Mahabharata — Volume VI (Dutt edition) — Chapter 71

MBh 6 71.1

संजय उवाच धर्मराजस्य तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीतियुक्तं वचस्ततः। पार्थं प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा गोविन्दो यदुनन्दनः॥

saṃjaya uvāca dharmarājasya tacchrutvā prītiyuktaṃ vacastataḥ| pārthaṃ provāca dharmātmā govindo yadunandanaḥ||

Sanjaya said O majesty! Govinda, the religious soul and dignity of Yadu clan began explaining something to Arjuna in response to the vivid statement made by Dharamaraja (Yudhishthira).

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

MBh 6 71.2

इतिस्म कृष्णवचनात् प्रत्युचार्य युधिष्ठिरम्। भभूव विमनाः पार्थः किंचित् कृत्वेन पातकम्॥

itisma kṛṣṇavacanāt pratyucārya yudhiṣṭhiram| bhabhūva vimanāḥ pārthaḥ kiṃcit kṛtvena pātakam||

Having addressed Yudhishthira in such an unbecoming manner and thus being guilty of an unrighteous conduct, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, became disconsolate beyond measure.

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

MBh 6 71.3

ततोऽब्रवीद् वासुदेवः प्रहसन्निव पाण्डवम्। कथं नाम भवेदेतद् यदि त्वं पार्थ धर्मजम्॥ असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण हन्या धर्मे व्यवस्थितम्। त्वमित्युक्त्वाथ राजानमेवं कश्मलमाविशः॥

tato'bravīd vāsudevaḥ prahasanniva pāṇḍavam| kathaṃ nāma bhavedetad yadi tvaṃ pārtha dharmajam|| asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa hanyā dharme vyavasthitam| tvamityuktvātha rājānamevaṃ kaśmalamāviśaḥ||

Vasudeva (then) in caustic tone addressing the son of Pandu said-"How, O Partha, would you have fared, had you mindful of (your) truthfulness, slain the son of Dharma with the keen edge of your steel. a

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

MBh 6 71.4

हत्वा तु नृपति पार्थ अकरिष्यः किमुत्तरम्। एवं हि दुर्विदो धर्मो मन्दप्रज्ञैर्विशेषतः॥

hatvā tu nṛpati pārtha akariṣyaḥ kimuttaram| evaṃ hi durvido dharmo mandaprajñairviśeṣataḥ||

By simply 'you think the king you are affected so much-what, would you have done, O Partha, had you actually fulfilled your promise. The law of policy are indeed too subtle for comprehension, especially to those of weak intellect.

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

MBh 6 71.5

स भवान् धर्मभीरुत्वाद् ध्रुवमैष्यन्महत्तमः। नरकं घोररूपं च भ्रातुर्येष्ठस्य वै वधात्॥

sa bhavān dharmabhīrutvād dhruvamaiṣyanmahattamaḥ| narakaṃ ghorarūpaṃ ca bhrāturyeṣṭhasya vai vadhāt||

For moral scruples you would surely have taken out the life of your eldest and would have thus committed a heinous sin and fallen into eternal perdition.

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

MBh 6 71.6

स त्वं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं राजानं धर्मसंहितम्। प्रसादय कुरुश्रेष्ठमेतदत्र मतं मम॥

sa tvaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ rājānaṃ dharmasaṃhitam| prasādaya kuruśreṣṭhametadatra mataṃ mama||

I adjure you, therefore, to assuage the sorrows of the pious king, the adored of the devout and the head of the Kurus.

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

MBh 6 71.7

प्रसाद्य भक्त्या राजानं प्रीते चैव युधिष्ठिर। प्रयावस्त्वरितौ योद्धं सूतपुत्ररथं प्रति॥

prasādya bhaktyā rājānaṃ prīte caiva yudhiṣṭhira| prayāvastvaritau yoddhaṃ sūtaputrarathaṃ prati||

Let us pacify king Yudhishthira with due obeisance and when he is reconciled let both of us march against the chariot of the son of Suta and fight him out.es

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

MBh 6 71.8

हत्वा तु समरे कर्णं त्वमद्य निशितैः शरैः। विपुला प्रीतिमाधत्स्व धर्मपुत्रस्य मानद॥

hatvā tu samare karṇaṃ tvamadya niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ| vipulā prītimādhatsva dharmaputrasya mānada||

O bestower of honors, secure the blessings of the son of Dharma, by shooting down Karna with the keen points of your arrows.

