srimahabharat - (Book 7) Drona Parva - chapters 145 to 156

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

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

 Drona Parva

Book 7

Book 7
Chapter 145

 

 

1 [s]
      tasmin sutumule yuddhe vartamāne bhayāvahe
      dhṛṣṭadyumne mahārāja droṇam evābhyavartata
  2 saṃmṛjāno dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ jyāṃ vikarṣan punaḥ punaḥ
      abhyavartata droṇasya rathaṃ rukmavibhūṣitam
  3 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tadāyāntaṃ droṇasyānta cikīrṣayā
      parivavrur mahārāja pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
  4 tathā parivṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇam ācārya sattamam
      putrāst te sarvato yattā rarakṣur dorṇam āhave
  5 balārṇavau tatas tau tu sameyātāṃ niśāmukhe
      vātoddhūtau kṣubdhasattvau bhairavau sāgarāv iva
  6 tato droṇaṃ mahārāja pāñcālyaḥ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
      vivyādha hṛdaye tūrṇaṃ siṃhanādaṃ nanāda ca
  7 taṃ droṇaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā viddhvā bhārata saṃyuge
      cicchedānyena bhallena dhanur asya mahāprabham
  8 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu nirviddho droṇena bharatarṣabha
      utsasarja dhanus tūrṇaṃ saṃdaśya daśanac chadam
  9 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān
      ādade 'nyad dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ droṇasyānta cikīrṣayā
  10 vikṛṣya ca dhanuś citram ākarṇāt paravīrahā
     droṇasyānta karaṃ ghoraṃ vyasṛjat sāyakaṃ tataḥ
 11 sa visṛṣṭo balavalā śaro ghoro mahāmṛdhe
     bhāsayām āsa tat sainyaṃ divākara ivoditaḥ
 12 taṃ dṛṣṭvā tu śaraṃ ghoraṃ devagandharvamānavāḥ
     svasty astu samare rājan droṇāyety abruvan vacaḥ
 13 taṃ tu sāyakam aprāptam ācāryasya rathaṃ prati
     karṇo dvādaśadhā rājaṃś ciccheda kṛtahastavat
 14 sa chinno bahudhā rājan sūtaputreṇa māriṣa
     nipapāta śaras tūrṇaṃ nikṛttaḥ karṇa sāyakaiḥ
 15 chittvā tu samare bāṇaṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ raṇe karṇo vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 16 pañcabhir droṇaputras tu svayaṃ droṇaś ca saptabhiḥ
     śalyaś ca navabhir bāṇais tribhir duḥśāsanas tathā
 17 duryodhanaś ca viṃśatyā śakuniś cāpi pañcabhiḥ
     pāñcālyaṃ tvaritāvidhyan sarva eva mahārathāḥ
 18 sa viddhaḥ saptabhir vīrair droṇa trāṇārtham āhave
     sarvān asaṃbhramād rājan pratyavidhyat tribhis tribhiḥ
     droṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca karṇaṃ ca vivyādha tava cātmajam
 19 te viddhvā dhanvinā tena dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ punar mṛdhe
     vivyadhuḥ pañcabhis tūrṇam ekaiko rathināṃ varaḥ
 20 drumasenas tu saṃkruddho rājan vivyādha patriṇā
     tribhiś cānyaiḥ śarais tūrṇaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 21 sa tu taṃ prativivyādha tribhis tīkṣṇair ajihmagaiḥ
     svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilā dhautaiḥ prāṇānta karaṇair yudhi
 22 bhallenānyena tu punaḥ suvarṇojjvala kuṇḍalam
     unmamātha śiraḥ kāyād drumasenasya vīryavān
 23 tacchiro nyapatad bhūmau saṃdaṣṭauṣṭha puṭaṃ raṇe
     mahāvātasamuddhūtaṃ pakvaṃ tālaphalaṃ yathā
 24 tāṃś ca viddhvā punar vīrān vīraḥ suniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     rādheyasyācchinad bhallaiḥ kārmukaṃ citrayodhinaḥ
 25 na tu tan mamṛṣe karṇo dhanuṣaś chedanaṃ tathā
     nikartanam ivātyugro lāṅgūlasya yathā hariḥ
 26 so 'nyad dhanuḥ samādāya krodharaktekṣaṇaḥ śvasan
     abhyavarṣac charaughais taṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ mahābalam
 27 dṛṣṭvā tu karṇaṃ saṃrabdhaṃ te vīrāḥ ṣaḍ ratharṣabhāḥ
     pāñcālya putraṃ tvaritāḥ parivavrur jighāṃsayā
 28 ṣaṇṇāṃ yodhapravīrāṇāṃ tāvakānāṃ puraskṛtam
     mṛtyor āsyam anuprāptaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnam amaṃsmahi
 29 etasminn eva kāle tu dāśārho vikirañ śarān
     dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ parākrāntaṃ sātyakiḥ pratyapadyata
 30 tam āyāntaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ sātyakiṃ yuddhadurmadam
     rādheyo daśabhir bāṇaiḥ pratyavidhyad ajihmagaiḥ
 31 taṃ sātyakir mahārāja vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     paśyatāṃ sarvavīrāṇāṃ māgās tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 32 sa sātyakes tu balinaḥ karṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ
     āsīt samāgamo ghoro balivāsavayor iva
 33 trāsayaṃs talaghoṣeṇa kṣatriyān kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ
     rājīvalocanaṃ karṇaṃ sātyakiḥ pratyavidhyata
 34 kampayann iva ghoṣeṇa dhanuṣo vasudhāṃ balī
     sūtaputro mahārāja sātyakiṃ pratyayodhayat
 35 vipāṭha karṇinārācair vatsa dāntaiḥ kṣurair api
     karṇaḥ śaraśataiś cāpi śaineyaṃ pratyavidhyata
 36 tathaiva yuyudhāno 'pi vṛṣṇīnāṃ pravaro rathaḥ
     abhyavarṣac charaiḥ karṇaṃ tad yuddham abhavat samam
 37 tāvakāś ca mahārāja karṇa putraś ca daṃśitaḥ
     sātyakiṃ vivyadhus tūrṇaṃ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 38 astrair astrāṇi saṃvārya teṣāṃ karṇasya cābhibho
     avidhyat sātyakiḥ kruddho vṛṣasenaṃ stanāntare
 39 tena bāṇena nirviddho vṛṣaseno viśāṃ pate
     nyapatat sa rathe mūḍho dhanur utsṛjya vīryavān
 40 tataḥ karṇo hataṃ matvā vṛṣasenaṃ mahārathaḥ
     putraśokābhisaṃtaptaḥ sātyakiṃ pratyapīḍayat
 41 pīḍyamānas tu karṇena yuyudhāno mahārathaḥ
     vivyādha bahubhiḥ karṇaṃ tvaramāṇaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
 42 sa karṇaṃ daśabhir viddhvā vṛṣasenaṃ ca saptabhiḥ
     sa hastāvāpa dhanuṣī tayoś ciccheda sātvataḥ
 43 tāv anye dhanuṣī sajye kṛtvā śatrubhayaṃ kare
     yuyudhānam avidhyetāṃ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 44 vartamāne tu saṃgrāme tasmin vīravarakṣaye
     atīva śuśruve rājan gāṇḍīvasya mahāsvanaḥ
 45 śrutvā tu rathanirghoṣaṃ gāṇḍīvasya ca nisvanam
     sūtaputro 'bravīd rājan duryodhanam idaṃ vacaḥ
 46 eṣa sarvāñ śibīn hatvā mukhyaśaś ca nararṣabhān
     pauravāṃś ca maheṣvāsān gāṇḍīvaninado mahān
 47 śrūyate rathaghoṣaś ca vāsavasyeva nardataḥ
     karoti pāṇḍavo vyaktaṃ karmaupayikam ātmanaḥ
 48 eṣā vidīryate rājan bahudhā bhāratī camūḥ
     viprakīrṇāny anīkāni nāvatiṣṭhanti karhi cit
 49 vāteneva samuddhūtam abhrajālaṃ vidīryate
     savyasācinam āsādya bhinnā naur iva sāgare
 50 dravatāṃ yodhamukhyānāṃ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     viddhānāṃ śataśo rājañ śrūyate ninado mahān
     niśīthe rājaśārdūla stanayitnor ivāmbare
 51 hāhākāraravāṃś caiva siṃhanādāṃś ca puṣkalān
     śṛṇu śabdān bahuvidhān arjunasya rathaṃ prati
 52 ayaṃ madhye sthito 'smākaṃ sātyakiḥ sātvatādhamaḥ
     iha cel labhyate lakṣyaṃ kṛtsnāñ jeṣyāmahe parān
 53 eṣa pāñcālarājasya putro droṇena saṃgataḥ
     sarvataḥ saṃvṛto yodhai rājan puruṣasattamaiḥ
 54 sātyakiṃ yadi hanyāmo dhṛṭṣa dyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam
     asaṃśayaṃ mahārāja dhruvo no vijayo bhavet
 55 saubhadravad imau vīrau parivārya mahārathau
     prayatāmo mahārāja nihantuṃ vṛṣṇipārṣatau
 56 savyasācī puro 'bhyeti droṇānīkāya bhārata
     saṃsaktaṃ sātyakiṃ jñātvā bahubhiḥ kurupuṃgavaiḥ
 57 tatra gacchantu bahavaḥ pravarā rathasattamāḥ
     yāvat pārtho na jānāti sātyakiṃ bahubhir vṛtam
 58 te tvaradhvaṃ yathā śūrāḥ śarāṇāṃ mokṣaṇe bhṛśam
     yathā tūrṇaṃ vrajaty eṣa paralokaya mādhavaḥ
 59 karṇasya matam ājñāya putras te prāha saubalam
     yathendraḥ samare rājan prāha viṣṇuṃ yaśasvinam
 60 vṛtaḥ sahasrair daśabhir gajānām anivartinām
     rathaiś ca daśasāhasrair vṛto yāhi dhanaṃjayam
 61 duḥśāsano durviṣahaḥ subāhur duṣpradharṣaṇaḥ
     ete tvām anuyāsyanti pattibhir bahubhir vṛtāḥ
 62 jahi kṛṣṇau mahāvāho dharmarājaṃ ca mātula
     nakulaṃ sahadevaṃ ca bhīmasenaṃ ca bhārata
 63 devānām iva devendre jayāśā me tvayi sthitā
     jahi mātulakaunteyān asurān iva pāvakiḥ
 64 evam ukto yayau pārthān putreṇa tava saubalaḥ
     mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ tava putrais tathā vibho
 65 priyārthaṃ tava putrāṇāṃ didhakṣuḥ pāṇḍunandanān
     tatra pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
 66 prayāte saubale rājan pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
     balena mahatā yuktaḥ sūtaputras tu sātvatam
 67 abhyayāt tvaritaṃ yuddhe kirañ śaraśatān bahūn
     tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve sātyakiṃ paryavārayan
 68 mahad yuddhaṃ tadāsīt tu droṇasya niśi bhārata
     dhṛṣṭadyumnena śūreṇa pāñcālaiś ca mahātmanaḥ

 

SECTION CXLV

"Sanjaya said, 'Hearing the twang, resembling the loud call of Death himself or the frightful peal of Indra's thunder, of Dhananjaya's bow, while he stretched it, that host of thine, O king, anxious with fear and exceedingly agitated, became like the waters of the sea with fishes and makaras within them, ruffled into mountain-like waves and lashed into fury by the hurricane that arises at the end of the Yuga. Then Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, careered in battle in such a way that he was seen at the same time to be present in all directions, displaying his wonderful weapons. Indeed, so light-handed was the son of Pandu that we could not mark when he took out his shafts, O king, when he fixed them on the bow-string, when he stretched the bow, and when he let them off. Then the mighty-armed one, O king, excited with wrath, invoked into existence the invincible Aindra weapon, frightening all the Bharatas. Hundreds and thousands of blazing shafts of fiery mouths, inspired by mantras with the force of celestial weapons, flowed from it. With those shafts resembling fire or the rays of the sun, coursing with fierce impetuosity, the welkin became incapable of being
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gazed at, as if filled with flashing meteors. Then that darkness which had been caused by the Katirava with their arrows, which was incapable of being dispersed even in imagination by others, the son of Pandu, careering around and displaying his prowess, destroyed by means of those shafts of his that were inspired by means of mantras with the force of celestial weapons, like the sun himself speedily dispersing at dawn of day the darkness of night by means of his rays. Then the puissant Arjuna, with those blazing shafts of his, sucked the lives of thy warriors like the summer sun sucking with his hot rays the waters of tanks and lakes. Indeed, showers of shafts endued with the force of celestial weapons, (shot by Arjuna) covered the hostile army like the rays of the sun covering the earth. Other arrows of fierce energy, sped (by Dhananjaya), quickly entered the hearts of (hostile) heroes, like dear friends. Indeed, those brave warriors that came in that battle before Arjuna, all perished like insects approaching a blazing fire. Thus crushing the lives of his foes and their fame, Partha careered in that battle like Death in embodied form. Heads decked with diadems, massive arms, adorned with Angadas, and ears with ear-rings of the foes, Partha, cut off with his shafts. The arms, with spears, of elephant-riders; those, with lances, of horsemen; those, with shields, of foot-soldiers; those with bows, of car-warriors; and those, with whips and goads, of charioteers the son of Pandu cut off. Indeed, Dhananjaya looked resplendent with his shafts of blazing points that seemed to constitute his rays, like a blazing fire with incessant sparks and rising flames. The hostile kings, mustering all their resolution, could not even gaze at Dhananjaya, that foremost of all bearers of arms, that hero equal to the chief of the gods himself, that bull among men, seen at the same time in all directions on his car, scattering his mighty weapons, dancing in the tract of his car, and producing deafening sounds with his bowstring and palms, and resembling the midday sun of scorching rays in the firmament. Bearing his shafts of blazing points, the diadem-decked Arjuna looked beautiful like a mighty mass of rain-charged clouds in the season of rains decked with a rainbow. When that perfect flood of mighty weapons was set in motion by Jishnu, many bulls among warriors sank in that frightful and unfordable flood. Strewn with infuriated elephants whose trunks or tusks had been cut off, with steeds deprived of hoofs or necks, with cars reduced to pieces, with warriors having their entrails drawn out and others with legs or other limbs cut off, with bodies lying in hundreds and thousands that were either perfectly still or moving unconsciously, we beheld the vast field, on which Partha battled, resembled the coveted arena of Death, O king, enhancing the terrors of the timid, or like the sporting ground of Rudra when he destroyed creatures in days of old. Portions of the field, strewn with the trunks of elephants cut off with razor-headed arrows, looked as if strewn with snakes. Portions, again, covered with the cut-off heads of warriors, looked as if strewn with garlands of lotuses. Variegated with beautiful head-gear and crowns, Keyuras and Angadas and car-rings with coats of mail decked with gold, and with the trappings and other
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ornaments of elephants and steeds, and scattered over with hundreds of diadems, lying here and there, and the earth looked exceedingly beautiful like a new bride. Dhananjaya then caused a fierce and terrible river full of fearful objects and enhancing the fear of the timid, to flow resembling the Vaitarani itself. The marrow and fat (of men and animals) formed its mire. Blood formed its current. Full of limbs and bones, it was fathomless in depth. The hairs of creatures formed its moss and weeds. Heads and arms formed the stones on its shores. It was decked with standards and banners that variegated its aspect. Umbrellas and bows formed the waves. And it abounded with bodies of huge elephants deprived of life, and it teemed with cars that formed hundreds of rafts floating on its surface. And the carcases of countless steeds formed its banks. And it was difficult to cross in consequence of wheels and yokes and shafts and Akshas and Kuveras of cars, and spears and swords and darts and battle-axes and shafts looking like snakes. And ravens and kankas formed its alligators. And jackals, forming its Makaras, made in terrible. And fierce vultures formed its sharks. And it became frightful in consequence of the howls of jackals. And it abounded with capering ghosts and Pisachas and thousands of other kinds of spirits. And on it floated countless bodies of warriors destitute of life. Beholding that prowess of Arjuna whose visage then resembled that of the Destroyer himself, a panic, such as had never occurred before, possessed the Kurus on the field of battle. The son of Pandu, then, baffling with his weapons those of the hostile heroes, and engaged in achieving fierce feats, gave all to understand that he was a warrior of fierce feats. Then Arjuna transgressed all those foremost of car-warriors, like the midday sun of scorching rays in the firmament, no one amongst the creatures there could even look at him. The shafts issuing out of the bow Gandiva of that illustrious hero in that battle, seemed to us to resemble a row of cranes in the welkin. Baffling with his own the weapons of all those heroes, and showing by the terrible achievements in which he was engaged that he was a warrior of fierce feats. Arjuna, desirous of slaying Jayadratha, transgressed all those foremost of car-warriors, stupefying them all by means of his shafts. Shooting his shafts on all sides, Dhananjaya, having Krishna for his charioteer, presented a beautiful sight by careering with great speed on the field of battle. The shafts in the welkin, by hundreds and thousands, of that illustrious hero, seemed to course incessantly through the sky. We never could notice when that mighty bowman took out his shafts, when indeed, that son of Pandu aimed them, and when he let them off. Then, O king, filling all the points of the compass with his shafts and afflicting all the car-warriors in battle, the son of Kunti proceeded towards Jayadratha and pierced him with four and sixty straight arrows. Then the Kuru warriors, beholding the son of Pandu proceeded towards Jayadratha, all abstained from battle. In fact, those heroes became hopeless of Jayadratha's life. Every one amongst thy warriors that rushed in that fierce battle against the son of Pandu, had his body deeply pierced, O lord, with a shaft of Arjuna. The
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mighty car-warrior Arjuna, that foremost of victorious persons, with his shafts blazing as fire made thy army teem with headless trunks. 1 Indeed, O king, thus creating a perfect confusion in thy host consisting of four kinds of forces, the son of Kunti proceeded towards Jayadratha, And he pierced the son of Drona. with fifty shafts and Vrishasena with three. And the son of Kunti mildly struck Kripa with nine arrows, and he struck Salya with sixteen arrows and Karna with two and thirty. And piercing the ruler of the Sindhus then with four and sixty arrows, he uttered a leonine shout. The ruler of the Sindhus, however, thus pierced by the wielder of Gandiva with his arrows, became filled with rage and unable to brook it, like an elephant when pierced with the hook. Bearing the device of the boar on his banner, he quickly sped towards Phalguna's car many straight shafts equipped with vulturine feathers, resembling angry snakes of virulent poison, well-polished by the hands of the smith, and shot from his bow drawn to the fullest stretch. Then piercing Govinda with three shafts, he struck Arjuna with six. And then he pierced the steeds of Arjuna with eight arrows and his standard also with one. Then Arjuna, baffling the keen arrows sped by the ruler of the Sindhus, cut off at the same time, with a pair of shafts, the head of Jayadratha's driver and the well-decked standard also of Jayadratha. Its stay cut off and itself pierced and struck with arrows, that standard fell down like a flame of fire. Meanwhile, the sun was going down quickly. Janardana then quickly addressed the son of Pandu and said, 'Behold, O Partha, the ruler of the Sindhus hath, by six mighty and heroic car-warriors, been placed in their-midst! Jayadratha also, O mighty-armed one, is waiting there in fear! Without vanquishing those six car-warriors in battle, O bull among men, thou wilt never be able to slay the ruler of the Sindhus even if thou exertest thyself without intermission. I shall, therefore, resort to Yoga for shrouding the sun. Then the ruler of the Sindhus will (in consequence) behold the sun to have set. Desirous of life, O lord, through joy that wicked wight will no longer, for his destruction, conceal himself. Availing yourself of that opportunity, thou shouldst then, O best of the Kurus, strike him. Thou shouldst not give up the enterprise, thinking the sun to have really set.' Hearing these words, Vibhatsu replied unto Kesava, saying, 'Let it be so.' Then Krishna otherwise called Hari, possessed of ascetic powers, that lord of all ascetics, having taken recourse to Yoga, created that darkness. Thy warriors, O king, thinking the sun to have set were filled with delight at the prospect of Partha's laying down his life. Indeed, thy warriors, not seeing the sun, were filled with gladness. All of them stood, with heads thrown backwards. King Jayadratha also was in the same attitude. And while the ruler of the Sindhus was thus beholding the sun, Krishna, once more addressing Dhananjaya said these words, 'Behold, the heroic ruler of the Sindhus is now looking at the sun, casting off his fear of thee, O foremost one among
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the Bharatas! This is the hour, O mighty-armed one, for the slaughter of that wicked-souled wretch. Speedily cut off the head and make thy vow true.' Thus addressed by Kesava the valiant son of Pandu began to slaughter thy host with his arrows resembling the sun or fire in splendour. And he pierced Kripa with twenty arrows and Karna with fifty. And he struck Salya and Duryodhana each with six. And he pierced Vrishasena with eight arrows and the ruler of the Sindhus himself with sixty. And the mighty-armed son of Pandu, O king, deeply piercing with his arrows the other warriors of thy host, rushed against Jayadratha. Beholding him in their presence like a swelling fire with its tongue of flame outstretched, the protectors of Jayadratha were sorely puzzled. Then all the warriors, O king, desirous of victory bathed the son of Indra in that battle with torrents of arrows. Shrouded with incessant showers of arrows, the son of Kunti, that mighty-armed and unvanquished descendant of Kuru, became filled with rage. Then that tiger among men, viz., the son of Indra, desirous of slaughtering thy host, created a thick net of arrows. Then those warriors of thine, O king, thus slaughtered in battle by that hero, abandoned the ruler of the Sindhus in fear and fled away. And they fled away in such a manner that no two persons could be seen flying together. The prowess that we then beheld of Kunti's son was extremely wonderful. Indeed, the like of what that illustrious warrior then did had never been nor will ever be. Like Rudra himself slaughtering creatures, Dhananjaya slaughtered elephants and elephant-riders, horses and horse-riders, and (car-warriors and) car-drivers. I did not in that battle, O king, see a single elephant or steed or human warrior that was not struck with Partha's shafts. Their vision blurred by dust and darkness, thy warriors became perfectly cheerless and unable to distinguish one another. Urged on by fate and with their vital limbs cut open and mangled with shafts, they began to wander or, limp, or fall down. And some amongst them, O Bharata, became paralysed and some became deathly pale. During that terrible carnage resembling the slaughter of creatures at the end of the Yuga, in that deadly and fierce battle from which few could escape with life, the earth became drenched with gore and the earthy dust that had arisen disappeared in consequence of the showers of blood that fell and the swift currents of wind that blew over the field. So deep was that rain of blood that the wheels of cars sank to their naves. Thousands of infuriated elephants endued with great speed, O king, of thy army, their riders slain and limbs mangled, fled away, uttering cries of pain and crushing friendly ranks with their tread. Steeds destitute of riders and foot-soldiers also, O king, fled away, O monarch, from fear, struck with the shafts of Dhananjaya. Indeed, thy soldiers, with dishevelled hair and deprived of their coats of mail, with blood streaming out of their wounds, fled away in terror, leaving the field of battle. And some, deprived of the power of motion as if their lower limbs had been seized by alligators, remained on the field. And others concealed themselves behind and under the bodies of slain elephants Routing thy host thus, O king, Dhananjaya began to strike with terrible
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shafts the protectors of the ruler of the Sindhus with his arrowy showers, Karna and Drona's son and Kripa and Salya and Vrishasena and Duryodhana. So quick was he in the use of weapons that no one could mark when Arjuna took out his arrows, when he fixed them on the bowstring, when he stretched---the bow and let them off. Indeed, while striking the foe, his bow was seen incessantly drawn to a circle. His arrows also were seen incessantly issuing out of his bow and scattered in all directions. Then cutting off Karna's bow as also of Vrishasena's, Arjuna felled Salya's driver from his niche in the car, with a broad-headed arrow. With many arrows that foremost of victors, viz., Dhananjaya, then deeply pierced in that battle Kripa and Aswatthaman, related as uncle and nephew to each other. Sorely afflicting those mighty car-warriors of thy army thus, the son of Pandu took up a terrible arrow of fiery splendour. Looking like the thunderbolt of Indra, and inspired with divine mantras, that formidable arrow was capable of bearing any strain. And it had been always worshipped with incense and garlands of flowers. Duly inspiring it (by mantras) with the force of the thunderbolt, that descendant, of Kuru, viz., the mighty-armed Arjuna, fixed it on Gandiva. When that arrow of fiery effulgence was fixed on the bowstring, loud shouts, O king, were heard in the welkin. Then Janardana, once more addressing Arjuna, quickly said, 'O Dhananjaya, quickly cut off the head of the wicked-souled ruler of the Sindhus! The sun is about to get at the mountain of Asta. Listen, however, to the words I say about the slaughter of Jayadratha. The father of Jayadratha is Vriddhakshatra known all over the world. It was after a long time that he got Jayadratha, that slayer of foes, for his son. (At the birth of the son) an incorporeal and invisible voice, deep as that of the clouds or of the drum, said unto king Vriddhakshatra. 'This thy son, O lord, amongst men in this world will become worthy of the two races (viz., the Solar and the Lunar) in respect of blood, behaviour, self-restraint and the other attributes. He will become one of the foremost of Kshatriyas, and will always be worshipped by heroes. But while struggling in battle, some bull among the Kshatriyas, some conspicuous person in the world, excited with wrath, will cut off this one's head.' That chastiser of foes, viz., the (old) ruler of the Sindhus, hearing these words, reflected for sometime. Overwhelmed with affection for his son, he summoned all his kinsmen and said, 'That man who will cause the head of my son to fall on the earth while the latter, struggling in battle, will be bearing a great burthen, I say that the head of that man will certainly crack into a hundred pieces.' Having spoken these words and installed Jayadratha on the throne, Vriddhakshatra, repairing to the woods, devoted himself to ascetic austerities. Endued with great energy, he is still engaged in the observance of the austerest of penances outside this very Samantapanchaka, O ape-bannered one! Therefore, cutting off Jayadratha's head in this dreadful battle, thou, O slayer of foes, shouldst, O Bharata, by thy fierce celestial weapon of wonderful feats, quickly throw that head decked with car-rings upon the lap of Vriddhakshatra himself, O younger brother of the son of the Wind-god! If thou fellest Jayadratha's head on
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the earth, thy own head, then, without doubt, will crack into a hundred fragments. Aided by thy celestial weapon, do thee deed in such a way that the lord of earth viz., the old Sindhu king, may not know that it is done. Truly, O Arjuna, there is nothing in the three worlds which thou canst not achieve or do, O son of Vasava!' Hearing these words (of Krishna), Dhananjaya, licking the corners of his mouth, quickly shot that arrow which he had taken up for Jayadratha's slaughter, that arrow, viz., whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder, which was inspired with mantras and converted into a celestial weapon, which was capable of bearing any strain, and which had always been worshipped with incense and garlands. That shaft, sped from Gandiva, coursing swiftly, snatched Jayadratha's head away, like a hawk snatching away a smaller bird from the top of a tree. Dhananjaya, then, with his shafts, sent that head along in the welkin (without allowing it to fall down). For grieving his foes and gladdening his friends, the son of Pandu, by shooting his shafts repeatedly at it, sent that head outside the limits of Samantapanchaka. Meanwhile, king Vriddhakshatra, the father of thy son-in-law, endued with great energy, was, O sire, engaged in his evening prayers. Decked with black locks and adorned with ear-rings, that head of Jayadratha was thrown upon Vriddhakshatra's lap, as the latter was saying his prayers in a sitting posture. Thus thrown on his lap, that head decked with car-rings, O chastiser of foes, was not seen by king Vriddhakshatra. As the latter, however, stood up after finishing his prayers it suddenly fell down on the earth. And as the head of Jayadratha fell down on the earth, the head of Vriddhakshatra, O chastiser of foes, cracked into a hundred pieces. At the sight of this, all creatures were filled with wonder. And all of them applauded Vasudeva and the mighty Vibhatsu.
"After, O king, the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain by the diadem-decked Arjuna, that darkness, O bull of Bharata's race, was withdrawn by Vasudeva. Thy sons with their followers, O king, thus, came to know subsequently that the darkness, they had seen, had all been an illusion produced by Vasudeva. Even thus, O king, was thy son-in-law, the ruler of the Sindhus, having caused eight Akshauhinis to be slaughtered, himself slain by Partha of inconceivable energy. Beholding Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus slain, tears of sorrow fell from the eyes of thy sons. After Jayadratha, O king, had been slain by Partha, Kesava blew his conch and that scorcher of foes, viz., the mighty-armed Arjuna also blew his; Bhimasena also, in that battle, as if for sending a message to Yudhishthira, filled the welkin with a tremendous leonine shout. Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, bearing that tremendous shout understood that the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain by the high-souled Phalguna. With sounds of drums and other instruments he gladdened the warriors of his own army, and proceeded against the son of Bharadwaja from desire of battle. Then commenced, O king, after the sun had set, a fierce battle between Drona and the Somakas, that made the very hair stand on end. Desirous of slaying him, those mighty car-warriors after the fall of Jayadratha, fought with the
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son of Bharadwaja, exerting themselves to their utmost. Indeed, the Pandavas, having got the victory by slaying the ruler of the Sindhus fought with Drona, intoxicated with success. Arjuna, also, O king, having slain king Jayadratha, fought with many mighty car-warriors of thy army. Indeed, that hero decked with diadem and garlands, having accomplished his former vow, began to destroy his foes like the chief of the celestials destroying the Danavas, or the sun destroying darkness.'

