Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततो वाग्युद्धमभवत्तुमुलं जनमेजय यत्र दुःखान्वितो राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said “At the outset, O Janamejaya, a dreadful encounter of words took place between the two heroes. With respect to that, king Dhritarashtra, filled with grief, said thisधिगस्तु खलु मानुष्यं यस्य निष्ठेयमीदृशी।
Supplementary Passages:
9.55.1 After 1a, T2 ins.: *320 तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् क्रोधसंवर्धनं निष्ठाम् (sic)
धिगस्तु खलु मानुष्यं यस्य निष्ठेयमीदृशी एकादशचमूभर्ता यत्र पुत्रो ममाभिभूः
AI Translation: Shame on this human life, whose end is such! Here my son, the lord of eleven armies, is overcome.
आज्ञाप्य सर्वान्नृपतीन्भुक्त्वा चेमां वसुंधराम् गदामादाय वेगेन पदातिः प्रस्थितो रणम्
M. N. Dutt: He had all the kings under his command and had enjoyed the sovereignty of the whole Earth! Alas, he that had been so, was now reduced to a warrior proceeding to battle, on foot, shouldering his mace.
भूत्वा हि जगतो नाथो ह्यनाथ इव मे सुतः गदामुद्यम्य यो याति किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: Having become the protector of the world, my son is like a helpless one. What else can be done but fate, when one raises a club and goes forth?
अहो दुःखं महत्प्राप्तं पुत्रेण मम संजय एवमुक्त्वा स दुःखार्तो विरराम जनाधिपः
AI Translation: O Sanjaya, what a great sorrow has befallen me on account of my son. Having said this, the king, afflicted with grief, stopped.
संजय उवाच स मेघनिनदो हर्षाद्विनदन्निव गोवृषः आजुहाव ततः पार्थं युद्धाय युधि वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Having a voice deep like a cloud, Duryodhana then roared from joy like a bull. Possessed of great energy, he challenged the son of Pritha to battle.
भीममाह्वयमाने तु कुरुराजे महात्मनि प्रादुरासन्सुघोराणि रूपाणि विविधान्युत
M. N. Dutt: When the great king of the Kurus thus summoned Bhima to the encounter, various awful portents appeared there.
Supplementary Passages:
9.55.7 After 7b, T2 ins. (cf. 6c-7b): *321 आजुहाव ततो भीमो युद्धाय च सुयोधनम् एवमाह्वयमाने तु भीमसेने महात्मनि
ववुर्वाताः सनिर्घाताः पांसुवर्षं पपात च बभूवुश्च दिशः सर्वास्तिमिरेण समावृताः
M. N. Dutt: Fierce winds began to blow with loud noises at intervals, and a shower of dust fell. All the points of the compass were covered with a thick darkness.
महास्वनाः सनिर्घातास्तुमुला रोमहर्षणाः पेतुस्तथोल्काः शतशः स्फोटयन्त्यो नभस्तलम्
M. N. Dutt: Thunder-bolts of loud noise dropped on all sides, causing a great confusion and making the very hair to stand on end. Hundreds of meteors fell, with a loud noise from the sky.
राहुश्चाग्रसदादित्यमपर्वणि विशां पते चकम्पे च महाकम्पं पृथिवी सवनद्रुमा
M. N. Dutt: Rahu devoured the Sun most untimely, O king! The Earth with her forest and trees shook violently.
रूक्षाश्च वाताः प्रववुर्नीचैः शर्करवर्षिणः गिरीणां शिखराण्येव न्यपतन्त महीतले
M. N. Dutt: Hot winds blew, carrying showers of hard pebbles along the ground. The summits of mountains dropped down on the Earth's surfacc.
मृगा बहुविधाकाराः संपतन्ति दिशो दश दीप्ताः शिवाश्चाप्यनदन्घोररूपाः सुदारुणाः
M. N. Dutt: Various Animals were seen to run in various directions. Terrible and fierce jackals, with firing mouths, yelled piteously.
निर्घाताश्च महाघोरा बभूवू रोमहर्षणाः दीप्तायां दिशि राजेन्द्र मृगाश्चाशुभवादिनः
M. N. Dutt: Loud and terrific hair-stirring sounds were heard on every side, the four quarters seemed to be on fire, and many animals of ill omen became visible.
उदपानगताश्चापो व्यवर्धन्त समन्ततः अशरीरा महानादाः श्रूयन्ते स्म तदा नृप
M. N. Dutt: The water in the wells on all sides swelled up. Loud sounds came from every side without, O king, none to utter them being visible.