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

MBh 6 71.9

एतदत्र महाबाहो प्राप्तकालं मतं मम। एवं कृते कृतं चैव तव कार्यं भविष्यति॥

etadatra mahābāho prāptakālaṃ mataṃ mama| evaṃ kṛte kṛtaṃ caiva tava kāryaṃ bhaviṣyati||

O mighty-aimed one, in my opinion this is the best course you could follow at present. By acting thus you will gain you ends."

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

MBh 6 71.10

ततोऽर्जुनो महाराज लज्जया वै समन्वितः। धर्मराजस्य चरणौ प्रपद्य शिरसा नतः॥ उवाच भरतश्रेष्ठं प्रसीदेति पुनः पुनः। क्षमस्व राजन् यत् प्रोक्तं धर्मकामेन भीरुणा॥

tato'rjuno mahārāja lajjayā vai samanvitaḥ| dharmarājasya caraṇau prapadya śirasā nataḥ|| uvāca bharataśreṣṭhaṃ prasīdeti punaḥ punaḥ| kṣamasva rājan yat proktaṃ dharmakāmena bhīruṇā||

After this, O monarch, Arjuna became quite ashamed of himself; bending his head down he touched Yudhishthira's feet and repeatedly said unto that chief of the Bharatas, "O king, be appeased; forgive me for the impropriety of my language towards you; they were given expression to (as the only course left me) for maintaining truthfulness and avoiding sin.”

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

MBh 6 71.11

दृष्ट्वा तु पतितं पद्भ्यां धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। धनंजयममित्रघ्नं रुदन्तं भरतर्षभ।॥ उत्थाय भ्रातरं राजा धर्मराजो धनंजयम्। समाश्लिष्य च सस्नेहं प्ररुरोद महीपतिः॥

dṛṣṭvā tu patitaṃ padbhyāṃ dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ| dhanaṃjayamamitraghnaṃ rudantaṃ bharatarṣabha||| utthāya bhrātaraṃ rājā dharmarājo dhanaṃjayam| samāśliṣya ca sasnehaṃ praruroda mahīpatiḥ||

O giant of the Bharata race, seeing Dhananjaya, the slayer of foes, thus fall at his feet with tears in his eyes, Yudhishthira, the lord of creation, the emblem of religion, rose up from his reclining position and with gushing eyes affectionately embraced him.

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

MBh 6 71.12

रुदित्वा सुचिरं कालं भ्रातरौ सुमहाद्युती। कृतशौचौ महाराज प्रीतिमन्तौ बभूवतुः॥

ruditvā suciraṃ kālaṃ bhrātarau sumahādyutī| kṛtaśaucau mahārāja prītimantau babhūvatuḥ||

Having thus indulged themselves for some time and assuaged their grief the two brothers of bright effulgence became reconciled to each other and were once again cheerful.

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

MBh 6 71.13

तत अतिश्लिष्य तं प्रेम्णा मूर्ध्नि चाध्राय पाण्डवः। प्रीत्या परमया युक्तो विस्मयंञ्च पुनः पुनः॥ अब्रवीत् तं महेष्वासं धर्मराजे धनंजयम्।

tata atiśliṣya taṃ premṇā mūrdhni cādhrāya pāṇḍavaḥ| prītyā paramayā yukto vismayaṃñca punaḥ punaḥ|| abravīt taṃ maheṣvāsaṃ dharmarāje dhanaṃjayam|

Later on the son of Pandu, again giving Jaya a hug and taking the fragrance of his head, became supremely happy and praising his conduct, said-

