Drona's Pledge and the Question About Abhimanyu

Verse 1 (7.33.1)

पूर्वमस्मासु भग्नेषु फल्गुनेनामितौजसा । द्रोणे च मोघसङ्कल्पे रक्षिते च युधिष्ठिरे ॥

pūrvamasmāsu bhagneṣu phalgunenāmitaujasā | droṇe ca moghasaṅkalpe rakṣite ca yudhiṣṭhire

Earlier, when we had been broken by the boundless might of Phalguna (Arjuna), when Drona's purpose had come to nothing and Yudhishthira had been kept safe,

Note on the text: This page (Wikisource adhyaya 33) corresponds to critical-edition adhyaya 7.32 (verses 7.32.1–26); its Janamejaya passage (verses 23–34 here) corresponds to 7.33.1–11, the opening of the next critical-edition adhyaya. Corrected फल्गुगेनामितौजसा → फल्गुनेनामितौजसा (misprint in Wikisource; ग for न; the critical edition reads phalgunenāmitaujasā).

Verse 2 (7.33.2)

सर्वे विध्वस्तकवचास्तावका युधि निर्जिताः । रजस्वला भृशोद्विग्ना वीक्षमाणा दिशो दश ॥

sarve vidhvastakavacāstāvakā yudhi nirjitāḥ | rajasvalā bhṛśodvignā vīkṣamāṇā diśo daśa

all your men, their armour shattered and defeated in the fight, covered with dust and deeply shaken, looked about in all ten directions.

Verse 3 (7.33.3)

अवहारं ततः कृत्वा भारद्वाजस्य सम्मते । लब्धलक्षैः शरैर्भिन्ना भृशावहसिता रणे ॥

avahāraṃ tataḥ kṛtvā bhāradvājasya sammate | labdhalakṣaiḥ śarairbhinnā bhṛśāvahasitā raṇe

Then, having withdrawn from the battle with Drona's consent, wounded by arrows that had found their mark, they were greatly mocked in the field.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads शरैर्भिन्ना for the critical edition's parair dīnā (7.32.3c), a recension variant.

Verse 4 (7.33.4)

श्लाघमानेषु भूतेषु फल्गुनस्यामितान्गुणान् । केशवस्य च सौहार्दे कीर्त्यमानेऽर्जुनं प्रति ॥

ślāghamāneṣu bhūteṣu phalgunasyāmitānguṇān | keśavasya ca sauhārde kīrtyamāne'rjunaṃ prati

While the beings around were praising the boundless virtues of Phalguna, and Keshava's friendship toward Arjuna was being proclaimed,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 7.32.4ac. The automatic alignment found no match (the critical edition's verse has a third line, 4e, which falls in the next verse here).

Verse 5 (7.33.5)

अभिशस्ता इवाभूवन्ध्यानमूकत्वमास्थिताः । ततः प्रभातसमये द्रोणं दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत् ॥

abhiśastā ivābhūvandhyānamūkatvamāsthitāḥ | tataḥ prabhātasamaye droṇaṃ duryodhano'bravīt

they became as though accursed, sunk in a brooding silence. Then, at the break of day, Duryodhana spoke to Drona,

Note on the text: Corrected द्रुयोधनोऽब्रवीत् → दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत् (misprint in Wikisource; a mangled name; the critical edition reads duryodhano 'bravīt). Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.32.4e; line 2 is its 7.32.5a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 6 (7.33.6)

प्रणयादभिमानाच्च द्विषद्वृद्ध्या च दुर्मनाः । शृण्वतां सर्वयोधानां संरब्धो वाक्यकोविदः ॥

praṇayādabhimānācca dviṣadvṛddhyā ca durmanāḥ | śṛṇvatāṃ sarvayodhānāṃ saṃrabdho vākyakovidaḥ

out of affection and pride, and sullen at the enemy's rise, he, wrought up and skilled in speech, said in the hearing of all the warriors:

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 7.32.5c and 5e (शृण्वतां सर्वयोधानां for śṛṇvatāṃ sarvabhūtānām). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 7 (7.33.7)

नूनं वयं वध्यपक्षे भवतो द्विजसत्तम । तथाहि नाग्रहीः प्राप्तं समीपेऽद्य युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

nūnaṃ vayaṃ vadhyapakṣe bhavato dvijasattama | tathāhi nāgrahīḥ prāptaṃ samīpe'dya yudhiṣṭhiram

O best of the twice-born, surely we are on the side of those you mean to destroy — for today, when Yudhishthira came within your reach, you did not seize him.

