Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच विसृष्टास्वथ नारीषु धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः विललाप महाराज दुःखाद्दुःखतरं गतः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said After the ladies had been sent away, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, sunk into grief greater than that which had afflicted him before, began, O monarch, to bewail.
सधूममिव निःश्वस्य करौ धुन्वन्पुनः पुनः विचिन्त्य च महाराज ततो वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Exhaling smoky breaths and repeatedly shaking his arms and reflecting a little, O monarch, he said these words.
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.2 After 2, D4 ins.: *13 यच्छ्रुत्वा सुहृदां चातिकरुणा समजायत
अहो बत महद्दुःखं यदहं पाण्डवान्रणे क्षेमिणश्चाव्ययांश्चैव त्वत्तः सूत शृणोमि वै
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Alas, O Suta, painful is the news that I hear from you viz., that the Pandavas are all safe and have suffered no loss in battle!
वज्रसारमयं नूनं हृदयं सुदृढं मम यच्छ्रुत्वा निहतान्पुत्रान्दीर्यते न सहस्रधा
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, my hard heart is made of the essence of thunder since it breaks not upon hearing of the fall of my sons!
चिन्तयित्वा वचस्तेषां बालक्रीडां च संजय अद्य श्रुत्वा हतान्पुत्रान्भृशं मे दीर्यते मनः
M. N. Dutt: Thinking of their ages, O Sanjaya and of their sports in childhood and learning today that all of them have died, my heart seems to break into pieces!
अन्धत्वाद्यदि तेषां तु न मे रूपनिदर्शनम् पुत्रस्नेहकृता प्रीतिर्नित्यमेतेषु धारिता
M. N. Dutt: Although owing to my blindness I never saw their forms, still I cherished a great love for them on account of the affection one feels for his children.
बालभावमतिक्रान्तान्यौवनस्थांश्च तानहम् मध्यप्राप्तांस्तथा श्रुत्वा हृष्ट आसं तथानघ
M. N. Dutt: Hearing that they had passed out of childhood and entered the period of youth and then of early manhood, I became highly glad, Osinless one.
तानद्य निहताञ्श्रुत्वा हृतैश्वर्यान्हृतौजसः न लभे वै क्वचिच्छान्तिं पुत्राधिभिरभिप्लुतः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing today that they have been killed and divested of prosperity and energy, I do not enjoy peace of mind, being overwhelmed with grief on account of the calamity that has befallen them.
एह्येहि पुत्र राजेन्द्र ममानाथस्य सांप्रतम् त्वया हीनो महाबाहो कां नु यास्याम्यहं गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Come, come, O king of kings, to me that am without a lord now! Deprived of you, O mighty-armed one, what will be my condition?
गतिर्भूत्वा महाराज ज्ञातीनां सुहृदां तथा अन्धं वृद्धं च मां वीर विहाय क्व नु गच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: Having been, O monarch, the refuge of kinsmen and friends, where do you go now, O hero, leaving me that am blind and old?
सा कृपा सा च ते प्रीतिः सा च राजन्सुमानिता कथं विनिहतः पार्थैः संयुगेष्वपराजितः
M. N. Dutt: Where now, O king, is that pity of yours, that love and that respectfulness? Invincible you were in battle, how, alas, have you been killed by the Parthas?
कथं त्वं पृथिवीपालान्भुक्त्वा तात समागतान् शेषे विनिहतो भूमौ प्राकृतः कुनृपो यथा
AI Translation: How is it that you, having enjoyed the earth-lords, my son, when they came together, are killed on the ground like an ordinary bad king?
को नु मामुत्थितं काल्ये तात तातेति वक्ष्यति महाराजेति सततं लोकनाथेति चासकृत्
AI Translation: Who will call me, “Father, father,” when I rise in the morning? “Great king” and “Lord of the world” will be heard no more.
परिष्वज्य च मां कण्ठे स्नेहेनाक्लिन्नलोचनः अनुशाधीति कौरव्य तत्साधु वद मे वचः
AI Translation: And embracing me around the neck, his eyes dimmed with affection, "O Kouravya, instruct me. Speak to me that good word."
