The Club-Duel of Bhima and Duryodhana

Verse 1 (9.58.1)

ततो दुर्योधनो दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनं तथाऽऽगतम् । प्रत्युद्ययावदीनात्मा वेगेन महता नदन् ॥

tato duryodhano dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaṃ tathā''gatam | pratyudyayāvadīnātmā vegena mahatā nadan

Then Duryodhana, seeing Bhimasena come on in this way, went out to meet him with a mighty roar, his spirit undismayed.

Verse 2 (9.58.2)

समापेततुरन्योन्यं शृङ्गिणौ वृषभाविव । महानिर्घातघोषश्च प्रहाराणामजायत ॥

samāpetaturanyonyaṃ śṛṅgiṇau vṛṣabhāviva | mahānirghātaghoṣaśca prahārāṇāmajāyata

They collided like two horned bulls, and the crash of their blows rose with a sound like a great thunderbolt falling.

Note on the text: Recension variants against CE 9.56.2: line 1 "samāpetatur anyonyam" for "ānadya"; line 2 "prahārāṇām ajāyata" for "saṃprahāras tayor abhūt" (Wikisource's reading kept).

Verse 3 (9.58.3)

अभवच्च तयोर्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । जिघृक्षतोर्यथाऽन्योन्यमिन्द्रप्रह्लादयोरिव ॥

abhavacca tayoryuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam | jighṛkṣatoryathā'nyonyamindraprahlādayoriva

A tumultuous, hair-raising battle arose between them, as between Indra and Prahrada, each eager to seize the other.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वं → युद्धं (misprint in Wikisource; ध dropped to व; the critical edition reads yuddhaṃ). Lines 1–2 are CE 9.56.3a and 3c (line 2: Wikisource "jighṛkṣatoryathā" for CE "jigīṣator yudhā"; the page's gloss records "jigīṣatoryathā" as a manuscript reading; Wikisource's reading kept). The CE continues with a 32-line Appendix I passage (9.56.3d@003_0001–0032, Appendix I no. 3) that Wikisource does not have; it is not added.

Verse 4 (9.58.4)

रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गौ गदाहस्तौ मनस्विनौ । ददृशाते महात्मानौ पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ ॥

rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgau gadāhastau manasvinau | dadṛśāte mahātmānau puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau

Their whole bodies drenched in blood, clubs in hand, those two high-spirited, great-souled men looked like two flowering kimshuka trees.

Verse 5 (9.58.5)

तथा तस्मिन्महायुद्धे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे । खद्योतसङ्खैरिव खं दर्शनीयं व्यरोचत ॥

tathā tasminmahāyuddhe vartamāne sudāruṇe | khadyotasaṅkhairiva khaṃ darśanīyaṃ vyarocata

While that dreadful great battle went on, the sky shone beautiful, as though filled with swarms of fireflies.

Verse 6 (9.58.6)

तथा तस्मिन्वर्तमाने सङ्कुले तुमुले भृशम् । उभावपि परिश्रान्तौ युध्यमानावरिन्दमौ ॥

tathā tasminvartamāne saṅkule tumule bhṛśam | ubhāvapi pariśrāntau yudhyamānāvarindamau

As that crowded and tumultuous fight went on, both tamers of their foes grew weary with fighting.

Verse 7 (9.58.7)

तौ मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्य पुनरेव परन्तपौ । सम्प्रहारयतां चित्रे सम्प्रगृह्य गदे शुभे ॥

tau muhūrtaṃ samāśvasya punareva parantapau | samprahārayatāṃ citre sampragṛhya gade śubhe

Having rested for a moment, those two scorchers of foes took up their fine, richly decorated clubs and again fell upon each other.

Note on the text: Recension variant against CE 9.56.7c: "saṃprahārayatāṃ citre" for "abhyahārayatāṃ tatra" (Wikisource's reading kept).

Verse 8 (9.58.8)

तौ तु दृष्ट्वा महावीर्यौ समाश्वस्तौ नरर्षभौ । बलिनौ वारणौ यद्वद्वासितार्थे मदोत्कटौ ॥

tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahāvīryau samāśvastau nararṣabhau | balinau vāraṇau yadvadvāsitārthe madotkaṭau

Refreshed, those two mighty bulls among men stood like a pair of strong elephants maddened with rut over a female.

Verse 9 (9.58.9)

समानवीर्यौ सम्प्रेक्ष्य प्रगृहीतगदावुभौ । प्रहर्षं परमं जग्मुर्देवगन्धर्वदानवाः ॥

samānavīryau samprekṣya pragṛhītagadāvubhau | praharṣaṃ paramaṃ jagmurdevagandharvadānavāḥ

Seeing the two equal in strength, both with clubs raised, the gods, gandharvas and danavas were filled with the greatest delight.

Note on the text: Recension variants against CE 9.56.9: "samānavīryau" for "apāravīryau" (line 1) and "praharṣaṃ" for "vismayaṃ" (line 2) (Wikisource's readings kept).

Verse 10 (9.58.10)

प्रगृहीतगदौ दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनवृकोदरौ । संशयः सर्वभूतानां विजये समपद्यत ॥

pragṛhītagadau dṛṣṭvā duryodhanavṛkodarau | saṃśayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ vijaye samapadyata

Seeing Duryodhana and Vrikodara with their clubs raised, all beings were in doubt as to who would win.

