srimahabharat- Book 7 (Drona Parva) chapters 119 to 131

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

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

 

Drona Parva

 

Book 7
Chapter 119

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      ajito droṇa rādheya vikarṇa kṛtavarmabhiḥ
      tīrṇaḥ sainyārṇavaṃ vīraḥ pratiśrutya yudhiṣṭhire
  2 sa kathaṃ kauraveyeṇa samareṣv anivāritaḥ
      nigṛhya bhūriśravasā balād bhuvi nipātitaḥ
  3 [s]
      śṛṇu rājann ihotpattiṃ śaineyasya yathā purā
      yathā ca bhūriśravaso yatra te saṃśayo nṛpa
  4 atreḥ putro 'bhavat somaḥ somasya tu budhaḥ smṛtaḥ
      budhasyāsīn mahendrābhaḥ putra ekaḥ purūravāḥ
  5 purūravasa āyus tu āyuṣo nahuṣaḥ smṛtaḥ
      najuṣasya yayātis tu rājarṣir devasaṃmatiḥ
  6 yayāter deva yānyāṃ tu yadur jyeṣṭho 'bhavat sutaḥ
      yador abhūd anvavāye devamīḍha iti śrutiḥ
  7 yādavas tasya ca sutaḥ śūras trailokyasaṃmataḥ
      śūrasya śaurir nṛvaro vasudevo mahāyaśāḥ
  8 dhanuṣy anāvaraḥ śūraḥ kārtavīryasamo yudhi
      tad vīryaś cāpi tatraiva kule śinir abhūn nṛpaḥ
  9 etasminn eva kāle tu devakasya mahātmanaḥ
      duhituḥ svayaṃvare rājan sarvakṣatrasamāgame
  10 tatra vai devakīṃ devīṃ vasudevārtham āptavān
     nirjitya pārthivān sarvān ratham āropayac chiniḥ
 11 tāṃ dṛṣṭvā devakīṃ śaure rathasthāṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
     nāmṛṣyata mahātejāḥ somadattaḥ śiner nṛpa
 12 tayor yuddham abhūd rājan dinārdhaṃ citram adbhutam
     bāhuyuddhaṃ subalinoḥ śakra prahrādayor iva
 13 śininā somadattas tu prasahya bhuvi pātitaḥ
     asim udyamya keśeṣu pragṛhya ca padā hataḥ
 14 madhye rājasahasrāṇāṃ prekṣakāṇāṃ samantataḥ
     kṛpayā ca punas tena jīveti sa visarjitaḥ
 15 tadavasthaḥ kṛtas tena somadatto 'tha māriṣa
     prasādayan mahādevam amarṣavaśam āsthitaḥ
 16 tasya tuṣṭo mahādevo varāṇāṃ varadaḥ prabhuḥ
     vareṇa chandayām āsa sa tu vavre varaṃ nṛpaḥ
 17 putram icchāmi bhagavan yo nihanyāc chineḥ sutam
     madhye rājasahasrāṇāṃ padā hanyāc ca saṃyuge
 18 tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā somadattasya pārthiva
     evam astv iti tatroktvā sa devo 'ntaradhīyata
 19 sa tena varadānena labdhavān bhūridakṣiṇam
     nyapātayac ca samare saumadattiḥ śineḥ sutam
 20 etat te kathitaṃ rājan yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi
     na hi śakyā raṇe jetuṃ sātvatā manujarṣabha
 21 labdhalakṣyāś ca saṃgrāme bahavaś citrayodhinaḥ
     devadānavagandharvān vijetāro hy avismitāḥ
     svavīryavijaye yuktā naite paraparigrahāḥ
 22 na tulyaṃ vṛṣṇibhir iha dṛśyate kiṃ cana prabho
     bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyac ca balena bharatarṣabha
 23 na jñātim avamanyante vṛddhānāṃ śāsane ratāḥ
     na devāsuragandharvā na yakṣoraga rākṣasāḥ
     jetāro vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ na punar mānuṣā raṇe
 24 brahma dravye guru dravye jñātidravye 'py ahiṃsakāḥ
     eteṣāṃ rakṣitāraś ca ye syuḥ kasyāṃ cid āpadi
 25 arthavanto na cotsiktā brahmaṇyāḥ satyavādinaḥ
     samarthān nāvamanyante dīnān abhyuddharanti ca
 26 nityaṃ deva parā dāntā dātāraś cāvikatthanāḥ
     tena vṛṣṇipravīrāṇāṃ cakraṃ na pratihanyate
 27 api meruṃ vahet kaś cit tared vā makarālayam
     na tu vṛṣṇipravīrāṇāṃ sametyāntaṃ vrajen nṛpa
 28 etat te sarvam ākhyātaṃ yatra te saṃśayo vibho
     kururājanaraśreṣṭha tava hy apanayo mahān

 

SECTION CXIX

"Sanjaya said, Having the vanquished the Yavanas and the Kamvojas that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Yuyudhana, proceeded towards Arjuna, right through the midst of thy troops. Like a hunter slaying deer, that tiger among men, (Satyaki), endued with beautiful teeth, clad in excellent armour, and owning a beautiful standard, slew the Kaurava troops and inspired them with fear. Proceeding on his car, he shook his bow with great force, that bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, whose toughness was great, and which was adorned with many golden moons. His arms decked with golden Angadas, his head-gear adorned with gold; his body clad in golden mail, his standard and bow also was so embellished with gold, that he shone like the summit of Meru. Himself shedding such effulgence, and bearing that circular bow in his hand, he looked like a second sun in autumn, That bull among men, possessing the shoulders and the tread and eyes of a bull, looked in the midst of thy troops, like a bull in a cow-pen. Thy warriors approached him from desire of slaughter like a tiger approaching the leader, with rent temples, of an elephant-herd, standing proudly in the midst of his herd, resembling as he did and possessed as he was of the tread of an infuriated elephant. Indeed, after he had passed through Drona's division, and the unfordable division of the Bhojas, after he had forded through the sea of Jalasandha's troops as also
p. 251
the host of the Kamvojas, after he had escaped the alligator constituted by Hridika's son, after he had traversed those ocean-like host, many car-warriors of thy army, excited with wrath, surrounded Satyaki. And Duryodhana and Chitrasena and Duhsasana and Vivinsati, and Sakuni and Duhsaha, and the youthful Durdharshana, and Kratha, and many other brave warriors well-conversant with weapons and difficult of defeat, wrathfully followed Satyaki from behind as he proceeded onwards. Then, O sire, loud was the uproar that arose among thy troops, resembling that of the ocean itself at full tide when lashed into fury by the tempest. Beholding all those warriors rushing at him, that bull among the Sinis smilingly addressed his charioteer, saying, 'Proceed slowly. The Dhartarashtra force, swelling (with rage and pride), and teeming with elephants and steeds and cars and foot-soldiers, that is rushing with speed towards me, filling the ten points of the compass with deep roar of its cars, O charioteer, and causing the earth, the welkin, and the very seas, to tremble, therewith,--this sea of troops, O driver, I will resist in great battle, like the continent resisting the ocean swelling to its utmost height at full moon. Behold, O charioteer, my prowess which is equal to that of Indra himself in great battle. I will consume this hostile force by means of my whetted arrows. Behold these foot-soldiers and horsemen and car-warriors, and elephants slain by me in thousands, their bodies pierced with my fiery arrows.' While saying these words (unto his charioteer), those combatants from desire of battle, speedily came before Satyaki of immeasurable prowess. They made a loud noise, saying as they came, 'Slay, Rush, Wait, See, See!' Of those brave warriors that said these words, Satyaki, by means of his sharp arrows, slew three hundred horsemen and four hundred elephants. The passage at arms between those united bowmen (on the one side) and Satyaki (on the other) was exceedingly fierce, resembling that between the gods and the Asuras (in days of old). An awful carnage set in. The grandson of Sini received with his shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison that force, O sire, of thy son which looked like a mass of clouds. Shrouding every side, in that battle with his arrowy downpours, that valiant hero, O monarch, fearlessly slew a large number of thy troops. Exceedingly wonderful, O king, was the sight that I witnessed there, viz., that not an arrow even, O lord, of Satyaki failed in effect. That sea of troops, abounding in cars and elephants and steeds, and full of waves constituted by foot-soldiers, stood still as soon as it came in contact with the Satyaki continent. That host consisting of panic-stricken combatants and elephants and steeds, slaughtered on all sides by Satyaki with his shafts repeatedly turned round, and wandered hither and thither as if afflicted with the chilling blasts of winter. We saw not foot-soldiers or car-warriors or elephants or horsemen or steeds that were not struck with Yuyudhana's arrows. Not even Phalguna, O king, had caused such a carnage there as Satyaki, O monarch, then caused among those troops. That bull among men, viz., the dauntless grandson of Sini, endued with great lightness of hand and displaying the utmost skill, fighteth, surpassing
p. 252
[paragraph continues] Arjuna himself. Then king Duryodhana pierced the charioteer of Satwata with three keen shafts and his four steeds with four shafts. And he pierced Satyaki himself with three arrows and once again with eight. And Duhsasana pierced that bull among the Sinis with sixteen arrows. And Sakuni pierced him with five and twenty arrows and Chitrasena with five. And Duhsasana pierced Satyaki in the chest with five and ten arrows. That tiger amongst the Vrishnis then, thus struck with their arrows, proudly pierced every one of them, O monarch, with three arrows. Deeply piercing all his foes with shafts endued with great energy, the grandson of Sini, possessed of great activity and prowess, careered on the field with the celerity of a hawk. Cutting off the bow of Suvala's son and the leathern fence that cased his hand. Yuyudhana pierced Duryodhana in the centre of the chest with three shafts. And he pierced Chitrasena with a hundred arrows, and Duhsaha with ten. And that bull of Sini's race then pierced Duhsasana with twenty arrows. Thy brother-in-law (Sakuni) then, O king, taking up another bow, pierced Satyaki with eight arrows and once more with five. And Duhsasana pierced him with three. And Durmukha, O king, pierced Satyaki with a dozen shafts. And Duryodhana, having pierced Madhava with three and seventy arrows, then pierced his charioteer with three keen shafts. Then Satyaki pierced each of those brave and mighty car-warriors vigorously contending in battle together with five shafts in return. Then the foremost of car-warriors, (viz., Yuyudhana) speedily struck thy son's charioteer with a broad-headed shaft; whereupon, the latter deprived of life, fell down on the earth. Upon the fall of the charioteer, O lord, thy son's car was taken away from the battle by the steeds yoked thereto, with the speed of the wind. Then thy sons, O king, and the other warriors, O monarch, setting their eyes, on the king's car fled away in hundreds. Beholding that host fly away, O Bharata, Satyaki covered it with showers of keen shafts whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. Routing all thy combatants counting by thousands, Satyaki, O king, proceeded towards the car of Arjuna. Indeed, thy troops worshipped Yuyudhana, beholding him shooting arrows and protecting his charioteer and himself as he fought in battle.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 120

 

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      tadavasthe hate tasmin bhūriśravasi kaurave
      yathā bhūyo 'bhavad yuddhaṃ tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  2 [s]
      bhūriśravasi saṃkrānte paralokāya bhārata
      vāsudevaṃ mahābāhur arjunaḥ samacūcudat
  3 codayāśvān bhṛśaṃ kṛṣṇa yato rājā jayadrathaḥ
      astam eti mahābāho tvaramāṇo divākaraḥ
  4 etad dhi puruṣavyāghra mahad abhyudyataṃ mayā
      kāryaṃ saṃrakṣyate caiṣa kuru senā mahārathaiḥ
  5 nāstam eti yathā sūryo yathāsatyaṃ bhaved vacaḥ
      codayāśvāṃs tathā kṛṣṇa yathā hanyāṃ jayadratham
  6 tataḥ kṛṣṇo mahābāhū rajatapratimān hayān
      hayajñaś codayām āsa jayadratharathaṃ prati
  7 taṃ prayāntam amogheṣum utpatadbhir ivāśugaiḥ
      tvaramāṇā mahārāja senāmukhyāḥ samāvrajan
  8 duryodhanaś ca karṇaś ca vṛṣaseno 'tha madrarāṭ
      aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva svayam eva ca saindhavaḥ
  9 samāsādya tu bībhatsuḥ saindhavaṃ pramukhe sthitam
      netrābhyāṃ krodhadīptābhyāṃ saṃpraikṣan nirdahann iva
  10 tato duryodhano rājā rādheyaṃ tvarito 'bravīt
     arjunaṃ vīkṣya saṃyāntaṃ jayadratharathaṃ prati
 11 ayaṃ sa vaikartana yuddhakālo; vidarśayasvātmabalaṃ mahātman
     yathā na vadhyeta raṇe 'rjunena; jayadrathaḥ karṇa tathā kuruṣva
 12 alpāvaśiṣṭaṃ divasaṃ nṛvīra; vighātayasvādya ripuṃ śaraughaiḥ
     dinakṣayaṃ prāpya narapravīra; dhruvaṃ hi naḥ karṇajayo bhaviṣyati
 13 saindhave rakṣyamāṇe tu sūryasyāstamayaṃ prati
     mithyāpratijñaḥ kaunteyaḥ pravekṣyati hutāśanam
 14 anarjunāyāṃ ca bhuvi muhūrtam api mānada
     jīvituṃ notsaheran vai bhrātaro 'sya sahānugāḥ
 15 vinaṣṭaiḥ pāṇḍaveyaiś ca sa śailavanakānanām
     vasuṃdharām imāṃ karṇa bhokṣyāmo hatakaṇṭakām
 16 daivenopahataḥ pārtho viparītaś ca mānada
     kāryākāryam ajānan vai pratijñāṃ kṛtavān raṇe
 17 nūnam ātmavināśāya pāṇḍavena kirīṭinā
     pratijñeyaṃ kṛtā karṇajayadrathavadhaṃ prati
 18 kathaṃ jīvati durdharṣe tvayi rādheya phalgunaḥ
     anastaṃ gata āditye hanyāt saindhavakaṃ nṛpam
 19 rakṣitaṃ madrarājena kṛpeṇa ca mahātmanā
     jayadrathaṃ raṇamukhe kathaṃ hanyād dhanaṃjayaḥ
 20 drauṇinā rakṣyamāṇaṃ ca mayā duḥśāsanena ca
     kathaṃ prāpsyati bībhatsuḥ saindhavaṃ kālacoditaḥ
 21 yudhyane bahavaḥ śūrā lambate ca divākaraḥ
     śaṅke jayadrathaṃ pārtho naiva prāpsyati mānada
 22 sa tvaṃ karṇa mayā sārdhaṃ śūraiś cānyair mahārathaiḥ
     yudhyasva yatnam āsthāya paraṃ pārthena saṃyuge
 23 evam uktas tu rādheyas tava putreṇa māriṣa
     duryodhanam idaṃ vākyaṃ patyuvāca kurūttamam
 24 dṛḍhalakṣyeṇa śūreṇa bhīmasenena dhanvinā
     bhṛśam udvejitaḥ saṃkhye śarajālair anekaśaḥ
 25 sthātavyam iti tiṣṭhāmi raṇe saṃprati mānada
     naivāṅgam iṅgati kiṃ cin me saṃtaptasya raṇeṣubhiḥ
 26 yotsyāmi tu tathā rājañ śaktyāhaṃ parayā raṇe
     yathā pāṇḍavamukhyo 'sau na haniṣyati saindhavam
 27 na hi me yudhyamānasya sāyakāṃś cāsyataḥ śitān
     saindhavaṃ prāpsyate vīraḥ savyasācī dhanaṃjayaḥ
 28 yat tu śaktimatā kāryaṃ satataṃ hitakāriṇā
     tat kariṣyāmi kauravya jayo daive pratiṣṭhitaḥ
 29 adya yotsye 'rjunam ahaṃ pauruṣaṃ svaṃ vyapāśritaḥ
     tvadarthaṃ puruṣavyāghra jayo daive pratiṣṭhitaḥ
 30 adya yuddhaṃ kuruśreṣṭha mama pārthasya cobhayoḥ
     paśyantu sarvabhūtāni dāruṇaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
 31 karṇa kauravayor evaṃ raṇe saṃbhāṣamāṇayoḥ
     arjuno niśitair bāṇair jaghāna tava vāhinīm
 32 ciccheda tīkṣṇāgramukhaiḥ śūrāṇām anivartinām
     bhujān parighasaṃkāśān hastihastopamān raṇe
 33 śirāṃsi ca mahābāhuś ciccheda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     hastihastān hayagrīvā rathākṣāṃś ca samantataḥ
 34 śoṇitākṣān hayārohān gṛhītaprāsa tomarān
     kṣuraiś ciccheda bībhatsur dvidhaikaikaṃ tridhaiva ca
 35 hayavāraṇamuhyāś ca prāpayanta sahasraśaḥ
     dhvajāś chatrāṇi cāpāni cāmarāṇi śirāṃsi ca
 36 kakṣam agnim ivoddhūtaḥ pradahaṃs tava vāhinīm
     acireṇa mahīṃ pārthaś cakāra rudhirottarām
 37 hatabhūyiṣṭha yodhaṃ tat kṛtvā tava balaṃ balī
     āsasāda durādharṣaḥ saindhavaṃ satyavikramaḥ
 38 bībhatsur bhīmasenena sātvatena ca rakṣitaḥ
     sa babhau bharataśreṣṭha jvalann iva hutāśanaḥ
 39 taṃ tathāvasthitaṃ dṛṣṭvā tvadīyā vīryasaṃmatāḥ
     nāmṛṣyanta maheṣvāsāḥ phalgunaṃ puruṣarṣabhāḥ
 40 duryodhanaś ca karṇaś ca vṛṣaseno 'tha madrarāṭ
     aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva svayam eva ca saindhavaḥ
 41 saṃrabdhāḥ saindhavasyārthe samāvṛṇvan kirīṭinam
     nṛtyantaṃ rathamārgeṣu dhanurjyātalanisvanaiḥ
 42 saṃgrāmakovidaṃ pārthaṃ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ
     abhītāḥ paryavartanta vyāditāsyam ivāntakam
 43 saindhavaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā jighāṃsanto 'rjunācyutau
     sūryāstamayam icchanto lohitāyati bhāskare
 44 te bhujair bhogi bhogābhair dhanūṃṣy āyamya sāyakān
     mumucuḥ sūryaraśmy ābhāñ śataśaḥ phalgunaṃ prati
 45 tān astān asyamānāṃś ca kirīṭī yuddhadurmadaḥ
     dvidhā tridhāṣṭadhaikaikaṃ chittvā vivyādha tān raṇe
 46 siṃhalāṅgūla ketus tu darśayañ śaktim ātmanaḥ
     śāradvatī suto rājann arjunaṃ pratyavārayat
 47 sa viddhvā daśabhiḥ pārthaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca saptabhiḥ
     atiṣṭhad rathamārgeṣu saindhavaṃ paripālayan
 48 athainaṃ kauravaśreṣṭhāḥ sarva eva mahārathāḥ
     mahatā rathavaṃśena sarvataḥ paryavārayan
 49 visphārayantaś cāpāni visṛjantaś ca sāyakān
     saindhavaṃ paryarakṣanta śāsanāt tanayasya te
 50 tatra pārthasya śūrasya bāhvor balam adṛśyata
     ṛṣūṇām akṣayatvaṃ ca dhanuṣo gāṇḍivasya ca
 51 astrair astrāṇi saṃvārya drauṇeḥ śāradvatasya ca
     ekaikaṃ navabhir bāṇaiḥ sarvān eva samarpayat
 52 taṃ drauṇiḥ pañcaviṃśatyā vṛṣasenaś ca saptabhiḥ
     duryodhanaś ca viṃśatyā karṇa śalyau tribhis tribhiḥ
 53 ta enam abhigarjanto vidhyantaś ca punaḥ punaḥ
     vidhunvantaś ca cāpāni sarvataḥ paryavārayan
 54 śliṣṭaṃ tu sarvataś cakrū rathamaṇḍalam āśu te
     sūryāstamayam icchantas travamāṇā mahārathāḥ
 55 ta enam abhinardanto vidhunvānā dhanūṃṣi ca
     siṣicur mārgaṇair ghorair giriṃ meghā ivāmbubhiḥ
 56 te mahāstrāṇi divyāni tatra rājan vyadarśayan
     dhanaṃjayasya gātreṣu śūrāḥ parighabāhavaḥ
 57 hatabhūyiṣṭha yodhaṃ tat kṛtvā tava balaṃ balī
     āsasāda durādharṣaḥ saindhavaṃ satyavikramaḥ
 58 taṃ karṇaḥ saṃyuge rājan pratyavārayad āśugaiḥ
     miṣato bhīmasenasya sātvatasya ca bhārata
 59 taṃ pārtho daśabhir bāṇaiḥ pratyavidhyad raṇājire
     sūtaputraṃ mahābāhuḥ sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
 60 sātvataś ca tribhir bāṇaiḥ karṇaṃ vivyādha māriṣa
     bhīmasenas tribhiś caiva punaḥ pārthaś ca saptabhiḥ
 61 tān karṇaḥ prativivyādha ṣaṣṭyā ṣaṣṭyā mahārathaḥ
     tad yuddham abhavad rājan karṇasya bahubhiḥ saha
 62 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma sūtaputrasya māriṣa
     yad ekaḥ samare kruddhas trīn rathān paryavārayat
 63 phalgunas tu mahābāhuḥ karṇaṃ vaikartanaṃ raṇe
     sāyakānāṃ śatenaiva sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
 64 rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgaḥ sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
     śaraiḥ pañcāśatā vīraḥ phalgunaṃ pratyavidhyata
     tasya tal lāghavaṃ dṛṣṭvā nāmṛṣyata raṇe 'rjunaḥ
 65 tataḥ pārtho dhanuś chittvā vivyādhainaṃ stanāntare
     sāyakair navabhir vīras tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ
 66 vadhārthaṃ cāsya samare sāyakaṃ sūryavarcasam
     cikṣepa tvarayā yuktas tvarā kāle dhanaṃjayaḥ
 67 tam āpatantaṃ vegena drauṇiś ciccheda sāyakam
     ardhacandreṇa tīkṣṇena sa chinnaḥ prāpatad bhuvi
 68 athānyad dhanur ādāya sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
     karṇo 'pi dviṣatāṃ hantā chādayām āsa phalgunam
     sāyakair bahusāhasraiḥ kṛtapratikṛtepsayā
 69 tau vṛṣāv iva nardantau narasiṃhau mahārathau
     sāyakaughapraticchannaṃ cakratuḥ kham ajihmagaiḥ
     adṛśyau ca śaraughais tau nighnatām itaretaram
 70 pārtho 'ham asmi tiṣṭha tvaṃ karṇo 'haṃ tiṣṭha phalguna
     ity evaṃ tarjayantau tau vākśalyais tudatāṃ tathā
 71 yudhyetāṃ samare vīrau citraṃ laghu ca suṣṭhu ca
     prekṣaṇīyau cābhavatāṃ sarvayodhasamāgame
 72 praśasyamānau samare siddhacāraṇavātikaiḥ
     ayudhyetāṃ mahārāja parasparavadhaiṣiṇau
 73 tato duryodhano rājaṃs tāvakān abhyabhāṣata
     yattā rakṣata rādheyaṃ nāhatvā samare 'rjunam
     nivartiṣyati rādheya iti mām uktavān vṛṣaḥ
 74 etasminn antare rājan dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
     ākarṇamuktair iṣubhiḥ karṇasya caturo hayān
     anayan mṛtyulokāya caturbhiḥ sāyakottamaiḥ
 75 sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat
     chādayām āsa ca śarais tava putrasya paśyataḥ
 76 sa chādyamānaḥ samare hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
     mohitaḥ śarajālena kartavyaṃ nābhyapadyata
 77 taṃ tathā virathaṃ dṛṣṭvā ratham āropya svaṃ tadā
     aśvatthāmā mahārāja bhūyo 'rjunam ayoghayat
 78 madrarājas tu kaunteyam avidhyat triṃśatā śaraiḥ
     śāradvatas tu viṃśatyā vāsudevaṃ samārpayat
     dhanaṃjayaṃ dvādaśabhir ājaghāna śilīmukhaiḥ
 79 caturbhiḥ sindhurājaś ca vṛṣasenaś ca saptabhiḥ
     pṛthak pṛthan mahārāja kṛṣṇa pārthāv avidhyatām
 80 tathaiva tān pratyavidhyat kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
     droṇaputraṃ catuḥṣaṣṭyā madrarājaṃ śatena ca
 81 saindhavaṃ daśabhir bhallair vṛṣasenaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
     śāradvataṃ ca viṃśatyā viddhvā pārthaḥ samunnadat
 82 te pratijñā pratīghātam icchantaḥ savyasācinaḥ
     sahitās tāvakās tūrṇam abhipetur dhanaṃjayam
 83 athārjunaḥ sarvato dhāram astraṃ; prāduścakre trāsayan dhārtarāṣṭrān
     taṃ pratyudīyuḥ kuravaḥ pāṇḍusūnuṃ; rathair mahārhaiḥ śaravarṣāṇy avarṣan
 84 tatas tu tasmiṃs tumule samutthite; sudāruṇe bhārata mohanīye
     nāmuhyata prāpya sa rājaputraḥ; kirīṭamāli visṛjan pṛṣatkān
 85 rājyaprepsuḥ savyasācī kurūṇāṃ; smaran kleśān dvādaśa varṣavṛttān
     gāṇḍīvamuktair iṣubhir mahātmā; sarvā diśo vyāvṛṇod aprameyaiḥ
 86 pradīptolkam abhavac cāntarikṣaṃ; deheṣu bhūrīṇy apatan vayāṃsi
     yat piṅgala jyena kirīṭamālī; kruddho ripūn ājagavena hanti
 87 kirīṭamālī mahatā mahāyaśāḥ; śarāsanenāsya śarān anīkajit
     hayapravekottama nāgadhūr gatān; kurupravīrān iṣubhir nyapātayat
 88 gadāś ca gurvīḥ parighān ayasmayān; asīṃś ca śaktīś ca raṇe narādhipāḥ
     mahānti śastrāṇi ca bhīmadarśanāḥ; pragṛhya pārthaṃ sahasābhidudruvuḥ
 89 sa tān udīrṇān sa rathāśvavāraṇān; padātisaṃghāṃś ca mahādhanurdharaḥ
     vipannasarvāyudhajīvitān raṇe; cakāra vīro yama rāṣṭravardhanān

