mahabharata, book 9.2 [trans. meiland] (nyu, 2007)

THE CLAY SANSKRIT LIBRARYFOUNDED BY JOHN & JENNIFER CLAY

GENERAL EDITORS

RICHARD GOMBRICH

SHELDON POLLOCK

EDITED BY

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Copyright c 2007 by the CSLAll rights reserved.

First Edition 2007

The Clay Sanskrit Library is co-published byNew York University Pressand the JJC Foundation.

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MahabharataBook Nine

SalyaVolume Two

TRANSLATED BY

JUSTIN MEILAND

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESSJJC FOUNDATION

2007

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataMahabharata. Salyaparvan. Adhyaya 3065.

English & Sanskrit.Mahabharata. Book 9, Salya. Vol. 2

edited and translated by Justin Meiland.p. cm. (The Clay Sanskrit library)In English with Sanskrit parallel text;includes translation from Sanskrit.

Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN 978-0-8147-5737-6 (cloth : alk. paper)

I. Meiland, J.,II. Title. III. Series.

Contents

Sanskrit alphabetical order 7CSL conventions 7

MAHABHARATA IX SHALYA II

Introduction 13

3033 Duryodhana Challenged 31

34 Rama Arrives 83

3554 Sarasvatis Sacred Sites 89

5557 The Duel 279

58 Duryodhana Defeated 311

5961 Insults and Rebukes 325

6263 Krishna Aids 357

6465 Duryodhana Deant 381

Notes 399Proper Names and Epithets 413Index 435

Sandhi Grid 466

csl conventions

sanskrit alphabetical order

Vowels: a a i u u r. r. l. l. e ai o au m. h.Gutturals: k kh g gh nPalatals: c ch j jh nRetroex: t. t.h d. d. h n.Dentals: t th d dh nLabials: p ph b bh mSemivowels: y r l vSpirants: s s. s h

guide to sanskrit pronunciation

a buta, a fatheri sit, feeu putu, u boor. vocalic r, Americanpurdy

or English prettyr. lengthened r.l. vocalic l , ablee, e, e made, esp. in Welsh pro-

nunciationai biteo, o, o rope, esp.Welsh pronun-

ciation; Italian soloau soundm. anusvaranasalizes the pre-

ceding vowelh. visarga, a voiceless aspira-

tion (resembling Englishh), or like Scottish loch, oran aspiration with a faintechoing of the preceding

vowel so that taih. is pro-nounced taihi

k luckkh blockheadg gogh bigheadn angerc chillch matchheadj jogjh aspirated j, hedgehogn canyont. retroex t, try (with the

tip of tongue turned upto touch the hard palate)

t.h same as the preceding butaspirated

d. retroex d (with the tipof tongue turned up totouch the hard palate)

d. h same as the preceding butaspirated

n. retroex n (with the tip

7

mahabharata ix shalya ii

of tongue turned up totouch the hard palate)

t French toutth tent hookd d innerdh guildhalln nowp pillph upheavalb beforebh abhorrentm mind

y yesr trilled, resembling the Ita-

lian pronunciation of rl l ingerv words shores. retroex sh (with the tip

of the tongue turned upto touch the hard palate)

s hissh hood

csl punctuation of english

The acute accent on Sanskrit words when they occur outside of theSanskrit text itself, marks stress, e.g. Ramayana. It is not part of tra-ditional Sanskrit orthography, transliteration or transcription, but wesupply it here to guide readers in the pronunciation of these unfamiliarwords. Since no Sanskrit word is accented on the last syllable it is notnecessary to accent disyllables, e.g. Rama.

The second CSL innovation designed to assist the reader in the pro-nunciation of lengthy unfamiliar words is to insert an unobtrusive mid-dle dot between semantic word breaks in compound names (providedthe word break does not fall on a vowel resulting from the fusion oftwo vowels), e.g. Mahabharata, but Ramayana (not Ramaayana). Ourdot echoes the punctuating middle dot () found in the oldest survivingforms of written Indic, the Ashokan inscriptions of the third centurybce.

The deep layering of Sanskrit narrative has also dictated that we usequotationmarks only to announce the beginning and end of every directspeech, and not at the beginning of every paragraph.

csl punctuation of sanskrit

The Sanskrit text is also punctuated, in accordance with the punc-tuation of the English translation. In mid-verse, the punctuation will

8

csl conventions

not alter the sandhi or the scansion. Proper names are capitalized. MostSanskrit metres have four feet (pada): where possible we print thecommon sloka metre on two lines. In the Sanskrit text, we use FrenchGuillemets (e.g. kva sam. cicrs.uh. ?) instead of English quotation marks(e.g. Where are you o to?) to avoid confusion with the apostrophesused for vowel elision in sandhi.

Sanskrit presents the learnerwith a challenge: sandhi (euphonic com-bination). Sandhi means that when two words are joined in connectedspeech or writing (which in Sanskrit reects speech), the last letter (oreven letters) of the rst word often changes; compare the way we pro-nounce the in the beginning and the end.

In Sanskrit the rst letter of the second word may also change; and ifboth the last letter of the rst word and the rst letter of the second arevowels, they may fuse. This has a parallel in English: a nasal consonant isinserted between two vowels that would otherwise coalesce: a pear andan apple. Sanskrit vowel fusion may produce ambiguity. The chart atthe back of each book gives the full sandhi system.

Fortunately it is not necessary to know these changes in order to startreading Sanskrit. For that, what is important is to know the form of thesecond word without sandhi (pre-sandhi), so that it can be recognizedor looked up in a dictionary. Therefore we are printing Sanskrit with asystem of punctuation that will indicate, unambiguously, the originalform of the second word, i.e., the form without sandhi. Such sandhimostly concerns the fusion of two vowels.

In Sanskrit, vowels may be short or long and are written dierentlyaccordingly. We follow the general convention that a vowel with nomark above it is short. Other books mark a long vowel either with abar called a macron (a) or with a circumex (a). Our system uses themacron, except that for initial vowels in sandhi we use a circumexto indicate that originally the vowel was short, or the shorter of twopossibilities (e rather than ai, o rather than au).

When we print initial a, before sandhi that vowel was a or e, iu or o, uai, eau, o

9


a, a (i.e., the same), (i.e., the same)u, u (i.e., the same)e, o, uai, aiau, au , before sandhi there was a vowel a

further help with vowel sandhi

When a nal short vowel (a, i or u) has merged into a followingvowel, we print at the end of the word, and when a nal long vowel(a, or u) has merged into a following vowel we print at the end ofthe word. The vast majority of these cases will concern a nal a or a.

Examples:

What before sandhi was atra asti is represented as atr astiatra aste atr astekanya asti kany astikanya aste kany asteatra iti atr etikanya iti kany etikanya psita kany epsita

Finally, three other points concerning the initial letter of the sec-ond word:

(1) A word that before sandhi begins with r. (vowel), after sandhibegins with r followed by a consonant: yatha rtu represents pre-sandhiyatha r. tu.

(2) When before sandhi the previous word ends in t and the followingword begins with s, after sandhi the last letter of the previous word is cand the following word begins with ch: syac chastravit represents pre-sandhi syat sastravit.

(3) Where a word begins with h and the previous word ends with adouble consonant, this is our simplied spelling to show the pre-sandhi

10

8HA 8DCK:CI>DCH

form: tad hasati is commonly written as tad dhasati, but we write taddhasati so that the original initial letter is obvious.

8DBEDJC9HWe also punctuate the division of compounds (samasa), simply by

inserting a thin vertical line between words. There are words wherethe decision whether to regard them as compounds is arbitrary. Ourprinciple has been to try to guide readers to the correct dictionary entries.

:M6BEA:Where the Devanagari script reads:

Others would print:

kumbhasthal raks.atu vo vikrn. asinduraren. ur dviradananasya /prasantaye vighnatamaschat.anam. nis.t.hyutabalatapapallaveva //

We print:

kumbhasthal raks.atu vo vikrn. asinduraren. ur dviradananasyaprasantaye vighnatamaschat.anam. nis.t.hyutabalatapapallav eva.

And in English:

MayGaneshas domed foreheadprotect you! Streakedwith vermiliondust, it seems to be emitting the spreading rays of the rising sun topacify the teeming darkness of obstructions.

Navasahasanka and the Serpent Princess I. by Padmagupta

Introduction

T he main event of this, the second half of Shalya(SalyaBparvan), is the decisive mace battle that occursbetween two sworn enemies, Bhima and Duryodhana, atthe end of the great war of the Bharatas. The self-containednature of the section is suggested by the fact that somemanuscripts and editions treat it as a separate book (parvan)called the Book of the Mace (GadaBparvan).1 Conspicuousfor the poignant and ambiguous manner in which the textportrays the slaughter of the Kaurava king through un-lawful means (58.19), the volume also contains a lengthypassage describing the merits of worshipping at pilgrimagesites on the Sarasvati river.

The Story So Far

For readers unfamiliar with the rst volume of Shalya,it would be useful to summarize the events leading upto the second half of the book. The focus of the Mahabharata centers around a dynastic power struggle betweentwo groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas. ThePandavas are forced to spend thirteen years in exile after theeldest of the ve Pandava brothers, Yudhishthira, loses hiskingdom in a gambling match to Duryodhana, the eldestof Dhritarashtras sons. Not only do the Pandavas lose theirkingdom but their wife, Draupadi, is also humiliated whenshe is dragged into an assembly hall during her menstrua-tion period and when Duryodhanas brother, Duhshasana,attempts to disrobe her in front of the royal court. Duryodhanas refusal to make peace with the Pandavas aftertheir exile has ended leads to a war on the plains of Kurukshetra.

15


Following the advice of the Madhava hero Krishna, whoacts as the charioteer of the Pandava warrior Arjuna, thePandavas kill four successive generals of the Kaurava army.While the rst three generals are killed through tactics thatconict with the rules of combat and that are sensitivelyexplored by the text for the moral dilemmas they pose,the fourth general, Shalya, is the only leader to be honor-ably killed in a duel that accords with the warrior code.At Shalyas death, the remainder of the already depletedKaurava army is destroyed, leaving only four warriors alive:Kritavarman, Kripa, Ashvatthaman, and Duryodhana.The rst volume of Shalya concludes with Duryodhanaeeing the battleeld in order to take refuge in a lake.

Duryodhanas Defeat

Duryodhana is far from what one might describe as amodel of good kingship. Impetuous and headstrong, heis in many ways an example of reckless government andirresponsible leadership, culpable for the deaths of his alliesand kinsmen. In particular, one of his major faults, of whichhe and other characters in the epic are frequently reminded,is that he repeatedly rejects the advice of sages, counsellors,and elders (61.48, 63.44):

You never listened to the teachings of Brihaspati andUshanas. You never honored the elderly or listened to ben-ecial words. [. . . ] Even though Bhishma, Somadatta,Bahlika, Kripa, Drona, Dronas son, and wise Vduraall constantly entreated you to make peace, you did notfollow their advice.

