THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

                                   

                          || कर्णपर्व ||

                         KARNA PARVA

    

                 ततोऽभिषिषिचुः कर्णं राजानो विजयैषिणः॥

Then,
desirous of victory, the kings (Duryodhana and others) anointed Karna (as
commander).

                 स शल्यसंगृहीताश्वे
रथे कर्णस्स्थितो बभौ॥

Standing on
the chariot (the reins of) whose horses Salya was holding, Karna shone forth.

                  ततः पुनस्समाजग्मुरभीताः
कुरुपाण्डवाः।

                  रराज लोहितेनोर्वी
संसिक्ता बहुधा भृशम्॥

Then again,
the fearless Kauravas and the Pandavas attacked each other. The earth shone
very much, profusely besprinkled with blood.

                  विष्फार्य गाण्डिवमथोग्रघोषम्।

                      रौद्रे मुहूर्तेऽभ्यपतत्
किरीटी॥

Drawing the
string of the Gandiva bow of formidable noise, Arjuna attacked at a terrible
moment.

                  तं भीमसेनोऽनुययौ
रथेन

                     पृष्ठे रक्षन्
पाण्डवमेकवीरः।

                   तौ राजपुत्रौ त्वरितौ
रथाभ्यां

                     कर्णाय यातावरिभिर्विषक्तौ॥

The
unequalled warrior Bhimasena followed Arjuna in his chariot, guarding Arjuna
from the rear. The two princes, come into close contact with their enemies,
quickly went against Karna in their chariot.

              

                    तथागतं भीममभीस्तवात्मजः

                        ससार राजावरजः
किरञ्शरैः ॥

Dhritarashtra’s
son and Duryodhana’s brother, Dussasana, fearlessly faced

Bhima who
was thus advancing and covered him over with arrows.

                    भीमः-

                    ’दिष्ट्याऽसि दुश्शासन
अद्य दृष्टः

                       ऋणं प्रतीच्छे
सहवृद्धि मूलम्।

                     चिरोदितं यन्मया
ते सभायां

                       कृष्णाभिमर्शेन
गृहाण मत्तः॥

Bhima-
“Dussasana, luckily have you been seen now; 
I will pay you back the principal with the interest in a minute; what I
vowed against you long ago in the court-hall as a consequence of your laying
your hands on Draupadi, receive that from me,”

               ततः क्रोधाद्भीमसेनः
कृतानि

                      सर्वाणि दुःखान्यनुसंस्मरन्वै।

               प्रगृह्य वज्राशनितुल्यवेगां

                      गदां करेणाथ
वृकोदरो रुषा।

               निपातयित्वा पृथिवीतले
भृशं

                      स ताडयामास वृकोदरो
बली।

               अतीव सन्ताडितभिन्नगात्रो

                      दुश्शासनो वै
निपपात भूमौ ॥

Then,
recalling with anger all the woes caused to them, and taking in his hand his
mace mighty like the thunderbolt, the strong Bhima forcibly threw Dussasana on
the ground in anger and struck him; with limbs severely beaten and broken,
Dussasana fell down.

                उत्क्षिप्य चोत्पिक्ष्य
च तूर्णमेनं।

                भूमौ तदा निष्पिपेषाथ
(वीर)॥

Rapidly
lifting him up again and again, Bhima crushed Dussasana on the ground at that
time.

                तत्राह दुश्शासनमेकवीर-

                     स्सुयोधनस्याधिरथेस्समक्षम्।

                ’ये राजसूयावभृथे पवित्रा

                     जाताः कचा याज्ञसेन्या
दुरात्मन्।

                 ते पाणिना कतरेणावकृष्टा-

                     स्तद्ब्रूहि त्वां
पृच्छसि भीमसेनः।’

                 उवाच ’यस्यास्ति बलं स रक्ष्-

                     त्वसौ भवेदद्य
निरस्तबाहुः’॥

In
the presence of Duryodhana and Karna, Bhima, the unrivalled warrior, said to
Dussasana at that spot: “Evil-minded fellow ! Answer, Bhima asks you, with
which arm were dragged the locks of Draupadi which were sanctified on the
occasion of the auspicious bath at the close of the Rajasuya sacrifice?”  Bhima said (again):  “Let him who has strength protect (him); this
Dussasana would lose his arm now.”

                    एवं क्रुद्धो भीमसेनः
करेण

                         उत्पाटयामास
भुजं महात्मा॥

Infuriated
thus, the great Bhima plucked out Dussasana’s arm with his hand.               

                   विदार्य वक्षश्च
महारथस्य

                      दुश्शासनस्य
पतितस्य भूमौ ।

                   ततोऽपिबच्छोणितमस्य
कोष्ण-

                      मास्वाद्य चास्वाद्य
च वीक्षमाणः॥

Tearing
open the heart of the warrrior Dussasana who had fallen on the ground, Bhima
drank his warm blood, enjoying its taste and looking (around).

                   भीमः-

                   ’दुश्शासने यादृशं
संश्रुतं नः

                       तदवाप्तं पाण्डवैस्सर्वमेव।

                    अत्रैवमाप्स्याम्यपरं
द्वितीयं

                        दुर्योधनं
यज्ञपशुं विशस्य॥

Bhima-

“What
was vowed against Dussasana, all that has been achieved by the Pandavas; even
so, in this battle-field here, I will accomplish that other and second vow by
butchering the sacrificial animal Duryodhana.”

                   एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं
प्रहृष्टो

                      ननर्त चैवातिबलो
महात्मा॥

Saying
so much, the great Bhima of excelling strength danced in joy.

                   ततः कर्णं
[महाराज] प्रविवेश महद्भयम्।

                   दृष्ट्वा भीमस्य
विक्रान्तमन्तकस्य प्रजास्विव॥

Seeing
the might of Bhima, like that of the god of Death among men, great fear took
hold of karna then.

                   शल्यः-

                   ’मा व्यथां कुरु
राधेय नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते।

                    दुर्योधनश्च संमूढो
भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शितः।

                    उपासते त्वामेते
हि हतशेषास्सहोदराः।

                    क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य प्रत्युद्याहि
धनञ्जयम्।

                    भारो हि धार्तराष्ट्रेण
त्वयि सर्वस्समाहितः।

                    जये स्याद्विपुला
कीर्तिर्ध्रुवस्स्वर्गः पराजये॥’

Salya
said to karna:

“Karna,
don’t be affected; this does not become you. 
Duryodhana also is perplexed, affected very much as he is with his
brother Dussasana’s death; the surviving brothers look up to you (only);
proceed against Arjuna, abiding by a kshatriya’s duty; all the burden (of this
war) has been laid on you by Duryodhana; in case of victory, there will be
wide-spread fame; in defeat heaven is certain.”

                     एतच्छ्रुत्वा
तु वचनं जगामाभिमुखो रिपुम्।

                     युद्धायामर्षताम्राक्षस्समाहूय
धनञ्जयम्॥

                            

Hearing
these words, Karna, with eyes red with anger, went against his enemy, calling
Arjuna to a fight.

                      अथाब्रवीद् द्रोणसुतस्तवात्मजं

                          करं करेण
प्रतिपीड्य सान्त्वयन्।

                      ’प्रसीद दुर्योधन
शाम्य पाण्डवै-

                          रलं विरोधेन
धिगस्तु विग्रहम्’ ॥         

Then, clasping his hand, and pacifying Duryodhana, Aswathaman said; “Please,
Duryodhana, make peace with the Pandavas; enough of enmity; fie upon war.”

                   दुर्योधनः-

                   ’निहत्य दुश्शासनमुक्तवान्बहु

                       प्रहस्य शार्दूलवदेष
दुर्मतिः।

                    वृकोदरस्तद्धृदये
मम स्थितं

                       न तत्परोक्षं
भवतः कुतश्शमः॥’

Duryodhana-

“What
that wicked Bhima, laughing, like a leopard, spoke at length after killing
Dussasana, remains fixed in my heart; that was not said in your absence; how
can there be peace?”

                   तमेवमुक्त्वाऽप्यनुशास्ति
सैनिकान्

                      ’ द्रुतं घ्नताभिद्रवताहितानिमान्’
॥

Having
told Ashwathaman so, Duryodhana ordered his soldiers: “Strike quickly, attack
these enemies.”

                   

                   ततो विमर्दस्सुमहान्बभूव

                        तत्रार्जुनस्याधिरथेश्च
[राजन्]॥

Then
there was a very great encounter there between Arjuna and Karna.

                    ततो विमर्दस्सुमहान्बभूव

                           तत्रार्जुनस्याधिरथेश्च
[राजन्]॥

Then
there was a very great encounter there between Arjuna and Karna.

                     ततो रिपुघ्नं
समधत्त कर्ण-

                          स्सुसञ्चितं
सर्पमुखं ज्वलन्तम्।

                     रौद्रं शरं सन्नतमुग्रधौतं

                          शिरो जिहीर्षुर्युधि
सव्यसाचिनः॥

Wishing
to cut off Arjuna’s head in that fight, Karna then aimed the blazing and
terrible serpent-faced arrow which was fatal to the enemies, which had been
reserved carefully (for that occasion), and which was smooth and burnished into
a fierce appearance.

                     तमापतन्तं ज्वलितं
निरीक्ष्य

                            वियद्गतं
वृष्णिकुलप्रवीरः।

                     रथस्य चक्रं सहसा
निपीड्य

                            पञ्चाङ्गुलं
मज्जयति स्म वीरः॥

Seeing
that flaming serpent missile flying towards them along the sky, the hero of
Vrishni race, Krishna, pressed down the chariot’s wheel at once, and sent it
five inches into the ground.            

        

                      ततः किरीटं तपनीयचित्रं

                            पार्थोत्तमाङ्गादहरत्तरस्वी॥

As
a result of this, the powerful serpent-missile took off from Arjuna’s head his
crown wonderfully wrought in gold.   

                    ततोऽग्निसदृशं घोरं
शरं सर्पविषोपमम्।

                    रौद्रमस्त्रं समाधाय
क्षेप्तुकामः किरीटिने॥

Then,
setting on the bow-string the divine missile presided over by Rudra, an arrow
resembling fire, terrible and similar to a serpent’s poison, Karna wanted to
shoot it at Arjuna.

           ततोऽग्रसन्मही चक्रं राधेयस्य
तदा [नृप]

           ग्रस्तचक्रस्तु राधेय इदं
चचनमब्रवीत् ॥

At that time then, the wheel of Karna’s chariot was caught in the ground; with
the wheel stuck, Karna said:

            ‘भो भो पार्थ महेष्वास
मुहूर्तं परिपालय।

             यावच्चक्रमिदं ग्रस्तमुद्धरामि
महीतलात्।

             त्वं च शूरतमो लोके साधुवृत्तश्च
पाण्डव।

             अभिज्ञो युद्धधर्माणां
तस्मात्क्षम मुहूर्तकम्’

“Oh
great archer, Arjuna, son of Kunti, wait for a moment till I lift up from the
ground the wheel which has gone in; son of Pandu, you are the greatest warrior
in the world and you are righteous in conduct; you know the principles of
righteous warfare; therefore bear for a while.”

            अथाब्रवीद्वासुदेवो महात्मा

                 ’राधेय दिष्ट्या स्मरसीह
धर्मम्।

            कृष्णां सभां कर्ण यदेकवस्त्रा-

                  मानीतवांस्त्वं च
सुयोधनश्च ।

          दुश्शासनश्शकुनिस्सौबलश्च    

                  धर्मस्तदा ते रुचितो
न कस्मात् ॥

The
great Krishna said then: “Karna, fortunately you remember Dharma on the
battle-field here, when you are in difficulty! Karna, why was it that Dharma
was not to your liking, when you, Duryodhana, Dussasana and Sakuni brought into
the assembly hall Draupadi who had on but a single garment?

                यदा सभायां राजानमक्षनज्ञं
युधिष्ठिरम्।

                आनीय जितवन्तो वै क्व
ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

Where
had your Dharma gone when you brought to the gambling hall king Yudhishthira
who was ignorant of dice and conquered him?

                वनवासे व्यतीते च कर्ण
वर्षे त्रयोदशे।

                न प्रयच्छसि यद्राज्यं
क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

“When
the forest life had come to an end and also the thirteenth year, you did not
give the kingdom? Where had your Dharma gone then?

               ‘यद् भीमसेनं सर्पैश्च
विषयुक्तैश्च भोजनैः।

               आचरत्त्वन्मते राजा
क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

“With
your consent, Duryodhana treated Bhima to serpents and poisoned foods! Where
had your Dharma gone then?

               ‘यद् वारणावते पार्थान्सुप्ताञ्जतुगृहे
तदा।

                हन्तुकामास्तदा यूयं
क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

“You
wanted to kill then the sons of Kunti sleeping in the lac house in Varanavata?
Where had your Dharma gone then?”

               ‘यदा रजस्वलां कृष्णां
दुश्शासनवशे स्थिताम्।

                सभायां प्राहसः कर्ण
क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

‘When
you, Karna, in the assembly, laughed aloud at Draupadi, who was unwell and who
had fallen into the hands of Dussasana, where had your Dharma gone then?’

                ‘यदाऽनार्यैः पुरा
कृष्णां क्लिश्यमानामनागसम्।

                 उपप्रेक्षसि राधेय क्व ते धर्मस्तदा
गतः॥

“You
once sat by and witnessed innocent Draupadi being harassed by ignoble persons!  Where had your Dharma gone then?”

                ‘पतिमन्यं वृणीष्व’
इति वदंस्त्वं गजगामिनीम्।

                उपप्रेक्षसि राधेय
क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

“Karna,
you told that Draupadi of majestic gait to ‘choose another husband’ and stood
by looking at her! Where had your Dharma gone then?

                 ‘राज्यलुब्धः पुनः
कर्ण समाह्वयसि पाण्डवान्।

                 यदा शकुनिमाश्रित्य
क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

“Covetous
of the kingdom and resorting to Sakuni for help, you, Karna, called the
Pandavas for gambling again? Where had your Dharma gone then?

                 ‘यदाऽभिमन्युं बहवो
युद्धे जघ्नुर्महारथाः।

                  परिवार्य रणे बालं
क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥

“Numbers
of you, great warriors, surrounded in the battle and killed Abhimanyu, a lad!
Where had your Dharma gone then?”

                  एवमुक्तस्तदा कर्णो
वासुदेवेन [भारत]

                  लज्जयाऽवनतो भूत्वा
नोत्तरं किञ्चिदुक्तवान्॥

So
told by Krishna, Karna cast down with shame, made no answer.

                     

                   योधयामास वै पार्थं
महावेगपराक्रमः।

Exhibiting
his valour with great speed, Karna gave fight to Arjuna.

                    ततश्शरं महाघोरं
ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्।

                    आददे पाण्डुपुत्रस्य
सूतपुत्रो जिघांसया॥

Then,
Karna took (and shot) a very terrible arrow resembling the blazing fire,
wishing to kill Arjuna.

                     स गाढविद्धस्समरे
महात्मा

                         चचाल बीभत्सुरमित्रमर्दनः॥

The
great Arjuna, the crusher of his foes, shook, hit hard as he was in that fight.

                  तदन्तरं प्राप्य
वृषो महारथो

                       रथाङ्गमुर्वीगतमुज्जिहीर्षुः।

                  रथादवप्लुत्य निगृह्य
दोर्भ्यां

                       शशाक दैवान्न
महाबलोऽपि॥

Taking
that opportunity, the strong warrior Karna, jumped down from the chariot
wishing to lift up the wheel that had gone into the ground, and tried, holding
it by both hands but could not (lift it) though he was of mighty strength,
because of fate.

                   ततोऽब्रवीद्वासुदेवोऽपि
पार्थं

                     छिन्ध्यस्य मूर्धानमरेश्शरेण।

                   तथैव संपूज्य स
तद्वचः प्रभोः

                     शिरोऽहरत्सूतपुत्रस्य
[राजन्]

Krishna
told Arjuna then: “ Cut off this enemy’s head with an arrow.” Accordinly,
giving respect to those words of the Lord, Arjuna cut off the head of Karna.

                     पाञ्चजन्यस्य
निर्घोषो देवदत्तस्य चोभयोः।

                     पृथिवीमन्तरिक्षं
च दिशश्च समपूरयत्॥

The
great noise of both the Panchajanya and the Devadatta, (the conches of Krishna
and Arjuna), filled the earth, the sky and the quarters.

                    हते वैकर्तने कर्णे
कुरवो भयपीडिताः।

                    वीक्षमाणा दिशस्सर्वाः
पलायन्त सहस्रशः॥

When
karna, son of the sun-god had been killed, the fear-stricken Kauravas turned to
all quarters and fled in their thousands.

                    || इति कर्णपर्व
समाप्तम् ॥

                    THUS ENDS THE KARNA
PARVA                      

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

                                   

                          || द्रोणपर्व ||

                         DRONA PARVA

    

         अथाभिषिषिचुर्द्रोणं दुर्योधनमुखा
नृपाः।

         सैनापत्ये यथा स्कन्दं पुरा  शक्रमुखास्सुराः॥

Then,
Duryodhana and the other ,kings installed Drona in the office of generalissimo,
as Indra and the other gods installed god Skanda of yore.

  

        सेनापतित्वं  संप्राप्य भारद्वाजो महारथः।

         मध्ये सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य पुत्रं
ते वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

Obtaining
the post of the commander-in-chief,  the
great warrior Drona said to Duryodhana in the midst of the whole army:

         ’करोमि कामं कं तेऽद्य प्रवृणीष्व
यमिच्छसि’

“What wish
of yours shall I now carry out? Ask what you want.”

          दुर्योधनः-

          ’ददासि चेद्वरं मह्यं जीवग्राहं
युधिष्ठिरम्।

          गृहीत्वा रथिनां श्रेष्ठं
मत्समीपमिहानय॥

          सत्यप्रतिज्ञे त्वानीते पुनर्द्यूतेन
निर्जिते।

          पुनर्यास्यन्त्यरण्याय पाण्डवास्तमनुव्रताः।

          सोऽयं मम जयो व्यक्तं दीर्घकालं
भविष्यति॥

“If you
grant me a boon, capture alive Yudhishthira, that best of chariot-fighters, and
bring him here to me.  When that
Yudhishthira who keeps his promise is brought and vanquished again at a game of
dice, the sons of Pandu who are vowed to act in obedience to him will go to the
forest once more. And this will clearly be a long standing victory for me.

           द्रोणुः-

           न चेद्युधिष्ठिरं वीरः पालयेदर्जुनो
युधि।

           मन्यस्व पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमानीतं
वशमात्मनः॥

Drona-

“If ony the
valorous Arjuna does not protect Yudhishthira in the battle, take it that
Yudhishthira is brought under your control.”

           ततो द्रोणेन विहितो व्यूहो
(राजन्) व्यरोचत।

           चरन्मध्यन्दिने सूर्यः प्रतपन्निव
दुर्दृशः॥

Then, the
circular array made by Drona shone like the sun moving in mid-day, burning and
impossible to look at.

           तं चाभिमन्युर्वचनात् पितुर्ज्येष्ठस्य
(भारत)

           बिभेद दुर्भिदं संख्ये चक्रव्यूहमनेकधा
॥

That
unbreakable circular array, Abhimanyu, on the word of his eldest uncle,
Yudhishthira, shattered to pieces in the battle.

            स कृत्वा दुष्करं कर्म
हत्वा वीरान्सहस्रशः।

            नृत्यन्निव (महाराज) पाशहस्त इवान्तकः

            स कक्षेऽग्निरिवोत्सृष्टो
निर्दहंस्तरसा रिपून्।

            एकधा शतधा (राजन्) दृश्यते स्म सहस्रधा॥

Doing the
impossible task of breaking Drona’s circular array, killing warriors by thousands,
verily seeming to dance, looking like the god of death with his noose, consuming
his enemies rapidly like fire let loose on a dry forest, Abhimanyu appeared (on
the battle-field) single, hundredfold, and thousand fold.   

              तं तु द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो
द्रौणिश्च सबृहद्बलः।

              कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यः
षड्‍रथाः पर्यवारयन्॥

And that Abhimanyu,
six chariots surrounded, (those of) Drona, Kripa, Karna, Ashwathaman,
Brihadbala, and Kritavarman, son of Hridika.

              तं सौबलस्त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा
दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत्।

              ’सर्व एनं विमथ्नीमः
पुरैकैकं हिनस्ति नः॥

Hitting
Abhimanyu with three shafts, Sakuni then said to Duryodhana: “Ere he kills us
one by one; all of us will kill this Abhimanyu.”

              अथ कर्णः पुनर्द्रोणमाहार्जुनिशराहतः।

              ’स्थातव्यमिति तिष्ठामि
पीड्यमानोऽभिमन्युना’॥

Hit by the
arrows of Arjuna’s son, Karna said to Drona then: “Because I must stand, I am
standing here, afflicted as I am by Abhimanyu.”

            तमाचार्योऽब्रवीत्कर्णं
शनकैः प्रहसन्निव।

            ’अभेद्यमस्य कवचं युवा
चाशुपराक्रमः।

            अथैनं विमुखीकृत्य पश्चात्प्रहरणं
कुरु।

            सधनुष्को न शक्योऽयमपि
जेतुं सुरासुरैः

            विरथं विधनुष्कं च कुरुष्वैनं
यदीच्छसि॥’

Smiling a
little, the preceptor Drona said in a low voice to Karna, who had spoken so:
“His armour is unbreakable; he is young and swift in (the display of) his
valour. (So) make him turn back, and then strike.  (Armed) with his bow, he cannot be conquered
even by the gods and demons. If you wish (to vanquish him), deprive him of his
chariot and bow.”

           तदाचार्यवचश्श्रुत्वा कर्णो
वैकर्तनस्त्वरन्।

           अस्यतो लघुहस्तस्य पृष्ठतो
धनुरच्छिनत्

           अश्वानस्यावधीद् द्रोणो
गौतमः पार्ष्णिसारथी॥

           त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले विरथं
षण्महारथाः।

           शरवर्षैरकरुणा बालमेकमवाकिरन्॥

Hearing
those words of the preceptor, Karna, son of the sun-god, hastened and cut from
behind the bow of Abhimanyu, who was throwing shafts with a swift hand.  Drona killed his horses; Kripa killed the two
side charioteers. Hurrying at that time which demanded quick action, those six
great warriors mounted on their chariots, devoid of mercy, strewed over with
showers of arrow, a boy, who was without his chariot and alone.

           खड्गचर्मधरश्श्रीमानुत्पपातार्जुनिर्भृशम्।

           स पुनश्चक्रमुद्यम्य द्रोणं
क्रुद्धोऽभ्यधावत।

           महारथस्ततः कार्ष्णिः स
जग्राह महागदाम्।

           शराचिताङ्गस्सौभद्रः श्वाविद्वत्समदृश्यत
॥

Arming
himself with sword and shield, the glorious son of Arjuna, leapt up with force.
Again, infuriated, he attacked Drona, lifting his discus.  Then, the great warrior, Abhimanyu, took a
huge mace.  His body covered with arrows,
Abhimanyu looked like a porcupine.

         

        ततो दौश्शासनिः क्रुद्धो गदामुद्यम्य
(मारिष)।

        अभिदुद्राव सौभद्रमन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ
।

        तावन्योन्यं गदाग्राभ्यामाहत्य
पतितौ क्षितौ॥

Then, the
furious son of Dussasana rushed at Abhimanyu, lifting his mace.  Wishing to kill each other, they hit each
other by their mace-heads, and fell on the ground.

         दौश्शासनिरथोत्थाय कुरूणां
कीर्तिवर्धनः।

         उत्तिष्ठमानं सौभद्रं गदया
मूर्ध्न्यताडयत्।

         एवं विनिहतो (राजन्) एको बहुभिराहवे ॥

Rising up
then, Dussasana’s son, (the warrior) who made the fame of the Kauravas
increase, with his mace, struck on the head of Abhimanyu who was rising.  Thus was one killed by many in the battle.

          तं भूमौ  पतितं दृष्ट्वा तावकास्ते महारथाः।

          मुदा परमया युक्ताश्चुक्रुशुस्सिंहवन्मुहुः।

          इतरेषां तु वीराणां नेत्रेभ्यः
प्रापतज्जलम्॥

          अन्तरिक्षे च भूतानि प्राक्रोशन्त
(विशांपते)

          ’द्रोणकर्णमुखैः षड्भिः धार्तराष्ट्रैः
महारथैः।

          एकोऽयं निहतः शेते नैष धर्मो
मतो हि नः’॥

Seeing him
fallen on the ground, those warriors on the side of Dhritarashtra roared again
and again like lions, with greatest delight; but from the eyes of the warriors
on the Pandava’s side, tears fell. And in the sky also, (the celestial) beings
cried: “ Single, this Abhimanyu lies killed by six of the great warriors of
Dhritarashtra, by Drona, Karna and others; this is not considered Dharma by
us.”

               हत्वा संशप्तकव्रातान् दिव्यैरस्त्रैः कपिध्वजः।

               प्रायात्स्वशिविरं जिष्णुर्जैत्रमास्थाय तं रथम्॥

After
killing the multitudes of Samsaptakas with (his) divine missiles, triumphant
Arjuna went to his tent, riding that victorious chariot of his.

                दृष्ट्वा भ्रातॄंश्च पुत्रांश्च विमना वानरध्वजः।

                अपश्यंश्चैव सौभद्रमिदं
वचनमब्रवीत्॥

Seeing the
brothers and the sons dejected and not seeing Abhimanyu (there), Arjuna said
these words:

                ‘मुखवर्णोऽप्रसन्नो
वस्सर्वेषामेव लक्ष्यते।

                 न चाभिमन्युं पश्यामि
न च मां प्रतिनन्दथ’॥

“Clouded
are all your faces; and I do not see Abhimanyu and you do not congratulate me
(on my victory over the Samsaptakas).”

                 युधिष्ठिरः-

                 ’त्वयि याते महाबाहो
संशप्तकबलं प्रति।

                  प्रयत्नमकरोत्तीव्रमाचार्यो
ग्रहणे मम॥

Yudhishthira-

“Mighty
Arjuna, after you had gone against the Samsaptaka forces, our preceptor, Drona,
made intense effort to capture me.

               “ते पीड्यमाना द्रोणेन  द्रोणानिकं न शक्नुमः

                प्रतिवीक्षितुमप्याजौ
भेत्तुं तत्कुत एव तु॥“

“Troubled by
Drona, we could not even look at Drona’s army in the battle; how could we break
his array?”

               ‘ततस्तमप्रतिरथमहं सौभद्रमब्रवम्।

                द्रोणानीकमिदं भिन्धि
द्वारं सञ्जनयस्व नः ॥

‘Then I
told that unrivalled Abhimanyu : ‘Break this array of Drona’s army and make a
way for us to enter.’

      

             ‘स तवास्त्रोपदेशेन वीर्येण
प्राविशद्बलम्।

             तेऽनुयाता वयं वीरं सात्वतीपुत्रमाहवे
॥                                                         

 

“With your
teachings in missiles and with his heroism, Abhimanyu broke into Drona’s army
and we followed that heroic son of Subhadra in the battle.”

              ’ततः सैन्धवकः क्षुद्रः
सर्वान्नस्समवारयत्’।

“Then the
mean and petty king of the Sindhus, (Jayadratha), stopped us all.

              ‘परिवार्य तु तैर्बालो
बहुभिर्विरथीकृतः।

              ततो दौश्शासनिः क्षिप्रं
गदया मूर्ध्न्यताडयत्।

              स चैवं पुरुषव्याघ्रः
स्वर्गलोकमवाप्तवान्॥’

The
boy was surrounded by a number of them deprived of his chariot; at that time,
Dussasana’s son quickly struck him on the head with his mace.  That best among men attained to heaven in
this manner.”  

            ततोऽर्जुनो वचश्श्रुत्वा
धर्मराजेन भाषितम्।

            उन्मत्त इव विप्रेक्षन्निदं
वचनमब्रवीत्॥

Hearing
then these words spoken by Yudhishthira, Arjuna said these words, looking
wildly like a mad man:

            ‘सत्यं वः प्रतिजानामि
श्वोऽस्मि हन्ता जयद्रथम्’

“I swear in
truth to you; I will kill Jayadratha tomorrow’

             श्रुत्वा तु तं महाशब्दं
पाण्डूनां पुत्रगृद्धिनाम्।

             चारैः प्रवेदितस्त्रस्तस्समुत्थाय
जयद्रथः।

             दुर्योधनेन सहितो द्रोणं
रात्रावुपागमत्॥

Informed
by spies who had heard that huge shout of the Pandavas who loved their son
(Abhimanyu), Jayadratha rose up and, along with Duryodhana,  came to Drona in the night.

              द्रोणः-

              व्यूहयिष्यामि तं व्यूहं
यं पार्थो न तरिष्यति।
              तस्माद्युध्यस्व
मा भैस्त्वं स्वधर्ममनुपालय॥

Drona said
to Jayadratha-

“I will
make an array that Arjuna will not cross; therefore fight, and be not afraid;
keep up your Dharma.”

               एवमाश्वासितो राजा भारद्वाजेन
सैन्धवः।

               अपानुदद् भयं पार्थाद्
युद्धाय च मनो दधे॥

So consoled
by Drona, king Jayadratha cast off his fear of Arjuna and made up his mind to
fight.

                तस्यां निशायां व्युष्टायां
पारयिष्यन्महाव्रतम्।

                रथप्रवरमास्थाय नरो
नारायणानुगः।

                सिन्धुराजं परीप्सन्वै
द्रोणानीकमुपाद्रवत्॥

After
that night, at day-break, Arjuna, bent on carrying out his great vow, mounted
his excellent chariot, and along with Krishna, rode against Drona’s army,
wishing to capture jayadratha.

            

                  दर्शयन् रौद्रमात्मानामुग्रे
कर्मणि धिष्ठितः।

                  तथा सर्वा दिशो
(राजन्) सर्वाश्च रथिनो रणे।

                  आकुलीकृत्य कौन्तेयो
जयद्रथमुपाद्रवत्॥

Resolute
on doing a formidable act, showing himself in a terrible form, throwing into
confusion all the quarters and all the chariot-warriors in the battle, Arjuna
rushed in search of Jayadratha.

                 आदित्यं प्रेक्षमाणस्तु
बीभत्सुः सृक्वणी लिहन्।

                 अपश्यन्नान्तरं तस्य
रक्षिभिस्संवृतस्य वै॥

Looking at
the sun and licking the corners of his mouth, Arjuna did not find

the way to
(capture) Jayadratha who was surrounded by his protectors.

                 अथाब्रवीद्वासुदेवः
कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम्।

                 ’स्रक्ष्यामहमुपायं
तमादित्यस्यापवारणे।

                  ततोऽस्तङ्गतमादित्यं
मंस्यते सिन्धुराडिह।

                  न हि शक्ष्यत्यथात्मानं
रक्षितुं हर्षसंभवात्।

                  एतस्मिन्नेव काले
तु प्रहर्तव्यं धनञ्जय॥’

  

Krishna
said to Arjuna: ”I shall create a means to hide the sun; Jayadratha will then
take the sun as having set; and then he will not be able to protect himself, on
account of the joy; at that very time, Arjuna, you must strike.”

                 एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थं
क्षिप्रमेवाहरत्प्रभाम्।

                 वीक्षमाणे ततस्तस्मिन्
सिन्धुराजे दिवाकरम्।

                 शरं तूणीशयं घोरमिन्द्राशनिसमप्रभम्।

                 विससर्ज ततस्तूर्णं
सैन्धवस्य रथं प्रति॥

Having said
this to Arjuna, Krishna quickly removed the daylight. At that time, when
jayadratha looked up for the sun, Arjuna quickly shot in the direction of his
chariot a terrible arrow which resembled Indra’s thunderbolt  and was lying in his quiver.

              
स तु गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तस्सैन्धवस्याहरच्छिरः।

That arrow
shot from the Gandiva took off the head of Jayadratha.

