Mahabharata — Volume III (Dutt edition) — Chapter 249
MBh 3 249.1
भीष्म उवाच तमहं स्मयन्निव रणे प्रत्यभाष व्यवस्थितम्। भूमिष्ठं नोत्सहे योद्धं भवन्तं रथमास्थितः॥
bhīṣma uvāca tamahaṃ smayanniva raṇe pratyabhāṣa vyavasthitam| bhūmiṣṭhaṃ notsahe yoddhaṃ bhavantaṃ rathamāsthitaḥ||
Bhishma said Laughingly I said to him who stood there for battle: Myself riding on a chariot I do not venture to fight with you who are on the ground.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.2
आरोह स्यन्दनं वीर कवचं च महाभुजा बधान समरे राम यदि यो« मयेच्छसि॥
āroha syandanaṃ vīra kavacaṃ ca mahābhujā badhāna samare rāma yadi yo« mayecchasi||
Mount on a chariot, O hero, and adjust your coat of mail, O you of long arms if, O Rama, you desire to fight with me.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.3
ततो मामब्रवीद् रामः स्मयमानो रणाजिरे। रथो मे मेदिनी भीष्म वाहा वेदाः सदश्ववत्॥
tato māmabravīd rāmaḥ smayamāno raṇājire| ratho me medinī bhīṣma vāhā vedāḥ sadaśvavat||
Then did Rama say to me laughingly in the field of battle: "The earth is chariot, O Bhishma, and the Vedas carry me like good horses.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.4
सूतश्च मातरिश्वा वै कवचं वेदमातरः। सुसंवीतो रणे ताभिर्योत्स्येऽहं कुरुनन्दन॥
sūtaśca mātariśvā vai kavacaṃ vedamātaraḥ| susaṃvīto raṇe tābhiryotsye'haṃ kurunandana||
The wind is my driver, and the mothers of the Vedas (Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati) constitute my coat of mail. Well protected by these, in battle, I shall fight, O you delighter of the Kurus."
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.5
एवं ब्रुवाणो गान्धारे रामो मां सत्यविक्रमः। शरवातेन महता सर्वतः प्रत्यवारयत्॥
evaṃ bruvāṇo gāndhāre rāmo māṃ satyavikramaḥ| śaravātena mahatā sarvataḥ pratyavārayat||
Saying thus, O son of Gandhari, Rama of true prowess covered me on all sides with a thick shower of arrows.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.6
ततोऽपश्यं जामदग्न्यं रथमध्ये व्यवस्थितम्। सर्वायुधवरे श्रीमत्यद्भुतोपमदर्शने॥
tato'paśyaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ rathamadhye vyavasthitam| sarvāyudhavare śrīmatyadbhutopamadarśane||
Then did I see the son of Jamadagni seated on a car holding all the principal weapons, endued with beauty and appearing wonderful to the sight.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.7
मनसा विहते पुण्ये विस्तीर्णे नगरोपमे। दिव्याश्चयुजि संनद्धे काञ्चनेन विभूषिते॥
manasā vihate puṇye vistīrṇe nagaropame| divyāścayuji saṃnaddhe kāñcanena vibhūṣite||
The car was created by his will force and was like a holy and spacious city with celestial horses yoked to it and well protected and ornamented with gold.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.8
कवचेन महाबाहो सोमार्ककृतलक्ष्मणा। धनुर्धरो बद्धतूणो बद्धगोधाङ्गलित्रवान्॥
kavacena mahābāho somārkakṛtalakṣmaṇā| dhanurdharo baddhatūṇo baddhagodhāṅgalitravān||
He was also clad in a coat of mail, O you of long arms, looking like the sun and moon, wielding a bow furnished with a quiver and with his fingers protected by gloves.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.9
सारथ्यं कृतवांस्त्र युयुत्सोरकृतव्रणः। सखा वेदविदत्यन्तं दयितो भार्गवस्य ह॥
sārathyaṃ kṛtavāṃstra yuyutsorakṛtavraṇaḥ| sakhā vedavidatyantaṃ dayito bhārgavasya ha||
Akritavrana, desirous of fighting, performed the office of the charioteer in that battle. He was the dear friend of that descendant Bhrigu and very well versed in Vedas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.10
आह्वयानः स मां युद्धे मनो हर्षयतीव मे। पुनः पुनरभिक्रोशन्नभियाहीति भार्गवः॥
āhvayānaḥ sa māṃ yuddhe mano harṣayatīva me| punaḥ punarabhikrośannabhiyāhīti bhārgavaḥ||
When he challenged me to fight my heart was very much pleased. The descendant of Bhrigu said to me again and again "come, come.”
