Drona Parwa 1

Dronabhisheka Parva

 

Mahabharata 7.1 - Drona Parwa 1

 

  1 [ज]
     तम अप्रतिमसत्त्वौजॊ बलवीर्यपराक्रमम
     हतं देवव्रतं शरुत्वा पाञ्चाल्येन शिखण्डिना
 2 धृतराष्ट्रस तदा राजा शॊकव्याकुल चेतनः
     किम अचेष्टत विप्रर्षे हते पितरि वीर्यवान
 3 तस्य पुत्रॊ हि भगवन भीष्मद्रॊणमुखै रथैः
     पराजित्य महेष्वासान पाण्डवान राज्यम इच्छति
 4 तस्मिन हते तु भगवन केतौ सर्वधनुष्मता
     यद अचेष्टत कौरव्यस तन मे बरूहि दविजॊत्तम

 

 1 [j]
     tam apratimasattvaujo balavīryaparākramam
     hataṃ devavrataṃ śrutvā pāñcālyena śikhaṇḍinā
 2 dhṛtarāṣṭras tadā rājā śokavyākula cetanaḥ
     kim aceṣṭata viprarṣe hate pitari vīryavān
 3 tasya putro hi bhagavan bhīṣmadroṇamukhai rathaiḥ
     parājitya maheṣvāsān pāṇḍavān rājyam icchati
 4 tasmin hate tu bhagavan ketau sarvadhanuṣmatā
     yad aceṣṭata kauravyas tan me brūhi dvijottama

 

Janamejaya said, 'Hearing that his sire Devavrata of unrivalled vigour and sturdiness, and might, energy and prowess, had been slain by Sikhandin, the prince of the Panchalas, what, indeed, O regenerate Rishi, did the powerful king Dhritarashtra with eyes bathed in tears do? O illustrious one, his son (Duryodhana) wished for sovereignty after vanquishing those mighty bowmen, viz., the sons of Panda, through Bhishma and Drona and other great car-warriors. Tell me, O thou that hast wealth of asceticism, all that he, of Kura's race, did after that chief of all bowmen had been slain.'

 

 5 [व]
     निहतं पितरं शरुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रॊ जनाधिपः
     लेभे न शान्तिं कौरव्यश चिन्ताशॊकपरायणः
 6 तस्य चिन्तयतॊ दुःखम अनिशं पार्थिवस्य तत
     आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा पुनर गावल्गणिस तदा
 7 शिबिरात संजयं पराप्तं निशि गानाह्वयं पुरम
     आम्बिकेयॊ महाराज धृतराष्ट्रॊ ऽनवपृच्छत
 8 शरुवा भीष्मस्य निधनम अप्रहृष्टमना भृशम
     पुत्राणां जयम आकाङ्क्षन विललापातुरॊ यथा

 

 

 

 5 [v]
     nihataṃ pitaraṃ śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭro janādhipaḥ
     lebhe na śāntiṃ kauravyaś cintāśokaparāyaṇaḥ
 6 tasya cintayato duḥkham aniśaṃ pārthivasya tat
     ājagāma viśuddhātmā punar gāvalgaṇis tadā
 7 śibirāt saṃjayaṃ prāptaṃ niśi gānāhvayaṃ puram
     āmbikeyo mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭro 'nvapṛcchata
 8 śruvā bhīṣmasya nidhanam aprahṛṣṭamanā bhṛśam
     putrāṇāṃ jayam ākāṅkṣan vilalāpāturo yathā

 

Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing that his sire had been slain, king Dhritarashtra of Kura's race filled with anxiety and grief, obtained no peace of mind. And while he, of Kura's race, was thus continually brooding over that sorrow, Gavalgana's son of pure soul once more came to him. Then, O monarch, Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, addressed Sanjaya, who had that night come back from the camp to the city called after the elephant. With a heart rendered exceedingly cheerless in consequence of his having heard of Bhishma's fall, and desirous of the victory of his sons, he indulged in these lamentations in great distress.'

