The Preparation For the Fight (ch56)

CHAPTER 56
(Gadayuddha Parva ) -- Continued

The Preparation For the Fight

SYNOPSIS

In this section of the Mahabharata, a fierce exchange of words precedes the imminent battle between Duryodhana and Bhima.

King Dhritarashtra, deeply saddened by the turn of events, reflects on the fall of his son, Duryodhana. Once the ruler of vast armies and the entire earth, Duryodhana is now reduced to a warrior marching on foot, carrying only a mace. Filled with sorrow, Dhritarashtra laments how his son, who once had everything, is now facing the end of his fortune due to the workings of Destiny.

Despite his father’s grief, Duryodhana, filled with energy, challenges Bhima to a battle. His voice roars like thunder, filled with confidence as he calls for combat. As he does, ominous portents appear—winds blow fiercely, the sky darkens, meteors fall, and other ill omens signal the imminent battle.
Bhima, furious with the wrongs done to him and his brothers over the years, vows to avenge all the sufferings they endured at the hands of Duryodhana and his allies. He recalls the various atrocities, from the gambling game that stripped them of their kingdom to the insult of Draupadi and swears to end Duryodhana’s life on the battlefield. Bhima’s words are filled with a promise of vengeance, as he declares that Duryodhana will pay for every evil act that has led to this moment.

Duryodhana, unshaken by Bhima’s fiery speech, responds with disdain. He accuses Bhima of empty boasting and insists that he will be the one to end Bhima’s challenge. With pride and resolve, Duryodhana accepts the challenge, eager to face Bhima in battle.

Both warriors, charged with anger and determination, prepare for the impending clash. The atmosphere is charged with tension as other kings, witnessing the exchange, cheer for the battle. Duryodhana’s confidence grows as the crowd praises him, while Bhima, driven by rage, prepares to strike.

The narrative sets the stage for an epic confrontation, highlighting the unresolved enmity between the two, driven by past wrongs and deep personal grievances. The ominous signs and fiery words foreshadow a battle of immense intensity, as Bhima and Duryodhana prepare to face each other in combat.

CHAPTER 56

वैशम्पायन उवाच
ततो वाग्युद्धमभवत् तुमुलं जनमेजय ।
यत्र दुःखान्वितो राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ १॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
tato vāgyuddhamabhavat tumulaṃ janamejaya |
yatra duḥkhānvito rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro’bravīdidam || 1||

Vaishampayana said

“At the outset, O Janamejaya, a dreadful encounter of words took place between the two heroes. To that, king Dhritarashtra, filled with grief, said this-

धिगस्तु खलु मानुष्यं यस्य निष्ठेयमीदृशी ।
एकादशचमूभर्ता यज्ञ पुत्रो ममानघ ॥ २ ॥

dhigastu khalu mānuṣyaṃ yasya niṣṭheyamīdṛśī |
ekādaśacamūbhartā yajña putro mamānagha || 2 ||

Oh, fie, on man, who has such an end! My son, O sinless one, had been the master of eleven hosts of troops!

आज्ञाप्य सर्वान् नृपतीन् भुक्त्वा चेमां वसुंधराम्।
गदामादाय वेगेन पदातिः प्रस्थितो रणे ॥ ३ ॥

ājñāpya sarvān nṛpatīn bhuktvā cemāṃ vasuṃdharām|
gadāmādāya vegena padātiḥ prasthito raṇe || 3 ||

He had all the kings under his command. and had enjoyed the sovereignty of the whole Earth! Alas, he that had been so, was now reduced to a warrior proceeding to battle, on foot, shouldering his mace.