16

introduction

From his childhood, Duryodhana is guilty of commit-ting a number of wrongdoings against the Pandavas and atdierent stages in the epic, including this particular volume,various characters accuse him of crimes that even his clos-est family members condemn. One crime that is constantlybrought up is Draupadis humiliation in the assembly hall;her desire for vengeance is a major factor motivating theneed for Duryodhanas downfall.2 But, although signi-cant, this is only one among a whole catalog of misdeedsthat the Pandavas feel more than justies the death of theirenemy, who is branded as a clan destroyer (33.48). Yudhishthira, for example, accuses Duryodhana thus (31.66.):

Youmade special efforts to burn us, use snakes and poisonsagainst us, and drown us too. By stealing our kingdom,speaking abusive words, and maltreating Draupadi, youhave wronged us, O king. For this reason you cannot live,you criminal.3

Duryodhanas transgressions, coupled with his recklessdisregard for good advice and the course of fate, lead to theKaurava hero being described with words such as evil (pa-pa), foolish (durBmati), dim-witted (mandBatman) andvillainous (dus.t. Batman).

However, for all Duryodhanas manifest faults, there isalso a certain nobilitybased on his tenacious subscriptionto a warrior code, in which the quest for power and the gloryof conquering ones foes are paramountthat is expressedin the Kauravas stubborn refusal to submit to his enemies(even if their demands are fair) and it would be simplisticto cast Duryodhana purely as a villain. He possesses sev-

17


eral heroic qualities, particularly in terms of his strengthand martial valor, that result in numerous eulogies of theKaurava king. He is, for example, described thus when heemerges from the lake to ght Bhima (32.39.):

When they saw Duryodhana brandishing his mace andlooking like a peaked mountain or like trident-bearingShiva when enraged with creatureshow that Bharatashone like the blazing sun as he wielded his mace!whenthey saw the mighty-armed enemy-tamer rise out of thewater, mace in hand, every living being thought that heresembled staff-bearing Death.

Indeed,Duryodhanas hotblooded temperament anddis-tinguished ability as a warrior echo Bhimas character inmany ways, thus making the two heroes suitable oppo-nents for the duel forming the main event of this volume.4

Krishna himself points out (33.2.) that no one exceptBhima can match Duryodhana in a ght and he furtheradmits (33.8.) that Duryodhanas superior skill outweighsBhimas superior physical strength.

One of Duryodhanas main concerns as a kshatriya war-rior is to attain the glory of dying in battle and thereby reachheaven. It is therefore all the more remarkable that whenwe meet Duryodhana at the beginning of this volume, heis hiding in a lake and avoiding the Pandavas. This is thekings lowest point in the epic. Not only does his reluctanceto ght disappoint his allies, but he also lays himself opento the ridicule of his enemies. Yudhishthira, for example,berates him thus (31.20.):

18

introduction

Remember your clan and your birth! How can you boastof a birth in the Kaurava lineage if you enter water andabide there, fearful of battle? [. . . ] How is it, my friend,that you lie in a lake when you have caused the deathsof your relatives, friends, uncles, and kinsmen? Althougharrogant about your heroism, you are no hero.

Although Duryodhana gives various excuses for hisactionswith words that suggest more a sense of shamethan truth5he ultimately responds to Yudhishthiras de-mands to ght and emerges from the water a hero again.Ironically, however, while Yudhishthira appeals to the war-rior code in order to convince Duryodhana to re-engagein battle, it is only by transgressing the warrior code thatBhima is nally able to fell his enemy. This he achievesby breaking Duryodhanas thighs (on Krishnas advice), anact that violates the rules of combat. Balarama, known forhis impartiality toward the Kauravas and Pandavas and ateacher of both Duryodhana and Bhima, is incensed whenhe sees this dishonorable deed (60.4.):

Shame on you, Bhima! Shame on you! It is shameful tostrike an opponent below the navel in honorable combat. Ihave never seen an action like Vrikodaras before in amacecontest. The Teachings state that one should never strikebelow the navel. This fool does not know the Teachingsand acts according to his own will!

Nor does the text restrain itself from problematizing themoral implications of defeating the Kaurava king in thisway. Krishna himself repeatedly admits that Duryodhanacannot be conquered justly (dharma) and that the Pandavas

19


must resort to deceit (maya) and unlawful means (aBnya-ya) if they are to win.6 Furthermore, when Duryodhanais felled, the numerous bad omens that appear (58.48.)accentuate the transgressive nature of Bhimas deed, leav-ing the Pandava troops bewildered (58.59). Support forDuryodhana from the surrounding environment is furtherexpressed when Duryodhana criticizes Krishna for his im-moral slaughter of several Kaurava allies and eulogizes hisown achievements (61.27., 61.50.), whereupon a showerof owers falls from the sky and deities voice their approval.At this juncture, Krishnas own men are said to feel shame(61.57.):

When they saw these miracles and witnessed the honorbeing done to Duryodhana, the men who were headed byVasudeva were ashamed.When they heard how Bhishma,Drona, Karna and Bhurishravas had been immorallykilled, they were sorrowful and stricken with grief.

Nor do the crimes committed against Duryodhana ceasewith the breaking of his thighs. In his rage, Bhima also rubsthe Kauravas head with his foot, an act of which Krishnahimself disapproves (60.301). Balarama,who is establishedby the narrative as an impartial judge of the duel, is so out-ragedby these actions that he even attempts to attackBhima.Although restrained by his brother Krishna, Rama remainsunpersuaded by what the narrator describes as Krishnasfraudulent morality (60.23) and instead turns his back onthe scene, condemning Bhimas victory thus (60.24.):

The Pandava will be known in the world as a crookedghter because he has slain righteous King Suyodhana

20

introduction

through unjust means. But righteous Duryodhanatheroyal son of Dhritarashtra and lord of menwill attainthe eternal realm because he was killed as a fair ghter.

Both Krishna and Yudhishthira (59.21., 61.39.) citeDuryodhanas own immoral behavior as the fundamentalcause of the suerings of the war and as a justication forhis present misfortune.7

It is because of your own wrongdoingyour greed, mad-ness and stupiditythat you suffer this terrible misfor-tune, descendant of Bharata. You have arrived at yourown destruction after causing the deaths of your friends,brothers, fathers, sons, grandchildren and others. (59.23.)

Ultimately, however, the primary justication used forboth Bhimas immoral act and other tactics employedthroughout the war is simply that the goal of victory vali-dates the meansthe Pandavas need to resort to such un-lawful methods if they are to win.8 Krishnas almost Machi-avellian outlook is expressedwhenhe addresses thePandavaswith the following words (61.60.):

If you had fought fairly in battle, you could never havekilled swift-weaponed Duryodhana or all these great andcourageous warriors. This king could never have beenkilled through just means, nor could all the great archersand great warriors that were led by Bhishma. In my desireto benet you, I have killed every one of thesemen in battleby using various ploys and repeated deception.

Although the Pandavas have several moral arguments intheir favor, the decisive reason for their victory is simply that

21


they have Krishna and fate on their side.9 Furthermore, onthe theological level of the text, Krishna is identied withthe god Vishnu and it is thus devotion to Vishnu that hasoverridden the old kshatriya code. One of the remarkableaspects of Duryodhanas character is that he continues todefy Krishna, even at his death (65.28):10

Although I am aware of the might of innitely powerfulKrishna, he has not toppled me from practicing the ksha-triya law properly. I have fullled that law. I am not atall to be mourned.

This deance continues through to the end of the book(Canto 65) when Duryodhana consecrates Ashvatthamanas the fth general of the Kauravas, an act that leads to theterrible massacre of the next book, The Dead of the Night(SauptikaBparvan).

While there is an element of humiliation in Duryodha-nas nal moments, as the Pandavas abandon their crippledenemy on the ground bewailing the maltreatment he hasreceived, there is also a degree of poignant pathos as thisonce great warrior is left to die alone and apart from hisloved ones. This pathos is mixed with a tone of solemnityand respect as the king sings several swansongs (61.50.,64.18., 65.24.), in which he lists the virtuous deeds hehas performed as a kshatriya, repeatedly voicing the refrain:Who has a better end than I? While the claims Duryodhana makes may at times be questionable and whilehe conveniently omits to mention his own responsibilty incausing the deaths of his allies and relatives, there is, one

22

introduction

senses, a gravitas to these passages that invests the hero withdue honor at his nal hour.11

The Trtha Pilgrimage

Although the mace battle is the most signicant eventin this volume regarding the main narrative representedby the war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, themajority of the text (Cantos 3554) comprises an account ofBalaramas pilgrimage of the sacred sites (trthas) along theSarasvati river. The structure of the second half of Shalyatherefore consists of the mace battle at either end of thevolume and the pilgrimage account placed in between. Thiscircular framework is reinforced by the fact that some versesare repeated almost verbatim before and after the Sarasvatisection.12

Devotional worship at trthas plays a signicant role inHindu thought. A trtha is a sacred site, often located besidea body of water, where devotees can make merit by per-forming various religious acts, such as oering donations,bathing, fasting, or even giving up ones body.13 Often suchsites are associated with the deed of a particular deity or animportant human being, and the majority of the account ofBalaramas pilgrimage describes the various great feats thathave been performed at dierent sites along the Sarasvatiriver. These range from the performance of a sacrice or anact of asceticism to the consecration of Kumara as generalof the gods. They also include the feats of various femaleascetics,14 one of whom surpasses her fellow male asceticsin her practice of austerities and another of whom wins aplace alongside Indra in heaven (Canto 48). Mention is also

23


frequently made of the benets that accrue from bathingor performing other religious practices at these sites. Shiva,for example, describes the fruits of worshipping him at thetrtha of Saptasarasvata (38.51):

Whoever worships me at this tirtha of Saptasarasvatawill have no difculty in gaining their desires either inthis world or the next. Without doubt, they will reach theworld of Sarasvati.

The apparent dislocation of the Sarasvati account fromthe main narrative of the war may tempt scholars to viewthe section as a later addition. However, there are importantways in which the passage can be considered to relate to thewar and to the mace battle that brackets it.

Balaramas decision to embark on his journey is mo-tivated by an argument he has with Krishna, in whichhe unsuccessfully attempts to persuade his brother not totake sides in the war. Departing just before the battle be-gins, Balaramas pilgrimage thus occurs in tandem withthe events of the war and his serene acts of worship at thetrthas stand in marked contrast to the horrors committedat Kurukshetra. In an important sense, therefore, the trthapilgrimage can be seen as providing a type of purication forthe terrible events of the war. This is particularly signicantwhen one considers the passage in which Kurukshetra ispraised as a site where men who give up their lives in battledirectly enter heaven (Canto 53). Not only does this serveto purify the deaths of those who have died in battle so far,it also particularly relates to Duryodhana and his immi-nent slaughter in the mace contest. Hence the signicance

24

introduction

of Balaramas words when he directs the warriors to ghttheir duel at Kurukshetra (or Samantapanchaka) (55.6.):

Best of kings, I have heard seers say that Kurukshetra is anextremely sacred and pure place that leads to heaven andis frequented by gods, seers and great-spirited brahmins.Those who give up their bodies in battle there will foreverlive with Shakra in heaven, my lord. Let us thereforequickly go to Samantapanchaka, Your Majesty. In therealm of the gods, Samantapanchaka is famed as thenorthern altar of Prajapati.

