The Lie of Ashvatthama's Death

Verse 1 (7.191.1)

पाञ्चालानां ततो द्रोणोऽप्यकरोत्कदनं महत् । यथा क्रुद्धो रणे शक्रो दानवानां क्षयं पुरा ॥

pāñcālānāṃ tato droṇo'pyakarotkadanaṃ mahat | yathā kruddho raṇe śakro dānavānāṃ kṣayaṃ purā

Then Drona wrought great slaughter among the Panchalas, as Shakra in his wrath once destroyed the danavas.

Verse 2 (7.191.2)

द्रोणास्त्रेण महाराज वध्यमानाः परे युधि । नात्रसन्त रणे द्रोणात्सत्ववन्तो महारथाः ॥

droṇāstreṇa mahārāja vadhyamānāḥ pare yudhi | nātrasanta raṇe droṇātsatvavanto mahārathāḥ

Struck down in the battle by Drona's weapon, O great king, those mighty warriors on the other side felt no fear of Drona, so stout-hearted were those great chariot-fighters.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रोणत् → द्रोणात् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ā, CE droṇāt sattvavanto).

Verse 3 (7.191.3)

युध्यमाना महाराज पाञ्चालाः सृञ्जयास्तथा । द्रोणमेवाभ्ययुर्युद्धे योधयन्तो महारथाः ॥

yudhyamānā mahārāja pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayāstathā | droṇamevābhyayuryuddhe yodhayanto mahārathāḥ

The Panchalas and Srinjayas, O great king, fought on; those great warriors pressed upon Drona alone in the battle, battling him.

Note on the text: Recension variants युध्यमाना, योधयन्तो महारथाः (CE वध्यमानाः, मोहयन्तो महारथम्).

Verse 4 (7.191.4)

तेषां तु च्छाद्यमानानां पाञ्चालानां समन्ततः । अभवद्भैरवो नादो वध्यतां शरवृष्टिभिः ॥

teṣāṃ tu cchādyamānānāṃ pāñcālānāṃ samantataḥ | abhavadbhairavo nādo vadhyatāṃ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ

As they were being covered on every side by showers of arrows, a dreadful cry rose from the Panchalas as they were cut down.

Note on the text: Recension variants छाद्यमानानाम्, शरवृष्टिभिः (CE ऊत्साद्यमानानाम्, शरशक्तिभिः).

Verse 5 (7.191.5)

वध्यमानेषु सङ्ग्रामे पाञ्चालेषु महात्मना । उदीर्यमाणे द्रोणास्त्रे पाण्डवान्भयमाविशत् ॥

vadhyamāneṣu saṅgrāme pāñcāleṣu mahātmanā | udīryamāṇe droṇāstre pāṇḍavānbhayamāviśat

While the Panchalas were being slaughtered in the battle by that great-souled man, and Drona's weapon kept pouring forth, fear entered the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner from पाण्डव.

Verse 6 (7.191.6)

दृष्ट्वाऽश्वनरयोधानां विपुलं च क्षयं युधि । पाण्डवेया महाराज नाशशंसुर्जयं तदा ॥

dṛṣṭvā'śvanarayodhānāṃ vipulaṃ ca kṣayaṃ yudhi | pāṇḍaveyā mahārāja nāśaśaṃsurjayaṃ tadā

Seeing the vast destruction of horses, men and warriors in the battle, O great king, the Pandavas then had no hope of victory.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner from पाण्डव.

Verse 7 (7.191.7)

कच्चिद्द्रोणो न नः सर्वान्क्षपयेत्परमास्त्रवित् । समिद्धः शिशिरापाये दहन्कक्षमिवानलः ॥

kacciddroṇo na naḥ sarvānkṣapayetparamāstravit | samiddhaḥ śiśirāpāye dahankakṣamivānalaḥ

"Let Drona, the master of the supreme weapons, not destroy us all, blazing up like a fire burning dry grass at the end of winter!"

