An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s4.15

An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s4.15

Language: English

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§ 613: Requested by Dhṛtarāṣṭra (α), Sañjaya related: Duryodhana agreed to fight his foes, one at a time (β); Yudhiṣṭhira granted his request, adding that if he could slay even one of the five Pāṇḍavas he would remain king. Duryodhana rose from the lake and challenged the Pāṇḍavas (γ); Yudhiṣṭhira taunted him with his unfair conduct in slaying Abhimanyu (δ) (IX, 32). Kṛṣṇa reproved Yudhiṣṭhira for his rashness in staking everything on the result of such a single combat with Duryodhana (ε); Bhīmasena assured Kṛṣṇa that Duryodhana would be no match for him in an encounter with the mace (ζ); Kṛṣṇa applauded Bhīma, and exhorted him to slay Duryodhana (η); Sātyaki, etc. (θ), applauded Bhīma; Bhīma's boastful address (ι) to Yudhiṣṭhira and Duryodhana; Duryodhana's dignified reply, applauded by the Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas; the elephants began to grunt and the steeds to neigh; the weapons of the Pāṇḍavas blazed forth of their own accord (IX, 33).—§ 614: When the battle between Bhīma and Duryodhana was about to commence, Bala-Rāma (κ), having heard that that battle between his two disciples was about to begin, came and was worshipped by the Pāṇḍavas, Kṛṣṇa, etc. (λ); he said that forty-two days had passed since he departed, having set out under the constellation Puṣya and come back under the constellation Śravaṇa; he was clad in blue robes and of fair complexion.

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Then that dreadful encounter took place (IX, 34).—§ 615: Requested by Janamejaya (α), Vaiśampāyana related how Bala-Rāma had determined upon and set out (under the constellation Maitra) on a pilgrimage to the tīrthas on the Sarasvatī (β), having let the sacred fire be brought from Dvārakā and the priests, and having given away rich donations to everyone who wished for them, accompanied by priests, friends, brahmans, chariots, elephants, steeds, and servants, visiting all the sacred places along her course. In the course of his wanderings he at last came to Kurukṣetra. Requested by Janamejaya (γ), Vaiśampāyana related the Baladevatīrthayātrā (q.v.) (IX, 35-54). Requested by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Sañjaya related: Beholding Bala-Rāma, Duryodhana rejoiced. According to the proposal of Bala-Rāma, Yudhiṣṭhira with his brothers and Duryodhana proceeded westwards to Samantapañcaka on the southern side of the Sarasvatī. D. and Cā. praised Duryodhana. Description of Bhīma and Duryodhana (ο). Duryodhana told Yudhiṣṭhira (who was standing among his brothers and Kṛṣṇa and Rāma) to behold the battle, protected by the Kaikeyas, etc. (π). That large assembly of kings sat down, as did also Bala-Rāma, who was worshipped by all around him. Bhīma and Duryodhana stood inciting each other with violent speeches (IX, 55). The dispute between the two heroes (ρ). At last Duryodhana said, "What is the use of bragging? fight with me," and was applauded by the Somakas, etc.

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The elephants grunted aloud and the steeds neighed repeatedly; the weapons of the Pāṇḍavas blazed forth of their own accord (IX, 56). Description of the combat; D., G., and men wondered; the Pāṇḍavas and the Somakas feared; adopting the manœuvre called Kauçika, Duryodhana baffled Bhīma's mace; as Duryodhana once fell down to the earth, the Sṛñjayas cried aloud, so also did the Pāṇḍavas; Bhīmasena then had his coat of mail fractured and was prostrated on the ground, but rose, steadying himself with great effort (IX, 57). Arjuna inquired of Kṛṣṇa about the relative merits of the two combatants; Kṛṣṇa said that their training had been equal, but Bhīma was superior in strength; Duryodhana was superior in skill and had more practice; by fighting fairly Bhīma would never succeed in winning, but by fighting unfairly he would surely be able to slay Duryodhana, just as the Asuras were vanquished by the gods, Virocana and Vṛtra by Indra with the aid of deception; "Bhīma has vowed to break the thighs of Duryodhana with his mace; let him accomplish that vow of his"; he censured Yudhiṣṭhira for his folly, and quoted a verse uttered by Uçanas; "Duryodhana has practised with the mace for full thirteen years." Arjuna struck his own left thigh before the eyes of Bhīmasena, who understood the sign. As Duryodhana set his heart on the manœuvre called dvasthāna and jumped upwards, Bhīmasena hurled his mace at the thighs of Duryodhana and fractured them. Portents appeared;

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showers of blood and showers of dust were poured by Indra; a loud noise was made by Y., Rā., and Pç. (description of the portents); the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas were filled with anxiety; D., G., Si., and Cā. went away (IX, 58). The Pāṇḍavas and Somakas rejoiced; Bhīmasena rebuked Duryodhana, and touched his head with his left foot, which was censured by Yudhiṣṭhira, who grieved for Duryodhana (σ) (IX, 59); Baladeva's wrath was excited upon seeing Duryodhana struck below the navel; he rushed on to slay Bhīma, but was seized and pacified by Kṛṣṇa (τ). Baladeva praised Duryodhana and cursed Bhīmasena, and then ascended his chariot and proceeded towards Dvārakā. The Pāñcālas, etc. (v), became dejected; Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena, etc., and Duryodhana spoke about what had passed (IX, 60) (Kṛṣṇa asking the Pāṇḍava warriors to forbear insulting Duryodhana; Duryodhana's angry reply to Kṛṣṇa, charging him with every unfair act in course of the battle; Kṛṣṇa reminded Duryodhana of his own evil acts, and referred to his miserable end as the inevitable consequence of those acts; Duryodhana's boast with reference to his end, which he pronounced to be most glorious) (φ). Celestial showers descended on Duryodhana's head; G., Aps., and Si. praised him. The Pāṇḍavas and Kṛṣṇa became ashamed; but Kṛṣṇa justified the use of unfair means for the slaughter of the Kuru warriors (χ) (IX, 61). The Pāṇḍava warriors to the Kuru camp, which was entirely deserted (ψ);

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Kṛṣṇa caused Arjuna to take down the Gāṇḍīva and his inexhaustible quivers, and then to dismount; then Kṛṣṇa also dismounted; the celestial ape disappeared, and the chariot (burnt by Droṇa and Karṇa with the Brāhma weapon), with its steeds, etc., was reduced to ashes. Kṛṣṇa congratulated Yudhiṣṭhira on his victory, and Yudhiṣṭhira attributed that victory to Kṛṣṇa's power (w). In the encampment of the Kurus they found great wealth; at Kṛṣṇa's suggestion the Pāṇḍavas and Sātyaki resolved to pass the night at a spot outside the camp, on the banks of the Oghavatī. They then dispatched Kṛṣṇa to Hāstinapura in order to pacify the wrath of Gāndhārī, and to comfort her and Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He set out with Dāruka upon his chariot, yoked with Śaibya and Sugrīva (IX, 62). Asked by Janamejaya, Vaiśampāyana said that the reason why Yudhiṣṭhira sent Kṛṣṇa to Hāstinapura was his fear that Gāndhārī, by means of her ascetic merit, should reduce the Pāṇḍavas to ashes, because Duryodhana had been slain unfairly (aa); "Vyāsa will be there." Kṛṣṇa caused Dāruka to equip his chariot, and quickly set out for Hāstinapura. He arrived at Dhṛtarāṣṭra's palace, where Vyāsa had arrived before him; he comforted Dhṛtarāṣṭra (bb) and Gāndhārī (yy), who said that her heart had become steady (δδ). Then Kṛṣṇa came to know the evil that was meditated by Aṣvatthāman, and suddenly took leave, requested by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī to protect the Pāṇḍavas, and proceeded with Dāruka. Vyāsa comforted Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

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Kṛṣṇa arrived at the camp and informed the Pāṇḍavas (IX, 63). Requested by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Sañjaya narrated the lamentations of Duryodhana while lying on the field with his thighs broken (εε); he thought himself happy, and asked Sañjaya to bring his message to his parents and to Aṣvatthāman, etc. (ζζ) ("you should never place any confidence in the Pāṇḍavas"), and took leave of the message-bearers (εε); he was confident that Cārvāka, the mendicant devotee, would avenge his death. Thousands of men, with eyes full of tears, fled away; the earth trembled, etc. The messengers went and informed Aṣvatthāman and then went away (IX, 64). Aṣvatthāman, etc. (ζζ), came to Duryodhana, who lay surrounded by carnivorous animals, etc. Aṣvatthāman's lament and Duryodhana's reply (ηη); Aṣvatthāman vowed to slay all the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana let Kṛpa install Aṣvatthāman as the Kuru generalissimo; then they took leave of Duryodhana and left him alone (IX, 65).