srimahabharat (Book 9) Shalya Parva chapters 55 to 65

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli



 Shalya  Parva
Book 9

 

Book 9
Chapter 55

 

 

 

 

 1 [vai]
      tato vāg yuddham abhavat tumulaṃ janamejaya
      yatra duḥkhānvito rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro 'bravīd idam
  2 dhig astu khalu mānuṣyaṃ yasya niṣṭheyam īdṛśī
      ekādaśa camū bhartā yatra putro mamābhibhūḥ
  3 ājñāpya sarvān nṛpatīn bhuktvā cemāṃ vasuṃdharām
      gadām ādāya vegena padātiḥ prathito raṇam
  4 bhūtvā hi jagato nātho hy anātha iva me sutaḥ
      gadām udyamya yo yāti kim anyad bhāgadheyataḥ
  5 aho duḥkhaṃ mahat prāptaṃ putreṇa mama saṃjaya
      evam uktvā sa duḥkhārto virarāma janādhipaḥ
  6 [s]
      sa meghaninado harṣād vinadann iva govṛṣaḥ
      ājuhāva tataḥ pārthaṃ yuddhāya yudhi vīryavān
  7 bhīmam āhvayamāne tu kururāje mahātmani
      prādurāsan sughorāṇi rūpāṇi vividhāny uta
  8 vavur vātāḥ sanirghātāḥ pāṃsuvarṣaṃ papāta ca
      babhūvuś ca diśaḥ sarvās timireṇa samāvṛtāḥ
  9 mahāsvanāḥ sanirghātās tumulā lomaharṣaṇāḥ
      petus tatholkāḥ śataśaḥ sphoṭayantyo nabhastalam
  10 rāhuś cāgrasad ādityam aparvaṇi viśāṃ pate
     cakampe ca mahākampaṃ pṛthivī savanadrumā
 11 rūkṣāś ca vātāḥ pravavur nīcaiḥ śarkara varṣiṇaḥ
     girīṇāṃ śikharāṇy eva nyapatanta mahītale
 12 mṛgā bahuvidhākārāḥ saṃpatanti diśo daśa
     dīptāḥ śivāś cāpy anadan ghorarūpāḥ sudāruṇāḥ
 13 nirghātāś ca mahāghorā babhūvur lomaharṣaṇāḥ
     dīptāyāṃ diśi rājendra mṛgāś cāśubha vādinaḥ
 14 udapānagatāś cāpo vyavardhanta samantataḥ
     aśarīrā mahānādāḥ śrūyante sma tadā nṛpa
 15 evamādīni dṛṣṭvātha nimittāni vṛkodaraḥ
     uvāca bhrātaraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
 16 naiṣa śakto raṇe jetuṃ mandātmā māṃ suyodhanaḥ
     adya krodhaṃ vimokṣyāmi nigūḍhaṃ hṛdaye ciram
     suyodhane kauravendre khāṇḍave pāvako yathā
 17 śalyam adyoddhariṣyāmi tava pāṇḍava hṛcchayam
     nihatya gadayā pāpam imaṃ kuru kulādhamam
 18 adya kīrtimayīṃ mālāṃ pratimokṣyāmy ahaṃ tvayi
     hatvemaṃ pāpakarmāṇaṃ gadayā raṇamūrdhani
 19 adyāsya śatadhā dehaṃ bhinadmi gadayānayā
     nāyaṃ praveṣṭā nagaraṃ punar vāraṇasāhvayam
 20 sarpotsargasya śayane viṣadānasya bhojane
     pramāṇa koṭyāṃ pātasyā dāhasya jatu veśmani
 21 sabhāyām avahāsasya sarvasvaharaṇasya ca
     varṣam ajñātavāsasya vanavāsasya cānagha
 22 adyāntam eṣāṃ duḥkhānāṃ gantā bharatasattama
     ekāhnā vinihatyemaṃ bhaviṣyāmy ātmano 'nṛṇaḥ
 23 adyāyur dhārtarāṣṭrasya durmater akṛtātmanaḥ
     samāptaṃ bharataśreṣṭha mātāpitroś ca darśanam
 24 adyāyaṃ kururājasya śaṃtanoḥ kulapāṃsanaḥ
     prāṇāñ śriyaṃ ca rājyaṃ ca tyaktvā śeṣyati bhūtale
 25 rājā ca dhṛtarāṣṭro 'dya śrutvā putraṃ mayā hatam
     smariṣyaty aśubhaṃ karma yat tac chakuni buddhijam
 26 ity uktvā rājaśārdūla gadām ādāya vīryavān
     avātiṣṭhata yuddhāya śakro vṛtram ivāhvayan
 27 tam udyatagadāṃ dṛṣṭvā kailāsam iva śṛṅgiṇam
     bhīmasenaḥ punaḥ kruddho duryodhanam uvāca ha
 28 rājñaś ca dhṛtarāṣṭrasya tathā tvam api cātmanaḥ
     smara tad duṣkṛtaṃ karma yadvṛttaṃ vāraṇāvate
 29 draupadī ca parikliṣṭā sabhāyāṃ yad rajasvalā
     dyūte ca vañcito rājā yat tvayā saubalena ca
 30 vane duḥkhaṃ ca yat prāptam asmābhis tvatkṛtaṃ mahat
     virāṭanagare caiva yonyantaragatair iva
     tat sarvaṃ yātayāmy adya diṣṭyā dṛṣṭo 'si durmate
 31 tvatkṛte 'sau hataḥ śete śaratalpe pratāpavān
     gāṅgeyo rathināṃ śreṣṭho nihato yājñaseninā
 32 hato droṇaś ca karṇaś ca tathā śalyaḥ pratāpavān
     vairāgner ādikartā ca śakuniḥ saubalo hataḥ
 33 prātikāmī tathā pāpo draupadyāḥ kleśakṛd dhataḥ
     bhrātaras te hatāḥ sarve śūrā vikrāntayodhinaḥ
 34 ete cānye ca bahavo nihatās tvatkṛte nṛpāḥ
     tvām adya nihaniṣyāmi gadayā nātra saṃśayaḥ
 35 ity evam uccai rājendra bhāṣamāṇaṃ vṛkodaram
     uvāca vītabhī rājan putras te satyavikramaḥ
 36 kiṃ katthitena bahudhā yudhyasva tvaṃ vṛkodara
     adya te 'haṃ vineṣyāmi yuddhaśraddhāṃ kulādhama
 37 naiva duryodhanaḥ kṣudra kena cit tvadvidhena vai
     śaktyas trāsayituṃ vācā yathānyaḥ prākṛto naraḥ
 38 cirakālepsitaṃ diṣṭyā hṛdayastham idaṃ mama
     tvayā saha gadāyuddhaṃ tridaśair upapāditam
 39 kiṃ vācā bahunoktena katthitena ca durmate
     vāṇī saṃpadyatām eṣā karmaṇā māciraṃ kṛthāḥ
 40 tasyā tad vacanaṃ śrutvā sarva evābhyapūjayan
     rājānaḥ somakāś caiva ye tatrāsan samāgatāḥ
 41 tataḥ saṃpūjitaḥ sarvaiḥ saṃprahṛṣṭatanū ruhaḥ
     bhūyo dhīraṃ manaś cakre yuddhāya kurunandanaḥ
 42 taṃ mattam iva mātaṅgaṃ talatālair narādhipāḥ
     bhūyaḥ saṃharṣayāṃ cakrur duryodhanam amarṣaṇam
 43 taṃ mahātmā mahātmānaṃ gadām udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ
     abhidudrāva vegena dhārtarāṣṭraṃ vṛkodaraḥ
 44 bṛṃhanti kuñjarās tatra hayā heṣanti cāsakṛt
     śastrāṇi cāpy adīpyanta pāṇḍavānāṃ jayaiṣiṇām

 

55

Vaishampayana said, "Even thus, O Janamejaya, did that terrible battle take place. King Dhritarashtra, in great sorrow, said these words with reference to it:
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Beholding Rama approach that spot when the mace-fight was about to happen, how, O Sanjaya, did my son fight Bhima?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding the presence of Rama, thy valiant son, Duryodhana of mighty arms, desirous of battle, became full of joy. Seeing the hero of the plough, king Yudhishthira, O Bharata, stood up and duly honoured him, feeling great joy the while. He gave him a seat and enquired about his welfare. Rama then answered Yudhishthira in these sweet and righteous words that were highly beneficial to heroes, "I have heard it said by the Rishis, O best of kings, that Kurukshetra is a highly sacred and sin-cleansing spot, equal to heaven itself, adored by gods and Rishis and high-souled Brahmanas! Those men that cast off their bodies while engaged in battle on this field, are sure to reside, O sire, in heaven with Shakra himself! I shall, for this, O king, speedily proceed to Samantapanchaka. In the world of gods that spot is known as the northern (sacrificial) altar of Brahman, the Lord of all creatures! He that dies in battle on that eternal and most sacred of spots in the three worlds, is sure to obtain heaven!" Saying, "So be it," O monarch, Kunti's brave son, the lord Yudhishthira, proceeded towards Samantapanchaka. King Duryodhana also, taking up his gigantic mace, wrathfully proceeded on foot with the Pandavas. While proceeding thus, armed with mace and clad in armour, the celestials in the welkin applauded him, saying, "Excellent, Excellent!" The Charanas fleet as air, seeing the Kuru king, became filled with delight. Surrounded by the Pandavas, thy son, the Kuru king, proceeded, assuming the tread of an infuriated elephant. All the points of the compass were filled with the blare of conchs and the loud peals of drums and the leonine roars of heroes. Proceeding with face westwards to the appointed spot, with thy son (in their midst), they scattered themselves on every side when they reached it. That was an excellent tirtha on the southern side of the Sarasvati. The ground there was not sandy and was, therefore, selected for the encounter. Clad in armour, and armed with his mace of gigantic thickness, Bhima, O monarch, assumed the form of the mighty Garuda. With head-gear fastened on his head, and wearing an armour made of gold, licking the corners of his mouth, O monarch, with eyes red in wrath, and breathing hard, thy son, on that field, O king, looked resplendent like the golden Sumeru. Taking up his mace, king Duryodhana of great energy, casting his glances on Bhimasena, challenged him to the encounter like an elephant challenging a rival elephant. Similarly, the valiant Bhima, taking up his adamantine mace, challenged the king like a lion challenging a lion. Duryodhana and Bhima, with uplifted maces, looked in that bottle like two mountains with tall summits. Both of them were exceedingly angry; both were possessed of awful prowess; in encounters with the mace both were disciples of Rohini's intelligent son, both resembled each other in their feats and looked like Maya and Vasava. Both were endued with great strength, both resembled Varuna in achievements. Each resembling Vasudeva, or Rama, or Visravana's son (Ravana), they looked, O monarch, like Madhu and Kaitabha. Each like the other in feats, they looked like Sunda and Upasunda, or Rama and Ravana, or Vali and Sugriva. Those two scorchers of foes looked like Kala and Mrityu. They then ran towards each other like two infuriated elephants, swelling with pride and mad with passion in the season of autumn and longing for the companionship of a she-elephant in her time. Each seemed to vomit upon the other the poison of his wrath like two fiery snakes. Those two chastisers of foes cast the angriest of glances upon each other. Both were tigers of Bharata's race, and each was possessed of great prowess. In encounters with the mace, those two scorchers of foes were invincible like lions. Indeed, O bull of Bharata's race, inspired with desire of victory, they looked like two infuriated elephants. Those heroes were unbearable, like two tigers accoutred with teeth and claws. They were like two uncrossable oceans lashed into fury and bent upon the destruction of creatures, or like two angry Suns risen for consuming everything. Those two mighty car-warriors looked like an Eastern and a Western cloud agitated by the wind, roaring awfully and pouring torrents of rain in the rainy season. Those two high-souled and mighty heroes, both possessed of great splendour and effulgence, looked like two Suns risen at the hour of the universal dissolution. Looking like two enraged tigers or like two roaring masses of clouds, they became as glad as two maned lions. Like two angry elephants or two blazing fires, those two high-souled ones appeared like two mountains with tall summits. With lips swelling with rage and casting keen glances upon each other, those two high-souled and best of men, armed with maces, encountered each other. Both were filled with joy, and each regarded the other as a worthy opponent, and Vrikodara then resembled two goodly steeds neighing at each other, or two elephants trumpeting at each other. Those two foremost of men then looked resplendent like a couple of Daityas swelling with might. Then Duryodhana, O monarch, said these proud words unto Yudhishthira in the midst of his brothers and of the high-souled Krishna and Rama of immeasurable energy, 'Protected by the Kaikeyas and the Srinjayas and the high-souled Pancalas, behold ye with all those foremost of kings, seated together, this battle that is about to take place between me and Bhima!' Hearing these words of Duryodhana, they did as requested. Then that large concourse of kings sat down and was seen to look resplendent like a conclave of celestials in heaven. In the midst of that concourse the mighty-armed and handsome elder brother of Keshava, O monarch, as he sat down, was worshipped by all around him. In the midst of those kings, Valadeva clad in blue robes and possessed of a fair complexion, looked beautiful like the moon at full surrounded in the night by thousands of stars. Meanwhile those two heroes, O monarch, both armed with maces and both unbearable by foes, stood there, goading each other with fierce speeches. Having addressed each other in disagreeable and bitter words, those two foremost of heroes of Kuru's race stood, casting angry glances upon each other, like Shakra and Vritra in fight."

 

 

Book 9
Chapter 56

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tato duryodhano dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaṃ tathāgatam
      pratyudyayāv adīnātmā vegena mahatā nadan
  2 samāpetatur ānadya śṛṅgiṇau vṛṣabhāv iva
      mahānirghāta ghoṣaś ca saṃprahāras tayor abhūt
  3 abhavac ca tayor yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ loma hārṣaṇam
      jigīṣator yudhā anyonyam indra prahrādayor iva
  4 rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgau gadāhastau manasvinau
      dadṛśāte mahātmānau puṣpitāv iva kuṃśukau
  5 tathā tasmin mahāyuddhe vartamāne sudāruṇe
      khadyotasaṃghair iva khaṃ darśanīyaṃ vyarocata
  6 tathā tasmin vartamāne saṃkule tumule bhṛśam
      ubhāv āpi pariśrāntau yudhyamānāv ariṃdamau
  7 tau muhūrtaṃ samāśvasya punar eva paraṃtapau
      abhyahārayatāṃ tatra saṃpragṛhya gade śubhe
  8 tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahāvīryau samāśvastau nararṣabhau
      balinau vāraṇau yadvad vāśitārthe madotkaṭau
  9 apāravīryau saṃprekṣya pragṛhītagadāv ubhau
      vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmur devagandharvadānavāḥ
  10 pragṛhītagadau dṛṣṭvā duryodhana vṛkodarau
     sāṃśayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ vijaye samapadyata
 11 samāgamya tato bhūyo bhrātarau balināṃ varau
     anyonyasyāntara prepsū pracakrāte 'ntaraṃ prati
 12 yamadaṇḍopamāṃ gurvīm indrāśanim ivodyatām
     dadṛśuḥ prekṣakā rājan raudrīṃ viśasanīṃ gadām
 13 āvidhyato gadāṃ tasya bhīmasenasya saṃyuge
     śabdaḥ sutumulo ghoro muhūrtaṃ samapadyata
 14 āvidhyantam abhiprekṣya dhārtarāṣṭro 'tha pāṇḍavam
     gadām alaghu vegāṃ tāṃ vismitaḥ saṃbabhūva ha
 15 caraṃś ca vividhān mārgān maṇḍalāni ca bhārata
     aśobhata tadā vīro bhūya eva vṛkodaraḥ
 16 tau parasparam āsādya yat tāv anyonyarakṣaṇe
     mārjārāv iva bhakṣārthe tatakṣāte muhur muhuḥ
 17 acarad bhīmasenas tu mārgān bahuvidhāṃs tathā
     maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi sthānāni vividhāni ca
 18 gomūtrikāṇi citrāṇi gatapratyāgatāni ca
     parimokṣaṃ prahārāṇāṃ varjanaṃ paridhāvanam
 19 abhidravaṇam ākṣepam avasthānaṃ savigraham
     parāvartana saṃvartam avaplutam athāplutam
     upanyastam apanyastaṃ gadāyuddhaviśāradau
 20 evaṃ tau vicarantau tu nyaghnatāṃ vai parasparam
     vañcayantau punaś caiva ceratuḥ kurusattamau
 21 vikrīḍantau subalinau maṇḍalāni praceratuḥ
     gadāhastau tatas tau tu maṇḍalāvasthitau balī
 22 dakṣiṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ rājan dhārtarāṣṭro 'bhyavartata
     savyaṃ tu maṇḍalaṃ tatra bhīmaseno 'bhyavartata
 23 tathā tu caratas tasya bhīmasya raṇamūrdhani
     duryodhano mahārāja pārśvadeśe 'bhyatāḍayat
 24 āhatas tu tadā bhīmas tava putreṇa bhārata
     āvidhyata gadāṃ gurvīṃ prahāraṃ tam acintayan
 25 indrāśanisamāṃ ghorāṃ yamadaṇḍam ivodyatām
     dadṛśus te mahārāja bhīmasenasya tāṃ gadām
 26 āvidhyantaṃ gadāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaṃ tavātmajaḥ
     samudyamyā gadāṃ ghorāṃ pratyavidhyad ariṃdamaḥ
 27 gadā mārutavegena tava putrasya bhārata
     śabda āsīt sutumulas tejaś ca samajāyata
 28 sa caran vividhān mārgān maṇḍalāni ca bhāgaśaḥ
     samaśobhata tejasvī bhūyo bhīmāt suyodhanaḥ
 29 āviddhā sarvavegena bhīmena mahatī gadā
     sadhūmaṃ sārciṣaṃ cāgniṃ mumocogrā mahāsvanā
 30 ādhūtāṃ bhīmasenena gadāṃ dṛṣṭvā suyodhanaḥ
     adrisāramayīṃ gurvīm āvidhyan bahv aśobhata
 31 gadā mārutavegaṃ hi dṛṣṭvā tasya mahātmanaḥ
     bhayaṃ viveśa pāṇḍūn vai sarvān eva sasomakān
 32 tau darśayantau samare yuddhakrīḍāṃ samantataḥ
     gadābhyāṃ sahasānyonyam ājaghnatur ariṃdamau
 33 tau parasparam āsādya daṃṣṭrābhyāṃ dviradau yathā
     aśobhetāṃ mahārāja śoṇitena pariplutau
 34 evaṃ tad abhavad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpam asaṃvṛtam
     parivṛtte 'hani krūraṃ vṛtravāsavayor iva
 35 dṛṣṭvā vyavasthitaṃ bhīmaṃ tava putro mahābalaḥ
     caraṃś citratarān mārgān kaunteyam abhidudruve
 36 tasya bhīmo mahāvegāṃ jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtām
     abhikruddhasya kruddhas tu tāḍayām āsa tāṃ gadām
 37 savisphuliṅgo nirhrādas tayos tatrābhighātajaḥ
     prādurāsīn mahārāja sṛṣṭayor vajrayor iva
 38 vegavatyā tayā tatra bhīmasenapramuktayā
     nipatantyā mahārāja pṛthivīsamakampata
 39 tāṃ nāmṛṣyata kauravyo gadāṃ pratihatāṃ raṇe
     matto dvipa iva kruddhaḥ pratijuñjara darśanāt
 40 sa savyaṃ maṇḍalaṃ rājann udbhrāmya kṛtaniścayaḥ
     ājaghne mūrdhni kaunteyaṃ gadayā bhīmavegayā
 41 tayā tv abhihato bhīmaḥ putreṇa tava pāṇḍavaḥ
     nākampata mahārāja tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 42 āścaryaṃ cāpi tad rājan sarvasainyāny apūjayan
     yad gadābhihato bhīmo nākampata padāt padam
 43 tato gurutarāṃ dīptāṃ gadāṃ hemapariṣkṛtām
     duryodhanāya vyasṛjad bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ
 44 taṃ prahāram asaṃbhrānto lāghavena mahābalaḥ
     moghaṃ duryodhanaś cakre tatrābhūd vismayo mahān
 45 sā tu moghā gadā rājan patantī bhīma coditā
     cālayām āsa pṛthivīṃ mahānirghāta nisvanā
 46 āsthāya kauśikān mārgān utpatan sa punaḥ punaḥ
     gadā nipātaṃ prajñāya bhīmasenam avañcayat
 47 vañcayitvā tathā bhīmaṃ gadayā kurusattamaḥ
     tāḍayām āsa saṃkruddho vakṣo deśe mahābalaḥ
 48 gadayābhihato bhīmo muhyamāno mahāraṇe
     nābhyamanyata kartavyaṃ putreṇābhyāhatas tava
 49 tasmiṃs tathā vartamāne rājan somaka pāṇḍavāḥ
     bhṛśopahata saṃkalpā nahṛṣṭa manaso 'bhavan
 50 sa tu tena prahāreṇa mātaṅga iva roṣitaḥ
     hastivad dhasti saṃkāśam abhidudrāva te sutam
 51 tatas tu rabhaso bhīmo gadayā tanayaṃ tava
     abhidudrāva vegena siṃho vanagajaṃ yathā
 52 upasṛtya tu rājānaṃ gadā mokṣaviśāradaḥ
     āvidhyata gadāṃ rājan samuddiśya sutaṃ tava
 53 atāḍayad bhīmasenaḥ pārśve duryodhanaṃ tadā
     sa vihvalaḥ prahāreṇa jānubhyām agaman mahīm
 54 tasmiṃs tu bharataśreṣṭhe jānubhyām avanīṃ gate
     udatiṣṭhat tato nādaḥ sṛñjayānāṃ jagatpate
 55 teṣāṃ tu ninadaṃ śrutvā sṛñjayānāṃ nararṣabhaḥ
     amarṣād bharataśreṣṭha putras te samakupyata
 56 utthāya tu mahābāhuḥ kruddho nāga iva śvasan
     didhakṣann iva netrābhyāṃ bhīmasenam avaikṣata
 57 tataḥ sa bharataśreṣṭho gadāpāṇir abhidravat
     pramathiṣyann iva śiro bhīmasenasya saṃyuge
 58 sa mahātmā mahātmānaṃ bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramaḥ
     atāḍayac chaṅkhadeśe sa cacālācalopamaḥ
 59 sa bhūyaḥ śuśubhe pārthas tāḍito gadayā raṇe
     udbhinna rudhiro rājan prabhinna iva kuñjaraḥ
 60 tato gadāṃ vīra haṇīm ayo mayīṃ; pragṛhya vajrāśanitulyanisvanām
     atāḍayac chatrum amitrakarśano; balena vikramya dhanaṃjayāgrajaḥ
 61 sa bhīmasenābhihatas tavātmajaḥ; papāta saṃkampita dehabandhanaḥ
     supuṣpito mārutavegatāḍito; mahāvane sāla ivāvaghūrṇitaḥ
 62 tataḥ praṇedur jahṛṣuś ca pāṇḍavāḥ; samīkṣya putraṃ patitaṃ kṣitau tava
     tatha sutas te pratilabhya cetanāṃ; samutpapāta dvirado yathā hradāt
 63 sa pārthivo nityam amarṣitas tadā; mahārathaḥ śikṣitavat paribhraman
     atāḍayat pāṇḍavam agrataḥ sthitaṃ; sa vihvalāṅgo jagatīm upāspṛśat
 64 sa smiha nādān vinanāda kauravo; nipātya bhūmau yudhi bhīmam ojasā
     bibheda caivāśani tulyatejasā; gadā nipātena śarīrarakṣaṇam
 65 tato 'ntarikṣe ninado mahān abhūd; divaukasām apsarasāṃ ca neduṣām
     papāta coccara mara praveritaṃ; vicitrapuṣpotkara varṣam uttamam
 66 tataḥ parān āviśad uttamaṃ bhayaṃ; samīkṣya bhūmau patitaṃ narottamam
     ahīyamānaṃ ca balena kauravaṃ; niśamya bhedaṃ ca dṛḍhasya varmaṇaḥ
 67 tato muhūrtād upalabhya cetanāṃ; pramṛjya vaktraṃ rudhirārdham ātmanaḥ
     dhṛtiṃ samālambya vivṛttalocano; balena saṃstabhya vṛkodaraḥ sthitaḥ

