srimahabharat - (Book 7) Drona Parva - chapters 107 to 118

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli

 

 Drona Parva

Book 7

 

Book 7
Chapter 107

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      yasmiñ jayāśā satataṃ putrāṇāṃ mama saṃjaya
      taṃ dṛṣṭvā vimukhaṃ saṃkhye kiṃ nu duryodhano 'bravīt
      karṇo vā samare tāta kim akārṣīd ataḥ param
  2 [s]
      bhīmasenaṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā jvalantam iva pāvakam
      ratham anyaṃ samāsthāya vidhivat kalpitaṃ punaḥ
      abhyayāt pāṇḍavaṃ karṇo vātoddhūta ivārṇavaḥ
  3 kruddham ādhirathiṃ dṛṣṭvā putrās tava viśāṃ pate
      bhīmasenam amanyanta vaivasvatamukhe hutam
  4 cāpaśabdaṃ mahat kṛtvā talaśabdaṃ ca bhairavam
      abhyavartata rādheyo bhīmasenarathaṃ prati
  5 punar eva tato rājan mahān āsīt sudāruṇaḥ
      vimardaḥ sūtaputrasya bhīmasya ca viśāṃ pate
  6 saṃrabdhau hi mahābāhū parasparavadhaiṣiṇau
      anyonyam īkṣāṃ cakrāte dahantāv iva locanaiḥ
  7 krodharaktekṣaṇau kruddhau niḥśvasantau mahārathau
      yuddhe 'nyonyaṃ samāsādya tatakṣatur ariṃdamau
  8 vyāghrāv iva susaṃrabdhau śyenāv iva ca śīghragau
      śarabhāv iva saṃkruddhau yuyudhāte parasparam
  9 tato bhīmaḥ smaran kleśān akṣadyūte vane 'pi ca
      virāṭanagare caiva prāptaṃ duḥkham ariṃdamaḥ
  10 rāṣṭrāṇāṃ sphītaratnānāṃ haraṇaṃ ca tavātmajaiḥ
     satataṃ ca parikleśān saputreṇa tvayā kṛtān
 11 dagdhum aicchaś ca yat kuntīṃ saputrāṃ tvam anāgasam
     kṛṣṇāyāś ca parikleśaṃ sabhāmadhye durātmabhiḥ
 12 patim anyaṃ parīpsasva na santi patayas tava
     nakaraṃ patitāḥ pārthāḥ sarve ṣaṇḍhatilopamāḥ
 13 samakṣaṃ tava kauravya yad ūcuḥ kuravas tadā
     dāsī bhogena kṛṣṇāṃ ca bhoktukāmāḥ sutās tava
 14 yac cāpi tān pravrajataḥ kṛṣṇājinanivāsinaḥ
     paruṣāṇy uktavān karṇaḥ sabhāyāṃ saṃnidhau tava
 15 tṛṇī kṛtyaca yat pārthāṃs tava putro vavalga ha
     viṣamasthān samastho hi saṃrambhād gatacetasaḥ
 16 bālyāt prabhṛti cārighnas tāni duḥkhāni cintayan
     niravidyata dharmātmā jīvitena vṛkodaraḥ
 17 tato visphārya sumahad dhemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam
     cāpaṃ bharataśārdūlas tyaktātmā karṇam abhyayāt
 18 sa sāyakamayair jālair bhīmaḥ karṇa rathaṃ prathi
     bhānumadbhiḥ śilā dhautair bhānoḥ pracchādayat prabhām
 19 tataḥ prahasyādhirathis tūrṇam asyañ śitāñ śarān
     vyadhamad bhīmasenasya śarajālāni patribhiḥ
 20 mahāratho mahābāhur mahāvegair mahābalaḥ
     vivyādhādhirathir bhīmaṃ navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 21 sa tottrair iva mātaṅgo vāryamāṇaḥ patatribhiḥ
     abhyadhāvad asaṃbhrāntaḥ sūtaputraṃ vṛkodaraḥ
 22 tam āpatantaṃ vegena rabhasaṃ pāṇḍavarṣabham
     karṇaḥ prayudyayau yoddhuṃ matto mattam iva dvipam
 23 tataḥ pradhmāpya jalajaṃ bherī śatanināditam
     akṣubhyata balaṃ harṣād dudhūta iva sāgaraḥ
 24 tad uddhūtaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭva rathanāgāśvapattimat
     bhīmaḥ karṇaṃ samāsādya chādayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
 25 aśvān ṛśya savarṇāṃs tu haṃsavarṇair hayottamaiḥ
     vyāmiśrayad raṇe karṇaḥ pāṇḍavaṃ chādayañ śaraiḥ
 26 ṛśya varṇān hayān karkair miśrān mārutaraṃhasaḥ
     nirīkṣya tava putrāṇāṃ hāhākṛtam abhūd balam
 27 te hayā bahv aśobhanta miśritā vātaraṃhasaḥ
     sitāsitā mahārāja yathā vyomni balāhakāḥ
 28 saṃrabdhau krodhatāmrākṣau prekṣya karṇa vṛkodarau
     saṃtrastāḥ samakampanta tvadīyānāṃ mahārathāḥ
 29 yama rāṣṭhopamaṃ ghoram āsīd āyodhanaṃ tayoḥ
     durdarśaṃ bharataśreṣṭha pretarājapuraṃ yathā
 30 samājam iva tac citraṃ prekṣamāṇā mahārathāḥ
     nālakṣayaj jayaṃ vyaktam ekaikasya nivāraṇe
 31 tayoḥ praikṣanta saṃmardaṃ saṃnikṛṣṭamahāstrayoḥ
     tava durmantrite rājan saputrasya viśāṃ pate
 32 chādayantau hi śatrughnāv anyonyaṃ sāyakaiḥ śitaiḥ
     śarajālāvṛtaṃ vyoma cakrāte śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
 33 tāv anyonyaṃ jighāṃsantau śarais tīṣṇair mahārathau
     prekṣaṇīyatarāv āstāṃ vṛṣṭimantāv ivāmbudau
 34 suvarṇavikṛtān bāṇān pramuñcantāv ariṃdamau
     bhāsvaraṃ vyoma cakrāte vahny ulkābhir iva prabho
 35 tābhyāṃ muktā vyakāśanta kaṅkabarhiṇa vāsasaḥ
     paṅktyaḥ śaradi mattānāṃ sārasānām ivāmbare
 36 saṃsaktaṃ sūtaputreṇa dṛṣṭvā bhīmam ariṃdamam
     atibhāram amanyetāṃ bhīme kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
 37 tatrādhirathi bhīmābhyāṃ śarair muktair dṛḍhāhatāḥ
     iṣupātam atikramya petur aśvanaradvipāḥ
 38 patadbhiḥ patitaiś cānyair gatāsubhir anekaśaḥ
     kṛto mahān mahārāja putrāṇāṃ te janakṣayaḥ
 39 manuṣyāśvagajānāṃ ca śarīrair gatajīvitaiḥ
     kṣaṇena bhūmiḥ saṃjajñe saṃvṛtā bharatarṣabha

 

SECTION CVII

"Sanjaya said, 'The illustrious son of Somadatta pierced each of the sons of Draupadi, those great bowmen, with five arrows, and once more with seven arrows. Much afflicted, O lord, by that fierce warrior, they were stupefied and knew not for some time what to do. Then that crusher of foes, Satanika, the son of Nakula, piercing Somadatta's son, that bull among men, with a couple of arrows, uttered in joy a loud roar. The other brothers then, struggling vigorously, quickly pierced the wrathful son of Somadatta, each with three straight shafts. Then the illustrious son of Somadatta, O monarch, sped at them five shafts, piercing each of them in the chest with one shaft. Then those five brothers, thus pierced by that high-souled warrior with his shafts, surrounded that hero on every side and began to pierce him deeply with their shafts. Then the son of Arjuna, filled with rage, despatched with keen shafts, the four steeds of Saumadatti to the region of Yama. And the son of Bhimasena, cutting off the bow of the illustrious son of Somadatta, uttered a loud shout and pierced his foe with many sharp arrows. The son of Yudhishthira then, cutting off Saumadatti's standard, felled it en the earth, while the son of Nakula felled the enemy's charioteer from his niche in the car. Then the son of Sahadeva, ascertaining the foe to be on the point of leaving the field in consequence of the brothers, cut off, with a razor-faced arrow, the head of that illustrious warrior. That head, decked with ear-rings of gold, fell on the earth and adorned the field like the sun of brilliant effulgence that rises at the end of the Yuga. Beholding the head of the high-souled son of Somadatta thus fallen on the ground, thy troops, O king, overcome with fear, fled in all directions.
"The Rakshasa Alamvusha in that battle, filled with rage, fought with the mighty Bhimasena, like Ravana's son (Indrajit) with (Rama's brother) Lakshmana. Beholding that Rakshasa and that human warrior engaged in fight, all creatures experienced both joy and wonder. Then Bhima, O king, laughing the while, pierced that wrathful prince of Rakshasa, viz., Rishyasringa's son (Alamvusha), with nine keen shafts. Then that Rakshasa, thus pierced in battle, uttered a loud and awful sound, and rushed, with all his followers, against Bhima. Piercing Bhima then with five straight shafts, he quickly destroyed in that battle, thirty cars supporting Bhima. And once more destroying four hundred cars of Bhimasena, the Rakshasa pierced Bhimasena himself with winged arrows. Then the mighty Bhima deeply pierced by the Rakshasa, sat down on the terrace of his car, overcome by a swoon. The son of the Wind-god then, recovering his senses, became filled with rage. Drawing his excellent and terrible bow that was capable of bearing a great strain, he afflicted Alamvusha, in every part of his body, with keen shafts. Thereupon, the Rakshasa who resembled a huge mass of antimony, looked resplendent O king, like a flowering Kinsuka. Whilst being struck in that battle with those shafts sped from
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the bow of Bhima, the Rakshasa recollected the slaughter of his brother (Vaka) by the illustrious Pandava. Assuming then an awful form, he addressed Bhima, saying, 'Wait a little in this battle, O Partha! Behold today my prowess. O thou of wicked understanding, that foremost of Rakshasas, viz., the mighty Vaka, was my brother. It is true he was slain by thee. But that took place out of my sight.' Having said these words unto Bhima, Alamvusha made himself invisible, and began to cover Bhimasena with a dense shower of arrows. Upon the disappearance of the Rakshasa, Bhima, O monarch, covered the welkin with straight shafts. Thus afflicted by Bhima, Alamvusha soon returned to his car. And soon again, he entered into the bowels of the earth and once more becoming little he suddenly soared into the sky. Alamvusha, assumed countless forms. Now becoming subtle and now huge and gross, he began to roar like the clouds. And he uttered diverse kinds of words and speeches all around. And from the welkin there fell thousands of arrowy torrents, as also darts, and Kunapas, and lances, and spiked maces, and short arrows, and scimitars, and swords, and thunders also. That awful downpour of arrows caused by the Rakshasa, slew the troops of Pandu's son on the field of battle. And in consequence of that arrowy downpour, many elephants also of the Pandava army were slain, and many steeds also, O king, and many foot-soldiers. And a river was caused there, whose waters were blood and whose eddies were constituted by cars. And it abounded with elephants that constituted its alligators. And the umbrellas of car-warriors constituted its swans, and the flesh and marrow of animals, its mire. And it teemed with the (cut off) arms of human beings that constituted its snakes. And it was haunted by many Rakshasas and other cannibals. And it wafted away, O king, countless Chedis and Panchalas and Srinjayas. Beholding him, O monarch, careering so fearlessly in that battle and seeing his prowess, the Pandavas became filled with anxiety; and joy filled the hearts of thy troops then. And amongst the latter, loud and terrible sounds of musical instruments, making the hair stand on end, arose. Hearing that loud uproar made by thy troops, the son of Pandu could not bear it, as a snake cannot bear the clap of human palms. With eyes red as copper in rage, with glances that like fire consumed every thing, the son of the Wind-god, like Tvashtri himself, aimed the weapon known by the name of Tvashtri. From that weapon were produced thousands of arrows on all sides. And in consequence of those arrows, a universal rout was seen among thy troops.' That weapon, shot in battle by Bhimasena, destroying the effective illusion produced by the Rakshasa, greatly afflicted the Rakshasa himself. Struck in every part of his body by Bhimasena, the Rakshasa, then abandoning Bhimasena, fled towards the division of Drona. Upon the defeat of that prince of Rakshasa by the high-souled Bhima, the Pandavas caused every point of the compass to resound with their leonine roars. And filled with joy, they worshipped the mighty son of Marut, like the Maruts worshipping Sakra after the defeat in battle of Prahlada.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 108

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      atyadbhutam ahaṃ manye bhīmasenasya vikramam
      yat karṇaṃ yodhayām āsa samare laghuvikramam
  2 tridaśān api codyuktān sarvaśastradharān yudhi
      vārayed yo raṇe karṇaḥ sa yakṣasuramānavān
  3 sa kathaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe bhrājamānam iva śriyā
      nātarat saṃyuge tātas tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  4 kathaṃ ca yuddhaṃ bhūyo 'bhūt tayoḥ prāṇadurodare
      atra manye samāyatto jayo vājaya eva vā
  5 karṇaṃ prāpya raṇe sūta mama putraḥ suyodhanaḥ
      jetum utsahate pārthān sa govindān sa sātvatān
  6 śrutvā tu nirjitaṃ karmam asakṛd bhīmakarmaṇā
      bhīmasenena samare moha āviśatīva mām
  7 vinaṣṭān kauravān manye mama putrasya durnayaiḥ
      na hi karṇo maheṣvāsān pārthāñ jyeṣyati saṃjaya
  8 kṛtavān yāni yuddhāni karṇaḥ pāṇḍusutaiḥ saha
      sarvatra pāṇḍavāḥ karṇam ajayanta raṇājire
  9 ajayyāḥ pāṇḍavās tāta devair api sa vāsavaiḥ
      na ca tad budhyate mandaḥ putro duryodhano mama
  10 dhanaṃ dhaneśvarasyeva hṛtvā pārthasya me sutaḥ
     madhu prepsur ivābuddhiḥ prapātaṃ nāvabudhyate
 11 nikṛtyā nikṛtiprajño rājyaṃ hṛtvā mahātmanām
     jitān ity eva manvānaḥ pāṇḍavān avamanyate
 12 putrasnehābhibhūtena mayā cāpy akṛtātmanā
     dharme sthitā mahātmāno nikṛtāḥ pāṇunandanāḥ
 13 śama kāmaḥ sadā pārtho dīrghaprekṣī yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     aśakta iti manvānaiḥ putrair mama nirākṛtaḥ
 14 tāni duḥkhāny anekāni viprakārāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ
     hṛdi kṛtvā mahābāhur bhīmo 'yudhyata sūtajam
 15 tasmān me saṃjaya brūhi karṇa bhīmau yathā raṇe
     ayudhyetāṃ yudhi śreṣṭhau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau
 16 [s]
     śṛṇu rājan yathāvṛttaḥ saṃgrāmaḥ karṇa bhīmayoḥ
     parasparavadha prepsvor vane kuñjarayor iva
 17 rājan vaikartano bhīmaṃ kruddhaḥ kruddham ariṃdamam
     parākrāntaṃ parākramya vivyādha triṃśatā śaraiḥ
 18 mahāvegaiḥ prasannāgraiḥ śātakumbhapariṣkṛtaiḥ
     āhanad bharataśreṣṭha bhīmaṃ vaikartanaḥ śaraiḥ
 19 tasyāsyato dhanur bhīmaś cakarta niśitais tribhīḥ
     rathanīḍāc ca yantāraṃ bhallenāpātayat kṣitau
 20 sa kāṅkṣan bhīmasenasya vadhaṃ vaikartano vṛṣaḥ
     śaktiṃ kanakavaiḍūrya citradaṇḍāṃ parāmṛśat
 21 pragṛhya ca mahāśaktiṃ kālaśaktim ivāparām
     samutkṣipya ca rādheyaḥ saṃdhāya ca mahābalaḥ
     cikṣepa bhīmasenāya jīvitāntakarīm iva
 22 śaktiṃ visṛjya rādheyaḥ puraṃdara ivāśanim
     nanāda sumahānādaṃ balavān sūtanandanaḥ
     taṃ ca nādaṃ tataḥ śrutvā putrās te hṛṣitābhavan
 23 tāṃ karṇa bhujanirmuktām arkavaiśvānara prabhām
     śaktiṃ viyati ciccheda bhīmaḥ saptabhir āśugaiḥ
 24 chittvā śaktiṃ tato bhīmo nirmuktoraga saṃnibhām
     mārgamāṇa iva prāṇān sūtaputrasya māriṣa
 25 prāhiṇon nava saṃrabdhaḥ śarān barhiṇavāsasaḥ
     svarṇapuṅkhāñ śilā dhautān yamadaṇḍopamān mṛdhe
 26 karṇo 'py anyad dhanur gṛhya hemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam
     vikṛṣya ca mahātejā vyasṛjat sāyakān nava
 27 tān pāṇḍuputraś ciccheda navabhir nataparvabhiḥ
     vasu ṣeṇena nirmuktān nava rājan mahāśarān
     chittvā bhīmo mahārāja nādaṃ siṃha ivānadat
 28 tau vṛṣāv iva nardantau balinau vāśitāntare
     śārdūlāv iva cānyonyam atyarthaṃ ca hy agarjatām
 29 anyonyaṃ prajihīrṣantāv anyonyasyāntaraiṣiṇau
     anyonyam abhivīkṣantau goṣṭheṣv iva maharṣabhau
 30 mahāgajāv ivāsādya viṣāṇāgraiḥ parasparam
     śaraiḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭair anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
 31 nirdahantau mahārāja śaravṛṣṭyā parasparam
     anyonyam abhivīkṣantau kopād vivṛtalocanau
 32 prahasantau tathānyonyaṃ bhartsayantau muhur muhuḥ
     śaṅkhaśabdaṃ ca kurvāṇau yuyudhāte parasparam
 33 tasya bhīmaḥ punaś cāpaṃ muṣṭau ciccheda māriṣa
     śaṅkhavarṇāś ca tān aśvān bāṇair ninye yamakṣayam
 34 tathā kṛcchragataṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ duryodhano nṛpaḥ
     vepamāna iva krodhād vyādideśātha durjayam
 35 gaccha durjaya rādheyaṃ purā grasati pāṇḍavaḥ
     jahi tūbarakaṃ kṣipraṃ karṇasya balam ādadhat
 36 evam uktas tathety uktvā tava putras tavātmajam
     abhyadravad bhīmasenaṃ vyāsaktaṃ vikirañ śarān
 37 sa bhīmaṃ navabhir bāṇair aśvān aṣṭabhir ardayat
     ṣaḍbhiḥ sūtaṃ tribhiḥ ketuṃ punas taṃ cāpi saptabhiḥ
 38 bhīmaseno 'pi saṃkruddhaḥ sāśvayantāram āśugaiḥ
     durjayaṃ bhinnamarmāṇam anayad yamasādanam
 39 svalaṃkṛtaṃ kṣitau kṣuṇṇaṃ ceṣṭamānaṃ yathoragam
     rudann ārtas tava sutaṃ karṇaś cakre pradakṣiṇam
 40 sa tu taṃ virathaṃ kṛtvā smayann atyantavairiṇam
     samācinod bāṇagaṇaiḥ śataghnīm iva śaṅkubhiḥ
 41 tathāpy atirathaḥ karṇo bhidyamānaḥ sma sāyakaiḥ
     na jahau samare bhīmaṃ druddha rūpaṃ paraṃtapaḥ

 

SECTION CVIII

"Sanjaya said, 'Having fled away from Bhima, Alamvusha, in another part of the field, careered fearlessly in battle. And while he was thus fearlessly careering in battle, the son of Hidimva rushed impetuously at him and pierced him with keen shafts. The battle between those two lions among Rakshasas became terrible. Both of them invoked into existence illusions like Sakra and Samvara (in days of old). Alamvusha, excited with rage, attacked Ghatotkacha. Indeed, that encounter between those two foremost of Rakshasas resembled that of old between Rama and Ravana, O lord! Then Ghatotkacha having pierced Alamvusha, in the centre of the chest with twenty long shafts, repeatedly roared like a lion. Smilingly, O king, Alamvusha also, repeatedly piercing the invincible son of Hidimva, uttered loud roars in joy, filling the entire welkin. Then, those two foremost of Rakshasas, endued with great might, became filled with rage. They fought with each other, displaying their powers of illusion, but without any of them getting any advantage over the other. Each, creating a hundred illusions, stupefied the other. Both accomplished in producing' illusions, O king, that Ghatotkacha displayed in battle, were all destroyed, O monarch, by Alamvusha, producing similar illusions of his own. Beholding that prince of Rakshasas, viz., Alamvusha, who was accomplished in producing illusions, fight in that manner, the Pandavas became filled with anxiety, they then caused him to be surrounded by many foremost of car-warriors. Bhimasena and others, O monarch, all rushed in rage against him. Hemming him, O sire, on all sides by means of numberless cars, they shrouded him from every side with shafts, like men in a forest encompassing an elephant with blazing brands. Baffling that shower of weapons by means of the illusion of his own weapons, freed himself from that press of cars like an elephant from a forest conflagration. Then drawing his terrible bow whose twang resembled the thunder of Indra, he pierced the son of the Wind-god with five and twenty shafts, and Bhimasena's son with five, and Yudhishthira with three, and Sahadeva with seven, and Nakula with three and seventy, and each of the five sons of Draupadi with five shafts, and uttered a loud roar. Then Bhimasena pierced him in return with nine shafts, and Sahadeva with five. And Yudhishthira pierced the Rakshasa with a hundred shafts. And Nakula pierced him with three shafts. The son of Hidimva having pierced him with five hundred shafts, Alamvusha once more pierced him with seventy, and that mighty warrior uttered a loud roar. With that loud roar of Ghatotkacha the earth shook, O king, with her mountains and forests and with her trees and waters. Deeply pierced on all sides by those great bowmen and mighty car-warriors, Alamvusha pierced each of them in return with five arrows. Then that Rakshasa, O chief of the Bharatas, viz., the son of Hidimva, filled with rage, pierced that other angry Rakshasa in battle with many shafts. Then that mighty prince of Rakshasas, viz., Alamvusha, deeply pierced, quickly
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shot countless shafts equipped with wings of gold and whetted on stone. Those shafts, perfectly straight, all entered the body of Ghatotkacha, like angry snakes of great strength entering a mountain summit. Then the Pandavas, O king, filled with anxiety, and Hidimva's son Ghatotkacha, also sped at their foe from every side clouds of keen shafts. Thus struck in battle by the Pandavas, desirous of victory, Alamvusha mortal as he was, did not know what to do. Then that delighter in battle, viz., the mighty son of Bhimasena, beholding that state of Alamvusha, set his heart upon his destruction. He rushed with great impetuosity towards the car of the prince of Rakshasas, that car which resembled a burnt mountain summit or a broken heap of antimony. The son of Hidimva, inflamed with wrath, flew from his own car to that of Alamvusha, and seized the latter. He then took him up from the car, like Garuda taking up a snake. Thus dragging him up with his arms, he began to whirl him repeatedly, and then crushed him into pieces, hurling him down on the earth, like a man crushing an earthen pot into fragments by hurling it against a rock. Endued with strength and activity, possessed of great prowess, the son of Bhimasena, inflamed with wrath in battle, inspired all the troops with fear. All the limbs broken and bones reduced to fragments, the frightful Rakshasa Alamvusha, thus slain by the heroic Ghatotkacha, resembled a tall Sala uprooted and broken by the wind. Upon the slaughter of that wanderer of the night, the Parthas became very cheerful. And they uttered leonine roars and waved their garments. Thy brave warriors, however, beholding that mighty prince or Rakshasas, viz., Alamvusha, slain and lying like a crushed mountain, uttered cries, O monarch, of Oh and Alas. And people, possessed with curiosity, went to view that Rakshasa lying helplessly on the earth like a piece of charcoal (no longer capable of burning). The Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, then, that foremost of mighty beings, having thus slain his foe, uttered a loud shout, like Vasava after slaying (the Asura) Vala. Having achieved that exceedingly difficult feat, Ghatotkacha, was much applauded by his sires as also by his relatives. Indeed, having felled Alamvusha, like an Alamvusha fruit, he rejoiced exceedingly with his friends. There arose then a loud uproar (in the Pandava army) of conchs and of diverse kinds of arrows. Hearing that noise the Kauravas uttered loud shouts in reply, filling the whole earth with its echoes.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 109

