Arjuna Vows to Protect Yudhishthira

Verse 1 (7.13.1)

सान्तरे तु प्रतिज्ञाने राज्ञो द्रोणेन निग्रहे । ततस्ते सैनिकाः श्रुत्वा तं युधिष्ठिरनिग्रहम् । सिंहनादरवांश्चक्रुर्बाहुशब्दांश्च कृत्स्नशः ॥

sāntare tu pratijñāne rājño droṇena nigrahe | tataste sainikāḥ śrutvā taṃ yudhiṣṭhiranigraham | siṃhanādaravāṃścakrurbāhuśabdāṃśca kṛtsnaśaḥ

When King Yudhishthira's capture had been promised by Drona with a condition, the soldiers, hearing of it, raised lion-roars and clapped their arms on every side.

Note on the text: Line 1 repeats, with a variant (सान्तरे तु प्रतिज्ञाने), the second line of verse 33 of the previous adhyaya and is not in the critical edition here; lines 2-3 are 7.12.1ab and cd (variant बाहुशब्दांश्च कृत्स्नशः for bāṇaśaṅkharavaiḥ saha).

Verse 2 (7.13.2)

तच्च सर्वं यथान्यायं धर्मराजेन भारत । आप्तैश्चारैः परिज्ञातं भारद्वाजचिकीर्षितम् ॥

tacca sarvaṃ yathānyāyaṃ dharmarājena bhārata | āptaiścāraiḥ parijñātaṃ bhāradvājacikīrṣitam

And all of this, exactly as it was, was learned by the king of dharma from trusted spies: what the son of Bharadvaja intended.

Verse 3 (7.13.3)

ततः सर्वान्समानाय्य भ्रातृनन्यांश्च सर्वशः । अव्रवीद्धर्मराजस्तु धनञ्जयमिदं वचः ॥

tataḥ sarvānsamānāyya bhrātṛnanyāṃśca sarvaśaḥ | avravīddharmarājastu dhanañjayamidaṃ vacaḥ

Then, summoning all his brothers and the others on every side, the king of dharma spoke these words to Dhananjaya:

Verse 4 (7.13.4)

श्रुतं ते पुरुषव्याघ्र द्रोणस्याद्य चिकीर्षितम् । यथा तन्न भवेत्सत्यं तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् ॥

śrutaṃ te puruṣavyāghra droṇasyādya cikīrṣitam | yathā tanna bhavetsatyaṃ tathā nītirvidhīyatām

"You have heard, tiger among men, what Drona intends today. Let such a policy be devised that it may not come true."

Verse 5 (7.13.5)

सान्तरं हि प्रतिज्ञातं द्रोणेनामित्रघातिना । तच्चान्तरममोघेषौ त्वयि तेन समाहितम् ॥

sāntaraṃ hi pratijñātaṃ droṇenāmitraghātinā | taccāntaramamogheṣau tvayi tena samāhitam

"Drona, destroyer of foes, made his pledge with a condition, and that condition, O you of unfailing arrows, he has laid upon you."

Verse 6 (7.13.6)

तत्त्वमद्य महाबाहो युध्यस्व मदनन्तरम् । यथा दुर्योधनः कामं नेमं द्रोणादवाप्नुयात् ॥

tattvamadya mahābāho yudhyasva madanantaram | yathā duryodhanaḥ kāmaṃ nemaṃ droṇādavāpnuyāt

"Therefore, mighty-armed one, fight today close beside me, so that Duryodhana may not gain his wish through Drona."

Verse 7 (7.13.7)

यथा मे न वधः कार्य आचार्यस्य कथञ्चन । तथा तव परित्यागो न मे राजंश्चिकीर्षितः ॥

yathā me na vadhaḥ kārya ācāryasya kathañcana | tathā tava parityāgo na me rājaṃścikīrṣitaḥ

"Just as I may by no means kill the teacher, so too, O king, I do not wish to abandon you."

Verse 8 (7.13.8)

अप्येवं पाण्डव प्राणानुत्सृजेयमहं युधि । प्रतियाताऽहमाचार्यं त्वां न जह्यां कथञ्चन ॥

apyevaṃ pāṇḍava prāṇānutsṛjeyamahaṃ yudhi | pratiyātā'hamācāryaṃ tvāṃ na jahyāṃ kathañcana

"Though I may lay down my life in battle, O Pandava, I shall go out against the teacher, and I shall not abandon you in any way."

Note on the text: The critical edition's line 2 reads pratīyāṃ nāham ācāryaṃ ('I would not go against the teacher'); this page reads प्रतियाताऽहमाचार्यम्, which is kept.

Verse 9 (7.13.9)

त्वां निगृह्याहवे राजन्धार्तराष्ट्रो यमिच्छति । न स तं जीवलोकेऽस्मिन्कामं प्राप्ता कथञ्चन ॥

tvāṃ nigṛhyāhave rājandhārtarāṣṭro yamicchati | na sa taṃ jīvaloke'sminkāmaṃ prāptā kathañcana

"Whatever Dhartarashtra desires by seizing you in battle, O king, he will never gain that wish in this world of the living."

