The Story of Avikshit (II)

Verse 1 (markandeya.120.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इति संग्रामसज्जास्ते भूपा भूपसुतस्तथा । निराकृताः सुबहुशस्तत्कालं चाप्यविक्षिता ॥ 120.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca iti saṁgrāmasajjāste bhūpā bhūpasutastathā nirākṛtāḥ subahuśastatkālaṁ cāpyavikṣitā

Markandeya said: Thus those kings, and the king's son Avikshit too, stood ready for battle — the kings having, even before that time, been repeatedly repelled by Avikshit himself.

Verse 2 (markandeya.120.2)

ततो बभूव संग्रामस्तस्य तैः सह दारुणः । एकस्य बहुभिर्भूपैर्भूपपुत्रवरैर्मुने ॥ 120.2 ॥

tato babhūva saṁgrāmastasya taiḥ saha dāruṇaḥ ekasya bahubhirbhūpairbhūpaputravarairmune

Then a fierce battle arose between him and them — one against many kings and the finest of princes, O sage.

Verse 3 (markandeya.120.3)

तेऽसिशक्तिगदाबाणपाणयस्तं सुदुर्मदाः । अभिघ्नन्तो युयुधिरे तैः समस्तैरसावपि ॥ 120.3 ॥

te ’siśaktigadābāṇapāṇayastaṁ sudurmadāḥ abhighnanto yuyudhire taiḥ samastairasāvapi

They, most arrogant, with swords, spears, maces, and arrows in hand, struck at him, warring together; and he too fought against all of them.

Verse 4 (markandeya.120.4)

स ताञ्छरशतैरुग्रैर्बिभेद नृपनन्दनः । कृतास्त्रो बलवान्बाणैस्ते च तं बिभिदुः शितैः ॥ 120.4 ॥

sa tāñcharaśatairugrairbibheda nṛpanandanaḥ kṛtāstro balavānbāṇaiste ca taṁ bibhiduḥ śitaiḥ

That son of the king, skilled in weaponry and mighty, pierced them with hundreds of fierce arrows; and they too pierced him with their sharp shafts.

Verse 5 (markandeya.120.5)

कस्यचिच्चिच्छिदे बाहुमन्यस्य च शिरोधराम् । हृदि विव्याध चैवान्यमन्यं वक्षस्यताडयत् ॥ 120.5 ॥

kasyaciccicchide bāhumanyasya ca śirodharām hṛdi vivyādha caivānyamanyaṁ vakṣasyatāḍayat

He severed the arm of one, the neck of another; he pierced another in the heart, and struck yet another upon the chest.

Verse 6 (markandeya.120.6)

करं चिच्छेद करिणस्तुरगस्य तथा शिरः । रथस्येषां तथैवाश्वान्रथस्यान्यस्य सारथिम् ॥ 120.6 ॥

karaṁ ciccheda kariṇasturagasya tathā śiraḥ rathasyeṣāṁ tathaivāśvānrathasyānyasya sārathim

He severed the trunk of an elephant, the head of a horse, the horses of one chariot, and the charioteer of another.

Verse 7 (markandeya.120.7)

बाणानापततश्चक्रे द्विधा बाणैस्तथा द्विषाम् । चिच्छेदान्यस्य खड्गं च धनुरन्यस्य लाघवात् ॥ 120.7 ॥

bāṇānāpatataścakre dvidhā bāṇaistathā dviṣām cicchedānyasya khaḍgaṁ ca dhanuranyasya lāghavāt

With his arrows he split in two the incoming arrows of his foes, and with skillful ease severed the sword of one and the bow of another.

Verse 8 (markandeya.120.8)

तनुत्रेऽपहृते तेन ननाशान्यो नृपात्मजः । अविक्षिताहतश्चान्यः पदातिः प्रजहौ रणम् ॥ 120.8 ॥

tanutre ’pahṛte tena nanāśānyo nṛpātmajaḥ avikṣitāhataścānyaḥ padātiḥ prajahau raṇam

When his armor was stripped away by him, another prince perished; and yet another, struck down by Avikshit, though only a foot-soldier, gave up the battle.

Verse 9 (markandeya.120.9)

इत्याकुलीकृते तस्मिन्समग्रे राजमण्डले । तस्थुः सप्तशतं वीरा मरणे कृतनिश्चयाः ॥ 120.9 ॥

ityākulīkṛte tasminsamagre rājamaṇḍale tasthuḥ saptaśataṁ vīrā maraṇe kṛtaniścayāḥ

When the entire assembly of kings was thus thrown into confusion, seven hundred heroes stood firm, resolved upon death.