 

 

 

The Mahabharata

Drona Parva

Book 7
Chapter 146

 

 1 [s]
      tatas te prādravan sarve tvaritā yuddhadurmadāḥ
      amṛṣyamāṇāḥ saṃrabdhā yuyudhāna rathaṃ prati
  2 te rathaiḥ kalpitai rājan hemarūpya vibhūṣitaiḥ
      sādibhiś ca gajaiś caiva parivavruḥ sma sātvatam
  3 athainaṃ koṣṭhakī kṛtyasarvatas te mahārathāḥ
      siṃhanādāṃs tadā cakrus tarjayantaḥ sma sātyakim
  4 te 'bhyavarṣañ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ sātyakiṃ satyavikramam
      tvaramāṇā mahāvīryā mādhavasya vadhaiṣiṇaḥ
  5 tān dṛṣṭvā patatas tūrkaṃ śaineyaḥ paravīharāḥ
      pratyagṛhṇān mahābāhuḥ pramuñcan viśikhān bahūn
  6 tatra vīro maheṣvāsaḥ sātyakir yuddhadurmadaḥ
      nicakarta śirāṃsy ugraiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
  7 hastihastān hayagrīvān bāhūn api ca sāyudhān
      kṣurapraiḥ pātayām āsa tāvakānāṃ sa mādhavaḥ
  8 patitaiś cāmaraiś caiva śvetac chatraiś ca bhārata
      babhūva dharaṇī pūrṇā nakṣatrair dyaur iva prabho
  9 teṣāṃ tu yuyudhānena yudhyatāṃ yudhi bhārata
      babhūva tumulaḥ śabdaḥ pretānām iva krandatām
  10 tena śabdena mahatā pūritāsīd vasuṃdharā
     rātriḥ samabhavac caiva tīvrarūpā bhayāvahā
 11 dīryamāṇaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā yuyudhāna śarāhatam
     śrutvā ca vipulaṃ nādaṃ niśīthe lomaharṣaṇam
 12 sutas tavābravīd rājan sārathiṃ rathināṃ varaḥ
     yatraiṣa śabdas tatrāśvāṃś codayeti punaḥ punaḥ
 13 tena saṃcodyamānas tu tata tāṃs turagottamān
     sūtaḥ saṃcodayām āsa yuyudhāna rathaṃ prathi
 14 tato duryodhanaḥ kruddho dṛḍhadhanvā jitaklamaḥ
     śīghrahastaś citrayodhī yuyudhānam upādravat
 15 tataḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭair māṃsaśoṇitabhojanaiḥ
     duryodhanaṃ dvādaśabhir mādhavaḥ patyavidhyata
 16 duryodhanas tena tathā pūrvam evārditaḥ śaraiḥ
     śaineyaṃ daśabhir bāṇaiḥ pratyavidhyad amarṣitaḥ
 17 tataḥ samabhavad yuddham ākulaṃ bharatarṣabha
     pāñcālānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ bhāratānāṃ ca dāruṇam
 18 śaineyas tu raṇe kruddhas tava putraṃ mahāratham
     sāyakānām aśītyā tu vivyādhorasi bhārata
 19 tato 'sya vāhān samare śarair ninye yamakṣayam
     sārathiṃ ca rathāt tūrṇaṃ pātayām āsa patriṇā
 20 hatāśve tu rathe tiṣṭhan putras tava viśāṃ pate
     mumoca niśitān bāṇāñ śaineyasya rathaṃ prati
 21 śarān pañcāśatas tāṃs tu śaineyaḥ kṛtahastavat
     ciccheda samare rājan preṣitāṃs tanayena te
 22 athāpareṇa bhallena muṣṭideśe mahad dhanuḥ
     ciccheda rabhaso yuddhe tava putrasya māriṣa
 23 viratho vidhanuṣkaś ca sarvalokeśvaraḥ prabhuḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ bhāsvaraṃ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
 24 duryodhane parāvṛtte śaineyas tava vāhinīm
     drāvayām āsa viśikhair niśā madhye viśāṃ pate
 25 śakuniś cārjunaṃ rājan parivārya samantatha
     rathair anekasāhasrair gajaiś caiva sahasraśaḥ
     tathā hayasahasraiś ca tumulaṃ sarvato 'karot
 26 te mahāstrāṇi divyāni vikiranto 'rjunaṃ prati
     arjunaṃ yodhayanti sma kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ
 27 tāny arjunaḥ sahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām
     pratyavārayad āyastaḥ prakurvan vipulaṃ kṣayam
 28 tatas tu samare śūraḥ śakuniḥ saubalas tadā
     vivyādha niśitair bāṇair arjunaṃ prahasann iva
 29 punaś caiva śatenāsya saṃrurodha mahāratham
     tam arjunas tu viṃśatyā vivyādha yudhi bhārata
 30 athetarān maheṣvāsāṃs tribhis tribhir avidhyata
     saṃvārya tān bāṇagaṇair yudhi rājan dhanaṃjayaḥ
     avadhīt tāvakān yodhān vajrapāṇir ivāsurān
 31 bhujaiś chinnair mahārāja śarīraiś ca sahasraśaḥ
     samāstīrṇā dharā tatra babhau puṣpair ivācitāḥ
 32 sa viddhvā śakuniṃ bhūyaḥ pañcabhir nataparvabhiḥ
     ulūkaṃ tribhir ājaghne tribhir eva mahāyasaiḥ
 33 tam ulūkas tathā viddhvā vāsudevam atāḍayat
     nanāda ca mahānādaṃ pūrayan vasudhātalam
 34 arjunas tu drutaṃ gatvā śakuner dhanur ācchinat
     ninye ca caturo vāhān yamasya sadanaṃ prati
 35 tato rathād avaplutya saubalo bharatarṣabha
     ulūkasya rathaṃ tūrṇam āruroha viśāṃ pate
 36 tāv ekaratham ārūḍhau pitā putrau mahārathau
     pārthaṃ siṣicatur bāṇair giriṃ meghāv ivotthitau
 37 tau tu viddhvā mahārāja pāṇḍavo niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     vidrāvayaṃs tava camūṃ śataśo vyadhamac charaiḥ
 38 anilena yathābhrāṇi vicchinnāni samantataḥ
     vicchinnāni tathā rājan balāny āsan viśāṃ pate
 39 tad balaṃ bharataśreṣṭha vadhyamānaṃ tathā niśi
     pradudrāva diśaḥ sarvā vīkṣamāṇaṃ bhayārditam
 40 utsṛjya vāhān samare codayantas tathāpare
     saṃbhrāntāḥ paryadhāvanta tasmiṃs tamasi dāruṇe
 41 vijitya samare yodhāṃs tāvakān bharatarṣabha
     dadhmatur muditau śaṅkhau vāsudevadhanaṃjayau
 42 dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja droṇaṃ viddhvā tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
     ciccheda dhanuṣas tūrṇaṃ jyāṃ śareṇa śitena ha
 43 tan nidhāya dhanur nīḍe droṇaḥ kṣatriya mardanaḥ
     ādade 'nyad dhanuḥ śūro vegavat sāravattaram
 44 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tato droṇo viddhvā saptabhir āśugaiḥ
     sārathiṃ pañcabhir bāṇai rājan vivyādha saṃyuge
 45 taṃ nivārya śarais tūrṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
     vyadhamat kauravīṃ senāṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 46 vadhyamāne bale tasmiṃs tava putrasya māriṣa
     prāvartata nadī ghorā śoṇitaughataraṅgiṇī
 47 ubhayoḥ senayor madhye narāśvadvipavāhinī
     yathā vaitaraṇī rājan yama rāṣṭrapuraṃ prati
 48 dravayitvā tu tat sainyaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān
     atyarājata tejasvī śakro devagaṇeṣv iva
 49 atha dadhmur mahāśaṅkhān dhṛṣṭadyumna śikhaṇḍinau
     yamau ca yuyudhānaś ca pāṇḍavaś ca vṛkodaraḥ
 50 jitvā rathasahasrāṇi tāvakānāṃ mahārathāḥ
     siṃhanāda ravāṃś cakruḥ pāṇḍavā jitakāśinaḥ
 51 paśyatas tava putrasya karṇasya ca madotkaṭāḥ
     tathā droṇasya śūrasya drauṇeś caiva viśāṃ pate

 

SECTION CXLVI

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Tell me, O Sanjaya, what did my warriors do after the heroic ruler of the Sindhus had been slain, by Arjuna.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding the ruler of the Sindhus, O sire, slain in battle by Partha, Kripa, the son of Saradwat, under the influence of wrath, covered the son of Pandu with a dense shower of arrows. Drona's son also, on his car, rushed against Phalguna, the son of Pritha. Those two foremost of car-warriors began from their cars to shower from opposite directions upon the son of Pandu their keen arrows. That foremost of car-warriors, viz., the mighty-armed Arjuna, afflicted by those arrowy showers of (Kripa and Drona's son) felt great pain. Without desiring, however, to slay his preceptor (Kripa) as also the son of (his other preceptor) Drona, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, began to act like a preceptor in arms. Baffling with his own weapons those of both Aswatthaman and Kripa, he sped at them, without desiring to slay them, shafts that coursed mildly. Those shafts, however (though mildly), shot by Jaya struck the two with great force, and in consequence of their number, caused great pain to Kripa and his nephew. Then Saradwat's son, O king, thus afflicted with the arrows of Arjuna, lost all strength and swooned away on the terrace of his car. Understanding his master afflicted with shafts to be deprived of his senses, and believing him to be dead, the driver of Kripa's car bore Kripa away from the fight. And after Kripa, the son of Saradwat, had thus been borne away from the battle, Aswatthaman also, from fear, fled away from the son of Pandu. Then the mighty bowman, Partha, beholding the son of Saradwat afflicted with shafts and in a swoon, began to indulge, on his car, in piteous lamentations. With a tearful face and in great dejection of heart, he uttered these words: Beholding all this (in his mental vision), Vidura of great wisdom had, on the birth of the wretched Suyodhana, that exterminator of his race, said unto Dhritarashtra, 'Let this wretch of his race be soon killed. Owing to him, a great calamity will overtake the foremost ones of Kuru's race.` Alas, these words of the truth-telling Vidura have come to be true. It is for him that I behold my preceptor today lying on a bed of arrows. Fie on the practices of Kshatriya!
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[paragraph continues] Fie on my might and prowess! Who else like me would fight with a Brahmana that is, besides his preceptor? Kripa is the son of a Rishi; he is, again, my preceptor; he is also the dear friend of Drona. Alas, he lieth stretched on the terrace of his car, afflicted with my arrows. Though not wishing it, I have still been the means of crushing him with my shafts. Lying senseless on the terrace of his car, he paineth my heart exceedingly. Even though he afflicted me with shafts, I should still have only looked at that warrior of dazzling splendour (without striking him in return). Struck with numerous shafts of mine, he hath gone the way of all creatures. By that he hath pained me more than even the slaughter of my own son. Behold, O Krishna, to what plight he hath been reduced, thus lying miserably and in a senseless state on his own car. Those bulls among men that give desirable objects unto their preceptors after obtaining knowledge from them, attain to godhead. Those lowest of mortals on the other hand, who, after obtaining knowledge from their preceptors strike the latter, those wicked men, go to hell. Without doubt, this act that I have done will lead me to hell. I have deeply pierced my preceptor on his car with showers of arrows. While studying the science of arms at his feet, Kripa told me in those days, 'Do not, O thou of Kuru's race, ever strike thy preceptor. That command of my righteous and high-souled preceptor I have not obeyed, for I have struck, the very Kripa himself with my shafts. I bow to that worshipful son of Gotama, to that unretreating hero. Fie on me, O thou of Vrishni's race, since I have struck even him.' While Savyasachin was thus lamenting for Kripa, the son of Radha, beholding the ruler of the Sindhu slain, rushed towards him. Seeing the son of Radha thus rushing towards Arjuna the two Panchala princes and Satyaki suddenly rushed towards him. The mighty car-warrior, Partha, beholding the son of Radha advancing, smilingly addressed the son of Devaki and said, 'Yonder cometh the son of Adhiratha against the car of Satyaki. Without doubt, he is unable to bear the slaughter of Bhurisravas in battle. Urge my steeds, O Janardana, towards the spot whither Karna cometh. Let not Vrisha (Karna) cause the Satwata hero to follow in the wake of Bhurisravas.' Thus addressed by Savyasachin, the mighty-armed Kesava, endued with great energy, replied in these opportune words, 'The mighty-armed Satyaki is singly a match for Karna, O son of Pandu! How much superior then will this bull among the Satwatas be when he is united with the two sons of Drupada! For the present, O Partha, it is not proper for thee to fight with Karna. The latter hath with him the blazing dart, like a fierce meteor, that Vasava gave him. O slayer of hostile heroes, he hath kept it for thy sake, worshipping it with reverence. Let Karna then freely proceed against the Satwata hero. I know, O son of Kunti, this wicked wight's hour, when, indeed, thou wilt, with keen shafts, throw him down from his car.'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Tell me, O Sanjaya, how the battle took place between the heroic Karna and Satyaki of the Vrishni race, after the fall of Bhurisravas and of the ruler of the Sindhus. Satyaki had been carless,
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upon what car then was he mounted? And how also did the two protectors of the wheels (of Arjuna's car), viz., the two Panchala princes, fight?'
"Sanjaya said, 'I will describe to thee all that happened in that dreadful battle. Listen patiently to (the consequences of) thy own evil conduct. Before even the encounter, Krishna knew it in his heart that the heroic Satyaki would be vanquished by the stake-bannered (Bhurisravas). Janardana, O king, knoweth both the past and the future. For this, summoning his charioteer, Daruka, he had commanded him, saying, 'Let my car be kept equipped tomorrow.' Even this had been the command of that mighty one. Neither the gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Yakshas, nor the Uragas, nor the Rakshasas, nor human beings, are capable of conquering the two Krishnas. The gods with the Grandsire at their head, as also the Siddhas, know the incomparable prowess of those two. Listen, however, now to the battle as it happened. Beholding Satyaki carless and Karna ready for battle Madhava blew his conch of loud blare in the Rishabha note. 1 Daruka, hearing the blare of (Kesava's) conch, understood the meaning, and soon took that car, equipped with a lofty standard of gold, to where Kesava was. With Kesava's permission, upon that car guided by Daruka, and which resembled the blazing fire or the sun in effulgence, ascended the grandson of Sini. Ascending upon the car which resembled a celestial vehicle and unto which were yoked those foremost of steeds, capable of going everywhere at will, viz., Saivya and Sugriva and Meghapushya and Valahaka, and which were adorned with trappings of gold, Satyaki rushed against the son of Radha, scattering countless shafts. The two protectors of (Arjuna's) car-wheels, viz., Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, abandoning Dhananjaya's car, proceeded against the son of Radha. Radha's son also, O king, shooting showers of shafts, angrily rushed, in that battle, against the invincible grandson of Sini. The battle that took place between them was such that its like had never been heard to have taken place on earth or in heaven between gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, Uragas, or Rakshasas. The entire host consisting of cars, steeds, men, and elephants, abstained from the fight, Beholding, O monarch, the stunning feats of two warriors. All became silent spectators of that superhuman battle between those two human heroes, O king, and of the skill of Daruka in guiding the car. Indeed, beholding the skill of the charioteer Daruka standing on the car, as he guided the vehicle forwards, backwards, sidelong, now wheeling in circles and now stopping outright, all were amazed. The gods, the Gandharvas, and the Danavas, in the welkin, intently watched that battle between Karna and the grandson of Sini. Both of them endued with great might, each challenging the other, those two warriors put forth their prowess for the sake of their friends. Karna who looked like a celestial, and Yuyudhana, O king, rained upon each other showers of shafts. Indeed, Karna ground the grandson of Sini with his arrowy downpours, unable to put up with the slaughter (by Satyaki) of the Kuru hero, Jalasandha. Filled
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with grief and sighing like a mighty snake, Karna, casting angry glances on the grandson of Sini in that battle, and as if burning him therewith, rushed at him furiously again and again, O Chastiser of foes! Beholding him filled with rage, Satyaki pierced him in return, shooting dense showers of arrows, like an elephant piercing (with his tusks) a rival elephant. Those two tigers among men, endued with the activity of tigers and possessed of incomparable prowess, mangled each other furiously in that battle. The grandson of Sini, then, with shafts made entirely of iron, repeatedly pierced Karna, that chastiser of foes, in all his limbs. And he also felled, with a broad-headed arrow, the charioteer of Karna from his niche in the car. And with his keen shafts, he slew the four steeds, white in hue, of Adhiratha's son. And then cutting into a hundred fragments the standard of Karna with a hundred arrows, that bull among men made Karna carless in the very sight of thy son. Then all thy warriors, O king, became cheerless. Then Vrishasena, the son of Karna, and Salya, the ruler of the Madras, and Drona's son, encompassed the grandson of Sini from all sides. Then a confusion set in, and nothing could be seen. Indeed, when the heroic Karna was made carless by Satyaki, cries of Oh and Alas arose, among all thy troops. Karna also, O king, pierced by Satwata with his arrows and exceedingly weakened ascended the car of Duryodhana, sighing deeply, remembering his friendship for thy son from his childhood and having striven to realise the promise he had made about the bestowal of sovereignty on Duryodhana. After Karna hath been made carless, thy brave sons, headed by Duhsasana, O king, were not slain by the self-restrained Satyaki because the latter wished not to falsify the vow made by Bhimasena. Desirous also of not falsifying the vow formerly made by Partha (about the slaughter of Karna), Satyaki simply made those warriors carless and weakened them exceedingly, but did not deprive them of life. It is Bhima that hath vowed the slaughter of thy sons, and it is Partha that, at the time of the second match at dice, vowed the slaughter of Karna. Although all those warriors headed by Karna made strong efforts for slaying Satyaki, yet those foremost of car-warriors, failed to slay him. Drona's son and Kritavarman and other mighty car-warriors, as also hundreds of foremost Kshatriyas, were all vanquished by Satyaki with only one bow. That hero fought, desirous of benefiting king Yudhishthira the Just, and of attaining to heaven. Indeed, Satyaki, that crusher of foes, is equal to either of the two Krishnas in energy. Smiling the while, he vanquished all thy troops, O best of men! In this world, there are only three mighty bowmen, viz., Krishna, Partha, and Satyaki. There is no fourth to be seen.'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Ascending on the invincible car of Vasudeva that had Daruka for its driver, Satyaki, proud of the might of his arms and equal in battle unto Vasudeva himself, made Karna carless. Did Satyaki ride any other car (after his encounter with Karna was over)? I am desirous of hearing this, O Sanjaya! Thou art skilled in narration. I regard Satyaki to be endued with unbearable prowess. Tell me all, O Sanjaya!'
p. 329
"Sanjaya said, 'Hear, O king, how it had happened. The intelligent younger brother of Daruka soon brought unto Satyaki another car, duly equipped with all necessaries. With shafts attached to it by chains of iron and gold and bands of silk, decked with a thousand stars, decked with banners and with the figure of a lion on his standard, with horses, fleet as the wind and adorned with trappings of gold, yoked unto it, and with rattle deep as the roar of the clouds, that car was brought unto him. Ascending upon it, the grandson of Sini rushed against thy troops. Daruka, meanwhile, went as he listed to Kesava's side. A new cat was brought for Karna also, O king, unto which were yoked four steeds of the best breed that were decked in trappings of gold and white as conchs or milk. Its kaksha and standard were made of gold. Furnished with banners and machines, that foremost of cars had an excellent driver. And it was furnished with a profusion of weapons of every kind. Mounting on that car, Karna also rushed against his foes. I have now told thee all that thou hadst asked me. Once more, however, O king, learn the (extent of the) destruction caused by the evil policy. Thirty one of thy sons have been slain by Bhimasena. Having Durmukha for their foremost, they were conversant with all modes of warfare. Satyaki and Arjuna also have slain hundreds of heroes with Bhimasena as their foremost, and Bhagadatta also, O sire! Even thus, O king, hath the destruction commenced, caused by thy evil counsels.'

