Drona Promises to Capture Yudhishthira

Verse 1 (7.12.1)

शुश्रूषस्व स्थिरो भूत्वा शंसतो मम भारत । हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि सर्वं प्रत्यक्षदर्शिवान् । यथा सत्यपरो द्रोणः सादितः पाण्डुसृञ्जयैः ॥

śuśrūṣasva sthiro bhūtvā śaṃsato mama bhārata | hanta te kathayiṣyāmi sarvaṃ pratyakṣadarśivān | yathā satyaparo droṇaḥ sāditaḥ pāṇḍusṛñjayaiḥ

Listen to me as I speak, O Bharata, and be steady. Come, I shall tell you everything as one who saw it with his own eyes: how Drona, devoted to truth, was brought down by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.

Note on the text: Corrected भूत्वां → भूत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara). Corrected सादिताः → सादितः (misprint in Wikisource; the singular is required by Drona, and the critical edition reads sāditaḥ). Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.11.1*0087_01; lines 2-3 are 7.11.1ab and cd (variant यथा सत्यपरो for yathā sa nyapatad). Removed stray wiki marks (backtick/quote) printed around the text.

Verse 2 (7.12.2)

सेनापतित्वं सम्प्राप्य भारद्वाजो महारथः । मध्ये सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य पुत्रं ते वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

senāpatitvaṃ samprāpya bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ | madhye sarvasya sainyasya putraṃ te vākyamabravīt

Having obtained the generalship, Drona, the great chariot-warrior, son of Bharadvaja, spoke these words to your son in the midst of the whole army.

Verse 3 (7.12.3)

यत्कौरवाणामृषभादापगेयादनन्तरम् । सैनापत्ये त्वया राजन्नद्य सत्कृतवानहम् ॥

yatkauravāṇāmṛṣabhādāpageyādanantaram | saināpatye tvayā rājannadya satkṛtavānaham

Since you, O king, have honoured me today with the command of the army, following the son of Ganga, the bull among the Kauravas,

Note on the text: Drona's own speech begins here (the page prints Sanjaya's heading before verse 1 and again before verse 5); the critical edition keeps it under Sanjaya's heading.

Verse 4 (7.12.4)

सदृशं कर्मणस्तस्य फलं प्राप्नुहि भारत । करोमि कामं कं तेऽद्य प्रवृणीष्व यमिच्छसि ॥

sadṛśaṃ karmaṇastasya phalaṃ prāpnuhi bhārata | karomi kāmaṃ kaṃ te'dya pravṛṇīṣva yamicchasi

obtain a reward equal to that deed, O Bharata. I shall fulfil whatever wish of yours; choose what you desire.

Verse 5 (7.12.5)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा कर्णदुःशासनादिभिः । सम्मन्त्र्योवाच दुर्धर्षमाचार्यं जयतां वरम् ॥

tato duryodhano rājā karṇaduḥśāsanādibhiḥ | sammantryovāca durdharṣamācāryaṃ jayatāṃ varam

Then King Duryodhana, having consulted with Karna, Duhshasana and the others, said to the unassailable teacher, the best of victors:

Verse 6 (7.12.6)

ददासि चेद्वरं मह्यं जीवग्राहं युधिष्ठिरम् । गृहीत्वा रथिनां श्रेष्ठं मत्समीपमिहानय ॥

dadāsi cedvaraṃ mahyaṃ jīvagrāhaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | gṛhītvā rathināṃ śreṣṭhaṃ matsamīpamihānaya

"If you grant me a boon, then seize Yudhishthira alive and bring him here to me, the foremost of charioteers."

Note on the text: Corrected रयिनां → रथिनां (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads rathināṃ, as in the next verse).

Verse 7 (7.12.7)

इच्छेयं वै महात्मानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् । भ्रातृणां पश्यतामेव जीवग्राहेण मे द्विज ॥

iccheyaṃ vai mahātmānaṃ dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | bhrātṛṇāṃ paśyatāmeva jīvagrāheṇa me dvija

"I wish to take the great-souled, righteous Yudhishthira alive, O brahmin, while his brothers look 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 7.11.6d*0089_01-02. Removed a stray backtick printed before the first line.

