Critical Edition
संजय उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो राज्ञो मद्रराजः प्रतापवान् दुर्योधनं तदा राजन्वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Hearing those words of the Kuru king, the brave king (Shalya), O king, said these words to him
दुर्योधन महाबाहो शृणु वाक्यविदां वर यावेतौ मन्यसे कृष्णौ रथस्थौ रथिनां वरौ न मे तुल्यावुभावेतौ बाहुवीर्ये कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: "O mighty-armed Duryodhana, listen to me, O foremost of orators. You consider the two Krishnas, when on their car, as the foremost of car-warriors. They are not, however, jointly equal to me in the strength of arms.
उद्यतां पृथिवीं सर्वां ससुरासुरमानवाम् योधयेयं रणमुखे संक्रुद्धः किमु पाण्डवान् विजेष्ये च रणे पार्थान्सोमकांश्च समागतान्
M. N. Dutt: What shall I say of the Pandavas? When enraged, I can fight, at the van of battle, with the whole world consisting of the celestials, Asuras and men.
अहं सेनाप्रणेता ते भविष्यामि न संशयः तं च व्यूहं विधास्यामि न तरिष्यन्ति यं परे इति सत्यं ब्रवीम्येष दुर्योधन न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: I will form such an array that our enemies will not be able to discomfit it. Truly do I say this to you, O Duryodhana."
एवमुक्तस्ततो राजा मद्राधिपतिमञ्जसा अभ्यषिञ्चत सेनाया मध्ये भरतसत्तम विधिना शास्त्रदृष्टेन हृष्टरूपो विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed (by Shalya), king Duryodhana joyfully poured sanctificd water, O best of the Bharatas, on the king of the Madras, in the midst of his soldiers, according to the rites ordained in the scriptures. O king.
अभिषिक्ते ततस्तस्मिन्सिंहनादो महानभूत् तव सैन्येष्ववाद्यन्त वादित्राणि च भारत
M. N. Dutt: After Shalya has been appointed the commander, leonine shouts arose among your soldiers and various musical instruments also, O Bharata, were struck.
हृष्टाश्चासंस्तदा योधा मद्रकाश्च महारथाः तुष्टुवुश्चैव राजानं शल्यमाहवशोभिनम्
AI Translation: The warriors and the great warriors of the Madras were delighted then. They praised the king Shalya, who was glorious in battle.
जय राजंश्चिरं जीव जहि शत्रून्समागतान् तव बाहुबलं प्राप्य धार्तराष्ट्रा महाबलाः निखिलां पृथिवीं सर्वां प्रशासन्तु हतद्विषः
AI Translation: Victory to the king! Live long! Destroy the enemies who have come. By the strength of your arms, may the mighty sons of Dhritarashtra rule the entire earth, having killed their enemies.
त्वं हि शक्तो रणे जेतुं ससुरासुरमानवान् मर्त्यधर्माण इह तु किमु सोमकसृञ्जयान्
M. N. Dutt: You are capable of vanquishing in battle the three worlds consisting of the gods and Asuras, what to speak of the Somakas and the Shrinjayas."
एवं संस्तूयमानस्तु मद्राणामधिपो बली हर्षं प्राप तदा वीरो दुरापमकृतात्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: Thus eulogised the power king of the Madrakas was filled with great joy that is unattainable by uncultured persons.
शल्य उवाच अद्यैवाहं रणे सर्वान्पाञ्चालान्सह पाण्डवैः निहनिष्यामि राजेन्द्र स्वर्गं यास्यामि वा हतः
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said Today, O King, I will either kill all the Panchalas with the Pandavas in battle or killed by them go to heaven.
अद्य पश्यन्तु मां लोका विचरन्तमभीतवत् अद्य पाण्डुसुताः सर्वे वासुदेवः ससात्यकिः
AI Translation: Let the world see me today, moving about fearlessly. Let all the sons of Pandu, Vasudeva and Satyaki,
पाञ्चालाश्चेदयश्चैव द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च सर्वे चापि प्रभद्रकाः
AI Translation: All the Panchālas, Chedis, and Drupada's sons, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhāndin, and all the Prabhadrakas,
विक्रमं मम पश्यन्तु धनुषश्च महद्बलम् लाघवं चास्त्रवीर्यं च भुजयोश्च बलं युधि
AI Translation: Let them see my valour, the great power of my bow, The lightness of my arms, the prowess of my weapons, and the strength of my arms in battle.
अद्य पश्यन्तु मे पार्थाः सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः यादृशं मे बलं बाह्वोः संपदस्त्रेषु या च मे
M. N. Dutt: Let the Parthas and all the Siddhas with the Charanas, witness today the strength of my arms and the precious weapons I possess.