SECTION CXX

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Beholding the grandson of Sini proceeding towards Arjuna, grinding as he went that large force, what, indeed, O Sanjaya, did those shameless sons of mine do? When Yuyudhana who 'is equal to Savyasachin himself was before them, how, indeed, could those wretches, that were at the point of death, set their hearts upon battle? What also did all those Kshatriyas, vanquished in battle, then, do? How, indeed,
p. 252
could Satyaki of world-wide renown pass through them in battle? How also, O Sanjaya, when my sons were alive, could the grandson of Sini go to battle? Tell me all this. This is exceedingly wonderful, O sire, that I have heard from thee, viz., this encounter between one and the many, the latter, again, being all mighty car-warriors. O Suta, I think, Destiny is now unpropitious to my sons, since so many mighty car-warriors have been slain by that one warrior of the Satwata race, Alas, O Sanjaya, my army is no match for even one warrior, viz., Yuyudhana inflamed with wrath. Let all the Pandavas hang up these weapons. Vanquishing in battle Drona himself who skilled in weapons and conversant with all modes of warfare, Satyaki will slay my sons, like a lion slaying smaller animals. Numerous heroes, of whom Kritavarman is the first, contending vigorously in battle, could not slay Yuyudhana. The latter, without doubt, will slay my sons. Phalguna himself fought not in the manner in which the renowned grandson of Sini has fought.'
"Sanjaya said, 'All this, O king, has been brought about by thy evil counsels and the acts of Duryodhana. Listen attentively to what, O Bharata, I say unto thee. At the command of thy son, the Samsaptakas, rallying, all resolved upon fighting fiercely. Three thousand bowmen headed by Duryodhana, with a number of Sakas and Kamvojas and Valhikas and Yavanas and Paradas, and Kalingas and Tanganas and Amvashtas and Pisachas and Barbaras and mountaineers, O monarch, inflamed with rage and armed with stone, all rushed against the grandson of Sini like insects against a blazing fire. Five hundred other warriors, O king, similarly rushed against Satyaki. And another mighty body consisting of a thousand cars, a hundred great car-warriors, a thousand elephants, two thousand heroes, and countless foot-soldiers, also rushed against the grandson of Sini. Duhsasana, O Bharata, urging all those warriors, saying, 'Slay him, surrounded Satyaki therewith. Grand and wonderful was the conduct that we then beheld of Sini's grandson, inasmuch as alone he fought fearlessly with those innumerable foes. And he slew that entire body of car-warriors and that elephant force, and all those horsemen and that entire body of robbers. Like the autumnal firmament bespangled with stars, the field of battle there became strewn with car-wheels broken and crushed by means of his mighty weapons with innumerable Akshas and beautiful cart-shafts reduced to fragments, with crushed elephants and fallen standards, with coats of mail and shields scattered all about, with garlands and ornaments and robes and Anuskarshas, O sire! Many foremost of elephants, huge as hills, and born of the race of Anjana or Vamana, O Bharata, or of other races, many foremost of tuskers, O king, lay there on the ground, deprived of life. And Satyaki slew, O monarch, many foremost of steeds of the Vanayu, the mountain, the Kamvoja and the Valhika breeds. And the grandson of Sini also slew foot-soldiers there, in hundreds and thousands, born in various realms and belonging to various nations. Whilst those soldiers were being thus slaughtered, Duhsasana, addressing the robbers said, 'Ye warriors unacquainted with morality, fight! Why do you retreat?'
p. 254
[paragraph continues] Beholding them run away without paying any heed to his words, thy soil Duhsasana urged on the brave mountaineers, skilled in fighting with stones, saying, 'Ye are accomplished in battling with stones. Satyaki is ignorant of this mode of warfare. Stay ye, therefore, that warrior who, though desirous of battle, is ignorant of your mode of fight. The Kauravas also are all unacquainted with this mode of battle. Rush ye at Satyaki. Do not fear. Satyaki will not be able to approach you.' Thus urged, those Kshatriyas dwelling on the mountains, all acquainted with the method of fighting with stones, rushed towards the grandson of Sini like ministers towards a king. Those denizens of the mountain then, with stones huge as elephants' heads uplifted in their hands, stood before Yuyudhana in that battle. Others, urged by thy son, and desirous of slaying Satwata, encompassed the latter on all sides, armed with missiles. Then, Satyaki, aiming at those warriors rushing at him from desire of fighting with stones, sped at them showers of keen shafts. That bull amongst the Sinis, with those shafts looking like snakes, cut into fragments that dense shower of stones thrown by the mountaineers. The fragments of those stones, looking like a swarm of blazing fire-flies, slew many combatants there, whereupon, O sire, cries of oh and alas arose on the field. Then, again, five hundred brave warriors with huge stones uplifted in their hands, fell down, O king, on the ground, their arms cut off. And once more a full thousand, and again a hundred thousand, amongst others, fell down without being able to approach Satyaki, their arms with stones still in grasp cut off by him. Indeed, Satyaki slew many thousands of those warriors fighting with stones. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then many of them, returning to the fight, hurled at Satyaki showers of stones, And armed with swords and lances many Daradas and Tanganas and Khasas and Lampakas and Pulindas, hurled their weapons at him. Satyaki however, well-conversant with the application of weapons, cut off those stones and weapons by means of his shafts. Those stones while being pierced, broken in the welkin by Satyaki's whetted shafts, produced a fierce noise, at which many car-warriors and steeds and elephants fled away from battle. And struck with the fragments of those stones, men and elephants and steeds, became incapable of staying in battle, for they felt as if they were bit by wasps. The small remnant of the elephants (that had attacked Satyaki), covered with blood, their heads, and frontal globes split open, then fled away from, Yuyudhana's car. Then there arose among thy troops, O sire, while they were being thus ground by Madhava a noise like that of the ocean at full tide. Hearing that great uproar, Drona, addressing his charioteer, said, 'O Suta, that great car-warrior of the Satwata race, excited with wrath, is tearing our army into diverse fragments, and careering in battle like the Destroyer himself. Take thou the car to that spot whence this furious uproar is coming. Without doubt, Yuyudhana is engaged with the mountaineers who battle with stones, Our car-warriors are seen also to be borne away by their wildly running steeds. Many amongst them, weaponless and armourless and wounded, are falling down. The charioteers are
p. 255
unable to check their steeds as these are rushing wildly.' Hearing these words of Bharadwaja's son, the charioteer said unto Drona, that foremost of wielders of weapons, 'Thou blest with length of days, the Katirava troops are flying away. Behold, our warriors, routed (by the foe), are flying in all directions. There, again, those heroes, viz., the Panchalas, and the Pandavas, united together, are rushing from all sides from desire of slaughtering thee, O chastiser of foes, do thou determine which of these tasks should first demand attention. Should we stay here (to meet the advancing Pandava), or should we proceed (towards Satyaki)? As regards Satyaki, he is now far ahead of us.' While the charioteer, O sire, was speaking thus unto Bharadwaja's son, the grandson of Sini suddenly appeared to the view, engaged in slaughtering a large number of car-warriors. Those troops of thine, while being thus slaughtered by Yuyudhana, in battle, fled away from Yuyudhana's car towards where Drona's division was. Those (other) car-warriors also with whom Duhsasana had proceeded, all struck with panic, similarly rushed to the spot where Drona's car was seen.

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 121

 

 1 [s]
      sa raṇe vyacarat pārthaḥ prekṣaṇīyo dhanaṃjayaḥ
      yugapad dikṣu sarvāsu citrāṇy astrāṇi darśayan
  2 madhyaṃdinagataṃ sūryaṃ pratapantam ivāmbare
      na śekuḥ sarvabhūtāni pāṇḍavaṃ prativīkṣitum
  3 prasṛtāṃs tasya gāṇḍīvāc charavrātān mahātmanaḥ
      saṃgrāme samapaśyāma haṃsapaṅktīr ivāmbare
  4 vinivārya sa vīrāṇām astrair astrāṇi sarvaśaḥ
      darśayan raudram ātmānam ugre karṇami dhiṣṭhitaḥ
  5 sa tān rathavarān rājann abhyatikrāmad arjunaḥ
      mohayann iva nārācair jayadrathavadhepsayā
  6 visṛjan dikṣu sarvāsu śarān asitasārathiḥ
      sa raṇe vyacarat tūrṇaṃ prekṣaṇīyo dhanaṃjayaḥ
  7 bhramanta iva śūrasya śaravrātā mahātmanaḥ
      adṛśyantāntarikṣasthāḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
  8 ādadānaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ saṃdadhānaṃ ca pāṇḍavam
      visṛjantaṃ ca kaunteyaṃ nānupaśyāmahe tadā
  9 tathā sarvā diśo rājan sarvāś ca rathino raṇe
      ākulī kṛtyakaunteyo jayadratham upādravat
      vivyādha ca catuḥṣaṣṭyā śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
  10 saindhavas tu tathā viddhaḥ śarair gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
     na cakṣame susaṃkruddhas tottrārdita iva dvipaḥ
 11 sa varāhadhvajas tūrṇaṃ gārdhrapatrān ajihmagān
     āśīviṣasamaprakhyān karmāra parimārjitān
     mumoca niśitān saṃkhye sāyakān savyasācini
 12 tribhis tu viddhvā gāṇḍīvaṃ nārācaiḥ ṣaḍbhir arjunam
     aṣṭābhir vājino 'vidhyad dhvajaṃ caikena patriṇā
 13 sa vikṣipyārjunas tīkṣṇān saindhava preṣitāñ śarān
     yugapat tasya cicheda śarābhyāṃ saindhavasya ha
     sāratheś ca śiraḥ kāyād dhvajaṃ ca samalaṃkṛtam
 14 sa chinnayaṣṭiḥ sumahāñ śīryamāṇaḥ śarāhataḥ
     varāhaḥ sindhurājasya papātāgniśikhopamaḥ
 15 etasminn eva kāle tu drutaṃ gacchati bhāskare
     abravīt pāṇḍavaṃ tatra tvaramāṇo janārdanaḥ
 16 dhanaṃjaya śiraś chindhi saindhavasya durātmanaḥ
     astaṃ mahīdhara śreṣṭhaṃ yiyāsati divākaraḥ
     śṛṇuṣvaiva ca me vākyaṃ jayadrathavadhaṃ prati
 17 vṛddhakṣatraḥ saindhavasya pitā jagati viśrutaḥ
     sa kāleneha mahatā saindhavaṃ prāptavān sutam
 18 jayadratham amitraghnaṃ taṃ covāca tato nṛpam
     antarhitā tadā vāṇī meghadundubhi nisvanā
 19 tavātmajo 'yaṃ martyeṣu kulaśīladamādibhiḥ
     guṇair bhaviṣyati vibho sadṛśo vaṃśayor dvayoḥ
     kṣatiya pravaro loke nityaṃ śūrābhisatkṛtaḥ
 20 śatrubhir yudhyamānasya saṃgrāme tv asya dhanvinaḥ
     śiraś chetsyati saṃkruddhaḥ śatrur nālakṣito bhuvi
 21 etac chrutvā sindhurājo dhyātvā ciram ariṃdamam
     jñātīn sarvān uvācedaṃ putrasnehābhipīḍitaḥ
 22 saṃgrāme yudhyamānasya vahato mahatīṃ dhuram
     dharaṇyāṃ mama putrasya pātayiṣyati yaḥ śiraḥ
     tasyāpi śatadhā mūrdhā phaliṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
 23 evam uktvā tato rājye sthāpayitvā jayadratham
     vṛddhakṣatro vanaṃ yātas tapaś ceṣṭaṃ samasthitaḥ
 24 so 'yaṃ tapyati tejasvī tapo ghoraṃ durāsadam
     samantapañcakād asmād bahir vānaraketana
 25 tasmāj jayadrathasya tvaṃ śiraś chittvā mahāmṛdhe
     divyenāstreṇa ripuhan ghoreṇādbhuta karmaṇā
 26 sakuṇḍalaṃ sindhupateḥ prabhañjan asutānuja
     utsaṅge pātayasvāśu vṛddhakṣatrasya bhārata
 27 atha tvam asya mūrdhānaṃ pātayiṣyasi bhūtale
     tavāpi śatadhā mūrdhā phaliṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
 28 yathā caitan na jānīyāt sa rājā pṛthivīpatiḥ
     tathā kuru kuruśreṣṭha divyam astram upāśritaḥ
 29 na hy asādhyam akāryaṃ vā vidyate tava kiṃ cana
     samasteṣv api lokeṣu triṣu vāsavanandana
 30 etac chrutvā tu vacanaṃ sṛkkiṇī parisaṃlihan
     indrāśanisamasparśaṃ divyamantrābhimantritam
 31 sarvabhāra sahaṃ śaśvad gandhamālyārcitaṃ śaram
     visasarjārjunas tūrṇaṃ saindhavasya vadhe vṛtaḥ
 32 sa tu gāṇḍīvanirmuktaḥ śaraḥ śyena ivāśugaḥ
     śakuntam iva vṛkṣāgrāt saindhavasya śiro 'harat
 33 aharat tat punaś caiva śarair ūrdhvaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
     durhṛdām apraharṣāya suhṛdāṃ harṣaṇāya ca
 34 śaraiḥ kadambakī kṛtyakāle tasmiṃś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     samantapañcakād bāhyaṃ śiras tad vyaharat tataḥ
 35 etasminn ekakāle tu vṛddhakṣatro mahīpatiḥ
     saṃdhyām upāste tejasvī saṃbandhī tava māriṣa
 36 upāsīnasya tasyātha kṛṣṇa keśaṃ sakuṇḍalam
     sindhur ājasya mūrdhānam utsaṅge samapātayat
 37 tasyotsaṅge nipatitaṃ śiras tac cārukuṇḍalam
     vṛddhakṣatrasya nṛpater alakṣitam ariṃdama
 38 kṛpa japyasya tasyātha vṛddhakṣatrasya dhīmataḥ
     uttiṣṭhatas tat sahasā śiro 'gacchad dharātalam
 39 tatas tasya narendrasya putra mūrdhani bhūtalam
     gate tasyāpi śatadhā mūrdhāgacchad ariṃdama
 40 tataḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni vismayaṃ jagmur uttamam
     vāsudevaś ca bībhatsuṃ praśaśaṃsa mahāratham
 41 tato dṛṣṭvā vinihataṃ sindhurājaṃ jayadratham
     putrāṇāṃ tava netrebhyo duḥkhād bahv apataj jalam
 42 bhīmaseno 'pi saṃgrāme bodhayann iva pāṇḍavam
     siṃhanādena mahatā pūrayām āsa rodasī
 43 taṃ śrutvā tu mahānādaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     saindhavaṃ nihataṃ mene phalgunena mahātmanā
 44 tato vāditraghoṣeṇa svān yodhān abhiharṣayan
     abhyavartata saṃgrāme bhāradvājaṃ yuyutsayā
 45 tataḥ pravavṛte rājann astaṃ gacchati bhāskare
     droṇasya somakaiḥ sārdhaṃ saṃgramo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
 46 te tu sarvaprayatnena bhāradvājaṃ jighāṃsavaḥ
     saindhave nihate rājann ayudhyanta mahārathāḥ
 47 pāṇḍavās tu jayaṃ labdhvā saindhavaṃ vinihatya ca
     ayodhayaṃs tato droṇaṃ jayonmattās tatas tataḥ
 48 arjuno 'pi raṇe yodhāṃs tāvakān rathasattamān
     ayodhayan mahārāja hatvā saindhavakaṃ nṛpam
 49 sa devaśatrūn iva devarājaḥ; kirīṭamālī vyadhamat samantāt
     yathā tamāṃsy abhyuditas tamoghnaḥ; pūrvāṃ pratijñāṃ samavāpya vīraḥ

