Ashvatthama Resolves to Slay the Sleeping Panchalas

Verse 1 (10.3.1)

कृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मार्थसहितं शुभम् । अश्वत्थामा महाराज दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ॥

kṛpasya vacanaṃ śrutvā dharmārthasahitaṃ śubham | aśvatthāmā mahārāja duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ

Having heard Kripa's good words, full of dharma and benefit, Ashvatthama, O great king, was filled with sorrow and grief.

Verse 2 (10.3.2)

दह्यमानस्तु शोकेन प्रदीप्तेनाग्निना यथा । क्रूरं मनस्ततः कृत्वा तावुभौ प्रत्यभाषत ॥

dahyamānastu śokena pradīptenāgninā yathā | krūraṃ manastataḥ kṛtvā tāvubhau pratyabhāṣata

Burning with grief as if with a blazing fire, he hardened his heart to cruelty and answered the two of them.

Note on the text: Corrected तावभौ → तावुभौ (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads tāv ubhau).

Verse 3 (10.3.3)

पुरुषेपुरुषे बुद्धिर्याया भवति शोभना । तुष्यन्ति च पृथक्सर्वे प्रज्ञया ते स्वयास्वया ॥

puruṣepuruṣe buddhiryāyā bhavati śobhanā | tuṣyanti ca pṛthaksarve prajñayā te svayāsvayā

In each and every man, whatever judgment he has seems good to him, and all are pleased, each apart, with their own understanding.

Verse 4 (10.3.4)

सर्वो हि मन्यते लोक आत्मानं बुद्धिमत्तरम् । सर्वस्यात्मा बहुमतः सर्वोत्मानं प्रशंसति ॥

sarvo hi manyate loka ātmānaṃ buddhimattaram | sarvasyātmā bahumataḥ sarvotmānaṃ praśaṃsati

Everyone in the world thinks himself the wiser; to everyone his own self is dear, and everyone praises himself.

Verse 5 (10.3.5)

सर्वस्य हि स्वका प्रज्ञा साधुवादे प्रतिष्ठिता । परबुद्धिं च निन्दन्ति स्वां प्रशंसन्ति चासकृत् ॥

sarvasya hi svakā prajñā sādhuvāde pratiṣṭhitā | parabuddhiṃ ca nindanti svāṃ praśaṃsanti cāsakṛt

For everyone his own understanding rests on his own approval; they find fault with another's judgment and praise their own again and again.

Verse 6 (10.3.6)

कारणान्तरयोगेन येषां संवदते मतिः । तेऽन्योन्येन च तुष्यन्ति बहुमन्यन्ति चासकृत् ॥

kāraṇāntarayogena yeṣāṃ saṃvadate matiḥ | te'nyonyena ca tuṣyanti bahumanyanti cāsakṛt

Those whose minds agree through some other cause are pleased with one another and esteem one another again and again.

Verse 7 (10.3.7)

तस्यैव तु मनुष्यस्य सासा बुद्धिस्तदातदा । कालयोगे विपर्यासं प्राप्यान्योन्यं विपद्यते ॥

tasyaiva tu manuṣyasya sāsā buddhistadātadā | kālayoge viparyāsaṃ prāpyānyonyaṃ vipadyate

Even in one and the same man, each judgment of the moment, when the turn of time overtakes it, gives way to another.

Verse 8 (10.3.8)

अनित्यत्वात्तु चित्तानां मनुष्याणां विशेषतः । चित्तवैक्लब्यमासाद्य सासा बुद्धिः प्रजायते ॥

anityatvāttu cittānāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ | cittavaiklabyamāsādya sāsā buddhiḥ prajāyate

Because minds are unstable, and men's most of all, each such judgment arises from a disturbance of the mind.