भूत्वा हि जगतो नाथो ह्यनाथ इव मे सुतः ।
गदामुद्यम्य यो याति किमन्यद् भागधेयतः ॥ ४ ॥
अहो दुःखं महत् प्राप्तं पुत्रेण मम संजय ।
एवमुक्त्वा स दुःखार्तो विरराम जनाधिपः ॥ ५ ॥

bhūtvā hi jagato nātho hyanātha iva me sutaḥ |
gadāmudyamya yo yāti kimanyad bhāgadheyataḥ || 4 ||
aho duḥkhaṃ mahat prāptaṃ putreṇa mama saṃjaya |
evamuktvā sa duḥkhārto virarāma janādhipaḥ || 5 ||

My poor son, who had before been the lord of the universe, was now himself without help! Alas, he had, then, to proceed on foot, shouldering his mace! What can it be but Destiny? Alas, O Sanjaya, great was the grief that was felt by my son now! 'Having uttered these words, the king afflicted with great sorrow became silent.

संजय उवाच
स मेघनिनदो हर्षान्निनदन्निव गोवृषः ।
आजुहाव तदा पार्थं युद्धाय युधि वीर्यवान् ॥ ६ ॥

saṃjaya uvāca
sa meghaninado harṣānninadanniva govṛṣaḥ |
ājuhāva tadā pārthaṃ yuddhāya yudhi vīryavān || 6 ||

Sanjaya said

Having a voice deep like a cloud, Duryodhana then roared from joy like a bull. Possessed of great energy, he challenged the son of Pritha to battle.

भीममाह्वायाने तु कुरुराजे महात्मानि ।
प्रादुरासन् सुघोराणि रूपाणि विविधान्युत ॥ ७ ॥

bhīmamāhvāyāne tu kururāje mahātmāni |
prādurāsan sughorāṇi rūpāṇi vividhānyuta || 7 ||

When the great king of the Kurus thus summoned Bhima to the encounter, various awful portents appeared there.

ववुर्वाताः सनिर्घाताः पांशुवर्षं पपात च ।
बभूवुश्च दिशः सर्वास्तिमिरेण समावृताः ॥ ८ ॥

vavurvātāḥ sanirghātāḥ pāṃśuvarṣaṃ papāta ca |
babhūvuśca diśaḥ sarvāstimireṇa samāvṛtāḥ || 8 ||

Fierce winds began to blow with loud noises at intervals, and a shower of dust fell. All the points of the compass were covered with a thick darkness.

महास्वनाः सुनिर्वातास्तुमुला लोमहर्षणा ।
पेतुस्तथोल्काः शतशः स्फोटयन्त्यो नभस्तलात् ॥ ९ ॥

 
mahāsvanāḥ sunirvātāstumulā lomaharṣaṇā |
petustatholkāḥ śataśaḥ sphoṭayantyo nabhastalāt || 9 ||

Thunderbolts of loud noise dropped on all sides, causing great confusion and making the very hair to stand on end. Hundreds of meteors fell, with a loud noise from the sky.

 
राहुश्चाग्रसदादित्यमपर्वणि विशाम्पते ।
चकम्पे च महाकम्पं पृथिवी सवनद्रुमा ॥ १० ॥

rāhuścāgrasadādityamaparvaṇi viśāmpate |
cakampe ca mahākampaṃ pṛthivī savanadrumā || 10 ||

Rahu devoured the Sun most untimely, O king! The Earth with her forest and trees shook violently.

दीप्ताश्च वातः प्रववुर्नीचैः शर्करकर्षिणः ।

गिरीणां शिखराण्येव न्यपतन्त महीतले ॥ ११ ॥

dīptāśca vātaḥ pravavurnīcaiḥ śarkarakarṣiṇaḥ |
girīṇāṃ śikharāṇyeva nyapatanta mahītale || 11 ||

Hot winds blew, carrying showers of hard pebbles along the ground. The summits of mountains dropped down on the Earth's surface.

मृगा बहुविधाकाराः सम्पतन्ति दिशो दश ।
दीप्ता: शिवाश्चाप्यनदन् घोररूपाः सुदारुणाः ॥ १२ ॥

mṛgā bahuvidhākārāḥ sampatanti diśo daśa |
dīptā: śivāścāpyanadan ghorarūpāḥ sudāruṇāḥ || 12 ||

Various Animals were seen to run in various directions. Terrible and fierce jackals, with firing mouths, yelled piteously.