               रक्षसां घोररूपाणामक्षौहिण्या
समावृतः।

               ततो घटोत्कचः क्रुद्धश्चोदयामास
तां चमूम्॥

Then,
surrounded by an Akshauhini of demons of terrific appearance, the furious
Ghatotkacha (the demon son of Bhima), drove his army (against the Kaurava
forces).

                 तमसा संवृते लोके
रजसा च (महीपते)।  

                
अनुमानेन संज्ञाभिर्युद्धं तद्ववृधे महत्॥

When the
world was wrapped in darkness and dust, that great battle went on by inference
and signals.

                 प्रदीपानां
सहस्रैश्च दीप्यमानैस्समन्ततः।

                 उल्काशतैः प्रज्ज्वलितै
रणभूमिर्व्यराजत॥

The
battle-field shone with thousands of lights burning on all sides and hundreds,
of blazing brands.

                   ततस्समभवद्युद्धं
कर्णराक्षसयोर्निशि॥

Then, there
took place in that night, a fight between Karna and the demon Ghatotkacha.

                    तां राक्षसीं भीमरूपां
सुघोरां

                       वृष्टिं महाशस्त्रमयीं
पतन्तीम्।

                    दृष्ट्वा बलौघांश्च
निपात्यमाना-

                            न्महद्भयं
तव पुत्रान्विवेश॥

At the
sight of that formidable and very terrible shower of great missiles falling from
the demon Ghatotkacha and of multitudes of their own forces being struck down,
great fear took possession of the sons of Dhritarashtra.

                      ततोऽब्रुवन्कुरवस्सर्व
एव

                           कर्णं दृष्ट्वा
घोररूपां च मायाम्।

                     ’शक्त्या रक्षो जहि कर्णाद्य
तूर्णं

                           नश्यन्त्येते
कुरवो धार्तराष्ट्राः’॥

All
the Kauravas then said (to Karna), seeing Karna and the terrible magic (of
Ghatotkacha): “Karna, quickly kill this demon now with your Sakti;  these kauravas and others on the side of
Dhritarashtra are perishing.

                       स वध्यमानो
रक्षसा वै निशीथे।

                              मतिं दधे शक्तिमोक्षाय
कर्णः॥

Hit
by the demon at midnight, Karna made up his mind to hurl the Sakti (at him).

                       याऽसौ
(राजन्) निहिता वर्षपूगा-

                           न्वधायाजौ
सत्कृता फल्गुनस्य।

                       यां वै प्रादात्सूतपुत्राय शक्रः
                           तां
वै शक्तिं प्राहिणोद्राक्षसाय ॥

That Sakti
which was being kept in worship for many years for killing Arjuna in the battle
and which Indra had given to Karna, Karna threw at the demon.                             

                

                       ततोऽन्तरिक्षादपतद्गतासु-

                           स्स राक्षसेन्द्रो
भुवि भिन्नदेहः॥

With body
cut through and life gone, the great demon then fell on the ground from the
skies.

                   उदिते तु सहस्रांशौ
पुनर्युद्धमवर्तत।

The battle
went on again when the sun arose.

                   उदीर्यमाणे द्रोणास्त्रे
पाण्डवान्भयमाविशत् ।

Fear took
hold of the Pandavas when Drona’s missile was discharged.

                   त्रस्तान्कुन्तीसुतान्दृष्ट्वा
केशवोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत्।

                   ’नैष युद्धेन संग्रामे
जेतुं शक्यः कथञ्चन     

                    न्यस्तशस्त्रस्तु
संग्रामे शक्यः हन्तुं भवेन्नृभिः।

                    आस्थीयतां जये
योगो धर्ममुत्सृज्य पाण्डवाः

                    अश्वत्थाम्नि हते
नैष युध्येदिति मतिर्मम।

                     तं हतं संयुगे
कश्चिदस्मै शंसतु मानवः ॥

Seeing
the Pandavas in fear, Krishna said to Arjuna: “This Drona cannot be conquered
by any means by fighting in the battle; he can be killed by men if he lays down
his arms. Pandavas! Adopt some trick for victory,abadoning Dharma. I think,
Drona will not fight, if Aswathaman were killed; let somebody tell Drona that
Aswathaman has been killed in the battle.

               
                      एतन्नारोचयद्
(राजन्) कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः।

                      अन्येत्वरोचयन्सर्वे
कृच्छ्रेण तु युधिष्ठिरः॥

Arjuna did
not like this; all the rest did; Yudhishthira approved of it with difficulty.

                     ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुरनीकेषु
महागजम्।

                     जघान गदया
[राजन्] अश्वत्थामानमित्युत।

                     भीमसेनस्तु सव्रीडमुपेत्य
द्रोणमाहवे

                     ’अश्वत्थामा हत’
इति शब्दमुच्चैश्चकार ह॥

The mighty
Bhima then killed with his mace a big elephant in the army named Ashwathaman
and with a feeling of shame, he approached Drona in the battle and shouted: “
Ashwatthaaman is killed.”

               शङ्कमानस्स तन्मिथ्या
वीर्यज्ञस्स्वसुतस्य वै।

               प्रादुश्चक्रे ततो द्रोणो
ब्राह्ममस्त्रं परन्तपः॥

Suspecting
it to be a falsehood, knowing as he did the valour of his son, Drona, the
tormentor of his enemies, brought forth then the divine missile presided over
by Brahman.

              ऋषयोऽभ्यागतास्तूर्णं  हव्यवाहपुरोगमाः

              त एनमब्रुवन्सर्वे द्रोणमाहवशोभिनम्॥

With the
god of fire at their head, the sages came quickly and all of them said to Drona
shining in the battle:

              “अधर्मतः कृतं युद्धं
समयो नियतस्य ते।

               वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषस्सत्यधर्मरतस्य
ते।
               ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण
तवैतन्नोपपद्यते ।

               ब्रह्मास्त्रेण त्वया
दग्धा अनस्त्रज्ञा नरा भुवि।

               मा पापिष्ठतरं कर्म
करिष्यसि पुनर्द्विज”॥

               

“You have
fought this battle by Adharma; it is time for your demise; this  does not become you especially, a Brahmin
learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary lores and devoted to Truth and Dharma.
Men ignorant of divine missiles have been burnt by you in the world by the
Brahma Astra, you shall not do again (such) a most sinful act.

              इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा
भीमसेनवचस्स्मरन्।

              सन्दिह्यमानो व्यथितः
कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरं।

              अहतं वा हतं वेति पप्राच्छ
सुतमात्मनः॥

              स्थिरा बिद्धिर्हि द्रोणस्य
न पार्थो वक्ष्यतेऽनृतम्।

              त्रयाणामपि लोकानामैश्वर्यार्थे
कथञ्चन॥

              तस्मात्तं परिपप्रच्छ
नान्यं कञ्चिद्द्विजर्षभः।

              तस्मिंस्तस्य हि सत्याशा बाल्यात्प्रभृति
पाण्डवे ॥

Hearing
these words of the sages, remembering the words of Bhima (that Ashwathaman had
been killed), doubting and in pain, Drona asked Yudhishthira whether his son
was killed or not.  For, firm was Drona’s
conviction that Yudhishthira would not utter falsehood, under any circumstance,
even for the sake of the lordship over the three worlds.  Therefore, that best of Brahmins, Drona,
asked Yudhishthira and not any one else. 
Indeed, Drona had full confidence in the truthfulness of that son of
Pandu from his very boyhood.  

                            
            ततो निष्पाण्डवामुर्वीं
करिष्यन्तं युधांपतिम्।

            द्रोणं ज्ञात्वा धर्मराजं
गोविन्दो व्यथितोऽब्रवीत्।

            ’अनृतं जीवितस्यार्थे वदन्न
स्पृश्यतेऽनृतैः’॥

Knowing
that the commander Drona would make the world rid of the Pandavas, Krishna, in
his affliction, told Yudhishthira: “Uttering falsehood for the sake of life,
one is not affected by untruths.”

             तमतथ्यभये मग्नो जये सक्तो
युधिष्ठिरः।

             ’अश्वत्थामा हत’
इति शब्दमुच्चैश्चकार ह।

             अव्यक्तमब्रवीद्
[राजन्] ’हतः कुञ्जर’ इत्युत॥

Immersed
in the fear of uttering falsehood and intent on victory, Yudhishthira       

said aloud
to Drona: “Killed is Ashwathaman,” and added indistinctly ‘ the elephant’.

               तस्य पूर्वं रथः पृथिव्याश्चतुरङ्गुलमुच्छ्रितः।

               बभूवैवं च तेनोक्ते
तस्य वाहास्स्पृशन्हीम्॥

Previously,
Yudhishthira’s chariot was four inches above the ground; when yudhishthira had
said so, his horses touched the ground.

               युधिष्ठिरात्तु तद्वाक्यं
श्रुत्वा द्रोणो महारथः

                पुत्रव्यसनसन्तप्तो
निराशो जीवितेऽभवत्॥

Hearing
those words from Yudhishthira,  the
warrior Drona, afflicted by the death of his son, did not wish to live.

                ततो भीमो दृढक्रोधो
द्रोणं वचनमब्रवीत्।

                ’यदि नाम न युध्येरञ्शिक्षिता
ब्रह्मबन्धवः।

                 स्वकर्मभिरसंतुष्टा
न स्म क्षत्रं क्षयं व्रजेत्॥

                 अहिंसां सर्वभूतेषु
धर्मं ज्यायस्तरं विदुः।

                 तस्य च ब्राह्मणो
मूलं भवांश्च ब्रह्मवित्तमः

                 बहून्हत्वा विकर्मस्थो
न व्यपत्रपसे कथम्’॥

Then
Bhima, violently angry, said to Drona: “If well trained, fallen Brahmins, not
content with their own calling, would not take the fighting, kshatriyas would
not perish.  (The wise) consider (the
virtue) of non-injury towards all beings the greatest Dharma; and of it, the
Brahmin is the foundation; and you are the greatest among those who have known
the Brahman; having killed many, following what is another’s prescribed
vocation, how is it you are not ashamed?”

             एवमुक्तस्ततो द्रोणः संन्यासाय
स वै द्विजः।

             उत्सृज्य च रणे शस्त्रं
रथोपस्थे निविश्य च।

             अभयं सर्वभूतानां प्रददौ
योगमीयिवान् ॥

Then,
the Brahmin, Drona, who was addressed in this manner, threw away all arms, sat
in the centre of his chariot for laying down his body, vowed security to all
beings and entered on Yoga.

             स्मरित्वा देवेदेवेशमक्षरं परमं प्रभुम्

             दिवमाक्रामदाचार्यस्साक्षात्सद्भिर्दुराक्रमाम्॥

Thinking
of the imperishable supreme Lord, the lord of the god of gods, the preceptor
(of the kauravas and the Pandavas), Drona, visibly reached heaven hard to be
attained even by the good.

              आकर्णपलितश्श्यामो वयसाऽशीतिपञ्चकः

              रणे पर्यचरद्द्रोणो  वृद्धः षोडशवर्षवत्॥

The
swarthy Drona, completely white-haired, eighty-five years of age, that                  old
man had moved about in the battle like a youth of sixteen.

          ततः प्रत्यवहारोऽभूत्पाण्डवानां
(विशांपते)।

          कौरवाणां च दीनानां द्रोणे
युधि निपातिते॥

When
Drona had been killed in the battle, the Pandavas and the dejected Kauravas
withdrew (from the field).

                     ॥इति द्रोणपर्व
समाप्तम्॥

                THUS ENDS THE DRONA PARVA

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

                                   

                          || भीष्मपर्व ||

                       BHISHMA PARVA

               ततस्ते समयं चक्रुः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः।

             धर्मान्संस्थापयामासुर्युद्धानां [भरतर्शभ]॥

Then, those Kauravas,
Pandavas and Somakas made an agreement and established rules for fighting.

            ‘निवृत्ते विहिते युद्धे स्यात्प्रीतिर्नः परस्परम्।

            निष्क्रान्ताः पृतनामध्यान्न हन्तव्याः कदाचन।

            रथी च रथिना योध्यो गजेन गजधूर्गतः।

            अश्वेनाश्वी पदातिश्च पादातेनैव (भारत)।

            परेण सह संयुक्तो प्रमत्तो विमुखस्तथा।

            क्षीणशस्त्रो विवर्मा च न हन्तव्यः कदाचन॥’

“When
the battle is fought and finished, there shall be mutual friendship between us.
Those who have gone out of the ranks shall never be killed.  One mounted on a chariot shall be fought by
one on a chariot, one on an elephant with an elephant, one on a horse with a
horse, and a foot soldier only by a foot soldier. One engaged with another, one
inattentive, or disinclined to fight or one who was turned away from the field,
one who has lost his weapons and one without armour shall never be killed.”

             बृहतीं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सेनां दृष्ट्वा समुद्यताम्।

             विषादमगमद्राजा विवर्णोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत् ॥

Seeing the huge army of
Duryodhana ready for the battle, king Yudhishthira became worried and with a
pale face, said to Arjuna.

            
‘धनञ्जय कथं शक्यमस्माभिर्योद्धुमाहवे।

              धार्तराष्ट्रैर्महाबाहो येषां योद्धा पितामहः ॥

“Mighty Arjuna! how can we
fight the warriors on Dhritarashtra’s side for whom (our) grandfather, Bhishma,
fights.”

               अर्जुनः-

               ’प्रज्ञयाऽभ्यधिकाञ्शूरान्गुणयुक्तान्बहूनपि।

                जयन्त्यल्पतरा येन तन्निबोध विशांपते॥‘

Arjuna-

“King,
hearken how the  inferior conquer even
those who are superior in knowledge, who are (greater) warriors, (more) endowed
with qualities and (greater) in numbers.”

               ‘न तथा बलवीर्याभ्यां जयन्ति विजिगीषवः।

                यथा सत्यानृशंस्याभ्यां धर्मेणैवोद्यमेन च॥’

“Those
who desire victory achieve it not so much by strength and valour as by their
(qualities of) truthfulness, benevolence, and effort which is strictly righteous.

                ’त्यक्त्वाऽधर्मं तथा सर्वे धर्मं चोत्तममास्थिताः।

                 युध्यध्वमनहङ्कारा यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ॥

“Avoiding Adharma and basing
yourselves on best Dharma, fight without egoism; where Dharma is, there victory
is.”

                 ‘एवं राजन्विजानीहि ध्रुवोऽस्माकं रणे जयः।

                  यथा तु नारदः प्राह यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः।

                  गुणभूतो जयः कृष्णे पृष्ठतोऽभ्येति माधवम्॥

“Knowing
it, king, thus is victory certain for us in (this) battle; even as Narada said,
where Krishna is, there victory is. 
Victory is an attribute of Krishna; it follows Him at His back.”

                  ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा स्वां सेनां समचोदयत्।

                  प्रतिव्यूहन्ननीकानि भीष्मस्य  (भरतर्षभ)॥

Then king Yudhishthira
arrayed his army against Bhishma and directed it (to attack).

                   मध्ये शिखण्डिनोऽनीकं रक्षितं सव्यसाचिना।

In the centre (of that army)
were the forces of Shikhandi protected by Arjuna, the archer who shoots with
either hand.

                    रथोऽर्जुनस्याग्निरिवार्चिमाली

                        विभ्राजते श्वेतहयस्सुचक्रः।

                    तमास्थितः केशवसंगृहीतं

                        कपिध्वजो गाण्डिवबाणपाणिः॥

Arjuna’s
chariot with its white horses and firm wheels, shone like fire, emitting a
corona of rays. On that chariot the reins of whose horses Krishna was holding,
was the monkey-bannered Arjuna with the Gandiva bow and arrows in his hands.

                     अथापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान्।

                     आचर्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा।

                     श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि॥

                    

                     तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्।

                     कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्॥

Then Arjuna saw there (on
the battle-field) fathers, grandfathers, preceptors, uncles,

brothers, sons, grand-sons,
fathers-in-law and friends standing in both the armies.  Seeing all those kinsmen standing (determined
for fighting), Arjuna was overcome by great compassion and he said (to Krishna,
his charioteer) in sorrow:

                     ‘दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्।

                      सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।

                     

                       गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक् चैव परिदह्यते।

                       न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः॥

                      न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।

                      किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा॥

स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनस्स्याम माधव।

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्।

यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः॥

“Krishna!
seeing these kinsmen of ours come with the desire to fight, my limbs fail, my
mouth becomes parched, the Gandiva slips from my hand, my skin burns and I am
not able to stand firm; my mind seems to whirl. 
Krishna! I do not wish for victory, or kingdom, or happiness; of what
use is the kingdom to us, or pleasures or even life? How can we be happy,
Krishna, after killing our own kinsmen? Alas! we have resolved to commit a
great sin, we who are out to kill our own kinsmen through our avarice for the
pleasures of a kingdom.”

                      एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः (परन्तप)।

                      न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह ॥

Having said this to Krishna,
Arjuna added “I will not fight,” and kept quiet.                       

                       तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव (भारत)।

                       ’धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत् क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते॥

                       अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं सङ्ग्रामं न करिष्यसि।

                       ततस्स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि।

                       भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः॥

                       हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम्॥

                       सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।

                       ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥                    

                       कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन॥

                        न हि कश्चित् क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।

                        न मे
पार्थाऽस्ति कर्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि॥

                        मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा।

                        निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युद्ध्यस्व विगतज्वरः॥

                        श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्॥

                        अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः।

                        स सन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः॥

                             ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे

                                येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः।

                              मयैवेते निहताः पूर्वमेव

                                 निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन्॥

                         मच्चित्तस्सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि॥

                             यद्यहंकारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति
मन्यसे।                     

                             मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते  प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति।

                             कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत्॥

                             ईश्वरस्सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति।

                             भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यंत्रारूढानि मायया॥

                             तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत।

                             सर्वधर्मान् परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।

                             अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥’

Krishna
said to Arjuna, laughing a little: “To a 
Kshatriya, there is no other good than righteous warfare.  In case you do not fight this righteous
battle, you neglect your duty, throw away fame and incur sin.  Warriors will think that you have desisted from
the battle out of fear.  If you are
killed you will attain to heaven, or if you win, you will enjoy the world. Viewing
alike happiness and misery, gain and loss, victory and defeat, you then get
ready for battle; doing thus you will not incur sin.  To work alone you are entitled, never to
(its) fruits.  Never does anybody stand
even a moment without doing an act. 
There is nothing to be done for me still I am active.  Offering up all acts to me with a spiritual
mind, without any wish and disinterested, fight without any mental fever.  Though ill-performed, one’s own duty is
better than another’s duty well-performed. 
He who does the act that ought to be done, without intent on the fruit
of the action, is the man of renunciation and the Yogin; not he who has left off
the worship of fire and not he who does not do anything.

Even
without you, all these warriors who stand in the opposite ranks, will cease to
be; they have been already killed  by
myself; you archer who shoots with either arm! be simply the apparent cause (of
the destruction of these warriors).

With
your mind fixed on me, you will surmount all difficulties by my grace. If
resorting to egoism, you think you will not fight, this resolve of yours is
futile; Nature will impel you. What in delusion, you do not want to do, you
will do even in spite of yourself. 
Arjuna, god is in the heart of all beings, making all beings whirl by
his power as if in a whirling machine. Take refuge  in him completely.  Discarding all Dharmas, seek me alone as
refuge; I will free you from all sins; grieve not.”  

               अर्जुनः-

              ’स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः करिष्ये वचनं तव’

Arjuna said to Krishna-

“ I stand here with all my
doubts cleared; I will do what you say.”

                 ततो धनञ्जयं दृष्ट्वा बाणगाण्डीवधारिणम्।   

                 पुनरेव महानादं व्यसृजन्त महारथाः॥

Then, seeing Arjuna taking
up the arrows and his Gandiva bow, the warriors sent a peal again.

                 ततो युधिष्ठिरो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समवस्थिते।

                 सेने विमुच्य कवचं निक्षिप्य च वरायुधम्।

                 अवरुह्य रथात्क्षिप्रं पद्भ्यामेव कृताञ्जलिः।

                 भीष्ममेवाभ्ययात्तूर्णं भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ॥

Seeing then those two armies
standing ready for fighting, the heroic Yudhishthira laid down his armour and
excellent arms, descended from his chariot quickly and with folded arms and surrounded
by his brothers, hastened on foot to Bhishma.

                   तमुवाच ततः पादौ
कराभ्यां पीड्य पाण्डवः।

                   अनुजानीहि मां तात आशिषश्च प्रयोजय॥ 

                                                     

Holding Bhishma’s
 feet with his hands, Yudhishthira said
to him: “ Unassailable warrior, I take your permission; we shall fight with
you; permit me, father, and    give(us) (your) blessings.

                  

                   भीष्मः-

                    ’प्रीतोऽहं पुत्र युध्यस्व जयमाप्नुहि पाण्डव’।

Bhishma-

“My son, I am pleased; fight
and win, Yudhishthira.”

                    ततो युधिष्ठिरः प्रायादाचार्यस्य रथं प्रति।   

                    स द्रोणमभिवाद्याथ कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम्।

                    उवाच राजा दुर्धर्षमात्मनिःश्रेयसं वचः॥

Then
Yudhishthira proceeded towards his preceptor Drona’s chariot.  Saluting Drona and going around him, king
Yudhishthira addressed to that unassailable Drona these words intended for his
own welfare:

              

         ’आमन्त्रये त्वां भगवन् योत्स्ये विगतकल्मषः॥’

’I take your leave,
illustrious preceptor, and will fight with a pure heart.’

          द्रोणः –

           ’ध्रुवस्ते विजयो राजन् यस्य मन्त्री हरिस्तव।

           यतो धर्मस्ततः कृष्णो यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः ॥’

Drona-

“King, victory is certain
for you for whom Krishna is the counsellor. 
Where Dharma is, there Krishna is and where Krishna is, there victory is.”

               अनुमान्य तमाचार्यं प्रायाच्छारद्वतं प्रति।

               तं गौतमः प्रत्युवाच ’युध्यस्व जयमाप्नुहि’॥

Taking the permission of his
preceptor, Yudhishthira went towards Kripa, and Kripa said to him: “Fight and
attain victory.”

               अनुमान्याथ कौन्तेयो मातुलं मद्रकेश्वरम्।

               निर्जगाम महासैन्याद् भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः॥

Taking then the permission
of his uncle, the king of the Madrakas, (Salya), Yudhishthira went out of that
huge army, surrounded by his brothers.

              वासुदेवस्तु राधेयं उवाचेदं गदाग्रजः।

              ’श्रुतं मे कर्ण भीष्मस्य द्वेषात्किल न योत्स्यसे ।

               अस्मान् वरय कौन्तेय यावद्भीष्मो न हन्यते॥

Krishna
said this to Karna: ‘Karna, I heard that you would not fight because of your
hatred towards Bhishma. Choose us (our side) for such time as Bhishma is not
killed.’

            कर्णः-

            न विप्रियं करिष्यामि धार्तराष्ट्रस्य केशव।

            त्यक्तप्राणं हि मां विद्धि दुर्योधनहितैषिणम्॥

Karna-

“Krishna, I will not do that
which will displease Duryodhana; know me as having laid down my life for the
good of Duryodhana.”

            अथ सैन्यस्य मध्ये तु प्राक्रोशत्पाण्डवाग्रजः।

            ’’योऽस्मान्वृणोति तमहं वरये साह्यकारणात् ॥

Then Yudhishthira said aloud
in the midst of the army: “ I seek for my aid him who chooses to join us.”

              ततो युयुत्सुः कौरव्यान् परित्यज्य सुतांस्तव        

              जगाम पाण्डुपुत्राणां सेनां विश्राव्य दुन्दुभिम् ॥

Then, leaving the sons of
Dhritarashtra, the Kauravas, Yuyutsu went over to the army of the Pandavas
after sounding the drum.

[Note:
The account of the battle in the Epic is given as narrated by Sanjaya to the
blind Dhritarashtra who is addressed here and in subsequent passages in the
second person.  These addresses are
omited in the translation or given in the third person.]

          अथ शान्तनवो (राजन्)
अभ्यधावद्धनञ्जयम्।

          अर्जुनोऽपि धनुर्गृह्य गाङ्गेयं रणमूर्धनि॥

          प्रावर्तत ततो युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् ॥

Then,
Bhishma attacked Arjuna, and Arjuna taking his bow, attacked Bhishma on the
battle-front. Then began a thick battle that made one’s hair stand on end.

          तत्र भीष्मश्शान्तनवो दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम्।

          अलातचक्रवद् (राजन्)
तत्र तत्र स्म दृश्यते ॥

Exhibiting
his hands’ ease (in shooting arrows) Bhishma was seen there (in the army)
everywhere like a whirling fire-brand.

             अदर्शयद्वासुदेवो हययाने परं बलम्।

             मोघान् कुर्वन् शरांस्तस्य मण्डलान्व्यचरँल्लघु॥                  

   

Krishna showed great skill
in (directing) the movement of the horses; rendering Bhishma’s arrows futile,
he made swift circuits (with the chariot).

             तथा भीष्मस्तु सुदृढं वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ।

             विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैस्सर्वगत्रेषु (भारत)

 Bhishma severely pierced Krishna and Arjuna in
every limb with his sharp arrows. 

             ततस्तु कृष्णस्समरे महाबाहुरचिन्तयत्।

             अहं भीष्मं निहन्म्यद्य
पाण्डवार्थाय दंशितः॥

The
mighty Krishna then thought in the battle: “I will kill Bhishma now, arming myself in the cause of the
Pandavas”.

                                                                        

              इतीदमुक्त्वा स महानुभावः

                    क्षुरान्तमुद्यम्य भुजेन चक्रम्।

               रथादवप्लुत्य विसृज्य वाहान्

                     वेगेन कृष्णः प्रससार भीष्मम्॥

Saying this, the magnanimous
Krishna lifted his razor-edged discus by his hand, and jumping down from the
chariot and leaving off the horses, advanced speedily towards Bhishma.

               उवाच भीष्मस्तमनन्तपौरुषं

                गोविन्दमाजावविमूढचेताः ॥

Unconfounded in mind in that
battle, Bhishma said to that Krishna of unbounded valour

                   एह्येहि फुल्लाम्बुजपत्रनेत्र

                       नमोऽस्तु ते माधव चक्रपणे।

                    प्रसह्य मां पातय लोकनाथ

                        रथोत्तमात्सर्वशरण्य संख्ये॥

“Come, come, Krishna with
eyes like the petals of a blown lotus! discus-armed Madhava, salutation to you;
Lord of the world, and refuge of all! throw me down forcibly in this battle
from my excellent chariot.”

                    त्वया हतस्यापि ममाद्य कृष्ण

                       श्रेयः परस्मिन्निह चैव लोके।

                   संभावितोऽन्धकवृष्णिनाथ

                       लोकैस्त्रिभिर्वीर तवाभियानात् ॥

“For me who am even killed
by you, Krishna, there is good in the other world as well as in this.  Lord of the Andhakas and the Vrishnis!
Warrior! by your advancing against me, I have been honoured in all the three
worlds.”

                   रथादवप्लुत्य ततस्त्वरावान्

                      पार्थोऽप्यनुद्रुत्य यदुप्रवीरम्।

                   बलान्निजग्राह हरिं किरीटी

                       पदेऽथ (राजन्)
दशमे कथञ्चित्।

                   उवाच कोपं प्रतिसंहरेति

                        रथं सचक्रः पुनरारुरोह ॥

Jumping down from his
chariot then and running after Krishna in haste, Arjuna stopped him by force
and with difficulty at his tenth step and said: “Check your anger.”  (And) Krishna, with his discus, mounted the
chariot again.     

                                 

               दशमेऽहनि संप्राप्ते दर्शयन् शक्तिमात्मनः।

               प्रजज्वाल रणे भीष्मो विधूम इव पावकः॥

The tenth day (of the
battle) was reached and exhibiting his ability, Bhishma blazed forth in the
battle like a smokeless fire.

               ततोऽर्जुनो (महाराज) भीष्ममभ्यद्रवद् द्रुतम्।

               शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य अदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

Keeping Sikhandi in the
forefront, Arjuna then ran up in speed aginst Bhishma.  It seemed a wonder.

                शिखण्डी तु रणे भीष्ममाजघान स्तनान्तरे।

                शिखण्डिनं तु  गाङ्गेयः क्रोधदीप्तेन चक्षुषा।

                संप्रैक्षत कटाक्षेण निर्दहन्निव (भारत)
॥

                स्त्रीत्वं तस्य स्मरन् (राजन्)
सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः।

                नाजघान रणे भीष्मस्स च तन्नावबुद्धवान् ॥

Sikhandi hit Bhishma on the
chest. With eyes flaming with anger, Bhishma stared at him a little, as if
burning him.  Remembering that Shikhandi
had been a woman, Bhishma did not strike him, even as the whole world was
watching.  And Sikhandi knew this not.

                तत प्रहस्य बीभत्सुस्तथा मर्मस्वताडयत्।

                शिखण्डी तु रणे बाणान्व्यामुमोच महारथः ॥

Laughing, Arjuna then hit
Bhishma at the mortal spots.  And the
warrior Shikhandi also shot arrows in that encounter.

                ततो दुश्शासनं भीष्मः स्मयमान इवाब्रवीत्।

                ’अर्जुनस्य इमे बाणा नेमे बाणाश्शिखण्डिनः।

                 कृन्तन्ति मम गात्राणि माघमां सेगवा इव॥’

Smiling a little, Bhishma
said to Dussasana at athat time: “These are Arjuna’s arrows; these are not sikhandi’s
arrows; they tear my limbs, as the young crabs their mother.”

                  न तस्यासीदनिर्भिन्नं गात्रे द्व्यङ्गुलमन्तरम्।

                  एवंभूतस्तव पिता शरैर्विशकलीकृतः ।

                  शिताग्रैः फल्गुनेनाजौ प्राक्छिराः प्रापतद्रथात्

There
was not two fingers’ space in Bhishma’s body untorn.  Reduced to pieces thus  by the sharp-tipped arrows of Arjuna in the
battle, Dhritarashtra’s uncle, Bhishma, fell from the chariot, with his head
towards the east.

                  सह भीष्मेन स्रर्वेषां प्रापतन्हृदयानि नः॥

Along with Bhishma, the
hearts of all the Kauravas fell.

                  धरणीं न स पस्पर्श शरसंघैस्समावृतः॥

Strewn over as he was with
heaps of arrows, Bhishma did not touch the ground.

                शरतल्पे महेष्वासं शयानं पुरुषर्षभम्।

                रथात्प्रपतितं चैनं दिव्यो भावस्समाविशत् ॥

Divinity entered that
illustrious person, that great archer, fallen from the chariot, as he lay on a
bed of arrows.

                 व्युपरम्य ततो युद्धात् योधाश्शतसहस्रशः।

                 उपतस्थुर्महात्मानं प्रजापतिमिवामराः ॥

Stopping from fighting then,
warriors came by hundreds and thousands, and stood by his side, like gods
attending upon Brahma.            

        

                

                  अथ पाण्डून् कुरूंश्चैव प्रणिपत्याग्रतस्स्थितान्।

                  अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भीष्मश्शान्तनवस्तदा।

                  ’शिरो मे लम्बतेऽत्यर्थमुपधानं प्रदीयताम् ॥

At that
time then, the righteous Bhishma said to the Pandavas and Kauravas who were
standing in front bowing to him: “My head droops down very much; let a pillow
be given.”

                   ततो नृपास्समाजह्रुस्तनूनि च मृदूनि च।

                   उपधानानि मुख्यानि नैच्छत्तानि पितामहः॥

The kings then brought fine,
soft and excellent pillows; the grandfather did not like them.

                  

                   अथाब्रवीन्नरव्याघ्रः प्रहसन्निव तान्नृपान्।

                   धनञ्जयं ’महाबाहो शिरो मे
तात लम्बते।

                   दीयतामुपधानं वै यद्युक्तमिह मन्यसे’॥

As if laughing at those
kings, that greatest of men, Bhishma, said to Arjuna:

“You of mighty arms! My
son!  My head droops; let such a rest as
you think proper be given (to my head).”