Verse 9 (10.3.9)

यथा हि वैद्यः कुशलो ज्ञात्वा व्याधिं यथाविधि । भैषज्यं कुरुते योगात्प्रशमार्थमिति प्रभो ॥

yathā hi vaidyaḥ kuśalo jñātvā vyādhiṃ yathāvidhi | bhaiṣajyaṃ kurute yogātpraśamārthamiti prabho

Just as a skilled physician, having understood a disease according to rule, prepares a remedy by combining medicines for its cure, O lord,

Verse 10 (10.3.10)

एवं कार्यस्य योगार्थं बुद्धिं कुर्वन्ति मानवाः । प्रज्ञया च स्वया युक्त्या तां च गृह्णन्ति वै बुधाः ॥

evaṃ kāryasya yogārthaṃ buddhiṃ kurvanti mānavāḥ | prajñayā ca svayā yuktyā tāṃ ca gṛhṇanti vai budhāḥ

so men form a judgment for the purpose of carrying out their undertaking, and the wise hold to it by their own understanding and reasoning.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (10.3.10): Wikisource's line 1 (एवं कार्यस्य योगात्प्रशमार्थमिति प्रभो) merely repeats the second line of the previous verse, so it is replaced by the critical edition's line 10.3.10a (evaṃ kāryasya yogārthaṃ buddhiṃ kurvanti mānavāḥ). Line 2 is Wikisource's own reading, a recension variant of 10.3.10c (prajñayā hi svayā yuktās tāṃ ca nindanti mānavāḥ).

Verse 11 (10.3.11)

अन्यया यौवने बाल्ये बुद्ध्या भवति मोहितः । मध्येऽन्यया जरायां तु सोऽन्यां रोचयते मतिम् ॥

anyayā yauvane bālye buddhyā bhavati mohitaḥ | madhye'nyayā jarāyāṃ tu so'nyāṃ rocayate matim

In childhood and youth a man is deluded by one kind of judgment; in middle age by another; and in old age he comes to like yet another.

Note on the text: Corrected सोन्यां → सोऽन्यां (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; the critical edition reads so ’nyāṃ).

Verse 12 (10.3.12)

व्यसनं वा महाघोरं समृद्धिं चापि तादृशीम् । अवाप्य पुरुषो भोज कुरुते बुद्धिवैकृतम् ॥

vyasanaṃ vā mahāghoraṃ samṛddhiṃ cāpi tādṛśīm | avāpya puruṣo bhoja kurute buddhivaikṛtam

Meeting with some dreadful calamity, or with prosperity of the same degree, a man, O Bhoja, undergoes a change in his judgment.

Note on the text: Corrected व्यसन वा → व्यसनं वा (misprint in Wikisource; missing anusvara; the critical edition reads vyasanaṃ vā).

Verse 13 (10.3.13)

एकस्मिन्नेव पुरुषे सासा बुद्धिस्तदातदा । भवत्यनित्या प्रज्ञा हि सा तस्यैव न रोचते ॥

ekasminneva puruṣe sāsā buddhistadātadā | bhavatyanityā prajñā hi sā tasyaiva na rocate

In one and the same man each judgment of the moment is impermanent; the very judgment that was his no longer pleases him.

Verse 14 (10.3.14)

निश्चित्य तु यथाप्रज्ञं यां मतिं साधु पश्यति । तया प्रकुरुते भावं सा तस्योद्योगकारिका ॥

niścitya tu yathāprajñaṃ yāṃ matiṃ sādhu paśyati | tayā prakurute bhāvaṃ sā tasyodyogakārikā

Having reflected according to his understanding, whatever judgment he sees as good, in that he places his feeling, and it is that which drives him to action.

Verse 15 (10.3.15)

सर्वो हि पुरुषो भोज साध्वेतदिति निश्चितः । कर्तुमारभते प्रीतिं मरणादिषु कर्मसु ॥

sarvo hi puruṣo bhoja sādhvetaditi niścitaḥ | kartumārabhate prītiṃ maraṇādiṣu karmasu

Every man, O Bhoja, once he is convinced, "This is right," sets about it gladly, even in deeds that end in death and the like.

