09.031
Core and Pancharatra: Wounded Duryodhana comes out of the water, unable to bear the harsh words of Yudhisthira, and asks one of the Pandavas to fight him with a mace. Yudhisthira asks, where was his Dharma, whem he attacked Abhimanyu with many, when he was single?
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
evaṃ santarjyamānastu mama putro mahīpatiḥ। prakṛtyā manyumān vīraḥ katham āsīt parantapaḥ ॥9-31-1॥
"Thus threatened, how did my son, the king, who is naturally an angry hero, react, O scorcher of foes?"
na hi santarjanā tena śrutapūrvā kadācana। rājabhāvena mānyaśca sarvalokasya so'bhavat ॥9-31-2॥
He was never known to intimidate anyone. With his royal demeanor, he was respected by everyone.
iyaṃ ca pṛthivī sarvā samlecchāṭavikā bhṛśam। prasādāddhriyate yasya pratyakṣaṃ tava sañjaya ॥9-31-3॥
O Sanjaya, this entire earth, filled with barbarians and dense forests, is greatly sustained by the grace of the one who stands visibly before you.
sa tathā tarjyamānastu pāṇḍuputrairviśeṣataḥ। vihīnaśca svakairbhṛtyairnirjane cāvṛto bhṛśam ॥9-31-4॥
He was thus reproached by the sons of Pandu, especially, and was greatly deprived and surrounded by his own servants in solitude.
śrutvā sa kaṭukā vāco jayayuktāḥ punaḥ punaḥ। kimabravīt pāṇḍaveyāṃs tan mamācakṣva sañjaya ॥9-31-5॥
Upon hearing those harsh and victorious words repeatedly, what did he say to the Pandavas? Please tell me, Sanjaya.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tarjyamānastadā rājannudakasthastavātmajaḥ। yudhiṣṭhireṇa rājendra bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitena ha ॥9-31-6॥
Then, O king, your son, while standing in water, was threatened by Yudhishthira, the king of kings, along with his brothers.
śrutvā sa kaṭukā vāco viṣamastho janādhipaḥ। dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasya salilasthaḥ punaḥ punaḥ ॥9-31-7॥
Upon hearing the harsh words, the king, who was in a difficult situation, sighed deeply and repeatedly while standing in the water.
salilāntargato rājā dhunvanhastau punaḥ punaḥ। manaścakāra yuddhāya rājānaṃ cābhyabhāṣata ॥9-31-8॥
The king, after entering the water and repeatedly shaking his hands, resolved to fight and spoke to the king.
yūyaṃ sasuhṛdaḥ pārthāḥ sarve sarathavāhanāḥ। ahamekaḥ paridyūno viratho hatavāhanaḥ ॥9-31-9॥
"You all, the sons of Pṛthā, are accompanied by friends and have all your chariots and vehicles. I, on the other hand, am alone, distressed, without a chariot, and deprived of my vehicle."
āttaśastrai rathagatairbahubhiḥ parivāritaḥ। kathamekaḥ padātiḥ sannaśastro yoddhumutsahe ॥9-31-10॥
Surrounded by many charioteers with weapons, how can I, unarmed and on foot, dare to fight alone?
ekaikena tu māṁ yūyaṁ yodhayadhvaṁ yudhiṣṭhira। na hyeko bahubhirvīrairnyāyyaṁ yodhayituṁ yudhi ॥9-31-11॥
"Yudhishthira, you all should fight me one by one. It is not fair for a single warrior to be challenged by many heroes in battle."
viśeṣato vikavacaḥ śrāntaścāpaḥ samāśritaḥ। bhṛśaṃ vikṣatagātraśca śrāntavāhanasainikaḥ ॥9-31-12॥
The soldiers, especially those without armor, were tired and had resorted to water. They were greatly wounded and their vehicles were also worn out.
na me tvatto bhayaṃ rājanna ca pārthādvṛkodarāt। phalgunādvāsudevādvā pāñcālebhyo'tha vā punaḥ ॥9-31-13॥
I have no fear from you, O king, nor from Arjuna, Bhima, Krishna, or the Panchalas.
yamābhyāṃ yuyudhānādvā ye cānye tava sainikāḥ। ekaḥ sarvānahaṃ kruddho na tānyoddhumihotsahe ॥9-31-14॥
I am not able to fight here alone against all your soldiers, whether they are led by Yuyudhāna or anyone else, as I am angry.
dharmamūlā satāṃ kīrtirmanuṣyāṇāṃ janādhipa। dharmaṃ caiveha kīrtiṃ ca pālayanprabravīmyaham ॥9-31-15॥
O ruler of people, the fame of virtuous men is rooted in dharma. Here, I declare that by protecting both dharma and fame, one upholds the highest virtues.
