Duryodhana's Taunt and Drona's Reply

Verse 1 (7.186.1)

ततो दुर्योधनो द्रोणमभिगम्याब्रवीदिदम् । अमर्षवशमापन्नो जनयन्हर्षतेजसी ॥

tato duryodhano droṇamabhigamyābravīdidam | amarṣavaśamāpanno janayanharṣatejasī

Then Duryodhana, overcome by impatience, went up to Drona and spoke thus, rousing in him zeal and fire.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रोममभिगम्य → द्रोणमभिगम्य (misprint in Wikisource, म for ण; CE 7.160.1a द्रोणम्).

Verse 2 (7.186.2)

न मर्षणीयाः सङ्ग्रामे विश्रमन्तः श्रमान्विताः । सपत्ना ग्लानमनसो लब्धलक्षा विशेषतः ॥

na marṣaṇīyāḥ saṅgrāme viśramantaḥ śramānvitāḥ | sapatnā glānamanaso labdhalakṣā viśeṣataḥ

In battle, enemies who rest when they are weary, whose spirits are low, and above all those who have gained their aim, are not to be forgiven.

Note on the text: Recension variant लब्धलक्षा (CE: लब्धलक्ष्याः).

Verse 3 (7.186.3)

यत्तु मर्षितमस्माभिर्भवतः प्रियकाम्यया । त एते परिविश्रान्ताः पाण्डवा बलवत्तराः ॥

yattu marṣitamasmābhirbhavataḥ priyakāmyayā | ta ete pariviśrāntāḥ pāṇḍavā balavattarāḥ

But we forgave them out of a wish to please you, and now those Pandavas, fully rested, are stronger than before.

Verse 4 (7.186.4)

सर्वथा परिहीनाः स्म तेजसा च बलेन च । भवता पाल्यमानास्ते विवर्धन्ते पुनःपुनः ॥

sarvathā parihīnāḥ sma tejasā ca balena ca | bhavatā pālyamānāste vivardhante punaḥpunaḥ

We are altogether diminished in vigour and in strength, while they, protected by you, grow again and again.

Verse 5 (7.186.5)

दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मादीनि च यानि ह । तानि सर्वाणि तिष्ठन्ति भवत्येव विशेषतः ॥

divyānyastrāṇi sarvāṇi brāhmādīni ca yāni ha | tāni sarvāṇi tiṣṭhanti bhavatyeva viśeṣataḥ

All the divine weapons, the Brahma weapon and the rest — every one of them is present in you, above all.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वामि → सर्वाणि (misprint in Wikisource; CE 7.160.5c सर्वाणि). Recension variant ब्राह्मादीनि (CE: ब्रह्मास्त्रादीनि).

Verse 6 (7.186.6)

न पाण्डवेया न वयं नान्ये लोके धनुर्धराः । युध्यमानस्य ते तुल्याः सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

na pāṇḍaveyā na vayaṃ nānye loke dhanurdharāḥ | yudhyamānasya te tulyāḥ satyametadbravīmi te

Neither the sons of Pandu, nor we, nor any other archers in the world are a match for you when you fight; this I tell you truly.

Verse 7 (7.186.7)

ससुरासुरगन्धर्वानिमाँल्लोकान्द्विजोत्तम । सर्वास्त्रविद्भवान्हन्याद्दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्न संशयः ॥

sasurāsuragandharvānimām̐llokāndvijottama | sarvāstravidbhavānhanyāddivyairastrairna saṃśayaḥ

O best of the twice-born, you who know all weapons could destroy these worlds, with the gods, asuras and gandharvas, by divine weapons; there is no doubt of it.

Note on the text: Corrected माँलोकान् → माँल्लोकान् (misprint in Wikisource, dropped ल्; CE 7.160.7a imāṃl lokān).

Verse 8 (7.186.8)

स भवान्मर्षयत्येनांस्तव तुल्यानवेत्य च । शिष्यत्वं वा पुरस्कृत्य मम वा मन्दभाग्यताम् ॥

sa bhavānmarṣayatyenāṃstava tulyānavetya ca | śiṣyatvaṃ vā puraskṛtya mama vā mandabhāgyatām

Yet you forgive them, either regarding them as your equals, or putting forward that they are your pupils, or because of my own ill fortune.

