Arjuna Burns Down the Kaurava Host

Verse 1 (9.23.1)

अल्पावशिष्टे सैन्ये तु पाण्डवैर्निहते बले । अश्वैः सप्तसहस्रैस्तु उपावर्तत सौबलः ॥

alpāvaśiṣṭe sainye tu pāṇḍavairnihate bale | aśvaiḥ saptasahasraistu upāvartata saubalaḥ

When the army had dwindled to a remnant, its forces cut down by the Pandavas, Shakuni, son of Subala, came back with seven thousand horse.

Note on the text: Wikisource's lines differ from the critical edition's 9.23.1a,c (tasmiñ śabde mṛdau jāte …; aśvaiḥ saptaśataiḥ śiṣṭaiḥ): a recension variant, kept. Speaker: Sanjaya, as headed on the page.

Verse 2 (9.23.2)

स यात्वा वाहिनीं तूर्णं चोदयानः स्वकान्युधि । युध्यध्वमिति संहृष्टाः पुनःपुनररिन्दमाः ॥

sa yātvā vāhinīṃ tūrṇaṃ codayānaḥ svakānyudhi | yudhyadhvamiti saṃhṛṣṭāḥ punaḥpunararindamāḥ

Riding swiftly to the host, he urged his own men on in the fight, crying "Fight!" again and again, and those tamers of foes were filled with joy.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.2a and 9.23.2c (the CE's third line, 9.23.2e, begins the next Wikisource verse).

Verse 3 (9.23.3)

अपृच्छत्क्षत्रियांस्तत्र क्व नु राजा महाबलः । शकुनेस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तमूचुर्भरतर्षभ ॥

apṛcchatkṣatriyāṃstatra kva nu rājā mahābalaḥ | śakunestadvacaḥ śrutvā tamūcurbharatarṣabha

There he asked the kshatriyas, "Where is the mighty king?" Hearing Shakuni's words, they answered him, O best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 9.23.2e; line 2 = CE 9.23.3a (Wikisource divides the CE's three-line verses into couplets).

Verse 4 (9.23.4)

असौ तिष्ठति कौरव्यो रणमध्ये महाबलः । यत्रैतत्सुमहच्छत्रं पूर्णचन्द्रसमप्रभम् ॥

asau tiṣṭhati kauravyo raṇamadhye mahābalaḥ | yatraitatsumahacchatraṃ pūrṇacandrasamaprabham

"There stands the mighty Kaurava in the midst of the battle, where that great parasol shines, bright as the full moon,

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 9.23.3c; line 2 = CE 9.23.4a. Speaker: the warriors' reply has no heading on the page; the text says tam ūcuḥ ("they said to him"), so the speech (verses 4-6a) is given to the warriors, not Sanjaya.

Verse 5 (9.23.5)

यत्र ते सतनुत्राणा रथास्तिष्ठन्ति दंशिताः । यत्रैष तुमुलः शब्दः पर्जन्यनिनदोपमः ॥

yatra te satanutrāṇā rathāstiṣṭhanti daṃśitāḥ | yatraiṣa tumulaḥ śabdaḥ parjanyaninadopamaḥ

where those chariots stand armoured and ready in their mail, and where this tumultuous roar rises like the thunder of a rain-cloud.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.4c and 9.23.5a.

Verse 6 (9.23.6)

तत्र गच्छ द्रुतं राजंस्ततो द्रक्ष्यसि कौरवम् । एवमुक्तस्तु तैर्योधैः शकुनिः सौबलस्तदा ॥

tatra gaccha drutaṃ rājaṃstato drakṣyasi kauravam | evamuktastu tairyodhaiḥ śakuniḥ saubalastadā

Go there swiftly, O king, and you will see the Kaurava." Addressed in these words by those warriors, Shakuni, son of Subala, then set off

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.5c and 9.23.6a. Line 1 is still the warriors' speech and line 2 is narration; the verse is kept whole and left with the narrator, Sanjaya.

Verse 7 (9.23.7)

प्रययौ तत्र यत्रास्ते पुत्रस्तव नराधिप । सर्वतः संवृतो वीरैः समरे चित्रयोधिभिः ॥

prayayau tatra yatrāste putrastava narādhipa | sarvataḥ saṃvṛto vīraiḥ samare citrayodhibhiḥ

for the place where your son stood, O lord of men, surrounded on every side in the battle by heroes who fought in wondrous ways.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.6c and 9.23.6e.