 

56

Vaishampayana said, "At the outset, O Janamejaya a fierce wordy encounter took place between the two heroes. With respect to that, king Dhritarashtra, filled with grief, said this, 'Oh, fie on man, who hath such an end! My son, O sinless one, had been the lord of eleven chamus of troops He had all the kings under his command and had enjoyed the sovereignty of the whole earth! Alas, he that had been so, now a warrior proceeding to battle, on foot, shouldering his mace! My poor son, who had before been the protector of the universe, was now himself without protection! Alas, he had, on that occasion, to proceed on foot, shouldering his mace! What can it be but Destiny? Alas, O Sanjaya, great was the grief that was felt by my son now!' Having uttered these words, that ruler of men, afflicted with great woe, became silent.
"Sanjaya said, 'Deep-voiced like a cloud, Duryodhana then roared from joy like a bull. Possessed of great energy, he challenged the son of Pritha to battle. When the high-souled king of the Kurus thus summoned Bhima to the encounter, diverse portents of an awful kind became noticeable. Fierce winds began to blow with loud noises at intervals, and a shower of dust fell. All the points of the compass became enveloped in a thick gloom. Thunderbolts of loud peal fell on all sides, causing a great confusion and making the very hair to stand on end. Hundreds of meteors fell, bursting with a loud noise from the welkin. Rahu swallowed the Sun most untimely, O monarch! The Earth with her forests and trees shook greatly. Hot winds blew, bearing showers of hard pebbles along the ground. The summits of mountains fell down on the earth's surface. Animals of diverse forms were seen to run in all directions. Terrible and fierce jackals, with blazing mouths, howled everywhere. Loud and terrific reports were heard on every side, making the hair stand on end. The four quarters seemed to be ablaze and many were the animals of ill omen that became visible. The water in the wells on every side swelled up of their own accord. Loud sounds came from every side, without, O king, visible creatures to utter them. Beholding these and other portents, Vrikodara said unto his eldest brother, king Yudhishthira the just, "This Suyodhana of wicked soul is not competent to vanquish me in battle! I shall today vomit that wrath which I have been cherishing for a long while in the secret recesses of my heart, upon this ruler of the Kurus like Arjuna throwing fire upon the forest of Khandava! Today, O son of Pandu, I shall extract the dart that lies sticking to thy heart! Slaying with my mace this sinful wretch of Kuru's race, I shall today place around thy neck the garland of Fame! Slaying this wight of sinful deeds with my mace on the field of battle, I shall today, with this very mace of mine, break his body into a hundred fragments! He shall not have again to enter the city called after the elephant. The setting of snakes at us while we were asleep, the giving of poison to us while we ate, the casting of our body into the water at Pramanakoti, the attempt to burn us at the house of lac, the insult offered us at the assembly, the robbing us of all our possessions, the whole year of our living in concealment, our exile into the woods, O sinless one, of all these woes, O best of Bharata's race, I shall today reach the end, O bull of Bharata's line! Slaying this wretch, I shall, in one single day, pay off all the debts I owe him! Today, the period of life of this wicked son of Dhritarashtra, of uncleansed soul, hath reached its close, O chief of the Bharatas! After this day he shall not again look at his father and mother! Today, O monarch, the happiness of this wicked king of the Kurus hath come to an end! After this day, O monarch, he shall not again cast his eyes on female beauty! Today this disgrace of Santanu's line shall sleep on the bare Earth, abandoning his life-breath, his prosperity, and his kingdom! Today king Dhritarashtra also, hearing of the fall of his son, shall recollect all those evil acts that were born of Shakuni's brain!" With these words, O tiger among kings, Vrikodara of great energy, armed with mace, stood for fight, like Shakra challenging the asura Vritra. Beholding Duryodhana also standing with uplifted mace like mount Kailasa graced with its summit, Bhimasena, filled with wrath, once more addressed him, saying, "Recall to thy mind that evil act of thyself and king Dhritarashtra that occurred at Varanavata! Remember Draupadi who was ill-treated, while in her season, in the midst of the assembly! Remember the deprivation of the king through dice by thyself and Subala's son! Remember that great woe suffered by us, in consequence of thee, in the forest, as also in Virata's city as if we had once more entered the womb! I shall avenge myself of them all today! By good luck, O thou of wicked soul, I see thee today! It is for thy sake that that foremost of car-warriors, the son of Ganga, of great prowess, struck down by Yajnasena's son, sleepeth on a bed of arrows! Drona also hath been slain, and Karna, and Shalya of great prowess! Subala's son Shakuni, too, that root of these hostilities, hath been slain! The wretched Pratikamin, who had seized Draupadi's tresses, hath been slain! All thy brave brothers also, who fought with great valour, have been slain! These and many other kings have been slain through thy fault! Thee too I shall slay today with my mace! There is not the slightest doubt in this." While Vrikodara, O monarch, was uttering these words in a loud voice, thy fearless son of true prowess answered him, saying, "What use of such elaborate bragging? Fight me, O Vrikodara! O wretch of thy race, today I shall destroy thy desire of battle! Mean vermin as thou art, know that Duryodhana is not capab le, like an ordinary person, of being terrified by a person like thee! For a long time have I cherished this desire! For a long time hath this wish been in my heart! By good luck the gods have at last brought it about, a mace encounter with thee! What use of long speeches and empty bragging, O wicked-souled one! Accomplish these words of thine in acts. Do not tarry at all!" Hearing these words of his, the Somakas and the other kings that were present there all applauded them highly. Applauded by all, Duryodhana's hair stood erect with joy and he firmly set his heart on battle. The kings present once again cheered thy wrathful son with clapping, like persons exciting an infuriated elephant to an encounter. The high-souled Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, then, uplifting his mace, rushed furiously at thy high-souled son. The elephants present there trumpeted aloud and the steeds neighed repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas who longed for victory blazed forth of their own accord.'"

 

 

Book 9
Chapter 57

 

 

 

1 [s]
      samudīrṇaṃ tato dṛṣṭvā sāṃgrāmaṃ kurumukhyayoḥ
      athābravīd arjunas tu vāsudevaṃ yaśasvinam
  2 anayor vīrayor yuddhe ko jyāyān bhavato mataḥ
      kasya vā ko guṇo bhūyān etad vada janārdana
  3 [vā]
      upadeśo 'nayos tulyo bhīmas tu balavattaraḥ
      kṛtayatnataras tv eṣa dhārtarāṣṭro vṛkodarāt
  4 bhīmasenas tu dharmeṇa yudhyamāno na jeṣyati
      anyāyena tu yudhyan vai hanyād eṣa suyodhanam
  5 māyayā nirjitā devair asurā iti naḥ śrutam
      virocanaś ca śakreṇa māyayā nirjitaḥ sakhe
      māyayā cākṣipat tejo vṛtrasya balasūdanaḥ
  6 pratijñātaṃ tu bhīmena dyūtakāle dhanaṃjaya
      ūrū bhetsyāmi te saṃkhye gadayeti suyodhanam
  7 so 'yaṃ pratijñāṃ tāṃ cāpi pārayitvāri karśanaḥ
      māyāvinaṃ ca rājānaṃ māyayaiva nikṛntatu
  8 yady eṣa balam āsthāya nyāyena prahariṣyati
      viṣāmasthas tato rājā bhaviṣyati yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  9 punar eva ca vakṣyāmi pāṇḍavedaṃ nibodha me
      dharmarājāparādhena bhayaṃ naḥ punarāgatam
  10 kṛtvā hi sumahat karmahatvā bhīṣma mukhān kurūn
     jayaḥ prāpto yaśaś cāgryaṃ vairaṃ ca pratiyātitam
     tad evaṃ vijayaḥ prāptaḥ punaḥ saṃśayitaḥ kṛtaḥ
 11 abuddhir eṣā mahatī dharmarājasya pāṇḍava
     yad ekavijaye yuddhe paṇitaṃ kṛtam īdṛśam
     suyodhanaḥ kṛtī vīra ekāyanagatas tathā
 12 api cośanasā gītaḥ śrūyate 'yaṃ purātanaḥ
     ślokas tattvārtha sahitas tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu
 13 punarāvartamānānāṃ bhagnānāṃ jīvitaiṣiṇām
     bhatavyam ariśeṣāṇām ekāyanagatā hi te
 14 suyodhanam imaṃ bhagnaṃ hatasainyaṃ hradaṃ gatam
     parājitaṃ vanaprepsuṃ nirāśaṃ rājyalambhane
 15 ko nv eṣa smayuge prājñaḥ punar dvaṃdve samāhvayet
     api vo nirjitaṃ rājyaṃ na hareta suyodhanaḥ
 16 yas trayodaśa varṣāṇi gadayā kṛtaniśramaḥ
     caraty ūrdhvaṃ ca tiryak ca bhīmasenajighāṃsayā
 17 evaṃ cen na mahābāhur anyāyena haniṣyati
     eṣa vaḥ kauravo rājā dhārtarāṣṭro bhaviṣyati
 18 dhanaṃjayas tu śrutvaitat keśavasya mahātmanaḥ
     prekṣato bhīmasenasya hastenorum atāḍayat
 19 gṛhya saṃjñāṃ tato bhīmo gadayā vyacarad raṇe
     maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi yamakānītarāṇi ca
 20 dakṣiṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ savyaṃ gomūtrakam athāpi ca
     vyacarat pāṇḍavo rājann ariṃ saṃmohayann iva
 21 tathaiva tava putro 'pi gadā mārgaviśāradaḥ
     vyacaral laghucitraṃ ca bhīmasenajighāṃsayā
 22 ādhunvantau gade ghore candanāgarurūṣite
     vairasyāntaṃ parīpsantau raṇe kruddhāv ivāntakau
 23 anyonyaṃ tau jighāṃsantau pravīrau puruṣarṣabhau
     yuyudhāte garutmantau yathā nāgāmiṣaiṣiṇau
 24 maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi carator nṛpa bhīmayoḥ
     gadā saṃpātajās tatra prajajñuḥ pāvakārciṣaḥ
 25 samaṃ praharatos tatra śūrayor balinor mṛdhe
     kṣubdhayor vāyunā rājan dvayor iva samaudrayoḥ
 26 tayoḥ praharatos tulyaṃ mattakuñjarayor iva
     gadā nirghātasaṃhrādaḥ prahārāṇām ajāyata
 27 tasmiṃs tadā saṃprahāre dāruṇe saṃkule bhṛśam
     ubhāv api pariśrāntau yudhyamānāv ariṃdamau
 28 tau muhūrtaṃ samāśvasya punar eva paraṃtapau
     abhyahārayatāṃ kruddhau pragṛhya mahatī gade
 29 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpam asaṃvṛtam
     gadā nipātai rājendra takṣator vai parasparam
 30 vyāyāmapradrutau tau tu vṛṣabhākṣau tarasvinau
     anyonyaṃ jaghnatur vīrau paṅkasthau mahiṣāv iva
 31 jarjarīkṛtasarvāṅgau rudhireṇābhisaṃplutau
     dadṛśāte himavati puṣpitāv iva kiṃśukau
 32 duryodhanena pārthas tu vivare saṃpradarśite
     īṣad utsmayamānas tu sahasā prasasāha ha
 33 tam abhyāśagataṃ prājño raṇe prekṣya vṛkodaraḥ
     avākṣipad gadāṃ tasmai vegena mahatā balī
 34 avakṣepaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā putras tava viśāṃ pate
     apāsarpat tataḥ sthānāt sā moghā nyapatad bhuvi
 35 mokṣayitvā prahāraṃ taṃ sutas tava sa saṃbhramāt
     bhīmasenaṃ ca gadayā prāharat kurusattamaḥ
 36 tasya viṣyandamānena rudhireṇāmitaujasaḥ
     prahāra guru pātāc ca mūrcheva samajāyata
 37 duryodhanas taṃ ca veda pīḍitaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ raṇe
     dhārayām āsa bhīmo 'pi śarīram atipīḍitam
 38 amanyata sthitaṃ hy enaṃ prahariṣyantam āhave
     ato na prāharat tasmai punar eva tavātmajaḥ
 39 tato muhūrtam āśvasya duryodhanam avasthitam
     vegenābhyadravad rājan bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān
 40 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya saṃrabdham amitaujasam
     mogham asya prahāraṃ taṃ cikīrṣur bharatarṣabha
 41 avasthāne matiṃ kṛtvā putras tava mahāmanāḥ
     iyeṣotpatituṃ rājaṃś chalayiṣyan vṛkodaram
 42 abudhyad bhīmasenas tad rājñas tasya cikīrṣitam
     athāsya samabhidrutya samutkramya ca siṃhavat
 43 sṛtyā vañcayato rājan punar evotpatiṣyataḥ
     ūrubhyāṃ prāhiṇod rājaṅgadāṃ vegena pāṇḍavaḥ
 44 sā vajraniṣpeṣa samā prahitā bhīmakarmaṇā
     ūrū duryodhanasyātha babhañje priyadarśanau
 45 sa papāta naravyāghro vasudhām anunādayan
     bhagnorur bhīmasenena putras tava mahīpate
 46 vavur vātāḥ sanirghātāḥ pāṃsuvarṣaṃ papāta ca
     cacāla pṛthivī cāpi savṛkṣakṣupa parvatā
 47 tasmin nipatite vīre patyau sarvamahīkṣitām
     mahāsvanā punar dīptā sanirghātā bhayaṃkarī
     papāta colkā mahatī patite pṛthivīpatau
 48 tathā śoṇitavarṣaṃ ca pāṃsuvarṣaṃ ca bhārata
     vavarṣa maghavāṃs tatra tava putre nipātite
 49 yakṣāṇāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca piśācānāṃ tathaiva ca
     antarikṣe mahānādaḥ śrūyate bharatarṣabha
 50 tena śabdena ghoreṇa mṛgāṇām atha pakṣiṇām
     jajñe ghoratamaḥ śabdo bahūnāṃ sarvatodiśam
 51 ye tatra vājinaḥ śeṣā gajāś ca manujaiḥ saha
     mumucus te mahānādaṃ tava putre nipātite
 52 bherīśaṅkhamṛdaṅgānām abhavac ca svano mahān
     antarbhūmi gataś caiva tava putre nipātite
 53 bahu pādair bahu bhujaiḥ kabandhair ghoradarśanaiḥ
     nṛtyadbhir bhayadair vyāptā diśas tatrābhavan nṛpa
 54 dhvajavanto 'stravantaś ca śastravantas tathaiva ca
     prākampanta tato rājaṃs tava putre nipātite
 55 hradāḥ kūpāś ca rudhiram udvemur nṛpasattama
     nadyaś ca sumahāvegāḥ pratisroto vahābhavan
 56 pulliṅgā iva nāryas tu strīliṅgāḥ puruṣābhavan
     duryodhane tadā rājan patite tanaye tava
 57 dṛṣṭvā tān adbhutotpātān pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     āvignamanasaḥ sarve babhūvur bharatarṣabha
 58 yayur devā yathākāmaṃ gandharvāpsarasas tathā
     kathayanto 'dbhutaṃ yuddhaṃ sutayos tava bhārata
 59 tathaiva siddhā rājendra tathā vātika cāraṇāḥ
     narasiṃhau praśaṃsantau viprajagmur yathāgatam

 

