The Owl and the Crows; Ashvatthama's Fatal Resolve

Verse 1 (10.1.1)

ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे प्रयाता दक्षिणामुखाः । उपास्तमयवेलायां शिबिराभ्याशमागताः ॥

tataste sahitāḥ sarve prayātā dakṣiṇāmukhāḥ | upāstamayavelāyāṃ śibirābhyāśamāgatāḥ

Then all of them, gathered together, set out facing south, and at the hour of sunset they came close to the camp.

Note on the text: Dropped the preceding input row (wikisource_number 1): the opening श्रीवेदव्यासाय नमः and the invocation नारायणं नमस्कृत्य … ततो जयमुदीरयेत् are non-verse lines (the invocation is the critical edition's star passage 10.0.0*0001). The page prints this opening verse once, after the सञ्जय उवाच heading and in its own row; it carries the same label 10-1-1 as the invocation row, which is why the numbering looked repeated to the parser. No duplicate of the verse and no further opening verse is on the page. Recension variant of CE 10.1.1 (CE tatas te sahitā vīrāḥ), kept.

Verse 2 (10.1.2)

विमुच्य वाहांस्त्वरिता भीताः समनुबोधनात् । गहनं देशमासाद्य प्रच्छन्ना न्यविशन्त ते ॥

vimucya vāhāṃstvaritā bhītāḥ samanubodhanāt | gahanaṃ deśamāsādya pracchannā nyaviśanta te

Hurriedly unyoking their horses, in fear of being discovered, they reached a dense stretch of wilderness and settled there in hiding.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 10.1.2 (line 1 ends samabhavaṃs tadā in the CE), kept.

Verse 3 (10.1.3)

सेनानिवेशमभितो नातिदूरमवस्थिताः । निकृत्ता निशितैः शस्त्रैः समन्तात्क्षतविक्षताः । दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य पाण्डवानन्वचिन्तयन् ॥

senāniveśamabhito nātidūramavasthitāḥ | nikṛttā niśitaiḥ śastraiḥ samantātkṣatavikṣatāḥ | dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasya pāṇḍavānanvacintayan

They stayed not far from the encampment, hacked by sharp weapons and wounded on every side, and sighing long and hot, they brooded on the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets Wikisource prints around line 2 (an editorial bracket mark) and the stray extra daṇḍa after it. Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 10-1-3a/b/c): line 1 = CE 10.1.3a, line 2 = CE 10.1.3c (nikṛttā niśitaiḥ śastraiḥ …), line 3 = CE 10.1.4a (dīrgham uṣṇaṃ ca …); the CE does not bracket line 2.

Verse 4 (10.1.4)

श्रुत्वा च निनदं घोरं पाण्डवानां जयैषिणाम् । अनुसारभयाद्भीताः प्राङ्मुखाः प्राद्रवन्पुनः ॥

śrutvā ca ninadaṃ ghoraṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ jayaiṣiṇām | anusārabhayādbhītāḥ prāṅmukhāḥ prādravanpunaḥ

Hearing the dreadful roar of the Pandavas, eager for victory, and afraid of being pursued, they fled again, facing east.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 10.1.4c, line 2 = CE 10.1.5a.

Verse 5 (10.1.5)

ते मुहूर्तात्ततो गत्वा श्रान्तवाहाः पिपासिताः । नामृष्यन्त महेष्वासाः क्रोधामर्षवशङ्गताः ॥

te muhūrtāttato gatvā śrāntavāhāḥ pipāsitāḥ | nāmṛṣyanta maheṣvāsāḥ krodhāmarṣavaśaṅgatāḥ

After going on for a little while, with their horses worn out and themselves thirsty, those great archers, in the grip of anger and indignation, could not bear it.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रान्तवाहा → श्रान्तवाहाः (misprint in Wikisource; the visarga is dropped, and the plural nominative before पिपासिताः needs it; CE śrāntavāhāḥ). Line 1 = CE 10.1.5c, line 2 = CE 10.1.6a.

Verse 6 (10.1.6)

राज्ञो वधेन सन्तप्ता मुहूर्तं समवस्थिताः ॥

rājño vadhena santaptā muhūrtaṃ samavasthitāḥ

Tormented by the killing of the king, they stood still for a moment.

Note on the text: Single line on the page (10-1-6a) = CE 10.1.6c.

Verse 7 (10.1.7)

अश्रद्धेयमिदं कर्म कृतं भीमेन सञ्जय । यत्स नागायुतप्राणः पुत्रो मम निपातितः ॥

aśraddheyamidaṃ karma kṛtaṃ bhīmena sañjaya | yatsa nāgāyutaprāṇaḥ putro mama nipātitaḥ

This deed of Bhima's is beyond belief, Sanjaya, that my son, who had the strength of ten thousand elephants, was struck down.

Note on the text: Corrected मीमेन → भीमेन (misprint in Wikisource; म for भ; CE bhīmena).

