Dhritarashtra Grieves for Drona and Asks How He Fell

Verse 1 (7.9.1)

किं कुर्वाणं रणे द्रोणं जघ्नुः पाण्डवसृञ्जयाः । तथा निपुणमस्त्रेषु सर्वशस्त्रभृतामपि ॥

kiṃ kurvāṇaṃ raṇe droṇaṃ jaghnuḥ pāṇḍavasṛñjayāḥ | tathā nipuṇamastreṣu sarvaśastrabhṛtāmapi

What was Drona doing in the battle when the Pandavas and the Srinjayas killed him, so skilled in weapons, foremost among all who bear arms?

Note on the text: Corrected जघ्रुः → जघ्नुः (misprint in Wikisource; जघ्रु is not a verb form here, the critical edition reads jaghnuḥ, as in verse 39). This page (Wikisource adhyaya 9) corresponds to critical-edition adhyaya 7.8 (verses 7.8.1–39).

Verse 2 (7.9.2)

रथः पर्यपतद्वाऽस्य धनुर्वाऽशीर्यतास्यतः । प्रमत्तो वाऽभवद्द्रोणो यथा मृत्युमुपेयिवान् ॥

rathaḥ paryapatadvā'sya dhanurvā'śīryatāsyataḥ | pramatto vā'bhavaddroṇo yathā mṛtyumupeyivān

Did his chariot give way, or did his bow shatter as he shot, or did Drona grow careless, so that he met his death?

Note on the text: Corrected वाऽभवद्दोणो → वाऽभवद्द्रोणो (misprint in Wikisource; the र of द्रो is dropped). Line 1 differs from the critical edition's 7.8.2ab (rathabhaṅgo babhūvāsya); line 2 reads यथा for tato (vulgate reading).

Verse 3 (7.9.3)

कथं नु पार्षतस्तात शत्रुभिर्दुष्प्रधर्षणम् । किरन्तमिषुसङ्घातान्रुक्मपुङ्खाननेकशः ॥

kathaṃ nu pārṣatastāta śatrubhirduṣpradharṣaṇam | kirantamiṣusaṅghātānrukmapuṅkhānanekaśaḥ

How, dear Sanjaya, could Prishata's son have overcome him whom enemies could not assail, who scattered volleys of gold-feathered arrows again and again,

Verse 4 (7.9.4)

क्षिप्रहस्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं कृतिनं चित्रयोधिनम् । दूरेषुपातिनं दान्तमस्त्रयुद्धेषु पारगम् ॥

kṣiprahastaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ kṛtinaṃ citrayodhinam | dūreṣupātinaṃ dāntamastrayuddheṣu pāragam

that swift-handed best of the twice-born, so accomplished, a wonderful fighter, who shot his arrows far, self-controlled, a master of fighting with missile weapons?

Verse 5 (7.9.5)

पाञ्चालपुत्रो न्यवधीद्दिव्यास्त्रधरमच्युतम् । कुर्वाणं दारुणं कर्म रणे यत्तं महारथम् ॥

pāñcālaputro nyavadhīddivyāstradharamacyutam | kurvāṇaṃ dāruṇaṃ karma raṇe yattaṃ mahāratham

The Panchala's son slew that unfallen master of divine weapons, a great warrior who was intent on his terrible work in battle.

Note on the text: Line 1 differs from the critical edition's 7.8.5ab (vulgate reading न्यवधीद्दिव्यास्त्रधरम् against nyavadhīd diṣṭyā sa varam).

Verse 6 (7.9.6)

व्यक्तं हि दैवं बलवत्पौरुषादिति मे मतिः । यद्द्रोणो निहतः शूरः पार्षतेन महात्मना ॥

vyaktaṃ hi daivaṃ balavatpauruṣāditi me matiḥ | yaddroṇo nihataḥ śūraḥ pārṣatena mahātmanā

It is plain to me that fate is stronger than human effort, since brave Drona was killed by the great-souled son of Prishata.