 

 9 [धृ]
     संसाध्य तु महात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम
     किम अकार्षुः परं तात कुरवः कालचॊदिताः
 10 तस्मिन विनिहते शूरे दुराधर्षे महौजसि
    किं नु सवित कुरवॊ ऽकार्षुर निमग्नाः शॊकसागरे
 11 तद उदीर्णं महत सैन्यं तरैलॊक्यस्यापि संजय
    भयम उत्पादयेत तीव्रं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम
 12 देवव्रते तु निहते कुरूणाम ऋषभे तदा
    यद अकार्षुर नृपतयस तन ममाचक्ष्व संजय

 

 9 [dhṛ]
     saṃsādhya tu mahātmānaṃ bhīṣmaṃ bhīmaparākramam
     kim akārṣuḥ paraṃ tāta kuravaḥ kālacoditāḥ
 10 tasmin vinihate śūre durādharṣe mahaujasi
    kiṃ nu svit kuravo 'kārṣur nimagnāḥ śokasāgare
 11 tad udīrṇaṃ mahat sainyaṃ trailokyasyāpi saṃjaya
    bhayam utpādayet tīvraṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
 12 devavrate tu nihate kurūṇām ṛṣabhe tadā
    yad akārṣur nṛpatayas tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya

 

Dhritarashtra said, 'After having wept for the high-souled Bhishma of terrible prowess, what, O son, did the Kauravas, urged by fate, next do? Indeed, when that high-souled and invincible hero was slain, what did the Kauravas do, sunk as they were in an ocean of grief? Indeed, that swelling and highly efficient host of the high-souled Pandavas, would, O Sanjaya, excite the keenest fears of even the three worlds. Tell me, therefore, O Sanjaya, what the (assembled) kings did after Devavrata, that bull of Kura's race, had fallen.'

 

