Arjuna Rescues Dhrishtadyumna from Ashvatthama

Verse 1 (8.58.1)

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धृष्टद्युम्नः प्रतापवान् । आशिषं तां प्रवक्तव्यां मामको दास्यते तव ॥

evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān | āśiṣaṃ tāṃ pravaktavyāṃ māmako dāsyate tava

Thus addressed, the glorious Dhrishtadyumna replied: "My sword will give you that blessing which must be spoken,

Note on the text: Line 1 is 8.42.26a; line 2 is a recension variant of 8.42.26c (CE: prativākyaṃ sa evāsir māmako dāsyate tava). Line 2 is already Dhrishtadyumna's speech; the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 2 (8.58.2)

येनैव ते पितुर्दत्ता यतमानस्य संयुगे । एष ते प्रतिवाक्यं वै असिर्दास्यति मामकः । येन कृत्तं तव पितुर्यतमानस्य तच्छिरः ॥

yenaiva te piturdattā yatamānasya saṃyuge | eṣa te prativākyaṃ vai asirdāsyati māmakaḥ | yena kṛttaṃ tava pituryatamānasya tacchiraḥ

the very one that was given to your father as he strove in battle. This sword of mine will give you your reply — the sword that cut off your father's head as he strove."

Note on the text: Line 1 is 8.42.26e (CE: yenaiva te pitur dattaṃ yatamānasya saṃyuge); lines 2-3 are variants of star passage 8.42.26f*0549_01-02 (eṣa te prativākyaṃ vai asir dāsyati māmakaḥ / yena kṛttaṃ tava pitur yatamānasya tac chiraḥ). The whole verse is Dhrishtadyumna's speech, unheaded; given to Dhrishtadyumna (same for verse 3).

Verse 3 (8.58.3)

यदि तावन्मया द्रोणो निहतो ब्राह्मणब्रुवः । त्वामिदानीं कथं युद्धे न हनिष्यामि किल्बिषम् ॥

yadi tāvanmayā droṇo nihato brāhmaṇabruvaḥ | tvāmidānīṃ kathaṃ yuddhe na haniṣyāmi kilbiṣam

"If I killed Drona, a brahmin in name only, why should I not now kill you in battle, wretch, by my prowess?"

Verse 4 (8.58.4)

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः सेनापतिररिन्दमः । सुतीक्ष्णेनाथ भल्लेन द्रौणिं विव्याध पार्षतः ॥

evamuktvā mahātejāḥ senāpatirarindamaḥ | sutīkṣṇenātha bhallena drauṇiṃ vivyādha pārṣataḥ

So saying, the mighty-souled commander, tamer of foes, Pārṣata, then pierced Drauni with a very sharp bhalla arrow.

Verse 5 (8.58.5)

ततो द्रौणिः सुसङ्क्रुद्धः शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । आच्छादयद्दिशो राजन्धृष्टद्युम्नस्य संयुगे ॥

tato drauṇiḥ susaṅkruddhaḥ śaraiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ | ācchādayaddiśo rājandhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge

Then Drauni, in great anger, covered the quarters around Dhrishtadyumna in the battle with smooth-jointed arrows, O king.

Verse 6 (8.58.6)

नैवान्तरिक्षं न दिशो नापि योधाः सहस्रशः । दृश्यन्ते वै महाराज शरैश्छन्नाः समन्ततः । एकः सन्वारयामास प्रेक्षणीयः समन्ततः ॥

naivāntarikṣaṃ na diśo nāpi yodhāḥ sahasraśaḥ | dṛśyante vai mahārāja śaraiśchannāḥ samantataḥ | ekaḥ sanvārayāmāsa prekṣaṇīyaḥ samantataḥ

Neither sky nor quarters, nor the thousands of warriors, could be seen, O great king, all being covered on every side with arrows; and one man alone, a sight to behold, held them off on every side.

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 are a variant of 8.42.30; line 3 is a variant of 8.42.32e (CE: ekaḥ sa vārayām āsa prekṣaṇīyaḥ samantataḥ), repeated in verse 9.