In addition to securing Duryodhanas place in heaven,the trtha passage also establishes Balarama as a man ofreligious virtue and devotion, thus giving heightened sig-nicance to his outrage at the dishonorable way in whichthe Kaurava king is slain. As someone who has not wit-nessed any of the horrors of the war, his presence at themace battle serves as a stark reminder of the losses that haveoccurred as a result of the atrocities. While joyfully wel-comed to the mace contest by both sides, these courtesiesare but shortlived, belonging to a world previous to thebattle, and Balarama is quick to leave the scene in disgust,turning his back on the victory of the Pandavas.

The Sanskrit Text and the Translation

As in the rst volume of Shalya, I have used Kinjawa-dekars edition of the vulgate established by Nilakanthaas the main text for my translation and I have also referredto variants found in two nineteenth-century Bombay edi-tions of Nilakantha, one of which (Edition B) is extremely

25


close to Kinjawadekar. For problematic passages, I haveoccasionally made use of Nilakantha variants listed underDn in the apparatus of the Critical Edition (CE). A full listof all variants from these three Nilakantha editions and anyemendations can be found on the CSL website.

The frequency of epithets in epic literature poses a prob-lem for translators, as they can sometimes threaten to breakthe ow of sentences in English. Since this translation aimsto remain close to the Sanskrit, I have attempted to translateall epithets when they occur but have occasionally omittedthemwhen there ismore than one common epithet in a sen-tence or if they appear to hinder the translation too greatly.

Where possible, I cite CSL volumes when making ref-erences to other sections of the Mahabharata. However,since several volumes are in the process of being translatedand since verse numbers cannot be predicted in advance, Ihave sometimes had to refer to the Critical Edition, withthe intention that this will be rectied in the future.

notes

1 See for example edition A, which treats the section as a separateparvan. Editions B and K treat the section as a sub-parvan ofthe SalyaBparvan.

2 The power of female wrath is an important theme in the epic.Consider, for example, the fear that Yudhishthira expresses atGandharis potential anger when she hears of her sons slaugh-ter: 63.8.

3 For other passages, see: 33.41., 56.20., 59.4., 61.39.

26

introduction

4 See Cantos 5557 for numerous verses comparing the twoheroes.

5 See for example 31.37, where Duryodhana claims that he hasretreated simply because he is weary. Duryodhanas exchangewith Yudhishthira is also full of cutting sarcasm; see for exam-ple 31.50., in which Duryodhana tells Yudhishthira to enjoythe earth now that it has been destroyed.

6 See particularly 58.3. and 61.60. Krishna is also against thevery existence of the duel, accusing Yudhishthira of gross irre-sponsibility in oering Duryodhana the kingdom if he beatshis opponent and comparing his misjudgment to the reckless-ness he showed in gambling away his kingdom in the assemblyhall (33.2.).

7 Fate is also referred to as a factor. See, for example, 59.25, 63.46.

8 Krishna seeks some warrant for his actions by citing the godsuse of deceit in defeating demons in the past (31.8., 58.5,61.67). However, although demons are frequently associatedwith chaos, issues of morality are often not of foremost impor-tance in these battles and, in epic and Vedic literature at least,the conict between the gods and demons is often an amoralpower struggle based around control over sacrice.

9 For an illuminating study on the role of Krishna in the Ma-habharata, see Hiltebeitel 1990.

10 SeeGitomer 1992 forDuryodhanas relationshipwithKrishnain both Sanskrit epic and drama.

11 Duryodhana does not actually die until Canto 9 of the Saup-tikaBparvan, where we are told that he attains heaven afterlearning of Ashvatthamans gruesome massacre of the Pandavatroops.

12 Compare 33.30. and 56.16.

27


13 Trtha is a dicult word to translate. Literally meaning cross-ing, a trtha enables devotees to cross over to the otherworld. Throughout the volume, I have sometimes translatedthe word as sacred site and sometimes let it stand as trtha.Many trthas are found by rivers, where steps enable devoteesto bathe in and sip the sacred water. Another lengthy passageon trthas is found in MBh CE III.80153. See Vassilkov 2000for a discussion of pilgrimage and the Mahabharata.

14 Cantos 48, 52, and 54.68.

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the mahabharata in sanskritThe Mahabharatam with the Bharata Bhawadeepa Commentary of Nla-

kan. t.ha. Edited by Ramachandrashastri Kinjawadekar.192936. 7 vols. Poona: Chitrashala Press. (Edition K).

The Mahabharata with Nlakan. t.has commentary. Edited by Balakrish-na Karbelkar et al . 1862. 8 vols. Bombay: Bapusadashiva Press.(Edition A).

The Mahabharata with Nlakan. t.has commentary. Edited by A. Khadi-lkar. 18623. 8 vols. Bombay: Ganapati Krishnajis Press. (Edi-tion B).

The Mahabharata. Critically edited by V.K. Sukthankar, S.K. Bel-valkar, P.L. Vaidya et al . 193366. 19 vols. Poona: BhandarkarOriental Research Institute. (MBh CE).

the mahabharata in translationGanguli, Kisari Mohan (trans.) [early editions ascribed to the pub-

lisher, P.C. Roy]. 188499. The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwai-payana Vyasa. 12 vols. Calcutta: Bharata Press.

Van Buitenen, J.A.B. (trans. and ed.). 197378. The Mahabharata[Books 15]. 3 vols. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

28

introduction

secondary sources

(Either used in the Introduction and Notes, or works that contribute tounderstanding this part of the Mahabharata)

Brockington, John. 1998. The Sanskrit Epics. Leiden: Brill.Doniger, Wendy and Smith, Brian K. (trans.). 1991. The Laws of

Manu. New Delhi: Penguin Books India.Gitomer, David. 1992. King Duryodhana: The Mahabharata Dis-

course of Sinning and Virtue in Epic and Drama. Journal ofAmerican Oriental Studies 112. 222232.

Hiltebeitel, Alf. 1990. The Ritual of Battle: Krishna in the Maha-bharata. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Monier-Williams, Monier. 1899. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Ox-ford: Oxford University Press.

Oberlies, Thomas. 2003. A Grammar of Epic Sanskrit. Berlin: Walterde Gruyter.

Srensen, Sren. 190425. An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata.London: Williams and Norgate.

Vassilkov, Yaroslav. 2000. Indian Practice of Pilgrimage and theGrowth of the Mahabharata in the Light of New Epigraph-ical Sources. Stages and Traditions: Temporal and HistoricalFrameworks in Epic and Puranic Literature. Ed. M. Brocking-ton. Zagreb: Academia Scientiarum etArtiumCroatica. 133156.

29

3033Duryodhana Challenged

dhr.taras.t.ra uvaca:

h ates.u sarvaAsainyes.u Pan. d. uAputrai ran. Aajire30.1 mama sainyAavasis.t.as te kim akurvata Sanjaya,Kr.tavarma Kr.pas c aiva Dron. aAputras ca vryavan?

Duryodhanas ca mandAatma raja kim akarot tada?

sanjaya uvaca:

sam. pradravatsu dares.u ks.atriyan. am. mahAatmanam

vidrute sibire sunye bhr.sAodvignas trayo rathah. .

nisamya Pan. d. uAputran. am. tada vai jayinam. svanam,

vidrutam. sibiram. dr.s.t.va sayAahne rajaAgr.ddhinah.sthanam. n arocayam. s tatra. tatas te hradam abhyayuh. .

Yudhis.t.hiro pi dharmAatma bhratr.bhih. sahito ran. e30.5

hr.s.t.ah. paryacarad rajan DuryodhanaAvadhAepsaya.

margaman. as tu sam. kruddhas tava putram. jayAais.in. ah. ,

yatnato nves.aman. as te n aiv apasyan janAadhipam.

sa hi tvren. a vegena gadaApan. ir apakramat

tam. hradam. pravisac c api vis.t.abhy apah. svaAmayaya.

yada tu Pan. d. avah. sarve suAparisrantaAvahanah.tatah. svaAsibiram. prapya vyatis.t.hanta saAsainikah. .

tatah. Kr.pas ca Draun. is ca Kr.tavarma ca Satvatah. ,

sannivis.t.es.u Parthes.u prayatas tam. hradam. sanaih. .

te tam. hradam. samasadya yatra sete janAadhipah.30.10

abhyabhas.anta durAdhars.am. rajanam. suptam ambhasi:

32

dhritarashtra said:

W hen all the soldiers had been killed by Pandus sons 30.1on the battleeld, what did my surviving troops do,Sanjaya, namely Kritavarman, Kripa, and the erce son ofDrona? And what did foolish King Duryodhana* do?

sanjaya said:When the wives of the heroic kshatriyas* were eeing and

the campwas empty anddeserted, the threewarriors becamedeeply distressed. It was evening time and on hearing thecheers of Pandus victorious sons and seeing the abandonedcamp, they longed for their king and were unwilling to staythere any longer. They therefore set o for the lake.*

Righteous Yudhishthira, however, joyfully rampaged 30.5with his brothers on the battleeld, eager to kill Duryodha-na, Your Majesty. In their desire for victory, the Pandavasfuriously sought after your son and endeavored to trackhim down but could not see the king anywhere. Bearinghis mace, Duryodhana had ed with ardent speed and en-tered the lake after magically freezing its waters. Since theiranimals were extremely tired, the Pandavas all returned totheir camp and rested there with their troops.

While the Parthas stayed in their camp, Kripa, Kritavarman the Satvata, and the son of Drona slowly advancedtoward the lake. On reaching the lake where the king lay, 30.10they addressed the invincible monarch as he slept in thewater:

33


rajann uttis.t.ha! yudhyasva sah asmabhir Yudhis.t.hiram!jitva va pr.thivm. bhunks.va hato va svargam apnuhi!tes.am api balam. sarvam. hatam. Duryodhana tvaya.pratividdhas ca bhuyis.t.ham. ye sis.t.as tatra sainikah.na te vegam. vis.ahitum. saktas tava visam. pateasmabhir api guptasya. tasmad uttis.t.ha Bharata!

duryodhana uvaca:dis.t.ya pasyami vo muktan dr.sat purus.aAks.ayat

Pan. d. uAKauravaAsam. mardaj jvamanan naraArs.abhan!vijes.yamo vayam. sarve visranta vigataAklamah. .bhavantas ca parisranta vayam. ca bhr.saAviks.atah. .udrn. am. ca balam. tes.am. . tena yuddham. na rocaye.

na tv etad adbhutam. vra yad vo mahad idam. manah. .30.15asmasu ca para bhaktir. na tu kalah. parakrame.visramy aikam. nisam adya bhavadbhih. sahito ran. epratiyotsyamy aham. satrun svo. na me sty atra sam. sayah. .

sanjaya uvaca:evam ukto bravd Draun. rajanam. yuddhaAdurAmadam:uttis.t.ha rajan! bhadram. te vijes.yamo vayam. paran!is.t.aApurtena danena satyena ca jayena ca

sape rajan yatha hy adya nihanis.yami Somakan!ma sma yajnaAkr.tam. prtim apnuyam. sajAjanAocitamyad mam. rajanm. vyus.t.am. na hi hanmi paran ran. e!

