Drona Parwa 5

Dronabhisheka Parva

 

Mahabharata 7.5 - Drona Parwa 5

 

1 [स]           

रथस्थं पुरुषव्याघ्रं दृष्ट्वा कर्णम अवस्थितम           

हृष्टॊ दुर्यॊधनॊ राजन्न इदं वचनम अब्रवीत       

2 स नाथम इदम अत्यर्थं भवता पालितं बलम           

मन्ये किं तु समर्थं यद धितं तत संप्रधार्यताम

 

 1 [s]          

 rathasthaṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇam avasthitam           

hṛṣṭo duryodhano rājann idaṃ vacanam abravīt       

2 sa nātham idam atyarthaṃ bhavatā pālitaṃ balam           

manye kiṃ tu samarthaṃ yad dhitaṃ tat saṃpradhāryatām

 

Sanjaya said, 'Beholding that tiger among men, viz., Karna, mounted on his car, Duryodhana, O king, filled with joy, said these words, 'This host, protected by thee, hath now, I think, got a proper leader. Let that, however, be settled now which is proper and within our power.'

 

 3 [क]           

बरूहि तत पुरुषव्याघ्र तवं हि पराज्ञतमॊ नृप          

 यथा चार्थपतिः कृत्यं पश्यते न तथेतरः      

 4 ते सम सर्वे तव वचः शरॊतुकामा नरेश्वर          

 नान्याय्यं हि भवान वाक्यं बरूयाद इति मतिर मम

 

 3 [k]           

brūhi tat puruṣavyāghra tvaṃ hi prājñatamo nṛpa           

yathā cārthapatiḥ kṛtyaṃ paśyate na tathetaraḥ       

4 te sma sarve tava vacaḥ śrotukāmā nareśvara           

nānyāyyaṃ hi bhavān vākyaṃ brūyād iti matir mama

 

Karna said, 'Tell us thyself, O tiger among men, for thou art the wisest of kings. Another can never see so well what should be done as one seeth it whose concern it is. Those kings are all desirous of listening to what thou mayst have to say. I am sure that no improper words will be uttered by thee.'

 

 5 [दुर]           

भीष्मः सेना परणेतासीद वयसा विक्रमेण च           

शरुतेन च सुसंपन्नः सर्वैर यॊधगुणैस तथा       

6 तेनातियशसा कर्ण घनता शत्रुगणान मम           

सुयुद्धेन दशाहानि पालिताः समॊ महात्मना       

7 तस्मिन्न असुकरं कर्मकृतवत्य आस्थिते दिवम          

 कं नु सेना परणेतारं मन्यसे तदनन्तरम       

8 न ऋते नायकं सेना मुहूर्तम अपि तिष्ठति           

आहवेष्व आहवश्रेष्ठ नेतृहीनेव नौर जले       

9 यथा हय अकर्णधारा नौ रथश चासारथिर यथा          

 दरवेद यथेष्टं तद्वत सयाद ऋते सेनापतिं बलम       

10 स भवान वीक्ष्य सर्वेषु मामकेषु महात्मसु          

पश्य सेनापतिं युक्तम अनु शांतनवाद इह      

11 यं हि सेना परणेतारं भवान वक्ष्यति संयुगे          

तं वयं सहिताः सर्वे परकरिष्याम मारिष

 

 5 [dur]           

bhīṣmaḥ senā praṇetāsīd vayasā vikrameṇa ca           

śrutena ca susaṃpannaḥ sarvair yodhaguṇais tathā       

6 tenātiyaśasā karṇa ghnatā śatrugaṇān mama           

suyuddhena daśāhāni pālitāḥ smo mahātmanā       

7 tasminn asukaraṃ karmakṛtavaty āsthite divam           

kaṃ nu senā praṇetāraṃ manyase tadanantaram       

8 na ṛte nāyakaṃ senā muhūrtam api tiṣṭhati           

āhaveṣv āhavaśreṣṭha netṛhīneva naur jale       

9 yathā hy akarṇadhārā nau rathaś cāsārathir yathā           

draved yatheṣṭaṃ tadvat syād ṛte senāpatiṃ balam       

10 sa bhavān vīkṣya sarveṣu māmakeṣu mahātmasu          

paśya senāpatiṃ yuktam anu śāṃtanavād iha      

11 yaṃ hi senā praṇetāraṃ bhavān vakṣyati saṃyuge          

taṃ vayaṃ sahitāḥ sarve prakariṣyāma māriṣa

 