एवमादीनि दृष्ट्वाथ निमित्तानि वृकोदरः उवाच भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding these and other evil omens Vrikodara said to his eldest brother, king
नैष शक्तो रणे जेतुं मन्दात्मा मां सुयोधनः अद्य क्रोधं विमोक्ष्यामि निगूढं हृदये चिरम् सुयोधने कौरवेन्द्रे खाण्डवे पावको यथा
M. N. Dutt: This wicked Suyodhana is not able to defeat me in battle. I shall to-day vomit that vie, which I have been cherishing for a long time in the recesses of my heart, upon this lord of the Kurus like Arjuna throwing fire upon the forest of Khandava! To-day, O son of Pandu, I shall take out the dart that lies sticking to thy heart!
शल्यमद्योद्धरिष्यामि तव पाण्डव हृच्छयम् निहत्य गदया पापमिमं कुरुकुलाधमम्
AI Translation: I shall today remove your grief, O son of Pandu, by killing Shalya. Having killed this wicked one, the lowest of the Kuru clan, with my mace,
अद्य कीर्तिमयीं मालां प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं त्वयि हत्वेमं पापकर्माणं गदया रणमूर्धनि
AI Translation: Today I shall place a garland of fame on you, having killed this evil-doer with my mace on the battlefield.
अद्यास्य शतधा देहं भिनद्मि गदयानया नायं प्रवेष्टा नगरं पुनर्वारणसाह्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Killing this sinful person with my mace on the field of battle, I shall to-day, with this very mace of mine, break his body into a hundred pieces! He shall not have again to enter the city of Hastinapur!
सर्पोत्सर्गस्य शयने विषदानस्य भोजने प्रमाणकोट्यां पातस्य दाहस्य जतुवेश्मनि
AI Translation: The release of snakes, the poison of food, the fall from the edge of a precipice, the burning in a house of reeds,
सभायामवहासस्य सर्वस्वहरणस्य च वर्षमज्ञातवासस्य वनवासस्य चानघ
AI Translation: In the assembly, of ridicule, of the taking away of all one's wealth, Of living in the forest for a year incognito, of living in the forest, O sinless one,
Supplementary Passages:
9.55.21 After 21, D5 ins.: *322 द्रौपद्याः क्लेशदानस्य वस्त्रसंहरणस्य च
अद्यान्तमेषां दुःखानां गन्ता भरतसत्तम एकाह्ना विनिहत्येमं भविष्याम्यात्मनोऽनृणः
AI Translation: O best of the Bharata lineage, today I will put an end to all these sufferings. By killing him in a single day, I will become free from debt to myself.
अद्यायुर्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेरकृतात्मनः समाप्तं भरतश्रेष्ठ मातापित्रोश्च दर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: To-day the lease of life, of this wicked son of Dhritarashtra, of impure soul, has reached its end, O Bharata's chief. After this day he shall not again look at his father and mother!
Supplementary Passages:
9.55.23 After 23, D2.4.5 (marg.).6-10 ins.: *323 अद्य सौख्यं तु राजेन्द्र कुरुराजस्य दुर्मतेः समाप्तं च महाराज नारीणां दर्शनं पुनः
अद्यायं कुरुराजस्य शंतनोः कुलपांसनः प्राणाञ्श्रियं च राज्यं च त्यक्त्वा शेष्यति भूतले
M. N. Dutt: To-day this disgrace of Shantanu's race shall sleep on the naked Earth, his life, his prosperity, and his kingdom gone!
राजा च धृतराष्ट्रोऽद्य श्रुत्वा पुत्रं मया हतम् स्मरिष्यत्यशुभं कर्म यत्तच्छकुनिबुद्धिजम्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing of the fall of his son to-day, king Dhritarashtra also shall recollect all those evil acts that were the creations of Shakuni!'
इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूल गदामादाय वीर्यवान् अवातिष्ठत युद्धाय शक्रो वृत्रमिवाह्वयन्
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words, ( foremost of kings, the highly energetic, Vrikodara armed with mace, stood for fight, like Shakra challenging the Asura Vritra.
तमुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम् भीमसेनः पुनः क्रुद्धो दुर्योधनमुवाच ह
AI Translation: Seeing him raise his mace, like a horned one on Kailash, Bhimasena, again angry, spoke to Duryodhana,
राज्ञश्च धृतराष्ट्रस्य तथा त्वमपि चात्मनः स्मर तद्दुष्कृतं कर्म यद्वृत्तं वारणावते
AI Translation: And of King Dhritarashtra, and of yourself, Remember that evil deed that took place in Varanavata.
Supplementary Passages:
9.55.28 After 28a, T2 ins.: *324 तव हेतोर्दुरात्मनः सर्वेषामपि चास्माकं दुःखं प्राप्तं सुदुर्मते
द्रौपदी च परिक्लिष्टा सभायां यद्रजस्वला द्यूते च वञ्चितो राजा यत्त्वया सौबलेन च
M. N. Dutt: Remember the ill-treatment of Draupadi, while in her season, in the midst of the assembly! Remember how yourself and Subala's son deprived the king at dice.
