DRONA-VADHA PARVA: Chapter 186

The division of the troops

संजय उवाच ततो दुर्योधनो द्रोणमभिगम्याब्रवीदिदम्। अमर्षवशमापन्नो जनयन् हर्षतेजसी॥
Sanjaya said Then king Duryodhana, under the influence of anger, approached Drona and addressing him said these word for inspiring him with delight and wrath simultaneously.

दुर्योधन उवाच न मर्षणीयाः संग्रामे विश्रमन्तः श्रमान्विताः। सपत्ना ग्लानमनसो लब्धलक्ष्या विशेषतः॥ :॥
Duryodhana said No quarter should have been granted to our enemies when they were depressed at heart and exhausted with fatigue and taking rest, especially as they are ever of sure aim.

यत् तु मर्षितमस्माभिर्भवतः प्रियकाम्यया। त एते परिविश्रान्ताः पाण्डवा बलवत्तराः॥
That we showed them mercy was only from a desire for pleasing you. The fatigued Pandavas, however, have now (after taking rest) become stronger.

सर्वथा परिहीनाः स्म तेजसा च बलेन च। भवता पाल्यमानास्ते विवर्धन्ते पुनः पुनः॥
We, on the other hand, are becoming reduced in mighty and in energy, while the Pandavas, spared by you, are again and again gaining strength.

दिव्यान्यस्राणि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मदीनि च यानि ह। तानि सर्वाणि तिष्ठन्ति भवत्येव विशेषतः॥
All weapons of celestial workmanship and all Brahma weapons are known perfectly to you.

न पाण्डवेया न वयं नान्ये लोके धनुर्धराः। युध्यमानस्य ते तुल्याः सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते॥
Neither the Pandavas, nor ourselves nor any other bowman of the world are equal to you in battle. This I tell you truly.

ससुरासुरगन्धर्वानिमाँल्लोकान् द्विजोत्तम। सर्वात्रविद् भवान् हन्याद् दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्न संशयः॥
Conversant with all kinds of weapons O foremost of regenerate ones, you are competent enough to slay with your celestial weapons, the gods, the Asureas, the Gandharvas and all this world.

स भवान् मर्षयत्येतांस्त्वत्तो भीतान् विशेषतः। शिष्यत्वं वा पुरस्कृत्य मम वा मन्दभाग्यताम्॥
The Pandavas are all afraid of you. Yet you always forgive them remembering perhaps that they are your disciples or owing to my unfortunate luck."

संजय उवाच एवमुद्धर्षितो द्रोण: कोपितश्च सुतेन ते। समन्युरब्रवीद् राजन् दुर्योधनमिदं वचः॥
Sanjaya said Thus reprimanded and incited by your son, Drona, O monarch, wrathfully addressed

घटे दुर्योधनाहवे। अतः परं मया कार्यं क्षुद्रं विजयगृद्धिना॥ अनस्रविदयं सर्वो हन्तव्योऽस्रविदा जनः। यद् भवान् मन्यते चापि शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्॥
Although I am advanced in years, yet. ) Duryodhana, I am fighting in battle to the best

स्थविरः सन् परं शक्त्या
of my abilities. All these men are versed in the use of weapons; I am however well-versed in thein. If from desire of victory, I slay these men, there can be no more impious act for me to do. However, what is in your heart, be it good or bad.

तद् वै कर्तास्मि कौरव्य वचनात् तव नान्यथा। निहत्य सर्वपञ्चालान् युद्धे कृत्वा पराक्रमम्॥ विमोक्ष्ये कवचं राजन् सत्येनायुधमालमे। मन्यसे यच्च कौन्तेयमर्जुनं श्रान्तमाहवे॥
I shall accomplish, foremost of the Kurus, at your behest. It will not be other.vise. Putting forth my prowess in battle and slaying all the Panchalas I will put off my coat of mail, O monarch. I swear this to you for sooth. You think that Kunti's son Arjuna was exhausted in battle.

तस्य वीर्यं महाबाहो शृणु सत्येन कौरव। तं न देवा न गन्धर्वा न यक्षा न च राक्षसाः॥ उत्सहन्ते रणे जेतुं कुपितं सव्यसाचिनम्। खाण्डवे येन भगवान् प्रत्युद्यातः सुरश्वरः॥
O mighty-armed Kaurava, listen to what I say regarding his prowess. If Savyasachin's anger is excited, neither the Gandharvas nor the Yakshas, nor the Rakshasas can venture to oppose him. On the occasion of the burning of the Khandava forest, he fought with the chief of the gods himself.

सायकैर्वारितश्चापि वर्षमाणो महात्मना। यक्षा नागास्तथा दैत्या ये चान्ये बलगर्विताः॥
With his arrows, the high-souled Arjuna then worsted the pouring Indra. Yakshas and the Nagas and the Daityas and other creatures.

निहताः पुरुषेन्द्रेणर तचापि विदितं तव। गन्धर्वा घोषयात्रायां चित्रसेनादयो जिताः॥
Proud of their strength, were then slain by that foremost of men. This also you know. On the occasion of the numbering of cattle, the Gandharvas, headed by Chitrasena and others, were defeated by him.

यूयं तैह्रियमाणाश्च मोक्षिता दृढधन्वना। निवातकवचाश्चापि देवानां शत्रवस्तथा॥
You also were set free from the bondage to the Gandharvas by that resolute bowman. The Nivtakavachas and other enemies of the gods.

सुरैरवध्याः संग्रामे तेन वीरेण निर्जिताः। दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम्॥
Unslayable by the gods themselves in battle, were also vanquished by that hero. Thousands of Danavas dallying in the golden city.

