Critical Edition
संजय उवाच शृणु राजन्नवहितो यथा वृत्तो महान्क्षयः कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च समासाद्य परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Hear, O king, attentively how that great thousands of the Kurus and the Pandavas took place when they encountered each other.
निहते सूतपुत्रे तु पाण्डवेन महात्मना विद्रुतेषु च सैन्येषु समानीतेषु चासकृत्
AI Translation: When the son of the charioteer was killed by the noble Pandava, and when the armies had fled and were brought back again and again,
विमुखे तव पुत्रे तु शोकोपहतचेतसि भृशोद्विग्नेषु सैन्येषु दृष्ट्वा पार्थस्य विक्रमम्
AI Translation: When your son was defeated, his mind overcome by grief, and when your troops were greatly distressed, seeing the valor of Partha,
Supplementary Passages:
9.3.3 For 3ab, D1 subst.: *28 पातितेषु तुरंगेषु गजेषु च रथेषु च
ध्यायमानेषु सैन्येषु दुःखं प्राप्तेषु भारत बलानां मथ्यमानानां श्रुत्वा निनदमुत्तमम्
AI Translation: When the soldiers were meditating, when they had attained misery, O descendant of Bharata, Hearing the supreme roar of the armies being crushed,
अभिज्ञानं नरेन्द्राणां विकृतं प्रेक्ष्य संयुगे पतितान्रथनीडांश्च रथांश्चापि महात्मनाम्
AI Translation: Seeing the signs of the kings in the battle, and the chariots and the great souls fallen from their chariots,
रणे विनिहतान्नागान्दृष्ट्वा पत्तींश्च मारिष आयोधनं चातिघोरं रुद्रस्याक्रीडसंनिभम्
AI Translation: Seeing the elephants slain in battle, and the foot-soldiers, O venerable one, and the battle-ground extremely terrible, resembling Rudra's sport,
अप्रख्यातिं गतानां तु राज्ञां शतसहस्रशः कृपाविष्टः कृपो राजन्वयःशीलसमन्वितः
AI Translation: But for those kings who have disappeared, hundreds and thousands of them, Kṛpa, possessed of compassion, was born, endowed with lineage and character.
अब्रवीत्तत्र तेजस्वी सोऽभिसृत्य जनाधिपम् दुर्योधनं मन्युवशाद्वचनं वचनक्षमः
AI Translation: The powerful one approached the king and said this: Duryodhana, under the influence of anger, was capable of speaking.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वा वक्ष्यामि कौरव श्रुत्वा कुरु महाराज यदि ते रोचतेऽनघ
AI Translation: O Duryodhana, listen to what I am going to tell you, O son of Kuru. Having heard, O great king, do what you think proper, O sinless one.
न युद्धधर्माच्छ्रेयान्वै पन्था राजेन्द्र विद्यते यं समाश्रित्य युध्यन्ते क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: There is no path, O monarch, that is better than the duty of battle, Taking recourse to that path, Kshatriyas, O best of Kshatriyas, fight.
पुत्रो भ्राता पिता चैव स्वस्रेयो मातुलस्तथा संबन्धिबान्धवाश्चैव योध्या वै क्षत्रजीविना
M. N. Dutt: He who follows Kshatriya practices, fights with son, father, brother, sister son and maternal uncle and relatives and kinsmen.
वधे चैव परो धर्मस्तथाधर्मः पलायने ते स्म घोरां समापन्ना जीविकां जीवितार्थिनः
M. N. Dutt: If he is killed in battle, there is great merit in it. Similarly, there is great sin if he flies from the field. It is for this that the life of a Kshatriya is exceedingly hard.
तत्र त्वां प्रतिवक्ष्यामि किंचिदेव हितं वचः हते भीष्मे च द्रोणे च कर्णे चैव महारथे
AI Translation: There I shall speak to you a few words of benefit. When Bhishma, Drona and the great warrior Karna are killed,
जयद्रथे च निहते तव भ्रातृषु चानघ लक्ष्मणे तव पुत्रे च किं शेषं पर्युपास्महे
AI Translation: When Jayadratha is slain, and your brothers, O sinless one, and your son Lakshmana, what remains for us to attend to?
