Arjuna Defeats the Gandharas and Spares Shakuni's Son

Verse 1 (14.85.1)

शकुनस्तनयो वीरो गान्धाराणां महारथः । प्रत्युद्ययौ गुडाकेशं सैन्येन महता वृतः । हस्त्यश्वरथयुक्तेन पताकाध्वजमालिना ॥

śakunastanayo vīro gāndhārāṇāṃ mahārathaḥ | pratyudyayau guḍākeśaṃ sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ | hastyaśvarathayuktena patākādhvajamālinā

The heroic son of Shakuni, a great chariot-warrior of the Gandharas, went out to meet Gudakesha, surrounded by a great army of elephants, horses and chariots, adorned with pennants and banners.

Note on the text: Line 3 reads हस्त्यश्वरथयुक्तेन against the critical edition's हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन (hastyaśvarathapūrṇena); line 1 reads शकुनस्तनयो against the critical edition's शकुनेस्तु सुतो (śakunes tu suto); recension variants, kept. Wikisource prints the three lines as one verse, as the critical edition does.

Verse 2 (14.85.2)

अमृष्यमाणास्ते योधा नृपस्य शकुनेर्वधम् । अभ्ययुः सहिताः पार्थं प्रगृहीतशरासनाः ॥

amṛṣyamāṇāste yodhā nṛpasya śakunervadham | abhyayuḥ sahitāḥ pārthaṃ pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ

Those warriors, who could not bear the death of King Shakuni, came together against Partha with their bows raised.

Verse 3 (14.85.3)

स तानुवाच धर्मात्मा बीभत्सुरपराजितः । युधिष्ठिरस्य वचनं न च ते जगृहुर्हितम् ॥

sa tānuvāca dharmātmā bībhatsuraparājitaḥ | yudhiṣṭhirasya vacanaṃ na ca te jagṛhurhitam

The righteous-souled, unconquered Bibhatsu told them Yudhishthira's command, but they did not accept the advice that was for their good.

Note on the text: Corrected युधिष्टिरस्य → युधिष्ठिरस्य (misprint in Wikisource; ष्ट for ष्ठ; the critical edition reads yudhiṣṭhirasya). Line 1 reads स तानुवाच धर्मात्मा against the critical edition's तानुवाच स धर्मात्मा (tān uvāca sa dharmātmā); the same words in a different order, kept.

Verse 4 (14.85.4)

वार्यमाणास्तु पार्थेन सान्त्वपूर्वममर्षिताः । परिवार्य हयं जग्मुस्ततश्चुक्रोध पाण्डवः ॥

vāryamāṇāstu pārthena sāntvapūrvamamarṣitāḥ | parivārya hayaṃ jagmustataścukrodha pāṇḍavaḥ

Though Partha held them back with conciliatory words, they were resentful; they surrounded the horse and moved on, and then the Pandava grew angry.

Verse 5 (14.85.5)

ततः शिरांसि दीप्ताग्रैस्तेषां चिच्छेद पाण्डवः । क्षुरैर्गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैर्नातियत्नादिवार्जुनः ॥

tataḥ śirāṃsi dīptāgraisteṣāṃ ciccheda pāṇḍavaḥ | kṣurairgāṇḍīvanirmuktairnātiyatnādivārjunaḥ

Then the Pandava cut off their heads with razor-headed arrows, bright at the tips and shot from Gandiva, almost as if Arjuna were making no effort.

Verse 6 (14.85.6)

ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन हयमुत्सृज्य संभ्रमात् । न्यवर्तन्त महाराज शरवर्षार्दिता भृशम् ॥

te vadhyamānāḥ pārthena hayamutsṛjya saṃbhramāt | nyavartanta mahārāja śaravarṣārditā bhṛśam

Struck down by Partha, they let go of the horse in their confusion and turned back, O great king, sorely tormented by the rain of arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected पार्थेनि → पार्थेन (misprint in Wikisource; a stray इ-matra; the critical edition reads pārthena). Corrected संप्रमात् → संभ्रमात् (misprint in Wikisource; प्र for भ्र; the critical edition reads saṃbhramāt).

