None: Chapter 151

The reply of Drona

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच सिन्धुराजे हते तात समरे सव्यसाचिना। तथैव भूरिश्रवसि किमासीद् वो मनस्तदा॥
Dhritarashtra said What, O Sanjaya, was the state of your mind when the king of Sindhu was slain in battle by Savyasachi and Bhurisrava (by Satyaki)?

दुर्योधनेन च द्रोणस्तथोक्तः कुरुसंसदि। किमुक्तवान् परं तस्मै तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय॥
Relate to me, O Sanjaya, what Drona did say after he had been thus addressed by Duryodhana in the midst of the Kurus.

संजय उवाच निष्टान को महानासीत् सैन्यानां तव भारत। सैन्धवं निहतं दृष्ट्वा भूरिश्रवसमेव च॥
Sanjaya said Seeing the king of Sindhu and Bhurisrava slain, there arose a great tumult among your troops, O Bharata.

मन्त्रितं तव पुत्रस्य ते सर्वमवमेनिरे। येन मन्त्रेण निहताः शतशः क्षत्रियर्षभाः॥
All of them censured the policy of your son, in virtue of which hundreds of foremost of men were destroyed.

द्रोणस्तु तद् वचः श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्य तव दुर्मनाः। मुहूर्तमिव तद् ध्यात्वा भृशमार्तोऽभ्यभाषत॥
Drona too, hearing those words of your son, became sad at heart. Then, O king of kings, reflecting a moment he said very sorrowfully (these words).

द्रोण उवाच दुर्योधन किमेवं मां वाक्शरैरपि कृन्तसि। अजय्यं सततं संख्ये ब्रुवाणं सव्यसाचिनम्॥
Drona said O Duryodhana, why are you piercing me with words (keen) as darts? I have told you (repeatedly) that Savyasachi is uncognizable in battle.

एतेनैवार्जुनं ज्ञातुमलं कौरव संयुगे। यच्छिखण्ड्यवधीद् भीष्मं पाल्यमानः किरीटिना॥
We have got (sufficient) proofs of what Arjuna is, when protected by Kiriti, Sikhandi slew Bhisma in battle, O Kaurava.

अवध्यं निहतं दृष्ट्वा संयुगे देवदानवैः। तदैवाज्ञासिषमहं नेयमस्तीति भारती॥
Seeing that Bhishma, who could not be defeated by the celestials and the Danavas in battle, was slain (by Sikhandi), I understood that the Bharata army was doomed.

यं पुंसां त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वशूरममंस्महि। तस्मिन् निपतिते शूरं किं शेषं पर्युपास्महे॥
That person, whom we looked upon as the foremost of all the heroes in the three worlds, being slain, who else there that can inspire us with confidence?

यान् स्म तान् ग्लहते तात शकुनिः कुरुसंसदि। अक्षान् न तेऽरक्षा निशिता बाणास्ते शत्रुतापनाः॥
The dice with which Shakuni played in the assembly-hall of the Kurus, O affecnate one, are not (real) dice but their arrows destructive of foes, has ever been able to achieve.

त एते मन्ति नस्तात विशिखा: पार्थचोदिताः। तांस्तदाऽऽख्यायमानस्त्वं विदुरेण च बुद्धवान्॥
Those arrows, O child, now discharged by aya are destroying us; you did not then understand when Vidura told you what those (dice) were.

यास्ता विजयतश्चापि विदुरस्य महात्मनः। धीरस्य वाचो नाश्रौषीः क्षेमाय वदतः शिवाः॥
You did not then pay heed to those auspicious words, which the magnanimous wise Vidura with tearful eyes said for your good.

तदिदं वर्तते घोरमागतं वैशसं महत्। तस्यावमानाद् वाक्यस्य दुर्योधन कृते तव॥
In consequence of your disregard for those words, O Duryodhana, this dire, terrible and impending disaster has overtaken you.

योऽवमन्य वचः पथ्यं सुहृदामाप्तकारिणाम्। स्वमतं कुरुते मूढः स शोच्यो नचिरादिव॥
That stupid person, who disregarding the wholesome advice of his trusted friends, follows his own inclinations, is very soon reduced to a pitiable plight.