Verse 8 (10.1.8)

अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां वज्रसंहननो युवा । पाण्डवैः समरे पुत्रो निहतो मम निपातितः ॥

avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ vajrasaṃhanano yuvā | pāṇḍavaiḥ samare putro nihato mama nipātitaḥ

He could not be slain by any creature, young, with a body hard as a thunderbolt; yet my son was killed by the Pandavas in battle, struck down.

Note on the text: Line 2 ends निहतो मम निपातितः where the CE has nihato mama saṃjaya (recension variant, grammatical; the repetition of निपातितः from the neighbouring verses is Wikisource's reading), kept.

Verse 9 (10.1.9)

न दिष्टमभ्यतिक्रान्तुं शक्यं गावल्गणे नरैः । यत्समेत्य रणे पार्थैः पुत्रो मम निपातितः ॥

na diṣṭamabhyatikrāntuṃ śakyaṃ gāvalgaṇe naraiḥ | yatsametya raṇe pārthaiḥ putro mama nipātitaḥ

O son of Gavalgana, men cannot overstep what is destined, for my son met the sons of Pritha in battle and was brought down.

Verse 10 (10.1.10)

अद्रिसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मम सञ्जय । हतं पुत्रशतं श्रुत्वा यन्न दीर्णं सहस्रधा ॥

adrisāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama sañjaya | hataṃ putraśataṃ śrutvā yanna dīrṇaṃ sahasradhā

My heart, Sanjaya, must surely be made of the very core of rock, since it did not burst into a thousand pieces on hearing that my hundred sons were slain.

Verse 11 (10.1.11)

कथं हि वृद्धमिथुनं हतपुत्रं भविष्यति । न ह्यहं पाण्डुपुत्रस्य विषये वस्तुमुत्सहे ॥

kathaṃ hi vṛddhamithunaṃ hataputraṃ bhaviṣyati | na hyahaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya viṣaye vastumutsahe

How will an aged couple, with their sons slain, go on living? I cannot bear to dwell in the realm of Pandu's son.

Verse 12 (10.1.12)

कथं राज्ञः पिता भूत्वा स्वयं राजा च सञ्जय । प्रेष्यभूतः प्रवर्तेयं पाण्डवेयस्य शासनात् ॥

kathaṃ rājñaḥ pitā bhūtvā svayaṃ rājā ca sañjaya | preṣyabhūtaḥ pravarteyaṃ pāṇḍaveyasya śāsanāt

How, Sanjaya, having been a king's father and a king myself, shall I live as a servant under the Pandava's command?

Verse 13 (10.1.13)

प्रभुज्य पृथिवीं सर्वां स्थित्वा मूर्धनि सञ्जय । कथमद्य भविष्यामि श्रोतुं शक्ष्यामि सञ्जय ॥

prabhujya pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ sthitvā mūrdhani sañjaya | kathamadya bhaviṣyāmi śrotuṃ śakṣyāmi sañjaya

Sanjaya, having enjoyed the whole earth and stood at the head of it, how shall I be today? Shall I be able to bear hearing it, Sanjaya?

Note on the text: Corrected स्थिता → स्थित्वा (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct is lost and स्थिता does not agree with the king; CE sthitvā). Line 1 is a variant of CE 10.1.13a (CE ājñāpya pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ sthitvā mūrdhni ca saṃjaya). Line 2 (कथमद्य भविष्यामि श्रोतुं शक्ष्यामि सञ्जय) joins CE 10.1.13c's first words to CE 14a's last words (kathaṃ bhīmasya vākyāni śrotuṃ śakṣyāmi saṃjaya); it is grammatical as printed, so it is kept as Wikisource's reading.

Verse 14 (10.1.14)

येन पुत्रशतं पूर्णमेकेन निहतं मम । कृतं सत्यं वचस्तस्य विदुरस्य महात्मनः ॥

yena putraśataṃ pūrṇamekena nihataṃ mama | kṛtaṃ satyaṃ vacastasya vidurasya mahātmanaḥ

He by whom alone my full hundred sons were slain has made true the word of the great-souled Vidura.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 10.1.14c, line 2 = CE 10.1.15a (variant: CE kṛtaṃ satyaṃ vacas tasya).

Verse 15 (10.1.15)

अकुर्वता वचस्तस्य मम पुत्रेण सञ्जय । अधर्मेण हते तात पुत्रे दुर्योधने मम ॥

akurvatā vacastasya mama putreṇa sañjaya | adharmeṇa hate tāta putre duryodhane mama

Sanjaya, my son did not heed Vidura's words; and now, my dear, that my son Duryodhana has been slain by unrighteous means,

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 10.1.15c, line 2 = CE 10.1.16a.

Verse 16 (10.1.16)

कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिः किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥

kṛtavarmā kṛpo drauṇiḥ kimakurvata sañjaya

what did Kritavarma, Kripa and Drona's son do, Sanjaya?

