The Duel Begins; Ashvatthama Urges Peace

Verse 1 (8.94.1)

तद्देवनागासुरसिद्धयक्षैः । गन्धर्वरक्षोप्सरसां च सङ्घैः । ब्रह्मर्षिराजर्षिसुपर्णजुष्टं । बभौ वियद्विस्मयनीयरूपम् ॥

taddevanāgāsurasiddhayakṣaiḥ | gandharvarakṣopsarasāṃ ca saṅghaiḥ | brahmarṣirājarṣisuparṇajuṣṭaṃ | babhau viyadvismayanīyarūpam

The sky shone with a wondrous aspect, thronged with hosts of gods, nagas, asuras, siddhas and yakshas, of gandharvas, rakshasas and apsarases, and visited by brahmana sages, royal sages and the Suparnas.

Note on the text: Corrected तद्देतनागासुरसिद्धयक्षै → तद्देवनागासुरसिद्धयक्षै (misprint in Wikisource; त for व; the critical edition reads tad devanāgāsurasiddha…). The page splits a sandhi across the line break (तद्देवनागासुरसिद्धयक्षै-- । / र्गन्धर्वरक्षोप्सरसां); written here with the word-ends resolved (तद्देवनागासुरसिद्धयक्षैः । / गन्धर्वरक्षोप्सरसां), the line division kept.

Verse 2 (8.94.2)

नानद्यमानं निनदैर्मनोज्ञैः । वादित्रगीतस्तुतिनृत्यहासैः । सर्वेऽन्तरिक्षं ददृशुर्मनुष्याः । खस्थाश्च तद्विस्मयनीयरूपम् ॥

nānadyamānaṃ ninadairmanojñaiḥ | vāditragītastutinṛtyahāsaiḥ | sarve'ntarikṣaṃ dadṛśurmanuṣyāḥ | khasthāśca tadvismayanīyarūpam

The sky resounded with delightful sounds of instruments, song, praise, dance and laughter. All the men below gazed up at the heavens, and those standing in the sky gazed too, at that wondrous sight.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (मनोज्ञै-- । / र्वादित्रगीतस्तुतिनृत्यहासैः); written here with the word-ends resolved (मनोज्ञैः । / वादित्रगीतस्तुतिनृत्यहासैः), the line division kept.

Verse 3 (8.94.3)

ततः प्रहृष्टाः कुरुपाण्डुयोधा । वादित्रशङ्खस्वनसिंहनादैः । विनादयन्तो वसुधां दिशश्च । स्वनेन सर्वान्द्विषतो निजघ्नुः ॥

tataḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ kurupāṇḍuyodhā | vāditraśaṅkhasvanasiṃhanādaiḥ | vinādayanto vasudhāṃ diśaśca | svanena sarvāndviṣato nijaghnuḥ

Then the delighted warriors of the Kurus and the Pandavas, making the earth and the quarters ring with instruments, conches and lion-roars, fell upon all their enemies with that clamour.

Verse 4 (8.94.4)

नराश्वमातङ्गरथैः समाकुलं । शरासिशक्त्यृष्टिनिपातदुःसहम् । अभीरुजुष्टं हतदेहसङ्कुलं । रणाजिरं लोहितमाबभौ तदा ॥

narāśvamātaṅgarathaiḥ samākulaṃ | śarāsiśaktyṛṣṭinipātaduḥsaham | abhīrujuṣṭaṃ hatadehasaṅkulaṃ | raṇājiraṃ lohitamābabhau tadā

The battlefield, crowded with men, horses, elephants and chariots, unbearable under the fall of arrows, swords, spears and lances, thronged with the fearless and strewn with the bodies of the slain, shone red with blood.

Verse 5 (8.94.5)

बभूव युद्धं कुरुपाण्डवानां । यथा सुराणामसुरैः सहाभवत् । तथा प्रवृत्तेऽस्त्रभृतां पराभवे । धनञ्जयश्चाधिरथिश्च सायकैः । दिशश्च सैन्यं च शितैरजिह्मगैः । परस्परं प्रावृणुतां सुदंशितौ ॥

babhūva yuddhaṃ kurupāṇḍavānāṃ | yathā surāṇāmasuraiḥ sahābhavat | tathā pravṛtte'strabhṛtāṃ parābhave | dhanañjayaścādhirathiśca sāyakaiḥ | diśaśca sainyaṃ ca śitairajihmagaiḥ | parasparaṃ prāvṛṇutāṃ sudaṃśitau

There was a battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas, such as there was between the gods and the asuras. And when the rout of the weapon-bearers had begun, Dhananjaya and the son of Adhiratha, both well armoured, covered the quarters, the army and each other with sharp, straight-flying arrows.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: Wikisource prints only one line of this verse, the sixth (labelled 8-94-5f; lines a–e are lost). The first five lines are the critical edition's star passage 8.64.4d*1013_01–02 (babhūva yuddhaṃ kurupāṇḍavānāṃ / yathā surāṇām asuraiḥ sahābhavat), printed after 8.64.4d, followed by 8.64.5a–c (tathā pravṛtte 'strabhṛtāṃ parābhave / dhanaṃjayaś cādhirathiś ca sāyakaiḥ / diśaś ca sainyaṃ ca śitair ajihmagaiḥ), the critical edition's words kept exactly. The sixth line is Wikisource's own (the critical edition's 5d reads parasparaṃ prorṇuvatuḥ sma daṃśitau). The exact make-up of the five lost lines is inferred from the five lines that the critical edition has just before this one.

