srimahabharat - Book 5 (Drona Parva) chapters 6 to 17

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
Chapter 6

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      senāpatyaṃ tu saṃprāpya bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ
      yuyutsur vyūhya sainyāni prāyāt tava sutaiḥ saha
  2 saindhavaś ca kaliṅgaś ca vikarṇaś ca tavātmajaḥ
      dakṣiṇaṃ parśvam asthāya samatiṣṭhanta daṃśitāḥ
  3 prapakṣaḥ śakunis teṣāṃ pravarair hayasādibhiḥ
      yayau gāndhārakaiḥ sārdhaṃ vimalaprāsayodhibhiḥ
  4 kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca citraseno viviṃśatiḥ
      duḥśāsana mukhā yattāḥ savyaṃ pārśvam apālayan
  5 teṣāṃ prapakṣāḥ kāmbojāḥ sudakṣiṇa puraḥsarāḥ
      yayur aśvair mahāvegaiḥ śakāś ca yavanaiḥ saha
  6 madrās trigartāḥ sāmbaṣṭhāḥ pratīcyocīdyavāsinaḥ
      śibayaḥ śūrasenāś ca śūdrāś ca maladaiḥ saha
  7 sauvīrāḥ kitavāḥ prācyā dākṣiṇātyāś ca sarvaśaḥ
      tavātmajaṃ puraskṛtya sūtaputrasya pṛṣṭhataḥ
  8 harṣayan sarvasainyāni baleṣu balam ādadhat
      yayau vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ pramukhe sarvadhanvinām
  9 tasya dīpto mahākāyaḥ svāny anīkāni harṣayan
      hastikakṣyā mahāketur babhau sūryasamadyutiḥ
  10 na bhīṣma vyasanaṃ kaś cid dṛṣṭvā karṇam amanyata
     viśokāś cābhavan sarve rājānaḥ kurubhiḥ saha
 11 hṛṣṭāś ca bahavo yodhās tatrājalpanta saṃgatāḥ
     na hi karṇaṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā yudhi sthāsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ
 12 karṇo hi samare śakto jetuṃ devān sa vāsavān
     kim u pāṇḍusutān yuddhe hīnavīryaparākramān
 13 bhīṣmeṇa tu raṇe pārthāḥ pālitā bāhuśālinā
     tāṃs tu karṇaḥ śarais tīkṣṇair nāśayiṣyaty asaṃśayam
 14 evaṃ bruvantas te 'nyonyaṃ hṛṣṭarūpā viśāṃ pate
     rādheyaṃ pūjayantaś ca praśaṃsantaś ca niryayuḥ
 15 asmākaṃ śakaṭavyūho droṇena vihito 'bhavat
     pareṣāṃ krauñca evāsīd vyūho rājan mahātmanām
     prīyamāṇena vihito dharmarājena bhārata
 16 vyūha pramukhatas teṣāṃ tasthatuḥ puruṣarṣabhau
     vānaradhvajam ucchritya viṣvaksenadhanaṃjayau
 17 kakudaṃ sarvasainyānāṃ lakṣma sarvadhanuṣmatām
     ādityapathagaḥ ketuḥ pārthasyāmita tejasaḥ
 18 dīpayām āsa tat sainyaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
     yathā prajvalitaḥ sūryo yugānte vai vasuṃdharām
 19 asyatām arjunaḥ śreṣṭho gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuṣāṃ varam
     vāsudevaś ca bhūtānāṃ cakrāṇāṃ ca sudarśanam
 20 catvāry etāni tejāṃsi vahañ śvetahayo rathaḥ
     pareṣām agratas tasthau kālacakram ivodyatam
 21 evam etau mahātmānau balasenāgragāv ubhau
     tāvakānāṃ mukhaṃ karṇaḥ pareṣāṃ ca dhanaṃjayaḥ
 22 tato jātābhisaṃrambhau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau
     avekṣetāṃ tadānyonyaṃ samare karṇa pāṇḍavau
 23 tataḥ prayāte sahasā bhādarvāje mahārathe
     antar nādena ghoreṇa vasudhāsamakampata
 24 tatas tumulam ākāśam āvṛṇot sa divākaram
     vātoddhūtaṃ rajas tīvraṃ kauśeyanikaropamam
 25 anabhre pravavarṣa dyaur māṃsāsthi rudhirāṇy uta
     gṛdhrāḥ śyenā baḍāḥ kaṅkā vāyasāś ca sahasraśaḥ
     upary upari senāṃ te tadā paryapatan nṛpaḥ
 26 gomāyavaś ca prākrośan bhayadān dāruṇān ravān
     akārṣur apasavyaṃ ca bahuśaḥ pṛtanāṃ tava
     cikhādiṣanto māṃsāni pipāsantaś ca śoṇitam
 27 apatad dīpyamānā ca sa nirghātā sa kampanā
     ujlā jvalantī saṃgrāme pucchenāvṛtya sarvaśaḥ
 28 pariveṣo mahāṃś cāpi sa vidyut stanayitnumān
     bhāskarasyābhavad rājan prayāte vāhinīpatau
 29 ete cānye ca bahavaḥ prādurāsan sudāruṇāḥ
     utpātā yudhi vīrāṇāṃ jīvitakṣayakārakāḥ
 30 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ parasparavadhaiṣiṇām
     kurupāṇḍavasainyānāṃ śabdenānādayaj jagat
 31 te tv anyonyaṃ susaṃrabdhāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kauravaiḥ saha
     pratyaghnan niśitair bāṇair jaya gṛddhāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
 32 sa pāṇḍavānāṃ mahatīṃ maheṣvāso mahādyutiḥ
     vegenābhyadravat senāṃ kirañ śaraśataiḥ śitaiḥ
 33 droṇam abhyudyataṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāḥ saha sṛñjayaiḥ
     pratyagṛhṇaṃs tadā rājañ śaravarṣaiḥ pṛthak pṛthak
 34 saṃkṣobhyamāṇā droṇena bhidyamānā mahācamūḥ
     vyaśīryata sapāñcālā vāteneva balāhakāḥ
 35 bahūnīha vikurvāṇo divyāny astrāṇi saṃyuge
     apīḍayat kṣaṇenaiva droṇaḥ pāṇḍava sṛñjayān
 36 te vadhyamānā droṇena vāsaveneva dānavāḥ
     pāñcālāḥ samakampanta dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ
 37 tato divyāstravic chūro yājñasenir mahārathaḥ
     abhinac charavarṣeṇa droṇānīkam anekadhā
 38 droṇasya śaravarṣais tu śaravarṣāṇi bhāgaśaḥ
     saṃnivārya tataḥ senāṃ kurūn apy avadhīd balī
 39 saṃhṛtya tu tato droṇaḥ samavasthāpya cāhave
     svam anīkaṃ mahābāhuḥ pārṣataṃ samupādravat
 40 sa bāṇavarṣaṃ sumahad asṛjat pārṣataṃ prati
     maghavān samabhikruddhaḥ sahasā dānaveṣv iva
 41 te kampyamānā droṇena bāṇaiḥ pāṇḍava sṛñjayāḥ
     punaḥ punar abhajyanta siṃhenevetare mṛgāḥ
 42 atha paryapatad droṇaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ balaṃ balī
     alātacakravad rājaṃs tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 43 khacara nagarakalpaṃ kalpitaṃ śāstradṛṣṭyā; calad anilapatākaṃ hrādinaṃ valgitāśvam
     sphaṭikavimalaketuṃ tāpanaṃ śātravāṇāṃ; rathavaram adhirūḍhaḥ saṃjahārāri senām

 

SECTION VI

"Sanjaya said, 'Hearing these words of Karna, king Duryodhana. then said this unto Drona who was staying in the midst of the troops.'
"Duryodhana said, 'For the superiority of the order of thy birth, for the nobility of thy parentage, for thy learning, years and intelligence, for also thy prowess, skill, invincibility, knowledge of worldly matters, policy, and self-conquest, by reason also of thy ascetic austerities and thy gratitude, superior as thou art as regards every virtue, among these kings there is none who can make so good a leader as thou. Protect thou, therefore, ourselves, like Vasava protecting the celestials. Having thee for our leader, we desire, O best of Brahmanas, to vanquish our foes. As Kapali amongst the Rudras, Pavaka among the Vasus, Kuvera among the Yakshas, Vasava among the Maruts, Vasishtha among Brahmanas,
p. 11
the Sun amongst luminous bodies, Yama among the Pitris, Varuna among aquatic creatures, as the Moon among the stars, and Usanas among the sons of Diti, so art thou the foremost of all leaders of forces. Be thou, therefore, our leader. O sinless one, let these ten and one Akshauhinis of troops be obedient to thy word of command. Disposing these troops in battle array, slay thou our foes, like Indra slaying the Danavas. Proceed thou art the head of us all, like Pavaka's son (Kartikeya) at the head of the celestial forces. We will follow thee to battle, like bulls following a bovine leader. A fierce and great bowman as thou art, beholding thee stretching the bow at our head. Arjuna will not strike. Without doubt, O tiger among men, if thou becomest our leader, I will vanquish Yudhishthira with all his followers and relatives in battle.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'After Duryodhana had uttered these words, the kings (in the Kaurava army) all cried victory to Drona. And they delighted thy son by uttering a loud leonine shout. And the troops, filled with joy, and with Duryodhana at their head, desirous of winning great renown, began to glorify that best of Brahmanas. Then, O king, Drona addressed Duryodhana fin those words.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 7

 

 1 [s]
      tathā droṇam abhighnantaṃ sa śvasūta rathadvipān
      vyathitāḥ pāṇḍavā dṛṣṭvā na cainaṃ paryavārayan
  2 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dhṛṣṭadyumna dhanaṃjayau
      abravīt sarvato yattaiḥ kumbhayonir nivāryatām
  3 tatrainam arjunaś caiva pārṣataś ca sahānugaḥ
      paryagṛhṇaṃs tataḥ sarve samāyāntaṃ mahārathāḥ
  4 kekayā bhimasenaś ca saubhadro 'tha ghaṭotkacaḥ
      yudhiṣṭhiro yamau matsyā drupadasyātmajās tathā
  5 draupadeyāś ca saṃhṛṣṭā dhṛṣṭaketuḥ sa sātyakiḥ
      cekitānaś ca saṃkruddho yuyutsuś ca mahārathaḥ
  6 ye cānye pārthivā rājan pāṇḍavasyānuyāyinaḥ
      kulavīryānurūpāṇi cakruḥ karmāṇy anekaśaḥ
  7 saṃgṛhyamāṇāṃ tāṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavair vāhinīṃ raṇe
      vyāvṛtya cakṣuṣī kopād bhāradvājo 'nvavaikṣata
  8 sa tīvraṃ kopam āsthāya rathe samaradurmadaḥ
      vyadhamat pāṇḍavānīkam abhrāṇīva sadāgatiḥ
  9 rathān aśvān narān nāgān abhidhāvaṃs tatas tataḥ
      cacāronmattavad droṇo vṛddho 'pi taruṇo yathā
  10 tasya śoṇitadigdhāṅgāḥ śoṇās te vātaraṃhasaḥ
     ājāneyā hayā rājann avibhrāntāḥ śriyaṃ dadhuḥ
 11 tam antakam iva kruddham āpatantaṃ yatavratam
     dṛṣṭvā saṃprādravan yodhāḥ pāṇḍavasya tatas tataḥ
 12 teṣāṃ pradravatāṃ bhīmaḥ punarāvartatām api
     vīkṣatāṃ tiṣṭhatāṃ cāsīc chabdaḥ paramadāruṇaḥ
 13 śūrāṇāṃ harṣajanano bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhanaḥ
     dyāvāpṛthivyor vivaraṃ pūrayām āsa sarvataḥ
 14 tataḥ punar api droṇo nāma viśrāvayan yudhi
     akarod raudram ātmānaṃ kirañ śaraśataiḥ parān
 15 sa tathā tāny anīkāni pāṇḍaveyasya dhīmataḥ
     kālavan nyavadhīd droṇo yuveva sthaviro balī
 16 utkṛtya ca śirāṃsy ugro bāhūn api subhūṣaṇān
     kṛtvā śūnyān rathopasthān udakrośan mahārathaḥ
 17 tasya harṣapraṇādena bāṇavegena cābhibho
     prākampanta raṇe yodhā gāvaḥ śītārditā iva
 18 droṇasya rathaghoṣeṇa maurvī niṣpeṣaṇena ca
     dhanuḥ śabdena cākāśe śabdaḥ samabhavan mahān
 19 athāsya bahuśo bāṇā niścarantaḥ sahasraśaḥ
     vyāpya sarvā diśaḥ petur gajāśvarathapattiṣu
 20 taṃ kārmukamahāvegam astrajvalita pāvakam
     droṇam ādāsayāṃ cakruḥ pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
 21 tān vai sa rathahastyaśvān prāhiṇod yamasādanam
     droṇo 'cireṇākaroc ca mahīṃ śoṇitakardamām
 22 tanvatā paramāstrāṇi śarān satatam asyatā
     droṇena vihitaṃ dikṣu bāṇajālam adṛśyata
 23 padātiṣu rathāśveṣu vāraṇeṣu ca sarvaśaḥ
     tasya vidyud ivābhreṣu caran ketur adṛśyata
 24 sa kekayānāṃ pravarāṃś ca pañca; pāñcālarājaṃ ca śaraiḥ pramṛdya
     yudhiṣṭhirānīkam adīnayodhī; droṇo 'bhyayāt kārmukabāṇapāṇiḥ
 25 taṃ bhīmasenaś ca dhanaṃjayaś ca; śineś ca naptā drupadātmajaś ca
     śaibyātmajaḥ kāśipatiḥ śibiś ca; hṛṣṭā nadanto vyakirañ śaraughaiḥ
 26 teṣām atho droṇa dhanur vimuktāḥ; patatriṇaḥ kāñcanacitrapuṅkhāḥ
     bhittvā śarīrāṇi gajāśvayūnāṃ; jagmur mahīṃ śoṇitadigdha vājāḥ
 27 sā yodhasaṃghaiś ca rathaiś ca bhūmiḥ; śarair vibhinnair gajavājibhiś ca
     pracchādyamānā patitair babhūva; samantato dyaur iva kālameghaiḥ
 28 śaineya bhīmārjunavāhinīpāñ; śaibyābhimanyū saha kāśirājñā
     anyāṃś ca vīrān samare pramṛdnād; droṇaḥ sutānāṃ tava bhūtikāmaḥ
 29 etāni cānyāni ca kauravendra; karmāṇi kṛtvā samare mahātmā
     pratāpya lokān iva kālasūryo; droṇo gataḥ svargam ito hi rājan
 30 evaṃ rukmarathaḥ śūro hatvā śatasahasraśaḥ
     pāṇḍavānāṃ raṇe yodhān pārṣatena nipātitaḥ
 31 akṣauhiṇīm abhyadhikāṃ śūrāṇām anivartinām
     nihatya paścād dhṛtimān agacchat paramaṃ gatim
 32 pāṇḍavaiḥ saha pāñcālair aśivaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ
     hato rukmaratho rājan kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram
 33 tato ninādo bhūtānām ākāśe samajāyata
     sainyānāṃ ca tato rājann ācārye nihate yudhi
 34 dyāṃ dharāṃ khaṃ diśo vāri pradiśaś cānunādayan
     aho dhig iti bhūtānāṃ śabdaḥ samabhavan mahān
 35 devatāḥ pitaraś caiva pūrve ye cāsya bāndhavāḥ
     dadṛśur nihataṃ tatra bhāradvājaṃ mahāratham
 36 pāṇḍavās tu jayaṃ labdhvā siṃhanādān pracakrire
     tena nādena mahatā samakampata medinī

 

SECTION VII

"Drona said, 'I know the Vedas with their six branches. I know also the science of human affairs. I am acquainted also with the Saiva weapon, and diverse other species of weapons. Endeavouring to actually display all those virtues which ye, desirous of victory, have attributed to me, I will fight with the Pandavas. I will not, however, O king, be able to slay the son of Prishata. O bull among men, he hath been created for my slaughter. I will fight with the Pandavas, and slay the Somakas. As regards the Pandavas, they will not fight with me with cheerful hearts.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus permitted by Drona, the son, O king, then made him the commander of his forces according to the rites prescribed in the ordinance. And the kings (in the Katirava army) headed by Duryodhana performed the investiture of Drona in the command of the forces, like the celestials headed by India in days of yore performing the investiture of Skanda. After Drona's installation in the command, the joy of the army expressed itself by the sound of drums and the loud blare of conchs. Then with cries such as greet the ears en a festive day, with auspicious invocations by Brahmanas gratified with cries of Jaya uttered by foremost of Brahmanas, and with the dance of mimes, Drona was duly honoured. And Kaurava warriors regarded the Pandayas as already vanquished.'
"Sanjaya continued. 'Then that mighty car-warrior, viz., Bharadwaja's son, having obtained the command, arrayed the troops in order of battle,
p. 12
and went out with thy sons from desire of fighting the foe. And the ruler of the Sindhus, and the chief of the Kalingas, and thy son Vikarna, clad in mail, took up their position on the right wing (of Drona). And Sakuni, accompanied by many foremost of horsemen battling with bright lances and belonging to the Gandhara tribe, proceeded, acting as their support. And Kripa, and Kritavarman, and Chitrasena, and Vivinsati headed by Duhsasana, strove vigorously for protecting the left wing. And the Kamvojas headed by Sudakshina, and the Sakas, and the Yavanas, with steeds of great fleetness, proceeded, as the latter's support. And the Madras, the Trigartas the Amvashthas, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Surasenas, the Sudras the Maladas, the Sauviras, the Kaitavas, the Easterners, and the Southerners placing thy son (Duryodhana) and the Suta's son (Karna) at their head, forming the rear guard, gladdened warriors of their own army, added to the strength of the (advancing) force, Vikartana's son Karna proceeded at the head of the bowmen. 1 And his blazing and large and tall standard bearing the advice of the elephant's rope, shone with an effulgence like that of the Sun, gladdening his own divisions. Beholding Karna, none regarded the calamity caused by Bhishma's death. And the kings, along with the Kurus, all became freed from grief. And large numbers of warriors, banded together, said unto one another, 'Beholding Karna on the field, the Pandavas will never be able to stand in battle. Indeed, Karna is quite competent to vanquish in battle the very gods with Vasava at their head. What need be said, therefore, for the sons of Pandu who are destitute of energy and prowess? The mighty-armed Bhishma spared the Parthas in battle. Karna, however, will slay them in the fight with his keen shafts.' Speaking unto one another thus and filled with joy, they proceeded, applauding and worshipping the son of Radha. As regards our army, it was arrayed by Drona in the form of a Sakata (vehicle); while the array of our illustrious foes, O king, was in the form of a Krauncha (crane), as disposed, O Bharata, by king Yudhishthira the just in great cheerfulness. At the head of their array were those two foremost of persons viz., Vishnu and Dhananjaya, with their banner set up, bearing the device of the ape. The hump of the whole army and the refuge of all bowmen, that banner of Partha, endued with immeasurable energy, as it floated in the, sky, seemed to illumine the entire host of the high-souled Yudhishthira. The banner of Partha, possessed of great intelligence, seemed to resemble the blazing Sun that riseth at the end of the Yuga for consuming the world. Amongst bowmen, Arjuna is the foremost; amongst bows, Gandiva is the foremost amongst creature Vasudeva is the first; and amongst all kinds of discs, Sudarsana is the first. Bearing these four embodiments of energy, that car unto which were yoked white steeds, took
p. 13
up its position in the front of the (hostile) army, like the fierce discus upraised (for striking). Thus did those two foremost of men stand at the very head of their respective forces, viz., Karna at the head of thy army, and Dhananjaya at the head of the hostile one. Both excited with wrath, and each desirous of slaying the other, Karna and Arjuna looked at each other in that battle.'
"Then when that mighty car-warrior, viz.. Bharadwaja's son, proceeded to battle with great speed, the earth seemed to tremble with loud sounds of wailing. Then the thick dust, raised by the wind resembling a canopy of tawny silk, enveloped the sky and the sun. And though the firmament was cloudless, yet a shower fell of pieces of flesh, bones, and blood. And vultures and hawks and cranes and Kankas, and crows in thousands, began continually to fall upon the (Kaurava) troops. And jackals yelled aloud; and many fierce and terrible birds repeatedly wheeled to the left of thy army, from desire of eating flesh and drinking blood, 1 and many blazing meteors, illuminating (the sky), and covering large areas with their tails, fell on the field with loud sound and trembling motion. And the wide disc of the sun O monarch, seemed to emit flashes of lightning with thundering noise, when commander of the (Kaurava) army set out. These and many other portents, fierce and indicating a destruction of heroes, were seen during the battle. Then commenced the encounter between the troops of the Kurus and the Pandavas, desirous of slaying each other. And so loud was the din that it seemed to fill the whole earth. And the Pandavas and the Kauravas, enraged with each other and skilled in smiting, began to strike each other with sharp weapons, from desire of victory. 'Then that great bowman of blazing effulgence rushed towards the troops of the Pandavas with great impetuosity, scattering hundreds of sharp arrows. Then the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, beholding Drona rush towards them, received him, O king, with showers upon showers (in distinct sets) of arrows. Agitated and broken by Drona, the large host of the Pandavas and the Panchalas broke like rows of cranes by force of the wind. Invoking into existence many celestial weapons in that battle, Drona, within a very short time, afflicted the Pandavas and the Srinjayas. Slaughtered by Drona, like Danavas by Vasava, the Panchalas headed by Dhrishtadyumna trembled in that battle. Then that mighty car-warrior, viz., Yajnasena's son (Dhrishtadyumna), that hero acquainted with celestial weapons, broke, with his arrowy showers, the division of Drona in many places. And the mighty son of Prishata baffling with his own arrowy showers the showers of arrows shot by Drona, caused a great slaughter among the Kurus. The mighty-armed Drona then, rallying his men in battle and gathering them together, rushed towards the son of Prishata. He then shot at Prishata's son a thick shower of arrows, like Maghavat excited with rage showering his arrows with great force upon the Danavas, Then the
p. 14
[paragraph continues] Pandavas and the Srinjayas, shaken by Drona with his shafts, repeatedly broke like a herd of inferior animals attacked by a lion. And the mighty Drona coursed through the Pandava force like a circle of fire. All this, O king, seemed highly wonderful. Mounted on his own excellent car which (then) resembled a city coursing through the skies, which was furnished with every necessary article according to (military) science, whose banner floated on the air, whose rattle resounded through the field, whose steeds were (well) urged, and the staff of whose standard was bright as crystal, Drona struck terror into the hearts of the enemy and caused a great slaughter among them.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 8