Verse 11 (9.58.11)

समागम्य ततो भूयो भ्रातरौ बलिनां वरौ । अन्योन्यस्यान्तरप्रेप्सू प्रचक्रातेऽन्तरं प्रति ॥

samāgamya tato bhūyo bhrātarau balināṃ varau | anyonyasyāntaraprepsū pracakrāte'ntaraṃ prati

Coming together again, the two brothers, best of the mighty, each watching for an opening in the other, circled about in search of one.

Verse 12 (9.58.12)

यमदण्डोपमां गुर्वीमिन्द्राशनिमिवोद्यताम् । ददृशुः प्रेक्षका राजन्रौद्रीं विशसनीं गदाम् ॥

yamadaṇḍopamāṃ gurvīmindrāśanimivodyatām | dadṛśuḥ prekṣakā rājanraudrīṃ viśasanīṃ gadām

O king, the onlookers saw that heavy, dreadful, deadly club, like the rod of Yama, raised up like Indra's thunderbolt.

Verse 13 (9.58.13)

आविध्यतो गदां तस्य भीमसेनस्य संयुगे । शब्दः सुतुमुलो घोरो मुहूर्तं समपद्यत ॥

āvidhyato gadāṃ tasya bhīmasenasya saṃyuge | śabdaḥ sutumulo ghoro muhūrtaṃ samapadyata

As Bhimasena whirled his club in the battle, a tumultuous, dreadful sound arose that lasted a moment.

Note on the text: Corrected आविद्ध्यतो → आविध्यतो (misprint in Wikisource; extra द, not a valid form; the critical edition reads āvidhyato). Corrected गतां → गदां (misprint in Wikisource; त for द; the critical edition reads gadāṃ, and the club is what is whirled).

Verse 14 (9.58.14)

आविध्यन्तमरिं प्रेक्ष्य धार्तराष्ट्रोऽथ पाण्डवम् । गदामतुलवेगां तां विस्मितः सम्बभूव ह ॥

āvidhyantamariṃ prekṣya dhārtarāṣṭro'tha pāṇḍavam | gadāmatulavegāṃ tāṃ vismitaḥ sambabhūva ha

Seeing his enemy, the Pandava, whirling that club of matchless speed, Dhritarashtra's son was filled with wonder.

Note on the text: Corrected आविद्ध्यन्तमरिं → आविध्यन्तमरिं (misprint in Wikisource; extra द, not a valid form; compare आविध्यन्तं in verse 29). Recension variants against CE 9.56.14: "ariṃ prekṣya" for "abhiprekṣya" and "gadām atulavegāṃ" for "gadām alaghuvegāṃ" (Wikisource's readings kept).

Verse 15 (9.58.15)

चरंश्च विविधान्मार्गान्मण्डलानि च भारत । अशोभत तदा वीरो भूय एव वृकोदरः ॥

caraṃśca vividhānmārgānmaṇḍalāni ca bhārata | aśobhata tadā vīro bhūya eva vṛkodaraḥ

And as he moved in many kinds of courses and circles, O Bharata, the hero Vrikodara shone all the more.

Verse 16 (9.58.16)

तौ परस्परमासाद्य यत्तावन्योन्यसूदने । मार्जाराविव भक्षार्थे ततक्षाते मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

tau parasparamāsādya yattāvanyonyasūdane | mārjārāviva bhakṣārthe tatakṣāte muhurmuhuḥ

Closing with one another, each bent on killing the other, they struck again and again, like two cats fighting over food.

Note on the text: Recension variant against CE 9.56.16b: "anyonyasūdane" for "anyonyarakṣaṇe" (Wikisource's reading kept).

Verse 17 (9.58.17)

अचरद्भीमसेनस्तु मार्गान्बहुविधांस्तथा । मण्डलानि विचित्राणि गतप्रत्यागतानि च ॥

acaradbhīmasenastu mārgānbahuvidhāṃstathā | maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi gatapratyāgatāni ca

Bhimasena moved in many kinds of courses: in wondrous circles, advancing and retreating,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 9.56.17a. The line-endings of line 2 are exchanged with those of the next verse: here "gatapratyāgatāni ca" (CE 18a's ending) stands where the CE has "sthānāni vividhāni ca" (17c), and the latter is printed in the next verse. Wikisource's arrangement kept.

Verse 18 (9.58.18)

गोमूत्रिकाणि चित्राणि स्थानानि विविधानि च । परिमोक्षं प्रहाराणां वर्जनं परिधावनम् ॥

gomūtrikāṇi citrāṇi sthānāni vividhāni ca | parimokṣaṃ prahārāṇāṃ varjanaṃ paridhāvanam

in zigzag "cow's-urine" paths and in many varied stances; slipping out from under blows, avoiding them, and running around his foe,

Note on the text: Line 1 differs from CE 9.56.18a only in its ending ("sthānāni vividhāni ca" for "gatapratyāgatāni ca"; see the note on the previous verse); line 2 is CE 18c.

