Critical Edition
संजय उवाच वातिकानां सकाशात्तु श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनं हतम् हतशिष्टास्ततो राजन्कौरवाणां महारथाः
AI Translation: Sanjaya said: Having heard from the Vātika soldiers that Duryodhana was killed, Then, O king, the remaining great warriors of the Kauravas,
विनिर्भिन्नाः शितैर्बाणैर्गदातोमरशक्तिभिः अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः त्वरिता जवनैरश्वैरायोधनमुपागमन्
AI Translation: Pierced by sharp arrows, clubs, javelins and spears, Ashvatthama, Kripa and the Satvata Kritavarman, Swiftly approached the battlefield on their swift horses.
तत्रापश्यन्महात्मानं धार्तराष्ट्रं निपातितम् प्रभग्नं वायुवेगेन महाशालं यथा वने
AI Translation: There he saw the great-souled son of Dhritarashtra fallen down, Broken like a great tree in the forest by the force of the wind.
भूमौ विवेष्टमानं तं रुधिरेण समुक्षितम् महागजमिवारण्ये व्याधेन विनिपातितम्
AI Translation: Lying on the ground, covered with blood, like a great elephant fallen in the forest by a hunter,
विवर्तमानं बहुशो रुधिरौघपरिप्लुतम् यदृच्छया निपतितं चक्रमादित्यगोचरम्
AI Translation: It was rolling around, flooded with a mass of blood, And by chance, it fell into the range of the sun's rays.
महावातसमुत्थेन संशुष्कमिव सागरम् पूर्णचन्द्रमिव व्योम्नि तुषारावृतमण्डलम्
AI Translation: Like the ocean dried up by a great wind, Like the full moon in the sky covered by a circle of frost,
रेणुध्वस्तं दीर्घभुजं मातङ्गसमविक्रमम् वृतं भूतगणैर्घोरैः क्रव्यादैश्च समन्ततः यथा धनं लिप्समानैर्भृत्यैर्नृपतिसत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Around hiin were many terrible creatures and carnivorous animals, like satellites sceking wealth around a king in state.
भ्रुकुटीकृतवक्त्रान्तं क्रोधादुद्वृत्तचक्षुषम् सामर्षं तं नरव्याघ्रं व्याघ्रं निपतितं यथा
M. N. Dutt: His forehead was contracted into furrows of rage and his eyes were rolling in anger. They saw the king, that foremost of men, full of rage, like a tiger struck down (by hunters).
ते तु दृष्ट्वा महेष्वासा भूतले पतितं नृपम् मोहमभ्यागमन्सर्वे कृपप्रभृतयो रथाः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the king laid low on the Earth, those great bow-inen, viz., Kripa and others became stupefied.
अवतीर्य रथेभ्यस्तु प्राद्रवन्राजसंनिधौ दुर्योधनं च संप्रेक्ष्य सर्वे भूमावुपाविशन्
M. N. Dutt: Getting down from their cars, they ran towards the king. Seeing Duryodhana, all of them sat on the Earth around him.
ततो द्रौणिर्महाराज बाष्पपूर्णेक्षणः श्वसन् उवाच भरतश्रेष्ठं सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Drona's son, O king, with eyes full of tears and sighting like a snake, said these words to that chief of Bharata's race, that foremost of all the kings on Earth.
न नूनं विद्यतेऽसह्यं मानुष्ये किंचिदेव हि यत्र त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र शेषे पांसुषु रूषितः
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, there is nothing permanent in the world of men, since you, O foremost of men, lic on the mother Earth covered with dust.
भूत्वा हि नृपतिः पूर्वं समाज्ञाप्य च मेदिनीम् कथमेकोऽद्य राजेन्द्र तिष्ठसे निर्जने वने
M. N. Dutt: You were a king who had issued your commands to all the world! Why then, O foremost of kings, do you lie alone on the bare ground?
दुःशासनं न पश्यामि नापि कर्णं महारथम् नापि तान्सुहृदः सर्वान्किमिदं भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: I do not see Dussasana by you, nor the great car-warrior Karna, nor those hundreds of your friends. What is this, O foremost of men?