Verse 7 (8.58.7)

तथैव पार्षतो राजन्द्रौणिमाहवशोभिनम् । शरैः सञ्छादयामास सूतपुत्रस्य पश्यतः ॥

tathaiva pārṣato rājandrauṇimāhavaśobhinam | śaraiḥ sañchādayāmāsa sūtaputrasya paśyataḥ

In the same way, O king, Pārṣata covered Drauni, the glory of the battlefield, with arrows, while the charioteer's son looked on.

Verse 8 (8.58.8)

राधेयोऽपि महाराज पाञ्चालान्सह पाण्डवैः । द्रौपदेया युधामन्युमुत्तमौजसमेव च ॥

rādheyo'pi mahārāja pāñcālānsaha pāṇḍavaiḥ | draupadeyā yudhāmanyumuttamaujasameva ca

And Radheya, great king, faced the Panchalas along with the Pandavas, the sons of Draupadi, Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas,

Note on the text: Lines are 8.42.32a and a variant of 8.42.32c (CE: draupadeyān yudhāmanyuṃ sātyakiṃ ca mahāratham); the sentence runs on into the next verse.

Verse 9 (8.58.9)

सात्यकिश्च महाराज योधांश्चान्यान्सहस्रशः । एकस्तान्वारयामास प्रेक्षणीयः समन्ततः ॥

sātyakiśca mahārāja yodhāṃścānyānsahasraśaḥ | ekastānvārayāmāsa prekṣaṇīyaḥ samantataḥ

and Satyaki, great king, and thousands of other warriors; he alone held them all back, a sight to behold on every side.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of star passage 8.42.32f*0550_01 (sātyakiṃ ca mahārāja yodhāṃś cānyān sahasraśaḥ); line 2 is 8.42.32e, here repeated from verse 6.

Verse 10 (8.58.10)

धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु समरे द्रौणेश्चिच्छेद कार्मुकम् । क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन पश्यतां सर्वयोधिनाम् ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnastu samare drauṇeściccheda kārmukam | kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena paśyatāṃ sarvayodhinām

Dhrishtadyumna, in the battle, cut Drauni's bow with a very sharp kshurapra arrow, while all the warriors looked on.

Note on the text: Lines are 8.42.33a and star passage 8.42.33b*0551_01 (kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena paśyatāṃ sarvayodhinām).

Verse 11 (8.58.11)

तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्नमन्यदादत्त कार्मुकम् । वेगवत्समरे घोरं शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान् ॥

tadapāsya dhanuśchinnamanyadādatta kārmukam | vegavatsamare ghoraṃ śarāṃścāśīviṣopamān

Casting aside the cut bow, Drauni took up another, swift and fearsome in battle, and arrows like venomous snakes.

Note on the text: Lines are 8.42.33c and 8.42.33e.

Verse 12 (8.58.12)

स पार्षतस्य राजेन्द्र धनुः शक्तिं गदां ध्वजम् । हयान्सूतं रथं चैव निमेषाद्व्यधमच्छरैः ॥

sa pārṣatasya rājendra dhanuḥ śaktiṃ gadāṃ dhvajam | hayānsūtaṃ rathaṃ caiva nimeṣādvyadhamaccharaiḥ

O king of kings, in the twinkling of an eye he destroyed with his arrows Pārṣata's bow, spear, mace, banner, horses, charioteer and chariot.

Verse 13 (8.58.13)

स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । खड्गमादत्त विपुलं शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत् ॥

sa cchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ | khaḍgamādatta vipulaṃ śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat

With his bow cut, chariotless, his horses and charioteer slain, he took up a huge sword and a shining shield marked with a hundred moons.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गमादत्त → खड्गमादत्त (misprint in Wikisource; ङ् for ड्; खङ्ग is not a word, CE khaḍgam).

