Yudhishthira Sends Abhimanyu Against Drona's Array

Verse 1 (7.35.1)

तदनीकमनाधृष्टं भारद्वाजेन रक्षितम् । पार्थाः समभ्यवर्तन्त भीमसेनपुरोगमाः ॥

tadanīkamanādhṛṣṭaṃ bhāradvājena rakṣitam | pārthāḥ samabhyavartanta bhīmasenapurogamāḥ

The Pandavas, with Bhimasena at their head, advanced against that host, which none could assail, guarded by the son of Bharadvaja.

Verse 2 (7.35.2)

सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । कुन्तिभोजश्च विक्रान्तो द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥

sātyakiścekitānaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ | kuntibhojaśca vikrānto drupadaśca mahārathaḥ

Satyaki and Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, the valiant Kuntibhoja, and the great warrior Drupada,

Verse 3 (7.35.3)

आर्जुनिः क्षत्रधर्मा च बृहत्क्षत्रश्च वीर्यवान् । चेदिपो धृष्टकेतुश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ घटोत्कचः ॥

ārjuniḥ kṣatradharmā ca bṛhatkṣatraśca vīryavān | cedipo dhṛṣṭaketuśca mādrīputrau ghaṭotkacaḥ

Arjuni, Kshatradharma, and the mighty Brihatkshatra, Dhrishtaketu the lord of the Chedis, the two sons of Madri, and Ghatotkacha,

Verse 4 (7.35.4)

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तः शिखण्डी चापराजितः । उत्तमौजाश्च दुर्धर्षो विराटश्च महारथः ॥

yudhāmanyuśca vikrāntaḥ śikhaṇḍī cāparājitaḥ | uttamaujāśca durdharṣo virāṭaśca mahārathaḥ

the valiant Yudhamanyu, the unconquered Shikhandi, the invincible Uttamauja, and the great warrior Virata,

Note on the text: Corrected उतक्तमौजाश्च → उत्तमौजाश्च (misprint in Wikisource; stray क्; the critical edition reads uttamaujāś ca).

Verse 5 (7.35.5)

द्रौपदेयाश्च संरब्धाः शैशुपालिश्च वीर्यवान् । केकयाश्च महावीर्याः सृञ्जयाश्च सहस्रशः ॥

draupadeyāśca saṃrabdhāḥ śaiśupāliśca vīryavān | kekayāśca mahāvīryāḥ sṛñjayāśca sahasraśaḥ

the sons of Draupadi, full of fury, the valiant son of Shishupala, the mighty Kekayas, and the Srinjayas in their thousands,

Verse 6 (7.35.6)

एते चान्ये च सगणाः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः । समभ्यधावन्सहसा भारद्वाजं युयुत्सवः ॥

ete cānye ca sagaṇāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ | samabhyadhāvansahasā bhāradvājaṃ yuyutsavaḥ

these and others, each with his troops, skilled in weapons and wild with the lust of battle, eager to fight, suddenly rushed upon the son of Bharadvaja.

Verse 7 (7.35.7)

समीपे वर्तमानांस्तान्भारद्वाजोऽतिवीर्यवान् । असम्भ्रान्तः शरौघेण महता समवारयत् ॥

samīpe vartamānāṃstānbhāradvājo'tivīryavān | asambhrāntaḥ śaraugheṇa mahatā samavārayat

As they pressed close, the exceedingly mighty son of Bharadvaja, unflustered, held them back with a great flood of arrows.

Note on the text: Wikisource's reading (समीपे वर्तमानांस्तान्भारद्वाजोऽतिवीर्यवान्) differs from the critical edition's 7.34.7a (samavetāṃs tu tān sarvān bhāradvājo 'pi vīryavān); kept as a recension variant.

Verse 8 (7.35.8)

महौघः सलिलस्येव गिरिमासाद्य दुर्भिदम् । द्रोणं ते नाभ्यवर्तन्त वेलामिव जलाशयाः ॥

mahaughaḥ salilasyeva girimāsādya durbhidam | droṇaṃ te nābhyavartanta velāmiva jalāśayāḥ

Like a great flood of water reaching a mountain that cannot be split, and like waters held back by the shore, they could not advance against Drona.

