Krishna Warns Yudhishthira of Ashvatthama’s Weapon

Verse 1 (10.12.1)

तस्मिन्प्रयाते दुर्धर्षे यदूनामृषभस्ततः । अब्रवीत्पुण्डरीकाक्षः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

tasminprayāte durdharṣe yadūnāmṛṣabhastataḥ | abravītpuṇḍarīkākṣaḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram

After that unassailable warrior had gone, Krishna, the lotus-eyed bull of the Yadus, spoke to Yudhishthira, son of Kunti.

Verse 2 (10.12.2)

एष पाण्डव ते भ्राता पुत्रशोकपरायणः । जिघांसुर्द्रौणिमाक्रन्दे एक एवाभिधावति ॥

eṣa pāṇḍava te bhrātā putraśokaparāyaṇaḥ | jighāṃsurdrauṇimākrande eka evābhidhāvati

Pandava, this brother of yours, wholly given over to grief for his sons, is running alone through the tumult after Drona’s son, longing to kill him.

Note on the text: Corrected पाण्‍डवे → पाण्डव (misprint in Wikisource; a stray joiner and a wrong ending; the vocative पाण्डव, as the critical edition (10.12.2) has it). Speaker: from here to the end of the adhyaya the page prints no new heading, but the speaker is Krishna (Vasudeva) addressing Yudhishthira (the page’s one heading, वैशम्पायन, covers only the opening verse); the quoted words of Drona, Ashvatthama and Krishna himself within his speech stay with him.

Verse 3 (10.12.3)

भीमः प्रियस्ते सर्वेभ्यो भ्रातृभ्यो भरतर्षभ । तं कृच्छ्रगतमद्य त्वं कस्मान्नाभ्युपपद्यसे ॥

bhīmaḥ priyaste sarvebhyo bhrātṛbhyo bharatarṣabha | taṃ kṛcchragatamadya tvaṃ kasmānnābhyupapadyase

Of all your brothers, Bhima is the dearest to you, O best of the Bharatas. Why do you not go to his aid today, now that he has fallen into peril?

Verse 4 (10.12.4)

यत्तदाचष्ट पुत्राय द्रोणः परपुरञ्जयः । अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम दहेत पृथिवीमपि ॥

yattadācaṣṭa putrāya droṇaḥ parapurañjayaḥ | astraṃ brahmaśiro nāma daheta pṛthivīmapi

The weapon named Brahmashiras, which would burn up even the earth, which Drona, conqueror of enemy cities, taught to his son —

Verse 5 (10.12.5)

तन्महात्मा महाभागः केतुः सर्वधनुष्मताम् । प्रत्यपादयदाचार्यः प्रीयमाणो धनञ्जयम् ॥

tanmahātmā mahābhāgaḥ ketuḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām | pratyapādayadācāryaḥ prīyamāṇo dhanañjayam

that same weapon the great-souled and illustrious teacher, the banner of all bowmen, handed over to Dhananjaya, being pleased with him.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रत्यपायदाचार्यः → प्रत्यपादयदाचार्यः (misprint in Wikisource; not a word here; the critical edition (10.12.5) has pratyapādayat, “handed over”).

Verse 6 (10.12.6)

तं पुत्रोऽप्येक एवैनमन्वयाचदमर्षणः । ततः प्रोवाच पुत्राय नातिहृष्टमना इव ॥

taṃ putro'pyeka evainamanvayācadamarṣaṇaḥ | tataḥ provāca putrāya nātihṛṣṭamanā iva

His son, too, impatient of being passed over, begged him for it, alone; then Drona, as though not greatly pleased in mind, said to his son —

Verse 7 (10.12.7)

विदितं चापलं ह्यासीदात्मजस्य दुरात्मनः । सर्वधर्मविदाचार्यः सोऽन्वशासत्सुतं ततः ॥

viditaṃ cāpalaṃ hyāsīdātmajasya durātmanaḥ | sarvadharmavidācāryaḥ so'nvaśāsatsutaṃ tataḥ

for he knew the fickleness of his wicked son, and so the teacher, who understood every form of dharma, instructed him.

Verse 8 (10.12.8)

परमापद्गतेनापि न स्म तात त्वया रणे । इदमस्त्रं प्रयोक्तव्यं मानुषेषु विशेषतः ॥

paramāpadgatenāpi na sma tāta tvayā raṇe | idamastraṃ prayoktavyaṃ mānuṣeṣu viśeṣataḥ

“My son, not even when you have fallen into the gravest distress must you use this weapon in battle, least of all against men.”

