Mahabharata — Volume VI (Dutt edition) — Chapter 164

MBh 6 164.1

संजय उवाच कृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मार्थसहितं शुभम्। अश्वत्थामा महाराज दुःखशोकसमन्वितः॥

saṃjaya uvāca kṛpasya vacanaṃ śrutvā dharmārthasahitaṃ śubham| aśvatthāmā mahārāja duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ||

Sanjaya Said "Hearing these auspicious, moral and profitable words of Kripa, Ashvatthaman, O king, became beside himself with sorrow and grief.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.2

दह्यमानस्तु शोकेन प्रदीप्तेनाग्निना यथा। क्रूरं मनस्ततः कृत्वा तावुभौ प्रत्यभाषत॥ पुरुषे पुरुषे बुद्धिर्या या भवति शोभना। तुष्यन्ति च पृथक् सर्वे प्रज्ञया स्वया स्वया।॥

dahyamānastu śokena pradīptenāgninā yathā| krūraṃ manastataḥ kṛtvā tāvubhau pratyabhāṣata|| puruṣe puruṣe buddhiryā yā bhavati śobhanā| tuṣyanti ca pṛthak sarve prajñayā svayā svayā|||

Burning with grief, as if with fire, he formed a wicked resolution and then addressed them both, saying, understanding is different in different men. Each man, however, is pleased with his own understanding,

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.3

सर्वो हि मन्यते लोक आत्मानं बुद्धिमत्तरम्। सर्वस्यात्मा बहुमतः सर्वात्मानं प्रशंसति॥ ते

sarvo hi manyate loka ātmānaṃ buddhimattaram| sarvasyātmā bahumataḥ sarvātmānaṃ praśaṃsati|| te

Every man considers himself more intelligent than others. Every one respects and praises his own understanding.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.4

सर्वस्य हि स्वका प्रज्ञा साधुवादे प्रतिष्ठिता। परबुद्धिं च निन्दन्ति स्वां प्रशंसन्ति चासकृत्॥

sarvasya hi svakā prajñā sādhuvāde pratiṣṭhitā| parabuddhiṃ ca nindanti svāṃ praśaṃsanti cāsakṛt||

Every one praises his own wisdom. Every one speaks ill of the wisdom of others, and well of his own, in all cases.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.5

कारणान्तरयोगेन योगे येषां समागतिः। अन्योन्येन च तुष्यन्ति बहु मन्यन्ति चासकृत्॥

kāraṇāntarayogena yoge yeṣāṃ samāgatiḥ| anyonyena ca tuṣyanti bahu manyanti cāsakṛt||

Men whose opinions agree with regard to any that is not achieved, become gratified with and praise one another.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.6

तस्यैव तु मनुष्यस्य सा सा बुद्धिस्तदा तदा। कालयोगे विपर्यासं प्राप्यान्योन्यं विपद्यते॥

tasyaiva tu manuṣyasya sā sā buddhistadā tadā| kālayoge viparyāsaṃ prāpyānyonyaṃ vipadyate||

Again the opinions of the same persons, overwhelmed with reverses bought on by the influence of time, become opposed to another.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.7

विचित्रत्वात् तु चित्तानां मनुष्याणां विशेषतः। चित्तवैक्लव्यमासाद्य सा सा बुद्धिः प्रजायते॥

vicitratvāt tu cittānāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ| cittavaiklavyamāsādya sā sā buddhiḥ prajāyate||

On account of the diversity of human intellects, judgments necessarily differ.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.8

यथा हि वैद्यः कुशलो ज्ञात्वा व्याधि यथाविधि। भैषज्यं कुरुते योगात् प्रशमार्थमिति प्रभो॥ एवं कार्यस्य योगार्थं बुद्धिं कुर्वन्ति मानवाः। प्रज्ञया हि स्वया युक्तास्तां च निन्दन्ति मानवाः॥

yathā hi vaidyaḥ kuśalo jñātvā vyādhi yathāvidhi| bhaiṣajyaṃ kurute yogāt praśamārthamiti prabho|| evaṃ kāryasya yogārthaṃ buddhiṃ kurvanti mānavāḥ| prajñayā hi svayā yuktāstāṃ ca nindanti mānavāḥ||