Verse 6 (8.94.6)

ततस्त्वदीयाश्च परे च सायकैः । कृतेऽन्धकारे ददृशुर्न किञ्चन । भयातुरा एकरथौ समाश्रयन् । ततोऽभवत्त्वद्भुतमेव सर्वतः ॥

tatastvadīyāśca pare ca sāyakaiḥ | kṛte'ndhakāre dadṛśurna kiñcana | bhayāturā ekarathau samāśrayan | tato'bhavattvadbhutameva sarvataḥ

With the arrows making a darkness, your men and the enemy could see nothing at all. Terrified, they took refuge with the two foremost chariot-warriors; and then a marvel arose on every side.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (समाश्रयं-- । / स्ततोऽभवत्त्वद्भुतमेव); written here with the word-ends resolved (समाश्रयन् । / ततोऽभवत्त्वद्भुतमेव), the line division kept.

Verse 7 (8.94.7)

ततोऽस्त्रमस्त्रेण परस्परं तौ । विधूय वाताविव पूर्वपश्चिमौ । घनान्धकारे वितते तमोनुदौ । यथोदितौ तद्वदतीव रेजतुः ॥

tato'stramastreṇa parasparaṃ tau | vidhūya vātāviva pūrvapaścimau | ghanāndhakāre vitate tamonudau | yathoditau tadvadatīva rejatuḥ

Each shook off the other's weapon with his own, like the winds from east and west; and as the sun and moon, rising, dispel the darkness spread in dense gloom, so the two shone exceedingly.

Verse 8 (8.94.8)

न चाभिसर्तव्यमिति प्रचोदिताः । परे त्वदीयाश्च तथाऽवतस्थिरे । महारथौ तौ परिवार्य सर्वतः । सुरासुराः शम्बरवासवाविव ॥

na cābhisartavyamiti pracoditāḥ | pare tvadīyāśca tathā'vatasthire | mahārathau tau parivārya sarvataḥ | surāsurāḥ śambaravāsavāviva

Bidden that none should go forward, the enemy and your own men stood still, surrounding the two great chariot-warriors on every side, like gods and asuras around Shambara and Vasava.

Verse 9 (8.94.9)

मृदङ्गभेरीपणवानकस्वनैः । निनादिते वाहनशङ्खनिस्वनैः । तौ सिंहनादैर्बभतुर्नरोत्तमौ । पतङ्गचन्द्राविव दुःसहावुभौ ॥

mṛdaṅgabherīpaṇavānakasvanaiḥ | ninādite vāhanaśaṅkhanisvanaiḥ | tau siṃhanādairbabhaturnarottamau | pataṅgacandrāviva duḥsahāvubhau

While the field rang with the sounds of mridangas, bheris, panavas and anakas, with the blare of conches and the noise of the chariots, the two best of men blazed with their lion-roars, both as unbearable as the sun and the moon.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (मृदङ्गभेरीपणवानकस्वनै-- । / र्निनादिते); written here with the word-ends resolved (मृदङ्गभेरीपणवानकस्वनैः । / निनादिते), the line division kept.

Verse 10 (8.94.10)

महाधनुर्मण्डलमध्यगावुभौ । सुवर्चसौ बाणसहस्रदीधिती । दिधक्षमाणौ सचराचरं जगत् । युगान्तसूर्याविव दुःसहौ रणे ॥

mahādhanurmaṇḍalamadhyagāvubhau | suvarcasau bāṇasahasradīdhitī | didhakṣamāṇau sacarācaraṃ jagat | yugāntasūryāviva duḥsahau raṇe

Standing within the circles of their great bows, both radiant, with thousands of arrows for rays, they seemed bent on burning the world with all that moves and stands, like two suns of the end of the age, unbearable in battle.

Note on the text: Corrected महाधनुर्मण्डुलमध्यगावुभौ → महाधनुर्मण्डलमध्यगावुभौ (misprint in Wikisource; उ for अ; the critical edition reads mahādhanurmaṇḍalamadhyagāv ubhau). The page splits a sandhi across the line break (जग-- । / द्युगान्तसूर्याविव); written here with the word-ends resolved (जगत् । / युगान्तसूर्याविव), the line division kept.

