Monday, January 2, 2012

srimahabharat - Book 7 Drona Parva chapters 132 to 144














 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 132

 

 

 

1 [s]
      drupadasyātmajān d
ṛṣṭvā kuntibhojasutās tathā
      dro
aputrea nihatān rākasāś ca sahasraśa
  2 yudhi
ṣṭhiro bhīmaseno dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārata
      yuyudhānaś ca sa
yattā yuddhāyaiva mano dadhu
  3 somadatta
puna kurddho dṛṣṭvā sātyakim āhave
      mahatā śaravar
ea chādayām āsa sarvata
  4 tata
samabhavad yuddham atīva bhayavardhanam
      tvadīyānā
pareā ca ghora vijayakākiām
  5 daśabhi
sātvatasyārthe bhīmo vivyādha kauravam
      somadatto 'pi ta
vīra śatena pratyavidhyata
  6 sātvatas tv abhisa
kruddha putrādhibhir abhiplutam
      v
ddham ddha guai sarvair yayātim iva nāhuam
  7 vivyādha daśabhis tīk
ṣṇai śarair vajranipātibhi
      śaktyā cainam athāhatya punar vivyādha saptabhi

  8 tatas tu sātyaker arthe bhīmaseno nava
dṛḍham
      mumoca parigha
ghora somadattasya mūrdhani
  9 sātyakiś cāgnisa
kāśa mumoca śaram uttamam
      somadattorasi kruddha
supatra niśita yudhi
  10 yugapat petatur atha ghorau parighamārga
au
     śarīre somadattasya sa papāta mahāratha

 11 vyāmohite tu tanaye bāhlīka
samupādravat
     vis
jañ śaravarāi kālavarīva toyada
 12 bhīmo 'tha sātvatasyārthe bāhlīka
navabhi śarai
     pī
ayan vai mahātmāna vivyādha raamūrdhani
 13 prātipīyas tu sa
kruddha śakti bhīmasya vakasi
     nicakhāna mahābāhu
puradara ivāśanim
 14 sa tayābhihato bhīmaś cakampe ca mumoha ca
     prāpya cetaś ca balavān gadām asmai sasarja ha
 15 sā pā
ṇḍavena prahitā bāhlīkasya śiro 'harat
     sa papāta hata
pthvyā vajrāhata ivādrirā
 16 tasmin vinihate vīre bāhlīke puru
arabhe
     putrās te 'bhyardayan bhīma
daśa dāśarathe samā
 17 nārācair daśabhir bhīmas tān nihatya tavātmajān
     kar
asya dayita putra vṛṣasenam avākirat
 18 tato v
ṛṣaratho nāma bhrātā karasya viśruta
     jaghāna bhīma
nārācais tam apy abhyavadhīd balī
 19 tata
sapta rathān vīra syālānā tava bhārata
     nihatya bhīmo nārācai
śatacandram apothayat
 20 amar
ayanto nihata śatacandra mahāratham
     śakuner bhrātaro vīrā gajāk
a śarabho vibhu
     abhidrutya śarais tāk
ṣṇair bhīmasenam atāayan
 21 sa tudyamāno nārācair v
ṛṣṭivegair ivarabha
     jaghāna pañcabhir bā
ai pañcaivātibalo rathān
     tān d
ṛṣṭvā nihatān vīrān vicelur npasattamā
 22 tato yudhi
ṣṭhira kruddhas tavānīkam aśātayat
     mi
ata kumbhayoneś ca putrāā ca tavānagha
 23 amba
ṣṭhān mālavāñ śūrās trigartān sa śibīn api
     prāhi
on mtyulokāya gaān yuddhe yudhiṣṭhira
 24 abhī
āhāñ śūrasenān bāhlīkān sa vasātikān
     nik
tya pthivī rājā cakre śoitakardamām
 25 yaudheyāra
ṭṭa rājanya madrakāā gaān yudhi
     prāhi
on mtyulokāya śūrān bāair yudhiṣṭhira
 26 hata āharata g
hīta vidhyata vyavakntata
     ity āsīt tumula
śabdo yudhiṣṭhira ratha prati
 27 sainyāni drāvayanta
ta droo dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiram
     coditas tava putre
a sāyakair abhyavākirat
 28 dro
as tu paramakruddho vayavyāstrea pārthivam
     vivyādha so 'sya tad divyam astram astre
a jaghnivān
 29 tasmin vinihate cāstre bhāradvājo yudhi
ṣṭhire
     vāru
a yāmyam āgneya tvāṣṭra sāvitram eva ca
     cik
epa paramakruddho jighāsuṇḍunandanam
 30 k
iptāni kipyamāāni tāni cāstrāi dharmaja
     jaghānāstrair mahābāhu
kumbhayoner avitrasan
 31 satyā
cikīramāas tu prathijñā kumbhasabhava
     prāduścakre 'stram aindra
vai prājāpatya ca bhārata
     jighā
sur dharmatanaya tava putra hite rata
 32 pati
kurūā gajasihagāmī; viśālavakā pthu lohitāka
     prāduścakārāstram ahīna tejā; māhendram anyat sa jaghāna te 'stre
 33 vihanyamāne
v astreu droa krodhasamanvita
     yudhi
ṣṭhira vadhaprepsur brāhmam astram udairayat
 34 tato nājñāsi
a ki cid ghorea tamasāvte
     sarvabhūtāni ca para
trāsa jagmur mahīpate
 35 brahmāstram udyata
dṛṣṭvā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhira
     brahmāstre
aiva rājendra tad astra pratyavārayat
 36 tata
sainika mukhyās te praśaśasur nararabhau
     dro
a pārthau mahevāsau sarvayuddhaviśāradau
 37 tata
pramucya kaunteya droo drupada vāhinīm
     vyadhamad ro
atāmrāko vāyavyāstrea bhārata
 38 te hanyamānā dro
ena pāñcālā prādravan bhayāt
     paśyato bhīmasenasya pārthasya ca mahātmana

 39 tata
kirīī bhīmaś ca sahasā sanyavartatām
     mahadbhyā
rathavaśābhyā parighya bala tava
 40 bībhatsur dak
ia pārśvam uttara tu vkodara
     bhāradvāja
śaraughābhyā mahadbhyām abhyavaratām
 41 tau tadā s
ñjayāś caiva pāñcālāś ca mahaujasa
     anvagacchan mahārāja matsyāś ca saha sātvatai

 42 tata
sā bhāratī senā vadhyamānā kirīinā
     dro
ena vāryamāās te svaya tava sutena ca
     nāśakyanta mahārāja yodhā vārayitu
tadā

 

SECTION CXXXII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'I regard Bhimasena's prowess to be exceedingly wonderful, inasmuch as he succeeded in battling with Karna of singular activity and energy. Indeed, O Sanjaya, tell me why that Karna, who is capable of resisting in battle the very celestials with the Yakshas and Asuras and men, armed with all kinds of weapons, could not vanquish in battle Pandu's son Bhima blazing with resplendence? O tell me, how that battle took place between them in which each staked his very life. I think that in an encounter between the two, success is within reach of both as, indeed, both are liable to defeat. 1 O Suta, obtaining Karna in battle, my son Suyodhana always ventures to vanquish the sons of Pritha with Govinda and the Satwatas. Hearing, however, of the repeated defeat in battle of Karna by Bhimasena of terrible deeds, a swoon seems to come upon me, I think, the Kauravas to be already slain, in consequence of evil policy of
p. 284
my son. Karna will never succeed, O Sanjaya, in vanquishing those mighty bowmen, viz., the sons of Pritha. In all the battles that Karna has fought with the sons of Pandu, the latter have invariably defeated him on the field. Indeed, O son, the Pandavas are incapable of being vanquished by the very gods with Vasava at their head. Alas, my wicked son Duryodhana knoweth it not. Having robbed Pritha's son, who is like the Lord of the treasures himself, of his wealth, my son of little intelligence seeth not the fall like a searcher of honey (in the mountains). Conversant with deceit, he regardeth it to be irrevocably his and always insulteth the Pandavas. Myself also, of unrefined soul, overcome with affection for my children, scrupled not to despise the high-souled sons of Pandu that are observant of morality. Yudhishthira, the son of Pritha, of great foresight, always showed himself desirous of peace. My sons, however, regarding him incapable, despised him. Bearing in mind all those woes and all the wrongs (sustained by the Pandavas), the mighty-armed Bhimasena battled with the Suta's son. Tell me, therefore, O Sanjaya, how Bhima and Karna, those two foremost of warriors, fought with each other, desirous of taking each other's life!'
`Sanjaya said, 'Hear, O king, how the battle took place between Karna and Bhima which resembled an encounter between two elephants in the forest, desirous of slaying each other. The son of Vikartana, O king, excited with rage and putting forth his prowess, pierced that chastiser of foes, viz., the angry Bhima of great prowess with thirty shafts. Indeed, O chief of Bharata's race, Vikartana's son struck Bhima with many arrows of keen points, decked with gold, and endued with great impetuosity. Bhima, however, with three sharp shafts cut off the bow of Karna, as the latter was engaged in striking him. And with a broad-headed arrow, the son of Pandu then felled on the earth Karna's charioteer from his niche in the car. The son of Vikartana, then desirous of slaying Bhimasena, seized a dart whose shaft was adorned with gold and stones of lapis lazuli. Grasping that fierce dart, which resembled a second dart of death, and uplifting and aiming it, the mighty son of Radha hurled it at Bhimasena with a force sufficient to take away Bhima's life. Hurling that dart, like Purandara hurling the thunderbolt, Radha's son of great strength uttered a loud roar. Hearing that roar thy sons became filled with delight. Bhima, however, with seven swift arrows, cut off in the welkin that dart endued with the effulgence of the sun or fire, hurled from the hands of Karna. Cutting off that dart, resembling a snake just freed from its slough, Bhima, O sire, as if on the lookout for taking the life-breath of the Suta's son, sped, in great wrath, many shafts in that battle that were equipped with peacock-feathers and golden wings and each of which, whetted of' stone, resembled the rod of Yama. Karna also of great energy, taking up another formidable bow, the back of whose staff was adorned with gold, and drawing it with force, shot many shafts. The son of Pandu, however, cut off all those arrows with nine straight arrows of his own. Having cut off, O ruler of men those mighty shafts shot by Vasushena, Bhima,
p. 285
[paragraph continues] O monarch, uttered a loud roar like that of a lion. Roaring at each other like two mighty bulls for the sake of a cow in season, or like two tigers for the sake of the same piece of meat, they endeavoured to strike each other, each being desirous of finding the other's laches. At times they looked at each other with angry eyes, like two mighty bulls in a cow-pen. Then like two huge elephants striking each other with the points of their tusks, they encountered each other with shafts shot from their bows drawn to the fullest stretch. Scorching each other, O king, with their arrowy showers, they put forth their prowess upon each other, eyeing each other in great wrath. Sometimes laughing at each other, and sometimes rebuking each other, and sometimes blowing their conchs, they continued to fight with each other. Then Bhima once more cut Karna's bow at the handle, O sire, and despatched by means of his shafts the latter's steeds, white as conchs, to the abode of Yama, and the son of Pandu also felled his enemy's charioteer from his niche in the car. Then Karna, the son of Vikartana, made steedless and driverless, and covered in that battle (with shafts), became plunged into great anxiety. Stupefied by Bhima with his arrowy showers, he knew not what to do. Beholding Karna placed in the distressful plight, king Duryodhana, trembling with wrath, commended (his brother) Durjaya, saying, 'Go, O Durjaya! There the son of Pandu is about to devour the son of Radha! Slay that beardless Bhima soon, and infuse strength into Karna!' Thus addressed, the son Durjaya, saying unto Duryodhana, 'So be it', rushed towards Bhimasena engaged (with Karna) and covered him with arrows. And Durjaya struck Bhima with nine shafts, his steeds with eight, his driver with six, his standard with three, and once more Bhima himself with seven. Then Bhimasena, excited with wrath, piercing with his shafts the very vitals of Durjaya, and his steeds and driver, despatched them of Yama's abode. Then Karna, weeping in grief, circumambulated that son of thine, who, adorned with ornaments, lay on the earth, writhing like a snake. Bhima then, having made that deadly foe of his, viz., Karna, carless, smiling by covered him with shafts and made him look like a Sataghni with numberless spikes on it. The Atiratha Karna, however, that chastiser of foes, though thus pierced with arrows, did not yet avoid the enraged Bhima in battle.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 133

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      udīryamā
a tad dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānā mahad balam
      avi
ahya ca manvāna kara duryodhano 'bravīt
  2 aya
sa kāla saprāpto mitrāā mitravatsala
      trāyasva samare kar
a sarvān yodhān mahābala
  3 pāñcālair matsyakaikeyai
ṇḍavaiś ca mahārathai
      v
tān samantāt sakruddhair niśvasadbhir ivoragai
  4 ete nadanti sa
hṛṣṭāṇḍavā jitakāśina
      śakropamāś ca bahava
pāñcālānā rathavrajā
  5 [kar
a]
      paritrātum iha prāpto yadi pārtha pura
dara
      tam apy āśu parājitya tato hantāsmi pā
ṇḍavam
  6 satya
te pratijānāmi samāśvasihi bhārata
      hantāsmi pā
ṇḍutanayān pāñcālāś ca samāgatān
  7 jaya
te pratijānāmi vāsavasyeva pāvaki
      priya
tava mayā kāryam iti jīvāmi pārthiva
  8 sarve
ām eva pārthānā phalguno balavattara
      tasyāmoghā
vimokyāmi śakti śakra vinirmitām
  9 tasmin hate mahe
vāse bhrātaras tasya mānada
      tava vaśyā bhavi
yanti vana yāsyanti vā puna
  10 mayi jīvati kauravya vi
āda mā kthā kva cit
     aha
jeyāmi samare sahitān sarvapāṇḍavān
 11 pāñcālān kekayā
ś caiva vṛṣṇīś cāpi samāgatān
     bā
aughai śakalīktya tava dāsyāmi medinīm
 12 [s]
     eva
bruvāa kara tu kpa śāradvato 'bravīt
     smayann iva mahābāhu
suta putram ida vaca
 13 śobhana
śobhana kara sa nātha kurupugava
     tvayā nāthena rādheya vacasā yadi sidhyati
 14 bahuśa
katthase kara kauravyasya samīpata
     na tu te vikrama
kaś cid dśyate balam eva vā
 15 samāgama
ṇḍusutair dṛṣṭas te bahuśo yudhi
     sarvatra nirjitaś cāsi pā
ṇḍavai sūtanandana
 16 hriyamā
e tadā kara gandharvair dhtarāṣṭraje
     tadāyudhyanta sainyāni tvam ekas tu palāyathā

 17 virā
anagare cāpi sametā sarvakauravā
     pārthena nirjitā yuddhe tva
ca kara sahānuja
 18 ekasyāpy asamarthas tva
phalgunasya raājire
     katham utsahase jetu
sukṛṣṇān sarvapāṇḍavān
 19 abruvan kar
a yudhyasva bahu katthasi sūtaja
     anuktvā vikramed yas tu tad vai satpuru
avratam
 20 garjitvā sūtaputra tva
śāradābhram ivājalam
     ni
phalo dśyase kara tac ca rājā na budhyate
 21 tāvad garjasi rādheya yāvat pārtha
na paśyasi
     purā pārtha
hi te dṛṣṭvā durlabha garjita bhavet
 22 tvam anāsādya tān bā
ān phalgunasya vigarjasi
     pārtha sāyakaviddhasya durlabha
garjita bhavet
 23 bāhubhi
katriyā śūrā vāgbhi śūrā dvijātaya
     dhanu
ā phalguna śūra kara śūro manorathai
 24 eva
paruitas tena tadā śāradvatena sa
     kar
a praharatā śreṣṭha kpa vākyam athābravīt
 25 śūrā garjanti satata
prāvṛṣīva balāhakā
     phala
cāśu prayacchanti bījam uptam tāv iva
 26 do
am atra na paśyāmi śūrāā raamūrdhani
     tat tad vikatthamānānā
bhāra codvahatā mdhe
 27 ya
bhāra puruo vohu manasā hi vyavasyati
     daivam asya dhruva
tatra sāhāyyāyopapadyate
 28 vyavasāyadvitīyo 'ha
manasā bhāram udvahan
     garjāmi yady aha
vipra tava ki tatra naśyati
 29 v
thā śūrā na garjanti sa jalā iva toyadā
     sāmarthyam ātmano jñātvā tato garjanti pa
ṇḍitā
 30 so 'ham adya ra
e yatta sahitau kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
     utsahe tarasā jetu
tato garjāmi gautama
 31 paśya tva
garjitasyāsya phala me vipra sānuga
     hatvā pā
ṇḍusutān ājau saha kṛṣṇān sa sātvatān
     duryodhanāya dāsyāmi p
thivī hatakaṇṭakām
 32 [k
pa]
     manorathapralāpo me na grāhyas tava sūtaja
     yadā k
ipasi vai kṛṣṇau dharmarāja ca pāṇḍavam
 33 dhruvas tatra jaya
kara yatra yuddhaviśāradau
     devagandharvayak
āā manuyoragarakasām
     da
śitānām api rae ajeyau kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
 34 brahma
ya satyavāg dānto guru daivatapūjaka
     nitya
dharmarataś caiva ktāstraś ca viśeata
     dh
timāś ca ktajñaś ca dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
 35 bhrātaraś cāsya balina
sarvāstreu ktaśramā
     guruv
tti ratā prājñā dharmanityā yaśasvina
 36 sa
bandhinaś cendra vīryā svanuraktā prahāria
     dh
ṛṣṭadyumna śikhaṇḍī ca daurmukhir janamejaya
 37 candra seno bhadra sena
kīrtidharmā dhruvo dhara
     vasu candro dāma candra
sihacandra suvedhana
 38 drupadasya tathā putrā drupadaś ca mahāstravit
     ye
ām arthāya sayatto matsyarāja sahānuga
 39 śatānīka
sudaśana śrutānīka śrutadhvaja
     balānīko jayānīko jayāśvo rathavāhana

 40 candrodaya
kāmaratho virāa bhrātara śubhā
     yamau ca draupadeyāś ca rāk
asaś ca ghaotkaca
     ye
ām arthāya yudhyante na teā vidyate kaya
 41 kāma
khalu jagat sarva sa devāsuramānavam
     sa yak
arākasa gaa sa bhūtabhujaga dvipam
     ni
śeam astravīryea kuryātā bhīma phalgunau
 42 yudhi
ṣṭhiraś ca pthivī nirdahed ghoracakuā
     aprameyabala
śaurir yeām arthe ca daśita
     katha
tān sayuge kara jetum utsahase parān
 43 mahān apanayas tv e
a tava nitya hi sūtaja
     yas tvam utsahase yoddhu
samare śauriā saha
 44 [s]
     evam uktas tu rādheya
prahasan bharatarabha
     abravīc ca tadā kar
o guru śāradvata kpam
 45 satyam ukta
tvayā brahman pāṇḍavān prati yad vaca
     ete cānye ca bahavo gu
āṇḍusuteu vai
 46 ajayyāś ca ra
e pārthā devair api sa vāsavai
     sa daitya yak
agandharvapiśācoragarākasai
     tathāpi pārthāñ je
yāmi śaktyā vāsava dattayā
 47 mamāpy amoghā datteya
śakti śakrea vai dvija
     etayā nihani
yāmi savyasācinam āhave
 48 hate tu pā
ṇḍave kṛṣṇo bhrātaraś cāsya sodarā
     anarjunā na śak
yanti mahī bhoktu katha cana
 49 te
u naṣṭeu sarveu pthivīya sasāgarā
     ayatnāt kauraveyasya vaśe sthāsyati gautama
 50 sunītair iha sarvārthā
sidhyante nātra saśaya
     etam artham aha
jñātvā tato garjāmi gautama
 51 tva
tu vddhaś ca vipraś ca aśaktaś cāpi sayuge
     k
tasnehaś ca pārtheu mohān mām avamanyase
 52 yady eva
vakyase bhūyo mām apriyam iha dvija
     tatas te kha
gam udyamya jihvā chetsyāmi durmate
 53 yac cāpi pā
ṇḍavān vipra stotum icchasi sayuge
     bhī
ayan sarvasainyāni kauraveyāi durmate
     atrāpi ś
ṛṇu me vākya yathāvad gadato dvija
 54 duryodhanaś ca dro
aś ca śakunir durmukho jaya
     du
śāsano vṛṣaseno madrarājas tvam eva ca
     somadattaś ca bhūriś ca tathā drau
ir viviśati
 55 ti
ṣṭheyur daśitā yatra sarve yuddhaviśāradā
     jayed etān ra
e ko nu śakratulyabalo 'py ari
 56 śūrāś ca hi k
tāstrāś ca balina svargalipsava
     dharmajñā yuddhakuśalā hanyur yuddhe surān api
 57 ete sthāsyanti sa
grāme pāṇḍavānā vadhārthina
     jayam ākā
kamāā hi kauraveyasya daśitā
 58 daivāyattam aha
manye jaya subalinām api
     yatra bhī
mo mahābāhu śete śaraśatācita
 59 vikar
aś citrasenaś ca bāhlīko 'tha jayadratha
     bhūriśravā jayaś caiva jalasa
dha sudakia
 60 śalaś ca rathinā
śreṣṭho bhagadattaś ca vīryavān
     ete cānye ca rājāno devair api sudurjayā

 61 nihatā
samare śūrāṇḍavair balavattarā
     kim anyad daivasa
yogān manyase puruādhama
 62
ś ca tān staui satata duryodhana ripūn dvija
     te
ām api hatā śūrā śataśo 'ta sahasraśa
 63 k
īyante sarvasainyāni kurūāṇḍavai saha
     prabhāva
nātra paśyāmi pāṇḍavānā katha cana
 64
s tān balavato nitya manyase tva dvijādhama
     yati
ye 'ha yathāśakti yoddhu tai saha sayuge
     duryodhanahitārthāya jayo daive prati
ṣṭhita

 