57

"Sanjaya said, 'Duryodhana, with heart undepressed, beholding Bhimasena in that state, rushed furiously against him, uttering a loud roar. They encountered each other like two bulls encountering each other with their horns. The strokes of their maces produced loud sounds like those of thunderbolts. Each longing for victory, the battle that took place between them was terrible, making the very hair stand on end, like that between Indra and Prahlada. All their limbs bathed in blood, the two high-souled warriors of great energy, both armed with maces, looked like two Kinsukas decked with flowers. During the progress of that great and awful encounter, the welkin looked beautiful as if it swarmed with fire-flies. After that fierce and terrible battle had lasted for some time, both those chastisers of foes became fatigued. Having rested for a little while, those two scorchers of foes, taking up their handsome maces, once again began to ward off each others' attacks. Indeed, when those two warriors of great energy, those two foremost of men, both possessed of great might, encountered each other after having taken a little rest, they looked like two elephants infuriated with passion and attacking each other for obtaining the companionship of a cow elephant in season. Beholding those two heroes, both armed with maces and each equal to the other in energy, the gods and Gandharvas and men became filled with wonder. Beholding Duryodhana and Vrikodara both armed with maces, all creatures became doubtful as to who amongst them would be victorious. Those two cousins, those two foremost of mighty men, once again rushing at each other and desiring to take advantage of each other's lapses, waited each watching the other. The spectators, O king, beheld each armed with his uplifted mace, that was heavy, fierce, and murderous, and that resembled the bludgeon of Yama or the thunder-bolt of Indra. While Bhimasena whirled his weapon, loud and awful was the sound that it produced. Beholding his foe, the son of Pandu, thus whirling his mace endued with unrivalled impetuosity, Duryodhana became filled with amazement. Indeed, the heroic Vrikodara, O Bharata, as he careered in diverse courses, presented a highly beautiful spectacle. Both bent upon carefully protecting themselves, as they approached, they repeatedly mangled each other like two cats fighting for a piece of meat. Bhimasena performed diverse kinds of evolutions. He coursed in beautiful circles, advanced, and receded. He dealt blows and warded off those of his adversary, with wonderful activity. He took up various kinds of position (for attack and defence). He delivered attacks and avoided those of his antagonist. He ran at his foe, now turning to the right and now to the left. He advanced straight against the enemy. He made ruses for drawing his foe. He stood immovable, prepared for attacking his foe as soon as the latter would expose himself to attack. He circumambulated his foe, and prevented his foe from circumambulating him. He avoided the blows of his foe by moving away in bent postures or jumping aloft. He struck, coming up to his foe face to face, or dealt back-thrusts while moving away from him. Both accomplished in encounters with the mace, Bhima and Duryodhana thus careered and fought, and struck each other. Those two foremost ones of Kuru's race careered thus, each avoiding the other's blows. Indeed, those two mighty warriors thus coursed in circles and seemed to sport with each other. Displaying in that encounter their skill in battle, those two chastisers of foes sometimes suddenly attacked each other with their weapons, like two elephants approaching and attacking each other with their tusks. Covered with blood, they looked very beautiful, O monarch, on the field. Even thus occurred that battle, awfully and before the gaze of a large multitude, towards the close of the day, like the battle between Vritra and Vasava. Armed with maces, both began to career in circles. Duryodhana, O monarch, adopted the right mandala, while Bhimasena adopted the left mandala. While Bhima was thus careering in circles on the field of battle, Duryodhana, O monarch, suddenly struck him a fierce blow on one of his flanks. Struck by thy son, O sire, Bhima began to whirl his heavy mace for returning that blow. The spectators, O monarch, beheld that mace of Bhimasena look as terrible as Indra's thunder-bolt or Yama's uplifted bludgeon. Seeing Bhima whirl his mace, thy son, uplifting his own terrible weapon, struck him again. Loud was the sound, O Bharata, produced by the descent of thy son's mace. So quick was that descent that it generated a flame of fire in the welkin. Coursing in diverse kinds of circles, adopting each motion at the proper time, Suyodhana, possessed of great energy, once more seemed to prevail over Bhima. The massive mace of Bhimasena meanwhile, whirled with his whole force, produced a loud sound as also smoke and sparks and flames of fire. Beholding Bhimasena whirling his mace, Suyodhana also whirled his heavy and adamantine weapon and presented a highly beautiful aspect. Marking the violence of the wind produced by the whirl of Duryodhana's mace, a great fear entered the hearts of all the Pandus and the Somakas. Meanwhile those two chastisers of foes, displaying on every side their skill in battle, continued to strike each other with their maces, like two elephants approaching and striking each other with their tusks. Both of them, O monarch, covered with blood, looked highly beautiful. Even thus progressed that awful combat before the gaze of thousands of spectators at the close of day, like the fierce battle that took place between Vritra and Vasava. Beholding Bhima firmly stationed on the field, thy mighty son, careering in more beautiful motions, rushed towards that son of Kunti. Filled with wrath, Bhima struck the mace, endued with great impetuosity and adorned with gold, of the angry Duryodhana. A loud sound with sparks of fire was produced by that clash of the two maces which resembled the clash of two thunder-bolts from opposite directions. Hurled by Bhimasena, his impetuous mace, as it fell down, caused the very earth to tremble. The Kuru prince could not brook to see his own mace thus baffled in that attack. Indeed, he became filled with rage like an infuriated elephant at the sight of a rival elephant. Adopting the left mandala, O monarch, and whirling his mace, Suyodhana then, firmly resolved, struck the son of Kunti on the head with his weapon of terrible force. Thus struck by thy son, Bhima, the son of Pandu, trembled not, O monarch, at which all the spectators wondered exceedingly. That amazing patience, O king, of Bhimasena, who stirred not an inch though struck so violently, was applauded by all the warriors present there. Then Bhima of terrible prowess hurled at Duryodhana his own heavy and blazing mace adorned with gold. That blow the mighty and fearless Duryodhana warded off by his agility. Beholding this, great was the wonder that the spectators felt. That mace, hurled by Bhima, O king, as it fell baffled of effect, produced a loud sound like that of the thunderbolt and caused the very earth to tremble. Adopting the manoeuvre called Kausika, and repeatedly jumping up, Duryodhana, properly marking the descent of Bhima's mace, baffled the latter. Baffling Bhimasena thus, the Kuru king, endued with great strength, at last in rage struck the former on the chest. Struck very forcibly by thy son in that dreadful battle, Bhimasena became stupefied and for a time knew not what to do. At that time, O king, the Somakas and the Pandavas became greatly disappointed and very cheerless. Filled with rage at that blow, Bhima then rushed at thy son like an elephant rushing against an elephant. Indeed, with uplifted mace, Bhima rushed furiously at Duryodhana like a lion rushing against a wild elephant. Approaching the Kuru king, the son of Pandu, O monarch, accomplished in the use of the mace, began to whirl his weapon, taking aim at thy son. Bhimasena then struck Duryodhana on one of his flanks. Stupefied at that blow, the latter fell down on the earth, supporting himself on his knees. When that foremost one of Kuru's race fell upon his knees, a loud cry arose from among the Srinjayas, O ruler of the world! Hearing that loud uproar of the Srinjayas, O bull among men, thy son became filled with rage. The mighty-armed hero, rising up, began to breathe like a mighty snake, and seemed to burn Bhimasena by casting his glances upon him. That foremost one of Bharata's race then rushed at Bhimasena, as if he would that time crush the head of his antagonist in that battle. The high-souled Duryodhana of terrible prowess then struck the high-souled Bhimasena on the forehead. The latter, however, moved not an inch but stood immovable like a mountain. Thus struck in that battle, the son of Pritha, O monarch, looked beautiful, as he bled profusely, like an elephant of rent temples with juicy secretions trickling adown. The elder brother of Dhananjaya, then, that crusher of foes, taking up his hero-slaying mace made of iron and producing a sound loud as that of the thunder-bolt, struck his adversary with great force. Struck by Bhimasena, thy son fell down, his frame trembling all over, like a gigantic Sala in the forest, decked with flowers, uprooted by the violence of the tempest. Beholding thy son prostrated on the earth, the Pandavas became exceedingly glad and uttered loud cries. Recovering his consciousness, thy son then rose, like an elephant from a lake. That ever wrathful monarch and great car-warrior then careering with great skill, struck Bhimasena who was standing before him. At this, the son of Pandu, with weakened limbs, fell down on the earth.
"Having by his energy prostrated Bhimasena on the ground, the Kuru prince uttered a leonine roar. By the descent of his mace, whose violence resembled that of the thunder, he had fractured Bhima's coat of mail. A loud uproar was then heard in the welkin, made by the denizens of heaven and the Apsaras. A floral shower, emitting great fragrance, fell, rained by the celestials. Beholding Bhima prostrated on the earth and weakened in strength, and seeing his coat of mail laid open, a great fear entered the hearts of our foes. Recovering his senses in a moment, and wiping his face which had been dyed with blood, and mustering great patience, Vrikodara stood up, with rolling eyes steadying himself with great effort."

 

 

Book 9
Chapter 58

 

 

 

1 [s]
      taṃ pātitaṃ tato dṛṣṭvā mahāśālam ivodgatam
      prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarve babhūvus tatra pāṇḍavāḥ
  2 unmattam iva mātaṅgaṃ siṃhena vinipātitam
      dadṛśur hṛṣṭaromāṇaḥ sarve te cāpi somakāḥ
  3 tato duryodhanaṃ hatvāṃ bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān
      patitaṃ kauravendraṃ tam upagamyedam abravīt
  4 gaur gaur iti purā mandadraupadīm ekavāsasām
      yat sabhāyāṃ hasann asmāṃs tadā vadasi durmate
      tasyāvahāsasya phalam adya tvaṃ samavāpnuhi
  5 evam uktvā sa vāmena padā maulim upāspṛśat
      śiraś ca rājasiṃhasya pādena samaloḍayat
  6 tathaiva krodhasaṃrakto bhīmaḥ parabalārdanaḥ
      punar evābravīd vākyaṃ yat tac chṛṇu narādhipa
  7 ye 'smān puro 'panṛtyanta punar gaur iti gaur iti
      tān vayaṃ pratinṛtyāmaḥ punar gaur iti gaur iti
  8 nāsmākaṃ nikṛtir vahnir nākṣa dyūtaṃ na vañcanā
      svabāhubalam āśritya prabādhāmo vayaṃ ripūn
  9 so 'vāpya vairasya parasya pāraṃ; vṛkodaraḥ prāha śanaiḥ prahasya
      yudhiṣṭhiraṃ keśava sṛñjayāṃś ca; dhanaṃjayaṃ mādravatīsutau ca
  10 rajasvalāṃ draupadīm ānayan ye; ye cāpy akurvanta sadasya vastrām
     tān paśyadhvaṃ pāṇḍavair dhārtarāṣṭrān; raṇe hatāṃs tapasā yājñasenyāḥ
 11 ye naḥ purā ṣaṇḍhatilān avocan; krūrā rājño dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ
     te no hatāḥ sagaṇāḥ sānubandhāḥ; kāmaṃ svargaṃ narakaṃ vā vrajāmaḥ
 12 punaś ca rājñaḥ patitastya bhūmau; sa tāṃ gadāṃ skandhagatāṃ nirīkṣya
     vāmena pādena śiraḥ pramṛdya; duryodhanaṃ naikṛtikety avocat
 13 hṛṣṭena rājan kuru pārthivasya; kṣudrātmanā bhīmasenena pādam
     dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṃ mūrdhani nābhyanandan; dharmātmānaḥ somakānāṃ prabarhāḥ
 14 tava putraṃ tathā hatvā katthamānaṃ vṛkodaram
     nṛtyamānaṃ ca bahuśo dharmarājo 'bravīd idam
 15 mā śiro 'sya padā mardīr mā dharmas te 'tyagān mahān
     rājā jñātir hataś cāyaṃ naitan nyāyyaṃ tavānagha
 16 vidhvasto 'yaṃ hatāmātyo hatabhrātā hataprajaḥ
     utsannapiṇḍo bhrātā ca naitan nyāyyaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā
 17 dhārmiko bhīmaseno 'sāv ity āhus tvāṃ purā janāḥ
     sa kasmād bhīmasena tvaṃ rājānam adhitiṣṭhasi
 18 dṛṣṭvā duryodhanaṃ rājā kuntīputras tathāgatam
     netrābhyām aśrupūrṇābhyām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 19 nūnam etad balavatā dhātrādiṣṭaṃ mahātmanā
     yad vayaṃ tvāṃ jighāṃsāmas tvaṃ cāsmān kurusattama
 20 ātmano hy aparādhena mahad vyasanam īdṛśam
     prāptavān asi yal lobhān madād bālyāc ca bhārata
 21 ghātayitvā vayasyāṃś ca bhrātṝn atha pitṝṃs tathā
     putrān pautrāṃs tathācāryāṃs tato 'si nidhanaṃ gataḥ
 22 tavāparādhād asmābhir bhrātaras te mahārathāḥ
     nihatā jñātayaś cānye diṣṭaṃ manye duratyayam
 23 snuṣāś ca prasnuṣāś caiva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya vihvalāḥ
     garhayiṣyanti no nūnaṃ vidhavāḥ śokakarśitāḥ
 24 evam uktvā suduḥkhārto niśaśvāsa sa pārthivaḥ
     vilalāpa ciraṃ cāpi dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

 

58

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding that fight thus raging between those two foremost heroes of Kuru's race, Arjuna said unto Vasudeva, "Between these two, who, in thy opinion, is superior? Who amongst them hath what merit? Tell me this, O Janardana."
"'Vasudeva said, "The instruction received by them hath been equal. Bhima, however, is possessed of greater might, while the son of Dhritarashtra is possessed of greater skill and hath laboured more. If he were to fight fairly, Bhimasena will never succeed in winning the victory. If, however, he fights unfairly he will be surely able to slay Duryodhana. The Asuras were vanquished by the gods with the aid of deception. We have heard this. Virochana was vanquished by Shakra with the aid of deception. The slayer of Vala deprived Vritra of his energy by an act of deception. Therefore, let Bhimasena put forth his prowess, aided by deception! At the time of the gambling, O Dhananjaya, Bhima vowed to break the thighs of Suyodhana with his mace in battle. Let this crusher of foes, therefore, accomplish that vow of his. Let him with deception, slay the Kuru king who is full of deception. If Bhima, depending upon his might alone, were to fight fairly, king Yudhishthira will have to incur great danger. I tell thee again, O son of Pandu, listen to me. It is through the fault of king Yudhishthira alone that danger hath once more overtaken us! Having achieved great feats by the slaughter of Bhishma and the other Kurus, the king had won victory and fame and had almost attained the end of the hostilities. Having thus obtained the victory, he placed himself once more in a situation of doubt and peril. This has been an act of great folly on the part of Yudhishthira, O Pandava, since he hath made the result of the battle depend upon the victory or the defeat of only one warrior! Suyodhana is accomplished, he is a hero; he is again firmly resolved. This old verse uttered by Usanas hath been heard by us. Listen to me as I recite it to thee with its true sense and meaning! 'Those amongst the remnant of a hostile force broken flying away for life, that rally and come back to the fight, should always be feared, for they are firmly resolved and have but one purpose! Shakra himself, O Dhananjaya, cannot stand before them that rush in fury, having abandoned all hope of life. This Suyodhana had broken and fled. All his troops had been killed. He had entered the depths of a lake. He had been defeated and, therefore, he had desired to retire into the woods, having become hopeless of retaining his kingdom. What man is there, possessed of any wisdom, that would challenge such a person to a single combat? I do not know whether Duryodhana may not succeed in snatching the kingdom that had already become ours! For full thirteen years he practised with the mace with great resolution. Even now, for slaying Bhimasena, he jumpeth up and leapeth transversely! If the mighty-armed Bhima does not slay him unfairly, the son of Dhritarashtra will surely remain king!" Having heard those words of the high-souled Keshava, Dhananjaya struck his own left thigh before the eyes of Bhimasena. Understanding that sign, Bhima began to career with his uplifted mace, making many a beautiful circle and many a Yomaka and other kinds of manoeuvres. Sometimes adopting the right mandala, sometimes the left mandala, and sometimes the motion called Gomutraka, the son of Pandu began to career, O king, stupefying his foe. Similarly, thy son, O monarch, who was well conversant with encounters with the mace, careered beautifully and with great activity, for slaying Bhimasena. Whirling their terrible maces which were smeared with sandal paste and other perfumed unguents, the two heroes, desirous of reaching the end of their hostilities, careered in that battle like two angry Yamas. Desirous of slaying each other, those two foremost of men, possessed of great heroism, fought like two Garudas desirous of catching the same snake. While the king and Bhima careered in beautiful circles, their maces clashed, and sparks of fire were generated by those repeated clashes. Those two heroic and mighty warriors struck each other equally in that battle. They then resembled, O monarch, two oceans agitated by the tempest. Striking each other equally like two infuriated elephants, their clashing maces produced peals of thunder. During the progress of that dreadful and fierce battle at close quarters, both those chastisers of foes, while battling, became fatigued. Having rested for a while, those two scorchers of foes, filled with rage and uplifting their maces, once more began to battle with each other. When by the repeated descents of their maces, O monarch, they mangled each other, the battle they fought became exceedingly dreadful and perfectly unrestrained. Rushing at each other in that encounter, those two heroes, possessed of eyes like those of bulls and endued with great activity, struck each other fiercely like two buffaloes in the mire. All their limbs mangled and bruised, and covered with blood from head to foot, they looked like a couple of Kinsukas on the breast of Himavat. During the progress of the encounter, when, Vrikodara (as a ruse) seemed to give Duryodhana an opportunity, the latter, smiling a little, advanced forward. Well-skilled in battle, the mighty Vrikodara, beholding his adversary come up, suddenly hurled his mace at him. Seeing the mace hurled at him, thy son, O monarch, moved away from that spot at which the weapon fell down baffled on the earth. Having warded off that blow, thy son, that foremost one of Kuru's race, quickly struck Bhimasena with his weapon. In consequence of the large quantity of blood drawn by that blow, as also owing to the violence itself of the blow, Bhimasena of immeasurable energy seemed to be stupefied. Duryodhana, however, knew not that the son of Pandu was so afflicted at that moment. Though deeply afflicted, Bhima sustained himself, summoning all his patience. Duryodhana, therefore, regarded him to be unmoved and ready to return the blow. It was for this that thy son did not then strike him again. Having rested for a little while, the valiant Bhimasena rushed furiously, O king, at Duryodhana who was standing near. Beholding Bhimasena of immeasurable energy filled with rage and rushing towards him, thy high-souled son, O bull of Bharata's race, desiring to baffle his blow, set his heart on the manoeuvre called Avasthana. He, therefore, desired to jump upwards, O monarch, for beguiling Vrikodara. Bhimasena fully understood the intentions of his adversary. Rushing, therefore, at him, with a loud leonine roar, he fiercely hurled his mace at the thighs of the Kuru king as the latter had jumped up for baffling the first aim. That mace, endued with the force of the thunder and hurled by Bhima of terrible feats, fractured the two handsome thighs of Duryodhana. That tiger among men, thy son, after his thighs had been broken by Bhimasena, fell down, causing the earth to echo with his fall. Fierce winds began to blow, with loud sounds at repeated intervals. Showers of dust fell. The earth, with her trees and plants and mountains, began to tremble. Upon the fall of that hero who was the head of all monarchs on earth, fierce and fiery winds blew with a loud noise and with thunder falling frequently. Indeed, when that lord of earth fell, large meteors were seen to flash down from the sky. Bloody showers, as also showers of dust, fell, O Bharata! These were poured by Maghavat, upon the fall of thy son! A loud noise was heard, O bull of Bharata's race, in the welkin, made by the Yakshas, and the Rakshasas and the Pisachas. At that terrible sound, animals and birds, numbering in thousands, began to utter more frightful noise on every side. Those steeds and elephants and human beings that formed the (unslain) remnant of the (Pandava) host uttered loud cries when thy son fell. Loud also became the blare of conchs and the peal of drums and cymbals. A terrific noise seemed to come from within the bowels of the earth. Upon the fall of thy son, O monarch, headless beings of frightful forms, possessed of many legs and many arms, and inspiring all creatures with dread, began to dance and cover the earth on all sides. Warriors, O king, that stood with standards or weapons in their arms, began to tremble, O king, when thy son fell. Lakes and wells, O best of kings, vomited forth blood. Rivers of rapid currents flowed in opposite directions. Women seemed to look like men, and men to look like women at that hour, O king, when thy son Duryodhana fell! Beholding those wonderful portents, the Pancalas and the Pandavas, O bull of Bharata's race, became filled with anxiety. The gods and the Gandharvas went away to the regions they desired, talking, as they proceeded, of that wonderful battle between thy sons. Similarly the Siddhas, and the Charanas of the fleetest course, went to those places from which they had come, applauding those two lions among men."