Verse 10 (7.13.10)

प्रपतेद्द्यौः सनक्षत्रा पृथिवी शकली भवेत् । न त्वां द्रोणो निगृह्णीयाज्जीवमाने मयि ध्रुवम् ॥

prapateddyauḥ sanakṣatrā pṛthivī śakalī bhavet | na tvāṃ droṇo nigṛhṇīyājjīvamāne mayi dhruvam

"Though the sky with its stars should fall and the earth be split in pieces, Drona will not seize you while I live, of that be sure."

Verse 11 (7.13.11)

यदि तस्य रणे साह्यं कुरुते वज्रभृत्स्वयम् । विष्णुर्वा सहितो देवैर्न त्वां प्राप्स्यत्यसौ मृधे ॥

yadi tasya raṇe sāhyaṃ kurute vajrabhṛtsvayam | viṣṇurvā sahito devairna tvāṃ prāpsyatyasau mṛdhe

"Even if the wielder of the thunderbolt himself aids him in battle, or Vishnu together with the gods, he will not get at you in the fight."

Verse 12 (7.13.12)

मयि जीवति राजेन्द्र न भयं कर्तुमर्हसि । द्रोणादस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठात्सर्वशस्त्रभृतामपि ॥

mayi jīvati rājendra na bhayaṃ kartumarhasi | droṇādastrabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhātsarvaśastrabhṛtāmapi

"While I live, O king of kings, you need not fear Drona, the best of those who bear arms, foremost among all wielders of weapons."

Verse 13 (7.13.13)

अन्यच्च ब्रूयां राजेन्द्र प्रतिज्ञां मम निश्चलाम् ॥

anyacca brūyāṃ rājendra pratijñāṃ mama niścalām

"And I shall say another thing, O king of kings: my vow is unshakable."

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 7.12.12d*0095_01 (variant निश्चलाम् for nityadā). The page prints it as a one-line verse (5-13-13a).

Verse 14 (7.13.14)

न स्मराम्यनृतं तावन्न स्मरामि पराजयम् । न स्मरामि प्रतिश्रुत्य विस्मृत्य मनसाऽकृतम् ॥

na smarāmyanṛtaṃ tāvanna smarāmi parājayam | na smarāmi pratiśrutya vismṛtya manasā'kṛtam

"I do not remember ever speaking an untruth; I do not remember a defeat; I do not remember having made a promise and then, forgetting it, left it undone."

Note on the text: Corrected मनस्वऽकृतम् → मनसाऽकृतम् (misprint in Wikisource; स्व for सा, as the sense requires). The critical edition's line 2 here reads na smarāmi pratiśrutya kiṃ cid apy anapākṛtam.

Verse 15 (7.13.15)

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च मृदङ्गाश्चानकैः सह । प्रावाद्यन्त महाराज पाण्डवानां निवेशने ॥

tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca mṛdaṅgāścānakaiḥ saha | prāvādyanta mahārāja pāṇḍavānāṃ niveśane

Then conches and kettledrums, mridangas and anakas together were sounded, O great king, in the dwellings of the Pandavas.

Verse 16 (7.13.16)

सिंहनादश्च संजज्ञे पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । धनुर्ज्यातलशब्दश्च गगनस्पृक्सुभैरवः ॥

siṃhanādaśca saṃjajñe pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām | dhanurjyātalaśabdaśca gaganaspṛksubhairavaḥ

And a lion-roar arose from the great-souled Pandavas, and the terrible sound of bowstrings slapped by palms, filling the sky.

Verse 17 (7.13.17)

श्रुत्वा शङ्खस्य निर्घोषं पाण्डवस्य महौजसः । त्वदीयेष्वप्यनीकेषु वादित्राण्यभिजघ्निरे ॥

śrutvā śaṅkhasya nirghoṣaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahaujasaḥ | tvadīyeṣvapyanīkeṣu vāditrāṇyabhijaghnire

Hearing the roar of the conch of the mighty Pandava, in your armies too the instruments were struck.

Verse 18 (7.13.18)

ततो व्यूढान्यनीकानि तव तेषां च भारत । शनैरुपेयुरन्योन्यं योत्स्यमानानि संयुगे ॥

tato vyūḍhānyanīkāni tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata | śanairupeyuranyonyaṃ yotsyamānāni saṃyuge

Then the arrayed forces, yours and theirs, O Bharata, slowly drew near to one another, eager to fight in the clash.

Verse 19 (7.13.19)

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च द्रोणपाञ्चाल्ययोरपि ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam | pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca droṇapāñcālyayorapi

Then began the battle, tumultuous and hair-raising, between the Pandavas and the Kurus, and between Drona and the Panchalas.

