स शरः पण्डितं हत्वा विवेश धरणीतलम् । यथा नरं निहत्याशु भुजगः कालचोदितः
That arrow, having slain Panditaka, entered the earth, just as a serpent, impelled by fate, swiftly strikes down a man.
विशालाक्षशिरश्छित्त्वा पातयामास भूतले। त्रिभिः शरैरदीनात्मा स्मरन्क्लेशं पुरातनम्
Unshaken in spirit, recalling old grievances, he cut off Vishalaksha’s head with three arrows and cast it to the ground.
महोदरं महेष्वासं नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे । विव्याध समरे राजन्स हतो न्यपतद्भुवि
In battle, he pierced Mahodara, the mighty archer, in the chest with a broad-headed arrow, and he fell slain to the earth, O King.
आदित्यकेतोः केतुं च च्छित्त्वा बाणेन संयुगे । भल्लेन भृशतीक्ष्णेन शिरश्चिच्छेद भारत
He cut down the banner of Adityaketu with an arrow in the fight, and with a very sharp broad-headed shaft, O Bharata, he severed his head.
बह्वाशिनं तत भीमः शरेणानतर्वणा । प्रेषयामास संक्रुद्धो यमस्य सदनं प्रति
Then Bhima, enraged, struck the great eater with a sharp arrow and sent him to the abode of Yama.
प्रदुद्रुवुस्ततस्तेऽन्ये पुत्रास्तव विशांपते । मन्यमाना हि तत्सत्यं सभायां तस्य भाषितम्
At that, the rest of your sons, O lord of the people, fled, believing that what he had said in the assembly was now coming true.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शितः। अब्रवीत्तावकान्योधान्भीमोऽयं वध्यतामिति
Then King Duryodhana, afflicted by the calamity of his brothers, said to your warriors, 'Let this Bhima be slain.'
एवमेते महेष्वासाः पुत्रास्त्व विशांपते । भ्रातॄन्संदृश्य निहतान्प्रस्मरंस्ते हि तद्वचः
Thus, O lord of the people, your sons, those mighty archers, seeing their brothers slain, remembered those very words.
यदुक्तवान्महाप्राज्ञः क्षत्ता हितमनामयम् । तदिदं समनुप्राप्तं वचनं दिव्यदर्शिनः
What the wise Vidura, intent on your welfare, had spoken before—those words of the seer—have now come to pass.
लोभमोहसमाविष्टः पुत्रप्रीत्या जनाधिप। न बुध्यसे पुरा यत्तत्तथ्यमुक्तं वचो महत्
But, seized by greed and delusion, and out of love for your sons, O king, you did not understand the great and truthful words spoken before.
तथैव च वधार्थाय पुत्राणां पाण्डवो बली। नूनं जातो महाबाहुर्यथा हन्ति स्म कौरवान्
Indeed, it seems the mighty-armed son of Pandu was born for the destruction of your sons, for he slays the Kauravas just so.
ततो दुरयोधनो राजा भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे। दुःखेन महताऽऽविष्टो विललाप सुदुःखितः
Then King Duryodhana, approaching Bhishma in battle, overwhelmed by great sorrow, lamented in deep distress.
निहता भ्रातरः शूरा भीमसेनेन मे युधि। यतमानास्तथान्येऽपि हन्यन्ते सर्वसैनिकाः
My brave brothers have been slain in battle by Bhimasena, and though others strive, all my soldiers are being killed as well.
भवांश्च मध्यस्थतया नित्यमस्मानुपेक्षते। सोऽहं कुपथमारूढः पश्य दैवमिदं मम
And you, always remaining neutral, overlook us; thus I, having taken the wrong path, witness this fate of mine.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचः क्रूरं पिता देवव्रतस्तव। दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्समाश्रुलोचनः
Hearing these harsh words, your father Devavrata, his eyes filled with tears, spoke this to Duryodhana.