Verse 7 (14.85.7)

वितुद्यमानस्तैश्चापि गान्धारैः पाण्डुनन्दनः । आदिश्यादिश्य तेजस्वी परानेतानवारयत् ॥

vitudyamānastaiścāpi gāndhāraiḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | ādiśyādiśya tejasvī parānetānavārayat

Though the Gandharas pressed him hard, the splendid son of Pandu, singling them out one after another, kept those enemies off.

Note on the text: Corrected आदिस्यादिश्य → आदिश्यादिश्य (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads ādiśyādiśya). Line 2 reads परानेतानवारयत् against the critical edition's शिरांस्येषां न्यपातयत् (śirāṃsy eṣāṃ nyapātayat); recension variant, kept.

Verse 8 (14.85.8)

वध्यमानेषु तेष्वाजौ गान्धारेषु समन्ततः । स राजा शकुनेः पुत्रः पाण्डवं प्रत्यवारयत् ॥

vadhyamāneṣu teṣvājau gāndhāreṣu samantataḥ | sa rājā śakuneḥ putraḥ pāṇḍavaṃ pratyavārayat

While the Gandharas were being cut down on every side in the battle, that king, the son of Shakuni, held the Pandava back.

Verse 9 (14.85.9)

तं युध्यमानं राजानं क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थितम् । पार्थोऽब्रवीन्न मे वध्या राजानो राजशासनात् ॥

taṃ yudhyamānaṃ rājānaṃ kṣatradharme vyavasthitam | pārtho'bravīnna me vadhyā rājāno rājaśāsanāt

As that king fought on, firm in the Kshatriya duty, Partha said: "By the king's command, kings are not to be killed by me.

Note on the text: Corrected राजसासनात् → राजशासनात् (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads rājaśāsanāt). Lines 1-2 = CE 14,085.009a,c; the third line of the critical edition's verse (009e, "alaṃ yuddhena te vīra na te 'sty adya parājayaḥ") is the first line of the next verse in Wikisource.

Verse 10 (14.85.10)

अलं युद्धेन ते वीर न तेऽस्त्वद्य पराजयः । इत्युक्तस्तदनादृत्य वाक्यमज्ञानमोहितः । स शक्रसमकर्माणं समावाकिरदाशुगैः ॥

alaṃ yuddhena te vīra na te'stvadya parājayaḥ | ityuktastadanādṛtya vākyamajñānamohitaḥ | sa śakrasamakarmāṇaṃ samāvākiradāśugaiḥ

Enough of battle, hero; let there be no defeat for you today." Thus addressed, he disregarded those words, deluded by ignorance, and covered Arjuna, who equalled Shakra in deeds, with swift arrows.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 14,085.009e; lines 2-3 = CE 14,085.010a,c (the critical edition reads "sāyakaiḥ" for Wikisource's आशुगैः; variant, kept). Wikisource moves the third line of CE verse 9 to the head of this verse.

Verse 11 (14.85.11)

तस्य पार्थः शिरस्त्राणमर्धचन्द्रेण पत्रिणा । अपाहरदमेयात्मा जयद्रथशिरो यथा ॥

tasya pārthaḥ śirastrāṇamardhacandreṇa patriṇā | apāharadameyātmā jayadrathaśiro yathā

With a crescent-headed arrow, Partha of immeasurable soul took off his helmet, as he had once taken off the head of Jayadratha.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्य् → तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a stray halant; the critical edition reads tasya). Line 2 reads अपाहरदमेयात्मा against the critical edition's अपाहरदसंभ्रान्तः (apāharad asaṃbhrāntaḥ); recension variant, kept.