Verse 20 (7.13.20)

यतमानाः प्रयतेन द्रोणानीकविशातने । न शेकुः सृञ्जया युद्धे तद्धि द्रोणेन पालितम् ॥

yatamānāḥ prayatena droṇānīkaviśātane | na śekuḥ sṛñjayā yuddhe taddhi droṇena pālitam

Though they strove with all effort to break Drona's host, the Srinjayas could not do so in battle, for it was guarded by Drona.

Verse 21 (7.13.21)

तथैव तव पुत्रस्य रथोदाराः प्रहारिणः । न शेकुः पाण्डवीं सेनां पाल्यमानां किरीटिना ॥

tathaiva tava putrasya rathodārāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | na śekuḥ pāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ pālyamānāṃ kirīṭinā

In the same way your son's noble chariot-fighters, fierce in the attack, could not break the Pandava army, guarded by the diademed Arjuna.

Note on the text: Corrected किरीटीना → किरीटिना (misprint in Wikisource; long ी for ि in the instrumental, the critical edition reads kirīṭinā).

Verse 22 (7.13.22)

आस्तां ते स्तिमिते सेने रक्ष्यमाणे परस्परम् । सम्प्रसुप्ते यथा नक्तं वनराज्यौ सुपुष्पिते ॥

āstāṃ te stimite sene rakṣyamāṇe parasparam | samprasupte yathā naktaṃ vanarājyau supuṣpite

Those two armies stood motionless, each guarding against the other, like two flowering lines of forest asleep at night.

Verse 23 (7.13.23)

ततो रुक्मरथो राजन्नर्केणेव विराजता । वरूथिना विनिष्पत्य व्यचरत्पृतनामुखे ॥

tato rukmaratho rājannarkeṇeva virājatā | varūthinā viniṣpatya vyacaratpṛtanāmukhe

Then Drona of the golden chariot, in his armour, resplendent like the sun, dashed forth, O king, and ranged at the front of the host.

Verse 24 (7.13.24)

तमुद्यन्तं रथेनैकमाशुकारिणमाहवे । अनेकमिव सन्त्रासान्मेनिरे पाण्डुसृञ्जयाः ॥

tamudyantaṃ rathenaikamāśukāriṇamāhave | anekamiva santrāsānmenire pāṇḍusṛñjayāḥ

As he rose up, one man on a single chariot, swift in action in battle, the Pandavas and Srinjayas in their terror took him to be many.

Note on the text: Corrected सन्त्रसान् → सन्त्रासान् (misprint in Wikisource; short a for ā, the critical edition reads saṃtrāsān).

Verse 25 (7.13.25)

तेन मुक्ताः शरा घोरा विचेरुः सर्वतोदिशम् । त्रासयन्तो महाराज पाण्डवेयस्य वाहिनीम् ॥

tena muktāḥ śarā ghorā viceruḥ sarvatodiśam | trāsayanto mahārāja pāṇḍaveyasya vāhinīm

The terrible arrows loosed by him flew in every direction, O great king, terrifying the army of the Pandava.

Verse 26 (7.13.26)

मध्यन्दिनमनुप्राप्तो गभस्तिशतसंवृतः । यथा दृश्येत घर्मांशुस्तथा द्रोणोऽप्यदृश्यत ॥

madhyandinamanuprāpto gabhastiśatasaṃvṛtaḥ | yathā dṛśyeta gharmāṃśustathā droṇo'pyadṛśyata

As the midday sun is seen, ringed with a hundred rays, so Drona too was seen.

Note on the text: Corrected घर्मोशुस् → घर्मांशुस् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads gharmāṃśus).

Verse 27 (7.13.27)

न चैनं पाण्डवेयानां कश्चिच्छक्नोति भारत । वीक्षितुं समरे क्रुद्धं महेन्द्रमिव दानवाः ॥

na cainaṃ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ kaścicchaknoti bhārata | vīkṣituṃ samare kruddhaṃ mahendramiva dānavāḥ

And none of the Pandava warriors, O Bharata, could look at him, enraged in battle, as the danavas cannot look at Mahendra.

Verse 28 (7.13.28)

मोहयित्वा ततः सैन्यं भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । धृष्टद्युम्नबलं तूर्णं व्यधमन्निशितैः शरैः ॥

mohayitvā tataḥ sainyaṃ bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān | dhṛṣṭadyumnabalaṃ tūrṇaṃ vyadhamanniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Having bewildered the army, the mighty son of Bharadvaja swiftly cut down Dhrishtadyumna's force with sharp arrows.

Verse 29 (7.13.29)

स दिशः सर्वतो रुद्ध्वा संवृत्य खमजिह्मगैः । पार्षतो यत्र तत्रैनामभिनत्पाण्डुवाहिनीम् ॥

sa diśaḥ sarvato ruddhvā saṃvṛtya khamajihmagaiḥ | pārṣato yatra tatraināmabhinatpāṇḍuvāhinīm

Shutting off all the quarters and covering the sky with straight-flying arrows, wherever the son of Prishata was, there he tore through that Pandava host.