Kripa Warns Against Killing the Sleeping; Ashvatthama Drives to the Camp

Verse 1 (10.5.1)

शुश्रूषुरपि दुर्मेधाः पुरुषोऽनियतेन्द्रियः । नालं वेदयितुं कृत्स्नौ धर्मार्थाविति मे मतिः ॥

śuśrūṣurapi durmedhāḥ puruṣo'niyatendriyaḥ | nālaṃ vedayituṃ kṛtsnau dharmārthāviti me matiḥ

Even one who wishes to learn, if he is dull-witted and of uncontrolled senses, cannot grasp both dharma and artha in full: such is my view.

Verse 2 (10.5.2)

तथैव तावन्मेधावी विनयं यो न शिक्षते । न च किञ्चन जानाति सोऽपि धर्मार्थनिश्चयम् ॥

tathaiva tāvanmedhāvī vinayaṃ yo na śikṣate | na ca kiñcana jānāti so'pi dharmārthaniścayam

Likewise a man who is intelligent but has not learned discipline knows nothing, and has no firm grasp of dharma and artha either.

Verse 3 (10.5.3)

चिरं ह्यपि जडः शूरः पण्डितं पर्युपास्य ह । न स धर्मान्विजानाति दर्वी सूपरसानिव ॥

ciraṃ hyapi jaḍaḥ śūraḥ paṇḍitaṃ paryupāsya ha | na sa dharmānvijānāti darvī sūparasāniva

A fool, though he be brave, who waits upon a learned man for a long time, still does not understand the duties of dharma, as a ladle does not know the flavors of the soup.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki mark [ (not part of the text). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records these four lines as the star passage 10.5.2c*0014_01–04, of which this verse is lines 01–02 (ciraṃ hy api jaḍaḥ śūraḥ paṇḍitaṃ paryupāsya ha / na sa dharmān vijānāti darvī sūparasān iva). The page opens this verse with a stray bracket and never closes it.

Verse 4 (10.5.4)

मुहूर्तमपि तं प्राज्ञः पण्डितं पर्युपास्य हि । क्षिप्रं धर्मान्विजानाति जिह्वा सूपरसानिव ॥

muhūrtamapi taṃ prājñaḥ paṇḍitaṃ paryupāsya hi | kṣipraṃ dharmānvijānāti jihvā sūparasāniva

But a wise man, waiting upon a learned man even for a moment, quickly understands the duties of dharma, as the tongue knows the flavors of the soup.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as lines 03–04 of the star passage 10.5.2c*0014 (line 1 there ends paryupāsya ha; Wikisource has हि).

Verse 5 (10.5.5)

शुश्रूषुस्त्वेव मेधावी पुरुषो नियतेन्द्रियः । जानीयादागमान्सर्वान्ग्राह्यं च न विरोधयेत् ॥

śuśrūṣustveva medhāvī puruṣo niyatendriyaḥ | jānīyādāgamānsarvāngrāhyaṃ ca na virodhayet

But the intelligent man who is eager to learn and has controlled senses will master all the scriptures and will not contradict what should be accepted.

Verse 6 (10.5.6)

अनयस्त्ववमानी यो दुरात्मा पापपूरुषः । दिष्टमुत्सृज्य कल्याणं करोति बहुपातकम् ॥

anayastvavamānī yo durātmā pāpapūruṣaḥ | diṣṭamutsṛjya kalyāṇaṃ karoti bahupātakam

But the man of bad conduct, contemptuous, evil-souled, sinful, casts aside the welfare that was laid down for him and commits many sins.

Verse 7 (10.5.7)

नाथवन्तं तु सुहृदः प्रतिषेधन्ति पातकात् । निवर्तते तु लक्ष्मीवान्नालक्ष्मीवान्निवर्तते ॥

nāthavantaṃ tu suhṛdaḥ pratiṣedhanti pātakāt | nivartate tu lakṣmīvānnālakṣmīvānnivartate

Friends restrain from sin a man who has a protector; the fortunate man turns back, the unfortunate one does not.

