07.166
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
adharmeṇa hataṃ śrutvā dhṛṣṭadyumnena sañjaya। brāhmaṇaṃ pitaraṃ vṛddhamaśvatthāmā kimabravīt ॥7-166-1॥
Upon hearing that his aged brāhmaṇa father was unrighteously slain by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, what did Aśvatthāmā say, O Sañjaya?
mānuṣaṁ vāruṇāgneyam brāhmamastraṁ ca vīryavān। aindraṁ nārāyaṇaṁ caiva yasminnityaṁ pratiṣṭhitam ॥7-166-2॥
The powerful one in whom the human, Varuna-Agni, Brahma weapon, Indra, and Narayana are always established.
tam adharmeṇa dharmiṣṭhaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnena sañjaya। śrutvā nihatam ācāryam aśvatthāmā kim abravīt ॥7-166-3॥
O Sañjaya, upon hearing that the virtuous teacher was unfairly killed by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, what did Aśvatthāmā say?
yena rāmādavāpyeha dhanurvedaṃ mahātmanā। proktānyastrāṇi divyāni putrāya gurukāṅkṣiṇe ॥7-166-4॥
The great soul, having learned the science of archery from Rāma here, imparted divine weapons to his son who was eager to learn from a teacher.
ekameva hi loke'sminnātmano guṇavattaram। icchanti putraṃ puruṣā loke nānyaṃ kathañcana ॥7-166-5॥
In this world, men desire nothing more virtuous than themselves except for a son.
ācāryāṇāṃ bhavantyeva rahasyāni mahātmanām। tāni putrāya vā dadyuḥ śiṣyāyānugatāya vā ॥7-166-6॥
Teachers indeed possess the secrets of great souls; they may impart those to a son, a disciple, or a devoted follower.
sa śilpaṃ prāpya tatsarvaṃ saviśeṣaṃ ca sañjaya। śūraḥ śāradvatīputraḥ saṅkhye droṇādanantaraḥ ॥7-166-7॥
Sanjaya, having mastered the art with all its distinctions, stood as a hero in battle, second only to Drona, the son of Sharadvati.
rāmasyānumataḥ śāstre puraṃdarasamo yudhi। kārtavīryasamo vīrye bṛhaspatisamo matau ॥7-166-8॥
He is approved by Rama, matches Indra in battle, Kartavirya in prowess, and Brihaspati in wisdom.
mahīdharasamo dhṛtyā tejasāgnisamo yuvā। samudra iva gāmbhīrye krodhe sarpaviṣopamaḥ ॥7-166-9॥
He is as firm as a mountain, as brilliant as fire, youthful, as deep as the ocean, and as venomous as a serpent when angry.
sa rathī prathamo loke dṛḍhadhanvā jitaklamaḥ। śīghro'nila ivākrande carankruddha ivāntakaḥ ॥7-166-10॥
He, the charioteer, stands foremost in the world, with a firm bow and having conquered fatigue. He moves swiftly like the wind in battle, resembling death in his anger.
asyatā yena saṅgrāme dharaṇyabhinipīḍitā। yo na vyathati saṅgrāme vīraḥ satyaparākramaḥ ॥7-166-11॥
The hero, who oppresses the earth in battle by his throwing and is not distressed in battle, is truly courageous.
vedasnāto vratasnāto dhanurvede ca pāragaḥ। mahodadhirivākṣobhyo rāmo dāśarathiryathā ॥7-166-12॥
Rama, the son of Dasaratha, is proficient in the Vedas, vows, and archery, and is as unshakeable as the great ocean.
tam adharmeṇa dharmiṣṭhaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnena saṃyuge। śrutvā nihatam ācāryam aśvatthāmā kim abravīt ॥7-166-13॥
Upon hearing that the virtuous teacher was unrighteously slain by Dhrishtadyumna in battle, Ashwatthama questioned what had transpired.
dhṛṣṭadyumnasya yo mṛtyuḥ sṛṣṭastena mahātmanā। yathā droṇasya pāñcālyo yajñasenasuto'bhavat ॥7-166-14॥
The great soul created the death of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, just as the Pāñcāla prince, son of Yajñasena, became the cause of Droṇa's death.
taṁ nṛśaṁsena pāpena krūreṇātyalpadarśinā। śrutvā nihatamācāryamaśvatthāmā kimabravīt ॥7-166-15॥
Upon hearing that his teacher was killed by a cruel and wicked person with little foresight, what did Aśvatthāmā say?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
chadmanā nihataṃ śrutvā pitaraṃ pāpakarmaṇā। bāṣpeṇāpūryata drauṇī roṣeṇa ca nararṣabha ॥7-166-16॥
Upon hearing that his father was deceitfully killed by a wicked act, Aśvatthāmā, filled with tears and anger, O best among men, was overwhelmed.