Note on the text: Recension variant in line 1 (CE 7.160.8a: स भवान् मर्षयत्येनांस्त्वत्तो भीतान् विशेषतः).

Verse 9 (7.186.9)

एवमुद्धर्षितो द्रोणः कोपितश्च सुतेन ते । समन्युरब्रवीद्राजन्दुर्योधनमिदं वचः ॥

evamuddharṣito droṇaḥ kopitaśca sutena te | samanyurabravīdrājanduryodhanamidaṃ vacaḥ

Thus roused, and angered by your son, Drona, full of indignation, spoke these words to Duryodhana, O king.

Verse 10 (7.186.10)

स्थविरः सन्परं शक्त्या घटे दुर्योधनाहवे । अतः परं मया कार्यं क्षुद्रं विजयगृद्धिना । अनस्त्रविदयं सर्वो हन्तव्योऽस्त्रविदा जनः ॥

sthaviraḥ sanparaṃ śaktyā ghaṭe duryodhanāhave | ataḥ paraṃ mayā kāryaṃ kṣudraṃ vijayagṛddhinā | anastravidayaṃ sarvo hantavyo'stravidā janaḥ

Old as I am, Duryodhana, I strive in this battle with all my strength. But from now on, greedy for victory, I must do a mean thing: all these people who do not know the weapons must be struck down by one who does.

Note on the text: Unheaded speech of Drona (verses 10–20 of this adhyaya). Three lines = CE 7.160.10a, 10c, 10e. The empty Wikisource row "0 ॥" (numbered 11) that follows this verse has been dropped.

Verse 11 (7.186.11)

यद्भवान्मन्यते चापि शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् । तद्वै कर्ताऽस्मि कौरव्य वचनात्तव नान्यथा ॥

yadbhavānmanyate cāpi śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham | tadvai kartā'smi kauravya vacanāttava nānyathā

Whatever you think good or bad, Kauravya, that I will do at your word, not otherwise.

Note on the text: Wikisource's empty row "0 ॥" (numbered 11) before this verse was dropped.

Verse 12 (7.186.12)

निहत्य सर्वपाञ्चालान्युद्धे कृत्वा पराक्रमम् । विमोक्ष्ये कवचं राजन्सत्येनायुधमालभे ॥

nihatya sarvapāñcālānyuddhe kṛtvā parākramam | vimokṣye kavacaṃ rājansatyenāyudhamālabhe

Having killed all the Panchalas in the battle and shown my prowess, I will lay down my armour, O king; I swear by truth, with my hand upon my weapon.

Verse 13 (7.186.13)

मन्यसे यच्च कौन्तेयमर्जुनं श्रान्तमाहवे । तस्य वीर्यं महाबाहो शृणु सत्येन कौरव ॥

manyase yacca kaunteyamarjunaṃ śrāntamāhave | tasya vīryaṃ mahābāho śṛṇu satyena kaurava

And as for your thinking that Arjuna, son of Kunti, is weary in the battle — hear, mighty-armed Kaurava, the truth of his might.

Verse 14 (7.186.14)

तं न देवा न गन्धर्वा न यक्षा न च राक्षसाः । उत्सहन्ते रणे जेतुं कुपितं सव्यसाचिनम् ॥

taṃ na devā na gandharvā na yakṣā na ca rākṣasāḥ | utsahante raṇe jetuṃ kupitaṃ savyasācinam

Neither gods nor gandharvas, neither yakshas nor rakshasas can overcome Savyasachin in battle when he is enraged.

Verse 15 (7.186.15)

खाण्डवे येन भगवान्प्रत्युद्यातः सुरेश्वरः । सायकैर्वारितश्चापि वर्षमाणो महात्मना ॥

khāṇḍave yena bhagavānpratyudyātaḥ sureśvaraḥ | sāyakairvāritaścāpi varṣamāṇo mahātmanā

At Khandava, when the blessed lord of the gods came out against him, pouring down rain, the great-souled Arjuna held him off with his arrows.