Verse 9 (10.12.9)

इत्युक्तवान्गुरुः पुत्रं द्रोणः पश्चादथोक्तवान् । न त्वं जातु सतां मार्गे स्थातेति पुरुषर्षभ ॥

ityuktavānguruḥ putraṃ droṇaḥ paścādathoktavān | na tvaṃ jātu satāṃ mārge sthāteti puruṣarṣabha

Having said this to his son, the teacher Drona afterwards added, O best of men: “You will never keep to the path of the good.”

Note on the text: Corrected इत्युक्त्वान्गुरुः → इत्युक्तवान्गुरुः (misprint in Wikisource; a doubled त् / stray conjunct; the critical edition (10.12.9) has ity uktavān guruḥ). Corrected पश्चाथोक्तवान् → पश्चादथोक्तवान् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped द; the critical edition has paścād athoktavān).

Verse 10 (10.12.10)

स तदाज्ञाय दुष्टात्मा पितुर्वचनमप्रियम् । निराशः सर्वकल्याणैः शोकात्पर्यचरन्महीम् ॥

sa tadājñāya duṣṭātmā piturvacanamapriyam | nirāśaḥ sarvakalyāṇaiḥ śokātparyacaranmahīm

Understanding his father’s unwelcome words, that wicked-hearted man, cut off from every good, wandered the earth in grief.

Verse 11 (10.12.11)

ततस्तदा कुरुश्रेष्ठ वनस्थे त्वयि भारत । अवसद्द्वारकामेत्य वृष्णिभिः परमार्चितः ॥

tatastadā kuruśreṣṭha vanasthe tvayi bhārata | avasaddvārakāmetya vṛṣṇibhiḥ paramārcitaḥ

Then, O best of the Kurus, O Bharata, while you were living in the forest, he came to Dvaraka and stayed there, highly honoured by the Vrishnis.

Verse 12 (10.12.12)

स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते वसन्द्वारवतीमनु । एक एकं समागम्य मामुवाच हसन्निव ॥

sa kadācitsamudrānte vasandvāravatīmanu | eka ekaṃ samāgamya māmuvāca hasanniva

Once, as he was living at Dvaravati by the sea, he met me alone and said to me, smiling as it were:

Verse 13 (10.12.13)

यत्तदुग्रं तपः कृष्ण चरन्नमितविक्रमः । अगस्त्याद्भारताचार्यः प्रत्यपद्यत मे पिता ॥

yattadugraṃ tapaḥ kṛṣṇa carannamitavikramaḥ | agastyādbhāratācāryaḥ pratyapadyata me pitā

“Krishna, my father, the teacher of the Bharatas, of boundless prowess, practised fierce austerity and obtained from Agastya

Verse 14 (10.12.14)

अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम देवगन्धर्वपूजितम् । तदद्य मयि दाशार्ह यथा पितरि मे तथा ॥

astraṃ brahmaśiro nāma devagandharvapūjitam | tadadya mayi dāśārha yathā pitari me tathā

the weapon called Brahmashiras, honoured by gods and gandharvas. That weapon, O Dasharha, is now in me just as it was in my father.

Verse 15 (10.12.15)

अस्मत्तदुपादाय दिव्यमस्त्रं यदूत्तम । ममाप्यस्त्रं प्रयच्छ त्वं चक्रं रिपुहणं रणे ॥

asmattadupādāya divyamastraṃ yadūttama | mamāpyastraṃ prayaccha tvaṃ cakraṃ ripuhaṇaṃ raṇe

Take that divine weapon from me, O best of the Yadus, and give me in return your weapon, the discus that destroys enemies in battle.”

Note on the text: Corrected अस्मत्तस्दुपादाय → अस्मत्तदुपादाय (misprint in Wikisource; a stray स्; the critical edition (10.12.15) has asmattas tad upādāya). Corrected ममाप्यस्‌रं → ममाप्यस्त्रं (misprint in Wikisource; the त् of स्त्र is lost behind a zero-width joiner).

Verse 16 (10.12.16)

स राजन्प्रीयमाणेन मयाप्युक्तः कृताञ्जलिः । याचमानः प्रयत्नेन मत्तोऽस्त्रं भरतर्षभ ॥

sa rājanprīyamāṇena mayāpyuktaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | yācamānaḥ prayatnena matto'straṃ bharatarṣabha

O king, as he stood with joined palms, earnestly begging a weapon from me, I too answered him kindly, O best of the Bharatas:

Verse 17 (10.12.17)

देवदानवगन्धर्वमनुष्यपतगोरगाः । न समा मम वीर्यस्य शतांशेनापि पिण्डिताः ॥

devadānavagandharvamanuṣyapatagoragāḥ | na samā mama vīryasya śatāṃśenāpi piṇḍitāḥ

“Gods, danavas, gandharvas, men, birds and serpents, all massed together, do not equal even a hundredth part of my might.