As a skillful physician, having duly diagnosed a disease, prescribes a medicine by his intelligence for effecting a cure, so men, for the accomplishment of their works, use their intelligence, helped by their own wisdom. What they do is not approved by others.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.9

अन्यया यौवने मयों बुद्ध्या भवति मोहितः। मध्येऽन्यया जरायां तु सोऽन्यां रोचयते मतिम्॥

anyayā yauvane mayoṃ buddhyā bhavati mohitaḥ| madhye'nyayā jarāyāṃ tu so'nyāṃ rocayate matim||

A man, in youth, had one kind of understanding. In middle age, he has not the same, and in the period of decay, a different kind of understanding prevails in him.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.10

व्यसनं वा महाघोरं समृद्धिं चापि तादृशीम्। अवाप्य पुरुषो भोज कुरुते बुद्धिवैकृतम्॥ एकस्मिन्नेव पुरुषे सा सा बुद्धिस्तदा तदा। भवत्यकृतधर्मत्वात् सा तस्यैव न रोचते॥

vyasanaṃ vā mahāghoraṃ samṛddhiṃ cāpi tādṛśīm| avāpya puruṣo bhoja kurute buddhivaikṛtam|| ekasminneva puruṣe sā sā buddhistadā tadā| bhavatyakṛtadharmatvāt sā tasyaiva na rocate||

When fallen into terrible misfortune or when enjoying great prosperity, the understanding of a person, chief of the Bhojas, undergoes changes. In one and the same person, want of wisdom, the understanding becomes different at different times. Understanding which at one time is good becomes quite the opposite at another time.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.11

निश्चित्य तु यथाप्रज्ञं या मतिं साधु पश्यति। तया प्रकुरुते भवं सा तस्योद्योगकारिका॥

niścitya tu yathāprajñaṃ yā matiṃ sādhu paśyati| tayā prakurute bhavaṃ sā tasyodyogakārikā||

Having resolved, however, according to one's wisdom, he should try to carry out his resolution. Such resolution, therefore, should make him display his manliness.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.12

सर्वो हि पुरुषो भोज साध्वेतदिति निश्चितः। कर्तुमारभते प्रीतो मारणादिषु कर्मसु॥

sarvo hi puruṣo bhoja sādhvetaditi niścitaḥ| kartumārabhate prīto māraṇādiṣu karmasu||

All persons, O chief of the Bhojas, gladly undertake enterprises that lead to death, in the belief that those enterprises will be accomplished by them.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.13

सर्वे हि बुद्धिमाज्ञाय प्रज्ञां वापि स्वकां नराः। चेष्टन्ते विविधां चेष्टां हितमित्येव जानते॥

sarve hi buddhimājñāya prajñāṃ vāpi svakāṃ narāḥ| ceṣṭante vividhāṃ ceṣṭāṃ hitamityeva jānate||

All men, relying on their own judgment and wisdom, try to accomplish various objects, knowing them to be beneficial.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.14

उपजाता व्यसनजा येयमद्य मतिर्ममा युवयोस्तां प्रवक्ष्यामि मम शोकविनाशिनीम्॥

upajātā vyasanajā yeyamadya matirmamā yuvayostāṃ pravakṣyāmi mama śokavināśinīm||

The resolution that I have formed in my mind to-day for of great calamity and which will despell my grief, I will now disclose to both of you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.15

प्रजापतिः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा कर्म तासु विधाय च। वर्णे वर्णे समाधत्ते ह्येकैकं गुणभाग गुणम्॥

prajāpatiḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā karma tāsu vidhāya ca| varṇe varṇe samādhatte hyekaikaṃ guṇabhāga guṇam||

Having created his creatures, the Creator assigned to each his occupation. As regards the different castes he gave to each a portion of excellence.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.16

ब्राह्मणे वेदमग्रयं तु क्षत्रिये तेज उत्तमम्। दाक्ष्य वैश्ये च शूद्रे च सर्ववर्णानुकूलताम्॥

brāhmaṇe vedamagrayaṃ tu kṣatriye teja uttamam| dākṣya vaiśye ca śūdre ca sarvavarṇānukūlatām||

