Sanjaya at Upaplavya: Yudhishthira's Questions

Verse 1 (5.23.1)

राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रस्य सञ्जयः । उपप्लाव्यं ययौ द्रष्टुं पाण्डवानमितौजसः ॥

rājñastu vacanaṃ śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭrasya sañjayaḥ | upaplāvyaṃ yayau draṣṭuṃ pāṇḍavānamitaujasaḥ

Having heard the words of King Dhritarashtra, Sanjaya went to Upaplavya to see the Pandavas of boundless might.

Verse 2 (5.23.2)

स तु राजानमासाद्य कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । अभिवाद्य ततः पूर्वं सूतपुत्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥

sa tu rājānamāsādya kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | abhivādya tataḥ pūrvaṃ sūtaputro'bhyabhāṣata

Coming to King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, the charioteer's son first saluted him and then spoke.

Verse 3 (5.23.3)

गावल्गणिः सञ्जयः सूतसूनु- । रजातशत्रुमवदत्प्रतीतः । दिष्ट्या राजंस्त्वामरोगं प्रपश्ये । सहायवन्तं च महेन्द्रकल्पम् ॥

gāvalgaṇiḥ sañjayaḥ sūtasūnu- | rajātaśatrumavadatpratītaḥ | diṣṭyā rājaṃstvāmarogaṃ prapaśye | sahāyavantaṃ ca mahendrakalpam

Sanjaya, son of Gavalgana, the charioteer's son, spoke gladly to Ajatashatru: 'By good fortune, O king, I see you in good health, with allies about you, like great Indra.'

Note on the text: Corrected गवल्गणिः → गावल्गणिः (misprint in Wikisource; the patronymic 'son of Gavalgana' has the long ā, as in v. 6 गावल्गणे; CE gāvalgaṇiḥ). The verse opens in narration and passes into Sanjaya's words without a heading; it is kept with the narrator.

Verse 4 (5.23.4)

अनामयं पृच्छति त्वाम्बिकेयो । वृद्धो राजा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी । कच्चिद्भीमः कुशली पाण्डवाग्र्यो । धनञ्जयस्तौ च माद्रीतनूजौ ॥

anāmayaṃ pṛcchati tvāmbikeyo | vṛddho rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro manīṣī | kaccidbhīmaḥ kuśalī pāṇḍavāgryo | dhanañjayastau ca mādrītanūjau

The aged king Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, the wise, asks after your health. Is Bhima, foremost of the Pandavas, well? And Dhananjaya, and the two sons of Madri?

Note on the text: Speaker changed from वैशम्पायन to सञ्जय: Sanjaya's direct speech continues here without a heading.

Verse 5 (5.23.5)

कच्चित्कृष्णा द्रौपदी राजपुत्री । सत्यव्रता वीरपत्नी सुपुत्रा । मनस्विनी यत्र च वाञ्छसि त्व- । मिष्टान्कामान्भारत स्वस्तिकामः ॥

kaccitkṛṣṇā draupadī rājaputrī | satyavratā vīrapatnī suputrā | manasvinī yatra ca vāñchasi tva- | miṣṭānkāmānbhārata svastikāmaḥ

Is Krishna Draupadi well — the princess, true to her vows, wife of heroes, mother of sons, high-minded — in whom, O Bharata, wishing for her well-being, you look for all your dearest wishes?

Note on the text: Speaker changed from वैशम्पायन to सञ्जय: Sanjaya's direct speech, no heading.

Verse 6 (5.23.6)

गावल्गणे सञ्जय स्वागतं ते । प्रीतात्माऽहं त्वाऽभिनन्दामि सूत । अनामयं प्रतिजाने तवाहं । सहानुजैः कुशली चास्मि विद्वन् ॥

gāvalgaṇe sañjaya svāgataṃ te | prītātmā'haṃ tvā'bhinandāmi sūta | anāmayaṃ pratijāne tavāhaṃ | sahānujaiḥ kuśalī cāsmi vidvan

Welcome to you, Sanjaya, son of Gavalgana! With a glad heart I greet you, O Suta. I tell you in return that I am in good health, learned one, and well, together with my younger brothers.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रतिमाने → प्रतिजाने (misprint in Wikisource; प्रतिमाने gives no sense with अनामयं … तवाहं, while प्रतिजाने 'I declare' does; CE pratijāne).