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 147

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      vidrutaṃ svabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā vadhyamānaṃ mahātmabhiḥ
      krodhena mahatāviṣṭaḥ putras tava viśāṃ pate
  2 abhyetya sahasā karṇaṃ droṇaṃ ca jayatāṃ varam
      amarṣavaśam āpanno vākyajño vākyam abravīt
  3 bhavadbhyām iha saṃgrāmo kruddhābhyāṃ saṃpravartitaḥ
      āhave nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā saindhavaṃ savyasācinā
  4 nihanyamānāṃ pāṇḍūnāṃ balena mama vāhinīm
      bhūtvā tad vijaye śaktāv aśaktāv iva paśyataḥ
  5 yady ahaṃ bhavatos tyājyo na vācyo 'siṃ tadaiva hi
      āvāṃ pāṇḍusutān saṃkhye jeṣyāva iti mānadau
  6 tadaivāhaṃ vacaḥ śrutvā bhavadbhyām anusaṃmatam
      kṛtavān pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ vairaṃ yodhavināśanam
  7 yadi nāhaṃ parityājyo bhavadbhyāṃ puruṣarṣabhau
      yudhyetām anurūpeṇa vikrameṇa suvikramau
  8 vāk pratodena tau vīrau praṇunnau tanayena te
      prāvartayetāṃ tau yuddhaṃ ghaṭṭitāv iva pannagau
  9 tatas tau rathināṃ śreṣṭhau sarvalokadhanurdharau
      śaineya pramukhān pārthān abhidudruvatū raṇe
  10 tathaiva sahitāḥ pārthāḥ svena sainyena saṃvṛtāḥ
     abhyavartanta tau vīrau nardanmānau muhur muhuḥ
 11 atha droṇo maheṣvāso daśabhiḥ śinipuṃgavam
     avidhyat tvaritaṃ kruddhaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
 12 karṇaś ca daśabhir bāṇaiḥ putraś ca tava saptabhiḥ
     daśabhir vṛṣasenaś ca saubalaś cāpi saptabhiḥ
     ete kaurava saṃkrande śaineyaṃ paryavārayan
 13 dṛṣṭvā ca samare droṇaṃ nighnantaṃ pāṇḍavīṃ camūm
     vivyadhuḥ somakās tūrṇaṃ samantāc charavṛṣṭibhiḥ
 14 tato droṇo 'harat prāṇān kṣatriyāṇāṃ viśāṃ pate
     raśmibhir bhāskaro rājaṃs tamasām iva bhārata
 15 droṇena vadhyamānānāṃ pāñcālānāṃ viśāṃ pate
     śuśruve tumulaḥ śabdaḥ krośatām itaretaram
 16 putrān anye pitṝn anye bhrātṝn anyaca mātulān
     bhāgineyān vayasyāṃś ca tathā saṃbandhibāndhavān
     utsṛjyotsṛjya gacchanti tvaritā jīvitepsavaḥ
 17 apare mohitā mohāt tam evābhimukhā yayuḥ
     pāṇḍavānāṃ raṇe yodhāḥ paralokaṃ tathāpare
 18 sā tathā pāṇḍavī senā vadhyamānā mahātmabhiḥ
     niśi saṃprādravad rājann utsṛjyolkāḥ sahasraśaḥ
 19 paśyato bhīmasenasya vijayasyācyutasya ca
     yamayor dharmaputrasya pārṣatasya ca paśyataḥ
 20 tamasā saṃvṛte loke na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
     kauravāṇāṃ prakāśena dṛśyante tu drutāḥ pare
 21 dravamāṇaṃ tu tat sainyaṃ droṇakarṇau mahārathau
     jaghnatuḥ pṛṣṭhato rājan kirantau sāyakān bahūn
 22 pāñcāleṣu prabhagneṣu dīryamāṇeṣu sarvaśaḥ
     janārdano dīnamanāḥ pratyabhāṣata phalgunam
 23 droṇakarṇau maheṣvāsāv etau pārṣata sātyakī
     pāñcālāṃś caiva sahitau jaghnatuḥ sāyakair bhṛśam
 24 etayoḥ śaravarṣeṇa prabhagnā no mahārathāḥ
     vāryamāṇāpi kaunteya pṛtanā nāvatiṣṭhate
 25 etāv āvāṃ sarvasainyair vyūḍhaiḥ samyag udāyudhaiḥ
     droṇaṃ ca sūtaputraṃ ca prayatāvaḥ prabādhitum
 26 etau hi balinau śūrau kṛtāstrau jitakāśinau
     upekṣitau balaṃ kruddhau nāśayetāṃ niśām imām
     eṣa bhīmo 'bhiyāty ugraḥ punarāvartya vāhinīm
 27 vṛkodaraṃ tathāyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra janārdanaḥ
     punar evābravīd rājan harṣayann iva pāṇḍavam
 28 eṣa bhīmo raṇaślāghī vṛtaḥ somaka pāṇḍavaiḥ
     ruṣito 'bhyeti vegena droṇakarṇau mahābalau
 29 etena sahito yudhya pāñcālaiś ca mahārathaiḥ
     āśvāsanārthaṃ sarveṣāṃ sainyānāṃ pāṇḍunandana
 30 tatas tau puruṣavyāghrāv ubhau mādhava pāṇḍavau
     droṇakarṇau samāsādya diṣṭhitau raṇamūrdhani
 31 tatas tat punar āvṛttaṃ yudhiṣṭhirabalaṃ mahat
     tato droṇaś ca karṇaś ca parān mamṛdatur yudhi
 32 sa saṃprahāras tumulo niśi pratyabhavan mahān
     yathā sāgarayo rājaṃś candrodayavivṛddhayoḥ
 33 tata utsṛjya pāṇibhyaḥ pradīpāṃs tava vāhinī
     yuyudhe pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdham unmattavad ahaḥ kṣaye
 34 rajasā tamasā caiva saṃvṛte bhṛśadāruṇe
     kevalaṃ nāmagotreṇa prāyudhyanta jayaiṣiṇaḥ
 35 aśrūyanta hi nāmāni śrāvyamāṇāni pārthivaiḥ
     praharadbhir mahārāja svayaṃvara ivāhave
 36 niḥśabdam āsīt sahasā punaḥ śabdo mahān abhūt
     kruddhānāṃ yudhyamānānāṃ jayatāṃ jīyatām api
 37 yatra yatra sma dṛśyante pradīpāḥ kurusattama
     tatra tatra sma te śūrā nipatanti pataṃgavat
 38 tathā saṃyudhyamānānāṃ vigāḍhāhūn mahāniśā
     pāṇḍavānāṃ ca rājendra kauravāṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ

 

 

SECTION CXLVII

"Dhritarashtra said, When such was the condition of battle, between those heroes of their side and mine, what did Bhima then do? Tell me all, O Sanjaya!'
"Sanjaya said, 'After Bhimasena had been made carless, that hero, afflicted with the wordy darts of Karna and filled with rage, addressed Phalguna and said, 'In thy very sight, O Dhananjaya, Karna hath repeatedly said to me, 'Eunuch, fool, glutton, unskilled in weapons, do not fight, child, unable to bear the burden of battle!' He that would tell me so would be slain by me. Karna hath told me those words, O Bharata! O mighty-armed one, thou knowest the vow which I have made jointly with thee. Remember the words that were then spoken by me. O foremost of men, act in such a way that that vow of mine, O son of Kunti, as also thy own vow, may not be falsified. O Dhananjaya, do that by which that vow of mine may be made true.' Hearing these words of Bhima, Arjuna of immeasurable prowess, getting near Karna in that battle, told him, 'O Karna, thou art of false fight. O son of a Suta, thou applaudest thy own self. Of wicked understanding, listen now to what I tell thee.
p. 330
[paragraph continues] Heroes meet with either of these two things in battle, viz., victory or defeat. Both of these are uncertain, O son of Radha! The case is not otherwise when Indra himself is engaged in battle. Made carless by Yuyudhana, with thy senses no longer under thy control, thou wert almost at the point of death. Remembering, however, that I had vowed to slay thee, that hero dismissed thee without taking thy life. It is true thou hadst succeeded in depriving Bhimasena of his car. Thy abuse, however, O son of Radha, of that hero was sinful. Those bulls among men that are truly righteous and brave, having vanquished a foe, never boast, nor speak ill of anybody. Thy knowledge, however, is little. It is for this, O son of a Suta, that thou indulged in such speeches. Then, again the abusive epithets thou didst apply to the battling Bhimasena, endued with great prowess and heroism and devoted to the practices of the righteous, were not consistent with truth. In the very sight of all the troops, of Kesava, as also of myself, thou wert many a time made carless by Bhimasena in battle. That son of Pandu, however, did not call thee a single harsh word. Since, however, thou hast addressed Vrikodara in many harsh speeches, and since thou with others hast slain the son of Subhadra out of my sight, therefore, this very day obtain the fruit of those offences of thine. It was for thy own destruction, O wicked wight, that thou didst then cut off Abhimanyu's bow; for that, O thou of little understanding, thou shalt be slain by me, with all thy followers, forces, and animals. Accomplish now all those acts which thou shouldst do, for a great calamity is impending over thee. I will slay Vrishasena in thy very sight in battle. All those other kings, again, that will fully advance against me, I will despatch unto Yama's abode. I say this truly, laying my hand on my weapon. A fool as thou art, without wisdom and full of vanity, I say that beholding thee lying on the field of battle the wicked Duryodhana will indulge in bitter lamentations.' After Arjuna had vowed the slaughter of Karna's son, a loud and tremendous uproar arose amongst the car-warriors. At that frightful time when confusion was everywhere, the thousand-rayed sun, dimming his rays, entered the Asta hill. Then, O king, Hrishikesa, stationed in the van of battle embracing Arjuna who had accomplished his vow, told him these words, By good luck, O Jishnu, thy great vow hath been accomplished. By good luck, that Vriddhakshatra hath been slain along with his son. The celestial generalissimo himself, O -Bharata, encountering the Dhartarashtra force, would, in battle, O Jishnu, lose his senses. There is no doubt of this. Except thee, O tiger among men, I do not even in thought see the person in the three worlds that could fight with this host. Many royal warriors endued with great prowess, equal to thee or superior have been united together at Duryodhana's command. Clad in mail, they could not approach thee, encountering thy angry self in battle. Thy energy and might are equal to that of Rudra or the Destroyer himself. None else is capable of putting forth such prowess in battle as thou, O scorcher of foes, alone and unsupported, didst today put forth. Thus shall I applaud thee again after Karna
p. 331
of wicked soul has been slain along with his followers. Thus shall I glorify thee when that foe of thine shall have been vanquished and slain.' Unto him Arjuna replied, 'Through thy grace, O Madhava, this vow that even the gods could with difficulty accomplish, hath been accomplished by me. Their victory is not at all a matter of wonder that have thee, O Kesava, for their lord. Through thy grace, Yudhishthira will obtain the whole earth. All this is due to thy power, O thou of Vrishni's race! This is thy victory, O lord! Our prosperity is thy victory, O lord! Our prosperity is thy care and we are thy servants, O slayer of Madhu!' Thus addressed, Krishna smiled softly, and slowly urged the steeds. And he showed unto Partha, as they came, the field of battle abounding with cruel sights.
"Then Krishna said, 'Desirous of victory in battle or world-wide fame many heroic kings are lying on the earth, struck with thy shafts. Their weapons and ornaments lay scattered, and their steeds, cars, and elephants are mangled and broken. With their coats of mail pierced or cut open, they have come to the greatest grief. Some of them are yet alive, and some of them are dead. Those, however, that are dead, still seem to be alive in consequence of the splendour with which they are endued. Behold the earth covered with their shafts equipped with golden wings, with their numerous other weapons of attack and defence, and with their animals (deprived of life). Indeed, the earth looks resplendent with coats of mail and necklaces of gems, with their heads decked with earrings, and headgears and diadems, and floral wreaths and jewels worn on crowns, and Kanthasutras and Angadas, and collars of gold, and with diverse other beautiful ornaments. Strewn with Anuskaras and quivers, with standards and banners, with Upaskaras and Adhishthanas, with shafts and crests of cars, with broken wheels and beautiful Akshas in profusion, with yokes and trappings of steeds, with belts and bows and arrows, with elephants, housings, with spiked maces and hooks of iron, with darts and short arrows, with spears and pikes, with Kundas and clubs, with Sataghnis and Bhushandis, with scimitars and axes, with short and heavy clubs and mallets, with maces and Kunapas, with whips decked with gold, O bull of Bharata's race, with the bells and diverse other ornaments of mighty elephants, with floral garlands and various kinds of decorations, and with costly robes all loosened from the bodies of men and animals, the earth shines brilliantly, like the autumnal firmament with planets and stars. The lords of the earth, slain for the sake of earth, are slumbering on the earth clasping with their limbs the earth like a dear wife. Like mountains shedding through their caves and fissures streams of liquid chalk, these elephants, resembling Airavata himself and huge as mountains, are shedding profuse streams of blood through the openings in their bodies caused by weapons. Behold, O hero, those huge creatures afflicted with shafts lying on the ground in convulsions. Behold, those steeds also, lying on the ground, adorned with trappings of gold. Behold also, O Partha, those riderless and driverless cars that had at one time resembled celestial vehicles
p. 332
or the vapoury forms in the evening sky, now lying on the ground, with standards and banners and Akshas and yokes cut into pieces, and with broken shafts and crests, O lord. Foot-soldiers also, O hero, bearing bows and shields and slain in hundreds and thousands are lying on the ground, bathed in blood and clasping the earth with every limb and their locks smeared with dust. Behold, O mighty-armed one, those warriors with bodies mangled with thy weapons. Behold the earth, strewn with Yak-tails and fans, and umbrellas and standards, and steeds and cars and elephants, and with diverse kinds of blankets, and reins of steeds, and beautiful robes and costly Varuthas (of cars), look, as if overspread with embroidered tapestry. Many warriors fallen from the backs of well-equipped elephants along with those creatures themselves that they had ridden, are looking like lions fallen from mountain summits struck down by thunder. Mingled with the steeds (they had ridden) and the bows (they had held), horsemen and foot-soldiers in large numbers, are lying on the field, covered with blood. Behold, O foremost of men, the surface of the earth is frightful to look at, covered as it is with large number of slain elephants and steeds and car-warriors, and miry with blood, fat, and rotten flesh in profusion, and on which dogs and wolves and Pisachas and diverse wanderers of the night are cantering with joy! This fame-enhancing and mighty feat on the field of battle is capable of being achieved by thee only, O puissant one, or by that chief of the gods, viz., Indra himself, who in great battle slayeth the Daityas and the Danavas.'
"Sanjaya continued, "Thus showing the field of battle unto the diadem-decked Arjuna, Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya with the gleeful soldiers of the Pandava army (blowing their respective conchs). Having shown the field of battle unto the diadem-decked hero, that slayer of foes viz., Janardana quickly proceeded towards Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, and informed him of the slaying of Jayadratha.'" 1

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 148

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tataḥ karṇo raṇe dṛṣṭvā pārṣataṃ paravīrahā
      ājaghānorasi śarair daśabhir marmabhedibhiḥ
  2 prativivyādha taṃ tūrṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi māriṣa
      pañcabhiḥ sāyakair hṛṣṭas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
  3 tāv anyonyaṃ śaraiḥ saṃkhye saṃchādya sumahārathau
      punaḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭair vivyadhāte parasparam
  4 tataḥ pāñcāla mukhyasya dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge
      sārathiṃ caturaś cāśvān karṇo vivyādha sāyakaiḥ
  5 kārmukapravaraṃ cāsya praciccheda śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍād apātayat
  6 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
      gṛhītvā parighaṃ ghoraṃ karṇasyāśvān apīpiṣat
  7 viddhaś ca bahubhis tena śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ
      tato yudhiṣṭhirānīkaṃ padbhyām evānvavartata
      āruroha rathaṃ cāpi sahadevasya māriṣa
  8 karṇasyāpi rathe vāhān anyān sūto nyayojayat
      śaṅkhavarṇān mahāvegān saindhavān sādhu vāhinaḥ
  9 labdhalakṣyas tu rādheyaḥ pāñcālānāṃ mahārathān
      abhyapīḍayad āyastaḥ śarair megha ivācalān
  10 sā pīḍyamānā karṇena pāñcālānāṃ mahācamūḥ
     saṃprādravat susaṃtrastā siṃhenevārditā mṛgī
 11 patitās turagebhyaś ca gajebhyaś ca mahītale
     rathebhyaś ca narās tūrṇam adṛśyanta tatas tataḥ
 12 dhāvamānasya yodhasya kṣurapraiḥ sa mahāmṛdhe
     bāhū ciccheda vai karṇaḥ śiraś caiva sakuṇḍalam
 13 ūrū ciccheda cānyasya gajasthasya viśāṃ pate
     vājipṛṣṭha gatasyāpi bhūmiṣṭhasya ca māriṣa
 14 nājñāsiṣur dhāvamānā bahavaś ca mahārathāḥ
     saṃchinnāny ātmagātrāṇi vāhanāni ca saṃyuge
 15 te vadhyamānāḥ samare pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha
     tṛṇapraspandanāc cāpi sūtaputraṃ sma menire
 16 api svaṃ samare yodhaṃ dhāvamānaṃ vicetasaḥ
     karṇam evābhyamanyanta tato bhītā dravanti te
 17 tāny anīkāni bhagnāni dravamāṇāni bhārata
     abhyadravad drutaṃ karṇaḥ pṛṣṭhato vikirañ śarān
 18 avekṣamāṇās te 'nyonyaṃ susaṃmūḍhā vicetasaḥ
     nāśaknuvann avasthātuṃ kālyamānā mahātmanā
 19 karṇenābhyāhatā rājan pāñcālāḥ parameṣubhiḥ
     droṇena ca diśaḥ sarvā vīkṣamāṇāḥ pradudruvuḥ
 20 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā svasainyaṃ prekṣya vidrutam
     apayāne matiṃ kṛtvā phalgunaṃ vākyam abravīt
 21 paśya karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ dhanuṣpāṇim avasthitam
     niśīthe dāruṇe kāle tapantam iva bhāskaram
 22 karṇa sāyakanunnānāṃ krośatām eṣa nisvanaḥ
     aniśaṃ śrūyate pārtha tvadbandhūnām anāthavat
 23 yathā visṛjataś cāsya saṃdadhānasya cāśugān
     paśyāmi jaya vikrāntaṃ kṣapayiṣyati no dhruvam
 24 yad atrānantaraṃ kāryaṃ prāptakālaṃ prapaśyasi
     karṇasya vadhasaṃyuktaṃ tat kuruṣva dhanaṃjaya
 25 evam ukto mahābāhuḥ pārthaḥ kṛṣṇam athābravīt
     bhītaḥ kuntīsuto rājā rādheyasyātivikramāt
 26 evaṃgate prāptakālaṃ karṇānīke punaḥ punaḥ
     bhavān vyavasyatāṃ kṣipraṃ dravate hi varūthinī
 27 droṇa sāyakanunnānāṃ bhagnānāṃ madhusūdana
     karṇena trāsyamānānām avasthānaṃ na vidyate
 28 paśyāmi ca tathā karṇaṃ vicarantam abhītavat
     dravamāṇān rathodārān kirantaṃ viśikhaiḥ śitaiḥ
 29 naitad asyotsahe soḍhuṃ caritaṃ raṇamūrdhani
     pratyakṣaṃ vṛṣṇiśārdūla pādasparśam ivoragaḥ
 30 sa bhavān atra yātvāśu yatra karṇo mahārathaḥ
     aham enaṃ vadhiṣyāmi māṃ vaiṣa madhusūdana
 31 [vāsu]
     paśyāmi karṇaṃ kaunteya devarājam ivāhave
     vicarantaṃ naravyāghram atimānuṣa vikramam
 32 naitasyānyo 'smi samare pratyudyāta dhanaṃjaya
     ṛte tvāṃ puruṣavyāghra rākṣasād vā ghaṭotkacāt
 33 na tu tāvad ahaṃ manye prāptakālaṃ tavānagha
     samāgamaṃ mahābāho sūtaputreṇa saṃyuge
 34 dīpyamānā maholkeva tiṣṭhaty asya hi vāsavī
     tvadarthaṃ hi mahābāho raudrarūpaṃ bibharti ca
 35 ghaṭotkacas tu rādheyaṃ pratyudyātu mahābalaḥ
     sa hi bhīmena balinā jātaḥ suraparākramaḥ
 36 tasminn astrāṇi divyāni rākṣasāny asurāṇi ca
     satataṃ cānurakto vo hitaiṣī ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
     vijeṣyati raṇe karṇam iti me nātra saṃśayaḥ
 37 [vāsu]
     evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ pārthaṃ puṣkara locanaḥ
     ājuhāvātha tad rakṣas tac cāsīt prādur agrataḥ
 38 kavacī sa śarī khaḍgī sadhanvā ca viśāṃ pate
     abhivādya tataḥ kṛṣṇaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
     abravīt taṃ tadā hṛṣṭas tv ayam asmy anuśādhi mām
 39 tatas taṃ meghasaṃkāśaṃ dīptāsyaṃ dīptakuṇḍalam
     abhyabhāṣata haiḍimbaṃ dāśārhaḥ prahasann iva
 40 ghaṭotkaca vijānīhi yat tvāṃ vakṣyāmi putraka
     prāpto vikramakālo 'yaṃ tava nānyasya kasya cit
 41 sa bhavān majjamānānāṃ bandhūnāṃ tvaṃ plavo yathā
     vividhāni tavāstrāṇi santi māyā ca rākṣasī
 42 paśya karṇena haiḍimba pāṇḍavānām anīkinī
     kālyamānā yathā gāvaḥ pālena raṇamūrdhani
 43 eṣa karṇo maheṣvāso matimān dṛḍhavikramaḥ
     pāṇḍavānām anīkeṣu nihanti kṣatriyarṣabhān
 44 kirantaḥ śaravarṣāṇi mahānti dṛḍhadhanvinaḥ
     na śaknuvanty avasthātuṃ pīḍyamānāḥ śarārciṣā
 45 niśīthe sūtaputreṇa śaravarṣeṇa pīḍitāḥ
     ete dravanti pāñcālāḥ siṃhasyeva bhayān mṛgāḥ
 46 etasyaivaṃ pravṛddhasya sūtaputrasya saṃyuge
     niṣeddhā vidyate nānyas tvadṛte bhīmavikrama
 47 sa tvaṃ kuru mahābāho karma yuktam ihātmanaḥ
     mātulānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca tejaso 'strabalasya ca
 48 etadarthaṃ hi haiḍimba putrān icchanti mānavāḥ
     kathaṃ nas tārayed duḥkhāt sa tvaṃ tāraya bāndhavān
 49 tava hy astrabalaṃ bhīmaṃ māyāś ca tava dustarāḥ
     saṃgrāme yudhyamānasya satataṃ bhīmanandana
 50 pāṇḍavānāṃ prabhagnānāṃ karṇena śitasāyakaiḥ
     majjatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭreṣu bhava pāraṃ paraṃtapa
 51 rātrau hi rākṣasā bhūyo bhavanty amitavikramāḥ
     balavantaḥ sudurdharṣāḥ śūrā vikrāntacāriṇaḥ
 52 jahi karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ niśīthe māyayā raṇe
     pārthā droṇaṃ vadhiṣyanti dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ
 53 keśavasya vacaḥ śrutvā bībhatsur api rākṣasam
     abhyabhāṣata kauravya ghaṭotkacam ariṃdamam
 54 ghaṭotkaca bhavāṃś caiva dīrghabāhuś ca sātyakiḥ
     matau me sarvasainyeṣu bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
 55 sa bhavān yātu karṇena dvairathaṃ yudhyatāṃ niśi
     sātyakiḥ pṛṣṭhagopas te bhaviṣyati mahārathaḥ
 56 jahi karṇaṃ raṇe śūraṃ sātvatena sahāyavān
     yathendras tārakaṃ pūrvaṃ skandena saha jaghnivān
 57 [gh]
     alam evāsmi karṇāya droṇāyālaṃ ca sattama
     anyeṣāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca kṛtāstrāṇāṃ mahātmanām
 58 adya dāsyāmi saṃgrāmaṃ sūtaputrāya taṃ niśi
     yaṃ janāḥ saṃpravakṣyanti yāvad bhūmir dhariṣyati
 59 na cātra śūrān mokṣyāmi na bhītān na kṛtāñjalīn
     sarvām eva vadhiṣyāmi rākṣasaṃ dharmam āsthitaḥ
 60 [gh]
     evam uktvā mahābāhur haiḍimbaḥ paravīrahā
     abhyayāt tumule karṇaṃ tava sainyaṃ vibhīṣayan
 61 tam āpatantaṃ saṃkruddhaṃ dīptāsyam iva pannagam
     abhyasyan parameṣvāsaḥ pratijagrāha sūtajaḥ
 62 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ karṇa rākṣasayor niśi
     garjato rājaśārdūla śakra prahrādayor iva

 

SECTION CXLVIII

"Sanjaya said, 'After the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain by Partha, Krishna, repairing unto the king, viz., Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, worshipped the latter with a gladdened heart. And he said, 'By good luck, O king of kings, thy prosperity increaseth. O best of men, thy foe hath been slain. By good luck, thy younger brother hath accomplished his vow.' Thus addressed by Krishna, that subjugator of hostile towns, viz., king
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[paragraph continues] Yudhishthira, filled with joy, came down from his car, O Bharata! His eyes filled with tears of joy, he embraced the two Krishnas and wiping his bright and lotus-like face, said these words unto Vasudeva, and Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, 'Ye mighty car-warriors, by good luck, I behold both of you after ye have accomplished your task. By good luck, that sinful wretch, viz., the ruler of the Sindhus, hath been slain. Ye Krishnas, by good luck, ye have done that which hath filled me with great happiness. By good luck, our foes have been plunged into an ocean of grief. Thou art the sovereign lord of all the worlds, O slayer of Madhu! In the three worlds they that have thee for their preceptor can have no object incapable of accomplishment. Through thy grace, O Govinda, we will conquer our foes, like Indra conquering the Danavas in days of old. Be it the conquest of the world, or be it the conquest of the three worlds, everything is certain, O thou of the Vrishni race, in their case with whom thou art gratified, O giver of honours! They can have no sin, nor can they meet with defeat in battle with whom thou, O lord of the celestials, art gratified, O giver of honours! It is through thy grace, O Hrishikesa, that Sakra hath become the chief of the celestials. It is through thy grace, that blessed personage obtained on the field of battle the sovereignty of the three worlds! It is through thy grace, O lord of the celestials, that the latter obtained immortality, O Krishna, and enjoy eternal regions (of bliss). Having slain thousands of Daityas, with prowess having its origin in thy grace, O slayer of foes, Sakra obtained the lordship of the celestials. Through thy grace, O Hrishikesa, the mobile and immobile universe, without swerving from its (ordained) course, O hero, is engaged in prayers and homa! 1 In the beginning, this universe, enveloped in darkness, had been one vast expanse of water. Through thy grace, O mighty-armed one, the universe became manifest, O best of men! Thou art the creator of all the worlds, thou art the Supreme Soul, and thou art immutable! They that behold thee, O Hrishikesa, are never confounded. Thou art the Supreme God, thou art the God of gods, and thou art Eternal. They that seek refuge with thee, O lord of the gods, are never confounded. Without beginning and without death, thou art Divine, the Creator of all the worlds, and immutable. They that are devoted to thee, O Hrishikesa, always tide over every difficulty. Thou art Supreme, the Ancient one, the Divine-Being, and that which is the Highest of the high. He that attaineth to that viz., thy Supreme Self hath ordained for him the highest prosperity. Thou art sung in the four Vedas. The four Vedas sing of thee. Be seeking thy shelter, O high-souled one, I shall enjoy unrivalled prosperity. Thou art the Supreme God, thou art the God of the highest gods, thou art the lord of Winged creatures, and the lord of all human beings. Thou art the Supremest Lord of everything. I bow to thee, O best of beings! Thou art the Lord, the Lord of lords O puissant one! Prosperity to thee, O Madhava! O thou of large eyes, O Universal soul, Thou art the origin of
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all things. He, again, that is a friend of Dhananjaya or is engaged in Dhananjaya's good, obtaineth thee that art the preceptor of Dhananjaya and attaineth to happiness.' Thus addressed by him those high-souled ones, viz., Kesava and Arjuna, cheerfully said unto the king, that lord of the earth, 'The sinful king Jayadratha, hath been consumed by the fire of thy wrath. O puissant one, although the Dhartarashtra host is vast and swelleth with pride, yet, O Bharata, struck and slain, it is being exterminated. O slayer of foes, it is in consequence of thy wrath that the Kauravas are being destroyed. Having, O hero, angered thee that canst slay with thy eyes alone, the wicked-minded Suyodhana, with his friends and kinsmen, will have to lay down his life in battle. Slain before in consequence of thy ire, and struck down also by the gods themselves, the invincible Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, lieth now on a bed of arrows. O slayer of foes, victory in battle is unattainable by them, and death also waiteth for them, that have thee, O son of Pandu, for their foe. Kingdom, life, dear ones, children, and diverse kinds of bliss, will soon be lost by him with whom thou, O scorcher of foes, hast been angry. I regard the Kauravas to be lost with their sons, and kinsmen, when thou, O scorcher of foes, that art observant of the duties of a king, hast been angry with them.' Then Bhima, O king, and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, both mangled with shafts, saluted their senior. And those two mighty bowmen sat down on the ground, surrounded by the Panchalas, Beholding those two heroes filled with joy and arrived and waiting with joined hands, the son of Kunti congratulated them both, saying, 'By good luck, it is that I see you both, ye heroes, escaped with lire from that sea of (hostile) troops, that sea in which Drona acted the part of an invincible alligator, and the son of Hridika that of a fierce shark. By good luck, all the kings of the earth have been vanquished (by you two). 1 By good luck, I see both of you victorious in battle. By good luck, Drona hath been vanquished in battle, and that mighty car-warrior also viz., the son of Hridika. By good luck, Karna hath been vanquished in battle with barbed shafts. By good luck, Salya also was obliged to turn away from the field by you both, ye bulls among men. By good luck, I behold you both come back from battle safe and sound, ye that are foremost of car-warriors and well-skilled in battle! By good luck, I behold again, ye heroes, that have forded that sea of troops in obedience to my command, ye that went to battle impelled by the desire of honouring me! Ye are heroes delighting in battle. Ye are to me as life. By good luck, I see you both.' Having said this, the son of Pandu, O king, embraced both Yuyudhana and Vrikodara, those tigers among men, and shed tears of joy. Then, O monarch, the entire host of the Pandavas became cheerful and filled with joy. And all of them once more set their hearts on battle.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 149

