Critical Edition
संजय उवाच तत्प्रभग्नं बलं दृष्ट्वा मद्रराजः प्रतापवान् उवाच सारथिं तूर्णं चोदयाश्वान्महाजवान्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Beholding the army thus scattered the brave king of the Madras address his driver, saying-Quickly urge these horses fleet as thought.
एष तिष्ठति वै राजा पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः छत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन पाण्डुरेण विराजता
M. N. Dutt: There stands king Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, shining with the uinbrella held over his head.
अत्र मां प्रापय क्षिप्रं पश्य मे सारथे बलम् न समर्था हि मे पार्थाः स्थातुमद्य पुरो युधि
M. N. Dutt: Reach me there quickly driver and witness my power. The Parthas are unable to stand before me in battle."
एवमुक्तस्ततः प्रायान्मद्रराजस्य सारथिः यत्र राजा सत्यसंधो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed the driver, of the Madra king, proceeded where stood the righteous king Yudhishthira of sure aim.
आपतन्तं च सहसा पाण्डवानां महद्बलम् दधारैको रणे शल्यो वेलेवोद्धृतमर्णवम्
M. N. Dutt: Shalya suddenly attacked the mighty army of the Pandavas. Alone he withstood it like the continent withstanding the surging deep.
पाण्डवानां बलौघस्तु शल्यमासाद्य मारिष व्यतिष्ठत तदा युद्धे सिन्धोर्वेग इवाचलम्
M. N. Dutt: The huge army of the Pandavas, coming against Shalya, O sire, stood still in that battle, like the rushing deep upon being obstructed by a mountain.
मद्रराजं तु समरे दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय विष्ठितम् कुरवः संन्यवर्तन्त मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the king of the Madras standing for battle on the field, the Kouravas returned, making death their goal.
तेषु राजन्निवृत्तेषु व्यूढानीकेषु भागशः प्रावर्तत महारौद्रः संग्रामः शोणितोदकः समार्छच्चित्रसेनेन नकुलो युद्धदुर्मदः
M. N. Dutt: After they had come back, O king and separately taken up their positions in a wellformed array, an awful encounter took place in which blood flowed freely like water. The invincible Nakula encountered Chitrasena.
Supplementary Passages:
9.9.8 After 8, D4 ins.: *53 नाथेव च महाराज चित्रसेनस्तु पाण्डवम्
तौ परस्परमासाद्य चित्रकार्मुकधारिणौ मेघाविव यथोद्वृत्तौ दक्षिणोत्तरवर्षिणौ
AI Translation: Having met each other, those two, holding colorful bows, were like clouds rising up, raining in the south and north.
शरतोयैः सिषिचतुस्तौ परस्परमाहवे नान्तरं तत्र पश्यामि पाण्डवस्येतरस्य वा
AI Translation: They sprinkled each other with arrows in that battle. I do not see any difference between the Pandava and the other.
उभौ कृतास्त्रौ बलिनौ रथचर्याविशारदौ परस्परवधे यत्तौ छिद्रान्वेषणतत्परौ
M. N. Dutt: Both of them were masters of weapons, both very powerful and both were experienced car-warriors. Each determined upon killing the other, they carefully looked for each other's weak point.
चित्रसेनस्तु भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च नकुलस्य महाराज मुष्टिदेशेऽच्छिनद्धनुः
M. N. Dutt: Then, O king, with a broad-headed arrow, well-tempered and sharp Chitrasena cut off Nakula's bow at the handle.
अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं रुक्मपुङ्खैः शिलाशितैः त्रिभिः शरैरसंभ्रान्तो ललाटे वै समर्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: Fearlessly then the son of Karna struck the bowless Nakula at the forehead with three gold-winged arrows whetted on stone.
हयांश्चास्य शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे तथा ध्वजं सारथिं च त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: With a few more sharp arrows he killed Nakula's horses, Next he struck down both the standard and the driver of his antagonist, each with three arrows.