Verse 8 (7.191.8)

न चैनं संयुगे कश्चित्समर्थः प्रतिवीक्षितुम् । न चैनमर्जुनो जातु प्रतियुध्येत धर्मवित् ॥

na cainaṃ saṃyuge kaścitsamarthaḥ prativīkṣitum | na cainamarjuno jātu pratiyudhyeta dharmavit

"No one in battle can even look at him; and Arjuna, who knows dharma, will never fight him."

Verse 9 (7.191.9)

त्रस्तान्कुन्तीसुतान्दृष्ट्वा द्रोणसायकपीडितान् । मतिमाञ्श्रेयसे युक्तः केशवोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत् ॥

trastānkuntīsutāndṛṣṭvā droṇasāyakapīḍitān | matimāñśreyase yuktaḥ keśavo'rjunamabravīt

Seeing the sons of Kunti terrified and tormented by Drona's arrows, wise Keshava, intent on their welfare, said to Arjuna:

Verse 10 (7.191.10)

नैष युद्धेन सङ्ग्रामे जेतुं शक्यः कथञ्चन । सधनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो देवैरपि सवासवैः ॥

naiṣa yuddhena saṅgrāme jetuṃ śakyaḥ kathañcana | sadhanurdhanvināṃ śreṣṭho devairapi savāsavaiḥ

"He cannot be conquered in battle by fighting, by any means, this best of archers with his bow, not even by the gods together with Indra."

Note on the text: Unheaded speech of Krishna to Arjuna (vv. 10-12; introduced by v. 9, where he is called Keshava). Line 1 = CE 7.164.67ab; line 2 = star passage 7.164.67b*1305_01. CE 67cd is not in this text.

Verse 11 (7.191.11)

न्यस्तशस्त्रस्तु सङ्ग्रामे शक्यो हन्तुं भवेन्नृभिः । आस्थीयतां जये योगो धर्ममुत्सृज्य पाण्डवाः । यथा न संयुगे सर्वान्निहन्याद्रुक्मवाहनः ॥

nyastaśastrastu saṅgrāme śakyo hantuṃ bhavennṛbhiḥ | āsthīyatāṃ jaye yogo dharmamutsṛjya pāṇḍavāḥ | yathā na saṃyuge sarvānnihanyādrukmavāhanaḥ

"But if he lays down his weapons in the battle, men can kill him. Set your mind on a means of victory, Pandavas, giving up dharma, so that the man of the golden chariot may not kill all of you in the battle."

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्गारमे → सङ्ग्रामे (misprint in Wikisource; CE saṃgrāme). Line 1 = star passage 7.164.67b*1305_02; lines 2-3 = CE 7.164.68 (पाण्डवाः for CE पाण्डव). Unheaded speech of Krishna.

Verse 12 (7.191.12)

अश्वत्थाम्नि हते नैष युध्येदिति मतिर्मम । तं हतं संयुगे कश्चिदस्मै शंसतु मानवः ॥

aśvatthāmni hate naiṣa yudhyediti matirmama | taṃ hataṃ saṃyuge kaścidasmai śaṃsatu mānavaḥ

"My thought is that if Ashvatthama is dead, he will not fight. Let some man tell him in the battle that Ashvatthama has been slain."

Note on the text: Unheaded speech of Krishna (continues from v. 10).

Verse 13 (7.191.13)

एतन्नारोचयद्राजन्कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः । अन्ये त्वरोचयन्सर्वे कृच्छ्रेण तु युधिष्ठिरः ॥

etannārocayadrājankuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ | anye tvarocayansarve kṛcchreṇa tu yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Arjuna, the son of Kunti, did not approve of this, O king; the others all approved, and Yudhishthira only with difficulty.

Verse 14 (7.191.14)

ततो भीमो महाबाहुरनीकेषु महागजम् । जघान गदया राजन्नश्वत्थामानमित्युत । परप्रमथनं घोरं मालवस्येन्द्रवर्मणः ॥

tato bhīmo mahābāhuranīkeṣu mahāgajam | jaghāna gadayā rājannaśvatthāmānamityuta | parapramathanaṃ ghoraṃ mālavasyendravarmaṇaḥ

Then mighty-armed Bhima, in the ranks, struck down with his mace a great elephant, O king, saying "Ashvatthama" — a terrible crusher of foes, belonging to Indravarman of Malava.