Verse 7 (7.9.7)

अस्त्रं चतुर्विधं वीरे यस्मिन्नासीत्प्रतिष्ठितम् । तमिष्वस्त्रधराचार्यं द्रोणं शंससि मे हतम् ॥

astraṃ caturvidhaṃ vīre yasminnāsītpratiṣṭhitam | tamiṣvastradharācāryaṃ droṇaṃ śaṃsasi me hatam

In that hero the four kinds of weapons stood firmly established. You tell me that Drona, the teacher of all who wield bow and missile, has been slain.

Verse 8 (7.9.8)

श्रुत्वा हतं रुक्मरथं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम् । जातरूपपरिष्कारं नाद्य शोकमपानुदे ॥

śrutvā hataṃ rukmarathaṃ vaiyāghraparivāraṇam | jātarūpapariṣkāraṃ nādya śokamapānude

Having heard that he is dead, whose chariot was golden, covered with tiger-skins and fitted with gold, I cannot cast off my grief even now.

Verse 9 (7.9.9)

न नूनं परदुःखेन म्रियते कोऽपि सञ्जय । यत्र द्रोणमहं श्रुत्वा हतं जीवामि मन्दधीः । दैवमेव परं मन्ये नन्वनर्थं हि पौरुषम् ॥

na nūnaṃ paraduḥkhena mriyate ko'pi sañjaya | yatra droṇamahaṃ śrutvā hataṃ jīvāmi mandadhīḥ | daivameva paraṃ manye nanvanarthaṃ hi pauruṣam

Surely no one dies of another's sorrow, Sanjaya, for I, dull-witted, live on after hearing that Drona is slain. I think fate alone is supreme, and human effort is indeed worthless.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 7.8.9 (line 2 reads मन्दधीः for na mriye); line 3 is its star passage 7.8.9d*0053_01 (the star passage's second line, *0053_02, is not on the page).

Verse 10 (7.9.10)

अश्मसारमयं नूनं हृदयं सुदृढं मम । यच्छ्रुत्वा निहतं द्रोणं शतधा न विदीर्यते ॥

aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ sudṛḍhaṃ mama | yacchrutvā nihataṃ droṇaṃ śatadhā na vidīryate

My heart must be made of solid stone, very hard, since it does not split into a hundred pieces on hearing that Drona is dead.

Note on the text: Corrected नूर्न → नूनं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads nūnaṃ).

Verse 11 (7.9.11)

ब्राह्मे दैवे तथेष्वस्त्रे यमुपासन्गुणार्थिनः । ब्राह्मणा राजपुत्राश्च स कथं मृत्युना हृतः ॥

brāhme daive tatheṣvastre yamupāsanguṇārthinaḥ | brāhmaṇā rājaputrāśca sa kathaṃ mṛtyunā hṛtaḥ

He whom Brahmins and princes, seeking excellence, attended for sacred lore, divine weapons and the use of the bow — how was he carried off by death?

Note on the text: Line 1 reads दैवे for the critical edition's vede (7.8.11a), a recension variant.

Verse 12 (7.9.12)

शोषणं सागरस्येव मेरोरिव विसर्पणम् । पतनं भास्करस्येव न मृष्ये द्रोणपातनम् ॥

śoṣaṇaṃ sāgarasyeva meroriva visarpaṇam | patanaṃ bhāskarasyeva na mṛṣye droṇapātanam

The drying up of the ocean, Meru's moving from its place, the sun's falling from the sky — I cannot bear the fall of Drona, which is like these.

Verse 13 (7.9.13)

दुष्टानां प्रतिषेद्धासीद्धार्मिकाणां च रक्षिता । योऽहासीत्कृपणस्यार्थे प्राणानपि परन्तपः ॥

duṣṭānāṃ pratiṣeddhāsīddhārmikāṇāṃ ca rakṣitā | yo'hāsītkṛpaṇasyārthe prāṇānapi parantapaḥ

He was the restrainer of the wicked and the protector of the righteous; that scorcher of foes gave up even his life for the sake of a wretched man.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads दुष्टानां for the critical edition's dṛptānām and line 2 योऽहासीत् for yo 'tyākṣīt (recension variants).