34

duryodhana challenged

Rise, Your Majesty! Fight with us against Yudhishthira!Either conquer and enjoy the earth or die and attain heaven!You have destroyed their entire army, Duryodhana. The re-mainder of their troops are mostly wounded and are unableto withstand your power, especially if you are protectedby us, lord of the people. Rise, therefore, descendent ofBharata!

duryodhana said:How splendid to see that you bull-like men are alive and

that you have escaped from this war between the Pandusand Kauravas, this massacre of human beings! After we haveall rested and dispelled our fatigue, we will achieve victory.You are tired and I am badly wounded. Their army is stirredup and I am not keen to ght against it.

It is not surprising that you have such lofty thoughts, O 30.15heroes. You have shown the highest devotion toward me.But this is not the time for attack. Today I will rest for onenight and tomorrow I will ght back against the enemy,accompanied by you in battle. Of this I have no doubt.

sanjaya said:In response, the son of Drona said these words to King

Duryodhana, who is dicult to defeat in battle:Rise, Your Majesty! Fortune be with you, we will con-

quer the enemy!By my sacricial store* and gifts, and by truth and vic-

tory, I swear that I will vanquish the Somakas today, YourMajesty! If I have not slaughtered the enemy in battle after

35


n aAhatva sarvaAPancalan vimoks.ye kavacam. vibho!30.20

iti satyam. bravmy etat tan me sr.n. u janAadhipa.

tes.u sam. bhas.aman. es.u vyadhas tam. desam ayayuh.

mam. saAbharaAparisrantah. panyAartham. yadAr.cchaya.

te hi nityam. mahaAraja Bhmasenasya lubdhakah.

mam. saAbharan upajahrur bhaktya paramaya vibho.

te tatra dhis.t.hitas tes.am. sarvam. tad vacanam. rahah.

DuryodhanaAvacas c aiva susruvuh. sam. gata mithah. :

te pi sarve mahAes.vAasa aAyuddhAarthini Kaurave

nirbandham. paramam. cakrus tada vai yuddhaAkanks.in. ah. .

tam. s tatha samudks.y atha Kauravan. am. mahaArathan30.25

aAyuddhaAmanasam. c aiva rajanam. sthitam ambhasi,

tes.am. srutva ca sam. vadam. rajnas ca salile satah. ,

vyadh abhyajanan* rajAendra salilaAstham. Suyodhanam.

te purvam. Pan. d. uAputren. a pr.s.t.a hy asan sutam. tava

yadAr.cch opagatas tatra rajanam. parimargitah. .

tatas te Pan. d. uAputrasya smr.tva tad bhas.itam. tada

anyonyam abruvan rajan mr.gaAvyadhah. sanair iva:

Duryodhanam. khyapayamo dhanam. dasyati Pan. d. avah. .

suAvyaktam iha nah. khyato hrade Duryodhano nr.pah. .

tasmad gacchamahe sarve yatra raja Yudhis.t.hirah.30.30

akhyatum. salile suptam. Duryodhanam aAmars.an. am.

36


this night has passed, then may I not enjoy the bliss thatcomes from sacrices and that is due to good men.

I will not take o my armor until I have destroyed all 30.20the Panchalas, my lord! Listen, ruler of people, to this truththat I speak.

While the men were talking to each other, some hunterswho were tired from carrying their loads of meat happenedto arrive in the area in order to drink water. These huntersregularly brought loads of meat to Bhimasena in their deepdevotion to him, great king. Standing at that spot and gath-ered together in secret, they heard the entire private con-versation of those warriors, including Duryodhanas words.They listened as the great archers, who were eager for war,all strongly argued against the Kaurava king, who was un-willing to ght.

When the hunters observed the great warriors of the 30.25Kauravas and saw the king lying in thewaterwithno inclina-tion for war, and when they heard the conversation betweenthe men and the water-residing king, they discovered thatSuyodhana was hiding in the lake, Your Majesty. The sonof Pandu had earlier asked them about your son and, bychance, they had now come to that place and tracked downthe king.

Remembering the words of Pandus son, Your Majesty,the animal hunters quietly said to each other:

The Pandava will give us money if we tell him aboutDuryodhana. It is very clear to us that famous King Duryodhana is in this lake. Let us therefore all go to King Yudhi 30.30shthira and inform him that intolerant Duryodhana sleeps

37


Dhr.taras.t.rAatmaAjam. tasmai Bhmasenaya dhmate

sayanam. salile sarve kathayamo dhanurAbhr.te.

sa no dasyati suAprto dhanani bahulany uta.

kim. no mam. sena sus.ken. a pariklis.t.ena sos.in. a?

evam uktva tu te vyadhah. sam. prahr.s.t.a dhanAarthinah.mam. saAbharan upadaya prayayuh. sibiram. prati.

Pan. d. av api mahaAraja labdhaAlaks.ah. praharin. ah.aApasyamanah. samare Duryodhanam avasthitam,

nikr.tes tasya papasya te param. gamanAepsavah.30.35

caran sam. pres.ayam asuh. samantat tad ran. Aajire.

agamya tu tatah. sarve nas.t.am. Duryodhanam. nr.pam

nyavedayanta sahita DharmaArajasya sainikah. .

tes.am. tad vacanam. srutva caran. am. BharataArs.abha

cintam abhyagamat tvram. nisasvasa ca parthivah. .

atha sthitanam. Pan. d. unam. dnanam. BharataArs.abha

tasmad desad apakramya tvarita lubdhaka vibho

ajagmuh. sibiram. hr.s.t.a dr.s.t.va Duryodhanam. nr.pam.

varyaman. ah. pravis.t.as ca Bhmasenasya pasyatah. .

te tu Pan. d. avam asadya Bhmasenam. mahaAbalam

tasmai tat sarvam acakhyur yad vr.ttam. yac ca vai srutam.

tato Vr.kodaro rajan dattva tes.am. dhanam. bahu,30.40

DharmaArajaya tat sarvam acacaks.e paranAtapah. :

asau Duryodhano rajan vijnato mama lubdhakaih.sam. stabhya salilam. sete yasy arthe paritapyase.

38


in this water. We should also all tell the wise archer Bhimasena that Dhritarashtras son lies in this lake. He will bevery pleased and give us much wealth. What need have wefor this dried meat that is withered and parched?

Saying these words, the hunters joyfully took up theirloads of meat and set o for the camp, eager for wealth.

Meanwhile, the conquering Pandavas, who always hittheir marks, were unable to see Duryodhana on the bat-tleeld, Your Majesty. Eager to cease the depravity of that 30.35villain, they dispatched scouts all over the battleeld. Butwhen the soldiers returned, they all jointly informed theKing of Righteousness that King Duryodhana had disap-peared.On hearing the scouts words, the king became lledwith great anxiety and sighed, bull of the Bharatas.

While the Panduswere in this downcast state, the huntersswiftly departed from the lake and arrived at the camp,joyful that they had seen King Duryodhana, bull of theBharatas. Although prohibited from doing so, they enteredthe camp, with Bhimasena watching all the while. Theythen approached Bhimasena, the mighty Pandava, and in-formed him of everything that had happened and every-thing that they had heard.

Enemy-scorching Vrikodara then paid the hunters hand- 30.40somely and told the King of Righteousness all the news:

Duryodhanathe cause of your distresshas beenspotted by my hunters, Your Majesty. He is lying in wa-ter that he has frozen.

39


tad vaco Bhmasenasya priyam. srutva visam. pateAjatasatruh. Kaunteyo hr.s.t.o bhut saha sodaraih. .tam. ca srutva mahAes.vAasam. pravis.t.am. salilaAhrade,ks.ipram eva tato gacchan purasAkr.tya Janardanam.

tatah. kilaAkilaAsabdah. pradur asd visam. patePan. d. avanam. prahr.s.t.anam. Pancalanam. ca sarvasah. .sim. haAnadam. s tatas cakruh. ks.ved. am. s ca BharataArs.abha30.45

tvaritah. ks.atriya rajan jagmur Dvaipayanam. hradam.

jnatah. papo Dhartaras.t.ro dr.s.t.as c ety aAsakr.d ran. eprakrosan Somakas tatra hr.s.t.aArupah. samantatah. .tes.am asu prayatanam. rathanam. tatra veginambabhuva tumulah. sabdo divaAspr.k pr.thivApate.Duryodhanam. parpsantas tatra tatra Yudhis.t.hiramanvayus tvaritas te vai rajanam. srantaAvahanah. ,Arjuno Bhmasenas ca MadrAputrau ca Pan. d. avauDhr.s.t.adyumnas ca Pancalyah. Sikhan. d. capaArajitah.Uttamauja Yudhamanyuh. Satyakis ca mahaArathah.30.50Pancalanam. ca ye sis.t.a Draupadeyas ca Bharatahayas ca sarve nagas ca satasas ca padatayah. .

tatah. prapto mahaAraja DharmaArajah. pratapavanDvaipayanam. hradam. ghoram. yatra Duryodhano bhavat.stAaAmalaAjalam. hr.dyam. dvityam iva sagarammayaya salilam. stabhya yatr abhut te sthitah. sutah. .atyadbhutena vidhina daivaAyogena BharatasalilAantarAgatah. sete durAdarsah. kasya cit prabhomanus.asya manus.yAendra gadaAhasto janAadhipah. .

40


Ajatashatru, the son of Kunti, was delighted when heheard Bhimasenas welcome words, as were his brothers,lord of the people. On hearing that the great archer hadentered the lake, they quickly departed, with Janardana infront of them.

In their joy, the Pandavas and Panchalas then cheeredon all sides, lord of the people. After shouting and making 30.45lion-roars, the warriors quickly set o for the Dvaipayanalake, bull of the Bharatas.

All over the battleeld the jubilant Somakas repeatedlyshouted: The evil son of Dhritarashtra has been foundand seen! As the men rapidly advanced forward, theirswift chariots made a cacophony of noise that penetratedthe heavens, lord of the people. In their eagerness to nd 30.50Duryodhana, Arjuna, Bhimasena, the two Pandava sons ofMadri, the Panchala prince Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandin,who is radiant with his bow, Uttamaujas, Yudhamanyu, thegreat warrior Satyaki, the surviving Panchalas, and the sonsofDraupadias well as all their horses, elephants, and hun-dreds of infantrymenswiftly followed King Yudhishthirahere and there, even though their animals were tired, de-scendant of Bharata.

The mighty King of Righteousness then reached the ter-rible lake of Dvaipayana, where Duryodhana was situated.It was in that charming lakewhich had cool and cleanwater and which resembled a second oceanthat your sonrested after magically freezing its waters. Through somemiraculous ordinance or divine application, the king layhidden in the water, mace in hand, invisible to any human,descendant of Bharata.

41


tato Duryodhano raja salilAantarAgato vasan

susruve tumulam. sabdam. jaladAopamaAnih. svanam.

Yudhis.t.hiras ca rajAendra tam. hradam. saha sodaraih.30.55

ajagama mahaAraja tava putraAvadhaya vai,

mahata sankhaAnadena rathaAnemiAsvanena ca

urdhvam. dhunvanmahaAren. um. kampayam. s c apimedinm.

