Critical Edition
संजय उवाच ततः सैन्यास्तव विभो मद्रराजपुरस्कृताः पुनरभ्यद्रवन्पार्थान्वेगेन महता रणे
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then, O king, your soldiers, led by Shalya, once more rushed against the Parthas in that battle with great impetuosity.
पीडितास्तावकाः सर्वे प्रधावन्तो रणोत्कटाः क्षणेनैव च पार्थांस्ते बहुत्वात्समलोडयन्
M. N. Dutt: Although assailed still those troops, who were fierce in battle, rushing against the Parthas, very soon agitated them on account of the superiority in numbers.
ते वध्यमानाः कुरुभिः पाण्डवा नावतस्थिरे निवार्यमाणा भीमेन पश्यतोः कृष्णपार्थयोः
AI Translation: The Pandavas, being killed by the Kurus, did not stand still being restrained by Bhima, while Krishna and Partha were watching.
ततो धनंजयः क्रुद्धः कृपं सह पदानुगैः अवाकिरच्छरौघेण कृतवर्माणमेव च
AI Translation: Then Dhananjaya, angry, showered arrows on Kripa and his followers, and on Kritavarma.
शकुनिं सहदेवस्तु सहसैन्यमवारयत् नकुलः पार्श्वतः स्थित्वा मद्रराजमवैक्षत
M. N. Dutt: Sahadeva checked Shakuni and his detachment. Nakula looked at the king of the Madras from his flanks.
द्रौपदेया नरेन्द्रांश्च भूयिष्ठं समवारयन् द्रोणपुत्रं च पाञ्चाल्यः शिखण्डी समवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: The (five) sons of Draupadi opposed numerous kings (of the Kuru army). The Panchala prince Shikhandin checked the son of Drona.
भीमसेनस्तु राजानं गदापाणिरवारयत् शल्यं तु सह सैन्येन कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: Arined with his mace, Bhimasena opposed the king. Kunti's son Yudhishthira resisted Shalya at the head of his army.
ततः समभवद्युद्धं संसक्तं तत्र तत्र ह तावकानां परेषां च संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्
M. N. Dutt: Again an encounter took place between those pairs as they stood, among your warriors and those of the enemy, none of whom had ever retreated from fight.
तत्र पश्यामहे कर्म शल्यस्यातिमहद्रणे यदेकः सर्वसैन्यानि पाण्डवानामयुध्यत
M. N. Dutt: Shalya performed a wonderful feat because alone he fought with the whole Pandava ariny.
व्यदृश्यत तदा शल्यो युधिष्ठिरसमीपतः रणे चन्द्रमसोऽभ्याशे शनैश्चर इव ग्रहः
M. N. Dutt: Shalya, then, as he stood near Yudhishthira in that battle, looked like the planet Saturn near the Moon.
पीडयित्वा तु राजानं शरैराशीविषोपमैः अभ्यधावत्पुनर्भीमं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्
M. N. Dutt: Afflicting the king with arrows that resembled Venomous serpents Shalya proceeded against Bhima, covering him with showers of arrows.
तस्य तल्लाघवं दृष्ट्वा तथैव च कृतास्त्रताम् अपूजयन्ननीकानि परेषां तावकानि च
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the lightness of hand and mastery over weapons displayed by Shalya, both the armies spoke highly of him.
पीड्यमानास्तु शल्येन पाण्डवा भृशविक्षताः प्राद्रवन्त रणं हित्वा क्रोशमाने युधिष्ठिरे
M. N. Dutt: Assailed by Shalya, the Pandavas, exceedingly wounded, fled away, from the battle, disregarding orders of Yudhishthira to stop them.
वध्यमानेष्वनीकेषु मद्रराजेन पाण्डवः अमर्षवशमापन्नो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ततः पौरुषमास्थाय मद्रराजमपीडयत्
M. N. Dutt: While soldiers were thus being killed by the king of the Madras, Pandu's son king Yudhishthira was worked up with rage.
