Duryodhana Rallies the Army After Shalya's Fall

Verse 1 (9.18.1)

पातिते युधि दुर्धर्षे मद्रराजे महारथे । तावकास्तव पुत्राश्च प्रायशो विमुखाऽभवन् ॥

pātite yudhi durdharṣe madrarāje mahārathe | tāvakāstava putrāśca prāyaśo vimukhā'bhavan

When the invincible king of the Madras, that great chariot-warrior, had been struck down in the battle, your warriors and your sons for the most part turned their faces from the fight.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads the adhyaya with सञ्जय उवाच, which carries to the end except where a speech is marked below.

Verse 2 (9.18.2)

वणिजो नावि भिन्नायां यथागाधे महार्णवे । अपारे पारमिच्छन्तो हते शूरे महात्मनि ॥

vaṇijo nāvi bhinnāyāṃ yathāgādhe mahārṇave | apāre pāramicchanto hate śūre mahātmani

As merchants whose ship has been wrecked on the fathomless great ocean long for a farther shore in the boundless waters, so did they, when that great-souled hero was slain.

Verse 3 (9.18.3)

मद्रराजे महाराज वित्रस्ताः शरविक्षताः । अनाथा नाथमिच्छन्तो मृगाः सिंहार्दिता इव ॥

madrarāje mahārāja vitrastāḥ śaravikṣatāḥ | anāthā nāthamicchanto mṛgāḥ siṃhārditā iva

O great king, when the king of the Madras fell, they were terrified and torn by arrows; helpless, they sought a protector, like deer harried by a lion.

Verse 4 (9.18.4)

वृषा यथा भग्नशृङ्गाः शीर्णदन्ता यथा गजाः । मध्याह्ने प्रत्यपायाम निर्जिताऽजातशत्रुणा ॥

vṛṣā yathā bhagnaśṛṅgāḥ śīrṇadantā yathā gajāḥ | madhyāhne pratyapāyāma nirjitā'jātaśatruṇā

Like bulls with broken horns, like elephants with shattered tusks, we withdrew at midday, conquered by Ajatashatru.

Note on the text: Line 2 निर्जिताऽजातशत्रुणा for CE nirjitā dharmasūnunā (recension variant, kept).

Verse 5 (9.18.5)

न संस्थातुमनीकानि न च राजन्पराक्रमे । आसीद्बुद्धिर्हते शल्ये तव योधस्य कस्यचित् ॥

na saṃsthātumanīkāni na ca rājanparākrame | āsīdbuddhirhate śalye tava yodhasya kasyacit

O king, once Shalya was slain, not one of your warriors had it in his mind to hold the divisions in place or to show valour.

Verse 6 (9.18.6)

भीष्मे द्रोणे च निहते सूतपुत्रे च पातिते । यद्दुःखं तव योधानां भयं चासीद्विशाम्पते ॥

bhīṣme droṇe ca nihate sūtaputre ca pātite | yadduḥkhaṃ tava yodhānāṃ bhayaṃ cāsīdviśāmpate

When Bhishma and Drona were slain and the Charioteer's son was laid low, O lord of men, there was grief among your warriors, and fear as well;

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.18.6a,c (the alignment finds no match because Wikisource splits the CE's three-line verse into couplets).

Verse 7 (9.18.7)

तद्भयं स च नः शोको भूय एवाभ्यवर्तत । निराशाश्च जये राजन्हते शल्ये महारथे ॥

tadbhayaṃ sa ca naḥ śoko bhūya evābhyavartata | nirāśāśca jaye rājanhate śalye mahārathe

and that same fear and that same grief came upon us once more, greater still; and when the great chariot-warrior Shalya was slain, O king, we gave up all hope of victory.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 9.18.6e; line 2 = CE 9.18.7a (निराशाश्च जये राजन् for CE nirāśāś ca jaye tasmin; variant). The CE star line 9.18.7b*0102_01 is not in Wikisource.

Verse 8 (9.18.8)

हतप्रवीरा विध्वस्ता निकृत्ताश्च शितैः शरैः । मद्रराजे हते राजन्योधास्ते प्राद्रवन्भयात् ॥

hatapravīrā vidhvastā nikṛttāśca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | madrarāje hate rājanyodhāste prādravanbhayāt

Their heroes slain, shattered, cut down by sharp arrows, your warriors fled in terror when the king of the Madras was killed, O king.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.18.7c,e.

Verse 9 (9.18.9)

अश्वानन्ये गजानन्ये रथानन्ये महारथाः । आरुह्य जवसम्पन्नाः पादाताः प्राद्रवंस्तथा ॥

aśvānanye gajānanye rathānanye mahārathāḥ | āruhya javasampannāḥ pādātāḥ prādravaṃstathā

Some of the great warriors mounted horses, some elephants, some chariots, and fled at speed; the foot-soldiers fled as well.

Note on the text: Corrected जवसम्पन्ना → जवसम्पन्नाः (misprint in Wikisource; the visarga is dropped from a plural agreeing with महारथाः; CE javasaṃpannāḥ). Line 2 ends प्राद्रवंस्तथा where CE has prādravan bhayāt (recension variant, kept).

