Duryodhana's Sacrifice of Battle

Verse 1 (5.58.1)

क्षत्रतेजा ब्रह्मचारी कौमारादपि पाण्डवः । तेन संयुगमेष्यन्ति मन्दा विलपतो मम ॥

kṣatratejā brahmacārī kaumārādapi pāṇḍavaḥ | tena saṃyugameṣyanti mandā vilapato mama

The Pandava has had a kshatriya's fire and a brahmacharin's discipline since boyhood; and with him these fools will go to war, for all my lamenting.

Verse 2 (5.58.2)

दुर्योधन निवर्तस्व युद्धाद्भरतसत्तम । न हि युद्धं प्रशंसन्ति सर्वावस्थमरिन्दम ॥

duryodhana nivartasva yuddhādbharatasattama | na hi yuddhaṃ praśaṃsanti sarvāvasthamarindama

Duryodhana, turn back from war, best of the Bharatas. The wise do not praise war in any circumstance, tamer of foes.

Verse 3 (5.58.3)

अलमर्धं पृथिव्यास्ते सहामात्यस्य जीवितुम् । प्रयच्छ पाण्डुपुत्राणां यथोचितमरिन्दम ॥

alamardhaṃ pṛthivyāste sahāmātyasya jīvitum | prayaccha pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ yathocitamarindama

Half the earth is enough for you and your ministers to live on. Give the sons of Pandu their rightful due, tamer of foes.

Verse 4 (5.58.4)

एतद्धि कुरवः सर्वे मन्यन्ते धर्मसंहितम् । यत्त्वं प्रशान्तिं मन्येथाः पाण्डुपुत्रैर्महात्मभिः ॥

etaddhi kuravaḥ sarve manyante dharmasaṃhitam | yattvaṃ praśāntiṃ manyethāḥ pāṇḍuputrairmahātmabhiḥ

For all the Kurus think it consistent with dharma that you should consider making peace with the great-souled sons of Pandu.

Verse 5 (5.58.5)

अङ्गेमां समवेक्षस्व पुत्र स्वामेव वाहिनीम् । जात एष तवाभावस्त्वं तु मोहान्न बुद्ध्यसे ॥

aṅgemāṃ samavekṣasva putra svāmeva vāhinīm | jāta eṣa tavābhāvastvaṃ tu mohānna buddhyase

Come, my son, look closely at this army of your own: here is your ruin, already born, and in your delusion you do not see it.

Verse 6 (5.58.6)

न त्वहं युद्धमिच्छामि नैतदिच्छति बाह्लिकः । न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो नाश्वत्थामा न सञ्जयः ॥

na tvahaṃ yuddhamicchāmi naitadicchati bāhlikaḥ | na ca bhīṣmo na ca droṇo nāśvatthāmā na sañjayaḥ

I do not want war, nor does Bahlika; nor Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Ashvatthaman, nor Sanjaya;

Verse 7 (5.58.7)

न सोमदत्तो न शलो न कृपो युद्धमिच्छति । सत्यव्रतः पुरुमित्रो जयो भूरिश्रवास्तथा ॥

na somadatto na śalo na kṛpo yuddhamicchati | satyavrataḥ purumitro jayo bhūriśravāstathā

nor do Somadatta, Shala or Kripa want war, nor Satyavrata, Purumitra, Jaya or Bhurishravas.

Verse 8 (5.58.8)

येषु संप्रतितिष्ठेयुः कुरवः पीडिताः परैः । ते युद्धं नाभिनन्दन्ति तत्तुभ्यं तात रोचताम् ॥

yeṣu saṃpratitiṣṭheyuḥ kuravaḥ pīḍitāḥ paraiḥ | te yuddhaṃ nābhinandanti tattubhyaṃ tāta rocatām

Those on whom the Kurus would rely if hard pressed by the enemy do not welcome war. Let that please you too, my son.

Verse 9 (5.58.9)

न त्वं करोषि कामेन कर्णः कारयिता तव । दुःशासनश्च पापात्मा शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः ॥

na tvaṃ karoṣi kāmena karṇaḥ kārayitā tava | duḥśāsanaśca pāpātmā śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ

You do not do this of your own will. Karna makes you do it, and the evil-minded Duhshasana, and Shakuni, son of Subala.

Verse 10 (5.58.10)

नाहं भवति न द्रोणे नाश्वत्थाम्नि न सञ्जये । न भीष्मे न काम्भोजे न कृपे न च बाह्लिके ॥

nāhaṃ bhavati na droṇe nāśvatthāmni na sañjaye | na bhīṣme na kāmbhoje na kṛpe na ca bāhlike

It is not on you, nor on Drona, nor on Ashvatthaman or Sanjaya, nor on Bhishma, the Kamboja king, Kripa or Bahlika,

Note on the text: The critical edition reads na vikarṇe where this text has न भीष्मे; काम्भोजे (CE kāmboje) is the spelling Wikisource uses throughout and is kept.