Yaudhis.t.hirasya sainyasya srutva sabdam. mahaArathah.Kr.tavarma Kr.po Draun. rajanam idam abruvan:

ime hy ayanti sam. hr.s.t.ah. Pan. d. ava jitaAkasinah. .

apayasyamahe tavad anujanatu no bhavan.

Duryodhanas tu tac chrutva

tes.am. tatra tarasvinam

tath ety uktva hradam. tam. vai

mayay astambhayat prabho.

te tv anujnapya rajanam. bhr.sam. sokaAparayan. ah.30.60

jagmur dure mahaAraja Kr.paAprabhr.tayo rathah. .

te gatva duram adhvanam. nyagrodham. preks.ya maris.a

nyavisanta bhr.sam. srantas cintayanto nr.pam. prati:

vis.t.abhya salilam. supto Dhartaras.t.ro mahaAbalah.Pan. d. avas c api sam. praptas tam. desam. yuddham psavah. .

katham. nu yuddham. bhavita? katham. raja bhavis.yati?

katham. nu Pan. d. ava rajan pratipatsyanti Kauravam?

ity evam. cintayanas tu rathebhyo svan vimucya te

tatr asam. cakrire rajan Kr.paAprabhr.tayo rathah. .

42


From within the lake, King Duryodhana heard this tu-multuous noise that rumbled like a thundercloud. Swirling 30.55up a mass of dust and making the earth tremble with theblare of his conches and the rumble of his chariot wheels,Yudhishthira then arrived at the lake with his brothers inorder to kill your son, great king.

On hearing the noise of Yudhishthiras army, the mightywarriors Kritavarman, Kripa, and the son of Drona said tothe king:

Here come the joyful, conquering Pandavas. Please giveus leave to depart!

Hearing the words of those mighty men, Duryodhanaconsented to their request and magically froze the lake, mylord. After gaining the kings permission, Kripa and the 30.60other warriors traveled far away, lled with deep grief, greatking. After they had gone a long distance, the exhaustedmen spotted a banyan tree and set up camp, brooding overtheir king:

The mighty son of Dhritarashtra sleeps in frozen waterand the Pandavas have arrived at that site, seeking warfare.How will the battle turn out? What will happen to theking? How will the Pandavas behave toward the Kaurava,O king?*

Thinking this, Kripa and the other warriors releasedthe horses from their chariots and rested at that site, YourMajesty.

43


sanjaya uvaca:

tatas tes.v apayates.u rathes.u tris.u Pan. d. avah.31.1

tam. hradam. pratyapadyanta yatra Duryodhano bhavat.

asadya ca KuruAsres.t.ha tada Dvaipayanam. hradam,

stambhitam. Dhartaras.t.ren. a dr.s.t.va tam. salilAasayam,

Vasudevam idam. vakyam abravt KuruAnandanah. :

pasy emam. Dhartaras.t.ren. a mayam apsu prayojitam.

vis.t.abhya salilam. sete n asya manus.ato bhayam.

daivm. mayam imam. kr.tva salilAantarAgato hy ayam

nikr.tya nikr.tiAprajno. na me jvan vimoks.yate!

yady asya samare sahyam. kurute vajraAbhr.t svayam31.5

tath apy enam. hatam. yuddhe loka draks.yanti Madhava.

vasudeva uvaca:

mayavina imam. mayam. mayaya jahi Bharata.

mayav mayaya vadhyah. ! satyam etad Yudhis.t.hira.

kriyAabhyupayair bahubhir mayam apsu prayojya ca

jahi tvam. BharataAsres.t.ha mayAatmanam. Suyodhanam.

kriyAabhyupayair Indren. a nihata daityaAdanavah. .

kriyAabhyupayair bahubhir Balir baddho mahAatmana.

kriyAabhyupayaih. bahubhir Hiran. yaks.o mahAasurah.Hiran. yakasipus c aiva kriyay aiva nis.uditau.

Vr.tras ca nihato rajan kriyay aiva. na sam. sayah. .

44


sanjaya said:After the three warriors had departed, the Pandavas 31.1

arrived at the lake where Duryodhana lay. Approaching theDvaipayana lake, Yudhishthira, that delight of the Kurus,saw that the body of water had been frozen by the son ofDhritarashtra and said these words to Vasudeva, best ofKurus:

Look at the magic that the son of Dhritarashtra hasworked on these waters. Here he lies, after hardening thewater, and has no fear of any human. By employing suchdivine magic, this master of base behavior hides in this lakethrough trickery. But hewill not escapeme alive! Theworlds 31.5will seeDuryodhana slaughtered in battle,Madhava, even ifthunderbolt-wielding Indra himself were to help himght.

vasudeva said:It is through a trick, descendant of Bharata, that youmust

destroy this magicians magic. A trickster must be killed bya trick! This is the truth, Yudhishthira.

Work your own magic on the water and use numerousploys and devices to destroy Suyodhana, who himself hasa deceitful soul, best of Bharatas.

It was through numerous ploys and devices that Indrakilled the daityas and danavas. It was through numerousploys and devices that great-spirited Vishnu bound Bali.*It was through numerous ploys and devices that the greatdemon Hiranyaksha was annihilated. And it was througha ruse too that Hiranyakashipu was killed. Vritra was alsoslaughtered by strategy.* Of this there is no doubt.

45


tatha PulastyaAtanayo Ravan. o nama raks.asah.31.10

Ramen. a nihato rajan sAanubandhah. sahAanugah. .

kriyaya yogam asthaya tatha tvam api vikrama.

kriyAabhyupayair nihatau maya rajan puratanau

Tarakas ca mahaAdaityo Vipracittis ca vryavan.

Vatapir Ilvalas c aiva Trisiras ca tatha vibho

SundAOpasundav asurau kriyay aiva nis.uditau.

kriyAabhyupayair Indren. a triAdivam. bhujyate vibho.

kriya balavat rajan. n anyat kin cid Yudhis.t.hira.

daityas ca danavas c aiva raks.asah. parthivas tatha

kriyAabhyupayair nihatah. . kriyam. tasmat samacara!

sanjaya uvaca:

ity ukto Vasudevena Pan. d. avah. sam. sitaAvratah.31.15

jalaAstham. tam. mahaAraja tava putram. mahaAbalam

abhyabhas.ata Kaunteyah. prahasann iva Bharata:

Suyodhana kimAartho yam arambho psu kr.tas tvaya

sarvam. ks.atram. ghatayitva svaAkulam. ca visam. pate?

jalAasayam. pravis.t.o dya vanchan jvitam atmanah. ?

uttis.t.ha rajan! yudhyasva sah asmabhih. Suyodhana!

sa te darpo naraAsres.t.ha sa ca manah. kva te gatah.yas tvam. sam. stabhya salilam. bhto rajan vyavasthitah. ?

sarve tvam. sura ity evam. jana jalpanti sam. sadi.

vyartham. tad bhavato manye sauryam. salilaAsayinah. .

46


It was by similar means that Ramaalong with his com- 31.10panions and followerskilled the demon Ravana, that sonof Pulastya.* You too should display your valor by employ-ing strategy. It was through ploys and devices that, in ancienttimes, I slaughtered the great demon Taraka and mightyViprachitti, Your Majesty.* In a similar fashion, Vatapi,Ilvala, Trishiras, and the two demons Sunda and Upasundawere all killed through strategies, my lord.* It is by usingploys and devices that Indra enjoys heaven, my lord.

Expedience is powerful, Your Majesty. Nothing else,Yudhishthira.

Daityas, danavas, rakshasas and kings have all been de-stroyed through ploys and devices. It is therefore strategythat you should practice!*

sanjaya said:After Vasudeva had addressed him this way, the son of 31.15

Kuntithat Pandava of rigid vowsspoke to your mightyson as he lay in the water, great king. With a smirk he saidthese words, descendant of Bharata:

Suyodhana, lord of the people, whyhave you resorted tothese waters after annihilating the entire warrior race andyour own family? Why have you today entered this lake,longing for your life?

Rise, O king! Fight against us, Suyodhana! Where hasyour pride and honor gone, best of men, if you freeze waterand retreat there in fear? All the people in the assembly saythat you are a hero. But your heroism must, I believe, befalse if you are lying in a lake!

47


uttis.t.ha rajan yudhyasva! ks.atriyo si kulAodbhavah.31.20

Kauraveyo vises.en. a. kulam. janma ca sam. smara!

sa katham. Kaurave vam. se prasam. san janma c atmanah.yuddhad bhtas tatas toyam. pravisya pratitis.t.hasi?

aAyuddham aAvyavasthanam. : n ais.a dharmah. sanatanah. .

anAaryaAjus.t.am aAsvargyam. ran. e rajan palayanam.

katham. param aAgatva hi yuddhe tvam. vai jijvis.uh.iman nipatitan dr.s.t.va putran bhratr.n pitr.m. s tatha?

sam. bandhino vayasyam. s ca matulan bandhavam. s tatha

ghatayitva katham. tata hrade tis.t.hasi sam. pratam?

suraAman na suras tvam. . mr.s.a vadasi, Bharata,31.25

suro ham iti durAbuddhe sarvaAlokasya sr.n. vatah. .

na hi surah. palayante satrun dr.s.t.va kathan cana.

bruhi va tvam. yaya vr.ttya sura tyajasi sam. garam.

sa tvam uttis.t.ha yudhyasva! vinya bhayam atmanah. !

ghatayitva sarvaAsainyam. bhratr.m. s c aiva Suyodhana,

n edanm. jvite buddhih. karya dharmaAcikrs.aya

ks.atraAdharmam upasritya tvadAvidhena Suyodhana.

yat tu Karn. am upasritya Sakunim. c api Saubalam

aAmartya iva sam. mohat tvam atmanam. na buddhavan.

tat papam. suAmahat kr.tva pratiyudhyasva Bharata!

katham. hi tvadAvidho mohad rocayeta palayanam?

kva te tat paurus.am. yatam. ? kva ca manah. Suyodhana?31.30

kva ca vikrantata yata? kva ca visphurjitam. mahat?

kva te kr.tAastrata yata? kin ca ses.e jalAasaye?

48


Rise, king, and ght! You are a kshatriya, born of a noble 31.20family! In particular you are a Kaurava. Remember yourclan and your birth! How can you boast of a birth in theKaurava lineage if you enter water and abide there, fearfulof battle? Refusal to ght and lack of resilience: this is notthe eternal law. Flight on the battleeld does not becomeone who is noble and does not lead to heaven, Your Majesty.

How is it that when you have seen your sons, brothers andancestors slaughtered, you still desire to live and have notreached the further shore in this war? How is it, my friend,that you lie in a lake when you have caused the deaths ofyour relatives, friends, uncles, and kinsmen?

Although arrogant about your heroism, you are no hero. 31.25Your words are false, wicked Bharata, when you say withthe entire world as your audience: I am a hero! Under nocircumstances should heroes ee when they see their enemy.Or tell us, hero, of the situation that made you abandonbattle.