Verse 11 (8.94.11)

उभावजेयावहितान्तकावुभौ । उभौ जिघांसू कृतिनौ परस्परम् । महाहवे वीतभयौ समीयतुः । महेन्द्रजम्भाविव कर्णपाण्डवौ ॥

ubhāvajeyāvahitāntakāvubhau | ubhau jighāṃsū kṛtinau parasparam | mahāhave vītabhayau samīyatuḥ | mahendrajambhāviva karṇapāṇḍavau

Both were unconquerable, both were slayers of their enemies, both skilled and eager to kill one another. In that great battle, fearless, Karna and the Pandava came together like Mahendra and Jambha.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (उभावजेयावहितान्तकावुभा-- । / वुभौ); written here with the word-ends resolved (उभावजेयावहितान्तकावुभौ । / उभौ), the line division kept. The page splits a sandhi across the line break (समीयतु-- । / र्महेन्द्रजम्भाविव); written here with the word-ends resolved (समीयतुः । / महेन्द्रजम्भाविव), the line division kept.

Verse 12 (8.94.12)

ततो महास्त्राणि महाधनुर्धरौ । विमुञ्चमानाविषुभिर्भयानकैः । नराश्वनागानमितान्निजघ्नतुः । परस्परं चापि महारथौ नृप ॥

tato mahāstrāṇi mahādhanurdharau | vimuñcamānāviṣubhirbhayānakaiḥ | narāśvanāgānamitānnijaghnatuḥ | parasparaṃ cāpi mahārathau nṛpa

Then the two great bowmen, releasing mighty missiles with terrible arrows, killed men, horses and elephants without number; and, O king, the two great chariot-warriors struck each other as well.

Verse 13 (8.94.13)

ततो विसस्रुः पुनरर्दिता नरा । नरोत्तमाभ्यां कुरुपाण्डवाश्रयाः । सनागपत्त्यश्वरथा दिशो द्रुताः । तथा यथा सिंहहता वनौकसः ॥

tato visasruḥ punararditā narā | narottamābhyāṃ kurupāṇḍavāśrayāḥ | sanāgapattyaśvarathā diśo drutāḥ | tathā yathā siṃhahatā vanaukasaḥ

Then, tormented again by those two best of men, the troops that depended on the Kurus and on the Pandavas fled in all directions with their elephants, foot-soldiers, horses and chariots, as forest creatures flee when a lion strikes them.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (द्रुता-- । / स्तथा); written here with the word-ends resolved (द्रुताः । / तथा), the line division kept.

Verse 14 (8.94.14)

ततस्तु दुर्योधनभोजसौबलाः । कृपो गुरोश्चापि सुतो महाहवे । महारथाः पञ्च धनञ्जयाच्युतौ । शरैः शरीरार्तिकरैरताडयन् ॥

tatastu duryodhanabhojasaubalāḥ | kṛpo guroścāpi suto mahāhave | mahārathāḥ pañca dhanañjayācyutau | śaraiḥ śarīrārtikarairatāḍayan

Then Duryodhana, Bhoja, Shakuni son of Subala, Kripa, and the Guru's son — five great chariot-warriors — struck Dhananjaya and Achyuta in that great battle with arrows that tore at the body.

Verse 15 (8.94.15)

धनूंषि तेषामिषुधीन्ध्वजान्हयान् । रथांश्च सूतांश्च धनञ्जयः शरैः । समं प्रमध्याशु परान्समन्ततः । शरोत्तमैर्द्वादशभिश्च सूतजम् ॥

dhanūṃṣi teṣāmiṣudhīndhvajānhayān | rathāṃśca sūtāṃśca dhanañjayaḥ śaraiḥ | samaṃ pramadhyāśu parānsamantataḥ | śarottamairdvādaśabhiśca sūtajam

Dhananjaya with his arrows swiftly crushed their bows, quivers, banners, horses, chariots and charioteers, all together, on every side, and with twelve of his best arrows he struck the charioteer's son as well.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (हया-- । / न्रथांश्च); written here with the word-ends resolved (हयान् । / रथांश्च), the line division kept. Corrected द्वादशभिन्न → द्वादशभिश्च (misprint in Wikisource; न for श्च; the critical edition reads dvādaśabhiś ca sūtajam).

Verse 16 (8.94.16)

अथाभ्यधावंस्त्वरिताः शतं रथाः । शतं गजाश्चार्जुनमाततायिनः । शकास्तुषारा यवनाश्च सादिनः । सहैव काम्भोजवरैर्जिघांसवः ॥

athābhyadhāvaṃstvaritāḥ śataṃ rathāḥ | śataṃ gajāścārjunamātatāyinaḥ | śakāstuṣārā yavanāśca sādinaḥ | sahaiva kāmbhojavarairjighāṃsavaḥ

Then a hundred chariots and a hundred elephants charged swiftly at Arjuna with weapons raised, and with them Shakas, Tusharas, Yavanas and horsemen, together with the best of the Kambojas, all bent on killing him.

Verse 17 (8.94.17)

वरायुधान्पाणिगतैः शरैः सह । क्षुरैर्न्यकृन्तत्प्रपतञ्शिरांसि च । हयांश्च नागांश्च रथांश्च युध्यतो । धनञ्जयः शत्रुगणान्क्षितौ क्षिणोत् ॥

varāyudhānpāṇigataiḥ śaraiḥ saha | kṣurairnyakṛntatprapatañśirāṃsi ca | hayāṃśca nāgāṃśca rathāṃśca yudhyato | dhanañjayaḥ śatrugaṇānkṣitau kṣiṇot

With razor-edged arrows Dhananjaya cut off their finest weapons together with the arrows held in their hands, and cut off their heads as they came charging down; and he destroyed on the ground those hosts of enemies, still fighting, with their horses, elephants and chariots.

