09.064
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
वातिकानां सकाशात्तु श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनं हतम्। हतशिष्टास्ततो राजन्कौरवाणां महारथाः ॥९-६४-१॥
Upon hearing from the spies that Duryodhana had been killed, the remaining great charioteers of the Kauravas, O king, then...
विनिर्भिन्नाः शितैर्बाणैर्गदातोमरशक्तिभिः। अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः ॥ त्वरिता जवनैरश्वैरायोधनमुपागमन् ॥९-६४-२॥
Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma, the Satyaki, pierced by sharp arrows, maces, lances, and spears, hurried with swift horses to the battlefield.
तत्रापश्यन्महात्मानं धार्तराष्ट्रं निपातितम्। प्रभग्नं वायुवेगेन महाशालं यथा वने ॥९-६४-३॥
There he saw the great soul, the son of Dhritarashtra, fallen and shattered by the force of the wind, like a great tree in the forest.
भूमौ विवेष्टमानं तं रुधिरेण समुक्षितम्। महागजमिवारण्ये व्याधेन विनिपातितम् ॥९-६४-४॥
He was writhing on the ground, smeared with blood, like a great elephant felled by a hunter in the forest.
विवर्तमानं बहुशो रुधिरौघपरिप्लुतम्। यदृच्छया निपतितं चक्रमादित्यगोचरम् ॥९-६४-५॥
The wheel, turning many times and flooded with streams of blood, fell by chance and became visible in the sun.
महावातसमुत्थेन संशुष्कमिव सागरम्। पूर्णचन्द्रमिव व्योम्नि तुषारावृतमण्डलम् ॥९-६४-६॥
The scene was like an ocean dried up by a great wind, and like the full moon in the sky, its circle covered with mist.
रेणुध्वस्तं दीर्घभुजं मातङ्गसमविक्रमम्। वृतं भूतगणैर्घोरैः क्रव्यादैश्च समन्ततः ॥ यथा धनं लिप्समानैर्भृत्यैर्नृपतिसत्तमम् ॥९-६४-७॥
The long-armed one, covered in dust and possessing the strength of an elephant, was surrounded by terrifying ghostly beings and flesh-eaters on all sides, just as servants desire wealth from the best of kings.
भ्रुकुटीकृतवक्त्रान्तं क्रोधादुद्वृत्तचक्षुषम्। सामर्षं तं नरव्याघ्रं व्याघ्रं निपतितं यथा ॥९-६४-८॥
With a furrowed brow and eyes rolling in anger, that wrathful tiger among men fell like a tiger.
ते तु दृष्ट्वा महेष्वासा भूतले पतितं नृपम्। मोहमभ्यागमन्सर्वे कृपप्रभृतयो रथाः ॥९-६४-९॥
Upon seeing the king fallen on the ground, all the great archers, including Kripa and others in their chariots, were overcome with confusion.
अवतीर्य रथेभ्यस्तु प्राद्रवन्राजसंनिधौ। दुर्योधनं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य सर्वे भूमावुपाविशन् ॥९-६४-१०॥
After descending from their chariots, they rushed to the king's presence. Upon seeing Duryodhana, they all sat down on the ground.
ततो द्रौणिर्महाराज बाष्पपूर्णेक्षणः श्वसन्। उवाच भरतश्रेष्ठं सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरम् ॥९-६४-११॥
Then Aśvatthāmā, overwhelmed with emotion, addressed the noble Bharata, acknowledging him as the supreme lord of all worlds.
न नूनं विद्यतेऽसह्यं मानुष्ये किञ्चिदेव हि। यत्र त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र शेषे पांसुषु रूषितः ॥९-६४-१२॥
Indeed, there seems to be nothing unbearable for humans, as you, a tiger among men, are lying covered in dust.
भूत्वा हि नृपतिः पूर्वं समाज्ञाप्य च मेदिनीम्। कथमेकोऽद्य राजेन्द्र तिष्ठसे निर्जने वने ॥९-६४-१३॥
Once you were a king who ruled the earth, but now, O king, how do you find yourself standing alone in this deserted forest today?
दुःशासनं न पश्यामि नापि कर्णं महारथम्। नापि तान्सुहृदः सर्वान्किमिदं भरतर्षभ ॥९-६४-१४॥
I cannot see Duhshasana, nor Karna, the great chariot-warrior, nor any of those friends. What is happening, O best of the Bharatas?