निर्घाताश्च महाघोरा बभूवुर्लोमहर्षणाः ।
दीप्तायां दिशि राजेन्द्र मृगाश्चाशुभवेदिनः ॥ १३॥

nirghātāśca mahāghorā babhūvurlomaharṣaṇāḥ |
dīptāyāṃ diśi rājendra mṛgāścāśubhavedinaḥ || 13||

Loud and terrific hair-stirring sounds were heard on every side, the four quarters seemed to be on fire, and many animals of ill omen became visible.

उदपानगताश्चापो व्यवर्धन्त समन्ततः ।
अशरीरा महानादाः श्रूयन्ते स्म तदा नृप ।। १४ ।।

udapānagatāścāpo vyavardhanta samantataḥ |
aśarīrā mahānādāḥ śrūyante sma tadā nṛpa || 14 ||

The water in the wells on all sides swelled up. Loud sounds came from every side without, O king, none to utter them being visible.

एवमादीनि दृष्ट्वाऽऽथ निमित्तानि वृकोदरः ।
उवाच भ्रातरः ज्येष्ठं धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥ १५ ॥

evamādīni dṛṣṭvā’’tha nimittāni vṛkodaraḥ |
uvāca bhrātaraḥ jyeṣṭhaṃ dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram || 15 ||

Beholding these and other evil omens Vrikodara said to his eldest brother, King Yudhishthira -

नैष शक्तो रणे जेतुं मन्दात्मा मां सुयोधनः ।
अद्य क्रोधं विमोक्ष्यामि निगूढं हृदये चिरम् ॥ १६ ॥
सुयोधने कौरवेन्द्रे खाण्डवेऽग्निमिवार्जुनः ।
शल्यमद्यद्धरिष्यामि तव पाण्डव हृच्छयम् ॥ १७ ॥

naiṣa śakto raṇe jetuṃ mandātmā māṃ suyodhanaḥ |
adya krodhaṃ vimokṣyāmi nigūḍhaṃ hṛdaye ciram || 16 ||
suyodhane kauravendre khāṇḍave’gnimivārjunaḥ |
śalyamadyaddhariṣyāmi tava pāṇḍava hṛcchayam || 17 ||

This wicked Suyodhana is not able to defeat me in battle. I shall today vomit that vie, which I have been cherishing for a long time in the recesses of my heart, upon this lord of the Kurus like Arjuna throwing fire upon the forest of Khandava! Today, O son of Pandu, I shall take out the dart that lies sticking to thy heart!

 
निहत्य गदया पापमिमं कुरुकुलाधमम् ।
अद्य कीर्तिमयीं मालां प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं त्वयि ॥ १८ ॥

nihatya gadayā pāpamimaṃ kurukulādhamam |
adya kīrtimayīṃ mālāṃ pratimokṣyāmyahaṃ tvayi || 18 ||

Killing with my mace this sinful wretch of Kuru's race, I shall today, place around your neck the garland of Fame!

हत्वेमं पापकर्माणं गदया रणमूर्धनि ।
अद्यास्य शतधा देहं भिनद्मि गदयाऽनया ।। १९ ॥
नायं प्रवेष्टा नगरं पुनर्वारणसाह्वयम् ।

hatvemaṃ pāpakarmāṇaṃ gadayā raṇamūrdhani |
adyāsya śatadhā dehaṃ bhinadmi gadayā’nayā || 19 ||
nāyaṃ praveṣṭā nagaraṃ punarvāraṇasāhvayam |

Killing this sinful person with my mace on the field of battle, I shall today, with this very mace of mine, break his body into a hundred pieces! He shall not have again to enter the city of Hastinapur!