Note on the text: Corrected धनञ्जयऋ → धनञ्जयः (misprint in Wikisource; ऋ for the visarga; the critical edition reads dhanaṃjayaḥ). Corrected क्षिणौत् → क्षिणोत् (misprint in Wikisource; a garbled verb ending; the verb is क्षिणोत् (क्षि, destroy); the critical edition reads akṣiṇot).

Verse 18 (8.94.18)

ततोऽन्तरिक्षे सुरतूर्यनिःस्वनाः । ससाधुवादा हृषितैः समीरिताः । निपेतुरप्युत्तमपुष्पवृष्टयः । सुरूपगन्धाः पवनेरिताः शुभाः ॥

tato'ntarikṣe suratūryaniḥsvanāḥ | sasādhuvādā hṛṣitaiḥ samīritāḥ | nipeturapyuttamapuṣpavṛṣṭayaḥ | surūpagandhāḥ pavaneritāḥ śubhāḥ

Then in the sky the sound of the gods' trumpets rose, with cries of 'Well done!' from the delighted, and auspicious showers of the choicest flowers, lovely in form and fragrance, fell, borne on the wind.

Verse 19 (8.94.19)

तदद्भुतं देवमनुष्यसाक्षिकं । समीक्ष्य भूतानि विसिस्मियुस्तदा । तवात्मजः सूतसुतश्च न व्यथां । न विस्मयं जग्मतुरेकनिश्चयौ ॥

tadadbhutaṃ devamanuṣyasākṣikaṃ | samīkṣya bhūtāni visismiyustadā | tavātmajaḥ sūtasutaśca na vyathāṃ | na vismayaṃ jagmaturekaniścayau

Seeing that marvel, with gods and men as its witnesses, all beings were amazed. But your son and the charioteer's son, single in resolve, felt neither distress nor wonder.

Verse 20 (8.94.20)

अथाब्रवीद्द्रोणसुतस्तवात्मजं । करं करेण प्रतिपीड्य सान्त्वयन् । प्रसीद दुर्योधन शाम्य पाण्डवैः । अलं विरोधेन धिगस्तु विग्रहम् ॥

athābravīddroṇasutastavātmajaṃ | karaṃ kareṇa pratipīḍya sāntvayan | prasīda duryodhana śāmya pāṇḍavaiḥ | alaṃ virodhena dhigastu vigraham

Then Drona's son, pressing your son's hand in his own and soothing him, said: 'Be gracious, Duryodhana, make peace with the Pandavas. Enough of enmity; shame on war!'

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (पाण्डवै-- । / रलं); written here with the word-ends resolved (पाण्डवैः । / अलं), the line division kept.

Verse 21 (8.94.21)

हतो गुरुर्ब्रह्मसमो महास्त्रवित् । तथैव भीष्मप्रमुखा महारथाः । अहं त्ववध्यो मम चापि मातुलः । प्रशाधि राज्यं सह पाण्डवैश्चिरम् ॥

hato gururbrahmasamo mahāstravit | tathaiva bhīṣmapramukhā mahārathāḥ | ahaṃ tvavadhyo mama cāpi mātulaḥ | praśādhi rājyaṃ saha pāṇḍavaiściram

Our guru, the equal of Brahma and a master of the great weapons, has been slain, and so have Bhishma and the other great chariot-warriors. But I cannot be slain, and neither can my uncle. Rule the kingdom with the Pandavas for a long time to come.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (महास्त्रवि-- । / त्तथैव); written here with the word-ends resolved (महास्त्रवित् । / तथैव), the line division kept. Speaker: Ashvatthama's direct speech continues from the previous verse's last two lines (the page prints no heading); the input had Sanjaya throughout. Verses 21–39 are Ashvatthama's speech and verses 41–45 are Duryodhana's reply; verses 20, 40 and 46 are Sanjaya's narration (each carries the opening or closing words of a speech).

Verse 22 (8.94.22)

धनञ्जयः स्थास्यति वारितो मया । जनार्दनो नैव विरोधमिच्छति । युधिष्ठिरो भूतहिते रतः सदा । वृकोदरस्तद्वशगस्तथा यमौ ॥

dhanañjayaḥ sthāsyati vārito mayā | janārdano naiva virodhamicchati | yudhiṣṭhiro bhūtahite rataḥ sadā | vṛkodarastadvaśagastathā yamau

Dhananjaya will hold back if I restrain him; Janardana does not want enmity at all; Yudhishthira is ever devoted to the welfare of living beings, and Vrikodara and the twins follow his will.

Note on the text: Corrected स्यास्यति → स्थास्यति (misprint in Wikisource; थ dropped to य; the critical edition reads sthāsyati).

