[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Mahābhārata and its versions](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata) › [The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) › 7.166 # The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 7.166 Mahābhārata 7.166 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [7.166.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.1) dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | adharmeṇa hataṃ śrutvā dhṛṣṭadyumnena saṃjaya | brāhmaṇaṃ pitaraṃ vṛddhamaśvatthāmā kimabravīt || 1 || > "Dhritarashtra said, 'Hearing, O Sanjaya, of the slaughter, by unrighteous means, of his aged sire, by Dhrishtadyumna, what, did the valiant Aswatthaman say, he, that is, in whom human and Varuna and Agneya and Brahma and Aindra and Narayana weapons are always present? Indeed, learning that the preceptor, that foremost of virtuous men, had been unrighteously slain by Dhrishtadyumna in battle, what did Aswatthaman say? The high-souled Drona, having obtained the science of weapons from Rama have imparted (a knowledge of) all the celestial weapons unto his son desirous of seeing the latter adorned with all the accomplishments (of a warrior). There is only one person in this world, viz., the son, and none else, whom people desire to become superior to themselves. All high-souled preceptors have this characteristic, viz., that they impart all the mysteries of their science unto either sons or devoted disciples. Becoming his sire's pupil. O Sanjaya, and obtaining all those mysteries with every detail, the son of Saradwat's daughter has become a second Drona, and a great hero. Aswatthaman is equal to Karna in knowledge of weapons, to Purandara in battle, to Kartavirya in energy, and Vrihaspati in wisdom. In fortitude, that youth is equal to a mountain, and in energy to fire. In gravity, he is equal to an ocean, and in wrath, to the poison of the snake. He is the foremost of all car-warriors in battle, a firm bowman, and above all fatigue. In speed he is equal to the wind itself and he careens in the thick of fight like Yama in rage. While his engaged in shooting arrows in battle, the very earth becomes afflicted. Of prowess incapable of being baffled, hero is never fatigued by exertions. Purified by the Vedas and by vows, he is a thorough master of the science of arms, like Rama, the son of Dasharatha. He is like the ocean, incapable of being agitated. Hearing that the preceptor, that foremost of righteous persons, had been unrighteously slain in battle by Dhrishtadyumna, what, indeed, did Aswatthaman say? Aswatthaman hath been ordained to be the slayer of Dhrishtadyumna, even as Yajnasena's son, the prince of the Panchalas, was ordained to be the slayer of Drona. What, Oh, did Aswatthaman say, hearing that his sire, the preceptor, had been slain by the cruel, sinful, and mean Dhrishtadyumna of little foresight?'" > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa > "Dhritarashtra said, 'Hearing, O Sanjaya, of the slaughter, by unrighteous means, of his aged sire, by Dhrishtadyumna, what, did the valiant Aswatthaman say, he, that is, in whom human and Varuna and Agneya and Brahma and Aindra and Narayana weapons are always present? Indeed, learning that the preceptor, that foremost of virtuous men, had been unrighteously slain by Dhrishtadyumna in battle, what did Aswatthaman say? The high-souled Drona, having obtained the science of weapons from Rama have imparted (a knowledge of) all the celestial weapons unto his son desirous of seeing the latter adorned with all the accomplishments (of a warrior). There is only one person in this world, viz., the son, and none else, whom people desire to become superior to themselves. All high-souled preceptors have this characteristic, viz., that they impart all the mysteries of their science unto either sons or devoted disciples. Becoming his sire's pupil. O Sanjaya, and obtaining all those mysteries with every detail, the son of Saradwat's daughter has become a second Drona, and a great hero. Aswatthaman is equal to Karna in knowledge of weapons, to Purandara in battle, to Kartavirya in energy, and Vrihaspati in wisdom. In fortitude, that youth is equal to a mountain, and in energy to fire. In gravity, he is equal to an ocean, and in wrath, to the poison of the snake. He is the foremost of all car-warriors in battle, a firm bowman, and above all fatigue. In speed he is equal to the wind itself and he careens in the thick of fight like Yama in rage. While his engaged in shooting arrows