Verse 19 (9.58.19)

अभिद्रवणमाक्षेपमवस्थानं सविग्रहम् । मत्स्योद्वृत्तं सोरुवृत्तमवप्लुतमुपप्लुतम् ॥

abhidravaṇamākṣepamavasthānaṃ savigraham | matsyodvṛttaṃ soruvṛttamavaplutamupaplutam

charging at him, striking aside, standing firm, grappling; the moves called the fish-turn and the thigh-turn; leaping down and leaping upon him,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 9.56.19a. Line 2 is a vulgate variant of CE 19c ("parāvartanasaṃvartam avaplutam athāplutam"); the CE's 19e is Wikisource's next verse. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 20 (9.58.20)

उपन्यस्तमपन्यस्तं गदायुद्धविशारदौ । एवं तौ विचरन्तौ तु न्यघ्नतां वै परस्परम् ॥

upanyastamapanyastaṃ gadāyuddhaviśāradau | evaṃ tau vicarantau tu nyaghnatāṃ vai parasparam

and the strokes of setting the club forward and of setting it aside, those two, skilled in the fighting with clubs, moved about and struck one another.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 9.56.19e (the third line of the three-line verse, whose first two lines appear in a variant form in the previous verse); line 2 is CE 20a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (9.58.21)

वञ्चयन्तौ पुनश्चैव चेरतुः कुरुसत्तमौ । विक्रीडन्तौ सुबलिनौ मण्डलानि विचेरतुः ॥

vañcayantau punaścaiva ceratuḥ kurusattamau | vikrīḍantau subalinau maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ

Deceiving each other again, those two best of the Kurus moved about, sporting, very strong, and ranged in circles.

Note on the text: Corrected वञ्चयानौ → वञ्चयन्तौ (misprint in Wikisource; not a valid form; the critical edition reads vañcayantau). Line 1 is CE 9.56.20c; line 2 is CE 21a (Wikisource "vicaratuḥ" for "praceratuḥ", a variant kept). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (9.58.22)

तौ दर्शयन्तौ समरे युद्धक्रीडां समन्ततः । गदाभ्यां सहसाऽन्योन्यमाजघ्नतुररिन्दमौ ॥

tau darśayantau samare yuddhakrīḍāṃ samantataḥ | gadābhyāṃ sahasā'nyonyamājaghnaturarindamau

Showing each other the sport of battle on every side, those two tamers of foes struck one another suddenly with their clubs.

Note on the text: Removed the opening square bracket (an editor's mark closed after verse 24). The three bracketed verses 22–24 are the same as CE 9.56.32–34, which the CE places after 9.56.31; Wikisource also repeats them at verses 35–37, in the CE's position.

Verse 23 (9.58.23)

परस्परं समासाद्य दंष्ट्राभ्यां द्विरदौ यथा । अशोभेतां महाराज शोणितेन परिप्लुतौ ॥

parasparaṃ samāsādya daṃṣṭrābhyāṃ dviradau yathā | aśobhetāṃ mahārāja śoṇitena pariplutau

Closing with each other like two elephants with their tusks, O great king, they shone, drenched in blood.

Note on the text: Part of the bracketed passage of verses 22–24 (same as CE 9.56.32–34; repeated at verses 35–37). Line 1: "parasparaṃ samāsādya" for CE "tau parasparam āsādya" (variant kept).

Verse 24 (9.58.24)

एवं तदभवद्युद्धं घोररूपं परन्तप । परिवृत्तेऽहनि क्रूरं वृत्रवासवयोरिव ॥

evaṃ tadabhavadyuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ parantapa | parivṛtte'hani krūraṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva

So that fearful battle went on, O scorcher of foes, as the day wore on, cruel like the fight between Vritra and Vasava.

Note on the text: Removed the closing square bracket (an editor's mark opened in verse 22) and the stray double danda before it. Line 1 ends "ghorarūpaṃ parantapa"; the CE (9.56.34a) reads "ghorarūpam asaṃvṛtam", which Wikisource has in the repeat at verse 37 (variant kept).

Verse 25 (9.58.25)

गदाहस्तौ ततस्तौ तु मण्डलावस्थितौ बली । दक्षिणं मण्डलं राजन्धार्तराष्ट्रोऽभ्यवर्तत । सव्यं तु मण्डलं तत्र भीमसेनोऽभ्यवर्तत ॥

gadāhastau tatastau tu maṇḍalāvasthitau balī | dakṣiṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ rājandhārtarāṣṭro'bhyavartata | savyaṃ tu maṇḍalaṃ tatra bhīmaseno'bhyavartata

Then, clubs in hand, those two strong men took their stances for circling. O king, Dhritarashtra's son moved in the right-hand circle, while Bhimasena moved there in the left-hand circle.

Note on the text: Three lines, as the page prints them (9-58-25a–c): line 1 is CE 9.56.21c, lines 2–3 are CE 22a and 22c. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 26 (9.58.26)

तथा तु चरतस्तस्य भीमस्य रणमूर्धनि । दुर्योधनो महाराज पार्श्वदेशेऽभ्यताडयत् ॥

tathā tu caratastasya bhīmasya raṇamūrdhani | duryodhano mahārāja pārśvadeśe'bhyatāḍayat

As Bhima was moving so at the head of the battle, Duryodhana, O great king, struck him on the flank.

Verse 27 (9.58.27)

आहतस्तु ततो भीमः पुत्रेण तव भारत । आविध्यत गदां गुर्वीं प्रहारं तमचिन्तयन् ॥

āhatastu tato bhīmaḥ putreṇa tava bhārata | āvidhyata gadāṃ gurvīṃ prahāraṃ tamacintayan

Struck by your son, O Bharata, Bhima paid no heed to the blow and whirled his heavy club,

Note on the text: Corrected गुवीं → गुर्वीं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र्; the critical edition reads gurvīṃ). Line 1: "āhatastu tato bhīmaḥ putreṇa tava" for CE "āhatas tu tadā bhīmas tava putreṇa" (variant kept).

