Bhima Urges Virata's Death; Yudhishthira Restrains Him

Verse 1 (4.73.1)

प्रदाय वस्त्राणि किरीटमाली । विराटगेहे मुदितः सखीभ्यः । कृत्वा महत्कर्म तदाऽऽजिमध्ये । दिदृक्षया सोऽभिजगाम पार्थम् ॥

pradāya vastrāṇi kirīṭamālī | virāṭagehe muditaḥ sakhībhyaḥ | kṛtvā mahatkarma tadā''jimadhye | didṛkṣayā so'bhijagāma pārtham

Having given the garments to her friends in Virata's palace, the diademed Arjuna, glad at heart after that great deed in the thick of battle, went to see Partha Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Corrected महर्तर्म → महत्कर्म (misprint in Wikisource; garbled conjunct; the appendix reads mahat karma). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 1–4. Speaker heading वैशंपायन उवाच printed above this verse; normalised to वैशम्पायन.

Verse 2 (4.73.2)

तं प्रेक्षमाणस्त्वथ धर्मराजं । पप्रच्छ पार्थोऽथ स भीमसेनम् । किं धर्मराजो हि यथापुरं मां । मुखं प्रतिच्छाद्य न चाह किंचित् ॥

taṃ prekṣamāṇastvatha dharmarājaṃ | papraccha pārtho'tha sa bhīmasenam | kiṃ dharmarājo hi yathāpuraṃ māṃ | mukhaṃ praticchādya na cāha kiṃcit

Looking at the Dharma king, Partha asked Bhimasena: "Why does the Dharma king cover his face and say nothing to me, as he used to?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 5–8.

Verse 3 (4.73.3)

तमेवमुक्त्वा परिशङ्कमानं । दृष्ट्वाऽर्जुनं भीमसेनं च राजा । तदाऽब्रवीत्तावभिवीक्ष्य राज- । न्युधिष्ठिरस्तत्परिमृज्य रक्तम् ॥

tamevamuktvā pariśaṅkamānaṃ | dṛṣṭvā'rjunaṃ bhīmasenaṃ ca rājā | tadā'bravīttāvabhivīkṣya rāja- | nyudhiṣṭhirastatparimṛjya raktam

Seeing Arjuna, who had spoken so in his misgiving, and Bhimasena, King Yudhishthira then looked at the two of them, O king, wiped away the blood, and said:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 9–12. The appendix reads tatrābravīt tāv abhivīkṣya vīrau for line 3 (Wikisource: राजन् युधिष्ठिरः across the line break); recension variant. The raw page numbers the last line 4-73-3b (typo for 3d).

Verse 4 (4.73.4)

दुरात्मना त्वय्यभिपूज्यमाने । विराटराज्ञाभिहतोऽस्मि पार्थ । तस्मात्प्रहाराद्रुधिरस्य बिन्दून् । पश्यन्न चेमे पृथिवीं स्पृशेयुः । इति प्रतिच्छाद्य मुखं ततोऽहं । मन्युं नियच्छन्नुपविष्ट आसम् ॥

durātmanā tvayyabhipūjyamāne | virāṭarājñābhihato'smi pārtha | tasmātprahārādrudhirasya bindūn | paśyanna ceme pṛthivīṃ spṛśeyuḥ | iti praticchādya mukhaṃ tato'haṃ | manyuṃ niyacchannupaviṣṭa āsam

"While you were being extolled, Partha, I was struck by that evil-minded King Virata. Watching the drops of blood from the blow, so that they should not touch the earth, I covered my face and sat holding back my anger.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (Appendix I, No. 59, lines 13–17): Wikisource prints only the last pada of this verse (मन्युं नियच्छन्नुपविष्ट आसम्), numbered 4-73-4f, which shows that pādas a–e were lost; without them Yudhishthira's answer has no subject or account of the blow. The kept last pada is the appendix's line 18. Yudhishthira's reply (verses 4–6) has no heading in Wikisource; the input carried वैशंपायन.

Verse 5 (4.73.5)

शुभार्ह राष्ट्रं न खिलीकृतं भवे- । द्वयं तु यस्मिन्सुखिनोऽभवाम । क्रुद्धे तु वीरे त्वयि चाप्रतीते । राजा विराटो न लभेत शर्म ॥

śubhārha rāṣṭraṃ na khilīkṛtaṃ bhave- | dvayaṃ tu yasminsukhino'bhavāma | kruddhe tu vīre tvayi cāpratīte | rājā virāṭo na labheta śarma

You who deserve every good thing, the kingdom in which we have lived happily must not be laid waste. If a hero like you were angered and not appeased, King Virata would know no peace.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Lines 3–4 are Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 19–20; lines 1–2 (शुभार्ह राष्ट्रं …) appear nowhere in the CE or its apparatus.