Verse 14 (8.58.14)

द्रौणिस्तदपि राजेन्द्र भल्लैः क्षिप्रं महारथः । चिच्छेद समरे वीरः क्षिप्रहस्तो दृढायुधः ॥

drauṇistadapi rājendra bhallaiḥ kṣipraṃ mahārathaḥ | ciccheda samare vīraḥ kṣiprahasto dṛḍhāyudhaḥ

But Drauni, O king of kings, that swift-handed great charioteer, firm of weapon, quickly cut even that to pieces in the battle with bhalla arrows.

Note on the text: Lines are 8.42.36a and 8.42.36c.

Verse 15 (8.58.15)

रथादनवरूढस्य धन्विनो बाहुशालिनः । पश्यतां सर्वसैन्यानां तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

rathādanavarūḍhasya dhanvino bāhuśālinaḥ | paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ tadadbhutamivābhavat

That feat of the mighty-armed bowman, who had not even come down from his chariot, seemed a marvel to all the armies looking on.

Note on the text: The CE's 8.42.36e reads rathād anavarūḍhasya tad adbhutam ivābhavat; the page expands it with star passage 8.42.36e*0554_01-02 (**** **** dhanvino bāhuśālinaḥ / paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ; the first words of *0554_01 are asterisks in the CE).

Verse 16 (8.58.16)

धृष्टद्युम्नं तु विरथं हताश्वरथसारथिम् । शस्त्रैश्च बहुधा विद्धमस्त्रैश्च शकलीकृतम् । नातरद्भरतश्रेष्ठ यतमानो महारथः ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu virathaṃ hatāśvarathasārathim | śastraiśca bahudhā viddhamastraiśca śakalīkṛtam | nātaradbharataśreṣṭha yatamāno mahārathaḥ

Dhrishtadyumna, chariotless, his horses, chariot and charioteer slain, wounded in many ways by weapons and shattered by missiles, O best of the Bharatas, could not get through, strive as that great charioteer might.

Note on the text: Corrected यदमानो → यतमानो (misprint in Wikisource; द for त; CE yatamāno).

Verse 17 (8.58.17)

तस्यान्तमिषुभी राजन्यदा द्रौणिर्न गच्छति । अथ त्यक्त्वा रथं वीरः पार्षतं त्वरितोऽन्वगात् । प्रगृह्य विपुलं खड्गं जातरूपपरिष्कृतम् ॥

tasyāntamiṣubhī rājanyadā drauṇirna gacchati | atha tyaktvā rathaṃ vīraḥ pārṣataṃ tvarito'nvagāt | pragṛhya vipulaṃ khaḍgaṃ jātarūpapariṣkṛtam

When Drauni could not bring about his end with arrows, O king, the hero left his chariot and swiftly went after Pārṣata, grasping a huge sword adorned with gold.

Note on the text: Corrected खह्गं → खड्गं (misprint in Wikisource; ह् for ड्; CE khaḍgaṃ). Lines 1-2 are variants of 8.42.38a and 8.42.38c (CE: tyaktvā dhanur vīraḥ pārṣataṃ tvarito 'nvagāt); line 3 is a variant of star passage 8.42.38d*0555_01 (pragṛhya vipulaṃ khaḍgaṃ jātarūpapariṣkṛtam).

Verse 18 (8.58.18)

तस्य सम्पततो राजन्वपुरासीन्महात्मनः । गरुडस्येव ततो जिघृक्षोः पन्नगोत्तमम् ॥

tasya sampatato rājanvapurāsīnmahātmanaḥ | garuḍasyeva tato jighṛkṣoḥ pannagottamam

As he swooped on him, O king, the great-souled warrior's figure was like Garuda's as he falls, eager to seize the best of serpents.

Verse 19 (8.58.19)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु केशवः परवीरहा । अब्रवीद्भरतश्रेष्ठमर्जुनं जयतां वरम् ॥

etasminneva kāle tu keśavaḥ paravīrahā | abravīdbharataśreṣṭhamarjunaṃ jayatāṃ varam

At that very moment Keshava, slayer of enemy heroes, spoke to Arjuna, best of the Bharatas and foremost of victors.

