Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 250

MBh 9 250.1

वैशम्पायन उवाच स तु वाजी समुद्रान्तां पर्येत्य वसुधामिमाम्। निवृत्तोऽभिमुखो राजन् येन वारणसाह्वयम्॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca sa tu vājī samudrāntāṃ paryetya vasudhāmimām| nivṛtto'bhimukho rājan yena vāraṇasāhvayam||

Vaishampayana said The (sacrificial) horse, having wandered over the entire Earth bounded by the ocean, then ceased and turned his face toward the city of Hastinapur.

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

MBh 9 250.2

अनुगच्छंश्च तुरगं निवृत्तोऽथ किरीटभृत्। यदृच्छया समापेदे पुरं राजगृहं तदा॥

anugacchaṃśca turagaṃ nivṛtto'tha kirīṭabhṛt| yadṛcchayā samāpede puraṃ rājagṛhaṃ tadā||

Following as he did that horse, the diademdecked Arjuna also turned his face towards the Kuru capital. Wandering at is will, the horse then came to the city of Rajagriha.

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

MBh 9 250.3

तमभ्याशगतं दृष्ट्वा सहदेवात्मजः प्रभो। क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितो वीरः समरायाजुहाव ह॥

tamabhyāśagataṃ dṛṣṭvā sahadevātmajaḥ prabho| kṣatradharme sthito vīraḥ samarāyājuhāva ha||

Seeing him arrived within his kingdom, O monarch, the heroic of Sahadeva, following Kshatriya duties, challenged him to battle.

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

MBh 9 250.4

ततः पुरात् सनिष्क्रम्य रथी धन्वी शरी तली। मेघसन्धिः पदाति तं धनंजयमुपाद्रवत्॥

tataḥ purāt saniṣkramya rathī dhanvī śarī talī| meghasandhiḥ padāti taṃ dhanaṃjayamupādravat||

Coming out of his city, Meghasandhi, mounted on his car and equipt with bow and arrows and leathern fence, rushed towards Dhananjaya who was on foot.

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

MBh 9 250.5

आसाद्य च महातेजा मेघसन्धिर्धनंजयम्। बालभावान्महाराज प्रोवाचेदं न कौशलात्॥

āsādya ca mahātejā meghasandhirdhanaṃjayam| bālabhāvānmahārāja provācedaṃ na kauśalāt||

Gifted with great energy, Meghasandhi, approaching Dhanajaya, O king, said these words from a spirit of childishness and without son any skill.

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

MBh 9 250.6

किमयं चार्यते बाजी स्त्रीमध्य इव भारत। ह्यमेनं हरिष्यामि प्रयतस्व विमोक्षणे॥

kimayaṃ cāryate bājī strīmadhya iva bhārata| hyamenaṃ hariṣyāmi prayatasva vimokṣaṇe||

This horse of yours, O Bharata, seems to move about, protected by women only! I shall take away the horse. Do you try to free him.

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

MBh 9 250.7

अदत्तानुनयो युद्धे यदि त्वं पितृभिर्मम। करिष्यामि तवातिथ्यं प्रहर प्रहरामि च॥

adattānunayo yuddhe yadi tvaṃ pitṛbhirmama| kariṣyāmi tavātithyaṃ prahara praharāmi ca||

Although my sires did not teach you in battle, I, however, shall do the duties of hospitality to you. Do you strike me, for I shall strike you.

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

MBh 9 250.8

इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचैनं प्रहसन्निव पाण्डवः। विनकर्ता मया वार्य इति मे व्रतमाहितम्॥ भ्रात्रा ज्येष्ठेन नृपते तवापि विदितं ध्रुवम्। प्रहरस्व यथाशक्ति न मन्युर्विद्यते मम॥

ityuktaḥ pratyuvācainaṃ prahasanniva pāṇḍavaḥ| vinakartā mayā vārya iti me vratamāhitam|| bhrātrā jyeṣṭhena nṛpate tavāpi viditaṃ dhruvam| praharasva yathāśakti na manyurvidyate mama||

Thus addressed, the son of Pandu, smiling the while, answered him, saying, To resist him who obstructs me is the vow imposed on me by my eldest brother. Forsooth, O king, you know this. Do you strike me to the best of your power. I have no anger.

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

MBh 9 250.9

इत्युक्तः प्राहरत् पूर्वे पाण्डवं मगधेश्वरः। किरन् शरसहस्राणि वर्षाणीव सहस्रदृक्॥

ityuktaḥ prāharat pūrve pāṇḍavaṃ magadheśvaraḥ| kiran śarasahasrāṇi varṣāṇīva sahasradṛk||

Thus addressed, the king of Magadha first struck the son of Pandu, showering his arrows on him like the thousand-eyed Indra showering a heavy downpour of rain.