Note on the text: The page prints a heading "सञ्जय उवाच" before verse 10, not before this speech; Duryodhana's words (verses 7–9) have no heading of their own and are given to him here.

Verse 8 (7.33.8)

इच्छतस्ते न मुच्येत चक्षुःप्राप्तो रणे रिपुः । जिघृक्षतो रक्ष्यमाणः सामरैरपि पाण्डवैः ॥

icchataste na mucyeta cakṣuḥprāpto raṇe ripuḥ | jighṛkṣato rakṣyamāṇaḥ sāmarairapi pāṇḍavaiḥ

If you had wished it, no enemy who had come within sight in battle could have escaped you — not even one who, though you wished to seize him, was guarded by the Pandavas together with the gods.

Verse 9 (7.33.9)

वरं दत्त्वा मम प्रीतः पश्चाद्विकृतवानसि । आशाभङ्गं न कुर्वन्ति भक्तस्यार्याः कथञ्चन ॥

varaṃ dattvā mama prītaḥ paścādvikṛtavānasi | āśābhaṅgaṃ na kurvanti bhaktasyāryāḥ kathañcana

You were pleased with me and gave me a boon, and afterwards you made it otherwise. The noble never in any way break the hope of one who is devoted to them.

Verse 10 (7.33.10)

ततोऽप्रीतस्तथोक्तः सन्भारद्वाजोऽब्रवीन्नृपम् । नार्हसे मां तथा ज्ञातुं घटमानं तव प्रिये ॥

tato'prītastathoktaḥ sanbhāradvājo'bravīnnṛpam | nārhase māṃ tathā jñātuṃ ghaṭamānaṃ tava priye

Displeased at being spoken to in this way, Bharadvaja's son said to the king: "You should not think of me so, when I am striving for what pleases you.

Note on the text: Line 1 is Sanjaya's narration; line 2 begins Drona's reply, which runs through verse 15.

Verse 11 (7.33.11)

ससुरासुरगन्धर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः । नालं लोका रणे जेतुं पाल्यमानं किरीटिना ॥

sasurāsuragandharvāḥ sayakṣoragarākṣasāḥ | nālaṃ lokā raṇe jetuṃ pālyamānaṃ kirīṭinā

The worlds, with their gods, asuras, gandharvas, yakshas, serpents and rakshasas, are not able to conquer in battle one who is guarded by the diadem-wearer (Arjuna).

Note on the text: Drona's speech has no printed heading from the middle of verse 10 to verse 15 and is given to him here.

Verse 12 (7.33.12)

विश्वसृग्यत्र गोविन्दः पृतनानीस्तथाऽर्जुनः । तत्र कस्य बलं क्रामेदन्यत्र त्र्यम्बकात्प्रभोः ॥

viśvasṛgyatra govindaḥ pṛtanānīstathā'rjunaḥ | tatra kasya balaṃ krāmedanyatra tryambakātprabhoḥ

Where Govinda, the maker of the universe, stands, and Arjuna, the leader of armies, whose strength could prevail there — save that of the lord Tryambaka (Shiva)?

Verse 13 (7.33.13)

सत्यं तात ब्रवीम्यद्य नैतज्जात्वन्यथा भवेत् । अद्यैकं प्रवरं कञ्चित्पातयिष्ये महारथम् ॥

satyaṃ tāta bravīmyadya naitajjātvanyathā bhavet | adyaikaṃ pravaraṃ kañcitpātayiṣye mahāratham

Dear son, I tell you the truth today, and it will never prove otherwise: today I shall bring down some one foremost great chariot-warrior of theirs.