 

SECTION CXXI

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding Duhsasana's car staying near his, the son of Bharadwaja, addressing Duhsasana, said these words, 'Why, O Duhsasana, are all these cars flying away? Is the king well? Is the ruler of the Sindhus yet alive? Thou art a prince. Thou art a brother of the king. Thou art a mighty car-warrior. Why dost thou fly away from battle? (Securing the throne to thy brother), become thou that Prince-Regent. Thou hadst formerly said unto Draupadi, 'Thou art our slave, having been won by us at dice. Without being confined to thy husbands, cast aside thy chastity. Be thou a bearer of robes to the king, my eldest brother. Thy husbands are all dead. They are as worthless as grains of sesamum without kernel.' Having said these words then, why, O Duhsasana, dost thou fly from battle now? Having thyself provoked such fierce hostilities with the Panchalas and the Pandavas, why art thou afraid in battle in the presence of Satyaki alone? Taking up the dice on the occasion of the gambling match, couldst thou not divine that those dice then handled by thee would soon transform themselves into fierce shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison? It was thou that hadst formerly applied diverse abusive epithets towards the Pandavas. The woes of Draupadi have thee for their root. Where now is that pride, that insolence, that brag of thine? Why dost thou fly, having angered the Pandavas, those terrible snakes of virulent poison? When thou that art a brave brother of Suyodhana, are intent on flight, without doubt, O hero, thou shouldst
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today protect, relying on the energy of thy own arms, this routed and panic-stricken Kaurava host. Without doing this, thou, however, forsakest the battle in fear and enhancest the joy of thy foes. O slayer of foes, when thou that art the leader of thy host, fliest away thus, who else will stay in battle? When thou, its refuge, art frightened, who is there that will not be frightened? Fighting with a single warrior of the Satwata race, thy heart is inclined towards flight from battle. What, however, O Kaurava, wilt thou do when thou wilt see the wielder of Gandiva in battle, or Bhimasena, or the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva)? The shafts of Satyaki, frightened by which thou seekest safety in flight, are scarcely equal to those of Phalguna in battle that resemble the sun or fire in splendour. If thy heart is firmly bent on flight, let the sovereignty of the earth then, upon the conclusion of peace, be given to king Yudhishthira the Just. Before the shafts of Phalguna, resembling snakes freed from their sloughs, enter thy body, make peace with the Pandavas. Before the high-souled Parthas, slaying thy hundred brothers in battle, wrest the earth by force, make peace with the Pandavas. Before king Yudhishthira is enraged, and Krishna also, that delighter in battle, makes peace with the Pandavas. Before the mighty-armed Bhima, penetrating into this vast host, seizes thy brothers, make peace with the Pandavas. Bhishma formerly told thy brother Suyodhana, 'The Pandavas are unconquerable in battle. O amiable one, make peace with them.' Thy wicked brother Suyodhana however, did not do it. Therefore, setting thy heart firmly on battle, fight vigorously with the Pandavas. Go quickly on thy car to the spot where Satyaki is. Without thee, O Bharata, this host will fly away. For the sake of thy own self, fight in battle with Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled.' Thus addressed (by Drona), thy son said not a word in reply. Feigning not to have heard the words (of Bharadwaja's son), Duhsasana proceeded to the place where Satyaki was. Accompanied by a large force of unretreating Mlecchas, and coming upon Satyaki in battle, Duhsasana fought vigorously with that hero. Drona also, that foremost of car-warriors, excited with wrath, rushed against the Panchalas and the Pandavas, with moderate speed. Penetrating into the midst of the Pandava host in that battle, Drona began to crush their warriors by hundreds and thousands. And Drona, O king, proclaiming his name in that battle, caused a great carnage among the Pandavas, the Panchalas, and the Matsyas. The illustrious Viraketu, the son of the ruler of the Panchalas, rushed against the son of Bharadwaja who thus engaged in vanquishing the Pandava ranks. Piercing Drona with five straight shafts, that prince then pierced Drona's standard with one shaft, and then his charioteer with seven. The sight that I then beheld, O monarch, in that battle, was exceedingly wonderful, inasmuch as Drona, though exerting himself vigorously could not approach the prince of the Panchalas. Then, O sire, the Panchalas, beholding Drona checked in battle, surrounded the latter on all sides, O king, from desire of king Yudhishthira's victory. And those warriors then covered Drona along with showers of fiery shafts
p. 257
and strong lances and various other kinds of weapons, O king! Baffling then those dense showers of weapons by means of his own numerous shafts like the wind driving away from the welkin masses of clouds, Drona looked exceedingly resplendent. Then that slayer of hostile heroes (the son of Bharadwaja), aimed a fierce shaft endued with the effulgence of the sun or the fire, at the car of Viraketu. The shaft, O monarch, piercing through the prince of Panchala, quickly entered the earth, bathed in blood and blazing like a flame of fire. Then the prince of the Panchalas quickly fell down from his car, like a Champaka tree uprooted by the wind, falling down from a mountain summit. Upon the fall of that great bowman, that prince endued with great might, the Panchalas speedily encompassed Drona on every side. Then Chitraketu, and Sudhanwan, and Chitravarman, O Bharata, and Chitraratha also, all afflicted with grief on account of their (slain) brother, together rushed against the son of Bharadwaja, desirous of battling with him, and shooting shafts (at him) like the clouds (pouring) at the end of summer. Struck from all sides by those mighty car-warriors of royal lineage, that bull among Brahmanas mustered all his energy and wrath for their destruction. Then Drona, shot showers of shafts at them. Struck with those shafts of Drona shot from his bow to its fullest stretch those princess. O best of monarchs, became confounded and know not what to do. The angry Drona, O Bharata, beholding those princes stupefied, smilingly deprived them of their steeds and charioteers and cars in that battle. Then the illustrious son of Bharadwaja, by means of his sharp arrows and broad-headed shafts, cut off their heads, like a person plucking flowers from a tree. Deprived of life, those princes there, O king of great splendour, fell down from their cars on the earth, like the (slain) Daityas and Danavas in the battle between the gods and the Asuras in days of old. Having slain them in battle, O king, the valiant son of Bharadwaja shook his invincible bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold. Beholding those mighty car-warriors, resembling the very celestials among the Panchalas slain, Dhrishtadyumna inflamed with rage, shed tears in that battle. Excited with wrath, he rushed, in that encounter, against Drona's car. Then, O king, cries of woe suddenly arose there at the sight of Drona covered with arrows by the prince of Panchala. Completely shrouded by the high-souled son of Prishata, Drona, however, suffered no pain. On the other hand, he continued to fight, smiling the while. The prince of the Panchalas then, furious with rage, struck Drona in the chest with many straight shafts. Deeply pierced by that mighty warrior, the illustrious son Of Bharadwaja sat down on the terrace of his car and fell into a swoon. Beholding him in that condition, Dhrishtadyumna endued with great Prowess and energy, laid aside his bow and quickly took up a sword. That mighty car-warrior then, speedily jumping down from his own car, Mounted that of Bharadwaja, O 'sire, in no time, his eyes red in wrath and impelled by the desire of cutting Drona's head from off his trunk. Meanwhile, the valiant Drona, regaining his senses, took up his bow and
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seeing Dhrishtadyumna arrived so near him from desire of slaughter, began to pierce that mighty car-warrior with shafts measuring a span only in length and therefore, fit to be used in close fight. Those arrows of the measure of a span and fit to be used in close fight, were known to Drona, O king! And with them he succeeded in weakening Dhrishtadyumna. The mighty Dhrishtadyumna, struck with a large number of those arrows, quickly jumped down from Drona's car. Then, that hero of great prowess, his impetuosity baffled, mounted upon his own car and once more took up his large bow. And the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna once more began to pierce Drona in that battle. And Drona also, O monarch, began to pierce the son of Prishata with his arrows. There. upon, the battle that took place between Drona and the prince of the Panchalas was wonderful in the extreme, like that between Indra and Prahlada, both desirous of the sovereignty of the three worlds. Both conversant with the ways of battle, they careered over the field, displaying diverse motions of their cars and mangling each other with their shafts, And Drona and Prishata's son, stupefying the mind of the warriors, shot showers of shafts like two mighty clouds (pouring torrents of rain) in the rainy season. And those illustrious warriors shrouded with their shafts the welkin, the points of the compass, and the earth. And all creatures, viz., the Kshatriyas, O king, and all the other combatants there, highly applauded that battle between them. And the Panchalas, O king, loudly exclaimed, 'Without doubt, Drona, having encountered Dhrishtadyumna in battle, will succumb to us. Then Drona, in that battle, quickly cut off the head of Dhristadyumna's charioteer like a person plucking a ripe fruit from a tree. Then the steeds, O king, of the high-souled Dhrishtadyumna ran away and after those steeds had carried away Dhrishtadyumna from the field, Drona, endued with great prowess, began to rout the Panchalas and the Srinjayas in that battle. Having vanquished the Pandus and the Panchalas, Bharadwaja's son of great prowess, that chastiser of foes, once more took up his station in the midst of his own array. And the Pandavas, O lord, ventured not to vanquish him in battle.'

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 122

 

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      tasmin vinihate vīre saindhave savyasācinā
      māmakā yad akurvanta tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  2 [s]
      saindhavaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā raṇe pārthena māriṣa
      amarṣavaśam āpannaḥ kṛpaḥ śāradatas tadā
  3 mahatā śaravarṣeṇa pāṇḍavaṃ samavākirat
      drauṇiś cābhyadravat pārthaṃ ratham āsthāya phalgunam
  4 tāv enaṃ rathināṃ śreṣṭhau rathābhyāṃ rathasattamam
      ubhāv ubhayatas tīkṣṇair viśikhair abhyavarṣatām
  5 sa tathā śaravarṣābhyāṃ sumahadbhyāṃ mahābhujaḥ
      pīḍyamānaḥ parām ārtim agamad rathināṃ varaḥ
  6 so 'jighāṃsur guruṃ saṃkhye guros tanayam eva ca
      cakārācāryakaṃ tatra kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
  7 astrair astrāṇi saṃvārya drauṇeḥ śāradvatasya ca
      mandavegān iṣūṃs tābhyām ajighāṃsur avāsṛjat
  8 te nātibhṛśam abhyaghnan viśikhā jaya coditāḥ
      bahutvāt tu parām ārtiṃ śarāṇāṃ tāv agacchatām
  9 atha śāradvato rājan kaunteya śarapīḍitaḥ
      avāsīdad rathopasthe mūrcchām abhijagāma ha
  10 vihvalaṃ tam abhijñāya bhartāraṃ śarapīḍitam
     hato 'yam iti ca jñātvā sārasthis tam apāvahat
 11 tasmin sanne mahārāje kṛpe śāradvate yudhi
     aśvatthāmāpy apāyāsīt pāṇḍaveyād rathāntaram
 12 dṛṣṭvā śāradvataṃ pārtho mūrchitaṃ śarapīḍitam
     ratha eva maheṣvāsaḥ kṛpaṇaṃ paryadevayat
 13 paśyann idaṃ mahāprājñaḥ kṣattā rājānam uktavān
     kulānta karaṇe pāpe jātamātre suyodhane
 14 nīyatāṃ paralokāya sādhv ayaṃ kulapāṃsanaḥ
     asmād dhi kurumukhyānāṃ mahad utpatsyate bhayam
 15 tad idaṃ samanuprāptaṃ vacanaṃ satyavādinaḥ
     tat kṛte hy adya paśyāmi śaratalpagataṃ kṛpam
 16 dhig astu kṣātram ācāraṃ dhig astu balapauruṣam
     ko hi brāhmaṇam ācāryam abhidruhyeta mādṛśaḥ
 17 ṛṣiputro mamācāryo droṇasya dayitaḥ sakhā
     eṣa śete rathopasthe madbāṇair abhipīḍitaḥ
 18 akāmayānena mayā viśikhair ardito bhṛśam
     avāsīdad rathopasthe prāṇān pīḍayatīva me
 19 śarārditena hi mayā prekṣaṇīyo mahādyutiḥ
     pratyasto bahubhir bāṇair daśa dharmagatena vai
 20 śocayaty eṣa nipatan bhūyaḥ putravadhād dhi mām
     kṛpaṇaṃ svarathe sannaṃ paśya kṛṣṇa yathāgatam
 21 upākṛtya tu vai vidyām ācāryebhyo nararṣabhāḥ
     prayacchantīha ye kāmān devatvam upayānti te
 22 ye tu vidyām upādāya gurubhyaḥ puruṣādhamāḥ
     ghnanti tān eva durvṛttās te vai nirayagāminaḥ
 23 tad idaṃ narakāyādya kṛtaṃ karma mayā dhruvam
     ācāryaṃ śaravarṣeṇa rathe sādayatā kṛpam
 24 yat tat pūrvam upākurvann astraṃ mām abravīt kṛpaḥ
     na kathaṃ cana kauravya prahartavyaṃ gurāv iti
 25 tad idaṃ vacanaṃ sādhor ācāryasya mahātmanaḥ
     nānuṣṭhitaṃ tam evājau viśikhair abhivarṣatāṇ
 26 namas tasmai supūjyāya gautamāyāpalāyine
     dhig astu mama vārṣṇeya yo hy asmai praharāmy aham
 27 tathā vipalamāne tu savyasācini taṃ prati
     saidhavaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā rādheyaḥ samupādravat
 28 upāyāntaṃ tu rādheyaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārtho mahārathaḥ
     prahasan devakīputram idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 29 eṣa prayāty ādhirathiḥ sātyakeḥ syandanaṃ prati
     na mṛṣyati hataṃ nūnaṃ bhūriśravasam āhave
 30 yatra yāty eṣa tatra tvaṃ codayāśvāñ janārdana
     mā somadatteḥ padavīṃ gamayet sātyakiṃ vṛṣaḥ
 31 ekam ukto mahābāhuḥ keśavaḥ savyasācinā
     pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ kālayuktam idaṃ vacaḥ
 32 alam eṣa mahābāhuḥ karṇāyaiko hi pāṇḍava
     kiṃ punar draupadeyābhyāṃ sahitaḥ sātatarṣabhaḥ
 33 na ca tāvat kṣamaḥ pārtha karṇena tava saṃgaraḥ
     prajvalantī maholkeva tiṣṭhaty asya hi vāsavī
     tvadarthaṃ pūjyamānaiṣā rakṣyate paravīrahan
 34 ataḥ karṇaḥ prayātv atra sātvatasya yathātathā
     ahaṃ jñāsyāmi kauravya kālam asya durātmanaḥ
 35 [dhv]
     yo 'sau karṇena vīreṇa vārṣṇeyasya samāgamaḥ
     hate tu bhūriśravasi sandhave ca nipātite
 36 sātyakiś cāpi virathaḥ kaṃ samārūḍhavān ratham
     cakrarakṣau ca pāñcālyau tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
 37 [s]
     hanta te varṇayiṣyāmi yathāvṛttaṃ mahāraṇe
     śuśrūṣasva sthiro bhūtvā durācaritam ātmanaḥ
 38 pūrvam eva hi kṛṣṇasya manogatam idaṃ prabho
     vijetavyo yathā vīraḥ sātyakir yūpaketunā
 39 atītānāgataṃ rājan sa hi vetti janārdanaḥ
     ataḥ sūtaṃ samāhūya dārukaṃ saṃdideśa ha
     ratho me yujyatāṃ kālyam iti rājan mahābalaḥ
 40 na hi devā na gandharvā na yakṣoraga rākṣasāḥ
     mānavā vā vijetāraḥ kṛṣṇayoḥ santi ke cana
 41 pitāmahapurogāś ca devāḥ siddhāś ca taṃ viduḥ
     tayoḥ prabhāvam atulaṃ śṛṇu yuddhaṃ ca tad yathā
 42 sātyakiṃ virathaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ cābhyudyatāyudham
     dadhmau śaṅkhaṃ mahāvegam ārṣabheṇātha mādhavaḥ
 43 dāruko 'vetya saṃdeśaṃ śrutvā śaṅkhasya ca svanam
     ratham anvānayat tasmai suparṇocchritaketanam
 44 sa keśavasyānumate rathaṃ dāruka saṃyutam
     āruroha śineḥ pautro jvalanāditya saṃnibham
 45 kāmagaiḥ sainyasugrīva meghapuṣpabalāhakaiḥ
     hayodagrair mahāvegair hemabhāṇḍa vibhūṣitaiḥ
 46 yuktaṃ samāruhya ca taṃ vimānapratimaṃ ratham
     abhyadravata rādheyaṃ pravapan sāyakān bahūn
 47 cakrarakṣāv api tadā yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
     dhanaṃjayarathaṃ hitvā rādheyaṃ pratyudīyayuḥ
 48 rādheyo 'pi mahārāja śaravarṣaṃ samutsṛjan
     abhyadravat susaṃkruddho raṇe śaineyam acyutam
 49 naiva daivaṃ na gāndharvaṃ nāsuroraga rākṣasam
     tādṛśaṃ bhuvi vā yuddhaṃ divi vā śrutam ity uta
 50 upāramata tat sainyaṃ sa rathāśvanaradvipam
     tayor dṛṣṭvā mahārāja karma saṃmūḍhacetanam
 51 sarve ca samapaśyanta tad yuddham atimānuṣam
     tayor nṛvarayo rājan sārathyaṃ dārukasya ca
 52 gatapratyāgatāvṛttair maṇḍalaiḥ saṃnivartanaiḥ
     sārathes tu rathasthasya kāśyapeyasya vismitāḥ
 53 nabhastalagatāś caiva devagandharvadānavāḥ
     atīvāvahitā draṣṭuṃ karṇa śaineyayo raṇam
 54 mitrārthe tau parākrāntau spardhinau śuṣmiṇau raṇe
     karṇaś cāmarasaṃkāśo yuyudhānaś ca sātyakiḥ
 55 anyonyaṃ tau mahārāja śaravarṣair avarṣatām
     pramamātha śineḥ pautraṃ karṇaḥ sāyakavṛṣṭibhiḥ
 56 amṛṣyamāṇo nidhanaṃ kauravya jalasaṃdhayoḥ
     karṇaḥ śokasamāviṣṭo mahoraga iva śvasan
 57 sa śaineyaṃ raṇe kruddhaḥ pradahann iva cakṣuṣā
     abhyadravata vegena punaḥ punar ariṃdamaḥ
 58 taṃ tu saṃprekṣya saṃkruddhaṃ sātyakiḥ pratyavidhyata
     mahatā śaravarṣeṇa gajaḥ pratigajaṃ yathā
 59 tau sametya naravyāghrau vyāghrāv iva tarasvinau
     anyonyaṃ saṃtatakṣāte raṇe 'nupama vikramau
 60 tataḥ karṇaṃ śineḥ pautraḥ sarvapāraśavaiḥ śaraiḥ
     vibheda sarvagātreṣu punaḥ punar ariṃdamaḥ
 61 sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat
     aśvāṃś ca caturaḥ śvetān nijaghne niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 62 chittvā dhvajaṃ śatenaiva śatadhā puruṣarṣabhaḥ
     cakāra virathaṃ karṇaṃ tava putrasya paśyataḥ
 63 tato vimanaso rājaṃs tāvakāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ
     vṛṣasenaḥ karṇasutaḥ śalyo madrādhipas tathā
 64 droṇaputraś ca śaineyaṃ sarvataḥ paryavārayan
     tataḥ paryākulaṃ sarvaṃ na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
 65 tathā sātyakinā vīre virathe sūtaje kṛte
     hāhākāras tato rājan sarvasainyeṣu cābhavat
 66 karṇo 'pi vihvalo rājan sātvatenārditaḥ śaraiḥ
     duryodhana rathaṃ rājann āruroha viniḥśvasan
 67 mānayaṃs tava putrasya bālyāt prabhṛti sauhṛdam
     kṛtāṃ rājyapradānena pratijñāṃ paripālayan
 68 tathā tu virathe karṇe putrān vai tava pārthiva
     duḥśāsana mukhāñ śūrān nāvadhīt sātyakir vaśī
 69 rakṣan pratijñāṃ ca punar bhīmasenakṛtāṃ purā
     virathān vihvalāṃś cakre na tu prāṇair vyayojayat
 70 bhīmasenena tu vadhaḥ putrāṇāṃ te pratiśrutaḥ
     punardyūte ca pārthena vadhaḥ karṇasya śaṃśrutaḥ
 71 vadhe tv akurvan yatnaṃ te tasya karṇa mukhās tadā
     nāśaknuvaṃś ca taṃ hantuṃ sātyakiṃ pravarā rathāḥ
 72 drauṇiś ca kṛtavarmā ca tathaivānye mahārathāḥ
     nirjitā dhanuṣaikena śataśaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
     kāṅkṣatā paralokaṃ ca dharmarājasya ca priyam
 73 kṛṣṇayoḥ sadṛśo vīrye sātyakiḥ śatrukarśanaḥ
     kṛṣṇo vāpi bhavel loke pārtho vāpi dhanurdharaḥ
     śaineyo vā naravyaghraś caturtho nopalabhyate
 74 [dhṛ]
     ajayyaṃ ratham āsthāya vāsudevasya sātyakiḥ
     virathaṃ kṛtavān karṇaṃ vāsudeva samo yuvā
 75 dārukeṇa samāyuktaṃ svabāhubaladarpitaḥ
     kac cid anyaṃ samārūḍhaḥ sa rathaṃ sātyakiḥ punaḥ
 76 etad icchāmy ahaṃ śrotuṃ kuśalo hy asi bhāṣitum
     asahyaṃ tam ahaṃ manye tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
 77 [s]
     śṛṇu rājan yathā tasya ratham anyaṃ mahāmatiḥ
     dārukasyānujas tūrṇaṃ kalpanā vidhikalpitam
 78 āyasaiḥ kāñcanairś cāpi paṭṭair naddhaṃ sa kūbaram
     tārā sahasrakhacitaṃ siṃhadhvajapatākinam
 79 aśvair vātajavair yuktaṃ hemabhāṇḍa paricchadaiḥ
     pāṇḍurair indusaṃkāśaiḥ sarvaśabdātigair dṛḍhaiḥ
 80 citrakāñcanasaṃnāhair vājimukhyair viśāṃ pate
     ghaṇṭājālākula ravaṃ śaktitomaravidyutam
 81 vṛtaṃ sāṃgrāmikair dravyair bahuśastraparicchadam
     rathaṃ saṃpādayām āsa meghagambhīra nisvanam
 82 taṃ samāruhya śaineyas tava sainyam upādravat
     dāruko 'pi yathākāmaṃ prayayau keśavāntikam
 83 karṇasyāpi mahārāja śaṅkhagokṣīra pāṇḍuraiḥ
     citrakāñcanasaṃnāhaiḥ sadaśvair vegavattaraiḥ
 84 hemakakṣyā dhvajopetaṃ kḷpta yantrapatākinam
     agryaṃ rathaṃ suyantāraṃ bahuśastraparicchadam
 85 upājahrus tam āsthāya karṇo 'py abhyadravad ripūn
     etat te saram ākhyātaṃ yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi
 86 bhūyaś cāpi nibodha tvaṃ tavāpanayajaṃ kṣayam
     ekatriṃśat tava sutā bhīmasenena pātitāḥ
 87 durmukhaṃ pramukhe kṛtvā satataṃ citrayodhinam
     śataśo nihatāḥ śūrāḥ sātvatenārjunena ca
 88 bhīṣmaṃ pramukhataḥ kṛtvā bhagadattaṃ ca māriṣa
     evam eṣa kṣayo vṛtto rājan durmantrite tava

