Duryodhana Goes to Bhishma by Night

Verse 1 (6.97.1)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । दुःशासनश्च पुत्रस्ते सूतपुत्रश्च दुर्जयः ॥

tato duryodhano rājā śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ | duḥśāsanaśca putraste sūtaputraśca durjayaḥ

Then King Duryodhana, Shakuni son of Subala, your son Duhshasana and the invincible son of the charioteer (Karna)

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: checked against the raw Wikisource page (a table, one row per verse, 6-97-1 to 6-97-43, with सञ्जय उवाच headings at rows 1x, 8x and 43x, ending with its colophon naming this the 97th adhyaya); it agrees with the input row for row. Together the verses correspond to the critical edition 6.93.1–41, with two star passages (verses 6 and 26). The speeches carry no headings on the page and are given to their speakers: Duryodhana (verses 4–7, 16, 18 and 37–42) and Karna (verses 9–14). Verses 8 and 17, which introduce speeches in their first lines, stay with the narrator.

Verse 2 (6.97.2)

समागम्य महाराज मन्त्रं चक्रुर्विवक्षितम् । कथं पाण्डुसुताः सङ्ख्ये जेतव्याः सगणा इति ॥

samāgamya mahārāja mantraṃ cakrurvivakṣitam | kathaṃ pāṇḍusutāḥ saṅkhye jetavyāḥ sagaṇā iti

met together, great king, and held the counsel they had in mind: how were the sons of Pandu and their followers to be conquered in battle?

Note on the text: सङ्ख्ये (CE yuddhe) kept as a variant.

Verse 3 (6.97.3)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वांस्तानाह मन्त्रिणः । सूतपुत्रं समाभाष्य सौबलं च महाबलम् ॥

tato duryodhano rājā sarvāṃstānāha mantriṇaḥ | sūtaputraṃ samābhāṣya saubalaṃ ca mahābalam

Then King Duryodhana spoke to all those counsellors, addressing the charioteer's son and the mighty son of Subala:

Verse 4 (6.97.4)

द्रोणो भीष्मः कृपः शल्यः सौमदत्तिश्च संयुगे । न पार्थान्प्रति बाधन्ते न जाने किंनु कारणम् ॥

droṇo bhīṣmaḥ kṛpaḥ śalyaḥ saumadattiśca saṃyuge | na pārthānprati bādhante na jāne kiṃnu kāraṇam

"Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Shalya and Somadatta's son do not hold back the Parthas in battle; I do not know what the reason can be.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, speaking to his counsellors (introduced in verse 3); the page prints no heading here. Corrected भीष्म → भीष्मः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped visarga in a list of nominatives, critical edition bhīṣmaḥ). किंनु (CE tatra) kept as a variant.

Verse 5 (6.97.5)

अवध्यमानास्ते चापि क्षपयन्ति बलं मम । सोऽस्मि क्षीणबलः कर्ण क्षीणशस्त्रश्च संयुगे ॥

avadhyamānāste cāpi kṣapayanti balaṃ mama | so'smi kṣīṇabalaḥ karṇa kṣīṇaśastraśca saṃyuge

And they themselves, unharmed, are wearing down my forces. So I am weakened in strength, Karna, and short of weapons in this war.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 4.

Verse 6 (6.97.6)

द्रोणस्य प्रमुखे वीरा हतास्ते भ्रातरो मम । भीमसेनेन राधेय मम चैव च पश्यतः ॥

droṇasya pramukhe vīrā hatāste bhrātaro mama | bhīmasenena rādheya mama caiva ca paśyataḥ

My heroic brothers have been slain by Bhimasena in front of Drona, son of Radha, while I myself looked on.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 6.93.5d*0374. The page marks it off with a backtick and a closing quote mark (its sign for an inserted passage); both were removed. Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 4.

Verse 7 (6.97.7)

निकृतः पाण्डवैः शूरैरवध्यैर्दैवतैरपि । सोऽहं संशयमापन्नः प्रकरिष्ये कथं रणम् ॥

nikṛtaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ śūrairavadhyairdaivatairapi | so'haṃ saṃśayamāpannaḥ prakariṣye kathaṃ raṇam

I have been outdone by the heroic Pandavas, whom not even the gods can slay. Fallen into such doubt, how shall I carry on the battle?"