Verse 14 (7.9.14)

मन्दानां मम पुत्राणां जयाशा यस्य विक्रमे । बृहस्पत्युशनस्तुल्यो बुद्ध्या स निहतः कथम् ॥

mandānāṃ mama putrāṇāṃ jayāśā yasya vikrame | bṛhaspatyuśanastulyo buddhyā sa nihataḥ katham

My foolish sons placed their hope of victory in his prowess; he who equalled Brihaspati and Ushanas in understanding — how was he slain?

Verse 15 (7.9.15)

गुणानां सर्वयोधानां स्थितिरासीन्महाद्युतिः । यं मृत्युर्वशगस्तिष्ठेत्स कथं मृत्युना हतः ॥

guṇānāṃ sarvayodhānāṃ sthitirāsīnmahādyutiḥ | yaṃ mṛtyurvaśagastiṣṭhetsa kathaṃ mṛtyunā hataḥ

He was the abode of the virtues of all warriors, of great radiance — he over whom Death himself would have stood subject to his will: how was he killed by death?

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 7.8.14d*0054_01–02. Removed stray quote marks (` and ') printed around the verse.

Verse 16 (7.9.16)

ते च शोणा बृहन्तोऽश्वाश्छन्ना जालैर्हिरण्मयैः । रथे वातजवा युक्ताः सर्वशस्त्रातिगा रणे ॥

te ca śoṇā bṛhanto'śvāśchannā jālairhiraṇmayaiḥ | rathe vātajavā yuktāḥ sarvaśastrātigā raṇe

And those tall tawny horses, covered with nets of gold, yoked to the chariot, swift as the wind, proof against every weapon in battle,

Note on the text: Differs from the critical edition's 7.8.15 (शोणा बृहन्तोऽश्वाः … जालैर्हिरण्मयैः for śoṇā bṛhanto 'śvāḥ saindhavā hemamālinaḥ; सर्वशस्त्रातिगा for sarvaśabdātigā), a recension variant.

Verse 17 (7.9.17)

बलिनो हेषिणो दान्ताः सैन्धवाः साधुवाहिनः । दृढाः सङ्ग्राममध्येषु कच्चिदासन्न विह्वलाः ॥

balino heṣiṇo dāntāḥ saindhavāḥ sādhuvāhinaḥ | dṛḍhāḥ saṅgrāmamadhyeṣu kaccidāsanna vihvalāḥ

strong, neighing, well trained, horses of Sindh, good at drawing the car, steady in the midst of battle — surely they did not falter?

Verse 18 (7.9.18)

करिणां बृंहतां युद्धे शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनैः । ज्याक्षेपशरवर्षाणां शस्त्राणां च सहिष्णवः ॥

kariṇāṃ bṛṃhatāṃ yuddhe śaṅkhadundubhiniḥsvanaiḥ | jyākṣepaśaravarṣāṇāṃ śastrāṇāṃ ca sahiṣṇavaḥ

able to bear the trumpeting of elephants in battle, the noise of conches and drums, the twang of bowstrings, and showers of arrows and weapons —

Verse 19 (7.9.19)

आशंसन्तः पराञ्जेतुं जितश्वासा जितव्यथाः । हयाः पराजिताः शीघ्रा भारद्वाजरथोद्वहाः ॥

āśaṃsantaḥ parāñjetuṃ jitaśvāsā jitavyathāḥ | hayāḥ parājitāḥ śīghrā bhāradvājarathodvahāḥ

those swift horses that drew Bharadvaja's chariot, eager to conquer the enemy, their breath and weariness under control, were defeated.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads पराजिताः for the critical edition's prajavitāḥ (recension variant).