To Brahmanas he assigned that foremost of all things, viz., the Veda. To the Kshatriya he gave superior energy. To the Vaishya he gave skill, and to the Shudra he gave the duty of serving the three other castes.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.17

अदान्तो ब्राह्मणोऽसाधुनिस्तेजाः क्षत्रियोऽधमः। अदक्षो निन्द्यते वैश्यः शूद्रश्च प्रतिकूलवान्॥

adānto brāhmaṇo'sādhunistejāḥ kṣatriyo'dhamaḥ| adakṣo nindyate vaiśyaḥ śūdraśca pratikūlavān||

Hence a Brahmana without self-restraint is an object of censure. A Kshatriya who has no energy is mean. A Vaishya without skill is an object of blame, as also a Shudra who is void of humility.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.18

सोऽस्मि जात: कुले श्रेष्ठे ब्राह्मणानां सुपूजिते। मन्दभाग्यतयास्म्येतं क्षत्रधर्ममनुष्ठितः॥

so'smi jāta: kule śreṣṭhe brāhmaṇānāṃ supūjite| mandabhāgyatayāsmyetaṃ kṣatradharmamanuṣṭhitaḥ||

I am born in a worshipful and high family of Brahmanas. Through ill-luck, however, I am loading the life of a Kshatriya.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.19

क्षत्रधर्मं विदित्वाहं यदि ब्राह्मण्यमाश्रितः। प्रकुर्यां सुमहत् कर्म न मे तत् साधुसम्मतम्॥

kṣatradharmaṃ viditvāhaṃ yadi brāhmaṇyamāśritaḥ| prakuryāṃ sumahat karma na me tat sādhusammatam||

If, conversant as I am with Kshatriya duties, I revert now to the order of a Brahmana and achieve a great object (by assuming selfrestraint under such injuries), that course would not be compatible.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.20

धारयंश्च धनुर्दिव्यं दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चाहवे। पितरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा किं नु वक्ष्यामि संसदि॥

dhārayaṃśca dhanurdivyaṃ divyānyastrāṇi cāhave| pitaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā kiṃ nu vakṣyāmi saṃsadi||

I hold an excellent bow and excellent weapons in battle. If I do not avenge the death of my father, how shall I be able to speak in the assembly of men?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.21

सोऽहमद्य यथाकामं क्षत्रधर्ममुपास्य तम्। गन्तास्मि पदवीं राज्ञः पितुश्चापि महात्मनः॥

so'hamadya yathākāmaṃ kṣatradharmamupāsya tam| gantāsmi padavīṃ rājñaḥ pituścāpi mahātmanaḥ||

Following Kshatriya duties, therefore, without hesitation, I shall to-day walk in the steps of my great father and the king.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.22

अद्य स्वप्स्यन्ति पञ्चाला विश्वस्ता जितकाशिनः। विमुक्तयुग्यकवचा हर्षेण च समन्विताः॥

adya svapsyanti pañcālā viśvastā jitakāśinaḥ| vimuktayugyakavacā harṣeṇa ca samanvitāḥ||

The Panchalas, elated with victory, will sleep in confidence to-night, having put off their armour and in great joy at the thought of the victory they have gained, and exhausted with toil and exertion.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.23

जयं मत्वाऽऽत्मनश्चैत श्रान्ता व्यायामकर्शिताः। तेषां निशि प्रसुप्तानां सुस्थानां शिविरे स्वके॥

jayaṃ matvā''tmanaścaita śrāntā vyāyāmakarśitāḥ| teṣāṃ niśi prasuptānāṃ susthānāṃ śivire svake||

While sleeping easily during the night within their own camp, I shall make a great and terrible assault upon their camp.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.24

अवस्कन्दं करिष्यामि शिविरस्याद्य दुष्करम्। तानवस्कन्द्य शिविरे प्रेतभूतविचेतसः॥

avaskandaṃ kariṣyāmi śivirasyādya duṣkaram| tānavaskandya śivire pretabhūtavicetasaḥ||

Like Indra killing the Danavas, I shall, attacking them while dead in sleep in their camp, kill them all, by my power.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.25

