07.023
Pancharatra and Core: Dhritarashtra laments the loss of Bhishma and Drona, blaming destiny, and further enquires about the progress of the battle.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
vyathayeyurime senāṃ devānāmapi saṃyuge। āhave ye nyavartanta vṛkodaramukhā rathāḥ ॥7-23-1॥
These chariots, led by Bhima, who retreated in the battle, would even distress the army of the gods.
samprayuktaḥ kilaivāyaṃ diṣṭairbhavati pūruṣaḥ। tasminneva tu sarvārthā dṛśyante vai pṛthagvidhāḥ ॥7-23-2॥
This man, indeed, becomes engaged only by destiny; in that alone, however, all purposes of different kinds are indeed seen.
dīrghaṃ viproṣitaḥ kālamaraṇye jaṭilo'jinī। ajñātaścaiva lokasya vijahāra yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥7-23-3॥
Yudhishthira, with matted hair, lived in the forest in disguise for a long time, unknown to the world.
sa eva mahatīṃ senāṃ samāvartayadāhave। kimanyaddaivasaṃyogānmama putrasya cābhavat ॥7-23-4॥
He gathered a mighty army for the battle. What else transpired due to the alignment of fate and my son?
yukta eva hi bhāgyena dhruvam utpadyate naraḥ। sa tathākṛṣyate tena na yathā svayam icchati ॥7-23-5॥
A man is inevitably born connected to his destiny; he is led by it, not as he wishes himself.
dyūtavyasanam āsādya kleśito hi yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। sa punar bhāgadheyena sahāyān upalabdhavān ॥7-23-6॥
Yudhishthira, having fallen into the vice of gambling, was indeed troubled. However, by fortune, he once again found his companions.
ardhaṁ me kekayā labdhāḥ kāśikāḥ kosalāśca ye। cedayaścāpare vaṅgā māmeva samupāśritāḥ ॥7-23-7॥
Half of my kingdom was acquired by Kekaya, Kashikas, and Kosalas; the Chedis and other Vangas have sought refuge in me alone.
pṛthivī bhūyasī tāta mama pārthasya no tathā। iti māmabravītsūta mando duryodhanastadā ॥7-23-8॥
Duryodhana, in his foolishness, said to me, 'Father, the earth is greater, but not so for my Arjuna,' at that time, O charioteer.
tasya senāsamūhasya madhye droṇaḥ surakṣitaḥ। nihataḥ pārṣatenājau kimanyadbhāgadheyataḥ ॥7-23-9॥
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?
madhye rājñāṃ mahābāhuṃ sadā yuddhābhinandinam। sarvāstrapāragaṃ droṇaṃ kathaṃ mṛtyurupeyvān ॥7-23-10॥
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?
samanuprāptakṛcchro'haṃ saṃmohaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ। bhīṣmadroṇau hatau śrutvā nāhaṃ jīvitumutsahe ॥7-23-11॥
I am in extreme distress and confusion, having heard of the deaths of Bhishma and Drona. I feel unable to continue living.
yanmā kṣattābravīttāta prapaśyanputragṛddhinam। duryodhanena tatsarvaṃ prāptaṃ sūta mayā saha ॥7-23-12॥
O charioteer, everything that my father told me, foreseeing his son's greed, has come true with Duryodhana and me.
nṛśaṁsaṁ tu paraṁ tatsyāttyaktvā duryodhanaṁ yadi। putraśeṣaṁ cikīrṣeyaṁ kṛcchraṁ na maraṇaṁ bhavet ॥7-23-13॥
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.
yo hi dharmaṁ parityajya bhavatyarthaparo naraḥ। so'smācca hīyate lokātkṣudrabhāvaṁ ca gacchati ॥7-23-14॥
A man who abandons his duty and becomes focused on wealth indeed falls from this world and attains a state of insignificance.
adya cāpy asya rāṣṭrasya hatotsāhasya sañjaya। avaśeṣaṁ na paśyāmi kakude mṛdite sati ॥7-23-15॥
Today, O Sañjaya, I see no remnant of this kingdom, as its spirit is crushed and nothing remains.
kathaṁ syādavaśeṣaṁ hi dhuryayorabhyatītayoḥ। yau nityamanujīvāmaḥ kṣamiṇau puruṣarṣabhau ॥7-23-16॥
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?
vyaktameva ca me śaṁsa yathā yuddhamavartata। ke'yudhyanke vyapākarṣanke kṣudrāḥ prādravanbhayāt ॥7-23-17॥
Clearly, tell me how the battle unfolded. Who were the ones who fought, who withdrew, and who were the cowards that fled in fear?
dhanañjayaṃ ca me śaṃsa yadyaccakre ratharṣabhaḥ। tasmādbhayaṃ no bhūyiṣṭhaṃ bhrātṛvyācca viśeṣataḥ ॥7-23-18॥
Tell me what Arjuna, the best of charioteers, did, as our greatest fear is especially from the enemy.
yathāsīcca nivṛtteṣu pāṇḍaveṣu ca sañjaya। mama sainyāvaśeṣasya saṃnipātaḥ sudāruṇaḥ ॥ māmakānāṃ ca ye śūrāḥ kāṃstatra samavārayan ॥7-23-19॥
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?