Verse 16 (10.3.16)

सर्वे हि युक्तां विज्ञाय प्रज्ञां वापि स्वकां नराः । चेष्टन्ते विविधां चेष्टां हितमित्येव जानते ॥

sarve hi yuktāṃ vijñāya prajñāṃ vāpi svakāṃ narāḥ | ceṣṭante vividhāṃ ceṣṭāṃ hitamityeva jānate

All men, recognizing what is fitting and relying also on their own understanding, engage in many kinds of effort, knowing it to be for their good.

Verse 17 (10.3.17)

उपजाता व्यसनजा येयमद्य मतिर्मम । युवयोस्तां प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वेषां शोकनाशिनीम् ॥

upajātā vyasanajā yeyamadya matirmama | yuvayostāṃ pravakṣyāmi sarveṣāṃ śokanāśinīm

This resolve of mine today, born of calamity, I shall tell the two of you; it will destroy the grief of us all.

Verse 18 (10.3.18)

प्रजापतिः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा कर्म तासु विधाय च । वर्णेवर्णे समाधत्त ह्येकैकं गुणवत्तरम् ॥

prajāpatiḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā karma tāsu vidhāya ca | varṇevarṇe samādhatta hyekaikaṃ guṇavattaram

Having created creatures and assigned them their tasks, the Lord of Creatures placed in each class one particular quality, the most excellent.

Verse 19 (10.3.19)

ब्राह्मणे वेदमग्र्यं तु क्षत्रिये तेज उत्तमम् । दाक्ष्यं वैश्ये च शूद्रे च सर्ववर्णानुकूलताम् ॥

brāhmaṇe vedamagryaṃ tu kṣatriye teja uttamam | dākṣyaṃ vaiśye ca śūdre ca sarvavarṇānukūlatām

In the Brahmin he placed the Veda as chief; in the Kshatriya, supreme energy; in the Vaishya, skill; and in the Shudra, compliance with all the classes.

Verse 20 (10.3.20)

अदान्तो ब्राह्मणोऽसाधुर्निस्तेजाः क्षत्रियो मृतः । अदक्षो निन्द्यते वैश्यः शूद्रश्च प्रतिकूलवान् ॥

adānto brāhmaṇo'sādhurnistejāḥ kṣatriyo mṛtaḥ | adakṣo nindyate vaiśyaḥ śūdraśca pratikūlavān

A Brahmin without self-control is not good; a Kshatriya without energy is as good as dead; an unskilled Vaishya is despised; and a Shudra who is contrary is censured.

Verse 21 (10.3.21)

सोऽस्मि जातः कुले श्रेष्ठे ब्राह्मणैरभिपूजिते । मन्दभाग्यतयाऽस्म्येतं क्षत्रधर्ममनुष्ठितः ॥

so'smi jātaḥ kule śreṣṭhe brāhmaṇairabhipūjite | mandabhāgyatayā'smyetaṃ kṣatradharmamanuṣṭhitaḥ

Such am I, born in a noble family honored by Brahmins, and through ill luck I have taken up this Kshatriya duty.

Verse 22 (10.3.22)

क्षत्रधर्मं विदित्वाऽहं यदि ब्राह्मण्यमाश्रितः । प्रकरिष्ये महत्कर्म न मे तत्साधुसम्मतम् ॥

kṣatradharmaṃ viditvā'haṃ yadi brāhmaṇyamāśritaḥ | prakariṣye mahatkarma na me tatsādhusammatam

If, knowing the Kshatriya's duty, I took refuge in the Brahmin's way of life and then did a mighty deed, the good would not approve it of me.

Verse 23 (10.3.23)

धारयित्वा धनुर्दिव्यं दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चाहवे । पितरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा किन्नु वक्ष्यामि संसदि ॥

dhārayitvā dhanurdivyaṃ divyānyastrāṇi cāhave | pitaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā kinnu vakṣyāmi saṃsadi

Having borne the divine bow and the divine weapons in battle, and having seen my father slain, what shall I say in the assembly?