               फल्गुनोऽपि त्रिभिस्तीक्ष्णैरुदगृह्णाच्छिरश्शरैः ॥

And Arjuna propped up his
head with three sharp arrows.

               अतुष्यद्भरतश्रेष्ठस्सर्वांस्तानब्रवीद्वचः।

               ’पश्यत्वमुपधानं मे पाण्डवेनाभिसन्धितम्।

               शयेयमस्यां शय्यायां यावदावर्तनं रवेः।

               ये तदा धारयिष्यन्ति ते च प्रेक्ष्यन्ति मां नृपाः॥

Bhishma,
the greatest of the Bharatas, was satisfied, and he said to all of them:
“Kings, see the pillow designed for me by Arjuna.  I will be lying in this bed till the sun
turns northward from the south.  Those
who will be alive at that time shall see me.”

                अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भीष्मः प्रीतो धनञ्जयम्

                ’दह्यतीव शरीरं मे प्रयच्छापो ममार्जुन ॥

Pleased with him, the
righteous Bhishma told Arjuna: “My body seems to be burning; Arjuna, give me
water.”

               सन्धाय च शरं दीप्तमभिमन्त्र्य स पाण्डवः।

               अविध्यत्पृथिवीं पार्थः पार्श्वे भीष्मस्य दक्षिणे।

               उत्पपात ततो धारा वारिणो
विमला शुभा॥

Setting a bright arrow on
the string and charging it with incantation, Arjuna pierced the ground on Bhishma’s
right.  From there, gushed forth a pure
jet of water.

                तृप्तश्शान्तनवश्चापि (राजन्)
बीभत्सुमब्रवीत्।

                सर्वपार्थिववीराणां सन्निधौ पूजयन्निव ॥

Seeming to honour Arjuna
before all those royal warriors, Bhishma, whose thirst was quenched, said:

                 दृष्टं दुर्योधनैतत्ते यथा पार्थेन धीमता।

                 जलस्य धारा जनिता शीतस्यामृतगन्धिनः ॥

“Duryodhana, you saw how a
jet of cool and nectar-like water was created by the intelligent Arjuna.”

                  एतस्य कर्ता लोकेऽस्मिन् नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते।

                  अमानुषाणि कर्माणि यस्यैतानि महात्मनः।

                  तेन सत्त्ववता संख्ये सन्धिर्भवतु मा चिरम्।

                  युद्धं मदन्तमेवास्तु तात संशाम्य पाण्डवैः ॥

“There
is none else who can do this in the world. 
Delay not; let there be peace for you in this battle with that mighty
person, to whom belong these exploits impossible for men.  Let the war end with me.  My son, come to peace with the Pandavas.”

                 धर्मार्थसहितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा हितमनामयम्।

                 नारोचयत पुत्रस्ते मुमूर्षुरिव भेषजम् ॥

Hearing
these words of moral and material good, beneficent and wholesome, Duryodhana
did not relish them, even as a dying person does not like medicine.

                ततस्ते पर्थिवास्सर्वे जग्मुस्स्वानालयान्पुनः ।

Then all those kings
returned to their abodes.

                 श्रुत्वा तु निहतं भीष्मं राधेयः पुरुषर्षभः।

                
ईषदागतसंत्रासः शरतल्पगतं तदा।

                 अभ्येत्य पादयोस्तस्य निपपात महाद्युतिः॥

Hearing Bhishma struck down,
the resplendent Karna, the best of men, somewhat afraid, approached Bhishma
lying on the bed of arrows and fell at his feet.

                  ‘राधेयोऽहं कुरुश्रेष्ठ नित्यमक्षिगतस्तव।

                  द्वेष्योऽत्यन्तमनागास्सन्’ इति चैनमुवाच ह॥

“Chief of the Kurus! I am
Karna, the son of Radha, an eternal eye-sore to you, hated by you to the last,
though innocent.” – so said he to Bhishma.

                   तच्छ्रुत्वा कुरुवृद्धो हि शरैस्संवृतलोचनः।

                   रहितं धिष्ण्यमालोक्य समुत्सार्य च रक्षिणः।

                   पितेव पुत्रं गाङ्गेयः परिरभ्यैकपाणिना।

                   शनैरुद्वीक्ष्य सस्नेहमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

Hearing
that, the Kuru elder, whose eyes were covered with arrows, seeing the place
bereft of anybody, sending away the guards, embracing Karna with one hand, as a
father would a son, and slowly looking up at him with love, said this:

              ‘कौन्तेयस्त्वं न राधेयो विदितो नारदान्मया।

               न च द्वेषोऽस्ति मे तात त्वयि सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते॥

“ You are the son of Kunti,
not Radha; so have I known you through Narada.

My son, I tell you in truth,
I have no hatred towards you.“

            

                  

               ‘अकस्मात्पाण्डवान् हि त्वं द्विषसीति मतिर्मम।

                तेनासि बहुशो रूक्षं श्रावितः कुरुसंसदि ॥’

“I think you are hating the
Pandavas for no reason.  Therefore, you
have been told harsh words (by me) many times in the Kuru assembly.”

                ’जानामि समरे वीर्यं दाने च परमां स्थितिम्।

                सदृशः फल्गुनेनासि कृष्णेन च महात्मना॥’

’I know your heroism in
battle and your great and steady practice of munificence. You are equal to
Arjuna and the great Krishna.’

                ’सोदर्याः पाण्डवा वीर भ्रातरस्तेऽरिसूदन।

                 सङ्गच्छ तैर्महाबाहो मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्।

                 मया भवतु निर्वृत्तं वैरमादित्यनन्दन’॥

“Mighty warrior! Annihilator
of your enemies! the Pandavas are your brothers born of the same womb; if you
want to do what is dear to me, join them. Child of the Sun! Let your enmity end
with me.”

                 कर्णः-

                 ’जानाम्येव महाबाहो कौन्तेयोऽहं न सूतजः।

                  भुक्त्वा दुर्योधनैश्वर्यं न मिथ्याकर्तुमुत्सहे।

                  अनुजानीष्व मां तात युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयम्।

                  दुरुक्तं विप्रतीपं वा तन्मे त्वं
क्षन्तुमर्हसि॥

Karna-

“Mighty
Bhishma, I know I am Kunti’s son and not the son of the charioteer. Having
enjoyed Duryodhana’s wealth, I do not bear proving faithless. Permit me,
father, I have resolved to fight. What I have said wrongly or done against you,
you must pardon.”

            भीष्मः-

             ’अनुजानामि कर्ण त्वां युध्यस्व स्वर्गकाम्यया।

              प्रशमे हि कृतो यत्नस्सुमहान्सुचिरं मया।

              न चैव शकितः कर्तुं यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः॥

Bhishma-

“I permit you, Karna; fight
with the desire for heaven.  Very great
effort was made by me and for long to secure complete peace; it could not be
secured.  Where there is Dharma, there
victory shall be.”

               इत्युक्तवति गाङ्गेये अभिवाद्योपमन्त्र्य च।

               राधेयो रथमारुह्य प्रायात्तव सुतं प्रति॥

When Bhishma said so, Karna
bowed to him, took leave of him and mounting his chariot, went towards Duryodhana.

                  ॥ इति भीष्मपर्व समाप्तम्॥

               THUS ENDS THE BHISHMA
PARVA              

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

उद्योगपर्व -II

UDYOGA
PARVA – II

                    अभ्यागच्छति दाशार्हे धृतराष्ट्रो महायशाः।

         उदतिष्ठत्सहामात्यः पूजयन्मधुसूदनम्॥

As Krishna was coming, the
renowned Dhritarashtra rose up along with his ministers and offered him
worship.

          न्यमन्त्रयत्भोजनेन नाभ्यनन्दच्च केशवः।

He invited Krishna to dinner
and Krishna did not comply.

          कृष्णः-

        

          संप्रीतिभोज्यान्यन्नानि आपद्भोज्यानि वा पुनः।

          न च संप्रीयसे राजन् न चैवापद्गता वयम् ॥

Krishna

“ Food is taken at another’s
house out of love or in times of distress. Neither do you love (us), king, nor
are we in any distress.“

          ‘द्विषदन्नं न भोक्तव्यं द्विषन्तं नैवभोजयेत्।

          पाण्डवान् द्विषसे राजन् मम  प्राणा हि पाण्डवाः ॥

“ An enemy’s food should not
be eaten; nor should an enemy be fed. 
King, you hate the Pandavas and the Pandavas are my life-breath”.

           यस्तान् द्वेष्टि स मां द्वेष्टि यस्ताननु स मामनु।

           ऐकात्म्यं मां गतं विद्धि पाण्डवैर्धर्मचारिभिः॥

“He who hates them hates me;
he who is with them, is with me.  Know me
as having become identical with the righteous Pandavas.”

              सर्वमेतन्न भोक्तव्यमन्नं दुष्टाभिसंहितम्।

              क्षत्तुरेकस्य भोक्तव्यमिति मे धीयते मतिः॥  

“All this ill-meant food
should not be eaten; Vidura’s  food alone
should be eaten; so I have made up my mind.”

             अभ्यागच्छति दाशार्हे प्रज्ञाचक्षुः (नरेश्वर)।

             सहैव द्रोणभीष्माभ्यामुदतिष्ठन्महायशाः।

             तानि राजसहस्राणि समुत्तस्थुस्समन्ततः॥

When Krishna was coming, the
blind Dhritarashtra of great renown, rose up along with Drona and Bhishma; all
around, those thousands of kings (present there), arose also.

              निषसादासने कृष्णो राजानश्च यथासनम्।

              अविदूरे तु कृष्णस्य कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ।

              एकासने महात्मानौ निषीदतुरमर्षणौ॥

Krishna took his seat and the
kings sat in their respective seats; and not far away from Krishna, those two
great men, the impatient Karna and Duryodhana, sat on one seat.

              संस्पृशन्नासनं शौरेर्महामतिरुपाविशत्।

Touching the seat of
Krishna, the wise Vidura sat down.

              ततस्तूष्णीं सर्वमासीद्गोविन्दगतमानसम्॥

All was silent then, all
minds being on Krishna.

              तेष्वासीनेषु सर्वेषु सर्वां संश्रावयन्सभाम्।

              धृतराष्ट्रमभिप्रेक्ष्य समभाषत माधवः॥

When all of them had sat
down, Krishna spoke, facing Dhritarashtra and making the whole hall hear him:

              “कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च शमस्स्यादिति भारत।

               अप्रणाशेन वीराणामेतद्याचितुमागतः॥

“ Scion of Bharata! I have
come here to beg this that, without the ruin of warriors, there may be an
amicable settlement between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.”

          ‘ते पुत्रास्तव (कौरव्य) दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः।

           धर्मार्थौ पृष्ठतः कृत्वा प्रचरन्ति नृशंसवत्॥

“ Those sons of yours, with
Duryodhana at their head, are behaving like wicked men, discarding Right and
material good. “

          “सेयमापन्महाघोरा कुरुष्वेव समुत्थिता।

           उपेक्ष्यमाणा (कौरव्य) पृथिवीं घातयिष्यति॥

“For the Kauravas it is that
this very dreadful calamity has come up, which, if overlooked, will annihilate
the world.”

           “ शक्या चेदं शमयितुं त्वं चेदिच्छसि (भारत)।

             न दुष्करो ह्यत्र शमो मतो मे (भरतर्षभ)॥

“If you wish, this calamity
can be put down; I think peace is not impossible in this affair.”

            “त्वय्यधीनश्शमो राजन् मयि चैव (विशांपते)

            पुत्रान्स्थापय (कौरव्य) स्थापयिष्याम्यहं परान्॥

“ King, peace is dependent
on you,  as well as on me; pacify your
sons; I will pacify the other party.”

             “पित्र्यं तेभ्यः प्रदायांशं पाण्डवेभ्यो यथोचितम्।

              ततस्सपुत्रस्सिद्धार्थो भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् (परंतप)॥

‘ After giving the
Pandavas  their due paternal share, you
enjoy along with your sons your pleasures, with your objects achieved.”

            अहं तु तव तेषां च श्रेय इन्च्छामि भारत।

            लोभेऽतिप्रसृतान्पुत्रान् निगृह्णीष्व (विशांपते)॥

“And I wish for your welfare
as well as that of the Pandavas; check your sons that have gone headlong in
avarice.”

               स्थिताश्शुश्रूषितुं  पार्थाः स्थिता योद्धुमरिन्दमाः।

               यत्ते पथ्यतमं राजंस्तस्मिंस्तिष्ठ (परन्तप)॥

               तद्वाक्यं पार्थिवास्सर्वे हृदयैस्समपूजयन्।

               न तत्र कश्चिद्वक्तुं हि वाचं प्राक्रामदग्रतः ॥

Those words, all the kings
honoured in their hearts; but none there came forward to speak.

              धृतराष्ट्रः-

              “स्वर्ग्यं लोक्यं च मामात्थ धर्म्यं न्याय्यं च केशव।

               न त्वहं स्ववशस्तात क्रियमाणं न मे प्रियम्॥

                 

Dhritarashtra-

“My dear Krishna, you tell
me what is good for the other world as well as this world, what is right and
proper.  But I am not mine own
master.  What is being done is not to my
liking.”

             “अङ्ग दुर्योधनं कृष्ण मन्दं शास्त्रातिगं मम।

              अनुनेतुं महाबाहो यतस्व पुरुषोत्तम ॥“

“O mighty Krishna, you best
of men, try to conciliate my stupid and lawless son, Duryodhana”

              “अनुशाधि दुरात्मानं स्वयं दुर्योधनं नृपम्।

               सुहृत्कार्यं तु सुमहत् कृतं ते स्याज्जनार्दन॥

“Krishna, you yourself
advise this evil King Duryodhana; you would have done a very great work for a
friend.”

               ततोऽभ्यावृत्य वार्ष्णेयो दुर्योधनममर्षणम्।

               अब्रवीन्मधुरां वाचं सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्॥

Turning around, Krishna, who
knows the truth of all principles of Dharma and Artha, spoke then these sweet
words to the impatient Duryodhana.

             “दुर्योधन निबोधेदं मद्वाक्यं कुरुसत्तम।

             शमार्थं ते विशेषेण सानुबन्धस्य (भारत)॥“

“Duryodhana, listen to these
words of mine, uttered especially for the sake of peace to you and your
followers.”

              “रोचते ते पितुस्तात पाण्डवैस्सह संगमः।

               सामात्यस्य (कुरुश्रेष्ठ) तत्तुभ्यं तात
रोचताम्॥

“My dear Duryodhana,
alliance with the Pandavas is liked by your father.  May you also, with your ministers, like it.”

               “त्वामेव स्थापयिष्यति यौवराज्ये महारथाः।

                महाराज्येऽपि पितरं धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्॥“

“Those great warriors (the
Pandavas) will install you yourself as crown-prince and your father, king Dhritarshtra,
as the sovereign over all.”

                ‘मा तात श्रियमायान्तीमवमंस्थास्समुद्यताम्।

                 अर्धं प्रदाय पार्थेभ्यो महतीं श्रियमाप्नु हि ॥

“Dear Duryodhana, do not
spurn the great fortune which courts you; giving half to the Pandavas, attain
to a great fortune.”

               “पाण्डवैस्संशमं कृत्वा चिरं भद्राण्यवाप्स्यसि॥“

“Making lasting peace with
the Pandavas, you will fare well for long.”

                ततश्शान्तनवो भीष्मः प्रोवाच [भरतर्षभ]।

                कृष्णेन वाक्यमुक्तोऽसि सुहृदां शममिच्छता॥

Bhishma then spoke: “
(Duryodhana !) Krishna, who wishes peace to his friends, has spoken to you.”

               ‘अकृत्वा वचनं तात न कल्याणमवाप्स्यसि।

               मातरं पितरं चैव मा मज्जीश्शोकसागरे ॥’

“My dear son, if you fail to
act according to Krishna’s words, you will have no welfare.  Do not immerse your mother and father in the
ocean of sorrow.”

             अथ द्रोणोऽब्रवीत्तत्र दुर्योधनमिदं वचः।

             एतच्चैव मतं सत्यं सुहृदोः कृष्णभीष्मयोः।

             यदि नादास्यसे तात पश्चात्तप्स्यसि (भारत)॥

Then Drona said in that
assembly these words to Duryodhana: “Dear Duryodhana. If you do not abide by
this truthful view of your friends, Krishna and Bhishma, you will repent
afterwards.”       

             तस्मिन्वाक्यान्तरे वाक्यं क्षत्ताऽपि विदुरोऽब्रवीत्।

             ’दुर्योधन न शोचामि त्वामहं (भरतर्षभ)।

             इमौ तु वृद्धौ शोचामि गान्धारीं पितरं च ते ॥

At the end of this speech,
Vidura also said:  “Duryodhana, I do not
grieve for you; but I grieve for these two old persons, Gandhari and your
father.”

             भिक्षुकौ विचरिष्येते शोचन्तौ पृथिवीमिमाम्।

             कुलघ्नमीदृशं पापं जनयित्वा कुपूरुषम् ॥

“Having begot such a sinful
and bad person who destroys his own family, those two will wander in this world
in sorrow as mendicants.”

             अथ दुर्योधनं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभ्यभाषत।

             ’शमं चेद्याचमानं त्वं प्रत्याख्यास्यसि केशवम्।

              त्वदर्थमभिजल्पन्तं न तवास्त्यपराजयः ॥’

Then, king Dhritarashtra
addressed Duryodhana: “ If you repudiate Krishna who begs for peace and speaks
for your good, defeat is certain for you.”

             श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनो वाक्यमप्रियं कुरुसंसदि।

             प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुं वासुदेवं यशस्विनम्॥

Hearing these disagreeable
words in the assembly of the Kauravas, Duryodhana replied to the mighty and
renowned Krishna:

         “भक्तिवादेन पार्थानामकस्मान्मधुसूदन।

          भवान्क्षत्ता च राजा वाऽऽप्याचार्यो वा पितामहः।

          मामेव परिगर्हन्ते नान्यं कञ्चन पाण्डवम् ॥

“Krishna, partial towards
the Pandavas and without any reason, you, Vidura, the king, our teacher Drona
and our grandfather Bhishma reproach only me and not any of the Pandavas.”

         ‘न चाहं लक्षये कञ्चिद्व्यभिचारमिहात्मनः।’

‘And I do not see here any
transgression on my part.’

         ‘ न हि भीष्मकृपद्रोणास्सकर्णा मधुसूदन।

           देवैरपि युधा जेतुं शक्याः किमुत पाण्डवैः ॥’

‘Bhishma, Kripa, Drona and
Karna cannot, O Krishna, be won in battle even by the gods; why mention the
Pandavas?

         ‘ते वयं वीरशयनं प्राप्स्यामो यदि संयुगे।

          अप्रणम्यैव शत्रूणां न नस्तप्स्यन्ति माधव ॥’

“If without bowing to our
enemies, we die a warrior’s death on the battle-field none will feel sorry for
us, Krishna”

        ’राज्यांशश्चाभ्यनुज्ञातो यो मे पित्रा पुराऽभवत्।

         न स
लभ्यः पुनर्जातु मयि जीवति केशव॥’

’And that share of the
kingdom which was  previously granted (to
the Pandavas) by my father, that can never be had again so long as I am alive.’

        ‘यावद्धि तीक्ष्णया सूच्या विद्ध्येदग्रेण केशव।

         तावदप्यपरित्याज्यं भूमेर्नः पाण्डवान्प्रति ॥’

“Krishna, that much of our
land even as is pierced by the tip of a sharp needle, cannot be parted with to
the Pandavas.”

     ततः प्रहस्य दाशार्हः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः ।

     दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् कुरुसंसदि॥

Laughing and with eyes
perturbed with anger, Krishna then said these words to Duryodhana in the Kuru
assembly:

        ’लप्स्यसे वीरशयनं काममेतदवाप्स्यसि।

        स्थिरो भव सहामात्यो विमर्दो भविता महान्॥’

“You shall get the hero’s
death; this desire of yours, you shall realise; be steadfast, along with your
counsellors; there shall be a great conflict.”

         ’यच्चैभ्यो याचमानेभ्यः पित्र्यमंशं न दित्ससि।

         तच्च पाप
प्रदाताऽसि भ्रष्टैश्वर्यो निपातितः॥’

’That which you do not like
to give to these Pandavas who beg for their paternal share, you, sinner, shall
give, fallen and bereft of your power.’   

         एवं ब्रुवति दाशार्हे धार्तराष्ट्रस्सुयोधनः।

         क्रुद्धः प्रातिष्ठतोत्थाय महानाग इव श्वसन्॥

When Krishna was speaking
thus, Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, rose up in anger and, sighing like
a huge serpent, departed.

          तं प्रस्थितमभिप्रेक्ष्य दाशार्हः पुष्करेक्षणः।

          भीष्मद्रोणमुखान्सर्वानभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान् ॥

Seeing him gone away, the
heroic, lotus-eyed Krishna addressed Bhishma, Drona, and all others:

         ‘ 
सर्वेषां कुरुवृद्धानां महानयमतिक्रमः।

           प्रसह्य मन्दमैश्वर्ये न नियच्छन्ति यन्नृपम् ॥‘

“This is a grave neglect of
duty in all the Kuru elders that they do not, by force, curb the foolish king,
Duryodhana, to behave properly in his royal office.”

           ’राजन्दुर्योधनं बद्ध्वा ततः संशाम्य पाण्डवैः।

           त्वत्कृते न विनश्येयुः क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ ॥’

’King, restraining
Duryodhana, come to peace with the Pandavas; let not kings perish on your
account.”

            कृष्णस्य तु वचश्श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः।

            विदुरं सर्वधर्मज्ञं त्वरमाणोऽभ्यभाषत ॥

         

Hearing Krishna’s words, king Dhritarashtra hastened and addressed Vidura who
knew well Dharmas:

           गच्छ तात महाप्राज्ञ गान्धारीं दीर्घदर्शिनीम्।

           आनयेह तया सार्धमनुनेष्यामि दुर्मतिम् ॥

‘Dear and very intelligent
Vidura, go and fetch the far-sighted Gandhari  here; along with her, I will supplicate that
fool.’

             राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा विदुरो दीर्घदर्शिनीम्।

             आनयामास गान्धारीं धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्॥

Hearing the words of the
king, Vidura brought the far-sighted Gandhari. On the command of Dhritarashtra.

              धृतराष्ट्रः-

              एष गान्धारि पुत्रस्ते दुरात्मा शासनातिगः।

              सभाया निर्गतो मूढो व्यतिक्रम्य सुहृद्वचः॥

Dhritarashtra-

‘Gandhari, this evil son of
yours, transgressor  (all) laws, has
walked out of the hall, overriding friends’ words.’

              गान्धारी-

              ’आनायय सुतं क्षिप्रं राज्यकामुकमातुरम्’ ।

Gandhari-

‘Quickly fetch my son, who
is feverishly covetous of the kingdom.’

             शासनाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य दुर्योधनममर्षणम्।

             मातुश्च वचनात्क्षत्ता सभां प्रावेशयत्पुनः॥

On the command of
Dhritarashtra and on his mother’s words, Vidura made the bad tempered
Duryodhana enter the hall again.

               तं प्रविष्टमभिप्रेक्ष्य पुत्रमुत्पथगामिनम्।

               विगर्हमाणा गान्धारी शमार्थं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

Seeing that erring son enter
the hall, Gandhari censured him and said for the sake of peace:

            ‘दुर्योधन यदाह त्वां पिता
(भरतसत्तम)।

             भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः क्षत्ता सुहृदां कुरु तद्वचः॥

‘Duryodhana, what your
father, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Vidura told you, act up to those words of
your friends.’

              ‘प्रपद्यस्व महाबाहुं कृष्णमक्लिष्टकारिणम्।

               प्रसन्नो हि सुखाय स्यादुभयोरेव केशवः ॥

‘Seek the mighty Krishna,
unharmful in his acts.  If he is gracious,
Krishna will be for the happiness of both (yourself and the Pandavas).

               ‘प्रयच्छ पाण्डुपुत्राणां यथोचितम् (अरिन्दम)।

                यदीच्छसि सहामात्यो भोक्तुमर्धं प्रदीयताम् ॥’

’Give to the  Pandavas what is proper; if you want to be
happy with your

counsellors, let half of the
(kingdom) be given to the Pandavas.’

                 तत्तु वाक्यमनादृत्य सोऽर्थवन्मातृभाषितम्।

                 पुनः प्रतस्थे संरम्भात् सकाशमकृतात्मनाम् ॥

Disregarding those sensible
words spoken by his mother, he again went away in a flurry to where those
self-willed (friends of his) were there.

                  एकान्तमुपसृत्येह मन्त्रं पुनरमन्त्रयत्।

                 ’वयमेव हृषीकेशं निगृहीम बलादिव’       

Moving to a secluded place,
Duryodana took counsel: “We ourselves shall seize Krishna”

                                 

                 तेषां पापमभिप्रायं विदुरो दीर्घदर्शिवान्।

                 धृतराष्ट्रं महाबाहुमब्रवीत्कुरुसंसदि ॥

The far-sighted Vidura informed
the powerful Dhritarashtra in the Kuru assembly of their evil design.

                
ततो दुर्योधनं क्षत्ता पुनः प्रावेशयत्सभाम्।

Then, Vidura made Duryodhana
enter the hall again.

                                                               
               

                  अथ दुर्योधनं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभ्यभाषत।

King Dhritarashtra then
addressed Duryodhana:

                  त्वमिमं पुण्डरीकाक्षमप्रधृष्यं दुरासदम्।

                  पापैस्सहायैस्संहत्य निग्रहीतुं किलेच्छसि॥

’This unassailable,
unapproachable Krishna, you, I hear, want to seize, uniting with evil allies.’

                  इत्युक्ते धृतराष्ट्रेण केशवश्शत्रुपूगहा।

                  दुर्योधनं धार्तराष्ट्रमभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान्॥

When Dhritarashtra said
this, the valorous Krishna, destroyer of enemy armies, told Duryodhana, son of
Dhritarashtra:

                  एकोऽहमितियन्मोहान्मन्यसे मां सुयोधन।

                  परिभूय सुदुर्बुद्धे ग्रहीतुं मां चिकीर्षसि ॥

“ Extremely stupid
Duryodhana! You want to overpower me and do things to catch me, taking me in
your ignorance, to be single.”

                   इहैव पाण्डवास्सर्वे तथैवान्धकवृष्णयः।

                   इहादित्याश्च रुद्राश्च वसवश्च महर्षिभिः॥

“Here itself, in me, are all
the Pandavas, all the Andhakas and the Vrishnis, Devas, Rudras, Vasus and all
the great sages.”

                एवमुक्त्वा जहासोच्चैः केशवः परवीरहा।

                तस्य संस्मयतश्शौरेः विद्युद्रूपा महात्मनः।

                युगपच्च विनिष्पेतुस्साक्षात्सर्वास्तु देवताः॥

Having said so, Krishna, the
destroyer of enemy-warriors, laughed aloud, and of that great Krishna who was
laughing, came out simultaneously, like flashes of lightning, all the gods in
person.

                 तं दृष्ट्वा घोरमात्मानं केशवस्य महात्मनः।

                 न्यमीलयन्त नेत्राणि राजानस्त्रस्तचेतसः॥

Seeing that terrible form of
the great Krishna, the frightened kings closed their eyes.

                  प्रादात्तेषां स भगवान्  दिव्यं चक्षुर्जनार्दनः।

                  प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं तुष्टुवुः प्राञ्जलिस्थिताः ॥

Lord Krishna gave them the
divine eye; bowing with their head , they stood with folded arms and extolled
the Lord.

                 ततस्स पुरुषव्याघ्रस्सञ्जहार वपुस्स्वकम्।

                 धृतराष्ट्रो महाराजः पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत ॥

Then the greatest of men,
Krishna, withdrew his form.  King
Dhritarashtra again spoke:

                 ‘यावद्बलं मे पुत्रेषु पश्यतस्ते जनार्दन।

                 प्रत्यक्षं ते न ते किञ्चित्परोक्षं शत्रुकर्शन।

                 विदित्वैतामवस्थां मे नातिशङ्कितुमर्हसि॥‘

“Krishna, tormentor of your enemies, what influence I have over my sons, must
have become clear to you who have been seeing (all this); there is nothing
unknown to you. Knowing this plight of mine, you should not suspect me very
much.”                      

                ततोऽब्रवीन्महाबाहुर्धृतराष्ट्रं जनार्दनः।

                द्रोणं पितामहं भीष्मं क्षत्तारं बाह्लिकं कृपम्॥

Then the mighty Krishna tod
Dhritrarashtra,  Drona, grandfather
Bhishma, Vidura, Bahlika and Kripa:

              प्रत्यक्षमेतद्भवतां यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि।

              यथा चाशिष्टवन्मन्दो रोषादद्य समुत्थितः।

              वदत्यनीशमात्मानं धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः।

               आपृच्छे भवतस्सर्वान् गमिष्यामि युधिष्ठिरम्॥

“What happened in the Kuru assembly happened before your eyes.  As Duryodhana, the fool, rose up (and went
away) now in anger, like an ill-bred fellow and as Dhritarashtra, the king,
describes himself as powerless, I take leave of you all and go to Yudhishthira.

              कुरूणां पश्यतां द्रष्टुं स्वसारं स पितुर्ययौ।

 As the Kauravas were looking on, Krishna went
to his aunt, Kunti.

              प्रविश्याथ गृहं तस्याश्चरणावभिवाद्य च ।

              आचख्यौ तत्समासेन  यद् वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि॥

Entering her house, and
bowing at her feet, he briefly told her what happened in the Kuru assembly.

               ‘उक्तं बहुविधं वाक्यं न चासौ तद् गृहीतवान्।

               आपृच्छे भवतीं शीघ्रं प्रयास्ये पाण्डवान्प्रति।

               किं वाच्याः पाण्डवेयास्ते भवत्या वचनान्मया॥

“Duryodhana was advised in
various ways but he did not accept those words. 
I take leave of you and shall go to the Pandavas quickly. What shall I
tell the Pandavas as your message?”

               कुन्ती-

               ’ब्रूयाः केशव राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्।

               “परपिण्डमुदीक्षे वै त्वां सूत्वा मित्रनन्दन।

                युध्यस्व राजधर्मेण मा गमः
पापिकां गतिम्।

                यदर्थं क्षत्रिया सूते तस्य
कालोऽयमागतः”

              अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं पुत्रान्मे प्रतिपालय॥’

Kunti:-

“Krishna, tell the virtuous
king YudhiShthira: ‘Having borne you, the joy of your friends, I am looking up
to others for my food; in accordance with royal duty,

Fight; incur not the fate of
sin.  The time for that for which a woman
of royal blood gives birth to a son has come now.’  (Krishna), go your safe way; protect my son.”

             अभिवाद्याथ तां कृष्णः सिंहखेलगतिस्ततः।

             आरोप्याथ रथे कर्णं प्रायात्सात्यकिना सह॥

Bowing to her then, Krishna
of the lion’s sportive gait, took Karna in his chariot and went along with
Satyaki.

             कृष्णः-

             ’मया सार्धमितो यातमद्य त्वां तात पाण्डवाः।

             अभिजानन्तु कौन्तेयं पूर्वजातं युधिष्ठिरात्।

             पादौ तव ग्रहिष्यन्ति भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः॥

Krishna-

“Dear
Karna, let the Pandavas know you who are now going from here along with me, as
a son of Kunti, born prior to YudhiShthira. 
“Your brothers, the five Pandavas, shall hold your feet in respect.”

             ’अहं च त्वाऽभिषेक्ष्यामि राजानं पृथिवीपतिम्।

             प्रशाधि राज्यं कौन्तेय कुन्तीं च प्रतिनन्दय ॥’

“And I shall install you as
king; son of Kunti! you rule the kingdom and delight Kunti also.”