Note on the text: Single line on the page (10-1-16a) = CE 10.1.16c.

Verse 17 (10.1.17)

गत्वा तु तावका राजन्नातिदूरं मनस्विनः । अपश्यन्त वनं घोरं नानाद्रुमलतावृतम् ॥

gatvā tu tāvakā rājannātidūraṃ manasvinaḥ | apaśyanta vanaṃ ghoraṃ nānādrumalatāvṛtam

O king, your men, the high-minded ones, went on not far, and saw a dreadful forest overgrown with many kinds of trees and creepers.

Verse 18 (10.1.18)

ते मुहूर्तं तु विश्रम्य लब्धतोयैर्हयोत्तमैः । सूर्यास्तमयवेलायां कौरवेयस्य शासनात् ॥

te muhūrtaṃ tu viśramya labdhatoyairhayottamaiḥ | sūryāstamayavelāyāṃ kauraveyasya śāsanāt

After resting a little, with their splendid horses watered, they went on at sunset, at the command of the Kaurava.

Verse 19 (10.1.19)

नानामृगगणैर्जुष्टं नानापक्षिभिराकुलम् । नानाद्रुमलताच्छन्नं नानाव्यालनिषेवितम् ॥

nānāmṛgagaṇairjuṣṭaṃ nānāpakṣibhirākulam | nānādrumalatācchannaṃ nānāvyālaniṣevitam

It was a forest haunted by many herds of beasts and crowded with many kinds of birds, covered with many trees and creepers, and frequented by many kinds of beasts of prey.

Verse 20 (10.1.20)

नानातोयसमाकीर्णैस्तटाकैरुपशोभितम् । पद्मिनीशतसञ्छन्नं नीलोत्पलसमायुतम् ॥

nānātoyasamākīrṇaistaṭākairupaśobhitam | padminīśatasañchannaṃ nīlotpalasamāyutam

It was adorned with pools filled with many kinds of water, covered with hundreds of lotus-beds and thick with blue lotuses.

Verse 21 (10.1.21)

प्रविश्य तद्वनं घोरं वीक्षमाणाः समन्ततः । शाखासहस्रसञ्छन्नं न्यग्रोधं ददृशुस्ततः ॥

praviśya tadvanaṃ ghoraṃ vīkṣamāṇāḥ samantataḥ | śākhāsahasrasañchannaṃ nyagrodhaṃ dadṛśustataḥ

Entering that dreadful forest and looking all around, they then saw a banyan tree covered with thousands of branches.

Verse 22 (10.1.22)

उपेत्य तु तदा राजन्न्यग्रोधं ते महारथाः । ददृशुर्द्विपदां श्रेष्ठाः श्रेष्ठं तं वै वनस्पतिम् ॥

upetya tu tadā rājannyagrodhaṃ te mahārathāḥ | dadṛśurdvipadāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ śreṣṭhaṃ taṃ vai vanaspatim

Coming up to the banyan, O king, those great chariot-warriors, the best of men, looked upon that finest of forest trees.

Verse 23 (10.1.23)

तेऽवतीर्य रथेभ्यश्च विप्रमुच्य च वाजिनः । उपस्पृश्य यथान्यायं सन्ध्यामन्वासत प्रभो ॥

te'vatīrya rathebhyaśca vipramucya ca vājinaḥ | upaspṛśya yathānyāyaṃ sandhyāmanvāsata prabho

They got down from their chariots and unyoked their horses; then, having sipped water as the rule requires, they sat down to the evening prayers, O lord.

Verse 24 (10.1.24)

ततोऽस्तं पर्वतश्रेष्ठमनुप्राप्ते दिवाकरे । सर्वस्य जगतो धात्री शर्वरी प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

tato'staṃ parvataśreṣṭhamanuprāpte divākare | sarvasya jagato dhātrī śarvarī pratyapadyata

Then, when the sun had reached the best of mountains, night, the nurse of the whole world, came on.

Verse 25 (10.1.25)

ग्रहनक्षत्रताराभिः प्रकीर्णाभिरलङ्कृतम् । नभोऽंशुकमिवाभाति प्रेक्षणीयं समन्ततः ॥

grahanakṣatratārābhiḥ prakīrṇābhiralaṅkṛtam | nabho'ṃśukamivābhāti prekṣaṇīyaṃ samantataḥ

The sky, adorned with planets, constellations and stars scattered across it, shone like a fine cloth, a sight to behold on every side.

Note on the text: Corrected नभोंऽशुकम् → नभोऽंशुकम् (misprint in Wikisource; the anusvara and avagraha are in the wrong order; CE nabho 'ṃśukam).