Verse 12 (14.85.12)

तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं जग्मुर्गान्धाराः सर्व एव ते । इच्छता तेन न हतो राजेत्यपि च ते विदुः ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṃ jagmurgāndhārāḥ sarva eva te | icchatā tena na hato rājetyapi ca te viduḥ

Seeing that, all those Gandharas were amazed, and they knew that the king had not been killed only because Arjuna did not choose it.

Verse 13 (14.85.13)

गान्धारराजपुत्रस्तु पलायनकृतक्षणः । ययौ तैरेव सहितस्त्रस्तैः क्षुद्रमृगैरिव ॥

gāndhārarājaputrastu palāyanakṛtakṣaṇaḥ | yayau taireva sahitastrastaiḥ kṣudramṛgairiva

But the son of the Gandhara king, seizing his chance to flee, went off with those same men, terrified like small deer.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads ययौ against the critical edition's बभौ (babhau); recension variant, kept.

Verse 14 (14.85.14)

तेषां तु तरसा पार्थस्तत्रैव परिधावताम् । प्रजहारोत्तमाङ्गानि भल्लैः सन्नतपर्वभिः ॥

teṣāṃ tu tarasā pārthastatraiva paridhāvatām | prajahārottamāṅgāni bhallaiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ

As they ran about right there, Partha swiftly cut off their heads with well-bent-jointed bhalla arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected परिदावताम् → परिधावताम् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ध; परिदाव- is not a word, the critical edition reads paridhāvatām). Line 2 reads प्रजहार against the critical edition's विजहार (vijahāra); recension variant, kept.

Verse 15 (14.85.15)

उच्छ्रितांस्तु भुजान्केचिन्नाबुध्यन्त शरैर्हृतान् । शरैर्गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैः पृथुभिः पार्थचोदितैः ॥

ucchritāṃstu bhujānkecinnābudhyanta śarairhṛtān | śarairgāṇḍīvanirmuktaiḥ pṛthubhiḥ pārthacoditaiḥ

Some did not even notice that their raised arms had been cut off by arrows, the broad arrows shot from Gandiva and driven by Partha.

Verse 16 (14.85.16)

सम्भ्रान्तनरनागाश्वमपतद्विद्रुतं बलम् । हतविद्रुतभूयिष्ठमावर्तत मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

sambhrāntanaranāgāśvamapatadvidrutaṃ balam | hatavidrutabhūyiṣṭhamāvartata muhurmuhuḥ

The routed army, its men, elephants and horses bewildered, fell into ruin; mostly slain or fled, it kept wheeling round again and again.

Note on the text: Wikisource's verse differs from the critical edition's 14.85.16 in wording (सम्भ्रान्तनरनागाश्वमपतद्विद्रुतं बलम् / हतविद्रुतभूयिष्ठमावर्तत मुहुर्मुहुः; CE: saṃbhrāntanaranāgāśvam atha tad vidrutaṃ balam / hatavidhvastabhūyiṣṭham āvartata muhur muhuḥ); recension variant, kept.

Verse 17 (14.85.17)

नाभ्यदृश्यन्त वीरस्य केचिदग्रेऽग्र्यकर्मणः । रिपवः पात्यमाना वै ये सहेरन्महाशरान् ॥

nābhyadṛśyanta vīrasya kecidagre'gryakarmaṇaḥ | ripavaḥ pātyamānā vai ye saheranmahāśarān

No enemies who could have withstood those great arrows were seen standing in front of the hero of foremost deeds as they were struck down.

Note on the text: Corrected नाभ्यदृस्यन्त → नाभ्यदृश्यन्त (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads na hy adṛśyanta). Line 1 reads नाभ्यदृश्यन्त against the critical edition's न ह्यदृश्यन्त (na hy adṛśyanta); recension variant, kept.