Verse 14 (7.33.14)

चक्रव्यूहं विधास्यामि योऽभेद्यस्त्रिदशैरपि । योगेन केनचिद्राजन्नर्जुनस्त्वपनीयताम् ॥

cakravyūhaṃ vidhāsyāmi yo'bhedyastridaśairapi | yogena kenacidrājannarjunastvapanīyatām

I shall form an array, the wheel array, that not even the gods could pierce. But, O king, let Arjuna be drawn away by some means.

Note on the text: Corrected चक्रब्यूहं → चक्रव्यूहं (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व; the critical edition reads vyūhaṃ, and verse 19 spells it चक्रव्यूहम्).

Verse 15 (7.33.15)

न ह्यज्ञातमसाध्यं वा तस्य सङ्ख्येऽस्ति किञ्चन । तेन ह्युपात्तं सकलं सर्वज्ञानमितस्ततः ॥

na hyajñātamasādhyaṃ vā tasya saṅkhye'sti kiñcana | tena hyupāttaṃ sakalaṃ sarvajñānamitastataḥ

For in battle nothing is unknown to him, or beyond his power; he has gathered up the whole of all knowledge from here and there."

Verse 16 (7.33.16)

द्रोणेन व्याहृते त्वेवं संशप्तकगणाः पुनः । आह्वयन्नर्जुनं सङ्ख्ये दक्षिणामभितो दिशम् ॥

droṇena vyāhṛte tvevaṃ saṃśaptakagaṇāḥ punaḥ | āhvayannarjunaṃ saṅkhye dakṣiṇāmabhito diśam

When Drona had spoken thus, the bands of Samshaptakas again challenged Arjuna to battle, toward the southern quarter.

Verse 17 (7.33.17)

ततोऽर्जुनस्याथ परैः सार्धं समभवद्रणः । तादृशो यादृशो नान्यः श्रुतो दृष्टोऽपि वा क्वचित् ॥

tato'rjunasyātha paraiḥ sārdhaṃ samabhavadraṇaḥ | tādṛśo yādṛśo nānyaḥ śruto dṛṣṭo'pi vā kvacit

Then a battle took place between Arjuna and his enemies, the like of which has never been heard of or seen anywhere.

Note on the text: Corrected दृष्टोपि → दृष्टोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha). Line 1 reads ततोऽर्जुनस्य for the critical edition's tatrārjunasya (recension variant).

Verse 18 (7.33.18)

तत्र द्रोणेन विहितो व्यूहो राजन्व्यरोचत । चरन्मध्यन्दिने सूर्यः प्रतपन्निव दुर्दृशः ॥

tatra droṇena vihito vyūho rājanvyarocata | caranmadhyandine sūryaḥ pratapanniva durdṛśaḥ

There the array formed by Drona, O king, shone like the midday sun in its course, burning and hard to look at.

Verse 19 (7.33.19)

तं चाभिमन्युर्वचनात्पितुर्ज्येष्ठस्य भारत । बिभेद दुर्भिदं सङ्ख्ये चक्रव्यूहमनेकधा ॥

taṃ cābhimanyurvacanātpiturjyeṣṭhasya bhārata | bibheda durbhidaṃ saṅkhye cakravyūhamanekadhā

And Abhimanyu, at the word of his father's elder brother, O Bharata, broke that wheel array, so hard to break, in many places.

Verse 20 (7.33.20)

स कृत्वा दुष्करं कर्म हत्वा वीरान्सहस्रशः । राजपुत्रशतं हत्वा कौसल्यं च बृहद्बलम् ॥

sa kṛtvā duṣkaraṃ karma hatvā vīrānsahasraśaḥ | rājaputraśataṃ hatvā kausalyaṃ ca bṛhadbalam

Having done a deed hard to do, having slain heroes by the thousand, and a hundred princes, and Kausalya Brihadbala,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.32.19a; line 2 is its star passage 7.32.19b*0247_01, not in the constituted text. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (7.33.21)