Verse 7 (5.23.7)

चिरादिदं कुशलं भारतस्य । श्रुत्वा राज्ञः कुरुवृद्धस्य सूत । मन्ये साक्षाद्दृष्टमहं नरेन्द्रं । दृष्ट्वैव त्वां सञ्जय प्रीतियोगात् ॥

cirādidaṃ kuśalaṃ bhāratasya | śrutvā rājñaḥ kuruvṛddhasya sūta | manye sākṣāddṛṣṭamahaṃ narendraṃ | dṛṣṭvaiva tvāṃ sañjaya prītiyogāt

Hearing at last this news of the well-being of the Bharata king, the elder of the Kurus, O Suta, I feel as though I have seen the king himself, now that I see you, Sanjaya, out of affection.

Verse 8 (5.23.8)

पितामहो नः स्थविरो मनस्वी । महाप्राज्ञः सर्वधर्मोपपन्नः । सकौरव्यः कुशली तात भीष्मो । यथापूर्वं वृत्तिरस्त्यस्य कच्चित् ॥

pitāmaho naḥ sthaviro manasvī | mahāprājñaḥ sarvadharmopapannaḥ | sakauravyaḥ kuśalī tāta bhīṣmo | yathāpūrvaṃ vṛttirastyasya kaccit

Our grandfather, the aged and high-minded Bhishma of the Kurus, so wise and endowed with every virtue — is he well, my friend? Does he keep to his former ways?

Verse 9 (5.23.9)

कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो । वैचित्रवीर्यः कुशली महात्मा । महाराजो बाह्लिकः प्रातिपेयः । कच्चिद्विद्वान्कुशली सूतपुत्र ॥

kaccidrājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputro | vaicitravīryaḥ kuśalī mahātmā | mahārājo bāhlikaḥ prātipeyaḥ | kaccidvidvānkuśalī sūtaputra

Is King Dhritarashtra, Vichitravirya's great-souled son, well along with his sons? Is the great king Bahlika, son of Pratipa, the learned, well, son of a Suta?

Verse 10 (5.23.10)

स सोमदत्तः कुशली तात कच्चि- । द्भूरिश्रवाः सत्यसन्धः शलश्च । द्रोणः सपुत्रश्च कृपश्च विप्रो । महेष्वासाः कच्चिदेतेऽप्यरोगाः ॥

sa somadattaḥ kuśalī tāta kacci- | dbhūriśravāḥ satyasandhaḥ śalaśca | droṇaḥ saputraśca kṛpaśca vipro | maheṣvāsāḥ kaccidete'pyarogāḥ

Is Somadatta well, my friend, and Bhurishravas, true to his word, and Shala? Drona with his son, and the brahmin Kripa — are these great archers free from illness?

Verse 11 (5.23.11)

सर्वे कुरुभ्यः स्पृहयन्ति सञ्जय । धनुर्धरा ये पृथिव्यां प्रधानाः । महाप्रज्ञाः सर्वशास्त्रावदाता । धनुर्भृतां मुख्यतमाः पृथिव्याम् ॥

sarve kurubhyaḥ spṛhayanti sañjaya | dhanurdharā ye pṛthivyāṃ pradhānāḥ | mahāprajñāḥ sarvaśāstrāvadātā | dhanurbhṛtāṃ mukhyatamāḥ pṛthivyām

Do all the foremost bowmen on earth, Sanjaya, still look up to the Kurus — those men of great wisdom, made pure by every branch of learning, the chief of all who bear the bow on earth?

Note on the text: Wikisource orders these lines differently from the critical edition: lines 1–2 = CE 5.23.12ab, lines 3–4 = CE 5.23.11ab.