Verse 26 (10.1.26)

इच्छया ते प्रवल्गन्ति ये सत्वा रात्रिचारिणः । दिवाचराश्च ये सत्वास्ते निद्रावशमागताः ॥

icchayā te pravalganti ye satvā rātricāriṇaḥ | divācarāśca ye satvāste nidrāvaśamāgatāḥ

The creatures that range by night began to prance about at will, while the creatures of the day fell under the sway of sleep.

Verse 27 (10.1.27)

रात्रिञ्चराणां सत्वानां निनादोऽभूत्सुदारुणः । क्रव्यादाश्च प्रमुदिता घोरा प्राप्ता च शर्वरी ॥

rātriñcarāṇāṃ satvānāṃ ninādo'bhūtsudāruṇaḥ | kravyādāśca pramuditā ghorā prāptā ca śarvarī

A terrible clamour rose from the night-ranging creatures; the flesh-eaters rejoiced, for the dreadful night had come.

Verse 28 (10.1.28)

तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे दुःखशोकसमन्विताः । कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिरुपोपविविशुः समम् ॥

tasminrātrimukhe ghore duḥkhaśokasamanvitāḥ | kṛtavarmā kṛpo drauṇirupopaviviśuḥ samam

In that fearful beginning of the night, Kritavarma, Kripa and Drona's son, filled with sorrow and grief, sat down together.

Verse 29 (10.1.29)

उपोपविष्टाः शोचन्तो न्यग्रोधस्य समीपतः । तमेवार्थमतिक्रान्तं कुरुपाण्डवयोः क्षयम् ॥

upopaviṣṭāḥ śocanto nyagrodhasya samīpataḥ | tamevārthamatikrāntaṃ kurupāṇḍavayoḥ kṣayam

Sitting near the banyan, grieving, they dwelt on that same matter now past, the destruction of the Kurus and the Pandavas.

Verse 30 (10.1.30)

निद्रया च परीताङ्गा निषेदुर्धरणीतले । श्रमेण सुदृढं युक्ता विक्षता विविधैः शरैः ॥

nidrayā ca parītāṅgā niṣedurdharaṇītale | śrameṇa sudṛḍhaṃ yuktā vikṣatā vividhaiḥ śaraiḥ

Their limbs overcome with sleep, they sank down on the ground, firmly gripped by weariness and wounded by many kinds of arrows.

Verse 31 (10.1.31)

ततो निद्रावशं प्राप्तौ कृपभोजौ महाबलौ । सुखोचितावदुःखार्हौ निषण्णौ धरणीतले ॥

tato nidrāvaśaṃ prāptau kṛpabhojau mahābalau | sukhocitāvaduḥkhārhau niṣaṇṇau dharaṇītale

Then Kripa and Bhoja, the two mighty men, fell under the power of sleep, though they were used to comfort and did not deserve hardship, and lay down on the ground.

Note on the text: Corrected महाबालौ → महाबलौ (misprint in Wikisource; long ā for a; the CE star passage 10.1.53c*0006_01 reads kṛpabhojau mahābalau, and this verse's CE line 31a has mahārathau). Lines 1–2 = CE 10.1.31a, 31c.

Verse 32 (10.1.32)

तौ तु सुप्तौ महाराज तस्मिन्देशे महारथौ । महार्हशयनोपेतौ भूमावेव ह्यनाथवत् ॥

tau tu suptau mahārāja tasmindeśe mahārathau | mahārhaśayanopetau bhūmāveva hyanāthavat

O great king, those two great chariot-warriors slept there in that place, though accustomed to costly beds, lying on the bare ground like men with no protector.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets Wikisource prints around line 2 and the stray extra daṇḍa inside them. Line 1 is a variant of CE 10.1.31e (CE tau tu suptau mahārāja śramaśokasamanvitau); line 2 is the CE star passage 10.1.31c*0004_01. The page's commentary notes that शयन… is to be read with 'formerly' understood.

Verse 33 (10.1.33)

क्रोधामर्षवशं प्राप्तो द्रोणपुत्रस्तु भारत । न वै स्म स जगामाथ निद्रां सर्प इव श्वसन् ॥

krodhāmarṣavaśaṃ prāpto droṇaputrastu bhārata | na vai sma sa jagāmātha nidrāṃ sarpa iva śvasan

But Drona's son, O Bharata, was overpowered by anger and indignation, and did not sleep; he sighed like a snake.

Verse 34 (10.1.34)

न लेभे स तु निद्रां वै दह्यमानोऽतिमन्युना । वीक्षाञ्चक्रे महाबाहुस्तद्वनं घोरदर्शनम् ॥

na lebhe sa tu nidrāṃ vai dahyamāno'timanyunā | vīkṣāñcakre mahābāhustadvanaṃ ghoradarśanam

Burning with great fury, he found no sleep; the mighty-armed one looked about at that dreadful-looking forest.

