Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच एवं तदभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं जनमेजय यत्र दुःखान्वितो राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said "Thus, O Janamejaya, did that terrible battle take place. King Dhritarashtra, in great sorrow, said thus about it.
रामं संनिहितं दृष्ट्वा गदायुद्ध उपस्थिते मम पुत्रः कथं भीमं प्रत्ययुध्यत संजय
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Beholding Rama approach that spot, when the mace-fight was about to take place, how, O Sanjaya, did my son fight with Bhima?'
संजय उवाच रामसांनिध्यमासाद्य पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव युद्धकामो महाबाहुः समहृष्यत वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Beholding the presence of Rama, your valiant son Duryodhana of mighty arms, desirous of battle, was gladdened.
दृष्ट्वा लाङ्गलिनं राजा प्रत्युत्थाय च भारत प्रीत्या परमया युक्तो युधिष्ठिरमथाब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Seeing the plow-bearer, the king, O descendant of Bharata, rose up and with supreme joy spoke to Yudhishthira,
Supplementary Passages:
9.54.4 After 4c, B D (except D11) Ca ins.: *313 समभ्यर्च्य यथाविधि आसनं च ददौ तस्मै पर्यपृच्छदनामयम् ततो युधिष्ठिरं रामो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह मधुरं धर्मसंयुक्तं शूराणां हितमेव च मया श्रुतं कथयतामृषीणां राजसत्तम कुरुक्षेत्रं परं पुण्यं पावनं स्वर्ग्यमेव च दैवतैरृषिभिर्जुष्टं ब्राह्मणैश्च महात्मभिः तत्र वै योत्स्यमाना ये देहं त्यक्ष्यन्ति मानवाः तेषां स्वर्गे ध्रुवो वासः शक्रेण सह मारिष
समन्तपञ्चकं क्षिप्रमितो याम विशां पते प्रथितोत्तरवेदी सा देवलोके प्रजापतेः
M. N. Dutt: I shall for this, O king, speedily proceed to Samantapancka. In the celestial region that spot is known as the northern (sacrificial) altar of Brahman, the Lord of all creatures.
तस्मिन्महापुण्यतमे त्रैलोक्यस्य सनातने संग्रामे निधनं प्राप्य ध्रुवं स्वर्गो भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: He that breathes his last in battle on that eternal and most sacred of spots in the three worlds, will surely obtain heaven,
तथेत्युक्त्वा महाराज कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः समन्तपञ्चकं वीरः प्रायादभिमुखः प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: Saying-So be it-O king, Kunti's brave son, lord Yudhishthira, proceeded towards Samantapanchaka.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् पद्भ्याममर्षाद्द्युतिमानगच्छत्पाण्डवैः सह
M. N. Dutt: King Duryodhana also, taking up his gigantic mace, angrily went on foot with the Pandavas.
तथा यान्तं गदाहस्तं वर्मणा चापि दंशितम् अन्तरिक्षगता देवाः साधु साध्वित्यपूजयन् वातिकाश्च नरा येऽत्र दृष्ट्वा ते हर्षमागताः
AI Translation: And as he went, with a club in his hand, and protected by armor, The gods in the sky praised him, saying, "Well done! Well done!" And the people of Vatika, seeing him, were filled with joy.
स पाण्डवैः परिवृतः कुरुराजस्तवात्मजः मत्तस्येव गजेन्द्रस्य गतिमास्थाय सोऽव्रजत्
AI Translation: Surrounded by the Pandavas, your son, the king of the Kurus, went, assuming the gait of an intoxicated elephant.
ततः शङ्खनिनादेन भेरीणां च महास्वनैः सिंहनादैश्च शूराणां दिशः सर्वाः प्रपूरिताः
AI Translation: Then with the sound of conch shells and the great sound of drums, and with the roars of the heroes, all directions were filled.
Supplementary Passages:
9.54.11 B1.2.4 D (except D3.11) ins. after 11: B5 after 12b: *314 ततस्ते तु कुरुक्षेत्रं प्राप्ता नरवरोत्तमाः
प्रतीच्यभिमुखं देशं यथोद्दिष्टं सुतेन ते गत्वा च तैः परिक्षिप्तं समन्तात्सर्वतोदिशम्
AI Translation: Having gone to the western direction as indicated by your son, and having been surrounded on all sides by them,
दक्षिणेन सरस्वत्याः स्वयनं तीर्थमुत्तमम् तस्मिन्देशे त्वनिरिणे तत्र युद्धमरोचयन्
M. N. Dutt: That was an excellent Tirtha on the southern side of the Sarasvati. The ground there was not sandy, and was therefore, selected for the battle.
