07.008
Pancharatra and Core: Hearing of the death of Drona, Dhritarashtra loses his balance and asks Sanjaya to pause for a while.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
किं कुर्वाणं रणे द्रोणं जघ्नुः पाण्डवसृञ्जयाः।तथा निपुणमस्त्रेषु सर्वशस्त्रभृतामपि ॥७-८-१॥
What actions did the Pandavas and Srinjayas take in the battle that led to the killing of Drona, who was exceptionally skilled in weaponry, even among all the warriors?
रथभङ्गो बभूवास्य धनुर्वाशीर्यतास्यतः।प्रमत्तो वाभवद्द्रोणस्ततो मृत्युमुपेयिवान् ॥७-८-२॥
The chariot was broken and his bow shattered while he was shooting. Drona, either due to carelessness or fate, then met his death.
कथं नु पार्षतस्तात शत्रुभिर्दुष्प्रधर्षणम्।किरन्तमिषुसङ्घातान्रुक्मपुङ्खाननेकशः ॥७-८-३॥
O father, how is it that the son of Pṛṣata, who is difficult to overpower by enemies, is showering numerous clusters of arrows with golden feathers?
क्षिप्रहस्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं कृतिनं चित्रयोधिनम्।दूरेषुपातिनं दान्तमस्त्रयुद्धे च पारगम् ॥७-८-४॥
He is a quick-handed, excellent brahmin, skilled and a wonderful warrior, capable of striking from long distances, restrained, and an expert in the art of weaponry.
पाञ्चालपुत्रो न्यवधीद्दिष्ट्या स वरमच्युतम्।कुर्वाणं दारुणं कर्म रणे यत्तं महारथम् ॥७-८-५॥
Fortunately, the son of Panchala killed the excellent Achyuta, who was engaged in performing a terrible deed in battle as a great chariot-warrior.
व्यक्तं दिष्टं हि बलवत्पौरुषादिति मे मतिः।यद्द्रोणो निहतः शूरः पार्षतेन महात्मना ॥७-८-६॥
It is my belief that destiny, when manifest, is indeed powerful due to manliness. This is evident as Droṇa, the valiant hero, was slain by the noble son of Pṛṣata.
अस्त्रं चतुर्विधं वीरे यस्मिन्नासीत्प्रतिष्ठितम्।तमिष्वस्त्रवराचार्यं द्रोणं शंससि मे हतम् ॥७-८-७॥
You tell me that Droṇa, the best teacher of archery, in whom the four types of weapons were established, has been killed.
श्रुत्वा हतं रुक्मरथं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्।जातरूपपरिष्कारं नाद्य शोकमपानुदे ॥७-८-८॥
Upon hearing that Rukmaratha, who was surrounded by tigers and adorned with gold, had been killed, the grief was not dispelled today.
न नूनं परदुःखेन कश्चिन्म्रियति सञ्जय।यत्र द्रोणमहं श्रुत्वा हतं जीवामि न म्रिये ॥७-८-९॥
Certainly, Sanjaya, no one dies from the sorrow of others. Even after hearing that Drona has been killed, I am still alive and do not die.
अश्मसारमयं नूनं हृदयं सुदृढं मम।यच्छ्रुत्वा निहतं द्रोणं शतधा न विदीर्यते ॥७-८-१०॥
Indeed, my heart must be very strong and made of stone, for it does not shatter into a hundred pieces upon hearing of Droṇa's death.
ब्राह्मे वेदे तथेष्वस्त्रे यमुपासन्गुणार्थिनः।ब्राह्मणा राजपुत्राश्च स कथं मृत्युना हतः ॥७-८-११॥
In the Vedas and the weapons, both Brahmins and princes who seek virtues worship him; how then was he killed by death?
शोषणं सागरस्येव मेरोरिव विसर्पणम्।पतनं भास्करस्येव न मृष्ये द्रोणपातनम् ॥७-८-१२॥
Just as the drying up of the ocean or the spreading of Mount Meru or the setting of the sun is intolerable, so is the fall of Droṇa intolerable to me.
दृप्तानां प्रतिषेद्धासीद्धार्मिकानां च रक्षिता।योऽत्याक्षीत्कृपणस्यार्थे प्राणानपि परन्तपः ॥७-८-१३॥
He was a defender against the arrogant and a protector of the righteous, who sacrificed his life for the sake of the poor, O subduer of enemies.
