Mahabharata — Volume VI (Dutt edition) — Chapter 173

MBh 6 173.1

वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्मिन् प्रयाते दुधेर्षे यदूनामृषभस्ततः अब्रवीत् पुण्डरीकाक्षः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्॥ एष पाण्डव ते भ्राता पुत्रशोकपरायणः। जिघांसुद्रौणिमाक्रन्दे एक एवाभिधावति॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca tasmin prayāte dudherṣe yadūnāmṛṣabhastataḥ abravīt puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram|| eṣa pāṇḍava te bhrātā putraśokaparāyaṇaḥ| jighāṃsudrauṇimākrande eka evābhidhāvati||

Vaishampayana said After the brave Bhimasena had started, that Yadu hero, having eyes like lotus petals, addressed Kuru's son, Yudhishthira, saying,-O son of Pandu, beside himself with grief at the death of his sons, this brother of yours, goes alone to battle for killing son of Drona.

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

MBh 6 173.2

भीमः प्रियस्ते सर्वेभ्यो भ्रातृभ्यो भरतर्षभ। तं कृच्छ्रगतमद्य त्वं कस्मान्नाभ्युपपद्यसे॥

bhīmaḥ priyaste sarvebhyo bhrātṛbhyo bharatarṣabha| taṃ kṛcchragatamadya tvaṃ kasmānnābhyupapadyase||

O Bharata chief, of all your brothers, Bhima is dearest. Seeing him in a great danger, why do you not stir yourself.

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

MBh 6 173.3

यत् तदाचष्ट पुत्राय द्रोणः परपुरञ्जयः। अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम दहेत पृथिवीमपि॥

yat tadācaṣṭa putrāya droṇaḥ parapurañjayaḥ| astraṃ brahmaśiro nāma daheta pṛthivīmapi||

The weapon, called Brahmashira, which Drona, gave his son, is capable of consuming the whole world.

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

MBh 6 173.4

तन्महात्मा महाभागः केतुः सर्वधनुष्मताम्। प्रत्यपादयदाचार्यः प्रीयमाणो धनंजयम्॥

tanmahātmā mahābhāgaḥ ketuḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām| pratyapādayadācāryaḥ prīyamāṇo dhanaṃjayam||

Pleased with Dhananjaya, the illustrious preceptor, that foremost of all wielders of bows, and given him that very weapon.

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

MBh 6 173.5

तं पुत्रोऽप्येक एवैनमन्वयाचदमर्पणः। ततः प्रोवाच पुत्राय नातिहष्टमना इव॥

taṃ putro'pyeka evainamanvayācadamarpaṇaḥ| tataḥ provāca putrāya nātihaṣṭamanā iva||

His only son also then begged it of him. Unwillingly he communicated the knowledge of that weapon to Ashvatthaman.

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

MBh 6 173.6

विदितं चापलं ह्यासीदात्मजस्य दुरात्मनः। सर्वधर्मविदाचार्यः सोऽन्वशात् स्वसुतं ततः॥ परमापद्रतेनापि न स्म तात त्वया रणे। इदमस्त्रं प्रयोक्तव्यं मानुषेषु विशेषतः॥

viditaṃ cāpalaṃ hyāsīdātmajasya durātmanaḥ| sarvadharmavidācāryaḥ so'nvaśāt svasutaṃ tataḥ|| paramāpadratenāpi na sma tāta tvayā raṇe| idamastraṃ prayoktavyaṃ mānuṣeṣu viśeṣataḥ||

The illustrious Drona knew very well the restlessness of his son, and accordingly commanded him, saying,-~Even when overtaken by the greatest calamity, O child, in the midst of battle, you should never use this weapon, specially against men.

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

MBh 6 173.7

इत्युक्तवान् गुरुः पुत्रं द्रोणः पश्चादयोक्तवान्। न त्वं जातु सतां मार्गे स्थातेति पुरुषर्षभ॥

ityuktavān guruḥ putraṃ droṇaḥ paścādayoktavān| na tvaṃ jātu satāṃ mārge sthāteti puruṣarṣabha||

Thus the preceptor Drona spoke to his son. Some time after he again spoke, saying,-O foremost of men, it seems, you will not, follow the path of the righteous.

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

MBh 6 173.8

स तदाज्ञाय दुष्टात्मा पितुर्वचनमप्रियम्। निराश: सर्वकल्याणैः शोकात् पर्यचरन्महीम्॥

sa tadājñāya duṣṭātmā piturvacanamapriyam| nirāśa: sarvakalyāṇaiḥ śokāt paryacaranmahīm||

Hearing those bitter words of his father the wicked Ashvatthaman, giving up all hopes of prosperity, began to wander sorrowfully over the Earth.