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      dṛṣṭvā ghaṭotkacaṃ rājan sūtaputra rathaṃ prati
      prayāntaṃ tvayarā yuktaṃ jighāṃsuṃ karṇam āhave
  2 abravīt tava putras tu duḥśāsanam idaṃ vacaḥ
      etad rakṣoraṇe tūrṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
  3 abhiyāti drutaṃ karṇaṃ tad vāraya mahāratham
      vṛtaḥ sainyena mahatā yāhi yatra mahābalaḥ
  4 karṇo vaikartano yuddhe rākṣasena yuyutsati
      rakṣa karṇaṃ raṇe yatto vṛtaḥ sainyena mānada
  5 etasminn antare rājañ jaṭāsurasuto balī
      duryodhanam upāgamya prāha praharatāṃ varaḥ
  6 duryodhana tavāmitrān prakhyātān yuddhadurmadān
      pāṇḍavān hantum icchāmi tvayājñaptaḥ sahānugān
  7 jaṭāsuro mama pitā rakṣasām agraṇīḥ purā
      prayujya karma rakṣoghnaṃ kṣudraiḥ pārthair nipātitaḥ
      tasyāpacitim icchāmi tvad diṣṭo gantum īśvara
  8 tam abravīt tato rājā prīyamāṇaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
      droṇakarṇādibhiḥ sārdhaṃ paryāpto 'haṃ dviṣad vadhe
      tvaṃ tu gaccha mayājñapto jahi yuddhaṃ ghaṭoktacam
  9 tathety uktvā mahākāyaḥ samāhūya ghaṭotkacam
      jaṭāsurir bhaimaseniṃ nānā śastair avākirat
  10 alambalaṃ ca karṇaṃ ca kurusainyaṃ ca dustaram
     haiḍimbaḥ pramamāthaiko mahāvāto 'mbudān iva
 11 tato māyāmayaṃ dṛṣṭvā rathaṃ tūrṇam alambalaḥ
     ghaṭotkacaṃ śaravrātair nānā liṅgaiḥ samārdayat
 12 viddhvā ca bahubhir bāṇair bhaimasenim alambalaḥ
     vyadrāvayac charavrātaiḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
 13 tena vidrāvyamāṇāni pāṇu sainyāni māriṣa
     niśīthe viprakīryante vātanunnā ghanā iva
 14 ghaṭotkaca śarair nunnā tathaiva kuru vāhinī
     niśīthe prādravad rājann utsṛjyolkāḥ sahasraśaḥ
 15 alambalas tataḥ kruddho bhaimaseniṃ mahāmṛdhe
     ājaghne niśitair bāṇais tottrair iva mahādvipam
 16 tilaśas tasya tad yānaṃ sūtaṃ sarvāyudhāni ca
     ghaṭotkacaḥ praciccheda prāṇadac cātidāruṇam
 17 tataḥ karṇaṃ śaravrātaiḥ kurūn anyān sahasraśaḥ
     alambalaṃ cābhyavarṣan meghomerum ivācalam
 18 tataḥ saṃcukṣubhe sainyaṃ kurūṇāṃ rākṣasārditam
     upary upari cānyonyaṃ caturaṅgaṃ mamarda ha
 19 jaṭāsurir mahārāja viratho hatasārathiḥ
     ghaṭotkacaṃ raṇe kruddho muṣṭinābhyahanad dṛḍham
 20 muṣṭinābhihatas tena pracacāla ghaṭotkacaḥ
     kṣitikampe yathā śailaḥ sa vṛkṣagaṇagulmavān
 21 tataḥ sa parighābhena dviṭ saṃghaghnena bāhunā
     jaṭāsuriṃ bhaimasenir avadhīn muṣṭinā bhṛśam
 22 taṃ pramathya tatha kruddhas tūrṇaṃ haiḍimbir ākṣipat
     dorbhyām indradhvajāhābhyāṃ niṣpipeṣa mahītale
 23 alambalo 'pi vikṣipya samutkṣipya ca rākṣasam
     ghaṭotkacaṃ raṇe roṣān niṣpipeṣa mahītale
 24 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ garjator atikāyayoḥ
     ghaṭotkacālambalayos tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
 25 viśeṣayantāv anyonyaṃ māyābhir atimāyinau
     yuyudhāte mahāvīryāv indra vairocanāv iva
 26 pāvakāmbunidhī bhūtvā punar garuḍa takṣakau
     punar meghamahāvātau punar vajramahācalau
     punaḥ kuñjaraśārdūlau punaḥ svarbhānu bhāskarau
 27 evaṃ māyā śatasṛjāv anyonyavadhakāṅkṣiṇau
     bhṛśaṃ citram ayudhyetām alambala ghaṭotkacau
 28 parighaiś ca gadābhiś ca prāsamudgara paṭṭiśaiḥ
     musalaiḥ paratāgraiś ca tāv anyonyaṃ nijaghnatuḥ
 29 hayābhyāṃ ca gajābhyāṃ ca padātirathinau punaḥ
     yuyudhāte mahāmāyau rākṣasa pravarau yudhi
 30 tato ghaṭotkacau rājann alambala vadhepsayā
     utpapāta bhṛśaṃ kruddhaḥ śyenavan nipapāta ha
 31 gṛhītvā ca mahākāyaṃ rākṣasendram alambalam
     udyamya nyavadhīd bhūmau mayaṃ viṣṇur ivāhave
 32 tato ghaṭotkacaḥ khaḍgam udgṛhyādbhuta darśanam
     cakarta kāyād dhi śiro bhīmaṃ vikṛtadarśanam
 33 tacchiro rudhirābhyaktaṃ gṛhya keśeṣu rākṣasaḥ
     ghaṭotkaco yayāv āśu duryodhana rathaṃ prati
 34 abhyetya ca mahābāhuḥ smayamānaḥ sa rākṣasaḥ
     rathe 'sya nikṣipya śiro vikṛtānanamūrdhajam
     prāṇadad bhairavaṃ nādaṃ prāvṛṣīva balāhakaḥ
 35 abravīc ca tato rājan duryodhanam idaṃ vacaḥ
     eṣa te nihato bandhus tvayā dṛṣṭo 'sya vikramaḥ
     punar draṣṭāsi karṇasya niṣṭhām etāṃ tathātmanaḥ
 36 evam uktvā tataḥ prāyāt karṇaṃ prati janeśvara
     kirañ śaraśatāṃs tīkṣṇān vimuñcan karṇa mūrdhani
 37 tataḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam
     vismāpanaṃ mahārāja nararākṣasayor mṛdhe

SECTION CXLIX

"Sanjaya said, Upon the fall, O king, of the ruler of the Sindhus, thy son Suyodhana, his face bedewed with tears, and himself filled with grief and breathing hot sighs like a snake whose fangs have been broken, that offender against the whole world, viz., thy son, experienced bitter affliction. Beholding that great terrible slaughter of his troops caused by Jishnu and Bhimasena and Satwata in battle, he became pale, dejected and melancholy, and his eyes became filled with tears. And he came to think no warrior existed on the earth that could be compared with Arjuna. Neither Drona, nor the son of Radha, nor Aswatthaman, nor Kripa, O sire, is competent to stand before Arjuna when the latter is excited with wrath, And Suyodhana, said unto himself, 'Having vanquished in battle all the mighty car-warriors of my army, Partha slew the ruler of the Sindhus. None could resist him. This my vast host hath almost been exterminated by the Pandavas. I think, there is no one that can protect my army, no, not even Purandara himself. He, relying upon whom I have been engaged in this passage-at-arms in battle, alas, that Karna hath been defeated in battle and Jayadratha slain. That Karna relying upon whose energy I regarded Krishna as straw who came to sue me for peace, alas, that Karna hath been vanquished in battle.' Grieving so within his heart, that offender against the whole world, O king, went to Drona, O bull of Bharata's race, for seeing him. Repairing unto him, he informed Drona of that immense slaughter of the Kurus, the victory of his foes, and the dire calamity of the Dhartarashtras. 1 And Suyodhana said, 'Behold, O preceptor, this immense slaughter of kings. 2 I came to battle, placing that grandsire of mine, viz., the heroic Bhishma, at our head. Having slain him, Sikhandin, his aspiration fulfilled, stayeth at the very van of all the troops, surrounded by all the Panchalas, covetous of another triumph. 3 Another disciple of thine, viz., the invincible Savyasachin, having slain seven. Akshauhinis of troops hath despatched king Jayadratha to Yama's abode. How, O preceptor, shall I be freed from the debt I owe to those allies of mine who, desirous of victory to me and ever engaged in my good, have gone to Yama's abode? Those lords of earth who had desired the sovereignty of the earth, are now lying on the earth, abandoning all their earthly prosperity. Truly, I am a coward. Having caused such a slaughter of friends, I dare not think that I shall be sanctified by performing even a hundred horse-sacrifices. I am covetous and sinful and a transgressor against righteousness. Through my acts alone, these lords of earth, in their desire for victory, have gone to Yama's abode. Why, in presence of those kings,
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does not the earth yield me a hole (through which to sink), since I am so sinful in behaviour and such a fomenter of internecine dissensions! 1 Alas, what will the grandsire with blood-red eyes, that invincible hero who hath conquered the other world, tell me in the midst of the kings when he meets me? 2 Behold that mighty bowman, Jalasandha, slain by Satyaki. That great car-warrior, that hero, came proudly to battle for my sake, prepared to lay down his life. Beholding the ruler of the Kamvojas slain, as also Alamvusha and many other allies of mine, what object can I have for preserving my life? Those unretreating heroes who, fighting for my sake and struggling to the utmost of their powers to vanquish my foes, have laid down their lives. I shall today, O scorcher of foes, exerting the utmost measure of my might, free myself from the debt that I owe them and gratify them with oblations of water by repairing to the Yamuna. O foremost of all bearers of arms, I tell thee truly and swear by the good acts I have performed, by the prowess I possess and by my sons, that slaying all the Panchalas with the Pandavas, I shall obtain peace of mind, or slain by them in battle I shall repair to those regions whither those allies of mine have gone. I shall certainly proceed thither whither those bulls among men, slain, while engaged in battle for my sake, by Arjuna have gone! Our allies, seeing that they are not well-protected by us, no longer desire to stand by us. O thou of mighty arms, they now regard the Pandavas to be preferable to ourselves. Thyself, of sure aim, hast ordained our extermination in battle, for thou treatest Arjuna leniently, since he is thy disciple. It is for this that all those have been slain who had endeavoured to secure victory to us. It seems that only Karna now wishes us victory. The man of weak understanding who without duly examining another, accepteth him for a friend and engageth him in concerns that require friends for their accomplishment, is certain to suffer injury even so hath this affair of mine been managed by my best friend! 3 I am exceedingly covetous, sinful, crooked-hearted, and characterised by avarice! Alas, king Jayadratha hath been slain, and Somadatta's son also of great energy, and the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis! I shall go thither today whither those bulls among men, slain, while engaged in battle for my sake, by Arjuna, have gone. In the absence of those bulls among men, I have no need for life. O preceptor of the sons of Pandu, let me have thy permission in this.

 

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 150

 

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      yatra vaikartanaḥ karṇo rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
      niśīthe samasajjetāṃ tad yuddham abhavat katham
  2 kīdṛśaṃ cābhavad yuddhaṃ tasya ghorasya rakṣasaḥ
      rathaś ca kīdṛśas tasya māyāḥ sarvāyudhāni ca
  3 kiṃpramāṇā hayās tasya rathaketur dhanus tathā
      kīdṛśaṃ varma caivāsya kaṇṭhatrāṇaṃ ca kīdṛśam
      pṛṣṭhas tvam etad ācakṣva kuśalo hy asisaṃjaya
  4 [gh]
      lohitākṣo mahākāyas tāmrāsyo nimnitodaraḥ
      ūrdhvaromā hari śmaśruḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahāhanuḥ
  5 ākarṇād dāritāsyaś ca tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraḥ karālavān
      sudīrgha tāmrajihvauṣṭho lambabhrūḥ sthūlanāsikaḥ
  6 nīlāṅgo lohitagrīvo niri varṣmā bhayaṃkaraḥ
      mahākāyo mahābāhur mahāśīrṣo mahābalaḥ
  7 vikacaḥ paruṣasparśo vikaṭodbaddha piṇḍikaḥ
      sthūlasphig gūḍhanābhiś ca śithilopacayo mahān
  8 tathaiva hastābharaṇī mahāmāyo 'ṅgadī tathā
      urasā dhārayan niṣkam agnimālāṃ yathācalaḥ
  9 tasya hemamayaṃ citraṃ bahurūpāṅgaśobhitam
      toraṇapratimaṃ śubhraṃ kirīṭaṃ mūrdhny aśobhata
  10 kuṇḍale bālasūryābhe mālāṃ hemamayīṃ śubhām
     dhārayan vipulaṃ kāṃsyaṃ kavacaṃ ca mahāprabham
 11 kiṅkiṇīśatanirghoṣaṃ raktadhvajapatākinam
     ṛkṣacarmāvanaddhāṅgaṃ nalva mātraṃ mahāratham
 12 sarvāyudhavaropetam āsthito dhvajamālinam
     aṣṭacakrasamāyuktaṃ meghagambhīra nisvanam
 13 tatra mātaṅgasaṃkāśā lohitākṣā vibhīṣaṇāḥ
     kāmavarṇajavā yuktā balavanto 'vahan hayāḥ
 14 rākṣaso 'sya virūpākṣaḥ sūto dīptāsya kuṇḍalaḥ
     raśmibhiḥ sūryaraśmy ābhaiḥ saṃjagrāha hayān raṇe
     sa tena sahitas tasthāv aruṇena yathā raviḥ
 15 saṃsakta iva cābhreṇa yathādrir mahatā mahān
     divaspṛk sumahān ketuḥ syandane 'sya samucchritaḥ
     rathottamāgnaḥ kravyādo gṛdhraḥ paramabhīṣaṇaḥ
 16 vāsavāśani nirghoṣaṃ dṛḍhajyam abhivikṣipan
     vyaktaṃ kiṣku parīṇāhaṃ dvādaśāratni kārmukam
 17 rathākṣamātrair iṣubhiḥ sarvāḥ pracchādayan diśaḥ
     tasyāṃ vīrāpahāriṇyāṃ niśāyāṃ karṇam abhyayāt
 18 tasya vikṣipataś cāpaṃ rathe viṣṭabhya tiṣṭhataḥ
     aśrūyata dhanur ghoṣo visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
 19 tena vitrāsyamānāni tava sainyāni bhārata
     samakampanta sarvāṇi sindhor iva mahormayaḥ
 20 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya virūpākṣaṃ vibhīṣaṇam
     utsmayann iva rādheyas tvaramāṇo 'bhyavārayat
 21 tataḥ karṇo 'bhyayād enam asyann asyantam antikāt
     mātaṅga iva mātaṅgaṃ yūtharṣabha ivarṣabham
 22 sa saṃnipātas tumulas tayor āsīd viśāṃ pate
     karṇa rākṣasayo rājann indra śambarayor iva
 23 tau pragṛhya mahāvege dhanuṣī bhīmanisvane
     prācchādayetām anyonyaṃ takṣamāṇau maheṣubhiḥ
 24 tataḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭaiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     nyavārayetām anyonyaṃ kāṃsye nirbhidya varmaṇī
 25 tau nakhair iva śārdūlau dantair iva mahādvipau
     rathaśaktibhir anyonyaṃ viśikhaiś ca tatakṣatuḥ
 26 saṃchindantau hi gātrāṇi saṃdadhānau ca sāyakān
     dhakṣyamāṇau śaravrātair nodīkṣitum aśaknutām
 27 tau tu vikṣata sarvāgnau rudhiraughapariplutau
     vyabhrājetāṃ yathā vāri prasrutau gaurikācalau
 28 tau śarāgra vibhinnāṅgau nirbhindantau parasparam
     nākampayetām anyonyaṃ yatamānau mahādyutī
 29 tat pravṛttaṃ niśāyuddhaṃ caraṃ samam ivābhavat
     prāṇayor dīvyato rājan karṇa rākṣasayor mṛdhe
 30 tasya saṃdadhatas tīkṣṇāñ śarāṃś cāsaktam asyataḥ
     dhanur ghoṣeṇa vitrastāḥ sve pare ca tadābhavan
     ghaṭotkacaṃ yadā karṇo viśeṣayati no nṛpa
 31 tataḥ prāduṣkarod divyam astram astravidāṃ varaḥ
     karṇena vihitaṃ dṛṣṭvā divyam astraṃ ghaṭotkacaḥ
     prāduścakre mahāmāyāṃ rākṣasaḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ
 32 śūlam udgara dhāriṇyā śailapādapa hastayā
     rakṣasāṃ ghorarūpāṇāṃ mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ
 33 tam udyatamahācāpaṃ dṛṣṭvā te vyathitā nṛpāḥ
     bhūtāntakam ivāyāntaṃ kāladaṇḍogra dhāriṇam
 34 ghaṭotkaca pramuktena siṃhanādena bhīṣitāḥ
     prasusruvur gajā mūtraṃ vivyathuś ca narā bhṛśam
 35 tato 'śmavṛṣṭir atyugrā mahaty āsīt samantataḥ
     ardharātre 'dhikabalair vimuktā rakṣasāṃ balaiḥ
 36 āyasāni ca cakrāṇi bhuśuṇḍyaḥ śaktitomarāḥ
     patanty aviralāḥ śūlāḥ śatadhnyaḥ paṭṭiśās tathā
 37 tad ugram atiraudraṃ ca dṛṭvā yuddhaṃ narādhipāḥ
     putrāś ca tava yodhāś ca vyathitā vipradudruvuḥ
 38 tatraiko 'strabalaślāghī karṇo mānī na vivyathe
     vyadhamac ca śarair māyāṃ ghaṭotkaca vinirmitām
 39 māyāyāṃ tu prahīṇāyām amarṣāt sa ghaṭotkacaḥ
     visasarja śarān ghorān sūtaputraṃ ta āviśan
 40 tatas te rudhirābhaktā bhittvā karṇaṃ mahāhave
     viviśur dharaṇīṃ bāṇāḥ saṃkruddhā iva pannagāḥ
 41 sūtaputras tusaṃkruddho laghuhastaḥ pratāpavān
     ghaṭotkacam atikramya bibheda daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 42 ghaṭotkaco vinirbhinnaḥ sūtaputreṇa marmasu
     cakraṃ divyaṃ sahasrāram agṛhṇād vyathito bhṛśam
 43 kṣurāntam bālasūryābhaṃ maṇiratnavibhūṣitam
     cikṣepādhiratheḥ kruddho bhaima senir jighaṃsayā
 44 praviddham ativegena vikṣiptaṃ karṇa sāyakaiḥ
     abhāgyasyeva saṃkalpas tan mogham apatad bhuvi
 45 ghaṭotkacas tu saṃkruddho dṛṣṭvā cakraṃ nipātitam
     karṇaṃ prācchādayad bāṇaiḥ svarbhānur iva bhāskaram
 46 sūtaputras tv asaṃbhrānto rudropendrendra vikramaḥ
     ghaṭotkaca rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ chādayām āsa patribhiḥ
 47 ghaṭotkacena kruddhena gadā hemāṅgadā tadā
     kṣiptā bhrāmya śaraiḥ sāpi karṇenābhyāhatāpatat
 48 tato 'ntarikṣam utpatya kālamegha ivonnadan
     pravavarṣa mahākāyo drumavarṣaṃ nabhastalāt
 49 tato māyāvinaṃ karṇo bhīmasena sutaṃ divi
     mārgaṇair abhivivyādha dhanaṃ sūrya ivāṃśubhiḥ
 50 tasya sarvān hayān hatvā saṃchidya śatadhā ratham
     abhyavarṣac charaiḥ karṇaḥ parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān
 51 na cāsyāsīd anirbhinnaṃ gātre dvyaṅgulam antaram
     so 'dṛśyata muhūrtena śvāvic chalalito yathā
 52 na hayān na rathaṃ tasya na dhvajaṃ na ghaṭotkacam
     dṛṣṭavantaḥ sma samare śaraughair abhisaṃvṛtam
 53 sa tu karṇasya tad divyam astram astreṇa śātayan
     māyāyuddhena māyāvī sūtaputram ayodhayat
 54 so 'yodhayat tadā karṇaṃ māyayā lāghavena ca
     alakṣyamāṇo 'tha divi śarajāleṣu saṃpatan
 55 bhaimasenir mahāmāyo māyayā kurusattama
     pracakāra mahāmāyāṃ mohayann iva bhārata
 56 sa sma kṛtvā virūpāṇi vadanāny aśubhānanaḥ
     agrasat sūtaputrasya divyāny astrāṇi māyayā
 57 punaś cāpi mahākāyaḥ saṃchinnaḥ śatadhā raṇe
     gatasattvo nirutsāhaḥ patitaḥ khād vyadṛśyata
     hataṃ taṃ manyamānāḥ sma prāṇadan kurupuṃgavaḥ
 58 atha dehair navair anyair dikṣu sarvāsv adṛśyata
     punaś cāpi mahākāyaḥ śataśīrṣaḥ śatodaraḥ
 59 vyadṛśyata mahābāhur maināka iva parvataḥ
     aṅguṣṭha mātro bhūtvā ca punar eva sa rākṣasaḥ
     sāgarormir ivoddhūtas tiryag ūrdhvam avartata
 60 vasudhāṃ dārayitvā ca punar apsu nyamajjata
     adṛśyata tadā tatra punar unmajjito 'nyataḥ
 61 so 'vatīrya punas tasthau rathe hemapariṣkṛte
     kṣitiṃ dyāṃ ca diśaś caiva māyayāvṛtya daṃśitaḥ
 62 gatvā karṇa rathābhyāśaṃ vicalat kuṇḍalānanaḥ
     prāha vākyam asaṃbhrāntaḥ sūtaputraṃ viśāṃ pate
 63 tiṣṭhedānīṃ na me jīvan sūtaputra gamiṣyasi
     yuddhaśraddhām ahaṃ te 'dya vineṣyāmi raṇājire
 64 ity uktvā roṣatāmrākṣaṃ rakṣaḥ krūraparākramam
     utpapātāntarikṣaṃ ca jahāsa ca suvisvaram
     karṇam abhyāhanac caiva gajendram iva kesarī
 65 rathākṣamātrair iṣubhir abhyavarṣad ghaṭotkacaḥ
     rathinām ṛṣabhaṃ karṇaṃ dhārābhir iva toyadaḥ
     śaravṛṣṭiṃ ca tāṃ karṇo dūraprāptām aśātayat
 66 dṛṣṭvā ca vihatāṃ māyāṃ karṇena bharatarṣabha
     ghaṭotkacas tato māyāṃ sasarjāntarhitaḥ punaḥ
 67 so 'bhavad girir ity uccaḥ śikharais tarusaṃkaṭaiḥ
     śūlaprāsāsi musalajalaprasravaṇo mahān
 68 tam añjana cayaprakhyaṃ karṇo dṛṣṭvā mahīdharam
     prapātair āyudhāny ugrāṇy udvahantaṃ na cukṣubhe
 69 smayann iva tataḥ karṇo divyam astram udīrayat
     tataḥ so 'streṇa śailendro vikṣipto vai vyanaśyata
 70 tataḥ sa toyado bhūtvā nīlaḥ sendrāyudho divi
     aśmavṛṣṭibhir atyugraḥ sūtaputram avākirat
 71 atha saṃdhāya vāyavyam astram astravidāṃ varaḥ
     vyadhamat kālameghaṃ taṃ karṇo vaikartano vṛṣā
 72 sa mārgaṇagaṇaiḥ karṇo diśaḥ pracchādya sarvaśaḥ
     jaghānāstraṃ mahārāja ghaṭotkaca samīritam
 73 tataḥ prahasya samare bhaimasenir mahābalaḥ
     prāduścakre mahāmāyāṃ karṇaṃ prati mahāratham
 74 sa dṛṣṭvā punar āyāntaṃ rathena rathināṃ varam
     ghaṭotkacam asaṃbhrāntaṃ rākṣasair bahubhir vṛtam
 75 siṃhaśārdūlasadṛśair mattadviradavikramaiḥ
     gajasthaiś ca rathasthaiś ca vājipṛṣṭha gatais tathā
 76 nānāśastradharair ghorair nānā kavacabhūṣaṇaiḥ
     vṛtaṃ ghaṭotkacaṃ krūrair marudbhir iva vāsavam
     dṛṣṭvā karṇo maheṣvāso yodhayām āsa rākṣasam
 77 ghaṭotkacas tataḥ karṇaṃ viddhvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ
     nanāda bhairavaṃ nādaṃ bhīṣayan sarvapārthivān
 78 bhūyaś cāñjalikenātha sa mārgaṇagaṇaṃ mahat
     karṇa hastasthitaṃ cāpaṃ cicchedāśu ghaṭotkacaḥ
 79 athānyad dhanur ādāya dṛḍhaṃ bhārasahaṃ mahat
     vyakarṣata balāt karṇa indrāyudham ivocchritam
 80 tataḥ karṇo mahārāja preṣayām āsa sāyakān
     suvarṇapuṅkhāñ śatrughnān khacarān rākṣasān prati
 81 tad bāṇair arditaṃ yūthaṃ rakṣasāṃ pīnavakṣasām
     siṃhenevārditaṃ vanyaṃ gajānām ākulaṃ kulam
 82 vidhamya rākṣasān bāṇaiḥ sāśvasūta gajān vibhuḥ
     dadāha bhagavān vahnir bhūtānīva yugakṣaye
 83 sa hatvā rākṣasīṃ senāṃ śuśubhe sūtanandanaḥ
     pureva tripuraṃ dagdhvā divi devo maheśvaraḥ
 84 teṣu rājasahasreṣu pāṇḍaveyeṣu māriṣa
     nainaṃ nirīkṣitum api kaś cic chaknoti pārthiva
 85 ṛte ghaṭotkacād rājan rākṣasendrān mahābalāt
     bhīmavīryabalopetāt kruddhād vaivasvatād iva
 86 tasya kruddhasya netrābhyāṃ pāvakaḥ samajāyata
     maholkābhyāṃ yathā rājan sārciṣaḥ snehabindavaḥ
 87 talaṃ talena saṃhatya saṃdaśya daśanac chadam
     ratham āsthāya ca punar māyayā nirmitaṃ punaḥ
 88 yuktaṃ gajanibhair vāhaiḥ piśācavacanaiḥ kharaiḥ
     sasūtam abravīt kruddhaḥ sūtaputrāya mā vaha
 89 sa yayau ghorarūpeṇa rathena rathināṃ varaḥ
     dvairathaṃ sūtaputreṇa punar eva viśāṃ pate
 90 sa cikṣepa punaḥ kruddhaḥ sūtaputrāya rākṣasaḥ
     aṣṭacakrāṃ mahāghorām aśaniṃ rudra nirmitām
 91 tām avaplutya jagrāha karṇo nyasya rathe dhanuḥ
     cikṣepa caināṃ tasyaiva syandanāt so 'vapupluve
 92 sāśvasūta dhvajaṃ yānaṃ bhasmakṛtvā mahāprabhā
     viveśa vasudhāṃ bhittvā surās tatra visismiyuḥ
 93 karṇaṃ tu sarvabhūtāni pūjayām āsur añjasā
     yad avaplutya jagrāha deva sṛṣṭāṃ mahāśanim
 94 evaṃ kṛtvā raṇe karṇa āruroha rathaṃ punaḥ
     tato mumoca nārācān sūtaputraḥ paraṃtapaḥ
 95 aśakyaṃ kartum anyena sarvabhūteṣu mānada
     yad akārṣīt tadā karṇaḥ saṃgrāme bhīmadarśane
 96 sa hanyamāno nārācair dhārābhir iva parvataḥ
     gandharvanagarākāraḥ punar antaradhīyata
 97 evaṃ sa vai mahāmāyo māyayā lāghavena ca
     astrāṇi tāni divyāni jaghāna ripusūdanaḥ
 98 nihanyamāneṣv astreṣu māyayā tena rakṣasā
     asaṃbhrāntas tataḥ karṇas tad rakṣaḥ pratyayudhyata
 99 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja bhaimasenir mahābalaḥ
     cakāra bahudhātmānaṃ bhīṣayāṇo narādhipān
 100 tato digbhyaḥ samāpetuḥ siṃhavyāghra tarakṣavaḥ
    agnijihvāś ca bhujagā vihagāś cāpy ayomukhāḥ
101 sa kīryamāṇo niśitaiḥ karṇa cāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
    nagarādrivanaprakhyas tatraivāntaradhīyata
102 rākṣasāś ca piśācāś ca yātudhānāḥ śalāvṛkāḥ
    te karṇaṃ bhakṣayiṣyantaḥ sarvataḥ samupādravan
    athainaṃ vāgbhir ugrābhis trāsayāṃ cakrire tadā
103 udyatair bahubhir ghorair āyudhaiḥ śoṇitokṣitaiḥ
    teṣām anekair ekaikaṃ karṇo divyādha cāśugaiḥ
104 pratihatya tu tāṃ māyāṃ divyenāstreṇa rākṣasīm
    ājaghāna hayān asya śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
105 te bhagnā vikṛtāṅgāś ca chinnapṛṣṭhāś ca sāyakaiḥ
    vasudhām anvapadyanta paśyatas tasya rakṣasaḥ
106 sa bhagnamāyo haiḍimbaḥ karṇaṃ vaikartanaṃ tataḥ
    eṣa te vidadhe mṛtyum ity uktvāntaradhīyata