स शत्रुभुजनिर्मुक्तैर्ललाटस्थैस्त्रिभिः शरैः नकुलः शुशुभे राजंस्त्रिशृङ्ग इव पर्वतः
M. N. Dutt: With those three arrows shot off the arms of his foe and striking his forehead, Nakula, O king, looked beautiful like a mountain of three summits.
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथः खड्गमादाय चर्म च रथादवातरद्वीरः शैलाग्रादिव केसरी
M. N. Dutt: Deprived of his bow and his car, the brave Nakula, taking up a sword, jumped down from his car like a lion from a mountain suminit.
पद्भ्यामापततस्तस्य शरवृष्टिमवासृजत् नकुलोऽप्यग्रसत्तां वै चर्मणा लघुविक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: As, however, he rushed on foot, his antagonist discharged a shower of arrows upon him. The highly active Nakula received that downpour of arrows on his shield.
चित्रसेनरथं प्राप्य चित्रयोधी जितश्रमः आरुरोह महाबाहुः सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Getting at the car of Chitrasena, the mightyarmed hero, the untiring son of Pandu, conversant with all modes of warfare, appeared before the troops.
सकुण्डलं समुकुटं सुनसं स्वायतेक्षणम् चित्रसेनशिरः कायादपाहरत पाण्डवः स पपात रथोपस्थाद्दिवाकरसमप्रभः
M. N. Dutt: The son of Pandu then cut off from Chitrasena's trunk his diadem-decked head, adorned with ear-rings and bedecked with a beautiful nose and a pair of large eyes. At this, Chitrasena, effulgent like the Sun, dropped down on the terrace of his car.
चित्रसेनं विशस्तं तु दृष्ट्वा तत्र महारथाः साधुवादस्वनांश्चक्रुः सिंहनादांश्च पुष्कलान्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Chitrasena killed at the great carwarriors shouted there like lions and lauded him.
Supplementary Passages:
9.9.20 For 20ab, D1 subst.: *54 चित्रसेनं हतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वे पाण्डवसैनिकाः while D4 subst.: *55 चित्रसेनो महाराज नकुलेन हतो रणे
विशस्तं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा कर्णपुत्रौ महारथौ सुषेणः सत्यसेनश्च मुञ्चन्तौ निशिताञ्शरान्
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile, beholding their brother slain, the two sons of Karna, viz., Sushena and Satyasena, both of whom were great carwarriors, made a downpour of sharp arrows.
ततोऽभ्यधावतां तूर्णं पाण्डवं रथिनां वरम् जिघांसन्तौ यथा नागं व्याघ्रौ राजन्महावने
M. N. Dutt: Those foremost of car-warriors rushed quickly against the son of Pandu like a pair of tigers, O king, in the deep forest rushing against an elephant for slaying him.
तावभ्यधावतां तीक्ष्णौ द्वावप्येनं महारथम् शरौघान्सम्यगस्यन्तौ जीमूतौ सलिलं यथा
M. N. Dutt: Both of them covered the great car-worrier Nakula with keen arrows. When they discharged arrows, they looked like two masses of clouds pouring rain in torrents.
स शरैः सर्वतो विद्धः प्रहृष्ट इव पाण्डवः अन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय रथमारुह्य वीर्यवान् अतिष्ठत रणे वीरः क्रुद्धरूप इवान्तकः
M. N. Dutt: Though wounded with arrows all over his body the valiant and heroic son of Pandu cheerfully took up another bow after getting upon another car and stood in battle like the angry Destroyers himself,
Supplementary Passages:
9.9.24 After 24b, D4 ins.: *56 नकुलो भरतश्रेष्ठस्ताभ्यां परबलार्दनः
तस्य तौ भ्रातरौ राजञ्शरैः संनतपर्वभिः रथं विशकलीकर्तुं समारब्धौ विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: Then those two brothers, O kings, with their straight arrows, cut off Nakula's car into pieces.