Verse 10 (9.18.10)

द्विसाहस्राश्च मातङ्गा गिरिरूपाः प्रहारिणः । सम्प्राद्रवन्हते शल्ये अङ्कुशाङ्गुष्ठनोदिताः ॥

dvisāhasrāśca mātaṅgā girirūpāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | samprādravanhate śalye aṅkuśāṅguṣṭhanoditāḥ

Two thousand huge elephants, mountain-like and fierce in attack, stampeded when Shalya fell, urged on by goads and by the pressure of their drivers' thumbs.

Note on the text: Corrected महातङ्गा → मातङ्गा (misprint in Wikisource; महातङ्ग is not a word, the elephants are the मातङ्गाः; CE mātaṅgā). Restored xx → सम् (two letters printed as "xx" in Wikisource; restored to सम्प्राद्रवन्, CE saṃprādravan 9.18.9c). अङ्कुशाङ्गुष्ठनोदिताः for CE aṅkuśāṅguṣṭhacoditāḥ is a variant, kept.

Verse 11 (9.18.11)

ते रणाद्भरतश्रेष्ठ तावकाः प्राद्रवन्दिशः । धावतश्चाप्यपश्याम श्वसमानाञ्शराहतान् ॥

te raṇādbharataśreṣṭha tāvakāḥ prādravandiśaḥ | dhāvataścāpyapaśyāma śvasamānāñśarāhatān

O best of the Bharatas, your warriors fled the battle in every direction; and as they ran we saw them panting, struck by arrows.

Verse 12 (9.18.12)

तान्प्रभग्नान्हतान्दृष्ट्वा हतोत्साहान्पराजितान् । अभ्यवर्तन्त पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवाश्च जयैषिणः ॥

tānprabhagnānhatāndṛṣṭvā hatotsāhānparājitān | abhyavartanta pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavāśca jayaiṣiṇaḥ

Seeing them broken, struck down, dispirited and defeated, the Panchalas and the Pandavas, eager for victory, turned upon them.

Verse 13 (9.18.13)

बाणशब्दरवाश्चापि सिंहनादाश्च पुष्कलाः । शङ्खशब्दश्च शूराणां दारुणः समपद्यत ॥

bāṇaśabdaravāścāpi siṃhanādāśca puṣkalāḥ | śaṅkhaśabdaśca śūrāṇāṃ dāruṇaḥ samapadyata

The twang of bows, loud lion-roars and the dreadful blast of the heroes' conches arose together.

Verse 14 (9.18.14)

दृष्ट्वा तु कौरवं सैन्यं भयत्रस्तं प्रविद्रुतम् । अन्योन्यं समभाषन्त पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह ॥

dṛṣṭvā tu kauravaṃ sainyaṃ bhayatrastaṃ pravidrutam | anyonyaṃ samabhāṣanta pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha

Seeing the Kaurava army gripped by fear and scattering, the Panchalas and the Pandavas spoke to one another.

Verse 15 (9.18.15)

अद्य राजा सत्यधृतिर्हतामित्रो युधिष्ठिरः । अद्य दुर्योधनो हीनो दीप्तया नृपतिश्रिया ॥

adya rājā satyadhṛtirhatāmitro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | adya duryodhano hīno dīptayā nṛpatiśriyā

"Today King Yudhishthira, steadfast in truth, has destroyed his enemies; today Duryodhana is stripped of the bright glory of a king.

Note on the text: Speaker: v. 14 introduces the talk of the Panchalas and Pandavas among themselves ("अन्योन्यं समभाषन्त"); their speech runs unheaded from here to v. 30, so it is given to them (as the Pandava warriors elsewhere in the parva). The CE star lines 9.18.14d*0103_01–02 are not in Wikisource.

Verse 16 (9.18.16)

अद्य श्रुत्वा हतं पुत्रं धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः । निःसंज्ञः पतितो भूमौ किल्बिषं प्रतिपत्स्यते ॥

adya śrutvā hataṃ putraṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ | niḥsaṃjñaḥ patito bhūmau kilbiṣaṃ pratipatsyate

Today Dhritarashtra, lord of men, hearing that his son is slain, will fall senseless to the ground and meet the consequence of his wrongdoing.

Verse 17 (9.18.17)

अद्य जानाति बीभत्सुं समर्थं स्वधन्विनाम् । अद्यात्मानं च दुर्मेधा गर्हयिष्यति पापकृत् ॥

adya jānāti bībhatsuṃ samarthaṃ svadhanvinām | adyātmānaṃ ca durmedhā garhayiṣyati pāpakṛt

Today that dull-witted evildoer will come to know Bibhatsu as a mighty bowman among bowmen, and today he will reproach himself.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.18.16a,c (the alignment finds no match because Wikisource splits the CE's three-line verse). जानाति बीभत्सुं … स्वधन्विनाम् for CE jānātu kaunteyam … sarvadhanvinām (recension variant, kept).