दुःखं नूनं कृतान्तस्य गतिं ज्ञातुं कथंचन लोकानां च भवान्यत्र शेते पांसुषु रूषितः
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, it is difficult to learn the ways of Yama, since you, O lord of all the world, thus lie on the bare ground covered with dust.
एष मूर्धावसिक्तानामग्रे गत्वा परंतपः सतृणं ग्रसते पांसुं पश्य कालस्य पर्ययम्
M. N. Dutt: Alas, this destroyer of foes used to trample at the head of all Kshatriyas that had their locks sprinkled with holy water at the time of coronation. Alas, he now eats the dust. Witness the reverses of fortune that time brings.
क्व ते तदमलं छत्रं व्यजनं क्व च पार्थिव सा च ते महती सेना क्व गता पार्थिवोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Where is that pure white umbrella of yours? Where is that fanning yak-tail also, O king? Where is that vast army of yours now gone, O best of kings?
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.17 After 17c, T2 ins.: *389 गजाश्वरथसंकुला सामन्तराजसंयुक्ता After 17, T2 ins.: *390 भ्रातरस्ते महाराज वीर्यशक्रसमा युधि शत्रूणां च निहन्तारो महाबलपराक्रमाः क्व गताः पार्थिवेन्द्राद्य सौभ्रात्रं च समाश्रितम् तव पुत्रा महाभाग लक्ष्मणाद्या महारथाः पूर्णेन्दुसदृशा वीराः शान्तिसौन्दर्यकान्तिभिः कृतवान्नृपशार्दूल जयन्तसमविक्रमम्
दुर्विज्ञेया गतिर्नूनं कार्याणां कारणान्तरे यद्वै लोकगुरुर्भूत्वा भवानेतां दशां गतः
M. N. Dutt: The course of events is, forsooth, a mystery, since you, who were the master of the world, have been reduced to this state.
अध्रुवा सर्वमर्त्येषु ध्रुवं श्रीरुपलक्ष्यते भवतो व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा शक्रविस्पर्धिनो भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, the prosperity of all mortals is very unstable, since you, who were equal unto Shakra himself, have now been reduced to such a miserable condition.'
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.19 After 19b, T2 ins.: *391 ध्रुवेव भाति सर्वत्र नित्यं मोहकरी नृणाम् विवेकिभिर्नृभिर्नित्यं चिन्त्यमाना विशेषतः न तु विश्वसेन्नित्यां वै ह्यध्रुवा वै स्वभावतः After 19, T2 ins.: *392 इमं लोकमनित्यं वा ह्यद्याहं समचिन्तये
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दुःखितस्य विशेषतः उवाच राजन्पुत्रस्ते प्राप्तकालमिदं वचः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of Ashvatthaman your son answered himn in words that were suited to the occasion.
विमृज्य नेत्रे पाणिभ्यां शोकजं बाष्पमुत्सृजन् कृपादीन्स तदा वीरान्सर्वानेव नराधिपः
AI Translation: Wiping his eyes with his hands, shedding tears of sorrow, The king then addressed all the heroes, the compassionate ones,
ईदृशो मर्त्यधर्मोऽयं धात्रा निर्दिष्ट उच्यते विनाशः सर्वभूतानां कालपर्यायकारितः
AI Translation: This is the way of the mortal world, as ordained by the Creator. The destruction of all beings is caused by the passage of time.
सोऽयं मां समनुप्राप्तः प्रत्यक्षं भवतां हि यः पृथिवीं पालयित्वाहमेतां निष्ठामुपागतः
M. N. Dutt: That death has now come to me, before you all. I, who governed the whole Earth, I have now been reduced to this miserable state.
दिष्ट्या नाहं परावृत्तो युद्धे कस्यांचिदापदि दिष्ट्याहं निहतः पापैश्छलेनैव विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: By good luck, I never turned back from battle, whatever misfortunes over-took me. By good luck, I have been killed by those sinful men, by the help of deceptive means.