tasya kruddhasya rājendra vapurdivyamadṛśyata। antakasyeva bhūtāni jihīrṣoḥ kālaparyaye ॥7-166-17॥
His angry form appeared divine, O king, like Yama's, as he sought to conquer beings at the time of death.
aśrupūrṇe tato netre apamṛjya punaḥ punaḥ। uvāca kopānniḥśvasya duryodhanamidaṃ vacaḥ ॥7-166-18॥
Then, repeatedly wiping his tear-filled eyes, he sighed with anger and spoke these words to Duryodhana.
pitā mama yathā kṣudrairnyastaśastro nipātitaḥ। dharmadhvajavatā pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ tadviditaṃ mama ॥ anāryaṃ sunṛśaṃsasya dharmaputrasya me śrutam ॥7-166-19॥
My father was treacherously killed by the mean ones after he laid down his arms; I am aware of the sin committed by the hypocrite. I have heard about the ignoble act of the cruel son of Dharma.
yuddheṣvapi pravṛttānāṃ dhruvau jayaparājayau। dvayametadbhavedrājanvadhasatra praśasyate ॥7-166-20॥
In battles, those who engage must face the certainty of victory or defeat. Both outcomes are possible, O king, and in such situations, killing is often praised.
nyāyavṛtto vadho yastu saṅgrāme yudhyato bhavet। na sa duḥkhāya bhavati tathā dṛṣṭo hi sa dvijaḥ ॥7-166-21॥
The killing of a just person who fights in battle does not lead to sorrow; he is regarded as a noble Brahmin.
gataḥ sa vīralokāya pitā mama na saṃśayaḥ। na śocyaḥ puruṣavyāghrastathā sa nidhanaṃ gataḥ ॥7-166-22॥
My father has undoubtedly gone to the world of heroes. The tiger among men should not be mourned, for he has met his end.
yattu dharmapravṛttaḥ saṃkeśagrahaṇamāptavān। paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ tanme marmāṇi kṛntati ॥7-166-23॥
But the act of grasping the hair, which was done in the presence of all the armies, cuts into my vital parts.
kāmātkrodhādavajñānāddarpaād bālyena vā punaḥ। vaidharmikāni kurvanti tathā paribhavena ca ॥7-166-24॥
Due to desire, anger, disrespect, arrogance, or childishness, people repeatedly commit unrighteous acts, and thus face humiliation.
tadidaṁ pārṣateneha mahadādharmikaṁ kṛtam। avajñāya ca māṁ nūnaṁ nṛśaṁsena durātmanā ॥7-166-25॥
This great unrighteous act has been committed here by Pārṣata, who has disregarded me, surely by the cruel and wicked soul.
tasyānubandhaṃ sa draṣṭā dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ sudāruṇam। anāryaṃ paramaṃ kṛtvā mithyāvādī ca pāṇḍavaḥ ॥7-166-26॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the seer, observed the severe consequences of his actions, which were ignoble and supreme, marking him as a liar and a Pāṇḍava.
yo hyasau chadmanācāryaṃ śastraṃ saṃnyāsayattadā। tasyādya dharmarājasya bhūmiḥ pāsyati śoṇitam ॥7-166-27॥
The one who deceitfully abandoned his weapon against the teacher, today the earth under Dharmaraja's rule will drink his blood.
sarvopāyairyatiṣyāmi pāñcālānāmahaṃ vadhe। dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca samare hantāhaṃ pāpakāriṇam ॥7-166-28॥
I will use all means to destroy the Pāñcālas. In battle, I will kill Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the evil-doer.
karmaṇā yena teneha mṛdunā dāruṇena vā। pāñcālānāṃ vadhaṃ kṛtvā śāntiṃ labdhāsmi kaurava ॥7-166-29॥
O Kaurava, by whatever means, gentle or harsh, I have achieved peace here by the destruction of the Pāñcālas.
yadarthaṃ puruṣavyāghra putramicchanti mānavāḥ। pretya ceha ca samprāptaṃ trāṇāya mahato bhayāt ॥7-166-30॥
O tiger among men, humans desire a son for the purpose of obtaining protection from great fear, both in this world and the next.
pitrā tu mama sāvasthā prāptā nirbandhunā yathā। mayi śailapratīkāśe putre śiṣye ca jīvati ॥7-166-31॥
My father left me in a state where I was without relatives, like a mountain, while my son and disciple are still alive.
dhiṅmamāstrāṇi divyāni dhigbāhū dhikparākramam। yanmāṃ droṇaḥ sutaṃ prāpya keśagrahaṇamāptavān ॥7-166-32॥
"Shame on my divine weapons, arms, and valor, for Drona's son has managed to seize me by the hair."
sa tathāhaṃ kariṣyāmi yathā bharatasattama। paralokagatasya'pi gamiṣyāmyanṛṇaḥ pituḥ ॥7-166-33॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, I will act in such a way that even if my father has departed to the other world, I shall fulfill my obligations to him.