 

 

Book 9
Chapter 59

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      adharmeṇa hataṃ dṛṣṭā rājānaṃ mādhavottamaḥ
      kim abravīt tadā sūta baladevo mahābalaḥ
  2 gadāyuddhaviśeṣajño gadāyuddhaviśāradaḥ
      kṛtavān rauhiṇeyo yat tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  3 [s]
      śirasy abhihataṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena te sutam
      rāmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaś cukrodha balavad balī
  4 tato madhye narendrāṇām ūrdhvabāhur halāyudhaḥ
      kurvan ārtasvaraṃ ghoraṃ dhig dhig bhīmety uvāca ha
  5 aho dhog yad adho nābheḥ prahṛtaṃ śuddhavikrame
      naitad dṛṣṭvaṃ gadāyuddhe kṛtavān yad vṛkodaraḥ
  6 adho nābhyā na hantavyam iti śāstrasya niścayaḥ
      ayaṃ tv aśāstravin mūḍhaḥ svacchandāt saṃpravartate
  7 tasya tat tad bruvāṇasya roṣaḥ samabhavan mahān
      tato lāṅgalam udyamya bhīmam abhyadravad balī
  8 tasyordhva bāhoḥ sadṛśaṃ rūpam āsīn mahātmanaḥ
      bahudhātuvicitrasya śvetasyeva mahāgireḥ
  9 tam utpatantaṃ jagrāha keśavo vinayānataḥ
      bāhubhyāṃ pīnavṛttābhyāṃ prayatnād balavad balī
  10 sitāsitau yaduvarau śuśubhāte 'dhikaṃ tataḥ
     nabhogatau yathā rājaṃś candrasūryau dinakṣaye
 11 uvāca cainaṃ saṃrabdhaṃ śamayann iva keśavaḥ
     ātmavṛddhir mitra vṛddhir mitra mitrodayas tathā
     viparītaṃ dviṣatsv etat ṣaḍ vidhā vṛddhir ātmanaḥ
 12 ātmany api ca mitreṣu viparītaṃ yadā bhavet
     tadā vidyān mano jyānim āśu śānti karo bhavet
 13 asmākaṃ sahajaṃ mitraṃ pāṇḍavāḥ śuddhapauruṣāḥ
     svakāḥ pitṛṣvasuḥ putrās te parair nikṛtā bhṛśam
 14 pratijñā pāraṇaṃ dharmaḥ kṣatriyasyeti vettha ha
     suyodhanasya gadayā bhaṅktāsmy ūrū mahāhave
     iti pūrvaṃ pratijñātaṃ bhīmena hi sabhā tale
 15 maitreyeṇābhiśaptaś ca pūrvam eva maharṣiṇā
     ūrū bhetsyati te bhīmo gadayeti paraṃtapa
     ato doṣaṃ na paśyāmi mā krudhas tvaṃ pralambahan
 16 yaunair hārdairś ca saṃbandhaiḥ saṃbaddhā smeha pāṇḍavaiḥ
     teṣāṃ vṛddhyābhivṛddhir no mā krudhaḥ puruṣarṣabha
 17 [rāma]
     dharmaḥ sucaritaḥ sadbhiḥ saha dvābhyāṃ niyacchati
     arthaś cātyartha lubdhasya kāmaś cātiprasaṅginaḥ
 18 dharmārthau dharmakāmau ca kāmārthau cāpy apīḍayan
     dharmārthakāmān yo 'bhyeti so 'tyantaṃ sukham aśnute
 19 tad idaṃ vyākulaṃ sarvaṃ kṛtaṃ dharmasya pīḍanāt
     bhīmasenena govinda kāmaṃ tvaṃ tu yathāttha mām
 20 [vā]
     aroṣaṇo hi dharmātmā satataṃ dharmavatsalaḥ
     bhavān prakhyāyate loke tasmāt saṃśāmya mā krudhaḥ
 21 prāptaṃ kaliyugaṃ viddhi pratijñāṃ prāṇḍavasya ca
     ānṛṇyaṃ yātu vairasya pratijñāyāś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
 22 [s]
     dharmac chalam api śrutvā keśavāt sā viśāṃ pate
     naiva prītamanā rāmo vacanaṃ prāha saṃsadi
 23 hatvādharmeṇa rājānaṃ dharmātmānaṃ suyodhanam
     jihmayodhīti loke 'smin khyātiṃ yāsyati pāṇḍavaḥ
 24 duryodhano 'pi dharmātmā gatiṃ yāsyati śāśvatīm
     ṛju yodhī hato rājā dhārtarāṣṭro narādhipaḥ
 25 yuddhadīkṣāṃ praviśyājau raṇayajñaṃ vitatya ca
     hutvātmānam amitrāgnau prāpa cāvabhṛthaṃ yaśaḥ
 26 ity uktvā ratham āsthāya rauhiṇeyaḥ pratāpavān
     śvetābhraśikharākāraḥ prayayau dvārakāṃ prati
 27 pāñcālāś ca savārṣṇeyāḥ pāṇḍavāś ca viśāṃ pate
     rāme dvāravatīṃ yāte nātipramanaso 'bhavan
 28 tato yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dīnaṃ cintāparam adhomukham
     śokopahatasaṃkalpaṃ vāsudevo 'bravīd idam
 29 dharmarāja kimarthaṃ tvam adharmam anumanyase
     hatabandhor yad etasya patitasya vicetasaḥ
 30 duryodhanasya bhīmena mṛdyamānaṃ śiraḥ padā
     upaprekṣasi kasmāt tvaṃ dharmajñaḥ san narādhipa
 31 [y]
     na mamaita priyaṃ kṛṣṇa yad rājānaṃ vṛkodaraḥ
     padā mūrdhny aspṛśat krodhān na ca hṛṣye kulakṣaye
 32 nikṛtyā nikṛtā nityaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭra sutair vayam
     bahūni paruṣāṇy uktvā vanaṃ prasthāpitāḥ sma ha
 33 bhīmasenasya tadduḥkham atīva hṛdi vartate
     iti saṃcintya vārṣṇeya mayaitat samupekṣitam
 34 tasmād dhatvākṛta prajñaṃ lubdhaṃ kāmavaśānugam
     labhatāṃ pāṇḍavaḥ kāmaṃ dharme 'dharme 'pi vā kṛte
 35 [s]
     ity ukte dharmarājena vāsudevo 'bravīd idam
     kāmam astv evam iti vai kṛcchrād yadukulodvahaḥ
 36 ity ukto vāsudevena bhīma priyahitaiṣiṇā
     anvamodata tat sarvaṃ yad bhīmena kṛtaṃ yudhi
 37 bhīmaseno 'pi hatvājau tava putram amarṣaṇaḥ
     abhivādyāgrataḥ sthitvā saṃprahṛṣṭaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ
 38 provāca sumahātejā dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     harṣād utphullanayano jitakāśī viśāṃ pate
 39 tavādya pṛthivī rājan kṣemā nihatakaṇṭakā
     tāṃ praśādhi mahārāja svadharmam anupālayan
 40 yas tu kartāsya vairasya nikṛtyā nikṛtipriyaḥ
     so 'yaṃ vinihataḥ śete pṛthivyāṃ pṛthivīpate
 41 duḥśāsanaprabhṛtayaḥ sarve te cogravādinaḥ
     rādheyaḥ śakuniś cāpi nihatās tava śatravaḥ
 42 seyaṃ ratnasamākīrṇā mahī savanaparvatā
     upāvṛttā mahārāja tvām adya nihatadviṣam
 43 [y]
     gataṃ vairasya nidhanaṃ hato rājā suyodhanaḥ
     kṛṣṇasya matam āsthāya vijiteyaṃ vasuṃdharā
 44 diṣṭyā gatas tvam ānṛṇyaṃ mātuḥ kopasya cobhayoḥ
     diṣṭyā jayasi durdharṣaṃ diṣṭyā śatrur nipātitaḥ

 

59

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding Duryodhana felled upon the earth like a gigantic Sala uprooted (by the tempest) the Pandavas became filled with joy. The Somakas also beheld, with hair standing on end, the Kuru king felled upon the earth like an infuriated elephant felled by a lion. Having struck Duryodhana down, the valiant Bhimasena, approaching the Kuru chief, addressed him, saying, "O wretch, formerly laughing at the disrobed Draupadi in the midst of the assembly, thou hadst, O fool, addressed us as 'Cow, Cow!' Bear now the fruit of that insult!" Having said these words, he touched the head of his fallen foe with his left foot. Indeed, he struck the head of that lion among kings with his foot. With eyes red in wrath, Bhimasena, that grinder of hostile armies, once more said these words. Listen to them, O monarch! "They that danced at us insultingly, saying, 'Cow, Cow!' we shall now dance at them, uttering the same words, 'Cow, Cow!' We have no guile, no fire, no match, at dice, no deception! Depending upon the might of our own arms we resist and check our foes!" Having attained to the other shores of those fierce hostilities, Vrikodara once more laughingly said these words slowly unto Yudhishthira and Keshava and Srinjaya and Dhananjaya and the two sons of Madri, "They that had dragged Draupadi, while ill, into the assembly and had disrobed her there, behold those Dhartarashtras slain in battle by the Pandavas through the ascetic penances of Yajnasena's daughter! Those wicked-hearted sons of king Dhritarashtra who had called us 'Sesame seeds without kernel,' have all been slain by us with their relatives and followers! It matters little whether (as a consequence of those deeds) we go to heaven or fall into hell!" Once more, uplifting the mace that lay on his shoulders, he struck with his left foot the head of the monarch who was prostrate on the earth, and addressing the deceitful Duryodhana, said these words. Many of the foremost warriors among the Somakas, who were all of righteous souls, beholding the foot of the rejoicing Bhimasena of narrow heart placed upon the head of that foremost one of Kuru's race, did not at all approve of it. While Vrikodara, after having struck down thy son, was thus bragging and dancing madly, king Yudhishthira addressed him, saying, "Thou hast paid off thy hostility (towards Duryodhana) and accomplished thy vow by a fair or an unfair act! Cease now, O Bhima! Do not crush his head with thy foot! Do not act sinfully! Duryodhana is a king! He is, again, thy kinsman! He is fallen! This conduct of thine, O sinless one, is not proper. Duryodhana was the lord of eleven Akshauhinis of troops. He was the king of the Kurus. Do not, O Bhima, touch a king and a kinsman with thy foot. His kinsmen are slain. His friends and counsellors are gone. His troops have been exterminated. He has been struck down in battle. He is to be pitied in every respect. He deserves not to be insulted, for remember that he is a king. He is ruined. His friends and kinsmen have been slain. His brothers have been killed. His sons too have been slain. His funeral cake hath been taken away. He is our brother. This that thou doest unto him is not proper. 'Bhimasena is a man of righteous behaviour': people used to say this before of thee! Why then, O Bhimasena, dost thou insult the king in this way?" Having said these words unto Bhimasena, Yudhishthira, with voice choked in tears, and afflicted with grief, approached Duryodhana, that chastiser of foes, and said unto him, "O sire, thou shouldst not give way to anger nor grieve for thyself. Without doubt thou bearest the dreadful consequences of thy own former acts. Without doubt this sad and woeful result had been ordained by the Creator himself, that we should injure thee and thou shouldst injure us, O foremost one of Kuru's race! Through thy own fault this great calamity has come upon thee, due to avarice and pride and folly, O Bharata! Having caused thy companions and brothers and sires and sons and grandsons and others to be all slain, thou comest now by thy own death. In consequence of thy fault, thy brothers, mighty car-warriors all, and thy kinsmen have been slain by us. I think all this to be the work of irresistible Destiny. Thou art not to be pitied. On the other hand, thy death, O sinless one, is enviable. It is we that deserve to be pitied in every respect, O Kaurava! We shall have to drag on a miserable existence, reft of all our dear friends and kinsmen. Alas, how shall I behold the widows, overwhelmed with grief and deprived of their senses by sorrow, of my brothers and sons and grandsons! Thou, O king, departest from this world! Thou art sure to have thy residence in heaven! We, on the other hand, shall be reckoned as creatures of hell, and shall continue to suffer the most poignant grief! The grief-afflicted wives of Dhritarashtra's sons and grandsons, those widows crushed with sorrow, will without doubt, curse us all!" Having said these words, Dharma's royal son, Yudhishthira, deeply afflicted with grief, began to breathe hard and indulge in lamentations.'"

 

 

 

Book 9
Chapter 60

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      hataṃ duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena saṃyuge
      pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayāś caiva kim akurvata saṃjaya
  2 [s]
      hātaṃ duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena saṃyuge
      siṃheneva mahārāja mattaṃ vanagajaṃ vane
  3 prahṛṣṭamanasas tatra kṛṣṇena saha pāṇḍavāḥ
      pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayāś caiva nihate kurunandane
  4 āvidhyann uttarīyāṇi siṃhanādāṃś ca nedire
      naitān harṣasamāviṣṭān iyaṃ sehe vasuṃdharā
  5 dhanūṃṣy anye vyākṣipanta jyāś cāpy anye tathākṣipan
      dadhmur anye mahāśaṅkhān anye jaghnuś ca dundubhīḥ
  6 cikrīḍuś ca tathaivānye jahasuś ca tavāhitāḥ
      abruvaṃś cāsakṛd vīrā bhīmasenam idaṃ vacaḥ
  7 duṣkaraṃ bhavatā karma raṇe 'dya sumahat kṛtam
      kauravendraṃ raṇe hatvā gadayātikṛta śramam
  8 indreṇeva hi vṛtrasya vadhaṃ paramasaṃyuge
      tvayā kṛtam amanyanta śatror vadham imaṃ janāḥ
  9 carantaṃ vividhān mārgān maṇḍalāni ca sarvaśaḥ
      duryodhanam imaṃ śūraṃ ko 'nyo hanyād vṛkodarāt
  10 vairasya ca gataḥ pāraṃ tvam ihānyaiḥ sudurgamam
     aśakyam etad anyena saṃpādayitum īdṛśam
 11 kuñjareṇeva mattena vīra saṃgrāmamūrdhani
     duryodhana śiro diṣṭyā pādena mṛditaṃ tvayā
 12 siṃhena mahiṣasyeva kṛtvā saṃgaram adbhutam
     duḥśāsanasya rudhiraṃ diṣṭyā pītaṃ tvayānagha
 13 ye viprakurvan rājānaṃ dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     mūrdhni teṣāṃ kṛtaḥ pādo diṣṭyā te svena karmaṇā
 14 amitrāṇām adhiṣṭhānād vadhād duryodhanasya ca
     bhīma diṣṭyā pṛthivyāṃ te prathitaṃ sumahad yaśaḥ
 15 evaṃ nūnaṃ hate vṛtre śakraṃ nandanti bandinaḥ
     tathā tvāṃ nihatāmitraṃ vayaṃ nandāma bhārata
 16 duryodhana vadhe yāni romāṇi hṛṣitāni naḥ
     adyāpi na vihṛṣyanti tāni tad viddhi bhārata
     ity abruvan bhīmasenaṃ vātikās tatra sāṃgatāḥ
 17 tān hṛṣṭān puruṣavyāghrān pāñcālān pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     bruvataḥ sadṛśaṃ tatra provāca madhusūdanaḥ
 18 na nyāyyaṃ nihataḥ śatrur bhūyo hantuṃ janādhipāḥ
     asakṛd vāgbhir ugrābhir nihato hy eṣa mandadhīḥ
 19 tadaivaiṣa hataḥ pāpo yadaiva nirapatrapaḥ
     lubdhaḥ pāpasahāyaś ca suhṛdāṃ śāsanātigaḥ
 20 bahuśo vidura droṇa kṛpa gāṅgeya sṛñjayaiḥ
     pāṇḍubhyaḥ procyamāno 'pi pitryam aṃśaṃ na dattavān
 21 naiṣa yogyo 'dya mitraṃ vā śatrur vā puruṣādhamaḥ
     kim anenātinunnena vāgbhiḥ kāṣṭhasadharmaṇā
 22 ratheṣv ārohata kṣipraṃ gacchāmo vasudhādhipāḥ
     diṣṭyā hato 'yaṃ pāpātmā sāmātyajñāti bāndhavaḥ
 23 iti śrutvā tv adhikṣepaṃ kṛṣṇād duryodhano nṛpaḥ
     amarṣavaśam āpanna udatiṣṭhad viśāṃ pate
 24 sphig deśenopaviṣṭaḥ sa dorbhyāṃ viṣṭabhya medinīm
     dṛṣṭiṃ bhrū saṃkaṭāṃ kṛtvā vāsudeve nyapātayat
 25 ardhonnata śarīrasya rūpam āsīn nṛpasya tat
     kruddhasyāśīviṣasyevac chinnapucchasya bhārata
 26 prāṇānta karaṇīṃ ghorāṃ vedanām avicintayan
     duryodhano vāsudevaṃ vāgbhir ugrābhir ārdayat
 27 kaṃsa dāsasya dāyāda na te lajjāsty anena vai
     adharmeṇa gadāyuddhe yad ahaṃ vinipātitaḥ
 28 ūrū bhindhīti bhīmasya smṛtiṃ mithyā prayacchatā
     kiṃ na vijñātam etan me yad arjunam avocathāḥ
 29 ghātayitvā mahīpālān ṛju yuddhān sahasraśaḥ
     jihmair upāyair bahubhir na te lajjā na te ghṛṇā
 30 ahany ahani śūrāṇāṃ kurvāṇaḥ kadanaṃ mahat
     śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya ghātitas te pitāmahaḥ
 31 aśvatthāmnaḥ sanāmānaṃ hatvā nāgaṃ sudurmate
     ācāryo nyāsitaḥ śastraṃ kiṃ tan na viditaṃ mama
 32 sa cānena nṛśaṃsena dhṛṣṭadyumnena vīryavān
     pātyamānas tvayā dṛṣṭo na cainaṃ tvam avārayaḥ
 33 vadhārthaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya yācitāṃ śaktim eva ca
     ghaṭotkace vyaṃsayathāḥ kas tvattaḥ pāpakṛttamaḥ
 34 chinnabāhuḥ prāyagatas tathā bhūriśravā balī
     tvayā nisṛṣṭena hataḥ śaineyena durātmanā
 35 kurvāṇaś cottamaṃ karma karṇaḥ pārtha jigīṣayā
     vyaṃsanenāśvasenasya pannagendrasutasya vai
 36 punaś ca patite cakre vyasanārtaḥ parājitaḥ
     pātitaḥ samare karṇaś cakravyagro 'graṇīr nṛṇām
 37 yadi māṃ cāpi karṇaṃ ca bhīṣmadroṇau ca saṃyuge
     ṛjunā pratiyudhyethā na te syād vijayo dhruvam
 38 tvayā punar anāryeṇa jihmamārgeṇa pārthivāḥ
     svadharmam anutiṣṭhanto vayaṃ cānye ca ghātitāḥ
 39 [vā]
     hatas tvam asi gāndhāre sabhrātṛsutabāndhavaḥ
     sagaṇaḥ sasuhṛc caiva pāpamārgam anuṣṭhitaḥ
 40 tavaiva duṣkṛtair vīrau bhīṣmadroṇau nipātitau
     karṇaś ca nihataḥ saṃkhye tava śīlānuvartakaḥ
 41 yācyamāno mayā mūḍha pitryam aṃśaṃ na ditsasi
     pāṇḍavebhyaḥ svarājyārdhaṃ lobhāc chakuni niścayāt
 42 viṣaṃ te bhīmasenāya dattaṃ sarve ca pāṇḍavāḥ
     pradīpitā jatu gṛhe mātrā saha sudurmate
 43 sabhāyāṃ yājñasenī ca kṛṣṭā dyūte rajasvalā
     tadaiva tāvad duṣṭātman vadhyas tvaṃ nirapatrapaḥ
 44 anakṣajñaṃ ca dharmajñaṃ saubalenākṣa vedinā
     nikṛtyā yat parājaiṣīs tassmād asi hato raṇe
 45 jayadrathena pāpena yat kṛṣṇā kleśitā vane
     yāteṣu mṛgayāṃ teṣu tṛṇabindor athāśrame
 46 abhimanyuś ca yad bāla eko bahubhir āhave
     tvad doṣair nihataḥ pāpatasmād asi hato raṇe
 47 [dur]
     adhītaṃ vidhivad dattaṃ bhūḥ praśāstā sasāgarā
     mūrdhni sthitam amitrāṇāṃ ko nu svantataro mayā
 48 yad iṣṭaṃ kṣatrabandhūnāṃ svadharmam anupaśyatām
     tad idaṃ nidhanaṃ prāptaṃ ko nu svantataro mayā
 49 devārhā mānuṣā bhogāḥ prāptā asulabhā nṛpaiḥ
     aiśvaryaṃ cottamaṃ prāptaṃ ko nu svantataro mayā
 50 sasuhṛt sānubandhaś ca svargaṃ gantāham acyuta
     yūyaṃ vihatasaṃkalpāḥ śocanto vartayiṣyatha
 51 [s]
     asya vākyasya nidhane kururājasya bhārata
     apatat sumahad varṣaṃ puṣpāṇāṃ puṇyagandhinām
 52 avādayanta gandharvā jaguś cāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ
     siddhāś ca mumucur vācaḥ sādhu sādhv iti bhārata
 53 vavau ca surabhir vāyuḥ puṇyagandho mṛduḥ sukhaḥ
     vyarājatāmalaṃ caiva nabho vaiḍūrya saṃnibham
 54 atyadbhutāni te dṛṣṭvā vāsudeva purogamāḥ
     duryodhanasya pūjāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā vrīḍām upāgaman
 55 hatāṃś cādharmataḥ śrutvā śokārtāḥ śuśucur hi te
     bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ tathā karṇaṃ bhūriśravasam eva ca
 56 tāṃs tu cintāparān dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavān dīnacetasaḥ
     provācedaṃ vacaḥ kṛṣṇo meghadundubhinisvanaḥ
 57 naiṣa śakyo 'tiśīghrāstras te ca sarve mahārathāḥ
     ṛju yuddhena vikrāntā hantuṃ yuṣmābhir āhave
 58 upāyā vihitā hy ete mayā tasmān narādhipāḥ
     anyathā pāṇḍaveyānāṃ nābhaviṣyaj jayaḥ kva cit
 59 te hi sarve mahātmānaś catvāro 'tirathā bhuvi
     na śakyā dharmato hantuṃ lokapālair api svayam
 60 tathaivāyaṃ gadāpāṇir dhārtarāṣṭro gataklamaḥ
     na śakyo dharmato hantuṃ kālenāpīha daṇḍinā
 61 na ca vo hṛdi kartavyaṃ yad ayaṃ ghātito nṛpaḥ
     mithyā vadhyās tathopāyair bahavaḥ śatravo 'dhikāḥ
 62 pūrvair anugato mārgo devair asuraghātibhiḥ
     sadbhiś cānugataḥ panthāḥ sa sarvair anugamyate
 63 kṛtakṛtyāḥ sma sāyāhne nivāsaṃ rocayāmahe
     sāśvanāgarathāḥ sarve viśramāmo narādhipāḥ
 64 vāsudeva vacaḥ śrutvā tadānīṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     pāñcālā bhṛśasaṃhṛṣṭā vineduḥ smiha saṃghavat
 65 tataḥ prādhmāpayañ śaṅkhān pāñcajanyaṃ ca mādhavaḥ
     hṛṣṭā duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ puruṣarṣabhāḥ

