्मै वरं दद्यां श्वेतान्पञ्चशतान्हयान्
AI Translation: If that man, Arjuna, who sees, should desire it, I would give him another boon: five hundred white horses.
हेमभाण्डपरिच्छन्नान्सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलान् सुदान्तानपि चैवाहं दद्यामष्टशतान्परान्
AI Translation: I would give away eight hundred of them, who are adorned with golden vessels and well-polished gem-studded earrings,
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.7 For 7, S (except T2; M2.3 om.) subst.: *310 अथ वास्मै विचित्राङ्गान्विचित्रमणिमण्डितान् रथाञ्जात्यैर्हयैर्युक्तान्दद्यामष्टादशैव तान् T1.3 G M1.4 cont.: M2 ins. after 5: M3 after 6ab: *311 अन्यमस्मै वरं दद्यां धुर्यान्दान्ताश्चतुःशतम् रोहिणी रूपसंपन्ना हेमशृङ्गीश्चतुःशतम् दद्यामस्मै पयस्विन्यो यो मे ब्रूयाद्धनंजयम्
रथं च शुभ्रं सौवर्णं दद्यां तस्मै स्वलंकृतम् युक्तं परमकाम्बोजैर्यो मे ब्रूयाद्धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: I shall also give him eighteen other tame horses. I shall give him, who will point out Arjuna to me, a golden car adorned with various ornaments and drawn by best Kamboja horses.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.8 After 8, Ś1 K2-4 V1 B D2-4.6-8 T2 ins.: *312 स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान्
अन्यं तस्मै वरं दद्यां कुञ्जराणां शतानि षट् काञ्चनैर्विविधैर्भाण्डैराच्छन्नान्हेममालिनः उत्पन्नानपरान्तेषु विनीतान्हस्तिशिक्षकैः
M. N. Dutt: If the person showing Arjuna to me considers it again inchoate reward, I will give him some more precious wealth. I will offer him six hundred elephants decorated with different gold ornaments and garlands who have born in the western border of India and suffice training given by the expert Mahavatas.
स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान् अन्यं तस्मै वरं दद्यां यमसौ कामयेत्स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: If the person producing Arjuna is yet consider it insufficient, I shall grace him with another thing for which he should ask himself.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.10 After 10ab, T1 G1 (om. lines 2-5) M2-4 ins.: *313 दद्यां वर्णस्य वर्णस्य हयाग्र्याणां शतं शतम् धुर्याणां साधुदान्तानां शिक्षितानां नरोत्तमैः स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान् तस्मै दद्यां ग्रामशतं शतं हस्तीञ्शतं हयान् स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान् T1 G1 M2-4 cont.: K1 (om. lines 1, 2, 4, 5).4 V1 B D T3 G3 M1 ins. after 10ab: *314 अन्यं तस्मै वरं दद्यां वैश्यग्रामांश्चतुर्दश सुस्फीतान्धनसंयुक्तान्प्रत्यासन्नवनोदकान् अकुतोभयान्सुसंपन्नान्राजभोज्यांश्चतुर्दश दासीनां निष्ककण्ठीनां मागधीनां शतं तथा प्रत्यग्रवयसां दद्यां यो मे ब्रूयाद्धनंजयम् स चेत्तदभिमन्येत पुरुषोऽर्जुनदर्शिवान्
पुत्रदारान्विहारांश्च यदन्यद्वित्तमस्ति मे तच्च तस्मै पुनर्दद्यां यद्यत्स मनसेच्छति
M. N. Dutt: I will give him all that wished by him and had in my possession whether wife, son, the garden and parks including clubs and whatever is with me in term of wealth and prosperity.
हत्वा च सहितौ कृष्णौ तयोर्वित्तानि सर्वशः तस्मै दद्यामहं यो मे प्रब्रूयात्केशवार्जुनौ
M. N. Dutt: I shall give him who will find out Keshava and Arjuna all the riches that will be left by them after slaying these two.
एता वाचः सुबहुशः कर्ण उच्चारयन्युधि दध्मौ सागरसंभूतं सुस्वनं शङ्खमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Having expressed himself thus in the battle Karna blew his excellent conch sea-born and making sweet blare.
ता वाचः सूतपुत्रस्य तथा युक्ता निशम्य तु दुर्योधनो महाराज प्रहृष्टः सानुगोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing the words of the charioteer's son, which seemed proper to him, the great king Duryodhana, with all his followers, became filled with delight.