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      kiṃ kurvāṇaṃ raṇe droṇaṃ jaghnuḥ pāṇḍava sṛñjayāḥ
      tathā nipuṇam astreṣu sarvaśastrabhṛtām api
  2 rathabhaṅgo babhūvāsya dhanur vāśīryatāsyataḥ
      pramatto vābhavad droṇas tato mṛtyum upeyivān
  3 kathaṃ nu pārṣatas tāta śatrubhir duṣpradharṣaṇam
      kirantam iṣusaṃghātān rukmapuṅkhān anekaśaḥ
  4 kṣiprahastaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ kṛtinaṃ citrayodhinam
      dūreṣu pātinaṃ dāntam astrayuddhe ca pāragam
  5 pāñcāla putro nyavadhīd diṣṭyā sa varam acyutam
      kurvāṇaṃ dāruṇaṃ karma raṇe yattaṃ mahāratham
  6 vyaktaṃ diṣṭaṃ hi balavat pauruṣād iti me matiḥ
      yad druṇo nihataḥ śūraḥ pārṣatena mahātmanā
  7 astraṃ caturvidhaṃ vīre yasminn āsīt pratiṣṭhitam
      tam iṣvastravarācāryaṃ droṇaṃ śaṃsasi me hata
  8 śrutvā hataṃ rukmarathaṃ vaiyāghraparivāraṇam
      jātarūpapariṣkāraṃ nādya śokam apānude
  9 na nūnaṃ paraduḥkhena kaś cin mriyati saṃjaya
      yatra droṇam ahaṃ śrutvā hataṃ jīvāmi na mriye
  10 aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ sudṛḍhaṃ mama
     yac chrutvā nihataṃ droṇaṃ śatadhā na vidīryate
 11 brāhme vede tatheṣv astre yam upāsan guṇārthinaḥ
     brāhmaṇā rājaputrāś ca sa kathaṃ mṛtyunā hataḥ
 12 śoṣaṇaṃ sāgarasyeva meror iva visarpaṇam
     patanaṃ bhāskarasyeva na mṛṣye droṇa pātanam
 13 dṛptānāṃ pratiṣeddhāsīd dhārmikānāṃ ca rakṣitā
     yo 'tyākṣīt kṛpaṇasyārthe prāṇān api paraṃtapaḥ
 14 mandānāṃ mama putrāṇāṃ jayāśā yasya vikrame
     bṛhaspatyuśanas tulyo buddhyā sa nihataḥ katham
 15 te ca śoṇā bṛhanto 'śvāḥ saindhavā hemamālinaḥ
     rathe vātajayā yuktāḥ sarvaśabdātigā raṇe
 16 balino ghoṣiṇo dāntāḥ saindhavāḥ sādhu vāhinaḥ
     dṛḍhāḥ saṃgrāmamadhyeṣu kac cid āsan na vihvalāḥ
 17 kariṇāṃ bṛṃhatāṃ yuddhe śaṅkhadundubhinisvanam
     jyā kṣepa śaravarṣāṇāṃ śastrāṇāṃ ca sahiṣṇavaḥ
 18 āśaṃsantaḥ parāñ jetuṃ jitaśvāsā jitavyathāḥ
     hayāḥ prajavitāḥ śīghrā bhāradvāja rathodvahāḥ
 19 te sma rukmarathe yuktā naravīra samāhitāḥ
     kathaṃ nābhyataraṃs tāta pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
 20 jātarūpapariṣkāram āsthāya ratham uttamam
     bhāradvājaḥ kim akaroc chūraḥ saṃkrandano yudhi
 21 vidyāṃ yasyopajīvanti sarvalokadhanurbhṛtaḥ
     sa satyasaṃdho balavān droṇaḥ kim akarod yudhi
 22 divi śakram iva śreṣṭhaṃ mahāmātraṃ dhanurbhṛtām
     ke nu taṃ raudrakarmāṇaṃ yuddhe pratyudyayū rathāḥ
 23 nanu rukmarathaṃ dṛṣṭvā pradravanti sma pāṇḍavāḥ
     divyam astraṃ vikurvāṇaṃ senāṃ kṣiṇvantam avyayam
 24 utāho sarvasainyena dharmarājaḥ sahānujaḥ
     pāñcālya pragraho droṇaṃ sarvataḥ samavārayat
 25 nūnam āvarayat pārtho rathino 'nyān ajihmagaiḥ
     tato droṇaṃ samārohat pārṣataḥ pāpakarmakṛt
 26 na hy anyaṃ paripaśyāmi vadhe kaṃ cana śuṣmiṇaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumnād ṛte raudrāt pālyamānāt kirīṭinā
 27 tair vṛtaḥ sarvataḥ śūraiḥ pāñcālyāpasadas tataḥ
     kekayairś cedikārūṣair matsyair anyaiś ca bhūmipaiḥ
 28 vyākulīkṛtam ācāryaṃ pipīlair uragaṃ yathā
     karmaṇya sukare saktaṃ jaghāneti matir mama
 29 yo 'dhītya caturo vedān sarvān ākhyāna pañcamān
     brāhmaṇānāṃ pratiṣṭhāsīt srotasām iva sāgaraḥ
     sa kathaṃ brāhmaṇo vṛddhaḥ śastreṇa vadham āptavān
 30 amarṣaṇo marṣitavān kliśyamānaḥ sadā mayā
     anarhamāṇaḥ kaunteyaḥ karmaṇas tasya tat phalam
 31 yasya karmānujīvanti loke sarvadhanurbhṛtaḥ
     sa satyasaṃdhaḥ sukṛtī śrīkāmair nihataḥ katham
 32 divi śakra iva śreṣṭho mahāsattvo mahābalaḥ
     sa kathaṃ nihataḥ pārthaiḥ kṣudramatsyair yathā timiḥ
 33 kṣiprahastaś ca balavān dṛḍhadhanvāri mardanaḥ
     na yasya jīvitākāṅkṣī viṣayaṃ prāpya jīvati
 34 yaṃ dvau na jahataḥ śabdau jīvamānaṃ kadā cana
     brāhmaś ca veda kāmānāṃ jyāghoṣaś ca dhanurbhṛtām
 35 nāhaṃ mṛṣye hataṃ droṇaṃ siṃhadviradavikramam
     kathaṃ saṃjaya durdharṣam anādhṛṣya yaśobalam
 36 ke 'rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ savyaṃ ke ca mahātmanaḥ
     purastāt ke ca vīrasya yudhyamānasya saṃyuge
 37 ke ca tatra tanuṃ tyaktvā pratīpaṃ mṛtyum āvrajan
     droṇasya samare vīrāḥ ke 'kurvanta parāṃ dhṛtim
 38 etad āryeṇa kartavyaṃ kṛcchrāsv āpatsu saṃjaya
     parākramed yathāśakthyā tac ca tasmin pratiṣṭhitam
 39 muhyate me manas tāta kathā tāvan nivartyatām
     bhūyas tu labdhasaṃjñas tvā pariprakṣyāmi saṃjaya

 

SECTION VIII

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding Drona thus slaying steeds and drivers and car-warriors and elephants, the Pandavas, without being troubled, encompassed him on all sides. Then king Yudhishthira, addressing Dhrishtadyumna and Dhananjaya, said unto them, 'Let the pot-born (Drona) be checked, our men surrounding him on all sides with care.' Thus addressed those mighty car-warriors, viz., Arjuna and Prishata's son, along with their followers, all received Drona as the latter came. And the Kekaya princes, and Bhimasena, and Subhadra's son and Ghatotkacha and Yudhishthira, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and the ruler of the Matsyas, and the son of Drupada, and the (five) sons of Draupadi, all filled with joy, and Dhrishtaketu, and Satyaki, and the wrathful Chitrasena, and the mighty car-warrior, Yuyutsu, and many other kings, O monarch, who followed the sons of Pandu, all achieved diverse feats in keeping with their lineage and prowess. Beholding then that host protected in that battle by those Pandava warriors, Bharadwaja's son, turning his eyes in wrath, cast his looks upon it. Inflamed with rage, that warrior, invincible in battle, consumed, as he stood upon his car, the Pandava host like the tempest destroying vast masses of clouds. Rushing on all sides at car-warriors and steeds and foot-soldiers and elephants, Drona furiously careered over the field like a young man, though bearing the weight of years. His red steeds, fleet as the wind, and of excellent breed, covered with blood, O king, assumed a beautiful appearance. Beholding that hero of regulated vows, felling them like Yama himself inflamed with wrath, the soldiers of Yudhishthira fled away on all sides. And as some fled away and other rallied, as some looked at him and others stayed on the field, the noise they made was fierce and terrible. And that noise causing delight to heroes and enhancing the fears of the timid, filled the whole sky and the earth. And once more Drona, uttering his own name in battle, made himself exceedingly fierce, scattering hundreds of arrows among the
p. 15
foes. Indeed, the mighty Drona, though old, yet acting like a young man, careered like Death himself, O sire, amid the divisions of Pandu's son. That fierce warrior cutting off heads and arms decked with ornaments, made the terraces of many cars empty and uttered leonine roars. And in consequence of those joyous shouts of his, as also of the force of his shafts, the warriors, O lord, (of the hostile army) trembled like a herd of cows afflicted by cold. And in consequence of the rattle of his car and the stretching of his bow-string and the twang of his bow, the whole welkin resounded with a loud noise. And the shaft., of that hero, coursing in thousands from his bow, and enveloping all the points of the compass, fell upon the elephants and steeds and cars and foot-soldiers (of the enemy). Then the Panchalas and the Pandavas boldly approached Drona, who, armed with his bow of great force, resembled a fire having weapons for its flames. Then with their elephants and foot-soldiers and steeds he began to despatch them unto the abode of Yama. And Drona made the earth miry with blood. Scattering his mighty weapons and shooting his shafts thick on every side, Drona soon so covered all the points of the compass, that nothing could be seen except his showers of arrows. And among foot-soldiers and cars and steeds and elephants nothing could be seen save Drona's arrows. The standard of his car was all that could be seen, moving like flashes of lightning amid the cars. 1 Of soul incapable of being depressed, Drona then, armed with bow and arrows, afflicted the five princes of Kekaya and the ruler of the Panchalas and then rushed against the division of Yudhishthira. Then Bhimasena and Dhananjaya and the grandson of Sini, and the sons of Drupada, and the ruler of Kasi, viz., the son of Saivya, and Sivi himself, cheerfully and with loud roars covered him with their arrows. Shafts in thousands, decked with wings of gold, shot from Drona's bow, piercing through the bodies of the elephants and the young horses of those warriors, entered the earth, their feathers dyed with blood. The field of battle, strewn with cars and the prostrate forms of large bands of warriors, and of elephants and steeds mangled with shafts, looked like the welkin covered with masses of black clouds. Then Drona, desirous of the prosperity of thy sons, having thus crushed the divisions of Satyaki, and Bhima, and Dhananjaya and Subhadra's son and Drupada, and the ruler of the Kasi, and having ground many other heroes in battle, indeed, that high-souled warrior, having achieved these and many other feats, and having, O chief of the Kurus, scorched the world like the Sun himself as he rises at the end of the Yuga, proceeded hence, O monarch, to heaven. That hero possessed of golden car, that grinder of hostile hosts, having achieved mighty feats and slain in thousands the warriors of the Pandava host in battle, hath at last been himself slain by Dhrishtadyumna. Having, in fact, slain more than two Akshauhinis of brave and unreturning warriors, that hero endued with intelligence, at last, attained to the highest state. Indeed, O king, having
p. 16
achieved the most difficult feats, he hath, at last, been slain by the Pandavas and the Panchalas of cruel deeds. When the preceptor was slain in battle, there arose in the welkin, O monarch, a loud uproar of all creatures, as also of all the troops. Resounding through heaven and earth and the intermediate space and through the cardinal and the subsidiary directions, the loud cry 'O Fie!'--of creatures; was heard. And the gods, the Pitris, and they that were his friends, all beheld that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Bharadwaja, thus slain. The Pandavas, having won the victory, uttered leonine shouts. And the earth trembled with those loud shouts of theirs.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 9

 

 

 

 

 1 [v]
      evaṃ pṛṣṭvā sūtaputraṃ hṛc chokenārdito bhṛśam
      jaye nirāśaḥ putrāṇāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro 'patat kṣitau
  2 taṃ visaṃjñaṃ nipatitaṃ siṣucuḥ paricārakāḥ
      jalenātyartha śītena vījantaḥ puṇyagandhinā
  3 patitaṃ cainam ājñāya samantād bharata striyaḥ
      parivavrur mahārājam aspṛśaṃś caiva pāṇibhiḥ
  4 utthāpya cainaṃ śanakai rājānaṃ pṛthivītalāt
      āsanaṃ prāpayām āsur bāṣpakaṇṭhyo varāṅganāḥ
  5 āsanaṃ prāpya rājā tu mūrchayābhipariplutaḥ
      niśceṣṭo 'tiṣṭhata tadā vījyamānaḥ samantataḥ
  6 sa labdhvā śanakaiḥ saṃjñāṃ vepamāno mahīpatiḥ
      punar gāvalgaṇiṃ sūtaṃ paryapṛcchad yathātatham
  7 yat tad udyann ivādityo jyotiṣā praṇudaṃs tamaḥ
      āyād ajātaśatrur vai kas taṃ droṇād avārayat
  8 prabhinnam iva mātaṅgaṃ tatha kruddhaṃ tarasvinam
      āsaktamanasaṃ dīptaṃ prati dviradaghātinam
      vāśitā saṃgame yadvad ajayyaṃ pratiyūthapaiḥ
  9 ati cānyān raṇe yodhān vīraḥ puruṣasattamaḥ
      yo hy eko hi mahābāhur nirdahed ghoracakṣuṣā
      kṛtsnaṃ duryodhana balaṃ dhṛtimān satyasaṃgaraḥ
  10 cakṣurhaṇaṃ jaye saktam iṣvāsa vararakṣitam
     dāntaṃ bahumataṃ loke ke śūrāḥ paryavārayan
 11 ke duṣpradharṣaṃ rājānam iṣvāsa varam acyutam
     samāsedur naravyāghraṃ kaunteyaṃ tatra māmakāḥ
 12 tarasaivābhipatyātha yo vai droṇam upādravat
     taṃ bhīmasenam āyāntaṃ ke śūrāḥ paryavārayan
 13 yad āyāj jaladaprakhyo rathaḥ paramavīryavān
     parjanya iva bībhatsus tumulām aśaniṃ sṛjan
 14 vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi varṣāṇi maghavān iva
     iṣusaṃbādham ākāśaṃ kurvan kapivaradhvajaḥ
     avasphūrjan diśaḥ sarvās talanemi svanena ca
 15 cāpavidyut prabho ghoro rathagulma balāhakaḥ
     rathanemi ghoṣastanitaḥ śaraśabdātibandhuraḥ
 16 roṣanirjita jīmūto mano 'bhiprāya śīghragaḥ
     marmātigo bāṇadhāras tumulaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ
 17 saṃphālvayan mahīṃ varṣāṃ mānavair āstaraṃs tadā
     ganā niṣṭanito raudro duryodhanakṛtodyamaḥ
 18 yuddhe 'bhyaṣiñcad vijayo gārdhrapatriḥ śilāśitaiḥ
     gāṇḍīvaṃ dhārayan dhīmān kīdṛśaṃ vo manas tadā
 19 kac cid gāṇḍīvaśabdena na praṇaśyata vai balam
     yad vaḥ sa bhairavaṃ kurvann arjuno bhṛśam abhyagāt
 20 kac cin nāpānudad droṇād iṣubhir vo dhanaṃjayaḥ
     vāto meghān ivāvidhyan pravāñ śaravanānilah
     ko hi gāṇḍīvadhanvānaṃ naraḥ soḍhuṃ raṇe 'rhati
 21 yat senāḥ samakampanta yad vīrān aspṛśad bhayam
     ke tatra nājahur droṇaṃ ke kṣudrāḥ prādravan bhayāt
 22 ke vā tatra tanūs tyaktvā pratīpaṃ mṛtyum āvrajan
     amānuṣāṇāṃ jetāraṃ yuddheṣv api dhanaṃjayam
 23 na ca vegaṃ sitāśvasya viśakṣyantīha māmakāḥ
     gāṇḍīvasya ca nirghoṣaṃ prāvṛḍ jaladanisvanam
 24 viṣvakseno yasya yantā yoddhā caiva dhanaṃjayaḥ
     aśakyaḥ sa ratho jetuṃ manye devāsurair api
 25 sukumāro yuvā śūro darśanīyaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     medhāvī nipuṇo dhīmān yudhi satyaparākramaḥ
 26 ārāvaṃ vipulaṃ kurvan vyathayan sarvakauravān
     yadāyān nakulo dhīmān ke śūrāḥ paryavārayan
 27 āśīviṣa iva kruddhaḥ sahadevo yadābhyayāt
     śatrūṇāṃ kadanaṃ jurvañ jetāsau durjayo yudhi
 28 ārya vratam amogheṣuṃ hrīmantam aparājitam
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ ke śūrāḥ paryavārayan
 29 yaḥ sa sauvīrarājasya pramathya mahatīṃ camūm
     ādatta mahiṣīṃ bhojyāṃ kāmyāṃ sarvāṅgaśobhanām
 30 satyaṃ dhṛtiś ca śauryaṃ ca brahmacaryaṃ ca kevalam
     sarvāṇi yuyudhāne 'smin nityāni puruṣarṣabhe
 31 balinaṃ satyakarmāṇam adīnam aparājitam
     vāsudeva samaṃ yuddhe vāsudevād anantaram
 32 yuktaṃ dhanaṃjaya preṣye śūram ācārya karmaṇi
     pārthena samam astreṣu kas taṃ droṇād avārayat
 33 vṛṣṇīnāṃ pravaraṃ vīraṃ śūraṃ sarvadhanuṣmatām
     rāmeṇa samam astreṣu yaśasā vikrameṇa ca
 34 satyaṃ dhṛtir damaḥ śauryaṃ brahmacaryam anuttamam
     sātvate tāni sarvāṇi trailokyam iva keśave
 35 tam evaṃ guna saṃpannaṃ durvāram api daivataiḥ
     samāsādya maheṣvāsaṃ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan
 36 pāñcāleṣūttamaṃ śūram uttamābhijana priyam
     nityam uttamakarmāṇam uttamaujasam āhave
 37 yuktaṃ dhanaṃjaya hite mamānarthāya cottamam
     yama vaiśravaṇāditya mahendravaruṇopamam
 38 mahārathasamākhyātaṃ droṇāyodyantam āhave
     tyajantaṃ tumule prāṇān ke śūrāḥ paryavārayan
 39 eko 'pasṛtya cedibhyaḥ pāṇḍavān yaḥ samāśritaḥ
     dhṛṣṭaketuṃ tamāyāntaṃ droṇāt kaḥ samavārayat
 40 yo 'vadhīt ketumāñ śūro rājaputraṃ sudarśanam
     aparānta giridvāre kas taṃ droṇād avārayat
 41 strīpūrvo yo naravyāghro yaḥ sa veda guṇāguṇān
     śikhaṇḍinaṃ yājñasenim amlāna manasaṃ yudhi
 42 devavratasya samare hetuṃ mṛtyor mahātmanaḥ
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan
 43 yasminn abhyadhikā vīre guṇāḥ sarve dhanaṃjayāt
     yasminn astrāṇi satyaṃ ca brahmacaryaṃ ca nityadā
 44 vāsudeva samaṃ vīrye dhanaṃjaya samaṃ bale
     tejasādityasadṛśaṃ bṛhaspatisamaṃ matau
 45 abhimanyuṃ mahātmānaṃ vyāttānanam ivāntakam
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan
 46 taruṇas tv aruṇaprakhyaḥ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā
     yadābhyādravata droṇaṃ tadāsīd vo manaḥ katham
 47 draupadeyā naravyāghrāḥ samudram iva sindhavaḥ
     yad droṇam ādravan saṃkhye ke vīrās tān avārayan
 48 ye te dvādaśa varṣāṇi krīḍām utsṛjya bālakāḥ
     astrārtham avasan bhīṣme bibhrato vratam uttamam
 49 kṣatraṃ jayaḥ kṣatradevaḥ kṣatradharmā ca māninaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumnātmajā vīrāḥ ke tān droṇād avārayan
 50 śatād viśiṣṭaṃ yaṃ yuddhe samapaśyanta vṛṣṇayaḥ
     cekitānaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ kas taṃ droṇād avārayat
 51 vārdhakṣemiḥ kaliṅgānāṃ yaḥ kanyām āharad yudhi
     anādhṛṣṭir adīnātmā kas taṃ droṇād avārayat
 52 bhrātaraḥ pañca kaikeyā dhārmikāḥ satyavikramāḥ
     indra gopaka varṇāś ca raktavarmāyudha dhvajāḥ
 53 mātṛṣvasuḥ sutā vīrāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ jayārthinaḥ
     tān droṇaṃ hantum āyātān ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan
 54 yaṃ yodhayanto rājāno nājayan vāraṇāvate
     ṣaṇ māsān abhisaṃrabdhā jighāṃsanto yudhāṃ patim
 55 dhanuṣmatāṃ varaṃ śūraṃ satyasaṃdhaṃ mahābalam
     droṇāt kas taṃ naravyāghraṃ yuyutsuṃ pratyavārayat
 56 yaḥ putraṃ kāśirājasya vārāṇasyāṃ mahāratham
     samare strīṣu gṛdhyantaṃ bhallenāpaharad rathāt
 57 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ pārthānāṃ mantradhāriṇam
     yuktaṃ duryodhanānarthe sṛṣṭaṃ droṇa vadhāya ca
 58 nirdahantaṃ raṇe yodhān dārayantaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan
 59 utsaṅga iva saṃvṛddhaṃ drupadasyāstravittamam
     śaikhaṇḍinaṃ kṣatradevaṃ ke taṃ droṇād avārayan
 60 ya imāṃ pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ carma vatsam aveṣṭayat
     mahatā rathavaṃśena mukhyārighno mahārathaḥ
 61 daśāśvameghān ājahre svannapānāpta dakṣiṇān
     nirargalān sarvamedhān putravat pālayan prajāḥ
 62 pibantyo dakṣiṇāṃ yasya gaṅgā srotaḥ samāpiban
     tāvatīr gā dadau vīra uśīnara suto 'dhvare
 63 na pūrve nāpare cakrur idaṃ ke cana mānavāḥ
     iti saṃcukruśur devāḥ kṛte karmaṇi duṣkare
 64 paśyāmas triṣu lokeṣu na taṃ saṃsthāsnucāriṣu
     jātaṃ vāpi janiṣyaṃ vā dvitīyaṃ vāpi saṃprati
 65 anyam auśīnarāc chaibyād dhuro voḍhāram ity uta
     gatiṃ yasya na yāsyanti mānuṣā lokavāsinaḥ
 66 tasya naptāram āyāntaṃ śaibyaṃ kaḥ samavārayat
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ vyāttānanam ivāntakam
 67 virāṭasya rathānīkaṃ matsyasyāmitra dhātinaḥ
     prepsantaṃ samare droṇaṃ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan
 68 sadyo vṛkodarāj jāto mahābalaparākramaḥ
     māyāvī rākṣaso ghoro yasmān mama mahad bhayam
 69 pārthānāṃ jaya kāmaṃ taṃ putrāṇāṃ mama kaṇṭakam
     ghaṭotkacaṃ mahābāhuṃ kas taṃ droṇād avārayat
 70 ete cānye ca bahavo yeṣām arthāya saṃjaya
     tyaktāraḥ saṃyuge prāṇān kiṃ teṣām ajitaṃ yudhi
 71 yeṣāṃ ca puruṣavyāghraḥ śārṅgadhanvā vyapāśrayaḥ
     hitārthī cāpi pārthānāṃ kathaṃ teṣāṃ parājayaḥ
 72 lokānāṃ gurur atyantaṃ lokanāthaḥ sanātanaḥ
     nārāyaṇo raṇe nātho divyo divyātmavān prabhuḥ
 73 yasya divyāni karmāṇi pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ
     tāny ahaṃ kīrtayiṣyāmi bhaktyā sthairyārtham ātmanaḥ

