वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो गाण्डीवभृच्छूरो युद्धाय समुपस्थितः। विबभौ युधि दुर्धर्षो हिमवानचलो यथा॥
Vaishampayana said The irresistible holder of Gandiva, ready for battle, stood immovable on the field like Himavat himself.
ततस्ते सैन्धवा योधाः पुनरेव व्यवस्थिताः। व्यमुञ्चन्त सुसंरब्धाः शरवर्षाणि भारत॥
The Saindhava warriors, more rallying, showered in great rage repeated down-pours of arrows on him.
तान् प्रहस्य महाबाहुः पुनरेव व्यवस्थितान्। ततः प्रोवाच कौन्तेयो मुमूर्षुश्लक्ष्णया गिरा।
The mighty-armed hero, laughing at his enemies, who had once more rallied but who were on the point of death, addressed them in these soft words.
युध्यध्वं परया शक्त्या यतध्वं विजये मम॥ कुरुध्वं सर्वकार्याणि महद् वो भयमागतम्।
Do you fight to to best of your power and do you try to defeat me. Do you, however, accomplish all necessary deeds, for a great danger awaits you all.
एष योत्स्यामि सर्वांस्तु निवार्य शरवागुराम्॥ तिष्ठध्वं युद्धमनसो दर्प शमयितास्मि वः।
See, I fight all of you, baffling your clouds of arrows! Bent as you are on battle, wait a little. I shall soon quell your pride.
एतावदुक्त्वा कौरव्यो रोषाद् गाण्डीवभृत् तदा॥ ततोऽथ वचनं स्मृत्वा भ्रातुर्येष्ठस्य भारत।
The holder of Gandiva, having said these words in anger, recollected, however, the words, O Bharata, of his eldest brother.
न हन्तव्या रणे तात क्षत्रिया विजिगीषवः॥ जेतव्याश्चेति यत् प्रोक्तं धर्मराज्ञा महात्मना। चिन्तयामास स तदा फाल्गुनः पुरुषर्षभः॥ इत्युक्तोऽहं नरेन्द्रेण न हन्तव्या नृपा इति। कथं तन्न मृषेदं स्याद् धर्मराजवचः शुभम्॥
Those words were :-You should not, O child, kill those Kshatriyas who will come against you for battle! They should, however, be defeated by you! That foremost of men, Phalguna, had been thus addressed by king Yudhishthira the just, of great soul. He, therefore, began to reflect thus. Thus was I commissioned by my by my brother. Warriors advancing against me should not be killed.
न हन्येरंश्च राजानो राज्ञश्चाज्ञां कृता भवेत्। इति संचिन्त्य स तदा फाल्गुनः पुरुषर्षभः॥ प्रोवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञः सैन्धवान् युद्धदुर्मदान्।
I must act in such a way as not to falsify the words of king Yudhishthira the just. Having arrived at this conclusion, Phalguna, that foremost of men, then said to those Saindhavas who were all dreadful in battle, these words:
श्रेयो वदामि युष्माकं न हिंसेयमवस्थितान्। यश्च वक्ष्यति संग्रामे तवास्मीति पराजितः॥
I say what is for your benefit. Though staying before me, I do not wish to kill you. He amongst you who will say to me that he has been defeated by me and that he is mine, will be spared by me.
एतच्छुत्वा वचो मह्यं कुरुध्वं हितमात्मनः॥ ततोऽन्यथा कृच्छ्रगता भविष्यथ मयार्दिताः।
Having heard these words of mine, act towards me in that way which may best secure your well-being. By acting in a different way you will place yourselves in a situation of great fear and danger.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तान् वीरान् युयुधे कुरुपुङ्गवः॥ अर्जुनोऽतीव संऋद्धः संक्रुद्धैर्विजिगीषुभिः।
Having said these words to those heroic warriors, the chief of the Kurus began to fight them. Arjuna was worked up with rage. His enemies, desirous of victory, were equally enraged.
शतं शतसहस्राणि शराणां नतपर्वणाम्॥ मुमुचुः सैन्धवा राजस्तदा गाण्डीवधन्वनि।
The Saindhavas then, O king, shot hundreds and thousands of straight arrows at the wielder of Gandiva.
शरानापततः क्रूरानाशीविषविषोपमान्॥ विच्छेद निशितैर्बाणैरन्तरा स धनंजयः।
Dhananjaya, with his own whetted arrows, cut off those arrows of sharp and terrible points, resembling stakes of dreadful poison, before could come up to him.
छित्त्वा तु तानाशु चैव कङ्कपत्रशिलाशितान्॥ एकैकमेषां समरे बिभेद निशितैः शरैः।
Having off those sharp arrows bedecked with Kanka-feathers, Arjuna pierced each of the warriors opposed to him with a whetted arrow.
ततः प्रासांश्च शक्तीश्च पुनरेव धनंजयम्॥ जयद्रथं हतं स्मृत्वा चिक्षिपुः सैन्धवा नृपाः।
The Saindhava Kshatriyas, recollecting that it was Dhananjaya who had killed their king Jayadarth, then hurled at him darts and javelins with great force.
तेषां किरीटी संकल्पं मांघं चक्रे महाबलः॥ सर्वांस्तानन्तराच्छित्त्वा तदा चुक्रोश पाण्डवः।
The diadem-decked Dhananjaya of great power baffled their aim by cutting off all those weapons before any of them could reach him. At length the son of Pandu became highly angry.
तथैवापततां तेषां योधानां जयगृद्धिनाम्॥ शिरांसि पातयामास भल्लैः संनतपर्वभिः।
With many straight and broad headed arrows, he cut off the heads of many of those warriors who were rushing at him from desire of victory.
तेषां प्रद्रवतां चापि पुनरेवाभिधावताम्॥ निवर्ततां च शब्दोऽभूत् पूर्णस्येव महोदधेः।
Many fled, many rushed at Arjuna; many moved not; all of them, however, uttered such a loud noise that it resembled the roar of the Ocean,
ते वध्यमानास्तु तदा पार्थेनामिततेजसा॥ यथाप्राणं यथोत्साहं योधयामासुरर्जुनम्।
As they were killed by Partha of immeasurable power, they fought him, each according to his strength and prowess.
ततस्ते फाल्गुनेनाजौ शरैः संनतपर्वभिः॥ कृता विसंज्ञा भूयिष्ठाः क्लान्तवाहनसैनिकाः।
Their animals being all exhausted, Partha succeeded in depriving a large number of those warriors of their senses by means of his sharpest arrows in that battle.
तांस्तु सर्वान् परिग्लानान् विदित्वा धृतराष्ट्रजा।॥ दुःशला बालमादाय नप्तारं प्रययौ तदा।
Then Dushala, their queen, the daughter of Dhritarastra, knowing that they were rendered cheerless by Arjuna, took her grandson in her arms and went to Arjuna.
सुरथस्य सुतं वीरं रथेनाथागमत् तदा॥ शान्त्यर्थं सर्वयोधानामभ्यगच्छत पाण्डवम्।
The child was the son of Suratha (the son of Jayadratha). The brave prince proceeded to his maternal uncle on his car for the safety or all the Saindhava warriors.
सा धनंजयमासाद्य सरोदार्तस्वरं तदा।॥ धनंजयोऽपि तां दृष्ट्वा धनुर्विससृजे प्रभुः।
The queen, arrived before Dhananjaya, began to weep in sorrow. Seeing her, the powerful Dhananjaya cast off his bow.
समुत्सृज्य धनुः पार्थो विधिवद् भगिनीं तदा॥ प्राह किं करवाणीति सा च तं प्रत्युवाच ह। एष ते भरतश्रेष्ठ स्वस्रीयस्यात्मजः शिशुः॥ अभिवादयते पार्थ तं पश्य पुरुषर्षभ।
Leaving off his bow, Partha duly received his sister and enquired of her as to what he could do for her. The queen replied to him, saying, O chief of the Bharatas, this child is the son of your sister's son. He salutes you, O Partha. Look at him, O foremost of men.
इत्युक्तस्तस्य पितरं स पप्रच्छार्जुनस्तथा॥ क्वासाविति ततो राजन् दुःशला वाक्यमब्रवीत्। पितृशोकाभिसंतप्तो विषादार्तोऽस्य वै पिता॥ पञ्चत्वमगमद् वीरो यथा तन्मे निशामय।
Thus addressed by her, Partha enquired after his son (Suratha), saying, Where is he? Dushala answered him, saying, Burning with grief on account of the destruction of his father, the heroic father of this child disd brokenheated. Listen from me as to how that hero was dead.
स पूर्वं पितरं श्रुत्वा हतं युद्धे त्वयाऽनघ॥ त्वामागतं च संश्रुत्य युद्धाय हयसारिणम्। पितुश्च मृत्युदुःखार्तोऽजहात् प्राणान् धनंजय॥ प्राप्तो वीभत्सुरित्येव नाम श्रुत्वैव तेऽनघ। विषादातः पपातो। ममार च ममात्मजः॥ तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं तत्र ततस्तस्यात्मजं प्रभो। गृहीत्वा समनुप्राप्ता त्वामद्य शरणैषिणी॥ इत्युक्त्वाऽऽर्तस्वरं सा तु मुमोच धृतराष्ट्रजा।
O Dhananjaya, he had heard before that his father Jayadratha had been killed by you, o sinless one. Exceedingly afflicted with grief at this, and hearing of your arrival here as the follower and protector of this sacrificial horse, he at once fell down and gave up his life. Indeed, deeply afflicted with grief, as he was, as soon as he heard of your arrival, he gave up his life seeing him prostrate on the Earth, O lord, o took his intent son with me and have come to you, seeking your protection. Having said these words, the daughter of Dhritarashtra began to lament in deep sorrow.
दीना दीनं स्थितं पार्थमब्रवीच्चाप्यधोमुखम्॥ स्वसारं समवेक्षस्व स्वस्त्रीयात्मजमेव च।
Arjuna stood before her great cheerlessness of heart. His face was turned towards the Earth. The cheerless sister then said to her brother, who was equally cheerless, these words : See your sister. See the child of your sister's son.
कर्तुमर्हसि धर्मज्ञ दयां कुरुकुलोद्वह॥ विस्मृत्य कुरुराजानं तं च मन्दं जयद्रथम्।
O perpetuator of Kuru's race, O you who are fully conversant with every duty, you should show mercy to this child, forgetting the Kuru prince (Duryodhana) and the wicked Jayadratha. in
अभिमन्योर्यथा जातः परिक्षित् परवीरहा॥ तथायं सुरथाज्जातो मम पौत्रो महाभुजः।
As that destroyer of hostile heroes, Parikshit, has been born of Abhimanyu, so has this mighty-armed child, my grandson, originated from Suratha.
तमादाय नरव्याघ्र सम्प्राप्तास्मि तवान्तिकम्॥ शमार्थं सर्वयोधानां शृणु चेदं वचो मम।
Taking him with me, O king, I have come to you desirous of the safety of all the warriors! Do you listen to these words of mine.
आगतोऽयं महाबाहो तस्य मन्दस्य पुत्रक॥ प्रसादमस्य बालस्य तस्मात् त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि।
This child of that wicked enemy of yours has now come to you, O mighty armed hero. You should, therefore, show mercy to this infant.
एष प्रसाद्य शिरसा प्रशमार्थमरिंदम॥ याचते त्वां महाबाहो शमं गच्छ धनंजय।
O chastiser of enemies this intent seeks to please you by bending his head. He solicits you for peace! O mighty armed hero, be inclined to make peace.
बालस्य हतबन्धोश्च पार्थ किंचिदजानतः॥ प्रसादं कुरु धर्मज्ञ मा मन्युवशमन्वगाः।
O you who know every duty, be pleased with the child whose friends and kinsmen have all been killed and who himself knows nothing of what has taken place. Do not yield to anger.
तमनार्यं नृशंसं च विस्मृत्यास्य पितामहम्॥ आगस्कारिणमत्यर्थं प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
Forgetting his disreputable and cruel grandfather, who offended against you so highly, it is but fit that you should extend your grace towards this child.
एवं ब्रुवत्यां करुणं दुःशलायां धनंजयः॥ संस्मृत्य देवीं गान्धारीं धृतराष्ट्रं च पार्थिवम्।
Recollecting queen Gandhari and king Dhritarashtra, Dhananjaya, afflicted with grief, addressed Dushala who had said so to him, and answered her, censuring Kshatriya practices all the time.
उवाच दुःखशोकातः क्षत्रधर्मं व्यगर्हयत्॥ यत्कृते वान्धवाः सर्वे मया नीता यमक्षयम्।
Fie on Duryodhana, that mean person covetous of kingdom and full of vanity! Alas, it was for him that all my kinsmen have been sent by me to the abode of Yama.
इत्युक्त्वा बहु सान्त्वादिप्रसादमकराज्जयः॥ परिष्वज्य च तां प्रीतो विससर्ज गृहानं प्रति॥
Having said so, Dhananjaya comforted his sister and became inclined to make peace. Cheerfully, he embraced her and then dismissed her, asking her to return to her palace.
दुःशला चापि तान् योधान् निवार्य महतो रणात्। सम्पूज्य पार्थं प्रययौ गृहानेव शुभानना॥
Dushala asked all her warriors to desert from that great battle, and adoring Partha, she of beautiful face returned towards her palace.
एवं निर्जित्य तान् वीरान् सैन्धवान् स धनंजयः। अन्वधावत धावन्तं हयं कामविचारिणम्॥
Having defeated those heroes, viz., the Saindhavas, thus, Dhananjaya began to follow that horse which ranged at its will.
ततो मृगमिवाकाशे यथा देवः पिनाकधृक्। ससार तं तथा वीरो विधिवद् यज्ञियं हयम्॥
The heroic Arjuna duly followed that sacrificial horse even as the divine holder of Pinaka had in days of yore followed the deer through the sky.
स च वाजी यथेष्टेन तांस्तान् देशान् यथाक्रमम्। विचचार यथाकामं कर्म पार्थस्य वर्धयन्॥
The horse, at its will, passed through various kingdoms successively, multiplying the feats of Arjuna.
क्रमेण स हयस्त्वेवं विचरन् पुरुषर्षभ। मणिपूरतेर्देशमुमायात् सहपाण्डवः॥
In course of time, O king, the horse wandering at its pleasure, at last arrived within the kingdom of Manipura, followed by the son of Pandu.