ततो दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषो मृदङ्गानां च सर्वशः सिंहनादः सवादित्रः कुञ्जराणां च निस्वनः
AI Translation: Then there was the sound of drums and all the mridanga drums, The roar of lions and the sound of musical instruments, and the trumpeting of elephants,
प्रादुरासीत्तदा राजंस्त्वत्सैन्ये भरतर्षभ योधानां संप्रहृष्टानां तथा समभवत्स्वनः
AI Translation: Then, O king, in your army, O bull of the Bharata lineage, there arose a sound of the warriors who were delighted.
तथा प्रहृष्टे सैन्ये तु प्लवमानं महारथम् विकत्थमानं समरे राधेयमरिकर्शनम् मद्रराजः प्रहस्येदं वचनं प्रत्यभाषत
M. N. Dutt: When the Kuru ariny was thus filled with joy the king of Madra said in derision the following words to the subduer of foes, the son of Radha, the powerful car-warrior who was thus bragging and about to plunge himself into that ocean of battle.
मा सूतपुत्र मानेन सौवर्णं हस्तिषड्गवम् प्रयच्छ पुरुषायाद्य द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said O son of a charioteer, give away to any man a golden car with six bulls as large as the elephants you will see Dhananjaya today.
बाल्यादिव त्वं त्यजसि वसु वैश्रवणो यथा अयत्नेनैव राधेय द्रष्टास्यद्य धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: Foolishly you are giving away your wealth as if you are Vaisravana, the king of riches. Without any trouble, O son of Radha, you will see Dhananjaya today.
परासृजसि मिथ्या किं किं च त्वं बहु मूढवत् अपात्रदाने ये दोषास्तान्मोहान्नावबुध्यसे
M. N. Dutt: You are giving away your riches as if they are nothing like a highly ignorant man. You do not out of ignorance perceive the demerit attached to gifts made to unworthy persons.
यत्प्रवेदयसे वित्तं बहुत्वेन खलु त्वया शक्यं बहुविधैर्यज्ञैर्यष्टुं सूत यजस्व तैः
M. N. Dutt: You may perform many Yajnas with the immense wealth that you are thus distributing. Therefore, O charioteer's son, do you perform Yajnas.
यच्च प्रार्थयसे हन्तुं कृष्णौ मोहान्मृषैव तत् न हि शुश्रुम संमर्दे क्रोष्ट्रा सिंहौ निपातितौ
M. N. Dutt: But vain is the desire that you cherish out of folly, for destroying Krishna and Arjuna. We have never heard of a couple of lions overthrown by a fox.
अप्रार्थितं प्रार्थयसे सुहृदो न हि सन्ति ते ये त्वां न वारयन्त्याशु प्रपतन्तं हुताशने
M. N. Dutt: You seek what you should never do. You have no such friends as will prevent you form immediately falling into fire.
कालकार्यं न जानीषे कालपक्वोऽस्यसंशयम् बह्वबद्धमकर्णीयं को हि ब्रूयाज्जिजीविषुः
M. N. Dutt: You are unable to distinguish between what you should do and should not. Forsooth, the lease of your life has run out. What man, desirous of living, would give vent to such incoherent words unworthy of being listened to.
समुद्रतरणं दोर्भ्यां कण्ठे बद्ध्वा यथा शिलाम् गिर्यग्राद्वा निपतनं तादृक्तव चिकीर्षितम्
M. N. Dutt: This your attempt is like that of a person, who, having tied round his neck a heavy stone, wishes to cross the ocean with his two arms or like that of a man who wishes to leap down from the summit of a mountain.
सहितः सर्वयोधैस्त्वं व्यूढानीकैः सुरक्षितः धनंजयेन युध्यस्व श्रेयश्चेत्प्राप्तुमिच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: If you wish to secure your well-being, fight with Dhananjaya from the division of your own army well protected and aided by your warriors.
हितार्थं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य ब्रवीमि त्वा न हिंसया श्रद्धत्स्वैतन्मया प्रोक्तं यदि तेऽस्ति जिजीविषा
M. N. Dutt: I tell you this for the well-being of Duryodhana and not out of any ill will for you. If you wish to preserve your life obey my words.