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

MBh 6 71.14

कर्णेन मे महाबाहो सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः॥ कवचं च ध्वजं चैव धनुः शक्तिर्हयाः शराः। शरैः कृत्ता महेष्वास यतमानस्य संयुगे॥

karṇena me mahābāho sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ|| kavacaṃ ca dhvajaṃ caiva dhanuḥ śaktirhayāḥ śarāḥ| śaraiḥ kṛttā maheṣvāsa yatamānasya saṃyuge||

O mighty-wielder of bows, in spite of all my exertions in the battle-field, Karna with his shafts has, in the midst of the whole assembly, shattered my armours pinions, forces, arrows, bows and steeds.

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

MBh 6 71.15

सोऽहं ज्ञात्वा रणे तस्य कर्म दृष्ट्वा च फाल्गुन। व्यवसीदामि दुःखेन न च मे जीवितं प्रियम्॥

so'haṃ jñātvā raṇe tasya karma dṛṣṭvā ca phālguna| vyavasīdāmi duḥkhena na ca me jīvitaṃ priyam||

O Phalguna, thinking of this and witnessing his conduct in the battle, I have been sorely aggrieved. Life has no longer any charm for Ime.

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

MBh 6 71.16

न चेदद्य हि तं वीरं निहनिष्यसि संयुगे। प्राणानेव परित्यक्ष्ये जीवितार्थो हि को मम॥

na cedadya hi taṃ vīraṃ nihaniṣyasi saṃyuge| prāṇāneva parityakṣye jīvitārtho hi ko mama||

If you do not overcome that indomitable hero in today's battle, then surely I will give up my life, what would be the use of bearing the burden of this body and carrying it on the earth any longer?

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

MBh 6 71.17

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच विजयो भरतर्षभ। सत्येन ते शपे राजन् प्रसादेन तथैव च। भीमेन च नरश्रेष्ठ यमाभ्यां च महीपते॥ यथाद्य समरे कर्णं हनिष्यामि हतोऽपि वा। महीतले पतिष्यामि सत्येनायुधमालभे॥

evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca vijayo bharatarṣabha| satyena te śape rājan prasādena tathaiva ca| bhīmena ca naraśreṣṭha yamābhyāṃ ca mahīpate|| yathādya samare karṇaṃ haniṣyāmi hato'pi vā| mahītale patiṣyāmi satyenāyudhamālabhe||

O mighty scion of the Bharata race, upon hearing Yudhishthira thus express himself, Vijaya replied-"O foremost of kings, O lord of the earth, solemnly do I swear unto you that by your grace, by Bhima and the twins that this day either I shall slay Karna or myself kiss the earth being slain by him. I take this vow upon this weapon."

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

MBh 6 71.18

एवमाभाष्य राजानमब्रवीन्माधवं वचः। अद्य कर्णं रणे कृष्ण सूदयिष्ये न संशयः॥ तव बुद्ध्या हि भद्रं ते वधस्तस्य दुरात्मनः।

evamābhāṣya rājānamabravīnmādhavaṃ vacaḥ| adya karṇaṃ raṇe kṛṣṇa sūdayiṣye na saṃśayaḥ|| tava buddhyā hi bhadraṃ te vadhastasya durātmanaḥ|

Having delivered himself thus to the king he addressed the following words to Madhava-“Verily, O Krishna, I will slay Karna in today's battle. May you be blessed for it is only through your tactics that the wretch could be slain.”

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

MBh 6 71.19

एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीत् पार्थ केशवो राजसत्तम॥ शक्तोऽसि भरतश्रेष्ठ हन्तुं कर्णं महाबलम्। एष चापि हि मे कामो नित्यमेव महारथ॥ कथं भवान् रणे कर्णं निहन्यादिति सत्तम।

evamukto'bravīt pārtha keśavo rājasattama|| śakto'si bharataśreṣṭha hantuṃ karṇaṃ mahābalam| eṣa cāpi hi me kāmo nityameva mahāratha|| kathaṃ bhavān raṇe karṇaṃ nihanyāditi sattama|

O foremost of kings, upon Partha's uttering these words Keshava said unto him-"O mighty Bharata, you are well worthy of slaying Karna. Indeed, O best of men, O foremost of car-warriors, it has ever been upper most in my thoughts as to how you would succeed in slaying him.”

