Ashvatthama Kills Nila

Verse 1 (7.31.1)

तेष्वनीकेषु भग्नेषु पाण्डुपुत्रेण सञ्जय । चलितानां द्रुतानां च कथमासीन्मनांसि वः ॥

teṣvanīkeṣu bhagneṣu pāṇḍuputreṇa sañjaya | calitānāṃ drutānāṃ ca kathamāsīnmanāṃsi vaḥ

When those divisions had been broken by Pandu's son, Sanjaya, and were wavering and fleeing, what was the state of your minds?

Verse 2 (7.31.2)

अनीकानां प्रभग्नानामवस्थानमपश्यताम् । दुष्करं प्रतिसन्धानं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥

anīkānāṃ prabhagnānāmavasthānamapaśyatām | duṣkaraṃ pratisandhānaṃ tanmamācakṣva sañjaya

For broken divisions that could find no place to stand, it is hard to re-form. Tell me about that, Sanjaya.

Note on the text: Corrected आनीकानां → अनीकानां (misprint in Wikisource; stray long vowel, the critical edition reads anīkānāṃ).

Verse 3 (7.31.3)

तथापि तव पुत्रस्य प्रियकामा विशाम्पते । यशः प्रवीरा लोकेषु रक्षन्तो द्रोणमन्वयुः ॥

tathāpi tava putrasya priyakāmā viśāmpate | yaśaḥ pravīrā lokeṣu rakṣanto droṇamanvayuḥ

Even so, O lord of the people, eager to please your son and to guard their glory in the world, the foremost heroes followed Drona.

Verse 4 (7.31.4)

समुद्यतेषु चास्त्रेषु सम्प्राप्ते च युधिष्ठिरे । अकुर्वन्नार्यकर्माणि भैरवे सत्यभीतवत् ॥

samudyateṣu cāstreṣu samprāpte ca yudhiṣṭhire | akurvannāryakarmāṇi bhairave satyabhītavat

With weapons raised, and Yudhishthira now arrived, they performed noble deeds in that dreadful battle, like men who dread to betray the truth.

Verse 5 (7.31.5)

अन्तरं भीमसेनस्य प्रापतन्नमितौजसः । सात्यकेश्चैव वीरस्य धृष्टद्युम्नस्य वा विभो ॥

antaraṃ bhīmasenasya prāpatannamitaujasaḥ | sātyakeścaiva vīrasya dhṛṣṭadyumnasya vā vibho

Those of boundless might sought and fell upon the openings left by Bhimasena, by the hero Satyaki, and by Dhrishtadyumna, O lord.

Verse 6 (7.31.6)

द्रोणं द्रोणमिति क्रूराः पाञ्चालाः समचोदयन् । मा द्रोणमिति पुत्रास्ते कुरून्सर्वानचोदयन् ॥

droṇaṃ droṇamiti krūrāḥ pāñcālāḥ samacodayan | mā droṇamiti putrāste kurūnsarvānacodayan

The cruel Panchalas urged their men on with the cry "Drona! Drona!" to strike him, while your sons urged all the Kurus on with the cry "Not Drona!" to shield him.

Verse 7 (7.31.7)

द्रोणं द्रोणमिति ह्येके मा द्रोणमिति चापरे । कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च द्रोणद्यूतमवर्तत ॥

droṇaṃ droṇamiti hyeke mā droṇamiti cāpare | kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca droṇadyūtamavartata

Some cried "Drona! Drona!" and others "Not Drona!"; and for the Kurus and the Pandavas the battle became a gamble with Drona as the stake.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रोणद्यूतमवतेत → द्रोणद्यूतमवर्तत (misprint in Wikisource; र् dropped, the critical edition reads droṇadyūtam avartata).

