Duryodhana Rejects Peace

Verse 1 (9.4.1)

एवमुक्तस्ततो राजा गौतमेन तपस्विना । निःश्वस्य दीर्घमुष्णं च तूष्णीमासीद्विशाम्पते ॥

evamuktastato rājā gautamena tapasvinā | niḥśvasya dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca tūṣṇīmāsīdviśāmpate

Addressed thus by the ascetic Gautama, the king sighed long and hot, O lord of the people, and fell silent.

Verse 2 (9.4.2)

ततो मुहूर्तं स ध्यात्वा तव पुत्रो महामनाः । कृपं शारद्वतं वाक्यमित्युवाच परन्तपः ॥

tato muhūrtaṃ sa dhyātvā tava putro mahāmanāḥ | kṛpaṃ śāradvataṃ vākyamityuvāca parantapaḥ

Then, after reflecting for a moment, your high-minded son, the scorcher of foes, spoke these words to Kripa Sharadvata:

Verse 3 (9.4.3)

यत्किञ्चित्सुहृदा वाच्यं तत्सर्वं श्रावितो ह्यहम् । कृतं च भवता सर्वं प्राणान्सन्त्यज्य युध्यता ॥

yatkiñcitsuhṛdā vācyaṃ tatsarvaṃ śrāvito hyaham | kṛtaṃ ca bhavatā sarvaṃ prāṇānsantyajya yudhyatā

Everything that a friend should say, I have been told; and you have done everything, fighting with your life laid aside.

Verse 4 (9.4.4)

गाहमानमनीकानि युध्यमानं महारथैः । पाण्डवैरतितेजोभिर्लोकस्त्वामनुदृष्टवान् ॥

gāhamānamanīkāni yudhyamānaṃ mahārathaiḥ | pāṇḍavairatitejobhirlokastvāmanudṛṣṭavān

The world has seen you plunge into the ranks and fight the Pandavas, so exceedingly fierce, and their great chariot-warriors.

Verse 5 (9.4.5)

सुहृदा यदिदं वाक्यं भवता श्रावितो ह्यहम् । न मां प्रीणाति तत्सर्वं मुमूर्षोरिव भेषजम् ॥

suhṛdā yadidaṃ vākyaṃ bhavatā śrāvito hyaham | na māṃ prīṇāti tatsarvaṃ mumūrṣoriva bheṣajam

But this advice that you, a friend, have made me hear gives me no pleasure, any more than medicine pleases a man who is about to die.

Verse 6 (9.4.6)

हेतुकारणसंयुक्तं हितं वचनमुत्तमम् । उच्यमानं महाबाहो न मे विप्राग्र्य रोचते ॥

hetukāraṇasaṃyuktaṃ hitaṃ vacanamuttamam | ucyamānaṃ mahābāho na me viprāgrya rocate

Your words, backed by reasons and causes, are beneficial and excellent, O mighty-armed best of brahmins, but they do not appeal to me.

Note on the text: Corrected रोचने → रोचते (misprint in Wikisource; wrong ending, the verb is रुच् in the present middle; critical edition rocate).

Verse 7 (9.4.7)

राज्याद्विनिकृतोऽस्माभिः कथं सोऽस्मासु विश्वसेत् ॥

rājyādvinikṛto'smābhiḥ kathaṃ so'smāsu viśvaset

Cheated of his kingdom by us, how could he trust us?

Note on the text: Added a space after अस्माभिः and the missing avagraha: सोस्मासु → सोऽस्मासु (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition so 'smāsu). Line 1 = CE 9.4.7a; the CE's other two lines (9.4.7c, 9.4.7e) are the next Wikisource verse.

Verse 8 (9.4.8)

अक्षद्यूते च नृपतिर्जितोऽस्माभिर्महाधनः । स कथं मम वाक्यानि श्रद्दध्याद्भूय एव तु ॥

akṣadyūte ca nṛpatirjito'smābhirmahādhanaḥ | sa kathaṃ mama vākyāni śraddadhyādbhūya eva tu

And that great king, rich in wealth, was beaten by us at dice; how could he believe my words again?

Note on the text: Lines = CE 9.4.7c and 9.4.7e (the third line of that verse).