Verse 8 (9.23.8)

ततो दुर्योधनं दृष्ट्वा रथानीके व्यवस्थितम् । स रथांस्तावकान्सर्वान्हर्षयञ्शकुनिस्ततः ॥

tato duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā rathānīke vyavasthitam | sa rathāṃstāvakānsarvānharṣayañśakunistataḥ

Then Shakuni, seeing Duryodhana stationed in the line of chariots, and gladdening all your chariot-warriors,

Verse 9 (9.23.9)

दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यं हृष्टरूपो विशाम्पते । कृतकार्यमिवात्मानं मन्यमानोऽब्रवीन्नृपम् ॥

duryodhanamidaṃ vākyaṃ hṛṣṭarūpo viśāmpate | kṛtakāryamivātmānaṃ manyamāno'bravīnnṛpam

spoke these words to King Duryodhana, O lord of the people, in high spirits, thinking his task already done.

Verse 10 (9.23.10)

जहि राजन्रथानीकमश्वाः सर्वे जिता मया । नात्यक्त्वा जीवितं सङ्ख्ये शक्यो जेतुं युधिष्ठिरः ॥

jahi rājanrathānīkamaśvāḥ sarve jitā mayā | nātyaktvā jīvitaṃ saṅkhye śakyo jetuṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

"Strike down the chariot host, O king; I have conquered all the horses. Yudhishthira cannot be conquered in battle by one who will not stake his life.

Note on the text: Speaker: Shakuni. The page gives no heading; the words follow the narration that Shakuni spoke to Duryodhana (verse 9).

Verse 11 (9.23.11)

हते तस्मिन्रथानीके पाण्डवेनाभिपालिते । गजानेतान्हनिष्यामः पदातींश्चेतरांस्तथा ॥

hate tasminrathānīke pāṇḍavenābhipālite | gajānetānhaniṣyāmaḥ padātīṃścetarāṃstathā

When that chariot host, guarded by the Pandava, has been destroyed, we shall kill these elephants and the footmen and the rest."

Verse 12 (9.23.12)

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य तावका जयगृद्धिनः । जवेनाभ्यपतन्हृष्टाः पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् ॥

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya tāvakā jayagṛddhinaḥ | javenābhyapatanhṛṣṭāḥ pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm

Hearing his words, your warriors, eager for victory, joyfully and swiftly fell upon the army of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Corrected जयगृद्विनः → जयगृद्धिनः (misprint in Wikisource; द्वि for द्धि, the critical edition reads jayagṛddhinaḥ).

Verse 13 (9.23.13)

बद्धनिस्त्रिंशहस्ताश्च प्रगृहीतशरासनाः । शरासनानि धून्वानाः सिंहनादान्प्रचक्रिरे ॥

baddhanistriṃśahastāśca pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ | śarāsanāni dhūnvānāḥ siṃhanādānpracakrire

With swords bound to their hands and bows at the ready, they shook their bows and raised lion-roars.

Note on the text: Corrected बद्वनिस्त्रिंश → बद्धनिस्त्रिंश (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध). The line is a recension variant of CE 9.23.12a (sarve vivṛtatūṇīrāḥ …), kept.

Verse 14 (9.23.14)

ततो ज्यातलनिर्धोषः पुनरासीद्विशाम्पते । प्रादुरासीच्छराणां च सुमुक्तानां सुदारुणः ॥

tato jyātalanirdhoṣaḥ punarāsīdviśāmpate | prādurāsīccharāṇāṃ ca sumuktānāṃ sudāruṇaḥ

Then, O lord of the people, the twang of bowstring and palm rose once more, and the dreadful whirr of well-loosed arrows.

Verse 15 (9.23.15)

तान्समीपगतान्दृष्ट्वा जनानुद्यतकार्मुकान् । उवाच देवकीपुत्रं कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः ॥

tānsamīpagatāndṛṣṭvā janānudyatakārmukān | uvāca devakīputraṃ kuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ

Seeing those men come close with bows raised, Dhananjaya, son of Kunti, spoke to the son of Devaki.

Verse 16 (9.23.16)

चोदयाश्वानसम्भ्रान्तः प्रविशैतद्बलार्णवम् । अन्तमद्य गमिष्यामि शत्रूणां निशितैः शरैः ॥

codayāśvānasambhrāntaḥ praviśaitadbalārṇavam | antamadya gamiṣyāmi śatrūṇāṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

"Drive the horses on without confusion and enter this ocean of troops. Today I shall bring the foe to his end with my sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna. The page prints no heading for his speech; it is given to him from here through verse 52, where the page's own Sanjaya heading (9-23-53x) resumes the narration. Verse 15 names him as the speaker.

