Arjuna Recalls His Weapon; Ashvatthama Looses His at the Unborn

Verse 1 (10.15.1)

दृष्ट्वैव मुनिशार्दूलौ तावग्निसमतेजसौ । गाण्डीवधन्वा सञ्चिन्त्य प्राप्तकालं महारथः । सञ्जहार शरं दिव्यं त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः ॥

dṛṣṭvaiva muniśārdūlau tāvagnisamatejasau | gāṇḍīvadhanvā sañcintya prāptakālaṃ mahārathaḥ | sañjahāra śaraṃ divyaṃ tvaramāṇo dhanañjayaḥ

At the very sight of the two tiger-like sages, blazing like fire, Dhananjaya, wielder of Gandiva, the great chariot-warrior, judging that the time had come, hastily withdrew his divine arrow.

Note on the text: Corrected दृष्टैव → दृष्ट्वैव (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ्व; the critical edition (10.15.1) has dṛṣṭvaiva). Removed stray wiki marks (the backtick and closing quote mark round line 2 and the doubled danda). Removed stray wiki marks (the opening backtick before line 2). Not matched by the alignment; lines 1 and 3 are the critical edition’s 10.15.1a (with the recension variant munišārdūlau for naraśārdūlaḥ) and 1c, and line 2 is its star line 10.15.1a*0064_01 (gāṇḍīvadhanvā saṃcintya prāptakālaṃ mahārathaḥ).

Verse 2 (10.15.2)

उवाच वचनं श्रेष्ठस्तावृषी प्राञ्जलिस्तदा । प्रमुक्तमस्त्रमस्त्रेण शाम्यतामिति वै मया ॥

uvāca vacanaṃ śreṣṭhastāvṛṣī prāñjalistadā | pramuktamastramastreṇa śāmyatāmiti vai mayā

That best of speakers then said to the two sages, with joined palms, “I loosed the weapon only so that weapon might be quelled by weapon.

Note on the text: Line 1 narrates and line 2 is the beginning of Arjuna’s words, so the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 3 (10.15.3)

संहृते परमास्त्रेऽस्मिन्सर्वानस्मानशेषतः । पापकर्मा ध्रुवं द्रौणिः प्रधक्ष्यत्यस्त्रतेजसा ॥

saṃhṛte paramāstre'sminsarvānasmānaśeṣataḥ | pāpakarmā dhruvaṃ drauṇiḥ pradhakṣyatyastratejasā

Once this supreme weapon is withdrawn, the sinful Drona’s son will surely burn all of us utterly with the fire of his weapon.

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna’s words (verses 3 and 4) carry no printed heading; they fill whole verses and are given to Arjuna.

Verse 4 (10.15.4)

यदत्र हितमस्माकं लोकानां चैव सर्वथा । भवन्तौ देवसङ्काशौ तथा सम्मन्तुमर्हतः ॥

yadatra hitamasmākaṃ lokānāṃ caiva sarvathā | bhavantau devasaṅkāśau tathā sammantumarhataḥ

In this matter, whatever is best for us and for the worlds in every way, you two, godlike as you are, should approve it so.”

Verse 5 (10.15.5)

इत्युक्त्वा सञ्जहारास्त्रं पुनरेव धनञ्जयः । संहारो दुष्करस्तस्य देवैरपि हि संयुगे ॥

ityuktvā sañjahārāstraṃ punareva dhanañjayaḥ | saṃhāro duṣkarastasya devairapi hi saṃyuge

Having said this, Dhananjaya withdrew the weapon again. The withdrawal of it is hard, even for gods in battle.

Note on the text: Corrected दुष्करस्स्य → दुष्करस्तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त; the critical edition (10.15.5) has duṣkaras tasya).

Verse 6 (10.15.6)

विसृष्टस्य रणे तस्य परमास्त्रस्य सङ्ग्रहे । अशक्तः पाण्डवादन्यः साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः ॥

visṛṣṭasya raṇe tasya paramāstrasya saṅgrahe | aśaktaḥ pāṇḍavādanyaḥ sākṣādapi śatakratuḥ

When such a supreme weapon has been loosed in battle, no one but a Pandava is able to call it back — not even Shatakratu himself.