Verse 24 (10.3.24)

सोऽहमद्य यथाकामं क्षत्रधर्ममवाप्य च । गन्ताऽस्मि पदवीं राज्ञः पितुश्चापि महात्मनः ॥

so'hamadya yathākāmaṃ kṣatradharmamavāpya ca | gantā'smi padavīṃ rājñaḥ pituścāpi mahātmanaḥ

So today, taking up the Kshatriya duty as I please, I shall go the road of the king and of my great-souled father as well.

Verse 25 (10.3.25)

अद्य स्वप्स्यन्ति पाञ्चाला विश्वस्ता जितकाशिनः । विमुक्तयुग्यकवचा हर्षेण च समन्विताः । वयं जिता मताश्चैषां श्रान्ता व्यायामकर्शिताः ॥

adya svapsyanti pāñcālā viśvastā jitakāśinaḥ | vimuktayugyakavacā harṣeṇa ca samanvitāḥ | vayaṃ jitā matāścaiṣāṃ śrāntā vyāyāmakarśitāḥ

Tonight the Panchalas will sleep, trusting and flushed with victory, their harness and armor laid aside, full of joy; they think us beaten, weary and worn out with toil.

Note on the text: Three-line verse: lines 1, 2 and 3 are the critical edition's 10.3.25a, 25c and 25e (its star line 10.3.25c*0009_01, adya tān sūditān sarvān dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamān, is not in Wikisource).

Verse 26 (10.3.26)

तेषां निशि प्रसुप्तानां सुस्थानां शिबिरे स्वके । अवस्कन्दं करिष्यामि शिबिरस्याद्य दुष्करम् ॥

teṣāṃ niśi prasuptānāṃ susthānāṃ śibire svake | avaskandaṃ kariṣyāmi śibirasyādya duṣkaram

While they sleep at night, at ease in their own camp, I shall make the night-attack on the camp, hard though it is.

Verse 27 (10.3.27)

तानवस्कन्द्य शिबिरे प्रेतभूतानचेतसः । सूदयिष्यामि विक्रम्य मघवानिव दानवान् ॥

tānavaskandya śibire pretabhūtānacetasaḥ | sūdayiṣyāmi vikramya maghavāniva dānavān

Falling upon them in the camp, as senseless as the dead, I shall slaughter them by my prowess, as Indra slew the Danavas.

Verse 28 (10.3.28)

अद्य तान्सहितान्सर्वान्धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमान् । सूदयिष्यामि विक्रम्य कक्षं दीप्त इवानलः ॥

adya tānsahitānsarvāndhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamān | sūdayiṣyāmi vikramya kakṣaṃ dīpta ivānalaḥ

Today I shall slay them all together, with Dhrishtadyumna at their head, by my prowess, as a blazing fire consumes dry grass.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 of the critical edition's three-line verse 10.3.28 (the alignment found no match because Wikisource divides the verse differently); its third line is the next verse here.

Verse 29 (10.3.29)

निहत्य चैव पाञ्चालाञ्शान्तिं लब्धाऽस्मि सत्तम ॥

nihatya caiva pāñcālāñśāntiṃ labdhā'smi sattama

And having slain the Panchalas, O best of men, I shall find peace.

Note on the text: The third line of the critical edition's 10.3.28 (line 28e).

Verse 30 (10.3.30)

पाञ्चालेषु चरिष्यामि सूदयन्नद्य संयुगे । पिनाकपाणिः सङ्क्रुद्धः स्वयं रुद्रः पशुष्विव ॥

pāñcāleṣu cariṣyāmi sūdayannadya saṃyuge | pinākapāṇiḥ saṅkruddhaḥ svayaṃ rudraḥ paśuṣviva

I shall range among the Panchalas, slaying them in battle today, enraged, like Rudra himself with the Pinaka in his hand among the beasts.