 

 

1 [s]
      sa tathā virathaḥ karṇaḥ punar bhīmena nirjitaḥ
      ratham anyaṃ samāsthāya sadyo vivyādha pāṇḍavam
  2 mahāgajāv ivāsādya viṣāṇāgraiḥ parasparam
      śaraiḥ pūrṇāyatotṣṛṣṭair anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
  3 atha karṇaḥ śaravrātair bhīmaṃ balavad ardayat
      nanāda balavan nādaṃ punar vivyādha corasi
  4 taṃ bhīmo daśabhir bāṇaiḥ pratyavidhyad ajihmagaiḥ
      punar vivyādha viṃśatyā śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
  5 karṇas tu navabhir bhīmaṃ viddhvā rājan stanāntare
      dhvajam ekena vivyādha sāyakena śitena ha
  6 sāyakānāṃ tataḥ pārthas triṣaṣṭyā pratyavidhyata
      tottrair iva mahānāgaṃ kaśābhir iva vājinam
  7 so 'tividdho mahārāja pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā
      sṛkkiṇī lelihan vīraḥ krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ
  8 tataḥ śaraṃ mahārāja sarvakāyāvadhāraṇam
      prāhiṇod bhīmasenāya balāyendra ivāśanim
  9 sa nirbhidya raṇe pārthaṃ sūtaputra dhanuścyutaḥ
      agacchad dārayan bhūmiṃ citrapuṅkhaḥ śilīmukhaḥ
  10 sarvaśaikyāṃ catuṣkiṣkuṃ gurvīṃ rukmāṅgadāṃ gadām
     prāhiṇot sūtaputrāya ṣaḍ astrām avicārayan
 11 tayā jaghānādhiratheḥ sadaśvān sādhu vāhinaḥ
     gadayā bhārataḥ kruddho vajreṇendra ivāsurān
 12 tato bhīmo mahābāhuḥ kṣurābhyāṃ bharatarṣabha
     dhvajam ādhiratheś chittvā sūtam abhyahanat tadā
 13 hatāśvasūtam utsṛjya rathaṃ sa patitadhvajam
     visphārayan dhanuḥ karṇas tasthau bhārata durmanāḥ
 14 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma rādheyasya parākramam
     viratho rathināṃ śreṣṭho vārayām āsa yad ripum
 15 virathaṃ taṃ rathaśreṣṭhaṃ dṛṣṭvādhirathim āhave
     duryodhanas tato rājann abhyabhāṣata durmukham
 16 eṣa durmukha rādheyo bhīmena virathī kṛtaḥ
     taṃ rathena naraśreṣṭhaṃ saṃpādaya mahāratham
 17 duryodhana vacaḥ śrutvā tato bhārata durmukhaḥ
     tvaramāṇo 'byayāt karṇaṃ bhīmaṃ cāvārayac charaiḥ
 18 durmukhaṃ prekṣya saṃgrāme sūtaputra padānugam
     vāyuputraḥ prahṛṣṭo 'bhūt sṛkkiṇī parilelihan
 19 tataḥ karṇaṃ mahārāja vārayitvā śilīmukhaiḥ
     durmukhāya rathaṃ śīghraṃ preṣayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
 20 tasmin kṣaṇe mahārāja navabhir nataparvabhiḥ
     supuṅkhair durmukhaṃ bhīmaḥ śarair ninye yamakṣayam
 21 tatas tam evādhirathiḥ syandanaṃ durmukhe hate
     āsthitaḥ prababhau rājan dīpyamāna ivāṃśumān
 22 śayānaṃ bhinnamarmāṇaṃ durmukhaṃ śoṇitokṣitam
     dṛṣṭvā karṇo 'śrupūrṇākṣo muhūrtaṃ nābhyavartata
 23 taṃ gatāsum atikramya kṛtvā karṇaḥ pradakṣiṇam
     dīrgham uṣṇaṃ śvasan vīro na kiṃ cit pratyapadyata
 24 tasmiṃs tu vivare rājan nārācān gārdhravāsasaḥ
     prāhiṇot sūtaputrāya bhīmasenaś caturdaśa
 25 te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā svarṇapuṅkhā mahaujasaḥ
     hemacitrā mahārāja dyotayanto diśo daśa
 26 apiban sūtaputrasya śoṇitaṃ raktabhojanāḥ
     kruddhā iva manuṣyendra bhujagāḥ kālacoditāḥ
 27 prasarpamāṇā medinyāṃ te vyarocanta mārgaṇāḥ
     ardhapraviṣṭāḥ saṃrabdhā bilānīva mahoragāḥ
 28 taṃ pratyavidhyad rādheyo jāmbūnadavibhūṣitaiḥ
     caturdaśabhir aty ugrair nārācair avicārayan
 29 te bhīmasenasya bhujaṃ savyaṃ nirbhidya patriṇaḥ
     prāviśan medinīṃ bhīmāḥ krauñcaṃ patrarathā iva
 30 te vyarocanta nārācāḥ praviśanto vasuṃdharām
     gacchaty astaṃ dinakare dīpyamānā ivāṃśavaḥ
 31 sa nirbhinno raṇe bhīmo nārācair marmabhedibhiḥ
     susrāva rudhiraṃ bhūri parvataḥ salilaṃ yathā
 32 sa bhīmas tribhir āyastaḥ sūtaputraṃ patatribhiḥ
     suparṇavegair vivyādha sārathiṃ cāsya saptabhiḥ
 33 sa vihvalo mahārāja karṇo bhīmabalārditaḥ
     prādravaj javanair aśvai raṇaṃ hitvā mahāyaśāḥ
 34 bhīmasenas tu visphārya cāpaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam
     āhave 'tiratho 'tiṣṭhaj jvalann iva hutāśanaḥ

SECTION CIX

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Tell me, O Sanjaya, how Yuyudhana rushed against the son of Bharadwaja in battle. I feel a great curiosity to hear it.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Listen, O thou of great wisdom, to the account of that battle, that makes the hair stand on end, between Drona and the Pandayas
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headed by Yuyudhana. Beholding the (Kuru) army slaughtered, O sire, by Yuyudhana, Drona himself rushed towards that warrior of unbaffled prowess, called also by the name of Satyaki. Satyaki pierced that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Bharadwaja, thus advancing against him, with five and twenty small arrows. Drona also, possessed of great prowess in battle, with deliberate aim, quickly pierced Yuyudhana, with five whetted arrows, equipped with wings of gold. Those arrows, piercing the hard mount of the foe and drinking his life-blood, entered the earth, O king, like hissing snakes. The long-armed Satyaki then, inflamed with rage like an elephant struck with the hook, pierced Drona with fifty long arrows that resembled flames of fire. Then Bharadwaja's son, thus quickly pierced in battle by Yuyudhana, pierced carefully exerting Satyaki in return with many arrows. Then that great bowman, endued with great might, and filled with rage, once more afflicted that hero of the Satwata race with many straight shafts. Thus struck in that battle by the son of Bharadwaja, Satyaki, O monarch, knew not what to do. Then, O king, Yuyudhana's face became cheerless, seeing the son of Bharadwaja shoot countless keen arrows. Beholding Satyaki thus situated, thy sons and troops, O king, becoming exceedingly cheerful, repeatedly uttered leonine roars. Hearing that terrible uproar and beholding that hero of Madhu's race thus afflicted, king Yudhishthira, O monarch, addressing all his soldiers, said, 'That foremost one among the Vrishnis, viz., the brave Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, is about to be devoured by the heroic Drona, like the sun by Rahu. Go and rush ye to the spot where Satyaki is battling.' The king, addressing Dhrishtadyumna. of the Panchala race, said, Rush thou with speed at Drona. Why dost thou tarry, O son of Prishata! Seest thou not the great danger to ourselves that has already arisen from Drona? Drona is a great bowman. He is sporting with Yuyudhana, in battle, like a boy with a bird bound in a string. Let all of you, headed by Bhimasena, and accompanied by others proceed thither where Satyaki's car is. Behind you I will follow with my troops. Rescue Satyaki today who is already within the jaws of the Destroyer.' Having said these words, O Bharata, king Yudhishthira with all his troops rushed towards Drona for the sake of Yuyudhana. Blessed be thou, great was the uproar made there by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas all fighting with Drona only. Together approaching, O tiger among men, that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Bharadwaja, they covered with showers of keen arrows equipped with the feathers of Kankas and peacocks. Drona, however, received all those heroes smilingly, like a householder receiving guests arrived of their own will, with seats and water. With the shafts of Bharadwaja's bow-wielding son, those heroes were well-gratified like guest, O king, with the hospitality they receive in the houses (of good hosts). And none of them, O lord, could even gaze at the son of Bharadwaja who then resembled the thousand-rayed sun at midday. Indeed, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, scorched all those great bowmen with
p. 222
showers of arrows like the sun scorching (everything below) with his burning rays. Thus struck, O king, by Drona, the Pandavas and the Srinjayas beheld no protector, like elephants sunk in a morass. The mighty arrows of Drona, as they coursed (through the welkin), looked like the rays of the sun blasting everything around. In that encounter, five and twenty warriors among the Panchalas were slain by Drona, who were all regarded as Maharathas and all approved (as such) by Dhrishtadyumna. And amongst all the troops of the Pandavas and the Panchalas, men quietly beheld brave Drona slaying the foremost of warriors in succession. Having slain a hundred warriors amongst the Kekayas and routing them on all sides, Drona stood, O monarch, like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth. The mighty-armed Drona vanquished the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, the Matsyas and the Kekayas, O monarch, by hundreds and thousands. Pierced by the arrows of Drona, the clamour made by them resembled that made in the woods by the denizens of the forest when encompassed by a conflagration. The gods, Gandharvas, and the Pitris, said, 'Behold, the Panchalas, and the Pandavas, with all their troops, are flying away.' Indeed, when Drona was thus engaged in slaughtering the Somakas in battle, none ventured to advance against him and none succeeded in piercing him. And while that dreadful encounter, so destructive of great heroes, continued, Pritha's son (Yudhishthira) suddenly heard the blare of Panchajanya. Blown by Vasudeva, that best of conchs gave loud blasts. Indeed, while the heroic protectors of the ruler of the Sindhus were fighting, and while the Dhartarashtras were roaring in front of Arjuna's car, the twang of Gandiva could not be heard. The royal son of Pandu repeatedly swooned, and thought, 'Without doubt, all is not well with Partha, since that prince of conchs (Panchajanya) is yielding such blasts and since the Kauravas also, filled with joy, are incessantly uttering such shouts.' Thinking in this way, with an anxious heart, Ajatasatru, the son of Kunti, said unto him of the Satwata race (viz., Satyaki) these words in a voice choked with tears. Though repeatedly stupefied, king Yudhishthira, however, did not lose sight of what was to be done next. Addressing Sini's grandson, that bull of his clan, (Yudhishthira said), 'O grandson of Sini, the time for that eternal duty which the righteous ones of old have indicated (for friends) towards friends in seasons of distress, hath now come. O bull amongst the Sinis, reflecting within myself, I do not, O Satyaki, see amongst all my warriors one who is a greater well wisher to us than thou art. He who is always well-affected, he who is always obedient, I think, he should be appointed to a grave commission in times of distress. As Kesava is ever the refuge of the Pandavas even, so art thou, O thou of Vrishni's race, who art like Kesava in prowess. I will, therefore, lay a burthen on thee. It behoveth thee not to frustrate my purpose. Arjuna is thy brother, friend, and preceptor, O bull among men, in this battle render him aid in time of distress. Thou art devoted to truth. Thou art a hero. Thou art the dispeller of the fears of friends. Thou art celebrated in the world, in consequence of
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thy acts, O hero, as one that is truthful in speech. He, O grandson of Sini, who casteth away his body while fighting in battle for friends, is equal to him who giveth away to Brahmanas the whole earth. We have heard of various kings gone to heaven, having given away the whole of this earth unto Brahmanas with due rites. O thou of virtuous soul, I beg of thee, with joined hands, even this viz., that, O lord, attain thou the fruit of giving away (unto Brahmanas) the whole earth, or something higher than that by incurring danger to thy life itself for helping Arjuna. There is one, viz., Krishna, that dispeller of the fears of friends, who is ever willing to cast away his life in battle (for the sake of friends). Thou, O Satyaki, art the second. None but a hero can render aid unto a hero, exerting valorously in battle, from desire of fame. An ordinary person cannot do so. In this matter, here is none else but thee who can protect Arjuna. On one occasion, while applauding thy numerous feats, Arjuna, giving me great pleasure repeatedly recited them. He said of thee that thou art endued with extreme lightness of hand, that thou art conversant with all modes of warfare, that thou art possessed of great activity and great prowess. He said, 'Satyaki is endued with great wisdom, is acquainted with every weapon, is a hero, and is never stupefied in battle. Of broad neck and broad chest, of mighty arms and broad cheeks, or great strength and great prowess, Satyaki is a high-souled Maharatha. He is my disciple and friend; I am dear to him and he is dear to me. Becoming my ally, Yuyudhana will crush the Kauravas. Even if Kesava and Rama, and Aniruddha, and the mighty car-warrior Pradyumna, and Gada, and Sarana, and Samva, with all the Vrishnis, case themselves in mail for assisting us, O king, in the field of battle, I shall yet appoint that tiger among men viz., Satyaki of unbaffled prowess, for our aid, since there is none equal to him.' Even this is what Dhananjaya told me in the Dwaita woods, in thy absence, while truly describing thy merits in an assembly of righteous persons. It behoveth thee not, O thou of the Vrishni race, to falsify that expectation of Dhananjaya, and also of myself and Bhima! When, returning from various tirthas, I proceeded to Dwaraka; there I witnessed thy reverence for Arjuna. While we were at Upaplavya I did not mark anybody else, O grandson of Sini, who showed us such affection as thou didst. Thou art of noble lineage and feelest reverence for us. For showing kindness, therefore, to one who is thy friend and preceptor, it behoveth thee, O thou of mighty arms, to act in a way deserving, O great bowman, of thy friendship and prowess and noble parentage and truthfulness. O thou of Madhu's race! Suyodhana, cased in armour by Drona himself, hath suddenly gone, following Arjuna! The other great car-warriors of Kauravas have, before that followed Arjuna. Loud uproars are being heard against Arjuna's car. O grandson of Sini, it behoveth thee, O giver of honours, to go thither quickly. Bhimasena and ourselves, well-equipped and with all our forces, will resist Drona if he advances against thee. Behold, O Grandson of Sini, the Bharata troops are flying away in battle, and as they are flying away, they are tittering loud wails. Like the very ocean at
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full tide agitated by a mighty tempest, the Dhartarashtra host, O sire, is agitated by Savyasachin. Behold, in consequence of countless cars and men and steeds moving quickly, the earthly dust raised is gradually spreading (over the field). See, that slayer of hostile hosts, Phalguna, is encompassed by the Sindhu-Sauviras, armed with spikes and lances and adorned with many horses in their ranks. Without vanquishing this force it will not be possible to vanquish Jayadratha. These warriors are prepared to lay down their lives for the sake of the ruler of the Sindhus. Behold the invincible Dhartarashtra force, stationed there, that bristles with arrows and darts and tall standards, and that teems with steeds and elephants. Hear the beat of their drums and the loud blare of their conchs, the tremendous leonine shouts uttered by them, and the rattle of their car-wheels. Hear the grunt of their elephants, the heavy tread of their foot-soldiers, and the stamping of their rushing cavalry which all seem to shake the very earth itself. Before him is the division of Jayadratha, and behind is that of Drona. So great is the number of the foes that he is capable of afflicting the chief of the celestials himself. Sunk in the midst of the fathomless host, Arjuna may lose his life. If he be slain in battle, how can one like me live? Is this calamity to befall me when thou art alive? Dark-blue in colour, young in years, of curled locks and exceedingly handsome is that son of Pandu. Active in the use of weapons, and conversant with every mode of warfare, the mighty-armed Arjuna hath, O sire, penetrated into the Bharata host at sunrise. The day is about to end. O thou of Vrishni's race, I do not know whether he liveth or not. The vast Kuru host is like ocean. O sire, Vibhatsu hath penetrated into it all alone. That army is incapable of being resisted by the very gods in battle. In today's battle, I fail to keep my judgment clear. Drona also is, with great might, afflicting my forces! Thou seest, O mighty-armed one, how that regenerate one is careering in battle. When several tasks present themselves together, thou art well-skilled in selecting that which would be first attended to. It behoveth thee, O giver of honours, to accomplish with activity that task which is the gravest of all. Amongst all these tasks, I myself think, that this (aiding Arjuna) is the first that demands our attention. The rescue of Arjuna in battle should be first undertaken. I do not grieve for him of Dasarha's race. He is the Protector and the Lord of the Universe. I tell thee truly that tiger among men, O sire, is able to vanquish in battle the three worlds assembled together. What need I say, therefore, of this weak Dhritarashtra host? Arjuna, however, O thou of Vrishni's race, is being afflicted by countless odds in battle. He may yield up his life. It is for this that I am so cheerless. O thou then go in his track, since persons like thee should follow a person like him, at such a season, urged on by one like me. Amongst the foremost ones of the Vrishni race, two are regarded as Atirathas. They are mighty-armed Pradyumna and thyself, O Satwata, that are so famous. In weapons, thou art equal to Narayana himself, and in strength to Sankarshana. In bravery, thou art equal to Dhananjaya, O tiger among
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men, and surpassest Bhishma and Drona and every one accomplished in battle. O tiger among men, the wise speak of thee, saying. O Madhava, 'There is nothing unachievable by Satyaki.' O thou of great strength, do thou, therefore, that which I say unto thee, viz., obey the wishes of all here, of myself and of Arjuna. It behoveth thee not, O mighty-armed one, to frustrate that wish. Reckless of thy very life, career thou in battle like a hero. O grandson of Sini, the scions of Dasarha's race never care to protect their lives in battle. Avoiding battle, or fighting from behind breast-works, or flying away from battle,--those practices of cowards and wretches are never practised by the Dasarhas. The virtuous-souled Arjuna is thy superior, O bull among the Sinis! Vasudeva is the superior of both thyself and intelligent Arjuna, Casting my eyes on these two reasons, I say unto thee these words. Do not discard my words, I am the superior of thy superiors. That which I am saying unto thee is approved as also by Arjuna. I tell thee this truly. Go then to the spot where Dhananjaya is. Attending to these words of mine, O thou of prowess incapable of being baffled, penetrate in this host of the wicked son of Dhritarashtra. Having penetrated into it duly, encounter the great car-warriors, and display, O Satwata, such feats as are worthy of thyself!'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 110

