GADAYUDDHA PARVA: Chapter 33

The exchange of angry words between Bhima and Duryodhana

संजय उवाच एवं दुर्योधने राजन् गर्जमाने मुहुर्मुहुः। युधिष्ठिरस्य संक्रुद्धो वासुदेवोऽब्रवीदिदम्॥
Sanjaya said While Duryodhana, O king, was repeatedly crying aloud in this way, Vasudeva, worked up with wrath, said to Yudhishthira.

यदि नाम ह्ययं युद्धे वरयेत् त्वां युधिष्ठिर। अर्जुनं नकुलं चैव सहदेवमथापि वा॥ किमिदं साहसं राजंस्त्वया व्याहृतमीदृशम्। एकमेव निहत्याजौ भव राजा कुरुष्विति॥
What indiscreet words have you given vent to, O king, saying that killing one amongst us be you the king of Kurus. If, indeed, O Yudhishthira, Duryodhana selects you for battle or Arjuna or Nakula or Sahadeva, (what will be the consequence?

न समर्थानहं मन्ये गदाहस्तस्य संयुगे। एतेन हि कृता योग्या वर्षाणीह त्रयोदश॥ आयसे पुरुषे राजन् भीमसेनजिघांसया।
With a view to kill Bhimasena, O king, Duryodhana has practiced with the mace upon a statue of iron.

कथं नाम भवेत् कार्यमस्याभिर्भरतर्षभ॥ साहसं कृतवास्त्वं तु ह्यनुक्रोशानृपोत्तम।
How then, O best of Bharata's race will our object be accomplished? From pity, O best of kings, you have acted very indiscreetly.

नान्यमस्यानुपश्यामि प्रतियोद्धारमाहवे॥ ऋते वृकोदरात् पार्थात् स च नातिकृतश्रमः।
I do not at this moment see any match for Duryodhana except Pritha's son Vrikodara. His practice again, with the mace, is not so great.

तदिदं द्यूतमारब्धं पुनरेव यथा पुरा॥ विषमं शकुंनेश्चैव तव चैव विशाम्पते।
You have, therefore, once more given preference to a game of chance as that one formerly between yourself and Shakuni, O monarch.

बली भीमः समर्थश्च कृती राजा सुयोधनः॥ बलवान् वा कृती वेति कृती राजन् विशिष्यते।
Bhima is endued with might and prowess, King Duryodhana, however, is skillful. In a fight between might and skill, he, that is skillful, O king, always becomes successful.

सोऽयं राजंस्त्वया शत्रुः समे पथि निवेशितः॥ न्यस्तश्चात्मा सुविषमे कृच्छ्रमापादिता वयम्।
Such an enemy, O king, you have, by your words placed in a comfortable and secure position. You have placed your oneself, however, in a difficult position. We have, for this, been placed in great peril.

को नु सर्वान विनिर्जित्य शत्रूनेकेन वैरिणा॥ कृच्छप्राप्तेन च तथा हारयेद् राज्यमागतम्।
Who is there that would relinquish sovereignty within grasp, after having defeated all his enemy and when he has only one foe to kill who even is sunk in difficulties?

पणित्वा चैकपाणेन रोचयेदेवमाहवम्॥ न हि पश्यामि तं लोके योऽद्य दुर्योधनं रणे।
I do not see such a man in the world today, be he a god, who is able to defeat the macearmed Duryodhana in battle.

गदाहस्तं विजेतुं वै शक्तः स्यादमरोऽपि हि॥ न त्वं भीमो न नकुलः सहदेवोऽथ फाल्गुनः। जेतुं न्यायेन शक्तोः वै कृती राजा सुयोधनः॥
Neither you, nor Bhima, nor Nakula nor Sahadeva, nor Phalguna is capable of defeating Duryodhana in fair fight. King Duryodhana is endued with great skill.

स कथं वदसे शत्रु युध्यस्व गदयेति हि। एकं च नो निहत्याजौ भव राजेति भारत॥
How then, O Bharata, can you address to such a foe words such as these viz.,., "Fight, selecting the mace as the weapon and if you can kill one amongst us, you shall then be the king."