Verse 8 (7.31.8)

यंयं प्रमथते द्रोणः पाञ्चालानां रथव्रजम् । तत्रतत्र तु पाञ्चाल्यो धृष्टद्युम्नोऽभ्यवर्तत ॥

yaṃyaṃ pramathate droṇaḥ pāñcālānāṃ rathavrajam | tatratatra tu pāñcālyo dhṛṣṭadyumno'bhyavartata

Whichever Panchala chariot-host Drona crushed, there the Panchala prince Dhrishtadyumna would turn against him.

Verse 9 (7.31.9)

तेषां भाग्यविपर्यासैः सङ्ग्रामे भैरवे सति । वीराः समासदन्वीरान्कुर्वन्तो भैरवं रवम् ॥

teṣāṃ bhāgyaviparyāsaiḥ saṅgrāme bhairave sati | vīrāḥ samāsadanvīrānkurvanto bhairavaṃ ravam

As their fortunes turned and turned again in that dreadful battle, heroes closed with heroes, raising fearful roars.

Verse 10 (7.31.10)

अकम्पनीयाः शत्रूणां बभूवुस्तत्र पाण्डवाः । अकम्पयन्ननीकानि स्मरन्तः क्लेशमात्मनः ॥

akampanīyāḥ śatrūṇāṃ babhūvustatra pāṇḍavāḥ | akampayannanīkāni smarantaḥ kleśamātmanaḥ

The Pandavas stood unshakable before their enemies there, and they shook the enemy ranks, remembering their own sufferings.

Verse 11 (7.31.11)

ते त्वमर्षवशं प्राप्ता ह्रीमन्तः सत्वचोदिताः । त्यक्त्वा प्राणान्न्यवर्तन्त घ्नन्तो द्रोणं महाहवे ॥

te tvamarṣavaśaṃ prāptā hrīmantaḥ satvacoditāḥ | tyaktvā prāṇānnyavartanta ghnanto droṇaṃ mahāhave

Seized by indignation, full of shame, and driven by their own resolve, they gave up all thought of life and turned back, striking at Drona in the great battle.

Note on the text: Corrected हीमन्तः → ह्रीमन्तः (misprint in Wikisource; र dropped from the conjunct, the critical edition reads hrīmantaḥ).

Verse 12 (7.31.12)

अयसामिव सम्पातः शिलानामिव चाभवत् । दीव्यतां तुमुले युद्धे प्राणैरमिततेजसाम् ॥

ayasāmiva sampātaḥ śilānāmiva cābhavat | dīvyatāṃ tumule yuddhe prāṇairamitatejasām

There was a clash like iron on iron and stone on stone in that tumultuous fight, as those of boundless fire gambled with their lives.

Note on the text: Corrected अयासमिव → अयसामिव (misprint in Wikisource; the letters swapped, the critical edition reads ayasām iva).

Verse 13 (7.31.13)

नानुस्मरन्ति सङ्ग्राममपि वृद्धास्तथाविधम् । ये पूर्वदेवैर्देवानामपश्यन्युद्धमद्भुतम् ॥

nānusmaranti saṅgrāmamapi vṛddhāstathāvidham | ye pūrvadevairdevānāmapaśyanyuddhamadbhutam

Not even the old, who had seen the marvellous war of the gods with the former gods, remember a battle of such a kind.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.30.13ab (reading नानुस्मरन्ति for na tu smaranti); line 2 is not the critical edition's 7.30.13cd (dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ mahārāja śrutapūrvam athāpi vā) and is found only in the vulgate recension.

Verse 14 (7.31.14)

प्राकम्पतेव पृथिवी तस्मिन्वीरावसादने । निवर्तता बलौघेन महता भारपीडिता ॥

prākampateva pṛthivī tasminvīrāvasādane | nivartatā balaughena mahatā bhārapīḍitā

The earth seemed to tremble in that slaughter of heroes, weighed down by the great host as it surged back.