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      daivam eva paraṃ manye dhik pauruṣam anarthakam
      yatrādhirathir āyasto nātarat pāṇḍavaṃ raṇe
  2 karṇaḥ pārthān sa govindāñ jetum utsahate raṇe
      na ca karṇa samaṃ yodhaṃ loke paśyāmi kaṃ cana
      iti duryodhanasyāham aśrauṣaṃ jalpato muhuḥ
  3 karṇo hi balavāñ śūro dṛḍhadhanvā jitaklamaḥ
      iti mām abravīt sūta mando duryodhanaḥ purā
  4 vasu ṣeṇa sahāyaṃ māṃ nālaṃ devāpi saṃyuge
      kim u pāṇḍusutā rājan gatasattvā vicetasaḥ
  5 tatra taṃ nirjitaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhujaṃgam iva nirviṣam
      yuddhāt karṇam apakrāntaṃ kiṃ svid duryodhano 'bravīt
  6 aho durmukham evaikaṃ yuddhānām aviśāradam
      prāveśayad yuddhavahaṃ pataṃgam iva mohitaḥ
  7 aśvatthāmā madrarājaḥ kṛpaḥ karṇaś ca saṃgatāḥ
      na śaktāḥ pramukhe sthātuṃ nūnaṃ bhīmasya saṃjaya
  8 te 'pi cāsya mahāghoraṃ balaṃ nāgāyutopamam
      jānanto vyavasāyaṃ ca krūraṃ māruta tejasaḥ
  9 kimarthaṃ krūrakarmāṇaṃ yama kālāntakopamam
      balasaṃrambha vīryajñāḥ kopayiṣyanti saṃyuge
  10 karṇas tv eko mahābāhuḥ svabāhubalam āśritaḥ
     bhīmasenam anādṛtya raṇe 'yudhyata sūtajaḥ
 11 yo 'jayat samare karṇaṃ puraṃdara ivāsuram
     na sa pāṇḍusuto jetuṃ śakyaḥ kena cid āhave
 12 droṇaṃ yaḥ saṃpramathyaikaḥ praviṣṭo mama vāhinīm
     bhīmo dhanaṃjayānveṣī kas tam archej jijīviṣuḥ
 13 ko hi saṃjaya bhīmasya sthātum utsahate 'grataḥ
     udyatāśani vajrasya mahendrasyeva dānavaḥ
 14 pretarājapuraṃ prāpya nivartetāpi mānavaḥ
     na bhīmasenaṃ saṃprāpya nivarteta kadā cana
 15 pataṃgā iva vahniṃ te prāviśann alpacetasaḥ
     ye bhīmasenaṃ saṃkruddham abhyadhāvan vimohitāḥ
 16 yat tat sabhāyāṃ bhīmena mama putravadhāśrayam
     śapta saṃrambhiṇogreṇa kurūṇāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ tadā
 17 tan nūnam abhisaṃcintya dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ ca nirjitam
     duḥśāsanaḥ saha bhrātrā bhayād bhīmād upāramat
 18 yaś ca saṃjaya durbuddhir abravīt samitau muhuḥ
     karṇo duḥśāsano 'haṃ ca jeṣyāmo yudhi pāṇḍavān
 19 sa nūnaṃ virathaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ bhīmena nirjitam
     pratyākhyānāc ca kṛṣṇasya bhṛśaṃ tapyati saṃjaya
 20 dṛṣṭvā bhrātṝn hatān yuddhe bhīmasenena daṃśitān
     ātmāparādhāt sumahan nūnaṃ tapyati putrakaḥ
 21 ko hi jīvitam anvicchan pratīpaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ vrajet
     bhīmaṃ bhīmāyudhaṃ kruddhaṃ sākṣāt kālam iva sthitam
 22 vaḍavāmukhamadhyastho mucyetāpi hi mānavaḥ
     na bhīma mukhasaṃprāpto mucyeteti matir mama
 23 na pāṇḍavā na pāñcālā na ca keśava sātyakī
     jānanti yudhi saṃrabdhā jīvitaṃ parirakṣitum
 24 [s]
     yat saṃśocasi kauravya vartamāne janakṣaye
     tvam asya jagato mūlaṃ vināśasya na saṃśayaḥ
 25 svayaṃ vairaṃ mahat kṛtvā putrāṇāṃ vacane sthitaḥ
     ucyamāno na gṛhṇīṣe martyaḥ pathyam ivauṣadham
 26 svayaṃ pītvā mahārāja kālakūṭaṃ sudurjaram
     tasyedānīṃ phalaṃ kṛtsnam avāpnuhi narottama
 27 yat tu kutsayase yodhān yudhyamānān yathābalam
     atra te varṇayiṣyāmi yathā yuddham avartata
 28 dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ tu putrās te bhīmasena parājitam
     nāmṛṣyanta maheṣvāsāḥ sodaryāḥ pañca māriṣa
 29 durmarṣaṇo duḥsahaś ca durmado durdharo jayaḥ
     pāṇḍavaṃ citrasaṃnāhās taṃ pratīpam upādravan
 30 te samantān mahābāhuṃ parivārya vṛkodaram
     diśaḥ śaraiḥ samāvṛṇvañ śalabhānām iva vrajaiḥ
 31 āgacchatas tān sahasā kumārān devarūpiṇaḥ
     pratijagrāha samare bhīmaseno hasann iva
 32 tava dṛṣṭvā tu tanayān bhīmasena samīpagān
     abhyavartata rādheyo bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
 33 visṛjan viśikhān rājan svarṇapuṅkhāñ śilāśitān
     taṃ tu bhīmo 'bhyayāt tūrṇaṃ vāryamāṇaḥ sutais tava
 34 kuravas tu tataḥ karṇaṃ parivārya samantataḥ
     avākiran bhīmasenaṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 35 tān bāṇaiḥ pañcaviṃśatyā sāśvān rājan nararṣabhān
     sa sutān bhīma dhanuṣo bhīmo ninye yamakṣayam
 36 prāpatan syandanebhyas te sārdhaṃ sūtair gatāsavaḥ
     citrapuṣpadharā bhagnā vāteneva mahādrumāḥ
 37 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma bhīmasenasya vikramam
     saṃvāryādhirathiṃ bāṇair yaj jaghāna tavātmajān
 38 sa vāryamāṇo bhīmena śitair bāṇaiḥ samantataḥ
     sūtaputro mahārāja bhīmasenam avaikṣata
 39 taṃ bhīmasenaḥ saṃrambhāt krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ
     visphārya sumahac cāpaṃ muhuḥ karṇam avaikṣata

 

SECTION CX

"Sanjaya said, 'That bull amongst the Sinis, viz., Satyaki, hearing these words o, full affection, agreeable, fraught with sweet sounds, opportune, delightful, and equitable that were uttered by king Yudhishthira the just, replied unto him, O chief of the Bharatas, saying, 'O thou of unfading glory, I have heard all the words thou hast said, words fraught with justice, delightful, and conducive to fame for the sake of Phalguna. At such a time, indeed, beholding one devoted (to thee) like me, it behoveth thee, O king of kings, to command him as much, as thou canst command Partha himself. As regards myself, I am prepared to cast away my life for the sake of Dhananjaya. Commanded, again, by thee, what is there I would not do in great battle? What need I say of this weak (Dhritarashtra) force? Urged by thee, I am prepared, O best of men, to battle with three worlds including the gods, the Asuras, and men. Today I will fight with the entire army of Suyodhana and vanquish it in battle. Truly do I say this unto thee, O king! Safely shall I reach Dhananjaya himself in safety, and after Jayadratha is slain, I shall, O king, come back into thy presence. I must, however, O king, inform thee of the words of Vasudeva as also those of the intelligent Arjuna. I was strongly and repeatedly solicited by Arjuna in the midst of all our warriors and in the hearing also of Vasudeva (in these words), Today, O Madhava, nobly resolved in battle, protect
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thou the king carefully, till I slay Jayadratha! Making over the monarch to thee, O mighty-armed one, or to that great car-warrior Pradyumna, I can go with an easy heart towards Jayadratha. Thou knowest Drona in battle, that warrior who is regarded as the foremost one among the Kurus. Thou knowest also the vow made by him in the presence of all, O lord! The son of Bharadwaja is always eager to seize the king. He is competent also in afflicting king Yudhishthira in battle. Charging thee with the protection of that best of men, viz., king Yudhishthira the just, I will proceed today for the destruction of the ruler of the Sindhus. Slaying Jayadratha, I shall soon come back, O Madhava! See that Drona may not succeed in forcibly seizing king Yudhishthira the just in battle. If Yudhishthira be seized by Bharadwaja's son, O Madhava, I shall not succeed in slaying Jayadratha, and great will be my grief. If that best of men, the truthful son of Pandu, be seized, it is evident that we shall have again to go into woods. My success, therefore, over Jayadratha, it is plain, will be productive of no benefit, if Drona, inflamed with rage, succeeds in seizing Yudhishthira in battle. O mighty-armed one, for doing what is agreeable to me, therefore, O Madhava, as also for the sake of my success and fame, protect the king in battle.' Thou seest, therefore, O king, thou hast been made over to me as a trust by Savyasachin, O lord, in consequence of his constant fear of Bharadwaja's son. O mighty-armed one, I myself daily see, O lord, that there is none, save Rukmini's son (Pradyumna), who can be a match for Drona in battle. I also am regarded to be a match for the intelligent son of Bharadwaja in battle. It is plain, therefore, I cannot dare falsify that reputation which I have, or disregard the commands of my preceptor (Arjuna), or leave thee, O king! The preceptor (Drona), cased as he is in impenetrable mail, in consequence of his lightness of arms, obtaining thee in battle, will sport with thee as a child with a little bird. If Krishna's son, bearing the Makara on his banner, were here, I could then have made over to him, for he would have protected thee as Arjuna himself. Thou shouldst protect thyself. When I am gone, who will protect thee, who that is, that will advance against Drona while I proceed towards Arjuna? O king, let no fear be thine today on Arjuna's account. He never becomes cheerless under any burden howsoever heavy. Those warriors that are opposed to him, viz., the Sauvirakas, the Sindhava-Pauravas, they from the north, they from the south, and they, O king, headed by Karna, that are regarded as foremost of car-warriors, do not together come up to a sixteenth part of Arjuna. The whole earth rising against him, with the gods, the Asuras, and men, with all the tribes of Rakshasas, O king, with the Kinnaras, the great snakes, and in fact, all the mobile and the immobile creatures assembled together, is no match for Arjuna in battle. Knowing this, O king, let thy fear on Dhananjaya's account be dispelled. There where those two heroes and great bowmen, viz., the two Krishnas, of prowess incapable of being baffled, are, there the slightest obstacle cannot happen to their purpose. Think of the celestial puissance, the accomplishment in weapons, the resourcefulness, the wrath in battle,
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the gratefulness, and the compassion of thy brother. Think also, O king, of the wonderful knowledge of weapons that Drona will display in battle when I leave this place for going to Arjuna. The preceptor, O monarch, is eagerly solicitous of seizing thee. He is eagerly desirous also, O king, of making good his vow, O Bharata! Be attentive, O king, to thy own protection. Who will protect thee when I am gone, who is he that is, confiding on whom I may go towards Pritha's son, Phalguna? I tell thee truly, O great king, that without making thee over to somebody in this great battle, I will not surely go towards Arjuna, O thou of Kuru's race! Reflecting on this, from every point of view, with the aid of thy intelligence, O foremost of all intelligent persons, and ascertaining with thy intelligence what is for thy highest good, command me, O king!'
"Yudhishthira hearing these words said, 'It is even so, O mighty-armed one, as thou sayest, O Madhava! For all that, however, O sire, my heart doth not become easy on Arjuna's account. I shall take the greatest precaution in protecting myself. Commanded by me, go thou thither where Dhananjaya hath gone. Weighing, with my judgment, my own protection in battle with the necessity of your going towards Arjuna, the latter seems to me preferable, Make thyself ready, therefore, to go thither whither Dhananjaya hath gone. The mighty Bhima will protect me. Prishata's son, with all his uterine brothers, and all the mighty kings, and the sons of Draupadi, will without doubt, protect me. The five Kekaya brothers, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and Virata, and Drupada, and the mighty car-warrior Sikhandin and Dhrishtaketu of great strength, and Kuntibhoja, O sire, Nakula, and Sahadeva, and the Panchalas, and the Srinjayas,--all these, O sire, will without doubt, very carefully protect me. Drona at the head of his troops, and Kritavarman also, in battle, will not succeed in beating us or afflicting me. That scorcher of foes, viz., Dhrishtadyumna, displaying his prowess, will resist the angry Drona, like the continent resisting the sea. There where Prishata's son, that slayer of hostile heroes, will remain, there Drona will never be able to forcibly transgress our troops. This Dhristadyumna sprang from the fire, for the destruction of Drona, clad in mail, armed with bow and arrows and sword, and decked with costly ornaments. Go, O grandson of Sini, with an easy heart, do not be anxious on my account. Dhrishtadyumna will resist angry Drona in battle.'"

 

 

 

The Mahabharata

 

Book 7
Chapter 111

 

1 [s]
      tavātmajāṃs tu patitān dṛṣṭvā karṇaḥ pratāpavān
      krodhena mahatāviṣṭo nirviṇṇo 'bhūt sa jīvitāt
  2 āgaḥ kṛtam ivātmānaṃ mene cādhirathis tadā
      bhīmasenaṃ tataḥ kruddhaḥ samādravata saṃbhramāt
  3 sa bhīmaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā rādheyaḥ prahasann iva
      punar vivyādha saptatyā svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
  4 avahāsaṃ tu taṃ pārtho nāmṛṣyata vṛkodaraḥ
      tato vivyādha rādheyaṃ śatena nataparvaṇām
  5 punaś ca viśikhais tīkṣṇair viddhvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ
      dhanuś ciccheda bhallena sūtaputrasya māriṣa
  6 athānyad dhanur ādāya karṇo bhārata durmanāḥ
      iṣubhiś chādayām āsa bhīmasenaṃ samantataḥ
  7 tasya bhīmo hayān hatvā vinihatya ca sārathim
      prajahāsa mahāhāsaṃ kṛte pratikṛtaṃ punaḥ
  8 iṣubhiḥ kārmukaṃ cāsya cakarta puruṣarṣabhaḥ
      tat papāta mahārāja svarṇapṛṣṭhaṃ mahāsvanam
  9 avārohad rathāt tasmād atha karṇo mahārathaḥ
      gadāṃ gṛhītvā samare bhīmasenāya cākṣipat
  10 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā gadāṃ dṛṣṭvā vṛkodaraḥ
     śarair avārayad rājan sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
 11 tato bāṇasahasrāṇi preṣayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
     sūtaputra vadhākāṅkṣī tvaramāṇaḥ parākramī
 12 tān iṣūn iṣubhiḥ karṇo vārayitvā mahāmṛdhe
     kavacaṃ bhīmasenasya pātayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
 13 athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samārpayat
     paśyatāṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 14 tato bhīmo mahārāja navabhir nataparvaṇām
     raṇe 'preṣayata kruddhaḥ sūtaputrasya māriṣa
 15 te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā tathā bāhuṃ ca dakṣiṇam
     abhyagur dharaṇīṃ tīkṣṇā valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
 16 rādheyaṃ tu raṇe dṛṣṭvā padātinam avasthitam
     bhīmasenena saṃrabdhaṃ rājā duryodhano 'bravīt
     tvaradhvaṃ sarvato yattā rādheyasya rathaṃ prati
 17 tatas tava sutā rājañ śrutvā bhrātur vaco drutam
     abhyayuḥ pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe visṛjantaḥ śitāñ śarān
 18 citropacitraś citrākṣaś cāru citraḥ śarāsanaḥ
     citrāyudhaś citravarmā samare citrayodhinaḥ
 19 āgacchatas tān sahasā bhīmo rājan mahārathaḥ
     sāśvasūta dhvajān yattān pātayām āsa saṃyuge
     te hatā nyapatan bhūmau vātanunnā iva drumāḥ
 20 dṛṣṭvā vinihatān putrāṃs tava rājan mahārathān
     aśrupūrṇamukhaḥ karṇaḥ kaśmalaṃ samapadyata
 21 ratham anyaṃ samāsthāya vidhivat kalpitaṃ punaḥ
     abhyayāt pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe tvaramāṇaḥ parākramī
 22 tāv anyonyaṃ śarair viddhvā svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
     vyabhrājetāṃ mahārāja puṣpitāv iva kiṃśukau
 23 ṣaṭ triṃśadbhis tato bhallair niśitais tigmatejanaiḥ
     vyadhamat kavacaṃ kruddhaḥ sūtaputrasya pāṇḍavaḥ
 24 raktacandana digdhāṅgau śaraiḥ kṛtamahāvraṇau
     śoṇitāktau vyarājetāṃ kālasūryāv ivoditau
 25 tau śoṇitokṣitair gātraiḥ śaraiś chinnatanuc chadau
     vivarmāṇau vyarājetāṃ nirmuktāv iva pannagau
 26 vyāghrāv iva naravyāghrau daṃṣṭrābhir itaretaram
     śaradaṃṣṭrā vidhunvānau tatakṣatur ariṃdamau
 27 vāraṇāv iva saṃsaktau raṅgamadhye virejatuḥ
     tudantau viśikhais tīkṣṇair mattavāraṇavikramau
 28 pracchādayantau samare śala jālaiḥ parasparam
     rathābhyāṃ nādayantau ca diśaḥ sarvā viceratuḥ
 29 tau rathābhyāṃ mahārāja maṇḍalāvartanādiṣu
     vyarocetāṃ mahātmānau vṛtra vajradharāv iva
 30 sa hastābharaṇābhyāṃ tu bhujābhyāṃ vikṣipan dhanuḥ
     vyarocata raṇe bhīmaḥ sa vidyud iva toyadaḥ
 31 sa cāpaghoṣastanitaḥ śaradhārāmbudo mahān
     bhīma megho mahārāja karṇa parvatam abhyayāt
 32 tataḥ śarasahasreṇa dhanurmuktena bhārata
     pāṇḍavo vyakirat karṇaṃ ghano 'drim iva vṛṣṭibhiḥ
 33 tatrāvaikṣanta putrās te bhīmasenasya vikramam
     supuṅkhaiḥ kaṅkavāsobhir yat karṇaṃ chādayac charaiḥ
 34 sa nandayan raṇe pārthaṃ keśavaṃ ca yaśasvinam
     sātyakiṃ cakrarakṣau ca bhīmaḥ karṇam ayodhayat
 35 vikramaṃ bhujayor vīryaṃ dhairyaṃ ca viditātmanaḥ
     putrās tava mahārāja dadṛśuḥ pāṇḍavasya ha

SECTION CXI

"Sanjaya said, 'Hearing these words of the king Yudhishthira the just, that bull among the Sinis feared the censure of Arjuna if he left the king. Seeing, however, the certainty of an imputation of cowardice by the people (if he disobeyed Yudhishthira), he said to himself, 'Let not people say
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that I am afraid of proceeding towards Arjuna.' Reflecting repeatedly on this, Satyaki, that hero invincible in battle, that bull among men, said these words unto king Yudhishthira the just, 'If thou thinkest that these arrangements will suffice for thy protection, O monarch, I will then do thy bidding and follow Vibhatsu. I tell thee truly, O king, that there is none in the three worlds who is dearer to me than Phalguna. I will follow in his track at the command, O giver of honours. There is nothing that I will not do for thy sake. O best of men, the commands of my preceptor are always of weight with me. But thy commands are still weightier with me, O lord! Thy brothers, viz., Krishna and Dhananjaya, are always engaged in doing what is agreeable to thee. Taking thy command on my head for the sake of Arjuna, O lord, I will proceed, O bull among men, piercing through this impenetrable host. Darting wrathfully through this force of Drona, like a fish through the sea, I will go thither, O monarch, where king Jayadratha, depending upon his troops, stayeth, in fear of the son of Pandu, protected by those foremost of car-warriors, viz., Drona's son Karna and Kripa! The distance from here, O king, is three Yojanas. I think, of that spot where Partha stayeth, ready to slay Jayadratha! But though Partha is three Yojanas distant I shall yet follow in his track with a stout heart, and stay with him, O king, till Jayadratha's slaughter. What man is there that goes to battle without the commands of his superiors? And when one is commanded, O king, as I have been by thee, who is there like me that would not fight? I know that place whither I shall have to go, O lord! Teeming as this ocean-like host doth with ploughshare and darts and maces and shields and scimitars and swords and lances and foremost of shafts, I will today agitate this ocean. This elephant division, consisting of a thousand elephants, that thou seest, all belonging to the breed known by the name of Anjana and all endued with great prowess, which are all mounted by a large number of Mlecchas, delighting in battle and accomplished in smiting,--these elephants, O king, that are shedding their juicy secretions like rain-pouring clouds,--these never retreat if urged forward by those upon their backs. They cannot be vanquished, O king, unless they are slaughtered. Then again, those car-warriors numbering thousands., that thou seest, are all of royal lineage and are all Maharathas. They are called Rukmarathas. 1 They are accomplished in weapons and battling from cars, as also in fighting from the backs of elephants. O monarch! Thorough masters of the science of weapons, they are accomplished in fighting with their fists. Skilled in battling with maces, masters also of the art of close fight, they are equally clever in striking with scimitars and in falling upon the foe with sword and shield. They are brave and learned, and animated by a spirit of rivalry. Every day, O king, they vanquish a vast number of men in battle. They are commanded by Karna and devoted to Duhsasana. Even Vasudeva applauds them as great car-warriors. Always solicitous of Karna's
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welfare, they are obedient to him. It is at Karna's command, O king, that returning from their pursuit of Arjuna and, therefore, unfatigued and unworn, those brave warriors, cased in impenetrable armour and armed with strong bows, are certainly waiting for me, ordered by Duryodhana also. Crushing them in battle for thy good, O Katirava, I shall then follow in the track of Savyasachin. Those other elephants, O king, seven hundred in number, that thou seest, all cased in armour and ridden by Kiratas, and decked with ornaments, the king of the Kiratas, desirous of his life, had formerly presented to Savyasachin together with many servants in their train. These, O king, were formerly employed in doing thy business. Behold the vicissitudes that time brings about, for these are now battling against thee. Those elephants are ridden by Kiratas difficult of defeat in battle. They are accomplished in fighting from elephants, and are all sprung from the race of Agni. Formerly, they were all vanquished in battle by Savyasachin. They are now waiting for me carefully, under the orders of Duryodhana. Slaying with my shafts, O king, these Kiratas difficult of defeat in battle, I shall follow in the track of Arjuna who is intent on the slaughter of the ruler of the Sindhus. Those (other) huge elephants, sprung from the race of Arjuna, of impenetrable hides, well-trained, and adorned, and from whose mouths the juicy secretions are trickling down, and which are well-adorned with armour made wholly of gold are very formidable in battle and resemble Airavata himself. They have come from the northern hills, and are ridden by fierce robbers that are of strong limbs, that are all foremost of warriors, and that are cased in steel coats of mail. There, amongst them, are persons born of the cow, or the ape, or of diverse other creatures, including those born of men. That division of the assembled Mlecchas that are all sinful and that come from the fastnesses of Himavat, seem at a distance to be of smoky colour. Obtaining these, and countless Kshatriyas, as also Kripa and that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Drona and the ruler of the Sindhus, and the Karna, he thinks lightly of the Pandavas. Impelled by fate, he regards himself crowned with success. Those I have named will, however, today be within reach of my arrows. They shall not escape me, O son of Kunti, even if they be endued with the speed of the mind. Much regarded always by Duryodhana, that prince who dependeth upon the prowess of others, those warriors, afflicted with my clouds of shafts, will meet with destruction. Those other car-warriors, O king, whom thou seest, and who have golden standards and are difficult of being resisted, are called Kamvojas. They are brave and accomplished, and firmly devoted to the science of weapons. Desiring one another's welfare they are all firmly united. They constitute a full Akshauhini of wrathful warriors, O Bharata, and are staying carefully for my sake, well-protected by the Kuru heroes. They are on the alert, O king, with their eyes on me. I shall certainly destroy them all, like fire destroying a heap of straw. Therefore, O king, let those that equip cars, place quivers and all necessaries on my car in proper places. Indeed, in such a dreadful battle,
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diverse kinds of weapons ought to be taken. Let the car be equipped (with necessaries) five times more than what professors of military science direct, for I shall have to encounter the Kamvojas who resemble fierce snakes of virulent poison. I shall have also to encounter the Kiratas who are armed with diverse weapons of warfare, who resemble virulent poison, who are accomplished in smiting, who have always been well-treated by Duryodhana, and who on that account are always intent on Duryodhana's welfare. I shall also have to encounter the Sakas endued with prowess equal to that of Sakra himself, who are fierce as tire, and difficult to put out like a blazing conflagration. Indeed, O king, I shall have to encounter in battle many warriors difficult of being resisted. For this let well-known steeds of best breed and graced with auspicious marks be yoked to my car, after causing their thirst to be slaked and after grooming them duly!'
"Sanjaya continued, 'After this, Yudhishthira caused quivers full of shafts, and diverse kinds o weapons, and, indeed, all necessaries, to be placed on Satyaki's car. Then, people caused his four well-harnessed and excellent steeds to drink and walk, bathe and eat, and having adorned them with golden chains and plucked out their arrows, those animals, that had (for these operations) been freed from the yoke, and that were of the hue of gold and well-trained and endued with great speed and cheerful and exceedingly docile, were duly yoked again unto his car. And upon that car was set up a tall standard bearing a lion of golden maces. And that standard had attached round it banners of the hue of white clouds and decked with gold was also placed upon that vehicle bearing a heavy weight of weapons. After those steeds, adorned with trappings of gold, had been yoked to that car, the younger brother of Daruka, who was the charioteer and the dear friend of Satyaki, came and represented unto the latter that the car had been duly equipped, like Matali representing the equipment of the car unto Vasava himself. Satyaki then, having taken a bath and purified himself and undergone every auspicious ceremony, gave nishkas of gold unto a thousand Snataka Brahmanas who uttered benedictions upon him. Blessed with those benedictions Satyaki that foremost of handsome men, that hero worthy of worship, having drunk kairata, honey, shone resplendent, with reddened eyes rolling in intoxication. Having touched a brazen mirror and filled with great joy, his energy became doubled, and himself looked like a blazing fire. Taking upon his shoulders his bow with arrows, that foremost of car-warriors, eased in armour and decked in ornaments, had the regenerate ones perform for him the rites of propitiation. And fair maidens honoured him by showering upon him fried paddy and perfumes and floral garlands. And the hero then, with joined hands, worshipped the feet of Yudhishthira, and the latter smelt his head. And having undergone all these rites, he then mounted his foremost of cars. Then those steeds, cheerful and strong and fleet as the wind, and invincible, and belonging to the Sindhu breed, bore him on that triumphant car. Similarly, Bhimasena also, honoured by king Yudhishthira the just, and
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reverentially saluting the monarch, set out with Satyaki. Beholding those two chastisers of foes on the point of penetrating thy host, their enemies, viz., thy troops, all stood still with Drona at their head. Then Satyaki, seeing Bhima cased in mail and following him, saluted that hero and spoke unto him these delightful words. Indeed, heroic Satyaki, with every limb filled with joy, said unto Bhima, 'Do thou, O Bhima, protect the king. Even this is thy duty above all things. Piercing through this host whose hour hath come. I will proceed. Whether now or hence, the protection of the king is thy highest duty. Thou knowest my prowess, thou desirest my good, return, O Bhima!' Thus addressed by Satyaki, Bhima replied, Go then, for the success of thy object. O best of men, I will protect the king.' Thus addressed, he of Madhu's race answered Bhima, saying, 'Go back, O son of Pritha! My success is certain, since won over by my merits, thus, O Bhima, art today obedient to my wishes. Indeed, O Bhima, as these auspicious omens tell me, my victory is assured. After the sinful ruler of the Sindhus has been slain by the high-souled son of Pandu, I shall embrace king Yudhishthira of virtuous soul.' Having said these words unto Bhima and dismissing him with an embrace that illustrious warrior eyed thy troops, like a tiger eyeing a herd of deer. Beholding him thus looking at thy army, O king, thy troops become once more stupefied and began to tremble violently. Then, O king, Satyaki desirous of seeing Arjuna at the command of king Yudhishthira the just, suddenly dashed against thy troops.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 112