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

MBh 6 71.20

भूयश्चोवाच मतिमान् माधवो धर्मनन्दनम्॥ युधिष्ठिरेमं बीभत्सुं त्वं सान्त्वयितुमर्हसि। अनुज्ञातु च कर्णस्य वधायाद्य दुरात्मनः॥

bhūyaścovāca matimān mādhavo dharmanandanam|| yudhiṣṭhiremaṃ bībhatsuṃ tvaṃ sāntvayitumarhasi| anujñātu ca karṇasya vadhāyādya durātmanaḥ||

Then the ever-intelligent Madhava once more turned towards the son of Dharma and said-“O Yudhishthira it is met that you would console Vibhatsu and order him to slay the wretched Karna today.

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

MBh 6 71.21

श्रुत्वा ह्यहमयं चैव त्वां कर्णशरपीडितम्। प्रवृत्ति ज्ञातुमायाताविहावां पाण्डुनन्दन॥

śrutvā hyahamayaṃ caiva tvāṃ karṇaśarapīḍitam| pravṛtti jñātumāyātāvihāvāṃ pāṇḍunandana||

O son of Pandu, it is upon hearing that you were being afflicted with the arrows of Karna that we came to ascertain the plight you were in.

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

MBh 6 71.22

दिष्ट्यासि राजन् न हतो दिष्ट्या न ग्रहणं गतः। परिसान्त्वय बीभत्सुं जयमाशाधि चानघ॥

diṣṭyāsi rājan na hato diṣṭyā na grahaṇaṃ gataḥ| parisāntvaya bībhatsuṃ jayamāśādhi cānagha||

O king, it was very fortunate that you were not slain or captured. O holy one, do now console your Vibhatsu and bless him that he may attain victory."

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

MBh 6 71.23

युधिष्ठिर उवाच एह्येहि पार्थ बीभत्सो मां परिष्वज पाण्डव। वक्तव्यमुक्तोऽस्मि हितं त्वया क्षान्तं च तन्मया॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ehyehi pārtha bībhatso māṃ pariṣvaja pāṇḍava| vaktavyamukto'smi hitaṃ tvayā kṣāntaṃ ca tanmayā||

Yudhishthira said Come O Partha, O Vibhatsu, come and embrace me; O son of Pandu, you have addressed me in words befitting the position and for my good and I have forgive you for their expressions.

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

MBh 6 71.24

अहं त्वामनुजानामि जहि कर्णं धनंजय। मन्युं च मा कृथाः पार्थ यन्मयोक्तोऽसि दारुणम्॥३१

ahaṃ tvāmanujānāmi jahi karṇaṃ dhanaṃjaya| manyuṃ ca mā kṛthāḥ pārtha yanmayokto'si dāruṇam||31

O Dhananjaya you have my orders to go and slay Karna. Do not, O Partha, take offence with me for the vile expression I have made use of against you.

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

MBh 6 71.25

संजय उवाच ततो धनंजयो राजशिरसा प्रणतस्तदा। पादौ जग्राह पाणिभ्यां भ्रातुर्येष्ठस्य मारिष॥

saṃjaya uvāca tato dhanaṃjayo rājaśirasā praṇatastadā| pādau jagrāha pāṇibhyāṃ bhrāturyeṣṭhasya māriṣa||

Sanjaya continued O king, thereupon Dhananjaya bent his head low and with his hands took hold of the feet of his eldest brother.