Verse 35 (10.1.35)

वीक्षमाणो वनोद्देशं नानासत्वैर्निषेवितम् । अपश्यत महाबाहुर्न्यग्रोधं वायसावृतम् ॥

vīkṣamāṇo vanoddeśaṃ nānāsatvairniṣevitam | apaśyata mahābāhurnyagrodhaṃ vāyasāvṛtam

Looking over the forest, haunted by many kinds of creatures, the mighty-armed one saw a banyan tree thick with crows.

Verse 36 (10.1.36)

तत्र काकसहस्राणि तां निशां पर्यणामयन् । सुखं स्वपन्तः कौरव्य पृथक्पृथगुपाश्रयाः ॥

tatra kākasahasrāṇi tāṃ niśāṃ paryaṇāmayan | sukhaṃ svapantaḥ kauravya pṛthakpṛthagupāśrayāḥ

Thousands of crows were passing that night there, O descendant of Kuru, sleeping soundly, each in its own roost.

Verse 37 (10.1.37)

सुप्तेषु तेषु काकेषु विस्रब्धेषु समन्ततः । सोऽपश्यत्सहसा यान्तमुलूकं घोरदर्शनम् ॥

supteṣu teṣu kākeṣu visrabdheṣu samantataḥ | so'paśyatsahasā yāntamulūkaṃ ghoradarśanam

While those crows slept, unsuspecting on every side, he suddenly saw an owl of fearsome look approaching.

Verse 38 (10.1.38)

महास्वनं महाकायं हर्यक्षं बभ्रुपिङ्गलम् । सुतीक्ष्णघोणानखरं सुपर्णमिव वेगितम् ॥

mahāsvanaṃ mahākāyaṃ haryakṣaṃ babhrupiṅgalam | sutīkṣṇaghoṇānakharaṃ suparṇamiva vegitam

It was loud-voiced and huge-bodied, tawny-eyed and brownish-yellow, with a very sharp beak and claws, swift like Garuda.

Verse 39 (10.1.39)

सोऽथ शब्दं मृदुं कृत्वा लीयमान इवाण्डजः । न्यग्रोधस्य ततः शाखां पातयामास भारत ॥

so'tha śabdaṃ mṛduṃ kṛtvā līyamāna ivāṇḍajaḥ | nyagrodhasya tataḥ śākhāṃ pātayāmāsa bhārata

Making only a soft sound, like a bird trying to hide itself, he alighted on a branch of the banyan, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner after ण in इवाण्डजः (a typing artefact). Corrected साखां → शाखां (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; CE śākhāṃ). Line 2 differs from the CE (CE nyagrodhasya tataḥ śākhāṃ prārthayām āsa bhārata: पातयामास for प्रार्थयामास), a recension variant, kept.

Verse 40 (10.1.40)

सन्निपत्य तु शाखायां न्यग्रोधस्य विहङ्गमः । सुप्ताञ्जघान विस्रब्धान्वायसान्वायसान्तकः ॥

sannipatya tu śākhāyāṃ nyagrodhasya vihaṅgamaḥ | suptāñjaghāna visrabdhānvāyasānvāyasāntakaḥ

Dropping onto a branch of the banyan, that bird, the destroyer of crows, struck down the sleeping, unsuspecting crows.

Verse 41 (10.1.41)

केषाञ्चिदच्छिनत्पक्षाञ्शिरांसि च चकर्त ह । चरणांश्चैव केषाञ्चिद्बभञ्ज चरणायुधः ॥

keṣāñcidacchinatpakṣāñśirāṃsi ca cakarta ha | caraṇāṃścaiva keṣāñcidbabhañja caraṇāyudhaḥ

Some he deprived of their wings, the heads of others he cut off, and the legs of others he broke, for his talons were his weapons.

Verse 42 (10.1.42)

क्षणेनाघ्नत्स बलवान्येऽस्य दृष्टिपथे स्थिताः ॥

kṣaṇenāghnatsa balavānye'sya dṛṣṭipathe sthitāḥ

In an instant that mighty creature slew all who stood within his sight.

Note on the text: Single line on the page (10-1-42a) = CE 10.1.41a.

Verse 43 (10.1.43)

तेषां शरीरावयवैः शरीरैश्च विशाम्पते । न्यग्रोधमण्डलं सर्वं सञ्छन्नं पर्वतोपमम् ॥

teṣāṃ śarīrāvayavaiḥ śarīraiśca viśāmpate | nyagrodhamaṇḍalaṃ sarvaṃ sañchannaṃ parvatopamam

O lord of the people, the whole circle of the banyan was covered, like a mountain, with their bodies and the pieces of their bodies.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 10.1.41c; line 2 (सञ्छन्नं पर्वतोपमम्) is a variant of CE 41e (saṃchannaṃ sarvato 'bhavat).