 13 [स]
    शृणु राजन्न एकमना वचनं बरुवतॊ मम
    यत ते पुत्रास तदाकार्षुर हते देवव्रते मृधे
 14 निहते तु तदा भीष्मे राजन सत्यपराक्रमे
    तावकाः पाण्डवेयाश च पराध्यायन्त पृथक पृथक
 15 विस्मिताश च परहृष्टाश च कषत्रधर्मं निशाम्य ते
    सवधर्मं निन्दमानाश च परणिपत्य महात्मने
 16 शयनं कल्पयाम आसुर भीष्मायामित तेजसे
    सॊपधानं नरव्याघ्र शरैः संनतपर्वभिः
 17 विधाय रक्षां भीष्माय समाभाष्य परस्परम
    अनुमान्य च गाङ्गेयं कृत्वा चापि परदक्षिणम
 18 करॊधसंरक्तनयनाः समवेक्ष्य परस्परम
    पुनर युद्धाय निर्जग्मुः कषत्रियाः कालचॊदिताः
 19 ततस तूर्यनिनादैश च भेरीणां च महास्वनैः
    तावकानाम अनीकानि परेषां चापि निर्ययुः
 20 वयावृत्ते ऽहनि राजेन्द्र पतिते जाह्नवीसुते
    अमर्षवशम आपन्नाः कालॊपहतचेतसः
 21 अनादृत्य वचः पथ्यं गाङ्गेयस्य महात्मनः
    निर्ययुर भरतश्रेष्ठः शस्त्राण्य आदाय सर्वशः
 22 मॊहात तव सपुत्रस्य वधाच छांतनवस्य च
    कौरव्या मृत्युसाद भूताः सहिताः सर्वजारभिः
 23 अजावय इवागॊपा वने शवापद संकुले
    भृशम उद्विग्नमनसॊ हीना देवव्रतेन ते
 24 पतिते भरतश्रेष्ठे बभूव कुरु वाहिनी
    दयौर इवापेत नक्षत्रा हीनं खम इव वायुना
 25 विपन्नसस्येव मही वाक चैवासंस्कृता यथा
    आसुरीव यथा सेना निगृहीते पुरा बलौ
 26 विधवेव वरारॊहा शुष्कतॊयेव निम्नगा
    वृकैर इव वने रुद्धा पृषती हतयूथपा
 27 सवाधर्ष हतसिंहेव महती गिरिकन्दरा
    भारती भरतश्रेष्ठ पतिते जाह्नवीसुते
 28 विष्वग वातहता रुग्णा नौर इवासीन महार्णवे
    बलिभिः पाण्डवैर वीरैर लब्धलक्षैर भृशार्दिता
 29 सा तदासीद भृशं सेना वयाकुलाश्वरथद्विपा
    विषण्णभूयिष्ठ नरा कृपणा दरष्टुम आबभौ
 30 तस्यां तरस्ता नृपतयः सैनिकाश च पृथग्विधाः
    पाताल इव मज्जन्तॊ हीना देव वतेन ते
    कर्णं हि कुरवॊ ऽसमार्षुः स हि देवव्रतॊपमः
 31 सर्वशस्त्रभृतां शरेष्ठं रॊचमानम इवातिथिम
    बन्धुम आपद गतस्येव तम एवॊपागमन मनः
 32 चुक्रुशुः कर्ण कर्णेति तत्र भारत पार्थिवाः
    राधेयं हितम अस्माकं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम
 33 स हि नायुध्यत तदा दशाहानि महायशाः
    सामात्यबन्धुः कर्णॊ वै तम आह्वयत माचिरम
 34 भीष्मेण हि महाबाहुः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पश्यतः
    रथेषु गण्यमानेषु बलविक्रम शालिषु
    संख्यातॊ ऽरधरथः कर्णॊ दविगुणः सन नरर्षभः
 35 रथातिरथ संखायां यॊ ऽगरणीः शूर संमतः
    पितृवित्ताम्बुदेवेषान अपि यॊ यॊद्धुम उत्सहेत
 36 स तु तेनैव कॊपेन राजन गाङ्गेयम उक्तवान
    तवयि जीवति कौरव्य नाहं यॊत्स्ये कथं चन
 37 तवया तु पाण्डवेयेषु निहतेषु महामृधे
    दुर्यॊधनम अनुज्ञाप्य वनं यास्यामि कौरव
 38 पाण्डवैर वा हते भीष्मे तवयि सवर्गम उपेयुषि
    हन्तास्म्य एकरथेनैव कृत्स्नान यान मन्यसे रथान
 39 एवम उक्त्वा महाराज दशाहानि महायशाः
    नायुध्यत ततः कर्णः पुत्रस्य तव संमते
 40 भीष्मः समरविक्रान्तः पाण्डवेयस्य पार्थिव
    जघान समरे यॊधान असंख्येयपराक्रमः
 41 तस्मिंस तु निहते शूरे सत्यसंधे महौजसि
    तवत्सुताः कर्णम अस्मार्षुस तर्तुकामा इव पलवम
 42 तावकास तव पुत्राश च सहिताः सर्वराजभिः
    का कर्ण इति चाक्रन्दन कालॊ ऽयम इति चाब्रुवन
 43 जामदग्न्याभ्यनुज्ञातम अस्त्रे दुर्वार पौरुषम
    अगमन नॊ मनःकर्णं बन्धुम आत्ययिकेष्व इव
 44 स हि शक्तॊ रणे राजंस तरातुम अस्मान महाभयात
    तरिदशान इव गॊविन्दः सततं सुमहाभयात

 