ततः प्रहस्य नकुलश्चतुर्भिश्चतुरो रणे जघान निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैः सत्यसेनस्य वाजिनः
M. N. Dutt: Then Nakula, laughing, struck the four horses of Satyasena with four whetted and keen arrows in that encounter.
ततः संधाय नाराचं रुक्मपुङ्खं शिलाशितम् धनुश्चिच्छेद राजेन्द्र सत्यसेनस्य पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Shooting a long gold-winged shaft the son of Pandu then cut off, O king, the bow of Satyasena.
अथान्यं रथमास्थाय धनुरादाय चापरम् सत्यसेनः सुषेणश्च पाण्डवं पर्यधावताम्
M. N. Dutt: At this the latter, mounting on another car and taking up another bow, as also his brother Sushena, rushed against the son of Pandu.
अविध्यत्तावसंभ्रान्तौ माद्रीपुत्रः प्रतापवान् द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां महाराज शराभ्यां रणमूर्धनि
M. N. Dutt: The brave son of Madri fearlessly struck each of them, O monarch, with a couple of arrows.
सुषेणस्तु ततः क्रुद्धः पाण्डवस्य महद्धनुः चिच्छेद प्रहसन्युद्धे क्षुरप्रेण महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Then worked up with wrath, the mighty car-warrior Sushena, cut off, in that battle, the formidable bow of Pandu's son with a razorshaped arrow.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय नकुलः क्रोधमूर्छितः सुषेणं पञ्चभिर्विद्ध्वा ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छिदे
M. N. Dutt: Then Nakula, beside himself with rage, took up another bow and struck Sushena with five arrows and his standard with one.
सत्यसेनस्य च धनुर्हस्तावापं च मारिष चिच्छेद तरसा युद्धे तत उच्चुक्रुशुर्जनाः
M. N. Dutt: Without losing a moment, he then cut off the boy and the leathern fence of Saryasena also, at which all the troops there sent up a loud shout.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय वेगघ्नं भारसाधनम् शरैः संछादयामास समन्तात्पाण्डुनन्दनम्
M. N. Dutt: Satyasena, taking up another foe-slaying and powerful bow, covered the son of Pandu with arrows on all sides.
संनिवार्य तु तान्बाणान्नकुलः परवीरहा सत्यसेनं सुषेणं च द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यामविध्यत
M. N. Dutt: Baffling those arrows Nakula, that slayer of hostile heroes, struck each of his antagonists with a couple of arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
9.9.34 After 34, D1 ins.: *57 ततः शक्तिं समुद्यम्य सत्यसेनाय चिक्षिपे
तावेनं प्रत्यविध्येतां पृथक्पृथगजिह्मगैः सारथिं चास्य राजेन्द्र शरैर्विव्यधतुः शितैः
M. N. Dutt: Each of the latter separately struck the son of Pandu in return with ma..y straight coursing arrows. Afterwards they struck Nakula's driver also with many keen arrows.
सत्यसेनो रथेषां तु नकुलस्य धनुस्तथा पृथक्शराभ्यां चिच्छेद कृतहस्तः प्रतापवान्
M. N. Dutt: The brave and light-handed Satyasena then cut off without his brother's help the shafts of Nakula's car and his bow with a couple of arrows.
स रथेऽतिरथस्तिष्ठन्रथशक्तिं परामृशत् स्वर्णदण्डामकुण्ठाग्रां तैलधौतां सुनिर्मलाम्
M. N. Dutt: The great car warrior Nakula, however, standing on his car, took up a golden mounted and keen dart steeped in oil and exceedingly bright.
लेलिहानामिव विभो नागकन्यां महाविषाम् समुद्यम्य च चिक्षेप सत्यसेनस्य संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: It resembled, O king, a she-snake of dreadful poison, frequently darting out her tongue. Raising that weapon he hurled it at Satyasena in that battle.
सा तस्य हृदयं संख्ये बिभेद शतधा नृप स पपात रथाद्भूमौ गतसत्त्वोऽल्पचेतनः
M. N. Dutt: That dart, O king, cut the heart of Satyasena in that battle into a hundred pieces and he fell down dead upon the Earth from his car.
भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा सुषेणः क्रोधमूर्छितः अभ्यवर्षच्छरैस्तूर्णं पदातिं पाण्डुनन्दनम्
AI Translation: Seeing his brother killed, Sushena, overcome with anger, quickly showered arrows on the foot soldier, the descendant of Pandu.
Supplementary Passages:
9.9.40 K5 Dn3 (marg.) D8.9.11 ins. after 40: D2 after 41b: *58 चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहान्ध्वजं छित्त्वा तु पञ्चभिः त्रिभिर्वै सारथिं हत्वा कर्णपुत्रो ननाद ह
नकुलं विरथं दृष्ट्वा द्रौपदेयो महाबलः सुतसोमोऽभिदुद्राव परीप्सन्पितरं रणे
M. N. Dutt: Seeing Nakula carless, the mighty carwarrior Sutasoma, the son of Draupadi rushed, there for rescuing his father in battle.
ततोऽधिरुह्य नकुलः सुतसोमस्य तं रथम् शुशुभे भरतश्रेष्ठो गिरिस्थ इव केसरी सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय सुषेणं समयोधयत्
M. N. Dutt: Riding then the car of Sutasoma, Nakula, that hero of Bharata's race, looked beautiful like a lion upon a mountain. Then taking up another bow, he fought with Sushena.
तावुभौ शरवर्षाभ्यां समासाद्य परस्परम् परस्परवधे यत्नं चक्रतुः सुमहारथौ
M. N. Dutt: Those two great car-warriors, approaching each other and discharging arrows, tried to kill each other.
सुषेणस्तु ततः क्रुद्धः पाण्डवं विशिखैस्त्रिभिः सुतसोमं च विंशत्या बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: Then Sushena, filled with rage, struck the son of Pandu with three arrows and Sutasoma with twenty in the arms and the chest.
ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज नकुलः परवीरहा शरैस्तस्य दिशः सर्वाश्छादयामास वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: At this the impetuous Nakula, O king, that slayer of hostile heroes, covered all the points of the compass with shafts.
ततो गृहीत्वा तीक्ष्णाग्रमर्धचन्द्रं सुतेजनम् स वेगयुक्तं चिक्षेप कर्णपुत्रस्य संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Then taking up a sharp and powerful arrow having a semi-circular head, Nakula shot it with great force at Karna's son in that battle.
तस्य तेन शिरः कायाज्जहार नृपसत्तम पश्यतां सर्वसैन्यानां तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: With that arrow, O best of kings, the son of Pandu cut off from Sushena's trunk his head before all the troops. That feat was highly wonderful.
स हतः प्रापतद्राजन्नकुलेन महात्मना नदीवेगादिवारुग्णस्तीरजः पादपो महान्
M. N. Dutt: Thus killed by the illustrious Nakula Karna's son drooped down like a tall tree on the bank of a river thrown down by the current of the river.
कर्णपुत्रवधं दृष्ट्वा नकुलस्य च विक्रमम् प्रदुद्राव भयात्सेना तावकी भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the destruction of Karna's son and the power of Nakula, your army, O best of Bharatas, fled away in fear.
तां तु सेनां महाराज मद्रराजः प्रतापवान् अपालयद्रणे शूरः सेनापतिररिंदमः
M. N. Dutt: Their General however, the brave and valiant king of the Madras, that repressor of foes, then protected, O king, those troops in battle.
Supplementary Passages:
9.9.50 After 50, D1 ins.: *59 सा सेना विद्रुता राजन्दिशो दश भयद्रुता
विभीस्तस्थौ महाराज व्यवस्थाप्य च वाहिनीम् सिंहनादं भृशं कृत्वा धनुःशब्दं च दारुणम्
M. N. Dutt: Rallying his army, O king, Shalya stood fearlessly in battle sending forth leonine shouts and twanging his bow fiercely.