Verse 9 (9.4.9)

तथा दूत्येन सम्प्राप्तः कृष्णः पार्थहिते रतः । प्रलब्धश्च हृषीकेशस्तच्च कर्माविचारितम् । स च मे वचनं ब्रह्मन्कथमेवाभिमन्यते ॥

tathā dūtyena samprāptaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pārthahite rataḥ | pralabdhaśca hṛṣīkeśastacca karmāvicāritam | sa ca me vacanaṃ brahmankathamevābhimanyate

So too Krishna, intent on Partha's good, came to us as an envoy, and Hrishikesha was deceived; that act was ill considered. How then, O brahmin, will he accept my word?

Note on the text: Recension variants against CE 9.4.8: line 1 "dautyena" for "दूत्येन"; line 2 "karma virodhitam" for "कर्माविचारितम्"; line 3 "abhimaṃsyate" for "अभिमन्यते".

Verse 10 (9.4.10)

विललाप च यत्कृष्णा सभामध्ये समेयुषी । न तन्मर्षयते कृष्णो न राज्यहरणं तथा ॥

vilalāpa ca yatkṛṣṇā sabhāmadhye sameyuṣī | na tanmarṣayate kṛṣṇo na rājyaharaṇaṃ tathā

Draupadi's wailing in the midst of the assembly, when she was brought before it, Krishna does not forgive, nor the seizing of the kingdom.

Verse 11 (9.4.11)

एकप्राणावुभौ कृष्णावन्योन्यमभिसंश्रितौ । पुरा यच्छ्रुतमेवासीदद्य पश्यामि तत्प्रभो ॥

ekaprāṇāvubhau kṛṣṇāvanyonyamabhisaṃśritau | purā yacchrutamevāsīdadya paśyāmi tatprabho

The two Krishnas have one life between them and cling to each other; what I heard of old I see today, my lord.

Verse 12 (9.4.12)

स्वस्रीयं निहतं दृष्ट्वा दुःखं स्वपिति केशवः । कृतागसो वयं तस्य हितं मे स कथं चरेत् ॥

svasrīyaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā duḥkhaṃ svapiti keśavaḥ | kṛtāgaso vayaṃ tasya hitaṃ me sa kathaṃ caret

Seeing his sister's son slain, Keshava sleeps in grief. We are wrongdoers against him; how would he act for my good?

Note on the text: Corrected व यं → वयं (misprint in Wikisource; stray space; critical edition vayaṃ). Recension variant in line 2: the CE reads "sa madarthaṃ kathaṃ kṣamet".

Verse 13 (9.4.13)

अभिमन्योर्विनाशेन न शर्म लभतेऽर्जुनः । स कथं मद्धिते यत्नं प्रकरिष्यति याचितः ॥

abhimanyorvināśena na śarma labhate'rjunaḥ | sa kathaṃ maddhite yatnaṃ prakariṣyati yācitaḥ

Arjuna finds no peace after Abhimanyu's destruction; how would he make an effort for my welfare, even if entreated?

Verse 14 (9.4.14)

मध्यमः पाण्डवस्तीक्ष्णो भीमसेनो महाबलः । प्रतिज्ञातं च तेनोग्रं भज्येतापि न सन्नमेत् ॥

madhyamaḥ pāṇḍavastīkṣṇo bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | pratijñātaṃ ca tenograṃ bhajyetāpi na sannamet

The middle Pandava, fierce and very strong, Bhimasena: the terrible vow he made he would break before he would bend.

Verse 15 (9.4.15)

उभौ तौ बद्धनिस्त्रिंशावुभौ चाबद्धकङ्कटौ । कृतवैरावुभौ वीरौ यमावपि यमोपमौ ॥

ubhau tau baddhanistriṃśāvubhau cābaddhakaṅkaṭau | kṛtavairāvubhau vīrau yamāvapi yamopamau

Both of them, the twins, have their swords bound on and their armour fastened; both are heroes sworn to enmity, like Yama himself.

Verse 16 (9.4.16)

धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च कृतवैरौ मया सह । तौ कथं मद्विते यत्नं कुर्यातां द्विजसत्तम ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kṛtavairau mayā saha | tau kathaṃ madvite yatnaṃ kuryātāṃ dvijasattama

Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi have made enmity with me; how, best of brahmins, would those two make an effort for my good?