येषु भारं समासज्य राज्ये मतिमकुर्महि ते संत्यज्य तनूर्याताः शूरा ब्रह्मविदां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: They, upon whom we had laid all burdens and been enjoying the kingdoin, have all repaired to regions of blessedness attainable by persons conversant with the knowledge of Brahma, casting off their bodies.
वयं त्विह विनाभूता गुणवद्भिर्महारथैः कृपणं वर्तयिष्याम पातयित्वा नृपान्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: As regards ourselves, deprived of those great car-warriors of numerous accomplishments, we shall have to pass our time in sorrow, having caused many kings to die.
सर्वैरपि च जीवद्भिर्बीभत्सुरपराजितः कृष्णनेत्रो महाबाहुर्देवैरपि दुरासदः
M. N. Dutt: When all those heroes were alive even then Vibhatsu could not be defeated. Having Krishna, for his cyes, that mighty armed hero is incapable of being defeated by the very gods!
इन्द्रकार्मुकवज्राभमिन्द्रकेतुमिवोच्छ्रितम् वानरं केतुमासाद्य संचचाल महाचमूः
M. N. Dutt: The vast Kaurava army, approaching his monkey-emblem standard that is high as Indra's pole set up in the spring and that is cffulgent as Indra's bow, has always shaken in fear.
सिंहनादेन भीमस्य पाञ्चजन्यस्वनेन च गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषात्संहृष्यन्ति मनांसि नः
M. N. Dutt: At the leonine shouts of Bhimasena and the blare of Panchajanya and the twang of Gandiva, our hearts will be paralyzed.
चरन्तीव महाविद्युन्मुष्णन्ती नयनप्रभाम् अलातमिव चाविद्धं गाण्डीवं समदृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: Moving like flashes of lighting and closing our eyes Arjuna's Gandiva is seen to resemble a circle of fire.
जाम्बूनदविचित्रं च धूयमानं महद्धनुः दृश्यते दिक्षु सर्वासु विद्युदभ्रघनेष्विव
M. N. Dutt: Adorned with pure gold, that bow, as it is shaken, looks like lightning moving about on all directions.
Supplementary Passages:
9.3.21 After 21, Bom. Cal. ed. ins.: *29 श्वेताश्च वेगसंपन्नाः शशिकाशसमप्रभाः पिबन्त इव चाकाशं रथे युक्तास्तु वाजिनः
उह्यमानश्च कृष्णेन वायुनेव बलाहकः तावकं तद्बलं राजन्नर्जुनोऽस्त्रविदां वरः गहनं शिशिरे कक्षं ददाहाग्निरिवोत्थितः
AI Translation: And as he was being carried away by Krishna, like a cloud by the wind, O king, that army of yours was burned by Arjuna, the best of those who know the use of weapons
Supplementary Passages:
9.3.22 After 22b, N (except D4; D1 om.; B2 D7 missing) T1.2 ins.: *30 जाम्बूनदविचित्राङ्गा वहन्ते चार्जुनं रणे
गाहमानमनीकानि महेन्द्रसदृशप्रभम् धनंजयमपश्याम चतुर्दन्तमिव द्विपम्
M. N. Dutt: Possessed of the splendour of Indra himself, while penetrating into our army we have seen Dhananjaya look like an elephant with four tusks.
विक्षोभयन्तं सेनां ते त्रासयन्तं च पार्थिवान् धनंजयमपश्याम नलिनीमिव कुञ्जरम्
M. N. Dutt: While agitating your army and terrorizing the kings we have seen Dhananjaya resemble an elephant agitating a lake full of lotuses.
त्रासयन्तं तथा योधान्धनुर्घोषेण पाण्डवम् भूय एनमपश्याम सिंहं मृगगणा इव
M. N. Dutt: While terrifying all the warriors with the twang of his bow, we have again seen the son of Pandu resemble a lion striking terror to sinaller aniinals.