 

SECTION CXXII

"Sanjaya said, 'Meanwhile, O king, Duhsasana rushed against the grandson of Sini, scattering thousands of shafts like a mighty cloud pouring torrents of rain. Having pierced Satyaki with sixty arrows and once more with sixteen, he failed to make that hero tremble, for the latter stood it, battle, immovable as the Mainaka mountain. Accompanied by a large throng of cars hailing from diverse realms, that foremost one of Bharata's
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race shot numberless arrows, and filled all the points of the compass with roars deep as those of the clouds. Beholding the Kaurava coming to battle, Satyaki of mighty arms rushed towards him and shrouded him with his shafts. They that were at the van of Duhsasana, thus covered with those arrowy showers, all fled away in fear, in the very sight of thy son. After they had fled away, O monarch, thy son Duhsasana, O king, remained fearlessly in battle and began to afflict Satyaki with arrows. And piercing the four steeds of Satyaki with four arrows, his charioteer with three, and Satyaki himself with a hundred in that battle, Duhsasana uttered a loud roar, Then, O monarch, Madhava, inflamed with rage, soon made Duhsasana's car and driver and standard and Duhsasana himself invisible by means of his straight arrows. Indeed, Satyaki entirely shrouded the brave Duhsasana with arrows. Like a spider entangling a gnat within reach by means of its threads, that vanquisher of foes quickly covered Duhsasana with his shafts. Then King Duryodhana, seeing Duhsasana thus covered with arrows, urged a body of Trigartas towards the car of Yuyudhana. Those Trigarta car-warriors, of fierce deeds, accomplished in battle, and numbering three thousand, proceeded towards Yuyudhana. Firmly resolved upon battle and swearing not to retreat, all of them encompassed Yuyudhana with a large throng of cars, Soon, however, Yuyudhana struck down five hundred of their foremost warriors stationed in the van of the force as it advanced towards him in battle, shooting showers of arrows at him. Speedily slain by that foremost one amongst the Sinis with his shafts, these fell down, like tall trees from mountain-tops uprooted by a tempest. And the field of battle, strewn with mangled elephants, O monarch, and fallen standards, and bodies of steeds decked in trappings of gold, and torn and lacerated with the shafts of Sini's grandson and weltering in blood, looked beautiful, O king, like a plain overgrown with flowering Kinsukas. Those soldiers of thine, thus slaughtered by Yuyudhana, failed to find a protector like elephants sunk in a morass. Then all of them turned towards the spot where Drona's car was, like mighty snakes making towards holes from fear of the prince of birds. Having slain those five hundred brave warriors by in means of his shafts, resembling snakes of virulent poison, that hero slowly proceeded towards the place where Dhananjaya was. And as that foremost of men was thus proceeding thy son Duhsasana quickly pierced him with nine straight arrows. That mighty bowman then (Yuyudhana), pierced Duhsasana, in return, with five straight and sharp arrows equipped with golden wings and vulturine feather. Then Duhsasana, O Bharata, smiling the while, pierced Satyaki, O monarch, with three arrows, and once more with five. The grandson of Sini, then, striking thy Son with five arrows and Cutting off his bow proceeded smilingly towards Arjuna. Then Duhsasana, inflamed with wrath and desirous of slaying the Vrishni hero, hurled at him, as he proceeded, a dart made wholly of iron. Satyaki, however, O king, cut off, with his shafts, equipped with Kanka feathers, that fierce dart Of thy son. Then, O ruler of men, then, thy son, taking up another bow,
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pierced Satyaki with some arrows and uttered a loud roar. Then Satyaki excited with wrath, stupefying thy son in that battle, struck him in the centre of the chest with some shafts that resembled flames of fire. And once more, he pierced Duhsasana with eight shafts made wholly of iron and having very keen points. Duhsasana, however, pierced Satyaki in return with twenty arrows. Then, the highly-blessed Satyaki, O monarch, pierced Duhsasana in the centre of the chest with three straight arrows. And the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, with some straight shafts slew the steeds of Duhsasana; inflamed with wrath he slew, with some straight arrows, that the latter's charioteer also. With one broad-headed arrow he then cut off thy son's bow, and with five arrows he cut the leathern fence that encased his hand. Acquainted as he was with highest weapons, Satyaki, then, with a couple of broad-headed shafts, cut off Duhsasana's standard and the wooden shafts of his car. And then with a number of keen arrows he slew both the Parshni charioteers of thy son. The latter, then, bowless and carless and steedless and driverless, was taken up by the leader of the Trigarta warriors on his car. The grandson of Sini, then, O Bharata, pursuing him a moment, restrained himself and slew him not, for the mighty-armed hero recollected the words of Bhimasena. Indeed, Bhimasena, O Bharata, vowed in the midst of the assembly the destruction of all thy sons in battle. Then, O lord, Satyaki, having thus vanquished Duhsasana, quickly proceeded, O king, along the track by which Dhananjaya had gone before him.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 123

 

1 [dhṛ]
      tathāgateṣu śūreṣu teṣāṃ mama ca saṃjaya
      kiṃ vai bhīmas tadākārṣīt tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  2 [s]
      viratho bhīmaseno vai karṇa vākśalya pīḍitaḥ
      amarṣavaśam āpannaḥ phalgunaṃ vākyam abravīt
  3 punaḥ punas tūbaraka mūḍha audariketi ca
      akṛtāstraka mā yodhīr bāla saṃgrāmakātara
  4 iti mām abravīt karṇaḥ paśyatas te dhanaṃjaya
      evaṃ vaktā ca me vadhyas tena cokto 'smi bhārata
  5 etad vrataṃ mahābāho tvayā saha kṛtaṃ mayā
      yathaitan mama kauneya tathā tava na saṃśayaḥ
  6 tad vadhāya naraśreṣṭha smaraitad vacanaṃ mama
      yathā bhavati tat satyaṃ tathā kuru dhanaṃjaya
  7 tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya bhīmasyāmita vikramaḥ
      tato 'rjuno 'bravīt karṇaṃ kiṃ cid abhyetya saṃyuge
  8 karṇa karṇa vṛthā dṛṣṭe sūtaputrātma saṃstuta
      adharmabuddhe śṛṇu me yat tvā vakṣyāmi sāṃpratam
  9 dvividhaṃ karma śūrāṇāṃ yuddhe jayaparājayau
      tau cāpy anityau rādheya vāsavasyāpi yudhyataḥ
  10 mumūrṣur yuyudhānena viratho 'si visarjitaḥ
     yadṛcchayā bhīmasenaṃ virathaṃ kṛtavān asi
 11 adharmas tv eṣa rādheya yat tvaṃ bhīmam avocathāḥ
     yuddhadharmaṃ vijānan vai yudhyantam apalāyinam
     pūrayantaṃ yathāśakti śūra karmāhave tathā
 12 paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ keśavasya mamaiva ca
     viratho bhīmasenena kṛto 'si bahuśo raṇe
     na ca tvāṃ paruṣaṃ kiṃ cid uktavān paṇḍunandanaḥ
 13 yasmāt tu bahu rūkṣaṃ ca śrāvitas te vṛkodaraḥ
     parokṣaṃ yac ca saubhadro yuṣmābhir nihato mama
 14 tasmād asyāvalepasya sadyaḥ phalam avāpnuhi
     tvayā tasya dhanuś chinnam ātmanāśāya durmate
 15 tasmād vadhyo 'si me mūḍha sa bhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ
     kuru tvaṃ sarvakṛtyāni mahat te bhayam āgatam
 16 hantāsmi vṛṣasenaṃ te prekṣamāṇasya saṃyuge
     ye cānye 'py upayāsyanti buddhimohena māṃ nṛpāḥ
     tāṃś ca sarvān haniṣyāmi satyenāyudham ālabhe
 17 tvāṃ ca mūḍhākṛta prajñam atimāninam āhave
     dṛṣṭvā duryodhano mando bhṛśaṃ tapsyati pātitam
 18 arjunena pratijñāte vadhe karṇasutasya tu
     mahān sutumulaḥ śabdo babhūva rathināṃ tadā
 19 tasminn ākulasaṃgrāme vartamāne mahābhaye
     mandaraśmiḥ sahasrāṃśur astaṃ girim upāgamat
 20 tato rājan hṛṣīkeśaḥ saṃgrāmaśirasi sthitam
     tīrṇapratijñaṃ bībhatsuṃ pariṣvajyedam abravīt
 21 diṣṭyā saṃpāditā jiṣṇo pratijñā mahatī tvayā
     diṣṭyā ca nihataḥ pāpo vṛddhakṣatraḥ sahātmajaḥ
 22 dhārtarāṣṭra balaṃ prāpya deva senāpi bhārata
     sīdeta samare jiṣṇo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā
 23 na taṃ paśyāmi lokeṣu cintayan puruṣaṃ kva cit
     tvadṛte puruṣavyāghra ya etad yodhayed balam
 24 mahāprabhāva bahavas tvayā tulyādhikāpi vā
     sametāḥ pṛthivīpālā dhārtarāṣṭrasya kāraṇāt
     te tvāṃ prāpya raṇe kruddhaṃ nābhyavartanta daṃśitāḥ
 25 tava vīryaṃ balaṃ caiva rudra śakrāntakopamam
     nedṛśaṃ śaknuyat kaś cid raṇe kartuṃ parākramam
     yādṛśaṃ kṛtavān adya tvam ekaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
 26 evam eva hate karṇe sānubandhe durātmani
     vardhayiṣyāmi bhūyas tvāṃ vijitāriṃ hatadviṣam
 27 tam arjunaḥ pratyuvāca prasādāt tava mādhava
     pratijñeyaṃ mayottīrṇā vibudhair api dustarā
 28 anāścaryo jayas teṣāṃ yeṣāṃ nātho 'si mādhava
     tvatprasādān mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ saṃprāpsyati yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 29 tavaiva bhāro vārṣṇeya tavaiva vijayaḥ prabho
     vardhanīyās tava vayaṃ preṣyāś ca madhusūdana
 30 evam uktaḥ smayan kṛṣṇaḥ śanakair vāhayan hayān
     darśayām āsa pārthāya krūram āyodhanaṃ mahat
 31 [k]
     prārthayanto jayaṃ yuddhe pratitaṃ ca mahad yaśaḥ
     pṛthivyāṃ śerate śūrāḥ parthivās tvac charair hatāḥ
 32 vikīrṇaśastrābharaṇā vipannāśvarathadvipāḥ
     saṃchinnabhinna varmāṇo vaiklavyaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ
 33 sa sattvagatasattvāś ca prabhayā parayā yutāḥ
     sa jīvā iva lakṣyante gatasattvā narādhipāḥ
 34 teṣāṃ śaraiḥ svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śastraiś ca vividhaiḥ śitaiḥ
     vāhanair āyudhaiś caiva saṃpūrṇāṃ paśya medinīm
 35 varmabhiś carmabhir hāraiḥ śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalaiḥ
     uṣṇīṣair mukuṭaiḥ sragbhiś cūḍāmaṇibhir ambaraiḥ
 36 kaṇṭhasūtrair aṅgadaiś ca niṣkair api ca suprabhaiḥ
     anyaiś cābrahaṇaiś citrair bhāti bhārata medinī
 37 cāmarair vyajanaiś citrair dhvajaiś cāśvarathadvipaiḥ
     vividhaiś ca paristomair aśvānāṃ ca prakīrṇakaiḥ
 38 kuthābhiś ca vicitrābhir varūthaiś ca mahādhanaiḥ
     saṃstīrṇāṃ vasudhāṃ paśya citrapaṭṭair ivāvṛtām
 39 nāgebhyaḥ patitān anyān kalpitebhyo dvipaiḥ saha
     siṃhān vajrapraṇunnebhyo giryagrebhya iva cyutān
 40 saṃsyūtān vājibhiḥ sārdhaṃ dharaṇyāṃ paśya cāparān
     padātisādi saṃghāṃś ca kṣatajaughapariplutān
 41 [s]
     evaṃ saṃdarśayan kṛṣṇo raṇabhūmiṃ kirīṭinaḥ
     svaiḥ sametaḥ sa muditaḥ pāñcajanyaṃ vyanādayat

 