Verse 9 (7.35.9)

पीड्यमानाः शरै राजन्द्रोणचापविनिःसृतैः । न शेकुः प्रमुखे स्थातुं भारद्वाजस्य पाण्डवाः ॥

pīḍyamānāḥ śarai rājandroṇacāpaviniḥsṛtaiḥ | na śekuḥ pramukhe sthātuṃ bhāradvājasya pāṇḍavāḥ

Tormented, O king, by the arrows shot from Drona's bow, the Pandavas could not stand before the son of Bharadvaja.

Verse 10 (7.35.10)

तदद्भुतमपश्याम द्रोणस्य भुजयोर्बलम् । यदेनं नाभ्यवर्तन्त पाञ्चालाः सृञ्जयैः सह ॥

tadadbhutamapaśyāma droṇasya bhujayorbalam | yadenaṃ nābhyavartanta pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha

We saw that marvel of the strength of Drona's arms: the Panchalas and the Srinjayas together could not advance against him.

Verse 11 (7.35.11)

तमायान्तमभिक्रुद्धं द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः । बहुधा चिन्तयामास द्रोणस्य प्रतिवारणम् ॥

tamāyāntamabhikruddhaṃ droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | bahudhā cintayāmāsa droṇasya prativāraṇam

Seeing Drona coming on in great fury, Yudhishthira thought in many ways of how to hold him back.

Verse 12 (7.35.12)

अशक्यं तु तमन्येन द्रोणं मत्त्वा युधिष्ठिरः । अविषह्यं गुरुं भारं सौभद्रे समवासृजत् ॥

aśakyaṃ tu tamanyena droṇaṃ mattvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | aviṣahyaṃ guruṃ bhāraṃ saubhadre samavāsṛjat

Judging that no one else could stop Drona, Yudhishthira laid that heavy and unbearable burden on the son of Subhadra.

Note on the text: Corrected गुर → गुरुं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign and anusvara; the critical edition reads guruṃ bhāraṃ).

Verse 13 (7.35.13)

वासुदेवादनवरं फल्गुनाच्चामितौजसम् । अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नमभिमन्युमिदं वचः ॥

vāsudevādanavaraṃ phalgunāccāmitaujasam | abravītparavīraghnamabhimanyumidaṃ vacaḥ

To Abhimanyu, the slayer of enemy heroes, no less than Vasudeva and of boundless might like Phalguna, he spoke these words:

Verse 14 (7.35.14)

एत्य नो नार्जुनो गर्हेद्यथा तात तथा कुरु । द्रोणानीकस्य न वयं विद्मो भेदं कथञ्चन ॥

etya no nārjuno garhedyathā tāta tathā kuru | droṇānīkasya na vayaṃ vidmo bhedaṃ kathañcana

"Dear son, act so that Arjuna, when he comes back, will not blame us. We do not know in any way how to break Drona's array.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads द्रोणानीकस्य where the critical edition (7.34.14c) reads cakravyūhasya; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 15 (7.35.15)

त्वं वाऽर्जुनो वा कृष्णो वा भिन्द्यात्प्रद्युम्न एव वा । द्रोणानीकं महाबाहो पञ्चमो नोपपद्यते ॥

tvaṃ vā'rjuno vā kṛṣṇo vā bhindyātpradyumna eva vā | droṇānīkaṃ mahābāho pañcamo nopapadyate

You, or Arjuna, or Krishna, or Pradyumna could break Drona's host, O mighty-armed one; a fifth is not to be found.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads द्रोणानीकं … पञ्चमो नोपपद्यते where the critical edition (7.34.15cd) reads cakravyūhaṃ … pañcamo 'nyo na vidyate; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 16 (7.35.16)

अभिमन्यो वरं तात याचे त्वां दातुमर्हसि । पितॄणां मातुलानां च सैन्यानां चैव सर्वशः ॥

abhimanyo varaṃ tāta yāce tvāṃ dātumarhasi | pitṝṇāṃ mātulānāṃ ca sainyānāṃ caiva sarvaśaḥ

Abhimanyu, dear son, I ask a boon of you, and you ought to grant it, for your fathers, your maternal uncles, and all the armies.

Verse 17 (7.35.17)

धनञ्जयो हि नस्तात गर्हयेदेत्य संयुगात् । क्षिप्रमस्त्रं समादाय द्रोणानीकं विशातय ॥

dhanañjayo hi nastāta garhayedetya saṃyugāt | kṣipramastraṃ samādāya droṇānīkaṃ viśātaya

For Dhananjaya, dear son, will reproach us when he comes back from the battle. Take up your weapon quickly and shatter Drona's host."

