Duryodhana Boasts of His Strength

Verse 1 (5.55.1)

न भेतव्यं महाराज न शोच्या भवतां वयम् । समर्थाः स्म पराञ्जेतुं बलिनः समरे विभो ॥

na bhetavyaṃ mahārāja na śocyā bhavatāṃ vayam | samarthāḥ sma parāñjetuṃ balinaḥ samare vibho

Do not be afraid, great king; you need not grieve for us. We are strong, my lord, and able to conquer our enemies in battle.

Verse 2 (5.55.2)

वने प्रव्राजितान्पार्थान्यदायान्मधुसूदनः । महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना ॥

vane pravrājitānpārthānyadāyānmadhusūdanaḥ | mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā

When the sons of Pritha had been banished to the forest, Madhusudana came to them with a great host of troops, a force that crushes enemy kingdoms;

Verse 3 (5.55.3)

केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । राजानश्चान्वयुः पार्थान्बहवोऽन्येऽनुयायिनः ॥

kekayā dhṛṣṭaketuśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ | rājānaścānvayuḥ pārthānbahavo'nye'nuyāyinaḥ

and the Kekayas, Dhrishtaketu, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, and many other kings came after the Parthas as their followers.

Note on the text: Corrected पार्षत → पार्षतः (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative visarga was dropped from Dhrishtadyumna's patronymic; the critical edition reads pārṣataḥ).

Verse 4 (5.55.4)

इन्द्रप्रस्थस्य चादूरात्समाजग्मुर्महारथाः । व्यगर्हयंश्च संगम्य भवन्तं कुरुभिः सह ॥

indraprasthasya cādūrātsamājagmurmahārathāḥ | vyagarhayaṃśca saṃgamya bhavantaṃ kurubhiḥ saha

Those great chariot-warriors gathered not far from Indraprastha, and once assembled they spoke in condemnation of you and of the Kurus.

Verse 5 (5.55.5)

ते युधिष्ठिरमासीनमजिनैः प्रतिवासितम् । कृष्णप्रधानाः संहत्य पर्युपासन्त भारत ॥

te yudhiṣṭhiramāsīnamajinaiḥ prativāsitam | kṛṣṇapradhānāḥ saṃhatya paryupāsanta bhārata

With Krishna at their head they gathered round Yudhishthira, who sat clad in deerskins, and attended on him, O Bharata.

Verse 6 (5.55.6)

प्रत्यादानं च राज्यस्य कार्यमूचुर्नराधिपाः । भवतः सानुबन्धस्य समुच्छेदं चिकीर्षवः ॥

pratyādānaṃ ca rājyasya kāryamūcurnarādhipāḥ | bhavataḥ sānubandhasya samucchedaṃ cikīrṣavaḥ

Those lords of men declared that the kingdom must be taken back, and they meant to destroy you together with all your kin.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रत्यादनं → प्रत्यादानं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ā — pratyādāna, 'taking back'; the critical edition reads pratyādānaṃ).

Verse 7 (5.55.7)

श्रुत्वा चैवं मयोक्तास्तु भीष्मद्रोणकृपास्तदा । ज्ञातिक्षयभयाद्राजन्भीतेन भरतर्षभ ॥

śrutvā caivaṃ mayoktāstu bhīṣmadroṇakṛpāstadā | jñātikṣayabhayādrājanbhītena bharatarṣabha

Hearing this, I spoke to Bhishma, Drona and Kripa, for I was afraid, O king, bull of the Bharatas, that our kinsmen would be destroyed:

Note on the text: Corrected मयोस्तास्तु → मयोक्तास्तु (misprint in Wikisource; स्त for क्त — mayā uktāḥ; the critical edition reads mayoktās tu). चैवं (CE caitan) kept as the base text's reading.

Verse 8 (5.55.8)

न ते स्थास्यन्ति समये पाण्डवा इति मे मतिः । समुच्छेदं हि नः कृत्स्नं वासुदेवश्चिकीर्षति ॥

na te sthāsyanti samaye pāṇḍavā iti me matiḥ | samucchedaṃ hi naḥ kṛtsnaṃ vāsudevaścikīrṣati

'The Pandavas will not keep to the agreement, I believe; for Vasudeva wants our complete destruction.

Note on the text: Corrected ततः स्थास्यन्ति → न ते स्थास्यन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; ततः for न ते reverses the sense: the second line, 'for Vasudeva wants our complete destruction', gives the reason the Pandavas will not keep the agreement; the critical edition reads na te sthāsyanti).

Verse 9 (5.55.9)

ऋते च विदुरात्सर्वे यूयं वध्या मता मम । धृतराष्ट्रस्तु धर्मज्ञो न वध्यः कुरुसत्तमः ॥

ṛte ca vidurātsarve yūyaṃ vadhyā matā mama | dhṛtarāṣṭrastu dharmajño na vadhyaḥ kurusattamaḥ

All of you except Vidura, I believe, are marked out for death; only Dhritarashtra, who knows the dharma, the best of the Kurus, is not to be slain.