Verse 23 (8.94.23)

त्वया च पार्थैश्च परस्परेण । प्रजाः शिवं प्राप्नुयुरिच्छति त्वयि । व्रजन्तु शेषाः स्वपुराणि पार्थिवा । निवृत्तवैराश्च भवन्तु सैनिकाः । न चेद्वचः श्रोष्यसि मे नराधिप । ध्रुवं हि तप्तोऽसि हतोऽरिभिर्युधि ॥

tvayā ca pārthaiśca paraspareṇa | prajāḥ śivaṃ prāpnuyuricchati tvayi | vrajantu śeṣāḥ svapurāṇi pārthivā | nivṛttavairāśca bhavantu sainikāḥ | na cedvacaḥ śroṣyasi me narādhipa | dhruvaṃ hi tapto'si hato'ribhiryudhi

Let the people find peace through you and the Parthas together, if you are willing. Let the remaining kings go back to their own cities, and let the soldiers be rid of their enmity. If you will not heed my words, O lord of men, you will surely be tormented, slain by your enemies in battle.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: Wikisource prints only one line of this verse, the sixth (labelled 8-94-23f; lines a–e are lost). The first five lines are the critical edition's 8.64.23a–d (tvayā ca pārthaiś ca paraspareṇa … nivṛttavairāś ca bhavantu sainikāḥ) and 8.64.24a (na ced vacaḥ śroṣyasi me narādhipa), its words kept exactly. The sixth line is Wikisource's own: it reads तप्तोऽसि, where the page's footnote gives तप्तासि as the reading of the manuscripts क.ख.ड. (the critical edition reads prataptāsi); the page's reading is kept. The rest of the critical edition's verse 24 (idaṃ ca dṛṣṭaṃ jagatā saha tvayā …) follows the Appendix lines, at verse 35.

Verse 24 (8.94.24)

वृद्धं पितरमालोक्य गान्धारीं च यशस्विनीम् । कृपालुर्धर्मराजो हि याचितः शममेष्यति ॥

vṛddhaṃ pitaramālokya gāndhārīṃ ca yaśasvinīm | kṛpālurdharmarājo hi yācitaḥ śamameṣyati

Considering your aged father and the renowned Gandhari, the compassionate Dharmaraja, if entreated, will agree to peace.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0001–0002 (8.64.24f@038_0001–0002).

Verse 25 (8.94.25)

यथोचितं च वै राज्यमनुज्ञास्यति ते प्रभुः । विपश्चित्सुमतिर्वीरः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित् ॥

yathocitaṃ ca vai rājyamanujñāsyati te prabhuḥ | vipaścitsumatirvīraḥ sarvaśāstrārthatattvavit

He, your lord, will grant you the kingdom in the fitting way; he is wise, of good understanding, a hero, a knower of the true meaning of all the sciences.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0003–0004 (8.64.24f@038_0003–0004).

Verse 26 (8.94.26)

वैरं नेष्यति धर्मात्मा स्वजने नास्त्यतिक्रमः । न विग्रहमतिः कृष्णः स्वजने प्रतिनन्दति ॥

vairaṃ neṣyati dharmātmā svajane nāstyatikramaḥ | na vigrahamatiḥ kṛṣṇaḥ svajane pratinandati

The righteous-souled one will carry no enmity forward, and toward his own kin there is no transgression in him. And Krishna, whose mind is not set on strife, takes no pleasure in it among his own people.

Note on the text: Corrected कृष्णा → कृष्णः (misprint in Wikisource; the subject is Krishna, masculine, as the next verse (वासुदेवमते) confirms; the Appendix reads kṛṣṇaḥ). Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0005–0006 (8.64.24f@038_0005–0006).

Verse 27 (8.94.27)

भीमसेनार्जुनौ चोभौ माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ । वासुदेवमते चैव पाण्डवस्य च धीमतः । स्थास्यन्ति पुरुषव्याघ्रास्तयोर्वचनगौरवात् ॥

bhīmasenārjunau cobhau mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau | vāsudevamate caiva pāṇḍavasya ca dhīmataḥ | sthāsyanti puruṣavyāghrāstayorvacanagauravāt

Bhimasena and Arjuna and both sons of Madri, the Pandavas, those tigers among men, will abide by the counsel of Vasudeva and of the wise Pandava (Yudhishthira), out of regard for the weight of their words.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0007–0009 (8.64.24f@038_0007–0009).

Verse 28 (8.94.28)

रक्ष दुर्योधनात्मानमात्मा सर्वस्य भाजनम् । जीवने यत्नमातिष्ठ जीवन्भद्राणि पश्यति ॥

rakṣa duryodhanātmānamātmā sarvasya bhājanam | jīvane yatnamātiṣṭha jīvanbhadrāṇi paśyati

Guard yourself, Duryodhana; the self is the vessel of everything. Strive to stay alive; the living see good days.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0010–0011 (8.64.24f@038_0010–0011).