Verse 18 (7.35.18)

द्रोणस्य दृढमत्युग्रमनीकप्रवरं युधि । पितॄणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नवगाहेऽविलम्बितम् ॥

droṇasya dṛḍhamatyugramanīkapravaraṃ yudhi | pitṝṇāṃ jayamākāṅkṣannavagāhe'vilambitam

"Longing for my fathers' victory, I shall plunge without delay into Drona's firm and most fearsome host, the foremost of armies in this battle.

Note on the text: Wikisource's reading differs from the critical edition's 7.34.18ab (droṇasya dṛḍham avyagram anīkapravaraṃ yudhi) and 18cd (… avagāhe bhinadmi ca); kept as a recension variant. The critical edition's star passage 7.34.18*0259_01–04 (four lines in which Abhimanyu says he heard of entering the wheel-array from Krishna while in the womb) is not on the page.

Verse 19 (7.35.19)

उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकविशातने । नोत्सहे हि विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्याञ्चिदापदि ॥

upadiṣṭo hi me pitrā yogo'nīkaviśātane | notsahe hi vinirgantumahaṃ kasyāñcidāpadi

My father taught me the method of breaking a host, but I am not able to come out of it again, should any danger arise."

Verse 20 (7.35.20)

भिन्ध्यनीकं युधां श्रेष्ठ द्वारं सञ्जनयस्व नः । वयं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामो येन त्वं तात यास्यसि ॥

bhindhyanīkaṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭha dvāraṃ sañjanayasva naḥ | vayaṃ tvā'nugamiṣyāmo yena tvaṃ tāta yāsyasi

"Break the host, best of warriors, and open a gateway for us. We shall follow you, dear son, by whatever way you go.

Note on the text: Corrected युधांश्चेष्ठ → युधां श्रेष्ठ (misprint in Wikisource; श्च for श्र and a lost space; the critical edition reads yudhā śreṣṭha).

Verse 21 (7.35.21)

धनञ्जयसमं युद्धे त्वां वयं तात संयुते । प्रणिधायानुयास्यामो रक्षन्तः सर्वतोमुखाः ॥

dhanañjayasamaṃ yuddhe tvāṃ vayaṃ tāta saṃyute | praṇidhāyānuyāsyāmo rakṣantaḥ sarvatomukhāḥ

Entering the clash, dear son, we shall follow you, regarding you as equal to Dhananjaya in battle and guarding you on every side."

Verse 22 (7.35.22)

अहं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामि धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः । पाञ्चालाः केकया मात्स्यास्तथा सर्वे प्रभद्रकाः ॥

ahaṃ tvā'nugamiṣyāmi dhṛṣṭadyumno'tha sātyakiḥ | pāñcālāḥ kekayā mātsyāstathā sarve prabhadrakāḥ

"I shall follow you, and so will Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki, the Panchalas, the Kekayas, the Matsyas, and all the Prabhadrakas.

Note on the text: Corrected पाञ्चलाः → पाञ्चालाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped long ā; the critical edition reads pāñcālāḥ).

Verse 23 (7.35.23)

सकृद्भिन्नं त्वया व्यूहं तत्र तत्र पुनः पुनः । वयं प्रध्वंसयिष्यामो निघ्नमाना वरान्वरान् ॥

sakṛdbhinnaṃ tvayā vyūhaṃ tatra tatra punaḥ punaḥ | vayaṃ pradhvaṃsayiṣyāmo nighnamānā varānvarān

Wherever you have once broken the array, there, again and again, we shall wreck it, striking down the best of the warriors."

Note on the text: Corrected निघ्नामाना → निघ्नमाना (misprint in Wikisource; stray long ā; the critical edition reads nighnamānā).

Verse 24 (7.35.24)

अहमेतत्प्रवेक्ष्यामि द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम् । पतङ्ग इव सङ्क्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥

ahametatpravekṣyāmi droṇānīkaṃ durāsadam | pataṅga iva saṅkruddho jvalitaṃ jātavedasam

"I shall enter this impenetrable host of Drona, as a moth, in a rage, enters a blazing fire.

Note on the text: The critical edition has its star passage 7.34.24*0260_01–08 (eight lines in which Abhimanyu speaks of his birth and of the insult to Draupadi) before this verse; it is not on the page.