Verse 31 (10.3.31)

अद्याहं सर्वपाञ्चालान्निकृत्या च निकृष्य च । अर्दयिष्यामि संहृष्टो रणे पाण्डुसुतांस्तथा । सूदयिष्यामि सङ्क्रुद्धः पशूनिव पिनाकधृत् ॥

adyāhaṃ sarvapāñcālānnikṛtyā ca nikṛṣya ca | ardayiṣyāmi saṃhṛṣṭo raṇe pāṇḍusutāṃstathā | sūdayiṣyāmi saṅkruddhaḥ paśūniva pinākadhṛt

Today, cutting down all the Panchalas and dragging them apart, I shall crush the sons of Pandu too in battle, in great joy; I shall slay them in rage, as the wielder of the Pinaka slays beasts.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki mark ` (not part of the text). Removed stray wiki mark ’ (not part of the text). Three-line verse: lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 10.3.30a and 30c; line 3 is a recension variant of its star line 10.3.30c*0011_01 (sūdayiṣyāmi saṃhṛṣṭaḥ paśūn iva pinākadhṛk; Wikisource has सङ्क्रुद्धः). The critical edition's star line 10.3.30a*0010_01 is not in Wikisource.

Verse 32 (10.3.32)

अद्याहं सर्वपाञ्चालैः कृत्वा भूमिं शरीरिणीम् । प्रहृत्यैकेन शस्त्रेण भविष्याम्यनृणः पितुः ॥

adyāhaṃ sarvapāñcālaiḥ kṛtvā bhūmiṃ śarīriṇīm | prahṛtyaikena śastreṇa bhaviṣyāmyanṛṇaḥ pituḥ

Today, covering the earth with the bodies of all the Panchalas, striking them with a single weapon, I shall be free of my debt to my father.

Verse 33 (10.3.33)

दुर्योधनस्य कर्णस्य भीष्मसैन्धवयोरपि । गमिष्यामि निशावेलां पदवीमद्य दुर्गमाम् ॥

duryodhanasya karṇasya bhīṣmasaindhavayorapi | gamiṣyāmi niśāvelāṃ padavīmadya durgamām

Tonight, in the hour of night, I shall go by the hard road of Duryodhana, of Karna, and of Bhishma and the Saindhava.

Verse 34 (10.3.34)

अद्य पाञ्चालराजस्य धृष्टद्युम्नस्य वै निशि । विरात्रे प्रमथिष्यामि पशोरिव शिरो बलात् ॥

adya pāñcālarājasya dhṛṣṭadyumnasya vai niśi | virātre pramathiṣyāmi paśoriva śiro balāt

Tonight, in the dead of night, I shall crush the head of Dhrishtadyumna of the Panchala king by force, as one crushes a beast's.

Verse 35 (10.3.35)

अद्य पाञ्चालपाण्डूनां शयितानां शिरो निशि । खड्गेन निशितेनाजौ प्रमथिष्यामि गौतम ॥

adya pāñcālapāṇḍūnāṃ śayitānāṃ śiro niśi | khaḍgena niśitenājau pramathiṣyāmi gautama

Tonight, O Gautama, with a sharp sword I shall smash the heads of the sleeping Panchalas and Pandavas in the fight.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गेन → खड्गेन (misprint in Wikisource; the correct spelling; the critical edition reads khaḍgena).

Verse 36 (10.3.36)

अद्य पाञ्चालसेनां तां निहत्य निशि सौप्तिके । कृतकृत्यः सुखी चैव भविष्यामि महामते ॥

adya pāñcālasenāṃ tāṃ nihatya niśi sauptike | kṛtakṛtyaḥ sukhī caiva bhaviṣyāmi mahāmate

Tonight, having slain that Panchala army in the night of sleep, I shall be content and happy, O wise one.