SECTION CXXIII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Were there, O Sanjaya, no mighty car-warriors in that army of mine who could slay or resist that Satyaki while he proceeded (towards Arjuna)? Of prowess incapable of being baffled, and endued with might equal to that of Sakra himself, alone he achieved feats in battle like the great Indra amidst the Danavas! Or, perhaps, the track by which Satyaki proceeded was empty? Alas, possessed of true prowess, alone he hath crushed numberless warriors! Tell me, O Sanjaya, how the grandson of Sini, alone as he was, passed through that vast force struggling with him in battle?'
"Sanjaya said, 'O king, the fierce exertions and the uproar made by thy host which abounded with cars and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers, resembled what is seen at the end of the yuga. O giver of honours, when thy assembled host was (daily) mustered, it seemed to me that another assemblage like that of thy army had never been on earth. The gods and the Charanas, who came there said, 'This muster will be the last of its kind on earth.' Indeed, O king, never had such an array been formed before
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as that which was formed by Drona on the day of Jayadratha's slaughter. The uproar made by those vast bodies of soldiers rushing at one another in battle resembled that of the ocean itself lashed into fury by the tempest. In that host of thine, as also in that of the Pandavas, there were hundreds and thousands of kings, O best of men. The noise made by those angry heroes of fierce deeds while engaged in battle was tremendous and made the hair-stand on end. Then Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna, O sire, and Nakula and Sahadeva and king Yudhishthira the Just, loudly shouted, 'Come, Strike, Rush! The brave Madhava and Arjuna have entered the hostile army! Do that quickly by which they may easily go to where Jayadratha's car is.' Saying this, they urged their soldiers. And they continued, 'If Satyaki and Arjuna be slain, Kurus will have achieved their objects, and ourselves shall be defeated. All of you, therefore, uniting together, quickly agitate this ocean-like army (of the foe) like impetuous winds agitating the deep.' The warriors, O king, thus urged by Bhimasena and the prince of the Panchalas, smothered the Kauravas, becoming reckless of their very lives. Endued with great energy, all of them, desiring death in battle, at the point or the edge of weapons in expectation of heaven, showed not the least regard for their lives in fighting for their friends. Similarly, thy warriors, O king, desirous of great renown, and nobly resolved upon battle, stood on the field, determined to fight. In that fierce and terrible battle, Satyaki having vanquished all the combatants proceeded towards Arjuna. The rays of the sun being reflected from the bright armour of the warriors, the combatants were obliged to withdraw their eyes from those. Duryodhana also, O king, penetrated the mighty host of the high-souled Pandavas vigorously struggling in battle. The encounter that took place between him on the one side and them on the other, was exceedingly fierce, and great was the carnage that occurred there on the occasion.'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'When the Pandava host was thus proceeding to battle, Duryodhana, in penetrating it, must have been placed in great distress. I hope, he did not turn his back upon the field, O Suta! That encounter between one and the many in dreadful battle, the one, again, being a king, seems to me to have been very unequal. Besides, Duryodhana hath been brought up in great luxury, in wealth and possessions, he is a king of men. Alone encountering many, I hope he did not turn back from fight.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Listen to me, O king, as I describe, O Bharata, that wonderful battle fought by thy son, that encounter between one and the many. Indeed, the Pandava army was agitated by Duryodhana in that battle, like an assemblage of lotus-stalks in a lake by an elephant. Seeing then that army thus smitten by thy son, O king, the Panchalas headed by Bhimasena rushed at them. Then Duryodhana pierced Bhimasena with ten arrows and each of the twins with three and king Yudhishthira with seven. And he pierced Virata and Drupada with six arrows, and Sikhandin with a hundred. And piercing Dhrishtadyumna with twenty arrows, he struck each of the five sons of Draupadi with three arrows. With his
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fierce shafts he cut off hundreds of other combatants in that battle, including elephants and car-warriors, like the Destroyer himself in wrath exterminating creatures. In consequence of his skill cultured by practice and of the power of his weapons, he seemed, as he was engaged in striking down his foes, to bend his bow incessantly drawn to a circle whether when aiming or letting off his shafts. Indeed, that formidable bow of his, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, was seen by people to be drawn into a perpetual circle as he was employed in slaying his enemies. Then king Yudhishthira, with a couple of broad-headed shafts, cut off the bow of thy son, O thou of Kuru's race, as the latter struggled in fight. And Yudhishthira also pierced him deeply with ten excellent and foremost of shafts. Those arrows, however, touching the armour of Duryodhana, quickly broke into pieces. Then the Parthas, filled with delight surrounded Yudhishthira, like the celestials and great Rishis in days of old surrounding Sakra on the occasion of the slaughter of Vritra. Thy valiant son then, taking up another bow, addressed king Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, saying, 'Wait, Wait,' and rushed against him. Beholding thy son thus advancing in great battle, the Panchalas, cheerfully and with hopes of victory, advanced to receive him. Then Drona, desirous of rescuing the (Kuru) king, received the rushing Panchalas, like a mountain receiving masses of rain-charged clouds driven by tempest. The battle then, O king, that took place there was exceedingly fierce, making the hair stand on end, between the Pandavas, O thou of mighty arms, and thy warriors. Dreadful was the carnage of all creatures that then took place, resembling the sport of Rudra himself (at the end of the Yuga). Then there arose a loud uproar at the place where Dhananjaya was. And that uproar, O lord, making the hair stand on end, rose above all other sounds. Thus, O mighty-armed one, progressed the battle between Arjuna and thy bowmen. Thus progressed the battle between Satyaki and thy men in the midst of thy army. And thus continued the fight between Drona and his enemies at the gate of the array. Thus, indeed, O lord of the earth, continued that carnage on the earth, when Arjuna and Drona and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki were all excited with wrath.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 124

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā rathād āplutya bhārata
      paryaṣvajat tadā kṛṣṇāv ānandāśru pariplutaḥ
  2 pramṛjya vadanaṃ śubhraṃ puṇḍarīkasamaprabham
      abravīd vāsudevaṃ ca pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
  3 diṣṭyā paśyāmi saṃgrāme tīrṇabhārau mahārathau
      diṣṭyā ca nihataḥ pāpaḥ saindhavaḥ puruṣādhamaḥ
  4 kṛṣṇa diṣṭyā mama prītir mahatī pratipāditā
      diṣṭyā śatrugaṇāś caiva nimagnāḥ śokasāgare
  5 na teṣāṃ duṣkaraṃ kiṃ cit triṣu lokeṣu vidyate
      sarvalokagurur yeṣāṃ tvaṃ nātho madhusūdana
  6 tava prasādād govinda vayaṃ jeṣyāmahe ripūn
      yathāpūrvaṃ prasādāt te dānavān pākaśāsanaḥ
  7 pṛthivī vijayo vāpi trailokyavijayo 'pi vā
      dhruvo hi teṣāṃ vārṣṇeya yeṣāṃ tuṣṭo 'si mādhava
  8 na teṣāṃ vidyate pāpaṃ saṃgrāme vā parājayaḥ
      tridaśeśvaranāthas tvaṃ yeṣāṃ tuṣṭo 'si mādhava
  9 tvatprasādād dhṛṣīkeśa śakraḥ suragaṇeśvaraḥ
      trailokyavijayaṃ śrīmān prāptavān raṇamūrdhani
  10 tava caiva prasādena tridaśās tridaśeśvara
     amaratvaṃ gatāḥ kṛṣṇa lokāṃś cāśnuvate 'kṣayān
 11 tvatprasāda samutthena vikrameṇāri sūdana
     sureśatvaṃ gataḥ śakro hatvā daityān sahasraśaḥ
 12 tvatprasādād dhṛṣīkeśa jagat sthāvarajaṅgamam
     svavartmani sthitaṃ vīra japahomeṣu vartate
 13 ekārṇavam idaṃ pūrvaṃ sarvam āsīt tamomayam
     tvatprasādāt prakāśatvaṃ jagat prāptaṃ narottama
 14 sraṣṭāraṃ sarvalokānāṃ paramātmānam acyutam
     ye prapannā hṛṣīkeśaṃ na te muhyanti karhi cit
 15 anādi nidhanaṃ devaṃ lokakartāram avyayam
     tvāṃ bhaktā ye hṛṣīkeśa durgāṇy atitaranti te
 16 paraṃ purāṇaṃ puruṣaṃ purāṇānāṃ paraṃ ca yat
     prapadyatas taṃ paramaṃ parā bhūtir vidhīyate
 17 yo 'gāta caturo vedān yaś ca vedeṣu gīyate
     taṃ prapadya mahātmānaṃ bhūtim āpnoty anuttamām
 18 dhanaṃjaya sakhā yaś ca dhanaṃjaya hitaś ca yaḥ
     taṃ dhanaṃjaya goptāraṃ prapadya sukham edhate
 19 ity uktau tau mahātmānāv ubhau keśava pāṇḍavau
     tāv abrūtāṃ tadā hṛṣṭau rājānaṃ pṛthivīpatim
 20 tava kopāgninā dagdhaḥ pāpo rājā jayadrathaḥ
     udīrṇaṃ cāpi sumahad dhārtarāṣṭra balaṃ raṇe
 21 hanyate nihataṃ caiva vinaṅkṣyati ca bhārata
     tava krodhahatā hy ete kauravāḥ śatrusūdana
 22 tvāṃ hi cakṣurhaṇaṃ vīraṃ kopayitvā suyodhanaḥ
     sa mitra bandhuḥ samare prāṇāṃs tyakṣyati durmatiḥ
 23 tava krodhahataḥ pūrvaṃ devair api sudurjayaḥ
     śaratalpagataḥ śete bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
 24 durlabho hi jayas teṣāṃ saṃgrāme ripusūdana
     yātā mṛtyuvaśaṃ te vai yeṣāṃ kroddho 'si pāṇḍava
 25 rājyaṃ prāṇāḥ priyāḥ putrāḥ saukhyāni vividhāni ca
     acirāt tasya naśyanti yeṣāṃ kruddo 'si mānada
 26 vinaṣṭān kauravān manye saputrapaśubāndhavān
     rājadharmapare nityaṃ tvayi kruddhe yudhiṣṭhira
 27 tato bhīmo mahābāhuḥ sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
     abhivādya guruṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ mārgaṇaiḥ kṣatavikṣatau
     sthitāv āstāṃ maheṣvāsau pāñcālyaiḥ parivāritau
 28 tau dṛṣṭva muditau vīrau prāñjalīcāgrataḥ sthitau
     abhyanandata kaunteyas tāv ubhau bhīma sātyakī
 29 diṣṭyā paśyāmi vāṃ vīrau vimuktau sainyasāgarāt
     droṇa grāhād durādharṣād dhārdikya makarālayāt
     diṣṭyā ca nirjitāḥ saṃkhye pṛthivyāṃ sarvapārthivāḥ
 30 yuvāṃ vijayinau cāpi diṣṭyā paśyāmi saṃyuge
     diṣṭyā droṇo jitaḥ saṃkhye hārdikyaś ca mahābalaḥ
 31 sainyārṇavaṃ samuttīrṇau diṣṭyā paśyāmi cānaghau
     samaraślāghinau vīrau samareṣv apalāyinau
     mama prāṇasamau caiva diṣṭyā paśyāmi vām aham
 32 ity uktvā pāṇḍavo rājā yuyudhāna vṛkodarau
     sasvaje puruṣavyāghrau harṣād bāṣpaṃ mumoca ha
 33 tataḥ pramuditaḥ sarvaṃ balam āsīd viśāṃ pate
     pāṇḍavānāṃ jayaṃ dṛṣṭvā yuddhāya ca mano dadhe

SECTION CXXIV

"Sanjaya said, 'In the afternoon of that day, O king, a dreadful battle, characterised by roars, deep as those of the clouds, once more occurred between Drona and the Somakas. That foremost of men, Drona, mounted on his car of red steeds, and intent on battle rushed against the Pandavas, with moderate speed. The valiant son of Bharadwaja, that great bowman endued with mighty strength, that hero born in an excellent
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pot, engaged in doing what was agreeable to thee, O king, and striking down, O Bharata, many foremost of warriors with his whetted arrows, equipped with beautiful wings, seemed to sport in that battle. Then that mighty car-warrior of the Kaikeyas, Vrihatkshatra, irresistible in battle, and the eldest of five brothers, rushed against him. Shooting many keen shafts, he greatly afflicted the preceptor, like a mighty mass of clouds pouring torrents of rain on the mountain of Gandhamadana. Then Drona, O king, excited with wrath sped at him five and ten shafts whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. The prince of the Kekayas, however, cheerfully cut off every one of those shafts shot by Drona, and which resembled angry snakes of virulent poison, with five shafts of his own. Beholding that lightness of hand displayed by him that bull among Brahmanas, then, sped at him eight straight shafts. Seeing those shafts shot from Drona's bow, swiftly coursing towards him, Vrihatkshatra in that battle resisted them with as many sharp shafts of his. Beholding that exceedingly difficult feat achieved by Vrihatkshatra, thy troops, O king, were filled with amazement. Then Drona, O monarch, applauding Vrihatkshatra, invoked into existence the irresistible and celestial weapon called Brahma in that battle. The prince of the Kekayas, seeing it shot by Drona in battle, baffled that Brahma weapon, O monarch, by a Brahma weapon of his own. After that weapon had been thus baffled, Vrihatkshatra, O Bharata, pierced the Brahmana with sixty shafts whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. Then Drona, that foremost of men, pierced the prince of the Kekayas with a powerful shaft which, penetrating through the latter's armour, (passed through his body and) entered the earth. As a black cobra, O best of kings, pierces through an ant-hill, even so did that shafts enter the earth, having pierced through the body of the Kekaya prince in that battle. Deeply pierced, O monarch, with the shafts of Drona, the prince of the Kekayas, filled with rage, and rolling his beautiful eyes, pierced Drona with seventy arrows whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. And with another arrow he greatly afflicted Drona's charioteer in this very vitals. Pierced by Vrihatkshatra, O sire, with arrows, Drona shot showers of keen shafts at the car of the Prince of the Kekayas. Depriving the mighty car-warrior, Vrihatkshatra, of his coolness, Drona then, with four-winged arrows, slew the four steeds of the former. With another arrow he felled Vrihatkshatra's charioteer from his niche in the car. And felling on the earth, with two other arrows, his enemy's standard and umbrella, that bull among Brahmanas, with a third shaft well-shot from his bow, pierced Vrihatkshatra himself in the chest. Thereupon, the latter, thus struck in the chest, fell down from his car.
"Upon the slaughter, O king, of Vrihatkshatra, that mighty car-warrior among the Kaikeyas, the son of Sisupala, filled with rage, addressed his charioteer, saying, 'O charioteer, proceed to the spot where Drona stayeth, clad in armour and engaged in slaying the Kaikeya and the Panchala hosts.' Hearing these words of his, the charioteer soon took that foremost
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of car-warriors unto Drona, by means of those fleet steeds of the Kamvoja breed. Then Dhrishtaketu, that bull among the Chedis, swelling with might, rushed towards Drona for his own destruction like an insect upon a blazing fire. Soon he pierced Drona and his steeds and car and standard with sixty shafts. And once more he struck him with many other keen shafts like a man rousing a sleeping tiger. Then Drona, with a sharp razor-faced arrow winged with vulturine feathers, cut off the middle of the bow of that mighty warrior struggling in battle. Then that powerful car-warrior, viz., the son of Sisupala, taking up another bow, pierced Drona with many shafts winged with the feathers of Kankas and peacocks. Drona then, slaying with four shafts the four steeds of Dhrishtaketu, smilingly cut off the head of the latter's charioteer from his trunk. And then he pierced Dhrishtaketu himself with five and twenty arrows. The prince of the Chedis then, quickly jumping down from his car, took up a mace, and hurled it at the son of Bharadwaja like an angry snake. Beholding that heavy mace, endued with the strength of adamant and decked with gold, coursing towards him like Death, the son of Bharadwaja cut it off with many thousands of whetted arrows. That mace, cut off by Bharadwaja's son, O sire, with many shafts, fell down, O Kaurava, making the earth echo with its noise. Beholding his mace baffled, the wrathful and brave Dhrishtaketu hurled a lance and then a dart decked with gold. Cutting off that lance with five shafts, Drona cut off that dart also with five arrows. Both those missiles, thus cut off, fell down on the earth, like a couple of snakes mangled and torn by Garuda. The valiant son of Bharadwaja then, in that battle, sped for his destruction a keen shaft at Dhrishtaketu who was battling for the destruction of Bharadwaja himself. That shaft, piercing through the armour and breast of Dhrishtaketu of immeasurable energy, entered the earth, like a swan diving into a lake overgrown with lotuses. As a hungry jay seizes and devours a little insect, even so did the heroic Drona swallows up Dhrishtaketu in that great battle. Upon the slaughter of the ruler of the Chedis, his son who was conversant with the highest weapons, excited with wrath, sought to bear the burthen of his sire. Him also, Drona, smiling, despatched to the abode of Yama by means of his shafts, like a huge and mighty tiger in the deep woods slaying an infant deer.
"While the Pandavas, O Bharata, were thus being thinned, the heroic, son of Jarasandha rushed towards Drona. Like the clouds shrouding the sun, he quickly made the mighty-armed Drona invisible in that battle by means of his arrowy showers. Beholding that lightness of hand in him, Drona, that grinder of Kshatriyas, quickly shot his shafts by hundreds and thousands. Covering (with his arrows) in that battle that foremost of car-warriors stationed on his car, Drona speedily slew the son Of Jarasandha in the very sight of all bowmen. Indeed, Drona, resembling the Destroyer himself, swallowing up every one who approached him then, like the Destroyer himself, swallowing up creatures when their hour arrives. Then Drona, O monarch, proclaiming his name in that battle, covered
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the Pandavas with many thousands of shafts. Those shafts shot by Drona, whetted on stone and engraved with his name, slew in that battle men and elephants and steeds by hundreds. Thus slaughtered by Drona, like the Asuras by Sakra, the Panchalas began to tremble like a herd of kine afflicted with cold. Indeed, O bull of Bharata's race, when the Pandava army was thus being slaughtered by Drona, there arose an awful wail of woe from it. Scorched by the sun and slaughtered by means of those arrows, the Panchalas then became filled with anxiety. Stupefied by Bharadwaja's son with his arrowy showers in that battle the mighty car-warriors among the Panchalas felt like persons whose thighs had been seized by alligators. Then, O king, the Chedis, the Srinjayas, the Kasis, and the Kosalas, rushed cheerfully against the son of Bharadwaja from desire of battle. And the Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Srinjayas addressed one another, saying, 'Drona is slain! Drona is slain!' Saying these words, they rushed at that hero. Indeed, all these tigers among men fell with their utmost might upon the illustrious Drona, desirous of despatching him to the abode of Yama. Then the son of Bharadwaja, by means of his shafts, despatched those brave warriors struggling vigorously in battle, especially those forest ones among the Chedis, into the presence of the King of the dead. After those foremost ones among the Chedis had been exterminated, the Panchalas, afflicted with the shafts of Drona, began to tremble. Beholding, O sire, those feats of Drona, they loudly called after Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata, and said, 'This Brahmana hath, without doubt, practised the austerest of penances and acquired great ascetic merit. Inflamed with rage in battle, he consumeth the foremost of Kshatriyas. A Kshatriya's duty is battle; a Brahmana's, the highest asceticism. A Brahmana endued with ascetic merit and learning, is capable of burning everything by his glances only. Many foremost of Kshatriyas, having approached the uncrossable and fierce fire of Drona's weapons, have, O Bharata, been blasted and consumed. The illustrious Drona, to the measure of his might, courage, and perseverance, stupefies all creatures and slays our troops!' Hearing these words of theirs, the mighty Kshatradharman, rightly observant of the duties of a Kshatriya, wrathfully cut off with a crescent-shaped arrow the bow of Drona with arrow fixed thereon. Then Drona, that grinder of Kshatriyas, becoming more angry still, took up another bright bow, tougher than the one he had laid aside. Fixing on it a keen arrow, destructive of hostile ranks, the preceptor, endued with great strength, sped it at the prince, drawing the bowstring to his ear. That arrow, slaying Kshatradharman entered the earth. His breast pierced through, he fell down from his vehicle on the earth. Upon the slaughter of Dhrishtadyumna's son, the (Pandava) troops began to tremble. Then the mighty Chekitana fell upon Drona, Piercing Drona with ten arrows, he once more pierced him with a shaft in the centre of his chest. And he pierced Drona's charioteer with four arrows and his four steeds also with four. The Preceptor then pierced the right arm of Chekitana with sixteen arrows,
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and his standard with sixteen, and his charioteer with seven. Upon the charioteer being slain, Chekitana's steeds fled away, dragging the car after them. Beholding the steeds of Chekitana pierced with the arrows of Bharadwaja's son, and his car also deprived of driver, the Panchalas and the Pandavas were filled with great fear. Drona then, O sire, routing on all sides the Panchalas and the Srinjayas united together in battle looked exceedingly resplendent. The venerable Drona, full five and eighty years of age, dark in hue and with white locks descending to his cars, careered in battle like a youth of sixteen. Indeed, O king, enemies regarded the foe-slaying Drona, as he fearlessly careered in battle, to be none else than Indra himself armed with the thunder. Then, O monarch, the mighty-armed Drupada of great intelligence said, 'This one (Drona) is slaying the Kshatriyas like a hungry tiger slaying smaller animals. The sinful Duryodhana of wicked soul will assuredly obtain the most miserable regions (in the next world). It is through his covetousness that many foremost of the Kshatriyas, slain in battle, lay prostrate on the field, like mangled bulls, weltering in blood and becoming the food of dogs and jackals.' Saying these words, O monarch, Drupada, that master of an Akshauhini of troops, placing the Parthas at his head, rushed with speed towards Drona.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 125