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 4.

Verse 8 (6.97.8)

तमब्रवीन्महाराज सूतपुत्रो नराधिपम् । मा शोच भरतश्रेष्ठ करिष्येऽहं प्रियं तव ॥

tamabravīnmahārāja sūtaputro narādhipam | mā śoca bharataśreṣṭha kariṣye'haṃ priyaṃ tava

The son of the charioteer said to that lord of men, great king: "Do not grieve, best of the Bharatas; I shall do what pleases you.

Note on the text: मा शोच and करिष्येऽहं (CE mā śuco, prakariṣye) kept as variants.

Verse 9 (6.97.9)

भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तूर्णमपयातु महारणात् । निवृत्ते युधि गाङ्गेये न्यस्तशस्त्रे च भारत ॥

bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavastūrṇamapayātu mahāraṇāt | nivṛtte yudhi gāṅgeye nyastaśastre ca bhārata

Let Bhishma son of Shantanu withdraw at once from the great battle. When Gangeya has turned away from the fight and laid down his weapons, O Bharata,

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna, continuing the speech begun in verse 8; the page prints no heading here.

Verse 10 (6.97.10)

अहं पार्थान्हनिष्यामि सहितान्सर्वसोमकैः । पश्यतो युधि भीष्मस्य शपे सत्येन ते नृप ॥

ahaṃ pārthānhaniṣyāmi sahitānsarvasomakaiḥ | paśyato yudhi bhīṣmasya śape satyena te nṛpa

I shall kill the Parthas together with all the Somakas while Bhishma looks on in the battle. I swear it to you by the truth, O king.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna, as in verse 9.

Verse 11 (6.97.11)

पाण्डवेषु दयां नित्यं स हि भीष्मः करोति वै । अशक्तश्च रणे भीष्मो जेतुमेतान्महारथान् ॥

pāṇḍaveṣu dayāṃ nityaṃ sa hi bhīṣmaḥ karoti vai | aśaktaśca raṇe bhīṣmo jetumetānmahārathān

For Bhishma always shows compassion to the Pandavas, and Bhishma is unable to conquer these great chariot-warriors in battle.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna, as in verse 9. नित्यं स हि भीष्मः (CE rājan sadā bhīṣmaḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 12 (6.97.12)

अभिमानी रणे भीष्मो नित्यं चापि रणप्रियः । स कथं पाण्डवान्युद्धे जेष्यते तात संगतान् ॥

abhimānī raṇe bhīṣmo nityaṃ cāpi raṇapriyaḥ | sa kathaṃ pāṇḍavānyuddhe jeṣyate tāta saṃgatān

Bhishma is proud in battle and ever fond of war; how then, my friend, will he conquer the Pandavas when they stand united in the fight?

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna, as in verse 9.

Verse 13 (6.97.13)

स त्वं शीघ्रमितो गत्वा भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति । अनुमान्य गुरुं वृद्धं शस्त्रं न्यासय भारत ॥

sa tvaṃ śīghramito gatvā bhīṣmasya śibiraṃ prati | anumānya guruṃ vṛddhaṃ śastraṃ nyāsaya bhārata

So go quickly from here to Bhishma's camp, win the consent of that aged elder, and have him lay down his weapons, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna, as in verse 9. अनुमान्य गुरुं वृद्धं (CE anumānya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ) kept as a variant.

Verse 14 (6.97.14)

न्यस्तशस्त्रे ततो भीष्मे निहतान्पश्य पाण्डवान् । मयैकेन रणे राजन्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान् ॥

nyastaśastre tato bhīṣme nihatānpaśya pāṇḍavān | mayaikena raṇe rājansasuhṛdgaṇabāndhavān

Once Bhishma has laid down his weapons, you will see the Pandavas slain in battle by me alone, O king, together with their friends and kinsmen."

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna, as in verse 9.