 

SECTION IX

"Dhritarashtra said, 'How did the Pandavas and the Srinjayas slay Drona in battle,--Drona. who was so accomplished in weapons amongst all wielders of arms? Did his car break (in course of the fight)? Did his bow break while he was striking (the foe)? Or, was Drona careless at the time when he met with his death-blow? How, indeed, O child, could Prishata's son, (viz., Dhrishtadyumna) the prince of the Panchalas, slay that hero incapable of being humiliated by enemies, who scattered thick showers of shafts furnished with wings of gold, and who was endued with great lightness of hand, that foremost of Brahmanas, who was accomplished in everything, acquainted with all modes of warfare, capable of shooting his shafts to a great distance, and self-restrained, who was possessed of great skill in the use of weapons and armed with celestial weapons, that mighty warrior, of unfading glory, who was always careful, and who achieved the fiercest feats in battle? It is plain, it seems to me, that destiny is superior to exertion, since even brave Drona hath been slain by the high-souled son of Prishata, that hero in whom were the four kinds of weapons, alas, thou sayest that that Drona, that preceptor in bowmanship, is slain. Hearing of the slaughter of that hero who used to ride his bright car covered with tiger skins and adorned with pure gold. I cannot drive away my grief. Without doubt, O Sanjaya, no one dies of grief caused by another's calamity, since, wretch that I am, I am yet alive although I have heard of Drona's death. Destiny I regard to be all powerful, exertion is fruitless. Surely, my heart, hard as it is, is made of adamant, since it breaketh not into a hundred pieces, although I have heard of Drona's death. He who was waited up-on by Brahmanas and princes desirous of instruction in the Vedas and divination and bowmanship, alas, how could he be taken away by Death? I cannot brook the overthrow of Drona which is even like the drying up of the ocean, or the removal of Meru from its site, or the fall of the Run from the
p. 17
firmament. He was a restrainer of the wicked and a protector of the righteous. That scorcher of foes who hath given up his life for the wretched Duryodhana, upon whose prowess rested that hope of victory which my wicked sons entertained, who was equal to Vrihaspati or Usanas himself in intelligence, alas, how was he slain? His large steeds of red hue, covered with net of gold, fleet as the wind and incapable of being struck with any weapon in battle, endued with great strength, neighing cheerfully, well-trained and of the Sindhu breed, yoked unto his car and drawing the vehicle excellently, always preserving in the midst of battle, did they become weak and faint? Coolly bearing in battle the roar of elephants, while those huge creatures trumpeted at the blare of conchs and the beat of drums, unmoved by the twang of bows and showers of arrows and other weapons, foreboding the defeat of foes by their very appearance, never drawing long breaths (in consequence of toil), above all fatigue and pain, how were those fleet steeds that drew the car of Bharadwaja's son soon over-powered? Even such were the steeds yoked unto his golden car. Even such were the steeds yoked thereto by that foremost of human heroes. Mounted on his own excellent car decked with pure gold, why, O son, could he not cross the sea of the Pandava army? What feat were achieved in battle by Bharadwaja's son, that warrior who always drew tears from other heroes, and upon whose knowledge (of weapons) all the bowmen of the world rely? Firmly adhering to truth, and endued with great might, what, indeed, did Drona do in battle? Who were those car-warriors that encountered that achiever of fierce deeds, that foremost of all wielders of the bow, that first of heroes, who resembled Sakra himself in heaven? Did the Pandava fly away beholding him of the golden car and of mighty strength who invoked into existence celestial weapons? Or, did king Yudhishthira the just, with his younger brothers, and having the prince of Panchala (Dhrishtadyumna) for his binding chord, 1 attack Drona, surrounding him with his troops on all sides? Verily, Partha must have, with his straight shafts, checked all the other car-warriors, and then Prishata's son of sinful deeds must have surrounded Drona. I do not see any other warrior, save the fierce Dhrishtadyumna protected by Arjuna, who could have compassed the death of that mighty hero? It seems that when those heroes, viz., the Kekayas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Matsyas, and the other kings, surrounding the preceptor, pressed him exceedingly like ants pressing upon a snake, while he was engaged in some difficult feat, the wretched Dhrishtadyumna must have slain him then. This is what, I think. He who, having studied the four Vedas with their branches and the histories forming the fifth (Veda), became the refuge of the Brahmanas, as the ocean is of rivers, that scorcher of foes, who lived both as a Brahmana and as a Kshatriya, alas, how could that Brahmana, reverend in years, meet with his end at the edge of a
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weapon? Of a proud spirit, he was yet often humiliated and had to suffer, pain on my account. However undeserving of it, he yet attained at the hands of Kunti's son, the fruit of his own conduct. 1 He, upon whose feats depend all wielders of bows in the world, alas, how could that hero, firmly adhering to truth and possessed of great skill, be slain by persons desirous of affluence? Foremost in the world like Sakra himself in heaven, of great might and great energy, alas, how could he be slain by the Parthas, like the whale by the smaller fish? He, from whose presence no warrior desirous of victory could ever escape with life, he whom, while alive, these two sounds never left, viz., the sound of the Vedas by those desirous of Vedic lore, and the twang of bows caused by those desirous of skill in bowmanship, he who was never cheerless, alas, that tiger among men, that hero endued with prosperity and never vanquished in battle, that warrior of prowess equal to that of the lion or the elephant, hath been slain. Verily, I cannot bear the idea of his death. How could Prishata's son, in the sight of the foremost of men, slay in battle that invincible warrior whose might was never humiliated and whose fame was never tarnished? Who were they that fought in Drona's van, protecting him, standing by his side? Who proceeded in his rear and obtained that end which is so difficult of attainment? Who were those high-souled warriors that protected the right and the left wheels of Drona? Who were in the van of that hero while he struggled in battle? Who were they that, reckless of their lives on that occasion, met with death which stood face to face with them? Who were those heroes that went in the last journey in Drona's battle? Did any of those Kshatriyas that were assigned for Drona's protection, proving false, abandon that hero in battle? Was he slain by the foe after such desertion and while alone? Drona would never, from fear, show his back in battle, however great the danger. How then was he slain by the foe? Even in great distress, O Sanjaya, an illustrious person should do this, viz., put forth his prowess according to the measure of his might. All this was in Drona; O child, I am losing my senses. Let this discourse be suspended for a while. After regaining my senses I will once more ask thee, O Sanjaya!'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 10

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      śṛṇu divyāni karmāṇi vāsudevasya saṃjaya
      kṛtavān yāni govindo yathā nānyaḥ pumān kva cit
  2 saṃvardhatā gopa kule bālenaiva mahātmanā
      vikhyāpitaṃ balaṃ bāhvos triṣu lokeṣu saṃjaya
  3 ucchaiḥ śravas tulyabalaṃ vāyuvegasamaṃ jave
      jaghāna hayarājaṃ yo yamunāvanavāsinam
  4 dānavaṃ ghorakarmāṇaṃ gavāṃ mṛtyum ivotthitam
      vṛṣarūpadharaṃ bālye bhujābhyāṃ nijaghāna ha
  5 pralambaṃ narakaṃ jambhaṃ pīṭhaṃ cāpi mahāsuram
      muruṃ cācalasaṃkāśam avadhīt puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ
  6 tathā kaṃso mahātejā jarāsaṃdhena pālitaḥ
      vikrameṇaiva kṛṣṇena sagaṇaḥ śātito raṇe
  7 sunāmā nāma vikrāntaḥ samagrākṣauhiṇī patiḥ
      bhojarājasya madhyastho bhrātā kaṃsasya vīryavān
  8 baladeva dvitīyena kṛṣṇenāmitra ghātinā
      tarasvī samare dagdhaḥ sa sainyaḥ śūrasenarāṭ
  9 durvāsā nāma viprarṣis tathā paramakopanaḥ
      ārādhitaḥ sadāreṇa sa cāsmai pradadau varān
  10 tathā gāndhārarājasya sutāṃ vīraḥ svayaṃvare
     nirjitya pṛthivīpālān avahat puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ
 11 amṛṣyamāṇā rājāno yasya jātyā hayā iva
     rathe vaivāhike yuktāḥ pratodena kṛtavraṇāḥ
 12 jarāsaṃdhaṃ mahābāhum upāyena janārdanaḥ
     pareṇa ghātayām āsa pṛthag akṣauhiṇīpatim
 13 cedirājaṃ ca vikrāntaṃ rājasenāpatiṃ balī
     arghe vivadamānaṃ ca jaghāna paśuvat tadā
 14 saubhaṃ daitya puraṃ svasthaṃ śālva guptaṃ durāsadam
     samudrakukṣau vikramya pātayām āsa mādhavaḥ
 15 aṅgān vaṅgān kaliṅgāṃś ca māgadhān kāśikosalān
     vatsa garga karūṣāṃś ca puṇḍrāṃś cāpy ajayad raṇe
 16 āvantyān dākṣiṇātyāṃś ca pārvatīyān daśerakān
     kāśmīrakān aurasakān piśācāṃś ca sa mandarān
 17 kāmbojān vāṭadhānāṃś ca colān pāṇḍyāṃś ca saṃjaya
     trigartān mālavāṃś caiva daradāṃś ca sudurjayān
 18 nānādigbhyaś ca saṃprāptān vrātān aśvaśakān prati
     jitavān puṇḍarīkākṣo yavanāṃś ca sahānugān
 19 praviśya makarāvāsaṃ yādobhir abhisaṃvṛtam
     jigāya varuṇaṃ yuddhe salilāntar gataṃ purā
 20 yudhi pañcajanaṃ hatvā pātālatalavāsinam
     pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo divyaṃ śaṅkham avāptavān
 21 khāṇḍave pārtha sahitas toṣayitvā hutāśanam
     āgneyam astraṃ durdharṣaṃ cakraṃ lebhe mahābalaḥ
 22 vainateyaṃ samāruhya trāsayitvāmarāvatīm
     mahendrabhavanād vīraḥ pārijātam upānayat
 23 tac ca marṣitavāñ śakro jānaṃs tasya parākramam
     rājñāṃ cāpy ajitaṃ kaṃ cit kṛṣṇeneha na śuśruma
 24 yac ca tan mahad āścaryaṃ sabhāyāṃ mama saṃjaya
     kṛtavān puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ kas tad anya ihārhati
 25 yac ca bhaktyā prapanno 'ham adrākṣaṃ kṛṣṇam īśvaram
     tan me suviditaṃ sarvaṃ pratyakṣam iva cāgamat
 26 nānto vikramayuktasya buddhyā yuktasya vā punaḥ
     karmaṇaḥ śakyate gantuṃ hṛṣīkeśasya saṃjaya
 27 tathā gadaś ca sāmbaś ca pradyumno 'tha vidūrathaḥ
     āgāvaho 'niruddhaś ca cārudeṣṇaś ca sāraṇaḥ
 28 ulmuko niśaṭhaś caiva jhallī babhruś ca vīryavān
     pṛthuś ca vipṛthuś caiva samīko 'thārimejayaḥ
 29 ete vai balavantaś ca vṛṇi vīrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     kathaṃ cit pāṇḍavānīkaṃ śrayeyuḥ samare sthitāḥ
 30 āhūtā vṛṣṇivīreṇa keśavena mahātmanā
     tataḥ saṃśayitaṃ sarvaṃ bhaved iti matir mama
 31 nāgāyuta balo vīraḥ kailāsaśikharopamaḥ
     vanamālī halī rāmas tatra yatra janārdanaḥ
 32 yam āhuḥ sarvapitaraṃ vāsudevaṃ dvijātayaḥ
     api vā hy eṣa pāṇḍūnāṃ yotsyate 'rthāya saṃjaya
 33 sa yadā tāta saṃnahyet pāṇḍavārthāya keśavaḥ
     na tadā pratyanīkeṣu bhavitā tasya kaś cana
 34 yadi sma kuravaḥ sarve jayeyuḥ sarvapāṇḍavān
     vārṣṇeyo 'rthāya teṣāṃ vai gṛhṇīyāc chastram uttamam
 35 tataḥ sarvān naravyāghro hatvā narapatīn raṇe
     kauravāṃś ca mahābāhuḥ kuntyai dadyāt sa medinīm
 36 yasya yantā hṛṣīkeśo yoddhā yasya dhanaṃjayaḥ
     rathasya tasya kaḥ saṃkhye pratyanīko bhaved rathaḥ
 37 na kena cid upāyena kurūṇāṃ dṛśyate jayaḥ
     tasmān me sarvam ācakṣva yathā yuddham avartata
 38 arjunaḥ keśavasyātmā kṛṣṇo 'py ātmā kirīṭinaḥ
     arjune vijayo nityaṃ kṛṣṇe kīrtiś ca śāśvatī
 39 prādhānyena hi bhūyiṣṭham ameyāḥ keśave guṇāḥ
     mohād duryodhanaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ yan na vettīha mādhavam
 40 mohito daivayogena mṛtyupāśapuraskṛtaḥ
     na veda kṛṣṇaṃ dāśārham arjunaṃ caiva pāṇḍavam
 41 pūrvadevau mahātmānau naranārāyaṇāv ubhau
     ekātmānau dvidhā bhūtau dṛśyete mānavair bhuvi
 42 manasāpi hi durdharṣau senām etāṃ yaśasvinau
     nāśayetām ihecchantau mānuṣatvāt tu necchataḥ
 43 yugasyeva viparyāso lokānām iva mohanam
     bhīṣmasya ca vadhas tāta droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ
 44 na hy eva brahmacaryeṇa na vedādhyayanena ca
     na kriyābhir na śastreṇa mṛtyoḥ kaś cid vimucyate
 45 lokasaṃbhāvitau vīrau kṛtāstrau yuddhadurmadau
     bhīṣmadroṇau hatau śrutvā kiṃ nu jīvāmi saṃjaya
 46 yāṃ tāṃ śriyam asūyāmaḥ purā yātāṃ yudhiṣṭhire
     adya tām anujānīmo bhīṣmadroṇavadhena ca
 47 tathā ca matkṛte prāptaḥ kurūṇām eṣa saṃkṣayaḥ
     pakvānāṃ hi vadhe sūta vajrāyante tṛṇāny api
 48 ananyam idam aiśvaryaṃ loke prāpto yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     yasya kopān maheṣvāsau bhīṣmadroṇau nipātitau
 49 prāptaḥ prakṛtito dharmo nādharmo mānavān prati
     krūraḥ sarvavināśāya kālaḥ samativartate
 50 anyathā cintitā hy arthā narais tāta manasvibhiḥ
     anyathaiva hi gacchanti daivād iti matir mama
 51 tasmād aparihārye 'rthe saṃprāpte kṛcchra uttame
     apāraṇīye duścintye yathā bhūtaṃ pracakṣva me

 

