Arjuna's Display in the Arena

Verse 1 (1.145.1)

कुरुराजे हि रङ्गस्थे भीमे च बलिनां वरे । पक्षपातकृतस्नेहः स द्विधेवाभवज्जनः ॥

kururāje hi raṅgasthe bhīme ca balināṃ vare | pakṣapātakṛtasnehaḥ sa dvidhevābhavajjanaḥ

With the king of the Kurus and Bhima, best of the strong, standing in the arena, the people split as if in two, their affection following their partisanship.

Verse 2 (1.145.2)

जय हे कुरुराजेति जय हे भीम इत्युत । पुरुषाणां सुविपुलाः प्रणादाः सहसोत्थिताः ॥

jaya he kururājeti jaya he bhīma ityuta | puruṣāṇāṃ suvipulāḥ praṇādāḥ sahasotthitāḥ

"Victory to the king of the Kurus!" "Victory to Bhima!" Such loud shouts suddenly rose from the men in great numbers.

Note on the text: A different wording of the first line of 1.125.2 (hā vīra kururājeti hā bhīmeti ca nardatām).

Verse 3 (1.145.3)

ततः क्षुब्धार्णवनिभं रङ्गमालोक्य बुद्धिमान् । भारद्वाजः प्रियं पुत्रमश्वत्थामानमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ kṣubdhārṇavanibhaṃ raṅgamālokya buddhimān | bhāradvājaḥ priyaṃ putramaśvatthāmānamabravīt

Then, seeing the arena heaving like a stormy ocean, the wise son of Bharadvaja said to his beloved son Ashvatthama:

Verse 4 (1.145.4)

वारयैतौ महावीर्यौ कृतयोग्यावुभावपि । मा भूद्रङ्गप्रकोपोऽयं भीमदुर्योधनोद्भवः ॥

vārayaitau mahāvīryau kṛtayogyāvubhāvapi | mā bhūdraṅgaprakopo'yaṃ bhīmaduryodhanodbhavaḥ

Hold back these two mighty fighters, both of them well trained, so that no fury breaks out in the arena on account of Bhima and Duryodhana.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Drona: his words to Ashvatthama fill the verse, though Wikisource prints no heading for them.

Verse 5 (1.145.5)

तत उत्थाय वेगेन अश्वत्थामा न्यवारयत् । गुरोराज्ञा भीम इति गान्धारे गुरुशासनम् । अलं शिक्षाकृतं वेगमलं साहसमित्युत ॥

tata utthāya vegena aśvatthāmā nyavārayat | gurorājñā bhīma iti gāndhāre guruśāsanam | alaṃ śikṣākṛtaṃ vegamalaṃ sāhasamityuta

Ashvatthama rose swiftly and held them back: "Bhima, it is the teacher's order! Son of Gandhari, it is the teacher's command! Enough of this fury in a display of training, enough of rashness!"

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote marks that flag the southern insertion). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, 1.125.4*1415).

Verse 6 (1.145.6)

ततस्तावुद्यतगदौ गुरुपुत्रेण वारितौ । युगान्तानिलसंक्षुब्धौ महावेलाविवार्णवौ ॥

tatastāvudyatagadau guruputreṇa vāritau | yugāntānilasaṃkṣubdhau mahāvelāvivārṇavau

Then the two, maces raised, held back by their teacher's son, were like two oceans at high flood, churned by the winds at the end of an age.

Note on the text: Corrected उद्यतगतौ → उद्यतगदौ (misprint in Wikisource; त for द; the critical edition reads udyatagadau).

Verse 7 (1.145.7)

ततो रङ्गाङ्गणगतो द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत् । निवार्य वादित्रगणं महामेघनिभस्वनम् ॥

tato raṅgāṅgaṇagato droṇo vacanamabravīt | nivārya vāditragaṇaṃ mahāmeghanibhasvanam

Then Drona, standing in the open court of the arena, silenced the musicians, whose sound was like great thunderclouds, and said:

Verse 8 (1.145.8)

यो मे पुत्रात्प्रियतरः सर्वशस्त्रविशारदः । ऐन्द्रिरिन्द्रानुजसमः स पार्थो दृश्यतामिति ॥

yo me putrātpriyataraḥ sarvaśastraviśāradaḥ | aindririndrānujasamaḥ sa pārtho dṛśyatāmiti

Behold Partha, dearer to me than my own son, skilled in every weapon, the son of Indra and the equal of Indra's younger brother!

Note on the text: Speaker set to Drona: his announcement fills the verse, though Wikisource prints no heading for it. The first line is a different wording of 1.125.7a.