in battle, the very earth becomes afflicted. Of prowess incapable of being baffled, hero is never fatigued by exertions. Purified by the Vedas and by vows, he is a thorough master of the science of arms, like Rama, the son of Dasharatha. He is like the ocean, incapable of being agitated. Hearing that the preceptor, that foremost of righteous persons, had been unrighteously slain in battle by Dhrishtadyumna, what, indeed, did Aswatthaman say? Aswatthaman hath been ordained to be the slayer of Dhrishtadyumna, even as Yajnasena's son, the prince of the Panchalas, was ordained to be the slayer of Drona. What, Oh, did Aswatthaman say, hearing that his sire, the preceptor, had been slain by the cruel, sinful, and mean Dhrishtadyumna of little foresight?'" > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [7.166.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.2) mānuṣaṃ vāruṇāgneyaṃ brāhmamastraṃ ca vīryavān | aindraṃ nārāyaṇaṃ caiva yasminnityaṃ pratiṣṭhitam || 2 || ### [7.166.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.3) tamadharmeṇa dharmiṣṭhaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnena saṃjaya | śrutvā nihatamācāryamaśvatthāmā kimabravīt || 3 || ### [7.166.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.4) yena rāmādavāpyeha dhanurvedaṃ mahātmanā | proktānyastrāṇi divyāni putrāya gurukāṅkṣiṇe || 4 || ### [7.166.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.5) ekameva hi loke'sminnātmano guṇavattaram | icchanti putraṃ puruṣā loke nānyaṃ kathaṃcana || 5 || ### [7.166.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.6) ācāryāṇāṃ bhavantyeva rahasyāni mahātmanām | tāni putrāya vā dadyuḥ śiṣyāyānugatāya vā || 6 || ### [7.166.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.7) sa śilpaṃ prāpya tatsarvaṃ saviśeṣaṃ ca saṃjaya | śūraḥ śāradvatīputraḥ saṃkhye droṇādanantaraḥ || 7 || ### [7.166.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.8) rāmasyānumataḥ śāstre puraṃdarasamo yudhi | kārtavīryasamo vīrye bṛhaspatisamo matau || 8 || ### [7.166.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.9) mahīdharasamo dhṛtyā tejasāgnisamo yuvā | samudra iva gāmbhīrye krodhe sarpaviṣopamaḥ || 9 || ### [7.166.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.10) sa rathī prathamo loke dṛḍhadhanvā jitaklamaḥ | śīghro'nila ivākrande carankruddha ivāntakaḥ || 10 || ### [7.166.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.11) asyatā yena saṃgrāme dharaṇyabhinipīḍitā | yo na vyathati saṃgrāme vīraḥ satyaparākramaḥ || 11 || ### [7.166.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.12) vedasnāto vratasnāto dhanurvede ca pāragaḥ | mahodadhirivākṣobhyo rāmo dāśarathiryathā || 12 || ### [7.166.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.13) tamadharmeṇa dharmiṣṭhaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnena saṃyuge | śrutvā nihatamācāryamaśvatthāmā kimabravīt || 13 || ### [7.166.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.14) dhṛṣṭadyumnasya yo mṛtyuḥ sṛṣṭastena mahātmanā | yathā droṇasya pāñcālyo yajñasenasuto'bhavat || 14 || ### [7.166.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.15) taṃ nṛśaṃsena pāpena krūreṇātyalpadarśinā | śrutvā nihatamācāryamaśvatthāmā kimabravīt || 15 || ### [7.166.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.16) saṃjaya uvāca | chadmanā nihataṃ śrutvā pitaraṃ pāpakarmaṇā | bāṣpeṇāpūryata drauṇī roṣeṇa ca nararṣabha || 16 || > "Sanjaya said.. 'Hearing of the slaughter of his sire by Dhrishtadyumna, of sinful deeds, Drona's son was filled with grief and rage, O bull among men. Filled with rage, O king, his body seems to blaze forth like that of the Destroyer while engaged in slaughtering creatures at the end of Yuga. Repeatedly wiping his tearful eyes, and breathing hot sighs in rage, he said unto Duryodhana, I have now learnt how my sire has been slain by those low wretches after he laid aside his weapons, and how also has a sinful act been perpetrated by Yudhishthira disguised in the grab of virtue! I have now heard of that unrighteous and exceedingly cruel act of Dharma's son. Indeed, to those engaged in battle, either of the two things must happen, viz., victory or defeat. Death in battle is always to be applauded. That death, in battle, of a person engaged in fight, which takes place under circumstances of righteousness, is not deserving of grief, as has been observed by the sages. Without doubt, my sire has gone to the region of heroes. He having met with such a death, I should not grieve for him. The humiliation, however, of a seizure of his locks, that he sustained in the very sight of all the troops, while he was righteously engaged in battle, is tearing the very core of my heart. Myself alive, my sire's locks were seized, why should sonless people then entertain a desire of offspring? > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa > "Sanjaya said.. 