सूदयिष्यामि विक्रम्य मघवानिव दानवान्। अद्य तान् सहितान् सर्वान् धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमान्॥ सूदयिष्यामि विक्रम्य कक्षं दीप्त इवानलः। निहत्य चैव पञ्चालान् शन्तिं लब्धास्मि सत्तम॥

sūdayiṣyāmi vikramya maghavāniva dānavān| adya tān sahitān sarvān dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamān|| sūdayiṣyāmi vikramya kakṣaṃ dīpta ivānalaḥ| nihatya caiva pañcālān śantiṃ labdhāsmi sattama||

Like a burning fire consuming a heap of dry grass, I shall kill all of them collected in one place with their leader Dhrishtadyumna. Having killed the Panchalas, I shall obtain peace of mind, O best of men.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.26

पञ्चालेषु भविष्यामि सूदयन्नद्य संयुगे। पिनाकपाणिः संक्रुद्धः स्वयं रुद्रः पशुष्विव॥

pañcāleṣu bhaviṣyāmi sūdayannadya saṃyuge| pinākapāṇiḥ saṃkruddhaḥ svayaṃ rudraḥ paśuṣviva||

While engaged in the act of destruction I shall move about in their midst like the holder of Pinaka, viz., the angry Rudra himself, among living creatures!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.27

अद्याहं सर्वपञ्चालान् निहत्य च निकृत्य च। अर्दयिष्यामि संहृष्टो रणे पाण्डुसुतांस्तथा॥

adyāhaṃ sarvapañcālān nihatya ca nikṛtya ca| ardayiṣyāmi saṃhṛṣṭo raṇe pāṇḍusutāṃstathā||

Having cut off and killed all the Panahalas to-day, I shall then, in joy, assail the sons of Pandu in battle!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.28

अद्याहं सर्वपञ्चालैः कृत्वा भूमिं शरीरिणीम्। प्रहत्यैकैकशस्तेषु भविष्याम्यनृणः पितुः॥

adyāhaṃ sarvapañcālaiḥ kṛtvā bhūmiṃ śarīriṇīm| prahatyaikaikaśasteṣu bhaviṣyāmyanṛṇaḥ pituḥ||

Taking their lives one after another and causing the Earth to be covered with the bodies of all the Panchalas, I shall satisfy the debt I owe to my father!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.29

दुर्योधनस्य कर्णस्य भीष्मसैन्धवयोरपि। गमयिष्यामि पञ्चालान् पदवीमद्य दुर्गमाम्॥

duryodhanasya karṇasya bhīṣmasaindhavayorapi| gamayiṣyāmi pañcālān padavīmadya durgamām||

I shall to-day made the Panchalas follow Duryodhana and Karna and Bhishma and the King of the Sindhus!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.30

अद्य पाञ्चालराजस्य धृष्टद्युम्नस्य वै निशि। नचिरात् प्रमथिष्यामि पशोरिव शिरो बलात्॥

adya pāñcālarājasya dhṛṣṭadyumnasya vai niśi| nacirāt pramathiṣyāmi paśoriva śiro balāt||

Displaying my power, I shall tonight grind the head, like that any animal, of Dhrishtadyumna the king of the Panchalas.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.31

अद्य पाञ्चालपाण्डूनां शयितानात्मजान् निशि। खड्डेन निशितेनाजौ प्रमथिष्यामि गौतम

adya pāñcālapāṇḍūnāṃ śayitānātmajān niśi| khaḍḍena niśitenājau pramathiṣyāmi gautama

I shall to-night, O son of Gotama, strike with my sharp sword, in battle, the sleeping sons of the Panchalas and the Pandavas.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 164.32

अद्य पाञ्चालसेनां तां निहत्य निशि सौप्तिके। कृतकृत्यः सुखी चैव भविष्यामि महामते॥

adya pāñcālasenāṃ tāṃ nihatya niśi sauptike| kṛtakṛtyaḥ sukhī caiva bhaviṣyāmi mahāmate||

Having rooted out the Panchala army tonight while asleep, I shall, enjoy great happiness and consider myself to have done my duty!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)