Duryodhana, said, 'Bhishma was our commander possessed (as he was) of years, prowess, and learning and supported by all our warriors. That high-souled one, O Karna, achieving great glory and slaying large numbers of my enemies protected us by fair fight for ten days. He achieved the most difficult of feats. But now that he is about to ascend to heaven, whom, O Karna, dost thou think fit to our commander after him? Without a leader, an army cannot stay in battle for even a short while. Thou art foremost in battle, like a boat without a helmsman in the waters. Indeed, as a boat without a helmsman, or a car without a driver, would go anywhere, so would the plight be of a host that is without a leader. Like a merchant who falleth into every kind of distress when he is unacquainted with the ways of the country he visits, an army that is without a leader is exposed to every kind of distress. Look thou, therefore, among all the high-souled warriors of our army and find out a proper leader who may succeed the son of Santanu. Him whom thou wouldst regard as a fit leader in battle, him, all of us, without doubt, will together make our leader.'

 

 12 [क]          

सर्व एव महात्मान इमे पुरुषसत्तमाः         

 सेनापतित्वम अर्हन्ति नात्र कार्या विचारणा      

13 कुलसंहनन जञानैर बलविक्रम बुद्धिभिः         

 युक्ताः कृतज्ञा हरीमन्त आहवेष्व अनिवर्तिनः      

14 युगपन न तु ते शक्याः कर्तुं सर्वे पुरःसराः          

एक एवात्र कर्तव्यं यस्मिन वैशेकिका गुणाः      

15 अन्यॊन्यस्पर्थिनां तेषां यद्य एकं सत करिष्यसि         

 शेषा विमनसॊ वयक्तं न यॊत्स्यन्ते हि भारत      

16 अयं तु सर्वयॊधानाम आचार्यः सथविरॊ गुरुः          

युक्तः सेनापतिः कर्तुं दरॊणः शस्त्रभृतां वरः      

17 कॊ हि तिष्ठति दुर्धर्षे दरॊणे बरह्मविद उत्तमे         

 सेनापतिः सयाद अन्यॊ ऽसमाच छुक्राङ्गिरस दर्शनात      

18 न च स हय अस्ति ते यॊधः सर्वराजसु भारत          

यॊ दरॊणं समरे यान्तं नानुयास्यति संयुगे      

19 एष सेना परणेतॄणाम एष शस्त्रभृताम अपि         

 एष बुद्धिमतां चैव शरेष्ठॊ राजन गुरुश च ते      

20 एवं दुर्यॊधनाचार्यम आशु सेनापतिं कुरु          

जिगीषन्तॊ ऽसुरान संख्ये कार्त्तिकेयम इवामराः

 

 12 [k]          

sarva eva mahātmāna ime puruṣasattamāḥ          

senāpatitvam arhanti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā      

13 kulasaṃhanana jñānair balavikrama buddhibhiḥ          

yuktāḥ kṛtajñā hrīmanta āhaveṣv anivartinaḥ      

14 yugapan na tu te śakyāḥ kartuṃ sarve puraḥsarāḥ          

eka evātra kartavyaṃ yasmin vaiśekikā guṇāḥ      

15 anyonyasparthināṃ teṣāṃ yady ekaṃ sat kariṣyasi          

śeṣā vimanaso vyaktaṃ na yotsyante hi bhārata      

16 ayaṃ tu sarvayodhānām ācāryaḥ sthaviro guruḥ          

yuktaḥ senāpatiḥ kartuṃ droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ      

17 ko hi tiṣṭhati durdharṣe droṇe brahmavid uttame          

senāpatiḥ syād anyo 'smāc chukrāṅgirasa darśanāt      

18 na ca sa hy asti te yodhaḥ sarvarājasu bhārata          

yo droṇaṃ samare yāntaṃ nānuyāsyati saṃyuge      

19 eṣa senā praṇetṝṇām eṣa śastrabhṛtām api          

eṣa buddhimatāṃ caiva śreṣṭho rājan guruś ca te      

20 evaṃ duryodhanācāryam āśu senāpatiṃ kuru          

jigīṣanto 'surān saṃkhye kārttikeyam ivāmarāḥ

 