Verse 20 (7.9.20)

ते स्म रुक्मरथे युक्ता नरवीरसमास्थिताः । कथं नाभ्यतरंस्तात पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् ॥

te sma rukmarathe yuktā naravīrasamāsthitāḥ | kathaṃ nābhyataraṃstāta pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm

Yoked to the golden chariot with a hero mounted on it, how did they fail to cross over the army of the Pandavas, my son?

Verse 21 (7.9.21)

जातरूपपरिष्कारमास्थाय रथमुत्तमम् । भारद्वाजः किमकरोद्युधि सत्यपराक्रमः ॥

jātarūpapariṣkāramāsthāya rathamuttamam | bhāradvājaḥ kimakarodyudhi satyaparākramaḥ

Mounting that excellent chariot with its golden fittings, what did Bharadvaja, true in his valour, do in the battle?

Note on the text: Corrected परिष्करामास्थाय → परिष्कारमास्थाय (misprint in Wikisource; the ा is misplaced, the critical edition reads pariṣkāram āsthāya). Line 2 reads सत्यपराक्रमः for the critical edition's śūraḥ saṃkrandano (recension variant).

Verse 22 (7.9.22)

विद्यां यस्योपजीवन्ति सर्वलोकधनुर्धराः । स सत्यसन्धो बलवान्द्रोणः किमकरोद्युधि ॥

vidyāṃ yasyopajīvanti sarvalokadhanurdharāḥ | sa satyasandho balavāndroṇaḥ kimakarodyudhi

What did Drona do in the battle — he on whose learning all the archers of the world live, that mighty man true to his word?

Verse 23 (7.9.23)

दिवि शक्रमिव श्रेष्ठं महामात्रं धनुर्भृताम् । के नु तं रौद्रकर्माणं युद्धे प्रत्युद्ययू रथाः ॥

divi śakramiva śreṣṭhaṃ mahāmātraṃ dhanurbhṛtām | ke nu taṃ raudrakarmāṇaṃ yuddhe pratyudyayū rathāḥ

Which chariot-warriors went out in battle against him of terrible deeds, the chief of bowmen, as excellent among them as Shakra in heaven?

Verse 24 (7.9.24)

ननु रुक्मरथं दृष्ट्वा प्राद्रवन्ति स्म पाण्डवाः । दिव्यमस्त्रं विकुर्वाणं रणे तस्मिन्महाबलम् ॥

nanu rukmarathaṃ dṛṣṭvā prādravanti sma pāṇḍavāḥ | divyamastraṃ vikurvāṇaṃ raṇe tasminmahābalam

Surely the Pandavas fled when they saw the golden chariot, as that mighty man displayed his divine weapon in the battle?

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from the critical edition's 7.8.23cd (रणे तस्मिन्महाबलम् for senāṃ kṣiṇvantam avyayam), a recension variant.

Verse 25 (7.9.25)

उताहो सर्वसैन्येन धर्मराजः सहानुजः । पाञ्चालप्रग्रहो द्रोणं सर्वतः समवारयत् ॥

utāho sarvasainyena dharmarājaḥ sahānujaḥ | pāñcālapragraho droṇaṃ sarvataḥ samavārayat

Or did the king of righteousness with his younger brothers and his whole army, with the Panchalas as his reins, surround Drona on every side?

Verse 26 (7.9.26)

नूनमावारयत्पार्थो रथिनोऽन्यानजिह्मगैः । ततो द्रोणं समहरत्पार्षतः पापकर्मकृत् ॥

nūnamāvārayatpārtho rathino'nyānajihmagaiḥ | tato droṇaṃ samaharatpārṣataḥ pāpakarmakṛt

Surely Partha held back the other chariot-warriors with his straight-flying arrows, and then wicked Parshata took Drona's life.

