06.072
Core and Pancharatra: Dhritarashtra laments the fate of his son's army, despite its being groomed and managed effectively.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
evaṃ bahuguṇaṃ sainyamevaṃ bahuvidhaṃ param। vyūḍhamevaṃ yathāśāstramamoghaṃ caiva sañjaya ॥6-72-1॥
O Sanjaya, the army, possessing many qualities and of various kinds, is supreme and arranged according to the scriptures, making it infallible.
puṣṭamasmākamatyantamabhikāmaṃ ca naḥ sadā। prahvamavyasanopetaṃ purastāddṛṣṭavikramam ॥6-72-2॥
Our state is always nourished, extremely desirable, humble, and free from misfortune, with visible prowess before us.
nātivṛddham abālaṃ ca na kṛśaṃ na ca pīvaram। laghuvṛttāyataprāyaṃ sāragātram anāmayam ॥6-72-3॥
The description is of someone who is neither too old nor too young, neither too thin nor too fat; they have a body that is mostly light, round, and elongated, embodying health.
āttasaṃnāhaśastraṃ ca bahuśastraparigraham। asiyuddhe niyuddhe ca gadāyuddhe ca kovidam ॥6-72-4॥
He was armed with armor and weapons, possessing many weapons, and was an expert in sword fighting, wrestling, and mace fighting.
prāsaṛṣṭitomareṣvājau parigheṣvāyaseṣu ca। bhiṇḍipāleṣu śaktīṣu musaleṣu ca sarvaśaḥ ॥6-72-5॥
In every aspect of battle, including spears, javelins, iron clubs, missiles, and pestles, power is present everywhere.
kampaneṣu ca cāpeṣu kaṇapeṣu ca sarvaśaḥ। kṣepaṇīṣu ca citrāsu muṣṭiyuddheṣu kovidam ॥6-72-6॥
He is an expert in handling tremors, bows, arrows, missiles, and wonders, and is skilled in fist fights everywhere.
aparokṣaṃ ca vidyāsu vyāyāmeṣu kṛtaśramam। śastragrahaṇavidyāsu sarvāsu pariniṣṭhitam ॥6-72-7॥
He was directly knowledgeable, having made efforts in exercises, and accomplished in all aspects of weapon handling.
ārohe paryavaskande saraṇe sāntaraplute। samyakpraharaṇe yāne vyapayāne ca kovidam ॥6-72-8॥
He is an expert in mounting, jumping over obstacles, moving, leaping across, striking well, riding, and departing.
nāgāśvarathayāneṣu bahuśaḥ suparīkṣitam। parīkṣya ca yathānyāyaṃ vetanenopapāditam ॥6-72-9॥
The elephants, horses, chariots, and other vehicles were thoroughly tested many times. After ensuring everything was in accordance with justice, they were provided with the appropriate salary.
na goṣṭhyā nopacāreṇa na ca bandhunimittataḥ। na sauhṛdabalaiścāpi nākulīnaparigrahaiḥ ॥6-72-10॥
One does not attain success merely by participating in assemblies, performing services, having relatives, friendships, or noble possessions.
samṛddhajanamāryaṃ ca tuṣṭasatkṛtabāndhavam। kṛtopakārabhūyiṣṭhaṃ yaśasvi ca manasvi ca ॥6-72-11॥
The prosperous and noble people, along with content and honored relatives, are abundant in favors done, and are both famous and wise.
sajayaiś ca narair mukhyair bahuśo mukhyakarmabhiḥ। lokapālopamaistāta pālitaṃ lokaviśrutaiḥ ॥6-72-12॥
O dear, it has been protected many times by chief men with victories and important deeds, like the protectors of the world, who are famous everywhere.
bahubhiḥ kṣatriyairguptaṃ pṛthivyāṃ lokasaṃmataiḥ। asmānabhigataiḥ kāmātsabalaiḥ sapadānugaiḥ ॥6-72-13॥
Many renowned warriors, approved by the people, have approached us on earth with their armies and followers, driven by desire.