Verse 7 (10.15.7)

ब्रह्मतेजोद्भवं तद्धि विसृष्टमकृतात्मना । न शक्यमावर्तयितुं ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतादृते ॥

brahmatejodbhavaṃ taddhi visṛṣṭamakṛtātmanā | na śakyamāvartayituṃ brahmacaryavratādṛte

For it is born of brahmanical power, and when it has been loosed by one of unrefined self, it cannot be turned back except by one who keeps the vow of celibacy.

Verse 8 (10.15.8)

अचीर्णब्रह्मचर्यो यः सृष्ट्वाऽऽवर्तयते पुनः । तदस्त्रं सानुबन्धस्य मूर्धानं तस्य कृन्तति ॥

acīrṇabrahmacaryo yaḥ sṛṣṭvā''vartayate punaḥ | tadastraṃ sānubandhasya mūrdhānaṃ tasya kṛntati

If one who has not practised celibacy looses it and then tries to call it back, that weapon cuts off the head of him and of his kin.

Note on the text: Corrected सृष्ट्वाऽऽवर्यते → सृष्ट्वाऽऽवर्तयते (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable त is dropped; the critical edition (10.15.8) has sṛṣṭvāvartayate, and the page’s own gloss on this verse reads आवर्तयते उपसंहरति).

Verse 9 (10.15.9)

ब्रह्मचारी व्रती चापि दुरवापमवाप्य तत् । परमव्यसनार्तोऽपि नार्जुनोऽस्त्रं व्यमुञ्चत ॥

brahmacārī vratī cāpi duravāpamavāpya tat | paramavyasanārto'pi nārjuno'straṃ vyamuñcata

Arjuna, a celibate keeping his vows, who had obtained that hard-won weapon, did not loose it even when afflicted by the gravest distress.

Verse 10 (10.15.10)

सत्यव्रतधरः शूरो ब्रह्मचारी च पाण्डवः । गुरुवर्ती च तेनास्त्रं सञ्जहारार्जुनः पुनः ॥

satyavratadharaḥ śūro brahmacārī ca pāṇḍavaḥ | guruvartī ca tenāstraṃ sañjahārārjunaḥ punaḥ

The Pandava is firm in his vow of truth, a hero, a celibate, and obedient to his elders; for that reason Arjuna was able to withdraw the weapon again.

Note on the text: Corrected पाण्‍डवः → पाण्डवः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray zero-width joiner inside the conjunct).

Verse 11 (10.15.11)

द्रौणिरप्यथ सम्प्रेक्ष्य सोऽन्तरा तावृषी स्थितौ । न शशाक पुनर्घोरमस्त्रं संहर्तुमोजसा ॥

drauṇirapyatha samprekṣya so'ntarā tāvṛṣī sthitau | na śaśāka punarghoramastraṃ saṃhartumojasā

Drona’s son, too, seeing the two sages standing between them, could not by his own force withdraw that dreadful weapon again.

Note on the text: Corrected सम्प्रेभ्य → सम्प्रेक्ष्य (misprint in Wikisource; the letters क्ष are dropped; the critical edition (10.15.11) has saṃprekṣya).

Verse 12 (10.15.12)

अशक्तः प्रतिसंहारे परमास्त्रस्य संयुगे । द्रौणिर्दीनमना राजन्द्वैपायनमभाषत ॥

aśaktaḥ pratisaṃhāre paramāstrasya saṃyuge | drauṇirdīnamanā rājandvaipāyanamabhāṣata

Unable to withdraw the supreme weapon in the battle, Drona’s son, dejected, spoke to Dvaipayana, O king.

Verse 13 (10.15.13)

उत्तमव्यसनार्तेन प्राणत्राणमभीप्सुना । मयैतदस्त्रमुत्सृष्टं भीमसेनभयान्मुने ॥

uttamavyasanārtena prāṇatrāṇamabhīpsunā | mayaitadastramutsṛṣṭaṃ bhīmasenabhayānmune

“Tormented by dire distress and wishing to save my life, I loosed this weapon out of fear of Bhimasena, sage.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama’s speech (verses 13 to 18) carries no printed heading on the page; verse 12 narrates that he spoke, and these verses fill whole verses, so they are given to Drauni.

