None: Chapter 195

The wrath of Ashvatthaman

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच अधर्मेण हतं श्रुत्वा धृष्टद्युम्नेन संजय। ब्राह्मणं पितरं वृद्धमश्वत्थामा किमब्रवीत्॥
Dhritarashtra said Hearing of the slaughter of his aged and Brahma-knowing sire by Dhristadyumna in an unfair battle, 0 Sanjaya, what did Ashvatthaman say.

मानवं वारुणाग्नेयं ब्राह्ममस्त्रं च वीर्यवान्। ऐन्द्र नारायणं चैव यस्मिन् नित्यं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
He who is puissant and in whom human and Varuna and Agneya and Brahma and Aindra and Narayana weapons are always present?

तमधर्मेण धर्मिष्ठं धृष्टद्युम्नेन संयुगे। श्रुत्वा निहतमाचार्यं सोऽश्वत्थामा किमब्रवीत्॥
Hearing that the pious preceptor has been slain in battle by unfair means by Dhristadyumna what did that Ashvatthama say?

येन रामादवाप्येह धनुर्वेदं महात्मना। प्रोक्तान्यस्राणि दिव्यानि पुत्राय गुणकाक्षिणा॥
The illustrious Drona having mastered the science of bowmanship had imparted its knowledge to that son of his desirous of seeing the latter accomplished in every way.

एकमेव हि लोकेऽस्मिन्नात्मनो गुणवत्तरम्। इच्छन्ति पुरुषाः पुत्रं लोके नान्यं कथंचन॥
There is only one person in the world whom people can desire to be superior to themselves in accomplishments and that person is one's own son.

आचार्याणां भवन्त्येव रहस्यानि महात्मनाम्। तानि पुत्राय वा दधुः शिष्यायानुगताय वा॥
This is the mystery about all illustrious preceptors, that they impart the knowledge of their respective sciences of their sons or to their beloved pupils.

स शिष्यः प्राप्य तत् सर्वं सविशेषं च संजया शूरः शारद्वतीपुत्रः संख्ये द्रोणादनन्तरः॥
O Sanjaya, the heroic son of Saradvata's daughter, being the disciple of his own sire has obtained all that knowledge in every detail and has become a second Drona.

रामस्य तु समः शस्त्रे पुरंदरसमो युधि। कार्तवीर्यसमो वीर्य बृहस्पतिसमो मतौ॥
In knowledge of weapons, Ashvatthaman is like Rama himself; in battle he is like Purandar, in prowess he equals Kartavirya and in wisdom hc matches Brihaspati.

महीधरसमः स्थैर्ये तेजसाग्निसमो युवा। समुद्र इव गाम्भीर्ये क्रोधे चाशीविषोपमः॥
Youthful in years, he resembles a mountain in endurance and fire in cnergy. In gravity he is equal to the ocean and in anger to a snake of virulent poison.

र रथी प्रथमो लोके दृढधन्वा जितकमः। शीघ्रोऽनिल इवाक्रन्दे चरन् क्रुद्ध इवान्तकः॥
He is the first car-warrior in the world and indefatigable and resolute bowman. He equals the wind in speed; and in the thick of fight he careers like the Destroyer in person. or the

अस्यता येन संग्रामे धरण्यभिनिपीडिता। यो न व्यथति संग्रामे वीरः सत्यपराक्रमः॥
Shooting his arrows in battle he had afflicted the earth herself. Brave and of great prowess, he is never exhausted in battle.

वेदस्नातो व्रतस्नातो धनुर्वेदे च पारगः। महोदधिरिवाक्षोभ्यो रामो दाशरथिर्यथा॥
Purified by the recital of the Vedas and by the observance of the vows, he has thoroughly mastered the science of bow-manship. He is incapable of being ruffled and resembled in this direction the mighty ocean Dasaratha's son Raina himself.

तमधर्मेण धर्मिष्ठं धृष्टद्युम्नेन संयुगे। श्रुत्वा निहतमाचार्यमश्वत्थामा किमब्रवीत्॥
Hearing that the righteous preceptor has been slain in battle by unfair means by Dhristadyumna what indeed did Ashvatthaman sky?

धृष्टद्युम्नस्य यो मृत्युः सृष्टस्तेन महात्मना। यथा द्रोणस्य पाञ्चाल्यो यज्ञसेनसुतोऽभवत्॥
Ashvatthaman was destined to become the slayer of Dhristadyumna the son of Yajnasena, even as this latter was ordained to be the slayer of Drona.

तं नृशंसेन पापेन क्रूरेणादीर्घदर्शिना। श्रुत्वा निहतमाचार्यमश्वत्थामा किमब्रवीत्॥
What, alas, did Ashvatthman say, hearing that the Preceptor has been slain by that sinful, cruel and mean Dhristadyumna of little foresight?