Verse 29 (8.94.29)

राज्यं श्रीश्चैव भद्रं ते जीवमाने च कल्पते । मृतस्य तु खलु कौरव्य नैव राज्यं कुतः सुखम् ॥

rājyaṃ śrīścaiva bhadraṃ te jīvamāne ca kalpate | mṛtasya tu khalu kauravya naiva rājyaṃ kutaḥ sukham

Kingship, prosperity and good fortune are yours only so long as you live. For the dead, O Kauravya, there is no kingdom at all — and how could there be happiness?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0012–0013 (8.64.24f@038_0012–0013).

Verse 30 (8.94.30)

लोकवृत्तमिदं वृत्तं प्रवृत्तं पश्य भारत । शाम्य त्वं पाण्डवैः सार्धं शेषं रक्ष कुलस्य च ॥

lokavṛttamidaṃ vṛttaṃ pravṛttaṃ paśya bhārata | śāmya tvaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ śeṣaṃ rakṣa kulasya ca

See, Bharata, how the way of the world has run its course. Make peace with the Pandavas, and protect what remains of your family.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0014–0015 (8.64.24f@038_0014–0015).

Verse 31 (8.94.31)

मा भूत्स कालः कौरव्य यदाऽहमहितं वचः । ब्रूयां कामं महाबाहो माऽवमंस्था वचो मम ॥

mā bhūtsa kālaḥ kauravya yadā'hamahitaṃ vacaḥ | brūyāṃ kāmaṃ mahābāho mā'vamaṃsthā vaco mama

May that time never come, O Kauravya, when I must speak to you words that go against your good. Speak I will, as I wish, mighty-armed one; do not disregard my words.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0016–0017 (8.64.24f@038_0016–0017).

Verse 32 (8.94.32)

धर्मिष्ठमिदमत्यर्थं राज्ञश्चैव कुलस्य च । एतद्धि परमं श्रेयः कुरुवंशस्य वृद्धये । प्रयाहि तं च गान्धारे कुलस्य च सुखावहम् ॥

dharmiṣṭhamidamatyarthaṃ rājñaścaiva kulasya ca | etaddhi paramaṃ śreyaḥ kuruvaṃśasya vṛddhaye | prayāhi taṃ ca gāndhāre kulasya ca sukhāvaham

This is most righteous for the king and for the family, and this is the highest good for the growth of the Kuru line. Go to him, son of Gandhari — it will bring happiness to the family.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0018–0020 (8.64.24f@038_0018–0020). Line 1 reads धर्मिष्ठमिदमत्यर्थं where the Appendix has dharmiṣṭhaṃ hitam atyantaṃ, and line 3 reads प्रयाहि तं च where it has prajāhitaṃ ca: recension variants, kept as in Wikisource.

Verse 33 (8.94.33)

पथ्यमायतिसंयुक्तं कर्णोऽप्यर्जुनमाहवे । न जेष्यति नरव्याघ्र इति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥

pathyamāyatisaṃyuktaṃ karṇo'pyarjunamāhave | na jeṣyati naravyāghra iti me niścitā matiḥ

This is wholesome and bears good fruit for the future: even Karna will not defeat Arjuna in battle, O tiger among men. That is my settled conviction.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0021–0022 (8.64.24f@038_0021–0022).

Verse 34 (8.94.34)

रोचतां ते नरश्रेष्ठ ममैतद्वचनं शुभम् । अतोऽन्यथा हि राजेन्द्र विनाशः सुमहान्भवेत् ॥

rocatāṃ te naraśreṣṭha mamaitadvacanaṃ śubham | ato'nyathā hi rājendra vināśaḥ sumahānbhavet

Let these auspicious words of mine please you, best of men. Otherwise, O king of kings, there will be very great destruction.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is CE Appendix I No. 38 (printed after 8.64.24e), lines 0023–0024 (8.64.24f@038_0023–0024).

Verse 35 (8.94.35)

इदं च दृष्टं जगता सह त्वया । कृतं यदेकेन किरीटमालिना । यथा न कुर्याद्बलभिन्न चान्तको । न च प्रचेता भगवान्न यक्षराट् ॥

idaṃ ca dṛṣṭaṃ jagatā saha tvayā | kṛtaṃ yadekena kirīṭamālinā | yathā na kuryādbalabhinna cāntako | na ca pracetā bhagavānna yakṣarāṭ

You and the whole world have seen this: what the one wearer of the diadem, Arjuna, has done — such as neither Indra, nor Death, nor the lord Varuna, nor the king of the Yakshas could do.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; the four lines are the critical edition's 8.64.24c and 24e (idaṃ ca dṛṣṭaṃ jagatā saha tvayā / kṛtaṃ yad ekena kirīṭamālinā / yathā na kuryād balabhinna cāntako / na ca pracetā bhagavān na yakṣarāṭ). In the critical edition they follow its 24ab (see verse 23), with the Appendix lines (verses 24–34 here) inserted after them.