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.24 After 24b, K3 reads 23; while T2 ins.: *393 दिष्ट्याहं नो नृपतिभिर्निर्जितो न कदाचन दिष्ट्या मया निर्जितास्ते राजानो बहुशो युधि After 24c, T2 ins.: *394 पाण्डुपुत्रैर्दुरात्मभिः अधर्मतो गदायुद्धे
उत्साहश्च कृतो नित्यं मया दिष्ट्या युयुत्सता दिष्ट्या चास्मि हतो युद्धे निहतज्ञातिबान्धवः
M. N. Dutt: By good luck, while engaged in hostilities, I always showed courage and perseverance. By good luck, I am killed in battle, along with all my relatives and friends.
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.25 After 25b, T2 ins.: *395 दिष्ट्या हता गजा युद्धे सगजारोहका भृशम् दिष्ट्याश्वा देशजाः सर्वे कृतिनो वेगशालिनः कुशलैः सादिभिः सार्धं निहता रणमूर्धनि दिष्ट्या रणे विनिहता रथा हेमपरिष्कृताः रथिभिर्युद्धकुशलैः सार्धं विदलितैः शरैः दिष्ट्या योधा धनुष्मन्तः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः शरनिर्भिन्नसर्वाङ्गाः समरे पतिताभवन् दिष्ट्या ममायुधान्याशु नाशमायान्ति वै क्षणात्
दिष्ट्या च वोऽहं पश्यामि मुक्तानस्माज्जनक्षयात् स्वस्तियुक्तांश्च कल्यांश्च तन्मे प्रियमनुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: By good luck, I see you escaped alive from this great destruction, and are safe and sound! This is highly pleasing to me!
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.26 After 26b, D8 ins.: *396 स्वस्ति हंतो त्वहं युद्धे निहतज्ञातिबान्धवः
मा भवन्तोऽनुतप्यन्तां सौहृदान्निधनेन मे यदि वेदाः प्रमाणं वो जिता लोका मयाक्षयाः
M. N. Dutt: Do not, from love grieve for me death! If the Vedas are in any way authoritative, I have certainly acquired many eternal regions!
मन्यमानः प्रभावं च कृष्णस्यामिततेजसः तेन न च्यावितश्चाहं क्षत्रधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्
M. N. Dutt: I am not ignorant of the glory of Krishna. He had not made me disregard the Kshatriya duties!
स मया समनुप्राप्तो नास्मि शोच्यः कथंचन कृतं भवद्भिः सदृशमनुरूपमिवात्मनः यतितं विजये नित्यं दैवं तु दुरतिक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: I have obtained him! No one should grieve for me. You have done what persons like you should do. You have always tried for my success. Destiny, however, is incapable of being defeated.'-Having said all this the king, with eyes bathed in tears, became silent, O king, agitated as he was with pain.
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.29 After 29b, D2 ins.: *397 तथा तु दृष्ट्वा राजेन्द्र वर्तते विजयो मम
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः तूष्णीं बभूव राजेन्द्र रुजासौ विह्वलो भृशम्
AI Translation: Having spoken these words, with eyes bewildered by tears, the king became silent, greatly afflicted by pain.
तथा तु दृष्ट्वा राजानं बाष्पशोकसमन्वितम् द्रौणिः क्रोधेन जज्वाल यथा वह्निर्जगत्क्षये
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the king in tear and grief, Drona's son burned in anger like the fire at the universal dissolution.
स तु क्रोधसमाविष्टः पाणौ पाणिं निपीड्य च बाष्पविह्वलया वाचा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: But he, filled with anger, pressing his hand against his hand, with a voice choked with tears, said this to the king:
पिता मे निहतः क्षुद्रैः सुनृशंसेन कर्मणा न तथा तेन तप्यामि यथा राजंस्त्वयाद्य वै
AI Translation: My father was killed by the wicked ones through a very cruel act. I am not so tormented by that as I am by you today, O king.
