Dhritarashtra Weighs the Two Sides

Verse 1 (5.60.1)

सञ्जयस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्जनेश्वरः । ततः सङ्ख्यातुमारेभे तद्वचो गुणदोषतः ॥

sañjayasya vacaḥ śrutvā prajñācakṣurjaneśvaraḥ | tataḥ saṅkhyātumārebhe tadvaco guṇadoṣataḥ

Having heard Sanjaya's words, the king whose eyes were his wisdom began to weigh those words for their merits and faults.

Verse 2 (5.60.2)

प्रसङ्ख्याय च सौक्ष्म्येण गुणदोषान्विचक्षणः । यथावन्मतितत्त्वेन जयकामः सुतान्प्रति ॥

prasaṅkhyāya ca saukṣmyeṇa guṇadoṣānvicakṣaṇaḥ | yathāvanmatitattvena jayakāmaḥ sutānprati

Having reckoned the merits and faults with subtlety, as truly as his mind could judge, the discerning king, who longed for his sons' victory,

Verse 3 (5.60.3)

बलाबलं विनिश्चित्य याथातथ्येन बुद्धिमान् । यदा तु मेने भूयिष्ठं तद्वचो गुणदोषतः ॥

balābalaṃ viniścitya yāthātathyena buddhimān | yadā tu mene bhūyiṣṭhaṃ tadvaco guṇadoṣataḥ

and having determined the strength and weakness of both sides as they truly were — when the wise king judged those words to be mostly sound, weighing their merits and faults,

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (`), the opening quotation mark of a southern-recension passage (closed in verse 4). Line 1 is CE 5.59.3ab; line 2 is not in the critical edition's text — its apparatus has it as 5.59.3b*0353, line 1.

Verse 4 (5.60.4)

पुनरेव कुरूणां च पाण्डवानां च बुद्धिमान् । शक्तिं सङ्ख्यातुमारेभे तदा वै मनुजाधिपः ॥

punareva kurūṇāṃ ca pāṇḍavānāṃ ca buddhimān | śaktiṃ saṅkhyātumārebhe tadā vai manujādhipaḥ

then the wise king, lord of men, began once more to reckon the strength of the Kurus and of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Removed the closing quotation mark (') of the southern-recension passage and a doubled danda. Corrected शङ्ख्यातुमारेभे → सङ्ख्यातुमारेभे (misprint in Wikisource; श for स; the critical edition reads saṃkhyātum). Line 1 is not in the critical edition's text — its apparatus has it as 5.59.3b*0353, line 2; line 2 is CE 5.59.3cd.

Verse 5 (5.60.5)

देवमानुषयोः शक्त्या तेजसा चैव पाण्डवान् । कुरूञ्शक्त्याऽल्पतरया दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत् ॥

devamānuṣayoḥ śaktyā tejasā caiva pāṇḍavān | kurūñśaktyā'lpatarayā duryodhanamathābravīt

Judging the Pandavas the stronger in power, both divine and human, and in energy, and the Kurus to be of lesser power, he said to Duryodhana:

Verse 6 (5.60.6)

दुर्योधनेयं चिन्ता मे शश्वन्न व्युपशाम्यति । सत्यं ह्येतदहं मन्ये प्रत्यक्षं नानुमानतः ॥

duryodhaneyaṃ cintā me śaśvanna vyupaśāmyati | satyaṃ hyetadahaṃ manye pratyakṣaṃ nānumānataḥ

Duryodhana, this anxiety of mine never subsides. I hold this to be true; I see it directly, not by inference.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra: from verse 6 to the end the adhyaya is his speech to Duryodhana, introduced at the end of verse 5 (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried Vaishampayana).

Verse 7 (5.60.7)

आत्मजेषु परं स्नेहं सर्वभूतानि कुर्वते । प्रियाणि चैषां कुर्वन्ति यथाशक्ति हितानि च ॥

ātmajeṣu paraṃ snehaṃ sarvabhūtāni kurvate | priyāṇi caiṣāṃ kurvanti yathāśakti hitāni ca

All creatures bear the deepest love for their offspring, and do them kindnesses and good as far as they are able.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). Corrected सर्वभातिनि → सर्वभूतानि and प्रियामि → प्रियाणि (misprints in Wikisource; ा for ू and ि for ा, and म for ण; the critical edition reads sarvabhūtāni and priyāṇi).