ननु नामाहमश्रौषं वचनं तव पुत्रक भूयसी मम पृथ्वीयं यथा पार्थस्य नो तथा
M. N. Dutt: O dear child, I heard even these words from your lips, viz.-This wide Earth is cqually ours with Pritha's son!
भगदत्तः कृपः शल्य आवन्त्योऽथ जयद्रथः भूरिश्रवाः सोमदत्तो महाराजोऽथ बाह्लिकः
AI Translation: Bhārgava, Bhūriśravā, Somadatta, the great king Bahlika,
अश्वत्थामा च भोजश्च मागधश्च महाबलः बृहद्बलश्च काशीशः शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः
AI Translation: Ashvatthama, Bhoja, the very powerful Magadha, Brihadbala, the lord of Kashi, and Shakuni Soubala,
म्लेच्छाश्च बहुसाहस्राः शकाश्च यवनैः सह सुदक्षिणश्च काम्बोजस्त्रिगर्ताधिपतिस्तथा
AI Translation: And many thousands of Mlecchas, and Shakas and Yavanas, And Sudakshina and Kamboja, and the lord of Trigarta,
भीष्मः पितामहश्चैव भारद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः श्रुतायुश्चाच्युतायुश्च शतायुश्चापि वीर्यवान्
AI Translation: Bhishma, the grandfather, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Shrutayus, Achyutayus, and the powerful Shatayus,
जलसंधोऽथार्श्यशृङ्गी राक्षसश्चाप्यलायुधः अलंबुसो महाबाहुः सुबाहुश्च महारथः
AI Translation: Jalasandha, Arshashringi, the demon Alayu-dharma, Alambusa, Mahâbâhu, and the great warrior Subâhu,
एते चान्ये च बहवो राजानो राजसत्तम मदर्थमुद्यताः सर्वे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा रणे प्रभो
AI Translation: These and many other kings, O best of kings, all of them were ready for my sake, O Lord, having given up their lives in battle.
येषां मध्ये स्थितो युद्धे भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः योधयिष्याम्यहं पार्थान्पाञ्चालांश्चैव सर्वशः
AI Translation: In the midst of whom I shall fight, surrounded by my brothers, I shall fight with the Parthas and all the Panchalas.
चेदींश्च नृपशार्दूल द्रौपदेयांश्च संयुगे सात्यकिं कुन्तिभोजं च राक्षसं च घटोत्कचम्
AI Translation: In the battle, the tiger among kings, the Chedis, the sons of Droupadi, Satyaki, Kuntibhoja, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha,
एकोऽप्येषां महाराज समर्थः संनिवारणे समरे पाण्डवेयानां संक्रुद्धो ह्यभिधावताम् किं पुनः सहिता वीराः कृतवैराश्च पाण्डवैः
M. N. Dutt: Even one amongst these, O king, worked up with anger, is able to resist in battle the Pandavas rushing towards him!
अथ वा सर्व एवैते पाण्डवस्यानुयायिभिः योत्स्यन्ति सह राजेन्द्र हनिष्यन्ति च तान्मृधे
AI Translation: Or, all these will fight with the followers of the son of Pandu, and will kill them in the battle, O lord of kings.
कर्णस्त्वेको मया सार्धं निहनिष्यति पाण्डवान् ततो नृपतयो वीराः स्थास्यन्ति मम शासने
AI Translation: But Karna alone, with me, will kill the Pandavas. Then the kings and heroes will abide by my command.
यश्च तेषां प्रणेता वै वासुदेवो महाबलः न स संनह्यते राजन्निति मामब्रवीद्वचः
AI Translation: And the one who is their leader, the immensely powerful Vasudeva, He does not don armor, O king," thus he spoke to me.
तस्याहं वदतः सूत बहुशो मम संनिधौ युक्तितो ह्यनुपश्यामि निहतान्पाण्डवान्मृधे
AI Translation: O Sūta, I have heard you speak many times in my presence that I see the Pāṇḍavas slain in battle by means of reasoning.
तेषां मध्ये स्थिता यत्र हन्यन्ते मम पुत्रकाः व्यायच्छमानाः समरे किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: In the midst of them, where my sons are killed, Strive in battle, what else but fate?