कर्ण उवाच स्ववीर्येऽहं पराश्वस्य प्रार्थयाम्यर्जुनं रणे त्वं तु मित्रमुखः शत्रुर्मां भीषयितुमिच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: Karna said Depending on the strength of my own arms I wish to meet Arjuna in battle. You are an enemy with the look of a friend and wish to frighten me.
न मामस्मादभिप्रायात्कश्चिदद्य निवर्तयेत् अपीन्द्रो वज्रमुद्यम्य किं नु मर्त्यः करिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: No one will be able to make me change this resolution, not even Indra taking up his thunderbolt, what to speak of an insignificant mortal?
संजय उवाच इति कर्णस्य वाक्यान्ते शल्यः प्राहोत्तरं वचः चुकोपयिषुरत्यर्थं कर्णं मद्रेश्वरः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said After Karna had his say, Shalya the king of Madra, with a view to provoke him greatly, said in reply.
यदा वै त्वां फल्गुनवेगनुन्ना; ज्याचोदिता हस्तवता विसृष्टाः अन्वेतारः कङ्कपत्राः शिताग्रा;स्तदा तप्स्यस्यर्जुनस्याभियोगात्
M. N. Dutt: When keen edged and Kanka feathered arrows, shot off his bow. by the powerful Phalguna with all his energy, will come upon you, you will repent for your encounter with that hero.
यदा दिव्यं धनुरादाय पार्थः; प्रभासयन्पृतनां सव्यसाची त्वामर्दयेत निशितैः पृषत्कै;स्तदा पश्चात्तप्स्यसे सूतपुत्र
M. N. Dutt: When Partha, otherwise called Savyasachin, taking up his celestial bow, will scorch the Kuru army and assail you greatly with his keen edged arrows then O charioteer's son, you will repent for your folly.
बालश्चन्द्रं मातुरङ्के शयानो; यथा कश्चित्प्रार्थयतेऽपहर्तुम् तद्वन्मोहाद्यतमानो रथस्थ;स्त्वं प्रार्थयस्यर्जुनमद्य जेतुम्
M. N. Dutt: Like a child, on mother's lap seeking to catch hold of the sun, you, out of your folly, wish to defect the effulgent Arjuna stationed on his car.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.33 After 33, S (except G2) ins.: *315 खन्यादसिं तीक्ष्णधारं यथाज्ञः सुतेजनं निहितं वै पृथिव्याम् तथा खनस्यद्य शितान्पृषत्कान् यः प्रार्थयस्यर्जुनेनेह युद्धम्
त्रिशूलमाश्लिष्य सुतीक्ष्णधारं; सर्वाणि गात्राणि निघर्षसि त्वम् सुतीक्ष्णधारोपमकर्मणा त्वं; युयुत्ससे योऽर्जुनेनाद्य कर्ण
M. N. Dutt: By desiring to fight, O Karna, today with Arjuna of illustrious feats, you have addressed yourself to rule your body against the keen edges of a trident.
सिद्धं सिंहं केसरिणं बृहन्तं; बालो मूढः क्षुद्रमृगस्तरस्वी समाह्वयेत्तद्वदेतत्तवाद्य; समाह्वानं सूतपुत्रार्जुनस्य
M. N. Dutt: O charioteer's son, your challenge of Arjuna is like that of an over active little deer against a huge angry lion.
मा सूतपुत्राह्वय राजपुत्रं; महावीर्यं केसरिणं यथैव वने सृगालः पिशितस्य तृप्तो; मा पार्थमासाद्य विनङ्क्ष्यसि त्वम्
M. N. Dutt: O charioteer's son, do not challenge that highly energetic prince like a fox, gratified with meat, challenging a lion. Do not be slain by encountering Arjuna.
ईषादन्तं महानागं प्रभिन्नकरटामुखम् शशकाह्वयसे युद्धे कर्ण पार्थं धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: O Karna, your challenge of Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, is like that of a hare challenging a powerful elephant with tusks large as ploughshares and with temporal juice trickling out of its mouth and temples.
बिलस्थं कृष्णसर्पं त्वं बाल्यात्काष्ठेन विध्यसि महाविषं पूर्णकोशं यत्पार्थं योद्धुमिच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: By wishing to fight with Partha you are, out of folly, striking with a piece of wood the black cobra of deadly venom furiously excited within its hole.