 13 [s]
    śṛṇu rājann ekamanā vacanaṃ bruvato mama
    yat te putrās tadākārṣur hate devavrate mṛdhe
 14 nihate tu tadā bhīṣme rājan satyaparākrame
    tāvakāḥ pāṇḍaveyāś ca prādhyāyanta pṛthak pṛthak
 15 vismitāś ca prahṛṣṭāś ca kṣatradharmaṃ niśāmya te
    svadharmaṃ nindamānāś ca praṇipatya mahātmane
 16 śayanaṃ kalpayām āsur bhīṣmāyāmita tejase
    sopadhānaṃ naravyāghra śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 17 vidhāya rakṣāṃ bhīṣmāya samābhāṣya parasparam
    anumānya ca gāṅgeyaṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam
 18 krodhasaṃraktanayanāḥ samavekṣya parasparam
    punar yuddhāya nirjagmuḥ kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ
 19 tatas tūryaninādaiś ca bherīṇāṃ ca mahāsvanaiḥ
    tāvakānām anīkāni pareṣāṃ cāpi niryayuḥ
 20 vyāvṛtte 'hani rājendra patite jāhnavīsute
    amarṣavaśam āpannāḥ kālopahatacetasaḥ
 21 anādṛtya vacaḥ pathyaṃ gāṅgeyasya mahātmanaḥ
    niryayur bharataśreṣṭhaḥ śastrāṇy ādāya sarvaśaḥ
 22 mohāt tava saputrasya vadhāc chāṃtanavasya ca
    kauravyā mṛtyusād bhūtāḥ sahitāḥ sarvajārabhiḥ
 23 ajāvaya ivāgopā vane śvāpada saṃkule
    bhṛśam udvignamanaso hīnā devavratena te
 24 patite bharataśreṣṭhe babhūva kuru vāhinī
    dyaur ivāpeta nakṣatrā hīnaṃ kham iva vāyunā
 25 vipannasasyeva mahī vāk caivāsaṃskṛtā yathā
    āsurīva yathā senā nigṛhīte purā balau
 26 vidhaveva varārohā śuṣkatoyeva nimnagā
    vṛkair iva vane ruddhā pṛṣatī hatayūthapā
 27 svādharṣa hatasiṃheva mahatī girikandarā
    bhāratī bharataśreṣṭha patite jāhnavīsute
 28 viṣvag vātahatā rugṇā naur ivāsīn mahārṇave
    balibhiḥ pāṇḍavair vīrair labdhalakṣair bhṛśārditā
 29 sā tadāsīd bhṛśaṃ senā vyākulāśvarathadvipā
    viṣaṇṇabhūyiṣṭha narā kṛpaṇā draṣṭum ābabhau
 30 tasyāṃ trastā nṛpatayaḥ sainikāś ca pṛthagvidhāḥ
    pātāla iva majjanto hīnā deva vatena te
    karṇaṃ hi kuravo 'smārṣuḥ sa hi devavratopamaḥ
 31 sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ rocamānam ivātithim
    bandhum āpad gatasyeva tam evopāgaman manaḥ
 32 cukruśuḥ karṇa karṇeti tatra bhārata pārthivāḥ
    rādheyaṃ hitam asmākaṃ sūtaputraṃ tanutyajam
 33 sa hi nāyudhyata tadā daśāhāni mahāyaśāḥ
    sāmātyabandhuḥ karṇo vai tam āhvayata māciram
 34 bhīṣmeṇa hi mahābāhuḥ sarvakṣatrasya paśyataḥ
    ratheṣu gaṇyamāneṣu balavikrama śāliṣu
    saṃkhyāto 'rdharathaḥ karṇo dviguṇaḥ san nararṣabhaḥ
 35 rathātiratha saṃkhāyāṃ yo 'graṇīḥ śūra saṃmataḥ
    pitṛvittāmbudeveṣān api yo yoddhum utsahet
 36 sa tu tenaiva kopena rājan gāṅgeyam uktavān
    tvayi jīvati kauravya nāhaṃ yotsye kathaṃ cana
 37 tvayā tu pāṇḍaveyeṣu nihateṣu mahāmṛdhe
    duryodhanam anujñāpya vanaṃ yāsyāmi kaurava
 38 pāṇḍavair vā hate bhīṣme tvayi svargam upeyuṣi
    hantāsmy ekarathenaiva kṛtsnān yān manyase rathān
 39 evam uktvā mahārāja daśāhāni mahāyaśāḥ
    nāyudhyata tataḥ karṇaḥ putrasya tava saṃmate
 40 bhīṣmaḥ samaravikrāntaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya pārthiva
    jaghāna samare yodhān asaṃkhyeyaparākramaḥ
 41 tasmiṃs tu nihate śūre satyasaṃdhe mahaujasi
    tvatsutāḥ karṇam asmārṣus tartukāmā iva plavam
 42 tāvakās tava putrāś ca sahitāḥ sarvarājabhiḥ
    kā karṇa iti cākrandan kālo 'yam iti cābruvan
 43 jāmadagnyābhyanujñātam astre durvāra pauruṣam
    agaman no manaḥkarṇaṃ bandhum ātyayikeṣv iva
 44 sa hi śakto raṇe rājaṃs trātum asmān mahābhayāt
    tridaśān iva govindaḥ satataṃ sumahābhayāt