जयो वास्तु वधो वेति कृतबुद्धिर्महारथः समाहूयाब्रवीत्सर्वान्भ्रातॄन्कृष्णं च माधवम्
AI Translation: Having made up his mind that victory or death was certain, the great warrior, having summoned all his brothers and Krishna Madhava, said:
भीष्मो द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च ये चान्ये पृथिवीक्षितः कौरवार्थे पराक्रान्ताः संग्रामे निधनं गताः
AI Translation: Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and others who ruled the earth, who were heroic for the sake of the Kauravas, have gone to their deaths in battle.
यथाभागं यथोत्साहं भवन्तः कृतपौरुषाः भागोऽवशिष्ट एकोऽयं मम शल्यो महारथः
AI Translation: Each of you, according to your strength and enthusiasm, has done your duty. But this one remaining part, this great warrior Shalya, is mine.
सोऽहमद्य युधा जेतुमाशंसे मद्रकेश्वरम् तत्र यन्मानसं मह्यं तत्सर्वं निगदामि वः
AI Translation: I hope to conquer the lord of the Madras in battle today. I shall tell you all that is in my mind.
चक्ररक्षाविमौ शूरौ मम माद्रवतीसुतौ अजेयौ वासवेनापि समरे वीरसंमतौ
AI Translation: These two heroes, my sons by Madri, are the guardians of the wheel. Even Indra cannot defeat them in battle, and they are honored by the heroes.
साध्विमौ मातुलं युद्धे क्षत्रधर्मपुरस्कृतौ मदर्थं प्रतियुध्येतां मानार्हौ सत्यसंगरौ
AI Translation: These two are good, and they are fighting for the sake of their uncle, with the law of the warrior class as their motive. They are worthy of honor, and they are fighting for my sake, with truth as their ally.
Supplementary Passages:
9.15.20 After 20, K3 Dn D2.5.6 ins.: *84 किं वा प्रलपितेनाथ व्यर्थेनानेन किंचन
मां वा शल्यो रणे हन्ता तं वाहं भद्रमस्तु वः इति सत्यामिमां वाणीं लोकवीरा निबोधत
M. N. Dutt: Either Shalya will kill me in battle or I will kill him. Blessed be you. Listen to these true words, O foremost of heroes in the world.
योत्स्येऽहं मातुलेनाद्य क्षत्रधर्मेण पार्थिवाः स्वयं समभिसंधाय विजयायेतराय वा
M. N. Dutt: Observing Kshatriya duties I will fight with my maternal uncle, determined to either win victory or be slain.
तस्य मेऽभ्यधिकं शस्त्रं सर्वोपकरणानि च संयुञ्जन्तु रणे क्षिप्रं शास्त्रवद्रथयोजकाः
M. N. Dutt: Let them that furnish car quickly supply my car according to the rules of science, with all kinds of weapons and implements more than what Shalya possesses.
शैनेयो दक्षिणं चक्रं धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथोत्तरम् पृष्ठगोपो भवत्वद्य मम पार्थो धनंजयः
M. N. Dutt: The grandson of Shini will protect my right wheel and Dhristadyumna my left. Let Pritha's son Dhananjaya guard my rear to-day.
पुरःसरो ममाद्यास्तु भीमः शस्त्रभृतां वरः एवमभ्यधिकः शल्याद्भविष्यामि महामृधे
M. N. Dutt: And let Bhima, the foremost of warriors, fight in my front. I shall thus be superior to Shalya in the great battle that will soon take place.”
एवमुक्तास्तथा चक्रुः सर्वे राज्ञः प्रियैषिणः ततः प्रहर्षः सैन्यानां पुनरासीत्तदा नृप
M. N. Dutt: Thus accosted by the king, all his wellwishers did what they were asked to do.
पाञ्चालानां सोमकानां मत्स्यानां च विशेषतः प्रतिज्ञां तां च संग्रामे धर्मराजस्य पूरयन्
M. N. Dutt: Then the Pandava troops were again filled up with joy, especially the Panchalas, the Somakas and the Matsyas.
Supplementary Passages:
9.15.27 For 27cd, K4.5 D3.10.11 subst.: *85 प्रतिज्ञां तां तदा राजा कृत्वा मद्रेशमभ्ययात्
ततः शङ्खांश्च भेरीश्च शतशश्चैव पुष्करान् अवादयन्त पाञ्चालाः सिंहनादांश्च नेदिरे
M. N. Dutt: Having made that vow, the king proceeded against the king of the Madras. The Panchalas then blew and beat numberless conchs and drums and sent up leonine roars.