Verse 10 (5.55.10)

समुच्छेदं च कृत्स्नं नः कृत्वा तात जनार्दनः । एकराज्यं कुरूणां स्म चिकीर्षति युधिष्ठिरे ॥

samucchedaṃ ca kṛtsnaṃ naḥ kṛtvā tāta janārdanaḥ | ekarājyaṃ kurūṇāṃ sma cikīrṣati yudhiṣṭhire

Once he has destroyed us utterly, dear sirs, Janardana means to make the sole sovereignty of the Kurus rest with Yudhishthira.

Verse 11 (5.55.11)

तत्र किं प्राप्तकालं नः प्रणिपातः पलायनम् । प्राणान्वा संपरित्यज्य प्रतियुध्यामहे परान् ॥

tatra kiṃ prāptakālaṃ naḥ praṇipātaḥ palāyanam | prāṇānvā saṃparityajya pratiyudhyāmahe parān

What then does the hour require of us: to bow down, to flee, or to give up our lives and fight back against the enemy?

Note on the text: Corrected प्रतियुध्यामाहे → प्रतियुध्यामहे (misprint in Wikisource; intrusive ā in the first-person plural ending; the critical edition reads pratiyudhyāmahe).

Verse 12 (5.55.12)

प्रतियुद्धे तु नियतः स्यादस्माकं पराजयः । युधिष्ठिरस्य सर्वे हि पार्थिवा वशवर्तिनः ॥

pratiyuddhe tu niyataḥ syādasmākaṃ parājayaḥ | yudhiṣṭhirasya sarve hi pārthivā vaśavartinaḥ

If we fight back, our defeat is certain, for all the kings are under Yudhishthira's sway.

Verse 13 (5.55.13)

विरक्तराष्ट्राश्च वयं मित्राणि कुपितानि नः । धिक्कृताः पार्थिवैः सर्वैः स्वजनेन च सर्वशः ॥

viraktarāṣṭrāśca vayaṃ mitrāṇi kupitāni naḥ | dhikkṛtāḥ pārthivaiḥ sarvaiḥ svajanena ca sarvaśaḥ

Our own realm is estranged from us, our friends are angry with us, and we are scorned on every side by all the kings and by our own people.

Verse 14 (5.55.14)

प्रणिपाते न दोषोऽस्ति सन्धिर्नः शाश्वतीः समाः । पितरं त्वेव शोचामि प्रज्ञानेत्रं जनाधिपम् ॥

praṇipāte na doṣo'sti sandhirnaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | pitaraṃ tveva śocāmi prajñānetraṃ janādhipam

There is no fault in bowing down; it would mean peace for us for endless years. But it is my father I grieve for, the lord of men whose eyes are his wisdom,

Note on the text: Corrected दोषोस्ति → दोषोऽस्ति (missing avagraha in Wikisource). This verse is CE 5.54.14ab–cd; the base text's first line (प्रणिपाते न दोषोऽस्ति सन्धिर्नः, 'there is no fault in submission; peace for us') differs from the critical edition's praṇipāte tu doṣo 'sti bandhūnāṃ and is kept as the base text's reading.

Verse 15 (5.55.15)

मत्कृते दुःखमापन्नं क्लेशं प्राप्तमनन्तकम् । कृतं हि तव पुत्रैश्च परेषामवरोधनम् । मत्प्रियार्थं पुरैवैतद्विदितं ते नरोत्तम ॥

matkṛte duḥkhamāpannaṃ kleśaṃ prāptamanantakam | kṛtaṃ hi tava putraiśca pareṣāmavarodhanam | matpriyārthaṃ puraivaitadviditaṃ te narottama

who for my sake has fallen into sorrow and met with endless trouble. Your sons, best of men, set about thwarting the enemy long ago to please me, as you well know.'

Note on the text: Corrected मत्प्रयार्थं → मत्प्रियार्थं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped i-sign; the critical edition reads matpriyārthaṃ). A three-line verse as printed: line 1 is CE 5.54.14ef, lines 2–3 are CE 5.54.15.

Verse 16 (5.55.16)

ते राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य सामात्यस्य महारथाः । वैरं प्रतिकरिष्यन्ति कुलोच्छेदेन पाण्डवाः ॥

te rājño dhṛtarāṣṭrasya sāmātyasya mahārathāḥ | vairaṃ pratikariṣyanti kulocchedena pāṇḍavāḥ

'Those great chariot-warriors, the Pandavas, will take their revenge on King Dhritarashtra and his ministers by wiping out the family.'