Verse 28 (9.58.28)

इन्द्राशनिसमां घोरां यमदण्डमिवोद्यताम् । ददृशुस्ते महाराज भीमसेनस्य तां गदाम् ॥

indrāśanisamāṃ ghorāṃ yamadaṇḍamivodyatām | dadṛśuste mahārāja bhīmasenasya tāṃ gadām

dreadful, like Indra's thunderbolt, raised like the rod of Yama; O great king, they saw that club of Bhimasena.

Verse 29 (9.58.29)

आविध्यन्तं गदां दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनं तवात्मजः । समुद्यम्य गदां घोरां प्रत्यविध्यत्परन्तपः ॥

āvidhyantaṃ gadāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaṃ tavātmajaḥ | samudyamya gadāṃ ghorāṃ pratyavidhyatparantapaḥ

Seeing Bhimasena whirling his club, your son, tamer of foes, raised his own dreadful club and whirled it in answer.

Note on the text: Line 2 ends "parantapaḥ" for CE "ariṃdamaḥ" (variant kept).

Verse 30 (9.58.30)

गदामारुतवेगेन तव पुत्रस्य भारत । शब्द आसीत्सुतुमुलस्तेजश्च समजायत ॥

gadāmārutavegena tava putrasya bhārata | śabda āsītsutumulastejaśca samajāyata

From the wind-force of your son's club, O Bharata, there came a tumultuous sound, and a blaze of light arose.

Verse 31 (9.58.31)

स चरन्विविधान्मार्गान्मण्डलानि च भागशः । समशोभत तेजस्वी भूयो भीमात्सुयोधनः ॥

sa caranvividhānmārgānmaṇḍalāni ca bhāgaśaḥ | samaśobhata tejasvī bhūyo bhīmātsuyodhanaḥ

Moving in many kinds of courses and in circles by turns, that radiant Suyodhana shone even more than Bhima.

Verse 32 (9.58.32)

आविद्धा सर्ववेगेन भीमेन महती गदा । सधूमं सार्चिषं चाग्निं मुमोचोग्रमहास्वना ॥

āviddhā sarvavegena bhīmena mahatī gadā | sadhūmaṃ sārciṣaṃ cāgniṃ mumocogramahāsvanā

The great club whirled by Bhima with all his force, with a mighty roar, gave off fire with smoke and flame.

Verse 33 (9.58.33)

आधूतां भीमसेनेन गदां दृष्ट्वा सुयोधनः । अद्रिसारमयीं गुर्वीमाविध्यन्बह्वशोभत ॥

ādhūtāṃ bhīmasenena gadāṃ dṛṣṭvā suyodhanaḥ | adrisāramayīṃ gurvīmāvidhyanbahvaśobhata

Seeing the club swung by Bhimasena, Suyodhana whirled his own heavy club, made of the essence of mountain iron, and shone greatly.

Verse 34 (9.58.34)

गदामारुतवेगं हि दृष्ट्वा तस्य महात्मनः । भयं विवेश पाण्डूंस्तु सर्वानेव ससात्यकीन् ॥

gadāmārutavegaṃ hi dṛṣṭvā tasya mahātmanaḥ | bhayaṃ viveśa pāṇḍūṃstu sarvāneva sasātyakīn

Seeing the wind-force of that great-souled one's club, fear entered all the Pandavas, along with Satyaki.

Note on the text: Line 2: "pāṇḍūṃstu sarvāneva sasātyakīn" for CE "pāṇḍūn vai sarvān eva sasomakān" (variant kept).

Verse 35 (9.58.35)

तौ दर्शयन्तौ समरे युद्धक्रीडां समन्ततः । गदाभ्यां सहसाऽन्योन्यमाजघ्नतुररिन्दमौ ॥

tau darśayantau samare yuddhakrīḍāṃ samantataḥ | gadābhyāṃ sahasā'nyonyamājaghnaturarindamau

Showing each other the sport of battle on every side, those two tamers of foes struck one another suddenly with their clubs.

Note on the text: Same text as verse 22 (the bracketed passage of verses 22–24 is repeated here, at the position where the CE has it, as 9.56.32–34).

Verse 36 (9.58.36)

तौ परस्परमासाद्य दंष्ट्राभ्यां द्विरदौ यथा । अशोभेतां महाराज शोणितेन परिप्लुतौ ॥

tau parasparamāsādya daṃṣṭrābhyāṃ dviradau yathā | aśobhetāṃ mahārāja śoṇitena pariplutau

Closing with each other like two elephants with their tusks, O great king, they shone, drenched in blood.

Note on the text: Same text as verse 23 (repeated passage; CE 9.56.33). Line 1: "parasparaṃ samāsādya" for CE "tau parasparam āsādya" (variant kept).

Verse 37 (9.58.37)

एवं तदभवद्युद्धं घोररूपमसंवृतम् । परिवृत्तेऽहनि क्रूरं वृत्रवासवयोरिव ॥

evaṃ tadabhavadyuddhaṃ ghorarūpamasaṃvṛtam | parivṛtte'hani krūraṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva

So that fearful, unchecked battle went on as the day wore on, cruel like the fight between Vritra and Vasava.

Note on the text: Repeat of the passage of verses 22–24, in the CE's position (CE 9.56.34); line 1 agrees with the CE here ("ghorarūpam asaṃvṛtam").

Verse 38 (9.58.38)

दृष्ट्वा व्यवस्थितं भीमं तव पुत्रो महाबलः । चरंश्चित्रतरान्मार्गान्कौन्तेयमभिदुद्रुवे ॥

dṛṣṭvā vyavasthitaṃ bhīmaṃ tava putro mahābalaḥ | caraṃścitratarānmārgānkaunteyamabhidudruve

Seeing Bhima standing ready, your mighty son, moving in still more wondrous courses, rushed at the son of Kunti.