              कर्णः-

              सर्वं चैवाभिजानामि यथा त्वं कृष्ण मन्यसे।

              कन्या गर्भं समाधत्त भास्करान्मां जनार्दन।

              कुन्त्या त्वहमपाकीर्णो यथा न कुशलं तथा॥

Karna-

“I understand all that you
think, Krishna.  Kunti, as a maiden, bore
me to the sun.  However, in such a manner
as there could be no welfare for me, I was abandoned by Kunti. “

              ’सूतो हि मामधिरथो दृष्ट्वैवाभ्यानयद्गृहान्।

               मत्स्नेहाच्चैव राधायां सद्यः क्षीरमवातरत्॥’

‘ And it was the driver,
Adhiratha, who seeing me, took me to his house, and out of love for me, milk
flowed immediately from Radha (his wife).’

              ’पितरं चाभिजानामि तमहं सौहृदात्सदा ॥’

‘And I consider that
Adhiratha as my father always, by reason of his affection.’

               ‘भार्याश्चोढास्तासु पुत्राः पौत्रा जाता जनार्दन।

                तासु मे हृदयं कृष्ण सञ्जातं कामबन्धनम्॥’

‘I have married wives and
through them, sons and grandsons have been born and with them, Krishna, my
heart is bound in ties of affection.

                न पृथिव्या सकलया न सुवर्णस्य राशिभिः।

                हर्षाद्भयाद्वा गोविन्द मिथ्याकर्तुं तदुत्सहे ॥                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

“Not for all this world, not
for heaps of gold, not for pleasure or fear, would I bear proving faithless to
these, Krishna.”

                 धृतराष्ट्रकुले कृष्ण भुक्तं राज्यमकण्टकम्।

                 मां च कृष्ण समासाद्य विग्रहश्चापि पाण्डवैः॥

“Krishna, living in
Dhritarashtra’s family, freely  has the
kingdom been enjoyed by me; and on my strength, quarrel with the Pandavas was
picked up (by Duryodhana)  

               ‘अनृतं नोत्सहे कर्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः ।’

“I will not bear proving faithless
to the intelligent Duryodhana.”

               ’यदि ह्यद्य न गच्छेयं द्वैरथं सव्यसाचिना।

               अकीर्तिस्स्याद्धृषीकेश मम पार्थस्य चोभयोः ॥

“If I do not meet Arjuna in
duel now, there will be infamy, Krishna, for both myself and Arjuna.”       

                ’यदि जानाति मां राजा धर्मात्मा संयतेन्द्रियः।

                 कुन्त्याः प्रथमजं पुत्रं न स राज्यं ग्रहिष्यति॥

‘ If the righteous
Yudhishthira of controlled senses knows me as the eldest son of Kunti, he will
not take the kingdom.’

                प्राप्य चापि महद्राज्यं तदहं (मधुसूदन)।

                स्फीतं दुर्योधनायैव संप्रदद्याम् (अरिन्दम)॥

“And even after getting that
vast and prosperous kingdom, I will give it only to Duryodhana,”

                स एव राजा धर्मात्मा शाश्वतोऽस्तु युधिष्ठिरः।

                नेता यस्य हृषीकेशो योद्धा यस्य धनञ्जयः ॥

“May that righteous
Yudhishthira himself be the permanent king, for whom Krishna is the leader and
Arjuna, the fighter”

               ’तदत्र (पुण्डरीकाक्ष) विधत्स्व यदभीप्सितम्।

                समुपानय कौन्तेयं युद्धाय मम (केशव)।

                मन्त्रसंवरणं कुर्वन् नित्यमेव (परन्तप)॥’

“Therefore, do what you
please.  Keeping this consultation with
me secret for ever, bring Arjuna to me for fight.”

                
इत्युक्त्वा माधवं कर्णः परिष्वज्य च पीडितम्।

                 विसर्जितो निववृते, गङ्गातीरे यतव्रतः।

                 दृष्ट्वा कुन्तीमुपातिष्ठदभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः।

                 राधेयोऽहमाधिरथिः ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते ॥

Having
said so, Karna, embraced Krishna closely and given leave, returned.  Meeting Kunti on the banks of the Ganges,
Karna who swerved not from his vow, bowed to her and with folded hands stood
ready to serve her, with the  words: “I
am Karna, son of Adhiratha; tell me, what shall I do for you?”

                 कुन्ती –

                 “कौन्तेयस्त्वं न राधेयो न तवाधिरथः पिता।

                  कानीनस्त्वं मया जातः पार्थस्त्वमसि पुत्रक॥

Kunti-

“You are the son of Kunti,
not Radha; Adhiraratha is not your father; you were borne by me when I was a
maiden; my son, you are the son of Kunti.”

                  ’अद्य पश्यन्तु कुरवः कर्णार्जुनसमागमम्।’

“Let the Kurus now witness
the union of Karna and Arjuna.”

                   कर्णः-

                    न वै मम हितं पूर्वं मातृवच्चेष्टितं त्वया।

                    स मां संबोधयस्यद्य केवलात्महितैषिणी॥

Karna-

“You have never acted before
for my welfare like a mother, and you now inform me (of this), desiring only
your own good.

                   “पाण्डवान् यदि गच्छामि किं मां क्षत्रं वदिष्यति”

“If I go over to the
Pandavas, what will the world of kings say?”

                    “उपनह्य परैर्वैरं ये मां नित्यमुपासते।

                     नमस्कुर्वन्ति च कथं तेषां छिन्द्यां मनोरथम्॥“

“How can I frustrate the
hopes of those who, developing enmity with their foes, adore me and pay
respects to me constantly?”

                      ‘धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राणामर्थे योत्स्यामि ते सुतैः।

                       बलं च शक्तिं चास्थाय न वै त्वय्यनृतं वदे॥’

“With my strength and power,
I will fight your sons for the sons of Dhritarashtra; I am not speaking
falsehood to you.”

              ‘न च तेऽयं समारम्भो मयि मोघो भविष्यति।

               संग्रामे न हनिष्यामि ते सुतानर्जुनादृते॥’

“And this effort of yours
regarding me shall not be futile; barring Arjuna, I will not kill in battle
your (other) sons.”

                ‘न ते जातु विनश्यन्ति पुत्राः पञ्च यशस्विनि।

                निरर्जुनास्सकर्णा वा सार्जुना वा ह्ते मयि॥’

“Renowned woman, five of
your sons will never perish; they will be either without Arjuna but with Karna
or with Arjuna when I am killed.”

                 अनामयं स्वस्ति चेति ततस्तौ जग्मतुः पृथक्।

Wishing welfare and bidding
farewell, the two then parted. 

                  आगम्य हास्तिनपुरादुपप्लाव्यमरिन्दमः।

                  पाण्डवानां यथावृत्तं केशवस्सर्वमुक्तवान्॥

Krishna, the subduer of his
enemies, coming to Upaplavya from Hastinapura, told the Pandavas everything as
it happened

                   कृष्णः-

                   ’तथ्यं पथ्यं हितं चोक्तो न च गृह्णाति दुर्मतिः।

                    दण्डं चतुर्थं पश्यामि तेषु पापेषु नान्यथा॥

Krishna-

“Duryodhana was told what
was truthful, wholesome and beneficial; the fool does not take the words.  I consider punishment by war, the fourth
expedient, as proper for those sinners; by no other means (can they be
tackled).

                   ‘निर्याताश्च विनाशाय कुरुक्षेत्रं नराधिपाः।’

“And kings have (already)
started for the Kurukshetra for their own ruin.”

             जनार्दनवचश्श्रुत्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः।

             भ्रातॄनुवाच धर्मात्मा समक्षं केशवस्य ह।

             ’तस्मात्सेनाविभागं मे कुरुध्वं नरसत्तमाः॥

Hearing the words of
Krishna, the righteous Yudhishthira told his brothers, in the presence of
Krishna: “Therefore, you best of men, marshal my army.”

             तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा संप्राहृष्यन्नरोत्तमाः।

             तेऽवगाह्य कुरुक्षेत्रं शङ्खान्दध्मुररिन्दमाः॥

Those best of men rejoiced
on hearing those words of Yidhishthira. Those subduers of enemies entered
Kurukshetra and blew their coches.

              ततश्शान्तनवं भीष्मं प्राञ्जलिर्धृतराष्ट्रजः।

              सह सर्वैर्महीपालैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

              ’प्रयातु नो भवानग्रे देवानामिव पावकिः॥

Then, Duryodhana, standing
in reverential attitude, spoke, along with all the kings, these words to
Bhishma: “May you lead on, as god Skanda led the gods.”

              भीष्मः-

              “यथैव हि भवन्तो मे तथैव मम पाण्डवाः।

               न त्वेवोत्सादनीया मे पाण्डोः पुत्रा जनाधिप।

               तस्माद् योधान्हनिष्यामि प्रयोगेणायुतं सदा।

              
सेनापतिस्त्वहं राजन् समयेनापरेण ते।

               कर्णो वा युध्यतां पूर्वमहं वा पृथिवीपते॥

Bhishma-

“As you are to me, so are
the Pandavas.  The sons of Pandu ought
not to be destroyed by me.  Therefore I
shall kill a ten thousand warriors (on their side) by discharging my missiles
every time I fight. King, I will be your generalissimo on one other condition:
‘Let Karna fight first or myself.”

                 कर्णः-

                  “नाहं जीवति गाङ्गेये  राजन् योत्स्ये कथञ्चन।

                  हते भीष्मे तु योत्स्यामि सह गाण्डीवधन्वना॥“

Karna-

“King, as long as Bhishma is
alive I will not fight in any manner; but when Bhishma is killed, I will fight
the Gandhiva-bowed Arjuna.”

             ततः प्रभाते विमले धार्तराष्ट्रेण चोदिताः।

             दुर्योधनेन राजानः प्रययुः पाण्डवान्प्रति॥

Then, in the clear morning,
the kings urged by Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, marched against the
Pandavas.

              तथैव राजा कौन्तेयो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।

              धृष्टद्युम्नमुखान्वीरांश्चोदयामास (भारत)॥

Similary, king Yudhishthira,
son of Kunti, directed the warriors led by Dhrishtadyumna (to attack).

                  || इति उद्योगपर्व समाप्तम्॥

            THUS ENDS THE UDYOGA PARVA 

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

                              

                                              UDYOGA PARVA – I

          कृत्वा विवाहं तु कुरुप्रवीरा-

  
       स्तदाऽभिमन्योर्मुदितास्सपक्षाः।

विश्रम्य रात्रावुषसि प्रतीता-

  स्सभां विराटस्य
ततोऽभिजग्मुः॥

After
celebrating the marriage of Abhimanyu, the renowned heroes of the Kuru house,
the Pandavas, along with their friends and kinsmen, rested for the night in happiness,
and proceeded in the morning to the assembly hall of king Virata.

        
कथान्तमासाद्य च माधवेन

            सङ्घट्टिताः पाण्डवकार्यहेतोः।

        
ते राजसिंहास्सहिता ह्यशृण्वन्

            वाक्यं महार्थं सुमहोदयं
च ॥

At the
end of their chat, those great kings urged by Krishna regarding the business of
the Pandavas, listened in a body to his words of great import, productive of
very great good.

         
कृष्णः-

           सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्विदितं यथाऽयं

              युधिष्ठिरस्सौबलेनाक्षवत्याम्।

   
       जितो निकृत्याऽपहृतं
च राज्यं

               वनप्रवासे समयः कृतश्च
॥

Krishna-

“It is
known to you all how Yudhishthira was defeated through deceit by Sakuni in the
game of dice, how the kingdom was seized, and how the condition regarding
forest life was imposed.”

               एवं गते धर्मसुतस्य राज्ञो

                   दुर्योधनस्यापि
च यद्धितं स्यात्।

                तच्चिन्तयध्वं कुरुपाण्डवानां

                    धर्म्यं च युक्तं
च यशस्करं च ॥

“ In
this situation, think out what will be beneficial to Yudhishthira and also to
king Duryodhana; what will be proper, what will bring glory to the Kauravas and
the Pandavas and will be consistent with Dharma.”

              निशम्य वाक्यं तु जनार्दनस्य

                  समाददे वाक्यमथाग्रजोऽस्य।

              ’प्रियं च मे स्याद्यदि
तत्र कश्चिद्

                  व्रजेच्छमार्थं कुरुपाण्डवानाम्।

               अयुद्धमाकाङ्क्षत कौरवाणां

                   साम्नैव दुर्योधनमाश्वसध्वम्
॥

Hearing
Krishna’s words, his elder brother (Balarama) spoke: “ I shall be pleased if
somebody would go there for securing peace between the Kaurava and the
Pandavas; wish for settlement without war with the Kauravas; conciliate
Duryodhana by pacific means alone. “                    

  
    

     
 द्रुपदः-

        
’ न हि दुर्योधनो राज्यं मधुरेण प्रदास्यति।

           मृदुं वै मन्यते पापो भाषमाणमशक्तिकम्।

           एतच्चैव करिष्यामो यत्नश्च
क्रियतामिह ॥

Drupada-

“Duryodhana
will not give up the kingdom for sweet peace; the evil fellow takes to be an
impotent one who talks mildly; this policy of peace also we will adopt and let
effort (for war) also be made in this affair.”

           ‘अयं च ब्राह्मणो विद्वान्
मम राजन् पुरोहितः।

            प्रेष्यतां धृतराष्ट्राय
वाक्यमस्मै प्रदीयताम् ॥

“King,
let this learned Brahmin, my priest, be sent to Dhritarashtra; let a message be
given to him.” 

    द्रुपदेनैवमुक्ते
तु वृष्णिसिंहोऽब्रवीदिदम्।

    एतच्च पूर्वं
कार्यं नः सुनीतिमभिकाङ्क्षताम्॥

When Drupada spoke thus, Krishna, the
greatest of the Vrishnis, said this: “This (negotiation for peace) is to be
done first by us who want to adopt a sound 
policy.”

            “ते विवाहार्थमानीता गमिष्यामो
गृहान्प्रति।

             स भवान्प्रेषयत्वद्य पाण्डवार्थकरं
वचः ॥

“We who
have been brought here for the marriage shall go home; you, Drupada, send now a
message that will accomplish the object of the Pandavas.”

            ततस्सत्कृत्य वार्ष्णेयं
पाञ्चाल्यस्स्वपुरोहितम्।   

    कुरुभ्यः प्रेषयामास
युधिष्ठिरमते स्थितः॥

Then
bidding farewell to Krishna with honours, king Drupada, according to Yudhishthira’s
 ideas, sent his priest to the Kauravas.

    
        धृतराष्ट्रात्मजो
राजा गूढैः प्रणिहितैश्चरैः।

             स श्रुत्वा माधवं यान्तं
द्वारकामभ्ययात्पुरीम्॥

             तमेव दिवसं चापि जगामाशु
धनञ्जयः॥

King Duryodhana, hearing through
secretly sent spies that Krishna was going (to his place) went to the city of
Dwaraka.  The same day, Arjuna also
hurried (to Dwaraka).

            सुप्तं ददृशतुः कृष्णं
शयानं चाभिजग्मतुः॥

They saw Krishna asleep and approached
him even as he was lying so.

      

            दुर्योधनस्तु प्रथमं वासुदेवमुपाश्रयत्।

            उच्छीर्ष्णतश्च कृष्णस्य
निषसाद वरासने।

            ततः किरीटी पश्चार्धे प्रह्वोऽतिष्ठत्कृताञ्जलिः॥

Duryodhana,
however, reached Krishna first and sat on the excellent seat at his head.  Arjuna then stood with folded hands and body
bent in reverence at Krishna’s feet.

             प्रतिबुद्धस्स वार्ष्णेयो
ददर्शाग्रे किरीटिनम्। 

             सिंहासनगतं पश्चाद् दृष्टवान्
प्रतिपूज्य तौ। 

             तदागमनजं हेतुं पप्रच्छ
मधुसूदनः॥

Waking
up Krisha saw Arjuna first’ and he saw afterwards Duryodhana who was seated on
the throne.  Receiving the two, Krishna
asked the cause of their arrival.

             ततो दुर्योधनः कृष्णमुवाच
प्रहसन्निव।

             ’विग्रहेऽस्मिन् भवान्साह्यं
मम दातुमिहार्हति॥

             समं हि भवतस्सख्यं मम
चैवार्जुनेऽपि च।

             अहं चाभिगतः पूर्वं त्वामद्य
मधुसूदन॥

As if laughing, Duryodhana said to
Krishna then: “ You must give me assistance in this war; equal is your
friendship with me and with Arjuna; and krishna, I sought you first now.”

             कृष्णः-

             भवानभिगतः पूर्वं दृष्टो
राजन् धनञ्जयः।        

      
      साहाय्यमुभयोरेव
करिष्यामि सुयोधन ॥

Krishna-

“King, you came first; Arjuna was seen
first; Duryodhana, to both shall I render assistance.”

         
‘प्रवारणं तु बालानां पूर्वं कार्यमिति श्रुतिः।’

        
‘मत्संहननतुल्यानां गोपानामर्बुदं महत्।

        
नारायणा इति ख्याता भवन्त्वेकस्य सैनिकाः॥

“Vast multitudes of cowherds with bodies
equal to mine and famed as Narayanas – let them be soldiers for one. “

    
  ’अयुध्यमानस्सङ्ग्रामे
न्यस्तशस्त्रोऽहमेकतः ॥

“ On the other side, myself not fighting
in the battle, my weapons laid aside.”

      
‘आभ्यामन्यतरं पार्थ यत्ते हृद्यतरं मतम्।

       
तद्वृणीतां भवानग्रे प्रवार्यस्त्वं हि धर्मतः ॥

“ Of these two that which you, Arjuna,
view as dearer to you, you choose first; for, according to principle, your wish
must be fulfilled first.”

       
एवमुक्तस्तु कृष्णेन कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः।

       
अयुध्यामानं सङ्ग्रामे वरयामास केशवम् ॥

        
दुर्योधनस्तु तत्सैन्यं सर्वमावारयत्तदा।

        
कृष्णं चापहृतं ज्ञात्वा संप्राप परमां मुदम्||

And, Duryodhana chose the whole of
Krishna’s army; seeing Krishna deprived (of his army), he was immensely
pleased.

        
अर्जुनः-

        
सारथ्यं तु त्वया कार्यमिति मे मानसं सदा।

        
चिररात्रेप्सितं कामं तद् भवान् कर्तुमर्हति॥

Arjuna-

“ ‘You must be my charioteer’, so has my
mind wished always.  That long-cherished
wish, you must fulfil.”

           कृष्णः-

           ’सारथ्यं ते करिष्यामि कामस्संपद्यतां
तव ॥’

Krishna-

“ I will drive your chariot; let your
wish be realised.”

         
  एवं प्रमुदितः पार्थः
कृष्णेनायाद्युधिष्ठिरम्॥

Delighted very much in this manner,
Arjuna went to Yudhishthira with Krishna.

            शल्यश्श्रुत्वा तु दूतानां
सैन्येन महता वृतः।

            शनैर्विश्रामयन्सेनां स
ययौ यत्र पाण्डवः ॥

Hearing
from the messengers, Salya, surrounded by a big army, proceeded to where
Yudhishthira was, giving rest to his army little by little (on the way).

            कारयामास पूजार्थं तस्य
दुर्योधनस्सभाः।

            संप्रहृष्टो यदा शल्यो
दिदित्सुरपि जीवितम्।

            गूढो दुर्योधनस्तत्र दर्शयामास
मातुलम्।

            परिष्वज्याब्रवीत् प्रीत
इष्टार्थो व्रियतामिति॥

Duryodhana caused camp-pavilions to be
built for honouring him.  At the time
when the overjoyed Salya was desiring to give even his life, Duryodhana, who
was hiding there, showed himself to his uncle; embracing him, Salya, who was
pleased, said: “Ask what you desire.”        

  

   
      दुर्योधनः-

         
“सर्वसेना प्रणेता वै भवान् भवितुमर्हति”॥

Duryodhana-

“You must be the commander of all my
forces.”

             

           कृतमित्यब्रवीच्छल्यः स
तथाऽयात् स्वकं पुरम्।

           ततस्त्वामन्त्र्य कौन्तेयान्
शल्यो मद्राधिपस्तदा।

           जगाम सबलश्श्रीमान् दुर्योधनम्
[अरिन्दम]॥

“Yes”,
said Salya; Duryodhana went to his own city; then, taking leave of the
Pandavas, Salya, the flourishing king of Madras, went over to Duryodhana, along
with his army.

            इतश्चेतश्च पाण्डूनाम्
समाजग्मुर्महात्मनाम्।

            अक्षौहिण्यस्तु सप्तैव
विविधध्वजसङ्कुलाः॥

There
came to the great Pandavas from every quarter 
seven Akshauhinis of armies, thick with manifold banners

[One
Akshauhini consisted of 21870 elephants, 21870 chariots,

 65610 horses and 109350 foot soldiers]

             कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यो
दुर्योधनमुपागमत्।

Kritavarma (a Yadava chief), son of
Hridika, joined Duryodhana.

              एवमेकादशावृत्तास्सेना
दुर्योधनस्य ताः॥

The armies which thus turned up for
Duryodhana were eleven Akshauhinis

              यस्स पाञ्चालराजेन प्रेषितः
कौरवान्प्रति।

              स च कौरव्यमासाद्य पृष्ट्वा
चैवमनामयम्।

              सर्वसेनाप्रणेतॄणां मध्ये
वाक्यमुवाच ह॥

And he
who was sent on embassy by king Drupada to the kauravas, – he reached
Dhritarashtra, and after enquiring of his health, said these words in the midst
of all the generals;

            “साम्नैव कुरुभिस्सन्धिमिच्छन्ति
कुरुपुङ्गवाः।

             ते भवन्तो यथाधर्मं यथासमयमेव
च।

             प्रयच्छन्तु प्रदातव्यं
मा वः कालोऽत्यगादयम्॥“

“Through peaceful means only do the
illustrious Pandavas desire peace with the Kauravas; therefore, in keeping with
Dharma and the agreement, may you give what ought to be given; let there be no
delay.”

           धृतराष्ट्रः –

           ’पाण्डवानां हितं चैव सर्वस्य
जगतस्तथा।

           चिन्तयित्वा तु पार्थेभ्यः
प्रेषयिष्यामि सञ्जयम्।

           स भवान् प्रतियात्वद्य पाण्डवानेव
मा चिरम् ॥

Dhritarashtra-

Thinking out what will be good for
Pandavas and for the whole world, I will send Sanjaya to the Pandavas; may you
therefore return without delay to the Pandavas themselves.”

 

            प्राप्तानाहुस्सञ्जय पाण्डुपुत्रान्।

            उपप्लाव्ये तान्विजानीहि
गत्वा।

            जनार्दनं युयुधानं विराटम्

            अनामयं मद्वचनेन पृच्छेः॥ 

(Addressing Sanjaya)-

“Sanjaya, people say that the sons of
Pandu have come to Upaplavya; go and find them; on my word, enquire of Krishna,
Yuyudhana (Satyaki, the Yadava chief) and Virata concerning their  health.” 

       
     ’यद्यत्तत्र प्राप्तकालं
परेभ्य-

                 स्त्वं मन्येथाः पाण्डवानां
हितं च।

              तद् भाषेथास्सञ्जय राजमध्ये

                 न मूर्च्छयेद्यन्न
च युद्धहेतुः॥

“Sanjaya!
Speak there in the midst of kings what you think would be in keeping with the
time with reference to the other party and beneficial to the Pandavas and what
will not infuriate them or cause war.”

              राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा स आसाद्य
युधिष्ठिरम्।

              अभिवाद्य ततः पूर्वं
सूतपुत्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥

Hearing the words of king Dhritarashtra,
Sanjaya reached Yudhishthira, bowed and then spoke:   

     

             ‘दिष्ट्या राजंस्त्वामरोगं प्रपद्ये

                 सहायवन्तं च महेन्द्रकल्पम्।

              अनामयं पृच्छति त्वाऽऽम्बिकेय-

                 श्शमं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिनन्दन्॥

      
               
“I am glad to see you, king, in health, having allies and looking like the
great Indra himself; king Dhritarashtra enquires of your welfare, approving
pacific settlement.”
             युधिष्ठिरः-

         
    

              स चेदेतां प्रतिपद्येत
बुद्धिं

                  न नश्येयुस्सञ्जय
धार्तराष्ट्राः।

              शान्तिं गमिष्यामि यथा
त्वमात्थ

                  महायशाः केशवस्तद्ब्रवीतु
।

              वासुदेवस्तूभयोरर्थकामो

                   नातिक्रामे वचनं
केशवस्य॥

Yudhishthira-

“If that
Dhritarashtra should take that view, Sanjaya, his sons will not be lost;  as you say I will become pacific; let (this)
Krishna of  great fame give his opinion;
he is one who desires the welfare of both and I do not transgress his word.”

              कृष्णः-

             ’अविनाशं सञ्जय पाण्डवाना-

                 मिच्छाम्यहं भूतिमेषां
प्रियं च।

              तथा राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य
सूत

                 समाशंसे बहुपुत्रस्य
वृद्धिम्॥

Kirshna-

“I wish
for the Pandavas what will not be their ruin, what will be their prosperity and
what will please them; even so, I wish for the prosperity of king Dhritarashtra
of many sons.”

              ‘स्वयं त्वहं प्रार्थये
तत्र गन्तुं

                   समाधातुं कार्यमेतद्विपन्नम्।

               अहापयित्वा यदि पाण्डवार्थं

                  शमं कुरूणामपि चेच्छकेयम्

               पुण्यं च मे स्याच्चरितं
महोदयं

                   मुच्येरंश्च कुरवो
मृत्युपाशात्॥            

                           

            स्थिताश्शुश्रूषितुं पार्थाः
स्थिता योद्धुमरिन्दमाः।

            यत्कृत्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य
तत्करोतु नराधिपः॥

“Ready are the Pandavas to serve; ready
are they, the subduers of enemies, to fight; what king Dhritarashtra wants to
do, let him do.”

           युधिष्ठिरः-

            गावल्गणे कुरून्गत्वा धृतराष्ट्रं
महाबलम्।

            ब्रूयाश्चैनं त्वमासीनं
कुरुभिः परिवारितम्॥

Yudhishthira

“Sanjaya, go to the Kauravas and tell
the mighty Dhritarashtra, sitting in the midst of the Kauravas:

           “तव प्रसादात् बालास्ते
प्राप्ता राज्यमरिन्दम।

            राज्ये तान्स्थापयित्वाऽग्रे
नोपेक्षस्व विनश्यतः।

            तात संहत्य जीवामो द्विषतां
मा वशम् गमः॥

“Vanquisher
of your enemies! as boys we obtained kingdom by your grace; having established
us on the throne once, do not neglect us to perish; father ! united we shall
live; fall not a   prey to your enemies.’

         
‘अभिवाद्य च वक्तव्यस्ततोऽस्माकं पितामहः।

           “स त्वं कुरु तथा तात स्वमतेन
पितामह

           यथा जीवन्ति ते पौत्राः
प्रीतिमन्तः परस्परम्॥“’

“After
saluting, our grandfather, Bhishma, must be told this: ‘Grandfather, act
according to your view in such a manner that your grandsons may live in mutual
affection”

           तथैव विदुरं ब्रूयाः कुरूणां
मन्त्रकारिणम्॥

“In the same manner, you shall speak to
Vidura, the counsellor of the Kauravas.”

           अथ दुर्योधनं ब्रूया अनुनीय
पुनः पुनः।

“Then shall you tell Duryodhana,
conciliating him again and again.”

           “यन्नः प्रव्राजयेस्सौम्य
अजिनैः प्रतिवासितान्।

           यत्कुन्तीं समतिक्रम्य कृष्णां
केशेष्वधर्षयत्।

           दुःशासनस्तेऽनुमते तच्चास्माभिरुपेक्षितम्॥

‘Good
man, that you sent us clad in skins into exile, that, ignoring Kunti (our
mother), Dussasana, with your permission, insulted Draupadi by dragging her by
the hair, – these have been endured by us.’

        

          “अथोचितं स्वकं भागं लभेमहि
परन्तप॥

“May we
then get our own proper share, you tormentor of enemies.”

           “निवर्तय परद्रव्याद् बुद्धिं
गृद्धां नरर्षभ।

           शान्तिरेवं भवेद्राजन् प्रीतिश्चैव
परस्परम् ॥

‘Great
man, turn your avaricious mind away from others’ property.  King, there will be peace thus and mutual
love also.’

           “भ्रातॄणां देहि पञ्चानां
पञ्च ग्रामान्सुयोधन।

           सर्वे सुमनसस्तात शाम्याम
भरतर्षभ ॥’

‘Duryodhana,
give to us, the five brothers, five villages; illustrious son of Bharata! with
a good heart, let all of us settle down in peace.’

           ‘अलमेव शमायास्मि तथा युद्धाय
सञ्जय।’

‘Sanjaya,
equal am I to peace and war as well’

          पार्थानामन्त्रयामास केशवं
सञ्जयस्तदा।

          याति स्म हास्तिनपुरं निशाकाले
(परन्तप)॥

Sanjaya
took leave of the Pandavas and Krishna (and) went to Hastinapura in the night.

          तस्यां रजन्यां व्युष्टायां सूतस्योपदिदृक्षया।

          शुश्रूषमाणा पार्थानां वाचो
धर्मार्थसंहिताः।

          धृतराष्ट्रमुखास्सर्वे ययू
राजन् सभां शुभाम्॥

As that
night ended and day dawned, all (the Kauravas) headed by Dhritarashtra went to
the beautiful assembly hall, wishing to see Sanjaya and hear the righteous and
profitable words of the Pandavas. 

      सञ्जयः-

      दुर्योधनो वाचमिमां शृणोतु

          यदब्रवीदर्जुनो योत्स्यमानः॥

Sanjaya-

“ Let
Duryodhana hear these words which the great Arjuna, who is going to fight,
said:”

        “आशंसेऽहं  वासुदेवद्वितीयो

         दुर्योधनं सानुबन्धं निहन्तुम्
॥“

“ With
Krishna alone as my aid, I hope to annihilate Duryodhana along with his
followers”

        “अनालब्धं जृम्भति गाण्डिवं
धनुः

           अनाहता कम्पति मे धनुर्ज्या
।

        बाणाश्च मे तूणमुखाद्विसृत्य

           मुहुर्मुहुर्गन्तुमुशन्ति
चैव॥“

Unlifted,
my Gandiva bow jumps up; undrawn, my bow string throbs; frequently coming out
of the quiver, my arrows long to shoot.

         

        ये वै जय्याः समरे सूत लब्ध्वा

            देवानपीन्द्रप्रमुखान्समेतान्।

        तैर्मन्यते कलहं संप्रसह्य

            स धार्तराष्ट्रः पश्यत
मोहमस्य ॥

“Sanjaya,
those who would be triumphant even when they have against them on the
battlefield (or fight) all the gods united together and headed by Indra, with
them this Duryodhana wants to force a quarrel; see his folly. “

             वृद्धो भीमश्शान्तनवः
कृपश्च

               द्रोणस्सपुत्रो विदुरश्च
धीमान्।

             एते सर्वे यद् वदन्ते
तदस्तु

               आयुष्मन्तः कुरवस्सन्तु
सर्वे॥

‘Venerable
Bhishma, Krupa, Drona with his son, the wise Vidura-

let that
which all these persons say be done;  let
all the Kauravas be long-lived.”       

           दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यं भीष्मः
शान्तन्वोऽब्रवीत्।

Bhishma
addressed these words to Duryodhana.

           वासुदेवार्जुनौ विरौ समवेतौ
महारथौ।

           नरनारायणौ देवाविति होवाच
नारदः॥

The two
heroic warriors united together, Krishna and Arjuna, are the divine Naryana and
Nara; so hath Narada said.

          शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्तं यदा द्रक्ष्यसि
केशवम्।

          पर्याददानं चास्त्राणि भीमधन्वानमर्जुनम्।

          दुर्योधन तदा तात स्मर्तासि
वचनं मम ॥

“When you
see Krishna with his conch, discus  and
mace in hands and the terrible-bowed Arjuna wielding the missiles, then
Duryodhana, will you remember my words.”

        कर्णः-

        ’अहं हि पाण्डवान्सर्वान्हनिष्यामि
रणे स्थितान्।

        प्राग् विरुद्धैश्शमं सद्भिः
कथं वा क्रियते पुनः ॥

Karna-

I will
kill the Pandavas standing on the field of battle. How can peace be made with
those who were foes before?

       कर्णस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा भीष्मश्शान्तनवः
पुनः।

       धृतराष्ट्रं महाराजमाभाष्येदं
वचोऽब्रवीत्॥

Hearing
Karna’s words, Bhishma, addressing king Dhritarashtra. said again these words:

       ‘यदयं कत्थते नित्यं हन्ताऽहं
पाण्डवानिति।

       नायं कलाऽपि संपूर्णा पाण्डवानां
महात्मनाम् ॥

“ This
Karna who brags every day that he would kill the Pandavas is not even a full
one-sixteenth of the great Pandavas”

      अनयो योऽयमागन्ता पुत्राणां ते
दुरात्मनाम्।

      तदस्य कर्म जानीहि सूतपुत्रस्य
दुर्मतेः ॥

“Know
the calamity that is imminent to your evil sons, the handiwork of this evil-minded
son of a driver”

       विराटनगरे सर्वानभियातो धनञ्जयः।

       प्रमथ्य चाच्छिनद्वासः किमयं
प्रोषितस्तदा॥

“Arjuna
attacked (us) all in that city of Virata and routing (us) snatched the clothes;
was this Karna away elsewhere at  that
time?”

         गन्धर्वैर्घोषयात्रायां ह्रियते
यत्सुतस्तव।

         क्व तदा सूतपुत्रोऽभूत् य
इदानीं वृषायते।

         ननु तत्रापि पार्थेन गन्धर्वास्ते
पराजिताः॥

 .

 “When your son was being carried away by the
Gandharvas during his visit to the cattle-farms, where was this son of the
driver who now bellows like a bull?  Oh!
There again, the Gandharvas were vanquished by Arjuna.”

       
द्रोणः-

        ’यदाह भरतश्रेष्ठो भीष्मस्तत्क्रियतां
नृप।

         पुरा युद्धात्साधु मन्ये पाण्डवैस्सह
सङ्गतम्॥

Drona- 

“King!
let that be done which Bhishma, the greatest of the Bharatas, has spoken.
Before war (breaks out), I consider alliance with the Pandavas as good.”

         ‘यद्वाक्यमर्जुनेनोक्तं करिष्यति
च पाण्डवः।

         न ह्यस्य त्रिषु लोकेषु सदृशोऽस्ति
धनुर्धरः॥

“What
Arjuna said, he will do; for, there is no archer equal to him in the three
worlds.”

        धृतराष्ट्रः-

        ’क्रोशतो मे न शृण्वन्ति बालाः
पण्डितमानिनः।

        युद्धे विनाशः कृत्स्नस्य वयं
शान्त्यै यतामहे ॥

Dhritarashtra-

“These
boys who think themselves to be wise do not hear me, though I cry hoarse.
Wholesale is the ruin in battle; we will strive for peace.”

         दुर्योधनः-

         ’न भेतव्यं महाराज न शोच्या
भवता वयम्।

         समर्था स्म पराञ्जेतुं बलिनस्समरे
विभो॥

Duryodhana-

“Great
king, you need not be afraid; you need not pity us; king, powerful that we are,
we are capable of conquering our foes in battle.”

       ‘युधिष्ठिरः पुरं हित्वा पञ्च
ग्रामान्स याचते।

       भीतो हि मामकात्सैन्यात् प्रभावाच्चैव
मे विभो॥

“King, leaving
off his capital city, that Yudhishthira now begs for five villages; for he is
afraid of my army and my power.”    

      अक्षौहिण्यो हि मे राजन् दशैका
च समाहृताः।

      न्यूना परेषां सप्तैव कस्मान्मे
स्यात्पराजयः ॥

“King!
eleven Akshauhinis have been collected for me; less than this, only seven are
the enemies’ Akshauhinis; how can there be defeat for me?”

  

       एतत्सर्वं समाज्ञाय न मोहं गन्तुमर्हसि॥

“Knowing
all this, you ought not to be under delusion.”

           धृतराष्ट्रः-

           ’दुर्योधन निवर्तस्व युद्धात्
भरतसत्तम।

           अलमर्धं पृथिव्यास्ते सहामात्यस्य
जीवितुम्॥

Dhritarashtra-

“Duryodhana,
the best of the Bharatas! refrain from war; half of the kingdom is enough for
you to live together with your ministers.”

         दुर्योधनः-

         ’’यावद्धि सूच्यास्तीक्ष्णाया
विद्ध्येदग्रेण मारिष।

          तावदप्यपरित्याज्यं भूमेर्नः
पाण्डवान्प्रति॥

Duryodhana-

“Respected
king! not even as much of our land as is pierced by the tip of a sharp needle
shall be given to the Pandavas.”

         
दुर्योधने धार्तराष्ट्रे तद्वचो नाभिनन्दति।

          तूष्णींभूतेषु सर्वेषु समुत्थस्थुर्नरर्षभाः॥

When
Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, did not approve of Dhritarashtra’s words and
when everybody was mute, the great men (assembled there) rose up.

         सञ्जये प्रतियाते तु धर्मराजो
युधिष्ठिरः।

         अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नं दाशार्हं
पाण्डुनन्दनः॥

And when
Sanjaya went back Yudhishthira told Krishna, the slayer of enemy warriors.

          अयं स कालस्संप्राप्तो मित्राणां
मित्रवत्सल।

          न च त्वदन्यं पश्यामि यो
न आपत्सु तारयेत्॥

‘O!
Lover of friends! the time of our friends (to help us) has come. And, besides
you, I do not see any other person who will save us in our calamities.’

         ‘श्रुतं ते धार्तराष्ट्रस्य
सपुत्रस्य चिकीर्षितम्।

         अप्रदानेन रज्यस्य शन्तिमस्मासु
मार्गति ॥

“You
heard what Dhritarashtra, along with his sons, wants to do? He seeks for peace
from us without giving the kingdom.”

           

         ‘इतो दुःखतरं किन्नु पञ्च
ग्रामा वृता मया।

         न च तानपि दुष्टात्मा धार्तराष्ट्रोऽनुमन्यते॥

“What is
more  miserable than this? Five villages
were asked by me and even these the wicked son of Dhritarashtra does not
consent to give!

       ’ईदृशेऽत्यर्थकृच्छ्रेऽस्मिन्
कमन्यं मधुसूदन।

       उपसंप्रष्टुमर्हामि त्वामृते
पुरुषोत्तम॥’

“In such
a great difficulty as this, Krishna, you best of men, which other person shall
I consult except you?”

       कृष्णः-

       उभयोरेव वामर्थे यास्यामि कुरुसंसदम्।

       शमं तत्र लभेयं चेद्युष्मदर्थमहापयन्।

       मोचयेयं मृत्युपाशात् सर्वां च पृथिवीमिमाम्॥’

Krishna-

“In the
interest of both of you I will go to the Kuru court; if, without letting down
your interest, I secure peace there, I will free this whole world from the
noose of death”

       युधिष्ठिरः-

       ’न ममैतन्मतं कृष्ण यत्त्वं
यायाः कुरून्प्रति।

        सुयोधनस्सूक्तमपि न करिष्यति
ते वचः॥

Yudhishthira-

“Krishna,
it is not my idea that you should go to the Kauravas; even if your words be good,
Duryodhana will not act up to them.”

      

        तेषां मध्यावतरणं तव कृष्ण
न रोचये

        न हि नः प्रीणयेद् द्रव्यं
तव द्रोहेण माधव॥

“Krishna,
I do not like your getting into their midst. The wealth that involves harm to
you, will not please us”

        कृष्णः-.

        जानाम्येतां महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रस्य  पापताम्।

        अवाच्यास्तु भविष्यामः सर्वलोके
महीक्षिताम्।

        अथ चेत्ते प्रवर्तेरन् मयि
किञ्चिदसांप्रतम्।

        निर्दहेयं कुरून् सर्वान् इति
मे धीयते मतिः॥

Krishna_

“King, I
know the wickedness of Duryodhana.  But
we will become blameless in the whole world and in the eyes of kings.  If the Kauravas should do me anything
improper, I will burn them all; so do I resolve.”           

          

        ’न जातु गमनं पार्थ भवेत्तत्र निरर्थकम्।

        अर्थप्राप्तिः कदाचित्स्यादन्ततो
वाऽप्यवाच्यता॥’

“Yudhishthira,
never will my going there become futile; perhaps, there will be success to our
mission; at any rate, we shall become blameless.”

        युधिष्ठिरः-

       ’यत्तुभ्यं रोचते कृष्ण स्वस्ति
प्राप्नुहि कौरवान्

       कृतार्थं स्वस्तिमन्तं त्वां
द्रक्ष्यामि पुनरागतम्॥

Yudhishthira-

“As you
please, Krishna, farewell; go to the Kauravas; I will see you return,
successful and hale.”

        ’अस्मान्वेत्थ परान्वेत्थ वेत्थार्थान्वेत्थ
भाषितुम्।

        यद्यदस्मद्धितं कृष्ण तत्तद्वाच्यस्सुयोधनः
॥’

“You
know us, you know our foes; you know things; you know (how) to speak; Krishna,
whatever is for our good, that, you must tell Duryodhana”

       कृष्णः

       सर्वं जानाम्यभिप्रायं तेषां
च भवतश्च यः।

       तव धर्माश्रिता बुद्धिः तेषां
वैराश्रिता मतिः॥

Krishna-

“I know
all their views and yours also; your mind is after Dharma; theirs has taken to
enmity.”

            ’यदयुद्धेन लभ्येत तत्ते
बहुमतं भवेत्॥

“That which can be got without war will be considered great by you.”

            ‘सर्वथा युद्धमेवाहमाशंसामि
परैस्सह।

            निमित्तानि हि सर्वाणि
तथा प्रादुर्भवति मे॥’

“After
all, I fear there will be only war with our foes; for, such are all the omens
that appear to me “

             आरुरोह रथं शौरिरुपायात्कुरुसंसदम्॥

Krishna
mounted the chariot and proceeded to the Kuru court.

             धार्तराष्ट्रास्तमायान्तं
प्रत्युज्जग्मुस्स्वलङ्कृताः।

             दुर्योधनादृते सर्वे भीष्मद्रोणकृपादयः॥

Bhishma,
Drona, Kripa and others, – everybody on Dhritarashtra’s

Side,
except Duryodhana, dressing themselves well, went to receive Krishna who was
coming.

              अथोपगम्य विदुरमपराह्ने
जनार्दनः।

              पितृष्वसारं स पृथामभ्यगच्छदरिन्दमः॥

Meeting
Vidura then in the afternoon, Krishna, the subduer of enemies, went to his
aunt, Kunti.

             सा दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमायान्तं
प्रसन्नादित्यवर्चसम्।

             कण्ठे गृहीत्वा प्राक्रोशत्
स्मरन्ती तनयान्पृथा॥

On
seeing Krishna, lustrous like the clear son, coming, Kunti thought of her sons,
embraced him and cried.

            तत आश्वासयामास पुत्राधिभिरभिप्लुताम्।

            पृथामामन्त्र्य गोविन्दः
कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम्।

            दुर्योधनगृहं शौरिरभ्यगच्छदरिन्दमः
॥

Krishna
then consoled Kunti, who was overwhelmed with the agonies suffered by her sons;
taking leave of her, and going round her, Krishna, the subduer of enemies, went
to Duryodhana’s abode.   

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

                                   

                       अथ विराट
पर्व

                        VIRATA
PARVA

                                 धर्मेण तेऽभ्यनुज्ञाताः
पाण्डवास्सत्यविक्रमाः।

               अज्ञातवासं वत्स्यन्तो
मन्त्राय समुपाविशत्॥

Given leave
by God Dharma, the truly valiant pandavas, who were to live the incognito life,
sat for deliberation.

               युधिष्ठिरः-

               सभास्तारो भविष्यामि
विराटस्येति मे मतिः।

               कङ्को नाम ब्रुवाणोऽहं
मताक्षस्साधुदेविता ॥

Yudhishthira-

“ I think I
shall become a member of the court of king Virata.  I will call myself Kanka, a knower of dice
and an expert gambler.               

              

             
भीमः-

              सूदोऽहं वललो नाम्ना
सूपकारो नराधिप ।

              उपस्थास्यामि राजानं
विराटमिति रोचये॥

Bhima-

“King, I
would like to attend upon king Virata making sauces (for him) as a cook, with
the name valala.”

     

              अर्जुनः-

              वेणीकृतशिरा भूत्वा भविष्यामि
बृहन्नला।

              नृत्तं गीतं च वादित्रं
दिव्यं च विविधं तथा

              शिक्षयिष्याम्यहं राजन्
विराटनगरे स्त्रियः ॥

Arjuna-

“ King,
plaiting my hair, I shall become a woman (eunuch) with the name Brihannala.  I will teach the women in Virata’s city
celestial and various other kinds of dance and music, vocal and instrumental.”

              नकुलः-

              ’अश्वाध्यक्षो भविष्यामि
विराटस्येति मे मतिः।

               दामग्रन्थीति नाम्नाऽहं
कर्मैतत् सुप्रियं मम ॥’

Nakula-

“My idea is
to become the groom of Virata, with the name Damagranthin; this work is very
much to my liking.”

              सहदेवः-

              ’गोसंख्याता भविष्यामि
विराटस्येति रोचये।

              तन्त्रीपालेति मे नाम
स्वयं प्रोक्तं भविष्यति॥’

Sahadeva-

“ I like to
become the cowherd of Virata.  Tantripala
shall be the name I give myself.”

              द्रौपदी-

              ’अहं ब्रुवाणा सैरन्ध्री
कुशला केशकर्मणि।

               सुदेष्णां प्रत्युपस्थास्ये
युष्माभिस्तत्र तस्थुषी॥’

Draupadi-

“Calling
myself Sairandhri, an adept in hair-dressing I shall, staying in Virata’s court
along with you, attend upon (Virata’s queen) Sudeshna.”

       एवं तेऽन्योन्यमामन्त्र्य सङ्क्रामन्तो
वनाद्वनम्।

       लुब्धान्ब्रुवाणा मात्स्यस्य
विषयं प्राविशंस्तदा॥

Having told
each other thus, and moving from forest to forest describing themselves as
hunters, the Pandavas entered the territory of the king of the Matsyas.

        अर्जुनः-

        ’इयं वने मनुष्येन्द्र महती
दृश्यते शमी।

         अस्यामायुधमासज्य गच्छाम नगरं
वयम् ॥

Arjuna-

“King,
(here) we see a big Sami tree in this forest. 
Leaving our weapons tied together in this tree, we shall go to this
city.”

         तानि सर्वाणि संनह्य शमीं
कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्।

         ततो यथासमाज्ञप्तं नगरं प्राविशंस्तदा॥

Tying
together all their weapons, (placing them in the Sami tree), and going round
the Sami tree, they then entered the city as previously settled.

          विराटनगरे चेरुः प्रच्छन्नाः
पुरुषर्षभाः।

          कर्माणि तस्य कुर्वाणा विराटनृपतेस्तदा॥

Doing
service to the king of Virata, those illustrious Pandavas lived concealed in
the capital of Virata.

           तस्मिन्वर्षे गतप्राये कीचको द्रुपदात्मजाम्।

           कामयामास सेनानीः प्रत्याख्यातः
पदाऽवधीत्।

           गृहीत्वा कीचकं भीमो मांसपिण्डमथाकरोत्॥

When
that year had almost passed, Kichaka, the Commander-in-Chief of Virata, made
love to Draupadi, and repudiated by her, kicked her with his foot.  Bhima seized Kichaka and made him a lump of
flesh.

           अथ वै धार्तराष्ट्रेण प्रयुक्ता
ये बहिश्चराः।

           आगत्य हास्तिनपुरं राजानमिदमब्रुवन्
॥

Then, the
spies sent out by Duryodhana came to Hastinapura and informed the king
Duryodhana of this killing of Kichaka.

         
‘सर्वा च पृथिवी कृत्स्ना सशैलवनकानना।

          अन्वेषिता च सर्वत्र न च
पश्याम पाण्डवान्॥

           येन त्रिगर्ता निहताः कीचकेन
बलीयसा।

           स हतो निशि गन्धर्वैस्स्त्रीनिमित्तं
नराधिप॥’

“King,
the whole world, mountains and forests included, has been searched everywhere,
and we do not find the Pandavas.  That
mighty Kichaka who devastated the Trigarta country has been killed in the night
by some Gandharvas, on account of some woman.”

            दुर्योधनः-

            ’अज्ञातसमये ज्ञाताः प्रविशेयुः
पुनर्वनम्।

            शङ्के कृष्णानिमित्तं तु
भीमसेनेन कीचकः।

             गन्धर्वव्यपदेशेन हतो
निशि महाबलः॥

Duryodhana-

“If the
Pandavas are found in their incognito life, they shall enter the forest
again.  I suspect, it is on account of
Draupadi that the mighty Kichaka was killed at night by Bhimasena, under
pretext of being a Gandharva.”

           ‘विराटनगरे मन्ये पाण्डवाश्छन्नचारिणः।’

“I think,
it is in Virata’s capital that the Pandavas are living concealed.

       ‘मत्स्यराष्ट्रं गमिष्यामो ग्रहिष्यामश्च
गोधनम्।

        गृहीते गोधने नूनं तेऽपि योत्स्यन्तिपाण्डवाः
॥

“we will go
to the Matsya country and lift the cattle. 
When the cattle are lifted, surely the Pandavas also will fight.”

        ते स्म गत्वा यथोद्दिष्टं देशं
मत्स्यमहीपतेः।

        बलोत्कटा न्यगृह्णन्त गोधनानि
सहस्रशः ॥

Proceeding
to the territory of the Matsya king as planned, Duryodhana’s men, elated with
their strength, seized the cattle by thousands.

          स राजा महतीं सेनां मत्स्यानां
समवाहयत्॥

The king of
the Matsyas gathered a huge army.

          युधिष्ठिरोऽपि धर्मात्मा
भ्रातृभिस्सहितस्तदा।

           व्यूहं कृत्वा विराटस्य
अन्वयुध्यत पाण्डवः॥

And the
righteous Yudhishthira also, along with his brothers, formed a squadron for
Virata and fought along with others.

            निवृत्य गास्ततस्सर्वाः
पाण्डवास्ते हतद्विषः।

           
सङ्ग्रामशिरसो मध्ये तां रात्रिं सुखिनोऽवसन्॥

After
defeating the enemies and recovering the cattle, the Pandavas spent that night
in happiness in the midst of the battle field.

           याते त्रिगर्तान्मात्स्ये
तु पशूंस्तान्वै परीप्सति।

           सर्वे मत्स्यानुपागम्य गोधनं जह्रुरोजसा।

           कुरवो रथवंशेन परिगृह्य समन्ततः ॥

When
the king of the Matsyas had (thus) gone to the Trigarta country, wishing to
regain the cattle, all the kauravas came upon the Matsya country and
surrounding with a number of chariots, carried away the cattle by force.

           गवाध्यक्षस्तु संत्रस्तो
नृपवेश्माभ्ययात्ततः।

           दृष्ट्वा भूमिञ्जयं सर्वमाचष्ट
पशुकर्षणम्।

           आरुह्य प्रययौ वीरः स बृहन्नलसारथिः
॥

Alarmed,
the chief of the cowherds then went to the palace, and seeing Bhuminjaya (son
of the Virata King), told him all about the cattle raid.  That warrior, Bhuminjaya, mounted (his
chariot) and sallied forth, with Brihannala as the charioteer.

          तदनीकमथो वीक्ष्य गजाश्वरथसङ्कुलम्।

          कर्णदुर्योधनकृपैर्गुप्तं शान्तनवेन
च ।

          द्रोणेन सह पुत्रेण निमील्य
स्वदृशौ तदा।

         वैराटिः प्राद्रवद्भीतो विसृज्य
सशरं धनुः ॥

Seeing
that army then, full of elephants, horses and chariots and protected by Karna,
Duryodhana, Kripa, Bhishma and Drona with his son Asvathaman, Virata’s son
closed his eyes, and fled in fear, throwing down the bow and arrows.

         तमन्वधावद्धावन्तं राजपुत्रं
धनञ्जयः।

         विधूय वेणीं धावन्तं पाण्डवं
प्रेक्ष्य सैनिकाः।

         अर्जुनेति च नेत्येव व्यवस्यन्ति
न ते पुनः ॥

Arjuna
ran after the fleeing prince.  The
soldiers (on the side of the Kauravas), seeing him running, with the plaited
hair swinging about, were not able to decide whether he was Arjuna or not.

         समाश्वास्य भयार्तं तमुत्तरं
भरतर्षभः।

         उत्तरं सारथिं कृत्वा शमीं
कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्।

         आयुधं सर्वमादाय ततः प्रायाद्धनञ्जयः
॥

Making
the fear-stricken Uttara (Bhuminjaya, the son of Virata) take heart, Arjuna,
the illustrious Bharata, made him his charioteer, went round the Sami tree,
took all his weapons and then went forth (for the fight)

         ततश्शङ्खमुपाध्मासीद् दारयन्निव
मेदिनीम्।

         ज्याघोषं तलघोषं च कृत्वा
भूतान्यमोहयत् ॥

Then,
Arjuna blew the conch, as if tearing the world. 
He stupefied all beings by the twang of his bow-string and by the slap
of his palm on his body.

         भीष्मः-

        ’सर्वं यथावच्चरितं यद्यदेभिः
प्रतिश्रुतम्।

         एवमेतत् ध्रुवं ज्ञाता ततो
बीभत्सुरागतः ॥

Bhishma-

“All
that the Pandavas undertook to do, they have done accordingly.  Knowing this for certain, Arjuna has come
out.

          ‘एको हि समरे पार्थः पृथिवीं
निर्दहेच्छरैः।

          भ्रातृभिस्सहितो भूत्वा किं
पुनः कौरवान् रणे ॥

“Even
singly, Arjuna will burn the world with his arrows in the battle; why add that,
with his brothers by his side, he will burn the Kauravas in battle?

          तस्मात्सन्धिं कुरुश्रेष्ठ
कुरुष्व यदि मन्यसे ॥

“Therefore,
Duryodhana, make peace (with him) if you care.”

          दुर्योधनः-

          ’नाहं राज्यं प्रदास्यामि
पाण्डवेभ्यः पितामह।

          ग्रामं सेनां च दासांश्च
स्वल्पं द्रव्यमपि प्रभो।

          युद्धौपचारिकं यत्तु तत्सर्वं
संविधीयताम् ॥

Duryodhana-

“Grandfather,
I will not give the Pandavas the kingdom, a village, army, or servants; or even
the smallest thing.  Let all that is
necessary for war be done.”

            भीष्मः प्रस्थाप्य राजानं
गोधनं तदनन्तरम्।

            सेनामुख्यान्व्यवस्थाप्य
व्यूहितुं संप्रचक्रमे ।।

Sending
away king Duryodhana and the cattle at the back, Bhishma arranged the chiefs in
the army and began to array the army. 

            उपायादर्जुनस्तूर्णं  रथघोषेन नादयन् ।

Raising
reverberations with the noise of his chariot, Arjuna advanced swiftly.

            द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां तथाऽऽचार्यं
द्रोणं प्रथमतः क्रमात्।

            द्रोणं कृपं भीष्मं च पृषत्कैरभ्यवादयत्
॥

Beginning
with his preceptor Drona, Arjuna made salutations, in order, to Drona, Kripa
and Bhishma, with two arrows each.

           क्षोभयामास तत्सैन्यं कर्णं
विव्याध चासकृत्।

Arjuna
threw the army pell-mell and struck Karna frequently.

          स पार्थमुक्तानविषह्य बाणान्

               विहाय संग्रामशिरोऽपयातः।

          ततोऽस्त्रमस्त्रेण निवार्य
तेषां

              गाण्डीवधन्वा कुरुपुङ्गवानाम्।

         संमोहनं शत्रुसहोऽन्यमस्त्रं

              प्रादुश्चकारैन्द्रमवारणीयम्॥

Unable
to stand the arrows shot by Arjuna, Karna fled, leaving the battle-front.  Warding off every missile of those Kuru
chiefs with a missile of his, the Gandiva-bowed Arjuna who could withstand his
enemies, brought forth another missile, the irresistible Sammohana (the
stupefying one), presided over by Indra.

             निस्सत्त्ववेगाः कुरुराजसैन्याः

                कुड्योपमास्तस्थुरनीहमानाः।

             रथादवप्लुत्य विराटपुत्रो

                वस्त्राण्युपादाय महारथानाम्।

             हारांश्च राज्ञां मणिभूषणानि

                तूर्णं पुनस्स्वं रथमारुरोह
॥

Bereft
of strength and force and without any volition, the soldiers of Duryodhana
stood like walls.  Jumping down from his
chariot, the son of Virata gathered the garments, necklaces and jewelled
ornaments of the kings and warriors (in Duryodhana’s army) and quickly mounted
his chariot again.

              गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रहसन्कुरूणां

                शङ्खं प्रदध्मौ च धनं
निवर्त्य।

              गुरूंश्च सर्वानभिवाद्य
बाणैः

                न्यवर्ततोदग्रमना महात्मा॥

Laughing
at the Kauravas, the great Gandiva-bowed Arjuna blew his conch; and recovering
the cattle and saluting all his elder with arrows, he returned in high spirits.

               ततो निवृत्ताः कुरवो
जग्मुस्ते हृतवाससः॥

Stripped
of their clothes, the Kauravas then turned back and went away.

              स विजित्य धनं चापि विराटो
वाहिनीपतिः।

              प्राविशन्नगरं हृष्टश्चतुर्भिस्सह
पाण्डवैः ॥

The
Virata king who commanded the army (which went to the Trigarta country) also
entered the city in glee along with the four Pandavas, after winning back the
cattle.

             अथोत्तरेण प्रहिता दूतास्ते
शीघ्रगामिनः।

             विराटनगरं प्राप्य जयं
प्रावेदयंस्तदा ॥

Then,
the swift messengers sent by Uttara reached the Virata capital  and announced the victory.

            

       इतिकर्तव्यतां सर्वं
मन्त्रयित्वा तु पाण्डवाः ।

             न्यवसंश्चैव तां रात्रिं
धर्मज्ञा धर्मवत्सलाः ॥

Consulting
and settling the course of action, the Pandavas who knew and loved Dharma
passed that night.

            
ततो द्वितीये दिवसे भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः।

             युधिष्ठिरं पुरस्कृत्य
भूमिपालासनेषु ते ।

             निषेदुः पावकप्रख्यास्सत्रे
धिष्ण्येष्विवाग्नयः ॥

On
the second day then, the five fire-like Pandava brothers, with Yudhishthira at
their head, sat on royal seats, like fires in the altars in a sacrifice.

             आजगाम सभां राजा उत्तरेण
सह [प्रभो]।

             स तान्दृष्ट्वा राजवेषान्
पार्थिवो विस्मितोऽभवत् ॥

The
king came to the court hall with Uttara and was wonder-struck when he saw them
in royal dress.

            स्मयमानोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यमर्जुनःपरविरहा।

Smiling,
Arjuna, the destroyer of enemy warriors, said:

           ‘अयं कुरूणामृषभः कुन्तीपुत्रो
युधिष्ठिरः।

           य एष वललो भीमो भीमवेगपराक्रमः।

           यश्चासीदश्वबन्धस्ते नकुलोऽयं
परंतप।

           गोसंख्यस्सहदेवश्च सैरन्ध्री
द्रौपदी प्रिया॥

  “You who inflict woes on your enemies! this
is the chief of the Kuru house, the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira; this Valala is
Bhima of terrible force and strength; this, who was your groom, is Nakula; the
cowherd is Sahadeva; and Sairandhri, our beloved wife, Draupadi.”

        

           ततोऽर्जुनस्य वैराटिः कथयामास
विक्रमम्।

           तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मत्स्यराजः
प्रतापवान्।

           धनञ्जयं परिष्वज्य युधिष्ठिरमथाब्रवीत्॥

Then,
Virata’s son, Uttara, told Virata of Arjuna’s exploits.  Hearing those words of his son, the valorous
king of the Matsyas, embraced Arjuna and said to Yudhishthira:

              ‘दिष्ट्या भवन्तस्संप्राप्तास्सर्वे
कुशलिनो वनात्।

              उत्तरां प्रतिगृह्णातु
सव्यसाची धनञ्जयः।

              अयं ह्यौपयिको भर्ता
तस्याः पुरुषसत्तमः॥

It
is fortunate that you have all come from the forest hale and healthy.  Let Arjuna, (the archer), who shoots arrows
with both hands, accept as wife Uttara (my daughter); this best of men is the
proper husband for her.”

               एवमुक्तो धर्मराजः पार्थमैक्षद्धनञ्जयम्।

               ईक्षितं चार्जुनो ज्ञात्वा
मात्स्यं वचनमब्रवित्॥

So
told, YudhiShthira looked at Arjuna. Understanding the look, Arjuna said these words
to the Matsya king:

             ‘प्रतिगृह्णाम्यहं राजन्
स्नुषां दुहितरं तव।

             अन्तःपुरेऽहमुषितो विश्वस्ता
पितृवन्मयि।

             आचार्यवच्च मां नित्यं
मन्यते दुहिता तव।

             स्वस्रीयो वासुदेवस्य
साक्षाद्देवसुतो यथा।

             अभिमन्युर्महाबाहुः पुत्रो मम विशांपते।

             जामाता तव युक्तो वै भर्ता
च दुहितुस्तव॥

“King,
I shall accept your daughter as my daughter-in-law.  I have lived in the harem and she has moved
with me in confidence as with a father; also, your daughter regards me as her
teacher.  Nephew of Krishna and looking
verily like the son of god, my son, the mighty Abhimanyu is a fitting
son-in-;law for you and a fitting husband for your daughter.

          

              दूतान् सर्वेषु मित्रेषु वासुदेवे च [भारत]।

              प्रेषयामास कौन्तेयो
विराटश्च महीपतिः

Yudhishthira
and king Virata sent messengers to all their friends and to Krishna.

             युद्धात्प्रयाता कुरवो
हि मार्गे

                समादिशन्दूतमथो समग्राः।

             स चाब्रवीद्धर्मराजं
समेत्य   

                युधिष्ठिरं पाण्डवमुग्रवीर्यम्॥

Departing
from the battle, the Kauravas, all of them, commissioned then a messenger while
on the way.  The messenger reached
Yudhishthira and told that son of Pandu of formidable heroism;

             धनञ्जयेनासि पुनर्वनाय

               प्रव्राजितस्समये तिष्ठ
पार्थ।

             त्रयोदशे ह्येष किरीटमाली

               संवत्सरे पाण्डवेयोऽद्य
दृष्टः॥

“Yudhishthira,
you have again been banished to the forest through Arjuna; abide by the condition;
even in the (course of the) thirteenth year, Arjuna has been, just now, found
out.”

             ततोऽब्रवीद्धर्मसुतः प्रहस्य

                क्षिप्रं गत्वा ब्रूहि
सुयोधनं तम्।

             पितामहश्शान्तनवो ब्रवीतु

               पूर्णो न पूर्णोऽद्य
त्रयिदशो नः ॥

Yudhishthira  then said laughing: “ Go quick and tell that
Duryodhana: ‘Let our grandfather Bhishma say whether our thirteenth year is now
completed or not.”

              तेनैवमुक्तस्स निवृत्य दूतो

               दुर्योधनं प्राप्य शशंस
सत्त्वम्॥

So
directed by Yudhishthira, the messenger returned and reaching Duryodhana stated
the fact.