Verse 17 (5.55.17)

ततो द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्भीष्मः कृपो द्रौणिश्च भारत । मत्वा मां महतीं चिन्तामास्थितं व्यथितेन्द्रियम् ॥

tato droṇo'bravīdbhīṣmaḥ kṛpo drauṇiśca bhārata | matvā māṃ mahatīṃ cintāmāsthitaṃ vyathitendriyam

Then Drona, Bhishma, Kripa and Drona's son spoke, O Bharata, seeing me sunk in deep anxiety, my senses in turmoil:

Note on the text: Corrected आस्थितंव्यथितेन्द्रियं → आस्थितं व्यथितेन्द्रियम् (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together and a verse-final anusvara for म्; the critical edition reads āsthitaṃ vyathitendriyam).

Verse 18 (5.55.18)

अभिद्रुग्धाः परे चेन्नो न भेतव्यं परन्तप । असमर्थाः परे जेतुमस्मान्युधि समास्थितान् ॥

abhidrugdhāḥ pare cenno na bhetavyaṃ parantapa | asamarthāḥ pare jetumasmānyudhi samāsthitān

'Even if the enemy has been wronged by us, you have nothing to fear, scorcher of foes. They cannot conquer us when we take our stand in battle.

Verse 19 (5.55.19)

एकैकशः समर्थाः स्मो विजेतुं सर्वपार्थिवान् । आगच्छन्तु विनेष्यामो दर्पमेषां शितैः शरैः ॥

ekaikaśaḥ samarthāḥ smo vijetuṃ sarvapārthivān | āgacchantu vineṣyāmo darpameṣāṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Each one of us alone is able to conquer all the kings. Let them come; we will tame their pride with sharp arrows.

Verse 20 (5.55.20)

पुरैकेन हि भीष्मेण विजिताः सर्वपार्थिवाः । मृते पितर्यतिक्रुद्धो रथेनैकेन भारत ॥

puraikena hi bhīṣmeṇa vijitāḥ sarvapārthivāḥ | mṛte pitaryatikruddho rathenaikena bhārata

Long ago, when his father had died, Bhishma alone, in towering rage, conquered all the kings with a single chariot, O Bharata.

Verse 21 (5.55.21)

जघान सुबहूंस्तेषां संरब्धः कुरुसत्तमः । ततस्ते शरणं जग्मुर्देवव्रतमिमं भयात् ॥

jaghāna subahūṃsteṣāṃ saṃrabdhaḥ kurusattamaḥ | tataste śaraṇaṃ jagmurdevavratamimaṃ bhayāt

In his fury that best of the Kurus slew a great many of them, and then in their fear they sought refuge with Devavrata here.

Verse 22 (5.55.22)

स भीष्मः सुसमर्थोऽयमस्माभिः सहितो रणे । परान्विजेतुं तस्मात्ते व्येतु भीर्भरतर्षभ ॥

sa bhīṣmaḥ susamartho'yamasmābhiḥ sahito raṇe | parānvijetuṃ tasmātte vyetu bhīrbharatarṣabha

This same Bhishma, fully able, will stand with us in battle to conquer the enemy; so let your fear depart, bull of the Bharatas.'

Note on the text: Matched by hand: this is CE 5.54.22ab–cd (the automatic alignment missed it because the critical edition's verse has a third line, which the base text prints as the first line of verse 23).

Verse 23 (5.55.23)

इत्येषां निश्चयो ह्यासीत्तत्कालेऽमिततेजसाम् । पुरा तेषां पृथिवी कृत्स्नासीद्वशवर्तिनी ॥

ityeṣāṃ niścayo hyāsīttatkāle'mitatejasām | purā teṣāṃ pṛthivī kṛtsnāsīdvaśavartinī

Such was the resolve of those men of boundless energy at that time. Once the whole earth was under the sway of the others;

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 5.54.22ef (तत्कालेऽमिततेजसाम्, CE tatkālam amitaujasām); line 2 is CE 5.54.23ab (पुरा तेषां, CE purā pareṣāṃ). Base text kept.

Verse 24 (5.55.24)

अस्मान्पुनरमी नाद्य समर्था जेतुमाहवे । छिन्नपक्षाः परे ह्यद्य वीर्यहीनाश्च पाण्डवाः ॥

asmānpunaramī nādya samarthā jetumāhave | chinnapakṣāḥ pare hyadya vīryahīnāśca pāṇḍavāḥ

but now they are not able to conquer us in battle. Our enemies, the Pandavas, have had their wings clipped and are drained of strength.

Note on the text: This is CE 5.54.23cd–ef.

Verse 25 (5.55.25)

अस्मत्संस्था च पृथिवी वर्तते भरतर्षभ । एकार्थाः सुखदुःखेषु समानीताश्च पार्थिवाः ॥

asmatsaṃsthā ca pṛthivī vartate bharatarṣabha | ekārthāḥ sukhaduḥkheṣu samānītāśca pārthivāḥ

The earth now rests with us, bull of the Bharatas, and the kings who have been gathered here are one with us in purpose, in joy and in sorrow.