aham utthāya vaḥ sarvān pratiyotsyāmi saṃyuge। anvaṃśābhyāgatān sarvān ṛtūn saṃvatsaro yathā ॥9-31-16॥
I will rise and fight against you all in battle, just as the year contends with all the seasons that come as its descendants.
adya vaḥ sarathān sāśvān aśastro viratho'pi san। nakṣatrāṇīva sarvāṇi savitā rātrisaṅkṣaye ॥ tejasā nāśayiṣyāmi sthirībhavata pāṇḍavāḥ ॥9-31-17॥
Today, I will destroy your chariots with horses, even if unarmed and without chariot, like the sun destroys all stars at the end of the night. Be steady, O sons of Pandu.
adyānṛṇyaṃ gamiṣyāmi kṣatriyāṇāṃ yaśasvinām। bāhlīkadroṇabhīṣmāṇāṃ karṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ ॥9-31-18॥
Today, I will fulfill my obligations to the renowned warriors, including Bahlika, Drona, Bhishma, and the noble Karna.
jayadrathasya śūrasya bhagadattasya cobhayoḥ। madrarājasya śalyasya bhūriśravasa eva ca ॥9-31-19॥
The verse refers to the valor and significance of Jayadratha, Bhagadatta, the king of Madra - Shalya, and Bhurishravas, highlighting their roles and importance.
putrāṇāṃ bharataśreṣṭha śakuneḥ saubalasya ca। mitrāṇāṃ suhṛdāṃ caiva bāndhavānāṃ tathaiva ca ॥9-31-20॥
O best of the Bharatas, the sons, Shakuni the son of Subala, friends, well-wishers, and relatives are all similarly involved.
ānṛṇyam adya gacchāmi hatvā tvāṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha। etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ virarāma janādhipaḥ ॥9-31-21॥
The king declared, "Today, I shall be free from debt by killing you along with my brothers." Having said this, he fell silent.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
diṣṭyā tvamapi jānīṣe kṣatradharmaṃ suyodhana। diṣṭyā te vartate buddhiryuddhāyaiva mahābhuja ॥9-31-22॥
"Suyodhana, it is fortunate that you are aware of the warrior's duty. It is also fortunate that your mind is set on battle, O mighty-armed one."
diṣṭyā śūro'si kauravya diṣṭyā jānāsi saṅgaram। yastvameko hi naḥ sarvānsayuge yoddhumicchasi ॥9-31-23॥
"Fortunately, you are a hero, O descendant of Kuru, and you know the art of battle. It is indeed fortunate that you wish to take on all of us alone in the battlefield."
eka ekena saṅgamya yatte saṁmatamāyudham। tattvamādāya yudhyasva prekṣakāste vayaṁ sthitāḥ ॥9-31-24॥
Unite with one and take your approved weapon to fight; we stand here as your spectators.
ayam iṣṭaṃ ca te kāmaṃ vīra bhūyo dadāmy aham। hatvā ekaṃ bhavato rājyaṃ hato vā svargam āpnuhi ॥9-31-25॥
O hero, I grant you this desired wish again. Either by killing one, attain your kingdom, or if you are killed, attain heaven.
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
ekaścedyoddhumākrande varo'dya mama dīyate। āyudhānāmiyaṃ cāpi vṛtā tvatsaṃmate gadā ॥9-31-26॥
If today I am granted a boon to fight in the battle, then this mace is chosen with your consent.
bhrātṝṇāṃ bhavatāmekaḥ śakyaṃ māṃ yo'bhimanyate। padātirgadayā saṅkhye sa yudhyatu mayā saha ॥9-31-27॥
One among you brothers who thinks it possible to challenge me, let him, as a foot-soldier with a mace, fight with me in battle.
vṛttāni rathayuddhāni vicitrāṇi pade pade। idamekaṃ gadāyuddhaṃ bhavatvadyādbhutaṃ mahat ॥9-31-28॥
There have been various events of chariot battles at every step. Let this mace battle today be a great and wonderful one.
annānāmapi paryāyaṃ kartumicchanti mānavāḥ। yuddhānāmapi paryāyo bhavatvanumate tava ॥9-31-29॥
Humans desire to find alternatives for food, and with your consent, let there also be alternatives for wars.
gadayā tvāṃ mahābāho vijeṣyāmi sahānujam। pāñcālānsṛñjayāṃścaiva ye cānye tava sainikāḥ ॥9-31-30॥
O mighty-armed one, with my mace, I shall defeat you, your younger brother, the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, and all your other warriors.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha gāndhāre māṃ yodhaya suyodhana। eka ekena saṅgamya saṃyuge gadayā balī ॥9-31-31॥
"Arise, arise, O son of Gandhari, fight me, Suyodhana. Let us meet one by one in battle, strong with our maces."
puruṣo bhava gāndhāre yudhyasva susamāhitaḥ। adya te jīvitaṃ nāsti yadyapi tvaṃ manojavaḥ ॥9-31-32॥
"Be a man in Gandhara and fight with full preparation. Today, your life is at stake, even though you are as swift as the mind."