महारथं शल्यपुत्रं पौत्रं ते लक्ष्मणं तथा । षट्सु वीरेषु संसक्तो दौःशासनिवशं गतः । सौभद्रः पृथिवीपाल जहौ प्राणान्परन्तप ॥

mahārathaṃ śalyaputraṃ pautraṃ te lakṣmaṇaṃ tathā | ṣaṭsu vīreṣu saṃsakto dauḥśāsanivaśaṃ gataḥ | saubhadraḥ pṛthivīpāla jahau prāṇānparantapa

the great chariot-warrior, Shalya's son, and your grandson Lakshmana too, he was engaged with six heroes and fell under the power of Duhshasana's son — Saubhadra gave up his life, O protector of the earth, O scourge of foes.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner after ट् in षट्‌सु (a wiki typesetting artefact). Three lines. Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.32.19b*0247_02, line 2 its 7.32.19c, and line 3 its star passage 7.32.19d*0249_01 (the star passages are not in the constituted text; *0248_01 is not on the page). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (7.33.22)

वयं परमसंहृष्टाः पाण्डवाः शोककर्शिताः । सौभद्रे निहते राजन्नवहारमकुर्महि ॥

vayaṃ paramasaṃhṛṣṭāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ śokakarśitāḥ | saubhadre nihate rājannavahāramakurmahi

We were overjoyed, while the Pandavas were worn with grief; when Saubhadra had been slain, O king, we withdrew from the battle.

Verse 23 (7.33.23)

समरोद्युक्तकर्माणः कर्मभिर्व्यञ्जितश्रमाः । सकृष्णाः पाण्डवाः पञ्च देवैरपि दुरासदाः ॥

samarodyuktakarmāṇaḥ karmabhirvyañjitaśramāḥ | sakṛṣṇāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ pañca devairapi durāsadāḥ

The five Pandavas with Krishna, whose deeds were bent on battle and who showed their toil by their actions, were hard to approach even for the gods.

Note on the text: The page prints a heading "जनमेजय उवाच" (opened with a backtick, its sign for an interpolated passage) before this verse, and the input had carried it into the verse text; it is made the speaker here and the heading line and backtick are removed. Verses 23–33 correspond to the critical edition's 7.33.1–11, which it places in the next adhyaya and gives to Sanjaya (7.33.1–10) and Dhritarashtra (7.33.11); the wording differs in places (recension variants).

Verse 24 (7.33.24)

शश्वत्कर्मान्वयैर्बुद्ध्या प्रकृत्या यशसा श्रिया । न भूतो भविता वापि कृष्णस्य सदृशः पुमान् ॥

śaśvatkarmānvayairbuddhyā prakṛtyā yaśasā śriyā | na bhūto bhavitā vāpi kṛṣṇasya sadṛśaḥ pumān

In ceaseless deeds, in lineage, in wisdom, in nature, in fame and in splendour, there has never been, nor will there be, a man equal to Krishna.

Verse 25 (7.33.25)

सत्यधर्मतपोदानैर्द्विजपूजादिभिर्गुणैः । सदेहस्त्रिदिवं प्राप्तो राजा किल युधिष्ठिरः ॥

satyadharmatapodānairdvijapūjādibhirguṇaiḥ | sadehastridivaṃ prāpto rājā kila yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

By truth, righteousness, austerity and giving, and by such virtues as honouring the brahmins, King Yudhishthira, it is said, reached heaven in his very body.

Verse 26 (7.33.26)

युगान्ते चान्तकश्चैव जामदग्न्यश्च कीर्तिमान् । रणस्थो भीमसेनश्च कथ्यन्ते सदृशास्त्रयः ॥

yugānte cāntakaścaiva jāmadagnyaśca kīrtimān | raṇastho bhīmasenaśca kathyante sadṛśāstrayaḥ

At the end of an age, Death (Antaka), the renowned son of Jamadagni (Parashurama), and Bhimasena in battle — these three are said to be alike.