Verse 26 (5.55.26)

अप्यग्निं प्रविशेयुस्ते समुद्रं वा परन्तप । मदर्थं पार्थिवाः सर्वे तद्विद्धि कुरुसत्तम ॥

apyagniṃ praviśeyuste samudraṃ vā parantapa | madarthaṃ pārthivāḥ sarve tadviddhi kurusattama

Know this, best of the Kurus: for my sake all those kings would enter fire or the ocean, scorcher of foes.

Verse 27 (5.55.27)

उन्मत्तमिव चापि त्वां प्रहसन्तीह दुःखितम् । विलपन्तं बहुविधं भीतं परविकत्थने ॥

unmattamiva cāpi tvāṃ prahasantīha duḥkhitam | vilapantaṃ bahuvidhaṃ bhītaṃ paravikatthane

They laugh at you here as at a madman, as you grieve and lament in many ways, frightened by the boasting of the enemy.

Verse 28 (5.55.28)

एषां ह्येकैकशो राज्ञां समर्थं पाण्डवान्प्रति । आत्मानं मन्यते सर्वो व्येतु ते भयमागतम् ॥

eṣāṃ hyekaikaśo rājñāṃ samarthaṃ pāṇḍavānprati | ātmānaṃ manyate sarvo vyetu te bhayamāgatam

Every one of these kings thinks himself a match for the Pandavas; let the fear that has come over you depart.

Verse 29 (5.55.29)

जेतुं समग्रां सेनां मे वासवोऽपि न शक्नुयात् । हन्तुमक्षय्यरूपेयं ब्रह्मणोऽपि स्वयंभुवः ॥

jetuṃ samagrāṃ senāṃ me vāsavo'pi na śaknuyāt | hantumakṣayyarūpeyaṃ brahmaṇo'pi svayaṃbhuvaḥ

Not even Vasava could conquer my whole army; its strength is inexhaustible, and not even self-born Brahma could destroy it.

Verse 30 (5.55.30)

युधिष्ठिरः पुरं हित्वा पञ्चग्रामान्स याचते । भीतो हि मामकात्सैन्यात्प्रभावाच्चैव मे विभो ॥

yudhiṣṭhiraḥ puraṃ hitvā pañcagrāmānsa yācate | bhīto hi māmakātsainyātprabhāvāccaiva me vibho

Yudhishthira has given up a city and asks for just five villages, my lord, because he is afraid of my army and of my power.

Verse 31 (5.55.31)

समर्थं मन्यसे यच्च कुन्तीपुत्रं वृकोदरम् । तन्मिथ्या न हि मे कृत्स्नं प्रभावं वेत्सि भारत ॥

samarthaṃ manyase yacca kuntīputraṃ vṛkodaram | tanmithyā na hi me kṛtsnaṃ prabhāvaṃ vetsi bhārata

As for your belief that Kunti's son Vrikodara is mighty, that is mistaken; you do not know the full extent of my power, O Bharata.

Verse 32 (5.55.32)

मत्समो हि गदायुद्धे पृथिव्यां नास्ति कश्चन । नासीत्कश्चिदतिक्रान्तो भविता न च कश्चन ॥

matsamo hi gadāyuddhe pṛthivyāṃ nāsti kaścana | nāsītkaścidatikrānto bhavitā na ca kaścana

There is no one on earth equal to me in fighting with the mace. No one has ever surpassed me, nor will anyone.

Verse 33 (5.55.33)

युक्तो दुःखोषितश्चाहं विद्यापारगतस्तथा । तस्मान्न भीमान्नान्येभ्यो भयं मे विद्यते क्वचित् ॥

yukto duḥkhoṣitaścāhaṃ vidyāpāragatastathā | tasmānna bhīmānnānyebhyo bhayaṃ me vidyate kvacit

I have been diligent, I endured hardship in my teacher's house, and I mastered the art; so I have no fear at all of Bhima or of anyone else.

Verse 34 (5.55.34)

दुर्योधनसमो नास्ति गदायामिति निश्चयः । सङ्कर्षणस्य भवने यत्तदैनमुपावसम् ॥

duryodhanasamo nāsti gadāyāmiti niścayaḥ | saṅkarṣaṇasya bhavane yattadainamupāvasam

'No one equals Duryodhana with the mace': that was the settled judgment when I lived as a pupil in Sankarshana's house.

Verse 35 (5.55.35)

युद्धे सङ्कर्षणसमो बलेनाभ्यधिको भुवि । गदाप्रहारं भीमो मे न जातु विषहेद्युधि ॥

yuddhe saṅkarṣaṇasamo balenābhyadhiko bhuvi | gadāprahāraṃ bhīmo me na jātu viṣahedyudhi

In battle I am Sankarshana's equal, and in strength I surpass anyone on earth. Bhima could never withstand a blow of my mace in battle.