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

MBh 6 173.9

ततस्तदा कुरुश्रेष्ठ वनस्थे त्वयि भारत। अवसद् द्वारकामेत्य वृष्णिभिः परमार्चितः॥

tatastadā kuruśreṣṭha vanasthe tvayi bhārata| avasad dvārakāmetya vṛṣṇibhiḥ paramārcitaḥ||

Then, O Kuru chief, while you were living in the forest, he came to Dwaraka and lived there, adored of the Vrishnis.

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

MBh 6 173.10

स कदाचित् समुद्रान्ते वसन् द्वारवतीमनु। एक एकं समागम्य मामुवाच हसन्निव॥ यत् तदुग्रं तपः कृष्ण चरन् सत्यपराक्रमः। अगस्त्याद् भारतचार्यः प्रत्यपद्यत मे पिता॥ अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम देवगन्धर्वपूजितम्। तदद्य मयि दाशार्ह यथा पितरि मे तथा॥

sa kadācit samudrānte vasan dvāravatīmanu| eka ekaṃ samāgamya māmuvāca hasanniva|| yat tadugraṃ tapaḥ kṛṣṇa caran satyaparākramaḥ| agastyād bhāratacāryaḥ pratyapadyata me pitā|| astraṃ brahmaśiro nāma devagandharvapūjitam| tadadya mayi dāśārha yathā pitari me tathā||

One day, after he had settled in Dwaraka, he came to me, alone when I mysclf was also alone on the sea-coast, and there smilingly said, O Krishna, that weapon, called Brahmashira adored of gods and Gandharvas, which my father the preceptor of the Bharatas, having prowess capable of being baffled, had obtained from Agastya after practising the severest penances, is now with me, as it is with my father.

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

MBh 6 173.11

अस्मत्तस्तदुपादाय दिव्यमस्त्रं यदूत्तम। ममात्यस्त्रं प्रयच्छ त्वं चक्रं रिपुहणं रणे॥

asmattastadupādāya divyamastraṃ yadūttama| mamātyastraṃ prayaccha tvaṃ cakraṃ ripuhaṇaṃ raṇe||

O foremost one of Yadu, in exchange for that celestial weapon, give me your discus which is capable of killing all enemies in battle.

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

MBh 6 173.12

स राजन् प्रीयमाणेन मयाप्युक्तः कृताञ्जलिः। याचमानः प्रयत्नेन मत्तोऽस्त्रं भरतर्षभ।१६।। देवदानवगन्धर्वमनुष्यपतगोरगाः। न समा मम वीर्यस्य शतांशेनापि पिण्डिताः॥

sa rājan prīyamāṇena mayāpyuktaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ| yācamānaḥ prayatnena matto'straṃ bharatarṣabha|16|| devadānavagandharvamanuṣyapatagoragāḥ| na samā mama vīryasya śatāṃśenāpi piṇḍitāḥ||

While with joined hands he thus begged of me my discus, myself, for pleasing him, told him these words,-Gods, Danavas, Gandharvas, men, birds and snakes, assembled together, cannot equal even a hundredth part of iny energy

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

MBh 6 173.13

इदं धनुरियं शक्तिरिदं चक्रमियं गदा। यद्यदिच्छसि चेदस्त्रं मत्तस्तत् तद् ददामि ते॥

idaṃ dhanuriyaṃ śaktiridaṃ cakramiyaṃ gadā| yadyadicchasi cedastraṃ mattastat tad dadāmi te||

I have this bow, this arrow, this discus, and the mace! I will give you whichever amongst them you wish to have from me.

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

MBh 6 173.14

यच्छक्नोषि समुद्यन्तुं प्रयोक्तुमपि वा रणे। तद् गृहाण विनास्त्रेण यन्मे दातुमभीप्सति॥

yacchaknoṣi samudyantuṃ prayoktumapi vā raṇe| tad gṛhāṇa vināstreṇa yanme dātumabhīpsati||

Without giving me the weapon you wish to give, take from among these weapons of mine that which you will be able to wield and use in battle.

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

MBh 6 173.15

स सुनाभं सहस्रारं वज्रनाभमयस्मयम्। ववे चक्रं महाभागो मत्तः स्पर्धन्मया सह॥

sa sunābhaṃ sahasrāraṃ vajranābhamayasmayam| vave cakraṃ mahābhāgo mattaḥ spardhanmayā saha||

Thus addressed, the illustrious son of Drona, as if challenging me, wanted my discus of excellent have and hard as thunder, having thousand spokes, and made of iron.