SECTION X

"Vaisampayana said, 'Having addressed the Suta's son in this way, Dhritarashtra, afflicted with excessive grief of heart and hopeless of his
p. 19
son's victory, fell down on the ground. Beholding him deprived of his senses and fallen down, his attendants sprinkled him with perfumed and cold water, fanning him the while. Seeing him fallen, the Bharata ladies O king, surrounded him on all sides and gently rubbed him with their hands. And slowly raising the king from the ground, those royal ladies, their voices chocked with tears, seated him on his seat. Seated, the King continued to be under the influence of that swoon. And he remained perfectly motionless, while they fanned him standing around. And a tremour then passed over the monarch's body and he slowly regained his senses. And once more he began to interrogate Gavalgana's son of the Suta caste about the incidents, as they occured in the battle.'
"Dhritarashtra said, [That Ajatasatru] who, like the risen sun, dispelleth darkness by his own light; who rusheth against a foe as a swift and angry elephant with rent temples, incapable of being vanquished by hostile leaders of herds, rusheth against a rival proceeding with cheerful face towards a female of the species in rust, O, what warriors (of my army) resisted that Ajatasatru as he came, for keeping him away from Drona? 1 That hero, that foremost of persons, who hath slain many brave warriors (of my army) in battle, that mighty-armed and intelligent and courageous prince of unbaffled prowess, who, unassisted by any one, can consume the entire host of Duryodhana by means of his terrible glances alone, that slayer by his sight, that one bent on winning victory, that bowman, that hero of unfading glory, that self-restrained monarch who is revered by the whole world, O, who were those heroes (of my army) that surrounded that warrior? 2 That invincible prince, that bowman of unfading glory, that tiger among men, that son of Kunti, who advancing with great celerity came upon Drona, that mighty warrior who always achieves grand feats against the foe, that hero of gigantic fame and great courage, who in strength is equal to ten thousand elephants, O, what brave combatants of my army surrounded that Bhimasena as he rushed upon my host? When that car-warrior of exceeding energy, viz., Vibhatsu, looking like a mass of clouds, came, emitting thunderbolts like the clouds themselves, shooting showers of arrows like Indra pouring rain, and making all the points of the compass resound with the slaps of his palms and the rattle of his car-wheels, when that hero whose bow was like the lightning's flash and whose car resembled a cloud having for its roars the rattle of its wheels (when that hero came) the whizz of whose arrows made him exceedingly fierce, whose wrath resembles an awful cloud, and who is fleet as the mind or the tempest, who always pierces the foe deep into his very vitals, who, armed with shafts, is terrible to look at, who like Death himself bathes all the points of the compass with human blood in profusion, and who, with fierce
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uproar and awful visage, wielding the bow Gandiva incessantly pours on my warriors headed by Duryodhana shafts whetted on stone and furnished with vultures' feathers, alas, when that hero of great intelligence came upon you, what became the state of your mind? When that warrior having the huge ape on his banner came, obstructing the welkin with dense showers of arrows, what became that state of your mind at sight of that Partha? Did Arjuna advance upon you, slaying your troops with the twang of the Gandiva and achieving fierce feats on the way? Did Duryodhana take, with his shafts, your lives, like the tempest destroying gathering masses of clouds or felling forests of reeds, blowing through them? What man is there that is capable of bearing in battle the wielder of the Gandiva? Hearing only that he is stationed at the head of the (hostile) force, the heart of every foe seems to rend in twain. In that battle in which the troops trembled and even heroes were struck with fear, who were they that did not desert Drona, and who were those cowards that abandoned him from fear? Who were they that, reckless of their lives met Death himself, standing face to face with them, in the shape of Dhananjaya, who hath vanquished even superhuman combatants in battle? My troops are incapable of bearing the impetus of that warrior having white steeds yoked unto his car and the twang of Gandiva, that resembles the roll of the very clouds. That car which has Vishnu himself for its driver and Dhananjaya for its warrior, that car I regard to be incapable of being vanquished by the very gods and the Asuras united together. Delicate, young, and brave, and of a very handsome countenance, that son of Pandu who is gifted with intelligence and skill and wisdom and whose prowess incapable of being baffled in battle, when Nakula with loud noise and afflicting all hostile warriors, rushed at Drona, what heroes (of my army) surrounded him? When Sahadeva who resembles an angry snake of virulent poison, when that hero owning white steeds and invincible in battle, observant of laudable vows, incapable of being baffled in his purposes, gifted with modesty, and never vanquished in fight, came upon us, what heroes (of our army) surrounded him? That warrior who, having crushed the mighty host of the Sauvira king, took for his wife the beautiful Bhoja maiden of symmetrical limbs, that bull among men, viz., Yuyudhana, in whom are always truth and firmness and bravery and Brahmacharya, that warrior gifted with great might, always practising truth, never cheerless, never vanquished, who in battle is equal to Vasudeva and is regarded as his second self, who, through Dhananjaya's instructions, hath become foremost in the use of arrows, and who is equal to Partha himself in weapons, O, what warrior (of my army) resisted that Satyaki, for keeping him away from Drona? The foremost hero among the Vrishnis, exceedingly brave among all bowmen, equal to Rama himself in (knowledge and the use of) weapons and in prowess and fame, (know, O Sanjaya, that) truth and firmness, intelligence and heroism, and knowledge of Brahma, and high weapons, are all in him (Satyaki) of the Satwata race, as the three worlds are in Kesava. What heroes (of my
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army), approaching that mighty bowman, Satyaki, possessed of all those accomplishments and incapable of being resisted by the very gods, surrounded him? The foremost among the Panchalas, possessed of heroism, high-born and the favourite of all high-born heroes, ever achieving good deeds in battle, viz., Uttamaujas, that Prince ever engaged in the welfare of Arjuna, born for only my evil, equal unto Yama, or Vaisaravana, or Aditya, or Mahendra, or Varuna, that prince regarded as a mighty car-warrior and prepared to lay down his life in the thick of battle, O, what heroes (of my army) surrounded him? Who (amongst my warriors) opposed Dhrishtaketu, that single warrior amongst the Chedis who, deserting them, hath embraced the side of the Pandavas, while he rushed upon Drona? Who resisted the heroic Ketumat for keeping him away from Drona, the brave Ketumat who slew prince Durjaya while the latter had taken shelter in Girivraja? What heroes (of my army) surrounded Sikhandin, that tiger among men, who knows the merits and demerits (in his own person) of manhood and femininity, that son of Yajnasena, who is always cheerful in battle, that hero who became the cause of the high-souled Bhishma's death in battle, when he rushed towards Drona? That foremost hero of the Vrishni race, that chief of all bowmen, that brave warrior in whom all accomplishments exist in a greater degree than in Dhananajaya himself, in whom are ever weapons and truth and Brahmacharya, who is equal to Vasudeva in energy and Dhananjaya in strength, who in splendour is equal to Aditya and in intelligence to Vrihaspati, viz., the high-souled Abhimanyu, resembling Death himself with wide-open mouth, O what heroes (of my army) surrounded him when he rushed towards Drona? That youth of vigorous understanding, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., Subhadra's son, O, when he rushed towards Drona, what became the state of your mind? What heroes surrounded those tigers among men, viz., the sons of Draupadi, when they rushed in battle against Drona like rivers rushing towards the sea? Those children who, giving up all (childish) sports for twelve years, and observing excellent vows, waited upon Bhishma for the sake of weapons, those children, viz., Kshatranjaya and Kshatradeva and Kshatravarman and Manada, those heroic sons of Dhrishtadyumna, O, who resisted them, seeking to keep them away from Drona? He whom the Vrishnis regarded as superior in battle to a hundred car-warriors, O, who resisted that great bowman, viz., Chekitana, for keeping him away from Drona? Those five Kekaya brothers, virtuous and possessed of prowess, incapable of being baffled, resembling (in hue) the insects called Indragopakas, with red coats of mail, red weapons and red banners, those heroes that are the maternal cousins of the Pandavas and that always wish for victory unto the latter, O, what heroes (of my army) surrounded those valiant princes when they rushed towards Drona for slaying him? That lord of battle, that foremost of bowmen, that hero of unbaffled aim and great strength, that tiger among men, viz., Yuyutsu, whom many wrathful kings battling together for six months at Varanavata from desire of slaying him could not vanquish, and who in battle at
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[paragraph continues] Varanasi overthrew with a broad-headed arrow that mighty car-warrior, viz., the prince of Kasi, desirous of seizing (at a Swayamvara) a maiden for wife, O, what hero (of my army) resisted him? That mighty bowman, viz., Dhrishtadyumna, who is the chief counsellor of the Pandavas, who is engaged in doing evil to Duryodhana, who was created for Drona's destruction, O, what heroes (of my army) surrounded him when he came towards Drona, breaking through all my ranks and consuming all my warriors in battle? That foremost of all persons conversant with weapons, who has been reared almost on Drupada's lap, O, what warriors (of my army) surrounded that Sikhandin protected by (Arjuna's) weapons, for keeping him away from Drona? He who encompassed this earth by the loud rattle of his car as by a leathern belt, that mighty car-warrior and foremost of all slayers of foes, who, as (a substitute for) all sacrifices, performed, without hindrance, ten Horse sacrifices with excellent food and drink and gifts in profusion, who ruled his subjects as if they were his children, that Usinara's son who in sacrifices gave away kine countless as the grains of sand in the Ganga's stream, whose feat none amongst men have been or will ever be able to imitate, after the performance of whose difficult feats the very gods had cried out, saying, 'We do not see in the three worlds with their mobile and immobile creatures a second person other than Usinara's son who, was, has ever been, or will ever be born, who hath attained to regions (in after-life) which are unattainable by human beings, O, who (amongst my army) resisted that Saivya, that grandson of that Usinara's son, while he came upon (Drona)? What heroes (of my army) surrounded the car-division of that slayer of foes, viz.. Virata, the king of the Matsyas, while it reached Drona in battle? Who kept away from Drona the gigantic Ghatotkacha, that thorn (on the side), of my sons, that warrior who always wishes victory unto the Pandavas, that heroic Rakshasa, possessed of extensive powers of illusion, endued with great strength and great prowess, and born of Bhima in course of a single day, and of whom I entertain very great fears? 1 What, O Srinjaya, can remain unconquered by them for whose sake these and many others are prepared to Jay down their lives in battle? How can the sons of Pritha meet with defeat, they, viz., that have the greatest of all beings, the wielder of the bow called Sarnga, for their refuge and benefactor? Vasudeva is, indeed, the great Master of all the worlds, the Lord of all, and Eternal! Of celestial soul and infinite power, Narayana is the refuge of men in battle. The wise recite his celestial feats. I also will recite them with devotion, for recovering my firmness!'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 11

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      hanta te varṇayiṣyāmi sarvaṃ pratyakṣadarśivān
      yathā sa nyapatad droṇaḥ sāditaḥ pāṇḍusṛñjayaiḥ
  2 senāpatitvaṃ saṃprāpya bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ
      madhye sarvasya sainyasya putraṃ te vākyam abravīt
  3 yat kauravāṇām ṛṣabhād āpageyād anantaram
      senāpatyena māṃ rājann adya satkṛtavān asi
  4 sadṛśaṃ karmaṇas tasya phalaṃ prāpnuhi pārthiva
      karomi kāmaṃ kaṃ te 'dya pravṛṇīṣva yam icchasi
  5 tato duryodhanaś cintya karṇa duḥśāsanādibhiḥ
      tam athovāca durdharṣam ācāryaṃ jayatāṃ varam
  6 dadāsi ced varaṃ mahyaṃ jīvagrāhaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      gṛhītvā rathināṃ śreṣṭhaṃ matsamīpam ihānaya
  7 tataḥ kurūṇām ācāryaḥ śrutvā putrasya te vacaḥ
      senāṃ praharṣayan sarvām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
  8 dhanyaḥ kuntīsuto rājā yasya grahaṇam icchasi
      na vadhārthaṃ sudurdharṣa varam adya prayācasi
  9 kimarthaṃ ca naravyāghra na vadhaṃ tasya kāṅkṣasi
      nāśaṃsasi kriyām etāṃ matto duryodhana dhruvam
  10 āho svid dharmaputrasya dveṣṭā tasya na vidyate
     yad icchasi tvaṃ jīvantaṃ kulaṃ rakṣasi cātmani
 11 atha vā bharataśreṣṭha nirjitya yudhi pāṇḍavān
     rājyāṃśaṃ pratidattvā ca saubhrātraṃ kartum icchasi
 12 dhanyaḥ kuntīsuto rājā sujātā cāsya dhīmataḥ
     ajātaśatrutā satyā tasya yat snihyate bhavān
 13 droṇena tv evam uktasya tava putrasya bhārata
     sahasā niḥsṛto bhāvo yo 'sya nityaṃ pravartate
 14 nākāro gūhitaṃ śakyo bṛhaspatisamair api
     tasmāt tava suto rājan prahṛṣṭo vākyam abravīt
 15 vadhe kuntīsutasyājau nācārya vijayo mama
     hate yudhiṣṭhire pārtho hanyāt sarvān hi no dhruvam
 16 na ca śakyo raṇe sarvair nihantum amarair api
     ya eva caiṣāṃ śeṣaḥ syāt sa evāsmān na śeṣayet
 17 satyapratijñe tv ānīte punardyūtena nirjite
     punar yāsyanty araṇyāya kaunteyās tam anuvratāḥ
 18 so 'yaṃ mama jayo vyaktaṃ dīrghakālaṃ bhaviṣyati
     ato na vadham icchāmi dharmarājasya karhi cit
 19 tasya jihmam abhiprāyaṃ jñātvā droṇo 'rthatattvavit
     taṃ varaṃ sāntaraṃ tasmai dadau saṃcintya buddhimān
 20 [drn]
     na ced yudhiṣṭhiraṃ vīra pālayed arjuno yudhi
     manyasva pāṇḍavaṃ jyeṣṭham ānītaṃ vaśam ātmanaḥ
 21 na hi pārtho raṇe śakyaḥ sendrair devāsurair api
     pratyudyātum atas tāta naitad āmarṣayāmy aham
 22 asaṃśayaṃ sa śiṣyo me mat pūrvaś cāstrakarmaṇi
     taruṇaḥ kīrtiyuktaś ca ekāyanagataś ca saḥ
 23 astrāṇīndrāc ca rudrāc ca bhūyāṃsi samavāptavān
     amarṣitaś ca te rājaṃs tena nāmarṣayāmy aham
 24 sa cāpakramyatāṃ yuddhād yenopāyena śakyate
     apanīte tataḥ pārthe dharmarājo jitas tvayā
 25 grahaṇaṃ cej jayaṃ tasya manyase puruṣarṣabha
     etena cābhyupāyena dhruvaṃ grahaṇam eṣyati
 26 ahaṃ gṛhītvā rājānaṃ satyadharmaparāyaṇam
     ānayiṣyāmi te rājan vaśam adya na saṃśayaḥ
 27 yadi sthāsyati saṃgrāme muhūrtam api me 'grataḥ
     apanīte naravyāghre kuntīputre dhanaṃjaye
 28 phalgunasya samakṣaṃ tu na hi pārtho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     grahītuṃ samare śakyaḥ sendrair api surāsuraiḥ
 29 [s]
     sāntaraṃ tu pratijñāte rājño droṇena nigrahe
     gṛhītaṃ tam amanyanta tava putrāḥ subāliśāḥ
 30 pāṇḍaveṣu hi sāpekṣaṃ droṇaṃ jānāti te sutaḥ
     tataḥ pratijñā sthairyārthaṃ sa mantro bahulīkṛtaḥ
 31 tato duryodhanenāpi grahaṇaṃ pāṇḍavasya tat
     sainyasthāneṣu sarveṣu vyāghoṣitam ariṃdama

 

SECTION XI

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Hear, O Sanjaya, the celestial feats of Vasudeva, feats that Govinda achieved and the like of which no other person hath ever been able to achieve. Whilst being brought up, O Sanjaya, in the family of the cowherd (Nanda), that high-souled one, while yet a boy, made the might of his arms known to the three worlds. Even then he slew Hayaraja, living in the woods (on the shores) of the Yamuna, who was equal to (the celestial steed) Uchchaisravas in strength and the wind itself in speed. 1 In childhood, he also slew with his two bare arms, the Danava, in the form of a bull, of terrible deeds, and risen like Death himself unto all the kine. Of eyes like the lotus petals, he also slew the mighty Asuras named Pralamva, and Naraka, and Jambha, and Pitha, as also Mura, that terror of the celestials. And so also Kansa of mighty energy, who was, besides, protected by Jarasandha, was, with all his followers, slain in battle by Krishna aided by his prowess alone. 2 With Valadeva as his second, that slayer of foes, viz., Krishna, consumed in battle, with all his troops, the king of the Surasenas, viz., Sunaman, of great activity and prowess in battle, the lord of a full Akshauhini, and the valiant second brother of Kansa, the king of the Bhojas. The highly wrathful regenerate Rishi (gratified with the adoration) gave him boons. 3 Of eyes like the lotus petals, and endued with great bravery, Krishna, vanquishing all the kings at a self-choice, bore away the daughter of the king of the Gandharas. Those angry kings, as if they were horses by birth, were yoked unto his nuptial car and were lacerated with the whip. The mighty-armed Janardana also caused Jarasandha, the lord of a full Akshauhini of troops, to be slain through the instrumentality of another. 4 The mighty Krishna also slew the valiant king of Chedis, that leader of kings, as if he were some animal, on the occasion of the latter's disputing about the Arghya. Putting forth his prowess, Madhava hurled unto the sea the Daitya city called Saubha, (moving) in the skies, protected by Salwa, and regarded as impregnable. The Angas, the Vangas, the Kalingas, the Magadhas, the Kasis, the Kosalas, the Vatsyas, the Gargyas, the Karushas and the Paundras,--all these he vanquished in battle. The Avantis, the Southerners, the Mountaineers, the Daserakas, the Kasmirakas, the Aurasikas, the Pisachas, the Samudgalas, the Kamvojas, the Vatadhanas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, O Sanjaya, the Trigartas, the Malavas, the Daradas difficult of being vanquished, the Khasas arrived from diverse realms, as also the Sakas, and the Yavanas with followers, were all vanquished by him of eyes like
p. 24
lotus-petals. In days of old, penetrating into the very sea, he vanquished in battle Varuna himself in those watery depths, surrounded by all kinds of aquatic animals. Slaying in battle (the Danava named) Panchajanya living in the depths of Patala, Hrishikesa obtained the celestial conch called Panchajanya. The mighty Kesava, accompanied by Partha, having gratified Agni at Khandava, obtained his invincible weapon of fire, viz., his discus (called Sudarsana). Riding on Vinata's son and frightening (the denizens of) Amaravati, the heroic Krishna brought from Mahendra himself (the celestial flower called) Parijata. Knowing Krishna's prowess, Sakra quietly bore that act. 1 We have never heard that there is any one among the kings who has not been vanquished by Krishna. That exceedingly wonderful feat also, O Sanjaya, which the lotus-eyed one performed in my court, who else is capable of performing it? And since, humbled by devotion, I was suffered to behold Krishna as the Supreme Lord; everything (about that feat) is well-known to me, myself having witnessed it with my own eyes, O Sanjaya, the end can never be seen of the (infinite) achievements of Hrishikesa. of great energy and great intelligence. Gada, and Samva, and Pradyumna, and Viduratha, and Charudeshna, and Sarana, and Ulmukha, and Nisatha, and the valiant Jhilivabhru, and Prithu, and Viprithu, and Samika, and Arimejaya,--these and other mighty Vrishni heroes, accomplished in smiting, will, standing on the field of battle, take up their position in the Pandava host, when summoned by that Vrishni hero, viz., the high-souled Kesava. Everything (on my side) will then be in great danger. Even this is what I think. And there where Janardana is, there will be the heroic Rama, equal in strength to ten thousand elephants, resembling the Kailasa peak, decked with garlands of wild flowers, and armed with the plough. That Vasudeva, O Sanjaya, whom all the regenerate ones describe as the Father of all, will that Vasudeva fight for the sake of the Pandavas? O son, O Sanjaya, if he puts on his armour for the sake of the Pandavas, there is none amongst us who can be his antagonist. If the Kauravas happen to vanquish the Pandavas, he, of the Vrishni race, will then, for the sake of the latter, take up his mighty weapon. And that tiger among men, that mighty-armed one, slaying then all the kings in battle as also the Kauravas, will give away the whole earth to Kunti's son. What car will advance in battle against that car which has Hrishikesa for its driver and Dhananjaya for its warrior? The Kurus cannot, by any means, gain victory. Tell me, then everything about how the battle took place. Arjuna is Kesava's life and Krishna is always victory; in Krishna is always fame. In all the worlds, Vibhatsu is invincible. In Kesava are infinite merits in excess. The foolish Duryodhana, who doth not know Krishna or Kesava, seems, through Destiny, to have Death's noose before him. Alas, Duryodhana knows not Krishna of Dasarha's race and Arjuna the son of Pandu. These high-souled ones are ancient gods. They are even Nara and Narayana. On earth they
p. 25
are seen by men as; two separate forms, though in reality they are both possessed but by one soul. With the mind alone, that invincible pair, of world-wide fame, can, if only they wish it, destroy this host. Only, in consequence of their humanity they do not wish it. 1 Like a change of the Yuga, the death of Bhishma, O child, and the slaughter of the high-souled Drona, overturn the senses. Indeed, neither by Brahmacharya, nor by the study of the Vedas, nor by (religious) rites, nor by weapons, can any one prevent death. Hearing of the slaughter of Bhishma and Drona, those heroes accomplished in weapons, respected by all the worlds, and invincible in battle, why O Sanjaya, do I yet live? In consequence of the death of Bhishma and Drona, O Sanjaya, we will henceforth have to live as dependants on that prosperity beholding which in Yudhishthira we had before been so jealous. Indeed, this destruction of the Kurus hath come in consequence only of my acts. O Suta, in killing these that are ripe for destruction, the very straw becomes thunderbolt. That prosperity is without end in this; world which Yudhishthira is about to obtain--Yudhishthira through whose wrath both Bhishma and Drona have fallen. In consequence of his very disposition, hath Righteousness gone over to the side of Yudhishthira, while it is hostile to my son. Alas, time, so cruel, that hath now come for the destruction of all, cannot be overcome. Things calculated in one way, O son, even by men of intelligence, become otherwise through Destiny. This is what I think. Therefore, tell me everything that has taken place during the progress of this unavoidable and dreadful calamity productive of the most sorrowful reflection incapable of being crossed over (by us).'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 12