āryeṇa tu na vaktavyā kadācitstutirātmanaḥ। piturvadhamamṛṣyaṃstu vakṣyāmyadyeha pauruṣam ॥7-166-34॥
A noble person should never speak praise of themselves. However, unable to tolerate my father's killing, I will demonstrate my manliness here today.
adya paśyantu me vīryaṃ pāṇḍavāḥ sajanārdanāḥ। mṛdnataḥ sarvasainyāni yugāntamiva kurvataḥ ॥7-166-35॥
Today, let the Pāṇḍavas, along with Janārdana, witness my might as I crush all the armies, resembling the end of an era.
na hi devā na gandharvā nāsurā na ca rākṣasāḥ। adya śaktā raṇe jetuṃ rathasthaṃ māṃ nararṣabha ॥7-166-36॥
O best of men, neither gods, celestial musicians, demons, nor ogres are capable of defeating me in battle today while I stand on the chariot.
madanyo nāsti loke'sminnarjunādvāstravittamaḥ। ahaṃ hi jvalatāṃ madhye mayūkhānāmivāṃśumān ॥ prayoktā devasṛṣṭānāmastrāṇāṃ pṛtanāgataḥ ॥7-166-37॥
In this world, there is no one other than me who surpasses Arjuna in the knowledge of weapons. I am like the sun among the shining ones, the wielder of divine weapons, who has come to the battlefield.
kṛśāśvatanayā hyadya matprayuktā mahāmṛdhe। darśayanto''tmano vīryaṃ pramathiṣyanti pāṇḍavān ॥7-166-38॥
The sons of Kṛśāśva, employed by me today, will demonstrate their valor in the great battle and crush the Pāṇḍavas.
adya sarvā diśo rājan dhārābhir iva saṅkulāḥ। āvṛtāḥ patribhiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ draṣṭāro māmakair iha ॥7-166-39॥
Today, O king, all directions appear crowded as if with streams, covered by my sharp arrows here.
kiranhi śarajālāni sarvato bhairavasvaram। śatrūnnipātayiṣyāmi mahāvāta iva drumān ॥7-166-40॥
"I will scatter arrow-nets from all sides with a terrifying sound and strike down the enemies like a great wind fells trees."
na ca jānāti bībhatsustadastraṁ na janārdanaḥ। na bhīmaseno na yamau na ca rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥7-166-41॥
Neither Bibhatsu, Janardana, Bhimasena, the twins, nor King Yudhishthira knows about that weapon.
na pārṣato durātmāsau na śikhaṇḍī na sātyakiḥ। yadidaṃ mayi kauravya sakalyaṃ sanivartanam ॥7-166-42॥
O Kauravya, neither Pārṣata, nor that wicked soul, nor Śikhaṇḍī, nor Sātyaki can cause this entire return in me.
nārāyaṇāya me pitrā praṇamya vidhipūrvakam। upahāraḥ purā datto brahmarūpa upasthite ॥7-166-43॥
My father, having bowed to Nārāyaṇa according to the rules, once offered a gift in the presence of Brahma.
taṁ svayaṁ pratigṛhyātha bhagavānsa varaṁ dadau। vavre pitā me paramamastraṁ nārāyaṇaṁ tataḥ ॥7-166-44॥
Then, the Lord himself accepted it and granted the boon. My father chose the supreme weapon, Narayana, thereafter.
athainamabravīdrājanbhagavāndevasattamaḥ। bhavitā tvatsamo nānyaḥ kaścidyudhi naraḥ kvacit ॥7-166-45॥
Then the divine sage, best among the gods, addressed the king, saying that there will be no man equal to him in battle anywhere.
na tvidaṃ sahasā brahmanprayoktavyaṃ kathaṃcana। na hyetadastramanyatra vadhācchatronnivartate ॥7-166-46॥
"O Brahman, this weapon should never be used hastily or in any other way, as it will not retract except in the destruction of enemies."