Verse 15 (6.97.15)

एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं तत्र दुःशासनमिदं वचः ॥

evamuktastu karṇena putro duryodhanastava | abravīdbhrātaraṃ tatra duḥśāsanamidaṃ vacaḥ

Thus addressed by Karna, your son Duryodhana spoke these words there to his brother Duhshasana:

Verse 16 (6.97.16)

अनुयात्रं यथा सर्वं सज्जीभवति सर्वशः । दुःशासन तथा क्षिप्रं सर्वमेवोपपादय ॥

anuyātraṃ yathā sarvaṃ sajjībhavati sarvaśaḥ | duḥśāsana tathā kṣipraṃ sarvamevopapādaya

"Duhshasana, see to everything quickly, so that my whole escort is made ready in every respect."

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, speaking to Duhshasana (introduced in verse 15); the page prints no heading here. सर्वं सज्जीभवति सर्वशः (CE sajjaṃ sarvaṃ bhavati sarvataḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 17 (6.97.17)

एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्कर्णमाह जनेश्वरः । अनुमान्य रणे भीष्ममेषोऽहं द्विपदां वरम् ॥

evamuktvā tato rājankarṇamāha janeśvaraḥ | anumānya raṇe bhīṣmameṣo'haṃ dvipadāṃ varam

Having said this, O king, the lord of men said to Karna: "Once I have won the consent of Bhishma, best of men, to leave the battle,

Note on the text: एषोऽहं (CE ito 'haṃ) kept as a variant.

Verse 18 (6.97.18)

आगमिष्ये ततः क्षिप्रं त्वत्सकाशमरिन्दम । अपक्रान्ते ततो भीष्मे प्रहरिष्यसि संयुगे ॥

āgamiṣye tataḥ kṣipraṃ tvatsakāśamarindama | apakrānte tato bhīṣme prahariṣyasi saṃyuge

I shall come back to you quickly, tamer of foes. When Bhishma has withdrawn, you will strike in battle."

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, continuing the words to Karna begun in verse 17; the page prints no heading here. Line 2 (अपक्रान्ते ततो भीष्मे प्रहरिष्यसि संयुगे) differs from the critical edition's 6.93.17cd (tatas tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra prakariṣyasi saṃyugam); kept as a recension variant.

Verse 19 (6.97.19)

निष्पपात ततस्तूर्णं पुत्रस्तव विशांपते । सहितो भ्रातृभिस्तैस्तु देवैरिव शतक्रतुः ॥

niṣpapāta tatastūrṇaṃ putrastava viśāṃpate | sahito bhrātṛbhistaistu devairiva śatakratuḥ

Then your son set out swiftly, lord of the people, together with those brothers of his, like Shatakratu (Indra) with the gods.

Note on the text: भ्रातृभिस्तैस्तु (CE bhrātṛbhiḥ sarvair) kept as a variant.

Verse 20 (6.97.20)

ततस्तं नृपशार्दूलं शार्दूलसमविक्रमम् । आरोपयद्धयं तूर्णं भ्राता दुःशासनस्तदा ॥

tatastaṃ nṛpaśārdūlaṃ śārdūlasamavikramam | āropayaddhayaṃ tūrṇaṃ bhrātā duḥśāsanastadā

Then his brother Duhshasana quickly helped that tiger among kings, valiant as a tiger, onto his horse.

Verse 21 (6.97.21)

अङ्गदी बद्धमुकुटो हस्ताभरणवान्नृप । धार्तराष्ट्रो महाराज विबभौ स पथि व्रजन् ॥

aṅgadī baddhamukuṭo hastābharaṇavānnṛpa | dhārtarāṣṭro mahārāja vibabhau sa pathi vrajan

Wearing armlets and a fastened diadem, with ornaments on his hands, O king, the son of Dhritarashtra shone, great king, as he went along the road.

Note on the text: नृप and स पथि व्रजन् (CE nṛpaḥ, sa mahendravat) kept as variants.

Verse 22 (6.97.22)

भण्डीपुष्पनिकाशेन तपनीयनिभेन च । अनुलिप्तः परार्द्ध्येन चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना ॥

bhaṇḍīpuṣpanikāśena tapanīyanibhena ca | anuliptaḥ parārddhyena candanena sugandhinā

He was anointed with costly, fragrant sandal paste, the colour of the madder flower and bright as burnished gold.

Note on the text: भण्डीपुष्प- (CE bhāṇḍīpuṣpa-) kept; the page's own footnote glosses it as the flower of the madder plant (मञ्जिष्ठा).