Verse 18 (9.18.18)

अद्य क्षत्तुर्वचः सत्यं स्मरतां ब्रुवतो हितम् । अद्यप्रभृति पार्थं च प्रेष्यभूत इवाचरन् । विजानातु नृपो दुःखं यत्प्राप्तं पाण्डुनन्दनैः ॥

adya kṣatturvacaḥ satyaṃ smaratāṃ bruvato hitam | adyaprabhṛti pārthaṃ ca preṣyabhūta ivācaran | vijānātu nṛpo duḥkhaṃ yatprāptaṃ pāṇḍunandanaiḥ

Today let him remember that Vidura's words, spoken for his good, were true; and from today, serving Partha like a servant, let the king learn the sorrow that the sons of Pandu have borne.

Note on the text: Three lines: line 1 = CE 9.18.16e; lines 2–3 = CE 9.18.17a,c (the CE star line 9.18.17b*0104_01 is not in Wikisource; प्रेष्यभूत इवाचरन् for CE preṣyabhūta upācaran, variant).

Verse 19 (9.18.19)

अद्य कृष्णस्य माहात्म्यं विजानातु महीपतिः । अद्यार्जुनधनुर्घोषं घोरं जानातु संयुगे ॥

adya kṛṣṇasya māhātmyaṃ vijānātu mahīpatiḥ | adyārjunadhanurghoṣaṃ ghoraṃ jānātu saṃyuge

Today let the lord of the earth know Krishna's greatness; today let him know, in the fray, the dread twang of Arjuna's bow.

Verse 20 (9.18.20)

अस्त्राणां च बलं सर्वं बाह्वोश्च बलमाहवे । पुत्राणां च वधं घोरं भीमेन श्रोष्यते नृपः ॥

astrāṇāṃ ca balaṃ sarvaṃ bāhvośca balamāhave | putrāṇāṃ ca vadhaṃ ghoraṃ bhīmena śroṣyate nṛpaḥ

He will learn the full power of our weapons and the strength of our arms in battle, and the king will hear of the dreadful slaughter of his sons at the hands of Bhima.

Note on the text: Corrected अत्त्राणां → अस्त्राणां (misprint in Wikisource; a त for स; CE astrāṇāṃ). Removed the wiki quote marks round line 2. Line 1 = CE 9.18.19a; line 2 is the CE star passage 9.18.18d*0105_01 (putrāṇāṃ ca vadhaṃ ghoraṃ bhīmena śroṣyate nṛpaḥ), which the CE prints before 19a.

Verse 21 (9.18.21)

अद्य ज्ञास्यति भीमस्य बलं घोरं महात्मनः । हते दुर्योधने युद्धे शक्रेणेव तु शम्बरे ॥

adya jñāsyati bhīmasya balaṃ ghoraṃ mahātmanaḥ | hate duryodhane yuddhe śakreṇeva tu śambare

Today, when Duryodhana is slain in battle, as Shambara was by Shakra, he will learn the terrible strength of great-souled Bhima.

Verse 22 (9.18.22)

यत्कृतं भीमसेनेन दुःशासनवधे तदा । कोऽन्यः कर्ताऽस्ति तल्लोके ऋते भीमान्महाबलात् ॥

yatkṛtaṃ bhīmasenena duḥśāsanavadhe tadā | ko'nyaḥ kartā'sti talloke ṛte bhīmānmahābalāt

Who else in the world could have done what Bhimasena did then at the slaying of Duhshasana, other than mighty Bhima?

Verse 23 (9.18.23)

अद्य ज्येष्ठस्य जानीतां पाण्डवस्य पराक्रमम् । मद्रराजं हतं श्रुत्वा देवैरपि सुदुःसहम् ॥

adya jyeṣṭhasya jānītāṃ pāṇḍavasya parākramam | madrarājaṃ hataṃ śrutvā devairapi suduḥsaham

Today, hearing that the king of the Madras is slain, let them know the prowess of the eldest Pandava, which even the gods can scarcely endure.

Verse 24 (9.18.24)

अद्य ज्ञास्यति सङ्ग्रामे माद्रीपुत्रौ सुदुःसहौ । निहते सौबले वीरे गान्धारेषु च सर्वशः ॥

adya jñāsyati saṅgrāme mādrīputrau suduḥsahau | nihate saubale vīre gāndhāreṣu ca sarvaśaḥ

Today, when Saubala the hero has been slain and the Gandharas everywhere with him, he will know in battle the two sons of Madri, so hard to withstand.

Verse 25 (9.18.25)

कथं जयो न तेषां स्याद्येषां योद्धा धनञ्जयः । सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः ॥

kathaṃ jayo na teṣāṃ syādyeṣāṃ yoddhā dhanañjayaḥ | sātyakirbhīmasenaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ

How could victory fail to be theirs, whose fighters are Dhananjaya, Satyaki, Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata,

Note on the text: Restored xxxxx → सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च (five letters printed as "xxxxx" in Wikisource; restored from CE 9.18.23c sātyakir bhīmasenaś ca). Restored xxxx → कथं जयो (four letters printed as "xxxx" in Wikisource; the words are those of CE 9.18.23a kathaṃ teṣāṃ jayo na syād, in the order the page keeps: न तेषां स्याद्). Lines = CE 9.18.23.