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

MBh 6 173.16

गृहाण चक्रमित्युक्तो मया तु तदनन्तरम्। जग्राहोत्पत्य सहसा चक्र सव्येन पाणिना॥

gṛhāṇa cakramityukto mayā tu tadanantaram| jagrāhotpatya sahasā cakra savyena pāṇinā||

I said to him take it. Thus spoken to, he rose all on a sudden and seized the discus with his left hand.

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

MBh 6 173.17

न चैनमशकत् स्थानात् संचालयितुमप्युत। अथैनं दक्षिणेनापि गृहीतुमुपचक्रमे॥

na cainamaśakat sthānāt saṃcālayitumapyuta| athainaṃ dakṣiṇenāpi gṛhītumupacakrame||

He could not, however, even move the weapon where it lay. He then tried to catch it with his right hand.

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

MBh 6 173.18

सर्वयत्नबलेनापि गृह्णन्नेवमिदं ततः। ततः सर्वबलेनापि यदैनं न शशाक ह॥ उद्यन्तुं वा चालयितुं द्रौणिः परमदुर्मनाः। कृत्वा यत्नं परिश्रान्तः स न्यवर्तत भारत॥

sarvayatnabalenāpi gṛhṇannevamidaṃ tataḥ| tataḥ sarvabalenāpi yadainaṃ na śaśāka ha|| udyantuṃ vā cālayituṃ drauṇiḥ paramadurmanāḥ| kṛtvā yatnaṃ pariśrāntaḥ sa nyavartata bhārata||

Having caught it then very firmly and displaying all his strength, he still failed to either wield or move it. At this, Drona's son became sorry. Being worn out with the exertions he stooped.

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

MBh 6 173.19

निवृत्तमनसं तस्मादभिप्रायाद् विचेतसम्। अहमामन्त्र्य संविग्नमश्वत्थामानमब्रुवम्॥ यः सदैव मनुष्येषु प्रमाणं परमं गतः। गाण्डीवधन्वा श्वेताश्वः कपिप्रवरकेतनः॥ यः साक्षाद् देवदेवेशं शितिकण्ठमुमापतिम्। द्वन्द्वयुद्धे पराजिष्णुस्तोषयामास शङ्करम्॥ यस्मात् प्रियतरो नास्ति ममान्यः पुरुषो भुवि। नादेयं यस्य मे किञ्चिदपि दारा: सुतास्तथा।॥ तेनापि सुहृदा ब्रह्मन् पार्थेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। नोक्तपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं यत् त्वं मामभिभाषसे॥

nivṛttamanasaṃ tasmādabhiprāyād vicetasam| ahamāmantrya saṃvignamaśvatthāmānamabruvam|| yaḥ sadaiva manuṣyeṣu pramāṇaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ| gāṇḍīvadhanvā śvetāśvaḥ kapipravaraketanaḥ|| yaḥ sākṣād devadeveśaṃ śitikaṇṭhamumāpatim| dvandvayuddhe parājiṣṇustoṣayāmāsa śaṅkaram|| yasmāt priyataro nāsti mamānyaḥ puruṣo bhuvi| nādeyaṃ yasya me kiñcidapi dārā: sutāstathā||| tenāpi suhṛdā brahman pārthenākliṣṭakarmaṇā| noktapūrvamidaṃ vākyaṃ yat tvaṃ māmabhibhāṣase||

When he ceased cherishing that desire i addressed the anxious and senseless Ashvatthaman and said,-He who is always known as the best of all men that holder of Gandiva, that warrior having white horses yoked to his car, that hero having the emblem of a monkey of his standard, that hero who, desirous of defeating a wrestling encounter the god of gods, viz., the blue-throated lord of Uma, pleased the great Shankara himself, that Phalguna than whom I have no dearer friend on Earth, that friend to whom there is nothing that I cannot give including my very wives and children, that dear friend Partha of pure deeds, never said to me, O Brahmana, such words as these which you have said.

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

MBh 6 173.20

ब्रह्मचर्यं महद् घोरं तीर्खा द्वादशवार्षिकम्। हिमवत्पार्श्वमास्थाय यो मया तपसार्जितः॥ समानव्रतचारिण्यां रुक्मिण्यां योऽन्वजायत। सनत्कुमारस्तेजस्वी प्रद्युम्नो नाम मे सुतः॥ तेनाप्येतन्महद् दिव्यं चक्रमप्रतिमं रणे। न प्रार्थितमभून्मूढ यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया॥

brahmacaryaṃ mahad ghoraṃ tīrkhā dvādaśavārṣikam| himavatpārśvamāsthāya yo mayā tapasārjitaḥ|| samānavratacāriṇyāṃ rukmiṇyāṃ yo'nvajāyata| sanatkumārastejasvī pradyumno nāma me sutaḥ|| tenāpyetanmahad divyaṃ cakramapratimaṃ raṇe| na prārthitamabhūnmūḍha yadidaṃ prārthitaṃ tvayā||

That son whom I got by practising ascetic penances and observing the austere Brahmacharya for twelve years on the Himavat where I had gone for the purpose, that son of mine, viz., the energetic Pradyumna a portion of Sanatkumara himself, begotten by me upon my wife Rukmini who had practised vows as austere as mine, that hero even never wanted this best of objects, viz., this peerless discus, which you foolish, as you are have wanted.