Karna said, 'All these foremost of men are high-souled persons. Every one of them deserveth to be our leader. There is no need of any minute examination. All of them are conversant with noble genealogies and with the art of smiting; all of them are endued with prowess and intelligence, all of them are attentive and acquainted with the scriptures, possessed of wisdom, and unretreating from battle. All, however, cannot be leaders at the same time. Only one should be selected as leader, in whom are special merits. All of these regard one another as equals. If one amongst them, therefore, be honoured, others will be dissatisfied, and, it is evident, will no longer fight for thee from a desire of benefiting thee. This one, however, is the Preceptor (in arms) of all these warriors; is venerable in years, and worthy of respect. Therefore, Drona, this foremost of all wielders of weapons, should be made the leader. Who is there worthy of becoming a leader, when the invincible Drona, that foremost of persons conversant with Brahma, is here, that one who is equal to Sukra or Vrihaspati himself? Amongst all the kings in thy army, O Bharata, there is not a single warrior who will not follow Drona when the latter goeth to battle. This Drona is the foremost of all leaders of forces, the foremost of all wielders of weapons, and the foremost of all intelligent persons. He is, besides, O king, thy preceptor (in arms). Therefore, O Duryodhana, make this one the leader of thy forces without delay, as the celestials made Kartikeya their leader in battle for vanquishing the Asuras.'

 

 21 [स]          

कर्णस्य वचनं शरुत्वा राजा दुर्यॊधनस तदा          

सेना मध्यगतं दरॊणम इदं वचनम अब्रवीत

 

 21 [s]          

karṇasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā duryodhanas tadā          

senā madhyagataṃ droṇam idaṃ vacanam abravīt

 

Sanjaya said, 'Hearing these words of Karna, king Duryodhana. then said this unto Drona who was staying in the midst of the troops.'

 

 22 वर्णश्रैष्ठ्यात कुलॊत्पत्त्या शरुतेन वयसा धिया          

वीर्याद दाक्ष्याद अधृष्यत्वाद अर्थज्ञानान नयाज जयात     

 23 तपसा च कृतज्ञत्वाद वृद्धः सर्वगुणैर अपि          

युक्तॊ भवत समॊ गॊप्ता राज्ञाम अन्यॊ न विद्यते      

24 स भवान पातु नः सर्वान विबुधान इव वासवः          

भवन नेत्राः पराञ जेतुम इच्छामॊ दविजसत्तम      

25 रुद्राणाम इव कापाली वसूनाम इव पावकः          

कुबेर इव यक्षाणां मरुताम इव वासवः      

26 वषिष्ठ इव विप्राणां तेजसाम इव भास्करः          

पितॄणाम इव धर्मॊ ऽथ आदित्यानाम इवाम्बुराट      

27 नक्षत्राणाम इव शशी दिजितानाम इवॊशनः         

 शरेष्ठः सेना परणेतॄणां स नः सेनापतिर भव      

28 अक्षौहिण्यॊ दशैका च वशगाः सन्तु ते ऽनघ         

 ताभिः शत्रून परतिव्यूह्य जहीन्द्रॊ दानवान इव      

29 परयातु नॊ भवान अग्रे देवानाम इव पावकिः          

अनुयास्यामहे तव आजौ सौरभेया इवर्षभम      

30 उग्रधन्वा महेष्वासॊ दिव्यं विस्फारयन धनुः          

अग्रे भवन्तं दृष्ट्वा नॊ नार्जुहः परसहिष्यते      

31 धरुवं युधिष्ठिरं संख्ये सानुबन्धं स बान्धवम         

 जेष्यामि पुरुषव्याघ्र भवान सेनापतिर यदि

 