यच नः प्रेक्षमाणानां कृष्णामानाय्य तत्सभाम्। अनर्हन्ती कुले जातां सर्वधर्मानुचारिणीम्॥
(You) had dragged Krishna to the assembly hall in our very presence who was unworthy of such treatment, was born of a noble line and was devoted to every act of righteousness.

तस्याधर्मस्य गान्धारे फलं प्राप्तमिदं महत्। नो चेत् पापं परे लोके त्वमर्छथास्ततोऽधिकम्॥
O son of Gandhari, this (calamity which you are now in) is the bitter fruit of that sinful act on your part. This (punishment) is but insignificant for in the world to come you will be visited with direr calamities.

यच्च तान् पाण्डवान् द्यूते विषमेण विजित्य ह। प्रावाजयस्तदारण्ये रौरवाजिनवाससः॥
(This disaster is also the outcome of) your deceit by means of which you defeated the Pandavas at the game of dice and exiled them to the forest clad in deer-skin.

पुत्राणामिव चैतेषां धर्ममाचरतां सदा। दुह्येत् को नु नरो लोके मदन्यो ब्राह्मणब्रुवः॥
Is there, in the world, any other Brahmana besides myself that would injure the (Pandavas) who devoted to righteousness and are (as dear) to me as my (own) sons.

पाण्डवानामयं कोपस्त्वया शकुनिना सह। आहृतो धृतराष्ट्रस्य सम्मते कुरुसंसदि॥
The wrath that you excited in the Pandavas with the assent of Dhritarashtra and associated with Shakuni in the midst of the Kurus,

दुःशासनेन संयुक्तः कर्णेन परिवर्धितः। क्षत्तुर्वाक्यमनाहृत्य त्वयाभ्यस्तः पुनः पुनः॥
are ever Has been fostered by Dushasana together with Karna and had been repeatedly fanned by you who never paid regard to the words of Khattva.

यत्ताः सव्रे पराभूताः पर्यवारयताऽर्जुनम्। सिन्धुराजानमाश्रित्य स वो मध्ये कथं हतः॥
How was it that you, who stood by the ruler by the Sindhu and tried your utmost to withstand Arjuna, were all defeated and why was he (Jayadratha) slain in your midst?

कथं त्वयि च कर्णे च कृपे शल्ये च जीवति। अश्वत्थानि च कौरव्य निधनं सैन्धवोऽगमत्॥
How is it, O Kaurava prince, that when you, Karna, Kripa, Shalya and Ashvatthama are (all) alive, the king of Sindhu has been slain?

युध्यन्तः सर्वराजानस्तेजस्तिग्ममुपासते। सिन्धुराजं परित्रातुं स वो मध्ये कथं हतः॥
How was it that the king of Sindhu was slain in their midst, since for the purpose of rescuing him all the kings fought with fiery energy.

मय्येव हि विशेषेण तथा दुर्योधन त्वयि। आशंसत परित्राणमर्जुनात् स महीपतिः॥
That lord of the earth looked especially to yourself and me for his rescue from Arjuna, O Duryodhana.

ततस्तस्मिन् परित्राणमलब्धवति फाल्गुनात्। न किंचिदनुपश्यामि जीवित स्थानमात्मनः॥
But he failed to have that rescue from (the clutches of) Arjuna. I too do not find any hope for my own life.

मजन्तमिव चात्मानं धृष्टद्युम्नस्य किल्बिषे। पश्याम्यहत्वा पञ्चालान् सह तेन शिखण्डिना॥
I see that I am (fast) sinking into the mire of Dhristadyumna's (cunning) until I can slay the Panchalas together with Sikhandi.

तन्मां किमभितप्यन्तं वाक्शरैरेव कृन्तसि। अशक्तः सिन्धुराजस्य भूत्वा त्राणाय भारत॥
Since I myself am tormented with grief, wherefore are you piercing me with words (poignant) as an arrow, you who failed to rescue the king of Sindhu, O Bharata.