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      bhīmasenasya rādheyaḥ śrutvā jyātalanisvanam
      nāmṛṣyata yathāmatto gajaḥ pratigaja svanam
  2 apakramya sa bhīmasya muhūrtaṃ śaragocarāt
      tava cādhirathir dṛṣṭvā syandanebhyaś cyutān sutān
  3 bhīmasenena nihatān vimanā duḥkhito 'bhavat
      niḥśvasna dīrgham uṣṇaṃ ca punaḥ pāṇḍavam abhyayāt
  4 sa tāmranayanaḥ krodhāc chvasann iva mahoragaḥ
      babhau karṇaḥ śarān asyan raśmivān iva bhāskaraḥ
  5 raśmijālair ivārkasya vitatair bharatarṣabhaḥ
      karṇa cāpacyutair bāṇaiḥ prācchādyata vṛkodaraḥ
  6 karṇa cāpacyutāś citrāḥ śarā barhiṇavāsasaḥ
      viviśuḥ sarvataḥ pārthaṃ vāsāyevāṇḍajā drumam
  7 karṇa cāpacyutā bāṇāḥ saṃpatantas tatas tataḥ
      rukmapuṅkhā vyarājanta haṃsāḥ śreṇī kṛtā iva
  8 cāpadhvajopaskarebhyaś chatrād īṣā mukhād yugāt
      prabhavanto vyadṛśyanta rājann ādhiratheḥ śarāḥ
  9 khaṃ pūrayan mahāvegān khagamān khaga vāsasaḥ
      suvarṇavikṛtāṃś citrān mumocādhirathiḥ śarān
  10 tam antakam ivāyastam āpatantaṃ vṛkodaraḥ
     tyaktvā prāṇān abhikrudhya vivyādha navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 11 tasya vegam asaṃsahyaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇasya pāṇḍavaḥ
     mahataś ca śaraughāṃs tān naivāvyathata vīryavān
 12 tato vidhamyādhiratheḥ śarajālāni pāṇḍavaḥ
     vivyādha karṇaṃ viṃśatyā punar anyaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 13 yathaiva hi śaraiḥ pārthaḥ sūtaputreṇa chāditaḥ
     tathaiva karṇaṃ samare chādayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
 14 dṛṣṭvā tu bhīmasenasya vikramaṃ yudhi bhārata
     abhyanandaṃs tadīyāś ca saṃprahṛṣṭāś ca cāraṇāḥ
 15 bhūriśravāḥ kṛpo drauṇir madrarājo jayadrathaḥ
     uttamaujā yudhāmanyuḥ sātyakiḥ keśavārjunau
 16 kurupāṇḍavānāṃ pravarā daśa rājan mahārathāḥ
     sādhu sādhv iti vegena siṃhanādam athānadan
 17 tasmiṃs tu tumule śabde pravṛtte lomaharṣaṇe
     abhyabhāṣata putrāṃs te rājan duryodhanas tvaran
 18 rājñaś ca rājaputrāṃś ca sodaryāṃś ca viśeṣataḥ
     karṇaṃ gacchata bhadraṃ vaḥ parīpsanto vṛkodarāt
 19 purā nighnanti rādheyaṃ bhīmacāpacyutāḥ śarāḥ
     te yatadhvaṃ maheṣvāsāḥ sūtaputrasya rakṣaṇe
 20 duryodhana samādiṣṭāḥ sodaryāḥ sapta māriṣaḥ
     bhīmasenam abhidrutya saṃrabdhāḥ paryavārayan
 21 te samāsādya kaunteyam āvṛṇvañ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
     parvataṃ vāridhārābhiḥ prāvṛṣīva balāhakāḥ
 22 te 'pīḍayan bhīmasenaṃ kruddhāḥ sapta mahārathāḥ
     prajāsaṃharaṇe rājan somaṃ sapta grahā iva
 23 tato vāmena kauneyaḥ pīḍayitvā śarāsanam
     muṣṭinā pāṇḍavo rājan dṛḍhena supariṣkṛtam
 24 manuṣyasamatāṃ jñātvā sapta saṃdhāya sāyakān
     tebhyo vyasṛjad āyastaḥ sūryaraśmi nibhān prabhuḥ
 25 nirasyann iva dehebhyas tanayānām asūṃs tava
     bhīmaseno mahārāja pūrvavairam anusmaran
 26 te kṣiptā bhīmasenena śarā bhārata bhāratān
     vidārya khaṃ samutpetuḥ svarṇapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
 27 teṣāṃ vidārya cetāṃsi śarā hemavibhūṣitāḥ
     vyarājanta mahārāja suparṇā iva khecarāḥ
 28 śoṇitādigdha vājāgrāḥ sapta hemapariṣkṛtāḥ
     putrāṇāṃ tava rājendra pītvā śoṇitam udgatāḥ
 29 te śarair bhinnamarmāṇo rathebhyaḥ prāpatan kṣitau
     girisānu ruhā bhagnā dvipeneva mahādrumāḥ
 30 śatruṃjayaḥ śatrusahaś citraś citrāyudho dṛḍhaḥ
     citraseno vikarṇaś ca saptaite vinipātitāḥ
 31 tān nihatya mahābāhū rādheyasyaiva paśyataḥ
     siṃhanāda ravaṃ ghoram asṛjat pāṇḍunandanaḥ
 32 sa ravas tasya śūrasya dharmarājasya bhārata
     ācakhyāv iva tad yuddhaṃ vijayaṃ cātmano mahat
 33 taṃ śrutvā sumahānādaṃ bhīmasenasya dhanvinaḥ
     babhūva paramā prītir dharmarājasya saṃyuge
 34 tato hṛṣṭo mahārāja vāditrāṇāṃ mahāsvanaiḥ
     bhīmasenaravaṃ pārthaḥ pratijagrāha sarvaśaḥ
 35 abhyayāc caiva samare droṇam astrabhṛtāṃ varam
     harṣeṇa mahatā yuktaḥ kṛtasaṃjñe vṛkodare
 36 ekatriṃśan mahārāja putrāṃs tava mahārathān
     hatān duryodhano dṛṣṭvā kṣattuḥ sasmāra tad vacaḥ
 37 tad idaṃ samanuprāptaṃ kṣattur hitakaraṃ vacaḥ
     iti saṃcintya rājāsau nottaraṃ pratyapadyata
 38 yad dyūtakāle durbuddhir abravīt tanayas tava
     yac ca karṇo 'bravīt kṛṣṇāṃ sabhāyāṃ paruṣaṃ vacaḥ
 39 pramukhe pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ tava caiva viśāṃ pate
     kauravāṇāṃ ca sarveṣām ācāryasya ca saṃnidhau
 40 vinaṣṭāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kṛṣṇe śāśvataṃ narakaṃ gatāḥ
     patim anyaṃ vṛṇīṣveti tasyedaṃ phalam āgatam
 41 yaḥ sma tāṃ pauruṣāṇy āhuḥ sabhām ānāyya draupadīm
     pāṇḍavān ugradhanuṣaḥ krodhayantas tavātmajāḥ
 42 taṃ bhīmasenaḥ krodhāgniṃ trayodaśa samāḥ sthitam
     visṛjaṃs tava putrāṇām antaṃ gacchati kaurava
 43 vilapaṃś ca bahu kṣattā śamaṃ nālabhata tvayi
     saputro bharataśreṣṭha tasya bhuṅkṣva phalodayam
     ito vikarṇo rājendra citrasenaśca vīryavān
 44 pravarān ātmajānāṃ te sutāṃś cānyān mahārathān
     yān yāṃś ca dadṛśe bhīmaś cakṣurviṣayam āgatān
     putrāṃs tava mahābāho tvarayā tāñ jaghāna ha
 45 tvatkṛte hy aham adrākṣaṃ dahyamānāṃ varūthinīm
     sahasraśaḥ śarair muktaiḥ pāṇḍavena vṛṣeṇa ca

SECTION CXII

"Sanjaya said, 'O king, when Yuyudhana, from desire of battle proceeded against thy troops, king Yudhishthira, surrounded by his forces, followed Yuyudhana for reaching the car of Drona. Then the son of the king of the Panchalas, viz., the invincible warrior Dhrishtadyumna, the king Vasudana, both loudly exclaimed with the Pandava host, 'Come, smite quickly, and rush against the foe, so that Satyaki, that warrior invincible battle, in might pass easily (through the Kaurava host). Many mighty car-warriors will struggle for vanquishing him.' The great car-warriors (of the Pandava army). saying this, fell impetuously upon their foes. Indeed, they all rushed, saying, 'We will vanquish those that will endeavour to vanquish Satyaki.' Then a loud uproar was heard about the car of Satyaki. Thy son's host, however, covered with Satyaki's shafts, fled away. Indeed, O king that host was broken into a hundred struggling bodies by him of the Satwata race. And while that force was breaking, that mighty car-warrior, viz., the (grandson) of Sini, crushed seven heroic and great bowmen in the front rank of the foe. And, O monarch, with his
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shafts that resembled blazing flames of fire, he despatched many other heroes, kings of diverse realms, unto the region of Yama. He sometimes pierced a hundred warriors with one shaft, and sometimes one warrior with a hundred shafts. Like the great Rudra destroying creatures, he slew elephant-riders and car-warriors with steeds and drivers. None amongst thy troops ventured to advance against Satyaki who was displaying such lightness of hand and who showered such clouds of shafts. Struck with panic and crushed grounded thus by that hero of long arms, those brave warriors all left the field at the sight of that proud hero. Although alone, they saw him multiplied manifold, and were stupefied by his energy. And the earth looked exceedingly beautiful with crushed cars and broken nidas, 1 O sire, and wheels and fallen umbrellas and standards and anukarshas, and banners, and headgears decked with gold, and human arms smeared with sandal-paste and adorned with Angadas, O king, and human thighs, resembling trunks of elephants or the tapering bodies of snakes, and faces, beautiful as the moon and decked with ear-rings, of large-eyed warriors lying all about the field. And the ground there looked exceedingly beautiful with the huge bodies of fallen elephants, cut off in diverse ways, like a large plain strewn with hills. Crushed by that hero of long arms, steeds, deprived of life and fallen down on the ground, looked beautiful in their traces made of burnished gold and decked with rows of pearls, and in their carcasses of handsome make and design. Having slain diverse kinds of thy troops, he of the Satwata race entered into thy host, agitating and routing thy army. Then Satyaki desired to go by that very track by which Dhananjaya had gone before him. Then Drona came and resisted him. Encountering the son of Bharadwaja, Yuyudhana., filled with rage, stopped not like a vast expanse of water upon encountering on embankment. Drona, however, checking in that battle the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, pierced him with five keen shafts, capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Satyaki, however, O king, in that battle pierced Drona with seven shafts whetted on stone, equipped with golden wings and the feathers of the Kanka and the peacock. Then Drona, afflicted Satyaki, his steeds and the drivers, with six shafts. The mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana could not brook that feat of Drona. Uttering a leonine shout, he then pierced Drona with ten shafts, and then with six, and then with eight others. And once more Yuyudhana pierced Drona with ten shafts, his charioteer with one and his four steeds with four. And with another shaft, O sire, Satyaki struck Drona's standard. Then, Drona speedily covered Satyaki, his car, steeds, driver, and standard, with swiftly coursing shafts, countless in number like a flight of locusts. Similarly, Yuyudhana fearlessly covered Drona with countless shafts of great speed. Then Drona, addressing Yuyudhana, said, 'Thy preceptor (Arjuna) hath, like a coward, gone away, leaving the battle, avoiding me who was fighting with him, proceeding by my flank. O thou of Madhu's race, if like thy preceptor, thou too
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dost not quickly avoid me in this battle, thou shalt not escape me with life today, engaged as I am in battle with thee.
"Satyaki, hearing these words, answered, 'At the command of king Yudhishthira the just, I shall follow in the track of Dhananjaya. Blessed be thou, O Brahmana, I would lose time (if I fight with thee). A disciple should always tread in the way trod by his preceptor. I shall, therefore follow in the track that has been trod by my preceptor.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Having said this much, the grandson of Sini avoided the preceptor and suddenly proceeded onwards, O king! And addressing his charioteer, he said, 'Drona will, by every means, endeavour to check my progress. Proceed carefully, O Suta, in battle and listen to these grave words of mine. Yonder is seen the host of great splendour of Avantis. Next to them, is the mighty host of the Southerners. And next to it, is the great host of the Valhikas. By the side of the Valhikas, stands resolved for fight the mighty host commanded by Karna. O charioteer, all these hosts are different from one another, but relying upon one another, they protect one another on the field of battle. Arrived at the space left open between these divisions cheerfully urge thou the steed. Indeed, O charioteer, bear me thither, making the steeds adopt a tolerable speed,--thither, that is, where are seen the Valhikas with diverse weapons uplifted in their arms, and the countless Southerners headed by the Suta's son and whose division is seen to present a serried array of elephants and steeds and cars and in which stand foot-soldiers from various realm.' Having said this much unto his driver, avoiding the Brahmana (Drona), he proceeded, telling his charioteer, Pass through the open space between those two divisions towards the fierce and mighty host of Karna.' Drona, however, excited with wrath, pursued him from behind, shooting at him countless shafts. Indeed, the preceptor closely followed highly blessed Yuyudhana who advanced without any desire of turning back. Smiting the great host of Karna with whetted arrows, Satyaki penetrated into the vast and limitless army of the Bharatas. When Yuyudhana, however, entered the army, the troops (opposed to him) fled away. At this, wrathful Kritavarman came forward to resist Satyaki. The valiant Satyaki striking the advancing Kritavarman with six shafts, quickly slew his four steeds with four other shafts. And once again, he pierced Kritavarman in the centre of the chest with four other shafts. And once again, he pierced Kritavarman in the centre of the chest with sixteen straight shafts of great speed. Thus encountered; O monarch; with many shafts of fierce energy by him of the Satwata race, Kritavarman was unable to brook it. Aiming then a calf-toothed shaft resembling a shake of virulent poison and endued With the speed of the wind, and drawing the bow-string, O monarch, to his ear, he pierced Satyaki in the chest. That shaft, equipped with beautiful feathers, penetrating through his armour and body, and dyed in blood, entered the earth. Then, O king, Kritavarman, that warrior equipped with the highest weapons, shooting many shafts, cut off the bow of Satyaki with arrows fixed thereon. And excited with rage, he
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then, in that battle, O king, pierced Satyaki of unbaffled prowess in the centre of the chest with ten shafts of great keenness. Upon his bow being broken, the foremost of mighty men, viz., Satyaki, hurled a dart at the right arm of Kritavarman. And taking up and drawing a tougher bow, Yuyudhana quickly shot at his foe, shafts by hundreds and thousands and entirely shrouded Kritavarman and his car with that arrowy downpour. Having thus shrouded the son of Hridika, O monarch, in that battle, Satyaki cut of, with a broad-headed arrow, the head of his foe's charioteer from his trunk. The charioteer of Hridika's son then, thus slain, fell down from that great car. At this, the steeds of Kritavarman, deprived of a driver, ran away with great speed. The ruler of the Bhojas, then, in great agitation, himself checked those steeds. That heroic warrior then, bow in hand, stood upon his car (ready for battle). Beholding this feat, his troops applauded it highly. Resting for a short space of time, Kritavarman then urged those good steeds of his. Himself devoid of fear, he inspired his foes with great fear. Satyaki, however, had by that time, left him behind, while Kritavarman himself now rushed against Bhimasena without pursuing Satyaki. Thus issuing out of the division of the Bhojas, Satyaki proceeded with great speed towards the mighty division of the Kamvojas. Resisted there by many brave and mighty car-warriors, Yuyudhana, of prowess incapable of being thwarted, could not then, O monarch, proceed a step. Meanwhile, Drona, having placed his troops in a proper position and made over the burthen of their protection to the ruler of the Bhojas, firmly resolved, proceeded with great speed towards Yuyudhana from desire of battle. Then the foremost warriors of the Pandava host, beholding Drona thus pursuing Yuyudhana from behind, cheerfully began to resist him. The Panchalas, however, who were headed by Bhimasena, having approached the son of Hridika, that foremost of car-warriors, all became cheerless. The heroic Kritavarman, O king, displaying his prowess, resisted all those warriors who, although they had become a little heartless, struggled yet with great vigour. Fearlessly he weakened, by means of his arrowy showers, the animals of his foes. The brave warriors, however, (of the Pandava army), though thus afflicted by the ruler of the Bhojas, stood, like high-born soldiers that they were, resolved to fight with the division of the Bhojas itself, from a desire of great renown.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 113