 

SECTION CI

"Dhritarashtra said, 'After the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain in battle by Savyasachin and after the fall of Bhurisravas, what became the state of your mind? After Drona also had been thus addressed by Duryodhana in the midst of the Kurus, what did the preceptor say unto him then? Tell me all this, O Sanjaya!'
"Sanjaya said, 'Loud wails arose among thy coops, O Bharata, after the slaughter of Bhurisravas and the ruler of the Sindhus. All of them disregarded the counsels of thy son, those counsels in consequence of which leaders of men, by hundreds, were slain, As regards Drona, hearing those words of thy son, he became filled with grief. Reflecting for a short while, O monarch, he said these words in great affliction.
"Drona said, O Duryodhana, why dost thou pierce me thus with wordy shafts? I told thee before that Arjuna is incapable of defeat in battle. Protected by the diadem-decked Arjuna, Sikhandin slew Bhishma. By that feat, O thou of Kuru's race, the prowess of Arjuna in battle hath been well-tested. Beholding Bhisma who was incapable of being defeated by the gods and the Danavas, actually slain in battle, even then I knew that this Bharata host is doomed. Upon the fall of him whom of all persons in the three worlds, we had regarded to be the very foremost of heroes, who else is there upon whom we are to rely? Those dice, O sire, with which Sakuni formerly played in the Kuru assembly, were not dice but keen arrows capable of slaying foes. Even those arrows, O sire, sped by Jaya, are now slaying us. Though Vidura characterised them to be such, thou didst not yet understand them to be so. Those words, again, that the wise and high-souled Vidura, with tears in his eyes had then said unto thee, those auspicious words recommending peace, thou didst not then hear. That calamity which foretold hath now come. That frightful carnage, O Duryodhana, hath now come as the result of that disobedience by thee of Vidura's words. That man of foolish understanding who, disregarding the salutary words of trusted friends, followeth his own opinion, soon falls into a pitiable plight. O son of Gandhari, this great evil, viz., that dragging in our very sight to the Kuru assembly of Krishna who never deserved such treatment, who hath been born in a noble race, and who practiseth every virtue. Know that all this is but little, for in the next world dire consequences yet will be thine. Vanquishing the Pandavas at dice by deceit, thou hadst sent them, into the woods, attired in deer-skins. What other Brahmana, except myself, in this world, would seek to injure those princes that are ever engaged in the practice of virtue and that are to me even as my own sons" With the approval of Dhritarashtra, in the midst of the Kuru assembly, thou hadst, with Sakuni as thy help-mate, provoked the ire of the Pandavas. United with Duhsasana, Karna then fanned that wrath. Disregarding the words of Vidura, thou hast repeatedly fanned it thyself. With resolute care, all
p. 338
of you had surrounded Arjuna, resolved to stand by the ruler of the Sindhus. Why then have all of you been vanquished and why also has Jayadratha been slain? Why, when thou art alive, and Karna, and Kripa, and Salya, and Aswatthaman, O Kauravya, hath the ruler of the Sindhus been slain? For rescuing the ruler of the Sindhus, the kings (on thy side) had put forth all their fierce energy. Why, then, hath Jayadratha been slain in their midst? Relying upon me, king Jayadratha had expected his rescue from the hands of Arjuna. He, however, obtained not the rescue he had expected. I do not also see my safety for my own self. Until I succeed in slaying the Panchalas with Sikhandin, I feel like one sinking in the Dhristadyumna-mire. Having failed, O Bharata, in rescuing the ruler of the Sindhus, why dost thou pierce me thus with thy wordy shafts, seeing that I too am burning with grief? Thou seest not any longer on the field the gold standards of Bhishma of sure aim, that warrior who was never tired in battle. How, then, canst thou hope for success? When the ruler of the Sindhus and Bhurisravas also have been slain in the very midst of so many mighty car-warriors, what do you think, will the end be? Kripa, difficult of being vanquished, is still alive, O king! That he hath not followed in the track of Jayadratha, I applaud him highly for this! When I saw Bhishma himself, that achiever of the most difficult feats (in battle), that warrior who was incapable of being slain in battle by the gods with Vasava at their head, slain in thy sight, O Kaurava, as also of thy younger brother Duhsasana, I thought then, O king, that the Earth hath abandoned thee. Yonder the troops of the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, united together, are now rushing against me. For achieving thy good in battle, O son of Dhritarashtra, I will not without slaying all the Panchalas, put off my armour. O king, go and tell my son Aswatthaman who is present in battle that even at the risk of his life he should not let the Somakas alone. 1 Thou shouldst also tell him, 'Observe all the instructions thou hast received from thy father. Be firm in acts of humility, in self-restraint, in truth and righteousness. Observant of religion, profit, and pleasure, without neglecting religion and profit, thou shouldst always accomplish those acts in which religion predominates. The Brahmanas should always be gratified with presents. All of them deserve thy worship. Thou shouldst never do anything that is injurious to them. They are like flames of fire. As regards myself, I will penetrate the hostile host, O slayer of foes, for doing great battle, pierced as I am by thee with thy wordy shafts. If thou canst, O Duryodhana, go and protect those troops. Both the Kurus and the Srinjayas have been angry. They will fight even during the night.' Having said these words, Drona proceeded against the Pandavas and set himself to over-ride the energy of the Kshatriyas like the sun overshadowing the light of the stars.'"
p. 339

 

Book 7
Chapter 151

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tasmiṃs tathā vartamāne karṇa rākṣasayor mṛdhe
      alāyudho rākṣasendro vīryavān abhyavartata
  2 mahatyā senayā yuktaḥ suyodhanam upāgamat
      rākṣasānāṃ virūpāṇāṃ sahasraiḥ parivāritaḥ
      nānārūpadharair vīraiḥ pūrvavairam anusmaran
  3 tasya jñātir hi vikrānto brāhmaṇādo bako hataḥ
      kirmīraś ca mahātejā hiḍimbaś ca sakhā tathā
  4 sa dīrghakālādhyuṣitaṃ pūrvavairam anusmaran
      vijñāyaitan niśāyuddhaṃ jighāṃsur bhīmam āhave
  5 sa matta iva mātaṅgaḥ saṃkruddha iva coragaḥ
      duryodhanam idaṃ vākyam abravīd yuddhalālasaḥ
  6 viditaṃ te mahārāja yathā bhīmena rākṣasāḥ
      hiḍimbabakakirmīrā nihatā mama bāndhavāḥ
  7 parāmarśaś ca kanyāyā hiḍimbāyāḥ kṛtaḥ purā
      kim anyad rākṣasān anyān asmāṃś ca paribhūya ha
  8 tam ahaṃ sagaṇaṃ rājan sa vājirathakuñjaram
      haiḍimbaṃ ca sahāmātyaṃ hantum abhyāgataḥ svayam
  9 adya kuntīsutān sarvān vāsudeva purogamān
      hatvā saṃbhakṣayiṣyāmi sarvair anucaraiḥ saha
      nivāraya balaṃ sarvaṃ vayaṃ yotsyāma pāṇḍavān
  10 tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā hṛṣṭo duryodhanas tadā
     pratipūjyābravīd vākyaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ
 11 tvāṃ puraskṛtya sagaṇaṃ vayaṃ yotsyāmahe parān
     na hi vairānta manasaḥ sthāsyanti mama sainikāḥ
 12 evam astv iti rājānam uktvā rākṣasapuṃgavaḥ
     abhyayāt tvarito bhīmaṃ sahitaḥ puruṣāśanaiḥ
 13 dīpyamānena vapuṣā rathenādityavarcasā
     tādṛśenaiva rājendra yādṛśena ghaṭotkacaḥ
 14 tasyāpy atulanirghoṣo bahu toraṇacitritaḥ
     ṛkṣacarmāvanaddhāṅgo nalva mātro mahārathaḥ
 15 tasyāpi turagāḥ śīghrā hastikāyāḥ kharasvanāḥ
     śataṃ yuktā mahākāyā māṃsaśoṇitabhojanāḥ
 16 tasyāpi rathanirghoṣo mahāmegharavopamaḥ
     tasyāpi sumahac cāpaṃ dṛḍhajyaṃ balavattaram
 17 tasyāpy akṣasamā bāṇā rukmapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
     so 'pi vīro mahābāhur yathaiva sa ghaṭotkacaḥ
 18 tasyāpi gomāyubaḍābhigupto; babhūva ketur jvalanārkatulyaḥ
     sa cāpi rūpeṇa ghaṭotkacasya; śrīmattamo vyākuladīpitāsyaḥ
 19 dīptāṅgado dīptakirīṭa mālī; baddhasrag uṣṇīṣa nibaddhakhaḍgaḥ
     gadī bhuśuṇḍī musalī harī ca; śarāsanī vāraṇatulyavarṣmā
 20 rathena tenānala varcasā ca; vidrāvayan pāṇḍava vāhinīṃ tām
     rarāja saṃkhye parivartamāno; vidyunmālī megha ivāntarikṣe
 21 te cāpi sarve pravarā narendrā; mahābalā varmiṇaś carmiṇaś ca
     harṣānvitā yuyudhus tatra rājan; samantataḥ pāṇḍava yodhavīrāḥ

 

SECTION CLI

"Sanjaya said, 'Thus urged by Drona, king Duryodhana, filled with rage set his heart on battle. And thy son, Duryodhana, then said unto Karna, 'Behold, the diadem-decked son of Pandu, with Krishna alone for helpmate, penetrated into the array formed by the preceptor, an array that the gods themselves could not pierce, and in the very sight of the illustrious Drona struggling in battle and of many other foremost of warriors, slew the ruler of the Sindhus. Behold, O son of Radha, many foremost of kings lying on the earth, slain in battle. Partha unaided by any one, in the very sight of the illustrious Drona and myself, vigorously exerting ourselves like a host of inferior animals-slain by a lion. The son of Sakra hath reduced my host to a small remnant of what it was. How, indeed, could Phalguna, in spite of the resistance offered by Drona in battle, accomplish his vow by slaying the ruler of the Sindhus? If Drona had not himself willed it, O hero, how could the son of Pandu, in battle, have pierced that impenetrable array, overcoming his struggling preceptor? Truly, Phalguna is exceedingly dear to the illustrious preceptor! For this, the latter gave him admittance, without having fought with him. Behold my misfortune! Having in the first instance promised protection unto the ruler of the Sindhus, Drona, that scorcher of foes, gave unto the diadem-decked Arjuna admittance into the array! If he had in the beginning granted permission to the ruler of the Sindhus for his return home, without doubt, such an awful carnage would then have never occurred. Alas! Jayadratha, in hopes of saving his life, had desired to return home. Having obtained from Drona a promise of protection in battle, it was I, a fool that I was, who prevented him from going. Alas, today my brothers having Chitrasena for their head, have all perished in the very sight of our wretched selves.' 1
"Karna said, 'Do not blame the preceptor. That Brahmana is fighting according to the measure of his power and courage and regardless of his very life. If Arjuna, of white steeds, having transgressed him, penetrated into our array, the slightest fault does not, for that, attach to the preceptor. Phalguna is accomplished in weapons, possessed of great activity, endued with youth; he is a hero who has mastered all arms; he is distinguished for the celerity of his movements. Armed with celestial weapons and mounted on his ape-bannered car, the reins of whose steeds again were in the hands of Krishna, cased in impenetrable armour, and taking his celestial bow Gandiva of unfading might, the valiant Arjuna, scattering keen arrows, and proud of the strength of his arms, transgressed Drona. There is nothing to wonder at this. The preceptor, on the other hand is, O king, old and incapable of proceeding quickly. He is also, O king, incapable of exercising his arms long. It was for this that Phalguna, of
p. 340
white steeds and having Krishna for his charioteer, succeeded in transgressing the preceptor. For this reason also, I do not see any fault in Drona. For all that, when Arjuna, of white steeds, penetrated into our array, having transgressed the preceptor it seems that the latter, however skilled in weapons, is incapable of vanquishing the Pandavas in battle. I think that which is ordained by Fate never occurs otherwise. And since, O Suyodhana, in spite of ourselves fighting to the utmost extent of our powers, the ruler of the Sindhus has been slain in battle, it seems that Fate is all-powerful. With thyself we had all been exerting to the utmost of our might on the field of battle. Fate, however, baffling our exertions, did not smile on us. We have always exerted to injure the Pandavas, relying both on deceit and prowess. Whatever act, O king, a person afflicted by Fate does, is frustrated by Fate, however, much the person himself may strive to achieve it. Whatever, indeed, a man endued with perseverance should do, ought to be done fearlessly. Success depends on Fate! By deceit the sons of Pritha were beguiled as also by the administration of poison, O Bharata! Burnt they were in the palace of lac, vanquished they were at dice. In accordance with the dictates of statecraft, they were exited into the woods. All these, though done by us with care, have been baffled by Fate. Fight with resolution, O king, setting Fate at nought. Between thee and them, both striving to the best of your prowess even Fate may prove auspicious to that party which excels the other. 1 No wise measures have been adopted by the Pandavas with the aid of superior intelligence. Nor, O hero, do we see, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, that thou hast done anything unwise from want of intelligence! It is Fate that decides the result of acts, wise or unwise; Fate, ever intent on its own purposes is awake when all else sleeps. Vast was thy host, and thy warriors are many. Even thus the battle began. With their small force, much greater and consisting of men capable of smiting effectually, hath been much reduced. I fear, it is the work of Fate, that has frustrated our exertions.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'While they were discoursing thus, O king, the Pandava divisions appeared for battle. Then occurred a fierce battle between thy warriors and theirs, in which cars and elephants encountered one another. All this, however, O king, was due to thy evil policy!'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 152

 

 

 1 [s]
      tam āgatam abhiprekṣya bhīmakarmāṇam āhave
      harṣam āhārayāṃ cakruḥ kuravaḥ sarva eva te
  2 tathaiva tava putrās te duryodhana purogamāḥ
      aplavāḥ plavam āsādya tartukāmā ivārṇavam
  3 punarjātam ivātmānaṃ manvānāḥ pārthivās tadā
      alāyudhaṃ rākṣasendraṃ svāgatenābhyapūjayan
  4 tasmiṃs tv amānuṣe yuddhe vartamāne bhayāvahe
      karṇa rākṣasayor naktaṃ dāruṇapratidarśane
  5 upapraikṣanta pāñcālāḥ smayamānāḥ sarājakāḥ
      tathaiva tāvakā rājan ghūrṇamānās tatas tataḥ
  6 cukruśur nedam astīti droṇa drauṇikṛpādayaḥ
      tat karma dṛṣṭvā saṃbhrāntā haiḍimbasya raṇājire
  7 sarvam āvighnam abhavad dhāhā bhūtam acetanam
      tava sainyaṃ mahārāja nirāśaṃ karṇa jīvite
  8 duryodhanas tu saṃprekṣya karṇam ārtiṃ parāṃ gatam
      alāyudhaṃ rākṣasendram āhūyedam athābravīt
  9 eṣa vaikartanaḥ karṇo haiḍimbena samāgataḥ
      kurute karma sumahad yad asyaupayikaṃ mṛdhe
  10 paśyaitān pārthivāñ śūrān nihatān bhaimaseninā
     nānāśastrair abhihatān pādapān iva dantinā
 11 tavaiṣa bhāgaḥ samare rājamadhye mayā kṛtaḥ
     tavaivānumate vīra taṃ vikramya nibarhaya
 12 purā vaikartanaṃ karṇam eṣa pāpo ghaṭotkacaḥ
     māyābalam upāśritya karśayaty arikarśanaḥ
 13 evam uktaḥ sa rājñā tu rākṣasas tīvravikramaḥ
     tathety uktvā mahābāhur ghaṭotkacam upādravat
 14 tataḥ karṇaṃ samutsṛjya bhaimasenir api prabho
     pratyamitram upāyāntaṃ mardayām āsa mārgaṇaiḥ
 15 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ kruddhayo rākṣasendrayoḥ
     mattayor vāśitā hetor dvipayor iva kānane
 16 rakṣasā vipramuktas tu karṇo 'pi rathināṃ varaḥ
     abhyadravad bhīmasenaṃ rathenādityavarcasā
 17 tam āyāntam anādṛtya dṛṣṭvā grastaṃ ghaṭotkacam
     alāyudhena samare siṃheneva gavāṃ patim
 18 rathenādityavapuṣā bhīmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ
     kirañ śaraughān prayayāv alāyudha rathaṃ prati
 19 tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya sa tadālāyudhaḥ prabho
     ghaṭotkacaṃ samutsṛjya bhīmasenaṃ samāhvayat
 20 taṃ bhīmaḥ sahasābhyetya rākṣasānta karaḥ prabho
     sagaṇaṃ rākṣasendraṃ taṃ śaravarṣair avākirat
 21 tathaivālāyudho rājañ śilā dhautair ajihmagaiḥ
     abhyavarṣata kaunteyaṃ punaḥ punar ariṃdamaḥ
 22 tathā te rākṣasāḥ sarve bhīmasenam upādravan
     nānāpraharaṇā bhīmās tvatsutānāṃ jayaiṣiṇaḥ
 23 sa tāḍyamāno balibhir bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     pañcabhiḥ pañcabhiḥ sarvāṃs tān avidhyac chitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 24 te vadhyamānā hīmena rākṣasāḥ kharayonayaḥ
     vinedus tumulān nādān dudruvuś ca diśo daśa
 25 tāṃs trāsyamānān bhīmena dṛṣṭvā rakṣo mahābalam
     abhidudrāva vegena śaraiś cainam avākirat
 26 taṃ bhīmasenaḥ samare tīkṣṇāgrair akṣiṇoc charaiḥ
     alāyudhas tu tān astān bhīmena viśikhān raṇe
     ciccheda kāṃś cit samare tvarayā kāṃś cid agrahīt
 27 sa taṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasendraṃ bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ
     gadāṃ cikṣepa vegena vajrapātopamāṃ tadā
 28 tām āpatantīṃ vegena gadāṃ jvālākulāṃ tataḥ
     gadayā tāḍayām āsa sā gadā bhīmam āvrajat
 29 sa rākṣasendraṃ kaunteyaḥ śaravarṣair avākirat
     tān apy asyākaron moghān rākṣaso niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 30 te cāpi rākṣasāḥ sarve sainikā bhīmarūpiṇaḥ
     śāsanād rākṣasendrasya nijaghnū rathakuñjarān
 31 pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayāś caiva vājinaḥ paramadvipāḥ
     na śāntiṃ lebhire tatra rakṣasair bhṛśapīḍitāḥ
 32 taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā mahāghoraṃ vartamānaṃ mahāhave
     abravīt puruṣaśreṣṭho dhanaṃjayam idaṃ vacaḥ
 33 paśyaṃ bhīmaṃ mahābāho rākṣasendra vaśaṃgatam
     padavīm asya gaccha tvaṃ mā vicāraya pāṇḍava
 34 dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
     sahitā draupadeyāś ca karṇaṃ yāntu mahārathāḥ
 35 nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca yuyudhānaś ca vīryavān
     itarān rākṣasān ghnantu śāsanāt tava pāṇḍava
 36 tvam apīmāṃ mahābāho camūṃ droṇa puraskṛtām
     vārayasva naravyāghra mahad dhi bhayam āgatam
 37 evam ukte tu kṛṣṇena yathoddiṣṭā mahārathāḥ
     jagmur vaikartanaṃ karṇaṃ rākṣasāṃś cetarān raṇe
 38 atha pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭaiḥ śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ
     dhanuś ciccheda bhīmasya rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
 39 hayāṃś cāsya śitair bāṇaiḥ sārathiṃ ca mahābalaḥ
     jaghāna miṣataḥ saṃkhye bhīmasenasya bhārata
 40 so 'vatīrya rathopasthād dhatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
     tasmai gurvīṃ gadāṃ ghorāṃ sa vinadyot sasarja ha
 41 tatas tāṃ bhīmanirghoṣām āpatantīṃ mahāgadām
     gadayā rākṣaso ghoro nijaghāna nanāda ca
 42 tad dṛṣṭvā rākṣasendrasya ghoraṃ karma bhayāvaham
     bhīmasenaḥ prahṛṣṭātmā gadām āśu parāmṛśat
 43 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ nararakṣasoḥ
     gadā nipātasaṃhrādair bhuvaṃ kampayator bhṛśam
 44 gadā vimuktau tau bhūyaḥ samāsadyetaretaram
     muṣṭibhir vajrasaṃhrādair anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
 45 rathacakrair yugair akṣair adhiṣṭhānair upaskaraiḥ
     yathāsannam upādāya nijaghnatur amarṣaṇau
 46 tau vikṣarantau rudhiraṃ samāsādyetaretaram
     mattāv iva mahānāgāv akṛṣyetāṃ punaḥ punaḥ
 47 tam apaśyad dhṛṣīkeśaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ hite rataḥ
     sa bhīmasena rakṣārthaṃ haiḍimbaṃ pratyacodayat

 

 

SECTION CLII

(Ghatotkacha-badha Parva)