Verse 10 (markandeya.120.10)

आभिजात्यवयःशौर्यलज्जाभारसमन्विताः । निर्जिते सकले सैन्ये पलायनपरायणे ॥ 120.10 ॥

ābhijātyavayaḥśauryalajjābhārasamanvitāḥ nirjite sakale sainye palāyanaparāyaṇe

Weighed down by noble birth, youth, valor, and shame, when the whole army had been defeated and given over to flight —

Verse 11 (markandeya.120.11)

तैः समेत्य महीपालैः स तु पुत्रो महीभृतः । युयुधे धर्मयुद्धेन तेन तं नातिकोपितः ॥ 120.11 ॥

taiḥ sametya mahīpālaiḥ sa tu putro mahībhṛtaḥ yuyudhe dharmayuddhena tena taṁ nātikopitaḥ

— that son of the lord of the earth fought against those assembled kings, waging righteous war, not greatly angered.

Verse 12 (markandeya.120.12)

विच्छिन्नयन्त्रकवचान्स तानपि महाबलः । कर्त्तुं व्यवस्थितस्ते च ततः क्रुद्धा महामुने ॥ 120.12 ॥

vicchinnayantrakavacānsa tānapi mahābalaḥ karttuṁ vyavasthitaste ca tataḥ kruddhā mahāmune

That mighty one, having shattered their gear and armor, stood resolved to do the same to them; but they, enraged, O great sage —

Verse 13 (markandeya.120.13)

धर्ममुत्सृज्य युयुधुर्युध्यमानेन धर्मतः । नरेन्द्रपुत्राः प्रस्वेदजलक्लिन्नाननाः समम् ॥ 120.13 ॥

dharmamutsṛjya yuyudhuryudhyamānena dharmataḥ narendraputrāḥ prasvedajalaklinnānanāḥ samam

— abandoning righteousness, fought together against him who fought righteously; those princes, their faces drenched with sweat —

Verse 14 (markandeya.120.14)

विव्याध कश्चिद्बाणौघैः कश्चिच्चिच्छेद कार्मुकम् । ध्वजमस्यापरो बाणैश्छित्त्वा भूमावपातयत् ॥ 120.14 ॥

vivyādha kaścidbāṇaughaiḥ kaścicciccheda kārmukam dhvajamasyāparo bāṇaiśchittvā bhūmāvapātayat

— one struck him with a shower of arrows, another severed his bow; yet another, cutting his banner with arrows, cast it to the ground.

Verse 15 (markandeya.120.15)

जघ्नुरन्ये तथैवाश्वान्बभञ्जुश्चापरे रथम् । गदापातेनाथ चान्ये बाणैः पृष्ठमताडयन् ॥ 120.15 ॥

jaghnuranye tathaivāśvānbabhañjuścāpare ratham gadāpātenātha cānye bāṇaiḥ pṛṣṭhamatāḍayan

Others in the same way struck down his horses, and others broke his chariot; some with blows of maces, others with arrows struck him upon the back.

Verse 16 (markandeya.120.16)

छिन्ने धनुषि सक्रोधः स तदा नृपतेः सुतः । जग्राहासिं तथा चर्म तदप्यन्योन्वपातयत् ॥ 120.16 ॥

chinne dhanuṣi sakrodhaḥ sa tadā nṛpateḥ sutaḥ jagrāhāsiṁ tathā carma tadapyanyonvapātayat

When his bow was severed, that son of the king, enraged, seized sword and shield; that too another struck down.

Verse 17 (markandeya.120.17)

च्छिन्नासिचर्मा जग्राह स गदां गदिनां वरः । तामप्यन्यः क्षुरप्रेण चिच्छेद कृतहस्तवत् ॥ 120.17 ॥

cchinnāsicarmā jagrāha sa gadāṁ gadināṁ varaḥ tāmapyanyaḥ kṣurapreṇa ciccheda kṛtahastavat

His sword and shield cut away, that best of mace-bearers seized a mace; that too another severed with a crescent-headed arrow, as if with practiced hand.

Verse 18 (markandeya.120.18)

अन्ये शरसहस्रेण शतेनान्ये नराधिपाः । विव्यधुः कोष्ठकीकृत्य धर्मयुद्धपराङ्मुखाः ॥ 120.18 ॥

anye śarasahasreṇa śatenānye narādhipāḥ vivyadhuḥ koṣṭhakīkṛtya dharmayuddhaparāṅmukhāḥ

Some kings, turning away from righteous warfare, hemmed him in and pierced him with a thousand arrows, others with a hundred.