Verse 36 (5.55.36)

एकं प्रहारं यं दद्यां भीमाय रुषितो नृप । स एवैनं नयेद्घोरः क्षिप्रं वैवस्वतक्षयम् ॥

ekaṃ prahāraṃ yaṃ dadyāṃ bhīmāya ruṣito nṛpa | sa evainaṃ nayedghoraḥ kṣipraṃ vaivasvatakṣayam

A single blow that I deal Bhima in my anger, O king, terrible as it is, would by itself send him swiftly to the realm of Vaivasvata.

Note on the text: Corrected नयोद्धोरः → नयेद्घोरः (misprint in Wikisource; नयो for the optative नये(द्) and a garbled conjunct द्धो for द्घो — nayed ghoraḥ, the terrible blow; the critical edition reads nayed ghoraṃ).

Verse 37 (5.55.37)

इच्छेयं च गदाहस्तं राजन्द्रष्टुं वृकोदरम् । सुचिरं प्रार्थितो ह्येष मम नित्यं मनोरथः ॥

iccheyaṃ ca gadāhastaṃ rājandraṣṭuṃ vṛkodaram | suciraṃ prārthito hyeṣa mama nityaṃ manorathaḥ

I long, O king, to see Vrikodara with mace in hand; this has long been my constant wish.

Verse 38 (5.55.38)

गदया निहतो ह्याजौ मया पार्थो वृकोदरः । विशीर्णगात्रः पृथिवीं परासुः प्रपतिष्यति ॥

gadayā nihato hyājau mayā pārtho vṛkodaraḥ | viśīrṇagātraḥ pṛthivīṃ parāsuḥ prapatiṣyati

Struck down by my mace in battle, Pritha's son Vrikodara will fall lifeless to the earth, his limbs shattered.

Note on the text: Corrected विशीर्णगावः → विशीर्णगात्रः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त्र — 'his limbs shattered'; the critical edition reads viśīrṇagātraḥ).

Verse 39 (5.55.39)

गदाप्रहाराभिहतो हिमवानपि पर्वतः । सकृन्मया विदीर्येत गिरिः शतसहस्रधा ॥

gadāprahārābhihato himavānapi parvataḥ | sakṛnmayā vidīryeta giriḥ śatasahasradhā

Struck by a single blow of my mace, even the Himalaya, king of mountains, would split into a hundred thousand pieces.

Verse 40 (5.55.40)

स चाप्येतद्विजानाति वासुदेवार्जुनौ तथा । दुर्योधनसमो नास्ति गदायामिति निश्चयः ॥

sa cāpyetadvijānāti vāsudevārjunau tathā | duryodhanasamo nāsti gadāyāmiti niścayaḥ

He knows this too, and so do Vasudeva and Arjuna: no one equals Duryodhana with the mace; that is certain.

Verse 41 (5.55.41)

तत्ते वृकोदरमयं भयं व्येतु महाहवे । व्यपनेष्याम्यहं ह्येनं मा राजन्विमना भव ॥

tatte vṛkodaramayaṃ bhayaṃ vyetu mahāhave | vyapaneṣyāmyahaṃ hyenaṃ mā rājanvimanā bhava

So let your fear of Vrikodara in the great battle depart. I will dispose of him; do not be downcast, O king.

Verse 42 (5.55.42)

तस्मिन्मया हते क्षिप्रमर्जुनं बहवो रथाः । तुल्यरूपा विशिष्टाश्च क्षेप्स्यन्ति भरतर्षभ ॥

tasminmayā hate kṣipramarjunaṃ bahavo rathāḥ | tulyarūpā viśiṣṭāśca kṣepsyanti bharatarṣabha

Once I have slain him, many chariot-warriors, Arjuna's equals or his betters, will quickly bring Arjuna down, bull of the Bharatas:

Verse 43 (5.55.43)

भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपो द्रौणिः कर्णो भूरिश्रवास्तथा । प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः शल्यः सिन्धुराजो जयद्रथः ॥

bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpo drauṇiḥ karṇo bhūriśravāstathā | prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ śalyaḥ sindhurājo jayadrathaḥ

Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Drona's son, Karna and Bhurishravas, the lord of Pragjyotisha, Shalya, and Jayadratha king of Sindhu.

Verse 44 (5.55.44)

एकैक एषां शक्तस्तु हन्तुं भारत पाण्डवान् । समेतास्तु क्षणेनैतान्नेष्यन्ति यमसादनम् ॥

ekaika eṣāṃ śaktastu hantuṃ bhārata pāṇḍavān | sametāstu kṣaṇenaitānneṣyanti yamasādanam

Each one of these alone is able to kill the Pandavas, O Bharata; together they will send them to Yama's abode in a moment.

Verse 45 (5.55.45)

समग्रा पार्थिवी सेना पार्थमेकं धनञ्जयम् । कस्मादशक्ता निर्जेतुमिति हेतुर्न विद्यते ॥

samagrā pārthivī senā pārthamekaṃ dhanañjayam | kasmādaśaktā nirjetumiti heturna vidyate

There is no reason why the whole army of the kings should be unable to defeat Partha Dhananjaya, who is only one.