Verse 6 (4.73.6)

अजानता तेन च शौर्यमाजौ । छन्नस्य सत्रेण बलं च पार्थ । इदं विराटेन मयि प्रयुक्तं । त्वां वीक्षमाणो न गतोऽस्मि हर्षम् ॥

ajānatā tena ca śauryamājau | channasya satreṇa balaṃ ca pārtha | idaṃ virāṭena mayi prayuktaṃ | tvāṃ vīkṣamāṇo na gato'smi harṣam

Not knowing your valour in battle, Partha, nor your strength while you live hidden in disguise, Virata did this to me. Even looking at you, I have found no joy."

Note on the text: Corrected गतोस्मि → गतोऽस्मि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 21–24.

Verse 7 (4.73.7)

तेनाप्रमेयेन महाबलेन । तस्मिंस्तथोक्ते शममास्थितेन । तं भीमसेनो बलवानमर्षी । धनंजयं क्रुद्धमुवाच वाक्यम् ॥

tenāprameyena mahābalena | tasmiṃstathokte śamamāsthitena | taṃ bhīmaseno balavānamarṣī | dhanaṃjayaṃ kruddhamuvāca vākyam

When that immeasurably mighty one, set on peace, had spoken thus, strong and impatient Bhimasena spoke angrily to Dhananjaya:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 25–28. Speaker heading वैशंपायन उवाच printed above this verse.

Verse 8 (4.73.8)

न पार्थ नित्यं क्षमकालमाह । बृहस्पतिर्ज्ञानवतां वरिष्ठः । क्षमीह सर्वैः परिभूयतेऽसौ । यथा भुजङ्गो विषवीर्यहीनः ॥

na pārtha nityaṃ kṣamakālamāha | bṛhaspatirjñānavatāṃ variṣṭhaḥ | kṣamīha sarvaiḥ paribhūyate'sau | yathā bhujaṅgo viṣavīryahīnaḥ

"Partha, Brihaspati, the foremost of the wise, never said that it is always the time for forbearance. In this world the forbearing man is despised by all, like a snake robbed of its venom.

Note on the text: Corrected परिभूयतेसौ → परिभूयतेऽसौ (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha) and भुडङ्गो → भुजङ्गो (misprint in Wikisource; ड for ज; the appendix reads bhujaṃgo). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 29–32. Bhimasena's speech (verses 8–11) has no heading in Wikisource; the input carried वैशंपायन.

Verse 9 (4.73.9)

विराटमद्यैव निहत्य शीघ्रं । सपुत्रपौत्रं सकुलं ससैन्यम् । योक्ष्यामहे धर्मसुतं च राज्ये । अद्यैव शीघ्रं त्वरिरेष मात्स्यः ॥

virāṭamadyaiva nihatya śīghraṃ | saputrapautraṃ sakulaṃ sasainyam | yokṣyāmahe dharmasutaṃ ca rājye | adyaiva śīghraṃ tvarireṣa mātsyaḥ

Let us kill Virata this very day, and quickly, with his sons and grandsons, his family and his army, and set the son of Dharma on the throne. This very day, and quickly — this Matsya is our enemy.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 33–36.

Verse 10 (4.73.10)

अनेन पाञ्चालसुताऽथ कृष्णा । उपेक्षिता कीचकेनाभियुक्ता । तस्मादयं नार्हति राजशब्दं । राजा भव त्वं नृप पार्थवीर्यात् ॥

anena pāñcālasutā'tha kṛṣṇā | upekṣitā kīcakenābhiyuktā | tasmādayaṃ nārhati rājaśabdaṃ | rājā bhava tvaṃ nṛpa pārthavīryāt

It was he who looked on unmoved when Kichaka assailed Krishna, the Panchala princess. So he does not deserve the name of king. Be king yourself, O king, by Partha's valour.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 37–40.

Verse 11 (4.73.11)

राजा कुरूणां च युधिष्ठिरोऽयं । मात्स्येषु राजा भवतु प्रवीरः । तं मात्स्यदेहं शतधा भिनद्मि । पूर्णोदकं कुम्भमिवाश्मनीह ॥

rājā kurūṇāṃ ca yudhiṣṭhiro'yaṃ | mātsyeṣu rājā bhavatu pravīraḥ | taṃ mātsyadehaṃ śatadhā bhinadmi | pūrṇodakaṃ kumbhamivāśmanīha

Let Yudhishthira here be king of the Kurus, and let the hero be king among the Matsyas too. I will smash the Matsya's body into a hundred pieces, like a pot full of water dashed on a stone."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 41–44. Lines 3–4 differ there (tasyādya dehaṃ śatadhā bhinadmi / kumbhaṃ ghaneneva yathāmbupūrṇam); recension variant.