Verse 26 (9.18.26)

द्रौपद्यास्तनयाः पञ्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ । शिखण्डी च महेष्वासो राजा चैव युधिष्ठिरः ॥

draupadyāstanayāḥ pañca mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau | śikhaṇḍī ca maheṣvāso rājā caiva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

the five sons of Draupadi, the two Pandavas who are Madri's sons, the great archer Shikhandi, and King Yudhishthira himself?

Note on the text: Restored xxxx → द्रौपद्यास्तनयाः (printed as "xxxx" in Wikisource; restored from CE 9.18.24a draupadyās tanayāḥ pañca). Lines = CE 9.18.24.

Verse 27 (9.18.27)

येषां च जगतो नाथो नाथः कृष्णो जनार्दनः । कथं तेषां जयो न स्याद्येषां धर्मो व्यपाश्रयः ॥

yeṣāṃ ca jagato nātho nāthaḥ kṛṣṇo janārdanaḥ | kathaṃ teṣāṃ jayo na syādyeṣāṃ dharmo vyapāśrayaḥ

How could they fail to win, whose protector is Krishna Janardana, the lord of the world, and who have dharma as their refuge?

Verse 28 (9.18.28)

लाभस्तेषां जयस्तेषां कुतस्तेषां पराभवः । येषां नाथो हृषीकेशः सर्वलोकविभुर्हरिः ॥

lābhasteṣāṃ jayasteṣāṃ kutasteṣāṃ parābhavaḥ | yeṣāṃ nātho hṛṣīkeśaḥ sarvalokavibhurhariḥ

Gain is theirs, victory is theirs; how could defeat be theirs, whose lord is Hrishikesha, Hari, sovereign of all the worlds?

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quote marks. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as the star passage 9.18.25d*0106_01–02 (lābhas teṣāṃ jayas teṣāṃ …).

Verse 29 (9.18.29)

भीष्मं द्रोणं च कर्णं च मद्रराजानमेव च । तथाऽन्यान्नृपतीन्वीराञ्शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ ca karṇaṃ ca madrarājānameva ca | tathā'nyānnṛpatīnvīrāñśataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Bhishma, Drona and Karna, the king of the Madras, and other heroic kings by the hundred and the thousand —

Verse 30 (9.18.30)

कोऽन्यः शक्तो रणे जेतुमृते पार्थाद्युधिष्ठिरात् । यस्य नाथो हृषीकेशः सदा सत्ययशोनिधिः ॥

ko'nyaḥ śakto raṇe jetumṛte pārthādyudhiṣṭhirāt | yasya nātho hṛṣīkeśaḥ sadā satyayaśonidhiḥ

who else could conquer them in battle, but Partha and Yudhishthira, whose protector is Hrishikesha, ever a treasure-house of truth and renown?"

Note on the text: Last verse of the unheaded speech of the Panchalas and Pandavas (v. 15–30); v. 31 returns to Sanjaya's narration.

Verse 31 (9.18.31)

इत्येवं वदमानास्ते हर्षेण महता युताः । प्रभग्नांस्तावकान्योधान्संहृष्टाः पृष्ठतोऽन्वयुः ॥

ityevaṃ vadamānāste harṣeṇa mahatā yutāḥ | prabhagnāṃstāvakānyodhānsaṃhṛṣṭāḥ pṛṣṭhato'nvayuḥ

Speaking thus, filled with great joy, they followed close behind your scattered warriors, exultant.

Verse 32 (9.18.32)

धनञ्जयो रथानीकमभ्यवर्तत वीर्यवान् । माद्रीपुत्रौ च शकुनिं सात्यकिश्च महारथः ॥

dhanañjayo rathānīkamabhyavartata vīryavān | mādrīputrau ca śakuniṃ sātyakiśca mahārathaḥ

Dhananjaya, full of valour, bore down upon the host of chariots; the two sons of Madri bore down upon Shakuni; and the great chariot-warrior Satyaki advanced as well.

Verse 33 (9.18.33)

तान्प्रेक्ष्य द्रवतः सर्वान्भीमसेनभयार्दितान् । दुर्योधनस्तदा सूतमब्रवीद्विस्मयन्निव ॥

tānprekṣya dravataḥ sarvānbhīmasenabhayārditān | duryodhanastadā sūtamabravīdvismayanniva

Seeing them all in flight, tormented by fear of Bhimasena, Duryodhana then spoke to his charioteer, as if in wonder.

Verse 34 (9.18.34)

मामतिक्रमते पार्थो धनुष्पाणिमवस्थितम् । जघने सर्वसैन्यानां शनैरश्वान्प्रचोदय ॥

māmatikramate pārtho dhanuṣpāṇimavasthitam | jaghane sarvasainyānāṃ śanairaśvānpracodaya

"Partha is passing beyond me, though I stand bow in hand. Drive the horses slowly to the rear of the whole army.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's words to his charioteer (announced in v. 33); no heading is printed, and the speech runs to v. 38. Lines differ from CE 9.18.31 (na mātikramate pārtho … mamāśvān pratipādaya); Wikisource's मामतिक्रमते and शनैरश्वान्प्रचोदय are a recension variant, kept (the page itself glosses the variant न मातेक्रमते).