वृकोदरं समासाद्य संशयो वै जये हि नः। न्यायतो युध्यमानानां कृती ह्येष महाबलः॥
If Duryodhana meets Vrikodara amongst us wishing to fight fairly with him, even then our victory will hang in the balance. Duryodhana is highly powerful and skillful.

एकं वास्मान् निहत्य त्वं भव राजेति वै पुनः। नूनं न राज्यभागेषा पाण्डोः कुन्त्याश्च संततिः॥ अत्यन्तवनवासाय सृष्टा भैक्ष्याय वा पुनः।
How could you say to him-"Killing only one amongst us be you the king." Forsooth the children of Pandu and Kunti are not destined to enjoy kingdom. They have been born for passing their lives in continued exile in the forest or in mendicancy.

भीमसेन उवाच मधुसूदन मा कार्षीर्विषादं यदुनन्दन॥ अद्य पारं गमिष्यामि वैरस्य भृशदुर्गमम्।
Bhimasena said O killer of Madhu, do not, O delighted of the Yadus, grieve. However difficult it may be, I shall terminate these hostilities.

अहं सुयोधनं संख्ये हनिष्यामि न संशयः॥ विजयो वै ध्रुवः कृष्ण धर्मराजस्य दृश्यते।
Forsooth, I shall kill Suyodhana in battle. It appears, O Krishna, that the victory of righteous Yudhishthira is certain.

अध्यर्धेन गुणेनेयं गदा गुरुतरी मम॥ न तथा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य मा कार्षीर्माधव व्यथाम्।
This mace of mine is heavier by one and a half times than Duryodhana's. Do no, O Madhava, grieve.

अहमेनं हि गदया संयुगे योद्धमुत्सहे॥ भवन्तः प्रेक्षकाः सर्वे मम सन्तु जनार्दन।
I dare fight him, selecting the mace as the weapon. Let all of you, O Janarddana, witness this encounter.

सामरानपि लोकांस्त्रीन् नानाशस्त्रधरान् युधि॥ योधयेयं रणे कृष्ण किमुताद्य सुयोधनम्।
What do you say of Suyodhana, I would fight with the three worlds including the very celestials even if they be armed with every kind of weapon.

संजय उवाच तथा सम्भाषमाणं तु वासुदेवों वृकोदरम्॥ हृष्टः सम्पूजयामास वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्। त्वामाश्रित्य महाबाहो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥ निहतारिः स्वकां दीप्ता श्रियं प्राप्तो न संशयः।
Sanjaya continued After Vrikodara had said these words, Vasudeva, filled with glee, applauded him highly and said to him-"Depending on you, O you of great arms, the righteous king Yudhishthira will, forsooth, get back his prosperity after the destruction of all his foes.

त्वया विनिहताः सर्वे धृतराष्ट्रसुता रणे॥ राजानो राजपुत्राश्च नागाश्च विनिपातिताः।
You have slain all the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle. At your hands many kings and princes and elephants have met with their death.

कलिङ्गा मागधाः प्राच्या गान्धाराः कुरवस्तथा॥ त्वामासाद्य महायुद्धे निहतः पाण्डुनन्दन।
The Kalingas, the Magadhas, the Kauravas, the Westerners and the Gandharvas have all been killed in dreadful battles, O son of Pandu.

हत्वा दुर्योधन चापि प्रयच्छोर्वी ससागराम्॥ धर्मराजाय कौन्तेय यथा विष्णुः शचीपतेः।
Killing Duryodhana then, O son of Kunti, bestow the earth with her oceans upon the righteous Yudhishthira like Vishnu conferring the sovereignty of the three worlds upon the lord of Shachi.

त्वां च प्राप्य रणे पापो धार्तराष्ट्रो विनडक्ष्यति॥ त्वमस्य सक्थिनी भक्त्वा प्रतिज्ञा पालयिष्यसि।
Getting you for a foe in battle, the wretched son of Dhritarashtra, will forsooth meet with his death. You will certainly fulfill your promise by breaking his bones.

ततस्तु सात्यकी यत्नेन तु सदा पार्थ योद्धव्यो धृतराष्ट्रजः॥ कृती च बलवांश्चैव युद्धशौण्डश्च नित्यदा।
You should however, O son of Pritha, always fight with care with the son of Dhritarashtra. He is endued with both skill and strength and always finds delight in battle.