mahodadhimivāpūrṇamāpagābhiḥ samantataḥ। apakṣaiḥ pakṣasaṅkāśai rathairnāgaiśca saṃvṛtam ॥6-72-14॥
The scene was like a vast ocean, completely filled with rivers on all sides, and surrounded by chariots that looked like wings without having wings, along with elephants.
nānāyodhajalaṃ bhīmaṃ vāhanormitaraṅgiṇam। kṣepaṇyasigadāśaktiśaraprāsasamākulam ॥6-72-15॥
The scene was filled with various weapons and water, creating a terrifying atmosphere. The vehicles moved with measured waves, and the area was crowded with missiles, swords, maces, spears, arrows, and javelins.
dhvajabhūṣaṇasambādhaṃ ratnapaṭṭena sañcitam। vāhanaiḥ parisarpadbhirvāyuvegavikampitam ॥6-72-16॥
The place was adorned with flags and ornaments, covered with jewel-studded cloth, and was trembling due to the vehicles moving around with the speed of the wind.
apāramiva garjantaṃ sāgarapratimaṃ mahat। droṇabhīṣmābhisaṅguptaṃ guptaṃ ca kṛtavarmaṇā ॥6-72-17॥
The army, vast and roaring like the mighty ocean, was protected by Drona and Bhishma and guarded by Kritavarma.
kṛpa-duḥśāsanābhyāṃ ca jayadratha-mukhais tathā। bhagadatta-vikarṇābhyāṃ drauṇi-saubalabāhlikaiḥ ॥6-72-18॥
Kṛpa and Duḥśāsana, along with Jayadratha and others, as well as Bhagadatta, Vikarṇa, Drauṇi, Saubala, and Bāhlika, were present.
guptaṃ pravīrairlokasya sāravadbhirmahātmabhiḥ। yadahanyata saṅgrāme diṣṭametatpurātanam ॥6-72-19॥
The brave, wise, and great souls of the world kept it hidden, and it was destroyed in battle; this was destined from ancient times.
naitādṛśaṃ samudyogaṃ dṛṣṭavanto'tha mānuṣāḥ। ṛṣayo vā mahābhāgāḥ purāṇā bhuvi sañjaya ॥6-72-20॥
O Sanjaya, neither humans nor the great ancient sages on earth have witnessed such an effort.
īdṛśo hi balaughastu yuktaḥ śastrāstrasampadā। vadhyate yatra saṅgrāme kimanyadbhāgadheyataḥ ॥6-72-21॥
Such a mass of strength, endowed with weaponry, is indeed slain in battle; what else can be attributed to fate?
viparītamidaṃ sarvaṃ pratibhāti sma sañjaya। yatredṛśaṃ balaṃ ghoraṃ nātaradyudhi pāṇḍavān ॥6-72-22॥
Sanjaya, it seemed to me that everything was contrary, where such a formidable force could not overcome the Pandavas in battle.
atha vā pāṇḍavārthāya devāstatra samāgatāḥ। yudhyante māmakaṃ sainyaṃ yadavadhyanta sañjaya ॥6-72-23॥
Then, for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas, the gods gathered there and fought against my army, which was being slaughtered, O Sañjaya.
ukto hi vidureṇeha hitaṃ pathyaṃ ca sañjaya। na ca gṛhṇāti tanmandaḥ putro duryodhano mama ॥6-72-24॥
Vidura has indeed spoken beneficial and wholesome advice here, O Sanjaya, but my foolish son Duryodhana does not accept it.
tasya manye matiḥ pūrvaṃ sarvajñasya mahātmanaḥ। āsīdyathāgataṃ tāta yena dṛṣṭamidaṃ purā ॥6-72-25॥
I believe that his intellect was once like that of the all-knowing great soul, O dear, as it was seen by someone in the past.
atha vā bhāvyamevaṃ hi sañjayaetena sarvathā। purā dhātrā yathā sṛṣṭaṃ tattathā na tadanyathā ॥6-72-26॥
"Then, O Sanjaya, it is destined to be this way in every respect. As it was created by the creator in the past, so it is, and not otherwise."