Verse 46 (5.55.46)

शरव्रातैस्तु भीष्मेण शतशो निचितोऽवशः । द्रोणद्रौणिकृपैश्चैव गन्ता पार्थो यमक्षयम् ॥

śaravrātaistu bhīṣmeṇa śataśo nicito'vaśaḥ | droṇadrauṇikṛpaiścaiva gantā pārtho yamakṣayam

Helpless, covered with hundreds of showers of arrows by Bhishma, and by Drona, Drona's son and Kripa, Partha will go to Yama's realm.

Verse 47 (5.55.47)

पितामहोऽपि गाङ्गेयः शान्तनोरधि भारत । ब्रह्मर्षिसदृशो जज्ञे देवैरपि सुदुःसहः ॥

pitāmaho'pi gāṅgeyaḥ śāntanoradhi bhārata | brahmarṣisadṛśo jajñe devairapi suduḥsahaḥ

Our grandfather too, the son of Ganga, was born of Shantanu, O Bharata, the peer of a brahmin seer, hard even for the gods to withstand.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्रह्मर्पिसदृशो → ब्रह्मर्षिसदृशो (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads brahmarṣisadṛśo). This is CE 5.54.46ab–cd (matched by hand; the critical edition's verse has a third line, see the next verse).

Verse 48 (5.55.48)

न हन्ता विद्यते चापि राजन्भीष्मस्य कश्चन । पित्रा ह्युक्तः प्रसन्नेन नाकामस्त्वं मरिष्यसि ॥

na hantā vidyate cāpi rājanbhīṣmasya kaścana | pitrā hyuktaḥ prasannena nākāmastvaṃ mariṣyasi

And there is no one who can kill Bhishma, O king, for his father, well pleased with him, told him, 'You will not die unless you wish it.'

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition's text; its apparatus has it as 5.54.46d*0338 (inserted after 46cd). Line 2 is CE 5.54.46ef.

Verse 49 (5.55.49)

ब्रह्मर्षेश्च भरद्वाजाद्द्रोणो द्रोण्यामजायत । द्रोणाज्जज्ञे महाराज द्रौणिश्च परमास्त्रवित् ॥

brahmarṣeśca bharadvājāddroṇo droṇyāmajāyata | droṇājjajñe mahārāja drauṇiśca paramāstravit

Drona was born of the brahmin seer Bharadvaja in a vessel, and of Drona, great king, was born Drona's son, supreme in the knowledge of weapons.

Note on the text: Corrected परमाश्त्रवित् → परमास्त्रवित् (misprint in Wikisource; श for स in astra; the critical edition reads paramāstravit).

Verse 50 (5.55.50)

कृपश्चाचार्यमुख्योऽयं महर्षेर्गौतमादपि । शरस्तम्बोद्भवः श्रीमानवध्य इति मे मतिः ॥

kṛpaścācāryamukhyo'yaṃ maharṣergautamādapi | śarastambodbhavaḥ śrīmānavadhya iti me matiḥ

And Kripa here, foremost of teachers, born likewise of the great seer Gautama's line, sprung from a clump of reeds, glorious, cannot be slain, I believe.

Note on the text: Corrected मुख्योयं → मुख्योऽयं (missing avagraha in Wikisource; the critical edition reads mukhyo 'yaṃ).

Verse 51 (5.55.51)

अयोनिजास्त्रयो ह्येते पिता माता च मातुलः । अश्वत्थाम्नो महाराज स च शूरः स्थितो मम ॥

ayonijāstrayo hyete pitā mātā ca mātulaḥ | aśvatthāmno mahārāja sa ca śūraḥ sthito mama

These three were not born of a womb: the father, the mother and the maternal uncle of Ashvatthaman, great king; and he, a hero, stands on my side.

Note on the text: Corrected महारात → महाराज (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads mahārāja). अयोनिजास्त्रयो ह्येते (CE ayonijaṃ trayaṃ hy etat) kept as the base text's reading.

Verse 52 (5.55.52)

सर्व एते महाराज देवकल्पा महारथाः । शक्रस्यापि व्यथां कुर्युः संयुगे भरतर्षभ ॥

sarva ete mahārāja devakalpā mahārathāḥ | śakrasyāpi vyathāṃ kuryuḥ saṃyuge bharatarṣabha

All these great chariot-warriors, great king, are like gods; in battle they could cause distress even to Shakra, bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 53 (5.55.53)

नैतेषामर्जुनः शक्त एकैकं प्रतिवीक्षितुम् । सहितास्तु नरव्याघ्रा हनिष्यन्ति धनञ्जयम् ॥

naiteṣāmarjunaḥ śakta ekaikaṃ prativīkṣitum | sahitāstu naravyāghrā haniṣyanti dhanañjayam

Arjuna cannot even look any one of them in the face; together these tigers among men will kill Dhananjaya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text; its apparatus has these two lines as 5.54.50d*0339 (after 5.54.50).