Verse 12 (5.23.12)

कच्चिन्मानं तात लभन्त एते । धनुर्भृतः कच्चिदेतेऽप्यरोगाः । येषां राष्ट्रे निवसति दर्शनीयो । महेष्वासः शीलवान्द्रोणपुत्रः ॥

kaccinmānaṃ tāta labhanta ete | dhanurbhṛtaḥ kaccidete'pyarogāḥ | yeṣāṃ rāṣṭre nivasati darśanīyo | maheṣvāsaḥ śīlavāndroṇaputraḥ

Do they receive due honour, my friend? Are these bowmen free from illness — they in whose kingdom lives the handsome, virtuous great archer, the son of Drona?

Note on the text: Corrected कचिदेते → कच्चिदेते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped च्, CE kaccid ete). Lines 1–2 = CE 5.23.11cd, lines 3–4 = CE 5.23.12cd.

Verse 13 (5.23.13)

वैश्यापुत्रः कुशली तात कच्चित् । महाप्राज्ञो राजपुत्रो युयुत्सुः । कर्णो मानी कुशली तात कच्चित् । सुयोधनो यस्य मन्दो विधेयः ॥

vaiśyāputraḥ kuśalī tāta kaccit | mahāprājño rājaputro yuyutsuḥ | karṇo mānī kuśalī tāta kaccit | suyodhano yasya mando vidheyaḥ

Is the son of the Vaishya woman, the wise prince Yuyutsu, well, my friend? Is proud Karna well, my friend — he whom the foolish Suyodhana obeys?

Verse 14 (5.23.14)

स्त्रियो वृद्धा भारतानां जनन्यो । महादास्यो दासभार्याश्च सूत । वध्वः पुत्रा भागिनेया भगिन्यो । दौहित्रा वा कच्चिदप्यव्यलीकाः ॥

striyo vṛddhā bhāratānāṃ jananyo | mahādāsyo dāsabhāryāśca sūta | vadhvaḥ putrā bhāgineyā bhaginyo | dauhitrā vā kaccidapyavyalīkāḥ

The aged women of the Bharatas, our mothers, the chief maidservants and the wives of servants, O Suta, the daughters-in-law, sons, sisters' sons, sisters and daughters' sons — are they all well and of honest heart?

Verse 15 (5.23.15)

कच्चिद्राजा ब्राह्मणानां यथावत् । प्रवर्तते पूर्ववत्तात वृत्तिम् । कच्चिद्दायान्मामकान्धार्तराष्ट्रो । द्विजातीनां सञ्जय नोपहन्ति ॥

kaccidrājā brāhmaṇānāṃ yathāvat | pravartate pūrvavattāta vṛttim | kacciddāyānmāmakāndhārtarāṣṭro | dvijātīnāṃ sañjaya nopahanti

Does the king still provide the brahmins with their livelihood as he did before, my friend? Does the son of Dhritarashtra leave untouched the grants I made to the twice-born, Sanjaya?

Verse 16 (5.23.16)

कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्र । उपेक्षते ब्राह्मणातिक्रमान्वै । स्वर्गस्य कच्चिन्न तथा वर्त्मभूता- । मुपेक्षते तेषु सदैव वृत्तिम् ॥

kaccidrājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputra | upekṣate brāhmaṇātikramānvai | svargasya kaccinna tathā vartmabhūtā- | mupekṣate teṣu sadaiva vṛttim

Does King Dhritarashtra with his sons overlook wrongs done to brahmins? I hope he does not likewise neglect their livelihood, which is itself the road to heaven.

Verse 17 (5.23.17)

एतज्ज्योतिश्चोत्तमं जीवलोके । शुक्लं प्रजानां विहितं विधात्रा । ते चेद्दोषं न नियच्छन्ति मन्दाः । कृत्स्नो नाशो भविता कौरवाणाम् ॥

etajjyotiścottamaṃ jīvaloke | śuklaṃ prajānāṃ vihitaṃ vidhātrā | te ceddoṣaṃ na niyacchanti mandāḥ | kṛtsno nāśo bhavitā kauravāṇām

This is the highest light in the world of the living, the bright path the Creator ordained for his creatures. If those fools do not curb this fault, utter ruin will come upon the Kauravas.

Note on the text: Corrected एतञ्ज्योतिः → एतज्ज्योतिः (misprint in Wikisource; त् before ज becomes ज्, not ञ्; CE etaj jyotir).