 

 

 

1 [s]
      saindhave nihate rājan putras tava suyodhanaḥ
      aśruklinna mukho dīno nirutsāho dviṣaj jaye
      amanyatārjuna samo yodho bhuvi na vidyate
  2 na droṇo na ca rādheyo nāśvatthāmā kṛpo na ca
      kruddhasya pramukhe sthātuṃ paryāptā iti māriṣa
  3 nirjitya hi raṇe pārthaḥ sarvān mama mahārathān
      avadhīt saindhavaṃ saṃkhye nainaṃ kaś cid avārayat
  4 sarvathā hatam evaitat kauravāṇāṃ mahad balam
      na hy asya vidyate trāta sākṣād api puraṃdaraḥ
  5 yam upāśritya saṃgrāme kṛtaḥ śastrasamudyamaḥ
      sa karṇo nirjitaḥ saṃkhye hataś caiva jayadrathaḥ
  6 paruṣāṇi sabhāmadhye proktavān yaḥ sma pāṇḍavān
      sa karṇo nirjitaḥ saṃkhye saindhavaś ca nipātitaḥ
  7 yasya vīryaṃ samāśritya śamaṃ yācantam acyutam
      tṛṇavat tam ahaṃ manye sa karṇo nirjito yudhi
  8 evaṃ klāntamanā rājann upāyād droṇam īkṣitum
      āgaskṛt sarvalokasya putras te bharatarṣabha
  9 tatas tat sarvam ācakhyau kurūṇāṃ vaiśasaṃ mahat
      parān vijayataś cāpi dhārtarāṣṭrān nimajjataḥ
  10 [dur]
     paśya mūrdhāvasiktānām ācārya kadanaṃ kṛtam
     kṛtvā pramukhataḥ śūraṃ bhīṣmaṃ mama pitāmaham
 11 taṃ nihatya pralubdho 'yaṃ śikhaṇḍī pūrṇamānasaḥ
     pāñcālaiḥ sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ senāgram abhikarṣati
 12 aparaś cāpi durdharṣaḥ śiṣyas te savyasācinā
     akṣauhiṇī sapta hatvā hato rājā jayadrathaḥ
 13 asmad vijayakāmānāṃ suhṛdām upakāriṇām
     gantāsmi katham ānṛṇyaṃ gatānāṃ yamasādanam
 14 ye madarthaṃ parīpsanti vasudhāṃ vasudhādhipāḥ
     te hitvā vasudhaiśvaryaṃ vasudhām adhiśerate
 15 so 'haṃ kāpuruṣaḥ kṛtvā mitrāṇāṃ kṣayam īdṛśam
     nāśvamedhasahasreṇa pātum ātmānam utsahe
 16 mama lubdhasya pāpasya tathā dharmāpacāyinaḥ
     vyāyacchanto jigīṣantaḥ prāptā vaivasvatakṣayam
 17 kathaṃ patitavṛttasya pṛthivī suhṛdāṃ druhaḥ
     vivaraṃ nāśakad dātuṃ mama pārthiva saṃsadi
 18 so 'haṃ rudhirasiktāṅgaṃ rājñāṃ madhye pitāmaham
     śayānaṃ nāśakaṃ trātuṃ bhīṣmam āyodhane hatam
 19 taṃ mām anārya puruṣaṃ mitra druham adhārmikam
     kiṃ sa vakṣyati durdharṣaḥ sametya paralokavit
 20 jalasaṃdhaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ paśya sātyakinā hatam
     madartham udyataṃ śūraṃ prāṇāṃs tyaktvā mahāratham
 21 kāmbojaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā tathālambusam eva ca
     anyān bahūṃś ca suhṛdo jīvitārtho 'dya ko mama
 22 vyāyacchanto hatāḥ śūrā madarthe ye 'parāṅmukhāḥ
     yatamānāḥ paraṃ śaktyā vijetum ahitān mama
 23 teṣāṃ gatvāham ānṛṇyam adya śaktyā paraṃtapa
     tarpayiṣyāmi tān eva jalena yamunām anu
 24 satyaṃ te pratijānāmi sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
     iṣṭāpūrtena ca śape vīryeṇa ca sutair api
 25 nihatya tān raṇe sarvān pāñcālān pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     śāntiṃ labdhāsmi teṣāṃ vā raṇe gantā sa lokatām
 26 na hīdānīṃ sahāyā me parīpsanty anupaskṛtāḥ
     śreyo hi pāṇḍūn manyante na tathāsmān mahābhuja
 27 svayaṃ hi mṛtyur vihitaḥ satyasaṃdhena saṃyuge
     bhavān upekṣāṃ kurute suśiṣyatvād dhanaṃjaye
 28 ato vinihatāḥ sarve ye 'smaj jaya cikīrṣavaḥ
     karṇam eva tu paśyāmi saṃpraty asmaj jayaiṣiṇam
 29 yo hi mitram avijñāya yāthātathyena mandadhīḥ
     mitrārthe yojayaty enaṃ tasya so 'rtho 'vasīdati
 30 tādṛgrūpam idaṃ kāryaṃ kṛtaṃ mama suhṛd bruvaiḥ
     mohāl lubdhasya pāpasya jihmācārais tatas tataḥ
 31 hato jayadrathaś caiva saumadattiś ca vīryavān
     abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
 32 so 'ham adya gamiṣyāmi yatra te puruṣarṣabhāḥ
     hatā madarthaṃ saṃgrāme yudhyamānāḥ kirīṭinā
 33 na hi me jīvitenārthas tān ṛte puruṣarṣabhān
     ācāryaḥ pāṇḍuputrāṇām anujānātu no bhavān

 

SECTION CXXV

"Sanjaya said, 'When the army of the Pandavas was thus agitated on all sides, the Parthas and the Panchalas and the Somakas, retreated to a great distance. During the progress of that fierce battle, making the hair stand on end, and that universal carnage like to what happens, O Bharata, at that end of the Yuga, when, indeed, Drona of great prowess was repeatedly uttering leonine shouts, and when the Panchalas were being weakened and the Pandavas slaughtered, king Yudhishthira the Just, failing in that battle to find any refuge in that distress, began, O king, to think how the matter would end. Casting his eyes around in expectation of seeing Savyasachin, Yudhishthira, however, saw neither that son of Pritha nor Madhava. Not seeing that tiger among men viz., the ape-bannered Arjuna, and not hearing also the twang of Gandiva, the monarch became filled with anxiety, not seeing Satyaki also, that foremost of car-warriors among the Vrishnis, king Yudhishthira the Just became equally anxious. Indeed, not seeing those two foremost of men, Yudhishthira knew no peace. The high-souled king Yudhishthira the Just, of mighty arms, fearing the evil opinion of the world, began to think of Satyaki's car. Sini's grandson Satyaki, of true prowess, that dispeller of the fears of friends, hath been sent by me in the track of Phalguna. I had only one source of anxiety
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before, but now I have two. I should have tidings of both Satyaki and Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu. Having despatched Satyaki to follow in the track of Arjuna, whom shall I now send in the track of Satyaki? If by every means I endeavour to obtain intelligence of my brother only, without enquiring after Yuyudhana, the world will reproach me. They will say that, 'Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, having enquired after his brother, leaves Satyaki of Vrishni's race, that hero of unfailing prowess, to his fate!' Fearing, as I do, the reproach of the world, I should therefore, send Vrikodara, the son of Pritha, in the track of the high-souled Madhava. The love I bear to the Vrishni hero, to that invincible warrior of the Satwata race, (viz., Satyaki), is not less than the love I bear to Arjuna, that slayer of foes. The delighter of the Sinis hath again, been set by me to a very heavy task. That mighty warrior, however, hath, either for the sake of a friend's request or for that of honour, penetrated into the Bharata army like a Makara into the ocean. Loud is the noise I hear of unretreating heroes, fighting together against that Vrishni hero of great intelligence. Without doubt, they are too many for him. The time, therefore, is come when I should think of his rescue. It seems to me that armed with the bow, Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, should go there where those two mighty car-warriors are. There is nothing on earth that Bhima cannot bear. If he struggles with resolution, he is a match in battle for all the bowmen in the world. Depending on the might of his own arms, he can stand against all foes. Relying on the strength of arms of that high-souled warrior, we have been able to come back from our exile in the woods and we have never been vanquished in battle. If Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, proceedeth hence to Satyaki, both Satyaki and Phalguna will derive real aid. Without doubt, I should not feel any anxiety for Satyaki and Phalguna. Both of them are accomplished in weapons, and Vasudeva himself is protecting them. (For all that, I feel anxious on their account), I should certainly seek to remove my anxiety. I shall, therefore, set Bhima to follow in the wake of Satyaki. Having done this, I should regard my arrangements complete for the rescue of Satyaki.' Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, having settled this in his mind, addressed his charioteer and said, 'Take me to Bhima.' Hearing the command of king Yudhishthira the Just, the charioteer who was versed in horse-lore, took that car decked with gold to where Bhima was. Arrived at the presence of Bhima, the king, remembering the occasion, became unmanned by grief, and pressed Bhima with diverse solicitations. Indeed, overwhelmed with grief, the monarch addressed Bhima. And these were the words, O king, that Yudhishthira the son of Kunti then said unto him, 'O Bhima, I do not behold the standard of that Arjuna, who on a single car had vanquished all the gods, the Gandharvas and Asuras!' Then Bhimasena, addressing king Yudhishthira the Just who was in that plight, said, 'Never before did I see, or hear thy 'Words afflicted with such cheerlessness. Indeed, formerly, when we were smitten with grief, it was thou who hadst been our comforter. Rise, Rise, O king of kings, say what I am to do for thee. O giver of honours, there
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is nothing that I cannot do. Tell me what your commands are, O foremost one of Kuru's race! Do not set your heart on grief.' Unto Bhimasena then, the king with a sorrowful face and with eyes bathed in tears, said, sighing the while like a black cobra, 'The blasts of the conch Panchajanya, wrathfully blown by Vasudeva of world-wide renown, are being heard. It seems, from this, that thy brother Dhananjaya lieth today on the field, deprived of life. Without doubt, Arjuna having been slain, Janardana is fighting. That hero of great might, relying on whose prowess the Pandavas are alive, he to whom we always turn in times of fear like the celestials towards their chief of a thousand eyes, that hero hath, in search after the ruler of Sindhus, penetrated into the Bharata host. I know this, O Bhima, viz., that he hath gone, but he hath not yet returned. Dark in complexion, youthful in years, of curly locks, exceedingly handsome mighty car-warrior, of broad chest and long arms, possessed of the tread of an infuriated elephant, of eyes of the colour of burnished copper and like those a chakra, that brother of thine enhances the fears of foes. Blessed be thou, even this is the cause of my grief, O chastiser of foes! For Arjuna's sake, O thou of mighty arms, as also for the sake of Satwata, my grief increaseth like a blazing fire fed with libations of clarified butter. I do not see his standard. For this am I stupefied with sorrow. Without doubt, he hath been slain, and Krishna, skilled in battle, is fighting. Know also that the tiger among men, that mighty car-warrior, Satwata is slain. Alas! Satyaki hath followed in the wake of that other mighty car-warrior, with thy brother. Without seeing Satyaki also, I am stupefied by grief. Therefore, O son of Kunti, go thither, where Dhananjaya is and Satyaki also of mighty energy, if, of course, thou thinkest it thy duty to obey my words, O thou that art acquainted with duty.' Remember that I am thy eldest brother. Thou shouldst think Satyaki to be dearer to thee than Arjuna himself. O son of Pritha, Satyaki hath gone, from desire of doing good to me, in the track of Arjuna, a track that is incapable of being trod by persons of vile souls. Beholding the two Krishnas and Satyaki also of the Satwata race sound and whole, send me a message, O son of Pandu, by uttering a leonine roar.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 126

 

 

 

 

  1 [dhṛ]
      sindhurāje hate tāta samare savyasācinā
      tathaiva bhūriśravasi kim āsīd vo manas tadā
  2 duryodhanena ca droṇas tathoktaḥ kurusaṃsadi
      kim uktavān paraṃ tasmāt tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  3 [s]
      niṣṭānako mahān āsīt sainyānāṃ tava bhārata
      saindhavaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā bhūriśravasam eva ca
  4 mantritaṃ tava putrasya te sarvam avamenire
      yena mantreṇa nihatāḥ śataśaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
  5 droṇas tu tad vacaḥ śrutvā putrasya tava durmanāḥ
      muhūrtam iva tu dhyātvā bhṛśam ārto 'bhyabhāṣata
  6 duryodhana kim evaṃ māṃ vākśarair abhikṛntasi
      ajayyaṃ samare nityaṃ bruvāṇaṃ savyasācinam
  7 etenaivārjunaṃ jñātum alaṃ kaurava saṃyuge
      yac chikhaṇḍy avadhīd bhīṣmaṃ pālyamānaḥ kirīṭinā
  8 avadhyaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃyuge deva mānuṣaiḥ
      tadaivājñāsiṣam ahaṃ neyam astīti bhāratī
  9 yaṃ puṃsāṃ triṣu lokeṣu sarvaśūram amaṃsmahi
      tasmin vinihate śūre kiṃ śeṣaṃ paryupāsmahe
  10 yān sma tān glahate tātaḥ śakuniḥ kurusaṃsadi
     akṣān na te 'kṣā niśitā bāṇās te śatrutāpanāḥ
 11 ta ete ghnanti nas tāta viśikhā jaya coditāḥ
     yāṃs tadā khyāpyamānāṃs tvaṃ vidureṇa na budhyase
 12 tās tā vilapataś cāpi vidurasya mahātmanaḥ
     dhīrasya vāco nāśrauṣīḥ kṣemāya vadataḥ śivāḥ
 13 tad idaṃ vartate ghoram āgataṃ vaiśasaṃ mahat
     tasyāvamānād vākyasya duryodhanakṛte tava
 14 yac ca naḥ prekṣamāṇānāṃ kṛṣṇām ānāyayaḥ sabhām
     anarhatīṃ kule jātāṃ sarvadharmānucāriṇīm
 15 tasyādharmasya gāndhāre phalaṃ prāptam idaṃ tvayā
     no cet pāpaṃ pare loke tvam arcchethās tato 'dhikam
 16 yac ca tān pāṇḍavān dyūte viṣameṇa vijitya ha
     prāvrājayas tadāraṇye rauravājinavāsasaḥ
 17 putrāṇām iva caiteṣāṃ dharmam ācaratāṃ sadā
     druhyet ko nu naro loke mad anyo brāhmaṇa bruvaḥ
 18 pāṇḍavānām ayaṃ kopas tvayā śakuninā saha
     āhṛto dhṛtarāṣṭrasya saṃmate kurusaṃsadi
 19 duḥśāsanena saṃyuktaḥ karṇena parivardhitaḥ
     kṣattur vākyam anādṛtya tvayābhyastaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
 20 yat tat sarve parābhūya paryavārayatārjunim
     sindhurājānam āśritya sa vo madhye kathaṃ hataḥ
 21 kathaṃ tvayi ca karṇe ca kṛpe śalye ca jīvati
     aśvatthāmni ca kauravya nidhanaṃ saindhavo 'gamat
 22 yad vas tat sarvarājānas tejas tigmam upāsate
     sindhurājaṃ paritrātuṃ sa vo madhye kathaṃ hataḥ
 23 mayy eva hi viśeṣeṇa tathā duryodhana tvayi
     āśaṃsata paritrāṇam arjunāt sa mahīpatiḥ
 24 tatas tasmin paritrāṇam alabdhavati phalgunāt
     na kiṃ cid anupaśyāmi jīvitatrāṇam ātmanaḥ
 25 majjantam iva cātmānaṃ dṛṣṭadyumnasya kilbiṣe
     paśyāmy ahatvā pāñcālān saha tena śikhaṇḍinā
 26 tan mā kim abhitapyantaṃ vākśarair abhikṛntasi
     aśaktaḥ sindhurājasya bhūtvā trāṇāya bhārata
 27 sauvarṇaṃ satyasaṃdhasya dhvajam akliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ
     apaśyan yudhi bhīṣmasya katham āśaṃsase jayam
 28 madhye mahārathānāṃ ca yatrāhanyata saindhavaḥ
     hato bhūriśravāś caiva kiṃ śeṣaṃ tatra manyase
 29 kṛpa eva ca durdharṣo yadi jīvati pārthiva
     yo nāgāt sindhurājasya vartma taṃ pūjayāmy aham
 30 yac cāpaśyaṃ hataṃ bhīṣmaṃ paśyatas te 'nujasya vai
     duḥśāsanasya kauravya kurvāṇaṃ karma duṣkaram
     avadhyakalpaṃ saṃgrāme devair api sa vāsavaiḥ
 31 na te vasuṃdharāstīti tad ahaṃ cintaye nṛpa
     imāni pāṇḍavānāṃ ca sṛñjayānāṃ ca bhārata
     anīkāny ādravante māṃ sahitāny adya māriṣa
 32 nāhatvā sarvapāñcālān kavacasya vimokṣaṇam
     kartāsmi samare karma dhārtarāṣṭra hitaṃ tava
 33 rājan brūyāḥ sutaṃ me tvam aśvatthāmānam āhave
     na somakāḥ pramoktavyā jīvitaṃ parirakṣatā
 34 yac ca pitrānuśiṣṭo 'si tad vacaḥ paripālaya
     ānṛśaṃsye dame satye ārjave ca sthiro bhava
 35 dharmārthakāmakuśalo dharmārthāv apy apīḍayan
     dharmapradhānaḥ kāryāṇi kuryāś ceti punaḥ punaḥ
 36 cakṣur manobhyāṃ saṃtoṣyā viprāḥ sevyāś ca śaktitaḥ
     na caiṣāṃ vipriyaṃ kāryaṃ te hi vahni śikhopamāḥ
 37 eṣa tv aham anīkāni praviśāmy arisūdana
     raṇāya mahate rājaṃs tvayā vākśalya pīḍitaḥ
 38 tvaṃ ca duryodhana balaṃ yadi śaknoṣi dhāraya
     rātrāv api hi yotsyante saṃrabdhāḥ kurusṛñjayāḥ
 39 evam uktvā tataḥ prāyād droṇaḥ pāṇḍava sṛñjayān
     muṣṇan kṣatriya tejāṃsi nakṣatrāṇām ivāṃśumān

 

