Read Mahabharata: Volume 7 Online
Authors: Bibek Debroy
21
Weapons.
22
Karna subdued Bhimasena without resorting to divine weapons. This has been described in Section 69 (Volume 6).
23
This has been described in Section 70 (Volume 6). Karna killed Ghatotkacha with the invincible spear.
24
The women.
25
Dhritarashtra was blind.
26
Karna was brought up by a charioteer named Adhiratha and is known as the son of a suta.
27
The word used is
tata
. Though this means son, it is affectionately used towards anyone who is younger or junior.
28
Bhishma. There is a great deal of inconsistency in the names that follow.
29
On the Pandava side.
30
Bhima pledged to kill Duryodhana and all his brothers. However, so far, there has been no mention of Vivimshati having been killed. In describing the deaths of Duryodhana’s brothers, there is lack of consistency in the text. Vikarna was killed in Section 69 (Volume 6), though he is mentioned again in Section 70 (Volume 6).
31
Vinda and Anuvinda were killed by Arjuna in Section 69 (Volume 6). Vaivasvata is Yama.
32
Jayadratha was Dhritarashtra’s son-in-law and was killed by Arjuna in Section 69 (Volume 6). The Sindhus, Souviras and Shibis seemed to be more like a confederation of assorted kingdoms. Hence, the reference to ten kingdoms. An akshouhini is a large army and consists of 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 horses and 109,350 soldiers on foot. Since the entire Kourava army consisted of eleven akshouhinis and since the war is not yet over, this only means that Arjuna defeated them, not killed them.
33
Subhadra’s son is Abhimanyu. He killed Duryodhana’s son, Lakshmana, in Section 67 (Volume 6).
34
So far, there is no information about Duhshasana’s son having been killed by Droupadi’s sons.
35
Hunters.
36
Bhagadatta was Indra’s friend. He was killed by Arjuna in Section 66 (Volume 5).
37
Bhurishrava was killed by Satyaki in Section 69 (Volume 6).
38
Arjuna killed Shrutayu from Ambashtha in Section 69 (Volume 6). Savyasachi was Arjuna’s name.
39
However, Duhshasana has not yet been killed.
40
Sudakshina of Kamboja was killed by Arjuna in Section 69 (Volume 6).
41
Abhimanyu killed Brihadbala, the king of Kosala, in Section 67 (Volume 6).
42
Chitrasena was killed by Bhima in Section 69 (Volume 6).
43
Shalya was the king of Madra and his son was Rukmaratha. Rukmaratha was killed by Abhimanyu in Section 67 (Volume 6).
44
Vrishasena was Karna’s son. However, he has not yet been killed.
45
This Shrutayu (distinct from the Shrutayu from Ambashtha) was killed by Arjuna in Section 69 (Volume 6).
46
Since Rukmaratha was killed by Abhimanyu, there is an inconsistency. Shalya was Madri’s brother and Sahadeva’s maternal uncle. Thus, Rukmaratha and Sahadeva were brothers.
47
Brihatkshatra was killed by Drona in Section 69 (Volume 6). We do not know about Bhagiratha.
48
Bahlika was Pratipa’s son and was killed by Bhima in Section 70 (Volume 6). Pratipa had three sons, Devapi, Bahlika and Shantanu. Shantanu was Dhritarashtra’s grandfather and so, by extension, was Bahlika. However, that Bahlika would have been too old to take part in the battle.
49
We do not know anything about Jayatsena having been killed. In Section 67 (Volume 6), Abhimanyu killed Ashvaketu from Magadha.
50
Durmukha and Durjaya were killed by Bhima in Section 69 (Volume 6). There is no information yet about the deaths of Duhsaha, Durmarshana and Durvishaha.
51
The name of this king is not indicated.
52
Arjuna killed the samshaptakas in Section 66 (Volume 5).
53
Vrishaka and Achala were Shakuni’s brothers and were killed by Arjuna in Section 66 (Volume 5).
54
If this is Shala (not Shalva), he was killed by Satyaki in Section 70 (Volume 6).
55
So far, we have no information about these deaths.
56
Section 69 (Volume 6) says that Kshemadhurti was killed by Brihatkshatra.
57
Section 69 (Volume 6).
58
Section 70 (Volume 6).
59
Radheya is Karna’s name.
60
This is left implicit. They were killed in the battle.
61
Vritra was a demon killed by Indra.
62
Mura was the general of the demon Narakasura and was killed by Krishna. Hence, Krishna is known as Murari, or Mura’s enemy. Bhargava Rama is Parashurama and he killed Kartavirya Arjuna.
63
The word used is tata.
64
Since Brihatkshatra (killed by Drona) has been mentioned, this is not entirely correct.
65
Drona killed Satyajit in Section 66 (Volume 5). Kiriti is Arjuna’s name. Drupada and Virata were killed by Drona in Section 71 (Volume 6).
66
Abhimanyu was killed in Section 67 (Volume 6). Though he was surrounded by seven great warriors, he killed one of them (Brihadbala) before he was slain.
67
The Kekayas were divided in the war. While most fought on the side of the Kouravas, five Kekaya brothers fought on the side of the Pandavas.
68
The dual is used, so there were two Rochamanas.
69
Purujit Kuntibhoja is the same individual. Kuntibhoja was Kunti’s father and Kuntibhoja’s son was Purujit. Purujit Kuntibhoja means Purujit, the son of Kuntibhoja. Purujit was thus Arjuna’s maternal uncle.
70
Lakshmana was Duryodhana’s son.
71
The word used is tata. Though this means father, it is affectionately used towards anyone who is senior.
72
Satyadhriti is mentioned again.
73
This means Sahadeva, Jarasandha’s son.