Verse 44 (10.1.44)

तांस्तु हत्वा ततः काकान्कौशिको मुदितोऽभवत् । प्रतिकृत्य यथाकामं शत्रूणां शत्रुसूदनः ॥

tāṃstu hatvā tataḥ kākānkauśiko mudito'bhavat | pratikṛtya yathākāmaṃ śatrūṇāṃ śatrusūdanaḥ

Having slain those crows, the owl, the destroyer of foes, was glad, having taken full revenge on his enemies.

Verse 45 (10.1.45)

तद्दृष्ट्वा तादृशं कर्म कौशिकेन कृतं निशि । तद्भावे कृतसङ्कल्पो द्रौणिरेकोऽन्वचिन्तयत् ॥

taddṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṃ karma kauśikena kṛtaṃ niśi | tadbhāve kṛtasaṅkalpo drauṇireko'nvacintayat

Seeing the deed that the owl had done in the night, Drona's son, resolved to follow its example, alone began to reflect.

Verse 46 (10.1.46)

उपदेशः कृतोऽनेन पक्षिणा मम संयुगे । शत्रूणां क्षपणं युक्तं प्राप्तः कालश्च मे मतः ॥

upadeśaḥ kṛto'nena pakṣiṇā mama saṃyuge | śatrūṇāṃ kṣapaṇaṃ yuktaṃ prāptaḥ kālaśca me mataḥ

He thought: This bird has given me a lesson in battle. It is fitting to destroy my enemies, and the time for it, I believe, has come.

Note on the text: Ashvatthama's unspoken reflection (verses 46–56) stays with the narrator, Sanjaya.

Verse 47 (10.1.47)

नाद्य शक्यं मया हन्तुं पाण्डवा जितकाशिनः । बलवन्तः कृतोत्साहा लब्धलक्षाः प्रहारिणः ॥

nādya śakyaṃ mayā hantuṃ pāṇḍavā jitakāśinaḥ | balavantaḥ kṛtotsāhā labdhalakṣāḥ prahāriṇaḥ

Today I cannot kill the Pandavas; they are victorious, strong and full of spirit, sure of their mark and sure in their blows.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 10.1.45a, 45c (the CE has śakyā, agreeing with पाण्डवाः; Wikisource's शक्यं is an impersonal construction, kept).

Verse 48 (10.1.48)

राज्ञः सकाशे तेषां च प्रतिज्ञातो वधो मया । पतङ्गाग्निसमां वृत्तिमास्यायात्मविनाशिनीम् ॥

rājñaḥ sakāśe teṣāṃ ca pratijñāto vadho mayā | pataṅgāgnisamāṃ vṛttimāsyāyātmavināśinīm

I vowed their death in the presence of the king; yet to take up the way of the moth toward the flame would be to destroy myself.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 10.1.45e; line 2 = CE 10.1.46a.

Verse 49 (10.1.49)

न्यायतो युध्यमानस्य प्राणत्यागो न संशयः । छद्मना तु भवेत्सिद्धिः शत्रूणां च क्षयो महान् ॥

nyāyato yudhyamānasya prāṇatyāgo na saṃśayaḥ | chadmanā tu bhavetsiddhiḥ śatrūṇāṃ ca kṣayo mahān

For one who fights by the rules, loss of life is beyond doubt; by stratagem, however, there will be success and a great destruction of the enemy.

Note on the text: Corrected सिद्विः → सिद्धिः (misprint in Wikisource; द्वि for द्धि; CE siddhiḥ). Line 1 = CE 10.1.46c, line 2 = CE 10.1.46e.

Verse 50 (10.1.50)

तत्र संशयितादर्थाद्योऽर्थो निःसंशयो भवेत् । तं जना बहुमन्यन्ते येऽर्थशास्त्रविशारदाः ॥

tatra saṃśayitādarthādyo'rtho niḥsaṃśayo bhavet | taṃ janā bahumanyante ye'rthaśāstraviśāradāḥ

Of a doubtful gain and a certain one, those versed in the science of policy prize the one that is beyond doubt.

Note on the text: Corrected सशयितात् → संशयितात् (printed सशयितादर्थाद्; misprint in Wikisource, anusvara dropped; CE saṃśayitād).

Verse 51 (10.1.51)

यच्चाप्यत्र भवेत्कार्यं गर्हितं लोकनिन्दितम् । कर्तव्यं तन्मनुष्येण क्षत्रधर्मेण वर्तता ॥

yaccāpyatra bhavetkāryaṃ garhitaṃ lokaninditam | kartavyaṃ tanmanuṣyeṇa kṣatradharmeṇa vartatā

And whatever deed may be called blamable and censured by the world, a man who follows the duty of a kshatriya must do it.

Verse 52 (10.1.52)

निन्दितानि च कर्माणि कुत्सितानि पदेपदे । सोपधानि कृतान्येव पाण्डवैरकृतात्मभिः ॥

ninditāni ca karmāṇi kutsitāni padepade | sopadhāni kṛtānyeva pāṇḍavairakṛtātmabhiḥ

The Pandavas, of unrestrained minds, have at every step done blamable and contemptible deeds, and done them with trickery.