Verse 11 (5.58.11)

सत्यव्रते पुरुमित्रे भूरिश्रवसि वा पुनः । अन्येषु वा तावकेषु भारं कृत्वा समाह्वयम् ॥

satyavrate purumitre bhūriśravasi vā punaḥ | anyeṣu vā tāvakeṣu bhāraṃ kṛtvā samāhvayam

nor on Satyavrata, Purumitra or Bhurishravas, nor on any others of yours, that I laid the burden when I issued the challenge.

Note on the text: Corrected कुत्वा → कृत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; ु for ृ; the critical edition reads kṛtvā).

Verse 12 (5.58.12)

अहं च तात कर्णश्च रणयज्ञं वितत्य वै । युधिष्ठिरं पशुं कृत्वा दीक्षितौ भरतर्षभ ॥

ahaṃ ca tāta karṇaśca raṇayajñaṃ vitatya vai | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ paśuṃ kṛtvā dīkṣitau bharatarṣabha

Karna and I, father, have spread out the sacrifice of battle and have been consecrated for it, bull of the Bharatas, with Yudhishthira as the victim.

Verse 13 (5.58.13)

रथो वेदी स्रुवः खड्गो गदा स्रुक् कवचोऽजिनम् । चातुर्होत्रं च धुर्या मे शरा दर्भा हविर्यशः ॥

ratho vedī sruvaḥ khaḍgo gadā sruk kavaco'jinam | cāturhotraṃ ca dhuryā me śarā darbhā haviryaśaḥ

The chariot is the altar, the sword the small ladle, the mace the large ladle, the armour the deer-skin; my four draught-horses are the four priests, the arrows the darbha grass, and glory the oblation.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गो → खड्गो (misprint in Wikisource; ङ्ग for ड्ग; the critical edition reads khaḍgo). The critical edition reads kavacaṃ sadaḥ where this text has कवचोऽजिनम्.

Verse 14 (5.58.14)

आत्मयज्ञेन नृपते इष्ट्वा वैवस्वतं रणे । विजित्य च समेष्यावो हतामित्रौ श्रिया वृतौ ॥

ātmayajñena nṛpate iṣṭvā vaivasvataṃ raṇe | vijitya ca sameṣyāvo hatāmitrau śriyā vṛtau

Having worshipped Yama, son of Vivasvat, in battle with the sacrifice of ourselves, O king, we two shall return victorious, our enemies slain, crowned with fortune.

Verse 15 (5.58.15)

अहं च तात कर्णश्च भ्राता दुःशासनश्च मे । एते वयं हनिष्यामः पाण्डवान्समरे त्रयः ॥

ahaṃ ca tāta karṇaśca bhrātā duḥśāsanaśca me | ete vayaṃ haniṣyāmaḥ pāṇḍavānsamare trayaḥ

Karna and I, father, and my brother Duhshasana — we three will kill the Pandavas in battle.

Verse 16 (5.58.16)

अहं हि पाण्डवान्हत्वा प्रशास्ता पृथिवीमिमाम् । मां वा हत्वा पाण्डुपुत्रा भोक्तारः पृथिवीमिमां ॥

ahaṃ hi pāṇḍavānhatvā praśāstā pṛthivīmimām | māṃ vā hatvā pāṇḍuputrā bhoktāraḥ pṛthivīmimāṃ

Either I shall kill the Pandavas and rule this earth, or the sons of Pandu will kill me and enjoy this earth.

Verse 17 (5.58.17)

त्यक्तं मे जीवितं राज्यं धनं सर्वं च पार्थिव । न जातु पाण्डवैः सार्धं वसेयमहमच्युत ॥

tyaktaṃ me jīvitaṃ rājyaṃ dhanaṃ sarvaṃ ca pārthiva | na jātu pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ vaseyamahamacyuta

I have given up life, kingdom, wealth and everything, lord of the earth; never will I live side by side with the Pandavas, O unfallen one.

Verse 18 (5.58.18)

यावद्धि सूच्यास्तीक्ष्णाया विध्येदग्रेण मारिष । तावदप्यपरित्याज्यं भूमेर्नः पाण्डवान्प्रति ॥

yāvaddhi sūcyāstīkṣṇāyā vidhyedagreṇa māriṣa | tāvadapyaparityājyaṃ bhūmernaḥ pāṇḍavānprati

Not even as much of the land as the point of a sharp needle can pierce, sir, shall we give up to the Pandavas.

Verse 19 (5.58.19)

सर्वान्वस्तात शोचामि त्यक्तो दुर्योधनो मया । ये मन्दमनुयास्यध्वं यान्तं वैवस्वतक्षयम् ॥

sarvānvastāta śocāmi tyakto duryodhano mayā | ye mandamanuyāsyadhvaṃ yāntaṃ vaivasvatakṣayam

I grieve for all of you, my children; Duryodhana I have given up. You who will follow this fool as he goes to the abode of Yama —

Verse 20 (5.58.20)

रुरूणामिव यूथेषु व्याघ्राः प्रहरतां वराः । वरान्वरान्हनिष्यन्ति समेता युधि पाण्डवाः ॥

rurūṇāmiva yūtheṣu vyāghrāḥ praharatāṃ varāḥ | varānvarānhaniṣyanti sametā yudhi pāṇḍavāḥ

like tigers, finest of strikers, among herds of ruru deer, the Pandavas, united, will slay your foremost men one after another in battle.