दुःखं नूनं कृतान्तस्य गतिं ज्ञातुं कथञ्चन। लोकानां च भवान्यत्र शेते पांसुषु रूषितः ॥९-६४-१५॥
Indeed, it is sorrowful to somehow know the path of fate. And here you lie, covered in dust, among the people.
एष मूर्धावसिक्तानामग्रे गत्वा परन्तपः। सतृणं ग्रसते पांसुं पश्य कालस्य पर्ययम् ॥९-६४-१६॥
This mighty warrior, who leads the crowned ones, consumes grass and dust; behold the change brought by time.
क्व ते तदमलं छत्रं व्यजनं क्व च पार्थिव। सा च ते महती सेना क्व गता पार्थिवोत्तम ॥९-६४-१७॥
"Where is that spotless umbrella and fan of yours, O king? And where has your great army gone, O best of kings?"
दुर्विज्ञेया गतिर्नूनं कार्याणां कारणान्तरे। यद्वै लोकगुरुर्भूत्वा भवानेतां दशां गतः ॥९-६४-१८॥
The path of actions is indeed hard to understand due to various reasons; it is said that you, having become the teacher of the world, have reached this state.
अध्रुवा सर्वमर्त्येषु ध्रुवं श्रीरुपलक्ष्यते। भवतो व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा शक्रविस्पर्धिनो भृशम् ॥९-६४-१९॥
Among all mortals, prosperity is seen as impermanent; your misfortune, having been observed, greatly rivals that of Indra.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दुःखितस्य विशेषतः। उवाच राजन्पुत्रस्ते प्राप्तकालमिदं वचः ॥९-६४-२०॥
Hearing those words, especially from the distressed, the prince said, "This is the right time for your speech."
विमृज्य नेत्रे पाणिभ्यां शोकजं बाष्पमुत्सृजन्। कृपादीन्स तदा वीरान्सर्वानेव नराधिपः ॥९-६४-२१॥
The king, wiping his eyes with his hands and shedding tears of sorrow, then turned his attention to Kripa and all the warriors.
ईदृशो मर्त्यधर्मोऽयं धात्रा निर्दिष्ट उच्यते। विनाशः सर्वभूतानां कालपर्यायकारितः ॥९-६४-२२॥
It is said that such is the mortal nature ordained by the creator. The destruction of all beings is inevitable as it is caused by the passage of time.
सोऽयं मां समनुप्राप्तः प्रत्यक्षं भवतां हि यः। पृथिवीं पालयित्वाहमेतां निष्ठामुपागतः ॥९-६४-२३॥
"This person has come to me directly, indeed, who, after ruling the earth, I have reached this conclusion."
दिष्ट्या नाहं परावृत्तो युद्धे कस्याञ्चिदापदि। दिष्ट्याहं निहतः पापैश्छलेनैव विशेषतः ॥९-६४-२४॥
"By good fortune, I did not retreat in battle during anyone's distress. By good fortune, I was killed by the wicked, especially through deceit."
उत्साहश्च कृतो नित्यं मया दिष्ट्या युयुत्सता। दिष्ट्या चास्मि हतो युद्धे निहतज्ञातिबान्धवः ॥९-६४-२५॥
"I have always acted with enthusiasm and fortunately with the desire to fight. Fortunately, I am killed in battle, with my relatives and friends slain."
दिष्ट्या च वोऽहं पश्यामि मुक्तानस्माज्जनक्षयात्। स्वस्तियुक्तांश्च कल्यांश्च तन्मे प्रियमनुत्तमम् ॥९-६४-२६॥
"By good fortune, I see you all freed from this destruction of people, endowed with welfare and auspiciousness, which is most pleasing and excellent to me."
मा भवन्तोऽनुतप्यन्तां सौहृदान्निधनेन मे। यदि वेदाः प्रमाणं वो जिता लोका मयाक्षयाः ॥९-६४-२७॥
Do not mourn the end of my friendship. If you hold the Vedas as your authority, then know that the worlds I have conquered are eternal.
मन्यमानः प्रभावं च कृष्णस्यामिततेजसः। तेन न च्यावितश्चाहं क्षत्रधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ॥९-६४-२८॥
Reflecting on the immense power and energy of Krishna, I remain steadfast in my duty as a warrior, not swayed from my path.
स मया समनुप्राप्तो नास्मि शोच्यः कथञ्चन। कृतं भवद्भिः सदृशमनुरूपमिवात्मनः ॥ यतितं विजये नित्यं दैवं तु दुरतिक्रमम् ॥९-६४-२९॥
He has been reached by me, and I am not to be lamented in any way. What you have done is appropriate and suitable as if it were for oneself. Efforts are always made for victory, but fate is difficult to overcome.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः। तूष्णीं बभूव राजेन्द्र रुजासौ विह्वलो भृशम् ॥९-६४-३०॥
Having spoken thus, with eyes filled with tears, he became silent, O King, greatly overwhelmed by pain.