Verse 8 (10.5.8)

यथा ह्युच्चावचैर्वाक्यैः क्षिप्तचित्तो नियम्यते । तथैव सुहृदा शक्यो नशक्यस्त्ववसीदति ॥

yathā hyuccāvacairvākyaiḥ kṣiptacitto niyamyate | tathaiva suhṛdā śakyo naśakyastvavasīdati

As a man whose mind is distracted is brought under control by various words, so he who can be restrained by a friend is restrained, while he who cannot be sinks.

Verse 9 (10.5.9)

तथैव सुहृदोऽप्राज्ञान्कुर्वाणान्कर्म पापकम् । प्राज्ञाः सम्प्रतिषेधन्ति यथाशक्ति पुनःपुनः ॥

tathaiva suhṛdo'prājñānkurvāṇānkarma pāpakam | prājñāḥ sampratiṣedhanti yathāśakti punaḥpunaḥ

In the same way the wise, again and again and as far as they are able, restrain their unwise friends who are doing sinful deeds.

Verse 10 (10.5.10)

स कल्याणे मनः कृत्वा नियम्यात्मानमात्मना । कुरु मे वचनं तात येन पश्चान्न तप्स्यसे ॥

sa kalyāṇe manaḥ kṛtvā niyamyātmānamātmanā | kuru me vacanaṃ tāta yena paścānna tapsyase

So set your mind on what is good, restrain yourself by yourself, and do my word, dear friend, so that you will not repent afterwards.

Verse 11 (10.5.11)

न वधः पूज्यते लोके सुप्तानामिह धर्मतः । तथैव न्यस्तशस्त्राणां विमुक्तरथवाजिनाम् ॥

na vadhaḥ pūjyate loke suptānāmiha dharmataḥ | tathaiva nyastaśastrāṇāṃ vimuktarathavājinām

By dharma, the killing of those who are asleep is not honored in the world, nor of those who have laid down their weapons, or whose chariots and horses have been set free.

Verse 12 (10.5.12)

ये च ब्रूयुस्तवास्मीति ये च स्युः शरणागताः । विमुक्तमूर्धजा ये च ये चापि हतवाहनाः ॥

ye ca brūyustavāsmīti ye ca syuḥ śaraṇāgatāḥ | vimuktamūrdhajā ye ca ye cāpi hatavāhanāḥ

Nor of those who say, "I am yours," nor of those who have come for refuge, nor of those whose hair is loosened, nor of those whose mounts have been slain.

Note on the text: Corrected ये व ब्रूयुस् → ये च ब्रूयुस् (misprint in Wikisource; व for च; the critical edition reads ye ca brūyus).

Verse 13 (10.5.13)

अद्य स्वप्स्यन्ति पाञ्चाला विमुक्तकवचा विभो । विश्वस्ता रजनीं सर्वे प्रेता इव विचेतसः ॥

adya svapsyanti pāñcālā vimuktakavacā vibho | viśvastā rajanīṃ sarve pretā iva vicetasaḥ

Tonight the Panchalas will sleep, O lord, their armor removed, trusting, all of them senseless like the dead.

Verse 14 (10.5.14)

यस्तेषां तदवस्थानां द्रुह्येत पुरुषोऽनृजुः । व्यक्तं स नरके मज्जेदगाधे विपुलेऽप्लुवे ॥

yasteṣāṃ tadavasthānāṃ druhyeta puruṣo'nṛjuḥ | vyaktaṃ sa narake majjedagādhe vipule'pluve

Whoever, being crooked, would do harm to them in that state would surely sink into a vast, bottomless hell, with no boat to cross.

Verse 15 (10.5.15)

सर्वास्त्रविदुषां लोके श्रेष्ठस्त्वमसि विश्रुतः । न च ते जातु लोकेऽस्मिन्सुसूक्ष्ममपि किल्बिषम् ॥

sarvāstraviduṣāṃ loke śreṣṭhastvamasi viśrutaḥ | na ca te jātu loke'sminsusūkṣmamapi kilbiṣam

You are renowned as the best in the world among all who know weapons, and never in this world has there been even the slightest fault in you.