Verse 14 (10.15.14)

अधर्मश्च कृतोऽनेन धार्तराष्ट्रं जिघांसता । मिथ्याचारेण भगवन्भीमसेनेन संयुगे ॥

adharmaśca kṛto'nena dhārtarāṣṭraṃ jighāṃsatā | mithyācāreṇa bhagavanbhīmasenena saṃyuge

And Bhimasena, wishing to kill Dhritarashtra’s son, did an unrighteous thing in battle, O lord, by deceitful conduct.

Verse 15 (10.15.15)

अतः सृष्टमिदं ब्रह्मन्मयाऽस्त्रमकृतात्मना । तस्य भूयोऽपि संहारं कर्तुं नाहमिहोत्सहे ॥

ataḥ sṛṣṭamidaṃ brahmanmayā'stramakṛtātmanā | tasya bhūyo'pi saṃhāraṃ kartuṃ nāhamihotsahe

It was for that reason, Brahmin, that I of unrefined self let go this weapon; to withdraw it again I have not the power here.

Verse 16 (10.15.16)

निसृष्टं हि मया दिव्यमेतदस्त्रं दुरासदम् । अपाण्डवायेति मुने वह्नितेजोऽनुमन्त्र्य वै ॥

nisṛṣṭaṃ hi mayā divyametadastraṃ durāsadam | apāṇḍavāyeti mune vahnitejo'numantrya vai

For I have loosed this divine weapon, hard to withstand, sage, having charged the fire-energy with the words, “For the Pandavas, none.”

Verse 17 (10.15.17)

तदिदं पाण्डवेयानामन्तायैवाभिसंहितम् । अद्य पाण्डुसुतान्सर्वाञ्जीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यति ॥

tadidaṃ pāṇḍaveyānāmantāyaivābhisaṃhitam | adya pāṇḍusutānsarvāñjīvitādbhraṃśayiṣyati

It was aimed at the destruction of the sons of Pandu, and today it will strip all of Pandu’s sons of life.

Note on the text: Corrected जीविताद्वंशयिष्यति → जीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यति (misprint in Wikisource; not a word here; the critical edition (10.15.17) has bhraṃśayiṣyati).

Verse 18 (10.15.18)

कृतं पापमिदं ब्रह्मन्रोषाविष्टेन चेतसा । वधमाशास्य पार्थानां मयास्त्रं सृजता रणे ॥

kṛtaṃ pāpamidaṃ brahmanroṣāviṣṭena cetasā | vadhamāśāsya pārthānāṃ mayāstraṃ sṛjatā raṇe

This sin, Brahmin, was done by me with a mind seized by anger, when, hoping for the death of the Parthas, I loosed the weapon in battle.”

Verse 19 (10.15.19)

अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्तात विद्वान्पार्थो धनञ्जयः । उत्सृष्टवानहिंसार्थं न रोषेण तवाहवे ॥

astraṃ brahmaśirastāta vidvānpārtho dhanañjayaḥ | utsṛṣṭavānahiṃsārthaṃ na roṣeṇa tavāhave

“My son, Partha Dhananjaya, who knows the Brahmashiras weapon, loosed it against you in battle not out of anger but so that no harm might be done.

Verse 20 (10.15.20)

अस्त्रमस्त्रेण तु रणे तव संशमयिष्यता । विसृष्टमर्जुनेनेदं पुनश्च प्रतिसंहृतम् ॥

astramastreṇa tu raṇe tava saṃśamayiṣyatā | visṛṣṭamarjunenedaṃ punaśca pratisaṃhṛtam

Meaning to quell your weapon with weapon in battle, Arjuna released it, and he has now called it back again.

Note on the text: Corrected रमे → रणे (misprint in Wikisource; the letters are garbled; the critical edition (10.15.20) has raṇe).