Verse 18 (10.12.18)

इदं धनुरियं शक्तिरिदं चक्रमियं गदा । यद्यदिच्छसि चेदस्त्रं मत्तस्तत्तद्ददामि ते ॥

idaṃ dhanuriyaṃ śaktiridaṃ cakramiyaṃ gadā | yadyadicchasi cedastraṃ mattastattaddadāmi te

Here is the bow, here the spear, here the discus, here the mace — whichever weapon you wish for, I will give you that from my own.

Note on the text: Corrected चेदस्‌रं → चेदस्त्रं (misprint in Wikisource; the त् of स्त्र is lost behind a zero-width joiner).

Verse 19 (10.12.19)

यच्छक्नोषि समुद्यन्तुं प्रयोक्तुमपि वा रणे । तद्गृहाण विनाऽस्त्रेण यन्मे दातुमभीप्ससि ॥

yacchaknoṣi samudyantuṃ prayoktumapi vā raṇe | tadgṛhāṇa vinā'streṇa yanme dātumabhīpsasi

Take whichever of these you are able to lift or to wield in battle, even without the weapon that you wish to give me.”

Verse 20 (10.12.20)

स सुनाभं सहस्रारं वज्रनाभमयस्मयम् । वव्रे चक्रं महाभागो मत्तः स्पर्धन्मया सह ॥

sa sunābhaṃ sahasrāraṃ vajranābhamayasmayam | vavre cakraṃ mahābhāgo mattaḥ spardhanmayā saha

Vying with me, that fortunate man chose from me the discus — fine-naved, thousand-spoked, its hub like a thunderbolt, made of iron.

Verse 21 (10.12.21)

गृहाण चक्रमित्युक्तो मया तु तदनन्तरम् । जग्राहोत्पत्य सहसा चक्रं सव्येन पाणिना ॥

gṛhāṇa cakramityukto mayā tu tadanantaram | jagrāhotpatya sahasā cakraṃ savyena pāṇinā

When I said to him, “Take the discus,” he at once leapt up and seized it with his left hand.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; the critical edition has these lines at 10.12.21 (verse 21 has three lines, 21a, 21c, 21e): this verse is 21a (gṛhāṇa cakram ity ukto mayā tu tadanantaram) and 21c (jagrāhopetya sahasā cakraṃ savyena pāṇinā), the second line with a recension variant (utpatya for upetya). Wikisource’s verse 22, line 1, is the critical edition’s 21e.

Verse 22 (10.12.22)

न चैनमशकत्स्थानात्सञ्चालयितुमप्युत । अथैनं दक्षिणेनापि ग्रहीतुमुपचक्रमे ॥

na cainamaśakatsthānātsañcālayitumapyuta | athainaṃ dakṣiṇenāpi grahītumupacakrame

But he could not move it from its place, nor even shake it. Then he tried to take hold of it with his right hand as well.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; line 1 is the critical edition’s 10.12.21e (na caitad aśakat sthānāt saṃcālayitum acyuta, with recension variants) and line 2 is 10.12.22a (atha tad dakṣiṇenāpi grahītum upacakrame).

Verse 23 (10.12.23)

सर्वयत्नेन तेनापि गृह्य नैनमकम्पयत् ॥

sarvayatnena tenāpi gṛhya nainamakampayat

Even with all his effort, though he gripped it, he could not make it so much as tremble.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; the page prints this verse as a single line (labelled 10-12-23a), as in the vulgate. It corresponds to the critical edition’s 10.12.22c (sarvayatnena tenāpi gṛhṇann etad akalpayat), which reads differently in the second half (gṛhṇann etad akalpayat for gṛhya nainam akampayat); the critical edition does not make this a separate verse. Nothing is missing from the page’s own numbering.

Verse 24 (10.12.24)

ततः सर्वबलेनापि यदैनं न शशाक ह । उद्यन्तुं वा चालयितुं द्रौणिः परमदुर्मनाः । कृत्वा यत्नं परिश्रान्तः स न्यवर्तत भारत ॥

tataḥ sarvabalenāpi yadainaṃ na śaśāka ha | udyantuṃ vā cālayituṃ drauṇiḥ paramadurmanāḥ | kṛtvā yatnaṃ pariśrāntaḥ sa nyavartata bhārata

Then, though he used all his strength, when he could neither lift it nor stir it, Drona’s son, utterly dejected and worn out by his efforts, turned away, O Bharata.