Verse 16 (10.5.16)

त्वं पुनः सूर्यसङ्काशः श्वोभूत उदिते रवौ । प्रकाशे सर्वभूतानां विजेता युधि शात्रवान् ॥

tvaṃ punaḥ sūryasaṅkāśaḥ śvobhūta udite ravau | prakāśe sarvabhūtānāṃ vijetā yudhi śātravān

Tomorrow, when the sun has risen, you, radiant as the sun, will conquer the enemies in battle in the sight of all beings.

Verse 17 (10.5.17)

असम्भावितरूपं हि त्वयि कर्म विगर्हितम् । शुक्ले रक्तमिव न्यस्तं भवेदिति मतिर्मम ॥

asambhāvitarūpaṃ hi tvayi karma vigarhitam | śukle raktamiva nyastaṃ bhavediti matirmama

A deed so reprehensible would be unthinkable in you; I think it would be like a red stain set on white cloth.

Verse 18 (10.5.18)

एवमेव यथाऽऽत्थ त्वमनुशाससि मातुल । तैस्तु पूर्वमयं सेतुः समन्ताद्विह्वलीकृतः ॥

evameva yathā''ttha tvamanuśāsasi mātula | taistu pūrvamayaṃ setuḥ samantādvihvalīkṛtaḥ

It is just as you say, uncle, as you instruct me. But they themselves long ago threw this bridge of dharma into disorder on every side.

Verse 19 (10.5.19)

प्रत्यक्षं भूमिपालानां भवतां चापि सन्निधौ । न्यस्तशस्त्रो मम पिता धृष्टद्युम्नेन पातितः ॥

pratyakṣaṃ bhūmipālānāṃ bhavatāṃ cāpi sannidhau | nyastaśastro mama pitā dhṛṣṭadyumnena pātitaḥ

In the very sight of the kings, and in your presence as well, my father, who had laid down his weapons, was struck down by Dhrishtadyumna.

Verse 20 (10.5.20)

कर्णश्च पतिते चक्रे उत्थास्यन्रथिनां वरः । उत्तमे व्यसने मग्नो हतो गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥

karṇaśca patite cakre utthāsyanrathināṃ varaḥ | uttame vyasane magno hato gāṇḍīvadhanvanā

And Karna, best of charioteers, when his wheel had sunk and he was about to rise, plunged in the extremity of calamity, was slain by the wielder of Gandiva.

Verse 21 (10.5.21)

तथा शान्तनवो भीष्मो न्यस्तशस्त्रो निरायुधः । शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य हतो गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥

tathā śāntanavo bhīṣmo nyastaśastro nirāyudhaḥ | śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya hato gāṇḍīvadhanvanā

Likewise Bhishma, son of Shantanu, with his weapons laid down and unarmed, with Shikhandin placed in front, was slain by the wielder of Gandiva.

Verse 22 (10.5.22)

भूरिश्रवा महेष्वासस्तथा प्रायगतो रणे । क्रोशतां भूमिपालानां युयुधानेन पातितः ॥

bhūriśravā maheṣvāsastathā prāyagato raṇe | krośatāṃ bhūmipālānāṃ yuyudhānena pātitaḥ

Bhurishravas, the great archer, who had sat down in the fast unto death in battle, was struck down by Yuyudhana while the kings cried out.

Note on the text: Corrected बूमिपालानां → भूमिपालानां (misprint in Wikisource; ब for भ; the critical edition reads bhūmipālānām).

Verse 23 (10.5.23)

दुर्योधनश्च भीमेन समेत्य गदया मृधे । पश्यतां भूमिपालानामधर्मेण निपातितः ॥

duryodhanaśca bhīmena sametya gadayā mṛdhe | paśyatāṃ bhūmipālānāmadharmeṇa nipātitaḥ

And Duryodhana, meeting Bhima in a mace-fight, was felled unrighteously as the kings looked on.

Verse 24 (10.5.24)

एकाकी बहुभिस्तत्र परिवार्य महारथैः । अधर्मेण नरव्याघ्रो भीमसेनेन पातितः ॥

ekākī bahubhistatra parivārya mahārathaiḥ | adharmeṇa naravyāghro bhīmasenena pātitaḥ

Alone, surrounded there by many great chariot-warriors, that tiger among men was felled unrighteously by Bhimasena.