Verse 23 (6.97.23)

अरजोम्बरसंवीतः सिंहखेलगतिर्नृप । शुशुभे विमलार्चिष्मान्नभसीव दिवाकरः ॥

arajombarasaṃvītaḥ siṃhakhelagatirnṛpa | śuśubhe vimalārciṣmānnabhasīva divākaraḥ

Clad in spotless garments, moving with the playful gait of a lion, O king, he shone like the radiant sun in a clear sky.

Note on the text: नृप and नभसीव (CE nṛpaḥ, śaradīva) kept as variants.

Verse 24 (6.97.24)

तं प्रयान्तं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति । अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासाः सर्वलोकस्य धन्विनः । भ्रातरश्च महेष्वासास्त्रिदशा इव वासवम् ॥

taṃ prayāntaṃ naravyāghraṃ bhīṣmasya śibiraṃ prati | anujagmurmaheṣvāsāḥ sarvalokasya dhanvinaḥ | bhrātaraśca maheṣvāsāstridaśā iva vāsavam

As that tiger among men went towards Bhishma's camp, great archers, the bowmen of the whole world, followed him, and his brothers, great archers too, as the thirty gods follow Vasava (Indra).

Verse 25 (6.97.25)

हयानन्ये समारुह्य गजानन्ये च भारत । रथानन्ये नरश्रेष्ठं परिवव्रुः समन्ततः ॥

hayānanye samāruhya gajānanye ca bhārata | rathānanye naraśreṣṭhaṃ parivavruḥ samantataḥ

Some mounted on horses, others on elephants, O Bharata, and others on chariots, surrounded that best of men on every side.

Note on the text: रथानन्ये नरश्रेष्ठं (CE rathair anye naraśreṣṭhāḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 26 (6.97.26)

पदातयश्च त्वरिता नखरप्रासयोधिनः । परिवव्रुर्महेष्वासं धार्तराष्ट्रं महारथम् ॥

padātayaśca tvaritā nakharaprāsayodhinaḥ | parivavrurmaheṣvāsaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ mahāratham

Foot soldiers too, fighting with claw-blades and darts, swiftly gathered around the son of Dhritarashtra, that great archer and great chariot-warrior.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 6.93.24d*0376. The page marks it off with a backtick and a closing quote mark (its sign for an inserted passage); both were removed, with a doubled verse-end mark.

Verse 27 (6.97.27)

आत्तशस्त्राश्च सुहृदो रक्षणार्थं महीपतेः । प्रादुर्बभूवुः सहिताः शक्रस्येवामरा दिवि ॥

āttaśastrāśca suhṛdo rakṣaṇārthaṃ mahīpateḥ | prādurbabhūvuḥ sahitāḥ śakrasyevāmarā divi

His friends, weapons in hand, appeared together to guard the king, like the immortals around Shakra (Indra) in heaven.

Verse 28 (6.97.28)

स पूज्यमानः कुरुभिः कौरवाणां महाबलः । प्रययौ सदनं राजा गाङ्गेयस्य यशस्विनः । अन्वीयमानः सततं सोदरैः परिवारितः ॥

sa pūjyamānaḥ kurubhiḥ kauravāṇāṃ mahābalaḥ | prayayau sadanaṃ rājā gāṅgeyasya yaśasvinaḥ | anvīyamānaḥ satataṃ sodaraiḥ parivāritaḥ

Honoured by the Kurus, the mighty king of the Kauravas went on to the dwelling of the illustrious son of Ganga, followed all the way and surrounded by his brothers.

Note on the text: स पूज्यमानः, महाबलः, राजा and सततं सोदरैः परिवारितः (CE saṃpūjyamānaḥ, mahārathaḥ, rājan, sahitaiḥ sodaraiḥ sarvato nṛpaḥ) kept as variants.

Verse 29 (6.97.29)

दक्षिणं दक्षिणः काले संभृत्य स्वभुजं तदा । हस्तिहस्तोपमं सौम्यं सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम् ॥

dakṣiṇaṃ dakṣiṇaḥ kāle saṃbhṛtya svabhujaṃ tadā | hastihastopamaṃ saumyaṃ sarvaśatrunibarhaṇam

Raising at the right moment his right arm, like an elephant's trunk, handsome and able to destroy every foe, the dexterous king

Note on the text: सौम्यं (CE śaikṣaṃ) kept as a variant; the page's footnote glosses संभृत्य as 'raising'.