Verse 18 (5.23.18)

कच्चिद्राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो । बुभूषते वृत्तिममात्यवर्गे । कच्चिन्न भेदेन जिजीविषन्ति । सुहृद्रूपा दुर्हृदश्चैकमत्यात् ॥

kaccidrājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputro | bubhūṣate vṛttimamātyavarge | kaccinna bhedena jijīviṣanti | suhṛdrūpā durhṛdaścaikamatyāt

Does King Dhritarashtra with his sons seek to provide for his ministers? Are there not enemies in the guise of friends, all of one mind, who seek to live by sowing division?

Note on the text: Corrected मुहृद्रूपा → सुहृद्रूपा (misprint in Wikisource; म for स, 'in the guise of friends'; CE suhṛdrūpā).

Verse 19 (5.23.19)

कच्चिन्न पापं कथयन्ति तात । ते पाण्डवानां कुरवः सर्व एव । द्रोणः सपुत्रश्च कृपश्च वीरो । नास्मासु पापानि वदन्ति कच्चित् ॥

kaccinna pāpaṃ kathayanti tāta | te pāṇḍavānāṃ kuravaḥ sarva eva | droṇaḥ saputraśca kṛpaśca vīro | nāsmāsu pāpāni vadanti kaccit

I hope all the Kurus, my friend, do not speak ill of the Pandavas? I hope Drona with his son, and heroic Kripa, do not speak evil of us?

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 = CE 5.23.19ab; lines 3–4 are not in the critical edition's main text: they are its star passage 5.23.19b*0130, lines 1–2 (vulgate).

Verse 20 (5.23.20)

कच्चिद्राज्ये धृतराष्ट्रं सपुत्रं । समेत्याहुः कुरवः सर्व एव । कच्चिद्दृष्ट्वा दस्युसङ्घान्समेता- । न्स्मरन्ति पार्थस्य युधां प्रणेतुः ॥

kaccidrājye dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ saputraṃ | sametyāhuḥ kuravaḥ sarva eva | kacciddṛṣṭvā dasyusaṅghānsametā- | nsmaranti pārthasya yudhāṃ praṇetuḥ

Do all the Kurus gather and speak to Dhritarashtra and his sons about the kingdom? When they see bands of robbers massed together, do they remember Partha, the leader in battle?

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are not in the critical edition's main text: they are its star passage 5.23.19b*0130, lines 3–4 (vulgate); lines 3–4 = CE 5.23.19cd.

Verse 21 (5.23.21)

मौर्वीभुजाग्रप्रहितान्स्म तात । दोधूयमानेन धनुर्धरेण । गाण्डीवनुन्नांस्तनयित्नुघोषा- । नजिह्मगान्कच्चिदनुस्मरन्ति ॥

maurvībhujāgraprahitānsma tāta | dodhūyamānena dhanurdhareṇa | gāṇḍīvanunnāṃstanayitnughoṣā- | najihmagānkaccidanusmaranti

Do they remember, my friend, the straight-flying arrows sped from the bowstring's end by that bowman as he shakes his bow, driven from the Gandiva with a roar like thunder?

Verse 22 (5.23.22)

न चापश्यं कंचिदहं पृथिव्यां । योधं समं वाऽधिकमर्जुनेन । यस्यैकषष्टिर्निशितास्तीक्ष्णधाराः । सुवाससः संमतो हस्तवापः ॥

na cāpaśyaṃ kaṃcidahaṃ pṛthivyāṃ | yodhaṃ samaṃ vā'dhikamarjunena | yasyaikaṣaṣṭirniśitāstīkṣṇadhārāḥ | suvāsasaḥ saṃmato hastavāpaḥ

I have never seen any warrior on earth equal to or greater than Arjuna, whose single cast of the hand looses sixty-one sharp, keen-edged, well-feathered arrows — a feat all men admire.

Note on the text: Corrected समंतो → संमतो (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced anusvara, CE saṃmato).