Note on the text: Both lines are star passage 8.42.40d*0556_01-02 (etasminn eva kāle tu keśavaḥ paravīrahā / abravīd bharataśreṣṭham arjunaṃ jayatāṃ varam).

Verse 20 (8.58.20)

पश्य द्रौणिं पार्षतस्य यतमानं वधं प्रति । यत्नं करोति विपुलं हन्याच्चैनं न संशयः ॥

paśya drauṇiṃ pārṣatasya yatamānaṃ vadhaṃ prati | yatnaṃ karoti vipulaṃ hanyāccainaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

"Look: Drauni is straining to kill Pārṣata. He is making a vast effort, and he will surely kill him!"

Note on the text: Line 1 is star passage 8.42.40d*0556_03 (paśya drauṇiṃ pārṣatasya yatamānaṃ vadhaṃ prati); line 2 is 8.42.40e. The whole verse is Krishna's speech, unheaded; given to Vasudeva (same for verse 21).

Verse 21 (8.58.21)

त्रायस्वैनं महाबाहो पार्षतं युद्धदुर्मदम् । द्रौणेरास्यगतं वीर मृत्योरास्यगतं यथा ॥

trāyasvainaṃ mahābāho pārṣataṃ yuddhadurmadam | drauṇerāsyagataṃ vīra mṛtyorāsyagataṃ yathā

"Save him, mighty-armed one — Pārṣata, drunk with battle, who has fallen into Drauni's jaws like a man in the jaws of Death, O hero!"

Note on the text: Recension variant of 8.42.41.

Verse 22 (8.58.22)

एवमुक्त्वा महाराज वासुदेवः प्रतापवान् । प्रैषयत्तुरगान्यत्र द्रौणिर्वीरो व्यवस्थितः ॥

evamuktvā mahārāja vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān | praiṣayatturagānyatra drauṇirvīro vyavasthitaḥ

Having spoken thus, O great king, the mighty Vasudeva drove the horses to where the hero Drauni stood.

Verse 23 (8.58.23)

ते हयाश्चन्द्रसङ्काशाः केशवेन प्रचोदिताः । पिबन्त इव चाकाशं जग्मुर्द्रौणेर्महारथम् ॥

te hayāścandrasaṅkāśāḥ keśavena pracoditāḥ | pibanta iva cākāśaṃ jagmurdrauṇermahāratham

Those moon-bright horses, urged on by Keshava, as if drinking the sky, ran to Drauni's great chariot.

Note on the text: Corrected जग्मुद्रौणेर् → जग्मुर्द्रौणेर् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र् in the sandhi (जग्मुः + द्रौणेः); CE jagmur drauṇirathaṃ prati).

Verse 24 (8.58.24)

दृष्ट्वा द्रौणिर्महाराज वासुदेवधनंजयौ । धृष्टद्युम्नवधे राजंश्चक्रे यत्नं महाबलः ॥

dṛṣṭvā drauṇirmahārāja vāsudevadhanaṃjayau | dhṛṣṭadyumnavadhe rājaṃścakre yatnaṃ mahābalaḥ

Seeing Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, O great king, mighty Drauni made an effort to kill Dhrishtadyumna.

Verse 25 (8.58.25)

विकृष्यमाणं दृष्ट्वैव धृष्टद्युम्नं जनेश्वर । शरांश्चिक्षेप वै पार्थो द्रौणिं प्रति महारथः ॥

vikṛṣyamāṇaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ janeśvara | śarāṃścikṣepa vai pārtho drauṇiṃ prati mahārathaḥ

Seeing Dhrishtadyumna being dragged away, O lord of men, Partha, the great warrior, shot arrows at Drauni.

Note on the text: Corrected दृष्ट्वै → दृष्ट्वैव (misprint in Wikisource; dropped व; CE dṛṣṭvaiva).

