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Mahābhārata • Parva 14 (Aśvamedhikaparva) • Adhyāya 75

Aśvamedhikaparva Adhyāya 75

अश्वमेधिकपर्व • अध्यायः 75

Aśvamedhikaparva Adhyāya 75 of the classical Mahābhārata with 27 verses.

Total: 27 Verses • Citations: MBh 14.75.1–27 • 250 Lexicon Terms
एवं त्रिरात्रमभवत्तद्युद्धं भरतर्षभ । अर्जुनस्य नरेन्द्रेण वृत्रेणेव शतक्रतोः ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said — Thus went on that battle, O chief of the Bharatas, for three days between Arjuna and that prince like the encounter between him of a hundred sacrifices and Vritra.
ततश्चतुर्थे दिवसे वज्रदत्तो महाबलः । जहास सस्वनं हासं वाक्यं चेदमथाब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
On the fourth day, Vajradatta of great power laughed loudly and addressing Arjuna, said these words :-Wait, wait, O Arjuna! You shall not excape me alive! Killing you I shall duly discharge the water-rite of my father.
अर्जुनार्जुन तिष्ठस्व न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे । त्वां निहत्य करिष्यामि पितुस्तोयं यथाविधि ॥
English Translation
On the fourth day, Vajradatta of great power laughed loudly and addressing Arjuna, said these words :-Wait, wait, O Arjuna! You shall not excape me alive! Killing you I shall duly discharge the water-rite of my father.
त्वया वृद्धो मम पिता भगदत्तः पितुः सखा । हतो वृद्धोऽपचायित्वाच्छिशुं मामद्य योधय ॥
English Translation
My aged father Bhagadatta, who was the friend of your father, was killed by you on account of his weight of years. Do you, however, fight me who am but a boy.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा संक्रुद्धो वज्रदत्तो नराधिपः । प्रेषयामास कौरव्य वारणं पाण्डवं प्रति ॥
English Translation
Having said these words, O you of Kuru's race, king Vajradatta, filled with anger, urged his elephant towards the son of Pandu.
संप्रेष्यमाणो नागेन्द्रो वज्रदत्तेन धीमता । उत्पतिष्यन्निवाकाशमभिदुद्राव पाण्डवम् ॥
English Translation
Urged on by the highly intelligent Vajradatta, that prince of elephants, as if desirous of cutting through the sky, rushed towards Dhananjaya.
अग्रहस्तप्रमुक्तेन शीकरेण स फल्गुनम् । समुक्षत महाराज शैलं नील इवाम्बुदः ॥
English Translation
That best of elephants drenched Arjuna with a shower of juice emitted from the end of his trunk, like a mass of blue clouds drenching a hill with its down-pour.
स तेन प्रेषितो राज्ञा मेघवन्निनदन्मुहुः । मुखाडम्बरघोषेण समाद्रवत फल्गुनम् ॥
English Translation
Indeed, urged on by the king, the elephant, repeatedly roaring like a cloud, rushed towards Phalguna, sending forth deep noise from its mouth.
स नृत्यन्निव नागेन्द्रो वज्रदत्तप्रचोदितः । आससाद द्रुतं राजन्कौरवाणां महारथम् ॥
English Translation
Indeed urged on by Vajradatta that prince of elephants quickly moved towards the powerful car-warrior of the Kurus, with the tread of one that seemed to dance in excitement.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य वज्रदत्तस्य वारणम् । गाण्डीवमाश्रित्य बली न व्यकम्पत शत्रुहा ॥
English Translation
Seeing that beast of Vajradatta advance towards him, that destroyer of enemies, viz., the powerful Dhananjaya, relaying on Gandiva, stood his ground without shaking with fear.
चुक्रोध बलवच्चापि पाण्डवस्तस्य भूपतेः । कार्यविघ्नमनुस्मृत्य पूर्ववैरं च भारत ॥
English Translation
Recollecting what an obstacle Vajradatta was proving to the performance of his task, and remembering the old enmity of the house, the son of Pandu became greatly excited with rage against the king.
ततस्तं वारणं क्रुद्धः शरजालेन पाण्डवः । निवारयामास तदा वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥
English Translation
Worked up with rage, Dhananjaya impeded the course of that beast with a shower of arrows like the shore resisting the surging sea.