Verse 35 (9.18.35)

जघने युध्यमानं हि कौन्तेयो मां न संशयः । नोत्सहेदभ्यतिक्रान्तुं वेलामिव महोदधिः ॥

jaghane yudhyamānaṃ hi kaunteyo māṃ na saṃśayaḥ | notsahedabhyatikrāntuṃ velāmiva mahodadhiḥ

For while I fight at the rear, Kaunteya will surely not dare to pass me, as the ocean does not pass its shore.

Verse 36 (9.18.36)

पश्य सैन्यं महत्सूत पाण्डवैः समभिद्रुतम् । सैन्यरेणुं समुद्भूतं पश्य चैनं समन्ततः ॥

paśya sainyaṃ mahatsūta pāṇḍavaiḥ samabhidrutam | sainyareṇuṃ samudbhūtaṃ paśya cainaṃ samantataḥ

Look, charioteer, at the great army pursued by the Pandavas, and see the dust it has raised, all around us.

Verse 37 (9.18.37)

सिंहनादांश्च बहुशः शृणु घोरान्भयानकान् । तस्माद्याहि शनैः सूत जघनं परिपालय ॥

siṃhanādāṃśca bahuśaḥ śṛṇu ghorānbhayānakān | tasmādyāhi śanaiḥ sūta jaghanaṃ paripālaya

And hear the many lion-roars, dreadful and terrifying. Therefore go slowly, charioteer, and guard the rear.

Note on the text: Restored line 1: Wikisource prints सिंहनादांश्च समुद्भूतं पश्य चैनं समन्ततः, a repeat of the second half of the previous verse; restored from CE 9.18.34a siṃhanādāṃś ca bahuśaḥ śṛṇu ghorān bhayānakān. Line 2 = CE 9.18.34c. Speaker: Duryodhana (continuing). Line 2 = CE 9.18.34c.

Verse 38 (9.18.38)

मयि स्थिते च समरे निरुद्धेषु च पाण्डुषु । पुनरावर्तते तूर्णं मामकं बलमोजसा ॥

mayi sthite ca samare niruddheṣu ca pāṇḍuṣu | punarāvartate tūrṇaṃ māmakaṃ balamojasā

While I stand firm in the battle and the Pandavas are held back, my army will quickly rally and come back with vigour."

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, last verse of his speech to the charioteer.

Verse 39 (9.18.39)

तच्छ्रुत्वा तव पुत्रस्य शूरस्य सदृशं वचः । सारथिर्हेमसञ्छन्नाञ्शनैरश्वानचोदयत् ॥

tacchrutvā tava putrasya śūrasya sadṛśaṃ vacaḥ | sārathirhemasañchannāñśanairaśvānacodayat

Hearing that speech, worthy of your heroic son, the charioteer urged the gold-draped horses on, slowly.

Note on the text: Corrected शरैः → शनैः (misprint in Wikisource; "urged the horses with arrows" is no sense where Duryodhana has just told the charioteer to go slowly, v. 34 and 37; CE śanair aśvān acodayat). Line 1 differs from CE 9.18.36a (śūrāgryasadṛśaṃ vacaḥ; recension variant, kept).

Verse 40 (9.18.40)

गजाश्वरथिभिर्हीनास्त्यक्तात्मानः पदातयः । एकविंशतिसाहस्राः संयुगायावतस्थिरे ॥

gajāśvarathibhirhīnāstyaktātmānaḥ padātayaḥ | ekaviṃśatisāhasrāḥ saṃyugāyāvatasthire

Twenty-one thousand foot-soldiers, left without elephant-riders, horsemen or chariot-fighters, and careless of their own lives, stood ready for the fight.

Verse 41 (9.18.41)

नानादेशसमुद्भूता नानारञ्जितवाससः । अवस्थितास्तदा योधाः प्रार्थयन्तो महद्यशः ॥

nānādeśasamudbhūtā nānārañjitavāsasaḥ | avasthitāstadā yodhāḥ prārthayanto mahadyaśaḥ

Those warriors, born in many lands and clad in garments of many colours, stood firm, seeking great glory.

Verse 42 (9.18.42)

तेषामापततां तत्र संहृष्टानां परस्परम् । सम्मर्दः सुमहाञ्जज्ञे घोररूपो भयानकः ॥

teṣāmāpatatāṃ tatra saṃhṛṣṭānāṃ parasparam | sammardaḥ sumahāñjajñe ghorarūpo bhayānakaḥ

As those exultant men rushed upon one another, a vast clash arose, dreadful in form and terrifying.

Note on the text: Corrected सुमहाञ्चज्ञे → सुमहाञ्जज्ञे (misprint in Wikisource; च for ज, giving a meaningless form; CE sumahāñ jajñe).