Verse 9 (1.145.9)

आचार्यवचनेनाथ कृतस्वस्त्ययनो युवा । बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणः पूर्णतूणः सकार्मुकः ॥

ācāryavacanenātha kṛtasvastyayano yuvā | baddhagodhāṅgulitrāṇaḥ pūrṇatūṇaḥ sakārmukaḥ

At the teacher's word the young man, after the rites for his welfare had been performed, with his finger-guard of iguana hide fastened, his quiver full and his bow in hand,

Verse 10 (1.145.10)

काञ्चनं कवचं बिभ्रत्प्रत्यदृश्यत फाल्गुनः । सार्कः सेन्द्रायुधतडित्ससन्ध्य इव तोयदः ॥

kāñcanaṃ kavacaṃ bibhratpratyadṛśyata phālgunaḥ | sārkaḥ sendrāyudhataḍitsasandhya iva toyadaḥ

Phalguna appeared, wearing golden armour, like a rain-cloud at dusk lit by the sun, with a rainbow and lightning.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रत्यदृश्य → प्रत्यदृश्यत (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara त, which the metre also needs; the critical edition reads pratyadṛśyata).

Verse 11 (1.145.11)

ततः सर्वस्य रङ्गस्य समुत्पिञ्जलकोऽभवत् । प्रावाद्यन्त च वाद्यानि सशङ्खानि समन्ततः ॥

tataḥ sarvasya raṅgasya samutpiñjalako'bhavat | prāvādyanta ca vādyāni saśaṅkhāni samantataḥ

Then the whole arena burst into excitement, and instruments and conches sounded on every side.

Verse 12 (1.145.12)

एष कुन्तीसुतः श्रीमानेष मध्यमपाण्डवः । एष पुत्रो महेन्द्रस्य कुरूणामेष रक्षिता ॥

eṣa kuntīsutaḥ śrīmāneṣa madhyamapāṇḍavaḥ | eṣa putro mahendrasya kurūṇāmeṣa rakṣitā

This is the glorious son of Kunti! This is the middle Pandava! This is the son of great Indra, this the protector of the Kurus!

Verse 13 (1.145.13)

एषोऽस्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठ एष धर्मभृतां वरः । एष शीलवतां चापि शीलज्ञाननिधिः परः ॥

eṣo'straviduṣāṃ śreṣṭha eṣa dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | eṣa śīlavatāṃ cāpi śīlajñānanidhiḥ paraḥ

This is the best of those who know weapons, the foremost of those who uphold dharma; this is the best of the virtuous, a supreme treasury of good conduct and knowledge!

Verse 14 (1.145.14)

इत्येवं तुमुला वाचः शुश्रुवुः प्रेक्षकेरिताः । कुन्त्याः प्रस्रवसंयुक्तैरस्रैः क्लिन्नमुरोऽभवत् ॥

ityevaṃ tumulā vācaḥ śuśruvuḥ prekṣakeritāḥ | kuntyāḥ prasravasaṃyuktairasraiḥ klinnamuro'bhavat

Such were the tumultuous words of the spectators that people heard. Kunti's breast was wet with tears mingled with milk flowing from her breasts.

Verse 15 (1.145.15)

तेन शब्देन महता पूर्णश्रुतिरथाब्रवीत् । धृतराष्ट्रो नरश्रेष्ठो विदुरं हृष्टमानसः ॥

tena śabdena mahatā pūrṇaśrutirathābravīt | dhṛtarāṣṭro naraśreṣṭho viduraṃ hṛṣṭamānasaḥ

His ears filled with that great noise, Dhritarashtra, best of men, said joyfully to Vidura:

Verse 16 (1.145.16)

क्षत्तः क्षुब्धार्णवनिभः किमेष सुमहास्वनः । सहसैवोत्थितो रङ्गे भिन्दन्निव नभस्तलम् ॥

kṣattaḥ kṣubdhārṇavanibhaḥ kimeṣa sumahāsvanaḥ | sahasaivotthito raṅge bhindanniva nabhastalam

Kshattri, what is this tremendous roar, like a stormy ocean, that has suddenly risen in the arena as though to split the sky?

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra: his question fills the verse, though Wikisource prints no heading for it.

Verse 17 (1.145.17)

एष पार्थो महाराज फाल्गुनः पाण्डुनन्दनः । अवतीर्णः सकवचस्तत्रैव सुमहास्वनः ॥

eṣa pārtho mahārāja phālgunaḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | avatīrṇaḥ sakavacastatraiva sumahāsvanaḥ

Great king, it is Partha, Phalguna, the son of Pandu, who has come down in his armour. That is the cause of this great roar.