60

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Beholding the (Kuru) king struck down unfairly, what O Suta, did the mighty Baladeva, that foremost one of Yadu's race, say? Tell me, O Sanjaya, what Rohini's son, well-skilled in encounters with the mace and well acquainted with all its rules, did on that occasion!'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding thy son struck at the thighs, the mighty Rama, that foremost of smiters, became exceedingly angry. Raising his arms aloft the hero having the plough for his weapon, in a voice of deep sorrow, said in the midst of those kings, "Oh, fie on Bhima, fie on Bhima! Oh, fie, that in such a fair fight a blow hath been struck below the navel! Never before hath such an act as Vrikodara hath done been witnessed in an encounter with the mace! No limb below the navel should be struck. This is the precept laid down in treatises! This Bhima, however, is an ignorant wretch, unacquainted with the truths of treatises! He, therefore, acteth as he likes!" While uttering these words, Rama gave way to great wrath. The mighty Baladeva then, uplifting his plough, rushed towards Bhimasena! The form of that high-souled warrior of uplifted arms then became like that of the gigantic mountains of Kailasa variegated with diverse kinds of metals. The mighty Keshava, however, ever bending with humanity, seized the rushing Rama encircling him with his massive and well-rounded arms. Those two foremost heroes of Yadu's race, the one dark in complexion and the other fair, looked exceedingly beautiful at that moment, like the Sun and the Moon, O king, on the evening sky! For pacifying the angry Rama, Keshava addressed him, saying, "There are six kinds of advancement that a person may have: one's own advancement, the advancement of one's friends, the advancement of one's friends', the decay of one's enemy, the decay of one's enemy's friends, and the decay of one's enemy's friends' friends. When reverses happen to one's own self or to one's friends, one should then understand that one's fall is at hand and, therefore, one should at such times look for the means of applying a remedy. The Pandavas of unsullied prowess are our natural friends. They are the children of our own sire's sister! They had been greatly afflicted by their foes! The accomplishment of one's vow is one's duty. Formerly Bhima had vowed in the midst of the assembly that he would in great battle break with his mace the thighs of Duryodhana. The great Rishi Maitreya also, O scorcher of foes, had formerly cursed Duryodhana, saying, 'Bhima will, with his mace, break thy thighs!' In consequence of all this, I do not see any fault in Bhima! Do not give way to wrath, O slayer of Pralamva! Our relationship with the Pandavas is founded upon birth and blood, as also upon an attraction of hearts. In their growth is our growth. Do not, therefore, give way to wrath, O bull among men!" Hearing these words of Vasudeva the wielder of the plough, who was conversant with rules of morality, said, "Morality is well practised by the good. Morality, however, is always afflicted by two things, the desire of Profit entertained by those that covet it, and the desire for Pleasure cherished by those that are wedded to it. Whoever without afflicting Morality and Profit, or Morality and Pleasure, or Pleasure and Profit, followeth all three--Morality, Profit and Pleasure--always succeeds in obtaining great happiness. In consequence, however, of morality being afflicted by Bhimasena, this harmony of which I have spoken hath been disturbed, whatever, O Govinda, thou mayst tell me!" Krishna replied, saying, "Thou art always described as bereft of wrath, and righteous-souled and devoted to righteousness! Calm thyself, therefore, and do not give way to wrath! Know that the Kali age is at hand. Remember also the vow made by the son of Pandu! Let, therefore, the son of Pandu be regarded to have paid off the debt he owed to his hostility and to have fulfilled his vow!"
"Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing this fallacious discourse from Keshava, O king, Rama failed to dispel his wrath and became cheerful. He then said in that assembly, "Having unfairly slain king Suyodhana of righteous soul, the son of Pandu shall be reputed in the world as a crooked warrior! The righteous-souled Duryodhana, on the other hand, shall obtain eternal blessedness! Dhritarashtra's royal son, that ruler of men, who hath been struck down, is a fair warrior. Having made every arrangement for the Sacrifice of battle and having undergone the initiatory ceremonies on the field, and, lastly, having poured his life as a libation upon the fire represented by his foes, Duryodhana has fairly completed his sacrifice by the final ablutions represented by the attainment of glory!" Having said these words, the valiant son of Rohini, looking like the crest of a white cloud, ascended his car and proceeded towards Dwaraka. The Pancalas with the Vrishnis, as also the Pandavas, O monarch, became rather cheerless after Rama had set out for Dwaravati. Then Vasudeva, approaching Yudhishthira who was exceedingly melancholy and filled with anxiety, and who hung down his head and knew not what to do in consequence of his deep affliction, said unto him these words:
"'Vasudeva said, "O Yudhishthira the just, why dost thou sanction this unrighteous act, since thou permittest the head of the insensible and fallen Duryodhana whose kinsmen and friends have all been slain to be thus struck by Bhima with his foot. Conversant with the ways of morality, why dost thou, O king, witness this act with indifference?"
"'Yudhishthira answered, "This act, O Krishna, done from wrath, of Vrikodara's touching the head of the king with his foot, is not agreeable to me, nor am I glad at this extermination of my race! By guile were we always deceived by the sons of Dhritarashtra! Many were the cruel words they spoke to us. We were again exiled into the woods by them. Great is the grief on account of all those acts that is in Bhimasena's heart! Reflecting on all this, O thou of Vrishni's race, I looked on with indifference! Having slain the covetous Duryodhana bereft of wisdom and enslaved by his passions, let the son of Pandu gratify his desire, be it righteousness or unrighteousness!"
"Sanjaya continued, 'After Yudhishthira had said this, Vasudeva, that perpetuator of Yadu's race, said with difficulty, "Let it be so!" Indeed, after Vasudeva had been addressed in those words by Yudhishthira, the former, who, always wished what was agreeable to and beneficial for Bhima, approved all those acts that Bhima had done in battle. Having struck down thy son in battle, the wrathful Bhimasena, his heart filled with joy, stood with joined hands before Yudhishthira and saluted him in proper form. With eyes expanded in delight and proud of the victory he had won, Vrikodara of great energy, O king, addressed his eldest brother, saying, "The Earth is today thine, O king, without brawls to disturb her and with all her thorns removed! Rule over her, O monarch, and observe the duties of thy order! He who was the cause of these hostilities and who fomented them by means of his guile, that wretched wight fond of deception, lieth, struck down, on the bare ground, O lord of earth! All these wretches headed by Duhshasana, who used to utter cruel words, as also those other foes of thine, the son of Radha, and Shakuni, have been slain! Teeming with all kinds of gems, the Earth, with her forests and mountains, O monarch, once more cometh to thee that hast no foes alive!"
"'Yudhishthira said, "Hostilities have come to an end! King Suyodhana hath been struck down! The earth hath been conquered (by us), ourselves having acted according to the counsels of Krishna! By good luck, thou hast paid off thy debt to thy mother and to thy wrath! By good luck, thou hast been victorious, O invincible hero, and by good luck, thy foe hath been slain!"'"

 

 

Book 9
Chapter 61

 

 

1 [s]
      tatas te prayayuḥ sarve nivāsāya mahīkṣitaḥ
      śaṅkhān pradhmāpayanto vai hṛṣṭāḥ parighabāhavaḥ
  2 pāṇḍavān gacchataś cāpi śibiraṃ no viśāṃ pate
      maheṣvāso 'nvagāt paścād yuyutsuḥ sātyakis tathā
  3 dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ
      sarve cānye maheṣvāsā yayuḥ svaśibirāṇy uta
  4 tatas te prāviśan pārthā hāta tviṭkaṃ hateśvaram
      duryodhanasya śibiraṃ raṅgavad visṛte jane
  5 gad utsavaṃ puram iva hṛtanāgam iva hradam
      strīvarṣavarabhūyiṣṭhaṃ vṛddhāmātyair adhiṣṭhiram
  6 tatraitān paryupātiṣṭhan duryodhana puraḥsarāḥ
      kṛtāñjalipuṭā rājan kāṣāyamalināmbarāḥ
  7 śibiraṃ samanuprāpya kururājasya pāṇḍavāḥ
      avaterur mahārāja rathebhyo rathasattamāḥ
  8 tato gāṇḍīvadhanvānam abhyabhāṣata keśavaḥ
      sthitaḥ priha hite nityam atīva bharatarṣabha
  9 avaropaya gāṇḍīvam akṣayyau ca maheṣudhī
      athāham avarokṣyāmi paścād bharatasattama
  10 svayaṃ caivāvaroha tvam eta śreyas tavānagha
     tac cākarot tathā vīraḥ pāṇḍuputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
 11 atha paścāt tataḥ kṛṣṇo raśmīn utsṛjya vājinām
     avārohata medhāvī rathād gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ
 12 athāvatīrṇe bhūtānām īśvare sumahātmani
     kapir antardadhe divyo dhvajo gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ
 13 sa dagdho droṇakarṇābhyāṃ divyair astrair mahārathaḥ
     atha dīpto 'gninā hy āśu prajajvāla mahīpate
 14 sopāsaṅgaḥ saraśmiś ca sāśvaḥ sayuga bandhuraḥ
     bhasmībhūte 'patad bhūmau rathe gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ
 15 taṃ tathā bhasmabhūtaṃ tu dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍusutāḥ prabho
     abhavan vismitā rājann arjunaś cedam abravīt
 16 kṛtāñjaliḥ sapraṇayaṃ praṇipatyābhivādya ca
     govinda kasmād bhagavan ratho dagdho 'yam agninā
 17 kim etan mahad āścaryam abhavad yadunandana
     tan me brūhi mahābāho śrotavyaṃ yadi manyase
 18 [vā]
     astrair bahuvidhair dagdhaḥ pūrvam evāyam arjuna
     mad adhiṣṭhitatvāt samare na viśīrṇaḥ paraṃtapa
 19 idānīṃ tu viśīrṇo 'yaṃ dagdho brahmāstra tejasā
     mayā vimuktaḥ kaunteya tvayy adya kṛtakarmaṇi
 20 [s]
     īṣad utsmayamānaś ca bhagavān keśavo 'rihā
     pariṣvajya ca rājānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata
 21 diṣṭyā jayasi kaunteya diṣṭyā te śatravo jitāḥ
     diṣṭyā gāṇḍīvadhanvā ca bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavau
 22 muktā vīra kṣayād asmāt saṃgrāmān nihatadviṣaḥ
     kṣipram uttarakālāni kuru kāryāṇi bhārata
 23 upayātam upaplavyaṃ saha gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
     ānīya madhuparkaṃ māṃ yat purā tvam avocathāḥ
 24 eṣa bhrātā sakhā caiva tava kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayaḥ
     rakṣitavyo mahābāho sarvāsv āpatsv iti prabho
     tava caivaṃ bruvāṇasya tathety evāham abruvam
 25 sa savyasācī guptas te vijayī ca nareśvara
     bhrātṛbhiḥ saha rājendra śūraḥ satyaparākramaḥ
     mukto vīra kṣayād asmāt saṃgrāmāl lomaharṣaṇāt
 26 evam uktas tu kṛṣṇena dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     hṛṣṭaromā mahārāja pratyuvāca janārdanam
 27 pramuktaṃ droṇakarṇābhyāṃ brahmāstram arimardana
 28 kas tvadanyaḥ sahet sākṣād api vajrī puraṃdaraḥ
 29 bhavatas tu prasādena saṃgrāme bahavo jitāḥ
     mahāraṇagataḥ pārtho yac ca nāsīt parāṅmukhaḥ
     tathaiva ca mahābāho paryāyair bahubhir mayā
     karmaṇām anusaṃtānaṃ tejasaś ca gatiḥ śubhā
 30 upaplavye maharṣir me kṛṣṇadvaipāyano 'bravīt
     yato dharmas tataḥ kṛṣṇo yatha kṛṣṇas tato jayaḥ
 31 ity evam ukte te vīrāḥ śibiraṃ tava bhārata
     praviśya pratyapadyanta kośaratnarddhi saṃcayān
 32 rajataṃ jātarūpaṃ ca maṇīn atha ca mauktikān
     bhūṣaṇāny atha mukhyāni kambalāny ajināni ca
     dāsīdāsam asaṃkhyeyaṃ rājyopakaraṇāni ca
 33 te prāpya dhanam akṣayyaṃ tvadīyaṃ bharatarṣabha
     udakrośan maheṣvāsā narendra vijitārayaḥ
 34 te tu vīrāḥ samāśvasya vāhanāny avamucya ca
     atiṣṭhanta muhuḥ sarve pāṇḍavāḥ sātyakis tathā
 35 athābravīn mahārāja vāsudevo mahāyaśāḥ
     asmābhir maṅgalārthāya vastavyaṃ śibirād bahiḥ
 36 tathety uktvā ca te sarve pāṇḍavāḥ sātyakis tathā
     vāsudevena sahitā maṅgalārthaṃ yayur bahiḥ
 37 te samāsādya saritaṃ puṇyāmoghavatīṃ nṛpa
     nyavasann atha tāṃ rātriṃ pāṇḍavā hataśatravaḥ
 38 tataḥ saṃpreṣayām āsur yādavaṃ nāgasāhvayam
     sa ca prāyāj javenāśu vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān
     dārukaṃ ratham āropya yena rājāmbikā sutaḥ
 39 tam ūcuḥ saṃprayāsyantaṃ sainyasugrīva vāhanam
     pratyāśvāsaya gāndhārīṃ hataputrāṃ yaśasvinīm
 40 sa prāyāt pāṇḍavair uktas tat puraṃ sātvatāṃ varaḥ
     āsasādayiṣuḥ kṣipraṃ gāndhārīṃ nihatātmajām