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 = CE 7.164.71 (recension variant अनीकेषु, CE अनीके स्वे); line 3 = star passage 7.164.71d*1306_01.

Verse 15 (7.191.15)

भीमसेनस्तु सव्रीडमुपेत्य द्रोणमाहवे । अश्वत्थामा हत इति शब्दमुच्चैश्चकार ह ॥

bhīmasenastu savrīḍamupetya droṇamāhave | aśvatthāmā hata iti śabdamuccaiścakāra ha

Then Bhimasena, ashamed, went up to Drona in the battle and cried out in a loud voice, "Ashvatthama is dead!"

Verse 16 (7.191.16)

अश्वत्थामेति हि गजः ख्यातो नाम्ना हतोऽभवत् । कृत्वा मनसि तं भीमो मिथ्या व्याहृतवांस्तदा ॥

aśvatthāmeti hi gajaḥ khyāto nāmnā hato'bhavat | kṛtvā manasi taṃ bhīmo mithyā vyāhṛtavāṃstadā

For an elephant famed by the name Ashvatthama had been killed; keeping that in mind, Bhima then spoke the falsehood.

Verse 17 (7.191.17)

भीमसेनवचः श्रुत्वा द्रोणस्तत्परमाप्रियम् । मनसा सन्नगात्रोऽभूद्यथा सैकतमम्भसि ॥

bhīmasenavacaḥ śrutvā droṇastatparamāpriyam | manasā sannagātro'bhūdyathā saikatamambhasi

Hearing Bhimasena's words, most unwelcome to him, Drona went limp in every limb in his mind, like sand in water.

Note on the text: Corrected सन्नागात्रो → सन्नगात्रो (misprint in Wikisource; sanna-gātra, CE sannagātro).

Verse 18 (7.191.18)

शङ्कमानः स तन्मिथ्या वीर्यज्ञः स्वसुतस्य वै । हतः स इति च श्रुत्वा नैव धैर्यादकम्पत ॥

śaṅkamānaḥ sa tanmithyā vīryajñaḥ svasutasya vai | hataḥ sa iti ca śrutvā naiva dhairyādakampata

Yet he doubted that it was false, for he knew his own son's prowess; and though he heard that he was dead, out of firmness he did not tremble at all.

Verse 19 (7.191.19)

स लब्ध्वा चेतनां द्रोणः क्षणेनैव समाश्वसत् । अनुचिन्त्यात्मनः पुत्रमविषह्यमरातिभिः ॥

sa labdhvā cetanāṃ droṇaḥ kṣaṇenaiva samāśvasat | anucintyātmanaḥ putramaviṣahyamarātibhiḥ

Drona regained his senses and in a moment took heart again, reflecting that his son could not be overcome by foes.

Verse 20 (7.191.20)

स पार्षतमभिद्रुत्य जिघांसुर्मृत्युमात्मनः । अवाकिरत्सहस्रेण तीक्ष्णानां कङ्कपत्रिणाम् ॥

sa pārṣatamabhidrutya jighāṃsurmṛtyumātmanaḥ | avākiratsahasreṇa tīkṣṇānāṃ kaṅkapatriṇām

He rushed at Prishata's son, eager to kill him, who was his own death, and covered him with a thousand sharp heron-feathered arrows.

Verse 21 (7.191.21)

तं विंशतिसहस्राणि पाञ्चालानां नरर्षभाः । यथा चरन्तं सङ्ग्रामे सर्वतोऽवाकिरञ्छरैः ॥

taṃ viṃśatisahasrāṇi pāñcālānāṃ nararṣabhāḥ | yathā carantaṃ saṅgrāme sarvato'vākirañcharaiḥ

Twenty thousand Panchalas, bulls among men, covered him on every side with arrows as he ranged about in the battle.