Verse 43 (9.18.43)

भीमसेनं तदा राजन्धृष्टद्युम्नं च पार्षतम् । बलेन चतुरङ्गेण नानादेश्या न्यवारयन् ॥

bhīmasenaṃ tadā rājandhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam | balena caturaṅgeṇa nānādeśyā nyavārayan

O king, men from many lands, with a force of four arms, held back Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata.

Note on the text: Corrected नानादेश्यानवारयत् → नानादेश्या न्यवारयन् (misprint in Wikisource; as printed the clause has two accusatives and no subject; CE nānādeśyā nyavārayan, "men of many lands held them back").

Verse 44 (9.18.44)

भीममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त रणेऽन्ये तु पदातयः । प्रक्ष्वेड्यास्फोट्य संहृष्टा वीरलोकं यियासवः ॥

bhīmamevābhyavartanta raṇe'nye tu padātayaḥ | prakṣveḍyāsphoṭya saṃhṛṣṭā vīralokaṃ yiyāsavaḥ

Other foot-soldiers attacked Bhima alone in the battle, slapping their arms and roaring, eager to reach the world of heroes.

Verse 45 (9.18.45)

आसाद्य भीमसेनं तु संरब्धा युद्धदुर्मदाः । धार्तराष्ट्रा विनेदुर्हि नान्यामकथयन्कथाम् । परिवार्य रणे भीमं निजघ्नुस्ते समन्ततः ॥

āsādya bhīmasenaṃ tu saṃrabdhā yuddhadurmadāḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrā vinedurhi nānyāmakathayankathām | parivārya raṇe bhīmaṃ nijaghnuste samantataḥ

Reaching Bhimasena, the Dhartarashtras, raging and maddened for battle, roared aloud, speaking of nothing else, and surrounding Bhima in the fight they struck at him from every side.

Note on the text: Corrected नान्यामकथनयन्कथाम् → नान्यामकथयन्कथाम् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray न inserted in अकथयन्; CE nānyāṃ cākathayan kathām). Three-line verse = CE 9.18.42a,c,e; the CE star line 9.18.42d*0107_01 is not in Wikisource.

Verse 46 (9.18.46)

स वध्यमानः समरे पदातिगणसंवृतः । न चचाल ततः स्थानान्मैनाक इव पर्वतः ॥

sa vadhyamānaḥ samare padātigaṇasaṃvṛtaḥ | na cacāla tataḥ sthānānmaināka iva parvataḥ

Though struck in the battle, hemmed in by the throng of foot-soldiers, he did not stir from his place, like the mountain Mainaka.

Verse 47 (9.18.47)

ते तु क्रुद्धा महाराज पाण्डवस्य महारथम् । निग्रहीतुं प्रवृत्ता हि योधांश्चान्यानवारयन् ॥

te tu kruddhā mahārāja pāṇḍavasya mahāratham | nigrahītuṃ pravṛttā hi yodhāṃścānyānavārayan

O great king, in their fury they set about seizing the Pandava's great chariot, while holding back the other warriors.

Verse 48 (9.18.48)

अक्रुध्यत रणे भीमस्तैस्तदा पर्यवस्थितैः । सोऽवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं पदातिः समवस्थितः ॥

akrudhyata raṇe bhīmastaistadā paryavasthitaiḥ | so'vatīrya rathāttūrṇaṃ padātiḥ samavasthitaḥ

Bhima grew furious in the battle at those who stood around him; he quickly leapt down from his chariot and took his stand on foot.

Verse 49 (9.18.49)

जातरूपप्रतिच्छन्नां प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् । अवधीत्तावकान्योधान्दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः ॥

jātarūpapraticchannāṃ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām | avadhīttāvakānyodhāndaṇḍapāṇirivāntakaḥ

Seizing his huge mace, wrapped in gold, he struck down your warriors like Death with his rod in hand.

Verse 50 (9.18.50)

रथाश्वविप्रहीणांस्तु तान्भीमो गदया बली । एकविंशतिसाहस्रान्पदातीन्समपोथयत् ॥

rathāśvaviprahīṇāṃstu tānbhīmo gadayā balī | ekaviṃśatisāhasrānpadātīnsamapothayat

That mighty Bhima with his mace crushed the twenty-one thousand foot-soldiers who had been stripped of their chariots and horses.

Verse 51 (9.18.51)

हत्वा तत्पुरुषानीकं भीमः सत्यपराक्रमः । धृष्टद्युम्नं पुरस्कृत्य न चिरात्प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥

hatvā tatpuruṣānīkaṃ bhīmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ puraskṛtya na cirātpratyadṛśyata

Having destroyed that host of men, Bhima of true prowess, putting Dhrishtadyumna before him, was soon seen again.

Verse 52 (9.18.52)

पादाता निहता भूमौ शिश्यिरे रुधिरोक्षिताः । सम्भग्ना इव वातेन कर्णिकाराः सुपुष्पिताः ॥

pādātā nihatā bhūmau śiśyire rudhirokṣitāḥ | sambhagnā iva vātena karṇikārāḥ supuṣpitāḥ

The foot-soldiers lay slain on the ground, drenched in blood, like flowering karnikara trees broken by the wind.