61

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Beholding Duryodhana struck down in battle by Bhimasena, what, O Sanjaya, did the Pandavas and the Srinjayas do?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding Duryodhana slain by Bhimasena in battle, O king, like a wild elephant slain by a lion, the Pandavas with Krishna became filled with delight. The Pancalas and the Srinjayas also, upon the fall of the Kuru king, waved their upper garments (in the air) and uttered leonine roars. The very Earth seemed to be unable to bear those rejoicing warriors. Some stretched their bows; others drew their bowstrings. Some blew their huge conchs; others beat their drums. Some sported and jumped about, while some amongst thy foes laughed aloud. Many heroes repeatedly said these words unto Bhimasena, "Exceedingly difficult and great hath been the fears that thou hast achieved today in battle, by having struck down the Kuru king, himself a great warrior, with thy mace! All these men regard this slaughter of the foe by thee to be like that of Vritra by Indra himself! Who else, save thyself, O Vrikodara, could slay the heroic Duryodhana while careering in diverse kinds of motion and performing all the wheeling manoeuvres (characteristic of such encounters)? Thou hast now reached the other shore of these hostilities, that other shore which none else could reach. This feat that thou hast achieved is incapable of being achieved by any other warriors. By good luck, thou hast, O hero, like an infuriated elephant, crushed with thy foot the head of Duryodhana on the field of battle! Having fought a wonderful battle, by good luck, O sinless one, thou hast quaffed the blood of Duhshasana, like a lion quaffing the blood of a buffalo! By good luck, thou hast, by thy own energy, placed thy foot on the head of all those that had injured the righteous-souled king Yudhishthira! In consequence of having vanquished thy foes and of thy having slain Duryodhana, by good luck, O Bhima, thy fame hath spread over the whole world! Bards and eulogists applauded Shakra after the fall of Vritra, even as we are now applauding thee, O Bharata, after the fall of thy foes! Know, O Bharata, that the joy we felt upon the fall of Duryodhana hath not yet abated in the least!" Even these were the words addressed to Bhimasena by the assembled eulogists on that occasion! Whilst those tigers among men, the Pancalas and the Pandavas, all filled with delight were indulging in such language, the slayer of Madhu addressed them, saying, "You rulers of men, it is not proper to slay a slain foe with such cruel speeches repeatedly uttered. This wight of wicked understanding hath already been slain. This sinful, shameless, and covetous wretch, surrounded by sinful counsellors and ever regardless of the advice of wise friends, met with his death even when he refused, though repeatedly urged to contrary by Vidura and Drona and Kripa and Sanjaya, to give unto the sons of Pandu their paternal share in the kingdom which they had solicited at his hands! This wretch is not now fit to be regarded either as a friend or a foe! What use in spending bitter breath upon one who hath now become a piece of wood! Mount your cars quickly, ye kings, for we should leave this place! By good luck, this sinful wretch hath been slain with his counsellors and kinsmen and friends!" Hearing these rebukes from Krishna, king Duryodhana, O monarch, gave way to wrath and endeavoured to rise. Sitting on his haunches and supporting himself on his two arms, he contracted his eyebrows and cast angry glances at Vasudeva. The form then of Duryodhana whose body was half raised looked like that of a poisonous snake, O Bharata, shorn of its tail. Disregarding his poignant and unbearable pains, Duryodhana began to afflict Vasudeva with keen and bitter words, "O son of Kansa's slave, thou hast, it seems, no shame, for hast thou forgotten that I have been struck down most unfairly, judged by the rules that prevail in encounters with the mace? It was thou who unfairly caused this act by reminding Bhima with a hint about the breaking of my thighs! Dost thou think I did not mark it when Arjuna (acting under thy advice) hinted it to Bhima? Having caused thousands of kings, who always fought fairly, to be slain through diverse kinds of unfair means, feelest thou no shame or no abhorrence for those acts? Day after day having caused a great carnage of heroic warriors, thou causedst the grandsire to be slain by placing Shikhandi to the fore! Having again caused an elephant of the name of Ashvatthama to be slain, O thou of wicked understanding, thou causedst the preceptor to lay aside his weapons. Thinkest thou that this is not known to me! While again that valiant hero was about to be slain this cruel Dhrishtadyumna, thou didst not dissuade the latter! The dart that had been begged (of Shakra as a boon) by Karna for the slaughter of Arjuna was baffled by thee through Ghatotkacha! Who is there that is more sinful than thou? Similarly, the mighty Bhurishrava, with one of his arms lopped off and while observant of the Praya vow, was caused to be slain by thee through the agency of the high-souled Satyaki. Karna had done a great feat for vanquishing Partha. Thou, however, causedst Aswasena, the son of that prince of snakes (Takshaka), to be baffled in achieving his purpose! When again the wheel of Karna's car sank in mire and Karna was afflicted with calamity and almost vanquished on that account, when, indeed, that foremost of men became anxious to liberate his wheel, thou causedst that Karna to be then slain! If ye had fought me and Karna and Bhishma and Drona by fair means, victory then, without doubt, would never have been yours. By adopting the most crooked and unrighteous of means thou hast caused many kings observant of the duties of their order and ourselves also to be slain!'
"'Vasudeva said, "Thou, O son of Gandhari, hast been slain with thy brothers, sons, kinsmen, friends, and followers, only in consequence of the sinful path in which thou hast trod! Through thy evil acts those two heroes, Bhishma and Drona, have been slain! Karna too hath been slain for having imitated thy behaviour! Solicited by me, O fool, thou didst not, from avarice, give the Pandavas their paternal share, acting according to the counsels of Shakuni! Thou gavest poison to Bhimasena! Thou hadst, also, O thou of wicked understanding, endeavoured to burn all the Pandavas with their mother at the palace of lac! On the occasion also of the gambling, thou hadst persecuted the daughter of Yajnasena, while in her season, in the midst of the assembly! Shameless as thou art, even then thou becamest worthy of being slain! Thou hadst, through Subala's son well-versed in dice, unfairly vanquished the virtuous Yudhishthira who was unskilled in gambling! For that art thou slain! Through the sinful Jayadratha again, Krishna was on another occasion persecuted when the Pandavas, her lords, had gone out hunting towards the hermitage of Trinavindu! Causing Abhimanyu, who was a child and alone, to be surrounded by many, thou didst slay that hero. It is in consequence of that fault, O sinful wretch, that thou art slain! All those unrighteous acts that thou sayest have been perpetrated by us, have in reality been perpetrated by thee in consequence of thy sinful nature! Thou didst never listen to the counsels of Brihaspati and Usanas! Thou didst never wait upon the old! Thou didst never hear beneficial words! Enslaved by ungovernable covetousness and thirst of gain, thou didst perpetrate many unrighteous acts! Bear now the consequences of those acts of thine!"
"'Duryodhana said, "I have studied, made presents according to the ordinance, governed the wide Earth with her seas, and stood over the heads of my foes! Who is there so fortunate as myself! That end again which is courted by Kshatriyas observant of the duties of their own order, death in battle, hath become mine. Who, therefore, is so fortunate as myself? Human enjoyments such as were worthy of the very gods and such as could with difficulty be obtained by other kings, had been mine. Prosperity of the very highest kind had been attained by me! Who then is so fortunate as myself? With all my well-wishers, and my younger brothers, I am going to heaven, O thou of unfading glory! As regards yourselves, with your purposes unachieved and torn by grief, live ye in this unhappy world!"'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Upon the conclusion of these words of the intelligent king of the Kurus, a thick shower of fragrant flowers fell from the sky. The Gandharvas played upon many charming musical instruments. The Apsaras in a chorus sang the glory of king Duryodhana. The Siddhas uttered loud sound to the effect, "Praise be to king Duryodhana!" Fragrant and delicious breezes mildly blew on every side. All the quarters became clear and the firmament looked blue as the lapis lazuli. Beholding these exceedingly wonderful things and this worship offered to Duryodhana, the Pandavas headed by Vasudeva became ashamed. Hearing (invisible beings cry out) that Bhishma and Drona and Karna and Bhurishrava were slain unrighteously, they became afflicted with grief and wept in sorrow. Beholding the Pandavas filled with anxiety and grief, Krishna addressed them in a voice deep as that of the clouds or the drum, saying, "All of them were great car-warriors and exceedingly quick in the use of weapons! If ye had put forth all your prowess, even then ye could never have slain them in battle by fighting fairly! King Duryodhana also could never be slain in a fair encounter! The same is the case with all those mighty car-warriors headed by Bhishma! From desire of doing good to you, I repeatedly applied my powers of illusion and caused them to be slain by diverse means in battle. If I had not adopted such deceitful ways in battle, victory would never have been yours, nor kingdom, nor wealth! Those four were very high-souled warriors and regarded as Atirathas in the world. The very Regents of the Earth could not slay them in fair fight! Similarly, the son of Dhritarashtra, though fatigued when armed with the mace, could not be slain in fair fight by Yama himself armed with his bludgeon! You should not take it to heart that this foe of yours hath been slain deceitfully. When the number of one's foes becomes great, then destruction should be effected by contrivances and means. The gods themselves, in slaying the Asuras, have trod the same way. That way, therefore, that hath been trod by the gods, may be trod by all. We have been crowned with success. It is evening. We had better depart to our tents. Let us all, ye kings, take rest with our steeds and elephants and cars." Hearing these words of Vasudeva, the Pandavas and the Pancalas, filled with delight, roared like a multitude of lions. All of them blew their conchs and Jadava himself blew Panchajanya, filled with joy, O bull among men, at the sight of Duryodhana struck down in battle.'"

 

 

Book 9
Chapter 62

 

 

 

1 [j]
      kimarthaṃ rājaśārdūlo dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
      gāndhāryāḥ preṣayām āsa vāsudevaṃ paraṃtapam
  2 yadā pūrvaṃ gataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ śamārthaṃ kauravān prati
      na ca taṃ labdhavān kāmaṃ tato yuddham abhūd idam
  3 nihateṣu tu yodheṣu hate duryodhane tathā
      pṛthivyāṃ pāṇḍaveyasya niḥsapatne kṛte yudhi
  4 vidrute śibire śūnye prāpte yaśasi cottame
      kiṃ nu tat kāraṇaṃ brahman yena kṛṣṇo gataḥ punaḥ
  5 na ca tat kāraṇaṃ brahmann alpaṃ vai pratibhāti me
      yatrāgamad ameyātmā svayam eva janārdanaḥ
  6 tattvato vai samācakṣva sarvam adhvaryu sattama
      yac cātra kāraṇaṃ brahman kāryasyāsya viniścaye
  7 [vai]
      tvad yukto 'yam anupraśno yan māṃ pṛcchasi pārthiva
      tat te 'haṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi yathāvad bharatarṣabha
  8 hataṃ duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhima senena saṃyuge
      vyutkramya samayaṃ rājan dhārtarāṣṭraṃ mahābalam
  9 anyāyena hataṃ dṛṣṭvā gadāyuddhena bhārata
      yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mahārāja mahad bhayam athāviśat
  10 cintayāno mahābhāgāṃ gāndhārīṃ tapasānvitām
     ghoreṇa tapasā yuktāṃ trailokyam api sā dahet
 11 tasya cintayamānasya buddhiḥ samabhavat tadā
     gāndhāryāḥ krodhadīptāyāḥ pūrvaṃ praśamanaṃ bhavet
 12 sā hi putravadhaṃ śrutvā kṛtam asmābhir īdṛśam
     mānasenāgninā kruddhā bhasmasān naḥ kariṣyati
 13 kathaṃ duḥkham idaṃ tīvraṃ gāndhārī rapsahiṣyati
     śrutvā vinihataṃ putraṃ chalenājihma yodninam
 14 evaṃ vicintya bahudhā bhayaśokasamanvitaḥ
     vāsudevam idaṃ vākyaṃ dharmarājo 'bhyabhāṣata
 15 tava prasādād govinda rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam
     aprāpyaṃ manasāpīha prāptam asmābhir acyuta
 16 pratyakṣaṃ me mahābāho saṃgrāme lomaharṣaṇe
     vimardaḥ sumahān prāptas tvayā yādavanandana
 17 tvayā devāsure yuddhe vadhārtham amara dviṣām
     yathā sāhyaṃ purā dattaṃ hatāś ca vibudhadviṣaḥ
 18 sāhyaṃ tathā mahābāho dattam asmākam acyuta
     sārathyena ca vārṣṇeya bhavatā yad dhṛtā vayam
 19 yadi na tvaṃ bhaven nāthaḥ phalgunasya mahāraṇe
     kathaṃ śakyo raṇe jetuṃ bhaved eṣa balārṇavaḥ
 20 gadāprahārā vipulāḥ parighaiś cāpi tāḍanam
     śaktibhir bhiṇḍipālaiś ca tomaraiḥ saparaśvadhaiḥ
 21 vācaś ca paruṣāḥ prāptās tvayā hy asmaddhitaiṣiṇā
     tāś ca te saphalāḥ sarvā hate duryodhane 'cyuta
 22 gāndhāryā hi mahābāho krodhaṃ budhyasva mādhava
     sā hi nityaṃ mahābhāgā tapasogreṇa karśitā
 23 putrapautra vadhaṃ śrutvā dhruvaṃ naḥ saṃpradhakṣyati
     tasyāḥ prasādanaṃ vīra prāptakālaṃ mataṃ mama
 24 kaś ca tāṃ krodhadīptākṣīṃ putravyasanakarśitām
     vīkṣituṃ puruṣaḥ śaktas tvām ṛte puruṣottama
 25 tatra me gamanaṃ prāptaṃ rocate tava mādhava
     gāndhāryāḥ krodhadīptāyāḥ praśamārtham ariṃdama
 26 tvaṃ hi kartā vikartā ca lokānāṃ prabhavāpyayaḥ
     hetukāraṇa saṃyuktair vākyaiḥ kālasamīritaiḥ
 27 kṣipram eva mahāprājña gāndhārīṃ śamayiṣyasi
     pitāmahaś ca bhagavān kṛṣṇas tatra bhaviṣyati
 28 sarvathā te mahābāho gāndhāryāḥ krodhanāśanam
     kartavyaṃ sātvataśreṣṭha pāṇḍavānāṃ hitaiṣiṇā
 29 dharmarājasya vacanaṃ śrutvā yadukulodvahaḥ
     āmantrya dārukaṃ prāha rathaḥ sajjo vidhīyatām
 30 keśavasya vacaḥ śrutvā tvaramāṇo 'tha dārukaḥ
     nyavedayad rathaṃ sajjaṃ keśavāya mahātmane
 31 taṃ rathaṃ yādava śreṣṭhaḥ samāruhya paraṃtapaḥ
     jagāma hāstinapuraṃ tvaritaḥ keśavo vibhuḥ
 32 tatha prāyān mahārāja mādhavo bhagavān rathī
     nāgasāhvayam āsādya praviveśa ca vīryavān
 33 praviśya nagaraṃ vīro rathaghoṣeṇa nādayan
     vidito dhṛtarāṣṭrasya so 'vatīrya rathottamāt
 34 abhyagacchad adīnātmā dhṛtarāṣṭra niveśanam
     pūrvaṃ cābhigataṃ tatra so 'paśyad ṛṣisattamam
 35 pādau prapīḍya kṛṣṇasya rājñaś cāpi janārdanaḥ
     abhyavādayad avyagro gāndhārīṃ cāpi keśavaḥ
 36 tatas tu yādava śreṣṭho dhṛtarāṣṭram adhokṣajaḥ
     pāṇim ālambya rājñaḥ sa sasvanaṃ praruroda ha
 37 sa muhūrtam ivotsṛjya bāṣpaṃ śokasamudbhavam
     prakṣālya vāriṇā netre ācamya ca yathāvidhi
     uvāca praśritaṃ vākyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭram ariṃdamaḥ
 38 na te 'sty aviditaṃ kiṃ cid bhūtabhavyasya bhārata
     kālasya ca yathāvṛttaṃ tat te suviditaṃ prabho
 39 yad idaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ sarvais tava cittānurodhibhiḥ
     kathaṃ kulakṣayo na syāt tathā kṣatrasya bhārata
 40 bhrātṛbhiḥ samayaṃ kṛtvā kṣāntavān dharmavatsalaḥ
     dyūtac chala jitaiḥ śaktair vanavāso 'bhyupāgataḥ
 41 ajñātavāsa caryā ca nānā veśa samāvṛtaiḥ
     anye ca bahavaḥ kleśās tv aśaktair iva nityadā
 42 mayā ca svayam āgamya yuddhakāla upasthite
     sarvalokasya sāṃnidhye grāmāṃs tvaṃ pañca yācitaḥ
 43 tvayā kālopasṛṣṭena lobhato nāpavarjitāḥ
     tavāparādhān nṛpate sarvaṃ kṣatraṃ kṣayaṃ gatam
 44 bhīṣmeṇa somadattena bāhlikena kṛpeṇa ca
     droṇena ca saputreṇa vidureṇa ca dhīmatā
     yācitas tvaṃ śamaṃ nityaṃ na ca tat kṛtavān asi
 45 kālopahatacitto hi sarvo muhyati bhārata
     yathā mūḍho bhavān pūrvam asminn arthe samudyate
 46 kim anyat kālayogād dhi diṣṭam eva parāyaṇam
     mā ca doṣaṃ mahārāja pāṇḍaveṣu niveśaya
 47 alpo 'py atikramo nāsti pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
     dharmato nyāyataś caiva snehataś ca paraṃtapa
 48 etat sarvaṃ tu vijñāya ātmadoṣakṛtaṃ phalam
     asūyāṃ pāṇḍuputreṣu na bhavān kartum arhati
 49 kulaṃ vaṃśaś ca piṇḍaś ca yac ca putrakṛtaṃ phalam
     gāndhāryās tava caivādya pāṇḍaveṣu pratiṣṭhitam
 50 etat sarvam anudhyātvā ātmanaś ca vyatikramam
     śivena pāṇḍavān dhyāhi namas te bharatarṣabha
 51 jānāsi ca mahābāho dharmarājasya yā tvayi
     bhaktir bharataśārdūla snehaś cāpi svabhāvataḥ
 52 etac ca kadanaṃ kṛtvā śatrūṇām apakāriṇām
     dahyate sma divārātraṃ na ca śarmādhigacchati
 53 tvāṃ caiva naraśārdūla gāndhārīṃ ca yaśasvinīm
     sa śocan bharataśreṣṭha na śāntim adhigacchati
 54 hriyā ca parayāviṣṭo bhavantaṃ nādhigacchati
     putraśokābhisaṃtaptaṃ buddhivyākulitendriyam
 55 evam uktvā mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ yadūttamaḥ
     uvāca paramaṃ vākyaṃ gāndhārīṃ śokakarśitām
 56 saubaleyi nibodha tvaṃ yat tvāṃ vakṣyāmi suvrate
     tvatsamā nāsti loke 'sminn adya sīmantinī śubhe
 57 jānāmi ca yathā rājñi sabhāyyāṃ mama saṃnidhau
     dharmārthasahitaṃ vākyam ubhayoḥ pakṣayor hitam
     uktavaty asi kalyāṇi na ca te tanayaiḥ śrutam
 58 duryodhanas tvayā cokto jayārthī paruṣaṃ vacaḥ
     śṛṇu mūḍha vaco mahyaṃ yato dharmas tato jayaḥ
 59 tad idaṃ samanuprāptaṃ tava vākyaṃ nṛpātmaje
     evaṃ viditvā kalyāṇi mā sma śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ
     pāṇḍavānāṃ vināśāya mā te buddhiḥ kadā cana
 60 śaktā cāsi mahābhāge pṛthivīṃ sacarācarām
     cakṣuṣā krodhadīptena nirdagdhuṃ tapaso balāt
 61 vāsudeva vacaḥ śrutvā gāndhārī vākyam abravīt
     evam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi keśava
 62 ādhibhir dahyamānāyā matiḥ saṃcalitā mama
     sā me vyavasthitā śrutvā tava vyākyaṃ janārdana
 63 rājñas tv andhasya vṛddhasya hataputrasya keśava
     tvaṃ gatiḥ saha tair vīraiḥ pāṇḍavair dvipadāṃ vara
 64 etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ mukhaṃ pracchādya vāsasā
     putraśokābhisaṃtaptā gāndhārī praruroda ha
 65 tata enāṃ mahābāhuḥ keśavaḥ śokakarśitām
     hetukāraṇa saṃyuktair vākyair āśvāsayat prabhuḥ
 66 samāśvāsya ca gāndhārīṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca mādhavaḥ
     drauṇeḥ saṃkalpitaṃ bhāvam anvabudhyata keśavaḥ
 67 tatas tvarita utthāya pādau mūrdhnā praṇamya ca
     dvaipāyanasya rājendra tatha kauravam abravīt
 68 āpṛcche tvāṃ kuruśreṣṭha mā ca śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ
     drauṇeḥ pāpo 'sty abhiprāyas tenāsmi sahasotthitaḥ
     pāṇḍavānāṃ vadhe rātrau buddhis tena pradarśitā
 69 etac chrutvā tu vacanaṃ gāndhāryā sahito 'bravīt
     dhṛtarāṣṭro mahābāhuḥ keśavaṃ keśi sūdanam
 70 śīghraṃ gaccha mahābāho pāṇḍavān paripālaya
     bhūyas tvayā sameṣyāmi kṣipram eva janārdana
     prāyāt tatas tu tvarito dārukeṇa sahācyutaḥ
 71 vāsudeve gate rājan ghṛtarāṣṭraṃ janeśvaram
     āśvāsayad ameyātmā vyāso lokanamaskṛtaḥ
 72 vāsudevo 'pi dharmātmā kṛtakṛtyo jagāma ha
     śibiraṃ hāstinapurād didṛkṣuḥ pāṇḍavān nṛpa
 73 āgamya śibiraṃ ratrau so 'bhyagacchata pāṇḍavān
     tac ca tebhyaḥ samākhyāya sahitas taiḥ samāviśat

 

