Adhyaya 249

Verse 1

हि मय न | है 7 अष्टचत्वारिशर्दाधिकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: दुर्योधनका कर्णको अपनी पराजयका समाचार बताना दुर्योधन उवाच अजानतत्ते राधेय नाभ्यसूयाम्यहं वच: । जानासि त्वं जिताउछत्रून्‌ गन्धर्वास्तेजसा मया,दुर्योधन बोला--राधानन्दन! तुम सब बातें जानते नहीं हो, इसीसे मैं तुम्हारे इस कथनको बुरा नहीं मानता। तुम समझते हो कि मैंने अपने शत्रुभूत गन्धर्वोकोी अपने ही पराक्रमसे हराया है; परंतु ऐसी बात नहीं है

Duryodhana said: “O son of Rādhā (Karna), since you do not know the full situation, I do not take offense at your words. You think that I defeated those enemy Gandharvas by my own prowess; but it was not so.”

Verse 2

आयोधितास्तु गन्धर्वा: सुचिरं सोदरैर्मम । मया सह महाबाहो कृतश्चनो भयत: क्षय:,महाबाहो! मेरे भाइयोंने मेरे साथ रहकर गन्धर्वोंके साथ बहुत देरतक युद्ध किया और उसमें दोनों पक्षके बहुत-से सैनिक मारे गये

Duryodhana said: “The Gandharvas fought for a long time with my own brothers, together with me, O mighty-armed one. In that encounter, many were slain on both sides, and fear and destruction were brought upon us.”

Verse 3

मायाधिकास्त्वयुध्यन्त यदा शूरा वियद्वता: । तदा नो न सम॑ युद्धमभवत्‌ खेचरै: सह

Duryodhana said: “When those heroic beings, superior through magical power, fought while moving through the sky, our battle was no longer an equal contest—facing such sky-ranging opponents, we could not match them on fair terms.”

Verse 4

परंतु जब मायाके कारण अधिक शक्तिशाली शूरवीर गन्धर्व आकाशमें खड़े होकर युद्ध करने लगे, तब उनके साथ हमलोगोंका युद्ध समान स्थितिमें नहीं रह सका ।। पराजयं च प्राप्ता: स्मो रणे बन्धनमेव च । सभृत्यामात्यपुत्राश्न सदारबलवाहना:,युद्धमें हमारी पराजय हुई और हम सेवक, सचिव, पुत्र, स्त्री, सेना तथा सवारियोंसहित बंदी बना लिये गये

Duryodhana said: “But when, by the force of their magical power, the Gandharva heroes—mightier than we—stood in the sky and began to fight, our battle with them could no longer remain on equal footing. In that combat we suffered defeat, and we were taken captive—together with our attendants, ministers, sons, and women, along with our wives, troops, and vehicles.”

Verse 5

उच्चैराकाशमार्गेण ह्ृता:स्मस्तै: सुदुःखिता: । अथ न: सैनिका: केचिदमात्याश्ष महारथा:

“We were carried off by them through the high path of the sky and were plunged into extreme distress. And now, some of our soldiers, along with ministers and great chariot-warriors, (have also been taken/overpowered).”

Verse 6

एष दुर्योधनो राजा धार्तराष्ट्र: सहानुज:

“Here stands King Duryodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, together with his younger brothers.” In context, the line functions as a self-identifying proclamation meant to assert royal legitimacy and solidarity of the Kaurava faction—an ethical posture grounded more in power and lineage than in reflective dharma.

Verse 7

त॑ मोक्षयत भद्रें व: सहदारं नराधिपम्‌

Duryodhana said: “Release that king, together with his wife. May good befall you.” In the narrative frame, the command carries a calculated show of magnanimity—an outwardly courteous act meant to project authority and control, while the ethical tension lies in how ‘mercy’ can be used as a political instrument rather than a purely dharmic impulse.

Verse 8

एवमुक्ते तु धर्मात्मा ज्येष्ठ: पाण्डुसुतस्तदा

When these words had been spoken, the righteous-souled eldest son of Pāṇḍu then (responded/was poised to respond). The line foregrounds the ethical stature of the senior Pāṇḍava, implying that his next action or reply will be measured against dharma even amid hostile speech.

Verse 9

अथागम्य तमुद्देशं पाण्डवा: पुरुषर्षभा:

Then, having reached that particular spot, the Pāṇḍavas—bulls among men—arrived there. The line frames them as exemplary warriors and leaders, setting a tone of purposeful movement toward a decisive location within the unfolding conflict and moral contest.