SECTION CXXXIII

"Sanjaya said, 'Then the carless Karna, thus once more completely defeated by Bhima, mounted another car and speedily began to pierce the son of Pandu. Like two huge elephants encountering each other with the points of their tusks, they struck each other with shafts, shot from their bows drawn to the fullest stretch. Then Karna, striking Bhimasena with showers
p. 286
of shafts, uttered a loud roar, and once more pierced him in the chest. Bhima, however, in return, pierced Karna with ten straight arrows and once more with twenty straight arrows. Then Karna, piercing Bhima, O king, with nine arrows in the centre of the chest, struck the latter's standard with a sharp shaft. The son of Pritha then pierced Karna in return with three and sixty arrows, like a driver striking a mighty elephant with the hook, or a rider striking a steed with a whip. Deeply pierced, O king, by the illustrious son of Pandu, the heroic Karna began to lick with his tongue the corners of his mouth, and his eyes became red in rage. Then, O monarch, Karna, sped at Bhimasena, for his destruction, a shaft capable of piercing everybody, like Indra hurling his thunderbolt. That shaft equipped with beautiful feathers sped from the bow of the Suta's son, piercing Partha in that battle, sank deep into the earth. Then the mighty-armed Bhima, with eyes red in wrath, hurled without a moment's reflection, at the Suta's son, a heavy six-sided mace, adorned with gold measuring full four cubits in length, and resembling the bolt of Indra in force. Indeed, like Indra slaying the Asuras with his thunderbolt, that hero of Bharata's race, excited with wrath, slew with that mace the well-trained steeds of the foremost breed, of Adhiratha's son. Then, O bull of Bharata's race, the mighty-armed Bhima, with a couple of razor-faced arrows, cut off the standard of Karna. And then he slew, with a number of shafts his enemy's charioteer. Abandoning that steedless and driverless and standardless car, Karna. O Bharata, cheerlessly stood on the earth, drawing his bow. The prowess that we then beheld of Radha's son was extremely wonderful, inasmuch as that foremost of car-warriors, though deprived of car, continued to resist his foe. Beholding that foremost of men, viz., the son of Adhiratha, deprived of his car, Duryodhana, O monarch, said unto (his brother) Durmukha, 'There, O Durmukha, the son of Radha hath been deprived of his car by Bhimasena. Furnish that foremost of men, that mighty car-warrior with a car.' Hearing these words of Duryodhana, thy son Durmukha, O Bharata, quickly proceeded towards Karna and covered Bhima with his shafts. Beholding Durmukha desirous of supporting the Suta's son in that battle, the son of the Wind god was filled with delight and began to lick the corners of his mouth. Then resisting Karna the while with his shafts, the son of Pandu quickly drove his car towards Durmukha. And in that moment, O king, with nine straight arrows of keen points, Bhima despatched Durmukha to Yama's abode, Upon Durmukha's slaughter, the son of Adhiratha mounted upon the car of that prince and looked resplendent, O king, like the blazing sun. Beholding Durmukha lying prostrate on the field, his very vital pierced (with shafts) and his body bathed in blood, Karna with tearful eyes abstained for a moment from the fight. Circumambulating the fallen prince and leaving him there, the heroic Karna began to breathe long and hot breaths and knew not what to do. Seizing that opportunity, O king, Bhimasena shot at the Suta's son four and ten long shafts equipped with vulturine feathers. Those blood-drinking shafts of golden wings, endued with great
p. 287
force illuminating the ten points as they coursed through the welkin, pierced the armour of the Suta's son, and drank his life-blood, O king, and passing through his body, sank into the earth and looked resplendent like angry snakes, O monarch, urged on by Death himself, with half their bodies inserted within their holes. Then the son of Radha, without reflecting a moment, pierced Bhima in return with four and ten fierce shafts adorned with gold. Those fierce-winged arrows, piercing through Bhima's right arms, entered the earth like birds entering a grove of trees. Striking against the earth, those arrows looked resplendent, like the blazing rays of the sun while proceeding towards the Asta hills. Pierced in that battle with those all-piercing arrows, Bhima began to shed copious streams of blood, like a mountain ejecting streams of water. Then Bhima pierced the Suta's son in return with three shafts endued with the impetuosity of Garuda and he pierced the latter's charioteer also with seven. Then, O king, Karna thus afflicted by Bhima's might, became exceedingly distressed. And that illustrious warrior then fled, forsaking the battle, borne away by his fleet steeds. The Atiratha Bhimasena, however, drawing his bow adorned with gold, stayed in battle, looking resplendent like a blazing fire.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 134

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tathā paru
ita dṛṣṭvā sūtaputrea mātulam
      kha
gam udyamya vegena drauir abhyapatad drutam
  2 [a
v]
      kar
a paśya sudurbuddhe tiṣṭhedānī narādhama
      e
a te 'dya śira kāyād uddharāmi sudurmate
  3 [s]
      tam utpatanta
vegena rājā duryodhana svayam
      nyavārayan mahārāja k
paś ca dvipadā vara
  4 [kar
a]
      śūro 'ya
samaraślāghī durmatiś ca dvijādhama
      āsādayatu madvīrya
muñcema kurusattama
  5 [a
v]
      tavaitat k
amyate 'smābhi sūtātmaja sudurmate
      darpam utsiktam etat te phalguno nāśayi
yati
  6 [dur]
      aśvatthāman prasīdasva k
antum arhasi mānada
      kopa
khalu na kartavya sūtaputre katha cana
  7 tvayi kar
e kpe droe madrarāje 'tha saubale
      mahat kārya
samāyatta prasīda dvijasattama
  8 ete hy abhimukhā
sarve rādheyena yuyutsava
      āyānti pā
ṇḍavā brahmann āhvayanta samantata
  9 [s]
      kar
o 'pi rathinā śreṣṭhaś cāpam udyamya vīryavān
      kauravāgryai
parivta śakro devagaair iva
      paryati
ṣṭhata tejasvī svabāhubalam āśrita
  10 tata
pravavte yuddha karasya saha pāṇḍavai
     sa
rabdhasya mahārāja sihanāda vināditam
 11 tatas te pā
ṇḍavā rājan pāñcālāś ca yaśasvina
     d
ṛṣṭvā kara mahābāhum uccai śabdam athānadan
 12 aya
kara kuta karas tiṣṭha kara mahārae
     yudhyasva sahito 'smābhir durātman puru
ādhama
 13 anye tu d
ṛṣṭvā rādheya krodharaktekaābruvan
     hanyatām ayam utsikta
sūtaputro 'lpacetana
 14 sarvai
pārthivaśārdūlair nānenārtho 'sti jīvatā
     atyantavairī pārthānā
satata pāpapūrua
 15 e
a mūla hy anarthānā duryodhana mate sthita
     hatainam iti jalpanta
katriyā samupādravan
 16 mahatā śaravar
ea chādayanto mahārathā
     vadhārdha
sūtaputrasya pāṇḍaveyena coditā
 17
s tu sarvās tathā dṛṣṭvā dhāvamānān mahārathān
     na vivyathe sūra putro na ca trāsam agacchata
 18 d
ṛṣṭvā nagarakalpa tam uddhūta sainyasāgaram
     piprī
us tava putrāā sagrāmev aparājita
 19 sāyakaughena balavān k
iprakārī mahābala
     vārayām āsa tat sainya
samantād bharatarabha
 20 tatas tu śaravar
ea pārthivās tam avārayan
     dhanū
ṃṣi te vidhunvānā śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
     ayodhayanta rādheya
śakra daitya gaā iva
 21 śaravar
a tu tat kara pārthivai samudīritam
     śaravar
ea mahatā samantād vyakirat prabho
 22 tad yuddham abhavat te
ā ktapratiktaiiām
     yathā devāsure yuddhe śakrasya saha dānavai

 23 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma sūtaputrasya lāghavam
     yad ena
samare yattā nāpnuvanta pare yudhi
 24 nivārya ca śaraughā
s tān pārthivānā mahāratha
     yuge
v īāsu chatreu dhvajeu ca hayeu ca
     ātmanāmā
kitān bāān rādheya prāhioc chitān
 25 tatas te vyākulībhūtā rājāna
kara pīitā
     babhramus tatra tatraiva gāva
śītārditā iva
 26 hayānā
vadhyamānānā gajānā rathinā tathā
     tatra tatrābhyavek
āma saghān karena pātitān
 27 śirobhi
patitau rājan bāhubhiś ca samantata
     āstīr
ā vasudhā sarvā śūrāām anivartinām
 28 hataiś ca hanyamānaiś ca ni
ṣṭanadbhiś ca sarvaśa
     babhūvāyodhana
raudra vaivasvatapuropamam
 29 tato duryodhano rājā d
ṛṣṭvā karasya vikramam
     aśvatthāmānam āsādya tadā vākyam uvāca ha
 30 yudhyate 'sau ra
e karo daśita sarvapārthivai
     paśyaitā
dravatī senā kara sāyakapīitām
     kārttikeyena vidhvastām āsurī
ptanām iva
 31 d
ṛṣṭvainā nirjitā senā rae karena dhīmatā
     abhiyāty e
a bībhatsu sūtaputra jighāsayā
 32 tad yathā paśyamānānā
sūtaputra mahāratham
     na hanyāt pā
ṇḍava sakhye tathā nītir vidhīyatām
 33 tato drau
i kpa śalyo hārdikyaś ca mahāratha
     pratyudyayus tadā pārtha
sūtaputra parīpsayā
 34 āyānta
dśyakaunteya vtra deva camūm iva
     prayudyayau tadā kar
o yathā śakra pratāpavān
 35 [dh
]
     sa
rabdha phalguna dṛṣṭvā kālāntakayamopamam
     kar
o vaikartana sūta pratyapadyat kim uttaram
 36 sa hy aspardhata pārthena nityam eva mahāratha

     āśa
sate ca bībhatsu yuddhe jetu sudārue
 37 sa tu ta
sahasā prāpta nityam atyantavairiam
     kar
o vaikartana sūta kim uttaram apadyata
 38 [s]
     āyānta
ṇḍava dṛṣṭvā gaja pratigaja yathā
     asa
bhrāntatara kara partyudīyād dhanajayam
 39 tam āpatanta
vegena vaikartanam ajihmagai
     vārayām āsa tejasvī pā
ṇḍava śatrutāpana
 40 ta
kara śarajālena chādayām āsa māria
     vivyādha ca susa
kruddha śarais tribhir ajihmagai
 41 tasya tal lāghava
pārtho nāmṛṣyata mahābala
     tasmai bā
āñ śilā dhautān prasannāgrān ajihmagān
 42 prāhi
ot sūtaputrāya triśata śatrutāpana
     vivyādha caina
sarabdho bāenaikena vīryavān
 43 savye bhujāgre balavān nārācena hasann iva
     tasya viddhasya vegena karāc cāpa
papāta ha
 44 punar ādāya tac cāpa
nimeārdhān mahābala
     chādayām āsa bā
aughai phalguna ktahastavat
 45 śarav
ṛṣṭi tu tā muktā sūtaputrea bhārata
     vyadhamac charavar
ea smayann iva dhanajaya
 46 tau parasparam āsādya śaravar
ea pārthiva
     chādayetā
mahevāsau kpa pratiktaiiau
 47 tad adbhutam abhūd yuddha
kara pāṇḍavayor mdhe
     kruddhayor vāśitā hetor vanyayor gajayor iva
 48 tata
pārtho mahevāso dṛṣṭvā karasya vikramam
     mu
ṣṭideśe dhanus tasya ciccheda tvarayānvita
 49 aśvā
ś ca caturo bhallair anayad yamasādanam
     sāratheś ca śira
kāyād aharac chatrutāpana
 50 athaina
chinnadhanvāna hatāśva hatasārathim
     vivyādha sāyakai
pārtha caturbhiṇḍunandana
 51 hatāśvāt tu rathāt tūr
am avaplutya nararabha
     āruroha ratha
tūra kpasya śarapīita
 52 rādheya
nirjita dṛṣṭvā tāvakā bharatarabha
     dhana
jaya śarair nunnā prādravanta diśo daśa
 53 dravatas tān samālokya rājā duryodhano n
pa
     nivartayām āsa tadā vākya
cedam uvāca ha
 54 ala
drutena va śūrās tiṣṭhadhva katriyarabhā
     e
a pārtha vadhāyāha svaya gacchāmi sayuge
     aha
pārthān haniyāmi sapāñcālān sa somakān
 55 adya me yudhyamānasya saha gā
ṇḍīvadhanvanā
     drak
yanti vikrama pārthā kālasyeva yugakaye
 56 adya madbā
ajālāni vimuktāni sahasraśa
     drak
yanti samare yodhā śalabhānām ivāyatī
 57 adya bā
amaya vara sjato mama dhanvina
     jīmūtasyeva gharmānte drak
yanti yudhi sainikā
 58 je
yāmy adya rae pārtha sāyakair nataparvabhi
     ti
ṣṭhadhva samare śūrā bhaya tyajata phalgunāt
 59 na hi madvīryam āsādya phalguna
prasahiyati
     yathā velā
samāsādya sāgaro makarālaya
 60 ity uktvā prayayau rājā sainyena mahatā v
ta
     phalguna
prati durdhara krodhasaraktalocana
 61 ta
prayānta mahābāhu dṛṣṭvā śāradvatas tadā
     aśvatthāmānam āsādya vākyam etad uvāca ha
 62 e
a rājā mahābāhur amarī krodhamūrchita
     pata
gavttim āsthāya phalguna yoddhum icchati
 63 yāvan na
paśyamānānā prāān pārthena sagata
     na jahyāt puru
avyāghras tāvad vāraya kauravam
 64 yāvat phalguna bā
ānā gocara nādhigacchati
     kaurava
pārthivo vīras tāvad vāraya ta drutam
 65 yāvat pārtha śarair ghorair nirmuktoraga sa
nibhai
     na bhasmīkriyate rājā tāvad yuddhān nivāryatām
 66 ayuktam iva paśyāmi ti
ṣṭhastv asmāsu mānada
     svaya
yuddhāya yad rājā pārtha yāty asahāyavān
 67 durlabha
jīvita manye kauravyasya kirīinā
     yudhyamānasya pārthena śārdūleneva hastina

 68 mātulenaivam uktas tu drau
i śastrabh vara
     duryodhanam ida
vākya tvarita samabhāata
 69 mayi jīvati gāndhāre na yuddha
gantum arhasi
     mām anād
tya kauravya tava nitya hitaiiam
 70 na hi te sa
bhrama kārya pārthasya vijaya prati
     aham āvārayi
yāmi pārtha tiṣṭha suyodhana
 71 [dur]
     ācārya
ṇḍuputrān vai putravat parirakati
     tvam apy upek
ā kurue teu nitya dvijottama
 72 mama vā mandabhāgyatvān mandas te vikramo yudhi
     dharmarāja priyārtha
vā draupadyā vā na vidma tat
 73 dhig astu mama lubdhasya yatk
te sarvabāndhavā
     sukhārhā
parama dukha prāpnuvanty aparājitā
 74 ko hi śastrabh
mukhyo maheśvara samo yudhi
     śatrūn na k
apayec chakto yo na syād gautamī suta
 75 aśvatthāman prasīdasva nāśayaitān mamāhitān
     tavāstragocare śaktā
sthātu devāpi nānagha
 76 pāñcālān somakā
ś caiva jahi droe sahānugān
     vaya
śeān haniyāmas tvayaiva parirakitā
 77 ete hi somakā vipra pāñcālāś ca yaśasvina

     mama sainye
u sarabdhā vicaranti davāgnivat
 78 tān vāraya mahābāho kekayā
ś ca narottama
     purā kurvanti ni
śea rakyamāā kirīinā
 79 ādau vā yadi vā paścāt taveda
karma māria
     tvam utpanno mahābāho pāñcālānā
vadha prati
 80 kari
yasi jagat sarvam apāñcāla kilācyuta
     eva
siddhābruvan vāco bhaviyati ca tat tathā
 81 na te 'stragocare śaktā
sthātu devā sa vāsavā
     kim u pārthā
sapāñcālā satyam etad vac

 

SECTION CXXXIV

"Dhritarashtra said, 'I think, Destiny is supreme. Fie on exertion which is useless, inasmuch as the son of Adhiratha, though fighting resolutely, could not vanquish the son of Pandu. Karna boasts of his competency to vanquish in battle all the Parthas with Govinda amongst them. I do not see in the world, another warrior like Karna! I often heard Duryodhana speak in this strain. Indeed, O Suta, the wretched Duryodhana used to tell me formerly, 'Karna is a mighty hero, a firm bowman, above all fatigue. If I have that Vasushena for my ally, the very gods will not be a match for me, what need be said, therefore, O monarch, of the sons of Pandu that are weak and heartless?' Tell me therefore, O Sanjaya, what Duryodhana said, beholding that Karna defeated and looking like a snake deprived of its poison and flying away from battle. Alas, deprived of his senses, Duryodhana despatched the unsupported Durmukha, unacquainted though he was with battle, into that fiery encounter, like an insect into the blazing fire. O Sanjaya, even Aswatthaman and the ruler of the Madras and Kripa, united together, could not stand before Bhimasena. Even these know the terrible might, equal to that of ten thousand elephants, of Bhima, endued with the energy of Marut himself, as also his cruel intents. Why did they provoke the fire in battle, of that hero of cruel deeds, that warrior resembling Yama himself as the latter becomes at the end of the Yuga? It seems that Suta's son, the mighty
p. 288
armed Karna alone, relying on the prowess of his own arms, fought in battle with Bhimasena, disregarding the latter. That son of Pandu who vanquished Karna in battle like Purandara vanquishing an Asura, is capable of being vanquished by anybody in fight. Who is there that would, hopeful of life, approach that Bhima who, in Arjuna's quest, alone entered my host, having ground Drona himself? Who, indeed, is there, O Sanjaya, that would dare stay in the face of Bhima? Who is there among the Asuras that would venture to stay before the great Indra with the thunderbolt uplifted in his hand? 1 A man may return having entered the abode of the dead, but none, however, can return having encountered Bhimasena! Those men of weak prowess, who senselessly rushed against the angry Bhimasena were like insects falling upon a blazing fire. Without doubt, reflecting upon what the angry and fierce Bhima had said in the assembly in the hearing of the Kurus about the slaughter of my sons, and beholding the defeat of Karna, Duhsasana and his brothers ceased to encounter Bhima from fear. That wicked son also of mine, O Sanjaya, who repeatedly said in the assembly (these words, viz.,) Karna and Duhsasana and I myself will vanquish the Pandavas in battle,'--without doubt, beholding Karna defeated and deprived of his car by Bhima, is consumed with grief in consequence of his rejection of Krishna's suit! 2 Beholding his mail-clad brothers slain in battle by Bhimasena, in consequence of his own fault, without doubt, my son is burning with grief. Who that is desirous of life will make a hostile advance against Pandu's son, Bhima, excited with wrath armed with terrible weapons and standing in battle like Death himself? A man may escape from the very jaws of the Vadava fire. But it is my belief that no one can escape from before Bhima's face. Indeed, neither Partha, nor the Panchalas, nor Kesava, nor Satyaki, when excited with wrath in battle, shows the least regard for (his) life. Alas, O Suta, the very lives of my sons are in danger.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Thou, O Kaurava, that art thus grieving in view of the present carnage, thou, without doubt, art the root of this destruction of the world! Obedient to the counsels of thy sons, thou hast thyself provoked this fierce hostility. Though urged (by well-wishers) thou acceptest not the proper medicine like a man fated to die. O monarch, O best of men, having thyself drunk the fiercest and the most indigestible poison, take thou all its consequences now. The combatants are fighting to the best of their might, still thou speakest ill of them. Listen, however, to me as I describe to thee how the battle raged on.
"Beholding Karna defeated by Bhimasena, five of thy sons, those uterine brothers that were great bowmen, could not, O sire, brook it. They were Durmarshana and Duhsaha and Durmada and Durdhara and Jaya. Clad in beautiful mail, all of them rushed against the son of Pandu. Encompassing
p. 289
the mighty-armed Vrikodara, on all sides, they shrouded all the points of the compass with their shafts looking like flights of locusts. Bhimasena, however, in the battle, smilingly received those princes of celestial beauty thus rushing suddenly against him. Beholding thy sons advancing against Bhimasena, Radha's son, Karna rushed against that mighty warrior, shooting arrows of keen points that were equipped with golden wings and whetted on stone. Bhima, however, quickly rushed against Karna, though resisted by thy sons. Then the Kurus, surrounding Karna, covered Bhimasena with showers of straight shafts. With five and twenty arrows, O king, Bhima, armed with his formidable bow, despatched all those bulls among men to Yama's abode with their steeds and charioteers. Falling down from their cars along with their charioteers, their lifeless forms looked like large trees with their weight of variegated flowers uprooted by the tempest. The prowess that we then beheld of Bhimasena was exceedingly wonderful, inasmuch as, resisting Adhiratha's son the while, he slew those sons of thine. Resisted by Bhima with whetted arrows on all sides, the Suta's son, O king, only looked at Bhima. Bhimasena also, with eyes red in wrath, began to cast angry glances on Karna, stretching his formidable bow the while.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 135

1 [s]
      duryodhanenaivam ukto drau
ir āhavadurmada
      pratyuvāca mahābāho yathā vadasi kaurava
  2 priyā hi pā
ṇḍavā nitya mama cāpi pituś ca me
      tathaivāvā
priyau teā na tu yuddhe kurūdvaha
      śaktitas tāta yudhyāmas tyaktvā prā
ān abhītavat
  3 aha
karaś ca śalyaś ca kpo hārdikya eva ca
      nime
āt pāṇḍavī senā kapayema npottama
  4 te cāpi kauravī
senā nimeārdhāt kurūdvaha
      k
apayeyur mahābāho na syāma yadi sayuge
  5 yudhyatā
ṇḍavāñ śaktyā teā cāsmān yuyutsatām
      tejas tu teja āsādya praśama
yāti bhārata
  6 aśakyā tarasā jetu
ṇḍavānām anīkinī
      jīvatsu pā
ṇḍuputreu tad dhi satya bravīmi te
  7 ātmārtha
yudhyamānās te samarthāṇḍunandanā
      kimartha
tava sainyāni na haniyanti bhārata
  8 tva
hi lubdhatamo rājan niktijñaś ca kaurava
      sarātiśa
kī mānī ca tato 'smān atiśakase
  9 aha
tu yatnam āsthāya tvadarthe tyaktajīvita
      e
a gacchāmi sagrāma tvatkte kurunandana
  10 yotsye 'ha
śatrubhi sārdha jeyāmi ca varān varān
     pāñcālai
saha yotsyāmi somakai kekayais tathā
     pā
ṇḍaveyaiś ca sagrāme tvatpriyārtham aridama
 11 adya madbā
anirdagdhā pāñcālā somakās tathā
     si
henevārditā gāvo vidraviyanti sarvata
 12 adya dharmasuto rājā d
ṛṣṭvā mama parākramam
     aśvatthāmam aya
loka masyate saha somakai
 13 āgami
yati nirveda dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
     d
ṛṣṭvā vinihatān sakhye pāñcālān somakai saha
 14 ye mā
yuddhe 'bhiyotsyanti tān haniyāmi bhārata
     na hi te vīra mucyeran madbāhvantaram āgatā