Verse 27 (7.9.27)

नह्यहं परिपश्यामि वधे कञ्चन शुष्मिणः । धृष्टद्युम्नादृते रौद्रात्पाल्यमानात्किरीटिना ॥

nahyahaṃ paripaśyāmi vadhe kañcana śuṣmiṇaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnādṛte raudrātpālyamānātkirīṭinā

For I see no one else who could bring about the death of that mighty man, except fierce Dhrishtadyumna, guarded by Kiritin.

Verse 28 (7.9.28)

उताहो सर्वसैन्येन धर्मराजः सहानुजः । उत्सृज्य सर्वसैन्यानि द्रोणं तमभिदुद्रुवे ॥

utāho sarvasainyena dharmarājaḥ sahānujaḥ | utsṛjya sarvasainyāni droṇaṃ tamabhidudruve

Or did the king of righteousness with his younger brothers and his whole army, leaving aside all the other troops, rush upon Drona?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension). Line 1 repeats line 1 of verse 25, as printed; line 2 is the critical edition's star passage 7.8.26d*0056_01. Removed stray quote marks (` and ') printed around the verse.

Verse 29 (7.9.29)

तैर्वृतः सर्वतः क्षुद्रैः पाञ्चालापशदैस्ततः । केकयैश्चेदिकारूशैर्मत्स्यैरन्यैश्च भूमिपैः ॥

tairvṛtaḥ sarvataḥ kṣudraiḥ pāñcālāpaśadaistataḥ | kekayaiścedikārūśairmatsyairanyaiśca bhūmipaiḥ

Then, surrounded on every side by those petty men, the base Panchalas, and by the Kekayas, Chedis, Karushas, Matsyas and other kings,

Note on the text: Line 1 reads क्षुद्रैः पाञ्चालापशदैः for the critical edition's śūraiḥ pāñcālyāpasadaiḥ (recension variant).

Verse 30 (7.9.30)

व्याकुलीकृतमाचार्यं पिपीलैरुरगं यथा । कर्मण्यसुकरे सक्तं जघानेति मतिर्मम ॥

vyākulīkṛtamācāryaṃ pipīlairuragaṃ yathā | karmaṇyasukare saktaṃ jaghāneti matirmama

the teacher, harassed like a snake by ants and absorbed in a task not easy to do, was slain — so I think.

Verse 31 (7.9.31)

योऽधीत्य चतुरो वेदान्साङ्गानाख्यानपञ्चमान् । ब्राह्मणानां प्रतिष्ठासीत्स्रोतसामिव सागरः ॥

yo'dhītya caturo vedānsāṅgānākhyānapañcamān | brāhmaṇānāṃ pratiṣṭhāsītsrotasāmiva sāgaraḥ

He who had studied the four Vedas with their limbs, with the histories as the fifth, and who was the refuge of Brahmins as the ocean is of rivers,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 7.8.29ab and 29cd (साङ्गान् for sarvān in line 1).

Verse 32 (7.9.32)

क्षत्रं च ब्रह्म चैवेह योऽभ्यतिष्ठत्परन्तपः । दृप्तानां प्रतिषेद्धा च चक्षुरासीदचक्षुषाम् ॥

kṣatraṃ ca brahma caiveha yo'bhyatiṣṭhatparantapaḥ | dṛptānāṃ pratiṣeddhā ca cakṣurāsīdacakṣuṣām

who stood firm in both priestly and warrior power, scorcher of foes, who restrained the proud and was an eye to those without eyes,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.8.29d*0057_01 and line 2 its star passage 7.8.29d*0058_01. Removed a stray opening quote mark (`) printed before line 2.

Verse 33 (7.9.33)

अमर्षी चावलिप्तेषु धार्मिकेषु च धार्मिकः । स कथं ब्राह्मणो वृद्धः शस्त्रेण वधमाप्तवान् ॥

amarṣī cāvalipteṣu dhārmikeṣu ca dhārmikaḥ | sa kathaṃ brāhmaṇo vṛddhaḥ śastreṇa vadhamāptavān

who was intolerant of the insolent and righteous towards the righteous — how did that aged Brahmin meet his death by a weapon?