Verse 17 (9.4.17)

दुःशासनेन यत्कृष्णा एकवस्त्रा रजस्वला । परिक्लिष्टा सभामध्ये सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः ॥

duḥśāsanena yatkṛṣṇā ekavastrā rajasvalā | parikliṣṭā sabhāmadhye sarvalokasya paśyataḥ

When Draupadi, in a single garment and in her courses, was dragged about by Duhshasana in the midst of the assembly while all the world looked on —

Verse 18 (9.4.18)

तथा विवसनां दीनां स्मरन्त्यद्यापि पाण्डवाः । न निवारयितुं शक्याः सङ्ग्रामात्ते परन्तपाः ॥

tathā vivasanāṃ dīnāṃ smarantyadyāpi pāṇḍavāḥ | na nivārayituṃ śakyāḥ saṅgrāmātte parantapāḥ

the Pandavas remember her, stripped and helpless, even now; those scorchers of foes cannot be held back from the battle.

Verse 19 (9.4.19)

यदा च द्रौपदी क्लिष्टा मद्विनाशाय दुःखिता । उग्रं तेपे तपः कृष्णा भर्तॄणामर्थसिद्धये । स्थण्डिले नित्यदा शेते यावद्वैरस्य यातनम् ॥

yadā ca draupadī kliṣṭā madvināśāya duḥkhitā | ugraṃ tepe tapaḥ kṛṣṇā bhartṝṇāmarthasiddhaye | sthaṇḍile nityadā śete yāvadvairasya yātanam

And when Draupadi, wronged and grieving, performed a fierce austerity for my destruction, to accomplish her husbands' purpose, she slept always on the bare ground, until the feud should be repaid.

Verse 20 (9.4.20)

निक्षिप्य मानं दर्पं च वासुदेवसहोदरा । कृष्णायाः प्रेष्यवद्भूत्वा शुश्रूषां कुरुते सदा ॥

nikṣipya mānaṃ darpaṃ ca vāsudevasahodarā | kṛṣṇāyāḥ preṣyavadbhūtvā śuśrūṣāṃ kurute sadā

Laying aside pride and arrogance, Vasudeva's own sister has become Draupadi's maidservant and attends on her always.

Verse 21 (9.4.21)

इति सर्वं समुन्नद्धं न निर्वाति कथञ्चन । अभिमन्योर्विनाशेन स सन्धेयः कथं मया ॥

iti sarvaṃ samunnaddhaṃ na nirvāti kathañcana | abhimanyorvināśena sa sandheyaḥ kathaṃ mayā

All this is wound up tight and does not cool in any way. With Abhimanyu's destruction between us, how can I make peace with him?

Verse 22 (9.4.22)

कथं च राजा भुक्त्वेमां पृथिवीं सागराम्बराम् । पाण्डवानां प्रसादेन भोक्ष्ये राज्यमहं कथम् ॥

kathaṃ ca rājā bhuktvemāṃ pṛthivīṃ sāgarāmbarām | pāṇḍavānāṃ prasādena bhokṣye rājyamahaṃ katham

And how, having enjoyed this earth bounded by the ocean as its king, shall I enjoy a kingdom by the Pandavas' grace?

Note on the text: Recension variant in line 2: the CE reads "pāṇḍavānāṃ prasādena bhuñjīyāṃ rājyam alpakam".

Verse 23 (9.4.23)

उपर्युपरि राज्ञां वै ज्वलित्वा भास्करो यथा । युधिष्ठिरं कथं पश्चादनुयास्यामि दासवत् ॥

uparyupari rājñāṃ vai jvalitvā bhāskaro yathā | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ kathaṃ paścādanuyāsyāmi dāsavat

Having blazed above all kings like the sun, how shall I follow after Yudhishthira like a slave?

Note on the text: Corrected पञ्चादनु → पश्चादनु (misprint in Wikisource; ञ for श; critical edition paścād).

Verse 24 (9.4.24)

कथं भुक्त्वा स्वयं भोगान्दत्त्वा दायांश्च पुष्कलान् । कृपणं वर्तयिष्यामि कृपणैः सह जीविकाम् ॥

kathaṃ bhuktvā svayaṃ bhogāndattvā dāyāṃśca puṣkalān | kṛpaṇaṃ vartayiṣyāmi kṛpaṇaiḥ saha jīvikām

Having myself enjoyed every pleasure and given lavish gifts, how shall I live a wretched life among the wretched?