 15 evam uktvā mahābāhu
putra duryodhana tava
     abhyavartata yuddhāya drāvayan sarvadhanvina

     cikīr
us tava putrāā priya prāabh vara
 16 tato 'bravīt sa kaikeyān pāñcālān gautamī suta

     praharadhvam ita
sarve mama gātre mahārathā
     sthirī bhūtāś ca yudhyadhva
darśayanto 'stralāghavam
 17 evam uktās tu te sarve śastrav
ṛṣṭim apātayan
     drau
i prati mahārāja jala jaladharā iva
 18 tān nihatya śarān drau
ir daśavīrān apothayat
     pramukhe pā
ṇḍuputrāā dhṛṣṭadyumnasya cābhibho
 19 te hanyamānā
samare pāñcālā sñjayās tathā
     parityajya ra
e draui vyadravanta diśo daśa
 20 tān d
ṛṣṭvā dravata śūrān pāñcālān saha somakān
     dh
ṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja drauim abhyadravad yudhi
 21 tata
kāñcanacitrāā sa jalāmbuda nādinām
     v
ta śatena śūrāā rathānām anivartinām
 22 putra
pāñcālarājasya dhṛṣṭadyumno mahāratha
     drau
im ity abravīd vākya dṛṣṭvā yodhān nipātitān
 23 ācārya putra durbuddhe kim anyair nihatais tava
     samāgaccha mayā sārdha
yadi śūro 'si sayuge
     aha
tvā nihaniyāmi tiṣṭhedānī mamāgrata
 24 tatas tam ācārya suta
dhṛṣṭadyumna pratāpavān
     marmabhidbhi
śarais tīkṣṇair jaghāna bharatarabha
 25 te tu pa
ktī ktā draui śarā viviśur āśugā
     rukmapu
khā prasannāgrā sarvakāyāvadāraā
     madhv arthina ivoddāmā bhramarā
pupita drumam
 26 so 'tividdho bh
śa kruddha padākrānta ivoraga
     mānī drau
ir asabhrānto bāapāir abhāata
 27 dh
ṛṣṭadyumna sthiro bhūtvā muhūrta pratipālaya
     yāvat tvā
niśitair bāai preayāmi yamakayam
 28 drau
ir evam athābhāya pārata paravīrahā
     chādayām āsa bā
aughai samantāl laghuhastavat
 29 sa chādyamāna
samare drauinā yuddhadurmada
     drau
i pāñcāla tanayo vāgbhir ātarjayat tadā
 30 na jānī
e pratijñā me viprotpatti tathaiva ca
     dro
a hatvā kila mayā hantavyas tva sudurmate
     tatas tvāha
na hanmy adya droe jīvati sayuge
 31 imā
tu rajanī prāptām aprabhātā sudurmate
     nihatya pitara
te 'dya tatas tvām api sayuge
     ne
yāmi mtyulokāyety eva me manasi sthitam
 32 yas te pārthe
u vidveo yā bhakti kauraveu ca
     tā
darśaya sthiro bhūtvā na me jīvan vimokyase
 33 yo hi brāhma
yam utsjya katradharmarato dvija
     sa vadhya
sarvalokasya yathā tva puruādhama
 34 ity ukta
parua vākya pāratena dvijottama
     krodham āhārayat tīvra
tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 35 nirdahann iva cak
urbhyā pārata so 'bhyavaikata
     chādayām āsa ca śarair ni
śvasan pannago yathā
 36 sa chādyamāna
samare drauinā rājasattama
     sarvapāñcāla senābhi
savto rathasattama
 37 nākampata mahābāhu
svadhairya samupāśrita
     sāyakā
ś caiva vividhān aśvatthāmni mumoca ha
 38 tau puna
sanyavartetā prāadyūtapare rae
     nivārayantau bā
aughai parasparam amariau
     uts
jantau mahevāsau śaravṛṣṭī samantata
 39 drau
ipāratayor yuddha ghorarūpa bhayānakam
     d
ṛṣṭvā sapūjayām āsu siddhacāraavātikā
 40 śaraughai
pūrayantau tāv ākāśa pradiśas tathā
     alak
yau samayudhyetā mahat ktvā śarais tama
 41 n
tyamānāv iva rae maṇḍalīktakārmukau
     parasparavadhe yattau parasparajayai
iau
 42 ayudhyetā
mahābāhū citra laghu ca suṣṭhu ca
     sa
pūjyamānau samare yodhamukhyai sahasraśa
 43 tau prayuddhau ra
e dṛṣṭvā vane vanyau gajāv iva
     ubhayo
senayor haras tumula samapadyata
 44 si
hanāda ravāś cāsan dadhmu śakhāś ca māria
     vāditrā
y abhyavādyanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
 45 tasmi
s tu tumule yuddhe bhīrūā bhayavardhane
     muhūrtam iva tad yuddha
samarūpa tadābhavat
 46 tato drau
ir mahārāja pāratasya mahātmana
     dhvaja
dhanus tathā chatram ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī
     sūtam aśvā
ś ca caturo nihatyābhyadravad rae
 47 pāñcālā
ś caiva tān sarvān bāai sanataparvabhi
     vyadrāvayad ameyātmā śataśo 'tha sahasraśa

 48 tata
pravivyathe senā pāṇḍavī bharatarabha
     d
ṛṣṭvā drauer mahat karma vāsavasyeva sayuge
 49 śatena ca śata
hatvā pāñcālānā mahāratha
     tribhiś ca niśitair bā
air hatvā trīn vai mahārathān
 50 drau
ir drupadaputrasya phalgunasya ca paśyata
     nāśayām āsa pāñcālān bhūyi
ṣṭha ye vyavasthitā
 51 te vadhyamānā
pāñcālā samare saha sñjayai
     agacchan drau
im utsjya viprakīrarathadhvajā
 52 sa jitvā samare śatrūn dro
aputro mahāratha
     nanāda sumahānāda
tapānte jalado yathā
 53 sa nihatya bahūñ śūrān aśvatthāmā vyarocata
     yugānte sarvabhūtāni bhasmak
tveva pāvaka
 54 sa
pūjyamāno yudhi kauraveyair; vijitya sakhye 'rigaān sahasraśa
     vyarocata dro
asuta pratāpavān; yathā surendro 'rigaān nihatya

 

SECTION CXXXV

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding thy sons lying (on the field), Karna of great prowess filled with great wrath, became hopeless about his life. And Adhiratha's son regarded himself guilty, seeing thy sons slain before his eyes in battle by Bhima. Then Bhimasena, recollecting the wrongs formerly inflicted by Karna, became filled with rage and began with deliberate care to pierce Karna with many keen arrows. Then Karna, piercing Bhima with five arrows, smiling the while, once more pierced him with seventy arrows, equipped with golden wings and whetted on stone. Disregarding these shafts shot by Karna, Vrikodara pierced the son of Radha in that battle with a hundred straight shafts. And once more, piercing him in his vitals with five keen arrows, Bhima, O sire, cut off with a broad-headed arrow the bow of the Suta's son. The cheerless Karna then, O Bharata, taking up another bow shrouded Bhimasena on all sides with his arrows. Then Bhima, slaying Karna's steeds and charioteer, laughed a laugh, having thus counteracted Karna's feats. Then that bull amongst men, viz., Bhima, cut off with his arrows the bow of Karna. That bow, O king, of loud twang, and the back of whose staff was decked with gold, fell down (from his hand). Then the mighty car-warrior Karna alighted from his car and taking up a mace in that battle wrathfully hurled it at Bhima. Beholding that mace, O king, impetuously
p. 290
coursing towards him, Vrikodara resisted it with his arrows in the sight of all thy troops. Then the son of Pandu, gifted with great prowess and exerting himself with great activity, shot a thousand arrows at the Suta's son, desirous of taking the latter's life. Karna, however, in the dreadful battle, resisting all those shafts with his own, cut off Bhima's armour also with his arrows. And then he pierced Bhima with five and twenty small shafts in the sight of all the troops. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then, O monarch, Bhima, excited with rage, sped nine straight shafts at the Suta's son. Those keen shafts, piercing through Karna's coat of mail and right arm, entered the earth like snakes into an ant-hill. Shrouded with showers of shafts shot from Bhimasena's bow, Karna once more turned his back upon Bhimasena. Beholding the Suta's son turn back and flying away on foot, covered all over with the arrows of Kunti's son, Duryodhana said, 'Go ye quickly from all sides towards the car of Radha's son.' 'Then, O king, thy sons, hearing these words of their brother that were to them a surprise, rushed towards the son of Pandu for battle, shooting showers of shafts. They were Chitra, and Upachitra, and Charuchitra, and Sarasan, and Chitrayudha, and Chitravarman. All of them were well-versed in every mode of warfare. The mighty car-warrior, Bhimasena, however, felled each of those sons of thine thus rushing against him, with a single arrow. Deprived of life, they fell down on the earth like trees uprooted by a tempest. Beholding those sons of thine, all mighty car-warriors, O king, thus slain, Karna, with tearful face, recollected the word of Vidura. Mounting upon another car that was duly equipped, Karna, endued with great prowess, quickly proceeded against the son of Pandu in battle. Piercing each other with whetted arrows, equipped with wings of gold, the two warriors looked resplendent like two masses of clouds penetrated by the rays of the sun. Then the son of Pandu, excited with rage, cut off the armour of Suta's son with six and thirty broad-headed arrows of great sharpness and fierce energy. The mighty-armed Suta's son also, O bull of Bharata's race, pierced the son of Kunti with fifty straight arrows. The two warriors then, smeared with red sandal-paste with many a wound caused by each other's arrows, and covered also with gore, looked resplendent like the risen sun and the moon. Their coats of mail cut off by means of arrows, and their bodies covered with blood, Karna and Bhima then looked like a couple of snakes just freed from their sloughs. Indeed, those two tigers among men mangled each other with their arrows, like two tigers mangling each other with their teeth. The two heroes incessantly showered their shafts, like two masses of clouds pouring torrents of rain. Those two chastisers of foes tore each other's body with their arrows, like two elephants tearing each other with the points of their tusks. Roaring at each other and showering their arrows upon each other, causing their cars to trace beautiful circles. They resembled a couple of mighty bulls roaring at each other in the presence of a cow in her season. Indeed, those two lions among men then looked like a couple of mighty lions endued with
p. 291
eyes red in wrath, these two warriors endued with great energy fought on like Sakra and Virochana's son (Prahlada). Then, O king, the mighty-armed Bhima, as he stretched his bow with his two hands, looked like a cloud charged with lightning. Then mighty Bhima-cloud, having the twang of the bow for its thunder and incessant showers of arrows for its rainy downpour, covered, O king, the Karna-mountain. And once more Pandu's son, Bhima of terrible prowess, O Bharata, shrouded Karna with a thousand shafts shot from his bow. And as he shrouded Karna with his winged shafts, equipped with Kanka feathers, thy sons witnessed his extra ordinary prowess. Gladdening Partha himself and the illustrious Kesava, Satyaki and the two protectors of (two) wheels (of Arjuna's car), Bhima fought even thus with Karna. Beholding the perseverance of Bhima who knew his own self, thy sons, O monarch, all became cheerless.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 136

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tato yudhi
ṣṭhiraś caiva bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍava
      dro
aputra mahārāja samantāt paryavārayan
  2 tato duryodhano rājā bhāradvājena sa
vta
      abhyayāt pā
ṇḍavān sakhye tato yuddham avartata
      ghorarūpa
mahārāja bhīrūā bhayavardhanam
  3 amba
ṣṭhān mālavān vagāñ śibīs traigartakān api
      prāhi
on mtyulokāya gaān kruddho yudhiṣṭhira
  4 abhī
āhāñ śūrasenān katriyān yuddhadurmadān
      nik
tya pthivī cakre bhīma śoitakardamām
  5 yaudheyāra
ṭṭa rājanyān madrakāś ca gaān yudhi
      prāhi
on mtyulokāya kirīī niśitai śarai
  6 pragā
ham añjo gatibhir nārācair abhipīitā
      nipetur dviradā bhūmau dviś
ṛṅgā iva parvatā
  7 nik
ttair hastihastaiś ca luhamānais tatas tata
      rarāja vasudhā kīr
ā visarpadbhir ivoragai
  8 k
iptai kanakacitraiś ca npac chatrai kitir babhau
      dyaur ivāditya candrādyair grahai
kīrā yugakaye
  9 hatapraharatābhītā vidhyata vyavak
ntata
      ity āsīt tumula
śabda śoāśvasya ratha prati
  10 dro
as tu paramakruddho vāyavyāstrea sayuge
     vyadhamat tān yathā vāyur meghān iva duratyaya

 11 te hanyamānā dro
ena pāñcālā prādravan bhayāt
     paśyato bhīmasenasya pārthasya ca mahātmana

 12 tata
kirīī bhīmaś ca sahasā sanyavartatām
     mahatā rathava
śena parighya bala tava
 13 bībhatsur dak
ia pārśvam uttara tu vkodara
     bhāradvāja
śaraughābhyā mahadbhyām abhyavaratām
 14 tau tadā s
ñjayāś caiva pāñcālāś ca mahārathā
     anvagacchan mahārāja matsyāś ca saha somakai

 15 tathaiva tava putrasya rathodārā
prahāria
     mahatyā senayā sārdha
jagmur droa ratha prati
 16 tata
sā bharatī senā vadhyamānā kirīinā
     tamasā nidrayā caiva punar eva vyadīryata
 17 dro
ena vāryamāās te svaya tava sutena ca
     na śakyante mahārāja yodhā vārayitu
tadā
 18 sā pā
ṇḍuputrasya śarair dāryamāā mahācamū
     tamasā sa
vte loke vyādravat sarvato mukhī
 19 uts
jya śataśo vāhās tatra ke cin narādhipā
     prādravanta mahārāja bhayāvi
ṣṭā samantata

 

SECTION CXXXVI

"Sanjaya said, 'Hearing the twang of Bhimasena's bow and the sound of his palms, the son of Radha could not brook it, like an infuriated elephant incapable of brooking the roars of an infuriated rival. Returning for a moment from before Bhimasena, Karna cast his eyes upon those sons of thine that had been slain by Bhimasena, Beholding them, O best of men, Karna became cheerless and plunged in grief. Breathing hot and long sighs, he, once more, proceeded against the son of Pandu. With eyes red as copper, and sighing in wrath like a mighty snake, Karna then, as he shot his arrows, looked resplendent like the sun scattering his rays. 1 Indeed, O bull of Bharata's race, Vrikodara was then covered with the arrows, resembling the spreading rays of the sun that were shot from Karna's bow. The beautiful shafts, equipped with peacock-feathers, shot from Karna's bow, penetrated into every part of Bhima's body, like birds into a tree for roosting there. Indeed, the arrows, equipped with wings of gold, shot from Karna's bow falling incessantly, resembled continuous rows of cranes. So numerous were the shafts shot by Adhiratha's son that, these seemed to issue not from his bow alone but from his standard, his umbrella, and the shaft and yoke and bottom of his car also. Indeed, Adhiratha's son shot his sky-ranging shafts of impetuous energy, decked with gold and equipped with vulturine feathers, in such a way as to fill the entire welkin with them. Beholding him (thus) excited with fury and rushing towards him like the Destroyer himself, Vrikodara, becoming utterly reckless of his life and prevailing over his foe, pierced him with
p. 292
nine shafts. 1 Beholding the irresistible impetuosity of Karna as also that dense shower of arrows, Bhima, endued as he was with great prowess, quailed not in fear. The son of Pandu then counteracting that arrowy downpour of Adhiratha's son, pierced Karna himself with twenty other sharp shafts. Indeed, as Pritha's son himself had before been shrouded by the Suta's son, even so was the latter now shrouded by the former in that battle. Beholding the prowess of Bhimasena in battle, thy warriors, as also the Gharanas, filled with joy; applauded him. Bhurisravas, and Kripa, and Drona's son, and the ruler of the Madras, and Uttamaujas and Yudhamanyu, and Kesava, and Arjuna,--these great car-warriors: O king, among both the Kurus and the Pandavas,--loudly cheered Bhima, saying, 'Excellent, Excellent,' and uttered leonine roars. When that fierce uproar, making the hair stand on end rose, thy son Duryodhana, O king, quickly said unto all the kings and princes and particularly his uterine brothers, these words, 'Blessed be ye, proceed towards Karna for rescuing him from Vrikodara, else the shafts shot from Bhima's bow will slay the son of Radha. Ye mighty bowmen, strive ye to protect the Suta's son.' Thus commanded by Duryodhana, seven of his uterine brothers, O sire, rushing in wrath towards Bhimasena, encompassed him on all sides. Approaching the son of Kunti they covered him with showers of arrows, like clouds pouring torrents of rain on the mountain-breast in the season of rains. Excited with wrath, those seven great car-warriors began to afflict Bhimasena, O king, like the seven planets afflicting the moon at the hour of the universal dissolution. The son of Kunti, then, O monarch, drawing his beautiful bow with great force and firm grasp, and knowing that his foes were but men, aimed seven shafts. And lord Bhima in great rage sped at them those shafts, effulgent as solar rays. Indeed, Bhimasena recollecting his former wrongs, shot those shafts as if for extracting the life from out of the bodies of those sons of thine. Those arrows, O Bharata, whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold, shot by Bhimasena, piercing through the bodies of those Bharata princes, flew into the sky. Indeed, those arrows winged with gold, piercing through the hearts of thy sons, looked beautiful, O monarch, as they passed into the sky, like birds of excellent plumage. Decked with gold and covered all over with blood, those arrows, O king, drinking the blood of thy sons passed out of their body. Pierced in their vital limbs by means of those arrows, they fell down on the earth from their cars, like tall trees growing on mountain precipices, broken by an elephant. The seven sons of thine that were thus slain were Satrunjaya, and Satrusaha, and Chitra, and Chitrayudha, and Dridha, and Chitrasena and Vikarna. Amongst all thy sons thus slain, Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, grieved bitterly from sorrow for Vikarna who was dear to him. And Bhima said, 'Even thus was the vow made by me, viz., that all of you should be slain by me in battle.
p. 293
[paragraph continues] It is for that, O Vikarna, that thou hast been slain. My vow hath been accomplished. O hero, thou camest to battle, bearing in mind the duties of a Kshatriya. Thou wert ever engaged in our good, and especially in that of the king (our eldest brother). It is scarcely proper, therefore, for me to grieve for thy illustrious self.' Having slain those princes, O king, in the very sight of Radha's son, the son of Pandu uttered a terrible leonine roar. That loud shout of the heroic Bhima, O Bharata, informed king Yudhishthira the Just that the victory in that battle was his. Indeed, hearing that tremendous shout of Bhima armed with the bow, king Yudhishthira felt great joy in the midst of that battle. The gladdened son of Pandu, then, O king, received that leonine shout of his brother with sounds and other musical instruments. And after Vrikodara, had sent him that message by the sign agreed upon, Yudhishthira, that foremost of persons acquainted with weapons, filled with joy, rushed against Drona in battle. On the other hand, O king, beholding one and thirty of thy sons slain, Duryodhana recollected the words of Vidura.-Those beneficial words spoken by Vidura are now realised! Thinking even so, king Duryodhana was unable to do what he should. All that, during the match at dice, thy foolish and wicked son, with Karna (on his side), said unto the princes of Panchala causing her to be brought into the assembly, all the harsh words, again, that Karna said unto Krishnâ, in the same place, before thyself, O king, and the sons of Pandu, in thy hearing and that of all the Kurus, viz., O Krishna, the Pandavas are lost and have sunk into eternal hell, therefore, choose thou other husbands,--alas, the fruit of all that is now manifesting itself. Then, again, O thou of Kuru's race, diverse harsh speeches, such as sesamum seeds without kernel, etc., were applied by the wrathful sons to those high-souled ones, viz., the sons of Pandu. Bhimasena, vomiting forth the fire of wrath (which these enraged) and which he had restrained for thirteen years, is now compassing the destruction of thy sons. Indulging in copious lamentations, Viduara failed to persuade thee towards peace. O chief of the Bharatas, suffer the fruit of all that with thy sons. Thou art old, patient, and capable of foreseeing the consequences of all acts. Being so, when thou didst yet refuse to follow the counsels of thy well-wishers, it seems that all this is the result of destiny. Do not grieve, O tiger among men! All this is thy great fault. In my opinion, thou art thyself the cause of the destruction of thy sons. O monarch, Vikarna hath fallen, and Chitrasena also of great prowess. Many other mighty car-warriors and foremost ones among thy sons have also fallen. Others, again, among thy sons whom Bhima saw come within the range of his vision, O mighty-armed one, he slew in a trice. It is for thee only that I had to see our array scorched in thousands by means of the arrows shot by Pandu's son, Bhima and Vrisha (Karna)!'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 137

 

 

 

 

  1 [s]
      somadatta
tu saprekya vidhunvāna mahad dhanu
      sātyaki
prāha yantāra somadattāya mā vaha
  2 na hy ahatvā ra
e śatru bāhlīka kauravādhamam
      nivarti
ye raāt sūta satyam etad vaco mama
  3 tata
sapreayad yantā saindhavās tān mahājavān
      tura
gamāñ śakhavarān sarvaśabdātigān rae
  4 te 'vahan yuyudhāna
tu manomārutarahasa
      yathendra
harayo rājan purā daityavadhodyatam
  5 tam āpatanta
saprekya sātvata rabhasa rae
      somadatto mahābāhur asa
bhrānto 'bhyavartata
  6 vimuñcañ śaravar
āi parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān
      chādayām āsa śaineya
jalado bhāskara yathā
  7 asa
bhrāntaś ca samare sātyaki kurupugavam
      chādayām āsa bā
aughai samantād bharatarabha
  8 somadattas tu ta
aṣṭyā vivyādhorasi mādhavam
      sātyakiś cāpi ta
rājann avidhyat sāyakai śitai
  9 tāv anyonya
śari kttau vyarājetā nararabhau
      supu
pau pupasamaye pupitāv iva kiśukau
  10 rudhirok
itasarvāgau kuru vṛṣṇiyaśa karau
     parasparam avek
etā dahantāv iva locanau
 11 rathama
ṇḍala mārgeu carantāv arimardanau
     ghorarūpau hi tāv āstā
vṛṣkimantāv ivāmbudau
 12 śarasa
bhinna gātrau tau sarvata śakalīktau
     śvāvidhāv iva rājendra vyad
ṛṣyetā śarakatau
 13 suvar
apukhair iubhir ācitau tau vyarocatām
     khadyotair āv
tau rājan prāvṛṣīva vanaspatī
 14 sa
pradīpita sarvāgau sāyakais tau mahārathau
     ad
śyetā rae kruddhāv ulkābhir iva kuñjarau
 15 tato yudhi mahārāja somadatto mahāratha

     ardhacandre
a ciccheda mādhavasya mahad dhanu
 16 athaina
pañcaviśatyā sāyakānā samārpayat
     tvaramā
as tvarā kāle punaś ca daśabhi śarai
 17 athānyad dhanur ādāya sātyakir vegavattaram
     pañcabhi
sāyakais tūra somadattam avidhyata
 18 tato 'pare
a bhallena dhvaja ciccheda kāñcanam
     bāhlīkasya ra
e rājan sātyaki prahasann iva
 19 somadattas tv asa
bhrānto dṛṣṭvā ketu nipātitam
     śaineya
pañcaviśatyā sāyakānā samācinot
 20 sātvato 'pi ra
e kruddha somadattasya dhanvina
     dhanuś ciccheda samare k
uraprea śitena ha
 21 athaina
rukmapukhānā śatena nataparvaām
     ācinod bahudhā rājan bhagnada
ṃṣṭram iva dvipam
 22 athānyad dhanur ādāya somadatto mahāratha

     sātyaki
chādayām āsa śaravṛṣṭyā mahābala
 23 somadatta
tu sakruddho rae vivyādha sātyaki
     sātyaki
ceu jālena somadatto apīayat
 24 daśabhi
sātvatasyārthe bhīmo 'han bāhlikātmajam
     somadatto 'py asa
bhrānta śaineyam avadhīc charai
 25 tatas tu sātvatasyārthe bhaimasenir nava
dṛḍham
     mumoca parigha
ghora somadattasya vakasi
 26 tam āpatanta
vegena parigha ghoradarśanam
     dvidhā ciccheda samare prahasann iva kaurava