Verse 16 (7.186.16)

यक्षा नागास्तथा दैत्या ये चान्ये बलगर्विताः । निहताः पुरुषेन्द्रेण तच्चापि विदितं तव ॥

yakṣā nāgāstathā daityā ye cānye balagarvitāḥ | nihatāḥ puruṣendreṇa taccāpi viditaṃ tava

Yakshas, nagas, daityas and others proud of their strength were slain by that lord of men; this too is known to you.

Verse 17 (7.186.17)

गन्धर्वा घोषयात्रायां चित्रसेनादयो जिताः । यूयं तैर्ह्रियमाणाश्च मोक्षिता दृढधन्वना ॥

gandharvā ghoṣayātrāyāṃ citrasenādayo jitāḥ | yūyaṃ tairhriyamāṇāśca mokṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā

On the cattle-pen expedition the gandharvas led by Chitrasena were defeated, and you, who were being carried off by them, were freed by that firm bowman.

Verse 18 (7.186.18)

निवातकवचाश्चापि देवानां शत्रवस्तथा । सुरैरवध्याः सङ्ग्रामे तेन वीरेण निर्जिताः ॥

nivātakavacāścāpi devānāṃ śatravastathā | surairavadhyāḥ saṅgrāme tena vīreṇa nirjitāḥ

The Nivatakavachas, too, enemies of the gods, whom the gods could not kill in battle, were conquered by that hero.

Verse 19 (7.186.19)

दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम् । विजिग्ये पुरुषव्याघ्रः स शक्यो मानुषैः कथम् ॥

dānavānāṃ sahasrāṇi hiraṇyapuravāsinām | vijigye puruṣavyāghraḥ sa śakyo mānuṣaiḥ katham

That tiger among men conquered thousands of danavas dwelling in Hiranyapura; how can such a man be conquered by mortals?

Verse 20 (7.186.20)

प्रत्यक्षं चैव ते सर्वं यथा बलमिदं तव । क्षपितं पाण्डुपुत्रेण चेष्टतां नो विशाम्पते ॥

pratyakṣaṃ caiva te sarvaṃ yathā balamidaṃ tava | kṣapitaṃ pāṇḍuputreṇa ceṣṭatāṃ no viśāmpate

You saw it all with your own eyes: how this army of yours was destroyed by the son of Pandu while we looked on and strove, O lord of the people.

Verse 21 (7.186.21)

तं तदाऽभिप्रशंसन्तमर्जुनं कुपितस्तदा । द्रोणं तव सुतो राजन्पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत् ॥

taṃ tadā'bhipraśaṃsantamarjunaṃ kupitastadā | droṇaṃ tava suto rājanpunarevedamabravīt

As Drona praised Arjuna in this way, your son, enraged, said this to him again, O king.

Verse 22 (7.186.22)

अहं दुःशासनः कर्णः शकुनिर्मातुलश्च मे । हनिष्यामोऽर्जुनं सङ्ख्ये द्विधा कृत्वाऽद्य भारतीम् । तिष्ठ स त्वं महाबाहो नित्यं शिष्यः प्रियस्तव ॥

ahaṃ duḥśāsanaḥ karṇaḥ śakunirmātulaśca me | haniṣyāmo'rjunaṃ saṅkhye dvidhā kṛtvā'dya bhāratīm | tiṣṭha sa tvaṃ mahābāho nityaṃ śiṣyaḥ priyastava

I, Duhshasana, Karna and my uncle Shakuni will kill Arjuna in battle today, having split the Bharata army in two. Stay where you are, mighty-armed one; he is ever your favourite pupil.

Note on the text: Unheaded speech of Duryodhana. Removed stray wiki quote marks (backtick and apostrophe) around line 3. Lines 1–2 = CE 7.160.22a, 22c (CE line 2: ... द्वैधीकृत्याद्य भारतीम्); line 3 = CE star passage 7.160.22d*1266_01. The alignment found no match; the verse is in the CE.

Verse 23 (7.186.23)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भारद्वाजो हसन्निव । अन्ववर्तत राजानं स्वस्ति तेऽस्त्विति चाब्रवीत् ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhāradvājo hasanniva | anvavartata rājānaṃ svasti te'stviti cābravīt

Hearing his words, Bharadvaja's son, seeming to smile, went along with the king and said, "May good fortune be yours."