Note on the text: Corrected मा र्गान् → मार्गान् (misprint in Wikisource; stray space inside the word).

Verse 39 (9.58.39)

तस्य भीमो महावेगां जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताम् । अतिक्रुद्धस्य क्रुद्धस्तु ताडयामास तां गदाम् ॥

tasya bhīmo mahāvegāṃ jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtām | atikruddhasya kruddhastu tāḍayāmāsa tāṃ gadām

As that very swift club of his, adorned with gold, came on, Bhima, enraged against the furious Duryodhana, struck it with his own club.

Note on the text: Line 2: "atikruddhasya" for CE "abhikruddhasya" (variant kept).

Verse 40 (9.58.40)

सविस्फुलिङ्गो निर्ह्रादस्तयोस्तत्राभिघातजः । प्रादुरासीन्महाराज घृष्टयोर्वज्रयोरिव ॥

savisphuliṅgo nirhrādastayostatrābhighātajaḥ | prādurāsīnmahārāja ghṛṣṭayorvajrayoriva

A sound with sparks of fire arose there from the collision of the two clubs, O great king, as when two thunderbolts are rubbed together.

Note on the text: Corrected निर्हाद → निर्ह्राद (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ्र; the critical edition reads nirhrāda-). Line 2: "ghṛṣṭayor vajrayoriva" for CE "sṛṣṭayor vajrayor iva" (variant kept).

Verse 41 (9.58.41)

वेगवत्या तया तत्र भीमसेनप्रमुक्तया । निपतन्त्या महाराज पृथिवी समकम्पत ॥

vegavatyā tayā tatra bhīmasenapramuktayā | nipatantyā mahārāja pṛthivī samakampata

As that swift club, hurled by Bhimasena, fell there, O great king, the earth shook.

Verse 42 (9.58.42)

तां नामृष्यत कौरव्यो गदां प्रतिहतां रणे । मत्तो द्विप इव क्रुद्धः प्रतिकुञ्जरदर्शनात् ॥

tāṃ nāmṛṣyata kauravyo gadāṃ pratihatāṃ raṇe | matto dvipa iva kruddhaḥ pratikuñjaradarśanāt

The Kuru prince could not bear to see his club beaten back in the fight, like a rutting elephant enraged at the sight of a rival elephant.

Verse 43 (9.58.43)

स सव्यं मण्डलं राजा उद्भ्राम्य कृतनिश्चयः । आजघ्ने मूर्ध्नि कौन्तेयं गदया भीमवेगया ॥

sa savyaṃ maṇḍalaṃ rājā udbhrāmya kṛtaniścayaḥ | ājaghne mūrdhni kaunteyaṃ gadayā bhīmavegayā

Moving into the left-hand circle with firm resolve, that king struck the son of Kunti on the head with his club, swinging it with terrible speed.

Note on the text: Corrected उद्धाम्य → उद्भ्राम्य (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; the critical edition reads udbhrāmya). Line 1: "rājā" for CE "rājann" (variant kept).

Verse 44 (9.58.44)

तया त्वभिहतो भीमः पुत्रेण तव पाण्डवः । नाकम्पत महाराज तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

tayā tvabhihato bhīmaḥ putreṇa tava pāṇḍavaḥ | nākampata mahārāja tadadbhutamivābhavat

Struck by it, by your son, the Pandava Bhima did not shake, O great king, and that seemed a wonder.

Verse 45 (9.58.45)

आश्चर्यं चापि तद्राजन्सर्वसैन्यान्यपूजयन् । यद्गदाभिहतो भीमो नाकम्पत पदात्पदम् ॥

āścaryaṃ cāpi tadrājansarvasainyānyapūjayan | yadgadābhihato bhīmo nākampata padātpadam

And that too, O king, all the armies hailed as a marvel: that Bhima, struck by the club, did not move back a single step.

Verse 46 (9.58.46)

ततो गुरुतरां दीप्तां गदां हेमपरिष्कृताम् । दुर्योधनाय व्यसृजद्भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ॥

tato gurutarāṃ dīptāṃ gadāṃ hemapariṣkṛtām | duryodhanāya vyasṛjadbhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ

Then Bhima, of terrible prowess, hurled at Duryodhana a heavier, blazing club adorned with gold.

Verse 47 (9.58.47)

तं प्रहारमसम्भ्रान्तो लाघवेन महाबलः । मोघं दुर्योधनश्चक्रे तत्राभूद्विस्मयो महान् ॥

taṃ prahāramasambhrānto lāghavena mahābalaḥ | moghaṃ duryodhanaścakre tatrābhūdvismayo mahān

Mighty Duryodhana, unflustered, made that blow miss by his nimbleness; and there was great astonishment at it.

Verse 48 (9.58.48)

सा तु मोघा गदा राजन्पतन्ती भीमचोदिता । चालयामास पृथिवीं महानिर्घातनिःस्वना ॥

sā tu moghā gadā rājanpatantī bhīmacoditā | cālayāmāsa pṛthivīṃ mahānirghātaniḥsvanā

But that club, O king, sent by Bhima, missed and fell, and made the earth shake with a sound like a great thunderclap.

Note on the text: Corrected निःस्वनाः → निःस्वना (misprint in Wikisource; the final visarga makes it a masculine plural; the club (feminine) is meant, and the critical edition reads nisvanā).