तेऽभ्यधावन्त संरब्धा मद्रराजं तरस्विनः महता हर्षजेनाथ नादेन कुरुपुंगवाः
AI Translation: The swift ones, enraged, attacked the king of the Madras. Then the best of the Kurus roared with great delight.
ह्रादेन गजघण्टानां शङ्खानां निनदेन च तूर्यशब्देन महता नादयन्तश्च मेदिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: Endued with great activity and worked up with ire they rushed, with loud shouts of joy, against the king of the Madras, that foremost of the Kurus. And they made the earth resound with the noise of the elephant's bells and the loud sound of conchs and trumpets.
तान्प्रत्यगृह्णात्पुत्रस्ते मद्रराजश्च वीर्यवान् महामेघानिव बहूञ्शैलावस्तोदयावुभौ
M. N. Dutt: Then your son and the brave king of the Madras, like the rising the setting hills, received those assailants.
शल्यस्तु समरश्लाघी धर्मराजमरिंदमम् ववर्ष शरवर्षेण वर्षेण मघवानिव
M. N. Dutt: Bragging Shalya poured a shower of arrows of that chastiser of foes, king Yudhishthira like Indra pouring rain.
तथैव कुरुराजोऽपि प्रगृह्य रुचिरं धनुः द्रोणोपदेशान्विविधान्दर्शयानो महामनाः
M. N. Dutt: Also, having taken up his beautiful bow, the great king of the Kurus displayed various lessons received by him from Drona.
Supplementary Passages:
9.15.33 After 33, G2 ins.: *86 संदधे विविधान्बाणान्दर्शयन्हस्तलाघवम्
ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि चित्रं लघु च सुष्ठु च न चास्य विवरं कश्चिद्ददर्श चरतो रणे
M. N. Dutt: And beautifully, quickly and with great skill, he made successive downpours of arrows. As he moved about in battle, none could mark anything in him.
तावुभौ विविधैर्बाणैस्ततक्षाते परस्परम् शार्दूलावामिषप्रेप्सू पराक्रान्ताविवाहवे
M. N. Dutt: The powerful Shalya and Yudhishthira wounded each other, like a couple of igers fighting for a piece of meat.
भीमस्तु तव पुत्रेण रणशौण्डेन संगतः पाञ्चाल्यः सात्यकिश्चैव माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ शकुनिप्रमुखान्वीरान्प्रत्यगृह्णन्समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Bhima fought with your son, the delighter in batlle. Dhristadyumna, Satyaki and the two sons of Madri by Pandu received Shakuni and the other Kuru heroes around.
तदासीत्तुमुलं युद्धं पुनरेव जयैषिणाम् तावकानां परेषां च राजन्दुर्मन्त्रिते तव
M. N. Dutt: On account of your vile policy, O king, there again occurred a dreadful battle between your people and those of the foe, all of whom were actuated with the desire of victory.
दुर्योधनस्तु भीमस्य शरेणानतपर्वणा चिच्छेदादिश्य संग्रामे ध्वजं हेमविभूषितम्
M. N. Dutt: Aiming at the gold-decked standard of Bhima, Duryodhana then, with a straight arrow, cut it off in that battle.
सकिङ्किणीकजालेन महता चारुदर्शनः पपात रुचिरः सिंहो भीमसेनस्य नानदन्
M. N. Dutt: The beautiful standard of Bhimasena, adorned with many bells, dropped down, O giver of honours.
पुनश्चास्य धनुश्चित्रं गजराजकरोपमम् क्षुरेण शितधारेण प्रचकर्त नराधिपः
M. N. Dutt: Again the king, with a sharp razor-faced arrow, cut off the beautiful bow of Bhima resembling the trunk of an elephant.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा तेजस्वी रथशक्त्या सुतं तव बिभेदोरसि विक्रम्य स रथोपस्थ आविशत्
M. N. Dutt: Gifted with great energy Bhima, who had been deprived of his bow, then displaying his prowess, struck on the chest of your son with a dart. Thereat your son sat down on the terrace of his car.