"Sanjaya said, 'That elephant force of thine, O king, swelling with might, fought everywhere, prevailing over the Pandava force. Resolved to go to
p. 341
the other world, the Panchalas and the Kauravas fought with one another for admission into the swelling domains of Yama. Brave warriors, encountering brave rivals, pierced one another with arrows and lances and darts, and quickly despatched one another unto Yama's abode. Dreadful was the battle that took place between car-warriors and car-warriors who struck one another and caused a fierce flow of blood. Infuriated elephants, encountering infuriated compeers, afflicted one another with their tusks. Horsemen, solicitous of glory, pierced and cut down horsemen in that terrific melee with spears and darts and battle-axes. Foot-soldiers also O mighty-armed one, in hundreds, armed with weapons, repeatedly rushed against one another with resolute courage, O scorcher of foes! So great was the confusion that the Panchalas and the Kurus could only be distinguished from each other by the tribal, the family, and the personal names we heard them utter. The warriors, despatching one another to the other world with arrows and darts and axes, careered fearlessly on the field. With thousands of arrows, however, O king, shot by the combatants the ten points were no longer illuminated as before in consequence of the Sun having set. While the Pandavas were thus fighting, O Bharata, Duryodhana, O king, penetrated into the midst of their host. Filled with great wrath at the slaughter of the ruler of Sindhus, and resolved to lay down his life, he penetrated into the hostile army. Filling the earth with the rattle of his car-wheels and causing her to tremble therewith, thy son approached the Pandava host. Terrific was the clash that took place between him and them, O Bharata, causing a tremendous carnage of troops. Like the sun himself at midday scorching everything with his rays, thy son scorched the hostile host with his arrowy showers. 1 The Pandavas became incapable of even looking at their brother (Duryodhana). Despairing of vanquishing their foes, they set their hearts on flying away from the field. Slaughtered by thy illustrious son, armed with the bow, by means of his gold-winged arrows of blazing points, the Panchalas ran away in all directions. Afflicted with those keen shafts, the Pandava troops began to fall down on the ground. Indeed, the Pandavas had never succeeded in achieving such a feat in battle as was then achieved by thy royal son, O monarch! The Pandava host was crushed and ground by an elephant. 2 As, again, an assemblage of lotuses becomes shorn of its beauty when the water (over which it grows) is dried up by the sun and the wind, even so became the Pandava host being dried up by thy son, O Bharata, the Panchalas, with Bhimasena then with ten shafts, and each of the sons of Madri with three, and Virata and Drupada each with six, and Sikhandin with a hundred, and Dhrishtadyumna with seventy, and Yudhishthira with seven, and the Kaikeyas and the Chedis with innumerable keen shafts, and Satwata with five, and each of the (five) sons of Draupadi with three, and Ghatotkacha also with a few, he uttered a
p. 342
leonine shout. Cutting off hundreds of other warriors and the bodies of elephants and steeds in that great battle by means of his fierce shafts, he behaved like the Destroyer himself in rage slaying created beings. 1 While engaged, however, in thus slaughtering his foes, his bow, the back of whose staff was ornamented with gold, Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, O sire, cut off into three parts with a pair of broad-headed shafts. And Yudhishthira pierced Duryodhana himself with ten keen arrows shot with great force. Piercing through Duryodhana's vital limbs, those passed out and entered the earth in a continuous line. The troops that stood around then encompassed Yudhishthira, like the celestials encompassing Purandara for the slaughter of Vritra. Then king Yudhishthira, O sire, who is incapable of being easily defeated, shot at thy son in that battle a fierce shaft. Deeply pierced therewith, Duryodhana sat down on his excellent car. Then a loud noise arose from among the Panchala troops. Even this, O monarch, was that tremendous uproar, viz., 'The king is slain!' The fierce whizz of arrows also was heard there, O Bharata. Then Drona quickly showed himself there in that battle. Meanwhile, Duryodhana recovering his senses, had firmly grasped the bow. He then rushed towards the royal son of Pandu saying, 'Wait, Wait.' Then the Panchalas also solicitous of victory, began to advance with speed. Desirous of rescuing the Kuru prince, Drona received them all. And the preceptor began to destroy them like the bright-rayed maker of day destroying tempest-tossed clouds. Then, O king, there occurred a fierce battle, fraught with immense carnage, between thine and theirs encountering one another from desire of fight.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 153

 

 

 

1 [s]
      saṃprekṣya samare bhīmaṃ rakṣasā grastam antikāt
      vāsudevo 'bravīd vākyaṃ ghaṭotkacam idaṃ tadā
  2 paśya bhīmaṃ mahābāho rakṣasā grastam antikāt
      paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ tava caiva mahādyute
  3 sa karṇaṃ tvaṃ samutsṛjya rākṣasendram alāyudham
      jahi kṣipraṃ mahābāho paścāt karṇaṃ vadhiṣyasi
  4 sa vārṣṇeya vacaḥ śrutvā karṇam utsṛjya vīryavān
      yuyudhe rākṣasendreṇa bakabhrātrā ghaṭotkacaḥ
      tayoḥ sutumulaṃ yuddhaṃ babhūva niśi rakṣasoḥ
  5 alāyudhasya yodhāṃs tu rākṣasān bhīmadarśanān
      vegenāpatataḥ śūrān pragṛhītaśarāsanān
  6 āttāyudhaḥ susaṃkruddho yuyudhāno mahārathaḥ
      nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca cicchidur niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  7 sarvāṃś ca samare rājan kirīṭī kṣatriyarṣabhān
      paricikṣepa bībhatsuḥ sarvatha prakṣipañ śarān
  8 karṇaś ca samare rājan vyadrāvayata pārthivān
      dhṛṣṭadyumna śikhaṇḍyādīn pāñcālānāṃ mahārathān
  9 tān vadhyamānān dṛṣṭvā tu bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ
      abhyayāt tvaritaḥ karṇaṃ viśikhann vikiran raṇe
  10 tatas te 'py āyayur hatvā rākṣasāny atra sūtajaḥ
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
     te karṇaṃ yodhayām āsuḥ pāñcālā droṇam eva ca
 11 alāyudhas tu saṃkruddho ghaṭotkacam ariṃdamam
     parigheṇātikāyena tāḍayām āsa mūrdhani
 12 sa tu tena prahāreṇa bhaimasenir mahābalaḥ
     īṣan mūrchānvito ''tmānaṃ saṃstambhayata vīryavān
 13 tato dīptāgnisaṃkāśāṃ śataghaṇṭām alaṃkṛtām
     cikṣepa samare tasmai gadāṃ kāñcanabhūṣaṇām
 14 sā hayān sārathiṃ caiva rathaṃ cāsya mahāsvanā
     cūrṇayām āsa vegena visṛṣṭā bhīmakarmaṇā
 15 sa bhagnahayacakrākṣo viśīrṇadhvajakūbaraḥ
     utpapāta rathāt tūrṇaṃ māyām āsthāya rākṣasīm
 16 sa samāsthāya māyāṃ tu vavarṣa rudhiraṃ bahu
     vidyud vibhrājitaṃ cāsīt timirābhrākulaṃ nabhaḥ
 17 tato vajranipātāś ca sāśanistanayitnavaḥ
     mahāṃś caṭacaṭā śabdas tatrāsīd dhi mahāhave
 18 tāṃ prekṣya vihitāṃ māyāṃ rākṣaso rākṣasena tu
     ūrdhvam utpatya haiḍimbas tāṃ māyāṃ māyayāvadhīt
 19 so 'bhivīkṣya hatāṃ māyāṃ māyāvī māyayaiva hi
     aśmavarṣaṃ sutumulaṃ visasarja ghaṭotkace
 20 aśmavarṣaṃ sa tad ghoraṃ śaravarṣeṇa vīryavān
     diśo vidhvaṃsayām āsa tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 21 tato nānāpraharaṇair anyonyam abhivarṣatām
     āyasaiḥ parighaiḥ śūlair gadāmusalamudgalaiḥ
 22 pinākaiḥ karavālairś ca tomaraprāsakampanaiḥ
     nārācair niśitair bhallaiḥ śaraiś cakraiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ
 23 ayo guḍair bhiṇḍipālair gośīrṣolūkhalair api
     utpāṭya ca mahāśākhair vividhair jagatī ruhaiḥ
 24 śamī pīlu karīraiś ca śamyākaiś caiva bhārata
     iṅgudair badarībhiś ca kovidāraiś ca puṣpitaiḥ
 25 palāśair arimedaiś ca plakṣanyagrodhapippalaiḥ
     mayadbhiḥ samare tasminn anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
 26 vividhaiḥ parvatāgraiś ca nānādhātubhir ācitaiḥ
     teṣāṃ śabdho mahān āsīd vajrāṇāṃ bhidyatām iva
 27 yuddhaṃ tad abhavad ghoraṃ bhaimy alāyudhayor nṛpa
     harīndrayor yathā rājan vālisugrīvayoḥ purā
 28 tau yuddhvā vividhair ghorair āyudhair viśikhais tathā
     pragṛhya niśitau khaḍgāv anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
 29 tāv anyonyam abhidrutya keśeṣu sumahābalau
     bhujābhyāṃ paryagṛhṇītāṃ mahākāyau mahābalau
 30 tau bhinnagātrau prasvedaṃ susruvāte janādhipa
     rudhiraṃ ca mahākāyāv abhivṛṣṭāv ivācalau
 31 athābhipatya vegena samudbhrāmya ca rākṣasam
     balenākṣipya haiḍimbaś cakartāsya śiromahat
 32 so 'pahṛtya śiras tasya kuṇḍalābhyāṃ vibhūṣitam
     tadā sutumulaṃ nādaṃ nanāda sumahābalaḥ
 33 hataṃ dṛṣṭvā mahākāyaṃ bakajñātim ariṃdamam
     pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva siṃhanādān vinedire
 34 tato bherīsahasrāṇi śaṅkhānām ayutāni ca
     avādayan pāṇḍaveyās tasmin rakṣasi pātite
 35 atīva sā niśā teṣāṃ babhūva vijayāvahā
     vidyotamānā vibabhau samantād dīpamālinī
 36 alāyudhasya tu śiro bhaimasenir mahābalaḥ
     duryodhanasya pramukhe cikṣepa gatacetanam
 37 atha duryodhano rājā dṛṣṭvā hatam alāyudham
     babhūva paramodvignaḥ saha sainyena bhārata
 38 tena hy asya pratijñātaṃ bhīmasenam ahaṃ yudhi
     hanteti svayam āgamya smaratā vairam uttamam
 39 dhruvaṃ sa tena hantavya ity amanyanta pārthivaḥ
     jīvitaṃ cirakālāya bhrātṝṇāṃ cāpy amanyata
 40 sa taṃ dṛṣṭvā vinihataṃ bhīmasenātmajena vai
     pratijñāṃ bhīmasenasya pūrṇām evābhyamanyata

 

SECTION CLIII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Having said all those words unto my son, Duryodhana, who is ever disobedient to my commands, when that mighty bowman endued with great strength, viz., the preceptor Drona, penetrated in wrath into the Pandava host, and when that hero, stationed on his car, careered over the field, how did the Pandavas check his course? Who protected the right wheel of the preceptor's car in that dreadful battle? Who also protected his left when he fiercely slaughtered the foe? Who were those brave warriors that followed that fighting hero at his back? Who were those, then, that stood in front of that car-warrior? When that unvanquished and great bowman, that foremost of all bearers of weapons, dancing along the track of his car, entered the Pandavas host, I think, his
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foes felt an excessive and unseasonable cold. I think, they trembled like kine exposed to wintry blasts. How did that bull among car-warriors, who consumed all the troops of the Panchalas like a raging conflagration, meet with his death?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Having slain the ruler of the Sindhus in the evening, Partha, after his meeting with Yudhishthira and the great bowman, viz., Satyaki, both proceeded towards Drona. Then Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, each with a separate division of the army, quickly proceeded against Drona. Similarly, the intelligent Nakula, and the invincible Sahadeva, and Dhrishtadyumna with his own division, and Virata, and the ruler of the Salwas, with a large force, proceeded against Drona in battle. Similarly, king Drupada, the father of Dhrishtadyumna, protected by the Panchalas proceeded, O king, against Drona. And the sons of Draupadi, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, accompanied by their forces, proceeded against Drona of great splendour. The Prabhadraka-Panchalas also six thousand strong, and all effectual smiters, proceeded against Drona placing Sikhandin at their head. Other foremost of men and mighty car-warriors among the Pandavas, uniting together, O bull among men, proceeded against Drona. When those heroic warriors, O bull among the Bharatas, proceeded to battle, the night became pitch dark, enhancing the terrors of the timid. And during that hour of darkness, O king, many were the warriors that laid down their lives. And that night also proved the death of many elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers. On that night of pitch darkness, yelling jackals everywhere inspired great fear with their blazing mouths. Fierce owls, perching on the standards of Kauravas and hooting therefrom, foreboded fears. Then, O king, a fierce uproar arose among the troops. Mingling with the loud beat of drums and cymbals, grunts of elephants, neighings of steeds, and stampings of horse-hoofs, that uproar spread everywhere. Then, in that hour of evening, fierce was the battle that took place between Drona, O king, and all of the Srinjayas. The world having been enveloped in darkness, nothing could be noticed. The welkin was covered with the dust raised by the combatants. Blood of man and horse and elephant mingled together. The earthy dust then disappeared. All of us became perfectly cheerless. During that night, like the sounds of a burning forest of bamboos on a mountain, frightful sounds were heard of clashing weapons. With the sounds of Mridangas and Anakas and Vallakis and Patahas, 1 with the shouts (of human beings) and the neigh (of steeds), a dreadful confusion set in everywhere, O lord! When the field of battle was enveloped in darkness, friends, O king, could not be distinguished from foes. All were possessed with a madness in that night. The earthen dust that had arisen, O king, was soon allayed with showers of blood. Then, in consequence of golden coats of mail and the bright ornaments of the warriors, that darkness was dispelled. The Bharata host then, adorned with gems and gold (and abounding with darts and
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standards), looked like the firmament in the night, O bull of Bharata's race, bespangled with stars. The field of battle then resounded with the yells of jackals and the cawings of crows, with the grunts of elephants, and the shouts and cries of the warriors. Those sounds, mingling together, produced a loud uproar, making the hair stand on end. That uproar filled all the points of the compass like the report of Indra's thunder. At dead of night, the Bharata host seemed illuminated with the Angadas, the ear-rings, the cuirasses, and the weapons of combatants. There elephants and cars, adorned with gold, looked in that night like clouds charged with lightning. Swords and darts and maces and scimitars and clubs and lances and axes, as they fell, looked like dazzling flashes of fire. Duryodhana was the gust of wind that was the precursor (of that tempest-like host). Cars and elephants constituted its dry clouds. The loud noise of drums and other instruments formed the peal of its thunders. Abounding with standards, bows formed to lightning flashes. Drona and the Pandavas formed its pouring clouds. Scimitars and darts and maces constituted its thunders. Shafts formed its downpour, and weapons (of other kinds) its incessant gusts of wind. And the winds that blew were both exceedingly hot and exceedingly cold. Terrible, stunning and fierce, it was destructive of life. There was nothing that could afford shelter from it. 1 Combatants, desirous of battle entered into that frightful host on that dreadful night resounding with terrible noises, enhancing the fears of the timid and the delight of heroes. And during the progress of that fierce and dreadful battle in the night, the Pandus and the Srinjayas, united together, rushed in wrath against Drona. All these, however, O king, that advanced right against the illustrious Drona, were either obliged to turn back or despatched to the abode of Yama. Indeed, on that night, Drona alone pierced with his shafts, elephants in thousands and cars in tens of thousands and millions of millions of foot-soldiers and steeds.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 154

 

1 [s]
      nihatyālāyudhaṃ rakṣaḥ prahṛṣṭātmā ghaṭotkacaḥ
      nanāda vividhān nādān vāhinyāḥ pramukhe sthitaḥ
  2 tasya taṃ tumulaṃ śabdaṃ śrutvā kuñjarakampanam
      tāvakānāṃ mahārāja bhayam āsīt sudāruṇam
  3 alāyudha viṣaktaṃ tu bhaimaseniṃ mahābalam
      dṛṣṭvā karṇo mahābāhuḥ pāñcālān samupādravat
  4 daśabhir daśabhir bāṇair dhṛṣṭadyumna śikhaṇḍinau
      dṛḍhaiḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭair bibheda nataparvabhiḥ
  5 tataḥ paramanārācair yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
      sātyakiṃ ca rathodāraṃ kampayām āsa mārgaṇaiḥ
  6 teṣām abhyasyatāṃ tatra sarveṣāṃ savyadakṣiṇam
      maṇḍalāny eva cāpāni vyadṛśyanta janādhipa
  7 teṣāṃ jyātalanirghoṣo rathanemi svanaś ca ha
      meghānām iva gharmānte babhūva tumulo niśi
  8 jyānemighoṣastanayitnumān vai; dhanus taḍin maṇḍalaketuśṛṅgaḥ
      śaraughavarṣākula vṛṣṭimāṃś ca; saṃgrāmameghaḥ sa babhūva rājan
  9 tad udhataṃ śaila ivāprakampyo; varṣaṃ mahac chailasamānasāraḥ
      vidhvaṃsayām āsa raṇe narendra; vaikartanaḥ śatrugaṇāvamardī
  10 tato 'tulair vajranipāta kalpaiḥ; śitaiḥ śaraiḥ kāñcanacitrapuṅkhaiḥ
     śatrūn vyapohat samare mahātmā; vaikartanaḥ putra hite ratas te
 11 saṃchinnabhinna dhvajinaś ca ke cit; ke cic charair ardita bhinnadehāḥ
     ke cid visūtā vihayāś ca ke cid; vaikartanenāśu kṛtā babhūvuḥ
 12 avindamānās tv atha śarma saṃkhye; yaudhiṣṭhiraṃ te balam anvapadyan
     tān prekṣya bhagnān vimukhīkṛtāṃś ca; ghaṭotkaco roṣam atīva cakre
 13 āsthāya taṃ kāñcanaratnacitraṃ; rathottamaṃ siṃha ivonanāda
     vaikartanaṃ karṇam upetya cāpi; vivyādha vajrapratimaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ
 14 tau karṇinārāca śilīmukhaiś; ca nālīkadaṇḍaiś ca sa vatsadantaiḥ
     varāhakarṇaiḥ sa viṣāṇa śṛṅgaiḥ; kṣurapra varṣaiś ca vinedatuḥ kham
 15 tad bāṇadhārāvṛtam antarikṣaṃ; tiryaggatābhiḥ samare rarāja
     suvarṇapuṅkha jvalitaprabhābhir; vicitrapuṣpābhir iva srajābhiḥ
 16 samaṃ hi tāv āpratima prabhāvāv; anyonyam ājaghnatur uttamāstraiḥ
     tayor hi vīrottamayor na kaś cid; dadarśa tasmin samare viśeṣam
 17 atīva tac citram atīva rūpaṃ; babhūva yuddhaṃ ravibhīma sūnvoḥ
     samākulaṃ śastranipāta ghoraṃ; divīva rāhvaṃśumatoḥ prataptam
 18 ghaṭotkaco yadā karṇaṃ na viśeṣayate nṛpa
     tadā prāduścakārogram astram astravidāṃ varaḥ
 19 tenāstreṇa hayān pūrvaṃ hatvā karṇasya rākṣasaḥ
     sārathiṃ caiva haiḍimbaḥ kṣipram antaradhīyata
 20 [dhṛ]
     tathā hy antarhite tasmin kūṭayodhini rākṣase
     māmakaiḥ pratipannaṃ yat tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
 21 [s]
     antarhitaṃ rākṣasaṃ taṃ viditvā; saṃprākrośan kuravaḥ sarva eva
     kathaṃ nāyaṃ rākṣasaḥ kūṭayodhī; hanyāt karṇaṃ samare 'dṛśyamānaḥ
 22 tataḥ karṇo laghucitrāstra yodhī; sarvā diśo vyāvṛṇod bāṇajālaiḥ
     na vai kiṃ cid vyāpatat tatra bhūtaṃ; tamo bhūte sāyakair antarikṣe
 23 na cādadāno na ca saṃdadhāno; na ceṣudhī spṛśamānaḥ karāgraiḥ
     adṛśyad vai lāghavāt sūtaputraḥ; sarvaṃ bāṇaiś chādayāno 'ntarikṣam
 24 tato māyāṃ vihitām antarikṣe; ghorāṃ bhīmāṃ dāruṇāṃ rākṣasena
     saṃpaśyāmo lohitābhra prakāśāṃ; dedīpyantīm agniśikhām ivogrām
 25 tatas tasyā vidyutaḥ prādurāsann; ulkāś cāpi jvalitāḥ kauravendra
     ghoṣaś cānyaḥ prādurāsīt sughoraḥ; sahasraśo nadatāṃ dundubhīnām
 26 tataḥ śarāḥ prāpatan rukmapuṅkhāḥ; śaktyāḥ prāsā musalāny āyudhāni
     paraśvadhās tailadhautāś ca khaḍgāḥ; pradīptāgrāḥ paṭṭiśās tomarāś ca
 27 mayūkhinaḥ parighā lohabaddhā; gadāś citrāḥ śitadhārāś ca śūlāḥ
     gurvyo gadā hemapaṭṭāvanaddhāḥ; śataghnyaś ca prādurāsan samantāt
 28 mahāśilāś cāpataṃs tatra tatra; sahasraśaḥ sāśanayaḥ savajrāḥ
     cakrāṇi cāneka śatakṣurāṇi; prādurbabhūvur jvalanaprabhāṇi
 29 tāṃ śaktipāṣāṇa paraśvadhānāṃ; prāsāsivajrāśanimudgarāṇām
     vṛṣṭiṃ viśālāṃ jvalitāṃ patantīṃ; karṇaḥ śaraughair na śaśāka hantum
 30 śarāhatānām atatāṃ hayānāṃ; vajrāhatānāṃ patatāṃ gajānām
     śilā hatānāṃ ca mahārathānāṃ; mahān ninādaḥ patatāṃ babhūva
 31 subhīma nānāvidha śastrapātair; ghaṭotkacenābhihataṃ samantāt
     dauryodhanaṃ tad balam ārtarūpam; āvartamānaṃ dadṛśe bhramantam
 32 hāhākṛtaṃ saṃparivartamānaṃ; saṃlīyamānaṃ ca viṣaṇṇarūpam
     te tv ārya bhāvāt puruṣapravīrāḥ; parāṅmukhā na babhūvus tadānīm
 33 tāṃ rākṣasīṃ ghoratarāṃ subhīmāṃ; vṛṣṭiṃ mahāśastramayīṃ patantīm
     dṛṣṭvā balaughāṃś ca nipātyamānān; mahad bhayaṃ tava putrān viveśa
 34 śivāś ca vaiśvānaradīptajihvāḥ; subhīma nādāḥ śataśo nadantyaḥ
     rakṣogaṇān nardataś cābhivīkṣya; narendra yodhā vyathitā babhūvuḥ
 35 te dīptajihvānana tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrā; vibhīṣaṇāḥ śailanikāśa kāyāḥ
     nabhogatāḥ śaktiviṣakta hastā; meghā vyamuñcann iva vṛṣṭimārgam
 36 tair āhatās te śaraśaktiśūlair; gadābhir ugraiḥ parighaiś ca dīptaiḥ
     vajraiḥ pinākair aśaniprahāraiś; cakraiḥ śataghnyunmathitāś ca petuḥ
 37 huḍā bhuśuṇḍyo 'śmaguḍāḥ śatadhnyaḥ; sthūṇāś ca kārṣṇāyasa paṭṭanaddhāḥ
     avākiraṃs tava putrasya sainyaṃ; tathā raudraṃ kaśmalaṃ prādurāsīt
 38 niṣkīrṇāntrā vihatair uttamāṅgaiḥ; saṃbhagnāṅgāḥ śerate tatra śūrāḥ
     bhinnā hayāḥ kuñjarāś cāvabhagnāḥ; saṃcūrṇitāś caiva rathāḥ śilābhiḥ
 39 evaṃ mahac chastra varṣaṃ sṛjantas; te yātudhānā bhuvi ghorarūpāḥ
     māyāḥ sṛṣṭās tatra ghaṭotkacena; nāmuñcan vai yācamānaṃ na bhītam
 40 tasmin ghore kuruvīrāvamarde; kālotsṛṣṭe kṣatriyāṇām abhāve
     te vai bhagnāḥ sahasā vyadravanta; prākrośantaḥ kauravāḥ sarva eva
 41 palāyadhvaṃ kuravo naitad asti; sendrā devā ghnanti naḥ pāṇḍavārthe
     tathā teṣāṃ majjatāṃ bhāratānāṃ; na sma dvīpas tatra kaś cid babhūva
 42 tasmin saṃkrande tumule vartamāne; sainye bhagne līyamāne kurūṇām
     anīkānāṃ pravibhāge 'prakāśe; na jñāyante kuravo netare vā
 43 nirmaryāde vidrave ghorarūpe; sarvā diśaḥ prekṣamāṇāḥ sma śūnyāḥ
     tāṃ śastravṛṣṭim urasā gāhamānaṃ; karṇaṃ caikaṃ tatra rājann apaśyam
 44 tato bāṇair āvṛṇod antarikṣaṃ; divyāṃ māyāṃ yodhayan rākṣasasya
     hrīmān kurvan duṣkaram ārya karma; naivāmuhyat saṃyuge sūtaputraḥ
 45 tato bhītāḥ samudaikṣanta karṇaṃ; rājan sarve saindhavā bāhlikāś ca
     asaṃmohaṃ pūjayanto 'sya saṃkhye; saṃpaśyanto vijayaṃ rākṣasasya
 46 tenotsṛṣṭā cakrayuktā śataghnī; samaṃ sarvāṃś caturo 'śvāñ jaghāna
     te jānubhir jagatīm anvapadyan; gatāsavo nirdaśanākṣi jihvāḥ
 47 tato hatāśvād avaruhya vāhād; antar manāḥ kuruṣu prādravatsu
     divye cāstre māyayā vadhyamāne; naimāmuhyac cintayan prāptakālam
 48 tato 'bruvan kuravaḥ sarva eva; karṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā ghorarūpāṃ ca māyām
     śaktyā rakṣo jahi karṇād ya tūrṇaṃ; naśyanty ete kuravo dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ
 49 kariṣyataḥ kiṃ ca no bhīma pārthau; patantam enaṃ jahi rakṣo niśīthe
     yo naḥ saṃgrāmād ghorarūpād vimucyet; sa naḥ pārthān samare yodhayeta
 50 tasmād enaṃ rākṣasaṃ ghorarūpaṃ; jahi śaktyā dattayā vāsavena
     mā kauravāḥ sarva evendra kalpā; rātrī mukhe karṇa neśuḥ sa yodhāḥ
 51 sa vadhyamāno rakṣasā vai niśīthe; dṛṣṭvā rājan naśyamānaṃ balaṃ ca
     mahac ca śrutvā ninadaṃ kauravāṇāṃ; matiṃ dadhre śaktimokṣāya karṇaḥ
 52 sa vai kruddhaḥ siṃha ivātyamarṣī; nāmarṣayat pratighātaṃ raṇe tam
     śaktiṃ śreṣṭhāṃ vaijayantīm asahyāṃ; samādade tasya vadhaṃ cikīrṣan
 53 yāsau rājan nihitā varṣapūgān; vadhāyājau satkṛtā phalgunasya
     yāṃ vai prādāt sūtaputrāya śakraḥ; śaktiṃ śreṣṭhāṃ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ nimāya
 54 tāṃ vai śaktiṃ lelihānāṃ pradīptāṃ; pāśair yuktām antakasyeva rātrim
     mṛtyoḥ svasāraṃ jvalitām ivolkāṃ; vaikartanaḥ prāhiṇod rākṣasāya
 55 tām uttamāṃ parakāyāpahantrīṃ; dṛṣṭvā sauter bāhusaṃsthāṃ jvalantīm
     bhītaṃ rakṣo vipradudrāva rājan; kṛtvātmānaṃ vindhyapādapramāṇam
 56 dṛṣṭvā śaktiṃ karṇa bāhvantarasthāṃ; nedur bhūtāny antarikṣe narendra
     vavur tāvās tumulāś cāpi rājan; sa nirghātā cāśānir gāṃ jagāma
 57 sā tāṃ māyāṃ bhasmakṛtvā jvalantī; bhittvā gāḍhaṃ hṛdayaṃ rākṣasasya
     ūrdhvaṃ yayau dīpyamānā niśāyāṃ; nakṣatrāṇām antarāṇy āviśantī
 58 yuddhvā citrair vividhaiḥ śastrapūgair; divyair vīro mānuṣai rākṣasaiś ca
     nadan nādān vividhān bhairavāṃś ca; prāṇān iṣṭāṃs tyājitaḥ śakra śaktyā
 59 idaṃ cānyac citram āścaryarūpaṃ; cakārāsau karma śatrukṣayāya
     tasmin kāle śaktinirbhinna marmā; babhau rājan meghaśailaprakāśaḥ
 60 tato 'ntarikṣād apatad gatāsuḥ; sa rākṣasendro bhuvi bhinnadehaḥ
     avākśirāḥ stabdhagātro vijihvo; ghaṭotkaco mahad āsthāya rūpam
 61 sa tad rūpaṃ bhairavaṃ bhīmakarmā; bhīmaṃ kṛtvā bhaimaseniḥ papāta
     hato 'py evaṃ tava sainy ekadeśam; apothayat kauravān bhīṣayāṇaḥ
 62 tato miśrāḥ prāṇadan siṃhanādair; bheryaḥ śaṅkhā murajāś cānakāś ca
     dagdhāṃ māyāṃ nihataṃ rākṣasaṃ ca; dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭāḥ prāṇadan kauraveyāḥ
 63 tataḥ karṇaḥ kurubhiḥ pūjyamāno; yathā śakro vṛtravadhe marudbhiḥ
     anvārūḍhas tava putraṃ rathasyaṃ; hṛṣṭaś cāpi prāviśat svaṃ sa sainyam