Verse 36 (8.94.36)

अतोऽपि भूयान्स्वगुणैर्धनञ्जयो । न चातिवर्तिष्यति मे वचोऽखिलम् । तवानुयात्रां च सदा करिष्यति । प्रसीद राजेन्द्र शमं त्वमाप्नुहि ॥

ato'pi bhūyānsvaguṇairdhanañjayo | na cātivartiṣyati me vaco'khilam | tavānuyātrāṃ ca sadā kariṣyati | prasīda rājendra śamaṃ tvamāpnuhi

Moreover Dhananjaya is greater still in his own merits; he will not transgress any word of mine, and he will always follow you. Be gracious, O king of kings, and attain peace.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; a recension variant of the critical edition's 8.64.25 (ato 'pi bhūyāṃś ca guṇair dhanaṃjayaḥ / sa cābhipatsyaty akhilaṃ vaco mama / tavānuyātrāṃ ca tathā kariṣyati / prasīda rājañ jagataḥ śamāya vai).

Verse 37 (8.94.37)

ममाभिमानः परमः सदा त्वयि । ब्रवीम्यतस्त्वां परमाच्च सौहृदात् । निवारयिष्यामि च कर्णमाहवे । महान्हि मेऽस्ति प्रणयोऽथ सूतजे ॥

mamābhimānaḥ paramaḥ sadā tvayi | bravīmyatastvāṃ paramācca sauhṛdāt | nivārayiṣyāmi ca karṇamāhave | mahānhi me'sti praṇayo'tha sūtaje

My regard for you is ever the highest, and so, out of the deepest friendship, I speak to you. I will hold Karna back in the battle too, for I also feel great affection for the charioteer's son.

Verse 38 (8.94.38)

वदन्ति मैत्रीं सहजां विचक्षणाः । तथैव साम्ना च धनेन चार्जिताम् । प्रतापतश्चोपनतां चतुर्विधां । तदस्ति सर्वं तव पाण्डवेषु ॥

vadanti maitrīṃ sahajāṃ vicakṣaṇāḥ | tathaiva sāmnā ca dhanena cārjitām | pratāpataścopanatāṃ caturvidhāṃ | tadasti sarvaṃ tava pāṇḍaveṣu

The discerning speak of four kinds of friendship: that which is born with one, that won through conciliation, that won through wealth, and that which comes through another's power. All of these you have with the Pandavas.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (विचक्षणा-- । / स्तथैव); written here with the word-ends resolved (विचक्षणाः । / तथैव), the line division kept.

Verse 39 (8.94.39)

निसर्गतस्ते तव वीर बान्धवाः । पुनश्च साम्ना हितमाप्नुयुः प्रभो । त्वयि प्रसन्ने यदि मित्रतां गते । हितं कृतं स्याज्जगतस्त्वयाऽतुलम् ॥

nisargataste tava vīra bāndhavāḥ | punaśca sāmnā hitamāpnuyuḥ prabho | tvayi prasanne yadi mitratāṃ gate | hitaṃ kṛtaṃ syājjagatastvayā'tulam

By nature, O hero, they are your own kinsmen; and again, by conciliation, O lord, they may find their good. If, with you pleased, they become your friends, you will have done an incomparable good to the world.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; a recension variant of the critical edition's 8.64.28 (nisargatas te tava vīra bāndhavāḥ / punaś ca sāmnā ca samāpnuhi sthiram / tvayi prasanne yadi mitratām iyur / dhruvaṃ narendrendra tathā tvam ācara).

Verse 40 (8.94.40)

इतीदमुक्तः सुहृदा वचो हितं । विचिन्त्य निःश्वस्य च दुर्मनाऽब्रवीत् । यथा भवानाह सखे तथैव तत् । ममापि विज्ञापयतो वचः शृणु ॥

itīdamuktaḥ suhṛdā vaco hitaṃ | vicintya niḥśvasya ca durmanā'bravīt | yathā bhavānāha sakhe tathaiva tat | mamāpi vijñāpayato vacaḥ śṛṇu

Addressed in these beneficial words by his friend, he reflected, sighed, and said in a heavy heart: 'As you say, my friend, so it is; yet listen also to what I have to say.'

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (त-- । / न्ममापि); written here with the word-ends resolved (तत् । / ममापि), the line division kept.

Verse 41 (8.94.41)

निहत्य दुःशासनमुक्तवान्बहु । प्रहस्य शार्दूलवदेष दुर्मतिः । वृकोदरस्तद्धृदये मम स्थितं । न तत्परोक्षं भवतः कुतः शमः ॥

nihatya duḥśāsanamuktavānbahu | prahasya śārdūlavadeṣa durmatiḥ | vṛkodarastaddhṛdaye mama sthitaṃ | na tatparokṣaṃ bhavataḥ kutaḥ śamaḥ

Having killed Duhshasana, that ill-minded Vrikodara laughed like a tiger and spoke much; it stays in my heart, and it is not unknown to you. Where then is peace?

Note on the text: Corrected तद्वृदये → तद्धृदये (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध; the critical edition reads tad dhṛdaye). Speaker: Duryodhana's reply (the page prints no heading); the input had Sanjaya. The page's footnote records the variant reading दुःशासनमुक्तवान्वचः (झ.) and adds that the words were Bhima's vow to strike the fallen Duryodhana's head with his foot.