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.11
तमादित्यमिवोद्यन्तमनाधृष्यं महाबलम्। क्षत्रियान्तकरं राममेकमेकः समासदम्॥
tamādityamivodyantamanādhṛṣyaṃ mahābalam| kṣatriyāntakaraṃ rāmamekamekaḥ samāsadam||
Then did I approach him who was blazing like the sun, incapable of being vanquished and endued with great strength. Alone I approached Rama, the exterminator of the Kshatriya race.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.12
ततोऽहं बाणपातेषु त्रिषु वाहान् निगृह्य वै। अवतीर्यं धनुय॑स्य पदातिर्ऋषिसत्तमम्॥
tato'haṃ bāṇapāteṣu triṣu vāhān nigṛhya vai| avatīryaṃ dhanuya̭sya padātirṛṣisattamam||
After receiving three showers of arrows I stopped my horses and dismounting and putting aside my bow, I went on foot to that best among the Rishis.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.13
अभ्यागच्छं तदा राममर्चिष्यन् द्विजसत्तमम्। अभिवाद्य चैनं विधिवदब्रुवं वाक्यमुत्तमम्॥
abhyāgacchaṃ tadā rāmamarciṣyan dvijasattamam| abhivādya cainaṃ vidhivadabruvaṃ vākyamuttamam||
And coming before him I worshipped Rama the best among the twice born and after saluting him addressed him suitably in these excellent words.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.14
योत्स्ये त्वया रणे राम सदृशेनाधिकेन वा। गुरुणा धर्मशीलेन जयमाशास्व मे विभो॥
yotsye tvayā raṇe rāma sadṛśenādhikena vā| guruṇā dharmaśīlena jayamāśāsva me vibho||
Whether you are equal to me or superior I shall fight with you, my lord, though you are my virtuous preceptor. Bless me that I may obtain victory.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.15
राम उवाच एवमेतत् कुरुश्रेष्ठ कर्तव्य भूतिमिच्छता! धर्मो ह्येष महाबाहो विशिष्टैः सह युध्यताम्॥
rāma uvāca evametat kuruśreṣṭha kartavya bhūtimicchatā! dharmo hyeṣa mahābāho viśiṣṭaiḥ saha yudhyatām||
Rama said O foremost among the Kurus, such should be done by one who desires prosperity. It is virtuous, O you of long arms, to fight with those that are well known.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.16
शपेयं त्वां न चेदेवमागच्छेथा विशाम्पते। युध्यस्व त्वं रणे यत्तो धैर्यमालम्ब्य कौरव॥
śapeyaṃ tvāṃ na cedevamāgacchethā viśāmpate| yudhyasva tvaṃ raṇe yatto dhairyamālambya kaurava||
If, O lord of the universe, you had not thus come to me I would have cursed you; fight you in battle with patience, O son of Kuru.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.17
न तु ते जयमाशासे त्वां विजेतुमहं स्थितः। गच्छ युध्यस्व धर्मेण प्रीतोऽस्मि चरितेन ते॥
na tu te jayamāśāse tvāṃ vijetumahaṃ sthitaḥ| gaccha yudhyasva dharmeṇa prīto'smi caritena te||
I cannot bless you for victory, for I myself am standing here to vanquish you Go, fight fairly, I am pleased with your conduct.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.18
ततोऽहं तं नमस्कृत्य रथमारुह्य सत्वरः। प्राध्यापयं रणे शङ्ख पुनर्हेमपरिष्कृतम्॥
tato'haṃ taṃ namaskṛtya rathamāruhya satvaraḥ| prādhyāpayaṃ raṇe śaṅkha punarhemapariṣkṛtam||
Then did I, after saluting him, quickly mount my chariot and again blew loudly my conch in the field of battle, a conch set with gold.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.19
ततो युद्धं समभवन्मम तस्य च भारत। दिवसान् सुबहून् राजन् परस्परजिगीषया।॥
tato yuddhaṃ samabhavanmama tasya ca bhārata| divasān subahūn rājan parasparajigīṣayā|||
Then did the fight take place between myself and him, O Bharata for a great many days, O king, during which each was desirous of vanquishing the other.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.20
स मे तस्मिन् रणे पूर्वं प्राहरत् कङ्कपत्रिभिः। षष्ट्या शतैश्च नवभिः शराणां नतपर्वणाम्॥
sa me tasmin raṇe pūrvaṃ prāharat kaṅkapatribhiḥ| ṣaṣṭyā śataiśca navabhiḥ śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām||