ततो भीमो महाकोटिं गदां गृह्याथ वर्मभृत् बिभ्रद्रूपं महाराज सदृशं हि गरुत्मतः
M. N. Dutt: Clad in armour, and armed with his gigantic thick mace Bhima, O king, assumed the form of mighty Garuda.
अवबद्धशिरस्त्राणः संख्ये काञ्चनवर्मभृत् रराज राजन्पुत्रस्ते काञ्चनः शैलराडिव
M. N. Dutt: With head-gear on his head, and wearing a golden armour licking the corners of his mouth, O king, with eyes redened in wrath, and breathing hard, your son on that field, O king, shone like the golden Sumeru.
वर्मभ्यां संवृतौ वीरौ भीमदुर्योधनावुभौ संयुगे च प्रकाशेते संरब्धाविव कुञ्जरौ
M. N. Dutt: Those two heroes Bhima and Duryodhana, wearing armour appeaered like two elephants with anger, in battle field.
रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ भ्रातरौ तौ नरर्षभौ अशोभेतां महाराज चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितौ
M. N. Dutt: O king! In the midst of war-field both the brothers, foremost among the men were looked like a rising moon and the sun.
तावन्योन्यं निरीक्षेतां क्रुद्धाविव महाद्विपौ दहन्तौ लोचनै राजन्परस्परवधैषिणौ
M. N. Dutt: O king! Both angrily with burning eyes wishing kill cach other, they looked like two infuriate elephants.
संप्रहृष्टमना राजन्गदामादाय कौरवः सृक्किणी संलिहन्राजन्क्रोधरक्तेक्षणः श्वसन्
AI Translation: O king, the Kaurava, with a delighted mind, took up the mace. Licking his lips, O king, with eyes red with anger, breathing heavily,
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा गदामादाय वीर्यवान् भीमसेनमभिप्रेक्ष्य गजो गजमिवाह्वयत्
AI Translation: Then the valiant King Duryodhana, taking up the mace, looked at Bhimasena and challenged him like an elephant challenging an elephant.
अद्रिसारमयीं भीमस्तथैवादाय वीर्यवान् आह्वयामास नृपतिं सिंहः सिंहं यथा वने
M. N. Dutt: Likewise the brave Bhima, taking up his adamantine mace, challenged the king like a lion challenging a lion. or or
तावुद्यतगदापाणी दुर्योधनवृकोदरौ संयुगे स्म प्रकाशेते गिरी सशिखराविव
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana and Bhima, with uplifted maces, shone in that battle like two mountains with tall sumınits.
तावुभावभिसंक्रुद्धावुभौ भीमपराक्रमौ उभौ शिष्यौ गदायुद्धे रौहिणेयस्य धीमतः
AI Translation: Both of them were very angry, both of them were of terrible prowess, both of them were disciples in the art of mace-fighting of the wise son of Rohini,
उभौ सदृशकर्माणौ यमवासवयोरिव तथा सदृशकर्माणौ वरुणस्य महाबलौ
AI Translation: Both of them were of similar deeds, like Yama and Vāsudeva. And so were the two of similar deeds, the very powerful ones of Varuṇa.
वासुदेवस्य रामस्य तथा वैश्रवणस्य च सदृशौ तौ महाराज मधुकैटभयोर्युधि
AI Translation: of Vasudeva, Rama, and Vaishravana. Those two were equal to Madhu and Kaitabha in battle, great king.
उभौ सदृशकर्माणौ रणे सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः तथैव कालस्य समौ मृत्योश्चैव परंतपौ
AI Translation: Both of them were equal in their deeds, both Sundas and Upasundas, and so were they equal to Death and Time, the two tormentors of the world.
Supplementary Passages:
9.54.26 After 26b, B D (except D11) ins.: *315 रामरावणयोश्चैव वालिसुग्रीवयोस्तथा
अन्योन्यमभिधावन्तौ मत्ताविव महाद्विपौ वाशितासंगमे दृप्तौ शरदीव मदोत्कटौ
AI Translation: Like two intoxicated elephants, they rushed at each other, Like two rutting elephants in rut, they were excited in the encounter,
मत्ताविव जिगीषन्तौ मातङ्गौ भरतर्षभौ उभौ क्रोधविषं दीप्तं वमन्तावुरगाविव
AI Translation: Those two bulls among men, like two intoxicated elephants, both of them, like two serpents, emitting the poison of anger,
अन्योन्यमभिसंरब्धौ प्रेक्षमाणावरिंदमौ उभौ भरतशार्दूलौ विक्रमेण समन्वितौ
M. N. Dutt: Those two chastisers of foes looked angrily upon each other. Both were foremost of Bharata's race, endued with great prowess.
सिंहाविव दुराधर्षौ गदायुद्धे परंतपौ नखदंष्ट्रायुधौ वीरौ व्याघ्राविव दुरुत्सहौ
AI Translation: Like lions, they were invincible in the battle with clubs, the two scorchers of enemies. Like tigers, they were heroes with claws and teeth as weapons, difficult to withstand.