SECTION CXXVI

"Bhima said, That car which formerly bore Brahma and Isana and Indra and Varuna (to battle), mounting upon that car, have two Krishnas gone. They can have no fear of danger, Taking, however, thy command on MY head, lo, I am going. Do not grieve. Meeting with those tigers among men, I shall send thee intelligence.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Having said those words, the mighty Bhima began to
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prepare for setting out, repeatedly making over Yudhishthira to Dhrishtadyumna and the other friends (of the Pandava cause). Indeed, Bhimasena of mighty strength addressing Dhrishtadyumna, said, 'It is known to thee, O thou of mighty arms, how the mighty car-warrior Drona is always on the alert to seize king Yudhishthira the Just by all means in his power. Indeed, O son of Prishata, I should never place my going (to Arjuna and Satyaki) above my duty of protecting the king. King Yudhishthira, however, hath commanded me to go, I dare not contradict him. I shall go thither where the ruler of the Sindhus stayeth, at the point of death. I should, in complete truthfulness, act according to the words of my brother (Arjuna) and of Satyaki endued with great intelligence. Thou shouldst, therefore, vigorously resolved on fight, protect Yudhishthira the son of Pritha today. Of all tasks, this is thy highest duty in battle.' Thus addressed by Vrikodara, O monarch, Dhrishtadyumna replied, 'I shall do what thou wishest. Go, O son of Pritha, without any anxiety of the kind. Without slaying Dhrishtadyumna in battle, Drona will never be able to humiliate king Yudhishthira in the fight.' Thus making the royal son of Pandu over to Dhrishtadyumna, and saluting his elder brother, Bhimasena, proceeded towards the spot where Phalguna was. Before dismissing him, however, king Yudhishthira the Just, O Bharata, embraced Bhimasena and smelt his head and pronounced auspicious blessings upon him. After circumambulating a number of Brahmanas, gratified with worship and presents, and touching the eight kinds of auspicious articles, and quaffing Kairataka honey, that hero, the corners of whose eyes had become red in intoxication, felt his might to be doubled. The Brahmanas performed propitiatory ceremonies for him. Various omens, indicative of success, greeted him. Beholding them, he felt the delight of anticipated victory. Favourable winds began to blow and indicate his success. Then the mighty-armed Bhimasena, the foremost of car-warriors, clad in mail, decked with earrings and Angadas, and his hands cased in leathern fences, mounted on his own excellent car. His costly coat of mail, made of black steel and decked with gold, looked like a cloud charged with lightning. His body Was beautifully covered with yellow and red and black and white robes. Wearing a coloured cuirass that protected also his neck, Bhimasena looked resplendent like a cloud decked with a rainbow.
"While Bhimasena was on the point of setting out against thy troops from desire of battle, the fierce blasts of Panchajanya were once more heard. Hearing those loud and terrible blasts, capable of filling the three Worlds with fear, the son of Dharma once more addressed Bhimasena, saying, 'There, the Vrishni hero is fiercely blowing his conch. Indeed, that Prince of conchs is filling the earth and the welkin with its sound. Without doubt, Savyasachin having fallen into great distress, the bearer of the discus and the mace is battling with all the Kurus. Without doubt, the venerable Kunti, and Draupadi, and Subhadra, are all, with their relatives and friends, beholding today exceedingly inauspicious omens. Therefore, O Bhima, go thither with speed where Dhananjaya is. All the points of
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the compass, O Partha, seem empty to my eyes in consequence of my (unsatisfied) desire to see Dhananjaya and owing also to Satwata., Repeatedly urged by his superior to go, the valiant son of Pandu, viz., Bhimasena, O king, casing his hands in leathern fence, took up his bow. Urged by his eldest brother, that brother, Bhimasena, who was devoted to his brother's good, caused drums to be beat. And Bhima forcibly blew his conch also and uttering leonine roars, began to twang his bow. Damping the hearts of hostile heroes by those leonine roars, and assuming a dreadful form, he rushed against his foes. Swift and well-broken steeds of the foremost breed neighing furiously, bore him. Endued with the speed of the wind or thought, their reins were held by Visoka. Then the son of Pritha, drawing the bowstring with great force, began to crush the head of the hostile array, mangling and piercing the combatants there. And as that mighty-armed hero proceeded, the brave Panchalas and the Somakas followed him behind, like the celestials following Maghavat. Then the brothers Duhsasana and Chitrasena. and Kundabhedin and Vivinsati, and Durmukha and Duhsaha and Sala, and Vinda and Anuvinda and Sumukha and Dirghavahu and Sudarsana, and Suhasta and Sushena. and Dirghalochana, and Abhaya and Raudrakarman and Suvarman and Durvimochana, approaching, encompassed Bhimasena. These foremost of car-warriors, these heroes, all looking resplendent, with their troops and followers, firmly resolved upon battle, rushed against Bhimasena. That heroic and mighty car-warrior, viz., Kunti's son Bhimasena of great prowess, thus encompassed, cast his eyes on them, and rushed against them with the impetuosity of a lion against smaller animals. Those heroes, displaying celestial and mighty weapons, covered Bhima with shafts, like clouds shrouding the risen sun. Transgressing all those warriors with impetuosity, Bhimasena rushed against Drona's division, and covered the elephant-force before him with showers of arrows. The son of the Wind-god, mangling with his shafts almost in no time that elephant division dispersed it in all directions. Indeed, like animals terrified in the forest at the roar of a Sarabha, those elephants all fled away, uttering frightful cries. Passing over that ground with speed, he then approached the division of Drona. Then the preceptor checked his course, like the continent resisting the surging sea. Smilingly, he struck the son of Pandu in his forehead with a shaft. Thereupon, the son of Pandu looked resplendent like the sun with upward rays. The preceptor thought that Bhima would show him reverence as Phalguna had done before. Addressing Vrikodara, therefore, he said, 'O Bhimasena, it is beyond thy power to enter into the hostile host, without vanquishing me, thy foe, in battle, O thou of mighty strength! Although Krishna with thy younger brother hath penetrated this host with my permission, thyself, however, will never succeed in doing so.' Hearing these words of the preceptor, the dauntless Bhima, excited with wrath, and his eyes red as blood or burnished copper, quickly replied unto Drona, saying, 'O wretch of a Brahmana, it cannot be that Arjuna hath entered this host with thy permission. He is invisible. He would penetrate into the host
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commanded by Sakra himself. If he offered thee reverential worship, it was only for honouring thee. But know, O Drona, that myself, I am not compassionate like Arjuna. On the other hand, I am Bhimasena, thy foe. We regard thee as our father, preceptor, and friend. Ourselves we look upon as thy sons. Thinking so we always humble ourselves to thee. When, however, thou usest such words towards us today, it seems that all that is altered. If thou regardest thyself as our foe, let it be as thou thinkest. Being none else than Bhima, I will presently act towards thee as I should towards a foe.' Saying this, Bhima whirling a mace, like the Destroyer himself whirling his fatal rod, hurled it, O king, at Drona. Drona, however, had quickly jumped down from his car, (and that proved his safety). For that mace pressed down into the earth the car of Drona, with its steeds, driver, and standard. Then Bhima crushed numerous warriors like the tempest crushing trees with its force. Then those sons of thine once more encompassed that foremost of car-warriors. Meanwhile, Drona, that foremost of smiters mounting another chariot, proceeded to the gate of the array and stayed there for battle. Then, O king, the angry Bhima of great prowess, covered the car-division in his front with showers of shafts. Then those mighty car-warriors, viz., thy sons, thus struck in battle, endued as they were with great strength fought with Bhima from desire of victory. Then Duhsasana, excited with wrath, hurled at Bhimasena a keen dart made entirely of iron, wishing to slay the son of Pandu. Bhima however, cut in twain that fierce dart hurled by thy son, as it coursed towards him. This feat seemed exceedingly wonderful. The mighty son of Pandu, then, with three other keen shafts, slew the three brothers Kundabhedin and Sushena and Dirghanetra. And, again, amongst those heroic sons of thine battling with him, Bhima slew heroic Vrindaraka, that enhancer of the fame of the Kurus. And again, with three other shafts, Bhima slew three other sons of thine, viz., Abhaya and Raudrakarman and Durvimochana. Thus slaughtered, O king, by that mighty warrior, thy sons surrounded, Bhima, that foremost of smiters on all sides. They then showered their arrows upon that son of Pandu, of terrible deeds, like the cloud at the end of summer pouring torrents of rain on the mountain-breast. That slayer of hosts, the heir of Pandu, received that arrowy shower, like a mountain receiving a shower of stones. Indeed, the heroic Bhima felt no pain. Then the son of Kunti, smiling the while, despatched by means of his shafts thy son Vinda and Anuvinda and Suvarman to the abode of Yama. Then the son of Pandu, O bull of Bharata's race, quickly pierced in that battle thy heroic son Sudarsan. The latter, thereupon, fell down and expired. Within a very short time, the son of Pandu, casting his glances on that car-force caused it by his shafts to fly away in all directions. Then like a herd of deer frightened at the clatter of car-wheels, or a loud shout, thy sons, in that battle, O king, afflicted with the fear of Bhimasena, suddenly broke and fled. The son of Kunti, however, pursued that large force of thy sons, and began, O king, to pierce the Kauravas from every side. Thy soldiers, O monarch, thus slaughtered by Bhimasena, fled away from battle, avoiding
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the son of Pandu and urging their own excellent steeds to their greatest speed. The mighty Bhimasena then, having vanquished them in battle, uttered leonine roars and made a great noise by slapping his armpits. And the mighty Bhima, having made also a fierce noise with his palms, and thereby frightened that car-force and the foremost of warriors that were in it, passed towards the division of Drona, transgressing that car-force (which he had vanquished.)'

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 127

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tato duryodhano rājā droṇenaivaṃ pracoditaḥ
      amarṣavaśam āpanno yuddhāyaiva mano dadhe
  2 abravīc ca tadā karṇaṃ putro duryodhanas tava
      paśya kṛṣṇa sahāyena pāṇḍavena kirīṭinā
      ācārya vihitaṃ vyūhaṃ bhinnaṃ devaiḥ sudurbhidam
  3 tava vyāyacchamānasya droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ
      miṣatāṃ yodhamukhyānāṃ saindhavo vinipātitaḥ
  4 paśya rādheya rājānaḥ pṛthivyaṃ pravarā yudhi
      pārthenaikena nihatāḥ siṃhenevetarā mṛgāḥ
  5 mama vyāyacchamānasya samare śatrusūdana
      alpāvaśeṣaṃ sanyaṃ me kṛtaṃ śakrātmajena ha
  6 kathaṃ hy anicchamānasya droṇasya yudhi phalgunaḥ
      bhindyāt sudurbhidaṃ vyūhaṃ yatamāno 'pi saṃyuge
  7 priyo hi phalguno nityam ācāryasya mahātmanaḥ
      tato 'sya dattavān dvāraṃ na yuddhenāri mardana
  8 abhayaṃ saidhavasyājau dattvā droṇaḥ paraṃtapaḥ
      prādāt kirīṭine dvāraṃ paśya nirguṇatāṃ mama
  9 yad yad āsyam anujñāṃ vai pūrvam eva gṛhān prati
      sindhurājasya samare nābhabhiṣyaj janakṣayaḥ
  10 jayadratho jīvitārthī gacchamāno gṛhān prati
     mahānāryeṇa saṃruddho droṇāt prāpyābhayaṃ raṇe
 11 adya me bhrātaraḥ kṣīṇāś citrasenādayo yudhi
     bhīmasenaṃ samāsādya paśyatāṃ no durātmanām
 12 [karṇa]
     ācāryaṃ mā vigarhasva śaktyā yudhyaty asau dvijaḥ
     ajayyān pāṇḍavān manye droṇenāstravidā mṛdhe
 13 tathā hy enam atikramya praviṣṭaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
     daivadṛṣṭo 'nyathā bhāvo na manye vidyate kva cit
 14 tato no yudhyamānānāṃ paraṃ śaktyā suyodhana
     saindhavo nihato rājan daivam atra paraṃ smṛtam
 15 paraṃ yatnaṃ kurvatāṃ ca tvayā sārdhaṃ raṇājire
     hatvāsmākaṃ pauruṣaṃ hi daivaṃ paścāt karoti naḥ
     satataṃ ceṣṭamānānāṃ nikṛtyā vikrameṇa ca
 16 daivopasṛṣṭaḥ puruṣo yat karma kurute kva cit
     kṛtaṃ kṛtaṃ sma tat tasya daivena vinihanyate
 17 yat kartavyaṃ manuṣyeṇa vyavasāyavatā satā
     tat kāryam aviśaṅkena siddir daive pratiṣṭhitā
 18 nikṛtyā nikṛtāḥ pārthā viṣayogaiś ca bhārata
     dagdhā jatu gṛhe cāpi dyūtena ca parājitāḥ
 19 rājanītiṃ vyapāśritya prahitāś caiva kānanam
     yatnena ca kṛtaṃ yat te daivena vinipātitam
 20 yudhyasva yatnam āsthāya mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
     yatatas tava teṣāṃ ca daivaṃ mārgeṇa yāsyati
 21 na teṣāṃ matipūrvaṃ hi sukṛtaṃ dṛśyate kva cit
     duṣkṛtaṃ tava vā vīra buddhyā hīnaṃ kurūdvaha
 22 daivaṃ pramāṇaṃ sarvasya sukṛtasyetarasya vā
     ananyakarma daivaṃ hi jāgarti svapatām api
 23 bahūni tava sainyāni yodhāś ca bahavas tathā
     na tahā pāṇḍuputrāṇām evaṃ yuddham avartata
 24 tair alpair bahavo yūyaṃ kṣayaṃ nītāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     śaṅke daivasya tat karma pauruṣaṃ yena nāśitam
 25 [s]
     evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇānāṃ bahu tat taj janādhipa
     pāṇḍavānām anīkāni samadṛśyanta saṃyuge
 26 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ vyatiṣakta rathadvipam
     tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ sārdhaṃ rājan durmantrite tava

SECTION CXXVII

"Sanjaya said, 'After the son of Pandu had crossed that car-force, the preceptor Drona, smiling the while, covered him with showers of arrows, desirous of checking his course. Stupefying thy force then with his powers of illusion, and drinking, as it were, those shafts shot from the bow of Drona, Bhimasena rushed against those brothers (viz., thy sons). Then many kings, that were all great bowmen, urged by thy sons, rushing impetuously, began to surround him. Encompassed by them, O Bharata, Bhima smiling the while and uttering a leonine roar, took up and hurled at them with great force a fierce mace destructive of hostile ranks. That mace of adamantine strength, hurled like Indra's thunder by Indra himself, crushed, O king, thy soldiers in battle. And it seemed to fill, O king, the whole earth with loud noise. And blazing forth in splendour, that fierce mace inspired thy sons with fear. Beholding that mace of impetuous course and endued with lightning flashes, coursing towards them, thy warriors fled away, uttering frightful cries. And at the unbearable sound, O sire, of that fierce mace, many men fell down where they stood, and many car-warriors also fell down from their cars. Slaughtered by Bhimasena armed with the mace, thy warriors fled away in fear from battle, like the deer attacked by a tiger. The son of Kunti, routing in battle those valorous foes of his, impetuously crossed that force like Garuda of beautiful feathers.
"While Bhimasena, that leader of leaders of car-divisions, was engaged in such carnage, Bharadwaja's son, O king, rushed at him. And Drona, checking Bhima by means of his arrowy showers, suddenly uttered a leonine roar that inspired the Pandavas with fear. The battle that took place between Drona and the high-souled Bhima was, O king, furious and terrible and resembled the encounter between the gods and the Asuras of old. Heroic warriors by hundreds and thousands in that battle slain by the keen shafts shot from the bow of Drona. The son of Pandu then, jumping down from his car shut his eyes, O king, and rushed on foot with great speed towards the car of Drona. Indeed, as a bovine bull easily bears a heavy shower of rain, even so that tiger among men, viz., Bhima,
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bore that arrowy downpour from Drona's bow. Struck in that battle, o sire, by Drona, the mighty Bhima, seizing Drona's car by the shaft, threw it down with great force. Thus thrown down in battle, O king, Drona, however, quickly mounting another car, proceeded towards the gate of the array, his driver urging his steeds at that time with great speed. That feat, O thou of Kuru's race, achieved by Bhimasena, seemed exceedingly wonderful. The mighty Bhima, then, mounting upon his own car, rushed impetuously towards the army of thy son. And he crushed the Kshatriyas in battle, like a tempest crushing rows of trees. Indeed, Bhima proceeded, resisting the hostile warriors like the mountain resisting the surging sea. Coming then upon the Bhoja-troops that were protected by the son of Hridika, Bhimasena, O king, ground it greatly, and passed through it. Frightening the hostile soldiers with the sound of his palms, O sire, Bhima vanquished them all like a tiger vanquishing a herd of bovine bulls. Passing through the Bhoja division and that of the Kamvojas also, and countless tribes of Mlecchas too, who were all accomplished in fight, and beholding that mighty car-warriors, Satyaki, engaged in fight, Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, O monarch proceeded resolutely and with great speed, desirous of having a sight of Dhananjaya. Transgressing all thy warriors in that battle, the son of Pandu then sighted the mighty car-warrior Arjuna engaged in the fight. The valiant Bhima, that tiger among men, beholding Arjuna putting forth his prowess for the slaughter of the ruler of the Sindhus, uttered a loud shout, like, O monarch, the clouds roaring in the season of rains. Those terrible shouts of the roaring Bhimasena were, O thou of Kuru's race, heard by both Arjuna and Vasudeva in the midst of the battle. Both those heroes, simultaneously hearing that shout of the mighty Bhima, repeatedly shouted from desire of beholding Vrikodara Then Arjuna uttering loud roar, and Madhava also doing the same, careered in battle like a couple of roaring bulls. Hearing then that roar of Bhimasena, as also that of Phalguna armed with the bow, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, O king, became highly gratified. And king Yudhishthira, hearing those sounds of Bhima and Arjuna, had his grief dispelled. And the lord Yudhishthira repeatedly wished success to Dhananjaya in battle.
"While the fierce Bhima was thus roaring, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, that foremost of virtuous men, smilingly reflected a while and thus worded the thoughts that inspired his heart, 'O Bhima, thou hast truly sent me the message. Thou hast truly obeyed the commands of thy superior. They, O son of Pandu, can never have victory that have thee for their foe. By good luck it is that Dhananjaya, capable of shooting the bow with (even) his left hand, still liveth. By good luck, the heroic Satyaki also, of prowess incapable of being baffled, is safe and sound. By good luck, it is that I hear both Vasudeva and Dhananjaya uttering these roars. He who having vanquished Sakra himself in battle, had gratified the bearer of sacrificial libations, that slayer of foes, viz., Phalguna, by good luck, still liveth in this battle. He, relying upon the
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might of whose arms all of us are alive, that slayer of hostile armies, Phalguna, by good luck, liveth still. He by whom with the aid of a single bow the Nivatakavachas were vanquished, those Danavas, that is, that were incapable of being defeated by the very gods, he, viz., Partha, by good luck, liveth still. He who had vanquished in Matsya's city all the Kauravas assembled together for seizing Virata's kine, that Partha, by good luck, liveth still. He who, by the might of his arms, slew fourteen thousands of Kalakeyas, that Partha, by good luck, liveth still. He who, for Duryodhana's sake, had vanquished, by the energy of his weapons, the mighty king of the Gandharvas, that Partha, by good luck, liveth still. Decked with diadem and garlands (of gold), endued with great strength, having white steeds (yoked to his car) and Krishna himself for his charioteer, that Phalguna, always dear to me, by good luck, liveth still. Burning with grief on account of the death of his son, endeavouring to achieve a most difficult feat, and even now seeking to slaughter Jayadratha, alas, he that hath made that vow, viz., Dhananjaya, will he succeed in slaying the ruler of the Sindhus in battle? After he, protected by Vasudeva, will have accomplished that vow of his, shall I behold that Arjuna again, before the sun sets? Shall the ruler of the Sindhus who is devoted to Duryodhana's welfare, slain by Phalguna, gladden his foes? Shall king Duryodhana, beholding the ruler of the Sindhus slain in battle make peace with us? Beholding his brother slain in battle by Bhimasena shall the wicked Duryodhana make peace with us? Beholding other great warriors lying prostrate on the surface of the earth, shall wicked Duryodhana give way to remorse? Shall not our hostilities cease with the single sacrifice of Bhishma? Shall that Suyodhana, make peace with us for saving the remnant (of what is still left to him and us)? Diverse reflections of this kind passed through the mind of king Yudhishthira who was overwhelmed with compassion. Meanwhile, the battle (between the Pandavas and the Kauravas) raged furiously.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 128