'Hearing of the slaughter of his sire by Dhrishtadyumna, of sinful deeds, Drona's son was filled with grief and rage, O bull among men. Filled with rage, O king, his body seems to blaze forth like that of the Destroyer while engaged in slaughtering creatures at the end of Yuga. Repeatedly wiping his tearful eyes, and breathing hot sighs in rage, he said unto Duryodhana, I have now learnt how my sire has been slain by those low wretches after he laid aside his weapons, and how also has a sinful act been perpetrated by Yudhishthira disguised in the grab of virtue! I have now heard of that unrighteous and exceedingly cruel act of Dharma's son. Indeed, to those engaged in battle, either of the two things must happen, viz., victory or defeat. Death in battle is always to be applauded. That death, in battle, of a person engaged in fight, which takes place under circumstances of righteousness, is not deserving of grief, as has been observed by the sages. Without doubt, my sire has gone to the region of heroes. He having met with such a death, I should not grieve for him. The humiliation, however, of a seizure of his locks, that he sustained in the very sight of all the troops, while he was righteously engaged in battle, is tearing the very core of my heart. Myself alive, my sire's locks were seized, why should sonless people then entertain a desire of offspring? > > People perpetrate unrighteous acts or humiliate others, moved by lust or wrath or folly or hatred or levity. The cruel and wicked-souled son of Prishata hath perpetrated this exceedingly sinful act in total disregard of me Dhrishtadyumna, therefore, shall surely suffer the dreadful consequence of that act, as also the false-speeched son of Pandu, that has acted so wrongly. Today, the earth shall certainly drink the blood of that king Yudhishthira the just, who caused the preceptor, by an act of deceit to lay aside his weapons. I swear by truth, O Kauraveya, as also by my religious acts, that I shall never bear the burden of life if I fail to exterminate the Panchalas. By every means I contend with the Panchalas in dreadful strife. I shall certainly slay in battle Dhrishtadyumna, that perpetrator of unrighteous deeds. Mild or violent, let the means be what they will, I shall effect the destruction of all the Panchalas before peace becomes mine. O Kaurava! O tiger among men, persons desire children so that obtaining them they may be rescued from great fears both here and hereafter. My sire, however, fell unto that plight, like a friendless creature, although myself am alive, his disciple and son, resembling a mountain (in might). Fie on my celestial weapons. Fie on my arms. Fie on my prowess. Since Drona, although he had a son in me, had his locks seized! > > I shall, therefore, O chief of the Bharatas, now achieve that by which I may be freed from the debt I owe to my sire, now gone to the other world. He that is good never indulges in self-praise. Unable, however, to brook the slaughter of my sire, I speak of my prowess. Let the Pandavas, with Janardana among them, behold my energy today, while I grind all their troops, achieving what is done (by the destroyer himself) at the end of the Yuga. Neither the gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Asuras, the Uragas, and the Rakshasas, nor all the foremost of men, shall today be able to vanquish me on my car in battle. There is none in the world equal to me or Arjuna in knowledge of weapons. Entering into the midst of the troops, like the sun himself in the midst of his blazing rays, I shall today use my celestial weapons. Today, applied by me, innumerable shafts, sped from my bow in dreadful battle, displaying their terrible energy, I shall grind the Pandavas. Today, all the points of the compass, O king will be seen by the warriors of our army shrouded with my winged arrows of keen points, as if with torrents of rain. Scattering showers of shafts on all sides with a loud noise, I shall overthrow my foes, like a tempest felling trees. > > Neither Vibhatsu, nor Janardana, nor Bhimasena, nor Nakula, nor Sahadeva, nor king Yudhishthira, nor Prishata's wicked-souled son (Dhrishtadyumna), nor Sikhandin, nor Satyaki, O Kauravya, knoweth that weapon which I have, along with the mantras, for hurting and withdrawing it. Formerly on one occasion, Narayana, assuming the from of a Brahmana, came to my father. Bowing unto him, my father presented his offerings unto him in due form. Taking them himself, the divine Lord offered to give him a boon. My father then solicited that supreme weapon called Narayana. The divine Lord, the foremost of all gods, addressing my sire, said, No man shall ever become thy equal in battle. This weapon, however, O Brahmana, should never be used in haste. It never comes back without effecting the destruction of the foe. I know none whom it may not slay, O lord! Indeed, It would slay even the unslayable. Therefore, it should not be used (without the greatest deliberation). This mighty weapon, O scorcher of foes, should never be hurled upon persons that abandon their cars or weapons in battle, or upon those that seek for quarter or those that wield themselves up. He who seeketh to afflict in battle the unslayable with it, is himself exceedingly afflicted by it! '--My sire thus received that weapon. Then Lord Narayana, addressing myself also, said, 'With the aid of this weapon, thou too shalt pour diverse showers of celestial weapons in battle and blaze with energy in consequence of it. > > Having said these words, the divine Lord ascended to heaven. Even this is the history of the Narayana weapon which has been obtained by my sire's son. With that I will rout and slay the Pandavas, the Panchalas, the Matsyas, and the Kaikeyas, in battle, like Sachi's lord routing and slaying the Asuras. My shafts, O Bharata, will fall upon the contending foes, in those particular forms which I shall wish them to assume. Staying in battle, I will pour showers of weapons as I desire. I will rout and slay all the foremost of car warriors with sky-ranging arrows of iron-points. Without doubt, I will shower innumerable battle-axes upon the foe. With the mighty Narayana weapon, a scorcher of foes that I am, I will destroy the Pandavas, causing an immense carnage amongst them. That wretch amongst the Panchalas, (viz., Dhrishtadyumna), who is an injurer of friends and Brahmanas and of his own preceptor, who is a deceitful wretch of the most reprehensible conduct, shall never escape from me today with life.' Hearing these words of Drona's son, the (Kuru) army rallied. Then many foremost of men blew their gigantic conchs. And filled with delight, they beat their drums and dindimas by thousands. The earth resounded with loud noises, afflicted with the hoofs of steeds and the wheels of cars. That loud uproar made the earth, and the firmament also echo with it. > > Hearing that uproar, deep as the roll of the clouds, the Pandavas, those foremost of car-warriors, uniting together, took counsel of one another. Meanwhile, Drona's son, having said those words, O Bharata, touched water and invoked the celestial weapon called the Narayana.'" > > Dharmadhwajin literally means a person bearing the standard of virtue, hence, hypocrite, sanctimoniously talking only virtue and morality but acting differently. > > I think the correct reading is aputrinas and not putrinas. If it is putrinas, literally rendered, the meaning is, 'Why should persons having children, feel any affection for the latter?' It the worthy of remark that the author of Venisamhara has bodily adopted this verse, putting it in the mouth of Aswatthaman when introduced in the third Act. > > The last line of 37 is read differently in the Bombay edition. Nilakantha accepts that reading, and explains it in his gloss remarking that the grammatical solecism occuring in it is a license. The Bengal reading, however, is more apposite. > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [7.166.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.17) tasya kruddhasya rājendra vapurdivyamadṛśyata | antakasyeva bhūtāni jihīrṣoḥ kālaparyaye || 17 || ### [7.166.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.18) aśrupūrṇe tato netre apamṛjya punaḥ punaḥ | uvāca kopānniḥśvasya duryodhanamidaṃ vacaḥ || 18 || ### [7.166.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.19) pitā mama yathā kṣudrairnyastaśastro nipātitaḥ | dharmadhvajavatā pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ tadviditaṃ mama | anāryaṃ sunṛśaṃsasya dharmaputrasya me śrutam || 19 || ### [7.166.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.20) yuddheṣvapi pravṛttānāṃ dhruvau jayaparājayau | dvayametadbhavedrājanvadhastatra praśasyate || 20 || ### [7.166.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.21) nyāyavṛtto vadho yastu saṃgrāme yudhyato bhavet | na sa duḥkhāya bhavati tathā dṛṣṭo hi sa dvijaḥ || 21 || ### [7.166.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.22) gataḥ sa vīralokāya pitā mama na saṃśayaḥ | na śocyaḥ puruṣavyāghrastathā sa nidhanaṃ gataḥ || 22 || ### [7.166.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.23) yattu dharmapravṛttaḥ sankeśagrahaṇamāptavān | paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ tanme marmāṇi kṛntati || 23 || ### [7.166.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.24) kāmātkrodhādavajñānāddarpādbālyena vā punaḥ | vaidharmikāni kurvanti tathā paribhavena ca || 24 || > People perpetrate unrighteous acts or humiliate others, moved by lust or wrath or folly or hatred or levity. The cruel and wicked-souled son of Prishata hath perpetrated this exceedingly sinful act in total disregard of me Dhrishtadyumna, therefore, shall surely suffer the dreadful consequence of that act, as also the false-speeched son of Pandu, that has acted so wrongly. Today, the earth shall certainly drink the blood of that king Yudhishthira the just, who caused the preceptor, by an act of deceit to lay aside his weapons. I swear by truth, O Kauraveya, as also by my religious acts, that I shall never bear the burden of life if I fail to exterminate the Panchalas. By every means I contend with the Panchalas in dreadful strife. I shall certainly slay in battle Dhrishtadyumna, that perpetrator of unrighteous deeds. Mild or violent, let the means be what they will, I shall effect the destruction of all the Panchalas before peace becomes mine. O Kaurava! O tiger among men, persons desire children so that obtaining them they may be rescued from great fears both here and hereafter. My sire, however, fell unto that plight, like a friendless creature, although myself am alive, his disciple and son, resembling a mountain (in might). Fie on my celestial weapons. Fie on my arms. Fie on my prowess. Since Drona, although he had a son in me, had his locks seized! > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [7.166.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.25) tadidaṃ pārṣateneha mahadādharmikaṃ kṛtam | avajñāya ca māṃ nūnaṃ nṛśaṃsena durātmanā || 25 || ### [7.166.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.26) tasyānubandhaṃ sa draṣṭā dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ sudāruṇam | anāryaṃ paramaṃ kṛtvā mithyāvādī ca pāṇḍavaḥ || 26 || ### [7.166.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.27) yo hyasau chadmanācāryaṃ śastraṃ saṃnyāsayattadā | tasyādya dharmarājasya bhūmiḥ pāsyati śoṇitam || 27 || ### [7.166.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.28) sarvopāyairyatiṣyāmi pāñcālānāmahaṃ vadhe | dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca samare hantāhaṃ pāpakāriṇam || 28 || ### [7.166.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.29) karmaṇā yena teneha mṛdunā dāruṇena vā | pāñcālānāṃ vadhaṃ kṛtvā śāntiṃ labdhāsmi kaurava || 29 || ### [7.166.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.30) yadarthaṃ puruṣavyāghra putramicchanti mānavāḥ | pretya ceha ca saṃprāptaṃ trāṇāya mahato bhayāt || 30 || ### [7.166.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.31) pitrā tu mama sāvasthā prāptā nirbandhunā yathā | mayi śailapratīkāśe putre śiṣye ca jīvati || 31 || ### [7.166.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.32) dhiṅmamāstrāṇi divyāni dhigbāhū dhikparākramam | yanmāṃ droṇaḥ sutaṃ prāpya keśagrahaṇamāptavān || 32 || ### [7.166.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.33) sa tathāhaṃ kariṣyāmi yathā bharatasattama | paralokagatasyāpi gamiṣyāmyanṛṇaḥ pituḥ || 33 || > I shall, therefore, O chief of the Bharatas, now achieve that by which I may be freed from the debt I owe to my sire, now gone to the other world. He that is good never indulges in self-praise. Unable, however, to brook the slaughter of my sire, I speak of my prowess. Let the Pandavas, with Janardana among them, behold my energy today, while I grind all their troops, achieving what is done (by the destroyer himself) at the end of the Yuga. Neither the gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Asuras, the Uragas, and the Rakshasas, nor all the foremost of men, shall today be able to vanquish me on my car in battle. There is none in the world equal to me or Arjuna in knowledge of weapons. Entering into the midst of the troops, like the sun himself in the midst of his blazing rays, I shall today use my celestial weapons. Today, applied by me, innumerable shafts, sped from my bow in dreadful battle, displaying their terrible energy, I shall grind the Pandavas. Today, all the points of the compass, O king will be seen by the warriors of our army shrouded with my winged arrows of keen points, as if with torrents of rain. Scattering showers of shafts on all sides with a loud noise, I shall overthrow my foes, like a tempest felling trees. > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [7.166.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.34) āryeṇa tu na vaktavyā kadācitstutirātmanaḥ | piturvadhamamṛṣyaṃstu vakṣyāmyadyeha pauruṣam || 34 || ### [7.166.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.35) adya paśyantu me vīryaṃ pāṇḍavāḥ sajanārdanāḥ | mṛdnataḥ sarvasainyāni yugāntamiva kurvataḥ || 35 || ### [7.166.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.36) na hi devā na gandharvā nāsurā na ca rākṣasāḥ | adya śaktā raṇe jetuṃ rathasthaṃ māṃ nararṣabha || 36 || ### [7.166.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.37) madanyo nāsti loke'sminnarjunādvāstravittamaḥ | ahaṃ hi jvalatāṃ madhye mayūkhānāmivāṃśumān | prayoktā devasṛṣṭānāmastrāṇāṃ pṛtanāgataḥ || 37 || ### [7.166.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.38) kṛśāśvatanayā hyadya matprayuktā mahāmṛdhe | darśayanto''tmano vīryaṃ pramathiṣyanti pāṇḍavān || 38 || ### [7.166.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.39) adya sarvā diśo rājandhārābhiriva saṃkulāḥ | āvṛtāḥ patribhistīkṣṇairdraṣṭāro māmakairiha || 39 || ### [7.166.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.40) kiranhi śarajālāni sarvato bhairavasvaram | śatrūnnipātayiṣyāmi mahāvāta iva drumān || 40 || ### [7.166.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.41) na ca jānāti bībhatsustadastraṃ na janārdanaḥ | na bhīmaseno na yamau na ca rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || 41 || > Neither Vibhatsu, nor Janardana, nor Bhimasena, nor Nakula, nor Sahadeva, nor king Yudhishthira, nor Prishata's wicked-souled son (Dhrishtadyumna), nor Sikhandin, nor Satyaki, O Kauravya, knoweth that weapon which I have, along with the mantras, for hurting and withdrawing it. Formerly on one occasion, Narayana, assuming the from of a Brahmana, came to my father. Bowing unto him, my father presented his offerings unto him in due form. Taking them himself, the divine Lord offered to give him a boon. My father then solicited that supreme weapon called Narayana. The divine Lord, the foremost of all gods, addressing my sire, said, No man shall ever become thy equal in battle. This weapon, however, O Brahmana, should never be used in haste. It never comes back without effecting the destruction of the foe. I know none whom it may not slay, O lord! Indeed, It would slay even the unslayable. Therefore, it should not be used (without the greatest deliberation). This mighty weapon, O scorcher of foes, should never be hurled upon persons that abandon their cars or weapons in battle, or upon those that seek for quarter or those that wield themselves up. He who seeketh to afflict in battle the unslayable with it, is himself exceedingly afflicted by it! '--My sire thus received that weapon. Then Lord Narayana, addressing myself also, said, 'With the aid of this weapon, thou too shalt pour diverse showers of celestial weapons in battle and blaze with energy in consequence of it. > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [7.166.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.42) na pārṣato durātmāsau na śikhaṇḍī na sātyakiḥ | yadidaṃ mayi kauravya sakalyaṃ sanivartanam || 42 || ### [7.166.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.43) nārāyaṇāya me pitrā praṇamya vidhipūrvakam | upahāraḥ purā datto brahmarūpa upasthite || 43 || ### [7.166.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.44) taṃ svayaṃ pratigṛhyātha bhagavānsa varaṃ dadau | vavre pitā me paramamastraṃ nārāyaṇaṃ tataḥ || 44 || ### [7.166.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.45) athainamabravīdrājanbhagavāndevasattamaḥ | bhavitā tvatsamo nānyaḥ kaścidyudhi naraḥ kvacit || 45 || ### [7.166.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.46) na tvidaṃ sahasā brahmanprayoktavyaṃ kathaṃcana | na hyetadastramanyatra vadhācchatrornivartate || 46 || ### [7.166.47](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.47) na caitacchakyate jñātuṃ ko na vadhyediti prabho | avadhyamapi hanyāddhi tasmānnaitatprayojayet || 47 || ### [7.166.48](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.48) vadhaḥ saṃkhye dravaścaiva śastrāṇāṃ ca visarjanam | prayācanaṃ ca śatrūṇāṃ gamanaṃ śaraṇasya ca || 48 || ### [7.166.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.49) ete praśamane yogā mahāstrasya paraṃtapa | sarvathā pīḍito hi syādavadhyānpīḍayanraṇe || 49 || ### [7.166.50](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.50) tajjagrāha pitā mahyamabravīccaiva sa prabhuḥ | tvaṃ varṣiṣyasi divyāni śastravarṣāṇyanekaśaḥ | anenāstreṇa saṃgrāme tejasā ca jvaliṣyasi || 50 || ### [7.166.51](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.51) evamuktvā sa bhagavāndivamācakrame prabhuḥ | etannārāyaṇādastraṃ tatprāptaṃ mama bandhunā || 51 || > Having said these words, the divine Lord ascended to heaven. Even this is the history of the Narayana weapon which has been obtained by my sire's son. With that I will rout and slay the Pandavas, the Panchalas, the Matsyas, and the Kaikeyas, in battle, like Sachi's lord routing and slaying the Asuras. My shafts, O Bharata, will fall upon the contending foes, in those particular forms which I shall wish them to assume. Staying in battle, I will pour showers of weapons as I desire. I will rout and slay all the foremost of car warriors with sky-ranging arrows of iron-points. Without doubt, I will shower innumerable battle-axes upon the foe. With the mighty Narayana weapon, a scorcher of foes that I am, I will destroy the Pandavas, causing an immense carnage amongst them. That wretch amongst the Panchalas, (viz., Dhrishtadyumna), who is an injurer of friends and Brahmanas and of his own preceptor, who is a deceitful wretch of the most reprehensible conduct, shall never escape from me today with life.' Hearing these words of Drona's son, the (Kuru) army rallied. Then many foremost of men blew their gigantic conchs. And filled with delight, they beat their drums and dindimas by thousands. The earth resounded with loud noises, afflicted with the hoofs of steeds and the wheels of cars. That loud uproar made the earth, and the firmament also echo with it. > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [7.166.52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.52) tenāhaṃ pāṇḍavāṃścaiva pāñcālānmatsyakekayān | vidrāvayiṣyāmi raṇe śacīpatirivāsurān || 52 || ### [7.166.53](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.53) yathā yathāhamiccheyaṃ tathā bhūtvā śarā mama | nipateyuḥ sapatneṣu vikramatsvapi bhārata || 53 || ### [7.166.54](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.54) yatheṣṭamaśmavarṣeṇa pravarṣiṣye raṇe sthitaḥ | ayomukhaiśca vihagairdrāvayiṣye mahārathān | paraśvadhāṃśca vividhānprasakṣye'hamasaṃśayam || 54 || ### [7.166.55](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.55) so'haṃ nārāyaṇāstreṇa mahatā śatrutāpana | śatrūnvidhvaṃsayiṣyāmi kadarthīkṛtya pāṇḍavān || 55 || ### [7.166.56](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.56) mitrabrahmagurudveṣī jālmakaḥ suvigarhitaḥ | pāñcālāpasadaścādya na me jīvanvimokṣyate || 56 || ### [7.166.57](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.57) tacchrutvā droṇaputrasya paryavartata vāhinī | tataḥ sarve mahāśaṅkhāndadhmuḥ puruṣasattamāḥ || 57 || ### [7.166.58](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.58) bherīścābhyahananhṛṣṭā ḍiṇḍimāṃśca sahasraśaḥ | tathā nanāda vasudhā khuranemiprapīḍitā | sa śabdastumulaḥ khaṃ dyāṃ pṛthivīṃ ca vyanādayat || 58 || ### [7.166.59](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.59) taṃ śabdaṃ pāṇḍavāḥ śrutvā parjanyaninadopamam | sametya rathināṃ śreṣṭhāḥ sahitāḥ saṃnyamantrayan || 59 || > Hearing that uproar, deep as the roll of the clouds, the Pandavas, those foremost of car-warriors, uniting together, took counsel of one another. Meanwhile, Drona's son, having said those words, O Bharata, touched water and invoked the celestial weapon called the Narayana.'" > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [7.166.60](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166.60) tathoktvā droṇaputro'pi tadopaspṛśya bhārata | prāduścakāra taddivyamastraṃ nārāyaṇaṃ tadā || 60 || ## Translations (1) - [The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa~en-ganguli.7.195.1) — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, English ## Commentaries (1) - [Bhāratabhāvadīpa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa!nilakantha.7.194.1) — Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara 1650, Sanskrit ## Other recensions (1) - [Vulgate (Nīlakaṇṭha's text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*vulgate.7.194.1) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.7.166) · Pramāṇa