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tatas te sainikāḥ śrutvā taṃ yudhiṣṭhira nigraham
      sinha nādaravāṃś cakrur bāṇaśaṅkharavaiḥ saha
  2 tat tu sarvaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ dharmarājena bhārata
      āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvāja cikīrṣitam
  3 tataḥ sarvān samānāyya bhrātṝn sainyāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ
      abravīd dharmarājas tu dhanaṃjayam idaṃ vacaḥ
  4 śrutaṃ te puruṣavyāghra droṇasyādya cikīrṣitam
      yathā tan na bhavet satyaṃ tathā nītir vidhīyatām
  5 sāntaraṃ hi pratijñātaṃ droṇenāmitrakarśana
      tac cāntaram amogheṣau tvayi tena samāhitam
  6 sa tvam adya mahābāho yudhyasva mad anantaram
      yathā duryodhanaḥ kāmaṃ nemaṃ droṇād avāpnuyāt
  7 [arj]
      yathā me na vadhaḥ karya ācāryasya kathaṃ cana
      tathā tava parityāgo na me rājaṃś cikīrṣitaḥ
  8 apy evaṃ pāṇḍava prāṇān utsṛjeyam ahaṃ yudhi
      pratīyāṃ nāham ācārya tvāṃ na jahyāṃ kathaṃ cana
  9 tvāṃ nigṛhyāhave rājan dhārtarāṣṭro yam icchati
      na sa taṃ jīvaloke 'smin kāmaṃ prāptaḥ kathaṃ cana
  10 prapated dyauḥ sa nakṣatrā pṛthivī śakalībhavet
     na tvāṃ droṇo nigṛhṇīyāj jīvamāne mayi dhruvam
 11 yadi tasya raṇe sāhyaṃ kurute vajrabhṛt svayam
     devair vā sahito daityair na tvāṃ prāpsyaty asau mṛdhe
 12 mayi jīvati rājendra na bhayaṃkartum arhasi
     droṇād astrabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhāt sarvaśastrabhṛtām api
 13 na smarāmy anṛtāṃ vācaṃ na smarāmi parājayam
     na smarāmi pratiśrutya kiṃ cid apy anapākṛtam
 14 [s]
     tataḥ śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca mṛdaṅgāś cānakaiḥ saha
     prāvādyanta mahārāja pāḍavānāṃ niveśane
 15 siṃhanādaś ca saṃjajñe pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
     dhanurjyātalaśabdaś ca gaganaspṛk subhairavaḥ
 16 taṃ śrutvā śaṅkhanirghoṣaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
     tvadīyeṣv apy anīkeṣu vāditrāṇy abhijaghnire
 17 tato vyūḍhāny anīkāni tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata
     śanair upeyur anyonyaṃ yotsyamānāni saṃyuge
 18 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
     pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca droṇa pāñcālyayor api
 19 yatamānāḥ prayatnena droṇānīka viśātane
     na śekuḥ sṛñjayā rājaṃs tad dhi droṇena pālitam
 20 tathaiva tava putrasya rathodārāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     na śekuḥ pāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ pālyamānāṃ kirīṭinā
 21 āstāṃ te stimite sene rakṣyamāṇe parasparam
     saṃprasupte yathā naktaṃ vararājyau supuṣpite
 22 tato ruka ratho rājann arkeṇeva virājatā
     varūthinā viniṣpatya vyacarat pṛtanāntare
 23 tam udyataṃ rathenaikam āśu kāriṇam āhave
     anekam iva saṃtrāsān menire pāṇḍusṛñjayāḥ
 24 tena muktāḥ śarā ghorā viceruḥ sarvatodiśam
     trāsayanto mahārāja pāṇḍaveyasya vāhinīm
 25 madhyaṃ dinam anuprāpto gabhastiśatasaṃvṛtaḥ
     yathādṛśyata gharmāṃśus tathā droṇo 'py adṛśyata
 26 na cainaṃ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ kaś cic chaknoti māriṣa
     vīkṣituṃ samare kruddhaṃ mahendram iva dānavāḥ
 27 mohayitvā tataḥ sainyaṃ bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
     dhṛṣṭadyumna balaṃ tūrṇaṃ vyadhaman niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 28 sa diśaḥ sarvato ruddhvā saṃvṛtya kham ajihmagaiḥ
     pārṣato yatra tatraiva mamṛde pāṇḍuvāhinīm

 

 

SECTION XII

"Sanjaya said, 'Yes, as I saw everything with my own eyes, I will describe to thee how Drona fell down, slain by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas. Having obtained the command of the troops, that mighty car-warrior, viz., Bharadwaja's son, said these words unto thy son in the midst of all the troops, 'Inasmuch as, O king, thou hast honoured me with the command of the troops immediately after that bull among the Kauravas, viz., the son of the Ocean-going (Ganga), take thou, O Bharata, the adequate fruit of that act of thine. What business of thine shall I now achieve? Ask thou the boon that thou desirest.' Then king Duryodhana having consulted with Karna and Duhsasana and others, said unto the preceptor, that invincible warrior and foremost of all victors, these words, 'If thou
p. 26
wouldst give me a boon, then, seizing that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Yudhishthira, alive, bring him unto me here.' Then that preceptor of the Kurus, hearing those words of thy son, returned him the following answer, gladdening all the troops therewith, Praised be Kunti's son (Yudhishthira) whose seizing only thou desirest. O thou that art difficult of being vanquished, thou askest not any other boon (one for example) for his slaughter. For what reason, O tiger among men, dost thou not desire his death? Thou art, without doubt, O Duryodhana, not ignorant of policy. Why, therefore, dost thou not allude to Yudhisthira's death? It is a matter of great wonder that king Yudhisthira, the just, hath no enemy desirous of his death. Inasmuch as thou wishest him to be alive, thou (either) seekest to preserve thy race from extinction, or, O chief of the Bharatas, thou, having vanquished the Pandavas in battle, art desirous of establishing brotherly relation (with them) by giving them their kingdom. Auspicious was the birth of that intelligent prince. Truly is he called Ajatasatru (the foeless one), for even thou bearest affection for him.' Thus addressed by Drona, O Bharata, the feeling that is ever present in thy son's breast suddenly made itself known. Not even persons like Vrihaspati can conceal the expressions of their countenance. For this, thy son, O king, filled with joy, said these words, 'By the slaughter of Kunti's son in battle, O preceptor, victory cannot be mine. If Yudhishthira were slain, Partha then, without doubt, would slay all of us. All of them, again, cannot be slain by the very gods. He amongst them that will, in that case, survive, will exterminate us. Yudhishthira, however, is truthful in his promises. If brought hither (alive), vanquished once more at dice, the Pandavas will once more go to the woods, for they are all obedient to Yudhishthira. It is evident that such a victory will be an enduring one. It is for this that I do not, by any means, desire the slaughter of king Yudhishthira the just.' Ascertaining this crooked purpose of Duryodhana, Drona who was conversant with the truths of the science of profit and gifted with great intelligence, reflected a little and gave him the boon circumscribing it in the following way.'
"Drona said, 'If the heroic Arjuna do not protect Yudhishthira in battle, thou mayst think the eldest Pandava as already brought under thy control. As regards Partha, the very gods and the Asuras together headed by Indra, cannot advance against him in battle. It is for this that I dare not do what thou askest me to do. Without doubt, Arjuna is disciple, and I was his first preceptor in arms. He is, however, young, endued with great good fortune, and excessively intent (on the achievement of his purposes). He hath obtained, again, many weapons from Indra and Rudra. He hath besides been provoked by thee. I dare not, therefore, do what thou askest me. Let Arjuna be removed, by whatsoever means that can be done, from the battle. Upon Partha being withdrawn, thou mayst regard king Yudhishthira as already vanquished. Upon his seizure is victory and not upon his slaughter, O bull among men! Even by stratagem, can his seizure be accomplished. Seizing that king devoted to truth and righteousness, I
p. 27
will, without doubt, O monarch, bring him to thy control this very day, if he stays before me in battle even for a moment, of course, if Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that tiger among men, be withdrawn from the field. In Phalguni's presence, however, O king, Yudhishthira is incapable of being taken in battle even by the gods and the Asuras headed by Indra.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'After Drona had promised the king's seizure even under these limitations, thy foolish sons regarded Yudhishthira as already taken. Thy son (Duryodhana) knew Drona's partiality for the Pandavas. In order to make Drona stick to his promise, therefore, he divulged those counsels. Then, O chastiser of foes, the fact of Drona's having promised to seize the (eldest) Pandava was proclaimed by Duryodhana unto all his troops.'"

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 13

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tataḥ sa pāṇḍavānīke janayaṃs tumulaṃ mahat
      vyacarat pāṇḍavān droṇo dahan kakṣam ivānalaḥ
  2 nirdahantam anīkāni sākṣād agnim ivotthitam
      dṛṣṭvā rukmarathaṃ yuddhe samakampanta sṛñjayāḥ
  3 pratataṃ cāsyamānasya dhanuṣo 'syāśu kāriṇaḥ
      jyāghoṣaḥ śrūyate 'tyarthaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
  4 rathinaḥ sādinaś caiva nāgān aśvān padātinaḥ
      raudrā hastavatā muktāḥ pramathnanti sma sāyakāḥ
  5 nānadyamānaḥ parjanyaḥ sānilaḥ śuci saṃkṣaye
      aśmavarṣam ivāvarṣat pareṣām āvahad bhayam
  6 vyacarat sa tadā rājan senāṃ vikṣobhayan prabhuḥ
      vardhayām āsa saṃtrāsaṃ śātravāṇām amānuṣam
  7 tasya vidyud ivābhreṣu cāpaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam
      bhramad rathāmbude tasmin dṛśyate sma punaḥ punaḥ
  8 sa vīraḥ satyavān prājño dharmanityaḥ sudāruṇaḥ
      yugāntakāle yanteva raudrāṃ prāskandayan nadīm
  9 amarṣavegaprabhavāṃ kravyādagaṇasaṃkulām
      balaughaiḥ sarvataḥ pūrṇāṃ vīra vṛkṣāpahāriṇīm
  10 śoṇitodāṃ rathāvartāṃ hastyaśvakṛtarodhasam
     kavacoḍupa saṃyuktāṃ māṃsapaṅka samākulām
 11 modo majjāsthi sikatām uṣṇīṣa varaphenilām
     saṃgrāmajaladāpūrṇāṃ prāsamatsyasamākulām
 12 naranāgāśvasaṃbhūtāṃ śaravegaughavāhinīm
     śarīradāru śṛṅgāṭāṃ bhujanāgasamākulām
 13 uttamāṅgopala talāṃ nistriṃśajhaṣasevitām
     rathanāgahradopetāṃ nānābharaṇanīrajām
 14 mahārathaśatāvartāṃ bhūmireṇūrmi mālinīm
     mahāvīryavatāṃ saṃkhye sutarāṃ bhīru dustarām
 15 śūra vyālasamākīrṇāṃ prāṇivāṇija sevitām
     chinnac chatramahāhaṃsāṃ mukuṭāṇḍaja saṃkulām
 16 cakrakūrmāṃ gadā nakrāṃ śarakṣudra jhaṣākulām
     baḍa gṛdhrasṛgālānāṃ ghorasaṃghair niṣevitām
 17 nihatān prāṇinaḥ saṃkhye droṇena balinā śaraiḥ
     vahantīṃ pitṛlokāya śataśo rājasattama
 18 śarīraśatasaṃbādhāṃ keśaśaivalaśādvalām
     nadīṃ prāvartayad rājan bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhinīm
 19 taṃ jayantam anīkāni tāni tāny eva bhārata
     sarato 'bhyadravan droṇaṃ yudhiṣṭhirapurogamāḥ
 20 tān abhidravataḥ śūrāṃs tāvakā dṛḍhakārmukāḥ
     sarvataḥ pratyagṛhṇanta tad abhūl lomaharṣaṇam
 21 śatam āyus tu śakuniḥ sahadevaṃ samādravat
     sa niyantṛdhvajarathaṃ vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 22 tasya mādrī sutaḥ ketuṃ dhanuḥ sūtaṃ hayān api
     nātikruddhaḥ śaraiś chittvā ṣaṣṭyā vivyādha mātulam
 23 saubalas tu gadāṃ gṛhya pracaskanda rathottamāt
     sa tasya gadayā rājan rathāt sūtam apātayat
 24 tatas tau virathau rājan gadāhastau mahābalau
     cikrīḍatū raṇe śūrau sa śṛṅgāv iva parvatau
 25 droṇaḥ pāñcālarājānaṃ viddhvā daśabhir āśugaiḥ
     bahubhis tena cābhyastas taṃ vivyādha śatādhikaiḥ
 26 viviṃśatiṃ bhīmaseno viṃśatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     viddhvā nākampayad vīras tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 27 viviṃśatis tu sahasā vyaśva ketuśarāsanam
     bīmaṃ cakre mahārāja tataḥ sainyānya pūjayan
 28 sa tan na mamṛṣe vīraḥ śatror vijayam āhave
     tato 'sya gadayā dāntān hayān sarvān apātayat
 29 śalyas tu nakulaṃ vīraḥ svasrīyaṃ priyam ātmanaḥ
     vivyādha prahasan bāṇair lāḍayan kopayann iva
 30 tasyāśvān ātapatraṃ ca dhvajaṃ sūtam atho dhanuḥ
     nipātya nakulaḥ saṃkhye śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān
 31 dhṛṣṭaketuḥ kṛpenāstāṃś chittvā bahuvidhāñ śarān
     kṛpaṃ vivyādha saptatyā lakṣma cāsyāharat tribhiḥ
 32 taṃ kṛpaḥ śaravarṣeṇa mahatā samavākirat
     nivārya ca raṇe vipro dhṛṣṭaketum ayodhayat
 33 sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmāṇaṃ nārācena stanāntare
     viddhvā vivyādha saptatyā punar anyaiḥ smayann iva
 34 sapta saptatibhir bhojas taṃ viddhvā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     nākampayata śaineyaṃ śīghro vāyur ivācalam
 35 senāpatiḥ suśarmāṇaṃ śīghraṃ marmasv atāḍayat
     sa cāpi taṃ tomareṇa jatru deśe atāḍayat
 36 vaikartanaṃ tu samare virāṭaḥ pratyavārayat
     saha matsyair mahāvīryais tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 37 tat pauruṣam abhūt tatra sūtaputrasya dāruṇam
     yat sainyaṃ vārayām āsa śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 38 drupadas tu svayaṃ rājā bhagadattena saṃgataḥ
     tayor yuddhaṃ mahārāja citrarūpam ivābhavat
     bhūtānāṃ trāsajananaṃ cakrāte 'straviśāradau
 39 bhūriśravā raṇe rājan yājñaseniṃ mahāratham
     mahatā sāyakaughena chādayām āsa vīryavān
 40 śikhaṇḍī tu tataḥ kruddhaḥ saumadattiṃ viśāṃ pate
     navatyā sāyakānāṃ tu kampayām āsa bhārata
 41 rākṣasau bhīmakarmāṇau haiḍimbālambusāv ubhau
     cakrāte 'tyadbhutaṃ yuddhaṃ parasparavadhaiṣiṇau
 42 māyā śatasṛjau dṛptau māyābhir itaretaram
     antarhitau ceratus tau bhṛśaṃ vismayakāriṇau
 43 cekitāno 'nuvindena yuyudhe tv atibhairavam
     yathā devāsure yuddhe balaśakrau mahābalau
 44 lakṣmaṇaḥ kṣatradevena vimardam akarod bhṛśam
     yathā viṣṇuḥ purā rājan hiraṇyākṣeṇa saṃyuge
 45 tataḥ prajavitāśvena vidhivat kalpitena ca
     rathenābhyapatad rājan saubhadraṃ pauravo nadan
 46 tato 'bhiyāya tvarito yuddhākāṅkṣī mahābalaḥ
     tena cakre mahad yuddham abhimanyur ariṃdamaḥ
 47 pauravas tv atha saubhadraṃ śaravrātair avākirat
     tasyārjunir dhvajaṃ chatraṃ dhanuś corvyām apātayat
 48 saubhadraḥ pauravaṃ tv anyair viddhvā saptabhir āśugaiḥ
     pañcabhis tasya vivyādha hayān sūtaṃ ca sāyakaiḥ
 49 tataḥ saṃharṣayan senāṃ siṃhavad vinadan muhuḥ
     samādattārjunis tūrṇaṃ pauravānta karaṃ śaram
 50 dvābhyāṃ śarābhyāṃ hārdikyaś cakarta sa śaraṃ dhanuḥ
     tad utsṛjya dhanuś chinnaṃ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā
     udbabarha sitaṃ khaḍgam ādadānaḥ śarāvaram
 51 sa tenāneka tāreṇa carmaṇā kṛtahastavat
     bhrāntāsir acaran mārgān darśayan vīryam ātmanaḥ
 52 bhrāmitaṃ punar udbhrāntam ādhūtaṃ punar ucchritam
     carma nistriṃśayo rājan nirviśeṣam adṛśyata
 53 sa paurava rathasyeṣām āplutya sahasā nadan
     pauravaṃ ratham asthāya keśapakṣe parāmṛśat
 54 jaghānāsya padā sūtam asināpātayad dhvajam
     vikṣobhyāmbho nidhiṃ tārkṣyas taṃ nāgam iva cākṣipat
 55 tam ākalitakeśāntaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarvapārthivāḥ
     ukṣāṇam iva siṃhena pātyamānam acetanam
 56 tam ārjunivaśaṃ prāptaṃ kṛṣyamāṇam anāthavat
     pauravaṃ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā nāmṛṣyata jayadrathaḥ
 57 sa barhiṇamahāvājaṃ kiṅkiṇīśatajālavat
     carma cādāya khaḍgaṃ ca nadna paryapatad rathāt
 58 tataḥ saindhavam ālokya kārṣṇir utsṛjya pauravam
     utpapāta rathāt tūrṇaṃ śyenavan nipapāta ca
 59 prāsapaṭṭiśanistriṃśāñ śatrubhiḥ saṃpraveritān
     cicchedāthāsinā kārṣṇiś carmaṇā saṃrurodha ca
 60 sa darśayitvā sainyānāṃ svabāhulbalam ātmanaḥ
     tam udyamya mahākhaḍgaṃ carma cātha punar balī
 61 vṛddhakṣatrasya dāyādaṃ pitur atyantavairiṇam
     sasārābhimukhaḥ śūraḥ śārdūla iva kuñjaram
 62 tau parasparam āsādya khaḍgadanta nakhāyudhau
     hṛṣṭavat saṃprajahrāte vyāghrakesariṇāv iva
 63 saṃpāteṣv abhipāteṣu nipāteṣv asi carmaṇoḥ
     na tayor antaraṃ kaś cid dadarśa narasiṃhayoḥ
 64 avakṣepo 'si nirhrādaḥ śastrāntara nidarśanam
     bāhyāntara nipātaś ca nirviśeṣam adṛśyata
 65 bāhyam ābhyantaraṃ caiva carantau mārgam uttamam
     dadṛśāte mahātmānau sa pakṣāv iva parvatau
 66 tato vikṣipataḥ khaḍgaṃ saubhadrasya yaśasvinaḥ
     śarāvaraṇa pakṣānte prajahāra jayadrathaḥ
 67 rukmapakṣāntare saktas tasmiṃś carmaṇi bhāsvare
     sindhurājabalodhūtaḥ so 'bhajyata mahān asiḥ
 68 bhagnam ājñāya nistriṃśam avaplutya paḍāni ṣaṭ
     so 'dṛśyata nimeṣeṇa svarathaṃ punar āsthitaḥ
 69 taṃ kārṣṇiṃ samarān muktam āsthitaṃ ratham uttamam
     sahitāḥ sarvarājānaḥ parivavruḥ samantataḥ
 70 tataś carma ca khaḍgaṃ ca samutkṣipya mahābalaḥ
     nanādārjuna dāyādaḥ prekṣamāṇo jayadratham
 71 sindhurājaṃ parityajya saubhadraḥ paravīrahā
     tāpayām āsa tat sainyaṃ bhuvanaṃ bhāskaro yathā
 72 tasya sarvāyasīṃ śaktiṃ śalyaḥ kanakabhūṣaṇām
     cikṣepa samare ghorāṃ dīptām agniśikhām iva
 73 tām avaplutya jagrāha sa kośaṃ cāradorasim
     vainateyo yathā kārṣṇiḥ patantam uragottamam
 74 tasya lāghavam ājñāya sattaṃ cāmitatejasaḥ
     sahitāḥ sarvarājānaḥ siṃhanādam athānadan
 75 tatas tām eva śalyasya saubhadraḥ paravīrahā
     mumoca bhujavīryeṇa vaiḍūrya vikṛtājirām
 76 sā tasya ratham āsādya nirmuktabhujagopamā
     jaghāna sūtaṃ śalyasya rathāc cainam apātayat
 77 tato virāṭadrupadau dhṛṣṭaketur yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     sātyakiḥ kekayā bhīmo dhṛṣṭadyumna śikhaṇḍinau
     yamau ca draupadeyāś ca sādhu sādhv iti cukruśuḥ
 78 bāṇaśabdāś ca vividhāḥ siṃhanādāś ca puṣkalāḥ
     prādurāsan harṣayantaḥ saubhadram apalāyinam
     tan nāmṛṣyanta putrās te śatror vijayalakṣaṇam
 79 athainaṃ sahasā sarve samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     abhyākiran mahārāja jaladā iva parvatam
 80 teṣāṃ ca priyam anvicchan sūtasya ca parābhavāt
     ārtāyanir amitraghnaḥ kruddhaḥ saubhadramābhyayāt