Verse 30 (6.97.30)

प्रगृह्णन्नञ्जलीन्नॄणामुद्यतान्सर्वतो दिशः । शुश्राव मधुरा वाचो नानादेशनिवासिनाम् ॥

pragṛhṇannañjalīnnṝṇāmudyatānsarvato diśaḥ | śuśrāva madhurā vāco nānādeśanivāsinām

acknowledged the folded hands that people raised to him from every side, and heard the sweet words of those who dwelt in many lands.

Verse 31 (6.97.31)

संस्तूयमानः सूतैश्च मागधैश्च महायशाः । पूजयानश्च तान्सर्वान्सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरः ॥

saṃstūyamānaḥ sūtaiśca māgadhaiśca mahāyaśāḥ | pūjayānaśca tānsarvānsarvalokeśvareśvaraḥ

Praised by bards and minstrels, the illustrious king, lord of the lords of all the world, honoured them all in return.

Verse 32 (6.97.32)

प्रदीपैः काञ्चनैस्तत्र गन्धतैलावसेचितैः । परिवव्रुर्महाराजं प्रज्वलद्भिः समन्ततः ॥

pradīpaiḥ kāñcanaistatra gandhatailāvasecitaiḥ | parivavrurmahārājaṃ prajvaladbhiḥ samantataḥ

There, attendants with golden lamps sprinkled with fragrant oil surrounded the great king on every side with blazing lights.

Note on the text: गन्धतैलावसेचितैः and महाराजं (CE gandhatailāvasecanaiḥ, mahātmānaṃ) kept as variants.

Verse 33 (6.97.33)

स तैः परिवृतो राजा प्रदीपैः काञ्चनैर्ज्वलन् । शुशुभे चन्द्रमायुक्तो दीप्तैरिव महाग्रहैः ॥

sa taiḥ parivṛto rājā pradīpaiḥ kāñcanairjvalan | śuśubhe candramāyukto dīptairiva mahāgrahaiḥ

Surrounded by those blazing golden lamps, the king shone like the moon attended by the great, bright planets.

Note on the text: काञ्चनैर्ज्वलन् (CE kāñcanaiḥ śubhaiḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 34 (6.97.34)

कञ्चुकोष्णीषिणस्तत्र वेत्रझर्झरपाणयः । प्रोत्सारयन्तः शनकैस्तं जनं सर्वतो दिशम् ॥

kañcukoṣṇīṣiṇastatra vetrajharjharapāṇayaḥ | protsārayantaḥ śanakaistaṃ janaṃ sarvato diśam

Chamberlains in jackets and turbans, with canes and jharjhara-staves in their hands, gently moved the crowd aside on every side.

Verse 35 (6.97.35)

संप्राप्य तु ततो राजा भीष्मस्य सदनं शुभम् । अवतीर्य हयाच्चापि भीष्मं प्राप्य जनेश्वरः ॥

saṃprāpya tu tato rājā bhīṣmasya sadanaṃ śubham | avatīrya hayāccāpi bhīṣmaṃ prāpya janeśvaraḥ

Then the king, lord of men, reached Bhishma's splendid dwelling, dismounted from his horse and approached Bhishma.

Verse 36 (6.97.36)

अभिवाद्य ततो भीष्मं निषण्णः परमासने । काञ्चने सर्वतोभद्रे स्पर्द्ध्यास्तरणसंवृते । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भीष्मं बाष्पकण्ठोऽश्रुलोचनः ॥

abhivādya tato bhīṣmaṃ niṣaṇṇaḥ paramāsane | kāñcane sarvatobhadre sparddhyāstaraṇasaṃvṛte | uvāca prāñjalirbhīṣmaṃ bāṣpakaṇṭho'śrulocanaḥ

He saluted Bhishma and sat down on a fine golden seat, shaped as a sarvatobhadra and covered with a costly spread; then, with folded hands, his voice choked with tears and his eyes wet, he said to Bhishma:

Verse 37 (6.97.37)

त्वां वयं हि समाश्रित्य संयुगे शत्रुसूदन । उत्सहेम रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रानपि सुरासुरान् । किमु पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान् ॥

tvāṃ vayaṃ hi samāśritya saṃyuge śatrusūdana | utsahema raṇe jetuṃ sendrānapi surāsurān | kimu pāṇḍusutānvīrānsasuhṛdgaṇabāndhavān

"Relying on you, slayer of foes, we would dare to conquer in battle even the gods and demons with Indra at their head; how much more the heroic sons of Pandu with their friends and kinsmen!