In the battle, he first struck me with straight arrows with wings of vulture to the number of six hundred and nine.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.21
चत्वारस्तेन मे वाहाः सूतश्चैव विशाम्पते। पर्तिरुद्धास्तथैवाहं समरे दंशितः स्थितः॥
catvārastena me vāhāḥ sūtaścaiva viśāmpate| partiruddhāstathaivāhaṃ samare daṃśitaḥ sthitaḥ||
By that shower, my four horses as also my chariot, O lord of the universe, completely covered; but clad in a coat of mail, I myself remained calm.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.22
नमस्कृत्य च देवेभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः। तमहं स्मयन्निव रणे प्रत्यभाषं व्यवस्थितम्॥
namaskṛtya ca devebhyo brāhmaṇebhyo viśeṣataḥ| tamahaṃ smayanniva raṇe pratyabhāṣaṃ vyavasthitam||
Bowing to the gods and especially to the Brahmanas I laughingly said to him who was standing there for battle. were
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.23
ते आचार्यता मानिता मे निर्मर्यादे ह्यपि त्वयि। भूयश्च शृणु मे ब्रह्मन् सम्पदं धर्मसंग्रह।॥
te ācāryatā mānitā me nirmaryāde hyapi tvayi| bhūyaśca śṛṇu me brahman sampadaṃ dharmasaṃgraha|||
I have shown sufficient respect to yourself as a preceptor, though you have paid little regard to me. Listen again, O Brahmana, to what should be done if you want to acquire virtue.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.24
ये ते वेदाः शरीरस्था ब्राह्मण्यं यच्च ते महत्। तपश्च महत् तप्तं न तेभ्यः प्रहराम्यहम्॥
ye te vedāḥ śarīrasthā brāhmaṇyaṃ yacca te mahat| tapaśca mahat taptaṃ na tebhyaḥ praharāmyaham||
The Vedas that are in your body and the great spirit of Brahma that is there and the great asceticism practiced by you, I do not strike at.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.25
प्रहरे क्षत्रधर्मस्य यं राम त्वं समाश्रितः। ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियत्वं हि याति शस्त्रसमुद्यमात्॥
prahare kṣatradharmasya yaṃ rāma tvaṃ samāśritaḥ| brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyatvaṃ hi yāti śastrasamudyamāt||
I shall strike at your Kshatriya-hood since, O Rama, you have adopted the life of a Kshatriya; a Brahmana becomes a Kshatriya owing to his taking up arms.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.26
पश्य मे धनुषो वीर्यं पश्य बाह्वोर्बलं मम। एष ते कार्मुकं वीर छिनधि निशितेषुणा॥
paśya me dhanuṣo vīryaṃ paśya bāhvorbalaṃ mama| eṣa te kārmukaṃ vīra chinadhi niśiteṣuṇā||
Behold now the strength of my bow; and behold the might of my arms. O hero, I shall cut asunder this bow of yours by my arrows.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.27
तस्याहं निशितं मल्लं चिक्षेप भरतर्षभ। तेनास्य धनुषः कोटि छित्त्वा भूमावपातयम्॥
tasyāhaṃ niśitaṃ mallaṃ cikṣepa bharatarṣabha| tenāsya dhanuṣaḥ koṭi chittvā bhūmāvapātayam||
Then did I hurl towards him a broad headed arrow and by it his bow broke into a million pieces and fell to the ground.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.28
तथैव च पृषत्कानां शतानि नतपर्वणाम्। चिक्षेप कङ्कपत्राणां जामदग्न्यरथं प्रति॥
tathaiva ca pṛṣatkānāṃ śatāni nataparvaṇām| cikṣepa kaṅkapatrāṇāṃ jāmadagnyarathaṃ prati||
In the same way, I shot a hundred arrows furnished with the wings of a vulture on the son of Jamadagni.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.29
काये विषक्तास्तु तदा वायुना समुदीरिताः। चेलुः क्षरन्तो रुधिरं नागा इव च ते शराः॥
kāye viṣaktāstu tadā vāyunā samudīritāḥ| celuḥ kṣaranto rudhiraṃ nāgā iva ca te śarāḥ||
Piercing through his body and carried along by the wind the arrows sped along dropping blood and acting like serpents.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.30