Verse 17 (9.23.17)

अष्टादश दिनान्यद्य युद्धस्यास्य जनार्दन । वर्तमानस्य महतः समासाद्य परस्परम् ॥

aṣṭādaśa dinānyadya yuddhasyāsya janārdana | vartamānasya mahataḥ samāsādya parasparam

"Today, Janardana, this great battle has been going on for eighteen days, with the two armies locked together.

Verse 18 (9.23.18)

अनन्तकल्पा ध्वजिनी भूत्वा ह्येषां महात्मनाम् । क्षयमद्य गता युद्धे पश्य दैवं यथाविधम् ॥

anantakalpā dhvajinī bhūtvā hyeṣāṃ mahātmanām | kṣayamadya gatā yuddhe paśya daivaṃ yathāvidham

"The host of these great ones, once all but endless, has been brought to destruction in the battle today. See what fate is like.

Verse 19 (9.23.19)

समुद्रकल्पं च बलं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य माधव । अस्मनासाद्य सञ्जातं गोष्पदोपममच्युत ॥

samudrakalpaṃ ca balaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya mādhava | asmanāsādya sañjātaṃ goṣpadopamamacyuta

"The army of Dhritarashtra's son was like an ocean, Madhava; having met us, it has shrunk to a cow's hoofprint, Achyuta.

Verse 20 (9.23.20)

हते भीष्मे धीर्ममासीच्छमः स्यादिति माधव । न च तत्कृतवान्मूढो धार्तराष्ट्रः सुबालिशः ॥

hate bhīṣme dhīrmamāsīcchamaḥ syāditi mādhava | na ca tatkṛtavānmūḍho dhārtarāṣṭraḥ subāliśaḥ

"When Bhishma fell, the thought came to me, Madhava, that there would be peace; but that foolish, childish son of Dhritarashtra did not act on it.

Verse 21 (9.23.21)

उक्तं भीष्मेण यद्वाक्यं हितं तथ्यं च माधव । तच्चापि नासौ कृतवान्वीतबुद्धिः सुयोधनः ॥

uktaṃ bhīṣmeṇa yadvākyaṃ hitaṃ tathyaṃ ca mādhava | taccāpi nāsau kṛtavānvītabuddhiḥ suyodhanaḥ

"The wise and true words that Bhishma spoke, Madhava, that senseless Suyodhana did not follow either.

Verse 22 (9.23.22)

तस्मिंस्तु निहते भीष्मे प्रच्युते पृथिवीपतौ । न जाने कारणं किन्तु येन युद्धमवर्तत ॥

tasmiṃstu nihate bhīṣme pracyute pṛthivīpatau | na jāne kāraṇaṃ kintu yena yuddhamavartata

"When Bhishma, that lord of the earth, had fallen and been brought low, I cannot tell what reason kept the war going.

Verse 23 (9.23.23)

मूढांस्तु सर्वथा मन्ये धार्तराष्ट्रान्सुबालिशान् । पतिते शन्तनोः पुत्रे येऽकार्षुः संयुगं पुनः ॥

mūḍhāṃstu sarvathā manye dhārtarāṣṭrānsubāliśān | patite śantanoḥ putre ye'kārṣuḥ saṃyugaṃ punaḥ

"I think the sons of Dhritarashtra utterly deluded and childish, who made war again after the son of Shantanu had fallen.

Note on the text: Corrected येऽकार्युः → येऽकार्षुः (misprint in Wikisource; ष dropped to य, the aorist is अकार्षुः; the critical edition reads 'kārṣuḥ).

Verse 24 (9.23.24)

अनन्तरं च निहते द्रोणे ब्रह्मविदां वरे । राधेये च विकर्णे च नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

anantaraṃ ca nihate droṇe brahmavidāṃ vare | rādheye ca vikarṇe ca naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"And after Drona, best of the knowers of Brahman, was slain, and Radheya and Vikarna too, still the slaughter does not cease.

Verse 25 (9.23.25)

अल्पावशिष्टे सैन्येऽस्मिन्सूतपुत्रे च पातिते । सपुत्रे वै नरव्याघ्रे नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

alpāvaśiṣṭe sainye'sminsūtaputre ca pātite | saputre vai naravyāghre naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"With this army reduced to a remnant, and the charioteer's son felled together with his son, that tiger among men, still the slaughter does not cease.

Verse 26 (9.23.26)

श्रुतायुषि हते वीरे जलसन्धे च मागधे । श्रुतायुधे च नृपतौ नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

śrutāyuṣi hate vīre jalasandhe ca māgadhe | śrutāyudhe ca nṛpatau naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"With the hero Shrutayus slain, and Jalasandha of Magadha, and King Shrutayudha, still the slaughter does not cease.

