Duryodhana Scorns the Teacher's Fears

Verse 1 (4.47.1)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा समरे भीष्ममब्रवीत् । द्रोणं च रथिशार्दूलं कृपं च सुमहाबलम् ॥

tato duryodhano rājā samare bhīṣmamabravīt | droṇaṃ ca rathiśārdūlaṃ kṛpaṃ ca sumahābalam

Then King Duryodhana, there on the field, spoke to Bhishma, to Drona, tiger among chariot-fighters, and to the mighty Kripa:

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.1 (ततो for atha; सुमहाबलम् for sumahāratham).

Verse 2 (4.47.2)

उक्तोऽयमर्थ आचार्य मया कर्णेन चासकृत् । पुनरेव च वक्ष्यामि न हि तृप्यामि तद्ब्रुवन् ॥

ukto'yamartha ācārya mayā karṇena cāsakṛt | punareva ca vakṣyāmi na hi tṛpyāmi tadbruvan

Teacher, Karna and I have said this again and again; still I will say it once more, for I never tire of saying it.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints no speaker heading for Duryodhana; his speech (verses 2–35), announced in verse 1, is assigned to him.

Verse 3 (4.47.3)

पराजितैर्विवस्तव्यं तैश्च द्वादशवत्सरान् । वने जनपदेऽज्ञातैरेष एव पणो हि नः ॥

parājitairvivastavyaṃ taiśca dvādaśavatsarān | vane janapade'jñātaireṣa eva paṇo hi naḥ

Having lost, they were to live in exile for twelve years in the forest, and then unrecognised among the settled lands: that was our wager.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.3 (विवस्तव्यं, "to live abroad", for hi vastavyaṃ).

Verse 4 (4.47.4)

तेषां न तावन्निर्वृत्तो वत्सरः स त्रयोदशः । अज्ञातवासे बीभत्सुरथास्माभिः परिश्रुतः ॥

teṣāṃ na tāvannirvṛtto vatsaraḥ sa trayodaśaḥ | ajñātavāse bībhatsurathāsmābhiḥ pariśrutaḥ

That thirteenth year of theirs has not yet run out, and yet, in the time of their concealment, we have word of Bibhatsu.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.4 (the wording differs in both lines).

Verse 5 (4.47.5)

अनिर्वृत्ते तु निर्वासे यदि बीभत्सुरागतः । पुनर्द्वादशवर्षाणि वने वत्स्यन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥

anirvṛtte tu nirvāse yadi bībhatsurāgataḥ | punardvādaśavarṣāṇi vane vatsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ

If Bibhatsu has come out before the exile is over, the Pandavas will live in the forest for another twelve years.

Verse 6 (4.47.6)

लोभाद्वा ते न जानीयुरस्मान्वा मोह आविशत् । हीनातिरिक्तमेतेषां भीष्मो वेदितुमर्हति ॥

lobhādvā te na jānīyurasmānvā moha āviśat | hīnātiriktameteṣāṃ bhīṣmo veditumarhati

Either greed has made them lose count, or delusion has come over us. Bhishma can tell whether their time falls short or has been exceeded.

Verse 7 (4.47.7)

अर्थानां हि पुनर्द्वैधे नित्यं भवति संशयः । अन्यथा चिन्तितो ह्यर्थः पुनर्भवति चान्यथा ॥

arthānāṃ hi punardvaidhe nityaṃ bhavati saṃśayaḥ | anyathā cintito hyarthaḥ punarbhavati cānyathā

Where a matter has two sides there is always doubt: a thing reckoned one way turns out to be another.

Verse 8 (4.47.8)

उत्तरं मार्गमाणानां मात्स्यसेनां युयुत्सताम् । यदि बीभत्सुरायातः किंतु कृत्यमतः परम् ॥

uttaraṃ mārgamāṇānāṃ mātsyasenāṃ yuyutsatām | yadi bībhatsurāyātaḥ kiṃtu kṛtyamataḥ param

We came after the northern herds, eager to fight the Matsya army. If Bibhatsu has come, what else is left for us to do?