Verse 27 (7.33.27)

प्रतिज्ञाकर्मदक्षस्य रणे गाण्डीवधन्वनः । उपमां नाधिगच्छामि पार्थस्य सदृशीं क्षितौ ॥

pratijñākarmadakṣasya raṇe gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ | upamāṃ nādhigacchāmi pārthasya sadṛśīṃ kṣitau

For Partha, the wielder of the Gandiva, so skilled in carrying out his vows in battle, I find no comparison on earth that matches him.

Verse 28 (7.33.28)

गुरुवात्सल्यमत्यन्तं नैभृत्यं विनयो दमः । नकुले त्वाभिरूप्यं च शौर्यं च नियतानि षट् ॥

guruvātsalyamatyantaṃ naibhṛtyaṃ vinayo damaḥ | nakule tvābhirūpyaṃ ca śauryaṃ ca niyatāni ṣaṭ

Deep devotion to elders, discretion, humility, self-control, comeliness and valour — these six dwell constantly in Nakula.

Verse 29 (7.33.29)

श्रुतमाधुर्यगाम्भीर्यसत्त्वरूपपराक्रमैः । सदृशो देवयोर्वीरः सहदेवः किलाश्विनोः ॥

śrutamādhuryagāmbhīryasattvarūpaparākramaiḥ | sadṛśo devayorvīraḥ sahadevaḥ kilāśvinoḥ

In learning, sweetness, gravity, inner strength, beauty and prowess, the hero Sahadeva is said to be a match for the two gods, the Ashvins.

Verse 30 (7.33.30)

ये च कृष्णे गुणाः स्फीताः पाण्डवेषु च ये गुणाः । अभिमन्यौ किलैकस्था दृश्यन्ते ते गुणाः शुभाः ॥

ye ca kṛṣṇe guṇāḥ sphītāḥ pāṇḍaveṣu ca ye guṇāḥ | abhimanyau kilaikasthā dṛśyante te guṇāḥ śubhāḥ

The abundant virtues that are in Krishna, and those that are in the Pandavas — all those fair virtues are seen gathered together in Abhimanyu alone.

Verse 31 (7.33.31)

युधिष्ठिरस्य शौर्येण कृष्णस्य चरितेन च । कर्मणा भीमसेनस्य सदृशं भीमकर्मणः ॥

yudhiṣṭhirasya śauryeṇa kṛṣṇasya caritena ca | karmaṇā bhīmasenasya sadṛśaṃ bhīmakarmaṇaḥ

In the valour of Yudhishthira, in the conduct of Krishna, and in the deeds of Bhimasena of fearful deeds, he is their equal.

Verse 32 (7.33.32)

धनञ्जयस्य रूपेण विक्रमेण शुभेन च । विनये सहदेवस्य सदृशं नकुलस्य च ॥

dhanañjayasya rūpeṇa vikrameṇa śubhena ca | vinaye sahadevasya sadṛśaṃ nakulasya ca

In beauty and in fair prowess he equals Dhananjaya, and in modesty he equals Sahadeva and Nakula.

Verse 33 (7.33.33)

अभिमन्युं द्विजश्रेष्ठ सौभद्रमपराजितम् । श्रोतुमिच्छामि कार्त्स्न्येन कथमायोधने हतः ॥

abhimanyuṃ dvijaśreṣṭha saubhadramaparājitam | śrotumicchāmi kārtsnyena kathamāyodhane hataḥ

O best of the twice-born, I wish to hear in full how Abhimanyu, Subhadra's son, the unconquered, was slain in the battle.

Note on the text: In the critical edition this is Dhritarashtra's question to Sanjaya (abhimanyum ahaṃ sūta …); the page, as in the vulgate, makes it Janamejaya's question to Vaishampayana.

Verse 34 (7.33.34)

अभिमन्युं हतं श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः । विस्तरेण महाराज पर्यपृच्छत्स सञ्जयम् ॥

abhimanyuṃ hataṃ śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭro janādhipaḥ | vistareṇa mahārāja paryapṛcchatsa sañjayam

Hearing that Abhimanyu had been slain, King Dhritarashtra, O great king, questioned Sanjaya about it at length.