Verse 27 (9.23.27)

भूरिश्रवसि शल्ये च साल्ये चैव जनार्दन । आवन्त्येषु च वीरेषु नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

bhūriśravasi śalye ca sālye caiva janārdana | āvantyeṣu ca vīreṣu naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"With Bhurishravas slain, and Shalya, and Shalva, Janardana, and the heroes of Avanti, still the slaughter does not cease.

Verse 28 (9.23.28)

जयद्रथे च निहते राक्षसे चाप्यलायुधे । बाह्लिके सोमदत्ते च नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

jayadrathe ca nihate rākṣase cāpyalāyudhe | bāhlike somadatte ca naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"With Jayadratha slain, and the rakshasa Alayudha, and Bahlika and Somadatta, still the slaughter does not cease.

Verse 29 (9.23.29)

भगदत्ते हते शूरे काम्भोजे च सुदारुणे । दुःशासने च निहते नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

bhagadatte hate śūre kāmbhoje ca sudāruṇe | duḥśāsane ca nihate naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"With the brave Bhagadatta slain, and the dreadful Kamboja, and Duhshasana, still the slaughter does not cease.

Verse 30 (9.23.30)

दृष्ट्वा विनिहताञ्शूरान्पृथङ्माण्डलिकान्नृपान् । बलिनश्च रणे कृष्ण नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

dṛṣṭvā vinihatāñśūrānpṛthaṅmāṇḍalikānnṛpān | balinaśca raṇe kṛṣṇa naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"Seeing the strong heroes and the kings of the separate realms slain in battle, Krishna, still the slaughter does not cease.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner (U+200D) inside माण्डलिकान्.

Verse 31 (9.23.31)

अक्षौहिणीपतीन्दृष्ट्वा भीमसेननिपातितान् । मोहाद्वा यदि वा लोभान्नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

akṣauhiṇīpatīndṛṣṭvā bhīmasenanipātitān | mohādvā yadi vā lobhānnaiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"Seeing the lords of akshauhinis brought down by Bhimasena, whether through delusion or through greed, still the slaughter does not cease.

Verse 32 (9.23.32)

हतप्रवीरां विध्वस्तां दृष्ट्वा चेमां चमूं रणे । अलम्बले च निहते नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

hatapravīrāṃ vidhvastāṃ dṛṣṭvā cemāṃ camūṃ raṇe | alambale ca nihate naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"Seeing this army, its great heroes slain, shattered in the battle, and with Alambala slain, still the slaughter does not cease.

Note on the text: Removed the stray wiki backtick at the start of the verse. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records these two lines in its apparatus as lines 01-02 of the star passage 9.23.30d*0135 (alambuse for Wikisource's alambale).

Verse 33 (9.23.33)

भ्रातॄन्विनिहतान्दृष्ट्वा वयस्यान्मातुलानपि । पुत्रान्विनिहतान्दृष्ट्वा नैव शाम्यति वैशसम् ॥

bhrātṝnvinihatāndṛṣṭvā vayasyānmātulānapi | putrānvinihatāndṛṣṭvā naiva śāmyati vaiśasam

"Seeing his brothers slain, his friends and even his maternal uncles, seeing his sons slain, still the slaughter does not cease."

Note on the text: Removed the stray closing quote mark (') before the verse-end sign. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records these two lines in its apparatus as lines 03-04 of the star passage 9.23.30d*0135 (reading saṃkhye for dṛṣṭvā in line 4).

Verse 34 (9.23.34)

को नु राजकुले जातः कौरवेषु विशेषतः । निरर्थकं महद्वैरं कुर्यादन्यः सुयोधनात् ॥

ko nu rājakule jātaḥ kauraveṣu viśeṣataḥ | nirarthakaṃ mahadvairaṃ kuryādanyaḥ suyodhanāt

"What man born in a royal house, and above all among the Kauravas, other than Suyodhana, would nurse so great and pointless an enmity?

Verse 35 (9.23.35)

गुणतोऽभ्यधिकाञ्ज्ञात्वा बलतः शौर्यतोपि वा । अमूढः को नु युध्येत जानन्प्राज्ञो हिताहितम् ॥

guṇato'bhyadhikāñjñātvā balataḥ śauryatopi vā | amūḍhaḥ ko nu yudhyeta jānanprājño hitāhitam

"Knowing his foes to be superior in merit, strength and valour, what undeluded man, wise and knowing good from harm, would fight them?