 27 sa papāta dvidhā chinna āyasa
parigho mahān
     mahīdharasyeva mahac chikhara
vajradāritam
 28 tatas tu sātyakī rājan somadattasya sa
yuge
     dhanuś ciccheda bhallena hastāvāpa
ca pañcabhi
 29 caturbhis tu śarais tūr
a caturas turagottamān
     samīpa
preayām āsa pretarājasya bhārata
 30 sāratheś ca śira
kāyād bhallena nataparvaā
     jahāra rathaśārdūla
prahasañ śinipugava
 31 tata
śara mahāghora jvalantam iva pāvakam
     mumoca sātvato rājan svar
apukha śilāśitam
 32 sa vimukto balavatā śaineyena śarottama

     ghoras tasyorasi vibho nipapātāśu bhārata
 33 so 'tividdho balavatā sātvatena mahāratha

     somadatto mahābāhur nipapāta mamāra ca
 34 ta
dṛṣṭvā nihata tatra somadatta mahārathā
     mahatā śaravar
ea yuyudhānam upādravan
 35 chādyamāna
śarair dṛṣṭvā yuyudhāna yudhiṣṭhira
     mahatyā senayā sārdha
droānīkam upādravat
 36 tato yudhi
ṣṭhira kruddhas tāvakānā mahābalam
     śarair vidrāvayām āsa bhāradvājasya paśyata

 37 sainyāni drāvayanta
tu droo dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiram
     abhidudrāva vegena krodhasa
raktalocana
 38 tata
suniśitair bāai pārtha vivyādha saptabhi
     so 'tividdho mahābāhu
skkiī parisalihan
     yudhi
ṣṭhirasya ciccheda dhvaja kārmukam eva ca
 39 sa chinnadhanvā tvaritas tvarā kāle n
pottama
     anyad ādatta vegena kārmuka
samare dṛḍham
 40 tata
śarasahasrea droa vivyādha pārthiva
     sāśvasūta dhvajaratha
tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 41 tato muhūrta
vyathita śaraghāta prapīita
     ni
asāda rathopasthe droo bharatasattama
 42 pratilabhya tata
sajñā muhūrtād dvijasattama
     krodhena mahatāvi
ṣṭo vāyavyāstram avāsjat
 43 asa
bhrāntas tata pārtho dhanur ākṛṣya vīryavān
     tad astram astre
a rae stambhayām āsa bhārata
 44 tato 'bravīd vāsudeva
kuntīputra yudhiṣṭhiram
     yudhi
ṣṭhira mahābāho yat tvā vakyāmi tac chṛṇu
 45 upāramasva yuddhāya dro
ād bharatasattama
     g
dhyate hi sadā droo grahae tava sayuge
 46 nānurūpam aha
manye yuddham asya tvayā saha
     yo 'sya s
ṛṣṭo vināśāya sa ena śvo haniyati
 47 parivarjya guru
yāhi yatra rājā suyodhana
     bhīmaś ca rathaśārdūlo yudhyate kauravai
saha
 48 vāsudeva vaca
śrutvā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhira
     muhūrta
cintayitvā tu tato dāruam āhavam
 49 prāyād drutam amitraghno yatra bhīmo vyavasthita

     vinighna
s tāvakān yodhān vyāditāsya ivāntaka
 50 rathagho
ea mahatā nādayan vasudhātalam
     parjanya iva gharmānte nādayan vai diśo daśa
 51 bhīmasya nighnata
śatrūn pārṣṇi jagrāha pāṇḍava
     dro
o 'pi pāṇḍupāñcālān vyadhamad rajanī mukhe

 

SECTION CXXXVII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O Suta, O Sanjaya, this grievous result that has now overtaken us is, I think, certainly due to my evil policy. I had hitherto thought that what is past. But, O Sanjaya, what measures should I now adopt? I am now once more calm, O Sanjaya, therefore, tell me how this slaughter of heroes is going on, having my evil policy for its cause.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Indeed, O king, Karna and Bhima, both endued with great prowess, continued in that battle to pour their arrowy showers like two rain-charged clouds. The arrows, winged with gold and whetted on stone and marked with Bhima's name, approaching Karna, penetrated into his body, as if piercing into his very life. Similarly, Bhima also, in that battle was shrouded with the shafts of Karna in hundreds and thousands, resembling snakes of virulent poison. With their arrows, O king, failing on all sides, an agitation was produced among the troops resembling that of the very ocean. Many were the combatants, O chastiser of foes, in thy host that were deprived of life by arrows, resembling snakes of virulent poison shot from Bhima's bow. Strewn with fallen elephants and steeds mixed with the bodies of men, the field of battle looked like one covered with trees broken by a tempest. Slaughtered in battle with the arrows from Bhima's bow, thy warriors fled away, 'saying, What is this?' Indeed, that host of the Sindhus, the Sauviras, and the Kauravas, afflicted with the impetuous shafts of both Karna and Bhima, was removed to a great distance. The remnant of those brave soldiers, with their steeds and elephants killed, leaving the vicinity of both Karna and Bhima, fled away in all directions. (And they cried out), 'Verily, for the sake of the Parthas, the gods are stupefying us, since those arrows shot by both Bhima and Karna are slaying our forces. Saying those words, these troops of thine afflicted with fear avoiding the range of (Karna's and Bhima's) arrows, stood at a distance for witnessing that combat. Then, on the field of battle there began to flow a terrible river enhancing the joy of the heroes and the fears of the timid. And it was caused by the blood of elephants and steeds and men. And covered with the lifeless forms of men and elephants and steeds, with flagstaffs and the bottoms of cars, with the adornments of cars and elephants and steeds with broken cars and wheels and Akshas and Kuveras, with loud-twanged bows decked with gold, and gold-winged arrows and shafts in thousands, shot by Karna and Bhima, resembling snakes just freed from their sloughs, with countless lances and spears and scimitars and battleaxes, with maces and clubs and axes, all adorned with gold, with standards of diverse shapes, and darts and spiked clubs, and with beautiful Sataghnis, the earth, O Bharata, looked resplendent. And strewn all over with earrings and necklaces of gold and bracelets loosened (from wrists), and rings, and precious gems worn on diadems and crowns, and head-gears, and golden ornaments of diverse kinds, O sire, and coats of mail, and leathern fences, and elephants' ropes, and umbrellas displaced (from their places)
p. 295
and Yak-tails, and fans with the pierced bodies of elephants and steeds and men, with blood-dyed arrows, and with diverse other objects, lying about and loosened from their places, the field of battle looked resplendent like the firmament bespangled with stars. Beholding the wonderful, inconceivable, and superhuman feats of those two warriors, the Charanas and the Siddhas were exceedingly amazed. As a blazing conflagration, having the wind for its ally, courses through an (extended) heap of dry grass, even so, Adhiratha's son, engaged with Bhima, coursed fiercely in that battle. 1 Both of them felled countless standards and cars and slew steeds and men and elephants, like a pair of elephants crushing a forest of reeds while engaged in battle with other. Thy host looked like a mass of clouds, O king, of men, and great was the carnage caused in that battle by Karna and Bhima.'" 2

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 138

 

 

 

1 [s]
      vartamāne tathā yuddhe ghorarūpe bhayāvahe
      tamasā sa
vte loke rajasā ca mahīpate
      nāpaśyanta ra
e yodhā parasparam avasthitā
  2 anumānena sa
jñābhir yuddha tad vavte mahat
      naranāgāśvamathana
parama lomaharaam
  3 dro
akarakpā vīrā bhīmapārata sātyakā
      anyonya
kobhayām āsu sainyāni npasattama
  4 vadhyamānāni sainyāni samantāt tair mahārathai

      tamasā rajasā caiva samantād vipradudruvu

  5 te sarvato vidravanto yodhā vitrastacetasa

      ahanyanta mahārāja dhāvamānāś ca sa
yuge
  6 mahārata
sahasrāi jaghnur anyonyam āhave
      andhe tamasi mū
hāni putrasya tava mantrite
  7 tata
sarvāi sainyāni senā gopāś ca bhārata
      vyamuhyanta ra
e tatra tamasā savte sati
  8 [dh
]
      te
ā saloyamānānāṇḍavair nihataujasām
      andhe tamasi magnānām āsīk kā vo matis tadā
  9 katha
prakāśas teā vā mama sainyeu vā puna
      babhūva loke tamasā tathā sa
jaya savte
  10 [dh
]
     tata
sarvāi sainyāni hataśiṣṭāni yāni vai
     senā gopt
n athādiśya punar vyūham akalpayat
 11 dro
a purastāj jaghane tu śalyas; tathā draui pārśvata saubalaś ca
     svaya
tu sarvāi balāni rājan; rājābhyayād gopayan vai niśāyām
 12 uvāca sarvā
ś ca padātisaghān; duryodhana pārthiva sāntvapūrvam
     uts
jya sarve paramāyudhāni; ghīta hastair jvalitān pradīpān
 13 te coditā
pārthiva sattamena; tata prahṛṣṭā jaghu pradīpān
     sā bhūya eva dhvajinī vibhaktā; vyarocatābhiprabhayā niśāyām
 14 mahādhanair ābhara
aiś ca divyai; śastrai pradīptair abhisapatadbhi
     k
aena sarve vihitā pradīpā; vyadīpayaś ca dhvajanī tad āśu
 15 sarvās tu senā vyatisevyamānā
; padātibhi pāvakatailahastai
     prakāśyamānā dad
śur niśāyā; yathāntarike jaladās taidbhi
 16 prakāśitāyā
tu tathā dhvajinyā; droo 'gnikalpa pratapan samantāt
     rarāja rājendra suvar
avarmā; madhya gata sūrya ivāśumālī
 17 jāmbūnade
v ābharaeu caiva; nikeu śuddheu śarāvareu
     pīte
u śastreu ca pāvakasya; pratiprabhās tatra tato babhūvu
 18 gadāś ca śaikyā
parighāś ca śubhrā; ratheu śaktyaś ca vivartamānā
     pratiprabhā raśmibhir ājamī
ha; puna puna sajanayanti dīptā
 19 chatrā
i bālavyajanānuagā; dīptā maholkāś ca tathaiva rājan
     vyāghūr
amānāś ca suvaramālā; vyāyacchatā tatra tadā vireju
 20 śastraprabhābhiś ca virājamāna
; dīpaprabhābhiś ca tadā bala tat
     prakāśita
cābharaa prabhābhir; bhśa prakāśa npate babhūva
 21 pītāni śastrā
y asg ukitāni; vīrāvadhūtāni tanu druhāi
     dīptā
prabhā prājanayanta tatra; tapātyaye vidyud ivāntarike
 22 prakampitānām abhighāta vegair; abhighnatā
cāpatatām javena
     vaktrā
y aśobhanta tadā narāā; vāyvīritānīva mahāmbujāni
 23 mahāvane dāva iva pradīpte; yathā prabhā bhāskarasyāpi naśyet
     tathā tavāsīd dhvajinī pradīptā; mahābhaye bhārata bhīmarūpā
 24 tat sa
pradīpta balam asmadīya; niśāmya pārthas tvaritās tathaiva
     sarve
u sainyeu padātisaghān; acodayas te 'tha cakru pradīpān
 25 gaje gaje sapta k
pradīpā; rathe rathe caiva daśa pradīpā
     dvāv aśvap
ṛṣṭhe paripārśvato 'nye; dhvajeu cānye jaghaneu cānye
 26 senāsu sarvāsu ca pārśvato 'nye; paścāt purastāc ca samantataś ca
     madhye tathānye jvalitāgnihastā
; senā dvaye 'pi sma narā viceru
 27 sarve
u sainyeu padātisaghā; vyāmiśritā hastirathāśvavndai
     madhye tathānye jvalitāgnihastā; vyadīpayan pā
ṇḍusutasya senām
 28 tena pradīptena tathā pradīpta
; bala tad āsīd balavad balena
     bhā
kurvatā bhānumatā grahea; divākareāgnir ivābhitapta
 29 tayo
prabhā pthivīm antarika; sarvā vyatikramya diśaś ca vddhā
     tena prakāśena bh
śa prakāśa; babhūva teā tava caiva sainyam
 30 tena prakāśena diva
gamena; sabodhitā devagaāś ca rājan
     gandharvayak
āsurasiddhasaghā; samāgamann apsarasaś ca sarvā
 31 tad devagandharvasamākula
ca; yakāsurendrāpsarasā gaaiś ca
     hataiś ca vīrair divam āruhadbhir; āyodhana
divyakalpa babhūva
 32 rathāśvanāgākula dīpadīpta
; sarabdha yodhāhata vidrutāśvam
     mahad bala
vyūharathāśvanāga; surāsuravyūha sama babhūva
 33 tac chakti sa
ghākula caṇḍavāta; mahārathābhra rathavāji ghoam
     śastraughavar
a rudhirāmbudhāra; niśi pravtta naradeva yuddham
 34 tasmin mahāgnipratimo mahātmā; sa
tāpayan pāṇḍavān vipramukhya
     gabhastibhir madhyagato yathārko; var
ātyaye tadvad abhūn narendra

 

SECTION CXXXVIII

"Sanjaya said, 'Then Karna, O king, piercing Bhima with three arrows, poured countless beautiful arrows upon him. The mighty-armed Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, though thus struck by the Suta's son, showed no signs of pain but stood immovable like a hill pierced (with arrows). In return, O sire, in that battle, he deeply pierced Karna in the ear with a barbed arrow, rubbed with oil, of great keenness, and of excellent temper. (With that arrow) he felled on the earth the large and beautiful ear-ring of Karna. And it felled down, O monarch, like a blazing luminary of great effulgence from the firmament. Excited with wrath, Vrikodara, then, smiling the while, deeply pierced the Suta's son in the centre of the chest with another broad-headed arrow. And once again, O Bharata, the mighty-armed Bhima quickly shot in that battle ten long shafts that looked like snakes of virulent poison just freed from their sloughs. Shot by Bhima, those shafts, O sire, striking Karna's forehead, entered it like snakes entering an ant-hill. With those shafts sticking to his forehead, the Suta's son looked beautiful, as he did before, while his brow had been encircled with a chaplet of blue lotuses. Deeply pierced by the active son of Pandu, Karna, supporting himself on the Kuxara of his car, closed his eyes. Soon, however, regaining consciousness, Karna, that scorcher of foes, with his body bathed in blood, became mad with rage. 3 Infuriated with rage in consequence of his being thus afflicted by
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that firm bowman Karna, endued with great impetuosity, rushed fiercely towards Bhimasena's car. Then, O king, the mighty and wrathful Karna, maddened with rage, shot at Bhimasena, O Bharata, a hundred shafts winged with vulturine feathers. The son of Pandu, however, disregarding his foe and setting at nought his energy, began to shoot showers of fierce arrows at him. Then Karna, O king, excited with rage, O scorcher of foes, struck the son of Pandu, that embodiment of wrath with nine arrows in the chest. Then both those tigers among men (armed with arrows and, therefore), resembling a couple of tigers with fierce teeth, poured upon each other, in that battle, their arrowy showers, like two mighty masses of clouds. They sought to frighten each other in that battle, with sounds of their palms and with showers of arrows of diverse kinds. Excited with rage, each sought in that battle to counteract the other's feat. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the mighty-armed Bhima, O Bharata, cutting off, with a razor-faced arrow, the bow of the Suta's son, uttered a loud shout. Casting off that broken bow, the Suta's son, that mighty car-warrior, took up another bow that was stronger and tougher. Beholding that slaughter of the Kuru, the Sauvira, and the Sindhu heroes, and marking that the earth was covered with coats of mail and standards and weapons lying about, and also seeing the lifeless forms of elephants, foot-soldiers and horsemen and car-warriors on all sides, the body of the Suta's son, from wrath, blazed up with effulgence. Stretching his formidable bow, decked with gold, Radha's son, O king, eyed Bhima with wrathful glances. Infuriated with rage, the Suta's son, while shooting his arrows, looked resplendent, like the autumnal sun of dazzling rays at mid-day. While employed with his hands in taking up an arrow, fixing it on the bow-string, stretching the string and letting it off, none could notice any interval between those acts. And while Karna was thus engaged in shooting his arrows right and left, his bow incessantly drawn to a circle, like a terrible circle of fire. The keen pointed arrows, equipped with wings of gold, shot from Karna's bow, covered, O king, all the points of the compass, darkening the very light of the sun. Countless flights were seen, in the welkin, of those shafts equipped with wings of gold, shot from Karna's bow. Indeed, the shafts shot from the bow of Adhiratha's son, looked like rows of cranes in the sky. The arrows that Adhiratha's son shot were all equipped with vulturine feathers, whetted on stone, decked with gold, endued with great impetuosity, and furnished with blazing points. Impelled by the force of his bow, those arrows urged by Karna, while coursing in thousands through the welkin looked beautiful like successive flights of locusts. The arrows shot from the bow of Adhiratha's son, as they coursed through the welkin, looked like one long continuously drawn arrow in the sky. Like a cloud covering a mountain with torrents of rain, Karna in rage, covered Bhima with showers of arrows. Then thy sons, O Bharata, with their troops, beheld the might, energy, prowess and perseverance of Bhima, for the latter, disregarding that arrowy downpour, resembling the raging sea, rushed in wrath against Karna, Bhima, O monarch, was armed with a
p. 297
formidable bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold. He stretched it so quickly that it seemed, like a second bow of Indra, incessantly drawn to a circle. Shafts issued continuously from it seemed to fill the welkin. With those straight arrows, equipped with wings of gold, shot by Bhima, a continuous line was made in the sky that looked effulgent like a garland of gold. Then those showers of (Karna's) arrows spread in the welkin, struck by Bhimasena with his shafts, were scattered in portions and fell down on the earth. Then the sky was covered with those showers of gold-winged and swiftly-coursing arrows, of both Karna and Bhimasena, that produced sparks of fire as they clashed against each other. The very sun was then shrouded, and the very wind ceased to blow. Indeed, when the welkin was thus covered with those arrowy showers, nothing could be seen. Then the Suta's son, disregarding the energy of the high-souled Bhima, completely shrouded Bhima with other arrows and endeavoured to prevail over him. Then, O sire, those arrowy showers shot by both of them, seemed to clash against each other like two opposite currents of wind. And in consequence of that clash of the arrowy showers of those two lions among men, a conflagration, O chief of the Bharatas, seemed to be generated in the sky. Then Karna, desirous of slaying Bhima, shot at him in rage many whetted arrows equipped with wings of gold and polished by the hands of the smith. Bhima, however, cut off with his own shafts every one of those arrows into three fragments, and prevailing over the Suta's son, he cried out, 'Wait, Wait.' And the wrathful and mighty son of Pandu, like an all-consuming conflagration, once more shot in rage showers of fierce shafts. And then in consequence of their leathern fences striking against their bow-strings, loud sounds were generated. And loud also became the sound of their palms, and terrible their leonine shouts, and fierce the rattle of their car-wheels and the twang of their bow-strings. And all the combatants, O king, ceased to fight, desirous of beholding the prowess of Karna and of the son of Pandu, each of whom was desirous of slaying the other. And the celestial Rishis and Siddhas and Gandharvas, applauded them, saying, "Excellent, Excellent!' And the tribes of Vidyadharas rained flowery showers upon them. Then the wrathful and mighty-armed Bhima of fierce prowess, baffling with his own weapons the weapons of his foe, pierced the Suta's son with many shafts. Karna also, endued with great might, baffling the shafts of Bhimasena, sped at him nine long shafts in that battle. Bhima, however, with as many arrows, cut off those shafts of Suta's son in the welkin and addressed him, saying, 'Wait, Wait!' Then the mighty-armed and heroic Bhima, excited with rage, shot at Adhiratha's son an arrow resembling the rod of Yama or Death himself. Radha's son, however, smiling, cut off that arrow, O king, of Pandu's son, however, of great Prowess, with three arrows of his, as it coursed towards him through the welkin. The son of Pandu then once more shot showers of fierce shafts. Karna, however, fearlessly received all those arrows of Bhima. Then excited with rage, the Suta's son, Karna, by the power of his weapons, with his
p. 298
straight arrows, cut off in that encounter the couple of quivers and the bow-string of fighting Bhima, as also the traces of his steeds. And then slaying his steeds also, Karna pierced Bhima's charioteer with five shafts. The charioteer, quickly running away, proceeded to Yudhamanyu's car. Excited with rage, the son of Radha then, whose splendour resembled that of the Yuga-fire, smiling the while, cut off the flag-staff of Bhima and felled his banner. Deprived of his bow, the mighty-armed Bhima then seized a dart, such as car-warriors may use. Excited with wrath, he whirled it in his hand and then hurled it with great force at Karna's car. The son of Adhiratha then, with ten shafts, cut off, as it coursed towards him with the effulgence of a large meteor, the gold-decked dart thus hurled (by Bhima). 1 Thereupon, that dart fell down, cut off into ten fragments by those sharp shafts of the Suta's son, Karna, that warrior conversant with every mode of warfare, then battling for the sake of his friends. Then, the son of Kunti took up a shield decked with gold and a sword, desirous of obtaining either death or victory, Karna, however, O Bharata, smiling the while, cut off that bright shield of Bhima with many fierce shafts. Then, car-less, Bhima, O king, deprived of his shield, became mad with rage. Quickly, then, he hurled his formidable sword at Karna's car. That large sword, cutting off the stringed bow of the Suta's son, fell down on the earth, O king, like an angry snake from the sky. Then Adhiratha's son, excited with rage in that battle, smilingly took up another bow destructive of foes, having a stronger string, and tougher than the one he had lost. Desirous of slaying the son of Kunti, Karna then began to shoot thousands of arrows, O king, equipped with wings of gold and endued with great energy. Struck by those shafts shot from Karna's bow, the mighty Bhima leaped into the sky, filling Karna's heart with anguish. Beholding the conduct of Bhima, in battle desirous of victory, the son of Radha beguiled him by concealing himself in his car. Seeing Karna concealing himself with an agitated heart on the terrace of his car, Bhima catching hold of Karna's flagstaff, waited on the earth. All the Kurus and the Charanas highly applauded that attempt of Bhima of snatching Karna away from his car, like Garuda snatching away a snake. His bow cut off, himself deprived of his car, Bhima, observant of the duties of his order, stood still for battle, keeping his (broken) car behind him. The son of Radha, then, from rage, in that encounter, proceeded against the son of Pandu who was waiting for battle. Then those two mighty warriors, O king, challenging as they approached each other, those two bulls among men, roared at each other, like clouds at the close of summer. And the passage-at-arms that then took place between those two engaged lions among men that could not brook each other in battle resembled that of old between the gods and the Danavas. The son of Kunti, however, whose stock of weapons was exhausted, was (obliged to turn back) pursued by Karna. Beholding the elephants, huge as hills that had been slain by
p. 299
[paragraph continues] Arjuna, lying (near), unarmed Bhimasena entered into their midst, for impeding the progress of Karna's car. Approaching that multitude of elephants and getting into the midst of that fastness which was inaccessible to a car, the son of Pandu, desirous of saving his life, refrained from striking the son of Radha. Desirous of shelter, that subjugator of hostile cities viz., the son of Pritha, uplifting an elephant that had been slain by Dhananjaya with his shafts, waited there, like Hanumat uplifting the peak of Gandhamadana. 1 Karna, however, with his shafts, cut off that elephant held by Bhima. The son of Pandu, thereupon, hurled at Karna the fragments of that elephant's body as also car-wheels and steeds. In fact, all objects that he saw lying there on the field, the son of Pandu, excited with rage, took up and hurled at Karna. Karna, however, with his sharp arrows, cut off every one of those objects thus thrown at him. Bhima also, raising his fierce fists that were endued with the force of the thunder, desired to slay the Suta's son. Soon, however, he recollected Arjuna's vow. The son of Pandu, therefore, though competent, spared the life of Karna, from desire of not falsifying the vow that Savyasachin had made. The Suta's son, however, with his sharp shafts, repeatedly caused the distressed Bhima, to lose the sense. But Karna, recollecting the words of Kunti, took not the life of the unarmed Bhima. Approaching quickly Karna touched him with the horn of his bow. As soon, however, as Bhimasena was touched with the bow, excited with rage and sighing like a snake, he snatched the bow from Karna and struck him with it on the head. Struck by Bhimasena, the son of Radha, with eyes red in wrath, smiling the while, said unto him repeatedly these words, viz., 'Beardless eunuch, ignorant fool and glutton.' And Karna said, 'Without skin in weapons, do not fight with me. Thou art but a child, a laggard in battle! There, son of Pandu, where occurs a profusion of eatables and drink, there, O wretch, shouldst thou be but never in battle. Subsisting on roots, flowers, and observant of vows and austerities, thou, O Bhima, shouldst pass thy days in the woods for thou art unskilled in battle. Great is the difference between battle and the austere mode of a Muni's life. Therefore, O Vrikodara, retire into the woods. O child, thou art not fit for being engaged in battle. Thou hast an aptitude for a life in the woods. Urging cooks and servants and slaves in the house to speed, thou art fit only for reproving them in wrath for the sake of thy dinner, O Vrikodara! O Bhima, O thou of a foolish understanding, betaking thyself to a Muni's mode of life, gather thou fruits (for thy food). Go to the woods, O son of Kunti, for thou art not skilled in battle. Employed in cutting fruits and roots or in waiting upon guests, thou art unfit, I think, to take a part, O Vrikodara, in any passage-at-arms.' And, O monarch, all the wrongs done to him in his younger years, were also reminded by Karna in harsh words. And as he stood there in weakness, Karna once more touched him with
p. 300
the bow. And laughing loudly, Vrisha once more told Bhima those words, 'Thou shouldst fight with others, O sire, but never with one like me. They that fight with persons like us have to undergo this and else! Go thither where the two Krishnas are! They will protect thee in battle. Or, O son of Kunti, go home, for, a child as thou art, what business hast thou with battle?' Hearing those harsh words of Karna, Bhimasena laughed aloud and addressing Karna said unto him these words in the hearing of all, 'O wicked wight, repeatedly hast thou been vanquished by me. How canst thou indulge, then, in such idle boast? In this world the ancients witnessed the victory and defeat of the great Indra himself. O thou of ignoble parentage, engage thyself with me in an athletic encounter with bare arms. Even as I slew the mighty Kichaka of gigantic frame, I would then slay thee in the very sight of all kings.' Understanding the motives of Bhima, Karna, that foremost of intelligent men, abstained from that combat in the very sight of all the bowmen. Indeed, having made Bhima carless, Karna, O king, reproved him in such boastful language in the sight of that lion among the Vrishnis (viz., Krishna) and of the high-souled Partha. Then the ape-bannered (Arjuna), urged by Kesava, shot at the Suta's son, O king, many shafts whetted on stone. Those arrows adorned with gold, shot by Partha's arms and issuing out of Gandiva, entered Karna's body, like cranes into the Krauncha mountains. With those arrows shot from Gandiva which entered Karna's body like so many snakes, Dhananjaya drove the Suta's son from Bhimasena's vicinity. His bow cut off by Bhima, and himself afflicted with the arrows of Dhananjaya, Karna quickly fled away from Bhima on his great car. Bhimasena also, O bull among men, mounting upon Satyaki's car, proceeded in that battle in the wake of his brother Savyasachin, the son of Pandu. Then Dhananjaya, with eyes red in wrath, aiming at Karna, quickly sped a shaft like the Destroyer urging forward Death's self. That shaft shot from Gandiva, like Garuda in the welkin in quest of a mighty snake, quickly coursed towards Karna. The son of Drona, however, that mighty car-warrior, with a winged arrow of his, cut it off in mid-air, desirous of rescuing Karna from fear of Dhananjaya. Then Arjuna, excited with wrath, pierced the son of Drona with four and sixty arrows, O king, and addressing him, said, 'Do not fly away, O Aswathaman, but wait a moment.' Drona's son, however, afflicted with the shafts of Dhananjaya, quickly entered a division of the Kaurava army that abounded with infuriated elephants and teemed with cars. The mighty son of Kunti, then, with the twang of Gandiva, drowned the noise made in that battle by all other twangings of bows, of shafts decked with gold. Then, the mighty Dhananjaya followed from behind the son of Drona who had not retreated to a great distance, frightening him all the way with his shafts. Piercing with his shafts, winged with the feathers of Kankas and peacocks, the bodies of men and elephants and steeds, Arjuna began to grind that force. Indeed, O chief of the Bharatas, Partha, the son of Indra, began to exterminate that host teeming with steeds and elephants and men.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 139