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.8.29d*0058_02; line 2 is its 7.8.29e. Removed a stray closing quote mark (') printed after line 1.

Verse 34 (7.9.34)

अमर्षिणा मर्षितवान्क्लिश्यमानान्सदा मया । अनर्हमाणान्कौन्तेयान्कर्मणस्तस्य तत्फलम् ॥

amarṣiṇā marṣitavānkliśyamānānsadā mayā | anarhamāṇānkaunteyānkarmaṇastasya tatphalam

Impatient of wrong though he was, he put up with my constantly tormenting the sons of Kunti, who did not deserve it. That is the fruit of that deed.

Note on the text: Differs from the critical edition's 7.8.30 (अमर्षिणा मर्षितवान्क्लिश्यमानान् … अनर्हमाणान्कौन्तेयान् for amarṣaṇo marṣitavān kliśyamānaḥ … anarhamāṇaḥ kaunteyaḥ), a recension variant.

Verse 35 (7.9.35)

यस्य कर्मानुजीवन्ति लोके सर्वधनुर्भृतः । स सत्यसन्धः सुकृती श्रीकामैर्निहतः कथम् ॥

yasya karmānujīvanti loke sarvadhanurbhṛtaḥ | sa satyasandhaḥ sukṛtī śrīkāmairnihataḥ katham

He on whose craft all the bowmen in the world live, that truthful and accomplished man — how was he killed by men eager for prosperity?

Verse 36 (7.9.36)

दिवि शक्र इव श्रेष्ठो महासत्वो महाबलः । स कथं निहतः पार्थैः क्षुद्रमत्स्यैर्यथा तिमिः ॥

divi śakra iva śreṣṭho mahāsatvo mahābalaḥ | sa kathaṃ nihataḥ pārthaiḥ kṣudramatsyairyathā timiḥ

Excellent as Shakra in heaven, of great strength and great might — how was he killed by the sons of Pritha, as a huge sea-monster is killed by tiny fish?

Verse 37 (7.9.37)

क्षिप्रहस्तश्च बलवान्दृढधन्वारिमर्दनः । न यस्य विजयाकाङ्क्षी विषयं प्राप्य जीवति ॥

kṣiprahastaśca balavāndṛḍhadhanvārimardanaḥ | na yasya vijayākāṅkṣī viṣayaṃ prāpya jīvati

Swift-handed, strong, with a firm bow, a crusher of foes — no one who seeks victory comes within his reach and lives.

Note on the text: Corrected दृढघन्वा → दृढधन्वा (misprint in Wikisource; घ for ध, the critical edition reads dṛḍhadhanvā). Line 2 reads विजयाकाङ्क्षी for the critical edition's jīvitākāṅkṣī (recension variant).

Verse 38 (7.9.38)

यं द्वौ न जहतः शब्दौ जीवमानं कदाचन । ब्राह्मश्च वेदकामानां ज्याघोषश्च धनुष्मताम् ॥

yaṃ dvau na jahataḥ śabdau jīvamānaṃ kadācana | brāhmaśca vedakāmānāṃ jyāghoṣaśca dhanuṣmatām

Two sounds never left him so long as he lived: the Vedic chanting of those who long for the Veda, and the bowstring's twang of archers.

Verse 39 (7.9.39)

अदीनं पुरुषव्याघ्रं हीमन्तमपराजितम् । तमिष्वासवराचार्यं द्रोणं जघ्नुः कथं रथाः ॥

adīnaṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ hīmantamaparājitam | tamiṣvāsavarācāryaṃ droṇaṃ jaghnuḥ kathaṃ rathāḥ

Undaunted, a tiger among men, modest, unconquered — how did chariot-warriors kill that Drona, the teacher and best of archers?

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.8.34d*0060_01; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found only in the vulgate recension). Corrected तमिष्वासवराचार्ये → तमिष्वासवराचार्यं (misprint in Wikisource; the accusative ending is needed to agree with द्रोणं, as in verse 7).