Verse 36 (9.23.36)

किन्नु तस्य मनो ह्यासीत्त्वयोक्तस्य हितं वचः । प्रशमे पाण्डवैः सार्धं सोन्यस्य शृणुयात्कथम् ॥

kinnu tasya mano hyāsīttvayoktasya hitaṃ vacaḥ | praśame pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ sonyasya śṛṇuyātkatham

"What can have been in his mind, when you spoke to him the wholesome word of peace with the Pandavas? How would he listen to anyone else?

Verse 37 (9.23.37)

येन शान्तनवो भीष्मो द्रोणो विदुर एव च । प्रत्याख्याताः शमस्यार्थे किन्नु तस्याद्य भेषजम् ॥

yena śāntanavo bhīṣmo droṇo vidura eva ca | pratyākhyātāḥ śamasyārthe kinnu tasyādya bheṣajam

"He who turned away Bhishma son of Shantanu, Drona and Vidura when they spoke for peace, what medicine is there for him now?

Note on the text: Corrected शंमस्यार्थे → शमस्यार्थे (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara in the word शम; the critical edition reads śamasyārthe).

Verse 38 (9.23.38)

मौर्ख्याद्येन पिता वृद्धः प्रत्याख्यातो जनार्दन । तथा माता हितं वाक्यं भाषमाणा हितैषिणी ॥

maurkhyādyena pitā vṛddhaḥ pratyākhyāto janārdana | tathā mātā hitaṃ vākyaṃ bhāṣamāṇā hitaiṣiṇī

"In his folly, Janardana, he turned away his aged father, and likewise his mother, who spoke wholesome words out of love for him,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.35a and 9.23.35c. Corrected वृद्वः → वृद्धः (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, the critical edition reads vṛddhaḥ).

Verse 39 (9.23.39)

प्रत्याख्याता ह्यसत्कृत्य स कस्मै रोचयेद्वचः । कुलान्तकरणो व्यक्तं जात एष जनार्दन ॥

pratyākhyātā hyasatkṛtya sa kasmai rocayedvacaḥ | kulāntakaraṇo vyaktaṃ jāta eṣa janārdana

"and slighted them both. Whose advice will he accept? Janardana, he has plainly been born to destroy his house.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.35e and 9.23.36a.

Verse 40 (9.23.40)

तथास्य दृश्यते चेष्टा नीतिश्चैव विशाम्पते । नैष दास्यति नो राज्यमिति मे मतिरच्युत ॥

tathāsya dṛśyate ceṣṭā nītiścaiva viśāmpate | naiṣa dāsyati no rājyamiti me matiracyuta

"His conduct and his policy show the same, O lord of the people. It is my conviction, Achyuta, that he will not give us the kingdom.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.36c and 9.23.36e.

Verse 41 (9.23.41)

उक्तोऽहं बहुशस्तात विदुरेण महात्मना । न जीवन्दास्यते भागं धार्तराष्ट्रः सुयोधनः ॥

ukto'haṃ bahuśastāta vidureṇa mahātmanā | na jīvandāsyate bhāgaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraḥ suyodhanaḥ

"The great-souled Vidura has told me many times, my friend, that Dhritarashtra's son Suyodhana will not give us our share while he lives.

Verse 42 (9.23.42)

यावत्प्राणा धरिष्यन्ति धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः । तावद्युष्मास्वपापेषु प्रचरिष्यति पापकम् ॥

yāvatprāṇā dhariṣyanti dhārtarāṣṭrasya durmateḥ | tāvadyuṣmāsvapāpeṣu pracariṣyati pāpakam

"He told me that as long as the breath of life remains in that evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra, he will go on doing wrong to you, the blameless.

Verse 43 (9.23.43)

न च युक्तोऽन्यथा जेतुमृते युद्धेन माधव । इत्यब्रवीत्सदा मां हि विदुरः सत्यदर्शनः ॥

na ca yukto'nyathā jetumṛte yuddhena mādhava | ityabravītsadā māṃ hi viduraḥ satyadarśanaḥ

"Vidura, who sees the truth, always told me, Madhava, that he cannot rightly be overcome in any way other than by war.

Verse 44 (9.23.44)

तत्सर्वमद्य जानामि व्यवसायं दुरात्मनः । यदुक्तं वचनं तेन विदुरेण महात्मना ॥

tatsarvamadya jānāmi vyavasāyaṃ durātmanaḥ | yaduktaṃ vacanaṃ tena vidureṇa mahātmanā

"All of it I understand today, the resolve of that wicked man, as the great-souled Vidura declared it.