सौवर्णं सत्यसंधस्य ध्वजमकिष्टकर्मणः। अपश्यन् युधि भीष्मस्य कथमाशंससे जयम्॥
How can you hope for success, since you do not longer seen the golden standard of Bhishma endued with untiring energy and (ever) firm in truth.

मध्ये महारथानां च यत्राहन्यत सैन्धवः। हतो भूरिश्रवाश्चैव किं शेषं तत्र मन्यसे॥
Since the ruler of Sindhu and Bhurisrava have been slain from the very midst of the mighty-car-warriors, you can (very well) anticipate what the result will be.

कृप एव च दुर्धर्षा यदि जीवति पार्थिव। यो नागात् सिन्धुराजस्य वर्त्म तं पूजयाम्यहम्॥
O lord of the earth, if, without following the path of the king of Sindhu, the irresistible Kripa be still alive, I praise him highly (for his escape with life).

यत्रापश्यं हतं भीष्मं पश्यतस्तेऽनुजस्य वै। दुःशासनस्य कौरव्य कुर्वाणं कर्म दुष्करम्॥ अवध्यकल्पं संग्रामे देवैरपि सवासवैः। न ते वसुन्धरास्तीति तदाहं चिन्तये नृप॥
When, O Kaurava king, I behold that Bhishma, capable of achieving the most difficult exploits and unslayable even by the celestials together with Vasava in battle, was slain in your very sight and in that of your younger brother Dusasana, I thought, O king, that the earth no longer belonged to you.

इमानि पाण्डवानां च सृञ्जयानां च भारत। अनीकान्याद्रवन्ते मां सहितान्यद्य भारत॥
Behold! O king, O Bharata, the troops of the Pandavas and those of the Srinjayas are jointly advancing against me.

नाहत्वा सर्वपञ्चालान् कवचस्य विमोक्षणम्। कर्तास्मि समरे कर्म धार्तराष्ट्र हितं तव॥
I will not lay down my armour without destroying all the Panchalas; (and), O son of Dhritarashtra, I will perform which acts in battle as will benefit you.

राजन् ब्रूयाः सुतं मे त्वमश्वत्थामानमाहवे। न सोमकाः प्रमोक्तव्या जीवितं परिरक्षता॥
O king! Go and convey my direction for Ashvatthama that he should battle taking all care of his life and not let go living Somakas at all possible efforts viz. he has to kill them all definitely.

यच्च पित्रानुशिष्टोऽसि तद् वचः परिपालय। आनृशंस्ये दमे सत्ये चार्जवे च स्थिरो भव॥
(Tell him also). "Observe the instruction that your father has given you. Be firm in charity, self-restraint, truth and straight forwardness.

धर्मार्थकामकुशलो धर्मार्थावप्यपीडयन्। धर्मप्रधानकार्याणि कुर्याश्चेति पुनः पुनः॥
Be diligent in (the exercise) religion, profit and pleasure without despising religion and profit and always perform those acts in which the exercise of religion is mostly required.

चक्षुर्मनोभ्यां संतोष्या विप्राः पूज्याश्च शक्तितः। न चैषां विप्रियं कार्यं ते हि वह्निशिखोपमाः॥
You should always propitiate the Brahmanas with presents and worship. Never do anything that will offend them; for, they are flames of fire.

एष त्वहमनीकानि प्रविशाम्यरिसूदन। रणाय महते राजंस्त्वया वाक्शरपीडितः॥
O destroyer of foes, afflicted as I am with your words darts I will now penetrate through the enemy's line in order to engage in a furious encounter (for your sake).

त्वं च दुर्योधन बलं यदि शक्तोऽसि पालय। रात्रावपि च योत्स्यन्ते संरब्धाः कुरुसृञ्जयाः॥
As for your, O Duryodhana, if you are capable, go and protect your army, for both the Kurus and the Srinjayas, that are furious (with rage) will fight even during the night.

एवमुक्त्वा ततः प्रायाद् द्रोणः पाण्डवसृञ्जयान्। मुष्णन् क्षत्रियतेजांसि नक्षत्राणामिवांशुमान्॥
Having said thus, Drona, like the sun drawing out the energy of the stars, advanced against the Pandavas and the Srinjayas in order to destroy the energy of the Kshatriyas.