Verse 25 (9.4.25)

नाभ्यसूयामि ते वाक्यमुक्तं स्निग्धं हितं त्वया । न तु सन्धिमहं मन्ये प्राप्तकालं कथञ्चन ॥

nābhyasūyāmi te vākyamuktaṃ snigdhaṃ hitaṃ tvayā | na tu sandhimahaṃ manye prāptakālaṃ kathañcana

I do not find fault with your words; what you said was kindly and for my good. But I do not think that peace is timely in any way.

Verse 26 (9.4.26)

सुनीतमनुपश्यामि सुयुद्धेन परन्तप ॥

sunītamanupaśyāmi suyuddhena parantapa

I see good policy in fighting well, O scorcher of foes.

Note on the text: Single line = CE 9.4.25a (Wikisource prints the two lines of that verse as separate verses).

Verse 27 (9.4.27)

नायं क्लीबायितुं कालः संयोद्धुं काल एव नः ॥

nāyaṃ klībāyituṃ kālaḥ saṃyoddhuṃ kāla eva naḥ

This is no time for behaving like a coward; it is the time for us to fight.

Note on the text: Corrected संयोद्वुं → संयोद्धुं (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; critical edition saṃyoddhuṃ). Single line = CE 9.4.25c (Wikisource prints the two lines of that verse as separate verses).

Verse 28 (9.4.28)

इष्टं मे बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्दत्ता विप्रेषु दक्षिणाः । प्राप्ताः कामाः श्रुता वेदाः शत्रूणां मूर्ध्नि च स्थितम् ॥

iṣṭaṃ me bahubhiryajñairdattā vipreṣu dakṣiṇāḥ | prāptāḥ kāmāḥ śrutā vedāḥ śatrūṇāṃ mūrdhni ca sthitam

I have performed many sacrifices and given gifts to brahmins; my desires are fulfilled, the Vedas have been heard, and I have set my foot on my enemies' heads.

Note on the text: Corrected जज्ञैर् → यज्ञैर् (misprint in Wikisource; ज for य; critical edition yajñair). Recension variant in line 2: the CE reads "prāptāḥ kramaśrutā vedāḥ".

Verse 29 (9.4.29)

भृत्या मे सुभृतास्तात दीनश्चाभ्युद्धृतो जनः । नोत्साहेऽद्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवान्वक्तुमीदृशम् ॥

bhṛtyā me subhṛtāstāta dīnaścābhyuddhṛto janaḥ | notsāhe'dya dvijaśreṣṭha pāṇḍavānvaktumīdṛśam

My servants have been well kept, dear one, and the distressed have been raised up. I have no heart today, best of brahmins, to speak to the Pandavas in such a way.

Note on the text: Corrected दीनश्चाभ्युद्वृतो → दीनश्चाभ्युद्धृतो (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; critical edition abhyuddhṛto). Line 1 = CE 9.4.27a; line 2 = star passage 9.4.27b*0036_01 in the critical edition.

Verse 30 (9.4.30)

जितानि परराष्ट्राणि स्वराष्ट्रमनुपालितम् । भुक्ताश्च विविधा भोगास्त्रिवर्गः सेवितो मया ॥

jitāni pararāṣṭrāṇi svarāṣṭramanupālitam | bhuktāśca vividhā bhogāstrivargaḥ sevito mayā

Enemy kingdoms have been conquered and my own realm protected; I have enjoyed pleasures of every kind, and the three aims of life — duty, wealth and desire — have been served by me.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 9.4.27c (the CE reads "yātāni" for "जितानि"); line 2 = CE 9.4.28a.

Verse 31 (9.4.31)

पितॄणां गतमानृण्यं क्षत्रधर्मस्य चोभयोः । न ध्रुवं सुखमस्तीह कुतो राष्ट्रं कुतो यशः । इह कीर्तिर्विचेतव्या सा च युद्धेन नान्यथा ॥

pitṝṇāṃ gatamānṛṇyaṃ kṣatradharmasya cobhayoḥ | na dhruvaṃ sukhamastīha kuto rāṣṭraṃ kuto yaśaḥ | iha kīrtirvicetavyā sā ca yuddhena nānyathā

I have discharged my debt to my forefathers and to the duty of a Kshatriya, to both. There is no lasting happiness here; whence kingdom, whence fame? Fame must be sought here, and that by battle, not otherwise.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वेन → युद्धेन (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; critical edition yuddhena). Line 1 = CE 9.4.28c; lines 2–3 = CE 9.4.29a and 9.4.29c (variants: the CE reads "rājyam" for "राष्ट्रं" and "vidhātavyā" for "विचेतव्या").