तस्मिन्मोहमनुप्राप्ते पुनरेव वृकोदरः यन्तुरेव शिरः कायात्क्षुरप्रेणाहरत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: When Duryodhana fainted Vrikodara, with a razor-faced arrow, cut off the head of his driver from his trunk.
हतसूता हयास्तस्य रथमादाय भारत व्यद्रवन्त दिशो राजन्हाहाकारस्तदाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Deprived of their driver the horses, of Duryodhana's car, ran wildly on all sides, O Bharata, dragging the car after them at which the Kurus bewailed loudly.
तमभ्यधावत्त्राणार्थं द्रोणपुत्रो महारथः कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च पुत्रं तेऽभिपरीप्सवः
M. N. Dutt: Then the great car-warrior Ashvatthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman, followed the car, with a view to save your son.
तस्मिन्विलुलिते सैन्ये त्रस्तास्तस्य पदानुगाः गाण्डीवधन्वा विस्फार्य धनुस्तानहनच्छरैः
M. N. Dutt: Thereat the troops troops were were exceedingly agitated. The followers of Duryodhana were terrified. At that time the wilder or Gandiva, drawing his bow, began to kill them with his arrows.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु मद्रेशमभ्यधावदमर्षितः स्वयं संचोदयन्नश्वान्दन्तवर्णान्मनोजवान्
AI Translation: But Yudhishthira, in his anger, attacked the king of the Madras, urging on his own horses, which were as swift as the wind and as white as the tusks of an elephant.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम कुन्तीपुत्रे युधिष्ठिरे पुरा भूत्वा मृदुर्दान्तो यत्तदा दारुणोऽभवत्
AI Translation: There we saw the wonderful thing about Kunti's son Yudhishthira Who, having been gentle and restrained before, became fierce then.
विवृताक्षश्च कौन्तेयो वेपमानश्च मन्युना चिच्छेद योधान्निशितैः शरैः शतसहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: With eyes opened wide and body trembling in anger the son of Kunti killed hostile warriors in hundreds and thousands with sharp arrows.
यां यां प्रत्युद्ययौ सेनां तां तां ज्येष्ठः स पाण्डवः शरैरपातयद्राजन्गिरीन्वज्रैरिवोत्तमैः
M. N. Dutt: Many soldiers were overthrown by him, O king, like mountain summits broken with thunder.
साश्वसूतध्वजरथान्रथिनः पातयन्बहून् आक्रीडदेको बलवान्पवनस्तोयदानिव
M. N. Dutt: Striking down cars with steeds and drivers and standards and throwing down many carwarriors, Yudhishthira, without any help, began to sport there like a powerful wind dissipating masses of clouds.
साश्वारोहांश्च तुरगान्पत्तींश्चैव सहस्रशः व्यपोथयत संग्रामे क्रुद्धो रुद्रः पशूनिव
M. N. Dutt: Filled with anger, he killed horses with riders and horses without riders and the infantry by thousands in that battle, like Rudra destroying living creatures at the time of the universal dissolution.
शून्यमायोधनं कृत्वा शरवर्षैः समन्ततः अभ्यद्रवत मद्रेशं तिष्ठ शल्येति चाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having made the field empty by discharging his arrows on all sides, Yudhishthira proceeded against the king of the Madras and said-Wait, Wait.
तस्य तच्चरितं दृष्ट्वा संग्रामे भीमकर्मणः वित्रेसुस्तावकाः सर्वे शल्यस्त्वेनं समभ्ययात्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the feats of that hero of terrible deeds, all your warriors were filled with fear. Shalya, however, rushed again him.
ततस्तौ तु सुसंरब्धौ प्रध्माप्य सलिलोद्भवौ समाहूय तदान्योन्यं भर्त्सयन्तौ समीयतुः
M. N. Dutt: Both of them, in anger, blew their respective conchs. Returning and challenging each other, each then met the other.
शल्यस्तु शरवर्षेण युधिष्ठिरमवाकिरत् मद्रराजं च कौन्तेयः शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्
M. N. Dutt: Then Shalya enshrouded Yudhishthira with showers of arrows. Likewise the son of Kunti covered the king of the Madras with showers of arrows.