भीष्मश्च निहतो यत्र लोकनाथः प्रतापवान् शिखण्डिनं समासाद्य मृगेन्द्र इव जम्बुकम्
AI Translation: Where the powerful protector of the world, Bhishma, was slain, Approaching Shikhandi, like a lion to a jackal,
द्रोणश्च ब्राह्मणो यत्र सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगः निहतः पाण्डवैः संख्ये किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: And Drona, the brahmin, who was master of all weapons and missiles, was killed by the Pandavas in battle - what else can it be but fate?
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.31 K5 D3.8.11 (marg.) ins. after 31: D9 after 31ab: *14 कर्णश्च निहतः संख्ये दिव्यास्त्रज्ञो महाबलः
भूरिश्रवा हतो यत्र सोमदत्तश्च संयुगे बाह्लीकश्च महाराज किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
M. N. Dutt: When Bhagadatta, an expert in fighting from the back of elephants, has been killed and when Jayadratha has been slain, what can it be but Fate?
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.32 B D2.4.8.9.11 T1-3 ins. after 32: K4 after 24c: *15 भगदत्तो हतो यत्र गजयुद्धविशारदः जयद्रथश्च निहतः किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
सुदक्षिणो हतो यत्र जलसंधश्च कौरवः श्रुतायुश्चाच्युतायुश्च किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: Where Sudakṣiṇa was killed, and Jalasandha the Kaurava, And Śrutayus and Acyutayus—what else but fate?
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.33 After 33, Dn D2.5.6 read 37. D9.11 T1-3 G2 ins. after 33: G1.3 M3.4 after 31: *16 महाबलस्तथा पाण्ड्यः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगः निहतः पाण्डवैः संख्ये किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
बृहद्बलो हतो यत्र मागधश्च महाबलः आवन्त्यो निहतो यत्र त्रिगर्तश्च जनाधिपः संशप्तकाश्च बहवः किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: Where the mighty Brihadbala and the mighty Magadha were slain, Where the Avanti king and the Trigarta lord of men were slain, And many of the Saṃś
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.34 After 34ab, N (D7 missing; D1 om.; Dn D6 after 37ab) Cn ins.: *17 उग्रायुधश्च विक्रान्तः प्रतिमानं धनुष्मताम् while M ins.: *18 शतायुश्चैव विक्रान्तः किमन्यद्भागधेयतः For 34def, T1-3 G subst.: *19 शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः त्रिगर्तश्च महाबाहुः संशप्ताश्च महाबलाः After 34, K4 ins.: *20 यत्र शूरा महेष्वासा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः निहता भीमसेनेन किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
अलंबुसस्तथा राजन्राक्षसश्चाप्यलायुधः आर्श्यशृङ्गश्च निहतः किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
M. N. Dutt: When king Alambusha and the Rakshasa Alayudha and Rishyashringa's on have been slain, what can it be but Destiny.
नारायणा हता यत्र गोपाला युद्धदुर्मदाः म्लेच्छाश्च बहुसाहस्राः किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
M. N. Dutt: When the Narayanas have been slain as also the Gopalas, ever invincible in battle and many thousands of Mlecchas, who can it be but Destiny.
शकुनिः सौबलो यत्र कैतव्यश्च महाबलः निहतः सबलो वीरः किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
M. N. Dutt: When Shakuni the son of Subala and the powerful Uluka, called the gamester's son, at the head of his forces, have been slain, what can it be but Destiny?
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.37 Ś1 K1.2.5 B1-3 D8.9.11 ins. after 37: K4 Dn after 35: B4 D2.6 after 36: B5 after first repeti- tion of 36cd: D5 after 34: *21 एते चान्ये च बहवः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः
राजानो राजपुत्राश्च शूराः परिघबाहवः निहता बहवो यत्र किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: Kings and princes, heroes with arms like clubs, many of them were slain there. What else but fate?