 

SECTION XIII

"Sanjaya said, 'After Drona had promised the kings seizure under those limitations, thy troops hearing of (that promise about) Yudhishthira's capture, uttered many leonine shouts, mingling them with the whiz of their arrows and the blare of their conchs. King Yudhishthira the just, however, O Bharata, soon learnt in detail, through his spies, everything about the purpose upon which Bharadwaja's son was intent. Then bringing together all his brothers and all the other kings of his army, king Yudhishthira the just addressed Dhananjaya, saying, 'Thou hast heard, O tiger among men, about the intention of Drona. Let such measures, therefore, be adopted as may prevent the accomplishment of that purpose. It is true, Drona, that grinder of foes, hath vowed his pledge, subject to limitations, however, O great bowman, rest on thee. Fight thou, therefore, today, O thou of mighty arms, in my vicinity, so that Duryodhana may not obtain from Drona the fruition of his desire.'
"Arjuna said, 'As the slaughter of my preceptor can never be accomplished by me, so, king, I can never consent to give thee up. O son of Pandu, I would rather yield up my life in battle than fight against my preceptor. This son of Dhritarashtra desireth sovereignty, having seized thee as a captive in battle. In this world he will never obtain the fruition of that desire of his. The firmament itself with its stars may fall down, the Earth herself may split into fragments, yet Drona will, surely, never succeed in seizing thee as long as I am alive. If the wielder of the thunderbolt himself, or Vishnu at the head of the gods, assist him in battle, still he shall not succeed in seizing thee on the field. As long as I am alive, O great king, it behoveth thee not to entertain any fear of Drona, although he is the foremost of all wielders of weapons. I further say unto thee. O monarch,
p. 28
that my promise never remains unfulfilled. I do not recollect having ever spoken any untruth. I do not recollect having ever been vanquished. I do not recollect having ever, after making a vow, left the least part of it unfulfilled.
"Sanjaya continued, 'Then, O king, conchs and drums and cymbals and smaller drums were sounded and beaten in the Pandava camp. And the high-souled Pandavas uttered many leonine shouts. These and the awful twang of their bow-strings and the slaps of palms reached the very heaven. Hearing that loud blare of conchs that arose from the camp of the mighty sons of Pandu, diverse instruments were sounded amongst thy divisions also. Then thy divisions as also those of theirs were arrayed in order of battle. And slowly they advanced against each other from desire of battle. Then commenced a battle, that was fierce and that made the hairs stand on their ends, between the Pandavas and the Kurus, and Drona and the Panchalas. The Srinjayas, though struggling vigorously, were unable to beat in battle the host of Drona as it was protected by Drona himself. And so also the mighty car-warriors of thy son, skilled in smiting, could not beat the Pandava host, as it was protected by the Diadem-decked (Arjuna). Protected by Drona and Arjuna, both the hosts seemed to stand inactive like two blossoming forests in the silence of the night. Then he, of the golden car, (viz., Drona) like the Sun himself of great splendour, crushing the ranks of the Pandavas, careered through them at will. And the Pandavas, and the Srinjayas, through fear, regarded that single warrior of great activity upon his quickly-moving car as if multiplied into many. Shot by him, terrible shafts coursed in all directions, frightening, O king, the army of Pandu's son. Indeed, Drona then seemed as the Sun himself at mid-day covered by a hundred rays of light. And as the Danavas were unable to look at Indra, so there was not one amongst the Pandavas, who. O monarch, was able to look at the angry son of Bharadwaja in that battle. The valiant son of Bharadwaja then, having confound the (hostile) troops, speedily began to consume the division of Dhrishtadyumna by means of sharp shafts. And covering and obstructing all the points of the compass by means of his straight shafts, he began to crush the Pandava force even there, where Prishata's son was.'"

ok 7
Chapter 14

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      bahūni suvicitrāṇi dvaṃdva yuddhāni saṃjaya
      tvayoktāni niśamyāhaṃ spṛhayāmi sa cakṣuṣām
  2 āścaryabhūtaṃ lokeṣu kathayiṣyanti mānavāḥ
      kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yuddhaṃ devāsuropamam
  3 na hi me tṛptir astīha śṛṇvato yuddham uttamam
      tasmād ārtāyaner yuddhaṃ saubhadrasya ca śaṃsa me
  4 [s]
      sāditaṃ prekṣya yantāraṃ śalyaḥ sarvāyaṣīṃ gadām
      samutkṣipya nadan kruddhaḥ pracaskanda rathottamāt
  5 taṃ dīptam iva kālāgniṃ daṇḍahastam ivāntakam
      javenābhyapatad bhīmaḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām
  6 saubhadro 'py aśaniprakhyāṃ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām
      ehy ehīty abravīc chalyaṃ yatnād bhīmena vāritaḥ
  7 vārayitvā tu saubhadraṃ bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān
      śalyam āsādya samare tasthau girir ivācalaḥ
  8 tathaiva madrarājo 'pi bhīmaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahābalam
      sasārābhimukhas tūrṇaṃ śārdūla iva kuñjaram
  9 tatas tūryaninādāś ca śaṅkhānāṃ ca sahasraśaḥ
      siṃhanādāś ca saṃjajñur bherīṇāṃ ca mahāsvanāḥ
  10 paśyatāṃ śataśo hy āsīd anyonyasamacetasām
     pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca sādhu sādhv iti nisvanaḥ
 11 na hi madrādhipād anyaḥ sarvarājasu bhārata
     soḍhum utsahate vegaṃ bhīmasenasya saṃyuge
 12 tathā madrādhipasyāpi gadā vegaṃ mahātmanaḥ
     soḍhum utsahate loke ko 'nyo yudhi vṛkodarāt
 13 paṭṭair jāmbūnadair baddhā babhūva janaharṣiṇī
     prajajvāla tathā viddhā bhīmena mahatī gadā
 14 tathaiva carato mārgān maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ
     mahāvidyut pratīkāśā śalyasya śuśubhe gadā
 15 tau vṛṣāv iva nardantau maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ
     āvarjitagadā śṛṅgāv ubhau śalya vṛkodarau
 16 maṇḍalāvarta mārgeṣu gadā viharaṇeṣu ca
     nirviśeṣam abhūd yuddhaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ
 17 tāḍitā bhīmasenena śalyasya mahatī gadā
     sāgnijvālā mahāraudrā gadā cūrṇam aśīryata
 18 tathaiva bhīmasenasya dviṣatābhihatā gadā
     varṣā pradoṣe khadyotair vṛto vṛkṣa ivābabhau
 19 gadā kṣiptā tu samare madrarājena bhārata
     vyoma saṃdīpayānā sā sasṛje pāvakaṃ bahu
 20 tathaiva bhīmasenena dviṣate preṣitā gadā
     tāpayām āsa tat sainyaṃ maholkā patatī yathā
 21 te caivobhe gade śreṣṭhe samāsādya parasparam
     śvasantyau nāgakanyeva sasṛjāte vibhāvasum
 22 nakhair iva mahāvyāghrau dantair iva mahāgajau
     tau viceratur āsādya gadābhyāṃ ca parasparam
 23 tato gadāgrābhihatau kṣaṇena rudhirokṣitau
     dadṛśāte mahātmānau puṣpitāv iva kiṃśukau
 24 śuśruve dikṣu sarvāsu tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ
     gadābhighāta saṃhrādaḥ śakrāśanir ivopamaḥ
 25 gadayā madrarājena savyadakṣiṇamāhataḥ
     nākampata tadā bhīmo bhidyamāna ivācalaḥ
 26 tathā bhīma gadā vegais tāḍyamāno mahābalaḥ
     dhairyān madrādhipas tasthau vajrair girir ivāhataḥ
 27 āpetatur mahāvegau samucchritamahāgadau
     punar antaramārgasthau maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ
 28 athāplutya padāny aṣṭau saṃnipatya gajāv iva
     sahasā lohadaṇḍābhyām anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
 29 tau parasparavegāc ca gadābhyāṃ ca bhṛśāhatau
     yugapat petatur vīrau kṣitāv indradhvajāv iva
 30 tato vihvalamānaṃ taṃ niḥśvasantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
     śalyam abhyapatat tūrṇaṃ kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
 31 dṛṣṭvā cainaṃ mahārāja gadayābhinipīḍitam
     viceṣṭantaṃ yathā nāgaṃ mūrchayābhipariplutam
 32 tataḥ sagadam āropya madrāṇām adhipaṃ ratham
     apovāha raṇāt tūrṇaṃ kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
 33 kṣībavad vihvalo vīro nimeṣāt punar utthitaḥ
     bhīmo 'pi sumahābāhur gadāpāṇir adṛśyata
 34 tato madrādhipaṃ dṛṣṭvā tava putrāḥ parāṅmukham
     sa nāgarathapattyaśvāḥ samakampanta māriṣa
 35 te pāṇḍavair ardyamānās tāvakā jitakāśibhiḥ
     bhītā diśo 'nvapadyanta vātanunnā dhanā iva
 36 nirjitya dhārtarāṣṭrāṃs tu pāṇḍaveyā mahārathāḥ
     vyarocanta raṇe rājan dīpyamānā yaśasvinaḥ
 37 siṃhanādān bhṛśaṃ cakruḥ śaṅkhān dadhmuś ca harṣitāḥ
     bherīś ca vārayām āsur mṛdaṅgāṃś cānakaiḥ saha

 

SECTION XIV

"Sanjaya said, 'Then Drona, causing a great confusion in the Pandava host, careered through it, like a conflagration consuming (a forest of) trees. Beholding that angry warrior, owning a golden car, consume their divisions like a raging conflagration, the Srinjayas trembled (in fear). The twang, in that battle, of the constantly stretched bow of that warrior of great activity
p. 29
was heard to resemble the roar of the thunder. 1 Fierce shafts shot by Drona, endued with great lightness of hand, began to crush car-warriors and horsemen and elephant-warriors and foot soldiers along with elephants and steeds. Showering his arrows as the roaring clouds at the close of summer, assisted by the wind, pour hail-stones, he inspired fear in the hearts of the foe. Coursing (through the hostile ranks), O king, and agitating the troops, the mighty Drona enhanced the unnatural fear entertained by the enemy. The gold-decked bow, on his quickly-moving car, was repeatedly seen to resemble the lightning's flash amid a mass of dark clouds. That hero, firm in truth, endued with wisdom, and always devoted, besides, to righteousness, caused an awful river of angry current, such as may be seen at the end of the Yuga, to flow there. And that river had its source in the impetuosity of Drona's wrath, and it was haunted by crowds of carnivorous creatures. And the combatants constituted the waves that filled its entire surface. And heroic warriors constituted the trees on its banks whose roots were constantly eaten away by its current. And its waters were constituted by the blood that was shed in that battle, and cars constituted its eddies, and elephants and steeds formed its banks. And costs of mail constituted its lilies, and the flesh of creatures the mire on its bed. And the fat, marrow, and bones (of fallen animals and men) formed the sands on its beach, and (fallen) head-gears its froth. And the battle itself that was fought there constituted the canopy above its surface. And lances constituted the fish with which it abounded. And it was inaccessible in consequence of the large number of (slain) men, elephants, and steeds (that fell in it). And the impetus of the shaft shot constituted its current. And the slain bodies themselves constituted the timber floating on it. And cars constituted its tortoises. And heads constituted the stones scattered on its banks and bed, and scimitars, its fish in profusion. And cars and elephants formed its lakes. And it was decked with many adornments. And mighty car-warriors constituted its hundreds of little whirlpools. And the dust of the earth constituted its wavelets. And capable of being easily crossed by those possessed of exceeding energy, it was incapable of being crossed by the timid. And heaps of dead bodies constituted the sand-banks obstructing its navigation. And it was the haunt of Kankas and vultures and other birds of prey. And it carried away thousands of mighty-car-warriors to the abode of Yama. And long spears constituted the snakes that infested it in profusion. And the living combatants constituted the fowls sporting on its waters. 2 Torn umbrellas constituted its large swans. Diadems formed the (smaller) birds that adorned it. Wheels constituted its turtles, and maces its alligators, and arrows its smaller fish. And it was the resort of frightful swarms of crows and vultures and
p. 30
jackals. And that river, O best of kings, bore away in hundreds, to the region of the Pitris, the creatures that were slain by Drona in battle. Obstructed by hundreds of bodies (floating on it), the hair (of slain warriors and animals) constituted its moss and weeds. Even such was the river, enhancing the fears of the timid, that Drona caused to flow there. 1
"And when Drona was thus grinding the hostile army hither and thither, the Pandava warriors headed by Yudhishthira rushed at that mighty car-warrior from all sides. Then seeing them thus rushing (towards Drona), brave combatants of thy army, possessed of unyielding prowess, rushed from every side. And the battle that thereupon ensued made the hair stand on end. Sakuni, full of a hundred kinds of deceit, rushed towards Sahadeva, and pierced the latter's charioteer, and standard, and car, with many keen-pointed shafts. Sahadeva, however, without being much excited, cutting off Sauvala's standard and bow and car-driver and car, with sharp arrows, pierced Sauvala himself with sixty shafts. Thereupon, Suvala's son, taking up mace, jumped down from his excellent car, and with that mace, O king, he felled Sahadeva's driver from the latter's car. Then these two heroic and mighty warriors, O monarch, both deprived of car, and both armed with mace, sported in battle like two crests of hills. Drona, having pierced the ruler of the Panchalas with ten shafts, was, in return, pierced by the latter with many shafts. And the latter was again pierced by Drona with a larger number of shafts. Bhimasena pierced Vivinsati with sharp arrows. The latter, however, thus pierced, trembled not, which seemed to be highly wonderful. Vivinsati then, O monarch, suddenly deprived Bhimasena of his steeds and standard and bow. And thereupon all the troops worshipped him for that feat. The heroic Bhimasena, however, brooked not that exhibition of prowess by his enemy in battle. With his mace, therefore, he slew the well-trained steeds of Vivinsati. Then the mighty Vivinsati, taking up a shield (and sword) jumped down from that car whose steeds had been slain, and rushed against Bhimasena like an infuriated elephant rushing against an infuriated compeer. The heroic Salya, laughing the while, pierced, as if in dalliance, his own dear nephew, Nakula. with many shafts for angering him. The valiant Nakula, however, cutting off his uncle's steeds and umbrella and standard and charioteer and bow in that battle, blew his conch. Dhrishtaketu, engaged with Kripa, cut off diverse kinds of arrows shot at him by the latter, and then pierced Kripa, with seventy arrows. And then he cut off the device of Kripa's standard with three arrows. Kripa, however, began to oppose him with a thick shower of arrows. And resisting him in this way, the Brahmana fought on with Dhrishtaketu. Satyaki, laughing the while, pierced Kritavarman in the centre of the chest with a long arrow. And piercing him then with seventy
p. 31
arrows, he once more pierced him with many others. The Bhoja warrior, however, in return, pierced Satyaki with seventy arrows of keen points. Like the swiftly-coursing winds failing to move a mountain, Kritavarman was unable to move Satyaki or make him tremble. Senapati deeply struck Susarman in his vitals. Susarman also struck his antagonist with a lance on the shoulder-joint. Virata, aided by his Matsya warriors of great energy, resisted Vikartana's son in that battle. And that feat (of the Matsya king) seemed highly wonderful. Even this was regarded as an act of great valour on the part of the Suta's son, in that, he singly resisted that whole force by means of his straight shafts. King Drupada was engaged with Bhagadatta. And the battle between those two warriors became beautiful to behold. That bull among men, viz., Bhagadatta, pierced king Drupada and his driver and standard and car with many straight shafts. Then Drupada, excited with wrath, quickly pierced that mighty car-warrior in the chest with a straight shaft. Those two foremost of warriors on earth, viz., Somadatta's son and Sikhandin, both conversant with every weapon, encountered each other in fierce battle that made all creatures tremble with fear. The valiant Bhurisravas, O king, covered that mighty car-warrior, Yajnasena's son Sikhandin, with a thick shower of arrows. Sikhandin, then O monarch, excited with wrath, pierced Somadatta's son with ninety shafts, and caused him, O Bharata, to tremble. Those Rakshasas of fierce deeds, viz., Hidimba's son and Alamvusha, each desirous of vanquishing the other, battled most wonderfully. Both capable of creating a hundred illusions, both swelling with pride, battled with each other most wonderfully, relying on their powers of illusion, and each desirous of vanquishing the other. The fierce Chekitana battled with Anuvinda. They coursed on the field, disappearing at times, and causing great wonder. Lakshmana fought fiercely with Kshatradeva, even as Vishnu, O monarch, in days of old, with the (Asura) Hiranyaksha. With his fleet steeds and upon his car duly equipped, Paurava, O king, roared at Abhimanyu. Endued with great might, Paurava then rushed at Abhimanyu, desirous of battle. Then that chastiser of foes, viz., Abhimanyu fought fiercely with that foe. Paurava covered Subhadra's son with a thick shower of arrows. Thereupon, Arjuna's son felled his antagonist's standard and umbrella and bow on earth. 1 Then piercing Paurava with seven arrows, Subhadra's son pierced the latter's driver and steeds with five arrows. Gladdening his troops thus, he then repeatedly roared like a lion. Then Arjuna's son quickly fixed an arrow on his bow-string that was certain to take away Paurava's life. Beholding however, that arrow of frightful mien fixed on Abhimanyu's bow-string, Haridika's son, with two shafts, cut off that bow and arrow. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., Subhadra's son, throwing aside that broken bow, took up a bright sword and a shield. Whirling with great speed that shield decked with many stars, and whirling that sword
p. 32
also, he coursed on the field, exhibiting his prowess. Whirling them before him, and whirling them on high, now shaking them and now jumping up himself, from the manner of his handling those weapons, it seemed that (with him) there is no difference between that offensive and that defensive weapons. Jumping suddenly then upon the shafts of Paurava's car, he roared aloud. Mounting next upon his car, he seized Paurava by the hair, and slaying meanwhile with a kick, the latter's driver, he felled his standard with a stroke of his sword. And as regards Paurava himself, Abhimanyu raised him up, like the Garuda raising a snake from the bottom of the sea agitating the waters. Thereupon, all the kings beheld Paurava (standing helpless) with dishevelled hair, and looking like an ox deprived of its senses while on the point of being slain by a lion. Beholding Paurava thus prostrated, placed under the control of Arjuna's son, and dragged helplessly, Jayadratha was unable to brook it. Taking up a sword as also a shield that bore the device of a peacock and was decked with a hundred bells of small size suspended in rows, Jayadratha jumped down from his car with a loud roar. Then Subhadra's son (Abhimanyu), beholding the ruler of the Sindhus, let Paurava alone, and leaping up like a hawk from the latter's car, quickly alighted on the earth. The lances and aves and scimitars hurled by his foes--Arjuna's son cut off by means of his sword or warded off by his shield. Thus showing unto all the warriors the strength of his own arms the mighty [and heroic] Abhimanyu, once more upraising his large and heavy sword as also his shield, 1 proceeded towards Vriddhakshatra's son who was a sworn foe of his (Abhimanyu's) father, like a tiger proceeding against an elephant. Approaching they cheerfully attacked each other with their swords like a tiger and a lion with their claws and teeth. And none could notice any difference between those two lions among men as regards the whirl-strokes, and descent of their swords and shields. 2 And as regards the descent and the whiz of their swords, and the warding off of each other's blows, it seemed there was no distinction between the two. Coursing, beautifully in outward and inward tracks, those two illustrious warriors seemed to be like two winged mountains. Then Jayadratha struck on the shield of the renowned Abhimanyu when the latter stretched his sword for making a pass at him. Then, O Bharata, Jayadratha's large sword sticking into Abhimanyu's shield covered with golden plate, broke, as the ruler of the Sindhus attempted to draw it off forcibly. Seeing his sword broken, Jayadratha hastily retreated six steps and was seen within a twinkle of the eye to be mounted on his own car. Then Arjuna's son also, that combat with the sword being over, ascended his own excellent car. Many kings, then, of the Kuru army, uniting together, surrounded him on all sides. The mighty son of Arjuna, however, eyeing Jayadratha, whirled his sword and shield, and uttered a loud shout. Having vanquished the ruler of the Sindhus, Subhadra's son, that slayer
p. 33
of hostile heroes, then began to scorch that division of the Kaurava army like Sun scorching the world. Then in that battle Salya hurled at him a fierce dart made wholly of iron, decked with gold, and resembling a blazing flame of fire. Thereupon, Arjuna's son, jumping up, caught hold of that dart, like Garuda catching a mighty snake falling from above. And having seized it thus, Abhimanyu unsheathed his sword. Witnessing the great activity and might of that warrior of immeasurable energy, all the kings together uttered a leonine shout. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Subhadra, hurled with the might of his arms at Salya himself that very dart of great effulgence, decked with stones of lapis lazuli. Resembling a snake that has recently cast off its slough, that dart, reaching Salya's car slew the latter's driver and felled him from his niche of the vehicle. Then Virata and Drupada, and Dhristaketu, and Yudhishthira, and Satyaki, and Kekaya, and Bhima, and Dhrishtadyumna, and Sikhandin, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and the five sons of Draupadi, all exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!' And diverse kinds of sounds due to the shooting of arrows, and many leonine shouts, arose there, gladdening the unretreating son of Arjuna. Thy sons, however, could not brook those indications of the victory of their foe. Then all of them suddenly surrounded Subhadra's son and covered him, O king, with showers of arrows like the clouds pouring rain on the mountain-breast. Then that slayer of foes, viz., Artayani (Salya), wishing good of thy sons, and remembering the overthrow of his own driver, rushed in rage against Subhadra's son.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 15