 22 varṇaśraiṣṭhyāt kulotpattyā śrutena vayasā dhiyā         

 vīryād dākṣyād adhṛṣyatvād arthajñānān nayāj jayāt     

 23 tapasā ca kṛtajñatvād vṛddhaḥ sarvaguṇair api          

yukto bhavat samo goptā rājñām anyo na vidyate      

24 sa bhavān pātu naḥ sarvān vibudhān iva vāsavaḥ         

 bhavan netrāḥ parāñ jetum icchāmo dvijasattama      

25 rudrāṇām iva kāpālī vasūnām iva pāvakaḥ          

kubera iva yakṣāṇāṃ marutām iva vāsavaḥ     

 26 vaṣiṣṭha iva viprāṇāṃ tejasām iva bhāskaraḥ         

 pitṝṇām iva dharmo 'tha ādityānām ivāmburāṭ     

 27 nakṣatrāṇām iva śaśī dijitānām ivośanaḥ          

śreṣṭhaḥ senā praṇetṝṇāṃ sa naḥ senāpatir bhava      

28 akṣauhiṇyo daśaikā ca vaśagāḥ santu te 'nagha          

tābhiḥ śatrūn prativyūhya jahīndro dānavān iva      

29 prayātu no bhavān agre devānām iva pāvakiḥ          

anuyāsyāmahe tv ājau saurabheyā ivarṣabham      

30 ugradhanvā maheṣvāso divyaṃ visphārayan dhanuḥ          

agre bhavantaṃ dṛṣṭvā no nārjuhaḥ prasahiṣyate      

31 dhruvaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraṃ saṃkhye sānubandhaṃ sa bāndhavam         

 jeṣyāmi puruṣavyāghra bhavān senāpatir yadi

 

"Duryodhana said, 'For the superiority of the order of thy birth, for the nobility of thy parentage, for thy learning, years and intelligence, for also thy prowess, skill, invincibility, knowledge of worldly matters, policy, and self-conquest, by reason also of thy ascetic austerities and thy gratitude, superior as thou art as regards every virtue, among these kings there is none who can make so good a leader as thou. Protect thou, therefore, ourselves, like Vasava protecting the celestials. Having thee for our leader, we desire, O best of Brahmanas, to vanquish our foes. As Kapali amongst the Rudras, Pavaka among the Vasus, Kuvera among the Yakshas, Vasava among the Maruts, Vasishtha among Brahmanas, the Sun amongst luminous bodies, Yama among the Pitris, Varuna among aquatic creatures, as the Moon among the stars, and Usanas among the sons of Diti, so art thou the foremost of all leaders of forces. Be thou, therefore, our leader. O sinless one, let these ten and one Akshauhinis of troops be obedient to thy word of command. Disposing these troops in battle array, slay thou our foes, like Indra slaying the Danavas. Proceed thou art the head of us all, like Pavaka's son (Kartikeya) at the head of the celestial forces. We will follow thee to battle, like bulls following a bovine leader. A fierce and great bowman as thou art, beholding thee stretching the bow at our head. Arjuna will not strike. Without doubt, O tiger among men, if thou becomest our leader, I will vanquish Yudhishthira with all his followers and relatives in battle.'

 

 32 एवम उक्ते ततॊ दरॊणे जयेत्य ऊचुर नराधिपाः          

सिंहनादेन महता हर्षयन्तस तवात्मजम      

33 सैनिकाश च मुदा युक्ता वर्धयन्ति दविजॊत्तमम          

दुर्यॊधनं पुरस्कृत्य परार्थयन्तॊ महद यशः

 

 32 evam ukte tato droṇe jayety ūcur narādhipāḥ          

siṃhanādena mahatā harṣayantas tavātmajam      

33 sainikāś ca mudā yuktā vardhayanti dvijottamam          

duryodhanaṃ puraskṛtya prārthayanto mahad yaśaḥ

 

"Sanjaya continued, 'After Duryodhana had uttered these words, the kings (in the Kaurava army) all cried victory to Drona. And they delighted thy son by uttering a loud leonine shout. And the troops, filled with joy, and with Duryodhana at their head, desirous of winning great renown, began to glorify that best of Brahmanas. Then, O king, Drona addressed Duryodhana fin those words.'