na caitacchakya te jñātuṃ ko na vadhyediti prabho। avadhyamapi hanyāddhi tasmānnaitatprayojayet ॥7-166-47॥
O lord, it is impossible to determine who would not be killed, as even the invincible can be slain. Therefore, this should not be used.
vadhaḥ saṅkhye dravaścaiva śastrāṇāṃ ca visarjanam। prayācanaṃ ca śatrūṇāṃ gamanaṃ śaraṇasya ca ॥7-166-48॥
In battle, killing, fleeing, abandoning weapons, begging from enemies, and seeking refuge are described.
ete praśamane yogā mahāstrasya parantapa। sarvathā pīḍito hi syādavadhyānpīḍayanraṇe ॥7-166-49॥
These are the methods to pacify the great weapon, O Parantapa. In every way, one might be afflicted by causing harm to the invincible in battle.
tajjagrāha pitā mahyamabravīccaiva sa prabhuḥ। tvaṃ varṣiṣyasi divyāni śastravarṣāṇyanekaśaḥ ॥ anenāstreṇa saṅgrāme tejasā ca jvaliṣyasi ॥7-166-50॥
My father, the lord, took it and said to me: "You will shower divine weapon showers many times. With this weapon, you will shine brilliantly in battle."
evamuktvā sa bhagavāndivamācakrame prabhuḥ। etannārāyaṇādastraṃ tatprāptaṃ mama bandhuna ॥7-166-51॥
After speaking thus, the blessed lord ascended to the heavens. This weapon from Nārāyaṇa was acquired by my kinsman.
tenāhaṃ pāṇḍavāṃścaiva pāñcālānmatsyakekayān। vidrāvayiṣyāmi raṇe śacīpatirivāsurān ॥7-166-52॥
With his power, I will disperse the Pāṇḍavas, as well as the Pāñcālas, Matsyas, and Kekayas in the battle, just as Indra, the husband of Śacī, scatters the demons.
yathā yathāhamiccheyaṃ tathā bhūtvā śarā mama। nipateyuḥ sapatneṣu vikramatsvapi bhārata ॥7-166-53॥
O Bhārata, may my arrows fall upon the advancing enemies just as I desire.
yathetam aśmavarṣeṇa pravarṣiṣye raṇe sthitaḥ। ayomukhaiśca vihagairdrāvayiṣye mahārathān ॥ paraśvadhāṃśca vividhānprasakṣye'hamasaṃśayam ॥7-166-54॥
Standing firm in battle, I shall unleash a desired shower of stones; with iron-beaked birds, I will scatter the great charioteers. Without a doubt, I will hurl various axes.
so'haṁ nārāyaṇāstreṇa mahatā śatrutāpana। śatrūnvidhvaṁsayiṣyāmi kadarthīkṛtya pāṇḍavān ॥7-166-55॥
I, with the great Narayana weapon, will destroy the enemies, humiliating the Pandavas.
mitrabrahmagurudveṣī jālmakaḥ suvigarhitaḥ। pāñcālāpasa-daścādya na me jīvanvimokṣyate ॥7-166-56॥
The deceitful and highly condemned outcast of Panchala, who hates friends, Brahma, and teachers, will not be spared today.
tacchrutvā droṇaputrasya paryavartata vāhinī। tataḥ sarve mahāśaṅkhāndadhmuḥ puruṣasattamāḥ ॥7-166-57॥
Upon hearing this, the army led by Drona's son retreated, and then all the noble warriors blew their mighty conches.
bherīś cābhyahanan hṛṣṭā ḍiṇḍimāṃś ca sahasraśaḥ। tathā nanāda vasudhā khuranemiprapīḍitā ॥ sa śabdas tumulaḥ khaṃ dyāṃ pṛthivīṃ ca vyanādayat ॥7-166-58॥
Joyful warriors beat drums and kettle-drums by the thousands, causing the earth, oppressed by hoofs and wheels, to resound. The tumultuous sound echoed through the sky, heaven, and earth.
taṁ śabdaṁ pāṇḍavāḥ śrutvā parjanyaninadopamam। sametya rathināṁ śreṣṭhāḥ sahitāḥ saṁnyamantrayan ॥7-166-59॥
The Pāṇḍavas, upon hearing the sound resembling the roar of clouds, gathered with the foremost charioteers and held a council.
tathoktvā droṇaputro'pi tadopaspṛśya bhārata। prāduścakāra taddivyam astraṃ nārāyaṇaṃ tadā ॥7-166-60॥
After speaking thus, Drona's son, having purified himself, O Bharata, then invoked the divine weapon of Narayana.