Verse 25 (10.5.25)

विलापो भग्नसक्थस्य यो मे राज्ञः परिश्रुतः । वादिकानां कथयतां स मे मर्माणि कृन्तति ॥

vilāpo bhagnasakthasya yo me rājñaḥ pariśrutaḥ | vādikānāṃ kathayatāṃ sa me marmāṇi kṛntati

The lament of the king with his thighs broken, which I heard as the reporters told it, cuts me to the quick.

Verse 26 (10.5.26)

एवं चाधार्मिकाः पापाः पाञ्चाला भिन्नसेतवः । तानेवं भिन्नमर्यादान्किं भवान्न विगर्हति ॥

evaṃ cādhārmikāḥ pāpāḥ pāñcālā bhinnasetavaḥ | tānevaṃ bhinnamaryādānkiṃ bhavānna vigarhati

Thus the Panchalas are unrighteous, sinful, breakers of the bridge of dharma; why do you not condemn them, who have thus broken every bound?

Note on the text: Corrected भिन्नसतवः → भिन्नसेतवः (misprint in Wikisource; स for से; the critical edition reads bhinnasetavaḥ).

Verse 27 (10.5.27)

पितृहन्तॄनहं हत्वा पाञ्चालान्निशि सौप्तिके । कामं कीटः पतङ्गो वा जन्म प्राप्य भवामि वै ॥

pitṛhantṝnahaṃ hatvā pāñcālānniśi sauptike | kāmaṃ kīṭaḥ pataṅgo vā janma prāpya bhavāmi vai

If I must, let me be born a worm or a moth, so long as I first kill the Panchalas, my father's slayers, in the night of sleep.

Verse 28 (10.5.28)

त्वरे चाहमनेनाद्य यदिदं मे चिकीर्षितम् । तस्य मे त्वरमाणस्य कुतो निद्रा कुतः सुखम् ॥

tvare cāhamanenādya yadidaṃ me cikīrṣitam | tasya me tvaramāṇasya kuto nidrā kutaḥ sukham

I am in haste for what I intend to do today; for me, in such haste, where is sleep, where is ease?

Verse 29 (10.5.29)

न स जातः पुमाँल्लोके कश्चिन्न स भविष्यति । यो मे व्यावर्तयेदेतां वधे तेषां कृतां मतिम् ॥

na sa jātaḥ pumām̐lloke kaścinna sa bhaviṣyati | yo me vyāvartayedetāṃ vadhe teṣāṃ kṛtāṃ matim

There has not been born in the world, nor will there be, any man who could turn me from this resolve I have made on their slaughter.

Verse 30 (10.5.30)

एवमुक्त्वा महाराज द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान् । एकान्ते योजयित्वाऽश्वान्प्रायादभिमुखः परान् ॥

evamuktvā mahārāja droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān | ekānte yojayitvā'śvānprāyādabhimukhaḥ parān

Having spoken thus, O great king, the glorious son of Drona yoked his horses at a lonely spot and drove toward the enemy.

Verse 31 (10.5.31)

तमब्रूतां महात्मानौ भोजशारद्वतावुभौ । किमयं स्यन्दनो युक्तः किं च कार्यं चिकीर्षितम् ॥

tamabrūtāṃ mahātmānau bhojaśāradvatāvubhau | kimayaṃ syandano yuktaḥ kiṃ ca kāryaṃ cikīrṣitam

The two great-souled ones, the Bhoja and the son of Sharadvat, said to him, "Why is your chariot yoked, and what do you intend to do?"

Verse 32 (10.5.32)

एकसार्थप्रयातौ स्वस्त्वया सह नरर्षभ । समदुःखसुखौ चापि तस्माच्छंसितुमर्हसि ॥

ekasārthaprayātau svastvayā saha nararṣabha | samaduḥkhasukhau cāpi tasmācchaṃsitumarhasi

"We two have set out with you, best of men, as one company, sharing alike in sorrow and joy; therefore you should tell us."

Note on the text: Corrected एकसामर्थप्रयातौ → एकसार्थप्रयातौ (misprint in Wikisource; सामर्थ for सार्थ; the critical edition reads ekasārthaṃ prayātau).