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      mahān apanayaḥ sūta mamaivātra viśeṣataḥ
      sa idānīm anuprāpto manye saṃjaya śocataḥ
  2 yad gataṃ tadgatam iti mamāsīn manasi sthitam
      idānīm atra kiṃ kāryaṃ prakariṣyāmi saṃjaya
  3 yathā tv eṣa kṣayo vṛtto mamāpanaya saṃbhavaḥ
      vīrāṇāṃ tan mamācakṣva sthirī bhūto 'smi saṃjaya
  4 [s]
      karṇa bhīmau mahārāja parākrāntau mahāhave
      bāṇavarṣāṇy avarṣetāṃ vṛṣṭimantāv ivāmbudau
  5 bhīma nāmāṅkitā bāṇāḥ svarṇapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
      viviśuḥ karṇam āsādya bhindanta iva jīvitam
  6 tathaiva karṇa nirmuktaiḥ sa viṣair iva pannagaiḥ
      akīryata raṇe bhīmaḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
  7 tayoḥ śarair mahārāja saṃpatadbhiḥ samantataḥ
      babhūva tava sainyānāṃ saṃkṣobhaḥ sāgaropamaḥ
  8 bhīmacāpacyutair bāṇais tava sainyam ariṃdama
      avadhyata camūmadhye ghorair āśīviṣopamaiḥ
  9 vāraṇaiḥ patitai rājan vājibhiś ca naraiḥ saha
      adṛśyata mahī kīrṇā vātanunnair drumair iva
  10 te vadhyamānāḥ samare bhīmacāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
     drādravaṃs tāvakā yodhāḥ kim etad iti cābruvan
 11 tato vyudastaṃ tat sainyaṃ sindhusauvīrakauravam
     protsāritaṃ mahāvegaiḥ karṇa pāṇḍavayoḥ śaraiḥ
 12 te śarātura bhūyiṣṭhā hatāśvanaravāhanāḥ
     utsṛjya karṇaṃ bhīmaṃ ca prādravan sarvatodiśam
 13 nūnaṃ pārthārtham evāsmān mohayanti divaukasaḥ
     yat karṇa bhīma prabhavair vadhyate no balaṃ śaraiḥ
 14 evaṃ bruvanto yodhās te tāvakā bhayapīḍitāḥ
     śarapātaṃ samutsṛjya sthitā yuddhadidṛkṣavaḥ
 15 tataḥ prāvartata nadī ghorarūpā mahāhave
     babhūva ca viśeṣeṇa bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhinī
 16 vāraṇāśvamanuṣyāṇāṃ rudhiraughasamudbhavā
     saṃvṛtā gatasattvaiś ca manuṣyagajavājibhiḥ
 17 sānukarṣa patākaiś ca dvipāśvarathabhūṣaṇaiḥ
     syandanair apaviddhaiś ca bhagnacakrākṣa kūbaraiḥ
 18 jātarūpapariṣkārair dhanurbhiḥ sumahādhanaiḥ
     suvarṇapuṅkhair iṣubhir nārācaiś ca sahasraśaḥ
 19 karṇa pāṇḍava nirmuktair nirmuktair iva pannagaiḥ
     prāsatomara saṃghātaiḥ khaḍgaiś ca saparaśvadhaiḥ
 20 suvarṇavikṛtaiś cāpi gadāmusalapaṭṭiśaiḥ
     vajraiś ca vividhākāraiḥ śaktibhiḥ parighair api
     śataghnībhiś ca citrābhir babhau bhārata medinī
 21 kanakāṅgada keyūraiḥ kuṇḍalair maṇibhiḥ śubhaiḥ
     tanutraiḥ sa taratraiś ca hārair niṣkaiś ca bhārata
 22 vastraiś chatraiś ca vidhvastaiś cāmarā vyajanair api
     jagāśvamaunajir bhinnaiḥ śastraiḥ syandanabhūṣaṇaiḥ
 23 tais taiś ca vividhair bhāvais tatra tatra vasuṃdharā
     patitair apaviddhaiś ca saṃbabhau dyaur iva grahaiḥ
 24 acintyam adbhutaṃ caiva tayoḥ karmātimānuṣam
     dṛṣṭvā cāraṇasiddhānāṃ vismayaḥ samapadyata
 25 agner vāyusahāyasya gatiḥ kakṣa ivāhave
     āsīd bhīma sahāyasya raudram ādhirather gatam
     nipātitadhvajarathaṃ hatavāji naradvipam
 26 gajābhyāṃ saṃprayuktābhyām āsīn naḍavanaṃ yathā
     tathā bhūtaṃ mahat sainyam āsīd bhārata saṃyuge
     vimardaḥ karṇa bhīmābhyām āsīc ca paramo raṇe

SECTION CXIII

"Dhritarashtra said, Our army is equally possessed of many excellences. It is equally regarded as superior. It is equally arrayed according to the
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rules of science, and it is equally numerous, O Sanjaya! 1 It is always well-treated by us, and is always devoted to us. It is vast in numerical strength, and presents a wonderful aspect. Its prowess had before been tested. The soldiers are neither very old nor very young. They are neither lean nor corpulent. Of active habits, of well-developed and strong frames, they are free from disease. They are cased in mail and well-equipped with arms. They are devoted to all kinds of armed exercises. They are adepts in mounting upon and descending from the backs of elephants, in moving forward and stepping back, in smiting effectually, and in marching and retreating. Oftentimes have they been tested in the management of elephants and steeds and cars. Having been examined duly, they have been entertained on pay and not for the sake of lineage, nor from favour, nor from relationship. They are not a rabble come of their own accord, nor have they been admitted into my army without pay. My army consists of well-born and respectable men, who are, again, contented, well-fed, and submissive. They are sufficiently rewarded. They are all famous and endued with great intelligence. They are, again, O son, protected by many of our foremost counsellors and others of righteous deeds, all of whom are best of men, resembling the very Regents of the world. Innumerable rulers of earth, seeking to do what is agreeable to us, and who have of their own well sided with us with their forces and followers, also protect them. Indeed, our army is like the vast ocean filled with the waters of innumerable rivers running from all directions. It abounds in steeds and cars which, though destitute of wings, still resemble the winged tenants of the air. It seems also with elephants adorned whose cheeks flow with juicy secretions. What can it, therefore, be but Destiny that even such an army should be slain? (Ocean-like it is) vast number of combatants constitute its interminable waters, and the steeds and other animals constitute its terrible waves. Innumerable swords and maces and darts and arrows and lances constitute the oars (plied on that ocean). 2 Abounding in standards and ornaments, the pearls and gems (of the warriors) constitute the lotuses that deck it. The rushing steeds and elephants constitute the winds that agitate it into fury. Drona constitutes the fathomless cave of that ocean, Kritavarman its vast vortex. Jalasandha its mighty alligator, and Karna the rise of the moon that makes it swell with energy and pride. When that bull amongst the Pandavas, on his single car, hath speedily gone, piercing through that army of mine vast (though it be) like the ocean, and when Yuyudhana also hath followed him, I do not, O Sanjaya, see the prospect of even a remnant of my troops being left alive by Savyasachin, and that foremost of car-warriors belonging to the Satwata race. Beholding those two exceedingly
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active heroes pierce through (the divisions placed in the van), and seeing the ruler of the Sindhus also within reach of the shafts from Gandiva, what, indeed, was the measure adopted by the Kaurava impelled by fate? At that time, when all were fighting intently, what became of them? O sire, I regard the assembled Kurus to be overtaken by Death himself. Indeed, their prowess also in battle is no longer seen to be what it once was. Krishna and the son of Pandu have both entered the (Kuru) host unwounded. There is none in that host, O Sanjaya, capable of resisting them. Many combatants that are great car-warriors were admitted by us after examination. They are all honoured (by us) with pay as each deserves, and others with agreeable speeches. There is none, O son, amongst my troops who is not honoured with good offices (done to him). Each receives his assigned pay and rations according to the character of his services. In my army, O Sanjaya, there is none who is unskilled in battle, none who receives pay less than what he deserves, or none who does not receive any pay. The soldiers are adored by me, according to the best of my powers, with gifts and honours and seats. The same conduct is followed towards them by my sons, my kinsmen, and my friends. Yet on the very approach of Savyasachin, have they been vanquished by him and by the grandson of Sini. What can it be but Destiny? They who are protecting them, all follow the same road, the protected with the protectors! Beholding Arjuna arrived at the front of Jayadratha, what measure was adopted by my foolish son? Beholding Satyaki also entering the host, what step did Duryodhana think suitable to that occasion? Indeed, beholding those two foremost of car-warriors who are beyond the touch of all weapons, enter my host, what resolution was formed by my warriors in battle? I think, beholding Krishna of Dasarha's race and that bull of Sini's race also both engaged for Arjuna's sake my sons are filled with grief. I think, seeing both Satwata and Arjuna pass through my army and the Kurus flying away, my sons are filled with grief. I think, seeing their car-warriors retreat in despair of subjugating the foe and set their hearts upon flying away from the field, my sons are filled with grief. Their steeds and elephants and cars and heroic combatants by thousands flying away from the field in anxiety, my sons are filled with grief I think, seeing many huge elephants fly away, afflicted with the shafts of Arjuna, and others fallen and falling, my sons are filled with grief. I think, seeing steeds deprived of riders and warriors deprived of cars by Satyaki and Partha, my sons are filled with grief. I think, large bodies of steeds slain or routed by Madhava and Partha, my sons are filled with grief. I think, seeing large bodies of foot-soldiers flying away in all directions, my sons, despairing of success, are filled with grief. I think, seeing those two heroes pass through Drona's division unvanquished within a moment, my sons are filled with grief. Stupefied am I, O son, upon hearing that Krishna and Dhananjaya, those two heroes of unfading glory, have both, with Satwata, penetrated into my host. After that foremost of car-warriors among the Sinis, had entered my host, and after he had passed through
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the division of the Bhojas, what did the Kauravas do? Tell me also, O Sanjaya, how did the battle take place there where Drona afflicted the Pandavas on the field. Drona is endued with great might, is the foremost of all persons, is accomplished in weapons, and is incapable of being defeated in battle. How could the Panchalas pierce that great bowman in the fight? Desirous of Dhananjaya's victory, the Panchalas are inveterate foes of Drona. The mighty car-warrior Drona also is an inveterate foe of theirs. Thou art skilled in a narration, O Sanjaya! Tell me, therefore, everything about what Arjuna did for compassing the slaughter of the ruler of the Sindhus.'
"Sanjaya said, 'O bull of Bharata's race, overtaken by a calamity that is the direct result of thy own fault, thou shouldst not, O hero, indulge in such lamentations like an ordinary person. Formerly, many of thy wise well-wishers, numbering Vidura amongst them, had told thee, 'Do not, O king, abandon the sons of Pandu.' Thou didst not then heed those words. The man that heedeth not the counsels of well-wishing friends, weepeth, falling into great distress, like thyself. He of Dasarha's race, O king, had formerly begged thee for peace. For all that, Krishna of world-wide fame, obtained not his prayer. Ascertaining thy worthlessness, and thy jealousy towards the Pandavas, and understanding also thy crooked intentions towards the sons of Pandu, and hearing thy delirious lamentations, O best of kings, that puissant Lord of all the worlds, that Being, acquainted with the truth of everything in all the worlds, viz., Vasudeva, then caused the flame of war to blaze forth among the Kurus. This great and wholesale destruction hath come upon thee, brought about by thy own fault. O giver of honours, it behoveth thee not to impute the fault to Duryodhana. In the development of these incidents no merit of thine is to be seen in the beginning, in the middle, or at the end. This defeat is entirely owing to thee. Therefore, knowing as thou dost the truth about this world, be quiet and hear how this fierce battle, resembling that between the gods and the Asuras, took place. After the grandson of Sini, that warrior of prowess incapable of being baffled, had entered into thy host, the Parthas headed by Bhimasena also rushed against thy troops. The mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, however, alone, resisted, in that battle the Pandavas thus rushing in fury and wrath with their followers against thy host. As the continent resists the surgings, even so did the son of Hridika resist the troops of the Pandavas in that battle. The prowess that we then beheld of the son of Hridika was wonderful, inasmuch as the united Parthas succeeded not in transgressing his single self. Then the mighty-armed Bhima, piercing Kritavarman with three shafts, blew his conch, gladdening all the Pandavas. Then Sahadeva pierced the son of Hridika with twenty shafts, and Yudhishthira the just pierced him with five and Nakula pierced him with a hundred. And the sons of Draupadi pierced him with three and seventy shafts, Ghatotkacha pierced him with seven. And Virata and Drupada and Drupada's son (Dhrishtadyumna) each Pierced him with five shafts, and Sikhandin, having once pierced him with
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five, again pierced him smilingly with five and twenty shafts. Then Kritavarman, O king, pierced every one of those great car-warriors with five shafts, and Bhima again with seven. And the son of Hridika felled both the bow and the standard of Bhima from the latter's car. Then that mighty car-warrior, with great speed, wrathfully struck Bhima, whose bow had been cut off with seventy keen shafts in the chest. Then mighty Bhima, deeply pierced with those excellent shafts of Hridika's son, trembled on his car like a mountain during an earthquake. Beholding Bhimasena in that condition, the Parthas headed by king Yudhishthira the just afflicted Kritavarman, O king, shooting at him many shafts. Encompassing that warrior there with throngs of cars, O sire, they cheerfully began to pierce him with their shafts, desiring to protect the Wind-god's son in that battle. Then mighty Bhimasena recovering consciousness, took up in that battle a dart made of steel and equipped with a golden staff, and hurled it with great speed from his own car at the car of Kritavarman. That dart resembling a snake freed from its slough, hurled from Bhima's hands, fierce-looking, blazed forth as it proceeded towards Kritavarman. Beholding that dart endued with the splendour of the Yuga-fire coursing towards him, the son of Hridika cut it in twain with two shafts. Thereupon, that dart decked with gold, thus cut off, fell down on the earth, illumining the ten points of the compass, O king, like a large meteor falling from the firmament. Seeing his dart baffled, Bhima blazed forth in wrath. Then taking tip another bow which was tougher and whose twang was louder, Bhimasena, filled with wrath, attacked the son of Hridika in that battle. Then O king, Bhima, of terrible might, struck Kritavarman, in the centre of the chest with five shafts, in consequence of thy evil policy, O monarch! The ruler of the Bhoja then, mangled in every limb, O sire, by Bhimasena, shone resplendent in the field like a red Asoka covered with flowers. Then that mighty bowman, viz., Kritavarman, filled with rage, smilingly struck Bhimasena with three shafts, and having struck him forcibly, pierced in return every one of those great car-warriors struggling vigorously in battle, with three shafts. Each of the latter then pierced him in return with seven shafts. Then that mighty car-warrior of the Satwata race, filled with rage, cut off, smiling in that battle, with a razor-faced shaft the bow of Sikhandin. Sikhandin then, seeing his bow cut off, quickly took up a sword and a bright shield decked with a hundred moons. Whirling his large shield, decked with gold, Sikhandin sent that sword towards the car of Kritavarman. That large sword, cutting off, O king, Kritavarman's bow with arrow fixed thereon, fell down on the earth, like. O monarch, a bright luminary loosened from the firmament. Meanwhile, those mighty car-warriors quickly and deeply pierced Kritavarman with their shafts in that battle. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Hridika, casting off, that broken bow, and taking up another, pierced each of the Pandavas with three straight shafts. And he pierced Sikhandin at first with three, and then with five shafts. Then the illustrious Sikhandin, taking up another bow, checked the son of Hridika with many swift-flying shafts,
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furnished with heads like tortoise nails. Then, O king, the son of Hridika, inflamed with rage in that battle, rushed impetuously at that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Yajnasena, that warrior, O monarch, who was the cause of the illustrious Bhishma's fall in battle. Indeed, the heroic Kritavarman rushed at Sikhandin, displaying his might, like a tiger at an elephant. Then those two chastisers of foes, who resembled a couple of huge elephants or two blazing fires, encountered each other with clouds of shafts. And they took their best of bows and aimed their arrows, and shot them in hundreds like a couple of suns shedding their rays. And those two mighty car-warriors scorched each other with their keen shafts, and shone resplendent like two Suns appearing at the end of the Yuga. And Kritavarman in that battle pierced that mighty car-warrior viz., Yajnasena's son, with three and seventy shafts and once more with seven. Deeply pierced therewith, Sikhandin sat down in pain on the terrace of his car, throwing aside his bow and arrows, and was overtaken by a swoon. Beholding that hero in a swoon, thy troops, O bull among men, worshipped the son of Hridika, and waved their garments in the air. Seeing Sikhandin thus afflicted with the shafts of Hridika's son his charioteer quickly bore that mighty car-warrior away from the battle. The Parthas, beholding Sikhandin lying senseless on the terrace of his car, soon encompassed Kritavarman in that battle with crowds of cars. The mighty car-warrior, Kritavarman, then achieved a most wonderful feat there, inasmuch as, alone, he held in check all the Parthas with their followers. Having thus vanquished the Parthas, that mighty car-warrior then vanquished the Chedis, the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, and the Kekayas, all of whom are endued with great prowess. The forces of the Pandavas then, thus slaughtered by the son of Hridika began to run in all directions, unable to stay coolly in battle. Having vanquished the sons of Pandu headed by Bhimasena himself, the son of Hridika stayed in battle like a blazing fire. Those mighty car-warriors, afflicted with torrents of shafts and routed by Hridika's son in battle, ventured not to face him.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 114

 

 

 