Verse 45 (9.23.45)

यो हि श्रुत्वा वचः पथ्यं जामदग्न्याद्यथातथम् । अवामन्यत दुर्बुद्धिर्ध्रुवं नाशमुखे स्थितः ॥

yo hi śrutvā vacaḥ pathyaṃ jāmadagnyādyathātatham | avāmanyata durbuddhirdhruvaṃ nāśamukhe sthitaḥ

"A fool who hears wholesome counsel exactly as given by the son of Jamadagni and scorns it stands surely at the mouth of destruction.

Verse 46 (9.23.46)

उक्तं हि बहुभिः सिद्धैर्जातमात्रे सुयोधने । एनं प्राप्य दुरात्मानं क्षयं क्षत्रं गमिष्यति ॥

uktaṃ hi bahubhiḥ siddhairjātamātre suyodhane | enaṃ prāpya durātmānaṃ kṣayaṃ kṣatraṃ gamiṣyati

"Many perfected sages said when Suyodhana was newly born: the warrior class will go to ruin on reaching this evil-minded one.

Verse 47 (9.23.47)

तदिदं वचनं तेषां निरुक्तं वै जनार्दन । क्षयं याता हि राजानो दुर्योधनकृते भृशम् ॥

tadidaṃ vacanaṃ teṣāṃ niruktaṃ vai janārdana | kṣayaṃ yātā hi rājāno duryodhanakṛte bhṛśam

"That saying of theirs has proved true, Janardana: kings have been utterly destroyed for Duryodhana's sake.

Verse 48 (9.23.48)

सोऽद्य सर्वान्रणे योधान्निहनिष्यामि माधव ॥

so'dya sarvānraṇe yodhānnihaniṣyāmi mādhava

"So today, Madhava, I shall slay every warrior in the battle,

Note on the text: A one-line verse on the page (9-23-48a only, closed with its own verse-end mark). The line is CE 9.23.44a, the first line of a three-line CE verse whose other lines open the next two Wikisource verses; nothing is lost.

Verse 49 (9.23.49)

क्षत्रियेषु हतेष्वाशु शून्ये च शिबिरे कृते । वधाय चात्मनोऽस्माभिः संयुगं रोचयिष्यति ॥

kṣatriyeṣu hateṣvāśu śūnye ca śibire kṛte | vadhāya cātmano'smābhiḥ saṃyugaṃ rocayiṣyati

"and when the kshatriyas are quickly slain and his camp is left empty, he will choose to fight us, to his own death.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.23.44c and 9.23.45a.

Verse 50 (9.23.50)

तदन्तं हि भवेद्वैरमनुमानेन माधव । एवं पश्यामि वार्ष्णेय चिन्तयन्प्रज्ञया स्वया । विदुरस्य च वाक्येन चेष्टया च दुरात्मनः ॥

tadantaṃ hi bhavedvairamanumānena mādhava | evaṃ paśyāmi vārṣṇeya cintayanprajñayā svayā | vidurasya ca vākyena ceṣṭayā ca durātmanaḥ

"The enmity will end with that, Madhava; so I judge. This is what I see, Varshneya, reasoning with my own mind, from Vidura's words and the wicked man's conduct.

Note on the text: Three lines on the page: CE 9.23.45c, 9.23.46a and 9.23.46c.

Verse 51 (9.23.51)

तस्माद्याहि चमूं वीर यावद्धन्मि शितैः शरैः । दुर्योधनं महाबाहो वाहिनीं चास्य संयुगे ॥

tasmādyāhi camūṃ vīra yāvaddhanmi śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | duryodhanaṃ mahābāho vāhinīṃ cāsya saṃyuge

"Therefore drive on into the host, hero, while I strike down Duryodhana and his army in the battle with my sharp arrows, O mighty-armed.

Note on the text: Corrected यावद्वन्मि → यावद्धन्मि (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, the critical edition reads yāvad dhanmi). The first line otherwise differs from CE 9.23.47a (saṃyāhi bhāratīṃ vīra …), a recension variant, kept.

Verse 52 (9.23.52)

क्षेममद्य करिष्यामि धर्मराजस्य माधव । हत्वैतद्दुर्बलं सैन्यं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पश्यतः ॥

kṣemamadya kariṣyāmi dharmarājasya mādhava | hatvaitaddurbalaṃ sainyaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya paśyataḥ

"Today, Madhava, I shall secure the welfare of the king of Dharma, by destroying this weakened army of Dhritarashtra's son before his very eyes."