क्षतजोक्षितसर्वाङ्गः क्षरन् स रुधिरं रणे। बभौ रामस्तदा राजन् मेरुातुमिवोत्सृजन्॥
kṣatajokṣitasarvāṅgaḥ kṣaran sa rudhiraṃ raṇe| babhau rāmastadā rājan meruātumivotsṛjan||
Rama, then with all his body wondered and covered all over with blood, shone in battle like a mountain dropping melted metal.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.31
हेमन्तान्तेऽशोक एव रक्तस्तबकमण्डितः। बभौ रामस्तथा राजन् प्रफुल्ल इव किंशुकः॥
hemantānte'śoka eva raktastabakamaṇḍitaḥ| babhau rāmastathā rājan praphulla iva kiṃśukaḥ||
He looked like the Ashoka tree, at the end of winter, covered with bunches of red flowers or, O king, like the Kinshuka tree when laden with flowers.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.32
ततोऽन्यद् धनुरादाय रामः क्रोधसमन्वितः। हेमपुङ्कान् सुनिशिताशरांस्तान् हि ववर्ष सः॥
tato'nyad dhanurādāya rāmaḥ krodhasamanvitaḥ| hemapuṅkān suniśitāśarāṃstān hi vavarṣa saḥ||
Then did Rama, wrathfully taking up another bow, shoot forth arrows well sharpened and furnished with golden wings.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.33
ते समासाद्य मां रौद्रा बहुधा मर्मभेदिनः। अकम्पयन् महावेगाः सर्पानलविषोपमाः॥
te samāsādya māṃ raudrā bahudhā marmabhedinaḥ| akampayan mahāvegāḥ sarpānalaviṣopamāḥ||
Those fierce arrows, which were like flames and poisonous serpents coming from several sides, caused me to tremble at their great force and pierced my very vitals.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.34
तमहं समवष्टभ्य पुनरात्मानमाहवे। शतसंख्यैः शरैः क्रुद्धस्तदा राममवाकिरम्॥
tamahaṃ samavaṣṭabhya punarātmānamāhave| śatasaṃkhyaiḥ śaraiḥ kruddhastadā rāmamavākiram||
Then did I, with wrath, shoot on Rama arrows, hundred in number after summoning all my patience and addressing myself to battle.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.35
स तैरग्न्यर्कसंकाशैः शरैराशीविषोपमैः। शितैरभ्यर्दितो रामो मन्दचेता इवाभवत्॥
sa tairagnyarkasaṃkāśaiḥ śarairāśīviṣopamaiḥ| śitairabhyardito rāmo mandacetā ivābhavat||
Rama, struck with those arrows which were like fire or the sun and like poisonous snakes, became like one senseless.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.36
ततोऽहं कृपयाऽऽविष्टो विष्टभ्यात्मानमात्मना। धिग्धिगित्यब्रुवं युद्धं क्षत्रधर्मं च भारत॥
tato'haṃ kṛpayā''viṣṭo viṣṭabhyātmānamātmanā| dhigdhigityabruvaṃ yuddhaṃ kṣatradharmaṃ ca bhārata||
Then was I filled with pity and stopped of my own will and said: "Fie, fie on battle and on Kshatriya practices." O Bharata.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.37
असकृच्चाब्रुवं राजन् शोकवेगपरिप्लुतः। अहो बत कृतं पापं मयेदं क्षत्रधर्मणा॥
asakṛccābruvaṃ rājan śokavegapariplutaḥ| aho bata kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ mayedaṃ kṣatradharmaṇā||
Being filled with grief I said, “I am a vicious man and what sins have been committed by me for observing the duties of a Kshatriya. one
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.38
गुरुर्द्विजातिधर्मात्मा यदेवं पीडितः शरैः। ततो न प्राहरं भूयो जामदग्न्याय भारत॥
gururdvijātidharmātmā yadevaṃ pīḍitaḥ śaraiḥ| tato na prāharaṃ bhūyo jāmadagnyāya bhārata||
For I have hurt with my arrows my preceptor who is a Brahmana of a virtuous soul. After that O Bharata I did not strike at Jamadagni's son.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 3 249.39
अथावताप्य पृथिवीं पूषा दिवससंक्षये। जगामास्तं सहस्रांशुस्ततो युद्धमुपारमत्॥
athāvatāpya pṛthivīṃ pūṣā divasasaṃkṣaye| jagāmāstaṃ sahasrāṃśustato yuddhamupāramat||
At this time, at the end of day, the sun of a thousand rays after heating the earth, went to his rooms and the fight too closed for the day.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)