 

Sanjaya said, 'Listen, O king, with undivided attention, to me as I recite what thy sons did after Devavrata had been killed in battle. When Bhishma, O monarch, of prowess incapable of being baffled, was slain, thy warriors as also the Pandavas both reflected by themselves (on the situation). Reflecting on the duties of the Kshatriya order, they were filled with wonder and joy; but acting according to those duties of their own order, they all bowed to that high-souled warrior. Then those tigers among men contrived for Bhishma of immeasurable prowess a bed with a pillow made of straight shafts. And having made arrangements for Bhishma's protection, they addressed one another (in pleasant converse). Then bidding Ganga's son their farewell and walking round him, and looking at one another with eyes red in anger, those Kshatriyas, urged by fate, once more went out against one another for battle. Then by the blare of trumpets and the beat of drums, the divisions of thy army as also those of the foe, marched out. After the fall of Ganga's son, O king, when the best part of the day had passed away, yielding to the influence of wrath, with hearts afflicted by fate, and disregarding the words, worthy of acceptance, of the high-souled Bhishma, those foremost ones of Bharata's race went out with great speed, armed with weapons. In consequence of thy folly and of thy son's and of the slaughter of Santanu's son, the Kauravas with all the kings seemed to be summoned by Death himself. The Kurus, deprived of Devavrata, were filled with great anxiety, and resembled a herd of goats and sheep without a herdsman, in a forest abounding with beasts of prey. Indeed, after the fall of that foremost one of Bharata's race, the Kuru host looked like the firmament divested of stars, or like the sky without the atmosphere, or like the earth with blasted crops, or like an oration disfigured by bad grammar, 1 or like the Asura host of old after Vali had been smitten down, or like a beautiful damsel deprived of husband, 2 or like a river whose waters have been dried up, or like a roe deprived of her mate and encompassed in the woods by wolves; or like a spacious mountain cave with its lion killed by a Sarabha. 3 Indeed, O chief of the Bharatas, the Bharata host, on the fall of Ganga's son, became like a frail boat on the bosom of the ocean, tossed by a tempest blowing from every side. Exceedingly afflicted by the mighty and heroic Pandavas of sure aim, the Kaurava host, with its steeds, car-warriors and elephants much troubled, became exceedingly distressed, helpless, and panic-stricken. And the frightened kings and the common soldiers, no longer relying upon one another, of that army, deprived of Devavrata, seemed to sink into the nethermost region of the world. Then the Kauravas remembered Karna, who indeed, was equal to Devavrata himself. All hearts turned to that foremost of all wielders of arms, that one resembling a guest resplendent (with learning and ascetic austerities). And all hearts turned to him, as the heart of a man in distress turneth to a friend capable of relieving that distress. And, O Bharata, the kings then cried out saying, Karna! Karna! The son of Radha, our friend, the son of a Suta, that one who is ever prepared to lay down his life in battle! Endued with great fame, Karna, with his followers and friends, did not fight for these ten days. O, summon him soon!' The mighty-armed hero, in the presence of all the Kshatriyas, during the mention of valiant and mighty car-warriors, was by Bhishma classed as an Ardha-ratha, although that bull among men is equal to two Maharathas! Even thus was he classed during the counting of Rathas and Atirathas, he that is the foremost (of all Rathas and Atirathas), he that is respected by all heroes, he that would venture to fight even with Yama, Kuvera, Varuna, and Indra. Through anger caused by this, O king, he had said unto Ganga's son these words: 'As long as thou livest, O thou of Kuru's race, I will never fight! if thou, however, succeedest in slaying the sons of Pandu in great battle, I shall, O Kaurava, with Duryodhana's permission, retire into the woods. If, on the other hand, thou, O Bhishma, slain by the Pandavas, attainest to heaven, I shall then, on a single car, slay all of them, whom thou regardest as great car-warriors.' Having said this, mighty-armed Karna of great fame, with thy son's approval, did not fight for the first ten days. Bhishma, of great prowess in battle and of immeasurable might, slew, O Bharata, a very large number of warriors belonging to Yudhishthira's army. When, however, that hero of sure aim and great energy was slain, thy sons thought of Karna, like persons desirous of crossing a river thinking, of a boat. Thy warriors and thy sons, together with all the kings, cried out, saying, Karna! And they all said, 'Even this is the time for the display of his prowess.' Our hearts are turned to that Karna who derived his knowledge of weapons from Jamadagni's son, and whose prowess is incapable of being resisted! He, indeed, O king, is competent to save us from great dangers, like Govinda always saving the celestials from great dangers.'