Rise and ght! Restrain your fear! When you have de-stroyed your brothers and entire army, a man such as you,who desires to act morally and who adheres to the warriorcode, should not now think about life, Suyodhana.

You thought you were like an immortal when you reliedonKarna and Shakuni, the son of Subala. In your confusion,you did not understand yourself. Having committed thisgreat evil, ght against us, descendant of Bharata! How, outof delusion, can a man such as you choose ight? Where 31.30has your manliness gone? Where is your pride, Suyodhana?Where has your courage gone? Where is your great roar?

49


sa tvam uttis.t.ha! yudhyasva ks.atraAdharmen. a, Bharata!asmam. s tu va parajitya prasadhi pr.thivm imamatha va nihato smabhir bhumau svapsyasi Bharata.es.a te paramo dharmah. sr.s.t.o Dhatra mahAatmana.tam. kurus.va yathaAtathyam. . raja bhava mahaAratha!

sanjaya uvaca:

evam ukto mahaAraja DharmaAputren. a dhmatasalilaAsthas tava suta idam. vacanam abravt:

duryodhana uvaca:

n aitac citram. mahaAraja yad bhh. pran. inam aviset.31.35

na ca pran. aAbhayad bhto vyapayato smi Bharata.aArathas c aAnis.ang ca nihatah. pars.n. iAsarathih. .ekas c apy aAgan. ah. sankhye pratyasvasam arocayam.na pran. aAhetor na bhayan na vis.adad visam. pateidam ambhah. pravis.t.o smi. sramat tv idam anus.t.hitam.

tvam. c asvasihi Kaunteya ye c apy anugatas tava.aham utthaya vah. sarvan pratiyotsyami sam. yuge.

yudhis.t.hira uvaca:

asvasta eva sarve sma ciram. tvam. mr.gayamahe.tad idanm. samuttis.t.ha, yudhyasv eha Suyodhana.hatva va samare Parthan sphtam. rajyam avapnuhi,31.40

nihato va ran. e smabhir vraAlokam avapsyasi!

50


Where is your skill in weaponry? Why are you lying in alake?

Rise and ght according to the warrior code, Bharata!Either defeat us and rule over this earth or be destroyed byus and sleep on the ground, descendant of Bharata. This isyour supreme duty, created by great-spiritedDhatri himself.Act as is proper. Be a king, great warrior!

sanjaya said:Addressed in this way by the wise son of Righteousness,

your son said these words as he lay in the water, great king.

duryodhana said:It is not unusual for living beings to be overcome by 31.35

fear, great king. But I have not retreated out of fear formy life, descendant of Bharata. I had no chariot or quiverand my rear-charioteer had been killed. I was alone andunsupported on the battleeld and I needed to have somerest. It was not out of concern for my life, nor out of fear ordespondency that I entered this water, lord of the people. Idid it out of weariness.

You too should rest, son of Kunti, as should those whofollow you. I will rise and ght you all in battle.

yudhishthira said:We have already rested and have been hunting you for

a long time. So rise now, Suyodhana, and ght on thisspot! Either kill the Parthas in battle and acquire this fertile 31.40kingdom, or be killed by us on the battleeld and acquirethe world of heroes!

51


duryodhana uvaca:

yadAartham. rajyam icchami Kurun. am. KuruAnandana

ta ime nihatah. sarve bhrataro me janAesvara.

ks.n. aAratnam. ca pr.thivm. hataAks.atriyaApungavam

na hy utsahamy aham. bhoktum. vidhavam iva yos.itam.

ady api tv aham asam. se tvam. vijetum. Yudhis.t.hira

bhanktva PancalaAPan. d. unam utsaham. BharataArs.abha.

na tv idanm aham. manye karyam. yuddhena karhi cit

Dron. e Karn. e ca sam. sante nihate ca pitamahe.

astv idanm iyam. rajan kevala pr.thiv tava.31.45

aAsahayo hi ko raja rajyam icchet prasasitum.

suhr.das tadr.san hitva putran bhratr.n pitr.n api

bhavadbhis ca hr.te rajye ko nu jveta madr.sah. ?

aham. vanam. gamis.yami hy ajinaih. prativasitah. .

ratir hi n asti me rajye hataApaks.asya, Bharata.

hataAbandhavaAbhuyis.t.ha hatAasva hataAkunjara

es.a te pr.thiv rajanbhunks.v ainam. vigataAjvarah. !

vanam eva gamis.yami vasano mr.gaAcarman. .

na hi me nirjanasy asti jvite dya spr.ha vibho.

gaccha tvam. bhunks.va rajAendra pr.thivm. nihatAesvaram31.50

hataAyodham. nas.t.aAratnam. ks.n. aAvapram. yathaAsukham!

52


duryodhana said:Delight of the Kurus and lord of the people, it was for

my brothers sake that I desired the Kurus kingdom, butthey have all been slaughtered. When its jewels are lost andits bull-like warriors killed, I have no desire to enjoy theearth like a man enjoying a widowed woman. However, Ido want to defeat you today, Yudhishthira, after breakingthe strength of the Panchalas and Pandus.

But when Drona and Karna have been quelled and mygrandfather Bhishma has been slaughtered, I feel there isno longer any need for war. Let this entire earth now be 31.45yours, O king. For what monarch would want to rule overa kingdom without any friends? What man such as I couldlive when he has left behind such friends, sons, brothers andfathers, and when his kingdom has been taken from him byyou?

I will enter the forest, dressed in antelope-skin. For I cantake no pleasure in a kingdom when my allies have beenkilled, Bharata. This earth has lost most of its kinsmen andits horses and elephants are dead, Your Majestyenjoy itcarefree! I will enter the forest, clothed in deer-hide. For Ino longer have any desire to live when I have no-one aroundme, my lord.

Go, king of kings, and enjoy this earth at your pleasure 31.50now that its lords are slain, its warriors killed, its jewels lost,and its ramparts destroyed!

53


sanjaya uvaca:Duryodhanam. tava sutam. salilaAstham. mahaAyasah.

srutva tu karun. am. vakyam abhas.ata Yudhis.t.hirah. .

yudhis.t.hira uvaca:artaApralapan ma tata salilaAsthah. prabhas.ithah. !

n aitan manasi me rajan vasitam. sakuner iva.yadi v api samarthah. syas tvam. danaya Suyodhanan aham iccheyam avanim. tvaya dattam. prasasitum.aAdharmen. a na gr.hn. yam. tvaya dattam. mahm imam.na hi dharmah. smr.to rajan ks.atriyasya pratigrahah. .

tvaya dattam. na c eccheyam. pr.thivm aAkhilam aham.31.55tvam. tu yuddhe vinirjitya bhokt asmi vasudham imam.anAsvaras ca pr.thivm. katham. tvam. datum icchasi?tvay eyam. pr.thiv rajan kin na datta tad aiva hidharmato yacamananam. prasamAartham. kulasya nah. ?Vars.n. eyam. prathamam. rajan pratyakhyaya mahaAbalamkim idanm. dadasi tvam. ? ko hi te cittaAvibhramah. ?abhiyuktas tu ko raja datum icchedd hi medinm?na tvam adya mahm. datum sah. KauravaAnandanaacchettum. va balad rajan. sa katham. datum icchasi?mam. tu nirjitya sam. grame palay emam. vasunAdharam!

sucyAagren. api yad bhumer api bhidyeta BharatatanAmatram api tan mahyam. na dadati pura bhavan.sa katham. pr.thivm etam. pradadasi visam. pate31.60sucyAagram. n atyajah. purvam. sa katham. tyajasi ks.itim!evam aisvaryam asadya prasasya pr.thivm imam

54


sanjaya said:On hearing this pitiful speech, glorious Yudhishthira

addressed your son Duryodhana as he lay in the water.

yudhishthira said:Stop spouting these wretched babblings as you lie there

in water, my friend! This bird-like warbling has no eecton my mind, O king. Even if you were able to oer me theearth, I would not want to rule over it if it had been given byyou, Suyodhana. I could not unlawfully accept this earthas a gift from you. For it is not the conduct of a kshatriyato accept gifts, O king.*

I would not want the entire earth if you gave it to me. 31.55Instead I will enjoy this earth after I have defeated you inbattle. Why do you only want to hand over the earth whenyou have no power? Why did you not give us the earthpreviously, Your Majesty, when we rightfully requested it inorder to have peace for our clan? If you originally rejectedKrishna, the mighty Varshneya, why do you now oer upthe earth?* What is this change of heart? What responsibleking would want to give away the earth? You do not have thepower to give away the earth today, delight of the Kauravas,nor to tear it from us by force. Why do you want to give itaway? Conquer me in battle and guard this earth instead!

Previously you were unwilling to give me even as muchland as could be split by a needle-point, descendant ofBharata! How can you now oer this earth, lord of the 31.60people, when previously you would not even give a needle-points worth? What fool would be willing to give his enemy

55


ko hi mud.ho vyavasyeta satror datum. vasunAdharam?tvam. tu kevalaAmaurkhyen. a vimud.ho n avabuddhyase:pr.thivm. datuAkamo pi jvitena vimoks.yase.

asman va tvam. parajitya prasadhi pr.thivm imamatha va nihato smabhir vraja lokan anAuttaman.avayor jvato rajan mayi ca tvayi ca dhruvamsam. sayah. sarvaAbhutanam. vijaye nau bhavis.yati.jvitam. tava dus.Aprajna mayi sam. prati vartate.31.65jvayeyam aham. kamam. . na tu tvam. jvitum. ks.amah. .dahane hi kr.to yatnas tvay asmasu vises.atah.asAvis.air vis.ais c api jale c api pravesanaih. .tvaya vinikr.ta rajan rajyasya haran. ena caaApriyan. am. ca vacanair Draupadyah. kars.an. ena ca.etasmat karan. at papa jvitam. te na vidyate.

uttis.t.h ottis.t.ha yudhyasva! yuddhe sreyo bhavis.yati.

sanjaya uvaca:evam. tu vividha vaco jayaAyuktah. punah. punah.

krtayanti sma te vras tatra tatra janAadhipa.

dhr.taras.t.ra uvaca:evam. sam. tarjyamanas tu mama putro mahApatih.32.1

prakr.tya manyuman vrah. katham ast paranAtapah. ?na hi sam. tarjana tena srutaApurva kathan cana;rajaAbhavena manyas ca sarvaAlokasya so bhavat.yasy atapatraAcchay api svaka bhanos tatha prabhakheday aiv abhimanitvat sahet s aivam. * katham. girah. ?

56


the earth after he has ruled and held sway over it? Con-founded by your utter stupidity, you cannot realize thispoint: even though you are willing to give up the earth, youwill not escape with your life!

Either defeat me and rule over this earth or be killed byme and reach the highest realms. If we were alivebothyou and Ithen all living beings would certainly be unsureas to which one of us is the victor. Your life now depends 31.65on me, you fool. I could let you live if I liked. But youare not t to live. You made special eorts to burn us, usesnakes and poisons against us, and drown us too.* By steal-ing our kingdom, speaking abusive words, and maltreatingDraupadi, you have wronged us, O king. For this reasonyou cannot live, you criminal.