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      prakāśite tathā loke rajasā ca tamov
te
      samājagmur atho vīrā
parasparavadhaiia
  2 te sametya ra
e rājañ śastraprāsāsi dhāria
      parasparam udak
anta parasparaktāgasa
  3 pradīpānā
sahasraiś ca dīpyamānai samantata
      virarāja tadā bhūmir dyaur grahair iva bhārata
  4 ulkā śatai
prajvalitai raabhūir vyarājata
      dahyamāneva lokānām abhāve vai vasu
dharā
  5 pradīpyanta diśa
sarvā pradīpais tai samantata
      var
ā pradoe khadyotair vtā vkā ivābabhu
  6 asajjanta tato vīrā vīre
v eva pthak pthak
      nāgā nāgai
samājagmus turagā saha vājibhi
  7 rathā rathavarair eva samājagmur mudānvitā

      tasmin rātrimukhe ghore putrasya tava śāsanāt
  8 tato 'rjuno mahārāja kauravā
ām anīkinīm
      vyadhamat tvarayā yukta
kapayan sarvapārthivān
  9 [dh
]
      tasmin pravi
ṣṭe sarabdhe mama putrasya vāhinīm
      am
ṛṣyamāe durdhare ki va āsīn manas tadā
  10 kim amanyanta sainyāni pravi
ṣṭe śatrutāpane
     duryodhanaś ca ki
ktya prāptakālam amanyata
 11 ke caina
samare vīra pratyudyayur aridamam
     ke 'rak
an dakia cakra ke ca droasya savyata
 12 ke p
ṛṣṭhato 'sya hy abhavan vīrā vīrasya yudhyata
     ke purastād agacchanta nighnata
śātravān rae
 13 yat prāviśan mahe
vāsa pāñcālān aparājita
     n
tyann iva naravyāghro rathamārgeu vīryavān
 14 dadāha ca śarair dro
a pāñcālānā rathavrajān
     dhūmaketur iva kruddha
sa katha mtyum īyivān
 15 avyagrān eva hi parān akthayasy aparājitān
     hatā
ś caiva viaṇṇāś ca viprakīrāś ca śasasi
     rathino virathā
ś caiva ktān yuddheu māmakān
 16 [dh
]
     dro
asya matam ājñāya yoddhukāmasya tā niśām
     duyodhano mahārāja vaśyān bhrāt
n abhāata
 17 vikar
a citrasena ca mahābāhu ca kauravam
     durdhar
a dīrghabāhu ca ye ca teā padānugā
 18 dro
a yattā parākrāntā sarve rakata pṛṣṭhata
     hārdikyo dak
ia cakra śalyaś caivottara tathā
 19 trigartānā
ca ye śūrā hataśiṣṭā mahārathā
     tā
ś caiva sarvān putras te samacodayad agrata
 20 ācāryo hi susa
yatto bhśa yattāś ca pāṇḍavā
     ta
rakata susayattā nighnanta śātravān rae
 21 dro
o hi balavān yuddhe kiprahasta parākramī
     nirjayet tridaśān yuddhe kim u pārthān sa somakān
 22 te yūya
sahitā sarve bhśa yattā mahārathā
     dro
a rakata pāñcālyād dhṛṣṭadyumnān mahārathāt
 23
ṇḍaveyeu sainyeu yodha paśyāmy aha na tam
     yo jayeta ra
e droa dhṛṣṭadyumnād te n
 24 tasya sarvātmanā manye bhāradvājasya rak
aam
     sa gupta
somakān hanyāt sñjayāś ca sarājakān
 25 s
ñjayev atha sarveu nihateu camūmukhe
     dh
ṛṣṭadyumna rae drauir nāśayiyaty asaśayam
 26 tathārjuna
rae karo vijeyati mahāratha
     bhīmasenam aha
cāpi yuddhe jeyāmi daśita
 27 so 'ya
mama jayo vyakta dīrghakāla bhaviyati
     tasmād rak
ata sagrāme droam eva mahārathā
 28 ity uktvā bharataśre
ṣṭha putro duryodhanas tava
     vyādideśa tata
sainya tasmis tamasi dārue
 29 tata
pravavte yuddha rātrau tad bharatarabha
     ubhayo
senayor ghora vijaya prati kākio
 30 arjuna
kaurava sainyam arjuna cāpi kauravā
     nānāśastrasamāvāpair anyonya
paryapīayan
 31 drau
i pāñcālarājāna bhāradvājaś ca sñjayān
     dhādayām āsatu
sakhye śarai sanataparvabhi
 32
ṇḍupāñcāla senānā kauravāā ca māria
     āsīn ni
ṣṭānako ghoro nighnatām itaretaram
 33 naivāsmābhir na pūrvair no d
ṛṣṭa pūrva tathāvidham
     yuddha
yādśam evāsīt tā rātri sumahābhayam

SECTION CXXXIX

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Day by day, O Sanjaya, my blazing fame is being darkened. A great many warriors of mine have fallen. I think, all this is due to the reverse brought about by time. Dhananjaya, excited with rage, hath penetrated into my host which is protected by Drona's son, and Karna and which, therefore, is incapable of being penetrated by the very gods. United with those two of blazing energy viz., Krishna and Bhima, as also with that bull among the Sinis, his prowess hath been increased. Since I have heard of Dhananjaya's entry, grief is consuming my heart, like fire consuming a heap of dry grass, I see that all the kings of the earth with the ruler of the Sindhus amongst them, are affected by evil destiny. Having done a great wrong to the diadem-decked (Arjuna), how can the ruler of the Sindhus, if he falls within Arjuna's sight, save his life? From circumstantial inference, I see, O Sanjaya, how can the ruler of the Sindhus, if he falls within Arjuna's sight, save his life? From circumstantial inference, I see, O Sanjaya, that the ruler of the Sindhus is already dead. Tell me, however, truly how the battle raged. Thou art skilled in narration, O Sanjaya, tell me truly how the Vrishni hero Satyaki fought, who striving resolutely for Dhananjaya's sake, alone entered in rage the vast force, disturbing and agitating it repeatedly, like an elephant plunging into a lake overgrown with lotuses.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding that foremost of men, viz., Bhima, to proceed, afflicted with Karna's shafts in the midst, O king, or many heroes, that foremost warrior amongst the Sinis followed him on his car. Roaring like the clouds at the close of summer, and blazing like the autumnal sun, he began to slaughter with his formidable bow the host of thy son, causing it to tremble repeatedly. And as the foremost one of Madhu's race, O Bharata, thus proceeded along the field on his car, drawn by steeds of the hue of silver and himself roaring terribly, none amongst thy warriors could check his progress. Then that foremost of kings, viz., Alamvusha, full of rage, never retreating from battle, armed with bow, and clad in a golden coat of mail rushing quickly, impeded the progress of Satyaki, that foremost warrior of Madhu's race. The encounter, then, O Bharata, that took place between them was such that its like had never been. All thy warriors and the enemy, abstaining from the fight, became spectators of that engagement between those two ornaments of battle. Then that foremost of kings, viz., Alamvusha forcibly pierced Satyaki with ten arrows. That bull of Sini's race, however, with shafts, cut all those arrows before they could reach him. And once more, Alamvusha struck Satyaki with three sharp arrows equipped with beautiful wings, blazing as fire, and shot from his bow drawn to the ear. Those piercing through Satyaki's coat of mail, penetrated into his body. Having pierced Satyaki's body with those sharp and blazing arrows, endued with the force of fire or the wind, Alamvusha forcibly struck the four steeds of
p. 302
[paragraph continues] Satyaki, white as silver, with four other arrows. The grandson of Sini, endued with great activity and prowess like that of (Kesava himself), the bearer of the discus, thus struck by him, slew with four shafts of great impetuosity the four steeds of Alamvusha. Having then cut off the head, beautiful as the full moon and decked with excellent car-rings with a broad-headed arrow, fierce as the Yuga-fire. Having slain that descendant of many kings in battle, that bull among the Yadus, that hero capable of grinding hostile hosts, proceeded towards Arjuna, O king, resisting, as he went, the enemy's troops. Indeed, O king, thus careering in the midst of the foe, the Vrishni hero, while proceeding in the wake (of Arjuna), was seen repeatedly to destroy with his shafts the Kuru host, like the hurricane dispersing gathering masses of clouds. Whithersoever that lion among men desired to go, thither he was borne by those excellent steeds of his, of the Sindhu breed, well-broken, docile, white as milk of the Kunda flower or the moon or snow, and adorned with trappings of warriors, viz., Duhsasana,--their commander. Those leaders of divisions, encompassing the grandson of Sini on all sides in that battle, began to strike him. That foremost one among the Satwatas, that hero, viz., Satyaki also, resisted them all with showers of arrows. Quickly checking all of them by means of his fiery shafts, that slayer of foes, viz., the grandson of Sini, forcibly uplifting his bow, O Ajamida, slew the steeds of Duhsasana. Then, Arjuna and Krishna, beholding that foremost of men, (viz., Satyaki) in that battle, became filled with joy."'

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 140

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      vartamāne tathā raudre rātriyuddhe viśā
pate
      sarvabhūtak
ayakare dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
  2 abravīt pā
ṇḍavāś caiva pāñcālāś ca sa somakān
      abhyadravata gacchadhva
droam eva jighāsayā
  3 rājñas te vacanād rājan pāñcālā
somakās tathā
      dro
am evābhyavartanta nadanto bhairavān ravān
  4 tān vaya
pratigarjanta pratyudyātās tv amaritā
      yathāśakti yathotsāha
yathā sattva ca sayuge
  5 k
tavarmā ca hārdikyo yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat
      dro
a prati jighāsanta matto mattam iva dvipam
  6 śaineya
śaravarāi vikiranta samantata
      abhyayāt kauravo rājan bhūri
sagrāmamūrdhani
  7 sahadevam athāyānta
droa prepsu mahāratham
      kar
o vaikartano rājan vārayām āsa pāṇḍavam
  8 bhīmasenam athāyānta
vyāditāsyam ivāntakam
      svaya
duryodhano yuddhe pratīpa mtyum āvrajat
  9 nakula
ca yudhā śreṣṭha sarvayuddhaviśāradam
      śakuni
saubalo rājan vārayām āsa sa tvara
  10 śikha
ṇḍinam athāyānta rathena rathinā varam
     k
po śāradvato rājan vārayām āsa sayuge
 11 prativindhyam athāyānta
mayūrasadśair hayai
     du
śāsano mahārāja yatto yattam avārayat
 12 bhaimasenim athāyānta
māyā śataviśāradam
     aśvatthāmā pitur māna
kurvāa pratyaedhayat
 13 drupada
vṛṣasenas tu sa sainya sapadānugam
     vārayām āsa samare dro
a prepsu mahāratham
 14 virā
a drutam āyānta droasya nidhana prati
     madrarāja
susakruddho vārayām āsa bhārata
 15 śatānīkam athāyānta
nākuli rabhasa rae
     citraseno rurodhāśu śarair dro
a vadhepsayā
 16 arjuna
ca yudhā śreṣṭha prādravanta mahāratham
     alambuso mahārāja rāk
asendro nyavārayat
 17 tathā dro
a mahevāsa nighnanta śātravān rae
     dh
ṛṭadyumno 'tha pāñcālyo hṛṣṭarūpam avārayat
 18 tathānyān pā
ṇḍuputrāā samāyātān mahārathān
     tāvakā rathino rājan vārayām āsur ojasā
 19 gajārohā gajais tūr
a sanipatya mahāmdhe
     yodhayanta
sma dśyante śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
 20 niśīthe turagā rājann ādravanta
parasparam
     samad
śyanta vegena pakavanta ivādraya
 21 sādina
sādibhi sārdha prāsaśaktyṛṣṭipāaya
     samāgacchan mahārāja vinadanta
pthak pthak
 22 narās tu bahavas tatra samājagmu
parasparam
     gadābhir musalaiś caiva nānāśastraiś ca sa
ghaśa
 23 k
tavarmā tu hārdikyo dharmaputra yudhiṣṭhiram
     vārayām āsa sa
kruddho velevodvttam aravam
 24 yudhi
ṣṭhiras tu hārdikya viddhvā pañcabhir āśugai
     punar vivyādha vi
śatyā tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 25 k
tavarmā tu sakruddho dharmaputrasya māria
     dhanuś ciccheda bhallena ta
ca vivyādha saptabhi
 26 athānyad dhanur ādāya dharmaputro yudhi
ṣṭhira
     hārdikya
daśabhir bāair bāhvor urasi cārpayat
 27 mādhavas tu ra
e viddho dharmaputrea māria
     prākampata ca ro
ea saptabhiś cārdayac charai
 28 tasya pārtho dhanuś chittvā hastāvāpa
niktya ca
     prāhi
on niśitān bāān pañca rājañ śilāśitān
 29 te tasya kavaca
bhittvā hemacitra mahādhanam
     prāviśan dhara
īm ugrā valmīkam iva pannagā
 30 ak
ṣṇor nimea mātrea so 'nyad ādāya kārmukam
     vivyādha pā
ṇḍava aṣṭyā sūta ca navabhi śarai
 31 tasya śaktim ameyātmā pā
ṇḍavo bhujagopamām
     cik
epa bharataśreṣṭha rathe nyasya mahad dhanu
 32 sā hemacitrā mahatī pā
ṇḍavena praveritā
     nirbhidya dak
ia bāhu prāviśad dharaītalam
 33 etasminn eva kāle tu g
hya pārtha punar dhanu
     hārdikya
chādayām āsa śarai sanataparvabhi
 34 tatas tu samare śūro v
ṛṣṇīnā pravaro rathī
     vyaśva sūta ratha
cakre nimeārdhād yudhiṣṭhiram
 35 tatas tu pā
ṇḍavo jyeṣṭha khagacarma samādade
     tad asya niśitair bā
air vyadhaman mādhavo rae
 36 tomara
tu tato ghya svaradaṇḍa durāsadam
     pre
ayat samare tūra hārdikyasya yudhiṣṭhira
 37 tam āpatanta
sahasā dharmarāja bhujacyutam
     dvidhā ciccheda hārdikya
ktahasta smayann iva
 38 tata
śaraśatenājau dharmaputram avākirat
     kavaca
cāsya sakruddha śairas tīkṣṇair adārayat
 39 hārdikya śarasa
chinna kavaca tan mahātmana
     vyaśīryata ra
e rājas tārājālam ivāmbarāt
 40 sa chinnadhanvā viratha
śīravarmā śarārdita
     apāyāsīd ra
āt tūra dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
 41 k
tavarmā tu nirjitya dharmaputra yudhiṣṭhiram
     punar dro
asya jugupe cakram eva mahābala

 