Verse 26 (8.58.26)

ते शरा हेमविकृता गाण्डीवप्रेषिता भृशम् । द्रौणिमासाद्य विविशुर्वल्मीकमिव पन्नगाः ॥

te śarā hemavikṛtā gāṇḍīvapreṣitā bhṛśam | drauṇimāsādya viviśurvalmīkamiva pannagāḥ

Those gold-adorned arrows, sped fiercely from Gandiva, entered Drauni as snakes enter an anthill.

Verse 27 (8.58.27)

विद्धस्तु तैः शरैर्घोरैर्द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान् । उत्सृज्य समरे राजन्पाञ्चालममितौजसम् ॥

viddhastu taiḥ śarairghorairdroṇaputraḥ pratāpavān | utsṛjya samare rājanpāñcālamamitaujasam

Pierced by those dreadful arrows, the glorious son of Drona let go the Panchala of boundless might in the battle, O king,

Note on the text: Corrected घोरैद्रोणपुत्रः → घोरैर्द्रोणपुत्रः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र् in the sandhi (घोरैः + द्रोणपुत्रः)). Line 1 is a variant of 8.42.47a; line 2 is a variant of star passage 8.42.47b*0557_01 (utsṛjya samare rājan pāñcālyam amitaujasam).

Verse 28 (8.58.28)

आरुरोह रथं वीरो धनञ्जयशरार्दितः । प्रगृह्य च धनुः श्रेष्ठं पार्थं विव्याध सायकैः ॥

āruroha rathaṃ vīro dhanañjayaśarārditaḥ | pragṛhya ca dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ pārthaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ

and, wounded by Dhananjaya's arrows, the hero climbed into his chariot, took up his excellent bow and pierced Partha with arrows.

Note on the text: Lines are 8.42.47c and 8.42.47e.

Verse 29 (8.58.29)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शूरः सहदेवो जनाधिप । अपोवाह रथेनाजौ पार्षतं शत्रुतापनम् ॥

etasminnantare śūraḥ sahadevo janādhipa | apovāha rathenājau pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam

Meanwhile the hero Sahadeva, O lord of the people, carried Pārṣata, tormentor of foes, away from the field on his chariot.

Verse 30 (8.58.30)

अर्जुनोऽपि महाराज द्रौणिं विव्याध पत्रिभिः । तं द्रोणपुत्रः संरब्धो बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत् ॥

arjuno'pi mahārāja drauṇiṃ vivyādha patribhiḥ | taṃ droṇaputraḥ saṃrabdho bāhvorurasi cārpayat

Arjuna too, O great king, pierced Drauni with arrows, and Drona's son, enraged, struck him on the arms and chest.

Verse 31 (8.58.31)

क्रोधितस्तु रणे पार्थो नाराचं कालसन्निभम् । द्रोणपुत्राय चिक्षेप यमदण्डमिवापरम् ॥

krodhitastu raṇe pārtho nārācaṃ kālasannibham | droṇaputrāya cikṣepa yamadaṇḍamivāparam

Enraged in the battle, Partha hurled at Drona's son a nārāca like Death, like a second rod of Yama.

Note on the text: Lines are variants of 8.42.50a and 8.42.50c.

Verse 32 (8.58.32)

स ब्राह्मणस्यांसदेशे निपपात महाद्युतेः । स विह्वलो महाराज शरवेगेन संयुगे । निषसाद रथोपस्थे वैक्लव्यं परमं ययौ ॥

sa brāhmaṇasyāṃsadeśe nipapāta mahādyuteḥ | sa vihvalo mahārāja śaravegena saṃyuge | niṣasāda rathopasthe vaiklavyaṃ paramaṃ yayau

It fell on the shoulder of that radiant brahmin. Dazed by the force of the arrow in the battle, O great king, he sank down on the platform of his chariot and fell into utter faintness.

Note on the text: Line 1 is 8.42.50e (CE: sa brāhmaṇasyāṃsadeśe nipapāta mahādyutiḥ); lines 2-3 are 8.42.51a and 8.42.51c.