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.38 After 38, K5 repeats 36cd; while K4 (second time) B1.2 D2.8.9.11 (first time) M2-4 ins. after 38: K4 (first time) D10 M1 after 37: B5 after 36: D4 after 38b: D11 (second time) after repetition of 36cd: *22 यत्र शूरा महेष्वासाः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः D9 cont. after 22*: K5 B1-3 D8 ins. after repetition of 36cd: B4.5 Dn D5.6 after 38: *23 यत्र शूरा महात्मानः सर्वशास्त्रास्त्रपारगाः After the above, B5 repeats (second time) 36cd, while Dn1 reads 39c-40b. K5 B1-4 Dn2.n3 D5.6.8.9 cont. after 23*: B5 ins. after second repetition of 36cd: Dn1 after 40b: D2.4.10.11 (after second occurrence) M cont. after 22*: *24 बहवो निहताः सूत महेन्द्रसमविक्रमाः
नानादेशसमावृत्ताः क्षत्रिया यत्र संजय निहताः समरे सर्वे किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: O Sanjaya, the Kshatriyas from various countries were surrounded there and all of them were killed in the battle. What else can be the reason other than destiny?
पुत्राश्च मे विनिहताः पौत्राश्चैव महाबलाः वयस्या भ्रातरश्चैव किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: My sons and grandsons, who were very powerful, have been killed. My friends and brothers - what else can be done except by fate?
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.40 After 40b, Dn1 ins. 24*. For 40ab, T1 G2 subst.: *25 दुर्योधनो हतो यत्र पुत्रश्चास्य महात्मनः K5 ins. after 40: D3 after 14*: *26 पार्थेन संयुगे घोरे किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
भागधेयसमायुक्तो ध्रुवमुत्पद्यते नरः यश्च भाग्यसमायुक्तः स शुभं प्राप्नुयान्नरः
AI Translation: A man who is endowed with destiny is born as Dhruva. A man who is endowed with good fortune attains auspiciousness.
अहं वियुक्तः स्वैर्भाग्यैः पुत्रैश्चैवेह संजय कथमद्य भविष्यामि वृद्धः शत्रुवशं गतः
AI Translation: I am separated from my sons and my good fortune, O Sanjaya. How will I be today, old and under the power of the enemy?
नान्यदत्र परं मन्ये वनवासादृते प्रभो सोऽहं वनं गमिष्यामि निर्बन्धुर्ज्ञातिसंक्षये
AI Translation: I do not think there is anything else, O Lord, except for dwelling in the forest. I shall go to the forest, bereft of kinsmen, with the destruction of my relatives.
न हि मेऽन्यद्भवेच्छ्रेयो वनाभ्युपगमादृते इमामवस्थां प्राप्तस्य लूनपक्षस्य संजय
M. N. Dutt: Nothing else save an exile into the woods can be better for me who am fallen into this plight and who am shorn of my sons, O Sanjaya.
दुर्योधनो हतो यत्र शल्यश्च निहतो युधि दुःशासनो विशस्तश्च विकर्णश्च महाबलः
AI Translation: Where Duryodhana was killed, and Shalya in battle, And Duhshasana was pierced, and the immensely strong Vikarna,
कथं हि भीमसेनस्य श्रोष्येऽहं शब्दमुत्तमम् एकेन समरे येन हतं पुत्रशतं मम
AI Translation: How can I hear the excellent sound of Bhimasena? By whom, in battle, my hundred sons were killed by one.
असकृद्वदतस्तस्य दुर्योधनवधेन च दुःखशोकाभिसंतप्तो न श्रोष्ये परुषा गिरः
M. N. Dutt: He will frequently speak of the slaughter of Duryodhana in my ears. Burning with grief and sorrow, I shall not be able to withstand his cruel words!"
एवं स शोकसंतप्तः पार्थिवो हतबान्धवः मुहुर्मुहुर्मुह्यमानः पुत्राधिभिरभिप्लुतः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Even thus that king burning with grief and deprived of relatives and kinsmen, repeatedly swooned, overwhelmed with grief consequent on the death of his sons.
विलप्य सुचिरं कालं धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य चिन्तयित्वा पराभवम्
M. N. Dutt: Having wept for a long time, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, sighted heavily thinking of his defeat.
दुःखेन महता राजा संतप्तो भरतर्षभ पुनर्गावल्गणिं सूतं पर्यपृच्छद्यथातथम्
M. N. Dutt: Overwhelined with sorrow and burning with grief, that best of Bharata's race once more enquired of his charioteer Sanjaya, the son of Gavalgana, the details of the battle.