  1 [s]
      tataḥ karṇo mahārāja bhīmaṃ viddhvā tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
      mumoca śaravarṣāṇi citrāṇi ca bahūni ca
  2 vadhyamāno mahārāja sūtaputreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ
      na vivyathe bhīmaseno bhidyamāna ivācalaḥ
  3 sa karṇaṃ karṇinā karṇe pītena niśitena ca
      vivyādha yudhi rājendra bhīmasenaḥ patatriṇā
  4 sakuṇḍalaṃ maha tkarṇāt karṇasyāpātayad bhuvi
      tapanīyaṃ mahārāja dīptaṃ jyotir ivāmbarāt
  5 athāpareṇa bhallena sūtaputraṃ stanāntare
      ājaghāna bhṛśaṃ bhīmaḥ smayann iva mahābalaḥ
  6 punar asya tvaran bhīmo nārācān daśa bhārata
      raṇe praiṣīn mahāvegān yamadaṇḍopamāṃs tathā
  7 te lalāṭaṃ samāsādya sūtaputrasya māriṣa
      viviśuś coditās tena valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
  8 lalāṭasthais tu tair bāṇaiḥ sūtaputro vyarocata
      nīlotpalamayīṃ mālāṃ dhārayan sa purā yathā
  9 tataḥ kruddho raṇe karṇaḥ pīḍito dṛḍhadhanvanā
      vegaṃ cakre mahāvego bhīmasenavadhaṃ prati
  10 tasmai karṇaḥ śataṃ rājann iṣūṇāṃ gārdhravāsasām
     amarṣī balavān kruddhaḥ preṣayām āsa bhārata
 11 tataḥ prāsṛjad ugrāṇi śaravarṣāṇi pāṇḍavaḥ
     samare tam anādṛtya nāsya vīryam acintayat
 12 tataḥ karṇo mahārāja pāṇḍavaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     ājaghānorasi kruddhaḥ kruddha rūpaṃ paraṃtapaḥ
 13 jīmūtāv iva cānyonyaṃ tau vavarṣatur āhave
     talaśabdaravaiś caiva trāsayantau parasparam
 14 śarajālaiś ca vividhaiś chādayām āsatur mṛdhe
     anyonyaṃ samare kruddhau kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau
 15 tato bhīmo mahābāhū rādheyasya mahātmanaḥ
     kṣurapreṇa dhanuś chittvā karṇaṃ vivyādha patriṇā
 16 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ sūtaputro mahāmanāḥ
     anyat kārmukam ādatta vegaghnaṃ bhārasādhanam
 17 dṛṣṭvā ca kuru sauvīrai saindhavānāṃ balakṣayam
     sa varma dhvajaśastraiś ca patitaiḥ saṃvṛtāṃ mahīm
 18 hastyaśvanaradehāṃś ca gatāsūn prekṣya sarvataḥ
     sūtaputrasya saṃrambhād dīptaṃ vapur ajāyata
 19 sa visphārya mahac cāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
     bhimaṃ praikṣata rādheyo rājan ghoreṇa cakṣuṣā
 20 tataḥ kruddhaḥ śarān asyan sūtaputro vyarocata
     madhyaṃdinagato 'rciṣmāñ śaradīva divākaraḥ
 21 marīcivikacasyeva rājan bhānumato vapuḥ
     āsīd ādhirather ghoraṃ vapuḥ śaraśatārciṣaḥ
 22 karābhyām ādadānasya saṃdadhānasya cāśugān
     vikarṣato muñcato vā nāntaraṃ dadṛśū raṇe
 23 agnicakropamaṃ ghoraṃ maṇḍalīkṛtam āyudham
     karṇasyāsīn mahārāja savyadakṣiṇam asyataḥ
 24 svarṇapuṅkhāḥ suniśitāḥ karṇa cāpacyutāḥ śarāḥ
     prācchādayan mahārāja diśaḥ sūryasya ca prabhām
 25 tataḥ kanakapuṅkhānāṃ śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
     dhanuścyutānāṃ viyati dadṛśe bahudhā vrajaḥ
 26 śarāsanād ādhiratheḥ prabhavantaḥ sma sāyakāḥ
     śreṇī kṛtā vyarājanta rājan krauñcā ivāmbare
 27 gārdhrapatrāñ śilā dhautān kārtasvaravibhūṣitān
     mahāvegān pradīptāgrān mumocādhirathiḥ śarān
 28 te tu cāpabaloddhūtāḥ śātakumbhavibhūṣitāḥ
     ajasram anvakīryanta śarāḥ pārtharathaṃ prati
 29 te vyomni ratnavikṛtā vyakāśanta sahasraśaḥ
     śalabhānām iva vrātāḥ śarāḥ karṇa samīritāḥ
 30 cāpād ādhirather muktāḥ prapatantaḥ sma sāyakāḥ
     eko dīrgha iva prāṃśuḥ prabhavan dṛśyate śaraḥ
 31 parvataṃ vāridhārābhiś chādayann iva toyadaḥ
     karṇaḥ prācchādayat kruddho bhīmaṃ sāyakavṛṣṭibhiḥ
 32 tatra bhārata bhīmasya balavīryaparākramam
     vyavasāyaṃ ca putrās te praikṣanta kurubhiḥ saha
 33 tāṃ samudram ivoddhūtāṃ śaravṛṣṭiṃ samutthitām
     acintayitvā bhīmas tu kruddhaḥ karṇam upādravat
 34 rukmapṛṣṭhaṃ mahac cāpaṃ bhīmasyāsīd viśāṃ pate
     ākarṣan maṇḍalībhūtaṃ śakracāpam ivāparam
     tasmāc charāḥ prādurāsan pūrayanta ivāmbaram
 35 suvarṇapuṅkhair bhīmena sāyakair nataparvabhiḥ
     gagane racitā mālā kāñcanīva vyarājata
 36 tato vyomni viṣaktāni śarajālāni bhāgaśaḥ
     āhatāni vyaśīryanta bhīmasenasya patribhiḥ
 37 karṇasya śarajālaughai bhīmasenasya cobhayoḥ
     agnisphuliṅga saṃsparśair añjo gatibhir āhave
     tais taiḥ kanakapuṅkhānāṃ dyaur āsīt saṃvṛtā vrajaiḥ
 38 sa bhīmaṃ chādayan bāṇaiḥ sūtaputraḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ
     upārohad anādṛtya tasya vīryaṃ mahātmanaḥ
 39 tayor visṛjatos tatra śarajālāni māriṣa
     vāyubhūtāny adṛśyanta saṃsaktānītaretaram
 40 tasmai karṇaḥ śitān bāṇān karmāra parimārjitān
     suvarṇavikṛtān kruddhaḥ prāhiṇod vadhakāṅkṣayā
 41 tān antarikṣe viśikhair tridhaikaikam aśātayat
     viśeṣayan sūtaputraṃ bhīmas tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 42 punaś cāsṛjad ugrāṇi śaravarṣāṇi pāṇḍavaḥ
     amarṣī balavān kruddho didhakṣann iva pāvakaḥ
 43 tasya tāny ādade karṇaḥ sarvāṇy astrāṇy abhītavat
     yudhyataḥ pāṇḍuputrasya sūtaputro 'stramāyayā
 44 tasyeṣudhī dhanurjyāṃca bāṇaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     raśmīn yoktrāṇi cāśvānāṃ karṇo vaikartano 'cchinat
 45 athāsyāśvān punar hatvā tribhir vivyādha sārathim
     so 'vaplutya drutaṃ sūto yuyudhāna rathaṃ yayau
 46 utsmayann iva bhīmasya kruddhaḥ kālānalaprabhaḥ
     dhvajaṃ ciccheda rādheyaḥ pātakāś ca nyapātayat
 47 sa vidhanvā mahārāja rathaśaktiṃ parāmṛśat
     tām avāsṛjad āvidhya kruddhaḥ karṇa rathaṃ prati
 48 tām ādhirathir āyastaḥ śaktiṃ hemapariṣkṛtām
     āpatantīṃ maholkābhāṃ ciccheda daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 49 sāpatad daśadhā rājan nikṛttā karṇa sāyakaiḥ
     asyataḥ sūtaputrasya mitrārthaṃ citrayodhinaḥ
 50 sa carmādatta kaunteyo jātarūpapariṣkṛtam
     khaḍgaṃ cānyatara prepsur mṛtyor agre jayasya vā
     tad asya sahasā karṇo vyadhamat prahasann iva
 51 sa vicarmā mahārāja virathaḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ
     asiṃ prāsṛjad āvidhya tvaran karṇa rathaṃ prati
 52 sadhanuḥ sūtaputrasya chittvā jyāṃ ca susaṃśitaḥ
     apatad bhuvi nistriṃśaś cyutaḥ sarpa ivāmbarāt
 53 tataḥ prahasyādhirathir anyad ādatta kārmukam
     śatrughnaṃ samare kruddho dṛḍhajyaṃ vegavattaram
 54 sa bhīmasenaḥ kupito balavān satyavikramaḥ
     vihāyasaṃ prākramad vai karṇasya vyathayan manaḥ
 55 tasya tac caritaṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃgrāme vijayaiṣiṇaḥ
     layam āsthāya rādheyo bhīmasenam avañcayat
 56 tam adṛṣṭvā rathopasthe nilīnaṃ vyathitendriyam
     dhvajam asya samāsādya tasthau sa dharaṇītale
 57 tad asya kuravaḥ sarve cāraṇāś cābhyapūjayan
     yad iyeṣa rathāt karṇaṃ hantuṃ tārkṣya ivoragam
 58 sa chinnadhanvā virathaḥ svadharmam anupālayan
     svarathaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā yuddhāyaiva vyavasthitaḥ
 59 tad vihatyāsya rādheyas tata enaṃ samabhyayāt
     saṃrabdhaḥ pāṇḍavaṃ saṃkhye yuddhāya samupasthitam
 60 tau sametau mahāraṅge spardhamānau mahābalau
     jīmūtāv iva gharmānte garjamānau nabhastale
 61 tayor āsīt saṃprahāraḥ kruddhayor narasiṃhayoḥ
     amṛṣyamāṇayoḥ saṃkhye devadānavayor iva
 62 kṣīṇaśastras tu kaunteyaḥ karṇena samabhidrutaḥ
     dṛṣṭvārjuna hatān nāgān patitān parvatopamān
     rathamārga vighātārthaṃ vyāyudhaḥ praviveśa ha
 63 hastināṃ vrajam āsādya rathadurgaṃ praviśya ca
     pāṇḍavo jīvitākāṅkṣī rādheyaṃ nābhyahārayat
 64 vyavasthānam athākāṅkṣan dhanaṃjaya śarair hatam
     udyamya kuñjaraṃ pārthas tasthau parapuraṃjayaḥ
 65 tam asya viśikhaiḥ karṇo vyadhamat kuñjaraṃ punaḥ
     hastyaṅgāny atha karṇāya prāhiṇot pāṇḍavo nadan
 66 cakrāṇy aśvāṃs tathā vāhānnyad yat paśyati bhūtale
     tat tad ādāya cikṣepa kruddhaḥ karṇāya pāṇḍavaḥ
 67 tad asya sarvaṃ ciccheda kṣiptaṃ kṣiptaṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     vyāyudhaṃ nāvadhīc cainaṃ karṇaḥ kuntyā vacaḥ smaran
 68 dhanuṣo 'greṇa taṃ karṇas tv abhidrutya parāmṛśat
     utsmayann iva rādheyo bhīmasenam uvāca ha
 69 punaḥ punas tūbaraka mūḍha audariketi ca
     akṛtāstraka mā yotsīr bāla saṃgrāmakātara
 70 yatra bhojyaṃ bahuvidhaṃ bhakṣyaṃ peyaṃ ca pāṇḍava
     tatra tvaṃ durmate yogyo na yuddheṣu kathaṃ cana
 71 munir bhūtvātha vā bhīma phalān yad dhi sudurmate
     vanāya vraja kaunteya na tvaṃ yuddhaviśāradaḥ
 72 phalamūlāśane yuktas tvaṃ tathātithi bhojane
     na tvāṃ śastrasamudyogo yogyaṃ manye vṛkodara
 73 puṣpamūlaphalāhāro vrateṣu niyameṣu ca
     ucitas tvaṃ vane bhīma na tvaṃ yuddhaviśāradaḥ
 74 kva yuddhaṃ kva munitvaṃ ca vanaṃ gaccha vṛkodara
     na tvaṃ yuddhocitas tāta vanavāsa ratir bhava
 75 sūdān bhṛtyajanān dāsāṃs tvaṃ gṛhe tvarayan bhṛśam
     yogyas tāḍayituṃ krodhād bhojanārthaṃ vṛkodara
 76 kaumāre yāni cāpy āsann apriyāṇi viśāṃ pate
     pūrvavṛttāni cāpy enaṃ rūkṣāṇy aśrāvayad bhṛśam
 77 athainaṃ tatra saṃlīnam aspṛśad dhanuṣā punaḥ
     prahasaṃś ca punar vākyaṃ bhīmam āha vṛṣas tadā
 78 yoddhavyam āviśan yatra na yoddhavyaṃ tu mādṛśaiḥ
     mādṛśair yudhyamānānām etac cānyac ca vidyate
 79 gaccha vā yatra tau kṛṣṇau tau tvā rakṣiṣyato raṇe
     gṛhaṃ vā gaccha kauneya kiṃ te yuddhena bālaka
 80 evaṃ taṃ virathaṃ kṛtvā karṇo rājan vyakatthata
     pramukhe vṛṣṇisiṃhasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ
 81 tato rājañ śilā dhautāñ śarāñ śākhāmṛgadhvajaḥ
     prāhiṇot sūtaputrāya keśavena pracoditaḥ
 82 tataḥ pārtha bhujotsṛṣṭāḥ śarāḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ
     gāṇḍīvaprabhavāḥ karṇaṃ haṃsāḥ krauñcam ivāviśan
 83 sa bhujaṃgair ivāyastair gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     bhīmasenād apāsedhat sūtaputraṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
 84 sa chinnadhanvā bhīmena dhanaṃjaya śarāhataḥ
     karṇo bhīmād apāyāsīd rathena mahatā drutam
 85 bhīmo 'pi sātyaker vāhaṃ samāruhya nararṣabhaḥ
     anvayād bhrātaraṃ saṃkhye pāṇḍavaṃ savyasācinam
 86 tataḥ karṇaṃ samuddiśya tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ
     nārācaṃ krodhatāmrākṣaḥ praiṣīn mṛtyum ivāntakaḥ
 87 sa garutmān ivākāśe prārthayan bhujagottamam
     nārāco 'bhyapatat karṇaṃ tūrṇaṃ gāṇḍīvacoditaḥ
 88 tam antarikṣe nārācaṃ drauṇiś ciccheda patriṇā
     dhanaṃjaya bhayāt karṇam ujjihīrṣur mahārathaḥ
 89 tato drauṇiṃ catuḥṣaṣṭyā vivyādha kupito 'rjunaḥ
     śilīmukhair mahārāja mā gās tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 90 sa tu mattagajākīrṇam anīkaṃ rathasaṃkulam
     tūrṇam abhyāviśad drauṇir dhanaṃjaya śarārditaḥ
 91 tataḥ suvarṇapṛṣṭhānāṃ dhanuṣāṃ kūjatāṃ raṇe
     śabdaṃ gāṇḍīvaghoṣeṇa kauneyo 'bhyabhavad balī
 92 dhanaṃjayas tathā yāntaṃ pṛṣṭhato drauṇim abhyayāt
     nātidīrgham ivādhvānaṃ śaraiḥ saṃtrāsayan balam
 93 vidārya dehān nārācair naravāraṇavājinām
     kaṅkabarhiṇa vāsobhir balaṃ vyadhamad arjunaḥ
 94 tad balaṃ bharataśreṣṭha sa vājidvipa mānavam
     pākaśāsanir āyastaḥ pārthaḥ saṃnijaghāna ha

 

SECTION CXIV

"Sanjaya said, 'Listen with undivided attention, O king. After the rout of that force by the high-souled son of Hridika, and upon the Parthas being humiliated with shame and thy troops elated with joy, he that became protector of the Pandavas who were solicitous of protection while sinking in that fathomless sea of distress, that hero, viz., the grandson of Sini, hearing that fierce uproar, of thy army in that terrible fight, quickly turned back and proceeded against Kritavarman. Hridika's son, Kritavarman, then excited with wrath, covered the grandson of Sini with clouds
p. 240
of sharp shafts. At this, Satyaki also became filled with rage. The grandson of Sini then quickly sped at Kritavarman a sharp and broad-headed arrow in the encounter and then four other arrows. These tour arrows slew the steeds of Kritavarman, and the other cut off Kritavarman's bow. Then Satyaki pierced the charioteer of his foe and those that protected the latter's rear, with many keen shafts, to afflict his antagonist's forces. The hostile division then, afflicted with Satyaki's arrows, broke down. Thereupon, Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled, quickly proceeded on his way. Hear now, O king, what that hero of great valour then did unto thy troops. Having, O monarch, forded the ocean constituted by Drona's division, and filled with joy at having vanquished Kritavarman in battle, that hero then addressed his charioteer, saying, 'Proceed slowly without fear.' Beholding, however, that army of thine that abounded with cars, steeds, elephants and foot-soldiers, Satyaki once more told his charioteer, 'That large division which thou seest on left of Drona's host, and which looks dark as the clouds, consists of the elephants (of the foe). Rukmaratha is its leader. Those elephants are many, O charioteer, and are difficult of being resisted in battle. Urged by Duryodhana, they wait for me, prepared to cast away their lives. All those combatants are of princely birth, and great bowmen, and capable of displaying great prowess in battle, belonging to the country of the Trigartas, they are all illustrious car-warriors, owning standards decked with gold. Those brave warriors are waiting, desirous of battle with me. Urge the steeds quickly, O charioteer and take me thither. I shall fight with the Trigartas in the very sight of Bharadwaja's son.' Thus addressed, the charioteer, obedient to Satwata's will, proceeded slowly. Upon that bright car of solar effulgence, equipped with standard, those excellent steeds harnessed thereto and perfectly obedient to the driver, endued with speed of the wind, white as the Kunda flower, or the moon, or silver, bore him (to that spot). As he advanced to battle, drawn by those excellent steeds of the hue of a conch, those brave warriors encompassed him on all sides with their elephants, scattering diverse kinds of keen arrows capable of easily piercing everything. Satwata also fought with that elephant division, shooting his keen shafts, like a mighty cloud at the end of summer pouring torrents of rain on a mountain breast. Those elephants slaughtered with those shafts, whose touch resembled thunder sped by that foremost one among the Sinis began to fly away from the field, their tusks broken, bodies covered with blood, heads and frontal globes split open, ears and faces and trunks cut off, and themselves deprived of riders, and standards cut down, riders slain, and blankets loosened, ran away, O king, in all directions. Many amongst them, O monarch, mangled by Satwata with long shafts and calf-tooth-headed arrows and broad-headed arrows and Anjalikas and razor-faced arrows and crescent-shaped ones fled away, with blood flowing down their bodies, and themselves ejecting urine and excreta and uttering loud and diverse cries, deep as the roar of clouds. And some amongst the others wandered, and some limped, and some fell down, and some became
p. 241
pale and cheerless. Thus afflicted by Yuyudhana, with shafts that resembled the sun or fire, that elephant division fled away in all directions. After that elephant division was exterminated, the mighty Jalasandha, exerting himself coolly, led his elephant before Yuyudhana's car drawn by white steeds. Cased in golden Angadas, with ear-rings and diadem, armed with sword, smeared with red sandal-paste, his head encircled with a blazing chain of gold, his breast covered with a cuirass, his neck adorned with a bright chain (of gold), that hero of sinless soul, stationed on the heads of his elephant, shaking his bow decked with gold, looked resplendent, O king, like a cloud charged with lightning. Like the continent resisting the surging sea, Satyaki checked that excellent elephant of the ruler of the Magadhas that approached him with such fury. Beholding the elephant checked by the excellent shafts of Yuyudhana, the mighty Jalasandha became filled with rage. Then, O king, the enraged Jalasandha, pierced Sini's grandson on his broad chest with some shafts of great force. With another sharp and well tempered broad-headed arrow, he cut off the bow of the Vrishni hero while the latter was drawing it. And then, O Bharata, smiling the while, the heroic ruler of the Magadhas pierced the bowless Satyaki with five keen shafts. The valiant and mighty-armed Satyaki, however, though pierced with many shafts by Jalasandha, trembled not in the least. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then mighty Yuyudhana without any fear, thought of the shafts (he should use). Taking up another bow, addressed Jalasandha, saying, 'Wait, Wait!' Saying this much, the grandson of Sini deeply pierced Jalasandha on his broad breast with sixty arrows, smiling the while. And with another razor-faced arrow of great sharpness he cut off Jalasandha's bow at the handle, and with three more shafts he pierced Jalasandha himself. Then Jalasandha, casting aside that bow of his with an arrow fixed thereon, hurled a lance, O sire, at Satyaki. That terrible lance, passing through the left arm of Madhava in fierce battle, entered the earth, like a hissing snake of gigantic proportion. And his left arm had thus been pierced. Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, struck Jalasandha with thirty keen shafts. Then mighty Jalasandha taking up his scimitar and large shield made of bull's hide and decked with a hundred moons whirled the former for a while and hurled it at Satwata. Cutting off the bow of Sini's grandson, that scimitar fell down on the earth, and looked resplendent like a circle of fire, as it lay on the earth. Then Yuyudhana took up another bow capable of piercing everybody, large as a Sala-offshoot, and of twang resembling the roar of Indra's thunder, and filled with rage, stretched in and then pierced Jalasandha with a single shaft. And then Satyaki, that foremost one of Madhu's race, smiling the while, cut off, with a pair of razor-faced arrows, the two arms, decked with ornaments, of Jalasandha. Thereupon, those two arms, looking like a couple of spiked maces, fell down from that foremost of elephants, like a couple of five-headed snakes falling down from a Mountain. And then, with a third razor-headed arrow, Satyaki cut off his antagonist's large head endued with beautiful teeth and adorned with
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a pair of beautiful ear-rings. The headless and armless trunk, of fearful aspect, dyed Jalasandha's elephant with blood. Having slain Jalasandha, in battle, Satwata quickly felled the wooden structure, O king, from that elephant's back. Bathed in blood, the elephant of Jalasandha bore that costly seat, hanging down from his back. And afflicted with the arrows of Satwata, the huge beast crushed friendly ranks as it ran wildly, uttering fierce cries of pain. Then, O sire, wails of woe arose among thy troops, at the sight of Jalasandha slain by that bull among the Vrishnis. Thy warriors then, turning their faces, fled away in all directions. Indeed, despairing of success over the foe, they set their hearts on flight. Mean. while, O king, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of bows, approached the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, borne by his swift coursers. Many bulls among the Kurus, beholding Sini's grandson swelling (with rage-and pride), rushed at him with fury, accompanied by Drona. Then commenced a battle, O king, between the Kurus and Drona (on one side) and Yuyudhana (on the other), that resembled the awful battle of old between the gods and the Asuras.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 115

 

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      ahany ahani me dīptaṃ yaśaḥ patati saṃjaya
      hatā me bahavo yodhā manye kālasya paryayam
  2 dhanaṃjayas tu saṃkruddhaḥ praviṣṭo māmakaṃ balam
      rakṣitaṃ droṇakarṇābhyām apraveśyaṃ surair api
  3 tābhyām ūrjitavīryābhyām āpyāyita parākramaḥ
      sahitaḥ kṛṣṇa bhīmābhyāṃ śinīnām ṛṣabheṇa ca
  4 tadā prabhṛti mā śoko dahaty agnir ivāśayam
      grastān hi pratipaśyāmi bhūmipālān sa saindhavān
  5 apriyaṃ sumahat kṛtvā sindhurājaḥ kirīṭinaḥ
      cakṣurviṣayam āpannaḥ kathaṃ mucyeta jīvitaḥ
  6 anumānāc ca paśyāmi nāsti saṃjaya saindhavaḥ
      yuddhaṃ tu tad yathāvṛttaṃ tan mamācakṣva pṛcchataḥ
  7 yac ca vikṣobhya mahatīṃ senāṃ saṃloḍya cāsakṛt
      ekaḥ praviṣṭaḥ saṃkruddho nalinīm iva kuñjaraḥ
  8 tasya vṛṣṇipravīrasya brūhi yuddhaṃ yathātatham
      dhanaṃjayārthe yat tasya kuśalo hy asi saṃjaya
  9 [s]
      tathā tu vaikartana pīḍitaṃ taṃ; bhīmaṃ prayāntaṃ puruṣapravīram
      samīkṣya rājan naravīramadhye; śinipravīro 'nuyayau rathena
  10 nadan yathā vajradharas tapānte; jvalan yathā jaladānte ca sūryaḥ
     nighnann aniṃtrān dhanuṣā dṛḍhena; saṃkampayaṃs tava putrasya senām
 11 taṃ yāntam aśvai rajataprakāśair; āyodhane naravīraṃ carantam
     nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ tvadīyāḥ; sarve rathā bhārata mādhavāgryam
 12 amarṣapūrṇas tv anivṛtta yodhī; śarāsanī kāñcanavarma dhārī
     alambusaḥ sātyakiṃ mādhavāgryam; avārayad rājavaro 'bhipatya
 13 tayor abhūd bhārata saṃprahāras; tathāgato naiva babhūva kaś cit
     praikṣanta evāhava śobhinau tau; yodhās tvadīyāś ca pare ca sarve
 14 avidhyad enaṃ daśabhiḥ pṛṣatkair; alambuso rājavaraḥ prasahya
     anāgatān eva tu tān pṛṣatkāṃś; ciccheda bāṇaiḥ śinipuṃgavo 'pi
 15 punaḥ sa bāṇais tribhir agnikalpair; ākarṇapūrṇair niśitaiḥ supuṅkhaiḥ
     vivyādha dehāvaraṇaṃ vidārya; te sātyaker āviviśuḥ śarīram
 16 taiḥ kāyam asyāgny anilaprabhāvair; vidārya bāṇair aparair jvaladbhiḥ
     ājaghnivāṃs tān rajataprakāśān; aśvāṃś caturbhiś caturaḥ prasahya
 17 tathā tu tenābhihatas tarasvī; naptā śineś cakradhara prabhāvaḥ
     alambusasyottama vegavadbhir; hayāṃś caturbhir nijaghāna bāṇaiḥ
 18 athāsya sūtasya śiro nikṛtya; bhallena kālānalasaṃnibhena
     sakuṇḍalaṃ pūrṇaśaśiprakāśaṃ; bhrājiṣṇu vaktraṃ nicakarta dehāt
 19 nihatya taṃ pārthiva putrapautraṃ; saṃkhye madhūnām ṛṣabhaḥ pramāthī
     tato 'nvayād arjunam eva vīraḥ; sainyāni rājaṃs tava saṃnivārya
 20 anvāgataṃ vṛṣṇivaraṃ samīkṣya; tathārimadhye parivartamānam
     ghnantaṃ kurūṇām iṣubhir balāni; punaḥ punar vāyur ivābhrapūgān
 21 tato 'vahan saindhavāḥ sādhu dāntā; gokṣīrakundendu himaprakāśāḥ
     suvarṇajālāvatatāḥ sadaśvā; yato yataḥ kāmayate nṛsiṃhaḥ
 22 athātmajās te sahitābhipetur; anye ca yodhās tvaritās tvadīyāḥ
     kṛtvā mukhaṃ bhārata yodhamukhyaṃ; duḥśāsanaṃ tvatsutam ājamīḍha
 23 te sarvataḥ saṃparivārya saṃkhye; śaineyam ājaghnur anīka sāhāḥ
     sa cāpi tān pravaraḥ sātvatānāṃ; nyavārayad bāṇajālena vīraḥ
 24 nivārya tāṃs tūrṇam amitraghātī; naptā śineḥ patribhir agnikalpaiḥ
     duḥśāsanasyāpi jaghāna vāhān; udyamya bāṇāsanam ājamīḍha

 