Verse 49 (9.58.49)

आस्थाय कौशिकान्मार्गानुत्पतन्स पुनः पुनः । गदानिपातं प्रज्ञाय भीमसेनं च वञ्चितम् ॥

āsthāya kauśikānmārgānutpatansa punaḥ punaḥ | gadānipātaṃ prajñāya bhīmasenaṃ ca vañcitam

Taking up the Kaushika manoeuvres and leaping up again and again, he saw where the club would fall and that Bhimasena had been deceived,

Note on the text: Line 2: "bhīmasenaṃ ca vañcitam" for CE "bhīmasenam avañcayat" (variant kept).

Verse 50 (9.58.50)

वञ्चयित्वा तदा भीमं गदया कुरुसत्तमः । ताडयामास सङ्क्रुद्धो वक्षोदेशे महाबलः ॥

vañcayitvā tadā bhīmaṃ gadayā kurusattamaḥ | tāḍayāmāsa saṅkruddho vakṣodeśe mahābalaḥ

and having deceived Bhima in this way, that best of the Kurus, mighty and enraged, struck him with his club on the chest.

Verse 51 (9.58.51)

गदया निहतो भीमो मुह्यमानो महारणे । नाभ्यमन्यत कर्तव्यं पुत्रेणाभ्याहतस्तव ॥

gadayā nihato bhīmo muhyamāno mahāraṇe | nābhyamanyata kartavyaṃ putreṇābhyāhatastava

Struck down by the club, Bhima reeled in the great battle, and, hit by your son, did not know what he ought to do.

Verse 52 (9.58.52)

तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने राजन्सोमकपाण्डवाः । भृशोपहतसङ्कल्पा नहृष्टमनसोऽभवन् ॥

tasmiṃstathā vartamāne rājansomakapāṇḍavāḥ | bhṛśopahatasaṅkalpā nahṛṣṭamanaso'bhavan

As this went on, O king, the Somakas and the Pandavas, their resolve badly shaken, lost their gladness of heart.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner inside पाण्डवाः.

Verse 53 (9.58.53)

स तु तेन प्रहारेण मातङ्ग इव रोषितः । हस्तिवद्धस्तिसंकाशमभिदुद्राव ते सुतम् ॥

sa tu tena prahāreṇa mātaṅga iva roṣitaḥ | hastivaddhastisaṃkāśamabhidudrāva te sutam

But Bhima, stung by that blow like an enraged elephant, charged your elephant-like son as one elephant charges another.

Note on the text: Corrected हस्तिवद्वस्ति → हस्तिवद्धस्ति (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध; वस्ति (bladder) gives no sense, and the critical edition reads hastivad dhasti-).

Verse 54 (9.58.54)

ततस्तु तरसा भीमो गदया तनयं तव । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन सिंहो वनगजं यथा ॥

tatastu tarasā bhīmo gadayā tanayaṃ tava | abhidudrāva vegena siṃho vanagajaṃ yathā

Then Bhima swiftly rushed at your son with his club, as a lion rushes at a forest elephant.

Note on the text: Line 1: "tarasā" for CE "rabhaso" (variant kept).

Verse 55 (9.58.55)

उपसृत्य तु राजानं गदामोक्षविशारदः । आविध्यत गदां राजन्समुद्दिश्य सुतं तव ॥

upasṛtya tu rājānaṃ gadāmokṣaviśāradaḥ | āvidhyata gadāṃ rājansamuddiśya sutaṃ tava

Coming up to the king, he who was skilled in the hurling of the club whirled it, O king, aiming at your son.

Verse 56 (9.58.56)

अताडयद्भीमसेनः पार्श्वे दुर्योधनं तदा । स विह्वलः प्रहारेण जानुभ्यामगमन्महीम् ॥

atāḍayadbhīmasenaḥ pārśve duryodhanaṃ tadā | sa vihvalaḥ prahāreṇa jānubhyāmagamanmahīm

Bhimasena then struck Duryodhana on the side. Dazed by the blow, he sank to the ground on his knees.

Verse 57 (9.58.57)

तस्मिन्कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठे जानुभ्यामवनीं गते । उदतिष्ठत्ततो नादः सृञ्जयानां जगत्पते ॥

tasminkurukulaśreṣṭhe jānubhyāmavanīṃ gate | udatiṣṭhattato nādaḥ sṛñjayānāṃ jagatpate

When that best of the Kurus had fallen to his knees on the ground, a shout went up from the Srinjayas, O lord of the world.

Note on the text: Line 1: "kurukulaśreṣṭhe" for CE "bharataśreṣṭhe" (variant kept).

Verse 58 (9.58.58)

तेषां तु निनदं श्रुत्वा सृञ्जयानां नरर्षभः । अमर्षाद्भरतश्रेष्ठ पुत्रस्ते समकुप्यत ॥

teṣāṃ tu ninadaṃ śrutvā sṛñjayānāṃ nararṣabhaḥ | amarṣādbharataśreṣṭha putraste samakupyata

Hearing the cry of those Srinjayas, your son, O best of the Bharatas, bull among men, flared up with anger.

Note on the text: Corrected शृञ्जयानां → सृञ्जयानां (misprint in Wikisource; श for स; the people are the Srinjayas, and the critical edition reads sṛñjayānāṃ).

