07.023
Pancharatra and Core: Dhritarashtra laments the loss of Bhishma and Drona, blaming destiny, and further enquires about the progress of the battle.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
व्यथयेयुरिमे सेनां देवानामपि संयुगे। आहवे ये न्यवर्तन्त वृकोदरमुखा रथाः ॥७-२३-१॥
These chariots, led by Bhima, who retreated in the battle, would even distress the army of the gods.
सम्प्रयुक्तः किलैवायं दिष्टैर्भवति पूरुषः। तस्मिन्नेव तु सर्वार्था दृश्यन्ते वै पृथग्विधाः ॥७-२३-२॥
This man, indeed, becomes engaged only by destiny; in that alone, however, all purposes of different kinds are indeed seen.
दीर्घं विप्रोषितः कालमरण्ये जटिलोऽजिनी। अज्ञातश्चैव लोकस्य विजहार युधिष्ठिरः ॥७-२३-३॥
Yudhishthira, with matted hair, lived in the forest in disguise for a long time, unknown to the world.
स एव महतीं सेनां समावर्तयदाहवे। किमन्यद्दैवसंयोगान्मम पुत्रस्य चाभवत् ॥७-२३-४॥
He gathered a mighty army for the battle. What else transpired due to the alignment of fate and my son?
युक्त एव हि भाग्येन ध्रुवमुत्पद्यते नरः। स तथाकृष्यते तेन न यथा स्वयमिच्छति ॥७-२३-५॥
A man is inevitably born connected to his destiny; he is led by it, not as he wishes himself.
द्यूतव्यसनमासाद्य क्लेशितो हि युधिष्ठिरः। स पुनर्भागधेयेन सहायानुपलब्धवान् ॥७-२३-६॥
Yudhishthira, having fallen into the vice of gambling, was indeed troubled. However, by fortune, he once again found his companions.
अर्धं मे केकया लब्धाः काशिकाः कोसलाश्च ये। चेदयश्चापरे वङ्गा मामेव समुपाश्रिताः ॥७-२३-७॥
Half of my kingdom was acquired by Kekaya, Kashikas, and Kosalas; the Chedis and other Vangas have sought refuge in me alone.
पृथिवी भूयसी तात मम पार्थस्य नो तथा। इति मामब्रवीत्सूत मन्दो दुर्योधनस्तदा ॥७-२३-८॥
Duryodhana, in his foolishness, said to me, 'Father, the earth is greater, but not so for my Arjuna,' at that time, O charioteer.
तस्य सेनासमूहस्य मध्ये द्रोणः सुरक्षितः। निहतः पार्षतेनाजौ किमन्यद्भागधेयतः ॥७-२३-९॥
In the midst of his army, Drona was protected, but was killed by the son of Prishata in battle. What else can be attributed to destiny?
मध्ये राज्ञां महाबाहुं सदा युद्धाभिनन्दिनम्। सर्वास्त्रपारगं द्रोणं कथं मृत्युरुपेयिवान् ॥७-२३-१०॥
In the midst of the kings, how did death approach the mighty-armed Droṇa, who was always delighting in battle and was an expert in all weapons?
समनुप्राप्तकृच्छ्रोऽहं संमोहं परमं गतः। भीष्मद्रोणौ हतौ श्रुत्वा नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे ॥७-२३-११॥
I am in extreme distress and confusion, having heard of the deaths of Bhishma and Drona. I feel unable to continue living.
यन्मा क्षत्ताब्रवीत्तात प्रपश्यन्पुत्रगृद्धिनम्। दुर्योधनेन तत्सर्वं प्राप्तं सूत मया सह ॥७-२३-१२॥
O charioteer, everything that my father told me, foreseeing his son's greed, has come true with Duryodhana and me.
नृशंसं तु परं तत्स्यात्त्यक्त्वा दुर्योधनं यदि। पुत्रशेषं चिकीर्षेयं कृच्छ्रं न मरणं भवेत् ॥७-२३-१३॥
It would be extremely cruel if Duryodhana is abandoned. I wish to act in a way that supports the remaining son, ensuring that the hardship does not result in death.
यो हि धर्मं परित्यज्य भवत्यर्थपरो नरः। सोऽस्माच्च हीयते लोकात्क्षुद्रभावं च गच्छति ॥७-२३-१४॥
A man who abandons his duty and becomes focused on wealth indeed falls from this world and attains a state of insignificance.
अद्य चाप्यस्य राष्ट्रस्य हतोत्साहस्य सञ्जय। अवशेषं न पश्यामि ककुदे मृदिते सति ॥७-२३-१५॥
Today, O Sañjaya, I see no remnant of this kingdom, as its spirit is crushed and nothing remains.
कथं स्यादवशेषं हि धुर्ययोरभ्यतीतयोः। यौ नित्यमनुजीवामः क्षमिणौ पुरुषर्षभौ ॥७-२३-१६॥
How can there be anything left of the two great leaders who have passed away, whom we always follow, the forgiving and noble bulls among men?
व्यक्तमेव च मे शंस यथा युद्धमवर्तत। केऽयुध्यन्के व्यपाकर्षन्के क्षुद्राः प्राद्रवन्भयात् ॥७-२३-१७॥
Clearly, tell me how the battle unfolded. Who were the ones who fought, who withdrew, and who were the cowards that fled in fear?
धनञ्जयं च मे शंस यद्यच्चक्रे रथर्षभः। तस्माद्भयं नो भूयिष्ठं भ्रातृव्याच्च विशेषतः ॥७-२३-१८॥
Tell me what Arjuna, the best of charioteers, did, as our greatest fear is especially from the enemy.
यथासीच्च निवृत्तेषु पाण्डवेषु च सञ्जय। मम सैन्यावशेषस्य संनिपातः सुदारुणः ॥ मामकानां च ये शूराः कांस्तत्र समवारयन् ॥७-२३-१९॥
As the Pāṇḍavas withdrew, O Sañjaya, the assembly of my remaining army was very terrible. And who were the heroes among my people who engaged in battle there?