Verse 24 (7.186.24)

को हि गाण्डीवधन्वानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । अक्षयं क्षपयेत्कश्चित्क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियर्षभम् ॥

ko hi gāṇḍīvadhanvānaṃ jvalantamiva tejasā | akṣayaṃ kṣapayetkaścitkṣatriyaḥ kṣatriyarṣabham

What kshatriya could destroy Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva, who blazes as it were with splendour, the unwasting bull among kshatriyas?

Note on the text: Speech of Drona (verses 24–36 of this adhyaya); the closing narration is verse 37.

Verse 25 (7.186.25)

तं न वित्तपतिर्नेन्द्रो न यमो न जलेश्वरः । नासुरोरगरक्षांसि क्षपयेयुः सहायुधम् ॥

taṃ na vittapatirnendro na yamo na jaleśvaraḥ | nāsuroragarakṣāṃsi kṣapayeyuḥ sahāyudham

Neither Kubera, nor Indra, nor Yama, nor Varuna, nor asuras, serpents or rakshasas could destroy him while he has his weapon in hand.

Verse 26 (7.186.26)

मूढास्त्वेतानि भाषन्ते यानीमान्यात्थ भारत । युद्धे ह्यर्जुनमासाद्य स्वस्तिमान्को व्रजेद्गृहान् ॥

mūḍhāstvetāni bhāṣante yānīmānyāttha bhārata | yuddhe hyarjunamāsādya svastimānko vrajedgṛhān

Fools say such things as you have just said, Bharata. For who, having met Arjuna in battle, would return home safe?

Verse 27 (7.186.27)

त्वं तु सर्वाभिशङ्कित्वान्निष्ठुरः पापनिश्चयः । श्रेयसस्त्वद्धिते युक्तांस्तत्तद्वक्तुमिहेच्छसि ॥

tvaṃ tu sarvābhiśaṅkitvānniṣṭhuraḥ pāpaniścayaḥ | śreyasastvaddhite yuktāṃstattadvaktumihecchasi

But you, suspicious of everyone, harsh and wicked in your resolve, want to say all such things even to those who are devoted to your welfare and deserve better of you.

Verse 28 (7.186.28)

गच्छ त्वमपि कौन्तेयमात्मार्थे जहि माचिरम् । त्वमप्याशंससे योद्धुं कुलजः क्षत्रियो ह्यसि ॥

gaccha tvamapi kaunteyamātmārthe jahi māciram | tvamapyāśaṃsase yoddhuṃ kulajaḥ kṣatriyo hyasi

Go yourself against Kunti's son and kill him, for your own sake, without delay; you too hope to fight, for you are a kshatriya of good family.

Verse 29 (7.186.29)

इमान्किं क्षत्रियान्सर्वान्घातयिष्यस्यनागसः । त्वमस्य मूलं वैरस्य तस्मादासादयार्जुनम् ॥

imānkiṃ kṣatriyānsarvānghātayiṣyasyanāgasaḥ | tvamasya mūlaṃ vairasya tasmādāsādayārjunam

Why would you have all these innocent kshatriyas killed? You are the root of this enmity; so go and meet Arjuna yourself.

Note on the text: Corrected त्वस्य मूलं → त्वमस्य मूलं (misprint in Wikisource, dropped म; CE 7.160.29c त्वमस्य मूलं). Recension variant क्षत्रियान् (CE: पार्थिवान्).

Verse 30 (7.186.30)

एष ते मातुलः प्राज्ञः क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः । दुर्द्यूतदेवी गान्धारे प्रयात्वर्जुनमाहवे ॥

eṣa te mātulaḥ prājñaḥ kṣatradharmamanuvrataḥ | durdyūtadevī gāndhāre prayātvarjunamāhave

Here is your learned uncle, devoted to the duty of a kshatriya, the player at the foul game of dice. Let him go against Arjuna in the battle, O son of Gandhari.

Note on the text: Corrected दुर्द्युतदेवी → दुर्द्यूतदेवी (misprint in Wikisource, द्यु for द्यू; the sense is "dice-player" (cf. द्यूतकृत् in the next verse); CE 7.160.30c दूर्द्यूतदेवी). Recension variant गान्धारे (CE: गान्धारिः).