वने दुःखं च यत्प्राप्तमस्माभिस्त्वत्कृतं महत् विराटनगरे चैव योन्यन्तरगतैरिव तत्सर्वं यातयाम्यद्य दिष्ट्या दृष्टोऽसि दुर्मते
M. N. Dutt: Remember the great misfortune suffered by L'S, for you, in the forest, as also in Virata's city, as if we had once more entered the womb! I shall avenge them all to-day. By good luck, I see you to-day!
त्वत्कृतेऽसौ हतः शेते शरतल्पे प्रतापवान् गाङ्गेयो रथिनां श्रेष्ठो निहतो याज्ञसेनिना
M. N. Dutt: It is for you that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the highly powerful son of Ganga, struck down by Yajnasena's son, sleep on a bed of arrows.
हतो द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च तथा शल्यः प्रतापवान् वैराग्नेरादिकर्ता च शकुनिः सौबलो हतः
M. N. Dutt: Drona also has been killed, and Karna, and Shalya of great prowess! Subala's son Shakuni too, that root of all this evil has been killed!
प्रातिकामी तथा पापो द्रौपद्याः क्लेशकृद्धतः भ्रातरस्ते हताः सर्वे शूरा विक्रान्तयोधिनः
M. N. Dutt: The wretched Pratikamin, who had seized Draupadi by her hair, has been killed! All your brave brothers also, who fought with great velour, have been killed!
एते चान्ये च बहवो निहतास्त्वत्कृते नृपाः त्वामद्य निहनिष्यामि गदया नात्र संशयः
M. N. Dutt: These and many other kings have been killed through your fault! I shall kill you to-day with my mace! There is not the least doubt about it!'
इत्येवमुच्चै राजेन्द्र भाषमाणं वृकोदरम् उवाच वीतभी राजन्पुत्रस्ते सत्यविक्रमः
AI Translation: Thus speaking loudly, O king, to Vrikódara, Your son, O king, of true valour, free from fear, said,
किं कत्थितेन बहुधा युध्यस्व त्वं वृकोदर अद्य तेऽहं विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धां कुलाधम
AI Translation: What is the use of boasting? Fight with me, O Vrikodara. Today I shall destroy your pride in fighting, O lowest of families.
Supplementary Passages:
9.55.36 After 36, T2 ins.: *325 इति दुर्योधनेनोक्तः प्रत्युवाच वृकोदरः
नैव दुर्योधनः क्षुद्र केनचित्त्वद्विधेन वै शक्यस्त्रासयितुं वाचा यथान्यः प्राकृतो नरः
M. N. Dutt: Mean as you are, know that Duryodhana is not capable, like an ordinary person, of being terrified by a person like you!
चिरकालेप्सितं दिष्ट्या हृदयस्थमिदं मम त्वया सह गदायुद्धं त्रिदशैरुपपादितम्
M. N. Dutt: For a long time have I cherished this desire! For a long time I have been cherishing this desire! By good fortune the goods have at last brought it about!
किं वाचा बहुनोक्तेन कत्थितेन च दुर्मते वाणी संपद्यतामेषा कर्मणा मा चिरं कृथाः
AI Translation: What is the use of much talk, of boasting, O evil-minded one? Let this speech be accomplished, and do not delay in your action.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्व एवाभ्यपूजयन् राजानः सोमकाश्चैव ये तत्रासन्समागताः
AI Translation: Hearing his words, all of them honored him. The kings and the Somakas who had assembled there,
ततः संपूजितः सर्वैः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः भूयो धीरं मनश्चक्रे युद्धाय कुरुनन्दनः
M. N. Dutt: Lauded by all, Duryodha's hair stood erect with joy, and he made of his mind for fight.
तं मत्तमिव मातङ्गं तलतालैर्नराधिपाः भूयः संहर्षयां चक्रुर्दुर्योधनममर्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: The kings present once again cheered your wrathful son with claps like persons exciting a mad elephant to a fight.
तं महात्मा महात्मानं गदामुद्यम्य पाण्डवः अभिदुद्राव वेगेन धार्तराष्ट्रं वृकोदरः
M. N. Dutt: Then uplifting his mace, the great Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, rushed furiously at your high-souled son.
बृंहन्ति कुञ्जरास्तत्र हया हेषन्ति चासकृत् शस्त्राणि चाप्यदीप्यन्त पाण्डवानां जयैषिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: The elephants present there grunted aloud and the horses neighed repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas, who were eager for victory, shone resplendent with their own luster.