Verse 19 (markandeya.120.19)

स विह्वलः पपातोर्व्यामेको बहुभिरर्दितः । राजपुत्रा महाभागा बबन्धुस्ते च तं ततः ॥ 120.19 ॥

sa vihvalaḥ papātorvyāmeko bahubhirarditaḥ rājaputrā mahābhāgā babandhuste ca taṁ tataḥ

Overcome and afflicted by many, he, reeling, fell to the ground; then those highly fortunate princes bound him.

Verse 20 (markandeya.120.20)

तमधर्मेण ते सर्वे गृहीत्वा नृपतेः सुतम् । विशालेन समं राज्ञा वैदिशं विविशुः परम् ॥ 120.20 ॥

tamadharmeṇa te sarve gṛhītvā nṛpateḥ sutam viśālena samaṁ rājñā vaidiśaṁ viviśuḥ param

All of them, having unrighteously seized that son of the king, entered together with King Vishala into supreme Vaidisha.

Verse 21 (markandeya.120.21)

हृष्टाः प्रमुदिता बद्धं समादाय नृपात्मजम् । स्वयंवरा च सा कन्या न्यस्ता तेन ततः पुरः ॥ 120.21 ॥

hṛṣṭāḥ pramuditā baddhaṁ samādāya nṛpātmajam svayaṁvarā ca sā kanyā nyastā tena tataḥ puraḥ

Delighted and rejoicing, having brought the bound prince, that maiden of the svayamvara was then set before him there.

Verse 22 (markandeya.120.22)

पुनः पुनश्च पित्रोक्ता तथापि च पुरोधसा । आलम्ब्यतामिति वरो यस्ते राजसु रोचते ॥ 120.22 ॥

punaḥ punaśca pitroktā tathāpi ca purodhasā ālambyatāmiti varo yaste rājasu rocate

Though repeatedly urged by her father, and by the household priest too, saying, "Take up whichever suitor among these kings pleases you" —

Verse 23 (markandeya.120.23)

यदा सा मानिनी कञ्चिन्न जग्राह वरं मुने । तदा पप्रच्छ दैवज्ञं विवाहार्थं नरेश्वरः ॥ 120.23 ॥

yadā sā māninī kañcinna jagrāha varaṁ mune tadā papraccha daivajñaṁ vivāhārthaṁ nareśvaraḥ

— when that proud maiden, O sage, took no suitor at all, the lord of men then questioned the astrologer regarding the marriage.

Verse 24 (markandeya.120.24)

विशिष्टतरमेतस्या विवाहाय दिनं वद । अद्यैतदीदृक्सञ्जातं युद्धं विघ्नोपपादकम् ॥ 120.24 ॥

viśiṣṭatarametasyā vivāhāya dinaṁ vada adyaitadīdṛksañjātaṁ yuddhaṁ vighnopapādakam

"Tell me a most excellent day for her marriage; today such a war as this has arisen, becoming an obstacle."

Verse 25 (markandeya.120.25)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इति पृष्टो नरेन्द्रेण स दैवज्ञो विमृश्य तत् । दुर्मनाः प्राह विज्ञातपरमार्थो महीपतिम् ॥ 120.25 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca iti pṛṣṭo narendreṇa sa daivajño vimṛśya tat durmanāḥ prāha vijñātaparamārtho mahīpatim

Markandeya said: Thus questioned by the lord of men, that astrologer, having reflected upon it, and having discerned the deeper truth of the matter, spoke to the king with a troubled mind.

Verse 26 (markandeya.120.26)

भविष्यन्त्यपराणीह दिनानि पृथिवीपते । प्रशस्तलग्नयुक्तानि शोभनान्यचिरेण वै ॥ 120.26 ॥

bhaviṣyantyaparāṇīha dināni pṛthivīpate praśastalagnayuktāni śobhanānyacireṇa vai

"There shall come other days here, O lord of the earth, endowed with auspicious ascendants, favorable, and soon at hand —"

Verse 27 (markandeya.120.27)

करिष्यसि विवाहं त्वं तेषु प्राप्तेषु मानद । अलमेतेन यत्रायं महाविघ्न उपस्थितः ॥ 120.27 ॥

kariṣyasi vivāhaṁ tvaṁ teṣu prāpteṣu mānada alametena yatrāyaṁ mahāvighna upasthitaḥ

"— on those, when they arrive, you shall perform the marriage, O giver of honor; enough of this present time, in which this great obstacle has arisen."