Verse 15 (7.31.15)

घूर्णतोऽपि बलौघस्य दिवं स्तब्ध्वेव निःस्वनः । अजातशत्रोस्तत्सैन्यमाविवेश सुभैरवः ॥

ghūrṇato'pi balaughasya divaṃ stabdhveva niḥsvanaḥ | ajātaśatrostatsainyamāviveśa subhairavaḥ

The roar of the whirling mass of troops, as if stopping the sky in its place, entered the army of Ajatashatru, most dreadful.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.30.15ab (reading घूर्णतोऽपि for ghūrṇato hi); line 2 is not the critical edition's 7.30.15cd (ajātaśatroḥ kruddhasya putrasya tava cābhavat) and is found only in the vulgate recension.

Verse 16 (7.31.16)

समासाद्य तु पाण्डूनामनीकानि सहस्रशः । द्रोणेन चरता सङ्ख्ये प्रभग्नानि शितैः शरैः ॥

samāsādya tu pāṇḍūnāmanīkāni sahasraśaḥ | droṇena caratā saṅkhye prabhagnāni śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Falling upon the Pandavas' divisions by the thousand, Drona, moving through the battle, broke them with sharp arrows.

Verse 17 (7.31.17)

तेषु प्रमथ्यमानेषु द्रोणेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । पर्यवारयदासाद्य द्रोणं सेनापतिः स्वयम् ॥

teṣu pramathyamāneṣu droṇenādbhutakarmaṇā | paryavārayadāsādya droṇaṃ senāpatiḥ svayam

While they were being crushed by Drona of wondrous deeds, their commander-in-chief himself came up and surrounded Drona.

Note on the text: Corrected पर्यवरायदासाद्य → पर्यवारयदासाद्य (misprint in Wikisource; the letters swapped, the critical edition reads paryavārayad āsādya).

Verse 18 (7.31.18)

तदद्भुतमभूद्युद्धं द्रोणपाञ्चालयोस्तथा । नैव तस्योपमा काचिदिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥

tadadbhutamabhūdyuddhaṃ droṇapāñcālayostathā | naiva tasyopamā kāciditi me niścitā matiḥ

Wondrous was that battle between Drona and the Panchala; nothing can equal it, such is my firm belief.

Verse 19 (7.31.19)

ततो नीलोऽनलप्रख्यो ददाह कुरुवाहिनीम् । शरस्फुलिङ्गश्चापार्चिर्दहन्कक्षमिवानलः ॥

tato nīlo'nalaprakhyo dadāha kuruvāhinīm | śarasphuliṅgaścāpārcirdahankakṣamivānalaḥ

Then Nila, radiant as fire, burned the Kuru host — his arrows its sparks, his bow its flame — as fire burns dry grass.

Note on the text: Corrected शरस्कुलिङ्गः → शरस्फुलिङ्गः (misprint in Wikisource; स्क for स्फ, the critical edition reads śarasphuliṅgaḥ) and दिहन् → दहन् (misprint; the critical edition reads dahan).

Verse 20 (7.31.20)

तं दहन्तमनीकानि द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान् । पूर्वाभिभाषी सुश्लक्ष्णं स्मयमानोऽभ्यभाषत ॥

taṃ dahantamanīkāni droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān | pūrvābhibhāṣī suślakṣṇaṃ smayamāno'bhyabhāṣata

As he burned the divisions, the mighty son of Drona, ever the first to speak, smilingly addressed him in a very gentle voice.

Verse 21 (7.31.21)

नील किं बहुभिर्दग्धैस्तव योधैः शरार्चिषा । मयैकेन हि युध्यस्व क्रुद्धः प्रहर चाशु माम् ॥

nīla kiṃ bahubhirdagdhaistava yodhaiḥ śarārciṣā | mayaikena hi yudhyasva kruddhaḥ prahara cāśu mām

"Nila, what use is it to burn so many of your warriors with the flame of your arrows? Fight me alone, in anger, and strike me quickly!"

Note on the text: Ashvatthama's words, given to him since they fill the verse and follow 'Drona's son spoke'. Corrected सरार्चिषा → शरार्चिषा (misprint in Wikisource; स for श, the critical edition reads śarārciṣā).