Verse 42 (8.94.42)

न चापि कर्णं प्रसहेद्रणेऽर्जुनो । महागिरिं मेरुमिवोग्रमारुतः । न चाश्वसिष्यन्ति पृथात्मजा मयि । प्रसह्य वैरं बहुशो विचिन्त्य ॥

na cāpi karṇaṃ prasahedraṇe'rjuno | mahāgiriṃ merumivogramārutaḥ | na cāśvasiṣyanti pṛthātmajā mayi | prasahya vairaṃ bahuśo vicintya

Nor can Arjuna overpower Karna in battle, any more than a fierce wind can overpower the great mountain Meru. And the sons of Pritha will never trust me, having dwelt on our enmity so often and so relentlessly.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; the four lines are the critical edition's star passage 8.64.30d*1023_01–04, printed after 8.64.30d.

Verse 43 (8.94.43)

न चापि कर्णं गुरुपुत्र संयुगात् । उपारमेत्यर्हसि वीर भाषितुम् । श्रमेण युक्तो महताद्य फल्गुनः । तमेष कर्णः प्रसभं हनिष्यति ॥

na cāpi karṇaṃ guruputra saṃyugāt | upārametyarhasi vīra bhāṣitum | śrameṇa yukto mahatādya phalgunaḥ | tameṣa karṇaḥ prasabhaṃ haniṣyati

And you, son of the Guru, ought not to tell Karna to desist from the fight, O hero. Phalguna is spent with great toil today; this Karna will slay him by force.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (संयुगा-- । / दुपारमेत्यर्हसि); written here with the word-ends resolved (संयुगात् । / उपारमेत्यर्हसि), the line division kept. The page splits a sandhi across the line break (फल्गुन-- । / स्तमेष); written here with the word-ends resolved (फल्गुनः । / तमेष), the line division kept.

Verse 44 (8.94.44)

वसुन्धरायाः परिवर्तनं भवेत् । व्रजेच्च शोषं मकरालयोऽर्णवः । प्लवेयुरप्यद्रिवरा महाम्बुधौ । न चार्जुनो जेष्यति कर्णमाहवे ॥

vasundharāyāḥ parivartanaṃ bhavet | vrajecca śoṣaṃ makarālayo'rṇavaḥ | plaveyurapyadrivarā mahāmbudhau | na cārjuno jeṣyati karṇamāhave

The earth might turn over, the ocean, home of sea creatures, might dry up, and the greatest mountains might float on the great waters — yet Arjuna will not defeat Karna in battle.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick that opens the passage (verses 44–45; a wiki mark, closed by the apostrophe at the end of verse 45). The page splits a sandhi across the line break (भवे-- । / द्व्रजेच्च); written here with the word-ends resolved (भवेत् । / व्रजेच्च), the line division kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the four lines are its star passage 8.64.31d*1024_01–04, printed after 8.64.31d.

Verse 45 (8.94.45)

अपां पृथिव्या नभसो नभस्वतः । सुतिग्मदीप्तेश्च हिरण्यरेतसः । अभाव एषामपि सर्वतो भवेत् । न चार्जुनो जेष्यति कर्णमाहवे ॥

apāṃ pṛthivyā nabhaso nabhasvataḥ | sutigmadīpteśca hiraṇyaretasaḥ | abhāva eṣāmapi sarvato bhavet | na cārjuno jeṣyati karṇamāhave

Even if water, earth, sky, wind and the blazing fire should all utterly cease to be, Arjuna will still not defeat Karna in battle.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (भवे-- । / न्न); written here with the word-ends resolved (भवेत् । / न), the line division kept. Removed the stray apostrophe at the end of the verse (a wiki mark closing the passage opened by the backtick in verse 44). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the four lines are its star passage 8.64.31d*1024_05–08.

Verse 46 (8.94.46)

तमेवमुक्त्वाऽप्यनुनीय चासकृत् । तवात्मजः स्वाननुशास्ति सैनिकान् । द्रुतं घ्नताभिद्रवताहितानिमान् । अहीनसत्वाः किमु जोषमासते ॥

tamevamuktvā'pyanunīya cāsakṛt | tavātmajaḥ svānanuśāsti sainikān | drutaṃ ghnatābhidravatāhitānimān | ahīnasatvāḥ kimu joṣamāsate

Having spoken thus to him and soothed him again and again, your son commanded his own soldiers: 'Strike quickly, rush upon these enemies! Why do you sit silent, you of undiminished strength?'

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (चासकृ-- । / त्तवात्मजः); written here with the word-ends resolved (चासकृत् । / तवात्मजः), the line division kept. The page splits a sandhi across the line break (हितानिमा-- । / नहीनसत्वाः); written here with the word-ends resolved (हितानिमान् । / अहीनसत्वाः), the line division kept. Speaker: pure narration by Sanjaya; the last two lines are Duryodhana's order to his soldiers. The page ends here with its colophon (अध्याय 94) and prints only footnotes after the table (glosses on 94-6, 7, 8, 23 and 41), which are not added.