सर्वलोकमहेष्वासौ वृषभौ सर्वधन्विनाम् आमुक्तकवचौ कृष्णौ लोकमध्ये विरेजतुः
M. N. Dutt: Those two foremost of bowinen in all the worlds, viz., the two Krishnas clad in mail, are looking highly beautiful.
अद्य सप्तदशाहानि वर्तमानस्य भारत संग्रामस्यातिघोरस्य वध्यतां चाभितो युधि
M. N. Dutt: Today is the seventeenth day of this dreadful battle, O Bharata, of those that are being killed in the midst of this fight.
वायुनेव विधूतानि तवानीकानि सर्वशः शरदम्भोदजालानि व्यशीर्यन्त समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: The diverse detachments of your army are routed and dispersed like autumnal clouds scattered by the wind.
तां नावमिव पर्यस्तां भ्रान्तवातां महार्णवे तव सेनां महाराज सव्यसाची व्यकम्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: Savyasachin, O monarch, made your army tremble and reel like a boat exposed to danger by a storm on the bosom of the ocean.
क्व नु ते सूतपुत्रोऽभूत्क्व नु द्रोणः सहानुगः अहं क्व च क्व चात्मा ते हार्दिक्यश्च तथा क्व नु दुःशासनश्च भ्राता ते भ्रातृभिः सहितः क्व नु
M. N. Dutt: Where was the Suta's son, where was, I, where were you, where was Hridika's son, where your brother Dussasana accompanied by his brothers, when Jayadratha was slain?
बाणगोचरसंप्राप्तं प्रेक्ष्य चैव जयद्रथम् संबन्धिनस्ते भ्रातॄंश्च सहायान्मातुलांस्तथा
AI Translation: Seeing Jayadratha come within the range of his arrows, and his relatives, brothers, allies, and maternal uncles,
सर्वान्विक्रम्य मिषतो लोकांश्चाक्रम्य मूर्धनि जयद्रथो हतो राजन्किं नु शेषमुपास्महे
AI Translation: Having conquered all, having trampled underfoot the worlds, having placed them on his head, O king, Jayadratha has been killed. What remains for us to do?
को वेह स पुमानस्ति यो विजेष्यति पाण्डवम् तस्य चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि विविधानि महात्मनः गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषो वीर्याणि हरते हि नः
M. N. Dutt: Thai high-souled warrior is a master of many sorts of celestial weapons. The twang, of Gandiva, deprives us of our energies.
Supplementary Passages:
9.3.33 For 33ab, D1 subst.: *31 अस्ति कः पुरुषश्चाद्य यो जेष्यति धनंजयम्
नष्टचन्द्रा यथा रात्रिः सेनेयं हतनायका नागभग्नद्रुमा शुष्का नदीवाकुलतां गता
M. N. Dutt: This army of yours that is now without a leader is like a night without the Moon or like a river that is dried up with all the trees on its banks broken by elephants.
Supplementary Passages:
9.3.34 For 34bcd, D1 subst.: *32 कामिनी च मृतप्रिया यथा नदी शुष्कजला सेना कर्णं विना तथा
ध्वजिन्यां हतनेत्रायां यथेष्टं श्वेतवाहनः चरिष्यति महाबाहुः कक्षेऽग्निरिव संज्वलन्
M. N. Dutt: The mighty-armed Arjuna of white horses will, at his pleasure, move about amidst your army having no commander, like a blazing fire amid a heap of grass.
सात्यकेश्चैव यो वेगो भीमसेनस्य चोभयोः दारयेत गिरीन्सर्वाञ्शोषयेत च सागरान्
M. N. Dutt: The vigour of those two, viz., Satyaki and Bhimasena, would rend all the mountains or dry up all the oceans!
उवाच वाक्यं यद्भीमः सभामध्ये विशां पते कृतं तत्सकलं तेन भूयश्चैव करिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: The words that Bhima spoke in the midst of the assembly have all been nearly fulfilled by him, O monarch. That which remains unaccomplished will again be accomplished by him.
प्रमुखस्थे तदा कर्णे बलं पाण्डवरक्षितम् दुरासदं तथा गुप्तं गूढं गाण्डीवधन्वना
M. N. Dutt: While Karna was fighting with the unconquerable ariny of the Pandavas, it was vigorously protected by the wilder of Gandiva.
