Critical Edition
संजय उवाच तस्मिन्प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे नरवाजिगजक्षये शकुनिः सौबलो राजन्सहदेवं समभ्ययात्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said During the course of that battle which was so destructive of men and horses and elephants, Subala's son Shakuni, O king, proceeded against Sahadeva.
ततोऽस्यापततस्तूर्णं सहदेवः प्रतापवान् शरौघान्प्रेषयामास पतंगानिव शीघ्रगान् उलूकश्च रणे भीमं विव्याध दशभिः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: The valiant Sahadeva, as Shakuni rushed quickly towards him, discharged shower of quick-coursing arrows at that warrior like a swarm of insects. At that time Uluka also met Bhima and struck him with ten arrows.
शकुनिस्तु महाराज भीमं विद्ध्वा त्रिभिः शरैः सायकानां नवत्या वै सहदेवमवाकिरत्
M. N. Dutt: O king, having struck Bhima with three arrows, Shakuni, meanwhile, covered Sahadeva with ninety.
ते शूराः समरे राजन्समासाद्य परस्परम् विव्यधुर्निशितैर्बाणैः कङ्कबर्हिणवाजितैः स्वर्णपुङ्खैः शिलाधौतैरा कर्णात्प्रहितैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, O king, encountering one another in that battle, those heroes, struck one another with many Kanka and peacock feathered keen arrows winged with gold, whetted on stone and shot off the bow-string drawn to their ears.
तेषां चापभुजोत्सृष्टा शरवृष्टिर्विशां पते आच्छादयद्दिशः सर्वा धाराभिरिव तोयदः
M. N. Dutt: Those showers of arrows discharged from their bows and arms, O monarch, covered all the points of the horizon like a thick downpour of rain poured from the clouds.
ततः क्रुद्धो रणे भीमः सहदेवश्च भारत चेरतुः कदनं संख्ये कुर्वन्तौ सुमहाबलौ
M. N. Dutt: Then Bhima, worked up with rage and the brave Sahadeva, both very powerful, moved about in that battle making a great onslaught.
ताभ्यां शरशतैश्छन्नं तद्बलं तव भारत अन्धकारमिवाकाशमभवत्तत्र तत्र ह
M. N. Dutt: That army, O Bharata, was shrouded with hundreds of arrows by those two warriors and the sky, on many parts of the field, was shrouded with darkness.
अश्वैर्विपरिधावद्भिः शरच्छन्नैर्विशां पते तत्र तत्र कृतो मार्गो विकर्षद्भिर्हतान्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: The horses struck with arrows, dragging after them as they ran a large number of killed warriors the passage in the battle-field was entirely blocked up.
निहतानां हयानां च सहैव हययोधिभिः वर्मभिर्विनिकृत्तैश्च प्रासैश्छिन्नैश्च मारिष संछन्ना पृथिवी जज्ञे कुसुमैः शबला इव
M. N. Dutt: Covered with horses slain with their riders, with broken shields and lances and with swords and darts and spears all around the earth appeared to have been strewn with flowers.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.9 After 9d, N (D1 om.) T1.2 ins.: *156 ऋष्टिभिः शक्तिभिश्चैव तोमरैश्च परंतप
योधास्तत्र महाराज समासाद्य परस्परम् व्यचरन्त रणे क्रुद्धा विनिघ्नन्तः परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: Soon the field was covered with heads, beautiful as the filaments of the lotus, bedecked with ear-rings and having faces set with eyes upturned in wrath and lips bit in rage.
उद्वृत्तनयनै रोषात्संदष्टौष्ठपुटैर्मुखैः सकुण्डलैर्मही छन्ना पद्मकिञ्जल्कसंनिभैः
AI Translation: With eyes rolling in anger, with faces with lips clenched, The earth was covered with those resembling lotus filaments, with earrings.
भुजैश्छिन्नैर्महाराज नागराजकरोपमैः साङ्गदैः सतनुत्रैश्च सासिप्रासपरश्वधैः
AI Translation: With arms cut off, great king, resembling the arms of the king of elephants, With armor and with bows, with swords, spears, and axes,
कबन्धैरुत्थितैश्छिन्नैर्नृत्यद्भिश्चापरैर्युधि क्रव्यादगणसंकीर्णा घोराभूत्पृथिवी विभो
AI Translation: With the headless trunks rising up and cut down, and others dancing in battle, The earth became terrible, mixed with the hordes of flesh-eaters, O Lord.
अल्पावशिष्टे सैन्ये तु कौरवेयान्महाहवे प्रहृष्टाः पाण्डवा भूत्वा निन्यिरे यमसादनम्
M. N. Dutt: After the Bharata army had bcen reduced to a small number, the Pandavas, filled with delight in that dreadful battle, began to slay the Kauravas.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शूरः सौबलेयः प्रतापवान् प्रासेन सहदेवस्य शिरसि प्राहरद्भृशम् स विह्वलो महाराज रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile the heroic and brave son of Subala forcibly struck Sahadeva in the head with a lance.
सहदेवं तथा दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् सर्वसैन्यानि संक्रुद्धो वारयामास भारत
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Sahadeva in that condition the valiant Bhima, worked up with rage, O Bharata, obstructed the entire Kuru army.
निर्बिभेद च नाराचैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः विनिर्भिद्याकरोच्चैव सिंहनादमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: With his cloth-yard shafts he struck hundreds and thousands of hostilo warriors and having struck them so, that chastiser of foes sent up a leonine roar.
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ताः सर्वे सहयवारणाः प्राद्रवन्सहसा भीताः शकुनेश्च पदानुगाः
M. N. Dutt: Terrified at that roar, all the followers of Shakuni, with their horses and elephants immediately fled away in fear.
प्रभग्नानथ तान्दृष्ट्वा राजा दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत् निवर्तध्वमधर्मज्ञा युध्यध्वं किं सृतेन वः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing them routed, king Duryodhana said to them-"Stop, you immoral Kshatriyas! fight! What is the use of fight?
इह कीर्तिं समाधाय प्रेत्य लोकान्समश्नुते प्राणाञ्जहाति यो वीरो युधि पृष्ठमदर्शयन्
AI Translation: Having established fame here, one attains the worlds after death. The hero who gives up his life in battle, showing his back,
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.20 After 20, D4 ins.: *157 शूलियास[पाश?]मतिक्रम्य शक्रलोकं समश्नुते
एवमुक्तास्तु ते राज्ञा सौबलस्य पदानुगाः पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
AI Translation: Thus addressed by the king, the followers of Soubala's son approached the Pandavas, having death as their retreat.
द्रवद्भिस्तत्र राजेन्द्र कृतः शब्दोऽतिदारुणः क्षुब्धसागरसंकाशः क्षुभितः सर्वतोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, the noise made by those rushing warriors was terrible and resembled that of the agitated ocean. Thereat the field of battle was agitated all around.
तांस्तदापततो दृष्ट्वा सौबलस्य पदानुगान् प्रत्युद्ययुर्महाराज पाण्डवा विजये वृताः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding those followers of Subala's son thus proceeding to battle, the victorious Pandavas, O monarch rushed against them.
प्रत्याश्वस्य च दुर्धर्षः सहदेवो विशां पते शकुनिं दशभिर्विद्ध्वा हयांश्चास्य त्रिभिः शरैः धनुश्चिच्छेद च शरैः सौबलस्य हसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Relieved a little, the invincible Sahadeva, O monarch, struck Shakuni with ten arrows and his horses with three. He, without the slightest exertion, then cut off the bow of Subala's son with a number of other arrows.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय शकुनिर्युद्धदुर्मदः विव्याध नकुलं षष्ट्या भीमसेनं च सप्तभिः
M. N. Dutt: Invincible in battle, Shakuni, however, took up another bow and struck Nakula with sixty arrows and then Bhimasena with seven.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.25 After 25b, K1 ins.: *158 सहदेवं चाभ्यवर्षच्छरैः संनतपर्वभिः उलूकश्च ततो राजन्क्रोधेन महता युतः
उलूकोऽपि महाराज भीमं विव्याध सप्तभिः सहदेवं च सप्तत्या परीप्सन्पितरं रणे
M. N. Dutt: Uluka also, O king, desirous of rescuing his father in that battle, struck Bhima with seven arrows and Sahadeva with seventy.
तं भीमसेनः समरे विव्याध निशितैः शरैः शकुनिं च चतुःषष्ट्या पार्श्वस्थांश्च त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Bhimasena, in that battle, struck Uluka with many keen arrows and Shakuni with four and sixty and each of the other warriors who fought around them with three arrows.
ते हन्यमाना भीमेन नाराचैस्तैलपायितैः सहदेवं रणे क्रुद्धाश्छादयञ्शरवृष्टिभिः पर्वतं वारिधाराभिः सविद्युत इवाम्बुदाः
M. N. Dutt: Struck by Bhimasena with arrows steeped in oil, the Kauravas, exercised with rage in that battle, covered Sahadeva with showers of arrows like clouds accompanied with lightnings pursing rain on a mountain breast.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.28 After 28b, D4 ins.: *159 प्रदुद्रुवुर्महाराज भीमसेनभयार्दिताः उलूकस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो धनुरुद्यम्य मारिष while G2 ins.: *160 गतोत्साहा महाराज दुद्रुवुर्भयपीडिताः उलूकस्तु शितैर्बाणैः सहदेवमविध्यत
ततोऽस्यापततः शूरः सहदेवः प्रतापवान् उलूकस्य महाराज भल्लेनापाहरच्छिरः
M. N. Dutt: The heroic and brave Sahadeva then, O king, cut off, with a broad-headed arrow, the head of Uluka as the latter proceeded against him.
स जगाम रथाद्भूमिं सहदेवेन पातितः रुधिराप्लुतसर्वाङ्गो नन्दयन्पाण्डवान्युधि
M. N. Dutt: Killed by Sahadeva, Uluka, cheering the Pandavas in that battle, dropped down on the earth from his car, covered with blood.
पुत्रं तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा शकुनिस्तत्र भारत साश्रुकण्ठो विनिःश्वस्य क्षत्तुर्वाक्यमनुस्मरन्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing his son slain, Shakuni, O Bharata, with voice suppressed in tears and sighing heavily, recollected the words of Vidura.
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं स बाष्पपूर्णेक्षणः श्वसन् सहदेवं समासाद्य त्रिभिर्विव्याध सायकैः
M. N. Dutt: Having thought for a moment with tearful eyes, Shakuni, breathing heavily, approached Sahadeva and struck him with three arrows.
तानपास्य शरान्मुक्ताञ्शरसंघैः प्रतापवान् सहदेवो महाराज धनुश्चिच्छेद संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Counteracting those arrows shot by Subala's son with another downpour the brave Sahadeva, O king, sundered his antagonist's blow in that battle.
छिन्ने धनुषि राजेन्द्र शकुनिः सौबलस्तदा प्रगृह्य विपुलं खड्गं सहदेवाय प्राहिणोत्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing his bow sundered, O king, Shakuni, the son of Subala, took up a formidable scimitar and discharged it at Sahadeva.
तमापतन्तं सहसा घोररूपं विशां पते द्विधा चिच्छेद समरे सौबलस्य हसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: The latter, however, O king, easily cut off in twain that terrible scimitar of Subala's son as it went towards him in that skirmish.
असिं दृष्ट्वा द्विधा छिन्नं प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् प्राहिणोत्सहदेवाय सा मोघा न्यपतद्भुवि
M. N. Dutt: Beholding his sword cut in two parts Shakuni took up a dreadful mace and discharged it at Sahadeva. That mace also dropped down on the earth unsuccessful.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.36 D2 om. 36c-37b. After 36, B2 ins.: *161 ततो गान्धारनृपतिः कृतप्रतिचिकीर्षया
ततः शक्तिं महाघोरां कालरात्रिमिवोद्यताम् प्रेषयामास संक्रुद्धः पाण्डवं प्रति सौबलः
M. N. Dutt: After this, Subala's son, worked up with rage threw at the son of Pandu a dreadful dart resembling an imminent death-night.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः त्रिधा चिच्छेद समरे सहदेवो हसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: With great facility Sahadeva, in that battle, cut off, with his golden arrows, that dart into three pieces as it went swiftly towards him.
सा पपात त्रिधा छिन्ना भूमौ कनकभूषणा शीर्यमाणा यथा दीप्ता गगनाद्वै शतह्रदा
M. N. Dutt: Cut off into piece that golden dart fell down on the earth like a burning thunder-bolt from the sky sending forth many flashes.
शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा सौबलं च भयार्दितम् दुद्रुवुस्तावकाः सर्वे भये जाते ससौबलाः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that dart unsuccessful and Subala's so possessed by fear, all your soldiers fled away. Subala's son also joined them.
अथोत्क्रुष्टं महद्ध्यासीत्पाण्डवैर्जितकाशिभिः धार्तराष्ट्रास्ततः सर्वे प्रायशो विमुखाभवन्
M. N. Dutt: The Pandavas then, anger for victory, sent up loud war-cries. As regards the Dhartarashtras, almost all of them fled away from the field.
तान्वै विमनसो दृष्ट्वा माद्रीपुत्रः प्रतापवान् शरैरनेकसाहस्रैर्वारयामास संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Seeing them so dispirited the brave son of Madri, with many thousand arrows, opposed them in that battle.
ततो गान्धारकैर्गुप्तं पृष्ठैरश्वैर्जये धृतम् आससाद रणे यान्तं सहदेवोऽथ सौबलम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Sahadeva attacked Subala's son as the latter, who was still sanguine of success, was flying away guarded by the picked cavalry of the Gandharas.
स्वमंशमवशिष्टं स संस्मृत्य शकुनिं नृप रथेन काञ्चनाङ्गेन सहदेवः समभ्ययात् अधिज्यं बलवत्कृत्वा व्याक्षिपन्सुमहद्धनुः
M. N. Dutt: Recollecting, O king, that Shakuni, who had to be slain by him, was still alive, Sahadeva, on his car adorned with gold, pursued that warrior.
स सौबलमभिद्रुत्य गृध्रपत्रैः शिलाशितैः भृशमभ्यहनत्क्रुद्धस्तोत्त्रैरिव महाद्विपम्
AI Translation: He attacked Sūbala's son and struck him hard with arrows sharpened on stone, like a bird with its wings. The angry one struck him hard, like an elephant with its tusks.
उवाच चैनं मेधावी निगृह्य स्मारयन्निव क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितो भूत्वा युध्यस्व पुरुषो भव
AI Translation: And the wise one said to him, restraining him as if to remind him: "Be established in the duty of a kshatriya, fight, be a man."
यत्तदा हृष्यसे मूढ ग्लहन्नक्षैः सभातले फलमद्य प्रपद्यस्व कर्मणस्तस्य दुर्मते
AI Translation: O fool, you are rejoicing at the gambling match on the floor of the assembly hall. O evil-minded one, now reap the fruit of that act.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.47 For 47ab, D1 subst.: *162 सभामध्ये विजित्या कूटद्यूतेन यद्भवान्
निहतास्ते दुरात्मानो येऽस्मानवहसन्पुरा दुर्योधनः कुलाङ्गारः शिष्टस्त्वं तस्य मातुलः
AI Translation: Those evil-souled ones who laughed at us before have been killed. Duryodhana, the charcoal of the family, is dead. You, his maternal uncle, are left.
अद्य ते विहनिष्यामि क्षुरेणोन्मथितं शिरः वृक्षात्फलमिवोद्धृत्य लगुडेन प्रमाथिना
AI Translation: Today I shall cut off your head with a razor, like a fruit from a tree, with a heavy club.
एवमुक्त्वा महाराज सहदेवो महाबलः संक्रुद्धो नरशार्दूलो वेगेनाभिजगाम ह
M. N. Dutt: Today I shall kill you cutting off your head with a razor-headed arrow like a person plucking a fruit from a tree with a struck." Saying these words, O king, powerful Sahadeva, that foremost of men, filled with anger, rushed against Shakuni.
अभिगम्य तु दुर्धर्षः सहदेवो युधां पतिः विकृष्य बलवच्चापं क्रोधेन प्रहसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Approaching his enemy, the invincible Sahadeva, that best of warriors, forcibly drawing his bow and as if consuming his enemy with anger.
शकुनिं दशभिर्विद्ध्वा चतुर्भिश्चास्य वाजिनः छत्रं ध्वजं धनुश्चास्य छित्त्वा सिंह इवानदत्
M. N. Dutt: Struck Shakuni with ten arrows and his horses with four. Then cutting off his umbrella and standard and bow, he roared like a lion.
छिन्नध्वजधनुश्छत्रः सहदेवेन सौबलः ततो विद्धश्च बहुभिः सर्वमर्मसु सायकैः
M. N. Dutt: His standard and bow and umbrella being thus cut off by Sahadeva, Subala's son was struck with many arrows in all his vital parts.
ततो भूयो महाराज सहदेवः प्रतापवान् शकुनेः प्रेषयामास शरवृष्टिं दुरासदाम्
M. N. Dutt: Again, O king, the brave Sahadeva discharged at Shakuni an irresistible shower of arrows.
ततस्तु क्रुद्धः सुबलस्य पुत्रो; माद्रीसुतं सहदेवं विमर्दे प्रासेन जाम्बूनदभूषणेन; जिघांसुरेकोऽभिपपात शीघ्रम्
M. N. Dutt: Filled with anger the son of Subala, then single-handed, rushed, impetuously against Sahadeva in that encounter, desirous of killing the latter with lance adorned with gold.
माद्रीसुतस्तस्य समुद्यतं तं; प्रासं सुवृत्तौ च भुजौ रणाग्रे भल्लैस्त्रिभिर्युगपत्संचकर्त; ननाद चोच्चैस्तरसाजिमध्ये
M. N. Dutt: However with three broad-headed arrows, the son of Madri cut off at the same time without losing a moment that uplifted lance as also the two plump arms of his enemy and then sent up a loud war-cry.
तस्याशुकारी सुसमाहितेन; सुवर्णपुङ्खेन दृढायसेन भल्लेन सर्वावरणातिगेन; शिरः शरीरात्प्रममाथ भूयः
M. N. Dutt: The heroic and active Sahadeva then, with a broad-headed arrow made of hard iron, adorned with wings of gold, capable of cutting every arinour and shot with great force and care, cut off from his trunk his enemy's head.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.57 After 57b, B2 ins.: *163 तथैव वेगात्सुदृढायुधेन D4 T3.4 G M ins. after 57: D7.8 after 59: T1.2 after 59b: *164 तस्योत्तमाङ्गं च भुजौ सुवृत्तौ शक्तिश्च पूर्वं निपपात भूमौ पश्चात्कबन्धं रुधिरावसिक्तं विस्पन्दमानं निपपात घोरम् D7.8 S cont.: *165 रथोत्तमात्पार्थिवपार्थिवस्य D8 S cont.: *166 सुवर्णरत्नोत्तमभूषितं च स सिंहनादं व्यनदन्महात्मा निहत्य पापं सुबलस्य पुत्रं स नैरृतीमेव दिशं महात्मा सुवर्णपुङ्खैरिषुभिः पतन्तं D8 cont.: *167 प्रावोदयद्भूमिपतेर्महात्मा
शरेण कार्तस्वरभूषितेन; दिवाकराभेन सुसंशितेन हृतोत्तमाङ्गो युधि पाण्डवेन; पपात भूमौ सुबलस्य पुत्रः
M. N. Dutt: Deprived of head by the son of Pandu with that gold-decked and sharp arrow, effulgent like the Sun, Subala's son dropped down on the earth in that battle.
स तच्छिरो वेगवता शरेण; सुवर्णपुङ्खेन शिलाशितेन प्रावेरयत्कुपितः पाण्डुपुत्रो; यत्तत्कुरूणामनयस्य मूलम्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the son of Pandu, worked up with rage, struck off that head which was the root of the evil policy of the Kurus, with that powerful arrow winged with gold and whetted on stone.
हृतोत्तमाङ्गं शकुनिं समीक्ष्य; भूमौ शयानं रुधिरार्द्रगात्रम् योधास्त्वदीया भयनष्टसत्त्वा; दिशः प्रजग्मुः प्रगृहीतशस्त्राः
AI Translation: Seeing Shakuni with his head cut off, lying on the ground with his body drenched in blood, Your warriors, their courage shattered by fear, took up their weapons and fled in all directions.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.60 For 60cd, D4 subst.: *168 माद्रीसुतं ते सहसाभिपेतुर् गान्धारयोधाः प्रगृहीतशस्त्राः
विप्रद्रुताः शुष्कमुखा विसंज्ञा; गाण्डीवघोषेण समाहताश्च भयार्दिता भग्नरथाश्वनागाः; पदातयश्चैव सधार्तराष्ट्राः
M. N. Dutt: At that time your sons, with cars, elephants, horse and foot, entirely routed, heard the twang of Gandiva and fled away with dried faces, possessed by fear and senseless.
Supplementary Passages:
9.27.61 After 61, K5 ins.: *169 शेकुर्न योद्धुं तरसाजिमध्ये
ततो रथाच्छकुनिं पातयित्वा; मुदान्विता भारत पाण्डवेयाः शङ्खान्प्रदध्मुः समरे प्रहृष्टाः; सकेशवाः सैनिकान्हर्षयन्तः
M. N. Dutt: Having thrown down Shakuni from his car, the Pandavas, were filled with joy. Rejoicing with Keshava amongst them, they blew their conchs in that battle, cheering up their troops.
तं चापि सर्वे प्रतिपूजयन्तो; हृष्टा ब्रुवाणाः सहदेवमाजौ दिष्ट्या हतो नैकृतिको दुरात्मा; सहात्मजो वीर रणे त्वयेति
M. N. Dutt: All of them, gladly worshipped Sahadeva and said-"By good luck, O hero, the wicked Shakuni, that one of evil policy, has, with his son, been killed by you."