राजन् पूजयामास पाण्डवम्॥
Then Satyaki, O king, applauded the son of Pandu.

पञ्चालाः पाण्डवेयाश्च धर्मराजपुरोगमाः। तद् वचो भीमसेनस्य सर्व एवाभ्यपूजयन्॥
The Panchalas and the Pandavas, also, headed by the righteous king Yudhishthira, all praised Bhimasena.

ततो भीमबलो भीमो युधिष्ठिरमथाब्रवीत्। संजयैः सह तिष्ठन्तं तपन्तमिव भास्करम्॥ अहमेतेन संगम्य संयुगे योद्धमुत्सहे। न हि शक्तो रणे जेतुं मामेष पुरुषाधमः॥
Then Bhima, of terrible might, addressed Yudhishthira who was standing amid the Srinjayas like the burning Sun himself, saying-"I venture to fight with this man in battle. This wretch among men is not able to defeat me in fight.

अद्य क्रोधं विमोक्ष्यामि निहितं हृदये भृशम्। सुयोधने धार्तराष्ट्रे खाण्डवेऽग्निमिवार्जुनः॥
Today I shall vomit that ire which has been ranking in my bosom against Suyodhana the son of Dhritarashtra like Arjuna throwing fire on the forest of Khandava.

शल्यमद्योद्धरिष्यामि तव पाण्डव हृच्छयम्। निहत्य गदया पापमद्य राजन् सुखी भव॥
I shall today pluck out the dart, O son of Pandu, that lay so long sticking to your heart. Be happy, O king, after I shall have struck down this wretch with my mace.

अद्य कीर्तिमयीं माला प्रतिमोक्ष्ये तवानघ। प्राणाश्रियं च राज्यं च मोक्ष्यतेऽद्य सुयोधनः॥
Today I shall recover, O sinless one, your garland of glory. Today Suyodhana shall renounce his life, his prosperity and his kingdom.

राजा च धृतराष्ट्रोऽद्य श्रुत्वा पुत्रं मया हतम्। स्मरिष्यत्यशुभं कर्म यत् तच्छकुनिबुद्धिजम्॥
Today hearing of his son's death, king Dhritarashtra will remember all those wrongs that he did to us under Shakuni's advice."

इत्युक्त्वा भरतश्रेष्ठो गदामुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। उदतिष्ठत युद्धाय शक्रो वृत्रमिवाह्वयन्॥
Having said these words, that energetic prince, of Bharata's race, stood up for battle, like Shakra summoning Vritra to an encounter.

तदाह्वानममृष्यन् वै तव पुत्रोऽतिवीर्यवान्। प्रत्युपस्थित एवाशु मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम्॥
Unable to endure that call your highly energetic son, proceeded to the encounter, like one infuriate elephant proceeding to assail another.

गदाहस्त तव सुतं युद्धाय समुपस्थितम्। ददृशुः पाण्डवाः सर्वे कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम्॥
The Pandavas saw your son, as he came armed with mace, as the summit of the mount Kailasa.

तमेकाकिनमासाद्य धार्तराष्ट्र महाबलम्। वियूथमिव मातङ्गं समहष्यन्त पाण्डवाः॥
Verily beholding that powerful son of yours standing alone like a prince of elephants separated from the herd, the Pandavas were filled with joy.

न सम्भ्रमो न च भयं न च ग्लानिन च व्यथा। आसीद् दुर्योधनस्यापि स्थितः सिंह इवाहवे॥
Standing in battle like a very lion, Duryodhana had no fear, no pain, no anxiety.

समुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम्। भीमसेनस्तदा राजन् दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत्॥ राज्ञापि धृतराष्ट्रेण त्वया चास्मासु यत् कृतम्। स्मर तद् दृष्कृतं कर्म यद् भूतं वारणावते॥
Seeing him stand there with uplifted mace like the created mountain of Kailasa, Bhimasena, O monarch, addressed him, saying "Remember all those wrongs that king Dhritarashtra and yourself have inflicted on us. Remember what took place at Varanavata.

द्रौपदी च परिकिष्टा सभामध्ये रजस्वला। द्यूते यद् विजितो राजा शकुनेबुद्धिनिश्चयात्॥
Remember how Draupadi, while in her season, was maltreated in the midst of the assembly and how king Yudhishthira was defeated at dice through Shakuni's advice.