Note on the text: Corrected रुधिरोक्षितः → रुधिरोक्षिताः (misprint in Wikisource; a singular for the plural पादाताः; CE rudhirokṣitāḥ).

Verse 53 (9.18.53)

नानाशस्त्रसमायुक्ता नानाकुण्डलधारिणः । नानाजात्या हतास्तत्र नानादेशसमागताः ॥

nānāśastrasamāyuktā nānākuṇḍaladhāriṇaḥ | nānājātyā hatāstatra nānādeśasamāgatāḥ

Armed with many weapons, wearing many kinds of earrings, of many sorts, they lay slain there, gathered from many lands.

Note on the text: Corrected नादेशसमागताः → नानादेशसमागताः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped syllable; CE nānādeśasamāgatāḥ).

Verse 54 (9.18.54)

पताकाध्वजसञ्छन्नं पदातीनां महद्बलम् । निकृत्तं विबभौ रौद्रं घोररूपं भयावहम् ॥

patākādhvajasañchannaṃ padātīnāṃ mahadbalam | nikṛttaṃ vibabhau raudraṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayāvaham

That great force of foot-soldiers, covered with banners and flags, cut to pieces, looked dreadful, grim and terrifying.

Verse 55 (9.18.55)

युधिष्ठिरपुरोगाश्च सहसैन्या महारथाः । अभ्यधावन्महात्मानं पुत्रं दुर्योधनं तव ॥

yudhiṣṭhirapurogāśca sahasainyā mahārathāḥ | abhyadhāvanmahātmānaṃ putraṃ duryodhanaṃ tava

Led by Yudhishthira, the great chariot-warriors with their troops ran upon your great-souled son Duryodhana.

Verse 56 (9.18.56)

ते सर्वे तावकान्दृष्ट्वा महेष्वासान्पराङ्मुखान् । नाभ्यवर्तन्त ते पुत्रं वेलामिव महोर्मयः ॥

te sarve tāvakāndṛṣṭvā maheṣvāsānparāṅmukhān | nābhyavartanta te putraṃ velāmiva mahormayaḥ

Though they saw your great archers turning away, none of them could get past your son, any more than great waves can pass the shore.

Verse 57 (9.18.57)

तदद्भुतमपश्याम तव पुत्रस्य पौरुषम् । यदेकं सहिताः पार्था न शेकुरतिवर्तितुम् ॥

tadadbhutamapaśyāma tava putrasya pauruṣam | yadekaṃ sahitāḥ pārthā na śekurativartitum

We saw that marvel of your son's prowess: all the Parthas together could not get past that one man.

Verse 58 (9.18.58)

नातिदूरापयातं तु कृतबुद्धिं पलायने । दुर्योधनः स्वकं सैन्यमब्रवीद्भृशविक्षतम् ॥

nātidūrāpayātaṃ tu kṛtabuddhiṃ palāyane | duryodhanaḥ svakaṃ sainyamabravīdbhṛśavikṣatam

To his own badly wounded army, which had not gone far in its flight and was resolved on running away, Duryodhana said:

Note on the text: Corrected कृतबुद्वि → कृतबुद्धिं (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध and a lost anusvara; CE kṛtabuddhiṃ palāyane).

Verse 59 (9.18.59)

न तं देशं प्रपश्यामि पृथिव्यां पर्वतेषु च । यत्र यातान्न वा हन्युः पाण्डवाः किं सृतेन वः ॥

na taṃ deśaṃ prapaśyāmi pṛthivyāṃ parvateṣu ca | yatra yātānna vā hanyuḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kiṃ sṛtena vaḥ

"I see no place on earth or among the mountains where, if you went, the Pandavas would not kill you. What is the use of your running?

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's speech to his army, announced in v. 58 and unheaded, runs to v. 66.

Verse 60 (9.18.60)

अल्पं च बलमेतेषां कृष्णौ च भृशविक्षतौ । यदि सर्वेऽत्र तिष्ठामो ध्रुवं नो विजयो भवेत् ॥

alpaṃ ca balameteṣāṃ kṛṣṇau ca bhṛśavikṣatau | yadi sarve'tra tiṣṭhāmo dhruvaṃ no vijayo bhavet

Their force is small, and the two Krishnas are badly wounded. If we all stand firm here, victory will surely be ours.

Verse 61 (9.18.61)

विप्रयातांस्तु वो भिन्नान्पाण्डवाः कृतविप्रियाः । अनुयाय हनिष्यन्ति श्रेयान्नः समरे वधः ॥

viprayātāṃstu vo bhinnānpāṇḍavāḥ kṛtavipriyāḥ | anuyāya haniṣyanti śreyānnaḥ samare vadhaḥ

If you scatter and run, the Pandavas, whom we have wronged, will chase you down and kill you. Better for us to die standing in battle.