तथा तु दृष्ट्वा राजानं बाष्पशोकसमन्वितम्। द्रौणिः क्रोधेन जज्वाल यथा वह्निर्जगत्क्षये ॥९-६४-३१॥
Upon seeing the king overwhelmed with tears and sorrow, Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, was inflamed with rage, akin to a fire set to destroy the world.
स तु क्रोधसमाविष्टः पाणौ पाणिं निपीड्य च। बाष्पविह्वलया वाचा राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥९-६४-३२॥
But he, overwhelmed with anger, clasped his hands tightly and, with a voice choked with tears, spoke to the king as follows.
पिता मे निहतः क्षुद्रैः सुनृशंसेन कर्मणा। न तथा तेन तप्यामि यथा राजंस्त्वयाद्य वै ॥९-६४-३३॥
"My father was killed by the mean and cruel act, but it is not that act that torments me as much as your actions today, O king."
शृणु चेदं वचो मह्यं सत्येन वदतः प्रभो। इष्टापूर्तेन दानेन धर्मेण सुकृतेन च ॥९-६४-३४॥
"O lord, listen to these words of mine spoken truthfully: through sacrifices, charitable acts, giving, righteousness, and good deeds."
अद्याहं सर्वपाञ्चालान्वासुदेवस्य पश्यतः। सर्वोपायैर्हि नेष्यामि प्रेतराजनिवेशनम् ॥ अनुज्ञां तु महाराज भवान्मे दातुमर्हति ॥९-६४-३५॥
Today, I shall lead all the Panchalas to the abode of the dead under the watchful eyes of Vasudeva. O great king, you should grant me permission.
इति श्रुत्वा तु वचनं द्रोणपुत्रस्य कौरवः। मनसः प्रीतिजननं कृपं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ आचार्य शीघ्रं कलशं जलपूर्णं समानय ॥९-६४-३६॥
Upon hearing the words of Droṇa's son, which were pleasing to the mind, Kaurava addressed Kṛpa, saying: "Teacher, please bring a pot filled with water quickly."
स तद्वचनमाज्ञाय राज्ञो ब्राह्मणसत्तमः। कलशं पूर्णमादाय राज्ञोऽन्तिकमुपागमत् ॥९-६४-३७॥
The best among the Brahmins, understanding the king's command, took a full pot and approached the king.
तमब्रवीन्महाराज पुत्रस्तव विशां पते। ममाज्ञया द्विजश्रेष्ठ द्रोणपुत्रोऽभिषिच्यताम् ॥ सेनापत्येन भद्रं ते मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम् ॥९-६४-३८॥
He said, "O great king, if you wish to please me, let your son, the son of Droṇa, be anointed as the general by my order. May there be welfare for you."
राज्ञो नियोगाद्योद्धव्यं ब्राह्मणेन विशेषतः। वर्तता क्षत्रधर्मेण ह्येवं धर्मविदो विदुः ॥९-६४-३९॥
"By the king's command, a Brahmin must fight, especially by adhering to the warrior's duty; thus, those who understand the law indeed know this."
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा कृपः शारद्वतस्ततः। द्रौणिं राज्ञो नियोगेन सेनापत्येऽभ्यषेचयत् ॥९-६४-४०॥
Upon hearing the king's words, Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, appointed Aśvatthāmā as the commander on the king's command.
सोऽभिषिक्तो महाराज परिष्वज्य नृपोत्तमम्। प्रययौ सिंहनादेन दिशः सर्वा विनादयन् ॥९-६४-४१॥
The anointed great king embraced the best of kings and departed, his lion's roar echoing through all directions.
दुर्योधनोऽपि राजेन्द्र शोणितौघपरिप्लुतः। तां निशां प्रतिपेदेऽथ सर्वभूतभयावहाम् ॥९-६४-४२॥
Duryodhana, O king, drenched in a flood of blood, entered that dreadful night, instilling fear in all beings.
अपक्रम्य तु ते तूर्णं तस्मादायोधनान्नृप। शोकसंविग्नमनसश्चिन्ताध्यानपराभवन् ॥९-६४-४३॥
Having quickly retreated from the battlefield, O king, they were overwhelmed with grief, their minds troubled by thoughts and meditation.