Verse 32 (9.4.32)

वृथा च यत्क्षत्रियस्य निधनं तद्विगर्हितम् । अधर्मः सुमहानेष यच्छय्यामरणं गृहे ॥

vṛthā ca yatkṣatriyasya nidhanaṃ tadvigarhitam | adharmaḥ sumahāneṣa yacchayyāmaraṇaṃ gṛhe

For a Kshatriya, death in vain is condemned; and dying on a bed at home is a very great wrong.

Note on the text: Recension variant in line 1: the CE reads "gṛhe yat kṣatriyasyāpi nidhanaṃ tad vigarhitam".

Verse 33 (9.4.33)

अरण्ये यो विमुच्येत सङ्ग्रामे वा तनुं नृपः । क्रतूनाहृत्य महतो महिमानं स गच्छति ॥

araṇye yo vimucyeta saṅgrāme vā tanuṃ nṛpaḥ | kratūnāhṛtya mahato mahimānaṃ sa gacchati

The king who gives up his body in the forest or in battle, after performing great sacrifices, attains greatness.

Verse 34 (9.4.34)

कृपणं विलपन्नार्तो जरयाऽभिपरिप्लुतः । म्रियते रुदतां मध्ये ज्ञातीनां न स पूरुषः ॥

kṛpaṇaṃ vilapannārto jarayā'bhipariplutaḥ | mriyate rudatāṃ madhye jñātīnāṃ na sa pūruṣaḥ

One who wails piteously, afflicted and overcome by old age, and dies among weeping kinsmen, is not a man.

Verse 35 (9.4.35)

त्यक्त्वा तु विविधान्भोगान्प्राप्तानां परमां गतिम् । अपीदानीं सुयुद्धेन गच्छेयं सत्सलोकताम् ॥

tyaktvā tu vividhānbhogānprāptānāṃ paramāṃ gatim | apīdānīṃ suyuddhena gaccheyaṃ satsalokatām

Having given up pleasures of every kind, may I now, by fighting well, reach the supreme goal of those who have attained it — to dwell in the same world as the good.

Note on the text: Corrected यत्सलोकताम् → सत्सलोकताम् (misprint in Wikisource; यत् for सत्; यत् gives no sense with गच्छेयम्; critical edition satsalokatām).

Verse 36 (9.4.36)

शूराणामार्यवृत्तानां सङ्ग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् । धीमतां सत्यसन्धानां सर्वेषां क्रतुयाजिनाम् । शस्त्रावभृथपूतानां ध्रुवो वासस्त्रिविष्टपे ॥

śūrāṇāmāryavṛttānāṃ saṅgrāmeṣvanivartinām | dhīmatāṃ satyasandhānāṃ sarveṣāṃ kratuyājinām | śastrāvabhṛthapūtānāṃ dhruvo vāsastriviṣṭape

For heroes of noble conduct who never turn back in battle, wise, true to their pledge, every one of them a performer of sacrifices, purified by the bath of weapons that ends the sacrifice of war, a dwelling in heaven is certain.

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्क्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् → सङ्ग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् (misprint in Wikisource; क् for ग्; critical edition saṃgrāmeṣv). Lines 1–2 = CE 9.4.34a and 9.4.34c; line 3 is a variant of CE 9.4.35a (the CE reads "śastrāvabhṛtham āptānāṃ dhruvaṃ vāsas triviṣṭape").

Verse 37 (9.4.37)

मुदा नूनं प्रपश्यन्ति युद्धे ह्यप्सरसां गणाः ॥

mudā nūnaṃ prapaśyanti yuddhe hyapsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ

Surely the hosts of apsarases watch them with joy in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वे → युद्धे (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध). Single line = CE 9.4.35c; the CE reads "śubhrā hy apsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ" for "युद्धे ह्यप्सरसां गणाः".

Verse 38 (9.4.38)

पश्यन्ति नूनं पितरः पूजितान्सुरसंसदि । अप्सरोभिः परिवृतान्मोदमानांस्त्रिविष्टपे ॥

paśyanti nūnaṃ pitaraḥ pūjitānsurasaṃsadi | apsarobhiḥ parivṛtānmodamānāṃstriviṣṭape

Surely their forefathers see them honoured in the assembly of the gods, surrounded by apsarases and rejoicing in heaven.