Verse 40 (7.9.40)

नाहं मन्ये हतं द्रोणं स हि लोकमयोत्स्यत । को हि शक्तो रणे जेतुमनाधृष्ययशोबलम् ॥

nāhaṃ manye hataṃ droṇaṃ sa hi lokamayotsyata | ko hi śakto raṇe jetumanādhṛṣyayaśobalam

I do not believe that Drona is dead, for he would have fought the world. Who is able to conquer in battle one whose fame and strength are beyond assault?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension). Line 1 is the vulgate's counterpart of 7.8.35a (nāhaṃ mṛṣye hataṃ droṇam…); line 2 is not in the critical edition. Removed a stray opening quote mark (`).

Verse 41 (7.9.41)

ब्रह्मकल्पो भवेद्ब्राह्मे क्षात्रे नारायणोपमः । ब्रह्मक्षत्रे च यस्यास्तां वशे स्थाणोरिवाखिले ॥

brahmakalpo bhavedbrāhme kṣātre nārāyaṇopamaḥ | brahmakṣatre ca yasyāstāṃ vaśe sthāṇorivākhile

He was a Brahma in sacred knowledge and a Narayana in the warrior's craft, and both priestly and warrior power were in his hand, as the whole world is in Sthanu's.

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 7.8.35d*0062_01–02.

Verse 42 (7.9.42)

सर्वान्हि मामकान्वीरान्सहाश्वरथकुञ्जरान् । युधिष्ठिरस्य तपसा हतान्मन्यामहे कुरून् ॥

sarvānhi māmakānvīrānsahāśvarathakuñjarān | yudhiṣṭhirasya tapasā hatānmanyāmahe kurūn

I think all my heroes, the Kurus with their horses, chariots and elephants, have been struck down by the austerity of Yudhishthira.

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 7.8.35d*0062_03–04. Removed a stray closing quote mark (').

Verse 43 (7.9.43)

कथं सञ्जय दुर्धर्षमनाधृष्ययशोबलम् । पश्यतां पुरुषेन्द्राणां समरे पार्षतोऽवधीत् ॥

kathaṃ sañjaya durdharṣamanādhṛṣyayaśobalam | paśyatāṃ puruṣendrāṇāṃ samare pārṣato'vadhīt

How, Sanjaya, did Parshata kill him in battle, he whose fame and strength none could challenge, while the foremost of men looked on?

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 7.8.35c; line 2 is its star passage 7.8.35b*0061_01.

Verse 44 (7.9.44)

के पुरस्तादयुध्यन्त रक्षन्तो द्रोणमन्तिकात् । के नु पश्चादवर्तन्त गच्छतो दुर्गमां गतिम् ॥

ke purastādayudhyanta rakṣanto droṇamantikāt | ke nu paścādavartanta gacchato durgamāṃ gatim

Who fought in front, guarding Drona close at hand? And who followed behind as he went on his hard road?

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 7.8.35b*0061_02–03.

Verse 45 (7.9.45)

केऽरक्षन्दक्षिणं चक्रं सव्यं के च महात्मनः । पुरस्तात्के च वीरस्य युध्यमानस्य संयुगे ॥

ke'rakṣandakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ savyaṃ ke ca mahātmanaḥ | purastātke ca vīrasya yudhyamānasya saṃyuge

Who guarded the right wheel and who the left of the great-souled one? And who stood in front of the hero as he fought in the battle?

Verse 46 (7.9.46)

के च तस्मिंस्तनूस्त्यक्त्वा प्रतीपं मृत्युमाव्रजन् । द्रोणस्य समरे वीराः केऽकुर्वन्त परां धृतिम् ॥

ke ca tasmiṃstanūstyaktvā pratīpaṃ mṛtyumāvrajan | droṇasya samare vīrāḥ ke'kurvanta parāṃ dhṛtim

And who there gave up their bodies and went to meet death face to face? Which heroes showed the greatest firmness for Drona in the battle?