Verse 21 (10.15.21)

ब्रह्मास्त्रमप्यवाप्यैतदुपदेशात्पितुस्तव । क्षत्रधर्मान्महाबाहुर्नाकम्पत धनञ्जयः ॥

brahmāstramapyavāpyaitadupadeśātpitustava | kṣatradharmānmahābāhurnākampata dhanañjayaḥ

Though he, too, had obtained the Brahma weapon through your father’s teaching, the mighty-armed Dhananjaya did not waver from the duty of a kshatriya.

Verse 22 (10.15.22)

एवं धृतिमतः साधोः सर्वास्त्रविदुषः सतः । सभ्रातृबन्धोः कस्मात्त्वं वधमस्य चिकीर्षसि ॥

evaṃ dhṛtimataḥ sādhoḥ sarvāstraviduṣaḥ sataḥ | sabhrātṛbandhoḥ kasmāttvaṃ vadhamasya cikīrṣasi

Why, then, do you seek the death of such a steadfast, virtuous man, who knows all weapons, together with his brothers and kinsmen?

Verse 23 (10.15.23)

अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो यत्र परमास्त्रेण वध्यते । समा द्वादश पर्जन्यस्तद्राष्ट्रं नाभिवर्षति ॥

astraṃ brahmaśiro yatra paramāstreṇa vadhyate | samā dvādaśa parjanyastadrāṣṭraṃ nābhivarṣati

In whatever realm the Brahmashiras weapon is struck down by another supreme weapon, the rain-god does not send rain on that realm for twelve years.

Verse 24 (10.15.24)

एतदर्थं महाबाहुः शक्तिमानपि पाण्डवः । न विहन्यात्तदस्त्रं तु प्रजाहितचिकीर्षया ॥

etadarthaṃ mahābāhuḥ śaktimānapi pāṇḍavaḥ | na vihanyāttadastraṃ tu prajāhitacikīrṣayā

For this reason the mighty-armed Pandava, though able to, would not destroy that weapon of yours, wishing the welfare of creatures.

Verse 25 (10.15.25)

पाण्डवास्त्वं च राष्ट्रं च सदा संरक्ष्यमेव नः । तस्मात्संहर दिव्यं त्वमस्त्रमेतन्महाभुज ॥

pāṇḍavāstvaṃ ca rāṣṭraṃ ca sadā saṃrakṣyameva naḥ | tasmātsaṃhara divyaṃ tvamastrametanmahābhuja

We must always protect the Pandavas, you, and the kingdom alike. Therefore, mighty-armed one, withdraw this divine weapon of yours.

Note on the text: Corrected त्वमस्त्रमेन्महाभुज → त्वमस्त्रमेतन्महाभुज (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त; the critical edition (10.15.25) has astram etan mahābhuja).

Verse 26 (10.15.26)

अरोषस्तव चैवास्तु पार्थाः सन्तु निरामयाः । न ह्यधर्मेण राजर्षिः पाण्डवो जेतुमिच्छति ॥

aroṣastava caivāstu pārthāḥ santu nirāmayāḥ | na hyadharmeṇa rājarṣiḥ pāṇḍavo jetumicchati

Let your anger cease and let the Parthas be unharmed; for the royal sage Pandava does not wish to conquer by unrighteousness.

Verse 27 (10.15.27)

मणिं चैव प्रयच्छाद्य यस्ते शिरसि तिष्ठति । एतदादाय ते प्राणान्प्रतिदास्यन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥

maṇiṃ caiva prayacchādya yaste śirasi tiṣṭhati | etadādāya te prāṇānpratidāsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ

And give them today the jewel that sits on your head; taking it, the Pandavas will give you back your life.”

Note on the text: Corrected प्रामान् → प्राणान् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped letter; the critical edition (10.15.27) has prāṇān).