Verse 53 (10.1.53)

अस्मिन्नर्थे पुरा गीताः श्रूयन्ते धर्मवित्तमैः । श्लोका न्यायमवेक्षद्भिस्तत्त्वार्थास्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ॥

asminnarthe purā gītāḥ śrūyante dharmavittamaiḥ | ślokā nyāyamavekṣadbhistattvārthāstattvadarśibhiḥ

On this matter, verses sung long ago are heard, composed by those most learned in dharma, who looked to policy and saw the truth, and they speak of the real meaning of things.

Verse 54 (10.1.54)

परिश्रान्ते विदीर्णे वा भुञ्जाने वाऽपि शत्रुभिः । प्रस्थाने वा प्रवेशे वा प्रहर्तव्यं रिपोर्बलम् ॥

pariśrānte vidīrṇe vā bhuñjāne vā'pi śatrubhiḥ | prasthāne vā praveśe vā prahartavyaṃ riporbalam

An enemy's force should be struck when it is worn out, or broken, or eating, or on the march, or entering a place.

Verse 55 (10.1.55)

निद्रार्तमर्धरात्रे च तथा नष्टप्रणायकम् । भिन्नयोधं बलं यच्च द्विधा युक्तं च यद्भवेत् ॥

nidrārtamardharātre ca tathā naṣṭapraṇāyakam | bhinnayodhaṃ balaṃ yacca dvidhā yuktaṃ ca yadbhavet

Or when it is oppressed by sleep at midnight, or has lost its leader, or its warriors are divided, or it is split in two.

Verse 56 (10.1.56)

इत्येवं निश्चयं चक्रे सुप्तानां निशि मारणे । पाण्डूनां सह पाञ्चालैर्द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान् ॥

ityevaṃ niścayaṃ cakre suptānāṃ niśi māraṇe | pāṇḍūnāṃ saha pāñcālairdroṇaputraḥ pratāpavān

So did the mighty son of Drona resolve to kill the Pandavas along with the Panchalas as they slept at night.

Verse 57 (10.1.57)

स क्रूरां मतिमास्थाय विनिश्चित्य मुहुर्मुहुः । सुप्तौ प्राबोधयत्तौ तु मातुलं भोजमेव च ॥

sa krūrāṃ matimāsthāya viniścitya muhurmuhuḥ | suptau prābodhayattau tu mātulaṃ bhojameva ca

Having taken that cruel resolve, and having made his decision again and again, he woke the two sleepers, his maternal uncle and Bhoja.

Verse 58 (10.1.58)

तौ प्रबुद्धौ महात्मानौ कृपभोजौ महाबलौ । नोत्तरं प्रतिपद्येतां तत्र युक्तं हिया वृतौ ॥

tau prabuddhau mahātmānau kṛpabhojau mahābalau | nottaraṃ pratipadyetāṃ tatra yuktaṃ hiyā vṛtau

The two great-souled and mighty men, Kripa and Bhoja, woke, and, covered with shame, found no fitting reply to make.

Note on the text: Corrected महाबालौ → महाबलौ (misprint in Wikisource; long ā for a; CE star passage 10.1.53c*0006_01 reads kṛpabhojau mahābalau). Line 1 is the CE star passage 10.1.53c*0006_01 (tau prabuddhau mahātmānau kṛpabhojau mahābalau), not in the CE's constituted text; line 2 is a variant of CE 10.1.55a (CE nottaraṃ pratipede ca tatra yuktaṃ hriyā vṛtaḥ, singular).

Verse 59 (10.1.59)

स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा तावुभौ वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

sa muhūrtamiva dhyātvā tāvubhau vākyamabravīt

After pondering for a moment, he spoke to the two of them.

Note on the text: Single line on the page (10-1-59a); a variant of CE 10.1.55c (CE sa muhūrtam iva dhyātvā bāṣpavihvalam abravīt). The speech that follows (verses 60–70) is printed with no speaker heading.

Verse 60 (10.1.60)

हतो दुर्योधनो राजा एकवीरो महाबलः । यस्यार्थे वैरमस्माभिरासक्तं पाण्डवैः सह ॥

hato duryodhano rājā ekavīro mahābalaḥ | yasyārthe vairamasmābhirāsaktaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha

King Duryodhana is slain, the one great hero of mighty strength, for whose sake we have bound ourselves in enmity with the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Corrected मबाहलः → महाबलः (misprint in Wikisource; letters transposed; CE mahābalaḥ). Speaker: Ashvatthama. The page has no heading here, but verse 59 introduces his speech (स … तावुभौ वाक्यमब्रवीत्) and verses 60–70 are that speech; the page ends with the speech still open.