Verse 25 (10.12.25)

निवृत्तमनसं तस्मादभिप्रायाद्विचेतसम् । अहमामन्त्र्य संविग्नमश्वत्थामानमब्रुवम् ॥

nivṛttamanasaṃ tasmādabhiprāyādvicetasam | ahamāmantrya saṃvignamaśvatthāmānamabruvam

His mind had turned back from its purpose and he was dazed and shaken; I called Ashvatthama to me and said to him:

Note on the text: Corrected निवृत्मनसं → निवृत्तमनसं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त; the critical edition (10.12.24) has nivṛttam atha taṃ … vicetasam).

Verse 26 (10.12.26)

यः स दैवमनुष्येषु प्रमाणं परमं गतः । गाण्डीवधन्वा श्वेताश्वः कपिप्रवरकेतनः ॥

yaḥ sa daivamanuṣyeṣu pramāṇaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ | gāṇḍīvadhanvā śvetāśvaḥ kapipravaraketanaḥ

“He who has reached the highest standing among gods and men — the wielder of the Gandiva bow, the white-horsed, whose banner bears the great ape —

Note on the text: Corrected श्वेताश्चः → श्वेताश्वः (misprint in Wikisource; ञ्च for श्व; the critical edition (10.12.25) has śvetāśvaḥ).

Verse 27 (10.12.27)

यः साक्षाद्देवदेवेशं शितिकण्ठमुमापतिम् । द्वन्द्वयुद्धे पुरा जिष्णुस्तोषयामास शङ्करम् ॥

yaḥ sākṣāddevadeveśaṃ śitikaṇṭhamumāpatim | dvandvayuddhe purā jiṣṇustoṣayāmāsa śaṅkaram

he who of old, in single combat, pleased Shankara himself, the god of gods, blue-throated husband of Uma, Jishnu —

Verse 28 (10.12.28)

यस्मात्प्रियतरो नास्ति ममान्यः पुरुषो भुवि । नादेयं यस्य मे किञ्चिदपि प्राणान्महात्मनः ॥

yasmātpriyataro nāsti mamānyaḥ puruṣo bhuvi | nādeyaṃ yasya me kiñcidapi prāṇānmahātmanaḥ

than whom no other man on earth is dearer to me, and to whom nothing of mine is ungivable, not even my very life, great soul that he is —

Verse 29 (10.12.29)

तेनापि सुहृदा ब्रह्मन्पार्थेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । नोक्तपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं यस्त्वं मामभिभाषसे ॥

tenāpi suhṛdā brahmanpārthenākliṣṭakarmaṇā | noktapūrvamidaṃ vākyaṃ yastvaṃ māmabhibhāṣase

even he, my friend Partha of untiring deeds, never spoke to me such words as you, Brahmin, now speak to me.

Note on the text: Corrected नोक्पूर्वमिदं → नोक्तपूर्वमिदं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त; the critical edition (10.12.28) has noktapūrvam idaṃ vākyam).

Verse 30 (10.12.30)

ब्रह्मचर्यं महद्घोरं तीर्त्वा द्वादशवार्षिकम् । हिमवत्पार्श्वमास्थाय यो मया तपसाऽऽर्जितः ॥

brahmacaryaṃ mahadghoraṃ tīrtvā dvādaśavārṣikam | himavatpārśvamāsthāya yo mayā tapasā''rjitaḥ

After completing a great and terrible twelve-year vow of celibacy, I took my place on the Himalayan slope and won by austerity

Note on the text: Corrected तीर्‌वा → तीर्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; the त् is lost behind a zero-width joiner). Corrected महद्धोरं → महद्घोरं (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; the critical edition (10.12.29) has mahad ghoram).

Verse 31 (10.12.31)

समानव्रतचारिण्यां रुक्मिण्यां योऽन्वजायत । सनत्कुमारस्तेजस्वी प्रद्युम्नो नाम मे सुतः ॥

samānavratacāriṇyāṃ rukmiṇyāṃ yo'nvajāyata | sanatkumārastejasvī pradyumno nāma me sutaḥ

the son who was born to Rukmini, who shared my vow — the radiant Sanatkumara, my son named Pradyumna.

Verse 32 (10.12.32)

तेनाप्येतन्महद्दिव्यं चक्रमप्रतिमं रणे । न प्रार्थितमभून्मूढ तदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया ॥

tenāpyetanmahaddivyaṃ cakramapratimaṃ raṇe | na prārthitamabhūnmūḍha tadidaṃ prārthitaṃ tvayā

Even he never asked for this great, divine, matchless discus in battle, fool; yet you have asked for it.

Note on the text: Corrected तदितं → तदिदं (misprint in Wikisource; a garbled letter; the critical edition (10.12.31) has yad idaṃ prārthitaṃ tvayā).