Verse 53 (9.23.53)

अभीशुहस्तो दाशार्हस्तथोक्तः सव्यसाचिना । तद्बलौघममित्राणामभीतः प्राविशद्बलात् ॥

abhīśuhasto dāśārhastathoktaḥ savyasācinā | tadbalaughamamitrāṇāmabhītaḥ prāviśadbalāt

Addressed thus by Savyasachin, the Dasharha, rein in hand, plunged fearlessly and forcefully into that flood of the enemy.

Note on the text: Speaker: Sanjaya, by the page's own heading (9-23-53x).

Verse 54 (9.23.54)

शरासनवनं घोरं शक्तिकण्टकसङ्कुलम् । गदापरिघपाषाणं रथनागमहाद्रुमम् ॥

śarāsanavanaṃ ghoraṃ śaktikaṇṭakasaṅkulam | gadāparighapāṣāṇaṃ rathanāgamahādrumam

It was a dreadful forest of bows, thick with the thorns of spears, with maces, iron clubs and stones, and chariots and elephants for its great trees,

Verse 55 (9.23.55)

हयपत्तिलताकीर्णं गाहमानो महायशाः । व्यचरत्तत्र गोविन्दो रथेनातिपताकिना ॥

hayapattilatākīrṇaṃ gāhamāno mahāyaśāḥ | vyacarattatra govindo rathenātipatākinā

strewn with horses and footmen for creepers. Into this plunged glorious Govinda, ranging there in his chariot with its lofty banners.

Verse 56 (9.23.56)

ते हयाः पाण्डुरा राजन्वहन्तोऽर्जुनमाहवे । दिक्षु सर्वास्वदृश्यन्त दाशार्हेण प्रचोदिताः ॥

te hayāḥ pāṇḍurā rājanvahanto'rjunamāhave | dikṣu sarvāsvadṛśyanta dāśārheṇa pracoditāḥ

Those white horses, O king, bearing Arjuna in the battle and driven by the Dasharha, were seen in every direction.

Verse 57 (9.23.57)

ततः प्रायाद्रथेनाजौ सव्यसाची परन्तपः । किरञ्शरशतांस्तीक्ष्णान्वारिधारा घनो यथा ॥

tataḥ prāyādrathenājau savyasācī parantapaḥ | kirañśaraśatāṃstīkṣṇānvāridhārā ghano yathā

Then Savyasachin, tormentor of foes, rode on in his chariot, scattering hundreds of sharp arrows as a cloud pours streams of rain.

Verse 58 (9.23.58)

प्रादुरासीन्महाञ्शब्दः शराणां नतपर्वणाम् । इषुभिश्छाद्यमानानां समरे सव्यसाचिना ॥

prādurāsīnmahāñśabdaḥ śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām | iṣubhiśchādyamānānāṃ samare savyasācinā

A great noise arose from the arrows with their smooth, bent joints, as the enemy was covered with shafts in the battle by Savyasachin.

Verse 59 (9.23.59)

असज्जन्तस्तनुत्रेषु शरौघाः प्रापतन्भुवि । इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शा गाण्डीवप्रेषिताः शराः ॥

asajjantastanutreṣu śaraughāḥ prāpatanbhuvi | indrāśanisamasparśā gāṇḍīvapreṣitāḥ śarāḥ

Flights of arrows sent from Gandiva, touching like Indra's thunderbolt, passed through the armour without catching and fell to the ground.

Verse 60 (9.23.60)

नरान्नागान्समाहत्य हयांश्चापि विशाम्पते । अपतन्त रणे बाणाः पतङ्गा इव घोषिणः ॥

narānnāgānsamāhatya hayāṃścāpi viśāmpate | apatanta raṇe bāṇāḥ pataṅgā iva ghoṣiṇaḥ

Striking men, elephants and horses, O lord of the people, the arrows fell in the battle like humming swarms of locusts.

Verse 61 (9.23.61)

आसीत्सर्वमवच्छन्नं गाण्डीवप्रेषितैः शरैः । न प्राज्ञायन्त समरे दिशो वा प्रदिशोपि वा ॥

āsītsarvamavacchannaṃ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ | na prājñāyanta samare diśo vā pradiśopi vā

Everything was covered over with arrows sent from Gandiva; in the battle neither the quarters nor the intermediate directions could be told apart.

Verse 62 (9.23.62)

सर्वमासीज्जगत्पूर्णं पार्थनामाङ्कितैः शरैः । रुक्मपुङ्खैस्तैलधौतैः कर्मारपरिमार्जितैः ॥

sarvamāsījjagatpūrṇaṃ pārthanāmāṅkitaiḥ śaraiḥ | rukmapuṅkhaistailadhautaiḥ karmāraparimārjitaiḥ

The whole world was filled with arrows marked with Partha's name, golden-feathered, oil-washed and polished by the smith.