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

MBh 9 250.10

ततो गाण्डीवभृच्छूरो गाण्डीवप्रहितैः शरैः। चकार मोघांस्तान् बाणान् सयलान् भरतर्षभ॥

tato gāṇḍīvabhṛcchūro gāṇḍīvaprahitaiḥ śaraiḥ| cakāra moghāṃstān bāṇān sayalān bharatarṣabha||

Then, Ochief of Bharata's race, the heroic wielder of Gandiva, with arrows shot of that excellent bow, baffled all the arrows shot carefully at him by his adversary.

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

MBh 9 250.11

स मोघं तस्य बाणौधं कृत्वा वानरकेतनः। शरान् मुमोच ज्वलितान् दीप्तास्यानिव पन्नगान्॥१२

sa moghaṃ tasya bāṇaudhaṃ kṛtvā vānaraketanaḥ| śarān mumoca jvalitān dīptāsyāniva pannagān||12

Having thus baffled that cloud of arrows, the ape-bannered hero shot a number of burning arrows at his enemy which resembled snakes with fiery mouths.

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

MBh 9 250.12

ध्वजे पताकादण्डेषु रथे यन्त्रे हयेषु च। अन्येषु च रथाङ्गेषु न शरीरे न सारथौ॥

dhvaje patākādaṇḍeṣu rathe yantre hayeṣu ca| anyeṣu ca rathāṅgeṣu na śarīre na sārathau||

These arrows he shot at his flag and flagstaff and car and poles and yoke and the horses sparing the body of his-enemy and his cardriver.

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

MBh 9 250.13

संरक्ष्यमाणः पार्थेन शरीरे सव्यसाचिना। मन्यमानः स्ववीर्यं तन्मागधः प्राहिणोच्छरान्॥

saṃrakṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena śarīre savyasācinā| manyamānaḥ svavīryaṃ tanmāgadhaḥ prāhiṇoccharān||

Though Partha who was capable of shooting with the bow with the left-hand (as well as the right) spared the body of the king of Magadha, yet the latter, thinking that his body was protected by his own prowess, discharged many arrows at Partha.

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

MBh 9 250.14

ततो गाण्डीवधन्वा तु मागधेन भृशाहतः। बभौ वसन्तसमये पलाशः पुष्पितो यथा॥

tato gāṇḍīvadhanvā tu māgadhena bhṛśāhataḥ| babhau vasantasamaye palāśaḥ puṣpito yathā||

The wielder of Gandiva, deeply struck by the king of Magadha, shone like a blossoming Palasha (Butea frondosa) in the season of spring.

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

MBh 9 250.15

अवध्यमानः सोऽभयनन्मागधः पाण्डवर्षभम्। तेन तस्थौ य कौरव्य लोकवीरस्य दर्शने॥

avadhyamānaḥ so'bhayananmāgadhaḥ pāṇḍavarṣabham| tena tasthau ya kauravya lokavīrasya darśane||

Arjuna had no desire of killing the king of Magadha. It was for this that, having struck the son of Pandu, he succeeded in remaining before that foremost of heroes.

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

MBh 9 250.16

सव्यसाची तु संक्रुद्धो विकृष्य बलवद् धनुः। हयांश्चकार निर्जीवान् सारथेश्च शिरोऽहरत्॥

savyasācī tu saṃkruddho vikṛṣya balavad dhanuḥ| hayāṃścakāra nirjīvān sāratheśca śiro'harat||

Then Dhananjaya, becoming angry, drew his bow with great force, and killed his antagonist's horses and then struck off the head of his car-driver.

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

MBh 9 250.17

धनुश्चास्य महच्चित्रं क्षुरेण प्रचकर्त ह। हस्तावापं पताकां च ध्वजं चास्य न्यपातयत्॥

dhanuścāsya mahaccitraṃ kṣureṇa pracakarta ha| hastāvāpaṃ patākāṃ ca dhvajaṃ cāsya nyapātayat||

With a razor-headed arruw he then cut off Meghasandhi's large and beautiful bow, and then his leathern fence. Then cutting off his flag and flag-staff, he caused it to fall down.

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

MBh 9 250.18

स राजा व्यथितो व्यश्वो विधनुर्हतसारथिः। गदामादाय कौन्तेयमभिदुद्राव वेगवान्॥

sa rājā vyathito vyaśvo vidhanurhatasārathiḥ| gadāmādāya kaunteyamabhidudrāva vegavān||

The king of Magadha greatly afflicted, and deprived of horses and bow and driver, took up a mace and rushed with great speed at the son of Kunti.

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

MBh 9 250.19

तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां हेमपरिष्कृताम्। शरैश्चकर्त बहुधा बहुभिर्गृध्रवाजितैः॥

tasyāpatata evāśu gadāṃ hemapariṣkṛtām| śaraiścakarta bahudhā bahubhirgṛdhravājitaiḥ||

Arjuna, then, with many arrows of his equipt with his vulturine feathers, cut off into pieces, that mace of his advancing enemy which was adorned with bright gold.