Note on the text: Recension variant यथा चरन्तम् ... सर्वतोऽवाकिरञ्छरैः (CE तथा चरन्तम् ... सर्वतो व्यकिरञ् शरैः).

Verse 22 (7.191.22)

शरैस्तैराचितं द्रोणं नापश्याम महारथम् । भास्करं जलदै रुद्धं वर्षास्विव विशाम्पते ॥

śaraistairācitaṃ droṇaṃ nāpaśyāma mahāratham | bhāskaraṃ jaladai ruddhaṃ varṣāsviva viśāmpate

Covered with those arrows, we could not see the great warrior Drona, O lord of men, like the sun hidden by clouds in the rainy season.

Note on the text: Not a numbered verse in the critical edition: star passage 7.164.78d*1307_01-02 (after 7.164.78); recension variant शरैस्तैराचितम् (CE तैः शरैरावृतम्).

Verse 23 (7.191.23)

विधूय तान्बाणगणान्पाञ्चालानां महारथः । प्रादुश्चक्रे ततो द्रोणो ब्राह्ममस्त्रं परन्तपः ॥

vidhūya tānbāṇagaṇānpāñcālānāṃ mahārathaḥ | prāduścakre tato droṇo brāhmamastraṃ parantapaḥ

Shaking off those showers of arrows of the Panchalas, the great warrior Drona, scorcher of foes, then brought forth the Brahma weapon.

Note on the text: Line 1 = star passage 7.164.78d*1307_03; line 2 corresponds to CE 7.164.79ab (recension variant प्रादुश्चक्रे ततो द्रोणो ब्राह्मम्, CE ततः प्रादुष्करोद् द्रोणो ब्राह्मम्).

Verse 24 (7.191.24)

वधाय तेषां शूराणां पाञ्चालानाममर्षितः । ततो व्यरोचत द्रोणो विनिघ्नन्सर्वसैनिकान् ॥

vadhāya teṣāṃ śūrāṇāṃ pāñcālānāmamarṣitaḥ | tato vyarocata droṇo vinighnansarvasainikān

To slay those heroic Panchalas, in his wrath, Drona then shone as he struck down all the soldiers.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.164.79cd; line 2 = CE 7.164.80a (recension variant सर्वसैनिकान्, CE सर्वसोमकान्).

Verse 25 (7.191.25)

शिरांस्यापातयच्चापि पाञ्चालानां महामृधे । तथैव परिघाकारान्बाहून्कनकभूषणान् ॥

śirāṃsyāpātayaccāpi pāñcālānāṃ mahāmṛdhe | tathaiva parighākārānbāhūnkanakabhūṣaṇān

In that great slaughter he also cut off the heads of the Panchalas, and likewise their arms, thick as iron bars and adorned with gold.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 7.164.80c and 80e.

Verse 26 (7.191.26)

ते वध्यमानाः समरे भारद्वाजेन पार्थिवाः । मेदिन्यामन्वकीर्यन्त वातनुन्ना इव द्रुमाः ॥

te vadhyamānāḥ samare bhāradvājena pārthivāḥ | medinyāmanvakīryanta vātanunnā iva drumāḥ

Slain in battle by Bharadvaja's son, those kings lay scattered on the earth like trees thrown down by the wind.

Verse 27 (7.191.27)

कुञ्जराणां च पततां हयौघानां च भारत । अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा ॥

kuñjarāṇāṃ ca patatāṃ hayaughānāṃ ca bhārata | agamyarūpā pṛthivī māṃsaśoṇitakardamā

With the falling elephants and masses of horses, O Bharata, the earth became impassable, a mire of flesh and blood.

Verse 28 (7.191.28)

हत्वा विंशतिसाहस्रान्पाञ्चालानां रथव्रजान् । अतिष्ठदाहवे द्रोणो विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥

hatvā viṃśatisāhasrānpāñcālānāṃ rathavrajān | atiṣṭhadāhave droṇo vidhūmo'gniriva jvalan

Having killed twenty thousand chariot-troops of the Panchalas, Drona stood in the battle blazing like a smokeless fire.