Rise, rise, and ght! The good lies in war!

sanjaya said:In this way, lord of the people, the Pandava heroes re-

peatedly proclaimed various speeches here and there, intentas they were on victory.*

dhritarashtra said:When my son, the lord of the earth, was berated in this 32.1

way, how did the enemy-tamer react, hero that he is andwrathful by nature? For he has never previously heard anycriticism; instead the whole world has honored him for hisroyalty. How could he endure such words when even theshade of his parasol or the brightness of the sun used to painhim in his pride?

57


iyam. ca pr.thiv sarva saAmlecchAat.avika bhr.sam

prasadad dhriyate yasya pratyaks.am. tava Sanjaya,

sa tatha tarjyamanas tu Pan. d. uAputrair vises.atah.32.5

vihnas ca svakair bhr.tyair nirjane c avr.to bhr.sam

sa srutva kat.uka vaco jayaAyuktah. punah. punah.kim abravt Pan. d. aveyam. s? tan mam acaks.va Sanjaya.

sanjaya uvaca:

tarjyamanas tada rajann udakaAsthas tav atmaAjah.Yudhis.t.hiren. a rajAendra bhratr.bhih. sahitena ha,

srutva sa kat.uka vaco vis.amaAstho narAadhipah.drgham us.n. am. ca nih. svasya salilaAsthah. punah. punah. ,

salilAantarAgato raja dhunvan hastau punah. punah.manas cakara yuddhaya rajanam. c abhyabhas.ata:

yuyam. saAsuhr.dah. Parthah. sarve saArathaAvahanah. .32.10

aham ekah. paridyuno viratho hataAvahanah. .

attaAsastrai rathAopetair bahubhih. parivaritah.katham ekah. padatih. sann aAsastro yoddhum utsahe?

ekAaikena tu mam. yuyam. yodhayadhvam. Yudhis.t.hira.

na hy eko bahubhir vrair nyayyo yodhayitum. yudhi

vises.ato vikavacah. srantas c apat samasritah.bhr.sam. viks.ataAgatras ca srantaAvahanaAsainikah. .

58


You yourself have witnessed, Sanjaya, how this entireearth, with all its barbarians and foresters, is supported byDuryodhanas grace.What then didDuryodhana say to the 32.5Pandavas when, deprived of all his servants and completelysurrounded in that peopleless place, he was reviled in thiswayand particularly by the sons of Pandurepeatedlyhearing their cruel and triumphant words? Tell me this,Sanjaya.

sanjaya said:YourMajesty,whenYudhishthira andhis brothers abused

your son in this way as he lay in the water, and when thatruler of men heard their vicious words while in that diresituation, he repeatedly breathed out long and hot sighs.Shaking his hands repeatedly as he lay in the water, the kingset his heart on battle and replied to King Yudhishthirawith these words:

You Parthas still all have your friends, as well as your 32.10chariots and animals. I am alone and wretched and have nochariot or animals. How can a man, who is alone and onfoot, wage war if he has no weapons and is surrounded bymany troops who are equipped with arms and chariots? Youshould ght me one against one, Yudhishthira. For it is notright for one man to ght many heroes in battleespeciallyif he is armorless, exhausted, and fallen on misfortune, andif his limbs are severely mangled and his troops and animalsfatigued.

59


na me tvatto bhayam. rajan na ca Parthad Vr.kodarat,

Phalgunad Vasudevad va Pancalebhyo tha va punah. ,

yamabhyam. Yuyudhanad va ye c anye tava sainikah. .32.15

ekah. sarvan aham. kruddho varayis.ye yudhi sthitah. .

dharmaAmula satam. krtir manus.yan. am. janAadhipa.

dharmam. c aiv eha krtim. ca palayan prabravmy aham.

aham utthaya sarvan vai pratiyotsyami sam. yuge

anugamy agatan sarvan r.tun sam. vatsaro yatha.

adya vah. saArathan sAasvan aAsastro viratho pi san

naks.atran. va sarvan. i savita ratriAsam. ks.aye

tejasa nasayis.yami sthirAbhavata Pan. d. avah. .

ady anr.n. yam. gamis.yami ks.atriyan. am. yasasvinam

BahlkaADron. aABhs.man. am. Karn. asya ca mahAatmanah. ,

Jayadrathasya surasya Bhagadattasya c obhayoh.32.20

MadraArajasya Salyasya Bhurisravasa eva ca,

putran. am. BharataAsres.t.ha Sakuneh. Saubalasya ca,

mitran. am. suhr.dam. c aiva bandhavanam. tath aiva ca.

anr.n. yam adya gacchami hatva tvam. bhratr.bhih. saha.

etavad uktva vacanam. virarama janAadhipah. .


dis.t.ya tvam api jans.e ks.atraAdharmam. Suyodhana!

dis.t.ya te vartate buddhir yuddhay aiva mahaAbhuja!

dis.t.ya suro si Kauravya! dis.t.ya janasi sam. garam

yas tvam eko hi nah. sarvan sam. gare yoddhum icchasi!

60


I am not afraid of you, O king, nor of the Partha Vriko-dara, norPhalguna,Vasudeva, thePanchalas, the twinbroth- 32.15ers, Yuyudhana, or your other troops. Standing alone inbattle, I will ward you all o in my rage.

For humans that are good, it is righteousness that formsthe foundation of fame, lord of men. I speak as someonewho guards both righteousness and fame in this world. Iwill rise up and ght you all in battle, confronting you all asyou approach me, just as the year confronts the seasons. Justas the sun destroys all the stars at the end of the night withits brilliance, so I will destroy you Pandavas with my ardoron this day, even though you are strong and have chariotsand horses, while I have neither weapons nor chariot.

Today I will remove my debt to the glorious warriorsBahlka, Drona, and Bhishma, and to great-sprited Karna,heroic Jayadratha, Bhagadatta, Shalya the king of the 32.20Madras, Bhurishravas, my sons, Shakuni the son of Subala,and my friends, companions, and relatives too, best ofBharatas. By killing you and your brothers, I will removemy debts on this day.

With these words, the lord of the people fell silent.

yudhishthira said:How splendid that even you know the warrior code, Su

yodhana! How splendid that your mind is concerned withbattle, mighty-armed warrior! How splendid that you are ahero, Kaurava! How splendid that you are knowledgeablein warfare and are eager to ght all of us alone in battle!

61


eka ekena sam. gamya yat te sam. matam ayudham32.25

tat tvam adaya yudhyasva! preks.akas te vayam. sthitah. .

svayam is.t.am. ca te kamam. vra bhuyo dadamy aham:

hatv aikam. bhavato rajyam. hato va svargam apnuhi!

duryodhana uvaca:

ekas ced yoddhum akrande suro dya mama dyatam!

ayudhanam iyam. c api vr.ta tvatAsam. mate gada.

hant aikam. bhavatam ekah. sakyam. mam. yo bhimanyate

padatir gadaya sankhye sa yudhyatu maya saha!

vr.ttani rathaAyuddhani vicitran. i pade pade.

idam ekam. gadaAyuddham. bhavatv ady adbhutam. mahat.

astran. am api paryayam. kartum icchanti manavah. ;32.30

yuddhanam api paryayo bhavatv anumate tava.

gadaya tvam. mahaAbaho vijes.yami sahAanujam

Pancalan Sr.njayam. s c aiva ye c anye tava sainikah. .

na hi me sam. bhramo jatu Sakrad api Yudhis.t.hira.

62


Confronting us one against one, choosewhateverweapon 32.25

you like and ght! We will stand here and watch you.

Furthermore, hero, I will grant you the wish that you

yourself have desired: if you kill one of us then the kingdom

is yours, but if you are killed then attain heaven!

duryodhana said:

As long as he is alone, then give me a hero to ght in

battle today! With your consent, I choose this mace as my

weapon. Come! Whichever one of you considers me his

equalone man against the otherlet him ght against

me on foot with a mace in battle!

There have, on various occasions, been dierent chariot

contests. Let there now be a huge and extraordinary mace

contest. Men often desire to change their weapons; with 32.30

your permission, let there be such a change. With my mace,

I will triumph over you and your brothers, mighty-armed

hero, as well as over the Panchalas, Srnjayas, and other

troops. I never waver, Yudhishthira, not even in the face of

Shakra.

63



uttis.t.h ottis.t.ha Gandhare! mam. yodhaya Suyodhana

eka ekena sam. gamya sam. yuge gadaya bal!

purus.o bhava Gandhare, yudhyasva suAsamahitah. !

adya te jvitam. n asti yad Indro pi tav asrayah. !

sanjaya uvaca:

etat sa naraAsardulo n amr.s.yata tav atmaAjah.salilAantarAgatah. svabhre mahaAnaga iva svasan.

tath asau vakApratodena tudyamanah. punah. punah.32.35

vaco na mamr.s.e rajann uttamAasvah. kasam iva.

sam. ks.obhya salilam. vegad gadam adaya vryavan

adriAsaraAmaym. gurvm. kancanAangadaAbhus.an. am

antarAjalat samuttasthau nagAendra iva nih. svasan.

sa bhittva stambhitam. toyam. skandhe kr.tv ayasm. gadam

udatis.t.hata putras te pratapan rasmivan iva.

tatah. saikyAayasm. gurvm. jatarupaAparis.kr.tam

gadam. paramr.sad dhman Dhartaras.t.ro mahaAbalah. .

gadaAhastam. tu tam. dr.s.t.va saAsr.ngam iva parvatam

prajanam iva sam. kruddham. sulaApan. im iva sthitam

saAgado Bharato bhati pratapan bhaskaro yatha!

tam uttrn. am. mahaAbahum. gadaAhastam arinAdamam32.40

menire sarvaAbhutani dan. d. aApan. im iv antakam.

64


yudhishthira said:Rise, rise, son ofGandhari! Fight againstme, Suyodhana,

one mighty man clashing against the other with a mace inbattle. Be aman, son ofGandhari, andghtwith zeal! Todayyou will lose your life, even if Indra himself were to supportyou!

sanjaya said:Your sonthat tiger of a mancould not bear these

words as he lay in the water like a great hissing snake in itshole. Repeatedly stung by Yudhishthiras goading speech, 32.35he could not endure these words, Your Majesty, just as ane horse cannot bear a whip. Ruing the waters withhis movement and taking up his heavy macewhich wasmade of iron and adorned with gold banglesmighty Duryodhana rose from the depths of the water, hissing like aking of snakes. Placing the iron mace on his shoulder, yourson burst through the frozen water and rose up like theblazing sun. The wise and powerful son of Dhritarashtrathen seized hold of his slinged iron mace, which was heavyand embellished with gold.

When they saw Duryodhana brandishing his mace andlooking like a peakedmountain or like trident-bearing Shivawhen enraged with creatureshow that Bharata shone likethe blazing sun as he wielded his mace!when they saw 32.40the mighty-armed enemy-tamer rise out of the water, macein hand, every living being thought that he resembled sta-bearing Death.