Note on the text: Corrected सुमिहास्वनः → सुमहास्वनः (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; the critical edition reads sumahāsvanaḥ).

Verse 18 (1.145.18)

धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि रक्षितोऽस्मि महामते । पृथारणिसमुद्भूतैस्त्रिभिः पाण्डववह्निभिः ॥

dhanyo'smyanugṛhīto'smi rakṣito'smi mahāmate | pṛthāraṇisamudbhūtaistribhiḥ pāṇḍavavahnibhiḥ

I am blessed, I am favoured, I am protected, O wise one, by the three Pandava fires kindled from Pritha as from a fire-stick.

Verse 19 (1.145.19)

तस्मिन्प्रमुदिते रङ्गे कथंचित्प्रत्युपस्थिते । दर्शयामास बीभत्सुराचार्यायास्त्रलाघवम् ॥

tasminpramudite raṅge kathaṃcitpratyupasthite | darśayāmāsa bībhatsurācāryāyāstralāghavam

When the delighted arena had somehow settled down again, Bibhatsu displayed his speed with weapons to his teacher.

Verse 20 (1.145.20)

आग्नेयेनासृजद्वह्निं वारुणेनासृजत्पयः । वायव्येनासृजद्वायुं पार्जन्येनासृजद्धनान् ॥

āgneyenāsṛjadvahniṃ vāruṇenāsṛjatpayaḥ | vāyavyenāsṛjadvāyuṃ pārjanyenāsṛjaddhanān

With the fire weapon he created fire, with the Varuna weapon water, with the wind weapon wind, and with the Parjanya weapon clouds.

Note on the text: Corrected वायव्येनासृजद्वह्निं → वायव्येनासृजद्वायुं (misprint in Wikisource; वह्निं repeated from the first line, which leaves the wind weapon producing fire; the critical edition reads vāyuṃ).

Verse 21 (1.145.21)

भौमेन प्रासृजद्भूमिं पार्वतेनासृजद्गिरीन् । अन्तर्धानेन चास्त्रेण पुनरन्तर्हितोऽभवत् ॥

bhaumena prāsṛjadbhūmiṃ pārvatenāsṛjadgirīn | antardhānena cāstreṇa punarantarhito'bhavat

With the earth weapon he brought forth earth, with the mountain weapon mountains, and with the weapon of vanishing he disappeared again.

Verse 22 (1.145.22)

क्षणात्प्रांशुः क्षणाद्ध्रस्वः क्षणाच्च रथधूर्गतः । क्षणेन रथमध्यस्थः क्षणेनावतरन्महीम् ॥

kṣaṇātprāṃśuḥ kṣaṇāddhrasvaḥ kṣaṇācca rathadhūrgataḥ | kṣaṇena rathamadhyasthaḥ kṣaṇenāvataranmahīm

One moment he was tall, the next short; one moment at the yoke of his chariot, the next in the middle of the car, and the next down on the ground.

Verse 23 (1.145.23)

सुकुमारं च सूक्ष्मं च गुरु चापि गुरुप्रियः । सौष्ठवेनाभिसंयुक्तः सोऽविध्यद्विविधैः शरैः ॥

sukumāraṃ ca sūkṣmaṃ ca guru cāpi gurupriyaḥ | sauṣṭhavenābhisaṃyuktaḥ so'vidhyadvividhaiḥ śaraiḥ

Dear to his teacher, he pierced delicate, minute and heavy targets with arrows of many kinds, with perfect skill.

Verse 24 (1.145.24)

भ्रमतश्च वराहस्य लोहस्य प्रमुखे समम् । पञ्चबाणानसंसक्तान्संमुमोचैकबाणवत् ॥

bhramataśca varāhasya lohasya pramukhe samam | pañcabāṇānasaṃsaktānsaṃmumocaikabāṇavat

Into the mouth of a revolving iron boar he loosed five arrows together, not touching one another, as though they were a single arrow.

Note on the text: Corrected असंक्तान् → असंसक्तान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara स, which the metre also needs; the critical edition reads asaṃsaktān).

Verse 25 (1.145.25)

गव्ये विषाणकोशे च चले रज्ज्ववलम्बिनि । निचखान महावीर्यः सायकानेकविंशतिम् ॥

gavye viṣāṇakośe ca cale rajjvavalambini | nicakhāna mahāvīryaḥ sāyakānekaviṃśatim

Into the hollow of a cow's horn swinging from a rope, the mighty hero drove twenty-one arrows.

