Mahabharata · Book 10 · Sauptika Parva
Mahabharata, Book 10, Section XIVसौप्तिकपर्व
Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 10.14.
Sanskrit
वैशम्पायन उवाच।
इङ्गितेनैव दाशार्हस्तस्याभिप्रायमादितः।
द्रौणेर्बुद्धा महाबाहुरर्जुनं प्रत्यभाषत।।
अर्जुनार्जुन यद्दिव्यमस्त्रं ते हृदि वर्तते।
द्रोणोपदिष्टं तस्यायं कालः सम्प्रति पाण्डव।।
भ्रातॄणामात्मनश्चैव परित्राणाय भारत।
विसृजैतत्त्वमप्याजावस्त्रमस्त्रनिवारणम्।।
केशवेनैवमुक्तोऽथ पाण्डवः परवीरहा।
अवातरद्रथात्तूर्णं प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः।।
पूर्वमाचार्यपुत्राय ततोऽनन्तरमात्मने।
भ्रातृभ्यश्चैव सर्वेभ्यः स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा परन्तपः।।
देवताभ्यो नमस्कृत्य गुरुभ्यश्चैव सर्वशः।
उत्ससर्ज शिवं ध्यायन्नस्त्रमस्त्रेण शाम्यताम्।।
ततस्तदस्रं सहसा सृष्टं गाण्डीवधन्वना।
प्रजज्वाल महार्चिष्मद्युगान्तानलसन्निभम्।।
तथैव द्रोणपुत्रस्य तदस्त्रं तिग्मतेजसः।
प्रजज्वाल महाज्वालं तेजोमण्डलसंवृतम्।।
निर्घाता बहवश्चासन्पेतुरुल्काः सहस्रशः।
महद्भयं च भूतानां सर्वेषां समजायत।।
सशब्दमभवद्व्योम ज्वालामालाकुलं भृशम्।
चचाल च मही कृत्स्ना सपर्वतवनद्रुमा।।
तावस्त्रतेजसा लोकांस्त्रासयन्तौ ततः स्थितौ।
महर्षी सहितौ तत्र दर्शयामासतुस्तदा।।
नारदः सर्वधर्मात्मा भरतानां पितामहः।
उभौ शमयितुं वीरौ भारद्वाजधनञ्जयौ।।
तौ मुनी सर्वधर्मज्ञौ सर्वभूतहितैपिणौ।
दीप्तयोरस्रयोर्मध्ये स्थितौ परमतेजसौ।।
तदन्तरमनाधृष्यावुपगम्य यशस्विनौ।
आस्तामृषिवरौ तत्र ज्वलिताविव पावकौ।।
प्राणभृद्भिरनाधृष्यौ देवदानवसम्मतौ।
अस्त्रतेजः शमयितुं लोकानां हितकाम्यया।।
ऋषी ऊचतुः।
महास्त्रविदुषः पूर्वे येऽप्यतीता महारथाः।
नैतदस्रं मनुष्येषु तैः प्रयुक्तं कथञ्चन।
किमिदं साहसं वीरौ कृतवन्तौ महात्ययम्।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते सौप्तिकपर्वणि ऐषीकपर्वमि चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः।। 14 ।।
वर्गः:महाभारतम्/सौप्तिकपर्व
English Ganguli
14
Vaishampayana said, "At the very outset the mighty-armed hero of Dasharha's race understood from signs the intention of Drona's son. Addressing Arjuna, he said, 'O Arjuna, O son of Pandu, the time is come for the use of that celestial weapon which is in thy memory, knowledge of which was imparted to thee by Drona. For protecting thyself as also thy brothers, O Bharata, shoot in this battle that weapon which is capable of neutralising all weapons.'
"Thus addressed by Keshava, Arjuna, that slayer of hostile heroes, quickly alighted from the car, taking with him his bow with shaft fixed on the string. Softly wishing good unto the preceptor's son and then unto himself, and unto all his brothers, that scorcher of foes then bowed unto all the gods and all his superiors and let off his weapon, thinking of the welfare of all the worlds and uttering the words, 'Let Ashvatthama's weapon be neutralised by this weapon!'
"That weapon, quickly let off by the wielder of Gandiva, blazed up with fierce flames like the all-destroying fire that appears at the end of the yuga. Similarly, the weapon that had been shot by Drona's son of fierce energy blazed up with terrible flames within a huge sphere of fire. Numerous peals of thunder were heard; thousands of meteors fell; and all living creatures became inspired with great dread. The entire welkin seemed to be filled with noise and assumed a terrible aspect with those flames of fire. The whole earth with her mountains and waters and trees, trembled. Then the two great Rishis, Narada, who is the soul of every creature, and the grandsire of all the Bharata princes (Vyasa), beholding those two weapons scorching the three worlds, showed themselves there. The two Rishis sought to pacify the two heroes Ashvatthama and Dhananjaya. Conversant with all duties and desirous of the welfare of all creatures, the two sages, possessed of great energy, stood in the midst of those two blazing weapons. Incapable of being overwhelmed by any force, those two illustrious Rishis, placing themselves between the two weapons, stood like two blazing fires. Incapable of being checked by any creature endued with life, and adorned by the gods and Danavas, they two acted in this way, neutralising the energy of the two weapons and doing good to all the world.
"The two Rishis said, 'Those great car-warriors who have fallen in this battle were acquainted with diverse kinds of weapons. They, however, never shot such a weapon upon human beings. What act of rashness is this, ye heroes, that ye have done?'"