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.8 (the second half of the second line differs).

Verse 9 (4.47.9)

त्रिगर्तानां कृतं कार्यं पाण्डवानां च मार्गणम् । विप्रकारैर्हि मात्स्येन सुशर्मा बाधितः पुरा ॥

trigartānāṃ kṛtaṃ kāryaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca mārgaṇam | viprakārairhi mātsyena suśarmā bādhitaḥ purā

We took up the Trigartas' cause and the search for the Pandavas, for Susharma had long been harassed by the Matsya king with many injuries.

Note on the text: Corrected बाधित → बाधितः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga; Susharma is the subject, "harassed"). A loose variant of CE 4.42.9 (the wording differs throughout).

Verse 10 (4.47.10)

तेषां भयाभिपन्नानां त्रस्तानां त्राणमिच्छताम् । अभयं याचमानानां तदाऽस्माभिः परिश्रुतम् ॥

teṣāṃ bhayābhipannānāṃ trastānāṃ trāṇamicchatām | abhayaṃ yācamānānāṃ tadā'smābhiḥ pariśrutam

They were overcome by fear, terrified, seeking protection and begging for safety, and we then gave them our promise:

Note on the text: Corrected वस्तानां → त्रस्तानां (misprint in Wikisource; व for त्र; the apparatus reads trastānāṃ, "terrified") and त्राणभिच्छताम् → त्राणमिच्छताम् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the apparatus reads trāṇam icchatām). The verse combines CE 4.42.10ab with the apparatus lines 4.42.10a*0804, lines 1–2.

Verse 11 (4.47.11)

प्रथमं तैर्ग्रहीतव्यं मात्स्यानां गोधनं महत् । अष्टम्याश्चापराह्णे तु इति नस्तैः समाहितम् ॥

prathamaṃ tairgrahītavyaṃ mātsyānāṃ godhanaṃ mahat | aṣṭamyāścāparāhṇe tu iti nastaiḥ samāhitam

that they should first seize the great herds of the Matsyas, in the afternoon of the eighth day; that was what we settled with them;

Note on the text: Corrected वैर्ग्रहीतव्यं → तैर्ग्रहीतव्यं (misprint in Wikisource; व for त; the CE reads tair grahītavyaṃ, "by them"). The first line is CE 4.42.10cd; the second is a variant of CE 4.42.11ab (the eighth day where the CE has the seventh; Wikisource's own footnote records the reading सप्तम्याः from another manuscript).

Verse 12 (4.47.12)

नवम्यां पुनरस्माभिः सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति । इमा गावो ग्रहीतव्या याते मत्स्ये गवांपदम् ॥

navamyāṃ punarasmābhiḥ sūryasyodayanaṃ prati | imā gāvo grahītavyā yāte matsye gavāṃpadam

and that on the ninth, toward sunrise, we should seize these cows, once the Matsya king had gone off on the cattle's trail.

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 4.42.11cd (the ninth day where the CE has the eighth); the second is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.42.11d*0805, with gate for याते).

Verse 13 (4.47.13)

इत्येवं निश्चयोऽस्माकं मन्त्रोऽभून्नागसाह्वये । पाण्डवानां परिज्ञाने सर्वेषां नः परस्परम् ॥

ityevaṃ niścayo'smākaṃ mantro'bhūnnāgasāhvaye | pāṇḍavānāṃ parijñāne sarveṣāṃ naḥ parasparam

Such was our resolve, the counsel all of us took together in the city named after the elephant, for discovering the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has it as 4.42.11d*0806, lines 1–2 (ity eṣa for इत्येवं).

Verse 14 (4.47.14)

ते वा गाश्च नयिष्यन्ति यदि वा स्युः पराजिताः । अस्मान्वाऽप्यतिसन्धाय कुर्युर्मात्स्येन संगतिम् ॥

te vā gāśca nayiṣyanti yadi vā syuḥ parājitāḥ | asmānvā'pyatisandhāya kuryurmātsyena saṃgatim

Either they will be driving off the cattle, or they may have been beaten, or else, outwitting us, they may have made common cause with the Matsya king.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.12 (the first half of the first line differs).