विजिग्ये पुरुषव्याघ्रः स शक्यो मानुषैः कथम्। प्रत्यक्षं चैव ते सर्वं यथाबलमिदं तव॥
Were defeated by that foremost of men. How it is possible for other men to resist him in battle? You have also seen with your own eyes, O king, how this host of yours, though striving hard, is destroyed by the son of Pandu, O ruler of men!

संजय उवाच क्षपितं पाण्डुपुत्रेण चेष्टतां नो विशाम्पते। तं तदाभिप्रशंसन्तमर्जुनं कुपितस्तदा॥
Sanjaya said Thereupon, your son, 0 king highly enraged, once more thus addressed Drona who had been praising Arjuna then.

द्रोणं तव सुतो राजन् पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत्। अहं दुःशासनः कर्णः शकुनिर्मातुलश्च मे॥
Dividing this Bharata army in two, today, myself, Dushasana, Karna and my uncle Sakuni will slay Arjuna in battle.

हनिष्यामोऽर्जुनं संख्ये द्विधा कृत्वाद्य भारतीम्। तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा भारद्वाजो हसन्निव॥
Hearing those words of his, the son of Bharadvaja, as if smiling, quickly turned round and said, “Good befall you!"

अन्ववर्तत राजानं स्वस्ति तेऽस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्। को हि गाण्डीवधन्वानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा।॥
What presumptuous Kshatriya would venture to destroy that foremost of the Kshatriyas viz., the wielder of the Gandiva bow, who never suffers and reduction and who ever burns in his own effulgence?

अक्षयं क्षपयेत् कश्चित् क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियर्षभम्। तं न वित्तपतिर्नेन्द्रो न यमो न जलेश्वरः॥
When furnished with weapons, neither the Lord of wealth, nor Indra nor Yama, nor Varuna, nor the Asuras nor the Rakshasas, will be able to defeat him?

नासुरोगरक्षांसि क्षपयेयुः सहायुधम्। मूढास्त्वेतानि भाषन्ते यानीमान्यात्थ भारत॥
What you have spoken, 0 Bharata, is worthy of a fool only. Who ever returns safely to his own home, after having encountered Arjuna in battle?

युद्धे ह्यर्जुनमासाद्य स्वस्तिमान् को व्रजेद् गृहान्। त्वं तु सर्वाभिशङ्कित्वान्निष्ठुरः पापनिश्चयः॥
Suspicious of everybody, you are cruel and of sinful purposes. You rebuke even those who are engaged in doing you good.

श्रेयसस्त्वद्धिते युक्तांस्तत्तद् वक्तुमिहेच्छसि। गच्छ त्वमपि कौन्तेयमात्मार्थे जहि मा चिरम्॥
Go yourself to resist the son of Kunti, at your own risk. You are well-born and a Kshatriya too; you are again desirous of battle.

त्वमप्याशंसये योद्धं कुलजः क्षत्रियो ह्यसि। इमान् किं क्षत्रियान् सर्वान् घातयिष्यस्यनागसः॥
Why then do you cause the ruin of all these other un-offending Kshatriyas? You are the root of this hostility, so, do you yourself encounter Arjuna.

त्वमस्य मूलं वैरस्य तस्मादासादयार्जुनम्। दुर्दूतदेवी गान्धारे प्रयात्वर्जुनमाहवे।
Here indeed is your sagacious uncle, ever devoted to the performance of the Kshatriya duties. O son of Ghandhari, let this one, addicted to deceitful gambling at dice, meet Arjuna in battle.

एषोऽक्षकुशलो जिह्मो द्यूतकृत् कितव: शठः॥ देविता निकृतिप्रज्ञो युधि जेष्यति पाण्डवान्।
Expert in the game of dice, crooked, fond of gambling and wily and deceitful-this gamester addicted to deception will surely vanquish the Pandavas in battle!

त्वया कथितमत्यर्थं कर्णेन सह हृष्टवत्॥ असकृच्छून्यवन्मोहाद् धृतराष्ट्रस्य शृण्वतः।
Accompanied by Karna and delightful you used to brag always, out of your foolishness, within Dhritarashtra's hearing, with these

अहं च तात कर्णश्च भ्राता दुःशासनश्च मे॥ पाण्डुपुत्रान् हनिष्यामः सहिताः समरे त्रयः।
O Sire, myself, Karna and my brother Dussasan, united in battle, shall slay the sons of Pandu!

इति ते कत्थमानस्य श्रुतं संसदि संसदि॥ अनुतिष्ठ प्रतिज्ञा तां सत्यवाग् भव तैः सह।
This brag of yours was heard in every assemblage of the court. Now with their help fulfill your vow and be true to your words.

एष ते पाण्डवः शत्रुरविशङ्कोऽग्रतः स्थितः॥ क्षत्रधर्ममवेक्षस्व श्लाघ्यस्तव वधो जयात्।
Yonder stand your fierce enemies, the sons of Pandu, prepared to fight to the last. Do now what should be done by a Kshatriya. It is batter that you did other than suffer defeat.

दत्तं भुक्तमधीतं च प्राप्तमैश्चर्यमीप्सितम्॥ कृतकृत्योऽनृणश्चासि मा भैयुध्यस्व पाण्डवम्।
You have been charitable and enjoyed edibles to your heart's content. You have acquired wealth to your heart's content, you have accomplished all that one should do. You are debtless. Be not afraid. Encounter the son of Pandu battle.

इत्युक्त्वा समरे द्रोणो न्यवर्तत यतः परे। द्वैधीकृत्य ततः सेनां युद्धं समभवत् तदा॥
Having thus spoken Drona desisted from fighting. Then the Bharata troops were divided in twain and the battle commenced.