उक्तमेतन्मया पूर्वं द्रोणेन विदुरेण च । गान्धार्या च यशस्विन्या तत्त्वं तात न बुद्धवान्
This has been said before by me, by Drona, by Vidura, and by the illustrious Gandhari; but, my son, you did not understand the truth.
समयश्च मया पूर्वं कृतो वै शत्रुकर्शन । नाहंयुधि नियोक्तव्यो नाप्याचार्यः कथंचना
And, O subduer of foes, I made a promise before: neither I nor the teacher should ever be commanded in battle.
यय हि धर्तराष्ट्राणां भीमो द्रक्ष्यति संयुगे। हनिष्यति रणे नित्यं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
As long as Bhima sees the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle, he will continue to slay them; this I tell you truly.
स त्वं राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा रणे कृत्वा दृढां मतिम् । योधयस्व रणे पार्थान्स्वर्गं कृत्वा परायणम्
Therefore, O king, stand firm, make your resolve strong in battle, and fight the sons of Pandu, taking heaven as your goal.
न शक्यः पाण्डवा जेतुं सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः । तस्माद्युद्धे स्थिरां कृत्वा मतिं युद्ध्यस्व भारत
The Pandavas cannot be conquered, not even by the gods and demons together with Indra; therefore, O Bharata, make your mind steadfast in battle and fight.
दृष्ट्वा मे निहतान्पुत्रान्बहूनेकेन सञ्जय । भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपश्चैव किमकुर्वत संयुगे
Seeing so many of my sons slain by one man, O Sanjaya, what did Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa do in battle?
अहन्यहनि मे पुत्राः क्षयं गच्छन्ति सञ्जय । मन्येऽहं सर्वथा पुत्रान्दैवेनोपहतान्भृशम्
Day after day my sons are being destroyed, O Sanjaya; I think, indeed, that my sons are utterly struck down by fate.
यत्र मे तनयाः सर्वे जीयन्ते न जयन्त्युत । यत्र भीष्मस्य द्रोणस्य कृपस्य च महात्मनः
Where all my sons survive, but do not prevail; where Bhishma, Drona, and the great-souled Kripa—
सौमदत्तेश्च वीरस्य भगदत्तस्य चोभयोः । अश्वत्थाम्नस्तथा तात शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्
And the valiant Saumadatti, both Bhagadatta and Ashvatthama, O father, among the heroes who never turn back—
अन्येषां चैव शूराणां मध्यगास्तनया मम । यदहन्यन्त संग्रामे किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
And among other heroes as well, my sons stood in the midst; when they were slain in battle, what else could fate bring?
न हि दुर्योधनो मन्दः पुरा प्रोक्तमबुध्यत । वार्यमाणो मया तात भीष्मेण विदुरेण च
For Duryodhana, dull-witted, did not understand what was said before, though I, Bhishma, and Vidura tried to restrain him, O father.
गन्धार्या चैव दुर्मेधाः सततं हितकाम्यया । नाबुध्यत पुरा मोहात्तस्य प्राप्तमिदं फलम्
And Gandhari, too, always seeking his welfare, spoke, but the misguided one did not comprehend before, blinded by delusion; now he has received this outcome.
यद्भीमसेनः समरे पुत्रान्मम विचेतसः । अहन्यहनि संक्रुद्धो नयते यमसादनम्
As Bhimasena, enraged in battle, day after day sends my bewildered sons to the abode of Yama—
इदं तत्समनुप्राप्तं क्षत्तुर्वचनमुत्तमम् । न बुद्धवानस्मि विभो प्रोच्यमानमिदं तदा
This, then, has come to pass—the excellent words spoken by the kshatri; I did not understand them, O lord, though they were spoken then.
निवारय सुतं द्यूतात्पाण्डवान्मा द्रुहेति च । सुहृदां हितकामानां ब्रुवतां तत्तदेव च
‘Restrain your son from gambling, do not wrong the Pandavas’—so spoke those desiring the good of friends, and each said the same.