तावकाः समरे राजन्रक्षिता दृढधन्वना प्रत्युद्ययुररातींस्ते समन्ताद्विगतव्यथाः
M. N. Dutt: Then your soldiers O king, protected in battle by that firm bowman, cheerfully rushed against the enemy once more from all sides.
मद्रराजं महेष्वासं परिवार्य समन्ततः स्थिता राजन्महासेना योद्धुकामाः समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Those great warriors, encircling that great bowmen, the king of the Madras, stood, O king, desirous of fighting on every side.
सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ युधिष्ठिरं पुरस्कृत्य ह्रीनिषेधमरिंदमम्
AI Translation: Sātyaki, Bhimasena, and the sons of Madri, the Pāṇḍavas, placing Yudhishthira at the forefront, the destroyer of enemies, the repeller of shame,
परिवार्य रणे वीराः सिंहनादं प्रचक्रिरे बाणशब्दरवांश्चोग्रान्क्ष्वेडांश्च विविधान्दधुः
AI Translation: The heroes surrounded him in the battle and roared like lions. They made loud sounds of arrows and various kinds of hissing sounds.
तथैव तावकाः सर्वे मद्राधिपतिमञ्जसा परिवार्य सुसंरब्धाः पुनर्युद्धमरोचयन्
M. N. Dutt: Smingly, all your warriors, enraged, quickly encompassed the king of the Madras and stood there for battle.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं भीरूणां भयवर्धनम् तावकानां परेषां च मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
M. N. Dutt: Then took place on encounter filling the coward with fear, between your soldiers and the enemy, both of whom were bent upon meeting with death.
यथा देवासुरं युद्धं पूर्वमासीद्विशां पते अभीतानां तथा राजन्यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम्
M. N. Dutt: The battle between fearless combatants resembled, O king that between the gods and the Asuras in days of yore and increased the population of Yama's kingdom.
ततः कपिध्वजो राजन्हत्वा संशप्तकान्रणे अभ्यद्रवत तां सेनां कौरवीं पाण्डुनन्दनः
M. N. Dutt: Then the ape-emblemed son of Pandu, O king, having killed the Samsaptakas in battle, rushed against the Kauravas.
तथैव पाण्डवाः शेषा धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः अभ्यधावन्त तां सेनां विसृजन्तः शिताञ्शरान्
M. N. Dutt: Smiling, all the Pandavas, headed by Dhrishtadyumna, proceeded against the same detachment discharging keen arrows.
पाण्डवैरवकीर्णानां संमोहः समजायत न च जज्ञुरनीकानि दिशो वा प्रदिशस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Overpowered by the Pandavas, the Kaurava army were stupefied. Indeed, those divisions then could not distinguish the cardinal and the minor points of the compass.
आपूर्यमाणा निशितैः शरैः पाण्डवचोदितैः हतप्रवीरा विध्वस्ता कीर्यमाणा समन्ततः कौरव्यवध्यत चमूः पाण्डुपुत्रैर्महारथैः
M. N. Dutt: Covered with keen arrows shot by the Pandavas, the Kaurava ariny, deprived of its foremost warriors, were routed on all sides. Indeed, O Kauravya, your army were killed by the mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas.
तथैव पाण्डवी सेना शरै राजन्समन्ततः रणेऽहन्यत पुत्रैस्ते शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: Similarly, the Pandava army, O king, were killed in hundreds and thousands in that battle by your sons on every side with their arrows.
ते सेने भृशसंतप्ते वध्यमाने परस्परम् व्याकुले समपद्येतां वर्षासु सरिताविव
M. N. Dutt: While the two armies, in their excitement, were thus killing each other, they became much agitated like two streams in the rains.
आविवेश ततस्तीव्रं तावकानां महद्भयम् पाण्डवानां च राजेन्द्र तथाभूते महाहवे
M. N. Dutt: During the onset of that dreadful fight, O king, a great fear possessed your warriors as also those of the Pandavas.