Verse 28 (10.15.28)

पाण्डवैर्यानि रत्नानि यच्चान्यत्कौरवैर्धनम् । अवाप्तमिह तेभ्योऽयं मणिर्मम विशिष्यते ॥

pāṇḍavairyāni ratnāni yaccānyatkauravairdhanam | avāptamiha tebhyo'yaṃ maṇirmama viśiṣyate

“Of all the jewels the Pandavas have won and whatever other wealth the Kauravas have gained in this world, this jewel of mine surpasses them.

Verse 29 (10.15.29)

यमाबध्य भयं नास्ति शस्त्रव्याधिक्षुधाश्रयम् । देवेभ्यो दानवेभ्यो वा नागेभ्यो वा कथञ्चन ॥

yamābadhya bhayaṃ nāsti śastravyādhikṣudhāśrayam | devebhyo dānavebhyo vā nāgebhyo vā kathañcana

Wearing it, one has no fear of weapons, disease or hunger, nor in any way of gods, danavas or nagas.

Verse 30 (10.15.30)

न च रक्षोगणभयं न तस्करभयं तथा । एवंवीर्यो मणिरयं न मे त्याज्यः कथञ्चन ॥

na ca rakṣogaṇabhayaṃ na taskarabhayaṃ tathā | evaṃvīryo maṇirayaṃ na me tyājyaḥ kathañcana

Nor is there fear of hosts of rakshasas, nor of thieves. Such is the power of this jewel; I cannot give it up in any way.

Verse 31 (10.15.31)

यत्तु मे भगवानाह तन्मे कार्यमनन्तरम् । अयं मणिरयं चाहमिषीका तु पतिष्यति । गर्भेषु पाण्डुपुत्राणामुत्तरायास्तथोदरे ॥

yattu me bhagavānāha tanme kāryamanantaram | ayaṃ maṇirayaṃ cāhamiṣīkā tu patiṣyati | garbheṣu pāṇḍuputrāṇāmuttarāyāstathodare

“But what the venerable one has told me I must do next: here is the jewel and here am I; but the reed will fall upon the unborn children of the sons of Pandu, and in Uttara’s womb as well.”

Note on the text: Corrected पाण्डुपुत्राणामुत्रायास्तथोदरे → पाण्डुपुत्राणामुत्तरायास्तथोदरे (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त; the name is Uttara’s (उत्तरा), genitive उत्तरायाः). Lines 1 and 2 are the critical edition’s 10.15.31a and 31c; line 3 (garbheṣu pāṇḍuputrāṇām uttarāyās tathodare) is the vulgate’s own, where the critical edition’s 31e reads garbheṣu pāṇḍaveyānām amoghaṃ caitad udyatam. The critical edition has star lines here (10.15.31c*0065_01–03 and *0066_01) that the page does not carry in this form.

Verse 32 (10.15.32)

प्राह द्रोणसुतं तत्र व्यासः परमदुर्मनाः ॥

prāha droṇasutaṃ tatra vyāsaḥ paramadurmanāḥ

There Vyasa, deeply troubled, spoke to Drona’s son.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment and not in the critical edition’s main text; it is the critical edition’s star line 10.15.31c*0066_01 (prāha droṇasutaṃ tatra vyāsaḥ paramadurmanāḥ), given in the same place. The page prints it as a single line (labelled 10-15-32a) under a वैशम्पायन heading.

Verse 33 (10.15.33)

एवं कुरु न चान्यत्र बुद्धिः कार्या कथञ्चन । गर्भेषु पाण्डवेयानां विसृज्यैतदुपारम ॥

evaṃ kuru na cānyatra buddhiḥ kāryā kathañcana | garbheṣu pāṇḍaveyānāṃ visṛjyaitadupārama

“Do so, and never let your mind turn to anything else: let this loose upon the unborn of the Pandavas, and then desist.”

Note on the text: Speaker: the page has no heading before this verse of its own (the preceding heading, वैशम्पायन, belongs to the one line before it), and the critical edition heads it व्यास उवाच; since verse 32 states that Vyasa spoke, the whole verse is given to Vyasa.