Verse 10

यदा चास्मान्‌ न मुमुचुर्गन्धर्वा: सान्त्विता अपि,उनके समझाने-बुझानेपर भी जब आकाशचारी वीर गन्धर्व हमें न छोड़ सके और बादलोंकी भाँति गर्जने लगे तब अर्जुन, भीम तथा उत्कट बलशाली नकुल-सहदेवने उन असंख्य गन्धर्वोकी ओर लक्ष्य करके बाणोंकी वर्षा आरम्भ कर दी

Duryodhana said: “Even after being placated, the Gandharva warriors would not release us; roaring like thunderclouds, they pressed on. Then Arjuna and Bhima, along with the fiercely strong Nakula and Sahadeva, took aim at those countless Gandharvas and began a rain of arrows.”

Verse 11

(आकाशचारिणो वीरा नदन्तो जलदा इव) । ततोअरर्जुनश्व भीमश्चव यमजौ च बलोत्कटौ । मुमुचु: शरवर्षाणि गन्धर्वान्‌ प्रत्यनेकश:,उनके समझाने-बुझानेपर भी जब आकाशचारी वीर गन्धर्व हमें न छोड़ सके और बादलोंकी भाँति गर्जने लगे तब अर्जुन, भीम तथा उत्कट बलशाली नकुल-सहदेवने उन असंख्य गन्धर्वोकी ओर लक्ष्य करके बाणोंकी वर्षा आरम्भ कर दी

Duryodhana said: “When those sky-roaming heroic Gandharvas, despite our attempts to reason with them, would not release us and began to roar like thunderclouds, then Arjuna and Bhima, along with the mighty twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva, turned toward those many Gandharvas and unleashed a rain of arrows.”

Verse 12

अथ सर्वे रणं मुक्त्वा प्रयाता: खेचरा: दिवम्‌ | अस्मानेवाभिकर्षन्तो दीनान्‌ मुदितमानसा:,फिर तो सारे गन्धर्व रणभूमि छोड़कर आकाशगमें उड़ गये और मन-ही-मन आनन्दका अनुभव करते हुए हम दीन-दुखियोंको अपनी ओर घसीटने लगे

Duryodhana said: “Then all those sky-roaming Gandharvas, abandoning the battlefield, rose up into the heavens. With minds exultant, they began dragging us—wretched and helpless—along with them.”

Verse 13

ततः समन्तात्‌ पश्याम: शरजालेन वेष्टितम्‌ अमानुषाणि चास्त्राणि प्रमुड्चन्तं धनंजयम्‌,इसी समय हमने देखा, चारों ओर बाणोंका जाल-सा बन गया है और उससे वेष्टित हो अर्जुन अलौकिक अस्त्रोंकी वर्षा कर रहे हैं

Duryodhana said: “Then we saw, on every side, a net as it were of arrows spread out; and within that encircling mesh Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) was unleashing a shower of superhuman weapons.” The line underscores the awe and alarm of the opposing side when righteous prowess, backed by extraordinary astras, overwhelms ordinary martial resistance.

Verse 14

समावृता दिशो दृष्टवा पाण्डवेन शितै: शरै: । धनंजयसखा55त्मानं दर्शयामास वै तदा,पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनने अपने तीखे बाणोंसे समस्त दिशाओंको आच्छादित कर दिया है, यह देखकर उनके सखा चित्रसेनने अपने-आपको उनके सामने प्रकट कर दिया

Duryodhana said: Seeing the quarters of the sky covered over by the Pandava’s sharp arrows, Dhanañjaya’s companion—Chitrasena—then revealed himself before him. The scene underscores how martial prowess can compel even hidden powers to appear, and how forceful action in a charged encounter draws new agents into the moral and political drama.

Verse 15

चित्रसेन: पाण्डवेन समाश्शलिष्य परस्परम्‌ | कुशलं परिपप्रच्छ तै: पृष्टश्षाप्पनामयम्‌,फिर तो चित्रसेन और अर्जुन दोनों एक-दूसरेसे मिले और कुशल-मंगल तथा स्वास्थ्यका समाचार पूछने लगे

Duryodhana said: Citrasena and the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) embraced one another in mutual greeting. Then they courteously inquired after each other’s welfare—asking about well-being and freedom from illness—signaling a moment of civility and respectful conduct even amid the tensions surrounding the forest episode.