मन्दानां मम पुत्राणां जयाशा यस्य विक्रमे।बृहस्पत्युशनस्तुल्यो बुद्ध्या स निहतः कथम् ॥७-८-१४॥
How could he, who was as wise as Brihaspati and Ushanas and whose hope of victory lay in the prowess of my slow-witted sons, be slain?
ते च शोणा बृहन्तोऽश्वाः सैन्धवा हेममालिनः।रथे वातजवा युक्ताः सर्वशब्दातिगा रणे ॥७-८-१५॥
The great red horses from the Sindhu region, adorned with gold, are yoked to the chariot. They move with the speed of the wind, surpassing all sounds in the battle.
बलिनो घोषिणो दान्ताः सैन्धवाः साधुवाहिनः।दृढाः सङ्ग्राममध्येषु कच्चिदासन्न विह्वलाः ॥७-८-१६॥
The strong and loud horses, well-tamed and good carriers, remain firm in the midst of battle, and are not confused, are they?
करिणां बृंहतां युद्धे शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिस्वनम्।ज्याक्षेपशरवर्षाणां शस्त्राणां च सहिष्णवः ॥७-८-१७॥
In the battle, the great elephants endured the sounds of conches and drums, the release of bowstrings, and showers of arrows and weapons.
आशंसन्तः पराञ्जेतुं जितश्वासा जितव्यथाः।हयाः प्रजविताः शीघ्रा भारद्वाजरथोद्वहाः ॥७-८-१८॥
The warriors, hoping to defeat their enemies, have mastered their breath and pain. The swift and fast horses carry Bharadvaja's chariot.
ते स्म रुक्मरथे युक्ता नरवीरसमाहिताः।कथं नाभ्यतरंस्तात पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् ॥७-८-१९॥
They, yoked in the golden chariot with heroic men, wondered how they could not penetrate the Pandavas' army, dear.
जातरूपपरिष्कारमास्थाय रथमुत्तमम्।भारद्वाजः किमकरोच्छूरः सङ्क्रन्दनो युधि ॥७-८-२०॥
Bharadvaja, the hero known as Sankrandana, mounted the excellent chariot adorned with gold. What did he do in the battle?
विद्यां यस्योपजीवन्ति सर्वलोकधनुर्भृतः।स सत्यसन्धो बलवान्द्रोणः किमकरोद्युधि ॥७-८-२१॥
Drona, whose knowledge was relied upon by all the world's archers, was truthful and strong. What did he do in the battle?
दिवि शक्रमिव श्रेष्ठं महामात्रं धनुर्भृताम्।के नु तं रौद्रकर्माणं युद्धे प्रत्युद्ययू रथाः ॥७-८-२२॥
In heaven, like Indra, who is the best among the great ministers of the bow-bearers, who indeed were the chariots that faced him of fierce deeds in battle?
ननु रुक्मरथं दृष्ट्वा प्रद्रवन्ति स्म पाण्डवाः।दिव्यमस्त्रं विकुर्वाणं सेनां क्षिण्वन्तमव्ययम् ॥७-८-२३॥
The Pandavas, upon seeing the golden chariot and the divine weapon being wielded, fled as the imperishable army was being destroyed.
उताहो सर्वसैन्येन धर्मराजः सहानुजः।पाञ्चाल्यप्रग्रहो द्रोणं सर्वतः समवारयत् ॥७-८-२४॥
Dharmaraja, along with his younger brother and the entire army, including the leader of the Panchalas, surrounded and restrained Drona from all sides.
नूनमावारयत्पार्थो रथिनोऽन्यानजिह्मगैः।ततो द्रोणं समारोहत्पार्षतः पापकर्मकृत् ॥७-८-२५॥
Arjuna, with his straight-shooting arrows, certainly blocked the other charioteers. Then, the son of Prishata, known for his evil deeds, ascended to Drona.
न ह्यन्यं परिपश्यामि वधे कञ्चन शुष्मिणः।धृष्टद्युम्नादृते रौद्रात्पाल्यमानात्किरीटिना ॥७-८-२६॥
I see no one else fit to kill Śuṣmiṇa other than Dhṛṣṭadyumna, who is fierce and protected by the crowned one.