SECTION CXL

"Sanjaya said, 'Then the great bowmen of the Trigarta country owning standards, adorned with gold, encompassed on all sides the mighty-armed Satyaki, that warrior who accomplished with great activity everything that demanded accomplishment and who, having penetrated into that host, unlimited as the sea, was rushing against Duhsasana's car from desire of Dhananjaya's success. Checking his course with a large throng of cars on all sides, those great bowmen, excited with rage, covered him with showers of arrows. Having penetrated into the midst of the Bharata army which resembled a shoreless sea, and which, filled with the sound of palms abounded with swords and darts and maces, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, alone vanquished his foes, those fifty (Trigarta) princes shining brilliantly in that battle. On that occasion we saw that the conduct of Sini's grandson in battle was extremely wonderful. So great was the lightness (of his movements) that having seen him on the west, we immediately saw him in the east. North, south, east, west, and in the other subsidiary directions, that hero seemed to career dancingly, as if he constituted
p. 303
a hundred warriors in his single self. Beholding that conduct of Satyaki, endued with the sportive tread of the lion, the Trigarta warriors, unable to bear his prowess fled away towards (the division of) their own (countrymen). Then the brave warriors of the Surasenas endeavoured to check Satyaki, striking him with showers of shafts, like a driver striking an infuriated elephant with the hook. The high-souled Satyaki struggled with them for a short space of time and then that hero of inconceivable prowess began to fight with the Kalingas. Transgressing that division of the Kalingas which was incapable of being crossed, the mighty-armed Satyaki approached the presence of Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha. Like a tired swimmer in water when he reaches the land, Yuyudhana became comforted on obtaining the sight of Dhananjaya, that tiger among men. Beholding him approach, Kesava, addressing Partha, said, 'Yonder cometh the grandson of Sini, O Partha, following in thy wake. O thou of prowess incapable of being baffled, he is thy disciple and friend. That bull among men, regarding all the warriors as straw, hath vanquished them. Inflicting terrible injuries upon the Kaurava warriors, Satyaki, who is dear to thee as life, cometh towards thee, O Kiritin! Having with his shafts crushed Drona himself and Kritavarman of the Bhoja race, this Satyaki cometh to thee, O Phalguna! Intent on Yudhishthira's good, having slain many foremost of warriors, the brave Satyaki, skilled in weapons, is coming to thee, O Phalguna! Having achieved the most difficult feat in the midst of the (Kaurava) troops, the mighty Satyaki, desirous of obtaining thy sight cometh to thee, O son of Pandu! Having on a single car fought in battle many mighty car-warriors with the preceptor (Drona) on their head, Satyaki cometh to thee, O Partha! Despatched by Dharma's son, this Satyaki cometh to thee, O Partha, having pierced through the Kaurava army, relying on the might of his own arms. Invincible in battle, that Satyaki, who hath no warrior amongst the Kauravas equal to him, is coming to thee, O son of Kunti! Having slain, countless warriors, this Satyaki cometh to thee, O Partha, freed from amid the Kaurva troops, like a lion from amid a herd of kine. Having strewn the earth with the faces, beautiful as the lotus, of thousands of kings, this Satyaki is coming to thee, O Partha! Having vanquished in battle Duryodhana himself with his brothers, and having slain Jalasandha, Satyaki is coming quickly. Having caused a river of blood for its mire, and regarding the Kauravas as straw, Satyaki cometh towards thee.' The son of Kunti, without being cheerful, said these words unto Kesava, 'The arrival of Satyaki, O mighty-armed one, is scarcely agreeable to me. I do not, O Kesava, know how king Yudhishthira the Just is. Now that he is separated from Satwata, I doubt whether he is alive; O mighty-armed one, this Satyaki should have protected the king. Why then, O Krishna, hath this one, leaving Yudhishthira followed in my wake? The king, therefore, hath been abandoned to Drona. The ruler of the Sindhus hath not yet been slain. There, Bhurisravas is proceeding against Satyaki in battle. A heavier burthen hath been cast upon me
p. 304
on account of Jayadratha. I should know how the ling is and I should also protect Satyaki. I should also slay Jayadratha. The sun hangeth low. As regards the mighty-armed Satyaki, he is tired; his weapons also have been exhausted. His steeds as also their driver, are tired, O Madhava! Bhurisravas, on the other hand, is not tired, he hath supporters behind him, O Kesava! Will success be Satyaki's in this encounter? Having crossed the very ocean, will Satyaki of unbaffled prowess, will that bull amongst the Sinis, of great energy, succumb, obtaining (before him) the vestige of a cow's foot? 1 Encountering that foremost one amongst the Kurus, viz., the high-souled Bhurisravas, skilled in weapons, will Satyaki have good fortune? I regard this, O Kesava, to have been an error of judgment on the part of king Yudhishthira the Just. Casting of all fear of the preceptor, he hath despatched Satyaki (from away his side). Like a sky-ranging hawk after a peace of meat, Drona always endeavoureth after the seizure of king Yudhishthira the Just. Will the king be free from all danger?'

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 141

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      bhūris tu samare rājañ śaineya
rathinā varam
      āpatantam apāsedhat prapānād iva kuñjaram
  2 athaina
sātyaki kruddha pañcabhir niśitai śarai
      vivyādha h
daye tūra prāsravat tasya śoitam
  3 tathaiva kauravo yuddhe śaineya
yuddhadurmadam
      daśabhir viśikhais tīk
ṣṇair avidhyata bhujāntare
  4 tāv anyonya
mahārāja tatakāte śarair bhśam
      krodhasa
raktanayanau krodhād visphārya kārmuke
  5 tayor āsīn mahārāja śastrav
ṛṣṭi sudāruā
      kruddhayo
sāyakamucor yamāntakanikāśayo
  6 tāv anyonya
śarai rājan pracchādya samare sthitau
      muhūrta
caiva tad yuddha samarūpam ivābhavat
  7 tata
kruddho mahārāja śaineya prahasann iva
      dhanuś ciccheda samare kauravyasya mahātmana

  8 athaina
chinnadhanvāna navabhir niśitai śarai
      vivyādha h
daye tūra tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
  9 so 'tividdho balavatā śatru
ā śatrutāpana
      dhanur anyat samādāya sātvata
pratyavidhyata
  10 sa viddhvā sātvata
ais tribhir eva viśā pate
     dhanuś ciccheda bhallena sutīk
ṣṇena hasann iva
 11 chinnadhanvā mahārāja sātyaki
krodhamūrchita
     prajahāra mahāvegā
śakti tasya mahorasi
 12 sa tu śaktyā vibhinnā
go nipapāta rathottamāt
     lohitā
ga ivākāśād dīptaraśmir yadcchayā
 13 ta
tu dṛṣṭvā taha śūram aśvatthāmā mahāratha
     abhyadhāvata vegena śaineya
prati sayuge
     abhyavar
ac charaughea meru vṛṣṭyā yathāmbuda
 14 tam āpatanta
sarabdha śaineyasya ratha prati
     gha
otkaco 'bravīd rājan nāda muktvā mahāratha
 15 ti
ṣṭha tiṣṭha na me jīvan droaputra gamiyasi
     e
a tvādya haniyāmi mahia skanda rā iva
     yuddhaśraddhām aha
te 'dya vineyāmi raājire
 16 ity uktvā ro
atāmrāko rākasa paravīrahā
     drau
im abhyadravat kruddho gajendram iva kesarī
 17 rathāk
amātrair iubhir abhyavarad ghaotkaca
     rathinām
ṛṣabha draui dhārābhir iva toyada
 18 śarav
ṛṣṭi tu tā prāptā śarair āśīviopamai
     śātayām āsa samare tarasā drau
ir utsmayan
 19 tata
śaraśatais tīkṣṇair marmabhedibhir āśugai
     samācinod rāk
asendra ghaotkacam aridama
 20 sa śarair ācitas tena rāk
aso raamūrdhani
     vyakāśata mahārāja śvāvic chalalito yathā
 21 tata
krodhasamāviṣṭo bhaimaseni pratāpavān
     śarair avacakartograir drau
i vajrāśanisvanai
 22 k
uraprair ardhacandraiś ca nārācai sa śilīmukhai
     varāhakar
air nālīkais tīkṣṇaiś cāpi vikaribhi
 23
śastravṛṣṭim atulā vajrāśanisamasvanām
     patantīm upari kruddho drau
ir avyathitendriya
 24 sudu
sahā śarair ghorair divyāstrapratimantritai
     vyadhamat sa mahātejā mahābhrā
īva māruta
 25 tato 'ntarik
e bāānā sagrāmo 'nya ivābhavat
     ghorarūpo mahārāja yodhānā
haravardhana
 26 tato 'strasa
ghara ktair visphuligai samantata
     babhau niśāmukhe vyoma khadyotair iva sa
vtam
 27 sa mārga
agaair drauir diśa pracchādya sarvata
     priyārtha
tava putrāā rākasa samavākirat
 28 tata
pravavte yuddha drauirākasayor mdhe
     vigā
he rajanīmadhye śakra prahrādayor iva
 29 tato gha
otkaco bāair daśabhir drauim āhave
     jaghānorasi sa
kruddha kālajvalana sanibhai
 30 sa tair abhyāyatair viddho rāk
asena mahābala
     cacāla samare drau
ir vātanunna iva druma
     sa moham anusa
prāpto dhvajayaṣṭi samāśrita
 31 tato hāhāk
ta sainya tava sarva janādhipa
     hata
sma menire sarve tāvakās ta viśā pate
 32 ta
tu dṛṣṭvā tathāvastham aśvatthāmānam āhave
     pāñcālā
sñjayāś caiva sihanāda pracakrire
 33 pratilabhya tata
sajñām aśvatthāmā mahābala
     dhanu
prapīya vāmena kareāmitrakarśana
 34 mumocākar
a pūrena dhanuā śaram uttamam
     yamada
ṇḍopama ghoram uddiśyāśu ghaotkacam
 35 sa bhittvā h
daya tasya rākasasya śarottama
     viveśa vasudhām ugra
supukha pthivīpate
 36 so 'tividdho mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat
     rāk
asendra subalavān drauinā raamāninā
 37 d
ṛṣṭvā vimūha haiimba sārathis ta raājirāt
     drau
e sakāśāt sabhrāntas tv apaninye tvarānvita
 38 tathā tu samare viddhvā rāk
asendra ghaotkacam
     nanāda sumahānāda
droaputro mahābala
 39 pūjitas tava putraiś ca sarvayodhaiś ca bhārata
     vapu
ā pratijajvāla madhyāhna iva bhāskara
 40 bhīmasena
tu yudhyanta bhāradvāja ratha prati
     svaya
duryodhano rājā pratyavidhyac chitai śarai
 41 ta
bhīmaseno navabhi śarair vivyādha māria
     duryodhano 'pi vi
śatyā śarāā pratyavidhyata
 42 tau sāyakair avacchannāv ad
śyetā raājire
     meghajālasamācchannau nabhasīvendu bhāskarau
 43 atha duryodhano rājā bhīma
vivyādha patribhi
     pañcabhir bharataśre
ṣṭha tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 44 tasya bhīmo dhanuś chittvā dhvaja
ca navabhi śarai
     vivyādha kauravaśre
ṣṭha navatyā nataparvaām
 45 tato duryodhana
kruddho bhīmasenasya māria
     cik
epa sa śarān rājan paśyatā sarvadhanvinām
 46 tān nihatya śarān bhīmo duryodhana dhanuścyutān
     kaurava
pañcaviśatyā krudrakāā samārpayat
 47 duryodhanas tu sa
kruddho bhīmasenasya māria
     k
uraprea dhanuś chittvā daśabhi pratyavidhyata
 48 athānyad dhanur ādāya bhīmaseno mahābala

     vivyādha n
pati tūra saptabhir niśitai śarai
 49 tad apy asya dhanu
kipra ciccheda laghuhastavat
     dvitīya
ca ttīya ca caturtha pañcama tathā
 50 āttam ātta
mahārāja bhīmasya dhanur ācchinat
     tava putro mahārāja jitakāśī madotka
a
 51 sa tadā chidyamāne
u kārmukeu puna puna
     śakti
cikepa samare sarvapāraśavī śubhām
 52 aprāptām eva tā
śakti tridhā ciccheda kaurava
     paśyata
sarvalokasya bhīmasya ca mahātmana
 53 tato bhīmo mahārāja gadā
gurvī mahāprabhām
     cik
epāvidhya vegena duryodhana ratha prati
 54 tata
sa sahasā vāhās tava putrasya sayuge
     sārathi
ca gadā gurvī mamarda bharatarabha
 55 putras tu tava rājendra rathād dhemapari
ktāt
     āpluta
sahasā yāna nandakasya mahātmana
 56 tato bhīmo hata
matvā tava putra mahāratham
     si
hanāda mahac cakre tarjayann iva kauravān
 57 tāvakā
sainikāś cāpi menire nihata npam
     tato vicukruśu
sarve hāheti ca samantata
 58 te
ā tu ninada śrutvā trastānā sarvayodninām
     bhīmasenasya nāda
ca śrutvā rājan mahātmana
 59 tato yudhi
ṣṭhiro rājā hata matvā suyodhanam
     abhyavartata vegena yatra pārtho v
kodara
 60 pāñcālā
kekayā matsyā sñjayāś ca viśā pate
     sarvodyogenābhijagmur dro
am eva yuyutsayā
 61 tatrāsīt sumahad yuddha
droasyātha parai saha
     ghore tamasi magnānā
nighnatām itaretaram

 

SECTION CXLI

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding Satwata, invincible in battle coming (towards Arjuna), Bhurisravas, in rage, O king, suddenly advanced towards him. He of Kuru's race, then, O king, addressing that bull of Sini's race, said, 'By luck it, is thou that hast today come within the range of my vision. Today in this; battle, I obtain the wish I had always cherished. If thou dost not flee away from battle, thou wilt not escape me with life. Slaying thee today in fight, thou that art ever proud of thy heroism, I will, O thou of Dasarha's race, gladden the Kuru king Suyodhana. Those heroes, viz., Kesava and Arjuna, will today together behold thee lying on the field of battle, scorched with my arrows. Hearing that thou hast been slain by me, the royal son of Dharma, who caused thee to penetrate into this host, will today be covered with shame. Pritha's son, Dhananjaya, will today behold my prowess when he sees thee slain and lying on the earth, covered with gore. This encounter with thee hath always been desired by me, like the encounter of Sakra with Vali in the battle between the gods and the Asuras in days of old. Today I will give thee dreadful battle, O Satwata! Thou shalt thence truly understand (the measure of) my energy, might, and manliness. Slain by me in battle, thou shalt today proceed to the abode of Yama, like Ravana's son (Indrajit) slain by Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. Today, Krishna and Partha and king Yudhishthira the Just, O thou of Madhu's race, witnessing thy slaughter will, without doubt, be overcome
p. 305
with despondency and will give up battle. Causing thy death today, O Madhava, with keen shafts, I will gladden the wives of all those that have been slain by thee in battle. Having come within the scope of my vision, thou shalt not escape, like a small deer from within the range of a lion's vision.' Hearing these words of his, Yuyudhana, O king, answered him with a laugh, saying, 'O thou of Kuru's race, I am never inspired with fear in battle. Thou shalt not succeed in terrifying me with thy words only. He will slay me in battle who will succeed in disarming me. He that will slay me in battle will slay (foes) for all time to come. 1 What is the use of such idle and long-winded boast in words? Accomplish in deed what thou sayest. Thy words seem to be as fruitless as the roar of autumnal clouds. Hearing, O hero, these roars of thine, I cannot restrain my laughter. Let that encounter, O thou of Kuru's race, which has been desired by thee so long, take place today. My heart, O sire, inspired as it is with the desire of an encounter with thee, cannot brook any delay. Before slaying thee, I shall not abstain from the fight, O wretch.' Rebuking each other in such words, those two bulls among men, both excited with great wrath, struck each other in battle, each being desirous of taking the other's life. Those great bowmen both endued with great might, encountered each other in battle, each challenging the other, like two wrathful elephants in rut for the sake of a she-elephant in her season. And those two chastisers of foes, viz., Bhurisravas and Satyaki, poured upon each other dense showers of arrows like two masses of clouds. Then Somadatta's son, having shrouded the grandson of Sini with swift coursing shafts, once more pierced the latter, O chief of the Bharatas, with many keen shafts, from desire of slaying him. Having pierced Satyaki with ten shafts, Somadatta's son sped many other keen shafts at that bull amongst the Sinis, from a desire of compassing his destruction. Satyaki, however, O lord, cut off, with the power of his weapons, all those keen shafts of Bhurisravas, O king, in the welkin, before, in fact, any of them could reach him. Those two heroes, those two warriors that enhanced the fame of the Kurus and the Vrishnis respectively, both of noble lineage, thus poured upon each other their arrowy showers. Like two tigers fighting with their claws or two huge elephants with their tusks they mangled each other with shafts and darts, such as car-warriors may use. Mangling each other's limbs, and with blood issuing out of their wounds, those two warriors engaged in a gambling match in which their lives were at the stake, checked and confounded each other. Those heroes of excellent feats, those enhancers of the fame of the Kurus and the Vrishnis, thus fought with each other, like two leaders of elephantine herds. Indeed, those warriors, both coveting the highest region, both cherishing the desire of very soon attaining the region of Brahman, thus roared at each other. Indeed, Satyaki and Somadatta's son continued to cover each other with their arrowy showers in the sight of the Dhartarashtras filled with joy. And the people there witnessed that encounter between those two
p. 306
foremost of warriors who were fighting like two leaders of elephantine herds for the sake of a she-elephant in her season. Then each slaying the other's steeds and cutting off the other's bow, those car-less combatants encountered each other with swords in a dreadful fight. Taking up two beautiful and large and bright shields made of bull's hide, and two naked swords, they careered on the field. Stalking in circles and in diverse other kinds of courses duly, those grinders of foes excited with rage, frequently struck each other. Armed with swords, clad in bright armour, decked with cuirass and Angadas, those two famous warriors showed diverse kinds of motion. They wheeled about on high and made side-thrusts, and ran about, and rushed forward and rushed upwards. And those chastisers of foes began to strike each other with their swords. And each of them looked eagerly for the dereliction of the other. And both of those heroes leapt beautifully and both showed their skill in that battle, began also to make skilful passes at each other, and having struck each other, O king, those heroes took rest for a moment in the sight of all the troops. Having with their swords cut in pieces each other's beautiful shield, O king, decked with a hundred moons, those tigers among men, engaged themselves in a wrestling encounter. Both having broad chests, both having long arms, both well-skilled in wrestling, they encountered each other with their arms of iron that resembled spiked maces. And they struck each other with their arms, and seized each other's arms, and each seized with his arms the other's neck. And the skill they had acquired by exercise, contributed to the joy of all the warriors that stood as spectators of the encounter. And as those heroes fought with each other, O king, in that battle, loud and terrible were the sounds produced by them, resembling the fall of the thunder upon the mountain breast. Like two elephants encountering each other with the end of their tusks, or like two bulls with their horns, those two illustrious and foremost warriors of the Kuru and the Satwata races, fought with each other, sometimes binding each other with their arms, sometimes striking each other with their heads, sometimes intertwining each other's legs, sometimes slapping their armpits, sometimes pinching each other with their nails, sometimes clasping each other tightly, sometimes twining their legs round each other's loins, sometimes rolling on the ground, sometimes advancing, sometimes receding, sometimes rising up, and sometimes leaping up. Indeed, those two and thirty kinds of separate manoeuvres that characterise encounters of that kind.
"When Satwata's weapons were exhausted during his engagement with Bhurisravas, Vâsudeva said unto Arjuna, 'Behold that foremost of all bowmen, viz., Satyaki, engaged in battle, deprived of car. He hath entered the Bharata host, having pierced through it, following in thy wake, O son of Pandu! He hath fought with all the Bharata warriors of great energy. The giver of large sacrificial presents, viz., Bhurisravas, hath encountered that foremost of warriors while tired with fatigue. Desirous of battle, Bhurisravas is about to encounter. Then that warrior invincible in battle, viz., Bhurisravas, excited with wrath, vigorously struck Satyaki, O king, like an
p. 307
infuriated elephant striking an infuriated compeer. Those two foremost of warriors, both upon their cars, and both excited with wrath, fought on, king, Kesava, and Arjuna witnessing their encounter. Then the mighty-armed Krishna, addressing Arjuna, said, 'Behold, that tiger among the Vrishnis and the Andhakas has succumbed to Somadatta's son. Having achieved the most difficult feats, exhausted with exertion, he hath been deprived of his car. O Arjuna, protect Satyaki, thy heroic disciple. See that foremost of men may not, for thy sake, O tiger among men, succumb to Bhurisravas, devoted to sacrifices. O puissant one, speedily do what is needed.' Dhananjaya, with a cheerful heart addressing Vâsudeva, said, 'Behold, that bull amongst the Rurus and that foremost one among the Vrishnis are sporting with each other, like a huge elephant mad with rage sporting with a mighty lion in the forest. While Dhananjaya the son of Pandu was thus speaking, loud cries of oh and alas arose among the troops, O bull of Bharata's race, since the mighty-armed Bhurisravas, exerting vigorously struck Satyaki and brought him down upon the ground. And like a lion dragging an elephant, that foremost one of Kuru's race, viz., Bhurisravas, that giver of profuse presents at sacrifices, dragging that foremost one amongst the Satwatas, looked resplendent in that battle. Then Bhurisravas in that encounter, drawing his sword from the scabbard, seized Satyaki by the hair of his head and struck him at the chest with his feet. Bhurisravas then was about to cut off from Satyaki's trunk his head decked with ear-rings. For sometime, the Satwata hero rapidly whirled his head with the arm of Bhurisravas that held it by the hair, like a potter's wheel whirled round with the staff. Beholding Satwata thus dragged in battle by Bhurisravas. Vâsudeva once more, O king, addressed Arjuna and said, 'Behold, that tiger among the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, that disciple of thine, O mighty-armed one, not inferior to thee in bowmanship, hath succumbed to Somadatta's son. O Partha, since Bhurisravas is thus prevailing over the Vrishni hero, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, the very name of the latter is about to be falsified. 1 Thus addressed by Vâsudeva the mighty-armed son of Pandu, mentally worshipped Bhurisravas in that battle, saying, 'I am glad that, Bhurisravas, that enhancer of the fame of the Kurus, is dragging Satyaki in battle, as if in sport. Without slaying Satyaki that foremost one among the heroes of the Vrishni race, the Kuru warrior is only dragging him like a mighty lion in the forest dragging a huge elephant.' Mentally applauding the Kuru warrior thus, O king, the mighty-armed Arjuna, the son of Pritha, replied unto Vasudeva, saying, 'My eyes having rested upon of the Sindhus, I could not, O Madhava, see Satyaki. I shall, however, for the sake of that Yadava warrior, achieve a most difficult feat.' Having said these words, in obedience to Vâsudeva, the son of Pandu, fixed on Gandiva a sharp razor-headed
p. 308
arrow. That arrow, shot by Partha's hand and resembling a meteor flashing down from the firmament, cut off the Kuru warrior's arm with the sword in the grasp and decked with Angada.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 142

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      sahadevam athāyānta
droa prepsu viśā pate
      kar
o vaikartano yuddhe vārayām āsa bhārata
  2 sahadevas tu rādheya
viddhvā navabhir āśugai
      punar vivyādha daśabhir niśitair nataparvabhi