सर्पोत्सर्गस्य शयने विषदानस्य भोजने ॥ २० ॥
प्रमाणकोट्यां पातस्य दाहस्य जतुवेश्मनि ।
सभायामवहासस्य सर्वस्वहरणस्य च ॥ २१ ॥
वर्षमज्ञातवासस्य वनवासस्य चानघ ।
अद्यान्तमेषां दुःखानां गन्ताहं भरतर्षभ ॥ २२ ॥
एकाह्रा विनिहत्येमं भविष्याम्यात्मनोऽनृणः ।

sarpotsargasya śayane viṣadānasya bhojane || 20 ||
pramāṇakoṭyāṃ pātasya dāhasya jatuveśmani |
sabhāyāmavahāsasya sarvasvaharaṇasya ca || 21 ||
varṣamajñātavāsasya vanavāsasya cānagha |
adyāntameṣāṃ duḥkhānāṃ gantāhaṃ bharatarṣabha || 22 ||
ekāhrā vinihatyemaṃ bhaviṣyāmyātmano’nṛṇaḥ |

The setting of serpents at us while we were sleeping, the giving of venom to us while we were eating, the casting of our body into the water at Pramanakoti, the attempt to burn us at the house of lac, the insult given to us at the assembly, the robbing us of all our wealth, the whole year of our living in concealment, our exile into the forest, O sinless one, of all these misfortunes, O best of Bharata's race, I shall terminate to-day, O Bharata's chief! Killing this wretch, I shall, in one single day, pay off all the debts I owe him.

अद्यायुर्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेरकृतात्मनः ।। २३ ।।
समाप्तं भरतश्रेष्ठ मातापित्रोश्च दर्शनम् ।

adyāyurdhārtarāṣṭrasya durmaterakṛtātmanaḥ || 23 ||
samāptaṃ bharataśreṣṭha mātāpitrośca darśanam |

Today the lease of life, of this wicked son of Dhritarashtra, of impure soul, has reached its end, O Bharata's chief. After this day he shall not again look at his father and mother!

 
अद्य सौख्यं तु राजेन्द्र कुरुराजस्य दुर्मतेः ॥ २४ ॥
समाप्तं च महाराज नारीणां दर्शनं पुनः ।

adya saukhyaṃ tu rājendra kururājasya durmateḥ || 24 ||
samāptaṃ ca mahārāja nārīṇāṃ darśanaṃ punaḥ |

Today, O king, the happiness of this wicked king of the Kurus has terminated. After this day, O king, he shall not again see a beautiful damsel!

अद्यायं कुरुराजस्य शान्तनोः कुलपांसनः ॥ २५ ॥
प्राणान् श्रियं च राज्यं च त्यक्त्वा शेष्यति भूतले ।

adyāyaṃ kururājasya śāntanoḥ kulapāṃsanaḥ || 25 ||
prāṇān śriyaṃ ca rājyaṃ ca tyaktvā śeṣyati bhūtale |

Today this disgrace of Shantanu's race shall sleep on the naked Earth, his life, his prosperity, and his kingdom gone!

राजा च धृतराष्ट्रोऽद्य श्रुत्वा पुत्रं निपातितम् ॥ २६॥
मरिष्यत्यशुभं कर्म यत्तच्छकुनिबुद्धिजम् ।

rājā ca dhṛtarāṣṭro’dya śrutvā putraṃ nipātitam || 26||
mariṣyatyaśubhaṃ karma yattacchakunibuddhijam |

Hearing of the fall of his son today, King Dhritarashtra also shall recollect all those evil acts that were the creations of Shakuni!'

इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूल गदामादाय वीर्यवान् ॥२७॥
अभ्यतिष्ठत युद्धाय शक्रो वृत्रमिवाह्वयन् ।

ityuktvā rājaśārdūla gadāmādāya vīryavān ||27||
abhyatiṣṭhata yuddhāya śakro vṛtramivāhvayan |

Having said these words, O foremost of kings, the highly energetic, Vrikodara armed with mace, stood for fight, like Shakra challenging the Asura Vritra.

तमुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम् ॥ २८ ॥
भीमसेनः पुनः क्रुद्धो दुर्योधनमुवाच ह।
राज्ञश्च धृतराष्ट्रस्य तथा त्वमपि चात्मनः ॥ २९ ॥
स्मर तद् दुष्कृतं कर्म यद् वृत्तं वारणावते ।

tamudyatagadaṃ dṛṣṭvā kailāsamiva śṛṅgiṇam || 28 ||
bhīmasenaḥ punaḥ kruddho duryodhanamuvāca ha|
rājñaśca dhṛtarāṣṭrasya tathā tvamapi cātmanaḥ || 29 ||
smara tad duṣkṛtaṃ karma yad vṛttaṃ vāraṇāvate |

Seeing Duryodhana also standing with uplifted mace like Mount Kailasa, Bhimasena, worked up with ire, once more addressed him, saying 'Remember that misdeed of yourself and king Dhritarashtra that occurred at Varnavata!