Verse 8 (7.12.8)

गृहीत्वा रथिनां श्रेष्ठं मत्सकाशमिहानय । प्रीणाम्यनेन कार्येण ससुहृज्जनबान्धवः ॥

gṛhītvā rathināṃ śreṣṭhaṃ matsakāśamihānaya | prīṇāmyanena kāryeṇa sasuhṛjjanabāndhavaḥ

"Seize him, the foremost of charioteers, and bring him here to me; by this deed I shall be gratified, together with my friends, kinsmen and relatives."

Note on the text: Line 1 repeats 7.11.6cd (variant मत्सकाशम् for matsamīpam) and is not in the critical edition; line 2 is its star passage 7.11.6d*0089_03.

Verse 9 (7.12.9)

ततः कुरूणामाचार्यः श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्य ते वचः । सेनां प्रहर्षयन्सर्वामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ kurūṇāmācāryaḥ śrutvā putrasya te vacaḥ | senāṃ praharṣayansarvāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Then the teacher of the Kurus, hearing your son's words, gladdened the whole army and spoke these words:

Verse 10 (7.12.10)

धन्यः कुन्तीसुतो राजन्यस्य ग्रहणमिच्छसि । न वधं तस्य दुर्धर्ष वरमद्य प्रयाचसे ॥

dhanyaḥ kuntīsuto rājanyasya grahaṇamicchasi | na vadhaṃ tasya durdharṣa varamadya prayācase

"Blessed is Kunti's son, O king, whose capture you seek; you ask me today for a boon that is not for his slaying, O unassailable one."

Verse 11 (7.12.11)

किमर्थं च नरव्याघ्र न वधं तस्य काङ्क्षसे । नाशंससि क्रियामेतां मत्तो दुर्योधन ध्रुवम् ॥

kimarthaṃ ca naravyāghra na vadhaṃ tasya kāṅkṣase | nāśaṃsasi kriyāmetāṃ matto duryodhana dhruvam

"Why, tiger among men, do you not wish for his death? Surely you do not look to me for this deed, Duryodhana."

Verse 12 (7.12.12)

आहोस्विद्धर्मराजस्य द्वेष्टा कश्चिन्न विद्यते । यदीच्छसि त्वं जीवन्तं कुलं रक्षसि चात्मनः ॥

āhosviddharmarājasya dveṣṭā kaścinna vidyate | yadīcchasi tvaṃ jīvantaṃ kulaṃ rakṣasi cātmanaḥ

"Or is there no one who hates the king of dharma? If you wish him alive, you protect your own family as well."

Verse 13 (7.12.13)

अथवा भरतश्रेष्ठ निर्जित्य युधि पाण्डवान् । राज्यांशं प्रति दत्त्वा च सौभ्रात्रं कर्तुमिच्छसि ॥

athavā bharataśreṣṭha nirjitya yudhi pāṇḍavān | rājyāṃśaṃ prati dattvā ca saubhrātraṃ kartumicchasi

"Or, best of the Bharatas, after defeating the Pandavas in battle and giving them back a share of the kingdom, do you wish to make peace as brothers?"

Verse 14 (7.12.14)

धन्यः कुन्तीसुतो राजा सुजातं चास्य धीमतः । अजातशत्रुता सत्या तस्य यत्स्निह्यते भवान् ॥

dhanyaḥ kuntīsuto rājā sujātaṃ cāsya dhīmataḥ | ajātaśatrutā satyā tasya yatsnihyate bhavān

"Blessed is Kunti's son, the king, and well-born is that wise man; his title of Ajatashatru is true, since you feel affection for him."

Verse 15 (7.12.15)

द्रोणेन चैवमुक्तस्य तव पुत्रस्य भारत । सहसा निःसृतो भावो योऽस्य नित्यं हृदि स्थितः ॥

droṇena caivamuktasya tava putrasya bhārata | sahasā niḥsṛto bhāvo yo'sya nityaṃ hṛdi sthitaḥ

When Drona had spoken to him thus, O Bharata, the feeling that had always lain in your son's heart suddenly burst out.