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

MBh 9 250.20

सा गदा शकलीभूता विशीर्णमणिबन्धना। व्याली विमुच्यमानेव पपात धरणीतले॥

sā gadā śakalībhūtā viśīrṇamaṇibandhanā| vyālī vimucyamāneva papāta dharaṇītale||

Thus cut off into pieces, that mace, with its jeweiled bonds and knots all severed, fell on the Earth, like a she-snake helplessly hurled down by somebody.

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

MBh 9 250.21

विरथं विधनुष्कं च गदया परिवर्जितम्। सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् कपिकेतनः॥ पर्याप्तः क्षत्रधर्मोऽयं दर्शितः पुत्र गम्यताम्। बह्वेतत् समरे कर्म तव बालस्य पार्थिव॥

virathaṃ vidhanuṣkaṃ ca gadayā parivarjitam| sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vākyamabravīt kapiketanaḥ|| paryāptaḥ kṣatradharmo'yaṃ darśitaḥ putra gamyatām| bahvetat samare karma tava bālasya pārthiva||

When his enemy became deprived of his car, his bow, and his mace, the ape-bannered hero then, comforting his cheerless enemy who had been observant of Kshatriya duties, said to him these words: O son, you have sufficiently shorn your adherence to Kshatriya duties. Go now. Great have been the feats, O king, which you have accomplished in battle although you are very young in years.

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

MBh 9 250.22

युधिष्ठिरस्य संदेशो न हन्तव्या नृपा इति। तेन जीवसि राजंस्त्वमपराद्धोऽपि मे रणे।॥

yudhiṣṭhirasya saṃdeśo na hantavyā nṛpā iti| tena jīvasi rājaṃstvamaparāddho'pi me raṇe|||

The command I received from Yudhishthira was that kings who oppose me should not be killed. It is for this you live yet, O monarch, although you have offended me in battle.

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

MBh 9 250.23

इति मत्वा तदात्मानं प्रत्यादिष्टं स्म मागधः। तथ्यमित्यभिगम्यैनं प्राञ्जलिः प्रत्यपूजयत्॥

iti matvā tadātmānaṃ pratyādiṣṭaṃ sma māgadhaḥ| tathyamityabhigamyainaṃ prāñjaliḥ pratyapūjayat||

Thus addressed, the king of Magadha considered himself defeated and spared. Thinking then that it was his duty to do so, he approached Arjuna and joining his hands in respect adored him.

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

MBh 9 250.24

पराजितोऽस्मि भद्रं ते नाहं योधुमिहात्सहे। यद् यत् कृत्यं मया तेऽद्य तद् ब्रूहि कृतमेव तु॥

parājito'smi bhadraṃ te nāhaṃ yodhumihātsahe| yad yat kṛtyaṃ mayā te'dya tad brūhi kṛtameva tu||

And he said, Defeated have I been by you! Blessed be you, I do not venture to continue the battle. Tell me what I am to do now for you! Consider your command as already carried out.'

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

MBh 9 250.25

तमर्जूनः समाश्वास्य पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत्। आगन्तव्यं परां चैत्रीमश्वमेधे नृपस्य नः॥

tamarjūnaḥ samāśvāsya punarevedamabravīt| āgantavyaṃ parāṃ caitrīmaśvamedhe nṛpasya naḥ||

Comforting him again, Arjuna once more said to him. You should go to the HorseSacrifice of our king which takes place at the coming full moon of Chaitra.

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

MBh 9 250.26

इत्युक्तः स तथेत्युक्त्वा पूजयामास तं हयम्। फाल्गुनं च युधि श्रेष्ठं विधिवत् सहदेवजः॥

ityuktaḥ sa tathetyuktvā pūjayāmāsa taṃ hayam| phālgunaṃ ca yudhi śreṣṭhaṃ vidhivat sahadevajaḥ||

Thus addressed by him, the son of Sahadeva said, So be it, and then duly adored that horse as also Phalguna, that foremost of warriors.

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

MBh 9 250.27

ततो यथेष्टमगमत् पुनरेव स केसरी। ततः समुद्रतीरेण वङ्गान् पुण्ड्रान् सकोसलान्॥

tato yatheṣṭamagamat punareva sa kesarī| tataḥ samudratīreṇa vaṅgān puṇḍrān sakosalān||

The sacrificial horse then, having beautiful manes, proceeded at his will along the seacoast, going to the countries of the Bangas, the Pundras, and the Kosalas.

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

MBh 9 250.28

तत्र तत्र च भूरीणि म्लेच्छसैन्यान्यनेकशः। विजिग्ये धनुषा राजन् गाण्डीवेन धनंजयः॥

tatra tatra ca bhūrīṇi mlecchasainyānyanekaśaḥ| vijigye dhanuṣā rājan gāṇḍīvena dhanaṃjayaḥ||

In those kingdoms Dhananjaya, with his bow Gandiva, O king, defeated numberless Mleccha armies one after another.

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