Verse 34 (10.15.34)

तमुवाच हृषीकेशः पाण्डवानां हिते मतः । भविष्यमेकमुत्सृज्य गर्भेष्वस्त्रं निपात्यताम् ॥

tamuvāca hṛṣīkeśaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ hite mataḥ | bhaviṣyamekamutsṛjya garbheṣvastraṃ nipātyatām

Then Hrishikesha, who was intent on the welfare of the Pandavas, said to him: “Leave aside the one who is yet to be, and let your weapon fall on the wombs.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (the opening backtick before line 1 (the page prints this and the next two verses in quotation marks as an interpolated passage)). Not matched by the alignment and not in the critical edition’s main text; the two lines are the critical edition’s star lines 10.15.33c*0067_01–02 (tam uvāca hṛṣīkeśaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ hite rataḥ / bhaviṣyam ekam utsṛjya garbheṣv astraṃ nipātyatām), line 1 with the variant mataḥ for rataḥ. Line 1 narrates and line 2 is Krishna’s words, so the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 35 (10.15.35)

अहमेनं ददाम्येषां पिण्डदं कीर्तिवर्धनम् । राजर्षिं पुण्यकर्माणमनेकक्रतुयाजिनम् ॥

ahamenaṃ dadāmyeṣāṃ piṇḍadaṃ kīrtivardhanam | rājarṣiṃ puṇyakarmāṇamanekakratuyājinam

I shall give them this one, who will offer them the funeral cakes and spread their fame — a royal sage of holy deeds, the performer of many sacrifices.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment and not in the critical edition’s main text; the two lines are its star lines 10.15.33c*0067_03–04 (aham ekaṃ dadāmy eṣāṃ piṇḍadaṃ kīrtivardhanam / rājarṣiṃ puṇyakarmāṇam anekakratuyājinam), line 1 with a recension variant (etam for ekam). Speaker: Krishna’s speech continues from the previous verse and fills this one; it is given to Vasudeva.

Verse 36 (10.15.36)

एवं कुरु न चान्या ते बुद्धिः कार्या कथञ्चन । आगर्भात्पाण्डवेयानां कृत्वा पातं विनङ्क्ष्यति ॥

evaṃ kuru na cānyā te buddhiḥ kāryā kathañcana | āgarbhātpāṇḍaveyānāṃ kṛtvā pātaṃ vinaṅkṣyati

Do so, and let no other thought ever arise in you. Once it has fallen on the unborn of the Pandavas, it will come to nothing.”

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (the closing quote mark after the last line). Not matched by the alignment and not in the critical edition’s main text; the two lines are its star lines 10.15.33c*0067_05–06 (evaṃ kuru na cānyā te buddhiḥ kāryā kathaṃ cana / ā garbhāt pāṇḍaveyānāṃ kṛtvā pātaṃ vinaṅkṣyati), with the same words.

Verse 37 (10.15.37)

एवं ब्रुवाणं गोविन्दं वृषभं सर्वसात्वताम् । द्रौणिः परमसङ्क्रुद्धः प्रत्युवाचेदमुत्तरम् ॥

evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ govindaṃ vṛṣabhaṃ sarvasātvatām | drauṇiḥ paramasaṅkruddhaḥ pratyuvācedamuttaram

To Govinda, bull among all the Satvatas, as he spoke so, Drona’s son, exceedingly enraged, gave this answer:

Note on the text: Matched to the critical edition’s 10.16.5 (evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ govindaṃ sātvatapravaraṃ tadā / drauṇiḥ paramasaṃrabdhaḥ pratyuvācedam uttaram), which stands in its next adhyaya, after the passage about Parikshit (10.16.1 to 4) that this page does not have.

Verse 38 (10.15.38)

नैतदेवं यदात्थ त्वं पक्षपातेन केशव । वचनात्पुण्डरीकाक्ष तव मद्वाक्यमन्यथा ॥

naitadevaṃ yadāttha tvaṃ pakṣapātena keśava | vacanātpuṇḍarīkākṣa tava madvākyamanyathā

“It is not as you say, Keshava, speaking from partiality; your word, lotus-eyed one, cannot make mine otherwise.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama’s reply (verses 38 and 39) carries no printed heading; it fills whole verses and is given to Drauni.