Verse 16

ते समेत्य तथान्योन्यं सन्नाहान्‌ विप्रमुच्य च । एकीभूतास्ततो वीरा गन्धर्वा: सह पाण्डवै: | अपूजयेतामन्योन्यं चित्रसेनधनंजयौ,दोनोंने एक-दूसरेसे मिलकर अपना कवच उतार दिया। फिर समस्त वीर गन्धर्व पाण्डवोंके साथ मिलकर एक हो गये। तत्पश्चात्‌ चित्रसेन और धनंजयने एक-दूसरेका आदर-सत्कार किया

Having thus met one another, they laid aside their armor. Then the valiant Gandharvas, together with the Pāṇḍavas, became of one accord. Thereafter Citraseṇa and Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) honored each other with mutual respect—signaling a shift from hostility to concord and the ethical recognition of valor even across former lines of conflict.

Verse 56

उपगम्याब्रुवन्‌ दीना: पाण्डवाउछरणप्रदान्‌ | फिर गन्धर्व हमें ऊँचे आकाशमार्गसे ले चले। उस समय हमलोग अत्यन्त दुः:खी हो रहे थे। तदनन्तर हमारे कुछ सैनिकों और महारथी मन्त्रियोंने अत्यन्त दीन हो शरणदाता पाण्डवोंके पास जाकर कहा--

Duryodhana said: “Approaching the Pāṇḍavas—those who grant refuge—our men, utterly dejected, spoke to them in supplication.”

Verse 66

सामात्यदारो हियते गन्धर्वैर्दिवमाश्रितै: | “कुन्तीकुमारो! ये धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र राजा दुर्योधन अपने भाइयों, मन्सत्रियों तथा स्त्रियोंके साथ यहाँ आये थे। इन्हें गन्धर्वगण आकाशमार्गसे हरकर लिये जाते हैं

Duryodhana said: “O son of Kuntī! The Gandharvas who dwell in the heavens are carrying off our party—together with ministers and women. King Duryodhana, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who came here with his brothers, counselors, and ladies, is being seized and taken away through the sky.” In the forest’s moral testing-ground, the proud aggressor is suddenly rendered helpless, and the appeal to a rival for rescue exposes the fragility of power when dharma is disregarded.

Verse 76

पराभवो मा भविष्यत्‌ कुरुदारेषु सर्वश: । “आपलोगोंका कल्याण हो। रानियोंसहित महाराजको छुड़ाइये। कहीं ऐसा न हो कि कुरुकुलकी स्त्रियोंका तिरस्कार हो जाय”

Duryodhana said: “Let there not be any humiliation at all for the women of the Kuru house. May you be well—release the king along with his queens, lest the women of the Kuru lineage come to be dishonoured.”

Verse 83

प्रसाद्य पाण्डवान्‌ सर्वानाज्ञापयत मोक्षणे । उनके ऐसा कहनेपर ज्येष्ठ पाण्डुपुत्र धर्मात्मा युधिष्ठिरने अन्य सब पाण्डवोंको राजी करके हम सब लोगोंको छुड़ानेके लिये आज्ञा दी

Duryodhana said: “Having conciliated all the Pāṇḍavas, command that we be released.” Upon his saying this, the eldest son of Pāṇḍu—righteous-souled Yudhiṣṭhira—won over the other Pāṇḍavas and issued the order for the liberation of all of us. The episode highlights how restraint and adherence to dharma can prevail even when one has power over an adversary.

Verse 248

इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि घोषयात्रापर्वणि दुर्योधनवाक्ये अष्टचत्वारिंशदधिकद्धिशततमो<5 ध्याय:,इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत वनपवके अन्तर्गत घोषयात्रापर्वमें दुर्योधनवाक्यविषयक दो सौ अड़तालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Thus, in the Mahābhārata, within the Vana Parva and specifically the section on the cattle-expedition (Ghoṣa-yātrā), the chapter centered on Duryodhana’s words comes to an end—marking the close of this adhyāya. The colophon signals a narrative pause: Duryodhana’s speech, framed by pride and rivalry, is formally concluded, reminding the reader that such utterances are recorded not as ideals but as moral evidence within the epic’s ethical arc.

Verse 936

सान्त्वपूर्वमयाचन्त शक्ता: सन्‍्तो महारथा: । तदनन्तर पुरुषसिंह महारथी पाण्डव उस स्थानपर आकर समर्थ होते हुए भी गन्धर्वोंसे सान्त्वनापूर्ण शब्दोंमें (हमें छोड़ देनेके लिये) याचना करने लगे

Duryodhana said: “Though they were capable and were great chariot-warriors, they first tried to win them over with conciliatory words. After that, the Pāṇḍava—lion among men and a mighty warrior—came to that spot; yet, despite being fully able, he began to entreat the Gandharvas in soothing, pacific speech, asking them to release us.”