सिंहं केसरिणं क्रुद्धमतिक्रम्याभिनर्दसि सृगाल इव मूढत्वान्नृसिंहं कर्ण पाण्डवम्
M. N. Dutt: You are a fool to yell at Arjuna, the best of men, disregarding him like a jackal yelling at an excited lion.
सुपर्णं पतगश्रेष्ठं वैनतेयं तरस्विनम् लट्वेवाह्वयसे पाते कर्ण पार्थं धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: As a snake, for its own destruction, encounters the best of birds Garuda, highly active and of beautiful feathers, so do you O Karna, challenge Dhananjaya the son of Pritha.
सर्वाम्भोनिलयं भीममूर्मिमन्तं झषायुतम् चन्द्रोदये विवर्तन्तमप्लवः संतितीर्षसि
M. N. Dutt: You wish to cross, without a raft at the rise of the moon, the ocean, the receptacle of all waters with dreadful huge waves and teeming with aquatic animals.
ऋषभं दुन्दुभिग्रीवं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गं प्रहारिणम् वत्स आह्वयसे युद्धे कर्ण पार्थं धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: O Karna, your challenge of Dhananjaya is like that of a calf against a fearful bull of sharpened horns and with a neck thick as a drum.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.42 For 42, S (except T2) subst.: *316 यथा वत्सतरो भूत्वा जातस्कन्धेन शुष्मिणा युद्धमिच्छेद्गोपतिना तथेच्छसि किरीटिना
महाघोषं महामेघं दर्दुरः प्रतिनर्दसि कामतोयप्रदं लोके नरपर्जन्यमर्जुनम्
M. N. Dutt: Your roaring at Arjuna, the deity of clouds among men, like that of frog at a dreadful huge cloud discharging copious showers of rain.
यथा च स्वगृहस्थः श्वा व्याघ्रं वनगतं भषेत् तथा त्वं भषसे कर्ण नरव्याघ्रं धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: Like a dog barking from within his master's house at a forest-ranging tiger you bark at Dhananjaya, the foremost of men.
सृगालोऽपि वने कर्ण शशैः परिवृतो वसन् मन्यते सिंहमात्मानं यावत्सिंहं न पश्यति
M. N. Dutt: While living in the forest in the midst of hares a jackal, O Karna, considers himself a lion till he actually sees the latter.
तथा त्वमपि राधेय सिंहमात्मानमिच्छसि अपश्यञ्शत्रुदमनं नरव्याघ्रं धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: So do you, O son of Radha, consider yourself a lion for you do not see that subduer of foes, that foremost of men, Dhananjaya.
व्याघ्रं त्वं मन्यसेऽऽत्मानं यावत्कृष्णौ न पश्यसि समास्थितावेकरथे सूर्याचन्द्रमसाविव
M. N. Dutt: You consider yourself a lion for you have not seen Krishna and Arjuna stationed on the same car like the sun and moon.
यावद्गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं न शृणोषि महाहवे तावदेव त्वया कर्ण शक्यं वक्तुं यथेच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: As long as you do not hear the twang of Gandiva in battle, so long you are able to do what you please.
रथशब्दधनुःशब्दैर्नादयन्तं दिशो दश नर्दन्तमिव शार्दूलं दृष्ट्वा क्रोष्टा भविष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the ten quarters filled with the sound of his car and the twang of his bow and him roaring like a tiger you will become a jackal.
नित्यमेव सृगालस्त्वं नित्यं सिंहो धनंजयः वीरप्रद्वेषणान्मूढ नित्यं क्रोष्टेव लक्ष्यसे
M. N. Dutt: You are always a jackal and Dhananjaya always a lion. On account of your envy and hatred for heroes, you appear a jackal.
यथाखुः स्याद्बिडालश्च श्वा व्याघ्रश्च बलाबले यथा सृगालः सिंहश्च यथा च शशकुञ्जरौ
AI Translation: As a rat is to a cat, as a dog is to a tiger, as a jackal is to a lion, as a hare is to an elephant,
यथानृतं च सत्यं च यथा चापि विषामृते तथा त्वमपि पार्थश्च प्रख्यातावात्मकर्मभिः
AI Translation: As truth and untruth, as poison and nectar, so are you and Partha, known by your own deeds.
संजय उवाच अधिक्षिप्तस्तु राधेयः शल्येनामिततेजसा शल्यमाह सुसंक्रुद्धो वाक्शल्यमवधारयन्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Thus reviled by Shalya of incomparable energy the son of Radha understanding the meaning of the word Shalya by his words said to him in areat anger.