युष्माभिस्तानि चीर्णानि यान्यसाधूनि साधुषु अकारणकृतान्येव तेषां वः फलमागतम्
M. N. Dutt: You have done many misdeeds without any cause, by the righteous Pandavas. The fruits of those acts have now come.
आत्मनोऽर्थे त्वया लोको यत्नतः सर्व आहृतः स ते संशयितस्तात आत्मा च भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: For Accomplishing your own object you had, with great care, mustered together a large force. That huge force as also yourself, O best of Bharatas, have fallen into great danger.
रक्ष दुर्योधनात्मानमात्मा सर्वस्य भाजनम् भिन्ने हि भाजने तात दिशो गच्छति तद्गतम्
M. N. Dutt: Preserve your own self now, for self in the stay of everything. If the support is broken, O sire, everything attached thereto is scattered on every side.
हीयमानेन वै संधिः पर्येष्टव्यः समेन च विग्रहो वर्धमानेन नीतिरेषा बृहस्पतेः
M. N. Dutt: He that is being weakened should seek peace by conciliation. He that is prosperous should make war. This is the policy taught by Brihaspati.
ते वयं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यो हीनाः स्वबलशक्तितः अत्र ते पाण्डवैः सार्धं संधिं मन्ये क्षमं प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: We are now inferior to the sons of Pandu as regards the strength of our army. Therefore, O lord, I think peace with the Pandavas is conducive to our good.
न जानीते हि यः श्रेयः श्रेयसश्चावमन्यते स क्षिप्रं भ्रश्यते राज्यान्न च श्रेयोऽनुविन्दति
M. N. Dutt: He that does not know what is for his good or knowing disregards what is for his good, is soon deprived of his kingdom and never obtains any good.
प्रणिपत्य हि राजानं राज्यं यदि लभेमहि श्रेयः स्यान्न तु मौढ्येन राजन्गन्तुं पराभवम्
M. N. Dutt: If by submission to king Yudhishthira we may still have the kingdom even that would be for our good and not O king, to suffer through folly defeat at the hand of the Pandavas.
वैचित्रवीर्यवचनात्कृपाशीलो युधिष्ठिरः विनियुञ्जीत राज्ये त्वां गोविन्दवचनेन च
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira is merciful. At the request of Vichitravirya's son and of Govinda, he will allow you to be the king.
Supplementary Passages:
9.3.46 After 46, S ins.: *33 अजातशत्रुः कौरव्यो गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः धृतराष्ट्रस्य वचनं नावमंस्यति धार्मिकः कुर्वन्ति भ्रातरश्चास्य वचनं नात्र संशयः
यद्ब्रूयाद्धि हृषीकेशो राजानमपराजितम् अर्जुनं भीमसेनं च सर्वं कुर्युरसंशयम्
M. N. Dutt: Whatever Hrishikesha will say to the victorious king Yudhishthira and Arjuna and Bhimasena, all of them will, forsooth, obey.
नातिक्रमिष्यते कृष्णो वचनं कौरवस्य ह धृतराष्ट्रस्य मन्येऽहं नापि कृष्णस्य पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Krishna will not, I think, be able to disobey the words of Dhritarashtra of Kuru's race, nor will the son of Pandu be able to disregard those of Krishna.
एतत्क्षममहं मन्ये तव पार्थैरविग्रहम् न त्वा ब्रवीमि कार्पण्यान्न प्राणपरिरक्षणात् पथ्यं राजन्ब्रवीमि त्वां तत्परासुः स्मरिष्यसि
AI Translation: I think this is the best for you, O Partha, to be at peace with them. I do not say this out of weakness or for the sake of preserving my life. O king, I am speaking to you what is beneficial. You will remember it when you are in trouble.
इति वृद्धो विलप्यैतत्कृपः शारद्वतो वचः दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य शुशोच च मुमोह च
AI Translation: Thus, having lamented this, the aged Sharadvat's son, Kripa, sighed deeply and warmly, and lamented and fainted.