Note on the text: Corrected योस्य → योऽस्य (missing avagraha in Wikisource).

Verse 16 (7.12.16)

नाकारो गूहितुं शक्यो बृहस्पतिसमैरपि । तस्मात्तव सुतो राजन्प्रहृष्टो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

nākāro gūhituṃ śakyo bṛhaspatisamairapi | tasmāttava suto rājanprahṛṣṭo vākyamabravīt

The expression of one's feelings cannot be hidden, even by those who equal Brihaspati. Therefore your son, O king, in his delight spoke these words:

Verse 17 (7.12.17)

वधे कुन्तीसुतस्याजौ नाचार्य विजयो मम । हते युधिष्ठिरे पार्था हन्युःसर्वान्हि नो ध्रुवम् ॥

vadhe kuntīsutasyājau nācārya vijayo mama | hate yudhiṣṭhire pārthā hanyuḥsarvānhi no dhruvam

"By slaying Kunti's son in battle, teacher, I gain no victory; for if Yudhishthira is slain, the Pandavas would surely kill all of us."

Verse 18 (7.12.18)

नैव शक्या रणे सर्वे निहन्तुममरैरपि । यदि सर्वे हनिष्यन्ते पाण्डवाः ससुता मृधे ॥

naiva śakyā raṇe sarve nihantumamarairapi | yadi sarve haniṣyante pāṇḍavāḥ sasutā mṛdhe

"Nor can all of them be slain in battle, even by the immortals. If all the Pandavas with their sons were to be killed in battle,"

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.11.16ab; line 2 is its star passage 7.11.16b*0090_01. Removed a stray backtick printed before the second line.

Verse 19 (7.12.19)

ततः कृत्स्नं वशे कृत्वा निःशेषं नृपमण्डलम् । ससागरवनां स्फीतां विजित्य वसुधामिमाम् ॥

tataḥ kṛtsnaṃ vaśe kṛtvā niḥśeṣaṃ nṛpamaṇḍalam | sasāgaravanāṃ sphītāṃ vijitya vasudhāmimām

"then, having brought the entire circle of kings under his sway and conquered this whole earth with its seas and forests, rich and flourishing,"

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 7.11.16b*0090_02-03.

Verse 20 (7.12.20)

विष्णुर्दास्यति कृष्णायै कुन्त्यै वा पुरुषोत्तमः । यद्येष चैषां शेषःस्यात्स एवास्मान्न शेषयेत् ॥

viṣṇurdāsyati kṛṣṇāyai kuntyai vā puruṣottamaḥ | yadyeṣa caiṣāṃ śeṣaḥsyātsa evāsmānna śeṣayet

"Vishnu, the supreme person, will give it to Draupadi or to Kunti. And if even one of them should remain, he alone would not leave a remnant of us."

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.11.16b*0090_04; line 2 is 7.11.16cd (variant यद्येष चैषां शेषः स्यात् for ya eva caiṣāṃ śeṣaḥ syāt). Removed a stray quote mark printed after पुरुषोत्तमः.

Verse 21 (7.12.21)

सत्यप्रतिज्ञे त्वानीते पुनर्द्यूतेन निर्जिते । तस्मिञ्जीवति चायाते ह्युपायैर्बहुभिः कृतैः । पुनर्यास्यन्त्यरण्याय पाण्डवास्तमनुव्रताः ॥

satyapratijñe tvānīte punardyūtena nirjite | tasmiñjīvati cāyāte hyupāyairbahubhiḥ kṛtaiḥ | punaryāsyantyaraṇyāya pāṇḍavāstamanuvratāḥ

"But if the truthful Yudhishthira is brought here and defeated again at dice, and while he lives and has been brought by the many means contrived, the Pandavas who are devoted to him will go again to the forest."

Note on the text: Lines 1 and 3 are the critical edition's 7.11.17ab and cd; line 2 is its star passage 7.11.17b*0091_01. Removed stray backtick and quote marks around line 2.