Verse 25 (7.35.25)

तत्कर्माद्य करिष्यामि हितं यद्वंशयोर्द्वयोः । मातुलस्य च यत्प्रीतिं करिष्यति पितुश्च मे ॥

tatkarmādya kariṣyāmi hitaṃ yadvaṃśayordvayoḥ | mātulasya ca yatprītiṃ kariṣyati pituśca me

Today I shall do the deed that benefits both families and will please my maternal uncle and my father.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads मातुलस्य च यत्प्रीतिं करिष्यति where the critical edition (7.34.25cd) reads mātulasya ca yā prītir bhaviṣyati; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 26 (7.35.26)

शिशुनैकेन सङ्ग्रामे काल्यमानानि सङ्घशः । द्रक्ष्यन्ति सर्वभूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया ॥

śiśunaikena saṅgrāme kālyamānāni saṅghaśaḥ | drakṣyanti sarvabhūtāni dviṣatsainyāni vai mayā

Today all beings will see the enemy's armies driven before one boy alone in battle, in their throngs.

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्ग्रमे → सङ्ग्रामे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped long ā; the critical edition reads saṃgrāme). Line 2 reads differently from the critical edition's 7.34.26c (adya drakṣyanti bhūtāni dviṣatsainyāni vai mayā); kept as a recension variant.

Verse 27 (7.35.27)

नाहं पार्थेन जातः स्यां न च जातः सुभद्रया । यदि मे संयुगे कश्चिज्जीवितो नाद्य मुच्यते ॥

nāhaṃ pārthena jātaḥ syāṃ na ca jātaḥ subhadrayā | yadi me saṃyuge kaścijjīvito nādya mucyate

May I not be Partha's son, nor born of Subhadra, if any warrior I meet in battle today is let go alive.

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 7.34.26d*0262_01–02. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 28 (7.35.28)

यदि चैकरथेनाहं समग्रं क्षत्रमण्डलम् । न करोम्यष्टधा युद्धे न भवाम्यर्जुनात्मजः ॥

yadi caikarathenāhaṃ samagraṃ kṣatramaṇḍalam | na karomyaṣṭadhā yuddhe na bhavāmyarjunātmajaḥ

If, with a single chariot, I do not cut the entire circle of the kshatriyas into eight parts in battle, I shall not be Arjuna's son."

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 7.34.26d*0262_03–04. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 29 (7.35.29)

एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं सौभद्र वर्धताम् । यत्समुत्सहसे भेत्तुं द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम् ॥

evaṃ te bhāṣamāṇasya balaṃ saubhadra vardhatām | yatsamutsahase bhettuṃ droṇānīkaṃ durāsadam

"As you speak thus, son of Subhadra, may your strength grow, you who dare to break Drona's host, so hard to approach,

Note on the text: Line 2 reads यत्समुत्सहसे भेत्तुं द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम् where the critical edition (7.34.27cd) reads yas tvam utsahase bhettuṃ droṇānīkaṃ sudurbhidam; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 30 (7.35.30)

रक्षितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्महेष्वासैर्महाबलैः । साध्यरुद्रमरुत्तुल्यैर्वस्वग्न्यादित्यविक्रमैः ॥

rakṣitaṃ puruṣavyāghrairmaheṣvāsairmahābalaiḥ | sādhyarudramaruttulyairvasvagnyādityavikramaiḥ

guarded by tigers among men, great bowmen of great strength, who are equal to the Sadhyas, Rudras and Maruts and have the prowess of the Vasus, Agni and the Adityas."

Note on the text: Corrected महाबलै → महाबलैः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga). Line 1 reads महेष्वासैर्महाबलैः where the critical edition (7.34.28a) reads maheṣvāsaiḥ prahāribhiḥ; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 31 (7.35.31)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स यन्तारमचोदयत् ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sa yantāramacodayat

Hearing his words, he urged on his charioteer:

Note on the text: Verses 31 and 32 are the two lines of the critical edition's single verse 7.34.29 (tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā sa yantāram acodayat / sumitrāśvān raṇe kṣipraṃ droṇānīkāya codaya). The page prints each line as its own verse (5-35-31 and 5-35-32), so the division is kept; the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 32 (7.35.32)

सुमित्राश्वान्रणे क्षिप्रं द्रोणानीकाय चोदय ॥

sumitrāśvānraṇe kṣipraṃ droṇānīkāya codaya

"Sumitra, drive the horses quickly in the battle toward Drona's host!"

Note on the text: Second line of the critical edition's single verse 7.34.29 (see verse 31); the page prints it as a separate one-line verse (5-35-32). The automatic alignment found no match.