भीष्मद्रोणौ हतौ श्रुत्वा सूतपुत्रं च पातितम् सेनापतिं प्रणेतारं किमकुर्वत मामकाः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said After Bhishma and Drona had been slain and the Suta's son also overthrown, whom did my warriors make their general?
Supplementary Passages:
9.2.51 For 51cd, M subst.: *27 तथा शल्यं महेष्वासं मद्राणामीश्वरं विभुम्
यं यं सेनाप्रणेतारं युधि कुर्वन्ति मामकाः अचिरेणैव कालेन तं तं निघ्नन्ति पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: The Pandavas are slaying quickly every one whom my warriors make their general in battle.
रणमूर्ध्नि हतो भीष्मः पश्यतां वः किरीटिना एवमेव हतो द्रोणः सर्वेषामेव पश्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma was slain at the van of battle by the diadem-decked Arjuna in your presence. Even thus was Drona slain before you all.
एवमेव हतः कर्णः सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान् स राजकानां सर्वेषां पश्यतां वः किरीटिना
M. N. Dutt: Even thus was the Suta's son, the valiant Karna, slain by Arjuna in the presence of all the kings.
पूर्वमेवाहमुक्तो वै विदुरेण महात्मना दुर्योधनापराधेन प्रजेयं विनशिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Long before, the high-souled Vidura had told me that through the fault of Duryodhana, the people of the Earth would be rooted out.
केचिन्न सम्यक्पश्यन्ति मूढाः सम्यक्तथापरे तदिदं मम मूढस्य तथाभूतं वचः स्म ह
M. N. Dutt: There are some fools that do not see things even though they cașt their eyes on them. Those words of Vidura have proved true in my case.
यदब्रवीन्मे धर्मात्मा विदुरो दीर्घदर्शिवान् तत्तथा समनुप्राप्तं वचनं सत्यवादिनः
M. N. Dutt: What the pious Vidura, conversant with the attributes of everything, then said, had proved true, for the words he uttered were nothing but the truth.
दैवोपहतचित्तेन यन्मयापकृतं पुरा अनयस्य फलं तस्य ब्रूहि गावल्गणे पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Afflicted by fate, I did not then act according to those words. The fruits of that evil course have now appeared. Describe them to me, O son of Gavalgana, once more.
को वा मुखमनीकानामासीत्कर्णे निपातिते अर्जुनं वासुदेवं च को वा प्रत्युद्ययौ रथी
M. N. Dutt: Who became the head of our army after Karna's fall? Who was that car-warrior who proceeded against Arjuna and Vasudeva?
केऽरक्षन्दक्षिणं चक्रं मद्रराजस्य संयुगे वामं च योद्धुकामस्य के वा वीरस्य पृष्ठतः
M. N. Dutt: Who were they that protected the right wheel of the ruler of the Madras in battle? Who protected the left wheel of that hero when he went to battle? Who also protected his rear?
कथं च वः समेतानां मद्रराजो महाबलः निहतः पाण्डवैः संख्ये पुत्रो वा मम संजय
M. N. Dutt: How, when all of you were together, could the mighty king of the Madras, as also my son, be slain, O Sanjaya, by the Pandavas?
ब्रूहि सर्वं यथातत्त्वं भरतानां महाक्षयम् यथा च निहतः संख्ये पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम
M. N. Dutt: Describe particularly the great destruction of the Bharatas. Tell me how my son Duryodhana fell in battle!
पाञ्चालाश्च यथा सर्वे निहताः सपदानुगाः धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च द्रौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः
M. N. Dutt: Tell me how all the Panchalas with their followers and Dhrishtadyumna and Shiklandhin and the five sons of Draupadi, were killed.
पाण्डवाश्च यथा मुक्तास्तथोभौ सात्वतौ युधि कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च भारद्वाजस्य चात्मजः
M. N. Dutt: Tell me how the (five) Pandavas and the two Satvatas (viz., Krishna and Satyaki) and Kripa and Kritavarman and Drona's son, have escaped with life.
यद्यथा यादृशं चैव युद्धं वृत्तं च सांप्रतम् अखिलं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कुशलो ह्यसि संजय
M. N. Dutt: I desire to hear everything about the battle and its nature. You are a skillful narrator. O Sanjaya, tell the everything!'