 

SECTION CLIV

"Dhritarashtra said, "When the invincible Drona, of immeasurable energy, unable to bear (the slaughter of Jayadratha), Wrathfully entered into the midst of the Srinjayas, what did all of you think? When that warrior of immeasurable soul, having said those words unto my disobedient son, Duryodhana, so entered (the hostile ranks), what steps did Partha take? When after the fall of the heroic Jayadratha and of Bhurisravas, that unvanquished warrior of great energy, that scorcher of foes, viz., the unconquerable Drona, proceeded against the Panchalas, what did Arjuna
p. 345
think? What also did Duryodhana think as the most seasonable step that he could adopt? Who were they that followed that boon-giving hero, that foremost of regenerated ones? Who were those heroes, O Suta, that stood behind that hero while engaged in 'battle? Who fought in his van, while he was employed in slaughter? I think, all the Pandavas, afflicted with the arrows of Bharadwaja's son, were, O Suta, like lean kine trembling under a wintry sky. Having penetrated into the midst of the Panchalas how did that great bowman, that scorcher of foes, that tiger among men, meet with his death? 1 When on that night all the troops, united together, and all the great car-warriors combined were being separately ground (by Drona), who were those intelligent men amongst you that were present there? Thou sayest that my troops were slain or huddled together, or vanquished, and that my car-warriors were made carless in those encounters. While those combatants became cheerless and were being ground by the Pandavas, what did they think when they sank in such affliction on that dark night? Thou sayest that the Pandavas were hearty and exceedingly hopeful, and that mine were melancholy and heartless and panic-stricken. How, O Sanjaya, couldst thou mark the distinction on that night between the Kurus and the unretreating Parthas?'
"Sanjaya said, 'During the progress, O king, of that fierce night-battle, the Pandavas along with the Somakas all rushed against Drona. Then Drona, with his swift-going shafts, despatched all the Kaikeyas and the sons of Dhrishtadyumna into the world of spirits. Indeed, all those mighty car-warriors, O king, that advanced right against Drona, all those lords of the earth, were despatched (by him) into the region of the dead. Then king Sivi, of great prowess, filled with rage, proceeded against that mighty car-warrior, viz., the heroic son of Bharadwaja, while the latter was thus employed in grinding (the hostile combatants). Beholding that great car-warrior of the Pandavas advancing, Drona pierced him with ten shafts made entirely of iron. Sivi, however, pierced Drona in return with thirty shafts, winged with Kanka feathers. And smiling the while, he also, with a broad-headed shaft felled the driver of Drona's car. Drona then, slaying the steeds of the illustrious Sivi as also the driver of his car, cut off from his trunk Sivi's head with head-gear on it. Then Duryodhana quickly sent unto Drona a driver for his car. The reins of his steeds having been taken up by the new man, Drona once more rushed against his foes. The sort of the ruler of the Kalingas, supported by the Kalinga troops, rushed against Bhimasena, filled with rage at the slaughter of his sire by the latter, Having pierced Bhima with five shafts he once more pierced him with seven. And he struck Visoka (the driver of Bhima's car) with three shafts and the latter's standard with one. The Vrikodara, filled with rage, leaping from his own car to that of his foe, slew with only his fists that angry hero of the Kalingas. The bones of that prince thus slain in battle by the mighty son of Pandu with only his fists, fell down on the earth separated
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from one another, Karna and the brother of the slain prince, (and others), could not brook that act of Bhima. All of them began to strike Bhimasena with keen shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison. Abandoning then that car of the foe (upon which he stood), Bhima proceeded to the car of Dhruva, 1 and crushed, by a blow of his fist, that prince who had been striking him incessantly. Thus struck by the mighty son of Pandu. Dhruva fell down. Having slain him, O king, Bhimasena of great strength, proceeding to the car of Jayarata, began to roar repeatedly like a lion. Dragging Jayarata then with his left arm, while, employed in roaring, he slew that warrior with a slap of his palm in the very sight of Karna. Then Karna hurled at the son of Pandu, a dart decked with gold. The Pandava, however, smiling the while, seized with his hand that dart. And the invincible Vrikodara in that battle hurled that very dart back at Karna. Then Sakuni, with a shaft that had drunk oil, cut off that dart as it coursed towards Karna. Having achieved these mighty feats in battle, Bhima, of wonderful prowess, came back to his own car and rushed against thy troops. And while Bhima was thus advancing, slaughtering (thy troops) like the Destroyer himself in rage, thy sons, O monarch, attempted to resist that mighty-armed hero. Indeed, those mighty car-warriors covered him with a dense shower of arrows. Then Bhima, smiling the while, despatched in that battle, with his shafts, the driver and the steeds of Durmada unto the abode of Yama. Durmada, at this, quickly mounted upon the car of Dushkarna. Then those scorchers of foes, viz., the two brothers, riding oh the same car, both rushed against Bhima in the front rank of battle, like the Regent of the waters and Surya rushing against Taraka, that foremost of Daityas. Then thy sons, Durmada and Dushkarna, mounting on the same car, pierced Bhima with shafts. Then in the very sight of Karna, of Aswatthaman, of Duryodhana, of Kripa, of Somadatta, and of Valhika, the son of Pandu, that chastiser of foes, by a stamp of his foot, caused that car of the heroic Durmada and Dushkarna to sink into the earth. Filled with rage, Bhima struck with his fists those mighty and brave sons of thine, viz., Durmada and Dushkarna, and crushed them therewith and roared aloud. Then cries of Oh and Alas arose among the troops. And the kings, beholding Bhima said, 'That is Rudra who is fighting in Bhima's form among the Dhartarashtras.' Saying these words, O Bharata, all the kings fled away, deprived of their senses and urging the animals they rode to their greatest speed. Indeed, no two of them could be seen running together. Then, when on that night a great carnage had been caused among the (Kaurava) army, the mighty Vrikodara, with eyes beautiful as the full-blown lotus, highly applauded by many bulls among kings, repairing unto Yudhishthira, paid his regards unto him. Then the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and Drupada and Virata, and the Kaikeyas, and Yudhishthira also, felt great joy. And all of them paid their adorations unto Vrikodara even as the celestials did unto Mahadeva after Andhaka had been slain.
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[paragraph continues] Then thy sons, all equal unto the sons of Varuna, filled with rage and accompanied by the illustrious Preceptor and a large number of cars, foot-soldiers, and elephants encompassed Vrikodara on all sides from desire of fight. Then, O best of kings, on that terrible night, when everything was enveloped in darkness, as thick as a cloud, a dreadful battle took place between those illustrious warriors, delightful to wolves and crows and vultures.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 155

 

 

1 [s]
      haiḍimbaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā vikīrṇam iva parvatam
      pāṇḍavā dīnamanasaḥ sarve bāṣpākulekṣaṇāḥ
  2 vāsudevas tu harṣeṇa mahatābhipariplutaḥ
      nanāda siṃhavan nādaṃ vyathayann iva bhārata
      vinadya ca mahānādaṃ paryaṣvajata phalgunam
  3 sa vinadya mahānādam abhīśūn saṃniyamya ca
      nanarta harṣasaṃvīto vātoddhūta iva drumaḥ
  4 tato vinirbhrāmya punaḥ pārtham āsphoṭya cāsakṛt
      rathopastha gato bhīmaṃ prāṇadat punar acyutaḥ
  5 prahṛṣṭamanasaṃ jñātvā vāsudevaṃ mahābalam
      abravīd arjuno rājan nātihṛṣṭamanā iva
  6 atiharṣo 'yam asthāne tavādya madhusūdana
      śokasthāne pare prāpte haiḍimbasya vadhena vai
  7 vimukhāni ca sainyāni hataṃ dṛṣṭvā ghaṭotkacam
      vayaṃ ca bhṛśam āvignā haiḍimbasya nipātanāt
  8 naitat kāraṇam alpaṃ hi bhaviṣyati janārdana
      tad adya śaṃsa me pṛṣṭaḥ satyaṃ satyavatāṃ vara
  9 yady etan na rahasyaṃ te vaktum arhasy ariṃdama
      dhairyasya vaikṛtaṃ brūhi tvam adya madhusūdana
  10 samudrasyeva saṃkṣobho meror iva visarpaṇam
     tathaital lāghavaṃ manye tava karma janārdana
 11 [vāsu]
     atiharṣam imaṃ prāptaṃ śṛṇu me tvaṃ dhanaṃjaya
     atīva manasaḥ sadyaḥ prasādakaram uttamam
 12 śaktiṃ ghaṭotkacenemāṃ vyaṃsayitvā mahādyute
     karṇaṃ nihatam evājau viddhi sadyo dhanaṃjaya
 13 śaktihastaṃ punaḥ karṇaṃ ko loke 'sti pumān iha
     ya enam abhitas tiṣṭhet kārttikeyam ivāhave
 14 diṣṭyāpanīta kavaco diṣṭyāpahṛta kuṇḍalaḥ
     diṣṭyā ca vyaṃsitā śaktir amoghasya ghaṭotkace
 15 yadi hi styāt sa kavacas tathaiva ca sakuṇḍalaḥ
     sāmarān api lokāṃs trīn ekaḥ karṇo jayed balī
 16 vāsavo vā kubero vā varuṇo vā jaleśvaraḥ
     yamo vā notsahet karṇaṃ raṇe pratisamāsitum
 17 gāṇḍīvam āyamya bhavāṃś cakraṃ vāhaṃ sudarśanam
     na śaktau svo raṇe jetuṃ tathāyuktaṃ nararṣabham
 18 tvaddhitārthaṃ tu śakreṇa māyayā hṛtakuṇḍalaḥ
     vihīnakavacaś cāyaṃ kṛtaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
 19 utkṛtya kavacaṃ yasmāt kuṇḍale vimale ca te
     prādāc chakrāya karṇo vai tena vaikartanaḥ smṛtaḥ
 20 āśīviṣa iva kruddhaḥ stambhito mantratejasā
     tathādya bhāti karṇo me śāntajvāla ivānalaḥ
 21 yadā prabhṛti karṇāya śaktir dattā mahātmanā
     vāsavena mahābāho prāptā yāsau ghaṭotkace
 22 kuṇḍalābhyāṃ nimāyātha divyena kavacena ca
     tāṃ prāpyāmanyata vṛṣā satataṃ tvāṃ hataṃ raṇe
 23 evaṃgate 'pi śakyo 'yaṃ hantuṃ nānyena kena cit
     ṛte tvā puruṣavyāghra śape satyena cānagha
 24 brahmaṇyaḥ satyavādī ca tapasvī niyatavrataḥ
     ripuṣv api dayāvāṃś ca tasmāt karṇo vṛṣā smṛpaḥ
 25 yuddhaśauṇḍo mahābāhur nityodyata śarāsanaḥ
     kesarīva vane mardan mattamātaṅgayūthapān
     vimadān rathaśārdūlān kurute raṇamūrdhani
 26 madhyaṃ gata ivādityo yo na śakyo nirīkṣitum
     tvadīyaiḥ puruṣavyāghra yodhamukhyair mahātmabhiḥ
     śarajālasahasrāṃśuḥ śaradīva divākaraḥ
 27 tapānte toyado yadvac charadhārāḥ kṣaraty asau
     divyāstrajaladaḥ karṇaḥ parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān
     so 'dya mānuṣatāṃ prāpto vimuktaḥ śakradattayā
 28 eko hi yogo 'sya bhaved vadhāya; chidre hy enaṃ svapramattaḥ pramattam
     kṛcchraprāptaṃ rathacakre nimagne; hanyāḥ pūrvaṃ tvaṃ tu saṃjñāṃ vicārya
 29 jarāsaṃdhaś cedirājo mahātmā; mahābalaś caikalabyo niṣādaḥ
     ekaikaśo nihatāḥ sarva eva; yogais tais tais tvaddhitārthaṃ mayaiva
 30 athāpare nihatā rākṣasendrā; hiḍimbakirmīrabakapradhānāḥ
     alāyudhaḥ parasainyāvamardī; ghaṭotkacaś cograkarmā tarasvī

 