Verse 33 (10.5.33)

अश्वत्थामा तु सङ्क्रुद्धः पितुर्वधमनुस्मरन् । ताभ्यां तथ्यं तथाऽऽचख्यौ यदस्यात्मचिकीर्षितम् ॥

aśvatthāmā tu saṅkruddhaḥ piturvadhamanusmaran | tābhyāṃ tathyaṃ tathā''cakhyau yadasyātmacikīrṣitam

But Ashvatthama, enraged and remembering his father's slaying, told them the truth of what he intended.

Note on the text: Corrected तुं सङ्क्रुद्धः → तु सङ्क्रुद्धः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara; the critical edition reads tu).

Verse 34 (10.5.34)

हत्वा शतसहस्राणि योधानां निशितैः शरैः । न्यस्तशस्त्रो मम पिता धृष्टद्युम्नेन पातितः ॥

hatvā śatasahasrāṇi yodhānāṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | nyastaśastro mama pitā dhṛṣṭadyumnena pātitaḥ

Having slain hundreds of thousands of warriors with sharp arrows, my father, with his weapons laid down, was struck down by Dhrishtadyumna.

Verse 35 (10.5.35)

तं तथैव वधिष्यामि न्यस्तवर्माणमद्य वै । पुत्रं पाञ्चालराजस्य पापं पापेन कर्मणा ॥

taṃ tathaiva vadhiṣyāmi nyastavarmāṇamadya vai | putraṃ pāñcālarājasya pāpaṃ pāpena karmaṇā

In the same way I shall kill him today, the son of the Panchala king, the sinner, his armor laid aside, by a deed as sinful as his own.

Verse 36 (10.5.36)

तथा विनिहतः पापः पाञ्चाल्यः पशुवन्मया । शस्त्रेण विजिताँल्लोकान्नाप्नुयादिति मे मतिः ॥

tathā vinihataḥ pāpaḥ pāñcālyaḥ paśuvanmayā | śastreṇa vijitām̐llokānnāpnuyāditi me matiḥ

Slain by me thus, like a beast, that sinful Panchala shall not attain the worlds won by weapons: so I intend.

Verse 37 (10.5.37)

क्षिप्रं सन्नद्धकवचौ सखड्गावात्तकार्मुकौ । मामेवाद्य प्रतीक्षेतां रथवर्यौ परन्तपौ ॥

kṣipraṃ sannaddhakavacau sakhaḍgāvāttakārmukau | māmevādya pratīkṣetāṃ rathavaryau parantapau

Quickly, armored, with swords and bows in hand, wait for me alone today, you two best of charioteers, tormentors of foes.

Note on the text: Corrected सन्नद्वकवचौ → सन्नद्धकवचौ (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध). Corrected सखङ्गा → सखड्गा (misprint in Wikisource; the correct spelling of the conjunct).

Verse 38 (10.5.38)

इत्युक्त्वा रथमास्थाय प्रायादभिमुखः परान् । तमन्वगात्कृपो राजन्कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः ॥

ityuktvā rathamāsthāya prāyādabhimukhaḥ parān | tamanvagātkṛpo rājankṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ

Having said this, he mounted his chariot and drove toward the enemy; Kripa followed him, O king, and Kritavarman the Satvata.

Verse 39 (10.5.39)

ते प्रयाता व्यरोचन्त परानभिमुखास्त्रयः । हूयमाना यथा यज्ञे समिद्धा हव्यवाहनाः ॥

te prayātā vyarocanta parānabhimukhāstrayaḥ | hūyamānā yathā yajñe samiddhā havyavāhanāḥ

The three of them, advancing toward the enemy, shone like fires kindled at a sacrifice when oblations are poured.

Verse 40 (10.5.40)

ययुश्च शिबिरं तेषां सम्प्रसुप्तजनं विभो । द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्य द्रौणिस्तस्थौ महारथः ॥

yayuśca śibiraṃ teṣāṃ samprasuptajanaṃ vibho | dvāradeśamanuprāpya drauṇistasthau mahārathaḥ

And they came, O lord, to the camp of the enemy, where the people lay asleep; and on reaching the gate, Drauni, the great chariot-warrior, halted.