Verse 59 (9.58.59)

उत्थाय तु महाबाहुर्महानाग इव श्वसन् । दिधक्षन्निव नेत्राभ्यां भीमसेनमवैक्षत ॥

utthāya tu mahābāhurmahānāga iva śvasan | didhakṣanniva netrābhyāṃ bhīmasenamavaikṣata

That mighty-armed man rose, hissing like a great serpent, and looked at Bhimasena as though he would burn him with his eyes.

Note on the text: Line 1: "mahānāga iva" for CE "kruddho nāga iva" (variant kept).

Verse 60 (9.58.60)

ततः स भरतश्रेष्ठो गदापाणिरभिद्रवन् । प्रमथिष्यन्निव शिरो भीमसेनस्य संयुगे ॥

tataḥ sa bharataśreṣṭho gadāpāṇirabhidravan | pramathiṣyanniva śiro bhīmasenasya saṃyuge

Then that best of the Bharatas, club in hand, rushed at him as though to crush Bhimasena's head in the battle.

Verse 61 (9.58.61)

स महात्मा महात्मानं भीमं भीमपराक्रमः । अताडयच्छङ्खदेशे न चचालाचलोपमः ॥

sa mahātmā mahātmānaṃ bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramaḥ | atāḍayacchaṅkhadeśe na cacālācalopamaḥ

That great-souled man, of terrible prowess, struck the great-souled Bhima on the temple, but Bhima did not stir, like a mountain.

Note on the text: Line 2: "na cacālācalopamaḥ" for CE "sa cacālācalopamaḥ" (variant kept; the page's gloss explains śaṅkhadeśa as the edge of the forehead).

Verse 62 (9.58.62)

स भूयः शुशुभे पार्थस्ताडितो गदया रणे । उद्भिन्नरुधिरो राजन्प्रभिन्न इव कुञ्जरः ॥

sa bhūyaḥ śuśubhe pārthastāḍito gadayā raṇe | udbhinnarudhiro rājanprabhinna iva kuñjaraḥ

Struck by the club in the battle, that son of Pritha shone all the more, O king, with blood streaming, like an elephant whose temples have burst in rut.

Note on the text: Corrected कुञ्चरः → कुञ्जरः (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; the critical edition reads kuñjaraḥ).

Verse 63 (9.58.63)

ततो गदां वीरहणीमयोमयीं । प्रगृह्य वज्राशनितुल्यनिःस्वनाम् । अताडयच्छत्रुममित्रकर्शनो । बलेन विक्रम्य धनञ्जयाग्रजः ॥

tato gadāṃ vīrahaṇīmayomayīṃ | pragṛhya vajrāśanitulyaniḥsvanām | atāḍayacchatrumamitrakarśano | balena vikramya dhanañjayāgrajaḥ

Then Dhananjaya's elder brother, destroyer of his foes, taking up an iron club that slays heroes, with a sound like thunderbolt and lightning, struck his enemy, advancing on him with all his strength.

Note on the text: Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-63a–d); they are the two long lines of CE 9.56.60 (CE "ayasmayīṃ" for Wikisource "ayomayīṃ", a variant kept).

Verse 64 (9.58.64)

स भीमसेनाभिहतस्तवात्मजः । पपात सङ्कम्पितदेहबन्धनः । सुपुष्पितो मारुतवेगताडितो । वने महासाल इवावघूर्णितः ॥

sa bhīmasenābhihatastavātmajaḥ | papāta saṅkampitadehabandhanaḥ | supuṣpito mārutavegatāḍito | vane mahāsāla ivāvaghūrṇitaḥ

Struck by Bhimasena, your son fell, his body trembling, like a great sala tree in full flower, shaken by the force of the wind in the forest.

Note on the text: Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-64a–d). Line 4: "vane mahāsāla iva" for CE "mahāvane sāla iva" (variant kept).

Verse 65 (9.58.65)

ततः प्रणेदुर्जहृषुश्च पाण्डवाः । समीक्ष्य पुत्रं पतितं क्षितौ तव । ततः सुतस्ते प्रतिलभ्य चेतनां । समुत्पपात द्विरदो यथा ह्रदात् ॥

tataḥ praṇedurjahṛṣuśca pāṇḍavāḥ | samīkṣya putraṃ patitaṃ kṣitau tava | tataḥ sutaste pratilabhya cetanāṃ | samutpapāta dvirado yathā hradāt

The Pandavas roared and rejoiced on seeing your son fallen on the ground; but your son regained consciousness and sprang up like an elephant rising from a lake.

Note on the text: Corrected हदात् → ह्रदात् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ्र; the critical edition reads hradāt). Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-65a–d).

Verse 66 (9.58.66)

स पार्थिवो नित्यममर्षितस्तदा । महारथः शिक्षितवत्परिभ्रमन् । अताडयत्पाण्डवमग्रतः स्थितं । स विह्वलाङ्गो जगतीमुपास्पृशत् ॥

sa pārthivo nityamamarṣitastadā | mahārathaḥ śikṣitavatparibhraman | atāḍayatpāṇḍavamagrataḥ sthitaṃ | sa vihvalāṅgo jagatīmupāspṛśat

That king, ever unforgiving, a great chariot-warrior, wheeling about like one well trained, struck the Pandava who stood before him; and Bhima, his limbs reeling, touched the ground.

Note on the text: Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-66a–d).

Verse 67 (9.58.67)

स सिंहनादं विननाद कौरवो । निपात्य भूमौ युधि भीममोजसा । बिभेद चैवाशनितुल्यमोजसा । गदानिपातेन शरीररक्षणम् ॥

sa siṃhanādaṃ vinanāda kauravo | nipātya bhūmau yudhi bhīmamojasā | bibheda caivāśanitulyamojasā | gadānipātena śarīrarakṣaṇam

The Kaurava let out a lion's roar, having thrown Bhima to the ground in the fight by his might; and with the fall of his club, equal in force to a thunderbolt, he broke the armour that guarded Bhima's body.