 

 34 [दर्न]          

वेदं षडङ्गं वेदाहम अर्थविद्यां च मानवीम          

तरैय्य अम्बकम अथेष्व अस्त्रम अस्त्राणि विविधानि च      

35 ये चाप्य उक्ता मयि गुणा भवद्भिर जयकाङ्क्षिभिः          

चिकीर्षुर तान अहं सत्यान यॊधयिष्यामि पाण्डवान

 

 34 [drn]          

vedaṃ ṣaḍaṅgaṃ vedāham arthavidyāṃ ca mānavīm          

traiyy ambakam atheṣv astram astrāṇi vividhāni ca      

35 ye cāpy uktā mayi guṇā bhavadbhir jayakāṅkṣibhiḥ         

 cikīrṣur tān ahaṃ satyān yodhayiṣyāmi pāṇḍavān

 

"Drona said, 'I know the Vedas with their six branches. I know also the science of human affairs. I am acquainted also with the Saiva weapon, and diverse other species of weapons. Endeavouring to actually display all those virtues which ye, desirous of victory, have attributed to me, I will fight with the Pandavas. I will not, however, O king, be able to slay the son of Prishata. O bull among men, he hath been created for my slaughter. I will fight with the Pandavas, and slay the Somakas. As regards the Pandavas, they will not fight with me with cheerful hearts.'

 

 36 [स]          

स एवम अभ्यनुज्ञातश चक्रे सेनापतिं ततः          

दरॊणं तव सुतॊ राजन विधिदृष्ट्तेन कर्मणा      

37 अथाभिषिषिचुर दरॊणं दुर्यॊधनमुखा नृपाः          

सेनापत्ये यथा सकन्दं पुरा शक्र मुखाः सुराः      

38 ततॊ वादित्रघॊषेण सह पुंसां महास्वनैः         

 परादुरासीत कृते दरॊणे हर्षः सेनापतौ तदा      

39 ततः पुण्याहघॊषेण सवस्ति वादस्वनेन च         

 संस्तवैर गीतशब्दैश च सूतमागधबन्दिनाम      

40 जयशब्दैर दविजाग्र्याणां सुभगानर्तितैर तथा          

सत्कृत्य विधिवद दरॊणं जितान मन्यन्त पाण्डवान

 

 36 [s]         

 sa evam abhyanujñātaś cakre senāpatiṃ tataḥ          

droṇaṃ tava suto rājan vidhidṛṣṭtena karmaṇā      

37 athābhiṣiṣicur droṇaṃ duryodhanamukhā nṛpāḥ          

senāpatye yathā skandaṃ purā śakra mukhāḥ surāḥ      

38 tato vāditraghoṣeṇa saha puṃsāṃ mahāsvanaiḥ          

prādurāsīt kṛte droṇe harṣaḥ senāpatau tadā      

39 tataḥ puṇyāhaghoṣeṇa svasti vādasvanena ca         

 saṃstavair gītaśabdaiś ca sūtamāgadhabandinām      

40 jayaśabdair dvijāgryāṇāṃ subhagānartitair tathā          

satkṛtya vidhivad droṇaṃ jitān manyanta pāṇḍavān

 

"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus permitted by Drona, the son, O king, then made him the commander of his forces according to the rites prescribed in the ordinance. And the kings (in the Katirava army) headed by Duryodhana performed the investiture of Drona in the command of the forces, like the celestials headed by India in days of yore performing the investiture of Skanda. After Drona's installation in the command, the joy of the army expressed itself by the sound of drums and the loud blare of conchs. Then with cries such as greet the ears en a festive day, with auspicious invocations by Brahmanas gratified with cries of Jaya uttered by foremost of Brahmanas, and with the dance of mimes, Drona was duly honoured. And Kaurava warriors regarded the Pandayas as already vanquished.'