व्यदृश्येतां तदा राजन्कङ्कपत्रिभिराहवे उद्भिन्नरुधिरौ शूरौ मद्रराजयुधिष्ठिरौ
AI Translation: In that battle, O king, they were seen with the Kankaptrinis. The heroic Madra king and Yudhishthira, with blood flowing from their wounds,
पुष्पिताविव रेजाते वने शल्मलिकिंशुकौ दीप्यमानौ महात्मानौ प्राणयोर्युद्धदुर्मदौ
AI Translation: They shone like the blossoming shalmali and kishnku trees in the forest, The two great ones, shining, difficult to conquer in battle with the vital airs,
Supplementary Passages:
9.15.57 For 57ab, K5 D3.10.11 subst.: *87 पुष्पितौ शुशुभाते तौ वसन्ते किंशुकौ यथा
दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि सैन्यानि नाध्यवस्यंस्तयोर्जयम् हत्वा मद्राधिपं पार्थो भोक्ष्यतेऽद्य वसुंधराम्
AI Translation: Seeing all the armies, he did not have confidence in their victory. Having killed the king of Madra, Partha will enjoy the earth today.
शल्यो वा पाण्डवं हत्वा दद्याद्दुर्योधनाय गाम् इतीव निश्चयो नाभूद्योधानां तत्र भारत
AI Translation: Or Shalya, having killed a Pāṇḍava, would give a cow to Duryodhana. Thus there was no certainty among the warriors there, O descendant of Bharata.
प्रदक्षिणमभूत्सर्वं धर्मराजस्य युध्यतः
AI Translation: The whole world was on the side of Dharmaraja as he fought.
ततः शरशतं शल्यो मुमोचाशु युधिष्ठिरे धनुश्चास्य शिताग्रेण बाणेन निरकृन्तत
M. N. Dutt: King Yudhishthira, in the course of that battle, placed his enemy to his right. Then Shalya shot a century of best arrows, at Yudhisthira. With another sharp arrow, he cut off the latter's bow.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय शल्यं शरशतैस्त्रिभिः अविध्यत्कार्मुकं चास्य क्षुरेण निरकृन्तत
M. N. Dutt: Taking up another bow, Yudhishthira struck Shalya with three hundred arrows and cut off the latter's bow with a razor-faced arrow.
अथास्य निजघानाश्वांश्चतुरो नतपर्वभिः द्वाभ्यामथ शिताग्राभ्यामुभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी
M. N. Dutt: The son of Pandu then killed the four horses of his antagonist with some straight arrows. With two other very sharp arrows he then cut off the two Parshni drivers of Shalya.
ततोऽस्य दीप्यमानेन पीतेन निशितेन च प्रमुखे वर्तमानस्य भल्लेनापाहरद्ध्वजम् ततः प्रभग्नं तत्सैन्यं दौर्योधनमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: Then with another shining, well-tempered and sharp arrow, he cut off the standard of Shalya who stood before him. Then, O chastiser of foes, the army of Duryodhana were scattered.
ततो मद्राधिपं द्रौणिरभ्यधावत्तथाकृतम् आरोप्य चैनं स्वरथं त्वरमाणः प्रदुद्रुवे
M. N. Dutt: The son of Drona, at this time, speedily proceeded towards the king of the Madras who had been reduced to that strait and quickly taking him up on his own car, fled away.
मुहूर्तमिव तौ गत्वा नर्दमाने युधिष्ठिरे स्थित्वा ततो मद्रपतिरन्यं स्यन्दनमास्थितः
M. N. Dutt: After the two had gone for a moment, they heard Yudhishthira cry aloud. Stopping, the ruler of the Madras he then got upon another well equipi car.
विधिवत्कल्पितं शुभ्रं महाम्बुदनिनादिनम् सज्जयन्त्रोपकरणं द्विषतां रोमहर्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: That best of cars had a rattle deep as the muttering of the clouds. Well furnished with weapons and instruments and all kinds of utensils, that vehicle made the hairs of foes stand erect.
Supplementary Passages:
9.15.67 After 67, T1.2 ins.: *88 सुकूबरं सुचक्राक्षं विधेयाश्वं सुसारथिम्