Verse 23 (5.23.23)

गदापाणिर्भीमसेनस्तरस्वी । प्रवेपयञ्छत्रुसङ्घाननीके । नागः प्रभिन्न इव नड्वलेषु । चंक्रम्यते कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥

gadāpāṇirbhīmasenastarasvī | pravepayañchatrusaṅghānanīke | nāgaḥ prabhinna iva naḍvaleṣu | caṃkramyate kaccidenaṃ smaranti

Do they remember Bhimasena, swift, mace in hand, making the hosts of the enemy tremble in the battle-line, roaming like an elephant in rut among the reed-beds?

Note on the text: Corrected नङ्घलेषु → नड्वलेषु (misprint in Wikisource; 'among reed-beds', as the page's own commentary reads it, नङ्वलेषु सतृणेषु स्थलेषु; CE naḍvalāsu).

Verse 24 (5.23.24)

माद्रीपुत्रः सहदेवः कलिङ्गान् । समागतानजयद्दन्तकूरे । वामेनास्यन्दक्षिणेनैव यो वै । महाबलं कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥

mādrīputraḥ sahadevaḥ kaliṅgān | samāgatānajayaddantakūre | vāmenāsyandakṣiṇenaiva yo vai | mahābalaṃ kaccidenaṃ smaranti

Do they remember mighty Sahadeva, son of Madri, who conquered the assembled Kalingas at Dantakura, shooting with left hand and right alike?

Verse 25 (5.23.25)

पुरा जेतुं नकुलः प्रेषितोऽयं । शिबींस्त्रिगर्तान्सञ्जय पश्यतस्ते । दिशं प्रतीचीं वशमानयन्मे । माद्रीसुतं कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥

purā jetuṃ nakulaḥ preṣito'yaṃ | śibīṃstrigartānsañjaya paśyataste | diśaṃ pratīcīṃ vaśamānayanme | mādrīsutaṃ kaccidenaṃ smaranti

This Nakula, sent out earlier to conquer, brought the Shibis and Trigartas and the western quarter under my sway, Sanjaya, while you looked on. Do they remember the son of Madri?

Verse 26 (5.23.26)

पराभवो द्वैतवने य आसी- । द्दुर्मन्त्रिते घोषयात्रागतानाम् । यत्र मन्दाञ्छत्रुवशं प्रयाता- । नमोचयद्भीमसेनो जयश्च ॥

parābhavo dvaitavane ya āsī- | ddurmantrite ghoṣayātrāgatānām | yatra mandāñchatruvaśaṃ prayātā- | namocayadbhīmaseno jayaśca

There was the defeat at Dvaitavana of those who came on that ill-advised cattle-station expedition, when Bhimasena and Jaya freed the fools who had fallen into the power of their enemies.

Note on the text: Corrected दुर्मन्विते → दुर्मन्त्रिते (misprint in Wikisource; व for त्र, 'ill-advised', CE durmantrite) and घोपयात्रा → घोषयात्रा (misprint; प for ष, the 'cattle-station expedition', CE ghoṣayātrā).

Verse 27 (5.23.27)

अहं पश्चादर्जुनमभ्यरक्षं । माद्रीपुत्रौ भीमसेनोऽप्यरक्षत् । गाण्डीवधन्वा शत्रुसङ्घानुदस्य । स्वस्त्यागमत्कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति ॥

ahaṃ paścādarjunamabhyarakṣaṃ | mādrīputrau bhīmaseno'pyarakṣat | gāṇḍīvadhanvā śatrusaṅghānudasya | svastyāgamatkaccidenaṃ smaranti

I guarded Arjuna from behind, Bhimasena guarded the two sons of Madri, and the Gandiva-bowman scattered the enemy hosts and came back safely. Do they remember this?

Verse 28 (5.23.28)

न कर्मणा साधुनैकेन नूनं । सुखं शक्यं वै भवतीह सञ्जय । सर्वात्मना परिजेतुं वयं चे- । न्न शक्नुमो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रम् ॥

na karmaṇā sādhunaikena nūnaṃ | sukhaṃ śakyaṃ vai bhavatīha sañjaya | sarvātmanā parijetuṃ vayaṃ ce- | nna śaknumo dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putram

Surely, Sanjaya, happiness cannot be had here by a single good deed, if we cannot with our whole being win over Dhritarashtra's son.