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

MBh 6 173.21

रामेणातिबलेनैतन्त्रोक्तपूर्वं कदाचन। न गदेन न साम्बेन यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया॥

rāmeṇātibalenaitantroktapūrvaṃ kadācana| na gadena na sāmbena yadidaṃ prārthitaṃ tvayā||

The highly powerful Rama never said such words to me! Neither Gada nor Shamva, have ever asked for this.

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

MBh 6 173.22

द्वारकावासिभिश्चान्यैर्वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथैः। नोक्तपूर्वमिदं जातु यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया॥

dvārakāvāsibhiścānyairvṛṣṇyandhakamahārathaiḥ| noktapūrvamidaṃ jātu yadidaṃ prārthitaṃ tvayā||

None among the other great car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka race living in Dwaraka has ever asked this of me.

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

MBh 6 173.23

भारताचार्यपुत्रस्त्वं मानित: सर्वयादवैः। चक्रेण रथिनां श्रेष्ठ कं नु तात युयुत्ससे॥

bhāratācāryaputrastvaṃ mānita: sarvayādavaiḥ| cakreṇa rathināṃ śreṣṭha kaṃ nu tāta yuyutsase||

You are the son of the preceptor of the Bharatas, you are esteemed by all the Yadavas! Let me ask you, O best of car-warriors, with whom do you wish to fight with this weapon?'

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

MBh 6 173.24

एवमुक्तो मया द्रौणिर्मामिदं प्रत्युवाच ह। प्रयुज्य भवते पूजां योत्सये कृष्ण त्वया सह॥

evamukto mayā drauṇirmāmidaṃ pratyuvāca ha| prayujya bhavate pūjāṃ yotsaye kṛṣṇa tvayā saha||

Thus addressed by rne, Drona's son replied, saying,-'After adoring you O Krishna, it was my desire of fight with you, you of unfading glory.

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

MBh 6 173.25

प्रार्थितं ते मया चक्रं देवदानवपूजितम्। अजेयः स्यामिति विभो सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते॥

prārthitaṃ te mayā cakraṃ devadānavapūjitam| ajeyaḥ syāmiti vibho satyametad bravīmi te||

It was for this, O Krishna, that I prayed for your discus which is worshipped by gods and Danavas! Had I got it I would then have become invincible in the world.

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

MBh 6 173.26

त्वत्तोऽहं दुर्लभं काममनवाप्यैव केशव। प्रतियास्यामि गोविन्द शिवेनाभिवदस्व माम्॥

tvatto'haṃ durlabhaṃ kāmamanavāpyaiva keśava| pratiyāsyāmi govinda śivenābhivadasva mām||

Having failed, O Keshava, to my almost unattainable desire, I wish to leave you, O Govinda! Address me plainly now.

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

MBh 6 173.27

एतत् सुभीमं भीमानामृषभेण त्वया धृतम्। चक्रममतिचक्रेण भुवि नान्योऽभिपद्यते॥

etat subhīmaṃ bhīmānāmṛṣabheṇa tvayā dhṛtam| cakramamaticakreṇa bhuvi nānyo'bhipadyate||

This terrible weapon is with you, who are the foremost of all terrible persons! You are unrivaled for this weapon. There is none else in this world capable of having it.'

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

MBh 6 173.28

एतावदुक्त्वा द्रौणिर्मी युग्यानश्वान् धनानि च। आदायोपययौ काले रत्नानि विविधानि च॥

etāvaduktvā drauṇirmī yugyānaśvān dhanāni ca| ādāyopayayau kāle ratnāni vividhāni ca||

Having said so the son of Drona taking many horses and much wealth and various kinds of gems, left Dvaraka.

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

MBh 6 173.29

स संरम्भी दुरात्मा च चपलः क्रूर एव च। वेद चास्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्तस्माद् रक्ष्यो वृकोदरः॥

sa saṃrambhī durātmā ca capalaḥ krūra eva ca| veda cāstraṃ brahmaśirastasmād rakṣyo vṛkodaraḥ||

He is wrathful, wicked, restless, and very cruel. He knows the use of the weapon called Brahmashira. Vrikodara should be saved.”

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