Verse 22 (7.31.22)

तं पद्मनिकराकारं पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम् । व्याकोशपद्माभमुखो नीलो विव्याध सायकैः ॥

taṃ padmanikarākāraṃ padmapatranibhekṣaṇam | vyākośapadmābhamukho nīlo vivyādha sāyakaiḥ

Nila, whose face was like an open lotus, pierced with arrows him whose form was like a mass of lotuses and whose eyes were like lotus petals.

Verse 23 (7.31.23)

तेनापि विद्धः सहसा द्रौणिर्भल्लैः शितैस्त्रिभिः । धनुर्ध्वजं च च्छत्रं च द्विषतः सन्न्यकृन्तत ॥

tenāpi viddhaḥ sahasā drauṇirbhallaiḥ śitaistribhiḥ | dhanurdhvajaṃ ca cchatraṃ ca dviṣataḥ sannyakṛntata

Though pierced by him, Drona's son at once cut down his enemy's bow, banner and umbrella with three sharp broad-headed arrows.

Verse 24 (7.31.24)

स प्लुतः स्यन्दनात्तस्मान्नीलश्चर्मवरासिभृत् । द्रौणायनेः शिरः कायाद्धर्तुमैच्छत्पतत्त्रिवत् ॥

sa plutaḥ syandanāttasmānnīlaścarmavarāsibhṛt | drauṇāyaneḥ śiraḥ kāyāddhartumaicchatpatattrivat

Leaping from his chariot, Nila, sword and fine shield in hand, tried to cut off Drona's son's head from his body, swooping like a bird.

Verse 25 (7.31.25)

तस्योद्यतासेः सुनसं शिरः कायात्सकुण्डलम् । भल्लेनापाहरद्द्रौणिः स्मयमान इवानघ ॥

tasyodyatāseḥ sunasaṃ śiraḥ kāyātsakuṇḍalam | bhallenāpāharaddrauṇiḥ smayamāna ivānagha

As he raised his sword, O sinless one, Drona's son, smiling as it were, struck his head, with its fair nose and earrings, from his body with a broad-headed arrow.

Verse 26 (7.31.26)

सम्पूर्णचन्द्राभमुखः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः । प्रांशुरुत्पलपत्राभो निहतो न्यपतद्भुवि ॥

sampūrṇacandrābhamukhaḥ padmapatranibhekṣaṇaḥ | prāṃśurutpalapatrābho nihato nyapatadbhuvi

With a face like the full moon and eyes like lotus petals, tall and dark as a blue lotus petal, he fell to the ground, slain.

Verse 27 (7.31.27)

ततः प्रविव्यथे सेना पाण्डवी भृशमाकुला । आचार्यपुत्रेण हते नीले ज्वलिततेजसि ॥

tataḥ pravivyathe senā pāṇḍavī bhṛśamākulā | ācāryaputreṇa hate nīle jvalitatejasi

Then the Pandava army, in great confusion, trembled with dismay when Nila of blazing energy was slain by the teacher's son.

Verse 28 (7.31.28)

अचिन्तयंश्च ते सर्वे पाण्डवानां महारथाः । कथं नो वासविस्त्रायाच्छत्रुभ्य इति मारिष ॥

acintayaṃśca te sarve pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ | kathaṃ no vāsavistrāyācchatrubhya iti māriṣa

All those great chariot-warriors of the Pandavas thought, O honoured one: "How may Indra's son save us from our foes?"

Verse 29 (7.31.29)

दक्षिणेन तु सेनायाः कुरुते कदनं बली । संशप्तकावशेषस्य नारायणबलस्य च ॥

dakṣiṇena tu senāyāḥ kurute kadanaṃ balī | saṃśaptakāvaśeṣasya nārāyaṇabalasya ca

For in the southern part of the army that mighty one was wreaking slaughter on the remnant of the Samshaptakas and on the Narayana host.