74
Weapons are of five types—
mukta
(those that are released from the hand, like a
chakra
),
amukta
(those that are never released, like a sword),
muktamukta
(those that can be released or not released, like a spear),
yantramukta
(those that are released from an implement, like an arrow) and
mantramukta
(magical weapons unleashed with incantations). If one leaves out mantramukta or divine weapons, there are four kinds of weapons.
75
Anarta was the kingdom of the Yadavas in the northern part of Gujarat. Kritavarma was a Yadava and Satvata is a term for the Yadavas.
76
Kripa, Sharadvata’s son and descended from the Goutama lineage.
77
Shalya. Shalya’s sister was Madri. Ajatashatru is Yudhishthira’s name and Shakra is Indra’s name. In Section 49 (Volume 4), Shalya sided with the Kouravas, but promised Yudhishthira that he would sap Karna’s energy in the battle.
78
Shakuni.
79
The names that follow are the names of Duryodhana’s brothers. However, there is often a problem with these names, because of lack of consistency. For example, Chitrasena has been killed in Section 69 (Volume 6).
80
There is no kingdom named Kaitavya. This is probably an adjective, drawing on
kaitava
, which means gambling and deceit. This is usually associated with Shakuni, but Shakuni has already been mentioned. This is thus a probable reference to Uluka, Shakuni’s son.
81
However, these two have already been killed in Section 69 (Volume 6).
82
This Bhargava means Shukra, the preceptor of the demons and the fount of wisdom. Shukra was the son of the sage Bhrigu.
83
The one without decay, Krishna’s name.
84
Krishna and Arjuna respectively.
85
The name of Indra’s horse, which arose from the churning of the ocean.
86
Kubera.
87
Yakshas are semi-divine species and companions of Kubera, the god of treasure.
88
This is the story of an alliance between Jarasandha and Karna that does not figure in the Critical edition.
89
Parashurama.
90
Phalguna is Arjuna’s name.
91
An unrivalled warrior, whose valour is unlimited, greater than a maharatha.
92
Indra (Shakra) killed a demon named Bala.
93
This incident has been described towards the end of Section 64 (Volume 5). Bhishma addressed Duryodhana.
94
Karna.
95
That spear could kill only one person and was used to kill Ghatotkacha, in Section 70 (Volume 6).
96
This jumps the gun. In Section 19 (Volume 2), in the course of burning down the Khandava forest, Arjuna destroyed the serpents. Ashvasena, a serpent who escaped, vowed vengeance on Arjuna and became an arrow in Karna’s quiver.
97
Parashurama.
98
Abhimanyu’s.
99
Since Karna was Kunti’s son, Bhima was his brother.
100
Karna had given word to Kunti that barring Arjuna, he would not kill any of the other Pandavas.
101
The period of exile.
102
Karna. Panchali is Droupadi or Krishnaa.
103
Vasava is Indra’s name.
104
Karna was reared by a suta named Adhiratha.
105
Meaning Duryodhana.
106
For peace, described in Section 54 (Volume 4).
107
Karna’s son.
108
Shakuni.
109
Before Drona arrived, Kripa taught the Kouravas and the Pandavas the art of fighting.
110
In Section 72 (Volume 6), Ashvatthama used the divine narayana
astra
, which was countered through Krishna’s advice.
111
Probably meaning Arjuna.
112
A vyuha is an arrangement of troops in battle formation and there were different types of vyuhas.
113
Duryodhana.
114
Meaning Duryodhana’s, not Karna’s.
115
The word used is tata.
116
That is, Drona was made the commander.
117
The performer of one hundred sacrifices, Indra’s name.
118
The sprinkling of water is part of the act of consecration.
119
Clearly, other vessels.
120
Udumbara
, the sacred fig tree.
121
The tarakamaya battle was a famous and ancient battle fought between the gods and the demons.
122
Duryodhana.
123
Unidentified weapon that could kill one hundred people at one go.
124
The word used is tata.
125
Mythical animal that can be translated as crocodile or shark.
126
Gopalas are cowherds. The narayana and gopala soldiers were offered by Krishna to Duryodhana.
127
This means on the rear right leg. Sushena was one of Duryodhana’s brothers. However, he has already been killed by Bhima in Section 69 (Volume 6) and this is also true of Chitrasena. Therefore, Chitrasena and Chitra mentioned here were probably not Duryodhana’s brothers.
128
Among the Kouravas.
129
Vimana
s.
130
Mount Udaya is believed to be the mountain from behind which, the sun rises. The sun is believed to set behind Mount Asta. The mountain is being compared to the elephant and the palace to Bhima.
131
Bhima’s.
132
Kshemadhurti has already been killed. But this is a different Kshemadhurti, the king of Kuluta.
133
This shloka is not very clear and is difficult to translate. But one can guess the meaning. The sun has seven horses, hence the seven suns. And Bhima has been struck by seven spears.
134
Not to be confused with Vinda and Anuvinda from Avanti. Those two were killed by Arjuna in Section 69 (Volume 6).
135
Prativindhya was Droupadi’s son through Yudhishthira, Sutasoma through Bhima, Shrutakarma (or Shrutakirti) through Arjuna, Shatanika through Nakula and Shrutasena through Sahadeva.
136
This should probably read Shrutasena.
137
While Shouri is usually used for Krishna, Shouri means Shura’s descendant and Shura was a common ancestor. The Yadavas are also referred to as Satvatas.
138
There were several demons named Shambara. Since they were killed in different battles, we don’t know which of the various Shambaras is meant.
139
Vinda.
140
The text uses the word
shakti
, which means spear. Since these were tufted and sharpened on stone, arrows are indicated instead.
141
Tree with red blossoms.
142
Jambha was a demon killed by Indra. But there was also another demon named Jambha who was killed by Krishna or Vishnu.