Verse 62 (9.18.62)

शृण्वन्तु क्षत्रियाः सर्वे यावन्तोऽत्र समागताः । यदा शूरं च भीरुं च मारयत्यन्तकः सदा ॥

śṛṇvantu kṣatriyāḥ sarve yāvanto'tra samāgatāḥ | yadā śūraṃ ca bhīruṃ ca mārayatyantakaḥ sadā

Listen, all you Kshatriyas who are gathered here: Death always kills the brave and the coward alike.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.18.59a,c; यावन्तोऽत्र for CE yāvantaḥ stha (variant).

Verse 63 (9.18.63)

को नु मूढो न युध्येत पुरुषः क्षत्रियो ध्रुवम् । श्रेयान्नो भीमसेनस्य क्रुद्धस्याभिमुखे स्थितः ॥

ko nu mūḍho na yudhyeta puruṣaḥ kṣatriyo dhruvam | śreyānno bhīmasenasya kruddhasyābhimukhe sthitaḥ

What Kshatriya would be so foolish as not to fight? Better for us to stand facing Bhimasena in his rage.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 9.18.59e (क्षत्रियो ध्रुवम् for kṣatriyabruvaḥ, variant); line 2 = CE 9.18.60a.

Verse 64 (9.18.64)

सुखः साङ्ग्रामिको मृत्युर्दुःखो व्याधिजरादिभिः । मर्त्येनावश्यमर्तव्यं गृहेष्वपि कदाचन ॥

sukhaḥ sāṅgrāmiko mṛtyurduḥkho vyādhijarādibhiḥ | martyenāvaśyamartavyaṃ gṛheṣvapi kadācana

A death in battle is a happy one; it is dying of sickness and old age that is painful. A mortal must die someday, even in his own house.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 9.18.60c (दुःखो व्याधिजरादिभिः for kṣatradharmeṇa yudhyatām, variant); line 2 is the CE star line 9.18.60d*0111_01.

Verse 65 (9.18.65)

युध्यतः क्षत्रधर्मेण मृत्युरेष सनातनः । हत्वेह सुखमाप्नोति हतः प्रेत्य महत्फलम् ॥

yudhyataḥ kṣatradharmeṇa mṛtyureṣa sanātanaḥ | hatveha sukhamāpnoti hataḥ pretya mahatphalam

For one who fights by the duty of a warrior, this is the ancient way of death: if he kills, he finds happiness here, and if he is slain, a great reward in the next world.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE star line 9.18.60d*0111_02; line 2 = CE 9.18.60e (हत्वेह for jitveha, variant).

Verse 66 (9.18.66)

न युद्धधर्माच्छ्रेयान्वै पन्थाः स्वर्गस्य कौरवाः । अचिरेणैव ताँल्लोकान्हतो युद्धे समश्नुते ॥

na yuddhadharmācchreyānvai panthāḥ svargasya kauravāḥ | acireṇaiva tām̐llokānhato yuddhe samaśnute

O Kauravas, no road to heaven is better than the duty of war; one slain in battle soon wins those worlds."

Note on the text: Last verse of Duryodhana's speech; v. 67 returns to Sanjaya.

Verse 67 (9.18.67)

श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तस्य पूजयित्वा च पार्थिवाः । पुनरेवाभ्यवर्तन्त पाण्डवानाततायिनः ॥

śrutvā tadvacanaṃ tasya pūjayitvā ca pārthivāḥ | punarevābhyavartanta pāṇḍavānātatāyinaḥ

Hearing his words and honouring them, the kings turned back once more upon the Pandavas, their deadly assailants.

Verse 68 (9.18.68)

तानापतत एवाशु व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः । प्रत्युद्ययुस्तदा पार्था जयगृद्धाः प्रमन्यवः ॥

tānāpatata evāśu vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | pratyudyayustadā pārthā jayagṛddhāḥ pramanyavaḥ

Just as they were rushing forward, the Parthas, their ranks drawn up, eager for victory, furious and hard-hitting, went out to meet them.

Verse 69 (9.18.69)

धनञ्जयो रथेनाजावभ्यवर्तत वीर्यवान् । विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु व्याक्षिपन्गाण्डिवं धनुः ॥

dhanañjayo rathenājāvabhyavartata vīryavān | viśrutaṃ triṣu lokeṣu vyākṣipangāṇḍivaṃ dhanuḥ

Dhananjaya, full of valour, advanced in his chariot into the fray, drawing the Gandiva bow, famed in the three worlds.

Verse 70 (9.18.70)

माद्रीपुत्रौ च शकुनिं सात्यकिश्च महाबलः । जवेनाभ्यपतन्हृष्टा यत्ता वै तावकं बलम् ॥

mādrīputrau ca śakuniṃ sātyakiśca mahābalaḥ | javenābhyapatanhṛṣṭā yattā vai tāvakaṃ balam

The two sons of Madri made for Shakuni, and mighty Satyaki with them; all of them, eager and alert, fell swiftly upon your army.

Note on the text: यत्ता वै for CE yato vai (recension variant, kept).