द्रौपदी च परिक्लिष्टा सभामध्ये रजस्वला ॥ ३० ॥
द्यूतेन वञ्चितो राजा यत् त्वया सौबलेन च ।

draupadī ca parikliṣṭā sabhāmadhye rajasvalā || 30 ||
dyūtena vañcito rājā yat tvayā saubalena ca |

Remember the ill-treatment of Draupadi, while in her season, in the midst of the assembly! Remember how you and Subala's son deprived the king at dice.

वने दुःखं च यत् प्राप्तमस्माभिस्त्वत्कृतं महत्॥ ३१॥
विराटनगरे चैव योन्यन्तरगतैरिव ।
तत् सर्वं पातयाम्यद्य दिष्ट्या दृष्टोऽसि दुर्मति ॥ ३२ ॥

vane duḥkhaṃ ca yat prāptamasmābhistvatkṛtaṃ mahat|| 31||
virāṭanagare caiva yonyantaragatairiva |
tat sarvaṃ pātayāmyadya diṣṭyā dṛṣṭo’si durmati || 32 ||

Remember the great misfortune suffered by us, for you, in the forest, as also in Virata's city, as if we had once more entered the womb! I shall avenge them all today. By good luck, I see you today!

त्वकृतेऽसौ हतः शेते शरतल्पे प्रतापवान् ।
गाय रथिनां श्रेष्ठ निहतो याज्ञसेनिना ॥ ३३ ॥

tvakṛte’sau hataḥ śete śaratalpe pratāpavān |
gāya rathināṃ śreṣṭha nihato yājñaseninā || 33 ||

It is for you that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the highly powerful son of Ganga, struck down by Yajnasena's son, sleep on a bed of arrows.

हतो द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च तथा शल्यः प्रतापवान् ।
वैराग्नेरादिकर्ता सौ शकुनिः सौबलो हतः ॥ ३४ ॥

hato droṇaśca karṇaśca tathā śalyaḥ pratāpavān |
vairāgnerādikartā sau śakuniḥ saubalo hataḥ || 34 ||

Drona also has been killed, and Karna, and Shalya of great prowess! Subala's son Shakuni too, that root of all this evil has been killed!

 
प्रातिकामी तथा पापो द्रौपद्या: कुशकृद्धतः ।
भ्रातरस्ते हताः सर्वे शूरा विक्रान्तयोधिनः ।। ३५ ।।

prātikāmī tathā pāpo draupadyā: kuśakṛddhataḥ |
bhrātaraste hatāḥ sarve śūrā vikrāntayodhinaḥ || 35 ||

The wretched Pratikamin, who had seized Draupadi by her hair, has been killed! All your brave brothers also, who fought with great velour, have been killed!

एते चान्ये च बहवो निहतास्त्वत्कृते नृपाः ।
त्वामद्य निहनिष्यामि गदया नात्र संशयः ॥ ३६ ॥

ete cānye ca bahavo nihatāstvatkṛte nṛpāḥ |
tvāmadya nihaniṣyāmi gadayā nātra saṃśayaḥ || 36 ||

These and many other kings have been killed through your fault! I shall kill you today with my mace! There is not the least doubt about it!'

इत्येवमुचै राजेन्द्र भाषमाणं वृकोदरम् ।
उवाच गतभी राजन् पुत्रस्ते सत्यविक्रमः ॥३७॥
किं कत्थनेन बहुना युध्यस्व त्वं वृकोदर |
अद्य तेऽहं विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धां कुलाधम ॥ ३८ ॥

ityevamucai rājendra bhāṣamāṇaṃ vṛkodaram |
uvāca gatabhī rājan putraste satyavikramaḥ ||37||
kiṃ katthanena bahunā yudhyasva tvaṃ vṛkodara |
adya te’haṃ vineṣyāmi yuddhaśraddhāṃ kulādhama || 38 ||

While Vrikodara, O king, was uttering these words in a loud voice, your fearless son answered him, saying — `What is the use of bragging? Fight me, O Vrikodara! O wretch, today I shall satiate your desire to fight!