गुणान्गुणवतः शल्य गुणवान्वेत्ति नागुणः त्वं तु नित्यं गुणैर्हीनः किं ज्ञास्यस्यगुणो गुणान्
M. N. Dutt: Karna said O Shalya, the meritorious only appreciate the merits of those who possess them and not one who has none. You are destitute of all merits. How can you understand what is merit and what is demerit.
अर्जुनस्य महास्त्राणि क्रोधं वीर्यं धनुः शरान् अहं शल्याभिजानामि न त्वं जानासि तत्तथा
M. N. Dutt: O Shalya, I know that powerful weapons of Arjuna, his anger, energy, bow, arrows and as well as the prowess of that high-souled one.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.55 K3.4 B D T2 ins. after 55c: T3 G1.3 M1-3, after a repetition of 55c (cf. 56): *317 विक्रमं च महात्मनः तथा कृष्णस्य माहात्म्यमृषभस्य महीक्षिताम् यथाहं शल्य जानामि
एवमेवात्मनो वीर्यमहं वीर्यं च पाण्डवे जानन्नेवाह्वये युद्धे शल्य नाग्निं पतंगवत्
M. N. Dutt: Knowing my own strength as well as that of Pandava I have challenged him in battle, O Shalya, I shall not fall into fire like an insect.
अस्ति चायमिषुः शल्य सुपुङ्खो रक्तभोजनः एकतूणीशयः पत्री सुधौतः समलंकृतः
M. N. Dutt: I have this arrow, O Shalya, keen edged, blood-drinking, occupying alone one quiver, furnished with wings, well-steeped in oil and well-adorned.
शेते चन्दनपूर्णेन पूजितो बहुलाः समाः आहेयो विषवानुग्रो नराश्वद्विपसंघहा
M. N. Dutt: It lies in sandal dust and is being adored by me from a long time. Having the shape and nature of a serpent it is poisonous and dreadful and capable of killing a great many men, horses and elephants.
एकवीरो महारौद्रस्तनुत्रास्थिविदारणः निर्भिन्द्यां येन रुष्टोऽहमपि मेरुं महागिरिम्
M. N. Dutt: Highly dreadful in form it can go through coats of mail and bones. When worked up with anger I can perforate with it even the huge Meru mountain.
तमहं जातु नास्येयमन्यस्मिन्फल्गुनादृते कृष्णाद्वा देवकीपुत्रात्सत्यं चात्र शृणुष्व मे
M. N. Dutt: I will not discharge this arrow at any other person excepting Arjuna or Krishna, the son of Devaki. Listen, I tell you the truth.
तेनाहमिषुणा शल्य वासुदेवधनंजयौ योत्स्ये परमसंक्रुद्धस्तत्कर्म सदृशं मम
M. N. Dutt: Worked up with anger, I shall with that arrow, O Shalya, fight Vasudeva and Dhananjaya. That will be a deed becoming me.
सर्वेषां वासुदेवानां कृष्णे लक्ष्मीः प्रतिष्ठिता सर्वेषां पाण्डुपुत्राणां जयः पार्थे प्रतिष्ठितः उभयं तत्समासाद्य कोऽतिवर्तितुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Of all the heroes of the Vrishni race in Krishna only prosperity exists eternally. Of all the sons of Pandu, Partha is the one who comes off invariable victorious.
तावेतौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ समेतौ स्यन्दने स्थितौ मामेकमभिसंयातौ सुजातं शल्य पश्य मे
M. N. Dutt: Those two foremost of men, seated on the same car, will encounter me single in battle, you will, O Shalya, witness today the nobility of my birth.
पितृष्वसामातुलजौ भ्रातरावपराजितौ मणी सूत्र इव प्रोतौ द्रष्टासि निहतौ मया
M. N. Dutt: You will seen that (With one shaft) I will kill those two cousins, one of whom is the son of the aunt and the other the son of the maternal uncle-those two invincible warriors. They will took like two pearls strung together in the same string
अर्जुने गाण्डिवं कृष्णे चक्रं तार्क्ष्यकपिध्वजौ भीरूणां त्रासजननौ शल्य हर्षकरौ मम
M. N. Dutt: The Gandiva of Arjuna, the discus of Krishna and their two banners having the emblems of a monkey and Garuda strike terror into the timid. But they are sources of delight to me.
त्वं तु दुष्प्रकृतिर्मूढो महायुद्धेष्वकोविदः भयावतीर्णः संत्रासादबद्धं बहु भाषसे
M. N. Dutt: You are a fool, a bad character and do not know the mode of a true war-fare. Possessed by fear you are giving vent to these ravings.
संस्तौषि त्वं तु केनापि हेतुना तौ कुदेशज तौ हत्वा समरे हन्ता त्वामद्धा सहबान्धवम्
M. N. Dutt: Born in a sinful country you are wicked, mean and a wrath of a Kshatriya or you are praising them for something which is not known to me. Having killed those two first I shall kill you today with all your relatives.
पापदेशज दुर्बुद्धे क्षुद्र क्षत्रियपांसन सुहृद्भूत्वा रिपुः किं मां कृष्णाभ्यां भीषयन्नसि
AI Translation: O you born in a sinful country, O you of evil intellect, O you who are a disgrace to the Kshatriyas, Having become a friend, why do you frighten me with the
तौ वा ममाद्य हन्तारौ हन्तास्मि समरे स्थितौ नाहं बिभेमि कृष्णाभ्यां विजानन्नात्मनो बलम्
AI Translation: Those two are my killers today, standing in battle, I am the killer. I am not afraid of the two Krishnas, knowing my own strength.
वासुदेवसहस्रं वा फल्गुनानां शतानि च अहमेको हनिष्यामि जोषमास्स्व कुदेशज
M. N. Dutt: I know my strength well and I do not fear the two Krishnas. I will kill single handed a thousand Vasudevas and hundreds of Phalgunas. Hold your tongue. O you born in a sinful country.
स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च प्रायः क्रीडागता जनाः या गाथाः संप्रगायन्ति कुर्वन्तोऽध्ययनं यथा ता गाथाः शृणु मे शल्य मद्रकेषु दुरात्मसु
AI Translation: Women, children, and the aged, who are mostly engaged in play, and those who sing songs as they study, Listen to those songs, O Shalya, about the wicked ones among the Madras.
ब्राह्मणैः कथिताः पूर्वं यथावद्राजसंनिधौ श्रुत्वा चैकमना मूढ क्षम वा ब्रूहि वोत्तरम्
AI Translation: As told by the Brahmins before, in the presence of the king, Having heard, speak with a single mind, O fool, or forgive, or speak your reply.
मित्रध्रुङ्मद्रको नित्यं यो नो द्वेष्टि स मद्रकः मद्रके संगतं नास्ति क्षुद्रवाक्ये नराधमे
M. N. Dutt: Madraka is always a hater of friends. He who hates us is a Madraka. There is no good feeling in a Madraka who is the vilest of men and gives vent to mean words.
दुरात्मा मद्रको नित्यं नित्यं चानृतिकोऽनृजुः यावदन्तं हि दौरात्म्यं मद्रकेष्विति नः श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: The Madraka is always wicked, untruthful and crooked. We have heard that the Madrakas are wicked till the hour of their death.
पिता माता च पुत्रश्च श्वश्रूश्वशुरमातुलाः जामाता दुहिता भ्राता नप्ता ते ते च बान्धवाः
AI Translation: Father, mother, son, mother-in-law, father-in-law, maternal uncle, Son-in-law, daughter, brother, grandson, and those who are related to you,
वयस्याभ्यागताश्चान्ये दासीदासं च संगतम् पुंभिर्विमिश्रा नार्यश्च ज्ञाताज्ञाताः स्वयेच्छया
AI Translation: And other friends who have come, and servants and slaves who have come together, And women mixed with men, known and unknown, according to their own will,
येषां गृहेषु शिष्टानां सक्तुमन्थाशिनां सदा पीत्वा सीधुं सगोमांसं नर्दन्ति च हसन्ति च
AI Translation: In the houses of those who are virtuous, who always eat barley flour and curds, Having drunk liquor and eaten beef, they roar and laugh.
यानि चैवाप्यबद्धानि प्रवर्तन्ते च कामतः कामप्रलापिनोऽन्योन्यं तेषु धर्मः कथं भवेत्
AI Translation: And those that are not bound, and those that arise from desire, And those who speak of desire to each other, how can there be Dharma in them?
मद्रकेषु विलुप्तेषु प्रख्याताशुभकर्मसु नापि वैरं न सौहार्दं मद्रकेषु समाचरेत्
AI Translation: When the Madrakas are destroyed, when they are known to be of evil deeds, One should not act with enmity or friendship towards the Madrakas.
मद्रके संगतं नास्ति मद्रको हि सचापलः मद्रकेषु च दुःस्पर्शं शौचं गान्धारकेषु च
AI Translation: There is no association with the Madrakas, for the Madrakas are fickle. And the Madrakas are difficult to touch, and the Gandharas are pure.
राजयाजकयाज्येन नष्टं दत्तं हविर्भवेत्
AI Translation: If the sacrificial offering is made by the king's priest, it becomes lost.
शूद्रसंस्कारको विप्रो यथा याति पराभवम् तथा ब्रह्मद्विषो नित्यं गच्छन्तीह पराभवम्
AI Translation: Just as a Brahmin who performs the rites for a Shudra is defeated, so those who hate the Vedas are always defeated here.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.82 After 82, K4 V1 B Da1 Dn1 D1.3-5.7 ins.: *318 तथैव संगतं कृत्वा नरः पतति मद्रकैः On the other hand, T1 G1.2 M ins. after 82: T3 G3 (repeating after 82), after 82ab: *319 न तथा संगतं चापि मद्रकेष्विह विद्यते
मद्रके संगतं नास्ति हतं वृश्चिकतो विषम् आथर्वणेन मन्त्रेण सर्वा शान्तिः कृता भवेत्
AI Translation: There is no poison in a scorpion that can harm one who is in union with the Madraka. By the Atharva mantra, all peace shall be accomplished.
इति वृश्चिकदष्टस्य नानाविषहतस्य च कुर्वन्ति भेषजं प्राज्ञाः सत्यं तच्चापि दृश्यते एवं विद्वञ्जोषमास्स्व शृणु चात्रोत्तरं वचः
M. N. Dutt: It is seen that with these words the wise treat a person bitten by a scorpion and affected by its poison.
वासांस्युत्सृज्य नृत्यन्ति स्त्रियो या मद्यमोहिताः मिथुनेऽसंयताश्चापि यथाकामचराश्च ताः तासां पुत्रः कथं धर्मं मद्रको वक्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Thinking of this, O learned one, either hold your tongue or hear something more that I will say. (The Madraka) women, influenced by liquor, throw off their robes and dance; they do not observe control in intercourse and do whatever they like. Being the son of one of those women, how can you, O Madraka, dictate duties unto a man?
यास्तिष्ठन्त्यः प्रमेहन्ति यथैवोष्ट्रीदशेरके तासां विभ्रष्टलज्जानां निर्लज्जानां ततस्ततः त्वं पुत्रस्तादृशीनां हि धर्मं वक्तुमिहेच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: Being the son of one of those women who live and answer calls of nature like camels and asses, sinful and shameless as they are, how can you wish to dictate the duties of men?
सुवीरकं याच्यमाना मद्रका कषति स्फिजौ अदातुकामा वचनमिदं वदति दारुणम्
AI Translation: When asked for Suvrīka, the Madrakas rubbed their hips, and when they refused to give him, they spoke these terrible words:
मा मा सुवीरकं कश्चिद्याचतां दयितो मम पुत्रं दद्यां प्रतिपदं न तु दद्यां सुवीरकम्
AI Translation: "May no one ask me for my beloved Suvrīka. I would give away my son, but not Suvrīka."
नार्यो बृहत्यो निर्ह्रीका मद्रकाः कम्बलावृताः घस्मरा नष्टशौचाश्च प्राय इत्यनुशुश्रुम
M. N. Dutt: The Madraka maidens, I am informed, are generally shameless, have profuse hairs, are gluttonous and impure.
Supplementary Passages:
8.27.89 After 89, S ins.: *320 प्रमेहित्वा स्फिजा भूमिं कर्षन्त्यो हीनशोधनाः स्पृष्ट्वा वाग्भिर्न मृद्भिश्च नित्योच्छिष्टा भवन्ति हि
एवमादि मयान्यैर्वा शक्यं वक्तुं भवेद्बहु आ केशाग्रान्नखाग्राच्च वक्तव्येषु कुवर्त्मसु
M. N. Dutt: These and such like many other things of their evil acts beginning with the tip of their hair to that of their nails I can recount.
मद्रकाः सिन्धुसौवीरा धर्मं विद्युः कथं त्विह पापदेशोद्भवा म्लेच्छा धर्माणामविचक्षणाः
M. N. Dutt: The Madrakas and Sindhu Souviras are born in a sinful country, are Melechas and innocent of duties. How can they know them?
एष मुख्यतमो धर्मः क्षत्रियस्येति नः श्रुतम् यदाजौ निहतः शेते सद्भिः समभिपूजितः
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that this is the prime duty of the Kshatriyas that when slain in battle he would lie down on earth being spoken highly of by the pious.
आयुधानां संपराये यन्मुच्येयमहं ततः न मे स प्रथमः कल्पो निधने स्वर्गमिच्छतः
M. N. Dutt: This is my first resolution, desirous of heaven after my death as I am that I will lay down my life in this clash of arms.
सोऽहं प्रियः सखा चास्मि धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः तदर्थे हि मम प्राणा यच्च मे विद्यते वसु
AI Translation: I am a dear friend of the wise son of Dhritarashtra. For his sake are my life and all that I possess.
व्यक्तं त्वमप्युपहितः पाण्डवैः पापदेशज यथा ह्यमित्रवत्सर्वं त्वमस्मासु प्रवर्तसे
AI Translation: It is clear that you too are under the control of the Pandavas, O son of a sinful country, For you act towards us as if we were enemies.
कामं न खलु शक्योऽहं त्वद्विधानां शतैरपि संग्रामाद्विमुखः कर्तुं धर्मज्ञ इव नास्तिकैः
M. N. Dutt: As a pious man is not to be easily pursuaded by atheists so I am not to be dissuaded from this battle by hundreds of persons like you.
सारङ्ग इव घर्मार्तः कामं विलप शुष्य च नाहं भीषयितुं शक्यः क्षत्रवृत्ते व्यवस्थितः
M. N. Dutt: Like a deer perspiring, you may either bewail or pant; observant of the duties of a Kshatriya I am incapable of being frightened by you.
तनुत्यजां नृसिंहानामाहवेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् या गतिर्गुरुणा प्राङ्मे प्रोक्ता रामेण तां स्मर
M. N. Dutt: I remember the end, described to me formerly by my preceptor Rama, which befell those foremost of men who laid down their lives and did not return from the field of battle.
स्वेषां त्राणार्थमुद्युक्तं वधाय द्विषतामपि विद्धि मामास्थितं वृत्तं पौरूरवसमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: I am bent upon rescuing the Kauravas and killing my enemies; know that I am determined upon imitating the excellent conduct of Pururavas.
न तद्भूतं प्रपश्यामि त्रिषु लोकेषु मद्रक यो मामस्मादभिप्रायाद्वारयेदिति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: I do not, O king of Madraka, see a man in the three worlds who can shake this resolution of mine.
एवं विद्वञ्जोषमास्स्व त्रासात्किं बहु भाषसे मा त्वा हत्वा प्रदास्यामि क्रव्याद्भ्यो मद्रकाधम
M. N. Dutt: Do not speak more. Knowing this Why do you rove in such a way from fear? O wretch of a Madraka, I shall not kill you now and offer your dead body to the carnivorous animals,
मित्रप्रतीक्षया शल्य धार्तराष्ट्रस्य चोभयोः अपवादतितिक्षाभिस्त्रिभिरेतैर्हि जीवसि
M. N. Dutt: Out of regard for a friend, O Shalya, for the sake of Dhritarashtra's son and for avoiding blame-for these three reasons, you will live.
पुनश्चेदीदृशं वाक्यं मद्रराज वदिष्यसि शिरस्ते पातयिष्यामि गदया वज्रकल्पया
M. N. Dutt: O king of Madras, if you speak again in this strain I will crush down your head with my mace, as hard as the thunder.
श्रोतारस्त्विदमद्येह द्रष्टारो वा कुदेशज कर्णं वा जघ्नतुः कृष्णौ कर्णो वापि जघान तौ
M. N. Dutt: O you born in a sinful country, people will either see or hear today that either the two Krishnas have slain Karna or Karna has killed the two Krishnas."
एवमुक्त्वा तु राधेयः पुनरेव विशां पते अब्रवीन्मद्रराजानं याहि याहीत्यसंभ्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: Saying this the son of Radha, O king, once more addressed the king of Madras, saying-"go on! go on."