Verse 54 (5.55.54)

भीष्मद्रोणकृपाणां च तुल्यः कर्णो मतो मम । अनुज्ञातश्च रामेण मत्समोऽसीति भारत ॥

bhīṣmadroṇakṛpāṇāṃ ca tulyaḥ karṇo mato mama | anujñātaśca rāmeṇa matsamo'sīti bhārata

Karna I regard as the equal of Bhishma, Drona and Kripa; Rama gave him leave, saying, 'You are my equal,' O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected भीष्माद्रोणकृपाणां → भीष्मद्रोणकृपाणां (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ā inside the compound; the critical edition reads bhīṣmadroṇakṛpāṇāṃ).

Verse 55 (5.55.55)

कुण्डले रुचिरे चास्तां कर्णस्य सहजे शुभे । ते शच्यर्थं महेन्द्रेण याचितः स परन्तपः ॥

kuṇḍale rucire cāstāṃ karṇasya sahaje śubhe | te śacyarthaṃ mahendreṇa yācitaḥ sa parantapaḥ

Karna had two lovely, auspicious earrings, born with him. Great Indra begged them from that scorcher of foes for Shachi's sake,

Note on the text: This is CE 5.54.52ab–cd (matched by hand).

Verse 56 (5.55.56)

अमोघया महाराज शक्त्या परमभीमया । तस्य शक्त्योपगूढस्य कस्माज्जीवेद्धनञ्जयः ॥

amoghayā mahārāja śaktyā paramabhīmayā | tasya śaktyopagūḍhasya kasmājjīveddhanañjayaḥ

and gave him the unfailing spear, great king, exceedingly terrible. With Karna armed with that spear, how could Dhananjaya survive?

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 5.54.52ef; line 2 is CE 5.54.53ab (matched by hand).

Verse 57 (5.55.57)

विजयो मे ध्रुवं राजन्फलं पाणाविवाहितम् । अभिव्यक्तः परेषां च कृत्स्नो भुवि पराजयः ॥

vijayo me dhruvaṃ rājanphalaṃ pāṇāvivāhitam | abhivyaktaḥ pareṣāṃ ca kṛtsno bhuvi parājayaḥ

My victory is certain, O king, like a fruit placed in my hand; and the complete defeat of the enemy on earth is plain to see.

Note on the text: This is CE 5.54.53cd–ef (matched by hand).

Verse 58 (5.55.58)

अह्ना ह्येकेन भीष्मोऽयं प्रयुतं हन्ति भारत । तत्समाश्च महेष्वासा द्रोणद्रौणिकृपा अपि ॥

ahnā hyekena bhīṣmo'yaṃ prayutaṃ hanti bhārata | tatsamāśca maheṣvāsā droṇadrauṇikṛpā api

In a single day this Bhishma kills a million men, O Bharata; and the great archers Drona, Drona's son and Kripa are his equals.

Note on the text: Corrected भीष्मोयं → भीष्मोऽयं (missing avagraha in Wikisource; the critical edition reads bhīṣmo 'yam). प्रयुतं ('a million'; CE ayutaṃ, 'ten thousand') kept as the base text's reading.

Verse 59 (5.55.59)

संशप्तकानां वृन्दानि क्षत्रियाणां परन्तप । अर्जुनं वयमस्मान्वा निहन्यात्कपिकेतनः ॥

saṃśaptakānāṃ vṛndāni kṣatriyāṇāṃ parantapa | arjunaṃ vayamasmānvā nihanyātkapiketanaḥ

Bands of kshatriyas bound by oath, the Samshaptakas, scorcher of foes, declare: 'Either we will kill Arjuna, or the ape-bannered one will kill us.'

Note on the text: Kept as the base text, which differs from CE 5.54.55 in both lines (CE saṃśaptāni ca vṛndāni … dhanaṃjaya iti sma ha). The base text's commentary supplies 'they say' (हन्यामेति वदन्तीति शेषः).

Verse 60 (5.55.60)

तांश्चालमिति मन्यन्ते सव्यसाचिवधे धृताः । पार्थिवाः स भवांस्तेभ्यो ह्यकस्माद्व्यथते कथम् ॥

tāṃścālamiti manyante savyasācivadhe dhṛtāḥ | pārthivāḥ sa bhavāṃstebhyo hyakasmādvyathate katham

The kings think these men enough for the task, set as they are on the slaying of Savyasachin. Why then are you distressed without cause?

Verse 61 (5.55.61)

भीमसेने च निहते कोऽन्यो युध्येत भारत । परेषां तन्ममाचक्ष्व यदि वेत्थ परन्तप ॥

bhīmasene ca nihate ko'nyo yudhyeta bhārata | pareṣāṃ tanmamācakṣva yadi vettha parantapa

Once Bhimasena has been killed, who else among the enemy would fight, O Bharata? Tell me that, scorcher of foes, if you know.