65


vajraAhastam. yatha Sakram. sulaAhastam. yatha Haramdadr.suh. sarvaAPancalah. putram. tava janAadhipa.tam uttrn. am. tu sam. preks.ya samahr.s.yanta sarvasah.Pancalah. Pan. d. aveyas ca te nyonyasya talan daduh. .avahasam. tu tam. matva putro Duryodhanas tavaudvr.tya nayane kruddho didhaks.ur iva Pan. d. avantriAsikham. bhruAkut.m. kr.tva sam. das.t.aAdasanaAcchadah.pratyuvaca tatas tan vai Pan. d. avan sahaAKesavan.

duryodhana uvaca:asy avahasasya phalam. pratibhoks.yatha Pan. d. avah. !32.45

gamis.yatha hatah. sadyah. saAPancala YamaAks.ayam!

sanjaya uvaca:utthitas ca jalat tasmat putro Duryodhanas tava

atis.t.hata gadaApan. rudhiren. a samuks.itah. .tasya son. itaAdigdhasya salilena samuks.itamsarram. sma tada bhati sravann iva mahAdharah. .tam udyataAgadam. vram. menire tatra Pan. d. avah.Vaivasvatam iva kruddham. KinkarAodyataApan. inam.sa meghaAninado hars.an nadann iva ca goAvr.s.ah.ajuhava tatah. Parthan gadaya yudhi vryavan.

duryodhana uvaca:ekAaikena ca mam. yuyam asdata Yudhis.t.hira.32.50

na hy eko bahubhir nyayyo vro yodhayitum. yudhi,nyastaAvarma vises.en. a srantas c apsu pariplutah.bhr.sam. viks.ataAgatras ca hataAvahanaAsainikah. .

66


All the Panchalas considered your son to be likethunderbolt-wielding Shakra or trident-wieldingHara, lordof men. Even so, when they saw Duryodhana emerge, thePanchalas and Pandavas all started to rejoice and slappedeach others hands.* Viewing this as an insult, your son Duryodhana rolled his eyes in anger, as if about to incinerate thePandavas. Furrowing his brow into three lines and bitinghis lips, he addressed the Pandavas and Keshava with thesewords.

duryodhana said:You will taste the fruit of this insult, Pandavas! You and 32.45

the Panchalas will die this very day and enter the house ofYama.

sanjaya said:Rising out of the water, your son Duryodhana stood

there, grasping his mace and drenched in blood. Soakedwith water, the body of that blood-smeared hero glistenedlike amountain shedding streams. The Pandavas consideredthe mace-bearing hero to be like Yama, the angry son ofVivasvat, when he wields his raised Knkara rod. Roaringjoyfully like a bull, and with the rumble of a thundercloud,mighty Duryodhana then challenged the Parthas with hismace to ght in battle.

duryodhana said:Attack me one against one, Yudhishthira. For it is not 32.50

right for one hero to ght many in battle, especially if heis armorless, exhausted, and has been submerged in water,and if his limbs are severely wounded and his soldiers and

67


avasyam eva yoddhavyam. sarvair eva maya saha.yuktam. tv aAyuktam ity etad vetsi tvam. c aiva sarvada.

yudhis.t.hira uvaca:ma bhud iyam. tava prajna katham evam. Suyodhana

yad Abhimanyum. bahavo jaghnur yudhi mahaArathah. ?ks.atraAdharmam. bhr.sam. kruram. nirapeks.am. suAnirghr.n. am;anyatha tu katham. hanyur Abhimanyum. tathaAgatam?sarve bhavanto dharmaAjnah. . sarve suras tanuAtyajah. .32.55nyayena yudhyatam. prokta SakraAlokaAgatih. para.yady ekas tu na hantavyo bahubhir dharma eva tutad Abhimanyum. bahavo nijaghnus tvanAmate katham?sarvo vimr.sate jantuh. kr.cchraAstho dharmaAdarsanam;padaAsthah. pihitam. dvaram. paraAlokasya pasyati.

amunca kavacam. vra murdhaAjan yamayasva ca!yac c anyad api te n asti tad apy adatsva Bharata.imam ekam. ca te kamam. vra bhuyo dadamy aham:pancanam. Pan. d. aveyanam. yena tvam. yoddhum icchasitam. hatva vai bhavan raja; hato va svargam apnuhi!r.te ca jvitad vra yuddhe kim. kurma te priyam?

sanjaya uvaca:tatas tava suto rajan varma jagraha kancanam32.60

vicitram. ca sirasAtran. am. jambunadaAparis.kr.tam.so vabaddhaAsirasAtran. ah. subhaAkancanaAvarmaAbhr.traraja rajan putras te kancanah. sailaArad. iva.sam. naddhah. saAgado rajan sajjah. sam. gramaAmurdhani

68


animals dead. I must certainly ght all of you. You yourselfknow in every way what is proper and improper.

yudhishthira said:How is it, Suyodhana, that you did not have this wis-

dom previously when several great warriors fought againstAbhimanyu in battle? The warrior code must be extremelycruel, indierent, and merciless; otherwise how could theyhave killed Abhimanyu when he was in that plight? All of 32.55you knew what was right. All of you were heroes who werewilling to sacrice their bodies. The realm of Shakra hasbeen proclaimed as the supreme destiny for those who ghtlawfully. If it is right that one warrior should not be killedby many, then how is it that, on your command, many menkilled Abhimanyu?* Everyone turns to morality when theyare in a dicult situation; left standing on their feet, theysee the door to the other world closed.

Put on your armor, hero, and bind your hair! And take upwhatever else you lack, descendant of Bharata! Furthermore,I grant you this single wish, hero: if you kill the one manthat you choose to ght among the ve Pandavas, then youwill be king; otherwise, die and attain heaven! What otherkindness can we give you in battle, heroexcept your life?

sanjaya said:Your son then put on his golden armor, Your Majesty, 32.60

and donned a glistening helmet that was adorned with gold.Tying on his helmet and wearing this glorious gold armor,your son looked as radiant as the golden king of the moun-tains, Your Majesty.* Clad in armor and wielding his mace,

69


abravt Pan. d. avan sarvan putro Duryodhanas tava:

bhratr.n. am. bhavatam eko yudhyatam. gadaya maya!

Sahadevena va yotsye Bhmena Nakulena va

athava Phalgunen adya tvaya va, BharataArs.abha!

yotsye ham. sam. garam. prapya vijes.ye ca ran. Aajire!

aham adya gamis.yami vairasy antam. suAdurAgamam

gadaya purus.aAvyaghra hemaApat.t.aAnibaddhaya.

gadaAyuddhe na me kas cit sadr.so st ti cintaye.32.65

gadaya vo hanis.yami sarvan eva samagatan.

na me samarthah. sarve vai yoddhum. nyayena ke cana.

na yuktam atmana vaktum evam. garvAoddhatam. vacah. .

athava saAphalam. hy etat karis.ye bhavatam. purah. !

asmin muhurte satyam. va mithya v aitad bhavis.yati.

gr.hn. atu ca gadam. yo vai yotsyate dya maya saha!

sanjaya uvaca:

evam. Duryodhane rajan garjamane muhur muhuh.33.1

Yudhis.t.hirasya sam. kruddho Vasudevo bravd idam:

yadi nama hy ayam. yuddhe varayet tvam. Yudhis.t.hira

Arjunam. Nakulam. c aiva Sahadevam ath api va

kim idam. sahasam. rajam. s tvaya vyahr.tam dr.sam

ekam eva nihaty ajau bhava raja Kurus.v iti?

na samarthan aham. manye gadaAhastasya sam. yuge.

70


your armed son Duryodhana addressed all the Pandavas atthe front of the battleeld:

Let one of you brothers ght me with your mace! TodayI will ght against Sahadeva, Bhima, Nakula, Phalguna,or you, bull-like Bharata! Entering battle, I will ght andbe victorious on the battleeld! With my mace, which isbound in gold cloth, I will today attain the goal of heroismthat is so dicult to achieve, tiger among men.

There is, I believe, no-one that can equal me in a mace 32.65contest. With my mace, I will kill every one of you that hasgathered here. None of you has the ability to ght againstme fairly.

But it is not right for me to utter such pride-swollenwords. Instead I will fulll them in front of you! This is themoment when my words will turn out to be true or false.Let that man who will ght against me today take up hismace!

sanjaya said:AsDuryodhana roared repeatedly in thisway,Vasudeva 33.1

angrily addressed Yudhishthira, Your Majesty, saying:Yudhishthira, if this man chooses to ght either you,

Arjuna, Nakula, or Sahadeva in battlewhy, YourMajesty,did you rashly tell Duryodhana that he would be king ofthe Kurus if he killed only one of you in battle?if this ishis choice, then I do not think any of you are a match forhim when he wields his mace in war.

71


etena hi kr.ta yogya vars.an. ha trayodasa

ayase purus.e rajan BhmasenaAjigham. saya.

katham. nama bhavet karyam asmabhir BharataArs.abha?33.5

sahasam. kr.tavam. s tvam. tu hy anukrosan nr.pAottama.

n anyam asy anupasyami pratiyoddharam ahave

r.te Vr.kodarat Parthat. sa ca n atikr.taAsramah. .

tad idam. dyutam arabdham. punar eva yatha pura

vis.amam. Sakunes c aiva tava c aiva visam. pate.

bal Bhmah. samarthas ca. kr.t raja Suyodhanah. .

balavan va kr.t v eti kr.t rajan visis.yate.

so yam. rajam. s tvaya satruh. same pathi nivesitah.nyastas c atma suAvis.ame kr.cchram apadita vayam.

ko nu sarvan vinirjitya satrun ekena vairin. a33.10

kr.cchraApraptena ca tatha harayed rajyam agatam,

pan. itva c aikaApan. ena rocayed evam ahavam?

na hi pasyami tam. loke yo dya Duryodhanam. ran. e

gadaAhastam. vijetum. vai saktah. syad aAmaro pi hi.

na tvam. Bhmo na Nakulah. Sahadevo tha Phalgunah.jetum. nyayena sakto vai. kr.t raja Suyodhanah. .

sa katham. vadase satrum. yudhyasva gaday eti hi

ekam. ca no nihaty ajau bhava raj eti Bharata?

Vr.kodaram. samasadya sam. sayo vai jaye hi nah.nyayato yudhyamananam. . kr.t hy es.a mahaAbalah. .

72


For thirteen years, Your Majesty, he has practiced onan iron gure in his desire to kill Bhimasena. How can 33.5we achieve our goal, bull of the Bharatas? It was out ofcompassion that you acted so recklessly, best of kings.*

Except for Vrikodara, the son of Pritha, I see no-one elsewho can ght Duryodhana in battle. And Vrikodara is notoverly tired.

Once again you have undertaken a gambling match, justas before when you played Shakuni in that unfair game,lord of the people.*

Bhima is mighty and powerful. But King Suyodhana isskillful. Between a powerful and a skillful man, the skillfulone succeeds, Your Majesty. You have placed this enemy onan even ground, Your Majesty, but you have placed yourselfon an extremely uneven ground and exposed us to danger.

Who would conquer all his enemies and then allow a 33.10single foeand one in a dire situationto seize his king-dom when it is already in his grasp? Who would so favorhis enemy by gambling a war on

mahabharata, book 9.2 [trans. meiland] (nyu, 2007)

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