Verse 39 (10.15.39)

पतिष्यत्येतदस्त्रं वै गर्भे तस्या मयोद्यतम् । विराटदुहितुः कृष्ण यं त्वं रक्षितुमर्हसि ॥

patiṣyatyetadastraṃ vai garbhe tasyā mayodyatam | virāṭaduhituḥ kṛṣṇa yaṃ tvaṃ rakṣitumarhasi

This weapon raised by me will surely fall upon the womb of that daughter of Virata, Krishna, whom you wish to protect.”

Verse 40 (10.15.40)

अमोघः परमास्त्रस्य पातस्त्वद्य भविष्यति । अभिमन्योः सृजैषीकां गर्भस्थः शाम्यतां शिशुः ॥

amoghaḥ paramāstrasya pātastvadya bhaviṣyati | abhimanyoḥ sṛjaiṣīkāṃ garbhasthaḥ śāmyatāṃ śiśuḥ

“The fall of this supreme weapon will indeed not be in vain today; but loose the reed at Abhimanyu’s child, and let the infant in the womb be stilled.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (the opening backtick before line 2). Line 1 is the critical edition’s 10.16.8a; line 2 is its star line 10.16.8a*0068_01 (abhimanyoḥ sṛjaiṣīkāṃ garbhasthaḥ śāmyatāṃ śiśuḥ). Speaker: the page’s heading वासुदेव is kept for verses 40 and 41.

Verse 41 (10.15.41)

अहमेनं मृतं जातं जीवयिष्यामि बालकम् । स तु गर्भो मृतो जातो दीर्घमायुरवाप्स्यति ॥

ahamenaṃ mṛtaṃ jātaṃ jīvayiṣyāmi bālakam | sa tu garbho mṛto jāto dīrghamāyuravāpsyati

I shall bring this child back to life, born dead as he will be; and that child, though born dead, will attain a long life.”

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (the closing quote mark after line 1). Line 1 is the critical edition’s star line 10.16.8a*0068_02 (aham etaṃ mṛtaṃ jātaṃ jīvayiṣyāmi bālakam) and line 2 is its 10.16.8c (sa tu garbho mṛto jāto dīrgham āyur avāpsyati).

Verse 42 (10.15.42)

इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचैनं द्रोणपुत्रः स्मयन्निव । यद्यस्त्रदग्धं गोविन्द जीवयस्येवमस्त्विति ॥

ityuktaḥ pratyuvācainaṃ droṇaputraḥ smayanniva | yadyastradagdhaṃ govinda jīvayasyevamastviti

Thus addressed, Drona’s son answered him, smiling as it were: “If you can bring back to life one burned by the weapon, Govinda, then so be it.”

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (the opening backtick before line 1). Removed stray wiki marks (the closing quote mark after line 2). Not matched by the alignment and not in the critical edition’s main text; the two lines are its star lines 10.16.8c*0069_01–02 (ity uktaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ droṇaputraḥ smayann iva / yady astradagdhaṃ govinda jīvayasy evam astv iti), line 1 with the variant enam for idam. Speaker: line 1 narrates and line 2 is Ashvatthama’s reply, so the verse goes to the narrator (the input gave it to Vasudeva).

Verse 43 (10.15.43)

ततः परममस्त्रं तु द्रौणिरुद्यतमाहवे । द्वैपायनमनादृत्य गर्भेषु प्रमुमोच ह ॥

tataḥ paramamastraṃ tu drauṇirudyatamāhave | dvaipāyanamanādṛtya garbheṣu pramumoca ha

Then Drona’s son, disregarding Dvaipayana, loosed into the wombs the supreme weapon that he had raised in the battle.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; the critical edition’s 10.15.33a and 33c (tataḥ paramam astraṃ tad aśvatthāmā bhṛśāturaḥ / dvaipāyanavacaḥ śrutvā garbheṣu pramumoca ha) is the same event in other words (a recension variant). The page places it after the interpolated lines above, where the critical edition has them after it. Speaker: narration; the input gave it to Vasudeva.