Verse 18 (14.85.18)

ततो गान्धारराजस्य मन्त्रिवृद्धपुरःसरा । जननी निर्ययौ भीता पुरस्कृत्यार्घ्यमुत्तमम् ॥

tato gāndhārarājasya mantrivṛddhapuraḥsarā | jananī niryayau bhītā puraskṛtyārghyamuttamam

Then the mother of the Gandhara king, led by her aged ministers, came out in fear, carrying the finest offering of honour.

Verse 19 (14.85.19)

सा न्यवारयदव्यग्रा तं पुत्रं युद्धदुर्मदम् । प्रसादयामास च तं जिष्णुमक्लिष्टकारिणम् ॥

sā nyavārayadavyagrā taṃ putraṃ yuddhadurmadam | prasādayāmāsa ca taṃ jiṣṇumakliṣṭakāriṇam

Calm and composed, she held back her son, who was maddened for battle, and appeased the victorious Arjuna, who does his deeds without effort.

Verse 20 (14.85.20)

तां पूजयित्वा बीभत्सुः प्रसादमकरोत्प्रभुः । शकुनेश्चापि तनयं सान्त्वयन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥

tāṃ pūjayitvā bībhatsuḥ prasādamakarotprabhuḥ | śakuneścāpi tanayaṃ sāntvayannidamabravīt

Honouring her, the lord Bibhatsu showed her favour, and consoling the son of Shakuni, he said:

Note on the text: Line 1 reads बीभत्सुः प्रसादमकरोत्प्रभुः against the critical edition's कौन्तेयः प्रसादमकरोत्तदा (kaunteyaḥ prasādam akarot tadā); recension variant, kept.

Verse 21 (14.85.21)

न मे प्रियं महाबाहो यत्ते बुद्धिरियं कृता । प्रतियोद्धुममित्रघ्न भ्रातैव त्वं ममानघ ॥

na me priyaṃ mahābāho yatte buddhiriyaṃ kṛtā | pratiyoddhumamitraghna bhrātaiva tvaṃ mamānagha

"It is not pleasing to me, mighty-armed one, that you made this resolve to fight me back. You are like a brother to me, sinless destroyer of foes.

Verse 22 (14.85.22)

गान्धारीं मातरं स्मृत्वा धृतराष्ट्रकृतेन च । तेन जीवसि राजंस्त्वं निहतास्त्वनुगास्तव ॥

gāndhārīṃ mātaraṃ smṛtvā dhṛtarāṣṭrakṛtena ca | tena jīvasi rājaṃstvaṃ nihatāstvanugāstava

Remembering Gandhari as a mother, and what Dhritarashtra did, you live, O king, though your followers have been slain.

Verse 23 (14.85.23)

मैवं भूः शाम्यतां वैरं मा तेऽभूद्बुद्धिरीदृशी । आगन्तव्यं परां चैत्रीमश्वमेधे नृपस्य नः ॥

maivaṃ bhūḥ śāmyatāṃ vairaṃ mā te'bhūdbuddhirīdṛśī | āgantavyaṃ parāṃ caitrīmaśvamedhe nṛpasya naḥ

Do not be so; let the enmity be quieted, and let no such resolve arise in you again. You must come to our king's horse sacrifice at the coming Chaitra full moon."

Verse 24 (14.85.24)

इत्युक्त्वाऽनुययौ पार्थो हयं तं कामचारिणम् । ते न्यवर्तन्त गान्धारा हतशिष्टाः स्वकं पुरम् ॥

ityuktvā'nuyayau pārtho hayaṃ taṃ kāmacāriṇam | te nyavartanta gāndhārā hataśiṣṭāḥ svakaṃ puram

Having said this, Partha followed the horse that roamed as it pleased, and the Gandharas, those who were left alive, went back to their own city.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 14,086.001a (it opens the critical edition's adhyaya 86); line 2 = star line 14,086.001b*0159_01 ("te nyavartanta gāndhārā hataśiṣṭāḥ svakaṃ puram"). Wikisource's own labels keep it in this adhyaya (14-85-24).