Verse 29 (7.191.29)

तथैव च पुनः क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । वसुदानस्य भल्लेन शिरः कायादपाहरत् ॥

tathaiva ca punaḥ kruddho bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān | vasudānasya bhallena śiraḥ kāyādapāharat

And again, enraged, the mighty son of Bharadvaja cut Vasudana's head from his body with a broad-headed arrow.

Verse 30 (7.191.30)

पुनः पञ्चशतान्मात्स्यान्षट्सहस्रांश्च सृञ्जयान् । हस्तिनामयुतं हत्वा जघानाश्वायुतं पुनः ॥

punaḥ pañcaśatānmātsyānṣaṭsahasrāṃśca sṛñjayān | hastināmayutaṃ hatvā jaghānāśvāyutaṃ punaḥ

Then he killed five hundred Matsyas and six thousand Srinjayas, and having killed ten thousand elephants he killed ten thousand horses again.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner in षट्सहस्रांश्च.

Verse 31 (7.191.31)

क्षत्रियाणामभावाय दृष्ट्वा द्रोणमवस्थितम् । ऋषयोऽभ्यागतास्तूर्णं हव्यवाहपुरोगमाः ॥

kṣatriyāṇāmabhāvāya dṛṣṭvā droṇamavasthitam | ṛṣayo'bhyāgatāstūrṇaṃ havyavāhapurogamāḥ

Seeing Drona standing there for the destruction of the kshatriyas, the sages came quickly, with Agni, the bearer of oblations, at their head,

Verse 32 (7.191.32)

विश्वामित्रो जमदग्निर्भरद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः । वसिष्ठः कश्यपोऽत्रिश्च ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषवः ॥

viśvāmitro jamadagnirbharadvājo'tha gautamaḥ | vasiṣṭhaḥ kaśyapo'triśca brahmalokaṃ ninīṣavaḥ

Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Vasishtha, Kashyapa and Atri, wishing to lead him to the world of Brahma;

Verse 33 (7.191.33)

सिकताः पृश्नयो गर्गा वालखिल्या मरीचिपाः । भृगवोऽङ्गिरसश्चैव सूक्ष्माश्चान्ये महर्षयः ॥

sikatāḥ pṛśnayo gargā vālakhilyā marīcipāḥ | bhṛgavo'ṅgirasaścaiva sūkṣmāścānye maharṣayaḥ

the Sikatas, the Prishnis, the Gargas, the Valakhilyas and the Marichipas, the Bhrigus and the Angirases, the Sukshmas and other great sages.

Verse 34 (7.191.34)

त एनमब्रुवन्सर्वे द्रोणमाहवशोभिनम् । अधर्मतः कृतं युद्धं समयो निधनस्य ते ॥

ta enamabruvansarve droṇamāhavaśobhinam | adharmataḥ kṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ samayo nidhanasya te

All of them said to Drona, who shone in the battle: "You have fought unrighteously; the time of your death has come.

Note on the text: Corrected आहरव → आहव (misprint in Wikisource; CE āhavaśobhinam). Line 2 is the beginning of the sages' speech; the verse is kept with the narrator.

Verse 35 (7.191.35)

न्यस्यायुधं रणे द्रोण समीक्षास्मानवस्थितान् । नातः क्रूरतरं कर्म पुनः कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥

nyasyāyudhaṃ raṇe droṇa samīkṣāsmānavasthitān | nātaḥ krūrataraṃ karma punaḥ kartumihārhasi

Lay down your weapon in the battle, Drona, and look at us as we stand here. You should not again do a deed more cruel than this.

Note on the text: Speech of the sages (ऋषय ऊचुः), begun in v. 34 and continuing to v. 39; the page prints no heading.

Verse 36 (7.191.36)

वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषः सत्यधर्मरतस्य ते । ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण तवैतन्नोपपद्यते ॥

vedavedāṅgaviduṣaḥ satyadharmaratasya te | brāhmaṇasya viśeṣeṇa tavaitannopapadyate

This does not befit you — learned in the Vedas and Vedangas, devoted to truth and dharma, and above all a brahmin.