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, speaking to Bhishma (introduced in verse 36); the page prints no heading here. Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.93.35 (हि समाश्रित्य for samupāśritya) and line 3 is 6.93.36ab; the CE's three-line verse 36 is divided here between this verse and the next, so nothing is lost. The automatic alignment missed both verses.

Verse 38 (6.97.38)

तस्मादर्हसि गाङ्गेय कृपां कर्तुं मयि प्रभो । जहि पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान्महेन्द्र इव दानवान् ॥

tasmādarhasi gāṅgeya kṛpāṃ kartuṃ mayi prabho | jahi pāṇḍusutānvīrānmahendra iva dānavān

Therefore, son of Ganga, my lord, you should show me your favour. Slay the heroic sons of Pandu as great Indra slew the Danavas.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 37. Corresponds to the critical edition's 6.93.36cd + 6.93.36ef (see verse 37). Corrected पाणडुसुतान्वारान् → पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान् (misprint in Wikisource; a broken conjunct ण्ड and वा for वी — 'the heroic sons of Pandu', as in verse 37; critical edition pāṇḍusutān vīrān).

Verse 39 (6.97.39)

पूर्वमुक्तं महाबाहो हनिष्यामि ससोमकान् । पाञ्चालान्केकयैः सार्धं करूषांश्चेति भारत ॥

pūrvamuktaṃ mahābāho haniṣyāmi sasomakān | pāñcālānkekayaiḥ sārdhaṃ karūṣāṃśceti bhārata

You said before, mighty-armed one, 'I shall kill the Panchalas with the Somakas, together with the Kekayas, and the Karushas too,' O Bharata.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 37. Corrected करूपांश्चेति → करूषांश्चेति (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष — the Karusha people; critical edition karūṣāṃś). हनिष्यामि ससोमकान् and केकयैः (CE nihaniṣyāmi somakān, pāṇḍavaiḥ) kept as variants.

Verse 40 (6.97.40)

त्वद्वचः सत्यमेवास्तु जहि पार्थान्समागतान् । सोमकांश्च महेष्वासान्सत्यवाग्भव भारत ॥

tvadvacaḥ satyamevāstu jahi pārthānsamāgatān | somakāṃśca maheṣvāsānsatyavāgbhava bhārata

Let your word come true: slay the Parthas gathered here and the Somakas, those great archers. Be true to your word, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 37. त्वद्वचः (CE tad vacaḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 41 (6.97.41)

दयया यदि वा राजन्द्वेष्यभावान्मम प्रभो । मन्दभाग्यतया वापि मम रक्षसि पाण्डवान् ॥

dayayā yadi vā rājandveṣyabhāvānmama prabho | mandabhāgyatayā vāpi mama rakṣasi pāṇḍavān

Whether out of compassion, O king, or out of hatred for me, my lord, or because of my ill fortune, you are protecting the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 37.

Verse 42 (6.97.42)

अनुजानीहि समरे कर्णमाहवशोभिनम् । स जेष्यति रणे पार्थान्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान् ॥

anujānīhi samare karṇamāhavaśobhinam | sa jeṣyati raṇe pārthānsasuhṛdgaṇabāndhavān

Give Karna, who shines in war, leave to fight in this battle; he will conquer the Parthas in battle with their friends and kinsmen."

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 37.

Verse 43 (6.97.43)

स एवमुक्त्वा नृपतिः पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । नोवाच वचनं किंचिद्भीष्मं सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥

sa evamuktvā nṛpatiḥ putro duryodhanastava | novāca vacanaṃ kiṃcidbhīṣmaṃ satyaparākramam

Having spoken thus, your son King Duryodhana said nothing more to Bhishma, whose valour was true.

Note on the text: स एवमुक्त्वा and सत्यपराक्रमम् (CE etāvad uktvā, bhīmaparākramam) kept as variants.