             संमन्त्र्य रात्रौ बहुभिस्सुहृद्भिः

                भीष्मोऽब्रवीद्धार्तराष्ट्रं
महात्मा।

             ’तीर्णप्रतिज्ञेन धनञ्जयेन

                विस्फारितं गाण्डिवमाजिमध्ये।

             नैच्छन्त्यसत्येन सुरेन्द्रलोकं

                पाण्डोस्सुता ब्रह्मणश्चापि
लोकम् ॥

Consulting
with the many friends in the night, the high-souled Bhishma told Duryodhana:
“The Gandiva was twanged in the midst of the battle by Arjuna who had observed
the condition (of twelve years of exile and a year of incognito life).  The sons of Pandu do not want to enjoy the
world of the king of gods or even the world of Brahma through untruth.”

              सञ्चिन्त्य सर्वे सहितास्सुहृद्भि-

               स्सपार्थिवास्स्वानि
गृहाणि जग्मुः ॥

After
thinking this over well, all of them, with their friends and king Duryodhana,
went to their homes.

             ततस्त्रयोदशे वर्षे निवृत्ते
पञ्च पाण्डवाः।

             उपप्लाव्ये विराटस्य वासं
चक्रुः पुरोत्तमे॥

Then,
when the thirteenth year had ended, the five Pandavas took their abode in the
excellent city of Upaplavya in Virata’s territory.

            तस्मिन्काले निशम्याथ दूतवाक्यं
जनार्दनः।

            अभिमन्युं समादाय रामेण
सहितस्तदा।

            सर्वयादवमुख्यैश्च विराटनगरं
ययौ ॥

At
that time, hearing the words of the messenger, Krishna, taking along Abhimanyu
and accompanied by Balarama and all the chief Yadavas, went to the city of the
Virata king.

            मात्स्येन सहितास्सर्वे
प्रत्युद्याता जनार्दनम्।

            ववन्दुः पादयोस्सर्वे आनन्दाश्रुपरिप्लुताः॥

Along
with the king of Matsyas, all the Pandavas went forth to receive Krishna and
overflowing with tears of joy, they bowed at his feet.

            पाण्डवाः-

            तव कृष्ण प्रसादाद्वै वर्षाण्येतानि
सर्वशः।

            उषितास्मो जगन्नाथ त्वं नाथो नो
जनार्दन।

            रक्षस्व देवदेवेश त्वामार्यं
शरणं गताः ॥

Pandavas-

“Krishna,
by your grace, we have lived through all these years; you are our lord; master
of the god of gods, protect us; noble Krishna, we have taken refuge under you.”

           तान्वन्दमानान्सहसा परिष्वज्य
जनार्दनः।

           यथार्हं पूजयामास मुदा परमया
युतः॥

Embracing
at once the Pandavas who were saluting him, Krishna honoured them as befitting
them, with greatest joy.

          कृष्णा च देवकीपुत्रं ववन्दे
पादयोस्तथा।

          तामुद्यम्य सुकेशान्तां नयने
परिमृज्य च।

          उवाच वाक्यं देवेशस्सर्वयादवसन्निधौ॥

Similarly,
Draupadi also bowed at the feet of Krishna. 
Lifting that Draupadi of fine tresses, and wiping the tears off her
eyes, Krishna said in the presence of all the Yadavas:

          “मा शोकं कुरु कल्याणि धार्तराष्ट्रान्समाहितान्।

          अचिरात् पातयित्वाऽहं पार्थेन
सहितः क्षितिम्।

          युधिष्ठिराय दास्यामि यातु
ते मानसो ज्वरः ॥

“Blesses
lady! Grieve not; I, along with Arjuna, will kill before long all the sons of
Dhritarashtra united together and give the kingdom to Yudhishthira; let your
mental anguish disappear.”

         ततश्शङ्खा मृदङ्गाश्च नेदुर्मात्स्यस्य
वेश्मनि।

Then,
conches and drums sounded in the palace of the Matsya King.

          विराटो नृपतिश्श्रीमान् सौभद्रायाभिमन्यवे
।

          तां सुतामुत्तरां दत्त्वा
मुमुदे परमं तदा ॥

The
king of Virata of vast riches rejoiced very much at that time, giving his
daughter Uttara in marriage to Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra.

              ॥ इति विराटपर्व समाप्तम्॥

              THUS
ENDS VIRATA PARVA                        

  

                 

                            

         

          

  

     

        

        

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

                                   

                         अथ वनपर्व

                       VANA PARVA

                         एवं द्यूतजिताः पार्था
निर्ययुर्गजसाह्वयात्।

                    उदङ्मुखाः शस्त्रभृतः प्रययुस्सह
कृष्णया।

         एतान्भृत्या अनुययुस्स्त्रिय
आदाय सर्वशः॥

Conquered
thus in the game of dice, the sons of Kunti went out of the city of
Hastinapura.  Bearing their arms, they
went northward, with Draupadi.  Their
servants followed them taking all the ladies (of the Pandavas).

          व्रजतस्तान्विदित्वा तु पौराश्शोकाभिपीडिताः।

          साधु गच्छामहे सर्वे यत्र
गच्छन्ति पान्डवाः।

          एवमुक्त्वाऽनुजग्मुस्ते पाण्डवांस्तान्समेत्य
च ॥

Learning that
the Pandavas were departing, the sorrow-stricken citizens said: “Well, we will
go where the Pandavas go,” and followed them in a body.

       

          युधिष्ठिरः-

          ’भीष्मः पितामहो राजा विदुरो
जननी च मे।

          सुहृज्जनश्च प्रायो मे नगरे
नागसाह्वये ॥

Yudhishthira-

“Our
grandfather Bhishma, king Dhritarashtra, Vidura, my mother Kunti and most of my
friends are in the city of Hastinapura.”

         ‘ते त्वस्मद्धितकामार्थं पालनीया प्रयत्नतः।

         निवर्ततागता दूरं समागमनकाङ्क्षिणः॥’

“ For the love you have for our good, all of
them must be protected (by you) with effort. 
You have come far; go back

(and be) awaiting (our) return.”

         
अथानुमन्त्रितास्तेन ताः प्रजाः परमातुराः।

         
अकामास्सन्न्यवर्तन्त, रथमास्थाय पाण्डवाः।

          प्रययुः काम्यकं नाम वनं मुनिजनप्रियम् ॥

So requested by Yudhishthira, those intensely
afflicted subjects returned against their wish.   And the Pandavas, riding their chariots,
went to the forest named Kamyaka, dear to ascetics.

         
तत्र ते न्यवसन्वीरा वने बहुमृगद्विजे।

         
अन्वास्यमाना मुनिभिस्सान्त्व्यमानाश्च [भारत]॥

There, in that forest abounding in beast and
bird, the heroic Pandavas lived in the company of ascetics, soothed by them.

           भोजाः प्रव्रजिताच्छ्रुत्वा वृष्णयश्चान्धकैस्सह।

          
पाण्डवान्दुःखसन्तप्तान् समाजग्मुर्महावने ।

          
पाञ्चालस्य च दायादः, क्रोधामर्षसमन्विताः।

          
वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे ते क्षत्रियर्षभाः।

          
परिवार्योपविविशुर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्॥

Hearing that the Pandavas had gone into exile,
the Bhojas and the Vrishnis, along with the Andhakas, came to the Pandavas who
were suffering in sorrow, in the big forest; and the son of the Panchala king
(Dhrishtadyumna) also came.  With Krishna
at their head, all those indignant Kshatriya chiefs sat, surrounding the
righteous Yudhishthira.          

         
द्रौपदी-

          “वासुदेव हृषीकेश त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।

          
सा तेऽहं दुःखमाख्यास्ये प्रणयान्मधुसूदन॥

Draupadi-

“Immanent and transcendent God, Lord of
our senses, in you is everything established. 
To you, Krishna, I speak my grief out of our friendship.’

          
“कथं नु भार्या पर्थानां तव कृष्ण सखी विभो।

           
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य भगिनी सभां कृष्येत मादृशी ॥

“Lord, how can one like me, the wife of
the Pandavas, a friend of yours, Krishna, and the sister of Dhrishtadyumna, be
dragged into the assembly?

             ‘दासभावेन मां भोक्तुमीयुस्ते
मधुसूदन’।

Krishna, they wanted to enjoy me, keeping
me as a servant!

 
            शाश्वतोऽयं धर्मपथस्सद्भिराचरितस्सदा।

           
यद् भार्यां परिरक्षन्ति भर्तारोऽल्पबला अपि॥

“That husbands, even of little strength,
protect their wives, is the eternal way of Dharma followed by good men.”

         
नन्विमे शरणं प्राप्तं न त्यजन्ति कदाचन।

         
ते मां शरणमापन्नां नान्वपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः॥

“These Pandavas never forsake one who
seeks them as refuge!

They did not come to rescue me who had
taken shelter under them!”

             अधर्मेण हृतं राज्यं सर्वे
दासाः कृतास्तथा।

             सभायां परिकृष्टाऽहमेकवस्त्रा
रजस्वला।

             धिग्बलं भीमसेनस्य धिक्
पार्थस्य च पौरुषम्॥

“Unrighteously, the
kingdom has been snatched away; in the same unrighteous manner, every one (of
us) has been made a

slave; unwell and clad in
a single garment, I have been dragged into the assembly! Fie upon Bhima’s
strength! Fie on Arjuna’s manliness!”

             ‘कुले महति जाताऽस्मि
दिव्येन विधिना किल।

              केशग्रहमनुप्राप्ता का
नु जीवेत मादृशी ॥

“I was born in a great family and, it is
said, in a divine manner.  And I have
been dragged by my hair! Which woman in my state would (still) be alive?”

             “नैव मे पतयस्सन्ति न
पुत्रा न च बान्धवाः।

              न भ्रातरो न च पिता नैव
त्वं मधुसूदन॥“

“I have no husbands, no sons, no kinsmen,
no brothers, no father, not even you, Krishna.”

              चतुर्भिः कारणैः कृष्ण
त्वया रक्ष्याऽस्मि नित्यशः।

              संबन्धात् गौरवात्सख्यात्
प्रभुत्वेनैव केशव ॥

“For four reasons , Krishna, I must be
protected by you always –

for kinship, for honour, for friendship
and above all, for the reason that you are the all-powerful Lord,
Krishna.”      

      
  

         
कृष्णः-

         
’यत्समर्थं पाण्डवानां तत्करिष्यामि मा शुचः।

          
सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि राज्ञां राज्ञी भविष्यसि॥

Krishna-

“What must be done for the Pandavas, I
will do; grieve not; I promise you in truth; you will become the queen of
kings.”

       
   नैतत्कृच्छ्रमनुप्राप्तो
भवान्स्यात् वसुधाधिप।

          
यद्यहं द्वारकायां स्यां राजन्सन्निहितः पुरा॥

(Addressing Yudhishthira) – “King, had I
been  present in Dwaraka then, you would
not have come to this pass.”

          
आगच्छेयमहं द्यूतमनाहूतोऽपि कौरवैः।

          
वारयेयमहं द्यूतं बहून्दोषान्प्रदर्शयन् ॥

“I would have come to that game of dice,
though not invited by the Kauravas; pointing out (its) many evils, I would have
prevented the game.

           
स्त्रियोऽक्षा मृगया पानमेतत्कामसमुत्थितम्।

           
दुःखं चतुष्टयं प्रोक्तं यैर्नरो भ्रश्यते श्रियः॥

“Women, gambling, hunting and drinking, –
these are said to be the four vices born of passion, by which man is thrown
down from prosperity.”

                “एकाहात् द्रव्यनाशोऽत्र
ध्रुवं व्यसनमेव च।

                 अभुक्तनाशश्चार्थानां
वाक्पारुष्यं च केवलम्॥“

“By this will result loss
of property in a day and certain grief; and loss of wealth, without one
enjoying it and mere violence of words.”

                 एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुः
कौरवं पुरुषोत्तमः।

                 सुभद्रामभिमन्युं
च रथमारोप्य काञ्चनम्।

                 द्वारकां प्रययौ कृष्णः,
धृष्टद्युम्नोऽपि पार्षतः।

                 द्रौपदेयानुपादाय
प्रययौ स्वपुरं तदा॥

Having told Yudhishthira
thus, the mighty Krishna, the best among men, left for Dwaraka,  taking with him Subhadra and Abhimanyu in his
golden chariot.   And Dhrishtadyumna, son
of Drupada, also departed for his city, taking the sons of Draupadi.

                पुण्यं द्वैतवनं रम्यं
विविशुर्भरतर्षभाः॥

The illustrious scions of Bharata, the
Pandavas, entered the holy and beautiful Dvaita forest.

                अथ कृष्णा धर्मराजमिदं
वचनमब्रवीत्॥

Then, Draupadi addressed these words to
Yudhishthira.

             “नूनं च तव नैवास्ति मन्युर्भरतसत्तम।

             यत्ते भ्रातॄंश्च मां
चैव दृष्ट्वा न व्यथते मनः॥“

“ you best of the Bharatas! Surely, you
have no indignation, you whose mind is not pained on seeing your brothers and
me.”

         
                  

      
     ‘नेह धर्मानृशंस्याभ्यां न क्षान्त्या
नार्जवेन च।

            पुरुषः श्रियमाप्नोति न घृणित्वेन
कर्हिचित्॥’

“Not by Dharma and
kindness, not by forbearance, not by straightforwardness, and never by being
compassionate, does a man attain prosperity in this world.”

          तवेममापदं दृष्ट्वा समृद्धिं
च सुयोधने।

          धातारं गर्हये पार्थ विषमं
योऽनुपश्यति॥

“Son of Kunti! Seeing
this calamity of yours and the prosperity of Duryodhana, I blame the Creator
who views with partiality.”

          युधिष्ठिर:-

          नाहं धर्मफलाकाङ्क्षी राजपुत्रि
चराम्युत।

         
धर्म एव मनः कृष्णे स्वभावाच्चैव मे धृतम्।

          न धर्मफलमाप्नोति यो धर्मं
दोग्धुमिच्छति॥

Yudhishthira-

“Princess! I do not
observe [Dharma] expecting fruit out of it. By my very nature, my mind is set
on Dharma only, Draupadi.  He who exploits
Dharma misses its true purpose.”

       ‘धर्म एव प्लवो नान्यस्स्वर्गं
द्रौपदि गच्छताम्।

        ईश्वरं चापि भूतानां धातारं
मा च वै क्षिप ॥’

“Draupadi! To those who
go to heaven, Dharma alone is the boat (that will take them), nothing
else.  And do not traduce the Lord who is
the creator of all beings.”

       द्रौपदी-

       ’नावमन्ये न गर्हे च धर्मं पार्थ
कथञ्चन।

       ईश्वरं कुत एवाहमवमंस्ये प्रजापतिम्।

       अतोऽहं प्रलपामीदमिति मां विद्धि [भारत] ॥

Draupadi-

“Son of Kunti! I do not
insult or abuse Dharma in any manner; why should I insult the Lord who is the
father of beings?  Afflicted, I prattle
this. Understand me so.”

        भीमः-

        ’भवतोऽनुविधानेन राज्यं नः
पश्यतां हृतम्।

        भवान्धर्मो  धर्म इति सततं व्रतकर्शितः।

        क्षत्रियस्य विशेषेण धर्मस्तुबलमौरसम्।

        स्वधर्माद्धि मनुष्याणां चलनं
न प्रशस्यते ।

        तस्माच्छत्रुवधे राजन् क्रियतां निश्चयस्त्वया॥’

Bhima-

“Through our  obedience to you, our kingdom has been
snatched away before our very eyes. Saying ‘Dharma, Dharma’, you emaciate
yourself with austerities.  The special
dharma of a kshatriya is bodily strength. 
Swaying from one’s Dharma is not praiseworthy for men.  Therefore, king, may you decide upon killing
our foes.”

          युधिष्ठिर:-

          ’धर्मस्य जानमानोऽहं गतिमन्यां
सुदुर्विदाम्।

          कथं बलात्करिष्यामि मेरोरिव
विवर्तनम्॥

Yudhishthira-

“Knowing as I do the
lofty and very inscrutable way of Dharma, how can I force Dharma any more than
turn the Meru around?”

          ‘राजानः पार्थिवाश्चैव येऽस्माभिरुपतापिताः।

          ते श्रिताः कौरवं पक्षं जातस्नेहाश्च
सांप्रतम्।

          अशक्तो ह्यसहायेन हन्तुं
दुर्योधनस्त्वया ॥‘

The kings who had been
put to trouble by us have joined the side of the Kauravas and are now attached
(to them).  Duryodhana cannot be killed
by you unaided.

          ‘न निद्रामधिगच्छामि चिन्तयानो
वृकोदर।

          अति सर्वान्धनुर्ग्राहान् सूतपुत्रस्य
लाघवम्॥

“Bhima, thinking of the
dexterity of Karna that is above all archers, I do not get sleep.”

          एतद्वचनमाज्ञाय भीमसेनोऽत्यमर्षणः।

          बभूव शान्तिसंयुक्तो गुरोर्वचनवारितः
॥

Understanding these words
and checked by his elder’s words, Bhima who was very furious, became calm.

      तयोस्संवदतोरेवं तदा पाण्डवयोर्द्वयोः।

      आजगाम महायोगी व्यासस्सत्यवतीसुतः॥

As these two sons of
Pandu were thus conversing, there arrived Vyasa, the great Yogin, the son of
Satyavati.

      व्यासः-

       यत्ते भयममित्रघ्न हृदि संपरिवर्तते।

       तत्तेऽहं नाशयिष्यामि विधिदृष्टेन
हेतुना॥

Vyasa-

“Destroyer of enemies!
The fear that is revolving in your heart, I will end by a duly prescribed
device.”

       विद्यां प्रतिस्मृतिर्नाम प्रपन्नाय ब्रवीमि ते।

       यामवाप्य महाबाहुरर्जुनस्साधयिष्यति।

       अस्त्रहेतोर्महन्द्रं च रुद्रं
चैवाभिगच्छतु।

       वनादस्माच्च कौन्तेय वनमन्यद्विचिन्त्यताम्॥

“To you who have sought
me, I will communicate a Vidya named Pratismriti, obtaining which the mighty
Arjuna will achieve success; let him seek Indra and Siva for obtaining divine
missiles.  Son of Kunti! Think also of
some forest other than this (for living in).”

      एवमुक्त्वा योगविद्यां स व्यासोऽन्तरधीयत।

      युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा वनाद्
द्वैतवनात्ततः।

      ययौ सरस्वतीकूले काम्यकं नाम
काननम्॥

After imparting thus the
Yoga vidya, Vyasa disappeared.  The
righteous Yudhishthira went from that Dwaita forest to the forest known as Kamyaka
on the banks of the Saraswati.

         संसृत्य मुनिसन्देशमर्जुनं [भरतर्षभ] ।

         अनुजज्ञे तदा वीरं भ्राता भ्रातरमग्रजः॥

Remembering the sage’s
behest, Yudhishthira, the eldest brother, permitted his heroic brother Arjuna
(to go and propitiate Indra and Siva).

        प्रातिष्ठत महाबाहुर्हिमवच्छिखरं
प्रति।

The valorous Arjuna started
towards a peak of the Himalayas.

        तपस्युग्रे वर्तमान उग्रतेजा
महामनाः।

        प्रसादयामास हरं पार्थः परपुरञ्जयः॥

Performing severe
penance, the intensely resplendent and lofty-minded Arjuna, the conqueror of
his enemies’ cities, propitiated Siva.

       तमुवाच महातेजाः प्रहसन् वृषभध्वजः।

       ’ददामि तेऽस्त्रं दयितमहं पाशुपतं
विभो’॥

Smiling, Siva of great
splendour told Arjuna “Sovereign, I give you this Pasupata missile that is dear
to you.”

       ततोऽर्जुनो महातेजा लोकपालान्समागतान्।

       पूजयामास विधिवल्लब्धास्त्रः
पुरुषर्षभः ॥

Then having obtained
missiles (from them), the very powerful Arjuna, the best among men, worshipped
in the prescribed manner all the guardian-gods of the world who had manifested
themselves together (to Arjuna)

          ततो ददर्श शक्रस्य पुरीं
ताममरावतीं।

          ददर्श साक्षाद्देवेशं शिरसाऽभ्यगमद्बली॥

The
powerful Arjuna then saw Amaravati, the city of Indra, met Indra in person and
bowed to him.

        गृहीतास्त्रस्तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातॄन्सस्मार
पाण्डवः।

After
receiving the missiles, Arjuna thought of his brothers.

         गते तु पाण्डवे [तात] काम्यकात्सव्यसाचिनि।

         मुदमप्राप्नुवन्तस्ते
वसन्तस्तत्र तत्र ह।

         ददृशुर्विविधाश्चर्यं कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम्।

         तस्याभ्याशे तु ददृशुर्नरनारायणाश्रमम्॥

 

After Arjuna left the
Kamyaka forest, the other Pandavas had no happiness; living in place after
place, they saw the greatest of mountains, the Kailasa of manifold wonders, and
in its vicinity, saw also the hermitage of Nara and Narayana.

        तत्र ते पुरुषव्याघ्रा धनञ्जय
दिदृक्षया।

        ऊषुर्नातिचिरं कालं गन्धमादनसानुषु
॥

There, in the table-lands
of the Gandhamadana, those illustrious men (the Pandavas) lived for some time,
wishing to see Arjuna.

        आगच्छदर्जुनः प्रीतो भ्रातृभिस्सह
संगतः ।

        कृष्णया वैव बीभत्सुर्धर्मराजमपूजयत्॥

Arjuna returned and
joined his brothers and
Draupadi in joy.  He paid his respects to
Yudhishthira.

        समेत्य पार्थेन यथैकरात्र-

          मूषुस्समास्तत्र तथा चतस्रः।

        पूर्वाश्च षट् ता दश पाण्डवानां

          शिवा बभूवुर्वसतां वनेषु॥

With Arjuna, they lived
there four years in such a manner that they passed away like a single
night.  For them who were living in the
forest, the six years they had spent previously, and these four, making ten
together, passed well.

          यथागतेनैव पथा समग्रा

            अतीत्य दुर्गं हिमवत्प्रदेशम्।

         ततोऽभ्ययुर्यामुनमद्रिराजं

            संवतसरं तत्र वने विजह्रुः॥

Crossing back the
impassable Himalayan region along the same route by which they went, all the
Pandavas then reached that part of the big mountain where the Jumna has its
source; and in the forest there, they lived for a year.

  

        ते द्वादशं वर्षमथोपयान्तं

          सरस्वतीमेत्य निवासकामाः।

        सरस्ततो द्वैतवनं प्रतीयुः

          सुखं विजह्रुः नरदेवपुत्राः॥

Desiring to proceed to
the Sarasvati and live there the twelfth year that was approaching, the princes
then proceeded to the lake in the Dvaita forest and spent their time happily.

         तत्रैव वसतां प्रावृडभ्यतीताऽभवच्छरत्।

         पर्वसन्धौ स्म तत्रासीत्कार्तिकी
[जनमेजय]।

         तमिस्राभ्युदये तस्मिन् काम्यकं
प्रययुर्वनम् ॥

To them living in that
same place, the rains passed and autumn came and (then) the autumnal full-moon night.
In the dark fortnight that followed, they left for the Kamyaka forest.

        ततस्तान्वसतस्तत्र सहितस्सत्यभामया।

        उपायाद्देवकीपुत्रो दिदृक्षुः
कुरुसत्तमान्॥

Then, accompanied by (his
wife) Satyabhama, the son of Devaki (Krishna) came to the Pandavas, the best of
the Kurus, living there (in the Kamyaka forest), wishing to see them.

        कृष्णः-

        धर्मः परः पाण्डव राज्यलाभात्।

           तस्यादिमाहुस्तप एव राजन्।

        सत्यार्जवाभ्यां चरतां स्वधर्मं

          जितस्त्वयाऽयं च परश्च लोकः॥

Krishna-

“King Yudhishthira,
Dharma is superior to the acquisition of a kingdom; of that Dharma, they say,
Tapas is the root; and by you who observe your Dharma with truthfulness and
honesty, this world, as well as the world beyond, has been conquered.

            सेना तवार्थेषु नरेन्द्र
यत्ता

              ससादिपत्त्यश्वरथा सनागा। 

            दाशार्हयोधैस्तु हतारियोधं

             
प्रतीक्षतां नागपुरं प्रभग्नम्॥

“King, with horsemen,
foot-soldiers, horses, chariots and elephants, the army is ready for your
purposes.  May you see the city of
Hastinapura razed, with the enemy warriors killed by my  Dasarha soldiers.”

            युधिष्ठिरः-

           ‘असंशयं केशव पाण्डवानां

               भवान्गतिस्त्वच्छरणा
हि पार्थाः।

            कालोदये तच्च ततश्च भूयः

              कर्ता भवान् कर्म न संशयोऽस्ति॥

Yudhishthira-

“Without any doubt,
Krishna, you are the refuge of the Pandavas; they have taken shelter under
you.  There is no doubt that when the
proper time comes you will do this and even more.

            ’यथा प्रतिज्ञं विहृतश्च
कालः

               सर्वास्समा द्वादश निर्जनेषु।

             अज्ञातचर्यां विधिवत्समाप्य

               भवद्गताः केशव पाण्डवेयाः
॥

“As undertaken, the
period, all the twelve years, has been spent in uninhabited forests; finishing
in the due manner the incognito life, the Pandavas will resort to you,
Krishna.”

            ततस्तैस्संविदं कृत्वा
द्रौपदीं परिसान्त्व्य च ।

            उपावर्त्य ततश्शीघ्रैर्हयैः प्रायात्परन्तपः
॥

After conversing with
them and consoling Draupadi, Krishna, the tormentor of his enemies, then
returned from that place and went (to Dwaraka) by swift horses.

           अनुज्ञातस्तु गान्धारिः
कर्णेन सहितस्तदा।

           संवृतो  भ्रातृभिस्स्त्रीभिस्तत्रतत्र वने
वसन्।

           जगाम घोषानभितस्तत्र चक्रे
निवेशनम्॥

At that time, permitted
(by his father) and surrounded by his brothers and ladies, Duryodhana, along
with Karna, staying at different places in the forest, went round the hamlets
of cowherds and camped there.

         

           यदृच्छया च तत्रस्थो धर्मपुत्रो
युधिष्ठिरः।

Accidentally,
Yudhishthira also was there.

  

           सेनाग्र्यं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य
गन्धर्वास्समवारयन्।

           तत्र गन्धर्वराजो वै पूर्वमेव
गणावृतः ॥

Gandharvas offered
resistance to the van of Duryodhana’s army. 
The king of the Gandharvas, surrounded by his retinue, had camped there
earlier.

      आपतन्तीं तु संप्रेक्ष्य गन्धर्वाणां
महाचमूम्।

      महता शरवर्षेण राधेयः प्रत्यवारयत्॥

Seeing the big army of
the Gandharvas rushing up, Karna stemmed it with a great shower of arrows.

        गन्धर्वैस्तु [महाराज] भग्ने कर्णे महारथे।

        दुर्योधनं चित्रसेनो जीवग्राहमथाग्रहीत्॥

When the great warrior
Karna was beaten back by the Gandharvas, Chitrasena (the Gandharva King)
captured Duryodhana alive.       

        ’गन्धर्वैर्ह्रियते राजा राजदाराश्च
सर्वशः।’

        इति दुर्योधनामात्याः क्रोशन्तो
राजगृद्धिनः।

        आर्ता दीनास्ततस्सर्वे युधिष्ठिरमुपागमन्॥

“King Duryodhana and all
his harem are being carried by the Gandharvas.” 
So cried Duryodhana’s ministers who loved their king.  Afflicted and miserable, all of them came to
yudhishthira.

        भीमः-

         ’अस्माभिर्यदनुष्ठेयं गन्धर्वैस्तदनुष्ठितम्।

         दिष्ट्या लोके पुमानस्ति कश्चिदस्मत्प्रिये
स्थितः॥

Bhima-

“What we ought to have
done, the Gandharvas have done.  Luckily,
there is someone in this world who stands for what is dear to us.”

           एवं ब्रुवाणं कौन्तेयमिति
राजाऽभ्यभाषत।

           ’भवन्ति भेदा ज्ञातीनां
ज्ञातिधर्मो न नश्यति।

            सुयोधनस्य मोक्षाय प्रयतध्वमतन्द्रिताः॥

King Yuhishthira told
Bhima who was talking thus: ”Differences do exist among kinsmen; (but) the duty
of kinsmen does not suffer (thereby). 
Strive without sloth to rescue Duryodhana.”

               

           ’परैः परिभवे प्राप्ते वयं
पञ्चोत्तरं शतम्।

           परस्परविरोधे तु वयं पञ्चैव
ते शतम्॥’

“When there is insults
from others, we are a hundred and five; when there is mutual quarrel, we are
five and they are hundred.”

           युधिष्ठिरवचश्श्रुत्वा समनह्यन्त
पाण्डवा:।

Hearing Yudhishthira’s  words, the Pandavas got ready for fight.

           ततस्सुतुमुलं युद्धं गन्धर्वाणां
तरस्विनाम्।

           बभूव भीमवेगानां पाण्डवानां
च [भारत]॥

Then, there was a very
thick battle between the powerful Gandharvas and the Pandavas of terrible
force.

          ततोऽर्जुनश्चित्रसेनं प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्।

          ’किं ते व्यवसितं वीर कौरवाणां
विनिग्रहे’

Then Arjuna said this to
Chitrasena, laughing: “You warrior, what may be your intentions in capturing
the Kauravas?”

        चित्रसेनः-

       ’वनस्थान्भवतो ज्ञात्वा क्लिश्यमानाननर्हवत्।

       इमेऽवहसितुं प्राप्ता द्रौपदीं
च यशस्विनीम्।

       वचनाद्देवराजस्य ततोऽस्मीहागतो द्रुतम्॥

Chitrasena-

“Knowing you who are
suffering without deserving, to be in this forest, these men, (Duryodhana and
others), came here to jeer at you and the glorious Draupadi. At the word of
Indra, I hastened here.”

         अजातशत्रुस्तच्छ्रुत्वा गन्धर्वस्य
वचस्तदा।

         मोक्षयामास तान्सर्वान् गन्धर्वान्प्रशशंस
च ॥

        

At that time,
Yudhishthira, hearing those words of the Gandharva (Chitrasena), liberated all
of them (Duryodhana and others) and praised the Gandharvas.

        ततो दुर्योधनं मुक्तमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

        ’मा स्म तात पुनः कार्षीरीदृशं
साहसं क्वचित्।

        गृहान्व्रज यथाकामं वैमनस्यं
च मा कृथाः ॥

Then, Yudhishthira told
the freed Duryodhana these words: “My dear Duryodhana, don’t venture thus again
anywhere; go home as you please; don’t be sorry.”

   

       पाण्डवेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा।

       विदीर्यमाणो व्रीडावान् जगाम
नगरं प्रति॥

Given leave by the
Pandavas, king Duryodhana, being torn as it were by shame, went towards his
city.

       पुनर्द्वैतवनं रम्यमाजगाम युधिष्ठिरः
।

       अजातशत्रुमासीनं भ्रातृभिस्सहितं
वने

       आगम्य ब्राह्मणस्तूर्णं सन्तप्तश्चेदमब्रवीत्॥

Yudhishthira came again
to the beautiful  Dwaita forest.  An afflicted 
Brahmin came in haste to Yudhishthira sitting along with his brothers in
that forest and said thus:

        ‘अरणीसहितं भाण्डं समासक्तं
वनस्पतौ।

        तमादाय गतो राजन्त्वरमाणो महामृगः।

        तस्य गत्वा पदं राजंस्तदानयत
पाण्डवाः॥

“A vessel containing the
Sami sticks used to kindle fire was hung in a tree. King, a big stage has taken
it and sped away.  Tracking it, king
(and) you Pandavas, bring it back (to me),

         ब्राह्मणार्थे यतन्तस्ते शीघ्रमन्वगमन्मृगम्।

         अपश्यन्तो मृगं श्रान्ता दुःखं
प्राप्ता मनस्विनः॥

         शीतलच्छागमागम्य न्यग्रोधं
समुपाविशन् ॥

Making effort in the task
of the Brahmin, the Pandavas   quickly
went after the deer.  Not finding it, the
resolute Pandavas, tired

and sad, came to a banyan
tree of cool shade and sat down.

        ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा नकुलं
वाक्यमब्रवीत्।

        पानीयमन्तिके पश्य तूणैः पानीयमानय॥

Then king Yudhishthira
said to Nakula “See if there is water near by and bring (some) water in the
quivers.”

         नकुलः प्राद्रवद्यत्र पानीयं
चान्वपद्यत।

         पातुकामस्ततो वाचमन्तरिक्षात्स
शुश्रुवे ॥

Nakula ran to where there
was water and approached it; then as he was desirous of drinking it, he heard
an aerial voice.

        यक्ष उचाच-

        ’मा तात साहसं कार्षीर्मम पूर्वपरिग्रहः।

        प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु माद्रेय
ततः पिब हरस्व च॥

A Yaksha said:

“Son, commit not any rash
act; (this pond)  is already in my
possession.  Son of Madri, having
answered my questions, drink and take water afterwards”

         अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं नकुलस्सुपिपासितः।

         अपिबच्छीतलं तोयं पीत्वा च
निपपात ह ॥

Disregarding the yaksha’s
words, the very thirsty Nakula drank the cool water and having drunk, fell down
(dead).

        सहदेवस्तथा तोयं पीत्वा च निपपात
ह ।

        सव्यसाची पिपासार्तः पीत्वैव
निपपात ह।

        भीमोऽभ्यधावत्पानीयं पीत्वैव
निपपात ह॥

Similarly, Sahadeva drank
the water and fell down; Arjuna, afflicted with thirst, drank and fell down;
Bhima ran to the water, drank and fell down.

          ततश्चिरागतान्भ्रातॄनथाज्ञाय
युधिष्ठिरः

          उपागम्य सरो दृष्ट्वा हतान्
भ्रातॄन् विलप्य च।

          पातुकामश्च तत्तोयमन्तरिक्षात्स
शुश्रुवे।

          प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु कौन्तेय
ततः पिब हरस्व च॥

Finding then that the
brothers had long been absent, Yudhishthira came to the lake, saw the brothers
killed and wept; and as he was about to drink, he heard a voice from the skies:
“Yudhishthira, after answering my questions drink and take water”

         युधिष्ठिरः-

         ’यथाप्रज्ञं तु ते प्रश्नान्प्रतिवक्ष्यामि
पृच्छ माम्॥

Yudhishthira-

“To the measure of my
knowledge, I will answer your questions; question me.”

[Click on the links below
for the questions posed by the Yaksha and the replies given by Yudhishthira].

Yaksha Prasna – I

https://stotram.lalitaalaalitah.com/2012/09/26/episodes-from-mahabharata-yaksha-prashna_3429/

Yaksha Prasna – II

https://stotram.lalitaalaalitah.com/2012/09/26/episodes-from-mahabharata-yaksha/

        
यक्षः-

         अहं ते जनकस्तात धर्मो मृदुपराक्रम।

         आरणेयमिदं तस्य ब्राह्मणस्य हृतं मया॥

         वर्षं त्रयोदशमिदं मत्प्रसादात्कुरूद्वहाः।

         विराटनगरे गूढा अविज्ञाताश्चरिष्यथ॥

         यद्वस्संकल्पितं रूपं तादृशं धारयिष्यथ।

         अरणीसहितं भाण्डं ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छत ॥

Yaksha-

“My son, you who are mild in the display
of your power! I am your father, God Dharma. 
These fire-rods of that Brahmin were carried away by me.
Kuru-scions!  by my grace you will spend
this thirteenth year, hidden and unknown, in the Virata capital.  Take such forms as you desire for
yourselves.  Hand over this vessel with
the fire-sticks to the Brahmin”

         इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तर्दधे धर्मः पाण्डवाश्च मनस्विनः।

         आरणेयं ददुस्तस्मै ब्राह्मणाय तपस्विने ॥

Having said so, God Dharma disappeared; and the
high-minded pandavas also gave the vessel with the sami sticks to that
austere Brahmin.

                
||इति वनपर्व समाप्तम्॥

         

              
THUS ENDS THE VANA PARVA

        

   

   

        

      

  

             

       

      

                               

t

    

    

  

       

 

  

 

 

           

                           

           
“   

     

   

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

॥    सभापर्व   ॥

           Pandavas
embrace forest life after losing all

            in a
second game of dice with Sakuni

            अथ दुर्योधनः कर्णश्शकुनिश्चापि
सौबलः।

            धृतराष्ट्रं त्वरायुक्ताश्श्लक्ष्णं
वचनमब्रुवन् ॥

Then Duryodhana, Karna and Sakuni hastened and said to Dhritarashtra
these artful words:

             दुर्योधनः-

             सर्वोपायैर्निहन्तव्याश्शत्रवश्शत्रुसूदन॥

Duryodhana-

“Destroyer of foes! Enemies must be killed by every means.”

             कुपिताः पाण्डवास्सर्वे
सेनायोगाय निर्ययुः॥

“The infuriated Pandavas, all of them, went out (from here) to collect
an army.

             ‘न क्षंस्यन्ते
तथाऽस्माभिर्जातु विप्रकृता हि ते।

              द्रौपद्याश्च
परिक्लेशं कस्तेषां क्षन्तुमर्हति ॥“

“Harmed by us in that manner, they (Pandavas) will never put up (with
that); Who amongst them will put up with Draupadi’s molestation?

              “अर्जुनेन समो
लोके नास्ति वीर्ये धनुर्धरः।

              अकारादीनि नामानि
अर्जुनग्रस्तचेतसः

              अश्वाक्षराम्बुजाश्चैव
त्रासं सञ्जनयन्ति मे ॥

“There is no archer in the world equal to Arjuna in valor.  To me, whose mind is possessed by Arjuna,
even names beginning with ‘A’ – ‘Asva’ (horse), ‘Akshara’ (letter), and
‘Ambuja’(conch) –produce fright.

           ‘द्यूते पार्थस्य [कौरव्य] मायया निकृतिः
कृता।

            तस्माद्धि नो जयस्तात अन्योपायेन
नो भवेत्॥

“Yudhishthira was deceived by trick in gambling; father, thence is our
victory; it could not have been secured by any other means.

           ‘पुनर्दीव्याम भद्रं ते वनवासाय
पाण्डवैः ।

            एवमेतान्वशे कर्तुं शक्ष्यामः
पुरुषर्षभ॥

“Most distinguished of men! May there be weal for you; with forest life
as the condition, we shall play again, thus shall we be able to keep them in
our control.”

      

           अयं हि शकुनिर्वेद सविद्यामक्षसम्पदम्
॥

“This Sakuni knows excellent gambling with the secret knowledge to
win.””

          ’दृढमूला वयं राज्ये मित्राणि
परिगृह्य च।

           जेष्यामस्तान्वयं राजन्
रोचतां ते परन्तप ॥

“Destroyer of foes! Established firm in our kingdom, and securing
allies, we shall conquer them; my this be acceptable to you, king”

          धृतराष्ट्रः-

         ’तूर्णं प्रत्यानयस्वैतान्
कामं व्यध्वगतानपि।

         आगच्छन्तु पुनर्द्यूतमिदं
कुर्वन्तु पाण्डवाः ॥

 Dhritarashtra-

 “Quickly bring them back, even if
they have gone very far on the road; let the Pandavas come and again play this
game of dice.”

        अथाब्रवीद्धर्मयुक्ता गान्धारी
शोककर्शिता॥

Then, the righteous Gandhari, emaciated in sorrow, told (Dhritarashtra).

        ‘मा कुलस्य क्षये घोरे कारणं
त्वं भविष्यसि।

        बद्धं सेतुं को नु भिन्द्यात्
धमेच्छान्तं च पावकम्।

        शमे स्थितान्को नु पार्थान्कोपयेद्भरतर्षभ।

        राजन्नयं मद्वचनात् त्यज्यतां
कुलपांसनः ॥’             

 
“Do not become the cause of the terrible destruction of our family; who will
break the dam that has been built? Who will blow up the extinguished fire ?
Illustrious scion of Bharata! who will infuriate the Pandavas who have settled
into peace? King! on my word, let this disgrace of our family, Duryodhana, be
abandoned.””

         धृतराष्ट्रः –

         .’अन्तः कामं कुलस्याशु न
शक्नोमि निवारितुम्।

          पुनर्द्यूतं च कुर्वन्तु
मामकाः पाण्डवैस्सह ॥’

Dhirtarashtra-

“By all means, let there be the end of the family; I am not able to
prevent (this); once more, let our (boys) play dice with the Pandavas”.

           ततो व्यध्वगतं पार्थं प्रतिकामी
युधिष्ठिरम्।

           उवाच वचनाद्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य
धीमतः ।

           ’एहि पाण्डव दीव्येति पिता
त्वाह नराधिपः ॥

Then, Pratikami, on the word of the wise king Dhritarashtra, told
Yudhishthira who had gone a long way on the road:  “Come Yudhishthira, play the dice,’ so said
your father, the king.”

            

           युधिष्ठिरः-

           धातुर्नियोगाद् भूतानि प्राप्नुवन्ति
शुभाशुभम्।

           अक्षद्यूते समाह्वानं नियोगात्स्थविरस्य
च।

           जानन्नपि क्षयकरं नातिक्रमितुमुत्सहे
॥

Yudhishthira-

“Beings obtain good and bad on on the dictate of Fate; I am not able to
disobey this call for gambling because of the command of the old man, though I
know it to be ruinous.”

            इति ब्रुवन्निववृते भ्रातृभिस्सह
पाण्डवः।

            जानंश्च शकुनेर्मायां पार्थो
द्यूतमियात्पुनः ॥

So saying, Yudhishthira, returned with his brothers; knowing the fraud
of Sakuni, Yudhishthira went to play again.

            शकुनिः-

            वयं वा द्वादशाब्दानि युष्माभिर्द्यूतनिर्जिताः।

            प्रविशेम महारण्यं रौरवाजिनवाससः।

            त्रयोदशं च स्वजनैरज्ञाताः
परिवत्सरम्।

            ज्ञाताश्च पुनरन्यानि वने
वर्षाणि द्वादश॥

            अस्माभिर्निर्जिता यूयं
वने द्वादश वत्सरान्।

            वसध्वं कृष्णया सार्धमजिनैः
प्रतिवासिताः।

            त्रयोदशं च स्वजनैरज्ञाताः
परिवत्सरम्।

            ज्ञाताश्च पुनरन्यानि वने
वर्षाणि द्वादश।

            अनेन व्यवसायेन पुनर्दीव्यस्व
भारत ॥

Sakuni –

“ If defeated by you, we shall go into the
great forest, clad in deerskin, for twelve years; also we shall live the whole
of the thirteenth year, unknown to our kinsmen’ and if we are discovered we
shall live in the forests for another twelve years.  If you are defeated by us, you shall, along
with Draupadi, live in the forests for tweleve years; clad in deerskin; also
the whole of the thirteenth year, unknown to your kinsmen; and if you are
discovered you shall live in the forests for another twelve years. With this
resolve, play again, your scion of Bharata.

            
एवं दैवबलादिष्टो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः

            
भीष्मद्रोणावार्यमाणो विदुरेण च धीमता।

            
गान्धार्या पृथया चैव द्रौपद्या द्रोणिना तथा।

            
वार्यमाणोऽपि सततं शकुनिं प्रत्यभाषत।

            
एवं भवत्विति तदा ग्लहं जग्राह सौबलः।

            
जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत॥

Possessed thus by the power of Fate,
Yudhishthira, though incessantly prevented by Bhishma, Drona, the wise Vidura,
Gandhari, Kunti, Draupadi and Ashwathaman, replied to Sakuni: ‘Be it so’.  At that time, Sakuni took the dice and simply
told Yudhishthira: “Won.”

      
 अजिनैस्संवृतान्दृष्ट्वा
हतराज्यानरिन्दमान्।

       
प्रस्थितान्वनवासाय ततो दुश्शासनोऽब्रवीत्॥

Then, seeing the Pandavas, who could quell
their foes, start for the forest-life,  wrapped in skins and deprived of their
kingdom, Dussasana said:

       

       
‘प्रवृत्तं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य चक्रं राज्ञो महात्मनः।

       
पराजिता हृतधना वनमेष्यति पाण्डवाः ॥

“The role of the great king Duryodhana has
begun; vanquished and deprived of their wealth, the Pandavas are going to the
forest.

        
‘महाप्राज्ञस्सौमकिर्यज्ञसेनः

          
कन्यां पाञ्चालीं पाण्डवेभ्यः प्रदाय।

        
अकार्षीद्वै सुकृतं नेह किञ्चित्

          
क्लीबाः पार्थाः पतयो याज्ञसेन्याः ॥

“Most unfortunate in this world has that
very wise descendant of the Somaka race, king Drupada, become by giving his
daughter Draupadi to the Pandavas; eunuchs are the Pandavas, the husbands of
Draupadi.”

     
सूक्ष्मप्रावारानजिनोत्तरीयान्

        
दृष्ट्वाऽरण्ये निर्धनानप्रतिष्ठान्।

     
कां त्वं प्रीतिं लप्स्यसे याज्ञसेनि

       
पतिं वृणीष्वेह यमन्यमिच्छसि॥

“Seeing the Pandavas in the forest with
little clothing, with skins as upper wear, without riches and without position,
what pleasure would you derive, daughter of king Drupada?  Choose as husband any other person here whom
you desire.”

         
भीमः-

          ’क्रूर पापजनैर्जुष्टमकृतार्थं प्रभाषसे।

         
गान्धारविद्यया हि त्वं राजमध्ये विकत्थसे॥

Bhima-

“Wicked fellow, you talk what evil men are
accustomed to; you talk in vain. By the magic skill of Sakuni it is that you
brag in the midst of kings.”

        
‘यथा तुदसि मर्माणि वाक्शरैरिह नो भृशम्।

         
तथा स्मारययिता तेऽहं कृन्तन्मर्माणि संयुगे॥

“Even as you now pierce our vitals with
your word-shafts, I will tear your vitals in battle and remind you of this.“

       
‘नृशंस परुषं वक्तुं शक्यं दुश्शासन त्वया।

       
निकृत्या हि धनं लब्ध्वा को विकत्थितुमर्हसि॥

“Wicked Dussasana, it is possible for you
to talk rudely? Obtaining wealth through fraud, who can boast?

           
‘धार्तराष्ट्रान् रणे हत्वा मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम्।

           
शमं गन्तास्मि न चिरात् सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते ॥

“Before all the archers wide awake, I will,
ere long, kill the sons of Dhritaraashtra in battle and calm myself; this I
tell you in sooth.”

          
“अहं दुर्योधनं हन्ता कर्णं हन्ता धनञ्जयः।

          
शकुनिं चाक्षकितवं सहदेवो हनिष्यति ॥

“ I shall kill Duryodhana; Arjuna shall
kill Karna; and the rogue with the dice, Sakuni, Sahadeva shall kill.”

          
“सुयोधनमिमं पापं हन्तास्मि गदया युधि।

          
शिरः पादेन चास्याहमधिष्ठास्यामि भूतले ॥

“I shall kill this evil Duryodhana in
battle with my mace; and upon his head (lying) on the ground, I shall set my foot.”

          
“वाक्यशूरस्य चैवास्य परुषस्य दुरात्मनः।

          
दुश्शासनस्य रुधिरं पातास्मि मृगराडिव॥“

“And of this rude and wicked Dussasana,
brave only in words, I shall drink the blood, like a lion.”

         
अर्जुनः-

          
“नैवं वाचा व्यवसितं भीम विज्ञायते सताम्।

           
इतश्चतुर्दशे वर्षे द्रष्टारो यद् भविष्यति ॥  

Arjuna-

“Bhima, not in this manner through words is
the resolve of great men known; in the fourteenth year from to-day, they shall
see what is going to happen.”

     
  एवं ते पुरुषव्याघ्रास्सर्वे
व्यायतबाहवः।

   प्रतिज्ञा बहुलाः कृत्वा
वनायैव प्रवव्रजुः ॥

Making many such vows,
those best of men, the long-armed Pandavas, all of them went into exile in the
forest.

               || इति सभापर्वं समाप्तम्॥

             THUS ENDS THE SABHA
PARVA 

    

               

   

      

 

 

 

           

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

॥    सभापर्व   ॥

           Krishna saves Drauapadi’s modesty, Dhritarashtra
restores

           to Pandavas all that they had lost
in gambling.

            शकुनिः-

         ’बहुवित्तं पराजैषीर्भ्रातॄंश्च
सहयद्विपान्।

         आचक्ष्व वित्तं कौन्तेय यदि
तेऽस्त्यपराजितम् ॥’ 

Sakuni-

“ You have lost much
wealth, your brothers, as well as horses and elephants; Yudhishthira, tell me
if you have any wealth that has not been won (by me).”

         युधिष्ठिरः –

         ’अहं विशिष्टस्सर्वेषां  भ्रातॄणां दयितस्तथा।

         कुर्यामहं जितः कर्म स्वयमात्मन्युपप्लुते॥

“ I am superior to all
the brothers and dear to them. I will do service when I am won and myself am
enslaved.“

      

            जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत ।

   Sakuni simply said to Yudhishthira “Won.”

      

           शकुनिः-

           एतत्पापिष्ठमकरोः यदात्मानं
पराजयेः।

           शिष्टे सति धने राजन् पाप आत्मपराजयः
॥

Sakuni-

“This
is most sinful that you should have lost yourself.  King, losing oneself when property yet
remains is sinful”

      “अस्ति ते वै प्रिया राजन् ग्लह
एकोऽपराजितः।

       पणस्व कृष्णां पाञ्चालीं  तयाऽऽत्मानं पुनर्जय ॥

“
King, there is your wife, a wager not yet lost; stake Draupadi and win back
thine own self.”

      युधिष्ठिरः-

      ’यादृशीं धर्मकामार्थसिधिमिच्छेन्नरस्स्त्रियम्।

      तयैवंविधया राजन् पाञ्चाल्याऽहं
सुमध्यया।

      ग्लहं दीव्यामि चार्वङ्ग्या द्रौपद्या
हन्त सौबल॥“

“Alas!
Sakuni, with her who is such a woman as man would like to have for the
realisation of Dharma, Artha and Kama – with such a woman of fine waist and
lovely limbs, the daughter of the king of Panchalas, as bet, I play”

       एवमुक्ते तु वचने धर्मराजेन
धीमता।

       धिग्धिगित्येव वृद्धानां सभ्यानां
निस्सृता गिरः ॥

When
such words were spoken by the wise Yudhishthira, voices of  ’Fie,fie’` arose from the elders among those
assembled there.

       चुक्षुभे च सभा [राजन्] राज्ञां संजज्ञिरे
शुचः।

       भीष्मद्रोणकृपादीनां स्वेदश्च
समजायत ॥

The
assembly became agitated; the kings became afflicted; Bhishma, Drona, Krupa and
others perspired.

        शिरो  गृहीत्वा  विदुरो गतसत्त्व इवाभवत्।

        आस्ते ध्यायन्नधोवक्त्रो निश्वसन्निव
पन्नगः ॥

Holding
his head, Vidura looked like one whose life had departed; hanging down his face
and sighing like a serpent, he was immersed in thought.

        धृतराष्ट्रस्तु संहृष्टः पर्यपृच्छत्पुनःपुनः
।

        किं जितं किं जितमिति ह्याकारं
नाभ्यरक्षत॥

And
Dhritarashtra rejoiced and asked again and again: “Has it been won, has it been
won?”   He did not hide his feelings.

      

         जहर्ष कर्णोऽतिभृशं सह दुःश्शासनादिभिः।

         इतरेषां तु सभ्यानां नेत्रेभ्यः
प्रापतज्जलम्॥.

Karna,
along with Dussasana and others exulted intensely.  Tears fell from the eyes of others  in the assembly.

        सौबलो जितमित्येव तानक्षानन्वपद्यत॥

Sakuni
played the dice with the word “Won.”

        दुर्योधनः

        ’एहि क्षत्तर्द्रौपदीमानयस्व

             प्रियां भार्यां संमतां
पाण्डवानाम्।

        संमार्जतां वेश्म परैतु शीघ्रं

          तत्रास्तु दासीभिरपुण्यशीला॥

Duryodhana- 

“Come
Vidura, bring Draupadi, the beloved and honoured wife of the Pandavas; let her
sweep our house; let her come quick; let that woman of unvirtuous conduct be
there along with the servant-women.”

        विदुरः-

        “दुर्विभाषं भाषितं त्वादृशेन

              न मन्दः संबुध्यसि पाशबद्धः।

         प्रपाते त्वं लम्बमानो न वेत्सि

              व्याघ्रान्मृगः कोपयसेऽतिवलम्॥

Vidura-

“Fool,
such as is unbecoming of one like you 
has been spoken by you; you do not realise yourself caught in a noose;
you do not realise yourself hanging over a precipice; a deer that you are, you  infuriate tigers beyond limit.

        ‘न हि दासीत्वमापन्ना कृष्णा
भवितुमर्हति।

        अनीशेन हि राज्ञैषा पणे न्यस्तेति
मे मतिः ॥

“Draupadi
cannot become a slave; she was staked by the king when he was no more his own
master; this is my opinion”

        धिगस्तु क्षत्तारमिति ब्रुवाणो

           दर्पेण मत्तो धृतराष्ट्रस्य
पुत्रः।

        अवैक्षत प्रातिकामीं सभाया-

          मुवाच चैनं परमार्यमध्ये॥

“Fie
upon Vidura,” so saying, the son of Dhritarashtra, infatuated with pride,
looked at Pratikami (his messenger) and in that assembly and in the midst of
the most noble persons, told him:

        “त्वं प्रातिकामिन् द्रौपदीमानयस्व

            न ते भयं विद्यते पाण्डवेभ्यः।

        क्षत्ता ह्ययं विवदत्येव भीतो

           न चास्माकं वृद्धिकामस्सदैव॥“

“You,
Pratikamin, fetch Draupadi; you have nothing to fear from the Pandavas;
afraid  (of the Pandavas), the Vidura
speaks against us, and he is never our well-wisher.”

         एवमुक्तः प्रातिकामी स सूतः।

         समासदन्महिषीं पाण्डवानाम्
॥

Thus
told, that charioteer Pratikaami approached the queen of the Pandavas.

         प्रातिकामी-

         “युधिष्ठिरो द्यूतमदेन मत्तो

             दुर्योधनो द्रौपदि त्वामजैषीत्।

         सा त्वं प्रपद्यस्व धृतराष्ट्रस्य वेश्म

             नयामि त्वां कर्मणे याज्ञसेनि॥“

Pratikami-

“Yudhishthira
was mad with the infatuation of gambling; Draupadi, Duryodhana won you; so you
enter Dhritarashtra’s house.  Daughter of
King Yajnasena! I shall lead you to do menial work.”

          द्रौपदि-

          ’कथं त्वेवं वदसि प्रातिकामिन्

            
को हि दीव्येद्भार्यया राजपुत्रः।

          मूढो राजा द्यूतमदेन मत्तो

             ह्यभून्नान्यत्कैतवमस्य
किञ्चित्॥

Draupadi-

“How
do you speak thus, Pratikamin? Which son of a king will play with his wife as
the stake?  Mad with the infatuation of
gambling, did the king become confounded? 
Was there not for him anything else as wager?”

          प्रातिकामी-

          ’यदा नाभूत्कैतवमन्यदस्य

             तदाऽदेवीत्पाण्डवोऽजातशत्रुः।

          न्यस्ताः पूर्वं भ्रातरस्तेन
राज्ञा

             स्वयं चात्मा त्वमथो राजपुत्रि॥

Pratikami-

“When
there was nothing else to wager, then (also) Yudhishthira played; the brothers
were first wagered by the king, his own self (then) and then you, princess”

           द्रौपदी-

          
“गच्छ त्वं कितवं गत्वा सभायां पृच्छ सूतज।

           
किं तु पूर्वं पराजैषीरात्मानमथवा नु माम्॥“

Draupadi-

“ Go, son of the charioteer! going to the
gambler, ask(him) in the assembly: “Did ou first lose thine own self or me?”

         सभां गत्वा स चोवाच युधिष्ठिरमिदं वचः।

         युधिष्ठिरस्तु निश्चेता गतसत्त्व
इवाभवत्।

         न तं सूतं प्रत्युवाच वचनं साध्वसाधु वा॥

He went to the gambling hall and told
Yudhishthira these words.  Yudhishthira
became unconscious and like one whose life had gone, good or bad, no word did
Yudhishthira tell the charioteer in reply.

        दुर्योधनः-

        ’इहैवागत्य पाञ्चाली प्रश्नमेनं प्रभाषताम्।

        इहैव सर्वे शृण्वन्तु तस्याश्चैतस्य यद्वचः ॥

Duryodhana-

“Here itself let Draupadi come and ask this
question; here itself, let all hear what she and this Yudhishthira have to
say.”

        “दुश्शासनैष मम सूतपुत्रो

           
वृकोदरादुद्विजतेऽल्पचेताः

         स्वयं प्रगृह्यानय याज्ञसेनीं

            किं ते करिष्यन्त्यवशास्सपत्नाः”

“Dussasana, this stupid son of my
charioteer is afraid of Bhima. You yourself seize and bring Draupadi.  What can the enemies who have lost their
freedom do to you?”

          
ततस्समुत्थाय स राजपुत्रः

              श्रुत्वा भ्रातुश्शासनं
रक्तदृष्टिः।

          
प्रविश्य तद्वेश्म महारथाना-

              मित्यब्रवीद् द्रौपदीं
राजपुत्रीम् ॥

On hearing then the command of his
brother, that prince Dussasana with blood-shot eyes rose up, entered the
quarters of the great warriors, the Pandavas, and spoke to princess Draupadi in
this manner:

          
’एह्येहि पाञ्चालि जिताऽसि कृष्णे

               दुर्योधनं पश्य विमुक्तलज्जा।

          
कुरून्भजस्वायतपत्रनेत्रे

               धर्मेण लब्धाऽसि सभां
परैहि॥’

“Come, come, daughter of the Panchala
king! you have been won, Draupadi; meet Duryodhana, leaving aside your bashfulness;
lady with eyes broad like lotus-petals; come over to the Kauravas; you have
been secured righteously; come to the hall.”

          
ततस्समुत्थाय सुदुर्मनास्सा

             विवर्णमामृज्य मुखं करेण।         

          
आर्ता प्रदुद्राव यतस्स्त्रियस्ता

             वृद्धस्य राज्ञः कुरुपुङ्गवस्य॥

Very much troubled in mind, she arose, and
wiping with her hand her face which had turned pale, the distressed Draupadi ran
to where the ladies of the venerable king Dhritarashtra, the distinguished
scion of the Kuru, were.

             दुश्शासनस्तामभिगर्जमानो

      
         जग्राह केशेषु
नरेन्द्रपत्नीम् ॥

Thundering at her, Dussasana caught that
queen by the hair.

             सा कृष्यमाणा नमिताङ्गयष्टिः

                 शनैरुवाचाथ
’रजस्वलाऽस्मि।

             एकं च वासो मम मन्दबुद्धे

                 सभां नेतुं नार्हसि
मामनार्य ॥

Dragged along, her slender body bent, she
then said in a low tone: “ I am unwell; fool, my garment is (but) single;
ignoble man, you must not take me to the hall.”

              ततोऽब्रवीत्तां प्रसभं
निगृह्य

                केशेषु कृष्णेषु तदा
स कृष्णाम्।

              कृष्णं च जिष्णुं च हरिं
नरं च

                त्राणाय विक्रोशति
याज्ञसेनी ॥

Holding Draupadi forcibly by her dark
hair, Dussasana then spoke to her.  (At
that time), Draupadi cried for help to Krishna and Arjuna, Narayana and Nara.

               ‘रजस्वला वा भव याज्ञसेनि

                 एकाम्बरा वाऽप्यथवा
विवस्त्रा।

               द्यूते जिता चासि कृताऽसि
दासी

                 दासीषु वासश्च ययोपजोषम्
॥’

“Daughter of king Yajnasena! Be you
unwell, or with a single

cloth or without any cloth; you have been
won in gambling; you have been made a slave; live as you please among the
slave-women”              

        
प्रकीर्णकेशी पतितार्धवस्त्रा

           
दुश्शासनेन व्यवधूयमाना।

        
ह्रीमत्यमर्षेण च दह्यमाना

           
शनैरिदं वाक्यमुचाच 
कृष्णा॥

With dishevelled hair and half-fallen
garment and tossed about by

Dussasana, bashful Draupadi, burning with anger,
slowly spoke these words

       
‘इदं त्वकार्यं कुरुवीरमध्ये

            रजस्वलां यत्परिकर्षसे माम्।

       
न चापि कश्चित्कुरुतेऽत्र कुत्सां

           
ध्रुवं तवेदं मतमभ्युपेतः ॥

“ This is an improper act that you drag
me, a woman unwell, into the midst of the warriors of the Kuru house; and
nobody here censures you; surely, they endorse this attitude of yours.”

         
“द्रोणस्य भीष्मस्य च नास्ति सत्त्वं

               क्षत्तुस्तथैवास्य महात्मनोऽपि।

    
      राज्ञस्तथा हीममधर्ममुग्रं

               न लक्षयन्ते कुरुवृद्धमुख्याः
॥

“Is there no good sense in Drona, Bhishma,
or even in this           

high-souled Vidura and King Dhritarashtra, that
these, the chief among the Kuru elders, do not notice this terrible Adharma?”  

         

         दुश्शासनश्चापि समीक्ष्य कृष्णा-

            
मुवाच दासीति हसन्सशब्दम्।

         कर्णस्तु तद्वाक्यमतीव हृष्ट-

            
स्संपूजयामास हसन्सशब्दम्।

          गान्धारराजस्सुबलस्यपुत्र-

            
स्तथैव  दुश्शासनमभ्यनन्दत्  ॥

And Dussasana, looking at Draupadi, called her
‘slave’, laughing boisterously; and, immensely pleased, Karna acclaimed
Dussasana’s word, laughing boisterously; Sakuni also applauded Dussasana in the
same manner.

            
भीष्मः –

            
’न धर्मसौक्ष्म्यात्सुभगे विवेक्तुं

                
शक्नोमि ते प्रश्नमिमं यथावत्।

             
अस्वाम्यशक्तः पणितुं परस्वं

                
स्त्रियाश्च भर्तुर्वशतां समीक्ष्य ॥

Bhishma-

“Blessed lady! ‘one who is not a master has no
power to wager another’s property; and a woman is subordinate to her husband”-
considering this I am not able to determine the truth of this question owing to
the subtlety of Dharma.”

           “त्यजेत सर्वां पृथिवीं
समृद्धां

              
युधिष्ठिरो धर्ममथो न जह्यात्।

           उक्तं जितोऽस्मीति च पाण्डवेन

              तस्मान्न शक्नोमि विवेक्तुमेतत्॥

“
Yudhishthira will abandon the whole of his flourishing kingdom, but will not
abandon Dharma; and he has said that he has been won; therefore I am not able
to determine this.”

           विकर्णः-

           “मन्ये न्याय्यं यदत्राहं
तद्धि वक्ष्यामि कौरवाः।

           साधारणी च सर्वेषां पाण्डवानामनिन्दिता।
 

           जितेन पूर्वं चानेन पाण्डवेन
कृतः पणः।

           इयं च कीर्तिता कृष्णा सौबलेन
पणार्थिना ।

           एतत्सर्वं विचार्याहं मन्ये
न विजितामहम् ॥

Vikarna
(a son of Dhritarashtra)-

“Kauravas,
what I think right in this matter, I shall speak:  this irreproachable Draupadi is common to all
the Pandavas; she was staked by Yudhishthira, who himself had already been won;
and Draupadi was mentioned by Sakuni who wanted her as the wager; considering
all this, I think, she has not been won.”