Note on the text: Continuing speech of the sages.

Verse 37 (7.191.37)

त्यजायुधममोधेषो तिष्ठ वर्त्मनि शाश्वते । परिपूर्णश्च कालस्ते वस्तुं लोकेऽद्य मानुषे ॥

tyajāyudhamamodheṣo tiṣṭha vartmani śāśvate | paripūrṇaśca kālaste vastuṃ loke'dya mānuṣe

Give up your weapon, you whose arrows never miss, and stand on the eternal path. Your time to dwell in this human world is now complete.

Note on the text: Continuing speech of the sages.

Verse 38 (7.191.38)

ब्रह्मास्त्रेण त्वया दग्धा अनस्त्रज्ञा नरा भुवि । यदेतदीदृशं विप्र कृतं कर्म न साधु तत् ॥

brahmāstreṇa tvayā dagdhā anastrajñā narā bhuvi | yadetadīdṛśaṃ vipra kṛtaṃ karma na sādhu tat

With the Brahma weapon you have burned men on earth who knew nothing of weapons. This deed you have done, brahmin, is not good.

Note on the text: Star passage 7.164.92d*1308_01-02 (after 7.164.92); continuing speech of the sages.

Verse 39 (7.191.39)

न्यस्यायुधं रणे विप्र द्रोण मा त्वं चिरं कृथाः । मा पापिष्ठतरं कर्म करिष्यसि पुनर्द्विज ॥

nyasyāyudhaṃ raṇe vipra droṇa mā tvaṃ ciraṃ kṛthāḥ | mā pāpiṣṭhataraṃ karma kariṣyasi punardvija

Lay down your weapon in the battle, Drona, brahmin; do not delay. Do not commit a still more evil deed, twice-born one."

Note on the text: Star passage 7.164.92d*1308_03-04 (after 7.164.92); continuing speech of the sages.

Verse 40 (7.191.40)

इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा भीमसेनवचः स्मरन् । धृष्टद्युम्नं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य रणे स विमनाऽभवत् ॥

iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā bhīmasenavacaḥ smaran | dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca samprekṣya raṇe sa vimanā'bhavat

Hearing their words, remembering Bhimasena's words, and looking at Dhrishtadyumna in the battle, he became dejected.

Verse 41 (7.191.41)

सन्दिह्यमानो व्यथितः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । अहतं वा हतं वेति पप्रच्छ सुतमात्मनः ॥

sandihyamāno vyathitaḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | ahataṃ vā hataṃ veti papraccha sutamātmanaḥ

Troubled and in anguish, he asked Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, about his own son — whether he was unslain or slain.

Verse 42 (7.191.42)

स्थिरा बुद्धिर्हि द्रोणस्य न पार्थो वक्ष्यतेऽनृतम् । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामैश्वर्यार्थे कथञ्चन ॥

sthirā buddhirhi droṇasya na pārtho vakṣyate'nṛtam | trayāṇāmapi lokānāmaiśvaryārthe kathañcana

For Drona's mind was firm that Partha would not speak an untruth, even for lordship over the three worlds, by any means.

Verse 43 (7.191.43)

तस्मात्तं परिपप्रच्छ नान्यं कञ्चिद्द्विजर्षभः । तस्मिंस्तस्य हि सत्याशा बाल्यात्प्रभृति पाण्डवे ॥

tasmāttaṃ paripapraccha nānyaṃ kañciddvijarṣabhaḥ | tasmiṃstasya hi satyāśā bālyātprabhṛti pāṇḍave

So the best of brahmins asked him and no one else; for he had placed his hope of truth in that Pandava from his boyhood on.

Note on the text: Corrected कञ्छिद् → कञ्चिद् (misprint in Wikisource; छ for च). Line 1 ends differently in the CE (कं चिद् विशेषतः).