SECTION CLV

"Sanjaya said, 'After his son (Bhurisravas) had been slain by Satyaki while the former was sitting in Praya, Somadatta, filled with rage, said unto Satyaki these words, 'Why, O Satwata, 'having abandoned those Kshatriya duties ordained by the high-souled gods, hast thou betaken thyself to the practices of robbers? Why would one that is observant of Kshatriya duties and possessed of wisdom, strike in battle a person that is turning away from the fight, or one that has become helpless, or one that has laid aside his weapons, or one that beggeth for quarters? Two persons, indeed, among the Vrishnis are reputed to be the foremost of great car-warriors, viz., Pradyumna of mighty energy and thou also, O Satyaki! Why then didst thou behave so cruelly and sinfully towards one that had sat on Praya and that had his arms cut off by Partha? 1 Take now in battle the consequence of that act of thine, O thou of wicked behaviour! I shall today, O wretch, putting forth my prowess, cut off thy. head with a winged arrow. I swear, O Satwata, by my two sons, by what is dear to me, and by all my meritorious acts, that, if before this night passes away, I do not slay thee, that art so proud of thy heroism, with thy sons and younger brothers, provided Jishnu, the son of Pritha, does not protect thee, then let me sink into terrible hell, O wretch of Vrishni's race!' Having said these words, the mighty Somadatta, filled with rage, blew his conch loudly and uttered a leonine roar. Then Satyaki, of eyes like lotus-petals and teeth like those of a lion, possessed of great strength, and filled with rage, said these words unto Somadatta, 'O thou of Kuru's race, whether battling with thee or with others, I do not in my heart ever experience the slightest fear. If, protected by all the troops, thou fightest with me, I would not, even then experience on thy account, any pain, O thou of Kuru's race! I am ever observant of Kshatriya practices. Thou canst not, therefore, frighten me with only words smacking of battle or with speeches that insult the good. If, O king, thou wishest to fight with me today, be cruel and strike me with keen shafts and I will also strike thee.
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[paragraph continues] Thy son, the mighty car-warrior Bhurisravas, O king, had been slain. Sala also, and Vrishasena, have been crushed by me. Thee also today I shall slay, with thy soils and kinsmen. Stay with resolution in battle, for thou, O Katirava, art endued with great strength. Thou art already slain in consequence of the energy of that drum-bannered king Yudhishthira in whom are always charity, and self-restraint, and purity of heart, compassion, and modesty, and intelligence, and forgiveness, and all else that is indestructible. Thou shalt meet with destruction along with Karna and Suvala's son. I swear by Krishna's feet and by all my good acts that, filled with rage, I shall, with my shafts, slay thee with thy sons in battle. If thou fliest away from battle, then mayst thou have safety.' Having thus addressed each other, with eyes red in wrath, those foremost of men began to shoot their shafts at each other. Then with a thousand cars and ten thousand horses, Duryodhana took his station, encompassing Somadatta, Sakuni also, filled with rage, and armed with every weapon and surrounded by his sons and grandsons as also by his brothers, that were equal to Indra himself in prowess (did the same). Thy brother-in-law, O king, young in years and of body hard as the thunder-bolt and possessed of wisdom, had a hundred thousand horses of the foremost valour with him. With these he encompassed the mighty bowman Somadatta. Protected by those mighty warriors, Somadatta covered Satyaki (with clouds of shafts). Beholding Satyaki thus covered with clouds of straight shafts, Dhrishtadyumna proceeded towards him in rage and accompanied by a mighty force. Then, O king, the sound that arose there of those two large hosts striking each other, resembled that of many oceans lashed into fury by frightful hurricanes. Then Somadatta pierced Satyaki, with nine arrows. Satyaki, in return, struck that foremost of Kuru warriors with nine arrows. Deeply pierced in that battle by the mighty and firm bowman (Satyaki), Somadatta sat down on the terrace of his car and lost his senses in a swoon, Beholding him deprived of his senses, his driver, with great speed, bore away from the battle that great car-warrior, viz., the heroic Somadatta. Seeing that Somadatta, afflicted with Yuyudhana's shafts, had lost his senses Drona rushed with speed, desiring to slay the Yadu hero. Beholding the Preceptor advance, many Pandava warriors headed by Yudhishthira surrounded that illustrious perpetuator of Yadu's race from desire of rescuing him. Then commenced a battle between Drona and the Pandavas, resembling that between Vali and the celestials for acquiring sovereignty oft the three worlds. Then Bharadwaja's son of great energy shrouded the Pandava host with clouds of arrows and pierced Yudhishthira also. And Drona pierced Satyaki with ten arrows, and the son of Prishata with twenty. And he pierced Bhimasena with nine arrows and Nakula with five, and Sahadeva with eight, and Sikhandin with a hundred. And the mighty-armed hero pierced each of the (five) sons of Draupadi with five arrows. And he pierced Virata with eight arrows and Drupada with ten. And he pierced Yudhamanyu with three arrows and Uttamaujas with six in that encounter. And piercing many other combatants,
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he rushed towards Yudhishthira. The troops of Pandu's son, slaughtered by Drona, ran away in all directions, from fear, O king, with loud wails. Beholding that host slaughtered by Drona. Phalguna, the son of Pritha, with wrath excited a little, quickly proceeded towards the preceptor. Beholding then that Drona was also proceeding towards Arjuna in that battle, that host of Yudhishthira, O king, once more rallied. Then once more occurred a battle between Drona and the Pandavas. Drona, surrounded, O king, on all sides, by thy sons, began to consume the Pandava host, like fire consuming a heap of cotton. Beholding him radiant like the sun and endued with the splendour of a blazing fire, and fiercely and continually, O king, emitting his ray-like arrows, with bow incessantly drawn to a circle and scorching everything around like the sun himself, and consuming his foes, there was none in that army that could check him. The shafts of Drona cutting off the head of all those that ventured to approach him in the face, penetrated into the earth. Thus slaughtered by that illustrious warrior, the Pandava host, once more fled away in fear in the very sight of Arjuna. Beholding that force, O Bharata, thus routed on that night by Drona, Jishnu asked Govinda to proceed towards Drona's car. Then he of Dasarha's race urged those steeds, white as silver or milk or the Kunda flower, or the moon, towards the car of Drona. Bhimasena also, beholding Phalguna proceed towards Drona, commanded his own charioteer, saying, 'Bear me towards Drona's division.' Hearing those words of Bhima, his driver Visoka urged his steeds, following in the wake, O chief of the Bharatas, of Jishnu, of sure aim. Beholding the two brothers resolutely proceeding towards Drona's division, the mighty car-warriors among the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, the Matsyas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Kosalas, and the Kaikeyas, O king, all followed them. Then, O monarch, took place a terrible battle that made the hair stand on end. With two mighty throngs of cars, Vibhatsu and Vrikodara attacked thy host; the former on the right and the latter in the front. Seeing those tigers among men, viz., Bhimasena and Dhananjaya (thus engaged), Dhrishtadyumna, O monarch, and Satyaki of great strength, rushed behind. Then, O king, an uproar arose there in consequence of the two hosts striking each other, that resembled the noise made by many seas lashed into fury by a tempest. Beholding Satyaki in battle, Aswatthaman, filled with rage at the slaughter of Somadatta's son, rushed furiously against that Satwata hero at the van of battle. Seeing him rush in that battle against the car of Sini's grandson, Bhimasena's son, the gigantic Rakshasa, Ghatotkacha, endued with great strength, rushed at him, riding on a huge and terrible car made of black iron covered with bear-skins. Both the height and the width of that large car measured thirty nalwas. 1 Equipped with machines set in proper places it was; its rattle resembled that of a mighty mass of clouds. No steeds or elephants were yoked unto it, but, instead, beings that looked like elephants. 2 On its tall standard
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perched a prince of vultures with outstretched wings and feet, with eyes wide-expanded, and shrieking awfully. And it was equipped with red flags and decked with the entrails of various animals. And that huge vehicle was furnished with eight wheels. Riding on it, Ghatotkacha was surrounded by a full Akshauhini of fierce-looking Rakshasas armed with lances and heavy clubs and rocks and trees. Seeing him advance with uplifted bow, resembling the mace-armed Destroyer himself in the hour of universal dissolution, the hostile kings were struck with fear. At sight of that prince of Rakshasas, viz., Ghatotkacha, looking like a mountain summit of terrible aspect, frightful, possessed of terrible teeth and fierce face, with arrow-like ears and high cheek-bones, with stiff hair rising upwards, awful eyes, sunken belly, blazing mouth, wide as a chasm, and diadem on his head, capable of striking every creature with fear, possessing jaws wide-open like those of the Destroyer, endued with great splendour and capable of agitating all foes, advancing towards them, thy son's host, afflicted with fear, became highly agitated like the current of the Ganga agitated into fierce eddies by (the action of) the wind. Terrified by the leonine roar uttered by Ghatotkacha, elephants began to eject urine and the kings began to tremble. Then, thrown by the Rakshasas who had become more powerful in consequence of the night, there began to fall on the field of battle a thick shower of stones. And a ceaseless shower of iron wheels and Bhundis and darts and lances and spears and Sataghnis and axes also fell there. Beholding that fierce and awful battle, the kings, thy sons, and Karna, also exceedingly pained, fled away. Only the proud son of Drona, ever boastful of his might in arms, stood fearlessly. And he soon dispelled that illusion that had been created by Ghatotkacha. Upon the destruction of his illusion, Ghatotkacha in rage sped fierce shafts (Aswatthaman). These pierced the son of Drona, like angry snakes speedily piercing through an ant-hill. Those arrows, having pierced through the body of Aswatthaman, dyed with blood and quickly entered the earth like snakes into an ant-hill. The light-handed Aswatthaman, however, of great prowess, filled with wrath, pierced Ghatotkacha with ten arrows. Ghatotkacha, deeply pierced in his vital parts by Drona's son, and feeling great pain, took up a wheel having a thousand spokes. Its edge was sharp as a razor, and it was resplendent as the rising sun. And it was decked with diverse gems and diamonds. Desirous of slaying him, the son of Bhimasena hurled that wheel at Aswatthaman. And as that wheel coursed swiftly towards Drona's son, the latter cut it into fragments by means of his shafts. Baffled, it fell down on the earth, like the hope cherished by an unfortunate man. Beholding his wheel baffled, Ghatotkacha quickly covered the son of Drona with his shafts, like Rahu swallowing the sun. Meanwhile, Ghatotkacha's son endued with great splendour and looking like a mass of antimony, checked the advancing son of Drona like the king of mountain (Meru) checking the (course of the) wind. Afflicted with showers of shafts by Bhimasena's grandson, viz., the brave Anjanaparvan, Aswatthaman looked like the mountain Meru
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bearing a torrent of rain from a mighty cloud. Then Aswatthaman, equal unto Rudra or Upendra in prowess, became filled with rage. With one shaft he cut off the standard of Anjanaparvan. With two others, his two drivers, and with three others, his Trivenuka. And he cut off the Rakshasa's bow with one arrow, and his four steeds with four other arrows, Made carless, Anjanaparvan took up a scimitar. With another keen shaft, Aswatthaman cut off in two fragments that scimitar, decked with golden stars, in the Rakshasa's hand. The grandson of Hidimva then, O king, whirling a gold adorned mace, quickly hurled it at Aswatthaman. Drona's son, however, striking it with his shafts, caused it to fall down on the earth. Soaring up then into the sky, Anjanaparvan began to roar like a cloud. And from the welkin he showered trees upon his foe. Like the sun piercing a mass of clouds with his rays, Aswatthaman then began to pierce with his shafts the son of Ghatotkacha, that receptacle of illusions, in the welkin. Gifted with great energy, the Rakshasa once more came down on his gold decked car. He then looked like a high and beautiful hill of antimony on the surface of the earth. The son of Drona then slew that son of Bhima's son, viz., Anjanaparvan, cased in an iron coat of mail, even as Mahadeva had slain in days of yore the Asura Andhaka. Beholding his mighty son slain by Aswatthaman, Ghatotkacha, coming unto the son of Drona, fearlessly addressed the heroic son of Saradwata's daughter, who was then consuming the Pandava troops like a raging forest-conflagration, in these words:
"Ghatotkacha said, 'Wait, Wait, O son of Drona! Thou shalt not escape me with life! I shall slay thee today like Agni's son slaying Krauncha.'
"Aswatthaman said, 'Go, O son, and fight with others, O thou that hast the prowess of a celestial. It is not proper, O son of Hidimva, that sire should battle with son. 1 I do not cherish any grudge against thee, O son of Hidimva! When, however, one's ire is excited, one may kill one's own self.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Having heard these words, Ghatotkacha, filled with grief on account of the fall of his son, and with eyes red as copper in wrath, approached Aswatthaman and said, 'Am I a dastard in battle, O son of Drona, like a vulgar person, that thou dost frighten me thus with words? Thy words are improper. Verily, I have been begotten by Bhima in the celebrated race of the Kurus. I am a son of the Pandavas, those heroes that never retreat from battle. I am the king of the Rakshasas, equal to the Ten-necked (Ravana) in might. Wait, wait, O son of Drona! Thou shalt not escape me with life. I shall today, on the field of battle, dispel thy desire for fight.' Having thus replied unto Aswatthaman, that mighty Rakshasa with eyes red as copper in rage, rushed furiously against the son of Drona, like a lion against a prince of elephants. And Ghatotkacha began to shower upon that bull among car-warriors, viz., Drona's
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son, shafts of the measure of Aksha of battle car, like a cloud pouring torrents of rain. Drona's son however, with his own shafts, checked that arrowy shower before it could reach him. At that time, it seemed that another encounter was taking place in the welkin between shafts (as the combatants). The welkin, then, during the night, shone resplendent with the sparks caused by the clash of those weapons, as if with (myriads of) flies. Observing that his illusion was dispelled by Drona's son, proud of his prowess in battle, Ghatotkacha, once more making himself invisible, created an illusion. He assumed the form of a high mountain, crowded with cliffs and trees, and possessing fountains from which ceaselessly flowed spears and lances and swords and heavy clubs. Beholding that mountain-like mass of antimony, with countless weapons falling from it, Drona's son was not at all moved. The latter invoked into existence the Vajra weapon. 1 The prince of mountains, then, struck with that weapon, was quickly destroyed. Then the Rakshasa, becoming a mass of blue clouds in the firmament, decked with rainbow, began furiously to shower upon Drona's son in that battle a downpour of stones and rocks. Then that foremost of all persons acquainted with weapons, viz., Aswatthaman, aiming the Vayavya weapon, destroyed that blue cloud which had risen on the firmament. Drona's son, that foremost of men, covering then all the points of the compass with his shafts, slew a hundred thousand car-warriors. He then beheld Ghatotkacha fearlessly coming towards him with bent bow and accompanied by a large number of Rakshasas that resembled lions or infuriated elephants of great strength, some riding on elephants, some on cars, and some on steeds. The son of Hidimva was accompanied by those fierce followers of his, with frightful faces and heads and necks. Those Rakshasas consisted of both Paulastyas and Yatudhanas. 2 Their prowess was equal to that of Indra himself. They were armed with diverse kinds of weapons and were cased in diverse kinds of armour. Of terrible visage, they swelled with rage. Ghatotkacha came to battle, accompanied by those Rakshasas, who were, indeed, incapable of being easily defeated in battle. Beholding them, thy son, Duryodhana, became exceedingly cheerless. Unto him the son of Drona said, 'Wait, O Duryodhana! Thou needst have no fear. Stand aside with these thy heroic brothers and these lords of earth, endued with the prowess of Indra. I will slay thy foes. Defeat thou shalt not have. I tell thee truly. Meanwhile, assure thy troops.'
"Duryodhana said, 'I do not regard what thou sayest to be at all wonderful, since thy heart is large. O son of Gautama's daughter, thy regard for us is great.'
"Sanjaya continued, Having said those words unto Aswatthaman, he then addressed the son of Suvala, saying, 'Dhananjaya is engaged in battle surrounded by a hundred thousand car-warriors of great valour. Go
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thou against him, with sixty thousand cars. Karna also, and Vrishasena and Kripa, and Nila, and the Northerners, and Kritavarman, and the sons of Purumitra, and Duhsasana, and Nikumbha, and Kundabhedin, and Puranjaya and Dridharatha, and Hemakampana, and Salya, and Aruni, and Indrasena, and Sanjaya, and Vijaya, and Jaya, and Purakrathin, and Jayavarman, and Sudarsana, these will follow thee, with sixty thousand foot-soldiers. O uncle, slay Bhima and the twins and king Yudhishthira the Just, like the chief of the celestials slaying the Asuras. My hope of victory is in thee. Already pierced by Drona's son with shafts, all their limbs have been exceedingly mangled. Slay the sons of Kunti, O uncle, like Kartikeya slaying the Asuras.' Thus addressed by thy son, Sakuni proceeded quickly to destroy the Pandavas, filling thy son's heart, O king, with delight.
"Meanwhile, O king, the battle that took place between the Rakshasas and the son of Drona on that night was exceedingly terrible like that between Sakra and Prahlada (in days of old). Ghatotkacha, filled with rage, struck Drona's son in the chest with ten powerful shafts fierce as poison or fire. Deeply pierced with those shafts by the son of Bhimasena, Aswatthaman trembled on the terrace of his car like a tall tree shaken by the tempest. Once more Ghatotkacha, with a broad-headed shaft, quickly cut off the bright bow that was in the hands of Drona's son. The latter, then, taking up another bow capable of bearing of great strain, showered keen arrows (upon his foe) like a cloud pouring torrents of rain. Then the son of Saradwat's daughter, O Bharata, sped many sky-ranging and foe-slaying arrows, winged with gold, towards the sky-ranging Rakshasa. Afflicted with those shafts of Aswatthaman, that vast force of broad-chested Rakshasas looked like a herd of infuriated elephants afflicted by lions. Consuming with his arrows those Rakshasas with their steeds, drivers, and elephants, he blazed forth like the adorable Agni while consuming creatures at the end of the Yuga. Having burnt with his shafts a full Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops, Aswatthaman shone resplendent like the divine Maheswara in heaven after the burning of the triple city. 1 That foremost of victors, viz., Drona's son, having burnt thy foes, shone brilliantly like the blazing Yuga-fire after having burnt all creatures at the end of the Yuga. Then Ghatotkacha, filled with rage, urged that vast Rakshasa force on, saying, 'Slay the son of Drona!' That command of Ghatotkacha was obeyed by those terrible Rakshasa of bright teeth, large faces, frightful aspects, gaping mouths, long tongues and eyes blazing with wrath. Causing the earth to be filled with their loud leonine roars, and armed with diverse kinds of weapons, they rushed against the son of Drona for slaying him. Endued with fierce prowess, those Rakshasas, with eyes red in wrath, fearlessly hurled at Aswatthaman's head hundreds and thousands of darts, and Sataghnis, and spiked maces, and Asanis and long lances, and axes, and scimitars, and maces, and short arrows and heavy
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clubs, and battle-axes, and spears, and swords, and lances, and polished Kampanas and Kunapas, and Hulas, and rockets, and stones, and vessels of (hot) treacle, and thunas made of black iron, and mallets, all of terrible forms and capable of destroying foes. Beholding that thick shower of weapons falling upon the head of Drona's son, thy warriors were much pained. The son of Drona, however, fearlessly destroyed with his whetted shafts endued with the force of the thunder that frightful shower of weapons looking like a risen cloud. Then the high-souled son of Drona, with other weapons, equipped with golden wings and inspired with mantras speedily slew many Rakshasas. Afflicted with those shafts, that vast force of broad-chested Rakshasas looked like a herd of infuriated elephants afflicted by lions. Then those mighty Rakshasas, thus afflicted Drona's son, became filled with fury and rushed against the former. The prowess that the son of Drona then showed was exceedingly wonderful, for the feat he achieved is incapable of being achieved by any other being among living creatures, since, alone and unsupported, that warrior acquainted with high and mighty weapons burnt that Rakshasa force with his blazing shafts in the very sight of that prince of Rakshasas. Whilst consuming that Rakshasa force, Drona's son in that battle shone resplendent like the Samvartaka fire, while burning all creatures at the end of the Yuga. Indeed, amongst those thousands of kings and those Pandavas, O Bharata, there was none, except that mighty prince of the Rakshasa, viz., the heroic Ghatotkacha, capable of even looking at the son of Drona in that battle, who was thus employed in consuming their ranks with his shafts, resembling snakes of virulent poison. The Rakshasa, O chief of the Bharatas, with eyes rolling in wrath, striking his palms, and biting his (nether) lip, addressed his own driver, saying, 'Bear me towards the son of Drona.' Riding on that formidable car equipped with triumphal banners, that slayer of foes once more proceeded against Drona's son, desirous of a single combat with the latter. Endued with terrible prowess, the Rakshasa, uttering a loud leonine roar, hurled in that encounter at Drona's son, having whirled it (previously), a terrible Asani of celestial workmanship, and equipped with eight bells. 1 Drona's son, however, jumping down from his car, having left his bow thereon, seized it and hurled it back at Ghatotkacha himself. Ghatotkacha, meanwhile, had quickly alighted from his car. That formidable Asani, of dazzling effulgence, having reduced to ashes the Rakshasa's vehicle with steeds and drivers and standard, entered the earth, having pierced her through. Beholding that feat of Drona's son, viz., his having jumped down and seized that terrible Asani of celestial workmanship, all creatures applauded it. Proceeding then, O king, to Dhrishtadyumna's car, Bhimasena's son, taking up a terrible bow that resembled the large bow of Indra himself, once more shot many keen shafts at the illustrious son of Drona. Dhrishtadyumna also fearlessly shot at Aswatthaman's chest many foremost
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of shafts, equipped with wings of gold and resembling snakes of virulent poison. Then Drona's son shot arrows and long shafts by thousands. These two heroes, however, viz., Ghatotkacha and Dhrishtadyumna, struck and baffled Aswatthaman's shafts by means of their own shafts whose touch resembled that of fire. The battle then that took place between those two lions among men (Ghatotkacha on the one side) and the son of Drona (on the other) became fierce in the extreme and gladdened all the combatants, O bull of Bharata's race! Then, accompanied by a thousand cars, three hundred elephants, and six thousand horses, Bhimasena arrived at that spot. The virtuous son of Drona, however, endued as he was with prowess that knew no fatigue, continued to fight with the heroic son of Bhima and with Dhrishtadyumna supported by his followers. 1 The prowess then that Drona's son displayed on that occasion was exceedingly wonderful, in as much as, O Bharata, none else amongst all creatures is capable of accomplishing such feats. Within the twinkling of an eye, he destroyed, by means of his sharp shafts, a full Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops with steeds, drivers, cars, and elephants, in the very sight of Bhimasena and Hidimva's son and Prishata's son and the twins and Dharma's son and Vijaya and Achyuta. 2 Deeply struck with the straight-going shafts (of Aswatthaman), elephants fell down on elephants on the earth like crestless mountains. Strewn all around with the lopped off trunks of elephants, that moved still in convulsions, the earth looked as if overspread with moving snakes. And the earth looked resplendent with golden staves and royal umbrellas, like the firmament at the end of the Yuga, bespangled with planets and stars and many moons and suns. And Drona's son caused a bloody river of impetuous current to flow there. The blood of elephants and steeds and combatants formed its water; tall standards its frogs; drums formed its large tortoises; umbrellas, its rows of swans, yak-tails in profusion, Kankas and vultures, its crocodiles; weapons its fishes; large elephants the stones and rocks on its banks; elephants and steeds, its sharks; cars, its unstable and broad banks; and banners, its beautiful rows of trees. Having shafts for its (smaller) fishes, that frightful river had lances and darts and swords for snakes; marrow and flesh for its mire, and trunkless bodies floating on it for its rafts. And it was choked with the hair (of men and animals) for its moss. And it inspired the timid with cheerlessness and fear. And bloody waves were seen on its surface. Rendered frightful by means of the foot-soldiers with which it teemed, Yama's abode, was the ocean towards which it flowed. Having slain the Rakshasas, Drona's son then began to afflict the son of Hidimva with arrows. Filled once more with rage, the puissant son of Drona having pierced those mighty car-warriors, viz., the Parthas including Vrikodara and the sons of Prishata, slew Suratha,
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one of the sons of Drupada. Then he slew in that battle Suratha's younger brother named Satrunjaya. And then he slew Valanika and Jayanika, and Jaya. And once more, with a keen shaft, Drona's son' uttering a leonine roar, slew Prishdhra, and then proud Chandrasena. And then he slew with ten arrows the ten sons of Kuntibhoja. Then, O king, Drona's son despatched Srutayus to the abode of Yama. With three other keen shafts, equipped with beautiful wings and red eyes, he despatched the mighty Satrunjaya to the region of Sakra. 1 Then Aswatthaman, filled with rage, fixed on his bowstring a fierce and straight arrow. Drawing the string to his ear, he quickly shot that fierce and excellent arrow resembling the rod of Death himself, aiming at Ghatotkacha. That mighty shaft, equipped with beautiful wings, passing through the chest of that Rakshasa, O lord of the earth, entered the earth, piercing through it, Ghatotkacha thereupon fell down on the car. Beholding him fallen down and believing him to be dead, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna took him away from the presence of Drona's son and caused him to be placed upon another car. Thus, O king, that car-force of Yudhishthira turned away from the fight. The heroic son of Drona having vanquished his foes, uttered a loud roar. And he was worshipped by all men and all thy sons, O sire.' 2 The earth, strewn all around with the fallen bodies of dead Rakshasas, pierced and mangled with hundreds of arrows, became fierce looking and impassable, as if strewn with mountain summits. The Siddhas and Gandharvas and Pisachas, and Nagas, and birds, and Pitris and ravens and large numbers of cannibals and ghosts, and Apsaras and celestials, all combined in highly applauding the son of Drona.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 156

 

 

  1 [arj]
      katham asmaddhitārthaṃ te kaiś ca yogair janārdana
      jarāsaṃdhaprabhṛtayo ghātitāḥ pṛthivīṣvarāḥ
  2 [vāsu]
      jarā saṃghaś cedirājo naiṣādiś ca mahābalaḥ
      yadi syur na hatāḥ pūrvam idānīṃ syur bhayaṃkarāḥ
  3 suyodhanas tān apaśyaṃ kṛṣuyād rathasattamān
      te 'smābhir nityasaṃduṣṭāḥ saṃśrayeyuś ca kauravān
  4 te hi vīrā mahātmānaḥ kṛtāstrā dṛḍhayodhinaḥ
      dhārtarāṣṭrīṃ camūṃ kṛtsnāṃ rakṣeyur amarā iva
  5 sūtaputro jarāsaṃdhaś cedirājo niṣādajaḥ
      suyodhanaṃ samāśritya pateran pṛthivīm imām
  6 yogair api hatā yais te tān me śṛṇu dhanaṃjaya
      ajayyā hi vinā yogair mṛdhe te daivatair api
  7 ekaiko hi pṛthak teṣāṃ samastāṃ suravāhinīm
      yodhayet samare pārtha lokapālābhirakṣitām
  8 jarāsaṃdho hi ruṣito rauhiṇeya pradharṣitaḥ
      asmadvadhārthaṃ cikṣepa gadāṃ vai lohitā mukhīm
  9 sīmantam iva kurvāṇāṃ nabhasaḥ pāvakaprabhām
      vyadṛśyatāpatantī sā śakra muktā yathāśaniḥ
  10 tām āpatantīṃ dṛṣṭvaiva gadāṃ rohiṇinandanaḥ
     pratighātārtham astraṃ vai sthūṇākarṇam avāsṛjat
 11 astravegapratihatā sā gadā prāpatad bhuvi
     dārayantī dharāṃ devīṃ kampayantīva parvatān
 12 tatra sma rākṣasī ghorā jarā nāmāśu vikramā
     saṃdhayām āsa taṃ jātaṃ jarālsaṃdham ariṃdamam
 13 dvābhyāṃ jāto hi mātṛbhyām ardhadehaḥ pṛthak pṛthak
     tayā sa saṃdhito yasmāj jarāsaṃdhas tataḥ smṛtaḥ
 14 sā tu bhūmigatā pārtha hatā sa sutabāndhavā
     gadayā tena cāstreṇa sthūṇākarṇena rākṣasī
 15 vinā bhūtaḥ sagadayā jarāsaṃdho mahāmṛdhe
     nihato bhīmasenena paśyatas te dhanaṃjaya
 16 yadi hi syād gadāpāṇir jarāsaṃdhaḥ pratāpavān
     sendrā devā na taṃ hantuṃ raṇe śaktā narottama
 17 tvaddhitārthaṃ hi naiṣādir aṅguṣṭhena viyojitaḥ
     droṇenācāryakaṃ kṛtvā chadmanā satyavikramaḥ
 18 sa tu baddhāṅguli trāṇo naiṣādir dṛḍhavikramaḥ
     asyann eko vanacaro babhau rāma ivāparaḥ
 19 ekalabyaṃ hi sāṅguṣṭham aśaktā devadānavāḥ
     sa rākṣasoragāḥ pārtha vijetuṃ yudhi karhi cit
 20 kim u mānuṣamātreṇa śakyaḥ syāt prativīkṣitum
     dṛḍhamuṣṭiḥ kṛtī nityam asyamāno divāniśam
 21 tvaddhitārthaṃ tu sa mayā hataḥ saṃgrāmamūdhani
     cedirājaś ca vikrāntaḥ pratyakṣaṃ nihatas tava
 22 sa cāpy aśakyaḥ saṃgrāme jetuṃ sarvaiḥ surāsuraiḥ
     vadhārthaṃ tasya jāto 'ham anyeṣāṃ ca suradviṣām
 23 tvatsahāyo naravyāghra lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā
     hiḍimbabakakirmīrā bhīmasenena pātitāḥ
     rāvaṇena samaprāṇā brahma yajñavināśanāḥ
 24 hatas tathaiva māyāvī haiḍimbenāpy alāyudhaḥ
     haiḍimbaś cāpy upāyena śaktyā karṇena ghātitaḥ
 25 yadi hy enaṃ nāhaniṣyat karṇaḥ śaktyā mahāmṛdhe
     mayā vadhyo 'bhaviṣyat sa bhaimasenir ghaṭotkacaḥ
 26 mayā na nihataḥ pūrvam eṣa yuṣpat priyepsayā
     eṣa hi brāhmaṇa dveṣī yajñadveṣī ca rākṣasaḥ
 27 dharmasya loptā pāpātmā tasmād eṣa nipātitaḥ
     vyaṃsitā cāpy upāyena śakradattā mayānagha
 28 ye hi dharmasya loptāro vadhyās te mama pāṇḍava
     dharmasaṃsthāpanārthaṃ hi pratijñaiṣā mamāvyayā
 29 brahmasatyaṃ damaḥ śaucaṃ dharmo hrīḥ śrīr dhṛtiḥ kṣamā
     yatra tatra rame nityam ahaṃ satyena te śape
 30 na viṣādas tvayā kāryaḥ karma vaikartanaṃ prati
     upadekṣyāmy upāyaṃ te yena taṃ prasahiṣyasi
 31 suyodhanaṃ cāpi raṇe haniṣyati vṛkodaraḥ
     tasya cāpi vadhopāyaṃ vakṣyāmi tava pāṇḍavaḥ
 32 vardhate tumulas tv eṣa śabdaḥ paracamūṃ prati
     vidravanti ca sainyāni tvadīyāni diśo daśa
 33 labdhalakṣyā hi kauravyā vidhamanti camūṃ tava
     dahaty eṣa ca vaḥ sainyaṃ droṇaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ

 

SECTION CLVI

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding the sons of Drupada, as also those of Kuntibhoja, and Rakshasas too in thousands, slain by the son of Drona, Yudhishthira and Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, and Yuyudhana, uniting together, set their hearts firmly on battle. Then Somadatta, once more filled with rage upon beholding Satyaki in that battle, covered the latter, O Bharata, with a dense shower of arrows. Then took place a battle, fierce and exceedingly wonderful to behold, between thy warriors and those of the foe, both parties being solicitous of victory. Fighting on behalf of Satyaki, Bhima pierced the Katirava. hero with ten shafts. Somadatta, however, in return, pierced that hero with a hundred arrows. Then Satwata, filled with rage, pierced with ten keen shafts,
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endued with the force of the thunder, that old warrior afflicted with grief on account of the death of his son, and who was, besides, endued with every estimable virtue like Yayati, the son of Nahusha. Having pierced him with great force, he struck him once more with seven arrows. Then, fighting for the sake of Satyaki, Bhimasena hurled at the head of Somadatta a new, hard and terrible Parigha. Satyaki also filled with rage, shot at Somadatta's chest, in that battle, an excellent shaft, keen and equipped with goodly wings and resembling fire itself in splendour. The Parigha and the shaft, both terrible, fell simultaneously upon the body of the heroic Somadatta. That mighty car-warrior, thereupon, fell down. Beholding his son (Somadatta) thus fallen into a swoon, Valhika rushed at Satyaki scattering showers of arrows like a cloud in season. Then Bhima, for Satyaki's sake, afflicted the illustrious Valhika with nine shafts and pierced him therewith at the van of battle. Then the mighty-armed son of Pratipa, Valhika, filled with great fury, hurled a dart at the chest of Bhima, like Purandara himself hurling the thunder. Struck therewith, Bhima trembled (on his car) and swooned away. The mighty warrior then, recovering his senses, hurled a mace at his opponent. Hurled by the son of Pandu, that mace snatched away the head of Valhika, who, thereupon, fell down lifeless on the earth, like a tree struck down by lightning. Upon the slaughter of that bull among men, viz., the heroic Valhika, ten of thy sons, each of whom was equal unto Rama, the son of Dasaratha, in prowess, began to afflict Bhima. They were Nagadatta, and Dridharatha, and Viravahu, and Ayobhuja, and Dridha, and Suhasta, and Viragas and Pramatha, and Ugrayayin. Beholding them Bhimasena became filled with rage. He then took up a number of arrows, each capable of bearing a great strain. Aiming at each of them one after another, he sped those arrows at them, striking each in his vital part. Pierced therewith, they fell down from their cars, deprived of energy and life, like tall trees from mountain cliffs broken by a tempest. Having with those ten shafts slain those ten sons of thine, Bhima shrouded the favourite son of Karna with showers of arrows. Then the celebrated Vrikaratha, brother of Karna, pierced Bhima with many arrows. The mighty Pandava, however, soon disposed of him effectually. Slaying next, O Bharata, seven car-warriors among thy brother-in-law, with his shafts, the heroic Bhima pressed Satachandra down into the earth. Unable to bear the slaughter of the mighty car-warrior Satachandra, Sakuni's brothers, viz., the heroic Gavaksha and Sarabha and Bibhu, and Subhaga, and Bhanudatta, those five mighty car-warriors, rushing towards Bhimasena, attacked him with their keen shafts. Thus attacked with those shafts, like a mountain with torrents of rain.' 1 Bhima slew those five mighty kings with five shafts of his. Beholding those heroes slain many great kings began to waver.
"Then Yudhishthira, filled with wrath, began to destroy thy ranks, in the sight, O sinless one, of the Pot-born (Drona) and of thy sons. Indeed,
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with his shafts, Yudhishthira began to despatch to the regions of Yama the Amvashthas, the Malavas, the brave Trigartas and the Sivis. And cutting off the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Valhikas, and the Vasatis, he caused the earth to be miry with flesh and blood. And he also despatched within a trice, by means of many shafts, to Yama's domains, the Yaudheyas, the Malavas, and large numbers, O king, of the Madrakas. Then a loud uproar arose in the vicinity of Yudhishthira's car, amid which was heard, 'Slay', Seize', 'Capture', Pierce', Cut into pieces'! Beholding him thus slaying and routing thy troops, Drona, urged on by thy son, shrouded Yudhishthira with showers of shafts. Drona filled with great wrath, struck Yudhishthira with the Vayavya weapon. The son of Pandu, however, baffled that celestial weapon with a similar weapon of his own. Seeing his weapon baffled, the son of Bharadwaja, filled with great wrath and desirous of slaying the son of Pandu, sped at Yudhishthira diverse celestial weapons such as the Varuna, the Yamya, the Agneya, the Tvashtra, and the Savitra. The mighty-armed Pandava, however, conversant with morality, fearlessly baffled all those weapons of the Pot-born that were hurled or in course of being hurled at him. Then the Pot-born, striving to accomplish his vow and desirous also for thy son's good, to slay the son of Dharma, invoked into existence, O Bharata, the Aindra and the Prajapatya weapons. Then that foremost one of Kuru's race, Yudhishthira, of the gait of the elephant or the lion, of broad chest and large and red eyes, and endued with energy scarcely inferior (to that of Drona) invoked into existence the Mahendra weapon. With that he baffled the weapon of Drona. Seeing all his weapons baffled, Drona, filled with wrath and desirous of accomplishing the destruction of Yudhishthira, invoked into existence the Brahma weapon. Enveloped as we then were by a thick gloom, we could not observe what passed. All creatures also, O monarch, were filled with great fright. Beholding the Brahma weapon uplifted, Kunti's son, Yudhishthira, O king, baffled it with a Brahma weapon of his own. Then, all the foremost warriors applauded those two bulls among men, viz., Drona and Yudhishthira, those great bowmen acquainted with every mode of warfare. Abandoning Yudhishthira, Drona then, with eyes red as copper in rage, began to consume the division of Drupada with the Vayavya weapon. Oppressed by Drona, the Panchalas fled away from fear, in the very sight of Bhimasena and of the illustrious Partha. Then the diadem-decked (Arjuna) and Bhimasena, checking that flight of their troops, suddenly encountered that hostile force with two large throngs of cars. Vibhatsu, attacking the right and Vrikodara the left, Bharadwaja's son was encountered, with two mighty showers of shafts. Then the Kaikeyas, the Srinjayas, and the Panchalas of great energy followed the two brothers, O king, accompanied by the Matsyas and the Satwatas. Then the Bharata host, slaughtered by the diadem-decked (Arjuna) and overcome with sleep and darkness, began to break. Drona, and thy son himself, endeavoured to rally them. The combatants, however, O king, were incapable of being then checked in their flight.'"

 

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