  3 ta
kara prativivyādha śatena nataparvaām
      sajya
cāsya dhanu śīghra ciccheda laghuhastavat
  4 tato 'nyad dhanur ādāya mādrīputra
pratāpavān
      kar
a vivyādha viśatyā tad adbhutam ivābhavat
  5 tasya kar
o hayān hatvā śarai sanataparvabhi
      sārathi
cāsya bhallena druta ninye yamakayam
  6 viratha
sahadevas tu khaga carma samādade
      tad apy asya śarai
karo vyadhamat prahasann iva
  7 tato gurvī
mahāghorā hemacitrā mahāgadām
      pre
ayām āsa samare vaikartana ratha prati
  8 tām āpatantī
sahasā sahadeva praveritām
      vya
ṣṭambhayac charai karo bhūmau cainām apātayat
  9 gadā
vinihatā dṛṣṭvā sahadevas tvarānvita
      śakti
cikepa karāya tām apy asyācchinac charai
  10 sa sa
bhramas tatas tūram avaplutya rathottamāt
     sahadevo mahārāja d
ṛṣṭvā kara vyavasthitam
     rathacakra
tato ghya mumocādhirathi prati
 11 tam āpatanta
sahasā kālacakram ivodyatam
     śarair anekasāhasrair achinat sūtanandana

 12 tasmi
s tu vitathe cakre kte tena mahātmanā
     vāryamā
aś ca viśikhai sahadevo raa jahau
 13 tam abhidrutya rādheyo muhūrtād bharatar
abha
     abravīt prahasan vākya
sahadeva viśā pate
 14 mā yudhyasva ra
e vīra viśiṣṭai rathibhi saha
     sad
śair yudhya mādreya vaco me mā viśakitā
 15 athaina
dhanuo 'grea tudan bhūyo 'bravīd vaca
     e
o 'rjuno rae yatto yudhyate kurubhi saha
     tatra gacchasva mādreya g
ha vā yadi manyase
 16 evam uktvā tu ta
karo rathena rathinā vara
     prāyāt pāñcāla pā
ṇḍūnā sainyāni prahasann iva
 17 vadhaprāpta
tu mādreya nāvadhīt samare 'rihā
     kuntyā
smtvā vaco rājan satyasadho mahāratha
 18 sahadevas tato rājan vimanā
śarapīita
     kar
a vākśalya taptaś ca jīvitān niravidyata
 19 āruroha ratha
cāpi pāñcālyasya mahātmana
     janamejayasya samare tvarāyukto mahāratha

 20 virā
a saha sena tu droārthe drutam āgatam
     madrarāja
śaraughea chādayām āsa dhanvinam
 21 tayo
samabhavad yuddha samare dṛḍhadhanvino
     yād
śa hy abhavad rājañ jambha vāsavayo purā
 22 madrarājo mahārāja virā
a vāhinīpatim
     ājaghne tvarita
tīkṣṇai śatena nataparvaām
 23 prativivyādha ta
rājā navabhir niśitai śarai
     punaś caiva trisaptatyā bhūyaś caiva śatena ha
 24 tasya madrādhipo hatvā caturo rathavājina

     sūta
dhvaja ca samare rathopasthād apātayat
 25 hatāśvāt tu rathāt tūr
am avaplutya mahāratha
     tasthau visphāraya
ś cāpa vimuñcaś ca śitāñ śarān
 26 śatānīkas tato d
ṛṣṭvā bhrātara hatavāhanam
     rathenābhyapatat tūr
a sarvalokasya paśyata
 27 śatānīkam athāyānta
madrarājo mahāmdhe
     viśikhair bahubhir viddhvā tato ninye yamak
ayam
 28 tasmi
s tu nihate vīre virāo rathasattama
     āruroha ratha
tūra tam eva dhvajamālinam
 29 tato visphārya nayane krodhād dvigu
avikrama
     madrarājaratha
tūra chādayām āsa patribhi
 30 tato madrādhipa
kruddha śatena nataparvaām
     ājaghānorasi d
ṛḍha virāa vāhinīpatim
 31 so 'tividdho mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat
     kaśmala
cāviśat tīvra virāo bharatarabha
     sārathis tam apovāha samare śaravik
atam
 32 tata
sā mahatī senā prādravan niśi bhārata
     vadhyamānā śaraśatai
śalyenāhava śobhinā
 33
dṛṣṭvā vidrutā senā vāsudevadhanajayau
     prāyātā
tatra rājendra yatra śalyo vyavasthita
 34 tau tu pratyudyayau rājan rāk
asendro hy alambusa
     a
ṣṭacakrasamāyuktam āsthāya pravara ratham
 35 tura
gama mukhair yukta piśācair ghoradarśanai
     lohitārdra patāka
ta raktamālyavibhūitam
     kār
ṣṇāyasamaya ghoram kacarmāvta mahat
 36 raudre
a citrapakea vivtākea kūjatā
     dhvajenocchritatu
ṇḍena gdhrarājena rājatā
 37 sa babhau rāk
aso rājan bhinnāñ janacayopama
     rurodhārjunam āyānta
prabhañjanam ivādrirā
     kiran bā
agaān rājañ śataśo 'rjunamūrdhani
 38 atitīvram abhūd yuddha
nararākasayor mdhe
     dra
ṣṭṝṇā prītijanana sarveā bharatarabha
 39 tam arjuna
śatenaiva patriām abhyatāayat
     navabhiś ca śitair bā
aiś ciccheda dhvajam ucchritam
 40 sārathi
ca tribhir bāais tribhir eva triveukam
     dhanur ekena ciccheda caturbhiś caturo hayān
     virathasyodyata
khaga śareāsya dvidhāchinat
 41 athaina
niśitair bāaiś caturbhir bharatarabha
     pārtho 'rdayad rāk
asendra sa viddha prādravad bhayāt
 42 ta
vijityārjunas tūra droāntikam upāyayau
     kirañ śaraga
ān rājan naravāraavājiu
 43 vadhyamānā mahārāja pā
ṇḍavena yaśasvinā
     sainikā nyapatann urvyā
vātanunnā iva drumā
 44 te
u tūtsādyamāneu phalgunena mahātmanā
     sa
prādravad bala sarva putrāā te viśā pate

 

 

SECTION CXLII

"Sanjaya said, 'That arm (of Bhurisravas) decked with Angada and the sword in its grasp (thus cut off), fell down on the earth to the great grief of all living creatures. Indeed, that arm, which was to have cut off Satyaki's head itself, cut off by the unseen Arjuna, quickly dropped down on the earth, like a snake of five heads. The Kuru warrior, beholding himself incapacitated by Partha abandoned his hold on Satyaki and wrathfully reproved the son of Pandu.'
"Bhurisravas said, 'Thou hast, O son of Kunti, done a cruel and heartless deed, since without being engaged with me, thou hast, unseen by me, cut off my arm. Shalt thou not have to say unto Yudhishthira, the royal son of Dharma, even this, viz., 'Bhurisravas, while otherwise engaged, was slain by me in battle?' Wert thou taught this use of weapons by the high-souled Indra or by Rudra, O Partha, or by Drona, or by Kripa? Thou art, in this world, better acquainted with the rules about the use of weapons than all others. Why then hast thou cut off in battle the arm of a warrior who was not engaged with thee? The righteous never strike him that is heedless, or him that is terrified, or him that is made carless, or him that beggeth for life or protection, of him that hath fallen into distress. Why, then, O Partha, hast thou perpetrated such an extremely unworthy deed that is sinful, that is worthy only of a low wretch, and that is practised by only a wicked bloke! A respectable person, O Dhananjaya, can easily accomplish a deed that is respectable. A deed, however, that is disrespectable becomes difficult of accomplishment by a person that is respectable. A man quickly catches the behaviour of those with whom and amongst whom he moves. This is seen in thee, O Partha! Being of royal lineage and born, especially, in Kuru's race, how hast thou fallen off from the duties of a Kshatriya, although thou wert of good behaviour and observant of excellent vows. This mean act that thou hast perpetrated for the sake of the Vrishni warrior, is without doubt, conformable to Vâsudeva's counsels. Such an act does not suit one like thee. Who else, unless he were a friend of Krishna's, would inflict such a wrong upon lone that is heedlessly engaged with another in battle? The Vrishnis and the Andhakas are bad Kshatriyas, ever engaged in sinful deeds, and are, by nature, addicted to disreputable behaviour. Why, O Partha, hast thou taken them as model? Thus addressed in battle, Partha replied unto Bhurisravas, saying, 'It is evident that with the decrepitude of the body one's intellect
p. 309
also becomes decrepit, since, O lord, all those senseless words have been uttered by thee. Although thou knowest Hrishikesa and myself well, how is it that thou rebukest us thus? Knowing as I do the rules of battle and conversant as I am with the meaning of all the scriptures, I would never do an act that is sinful. Knowing this well, thou rebukest me yet. The Kshatriyas fight with their foes, surrounded by their own followers, their brothers, sires, sons, relatives, kinsmen, companions, and friends. These also fight, relying on the (strength of) arms of those they follow. Why, then, should I not protect Satyaki, my disciple and dear kinsman, who is fighting for our sake in this battle, regardless of life itself, that is so difficult of being laid down. 1 Invincible in fight, Satyaki, O king, is my right arm in battle. One should not protect one's own self only, when one goes to battle, he, O king, who is engaged in the business of another should be protected (by that other). Such men being protected, the king is protected in press of battle. If I had calmly beheld Satyaki on the point of being slain in great battle (and had not interfered for saying him), sin would, then, owing to Satyaki's death, have been mine, for such negligence! Why then dost thou become angry with me for my having protected Satyaki? Thou rebukest me, O king, saying, 'Though engaged with another, I have yet been maimed by thee.' In that matter, I answer, I judged wrongly. Sometimes shaking my armour; sometimes riding on my car, sometimes drawing the bow-string, I was fighting with my enemies in the midst of a host resembling the vast deep, teeming with cars and elephants and abounding with steeds and foot-soldiers and echoing with fierce leonine shouts. Amongst friends and foes engaged with one another, how could it be possible that the Satwata warrior was engaged with only one person in battle? Having fought with many and vanquished many mighty car-warriors, Satyaki had been tired. He himself, afflicted with weapons, had become cheerless. Having, under such circumstances, vanquished the mighty car-warrior, Satyaki, and brought him under thy control, thou soughtest to display thy superiority. Thou. hadst desired to cut off, with thy sword, the head of Satyaki in battle. I could not possibly behold with indifference Satyaki reduced to that strait. 2 Thou shouldst rather rebuke thy own self, since thou didst not take care of thyself (when seeking to injure another). Indeed, O hero, how wouldst thou have behaved towards one who is thy dependant?'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed (by Arjuna), the mighty-armed and illustrious Bhurisravas, bearing the device of the sacrificial stake on his banner, abandoning Yuyudhana, desired to die according to the vow of Praya3 Distinguished by many righteous deeds, he spread with his left
p. 310
hand a bed of arrows, and desirous of proceeding to the region of Brahman, committed his senses to the care of the deities presiding over them. Fixing his gaze on the sun, and setting his cleansed heart on the moon, and thinking of (the mantras in) the great Upanishad, Bhurisravas, betaking himself to Yoga, ceased to speak. Then all the persons in the entire army began to speak ill of Krishna and Dhananjaya and applauded Bhurisravas, that bull among men. Though censured, the two Krishnas, however, spoke not a word disagreeable (to the dying hero). The stake-bannered Bhurisravas also, though thus applauded, felt no joy. Then Pandu's son Dhanajaya, called also Phalguna, incapable of bearing thy sons speaking in that strain, as also of putting up with their words and the words of Bhurisravas, O Bharata, in grief and without an angry heart, and as if for reminding them all, said these words, 'All the kings are acquainted with my great vow, viz., that no one shall succeed in slaying anybody that belongs to our side, as long as the latter is within the range of my shafts. Remembering this, O stake-bannered one, it behoveth thee not to censure me. Without knowing rules of morality, it is not proper for one to censure others. That I have cut off thy arm while thou, well-armed in battle, wert on the point of slaying (the unarmed) Satyaki, is not all contrary to morality. But what righteous man is there, O sire, that would applaud the slaughter of Abhimanyu, a mere child, without arms, deprived of car, and his armour fallen off?' Thus addressed by Partha, Bhurisravas touched the ground with his left arm the right one (that had been lopped off). The stake-bannered Bhurisravas, O king of dazzling effulgence, having heard those words of Partha, remained silent, with his head hanging down. Then Arjuna said, 'O eldest brother of Sala, equal to what I bear to king Yudhishthira the Just, or Bhima, that foremost of all mighty persons, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, is the love I bear to thee. Commanded by me as also by the illustrious Krishna, repair thou to the region of the righteous, even where Sivi, the son of Usinara, is.'
"Vâsudeva also said, 'Thou hast constantly performed sacrifices and Agnihotras. Go thou then, without delay, into those pure, regions of mine that incessantly blaze forth with splendour and that are desired by the foremost of deities with Brahma as their head, and becoming equal to myself, be thou borne on the back to Garuda.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Set free by Somadatta's son, the grandson of Sini, rising up, drew his sword and desired to cut off the head of the high-souled Bhurisravas. Indeed, Satyaki desired to slay the sinless Bhurisravas, the eldest brother of Sala, that giver of plenty in sacrifices who was staying with his, senses withdrawn from battle, who had already been almost slain by the son of Pandu, who was sitting with his arm lopped off and who resembled on that account a trunkless elephant. All the warriors loudly censured him (for his intention). But deprived of reason, and forbidden by Krishna and the high-souled Partha, Bhima, and the two protectors of the two wheels (of Arjuna's car, viz., Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas), and Aswatthaman, and Kripa and Karna, and Vrishasena,
p. 311
and the ruler of the Sindhus also, and while the soldiers were yet uttering shouts of disapproval, Satyaki stew Bhurisravas while in the observance of his vow. Indeed, Satyaki, with his sword, cut off the head of the Kuru warrior who had been deprived of his arm by Partha and who was then sitting in Praya for freeing his soul from the body. The warriors did not applaud Satyaki for that act of his in slaying that perpetuator of Kuru's race who had before been almost slain by Partha. The Siddhas, the Charanas, and the men there present, as also the gods, beholding the Sakra-like Bhurisravas slain in that battle, through sitting in the observance of that Praya vow, began to applaud him, amazed at the acts, accomplished by him. Thy soldiers also argued the matter, 'It is no fault of the Vrishni hero. That which was pre-ordained has happened. Therefore, we should not give way to wrath. Anger is the cause of men's sorrow. It was ordained that Bhurisravas would be slain by the Vrishni hero. There is no use of judging of its propriety or otherwise. The Creator had ordained Satyaki to be the cause of Bhurisrava's death in battle.'
"Satyaki said, 'Ye sinful Kauravas, wearing the outward garment of righteousness, ye tell me, in words of virtue, that Bhurisravas should not be slain. Where, however, did this righteousness of yours go when ye slew in battle that child, viz., the son of Subhadra, while destitute of arms? I had in a certain fit of haughtiness vowed that he who would, throwing me down alive in battle, strike me with his foot in rage, he would be slain by me even though that foe should adopt the vow of asceticism. Struggling in the encounter, with my arms and eyes hale and sound, ye had yet regarded me as dead. This was an act of folly on our part. Ye bulls among the Kurus, the slaughter of Bhurisravas, accomplished by me, hath been very proper! Partha, however, by cutting off this one's arm with sword in grasp for fulfilling, from his affection for me, his own vow (about protecting all on his side), hath simply robbed me of glory. That which is ordained must happen. It is destiny that works. Bhurisravas hath been slain in press of battle. What sin have I perpetrated? In days of yore, Valmiki sang this verse on earth, viz., 'Thou sayest, O ape, that women should not be slain. In all ages, however, men should always, with resolute care, accomplish that which gives pain to enemies.'
"Sanjaya continued, After Satyaki had said these words, none amongst the Pandavas and the Kauravas, O king, said anything. On the other hand, they mentally applauded Bhurisravas. No one there applauded the slaughter of Somadatta's illustrious son who resembled an ascetic living in the woods, or one sanctified with mantras in a great sacrifice, and who had given away thousands of gold coins. The head of that hero, graced with beautiful blue locks and eyes, red as those of pigeons, looked like the head of a horse cut off in a Horse-sacrifice and placed on the sacrificial altar. 1 Sanctified by his prowess and the death he obtained at the edge of the weapon, the boon-giving Bhurisravas, worthy of every boon,
p. 312
casting off his body in great battle, repaired to regions on high, filling the welkin with his high virtues.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 143

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      śatānīka
śarais tūra nirdahanta camū tava
      citrasenas tava suto vārayām āsa bhārata
  2 nākuliś citrasena
tu nārācenārdayad bhśam
      sa ca ta
prativivyādha daśabhir niśitai śarai
  3 citraseno mahārāja śatānīka
punar yudhi
      navabhir niśitair bā
air ājaghāna stanāntare
  4 nākulis tasya viśikhair varma sa
nataparvabhi
      gātrāt sa
cyāvayām āsa tad adbhutam ivābhavat
  5 so 'petavarmā putras te virarāja bh
śa npa
      uts
jya kāle rājendra nirmokam iva pannaga
  6 tato 'sya niśitair bā
air dhvaja ciccheda nākuli
      dhanuś caiva mahārāja yatamānasya sa
yuge
  7 sa chinnadhanvā samare vivarmā ca mahāratha

      dhanur anyan mahārāja jagrāhāri vidāra
am
  8 tatas tūr
a citraseno nākuli navabhi śarai
      vivyādha samare kruddho bharatānā
mahāratha
  9 śatānīko 'tha sa
kruddhaś citrasenasya māria
      jaghāna caturo vāhān sārathi
ca narottama
  10 avaplutya rathāt tasmāc citraseno mahāratha

     nākuli
pañcaviśatyā śarāām ārdayad balī
 11 tasya tat kurvata
karma nakulasya suto rae
     ardhacandre
a ciccheda cāpa ratnavibhūitam
 12 sa chinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathi

     āruroha ratha
tūra hārdikyasya mahātmana
 13 drupada
tu sahānīka droa prepsu mahāratham
     v
ṛṣaseno 'bhyayāt tūra kirañ śaraśatair tadā
 14 yajñasenas tu samare kar
a putra mahāratham
    
aṣṭyā śarāā vivyādha bāhvor urasi cānagha
 15 v
ṛṣasenas tu sakruddho yajñasena rathe sthitam
     bahubhi
sāyakais tīkṣṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
 16 tāv ubhau śaranunnā
gau śarakaṇṭakinau rae
     vyabhrājetā
mahārāja śvāvidhau śalalair iva
 17 rukmapu
khair ajihmāgrai śaraiś chinnatanucchadau
     rudhiraughapariklinnau vyabhrājetā
mahāmdhe
 18 tapanīyanibhau citrau kalpav
kāv ivādbhutau
     ki
śukāv iva cotphullau vyakāśetā raājire
 19 v
ṛṣasenas tato rājan navabhir drupada śarai
     viddhvā vivyādha saptatyā punaś cānyais tribhi
śarai
 20 tata
śarasahasrāi vimuñcan vibabhau tadā
     kar
a putro mahārāja varamāa ivāmbuda
 21 tatas tu drupadānīka
śaraiś chinnatanuc chadam
     sa
prādravad rae rājan niśīthe bhairave sati
 22 pradīpair hi parityaktair jvaladbhis tai
samantata
     vyarājata mahī rājan vītābhrā dyaur iva grahai

 23 tathā
gadair nipatitair vyarājata vasudharā
     prāv
ṛṭkāle mahārāja vidyudbhir iva toyada
 24 tata
karasuta trastā somakā vipradudruvu
     yathendra bhayavitrastā dānavās tārakā maye
 25 tenārdyamānā
samare dravamāāś ca somakā
     vyarājanta mahārāja pradīpair avabhāsitā

 26
s tu nirjitya samare kara putro vyarocata
     madhya
dinam anuprāpto gharmāśur iva bhārata
 27 te
u rājasahasreu tāvakeu pareu ca
     eka eva jvala
s tasthau vṛṣasena pratāpavān
 28 sa vijitya ra
e śūrān somakānā mahārathān
     jagāma tvaritas tatra yatra rājā yudhi
ṣṭhira
 29 prativindhyam atha kruddha
pradahanta rae ripūn
     du
śāsanas tava suta pratyudgacchan mahāratha
 30 tayo
samāgamo rājaś citrarūpo babhūva ha
     vyapetajalade vyomni budha bhārgavayor iva
 31 prativindhya
tu samare kurvāa karma dukaram
     du
śāsanas tribhir bāair lalāe samavidhyata
 32 so 'tividdho balavatā putre
a tava dhanvinā
     virarāja mahābāhu
sa śṛṅga iva parvata
 33 du
śāsana tu samare prativindhyo mahāratha
     navabhi
sāyakair viddhvā punar vivyādha saptabhi
 34 tatra bhārata putras te k
tavān karma dukaram
     prativindhya hayān ugrai
pātayām āsa yac charai
 35 sārathi
cāsya bhallena dhvaja ca samapātayat
     ratha
ca śataśo rājan vyadhamat tasya dhanvina
 36 patākāś ca sa tū
īrān raśmīn yoktrāi cābhibho
     ciccheda tilaśa
kruddha śarai sanataparvabhi
 37 viratha
sa tu dharmātmā dhanuir avasthita
     ayodhayat tava suta
kirañ śaraśatān bahūn
 38 k
uraprea dhanus tasya ciccheda ktahastavat
     athaina
daśabhir bhallaiś chinnadhanvānam ārdayat
 39 ta
dṛṣṭvā viratha tatra bhārato 'sya mahārathā
     anvavartanta vegena mahatyā senayā saha
 40 āpluta
sa tato yāna suta somasya bhāsvaram
     dhanur g
hya mahārāja vivyādha tanaya tava
 41 tatas tu tāvakā
sarve parivārya suta tava
     abhyavartanta sa
grāme mahatyā senayā v
 42 tata
pravavte yuddha tava teā ca bhārata
     niśīthe dāru
e kāle yama rāṣṭravivardhanam

 

 

SECTION CXLIII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Unvanquished by Drona, and Radha's son and Vikarna and Kritavarman, how could the heroic Satyaki, never before checked in battle, having after his promise to Yudhishthira crossed the ocean of the Kaurava troops, being humiliated by the Kuru warrior Bhurisravas and forcibly thrown on the ground?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Hear, O king, about the origin, in the past times, of Sini's grandson, and of how Bhurisravas also came to be descended. This will clear thy doubts. Atri had for son Soma. Soma's son was called Vudha. Vudha had one son, of the splendour of the great Indra, called Pururavas. Pururavas had a son called Ayus. Ayus had for his son Nahusha. Nahusha had for his son Yayati who was a royal sage equal to a celestial. Yayati had by Devayani Yadu for his eldest son. In Yadu's race was born a son of the name of Devamidha of Yadu's race had a son named Sura, applauded in the three worlds. Sura had for his son that foremost of men, viz., the celebrated Vasudeva. Foremost in bowmanship, Sura was equal to Kartavirya in battle. In Sura's race and equal unto Sura in energy was, born Sini, O king! About this time, O king, occurred the Swayamvara. of the high-souled Devaka's daughter, in which all the Kshatriyas were present. In that self-choice, Sini vanquishing all the kings, quickly took up on his car the princess Devaki for the sake of Vasudeva. Beholding the princess Devaki on Sini's car, that bull among men, viz., the brave Somadatta of mighty energy could not brook the sight. A battle, O king, ensued between the two which lasted for half a day and was beautiful and wonderful to behold. The battle that took place between those two mighty men was a wrestling encounter. That bull among men, viz., Somadatta, was forcibly thrown down on the earth by Sini. Uplifting his sword and seizing him by the hair, Sini struck his foe with his foot, in the midst of many thousands of kings who stood as spectators all around. At last, from compassion, he let him off, saying, 'Live!' Reduced to that plight by Sini, Somadatta, O sire, under the influence of wrath began to pay his adorations to Mahadeva for inducing the latter to bless him. That great lord of all boon-giving deities viz., Mahadeva, became gratified with him and asked him to solicit the boon he desired. The royal Somadatta then solicited the following boon, 'I desire a soon, O divine lord, who will strike Sini's son in the midst of thousands of kings and who will in battle strike him with his foot.' Hearing these words, O king, of Somadatta, the god
p. 313
saying, 'So be it,' disappeared then and there. It was in consequence of the gift of that boon that Somadatta subsequently obtained the highly charitable Bhurisravas for son, and it was for this, Somadatta's son threw down Sini's descendant in battle and struck him, before the eyes of the whole army, with his foot. I have now told thee, O king, what thou hadst asked me. Indeed, the Satwata hero is incapable of being vanquished in battle by even the foremost of men. The Vrishni heroes are all of sure aim in battle, and are conversant with all modes of warfare. They are vanquishers of the very gods, the Danavas and the Gandharvas. They are never confounded. They always fight, relying upon their own energy. They are never dependent on others. None, O lord, are seen in this world to be equal to the Vrishni's. None, O bull of Bharata's race, have been, are, or will be equal in might to the Vrishni's. They never show disrespect to their kinsmen. They are always obedient to the commands of those that are reverend in years. The very gods and Asuras and Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Uragas and the Rakshasas cannot vanquish the Vrishni heroes, what need be said of men, therefore, in battle? They never covet also the possessions of those that ever render them aid on any occasion of distress. Devoted to the Brahmanas and truthful in speech, they never display any pride although they are wealthy. The Vrishnis regard even the strong as weak and rescue them from distress. Always devoted to the gods, the Vrishnis are self-restrained, charitable, and free from pride. It is for this that the prowess, 1 of the Vrishnis is never baffled. A person may remove the mountains of Meru or swim across the ocean but cannot defeat the Vrishnis. I have told thee everything about which thou hadst thy doubts. All this, however, O king of the Kurus, that is happening is due to thy evil policy, O best of men!'"

