09.064
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
vātikānāṃ sakāśāttu śrutvā duryodhanaṃ hatam। hataśiṣṭāstato rājankauravāṇāṃ mahārathāḥ ॥9-64-1॥
Upon hearing from the spies that Duryodhana had been killed, the remaining great charioteers of the Kauravas, O king, then...
vinirbhinnaḥ śitairbāṇairgadātomaraśaktibhiḥ। aśvatthāmā kṛpaścaiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ ॥ tvaritā javanairaśvairāyodhanamupāgaman ॥9-64-2॥
Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma, the Satyaki, pierced by sharp arrows, maces, lances, and spears, hurried with swift horses to the battlefield.
tatrāpaśyanmahātmānaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ nipātitam। prabhagnaṃ vāyuvegena mahāśālaṃ yathā vane ॥9-64-3॥
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.
bhūmau viveṣṭamānaṃ taṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam। mahāgajamivāraṇye vyādhena vinipātitam ॥9-64-4॥
He was writhing on the ground, smeared with blood, like a great elephant felled by a hunter in the forest.
vivartamānaṃ bahuśo rudhiraughapariplutam। yadṛcchayā nipatitaṃ cakramādityagocaram ॥9-64-5॥
The wheel, turning many times and flooded with streams of blood, fell by chance and became visible in the sun.
mahāvātasamutthena saṃśuṣkamiva sāgaram। pūrṇacandramiva vyomni tuṣārāvṛtamaṇḍalam ॥9-64-6॥
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.
reṇudhvastaṃ dīrghabhujaṃ mātaṅgasamavikramam। vṛtaṃ bhūtagaṇairghoraiḥ kravyādaiśca samantataḥ ॥ yathā dhanaṃ lipsamānairbhṛtyairnṛpatisattamam ॥9-64-7॥
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.
bhrukuṭīkṛtavakrāntaṃ krodhādudvṛttacakṣuṣam। sāmarṣaṃ taṃ naravyāghraṃ vyāghraṃ nipatitaṃ yathā ॥9-64-8॥
With a furrowed brow and eyes rolling in anger, that wrathful tiger among men fell like a tiger.
te tu dṛṣṭvā maheṣvāsā bhūtale patitaṃ nṛpam। mohamabhyāgamansarve kṛpaprabhṛtayo rathāḥ ॥9-64-9॥
Upon seeing the king fallen on the ground, all the great archers, including Kripa and others in their chariots, were overcome with confusion.
avatīrya rathebhyaḥ tu prādravan rājasaṃnidhau। duryodhanaṃ ca samprekṣya sarve bhūmāv upāviśan ॥9-64-10॥
After descending from their chariots, they rushed to the king's presence. Upon seeing Duryodhana, they all sat down on the ground.
tato drauṇirmahārāja bāṣpapūrṇekṣaṇaḥ śvasan। uvāca bharataśreṣṭhaṃ sarvalokeśvareśvaram ॥9-64-11॥
Then Aśvatthāmā, overwhelmed with emotion, addressed the noble Bharata, acknowledging him as the supreme lord of all worlds.
na nūnaṃ vidyate'sahyaṃ mānuṣye kiñcideva hi। yatra tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra śeṣe pāṃsuṣu rūṣitaḥ ॥9-64-12॥
Indeed, there seems to be nothing unbearable for humans, as you, a tiger among men, are lying covered in dust.
bhūtvā hi nṛpatiḥ pūrvaṃ samājñāpya ca medinīm। kathameko'dya rājendra tiṣṭhase nirjane vane ॥9-64-13॥
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?
duḥśāsanaṃ na paśyāmi nāpi karṇaṃ mahāratham। nāpi tānsuhṛdaḥ sarvānkimidam bharatarṣabha ॥9-64-14॥
I cannot see Duhshasana, nor Karna, the great chariot-warrior, nor any of those friends. What is happening, O best of the Bharatas?
duḥkhaṁ nūnaṁ kṛtāntasya gatiṁ jñātuṁ kathañcana। lokānāṁ ca bhavānyatra śete pāṁsuṣu rūṣitaḥ ॥9-64-15॥
Indeed, it is sorrowful to somehow know the path of fate. And here you lie, covered in dust, among the people.
eṣa mūrdhāvasiktānām agre gatvā parantapaḥ। satṛṇaṃ grasate pāṃsuṃ paśya kālasya paryayam ॥9-64-16॥
This mighty warrior, who leads the crowned ones, consumes grass and dust; behold the change brought by time.
kva te tadamalaṁ chatraṁ vyajanaṁ kva ca pārthiva। sā ca te mahatī senā kva gatā pārthivottama ॥9-64-17॥
"Where is that spotless umbrella and fan of yours, O king? And where has your great army gone, O best of kings?"
durvijñeyā gatirnūnaṃ kāryāṇāṃ kāraṇāntare। yadvai lokagururbhūtvā bhavānetāṃ daśāṃ gataḥ ॥9-64-18॥
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.
adruvā sarvamartyeṣu dhruvaṃ śrīrupalakṣyate। bhavato vyasanaṃ dṛṣṭvā śakravispardhino bhṛśam ॥9-64-19॥
Among all mortals, prosperity is seen as impermanent; your misfortune, having been observed, greatly rivals that of Indra.
tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā duḥkhitasya viśeṣataḥ। uvāca rājanputraste prāptakālamidaṁ vacaḥ ॥9-64-20॥
Hearing those words, especially from the distressed, the prince said, "This is the right time for your speech."
vimṛjya netre pāṇibhyāṃ śokajaṃ bāṣpam utsṛjan। kṛpādīnas tadā vīrān sarvān eva narādhipaḥ ॥9-64-21॥
The king, wiping his eyes with his hands and shedding tears of sorrow, then turned his attention to Kripa and all the warriors.
īdṛśo martyadharmo'yaṃ dhātrā nirdiṣṭa ucyate। vināśaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ kālaparyāyakāritaḥ ॥9-64-22॥
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.
so'yaṃ māṃ samanuprāptaḥ pratyakṣaṃ bhavatāṃ hi yaḥ। pṛthivīṃ pālayitvāhametāṃ niṣṭhāmupāgataḥ ॥9-64-23॥
"This person has come to me directly, indeed, who, after ruling the earth, I have reached this conclusion."
diṣṭyā nāhaṃ parāvṛtto yuddhe kasyāñcidāpadi। diṣṭyāhaṃ nihataḥ pāpaiśchalenaiva viśeṣataḥ ॥9-64-24॥
"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."
utsāhaśca kṛto nityaṃ mayā diṣṭyā yuyutsatā। diṣṭyā cāsmi hato yuddhe nihatajñātibāndhavaḥ ॥9-64-25॥
"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."
diṣṭyā ca vo'haṃ paśyāmi muktānasmājjanakṣayāt। svastiyuktāṃśca kalyāṃśca tanme priyamanuttamam ॥9-64-26॥
"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."
mā bhavanto'nutapyantāṃ sauhṛdānnidhanena me। yadi vedāḥ pramāṇaṃ vo jitā lokā mayākṣayāḥ ॥9-64-27॥
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.
manyamānaḥ prabhāvaṃ ca kṛṣṇasyāmitatejasaḥ। tena na cyāvitaścāhaṃ kṣatradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt ॥9-64-28॥
Reflecting on the immense power and energy of Krishna, I remain steadfast in my duty as a warrior, not swayed from my path.
sa mayā samanuprāpto nāsmi śocyaḥ kathañcana। kṛtaṃ bhavadbhiḥ sadṛśamanurūpamivātmanaḥ ॥ yatitaṃ vijaye nityaṃ daivaṃ tu duratikramam ॥9-64-29॥
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.
etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ bāṣpavyākulalocanaḥ। tūṣṇīṃ babhūva rājendra rujāsau vihvalo bhṛśam ॥9-64-30॥
Having spoken thus, with eyes filled with tears, he became silent, O King, greatly overwhelmed by pain.
tathā tu dṛṣṭvā rājānaṃ bāṣpaśokasamanvitam। drauṇiḥ krodhena jajvāla yathā vahnirjagatkṣaye ॥9-64-31॥
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.
sa tu krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ pāṇau pāṇiṃ nipīḍya ca। bāṣpavihvalayā vācā rājānamidamabravīt ॥9-64-32॥
But he, overwhelmed with anger, clasped his hands tightly and, with a voice choked with tears, spoke to the king as follows.
pitā me nihataḥ kṣudraiḥ sunṛśaṁsena karmaṇā। na tathā tena tapyāmi yathā rājaṁstvayādya vai ॥9-64-33॥
"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."
śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mahyaṃ satyena vadataḥ prabho। iṣṭāpūrtena dānena dharmeṇa sukṛtena ca ॥9-64-34॥
"O lord, listen to these words of mine spoken truthfully: through sacrifices, charitable acts, giving, righteousness, and good deeds."
adyāhaṃ sarvapāñcālānvāsudevasya paśyataḥ। sarvopāyairhi neṣyāmi pretarājaniveśanam ॥ anujñāṃ tu mahārāja bhavānme dātumarhati ॥9-64-35॥
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.
iti śrutvā tu vacanaṃ droṇaputrasya kauravaḥ। manasaḥ prītijananaṃ kṛpaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥ ācārya śīghraṃ kalaśaṃ jalapūrṇaṃ samānaya ॥9-64-36॥
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."
sa tadvacanamājñāya rājño brāhmaṇasattamaḥ। kalaśaṃ pūrṇamādāya rājño'ntikamupāgamat ॥9-64-37॥
The best among the Brahmins, understanding the king's command, took a full pot and approached the king.
tamabravīn mahārāja putras tava viśāṃ pate। mamājñayā dvijaśreṣṭha droṇaputro'bhiṣicyatām ॥ senāpatyena bhadraṃ te mama cedicchasi priyam ॥9-64-38॥
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."
rājño niyogādyoddhavyaṃ brāhmaṇena viśeṣataḥ। vartatā kṣatradharmeṇa hyevaṃ dharmavido viduḥ ॥9-64-39॥
"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."
rājñastu vacanaṃ śrutvā kṛpaḥ śāradvatastataḥ। drauṇiṃ rājño niyogena senāpatye'bhiṣecayat ॥9-64-40॥
Upon hearing the king's words, Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, appointed Aśvatthāmā as the commander on the king's command.
so'bhisīkto mahārāja pariṣvajya nṛpottamam। prayayau sīmhnādena diśaḥ sarvā vinādayan ॥9-64-41॥
The anointed great king embraced the best of kings and departed, his lion's roar echoing through all directions.
duryodhano'pi rājendra śoṇitaughapariplutaḥ। tāṃ niśāṃ pratipede'tha sarvabhūtabhayāvahām ॥9-64-42॥
Duryodhana, O king, drenched in a flood of blood, entered that dreadful night, instilling fear in all beings.
apakramya tu te tūrṇaṃ tasmād āyodhanān nṛpa। śokasaṃvignamanasaś cintādhyānaparābhavan ॥9-64-43॥
Having quickly retreated from the battlefield, O king, they were overwhelmed with grief, their minds troubled by thoughts and meditation.