Verse 39 (9.4.39)

पन्थानममरैर्यान्तं शूरैश्चैवानिवर्तिभिः । अपि तत्सङ्गतं मार्गं वयमध्यारुहेमहि ॥

panthānamamarairyāntaṃ śūraiścaivānivartibhiḥ | api tatsaṅgataṃ mārgaṃ vayamadhyāruhemahi

The road that the immortals have gone, and the heroes who never turn back — may we too climb on to that road, joining them.

Verse 40 (9.4.40)

पितामहेन वृद्धेन तथाऽचार्येण धीमता । जयद्रथेन कर्णेन तथा दुःशासनेन च ॥

pitāmahena vṛddhena tathā'cāryeṇa dhīmatā | jayadrathena karṇena tathā duḥśāsanena ca

With the aged grandfather and the wise teacher, with Jayadratha, Karna and Duhshasana,

Note on the text: Corrected वृद्वेन → वृद्धेन (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; critical edition vṛddhena).

Verse 41 (9.4.41)

घटमाना मदर्थेऽस्मिन्हताः शूरा जनाधिपाः । शेरते लोहिताक्ताङ्गाः पृथिव्यां शरविक्षताः ॥

ghaṭamānā madarthe'sminhatāḥ śūrā janādhipāḥ | śerate lohitāktāṅgāḥ pṛthivyāṃ śaravikṣatāḥ

those heroes, rulers of men, who strove for my sake, lie slain on the ground, their limbs smeared with blood, wounded by arrows.

Verse 42 (9.4.42)

उत्तमास्त्रविदः शूरा यथोक्तक्रतुयाजिनः । त्यक्त्वा प्राणान्यथान्यायमिन्द्रसद्मसु धिष्ठिताः ॥

uttamāstravidaḥ śūrā yathoktakratuyājinaḥ | tyaktvā prāṇānyathānyāyamindrasadmasu dhiṣṭhitāḥ

Masters of the finest weapons, heroes who performed sacrifices as laid down, having given up their lives in the proper way, they are established in Indra's halls.

Note on the text: Corrected धिष्ठितः → धिष्ठिताः (misprint in Wikisource; plural, agreeing with शूराः; critical edition dhiṣṭhitāḥ).

Verse 43 (9.4.43)

तैः स्वयं रचितो मार्गो दुर्गमो हि पुनर्भवेत् । सम्पतद्भिर्महावेगैरितो यास्यामि सद्गतिम् ॥

taiḥ svayaṃ racito mārgo durgamo hi punarbhavet | sampatadbhirmahāvegairito yāsyāmi sadgatim

The road they have themselves laid out would become hard to travel again; hastening along with others who press forward at great speed, I shall go from here to a good end.

Verse 44 (9.4.44)

ये मदर्थे हताः शूरास्तेषां कृतमनुस्मरन् । ऋणं तत्प्रतिमुञ्चानो न राज्ये मन आदधे ॥

ye madarthe hatāḥ śūrāsteṣāṃ kṛtamanusmaran | ṛṇaṃ tatpratimuñcāno na rājye mana ādadhe

Remembering what those heroes did who fell for my sake, and so discharging that debt, I have no mind left for the kingdom.

Note on the text: Corrected तत्प्रतियुञ्जानो → तत्प्रतिमुञ्चानो (misprint in Wikisource; यु for मु; ऋणं प्रतियुञ्जानः gives no sense, "discharging the debt" is प्रतिमुञ्चानः; critical edition pratimuñcāno).

Verse 45 (9.4.45)

पातयित्वा वयस्यांश्च भ्रातॄनथ पितामहान् । जीवितं यदि रक्षेयं लोको मां गर्हयेद्ध्रुवम् ॥

pātayitvā vayasyāṃśca bhrātṝnatha pitāmahān | jīvitaṃ yadi rakṣeyaṃ loko māṃ garhayeddhruvam

If, after bringing down my friends, my brothers and my grandfathers, I were to save my own life, the world would surely censure me.

Note on the text: Corrected भ्रातृनथ → भ्रातॄनथ (misprint in Wikisource; short ृ for ॄ in the accusative plural; critical edition bhrātṝn). Corrected गर्हयेद्व्रुवम् → गर्हयेद्ध्रुवम् (misprint in Wikisource; द्व्र for ध्र; व्रुवम् is not a word; critical edition dhruvam).