62

Sanjaya said, "All those kings, possessed of arms that resembled spiked bludgeons, then proceeded towards their tents, filled with joy and blowing their conchs on their way. The Pandavas also, O monarch, proceeded towards our encampment. The great bowman Yuyutsu followed them, as also Satyaki, and Dhrishtadyumna, and Shikhandi, and the five sons of Draupadi. The other great bowmen also proceeded towards our tents. The Parthas then entered the tent of Duryodhana, shorn of its splendours and reft of its lord and looking like an arena of amusement after it has been deserted by spectators. Indeed, that pavilion looked like a city reft of festivities, or a lake without its elephant. It then swarmed with women and eunuchs and certain aged counsellors. Duryodhana and other heroes, attired in robes dyed in yellow, formerly used, O king, to wait reverentially, with joined hands, on those old counsellors.
Arrived at the pavilion of the Kuru king, the Pandavas, those foremost of car-warriors, O monarch, dismounted from their cars. At that time, always engaged, O bull of Bharata's race, in the good of his friend, Keshava, addressed the wielder of gandiva, saying, "Take down thy gandiva as also the two inexhaustible quivers. I shall dismount after thee, O best of the Bharatas! Get thee down, for this is for thy good, O sinless one!"
Pandu's brave son Dhananjaya did as he was directed. The intelligent Krishna, abandoning the reins of the steeds, then dismounted from the car of Dhananjaya. After the high-souled Lord of all creatures had dismounted from that car, the celestial Ape that topped the mantle of Arjuna's vehicle, disappeared there and then. The top of the vehicle, which had before been burnt by Drona and Karna with their celestial weapons, quickly blazed forth to ashes, O king, without any visible fire having been in sight. Indeed, the car of Dhananjaya, with its quick pairs of steeds, yoke, and shaft, fell down, reduced to ashes.
Beholding the vehicle thus reduced to ashes, O lord, the sons of Pandu became filled with wonder, and Arjuna, O king, having saluted Krishna and bowed unto him, said these words, with joined hands and in an affectionate voice, 'O Govinda, O divine one, for what reason hath this car been consumed by fire? What is this highly wonderful incident that has happened before our eyes! O thou of mighty arms, if thou thinkest that I can listen to it without harm, then tell me everything.'
Vasudeva said, 'That car, O Arjuna, had before been consumed by diverse kinds of weapons. It was because I had sat upon it during battle that it did not fall into pieces, O scorcher of foes! Previously consumed by the energy of brahmastra, it has been reduced to ashes upon my abandoning it after attainment by thee of thy objects!'
Then, with a little pride, that slayer of foes, the divine Keshava, embracing king Yudhishthira, said unto him, 'By good luck, thou hast won the victory, O son of Kunti! By good luck, thy foes have been vanquished! By good luck, the wielder of gandiva, Bhimasena the son of Pandu, thyself, O king, and the two sons of Madri have escaped with life from this battle so destructive of heroes, and have escaped after having slain all your foes! Quickly do that, O Bharata, which should now be done by thee!
After I had arrived at Upaplavya, thyself, approaching me, with the wielder of gandiva in thy company, gavest me honey and the customary ingredients, and saidst these words, O Lord: 'This Dhananjaya, O Krishna, is thy brother and friend! He should, therefore, be protected by thee in all dangers!' After thou didst say these words, I answered thee, saying, 'So be it!'
That Savyasaci hath been protected by me. Victory also hath been thine, O king! With his brothers, O king of kings, that hero of true prowess hath come out of this dreadful battle, so destructive of heroes, with life!' Thus addressed by Krishna, King Yudhishthira the just, with hair standing on end, O monarch, said these words unto Janardana:
Yudhishthira said, "Who else save thee, O grinder of foes, not excepting the thunder-wielding Purandara himself, could have withstood the brahmastras hurled by Drona and Karna! It was through thy grace that the samsaptakas were vanquished! It was through thy grace that Partha had never to turn back from even the fiercest of encounters! Similarly, it was through thy grace, O mighty-armed one, that I myself, with my posterity, have, by accomplishing diverse acts one after another, obtained the auspicious end of prowess and energy! At Upaplavya, the great rishi Krishna-Dvaipayana told me that thither is Krishna where righteousness is, and thither is victory where Krishna is!'"
Sanjaya continued, "After this conversation, those heroes entered thy encampment and obtained the military chest, many jewels, and much wealth. And they also obtained silver and gold and gems and pearls and many costly ornaments and blankets and skins, and innumerable slaves male and female, and many other things necessary for sovereignty. Having obtained that inexhaustible wealth belonging to thee, O bull of Bharata's race, those highly blessed ones, whose foe had been slain, uttered loud cries of exultation. Having unyoked their animals, the Pandavas and Satyaki remained there awhile for resting themselves.
Then Vasudeva of great renown said, 'We should, as an initiatory act of blessedness, remain out of the camp for this night.' Answering, 'So be it!' the Pandavas and Satyaki, accompanied by Vasudeva, went out of the camp for the sake of doing that which was regarded as an auspicious act. Arrived on the banks of the sacred stream Oghavati, O king, the Pandavas, reft of foes, took up their quarters there for that night!
They despatched Keshava of Yadu's race to Hastinapura. Vasudeva of great prowess, causing Daruka to get upon his car, proceeded very quickly to that place where the royal son of Ambika was. While about to start on his car having Shaibya and Sugriva (and the others) yoked unto it, (the Pandavas) said unto him, 'Comfort the helpless Gandhari who hath lost all her sons!' Thus addressed by the Pandavas, that chief of the Satvatas then proceeded towards Hastinapura and arrived at the presence of Gandhari who had lost all her sons in the war.'"

 

Book 9
Chapter 63

 

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      adhiṣṭhitaḥ padā mūrdhni bhagnasaktho mahīṃ gataḥ
      śauṭīramānī putro me kāny abhāṣata saṃjaya
  2 atyarthaṃ kopano rājā jātavairaś ca pāṇḍuṣu
      vyasanaṃ paramaṃ prāptaḥ kim āha paramāhave
  3 [s]
      śṛṇu rājan pravakṣyāmi yathāvṛttaṃ narādhipa
      rājñā yad uktaṃ bhagnena tasmin vyasana āgate
  4 bhagnasaktho nṛpo rājan pāṃsunā so 'vaguṇṭhitaḥ
      yamayan pūrdhajāṃs tatra vīkṣya caiva diśo daśa
  5 keśān niyamya yatnena niḥśvasann urago yathā
      saṃrambhāśru parītābhyāṃ netrābhyām abhivīkṣya mām
  6 bāhū dharaṇyāṃ niṣpiṣya muhur matta iva dvipaḥ
      prakīrṇān mūrdhajān dhunvan dantair dantān upaspṛśan
      garhayan pāṇḍavaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ niḥśvasyedam athābravīt
  7 bhīṣme śāṃtanave nāthe karṇe cāstrabhṛtāṃ vare
      gautame śakunau cāpi droṇe cāstrabhṛtāṃ vare
  8 aśvatthāmni tathā śalye śūre ca kṛtavarmaṇi
      imām avasthāṃ prāpto 'smi kālo hi durita kramaḥ
  9 ekādaśa camū bhartā so 'ham etāṃ daśāṃ gataḥ
      kālaṃ prāpya mahābāho na kaś cid ativartate
  10 ākhyātavyaṃ madīyānāṃ ye 'smiñ jīvanti saṃgare
     yathāhaṃ bhīmasenena vyutkramya samayaṃ hataḥ
 11 bahūni sunṛśaṃsāni kṛtāni khalu pāṇḍavaiḥ
     bhūriśravasi karṇe ca bhīṣme droṇe ca śrīmati
 12 idaṃ cākīrtijaṃ karma nṛśaṃsaiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ kṛtam
     yena te satsu nirvedaṃ gamiṣyantīti me matiḥ
 13 kā prītiḥ sattvayuktasya kṛtvopadhi kṛtaṃ jayam
     ko vā samayabhettāraṃ budhaḥ saṃmantum arhati
 14 adharmeṇa jayaṃ labdhvā ko nu hṛṣyeta paṇḍitaḥ
     yathā saṃhṛṣyate pāpaḥ pāṇḍuputro vṛkodaraḥ
 15 kiṃ nu citram atas tv adya bhagnasakthasya yan mama
     kruddhena bhīmasenena pādena mṛditaṃ śiraḥ
 16 pratapantaṃ śriyā juṣṭaṃ vartamānaṃ ca bandhuṣu
     evaṃ kuryān naro yo hi sa vai saṃjaya pūjitaḥ
 17 abhijñau kṣatradharmasya mama mātā pitā ca me
     tau hi saṃjaya duḥkhārtau vijñāpyau vacanān mama
 18 iṣṭaṃ bhṛtyā bhṛtāḥ samyag bhūḥ praśāstā sasāgarā
     mūrdhni sthitam amitrāṇāṃ jīvatām eva saṃjaya
 19 dattā dāyā yathāśakti mitrāṇāṃ ca priyaṃ kṛtam
     amitrā bādhitāḥ sarve ko nu svantataro mayā
 20 yātāni pararāṣṭrāṇi nṛpā bhuktāś ca dāsavat
     priyebhyaḥ prakṛtaṃ sādhu ko nu svantataro mayā
 21 mānitā bāndhavāḥ sarve mānyaḥ saṃpūjito janaḥ
     tritayaṃ sevitaṃ sarvaṃ ko nu svantataro mayā
 22 ājñaptaṃ nṛpa mukhyeṣu mānaḥ prāptaḥ sudurlabhaḥ
     ājāneyais tathā yātaṃ ko nu svantataro mayā
 23 adhītaṃ vidhivad dattaṃ prāptam āyur nirāmayam
     svadharmeṇa jitā lokkāḥ ko nu svantataro mayā
 24 diṣṭyā nāhaṃ jitaḥ saṃkhye parān preṣyavad āśritaḥ
     diṣṭyā me vipulā lakṣmīr mṛte tv anyaṃ gatā vibho
 25 yad iṣṭaṃ kṣatrabandhūnāṃ svadharmam anutiṣṭhatām
     nidhanaṃ tan mayā prāptaṃ ko nu svantataro mayā
 26 diṣṭyā nāhaṃ parāvṛtto vairāt prākṛtavaj jitaḥ
     diṣṭyā na vimatiṃ kāṃ cid bhajitvā tu parājitaḥ
 27 suptaṃ vātha pramattaṃ vā yathā hanyād viṣeṇa vā
     evaṃ vyutkrānta dharmeṇa vyutkramya samayaṃ hataḥ
 28 aśvatthāmā mahābhāgaḥ kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
     kṛpaḥ śāradvataś caiva vaktavyā vacanān mama
 29 adharmeṇa pravṛttānāṃ pāṇḍavānām anekaśaḥ
     viśvāsaṃ samayaghnānāṃ na yūyaṃ gantum arhatha
 30 vātikāṃś cābravīd rājā putras te satyavikramaḥ
     adharmād bhīmasenena nihato 'haṃ yathā raṇe
 31 so 'haṃ droṇaṃ svargagataṃ śalya karṇāv ubhau tathā
     vṛṣasenaṃ mahāvīryaṃ śakuniṃ cāpi saubalam
 32 jalasaṃdhaṃ mahāvīryaṃ bhagadattaṃ ca pārthivam
     saumadattiṃ maheṣvāsaṃ saindhavaṃ ca jayadratham
 33 duḥśāsana purogāṃś ca bhrātṝn ātmasamāṃs tathā
     dauḥśāsaniṃ ca vikrāntaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ cātmajāv ubhau
 34 etāṃś cānyāṃś ca subahūn madīyāṃś ca sahasraśaḥ
     pṛṣṭhato 'nugamiṣyāmi sārthahīna ivādhvagaḥ
 35 kathaṃ bhrātṝn hatāñ śrutvā bhartāraṃ ca svasā mama
     rorūyamāṇā duḥkhārtā duḥśalā sā bhaviṣyati
 36 snuṣābhiḥ prasuṇābhiś ca vṛddho rājā pitā mama
     gāndhārī sahitaḥ krośan kāṃ gatiṃ pratipatsyate
 37 nūnaṃ lakṣmaṇa mātāpi hataputrā hateśvarā
     vināśaṃ yāsyati kṣipraṃ kalyāṇī pṛthulocanā
 38 yadi jānāti cārvākaḥ parivrāḍ vāg viśāradaḥ
     kariṣyati mahābhāgo dhruvaṃ so 'pacitiṃ mama
 39 samantapañcake puṇye triṣu lokeṣu viśrute
     ahaṃ nidhanam āsādya lokān prāpsyāmi śāśvatān
 40 tato janasahasrāṇi bāṣpapūrṇāni māriṣa
     pralāpaṃ nṛpateḥ śrutvā vidravanti diśo daśa
 41 sasāgaravanā ghorā pṛthivī sacarācarā
     cacālātha sanirhrādā diśaś caivāvilābhavan
 42 te droṇaputram āsādya yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayan
     vyavahāraṃ gadāyuddhe pārthivasya ca ghātanam
 43 tad ākhyāya tataḥ sarve droṇaputrasya bhārata
     dhyātvā ca suciraṃ kālaṃ jagmur ārtā yathāgatam

 

63

Janamejaya said, "For what reason did that tiger among kings, Yudhishthira the just, despatch that scorcher of foes, Vasudeva, unto Gandhari? Krishna had at first gone to the Kauravas for the sake of bringing about peace. He did not obtain the fruition of his wishes. In consequence of this the battle took place. When all the warriors were slain and Duryodhana was struck down, when in consequence of the battle the empire of Pandu's son became perfectly foeless, when all the (Kuru) camp became empty, all its inmates having fled, when great renown was won by the son of Pandu, what, O regenerate one, was the cause for which Krishna had once again to go to Hastinapura? It seems to me, O Brahmana, that the cause could not be a light one, for it was Janardana of immeasurable soul who had himself to make the journey! O foremost of all Adhyaryus, tell me in detail what the cause was for undertaking such a mission!"
Vaishampayana said, "The question thou askest me, O king, is, indeed, worthy of thee! I will tell thee everything truly as it occurred, O bull of Bharata's race! Beholding Duryodhana, the mighty son of Dhritarashtra, struck down by Bhimasena in contravention of the rules of fair fight, in fact, beholding the Kuru king slain unfairly, O Bharata, Yudhishthira, O monarch, became filled with great fear, at the thought of the highly blessed Gandhari possessed of ascetic merit. "She hath undergone severe ascetic austerities and can, therefore, consume the three worlds," even thus thought the son of Pandu. By sending Krishna, Gandhari, blazing with wrath, would be comforted before Yudhishthira's own arrival. "Hearing of the death of her son brought to such a plight by ourselves, she will, in wrath, with the fire of her mind, reduce us to ashes! How will Gandhari endure such poignant grief, after she hears her son, who always fought fairly, slain unfairly by us?" Having reflected in this strain for a long while, king Yudhishthira the just, filled with fear and grief, said these words unto Vasudeva: "Through thy grace, O Govinda, my kingdom hath been reft of thorns! That which we could not in imagination even aspire to obtain hath now become ours, O thou of unfading glory! Before my eyes, O mighty-armed one, making the very hair stand on end, violent were the blows that thou hadst to bear, O delighter of the Yadavas! In the battle between the gods and the Asuras, thou hadst, in days of old, lent thy aid for the destruction of the foes of the gods and those foes were slain! In the same way, O mighty-armed one, thou hast given us aid, O thou of unfading glory! By agreeing to act as our charioteer, O thou of Vrishni's race, thou hast all along protected us! If thou hadst not been the protector of Phalguna in dreadful battle, how could then this sea of troops have been capable of being vanquished? Many were the blows of the mace, and many were the strokes of spiked bludgeons and darts and sharp arrows and lances and battle axes, that have been endured by thee! For our sake, O Krishna, thou hadst also to hear many harsh words and endure the fall, violent as the thunder, of weapons in battle! In consequence of Duryodhana's slaughter, all this has not been fruitless, O thou of unfading glory! Act thou again in such a way that the fruit of all those acts may not be destroyed! Although victory hath been ours, O Krishna, our heart, however, is yet trembling in doubt! Know, O Madhava, that Gandhari's wrath, O mighty-armed one, hath been provoked! That highly-blessed lady is always emaciating herself with the austerest of penances! Hearing of the slaughter of her sons and grandsons, she will, without doubt, consume us to ashes! It is time, O hero, I think, for pacifying her! Except thee, O foremost of men, what other person is there that is able to even behold that lady of eyes red like copper in wrath and exceedingly afflicted with the ills that have befallen her children? That thou shouldst go there, O Madhava, is what I think to be proper, for pacifying Gandhari, O chastiser of foes, who is blazing with wrath! Thou art the Creator and the Destroyer. Thou art the first cause of all the worlds thyself being eternal! By words fraught with reasons, visible and invisible that are all the result of time, thou wilt quickly, O thou of great wisdom, be able to pacify Gandhari! Our grandsire, thy holy Krishna-Dvaipayana, will be there. O mighty-armed one, it is thy duty to dispel, by all means in thy power, the wrath of Gandhari!" Hearing these words of king Yudhishthira the just, the perpetuator of Yadu's race, summoning Daruka, said, "Let my car be equipped!" Having received Keshava's command, Daruka in great haste, returned and represented unto his high-souled master that the car was ready. That scorcher of foes and chief of Yadu's race, the lord Keshava, having mounted the car, proceeded with great haste to the city of the Kurus. The adorable Madhava then, riding on his vehicle, proceeded, and arriving at the city called after the elephant entered it. Causing the city to resound with the rattle of his car-wheels as he entered it, he sent word to Dhritarashtra and then alighted from his vehicle and entered the palace of the old king. He there beheld that best of Rishis, (Dvaipayana) arrived before him. Janardana, embracing the feet of both Vyasa and Dhritarashtra, quietly saluted Gandhari also. Then the foremost of the Yadavas, Vishnu seizing Dhritarashtra by the hand, O monarch, began to weep melodiously. Having shed tears for a while from sorrow, he washed his eyes and his face with water according to rules. That chastiser of foes then said these softly flowing words unto Dhritarashtra, "Nothing is unknown to thee, O Bharata, about the past and the future! Thou art well-acquainted, O lord, with the course of time! From a regard for thee, the Pandavas had endeavoured to prevent the destruction of their race and the extermination of Kshatriyas, O Bharata! Having made an understanding with his brothers, the virtuous Yudhishthira had lived peacefully. He even went to exile after defeat at unfair dice! With his brothers he led a life of concealment, attired in various disguises. They also every day got into diverse other woes as if they were quite helpless! On the eve of battle I myself came and in the presence of all men begged of thee only five villages. Afflicted by Time, and moved by covetousness, thou didst not grant my request. Through thy fault, O king, all the Kshatriya race hath been exterminated! Bhishma, and Somadatta, and Valhika, and Kripa, and Drona and his son, and the wise Vidura, always solicited thee for peace. Thou didst not, however, follow their counsels! Everyone, it seems, when afflicted by Time, is stupefied, O Bharata, since even thou, O king, as regards this matter, did act so foolishly! What else can it be but the effect of Time? Indeed, Destiny is supreme! Do not, O thou of great wisdom, impute any fault to the Pandavas! The smallest transgression is not discernible in the high-souled Pandavas, judged by the rules of morality or reason or affection, O scorcher of foes! Knowing all this to be the fruit of thy own fault, it behoveth thee not to cherish any ill-feeling towards the Pandavas! Race, line, funeral cake, and what else depends upon offspring, now depend on the Pandavas as regards both thyself and Gandhari! Thyself, O tiger among the Kurus, and the renowned Gandhari also, should not harbour malice towards the Pandavas. Reflecting upon all this, and thinking also of thy own transgressions, cherish good feeling towards the Pandavas, I bow to thee, O bull of Bharata's race! Thou knowest, O mighty-armed one, what the devotion is of king Yudhishthira and what his affection is towards thee, O tiger among kings! Having caused this slaughter of even foes that wronged him so, he is burning day and night, and hath not succeeded in obtaining peace of mind! That tiger among men, grieving for thee and for Gandhari, faileth to obtain any happiness. Overwhelmed with shame he cometh not before thee that art burning with grief on account of thy children and whose understanding and senses have been agitated by that grief!" Having said these words unto Dhritarashtra, that foremost one of Yadu's race, O monarch, addressed the grief-stricken Gandhari in these words of high import: "O daughter of Subala, thou of excellent vows, listen to what I say! O auspicious dame, there is now no lady like thee in the world! Thou rememberest, O queen, those words that thou spokest in the assembly in my presence, those words fraught with righteousness and that were beneficial to both parties, which thy sons, O auspicious lady, did not obey! Duryodhana who coveted victory was addressed by thee in bitter words! Thou toldst him then. 'Listen, O fool, to these words of mine: "thither is victory where righteousness is."' Those words of thine, O princess, have now been accomplished! Knowing all this, O auspicious lady, do not set thy heart on sorrow. Let not thy heart incline towards the destruction of the Pandavas! In consequence of the strength of thy penances, thou art able, O highly blessed one, to burn, with thy eyes kindled with rage, the whole Earth with her mobile and immobile creatures!" Hearing these words of Vasudeva, Gandhari said, "It is even so, O Keshava, as thou sayest! My heart, burning in grief, has been unsteadied! After hearing thy words, however, that heart, O Janardana, hath again become steady. As regards the blind old king, now become child, thou, O foremost of men, with those heroes, the sons of Pandu, hast become his refuge!" Having said so much, Gandhari, burning in grief on account of the death of her sons, covered her face with her cloth and began to weep aloud. The mighty-armed lord Keshava then comforted the grief-stricken princess with words that were fraught with reasons drawn from visible instances. Having comforted Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, Keshava of Madhu's race came to know (by intuition) the evil that was meditated by Drona's son. Rising up in haste after worshipping the feet of Vyasa bending his head, Keshava, O monarch, addressed Dhritarashtra, saying, "I take my leave, O foremost one of Kuru's race! Do not set thy heart on grief! The son of Drona bears an evil purpose. It is for this that I rise so suddenly! It seems that he has formed a plan of destroying the Pandavas during the night!" Hearing these words, both Gandhari and Dhritarashtra said unto Keshava that slayer of Keshi, these words: "Go, quickly, O mighty-armed one, protect the Pandavas! Let me soon meet thee again, O Janardana!" Then Keshava of unfading glory proceeded with Daruka. After Vasudeva had departed, O king, Vyasa, that adored of the whole world, of inconceivable soul, began to comfort king Dhritarashtra. The righteous-souled Vasudeva departed, having achieved his mission successfully, from Hastinapura, for seeing the camp and the Pandavas. Arrived at the camp, he proceeded to the presence of the Pandavas. Telling them everything (about his mission to the city), he took his seat with them."

