srimahabharat - (Book 7) Drona Parva - chapters 132 to 144

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 132

 

 

 

1 [s]
      drupadasyātmajān dṛṣṭvā kuntibhojasutāṃs tathā
      droṇaputreṇa nihatān rākṣasāṃś ca sahasraśaḥ
  2 yudhiṣṭhiro bhīmaseno dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
      yuyudhānaś ca saṃyattā yuddhāyaiva mano dadhuḥ
  3 somadattaḥ punaḥ kurddho dṛṣṭvā sātyakim āhave
      mahatā śaravarṣeṇa chādayām āsa sarvataḥ
  4 tataḥ samabhavad yuddham atīva bhayavardhanam
      tvadīyānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca ghoraṃ vijayakāṅkṣiṇām
  5 daśabhiḥ sātvatasyārthe bhīmo vivyādha kauravam
      somadatto 'pi taṃ vīraṃ śatena pratyavidhyata
  6 sātvatas tv abhisaṃkruddhaḥ putrādhibhir abhiplutam
      vṛddham ṛddhaṃ guṇaiḥ sarvair yayātim iva nāhuṣam
  7 vivyādha daśabhis tīkṣṇaiḥ śarair vajranipātibhiḥ
      śaktyā cainam athāhatya punar vivyādha saptabhiḥ
  8 tatas tu sātyaker arthe bhīmaseno navaṃ dṛḍham
      mumoca parighaṃ ghoraṃ somadattasya mūrdhani
  9 sātyakiś cāgnisaṃkāśaṃ mumoca śaram uttamam
      somadattorasi kruddhaḥ supatraṃ niśitaṃ yudhi
  10 yugapat petatur atha ghorau parighamārgaṇau
     śarīre somadattasya sa papāta mahārathaḥ
 11 vyāmohite tu tanaye bāhlīkaḥ samupādravat
     visṛjañ śaravarṣāṇi kālavarṣīva toyadaḥ
 12 bhīmo 'tha sātvatasyārthe bāhlīkaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     pīḍayan vai mahātmānaṃ vivyādha raṇamūrdhani
 13 prātipīyas tu saṃkruddhaḥ śaktiṃ bhīmasya vakṣasi
     nicakhāna mahābāhuḥ puraṃdara ivāśanim
 14 sa tayābhihato bhīmaś cakampe ca mumoha ca
     prāpya cetaś ca balavān gadām asmai sasarja ha
 15 sā pāṇḍavena prahitā bāhlīkasya śiro 'harat
     sa papāta hataḥ pṛthvyāṃ vajrāhata ivādrirāṭ
 16 tasmin vinihate vīre bāhlīke puruṣarṣabhe
     putrās te 'bhyardayan bhīmaṃ daśa dāśaratheḥ samāḥ
 17 nārācair daśabhir bhīmas tān nihatya tavātmajān
     karṇasya dayitaṃ putraṃ vṛṣasenam avākirat
 18 tato vṛṣaratho nāma bhrātā karṇasya viśrutaḥ
     jaghāna bhīmaṃ nārācais tam apy abhyavadhīd balī
 19 tataḥ sapta rathān vīraḥ syālānāṃ tava bhārata
     nihatya bhīmo nārācaiḥ śatacandram apothayat
 20 amarṣayanto nihataṃ śatacandraṃ mahāratham
     śakuner bhrātaro vīrā gajākṣaḥ śarabho vibhuḥ
     abhidrutya śarais tākṣṇair bhīmasenam atāḍayan
 21 sa tudyamāno nārācair vṛṣṭivegair ivarṣabhaḥ
     jaghāna pañcabhir bāṇaiḥ pañcaivātibalo rathān
     tān dṛṣṭvā nihatān vīrān vicelur nṛpasattamāḥ
 22 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kruddhas tavānīkam aśātayat
     miṣataḥ kumbhayoneś ca putrāṇāṃ ca tavānagha
 23 ambaṣṭhān mālavāñ śūrāṃs trigartān sa śibīn api
     prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya gaṇān yuddhe yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 24 abhīṣāhāñ śūrasenān bāhlīkān sa vasātikān
     nikṛtya pṛthivīṃ rājā cakre śoṇitakardamām
 25 yaudheyāraṭṭa rājanya madrakāṇāṃ gaṇān yudhi
     prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya śūrān bāṇair yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 26 hata āharata gṛhṇīta vidhyata vyavakṛntata
     ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdo yudhiṣṭhira rathaṃ prati
 27 sainyāni drāvayantaṃ taṃ droṇo dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiram
     coditas tava putreṇa sāyakair abhyavākirat
 28 droṇas tu paramakruddho vayavyāstreṇa pārthivam
     vivyādha so 'sya tad divyam astram astreṇa jaghnivān
 29 tasmin vinihate cāstre bhāradvājo yudhiṣṭhire
     vāruṇaṃ yāmyam āgneyaṃ tvāṣṭraṃ sāvitram eva ca
     cikṣepa paramakruddho jighāṃsuḥ pāṇḍunandanam
 30 kṣiptāni kṣipyamāṇāni tāni cāstrāṇi dharmajaḥ
     jaghānāstrair mahābāhuḥ kumbhayoner avitrasan
 31 satyāṃ cikīrṣamāṇas tu prathijñāṃ kumbhasaṃbhavaḥ
     prāduścakre 'stram aindraṃ vai prājāpatyaṃ ca bhārata
     jighāṃsur dharmatanayaṃ tava putra hite rataḥ
 32 patiḥ kurūṇāṃ gajasiṃhagāmī; viśālavakṣāḥ pṛthu lohitākṣaḥ
     prāduścakārāstram ahīna tejā; māhendram anyat sa jaghāna te 'stre
 33 vihanyamāneṣv astreṣu droṇaḥ krodhasamanvitaḥ
     yudhiṣṭhira vadhaprepsur brāhmam astram udairayat
 34 tato nājñāsiṣaṃ kiṃ cid ghoreṇa tamasāvṛte
     sarvabhūtāni ca paraṃ trāsaṃ jagmur mahīpate
 35 brahmāstram udyataṃ dṛṣṭvā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     brahmāstreṇaiva rājendra tad astraṃ pratyavārayat
 36 tataḥ sainika mukhyās te praśaśaṃsur nararṣabhau
     droṇa pārthau maheṣvāsau sarvayuddhaviśāradau
 37 tataḥ pramucya kaunteyaṃ droṇo drupada vāhinīm
     vyadhamad roṣatāmrākṣo vāyavyāstreṇa bhārata
 38 te hanyamānā droṇena pāñcālāḥ prādravan bhayāt
     paśyato bhīmasenasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ
 39 tataḥ kirīṭī bhīmaś ca sahasā saṃnyavartatām
     mahadbhyāṃ rathavaṃśābhyāṃ parigṛhya balaṃ tava
 40 bībhatsur dakṣiṇaṃ pārśvam uttaraṃ tu vṛkodaraḥ
     bhāradvājaṃ śaraughābhyāṃ mahadbhyām abhyavarṣatām
 41 tau tadā sṛñjayāś caiva pāñcālāś ca mahaujasaḥ
     anvagacchan mahārāja matsyāś ca saha sātvataiḥ
 42 tataḥ sā bhāratī senā vadhyamānā kirīṭinā
     droṇena vāryamāṇās te svayaṃ tava sutena ca
     nāśakyanta mahārāja yodhā vārayituṃ tadā

 

SECTION CXXXII

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

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 133

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      udīryamāṇaṃ tad dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahad balam
      aviṣahyaṃ ca manvānaḥ karṇaṃ duryodhano 'bravīt
  2 ayaṃ sa kālaḥ saṃprāpto mitrāṇāṃ mitravatsala
      trāyasva samare karṇa sarvān yodhān mahābala
  3 pāñcālair matsyakaikeyaiḥ pāṇḍavaiś ca mahārathaiḥ
      vṛtān samantāt saṃkruddhair niḥśvasadbhir ivoragaiḥ
  4 ete nadanti saṃhṛṣṭāḥ pāṇḍavā jitakāśinaḥ
      śakropamāś ca bahavaḥ pāñcālānāṃ rathavrajāḥ
  5 [karṇa]
      paritrātum iha prāpto yadi pārtha puraṃdaraḥ
      tam apy āśu parājitya tato hantāsmi pāṇḍavam
  6 satyaṃ te pratijānāmi samāśvasihi bhārata
      hantāsmi pāṇḍutanayān pāñcālāṃś ca samāgatān
  7 jayaṃ te pratijānāmi vāsavasyeva pāvakiḥ
      priyaṃ tava mayā kāryam iti jīvāmi pārthiva
  8 sarveṣām eva pārthānāṃ phalguno balavattaraḥ
      tasyāmoghāṃ vimokṣyāmi śaktiṃ śakra vinirmitām
  9 tasmin hate maheṣvāse bhrātaras tasya mānada
      tava vaśyā bhaviṣyanti vanaṃ yāsyanti vā punaḥ
  10 mayi jīvati kauravya viṣādaṃ mā kṛthāḥ kva cit
     ahaṃ jeṣyāmi samare sahitān sarvapāṇḍavān
 11 pāñcālān kekayāṃś caiva vṛṣṇīṃś cāpi samāgatān
     bāṇaughaiḥ śakalīkṛtya tava dāsyāmi medinīm
 12 [s]
     evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ karṇaṃ tu kṛpaḥ śāradvato 'bravīt
     smayann iva mahābāhuḥ suta putram idaṃ vacaḥ
 13 śobhanaṃ śobhanaṃ karṇa sa nāthaḥ kurupuṃgavaḥ
     tvayā nāthena rādheya vacasā yadi sidhyati
 14 bahuśaḥ katthase karṇa kauravyasya samīpataḥ
     na tu te vikramaḥ kaś cid dṛśyate balam eva vā
 15 samāgamaḥ pāṇḍusutair dṛṣṭas te bahuśo yudhi
     sarvatra nirjitaś cāsi pāṇḍavaiḥ sūtanandana
 16 hriyamāṇe tadā karṇa gandharvair dhṛtarāṣṭraje
     tadāyudhyanta sainyāni tvam ekas tu palāyathāḥ
 17 virāṭanagare cāpi sametāḥ sarvakauravāḥ
     pārthena nirjitā yuddhe tvaṃ ca karṇa sahānujaḥ
 18 ekasyāpy asamarthas tvaṃ phalgunasya raṇājire
     katham utsahase jetuṃ sukṛṣṇān sarvapāṇḍavān
 19 abruvan karṇa yudhyasva bahu katthasi sūtaja
     anuktvā vikramed yas tu tad vai satpuruṣavratam
 20 garjitvā sūtaputra tvaṃ śāradābhram ivājalam
     niṣphalo dṛśyase karṇa tac ca rājā na budhyate
 21 tāvad garjasi rādheya yāvat pārthaṃ na paśyasi
     purā pārthaṃ hi te dṛṣṭvā durlabhaṃ garjitaṃ bhavet
 22 tvam anāsādya tān bāṇān phalgunasya vigarjasi
     pārtha sāyakaviddhasya durlabhaṃ garjitaṃ bhavet
 23 bāhubhiḥ kṣatriyāḥ śūrā vāgbhiḥ śūrā dvijātayaḥ
     dhanuṣā phalgunaḥ śūraḥ karṇaḥ śūro manorathaiḥ
 24 evaṃ paruṣitas tena tadā śāradvatena saḥ
     karṇaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kṛpaṃ vākyam athābravīt
 25 śūrā garjanti satataṃ prāvṛṣīva balāhakāḥ
     phalaṃ cāśu prayacchanti bījam uptam ṛtāv iva
 26 doṣam atra na paśyāmi śūrāṇāṃ raṇamūrdhani
     tat tad vikatthamānānāṃ bhāraṃ codvahatāṃ mṛdhe
 27 yaṃ bhāraṃ puruṣo voḍhuṃ manasā hi vyavasyati
     daivam asya dhruvaṃ tatra sāhāyyāyopapadyate
 28 vyavasāyadvitīyo 'haṃ manasā bhāram udvahan
     garjāmi yady ahaṃ vipra tava kiṃ tatra naśyati
 29 vṛthā śūrā na garjanti sa jalā iva toyadāḥ
     sāmarthyam ātmano jñātvā tato garjanti paṇḍitāḥ
 30 so 'ham adya raṇe yattaḥ sahitau kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
     utsahe tarasā jetuṃ tato garjāmi gautama
 31 paśya tvaṃ garjitasyāsya phalaṃ me vipra sānugaḥ
     hatvā pāṇḍusutān ājau saha kṛṣṇān sa sātvatān
     duryodhanāya dāsyāmi pṛthivīṃ hatakaṇṭakām
 32 [kṛpa]
     manorathapralāpo me na grāhyas tava sūtaja
     yadā kṣipasi vai kṛṣṇau dharmarājaṃ ca pāṇḍavam
 33 dhruvas tatra jayaḥ karṇa yatra yuddhaviśāradau
     devagandharvayakṣāṇāṃ manuṣyoragarakṣasām
     daṃśitānām api raṇe ajeyau kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
 34 brahmaṇyaḥ satyavāg dānto guru daivatapūjakaḥ
     nityaṃ dharmarataś caiva kṛtāstraś ca viśeṣataḥ
     dhṛtimāṃś ca kṛtajñaś ca dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 35 bhrātaraś cāsya balinaḥ sarvāstreṣu kṛtaśramāḥ
     guruvṛtti ratāḥ prājñā dharmanityā yaśasvinaḥ
 36 saṃbandhinaś cendra vīryāḥ svanuraktāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca daurmukhir janamejayaḥ
 37 candra seno bhadra senaḥ kīrtidharmā dhruvo dharaḥ
     vasu candro dāma candraḥ siṃhacandraḥ suvedhanaḥ
 38 drupadasya tathā putrā drupadaś ca mahāstravit
     yeṣām arthāya saṃyatto matsyarājaḥ sahānugaḥ
 39 śatānīkaḥ sudaśanaḥ śrutānīkaḥ śrutadhvajaḥ
     balānīko jayānīko jayāśvo rathavāhanaḥ
 40 candrodayaḥ kāmaratho virāṭa bhrātaraḥ śubhāḥ
     yamau ca draupadeyāś ca rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
     yeṣām arthāya yudhyante na teṣāṃ vidyate kṣayaḥ
 41 kāmaṃ khalu jagat sarvaṃ sa devāsuramānavam
     sa yakṣarākṣasa gaṇaṃ sa bhūtabhujaga dvipam
     niḥśeṣam astravīryeṇa kuryātāṃ bhīma phalgunau
 42 yudhiṣṭhiraś ca pṛthivīṃ nirdahed ghoracakṣuṣā
     aprameyabalaḥ śaurir yeṣām arthe ca daṃśitaḥ
     kathaṃ tān saṃyuge karṇa jetum utsahase parān
 43 mahān apanayas tv eṣa tava nityaṃ hi sūtaja
     yas tvam utsahase yoddhuṃ samare śauriṇā saha
 44 [s]
     evam uktas tu rādheyaḥ prahasan bharatarṣabha
     abravīc ca tadā karṇo guruṃ śāradvataṃ kṛpam
 45 satyam uktaṃ tvayā brahman pāṇḍavān prati yad vacaḥ
     ete cānye ca bahavo guṇāḥ pāṇḍusuteṣu vai
 46 ajayyāś ca raṇe pārthā devair api sa vāsavaiḥ
     sa daitya yakṣagandharvapiśācoragarākṣasaiḥ
     tathāpi pārthāñ jeṣyāmi śaktyā vāsava dattayā
 47 mamāpy amoghā datteyaṃ śaktiḥ śakreṇa vai dvija
     etayā nihaniṣyāmi savyasācinam āhave
 48 hate tu pāṇḍave kṛṣṇo bhrātaraś cāsya sodarāḥ
     anarjunā na śakṣyanti mahīṃ bhoktuṃ kathaṃ cana
 49 teṣu naṣṭeṣu sarveṣu pṛthivīyaṃ sasāgarā
     ayatnāt kauraveyasya vaśe sthāsyati gautama
 50 sunītair iha sarvārthāḥ sidhyante nātra saṃśayaḥ
     etam artham ahaṃ jñātvā tato garjāmi gautama
 51 tvaṃ tu vṛddhaś ca vipraś ca aśaktaś cāpi saṃyuge
     kṛtasnehaś ca pārtheṣu mohān mām avamanyase
 52 yady evaṃ vakṣyase bhūyo mām apriyam iha dvija
     tatas te khaḍgam udyamya jihvāṃ chetsyāmi durmate
 53 yac cāpi pāṇḍavān vipra stotum icchasi saṃyuge
     bhīṣayan sarvasainyāni kauraveyāṇi durmate
     atrāpi śṛṇu me vākyaṃ yathāvad gadato dvija
 54 duryodhanaś ca droṇaś ca śakunir durmukho jayaḥ
     duḥśāsano vṛṣaseno madrarājas tvam eva ca
     somadattaś ca bhūriś ca tathā drauṇir viviṃśatiḥ
 55 tiṣṭheyur daṃśitā yatra sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ
     jayed etān raṇe ko nu śakratulyabalo 'py ariḥ
 56 śūrāś ca hi kṛtāstrāś ca balinaḥ svargalipsavaḥ
     dharmajñā yuddhakuśalā hanyur yuddhe surān api
 57 ete sthāsyanti saṃgrāme pāṇḍavānāṃ vadhārthinaḥ
     jayam ākāṅkṣamāṇā hi kauraveyasya daṃśitāḥ
 58 daivāyattam ahaṃ manye jayaṃ subalinām api
     yatra bhīṣmo mahābāhuḥ śete śaraśatācitaḥ
 59 vikarṇaś citrasenaś ca bāhlīko 'tha jayadrathaḥ
     bhūriśravā jayaś caiva jalasaṃdhaḥ sudakṣiṇaḥ
 60 śalaś ca rathināṃ śreṣṭho bhagadattaś ca vīryavān
     ete cānye ca rājāno devair api sudurjayāḥ
 61 nihatāḥ samare śūrāḥ pāṇḍavair balavattarāḥ
     kim anyad daivasaṃyogān manyase puruṣādhama
 62 yāṃś ca tān stauṣi satataṃ duryodhana ripūn dvija
     teṣām api hatāḥ śūrāḥ śataśo 'taḥ sahasraśaḥ
 63 kṣīyante sarvasainyāni kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     prabhāvaṃ nātra paśyāmi pāṇḍavānāṃ kathaṃ cana
 64 yāṃs tān balavato nityaṃ manyase tvaṃ dvijādhama
     yatiṣye 'haṃ yathāśakti yoddhuṃ taiḥ saha saṃyuge
     duryodhanahitārthāya jayo daive pratiṣṭhitaḥ

 

SECTION CXXXIII

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

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 134

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tathā paruṣitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sūtaputreṇa mātulam
      khaḍgam udyamya vegena drauṇir abhyapatad drutam
  2 [aṣv]
      karṇa paśya sudurbuddhe tiṣṭhedānīṃ narādhama
      eṣa te 'dya śiraḥ kāyād uddharāmi sudurmate
  3 [s]
      tam utpatantaṃ vegena rājā duryodhanaḥ svayam
      nyavārayan mahārāja kṛpaś ca dvipadāṃ varaḥ
  4 [karṇa]
      śūro 'yaṃ samaraślāghī durmatiś ca dvijādhamaḥ
      āsādayatu madvīryaṃ muñcemaṃ kurusattama
  5 [aṣv]
      tavaitat kṣamyate 'smābhiḥ sūtātmaja sudurmate
      darpam utsiktam etat te phalguno nāśayiṣyati
  6 [dur]
      aśvatthāman prasīdasva kṣantum arhasi mānada
      kopaḥ khalu na kartavyaḥ sūtaputre kathaṃ cana
  7 tvayi karṇe kṛpe droṇe madrarāje 'tha saubale
      mahat kāryaṃ samāyattaṃ prasīda dvijasattama
  8 ete hy abhimukhāḥ sarve rādheyena yuyutsavaḥ
      āyānti pāṇḍavā brahmann āhvayantaḥ samantataḥ
  9 [s]
      karṇo 'pi rathināṃ śreṣṭhaś cāpam udyamya vīryavān
      kauravāgryaiḥ parivṛtaḥ śakro devagaṇair iva
      paryatiṣṭhata tejasvī svabāhubalam āśritaḥ
  10 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ karṇasya saha pāṇḍavaiḥ
     saṃrabdhasya mahārāja siṃhanāda vināditam
 11 tatas te pāṇḍavā rājan pāñcālāś ca yaśasvinaḥ
     dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ mahābāhum uccaiḥ śabdam athānadan
 12 ayaṃ karṇaḥ kutaḥ karṇas tiṣṭha karṇa mahāraṇe
     yudhyasva sahito 'smābhir durātman puruṣādhama
 13 anye tu dṛṣṭvā rādheyaṃ krodharaktekṣaṇābruvan
     hanyatām ayam utsiktaḥ sūtaputro 'lpacetanaḥ
 14 sarvaiḥ pārthivaśārdūlair nānenārtho 'sti jīvatā
     atyantavairī pārthānāṃ satataṃ pāpapūruṣaḥ
 15 eṣa mūlaṃ hy anarthānāṃ duryodhana mate sthitaḥ
     hatainam iti jalpantaḥ kṣatriyāḥ samupādravan
 16 mahatā śaravarṣeṇa chādayanto mahārathāḥ
     vadhārdhaṃ sūtaputrasya pāṇḍaveyena coditāḥ
 17 tāṃs tu sarvāṃs tathā dṛṣṭvā dhāvamānān mahārathān
     na vivyathe sūra putro na ca trāsam agacchata
 18 dṛṣṭvā nagarakalpaṃ tam uddhūtaṃ sainyasāgaram
     piprīṣus tava putrāṇāṃ saṃgrāmeṣv aparājitaḥ
 19 sāyakaughena balavān kṣiprakārī mahābalaḥ
     vārayām āsa tat sainyaṃ samantād bharatarṣabha
 20 tatas tu śaravarṣeṇa pārthivās tam avārayan
     dhanūṃṣi te vidhunvānāḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
     ayodhayanta rādheyaṃ śakraṃ daitya gaṇā iva
 21 śaravarṣaṃ tu tat karṇaḥ pārthivaiḥ samudīritam
     śaravarṣeṇa mahatā samantād vyakirat prabho
 22 tad yuddham abhavat teṣāṃ kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇām
     yathā devāsure yuddhe śakrasya saha dānavaiḥ
 23 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma sūtaputrasya lāghavam
     yad enaṃ samare yattā nāpnuvanta pare yudhi
 24 nivārya ca śaraughāṃs tān pārthivānāṃ mahārathaḥ
     yugeṣv īṣāsu chatreṣu dhvajeṣu ca hayeṣu ca
     ātmanāmāṅkitān bāṇān rādheyaḥ prāhiṇoc chitān
 25 tatas te vyākulībhūtā rājānaḥ karṇa pīḍitāḥ
     babhramus tatra tatraiva gāvaḥ śītārditā iva
 26 hayānāṃ vadhyamānānāṃ gajānāṃ rathināṃ tathā
     tatra tatrābhyavekṣāmaḥ saṃghān karṇena pātitān
 27 śirobhiḥ patitau rājan bāhubhiś ca samantataḥ
     āstīrṇā vasudhā sarvā śūrāṇām anivartinām
 28 hataiś ca hanyamānaiś ca niṣṭanadbhiś ca sarvaśaḥ
     babhūvāyodhanaṃ raudraṃ vaivasvatapuropamam
 29 tato duryodhano rājā dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
     aśvatthāmānam āsādya tadā vākyam uvāca ha
 30 yudhyate 'sau raṇe karṇo daṃśitaḥ sarvapārthivaiḥ
     paśyaitāṃ dravatīṃ senāṃ karṇa sāyakapīḍitām
     kārttikeyena vidhvastām āsurīṃ pṛtanām iva
 31 dṛṣṭvaināṃ nirjitāṃ senāṃ raṇe karṇena dhīmatā
     abhiyāty eṣa bībhatsuḥ sūtaputra jighāṃsayā
 32 tad yathā paśyamānānāṃ sūtaputraṃ mahāratham
     na hanyāt pāṇḍavaḥ saṃkhye tathā nītir vidhīyatām
 33 tato drauṇiḥ kṛpaḥ śalyo hārdikyaś ca mahārathaḥ
     pratyudyayus tadā pārthaṃ sūtaputra parīpsayā
 34 āyāntaṃ dṛśyakaunteyaṃ vṛtraṃ deva camūm iva
     prayudyayau tadā karṇo yathā śakraḥ pratāpavān
 35 [dhṛ]
     saṃrabdhaṃ phalgunaṃ dṛṣṭvā kālāntakayamopamam
     karṇo vaikartanaḥ sūta pratyapadyat kim uttaram
 36 sa hy aspardhata pārthena nityam eva mahārathaḥ
     āśaṃsate ca bībhatsuṃ yuddhe jetuṃ sudāruṇe
 37 sa tu taṃ sahasā prāptaṃ nityam atyantavairiṇam
     karṇo vaikartanaḥ sūta kim uttaram apadyata
 38 [s]
     āyāntaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ dṛṣṭvā gajaḥ pratigajaṃ yathā
     asaṃbhrāntataraḥ karṇaḥ partyudīyād dhanaṃjayam
 39 tam āpatantaṃ vegena vaikartanam ajihmagaiḥ
     vārayām āsa tejasvī pāṇḍavaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
 40 taṃ karṇaḥ śarajālena chādayām āsa māriṣa
     vivyādha ca susaṃkruddhaḥ śarais tribhir ajihmagaiḥ
 41 tasya tal lāghavaṃ pārtho nāmṛṣyata mahābalaḥ
     tasmai bāṇāñ śilā dhautān prasannāgrān ajihmagān
 42 prāhiṇot sūtaputrāya triṃśataṃ śatrutāpanaḥ
     vivyādha cainaṃ saṃrabdho bāṇenaikena vīryavān
 43 savye bhujāgre balavān nārācena hasann iva
     tasya viddhasya vegena karāc cāpaṃ papāta ha
 44 punar ādāya tac cāpaṃ nimeṣārdhān mahābalaḥ
     chādayām āsa bāṇaughaiḥ phalgunaṃ kṛtahastavat
 45 śaravṛṣṭiṃ tu tāṃ muktāṃ sūtaputreṇa bhārata
     vyadhamac charavarṣeṇa smayann iva dhanaṃjayaḥ
 46 tau parasparam āsādya śaravarṣeṇa pārthiva
     chādayetāṃ maheṣvāsau kṛpa pratikṛtaiṣiṇau
 47 tad adbhutam abhūd yuddhaṃ karṇa pāṇḍavayor mṛdhe
     kruddhayor vāśitā hetor vanyayor gajayor iva
 48 tataḥ pārtho maheṣvāso dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
     muṣṭideśe dhanus tasya ciccheda tvarayānvitaḥ
 49 aśvāṃś ca caturo bhallair anayad yamasādanam
     sāratheś ca śiraḥ kāyād aharac chatrutāpanaḥ
 50 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ hatāśvaṃ hatasārathim
     vivyādha sāyakaiḥ pārtha caturbhiḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ
 51 hatāśvāt tu rathāt tūrṇam avaplutya nararṣabhaḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ kṛpasya śarapīḍitaḥ
 52 rādheyaṃ nirjitaṃ dṛṣṭvā tāvakā bharatarṣabha
     dhanaṃjaya śarair nunnāḥ prādravanta diśo daśa
 53 dravatas tān samālokya rājā duryodhano nṛpa
     nivartayām āsa tadā vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha
 54 alaṃ drutena vaḥ śūrās tiṣṭhadhvaṃ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
     eṣa pārtha vadhāyāhaṃ svayaṃ gacchāmi saṃyuge
     ahaṃ pārthān haniṣyāmi sapāñcālān sa somakān
 55 adya me yudhyamānasya saha gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
     drakṣyanti vikramaṃ pārthāḥ kālasyeva yugakṣaye
 56 adya madbāṇajālāni vimuktāni sahasraśaḥ
     drakṣyanti samare yodhāḥ śalabhānām ivāyatīḥ
 57 adya bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ sṛjato mama dhanvinaḥ
     jīmūtasyeva gharmānte drakṣyanti yudhi sainikāḥ
 58 jeṣyāmy adya raṇe pārthaṃ sāyakair nataparvabhiḥ
     tiṣṭhadhvaṃ samare śūrā bhayaṃ tyajata phalgunāt
 59 na hi madvīryam āsādya phalgunaḥ prasahiṣyati
     yathā velāṃ samāsādya sāgaro makarālayaḥ
 60 ity uktvā prayayau rājā sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ
     phalgunaṃ prati durdharṣaḥ krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ
 61 taṃ prayāntaṃ mahābāhuṃ dṛṣṭvā śāradvatas tadā
     aśvatthāmānam āsādya vākyam etad uvāca ha
 62 eṣa rājā mahābāhur amarṣī krodhamūrchitaḥ
     pataṃgavṛttim āsthāya phalgunaṃ yoddhum icchati
 63 yāvan naḥ paśyamānānāṃ prāṇān pārthena saṃgataḥ
     na jahyāt puruṣavyāghras tāvad vāraya kauravam
 64 yāvat phalguna bāṇānāṃ gocaraṃ nādhigacchati
     kauravaḥ pārthivo vīras tāvad vāraya taṃ drutam
 65 yāvat pārtha śarair ghorair nirmuktoraga saṃnibhaiḥ
     na bhasmīkriyate rājā tāvad yuddhān nivāryatām
 66 ayuktam iva paśyāmi tiṣṭhastv asmāsu mānada
     svayaṃ yuddhāya yad rājā pārthaṃ yāty asahāyavān
 67 durlabhaṃ jīvitaṃ manye kauravyasya kirīṭinā
     yudhyamānasya pārthena śārdūleneva hastinaḥ
 68 mātulenaivam uktas tu drauṇiḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
     duryodhanam idaṃ vākyaṃ tvaritaṃ samabhāṣata
 69 mayi jīvati gāndhāre na yuddhaṃ gantum arhasi
     mām anādṛtya kauravya tava nityaṃ hitaiṣiṇam
 70 na hi te saṃbhramaḥ kāryaḥ pārthasya vijayaṃ prati
     aham āvārayiṣyāmi pārthaṃ tiṣṭha suyodhana
 71 [dur]
     ācāryaḥ pāṇḍuputrān vai putravat parirakṣati
     tvam apy upekṣāṃ kuruṣe teṣu nityaṃ dvijottama
 72 mama vā mandabhāgyatvān mandas te vikramo yudhi
     dharmarāja priyārthaṃ vā draupadyā vā na vidma tat
 73 dhig astu mama lubdhasya yatkṛte sarvabāndhavāḥ
     sukhārhāḥ paramaṃ duḥkhaṃ prāpnuvanty aparājitāḥ
 74 ko hi śastrabhṛtāṃ mukhyo maheśvara samo yudhi
     śatrūn na kṣapayec chakto yo na syād gautamī sutaḥ
 75 aśvatthāman prasīdasva nāśayaitān mamāhitān
     tavāstragocare śaktāḥ sthātuṃ devāpi nānagha
 76 pāñcālān somakāṃś caiva jahi droṇe sahānugān
     vayaṃ śeṣān haniṣyāmas tvayaiva parirakṣitāḥ
 77 ete hi somakā vipra pāñcālāś ca yaśasvinaḥ
     mama sainyeṣu saṃrabdhā vicaranti davāgnivat
 78 tān vāraya mahābāho kekayāṃś ca narottama
     purā kurvanti niḥśeṣaṃ rakṣyamāṇāḥ kirīṭinā
 79 ādau vā yadi vā paścāt tavedaṃ karma māriṣa
     tvam utpanno mahābāho pāñcālānāṃ vadhaṃ prati
 80 kariṣyasi jagat sarvam apāñcālaṃ kilācyuta
     evaṃ siddhābruvan vāco bhaviṣyati ca tat tathā
 81 na te 'stragocare śaktāḥ sthātuṃ devāḥ sa vāsavāḥ
     kim u pārthāḥ sapāñcālāḥ satyam etad vac

 

SECTION CXXXIV

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

 

Book 7
Chapter 135

1 [s]
      duryodhanenaivam ukto drauṇir āhavadurmadaḥ
      pratyuvāca mahābāho yathā vadasi kaurava
  2 priyā hi pāṇḍavā nityaṃ mama cāpi pituś ca me
      tathaivāvāṃ priyau teṣāṃ na tu yuddhe kurūdvaha
      śaktitas tāta yudhyāmas tyaktvā prāṇān abhītavat
  3 ahaṃ karṇaś ca śalyaś ca kṛpo hārdikya eva ca
      nimeṣāt pāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ kṣapayema nṛpottama
  4 te cāpi kauravīṃ senāṃ nimeṣārdhāt kurūdvaha
      kṣapayeyur mahābāho na syāma yadi saṃyuge
  5 yudhyatāṃ pāṇḍavāñ śaktyā teṣāṃ cāsmān yuyutsatām
      tejas tu teja āsādya praśamaṃ yāti bhārata
  6 aśakyā tarasā jetuṃ pāṇḍavānām anīkinī
      jīvatsu pāṇḍuputreṣu tad dhi satyaṃ bravīmi te
  7 ātmārthaṃ yudhyamānās te samarthāḥ pāṇḍunandanāḥ
      kimarthaṃ tava sainyāni na haniṣyanti bhārata
  8 tvaṃ hi lubdhatamo rājan nikṛtijñaś ca kaurava
      sarātiśaṅkī mānī ca tato 'smān atiśaṅkase
  9 ahaṃ tu yatnam āsthāya tvadarthe tyaktajīvitaḥ
      eṣa gacchāmi saṃgrāmaṃ tvatkṛte kurunandana
  10 yotsye 'haṃ śatrubhiḥ sārdhaṃ jeṣyāmi ca varān varān
     pāñcālaiḥ saha yotsyāmi somakaiḥ kekayais tathā
     pāṇḍaveyaiś ca saṃgrāme tvatpriyārtham ariṃdama
 11 adya madbāṇanirdagdhāḥ pāñcālāḥ somakās tathā
     siṃhenevārditā gāvo vidraviṣyanti sarvataḥ
 12 adya dharmasuto rājā dṛṣṭvā mama parākramam
     aśvatthāmam ayaṃ lokaṃ maṃsyate saha somakaiḥ
 13 āgamiṣyati nirvedaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     dṛṣṭvā vinihatān saṃkhye pāñcālān somakaiḥ saha
 14 ye māṃ yuddhe 'bhiyotsyanti tān haniṣyāmi bhārata
     na hi te vīra mucyeran madbāhvantaram āgatāḥ
 15 evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ putraṃ duryodhanaṃ tava
     abhyavartata yuddhāya drāvayan sarvadhanvinaḥ
     cikīrṣus tava putrāṇāṃ priyaṃ prāṇabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
 16 tato 'bravīt sa kaikeyān pāñcālān gautamī sutaḥ
     praharadhvam itaḥ sarve mama gātre mahārathāḥ
     sthirī bhūtāś ca yudhyadhvaṃ darśayanto 'stralāghavam
 17 evam uktās tu te sarve śastravṛṣṭim apātayan
     drauṇiṃ prati mahārāja jalaṃ jaladharā iva
 18 tān nihatya śarān drauṇir daśavīrān apothayat
     pramukhe pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnasya cābhibho
 19 te hanyamānāḥ samare pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayās tathā
     parityajya raṇe drauṇiṃ vyadravanta diśo daśa
 20 tān dṛṣṭvā dravataḥ śūrān pāñcālān saha somakān
     dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja drauṇim abhyadravad yudhi
 21 tataḥ kāñcanacitrāṇāṃ sa jalāmbuda nādinām
     vṛtaḥ śatena śūrāṇāṃ rathānām anivartinām
 22 putraḥ pāñcālarājasya dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
     drauṇim ity abravīd vākyaṃ dṛṣṭvā yodhān nipātitān
 23 ācārya putra durbuddhe kim anyair nihatais tava
     samāgaccha mayā sārdhaṃ yadi śūro 'si saṃyuge
     ahaṃ tvāṃ nihaniṣyāmi tiṣṭhedānīṃ mamāgrataḥ
 24 tatas tam ācārya sutaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān
     marmabhidbhiḥ śarais tīkṣṇair jaghāna bharatarṣabha
 25 te tu paṅktī kṛtā drauṇiṃ śarā viviśur āśugāḥ
     rukmapuṅkhāḥ prasannāgrāḥ sarvakāyāvadāraṇāḥ
     madhv arthina ivoddāmā bhramarāḥ puṣpitaṃ drumam
 26 so 'tividdho bhṛśaṃ kruddhaḥ padākrānta ivoragaḥ
     mānī drauṇir asaṃbhrānto bāṇapāṇir abhāṣata
 27 dhṛṣṭadyumna sthiro bhūtvā muhūrtaṃ pratipālaya
     yāvat tvāṃ niśitair bāṇaiḥ preṣayāmi yamakṣayam
 28 drauṇir evam athābhāṣya pārṣataṃ paravīrahā
     chādayām āsa bāṇaughaiḥ samantāl laghuhastavat
 29 sa chādyamānaḥ samare drauṇinā yuddhadurmadaḥ
     drauṇiṃ pāñcāla tanayo vāgbhir ātarjayat tadā
 30 na jānīṣe pratijñāṃ me viprotpattiṃ tathaiva ca
     droṇaṃ hatvā kila mayā hantavyas tvaṃ sudurmate
     tatas tvāhaṃ na hanmy adya droṇe jīvati saṃyuge
 31 imāṃ tu rajanīṃ prāptām aprabhātāṃ sudurmate
     nihatya pitaraṃ te 'dya tatas tvām api saṃyuge
     neṣyāmi mṛtyulokāyety evaṃ me manasi sthitam
 32 yas te pārtheṣu vidveṣo yā bhaktiḥ kauraveṣu ca
     tāṃ darśaya sthiro bhūtvā na me jīvan vimokṣyase
 33 yo hi brāhmaṇyam utsṛjya kṣatradharmarato dvijaḥ
     sa vadhyaḥ sarvalokasya yathā tvaṃ puruṣādhama
 34 ity uktaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ pārṣatena dvijottamaḥ
     krodham āhārayat tīvraṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 35 nirdahann iva cakṣurbhyāṃ pārṣataṃ so 'bhyavaikṣata
     chādayām āsa ca śarair niḥśvasan pannago yathā
 36 sa chādyamānaḥ samare drauṇinā rājasattama
     sarvapāñcāla senābhiḥ saṃvṛto rathasattamaḥ
 37 nākampata mahābāhuḥ svadhairyaṃ samupāśritaḥ
     sāyakāṃś caiva vividhān aśvatthāmni mumoca ha
 38 tau punaḥ saṃnyavartetāṃ prāṇadyūtapare raṇe
     nivārayantau bāṇaughaiḥ parasparam amarṣiṇau
     utsṛjantau maheṣvāsau śaravṛṣṭīḥ samantataḥ
 39 drauṇipārṣatayor yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam
     dṛṣṭvā saṃpūjayām āsuḥ siddhacāraṇavātikāḥ
 40 śaraughaiḥ pūrayantau tāv ākāśaṃ pradiśas tathā
     alakṣyau samayudhyetāṃ mahat kṛtvā śarais tamaḥ
 41 nṛtyamānāv iva raṇe maṇḍalīkṛtakārmukau
     parasparavadhe yattau parasparajayaiṣiṇau
 42 ayudhyetāṃ mahābāhū citraṃ laghu ca suṣṭhu ca
     saṃpūjyamānau samare yodhamukhyaiḥ sahasraśaḥ
 43 tau prayuddhau raṇe dṛṣṭvā vane vanyau gajāv iva
     ubhayoḥ senayor harṣas tumulaḥ samapadyata
 44 siṃhanāda ravāś cāsan dadhmuḥ śaṅkhāṃś ca māriṣa
     vāditrāṇy abhyavādyanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 45 tasmiṃs tu tumule yuddhe bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhane
     muhūrtam iva tad yuddhaṃ samarūpaṃ tadābhavat
 46 tato drauṇir mahārāja pārṣatasya mahātmanaḥ
     dhvajaṃ dhanus tathā chatram ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī
     sūtam aśvāṃś ca caturo nihatyābhyadravad raṇe
 47 pāñcālāṃś caiva tān sarvān bāṇaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     vyadrāvayad ameyātmā śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 48 tataḥ pravivyathe senā pāṇḍavī bharatarṣabha
     dṛṣṭvā drauṇer mahat karma vāsavasyeva saṃyuge
 49 śatena ca śataṃ hatvā pāñcālānāṃ mahārathaḥ
     tribhiś ca niśitair bāṇair hatvā trīn vai mahārathān
 50 drauṇir drupadaputrasya phalgunasya ca paśyataḥ
     nāśayām āsa pāñcālān bhūyiṣṭhaṃ ye vyavasthitāḥ
 51 te vadhyamānāḥ pāñcālāḥ samare saha sṛñjayaiḥ
     agacchan drauṇim utsṛjya viprakīrṇarathadhvajāḥ
 52 sa jitvā samare śatrūn droṇaputro mahārathaḥ
     nanāda sumahānādaṃ tapānte jalado yathā
 53 sa nihatya bahūñ śūrān aśvatthāmā vyarocata
     yugānte sarvabhūtāni bhasmakṛtveva pāvakaḥ
 54 saṃpūjyamāno yudhi kauraveyair; vijitya saṃkhye 'rigaṇān sahasraśaḥ
     vyarocata droṇasutaḥ pratāpavān; yathā surendro 'rigaṇān nihatya

 

SECTION CXXXV

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

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 136

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tato yudhiṣṭhiraś caiva bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
      droṇaputraṃ mahārāja samantāt paryavārayan
  2 tato duryodhano rājā bhāradvājena saṃvṛtaḥ
      abhyayāt pāṇḍavān saṃkhye tato yuddham avartata
      ghorarūpaṃ mahārāja bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhanam
  3 ambaṣṭhān mālavān vaṅgāñ śibīṃs traigartakān api
      prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya gaṇān kruddho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  4 abhīṣāhāñ śūrasenān kṣatriyān yuddhadurmadān
      nikṛtya pṛthivīṃ cakre bhīmaḥ śoṇitakardamām
  5 yaudheyāraṭṭa rājanyān madrakāṃś ca gaṇān yudhi
      prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya kirīṭī niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  6 pragāḍham añjo gatibhir nārācair abhipīḍitāḥ
      nipetur dviradā bhūmau dviśṛṅgā iva parvatāḥ
  7 nikṛttair hastihastaiś ca luṭhamānais tatas tataḥ
      rarāja vasudhā kīrṇā visarpadbhir ivoragaiḥ
  8 kṣiptaiḥ kanakacitraiś ca nṛpac chatraiḥ kṣitir babhau
      dyaur ivāditya candrādyair grahaiḥ kīrṇā yugakṣaye
  9 hatapraharatābhītā vidhyata vyavakṛntata
      ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdaḥ śoṇāśvasya rathaṃ prati
  10 droṇas tu paramakruddho vāyavyāstreṇa saṃyuge
     vyadhamat tān yathā vāyur meghān iva duratyayaḥ
 11 te hanyamānā droṇena pāñcālāḥ prādravan bhayāt
     paśyato bhīmasenasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ
 12 tataḥ kirīṭī bhīmaś ca sahasā saṃnyavartatām
     mahatā rathavaṃśena parigṛhya balaṃ tava
 13 bībhatsur dakṣiṇaṃ pārśvam uttaraṃ tu vṛkodaraḥ
     bhāradvājaṃ śaraughābhyāṃ mahadbhyām abhyavarṣatām
 14 tau tadā sṛñjayāś caiva pāñcālāś ca mahārathāḥ
     anvagacchan mahārāja matsyāś ca saha somakaiḥ
 15 tathaiva tava putrasya rathodārāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ jagmur droṇa rathaṃ prati
 16 tataḥ sā bharatī senā vadhyamānā kirīṭinā
     tamasā nidrayā caiva punar eva vyadīryata
 17 droṇena vāryamāṇās te svayaṃ tava sutena ca
     na śakyante mahārāja yodhā vārayituṃ tadā
 18 sā pāṇḍuputrasya śarair dāryamāṇā mahācamūḥ
     tamasā saṃvṛte loke vyādravat sarvato mukhī
 19 utsṛjya śataśo vāhāṃs tatra ke cin narādhipāḥ
     prādravanta mahārāja bhayāviṣṭāḥ samantataḥ

 

SECTION CXXXVI

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

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 137

 

 

 

 

  1 [s]
      somadattaṃ tu saṃprekṣya vidhunvānaṃ mahad dhanuḥ
      sātyakiḥ prāha yantāraṃ somadattāya māṃ vaha
  2 na hy ahatvā raṇe śatruṃ bāhlīkaṃ kauravādhamam
      nivartiṣye raṇāt sūta satyam etad vaco mama
  3 tataḥ saṃpreṣayad yantā saindhavāṃs tān mahājavān
      turaṅgamāñ śaṅkhavarṇān sarvaśabdātigān raṇe
  4 te 'vahan yuyudhānaṃ tu manomārutaraṃhasaḥ
      yathendraṃ harayo rājan purā daityavadhodyatam
  5 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya sātvataṃ rabhasaṃ raṇe
      somadatto mahābāhur asaṃbhrānto 'bhyavartata
  6 vimuñcañ śaravarṣāṇi parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān
      chādayām āsa śaineyaṃ jalado bhāskaraṃ yathā
  7 asaṃbhrāntaś ca samare sātyakiḥ kurupuṃgavam
      chādayām āsa bāṇaughaiḥ samantād bharatarṣabha
  8 somadattas tu taṃ ṣaṣṭyā vivyādhorasi mādhavam
      sātyakiś cāpi taṃ rājann avidhyat sāyakaiḥ śitaiḥ
  9 tāv anyonyaṃ śariḥ kṛttau vyarājetāṃ nararṣabhau
      supuṣpau puṣpasamaye puṣpitāv iva kiṃśukau
  10 rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgau kuru vṛṣṇiyaśaḥ karau
     parasparam avekṣetāṃ dahantāv iva locanau
 11 rathamaṇḍala mārgeṣu carantāv arimardanau
     ghorarūpau hi tāv āstāṃ vṛṣkimantāv ivāmbudau
 12 śarasaṃbhinna gātrau tau sarvataḥ śakalīkṛtau
     śvāvidhāv iva rājendra vyadṛṣyetāṃ śarakṣatau
 13 suvarṇapuṅkhair iṣubhir ācitau tau vyarocatām
     khadyotair āvṛtau rājan prāvṛṣīva vanaspatī
 14 saṃpradīpita sarvāṅgau sāyakais tau mahārathau
     adṛśyetāṃ raṇe kruddhāv ulkābhir iva kuñjarau
 15 tato yudhi mahārāja somadatto mahārathaḥ
     ardhacandreṇa ciccheda mādhavasya mahad dhanuḥ
 16 athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā sāyakānāṃ samārpayat
     tvaramāṇas tvarā kāle punaś ca daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 17 athānyad dhanur ādāya sātyakir vegavattaram
     pañcabhiḥ sāyakais tūrṇaṃ somadattam avidhyata
 18 tato 'pareṇa bhallena dhvajaṃ ciccheda kāñcanam
     bāhlīkasya raṇe rājan sātyakiḥ prahasann iva
 19 somadattas tv asaṃbhrānto dṛṣṭvā ketuṃ nipātitam
     śaineyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā sāyakānāṃ samācinot
 20 sātvato 'pi raṇe kruddhaḥ somadattasya dhanvinaḥ
     dhanuś ciccheda samare kṣurapreṇa śitena ha
 21 athainaṃ rukmapuṅkhānāṃ śatena nataparvaṇām
     ācinod bahudhā rājan bhagnadaṃṣṭram iva dvipam
 22 athānyad dhanur ādāya somadatto mahārathaḥ
     sātyakiṃ chādayām āsa śaravṛṣṭyā mahābalaḥ
 23 somadattaṃ tu saṃkruddho raṇe vivyādha sātyakiḥ
     sātyakiṃ ceṣu jālena somadatto apīḍayat
 24 daśabhiḥ sātvatasyārthe bhīmo 'han bāhlikātmajam
     somadatto 'py asaṃbhrāntaḥ śaineyam avadhīc charaiḥ
 25 tatas tu sātvatasyārthe bhaimasenir navaṃ dṛḍham
     mumoca parighaṃ ghoraṃ somadattasya vakṣasi
 26 tam āpatantaṃ vegena parighaṃ ghoradarśanam
     dvidhā ciccheda samare prahasann iva kauravaḥ
 27 sa papāta dvidhā chinna āyasaḥ parigho mahān
     mahīdharasyeva mahac chikharaṃ vajradāritam
 28 tatas tu sātyakī rājan somadattasya saṃyuge
     dhanuś ciccheda bhallena hastāvāpaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
 29 caturbhis tu śarais tūrṇaṃ caturas turagottamān
     samīpaṃ preṣayām āsa pretarājasya bhārata
 30 sāratheś ca śiraḥ kāyād bhallena nataparvaṇā
     jahāra rathaśārdūlaḥ prahasañ śinipuṃgavaḥ
 31 tataḥ śaraṃ mahāghoraṃ jvalantam iva pāvakam
     mumoca sātvato rājan svarṇapuṅkhaṃ śilāśitam
 32 sa vimukto balavatā śaineyena śarottamaḥ
     ghoras tasyorasi vibho nipapātāśu bhārata
 33 so 'tividdho balavatā sātvatena mahārathaḥ
     somadatto mahābāhur nipapāta mamāra ca
 34 taṃ dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ tatra somadattaṃ mahārathāḥ
     mahatā śaravarṣeṇa yuyudhānam upādravan
 35 chādyamānaṃ śarair dṛṣṭvā yuyudhānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ droṇānīkam upādravat
 36 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kruddhas tāvakānāṃ mahābalam
     śarair vidrāvayām āsa bhāradvājasya paśyataḥ
 37 sainyāni drāvayantaṃ tu droṇo dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiram
     abhidudrāva vegena krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ
 38 tataḥ suniśitair bāṇaiḥ pārthaṃ vivyādha saptabhiḥ
     so 'tividdho mahābāhuḥ sṛkkiṇī parisaṃlihan
     yudhiṣṭhirasya ciccheda dhvajaṃ kārmukam eva ca
 39 sa chinnadhanvā tvaritas tvarā kāle nṛpottamaḥ
     anyad ādatta vegena kārmukaṃ samare dṛḍham
 40 tataḥ śarasahasreṇa droṇaṃ vivyādha pārthivaḥ
     sāśvasūta dhvajarathaṃ tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 41 tato muhūrtaṃ vyathitaḥ śaraghāta prapīḍitaḥ
     niṣasāda rathopasthe droṇo bharatasattama
 42 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ muhūrtād dvijasattamaḥ
     krodhena mahatāviṣṭo vāyavyāstram avāsṛjat
 43 asaṃbhrāntas tataḥ pārtho dhanur ākṛṣya vīryavān
     tad astram astreṇa raṇe stambhayām āsa bhārata
 44 tato 'bravīd vāsudevaḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     yudhiṣṭhira mahābāho yat tvā vakṣyāmi tac chṛṇu
 45 upāramasva yuddhāya droṇād bharatasattama
     gṛdhyate hi sadā droṇo grahaṇe tava saṃyuge
 46 nānurūpam ahaṃ manye yuddham asya tvayā saha
     yo 'sya sṛṣṭo vināśāya sa enaṃ śvo haniṣyati
 47 parivarjya guruṃ yāhi yatra rājā suyodhanaḥ
     bhīmaś ca rathaśārdūlo yudhyate kauravaiḥ saha
 48 vāsudeva vacaḥ śrutvā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     muhūrtaṃ cintayitvā tu tato dāruṇam āhavam
 49 prāyād drutam amitraghno yatra bhīmo vyavasthitaḥ
     vinighnaṃs tāvakān yodhān vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ
 50 rathaghoṣeṇa mahatā nādayan vasudhātalam
     parjanya iva gharmānte nādayan vai diśo daśa
 51 bhīmasya nighnataḥ śatrūn pārṣṇiṃ jagrāha pāṇḍavaḥ
     droṇo 'pi pāṇḍupāñcālān vyadhamad rajanī mukhe

 

SECTION CXXXVII

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

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 138

 

 

 

1 [s]
      vartamāne tathā yuddhe ghorarūpe bhayāvahe
      tamasā saṃvṛte loke rajasā ca mahīpate
      nāpaśyanta raṇe yodhāḥ parasparam avasthitāḥ
  2 anumānena saṃjñābhir yuddhaṃ tad vavṛte mahat
      naranāgāśvamathanaṃ paramaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
  3 droṇakarṇakṛpā vīrā bhīmapārṣata sātyakāḥ
      anyonyaṃ kṣobhayām āsuḥ sainyāni nṛpasattamaḥ
  4 vadhyamānāni sainyāni samantāt tair mahārathaiḥ
      tamasā rajasā caiva samantād vipradudruvuḥ
  5 te sarvato vidravanto yodhā vitrastacetasaḥ
      ahanyanta mahārāja dhāvamānāś ca saṃyuge
  6 mahārataḥ sahasrāṇi jaghnur anyonyam āhave
      andhe tamasi mūḍhāni putrasya tava mantrite
  7 tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni senā gopāś ca bhārata
      vyamuhyanta raṇe tatra tamasā saṃvṛte sati
  8 [dhṛ]
      teṣāṃ saṃloḍyamānānāṃ pāṇḍavair nihataujasām
      andhe tamasi magnānām āsīk kā vo matis tadā
  9 kathaṃ prakāśas teṣāṃ vā mama sainyeṣu vā punaḥ
      babhūva loke tamasā tathā saṃjaya saṃvṛte
  10 [dhṛ]
     tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni hataśiṣṭāni yāni vai
     senā goptṝn athādiśya punar vyūham akalpayat
 11 droṇaḥ purastāj jaghane tu śalyas; tathā drauṇiḥ pārśvataḥ saubalaś ca
     svayaṃ tu sarvāṇi balāni rājan; rājābhyayād gopayan vai niśāyām
 12 uvāca sarvāṃś ca padātisaṃghān; duryodhanaḥ pārthiva sāntvapūrvam
     utsṛjya sarve paramāyudhāni; gṛhṇīta hastair jvalitān pradīpān
 13 te coditāḥ pārthiva sattamena; tataḥ prahṛṣṭā jagṛhuḥ pradīpān
     sā bhūya eva dhvajinī vibhaktā; vyarocatābhiprabhayā niśāyām
 14 mahādhanair ābharaṇaiś ca divyaiḥ; śastraiḥ pradīptair abhisaṃpatadbhiḥ
     kṣaṇena sarve vihitāḥ pradīpā; vyadīpayaṃś ca dhvajanīṃ tad āśu
 15 sarvās tu senā vyatisevyamānāḥ; padātibhiḥ pāvakatailahastaiḥ
     prakāśyamānā dadṛśur niśāyāṃ; yathāntarikṣe jaladās taḍidbhiḥ
 16 prakāśitāyāṃ tu tathā dhvajinyāṃ; droṇo 'gnikalpaḥ pratapan samantāt
     rarāja rājendra suvarṇavarmā; madhyaṃ gataḥ sūrya ivāṃśumālī
 17 jāmbūnadeṣv ābharaṣeṣu caiva; niṣkeṣu śuddheṣu śarāvareṣu
     pīteṣu śastreṣu ca pāvakasya; pratiprabhās tatra tato babhūvuḥ
 18 gadāś ca śaikyāḥ parighāś ca śubhrā; ratheṣu śaktyaś ca vivartamānāḥ
     pratiprabhā raśmibhir ājamīḍha; punaḥ punaḥ saṃjanayanti dīptāḥ
 19 chatrāṇi bālavyajanānuṣaṅgā; dīptā maholkāś ca tathaiva rājan
     vyāghūrṇamānāś ca suvarṇamālā; vyāyacchatāṃ tatra tadā virejuḥ
 20 śastraprabhābhiś ca virājamānaṃ; dīpaprabhābhiś ca tadā balaṃ tat
     prakāśitaṃ cābharaṇa prabhābhir; bhṛśaṃ prakāśaṃ nṛpate babhūva
 21 pītāni śastrāṇy asṛg ukṣitāni; vīrāvadhūtāni tanu druhāṇi
     dīptāṃ prabhāṃ prājanayanta tatra; tapātyaye vidyud ivāntarikṣe
 22 prakampitānām abhighāta vegair; abhighnatāṃ cāpatatām javena
     vaktrāṇy aśobhanta tadā narāṇāṃ; vāyvīritānīva mahāmbujāni
 23 mahāvane dāva iva pradīpte; yathā prabhā bhāskarasyāpi naśyet
     tathā tavāsīd dhvajinī pradīptā; mahābhaye bhārata bhīmarūpā
 24 tat saṃpradīptaṃ balam asmadīyaṃ; niśāmya pārthas tvaritās tathaiva
     sarveṣu sainyeṣu padātisaṃghān; acodayaṃs te 'tha cakruḥ pradīpān
 25 gaje gaje sapta kṛtāḥ pradīpā; rathe rathe caiva daśa pradīpāḥ
     dvāv aśvapṛṣṭhe paripārśvato 'nye; dhvajeṣu cānye jaghaneṣu cānye
 26 senāsu sarvāsu ca pārśvato 'nye; paścāt purastāc ca samantataś ca
     madhye tathānye jvalitāgnihastāḥ; senā dvaye 'pi sma narā viceruḥ
 27 sarveṣu sainyeṣu padātisaṃghā; vyāmiśritā hastirathāśvavṛndaiḥ
     madhye tathānye jvalitāgnihastā; vyadīpayan pāṇḍusutasya senām
 28 tena pradīptena tathā pradīptaṃ; balaṃ tad āsīd balavad balena
     bhāḥ kurvatā bhānumatā graheṇa; divākareṇāgnir ivābhitaptaḥ
 29 tayoḥ prabhāḥ pṛthivīm antarikṣaṃ; sarvā vyatikramya diśaś ca vṛddhāḥ
     tena prakāśena bhṛśaṃ prakāśaṃ; babhūva teṣāṃ tava caiva sainyam
 30 tena prakāśena divaṃ gamena; saṃbodhitā devagaṇāś ca rājan
     gandharvayakṣāsurasiddhasaṃghāḥ; samāgamann apsarasaś ca sarvāḥ
 31 tad devagandharvasamākulaṃ ca; yakṣāsurendrāpsarasāṃ gaṇaiś ca
     hataiś ca vīrair divam āruhadbhir; āyodhanaṃ divyakalpaṃ babhūva
 32 rathāśvanāgākula dīpadīptaṃ; saṃrabdha yodhāhata vidrutāśvam
     mahad balaṃ vyūḍharathāśvanāgaṃ; surāsuravyūha samaṃ babhūva
 33 tac chakti saṃghākula caṇḍavātaṃ; mahārathābhraṃ rathavāji ghoṣam
     śastraughavarṣaṃ rudhirāmbudhāraṃ; niśi pravṛttaṃ naradeva yuddham
 34 tasmin mahāgnipratimo mahātmā; saṃtāpayan pāṇḍavān vipramukhyaḥ
     gabhastibhir madhyagato yathārko; varṣātyaye tadvad abhūn narendra

 

SECTION CXXXVIII

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

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 139

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      prakāśite tathā loke rajasā ca tamovṛte
      samājagmur atho vīrāḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ
  2 te sametya raṇe rājañ śastraprāsāsi dhāriṇaḥ
      parasparam udakṣanta parasparakṛtāgasaḥ
  3 pradīpānāṃ sahasraiś ca dīpyamānaiḥ samantataḥ
      virarāja tadā bhūmir dyaur grahair iva bhārata
  4 ulkā śataiḥ prajvalitai raṇabhūṇir vyarājata
      dahyamāneva lokānām abhāve vai vasuṃdharā
  5 pradīpyanta diśaḥ sarvāḥ pradīpais taiḥ samantataḥ
      varṣā pradoṣe khadyotair vṛtā vṛkṣā ivābabhuḥ
  6 asajjanta tato vīrā vīreṣv eva pṛthak pṛthak
      nāgā nāgaiḥ samājagmus turagāḥ saha vājibhiḥ
  7 rathā rathavarair eva samājagmur mudānvitāḥ
      tasmin rātrimukhe ghore putrasya tava śāsanāt
  8 tato 'rjuno mahārāja kauravāṇām anīkinīm
      vyadhamat tvarayā yuktaḥ kṣapayan sarvapārthivān
  9 [dhṛ]
      tasmin praviṣṭe saṃrabdhe mama putrasya vāhinīm
      amṛṣyamāṇe durdharṣe kiṃ va āsīn manas tadā
  10 kim amanyanta sainyāni praviṣṭe śatrutāpane
     duryodhanaś ca kiṃ kṛtyaṃ prāptakālam amanyata
 11 ke cainaṃ samare vīraṃ pratyudyayur ariṃdamam
     ke 'rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ ke ca droṇasya savyataḥ
 12 ke pṛṣṭhato 'sya hy abhavan vīrā vīrasya yudhyataḥ
     ke purastād agacchanta nighnataḥ śātravān raṇe
 13 yat prāviśan maheṣvāsaḥ pāñcālān aparājitaḥ
     nṛtyann iva naravyāghro rathamārgeṣu vīryavān
 14 dadāha ca śarair droṇaḥ pāñcālānāṃ rathavrajān
     dhūmaketur iva kruddhaḥ sa kathaṃ mṛtyum īyivān
 15 avyagrān eva hi parān akthayasy aparājitān
     hatāṃś caiva viṣaṇṇāṃś ca viprakīrṇāṃś ca śaṃsasi
     rathino virathāṃś caiva kṛtān yuddheṣu māmakān
 16 [dhṛ]
     droṇasya matam ājñāya yoddhukāmasya tāṃ niśām
     duyodhano mahārāja vaśyān bhrātṝn abhāṣata
 17 vikarṇaṃ citrasenaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ ca kauravam
     durdharṣaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ ca ye ca teṣāṃ padānugāḥ
 18 droṇaṃ yattāḥ parākrāntāḥ sarve rakṣata pṛṣṭhataḥ
     hārdikyo dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ śalyaś caivottaraṃ tathā
 19 trigartānāṃ ca ye śūrā hataśiṣṭā mahārathāḥ
     tāṃś caiva sarvān putras te samacodayad agrataḥ
 20 ācāryo hi susaṃyatto bhṛśaṃ yattāś ca pāṇḍavāḥ
     taṃ rakṣata susaṃyattā nighnantaṃ śātravān raṇe
 21 droṇo hi balavān yuddhe kṣiprahastaḥ parākramī
     nirjayet tridaśān yuddhe kim u pārthān sa somakān
 22 te yūyaṃ sahitāḥ sarve bhṛśaṃ yattā mahārathāḥ
     droṇaṃ rakṣata pāñcālyād dhṛṣṭadyumnān mahārathāt
 23 pāṇḍaveyeṣu sainyeṣu yodhaṃ paśyāmy ahaṃ na tam
     yo jayeta raṇe droṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnād ṛte nṛpāḥ
 24 tasya sarvātmanā manye bhāradvājasya rakṣaṇam
     sa guptaḥ somakān hanyāt sṛñjayāṃś ca sarājakān
 25 sṛñjayeṣv atha sarveṣu nihateṣu camūmukhe
     dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ raṇe drauṇir nāśayiṣyaty asaṃśayam
 26 tathārjunaṃ raṇe karṇo vijeṣyati mahārathaḥ
     bhīmasenam ahaṃ cāpi yuddhe jeṣyāmi daṃśitaḥ
 27 so 'yaṃ mama jayo vyaktaṃ dīrghakālaṃ bhaviṣyati
     tasmād rakṣata saṃgrāme droṇam eva mahārathāḥ
 28 ity uktvā bharataśreṣṭha putro duryodhanas tava
     vyādideśa tataḥ sainyaṃ tasmiṃs tamasi dāruṇe
 29 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ rātrau tad bharatarṣabha
     ubhayoḥ senayor ghoraṃ vijayaṃ prati kāṅkṣiṇoḥ
 30 arjunaḥ kauravaṃ sainyam arjunaṃ cāpi kauravāḥ
     nānāśastrasamāvāpair anyonyaṃ paryapīḍayan
 31 drauṇiḥ pāñcālarājānaṃ bhāradvājaś ca sṛñjayān
     dhādayām āsatuḥ saṃkhye śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 32 pāṇḍupāñcāla senānāṃ kauravāṇāṃ ca māriṣa
     āsīn niṣṭānako ghoro nighnatām itaretaram
 33 naivāsmābhir na pūrvair no dṛṣṭaṃ pūrvaṃ tathāvidham
     yuddhaṃ yādṛśam evāsīt tāṃ rātriṃ sumahābhayam

SECTION CXXXIX

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

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 140

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      vartamāne tathā raudre rātriyuddhe viśāṃ pate
      sarvabhūtakṣayakare dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  2 abravīt pāṇḍavāṃś caiva pāñcālāṃś ca sa somakān
      abhyadravata gacchadhvaṃ droṇam eva jighāṃsayā
  3 rājñas te vacanād rājan pāñcālāḥ somakās tathā
      droṇam evābhyavartanta nadanto bhairavān ravān
  4 tān vayaṃ pratigarjantaḥ pratyudyātās tv amarṣitāḥ
      yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ yathā sattvaṃ ca saṃyuge
  5 kṛtavarmā ca hārdikyo yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat
      droṇaṃ prati jighāṃsantaṃ matto mattam iva dvipam
  6 śaineyaṃ śaravarṣāṇi vikirantaṃ samantataḥ
      abhyayāt kauravo rājan bhūriḥ saṃgrāmamūrdhani
  7 sahadevam athāyāntaṃ droṇa prepsuṃ mahāratham
      karṇo vaikartano rājan vārayām āsa pāṇḍavam
  8 bhīmasenam athāyāntaṃ vyāditāsyam ivāntakam
      svayaṃ duryodhano yuddhe pratīpaṃ mṛtyum āvrajat
  9 nakulaṃ ca yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ sarvayuddhaviśāradam
      śakuniḥ saubalo rājan vārayām āsa sa tvaraḥ
  10 śikhaṇḍinam athāyāntaṃ rathena rathināṃ varam
     kṛpo śāradvato rājan vārayām āsa saṃyuge
 11 prativindhyam athāyāntaṃ mayūrasadṛśair hayaiḥ
     duḥśāsano mahārāja yatto yattam avārayat
 12 bhaimasenim athāyāntaṃ māyā śataviśāradam
     aśvatthāmā pitur mānaṃ kurvāṇaḥ pratyaṣedhayat
 13 drupadaṃ vṛṣasenas tu sa sainyaṃ sapadānugam
     vārayām āsa samare droṇa prepsuṃ mahāratham
 14 virāṭaṃ drutam āyāntaṃ droṇasya nidhanaṃ prati
     madrarājaḥ susaṃkruddho vārayām āsa bhārata
 15 śatānīkam athāyāntaṃ nākuliṃ rabhasaṃ raṇe
     citraseno rurodhāśu śarair droṇa vadhepsayā
 16 arjunaṃ ca yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ prādravantaṃ mahāratham
     alambuso mahārāja rākṣasendro nyavārayat
 17 tathā droṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ nighnantaṃ śātravān raṇe
     dhṛṭadyumno 'tha pāñcālyo hṛṣṭarūpam avārayat
 18 tathānyān pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ samāyātān mahārathān
     tāvakā rathino rājan vārayām āsur ojasā
 19 gajārohā gajais tūrṇaṃ saṃnipatya mahāmṛdhe
     yodhayantaḥ sma dṛśyante śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 20 niśīthe turagā rājann ādravantaḥ parasparam
     samadṛśyanta vegena pakṣavanta ivādrayaḥ
 21 sādinaḥ sādibhiḥ sārdhaṃ prāsaśaktyṛṣṭipāṇayaḥ
     samāgacchan mahārāja vinadantaḥ pṛthak pṛthak
 22 narās tu bahavas tatra samājagmuḥ parasparam
     gadābhir musalaiś caiva nānāśastraiś ca saṃghaśaḥ
 23 kṛtavarmā tu hārdikyo dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     vārayām āsa saṃkruddho velevodvṛttam arṇavam
 24 yudhiṣṭhiras tu hārdikyaṃ viddhvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ
     punar vivyādha viṃśatyā tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 25 kṛtavarmā tu saṃkruddho dharmaputrasya māriṣa
     dhanuś ciccheda bhallena taṃ ca vivyādha saptabhiḥ
 26 athānyad dhanur ādāya dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     hārdikyaṃ daśabhir bāṇair bāhvor urasi cārpayat
 27 mādhavas tu raṇe viddho dharmaputreṇa māriṣa
     prākampata ca roṣeṇa saptabhiś cārdayac charaiḥ
 28 tasya pārtho dhanuś chittvā hastāvāpaṃ nikṛtya ca
     prāhiṇon niśitān bāṇān pañca rājañ śilāśitān
 29 te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā hemacitraṃ mahādhanam
     prāviśan dharaṇīm ugrā valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
 30 akṣṇor nimeṣa mātreṇa so 'nyad ādāya kārmukam
     vivyādha pāṇḍavaṃ ṣaṣṭyā sūtaṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 31 tasya śaktim ameyātmā pāṇḍavo bhujagopamām
     cikṣepa bharataśreṣṭha rathe nyasya mahad dhanuḥ
 32 sā hemacitrā mahatī pāṇḍavena praveritā
     nirbhidya dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ prāviśad dharaṇītalam
 33 etasminn eva kāle tu gṛhya pārthaḥ punar dhanuḥ
     hārdikyaṃ chādayām āsa śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 34 tatas tu samare śūro vṛṣṇīnāṃ pravaro rathī
     vyaśva sūta rathaṃ cakre nimeṣārdhād yudhiṣṭhiram
 35 tatas tu pāṇḍavo jyeṣṭhaḥ khaḍgacarma samādade
     tad asya niśitair bāṇair vyadhaman mādhavo raṇe
 36 tomaraṃ tu tato gṛhya svarṇadaṇḍaṃ durāsadam
     preṣayat samare tūrṇaṃ hārdikyasya yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 37 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā dharmarāja bhujacyutam
     dvidhā ciccheda hārdikyaḥ kṛtahastaḥ smayann iva
 38 tataḥ śaraśatenājau dharmaputram avākirat
     kavacaṃ cāsya saṃkruddhaḥ śairas tīkṣṇair adārayat
 39 hārdikya śarasaṃchinnaṃ kavacaṃ tan mahātmanaḥ
     vyaśīryata raṇe rājaṃs tārājālam ivāmbarāt
 40 sa chinnadhanvā virathaḥ śīrṇavarmā śarārditaḥ
     apāyāsīd raṇāt tūrṇaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 41 kṛtavarmā tu nirjitya dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     punar droṇasya jugupe cakram eva mahābalaḥ

 

SECTION CXL

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

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 141

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      bhūris tu samare rājañ śaineyaṃ rathināṃ varam
      āpatantam apāsedhat prapānād iva kuñjaram
  2 athainaṃ sātyakiḥ kruddhaḥ pañcabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      vivyādha hṛdaye tūrṇaṃ prāsravat tasya śoṇitam
  3 tathaiva kauravo yuddhe śaineyaṃ yuddhadurmadam
      daśabhir viśikhais tīkṣṇair avidhyata bhujāntare
  4 tāv anyonyaṃ mahārāja tatakṣāte śarair bhṛśam
      krodhasaṃraktanayanau krodhād visphārya kārmuke
  5 tayor āsīn mahārāja śastravṛṣṭiḥ sudāruṇā
      kruddhayoḥ sāyakamucor yamāntakanikāśayoḥ
  6 tāv anyonyaṃ śarai rājan pracchādya samare sthitau
      muhūrtaṃ caiva tad yuddhaṃ samarūpam ivābhavat
  7 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja śaineyaḥ prahasann iva
      dhanuś ciccheda samare kauravyasya mahātmanaḥ
  8 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      vivyādha hṛdaye tūrṇaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
  9 so 'tividdho balavatā śatruṇā śatrutāpanaḥ
      dhanur anyat samādāya sātvataṃ pratyavidhyata
  10 sa viddhvā sātvataṃ bāṇais tribhir eva viśāṃ pate
     dhanuś ciccheda bhallena sutīkṣṇena hasann iva
 11 chinnadhanvā mahārāja sātyakiḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ
     prajahāra mahāvegāṃ śaktiṃ tasya mahorasi
 12 sa tu śaktyā vibhinnāṅgo nipapāta rathottamāt
     lohitāṅga ivākāśād dīptaraśmir yadṛcchayā
 13 taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tahaṃ śūram aśvatthāmā mahārathaḥ
     abhyadhāvata vegena śaineyaṃ prati saṃyuge
     abhyavarṣac charaugheṇa meruṃ vṛṣṭyā yathāmbudaḥ
 14 tam āpatantaṃ saṃrabdhaṃ śaineyasya rathaṃ prati
     ghaṭotkaco 'bravīd rājan nādaṃ muktvā mahārathaḥ
 15 tiṣṭha tiṣṭha na me jīvan droṇaputra gamiṣyasi
     eṣa tvādya haniṣyāmi mahiṣaṃ skanda rāḍ iva
     yuddhaśraddhām ahaṃ te 'dya vineṣyāmi raṇājire
 16 ity uktvā roṣatāmrākṣo rākṣasaḥ paravīrahā
     drauṇim abhyadravat kruddho gajendram iva kesarī
 17 rathākṣamātrair iṣubhir abhyavarṣad ghaṭotkacaḥ
     rathinām ṛṣabhaṃ drauṇiṃ dhārābhir iva toyadaḥ
 18 śaravṛṣṭiṃ tu tāṃ prāptāṃ śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ
     śātayām āsa samare tarasā drauṇir utsmayan
 19 tataḥ śaraśatais tīkṣṇair marmabhedibhir āśugaiḥ
     samācinod rākṣasendraṃ ghaṭotkacam ariṃdama
 20 sa śarair ācitas tena rākṣaso raṇamūrdhani
     vyakāśata mahārāja śvāvic chalalito yathā
 21 tataḥ krodhasamāviṣṭo bhaimaseniḥ pratāpavān
     śarair avacakartograir drauṇiṃ vajrāśanisvanaiḥ
 22 kṣuraprair ardhacandraiś ca nārācaiḥ sa śilīmukhaiḥ
     varāhakarṇair nālīkais tīkṣṇaiś cāpi vikarṇibhiḥ
 23 tāṃ śastravṛṣṭim atulāṃ vajrāśanisamasvanām
     patantīm upari kruddho drauṇir avyathitendriyaḥ
 24 suduḥsahāṃ śarair ghorair divyāstrapratimantritaiḥ
     vyadhamat sa mahātejā mahābhrāṇīva mārutaḥ
 25 tato 'ntarikṣe bāṇānāṃ saṃgrāmo 'nya ivābhavat
     ghorarūpo mahārāja yodhānāṃ harṣavardhanaḥ
 26 tato 'strasaṃgharṣa kṛtair visphuliṅgaiḥ samantataḥ
     babhau niśāmukhe vyoma khadyotair iva saṃvṛtam
 27 sa mārgaṇagaṇair drauṇir diśaḥ pracchādya sarvataḥ
     priyārthaṃ tava putrāṇāṃ rākṣasaṃ samavākirat
 28 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ drauṇirākṣasayor mṛdhe
     vigāḍhe rajanīmadhye śakra prahrādayor iva
 29 tato ghaṭotkaco bāṇair daśabhir drauṇim āhave
     jaghānorasi saṃkruddhaḥ kālajvalana saṃnibhaiḥ
 30 sa tair abhyāyatair viddho rākṣasena mahābalaḥ
     cacāla samare drauṇir vātanunna iva drumaḥ
     sa moham anusaṃprāpto dhvajayaṣṭiṃ samāśritaḥ
 31 tato hāhākṛtaṃ sainyaṃ tava sarvaṃ janādhipa
     hataṃ sma menire sarve tāvakās taṃ viśāṃ pate
 32 taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tathāvastham aśvatthāmānam āhave
     pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayāś caiva siṃhanādaṃ pracakrire
 33 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñām aśvatthāmā mahābalaḥ
     dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ
 34 mumocākarṇa pūrṇena dhanuṣā śaram uttamam
     yamadaṇḍopamaṃ ghoram uddiśyāśu ghaṭotkacam
 35 sa bhittvā hṛdayaṃ tasya rākṣasasya śarottamaḥ
     viveśa vasudhām ugraḥ supuṅkhaḥ pṛthivīpate
 36 so 'tividdho mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat
     rākṣasendraḥ subalavān drauṇinā raṇamāninā
 37 dṛṣṭvā vimūḍhaṃ haiḍimbaṃ sārathis taṃ raṇājirāt
     drauṇeḥ sakāśāt saṃbhrāntas tv apaninye tvarānvitaḥ
 38 tathā tu samare viddhvā rākṣasendraṃ ghaṭotkacam
     nanāda sumahānādaṃ droṇaputro mahābalaḥ
 39 pūjitas tava putraiś ca sarvayodhaiś ca bhārata
     vapuṣā pratijajvāla madhyāhna iva bhāskaraḥ
 40 bhīmasenaṃ tu yudhyantaṃ bhāradvāja rathaṃ prati
     svayaṃ duryodhano rājā pratyavidhyac chitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 41 taṃ bhīmaseno navabhiḥ śarair vivyādha māriṣa
     duryodhano 'pi viṃśatyā śarāṇāṃ pratyavidhyata
 42 tau sāyakair avacchannāv adṛśyetāṃ raṇājire
     meghajālasamācchannau nabhasīvendu bhāskarau
 43 atha duryodhano rājā bhīmaṃ vivyādha patribhiḥ
     pañcabhir bharataśreṣṭha tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 44 tasya bhīmo dhanuś chittvā dhvajaṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     vivyādha kauravaśreṣṭhaṃ navatyā nataparvaṇām
 45 tato duryodhanaḥ kruddho bhīmasenasya māriṣa
     cikṣepa sa śarān rājan paśyatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
 46 tān nihatya śarān bhīmo duryodhana dhanuścyutān
     kauravaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā krudrakāṇāṃ samārpayat
 47 duryodhanas tu saṃkruddho bhīmasenasya māriṣa
     kṣurapreṇa dhanuś chittvā daśabhiḥ pratyavidhyata
 48 athānyad dhanur ādāya bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     vivyādha nṛpatiṃ tūrṇaṃ saptabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 49 tad apy asya dhanuḥ kṣipraṃ ciccheda laghuhastavat
     dvitīyaṃ ca tṛtīyaṃ ca caturthaṃ pañcamaṃ tathā
 50 āttam āttaṃ mahārāja bhīmasya dhanur ācchinat
     tava putro mahārāja jitakāśī madotkaṭaḥ
 51 sa tadā chidyamāneṣu kārmukeṣu punaḥ punaḥ
     śaktiṃ cikṣepa samare sarvapāraśavīṃ śubhām
 52 aprāptām eva tāṃ śaktiṃ tridhā ciccheda kauravaḥ
     paśyataḥ sarvalokasya bhīmasya ca mahātmanaḥ
 53 tato bhīmo mahārāja gadāṃ gurvīṃ mahāprabhām
     cikṣepāvidhya vegena duryodhana rathaṃ prati
 54 tataḥ sa sahasā vāhāṃs tava putrasya saṃyuge
     sārathiṃ ca gadā gurvī mamarda bharatarṣabha
 55 putras tu tava rājendra rathād dhemapariṣkṛtāt
     āplutaḥ sahasā yānaṃ nandakasya mahātmanaḥ
 56 tato bhīmo hataṃ matvā tava putraṃ mahāratham
     siṃhanādaṃ mahac cakre tarjayann iva kauravān
 57 tāvakāḥ sainikāś cāpi menire nihataṃ nṛpam
     tato vicukruśuḥ sarve hāheti ca samantataḥ
 58 teṣāṃ tu ninadaṃ śrutvā trastānāṃ sarvayodninām
     bhīmasenasya nādaṃ ca śrutvā rājan mahātmanaḥ
 59 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā hataṃ matvā suyodhanam
     abhyavartata vegena yatra pārtho vṛkodaraḥ
 60 pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ sṛñjayāś ca viśāṃ pate
     sarvodyogenābhijagmur droṇam eva yuyutsayā
 61 tatrāsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ droṇasyātha paraiḥ saha
     ghore tamasi magnānāṃ nighnatām itaretaram

 

SECTION CXLI

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

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 142

 

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      sahadevam athāyāntaṃ droṇa prepsuṃ viśāṃ pate
      karṇo vaikartano yuddhe vārayām āsa bhārata
  2 sahadevas tu rādheyaṃ viddhvā navabhir āśugaiḥ
      punar vivyādha daśabhir niśitair nataparvabhiḥ
  3 taṃ karṇaḥ prativivyādha śatena nataparvaṇām
      sajyaṃ cāsya dhanuḥ śīghraṃ ciccheda laghuhastavat
  4 tato 'nyad dhanur ādāya mādrīputraḥ pratāpavān
      karṇaṃ vivyādha viṃśatyā tad adbhutam ivābhavat
  5 tasya karṇo hayān hatvā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
      sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena drutaṃ ninye yamakṣayam
  6 virathaḥ sahadevas tu khaḍgaṃ carma samādade
      tad apy asya śaraiḥ karṇo vyadhamat prahasann iva
  7 tato gurvīṃ mahāghorāṃ hemacitrāṃ mahāgadām
      preṣayām āsa samare vaikartana rathaṃ prati
  8 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā sahadeva praveritām
      vyaṣṭambhayac charaiḥ karṇo bhūmau cainām apātayat
  9 gadāṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā sahadevas tvarānvitaḥ
      śaktiṃ cikṣepa karṇāya tām apy asyācchinac charaiḥ
  10 sa saṃbhramas tatas tūrṇam avaplutya rathottamāt
     sahadevo mahārāja dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ vyavasthitam
     rathacakraṃ tato gṛhya mumocādhirathiṃ prati
 11 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā kālacakram ivodyatam
     śarair anekasāhasrair achinat sūtanandanaḥ
 12 tasmiṃs tu vitathe cakre kṛte tena mahātmanā
     vāryamāṇaś ca viśikhaiḥ sahadevo raṇaṃ jahau
 13 tam abhidrutya rādheyo muhūrtād bharatarṣabha
     abravīt prahasan vākyaṃ sahadevaṃ viśāṃ pate
 14 mā yudhyasva raṇe vīra viśiṣṭai rathibhiḥ saha
     sadṛśair yudhya mādreya vaco me mā viśaṅkitāḥ
 15 athainaṃ dhanuṣo 'greṇa tudan bhūyo 'bravīd vacaḥ
     eṣo 'rjuno raṇe yatto yudhyate kurubhiḥ saha
     tatra gacchasva mādreya gṛhaṃ vā yadi manyase
 16 evam uktvā tu taṃ karṇo rathena rathināṃ varaḥ
     prāyāt pāñcāla pāṇḍūnāṃ sainyāni prahasann iva
 17 vadhaprāptaṃ tu mādreyaṃ nāvadhīt samare 'rihā
     kuntyāḥ smṛtvā vaco rājan satyasaṃdho mahārathaḥ
 18 sahadevas tato rājan vimanāḥ śarapīḍitaḥ
     karṇa vākśalya taptaś ca jīvitān niravidyata
 19 āruroha rathaṃ cāpi pāñcālyasya mahātmana
     janamejayasya samare tvarāyukto mahārathaḥ
 20 virāṭaṃ saha senaṃ tu droṇārthe drutam āgatam
     madrarājaḥ śaraugheṇa chādayām āsa dhanvinam
 21 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ samare dṛḍhadhanvinoḥ
     yādṛśaṃ hy abhavad rājañ jambha vāsavayoḥ purā
 22 madrarājo mahārāja virāṭaṃ vāhinīpatim
     ājaghne tvaritaṃ tīkṣṇaiḥ śatena nataparvaṇām
 23 prativivyādha taṃ rājā navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     punaś caiva trisaptatyā bhūyaś caiva śatena ha
 24 tasya madrādhipo hatvā caturo rathavājinaḥ
     sūtaṃ dhvajaṃ ca samare rathopasthād apātayat
 25 hatāśvāt tu rathāt tūrṇam avaplutya mahārathaḥ
     tasthau visphārayaṃś cāpaṃ vimuñcaṃś ca śitāñ śarān
 26 śatānīkas tato dṛṣṭvā bhrātaraṃ hatavāhanam
     rathenābhyapatat tūrṇaṃ sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
 27 śatānīkam athāyāntaṃ madrarājo mahāmṛdhe
     viśikhair bahubhir viddhvā tato ninye yamakṣayam
 28 tasmiṃs tu nihate vīre virāṭo rathasattamaḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ tam eva dhvajamālinam
 29 tato visphārya nayane krodhād dviguṇavikramaḥ
     madrarājarathaṃ tūrṇaṃ chādayām āsa patribhiḥ
 30 tato madrādhipaḥ kruddhaḥ śatena nataparvaṇām
     ājaghānorasi dṛḍhaṃ virāṭaṃ vāhinīpatim
 31 so 'tividdho mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat
     kaśmalaṃ cāviśat tīvraṃ virāṭo bharatarṣabha
     sārathis tam apovāha samare śaravikṣatam
 32 tataḥ sā mahatī senā prādravan niśi bhārata
     vadhyamānā śaraśataiḥ śalyenāhava śobhinā
 33 tāṃ dṛṣṭvā vidrutāṃ senāṃ vāsudevadhanaṃjayau
     prāyātāṃ tatra rājendra yatra śalyo vyavasthitaḥ
 34 tau tu pratyudyayau rājan rākṣasendro hy alambusaḥ
     aṣṭacakrasamāyuktam āsthāya pravaraṃ ratham
 35 turaṃgama mukhair yuktaṃ piśācair ghoradarśanaiḥ
     lohitārdra patākaṃ taṃ raktamālyavibhūṣitam
     kārṣṇāyasamayaṃ ghoram ṛkṣacarmāvṛtaṃ mahat
 36 raudreṇa citrapakṣeṇa vivṛtākṣeṇa kūjatā
     dhvajenocchritatuṇḍena gṛdhrarājena rājatā
 37 sa babhau rākṣaso rājan bhinnāñ janacayopamaḥ
     rurodhārjunam āyāntaṃ prabhañjanam ivādrirāṭ
     kiran bāṇagaṇān rājañ śataśo 'rjunamūrdhani
 38 atitīvram abhūd yuddhaṃ nararākṣasayor mṛdhe
     draṣṭṝṇāṃ prītijananaṃ sarveṣāṃ bharatarṣabha
 39 tam arjunaḥ śatenaiva patriṇām abhyatāḍayat
     navabhiś ca śitair bāṇaiś ciccheda dhvajam ucchritam
 40 sārathiṃ ca tribhir bāṇais tribhir eva triveṇukam
     dhanur ekena ciccheda caturbhiś caturo hayān
     virathasyodyataṃ khaḍgaṃ śareṇāsya dvidhāchinat
 41 athainaṃ niśitair bāṇaiś caturbhir bharatarṣabha
     pārtho 'rdayad rākṣasendraṃ sa viddhaḥ prādravad bhayāt
 42 taṃ vijityārjunas tūrṇaṃ droṇāntikam upāyayau
     kirañ śaragaṇān rājan naravāraṇavājiṣu
 43 vadhyamānā mahārāja pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā
     sainikā nyapatann urvyāṃ vātanunnā iva drumāḥ
 44 teṣu tūtsādyamāneṣu phalgunena mahātmanā
     saṃprādravad balaṃ sarvaṃ putrāṇāṃ te viśāṃ pate

 

 

SECTION CXLII

"Sanjaya said, 'That arm (of Bhurisravas) decked with Angada and the sword in its grasp (thus cut off), fell down on the earth to the great grief of all living creatures. Indeed, that arm, which was to have cut off Satyaki's head itself, cut off by the unseen Arjuna, quickly dropped down on the earth, like a snake of five heads. The Kuru warrior, beholding himself incapacitated by Partha abandoned his hold on Satyaki and wrathfully reproved the son of Pandu.'
"Bhurisravas said, 'Thou hast, O son of Kunti, done a cruel and heartless deed, since without being engaged with me, thou hast, unseen by me, cut off my arm. Shalt thou not have to say unto Yudhishthira, the royal son of Dharma, even this, viz., 'Bhurisravas, while otherwise engaged, was slain by me in battle?' Wert thou taught this use of weapons by the high-souled Indra or by Rudra, O Partha, or by Drona, or by Kripa? Thou art, in this world, better acquainted with the rules about the use of weapons than all others. Why then hast thou cut off in battle the arm of a warrior who was not engaged with thee? The righteous never strike him that is heedless, or him that is terrified, or him that is made carless, or him that beggeth for life or protection, of him that hath fallen into distress. Why, then, O Partha, hast thou perpetrated such an extremely unworthy deed that is sinful, that is worthy only of a low wretch, and that is practised by only a wicked bloke! A respectable person, O Dhananjaya, can easily accomplish a deed that is respectable. A deed, however, that is disrespectable becomes difficult of accomplishment by a person that is respectable. A man quickly catches the behaviour of those with whom and amongst whom he moves. This is seen in thee, O Partha! Being of royal lineage and born, especially, in Kuru's race, how hast thou fallen off from the duties of a Kshatriya, although thou wert of good behaviour and observant of excellent vows. This mean act that thou hast perpetrated for the sake of the Vrishni warrior, is without doubt, conformable to Vâsudeva's counsels. Such an act does not suit one like thee. Who else, unless he were a friend of Krishna's, would inflict such a wrong upon lone that is heedlessly engaged with another in battle? The Vrishnis and the Andhakas are bad Kshatriyas, ever engaged in sinful deeds, and are, by nature, addicted to disreputable behaviour. Why, O Partha, hast thou taken them as model? Thus addressed in battle, Partha replied unto Bhurisravas, saying, 'It is evident that with the decrepitude of the body one's intellect
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also becomes decrepit, since, O lord, all those senseless words have been uttered by thee. Although thou knowest Hrishikesa and myself well, how is it that thou rebukest us thus? Knowing as I do the rules of battle and conversant as I am with the meaning of all the scriptures, I would never do an act that is sinful. Knowing this well, thou rebukest me yet. The Kshatriyas fight with their foes, surrounded by their own followers, their brothers, sires, sons, relatives, kinsmen, companions, and friends. These also fight, relying on the (strength of) arms of those they follow. Why, then, should I not protect Satyaki, my disciple and dear kinsman, who is fighting for our sake in this battle, regardless of life itself, that is so difficult of being laid down. 1 Invincible in fight, Satyaki, O king, is my right arm in battle. One should not protect one's own self only, when one goes to battle, he, O king, who is engaged in the business of another should be protected (by that other). Such men being protected, the king is protected in press of battle. If I had calmly beheld Satyaki on the point of being slain in great battle (and had not interfered for saying him), sin would, then, owing to Satyaki's death, have been mine, for such negligence! Why then dost thou become angry with me for my having protected Satyaki? Thou rebukest me, O king, saying, 'Though engaged with another, I have yet been maimed by thee.' In that matter, I answer, I judged wrongly. Sometimes shaking my armour; sometimes riding on my car, sometimes drawing the bow-string, I was fighting with my enemies in the midst of a host resembling the vast deep, teeming with cars and elephants and abounding with steeds and foot-soldiers and echoing with fierce leonine shouts. Amongst friends and foes engaged with one another, how could it be possible that the Satwata warrior was engaged with only one person in battle? Having fought with many and vanquished many mighty car-warriors, Satyaki had been tired. He himself, afflicted with weapons, had become cheerless. Having, under such circumstances, vanquished the mighty car-warrior, Satyaki, and brought him under thy control, thou soughtest to display thy superiority. Thou. hadst desired to cut off, with thy sword, the head of Satyaki in battle. I could not possibly behold with indifference Satyaki reduced to that strait. 2 Thou shouldst rather rebuke thy own self, since thou didst not take care of thyself (when seeking to injure another). Indeed, O hero, how wouldst thou have behaved towards one who is thy dependant?'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed (by Arjuna), the mighty-armed and illustrious Bhurisravas, bearing the device of the sacrificial stake on his banner, abandoning Yuyudhana, desired to die according to the vow of Praya. 3 Distinguished by many righteous deeds, he spread with his left
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hand a bed of arrows, and desirous of proceeding to the region of Brahman, committed his senses to the care of the deities presiding over them. Fixing his gaze on the sun, and setting his cleansed heart on the moon, and thinking of (the mantras in) the great Upanishad, Bhurisravas, betaking himself to Yoga, ceased to speak. Then all the persons in the entire army began to speak ill of Krishna and Dhananjaya and applauded Bhurisravas, that bull among men. Though censured, the two Krishnas, however, spoke not a word disagreeable (to the dying hero). The stake-bannered Bhurisravas also, though thus applauded, felt no joy. Then Pandu's son Dhanajaya, called also Phalguna, incapable of bearing thy sons speaking in that strain, as also of putting up with their words and the words of Bhurisravas, O Bharata, in grief and without an angry heart, and as if for reminding them all, said these words, 'All the kings are acquainted with my great vow, viz., that no one shall succeed in slaying anybody that belongs to our side, as long as the latter is within the range of my shafts. Remembering this, O stake-bannered one, it behoveth thee not to censure me. Without knowing rules of morality, it is not proper for one to censure others. That I have cut off thy arm while thou, well-armed in battle, wert on the point of slaying (the unarmed) Satyaki, is not all contrary to morality. But what righteous man is there, O sire, that would applaud the slaughter of Abhimanyu, a mere child, without arms, deprived of car, and his armour fallen off?' Thus addressed by Partha, Bhurisravas touched the ground with his left arm the right one (that had been lopped off). The stake-bannered Bhurisravas, O king of dazzling effulgence, having heard those words of Partha, remained silent, with his head hanging down. Then Arjuna said, 'O eldest brother of Sala, equal to what I bear to king Yudhishthira the Just, or Bhima, that foremost of all mighty persons, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, is the love I bear to thee. Commanded by me as also by the illustrious Krishna, repair thou to the region of the righteous, even where Sivi, the son of Usinara, is.'
"Vâsudeva also said, 'Thou hast constantly performed sacrifices and Agnihotras. Go thou then, without delay, into those pure, regions of mine that incessantly blaze forth with splendour and that are desired by the foremost of deities with Brahma as their head, and becoming equal to myself, be thou borne on the back to Garuda.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Set free by Somadatta's son, the grandson of Sini, rising up, drew his sword and desired to cut off the head of the high-souled Bhurisravas. Indeed, Satyaki desired to slay the sinless Bhurisravas, the eldest brother of Sala, that giver of plenty in sacrifices who was staying with his, senses withdrawn from battle, who had already been almost slain by the son of Pandu, who was sitting with his arm lopped off and who resembled on that account a trunkless elephant. All the warriors loudly censured him (for his intention). But deprived of reason, and forbidden by Krishna and the high-souled Partha, Bhima, and the two protectors of the two wheels (of Arjuna's car, viz., Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas), and Aswatthaman, and Kripa and Karna, and Vrishasena,
p. 311
and the ruler of the Sindhus also, and while the soldiers were yet uttering shouts of disapproval, Satyaki stew Bhurisravas while in the observance of his vow. Indeed, Satyaki, with his sword, cut off the head of the Kuru warrior who had been deprived of his arm by Partha and who was then sitting in Praya for freeing his soul from the body. The warriors did not applaud Satyaki for that act of his in slaying that perpetuator of Kuru's race who had before been almost slain by Partha. The Siddhas, the Charanas, and the men there present, as also the gods, beholding the Sakra-like Bhurisravas slain in that battle, through sitting in the observance of that Praya vow, began to applaud him, amazed at the acts, accomplished by him. Thy soldiers also argued the matter, 'It is no fault of the Vrishni hero. That which was pre-ordained has happened. Therefore, we should not give way to wrath. Anger is the cause of men's sorrow. It was ordained that Bhurisravas would be slain by the Vrishni hero. There is no use of judging of its propriety or otherwise. The Creator had ordained Satyaki to be the cause of Bhurisrava's death in battle.'
"Satyaki said, 'Ye sinful Kauravas, wearing the outward garment of righteousness, ye tell me, in words of virtue, that Bhurisravas should not be slain. Where, however, did this righteousness of yours go when ye slew in battle that child, viz., the son of Subhadra, while destitute of arms? I had in a certain fit of haughtiness vowed that he who would, throwing me down alive in battle, strike me with his foot in rage, he would be slain by me even though that foe should adopt the vow of asceticism. Struggling in the encounter, with my arms and eyes hale and sound, ye had yet regarded me as dead. This was an act of folly on our part. Ye bulls among the Kurus, the slaughter of Bhurisravas, accomplished by me, hath been very proper! Partha, however, by cutting off this one's arm with sword in grasp for fulfilling, from his affection for me, his own vow (about protecting all on his side), hath simply robbed me of glory. That which is ordained must happen. It is destiny that works. Bhurisravas hath been slain in press of battle. What sin have I perpetrated? In days of yore, Valmiki sang this verse on earth, viz., 'Thou sayest, O ape, that women should not be slain. In all ages, however, men should always, with resolute care, accomplish that which gives pain to enemies.'
"Sanjaya continued, After Satyaki had said these words, none amongst the Pandavas and the Kauravas, O king, said anything. On the other hand, they mentally applauded Bhurisravas. No one there applauded the slaughter of Somadatta's illustrious son who resembled an ascetic living in the woods, or one sanctified with mantras in a great sacrifice, and who had given away thousands of gold coins. The head of that hero, graced with beautiful blue locks and eyes, red as those of pigeons, looked like the head of a horse cut off in a Horse-sacrifice and placed on the sacrificial altar. 1 Sanctified by his prowess and the death he obtained at the edge of the weapon, the boon-giving Bhurisravas, worthy of every boon,
p. 312
casting off his body in great battle, repaired to regions on high, filling the welkin with his high virtues.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 143