Verse 22 (7.12.22)

सोऽयं मम जयो व्यक्तं दीर्घकालं भविष्यति । अतो न वधमिच्छामि धर्मराजस्य कर्हिचित् ॥

so'yaṃ mama jayo vyaktaṃ dīrghakālaṃ bhaviṣyati | ato na vadhamicchāmi dharmarājasya karhicit

"So my victory will plainly last a long time. Therefore I never wish for the death of the king of dharma."

Verse 23 (7.12.23)

तस्य जिह्ममभिप्रायं ज्ञात्वा द्रोणोऽर्थतत्त्ववित् । तं वरं सान्तरं तस्मै ददौ संचिन्त्य बुद्धिमान् ॥

tasya jihmamabhiprāyaṃ jñātvā droṇo'rthatattvavit | taṃ varaṃ sāntaraṃ tasmai dadau saṃcintya buddhimān

Knowing his crooked intent, Drona, who understood the truth of things, wisely reflected and gave him that boon, but with a condition.

Verse 24 (7.12.24)

न चेद्युधिष्ठिरं वीरः पालयेदर्जुनो युधि । मन्यस्व पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमानीतं वशमात्मनः ॥

na cedyudhiṣṭhiraṃ vīraḥ pālayedarjuno yudhi | manyasva pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhamānītaṃ vaśamātmanaḥ

"If the hero Arjuna does not protect Yudhishthira in battle, consider the best of the Pandavas as brought under your control."

Verse 25 (7.12.25)

न हि शक्यो रणे पार्थः सेन्द्रैर्देवासुरैरपि । प्रत्युद्यातुमतस्तात न तस्माद्धर्षयाम्यहम् ॥

na hi śakyo raṇe pārthaḥ sendrairdevāsurairapi | pratyudyātumatastāta na tasmāddharṣayāmyaham

"For Partha cannot be faced in battle even by gods and asuras together with Indra; therefore, my dear, I do not assail him."

Verse 26 (7.12.26)

असंशयं स मे शिष्यो मत्पूर्वश्चास्त्रकर्मणि । तरुणः सुकृती युक्त एकायनगतश्च सः ॥

asaṃśayaṃ sa me śiṣyo matpūrvaścāstrakarmaṇi | taruṇaḥ sukṛtī yukta ekāyanagataśca saḥ

"Without doubt he is my pupil, and I came before him in the work of arms; he is young, accomplished and resolute, and set upon a single course."

Verse 27 (7.12.27)

अस्त्राणीन्द्राच्च रुद्राच्च भूयांसि समवाप्तवान् । अमर्षितश्च ते राजंस्ततो नामर्षयाम्यहम् ॥

astrāṇīndrācca rudrācca bhūyāṃsi samavāptavān | amarṣitaśca te rājaṃstato nāmarṣayāmyaham

"He has obtained many weapons from Indra and from Rudra; and he is angered with you, O king, and so I do not rouse him further."

Verse 28 (7.12.28)

स चापक्रम्यतां युद्धाद्येनोपायेन शक्यते । अपनीते ततः पार्थे धर्मराजो जितस्त्वया ॥

sa cāpakramyatāṃ yuddhādyenopāyena śakyate | apanīte tataḥ pārthe dharmarājo jitastvayā

"Let him be drawn away from the battle by whatever means is possible. When Partha has been removed, the king of dharma will have been conquered by you."

Verse 29 (7.12.29)

ग्रहणे हि जयस्तस्य न वधे पुरुषर्षभ । ग्रहणं हि वधात्तस्य धर्मराजस्य मन्यसे । अनेनैवाभ्युपायेन ग्रहणं समुपैष्यसि ॥

grahaṇe hi jayastasya na vadhe puruṣarṣabha | grahaṇaṃ hi vadhāttasya dharmarājasya manyase | anenaivābhyupāyena grahaṇaṃ samupaiṣyasi

"For his capture, best of men, not his slaying, is your victory over him; you hold the capture of the king of dharma better than his killing. By this very means you will come to seize him."