अद्य मे विक्रमं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवानां महारथाः प्रतीकारपरा भूत्वा चेष्टन्तां विविधाः क्रियाः
M. N. Dutt: Witness my prowess to-day let the mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, desirous of counteracting it, adopt various measures.
अद्य सैन्यानि पाण्डूनां द्रावयिष्ये समन्ततः द्रोणभीष्मावति विभो सूतपुत्रं च संयुगे विचरिष्ये रणे युध्यन्प्रियार्थं तव कौरव
M. N. Dutt: Today I will disperse the troops of the Pandavas on all sides. Excelling Drona and Bhishma and the son of Suta, O lord, in battle, I will move about the field, O Kourava, for doing what pleases you.
संजय उवाच अभिषिक्ते तदा शल्ये तव सैन्येषु मानद न कर्णव्यसनं किंचिन्मेनिरे तत्र भारत
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said After Shalya had been appointed to the command, O giver of honours, no one among your soldiers, O foremost of Bharata's race, any longer felt sorrow for Karna.
हृष्टाः सुमनसश्चैव बभूवुस्तत्र सैनिकाः मेनिरे निहतान्पार्थान्मद्रराजवशं गतान्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed your soldiers were filled with delight. They considered the Parthas as already slain and brought under the control of the king of Madras.
प्रहर्षं प्राप्य सेना तु तावकी भरतर्षभ तां रात्रिं सुखिनी सुप्ता स्वस्थचित्तेव साभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Delighted your soldiers, O best of Bharata's race, slept that night happily and became very cheerful.
सैन्यस्य तव तं शब्दं श्रुत्वा राजा युधिष्ठिरः वार्ष्णेयमब्रवीद्वाक्यं सर्वक्षत्रस्य शृण्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing the war-cries of your army king Yudhishthira, addressing the Vrishni heroes, said these words, before all the Kshatriyas.
मद्रराजः कृतः शल्यो धार्तराष्ट्रेण माधव सेनापतिर्महेष्वासः सर्वसैन्येषु पूजितः
M. N. Dutt: "The ruler of he Madras, Shalya, that great bowman who is highly respected by all the warriors, has, O Madhava, been appointed the commander of his forces of Dhritarashtra's son.
एतज्ज्ञात्वा यथाभूतं कुरु माधव यत्क्षमम् भवान्नेता च गोप्ता च विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: Knowing this, do, O Madhava, that which is beneficial. You are our leader and protector. Do what should next be done."
तमब्रवीन्महाराज वासुदेवो जनाधिपम् आर्तायनिमहं जाने यथातत्त्वेन भारत
M. N. Dutt: Then Vasudeva, O monarch, said to that king-"I know Artayani, O Bharata, as truly illustrious, powerful and energetic.
वीर्यवांश्च महातेजा महात्मा च विशेषतः कृती च चित्रयोधी च संयुक्तो लाघवेन च
M. N. Dutt: He is accomplished, conversant with all the modes of warfare and possesses great lightness of hand.
यादृग्भीष्मस्तथा द्रोणो यादृक्कर्णश्च संयुगे तादृशस्तद्विशिष्टो वा मद्रराजो मतो मम
M. N. Dutt: I think that the ruler of Madras is in battle equal to Bhishma or Drona or Karna or perhaps superior to them.
Supplementary Passages:
9.6.26 After 26, D1 ins.: *43 एवमुक्ते तु कृष्णेन धर्मराजो विशां पतिः संग्रामाय मतिं चक्रे ततः परपुरंजयः भेरीमृदङ्गशङ्खानां पटहानां तथैव च निनादैरुभयोस्तत्र सैन्ययोर्व्याप्तमम्बरम्
युध्यमानस्य तस्याजौ चिन्तयन्नेव भारत योद्धारं नाधिगच्छामि तुल्यरूपं जनाधिप
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata! O King of kings! My mind in course of searching in depth for the cominander of army, is not able to see any other warrior capable as Shalya in war-craft.
शिखण्ड्यर्जुनभीमानां सात्वतस्य च भारत धृष्टद्युम्नस्य च तथा बलेनाभ्यधिको रणे
M. N. Dutt: In battle, he is superior in power to Shikhandin and Arjuna and Bhima and Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata.
मद्रराजो महाराज सिंहद्विरदविक्रमः विचरिष्यत्यभीः काले कालः क्रुद्धः प्रजास्विव
M. N. Dutt: The king of the Madras, O king, gifted with tlie prowess of a lion or an elephant, will move about fearlessly in battle, like the Destroyer himself enraged amongst creatures at the time of the universal dissolution.