Verse 44 (7.191.44)

ततो निष्पाण्डवामुर्वीं करिष्यन्तं युधाम्पतिम् । द्रोणं ज्ञात्वा धर्मराजं गोविन्दो व्यथितोऽब्रवीत् ॥

tato niṣpāṇḍavāmurvīṃ kariṣyantaṃ yudhāmpatim | droṇaṃ jñātvā dharmarājaṃ govindo vyathito'bravīt

Then Govinda, knowing that Drona, lord of warriors, was about to leave the earth without a single Pandava, said to the king of dharma in distress:

Verse 45 (7.191.45)

यद्यर्धदिवसं द्रोणो युध्यते मन्युमास्थितः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते सेना विनाशं समुपैष्यति ॥

yadyardhadivasaṃ droṇo yudhyate manyumāsthitaḥ | satyaṃ bravīmi te senā vināśaṃ samupaiṣyati

"If Drona, in the grip of wrath, fights for half a day, I tell you truly, your army will be utterly destroyed."

Note on the text: Speech of Krishna (Govinda) to Yudhishthira, introduced by v. 44; continues in v. 46.

Verse 46 (7.191.46)

स भवांस्त्रातु नो द्रोणात्सत्याज्ज्यायोऽनृतं वचः । अनृतं जीवितस्यार्थे वदन्न स्पृश्यतेऽनृतैः ॥

sa bhavāṃstrātu no droṇātsatyājjyāyo'nṛtaṃ vacaḥ | anṛtaṃ jīvitasyārthe vadanna spṛśyate'nṛtaiḥ

"So save us from Drona: an untruth is better than truth. One who speaks an untruth to save his life is not stained by untruths."

Note on the text: Continuing speech of Krishna. Recension variant सत्याज्ज्यायोऽनृतं वचः (CE सत्याज्ज्यायोऽनृतं भवेत्).

Verse 47 (7.191.47)

तयोः संवदतोरेवं भीमसेनोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

tayoḥ saṃvadatorevaṃ bhīmaseno'bravīdidam

While the two were speaking thus, Bhimasena said this:

Note on the text: Wikisource prints CE 7.164.100a as a verse of its own (one line); CE 100c opens the next verse here.

Verse 48 (7.191.48)

श्रुत्वैवं तु महाराज वधोपायं महात्मनः । गाहमानस्य ते सेनां मालवस्येन्द्रवर्मणः ॥

śrutvaivaṃ tu mahārāja vadhopāyaṃ mahātmanaḥ | gāhamānasya te senāṃ mālavasyendravarmaṇaḥ

"Having heard in this way, O great king, of the means of killing that great-souled man — there was an elephant of Indravarman the Malava, plunging into your army:

Note on the text: Speech of Bhimasena to Yudhishthira (vv. 48-52), introduced by v. 47. Lines = CE 7.164.100c and 101a.

Verse 49 (7.191.49)

अश्वत्थामेति विख्यातो गजः शक्रगजोपमः । निहतो युधि विक्रम्य ततोऽहं द्रोणमब्रुवम् ॥

aśvatthāmeti vikhyāto gajaḥ śakragajopamaḥ | nihato yudhi vikramya tato'haṃ droṇamabruvam

that elephant, famed by the name Ashvatthama, equal to Indra's elephant, was slain by me after a valiant fight in the battle; and then I said to Drona:

Note on the text: Speech of Bhimasena. Lines = CE 7.164.101c and 102a.

Verse 50 (7.191.50)

अश्वत्थामा हतो ब्रह्मन्निवर्तस्वाहवादिति । नूनं नाश्रद्दधद्वाक्यमेष मे पुरुषर्षभः ॥

aśvatthāmā hato brahmannivartasvāhavāditi | nūnaṃ nāśraddadhadvākyameṣa me puruṣarṣabhaḥ

'Ashvatthama is dead, brahmin; turn back from the battle.' Surely this bull among men did not believe my words.

Note on the text: Speech of Bhimasena. Lines = CE 7.164.102c and 103a.

Verse 51 (7.191.51)

स त्वं गोविन्दवाक्यानि मानयस्व जयैषिणः । द्रोणाय निहतं शंस राजञ्शारद्वतीसुतम् ॥

sa tvaṃ govindavākyāni mānayasva jayaiṣiṇaḥ | droṇāya nihataṃ śaṃsa rājañśāradvatīsutam

So, you who desire victory, honour Govinda's words: tell Drona, O king, that the son of Sharadvati has been slain.