Verse 15 (4.47.15)

अथवा तानुपादाय मात्स्यो जानपदैः सह । सर्वथा सेनया सार्धमस्मानेष युयुत्सति ॥

athavā tānupādāya mātsyo jānapadaiḥ saha | sarvathā senayā sārdhamasmāneṣa yuyutsati

Or else the Matsya king, taking them along with his country-folk, means to fight us with his whole army.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.13 (the wording differs in both lines).

Verse 16 (4.47.16)

तेषामेको महावीर्यः कश्चिदेव पुरःसरः । अस्माञ्जेतुमिहायातो मात्स्यो वाऽपि स्वयं भवेत् ॥

teṣāmeko mahāvīryaḥ kaścideva puraḥsaraḥ | asmāñjetumihāyāto mātsyo vā'pi svayaṃ bhavet

Some one great warrior of theirs, going at their head, has come here to conquer us; or it may be the Matsya king himself.

Note on the text: Corrected पुनःसरः → पुरःसरः (misprint in Wikisource; न for र; the CE reads puraḥsaraḥ, "going in front"). A variant of CE 4.42.14 (तेषामेको for teṣām eva).

Verse 17 (4.47.17)

यद्येष राजा मात्स्यानां यदि बीभत्सुरागतः । सर्वैर्योद्धव्यमस्माभिरिति नः समयः कृतः ॥

yadyeṣa rājā mātsyānāṃ yadi bībhatsurāgataḥ | sarvairyoddhavyamasmābhiriti naḥ samayaḥ kṛtaḥ

Whether it is the king of the Matsyas or Bibhatsu who has come, we must all fight: that was our compact.

Verse 18 (4.47.18)

अथ कस्मात्स्थिता ह्येते रथेषु रथिसत्तमाः । भीष्मद्रोणकृपाः कर्णो विकर्णो द्रौणिरेव च । संभ्रान्तमनसः सर्वे प्राप्ते ह्यस्मिन्धनञ्जये ॥

atha kasmātsthitā hyete ratheṣu rathisattamāḥ | bhīṣmadroṇakṛpāḥ karṇo vikarṇo drauṇireva ca | saṃbhrāntamanasaḥ sarve prāpte hyasmindhanañjaye

Why then do these best of chariot-fighters, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, Vikarna and Drona's son, stand in their chariots, all of them shaken in mind, now that Dhananjaya has come?

Note on the text: Corrected कस्मात्थिता → कस्मात्स्थिता (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped स; the CE reads kasmāt sthitā). The first two lines are a variant of CE 4.42.16 (Wikisource adds Karna to the list); the third is a variant of CE 4.42.17ab.

Verse 19 (4.47.19)

नान्यत्र युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽस्ति तथाऽऽत्मा प्रणिधीयताम् । सर्वलोकेन वा युद्धं देवैर्वाऽस्तु सवासवैः ॥

nānyatra yuddhācchreyo'sti tathā''tmā praṇidhīyatām | sarvalokena vā yuddhaṃ devairvā'stu savāsavaiḥ

Nothing is better than battle, so set your minds on it, whether the battle be against the whole world or against the gods with Vasava.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्धाच्छ्रेयोस्ति → युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽस्ति (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha). The first line is CE 4.42.17cd; the second is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.42.17d*0809).

Verse 20 (4.47.20)

अनाच्छिन्ने धनेऽस्माकमथ शक्रेण वज्रिणा । यमेन वाऽपि संग्रामे को हास्तिनपुरं व्रजेत् ॥

anācchinne dhane'smākamatha śakreṇa vajriṇā | yamena vā'pi saṃgrāme ko hāstinapuraṃ vrajet

With the cattle not yet carried off, who would go back to Hastinapura, even if he had to face Shakra, wielder of the thunderbolt, or Yama in battle?

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.18 (the first line differs: अनाच्छिन्ने धने, "with the wealth not seized", for ācchinne godhane, "if the cattle were seized").