Verse 63 (9.23.63)

ते दह्यमानाः पार्थेन पावकेनेव कुञ्जराः । पार्थं न प्राजहुर्घोराः वध्यमानाः शितैः शरैः ॥

te dahyamānāḥ pārthena pāvakeneva kuñjarāḥ | pārthaṃ na prājahurghorāḥ vadhyamānāḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Burned by Partha as elephants are burned by fire, those fierce warriors, struck by his sharp arrows, did not leave Partha.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राजहुर्घारा → प्राजहुर्घोराः (misprint in Wikisource; घारा is not a word and does not agree with वध्यमानाः; the evident word is घोराः, 'fierce'). The line differs from CE 9.23.59c (samāsīdanta kauravyā …), a recension variant, kept.

Verse 64 (9.23.64)

शरचापधरः पार्थः प्रज्वलन्निव भास्करः । ददाह समरे योधान्कक्षमग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥

śaracāpadharaḥ pārthaḥ prajvalanniva bhāskaraḥ | dadāha samare yodhānkakṣamagniriva jvalan

Partha, bow and arrows in hand, blazing like the sun, burned the warriors in the battle as a blazing fire burns dry grass.

Verse 65 (9.23.65)

यथा वनान्ते वनपैर्विसृष्टः । कक्षं दहेत्कृष्णगतिः सुघोषः । भूरिद्रुमं शुष्कलतावितानं । भृशं समृद्धो ज्वलनः प्रतापी ॥

yathā vanānte vanapairvisṛṣṭaḥ | kakṣaṃ dahetkṛṣṇagatiḥ sughoṣaḥ | bhūridrumaṃ śuṣkalatāvitānaṃ | bhṛśaṃ samṛddho jvalanaḥ pratāpī

As at the edge of a forest a fire loosed by foresters, dark-trailed and roaring loud, grown mighty and fierce, burns the dry brush, thick with trees and canopied with withered creepers,

Note on the text: The page prints four lines, its labels reading 9-23-65a, b, c, b (the last a mislabel); all four lines are kept. The critical edition prints the same four pādas as two lines, 9.23.61a and 61c.

Verse 66 (9.23.66)

एवं स नाराचगणम्प्रतापी । शरार्चिरुच्चावचतिग्मतेजाः । ददाह सर्वां तव पुत्रसेना- । ममृष्यमाणस्तरसा तरस्वी ॥

evaṃ sa nārācagaṇampratāpī | śarārciruccāvacatigmatejāḥ | dadāha sarvāṃ tava putrasenā- | mamṛṣyamāṇastarasā tarasvī

so that mighty one, fierce with his volleys of iron arrows, his shafts for flames, of keen and varied brilliance, burned your son's whole army, swiftly and impatiently.

Note on the text: Normalised the page's double hyphen (--) marking the compound पुत्रसेनाममृष्यमाणः split across lines 3 and 4 to the single hyphen used for such breaks. The critical edition prints the four pādas as two lines, 9.23.62a and 62c.

Verse 67 (9.23.67)

तस्येषवः प्राणहराः सुमुक्ता । नासज्जन्वै वर्मसु रुक्मपुङ्खाः । न च द्वितीयं प्रमुमोच बाणं । नरे हये वा परमद्विपे वा ॥

tasyeṣavaḥ prāṇaharāḥ sumuktā | nāsajjanvai varmasu rukmapuṅkhāḥ | na ca dvitīyaṃ pramumoca bāṇaṃ | nare haye vā paramadvipe vā

His life-taking arrows, well loosed and golden-feathered, did not stick in the armour, and he never loosed a second arrow at man, horse or mighty elephant.

Note on the text: The critical edition prints the four pādas as two lines, 9.23.63a and 63c.

Verse 68 (9.23.68)

अनेकरूपाकृतिभिर्हि बाणै- । र्महारथानीकमनुप्रविश्य । स एव एकस्तव पुत्रस्य सेनां । जघान दैत्यानिव वज्रपाणिः ॥

anekarūpākṛtibhirhi bāṇai- | rmahārathānīkamanupraviśya | sa eva ekastava putrasya senāṃ | jaghāna daityāniva vajrapāṇiḥ

Entering the host of great chariot-warriors with arrows of many shapes and forms, he alone struck down your son's army, as the wielder of the thunderbolt struck down the Daityas.

Note on the text: Normalised the page's double hyphen (--) marking the word बाणैर्महारथानीकम् split between lines 1 and 2 to the single hyphen used for such breaks. The critical edition prints the four pādas as two lines, 9.23.64a and 64c.