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tad balaṃ sumahad dīrṇaṃ tvadīyaṃ prekṣya vīryavān
      dadhāraiko raṇe pāṇḍūn vṛṣaseno 'stramāyayā
  2 śarā daśa diśo muktā vṛṣasenena māriṣa
      vicerus te vinirbhidyanara vājirathadvipān
  3 tasya dīptā mahābāṇā viniśceruḥ sahasraśaḥ
      bhānor iva mahābāho grīṣma kāle marīcayaḥ
  4 tenārditā mahārāja rathinaḥ sādhinas tathā
      nipetur urvyāṃ sahasā vātanunnā iva drumāḥ
  5 hayaughāṃś ca rathaughāṃś ca gajaughāṃś ca samantataḥ
      apātayad raṇe rājañ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
  6 dṛṣṭvā tam evaṃ samare vicarantam abhītavat
      sahitāḥ sarvarājānaḥ parivavruḥ samantataḥ
  7 nākulis tu śatānīko vṛṣasenaṃ samabhyayāt
      vivyādha cainaṃ daśabhir nārācair marmabhedibhiḥ
  8 tasya karṇātmajaś cāpaṃ chittvā ketum apātayat
      taṃ bhrātaraṃ parīpsanto draupadeyāḥ samabhyayuḥ
  9 karṇātmajaṃ śaravrātaiś cakruś cādṛśyam añjasā
      tān nadanto 'bhyadhāvanta droṇaputra mukhā rathāḥ
  10 chādayanto mahārāja draupadeyān mahārathān
     śarair nānāvidhais tūrṇaṃ parvatāñ jaladā iva
 11 tān pāṇḍavāḥ pratyagṛhṇaṃs tvaritāḥ putragṛddhinaḥ
     pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ sṛñjayāṃś codyatāyudhāḥ
 12 tad yuddham abhavad ghoraṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
     tvadīyaiḥ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ devānām iva dānavaiḥ
 13 evam uttamasaṃrambhā yuyudhuḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ
     parasparam udīkṣantaḥ parasparakṛtāgasaḥ
 14 teṣāṃ dadṛśire kopād vapūṃṣy amitatejasām
     yuyutsūnām ivākāśe patatrivarabhoginām
 15 bhīmakarṇa kṛpa droṇa drauṇipārṣata sātyakaiḥ
     babhāse sa raṇoddeśaḥ kālasūryair ivoditaiḥ
 16 tadāsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ nighnatām itaretaram
     mahābalānāṃ balibhir dānavānāṃ yathā suraiḥ
 17 tato yudhiṣṭhirānīkam uddhūtārṇava nisvanam
     tvadīyam avadhīt sainyaṃ saṃpradruta mahāratham
 18 tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā śatrubhir bhṛśam arditam
     alaṃ drutena vaḥ śūrā iti droṇo 'bhyabhāṣata
 19 tataḥ śoṇa hayaḥ kruddhaś caturdanta iva dvipaḥ
     praviśya pāṇḍavānīkaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat
 20 tam avidhyac chitair bāṇaiḥ kaṅkapatrair yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     tasya droṇo dhanuś chittvā taṃ drutaṃ samupādravat
 21 cakrarakṣaḥ kumāras tu pāñcālānāṃ yaśaḥ karaḥ
     dadhāra droṇam āyāntaṃ veleva saritāṃ patim
 22 droṇaṃ nivāritaṃ dṛṣṭvā kumāreṇa dvijarṣabham
     siṃhanāda ravo hy āsīt sādhu sādhv iti bhāṣatām
 23 kumāras tu tato droṇaṃ sāyakena mahāhave
     vivyādhorasi saṃkruddhaḥ siṃhavac cānadan muhuḥ
 24 saṃvārya tu raṇe droṇaḥ kumāraṃ vai mahābalaḥ
     śarair anekasāhasraiḥ kṛtahasto jitaklamaḥ
 25 taṃ śūram ārya vratinam astrārtha kṛtaniśramam
     cakrarakṣam apāmṛdnāt kumāraṃ dvijasattamaḥ
 26 sa madhyaṃ prāpya senāyāḥ sarvāḥ paricaran diśaḥ
     tava sainyasya goptāsīd bhāradvājo ratharṣabhaḥ
 27 śikhaṇḍinaṃ dvādaśabhir viṃśatyā cottamaujasam
     nakulaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā sahadevaṃ ca saptabhiḥ
 28 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dvādaśabhir draupadeyāṃs tribhis tribhiḥ
     sātyakiṃ pañcabhir viddhvā matsyaṃ ca daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 29 vyakṣobhayad raṇe yodhān yathāmukhyān abhidravan
     abhyavartata saṃprepsuḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
 30 yugaṃdharas tato rājan bhāradvājaṃ mahāratham
     vārayām āsa saṃkruddhaṃ vātoddhūtam ivārṇavam
 31 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ sa viddhvā tu śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     yugaṃdharaṃ ca bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat
 32 tato virāṭadrupadau kekayāḥ sātyakiḥ śibiḥ
     vyāghradattaś ca pāñcālyaḥ siṃhasenaś ca vīryavān
 33 ete cānye ca bahavaḥ parīpsanto yudhiṣṭhiram
     āvavrus tasya panthānaṃ kirantaḥ sāyakān bahūn
 34 vyāghradattaś ca pāñcālyo droṇaṃ vivyādha mārgaṇaiḥ
     pañcāśadbhiḥ śitai rājaṃs tata uccukruśur janāḥ
 35 tvaritaṃ siṃhasenas tu droṇaṃ viddhvā mahāratham
     prāhasat sahasā hṛṣṭas trāsayan vai yatavratam
 36 tato visphārya nayane dhanurjyām avamṛjya ca
     talaśabdaṃ mahat kṛtvā droṇas taṃ samupādravat
 37 tatas tu siṃhasenasya śiraḥ kāyāt sakuṇḍalam
     vyāghradattasya cākramya bhallābhyām aharad balī
 38 tān pramṛdya śaravrātaiḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathān
     yudhiṣṭhira samabhyāśe tasthau mṛtyur ivāntakaḥ
 39 tato 'bhavan mahāśabdo rājan yaudhiṣṭhire bale
     hṛto rājeti yodhānāṃ samīpasthe yatavrate
 40 abruvan sainikās tatra dṛṣṭvā droṇasya vikramam
     adya rājā dhārtarāṣṭraḥ kṛtārtho vai bhaviṣyati
     āgamiṣyati no nūnaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃyuge
 41 evaṃ saṃjalpatāṃ teṣāṃ tāvakānāṃ mahārathaḥ
     āyāj javena kauneyo rathaghoṣeṇa nādayan
 42 śoṇitodāṃ rathāvartāṃ kṛtvā viśasane nadīm
     śūrāsthi cayasaṃkīrṇāṃ pretakūlāpahāriṇīm
 43 tāṃ śaraughamahāphenāṃ prāsamatsyasamākulām
     nadīm uttīrya vegena kurūn vidrāvya pāṇḍavaḥ
 44 tataḥ kirīṭī sahasā droṇānīkam upādravat
     chādayann iṣujālena mahatā mohayann iva
 45 śīghram abhyasyato bāṇān saṃdadhānasya cāniśam
     nāntaraṃ dadṛśe kaś cit kaunteyasya yaśasvinaḥ
 46 na diśo nāntarikṣaṃ ca na dyaur naiva ca medinī
     adṛśyata mahārāja bāṇabhūtam ivābhavat
 47 nādṛśyata tadā rājaṃs tatra kiṃ cana saṃyuge
     bāṇāndha kāre mahati kṛte gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
 48 sūrye cāstam anuprāpte rajasā cābhisaṃvṛte
     nājñāyata tadā śatrur na suhṛn na ca kiṃ cana
 49 tato 'vahāraṃ cakrus te droṇaduryodhanādayaḥ
     tān viditvā bhṛśaṃ trastān ayuddhamanasaḥ parān
 50 svāny anīkāni bībhatsuḥ śanakair avahārayat
     tato 'bhituṣṭuvuḥ pārthaṃ prahṛṣṭāḥ pāṇḍusṛñjayāḥ
     pāñcālāś ca manojñābhir vāgbhiḥ sūryam ivarṣayaḥ
 51 evaṃ svaśibiraṃ prāyāj jitvā śatrūn dhanaṃjayaḥ
     pṛṣṭhataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ mudito vai sa keśavaḥ
 52 masāragalvarkasuvarṇarūpyair; vajrapravāla sphaṭikaiś ca mukhyaiḥ
     citre rathe pāṇḍusuto babhāse; nakṣatracire viyatīva candraḥ

 

SECTION XV

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Thou hast, O Sanjaya, described to me many excellent single combats. Hearing about them, I envy those that have eyes. This battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas, resembling that (of old) between the gods and the Asuras, will be spoken of as exceedingly wonderful by all men. I am scarcely gratified by listening to thy narrations of this stirring battle. Tell me, therefore, about this combat between Artayani (Salya) and Subhadra's son.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding his driver slain, Salya, upraising a mace made wholly of iron, jumped down in rage from his excellent car. Bhima, then taking up his own huge mace, quickly rushed towards Salya who then resembled the blazing Yuga-fire or the Destroyer himself armed with his bludgeon. Subhadra's son also, taking up a prodigious mace resembling the bolt of heaven, addressed Salya, saying, 'Come, Come!' Bhima, however, with much ado, persuaded him to stand aside. The valiant Bhimasena, then, having persuaded Subhadra's son to stand aside, approached Salya
p. 34
in battle and stood immovable as a hill. The mighty ruler of Madras also, beheld Bhima, and proceeded towards him like a tiger towards an elephant. Then was heard there the loud blare of trumpets and conchs by thousands and leonine shouts, and the sound of drums. And loud cries of 'Bravo, Bravo,' arose among hundreds of Pandava and Kaurava warriors rushing towards each other. There is none else among all the kings, O Bharata, save the ruler of Madras who can venture to bear the might of Bhimasena in battle; similarly, who else save Vrikodara, in the world, can venture to bear the impetus of the illustrious Salya's mace in battle? Bound in hempen strings mixed with wires of gold, the prodigious mace, of Bhima, capable of delighting by its beauty all spectators, being grasped by him, shone, brilliantly. And similarly the mace of Salya, also, who coursed in beautiful circles, looked like a blazing flash of lightning. Both of them roared like bulls, and both coursed in circles. And both Salya and Vrikodara, standing as they did, with their maces slightly bent, looked like a couple of horned bulls. Whether as regards coursing in circles or in whirling and striking with their maces, the combat that took place between those two lions among men was in every way equal. Struck by Bhimasena with his mace, the prodigious mace of Salya, emitting fierce sparks of fire, soon broke unto fragments. And similarly, Bhimasena's mace, struck by the foe, looked beautiful like a tree covered fire-flies during the season of rains at even-tide. And the mace that the ruler of Madras hurled in that battle, irradiating the welkin, O Bharata, frequently caused sparks of fire (to fly around). Similarly, the mace hurled by Bhimasena at the foe scorched his antagonist's forces like a fierce meteor falling down (from the firmament). And both those best of maces, striking against each other, resembled sighing she-snakes and caused flashes of fire. Like two large tigers attacking each other with their claws, or like two mighty elephants with their tusks, those mighty warriors coursed in circles, encountering each other with those two foremost of maces, and soon covered with blood, those two illustrious warriors seemed to resemble a couple of flowering Kinsukas. And the blows, loud as Indra's thunder, of the maces wielded by those two lions among men were heard on all sides. Struck by the ruler of Madras with his mace on both the left and the right side, Bhima moved not in the least, like a hill riven by the thunder. Similarly, the mighty ruler of Madras, struck by Bhima with his mace, patiently stood still like a hill struck with the thunder. Both of them, with upraised maces, endued as they were with great impetus, fell upon each other, coursing in shorter circles. Quickly nearing each other, then by eight steps and falling upon each other like two elephants, they suddenly struck each other with those maces of theirs made entirely or iron. And each of those heroes, in consequence of the other's impetuosity and violence being struck with each other's mace, fell down at the same instant of time like a couple of Indra's poles. Then the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman quickly approached Salya who, deprived of his senses, was breathing hard as he lay on the field. And beholding him, O king, struck violently with the
p. 35
mace, and writhing like a snake, and deprived of his senses in a swoon, the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, taking him upon his car, quickly bore the ruler of Madras away from the field. Reeling like a drunken man, the heroic Bhima of mighty arms, rising up within the twinkling of an eye, stood mace in hand. Thy sons then, beholding the ruler of the Madras turn away from the fight, began, O sire, to tremble, along with their elephants, and foot-soldiers, and cavalry, and cars. Ground then by the Pandavas desirous of victory, those warriors of thy army, struck with fear, fled away in all directions, like masses of clouds driven away by the wind. And those mighty car-warriors, viz., the Pandavas, having vanquished the Dhritarashtras, looked resplendent in that battle. O king, like blazing fires. And they uttered loud leonine roars, and blew their conchs, elated with joy. And they beat their drums, large and small, and cymbals and other instruments.'"

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 16

 

 

 

1 [s]
      te sene śibiraṃ gatvā nyaviśetāṃ viśāṃ pate
      yathābhāgaṃ yathānyāyaṃ yathā gulmaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
  2 kṛtvāvahāraṃ sainyānāṃ droṇaḥ paramadurmanāḥ
      duryodhanam abhiprekṣya savrīḍam idam abravīt
  3 uktam etan mayā pūrvaṃ na tiṣṭhati dhanaṃjaye
      śakyo grahītuṃ saṃgrāme devair api yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  4 iti tad vaḥ prayatatāṃ kṛtaṃ pārthena saṃyuge
      mātiśaṅkīr vaco mahyam ajeyau kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
  5 apanīte tu yogena kena cic chveta vāhane
      tata eṣyati te rājan vaśam adya yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  6 kaś cid āhvayatāṃ saṃkhye deśam anyaṃ prakarṣatu
      tam ajitvā tu kaunteyo na nivartet kathaṃcanan
  7 etasminn antare śūnye dharmarājam ahaṃ nṛpa
      grahīṣyāmi camūṃ bhittvā dhṛṣṭadyumnasya paśyataḥ
  8 arjunena vihīnas tu yadi notsṛjate raṇam
      mām upāyāntam ālokya gṛhītam iti viddhi tam
  9 evaṃ te sahasā rājan dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      samāneṣyāmi sagaṇaṃ vaśam adya na saṃśayaḥ
  10 yadi tiṣṭhati saṃgrāme muhūrtam api pāṇḍavaḥ
     athāpayāti saṃgrāmād vijayāt tad viśiṣyate
 11 droṇasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā trigartādhipatis tataḥ
     bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito rājann idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 12 vayaṃ vinikṛtā rājan sadā gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
     anāgaḥsv api cāgaskṛd asmāsu bharatarṣabha
 13 te vayaṃ smaramāṇās tān vinikārān pṛthagvidhān
     krodhāgninā dahyamānā na śemahi sadā niśāḥ
 14 sa no divyāstrasaṃpannaś cakṣurviṣayam āgataḥ
     kartāraḥ sma vayaṃ sarvaṃ yac cikīrṣāma hṛdgatam
 15 bhavataś ca priyaṃ yat syād asmākaṃ ca yaśaḥ karam
     vayam enaṃ haniṣyāmo nikṛṣyāyodhanād bahiḥ
 16 adyāstv anarjunā bhūmir atrigartātha vā punaḥ
     satyaṃ te pratijānīmo naitan mithyā bhaviṣyati
 17 evaṃ satyarathaś coktvā satyadharmā ca bhārata
     satyavarmā ca satyeṣuḥ satyakarmā tathaiva ca
 18 sahitā bhrātaraḥ pañca rathānām ayutena ca
     nyavartanta mahārāja kṛtvā śapatham āhave
 19 mālavās tuṇḍikerāś ca rathānām ayutais tribhiḥ
     suśarmā ca naravyāghras trigartaḥ prasthalādhipaḥ
 20 mācellakair lalitthaiś ca sahito madrakair api
     rathānām ayutenaiva so 'śapad bhrātṛbhiḥ saha
 21 nānājanapadebhyaś ca rathānām ayutaṃ punaḥ
     samutthitaṃ viśiṣṭānāṃ saṃśapārtham upāgatam
 22 tato jvalanam ādāya hutvā sarve pṛthak pṛthak
     jagṛhuḥ kuśacīrāṇi citrāṇi kavacāni ca
 23 te ca baddhatanu trāṇā ghṛtāktāḥ kuśacīriṇaḥ
     maurvī mekhalino vīrāḥ sahasraśatadakṣiṇāḥ
 24 yajvānaḥ putriṇo lokyāḥ kṛtakṛtyās tanutyajaḥ
     yokṣyamāṇās tadātmānaṃ yaśasā vijayena ca
 25 brahmacarya śrutimukhaiḥ kratubhiś cāptadakṣiṇaiḥ
     prāpya lokān suyuddhena kṣipram eva yiyāsavaḥ
 26 brāhmaṇāṃs tarpayitvā ca niṣkān dattvā pṛthak pṛthak
     gāś ca vāsāṃsi ca punaḥ samābhāṣya parasparam
 27 prajvālya kṛṣṇa vartmānam upāgamya raṇe vratam
     tasminn agnau tadā cakruḥ pratijñāṃ dṛḍhaniścayāḥ
 28 śṛṇvatāṃ sarvabhūtānām uccair vācaḥ sma menire
     dhṛtvā dhanaṃjaya vadhe pratijñāṃ cāpi cakrire
 29 ye vai lokāś cānṛtānāṃ ya caiva brahma ghātinām
     panapasya ca ye lokā guru dāraratasya ca
 30 brahma svahāriṇaś caiva rājapiṇḍāpahāriṇaḥ
     śaraṇāgataṃ ca tyajato yācamānaṃ tathā ghnataḥ
 31 agāra dāhināṃ ye ca ye ca gāṃ nighnatām api
     apacāriṇāṃ ca ye lokā ye ca brahma dviṣām api
 32 jāyāṃ ca ṛtukāle vai ye mohād abhigacchatām
     śrāddhasaṃgatikānāṃ ca ye cāpy ātmāpahāriṇām
 33 nyāsāpahāriṇāṃ ye ca śrutaṃ nāśayatāṃ ca ye
     kopena yudhyamānānāṃ ye ca nīcānusāriṇām
 34 nāstikānāṃ ca ye lokā ye 'gnihorā pitṛtyajām
     tān āpnuyāmahe lokān ye ca pāpakṛtām api
 35 yady ahatvā vayaṃ yuddhe nivartema dhanaṃjayam
     tena cābhyarditās trāsād bhavema hi parāṅmukhāḥ
 36 yadi tv asukaraṃ loke karma kuryāma saṃyuge
     iṣṭān puṇyakṛtāṃ lokān prāpnuyāma na saṃśayaḥ
 37 evam uktvā tato rājaṃs te 'bhyavartanta saṃyuge
     āhvayanto 'rjunaṃ vīrāḥ pitṛjuṣṭāṃ diśaṃ prati
 38 āhūtas tair naravyāghraiḥ pārthaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
     dharmarājam idaṃ vākyam apadāntaram abravīt
 39 āhūto na nivarteyam iti me vratam āhitam
     saṃśaptakāś ca māṃ rājann āhvayanti punaḥ punaḥ
 40 eṣa ca bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ suśarmāhvayate raṇe
     vadhāya sagaṇasyāsya mām anujñātum arhasi
 41 naitac chaknomi saṃsoḍhum āhvānaṃ puruṣarṣabha
     satyaṃ te pratijānāmi hatān viddhi parān yudhi
 42 [y]
     śrutam etat tvayā tāta yad droṇasya cikīrṣitam
     yathā tad anṛtaṃ tasya bhavet tadvat samācara
 43 droṇo hi balavāñ śūraḥ kṛtāstraś ca jitaśramaḥ
     pratijñātaṃ ca tenaitad grahaṇaṃ me mahāratha
 44 [arj]
     ayaṃ vai satyajid rājann adya te rakṣitā yudhi
     dhriyamāṇe hi pāñcālye nācāryaḥ kāmam āpsyati
 45 hate tu puruṣavyāghre raṇe satyajiti prabho
     sarvair api sametair vā na sthātavyaṃ kathaṃ cana
 46 [s]
     anujñātas tato rājñā pariṣvaktaś ca phalgunaḥ
     premṇā dṛṣṭaś ca bahudhā āśiṣā ca prayojitaḥ
 47 vihāyainaṃ tataḥ pārthas trigartān pratyayād balī
     kṣudhitaḥ kṣud vighātārthaṃ siṃho mṛgagaṇān iva
 48 tato dauryodhanaṃ sainyaṃ mudā paramayā yutam
     gate 'rjune bhṛśaṃ kruddhaṃ karma rājasya nigrahe
 49 tato 'nyonyena te sene samājagmatur ojasā
     gaṅgā sarayvor vegena prāvṛṣīvolbaṇodake