Verse 61 (10.1.61)

एकाकी बहुभिः क्षुद्रैराहवे शुद्धविक्रमः । पातितो भीमसेनेन एकादशचमूपतिः ॥

ekākī bahubhiḥ kṣudrairāhave śuddhavikramaḥ | pātito bhīmasenena ekādaśacamūpatiḥ

Alone, in battle, by many base men, though pure in valour, he was felled by Bhimasena, he who was the lord of eleven armies.

Verse 62 (10.1.62)

वृकोदरेण क्षुद्रेण सुनृशंसमिदं कृतम् । मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य शिरः पादेन परिमृद्नता ॥

vṛkodareṇa kṣudreṇa sunṛśaṃsamidaṃ kṛtam | mūrdhābhiṣiktasya śiraḥ pādena parimṛdnatā

Base Vrikodara has done a most cruel thing: he trampled with his foot on the head of an anointed king.

Note on the text: Corrected परिमृद्गता → परिमृद्नता (misprint in Wikisource; ग for न; CE parimṛdnatā).

Verse 63 (10.1.63)

विनर्दन्ति च पाञ्चालाः क्ष्वेलन्ति च हसन्ति च । धमन्ति शङ्खाञ्शतशो हृष्टा घ्नन्ति च दुन्दुभीन् ॥

vinardanti ca pāñcālāḥ kṣvelanti ca hasanti ca | dhamanti śaṅkhāñśataśo hṛṣṭā ghnanti ca dundubhīn

The Panchalas roar, jeer and laugh; delighted, they blow conches by the hundred and beat their drums.

Verse 64 (10.1.64)

वादित्रघोषस्तुमुलो विमिश्रः शङ्खनिःस्वनैः । अनिलेनेरितो घोरो दिशः पूरयतीव ह ॥

vāditraghoṣastumulo vimiśraḥ śaṅkhaniḥsvanaiḥ | anilenerito ghoro diśaḥ pūrayatīva ha

The tumultuous din of instruments, mingled with the blare of conches, carried by the wind, seems to fill all the quarters.

Verse 65 (10.1.65)

अश्वानां हेषमाणानां गजानां चैव बृंहताम् । सिंहनादश्च शूराणां श्रूयते सुमहानयम् ॥

aśvānāṃ heṣamāṇānāṃ gajānāṃ caiva bṛṃhatām | siṃhanādaśca śūrāṇāṃ śrūyate sumahānayam

The neighing of horses, the trumpeting of elephants, and the lion-roars of warriors, all this vast sound is heard.

Verse 66 (10.1.66)

दिशं प्राचीं समाश्रित्य हृष्टानां गच्छतां भृशम् । रथनेमिस्वनाश्चैव श्रूयन्ते रोमहर्षणाः ॥

diśaṃ prācīṃ samāśritya hṛṣṭānāṃ gacchatāṃ bhṛśam | rathanemisvanāścaiva śrūyante romaharṣaṇāḥ

The exultant ones are hurrying toward the eastern quarter, and the sound of their chariot wheels, which makes the hair stand on end, is heard.

Verse 67 (10.1.67)

पाण्डवैर्धार्तराष्ट्राणां यदिदं कदनं कृतम् । वयमेव त्रयः शिष्टा अस्मिन्महति वैशसे ॥

pāṇḍavairdhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ yadidaṃ kadanaṃ kṛtam | vayameva trayaḥ śiṣṭā asminmahati vaiśase

In this slaughter that the Pandavas have wrought upon the Dhartarashtras, we three alone are left in this great carnage.

Verse 68 (10.1.68)

केचिन्नागशतप्राणाः केचित्सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः । निहताः पाण्डवैर्यस्मिन्मन्ये कालस्य पर्ययम् ॥

kecinnāgaśataprāṇāḥ kecitsarvāstrakovidāḥ | nihatāḥ pāṇḍavairyasminmanye kālasya paryayam

Some had the strength of a hundred elephants, others were masters of all weapons, yet they were slain by the Pandavas; I take this to be a turn of Time.

Verse 69 (10.1.69)

एवमेतेन भाव्यं हि नूनं कार्येण तत्त्वतः । यथा ह्यस्येदृशी निष्ठा कृते यत्नेऽपि दुष्करे ॥

evametena bhāvyaṃ hi nūnaṃ kāryeṇa tattvataḥ | yathā hyasyedṛśī niṣṭhā kṛte yatne'pi duṣkare

Surely it must have been so, in the true nature of things, since this is how it has ended, even though effort was made in so hard an undertaking.

Verse 70 (10.1.70)

भवतोस्तु यदि प्रज्ञा न मोहादपचीयते । व्यसनेऽस्मिन्महत्यर्थे यन्नः श्रेयस्तदुच्यताम् ॥

bhavatostu yadi prajñā na mohādapacīyate | vyasane'sminmahatyarthe yannaḥ śreyastaducyatām

If your judgement is not clouded by delusion, tell us what is best for us in this great calamity.