Verse 8 (5.60.8)

एवमेवोपकर्तॄणां प्रायशो लक्षयामहे । इच्छन्ति बहुलं सन्तः प्रतिकर्तुं महत्प्रियम् ॥

evamevopakartṝṇāṃ prāyaśo lakṣayāmahe | icchanti bahulaṃ santaḥ pratikartuṃ mahatpriyam

So too, we generally see that good people wish to repay those who have helped them, and to repay a great kindness abundantly.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 9 (5.60.9)

अग्निः साचिव्यकर्ता स्यात्खाण्डवे तत्कृतं स्मरन् । अर्जुनस्यापि भीमेऽस्मिन्कुरुपाण्डुसमागमे ॥

agniḥ sācivyakartā syātkhāṇḍave tatkṛtaṃ smaran | arjunasyāpi bhīme'sminkurupāṇḍusamāgame

Agni, remembering what Arjuna did for him at Khandava, will surely be his ally in this terrible clash of the Kurus and the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). Corrected साचिव्यर्ता → साचिव्यकर्ता (misprint in Wikisource; dropped क; the critical edition reads sācivyakartā). The critical edition reads atibhīme where this text has अपि भीमे.

Verse 10 (5.60.10)

जातिगृद्ध्याऽभिपन्नाश्च पाण्डवानामनेकशः । धर्मादयः समेष्यन्ति समाहूता दिवौकसः ॥

jātigṛddhyā'bhipannāśca pāṇḍavānāmanekaśaḥ | dharmādayaḥ sameṣyanti samāhūtā divaukasaḥ

And Dharma and the other gods, moved by love for those born of them, will gather on the Pandavas' side when they are called upon, time and again.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). Removed an invisible joiner character (U+200D) inside पाण्डवानाम्. The critical edition reads jātagṛdhyā and bhaviṣyanti where this text has जातिगृद्ध्या and समेष्यन्ति.

Verse 11 (5.60.11)

भीष्मद्रोणकृपादीनां भयादशनिसन्निभम् । रिरक्षिषन्तः संरम्भं गमिष्यन्तीति मे मतिः ॥

bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādīnāṃ bhayādaśanisannibham | rirakṣiṣantaḥ saṃrambhaṃ gamiṣyantīti me matiḥ

Seeking to protect them from Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and the rest, they will rise in a fury like the thunderbolt — so I believe.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). Corrected संरभ्यं → संरम्भं (misprint in Wikisource; 'fury'; the critical edition reads saṃrambhaṃ).

Verse 12 (5.60.12)

ते देवैः सहिताः पार्था न शक्याः प्रतिवीक्षितुम् । मानुषेण नरव्याघ्रा वीर्यवन्तोऽस्त्रपारगाः ॥

te devaiḥ sahitāḥ pārthā na śakyāḥ prativīkṣitum | mānuṣeṇa naravyāghrā vīryavanto'strapāragāḥ

With the gods beside them, the sons of Pritha cannot even be looked in the face by any man — tigers among men, valiant, masters of every weapon.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 13 (5.60.13)

दुरासदं यस्य दिव्यं गाण्डीवं धनुरुत्तमम् । वारुणौ चाक्षयौ दिव्यौ शरपूर्णौ महेषुधी ॥

durāsadaṃ yasya divyaṃ gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuruttamam | vāruṇau cākṣayau divyau śarapūrṇau maheṣudhī

He whose bow is the divine Gandiva, finest of bows, which none can withstand; whose two great quivers, gifts of Varuna, are divine, inexhaustible and full of arrows;

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 14 (5.60.14)

वानरश्च ध्वजे दिव्यो निःसङ्गे धूमवद्गतिः । रथश्च चतुरन्तायां यस्य नास्ति समः क्षितौ ॥

vānaraśca dhvaje divyo niḥsaṅge dhūmavadgatiḥ | rathaśca caturantāyāṃ yasya nāsti samaḥ kṣitau

on whose banner sits a divine monkey; whose course, like smoke, nothing can check; whose chariot has no equal on the four-cornered earth;

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). The critical edition reads dhvajo, niḥsaṅgo and samas tviṣā where this text has ध्वजे, निःसङ्गे and समः क्षितौ.

Verse 15 (5.60.15)

महामेघनिभश्चापि निर्घोषः श्रूयते जनैः । महाशनिसमः शब्दः शात्रवाणां भयंकरः ॥

mahāmeghanibhaścāpi nirghoṣaḥ śrūyate janaiḥ | mahāśanisamaḥ śabdaḥ śātravāṇāṃ bhayaṃkaraḥ

whose roar, like that of a great cloud, is heard by men — a sound like a mighty thunderbolt, terrifying to his foes;

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). Removed a stray त after शब्दः (typing slip in Wikisource; the critical edition reads śabdaḥ).