Verse 12 (4.73.12)

भवतः क्षमया राजन्त्सर्वे दोषाश्च नोऽभवन् । तं मात्स्यं सबलं हत्वा सपुत्रज्ञातिबान्धवम् । पश्चाच्चैव कुरून्सर्वान्हनिष्यामि न संशयः ॥

bhavataḥ kṣamayā rājantsarve doṣāśca no'bhavan | taṃ mātsyaṃ sabalaṃ hatvā saputrajñātibāndhavam | paścāccaiva kurūnsarvānhaniṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ

"Through your forbearance, O king, all these wrongs have come upon us. I will kill that Matsya with his army, his sons, his kinsmen and relatives, and afterwards I will kill all the Kurus too, without a doubt."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 45–47. Speaker heading अर्जुन उवाच printed above this verse.

Verse 13 (4.73.13)

भीमसेनश्च ये चान्ये तथैवेति तमब्रुवन् ॥

bhīmasenaśca ye cānye tathaiveti tamabruvan

Bhimasena and the others likewise said to him, "Just so."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), line 48. Narration: the input carried Arjuna over as speaker; the appendix prints vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ before this line.

Verse 14 (4.73.14)

तमब्रवीद्धर्मसुतो महात्मा । क्षमी वदान्यः कुपितं च भीमम् । न प्रत्युपस्थास्यति चेत्सदारः । प्रसादने सम्यगथास्तु वध्यः ॥

tamabravīddharmasuto mahātmā | kṣamī vadānyaḥ kupitaṃ ca bhīmam | na pratyupasthāsyati cetsadāraḥ | prasādane samyagathāstu vadhyaḥ

The great-souled son of Dharma, forbearing and generous, said to the angry Bhima: "If he does not come with his wife to appease me properly, then let him be put to death.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), lines 49–52. Narration introducing Yudhishthira, whose words begin in line 3 (the input carried Arjuna over as speaker).

Verse 15 (4.73.15)

न हन्तव्यो दुरात्माऽयं विराटश्चापि तेऽर्जुन ॥

na hantavyo durātmā'yaṃ virāṭaścāpi te'rjuna

This evil-minded Virata is not to be killed by you now, Arjuna.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE prints it only in Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), line 53. The appendix reads kuravaś cāpi te 'rjuna; recension variant. A single line in both Wikisource and the appendix. Yudhishthira's words continue (verses 15–17); the input carried Arjuna over as speaker.

Verse 16 (4.73.16)

श्वः प्रभाते प्रवेक्ष्यामः सभां सिंहासनेष्वपि । राजवेषेण संयुक्ताः स्थानमस्य स्वलंकृताः ॥

śvaḥ prabhāte pravekṣyāmaḥ sabhāṃ siṃhāsaneṣvapi | rājaveṣeṇa saṃyuktāḥ sthānamasya svalaṃkṛtāḥ

Tomorrow at daybreak we will enter the hall and sit on the thrones in his place, dressed as kings and finely adorned.

Note on the text: Corrected स्थानमस्व → स्थानमस्य (misprint in Wikisource; व for य, स्थानमस्व is not a word). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Line 1 is Appendix I, No. 59 (inserted after 4.64.35d), line 54; line 2 shares only its opening (rājaveṣeṇa saṃyuktān) with line 55.

Verse 17 (4.73.17)

विराटो यदि तत्रस्थान्राजालङ्कारशोभितान् । राजलक्षणसंपन्नान्यदि तत्र न मंस्यते । पश्चाद्धन्यामहे पार्थ विराटं सहबान्धवम् ॥

virāṭo yadi tatrasthānrājālaṅkāraśobhitān | rājalakṣaṇasaṃpannānyadi tatra na maṃsyate | paścāddhanyāmahe pārtha virāṭaṃ sahabāndhavam

If Virata, seeing us there adorned with royal ornaments and bearing the marks of kings, does not then show us regard, afterwards we will kill Virata with his kin, Partha."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Line 2 ends like Appendix I, No. 59, line 55 (yadi tatra na maṃsyate) and line 3 parallels its line 56; line 1 appears nowhere in the CE or its apparatus.

Verse 18 (4.73.18)

इतिकर्तव्यतां सर्वे मन्त्रयित्वा तु पाण्डवाः । न्यवसंश्चैव तां रात्रिं धर्मज्ञा धर्मवत्सलाः ॥

itikartavyatāṃ sarve mantrayitvā tu pāṇḍavāḥ | nyavasaṃścaiva tāṃ rātriṃ dharmajñā dharmavatsalāḥ

Having thus settled among themselves all that was to be done, the Pandavas, who knew dharma and held it dear, spent that night there.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus as 4.64.37d*1120, lines 1–2. Narration; the input carried Arjuna over as speaker.

Verse 19 (4.73.19)

सहपुत्रेण मात्स्यः स संप्रहृष्टो नराधिपः । तां रात्रिमवसत्प्रीतः संप्रहृष्टेन चेतसा ॥

sahaputreṇa mātsyaḥ sa saṃprahṛṣṭo narādhipaḥ | tāṃ rātrimavasatprītaḥ saṃprahṛṣṭena cetasā

And the Matsya king too, overjoyed, spent that night with his son in happiness, his heart full of delight.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus as 4.64.37d*1120, lines 3–4. Narration; the input carried Arjuna over as speaker.