SECTION CXV

"Sanjaya said, 'Shooting clouds of arrows, all those warriors, accomplished in smiting, carefully, O monarch, encountered Yuyudhana. Drona struck him with seven and seventy shafts of great keenness. And Durmarshana struck him with a dozen, Duhsasana, struck him with ten shafts. And Vikarna also pierced him on the left side as also on the centre of the chest with thirty keen shafts equipped with Kanka feathers. And Durmukha struck him with ten shafts, and Duhsasana with eight, Chitrasena, O sire, pierced him with a couple of shafts. And Duryodhana, O king, and many other heroes, afflicted that mighty car-warrior with dense showers of shafts in that battle. Though checked on all sides by those mighty car-warriors, viz., thy sons, Yuyudhana of Vrishni's race pierced each of them separately with his straight shafts. Indeed, he pierced the son of Bharadwaja with three shafts, and Duhsasana with nine, and Vikarna with five and twenty, and Chitrasena with seven, and Durmarshana with a dozen, and Vivinsati with eight, and Satyavrata with nine, and Vijaya with ten shafts. And having pierced Rukmangada also that mighty car-warrior, viz., Satyaki, shaking his bow, speedily proceeded against thy son (Duryodhana). And Yuyudhana, in the sight of all men, deeply pierced with his arrows the king, that greatest of car-warriors in the whole world. Then commenced a battle between those two. Both shooting keen arrows and both aiming countless shafts, each of those mighty car-warriors made the other invisible in that battle. And Satyaki, pierced by the Kuru king, looked exceedingly
p. 243
resplendent as blood copiously ran adown his body, like a sandal tree shedding its juicy secretions. Thy son also pierced by Satwata with clouds of shafts, looked beautiful like a stake set up (at a sacrifice) decked all over with gold. Then Madhava, O king, in that battle, cut off with razor-faced arrow, smiling the while, the bow of the Kuru king. And then he pierced the bowless king with countless arrows. Pierced with arrows by that foe of great activity, the king could not brook this indication of the enemy's success. Duryodhana then, taking up another formidable bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, speedily pierced Satyaki with a hundred arrows. Deeply pierced by thy mighty son armed with the bow, Yuyudhana became inflamed with wrath and began to afflict thy son. Beholding the king thus afflicted, thy sons, those mighty car-warriors, shrouded Satyaki with dense showers of arrows, shot with great force. Whilst being thus shrouded by those mighty car-warriors, viz., thy multitude of sons, Yuyudhana pierced each of them with five arrows, and once more with seven. And soon he pierced Duryodhana with eight swift arrows and, smiling the while, cut off the latter's bow that frightened all foes. And with a few arrows he also felled the king's standard adorned with a jewelled elephant. And slaying then the four steeds of Duryodhana with four arrows, the illustrious Satyaki felled the king's charioteer with a razor-faced shaft. Meanwhile, Yuyudhana, filled with joy, pierced the mighty car-warrior, viz., the Kuru king, with many arrows capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Then, O king, thy son Duryodhana, while being thus struck in that battle with those excellent arrows of Sini's grandson, suddenly fled away. And the king, quickly mounted the car of Chitrasena, armed with the bow. Beholding the king thus attacked by Satyaki in battle, and reduced to the position of Soma in the firmament while seized by Rahu, cries of woe arose from every section of the Kuru host. Hearing that uproar, the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman quickly proceeded to that spot where the puissant Madhava. was battling. And Kritavarman proceeded, shaking his bow, and urging his steeds, and urging his charioteer with the words, 'Go with speed, Go with speed!' Beholding Kritavarman rushing towards him like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth, Yuyudhana, O king, addressed his driver, saying, 'That Kritavarman, armed with arrows, is rushing in his car towards me with speed. Then, with his steeds urged to their greatest speed, and on his car duly equipped, Satyaki came upon the ruler of the Bhojas, the foremost of all bowmen. Then those two tigers among men, both inflamed with rage, and both resembling fire encountered each other like two tigers endued with great activity. Kritavarman pierced Sini's grandson with six and twenty whetted arrows of keen points, and the latter's driver with five arrows. And skilled in battle, the son of Hridika pierced, with four mighty shafts, the four excellent and well-broken steeds of Satyaki that were of the Sindhu breed. Owning a standard decked with gold, and adorned with golden mail, Kritavarman, shaking his formidable bow, whose staff was decked with gold, thus checked, Yuyudhana with shafts equipped with golden wings. Then the grandson of Sini, desirous of seeing
p. 244
[paragraph continues] Dhananjaya, sped with great activity eight arrows at Kritavarman. That scorcher of foes, then, deeply pierced by that mighty foe,--that invincible warrior,--began to tremble like a hill during an earthquake. After this, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, speedily pierced Kritavarman's four steeds with three and sixty keen arrows, and his driver also with seven. Indeed, Satyaki, then aiming another arrow of golden wings, that emitted blazing flames and resembled an angry snake, or the rod of the Destroyer himself, pierced Kritavarman. That terrible arrow, penetrating through his antagonist's effulgent armour decked with gold, entered the earth, dyed with blood. Afflicted with the shafts of Satwata, and bathed in blood in that battle, Kritavarman throwing aside his bow with arrow, fell upon his car. That lion-toothed hero of immeasurable prowess, that bull among men, afflicted by Satyaki with his arrows, fell on his knees upon the terrace of his car. Having thus resisted Kritavarman who resembled the thousand-armed Arjuna of old, or Ocean himself of immeasurable might, Satyaki proceeded onwards. Passing through Kritavarman's division bristling with swords and darts and bows, and abounding in elephants and steeds and cars, and out of the ground rendered awful in consequence of the blood shed by foremost Kshatriyas numbering by hundreds, that bull among the Sinis proceeded onwards in the very sight of all the troops, like the slayer of Vritra through the Asura array. Meanwhile, the mighty son of Hridika, taking up another huge bow, stayed where he was, resisting Pandavas in battle.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 116

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tad udyataṃ mahābāhuṃ duḥśāsana rathaṃ prati
      tvaritaṃ tvaraṇīyeṣu dhanaṃjaya hitaiṣiṇam
  2 trigartānāṃ maheṣvāsāḥ suvarṇavikṛtadhvajāḥ
      senā samudram āviṣṭam ānartaṃ paryavārayan
  3 athainaṃ rathavaṃśena sarvataḥ saṃnivārya te
      avākirañ śaravrātaiḥ kruddhāḥ paramadhanvinaḥ
  4 ajayad rājaputrāṃs tān yatamānān mahāraṇe
      ekaḥ pañcāśataṃ śatrūn sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
  5 saṃprāpya bhāratīmadhyaṃ talaghoṣasamākulam
      asi śaktigadā pūrṇam aplavaṃ salilaṃ yathā
  6 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma śaineya caritaṃ raṇe
      pratīcyāṃ diśi taṃ dṛṣṭvā prācyāṃ paśyāma lāghavāt
  7 udīcīṃ dakṣiṇāṃ prācīṃ pratīcīṃ prasṛtas tathā
      nṛtyann ivācarac chūro yathā rathaśataṃ tathā
  8 tad dṛṣṭvā caritaṃ tasya siṃhavikrānta gāminaḥ
      trigartāḥ saṃnyavartanta saṃtaptāḥ svajanaṃ prati
  9 tam anye śūrasenānāṃ śūrāḥ saṃkhye nyavārayan
      niyacchantaḥ śaravrātair mattaṃ dvipam ivāṅkuśaiḥ
  10 tan nyavārayad āyastān muhūrtam iva sātyakiḥ
     tataḥ kaliṅgair yuyudhe so 'cintyabalavikramaḥ
 11 tāṃ ca senām atikramya kaliṅgānāṃ duratyayām
     atha pārthaṃ mahābāhur dhanaṃjayam upāsadat
 12 tarann iva jale śrānto yathā sthalam upeyivān
     taṃ dṛṣṭvā puruṣavyāghraṃ yuyudhānaḥ samāśvasat
 13 tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya keśavo 'rjunam abravīt
     asāv āyāti śaineyas tava pārtha padānugaḥ
 14 eṣa śiṣyaḥ sakhā caiva tava satyaparākramaḥ
     sarvān yodhāṃs tṛṇī kṛtyavijigye puruṣarṣabhaḥ
 15 eṣa kaurava yodhānāṃ kṛtvā ghoram upadravam
     tava prāṇaiḥ priyataraḥ kirīṭin neti sātyakiḥ
 16 eṣa droṇaṃ tathā bhojaṃ kṛtavarmāṇam eva ca
     kadarthī kṛtyaviśikaiḥ phalgunābhyeti sātyakiḥ
 17 dharmarāja priyānveṣī hatvā yodhān varān varān
     śūraś caiva kṛtāstraś ca phalgunābhyeti sātyakiḥ
 18 kṛtvā suduṣkaraṃ karma sainyamadhye mahābalaḥ
     tava darśanam anvicchan pāṇḍavābhyeti sātyakiḥ
 19 bahūn ekarathenājau yodhayitvā mahārathān
     ācārya pramukhān pārtha āyāty eṣa hi sātyakiḥ
 20 svabāhubalam āśritya vidārya ca varūthinīm
     preṣito dharmaputreṇa parthaiṣo 'bhyeti sātyakiḥ
 21 yasya nāsit samo yodhaḥ kauraveṣu kathaṃcanan
     so 'yam āyāti kaunteya sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
 22 kurusainyād vimukto vai siṃho madhyād gavām iva
     nihatya bahulāḥ senāḥ pārthaiṣo 'bhyeti sātyakiḥ
 23 eṣa rājasahasrāṇāṃ vaktraiḥ paṅkaja saṃnibhaiḥ
     āstīrya vasudhāṃ pārtha kṣipram āyāti sātyakiḥ
 24 eṣa duryodhanaṃ jitvā bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaṃ raṇe
     nihatya jalasaṃdhaṃ ca kṣipram āyāti sātyakiḥ
 25 rudhiraughavatīṃ kṛtvā nadīṃ śoṇitakardamām
     tṛṇavan nyasya kauravyān eṣa ādāti sātyakiḥ
 26 tato 'prahṛṣṭaḥ kaunteyaḥ keśavaṃ vākyam abravīt
     na me priyaṃ mahābāho yan mām abhyeti sātyakiḥ
 27 na hi jānāmi vṛttāntaṃ dharmarājasya keśava
     sātvatena vihīnaḥ sa yadi jīvati vāna vā
 28 etena hi mahābāho rakṣitavyaḥ sa pārthivaḥ
     tam eṣa katham utsṛjya mama kṛṣṇa padānugaḥ
 29 rājā droṇāya cotsṛṣṭaḥ saindhavaś cānipātitaḥ
     pratyudyātaś ca śaineyam eṣa bhūriśravā raṇe
 30 so 'yaṃ gurutaro bhāraḥ saindhavān me samāhitaḥ
     jñātavyaś ca hi me rājā rakṣitavyaś ca sātyakiḥ
 31 jayadrathaś ca hantavyo lambate ca divākaraḥ
     śrāntaś caiṣa mahābāhur alpaprāṇaś ca sāṃpratam
 32 pariśrāntā hayāś cāsya hayayantā ca mādhava
     na ca bhūriśravāḥ śrāntaḥ sa sahāyaś ca keśava
 33 apīdānīṃ bhaved asya kṣemam asmin samāgame
     kac cin na sāgaraṃ tīrtvā sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
     goṣpadaṃ prāpya sīdeta mahaujāḥ śinipuṃgavaḥ
 34 api kaurava mukhyena kṛtāstreṇa mahātmanā
     sametya bhūriśravasā svastimān sātyakir bhavet
 35 vyatikramam imaṃ manye dharmarājasya keśava
     ācāryād bhayam utsṛjya yaḥ preṣayati sātyakim
 36 grahaṇaṃ dharmarājasya khagaḥ śyena ivāmiṣam
     nityam āśaṃsate droṇaḥ kac cit syāt kuśalī nṛpaḥ

 

SECTION CXVI

"Sanjaya said, 'While the (Kuru) host was shaken by the grandson of Sini in these places (through which he proceeded), the son of Bharadwaja covered him with a dense shower of arrows. The encounter that then took place between Drona and Satwata in the very sight of all the troops was extremely fierce, like that between Vali and Vasava (in days of old). Then Drona pierced the grandson of Sini on the forehead with three beautiful arrows made entirely of iron and resembling' snakes of virulent poison. Thus pierced on the forehead with those straight shafts, Yuyudhana, O king, looked beautiful like a mountain with three summits. The son of Bharadwaja always on the alert for an opportunity, then sped in that battle many other arrows of Satyaki which resembled the roar of Indra's thunder. Then he of Dasarha's race, acquainted with the highest weapons, cut off all those arrows shot from Drona's bow, with two beautifully winged arrows of his. Beholding that lightness of hand (in Satyaki), Drona, O king, smiling the while, suddenly pierced that bull among the Sinis with thirty arrows. Surpassing by his own lightness the lightness of Yuyudhana,
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[paragraph continues] Drona, once more, pierced the latter with fifty arrows and then with a hundred. Indeed, those mangling arrows, O king, issued from Drona's car, like vigorous snakes in wrath issuing through an ant-hill. Similarly, blood-drinking arrows shot by Yuyudhana in hundreds and thousands covered the car of Drona. We did not mark any difference, however, between the lightness of hand displayed by that foremost of regenerate ones and that displayed by him of the Satwata race. Indeed, in this respect, both those bulls among men were equal. Then Satyaki, inflamed with wrath, struck Drona with nine straight arrows. And he struck Drona's standard also with many sharp shafts. And in the sight of Bharadwaja's son, he pierced the latter's driver also with a hundred arrows. Beholding the lightness of hand displayed by Yuyudhana, the mighty car-warrior Drona piercing Yuyudhana's driver with seventy shafts, and each of his (four) steeds with three, cut off with a single arrow the standard that stood on Madhava's car. With another broad-headed arrow, equipped with feathers and with wings of gold, he cut off in that battle the bow of that illustrious hero of Madhu's race. Thereupon, the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, excited with wrath, laid aside that, taking up a huge mace, hurled it at the son of Bharadwaja. Drona, however, with many arrows of diverse forms, resisted that mace, made of iron and twined round with strings, as it coursed impetuously towards him. Then Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, took up another bow and pierced the heroic son of Bharadwaja with many arrows whetted on stone. Piercing Drona thereby in that battle, Yuyudhana uttered a leonine shout. Drona, however, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, was unable to brook that roar. Taking up a dart made of iron and equipped with golden staff Drona sped it quickly at the car of Madhava. That dart, however, fatal as Death, without touching the grandson of Sini, pierced through the latter's car and entered the earth with a fierce noise. The grandson of Sini then, O king, pierced Drona with many winged arrows. Indeed, striking him on the right arm, Satyaki, O bull of Bharata's race, afflicted him greatly. Drona also, in that battle, O king, cut off the huge bow of Madhava with a crescent-shaped arrow and smote the latter's driver with a dart. Struck with that dart, Yuyudhana's driver swooned away and for a while lay motionless on the terrace of the car. Then, O Monarch, Satyaki, acting as his own driver, achieved a superhuman feat, inasmuch as he continued to fight with Drona and hold the reins himself. Then the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana struck that Brahmana with a hundred arrows in that battle, and rejoiced exceedingly, O monarch, at the feat he had achieved. Then Drona, O Bharata, sped at Satyaki five arrows. Those fierce arrows, piercing Satyaki's armour, drank his blood in that battle. Thus pierced with those frightful arrows, Satyaki became inflamed with wrath. In return, that hero shot many shafts at him of the golden car. Then felling on the earth with a single shaft, the driver of Drona, he caused next, with his arrows, those driverless steeds of his antagonist to fly away. Thereupon that car was dragged to a distance. Indeed, the bright chariot of Drona, O king, began to trace a thousand circles in
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the field of battle like a sun in motion. Then all the kings and princes (of the Kaurava host) made a loud uproar, exclaiming, 'Run, Rush, Seize the steeds of Drona.' Quickly abandoning Satyaki in that battle, O monarch, all those mighty car-warriors rushed to the place where Drona was. Beholding those car-warriors run away afflicted with the arrows of Satyaki, thy troops once more broke down and became exceedingly cheerless. Meanwhile, Drona, once more proceeding to the gate of the array, took up his station there, borne away (from Satyaki's presence) by those steeds, fleet as the wind, that had been, afflicted with the shafts of the Vrishni hero. The valiant son of Bharadwaja, beholding the array broken (in his absence) by the Pandavas and the Panchalas, made no endeavour to follow the grandson of Sini, but employed himself in protecting his (broken) array. Checking the Pandavas and the Panchalas then, the Drona fire, blazing up in wrath stayed there, consuming everything, like the sun that rises at the end of the Yuga.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 117

 

 

1 [s]
      tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya sātvataṃ yuddhadurmadam
      krodhād bhūriśravā rājan sahasā samupādravat
  2 tam abravīn mahābāhuḥ kauravyaḥ śinipuṃgavam
      adya prāpto 'si diṣṭyā me cakṣurviṣayam ity uta
  3 cirābhilaṣitaṃ kāmam adya prāpsyāmi saṃyuge
      na hi me mokṣyase jīvan yadi notsejase raṇam
  4 adya tvāṃ samare hatvā nityaṃ śūrābhimāninam
      nandayiṣyāmi dāśārha kururājaṃ suyodhanam
  5 adya madbāṇanirdagdhaṃ patitaṃ dharaṇītale
      drakṣyatas tvāṃ raṇe vīrau sahitau keśavārjunau
  6 adya dharmasuto rājā śrutvā tvāṃ nihataṃ mayā
      savrīḍo bhavitā sadyo yenāsīha praveśitaḥ
  7 adya me vikramaṃ pārtho vijñāsyati dhanaṃjayaḥ
      tvayi bhūmau vinihate śayāne rudhirokṣite
  8 cirābhilaṣite hy adya tvayā saha samāgamaḥ
      purā devāsure yuddhe śakrasya balinā yathā
  9 adya yuddhaṃ mahāghoraṃ tava dāsyāmi sātvata
      tato jñāsyasi tattvena madvīryabalapauruṣam
  10 adya saṃyamanī yātā mayā tvaṃ nihato raṇe
     yathā rāmānujenājau rāvaṇir lakṣmaṇena vai
 11 adya kṛṣṇaś ca pārthaś ca dharmarājaś ca mādhava
     hate tvayi nirutsāhā raṇaṃ tyakṣyanty asaṃśayam
 12 adya te 'pacitiṃ kṛtvā śitair mādhava sāyakaiḥ
     tat striyo nandayiṣyāmi ye tvayā nihatā raṇe
 13 cakṣurviṣayasaṃprāpto na tvaṃ mādhava mokṣyase
     siṃhasya viṣayaṃ prāpto yathā kṣudramṛgas tathā
 14 yuyudhānas tu taṃ rājan pratyuvāca hasann iva
     kauraveya na saṃtrāso vidyate mama saṃyuge
 15 sa māṃ nihanyāt saṃgrāme yo māṃ kuryān nirāyudham
     samās tu śāśvatīr hanyād yo māṃ hanyād dhi saṃyuge
 16 kiṃ mṛṣoktena bahunā karmaṇā tu samācara
     śāradasyeva meghasya garjitaṃ niṣphalaṃ hi te
 17 śrutvaitad garjitaṃ vīra hāsyaṃ hi mama jāyate
     cirakālepsitaṃ loke yuddham adyāstu kaurava
 18 tvarate me matis tāta tvayi yuddhābhikāṅkṣiṇi
     nāhatvā saṃnivartiṣye tvām adya puruṣādhama
 19 anyonyaṃ tau tadā vāgbhis takṣantau narapuṅgavau
     jighāṃsū paramakruddhāv abhijaghnatur āhave
 20 sametau tau naravyāghrau śuṣmiṇau spardhinau raṇe
     dviradāv iva saṃkruddhau vāśitārthe madotkaṭau
 21 bhīri śravāḥ sātyakiś ca vavarṣatur ariṃdamau
     śaravarṣāṇi bhīmāni meghāv iva parasparam
 22 saumadattis tu śaineyaṃ pracchādyeṣubhir āśugaiḥ
     jighāṃsur bharataśreṣṭha vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 23 daśabhiḥ sātyakiṃ viddhvā saumadattir athāparān
     mumoca niśitān bāṇāñ jighāṃsuḥ śinipuṃgavam
 24 tān asya viśikhāṃs tīkṣṇān antarikṣe viśāṃ pate
     aprāptān astramāyābhir agrasat sātyakiḥ prabho
 25 tau pṛthak śaravarṣābhyām avarṣetāṃ parasparam
     uttamābhijanau vīrau kuru vṛṣṇiyaśaḥ karau
 26 tau nakhair iva śārdūlau dantair iva mahādvipau
     raktaśaktibhir anyonyaṃ dantair iva mahādvipau
     rathaśaktibhir anyonyaṃ viśikhaiś cāpy akṛntatām
 27 nirbhidantau hi gātrāṇi vikṣarantau ca śoṇitam
     vyaṣṭambhayetām anyonyaṃ prāṇadyūtābhidevinau
 28 evam uttamakarmāṇau kuru vṛṣṇiyaśaḥ karau
     parasparam ayudhyetāṃ vāraṇāv iva yūthapau
 29 tāv adīrgheṇa kālena brahmalokapuraskṛtau
     jigīṣantau paraṃ sthānam anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
 30 sātyakiḥ saumadattiś ca śaravṛṣṭyā parasparam
     hṛṣṭavad dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ paśyatāma bhyavarṣatām
 31 saṃpraikṣanta janās tatra yudhyamānau yudhāṃ patī
     yūthapau vāśitā hetoḥ prayuddhāv iva kuñjarau
 32 anyonyasya hayān hatvā dhanuṣī vinikṛtya ca
     virathāv asiyuddhāya sameyātāṃ mahāraṇe
 33 ārṣabhe carmaṇī citre pragṛhya vipule śubhe
     vikośau cāpy asī kṛtvā samare tau viceratuḥ
 34 carantau vividhān mārgān maṇḍalāni ca bhāgaśaḥ
     muhur ājaghnatuḥ kruddhāv anyonyam arimardanau
 35 sa khaḍgau citravarmāṇau sa niṣkāṅgadabhūṣaṇau
     raṇe raṇotkaṭau rājann anyonyaṃ paryakarṣatām
 36 muhūrtam iva rājendra parikṛṣya parasparam
     paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ vīrāv āśvasatāṃ punaḥ
 37 asibhyāṃ carmaṇī śubhre vipule ca śarāvare
     nikṛtya puruṣavyāghrau bāhuyuddhaṃ pracakratuḥ
 38 vyūḍhoraskau dīrghabhujau niyuddha kuśalāv ubhau
     bāhubhiḥ samasajjetām āyasaiḥ parighair iva
 39 tayor āsan bhujāgātā nigrahapragrahau tathā
     śikṣā balasamudbhūtāḥ sarvayodhapraharṣaṇāḥ
 40 tayor nṛvarayo rājan samare yudhyamānayoḥ
     bhīmo 'bhavan mahāśabdo vajraparvatayor iva
 41 dvipāv iva viṣāṇāgraiḥ śṛṅgair iva maharṣabhau
     yuyudhāte mahātmānau kuru sātvata puṃgavau
 42 kṣīṇāyudhe sātvate yudhyamāne; tato 'bravīd arjunaṃ vāsudevaḥ
     paśyasvainaṃ virathaṃ yudhyamānaṃ; raṇe ketuṃ sarvadhanurdharāṇām
 43 praviṣṭo bhāratīṃ senāṃ tava pāṇḍava pṛṣṭhataḥ
     yodhitaś ca mahāvīryaiḥ sarvair bhārata bhārataiḥ
 44 pariśrānto yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ saṃprāpto bhūridakṣiṇam
     yuddhakāṅkṣiṇam āyāntaṃ naitat samam ivārjuna
 45 tato bhūriśravāḥ kruddhāḥ sātyakiṃ yuddhadurmadam
     udyamya nyahanad rājan matto mattam iva dvipam
 46 rathasthayor dvayor yuddhe kruddhayor yodhamukhyayoḥ
     keśavārjunayo rājan samare prekṣamāṇayoḥ
 47 atha kṛṣṇo mahābāhur arjunaṃ pratyabhāṣata
     paśya vṛṣṇyandhakavyāghraṃ saumadatti vaśaṃgatam
 48 pariśrāntaṃ gataṃ bhūmau kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram
     tavāntevāsinaṃ śūraṃ pālayārjuna sātyakim
 49 na vaśaṃ yajñaśīlasya gacched eṣa varārihan
     tvatkṛte puruṣavyāghra tad āśu kriyatāṃ vibho
 50 athābravīd dhṛṣṭamanā vāsudevaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
     paśya vṛṣṇipravīreṇa krīḍantaṃ kurupuṃgavam
     mahādvipeneva vane mattena hariyūthapam
 51 hāhākāro mahān āsīt sainyānāṃ bharatarṣabha
     yad udyamya mahābāhuḥ sātyakiṃ nyahanad bhuvi
 52 sa siṃha iva mātaṅgaṃ vikarṣan bhūridakṣiṇaḥ
     vyarocata kuruśreṣṭhaḥ sātvata pravaraṃ yudhi
 53 atha kośād viniṣkṛṣya khaḍgaṃ bhūriśravā raṇe
     mūrdhajeṣu nijagrāha padā corasy atāḍayat
 54 tathā tu parikṛṣyantaṃ dṛṣṭvā sātvatam āhave
     vāsudevas tato rājan bhūyo 'rjunam abhāṣata
 55 paśya vṛṣṇyandhakavyāghraṃ saumadatti vaśaṃgatam
     tava śiṣyaṃ mahābāho dhanuṣy anavaraṃ tvayā
 56 asatyo vikramaḥ pārtha yatra bhūriśravā raṇe
     iśeṣayati vārṣṇeyaṃ sātyakiṃ satyavikramam
 57 evam ukto mahābāhur vāsudevena pāṇḍavaḥ
     manasā pūjayām āsa bhūriśravasam āhave
 58 vikarṣan satvata śreṣṭhaṃ krīḍamāna ivāhave
     saṃharṣayati māṃ bhūyaḥ kurūṇāṃ kīrtivardhanaḥ
 59 pravaraṃ vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ yan na hanyād dhi sātyakim
     mahādvipam ivāraṇye mṛgendra iva karṣati
 60 evaṃ tu manasā rājan pārthaḥ saṃpūjya kauravam
     vāsudevaṃ mahābāhur arjunaḥ pratyabhāṣata
 61 saindhavāsaktadṛṣṭitvān nainaṃ paśyāmi mādhava
     eṣa tv asukaraṃ karma yādavārthe karomy aham
 62 ity uktvā vacanaṃ kurvan vāsudevasya pāṇḍavaḥ
     sa khaḍgaṃ yajñaśīlasya patriṇā bāhum acchinat