           एतच्छ्रुत्वा महान्नादस्सभ्यानामुदतिष्ठत।

           विकर्णं शंसमानानां सौबलं
चापि निन्दताम्॥

On
hearing this, great noise arose among those assembled there, praising Vikarna
and condemning Sakuni.

           तस्मिन्नुपरते शब्दे राधेय
इदमब्रवीत्।

           कीर्तिता द्रौपदी वाचा अनुज्ञाता
च पाण्डवैः।

          भवत्यविजिता केन हेतुनैषा
मता तव ॥

When
the noise had died down, Karna said this: Draupadi was mentioned by name and
she (as stake) was accepted by the Pandavas; on what ground is she viewed by
you as not won?

         “मन्यसे वा सभामेतामानीतामेकवाससम्।

         अधर्मेणेति तत्रापि शृणु मे
वाक्यमुत्तमम्॥“

“If
you think that she has been unrighteously brought to the hall with a single
garment (on her), hearken to these conclusive words of mine:

         “एको भर्ता स्त्रिया देवैर्विहितः
कुरुनन्दन।

          इयं त्वनेकवशगा बन्धकीति
विनिश्चिता॥“

“Scion
of the Kuru house, a single husband is ordained by the gods for a woman; but
this woman, who is under more than one, is decided as a harlot.”

         “अस्याः सभामानयनं न चित्रमिति
मे मतिः॥“

“My
view is that there is nothing strange in bringing her to the hall”

         “दुश्शासन सुबालोऽयं विकर्णः
प्राज्ञवादिकः।

         पाण्डवानां च वासांसि द्रौपद्याश्चाप्युपाहर
॥“

“Dussasana!
an urchin, this Vikarna talks like a wiseacre;  seize the clothes of the Pandavas  and Draupadi.”

      तच्छ्रुत्वा पाण्डवास्सर्वे स्वानि वासांसि [भारत]।

      अवकीर्योत्तरीयाणि सभायां समुपाविशन्
॥

Hearing
that, the Pandavas, all of them,  threw
away their upper garments and sat in the hall.

      ततो दुश्शासनो [राजन्] द्रौपद्या वसनं बलात्।

      सभामध्ये समाक्षिप्य व्यपाक्रष्टुं
प्रचक्रमे ॥

Then,
Dussasana began to forcibly snatch and pull off Draupadi’s cloth in the midst
of that assembly.

     ‘महत्यापदि संप्राप्ते स्मर्तव्यो
भगवान् हरिः।

     इति निश्चित्य मनसा शरणागतवत्सलम्।

     आकृष्यमाणे वसने द्रौपदी कृष्णमस्मरत्
॥

“When
great calamity befalls, Lord Hari (Krishna) must be thought of.”  So deciding in mind, Draupadi, while her
cloth was being pulled off, thought of Krishna who is affectionate to those who
seek him as refuge.”

      “शङ्खचक्रगदापाणे द्वारकानिलयाच्युत ।

       गोविन्द पुण्डरीकाक्ष रक्ष मां
शरणागताम्॥

       हा कृष्ण द्वारकावासिन्क्वासि
यादवनन्दन।

       इमामवस्थां संप्राप्तामनाथां
किमुपेक्षसे॥

       कृष्ण कृष्ण महायोगिन्विश्वात्मन्विश्वभावन।

       प्रपन्नां पाहि गोविन्द कुरुमध्येऽवसीदतीम्
॥

“O
Lord armed with conch, discus and mace, Denizen of Dwaraka, imperishable Lord,
Lotus-eyed Govinda, protect me who has sought you as refuge”

“O
Krishna, Denizen of Dwaraka, Joy of the Yadavas! where are you? Why do you
neglect the helpless being who has come to this critical state?

“Krishna,
Krishna, great yogin, Soul of the universe, Creator of the Universe, Govinda,
save this suppliant creature, perishing in the midst of the Kurus”

         इत्यनुस्मृत्य कृष्णं सा हरिं
त्रिभुवनेश्वरम्।

         प्रारुदद्दुःखिता
[राजन्] मुखमाच्छाद्य भामिनी॥

Having
thus contemplated upon Krishna, Hari, the Lord of the three worlds, that
beautiful lady, covering her face, cried in her distress.

         तस्य प्रसादाद् द्रौपद्याः
कृष्यमाणेऽम्बरे तदा।

         तद्रूपमपरं वस्त्रं प्रादुरासीदनेकशः॥

By
His grace, there appeared at that time when Draupadi’s garment was being pulled
off, a similar garment many times over.

         तदद्भुततमं लोके वीक्ष्य सर्वे
महीभृतः।

         शशंसुर्द्रौपदीं  तत्र कुत्सन्तो धृतराष्ट्रजम्॥

Seeing
that greatest wonder of the world, all the kings extolled Draupadi and
condemned Duryodhana.

        यदा तु वाससां राशिस्सभामध्ये
समाचितः।

        तदा दुश्शासनश्श्रान्तो व्रीडितस्समुपाविशत्॥

When
a pile of clothes had accumulated in the centre of the hall, Dussasana sat
down, tired and ashamed.  

        कर्णो दुश्शासनं प्राह कृष्णां
दासीं गृहान्नय।

        दुश्शासनस्सभामध्ये विचकर्ष
तपस्विनीम् ॥

Karna
told Dussasana: “Take the slave Draupadi into the house”. And Dussasana dragged
the poor woman in the midst of the assembly.

        द्रौपदी:-

        “परित्रायस्व मां भीष्म द्रोण
द्रौणे तथा कृप।

        परित्रायस्व विदुर धर्मिष्ठो
धर्मवत्सल॥

        धृतराष्ट्र महाराज परित्रायस्व
वै स्नुषाम्॥“

Draupadi-

“Save
me, Bhishma, Drona, Ashwathaman, Kripa! 
Save me Vidura, you who are most righteous and who love Dharma;
Dhritarashtra, O great king! save your daughter-in-law.”

        

           गान्धारि किं क्लिश्यमानां न
त्रायसि वधूं स्वकाम्।

           हा हतास्मि सुमन्दात्मा
सुयोधनवशं गता॥

“Gandhari!
Why do you not save your own daughter-in-law, who is being harassed? Alas, I,
this wretched self, gone under Duryodhana’s control, shall perish.”

        विदुरः-

        ’यद्येवं त्वं महाराज संक्लेशयसि
द्रौपदीम्।

        अचिरेणैव कालेन पुत्रस्ते सह
मन्त्रिभिः।

        गमिष्यति क्षयं पापः पाण्डवक्षयकारणात्।

        तस्मान्निवारय सुतं मा विनाशं
विचिन्तय॥

Vidura-

“
Great king, if you thus allow Draupadi to be harassed, your evil son, along
with his counsellors, shall perish in a short time itself on account of this
trouble given to Pandavas; therefore, prevent your son; do not contemplate
ruin.”

        एतच्छ्रुत्वा मन्दबुद्धिर्नोत्तरं
किञ्चिदब्रवीत्॥

Hearing
this, stupid Dhritarashtra did not give any reply.

        ततो दुर्योधनस्तत्र दैवमोहबलात्कृतः।

        अचिन्त्य क्षत्तुर्वचनं हर्षेणायतलोचनः।

        ऊरू दर्शयते पापो दौपद्या वै
मुहुर्मुहुः॥

Then,
in that assembly, forcibly impelled by Fate and folly, without thinking of the
words of Vidura, with his eyes expanding in delight, evil Duryodhana gestured
to Draupadi, often and often, showing his thighs (indicating that she sit on
his thighs)

        द्रौपदि-

       ’यस्माच्चोरुं दर्शयसे यस्माच्चोरुं
निरीक्षसे।

       तस्मात्तव ह्यधर्मिष्ठ ऊरौ मृत्युर्भविष्यति॥

Draupadi-

“Since
you point your thigh (to me), since you look at your thigh, most evil
Duryodhana, you shall have death in your thigh.

       ’यस्माच्चैवं क्लेशयति भ्राता
ते मां दुरात्मवान्।

       तस्माद्रुधिरमेवास्य पास्यते
वै वृकोदरः॥

“Since
this wicked brother of yours (Dussasana) harasses me thus, Bhima will drink his
blood.

       ‘इमं च पापिष्ठमतिं कर्णं ससुतबान्धवम्।

       सामात्यं सपरिवारं हनिष्यति
धनञ्जयः ॥’

“And
this Karna of most evil mind, him together with his sons, kinsmen, ministers
and attendants, Arjuna shall kill.”

      ’क्षुद्रधर्मं नैकृतिकं शकुनिं
पापचेतसम्।

      सहदेवो रणे क्रुद्धो हनिष्यति
सबान्धवम्॥’

“This
Sakuni, mean in nature, a cheat and an evil minded fellow, him together with
his kith and kin, infuriated Sahadeva shall kill in battle.”

     एवमुक्ते तु वचने द्रौपद्या धर्मशीलया।

     ततोऽन्तरिक्षात्सुमहत् पुष्पवर्षमवापतत्॥

When
the virtuous Draupadi spoke thus, a very great shower of flowers fell from the
heavens.

         द्रौपद्या वचनं श्रुत्वा धनुरादाय
वीर्यवान्।

         सव्यसाची समुत्पत्य ताञ्शत्रून्
समुदैक्षत ॥

Hearing
Draupadi’s words, the valorous Arjuna seized his bow, jumped up and looked at
those enemies.

         उत्पतन्तं तु वेगेन ततो दृष्ट्वा
धनञ्जयम्।

         उवाच स घृणी ज्येष्ठो धर्मराजो
युधिष्ठिरः ॥

Seeing
Arjuna rise up impetuously, that compassionate and righteous Yudhishthira, the
eldest brother, said:

         “मा पार्थ साहसं कार्षीर्मा
विनाशं गमेद्यशः।

         अहमेतान् पापकृतो द्यूतज्ञान्
दग्धुमुत्सहे।

         किन्त्वसत्यगतिं दृष्ट्वा
क्रोधो नाशमुपैति मे।

         त्वमिमं जगतोऽर्थे वै कोपं
संयच्छ पाण्डव ॥“

“Arjuna,
do not be rash; let not our fame perish; I can burn these gambler-sinners but,
seeing that it is the path of non-truthfulness, my anger dies down.  Arjuna, for the sake of the world, curb this
anger.”

        ततो राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य गेहे

          गोमायुरुच्चैर्व्याहरदग्निहोत्रे।

        तं रासभाः प्रत्यभाषन्त
[राजन्]

         समन्ततः पक्षिणश्चैव रौद्राः
॥

At
that time, in the sacrificial fire-hall in king Dhritarashtra’s house, a jackal
yelled at the top of its voice and asses and terrible birds answered it from
all sides.

           तं वै शब्दं विदुरस्तत्त्ववेदी

             शुश्राव घोरं सुबलात्मजा
च।

           भीष्मो द्रोणो गौतमश्चापि विद्वान्

             स्वस्ति स्वस्तीत्यपि
चैवाहुरुच्चैः॥

Vidura who knew the true nature of things, heard that terrible noise; also
Gandhari, daughter of king Subala, Bhishma, Drona and the learned Kripa; and
they said aloud “peace, peace”.

          ततो गान्धारी विदुरश्चापि विद्वान्

            तमुत्पातं घोरमालक्ष्य
राज्ञे।

          निवेदयामासतुरार्तवत्तदा

            ततो राजा वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
॥

Noticing
that terrible evil portent and distressed, Gandhari and the wise Vidura
informed the king; and the king (Dhritarashtra) said these worlds:

           ’हतोऽसि दुर्योधन मन्दबुद्धे

             यस्त्वं सभायां कुरुपुङ्गवानाम्।

           स्त्रियं समाभाषसि दुर्विनीत

             विशेषतो द्रौपदीं धर्मपत्नीम्
॥’

“You
are doomed, Duryodhana, ill-behaving fool, you who addresses a woman, and that
too Draupadi, the wedded wife (of the Pandavas), in the open assembly of the
Kuru heroes.

         एवमुक्त्वा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी।

         कृष्णां पाञ्चालीमब्रवीत्
सान्त्वपूर्वम्॥

Having
spoken thus, the wise Dhritarashtra said this to Draupadi

in
conciliatory words:

         वरं वृणीष्व पाञ्चालि
मत्तो यदभिवाञ्छसि।

         वधूनां हि विशिष्टा मे त्वं
धर्मपरमा सती॥

“Ask
of me a boon, Draupadi, of what you want; virtuous and one to whom Dharma is
everything, you are the most distinguished of my daughters-in-law.”

         द्रौपदी-

         ’ददासि चेद्वरं मह्यं वृणोमि
भरतर्षभ।

         सर्वधर्मानुगश्श्रीमानदासोऽस्तु युधिष्ठिरः ॥

Draupadi-

“Distinguished
scion of the Bharata race, if you will grant me a boon, I ask: “May the blessed
Yudhishthira, the follower of all Dharmas, be free.”

        धृतराष्ट्रः-

        एवं भवतु कल्याणि यथा त्वमभिभाषसे।

        द्वितीयं ते वरं भद्रे ददामि
वरयस्व ह ॥

Dhritarashtra-

“Auspicious
lady! Be it as you say; I shall grant you a second boon; ask.”

     द्रौपदी-

     सरथौ सधनुष्कौ च भीमसेनधनञ्जयौ।

     यमौ च वरये राजन् अदासान्स्ववशानहम्॥

Draupadi-

“I
request that, with their chariots and bows, Bhima and Arjuna as also the twins
may cease to be slaves and become free.”

      धृतराष्ट्रः-

      ‘तथास्तु ते महाभागे यथा त्वं
नन्दिनीच्छसि।

      तृतीयं वरयास्मत्तो नासि द्वाभ्यां
सुसंस्कृता ॥’

Dhritarashtra-

“Blessed
daughter! Be it as you wish.  Ask of me a
third boon; you are not fully served by the two boons.”

      द्रौपदी-

      लोभो धर्मस्य नाशाय सन्तीर्णाः
पतयो मम।

      सेत्स्यन्ति चैव भद्राणि राजन्पुण्येन
कर्मणा॥

Draupadi-

“King,
avarice ruins Dharma; my husbands have been rescued and they will, by their
meritorious deeds, gain their prosperity.”

      धृतराष्ट्रः-

      “अजातशत्रो भद्रं ते  अरिष्टं स्वस्ति गच्छत।

      अनुज्ञातास्सहधनास्स्वराज्यमनुशासत
॥

Dhritarashtra-

“Yudhishthira,
may there be welfare for you; go you (all) safe and untroubled; permitted by
me, and with all your riches, rule your own kingdom.”

         “स्मरन्ति सुकृतान्येव न वैराण्यपि
साधवः”

“Good
men remember only the good things done and never the enmities (that have been).

          ‘तथाचरितमार्येण त्वयाऽस्मिन्सत्समागमे।

          दुर्योधनस्य पारुष्यं तत्तात
हृदि मा कृथाः ॥

“
You have behaved so, the noble soul that you are, in this assemblage of good
men; my dear Yudhishthira, do not bear in your mind Duryodhana’s violence.”

          अजातशत्रो भद्रं ते खाण्डवप्रस्थमाविश।

          भ्रातृभिस्तेऽस्तु सौभ्रात्रं
धर्मे ते धीयतां मनः ॥

“Yudhishthira,
may there be welfare for you; go to Khandavaprastha; may there be brotherly
amity between you and your brothers; may your mind be set on Dharma.”

         इत्युक्तो [भरतश्रेष्ठ] प्रतस्थे भ्रातृभिस्सह।

So
told, Yudhishthira started with his brothers.

         

  

   

 

  

   

           

       

      

      

      

  

                                   

   

          
  

       

THE MAHABHARATA

CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS

By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR

॥    सभापर्व   ॥

                                        Krishna honoured in Rajasuya, slays Sisupala,

                    Yudhishthira loses all to Sakuni in gambling.          

                                  अनुज्ञातस्तु कृष्णेन पाण्डवोऽरिनिबर्हणः।

            प्रेषयामास नकुलं भीष्माय
[भरतर्षभ]।

            द्रोणाय धृतराष्ट्राय विदुराय
कृपाय च ।

            भ्रातॄणां चैव सर्वेषां
येऽनुरक्ता युधिष्ठिरे ॥

Permitted
by Krishna, yudhishthira, the destroyer of his foes, sent Nakula to Bhishma,
Drona, Dhritarashtra, Vidura and Krupa, to all his brothers and also to those
who had love for Yudhishthira.

           दीक्षितस्सतु धर्मात्मा
धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः।

           जगाम यज्ञायतनं वृतो विप्रैः
सहस्रशः।

              भ्रातृभिर्ज्ञातिभिश्चैव धर्मो
विग्रहवानिव॥

Initiated,
the righteous king Yudhishthira surrounded by thousands of Brahmins, his
brothers and kinsmen, went to the sacrificial hall, looking verily like Dharma
incarnate. 

           ततो भीष्मश्शान्तवो बुद्ध्या
निश्चित्य वीर्यवान्।

           वार्ष्णेयं मन्यते कृष्णमर्हनीयतमं
भुवि ॥

Then
the mighty Bhishma, deciding with his knowledge, considered Krishna as the
greatest of those fit to be worshipped in the world. 

              भीष्मः –

              एष ह्येषां समस्तानां
तेजोबलपराक्रमैः।

              मध्ये तपन्निवाभाति ज्योतिषामिव
भास्करः ॥

Bhishma
–

“In
the midst of all these men, He shines forth, with his splendour, might and
valour, blazing like the sun in the midst of the planets”

            तस्मै भीष्माभ्यनुज्ञातस्सहदेवः
प्रतापवान्।

            उपजह्रेऽथ विधिवद् वार्ष्णेयायार्घ्यमुत्तमम्॥

Permitted
by Bhishma, the valorous Sahadeva then brought to Krishna best articles for
worship in the prescribed manner.

           शिशुपालस्तु तां पूजां वासुदेवे
न चक्षमे ।

Sisupala
did not brook that worship of Vasudeva.

           शिशुपालः-

           अतिपश्यसि वा सर्वान्न वा
पश्यसि पाण्डव।

           तिष्ठत्स्वन्येषु पूज्येषु
गोपमर्चितवानसि ॥

Sisupala-        

“Yudhishthira,
you overlook all or do not see them at all? When there are others who deserve
worship you have honoured a cowherd.

           ननु त्वयाऽपि बोद्धव्यं
यां पूजां माधवार्हसि।

           अयुक्तामात्मनः पूजां त्वं
पुनर्बहुमन्यसे ॥

‘“
Krishna, should you at least not have known what honour you deserve? You esteem
an honour which you do not deserve?”

           ‘आह्वये त्वां रणं गच्छ
मया सार्धं जनार्दन।

            यावदद्य निहन्मि त्वां
सहितं सर्वपाण्डवैः ॥

“I  challenge you, Krishna; come for a fight with
me; I shall kill

you
now, along with all the Pandavas.”

          ‘इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ क्षिप्रं
पार्थयज्ञजिघांसया।

Having
spoken thus, Sisupala proceeded forth, desiring to ruin the sacrifice of the
Pandavas.

           ततश्चक्रगदापाणिः केशवः
केशिहा हरिः।

           चिच्छेद च सुनीथस्य शिरश्चक्रेण
संयुगे ॥

Then,
Krishna, armed with the discus and the mace, the destroyer of (the Asura)
Kesin, cut off with his discus sunitha’s (Sisupala’s) head in the fight.

          ततः प्रववृते यज्ञः केशवेन
सुरक्षितः।

The
sacrifice then went on, protected well by Krishna.

          ततस्त्ववभृथस्नातं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्।

          समस्तं पार्थिवं क्षत्रमुपागम्येदमब्रवीत्॥

The
whole world of kings then came and said this to the righteous Yudhishthira  who had performed the ablution marking the
end of the sacrifice.

          दिष्ट्या वर्धसि धर्मज्ञ
साम्राज्यं प्राप्तवानसि। 

          कर्मणैतेन राजेन्द्र धर्मश्च
सुमहान् कृतः ।

          स्वराष्ट्राणि गमिष्यामस्तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
॥

“Righteous
king of kings, we are glad you are prosperous; you have attained complete
sovereignty.  And by this sacrifice, a
very great Dharma has been done by you. 
We shall proceed to our countries; you must give us leave.”

         पाण्डवा नृपतीन्सर्वानेकैकं समनुव्रजन्।

         प्रययौ पुण्डरीकाक्षस्ततो
द्वारवतीं पुरीम् ॥

The
Pandavas accompanied everyone of those kings, as befitting them.  Then Krishna left for the city of Dwaraka.

        गतेषु क्षत्रियेन्द्रेषु सर्वेषु
[भरतर्षभ]

        पाण्डवेयाभ्यनुज्ञातस्ततो दुर्योधनो
नृपः।

        अप्रहृष्टेन मनसा जगाम गजसाह्वयम्
॥

Then,
after all the kings had gone, king Duryodhana, given leave by Yudhishthira,
left for Hastinapura with a depressed mind.

        पार्थान् सुमनसो दृष्ट्वा मन्दः
क्रोधवशानुगः।

        पितरं प्रत्युवाचेदं स्वमतिं
संप्रकाशयन् ॥

Dull
in spirits on seeing the Pandavas happy, Duryodhana told his father,
overpowered by anger and disclosing his mind:

 

        न मां प्रीणाति मद्भुक्तं श्रियं
दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरे।

        शान्तिं न परिगच्छामि दह्यमानेन
चेतसा॥

“Seeing
Yudhishthira’s prosperity, the food I eat does not please me.  I have no peace, with a heart that is
burning.”

       शकुनिः-

       यामेतामतुलां लक्ष्मीं दृष्टवानसि
पाण्डवे।

       तस्याः प्राप्तावुपायं मे शृणु
सत्यपराक्रम॥

“Warrior
of unfailing valour! hearken to this stratagem of mine for obtaining those
immense riches that you saw with Yudhishthira.” 

       “अहमक्षेष्वभिज्ञोऽस्मि विशेषज्ञश्च
देवने।

        द्यूतप्रियश्च कौन्तेयो न च
जानाति देवितुम्॥

“I
am an expert with the dice and know the intricacies of gambling.  Yudhishthira is fond of gambling and does not
know how to play.”

        “नियतं तु विजेष्यामि कृत्वा
तु कपटं विभो।

        आनयामि समृद्धिं तां दिव्यां
चोपाह्वयस्व तम्॥

“
King, I will surely win adopting deceit and bring you that celestial prosperity
(of his); invite him.”

        दुर्योधनः-

        “अयमुत्सहते राजन् श्रियमाहर्तुमक्षवित्।

         द्यूतेन पाण्डुपुत्रस्य तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
॥

Duryodhana-

“King,
this Sakuni, expert with the dice, ventures to capture the riches of
Yudhishthira through gambling; you must permit that.”

         आर्तवाक्यं तु तत्तस्य प्रणयोक्तं
निशम्य सः ।

         धृतराष्ट्रो [महाराज] प्राहिणोद्विदुराय वै ॥

Hearing
those plaintive words of Duryodhana said with affection, Dhritarashtra sent for
Vidura.

          द्यूते दोषांश्च जानन्स पुत्रस्नेहादकृष्यत
।

Knowing,
as he did, the evils of gambling, he was being dragged by his affection for his
son.

       तच्छ्रुत्वा विदुरो धीमानिदं
वचनमब्रवीत्।

       ’नाभिनन्दामि ते राजन् व्यवसायमिमं [प्रभो]।

       पुत्रैर्भेदो यथा न स्यात् द्यूतहेतोस्तथा
कुरु”

Hearing
that, the wise Vidura said these words: “King, I do not approve of this resolve
of yours.  Act in such a manner that
there will be no split amongst your sons because of this game of dice”  

       धृतराष्ट्रः-

       अशुभं वा शुभं वाऽपि हितं वा
यदि वाऽहितम्।

       प्रवर्ततां सुहृद्द्यूतं दिष्टमेतन्न
संशयः।

       गच्छ त्वं खाण्डवप्रस्थं समानय
युधिष्ठिरम्॥

Dhritarashtra-

“Bad
or good, beneficial or detrimental, let friendly gambling go      

on;
this is surely destined.  Go to
Khandavaprastha and bring Yudhishthira.”

      ततः प्रायाद्विदुरोऽश्वैरुदारैः

      बलान्नियुक्तः पाण्डवानां सकाशे।

      तं वै राजा प्रतिगृह्याजमीढ-

      स्ततोऽपृच्छद् धृतराष्ट्रं सपुत्रम्॥

Forcibly
compelled, Vidura then went to the Pandavas with fine horses.  After receiving him, king Yudhishthira
enquired of Dhritarashtra and his sons.

      विदुरः-

       “ राजा महात्मा कुशली सपुत्र

        आस्ते वृतो ज्ञातिभिरिन्द्रकल्पः।

        इदं तु त्वां कुरुराजोऽभ्युवाच

        सुहृद्द्यूतं क्रियतां रम्यतां
च ॥

Vidura
–

“The
great king, along with his sons, is well and, surrounded by his kinsmen, is
like Indra himself.  That Kuru king
(Dhritarashtra) said this for you; “Let friendly dice be played and enjoyed.”

        जानाम्यहं द्यूतमनर्थमूलं

      कृतश्च यत्नोऽस्य मया निवारणे।

      राजा च मां प्राहिणोत्त्वत्सकाशं

      श्रुत्वा विद्वन् श्रेय इहाचरस्व
॥

“I
know  that gambling is the root cause of
calamity; and effort to prevent it was made by me.  But the king sent me to you.  Having heard this, wise Yudhishthira, do what
is good in the circumstances.” 

       ’आहूतोऽहं न निवर्ते कदाचिद्’

       एवमुक्त्वा विदुरं धर्मराजः
।

       प्रायाच्छ्वोभूते सगणस्सानुयात्रः

       सह स्त्रीभिर्द्रौपदीमादिकृत्वा
॥

“
Once called, I will never turn back.” Having told Vidura so, Yudhishthira went
(to Hastinapura) the next day, with his party and retinue and with the women
headed by Draupadi.

      स हास्तिनपुरं गत्वा धृतराष्ट्रेण
पाण्डवः।

      समियाय यथान्यायं कुरुभिश्चापि
सर्वशः ॥

Reaching
Hastinapura, Yudhishthira met in the proper manner Dhritarashtra and all the
(other) members of the Kuru house.

      सुखोषितास्ते रजनीं प्रातस्सर्वे
कृताह्निकाः।

      सभां रम्यां प्रविविशुः कितवैरभिनन्दिताः॥

Having
spent the night happily, they did their daily religious duty in the morning and
entered the beautiful gambling hall, cheered by gamblers.

  शकुनिस्सौबलस्तत्र युधिष्ठिरमभाषत।

  ’उपस्तीर्णा सभा राजन् सर्वे त्वयि
कृतक्षणाः।

  अक्षानुप्त्वा देवनस्य समयोऽस्तु
युधिष्ठिर’ ॥

There,
Sakuni addressed Yudhishthara: “King, the dice-cloth has been spread in the
hall (here); everybody is expecting you; Yudhishthira, let there be an
understanding for casting the dice and playing.”

        युधिष्ठिरः-

        ’निकृतिर्देवनं पापं न क्षात्रोऽत्र
पराक्रमः ।

        आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्
।

        विधिश्च बलवान् केन देवनं मे
भविष्यति ॥

Yudhishthira- 

“Gambling
is deceitful and sinful;  there is no
martial valour in it. I do not turn back when called; so have I taken a vow.
Fate is powerful.  With whom shall I have
to gamble?”

        दुर्योधनः-

        अहं दातास्मि रत्नानां धनानां
च विशांपते।

        मदर्थे देविता चायं शकुनिर्मातुलो
मम ॥

Duryodhana-

“I
shall give, O King, jewels and money, and on my behalf, this uncle of mine,
Sakuni, shall play”

         युधिष्ठिरः-

        

         अन्येनान्यस्य वै द्यूतं विषमं
प्रतिभाति मे।

       एतद्विद्वन्नुपादत्स्व काममेवं
प्रवर्तताम् ॥

“One
gambling for another seems to me to be irregular; learned man, know this; but
if you so desire, let me proceed.”

       “सन्ति निष्कसहस्रस्य भाण्डिन्यो
भरिताश्शुभाः।

       कोशो हिरण्यमक्षय्यं सदश्वा
राष्ट्रसंमताः ।

       शतं दासीसहस्राणि कुशला नृत्तसामसु।

       सहस्रसंख्या नागा मे सर्वशब्दक्षमा
युधि।

       गवाश्वं बहुधेनूकमसंख्येयमजाविकम्।

       एतद्राजन्मम धनं तेन दीव्याम्यहं
त्वया॥“

“There
are beautiful chests each filled with a thousand pieces of gold; (my) treasury
of inexhaustible gold; excellent horses celebrated in (all) countries; hundred
thousand attendant women, experts in dancing and songs; my elephants numbering
a thousand and capable of standing every noise in battle; bulls and horses with
numerous cows, numberless goats and sheep; – this, king, is my wealth.  With this, I will play with you.”

        एतच्छ्रुत्वा व्यवसितो निकृतिं
समुपाश्रितः।

        जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत॥

Hearing
this and determining, Sakuni resorted to deceit and simply told Yudhishthira “I
have won”

        युधिष्ठिरः-

        ’राजपुत्रा इमे राजन् शोभन्ते
वैर्विभूषिताः।

        कुण्डलानि च निष्काश्च सर्वं
राजविभूषणम्।

       एतन्मम धनं राजंस्तेन दीव्याम्यहं
त्वया॥

Yudhishthira-

“King,
these ear-rings, necklaces and all the royal ornaments, adorned with which
these princes (my brothers) shine, – these are my property; with them I play
with you”

       जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
।

“Won”,
Saskuni simply said to Yudhishthira.

        युधिष्ठिरः-

        ’श्यामो युवा लोहिताक्षस्सिंहस्कन्धो
महाभुजः।

        नकुलो ग्लह एवैको विद्ध्येतन्मम
तद्धनम् ॥

Yudhishthira-

“Swarthy,
youthful, of red eyes, lion-like shoulders and mighty arm, this Nakula is my
single wager; know this as my wealth to be staked.” 

       जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
।

Sakuni
simply said to Yudhishthira “Won.”

       युधिष्ठिरः-

          ’अयं धर्मान्सहदेवोऽनुशास्ति   

            लोके ह्यस्मिन् पण्डिताख्यां
गतश्च।

           अनर्हता राजपुत्रेण तेन

            दीव्याम्यहं चाप्रियवत्
प्रियेण ॥

 Yudhishthira-

“This
Sahadeva who preaches the Dharmas and has attained  in this world the name of a scholar, – with
that dear prince who does not deserve this, I gamble as if he were not dear to
me.”

       जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
।

Sakuni
simply said to Yudhishthira “Won.”

       युधिष्ठिरः-

         “यो नस्संख्ये नौरिव पारनेता

            जेता रिपूणां राजपुत्रस्तरस्वी।

          अनर्हता लोकवीरेण तेन

            दीव्यामहं शकुने फाल्गुनेन”॥

“He
who takes us to the other shore like a ship in (our) battles;

conqueror
of his foes and a mighty prince, with that Arjuna, the one warrior in the
world, who does not deserve this, I gamble, O Sakuni.”

          जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
।

Sakuni
simply said to Yudhishthira “Won.”

        युधिष्ठिरः-

        “बलेन तुल्यो यस्य पुमान्न
विद्यते

           गदाभृतामग्र्य इहारिमर्दनः।

        अनर्हता राजपुत्रेण तेन

           दीव्याम्यहं भीमसेनेन राजन्
॥“

“King!
Equal to whom in strength there is no man, this foremost of those who bear the
mace, this annihilator of his foes, – with that prince Bhimasena who does not
deserve this, I gamble.”

       जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
।

Sakuni
simply said to Yudhishthira “Won.”