स नागप्रवरो वीर्यादर्जुनेन निवारितः । तस्थौ शरैर्वितुन्नाङ्गः श्वाविच्छललितो यथा ॥
English Translation
That best of elephants and beautiful in appearance, thus impeded by Arjuna, stopped in its course, with body pierced with many an arrow, like a porcupine with its quills erect.
निवारितं गजं दृष्ट्वा भगदत्तात्मजो नृपः । उत्ससर्ज शितान्बाणानर्जुने क्रोधमूर्छितः ॥
English Translation
Seeing his elephant impeded in its course, the royal son Bhagadatta, deprived of sense by anger, shot many whetted arrows at Arjuna.
अर्जुनस्तु महाराज शरैः शरविघातिभिः । वारयामास तानस्तांस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥
English Translation
The mighty-armed Arjuna baffled all those arrows with many foe-destroying arrows of his. The feat appeared to be exceedingly wonderful.
ततः पुनरतिक्रुद्धो राजा प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः । प्रेषयामास नागेन्द्रं बलवच्छ्वसनोपमम् ॥
English Translation
Once more the king of the Pragjyotishas, worked up with rage, forcibly urged his elephant, which resembled a mountain, at Arjuna.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य बलवान्पाकशासनिः । नाराचमग्निसंकाशं प्राहिणोद्वारणं प्रति ॥
English Translation
Seeing the beast once more advancing towards him, Arjuna shot with great strength an arrow at it which resembled a veritable flame of fire.
स तेन वारणो राजन्मर्मण्यभिहतो भृशम् । पपात सहसा भूमौ वज्ररुग्ण इवाचलः ॥
English Translation
Cut to the quick, O king, by the son of Pandu, the beast suddenly dropped down on the Earth like a mountain-summit loosened by a thunder-bolt.
स पतञ्शुशुभे नागो धनंजयशराहतः । विशन्निव महाशैलो महीं वज्रप्रपीडितः ॥
English Translation
Struck with Dhananjaya's arrow, the elephant, as it lay on the Earth, looked like a huge mountain-cliff lying on the ground, loosened by the bolt of Indra.
तस्मिन्निपतिते नागे वज्रदत्तस्य पाण्डवः । तं न भेतव्यमित्याह ततो भूमिगतं नृपम् ॥
English Translation
When the elephant of Vajradatta was prostrated on the ground the so of Pandu, addressing the king who had fallen down with his beast, said, 'Do not fear.'
अब्रवीद्धि महातेजाः प्रस्थितं मां युधिष्ठिरः । राजानस्ते न हन्तव्या धनंजय कथंचन ॥
English Translation
Indeed, Yudhishthira of great energy said to me while commissioning me for this task even these words, viz., You should not, O Dhananjaya, kill those kings (who may give you battle).
सर्वमेतन्नरव्याघ्र भवत्वेतावता कृतम् । योधाश्चापि न हन्तव्या धनंजय रणे त्वया ॥
English Translation
O foremost of men, you should consider your task as accomplished if only you disable those hostile kings! You should not also, O Dhananjaya, kill the warriors of those kings who may come forth to fight you.
वक्तव्याश्चापि राजानः सर्वैः सह सुहृज्जनैः । युधिष्ठिरस्याश्वमेधो भवद्भिरनुभूयताम् ॥
English Translation
They should be requested to come, with all their kinsmen and friends, to the HorseSacrifice of Yudhishthira.
इति भ्रातृवचः श्रुत्वा न हन्मि त्वां जनाधिप । उत्तिष्ठ न भयं तेऽस्ति स्वस्तिमान्गच्छ पार्थिव ॥
English Translation
Having heard these commands of my brother, I shall not kill you, O king! Rise up; let no fear be yours; return to your city safe and sound, O king.
आगच्छेथा महाराज परां चैत्रीमुपस्थिताम् । तदाश्वमेधो भविता धर्मराजस्य धीमतः ॥
English Translation
When the day of full moon in the month of Chaitra comes, you shall O great king, go to that sacrifice of king Yudhishthira the just, for it takes place. on that day!
एवमुक्तः स राजा तु भगदत्तात्मजस्तदा । तथेत्येवाब्रवीद्वाक्यं पाण्डवेनाभिनिर्जितः ॥
English Translation
Thus addressed by Arjuna the royal son of Bhagadatta, defeated by the son of Pandu, said, 'So be it.'
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