 

 45 [व]
    तथा कर्णं युधि वरं कीर्तयन्तं पुनः पुनः
    आशीविषवद उच्छ्वस्य धृतराष्ट्रॊ ऽबरवीद इदम

 

 45 [v]
    tathā karṇaṃ yudhi varaṃ kīrtayantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
    āśīviṣavad ucchvasya dhṛtarāṣṭro 'bravīd idam

 

Vaisampayana continued, 'Unto Sanjaya who was thus repeatedly applauding Karna, Dhritarashtra sighing like a snake, said those words.'

 

 46 यत तद वैकर्तनं कर्णम अगमद वॊ मनस तदा
     अप्य अपश्यत राधेयं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम
 47 अपि तन न मृषाकार्षीद युधि सत्यपराक्रमः
     संभ्रान्तानां तदार्तानां तरस्तानां तराणम इच्छताम
 48 अपि तत पूरयां चक्रे धनुर्धर वरॊ युधि
     यत तद विनिहते भीष्मे कौरवाणाम अपावृतम
 49 तत खण्डं पूरयाम आस परेषाम आदधद भयम
     कृतवान मम पुत्राणां जयाशां सफलाम अपि

 

 46 yat tad vaikartanaṃ karṇam agamad vo manas tadā
     apy apaśyata rādheyaṃ sūtaputraṃ tanutyajam
 47 api tan na mṛṣākārṣīd yudhi satyaparākramaḥ
     saṃbhrāntānāṃ tadārtānāṃ trastānāṃ trāṇam icchatām
 48 api tat pūrayāṃ cakre dhanurdhara varo yudhi
     yat tad vinihate bhīṣme kauravāṇām apāvṛtam
 49 tat khaṇḍaṃ pūrayām āsa pareṣām ādadhad bhayam
     kṛtavān mama putrāṇāṃ jayāśāṃ saphalām api

 

"Dhritarashtra said, '[I understand] that the hearts of all of you are turned towards Vikartana's son Karna, and that all of you, saw that son of Radha, that hero of the Suta caste, ever prepared to lay down his life in battle. I hope that hero of prowess incapable of being baffled, did not falsify the expectations of Duryodhana and his brothers, all of whom were then afflicted with grief and fear, and desirous of being relieved from their danger. When Bhishma, that refuge of Kauravas, was slain, could Karna, that foremost of bowmen, succeed in filling up the gap caused? Filling up that gap, could Karna fill the foe with fear? Could he also crown with fruit the hopes, entertained by my sons, of victory?