Verse 33 (10.12.33)

रामेणातिबलेनैतन्नोक्तपूर्वं कदाचन । न गदेन साम्बेन यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया ॥

rāmeṇātibalenaitannoktapūrvaṃ kadācana | na gadena sāmbena yadidaṃ prārthitaṃ tvayā

Mighty Rama never made such a request, nor Gada, nor Samba — yet you have asked for this.

Verse 34 (10.12.34)

द्वारकावासिभिश्चान्यैर्वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथैः । नोक्तपूर्वमिदं क्षुद्रं तदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया ॥

dvārakāvāsibhiścānyairvṛṣṇyandhakamahārathaiḥ | noktapūrvamidaṃ kṣudraṃ tadidaṃ prārthitaṃ tvayā

Nor did any other dweller of Dvaraka, any of the great chariot-warriors of the Vrishnis and Andhakas, ever make this base request that you have made.

Verse 35 (10.12.35)

भारताचार्यपुत्रस्त्वं मानितः सर्वयादवैः । चक्रेण रथिनां श्रेष्ठ कं नु तात युयुत्ससे ॥

bhāratācāryaputrastvaṃ mānitaḥ sarvayādavaiḥ | cakreṇa rathināṃ śreṣṭha kaṃ nu tāta yuyutsase

You are the son of the teacher of the Bharatas and are honoured by all the Yadavas. With this discus, best of charioteers — whom do you wish to fight, my friend?”

Verse 36 (10.12.36)

एवमुक्तो मया द्रौणिर्मामिदं प्रत्युवाच ह । प्रयुज्य भवते पूजां योत्स्ये कृष्ण त्वया सह ॥

evamukto mayā drauṇirmāmidaṃ pratyuvāca ha | prayujya bhavate pūjāṃ yotsye kṛṣṇa tvayā saha

Thus addressed by me, Drona’s son answered: “After paying you due honour, I shall fight you, Krishna.

Verse 37 (10.12.37)

प्रार्थितं ते मया चक्रं देवदानवपूजितम् । अजेयः स्यामिति विभो सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

prārthitaṃ te mayā cakraṃ devadānavapūjitam | ajeyaḥ syāmiti vibho satyametadbravīmi te

I asked you for the discus, honoured by gods and danavas, thinking that with it I should become invincible, lord. I tell you this truly.

Note on the text: Corrected सत्यमेद्ब्रवीमि → सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त; the critical edition (10.12.36) has satyam etad bravīmi te).

Verse 38 (10.12.38)

सोऽहं तद्दुर्लभं चक्रमनवाप्यैव केशव । प्रतियास्यामि गोविन्द शिवेनाभिवदस्व माम् ॥

so'haṃ taddurlabhaṃ cakramanavāpyaiva keśava | pratiyāsyāmi govinda śivenābhivadasva mām

So, Keshava, I shall go back without gaining that hard-to-win wish, Govinda; bid me farewell with your blessing.

Verse 39 (10.12.39)

एतत्सुनाभं भोजानामृषभेण त्वया धृतम् । चक्रमप्रतिचक्रेण भुवि नान्योऽभिपद्यते ॥

etatsunābhaṃ bhojānāmṛṣabheṇa tvayā dhṛtam | cakramapraticakreṇa bhuvi nānyo'bhipadyate

This fine-naved discus is borne by you, bull among the Bhojas. On earth none other can wield it but you, who have no rival discus.”

Verse 40 (10.12.40)

एतावदुक्त्वा द्रौणिर्मां युग्यानश्वान्धनानि च । आदायोपययौ काले रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥

etāvaduktvā drauṇirmāṃ yugyānaśvāndhanāni ca | ādāyopayayau kāle ratnāni vividhāni ca

Having said only this, Drona’s son took from me draught horses, wealth and jewels of many kinds, and went away in due time.

Note on the text: Corrected वविधानि → विविधानि (misprint in Wikisource; a doubled व; the critical edition (10.12.39) has vividhāni).

Verse 41 (10.12.41)

स संरम्भी दुरात्मा च चपलः क्रूर एव च । वेद चास्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्तस्माद्रक्ष्यो वृकोदरः ॥

sa saṃrambhī durātmā ca capalaḥ krūra eva ca | veda cāstraṃ brahmaśirastasmādrakṣyo vṛkodaraḥ

He is violent, wicked, fickle and cruel, and he knows the Brahmashiras weapon; therefore Vrikodara must be protected from him.

Note on the text: Corrected चास्‌रं → चास्त्रं (misprint in Wikisource; the त् of स्त्र is lost behind a zero-width joiner).