Verse 47 (7.9.47)

कच्चिन्नैनं भयान्मन्दाः क्षत्रिया व्यजहन्रणे । रक्षितारस्ततः शून्ये कच्चित्तैर्न हतः परैः ॥

kaccinnainaṃ bhayānmandāḥ kṣatriyā vyajahanraṇe | rakṣitārastataḥ śūnye kaccittairna hataḥ paraiḥ

Surely the faint-hearted kshatriyas did not abandon him in battle out of fear? And surely, with his protectors gone and the place left empty, he was not killed by the enemy?

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 7.8.37d*0063_01–02 (line 2 reads कच्चित्तैर्न हतः परैः for kaccin naiko hataḥ paraiḥ).

Verse 48 (7.9.48)

न स पृष्ठमरेस्त्रासाद्रणे शौर्यात्प्रदर्शयेत् । परामप्यापदं प्राप्य स कथं निहतः परैः ॥

na sa pṛṣṭhamarestrāsādraṇe śauryātpradarśayet | parāmapyāpadaṃ prāpya sa kathaṃ nihataḥ paraiḥ

Out of courage he would never show his back to an enemy in fear in battle. Having met even the worst calamity, how was he killed by the foe?

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 7.8.37d*0063_03–04.

Verse 49 (7.9.49)

एतदार्येण कर्तव्यं कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु सञ्जय । पराक्रमेद्यथा शक्त्या तच्च तस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम् । यो यथाशक्ति युद्ध्येत द्विषद्भिःस्वांश्च पालयन् ॥

etadāryeṇa kartavyaṃ kṛcchrāsvāpatsu sañjaya | parākramedyathā śaktyā tacca tasminpratiṣṭhitam | yo yathāśakti yuddhyeta dviṣadbhiḥsvāṃśca pālayan

This is what a noble man must do in hard calamities, Sanjaya: strive as far as his strength allows, and that was fixed in him. One who fights as far as he can, protecting his own men against the enemy —

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 7.8.38 (पराक्रमेद्यथा शक्त्या with the vulgate's word order); line 3 is not in the critical edition (found only in the vulgate recension). Removed a stray opening quote mark (`) before line 3.

Verse 50 (7.9.50)

कच्चिन्नैनं भयात्क्षुद्राः पार्थेभ्यः प्रददू रणे । गोप्तृभिस्तैः समुत्सृष्टः कच्चिन्नैष परैर्हतः ॥

kaccinnainaṃ bhayātkṣudrāḥ pārthebhyaḥ pradadū raṇe | goptṛbhistaiḥ samutsṛṣṭaḥ kaccinnaiṣa parairhataḥ

Surely the base men did not hand him over to the sons of Pritha in battle out of fear? Surely, abandoned by his protectors, he was not killed by the enemy?

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 7.8.38d*0065_01–02.

Verse 51 (7.9.51)

धृष्टद्युम्नं प्रपश्यामि निघ्नन्तमिव ब्राह्मणम् । वार्यमाणं रणे तात द्रौणिनाऽमिततेजसा ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ prapaśyāmi nighnantamiva brāhmaṇam | vāryamāṇaṃ raṇe tāta drauṇinā'mitatejasā

I see Dhrishtadyumna as though slaying a Brahmin, though held back in the battle, my son, by Drona's son of boundless energy.

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 7.8.38d*0065_03–04. Removed a stray closing quote mark (').

Verse 52 (7.9.52)

मुह्यते मे मनस्तात कथा तावन्निवार्यताम् । भूयस्तु लब्धसंज्ञस्त्वां परिपृच्छामि सञ्जय ॥

muhyate me manastāta kathā tāvannivāryatām | bhūyastu labdhasaṃjñastvāṃ paripṛcchāmi sañjaya

My mind is reeling, dear one; let the telling be set aside for now. When I have regained my senses I shall question you again, Sanjaya.

Note on the text: The critical edition's star passage 7.8.39b*0066_01 is not on the page and was not added.