Shooting The Messenger

Shooting The Messenger

A Nano Tale

As Dhṛṣṭadyumna's arrows fell, Prātikāmin reflected, "I hold reins of dead horses. Duryodhana holds mine."

Canonical basis: Śalyaparvan 24.19-21

Dhṛṣṭadyumnas tato rājaṃs tava putreṇa dhanvinā

nārācair bahubhiḥ kṣipraṃ bāhvor urasi c'ārpitaḥ

so'tividdho mahe'ṣv-āsas tottr'ārdita iva dvipaḥ

tasy'āśvāṃś caturo bāṇaiḥ preṣayām āsa Mṛtyave

sāratheś c'āsya bhallena śiraḥ kāyād apāharat

Canonical basis: Śalyaparvan 32.43

ete c'ānye ca nihatā bahavaḥ kṣatriya-rṣabhāḥ

Prātikāmī tathā pāpo Draupadyāḥ kleśa-kṛd dhataḥ

Canonical basis: Śalyaparvan 55.33

Prātikāmī tathā pāpo Draupadyāḥ kleśa-kṛd dhataḥ

bhrātaras te hatāḥ sarve śūrā vikrānta-yodhinaḥ