Note on the text: Speech of Bhimasena. Lines = CE 7.164.103c and 104a.

Verse 52 (7.191.52)

त्वयोक्ते नैव युध्येत जातु राजन्द्विजर्षभः । सत्यवागिति लोकेऽस्मिन्भवान्ख्यातो जनाधिप ॥

tvayokte naiva yudhyeta jātu rājandvijarṣabhaḥ | satyavāgiti loke'sminbhavānkhyāto janādhipa

Once you have said it, the best of brahmins will surely never fight on, O king; for you are known in this world as one who speaks the truth, O lord of men."

Note on the text: Speech of Bhimasena. Lines = CE 7.164.104c and 104e.

Verse 53 (7.191.53)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णवाक्यप्रचोदितः । भावित्वाच्च महाराज वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā kṛṣṇavākyapracoditaḥ | bhāvitvācca mahārāja vaktuṃ samupacakrame

Hearing his words, urged on by Krishna's words, and because it was bound to happen, O great king, he began to speak.

Verse 54 (7.191.54)

तमतथ्यभये मग्नो जये सक्तो युधिष्ठिरः । अश्वत्थामा हत इति शब्दमुच्चैश्चकार ह । अव्यक्तमब्रवीद्राजन्हतः कुञ्जर इत्युत ॥

tamatathyabhaye magno jaye sakto yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | aśvatthāmā hata iti śabdamuccaiścakāra ha | avyaktamabravīdrājanhataḥ kuñjara ityuta

To him Yudhishthira, sunk in fear of untruth yet bent on victory, cried out in a loud voice, "Ashvatthama is dead!" and then, indistinctly, O king, he said, "the elephant."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and apostrophe) around line 2 and corrected हति → हत इति (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped syllable, cf. v. 15). Lines 1 and 3 = CE 7.164.106a and 106c; line 2 is not in the critical edition (vulgate-only).

Verse 55 (7.191.55)

तस्य पूर्वं रथः पृथ्व्याश्चतुरङ्गुलमुच्छ्रितः । बभूवैवं च तेनोक्ते तस्य वाहाः स्पृशन्महीम् ॥

tasya pūrvaṃ rathaḥ pṛthvyāścaturaṅgulamucchritaḥ | babhūvaivaṃ ca tenokte tasya vāhāḥ spṛśanmahīm

Before that, his chariot had stood four fingers' breadth above the ground; but when this was spoken by him, his horses touched the earth.

Verse 56 (7.191.56)

युधिष्ठिरात्तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा द्रोणो महारथः । पुत्रव्यसनसन्तप्तो निराशो जीवितेऽभवत् ॥

yudhiṣṭhirāttu tadvākyaṃ śrutvā droṇo mahārathaḥ | putravyasanasantapto nirāśo jīvite'bhavat

Hearing that speech from Yudhishthira, the great warrior Drona, scorched by grief for his son, lost all hope of life.

Verse 57 (7.191.57)

आगस्कृतमिवात्मानं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । ऋषिवाक्येन मन्वानः श्रुत्वा च निहतं सुतम् ॥

āgaskṛtamivātmānaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām | ṛṣivākyena manvānaḥ śrutvā ca nihataṃ sutam

Thinking that he had wronged the great-souled Pandavas, because of the sages' words, and having heard that his son was slain,

Verse 58 (7.191.58)

विचेताः परमोद्विग्नो धृष्टद्युम्नमवेक्ष्य च । योद्धुं नाशक्नुवद्राजन्यथापूर्वमरिन्दमः ॥

vicetāḥ paramodvigno dhṛṣṭadyumnamavekṣya ca | yoddhuṃ nāśaknuvadrājanyathāpūrvamarindamaḥ

bewildered and deeply distraught, and looking at Dhrishtadyumna, he could no longer fight as before, O king, that tamer of foes.