Verse 46 (9.4.46)

कीदृशं च भवेद्राज्यं मम हीनस्य बन्धुभिः । सखिभिश्च विशेषेण प्रणिपत्य च पाण्डवम् ॥

kīdṛśaṃ ca bhavedrājyaṃ mama hīnasya bandhubhiḥ | sakhibhiśca viśeṣeṇa praṇipatya ca pāṇḍavam

What sort of kingdom would it be for me, bereft of kinsmen and above all of friends, and won by bowing down to a Pandava?

Note on the text: Recension variant in line 2: the CE reads "sakhibhiś ca suhṛdbhiś ca praṇipatya ca pāṇḍavam".

Verse 47 (9.4.47)

सोऽहमेतादृशं कृत्वा जगतोऽस्य पराभवम् । सुयुद्धेन हतः स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यामि न तदन्यथा ॥

so'hametādṛśaṃ kṛtvā jagato'sya parābhavam | suyuddhena hataḥ svargaṃ prāpsyāmi na tadanyathā

Having brought such ruin on this world, I shall be slain in a good fight and reach heaven; it will not be otherwise.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राप्सामि → प्राप्स्यामि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped य् of the future; critical edition prāpsyāmi). Recension variant in line 2: the CE reads "suyuddhena tataḥ svargaṃ" for "सुयुद्धेन हतः स्वर्गं".

Verse 48 (9.4.48)

एवं दुर्योधनेनोक्ते सर्वे सम्पूज्य तद्वचः । साधुसाध्विति राजानं क्षत्रियाः सम्बभाषिरे ॥

evaṃ duryodhanenokte sarve sampūjya tadvacaḥ | sādhusādhviti rājānaṃ kṣatriyāḥ sambabhāṣire

When Duryodhana had spoken thus, all the Kshatriyas honoured his words and said to the king, "Well said, well said!"

Note on the text: Corrected एं दुर्योधनेनोक्ते → एवं दुर्योधनेनोक्ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped व; critical edition evaṃ). The page prints a repeated heading सञ्जय उवाच (9-4-48x) just before this verse; it is not a verse and is made the speaker.

Verse 49 (9.4.49)

पराजयमशोचन्तः कृतचित्ताश्च विक्रमे । सर्वे सुनिश्चिता योद्धुमुदग्रमनसोऽभवन् ॥

parājayamaśocantaḥ kṛtacittāśca vikrame | sarve suniścitā yoddhumudagramanaso'bhavan

Not grieving over defeat, and resolved on valour, all of them were firmly determined to fight, their spirits high.

Verse 50 (9.4.50)

ततो वाहान्समाश्वास्य सर्वे युद्धाभिनन्दिनः । ऊने द्वियोजने गत्वा प्रत्यतिष्ठन्त कौरवाः ॥

tato vāhānsamāśvāsya sarve yuddhābhinandinaḥ | ūne dviyojane gatvā pratyatiṣṭhanta kauravāḥ

Then, after refreshing their mounts, the Kauravas, all delighting in battle, went a little less than two yojanas and halted.

Verse 51 (9.4.51)

आकाशे विद्रुमे पुण्ये प्रस्थे हिमवतः शुभे । अरुणां सरस्वतीं प्राप्य पपुः सस्नुश्च तज्जलम् ॥

ākāśe vidrume puṇye prasthe himavataḥ śubhe | aruṇāṃ sarasvatīṃ prāpya papuḥ sasnuśca tajjalam

On the sacred, auspicious tableland of the Himalaya, open to the sky and coral-bright, they reached the Aruna Sarasvati, and drank its water and bathed in it.

Note on the text: Corrected तेजलम् → तज्जलम् (misprint in Wikisource; misprint; critical edition tajjalam).

Verse 52 (9.4.52)

तव पुत्रकृतोत्साहाः पर्यवर्तन्त ते ततः । पर्यवस्थाप्य चात्मानमन्योन्येन पुनस्तदा । सर्वे राजन्न्यवर्तन्त क्षत्रियाः कालचोदिताः ॥

tava putrakṛtotsāhāḥ paryavartanta te tataḥ | paryavasthāpya cātmānamanyonyena punastadā | sarve rājannyavartanta kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ

Heartened by your son, they wheeled about; and steadying themselves once more by one another, all the Kshatriyas, O king, turned back to the fight, driven on by Time.