 
न हि दुर्योधनः क्षुद्र केनचित् त्वद्विधेन वै ।
शक्यस्त्रासयितुं वाचां यथाऽन्यः प्राकृतो नरः ॥ ३९॥

na hi duryodhanaḥ kṣudra kenacit tvadvidhena vai |
śakyastrāsayituṃ vācāṃ yathā’nyaḥ prākṛto naraḥ || 39||

Mean as you are, know that Duryodhana is not capable, like an ordinary person, of being terrified by a person like you!

 
चिरकालेप्सितं दिष्ट्या हृदयस्थमिदं मम ।
त्वया सह गदायुद्धं त्रिदशैरुपपादितम् ॥ ४० ॥

cirakālepsitaṃ diṣṭyā hṛdayasthamidaṃ mama |
tvayā saha gadāyuddhaṃ tridaśairupapāditam || 40 ||

For a long time have I cherished this desire! For a long time, I have been cherishing this desire! By good fortune the goods have at last brought it about!

किं वाचा बहुनोक्तेन कत्थितेन च दुर्मते ।
वाणी सम्पद्यतामेषा कर्मणा मा चिरं कृथाः ॥ ४१॥
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्व एवाभ्यपूजयन् ।
राजानः सोमकाचैव ये तत्रासन् समागताः ॥ ४२ ॥

kiṃ vācā bahunoktena katthitena ca durmate |
vāṇī sampadyatāmeṣā karmaṇā mā ciraṃ kṛthāḥ || 41||
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sarva evābhyapūjayan |
rājānaḥ somakācaiva ye tatrāsan samāgatāḥ || 42 ||

What is the use of long talks and idle brag, O wicked man! Carry out these words of yours into acts! Do not delay at all! — Hearing these words of his, the Somakas and the other kings that were present there, all praised them highly.

 
ततः सम्पूजितः सर्वैः सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहः .
भूयो धीरां मतिं चक्रे युद्धाय कुरुनन्दनः ॥ ४३ ॥

tataḥ sampūjitaḥ sarvaiḥ samprahṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ .
bhūyo dhīrāṃ matiṃ cakre yuddhāya kurunandanaḥ || 43 ||

Lauded by all, Duryodha's hair stood erect with joy, and he made of his mind to fight.

उन्मत्तमिव मातङ्कं तलशब्दैर्नराधिपाः ।
भूयः संहर्षयाचक्रुर्दुर्योधनममर्षणम् ॥ ४४ ॥

unmattamiva mātaṅkaṃ talaśabdairnarādhipāḥ |
bhūyaḥ saṃharṣayācakrurduryodhanamamarṣaṇam || 44 ||

The kings present once again cheered your wrathful son with claps like persons exciting a mad elephant to a fight.

तं महात्मा महात्मानं गदामुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ।
अभिदुद्राव वेगेन धार्तराष्ट्रं वृकोदरः ॥ ४५ ॥

taṃ mahātmā mahātmānaṃ gadāmudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ |
abhidudrāva vegena dhārtarāṣṭraṃ vṛkodaraḥ || 45 ||

Then uplifting his mace, the great Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, rushed furiously at your high-souled son.

बृंहन्ति कुञ्जरास्तत्र हया हेषन्ति चासकृत् ।
शस्त्राणि चाप्यदीप्यन्त पाण्डवानां जयैषिणाम् ॥ ४६॥

bṛṃhanti kuñjarāstatra hayā heṣanti cāsakṛt |
śastrāṇi cāpyadīpyanta pāṇḍavānāṃ jayaiṣiṇām || 46||

The elephants present there grunted aloud and the horses neighed repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas, who were eager for victory, shone resplendent with their own luster.