 

SECTION XVI

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding that army of thine exceedingly broken, the valiant Vrishasena, single-handed, began to protect it, O king, displaying the illusion of his weapons. Shot by Vrishasena in that battle, thousands of arrows coursed in all directions, piercing through men and steeds and cars and elephants. Mighty arrows, of blazing effulgence, shot by him, coursed in thousands, like the rays, O monarch, of the sun, in the summer season. Afflicted and crushed therewith, O king, car-warriors and horse-men, suddenly fell down on the earth, like trees broken by the wind. The mighty car-warrior Vrishasena, O king, felled large bodies of steeds, of cars and of elephants, in that battle, by thousands. Beholding that single warrior coursing fearlessly on the field, all the kings (of the Pandava army) uniting together, surrounded him on all sides. Nakula's son, Satanika, rushed at Vrishasena and pierced him with ten arrows capable of penetrating into the vitals. The son of Karna, however, cutting off his bow, felled then his standard. Thereupon, the other sons of Draupadi, desirous of rescuing that brother of theirs, rushed at him. And soon they made Karna's son invisible by means of their arrowy showers. Against them thus smiting (the son of Karna), many car-warriors headed by Drona's son (Aswatthama) rushed. And those, O monarch, quickly covered those mighty car-warriors, viz., the sons of Draupadi, with diverse kinds of arrows like clouds pouring rain on mountain breasts. Thereupon, the Pandavas, from affection for their sons, quickly encountered those assailants. The battle then that took place between thy troops and those of the Pandavas, was exceedingly fierce and made the hairs stand on their ends, resembling as it did that between the Gods and the Danavas. Even
p. 36
thus did the heroic Kauravas and the Pandavas, excited with rage, fight, eyeing one another (furiously) and having incurred one another's animosity for past offences. The bodies of those heroes of immeasurable energy then seemed, in consequence of (the) wrath (that inspired them), to resemble those of Garuda and (mighty) Nagas battling in the sky. And with Bhima and Karna and Kripa and Drona and Drona's son and Prishata's son and Satyaki, the field of battle looked resplendent like the all-destructive sun that rises at the end of the Yuga. The battle that took place between those mighty men engaged with mighty antagonists and all smiting one another was fierce in the extreme, resembling that (of yore) between the Danavas and the gods. Then Yudhishthira's host, uttering a shout, loud as that of the surging sea, began to slaughter thy troops, the great car-warriors of thy army having fled away. Beholding the (Kaurava) host broken and excessively mangled by the foe, Drona said, 'Ye heroes, ye need not fly away.' Then he (Drona) owning red steeds, excited with wrath and resembling a (fierce) elephant with four tusks, penetrated into the Pandava host and rushed against Yudhishthira. Then Yudhishthira pierced the preceptor with many whetted arrows equipped with Kanka feathers; Drona, however, cutting off Yudhishthira's bow, rushed impetuously at him. Then the protector of Yudhishthira's car-wheels, Kumara, the renowned prince of the Panchalas, received the advancing Drona, like the continent receiving the surging sea. Beholding Drona, that bull among Brahmanas, held in check by Kumara, loud leonine shouts were heard there with cries of 'Excellent, Excellent!' Kumara then, in that great battle, excited with rage, pierced Drona with an arrow in the chest and uttered many leonine shouts. Having checked Drona in battle, the mighty Kumara, endued with great lightness of hand, and above all fatigue, pierced him with many thousands of arrows. Then that bull among men (Drona) slew that protector of Yudhishthira's car-wheels, Kumara, that hero observant of virtuous vows and accomplished in both mantras and weapons. And then penetrating into the midst of the (Pandava) host and careering in all directions, that bull among men, Bharadwaja's son, became the protector of thy troops. And piercing Sikhandin with twelve arrows, and Uttamaujas with twenty, and Nakula with five, and Sahadeva with seven, and Yudhishthira with twelve, and each of the (five) sons of Draupadi with three, and Satyaki with five, and the ruler of Matsyas with ten arrows, and agitating the entire host in that battle, he rushed against one after another of the foremost warriors (of the Pandavas). And then he advanced against Kunti's son, Yudhisthira, from a desire of seizing him. Then Yugandhara, O king, checked Bharadwaja's son, that mighty car-warrior, filled with rage and resembling the very ocean lashed into fury by the tempest. Bharadwaja's son, however, having pierced Yudhishthira with many straight arrows, felled Yugandhara with a broad-headed shaft from his niche in the car. Then, Virata and Drupada, and the Kaikeya princes, and Satyaki, and Sivi, and Vyaghradatta, the prince n the Panchalas, and the valiant Singhasena, these, and many others,
p. 37
desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira, surrounded Drona on all sides and impeded his way, scattering countless arrows. Vyaghradatta, the prince of the Panchalas, pierced Drona with fifty keen-pointed arrows, at which, O king, the troops uttered loud shouts. Then Singhasena also, quickly piercing that mighty car-warrior, Drona, roared aloud in joy, striking terror into the hearts of mighty car-warriors; Drona then expanding his eyes and rubbing his bowstring and producing loud sound of slaps by his palms, rushed against the latter. Then the mighty son of Bharadwaja, putting forth his prowess, cut off with a couple of broad-headed arrows the heads decked with earrings from the trunks of both Singhasena and Vyaghradatta. And afflicting also, with his arrowy showers, the other mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, he stood in front of Yudhishthira's car, like all-destroying Death himself. Then, O king, loud cries were heard among the warriors of Yudhishthira's army to the effect, 'The king is slain,' when Bharadwaja's son, of regulated vows, thus, stood in his vicinity. And the warriors there all exclaimed, beholding Drona's prowess, 'Today the royal son of Dhritarashtra will be crowned with success. This very moment Drona having seized Yudhishthira, will, filled, with joy, assuredly come to us and Duryodhana's presence. While thy soldiers were indulging in such talks, Kunti's son (Arjuna) quickly came there, filling (the welkin) with the rattle of his car, and creating, as he came, owing to the carnage he caused, a river whose waters were blood, and whose eddies were cars, and which abounded with the bones and bodies of brave warriors and which bore creatures away to where the spirits of the departed dwell. And the son of Pandu came there, routing the Kurus, and quickly crossing that river whose froth was constituted by showers of arrows and which abounded with fish in the form of lances and other weapons. And the diadem-decked (Arjuna) suddenly came upon Drona's divisions, covering it with a thick net-work of arrows and confounding the very sense (of those that followed Drona). Incessantly placing his arrows on the bow-string and quickly shooting them, none could notice any lapse of time between these two acts of the renowned son of Kunti. Neither (four cardinal) directions, nor the firmament above, nor the earth, O king, could any longer be distinguished, for everything then became one dense mass of arrows. Indeed, O king, when the wielder of Gandiva caused that thick darkness by means of his arrows, nothing could be seen in that battle. Just then the sun also set, enveloped with a dusty cloud. Neither friend nor foe could any longer be distinguished. Then Drona and Duryodhana and others caused the withdrawal of their troops. And ascertaining the foe to be inspired with fear and unwilling to continue the fight, Vibhatsu also slowly caused his troops to be withdrawn. Then the Pandavas and the Srinjayas and the Panchalas, filled with joy, praised Partha with delightful speeches like the Rishis praising the Sun. Having vanquished his foes thus, Dhananjaya then, filled with joy, retired to his tent, proceeding in the rear of the whole army, with Kesava as his companion. And stationed on his beautiful car decked with the costliest
p. 39
specimens of sapphires and rubies and gold and silver and diamonds and corals and crystals, the son of Pandu looked resplendent like the moon in the firmament bespangled with stars.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 17

 

 

 1 [s]
      tataḥ saṃśaptakā rājan same deśe vyavasthitāḥ
      vyūhyānīkaṃ rathair eva candrārdhākhyaṃ mudānvitāḥ
  2 te kirīṭinam āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā harṣeṇa māriṣa
      udakrośan naravyāghrāḥ śabdena mahatā tadā
  3 sa śabdaḥ pradiśaḥ sarvā diśaḥ khaṃca samāvṛṇot
      āvṛtatvāc ca lokasya nāsīt tatra pratisvanaḥ
  4 atīva saṃprahṛṣṭāṃs tān upalabhya dhanaṃjayaḥ
      kiṃ cid abhyutsmayan kṛṣṇam idaṃ vacanam abravīt
  5 paśyaitān devakī mātur mumūrṣūn adya saṃyuge
      bhrātṝṃs traigartakān evaṃ roditavye praharṣitān
  6 atha vā harṣakālo 'yaṃ traigartānām asaṃśayam
      kunarair duravāpān hi lokān prāpsyanty anuttamān
  7 evam uktvā mahābāhur hṛṣīkeśaṃ tato 'rjunaḥ
      āsasāda raṇe vyūḍhāṃ traigartānām anīkinīm
  8 sa devadattam ādāya śaṅkhaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam
      dadhmau vegena mahatā phalgunaḥ pūrayan diśaḥ
  9 tena śabdena vitrastā saṃśaptakavarūthinī
      niśceṣṭāvasthitā saṃkye aśmasāramayī yathā
  10 vāhās teṣāṃ vivṛttākṣāḥ stabdhakarṇa śirodharāḥ
     viṣṭabdha caraṇā mūtraṃ rudhiraṃ ca prasusruvuḥ
 11 upalabhya ca te saṃjñām avasthāpya ca vāhinīm
     yugapat pāṇḍuputrāya cikṣipuḥ kaṅkapatriṇaḥ
 12 tāny arjunaḥ sahasrāṇi daśa pañcaiva cāśugaiḥ
     anāgatāny eva śaraiś cicchedāśu parākramaḥ
 13 tato 'rjunaṃ śitair bāṇair daśabhir daśabhiḥ punaḥ
     pratyavidhyaṃs tataḥ pārthas tān avidhyat tribhis tribhiḥ
 14 ekaikas tu tataḥ pārthaṃ rājan vivyādha pañcabhiḥ
     sa ca tān prativivyādha dvābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ parākramī
 15 bhūya eva tu saṃrabdhās te 'rjunaṃ saha keśavam
     āpūrayañ śarais tīkṣṇais taṭākam iva vṛṣṭibhiḥ
 16 tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi prāpatann arjunaṃ prati
     bhramarāṇām iva vrātāḥ phulladrumagaṇe vane
 17 tataḥ subāhus triṃśadbhir adrisāramayair dṛḍhaiḥ
     avidhyad iṣubhir gāḍhaṃ kirīṭe savyasācinam
 18 taiḥ kirīṭī kirīṭasthair hemapuṅkhair ajihmagaiḥ
     śātakumbhamayāpīḍo babhau yūpa ivocchritaḥ
 19 hastāvāpaṃ subāhos tu bhallena yudhi pāṇḍavaḥ
     ciccheda taṃ caiva punaḥ śaravarṣair avākirat
 20 tataḥ suśarmā daśabhiḥ surathaś ca kirīṭinam
     sudharmā sudhanuś caiva subāhuś ca samarpayan
 21 tāṃs tu sarvān pṛthag bāṇair vānarapravara dhvajaḥ
     pratyavidhyad dhvajāṃś caiṣāṃ bhallaiś ciccheda kāñcanān
 22 sudhanvano dhanuś chittvā hayān vai nyavadhīc charaiḥ
     atrāsya saśirastrāṇaṃ śiraḥ kāyād apāharat
 23 tasmiṃs tu patite vīre trastās tasya padānugāḥ
     vyadravanta bhayād bhītā yena dauryodhanaṃ balam
 24 tato jaghāna saṃkruddho vāsavis tāṃ mahācamūm
     śarajālair avicchinnais tamaḥ sūrya ivāṃśubhiḥ
 25 tato bhagne bale tasmin viprayāte samantataḥ
     savyasācini saṃkruddhe traigartān bhayam āviśat
 26 te vadhyamānāḥ pārthena śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     amuhyaṃs tatra tatraiva trastā mṛgagaṇā iva
 27 tatas trigartarāṭ kruddhas tān uvāca mahārathān
     alaṃ drutena vaḥ śūrā na bhayaṃkartum arhatha
 28 śaptvā tu śapathān ghorān sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
     gatvā dauryoghanaṃ sainyaṃ kiṃ vā vakṣyatha mukhyagāḥ
 29 nāvahāsyāḥ kathaṃ loke karmaṇānena saṃyuge
     bhavema sahitāḥ sarve nivartadhvaṃ yathābalam
 30 evam uktās tu te rājann udakrośan muhur muhuḥ
     śaṅkhāṃś ca dadhmire vīrā harṣayantaḥ parasparam
 31 tatas te saṃnyavartanta saṃśaptakagaṇāḥ punaḥ
     nārāyaṇāś ca gopālāḥ kṛtvā mṛtyuṃ nivartanam

 

SECTION XVII

"Sanjaya said, 'The troops of both the armies, having proceeded to their tents, duly took up their quarters, O king, according to the divisions and the sub-divisions to which they belonged. Having withdrawn the troops, Drona, in great cheerlessness of mind, beholding Duryodhana, said these words in shame: 'I told thee before that when Dhananjaya is by Yudhishthira, he is incapable of being seized in battle by the very gods. Although all of you fell upon him in battle, yet Partha frustrated all your attempts. Do not doubt what I say, Krishna and Pandu's son (Arjuna) are invincible. If, however, Arjuna of white steeds can, by any means, be withdrawn (from Yudhishthira's side), then Yudhishthira, O king, shall soon come under thy control. Let some one challenging him (Arjuna) in battle draw him away to some other part of the field. The son of Kunti will not return without vanquishing him. Meanwhile, when Arjuna will not be by, O monarch, I will seize king Yudhishthira the just, penetrating through the Pandava host in the very sight of Dhrishtadyumna. Thus, O monarch, I will, without doubt, bring Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, along with his followers, under control. If that son of Pandu stays even for a moment before me in battle, I will bring him a captive from the field. That feat will be more advantageous than victory (over the Pandava army).'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing those words of Drona, the ruler of the Trigartas, O monarch, with his brothers, said these words: 'We, O king, are always humiliated by the wielder of Gandiva! O bull of Bharata's race, although we have done him no injury, yet he hath always injured us. Remembering all those diverse instances of humiliation, we burn in wrath and are never able to sleep at night. By good luck, that Arjuna, armed with weapons, will stand before us. That therefore, which is in our heart and which we strive to accomplish, we are resolved to achieve now, that viz., which will be agreeable to thee, and which will bring us renown. Taking him out of the field will slay him. Let the earth today be without Arjuna or let it be without the Trigartas. We truly swear this before thee. This our vow will never be false.' And Satyaratha and Satyavarman, O Bharata, and Satyavrata and Satyeshu, and Satyakarman also, having spoken similarly, those five brothers together, with ten thousand cars, came, O king, (before Duryodhana), having taken that oath on the field of battle. And the Malavas, and the Tundikeras with thousand cars,
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and the tiger among men, Susarman, the ruler of Prasthala, with the Mavellakas, the Lalithas, and the Madrakas, accompanied by ten thousand cars and his brothers, and with another ten thousand cars from diverse realms came forward for taking the oath. Then bringing fire, and each making preparations for igniting one for himself, they took up ropes Kusa grass and beautiful coats of mail. And equipped in mail, bathed in clarified butter, clad in robes of Kusa grass, and with their bow-strings serving as girdles, those heroes, who had given away hundreds and thousands as presents to Brahmanas, who had performed many sacrifices, had been blessed with children, and were deserving of blessed regions hereafter, who had nothing more to do in this world, who were deserving of blessed regions hereafter, who were prepared to lay down their lives in battle, and who devoted their souls to the attainment of fame and victory, who were desirous of soon repairing by fair fight to those regions (hereafter) that are attainable by means only of sacrifices, with abundant presents to Brahmanas, and by means also of the rites, the chief amongst which are Brahmacharya and study of the Vedas, those heroes, having each gratified Brahmanas by giving them gold, 1 and kine, and robes, and having addressed one another in loving discourse, ignited those fires and took that vow in battle. And in the presence of those fires, firmly resolved, they took that vow. And having made that vow for the slaughter of Dhananjaya, they, in the hearing of creatures, very loudly said, Those regions that are for persons who have never adopted any vows, are for one who drinketh wine, those that are for him who hath adulterous connection with his preceptor's wife, those that are for him who robbeth the property of a Brahmana, or for him who enjoyeth the king's grant without satisfying the condition of that grant or for him who abandoneth one asking for shelter, or for him who slayeth a candidate for his favour, those that are for persons that set fire to houses and for those that slay kine, those regions that are for those that injure others, those that are for persons harbouring malice against Brahmanas, those that are for him who from folly doth not seek the companionship of his wife in her season, those also that are for those that seek the companionship of women on the day they have to perform the Sraddha of their ancestors, those that are for persons that injure their own selves, or for those that misappropriate what is deposited with them from confidence or for those that destroy learning, or for those who battle with eunuchs, or for those that follow persons that are mean those regions that are for atheists, or for those that abandon their (sacred) fires and mothers, and those regions also that are for the sinful, those shall be ours, if without slaying Dhananjaya we return from the field, or if, ground by him on the field, we turn back from fear. If, again, we succeed in achieving in battle feats the most difficult of accomplishment in the world, we shalt then, without doubt, obtain the most desirable regions. Having said these
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words, O king, those heroes then marched to battle, summoning Arjuna towards the southern part of the field. That tiger among men, and subjugator of hostile cities, Arjuna, thus challenged by them, said these words unto king Yudhishthira the Just without any delay: 'Summoned, I never turn back. This is my fixed vow. These men, sworn to conquer or die, are summoning me, O king, to great battle. This Susarman here, with his brothers, summoneth me to battle. It behoveth thee to grant me permission for slaying him, with all his followers. O bull among men, I am unable to brook this challenge. I tell thee truly, know these foes to be (already) slain in battle.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'Thou hast heard, O child, in detail, what Drona hath resolved to accomplish. Act thou in such a way that that resolve of his may become futile. Drona is endued with great might. He is a hero, accomplished in arms, and above fatigue. O mighty car-warrior, even he hath vowed my seizure.'
"Arjuna said, 'This Satyajit, O king, will today become thy protector in battle. As long as Satyajit lives, the preceptor will never be able to attain his desire. If, however, O lord, this tiger among men, Satyajit, be slain in battle, thou shouldst not then remain on the field even if surrounded by all our warriors.'
"'Sanjaya continued, 'King Yudhishthira then gave (Arjuna) the leave (he sought). And he also embraced Arjuna and eyed him affectionately. And diverse were the benedictions that the king uttered on him. Having made this arrangement (for Yudhishthira's protection), 1 the mighty Partha went out against the Trigartas, like a hungry lion, for assuaging his hunger upon a herd of deer. Then Duryodhana's troops, filled with joy at Arjuna's absence (from Yudhishthira's side), became furious for the seizure of Yudhishthira. Then both the hosts, with a great impetuosity, encountered each other, like the Ganga and the Sarayu in the season of rains when both streams are swollen with water.'"

 

 

( I humbly salute to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguli ji for the collection)