 

Book 9
Chapter 64

 

 

 

1 [s]
      vātikānāṃ sakāśāt tu śrutvā duryodhanaṃ hatam
      hataśiṣṭās tato rājan kauravāṇāṃ mahārathāḥ
  2 vinirbhinnāḥ śitair bāṇair gadā tomaraśaktibhiḥ
      aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
      tvaritā javanair aśvair āyodhanam upāgaman
  3 tatrāpaśyan mahātmānaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ nipātitam
      prabhagnaṃ vāyuvegena mahāśālaṃ yathā vane
  4 bhūmai viveṣṭamānaṃ taṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam
      mahāgajam ivāraṇye vyādhena vinipātitam
  5 vivartamānaṃ bahuśo rudhiraughapariplutam
      yadṛcchayā nipatitaṃ cakram ādityagocaram
  6 mahāvātasamutthena saṃśuṣkam iva sāgaram
      pūrṇacanram iva vyomni tuṣārāvṛta maṇḍalam
  7 reṇudhvastaṃ dīrghabhujaṃ mātaṅgasamavikramam
      vṛtaṃ bhūtagaṇair ghoraiḥ kravyādaiś ca samantataḥ
      yathā dhanaṃ lipsamānair bhṛtyair nṛpatisattamam
  8 bhrukuṭī kṛtavaktrāntaṃ krodhād udvṛttacakṣuṣam
      sāmarṣaṃ taṃ naravyāghraṃ vyāghraṃ nipatitaṃ yathā
  9 te tu dṛṣṭvā maheṣvāsā bhūtale patitaṃ nṛpam
      moham abhyāgaman sarve kṛpaprabhṛtayo rathāḥ
  10 avatīrya rathebhyas tu rādravan rājasaṃnidhau
     duryodhanaṃ ca saṃprekṣya sarve bhūmāv upāviśan
 11 tato drauṇir mahārāja bāṣpapūrṇekṣaṇaḥ śvasan
     uvāca bharataśreṣṭhaṃ sarvalokeśvareśvaram
 12 na nūnaṃ vidyate 'sahyaṃ mānuṣye kiṃ cid eva hi
     yatra tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra śeṣe pāṃsuṣu rūṣitaḥ
 13 bhūtvā hi nṛpatiḥ pūrvaṃ samājñāpya ca medinīm
     katham eko 'dya rājendra tiṣṭhase nirjane vane
 14 duḥśāsanaṃ na paśyāmi nāpi karṇaṃ mahāratham
     nāpi tān suhṛdaḥ sarvān kim idaṃ bharatarṣabha
 15 duḥkhaṃ nūnaṃ kṛtāntasya gatiṃ jñātuṃ kathaṃ cana
     lokānāṃ ca bhavān yatra śeṣe pāṃsuṣu rūṣitaḥ
 16 eṣa mūrdhāvasiktānām agre gatvā paraṃtapaḥ
     satṛṇaṃ grasate pāṃsuṃ paśya kālasya paryayam
 17 kva te tad amalaṃ chattraṃ vyajanaṃ kva ca pārthiva
     sā ca te mahatī senā kva gatā pārthivottama
 18 durvijñeyā gatir nūnaṃ kāryāṇāṃ kāraṇāntare
     yad vai lokagurur bhūtvā bhavān etāṃ daśāṃ gataḥ
 19 adhruvā sarvamartyeṣu dhruvaṃ śrīru palakṣyate
     bhavato vyasanaṃ dṛṣṭvā śakra vispardhino bhṛśam
 20 tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā duḥkhitasya viśeṣataḥ
     uvāca rājan putras te prāptakālam idaṃ vacaḥ
 21 vimṛjya netre pāṇibhyāṃ śokajaṃ bāṣpam utsṛjan
     kṛpādīn sa tadā vīrān sarvān eva narādhipaḥ
 22 īdṛśo martyadharmo 'yaṃ dhātrā nirdiṣṭa ucyate
     vināśaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ kālaparyāya kāritaḥ
 23 so 'yaṃ māṃ samanuprāptaḥ pratyakṣaṃ bhavatāṃ hi yaḥ
     pṛthivīṃ pālayitvāham etāṃ niṣṭām upāgataḥ
 24 diṣṭyā nāhaṃ parāvṛtto yuddhe kasyāṃ cid āpadi
     diṣṭyāhaṃ nihataḥ pāpaiś chalenaiva viśeṣataḥ
 25 utsāhaś ca kṛto nityaṃ mayā diṣṭyā yuyutsatā
     diṣṭyā cāsmi hato yuddhe nihatajñātibāndhavaḥ
 26 diṣṭyā ca vo 'haṃ paśyāmi muktān asmāñ janakṣayāt
     svasti yuktāṃś ca kalyāṃś ca tan me priyam anuttamam
 27 mā bhavanto 'nutapyantāṃ sauhṛdān nidhanena me
     yadi vedāḥ pramāṇaṃ vo jitā lokā mayākṣayāḥ
 28 manyamānaḥ prabhāvaṃ ca kṛṣṇasyāmita tejasaḥ
     tena na cyāvitaś cāhaṃ kṣatradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt
 29 sa mayā samanuprāpto nāsmi śocyaḥ kathaṃ cana
     kṛtaṃ bhavadbhiḥ sadṛśam anurūpam ivātmanaḥ
     yatitaṃ vijaye nityaṃ daivaṃ tu duratikramam
 30 etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ bāṣpavyākulalocanaḥ
     tūṣṇīṃ babhūva rājendra rujāsau vihvalo bhṛśam
 31 tathā tu dṛṣṭvā rājānaṃ bāṣpaśokasamanvitam
     drauṇiḥ krodhena jajvāla yathā vahnir jagat kṣaye
 32 sa tu krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ pāṇau pāṇiṃ nipīḍya ca
     bāṣpavihvalayā vācā rājānam idam abravīt
 33 pitā me nihataḥ kṣudrauḥ sunṛśaṃsena karmaṇā
     na tathā tena tapyāmi yathā rājaṃs tvayādya vai
 34 śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mahyaṃ satyena vadataḥ prabho
     iṣṭāpūrtena dānena dharmeṇa sukṛtena ca
 35 adyāhaṃ sarvapāñcālān vāsudevasya paśyataḥ
     sarvopāyair hi neṣyāmi pretarājaniveśanam
     anujñāṃ tu mahārāja bhavān me dātum arhati
 36 iti śrutvā tu vacanaṃ droṇaputrasya kauravaḥ
     manasaḥ prītijananaṃ kṛpaṃ vacanam abravīt
     ācārya śīghraṃ kalaśaṃ jalapūrṇaṃ samānaya
 37 sa tad vacanam ājñāya rājño brāhmaṇasattamaḥ
     kalaśaṃ pūrṇam ādāya rājño 'ntikam upāgamat
 38 tam abravīn mahārāja putras tava viśāṃ pate
     mamājñayā dvijaśreṣṭha droṇaputro 'bhiṣicyatām
     senāpatyena bhadraṃ te mama ced icchasi priyam
 39 rājño niyogād yoddhavyaṃ brāhmaṇena viśeṣataḥ
     vartatā kṣatradharmeṇa hy evaṃ dharmavido viduḥ
 40 rājñas tu vacanaṃ śrutvā kṛpaḥ śāradvatas tataḥ
     drauṇiṃ rājño niyogena senāpatye 'bhyaṣecayat
 41 so 'bhiṣikto mahārāja pariṣvajya nṛpottamam
     prayayau siṃhanādena diśaḥ sarvā vinādayan
 42 duryodhano 'pi rājendra śoṇitaughapariplutaḥ
     tāṃ niśāṃ pratipede 'tha sarvabhūtabhayāvahām
 43 apakramya tu te tūrṇaṃ tasmād āyodhanān nṛpa
     śokasaṃvignamanasaś cintā dhyānaparābhavan

 

 

64

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Kicked at the head, his thighs broken, prostrated on the ground, exceedingly proud, what, O Sanjaya, did my son then say? King Duryodhana was exceedingly wrathful and his hostility to the sons of Pandu was deep-rooted. When therefore this great calamity overtook him, what did he next say on the field?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Listen to me, O monarch, as I describe to thee what happened. Listen, O king, to what Duryodhana said when overtaken by calamity. With his thighs broken, the king, O monarch, covered with dust, gathered his flowing locks, casting his eyes on all sides. Having with difficulty gathered his locks, he began to sigh like a snake. Filled with rage and with tears flowing fast from his eyes, he looked at me. He struck his arms against the Earth for a while like an infuriated elephant. Shaking his loose locks, and gnashing his teeth, he began to censure the eldest son of Pandu. Breathing heavily, he then addressed me, saying, "Alas, I who had Santanu's son Bhishma for my protector, and Karna, that foremost of all wielders of weapons and Gotama's son, Shakuni, and Drona, that first of all wielders of arms, and Ashvatthama, and the heroic Shalya, and Kritavarma, alas, even I have come to this plight! It seems that Time is irresistible! I was the lord of eleven Chamus of troops and yet I have come to this plight! O mighty-armed one, no one can rise superior to Time! Those of my side that have escaped with life from this battle should be informed, how I have been struck down by Bhimasena in contravention of the rules of fair fight! Many have been the very unfair and sinful acts that have been perpetrated towards Bhurishrava, and Bhishma, and Drona of great prosperity! This is another very infamous act that the cruel Pandavas have perpetrated, for which, I am certain, they will incur the condemnation of all righteous men! What pleasure can a righteously disposed person enjoy at having gained a victory by unfair acts? What wise man, again, is there that would accord his approbation to a person contravening the rules of fairness? What learned man is there that would rejoice after having won victory by unrighteousness as that sinful wretch, Vrikodara the son of Pandu, rejoices? What can be more amazing than this, that Bhimasena in wrath should with his foot touch the head of one like me while lying with my thighs broken? Is that person, O Sanjaya, worthy of honour who behaveth thus towards a man possessed of glory endued with prosperity, living in the midst of friends? My parents are not ignorant of the duties of battle. Instructed by me, O Sanjaya, tell them that are afflicted with grief these words: I have performed sacrifices, supported a large number of servants properly, governed the whole earth with her seas! I stayed on the heads of my living foes! I gave wealth to my kinsmen to the extent of my abilities, and I did what was agreeable to friends. I withstood all my foes. Who is there that is more fortunate than myself? I have made progresses through hostile kingdoms and commanded kings as slaves. I have acted handsomely towards all I loved and liked. Who is there more fortunate than myself? I honoured all my kinsmen and attended to the welfare of all my dependants. I have attended to the three ends of human existence, Religion, Profit, and Pleasure! Who is there more fortunate than myself? I laid my commands on great kings, and honour, unattainable by others, was mine, I always made my journeys on the very best of steeds. Who is there more fortunate than myself? I studied the Vedas and made gifts according to the ordinance. My life has passed in happiness. By observance of the duties of my own order, I have earned many regions of blessedness hereafter. Who is there more fortunate than myself? By good luck, I have not been vanquished in battle and subjected to the necessity of serving my foes as masters. By good luck, O lord, it is only after my death that my swelling prosperity abandons me for waiting upon another! That which is desired by good Kshatriyas observant of the duties of their order, that death, is obtained by me! Who is there so fortunate as myself? By good luck, I did not suffer myself to be turned away from the path of hostility and to be vanquished like an ordinary person! By good luck, I have not been vanquished after I had done some base act! Like the slaughter of a person that is asleep or that is heedless, like the slaughter of one by the administration of poison, my slaughter hath taken place, for I have been slain as unrighteously, in contravention of the rules of fair fight! The highly blessed Ashvatthama, and Kritavarma of the Satwata race, and Saradwat's son Kripa, should be told these words of mine, 'You should never repose any confidence upon the Pandavas, those violators of rules, who have perpetrated many unrighteous acts!' After this, thy royal son of true prowess addressed our message-bearers in these words, "I have, in battle, been slain by Bhimasena most unrighteously! I am now like a moneyless wayfarer and shall follow in the wake of Drona who has already gone to heaven, of Karna and Shalya, of Vrishasena of great energy, of Shakuni the son of Subala, of Jalasandha of great valour, of king Bhagadatta, of Somadatta's son, that mighty bowman, of Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus, of all my brothers headed by Duhshasana and equal unto myself, of Duhshasana's son of great prowess, and of Lakshmana, my son, and thousands of others that fought for me. Alas how shall my sister, stricken with woe, live sorrowfully, after hearing of the slaughter of her brothers and her husband! Alas, what shall be the plight of the old king, my sire, with Gandhari, and his daughters-in-law and grand-daughters-in-law! Without doubt, the beautiful and large-eyed mother of Lakshmana, made sonless and husbandless, will soon meet with her death! If Charvaka, the mendicant devotee who is a master of speech, learns everything, that blessed man will certainly avenge himself of my death! By dying upon the sacred field of Samantapanchaka, celebrated over the three worlds, I shall certainly obtain many eternal regions!" Then, O sire, thousands of men, with eyes full of tears, fled away in all directions, having heard these lamentations of the king. The whole Earth, with her forests and seas, with all her mobile and immobile creatures, began to tremble violently, and produce a loud noise. All the points of the compass became murky. The messengers, repairing to Drona's son, represented to him all that had happened regarding the conduct of the mace-encounter and the fall of the king. Having represented everything unto Drona's son, O Bharata, all of them remained in a thoughtful mood for a long while and then went away, grief-stricken, to the place they came from.'"

 

65

"Sanjaya said, 'Having heard of Duryodhana's fall from the messengers, those mighty car-warriors, the unslain remnant of the Kaurava army, exceedingly wounded with keen shafts, and maces and lances and darts, those three, Ashvatthama and Kripa and Kritavarma of the Satwata race, came quickly on their fleet steeds to the field of battle. They beheld there the high-souled son of Dhritarashtra prostrate on the ground like a gigantic Sala tree laid low in the forest by a tempest. They beheld him writhing on the bare ground and covered with blood even like a mighty elephant in the forest laid low by a hunter. They saw him weltering in agony and bathed in profuse streams of blood. Indeed, they saw him lying on the ground like the sun dropped on the earth or like the ocean dried by a mighty wind, or like the full Moon in the firmament with his disc shrouded by a fog. Equal to an elephant in prowess and possessed of long arms, the king lay on the earth, covered with dust. Around him were many terrible creatures and carnivorous animals like wealth-coveting dependants around a monarch in state. His forehead was contracted into furrows of rage and his eyes were rolling in wrath. They beheld the king, that tiger among men, full of rage, like a tiger struck down (by hunters). Those great archers Kripa and others, beholding the monarch laid low on the Earth, became stupefied. Alighting from their cars, they ran towards the king. Seeing Duryodhana, all of them sat on the earth around him. Then Drona's son, O monarch, with tearful eyes and breathing like a snake, said these words unto that chief of Bharata's race, that foremost of all the kings on earth, "Truly, there is nothing stable in the world of men, since thou, O tiger among men, liest on the bare earth, stained with dust! Thou wert a king who had laid thy commands on the whole Earth! Why then, O foremost of monarchs, dost thou lie alone on the bare ground in such a lonely wilderness? I do not see Duhshasana beside thee, nor the great car-warrior Karna, nor those friends of thine numbering in hundreds! What is this, O bull among men? Without doubt, it is difficult to learn the ways of Yama, since thou, O lord of all the worlds, thus liest on the bare ground, stained with dust! Alas, this scorcher of foes used to walk at the head of all Kshatriyas that had their locks sprinkled with holy water at ceremonies of coronation! Alas, he now eateth the dust! Behold the reverses that Time bringeth on its course! Where is that pure white umbrella of thine? Where is that fanning yak-tail also, O king? Where hath that vast army of thine now gone, O best of monarchs? The course of events is certainly a mystery when causes other than those relied upon are at book, since even thou that wert the master of the world hast been reduced to this plight! Without doubt, the prosperity of all mortals is very unstable, since thou that wert equal unto Shakra himself hast now been reduced to such a sorry plight!" Hearing these words of the sorrowing Ashvatthama, thy son answered him in these words that were suited to the occasion. He wiped his eyes with his hands and shed tears of grief anew. The king then addressed all those heroes headed by Kripa and said, "This liability to death (of all living creatures) is said to have been ordained by the Creator himself. Death comes to all beings in course of time. That death hath now come to me, before the eyes of you all! I who reigned over the whole earth have now been reduced to this plight! By good luck, I never turned back from battle whatever calamities overtook me. By good luck, I have been slain by those sinful men, by the aid particularly of deception. By good luck, while engaged in hostilities, I always displayed courage and perseverance. By good luck, I am slain in battle, along with all my kinsmen and friends. By good luck, I behold you escaped with life from this great slaughter, and safe and sound. This is highly agreeable to me. Do not, from affection, grieve for my death. If the Vedas are any authority, I have certainly acquired many eternal regions! I am not ignorant of the glory of Krishna of immeasurable energy. He hath not caused me to fall off from the proper observance of Kshatriya duties. I have obtained him. On no account should anybody grieve from me. Ye have done what persons like ye should do. Ye have always striven for my success. Destiny, however, is incapable of being frustrated." Having said this much, the king, with eyes laved with tears, became silent, O monarch, agitated as he was with agony. Beholding the king in tears and grief, Drona's son flamed up in anger like the fire that is seen at the universal destruction. Overwhelmed with rage, he squeezed his hand and addressing the king in a voice hoarse with tears, he said these words, "My sire was slain by those wretches with a cruel contrivance. That act, however, doth not burn me so keenly as this plight to which thou hast been reduced, O king! Listen to these words of mine that I utter, swearing by Truth itself, O lord, and by all my acts of piety, all my gifts, my religion, and the religious merits I have won. I shall today, in the very presence of Vasudeva, despatch all the Pancalas, by all means in my power, to the abode of Yama? It behoveth thee, O monarch, to grant me permission!" Hearing these words of Drona's son, that were highly agreeable to his heart, the Kuru king addressing Kripa, said, "O preceptor, bring me without delay a pot full of water!" At these words of the king, that foremost of Brahmanas soon brought a vessel full of water and approached the king. Thy son then, O monarch, said unto Kripa, "Let the son of Drona, O foremost of Brahmanas, (blessed be thou), be at my command installed as generalissimo, if thou wishest to do me the good! At the command of the king, even a Brahmana may fight, specially one that has adopted Kshatriya practices! Those learned in the scriptures say this!" Hearing these words of the king, Kripa, the son of Saradwat, installed Drona's son as generalissimo, at the king's command! The installation over, O monarch, Ashvatthama embraced that best of kings and left the spot, having caused the ten points to resound with his leonine roars. That foremost of kings, Duryodhana, profusely covered with blood, began to pass there that night so frightful to all creatures. Wending away quickly from the field of battle, O king, those heroes, with hearts agitated by grief, began to reflect anxiously and earnestly.'"

The End of Shalya-parva

 

 

 

 

(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection )