10-1-001
संजय उवाच
ततस्ते सहिता वीराः प्रयाता दक्षिणामुखाः
उपास्तमयवेलायां शिबिराभ्याशमागताः
Sañjaya said: Together, those brave ones then headed in a southern direction. At a time when the sun was about to set, they reached the camp.
10-1-002
विमुच्य वाहांस्त्वरिता भीताः समभवंस्तदा
गहनं देशमासाद्य प्रच्छन्ना न्यविशन्त ते
They unyoked their mounts and were terrified. They went to a deserted region and entered it.
10-1-003
सेनानिवेशमभितो नातिदूरमवस्थिताः
निकृत्ता निशितैः शस्त्रैः समन्तात्क्षतविक्षताः
They were not very far away from where the soldiers were encamped. They were mangled, all over their bodies, with sharp weapons.
10-1-004
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य पाण्डवानन्वचिन्तयन्
श्रुत्वा च निनदं घोरं पाण्डवानां जयैषिणाम्
They let out long and warm sighs and thought of the Pāṇḍava-s. They heard the fierce roars emitted by the Pāṇḍava-s, who were desirous of victory.
10-1-005
अनुसारभयाद्भीताः प्राङ्मुखाः प्राद्रवन्पुनः
ते मुहूर्तं ततो गत्वा श्रान्तवाहाः पिपासिताः
Fearing that they would be pursued, they again fled in an eastern direction. However, after travelling for some time, they were thirsty and their mounts were exhausted.
10-1-006
नामृष्यन्त महेष्वासाः क्रोधामर्षवशं गताः
राज्ञो वधेन संतप्ता मुहूर्तं समवस्थिताः
Those great archers could not tolerate what had happened and were overcome by anger and vindictiveness. They were tormented that the king had been killed and rested for some time.
10-1-007
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
अश्रद्धेयमिदं कर्म कृतं भीमेन संजय
यत्स नागायुतप्राणः पुत्रो मम निपातितः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya! The task that Bhīmā performed is deserving of honour. He brought down my son, who possessed the strength of ten thousand elephants.
10-1-008
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां वज्रसंहननो युवा
पाण्डवैः समरे पुत्रो निहतो मम संजय
He was young and could withstand the vajra. All beings were incapable of slaying him.
10-1-009
न दिष्टमभ्यतिक्रान्तुं शक्यं गावल्गणे नरैः
यत्समेत्य रणे पार्थैः पुत्रो मम निपातितः
O son of Gavalgana! Men cannot overcome destiny. In the battle, the Pārtha-s clashed against my son and brought him down.
10-1-010
अद्रिसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मम संजय
हतं पुत्रशतं श्रुत्वा यन्न दीर्णं सहस्रधा
O Sañjaya! It is certain that my heart is made out of stone. Despite having heard about the death of one hundred of my sons, it has not shattered into one thousand fragments.
10-1-011
कथं हि वृद्धमिथुनं हतपुत्रं भविष्यति
न ह्यहं पाण्डवेयस्य विषये वस्तुमुत्सहे
When their sons have been slain, what will become of this aged couple? I am not interested in dwelling in the dominion of the Pāṇḍaveya-s.
10-1-012
कथं राज्ञः पिता भूत्वा स्वयं राजा च संजय
प्रेष्यभूतः प्रवर्तेयं पाण्डवेयस्य शासनात्
O Sañjaya! How can I? I have myself been a king. I have been the father of a king. How can I be a servant who follows Pāṇḍaveya's commands?
10-1-013
आज्ञाप्य पृथिवीं सर्वां स्थित्वा मूर्ध्नि च संजय
कथमद्य भविष्यामि प्रेष्यभूतो दुरन्तकृत्
O Sañjaya! I have commanded the entire earth and have placed my feet on its head. How can I be reduced to this difficult state of being a servant?
10-1-014
कथं भीमस्य वाक्यानि श्रोतुं शक्ष्यामि संजय
येन पुत्रशतं पूर्णमेकेन निहतं मम
O Sañjaya! How can I bear to hear Bhīmā's words? He has single-handedly killed one hundred of my sons.
10-1-015
कृतं सत्यं वचस्तस्य विदुरस्य महात्मनः
अकुर्वता वचस्तेन मम पुत्रेण संजय
The words that the great-souled Vidūra spoke have come to be true. O Sañjaya! My son did not act in accordance with those words.
10-1-016
अधर्मेण हते तात पुत्रे दुर्योधने मम
कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिः किमकुर्वत संजय
O son! My son, Duryodhana, has been slain through adharma. O Sañjaya! What did Kritavarma, Kṛpa and Droṇa's son do?
10-1-017
संजय उवाच
गत्वा तु तावका राजन्नातिदूरमवस्थिताः
अपश्यन्त वनं घोरं नानाद्रुमलताकुलम्
Sañjaya replied: O king! After those on your side had travelled a short distance, they saw a fierce forest. It was full of many trees and creepers.
10-1-018
ते मुहूर्तं तु विश्रम्य लब्धतोयैर्हयोत्तमैः
सूर्यास्तमयवेलायामासेदुः सुमहद्वनम्
They rested there for some time and those supreme horses obtained water. At the time when the sun was setting, they entered that great forest.
10-1-019
नानामृगगणैर्जुष्टं नानापक्षिसमाकुलम्
नानाद्रुमलताच्छन्नं नानाव्यालनिषेवितम्
It was full of large numbers of many kinds of animals and many birds. There were diverse trees and creepers and it was full of many kinds of predatory beasts.
10-1-020
नानातोयसमाकीर्णं तडागैरुपशोभितम्
पद्मिनीशतसंछन्नं नीलोत्पलसमायुतम्
There were many beautiful ponds, full of water. These were covered with hundreds of lotuses and blue lotuses.
10-1-021
प्रविश्य तद्वनं घोरं वीक्षमाणाः समन्ततः
शाखासहस्रसंछन्नं न्यग्रोधं ददृशुस्ततः
Having entered that terrible forest, they glanced around in different directions. They saw a banyan tree there, with many thousands of branches.
10-1-022
उपेत्य तु तदा राजन्न्यग्रोधं ते महारथाः
ददृशुर्द्विपदां श्रेष्ठाः श्रेष्ठं तं वै वनस्पतिम्
O king! Approaching that banyan tree, those mahāratha-s, best among men, saw that it was the best among trees.
10-1-023
तेऽवतीर्य रथेभ्यस्तु विप्रमुच्य च वाजिनः
उपस्पृश्य यथान्यायं संध्यामन्वासत प्रभो
They descended from their chariots there and unyoked the horses. O lord! As is decreed, they washed themselves and performed the evening rites.
10-1-024
ततोऽस्तं पर्वतश्रेष्ठमनुप्राप्ते दिवाकरे
सर्वस्य जगतो धात्री शर्वरी समपद्यत
At that time, the sun had reached Mount Asta, the best of mountains. Night, the creator of the entire universe, manifested itself.
10-1-025
ग्रहनक्षत्रताराभिः प्रकीर्णाभिरलंकृतम्
नभोंऽशुकमिवाभाति प्रेक्षणीयं समन्ततः
In every direction, the sky was beautiful to behold. It was ornamented with planets, nakṣatra-s and stars.
10-1-026
ईषच्चापि प्रवल्गन्ति ये सत्त्वा रात्रिचारिणः
दिवाचराश्च ये सत्त्वास्ते निद्रावशमागताः
Beings which are powerful and roam during the night began to howl. Beings that roam during the day were overcome by sleep.
10-1-027
रात्रिंचराणां सत्त्वानां निनादोऽभूत्सुदारुणः
क्रव्यादाश्च प्रमुदिता घोरा प्राप्ता च शर्वरी
Because of the shrieks of beings that roam in the night, it became extremely fearful. Predatory beasts were delighted and the night became terrible.
10-1-028
तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे दुःखशोकसमन्विताः
कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिरुपोपविविशुः समम्
Kritavarma, Kṛpa and Droṇa's son sat down together. It was the beginning of that terrible night and they were overcome by grief and sorrow.
10-1-029
तत्रोपविष्टाः शोचन्तो न्यग्रोधस्य समन्ततः
तमेवार्थमतिक्रान्तं कुरुपाण्डवयोः क्षयम्
They sat down under the banyan tree and sorrowed about the destruction that had encompassed the Kuru-s and the Pāṇḍaveya-s.
10-1-030
निद्रया च परीताङ्गा निषेदुर्धरणीतले
श्रमेण सुदृढं युक्ता विक्षता विविधैः शरैः
Their limbs were overtaken by sleep and they lay down on the surface of the ground. They were greatly exhausted and wounded by many arrows.
10-1-031
ततो निद्रावशं प्राप्तौ कृपभोजौ महारथौ
सुखोचितावदुःखार्हौ निषण्णौ धरणीतले
तौ तु सुप्तौ महाराज श्रमशोकसमन्वितौ
Mahāratha Kṛpa and Bhojā succumbed to sleep. They deserved happiness and did not deserve this misery. However, they slept on the surface of the ground. O great king! They slept, overcome by exhaustion and sorrow.
10-1-032
क्रोधामर्षवशं प्राप्तो द्रोणपुत्रस्तु भारत
नैव स्म स जगामाथ निद्रां सर्प इव श्वसन्
O descendant of the Bhārata lineage! But Droṇa's son was flooded with wrath and intolerance. He could not sleep and sighed like a snake.
10-1-033
न लेभे स तु निद्रां वै दह्यमानोऽतिमन्युना
वीक्षां चक्रे महाबाहुस्तद्वनं घोरदर्शनम्
He could not obtain any sleep and was tormented by anger. The mighty-armed one glanced at the forest, which was terrible to behold.
10-1-034
वीक्षमाणो वनोद्देशं नानासत्त्वैर्निषेवितम्
अपश्यत महाबाहुर्न्यग्रोधं वायसायुतम्
He glanced towards the forest, inhabited by many beings. The mighty-armed one saw the banyan tree, inhabited by tens of thousands of crows.
10-1-035
तत्र काकसहस्राणि तां निशां पर्यणामयन्
सुखं स्वपन्तः कौरव्य पृथक्पृथगपाश्रयाः
Thousands of crows spent the night there. O Kauravya! Resorting to separate perches, they slept happily.
10-1-036
सुप्तेषु तेषु काकेषु विस्रब्धेषु समन्ततः
सोऽपश्यत्सहसायान्तमुलूकं घोरदर्शनम्
In every direction, those crows were at ease and slept. He saw that an owl, terrible in appearance, suddenly arrived.
10-1-037
महास्वनं महाकायं हर्यक्षं बभ्रुपिङ्गलम्
सुदीर्घघोणानखरं सुपर्णमिव वेगिनम्
Its shriek was horrible and it was gigantic in form. Its eyes were tawny and its plumage was reddish brown. Its nose and talons were extremely long. It possessed the speed of Suparṇa.
10-1-038
सोऽथ शब्दं मृदुं कृत्वा लीयमान इवाण्डजः
न्यग्रोधस्य ततः शाखां प्रार्थयामास भारत
O descendant of the Bhārata lineage! Making only the slightest bit of noise, that bird approached the branches of the banyan tree.
10-1-039
संनिपत्य तु शाखायां न्यग्रोधस्य विहंगमः
सुप्ताञ्जघान सुबहून्वायसान्वायसान्तकः
The bird descended on the branch of the banyan tree and having descended, killed an extremely large number of crows.
10-1-040
केषांचिदच्छिनत्पक्षाञ्शिरांसि च चकर्त ह
चरणांश्चैव केषांचिद्बभञ्ज चरणायुधः
It tore away the wings of some and severed the heads of others. With the talons on its feet, it broke the legs of others.
10-1-041
क्षणेनाहन्स बलवान्येऽस्य दृष्टिपथे स्थिताः
तेषां शरीरावयवैः शरीरैश्च विशां पते
न्यग्रोधमण्डलं सर्वं संछन्नं सर्वतोऽभवत्
It was powerful and in a short while, destroyed the ones it could see. O lord of the earth! Every side of that banyan tree was strewn with limbs and bodies.
10-1-042
तांस्तु हत्वा ततः काकान्कौशिको मुदितोऽभवत्
प्रतिकृत्य यथाकामं शत्रूणां शत्रुसूदनः
Having slain the crows, the owl was delighted. It was the destroyer of its enemies and had acted against its enemies as it willed.
10-1-043
तद्दृष्ट्वा सोपधं कर्म कौशिकेन कृतं निशि
तद्भावकृतसंकल्पो द्रौणिरेको व्यचिन्तयत्
On witnessing the deceitful act perpetrated by the owl in the night, Droṇa's son began to think and arrived at a conclusion.
10-1-044
उपदेशः कृतोऽनेन पक्षिणा मम संयुगे
शत्रूणां क्षपणे युक्तः प्राप्तकालश्च मे मतः
"For the battle, this bird has given me an instruction. I wish to destroy the enemy and it is my view that the time has come.
10-1-045
नाद्य शक्या मया हन्तुं पाण्डवा जितकाशिनः
बलवन्तः कृतोत्साहा लब्धलक्षाः प्रहारिणः
राज्ञः सकाशे तेषां च प्रतिज्ञातो वधो मया
The victorious Pāṇḍava-s are incapable of being slain by me. They are powerful and full of enterprise. They are strikers who accomplish their objectives. But, in the king's presence, I pledged to kill them.
10-1-046
पतंगाग्निसमां वृत्तिमास्थायात्मविनाशिनीम्
न्यायतो युध्यमानस्य प्राणत्यागो न संशयः
छद्मना तु भवेत्सिद्धिः शत्रूणां च क्षयो महान्
I will destroy myself, like an insect engaged in entering a fire. If I fight through fair means, there is no doubt that I will lose my life. However, there will be success through deceit and great destruction of the enemy.
10-1-047
तत्र संशयितादर्थाद्योऽर्थो निःसंशयो भवेत्
तं जना बहु मन्यन्ते येऽर्थशास्त्रविशारदाः
People who are skilled about sacred texts also abundantly praise certain methods over those that are uncertain.
10-1-048
यच्चाप्यत्र भवेद्वाच्यं गर्हितं लोकनिन्दितम्
कर्तव्यं तन्मनुष्येण क्षत्रधर्मेण वर्तता
There will be words of censure and reprimand from the worlds. But a man who has embarked on the dharma of kṣatriya-s must bear them.
10-1-049
निन्दितानि च सर्वाणि कुत्सितानि पदे पदे
सोपधानि कृतान्येव पाण्डवैरकृतात्मभिः
The Pāṇḍava-s, firm in their enmity, have committed acts of deceit at every step, even though they have been censured and reprimanded by everyone.
10-1-050
अस्मिन्नर्थे पुरा गीतौ श्रूयेते धर्मचिन्तकैः
श्लोकौ न्यायमवेक्षद्भिस्तत्त्वार्थं तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
On this, those who have thought about dharma have sung a song earlier and it has been heard. They knew about what was right and proper and recounted these śloka-s.
10-1-051
परिश्रान्ते विदीर्णे च भुञ्जाने चापि शत्रुभिः
प्रस्थाने च प्रवेशे च प्रहर्तव्यं रिपोर्बलम्
"The forces of the enemy must be struck, whether they are exhausted, shattered, eating, retreating or entering.
10-1-052
निद्रार्तमर्धरात्रे च तथा नष्टप्रणायकम्
भिन्नयोधं बलं यच्च द्विधा युक्तं च यद्भवेत्
Whether they are sleeping in the middle of the night, whether their paths of progress have been destroyed, whether their warriors have been slain and whether the forces are hesitant or not, one must act in the same way."
10-1-053
इत्येवं निश्चयं चक्रे सुप्तानां युधि मारणे
पाण्डूनां सह पाञ्चालैर्द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
Thinking in this way, Droṇa's powerful son resolved to slay the Pāṇḍu and Pāñcāla warriors while they slept.
10-1-054
स क्रूरां मतिमास्थाय विनिश्चित्य मुहुर्मुहुः
सुप्तौ प्राबोधयत्तौ तु मातुलं भोजमेव च
Having arrived at this cruel decision and thinking about it repeatedly, he awoke Bhojā and his maternal uncle, who were asleep and told them.
10-1-055
नोत्तरं प्रतिपेदे च तत्र युक्तं ह्रिया वृतः
स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पविह्वलमब्रवीत्
They were overcome with shame and did not reply. Having thought for some time, in a voice that was distracted and choking with tears, he said,
10-1-056
हतो दुर्योधनो राजा एकवीरो महाबलः
यस्यार्थे वैरमस्माभिरासक्तं पाण्डवैः सह
"King Duryodhana was immensely strong and the only brave one. He has been killed. It is for his sake that we were engaged in this enmity with the Pāṇḍava-s.
10-1-057
एकाकी बहुभिः क्षुद्रैराहवे शुद्धविक्रमः
पातितो भीमसेनेन एकादशचमूपतिः
He was the lord of eleven armies. He fought single-handedly with many wicked ones and was brought down by Bhīmasena, who acted with the valour of a śūdra.
10-1-058
वृकोदरेण क्षुद्रेण सुनृशंसमिदं कृतम्
मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य शिरः पादेन परिमृद्नता
Vṛkodara also performed an inferior and extremely cruel deed. He kicked the head of one who had been consecrated with his feet.
10-1-059
विनर्दन्ति स्म पाञ्चालाः क्ष्वेडन्ति च हसन्ति च
धमन्ति शङ्खाञ्शतशो हृष्टा घ्नन्ति च दुन्दुभीन्
The Pāñcāla-s are roaring, singing and laughing at this. In their joy, they are blowing on hundreds of conch shells and beating on their drums.
10-1-060
वादित्रघोषस्तुमुलो विमिश्रः शङ्खनिस्वनैः
अनिलेनेरितो घोरो दिशः पूरयतीव हि
That tumultuous sound of musical instruments is mixing with the blare of conch shells. Those fierce sounds are borne by the wind and are filling the directions.
10-1-061
अश्वानां हेषमाणानां गजानां चैव बृंहताम्
सिंहनादश्च शूराणां श्रूयते सुमहानयम्
The horses are neighing and the elephants are trumpeting. The brave ones are roaring like lions and that great sound can be heard.
10-1-062
दिशं प्राचीं समाश्रित्य हृष्टानां गर्जतां भृशम्
रथनेमिस्वनाश्चैव श्रूयन्ते लोमहर्षणाः
From the eastern direction, those fierce sounds of rejoicing can be heard. The clatter of chariot wheels can be heard and it makes the body hair stand up.
10-1-063
पाण्डवैर्धार्तराष्ट्राणां यदिदं कदनं कृतम्
वयमेव त्रयः शिष्टास्तस्मिन्महति वैशसे
The Pāṇḍava-s created great carnage among the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the three of us are the only ones who have survived.
10-1-064
केचिन्नागशतप्राणाः केचित्सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः
निहताः पाण्डवेयैः स्म मन्ये कालस्य पर्ययम्
Some of them possessed the life force of one hundred elephants. Some of them were skilled in the use of all kinds of weapons. But they have been killed by the Pāṇḍaveya-s.
10-1-065
एवमेतेन भाव्यं हि नूनं कार्येण तत्त्वतः
यथा ह्यस्येदृशी निष्ठा कृते कार्येऽपि दुष्करे
I think that this is destiny. There is no doubt that deeds lead to such an end. Even if one performs extremely difficult deeds, this is the outcome of that.
10-1-066
भवतोस्तु यदि प्रज्ञा न मोहादपचीयते
व्यापन्नेऽस्मिन्महत्यर्थे यन्नः श्रेयस्तदुच्यताम्
If your wisdom has not been clouded by your confusion, given this great calamity, decide and tell us about the best course of action."