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

MBh 6 71.26

तमुत्थाप्य ततो राजा परिष्वज्य च पीडितम्। मू[पाघ्राय चैवैनमिदं पुनरुवाच ह॥

tamutthāpya tato rājā pariṣvajya ca pīḍitam| mū[pāghrāya caivainamidaṃ punaruvāca ha||

The king them raising him clasped him to his bosom and smelling his head once more addressed him thus :

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

MBh 6 71.27

धनंजय महाबाहो मानितोऽस्मि दृढं त्वाय। माहात्म्यं विजयं चैव भूयः प्राप्नुहि शाश्वतम्॥

dhanaṃjaya mahābāho mānito'smi dṛḍhaṃ tvāya| māhātmyaṃ vijayaṃ caiva bhūyaḥ prāpnuhi śāśvatam||

O Dhananjaya of mighty arms, I feel highly honoured by you, do you attain once more the greatness and victory you ever deserve.

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

MBh 6 71.28

अर्जुन उवाच अद्य तं पापकर्माण सानुबन्धं रणे शरैः। नयाम्यन्तं समासाद्य राधेयं बलगर्वितम्॥

arjuna uvāca adya taṃ pāpakarmāṇa sānubandhaṃ raṇe śaraiḥ| nayāmyantaṃ samāsādya rādheyaṃ balagarvitam||

Arjuna said Getting hold of that sinful son of Radha, who vaunts of his prowess, I shall in today's battle slay him along with his allies.

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

MBh 6 71.29

येत त्वं पीडितो बाणैदृढमायम्य कार्मुकम्। तस्याद्य कर्मणः कर्णः फलमाप्स्यति दारुणम्॥

yeta tvaṃ pīḍito bāṇaidṛḍhamāyamya kārmukam| tasyādya karmaṇaḥ karṇaḥ phalamāpsyati dāruṇam||

Karna, who had afflicted you with his arrows shot from a full-drawn bow, would reap the dire effects of his act, this day.

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

MBh 6 71.30

अद्य त्वामनुपश्यति कर्ण हत्वा महीपते। सभाजयितुमाक्रन्दादिति सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते॥

adya tvāmanupaśyati karṇa hatvā mahīpate| sabhājayitumākrandāditi satyaṃ bravīmi te||

O ruler of the earth, I assure you that I will slay Karna today in dreadful battle and come back to bring unto you the happy tidings walking all the while in your steps.

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

MBh 6 71.31

नाहत्वा विनिवर्तिष्ये कर्णमद्य रणाजिरात्। इति सत्येन ते पादौ स्पृशामि जगतीपते॥

nāhatvā vinivartiṣye karṇamadya raṇājirāt| iti satyena te pādau spṛśāmi jagatīpate||

O lord of the universe, I swear unto you by your feet that I shall not return from the terrible battle today without having slain Karna.

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

MBh 6 71.32

संजय उवाच इति ब्रुवाणं सुमनाः किरीटिनं युधिष्ठिरः प्राह वचो बृहत्तरम्। यशोऽक्षयं जीवितमाप्सितं ते जयं सदा वीर्यमरिक्षयं तदा॥

saṃjaya uvāca iti bruvāṇaṃ sumanāḥ kirīṭinaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prāha vaco bṛhattaram| yaśo'kṣayaṃ jīvitamāpsitaṃ te jayaṃ sadā vīryamarikṣayaṃ tadā||

Sanjaya said As the diadem-decked Arjuna was speaking in this strain, Yudhishthira cheerfully addressed to him these graver words-“Do you ever attain unfading fame, eternal life, ready consummation of hopes, perpetual victory, ceaseless energy and continual success over your enemies!

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

MBh 6 71.33

प्रयाहि वृद्धिं च दिशन्तु देवता यथाहमिच्छामि तवास्तु तत् तथा। प्रयाहि शीघ्रं जहि कर्णमाहवे पुरंदरो वृत्रमिवात्मवृद्धये॥

prayāhi vṛddhiṃ ca diśantu devatā yathāhamicchāmi tavāstu tat tathā| prayāhi śīghraṃ jahi karṇamāhave puraṃdaro vṛtramivātmavṛddhaye||

May the gods grant you prosperity! May you realise all that I wish of you! At present go at once to the battle and kill Karna for selfelevation even as Purandara killed Vritra.

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