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
etats naraśārdūlo nāmṛṣyata tavātmajaḥ। salilāntargataḥ śvabhre mahānāga iva śvasan ॥9-31-33॥
Your son, the tiger among men, could not bear it and, submerged in water, he breathed like a great serpent in the depths.
tathāsau vākpratodena tudyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ। vācaṃ na mamṛṣe dhīmānuttamāśvaḥ kaśāmiva ॥9-31-34॥
Thus, the wise one, being repeatedly urged by words, did not tolerate the speech, just as an excellent horse does not tolerate the whip.
saṅkṣobhya salilaṃ vegādgadāmādāya vīryavān। adrisāramayīṃ gurvīṃ kāñcanāṅgadabhūṣaṇām ॥ antarjalātsamuttsathau nāgendra iva niḥśvasan ॥9-31-35॥
The powerful warrior, after stirring the waters with great speed and taking up his heavy mace made of mountain essence and adorned with golden armlets, emerged from the water like a mighty serpent king, breathing heavily.
sa bhittvā stambhitaṃ toyaṃ skandhe kṛtvāyasīṃ gadām। udatiṣṭhata putraste pratapanraśmimāniva ॥9-31-36॥
Your son, having pierced the stagnant water and placed the iron mace on his shoulder, rose like the sun with scorching rays.
tataḥ śaikyāyasīṃ gurvīṃ jātarūpapariṣkṛtām। gadāṃ parāmṛśaddhīmāndhārtarāṣṭro mahābalaḥ ॥9-31-37॥
Then the wise and mighty son of Dhritarashtra, with great strength, grasped the heavy iron mace adorned with gold.
gadāhastaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā saśṛṅgamiva parvatam। prajānāmiva saṅkruddhaṃ śūlapāṇimavasthitam ॥ sagado bhārato bhāti pratapanbhāskaro yathā ॥9-31-38॥
Bharata, with his mace in hand, stood like a towering mountain with peaks, appearing as an angry protector of the people, wielding a trident. He shone brilliantly, like the blazing sun.
tamuttīrṇaṃ mahābāhuṃ gadāhastamariṃdamam। menire sarvabhūtāni daṇḍahastamivāntakam ॥9-31-39॥
All beings regarded the mighty-armed, mace-wielding subduer of foes as if he were death itself, holding a staff.
vajrahastaṃ yathā śakraṃ śūlahastaṃ yathā haram। dadṛśuḥ sarvapāñcālāḥ putraṃ tava janādhipa ॥9-31-40॥
All the Panchalas saw your son, O ruler of the people, as if he were Indra with a thunderbolt in hand and Shiva with a trident.
tamuttīrṇaṃ tu samprekṣya samahṛṣyanta sarvaśaḥ। pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍaveyāśca te'nyonyasya talāndaduḥ ॥9-31-41॥
Upon witnessing the crossing, the Panchalas and Pandavas were filled with joy and exchanged greetings by clapping each other's palms.
avahāsaṃ tu taṃ matvā putro duryodhanastava। udvṛtya nayane kruddho didhakṣuriva pāṇḍavān ॥9-31-42॥
But considering him a mockery, your son Duryodhana, with anger in his eyes, seemed as if he wanted to burn the Pandavas.
triśikhāṁ bhrukuṭīṁ kṛtvā saṁdaṣṭadaśanacchadaḥ। pratyuvāca tatastānvai pāṇḍavānsahakeśavān ॥9-31-43॥
With his eyebrows raised in three peaks and his teeth clenched, he then replied to the Pāṇḍavas and Keśava.
avahāsasya vo'syādya prativaktāsmi pāṇḍavāḥ। gamiṣyatha hatāḥ sadyaḥ sapāñcālā yamakṣayam ॥9-31-44॥
Today, I am the responder to your ridicule, O Pandavas; you and the Panchalas will be slain and immediately go to the abode of Yama.
utthitastu jalāttasmātputro duryodhanastava। atiṣṭhata gadāpāṇī rudhireṇa samukṣitaḥ ॥9-31-45॥
Your son Duryodhana rose from the water, standing with a mace in hand, covered in blood.