Verse 33 (8.58.33)

तं तु मत्वा हतं वीरं सारथिः शत्रुकर्शनम् । अपोवाह रथेनाजौ त्वरमाणो रणाजिरात् ॥

taṃ tu matvā hataṃ vīraṃ sārathiḥ śatrukarśanam | apovāha rathenājau tvaramāṇo raṇājirāt

Thinking him slain, his charioteer, in haste, carried that tormentor of foes away from the field of battle in the chariot.

Note on the text: Corrected रणेनाजौ → रथेनाजौ (misprint in Wikisource; ण for थ; the chariot is meant, as in verse 29 and CE rathenājau).

Verse 34 (8.58.34)

अथोद्धृष्टं महाराज पाञ्चालैर्जितकाशिभिः । मोक्षितं पार्षतं दृष्ट्वा द्रोणपुत्रं च पीडितम् ॥

athoddhṛṣṭaṃ mahārāja pāñcālairjitakāśibhiḥ | mokṣitaṃ pārṣataṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇaputraṃ ca pīḍitam

Then the Panchalas, exulting in victory, raised a great shout, O great king, seeing Pārṣata freed and Drona's son hurt.

Verse 35 (8.58.35)

वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि प्रावाद्यन्त सहस्रशः । सिंहनादश्च सञ्जज्ञे दृष्ट्वा युद्धं तदद्भुतम् ॥

vāditrāṇi ca divyāni prāvādyanta sahasraśaḥ | siṃhanādaśca sañjajñe dṛṣṭvā yuddhaṃ tadadbhutam

Thousands of celestial instruments sounded, and a lion's roar arose as they saw that astonishing fight.

Verse 36 (8.58.36)

ततः कर्णो महाराज व्याक्षिपद्विजयं धनुः । दृष्ट्वार्जुनं रणे क्रुद्धः प्रेक्षते च मुहुर्मुहुः । द्वैरथं चापि पार्थेन गन्तुकामो महाद्युतिः ॥

tataḥ karṇo mahārāja vyākṣipadvijayaṃ dhanuḥ | dṛṣṭvārjunaṃ raṇe kruddhaḥ prekṣate ca muhurmuhuḥ | dvairathaṃ cāpi pārthena gantukāmo mahādyutiḥ

Then Karna, great king, twanged his bow Vijaya; enraged at the sight of Arjuna in the battle, he kept looking at him again and again, longing for a duel with Partha, that most radiant warrior.

Verse 37 (8.58.37)

एवं कृत्वाऽब्रवीत्पार्थो वासुदेवं धनञ्जयः । याहि संशप्तकान्कृष्ण कार्यमेतत्परं मम ॥

evaṃ kṛtvā'bravītpārtho vāsudevaṃ dhanañjayaḥ | yāhi saṃśaptakānkṛṣṇa kāryametatparaṃ mama

Having done this, Partha Dhananjaya said to Vasudeva: "Go to the Samshaptakas, Krishna; that is my chief task."

Verse 38 (8.58.38)

ततः प्रयातो गोविन्दः श्रुत्वा पाण्डवभाषितम् । रथेनातिपताकेन मनोमारुतरंहसा ॥

tataḥ prayāto govindaḥ śrutvā pāṇḍavabhāṣitam | rathenātipatākena manomārutaraṃhasā

Then Govinda, hearing the Pandava's words, drove off in his chariot with its lofty banner, swift as thought and wind.

Verse 39 (8.58.39)

एवमेष क्षयो वृत्तः पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते । तावकानां परेषां च राजन्दुर्मन्त्रिते तव ॥

evameṣa kṣayo vṛttaḥ pṛthivyāṃ pṛthivīpate | tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca rājandurmantrite tava

Thus this slaughter came about on earth, O lord of the earth, of your men and of the enemy, O king, through your ill counsel.

Note on the text: Line pair is star passage 8.41.7d*0537_01-02 (evam eṣa kṣayo vṛttaḥ pṛthivyāṃ pṛthivīpate / tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca rājan durmantrite tava); the page puts it here, at the end of the adhyaya.