Mahabharata 3.46: ṣaṭcatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

3.46.1

janamejaya uvāca |
atyadbhutamidaṃ karma pārthasyāmitatejasaḥ |
dhṛtarāṣṭro mahātejāḥ śrutvā vipra kimabravīt || 1 ||

Janamejaya said, "These feats of Pritha's son endued with immeasurable energy, were certainly marvellous. O Brahmana, what did Dhritarashtra of great wisdom say, when he heard of them?"

Janamejaya said, "These feats of Pritha's son endued with immeasurable energy, were certainly marvellous. O Brahmana, what did Dhritarashtra of great wisdom say, when he heard of them?"

Vaisampayana said, "Amvika's son, king Dhritarashtra, having heard of Arjuna's arrival and stay at Indra's abode, from Dwaipayana, that foremost of Rishis, spake unto Sanjaya, saying, 'O charioteer, dost thou know in detail the acts of the intelligent Arjuna, of which I have heard from beginning to end? O charioteer, my wretched and sinful son is even now engaged in a policy of the most vulgar kind. Of wicked soul, he will certainly depopulate the earth. The illustrious person whose words even in jest are true, and who hath Dhananjaya to fight for him, is sure to win the three worlds. Who that is even beyond the influence of Death and Decay will be able to stay before Arjuna, when he will scatter his barbed and sharp-pointed arrows whetted on stone? My wretched sons, who have to fight with the invincible Pandavas are indeed, all doomed. Reflecting day and night, I see not the warrior amongst us that is able to stay in battle before the wielder of the Gandiva. If Drona, or Karna, or even Bhishma advance against him in battle, a great calamity is likely to befall the earth. But even in that case, I see not the way to our success Karna is kind and forgetful. The preceptor Drona is old, and the teacher (of Arjuna) Arjuna, however, is wrathful, and strong, and proud, and of firm and steady prowess. As all these warriors are invincible, a terrible fight will take place between them. All of them are heroes skilled in weapons and of great reputation. They would not wish for the sovereignty of the world, if it was to be purchased by defeat. Indeed, peace will be restored only on the death of these or of Phalguna. The slayer of Arjuna, however, existeth not, nor doth one that can vanquish him. Oh, how shall that wrath of his which hath myself for its object be pacified. Equal unto the chief of the celestials, that hero gratified Agni at Khandava and vanquished all the monarchs of the earth on the occasion of the great Rajasuya. O Sanjaya, the thunder-bolt falling on the mountain top, leaveth a portion unconsumed; but the shafts, O child, that are shot by Kiriti leave not a rack behind. As the rays of the sun heat this mobile and immobile universe, so will the shafts shot by Arjuna's hands scorch my sons. It seemeth to me that the Chamus of the Bharatas, terrified at the clatter of Arjuna's chariot-wheels, are already broken through in all directions. Vidhatri hath created Arjuna as an all-consuming Destroyer. He stayeth in battle as a foe, vomitting and scattering swarms of arrows. Who is there that will defeat him?"

3.46.2

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
śakralokagataṃ pārthaṃ śrutvā rājāmbikāsutaḥ |
dvaipāyanādṛṣiśreṣṭhātsaṃjayaṃ vākyamabravīt || 2 ||

Vaisampayana said, "Amvika's son, king Dhritarashtra, having heard of Arjuna's arrival and stay at Indra's abode, from Dwaipayana, that foremost of Rishis, spake unto Sanjaya, saying, 'O charioteer, dost thou know in detail the acts of the intelligent Arjuna, of which I have heard from beginning to end? O charioteer, my wretched and sinful son is even now engaged in a policy of the most vulgar kind. Of wicked soul, he will certainly depopulate the earth. The illustrious person whose words even in jest are true, and who hath Dhananjaya to fight for him, is sure to win the three worlds. Who that is even beyond the influence of Death and Decay will be able to stay before Arjuna, when he will scatter his barbed and sharp-pointed arrows whetted on stone? My wretched sons, who have to fight with the invincible Pandavas are indeed, all doomed. Reflecting day and night, I see not the warrior amongst us that is able to stay in battle before the wielder of the Gandiva. If Drona, or Karna, or even Bhishma advance against him in battle, a great calamity is likely to befall the earth. But even in that case, I see not the way to our success Karna is kind and forgetful. The preceptor Drona is old, and the teacher (of Arjuna) Arjuna, however, is wrathful, and strong, and proud, and of firm and steady prowess. As all these warriors are invincible, a terrible fight will take place between them. All of them are heroes skilled in weapons and of great reputation. They would not wish for the sovereignty of the world, if it was to be purchased by defeat. Indeed, peace will be restored only on the death of these or of Phalguna. The slayer of Arjuna, however, existeth not, nor doth one that can vanquish him. Oh, how shall that wrath of his which hath myself for its object be pacified. Equal unto the chief of the celestials, that hero gratified Agni at Khandava and vanquished all the monarchs of the earth on the occasion of the great Rajasuya. O Sanjaya, the thunder-bolt falling on the mountain top, leaveth a portion unconsumed; but the shafts, O child, that are shot by Kiriti leave not a rack behind. As the rays of the sun heat this mobile and immobile universe, so will the shafts shot by Arjuna's hands scorch my sons. It seemeth to me that the Chamus of the Bharatas, terrified at the clatter of Arjuna's chariot-wheels, are already broken through in all directions. Vidhatri hath created Arjuna as an all-consuming Destroyer. He stayeth in battle as a foe, vomitting and scattering swarms of arrows. Who is there that will defeat him?"

3.46.3

śrutaṃ me sūta kārtsnyena karma pārthasya dhīmataḥ |
kaccittavāpi viditaṃ yathātathyena sārathe || 3 ||

3.46.4

pramatto grāmyadharmeṣu mandātmā pāpaniścayaḥ |
mama putraḥ sudurbuddhiḥ pṛthivīṃ ghātayiṣyati || 4 ||

3.46.5

yasya nityamṛtā vācaḥ svaireṣvapi mahātmanaḥ |
trailokyamapi tasya syādyoddhā yasya dhanaṃjayaḥ || 5 ||

3.46.6

asyataḥ karṇinārācāṃstīkṣṇāgrāṃśca śilāśitān |
ko'rjunasyāgratastiṣṭhedapi mṛtyurjarātigaḥ || 6 ||

3.46.7

mama putrā durātmānaḥ sarve mṛtyuvaśaṃ gatāḥ |
yeṣāṃ yuddhaṃ durādharṣaiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ pratyupasthitam || 7 ||

3.46.8

tasyaiva ca na paśyāmi yudhi gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ |
aniśaṃ cintayāno'pi ya enamudiyādrathī || 8 ||

3.46.9

droṇakarṇau pratīyātāṃ yadi bhīṣmo'pi vā raṇe |
mahānsyātsaṃśayo loke na tu paśyāmi no jayam || 9 ||

3.46.10

ghṛṇī karṇaḥ pramādī ca ācāryaḥ sthaviro guruḥ |
amarṣī balavānpārthaḥ saṃrambhī dṛḍhavikramaḥ || 10 ||

3.46.11

bhavetsutumulaṃ yuddhaṃ sarvaśo'pyaparājitam |
sarve hyastravidaḥ śūrāḥ sarve prāptā mahadyaśaḥ || 11 ||

3.46.12

api sarveśvaratvaṃ hi na vāñcheranparājitāḥ |
vadhe nūnaṃ bhavecchāntisteṣāṃ vā phalgunasya vā || 12 ||

3.46.13

na tu hantārjunasyāsti jetā vāsya na vidyate |
manyustasya kathaṃ śāmyenmandānprati samutthitaḥ || 13 ||

3.46.14

tridaśeśasamo vīraḥ khāṇḍave'gnimatarpayat |
jigāya pārthivānsarvānrājasūye mahākratau || 14 ||

3.46.15

śeṣaṃ kuryādgirervajraṃ nipatanmūrdhni saṃjaya |
na tu kuryuḥ śarāḥ śeṣamastāstāta kirīṭinā || 15 ||

3.46.16

yathā hi kiraṇā bhānostapantīha carācaram |
tathā pārthabhujotsṛṣṭāḥ śarāstapsyanti me sutān || 16 ||

3.46.17

api vā rathaghoṣeṇa bhayārtā savyasācinaḥ |
pratibhāti vidīrṇeva sarvato bhāratī camūḥ || 17 ||

3.46.18

yadudvapanpravapaṃścaiva bāṇānsthātātatāyī samare kirīṭī |
sṛṣṭo'ntakaḥ sarvaharo vidhātrā bhavedyathā tadvadapāraṇīyaḥ || 18 ||

3.46.19

saṃjaya uvāca |
yadetatkathitaṃ rājaṃstvayā duryodhanaṃ prati |
sarvametadyathāttha tvaṃ naitanmithyā mahīpate || 19 ||

"Sanjaya said, 'That which hath been uttered by thee, O king, with respect to Duryodhana is all true. Nothing that thou hast said, O lord of the earth, is untrue. The Pandavas of immeasurable energy have been filled with rage at the sight of Krishna their wedded wife of pure fame--brought in the midst of the assembly. Hearing also those cruel words of Dussasana and Karna, they have been so incensed, O king, that they will not, I ween, forgive (the Kurus) on my account. I have heard, O king, how Arjuna hath gratified in battle by means of his bow the god of gods--Sthanu of eleven forms. The illustrious lord of all the gods--Kapardin himself--desirous of testing Phalguna, fought with him, having assumed the guise of a Kirata. And there it was that the Lokapala, in order to give away their weapons unto that bull of the Kuru race, showed themselves unto him of undeteriorating prowess. What other man on earth, except Phalguna, would strive to have a sight of these gods in their own forms? And, O king, who is there that will weaken in battle Arjuna, who could not be weakened by Maheswara himself possessed of eight forms? Thy sons, having dragged Draupadi, and thereby incensed the sons of Pandu, have brought this frightful and horrifying calamity upon themselves. Beholding Duryodhana showing both his thighs unto Draupadi, Bhima said with quivering lips, 'wretch! those thighs of thine will I smash with my fierce descending mace, on the expiration of thirteen years.' All the sons of Pandu are the foremost of smiters; all of them are of immeasurable energy; all of them are well-versed in every kind of weapons. For these, they are incapable of being vanquished even by the gods. Incensed at the insult offered to their wedded wife, Pritha's sons, urged by wrath, will, I ween, slay all thy sons in battle.'

"Sanjaya said, 'That which hath been uttered by thee, O king, with respect to Duryodhana is all true. Nothing that thou hast said, O lord of the earth, is untrue. The Pandavas of immeasurable energy have been filled with rage at the sight of Krishna their wedded wife of pure fame--brought in the midst of the assembly. Hearing also those cruel words of Dussasana and Karna, they have been so incensed, O king, that they will not, I ween, forgive (the Kurus) on my account. I have heard, O king, how Arjuna hath gratified in battle by means of his bow the god of gods--Sthanu of eleven forms. The illustrious lord of all the gods--Kapardin himself--desirous of testing Phalguna, fought with him, having assumed the guise of a Kirata. And there it was that the Lokapala, in order to give away their weapons unto that bull of the Kuru race, showed themselves unto him of undeteriorating prowess. What other man on earth, except Phalguna, would strive to have a sight of these gods in their own forms? And, O king, who is there that will weaken in battle Arjuna, who could not be weakened by Maheswara himself possessed of eight forms? Thy sons, having dragged Draupadi, and thereby incensed the sons of Pandu, have brought this frightful and horrifying calamity upon themselves. Beholding Duryodhana showing both his thighs unto Draupadi, Bhima said with quivering lips, 'wretch! those thighs of thine will I smash with my fierce descending mace, on the expiration of thirteen years.' All the sons of Pandu are the foremost of smiters; all of them are of immeasurable energy; all of them are well-versed in every kind of weapons. For these, they are incapable of being vanquished even by the gods. Incensed at the insult offered to their wedded wife, Pritha's sons, urged by wrath, will, I ween, slay all thy sons in battle.'

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O charioteer, what mischief hath been done by Karna uttering those cruel words, to the sons of Pandu! Was not the enmity sufficient that was provoked by bringing Krishna into the assembly? How can my wicked sons live, whose eldest brother and preceptor walketh not in the path of righteousness? Seeing me void of eye-sight, and incapable of exerting myself actively, my wretched son, O charioteer, believeth me to be a fool, and listeneth not to my words. Those wretches also that are his counsellors, viz., Karna and Suvala, and others, always pander to his vices, as he is incapable of understanding things rightly. The shafts that Arjuna of immeasurable prowess may lightly shoot, are capable of consuming all my sons, leave alone those shafts that he will shoot, impelled by anger. The arrows urged by the might of Arjuna's arms and shot from his large bow, and inspired with mantras capable of converting them into celestial weapons can chastise the celestials themselves. He who hath for his counsellor and protector and friend that smiter of sinful men--the lord of the three worlds--Hari himself--encountereth nothing that he cannot conquer. This, O Sanjaya, is most marvellous in Arjuna that, as we have heard, he hath been clasped by Mahadeva in his arms. That also which Phalguna, assisted by Damodara did of old towards helping Agni in the conflagration of Khandava, hath been witnessed by all the world. When, therefore, Bhima and Partha and Vasudeva of the Satwata race become enraged, surely my sons along with their friends and the Suvalas are all unequal to fight with them.'"

3.46.20

manyunā hi samāviṣṭāḥ pāṇḍavāste'mitaujasaḥ |
dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇāṃ sabhāṃ nītāṃ dharmapatnīṃ yaśasvinīm || 20 ||

3.46.21

duḥśāsanasya tā vācaḥ śrutvā te dāruṇodayāḥ |
karṇasya ca mahārāja na svapsyantīti me matiḥ || 21 ||

3.46.22

śrutaṃ hi te mahārāja yathā pārthena saṃyuge |
ekādaśatanuḥ sthāṇurdhanuṣā paritoṣitaḥ || 22 ||

3.46.23

kairātaṃ veṣamāsthāya yodhayāmāsa phalgunam |
jijñāsuḥ sarvadeveśaḥ kapardī bhagavānsvayam || 23 ||

3.46.24

tatrainaṃ lokapālāste darśayāmāsurarjunam |
astrahetoḥ parākrāntaṃ tapasā kauravarṣabham || 24 ||

3.46.25

naitadutsahate'nyo hi labdhumanyatra phalgunāt |
sākṣāddarśanameteṣāmīśvarāṇāṃ naro bhuvi || 25 ||

3.46.26

maheśvareṇa yo rājanna jīrṇo grastamūrtimān |
kastamutsahate vīraṃ yuddhe jarayituṃ pumān || 26 ||

3.46.27

āsāditamidaṃ ghoraṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam |
draupadīṃ parikarṣadbhiḥ kopayadbhiśca pāṇḍavān || 27 ||

3.46.28

yatra visphuramāṇoṣṭho bhīmaḥ prāha vaco mahat |
dṛṣṭvā duryodhanenorū draupadyā darśitāvubhau || 28 ||

3.46.29

ūrū bhetsyāmi te pāpa gadayā vajrakalpayā |
trayodaśānāṃ varṣāṇāmante durdyūtadevinaḥ || 29 ||

3.46.30

sarve praharatāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ sarve cāmitatejasaḥ |
sarve sarvāstravidvāṃso devairapi sudurjayāḥ || 30 ||

3.46.31

manye manyusamuddhūtāḥ putrāṇāṃ tava saṃyuge |
antaṃ pārthāḥ kariṣyanti vīryāmarṣasamanvitāḥ || 31 ||

3.46.32

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
kiṃ kṛtaṃ sūta karṇena vadatā paruṣaṃ vacaḥ |
paryāptaṃ vairametāvadyatkṛṣṇā sā sabhāṃ gatā || 32 ||

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O charioteer, what mischief hath been done by Karna uttering those cruel words, to the sons of Pandu! Was not the enmity sufficient that was provoked by bringing Krishna into the assembly? How can my wicked sons live, whose eldest brother and preceptor walketh not in the path of righteousness? Seeing me void of eye-sight, and incapable of exerting myself actively, my wretched son, O charioteer, believeth me to be a fool, and listeneth not to my words. Those wretches also that are his counsellors, viz., Karna and Suvala, and others, always pander to his vices, as he is incapable of understanding things rightly. The shafts that Arjuna of immeasurable prowess may lightly shoot, are capable of consuming all my sons, leave alone those shafts that he will shoot, impelled by anger. The arrows urged by the might of Arjuna's arms and shot from his large bow, and inspired with mantras capable of converting them into celestial weapons can chastise the celestials themselves. He who hath for his counsellor and protector and friend that smiter of sinful men--the lord of the three worlds--Hari himself--encountereth nothing that he cannot conquer. This, O Sanjaya, is most marvellous in Arjuna that, as we have heard, he hath been clasped by Mahadeva in his arms. That also which Phalguna, assisted by Damodara did of old towards helping Agni in the conflagration of Khandava, hath been witnessed by all the world. When, therefore, Bhima and Partha and Vasudeva of the Satwata race become enraged, surely my sons along with their friends and the Suvalas are all unequal to fight with them.'"

3.46.33

apīdānīṃ mama sutāstiṣṭheranmandacetasaḥ |
yeṣāṃ bhrātā gururjyeṣṭho vinaye nāvatiṣṭhate || 33 ||

3.46.34

mamāpi vacanaṃ sūta na śuśrūṣati mandabhāk |
dṛṣṭvā māṃ cakṣuṣā hīnaṃ nirviceṣṭamacetanam || 34 ||

3.46.35

ye cāsya sacivā mandāḥ karṇasaubalakādayaḥ |
te'pyasya bhūyaso doṣānvardhayanti vicetasaḥ || 35 ||

3.46.36

svairamuktā api śarāḥ pārthenāmitatejasā |
nirdaheyurmama sutānkiṃ punarmanyuneritāḥ || 36 ||

3.46.37

pārthabāhubalotsṛṣṭā mahācāpaviniḥsṛtāḥ |
divyāstramantramuditāḥ sādayeyuḥ surānapi || 37 ||

3.46.38

yasya mantrī ca goptā ca suhṛccaiva janārdanaḥ |
haristrailokyanāthaḥ sa kiṃ nu tasya na nirjitam || 38 ||

3.46.39

idaṃ ca sumahaccitramarjunasyeha saṃjaya |
mahādevena bāhubhyāṃ yatsameta iti śrutiḥ || 39 ||

3.46.40

pratyakṣaṃ sarvalokasya khāṇḍave yatkṛtaṃ purā |
phalgunena sahāyārthe vahnerdāmodareṇa ca || 40 ||

3.46.41

sarvathā nāsti me putraḥ sāmātyaḥ sahabāndhavaḥ |
kruddhe pārthe ca bhīme ca vāsudeve ca sātvate || 41 ||