 

SECTION CXVII

"Sanjaya said, 'Having vanquished Drona and other warriors of thy army, headed by the son of Haridika, that foremost of men, viz., that bull amongst the Sinis, O foremost one of the Kurus, laughing said unto his charioteer, 'Our foes, O Suta, had already been consumed by Kesava and Phalguna. In vanquishing them (again), we have only been the (ostensible) means. Already slain by that bull among men, viz., the son of the celestial chief, we have but slain the dead.' Saying these words unto his charioteer, that bull amongst the Sinis, that foremost of bowmen, that slayer of hostile heroes, that mighty warrior, scattering with great force his arrows all around in that dreadful battle, proceeded like a hawk in search of prey. The Kuru warriors, although they attacked him from all sides, succeeded not in resisting that foremost of car-warriors, resembling the sun himself of a thousand rays, that foremost of men, who, having pierced the Kaurava ranks, was proceeding, borne by those excellent steeds of his that were white as the moon or a conch. Indeed, O Bharata, none amongst those that fought on thy side could resist Yuyudhana of irresistible prowess, of might incapable of impairment, of valour equal to that Of him of a thousand eyes, and looking like the autumnal sun in the firmament. Then that foremost of kings, viz., Sudarsana, conversant with all modes of warfare, clad in golden coat of mail, armed with bow and arrows and filled with rage, advanced against the rushing Satyaki and endeavoured to check his course. Then the encounter that took place between them was fierce in the extreme. And both thy warriors and the Somakas, O king highly applauded the encounter as between Vritra and
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[paragraph continues] Vasava. Sudarsana endeavoured to pierce that foremost one of the Satwata's in that battle with hundreds of keen shafts before they could reach him. Similarly, Sudarsana, stationed on his foremost of cars, cut off, by means of his own excellent shafts in two or three fragments all the shafts that Satyaki, resembling Indra himself, sped at him. Beholding his shafts baffled by the force of Satyaki's shafts, Sudarsana of fierce energy, as if to consume (his foe), wrathfully shot beautiful arrows winged with gold. And once more he pierced his enemy with three beautiful arrows resembling fire itself and equipped with wings of gold, shot from his bow-string drawn to the ear. Those piercing through Satyaki's armour, penetrated into the latter's body. Similarly, that (prince, viz., Sudarsana), aiming four other blazing arrows, smote therewith the four steeds of Satyaki that were white as silver in hue. Thus afflicted by him the grandson of Sini, endued with great activity and possessed of prowess equal to that of Indra himself speedily slew with his keen shafts the steeds of Sudarsana and uttered a loud roar. Then cutting off with a broad-headed arrow endued with the force of Sakra's thunder, the head of Sudarsana's driver, the foremost one amongst the Sinis. with a razor-faced arrow resembling the Yuga-fire, cut off from Sudarsana's trunk his head graced with ear-rings, resembling the moon at full, and decked with an exceedingly radiant face, like the wielder of the thunder, O king, in days of old, forcibly cutting off the head of the mighty Vala in battle. That high-souled bull among the Yadus then, endued with great activity thus slaying that grandson of a prince, became filled with delight and shone resplendent, O monarch, like the chief of the celestials himself. Yuyudhana, then, that hero among men, proceeded along the track by which Arjuna had passed before him, checking (as he went) by means of clouds of shafts, all thy troops, and riding on that same car of his, O king, unto which were yoked those excellent steeds and filling everybody with amazement. All the foremost of warriors there, assembled together, applauded that foremost of amazing feats achieved by him, for he consumed all foes that came within reach of his arrows, like a conflagration consuming everything in its way.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 118

 

 

 

1 [s]
      sa bāhur apatad bhūmau sa khaḍgaḥ sa śubhāṅgadaḥ
      ādadhaj jīvalokasya duḥkham uttamam uttamaḥ
  2 prahariṣyan hṛto bāhur adṛśyena kirīṭinā
      vegenābhyapatad bhūmau pañcāsya iva pannagaḥ
  3 sa moghaṃ kṛtam ātmānaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthena kauravaḥ
      utsṛjya sātyakiṃ krodhād garhayām āsa pāṇḍavam
  4 nṛśaṃsaṃ bata kaunteya karmedaṃ kṛtavān asi
      apaśyato viṣaktasya yan me bāhum acicchidaḥ
  5 kiṃ nu vakṣyasi rājānaṃ dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      kiṃ kurvāṇo mayā saṃkhye hato bhūriśravā iti
  6 idam indreṇa te sākṣād upadiṣṭaṃ mahātmanā
      astraṃ rudreṇa vā pārtha droṇenātha kṛpeṇa vā
  7 nanu nāma svadharmajñas tvaṃ loke 'bhyadhikaḥ paraiḥ
      ayudhyamānasya kathaṃ raṇe prahṛta vān asi
  8 na pramattāya bhītāya virathāya prayācate
      vyasane vartamānāya praharanti manasvinaḥ
  9 idaṃ tu nīcācaritam asat puruṣasevitam
      katham ācaritaṃ pārtha tvayā karma suduṣkaram
  10 āryeṇa sukaraṃ hy āhur ārya karma dhanaṃjaya
     anāryakarma tv āryeṇa suduṣkarataraṃ bhuvi
 11 yeṣu yeṣu naraḥ pārtha yatra yatra ca vartate
     āśu tac chīlatām eti tad idaṃ tvayi dṛśyate
 12 kathaṃ hi rājavaṃśyas tvaṃ kauraveyo viśeṣataḥ
     kṣatradharmād apakrāntaḥ suvṛttaś caritavrataḥ
 13 idaṃ tu yad atikṣudraṃ vārṣṇeyārthe kṛtaṃ tvayā
     vāsudeva mataṃ nūnaṃ naitat tvayy upapadyate
 14 ko hi nāma pramattāya pareṇa saha yudhyate
     īdṛśaṃ vyasanaṃ dadyād yo na kṛṣṇa sakho bhavet
 15 vrātyāḥ saṃśliṣṭa karmāṇaḥ prakṛtyaiva vigarhitāḥ
     vṛṣṇyandhakāḥ kathaṃ pārtha pramāṇaṃ bhavatā kṛtāḥ
 16 evam uktvā mahābāhur yūpaketur mahāyaśāḥ
     yuyudhānaṃ parityajya raṇe prāyam upāviśat
 17 śarān āstīrya savyena pāṇinā puṇyalakṣaṇaḥ
     yiyāsur brahmalokāya prāṇān prāṇeṣv athājuhot
 18 sūrye cakṣuḥ samādhāya prasannaṃ salile manaḥ
     dhyāyan mahopaniṣadaṃ yogayukto 'bhavan muniḥ
 19 tataḥ sa sarvasenāyāṃ janaḥ kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
     garhayām āsa taṃ cāpi śaśaṃsa puruṣarṣabham
 20 nindyamānau tathā kṛṣṇau nocatuḥ kiṃ cid apriyam
     praśasyamānaś ca tathā nāhṛṣyad yūpaketanaḥ
 21 tāṃr athā vādino rājan putrāṃs tava dhanaṃjayaḥ
     amṛṣyamāṇo manasā teṣāṃ tasya ca bhāṣitam
 22 asaṃkruddha manā vācā smārayann iva bhārata
     uvāca pāṇḍutanayaḥ sākṣepam iva phalgunaḥ
 23 mama sarve 'pi rājāno jānanty etan mahāvratam
     na śakyo māmako hantuṃ yo me syād bāṇagocare
 24 yūpaketo samīkṣya tvaṃ na māṃ garhitum arhasi
     na hi dharmam avijñāya yuktaṃ garhayituṃ param
 25 āttaśastrasya hi raṇe vṛṣṇivīraṃ jighāṃsataḥ
     yad ahaṃ bāhum acchaitsaṃ na sa dharmo vigarhitaḥ
 26 nyastaśastrasya bālasya virathasya vivarmaṇaḥ
     abhimanyor vadhaṃ tāta dhārmikaḥ ko na pūjayet
 27 evam uktas tu pārthena śirasā bhūmim aspṛśat
     pāṇinā caiva savyena prāhiṇod asya dakṣiṇam
 28 etat pārthasya tu vacas tatha śrutvā mahādyutiḥ
     yūpaketur mahārāja tūṣṇīm āsīd avāṅmukhaḥ
 29 [arj]
     yā prīrid dharmarāje me bhīme ca varadāṃ vare
     nakule sahadeve ca sā me tvayi śalāgraja
 30 mayā tu samanujñātaḥ kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā
     gaccha puṇyakṛtāṁl lokāñ śibirauśīnarau yathā
 31 [s]
     tata utthāya śaineyo vimuktaḥ saumadattinā
     khaḍgam ādāya cicchitsuḥ śiras tasya mahātmanaḥ
 32 nihataṃ pāṇḍuputreṇa pramattaṃ bhūridakṣiṇam
     iyeṣa sātyakir hantuṃ śalāgrajam akalmaṣam
 33 nikṛttabhujam āsīnaṃ chinnahastam iva dvipam
     krośatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ nindyamānaḥ sudurmanāḥ
 34 vāryamāṇaḥ sa kṛṣṇena pārthena ca mahātmanā
     bhīmena cakrarakṣābhyām aśvatthāmnā kṛpeṇa ca
 35 karṇena vṛṣasenena saindhavena tathaiva ca
     vikrośatāṃ ca sainyānām avadhīt taṃ yatavratam
 36 prāyopaviṣṭāya raṇe pārthena chinnabāhave
     sātyakiḥ kauravendrāya khaḍgenāpāharac chiraḥ
 37 nābhyanandanta tat sainyāḥ sātyakiṃ tena karmaṇā
     arjunena hataṃ pūrvaṃ yaj jaghāna kurūdvaham
 38 sahasrākṣasamaṃ tatra siddhacāraṇamānavāḥ
     bhūriśravasam ālokya yuddhe prāyagataṃ hatam
 39 apūjayanta taṃ devā vismitās tasya karmabhiḥ
     pakṣavādāṃś ca bahuśaḥ prāvadaṃs tasya sainikāḥ
 40 na vārṣṇeyasyāparādho bhavitavyaṃ hi tat tathā
     tasmān manyur na vaḥ kāryaḥ krodho duḥkhakaro nṛṇām
 41 hantavyaś caiṣa vīreṇa nātra kāryā vicāraṇā
     vihito hy asya dhātraiva mṛtyuḥ sātyakir āhave
 42 [sātyaki]
     na hantavyo na hantavya iti yan māṃ prabhāṣatha
     dharmavādair adharmiṣṭhā dharmakañcukam āsthitāḥ
 43 yadā bālaḥ subhadrāyāḥ sutaḥ śastravinākṛtaḥ
     yuṣmābhir nihato yuddhe tadā dharmaḥ kva vo gataḥ
 44 mayā tv etat pratijñātaṃ kṣepe kasmiṃś cid eva hi
     yo māṃ niṣpiṣya saṃgrāme jīvan hanyāt padā ruṣā
     sa me vadhyo bhavec chatrur yady api syān munivrataḥ
 45 ceṣṭamānaṃ pratīghāte sa bhujaṃ māṃ sa cakṣuṣaḥ
     manyadhvaṃ mṛtam ity evam etad vo buddhilāghavam
     yukto hy asya pratīghātaḥ kṛto me kurupuṃgavāḥ
 46 yat tu pārthena mat snehāt svāṃ pratijñāṃ ca rakṣatā
     sa khaḍgo 'sya hṛto bāhur etenaivāsmi vañcitaḥ
 47 bhaviravyaṃ ca yad bhāvi daivaṃ ceṣṭayatīva ca
     so 'yaṃ hato vimarde 'smin kim atrādharmaceṣṭitam
 48 api cāyaṃ purā gītaḥ śloko vālmīkinā bhuvi
     pīḍākaram amitrāṇāṃ yat syāt kartavyam eva tat
 49 [s]
     evam ukte mahārāja sarve kaurava pāṇḍavāḥ
     na sma kiṃ cid abhāṣanta manasā samapūjayan
 50 mantrair hi pūtasya mahādhvareṣu; yaśasvino bhūrisahasradasya
     muner ivāraṇya gatasya tasya; na tatra kaś cid vadham abhyanandat
 51 sunīla keśaṃ varadasya tasya; śūrasya pārāvata lohitākṣam
     aśvasya medhyasya śiro nikṛttaṃ; nyastaṃ havirdhānam ivottareṇa
 52 sa tejasā śastrahatena pūto; mahāhave dehavaraṃ visṛjya
     ākrāmad ūrdhvaṃ varado varārho; vyāvṛtya dharmeṇa pareṇa rodasī

 

SECTION CXVIII

"Sanjaya said, 'Then that bull of Vrishni's race, viz., the high-souled Satyaki of great intelligence, having slain Sudarsana, once more addressed his driver, saying, Having forded through the almost unfordable ocean of Drona's division, teeming with cars and steeds and elephants, whose waves are constituted by arrows and darts, fishes by swords and scimitars and alligators by maces, which roar with the whiz of shafts and the clash of diverse weapons,--an ocean that is fierce and destructive of life,
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and resounds with the noise of diverse musical instruments, whose touch is unpleasant and unbearable to warriors of victory, and whose margin is infested with fierce cannibals represented by the force of Jalasandha.--I think, the portion of the array that remains may easily be forded like a poor stream of shallow water. Urge thou the steeds, therefore, without fear. I think, I am very near to Savyasachin. Having vanquished in battle the invincible Drona with his followers, and that foremost of warriors, viz., the son of Hridika, I think, I cannot be distant from Dhananjaya. Fear never comes to my heart even if I behold countless foes before me. These to me are like a heap of straw and grass to a blazing conflagration in the woods. Behold, the track by which the diadem-decked (Arjuna), that foremost one among the Pandavas, hath gone, is rendered uneven with large bodies of foot-soldiers and steeds and car-warriors and elephants lying slain on the ground. Behold, routed by that high-souled warrior, the Kaurava army is flying away. Behold, O charioteer, a dark brown dust is raised by those retreating cars and elephants and steeds. I think, I am very near to Arjuna of white steeds having Krishna for his charioteer. Hark, the well-known twang of Gandiva of immeasurable energy is being heard. From the character of the omens that appear to my view, I am sure that Arjuna will slay the ruler of the Sindhus before the sun sets. Without causing their strength to be spent, urge the steeds slowly to where those hostile ranks are staying, that is, to where yonder warriors headed by Duryodhana, their hands cased in leathern fences, and yonder Kamvojas of fierce deeds, clad in mail and difficult of being defeated in battle, and those Yavanas armed with bow and arrows and skilled in smiting, and under Sakas and Daradas and Barbaras and Tamraliptakas, and other countless Mlecchas, armed with diverse weapons, are,--to the spot (I repeat) where, indeed, yonder warriors headed by Duryodhana, their hands cased in leathern fences,--are waiting with their faces turned towards me and inspired with the resolution of battling with me. Regard me to have already passed through this fierce fastness, O Suta, having slain in battle all these combatants with cars and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers that are amongst them.'
"The charioteer, thus addressed, said, 'O thou of Vrishni's race, fear I have none, O thou of prowess that cannot be baffled! If thou hast before the Jamadagni's son himself in wrath, or Drona, that foremost of car-warriors, or the ruler of the Madras himself, even then fear doth not enter my heart, O thou of mighty arms, as long as I am under the shadow Of thy protection, O slayer of foes, countless Kamvojas, clad in mail, of fierce deeds, and difficult to defeat in battle, have already been vanquished by thee, as also many Yavanas armed with bow and arrows and accomplished in smiting, including Sakas and Daradas and Tamraliptakas, and many other Mlecchas armed with various weapons. Never before did I experience fear in any battle. Why shall I, therefore, O thou of great courage, experience any fear in this miserable fray? O thou that art blessed with length of days, by which way shall I take thee to where Dhananjaya is? With whom
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hast thou been angry, O thou of Vrishni's race? Who are they that will fly away from battle, beholding thee endued with such a prowess, resembling the Destroyer himself as he appears at the end of the Yuga, and putting forth that prowess of thine (against thy foes)? O thou of mighty arms, who are they of whom king Vaivaswata is thinking today?'
"Satyaki said, 'Like Vasava destroying the Danavas, I shall slay these warriors with shaved heads. By slaying these Kamvojas I will fulfil my vow. Bear me thither. Causing a great carnage amongst these, I shall today repair to the dear son of Pandu. The Kauravas, with Suyodhana at their head, will today behold my prowess, when this division of Mlecchas, of shaved heads, will have been exterminated and the whole Kaurava army put to the greatest distress. Hearing the loud wails of the Kaurava host, today, mangled and broken by me in battle Suyodhana will be inspired with grief. Today, I shall show unto my preceptor, the high-souled Pandava, of white steeds, the skill in weapons acquired by me from him. Beholding today thousands of foremost warriors slain with my arrows, king Duryodhana will be plunged into great grief. The Kauravas will today behold the bow in my hands to resemble a circle of fire when, light-handed, I will stretch the bowstring for shooting my host of shafts. Beholding the incessant slaughter of his troops today, their bodies covered with blood and pierced all over with my shafts, Suyodhana will be filled with grief. While I shall slay in wrath the foremost of Kuru warriors, Suyodhana will today behold to count two Arjunas. Beholding thousands of kings slain by me in battle, king Duryodhana will be filled with grief in today's great battle. Slaying thousands of kings today, I will show my love and devotion to those high-souled ones, viz., the royal sons of Pandu. The Kauravas will know today the measure of my might and energy, and my gratefulness (to the Pandavas).'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed, the charioteer urged to their utmost speed those well-trained coursers of delightful pace and of the hue of the moon. Those excellent animals, endued with the speed of the wind or thought, proceeded, devouring the very skies, and bore Yuyudhana to the spot where those Yavanas were. Thereupon, the Yavanas, many in number and endued with lightness of hands, approaching unretreating Satyaki, covered him with showers of arrows. The rushing Satyaki, however, O king, cut off by means of his own straight arrows, all those shafts and weapons of the Yavanas. Inflamed with wrath, Yuyudhana. then, with his straight shafts of great sharpness, winged with gold and vulture's feathers, cut off the heads and arms of those Yavanas. Many of those arrows, again, piercing through their coats of mail, made of iron and brass, entered the earth. Struck by the brave Satyaki in that battle, the Mlecchas began to fall down on the earth in hundreds, deprived of life. With his arrows shot in continuous lines from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, that hero began to slay five, six, seven, or eight Yavanas at a time. Thousands of Kamvojas, and Sakas, and Barbaras, were similarly slain by Satyaki. Indeed, the grandson of Sini, causing a great
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carnage among thy troops, made the earth impassable and miry with flesh and blood. The field of battle was strewn with the head-gears of those robbers and their shaved heads too that looked, in consequence of their long beards, like featherless birds. Indeed, the field of battle covered with headless trunks dyed all over with blood, looked beautiful like the welkin covered with coppery clouds. Slain by Satwata by means of his straight shafts whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder, the Yavanas covered the surface of the earth. The small remnant of those mail-clad troops vanquished in battle, O king, by Satwata, becoming cheerless, their lives on the point of being taken, broke and urging their steeds with goads and whips to their utmost speed, fled from fear in all directions. Routing the invincible Kamvoja host in battle, O Bharata, as also that host of the Yavanas and that large force of the Sakas, that tiger among men who had penetrated into thy army, viz., Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, crowned with victory, urged his charioteer, saying, 'Proceed!' Beholding that feat of his in battle, never before achieved by any one else, the Charanas and the Gandharvas applauded him highly. Indeed, O king, the Charanas, as also thy warriors, beholding Yuyudhana thus proceeded for aiding Arjuna, became filled with delight (at his heroism).'

 

 

(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection )