srimahabharat - (book 7) Drona Parva - chapters 83 to 94

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

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

 

Drona Parva

 

The Mahabharata

Drona Parva

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 83

 

 

 1 [s]
      draupadeyān maheṣvāsān saumadattir mahāyaśāḥ
      ekaikaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā punar vivyādha saptabhiḥ
  2 te pīḍitā bhṛśaṃ tena raudreṇa sahasā vibho
      pramūḍhā naiva vividur mṛdhe kṛtyaṃ sma kiṃ cana
  3 nākulis tu śatānīkaḥ saumadattiṃ nararṣabham
      dvābhyāṃ viddhvānadad dhṛṣṭaḥ śarābhyāṃ śatrutāpanaḥ
  4 tathetare raṇe yattas tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ
      vivyadhuḥ samare tūrṇaṃ saumadattim amarṣaṇam
  5 sa tān prati mahārāja cikṣipe pañca sāyakān
      ekaikaṃ hṛdi cājaghne ekaikena mahāyaśāḥ
  6 tatas te bhrātaraḥ pañca śarair viddhā mahātmanā
      parivārya rathair vīraiṃ vivyadhuḥ sāyakair bhṛśam
  7 ārjunis tu hayāṃs tasya caturbhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      preṣayām āsa saṃkruddho yamasya sadanaṃ prati
  8 bhaimasenir dhanuś chittvā saumadatter mahātmanaḥ
      nanāda balavan nādaṃ vivyādha ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  9 yaudhiṣṭhiro dhvajaṃ tasya chittvā bhūmāv apātayat
      nākuliś cāśvayantāramṃ rathanīḍād apāharat
  10 sāhadevis tu taṃ jñātvā bhrātṛbhir vimukhīkṛtam
     kṣurapreṇa śiro rājan nicakarta mahāmanāḥ
 11 tacchiro nyapatad bhūmau tapanīyavibhūṣitam
     bhrājayantaṃ raṇoddeśaṃ bālasūryasamaprabham
 12 saumadatteḥ śiro dṛṣṭvā nipatat tan mahātmanaḥ
     vitrastās tāvakā rājan pradudruvur anekadhā
 13 alambusas tu samare bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
     yodhayām āsa saṃkruddho lakṣmaṇaṃ rāvaṇir yathā
 14 saṃprayuddhau raṇe dṛṣṭvā tāv ubhau nararākṣasau
     vismayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ praharṣaś cābhavat tadā
 15 ārṣyaśṛṅgiṃ tato bhīmo navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     vivyādha prahasan rājan rākṣasendram amarṣaṇam
 16 tad rakṣaḥ samare viddhaṃ kṛtvā nādaṃ bhayāvaham
     abhyadravat tato bhīmaṃ ye ca tasya padānugāḥ
 17 sa bhīmaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     bhīmānugāñ jaghānāśu rathāṃs triṃśad ariṃdamaḥ
     punaś catuḥśatān hatvā bhīmaṃ vivyādha patriṇā
 18 so 'tividdhas tadā bhīmo rākṣasena mahābalaḥ
     niṣasāda rathopasthe mūrchayābhipariplutaḥ
 19 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ mārutiḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ
     vikṛṣya kārmukaṃ ghoraṃ bhārasādhanam uttamam
     alambusaṃ śarais tīkṣṇair ardayām āsa sarvataḥ
 20 sa viddho bahubhir bāṇair nīlāñjanacayopamaḥ
     śuśubhe sarvato rājan pradīpta iva kiṃśukaḥ
 21 sa vadhyamānaḥ samare bhīmacāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
     smaran bhrātṛvadhaṃ caiva pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
 22 ghoraṃ rūpam atho kṛtvā bhīmasenam abhāṣata
     tiṣṭhedānīṃ raṇe pārtha paśya me 'dya parākramam
 23 bako nāma sudurbuddhe rākṣasa pravaro balī
     parokṣaṃ mama tadvṛttaṃ yad bhrātā me hatas tvayā
 24 evam uktvā tato bhīmam antardhānagatas tadā
     mahātā śaravarṣeṇa bhṛśaṃ taṃ samavākirat
 25 bhīmas tu samare rājann adṛśye rākṣase tadā
     ākāśaṃ pūrayām āsa śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 26 sa vadhyamāno bhīmena nimeṣād ratham āsthitaḥ
     jagāma dharaṇīṃ kṣudraḥ khaṃ caiva sahasāgamat
 27 uccāvacāni rūpāṇi cakāra subahūni ca
     uccāvacās tathā vāco vyājahāra samantataḥ
 28 tena pāṇḍavasainyānāṃ mṛditā yudhi vāraṇāḥ
     hayāś ca bahavo rājan pattayaś ca tathā punaḥ
     rathebhyo rathinaḥ petus tasya nunnāḥ sma sāyakaiḥ
 29 śoṇitodāṃ rathāvartāṃ hastigrāhasamākulām
     chatrahaṃsāṃ kardaminīṃ bāhupannaga saṃkulām
 30 nadīṃ pravartayām āsa rakṣogaṇasamākulām
     vahantīṃ bahudhā rājaṃś cedipāñcālasṛñjayān
 31 taṃ tathā samare rājan vicarantam abhītavat
     pāṇḍavā bhṛśasaṃvignāḥ prāpaśyaṃs tatsya vikramam
 32 tāvakānāṃ tu sainyānāṃ praharṣaḥ samajāyata
     vāditraninadaś cograḥ sumahāṁl lomaharṣaṇaḥ
 33 taṃ śrutvā ninadaṃghoraṃ tava sainyasya pāṇḍavaḥ
     nāmṛṣyata yathā nāgas talaśabdaṃ samīritam
 34 tataḥ krodhābhitāmrākṣo nirdahann iva pāvakaḥ
     saṃdadhe tvāṣṭram astraṃ sa svayaṃ tvaṣṭeva māriṣa
 35 tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi prādurāsan samantataḥ
     taiḥ śarais tava sainyasya vidrāvaḥ sumahān abhūt
 36 tad astraṃ preṣitaṃ tena bhīmasenena saṃyuge
     rākṣasasya mahāmāyāṃ hatvā rākṣasam ārdayat
 37 sa vadhyamāno bahudhā bhīmasenena rākṣasaḥ
     saṃtyajya saṃyuge bhīmaṃ droṇānīkam upādravat
 38 tasmiṃs tu nirjite rājan rākṣasendre mahātmanā
     anādayan siṃhanādaiḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sarvatodiśam
 39 apūjayan mārutiṃca saṃhṛṣṭās te mahābalam
     prahrādaṃ samare jitvā yathā śakraṃ marudgaṇāḥ

 

SECTION LXXXIII

"Sanjaya said, 'Then king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, saluting Devaki's son Janardana, and cheerfully addressed him saying 'Hast thou passed the night happily, O slayer of Madhu? Are all thy perceptions clear, O thou of unfading glory? Vasudeva also made similar enquiries of Yudhishthira. Then the orderly came and represented that the other Kshatriya warriors were waiting to be introduced. Commanded by the king, the man introduced that concourse of heroes, consisting of Virata and Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki, and Dhrishtaketu, the ruler of the Chedis, and the mighty car-warriors, Drupada, and Sikhandin, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and Chekitana, and the ruler of the Kalikayas, and Yuyutsu, of Kuru's race, and Uttamaujas of the Panchalas, 'and Yudhamanyu, and Suvahu, and the (five) sons of Draupadi. These and many other Kshatriyas, approaching that high-souled bull among the Kshatriyas, sat down on excellent seats. Those mighty and high-souled heroes of great splendour viz., Krishna and Yuyudhana, both sat on the same seat. Then in the hearing of them all, Yudhishthira addressing the lotus-eyed slayer of Madhu, and said unto him these sweet words: 'Relying on thee alone, we, like the celestial one, the deity of a thousand eyes, seek,
p. 162
victory in battle and eternal happiness. Thou art aware, O Krishna, of the deprivation of our kingdom, our exile at the hands of the foe, and all our diverse woes. O lord of all, O thou that art compassionate unto those that are devoted to thee, upon thee wholly rests the happiness of us all and our very existence, O slayer of Madhu! O thou of Vrishni's race, do that by which my heart may ever rest on thee! Do also that, O Lord, by which the proposed vow of Arjuna may be realised. O, rescue us today from this ocean of grief and rage. O Madhava, become thou today a boat unto us that are desirous of crossing (that ocean). The car-warriors desirous of slaying the foe cannot, in battle, do that (for the success of his object) which, O Krishna, the car-driver can do, if he exerts himself carefully. O Janardana, as thou always savest the Vrishnis in all calamities, even so it behoveth thee to save us from this distress, O mighty-armed one! O bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, rescue the sons of Pandu sunk in the fathomless and boatless Kuru-ocean, by becoming a boat unto them. I bow to thee, O God of the lord of the gods, O thou that art eternal, O supreme Destroyer, O Vishnu, O Jishnu, O Hari, O Krishna, O Vaikuntha, O best of mate beings! Narada described thee as that ancient and best of Rishis (called Narayana) that giveth boons, that beareth the bow Saranga, and that is the foremost of all. O Madhava, make those words true. Thus addressed in the midst of that assembly by king Yudhishthira the just, Kesava, that foremost of speakers, replied unto Yudhishthira in a voice deep as that of clouds charged with rain, saying, 'In all the worlds including that of the celestials, there is no bowman equal to Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha! Possessed of great energy. accomplished in weapons, of great prowess and great strength, celebrated in battle, ever wrathful, and of great energy, Arjuna is the foremost of men. Youthful in years bull-necked, and of long arms, he is endued with great strength. Treading like a lion or a bull, and exceedingly beautiful he will slay all thy foes. As regards myself, I will do that by which Arjuna, the son of Kunti, may be able to consume the troops of Dhritarashtra's son like a swelling conflagration. This very day, Arjuna will, by his arrows despatch that vile wretch of sinful deeds, that slayer of Subhadra's son, (viz., Jayadratha), to that road from which no traveller comes back. Today vultures and hawks and furious jackals and other carnivorous creatures will feed on his flesh. O Yudhishthira, if even all the gods with Indra become his protectors today, Jayadratha will still, slain in the thick of battle, repair to Yama's capital. Having slain the ruler of the Sindhus, Jishnu will come to thee (in the evening). Dispel thy grief and the fever (of thy heart), O king, and be thou graced with prosperity.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 84

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      alambusaṃ tathā yuddhe vicarantam abhītavat
      haiḍimbaḥ prayayau tūrṇaṃ vivyādha ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  2 tayoḥ pratibhayaṃ yuddham āsīd rākṣasasiṃhayoḥ
      kurvator vividhā māyāḥ śakraśambarayor iva
  3 alambuso bhṛśaṃ kruddho ghaṭotkacam atāḍayat
      ghaṭotkacas tu viṃśatyā nārācānāṃ stanāntare
      alambusam atho viddhvā siṃhā vad vyanadan muhuḥ
  4 tathaivālambuso rājan haiḍimbaṃ yuddhadurmadam
      viddhvā viddhvānadad dhṛṣṭaḥ pūrayan khaṃ samantataḥ
  5 tathā tau bhṛśasaṃkruddhau rākṣasendrau mahābalau
      nirviśeṣam ayudhyetāṃ māyābhir itaretaram
  6 māyā śatasṛjau dṛptau mohayantau parasparam
      māyāyuddhe sukuśalau māyāyuddham ayudhyatām
  7 yāṃ yāṃ ghaṭotkaco yuddhe māyāṃ darśayate nṛpa
      tāṃ tām alambuso rājan māyayaiva nijaghnivān
  8 taṃ tathā yudhyamānaṃ tu māyāyuddhaviśāradam
      alambusaṃ rākṣasendraṃ dṛṣṭvākrudhyanta pāṇḍavāḥ
  9 ta enaṃ bhṛśasaṃkruddhāḥ sarvataḥ pravarā rathaiḥ
      abhyadravanta saṃkruddhā bhīmasenādayo nṛpa
  10 ta enaṃ koṣṭhakī kṛtyarathavaṃśena māriṣa
     sarvato vyakiran bāṇair ulkābhir iva kuñjaram
 11 sa teṣām astravegaṃ taṃ pratihatyāstra māyayā
     tasmād rathavrajān mukto vanadāhād iva dvipaḥ
 12 sa visphārya dhanur ghoram indrāśanisamasvanam
     mārutiṃ pañcaviṃśatyā bhaimaseniṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
     yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tribhir viddhvā sahadevaṃ ca saptabhiḥ
 13 nakulaṃ ca trisaptatyā drupadeyāṃś ca māriṣa
     pañcabhiḥ pañcabhir viddhvā ghoraṃ nādaṃ nanāda ha
 14 taṃ bhīmaseno navabhiḥ sahadevaś ca pañcabhiḥ
     yudhiṣṭhiraḥ śatenaiva rākṣasaṃ pratyavidhyata
     nakulaś ca catuḥṣaṣṭyā draupadeyās tribhis tribhiḥ
 15 haiḍimbo rākṣasaṃ viddhvā yuddhe pañcāśatā śaraiḥ
     punar vivyādha saptatyā nanāda ca mahābalaḥ
 16 so'atividdho maheṣvāsaḥ sarvatas tair mahārathaiḥ
     prativivyādha tān sarvān pañcabhiḥ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 17 taṃ kruddhaṃ rākṣasaṃ yuddhe pratikruddhas tu rākṣasaḥ
     haiḍimbo bharataśreṣṭha śarair vivyādha saptabhiḥ
 18 so tividdho balavatā rākṣasendro mahābalaḥ
     vyasṛjat sāyakāṃs tūrṇaṃ svarṇapuṅkhāñ śilāśitān
 19 te śarā nataparvāṇo viviśū rākṣasaṃ tadā
     ruṣitāḥ pannagā yadvad girim ugrā mahābalāḥ
 20 tatas te pāṇḍavā rājan samantān niśitāñ śarān
     preṣayām āsur udvignā haiḍimbaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
 21 sa vadhyamānaḥ samare pāḍavair jitakāśibhiḥ
     dagdhādrikūṭaśṛṅgābhaṃ bhinnāñjanacayopamam
 22 samutkṣipya ca bāhubhyām āvidhya ca punaḥ punaḥ
     niṣpipeṣa kṣitau kṣipraṃ pūrṇakumbham ivāśmani
 23 balalāghava saṃpannaḥ saṃpanno virameṇa ca
     bhaimasenī raṇe kruddha sarvasainyāny abhīṣayat
 24 sa visphuṭita sarvāṅgaś cūrṇitāsthi vibhūṣaṇaḥ
     ghaṭotkacena vīreṇa hataḥ sālakaṭaṅkaṭah
 25 tataḥ sumanasaḥ pārthā hate tasmin niśācare
     cukruśuḥ siṃhanādāṃś ca vāsāṃsy ādudhuvuś ca ha
 26 tāvakāś ca hataṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasendraṃ mahābalam
     alambusaṃ bhīmarūpaṃ viśīrṇam iva parvatam
     hāhākāram akurvanta sainyāni bharatarṣabha
 27 janāś ca tad dadṛśire rakṣaḥ kautūhalānvitāḥ
     yadṛcchayā nipatitaṃ bhūmāv aṅgārakaṃ yathā
 28 ghaṭotkacas tu tad dhatvā rakṣobalavatāṃ varam
     mumoca balavan nādaṃ balaṃ hatveva vāsavaḥ
 29 sa pūjyamānaḥ pitṛbhiḥ sa bānhavair; ghaṭotkacaḥ karṇami duṣkare kṛte
     ripuṃ nihatyābhinananda vai tadā; alambusaṃ pakvam alambusaṃ yathā
 30 tato ninādaḥ sumahān samutthitaḥ; sa śaṅkhanānāvidha bāṇaghoṣavān
     niśamya taṃ pratyanadaṃs tu kauravās; tato dhvanir bhuvanam athāspṛśad bhṛśam

SECTION LXXXIV

"Sanjaya said, 'While Yudhishthira, Vasudeva, and others were thus conversing, Dhananjaya came there, desirous of beholding that foremost one of Bharata's race, viz., the king, as also his friends and well-wishers. After he had entered that auspicious chamber and having saluted him duly, had taken its stand before the king, that bull among the Pandavas, (viz., king Yudhishthira), rising up from his seat, embraced Arjuna with great affection. Smelling his head and embracing him with his arms, the king blessed him heartily. And addressing him smilingly, he said, 'It is evident, O Arjuna, that complete victory certainly awaits thee in battle, judging from thy countenance (bright and cheerful as it is), and by the fact that Janardana is well-pleased with thee. Then Jishnu related unto him that highly wonderful incident, saying, 'Blessed be thou, O monarch, I have, through Kesava's grace, beheld something exceedingly wonderful.' Then Dhananjaya related everything he had seen, about his meeting with the Three-eyed god, for assuring his friends. Then all the hearers, filled with wonder, bent their heads to the ground. And bowing unto the god having the bull for his mark, they said, 'Excellent, Excellent!' Then all the friends and well-wishers (of the Pandavas), commanded by the son of Dharma, quickly and carefully proceeded to battle, their hearts filled with rage (against the foe). Saluting the king, Yuyudhana and Kesava and Arjuna, cheerfully set out from Yudhishthira's abode. And those two invincible warriors, those two heroes, viz., Yuyudhana, and Janardana, together proceeded on the same car to Arjuna's pavilion. Arrived there, Hrishikesa, like a charioteer (by profession), began to equip that car bearing the mark of the prince of apes and belonging to that foremost of car-warriors (viz., Arjuna). And that foremost of cars, of the effulgence of heated gold, and of rattle resembling the deep roar of the clouds, equipped (by Krishna), shone brightly like the morning sun. Then that tiger among men, (viz., Vasudeva), clad in mail informed Partha, who had finished his morning prayers, of the fact that 'his car had been properly equipped. Then that foremost of men in this world, viz., the diadem-decked (Arjuna), clad in golden armour, with his bow and arrows in hand, circumambulated that car. And adored and blessed with benedictions about victory by Brahmanas, old in ascetic penances and knowledge and years, ever engaged in the performance of religious rites and sacrifices, and having their passions under control, Arjuna then ascended that great car, that excellent vehicle, which had previously been sanctified with mantras capable of giving victory in battle, like Surya of blazing rays ascending the eastern mountain. And that foremost of car-warriors decked with gold, in consequence or those golden ornaments of his, on his car like Surya of blazing splendour on the breast of Meru. After Partha, Yuyudhana. and Janardana mounted on that car, like the twin Aswins riding the same car with Indra while coming to the sacrifice
p. 164
of Saryati. Then Govinda, that foremost of charioteers, took the reins (of the steeds), like Matali taking the reins of Indra's steeds, while the latter went to battle for slaying Vritra. 1 Mounted on that best of cars with those two friends, that slayer of large bodies of foes, viz., Partha, proceeded for achieving the slaughter of the ruler of the Sindhus, like Soma rising (in the firmament) with Budha and Sukra, for destroying the gloom of night, or like Indra proceeding with Varuna and Surya to the great battle (with the Asuras) occasioned by the abduction of Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati). The bards and musicians gratified the heroic Arjuna, as he proceeded, with the sound of musical instruments and auspicious hymns of good omen. And the voices of the panegyrists and the bards uttering benedictions of victory and wishing good day, mingling with the sounds of musical instruments, became gratifying to those heroes. And an auspicious breeze, fraught with fragrance, blew from behind Partha, gladdening him and sucking up the energies of his foes. And at that hour, O king, many auspicious omens of various kinds appeared to view, indicating victory to the Pandavas and defeat to thy warriors, O sire! Beholding those indications of victory, Arjuna, addressing the great bowman Yuyudhana on his right, said these words: O Yuyudhana! in today's battle my victory seems to be certain, since O bull of Sini's race, all these (auspicious) omens are seen. I shall, therefore, go thither where the ruler of the Sindhus waiteth for (the display of) my energy and in expectation of repairing to the regions of Yama. Indeed, as the slaughter of the ruler of the Sindhus is one of my most imperative duties, even so is the protection of king Yudhishthira the just another of my most imperative obligations. O thou of mighty arms, be thou today the king's protector. Thou wilt protect him even as I myself protect him. I do not behold the person in the world who would be able to vanquish thee. Thou art, in battle, equal to Vasudeva himself. The chief of the celestials himself is unable to vanquish thee. Reposing this burden on thee, or on that mighty car-warrior Pradyumna, I can, O bull among men, without anxiety slay the ruler of the Sindhus. O thou of the Satwata race, no anxiety need be entertained on my account. With thy whole heart must thou protect the king. There where the mighty-armed Vasudeva stayeth, and where I myself stay, without doubt, the slightest danger to him or me can never befall.' Thus addressed by Partha, Satyaki, that slayer of hostile heroes, replied saying, 'So be it.' And then the latter proceeded to the spot where king Yudhishthira was.'

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 85

 

 

 

  1 [dhṛ]
      bhāradvājaṃ katheṃ yuddhe yuyudhāno 'bhyavārayat
      saṃjayācakṣva tattvena paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me
  2 [s]
      śṛṇu rājan mahāprājña saṃgrāmaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
      droṇasya pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ yuyudhāna purogamaiḥ
  3 vadhyamānaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā yuyudhānena māriṣa
      abhyadravat svayaṃ droṇaḥ sātyakiṃ satyavikramam
  4 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā bhāradvājaṃ mahāratham
      sātyakiḥ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samārpayat
  5 droṇo 'pi yudhi vikrānto yuyudhānaṃ samāhitaḥ
      avidhyat pañcabhis tūrṇaṃhema puṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
  6 te varma bhittvā sudṛḍhaṃ dviṣat piśita bhojanāḥ
      abhyagur dharaṇīṃ rājañ śvasanta iva pannagāḥ
  7 dīrghabāhur abhikruddhas tottrārdita iva dvipaḥ
      droṇaṃ pañcāśatāvidhyan nārācair agnisaṃnibhaiḥ
  8 bhāradvājo raṇe viddho yuyudhānena sa tvaram
      sātyakiṃ bahubhir bāṇair yatamānam avidhyata
  9 tataḥ kruddho maheṣvāso bhūya eva mahābalaḥ
      sātvataṃ pīḍayām āsa śatena nataparvaṇā
  10 sa vadhyamānaḥ samare bhāradvājena sātyakiḥ
     nābhyapadyata kartavyaṃ kiṃ cid eva viśāṃ pate
 11 viṣaṇṇavadanaś cāpi yuyudhāno 'bhavan nṛpa
     bhāradvājaṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā visṛjantaṃ śitāñ śarān
 12 taṃ tu saṃprekṣya te putrāḥ sainikāś ca viśāṃ pate
     prahṛṣṭamanaso bhūtvā siṃhavad vyanadan muhuḥ
 13 taṃ śrutvā ninadaṃ ghoraṃ pīḍyamānaṃ ca mādhavam
     yudhiṣṭiro 'bravīd rājan sarvasainyāni bhārata
 14 eṣa vṛṣṇivaro vīraḥ sātyakiḥ satyakarmakṛt
     grasyate yudhi vīreṇa bhānumān iva rāhuṇā
     abhidravata gacchadhvaṃ sātyakir yatra yudhyate
 15 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pāñcālyam idam āha janādhipa
     abhidrava drutaṃ droṇaṃ kiṃ nu tiṣṭhasi pārṣata
     na paśyasi bhayaṃ ghoraṃ droṇān naḥ samupasthitam
 16 asau droṇo maheṣvāso yuyudhānena saṃyuge
     krīḍate sūtrabaddhena pakṣiṇā bālako yathā
 17 tatraiva sarve gacchantu bhīmasenamukhā rathāḥ
     tvayaiva sahitā yattā yuyudhāna rathaṃ prati
 18 pṛṣṭhato 'nugamiṣyāmi tvām ahaṃ saha sainikaḥ
     sātyakiṃ mokṣayasvādya yama daṃṣṭrāntaraṃ gatam
 19 evam uktvā tato rājā sarvasainyena pāṇḍavaḥ
     abhyadravad raṇe droṇaṃ yuyudhānasya kāraṇāt
 20 tatrārāvo mahān āsīd droṇam ekaṃ yuyutsatām
     pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhadraṃ te sṛñjayānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
 21 te sametya naravyāghrā bhāradvājaṃ mahāratham
     abhyavarṣañ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇa vājitaḥ
 22 smayann eva tu tān vīrān droṇaḥ pratyagrahīt svayam
     atithīn āgatān yadvat salilenāsanena ca
 23 tarpitās te śarais tasya bhāradvājasya dhanvinaḥ
     ātitheya gṛhaṃ prāpya nṛpate 'tithayo yathā
 24 bhāradvājaṃ ca te sarve na śekuḥ prativīkṣitum
     madhyaṃ dinam anuprāptaṃ sahasrāṃśum iva prabho
 25 tāṃs tu sarvān maheṣvāsān droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
     atāpayac charavrātair gabhastibhir ivāṃśumān
 26 vadhyamānā raṇe rājan pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayās tathā
     trātāraṃ nādhyagacchanta paṅkamagnā iva dvipāḥ
 27 droṇasya ca vyadṛśyanta visarpanto mahāśarāḥ
     ghabhastaya ivārkasya pratapantaḥ samantataḥ
 28 tasmin droṇena nihatāḥ pāñcālāḥ pañcaviṃśatiḥ
     mahārathasamākhyātā dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃmatāḥ
 29 pāṇḍūnāṃ sarvasainyeṣu pāñcālānāṃ tathaiva ca
     droṇaṃ sma dadṛśuḥ śūraṃ vinighnantaṃ varān varān
 30 kekayānāṃ śataṃ hatvā vidrāvya ca samantataḥ
     droṇas tasthau mahārāja vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ
 31 pāñcālān sṛñjayān matsyān kekayān pāṇḍavān api
     droṇo 'jayan mahābāhuḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 32 teṣāṃ samabhavac chabdo vadhyatāṃ droṇa sāyakaiḥ
     vanaukasām ivāraṇye dahyatāṃ dhūmaketunā
 33 tatra devāḥ sa gandharvāḥ pitaraś cābruvan nṛpa
     ete dravanti pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavāś ca sa sainikāḥ
 34 taṃ tathā samare droṇaṃ nighnantaṃ somakān raṇe
     na cāpy abhiyayuḥ ke cid apare naiva vivyadhuḥ
 35 vartamāne tathā raudre tasmin vīravarakṣaye
     aśṛṇot sahasā pārthaḥ pāñcajanyasya nisvanam
 36 pūrito vāsudevena śaṅkharāṭ svanate bhṛśam
     yudhyamāneṣu vīreṣu saindhavasyābhirakṣiṣu
     nadatsu dhārtarāṣṭreṣu vijayasya rathaṃ prati
 37 gāṇḍīvasya ca nirghoṣe vipranaṣṭe samantataḥ
     kaśmalābhihato rājā cintayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
 38 na nūnaṃ svasti pārthasya yathā nadati śaṅkharāṭ
     kauravāś ca yathā hṛṣṭā vinadanti muhur muhuḥ
 39 evaṃ saṃcintayitvā tu vyākulenāntar ātmanā
     ajātaśatruḥ kaunteyaḥ sātvataṃ pratyabhāṣata
 40 bāṣpagadgadayā vācā muhyamāno muhur muhuḥ
     kṛtyasyānantarāpekṣī śaineyaṃ śinipuṃgavam
 41 yaḥ sa dharmaḥ purā dṛṣṭaḥ sadbhiḥ śaineya śāśvataḥ
     sāmparāye suhṛt kṛtye tasya kālo 'yam āgataḥ
 42 sarveṣv api ca yodheṣu cintayañ śinipuṃgava
     tvattaḥ suhṛttamaṃ kaṃ cin nābhijānāmi sātyake
 43 yo hi prītamanā nityaṃ yaś ca nityam anuvrataḥ
     sa kārye sāmparāye tu niyojya iti me matiḥ
 44 yathā ca keśavo nityaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ parāyaṇam
     tathā tvam api vārṣṇeya kṛṣṇa tulyaparākramaḥ
 45 so 'haṃ bhāraṃ samādhāsye tvayi taṃ voḍhum arhasi
     abhiprāyaṃ ca me nityaṃ na vṛthā kartum arhasi
 46 sa tvaṃ bhrātur vayasyasya guror api ca saṃyuge
     kuru kṛcchrasahāyārtham arjunasya nararṣabha
 47 tvaṃ hi satyavrataḥ śūro mitrāṇām abhayaṃkaraḥ
     loke vikhyāyase vīrakarmabhiḥ satyavāg iti
 48 yo hi śaineya mitrārthe yudhyamānas tyajet tanum
     pṛthivīṃ vā dvijātibhyo yo dadyāt samam eva tat
 49 śrutāś ca bahavo 'smābhī rājāno ye divaṃ gatāḥ
     dattvemāṃ pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ brāhmaṇebhyo yathāvidhi
 50 evaṃ tvām api dharmātman prayāce 'haṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ
     pṛthivī dānatulyaṃ syād adhikaṃ vā phalaṃ vibho
 51 eka eva sadā kṛṣṇo mitrāṇām abhayaṃkaraḥ
     raṇe saṃtyajati prāṇān dvitīyas tvaṃ ca sātyake
 52 vikrāntasya ca vīrasya yuddhe prārthayate yaśaḥ
     śūra eva sahāyaḥ syān netaraḥ prākṛto janaḥ
 53 īdṛśe tu parāmarde vartamānasya mādhava
     tvadanyo hi raṇe goptā vijayasya na vidyate
 54 ślāghann eva hi karmāṇi śataśas tava pāṇḍavaḥ
     mama saṃjanayan harṣaṃ punaḥ punar akīrtayat
 55 laghv astraś citrayodhī ca tathā laghuparākramaḥ
     prājñaḥ sarvāstravic chūro muhyate na ca saṃyuge
 56 mahāskandho mahorasko mahābāhur mahādhanuḥ
     mahābalo mahāvīryaḥ sa mahātmā mahārathaḥ
 57 śiṣyo mama sakhā caiva priyo 'syāhaṃ priyaś ca me
     yuyudhānaḥ sahāyo me pramathiṣyati kauravān
 58 asmadarthaṃ ca rājendra saṃnahyed yadi keśavaḥ
     rāmo vāpy aniruddho vā pradyumno vā mahārathaḥ
 59 gado vā sāraṇo vāpi sāmbo vā saha vṛṣṇibhiḥ
     sahāyārthaṃ mahārāja saṃgrāmottama mūrdhani
 60 tathāpy ahaṃ naravyāghraṃ śaineyaṃ satyavikramam
     sāhāyye viniyokṣyāmi nāsin me 'nyo hi tat samaḥ
 61 iti dvaitavane tāta mām uvāca dhanaṃjayaḥ
     parokṣaṃ tvad guṇāṃs tathyān kathayann ārya saṃsadi
 62 tasya tvam evaṃ saṃkalpaṃ na vṛthā kartum arhasi
     dhanaṃjayasya vārṣṇeya mama bhīmasya cobhayoḥ
 63 yac cāpi tīrthāni carann agacchaṃ dvārakāṃ prati
     tatrāham api te bhaktim arjunaṃ prati dṛṣṭavān
 64 na tat sauhṛdam anyeṣu mayā śaineya lakṣitam
     yathā tam asmān bhajase vartamānān upaplave
 65 so 'bhijātyā ca bhaktyā ca sakhyasyācāryakasya ca
     sauhṛdasya ca vīryasya kulīnatvasya mādhava
 66 satyasya ca mahābāho anukampārtham eva ca
     anurūpaṃ maheṣvāsa karma tvaṃ kartum arhasi
 67 soyodhano hi sahasā gato droṇena daṃśitaḥ
     pūrvam eva tu yātās te kauravāṇāṃ mahārathāḥ
 68 sumahān ninadaṃś caiva śrūyate vijayaṃ prati
     sa śaineya javenātra gantum arhasi mādhava
 69 bhīmaseno vayaṃ caiva saṃyattāḥ saha sainikāḥ
     droṇam āvārayiṣyāmo yadi tvāṃ prati yāsyati
 70 paśya śaineya sainyāni dravamāṇāni saṃyuge
     mahāntaṃ ca raṇe śabdaṃ dīryamāṇāṃ ca bhāratīm
 71 mahāmāruta vegena samudram iva parvasu
     dhārtarāṣṭra balaṃ tāta vikṣiptaṃ savyasācinā
 72 rathair viparidhāvadbhir manuṣyaiś ca hayaiś ca ha
     sainyaṃ rajaḥ samuddhūtam eta saṃparivartate
 73 saṃvṛtaḥ sindhusauvīrair nakharaprāsayodhibhi
     atyantāpacitaiḥ śūraiḥ phalgunaḥ paravīrahā
 74 naitad balam asaṃvārya śakyo hantuṃ jayadrathaḥ
     ete hi saindhavasyārthe sarve saṃtyaktajīvitāḥ
 75 śaraśaktidhvajavanaṃ hayanāgasamākulam
     paśyaitad dhārtarāṣṭrāṇām anīkaṃ sudurāsadam
 76 śṛṇu dundubhinirghoṣaṃ śaṅkhaśabdāṃś ca puṣkalān
     siṃhanāda ravāṃś caiva rathanemi svanāṃs tathā
 77 nāgānāṃ śṛṇu śabdaṃ ca pattīnāṃ ca sahasraśaḥ
     sādināṃ dravatāṃ caiva śṛṇu kampayatāṃ mahīm
 78 purastāt saundhavānīkaṃ droṇānīkasya pṛṣṭhataḥ
     bahutvād dhi naravyāghra devendram api pīḍayet
 79 aparyante bale magno jahyād api ca jīvitam
     tasmiṃś ca nihate yuddhe kathaṃ jīveta mādṛśaḥ
     sarvathāham anuprāptaḥ sukṛcchraṃ balajīvitam
 80 śyāmo yuvā guḍākeśo darśanīyaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     laghv astraś citrayodhī ca praviṣṭas tāta bhāratīm
 81 sūryodaye mahābāhur divasaś cātivartate
     tanna jānāmi vārṣṇeya yadi jīvati vā na vā
     kurūṇāṃ cāpi tat sainyaṃ sāgarapratimaṃ mahat
 82 eka eva ca bībhatsuḥ praviṣṭas tāta bhāratīm
     aviṣahyāṃ mahābāhuḥ surair api mahāmṛdhe
 83 na ca me vartate buddhir adya yuddhe kathaṃ cana
     droṇo 'pi rabhaso yuddhe mama pīḍayate balam
     pratyakṣaṃ te mahābāho yathāsau carati dvijaḥ
 84 yugapac ca sametānāṃ kāryāṇāṃ tvaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ
     mahārthaṃ laghu saṃyuktaṃ kartum arhasi mādhava
 85 tasya me sarvakāryeṣu kāryam etan mataṃ sadā
     arjunasya paritrāṇaṃ kartavyam iti saṃyuge
 86 nāhaṃ śocāmi dāśārhaṃ goptāraṃ jagataḥ prabhum
     sa hi śakto raṇe tāta trīṁl lokān api saṃgatān
 87 vijetuṃ puruṣavyāghra satyam etad bravīmi te
     kiṃ punar dhārtarāṣṭrasya balam etat sudurbalam
 88 arjunas tv eva bārṣṇeya pīḍito bahubhir yudhi
     prajahyāt samare prāṇāṃs tasmād vindāmi kaśmalam
 89 tasya tvaṃ padavīṃ gaccha gaccheyus tvādṛśā yathā
     tvādṛśasyedṛśe kāle mādṛśenābhicoditaḥ
 90 raṇe vṛṣṇipravīrāṇāṃ dvāv evātirathau smṛtau
     pradyumnaś ca mahābāhus tvaṃ ca sātvata viśrutaḥ
 91 astre nārāyaṇa samaḥ saṃkarṣaṇa samo bale
     vīratāyāṃ naravyāghra dhanaṃjaya samo hy asi
 92 bhīṣmadroṇāv atikramya sarvayuddhaviśāradam
     tvām adya puruṣavyāghraṃ loke santaḥ pracakṣate
 93 nāsādhyaṃ vidyate loke sātyaker iti mādhava
     tat tvāṃ yad abhivakṣyāmi tat kuruṣva mahābala
 94 saṃbhāvanā hi lokasya tava pārthasya cobhayoḥ
     nānyathā tāṃ mahābāho saṃprakartum ihārhasi
 95 parityajya priyān prāṇān raṇe vicara vīravat
     na hi śaineya dāśārhā raṇe rakṣanti jīvitam
 96 ayuddham anavasthānaṃ saṃgrāme ca palāyanam
     bhīrūṇām asatāṃ mārgo naiṣa dāśārha sevitaḥ
 97 tavārjuno gurus tāta dharmātmā śinipuṃgava
     vāsudevo guruś cāpi tava pārthasya dhīmataḥ
 98 kāraṇadvayam etad dhi jānānas tvāham abruvam
     māvamaṃsthā vaco mahyaṃ gurus tava guror hy aham
 99 vāsudeva mataṃ caitan mama caivārjunasya ca
     satyam etan mayoktaṃ te yāhi yatra dhanaṃjayaḥ
 100 etad vacanam ājñāya mama satyaparākrama
    praviśaitad balaṃ tāta dhārtarāṣṭrasya durmateḥ
101 praviśya ca yathānyāyaṃ saṃgamya ca mahārathaiḥ
    yathārham ātmanaḥ karma raṇe sātvata darśaya

SECTION LXXXV

(Jayadratha-Vadha Parva)

"Dhritarashtra said, 'After Abhimanyu's slaughter when the next day came, what did the Pandavas, afflicted with grief and sorrow do? Who amongst my warriors fought with them? Knowing, as they did, the achievements of Savyasachin, O tell me, how the Kauravas, could, having perpetrated such a wrong, remain fearlessly. How could they in battle venture even to gaze at that tiger among men (viz., Arjuna), as he advanced like the all-destroying Death himself in fury, burning with grief on account of the slaughter of his son? Beholding that warrior having the prince of apes on his banner, that hero grieved on account of his son's death shaking his gigantic bow in battle, what did my warrior do? What, O Sanjaya, hath befallen unto Duryodhana? A great sorrow hath overtaken us today. I do not any longer hear the sounds of joy. Those charming sounds, highly agreeable to the ear, that were formerly heard in the abode of the Sindhu king, alas those sounds are no longer heard today. Alas, in the camp of my sons, the sounds of countless bards and panegyrists singing their praises, and of dances are no longer heard. Formerly, such sounds used to strike my ears incessantly. Alas, as they are plunged into grief I do not any longer hear those sounds uttered (in their camp). Formerly, O Sanjaya, while sitting in the abode of Somadatta who was devoted to truth, I used to hear such delightful sounds. Alas, how destitute of (religious) merit I am, for I observe the abode of my sons today to be echoing with sounds of grief and lamentations and destitute of every noise betokening life and energy. In the houses of Vivinsati, Durmukha, Chitrasena, Vikarna, and other sons of mine, I do not hear the sounds I used to hear formerly. That great bowman, viz., the son of Drona, who was the refuge of my sons, upon him Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, and a large number of disciples used to wait, who took pleasure day and night in controversial disputations, in talk, in conversation, in the stirring music of diverse instruments, and in various kinds of delightful songs, who was worshipped by many persons among the Kurus, the Pandavas, and the Satwatas, alas, O Suta, in the abode of that son of Drona no sound can be heard as formerly. Singers and dancers used, in a large number, to wait closely upon that mighty bowman, viz., the son of Drona. Alas, their sounds can no longer be heard in his abode. That loud noise which rose in the camp of Vinda and Anuvinda every evening, alas, that noise is no longer heard there. Not in the camp of the Kaikeyas can that loud sound of song and slapping of palms be heard today which their soldiers, engaged in dance and revelry, used to make. Those priests competent in the performance of sacrifices who used to wait upon Somadatta's son, that refuge of scriptural rites, alas, their sounds can no longer be heard. The twang of the bowstring,
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the sounds of Vedic recitation, the whiz of lances and swords, and rattle of car-wheels, used incessantly to be heard in the abode of Drona. Alas, those sounds can no longer be heard there. That swell of songs of diverse realms, that loud noise of musical instruments, which used to arise there, alas, those can no longer be heard today. When Janardana of unfading glory came from Upaplavya, desirous of peace, from compassion for every creature, I then, O Suta, said unto the wicked Duryodhana: Obtaining Vasudeva as the means, make peace with the Pandavas, O son! I think the time has come (for making peace). Do not, O Duryodhana, transgress my command. If thou settest Vasudeva aside, who now begs thee for peace and addresses thee for my good, victory thou wilt never have in battle. Duryodhana, however, did set aside him of Dasarha's race, that bull among all bowmen, who then spoke what was for Duryodhana's good. By this, he embraced what was calamitous to himself. Seized by Death himself, that wicked-souled son of mine, rejecting my counsels, adopted those of Duhsasana and Karna. I myself did not approve of the game of dice. Vidura did not approve of it. The ruler of the Sindhus did not, nor Bhishma; nor Salya; nor Bhurisravas; nor Purumitra; nor Jaya; nor Aswatthaman; nor Kripa; nor Drona, O Sanjaya! If my son had conducted himself according to the counsels of these persons, he would then, with his kinsmen and friends have lived for ever in happiness and peace. Of sweet and delightful speech ever saying what is agreeable amid their kinsmen, high-born, loved by all, and possessed of wisdom, the sons of Pandu are sure to obtain happiness. The man who casteth his eye on righteousness, always and everywhere obtaineth happiness. Such a man after death, winneth benefit and grace. Possessed of sufficient might, the Pandavas deserve to enjoy half the earth. The earth girt by the seas is as much their ancestral possession (as of the Kurus). Possessed of sovereignty, the Pandavas will never deviate from the track of righteousness. O child, I have kinsmen to whose voice the Pandavas will ever listen, such, for instance, as Salya, Somadatta, the high-souled Bhishma, Drona, Vikarna, Valhika, Kripa, and others among the Bharatas that are illustrious and reverend in years. If they speak unto them on thy behalf the Pandavas will certainly act according to those beneficial recommendations. Or, who amongst these, thinkest thou, belongs to their party that will speak to them otherwise? Krishna will never abandon the path of righteousness. The Pandavas are all obedient to him. Words of righteousness spoken by myself also, those heroes will never disobey, for the Pandavas are all of righteous soul.' Piteously lamenting, O Suta, I spoke these and many such words unto my son. Foolish as he is, he listened not to me! I think all this to be the mischievous influence of Time! There where Vrikodara and Arjuna are, and the Vrishni hero, Satyaki, and Uttamaujas of the Panchalas, and the invincible Yudhamanyu, and the irrepressible Dhrishtadyumna, and the unvanquished Sikhandin, the Asmakas, the Kekayas, and Kshatradharman of 'the Somakas, the ruler of the Chedis, and Chekitana, and Vibhu, the son of
p. 167
the ruler of the Kasi, the sons of Draupadi, and Virata and the mighty car-warrior Drupada, and those tigers among men viz., the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and the stayer of Madhu to offer counsel, who is there in this world that would fight these, expecting to live? Who else, again, is there, save Duryodhana, and Karna, and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, and Duhsasana as their fourth, for I do not see the fifth that would venture to resist my foes while the latter display their celestial weapons? They who have Vishnu himself on their car, clad in mail and reins in hand, they who have Arjuna for their warrior, they can never have defeat! Doth not Duryodhana now recollect those lamentations of mine? The tiger among men, Bhishma, thou hast said, has been slain. I think, beholding the fruits of the words uttered by the far-seeing Vidura, my sons are now indulging in lamentations! I think, beholding his army overwhelmed by Sini's grandson and Arjuna, beholding the terraces of his cars empty, my sons are indulging in lamentations. As a swelling conflagration urged by the winds consumes a heap of dry grass at the close of winter, even so will Dhananjaya consume my troops. O Sanjaya, thou art accomplished in narration. Tell me everything that transpired after the doing of that great wrong to Partha in the evening. When Abhimanyu was slain, what became the state of your minds? Having, O son, greatly offended the wielder of Gandiva, my warriors are incapable of bearing in battle his achievements. What measures were resolved upon by Duryodhana and what by Karna? What also did Duhsasana and Suvala's son do? O Sanjaya, O son, that which has in battle befallen all my children assembled together, is certainly due to the evil acts of the wicked Duryodhana, who followeth in the path of avarice, who is of wicked understanding, whose judgment is perverted by wrath, who coveteth sovereignty, who is foolish, and who is deprived of reason by anger. Tell me, O Sanjaya, what measures were then adopted by Duryodhana? Were they ill-judged or well-judged?'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 86

 

 

 

1 [s]
      prītiyuktaṃ ca hṛdyaṃ ca madhurākṣaram eva ca
      kālayuktaṃ ca citraṃ ca svatayā cābhibhāṣitam
  2 dharmarājasya tad vākyaṃ niśamya śinipuṃgavaḥ
      sātyakir bharataśreṣṭha pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiram
  3 śrutaṃ te gadato vākyaṃ sarvam etan mayācyuta
      nyāyayuktaṃ ca citraṃ ca phalgunārthe yaśaḥ karam
  4 evaṃvidhe tathā kāle madṛśaṃ prekṣya saṃmatam
      vaktum arhasi rājendra yathā pārthaṃ tathaiva mām
  5 na me dhanaṃjayasyārthe prāṇā rakṣyāḥ kathaṃ cana
      tvatprayuktaḥ punar ahaṃ kiṃ na kuryāṃ mahāhave
  6 lokatrayaṃ yodhayeyaṃ sa devāsuramānuṣam
      tvatprayukto narendreha kim utaitat sudurbalam
  7 suyodhana balaṃ tv adya yodhayiṣye samantataḥ
      vijeṣye ca raṇe rājan satyam etad bravīmi te
  8 kuśaly ahaṃ kuśalinaṃ samāsādya dhanaṃjayam
      hate jayadrathe rājan punar eṣyāmi te 'ntikam
  9 avaśyaṃ tu mayā sarvaṃ vijñāpyas tvaṃ narādhipa
      vāsudevasya yad vākyaṃ phalgunasya ca dhīmataḥ
  10 dṛḍhaṃ tv abhiparīto 'ham arjunena punaḥ punaḥ
     madhye sarvasya sainyasya vāsudevasya śṛṇvataḥ
 11 adya mādhava rājānam apramatto 'nupālaya
     āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā yāvad dhanmi jayadratham
 12 tvayi vāhaṃ mahābāho pradyumne vā mahārathe
     nṛpaṃ nikṣipya gaccheyaṃ nirapekṣo jayadratham
 13 jānīṣe hi raṇe droṇaṃ rabhasaṃ śreṣṭha saṃmatam
     pratijñā cāpi te nityaṃ śrutā droṇasya mādhava
 14 grahaṇaṃ dharmarājasya bhāradvājo 'nugṛdhyati
     śaktaś cāpi raṇe droṇo nigṛhītuṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
 15 evaṃ tvayi samādhāya dharmarājaṃ narottamam
     aham adya gamiṣyāmi saindhavasya vadhāya hi
 16 jayadratham ahaṃ hatvā dhruvam eṣyāmi mādhava
     dharmarājaṃ yathā droṇo nigṛhṇīyād raṇe balāt
 17 nigṛhīte naraśreṣṭhe bhāradvājena mādhava
     saindhavasya vadho na syān manāprītis tathā bhavet
 18 evaṃgate naraśreṣṭha pāṇḍave satyavādini
     asmākaṃ gamanaṃ vyaktaṃ vanaṃ prati bhavet punaḥ
 19 so 'yaṃ mama jayo vyaktaṃ vyartha eva bhaviṣyati
     yadi droṇo raṇe kruddho nigṛhṇīyād yudhiṣṭhiram
 20 sa tvam adya mahābāho priyārthaṃ mama mādhava
     jayārthaṃ ca yaśo'rthaṃ ca rakṣa rājānam āhave
 21 sa bhavān mayi nikṣepo nikṣiptaḥ savyasācinā
     bhāradvājād bhayaṃ nityaṃ paśyamānena te prabho
 22 tasyāpi ca mahābāho nityaṃ paśyati saṃyuge
     nānyaṃ hi pratiyoddhāraṃ raukmiṇeyād ṛte prabho
     māṃ vāpi manyate yuddhe bhāradvājasya dhīmataḥ
 23 so 'haṃ saṃbhāvanāṃ caitām ācārya vacanaṃ ca tat
     pṛṣṭhato notsahe kartuṃ tvāṃ vā tyaktuṃ mahīpate
 24 ācāryo laghuhastatvād abhedyakavacāvṛtaḥ
     upalabhya raṇe krīḍed yathā śakuninā śiśuḥ
 25 yadi kārṣṇir dhanuṣpāṇir iha syān makaradhvajaḥ
     tasmai tvāṃ visṛjeyaṃ vai sa tvāṃ rakṣed yathārjunaḥ
 26 kuru tvam ātmano guptiṃ kas te goptā gate mayi
     yaḥ pratīyād raṇe droṇaṃ yāvad gacchāmi pāṇḍavam
 27 mā ca te bhayam adyāstu rājann arjuna saṃbhavam
     na sa jātu mahābāhur bhāram udyamya sīdati
 28 ye ca sauvīrakā yodhās tathā saindhava pauravāḥ
     udīcyā dākṣiṇātyāś ca ye cānye 'pi mahārathāḥ
 29 ye ca karṇa mukhā rājan rathodārāḥ prakīrtitāḥ
     ete 'rjunasya kruddhasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm
 30 udyuktā pṛthivī sarvā sa surāsuramānuṣā
     sa rākṣasagaṇā rājan sa kiṃnaramahoragā
 31 jaṅgamāḥ sthāvaraiḥ sārdhaṃ nālaṃ pārthasya saṃyuge
     evaṃ jñātvā mahārāja vyetu te bhīr dhanaṃjaye
 32 yatra vīrau maheṣvāsau kṛṣṇau satyaparākramau
     na tatra karmaṇo vyāpat kathaṃ cid api vidyate
 33 daivaṃ kṛtāstratāṃ yogam amarṣam api cāhave
     kṛtajñatāṃ dayāṃ caiva bhrātus tvam anucintaya
 34 yami cāpy apayāte vai gacchamāne 'rjunaṃ prati
     droṇe citrāstratāṃ saṃkhye rājaṃs tvam anucintaya
 35 ācāryo hi bhṛśaṃ rājan nigrahe tava gṛdhyati
     pratijñām ātmano rakṣan satyāṃ kartuṃ ca bhārata
 36 kuruṣvādyātmano guptiṃ kas te goptā gate mayi
     yasyāhaṃ paryayāt pārtha gaccheyaṃ phalgunaṃ prati
 37 na hy ahaṃ tvā mahārāja anikṣipya mahāhave
     kva cid yāsyāmi kauravya satyam etad bravīmi te
 38 etad vicārya bahuśo buddhyā buddhimatāṃ vara
     dṛṣṭvā śreyaḥ paraṃ buddhyā tato rājan praśādhi mām
 39 [y]
     evam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi mādhava
     na tu me śudhyate bhāvaḥ śvetāśvaṃ prati māriṣa
 40 kariṣye paramaṃ yatnam ātmano rakṣaṇaṃ prati
     gaccha tvaṃ samanujñāto yatra yāto dhanaṃjayaḥ
 41 ātmasaṃrakṣaṇaṃ saṃkhye gamanaṃ cārjunaṃ prati
     vicāryaitad dvayaṃ buddhyā gamanaṃ tatra rocaye
 42 sa vam ātiṣṭha yānāya yatra yāto dhanaṃjayaḥ
     mamāpi rakṣaṇaṃ bhīmaḥ kariṣyati mahābalaḥ
 43 pārṣataś ca sasodaryaḥ pārthivāś ca mahābalāḥ
     draupadeyāś ca māṃ tāta rakṣiṣyanti na saṃśayaḥ
 44 kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
     virāṭo drupadaś caiva śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ
 45 dhṛṣṭaketuś ca balavān kuntibhojaś ca māriṣa
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayās tathā
     ete samāhitās tāta rakṣiṣyanti na saṃśayaḥ
 46 na droṇaḥ saha sainyena kṛtavarmā ca saṃyuge
     samāsādayituṃ śakto na ca māṃ dharṣayiṣyati
 47 dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca samare droṇaṃ kruddhaṃ paraṃtapaḥ
     vārayiṣyati vikramya veleva makarālayam
 48 yatra sthāsyati saṃgrāme pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
     na droṇa sainyaṃ balavat krāmet tatra kathaṃ cana
 49 eṣa droṇa vināśāya samutpanno hutāśanāt
     kavacī sa śarī khaḍgī dhanvī ca varabhūṣaṇaḥ
 50 viśrabdho gaccha śaineya mā kārṣīr mayi saṃbhramam
     dhṛṣṭadyumno raṇe kruddho droṇam āvārayiṣyati

SECTION LXXXVI

"Sanjaya said, 'I will tell thee all, for everything hath been witnessed by me with my own eyes. Listen calmly. Great is thy fault. Even as an embankment is useless after the waters (of the field) have flowed away, even so, O king, are these lamentations of thine useless! O bull of Bharata's race, do not grieve. Wonderful as are the decrees of the Destroyer, they are incapable of being transgressed. Do not grieve, O bull of Bharata's race, for this is not new. If thou hadst formerly restrained Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, and thy sons also from the match at dice, this calamity then would never have overtaken thee. If, again, when time for battle came, hadst thou restrained both the parties inflamed by wrath, this
p. 168
calamity then would never have overtaken thee. If, again, hadst thou formerly urged the Kurus to slay the disobedient Duryodhana, then this calamity would never have overtaken thee. (If thou hadst done any of these acts), the Pandavas, the Panchalas, the Vrishnis, and the other kings would then have never known thy wrong-headedness. If, again, doing, thy duty as a father, thou hadst, by placing Duryodhana in the path of righteousness, caused him to tread along it, then this calamity would never have overtaken thee. Thou art the wisest man on earth. Forsaking eternal virtue, how couldst thou follow the counsels of Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni? These lamentations of thine, therefore, O king, that I hear,--of thine that art wedded to (worldly) wealth, seem to me to be honey mixed with poison. O monarch, formerly Krishna did not respect king Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, or Drona, so much as he used to respect thee. When, however, he came to know thee as one fallen off from the duties of a king, since then Krishna hath ceased to regard thee with respect. Thy sons had addressed various harsh speeches towards the sons of Pritha. Thou wast indifferent to those speeches then, O thou that wieldest sovereignty, unto thy sons. The consequence of that indifference of thine hath now overtaken thee. O sinless one, the ancestral sovereignty is now in danger. (If it is not so), obtain now the whole earth subjugated by the sons of Pritha. 1 The kingdom that the Kurus enjoy, as also their fame had been acquired by the Pandus. The virtuous sons of Pandu added to that kingdom and that fame. Those achievements, however, of theirs became (to them) barren of fruit as they came in contact with thee, since they were deprived of even their ancestral kingdom by the covetous self. Now, O king, when the battle has begun, thou censurest thy sons indicating diverse faults of theirs. This is scarcely becoming. The Kshatriyas, while fighting, do not take care of their very lives. Indeed, those bulls among Kshatriyas fight, penetrating into the array of the Parthas. Who else, indeed, save the Kauravas, would venture to fight with that force which is protected by Krishna and Arjuna, by Satyaki and Vrikodara? Them that have Arjuna for their warrior, them that have Janardana for their counsellor, them that have Satyaki and Vrikodara for their protectors, what mortal bowman is there that would dare fight with, save the Kauravas and those that are following their lead? All that is capable of being achieved by friendly kings endued with heroism and observant of the duties of Kshatriyas, all that is being done by the warriors on the Kauravas side. Listen now, therefore, to everything that hath taken place in the terrible battle between those tigers among men viz., the Kurus and the Pandavas.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 87

 

 

 

  1 [s]
      dharmarājasya tad vākyaṃ niśamya śinipuṃgavaḥ
      pārthāc ca bhayam āśaṅkan parityāgān mahīpateḥ
  2 apavādaṃ hy ātmanaś ca lokād rakṣan viśeṣataḥ
      na māṃ bhīta iti brūyur āyāntaṃ phalgunaṃ prati
  3 niścitya bahudhaivaṃ sa sātyakir yuddhadurmadaḥ
      dharmarājam idaṃ vākyam abravīt puruṣarṣabha
  4 kṛtāṃ cen manyase rakṣāṃ svasti te 'stu viśāṃ pate
      anuyāsyāmi bībhatsuṃ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava
  5 na hi me pāṇḍavāt kaś cit triṣu lokeṣu vidyate
      yo vai priyataro rājan satyam etad bravīmi te
  6 tasyāhaṃ padavīṃ yāsye saṃdeśāt tava mānada
      tvatkṛte na ca me kiṃ cid akartavyaṃ kathaṃ cana
  7 yathā hi me guror vākyaṃ viśiṣṭaṃ dvipadāṃ vara
      tathā tavāpi vacanaṃ viśiṣṭataram eva me
  8 priye hi tava vartete bhrātarau kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
      tayoḥ priye sthitaṃ caiva viddhi māṃ rājapuṃgava
  9 tavājñāṃ śirasā gṛhya pāṇḍavārtham ahaṃ prabho
      bhittvedaṃ durbhidaṃ sainyaṃ prayāsye narasattama
  10 droṇānīkaṃ viśāmy eṣa kruddho jhaṣa ivārṇavam
     tatra yāsyāmi yatrāsau rājan rājā jayadrathaḥ
 11 yatra senāṃ samāśritya bhītas tiṣṭhati pāṇḍavāt
     guptau rathavaraśreṣṭhair drauṇikarṇa kṛpādibhiḥ
 12 itas triyojanaṃ manye tam adhvānaṃ viśāṃ pate
     yatra tiṣṭhati pārtho 'sau jayadrathavadhodyataḥ
 13 triyojanagatasyāpi tasya yāsyāmy ahaṃ padam
     āsaindhava vadhād rājan sudṛḍhenāntar ātmanā
 14 anādiṣṭas tu guruṇā ko nu yudhyeta mānavaḥ
     ādiṣṭas tu tvayā rājan ko nu yudhyeta mādṛśaḥ
     abhijānāmi taṃ deśaṃ yatra yāsyāmy ahaṃ prabho
 15 huḍa śaktigaḍā prāsakhaḍgacarmarṣṭi tomaram
     iṣvastravarasaṃbādhaṃ kṣobhayiṣye balārṇavam
 16 yad etat kuñjarānīkaṃ sāhasram anupaśyasi
     kulam añjanakaṃ nāma yatraite vīryaśālinaḥ
 17 āsthitā bahubhir mlecchair yuddhaśauṇḍaiḥ prahāribhiḥ
     nāgā meghanibhā rājan kṣaranta iva toyadāḥ
 18 naite jātu nivarteran preṣitā hastisādibhiḥ
     anyatra hi vadhād eṣāṃ nāsti rājan parājayaḥ
 19 atha yān rathino rājan samantād anupaśyasi
     ete rukmarathā nāma rājaputrā mahārathāḥ
 20 ratheṣv astreṣu nipuṇā nāgeṣu ca viśāṃ pate
     dhanurvede gatāḥ pāraṃ muṣṭiyuddhe ca kovidāḥ
 21 gadāyuddhaviśeṣajñā niyuddha kuśalās tathā
     khaḍgapraharaṇe yuktāḥ saṃpāte cāsi carmaṇoḥ
 22 śūrāś ca kṛtavidyāś ca spardhante ca parasparam
     nityaṃ ca samare rājan vijigīṣanti mānavān
 23 karṇena vijitā rājan duḥśāsanam anuvratāḥ
     etāṃs tu vāsudevo 'pi rathodārān praśaṃsati
 24 satataṃ priyakāmāś ca karṇasyaite vaśe sthitāḥ
     tasyaiva vacanād rājan nivṛttāḥ śvetavāhanāt
 25 te na kṣatā na ca śrāntā dṛḍhāvaraṇakārmukāḥ
     madarthaṃ viṣṭhitā nūnaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya śāsanāt
 26 etān pramarthya saṃgrāme priyārthaṃ tava kaurava
     prayāsyāmi tataḥ paścāt padavīṃ savyasācinaḥ
 27 yāṃs tv etān aparān rājan nāgān saptaśatāni ca
     prekṣase varma saṃchannān kirātaiḥ samadhiṣṭhitān
 28 kirāta rājo yān prādād gṛhītaḥ savyasācinā
     svalaṃkṛtāṃs tathā preṣyān icchañ jīvitam ātmanaḥ
 29 āsann ete purā rājaṃs tava karma karā dṛḍham
     tvām evādya yuyutsante paśya kālasya paryayam
 30 teṣām ete mahāmātrāḥ kirātā yuddhadurmadāḥ
     hastiśikṣāvidaś caiva sarve caivāgniyonayaḥ
 31 ete vinirjitāḥ sarve saṃgrāme savyasācinā
     madartham adya saṃyattā duryodhana vaśānugāḥ
 32 etān bhittvā śarai rājan kirātān yuddhadurmadān
     saindhavasya vadhe yuktam anuyāsyāmi pāṇḍavam
 33 ye tv ete sumahānāgā añjanasya kulodbhavāḥ
     karkaśāś ca vinītāś ca prabhinnakaraṭā mukhāḥ
 34 jāmbūnadamayaiḥ sarvair varmabhiḥ suvibhūṣitāḥ
     labdhalakṣmyā raṇe rājann airāvaṇa samā yudhi
 35 uttarāt parvatād ete tīkṣṇair dasyubhir āsthitāḥ
     karkaśaiḥ pravarair yodhaiḥ kārṣṇāyasa tanuc chadaiḥ
 36 santi goyonayaś cātra santi vānarayonayaḥ
     anekayonayaś cānye tathā mānuṣayonayaḥ
 37 anīkam asatām etad dhūmavarṇam udīryate
     mlecchānāṃ pāpakartṝṇāṃ himavad durgavāsinām
 38 etad duryodhano labdhvā samagraṃ nāgamaṇḍalam
     kṛpaṃ ca saumadattiṃ ca droṇaṃ ca rathināṃ varam
 39 sindhurājaṃ tathā karṇam avamanyata pāṇḍavān
     kṛtārtham atha cātmānaṃ manyate kālacoditaḥ
 40 te ca sarve 'nusaṃprāptā mama nārācagocaram
     na vimokṣyanti kaunteya yady api syur manojavāḥ
 41 tena saṃbhāvitā nityaṃ paravīryopajīvinā
     vināśam upayāsyanti maccharaughanipīḍitāḥ
 42 ye tv ete rathino rājan dṛśyante kāñcanadhvajāḥ
     ete durvāraṇā nāma kāmbojā yadi te śrutāḥ
 43 śūrāś ca kṛtavidyāś ca dhanurvede ca niṣṭhitāḥ
     saṃhatāś ca bhṛśaṃ hy ete anyonyasya hitaiṣiṇaḥ
 44 akṣauhiṇyaś ca saṃrabdhā dhārtarāṣṭrasya bhārata
     yattā madarthaṃ tiṣṭhanti kuruvīrābhirakṣitāḥ
 45 apramattā mahārāja mām eva pratyupasthitāḥ
     tāṃs tv ahaṃ pramathiṣyāmi tṛṇānīva hutāśanaḥ
 46 tasmāt sarvān upāsaṅgān sarvopakaraṇāni ca
     rathe kurvantu me rājan yathāvad rathakalpakāḥ
 47 asmiṃs tu khalu saṃgrāme grāhyaṃ vividham āyudham
     yathopadiṣṭam ācāryaiḥ kāryaḥ pañca guṇo rathaḥ
 48 kāmbojair hi sameṣyāmi kruddhair āśīviṣopamaiḥ
     nānāśastrasamāvāpair vividhāyudhayodhibhiḥ
 49 kirātaiś ca sameṣyāmi viṣakalpaiḥ prahāribhiḥ
     lālitaiḥ satataṃ rājñā duryodhana hitaiṣibhiḥ
 50 śakaiś cāpi sameṣyāmi śakratulyaparākramaiḥ
     agnikalpair durādharṣaiḥ pradīptair iva pāvakaiḥ
 51 tathānyair vividhair yodhaiḥ kālakalpair durāsadaiḥ
     sameṣyāmi raṇe rājan bahubhir yuddhadurmadaiḥ
 52 tasmād vai vājino mukhyā viśrāntāḥ śubhalakṣaṇāḥ
     upāvṛttāś ca pītāś ca punar yujyantu me rathe
 53 tasya sarvān upāsaṅgān sarvopakaraṇāni ca
     rathe prāsthāpayad rājā śastrāṇi vividhāni ca
 54 tatas tān sarvato muktvā sadaśvāṃś caturo janāḥ
     rasavat pāyayām āsuḥ pānaṃ madasamīriṇam
 55 pītopavṛttān snātāṃś ca jagdhānnān samalaṃkṛtān
     vinītaśalyāṃs turagāṃś caturo hemamālinaḥ
 56 tān yattān rukmavarṇābhān vinītāñ śīghragāminaḥ
     saṃhṛṣṭamanaso 'vyagrān vidhivat kalpite rathe
 57 mahādhvajena siṃhena hemakesara mālinā
     saṃvṛte ketanair hemair maṇividruma citritaiḥ
     pāṇḍurābhraprakāśābhiḥ patākābhir alaṃkṛte
 58 hemadaṇḍocchritac chatre bahu śasta paricchade
     yojayām āsa vidhivad dhemabhāṇḍa vibhūṣitān
 59 dārukasyānujo bhrātā sūtas tasya priyaḥ sakhā
     nyavedayad rathaṃ yuktaṃ vāsavasyeva mātaliḥ
 60 tataḥ snātaḥ śucir bhūtvā kṛtakautuka maṅgalaḥ
     snatakānāṃ sahasrasya svarṇaniṣkān adāpayat
     āśīrvādaiḥ pariṣvaktaḥ sātyakiḥ śrīmatāṃ varaḥ
 61 tataḥ sa madhuparkārhaḥ pītvā kailāvataṃ madhu
     lohitākṣo babhau tatra madavihvala locanaḥ
 62 ālabhya vīra kāṃsyaṃ ca harṣeṇa mahatānvitaḥ
     dviguṇīkṛtatejā hi prajvalann iva pāvakaḥ
     utsaṅge dhanur ādāya sa śaraṃ rathināṃ varaḥ
 63 kṛtasvastyayano vipraiḥ kavacī samalaṃkṛtaḥ
     lājair gandhais tathā mālyaiḥ kanyābhiś cābhinanditaḥ
 64 yudhiṣṭhirasya caraṇāv abhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ
     tena mūrdhany upāghrāta āruroha mahāratham
 65 tatas te vājino hṛṣṭāḥ supuṣṭā vātaraṃhasaḥ
     ajayyā jaitram ūhus taṃ vikurvantaḥ sma saindhavāḥ
 66 atha harṣaparītāṅgaḥ sātyakir bhīmam abravīt
     tvaṃ bhīma rakṣa rājānam etat kāryatamaṃ hi te
 67 ahaṃ bhittvā pravekṣyāmi kālapakvam idaṃ balam
     āyatyāṃ ca tadātve ca śreyo rājño 'bhirakṣaṇam
 68 jānīṣe mama vīryaṃ tvaṃ tava cāham ariṃdama
     tasmād bhīma nivartasva mama ced icchasi priyam
 69 tathoktaḥ sātyakiṃ prāha vraja tvaṃ kāryasiddhaye
     ahaṃ rājñaḥ kariṣyāmi rakṣāṃ puruṣasattama
 70 evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca bhīmasenaṃ sa mādhavaḥ
     gaccha gaccha drutaṃ pārtha dhruvo 'dya vijayo mama
 71 yan me snigdho 'nuraktaś ca tvam adya vaśagaḥ sthitaḥ
     nimittāni ca dhanyāni yathā bhīmavadanti me
 72 nihate saindhave pāpe pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
     pariṣvajiṣye rājānaṃ dharmātmānaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
 73 etāvad uktvā bhīmaṃ tu visṛjya ca mahāmanāḥ
     saṃpraikṣat tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ vyāghor mṛgagaṇān iva
 74 taṃ dṛṣṭvā pravivikṣantaṃ sainyaṃ tava janādhipa
     bhūya evābhavan mūḍhaṃ subhṛśaṃ cāpy akampata
 75 tataḥ prayātaḥ sahasā sainyaṃ tava sa sātyakiḥ
     didṛkṣur arjunaṃ rājan dharmarājasya śāsanāt

SECTION LXXXVII

"Sanjaya said, 'After that fight had passed away, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, began to array all his divisions for battle. Diverse sounds were heard, O monarch of angry heroes shouting in wrath and desirous of slaying one another. And some stretched their bows, and some rubbed with their hands their bow-strings. And drawing deep breaths, many of them shouted, saying, Where is that Dhananjaya? And some began to throw upwards (and again seize) their naked swords, unyielding, well-tempered, of the colour of the sky, possessed of great sharpness, and furnished with beautiful hilts. And brave warriors, desirous of battle, by thousands, were seen to perform the evolutions of swordmen and of bowmen, with skill acquired by practice. Some whirling their maces decked with bells, smeared with sandal paste, and adorned with gold and diamonds enquired after the sons of Pandu. Some intoxicated with the pride of strength, and possessed of massive arms, obstructed the welkin with their spiked clubs that resembled (a forest of flag) staff raised in honour of Indra. Others, brave warriors all, adorned with beautiful garlands of flowers, desirous of battle, occupied diverse portions of the field, armed with diverse weapons. 'Where is Arjuna? Where is that Govinda? Where is proud Bhima? Where also are those allies of their?' Even thus did they call upon them in battle. Then blowing his conch and himself urging the horses to great speed, Drona moved about with great celerity, arraying his troops. After all those divisions that delight in battle had taken up their stations, Bharadwaja's son, O king, said these words unto Jayadratha. 'Thyself, Somadatta's son, the mighty car-warrior Karna, Aswatthaman, Salya, Vrishasena and Kripa, with a hundred thousand horse, sixty thousand cars, four and ten thousand elephants with rent temples, one and twenty thousand foot-soldiers clad in mail take up your station behind me at the distance of twelve miles. There the very gods with Vasava at their head will not be able to attack thee, what need be said, therefore, of the Pandavas? Take comfort, O ruler of the Sindhus. Thus addressed (by Drona), Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus, became comforted. And he proceeded to the spot indicated by Drona, accompanied by many Gandhara warriors, and surrounded by those great car-warriors, and with many foot-soldiers clad in mail, prepared to fight vigorously and armed with nooses. The steeds of Jayadratha, well-skilled in bearing of drawing were all, O monarch, decked with yalk-tails and ornaments of gold. And seven thousand such steeds, and three thousand other steeds of the Sindhu breed were with him.'
"Thy son Durmarshana, desirous of doing battle, stationed himself at the head of all the troops, accompanied by a thousand and five hundred infuriated elephants and awful size clad in mail and of fierce deeds, and all ridden by well-trained elephant-riders. Thy two other sons, viz., Duhsasana and Vikarna, took up their position amid the advance-divisions
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of the army, for the accomplishment of the objects of Jayadratha. The array that Bharadwaja's son formed, part Sakata and part a circle, was full forty-eight miles long and the width of its rear measured twenty miles. Drona himself formed that array with countless brave kings, stationed with it, and countless cars and steeds and elephants and foot-soldiers. In the rear of that array was another impenetrable array of the form of lotus. And within that lotus was another dense array called the needle. Having formed his mighty array thus, Drona took up his station. At the mouth of that needle, the great bowman Kritavarman took up his stand. Next to Kritavarman, O sire, stood the ruler of the Kamvojas and Jalasandha. Next to these, stood Duryodhana and Karna. Behind them hundreds and thousands of unreturning heroes were stationed in that Sakata for protecting its head. Behind them all, O monarch, and surrounded by a vast force, was king Jayadratha stationed at one side of that needle-shaped array. At the entrance of the Sakata, O king, was Bharadwaja's son. Behind Drona was the chief of the Bhojas, who protected him. Clad in white armour, with excellent head-gear, of broad chest and mighty arms, Drona stood, stretching his large bow, like the Destroyer himself in wrath. Beholding Drona's car which was graced with a beautiful standard and had red sacrificial altar and a black deer-skin, the Kauravas were filled with delight. Seeing that array formed by Drona, which resembled the ocean itself in agitation, the Siddhas and the Charanas were filled with wonder. And all creatures thought that array would devour the whole earth with her mountains and seas and forests, and abounding with diverse things. And king Duryodhana, beholding that mighty array in the form of a Sakata, teeming with carts and men and steeds and elephants, roaring dreadful of wonderful form, and capable of riving the hearts of foes, began to rejoice.'"

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 88

 

 

 1 [s]
      prayāte tava sainyaṃ tu yuyudhāne yuyutsayā
      dharmarājo mahārāja svenānīkena saṃvṛtaḥ
      prāyād droṇa rathaprepsur yuyudhānasya pṛṣṭhataḥ
  2 tataḥ pāñcālarājasya putraḥ samaradurmadaḥ
      prākrośat pāṇḍavānīke vasu dānaś ca pārthivaḥ
  3 āgacchata praharata drutaṃ viparidhāvata
      yathāsukhena gaccheta sātyakir yuddhadurmadaḥ
  4 mahārathā hi bahavo yatiṣyanty asya nirjaye
      iti bruvanto vegena samāpetur balaṃ tava
  5 vayaṃ pratijigīṣantas tatra tān samabhidrutāḥ
      tataḥ śabdo mahān āsīd yuyudhāna rathaṃ prati
  6 prakampyamānā mahatī tava putrasya vāhinī
      sātvatena mahārāja śatadhābhivyadīryata
  7 tasyāṃ vidīryamāṇāyāṃ śineḥ pautro mahārathaḥ
      sapta vīrān maheṣvāsān agrānīke vyapothayat
  8 te bhītā mṛdyamānāś ca pramṛṣṭā dīrghabāhunā
      āyodhanaṃ jahur vīrā dṛṣṭvā tam atimānuṣam
  9 rathair vimathitākṣaiś ca bhagnanīḍaiś ca māriṣa
      cakrair vimathitaiś chinnair dhvajaiś ca vinipātitaiḥ
  10 anukarṣaiḥ patākābhiḥ śiras trāṇaiḥ sa kāñcanaiḥ
     bāhubhiś candanādigdhaiḥ sāṅgadaiś ca viśāṃ pate
 11 hastihastopamaiś cāpi bhujagābhoga saṃnibhaiḥ
     ūrubhiḥ pṛthivī channā manujānāṃ narottama
 12 śaśāṅkasaṃnikāśaiś ca vadanaiś cārukuṇḍalaiḥ
     patitair vṛṣabhākṣāṇāṃ babhau bhārata medinī
 13 gajaiś ca bahudhā chinnaiḥ śayānaiḥ parvatopamaiḥ
     rarājātibhṛśaṃ bhūmir vikīrṇair iva parvataiḥ
 14 tapanīyamayair yoktrairmuktā jālavibhūṣitaiḥ
     uraś chadair vicitraiś ca vyaśobhanta turaṃgamāḥ
     gatasattvā mahīṃ prāpya pramṛṣṭā dīrghabāhunā
 15 nānāvidhāni sainyāni tava hatvā tu sātvataḥ
     praviṣṭas tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ drāvayitvā camūṃ bhṛśam
 16 tatas tenaiva mārgeṇa yena yāto dhanaṃjayaḥ
     iyeṣa sātyakir gantuṃ tato droṇena vāritaḥ
 17 bharadvājaṃ samāsādya yuyudhānas tu māriṣa
     nābhyavartata saṃkruddho velām iva jalā śayaḥ
 18 nivārya tu raṇe droṇo yuyudhānaṃ mahāratham
     vivyādha niśitair bāṇaiḥ pañcabhir marmabhedibhiḥ
 19 sātyakis tu raṇe droṇaṃ rājan vivyādha saptabhiḥ
     hemapuṅkhaiḥ śilā dhautaiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇa vājitaiḥ
 20 taṃ ṣaḍbhiḥ sāyakair droṇaḥ sāśvayantāram ārdayat
     sa taṃ na mamṛṣe droṇaṃ yuyudhāno mahārathaḥ
 21 siṃhanādaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā droṇaṃ vivyādha sātyakiḥ
     daśabhiḥ sāyakaiś cānyaiḥ ṣaḍbhir aṣṭābhir eva ca
 22 yuyudhānaḥ punar droṇaṃ vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     ekena sārathiṃ cāsya caturbhiś caturo hayān
     dhvajam ekena bāṇena vivyādha yudhi māriṣa
 23 taṃ droṇaḥ sāśvayantāraṃ sa rathadhvajam āśugaiḥ
     tvaran prācchādayad bāṇaiḥ śalabhānām iva vrajaiḥ
 24 tathaiva yuyudhāno 'pi droṇaṃ bahubhir āśugaiḥ
     prācchādayad asaṃbhrāntas tato droṇa uvāca ha
 25 tavācāryo raṇaṃ hitvā gataḥ kāpuruṣo yathā
     yudhyamānaṃ hi māṃ hitvā pradakṣiṇam avartata
 26 tvaṃ hi me yudhyato nādya jīvan mokṣyasi mādhava
     yadi māṃ tvaṃ raṇe hitvā na yāsy ācāryavad drutam
 27 [sātyaki]
     dhanaṃjayasya padavīṃ dharmarājasya śāsanāt
     gacchāmi svasti te brahman na me kālātyayo bhavet
 28 [s]
     etāvad uktvā śaineya ācāryaṃ parivarjayan
     prayātaḥ sahasā rājan sārathiṃ cedam abravīt
 29 droṇaḥ kariṣyate yatnaṃ sarvathā mama vāraṇe
     yatto yāhi raṇe sūta śṛṇu cedaṃ vacaḥ param
 30 etad ālokyate sainyam āvantyānāṃ mahāprabham
     asyānantaratas tv etad dākṣiṇātyaṃ mahābalam
 31 tadanantaram etac ca bāhlikānāṃ balaṃ mahat
     bāhlikābhyāśato yuktaṃ karṇasyāpi mahad balam
 32 anyonyena hi sainyāni bhinnāny etāni sārathe
     anyonyaṃ samupāśritya na tyakṣyanti raṇājiram
 33 etad antaram āsādya codayāśvān prahṛṣṭavat
     madhyamaṃ javam āsthāya vaha mām atra sārathe
 34 bāhlikā yatra dṛśyante nānāpraharaṇodyatāḥ
     dākṣiṇātyāś ca bahavaḥ sūtaputra purogamāḥ
 35 hastyaśvarathasaṃbādhaṃ yac cānīkaṃ vilokyate
     nānādeśasamutthaiś ca padātibhir adhiṣṭhitam
 36 etāvad uktvā yantāraṃ brahmāṇaṃ parivarjayan
     sa vyatīyāya yatrograṃ karṇasya sumahad balam
 37 taṃ droṇo 'nuyayau kruddho vikiran viśikhān bahūn
     yuyudhānaṃ mahābāhuṃ gacchantam anivartinam
 38 karṇasya sainyaṃ sumahad abhihatya śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     prāviśad bhāratīṃ senām aparyantāṃ sa sātyakiḥ
 39 praviṣṭe yuyudhāne tu sainikeṣu druteṣu ca
     amarṣī kṛtavarmā tu sātyakiṃ paryavārayat
 40 tam āpatantaṃ viśikhaiḥ ṣaḍbhir āhatya sātyakiḥ
     caturbhiś caturo 'syāśvān ājaghānāśu vīryavān
 41 tataḥ punaḥ ṣoḍaśabhir nataparvabhir āśugaiḥ
     sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmāṇaṃ pratyavidhyat stanāntare
 42 sa tudyamāno viśikhair bahubhis tigmatejanaiḥ
     sātvatena mahārāja kṛtavarmā na cakṣame
 43 sa vatsadantaṃ saṃdhāya jihmagānala saṃnibham
     ākṛṣya rājann ākarṇād vivyādhorasi sātyakim
 44 sa tasya devāvaraṇaṃ bhittvā dehaṃ ca sāyakaḥ
     sa patrapuṅkhaḥ pṛthivīṃ viveśa rudhirokṣitaḥ
 45 athāsya bahubhir bāṇair acchinat paramāstravit
     samārgaṇa guṇaṃ rājan kṛtavarmā śarāsanam
 46 vivyādha ca raṇe rājan sātyakiṃ satyavikramam
     daśabhir viśikhais tīkṣṇair abhikruddhaḥ stanāntare
 47 tataḥ praśīrṇe dhanuṣi śaktyā śaktimatāṃ varaḥ
     abhyahan dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
 48 tato 'nyat sudṛḍhaṃ vīro dhanur ādāya sātyakiḥ
     vyasṛjad viśikhāṃs tūrṇaṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 49 sa rathaṃ kṛtavarmāṇaṃ samantāt paryavākirat
     chādayitvā raṇe 'tyarthaṃ hārdikyaṃ tu sa sātyakiḥ
 50 athāsya bhallena śiraḥ sāratheḥ samakṛntata
     sa papāta hataḥ sūto hārdikyasya mahārathāt
     tatas te yantari hate prādravaṃs turagā bhṛśam
 51 atha bhojas tv asaṃbhrānto nigṛhya turagān svayam
     tasthau śaradhanuṣpāṇis tat sainyāny abhyapūjayan
 52 sa muhūrtam ivāśvasya sadaśvān samacodayat
     vyapetabhīr amitrāṇām āvahat sumahad bhayam
     sātyakiś cābhyagāt tasmāt sa tu bhīmam upādravat
 53 yuyudhāno 'pi rājendra droṇānīkād viniḥsṛtaḥ
     prayayau tvaritas tūrṇaṃ kāmbojānāṃ mahācamūm
 54 sa tatra bahubhiḥ śūraiḥ saṃniruddho mahārathaiḥ
     na cacāla tadā rājan sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
 55 saṃdhāya ca camūṃ droṇo bhoje bhāraṃ niveśya ca
     anvadhāvad raṇe yatto yuyudhānaṃ yuyutsayā
 56 tathā tam anudhāvantaṃ yuyudhānasya pṛṣṭhataḥ
     nyavārayanta saṃkruddhāḥ pāṇḍusainye bṛhattamāḥ
 57 samāsādya tu hārdikyaṃ rathānāṃ parvaraṃ ratham
     pāñcālā vigatotsāhā bhīmasenapurogamāḥ
     vikramya vāritā rājan vīreṇa kṛtavarmaṇā
 58 yatamānāṃs tu tān sarvān īṣad vigatacetasaḥ
     abhitastāñ śaraugheṇa klāntavāhān avārayat
 59 nigṛhītās tu bhojena bhojānīkepsavo raṇe
     atiṣṭhann āryavad vīrāḥ prārthayanto mahad yaśaḥ

 

SECTION LXXXVIII

"Sanjaya said, 'After the divisions of the Kuru army had been (thus) arrayed, and a loud uproar, O sire, had, arisen; after drums and Mridangas began to be beaten and played upon, after the din of the warriors and the noise of musical instruments had become audible; after conch began to be blown, and an awful roar had arisen, making the hair stand on end; after the field of battle had beer slowly covered by the Bharata heroes desirous of fight; and after the hour called Rudra had set in, Savyasachin made his appearance. Many thousands of ravens and crows, O Bharata, proceeded sporting on the front of Arjuna's car. Various animals of terrible cries, and jackals of inauspicious sight, began to yell and howl on our right as we proceeded to battle. Thousands of blazing meteors fell
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with great noise. The whole earth trembled on that dreadful occasion. Dry winds blew in all directions, accompanied by thunder, and driving bard pebbles and gravel when Kunti's son came at the commencement of battle. Then Nakula's son, Satanika, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Pritha, those two warriors possessed of great wisdom, arrayed the several divisions of the Pandavas. Then thy son Durmarshana, accompanied by a thousand cars, a hundred elephants, three thousand heroes, and ten thousand foot-soldiers, and covering a piece of ground that measured the length of fifteen hundred bows, took up his position at the very van of all the troops, and said: 'Like the continent resisting the surging sea, even I will today resist the wielder of Gandiva, that scorcher of foes, that warrior who is irresistible in battle. Let people today behold the wrathful Dhananjaya collide with me, like a mass of stone against another stony mass. Ye car-warriors that are desirous of battle, stay ye (as witness). Alone I will fight with all the Pandavas assembled together, for enhancing my honour and fame. That high-souled and noble son of thine, that great bowman saying this, stood there surrounded by many great bowmen. Then, like the Destroyer himself in wrath, or Vasava himself armed with the thunder, or Death's irresistible self armed with his club and urged on by Time, or Mahadeva armed with the trident and incapable of being ruffled, or Varuna bearing his noise, or the blazing fire at the end of the Yuga risen for consuming the creation, the slayer of the Nivatakavachas inflamed with rage and swelling with might, the ever-victorious Jaya, devoted to truth and desirous of achieving his great vow, clad in mail and armed with sword, decked in golden diadem, adorned with garlands of swords of white flowers and attired in white robes, his arms decked with beautiful Angadas and ears with excellent ear-rings, mounted on his own foremost of cars, (the incarnate) Nara, accompanied by Narayana, shaking his Gandiva in battle, shone brilliantly like the risen sun. And Dhananjaya of great prowess, placing his car, O king, at the very van of his army, where densest showers of arrows would fall, blew his conch. Then Krishna also, O sire, fearlessly blew with great force his foremost of conchs called Panchajanya as Partha blew his. And in consequence of the blare of the conchs, all the warriors in thy army, O monarch, trembled and became lost heart. And their hair stood on end at that sound. As an creatures are oppressed with fright at the sound of the thunder, even so did all thy warriors took fright at the blare of those conchs. And all the animals ejected urine and excreta. Thy whole army with its animals became filled with anxiety, O king, and in consequence of the blare of those (two) conchs, all men, O sire, lost their strength. And some amongst them, O monarch, were inspired with dread, and some lost their senses. And the ape on Arjuna's banner, opening his mouth wide, made an awful noise with the other creatures on it, for terrifying thy troops. Then conchs and horns and cymbals and Anakas were once more blown and beat for cheering thy warriors. And that noise mingled with the noise of diverse (other) musical instruments, with the shouts of warriors and the slaps of their arm-pits,
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and with their leonine roars uttered by great car-warriors in summoning and challenging (their antagonists). When that tumultuous uproar rose there, an uproar that enhanced the fear of the timid, the son of Pakasana, filled with great delight, addressing him of Dasarha's race, said (these words).'
"Arjuna said, 'Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesa, to where Durmarshana stayeth. Piercing through that elephant division I will penetrate into the hostile army.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed by Savyasachin, the mighty-armed Kesava urged the steeds to where Durmarshana was staying. Fierce and awful was the encounter that commenced there between one and the many, an encounter that proved very destructive of cars and elephants and men. Then Partha, resembling a pouring cloud, covered his foes with showers of shafts, like a mass of clouds pouring rain on the mountain breast. 1 The hostile of car-warriors also, displaying great lightness of hand, quickly covered both Krishna and Dhananjaya with clouds of arrows. The mighty-armed Partha, then, thus opposed in battle by his foes, became filled with wrath, and began to strike off with his arrows the heads of car-warriors from their trunks. And the earth became strewn with beautiful heads decked with ear-rings and turbans, the nether lips bit by the upper ones, and the faces adorned with eyes troubled with wrath. Indeed, the scattered heads of the warriors looked resplendent like an assemblage of plucked off and crushed lotuses lying strewn about the field. Golden coats of mail 2 dyed with gore (lying thick over the field), looked like masses of clouds charged with lightning. The sound, O king, of severed heads dropping on the earth, resembled that of falling palmyra fruits ripened in due time, headless trunks arose, some with bow in hand, and some with naked swords upraised in the act of striking. Those brave warriors incapable of brooking Arjuna's feats and desirous of vanquishing him, had no distinct perception as to when their heads were struck off by Arjuna. The earth became strewn with heads of horses, trunks of elephants, and the arms and legs of heroic warriors. 'This is one Partha', 'Where is Partha? Here is Partha!', 'Even thus, O king, the warriors, of thy army became filled with the idea of Partha only. Deprived of their senses by Time, they regarded the whole world to be full of Partha only, and therefore, many of them perished, striking one another, and some struck even their own selves. Uttering yells of woe, many heroes, covered with blood, deprived of their senses, and in great agony, laid themselves down, calling upon their friends and kinsmen. Arms, bearing short arrows, or lances, or darts, or swords, or battle-axes, or pointed stakes, or scimitars, or bows, or spears, or shafts, or maces, and cased in armour and decked with Angadas and other ornaments, and looking like large snakes, and resembling huge clubs, cut off (from trunks) with
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mighty weapons, were seen to jump about, jerk about, and move about, with great force, as if in rage. Every one amongst those that wrathfully advanced against Partha in that battle, perished, pierced in his body with some fatal shafts of that hero. While dancing on his car as it moved, and drawing his bow, no one there could detect the minutest opportunity for striking him. The quickness with which he took his shafts, fixed them on the bow, and let them off, filled all his enemies with wonder. Indeed Phalguna, with his shafts, pierced elephants and elephant-riders, horses and horse-riders, car-warriors and drivers of cars. There was none amongst his enemies, whether staying before him or struggling in battle, or wheeling about, whom the son of Pandu did not slay. As the sun rising in the welkin destroyeth the thick gloom, even so did Arjuna destroy that elephant-force by means of his shafts winged with Kanka plumes. The field occupied by thy troops, in consequence of riven elephants fallen upon it, looked like the earth strewn with huge hills at the hour of universal dissolution. As the midday sun is incapable of being looked at by all creatures, even so was Dhananjaya, excited with wrath, incapable of being looked at, in battle, by his enemies. The troops of thy son, O chastiser of foes, afflicted (with the arrows of Dhananjaya), broke and fled in fear. Like a mass of clouds pierced and driven away by a mighty wind, that army was pierced and routed by Partha. None indeed could gaze at the hero while he was slaying the foe. Urging their heroes to great speed by spurs, by the horns of their bows, by deep growls, by encouraging behests, by whips, by cuts on their flanks, and by threatening speeches, thy men, viz., thy cavalry and thy car-warriors, as also thy foot-soldiers, struck by the shafts of Arjuna, fled away from the fields. Others (that rode on elephants), fled away, urging those huge beasts by pressing their flanks with their hooks and many warriors struck by Partha's arrows, in flying, ran against Partha himself. Indeed, thy warriors, then became all cheerless and their understandings were all confused.

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 89

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ sainyam evaṃ pravicitaṃ varam
      vyūḍham evaṃ yathānyāyam evaṃ bahu ca saṃjaya
  2 nityaṃ pūjitam asmābhir abhikāmaṃ ca naḥ sadā
      prauḍham ity adbhutākāraṃ purastād dṛḍhavikramam
  3 nātivṛddham abālaṃ ca na kṛśaṃ nātipīvaram
      laghuvṛttāyataprāṇaṃ sāragātram anāmayam
  4 āttasaṃnāhasaṃpannaṃ bahuśastraparicchadam
      śastragrahaṇavidyāsu bahvīṣu pariniṣṭhitam
  5 ārohe paryavaskande saraṇe sāntaraplute
      samyakpraharaṇe yāne vyapayāne ca kovidam
  6 nāgeṣv aśveṣu bahuśo ratheṣu ca parīkṣitam
      parīkṣya ca yathānyāyaṃ vetanenopapāditam
  7 na goṣṭhyā nopacāreṇa na saṃbandha nimittataḥ
      nānāhūto na hy abhṛto mama sainye babhūva ha
  8 kulīnārya janopetaṃ tuṣṭapuṣṭam anuddhatam
      kṛtamānopakāram ca yaśasvi ca manasvi ca
  9 sacivaiś cāparair mukhyair bahubhir mukhyakarmabhiḥ
      lokapālopamais tāta pālitaṃ narasattamaiḥ
  10 bahubhiḥ pārthivair guptam asmatpriyacikīrṣubhiḥ
     asmān abhisṛtaiḥ kāmāt sabalaiḥ sapadānugaiḥ
 11 mahodadhim ivāpūrṇam āpagābhiḥ samantataḥ
     apakṣaiḥ pakṣisaṃkāśai rathair aśvaiś ca saṃvṛtam
 12 yodhākṣayya jalaṃ bhīmaṃ vāhanormitaraṅgiṇam
     kṣepaṇyasigadāśaktiśaraprāsajhaṣākulam
 13 dhvajabhūṣaṇasaṃbādhaṃ ratnapaṭṭena saṃcitam
     vāhanair api dhāvadbhir vāyuvegavikampitam
 14 droṇa gambhīrapātālaṃ kṛtavarma mahāhradam
     jalasaṃdha mahāgrāhaṃ karṇa candrodayoddhatam
 15 gate sainyārṇavaṃ bhittvā tarasā pāṇḍavarṣabhe
     saṃjayaika rathenaiva yuyudhāne ca māmakam
 16 tatra śeṣaṃ na paśyāmi praviṣṭe savyasācini
     sātvate ca rathodāre mama sainyasya saṃjaya
 17 tau tatra samatikrāntau dṛṣṭvābhītau tarasvinau
     sindhurājaṃ ca saṃprekṣya gāṇḍīvasyeṣu gocare
 18 kiṃ tadā kuravaḥ kṛtyaṃ vidadhuḥ kālacoditāḥ
     dāruṇaikāyane kāle kathaṃ vā pratipedire
 19 grastān hi kauravān manye mṛtyunā tāta saṃgatān
     vikramo hi raṇe teṣāṃ na tathā dṛśyate 'dya vai
 20 akṣatau saṃyuge tatra praviṣṭau kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
     na ca vārayitā kaś cit tayor astīha saṃjaya
 21 bhṛtāś ca bahavo yodhāḥ parīkṣyaiva mahārathāḥ
     vetanena yathāyogyaṃ priyavādena cāpare
 22 akāraṇabhṛtas tāta mama sainye na vidyate
     karmaṇā hy anurūpeṇa labhyate bhakta vetanam
 23 na ca yodho 'bhavat kaś cin mama sainye tu saṃjaya
     alpadānabhṛtas tāta na kupya bhṛtako naraḥ
 24 pūjitā hi yathāśaktyā dānamānāsanair mayā
     tathā putraiś ca me tāta jñātibhiś ca sa bāndhavaiḥ
 25 te ca prāpyaiva saṃgrāme nirjitāḥ savyasācinā
     śaineyena parāmṛṣṭāḥ kim anyad bhāgadheyataḥ
 26 rakṣyate yaś ca saṃgrāme ye ca saṃjaya rakṣiṇaḥ
     ekaḥ sādhāraṇaḥ panthā rakṣyasya saha rakṣibhiḥ
 27 arjunaṃ samare dṛṣṭvā saindhavasyāgrataḥ sthitam
     putro mama bhṛśaṃ mūḍhaḥ kiṃ kāryaṃ pratyapadyata
 28 sātyakiṃ ca raṇe dṛṣṭvā praviśantam abhītavat
     kiṃ nu duryodhanaḥ kṛtyaṃ prāptakālam amanyata
 29 sarvaśastrātigau senāṃ praviṣṭau rathasattamau
     dṛṣṭvā kāṃ vai dhṛtiṃ yuddhe pratyapadyanta māmakāḥ
 30 dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇaṃ tu dāśārham arjunārthe vyavasthitam
     śinīnām ṛṣabhaṃ caiva manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 31 dṛṣṭvā senāṃ vyatikrāntāṃ sātvatenārjunena ca
     palāyamānāṃś ca kurūn manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 32 vidrutān rathino dṛṣṭvā nirutsāhān dviṣaj jaye
     palāyane kṛtotsāhān manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 33 śūnyān kṛtān rathopasthān sātvatenārjunena ca
     hatāṃś ca yodhān saṃdṛśya manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 34 vyaśva nāgarathān dṛṣṭvā tatra vīrān sahasraśaḥ
     dhāvamānān raṇe vyagrān manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 35 vivīrāṃś ca kṛtānāśvān virathāṃś ca kṛtān narān
     tatra sātyakipārthābhyāṃ manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 36 pattisaṃghān raṇe dṛṣṭvā dhāvamānāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ
     nirāśā vijaye sarve manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 37 droṇasya samatikrāntāv anīkam aparājitau
     kṣaṇena dṛṣṭvā tau vīrau manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 38 saṃmūḍho 'smi bhṛśaṃ tāta śrutvā kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
     praviṭau māmakaṃ sainyaṃ sātvatena sahācyutau
 39 tasmin praviṣṭe pṛtanāṃ śinīnāṃ pravare rathe
     bhojānīkaṃ vyatikrānte katham āsan hi kauravāḥ
 40 tathā droṇena samare nigṛhīteṣu pāṇḍuṣu
     kathaṃ yuddham abhūt tatra tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
 41 droṇo hi balavāñ śūraḥ kṛtāstro dṛḍhavikramaḥ
     pāñcālās taṃ maheṣvāsaṃ pratyayudhyan kathaṃ raṇe
 42 baddhavairās tathā droṇe dharmarāja jayaiṣiṇaḥ
     bhāradvājas tathā teṣu kṛtavairo mahārathaḥ
 43 arjunaś cāpi yac cakre sindhurājavadhaṃ prati
     tan me sarvaṃ samācakṣva kuśalo hy asi saṃjaya

 

SECTION LXXXIX

"Dhritarashtra said, 'When the van of my army thus slaughtered by the diadem-decked (Arjuna) broke and fled, who were those heroes that advanced against Arjuna? (Did any of them actually fight with Arjuna, or) did all, abandoning their determination enter the Sakata array, getting behind the fearless Drona, resembling a solid wall?'
"Sanjaya said, 'When Indra's son Arjuna, O sinless one, began, with his excellent arrows, to break and incessantly slay that force of ours many heroes were either slain, or becoming dispirited, fled away. None in that battle, was capable of even looking at Arjuna. Then, thy son Duhsasana,
p. 174
O king, beholding that state of the troops, became filled with wrath and rushed against Arjuna for battle. That hero of fierce prowess, cased in a beautiful coat of mail, made of gold, and his head covered with a turban decked with gold, caused Arjuna to be surrounded by a large elephant-force which seemed capable of devouring the whole earth. With sound of the elephants' bells, the blare of conchs, the twang of bow-strings, and the grunts of the tuskers, the earth, the points of compass, and the welkin, seemed to be entirely filled. That period of time became fierce and awful. Beholding those huge beasts with extended trunks filled with wrath and rushing quickly towards him, like winged mountains urged on with hooks, Dhananjaya, that lion among men, uttering a leonine shout, began to pierce and slay that elephant-force with his shafts. And like a Makara penetrating into the vast deep, surging into mountain waves when agitated by the tempest, the diadem-decked (Arjuna) penetrated into that elephant-host. Indeed, Partha, that subjugator of hostile cities, was then seen by all on every side to resemble the scorching sun that rises, transgressing the rule about direction and hour, on the day of the universal destruction. And in consequence of the sound of horses' hoofs, rattle of car-wheels, the shouts of combatants, the twang of bow-strings, the noise of diverse musical instruments, the blare of Panchajanya and Devadatta, and roar of Gandiva, men and elephants were dispirited and deprived of their senses. And men and elephants were riven by Savyasachin with his shafts whose touch resembled that of snakes of virulent poison. And those elephants, in that battle, were pierced all over their bodies with shafts, numbering thousands upon thousands shot from Gandiva. While thus mangled by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), they uttered loud noises and incessantly fell down on the earth like mountains shorn of their wings. Others struck at the jaw, or frontal globes, or temples with long shafts, uttered cries resembling those of cranes. The diadem-decked (Arjuna) began to cut off, with his straight arrows the heads of warriors standing on the necks of elephants. Those heads decked with ear-rings, constantly falling on the earth, resembled a multitude of lotuses that Partha was calling for an offer to his gods. And while the elephants wandered on the field, many warriors were seen to hang from their bodies, divested of armour, afflicted with wounds, covered with blood, and looking like painted pictures. In some instances, two or three warriors, pierced by one arrow winged with beautiful feathers and well-shot (from Gandiva), fell down on the earth. Many elephants deeply pierced with long shafts, fell down, vomiting blood from their mouths, with the riders on their backs, like hills overgrown with forests tumbling down through some convulsion of nature. Partha, by means of his straight shafts, cut into fragments the bow-strings, standards, bows, yokes, and shafts of the car-warriors opposed to him. None could notice when Arjuna took up his arrows, when he fixed them on the bow-string, when he drew the string, and when he let them off. All that could be seen was that Partha seemed to dance on his car with his bow incessantly drawn to a circle. Elephants, deeply pierced with long shafts and vomiting
p. 175
blood from their mouths, fell down, as soon as they were struck, on the earth. And in the midst of that great carnage, O monarch, innumerable headless trunks were seen to stand up. Arms, with bows in grasp, or whose fingers were cased in leathern gloves, holding swords, or decked with Angadas and other ornaments of gold, cut off from trunks, were seen lying about. And the field of battle was strewn with innumerable Upashkaras and Adhishthanas, and shafts, and crowns, crushed car-wheels, and broken Akshas, and yokes, and warriors armed with shields and bows, and floral garlands, and ornaments and robes and fallen standards. And in consequence of those slain elephants and steeds, and the fallen bodies of Kshatriyas, the earth there assumed an awful aspect. Duhsasana's forces, thus slaughtered, O king, by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), fled away. Their leader himself was in great pain, for Duhsasana, greatly afflicted by those shafts, overcome by fear entered with his division the Sakata array, seeking Drona as his deliverer.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 90

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      ātmāparādhāt saṃbhūtaṃ vyasanaṃ bharatarṣabha
      prāpya prākṛtavad vīra na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi
  2 tava nirguṇatāṃ jñātvā pakṣapātaṃ suteṣu ca
      dvaidhī bhāvaṃ tathā dharme pāṇḍaveṣu ca matsaram
      ārtapralāpāṃś ca bahūn manujādhipa sattama
  3 sarvalokasya tattvajñaḥ sarvalokaguṇaḥ prabhu
      vāsudevas tato yuddhaṃ kurūṇām akaron mahat
  4 ātmāparādhāt sumahān prāptas te vipulaḥ kṣayaḥ
      na hi te sukṛtaṃ kiṃ cid ādau madhye ca bhārata
      dṛśyate pṛṣṭhataś caiva tvan mūko hi parājayaḥ
  5 tasmād adya sthiro bhūtvā jñātvā lokasya nirṇayam
      śṛṇu yuddhaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ ghoraṃ devāsuropamam
  6 praviṣṭe tava sainyaṃ tu śaineye satyavikrame
      bhīmasenamukhāḥ pārthāḥ pratīyur vāhinīṃ tava
  7 āgacchatas tān sahasa kruddha rūpān sahānugān
      dadhāraiko raṇe pāṇḍūn kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
  8 yathodvṛttaṃ dhārayate velā vai salilārṇavam
      pāṇḍusainyaṃ tathā saṃkhye hārdikyaḥ samavārayat
  9 tatrādbhutam amanyanta hārdikyasya parākramam
      yad enaṃ sahitāḥ pārthā nāticakramur āhave
  10 tato bhīmas tribhir viddhvā kṛtavarmāṇam āyasaiḥ
     śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau mahābāhur harṣayan sarvapāṇḍavān
 11 sahadevas tu viṃśatyā dharmarājaś ca pañcabhiḥ
     śatena nakulaś cāpi hārdikyaṃ samavidhyata
 12 draupadeyās trisaptatyā saptabhiś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumnas tribhiś cāpi kṛtavarmāṇam ārdayat
     virāṭo drupadaś caiva yājñaseniś ca pañcabhiḥ
 13 śikhaṇḍī cāpi hārdikyaṃ viddhvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ
     punar vivyādha viṃśatyā sāyakānāṃ hasann iva
 14 kṛtavarmā tato rājan sarvatas tān mahārathān
     ekaikaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā bhīmaṃ vivyādha saptabhiḥ
     dhanur dhvajaṃ ca saṃyatto rathād bhūmāv apātayat
 15 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ tvaramāṇo mahārathaḥ
     ājaghānorasi kruddhaḥ saptatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 16 sa gāḍhaviddho balavān hārdikyasya śarottamaiḥ
     cacāla rathamadhyasthaḥ kṣitikampe yathācalaḥ
 17 bhīmasenaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā dharmarāja purogamāḥ
     visṛjantaḥ śarān ghorān kṛtavarmāṇam ārdayan
 18 taṃ tathā koṣṭhakī kṛtyarathavaṃśena māriṣa
     vivyadhuḥ sāyakair hṛṣṭā rakṣārthaṃ māruter mṛdhe
 19 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     śaktiṃ jagrāha samare hemadaṇḍām ayasmayīm
     cikṣepa ca rathāt tūrṇaṃ kṛtavarma rathaṃ prati
 20 sā bhīma bhujanirmuktā nirmuktoraga saṃnibhā
     kṛtavarmāṇam abhitaḥ prajajvāla sudāruṇā
 21 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā yugāntāgnisamaprabhām
     dvābhyāṃ śarābhyāṃ hārdikyo nicakarta dvidhā tadā
 22 sā chinnā patitā bhūmau śaktiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇā
     dyotayantī diśo rājan maholkeva divaś cyutā
     śaktiṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaś cukrodha vai bhṛśam
 23 tato 'nyad dhanur ādāya vegavat sumahāsvanam
     bhīmaseno raṇe kruddho hārdikyaṃ samavārayat
 24 athainaṃ pañcabhir bāṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
     bhīmo bhīmabalo rājaṃs tava durmantritena ha
 25 bhojas tu kṣatasarvāṅgo bhīmasenena māriṣa
     raktāśoka ivotphullo vyabhrājata raṇājire
 26 tataḥ kruddhas tribhir bāṇair bhīmasenaṃ hasann iva
     abhihatya dṛḍhaṃ yuddhe tān sarvān pratyavidhyata
 27 tribhis tribhir maheṣvāso yatamānān mahārathān
     te 'pi taṃ pratyavidhyanta saptabhiḥ saptabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 28 śikhaṇḍinas tataḥ kruddhaḥ kṣurapreṇa mahārathaḥ
     dhanuś ciccheda samare prahasann iva bhārata
 29 śikhaṇḍī tu tataḥ kruddhaś chinne dhanuṣi satvaram
     asiṃ jagrāha samare śatacandraṃ ca bhāsvaram
 30 bhramayitvā mahācarma cāmīkaravibhūṣitam
     tam asiṃ preṣayām āsa kṛtavarma rathaṃ prati
 31 sa tasya sa śaraṃ cāpaṃ chittvā saṃkhye mahān asiḥ
     abhyagād dharaṇīṃ rājaṃś cyutaṃ jyotir ivāmbarāt
 32 etasminn eva kāle tu tvaramāṇā mahārathāḥ
     vivyadhuḥ sāyakair gāḍhaṃ kṛtavarmāṇam āhave
 33 athānyad dhanur ādāya tyaktvā tac ca mahad dhanuḥ
     viśīrṇaṃ bharataśreṣṭha hārdikyaḥ paravīrahā
 34 vivyādha pāṇḍavān yuddhe tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ
     śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca vivyādha tribhiḥ pañcabhir eva ca
 35 dhanur anyat samādāya śikhaṇḍī tu mahāyaśāḥ
     avārayat kūrmanakhair āśugair hṛdikātmajam
 36 tataḥ kruddho raṇe rājan hṛdikasyātma saṃbhavaḥ
     abhidudrāva vegena yājñaseniṃ mahāratham
 37 bhīṣmasya samare rājan mṛtyor hetuṃ mahātmanaḥ
     vidarśayan balaṃ śūraḥ śārdūla iva kuñjaram
 38 tau diśāgajasaṃkāśau jvalitāv iva pāvakau
     samāsedatur anyonyaṃ śarasaṃghair ariṃdamau
 39 vidhunvānau dhanuḥśreṣṭhe saṃdadhānau ca sāyakān
     visṛjantau ca śataśo gabhastīn iva bhāskarau
 40 tāpayantau śarais tīkṣṇair anyonyaṃ tau mahārathau
     yugāntapratimau vīrau rejatur bhāskarāv iva
 41 kṛtavarmā tu rabhasaṃ yājñaseniṃ mahāratham
     viddhveṣūṇāṃ trisaptatyā punar vivyādha saptabhiḥ
 42 sa gāḍhaviddho vyathito rathopastha upāviśat
     visṛjan saśaraṃ cāpaṃ mūrchayābhipariplutaḥ
 43 taṃ viṣaṇṇaṃ rathe dṛṣṭvā tāvakā bharatarṣabha
     hārdikyaṃ pūjayām āsur vāsāṃsy ādudhuvuś ca ha
 44 śikhaṇḍinaṃ tathā jñātvā hārdikya śarapīḍitam
     apovāha raṇād yantā tvaramāṇo mahāratham
 45 sāditaṃ tu rathopasthe dṛṣṭvā pārthāḥ śikhaṇḍinam
     parivavrū rathais tūrṇaṃ kṛtavarmāṇam āhave
 46 tatrādbhutaṃ paraṃ cakre kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
     yad ekaḥ samare pārthān vārayām āsa sānugān
 47 pārthāñ jitvājayac cedīn pāñcālān sṛñjayān api
     kekayāṃś ca mahāvīryān kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
 48 te vadhyamānāḥ samare hārdikyena sma pāṇḍavāḥ
     itaś cetaś ca dhāvanto naiva cakrur dhṛtiṃ raṇe
 49 jitvā pāṇḍusutān yuddhe bhīmasenapurogamān
     hārdikyaḥ samare 'tiṣṭhad vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ
 50 te drāvyamāṇāḥ samare hārdikyena mahārathāḥ
     vimukhāḥ samapadyanta śaravṛṣṭibhir arditāḥ

 

SECTION XC

"Sanjaya said, 'Slaying the force of Duhsasana, the mighty car-warrior, Savyasachin, desirous of getting at the ruler of the Sindhus, proceeded against the division of Drona, Having approached Drona who was stationed at the entrance of the array, Partha, at Krishna's request joined his hands and said these words unto Drona: 'Wish me well, O Brahmana, and bless me, saying Swasti! Through thy grace, I wish to penetrate into this impenetrable array. Thou art to me even as my sire, or even as king Yudhishthira the just, or even as Krishna! I tell thee this truly. O sire, O sinless one! Even as Aswatthaman deserves to be protected by thee, I also deserve to be protected by thee, O foremost of regenerate ones! Through thy grace, O foremost of men, I desire to stay the ruler of the Sindhu in battle. O lord, see that my vow is accomplished.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed by him, the preceptor, smiling, replied unto him, saying, 'O Vibhatsu, without vanquishing me, thou shalt not be able to vanquish Jayadratha. Telling him this much, Drona, with a smile covered him with showers of sharp arrows, as also his car and steeds and standard and charioteer. Then, Arjuna baffling Drona's arrowy showers with his own arrows, rushed against Drona, shooting mightier and More awful shafts. Observant of Kshatriya duties, Arjuna then pierced Drona in that battle with nine arrows. Cutting the shafts of Arjuna by his own shafts, Drona then pierced both Krishna and Arjuna with many shafts that resembled poison or fire, Then, while Arjuna was thinking of cutting of Drona's bow with his arrows, the latter, endued with great valour, fearlessly and quickly cut off, with shafts the bow-string of the illustrious
p. 176
[paragraph continues] Phalguna. And he also pierced Phalguna's steeds and standard and charioteer. And the heroic Drona covered Phalguna himself with many arrows, smiling the while. Meantime, stringing his large bow anew, Partha, that foremost of all persons conversant with arms, getting the better of his preceptor, quickly shot six hundred arrows as if he had taken and shot only one arrow. And once more he shot seven hundred other arrows, and then a thousand arrows incapable of being resisted, and ten thousand other arrows. All these slew many warriors of Drona's array. Deeply pierced with those weapons by the mighty and accomplished Partha, acquainted with all modes of warfare, many men and steeds and elephants fell down deprived of life. And car-warriors, afflicted by those shafts, fell down from their foremost of cars, deprived of horses and standards and destitute of weapons and life. And elephants fell down like summits of hills, or masses of clouds, or large houses, loosened, dispersed, or burnt down by the thunder, or by the wind, or fire. Struck with Arjuna's shafts, thousands of steeds fell down like swans on the breast of Himavat, struck down by the force of watery current. Like the Sun, that rises at the end of the Yuga, drying up with his rays, vast quantities of water, the son of Pandu, by his showers of weapons and arrows, slew a vast number of car-warriors and steeds and elephants and foot-soldiers. Then like the clouds covering the sun, the Drona-cloud, with its arrowy showers, covered the Pandava-sun, whose rays in the shape of thick showers of arrows were scorching in the battle the foremost ones among the Kurus. And then the preceptor struck Dhananjaya at the breast with a long shaft shot with great force and capable of drinking the life-blood of every foe. Then Arjuna, deprived of strength, shook in all his limbs, like a hill during an earthquake. Soon, however, regaining for fortitude, Vibhatsu pierced Drona with many winged arrows. Then Drona struck Vasudeva with five arrows. And he struck Arjuna with three and seventy arrows, and his standard with three. Then, O king, the valorous Drona getting the better of his disciple, within the twinkling of an eye made Arjuna invisible by means of his arrowy showers. We then beheld the shafts of Bharadwaja's son falling in continuous lines, and his bow also was seen to present the wonderful aspect of being incessantly drawn to a circle. And those shafts, countless in number, and winged with the Kanka feathers, shot by Drona in that battle, incessantly fell, O king, on Dhananjaya and Vasudeva. Beholding then that battle between Drona and the son of Pandu, Vasudeva of great intelligence began to reflect upon the accomplishment of the (important) task. Then Vasudeva, addressing Dhananjaya, said these words: 'O Partha, O thou of mighty arms, we should not waste time. We must go on, avoiding Drona, for a more important task awaits us. In reply Partha said unto Krishna, O Kesava, as thou pleasest! Then keeping the mighty-armed Drona to their right, Arjuna proceeded onwards. Turning his face round, Vibhatsu proceeded, shooting his shafts. Then Drona, addressing Arjuna, said, Whither dost thou proceed, O son of Pandu! Is it not true that thou ceasest not (to fight) till thou hast vanquished thy foe?'
p. 177
"Arjuna answered, 'Thou art my preceptor and not my foe. I am thy disciple and, therefore, like to thy son. Nor is there the man in the whole world who can vanquish thee in battle.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Saying these words, the mighty-armed Vibhatsu, desirous of slaying Jayadratha, quickly proceeded against the (Kaurava) troops. And while he penetrated into thy army, those high-souled princes of Panchala, viz., Yudhamanyu, and Uttamaujas, followed him as the protector of his wheels. Then, O King, Jaya, and Kritavarman of the Satwata race, and the ruler of the Kamvojas, and Srutayus, began to oppose the progress of Dhananjaya. And these had ten thousand car-warriors for their followers. The Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis, the Mavellakas, the Lilithyas, the Kaikeyas, the Madrakas, the Narayana Gopalas, and the various tribes of the Kamvojas who had before been vanquished by Karna, all of whom were regarded as very brave, placing Bharadwaja's son at their head, and becoming regardless of their lives, rushed towards Arjuna, for resisting that angry hero, burning with grief on account of the death of his son, that warrior resembling all-destroying Death himself, clad in mail, conversant with all modes of warfare, prepared to throw away his life in thick of battle,--that mighty bowman of great prowess, that tiger among men,--who resembled an infuriate leader of elephantine herd, and who seemed ready to devour the whole hostile army. The battle then that commenced was exceedingly fierce and made the hair stand on end, between all those combatants on the one side and Arjuna on the other. And all of them, uniting together, began to resist that bull among men, advancing for the slaughter of Jayadratha, like medicines resisting a raging disease.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 91

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      śṛṇuṣvaika manā rājan yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi
      drāvyamāṇe bale tasmin hārdikyena mahātmanā
  2 lajjayāvanate cāpi prahṛṣṭauś caiva tāvakaḥ
      dvīpo ya āsīt pāṇḍūnām agādhe gādham icchatām
  3 śrutvā tu ninadaṃ bhīmaṃ tāvakānāṃ mahāhave
      śaineyas tvarito rājan kṛtavarmāṇam abhyayāt
  4 kṛtavarmā tu hārdikyaḥ śaineyaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      avākirat susaṃkruddhas tato 'krudhyata sātyakiḥ
  5 tataḥ suniśitaṃ bhallaṃ śaineyaḥ kṛtavarmaṇe
      preṣayām āsa samare śarāṃś ca caturo 'parān
  6 te tasya jaghnire vāhān bhallenāsyāchinad dhanuḥ
      pṛṣṭharakṣaṃ tathā sūtam avidhyan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  7 tatas taṃ virathaṃ kṛtvā sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
      senām asyārdayām āsa śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
  8 sābhajyatātha pṛtanā śaineya śarapīḍitā
      tataḥ prāyād vai tvaritaḥ sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
  9 śṛṇu rājan yad akarot tava sainyeṣu vīryavān
      atītya sa mahārāja droṇānīka mahārṇavam
  10 parājitya ca saṃhṛṣṭaḥ kṛtavarmāṇam āhave
     yantāram abravīc chūraḥ śanair yāhīty asaṃbhramam
 11 dṛṣṭvā tu tava tat sainyaṃ rathāśvadvipasaṃkulam
     padātijanasaṃpūrṇam abravīt sārathiṃ punaḥ
 12 yad etan meghasaṃkāśaṃ droṇānīkasya savyataḥ
     sumahat kuñjarānīkaṃ yasya rukmaratho mukham
 13 ete hi bahavaḥ sūta durnivāryāś ca saṃyuge
     duryodhana samādiṣṭā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ
     rājaputrā maheṣvāsāḥ sarve vikrāntayodhinaḥ
 14 trigartānāṃ rathodārāḥ suvarṇavikṛtadhvajāḥ
     mām evābhimukhā vīrā yotsyamānā vyavasthitāḥ
 15 atra māṃ prāpaya kṣipram aśvāṃś codaya sārathe
     trigartaiḥ saha yotsyāmi bhāradvājasya paśyataḥ
 16 tataḥ prāyāc chanaiḥ sūtaḥ sātvatasya mate sthitaḥ
     rathenādityavarṇena bhāsvareṇa patākinā
 17 tam ūhuḥ sārather vaśyā valgamānā hayottamāḥ
     vāyuvegasamāḥ saṃkhye kundendu rajataprabhāḥ
 18 āpatantaṃ rathaṃ taṃ tu śaṅkhavarṇair hayottamaiḥ
     parivavrus tataḥ śūrā gajānīkena sarvataḥ
     kiranto vividhāṃs tīkṣṇān sāyakāṁl laghuvedhinaḥ
 19 sātvato 'pi śitair bāṇair gajānīkam ayodhayat
     parvatān iva varṣeṇa tapānte jalado mahān
 20 vajrāśanisamasparśair vadhyamānāḥ śarair gajāḥ
     prādravan raṇam utsṛjya śinivīryasamīritaiḥ
 21 śīrṇadantā virudhirā bhinna mastakapiṇḍakāḥ
     viśīrṇakarṇāsya karā viniyantṛpatākinaḥ
 22 saṃbhinnavarma ghaṇṭāś ca saṃnikṛtta mahādhvajāḥ
     hatārohā diśo rājan bhejire bhraṣṭakambalāḥ
 23 ruvanto vividhān rāvāñ jaladopama nisvanāḥ
     nārācair vatsadantaiś ca sātvatena vidāritāḥ
 24 tasmin drute gajānīke jalasaṃdho mahārathaḥ
     yattaḥ saṃprāpayan nāgaṃ rajatāśvarathaṃ prati
 25 rukmavarma karaḥ śūras tapanīyāṅgadaḥ śuciḥ
     kuṇḍalī mukuṭī śaṅkhī raktacandana rūṣitaḥ
 26 śirasā dhārayan dīptāṃ tapanīyamayīṃ srajam
     urasā dhārayan niṣkaṃ kaṇṭhasūtraṃ ca bhāsvaram
 27 cāpaṃ ca rukmavikṛtaṃ vidhunvan gajamūrdhani
     aśobhata mahārāja sa vidyud iva toyadaḥ
 28 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā māgadhasya gajottamam
     sātyakir vārayām āsa velevodvṛttam arṇavam
 29 nāgaṃ nivāritaṃ dṛṣṭvā śaineyasya śarottamaiḥ
     akrudhyata raṇe rājañ jalasaṃdho mahābalaḥ
 30 tataḥ kruddho maheṣvāso mārgaṇair bhārasādhanaiḥ
     avidhyata śineḥ pautraṃ jalasaṃdho mahorasi
 31 tato 'pareṇa bhallena pītena niśitena ca
     asyato vṛṣṇivīrasya nicakarta śarāsanam
 32 sātyakiṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ prahasann iva bhārata
     avidhyan māgadho vīraḥ pañcabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 33 sa viddho bahubhir bāṇair jalasaṃdhena vīryavān
     nākampata mahābāhus tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 34 acintayan vai sa śarān nātyarthaṃ saṃbhramād balī
     dhanur anyat samādāya tiṣṭha tiṣṭhety uvāca ha
 35 etāvad uktvā śaineyo jalasaṃdhaṃ mahorasi
     vivyādha ṣaṣṭyā subhṛśaṃ śarāṇāṃ prahasann iva
 36 kṣurapreṇa ca pītena muṣṭideśe mahad dhanuḥ
     jalasaṃdhasya ciccheda vivyādha ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
 37 jalasaṃdhas tu tat tyaktvā sa śaraṃ vai śarāsanam
     tomaraṃ vyasṛjat tūrṇaṃ sātyakiṃ prati māriṣa
 38 sa nirbhidya bhujaṃ savyaṃ mādhavasya mahāraṇe
     abhyagād dharaṇīṃ ghoraḥ śvasann iva mahoragaḥ
 39 nirbhinne tu bhuje savye sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
     triṃśadbhir viśikhais tīkṣṇair jalasaṃdham atāḍayat
 40 pragṛhya tu tataḥ khaḍgaṃ jalasaṃdho mahābalaḥ
     ārṣabhaṃ carma ca mahac chatacandram alaṃkṛtam
     tata āvidhya taṃ khaḍgaṃ sātvatāyotsasarja ha
 41 śaineyasya dhanuś chittvā sa khaḍgo nyapatan mahīm
     alātacakravac caiva vyarocata mahiṃ gataḥ
 42 athānyad dhanur ādāya sarvakāyāvadāraṇam
     śālaskandhapratīkāśam indrāśanisamasvanam
     visphārya vivyadhe kruddho jalasaṃdhaṃ śareṇa ha
 43 tataḥ sābharaṇo bāhū kṣurābhyāṃ mādhavottamaḥ
     sāṅgadau jalasaṃdhasya ciccheda prahasann iva
 44 tau bāhū parighaprakhyau petatur gajasattamāt
     vasuṃdhara dharād bhraṣṭau pañcaśīrṣāv ivoragau
 45 tataḥ sudaṃṣṭraṃ suhanu cārukuṇḍalam unnasam
     kṣureṇāsya tṛtīyena śiraś ciccheda sātyakiḥ
 46 tat pātita śiro bāhukabandhaṃ bhīmadarśanam
     dviradaṃ jalasaṃdhasya rudhireṇābhyaṣiñcata
 47 jalasaṃdhaṃ nihatyājau tvaramāṇas tu sātvataḥ
     naiṣādiṃ pātayām āsa gajaskandhād viśāṃ pate
 48 rudhireṇāvasiktāṅgo jalasaṃdhasya kuñjaraḥ
     vilambamānam avahat saṃśliṣṭaṃ param āsanam
 49 śarārditaḥ sātvatena mardamānaḥ svavāhinīm
     ghoram ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā vidudrāva mahāgajaḥ
 50 hāhākāro mahān āsīt tava sainyasya māriṣa
     jalasaṃdhaṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā vṛṣṇīnām ṛṣabheṇa ha
 51 vimukhāś cābhyadhāvanta tava yodhāḥ samantataḥ
     palāyane kṛtotsāhā nirutsāhā dviṣaj jaye
 52 etasminn antare rājan droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
     abhyayāj javanair aśvair yuyudhānaṃ mahāratham
 53 tam udīrṇaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā śaineyaṃ kurupuṃgavāḥ
     droṇenaiva saha kruddhāḥ sātyakiṃ paryavārayan
 54 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ kurūṇāṃ sātvatasya ca
     droṇasya ca raṇe rājan ghoraṃ devāsuropamam

 

SECTION XCI

"Sanjaya said, 'Held in check by them, that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Partha of great might and prowess, was quickly pursued by Drona from behind. The son of Pandu, however, like diseases scorching the body, blasted that army, scattering his sharp shafts and resembling on that account the sun himself scattering his countless rays of light. And steeds were pierced, and cars with riders were broken and mangled, and elephants were overthrown. And umbrellas were cut off and displaced, and vehicles were deprived of their wheels. And the combatants fled on all sides, exceedingly afflicted with arrows. Even thus progressed that fierce battle between those warriors and Arjuna encountering each other. Nothing could be distinguished. With his straight shafts, Arjuna, O monarch, made the hostile army tremble incessantly. Firmly devoted to truth, Arjuna then, of white steeds desirous of accomplishing his vow rushed
p. 178
against the foremost of car-warriors, viz., Drona of red steeds. Then the preceptor, Drona, struck his disciple, viz., the mighty bowman Arjuna, with five and twenty straight shafts capable of reaching the very vitals. Thereupon, Vibhatsu, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, quickly rushed against Drona, shooting arrows capable of baffling the force of counter arrows, shot at him. Invoking into existence then the Brahma weapon, Arjuna, of immeasurable soul, baffled with his straight shafts those shot so speedily at him by Drona. The skill we then beheld of Drona was exceedingly wonderful, since Arjuna, though young, and though struggling vigorously, could not pierce Drona with a single shaft. Like a mass of clouds pouring torrents of rain, the Drona cloud rained shower on the Partha-mountain. Possessed of great energy, Arjuna received that arrowy downpour, O king, by invoking the Brahma weapon, and cut off all those arrows by arrows of his own. Drona then afflicted Partha of white steeds with five and twenty arrows. And he struck Vasudeva with seventy arrows on the chest and arms. Partha then, of great intelligence, smiling the while resisted the preceptor in that battle who was incessantly shooting sharp arrows. Then those two foremost of car-warriors, while thus struck by Drona, avoided that invincible warrior, who resembled the raging Yuga fire. Avoiding those sharp shafts shot from Drona's bow, the diadem-decked son of Kunti, adorned with garlands of flowers, began to slaughter the host of the Bhojas. Indeed, avoiding the invincible Drona who stood immovable like the Mainaka mountain, Arjuna took up his position between Kritavarman and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas. Then that tiger among men, viz., the ruler of the Bhojas, coolly pierced that invincible and foremost descendant of Ruru with ten arrows winged with Kanka feathers. Then Arjuna pierced him, O monarch, in that battle with a hundred arrows. And once more he pierced him with three other arrows, stupefying that hero of the Satwata race. The ruler of the Bhojas then, laughing the while, pierced Partha and Vasudeva each with five and twenty arrows. Arjuna then, cutting off Kritavarman's bow, pierced him with one and twenty arrows resembling blazing flames of fire or angry snakes of virulent poison. Then Kritavarman, that mighty car-warrior, taking up another bow, pierced Arjuna in the chest, O Bharata, with five arrows. And once more he pierced Partha with five sharp arrows. Then Partha struck him in return in the centre of the chest with nine arrows. Beholding the son of Kunti obstructed before the car of Kritavarman, he of Vrishni's race thought that no time should be wasted. Then Krishna addressing Partha, said, Do not show any mercy to Kritavarman! Disregarding thy relationship (with him), crush and slay him!' Then Arjuna, stupefying Kritavarman with his arrows, proceeded, on his swift steeds, to the division of the Kamvojas. Seeing Arjuna of white steeds penetrate into the Kamvoja force, Kritavarman became filled with wrath. Taking his bow with arrows fixed thereon, he then encountered the two Panchala princes. Indeed, Kritavarman, with his arrows resisted those two Panchala princes as they advanced, following Arjuna for protecting his wheels. Then Kritavarman, the ruler of
p. 179
the Bhojas, pierced them both with sharp shafts, striking Yudhamanyu with three, and Uttamaujas with four. Those two princes in return each pierced him with ten arrows. And once more, Yudhamanyu shooting three arrows and Uttamaujas shooting three cut off Kritavarman's standard and bow. Then the son of Hridika, taking up another bow, and becoming infuriated with rage, deprived both those warriors of their bows and covered them with arrows. Then those two warriors, taking up and stringing two other bows, began to pierce Kritavarman. Meanwhile Vibhatsu penetrated into the hostile army. But those two princes, resisted by Kritavarman, obtained no admittance into the Dhritarashtra host, although those bulls among men struggled vigorously. Then Arjuna of white steeds quickly afflicted in that battle the divisions opposed to him. That slayer of foes, however, slew not Kritavarman although he had got him within reach.. Beholding Partha thus proceeding, the brave king Srutayudha, filled with wrath, rushed at him, shaking his large bow. And he pierced Partha with three arrows, and Janardana with seventy. And he struck the standard of Partha with a very sharp arrow having a razor-like head. Then Arjuna, filled with wrath deeply pierced his antagonist with ninety straight shafts, like (a rider) striking a mighty elephant with the hook. Srutayudha, however, could not, O king, brook that act of prowess on the part of Pandu's son. He pierced Arjuna in return with seven and seventy shafts. Arjuna then cut off Srutayudha's bow and then his quiver, and angrily struck him on the chest with seven straight shafts. Then, king Srutayudha, deprived of his senses by wrath, took up another bow and struck the son of Vasava with nine arrows on the latter's arms and chest. Then Arjuna, that chastiser of foes laughing the while, O Bharata, afflicted Srutayudha with many thousands of arrows. And that mighty car-warrior quickly slew also the latter's steeds and charioteer. Endued with great strength the son of Pandu then pierced his foe with seventy arrows. Then the valiant king Srutayudha abandoning that steedless car, rushed in that encounter against Partha, uplifting his mace. The heroic king Srutayudha was the son of Varuna, having for his mother that mighty river of cool water called Parnasa. His mother, O king, had for the sake of her son, begged Varuna saying, 'Let this my son become unslayable on earth.' Varuna, gratified (with her), had said, 'I give him a boon highly beneficial to him, viz., a celestial weapon, by virtue of which this thy son will become unslayable on earth by foes. No man can have immortality. O foremost of rivers, every one who hath taken birth must inevitably die. This child, however, will always be invincible by foes in battle, through the power of this weapon. Therefore, let thy heart's fever be dispelled.' Having said these words, Varuna gave him, with mantras, a mace. Obtaining that mace, Srutayudha became invincible on earth. Unto him, however, illustrious Lord of the waters again said, 'This mace should not be hurled at one who is not engaged in fight. If hurled at such a person, it will come back and fall upon thyself. O illustrious child, (if so hurled) it will then course in an opposite direction and slay the
p. 180
person hurling it.' It would seem that when his hour came, Srutayudha disobeyed that injunction. With that hero-slaying mace he attacked Janardana, The valiant Krishna received that mace on one of his well-formed and stout shoulders. It failed to shake Sauri, like the wind failing to shake the Vindhya mountain. That mace, returning unto Srutayudha himself, struck that brave and wrathful king staying on his car, like an ill-accomplished act of sorcery injuring the performer himself, and slaying that hero fell down on the earth. Beholding the mace turn back and Srutayudha slain, loud cries of Alas and Oh arose there among the troops, at the sight of Srutayudha that chastiser of foes, slain by a weapon of his own. 1 And because, O monarch, Srutayudha had hurled that mace at Janardana who was not engaged in fighting it slew him who had hurled it. And Srutayudha perished on the field, even in the manner that Varuna had indicated. Deprived of life, he fell down on the earth before the eyes of all the bowmen. While falling down, that dear son of Parnasa shone resplendent like a tall banian with spreading boughs broken by the wind. Then all the troops and even all the principal warriors fled away, beholding Srutayudha, that chastiser of foes, slain. Then, the son of the ruler of the Kamvojas, viz., the brave Sudakshina, rushed on his swift steeds against Phalguna that slayer of foes. Partha, then, O Bharata, sped seven shafts at him. Those shafts passing through the body of that hero, entered the earth. Deeply pierced those shafts sped in battle from Gandiva, Sudakshina pierced Arjuna in return with ten shafts winged with Kanka feathers. And piercing Vasudeva with three shafts, he once more pierced Partha with five. Then, O sire, Partha, cutting off Sudakshina's bow, lopped off the latter's standard. And the son of Pandu pierced his antagonist with a couple of broad-headed arrows of great sharpness. Sudakshina, however, piercing Partha once more with three arrows, uttered a leonine shout. Then the brave Sudakshina, filled with wrath, hurled at the wielder of Gandiva a terrible dart made wholly of iron and decked with bells. That dart blazing as a large meteor, and emitting sparks of fire, approaching that mighty car-warrior pierced him through and fell down on the earth. Deeply struck by that dart and overcome with a swoon, Arjuna soon enough recovered. Then that hero of mighty energy, licking the corners of his mouth, that son of Pandu, of inconceivable feats, pierced his foe, along with his steeds, standard, bow, and charioteer, with four and ten shafts winged with Kanka feathers. With other arrows, countless in number, Partha then cut Sudakshina's car into fragments. And then the son of Pandu pierced Sudakshina, the prince of the Kamvojas, whose purpose and prowess had both been baffled, with a sharp arrow in the chest. Then the brave prince of the Kamvojas, his coat of mail cut off, his limbs weakened, his diadem and Angadas displaced, fell head downwards, like a pole of Indra when hurled from an engine. Like a beautiful Karnikara tree in the spring, gracefully growing on a mountain summit with beautiful branches, lying on the earth
p. 181
when uprooted by the wind, the prince of the Kamvojas lay on the bare ground deprived of life, though deserving of the costliest bed, decked with costly ornaments. Handsome, possessed of eyes that were of a coppery hue, and bearing on his head a garland of gold, endued with the effulgence of fire, the mighty-armed Sudakshina, the son of the ruler of the Kamvojas, overthrown by Partha with his shafts, and lying on the earth, reft of fife, looked resplendent like a beautiful mountain with a level top. Then all the troops of thy son fled away, beholding Srutayudha, and Sudakshina the prince of the Kamvojas, slain.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 92

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      te kirantaḥ śaravrātān sarve yattāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
      tvaramāṇā mahārāja yuyudhānam ayodhayan
  2 taṃ droṇaḥ sapta saptatyā jaghāna niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      durmarṣaṇo dvādaśabhir duḥsaho daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
  3 vikarṇaś cāpi niśitais triṃśadbhiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ
      vivyādha savye pārśve tu stanābhyām antare tathā
  4 durmukho daśabhir bāṇais tathā duḥśāsano 'ṣṭabhiḥ
      citrasenaś ca śaineyaṃ dvābhyāṃ vivyādha māriṣa
  5 duryodhanaś ca mahatā śaravarṣeṇa mādhavam
      apīḍayad raṇe rājañ śūrāś cānye mahārathāḥ
  6 sarvataḥ pratividdhas tu tava putrair mahārathaiḥ
      tān pratyavidhyac chaineyaḥ pṛthakpṛthag ajihmagaiḥ
  7 bhāradvājaṃ tribhir bāṇair duḥsahaṃ navabhis tathā
      vikarṇaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā citrasenaṃ ca saptabhiḥ
  8 durmarṣaṇaṃ dvādaśabhiś caturbhiś ca viviṃśatim
      satyavrataṃ ca navabhir vijayaṃ daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
  9 tato rukmāṅgadaṃ cāpaṃ vidhunvāno mahārathaḥ
      abhyayāt sātyakis tūrṇaṃ putraṃ tava mahāratham
  10 rājānaṃ sarvalokasya sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
     śarair abhyāhanad gāḍhaṃ tato yuddham abhūt tayoḥ
 11 vimuñcantau śarāṃs tīkṣṇān saṃdadhānau ca sāyakān
     adṛśyaṃ samare 'nyonyaṃ cakratus tau mahārathau
 12 sātyakiḥ kururājena nirviddho bahv aśobhata
     asravad rudhiraṃ bhūri svarasaṃ candano yathā
 13 sātvatena ca bāṇaughair nirviddhas tanayas tava
     śātakumbhamayāpīḍo babhau yūpa ivocchritaḥ
 14 mādhavas tu raṇe rājan kururājasya dhanvinaḥ
     dhanuś ciccheda sahasā kṣurapreṇa hasann iva
     athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ śarair bahubhir ācinot
 15 nirbhinnaś ca śarais tena dviṣatā kṣiprakāriṇā
     nāmṛṣyata raṇe rājā śatror vijayalakṣaṇam
 16 athānyad dhanur ādāya hemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam
     vivyādha sātyakiṃ tūrṇaṃ sāyakānāṃ śatena ha
 17 so 'tividdho balavatā putreṇa tava dhanvinā
     amarṣavaśam āpannas tava putram apīḍayat
 18 pīḍitaṃ nṛpatiṃ dṛṣṭvā tava putrā mahārathāḥ
     sātvataṃ śaravarṣeṇa chādayām āsur añjasā
 19 sa chādyamāno bahubhis tava putrair mahārathaiḥ
     ekaikaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā punar vivyādha saptabhiḥ
 20 duryodhanaṃ ca tvarito vivyādhāṣṭabhir āśugaiḥ
     prahasaṃś cāsya ciccheda kārmukaṃ ripum īṣaṇam
 21 nāgaṃ maṇimayaṃ caiva śarair dhvajam apātayat
     hatvā tu caturo vāhāṃś caturbhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     sārathiṃ pātayām āsa kṣurapreṇa mahāyaśāḥ
 22 etasminn antare caiva kururājaṃ mahāratham
     avākirac charair hṛṣṭo bahubhir marmabhedibhiḥ
 23 sa vadhyamānaḥ samare śaineyasya śarottamaiḥ
     prādravat sahasā rājan putro duryodhanas tava
     āplutaś ca tato yānaṃ citrasenasya dhanvinaḥ
 24 hāhābhūtaṃ jagac cāsīd dṛṣṭvā rājānam āhave
     grasyamānaṃ sātyakinā khe somam iva rāhuṇā
 25 taṃ tu śabdaṃ mahac chrutvā kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
     abhyayāt sahasā tatra yatrāste mādhavaḥ prabhuḥ
 26 vidhunvāno dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ codayaṃś caiva vājinaḥ
     bhartsayan sārathiṃ cograṃ yāhi yāhīti sa tvaraḥ
 27 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya vyāditāsyam ivāntakam
     yuyudhāno mahārāja yantāram idam abravīt
 28 kṛtavarmā rathenaiṣa drutam āpatate śarī
     pratyudyāhi rathenainaṃ pravaraṃ sarvadhanvinām
 29 tataḥ prajavitāśvena vidhivat kalpitena ca
     āsasāda raṇe bhojaṃ pratimānaṃ dhanuṣmatām
 30 tataḥ paramasaṃkruddhau jvalantāv iva pāvakau
     sameyātāṃ naravyāghrau vyāghrāv iva tarasvinau
 31 kṛtavarmā tu śaineyaṃ ṣaḍviṃśatyā samārpayat
     niśitaiḥ sāyakais tīkṣṇair yantāraṃ cāsya saptabhiḥ
 32 caturaś ca hayodārāṃś caturbhiḥ parameṣubhiḥ
     avidhyat sādhu dāntān vai saindhavān sātvatasya ha
 33 rukmadhvajo rukmapṛṣṭhaṃ mahad visphārya kārmukam
     rukmāṅgadī rukmavarmā rukmapuṅkhān avākirat
 34 tato 'śītiṃ śineḥ pautraḥ sāyakān kṛtavarmaṇe
     prāhiṇot tvarayā yukto draṣṭukāmo dhanaṃjayam
 35 so 'tividdho balavatā śatruṇā śatrutāpanaḥ
     samakampata durdharṣaḥ kṣitikampe yathācalaḥ
 36 triṣaṣṭyā caturo 'syāśvān saptabhiḥ sārathiṃ śaraiḥ
     vivyādha niśitais tūrṇaṃ sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
 37 suvarṇapuṅkhaṃ viśikhaṃ samādhāya sa sātyakiḥ
     vyasṛjat taṃ mahājvālaṃ saṃkruddham iva pannagam
 38 so 'viśat kṛtavarmāṇaṃ yamadaṇḍopamaḥ śaraḥ
     jāmbūnadavicitraṃ ca varma nirbhidya bhānumat
     abhyagād dharaṇīm ugro rudhireṇa samukṣitaḥ
 39 saṃjātarudhiraś cājau sātvateṣubhir arditaḥ
     pracalan dhanur utsṛjya nyapatat syandanottame
 40 sa siṃhadaṃṣṭro jānubhyām āpanno 'mitavikramaḥ
     śarārditaḥ sātyakinā rathopasthe nararṣabhaḥ
 41 sahasrabāhoḥ sadṛśam akṣobhyam iva sāgaram
     nivārya kṛtavarmāṇaṃ sātyakiḥ prayayau tataḥ
 42 khaḍgaśakti dhanuḥ kīrṇāṃ jagāśvarathasaṃkulām
     pravartitogra rudhirāṃ śataśaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaiḥ
 43 prekṣatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ madhyena śinipuṃgavaḥ
     abhyagād vāhinīṃ bhittvā gṛhya cānyān mahad dhanuḥ
 44 samāśvāsya ca hārdikyo gṛhya cānyan mahad dhanuḥ
     tasthau tatraiva balavān vārayan yudhi pāṇḍavān

 

SECTION XCII

"Sanjaya said, 'Upon the fall of Sudakshina and of the heroic Srutayudha, O monarch, thy warriors, filled with wrath, rushed with speed at Partha. The Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis began, O king, to scatter their arrowy showers on Dhananjaya. The son of Pandu then consumed by means of his arrows six hundred of them at once. Thereupon, those warriors, terrified, fled away like smaller animals from a tiger. Rallying, they once more surrounded Partha, who was slaying his foes and vanquishing them in battle. Dhananjaya then, with shafts sped from Gandiva, speedily felled the heads and arms of the combatants thus rushing upon him. Not an inch of the field of battle was unstrewn with fallen heads, and the flights of crows and vultures and ravens that hovered over the field seemed to form a cloudy canopy. Seeing their men thus exterminated, Srutayus and Achyutayus were both filled with wrath. And they continued to contend vigorously with Dhananjaya. Endued with great might, proud, heroic, of noble lineage, and possessed of strength of arms, those two bowmen, O king, solicitous of winning great fame and desirous, for the sake of thy son, to compass the destruction of Arjuna, quickly showered upon the latter their arrowy downpours at once from his right and left. Those angry heroes, with a thousand straight shafts, covered Arjuna like two masses of clouds filling a lake. Then that foremost of car-warriors viz., Srutayus filled with wrath, struck Dhananjaya with a well-tempered lance. That crusher of foes viz., Arjuna, then, deeply pierced by his mighty foe, swooned away in that battle, stupefying Kesava also (by that act). Meanwhile, the mighty car-warrior Achyutayus forcibly struck the son of Pandu with a keen-pointed spear. By the act he seemed to pour an acid upon the wound of the high-souled son of Pandu. Deeply pierced therewith, Partha supported himself by seizing the flag-staff. Then a leonine shout was sent forth by all the troops, O monarch, in the belief that Dhananjaya was deprived of life. And Krishna also was scorched with grief upon beholding Partha senseless. Then Kesava comforted
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[paragraph continues] Dhananjaya with soothing words.. Then those foremost of car-warriors, (viz., Srutayus and Achyutayus), of true aim, pouring their arrowy showers on all sides, in that battle, made Dhananjaya and Vasudeva of Vrishni's race invisible with their car and car-wheels and Kuvaras, their steeds and flagstaff and banner. And all this seemed wonderful. Meanwhile, O Bharata, Vibhatsu slowly regained his senses, like one come back from the very abode of the king of the dead. Beholding his car with Kesava overwhelmed with arrows and seeing also those two antagonists of his staying before him like two blazing fires, the mighty car-warriors Partha then invoked into existence the weapon named after Sakra. From that weapon flowed thousands of straight shafts. And those shafts struck Srutayus and Achyutayus, those mighty bowmen. And the arrows shot by the latter, pierced by those of Partha, coursed through the welkin. And the son of Pandu quickly baffling those arrows by the force of his own arrows, began to career over the field, encountering mighty car-warriors. Meanwhile Srutayus and Achyutayus were, by Arjuna's arrowy showers, deprived of their arms and heads. And they fell down on the earth, like a couple of tall trees broken by the wind. And the death of Srutayus and slaughter of Achyutayus created surprise equal to what men would feel at the sight of the ocean becoming dry. Then slaying fifty car-warriors amongst the followers of those two princes, Partha proceeded against the Bharata army, slaying many foremost of warriors. Beholding both Srutayus and Achyutayus slain, their sons, those foremost of men, viz., Niyatayus and Dirghayus, O Bharata, both filled with rage, rushed against the son of Kunti, scattering shafts of diverse kinds, and much pained by the calamity that had happened to their sires. Arjuna, excited with rage, in a moment despatched them both towards Yama's abode, by means of straight shafts. And those bulls among Kshatriyas (that were in the Kuru army) were unable to resist Partha who agitated the Dhartarashtra ranks, like an elephant agitating the waters of a lake filled with lotuses. Then thousands of trained elephant-riders amongst the Angas, O monarch, filled with rage, surrounded the son of Pandu with their elephant-force. Urged by Duryodhana, many kings also of the west and the south, and many others headed by the ruler of the Kalingas, also surrounded Arjuna, with their elephants huge as hills. Partha however, with shafts sped from Gandiva, quickly cut off the heads and arms, decked with ornaments, of those advancing combatants. The field of battle, strewn with those heads and arms decked with Angadas, looked like golden stones entwined by snakes. And the arms of warriors cut off therewith, while failing down, looked like birds dropping down from trees. And the elephants, pierced with thousands of arrows and shedding blood (from their wounds), looked like hills in the season of rains with liquefied red chalk streaming down their sides. Others, slain by Partha with sharp shafts, lay prostrate on the field. And many Mlecchas on the backs of elephants, of diverse kinds of ugly forms, robed in diverse attires, O king, and armed with diverse kinds of weapons, and bathed in blood, looked resplendent as they lay on the field, deprived of
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life by means of diverse kinds of arrows. And thousands of elephants along with their riders and those on foot that urged them forward, struck with Partha's shafts, vomited blood, or uttered shrieks of agony, or fell down, or ran ungovernably in all directions. And many, exceedingly frightened, trod down and crushed their own men. And many which were kept as reserves and which were fierce as snakes of virulent poison, did the same. And many terrible Yavanas and Paradas and Sakas and Valhikas, and Mlecchas born of the cow (belonging to Vasishtha), of fierce eyes, accomplished in smiting looking like messengers of Death, and all conversant with the deceptive powers of the Asuras and many Darvabhisaras and Daradas and Pundras numbering by thousands, of bands, and together forming a force that was countless, began to shower their sharp shafts upon the son of Pandu. Accomplished in various modes of warfare, those Mlecchas covered Arjuna with their arrows. Upon them, Dhananjaya also quickly poured his arrows. And those arrows, shot from Gandiva, looked like flights of locusts, as they coursed through the welkin. Indeed. Dhananjaya, having by his arrows caused a shade over the troops like that of the clouds, slew, by the force of his weapons, all the Mlecchas, with heads completely shaved or half-shaved or covered with matted locks, impure in habits, and of crooked faces. Those dwellers of hills, pierced with arrows, those denizens of mountain-caves, fled away in fear. And ravens and Kankas and wolves, with great glee, drank the blood of those elephants and steeds and their Mleccha-riders overthrown on the field by Partha with his sharp shafts. Indeed, Arjuna caused a fierce river to flow there whose current consisted of blood. (Slain) foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants constituted its embankments. The showers of shafts poured constituted its rafts and the hairs of the combatants formed its moss and weeds. And the fingers cut off from the arms of warriors, formed its little fishes. And that river was as awful as Death itself at the end of the Yuga. And that river of blood flowed towards the region of Yama, and the bodies of stain elephants floating on it, obstructed its current. And the earth was covered all over with the blood of Kshatriyas and of elephants and steeds and their riders, and became one bloody expanse like to what is seen when Indra showers a heavy down-pour covering uplands and lowlands alike. And that bull among Kshatriyas despatched six thousand horsemen and again a thousand foremost of Kshatriyas in that battle into the jaws of death. Thousands of well-equipped elephants, pierced with arrows, lay prostrate on the field, like hills struck down by thunder. And Arjuna careered over the field, slaying steeds and car-warriors and elephants, like an elephant of rent temples crushing a forest a reeds. As a conflagration, urged by the wind, consumes a dense forest of trees and creepers and plants and dry wood and grass, even so did that fire, viz., Pandu's son Dhananjaya, having shafts for its flames and urged on by the Krishna-wind, angrily consume the forest of thy warriors. Making the terraces of cars empty, and causing the earth to be strewn, with human bodies, Dhananjaya seemed to dance bow in hand,
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in the midst of those vast masses of men. Deluging the earth with blood by means of his shafts, endued with the strength of the thunder, Dhananjaya, excited with wrath, penetrated into the Bharata host. While thus proceeding, Srutayus, the ruler of the Amvashthas, resisted him. Arjuna then, O sire, speedily felled with keen shafts equipped with Kanka feathers, the steeds of Srutayus struggling in battle. And cutting off with other shafts, the bow also of his antagonist, Partha careered over the field. The ruler of the Amvashthas, then with eyes troubled in wrath, took up a mace and approached the mighty car-warrior Partha and Kesava also in that battle. Then that hero, uplifting his mace, stopped the (progress of Arjuna's) car by its strokes, and struck Kesava also therewith. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., Arjuna, beholding Kesava struck with that mace, became filled with wrath. And, then, O Bharata, that hero, with his shafts, equipped with wings of gold, covered the ruler of the Amvashthas, that foremost or car-warriors, armed with mace, like clouds covering the risen sun. With other shafts, Partha then cut off the mace of that high-souled warrior in fragments, reducing it almost to dust. And all this seemed highly wonderful. Beholding that mace of his cut off in fragments, the ruler of the Amvashthas took up another huge mace, and repeatedly struck both Arjuna and Kesava therewith. Then, Arjuna with a couple of sharp broad-faced arrows, cut off the uplifted arms of Srutayus which held the mace, those arms that looked like a couple of Indra's standard, and with another winged arrow, he cut off the head of that warrior. Thus slain, Srutayus fell down, O king, filling the earth with a loud noise, like a tall standard of Indra when the strings, tying it to the engine on which it is set, are cut off. Surrounded then on all sides by rounds of cars and by hundreds upon hundreds of elephants and cars, Partha became invisible like the sun covered with clouds.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 93

 

 

 

1 [s]
      kālyamāneṣu sainyeṣu śaineyena tatas tataḥ
      bhāradvājaḥ śaravrātair mahadbhiḥ samavākirat
  2 sa saṃprahāras tumulo droṇa sātvatayor abhūt
      paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ balivāsa vayor iva
  3 tato droṇaḥ śineḥ pautraṃ citraiḥ sarvāyasaiḥ śaraiḥ
      tribhir āśīviṣākārair lalāṭe samavidhyata
  4 tair lalāṭārpitair bāṇair yuyudhānas tv ajihmagaiḥ
      vyarocata mahārāja triśṛṅga iva parvataḥ
  5 tato 'sya bāṇān aparān indrāśanisamasvanān
      bhāradvājo 'ntaraprekṣī preṣayām āsa saṃyuge
  6 tān droṇa cāpanirmuktān dāśārhaḥ patataḥ śarān
      dvābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ supuṅkhābhyāṃ ciccheda paramāstravit
  7 tām asya laghutāṃ droṇaḥ samavekṣya viśāṃ pate
      prahasya sahasāvidhyad viṃśatyā śinipuṃgavam
  8 punaḥ pañcāśateṣūṇāṃ śatena ca samārpayat
      laghutāṃ yuyudhānasya lāghavena viśeṣayan
  9 samutpatanti valmīkād yathā kruddhā mahoragāḥ
      tathā droṇa rathād rājann utpatanti tanuc chidaḥ
  10 tathaiva yuyudhānena sṛṣṭāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
     avākiran droṇa rathaṃ śarā rudhirabhojanāḥ
 11 lāghavād dvijamukhyasya sātvatasya ca māriṣa
     viśeṣaṃ nādhyagacchāma samāvāstāṃ nararṣabhau
 12 sātyakis tu tato droṇaṃ navabhir nataparvabhiḥ
     ājaghāna bhṛśaṃ kruddho dhvajaṃ ca niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     sārathiṃ ca śatenaiva bhāradvājasya paśyataḥ
 13 lāghavaṃ yuyudhānasya dṛṣṭvā droṇo mahāratha
     saptatyā sātyakiṃ viddhvā turagāṃś ca tribhis tribhiḥ
     dhvajam ekena vivyādha mādhavasya rathe sthitam
 14 athāpareṇa bhallena hemapuṅkhena patriṇā
     dhanuś ciccheda samare mādhavasya mahātmanaḥ
 15 sātyakis tu tataḥ kruddho dhanus tyaktvā mahārathaḥ
     gadāṃ jagrāha mahatīṃ bhāradvājāya cākṣipat
 16 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā paṭṭabaddhām ayasmayīm
     nyavārayac charair droṇo bahubhir bahurūpibhiḥ
 17 athānyad dhanur ādāya sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
     vivyādha bahubhir vīraṃ bhāradvājaṃ śilāśitaiḥ
 18 sa viddhvā samare droṇaṃ siṃhanādam amuñcata
     taṃ vai na mamṛṣe droṇaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
 19 tathaḥ śaktiṃ gṛhītvā tu rukmadaṇḍām ayasmayīm
     tarasā preṣayām āsa mādhavasya rathaṃ prati
 20 anāsādya tu śaineyaṃ sā śaktiḥ kālasaṃnibhā
     bhittvā rathaṃ jagāmogrā dharaṇīṃ dāruṇasvanā
 21 tato droṇaṃ śineḥ pautro rājan vivyādha patriṇā
     dakṣiṇaṃ bhujam āsādya pīḍayan bharatarṣabha
 22 droṇo 'pi samare rājan mādhavasya mahad dhanuḥ
     ardhacandreṇa ciccheda rathaśaktyā ca sārathim
 23 mumoha sarathis tasya rathaśaktyā samāhataḥ
     sa rathopastham āsādya muhūrtaṃ saṃnyaṣīdata
 24 cakāra sātyakī rājaṃs tatra karmātimānuṣam
     ayodhayac ca yad droṇaṃ raśmīñ jagrāha ca svayam
 25 tataḥ śaraśatenaiva yuyudhāno mahārathaḥ
     avidhyad brāhmaṇaṃ saṃkhye hṛṣṭarūpo viśāṃ pate
 26 tasya droṇaḥ śarān pañca preṣayām āsa bhārata
     te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā papuḥ śoṇitam āhave
 27 nirviddhas tu śarair ghorair akrudhyat sātyakir bhṛśam
     sāyakān vyasṛjac cāpi vīro rukmarathaṃ prati
 28 tato droṇasya yantāraṃ nipātyaikeṣuṇā bhuvi
     aśvān vyadrāvayad bāṇair hatasūtān mahātmanaḥ
 29 sa rathaḥ pradrutaḥ saṃkhye maṇḍalāni sahasraśaḥ
     cakāra rājato rājan bhrājamāna ivāṃśumān
 30 abhidravata gṛhṇīta hayān droṇasya dhāvata
     iti sma cukruśuḥ sarve rājaputrāḥ sarājakāḥ
 31 te sātyakim apāsyāśu rājan yudhi mahārathāḥ
     yato droṇas tataḥ sarve sahasā samupādravan
 32 tān dṛṣṭvā pradrutān sarvān sātvatena śarārditān
     prabhagnaṃ punar evāsīt tava sainyaṃ samākulam
 33 vyūhasyaiva punar dvāraṃ gatvā droṇo vyavasthitaḥ
     vātāyamānais tair aśvair hṛto vṛṣṇiśarārditaiḥ
 34 pāṇḍupāñcāla saṃbhagnaṃ vyūham ālokya vīryavān
     śaineye nākarod yatnaṃ vyūhasyaivābhirakṣaṇe
 35 nivārya pāṇḍupāñcālān droṇāgniḥ pradahann iva
     tasthau krodhāgnisaṃdīptaḥ kālasūrya ivoditaḥ

 

SECTION XCIII

"Sanjaya said, 'After the son of Kunti, impelled by the desire of slaying the ruler of the Sindhus, had penetrated (into the Bharata host) having pierced through the irresistible divisions of both Drona and the Bhojas, after the heir of the ruler of the Kamvojas, viz., prince Sudakshina, had been slain, after Savyasachin had killed the valiant Srutayudha also, after the (Kuru) ranks had fled away and confusion had set in on all sides, thy son, beholding his army broken, repaired to Drona. Quickly coming on his car to Drona, Duryodhana said: 'That tiger among men (viz., Arjuna), having crushed this vast host hath already passed through it. Aided by thy judgment, think now what should be done next for the slaughter of Arjuna in view of awful carnage. Blessed be thou, adopt
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such measures that that tiger among men may not succeed in slaying Jayadratha. Thou art our sole refuge. Like a raging conflagration consuming heaps of dry grass and straw, Dhananjaya-fire, urged by the wind of his wrath, is consuming the grass and straw constituted by my troops. O scorcher of foes, seeing the son of Kunti pass, having pierced through this host, those warriors that are protecting Jayadratha have become doubtful (of their ability to resist Partha). O foremost of those acquainted with Brahma, it was the settled conviction of the kings that Dhananjaya would never, with life, succeed in transgressing Drona. O thou of great splendour, when, however, Partha has pierced through thy division in the very sight, I regard my army to be very weak. Indeed, I think that I have no troops. O thou that art highly blessed, I know thou art devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas. I lose my reason, o regenerate one, in thinking what should be done. To the best of my power, I also seek to gratify thee. Thou, however, dost not bear all this in mind. O thou of immeasurable prowess, although we are devoted to thee, still thou never seekest our welfare. Thou art always well-pleased with the Pandavas and always engaged in doing us evil. Though deriving thy livelihood from us, still thou art engaged in doing evil to us. I was not aware that thou art but a razor steeped in honey. If thou hadst not granted me the boon about humiliating and checking the Pandavas, I would never have prevented the ruler of the Sindhus from returning to his own country. Fool that I am, expecting protection from thee, I assured the ruler of the Sindhus, and through my folly offered him as a victim to death. A man may escape, having entered the very jaws of death, but there is no escape for Jayadratha, when once he comes within reach of Dhananjaya's arms. O thou that ownest red steeds, do that by which the ruler of the Sindhus may yet be saved. Do not give way to wrath on hearing the delirious ravings of my afflicted self, O, protect ye the ruler of the Sindhus.'
"Drona said, 'I do not find fault with thy words. Thou art as dear to me as Aswatthaman himself. I tell thee truly. Act, however, now according to my words, O king! Of all drivers of cars, Krishna is the foremost. His steeds are also the foremost of their species. Obtaining only a very small space, Dhananjaya can pass very quickly through it. Seest thou not that the shafts of the diadem-decked (Arjuna), countless in number, shot from his bow, are falling full two miles behind his car as he is proceeding? Burdened with the weight of years, I am now incapable of going so fast. The whole army of the Parthas, again, is now close upon our van. Yudhishthira also should be seized by me. Even so, O thou of mighty arms, hath been the vow made by me in the Presence of all bowmen and in the midst of all the Kshatriyas. O king! he is now staying at the head of his troops, abandoned by Dhananjaya. I shall not, therefore, abandoning the gate of our array, fight with Phalguna. It is meet that thyself, properly supported, shouldst fight With that foe of thine, who is alone and who is thy equal in lineage
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and feats. Do not fear. Go and fight with him. Thou art the ruler of the world. Thou art a king. Thou art a hero. Possessed of fame, thou art accomplished in vanquishing (thy foes). O brave subjugator of hostile towns, go thyself to that spot where Dhananjaya the son of Pritha is.'
"Duryodhana said, 'O preceptor, how is it possible for me to resist Dhananjaya who has transgressed even thee that art the foremost of all wielders of arms? The very chief of celestials, armed with the thunder, is capable of being vanquished in battle, but Arjuna that subjugator of hostile towns, cannot be vanquished in battle. He by whom Hridika's son (Kritavarman), the ruler of the Bhojas, and thyself equal unto a celestial, have both been vanquished by the power of his weapons, he by whom Srutayus hath been slain, as also Sudakshina, and king Srutayus too, he by whom both Srutayus and Achyutayus and myriads of Mlecchas also have been slain, how can I contend in battle with that invincible son of Pandu, that accomplished master of weapons, who is even like an all-consuming fire? How also dost thou think me competent to fight with him today? I am dependent on thee like a slave. Protect my fame.'
"Drona said, 'Thou sayest truly, O thou of Kuru's race, that Dhananjaya is irresistible. I, however, will do that by which thou shalt be able to bear him. Let all the bowmen in the world behold today the wonderful feat of the son of Kunti being held in check by thee in the very sight of Vasudeva. This thy armour of gold, O king, I will tie on thy body in such a way that no weapon used by man will be able to strike thee in battle. If even the three worlds with the Asuras and the celestials, the Yakshas, the Uragas, and the Rakshasas, together with all human beings, fight with thee today, thou needst still entertain no fear. Neither Krishna, nor the son of Kunti, nor any other wielder of weapons in battle, will be able to pierce this armour of thine with arrows. Cased in that coat of mail, quickly go thou today against angry Arjuna in battle. He will not be able to bear thee.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Having said these words, Drona, that foremost of persons conversant with Brahma, touching water, and duly uttering certain Mantras, speedily tied that highly wonderful and bright armour on Duryodhana's body for the victory of thy son in that dreadful battle and causing (by that act) all persons there to be filled with amazement. And Drona said, 'Let the Vedas, and Brahman, and the Brahmanas, bless thee. Let all the higher classes of reptiles be a source of blessings to thee, O Bharata! Let Yayati and Nahusha, and Dhundhumara, and Bhagiratha, and the other royal sages, all do what is beneficial to thee. Let blessings be to thee from creatures having but one leg, and from those that have many legs. Let blessings be to thee, in this great battle from creatures that have no legs. Let Swaha, and Swadha, and Sachi, also, all do what is beneficial to thee. O sinless one, let Lakshmi and Arundhati too do what is beneficial to thee. Let Asita, and Devala and Viswamitra, and Angiras, and Vasishtha, and Kasyapa, O king, do what is beneficial
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to thee. Let Dhatri, and the lord of the worlds and the points of the compass and the regents of those points, and the six-faced Karttikeya, all give thee what is beneficial. Let the divine Vivaswat benefit thee completely. Let the four elephants, of the four quarters, the earth, the firmament, the planets, and he who is underneath the earth and holds her (on his head), O king, viz., Sesha, that foremost of snakes, give thee what is for thy benefit. O son of Gandhari, formerly the Asura named Vritra, displaying his prowess in battle, had defeated the best of celestials in battle. The latter, numbering thousands upon thousands, with mangled bodies, those denizens of heaven, with Indra at their head, deprived of energy and might, all repaired to Brahman and sought his protection, afraid of the great Asura Vritra. And the gods said, 'O best of gods, O foremost of celestials, be thou the refuge of the gods now crushed by Vritra. Indeed, rescue us from this great fear.' Then Brahmana, addressing Vishnu staying beside him as also those best of celestials headed by Sakra, said unto them that were all cheerless, these words fraught with truth: Indeed, the gods with Indra at their head, and the Brahmanas also, should ever be protected by me. The energy of Tvashtri from which Vritra hath been created is invincible. Having in days of yore performed ascetic penances for a million of years, Tvashtri, then, ye gods, created Vritra, obtaining permission from Maheswara. That mighty foe of yours hath succeeded in smiting you through the grace of that god of gods. Without going to the place where Sankara stayeth, ye cannot see the divine Hara. Having seen that god, ye will be able to vanquish Vritra. Therefore, go ye without delay to the mountains of Mandara. There stayeth that origin of ascetic penances, that destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, that wielder of Pinaka, that lord of all creatures, that slayer of the Asura called Bhaganetra.' Thus addressed by Brahman, the gods proceeding to Mandara with Brahman in their company, beheld there that heap of energy, that Supreme god endued with the splendour of a million suns. Seeing the gods Maheswara welcomed them and enquired what he was to do for them. 'The sight of ray person can never be fruitless. Let the fruition of your desires proceed from this.' Thus addressed by him, the dwellers of heaven replied, 'We have been deprived of our energy by Vritra. Be thou the refuge of the dwellers of heaven. Behold, O lord, our bodies beaten and bruised by his strokes. We seek thy protection. Be thou our refuge, O Maheswara!' The god of gods, called Sarva, then said, 'Ye gods, it is well-known to you how this action, fraught with great strength, terrible and incapable of being resisted by persons destitute of ascetic merit, originated, springing from the energy of Tvashtri (the divine artificer). As regards myself, it is certainly my duty to render aid to the dwellers of heaven. O Sakra, take this effulgent armour from off my body. And, O chief of the celestials, put it on, mentally uttering these mantras.'
"Drona continued, 'Having said these words, the boon-giving (Siva) gave that armour with the mantras (to be uttered by the wearer). Protected by that armour, Sakra proceeded against the host of Vritra in battle. And
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although diverse kinds of weapons were hurled at him in that dreadful battle, yet the joints of that armour could not be cut open. Then the lord of the celestials slew Vritra, and afterwards gave unto Angiras that armour, whose joints were made up of mantras. And Angiras imparted those mantras to his son Vrihaspati, having a knowledge of all mantras. And Vrihaspati imparted that knowledge to Agnivesya of great intelligence. And Agnivesya imparted it to me, and it is with the aid of those mantras, O best of kings, that I, for protecting thy body, tie this armour on thy body.'
`Sanjaya continued, Having said these words Drona, that bull among preceptors, once more addressed thy son, of great splendour, saying, 'O king, I put this armour on thy body, joining its pieces with the aid of Brahma strings. In days of yore, Brahma himself had thus put it on Vishnu in battle. Even as Brahma himself had put this celestial armour on Sakra in the battle caused by the abduction of Taraka, I put it on thee.' Having thus, with mantras, donned that armour duly on Duryodhana, the regenerate Drona sent the king to battle. And the mighty-armed king, cased in armour by the high-souled preceptor, and accomplished in smiting, and a thousand infuriated elephants endued with great prowess, and a hundred thousand horses, and many other mighty car-warriors, proceeded towards the car of Arjuna. And the mighty-armed king proceeded, with the sound of diverse kinds of musical instruments, against his foe, like Virochana's son (Vali in days of yore). Then, O Bharata, a loud uproar arose among thy troops, beholding the Kuru king proceeding like a fathomless ocean.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 94

 

 

 

1 [s]
      droṇaṃ sa jitvā puruṣapravīras; tathaiva hārdikya mukhāṃs tvadīyān
      prahasya sūtaṃ vacanaṃ babhāṣe; śinipravīraḥ kurupuṃgavāgrya
  2 nimittamātraṃ vayam atra sūta; dagdhārayaḥ keśava phalgunābhyām
      hatān nihanmeha nararṣabheṇa; vayaṃ sureśātma samudbhavena
  3 tam evam uktvā śinipuṃgavas tadā; mahāmṛdhe so 'gryadhanurdharo 'rihā
      kiran samantāt sahasā śarān balī; samāpatac chayena ivāmiṣaṃ yathā
  4 taṃ yāntam aśvaiḥ śaśaśaṅkhavarṇair; vigāhya sainyaṃ puruṣapravīram
      nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ samantād; ādityaraśmi partimaṃ narāgryam
  5 asahya vikrāntam adīta sattvaṃ; sarve gaṇā bhārata durviṣahyam
      sahasranetra pratimaprabhāvaṃ; divīva sūryaṃ jaladavyapāye
  6 amarṣapūrṇas tv aticitra yodhī; śarāsanī kāñcanavarma dhārī
      sudarśanaḥ sātyakim āpatantaṃ; nyavārayad rājavaraḥ prasahya
  7 tayor abhūd bharata saṃprahāraḥ; sudāruṇas taṃ samabhipraśaṃsan
      yodhās tvadīyāś ca hi somakāś ca; vṛtrendrayor yuddham ivāmaraughāḥ
  8 śaraiḥ sutīkṣṇaiḥ śataśo 'bhyavidhyat; sudarśanaḥ sātvata mukhyam ājau
      anāgatān eva tu tān pṛṣatkāṃś; ciccheda bāṇaiḥ śinipuṃgavo 'pi
  9 tathaiva śakra pratimo 'pi sātyakiḥ; sudarśane yān kṣipati sma sāyakān
      dvidhā tridhā tān akarot sudarśanaḥ; śarottamaiḥ syandanavaryam āsthitaḥ
  10 saṃprekṣya bāṇān nihatāṃs tadānīṃ; sudarśanaḥ sātyakibāṇavegaiḥ
     krodhād didhakṣann iva tigmatejāḥ; śarān amuñcat tapanīyacitrān
 11 punaḥ sa bāṇais tribhir agnikalpair; ākarṇapūrṇair niśitaiḥ supuṅkhaiḥ
     vivyādha dehāvaraṇaṃ vibhidya; te sātyaker āviviśuḥ śarīram
 12 tathaiva tasyāvani pāla putraḥ; saṃdhāya bāṇair aparair jvaladbhiḥ
     ājaghnivāṃs tān rajataprakāśāṃś; caturbhir aśvāṃś caturaḥ prasahya
 13 tathā tu tenābhihatas tarasvī; naptā śiner indrasamānavīryaḥ
     sudarśanasyeṣu gaṇaiḥ sutīkṣṇair; hayān nihatyāśu nanāda nādam
 14 athāsya sūtasya śiro nikṛtya; bhallena vajrāśanisaṃnibhena
     sudarśanasyāpi śinipravīraḥ; kṣureṇa ciccheda śiraḥ prasahya
 15 sakuṇḍalaṃ pūrṇaśaśiprakāśaṃ; bhrājiṣṇu vaktraṃ nicakarta dehāt
     yathā purā vajradharaḥ prasahya; balasya saṃkhye 'tibalasya rājan
 16 nihatya taṃ pārthiva putrapautraṃ; raṇe yadūnām ṛṣabhas tarasvī
     mudā sametaḥ parayā mahātmā; rarāja rājan surarājakalpaḥ
 17 tato yayāv arjunam eva yena; nivārya sainyaṃ tava mārgaṇaughaiḥ
     sadaśvayuktena rathena niryāl; lokān visismāpayiṣur nṛvīraḥ
 18 tat tasya vismāpayanīyam agryam; apūjayan yodhavarāḥ sametāḥ
     yad vartamānān iṣugocare 'rīn; dadāha bāṇair hutabhug yathaiva

SECTION XCIV

"Sanjaya said, 'After that bull among men, viz., Duryodhana, had set out from behind, following Partha and him of Vrishni's race, O king, both of whom had penetrated into the Kaurava army, the Pandavas accompanied by the Somakas, quickly rushed against Drona with loud shouts. And then commenced the battle (between them and Drona's troops). And the battle that took place between the Kurus and the Pandavas at the gate of the array, was fierce and awful, making the hair stand on end. The sight filled the spectators with wonder. O king, the sun was then in the meridian. That encounter, O monarch, was truly such that we had never seen or heard of its like before. The Parthas headed by Dhrishtadyumna, all accomplished in smiting and arrayed properly covered the troops of Drona with showers of arrows. Ourselves also, placing Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, at our head, covered the Parthas, gathered by Prishata's son, with our shafts. The two hosts, adorned with cars and
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looking beautiful, then appeared like two mighty masses of clouds in the summer sky, driven towards each other by opposite winds. Encountering each other, the two hosts increased their impetuosity, like the rivers the Ganga and the Yamuna, swollen with water during the season of the rains. Having diverse kinds of weapons for the winds that ran before them, teeming with elephants and steeds and cars charged with lightning, constituted by the maces wielded by the warriors, the fierce and mighty cloud formed by the Kuru host, urged on by the Drona-tempest, and pouring incessant shafts that constituted its torrents of rain, sought to quench the scorching Pandava-fire. Like an awful hurricane in summer agitating the ocean, that best of Brahmanas, viz., Drona, agitating the Pandava host. Exerting themselves with great vigour, the Pandavas rushed towards Drona alone for piercing his host, like a mighty torrent of water towards a strong embankment, for sweeping it away. Like an immovable hill resisting the fiercest current of water, Drona, however, resisted in that battle the enraged Pandavas and Panchalas and Kekayas. Many other kings also, endued with great strength and courage, attacking them from all sides, began to resist the Pandavas. Then that tiger among men, viz., the son of Prishata, uniting with the Pandayas, began repeatedly to strike Drona, for piercing the hostile host. Indeed, as Drona showered his arrows on Prishata's son, even so did the latter shower his on Drona. Having scimitars and swords for the winds that blew before it, well-equipped with darts and lances and sabres, with the bow-string constituting its lightning, and the (twang of the) bow for its roars, the Dhrishtadyumna-cloud poured on all sides torrents of weapons, as its showers of stones. Slaying the foremost of car-warriors and a large number of steeds, the son of Prishata seemed to deluge the hostile divisions (with his arrowy downpours). And the son of Prishata, by his arrows, turned Drona away from all those tracks amid the car-divisions of the Pandavas, through which that hero attempted to pass, striking the warriors there with his shafts. And although Drona struggled vigorously in that battle, yet his host, encountering Dhrishtadyumna, became divided into three columns. One of these retreated towards Kritavarman, the chief of the Bhojas; another towards Jalasandha; and fiercely slaughtered the while by the Pandavas, proceeded towards Drona himself. Drona, that foremost of car-warriors, repeatedly united his troops. The mighty warrior Dhrishtadyumna as often smote and separated them. Indeed, the Dhartarashtra force, divided into three bodies, was slaughtered by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas fiercely, like a herd of cattle in the woods by many beasts of prey, when unprotected by herdsmen. And people thought that in that dreadful battle, it was Death himself who was swallowing the warriors first stupefied by Dhrishtadyumna. As a kingdom of a bad king is destroyed by famine and pestilence and robbers, even so was thy host afflicted by the Pandavas. And in consequence of the rays of the sun failing upon the weapons and the warriors, and of the dust raised by the soldiers, the eyes of all were painfully afflicted. Upon the Kaurava host being divided into three bodies during that dreadful
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carnage by the Pandavas, Drona, filled with wrath, began to consume the Panchalas with his shafts. And while engaged in crushing those divisions and exterminating them with his shafts, the form of Drona became like that of the blazing Yuga-fire. That mighty car-warrior pierced cars, elephants, and steeds, and foot-soldiers, in that battle, each with only a single arrow, (and never employing more than one in any case). There then was no warrior in the Pandava army who was capable of bearing, O lord, the arrows shot from the bow of Drona. Scorched by the rays of the sun and blasted by the shafts of Drona, the Pandava divisions there began to reel about on the field. And thy host also, similarly slaughtered by Prishata's son, seemed to blaze up at every point like a dry forest on fire. And while both Drona and Dhrishtadyumna were slaughtering the two hosts, the warriors of both armies, in utter disregard of their lives, fought everywhere to the utmost extent of their prowess. Neither in thy host, nor in that of the enemy, O bull of Bharata's race, was there a single warrior who fled away from the battle through fear. Those uterine brothers, viz., Vivingsati and Chitrasena and the mighty car-warrior Vikarna, surrounded Kunti's son Bhimasena on all sides. And Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Kshemadhurti of great prowess supported thy three sons (who contended against Bhimasena). King Valhika of great energy and noble parentage, with his own troops and counsellors, resisted the sons of Draupadi. Saivya, the chief of the Govasanas, with a thousand foremost warriors, faced the son, of great prowess, of the king of the Kasis and resisted him. King Salya, the ruler of the Madras, surrounded royal Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who resembled a blazing fire. The brave and wrathful Duhsasana, properly supported by his own divisions, angrily proceeded, in that battle, against Satyaki, that foremost of car-warriors. I myself, with my own troops, cased in mail and equipped with weapons, and supported by four hundred foremost of bowmen, resisted Chekitana. 1 Sakuni with seven hundred Gandhara warriors armed with bows, darts and swords, resisted the son of Madri (viz., Sahadeva). Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, those two great bowmen, who had, for the sake of their friend (Duryodhana), uplifted their weapons, disregarding their lives, encountered Virata, the king of the Matsyas. King Valhika, exerting himself vigorously, resisted the mighty and unvanquished Sikhandin, the son of Yajnasena, that hero capable of resisting all foes. The chief of Avanti, with the Sauviras and the cruel Prabhadrakas, resisted wrathful Dhrishtadyumna, the prince of the Panchalas. Alamvusha quickly rushed against the brave Rakshasa Ghatotkacha. of cruel deeds, who was wrathfully advancing to battle. The mighty car-warrior Kuntibhoja, accompanied by a large force, resisted Alamvusha, that prince of Rakshasas, of fierce mien. Thus, O Bharata, hundreds of separate encounters between the warriors of thy army and theirs, took place.
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"As regards the ruler of the Sindhus, he remained in the rear of the whole army protected by many foremost of bowmen and car-warriors numbering Kripa amongst them. And the ruler of the Sindhus had for the protectors of his wheels two of the foremost warriors, viz., the son of Drona on his right, O king, and the Suta's son (Karna) on the left. And for protecting his rear he had a number of warriors headed by Somadatta's son, viz., Kripa, and Vrishasena, and Sala, and the invincible Salya, who were conversant with policy and were mighty bowmen accomplished in battle. And the Kuru warriors, having made these arrangements for the protection of the ruler of the Sindhus, fought (with the Pandavas).'"

 

 

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