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      śatānīkaṃ śarais tūrṇaṃ nirdahantaṃ camūṃ tava
      citrasenas tava suto vārayām āsa bhārata
  2 nākuliś citrasenaṃ tu nārācenārdayad bhṛśam
      sa ca taṃ prativivyādha daśabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  3 citraseno mahārāja śatānīkaṃ punar yudhi
      navabhir niśitair bāṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
  4 nākulis tasya viśikhair varma saṃnataparvabhiḥ
      gātrāt saṃcyāvayām āsa tad adbhutam ivābhavat
  5 so 'petavarmā putras te virarāja bhṛśaṃ nṛpa
      utsṛjya kāle rājendra nirmokam iva pannagaḥ
  6 tato 'sya niśitair bāṇair dhvajaṃ ciccheda nākuliḥ
      dhanuś caiva mahārāja yatamānasya saṃyuge
  7 sa chinnadhanvā samare vivarmā ca mahārathaḥ
      dhanur anyan mahārāja jagrāhāri vidāraṇam
  8 tatas tūrṇaṃ citraseno nākuliṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
      vivyādha samare kruddho bharatānāṃ mahārathaḥ
  9 śatānīko 'tha saṃkruddhaś citrasenasya māriṣa
      jaghāna caturo vāhān sārathiṃ ca narottamaḥ
  10 avaplutya rathāt tasmāc citraseno mahārathaḥ
     nākuliṃ pañcaviṃśatyā śarāṇām ārdayad balī
 11 tasya tat kurvataḥ karma nakulasya suto raṇe
     ardhacandreṇa ciccheda cāpaṃ ratnavibhūṣitam
 12 sa chinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ hārdikyasya mahātmanaḥ
 13 drupadaṃ tu sahānīkaṃ droṇa prepsuṃ mahāratham
     vṛṣaseno 'bhyayāt tūrṇaṃ kirañ śaraśatair tadā
 14 yajñasenas tu samare karṇa putraṃ mahāratham
     ṣaṣṭyā śarāṇāṃ vivyādha bāhvor urasi cānagha
 15 vṛṣasenas tu saṃkruddho yajñasenaṃ rathe sthitam
     bahubhiḥ sāyakais tīkṣṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
 16 tāv ubhau śaranunnāṅgau śarakaṇṭakinau raṇe
     vyabhrājetāṃ mahārāja śvāvidhau śalalair iva
 17 rukmapuṅkhair ajihmāgraiḥ śaraiś chinnatanucchadau
     rudhiraughapariklinnau vyabhrājetāṃ mahāmṛdhe
 18 tapanīyanibhau citrau kalpavṛkṣāv ivādbhutau
     kiṃśukāv iva cotphullau vyakāśetāṃ raṇājire
 19 vṛṣasenas tato rājan navabhir drupadaṃ śaraiḥ
     viddhvā vivyādha saptatyā punaś cānyais tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
 20 tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi vimuñcan vibabhau tadā
     karṇa putro mahārāja varṣamāṇa ivāmbudaḥ
 21 tatas tu drupadānīkaṃ śaraiś chinnatanuc chadam
     saṃprādravad raṇe rājan niśīthe bhairave sati
 22 pradīpair hi parityaktair jvaladbhis taiḥ samantataḥ
     vyarājata mahī rājan vītābhrā dyaur iva grahaiḥ
 23 tathāṅgadair nipatitair vyarājata vasuṃdharā
     prāvṛṭkāle mahārāja vidyudbhir iva toyadaḥ
 24 tataḥ karṇasuta trastāḥ somakā vipradudruvuḥ
     yathendra bhayavitrastā dānavās tārakā maye
 25 tenārdyamānāḥ samare dravamāṇāś ca somakāḥ
     vyarājanta mahārāja pradīpair avabhāsitāḥ
 26 tāṃs tu nirjitya samare karṇa putro vyarocata
     madhyaṃdinam anuprāpto gharmāṃśur iva bhārata
 27 teṣu rājasahasreṣu tāvakeṣu pareṣu ca
     eka eva jvalaṃs tasthau vṛṣasenaḥ pratāpavān
 28 sa vijitya raṇe śūrān somakānāṃ mahārathān
     jagāma tvaritas tatra yatra rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 29 prativindhyam atha kruddhaṃ pradahantaṃ raṇe ripūn
     duḥśāsanas tava sutaḥ pratyudgacchan mahārathaḥ
 30 tayoḥ samāgamo rājaṃś citrarūpo babhūva ha
     vyapetajalade vyomni budha bhārgavayor iva
 31 prativindhyaṃ tu samare kurvāṇaṃ karma duṣkaram
     duḥśāsanas tribhir bāṇair lalāṭe samavidhyata
 32 so 'tividdho balavatā putreṇa tava dhanvinā
     virarāja mahābāhuḥ sa śṛṅga iva parvataḥ
 33 duḥśāsanaṃ tu samare prativindhyo mahārathaḥ
     navabhiḥ sāyakair viddhvā punar vivyādha saptabhiḥ
 34 tatra bhārata putras te kṛtavān karma duṣkaram
     prativindhya hayān ugraiḥ pātayām āsa yac charaiḥ
 35 sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena dhvajaṃ ca samapātayat
     rathaṃ ca śataśo rājan vyadhamat tasya dhanvinaḥ
 36 patākāś ca sa tūṇīrān raśmīn yoktrāṇi cābhibho
     ciccheda tilaśaḥ kruddhaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 37 virathaḥ sa tu dharmātmā dhanuṣpāṇir avasthitaḥ
     ayodhayat tava sutaṃ kirañ śaraśatān bahūn
 38 kṣurapreṇa dhanus tasya ciccheda kṛtahastavat
     athainaṃ daśabhir bhallaiś chinnadhanvānam ārdayat
 39 taṃ dṛṣṭvā virathaṃ tatra bhārato 'sya mahārathāḥ
     anvavartanta vegena mahatyā senayā saha
 40 āplutaḥ sa tato yānaṃ suta somasya bhāsvaram
     dhanur gṛhya mahārāja vivyādha tanayaṃ tava
 41 tatas tu tāvakāḥ sarve parivārya sutaṃ tava
     abhyavartanta saṃgrāme mahatyā senayā vṛtāḥ
 42 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata
     niśīthe dāruṇe kāle yama rāṣṭravivardhanam

 

 

SECTION CXLIII

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

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 144

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      nakulaṃ rabhasaṃ yuddhe nighnantaṃ vāhinīṃ tava
      abhyayāt saubalaḥ kruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
  2 kṛtavairo tu tau vīrāv anyonyavadhakāṅkṣiṇau
      śaraiḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭair anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
  3 yathaiva saubalaḥ kṣipraṃ śaravarṣāṇi muñcati
      tathaiva nakulo rājañ śikṣāṃ saṃdarśayan yudhi
  4 tāv ubhau samare śūrau śarakaṇṭakinau tadā
      vyarājetāṃ mahārāja kaṇṭakair iva śālmalī
  5 sujihmaṃ prekṣamāṇau ca rājan vivṛtalocanau
      krodhasaṃraktanayanau nirdahantau parasparam
  6 syālas tu tava saṃkruddho mādrīputraṃ hasann iva
      karṇinaikena vivyādha hṛdaye niśitena ha
  7 nakulas tu bhṛśaṃ viddhaḥ syālena tava dhanvinā
      niṣasāda rathopasthe kaśmalaṃ cainam āviśat
  8 atyantavairiṇaṃ dṛptaṃ dṛṣṭvā śatruṃ tathāgatam
      nanāda śakunī rājaṃs tapānte jalado yathā
  9 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ nakulaḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ
      abhyayāt saubalaṃ bhūyo vyāttānana ivāntakaḥ
  10 saṃkruddhaḥ śakuniṃ ṣaṣṭyā vivyādha bharatarṣabha
     punaś caiva śatenaiva nārācānāṃ stanāntare
 11 tato 'sya sa śaraṃ cāpaṃ muṣṭideśe sa cicchide
     dhvajaṃ ca tvaritaṃ chittvā rathād bhūmāv apātayat
 12 so 'tividdho mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat
     taṃ visaṃjñaṃ nipatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā syālaṃ tavānagha
     apovāha rathenāśu sārathir dhvajinīmukhāt
 13 tataḥ saṃcukruśuḥ pārthā ye ca teṣāṃ padānugāḥ
     nirjitya ca raṇe śatrūn nakulaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
     abravīt sārathiṃ kruddho droṇānīkāya māṃ vaha
 14 tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā mādrīputrasya dhīmataḥ
     prāyāt tena raṇe rājanyena droṇo 'nvayudhyata
 15 śikhaṇḍinaṃ tu samare droṇa prepsuṃ viśāṃ pate
     kṛpaḥ śāradvato yattaḥ pratyudgacchat suvegitaḥ
 16 gautamaṃ drutam āyāntaṃ droṇāntikam ariṃdamam
     vivyādha navabhir bhallaiḥ śikhaṇḍī prahasann iva
 17 tam ācaryo mahārāja viddhvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ
     punar vivyādha viṃśatyā putrāṇāṃ priyakṛt tava
 18 mahad yuddhaṃ tayor āsīd ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate
     yathā devāsure yuddhe śambarāmara rājayoḥ
 19 śarajālāvṛtaṃ vyoma cakratus tau mahārathau
     prakṛtyā ghorarūpaṃ tad āsīd ghorataraṃ punaḥ
 20 rātriś ca bharataśreṣṭha yodhānāṃ yuddhaśālinām
     kālarātri nibhā hy āsīd ghorarūpā bhayāvahā
 21 śikhaṇḍī tu mahārāja gautamasya mahad dhanuḥ
     ardhacandreṇa ciccheda sajyaṃ sa viśikhaṃ tadā
 22 tasya kruddhaḥ kṛpo rājañ śaktiṃ cikṣepa dāruṇām
     svarṇadaṇḍām akuṇṭhāgrāṃ karmāra parimārjitām
 23 tām āpatantīṃ ciccheda śikhaṇḍī bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ
     sāpatan medinīṃ dīptā bhasayantī mahāprabhā
 24 athānyad dhanur ādāya gautamo rathināṃ varaḥ
     prācchādayac chitair bāṇair mahārāja śikhaṇḍinam
 25 sa chādyamānaḥ samare gautamena yaśasvinā
     vyaṣīdata rathopasthe śikhaṇḍī rathināṃ varaḥ
 26 sīdantaṃ cainam ālokya kṛpaḥ śāradvato yudhi
     ājaghne bahubhir bāṇair jighāṃsann iva bhārata
 27 vimukhaṃ taṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā yājñaseniṃ mahāratham
     pāñcālāḥ somakāś caiva parivavruḥ samantataḥ
 28 tathaiva tava putrāś ca parivavrur dvijottamam
     mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ tato yuddham abhūt punaḥ
 29 rathānāṃ ca raṇe rājann anyonyam abhidhāvatām
     babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo meghānāṃ nadatām iva
 30 dravatāṃ sādināṃ caiva gajānāṃ ca viśāṃ pate
     anyonyam abhito rājan krūram āyodhanaṃ babhau
 31 pattīnāṃ dravatāṃ caiva padaśabdena medinī
     akampata mahārāja bhayatrasteva cāṅganā
 32 rathā rathān samāsādya pradrutā vegavattaram
     nyagṛhṇan bahavo rājañ śalabhān vāyasā iva
 33 tathā gajān prabhinnāṃś ca suprabhinnā mahāgajāḥ
     tasminn eva pade yattā nigṛhṇanti sma bhārata
 34 sādī sādinam āsādya padātī ca padātinam
     samāsādya raṇe 'nyonyaṃ saṃrabdhā nāticakramuḥ
 35 dhāvatāṃ dravatāṃ caiva punarāvartanām api
     babhūva tatra sainyānāṃ śabdaḥ sutumulo niśi
 36 dīpyamānāḥ pradīpāś ca rathavāraṇavājiṣu
     adṛśyanta mahārāja maholkā iva khāc cyutāḥ
 37 sā niśā bharataśreṣṭha pradīpair avabhāsitā
     divasapratimā rājan babhūva raṇamūrdhani
 38 ādityena yathā vyāptaṃ tamo loke praṇaśyati
     tathā naṣṭaṃ tamo ghoraṃ dīpair dīptair alaṃkṛtam
 39 śastrāṇāṃ kavacānāṃ ca maṇīnāṃ ca mahātmanām
     antardadhuḥ prabhāḥ sarvā dīpais tair avabhāsitāḥ
 40 tasmin kolāhale yuddhe vartamāne niśāmukhe
     avadhīt samare putraṃ pitā bharatasattama
 41 putraś ca pitaraṃ mohāt sakhāyaṃ ca sakhā tathā
     saṃbandhinaṃca saṃbandhī svasrīyaṃ cāpi mātulaḥ
 42 sve svān pare parāṃś cāpi nijaghnur itaretaram
     nirmaryādam abhūd yuddhaṃ rātrau ghoraṃ bhayāvaham

 

 

SECTION CXLIV

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

 

 

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