Verse 26 (1.145.26)

इत्येवमादि सुमहत्खड्गे धनुषि चानघ । गदायां शस्त्रकुशलो मण्डलानि ह्यदर्शयत् ॥

ityevamādi sumahatkhaḍge dhanuṣi cānagha | gadāyāṃ śastrakuśalo maṇḍalāni hyadarśayat

These and many other great feats, O sinless one, did that master of weapons display with sword and bow, and he showed the circling movements of the mace.

Verse 27 (1.145.27)

ततः समाप्तभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन्कर्मणि भारत । मन्दीभूते समाजे च वादित्रस्य च निःस्वने ॥

tataḥ samāptabhūyiṣṭhe tasminkarmaṇi bhārata | mandībhūte samāje ca vāditrasya ca niḥsvane

Then, O Bharata, when the display was nearly over, the gathering had grown quiet and the sound of the music had died away,

Verse 28 (1.145.28)

द्वारदेशात्समुद्भूतो माहात्म्यबलसूचकः । वज्रनिष्पेषसदृशः शुश्रुवे भुजनिःस्वनः ॥

dvāradeśātsamudbhūto māhātmyabalasūcakaḥ | vajraniṣpeṣasadṛśaḥ śuśruve bhujaniḥsvanaḥ

from the gateway there came the sound of arms being slapped, like the crash of a thunderbolt, proclaiming greatness and strength.

Verse 29 (1.145.29)

दीर्यन्ते किं नु गिरयः किंस्विद्भूमिर्विदीर्यते । किंस्विदापूर्यते व्योम जलधाराघनैर्घनैः ॥

dīryante kiṃ nu girayaḥ kiṃsvidbhūmirvidīryate | kiṃsvidāpūryate vyoma jaladhārāghanairghanaiḥ

"Are the mountains splitting? Is the earth bursting open? Is the sky filling with clouds heavy with streams of rain?"

Verse 30 (1.145.30)

रङ्गस्यैवं मतिरभूत्क्षणेन वसुधाधिप । द्वारं चाभिमुखाः सर्वे बभूवुः प्रेक्षकास्तदा ॥

raṅgasyaivaṃ matirabhūtkṣaṇena vasudhādhipa | dvāraṃ cābhimukhāḥ sarve babhūvuḥ prekṣakāstadā

Such was the thought of the whole arena in that moment, O lord of the earth, and all the spectators turned to face the gate.

Verse 31 (1.145.31)

पञ्चभिर्भ्रातृभिः पार्थैर्द्रोणः परिवृतो बभौ । पञ्चतारेण संयुक्तः सावित्रेणेव चन्द्रमाः ॥

pañcabhirbhrātṛbhiḥ pārthairdroṇaḥ parivṛto babhau | pañcatāreṇa saṃyuktaḥ sāvitreṇeva candramāḥ

Drona, surrounded by the five Partha brothers, shone like the moon joined with the five-starred constellation Savitra (Hasta).

Note on the text: Corrected वभौ → बभौ (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; the critical edition reads babhau).

Verse 32 (1.145.32)

अश्वत्थाम्ना च सहितं भ्रातॄणां शतमूर्जितम् । दुर्योधनममित्रघ्नमुत्थितं पर्यवारयत् ॥

aśvatthāmnā ca sahitaṃ bhrātṝṇāṃ śatamūrjitam | duryodhanamamitraghnamutthitaṃ paryavārayat

The hundred mighty brothers, together with Ashvatthama, gathered round Duryodhana, slayer of foes, who had risen to his feet.

Verse 33 (1.145.33)

स तैस्तदा भ्रातृभिरुद्यतायुधै- । र्गदाग्रपाणिः समवस्थितैर्वृतः । बभौ यथा दानवसंक्षये पुरा । पुरन्दरो देवगणैः समावृतः ॥

sa taistadā bhrātṛbhirudyatāyudhai- | rgadāgrapāṇiḥ samavasthitairvṛtaḥ | babhau yathā dānavasaṃkṣaye purā | purandaro devagaṇaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ

Surrounded then by those brothers standing with weapons raised, mace in hand, he shone like Purandara of old, encircled by the hosts of the gods when the Danavas were destroyed.

Note on the text: Corrected पुनन्दरो → पुरन्दरो (misprint in Wikisource; न for र; the critical edition reads puraṃdaro). The second line is a different wording of the critical edition's (vṛto gadāpāṇir avasthitaiḥ sthitaḥ).