Verse 21 (4.47.21)

शरैरभिप्रणुन्नानां भग्नानां गहने वने । को हि जीवेत्पदातीनां भवेदश्वेषु संशयः ॥

śarairabhipraṇunnānāṃ bhagnānāṃ gahane vane | ko hi jīvetpadātīnāṃ bhavedaśveṣu saṃśayaḥ

If the foot-soldiers are driven by arrows and routed in the dense forest, who of them would survive? Even with the horses it is doubtful.

Verse 22 (4.47.22)

आचार्यं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् । जानामि च मतं तेषामतस्त्रासयतीव नः ॥

ācāryaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā tathā nītirvidhīyatām | jānāmi ca mataṃ teṣāmatastrāsayatīva naḥ

Put the teacher at the rear and make your plans accordingly. I know where their sympathies lie; that is why he seems bent on frightening us.

Note on the text: The first line is CE 4.42.19ef; the second is a variant of CE 4.42.20ab (जानामि च, "I know", for jānāti hi, "he knows").

Verse 23 (4.47.23)

अर्जुने चापि संप्रीतिमधिकामुपलक्षये । तथा दृष्ट्वा हि बीभत्सुमुपायान्तं प्रशंसति । यथा सेना न भज्येत तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् ॥

arjune cāpi saṃprītimadhikāmupalakṣaye | tathā dṛṣṭvā hi bībhatsumupāyāntaṃ praśaṃsati | yathā senā na bhajyeta tathā nītirvidhīyatām

I see too that he bears a special affection for Arjuna, for on seeing Bibhatsu approach he praises him. Make your plans so that the army does not break.

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 4.42.20cd; the second and third are CE 4.42.21.

Verse 24 (4.47.24)

अदेशिका ह्यरण्येऽस्मिन्कृच्छ्रे शत्रुवशं गता । यथा न विभ्रमेत्सेना तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् ॥

adeśikā hyaraṇye'sminkṛcchre śatruvaśaṃ gatā | yathā na vibhrametsenā tathā nītirvidhīyatām

The army has no guides in this forest; it is hard pressed and in the enemy's power. Make your plans so that it is not thrown into confusion.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.22 (ह्यरण्येऽस्मिन्कृच्छ्रे for mahāraṇye grīṣme).

Verse 25 (4.47.25)

अश्वानां हेषितं श्रुत्वा का प्रशंसा भवेत्परे । स्थाने वाऽपि व्रजन्तो वा सदा हेषन्ति वाजिनः ॥

aśvānāṃ heṣitaṃ śrutvā kā praśaṃsā bhavetpare | sthāne vā'pi vrajanto vā sadā heṣanti vājinaḥ

On hearing horses neigh, what praise is due to the enemy? Horses always neigh, whether they stand still or move.

Verse 26 (4.47.26)

सदा च वायवो वान्ति नित्यं वर्षति वासवः । स्तनयित्नोश्च निर्घोषः श्रूयते बहुशस्तथा ॥

sadā ca vāyavo vānti nityaṃ varṣati vāsavaḥ | stanayitnośca nirghoṣaḥ śrūyate bahuśastathā

The winds are always blowing, Vasava is always sending rain, and the roar of thunder is heard many a time.

Verse 27 (4.47.27)

भीषयन्पाण्डवेयेभ्यो भवान्सर्वानिमाञ्जनान् । प्रमुखे सर्वसैन्यानामबद्धं बहु भाषते ॥

bhīṣayanpāṇḍaveyebhyo bhavānsarvānimāñjanān | pramukhe sarvasainyānāmabaddhaṃ bahu bhāṣate

On the Pandavas' account you frighten all these men, and before the whole army you say a great deal that is uncalled for.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has it as 4.42.24d*0814, lines 1–2.

Verse 28 (4.47.28)

यथैवाश्वान्मार्गमाणास्तानेवाभिपरीप्सवः । हेषितानीव शृण्वन्ति तदिदं भवतस्तथा ॥

yathaivāśvānmārgamāṇāstānevābhiparīpsavaḥ | heṣitānīva śṛṇvanti tadidaṃ bhavatastathā

Just as men out searching for horses, longing to recover those very horses, seem to hear them neighing, so it is with you.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has it as 4.42.24d*0814, lines 3–4 (heṣitāny eva for हेषितानीव, syād idaṃ for तदिदं).