Note on the text: Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-67a–d). Variants against CE 9.56.64: "siṃhanādaṃ" for "siṃhanādān" and "-mojasā" for "-tejasā" in line 3 (kept).

Verse 68 (9.58.68)

ततोऽन्तरिक्षे निनदो महानभूद् । दिवौकसामप्सरसां च नेदुषाम् । पपात चोच्चैरमरप्रवेरितं । विचित्रपुष्पोत्करवर्षमुत्तमम् ॥

tato'ntarikṣe ninado mahānabhūd | divaukasāmapsarasāṃ ca neduṣām | papāta coccairamarapraveritaṃ | vicitrapuṣpotkaravarṣamuttamam

Then a great sound arose in the sky from the shouting dwellers in heaven and the apsarases, and a splendid shower of many-coloured flowers, sent down by the gods, fell from on high.

Note on the text: Corrected the split sandhi across the line break: the page splits the sandhi abhūd + divaukasām across the first two lines with a double hyphen (“--”); the wiki marks are removed and the द् is moved to the end of its line, as in the critical edition (abhūd / divaukasām). Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-68a–d).

Verse 69 (9.58.69)

ततः परानाविशदुत्तमं भयं । समीक्ष्य भूमौ पतितं नरोत्तमम् । अहीयमानं च बलेन कौरवं । निशाम्य भेदं सुदृढस्य वर्मणः ॥

tataḥ parānāviśaduttamaṃ bhayaṃ | samīkṣya bhūmau patitaṃ narottamam | ahīyamānaṃ ca balena kauravaṃ | niśāmya bhedaṃ sudṛḍhasya varmaṇaḥ

Then the greatest fear came over the others, when they saw the best of men fallen to the ground, the Kaurava undiminished in strength, and the breaking of his strong armour.

Note on the text: Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-69a–d). Line 4: "niśāmya bhedaṃ sudṛḍhasya varmaṇaḥ" for CE "niśamya bhedaṃ ca dṛḍhasya varmaṇaḥ" (variant kept).

Verse 70 (9.58.70)

ततो मुहूर्तादुपलभ्य चेतनां । प्रमृज्य वक्त्रं रुधिराक्तमात्मनः । धृतिं समालम्ब्य विवृत्य लोचने । बलेन संस्तभ्य वृकोदरः स्थितः ॥

tato muhūrtādupalabhya cetanāṃ | pramṛjya vaktraṃ rudhirāktamātmanaḥ | dhṛtiṃ samālambya vivṛtya locane | balena saṃstabhya vṛkodaraḥ sthitaḥ

Then, regaining consciousness after a moment, wiping his blood-smeared face, gathering his courage and opening his eyes, Vrikodara steadied himself by force and stood up.

Note on the text: Four lines, as the page prints them (9-58-70a–d). Variants against CE 9.56.67: "rudhirāktam" for "rudhirārdram" and "vivṛtya locane" for "vivṛttalocano" (kept).

Verse 71 (9.58.71)

ततो यमौ यमसदृशौ पराक्रमे । सपार्षतः शिनितनयश्च वीर्यवान् । समाह्वयन्नहमहमित्यभित्वरंस् । तवात्मजं समभिययुर्वधैषिणः ॥

tato yamau yamasadṛśau parākrame | sapārṣataḥ śinitanayaśca vīryavān | samāhvayannahamahamityabhitvaraṃs | tavātmajaṃ samabhiyayurvadhaiṣiṇaḥ

Then the twins, equal to Yama in prowess, and the mighty Satyaki, son of Shini, with the Panchala (Dhrishtadyumna), eager to kill, rushed together at your son, crying, "I, I!"

Note on the text: Corrected the split sandhi across the line break: the page splits the sandhi abhitvaraṃs + tavātmajam across the third and fourth lines with a double hyphen (“--”); the wiki marks are removed and the स् is moved to the end of its line, as in the critical edition (abhitvaraṃs / tavātmajam). Removed the stray opening backtick. Not in the critical edition's main text (found in the vulgate recension); it is the CE star passage 9.56.67d*0332_01–04, printed after 9.56.67 (the lines agree). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 72 (9.58.72)

निवर्त्य तान्पुनरपि पाण्डवो बली । तवात्मजं स्वयमभिगम्य कालवत् । चचार चाप्यपगतखेदवेपथुः । सुरेश्वरो नमुचिमिवोत्तमं रणे ॥

nivartya tānpunarapi pāṇḍavo balī | tavātmajaṃ svayamabhigamya kālavat | cacāra cāpyapagatakhedavepathuḥ | sureśvaro namucimivottamaṃ raṇe

But the mighty Pandava turned them back, and himself went up to your son like Death, and moved about in the fight free of weariness and trembling, like the lord of the gods against Namuchi.

Note on the text: Removed the stray closing quote mark (the page opens a quoted passage with a backtick at verse 71 and closes it here, its sign for an interpolated passage). Not in the critical edition's main text (found in the vulgate recension); it is the CE star passage 9.56.67d*0332_05–08, printed after 9.56.67 (the lines agree except "nivartya tān" for "nigṛhya tān" and "cacāra cāpy apagata-" for "cacāra ca vyapagata-"). The automatic alignment found no match.