तस्याद्य न प्रपश्यामि प्रतियोद्धारमाहवे त्वामृते पुरुषव्याघ्र शार्दूलसमविक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: I do not find a match for him in battle except you, O best of men, who are possessed of prowess equal to that of a tiger.
सदेवलोके कृत्स्नेऽस्मिन्नान्यस्त्वत्तः पुमान्भवेत् मद्रराजं रणे क्रुद्धं यो हन्यात्कुरुनन्दन अहन्यहनि युध्यन्तं क्षोभयन्तं बलं तव
M. N. Dutt: Except you there is no other person either in heaven or in the whole of this world, who, O best of Kurus, would be able to kill the king of the Madras while worked up with anger in battle.
तस्माज्जहि रणे शल्यं मघवानिव शम्बरम् अतिपश्चादसौ वीरो धार्तराष्ट्रेण सत्कृतः
AI Translation: Therefore, in battle, kill Shalya, as Maghavan did to Shumbha. This hero is greatly honored by Dhritarashtra's son.
तवैव हि जयो नूनं हते मद्रेश्वरे युधि तस्मिन्हते हतं सर्वं धार्तराष्ट्रबलं महत्
M. N. Dutt: Honoured by Dhritarashtra's son, that hero is invincible in battle. When the king of the Madras will be killed in battle, you will surely win victory. Upon his slaughter, Dhritarashtra's huge army will be slain.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाराज वचनं मम सांप्रतम् प्रत्युद्याहि रणे पार्थ मद्रराजं महाबलम् जहि चैनं महाबाहो वासवो नमुचिं यथा
M. N. Dutt: Hearing, O king, these words of mind now, proceed, O Partha, against that great carwarrior, the king of the Madras.
न चैवात्र दया कार्या मातुलोऽयं ममेति वै क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य जहि मद्रजनेश्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Kill that hero, O you of great arms, like Vasava slaying the Asura Namuchi. There is no need of showing any compassion here, thinking that he is your maternal uncle. Observing the duties of a Kshatriya, slay the king of the Madras.
भीष्मद्रोणार्णवं तीर्त्वा कर्णपातालसंभवम् मा निमज्जस्व सगणः शल्यमासाद्य गोष्पदम्
M. N. Dutt: Having crossed the fathomless represented by Bhishma and Drona and Karna, do not sink, with your followers, in a pit dug by a cow's hoop represented by Shalya. ocean
यच्च ते तपसो वीर्यं यच्च क्षात्रं बलं तव तद्दर्शय रणे सर्वं जहि चैनं महारथम्
M. N. Dutt: Display in battle the whole of your ascetic power and Kshatriya energy. Slay that carwarrior."
Supplementary Passages:
9.6.37 For 37ab, Dn D5.6 subst.: *44 चक्षुर्धर्मेति यल्लोके कथ्यसे त्वं जनाधिप
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं केशवः परवीरहा जगाम शिबिरं सायं पूज्यमानोऽथ पाण्डवैः
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words, Keshava, that slayer of hostile heroes, went to his tent in the evening adored by the Pandavas.
केशवे तु तदा याते धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः विसृज्य सर्वान्भ्रातॄंश्च पाञ्चालानथ सोमकान् सुष्वाप रजनीं तां तु विशल्य इव कुञ्जरः
M. N. Dutt: After Keshava had departed the righteous king Yudhishthira, sending away all his brothers and the Somakas, happily slept that night, like an elephant from whose body the darts have been plucked out.
ते च सर्वे महेष्वासाः पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवास्तथा कर्णस्य निधने हृष्टाः सुषुपुस्तां निशां तदा
M. N. Dutt: All those great bowmen, viz., the Panchalas and the Pandavas, delighted at the fall of Karna, slept that night happily.
Supplementary Passages:
9.6.40 After 40b, T3 ins.: *45 अब्रवीत्तावकान्सर्वान्कर्णस्य निधनेन वै
गतज्वरं महेष्वासं तीर्णपारं महारथम् बभूव पाण्डवेयानां सैन्यं प्रमुदितं निशि सूतपुत्रस्य निधने जयं लब्ध्वा च मारिष
M. N. Dutt: With their anxiety gone the army of the Pandavas, abounding with great bowmen and mighty car-warriors, having reached the shore as it were, became very happy that night on account of the victory, O sire, it had won by the destruction of Karna.
Supplementary Passages:
9.6.41 After 41, D2 ins.: *46 प्रभातसमये हृष्टाः संनह्यन्त रथोत्तमाः