यानि चान्यानि दुष्टात्मन् पापानि कृतवानसि। अनाग:सु च पार्थेषु तस्य पश्य महत् फलम्॥
See now, O wicked man, the dreadful consequence of those acts as also of the other wrongs that you inflicted on the innocent Parthas.

त्वकृते निहतः शेते शरतल्पे महायशाः। गाङ्गेयो भरतश्रेष्ठः सर्वेषां नः पितामहः॥
It is for you that, that illustrious chief of the Bharatas, the son of Ganga, the grandfather of us all, lies now on a bed of arrows.

हतो द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च हतः शल्यः प्रतापवान्। वैरस्त चादिकर्ताऽसौ शकुनिनिहतो रणे॥
Drona also has been killed. Karna has been killed. Shalya of great valour has been killed. Yonder Shakuni also, the root of these enunities, has been killed in battle.

भ्रातरस्ते हताः शूराः पुत्राश्च सहसैनिकाः। राजानश्च हताः शूराः समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः॥
Your heroic brothers and sons, with all your troops, have been killed. Other heroic kings also, who never retreated from battle, have been killed.

एते चान्ये च निहता बहवः क्षत्रियर्षभाः। प्रातिकामी तथा पापो द्रौपद्याः केशकृद्धतः॥
These and many other leading Kshatriyas, as also Pratikamin, that wretch who had seized the locks of Draupadi, have been killed.

अवशिष्टस्त्वमेवैकः कुलमोऽधमपूरुषः। त्वामप्यद्य हनिष्यामि गदया नात्र संशयः॥
You alone are still alive, O destroyer of your family, O wretch among men. I shall forsooth kill you today with my mace.

अद्य तेऽहं रणे दर्पं सर्वं नाशयिता नृप। राज्याशां विपुला राजन् पाण्डवेषु च दुष्कृतम्॥
Today, O king, I shall, in battle, repress all your pride. I shall destroy also your hope of sovereignty, O king and pay off all your misdeeds to the sons of Pandu.

दुर्योधन उवाच किं कत्थितेन बहुना युद्ध्यस्वाद्य मया सह। अद्य तेऽहं विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धां वृकोदर॥
Duryodhana said What is the use of speaking too much? Fight now with me. Today O Vrikodara, I shall subdue you desire for battle.

किं न पश्यमि मां पाप गदायुद्धे व्यवस्थितम्। हिमवच्छिखराकारां प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्॥
Why do you not see me, O wretch, standing here for an encounter with the mace? Am I not armed with a formidable mace that looks like a summit of Himavat?

गदिनं कोऽध मां पाप हन्तुमुत्सहते रिपुः। न्यायतो युद्ध्यमानश्च देवेष्वपि पुरन्दरः॥
What enemy is there, O wretch, that would dare defeat me armed with this weapon? If it be a fair fight, Purandara himself, amongst the celestials, is not capable of doing it.

मा वृथा गर्ज कौन्तेय शारदाभ्रमिवाजलम्। दर्शयस्व बलं युद्धे यावत् तत् तेऽद्य विद्यते॥
Do not, O son of Kunti, roar uselessly in this way like autumnal clouds shorn of water. Display all the strength you posses in battle now.

तस्य तद् वचन् श्रुत्वा पाण्डवाः सहसंजयाः। सर्वे सम्पूजयामासुस्तद्वचो विजिगीषवः॥
Hearing those words of his, the Pandavas with the Srinjayas, all filled with desire of victory, praised them highly.

उन्मत्तमिव मातङ्गं तलशब्देन मानवाः। भूयः सहर्षयामासू राजन् दुर्योधनं नृपम्॥
Like men exciting an infuriate elephant with the clapping of hands, all of them then pleased king Duryodhana.

बृंहन्ति कुञ्जरास्तत्र हया द्वेषन्ति चासकृत्। शस्त्राणि सम्प्रदीप्यन्ते पाण्डवानां जयैषिणाम्॥
The elephants began to grunt and the horses to neigh repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas who were filled with the desire of victory shone there. The elephants began to grunt and the horses to neigh repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas who were filled with the desire of victory shone there.