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to the critical edition's 7.11.25ab (ग्रहणे हि जयस्तस्य न वधे for grahaṇaṃ cej jayaṃ tasya manyase); line 2 is not in it; line 3 is 7.11.25cd (अनेनैवाभ्युपायेन ग्रहणं समुपैष्यसि for etena cābhyupāyena dhruvaṃ grahaṇam eṣyati). Removed stray quote marks around line 2.

Verse 30 (7.12.30)

अहं गृहीत्वा राजानं सत्यधर्मपरायणम् । आनयिष्यामि ते राजन्वशमद्य न संशयः ॥

ahaṃ gṛhītvā rājānaṃ satyadharmaparāyaṇam | ānayiṣyāmi te rājanvaśamadya na saṃśayaḥ

"I shall seize the king, who is devoted to truth and dharma, and bring him under your control today, O king; there is no doubt of it."

Verse 31 (7.12.31)

यदि स्थास्यति सङ्ग्रामे मुहूर्तमपि मेऽग्रतः । अपनीते नरव्याघ्रे कुन्तीपुत्रे धनञ्जये ॥

yadi sthāsyati saṅgrāme muhūrtamapi me'grataḥ | apanīte naravyāghre kuntīputre dhanañjaye

"If he stays before me in battle even for a moment, once Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti and tiger among men, has been drawn away,"

Note on the text: Corrected स्यास्यति → स्थास्यति (misprint in Wikisource; स्य for स्थ, the critical edition reads sthāsyati).

Verse 32 (7.12.32)

फल्गुनस्य समीपे तु न हि शक्यो युधिष्ठिरः । ग्रहीतुं समरे राजन्सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥

phalgunasya samīpe tu na hi śakyo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | grahītuṃ samare rājansendrairapi surāsuraiḥ

"in Phalguna's presence Yudhishthira cannot be seized in battle, O king, even by gods and asuras together with Indra."

Verse 33 (7.12.33)

एवमुक्ते तदा तस्मिन्युद्धे देवासुरोपमे । सान्तरं तु प्रतिज्ञाते राज्ञो द्रोणेन निग्रहे । गृहीतं तममन्यन्त तव पुत्राः सुबालिशाः ॥

evamukte tadā tasminyuddhe devāsuropame | sāntaraṃ tu pratijñāte rājño droṇena nigrahe | gṛhītaṃ tamamanyanta tava putrāḥ subāliśāḥ

When this had been said, in that battle like the clash of gods and asuras, since Drona had promised the king's capture with a condition, your foolish sons took him as already seized.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.11.29*0093_01; lines 2-3 are 7.11.29ac. Removed stray backtick and quote marks around line 1.

Verse 34 (7.12.34)

ततो दुर्योधनेनापि ग्रहणं पाण्डवस्य तत् । स्कन्धावारेषु सर्वेषु यथास्थानेषु मारिष । सैन्यस्थानेषु सर्वेषु सुघोषितमरिन्दम ॥

tato duryodhanenāpi grahaṇaṃ pāṇḍavasya tat | skandhāvāreṣu sarveṣu yathāsthāneṣu māriṣa | sainyasthāneṣu sarveṣu sughoṣitamarindama

Then Duryodhana too had that seizure of the Pandava proclaimed in all the camps, each in its place, and in all the army stations, O tormentor of foes.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.11.31ab; line 2 is its star passage 7.11.31b*0094_01; line 3 is 7.11.31cd (सुघोषितम् for vyāghoṣitam). Removed stray backtick and quote marks around line 2.

Verse 35 (7.12.35)

पाण्डवेयेषु सापेक्षं द्रोणं जानाति ते सुतः । ततः प्रतिज्ञास्थैर्यार्थं स मन्त्रो बहुलीकृतः ॥

pāṇḍaveyeṣu sāpekṣaṃ droṇaṃ jānāti te sutaḥ | tataḥ pratijñāsthairyārthaṃ sa mantro bahulīkṛtaḥ

Your son knows that Drona is partial to the Pandavas; therefore, to make the pledge firm, that counsel was made widely known.

Note on the text: In the critical edition this verse (7.11.30) stands before the verse corresponding to verse 34 here.