Verse 31 (7.186.31)

एषोऽक्षकुशलो जिह्मो द्यूतकृत्कितवः शठः । देविता निकृतिप्रज्ञो युधि जेष्यति पाण्डवान् ॥

eṣo'kṣakuśalo jihmo dyūtakṛtkitavaḥ śaṭhaḥ | devitā nikṛtiprajño yudhi jeṣyati pāṇḍavān

This man, skilled with the dice, crooked, a gambler, a cheat, a rogue, a gamester whose mind is set on trickery, will defeat the Pandavas in battle.

Verse 32 (7.186.32)

त्वया कथितमत्यर्थं कर्णेन सह हृष्टवत् । असकृच्छून्यवन्मोहाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य शृण्वतः ॥

tvayā kathitamatyarthaṃ karṇena saha hṛṣṭavat | asakṛcchūnyavanmohāddhṛtarāṣṭrasya śṛṇvataḥ

Exultantly, together with Karna, you have said again and again, in folly and as if with a vacant mind, in Dhritarashtra's hearing:

Note on the text: Corrected वृतराष्ट्रस्य → धृतराष्ट्रस्य (misprint in Wikisource, व for ध; CE 7.160.32c धृतराष्ट्रस्य).

Verse 33 (7.186.33)

अहं च तात कर्णश्च भ्राता दुःशासनश्च मे । पाण्डुपुत्रान्हनिष्यामः सहिताः समरे त्रयः ॥

ahaṃ ca tāta karṇaśca bhrātā duḥśāsanaśca me | pāṇḍuputrānhaniṣyāmaḥ sahitāḥ samare trayaḥ

"Father, I and Karna and my brother Duhshasana, the three of us together, will kill the sons of Pandu in battle."

Note on the text: Corrected दुःशानश्च → दुःशासनश्च (misprint in Wikisource, dropped स; CE 7.160.33a दुःशासनश्च). Drona quotes Duryodhana's boast.

Verse 34 (7.186.34)

इति ते कत्थमानस्य श्रुतं संसदिसंसदि । अनुतिष्ठ प्रतिज्ञां तां सत्यवाग्भव तैः सह ॥

iti te katthamānasya śrutaṃ saṃsadisaṃsadi | anutiṣṭha pratijñāṃ tāṃ satyavāgbhava taiḥ saha

You have been heard to boast in this way in assembly after assembly; carry out that vow, and make your word good in dealing with them.

Verse 35 (7.186.35)

एष ते पाण्डवः शत्रुरविशङ्कोऽग्रतः स्थितः । क्षत्रधर्ममवेक्षस्व श्लाघ्यस्तव वधो जयात् ॥

eṣa te pāṇḍavaḥ śatruraviśaṅko'grataḥ sthitaḥ | kṣatradharmamavekṣasva ślāghyastava vadho jayāt

Here stands your enemy, the Pandava, fearless before you. Look to the duty of a kshatriya; death at his hands would be more honourable for you than victory.

Note on the text: Recension variant (CE 7.160.35a: अविषह्यो ऽग्रतः स्थितः).

Verse 36 (7.186.36)

दत्तं भुक्तमधीतं च प्राप्तमैश्वर्यमीप्सितम् । कृतकृत्योऽनृणश्चासि मा भैर्युध्यस्व पाण्डवम् ॥

dattaṃ bhuktamadhītaṃ ca prāptamaiśvaryamīpsitam | kṛtakṛtyo'nṛṇaścāsi mā bhairyudhyasva pāṇḍavam

You have given, enjoyed, studied and gained the sovereignty you desired; you have done your duty and are free of debt. Do not fear; fight the Pandava.

Verse 37 (7.186.37)

इत्युक्त्वा समरे द्रोणो न्यवर्तत यतः परे । द्वैधीकृत्य ततः सेनां युद्धं समभवत्तदा ॥

ityuktvā samare droṇo nyavartata yataḥ pare | dvaidhīkṛtya tataḥ senāṃ yuddhaṃ samabhavattadā

Having said this, Drona turned back in the battle to where the enemy stood; and then, with the army split in two, the fighting went on.