Verse 62 (5.55.62)

पञ्च ते भ्रातरः सर्वे धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः । परेषां सप्त ये राजन्योधाः सारं बलं मतम् ॥

pañca te bhrātaraḥ sarve dhṛṣṭadyumno'tha sātyakiḥ | pareṣāṃ sapta ye rājanyodhāḥ sāraṃ balaṃ matam

The five brothers, all of them, together with Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki: these seven warriors, O king, are reckoned the core of the enemy's strength.

Verse 63 (5.55.63)

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये भीष्मद्रोणकृपादयः । द्रौणिर्विकर्तनः कर्णः सोमदत्तोऽथ बाह्लिकः ॥

asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādayaḥ | drauṇirvikartanaḥ karṇaḥ somadatto'tha bāhlikaḥ

But ours are the outstanding ones: Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and the rest; Drona's son, Karna Vaikartana, Somadatta and Bahlika;

Note on the text: Corrected सोमदत्तोथ → सोमदत्तोऽथ (missing avagraha in Wikisource; the critical edition reads somadatto 'tha).

Verse 64 (5.55.64)

प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः शल्य आवन्त्यौ च जयद्रथः । दुःशासनो दुर्मुखश्च दुःसहश्च विशांपते ॥

prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ śalya āvantyau ca jayadrathaḥ | duḥśāsano durmukhaśca duḥsahaśca viśāṃpate

the lord of Pragjyotisha, Shalya, the two princes of Avanti and Jayadratha; Duhshasana, Durmukha and Duhsaha, lord of the people;

Note on the text: Corrected दुर्मखश्च → दुर्मुखश्च (misprint in Wikisource; dropped u-sign in the name Durmukha; the critical edition reads durmukhaś).

Verse 65 (5.55.65)

श्रुतायुश्चित्रसेनश्च पुरुमित्रो विविंशतिः । शलो भूरिश्रवाश्चैव विकर्णश्च तवात्मजः ॥

śrutāyuścitrasenaśca purumitro viviṃśatiḥ | śalo bhūriśravāścaiva vikarṇaśca tavātmajaḥ

Shrutayu, Chitrasena, Purumitra and Vivimshati; Shala, Bhurishravas, and your son Vikarna.

Verse 66 (5.55.66)

अक्षौहिण्यो हि मे राजन्दशैका च समाहृताः । न्यूना परेषां सप्तैव कस्मान्मे स्यात्पराजयः ॥

akṣauhiṇyo hi me rājandaśaikā ca samāhṛtāḥ | nyūnā pareṣāṃ saptaiva kasmānme syātparājayaḥ

I have assembled eleven akshauhinis, O king; the enemy's are fewer, only seven. How could I be defeated?

Verse 67 (5.55.67)

बलं त्रिगुणतो हीनं योध्यं प्राह बृहस्पतिः । परेभ्यस्त्रिगुणा चेयं मम राजन्ननीकिनी ॥

balaṃ triguṇato hīnaṃ yodhyaṃ prāha bṛhaspatiḥ | parebhyastriguṇā ceyaṃ mama rājannanīkinī

Brihaspati has said that an army smaller by a third may be given battle; and my host, O king, is greater than the enemy's by a third.

Verse 68 (5.55.68)

गुणहीनं परेषां च बहु पश्यामि भारत । गुणोदयं बहुगुणमात्मनश्च विशांपते ॥

guṇahīnaṃ pareṣāṃ ca bahu paśyāmi bhārata | guṇodayaṃ bahuguṇamātmanaśca viśāṃpate

In the enemy I see much that lacks merit, O Bharata, and in myself, lord of the people, merits in abundance and on the rise.

Verse 69 (5.55.69)

एतत्सर्वं समाज्ञाय बलाग्र्यं मम भारत । न्यूनतां पाण्डवानां च न मोहं गन्तुमर्हसि ॥

etatsarvaṃ samājñāya balāgryaṃ mama bhārata | nyūnatāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca na mohaṃ gantumarhasi

Knowing all this, the superiority of my forces and the weakness of the Pandavas, you should not give way to bewilderment, O Bharata.

Verse 70 (5.55.70)

इत्युक्त्वा सञ्जयं भूयः पर्यपृच्छत भारत । विवित्सुः प्राप्तकालानि ज्ञात्वा परपुरञ्जयः ॥

ityuktvā sañjayaṃ bhūyaḥ paryapṛcchata bhārata | vivitsuḥ prāptakālāni jñātvā parapurañjayaḥ

Having said this, that conqueror of enemy cities, wishing to learn what the hour called for, questioned Sanjaya once more, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration, given to वैशम्पायन (the base text prints no heading; the critical edition heads this verse vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca). विवित्सुः (CE vidhitsuḥ) kept as the base text's reading, which its commentary glosses (विज्ञातुमिच्छुः).