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 144

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      nakula
rabhasa yuddhe nighnanta vāhinī tava
      abhyayāt saubala
kruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
  2 k
tavairo tu tau vīrāv anyonyavadhakākiau
      śarai
pūrāyatotsṛṣṭair anyonyam abhijaghnatu
  3 yathaiva saubala
kipra śaravarāi muñcati
      tathaiva nakulo rājañ śik
ā sadarśayan yudhi
  4 tāv ubhau samare śūrau śaraka
ṇṭakinau tadā
      vyarājetā
mahārāja kaṇṭakair iva śālmalī
  5 sujihma
prekamāau ca rājan vivtalocanau
      krodhasa
raktanayanau nirdahantau parasparam
  6 syālas tu tava sa
kruddho mādrīputra hasann iva
      kar
inaikena vivyādha hdaye niśitena ha
  7 nakulas tu bh
śa viddha syālena tava dhanvinā
      ni
asāda rathopasthe kaśmala cainam āviśat
  8 atyantavairi
a dpta dṛṣṭvā śatru tathāgatam
      nanāda śakunī rāja
s tapānte jalado yathā
  9 pratilabhya tata
sajñā nakulaṇḍunandana
      abhyayāt saubala
bhūyo vyāttānana ivāntaka
  10 sa
kruddha śakuni aṣṭyā vivyādha bharatarabha
     punaś caiva śatenaiva nārācānā
stanāntare
 11 tato 'sya sa śara
cāpa muṣṭideśe sa cicchide
     dhvaja
ca tvarita chittvā rathād bhūmāv apātayat
 12 so 'tividdho mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat
     ta
visajña nipatita dṛṣṭvā syāla tavānagha
     apovāha rathenāśu sārathir dhvajinīmukhāt
 13 tata
sacukruśu pārthā ye ca teā padānugā
     nirjitya ca ra
e śatrūn nakula śatrutāpana
     abravīt sārathi
kruddho droānīkāya mā vaha
 14 tasya tad vacana
śrutvā mādrīputrasya dhīmata
     prāyāt tena ra
e rājanyena droo 'nvayudhyata
 15 śikha
ṇḍina tu samare droa prepsu viśā pate
     k
pa śāradvato yatta pratyudgacchat suvegita
 16 gautama
drutam āyānta droāntikam aridamam
     vivyādha navabhir bhallai
śikhaṇḍī prahasann iva
 17 tam ācaryo mahārāja viddhvā pañcabhir āśugai

     punar vivyādha vi
śatyā putrāā priyakt tava
 18 mahad yuddha
tayor āsīd ghorarūpa viśā pate
     yathā devāsure yuddhe śambarāmara rājayo

 19 śarajālāv
ta vyoma cakratus tau mahārathau
     prak
tyā ghorarūpa tad āsīd ghoratara puna
 20 rātriś ca bharataśre
ṣṭha yodhānā yuddhaśālinām
     kālarātri nibhā hy āsīd ghorarūpā bhayāvahā
 21 śikha
ṇḍī tu mahārāja gautamasya mahad dhanu
     ardhacandre
a ciccheda sajya sa viśikha tadā
 22 tasya kruddha
kpo rājañ śakti cikepa dāruām
     svar
adaṇḍām akuṇṭhāgrā karmāra parimārjitām
 23 tām āpatantī
ciccheda śikhaṇḍī bahubhi śarai
     sāpatan medinī
dīptā bhasayantī mahāprabhā
 24 athānyad dhanur ādāya gautamo rathinā
vara
     prācchādayac chitair bā
air mahārāja śikhaṇḍinam
 25 sa chādyamāna
samare gautamena yaśasvinā
     vya
īdata rathopasthe śikhaṇḍī rathinā vara
 26 sīdanta
cainam ālokya kpa śāradvato yudhi
     ājaghne bahubhir bā
air jighāsann iva bhārata
 27 vimukha
ta rae dṛṣṭvā yājñaseni mahāratham
     pāñcālā
somakāś caiva parivavru samantata
 28 tathaiva tava putrāś ca parivavrur dvijottamam
     mahatyā senayā sārdha
tato yuddham abhūt puna
 29 rathānā
ca rae rājann anyonyam abhidhāvatām
     babhūva tumula
śabdo meghānā nadatām iva
 30 dravatā
sādinā caiva gajānā ca viśā pate
     anyonyam abhito rājan krūram āyodhana
babhau
 31 pattīnā
dravatā caiva padaśabdena medinī
     akampata mahārāja bhayatrasteva cā
ganā
 32 rathā rathān samāsādya pradrutā vegavattaram
     nyag
han bahavo rājañ śalabhān vāyasā iva
 33 tathā gajān prabhinnā
ś ca suprabhinnā mahāgajā
     tasminn eva pade yattā nig
hanti sma bhārata
 34 sādī sādinam āsādya padātī ca padātinam
     samāsādya ra
e 'nyonya sarabdhā nāticakramu
 35 dhāvatā
dravatā caiva punarāvartanām api
     babhūva tatra sainyānā
śabda sutumulo niśi
 36 dīpyamānā
pradīpāś ca rathavāraavājiu
     ad
śyanta mahārāja maholkā iva khāc cyutā
 37 sā niśā bharataśre
ṣṭha pradīpair avabhāsitā
     divasapratimā rājan babhūva ra
amūrdhani
 38 ādityena yathā vyāpta
tamo loke praaśyati
     tathā na
ṣṭa tamo ghora dīpair dīptair alaktam
 39 śastrā
ā kavacānā ca maīnā ca mahātmanām
     antardadhu
prabhā sarvā dīpais tair avabhāsitā
 40 tasmin kolāhale yuddhe vartamāne niśāmukhe
     avadhīt samare putra
pitā bharatasattama
 41 putraś ca pitara
mohāt sakhāya ca sakhā tathā
     sa
bandhinaca sabandhī svasrīya cāpi mātula
 42 sve svān pare parā
ś cāpi nijaghnur itaretaram
     nirmaryādam abhūd yuddha
rātrau ghora bhayāvaham

 

 

SECTION CXLIV

"Dhritarashtra said, 'After the Kuru warrior Bhurisravas had been slain under those circumstances, tell me, O Sanjaya, how proceeded the battle.'
"Sanjaya said, 'After Bhurisravas had proceeded to the other world, O Bharata, the mighty-armed Arjuna urged Vâsudeva, saying, "Urge the steeds, O Krishna, to greater speed for taking me to the spot where king Jayadratha is. O sinless one, the sun is quickly proceeding towards the Asta hills. O tiger among men, this great task should be achieved by me. The ruler of the Sindhus is, again, protected by many mighty car-warriors among the Kuru army. Urge thou the steeds, therefore, O Krishna, in
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such a way that I may, by slaying Jayadratha before the sun sets, make my vow true.' Then the mighty-armed Krishna conversant with horse-lore, urged those steeds of silvery hue towards the car of Jayadratha. Then, O king, many leaders of the Kuru army, such as Duryodhana and Karna and Vrishasena and the ruler of the Sindhus himself, rushed with speed, O king, against Arjuna whose shafts were never baffled and who was proceeding, on his car drawn by steeds of great fleetness. Vibhatsu, however, getting at the ruler of the Sindhus who was staying before him, and casting his glances upon him, seemed to scorch him with his eyes blazing with wrath. Then, king Duryodhana, quickly addressed the son of Radha. Indeed, O monarch, thy son Suyodhana said unto Karna, 'O son of Vikartana, that time of battle hath come at last. O high-souled one, exhibit now thy might. O Karna, act in such a way that Jayadratha may not be slain by Arjuna! O foremost of men, the day is about to expire, strike now the foe with clouds of shafts! If the day expire, O foremost of men, victory, O Karna, will certainly be ours! If the ruler of the Sindhus can be protected till the setting of the sun, then Partha, his vow being falsified, will enter into blazing fire. O giver of honours, the brothers, then, of Arjuna, with all their followers, will not be able to live for even a moment in a world that is destitute of Arjuna! Upon the death of the sons of Pandu, the whole of the earth, O Karna, with her mountains and waters and forests, we will enjoy without a thorn on our side! O giver of honours, it seems that Partha, who without ascertaining what is practicable and what is impracticable, made this vow in battle, was afflicted by destiny itself, his judgment having taken a misdirected course! Without doubt, O Karna, the diadem-decked son of Pandu must have made this vow about the slaughter of Jayadratha for his own destruction! How, O son of Radha, when thou art alive will Phalguna succeed in slaying the ruler of the Sindhus before the sun goes to the Asta hills? How will Dhananjaya slay Jayadratha in battle when the latter is protected by the king of the Madras and by the illustrious Kripa? How will Vibhatsu, who seems to have been urged on by Fate, get at the ruler of the Sindhus when the latter if protected by Drona's son, by myself, and Duhsasana? Many are the heroes engaged in fight. The sun is hanging low in the sky. Partha will not even get at Jayadratha in battle, O giver of honours. Do thou therefore, O Karna, with myself and other brave and mighty car-warriors, with Drona's son and the ruler of the Madras and Kripa fight with Partha in battle, exerting thyself with the greatest firmness and resolution.' Thus addressed by thy son, O sire, the son of Radha replied unto Duryodhana, that foremost one among the Kurus, in these words, 'Deeply hath my body been pierced in battle by the brave bowman Bhimasena, capable of striking vigorously with repeated showers of arrows. O giver of honours, that I am yet present in battle is because that one like me should be present here. Scorched with the powerful shafts of Bhimasena, every limb of mine is suffering from torturing pain I shall, however, for all that, fight to the best of my
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powers. My life itself is for thee. I shall strive my best so that this foremost one of the sons of Pandu may not succeed in slaying the ruler of the Sindhus. As long as I shall fight, shooting my whetted shafts, the heroic Dhananjaya, capable of drawing the bow with even his left hand, will not succeed in getting at the ruler of the Sindhus. All that a person, bearing love and affection to thee and always solicitous of thy good, may do, shall be done by me, O thou of Kuru's race! As regards victory, that depends on destiny. I shall in battle today exert myself to my utmost for the sake of the ruler of the Sindhus, and for achieving thy good. O king, victory, however, is dependent on destiny. Relying on my manliness, I shall fight with Arjuna today for thy sake, O tiger among men! Victory, however, is dependent on destiny. O chief of the Kurus, let all the troops behold today the fierce battle, making the very hair stand on end, that takes place between myself and Arjuna.' While Karna and the Kuru king were thus talking to each other in battle, Arjuna began, with his keen arrows, to slaughter thy host. With his broad-headed arrows of great sharpness he began to cut off in that battle the arms, looking like spiked clubs or the trunks of elephants, of unreturning heroes. And the mighty-armed hero also cut off their heads with whetted shafts. And Vibhatsu also cut off the trunks of elephants and the necks of steeds and the Akshas of cars all around, as also blood-dyed horsemen, armed with spears and lances, with razor-faced arrows into two or three fragments. And steeds and foremost of elephants and standards and umbrellas and bows and Yalk-tails and heads fell fast on all sides. Consuming thy host like a blazing fire consuming a heap of dry grass, Partha soon caused the earth to be covered with blood. And the mighty and invincible Partha, of prowess incapable of being baffled, causing an immense slaughter in that army of thine, soon reached the ruler of the Sindhus. Protected by Bhimasena and by Satwata, Vibhatsu, O chief of the Bharatas, looked resplendent like a blazing fire. Beholding Phalguna in that state, the mighty bowmen of thy army, those bulls among men, endued with wealth of energy, could not brook him. Then Duryodhana and Karna and Vrishasena and the ruler of the Madras, and Aswatthaman and Kripa and the ruler of the Sindhus himself, excited with wrath and fighting for the sake of the Sindhu king, encompassed the diadem-decked Arjuna on all sides. All those warriors, skilled in battle, placing the ruler of the Sindhus at their back, and desirous of slaying Arjuna and Krishna, surrounded Partha, that hero conversant with battle, who was then dancing along the track of his car, producing fierce sounds with the bowstring and his palms and resembling the Destroyer himself with wide-opened mouth. The sun then had assumed a red hue in the sky. Desirous of his (speedy) setting, the Kaurava warriors, bending their bows with arms, resembling the (tapering) bodies of snake sped their shafts in hundreds towards Phalguna, resembling the rays of the sun. Cutting off those shafts thus sped towards him, into two, three, or eight fragments the diadem-decked Arjuna, invincible in battle, pierced them all in that encounter. Then
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[paragraph continues] Aswatthaman, bearing on his banner the mark of a lion's tail, displaying his might, began, O king, to resist Arjuna. Indeed, the son of Saradwata's daughter piercing Partha with ten shafts and Vâsudeva with seven, stayed in the track of Arjuna's car, protecting the ruler of the Sindhus. Then, many foremost ones among the Kurus, great car-warriors, all encompassed Arjuna, on all sides with a large throng of cars. Stretching their bows and shooting countless shafts, they began to protect the ruler of the Sindhus, at the command of thy son. We then beheld the prowess of the brave Partha as also the inexhaustible character of his shafts, and the might, too, of his bow Gandiva. Baffling with his own weapons those of Drona's son and Kripa, he pierced every one of those warriors with nine shafts. Then, Drona's son pierced him with five and twenty arrows, and Vrishasena with seven, and Duryodhana pierced him with twenty, and Karma and Salya each with three. And all of them roared at him and continued to pierce him frequently, and shaking their bows, they surrounded him on all sides. And soon they caused their cars to be drawn up in a serried line around Arjuna. Desirous of the (speedy) setting of the sun, those mighty car-warriors of the Kaurava army, endued with great activity, began to roar at Arjuna, and shaking their bows, covered him with showers of keen arrows like cloud pouring rain on a mountain. Those brave warriors, with arms resembling heavy clubs, also discharged on that occasion, O king, on Dhananjaya's body celestial weapons. Having caused an immense slaughter in thy army, the mighty and invincible Dhananjaya, of prowess incapable of being baffled came upon the ruler of the Sindhus. Karna, however, O king, with his arrows, resisted him in that battle in the very sight, O Bharata, of Bhimasena and Satwata. The mighty-armed Partha, in the very sight of all the troops, pierced the Suta's son, in return, with ten arrows, on the field of battle. Then Satwata, O sire, pierced Karna with three arrows. And Bhimasena pierced him with three arrows, and Partha himself, once more, with seven. The mighty car-warrior, Karna, then pierced each of those three warriors with sixty arrows. And thus, O king, raged that battle between Karna alone (on one side) and the many (on the other). The prowess, O sire, that we then beheld of the Suta's son was wonderful in the extreme, since, excited with wrath in battle, he singly resisted those three great car-warriors. Then the mighty-armed Phalguna, in that battle, pierced Karna, the son of Vikartana, in all his limbs with a hundred arrows. All his limbs bathed in blood, the Suta's son of great prowess and bravery, pierced Phalguna in return with fifty arrows. Beholding that lightness of hand displayed by him in battle, Arjuna brooked it not. Cutting off his bow, that hero, viz., Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, quickly pierced Karna in the centre of the chest with nine arrows, Then Dhananjaya, with great speed at a time, when speed was necessary shot in that battle a shaft of solar effulgence for the destruction of Karna. Drona's son, however, with a crescent-shaped arrow, cut off that shaft as it coursed impetuously (towards Karna). Thus cut off by
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[paragraph continues] Aswatthaman, that shaft fell down on the earth. Endued with great prowess, the Suta's son, then, O king, took up another bow, and covered the son of Pandu with several thousands of arrows. Partha, however, like the wind dispersing flight of locusts, dispelled with his own arrows that extraordinary shower of arrows issuing out of Karna's bow. Then Arjuna, displaying his lightness of hands, covered Karna, in that battle, with his arrows, in the very sight of all thy troops. Karna also, that slayer of hosts, desirous of counteracting Arjuna's feat, covered Arjuna with several thousands of arrows. Roaring at each other like two bulls, those lions among men, those mighty car-warriors, shrouded the welkin with clouds of straight shafts. Each rendered invisible by the other's arrowy showers, they continued to strike each other. And they roared at each other and pierced each other with their wordy darts, saying, 'I am Partha, wait'--or, 'I am Karna, wait', O Phalguna! Indeed these two heroes fought with each other wonderfully, displaying great activity and skill. And the sight they presented was such that other warriors became witnesses of that battle. And applauded by Siddhas, Charnas and Pannagas, they fought with each other, O king, each desirous of slaying the other. Then Duryodhana, O king addressing thy warriors, said, 'Carefully protect the son of Radha! Without slaying Arjuna he would not abstain from battle. Even this is what Vrisha told me.' Meanwhile, O monarch, beholding the prowess of Karna, Arjuna, of white steeds, with four shafts shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, despatched the four steeds of Karna to Yama's domain. And he also felled with a broad-headed arrow, Karna's charioteer from his niche in the car. And he covered Karna himself with clouds of shafts in the very sight of thy son. Thus shrouded with arrows the steedless and driverless Karna, stupefied by that arrowy shower, knew not what to do. Beholding him made carless, Aswatthaman, O king, caused him to ride on his car, and continued to fight with Arjuna. Then the ruler of the Madras pierced the son of Kunti with thirty arrows. Saradwata's son pierced Vâsudeva with twenty arrows. And he struck Dhananjaya also with a dozen shafts. And the ruler of the Sindhus pierced each with four arrows, and Vrishasena also pierced each of them, O king, with seven arrows. Kunti's son, Dhananjaya, pierced all of them in return. Indeed, piercing Drona's son with four and sixty shafts, and the ruler of the Madras with a hundred, and the Sindhu king with ten broad-headed arrows, and Vrishasena with three arrows and Saradwata's son with twenty, Partha uttered a loud shout. Desirous of baffling the vow of Savyasachin, thy warriors, excited with wrath, quickly rushed at Dhananjaya from all sides. Then Arjuna, frightening the Dhartarashtras, invoked into existence the Varuna weapon on all sides. The Kauravas, however, on their costly cars, pouring showers of arrows, advanced against the son of Pandu. But, O Bharata, in course of that stupefying and fierce engagement, fraught with the greatest confusion, that price, viz., Arjuna, decked with diadem and gold chain never lost his senses. On the other hand, he continued to pour
p. 318
showers of arrows. Desirous of recovering the kingdom and recollecting all the wrongs he had suffered for twelve years in consequence of the Kurus, the high-souled and immeasurable Arjuna darkened all the points of the compass with shafts from Gandiva. The welkin seemed ablaze with meteors. Innumerable crows, alighting from the sky, perched on the bodies (of dead combatants). Meanwhile, Arjuna continued to slay the foe with his Gandiva, like Mahadeva slaying the Asuras with his Pinaka equipped with tawny string. 1 Then the illustrious Kiritin, that subjugator of (hostile) ranks, dispersing the shafts of the foe by means of his own formidable bow, slaughtered with his arrows many foremost ones among the Kurus, mounted on their foremost of steeds and elephants. Then many kings, taking up heavy maces and clubs of iron and swords and darts and diverse other kinds of powerful weapons, assuming terrible forms, rushed suddenly against Partha in that battle. Then Arjuna, bending with his arms his formidable bow Gandiva which resembled the bow of Indra himself and whose twang was as loud as the roar of the clouds congregating at the end of the Yuga, and laughing the while, went on consuming thy troops and increasing the population of Yama's kingdom. Indeed, that hero caused those enraged warriors with their cars and elephants and with the foot-soldiers and bowmen supporting them, to be deprived of their arms and lives and thus to swell the population of Yama's domain.'"






















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

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