प्रजासंहरणे क्षुब्धौ समुद्राविव दुस्तरौ लोहिताङ्गाविव क्रुद्धौ प्रतपन्तौ महारथौ
AI Translation: Like the oceans agitated at the time of the destruction of the world, difficult to cross, The two great warriors, red-bodied, angry, shining,
Supplementary Passages:
9.54.31 B Dn D2-5.7-10 ins. after 31: D6 after 36b: *316 पूर्वपश्चिमजौ मेघौ वायुना क्षुभितौ यथा गर्जमानौ सुविषमं क्षरन्तौ प्रावृषीव हि
रश्मिमन्तौ महात्मानौ दीप्तिमन्तौ महाबलौ ददृशाते कुरुश्रेष्ठौ कालसूर्याविवोदितौ
AI Translation: The two great ones, the two radiant ones, the two powerful ones, The two best of the Kurus, were seen, like the sun and the moon at dawn.
व्याघ्राविव सुसंरब्धौ गर्जन्ताविव तोयदौ जहृषाते महाबाहू सिंहौ केसरिणाविव
AI Translation: They were like two tigers, very angry, roaring like clouds. The mighty arms of those two were like two lions with manes.
गजाविव सुसंरब्धौ ज्वलिताविव पावकौ ददृशुस्तौ महात्मानौ सशृङ्गाविव पर्वतौ
AI Translation: Like two enraged elephants, like two blazing fires, Those two great souls were seen, like two mountains with peaks.
रोषात्प्रस्फुरमाणोष्ठौ निरीक्षन्तौ परस्परम् तौ समेतौ महात्मानौ गदाहस्तौ नरोत्तमौ
AI Translation: With lips quivering with anger, they looked at each other. Those two great souls, those best of men, holding clubs in their hands, were together.
उभौ परमसंहृष्टावुभौ परमसंमतौ सदश्वाविव हेषन्तौ बृंहन्ताविव कुञ्जरौ
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana and Vrikodara then resembled two good horses neighing at each other, or two elephants grunting at each other.
वृषभाविव गर्जन्तौ दुर्योधनवृकोदरौ दैत्याविव बलोन्मत्तौ रेजतुस्तौ नरोत्तमौ
AI Translation: The two, Duryodhana and Vrikodara, roared like bulls. Those two best of men shone like the two intoxicated demons.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजन्निदमाह युधिष्ठिरम् सृञ्जयैः सह तिष्ठन्तं तपन्तमिव भास्करम्
AI Translation: Then, O king, Duryodhana said this to Yudhishthira, who was sitting with the Srinjayas, shining like the sun.
Supplementary Passages:
9.54.38 After 38b, B D (except D11) Ca ins.: *317 भ्रातृभिः सहितं चैव कृष्णेन च महात्मना रामेणामितवीर्येण वाक्यं शौण्डीर्यसंमतम् For 38cd, B Dn D1-3.5-10 subst.: *318 केकयैः सृञ्जयैर्गुप्तं पाञ्चालैश्च महात्मभिः
इदं व्यवसितं युद्धं मम भीमस्य चोभयोः उपोपविष्टाः पश्यध्वं विमर्दं नृपसत्तमाः
AI Translation: This battle has been decided between me and Bhima. O best of kings, sit down and watch the fight.
Supplementary Passages:
9.54.39 After 39, B D (except D11) ins.: *319 श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनवचः प्रत्यपद्यन्त तत्तथा
ततः समुपविष्टं तत्सुमहद्राजमण्डलम् विराजमानं ददृशे दिवीवादित्यमण्डलम्
AI Translation: Then the great assembly of kings, having sat down, was seen shining like the orb of the sun in the sky.
तेषां मध्ये महाबाहुः श्रीमान्केशवपूर्वजः उपविष्टो महाराज पूज्यमानः समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: In the midst of that assemblage the mightyarmed and beautiful elder brother of Keshava, O king, as he sat down, was all adored by all around him.
शुशुभे राजमध्यस्थो नीलवासाः सितप्रभः नक्षत्रैरिव संपूर्णो वृतो निशि निशाकरः
M. N. Dutt: In the midst of those kings, Baladeva clad in blue raiment and possessed of a fair complexion shone like the full moon surrounded in the night by thousands of stars.
तौ तथा तु महाराज गदाहस्तौ दुरासदौ अन्योन्यं वाग्भिरुग्राभिस्तक्षमाणौ व्यवस्थितौ
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile those two heroes, O king, both armed with maces, and both unbearable by foes, stood there, exasperating each other with fierce speeches.
अप्रियाणि ततोऽन्योन्यमुक्त्वा तौ कुरुपुंगवौ उदीक्षन्तौ स्थितौ वीरौ वृत्रशक्राविवाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Having addressed each other with unpleasant words, those two heroes of Kuru's race stood, looking angrily upon each other, like Shakra and Vritra in fight."