Verse 16 (5.60.16)

यं चातिमानुषं वीर्ये कृत्स्नो लोको व्यवस्यति । देवानामपि जेतारं यं विदुः पार्थिवा रणे ॥

yaṃ cātimānuṣaṃ vīrye kṛtsno loko vyavasyati | devānāmapi jetāraṃ yaṃ viduḥ pārthivā raṇe

whom the whole world holds to be more than human in valour, whom the kings know to be the conqueror even of the gods in battle;

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 17 (5.60.17)

शतानि पञ्च चैवेषून्यो गृह्णन्नैव दृश्यते । निमेषान्तरमात्रेण मुञ्चन्दूरं च पातयन् ॥

śatāni pañca caiveṣūnyo gṛhṇannaiva dṛśyate | nimeṣāntaramātreṇa muñcandūraṃ ca pātayan

who is not even seen taking up his five hundred arrows, yet looses them in the twinkling of an eye and brings down his targets far away;

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). The critical edition reads udvapann iva dṛśyate ('is seen as if scattering') where this text has यो गृह्णन्नैव दृश्यते.

Verse 18 (5.60.18)

यमाह भीष्मो द्रोणश्च कृपो द्रौणिस्तथैव च । मद्रराजस्तथा शल्यो मध्यस्था ये च मानवाः ॥

yamāha bhīṣmo droṇaśca kṛpo drauṇistathaiva ca | madrarājastathā śalyo madhyasthā ye ca mānavāḥ

of whom Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Drona's son, Shalya the king of the Madras, and the men who stand neutral, all say

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 19 (5.60.19)

युद्धायावस्थितं पार्थं पार्थिवैरतिमानुषैः । अशक्यं रथशार्दूलं पराजेतुमरिंदमम् ॥

yuddhāyāvasthitaṃ pārthaṃ pārthivairatimānuṣaiḥ | aśakyaṃ rathaśārdūlaṃ parājetumariṃdamam

that Partha, when he stands ready for battle, that tiger among chariot-fighters, tamer of foes, cannot be defeated even by kings of more than human might;

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 20 (5.60.20)

क्षिपत्येकेन वेगेन पञ्चबाणशतानि यः । सदृशं बाहुवीर्येण कार्तवीर्यस्य पाण्डवम् ॥

kṣipatyekena vegena pañcabāṇaśatāni yaḥ | sadṛśaṃ bāhuvīryeṇa kārtavīryasya pāṇḍavam

the Pandava who in a single burst shoots five hundred arrows, equal to Kartavirya in the strength of his arms —

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 21 (5.60.21)

तमर्जुनं महेष्वासं महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रविक्रमम् । निघ्नन्तमिव पश्यामि विमर्देऽस्मिन्महाहवे ॥

tamarjunaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ mahendropendravikramam | nighnantamiva paśyāmi vimarde'sminmahāhave

that Arjuna, the great archer, with the valour of Mahendra and Upendra, I see as if already slaughtering us in this great battle.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). Corrected पश्याभि → पश्यामि (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads paśyāmi). The critical edition reads mahendropendrarakṣitam and mahāmṛdhe where this text has …विक्रमम् and महाहवे.

Verse 22 (5.60.22)

इत्येवं चिन्तयन्कृत्स्नमहोरात्राणि भारत । अनिद्रो निःसुखश्चास्मि कुरूणां शमचिन्तया ॥

ityevaṃ cintayankṛtsnamahorātrāṇi bhārata | anidro niḥsukhaścāsmi kurūṇāṃ śamacintayā

Thinking all this over, day and night, O Bharata, I am sleepless and without joy, from my concern for the peace of the Kurus.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).

Verse 23 (5.60.23)

क्षयोदयोऽयं सुमहान्कुरूणां प्रत्युपस्थितः । अस्य चेत्कलहस्यान्तः शमादन्यो न विद्यते ॥

kṣayodayo'yaṃ sumahānkurūṇāṃ pratyupasthitaḥ | asya cetkalahasyāntaḥ śamādanyo na vidyate

This vast ruin of the Kurus is upon us. If this quarrel is to have an end, there is no end to it other than peace.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6). Corrected कलहन्यान्तः → कलहस्यान्तः (misprint in Wikisource; न for स; the critical edition reads kalahasyāntaḥ).

Verse 24 (5.60.24)

शमो मे रोचते नित्यं पार्थैस्तात न विग्रहः । कुरुभ्यो हि सदा मन्ये पाण्डवाञ्शक्तिमत्तरान् ॥

śamo me rocate nityaṃ pārthaistāta na vigrahaḥ | kurubhyo hi sadā manye pāṇḍavāñśaktimattarān

Peace with the Parthas always pleases me, my son, not war; for I have always held the Pandavas to be mightier than the Kurus.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Dhritarashtra (see verse 6).