Note on the text: Removed the stray closing quote mark (') printed after सञ्जयम्, which closes the page's interpolated passage. 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 7.33.11d*0251_01–02 (introduced by its heading "vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ", *0251_00), reading janeśvaraḥ for जनाधिपः in line 1.

Verse 35 (7.33.35)

पुत्रं पुरुषसिंहस्य सञ्जयाप्राप्तयौवनम् । रणे विनिहतं श्रुत्वा भृशं मे दीर्यते मनः ॥

putraṃ puruṣasiṃhasya sañjayāprāptayauvanam | raṇe vinihataṃ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ me dīryate manaḥ

Sanjaya, hearing that the son of that lion among men, not yet come to youth, has been slain in battle, my mind is rent to pieces.

Note on the text: Verses 35–38 are the critical edition's 7.32.21–24, which precede the Janamejaya passage there.

Verse 36 (7.33.36)

दारुणः क्षत्रधर्मोऽयं विहितो धर्मकर्तृभिः । यत्र राज्येप्सवः शूरा बाले शस्त्रमपातयन् ॥

dāruṇaḥ kṣatradharmo'yaṃ vihito dharmakartṛbhiḥ | yatra rājyepsavaḥ śūrā bāle śastramapātayan

Cruel is this warrior-law laid down by the makers of dharma, by which heroes who coveted a kingdom let their weapons fall upon a child.

Verse 37 (7.33.37)

बालमत्यन्तसुखिनं विचरन्तमभीतवत् । कृतास्त्रा बहवो जघ्नुर्ब्रूहि गावल्गणे कथम् ॥

bālamatyantasukhinaṃ vicarantamabhītavat | kṛtāstrā bahavo jaghnurbrūhi gāvalgaṇe katham

A boy who had known only comfort, moving about fearlessly — many skilled in arms killed him. Tell me, son of Gavalgana, how?

Verse 38 (7.33.38)

बिभित्सता रथानीकं सौभद्रेणामितौजसा । विक्रीडितं यथा सङ्ख्ये तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥

bibhitsatā rathānīkaṃ saubhadreṇāmitaujasā | vikrīḍitaṃ yathā saṅkhye tanmamācakṣva sañjaya

Tell me, Sanjaya, how Subhadra's son of boundless might, seeking to break the chariot-host, sported in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected बिबित्सता → बिभित्सता (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped aspirate; the critical edition reads bibhitsatā, and verse 40 has बिभित्सता).

Verse 39 (7.33.39)

यन्मां पृच्छसि राजेन्द्र सौभद्रस्य निपातनम् । तत्ते कार्त्स्न्येन वक्ष्यामि शृणु राजन्समाहितः ॥

yanmāṃ pṛcchasi rājendra saubhadrasya nipātanam | tatte kārtsnyena vakṣyāmi śṛṇu rājansamāhitaḥ

O king of kings, I shall tell you in full what you ask me, the felling of Saubhadra; listen, O king, with attention.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 7.32.25ac. The automatic alignment found no match (the critical edition's verse has a third line, 25e, which falls in the next verse here).

Verse 40 (7.33.40)

विक्रीडितं कुमारेण यथानीकं बिभित्सता । आरुग्णाश्च यथा वीरा दुःसाध्याश्चापि विप्लुवे ॥

vikrīḍitaṃ kumāreṇa yathānīkaṃ bibhitsatā | ārugṇāśca yathā vīrā duḥsādhyāścāpi vipluve

How the young prince, seeking to break the host, sported in it; and how, in the rout, the heroes, even those hard to subdue, were crushed:

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.32.25e; line 2 is its star passage 7.32.25f*0250_01, not in the constituted text. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 41 (7.33.41)

दावाग्न्यभिपरीतानां भूरिगुल्मतृणद्रुमे । वनौकसामिवारण्ये त्वदीयानामभूद्भयम् ॥

dāvāgnyabhiparītānāṃ bhūrigulmatṛṇadrume | vanaukasāmivāraṇye tvadīyānāmabhūdbhayam

fear came upon your men as upon forest-dwellers in a wood thick with bushes, grass and trees when they are encircled by a forest fire.