Verse 29 (4.47.29)

किमत्र कार्यं पार्थस्य कथं वा स प्रशस्यते । अन्यत्र कामाद्द्वेषाद्वा रोषाद्वाऽस्मासु केवलम् ॥

kimatra kāryaṃ pārthasya kathaṃ vā sa praśasyate | anyatra kāmāddveṣādvā roṣādvā'smāsu kevalam

What has Partha to do with this, and why is he praised, unless out of fondness for him, or out of hatred or anger toward us alone?

Verse 30 (4.47.30)

आचार्या वै कारुणिकाः प्राज्ञाश्चापायदर्शिनः । नैते महाहवे घोरे संप्रष्टव्याः कथंचन ॥

ācāryā vai kāruṇikāḥ prājñāścāpāyadarśinaḥ | naite mahāhave ghore saṃpraṣṭavyāḥ kathaṃcana

Teachers are compassionate and wise, and quick to foresee dangers; they should never be consulted in a great and terrible battle.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.26 (महाहवे घोरे for mahābhaye prāpte).

Verse 31 (4.47.31)

प्रासादेषु विचित्रेषु गोष्ठीपानाशनेषु च । कथा विचित्राः कुर्वाणाः पण्डितास्तत्र शोभनाः ॥

prāsādeṣu vicitreṣu goṣṭhīpānāśaneṣu ca | kathā vicitrāḥ kurvāṇāḥ paṇḍitāstatra śobhanāḥ

In splendid palaces, at gatherings for drinking and dining, telling wonderful stories: that is where the learned shine.

Note on the text: Corrected सोभनः → शोभनाः (misprint in Wikisource; स for श and a dropped ā; the CE reads śobhanāḥ, as in the refrain of the next two verses). A variant of CE 4.42.27 (गोष्ठीपानाशनेषु for goṣṭhīṣv āvasatheṣu).

Verse 32 (4.47.32)

बहून्याश्चर्यरूपाणि कुर्वते जनसंसदि । इष्वस्त्रे चापसंधाने पण्डितास्तत्र शोभनाः ॥

bahūnyāścaryarūpāṇi kurvate janasaṃsadi | iṣvastre cāpasaṃdhāne paṇḍitāstatra śobhanāḥ

Performing many marvels before an assembly, in archery and in fitting arrow to bow: that is where the learned shine.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.42.28 (चापसंधाने for cārusaṃdhāne).

Verse 33 (4.47.33)

परेषां विवरज्ञाने मनुष्याचरितेषु च । अन्नसंस्कारदोषेषु पण्डितास्तत्र शोभनाः ॥

pareṣāṃ vivarajñāne manuṣyācariteṣu ca | annasaṃskāradoṣeṣu paṇḍitāstatra śobhanāḥ

In finding out others' weak points, in the ways of men, in the faults of cooked food: that is where the learned shine.

Verse 34 (4.47.34)

पण्डितान्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा परेषां गुणवादिनः । विधीयतां तथा नीतिर्यथा वध्येत वै परः ॥

paṇḍitānpṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā pareṣāṃ guṇavādinaḥ | vidhīyatāṃ tathā nītiryathā vadhyeta vai paraḥ

Put the learned, who sing the enemy's praises, behind you, and make such plans that the enemy may be slain.

Verse 35 (4.47.35)

गावश्चैताः प्रतिष्ठन्तां सेनां व्यूहन्तु माचिरम् । आरक्षाश्च विधीयन्तां यत्र योत्स्यामहे परैः ॥

gāvaścaitāḥ pratiṣṭhantāṃ senāṃ vyūhantu māciram | ārakṣāśca vidhīyantāṃ yatra yotsyāmahe paraiḥ

Let these cows be sent on ahead, let the army be arrayed without delay, and let guards be posted where we shall fight the enemy.