tasya śoṇitadigdhasya salilena samukṣitam। śarīraṃ sma tadā bhāti sravanniva mahīdharaḥ ॥9-31-46॥
His body, smeared with blood and washed with water, shone like a mountain with streams flowing down.
tam udyatagadaṁ vīraṁ menire tatra pāṇḍavāḥ। vaivasvatam iva kruddhaṁ kiṅkarodyatapāṇinam ॥9-31-47॥
The Pandavas saw the hero with the raised mace and thought of him as Yama, the god of death, angry and with a servant ready to strike.
sa meghaninado harṣānnadanniva ca govṛṣaḥ। ājuhāva tataḥ pārthāngadayā yudhi vīryavān ॥9-31-48॥
He, mighty and roaring like a cloud-roaring bull from joy, then called the sons of Pritha to battle with a mace.
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
ekaikena ca māṃ yūyam āsīdata yudhiṣṭhira। na hy eko bahubhir nyāyy o vīra yodhayituṃ yudhi ॥9-31-49॥
"Yudhishthira, you should approach me one by one. It is not fair for one warrior to fight against many in battle."
nyastavarmā viśeṣeṇa śrāntaścāpsu pariplutaḥ। bhṛśaṃ vikṣatagātraśca hatavāhanasainikaḥ ॥9-31-50॥
He had laid down his armor, was especially tired and submerged in water, greatly wounded, and his vehicle and soldiers were destroyed.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
nābhūd iyaṃ tava prajñā katham evaṃ suyodhana। yad abhimanyuṃ bahavo jaghnur yudhi mahārathāḥ ॥9-31-51॥
Suyodhana, it was not your wisdom that led to many great warriors killing Abhimanyu in battle. How could this happen?
āmuñca kavacaṃ vīra mūrdhajānyamayasva ca। yaccānyadapi te nāsti tadapyādatsva bhārata ॥ imam ekaṃ ca te kāmaṃ vīra bhūyo dadāmy aham ॥9-31-52॥
Remove your armor and headgear, brave one. Take whatever else you lack, O Bharata. I grant you this wish once more, hero.
pañcānāṃ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ yena yoddhum ihecchasi। taṃ hatvā vai bhavān rājā hato vā svargam āpnuhi ॥ ṛte ca jīvitād vīra yuddhe kiṃ kurma te priyam ॥9-31-53॥
Among the five sons of Pandu, the one you wish to fight here, if you kill him, you will indeed become king, or if you are killed, you will attain heaven. Without life, O hero, what can we do to please you in battle?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tatastava suto rājanvarma jagrāha kāñcanam। vicitraṃ ca śirastṛāṇaṃ jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtam ॥9-31-54॥
Then your son, O king, took the golden armor and the beautifully adorned helmet.
so'vabaddhaśirastrāṇaḥ śubhakāñcanavarmabhṛt। rarāja rājanputraste kāñcanaḥ śailarāḍiva ॥9-31-55॥
Your son, O king, with his helmet securely fastened and adorned in beautiful golden armor, shone resplendently like a majestic golden mountain.
saṁnaddhaḥ sa gadī rājan sajjaḥ saṅgrāmamūrdhani। abravīt pāṇḍavān sarvān putro duryodhanas tava ॥9-31-56॥
Armed with a mace and ready for battle, your son Duryodhana addressed all the Pandavas, O king.
bhrātṝṇāṃ bhavatāmeko yudhyatāṃ gadayā mayā। sahadevena vā yotsye bhīmena nakulena vā ॥9-31-57॥
I, one among your brothers, will fight with a mace, either with Sahadeva, Bhima, or Nakula.
atha vā phalgunenādya tvayā vā bharatarṣabha। yotsye'haṃ saṅgaraṃ prāpya vijeṣye ca raṇājire ॥9-31-58॥
Then, today, I will fight either with Arjuna or with you, O best of the Bharatas, and having reached the battlefield, I will emerge victorious.
aham adya gamiṣyāmi vairasyāntaṃ sudurgamam। gadayā puruṣavyāghra hemapaṭṭavinaddhayā ॥9-31-59॥
Today, I shall go to the very challenging end of enmity, O tiger among men, armed with a mace bound with a golden belt.
gadāyuddhe na me kaścitsadṛśo'stīti cintaya। gadayā vo haniṣyāmi sarvāneva samāgatān ॥ gṛhṇātu sa gadāṃ yo vai yudhyate'dya mayā saha ॥9-31-60॥
In the battle of maces, consider that there is no one equal to me. With the mace, I shall slay all those who have gathered. Let him take up the mace who dares to fight with me today.