शृणु चेदं वचो मह्यं सत्येन वदतः प्रभो इष्टापूर्तेन दानेन धर्मेण सुकृतेन च
AI Translation: Listen to these words of mine, O Lord, as I speak truthfully. By means of worship, austerity, charity, virtue, and good deeds,
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.34 After 34b, T2 ins.: *398 अनृणोऽहं भविष्यामि तवाद्य नृपसत्तम तव प्रियं करिष्यामि कृत्वा कार्यमनुत्तमम् ईप्सितं मनसा राजन्यथेच्छसि तथा वद After 34, T2 ins.: *399 शपेयं राजशार्दूल पादाभ्यां मम वै पितुः
अद्याहं सर्वपाञ्चालान्वासुदेवस्य पश्यतः सर्वोपायैर्हि नेष्यामि प्रेतराजनिवेशनम् अनुज्ञां तु महाराज भवान्मे दातुमर्हति
AI Translation: Today, in the presence of Vasudeva, I will kill all the Panchalas. For I will take them all to the abode of the king of the dead by every means. But, great king, you must grant me permission.
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.35 After 35a, T2 ins.: *400 सृञ्जयांश्चैव सर्वशः सर्वांश्च नृपतीन्राजन्धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमान् ससैन्यान्युधिशेषांश्च For 35cd, S (except M3; T3.4 missing) subst.: *401 अद्य रात्रौ महाराज निहनिष्यामि पाण्डवान्
इति श्रुत्वा तु वचनं द्रोणपुत्रस्य कौरवः मनसः प्रीतिजननं कृपं वचनमब्रवीत् आचार्य शीघ्रं कलशं जलपूर्णं समानय
AI Translation: Hearing these words of Drona's son, the Kaurava, pleased in mind, spoke to Kripa: "O teacher, quickly bring a water pot filled with water.
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.36 For 36ab, S (except M3; T3.4 missing) subst.: *402 तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं द्रौणेर्धृतराष्ट्र तवात्मजः
स तद्वचनमाज्ञाय राज्ञो ब्राह्मणसत्तमः कलशं पूर्णमादाय राज्ञोऽन्तिकमुपागमत्
AI Translation: Having understood those words, the best of Brahmins, taking a full pot, approached the king.
तमब्रवीन्महाराज पुत्रस्तव विशां पते ममाज्ञया द्विजश्रेष्ठ द्रोणपुत्रोऽभिषिच्यताम् सेनापत्येन भद्रं ते मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: Your son then, O king, said to Kripa-'Let the son of Drona, O foremost of Brahmanas, blessed by you, if you wish to do me good, be, at my command, appointed as generalissimo.
राज्ञो नियोगाद्योद्धव्यं ब्राह्मणेन विशेषतः वर्तता क्षत्रधर्मेण ह्येवं धर्मविदो विदुः
M. N. Dutt: At the command of the king, even the Brahmana may fight, especially one who leads the life of Kshatriya. Those learned in the scriptures say this.'
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा कृपः शारद्वतस्ततः द्रौणिं राज्ञो नियोगेन सेनापत्येऽभ्यषेचयत्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of the king Kripa, the son of Sharadvat, installed Drona's son as generalissimo, at the mandate of the king.
सोऽभिषिक्तो महाराज परिष्वज्य नृपोत्तमम् प्रययौ सिंहनादेन दिशः सर्वा विनादयन्
M. N. Dutt: After the ceremony, O King, Ashvathaman embraced that best of kings and left the place, having resounded the ten cardinal points with his war-cry.
दुर्योधनोऽपि राजेन्द्र शोणितौघपरिप्लुतः तां निशां प्रतिपेदेऽथ सर्वभूतभयावहाम्
M. N. Dutt: That best of kings, viz., Duryodhana, bathed in blood, began to pass there that night so dreadful to all creatures.
अपक्रम्य तु ते तूर्णं तस्मादायोधनान्नृप शोकसंविग्नमनसश्चिन्ताध्यानपराभवन्
M. N. Dutt: Leaving quickly the field of battle, O king, those horses, with hearts shaken by grief, began to think anxiously and earnestly.
Supplementary Passages:
9.64.43 After 43, T2 ins.: *403 कृतवर्मकृपाभ्यां च अश्वत्थामेऽपि गच्छति आस्ते राजा चिन्तयानस्तेषामागमनं प्रति गदापर्वणि राजेन्द्र समाप्तेऽभीष्टदे नृणाम् ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चाद्वक्तारं च सुपूजयेत्