तैर्वृतः सर्वतः शूरैः पाञ्चाल्यापसदस्ततः।केकयैश्चेदिकारूषैर्मत्स्यैरन्यैश्च भूमिपैः ॥७-८-२७॥
He was surrounded on all sides by heroes, including the descendants of Pāñcāla, Kekayas, Edikas, Ārūṣas, Matsyas, and other kings.
व्याकुलीकृतमाचार्यं पिपीलैरुरगं यथा।कर्मण्यसुकरे सक्तं जघानेति मतिर्मम ॥७-८-२८॥
My thought is that the teacher, engaged in a difficult task, was disturbed and killed, just as a snake is disturbed by ants.
योऽधीत्य चतुरो वेदान्सर्वानाख्यानपञ्चमान्।ब्राह्मणानां प्रतिष्ठासीत्स्रोतसामिव सागरः ॥ स कथं ब्राह्मणो वृद्धः शस्त्रेण वधमाप्तवान् ॥७-८-२९॥
The one who mastered the four Vedas and all the narratives, serving as the foundation for the Brahmanas like the ocean for the streams, how did that elderly Brahmana meet his end by the sword?
अमर्षणो मर्षितवान्क्लिश्यमानः सदा मया।अनर्हमाणः कौन्तेयः कर्मणस्तस्य तत्फलम् ॥७-८-३०॥
The intolerant one, who was always suffering because of me, endured it; the undeserving son of Kunti faced the consequences of his actions.
यस्य कर्मानुजीवन्ति लोके सर्वधनुर्भृतः।स सत्यसन्धः सुकृती श्रीकामैर्निहतः कथम् ॥७-८-३१॥
How could he, whose actions are followed by all archers in the world, who is truthful and virtuous, be killed by those desiring prosperity?
दिवि शक्र इव श्रेष्ठो महासत्त्वो महाबलः।स कथं निहतः पार्थैः क्षुद्रमत्स्यैर्यथा तिमिः ॥७-८-३२॥
In heaven, he was like Indra, the best among the mighty and great beings. How could he be killed by the sons of Pritha, as a whale is by small fish?
क्षिप्रहस्तश्च बलवान्दृढधन्वारिमर्दनः।न यस्य जीविताकाङ्क्षी विषयं प्राप्य जीवति ॥७-८-३३॥
The quick-handed and strong warrior, firm in his archery and crusher of foes, does not live desiring life after obtaining the object.
यं द्वौ न जहतः शब्दौ जीवमानं कदाचन।ब्राह्मश्च वेदकामानां ज्याघोषश्च धनुर्भृताम् ॥७-८-३४॥
There are two sounds that never leave a living person: the chanting of the Vedas for those who seek Vedic knowledge and the sound of the bowstring for the warriors.
नाहं मृष्ये हतं द्रोणं सिंहद्विरदविक्रमम्।कथं सञ्जय दुर्धर्षमनाधृष्ययशोबलम् ॥७-८-३५॥
I cannot bear the news of Droṇa, who was as valiant as a lion and elephant, being killed. How, Sañjaya, can one withstand the invincible and unassailable fame and strength?
केऽरक्षन्दक्षिणं चक्रं सव्यं के च महात्मनः।पुरस्तात्के च वीरस्य युध्यमानस्य संयुगे ॥७-८-३६॥
Who guarded the right and left sides of the great soul's chariot? Who stood in front of the hero as he fought in the battle?
के च तत्र तनुं त्यक्त्वा प्रतीपं मृत्युमाव्रजन्।द्रोणस्य समरे वीराः केऽकुर्वन्त परां धृतिम् ॥७-८-३७॥
Who were the heroes there who, having abandoned their bodies, approached a contrary death in the battle of Drona, and who performed supreme courage?
एतदार्येण कर्तव्यं कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु सञ्जय।पराक्रमेद्यथाशक्त्या तच्च तस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥७-८-३८॥
O Sañjaya, the noble should act with valor and ability in times of difficulty and calamity, and that is firmly established.
मुह्यते मे मनस्तात कथा तावन्निवर्त्यताम्।भूयस्तु लब्धसञ्ज्ञस्त्वा परिप्रक्ष्यामि सञ्जय ॥७-८-३९॥
O dear, my mind is confused. Let the story be paused until I regain my senses. I will ask you again, Sanjaya.