Verse 21 (5.58.21)

प्रतीपमिव मे भाति युयुधानेन भारती । व्यस्ता सीमन्तिनी ग्रस्ता प्रमृष्टा दीर्घबाहुना ॥

pratīpamiva me bhāti yuyudhānena bhāratī | vyastā sīmantinī grastā pramṛṣṭā dīrghabāhunā

I see the Bharata host driven back by long-armed Yuyudhana, scattered, seized and mauled like a helpless woman.

Verse 22 (5.58.22)

संपूर्णं पूरयन्भूयो धनं पार्थस्य माधवः । शैनेयः समरे स्थाता बीजवत्प्रवपञ्शरान् ॥

saṃpūrṇaṃ pūrayanbhūyo dhanaṃ pārthasya mādhavaḥ | śaineyaḥ samare sthātā bījavatpravapañśarān

Madhava, the grandson of Shini, filling still fuller Partha's already full store, will take his stand in battle, sowing arrows like seed.

Note on the text: Corrected संपूर्मं → संपूर्णं (misprint in Wikisource; म for ण; the critical edition reads saṃpūrṇaṃ). The critical edition reads balaṃ where this text has धनं.

Verse 23 (5.58.23)

सेनामुखे प्रयुद्धानां भीमसेनो भविष्यति । तं सर्वे संश्रयिष्यन्ति प्राकारमकुतोभयम् ॥

senāmukhe prayuddhānāṃ bhīmaseno bhaviṣyati | taṃ sarve saṃśrayiṣyanti prākāramakutobhayam

Bhimasena will be at the head of the fighting army, and all will take refuge in him as in a rampart that fears nothing.

Verse 24 (5.58.24)

यदा द्रक्ष्यसि भीमेन कुञ्जरान्विनिपातितान् । विशीर्णदन्तान्गिर्याभान्भिन्नकुम्भान्सशोणितान् ॥

yadā drakṣyasi bhīmena kuñjarānvinipātitān | viśīrṇadantāngiryābhānbhinnakumbhānsaśoṇitān

When you see elephants struck down by Bhima, huge as hills, their tusks shattered, their temples split and streaming with blood —

Verse 25 (5.58.25)

तानभिप्रेक्ष्य सङ्ग्रामे विशीर्णानिव पर्वतान् । भीतो भीमस्य संस्पर्शात्स्मर्तासि वचनस्य मे ॥

tānabhiprekṣya saṅgrāme viśīrṇāniva parvatān | bhīto bhīmasya saṃsparśātsmartāsi vacanasya me

seeing them in battle like shattered mountains, terrified at the touch of Bhima, you will remember my words.

Verse 26 (5.58.26)

निर्दग्धं भीमसेनेन सैन्यं रथहयद्विपम् । गतिमग्नेरिव प्रेक्ष्य स्मर्तासि वचनस्य मे ॥

nirdagdhaṃ bhīmasenena sainyaṃ rathahayadvipam | gatimagneriva prekṣya smartāsi vacanasya me

When you see the army with its chariots, horses and elephants burnt up by Bhimasena, as along the track of a fire, you will remember my words.

Verse 27 (5.58.27)

महद्वो भयमागामि न चेच्छाम्यथ पाण्डवैः । गदया भीमसेनेन हताः शममुपैष्यथ ॥

mahadvo bhayamāgāmi na cecchāmyatha pāṇḍavaiḥ | gadayā bhīmasenena hatāḥ śamamupaiṣyatha

A great danger awaits you if you do not make peace with the Pandavas; struck down by Bhimasena's mace, you will find peace of another kind.

Verse 28 (5.58.28)

महावनमिव च्छिन्नं यदा द्रक्ष्यसि पातितम् । बलं कुरूणां भीमेन तदा स्मर्तासि मे वचः ॥

mahāvanamiva cchinnaṃ yadā drakṣyasi pātitam | balaṃ kurūṇāṃ bhīmena tadā smartāsi me vacaḥ

When you see the might of the Kurus cut down by Bhima like a great forest felled, then you will remember my words.

Verse 29 (5.58.29)

एतावदुक्त्वा राजा तु सर्वांस्तान्पृथिवीपतीन् । अनुभाष्य महाराज पुनः पप्रच्छ सञ्जयम् ॥

etāvaduktvā rājā tu sarvāṃstānpṛthivīpatīn | anubhāṣya mahārāja punaḥ papraccha sañjayam

Having said this much, great king, and having addressed all those lords of the earth, the king questioned Sanjaya once more.

Note on the text: In the critical edition the next adhyaya (5.58) opens with Dhritarashtra asking what Krishna and Arjuna said, and Sanjaya's account of their private chambers (CE 5.58.3–22), which Wikisource gives earlier, at 5.47; Wikisource 5.59 resumes with Arjuna's words (CE 5.64).