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tad udīrṇagajāśvaughaṃ balaṃ tava janādhipa
      pāṇḍusenām abhidrutya yodhayām āsa sarvataḥ
  2 pāñcālāḥ kuravaś caiva yodhayantaḥ parasparam
      yama rāṣṭrāya mahate paralokāya dīkṣitāḥ
  3 śūrāḥ śūraiḥ samāgamya śaratomara śaktibhiḥ
      vivyadhuḥ samare tūrṇaṃ ninyuś caiva yamakṣayam
  4 rathināṃ rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ rudhirasrāvi dāruṇam
      prāvartata mahad yuddhaṃ nighnatām itaretaram
  5 vāraṇāś ca mahārāja samāsādya parasparam
      viṣāṇair dārayām āsuḥ saṃkruddhāś ca mahotkaṭāḥ
  6 hayārohān harārohāḥ prāsaśaktiparaśvadhaiḥ
      bibhidus tumule yuddhe prārthayanto mayad yaśaḥ
  7 pattayaś ca mahābāho śataśaḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ
      anyonyam ārdayan rājan nityayattāḥ parākrame
  8 gotrāṇāṃ nāmadheyānāṃ kulānāṃ caiva māriṣa
      śravaṇād dhi vijānīmaḥ pāñcālān kurubhiḥ saha
  9 anyonyaṃ samare yodhāḥ śaraśaktiparaśvadhaiḥ
      preṣayan paralokāya vicaranto hy abhītavat
  10 śarair daśa diśo rājaṃs teṣāṃ muktaiḥ sahasraśaḥ
     na bhrājanta yathāpūrvaṃ bhāskare 'staṃ gate 'pi ca
 11 tathā prayudhyamāneṣu pāṇaveyeṣu nirbhayaḥ
     duryodhano mahārāja vyavagāhata tad balam
 12 saindhavasya vadhenaiva bhṛśaṃ duḥkhasamanvitaḥ
     martavyam iti saṃcintya prāviśat tu dviṣad balam
 13 nādayan rathaghoṣeṇa kampayann iva medinīm
     abhyavartata putras te pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
 14 sa saṃnipātas tumulas tasya teṣāṃ ca bhārata
     abhavat sarvasainyānām abhāva karaṇo mahān
 15 maṃdhyaṃ dinagataṃ sūryaṃ pratapantaṃ gabhastibhiḥ
     tathā tava sutaṃ madhye pratapantaṃ śarormibhiḥ
 16 na śekur bhārataṃ yuddhe pāṇḍavāḥ samavekṣitum
     palāyane kṛtotsāhā nirtusāhā dviṣaj jaye
 17 paryadhāvanta pāñcālā vadhyamānā mahātmanā
     rukmapuṅkhaiḥ prasannāgrais tava putreṇa dhanvinā
     ardyamānāḥ śarais tūrṇaṃ nyapatan pāṇḍusainikāḥ
 18 na tādṛśaṃ raṇe karmakṛtavantas tu tāvakāḥ
     yādṛśaṃ kṛtavān rājā putras tava viśāṃ pate
 19 putreṇa tava sā senā pāṇḍavī mathitā raṇe
     nalinī dviradeneva samantāt phullapaṅkajā
 20 kṣīṇatoyānilārkābhyāṃ hatatviḍ iva padminī
     babhūva pāṇḍavī senā tava putrasya tejasā
 21 pāṇḍusenāṃ hatāṃ dṛṣṭvā tava putreṇa bhārata
     bhīmasenapurogās tu pāñcālāḥ samupādravan
 22 sa bhīmasenaṃ daśabhir madrī putrau tribhis tribhiḥ
     virāṭadrupadau ṣaḍbhiḥ śatena ca śikhaṇḍinam
 23 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca saptatyā dharmaputraṃ ca saptabhiḥ
     kekayāṃś caiva cedīṃś ca bahubhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 24 sātvataṃ pañcabhir viddhvā draupadeyāṃs tribhis tribhiḥ
     ghaṭotkacaṃ ca samare viddhvā siṃha ivānadat
 25 śataśaś cāparān yodhān sa dvipāśvarathān raṇe
     śarair avacakartograiḥ kruddho 'ntaka iva prajāḥ
 26 tasya tān nighnataḥ śatrūn rukmapṛṣṭhaṃ mahad dhanuḥ
     bhallābhyāṃ pāṇḍavo jyeṣṭhas tridhā ciccheda māriṣa
 27 vivyādha cainaṃ daśabhiḥ samyag astaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     marmāṇi bhittvā te sarve saṃbhagnāḥ kṣitim āviśat
 28 tataḥ pramuditā yodhāḥ parivavrur yudhiṣṭhiram
     vṛtra hatyai yathā devāḥ parivavruḥ puraṃdaram
 29 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā tava putrasya māriṣa
     śaraṃ paramadurvāraṃ preṣayām āsa saṃyuge
     sa tena bhṛśasaṃviddho niṣasāda rathottame
 30 tataḥ pāñcāla sainyānāṃ bhṛśam āsīd ravo mahān
     hato rājeti rājendra muditānāṃ samantataḥ
 31 bāṇaśabdaravaś cograḥ śuśruve tatra māriṣa
     atha droṇo drutaṃ tatra pratyadṛśyata saṃyuge
 32 hṛṣṭo duryodhanaś cāpi dṛḍham ādāya kārmukam
     tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti rājānaṃ bruvan pāṇḍavam abhyayāt
 33 pratyudyayus taṃ tvaritāḥ pāñcālā rājagṛddhinaḥ
     tān droṇaḥ pratijagrāha parīpsan kurusattamam
     caṇḍavātoddhatān meghān nighnan raśmimuco yathā
 34 tato rājan mahān āsīt saṃgrāmo bhūrivardhanaḥ
     tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca sametānāṃ yuyutsayā

 

SECTION CXXVIII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'While mighty Bhimasena was uttering those loud shouts deep as the roar of the clouds or peals of thunder, what heroes (of our side) surrounded him? I do not behold that warrior, O Sanjaya, in the three worlds, who is capable of staying before the enraged Bhimasena in battle. I do not, O son, behold him that can stay on the field of battle before Bhimasena armed with mace and resembling Death himself. Who will stand before that Bhima, not excepting Sakra himself, that destroys a car with a car and an elephant with an elephant? 1 Who,
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amongst those devoted to Duryodhana's welfare stood in battle before Bhimasena excited with rage and engaged in slaughtering my sons? Who were those men that stood in battle in front of Bhimasena, engaged in consuming my sons like a forest conflagration consuming dry leaves and straw? Who were they that surrounded Bhima in battle, beholding my sons slain by him one after another like Death himself cutting off all creatures? I do not fear Arjuna so much, or Krishna so much, or Satyaki so much, or him (viz., Dhrishtadyumna) so much who was born of the sacrificial fire, as I fear Bhima. Tell me, O Sanjaya, who were those heroes that rushed against that blazing fire, represented by Bhima, which so consumed my sons?'
"Sanjaya, said, 'While the mighty car-warriors Bhimasena was uttering those roars, mighty Karna, unable to bear them, rushed at him with a loud shout, stretching his bow with great force. Indeed, the mighty Karna, desirous of battle, displayed his strength and checked Bhima's course like a tall tree withstanding tempest. The heroic Bhima also, beholding Vikartana's son before him, suddenly blazed up in wrath and sped at him with great force many shafts whetted on stone. Karna received all those shafts and sped many in return. At that encounter between Bhima and Karna, hearing the sounds of their palms, the limbs of all the struggling combatants, car-warriors, and horsemen, began to tremble. Indeed, hearing the terrible roars of Bhimasena on the field of battle, even all the foremost of Kshatriyas regarded the whole earth and the welkin to be filled with that noise. And at the fierce peals uttered by the high-souled son of Pandu, the bows of all warriors in that battle dropped on the earth. And steeds and elephants, O king, dispirited, ejected urine and excreta. Various frightful omens of evil then made their appearance. The welkin was covered with flights of vultures and Kankas during that terrific encounter between Bhima and Karna. Then Karna struck Bhima with twenty arrows, and quickly pierced the latter's charioteer also with five. Smiling the while, the mighty and active Bhima then, in that battle, quickly sped at Karna four and sixty arrows. Then Karna, O king, sped four shafts at him. Bhima, by means of his straight shafts, cut them into many fragments, O king, displaying his lightness of hand. Then Karna covered him with dense showers of arrows. Thus covered by Karna, the mighty son of Pandu, however, cut off Karna's bow at the handle and then pierced Karna with ten straight arrows. The Suta's son then, that mighty car-warrior of terrible deeds, taking up another bow and stringing it quickly, pierced Bhima in that battle (with many shafts). Then Bhima, excited with rage, struck the Suta's son with great force on the chest with three straight shafts. With those arrows sticking at his breast, Karna looked beautiful, O bull of Bharata's race, like a mountain with three tall summits. Thus pierced with mighty shafts, blood began to flow from his wounds, like torrents of liquid red-chalk down the breast of a mountain. Afflicted with those shafts shot with great force, Karna became agitated a little. Fixing an arrow then on his bow, he pierced
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[paragraph continues] Bhima, again, O sire! And once more he began to shoot arrows by hundreds and thousands. Suddenly shrouded with shafts by that firm bowman, viz., Karna, the son of Pandu, smiling the while, cut off Karna's bow-string. And then with a broad-headed arrow, he despatched Karna's charioteer to the abode of Yama. And that mighty car-warrior, viz., Bhima, deprived the four steeds also of Karna of their lives. The mighty car-warrior Karna then speedily jumping down, O king, from his steedless car, mounted the car of Vrishasena. The valiant Bhimasena then, having vanquished Karna in battle, uttered a loud shout deep as the roar of the clouds. Hearing that roar, O Bharata, Yudhishthira became highly gratified, knowing that Karna had been vanquished by Bhimasena. And the combatants of the Pandava army blew their conchs from every side, Their enemies, viz., thy warriors, hearing that noise, roared loudly. Arjuna stretched Gandiva, and Krishna blew Panchajanya. Drowning, however, all those sounds, the noise made by the roaring Bhima, was, O king, heard by all the combatants, O sire! Then those two warriors, viz., Karna, and Bhima, each struck the other with straight shafts. The son of Radha, however, shot shafts mildly, but the son of Pandu shot his with great force.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 129

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      yat tadā prāviśat pāṇḍūn ācāryaḥ kupito vaśī
      utkvā duryodhanaṃ samyaṅ mama śāstrātigaṃ sutam
  2 praviśya vicarantaṃ ca raṇe śūram avasthitam
      kathaṃ droṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ pāṇḍavāḥ paryavārayan
  3 ke 'rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakram ācāryasya mahātmanaḥ
      ke cottaram arakṣanta nighnataḥ śātravān raṇe
  4 nṛtyan sa rathamārgeṣu sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
      dhūmaketur iva kruddhaḥ kathaṃ mṛtyum upeyivān
  5 [s]
      sāyāhne saindhavaṃ hatvā rājñā pārthaḥ sametya ca
      sātyakiś ca maheṣvāso droṇam evābhyadhāvatām
  6 tathā yudhiṣṭhiras tūrṇaṃ bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
      pṛthak camūbhyāṃ saṃsaktau droṇam evābhyadhāvatām
  7 tathaiva nakulo dhīmān sahadevaś ca durjayaḥ
      dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śatānīko virāṭaś ca sa kekayaḥ
      matsyāḥ śālveya senāś ca droṇam eva yayur yudhi
  8 drupadaś ca tathā rājā pāñcālair abhirakṣitaḥ
      dhṛṣṭadyumna pitā rājan droṇam evābhyavartata
  9 draupadeyā maheṣvāsā rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
      sa senās te 'bhyavartanta droṇam eva mahādyutim
  10 prabhadrakaś ca pāñcālāḥ ṣaṭ sahasrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     droṇam evābhyavartanta puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
 11 tathetare naravyāghrāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
     sahitāḥ saṃnyavartanta droṇam eva dvijarṣabham
 12 teṣu śūreṣu yuddhāya gateṣu bharatarṣabha
     babhūva rajanī ghorā bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhinī
 13 yodhānām aśivā raudrā rājann antakagāminī
     kuñjarāśvamanuṣyāṇāṃ prāṇānta karaṇī tadā
 14 tasyāṃ rajanyāṃ ghorāyāṃ nadantyaḥ sarvataḥ śivāḥ
     nyavedayan bhayaṃ ghoraṃ sa jvālakavalair mukhaiḥ
 15 ulūkāś cāpy adṛśyanta śaṃsanto vipulaṃ bhayam
     viśeṣataḥ kauravāṇāṃ dhvajinyām atidāruṇam
 16 tataḥ sainyeṣu rājendra śabdaḥ samabhavan mahān
     bherīśabdena mahatā mṛdaṅgānāṃ svanena ca
 17 gajānāṃ garjitaiś cāpi turaṅgāṇāṃ ca heṣitaiḥ
     khuraśabdanipātaiś ca tumulaḥ sarvato 'bhavat
 18 tataḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ saṃdhyāyām atidāruṇam
     droṇasya ca mahārāja sṛñjayānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
 19 tamasā cāvṛte loke na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
     sainyena rajasā caiva samantād utthitena ha
 20 narasyāśvasya nāgasya samasajjata śoṇitam
     nāpaśyāma rajo bhaumaṃ kaśmalenābhisaṃvṛtāḥ
 21 rātrau vaṃśavanasyeva dahyamānasya parvate
     ghoraś cāṭacaṭā śabdaḥ śastrāṇāṃ patatām abhūt
 22 naiva sve na pare rājan prājñāyanta tamovṛte
     unmattam iva tat sarvaṃ babhūva rajanī mukhe
 23 bhaumaṃ rajo 'tha rājendra śoṇitena praśāmitam
     śātakaumbhaiś ca kavacair bhūṣaṇaiś ca tamo 'bhyagāt
 24 tataḥ sā bhāratī senā maṇihemavibhūṣitā
     dyur ivāsīt sa nakṣatrā rajanyāṃ bharatarṣabha
 25 gomāyubaḍa saṃghuṣṭā śaktidhvajasamākulā
     dāruṇābhirutā ghorā kṣveḍitotkruṣṭa nāditā
 26 tato 'bhavan mahāśabdas tumulo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
     samāvṛṇvan diśaḥ sarvā mahendrāśaninisvanaḥ
 27 sā niśīthe mahārāja senādṛśyata bhāratī
     aṅgadaiḥ kuṇḍalair niṣkaiḥ śastaiś caivāvabhāsitā
 28 tatra nāgā rathāś caiva jāmbūnadavibhūṣitāḥ
     niśāyāṃ pratyadṛśyanta meghā iva sa vidyutaḥ
 29 ṛṣṭiśaktigadā bāṇamusala prāsapaṭṭiśāḥ
     saṃpatanto vyadṛśyanta bhrājamānā ivāgnayaḥ
 30 duryodhana purovātāṃ rathanāgabalāhakām
     vāditraghoṣastanitāṃ cāpavidyud dhvajair vṛtām
 31 droṇa pāṇḍava parjanyāṃ khaḍgaśakti gadāśanim
     śaradhārāstra pavanāṃ bhṛśaṃ śītoṣṇasaṃkulām
 32 ghorāṃ vismāpanīm ugrāṃ jīvitac chidam aplavām
     tāṃ prāviśann atibhayāṃ senāṃ yuddhacikīrṣavaḥ
 33 tasmin rātrimukhe ghore mahāśabdaninādite
     bhīrūṇāṃ trāsajanane śūrāṇāṃ harṣavardhane
 34 rātriyuddhe tadā ghore vartamāne sudāruṇe
     droṇam abhyadravan kruddhāḥ sahitāḥ pāṇḍusṛñjayāḥ
 35 ye ye pramukhato rājan nyavartanta mahātmanaḥ
     tān sarvān vimukhāṃś cakre kāṃś cin ninye yamakṣayam

 

SECTION CXXIX

-Sanjaya said, 'After that army had (thus) been routed, and Arjuna and Bhimasena had all gone after the ruler of the Sindhus, thy son (Duryodhana) proceeded towards Drona. And Duryodhana went to the preceptor, on his single car, thinking, by the way, of diverse duties. That car of thy son, endued with the speed of the wind or thought, proceeded with great celerity towards Drona. With eyes red in wrath, thy son addressed the preceptor and said, 'O grinder of foes, Arjuna and Bhimasena, and unvanquished Satyaki, and many mighty car-warriors, defeating all our troops, have succeeded in approaching the ruler of the Sindhus. Indeed, those mighty car-warriors, who vanquished all the troops, themselves unvanquished, are fighting even there. O giver of honours, how hast thou been transgressed by both Satyaki and Bhima? O foremost of Brahmanas, this thy defeat at the hands of Satwata, of Arjuna, and of Bhimasena, is like the drying of the ocean, exceedingly wonderful in this world. People are loudly asking, 'How, indeed, could Drona, that master of the science of arms, be vanquished?' Even thus all the warriors are speaking in depreciation of thee. Destruction is certain for my luckless self in battle, when three car-warriors, O tiger among men, have if, succession transgressed thee. When, however, all this hath happened, tell us what thou hast to say on the business that awaits us. What hath
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happened, is past. O giver of honours, think now of what is remaining. Say quickly what should next be done for the ruler of the Sindhus on the present occasion, and let what thou sayest be quickly and properly carried out.'
"Drona said, 'Listen, O great king, to what I, having reflected much, say unto thee about what should now be done. As yet only three great car-warriors among the Pandavas have transgressed us. We have as much to fear behind those three as we have to dread before them. 1 There, however, where Krishna and Dhananjaya are, our fear must be greater. The Bharata army hath been attacked both on the front and from behind. In this pass, I think, the protection of the ruler of the Sindhus is our first duty. Jayadratha, afraid of Dhananjaya, deserves of everything else to be protected by us. The heroic Yuyudhana and Vrikodara have both gone against the ruler of the Sindhus. All this that hath come is the fruit of that match at dice conceived by Sakuni's intellect. Neither victory nor defeat took place in the (gaming) assembly. Now that we are engaged in this sport, there will be victory or defeat. Those innocent things with which Sakuni had formerly played in the Kuru assembly and which he regarded as dice, were, in reality, invincible shafts. Truly, there where, O sire, the Kauravas were congregated, they were not dice but terrible arrows capable of mangling your bodies. At present, however, O king, know the combatants for players, these shafts for dice, and the ruler of the Sindhus, without doubt, O monarch, as the stake, in this game of battle. Indeed, Jayadratha is the great stake about which we are playing today with the enemy. Under the circumstances, therefore, O monarch, all of us becoming reckless of our very lives, should make due arrangements for the protection of the ruler of the Sindhus in battle. Engaged as we are in our present sport, it is here that we shall have victory or defeat, here, that is, where those great bowmen are protecting the ruler of the Sindhus. Go thither, therefore, with speed, and protect those protectors (of Jayadratha). As regards myself, I will stay here, for despatching others (to the presence of Jayadratha) and checking the Panchalas, the Pandus and the Srinjayas united together. Thus commanded by the preceptor, Duryodhana quickly proceeded (to the place indicated) with his followers, resolutely setting himself to (the accomplishment of) a fierce task. The two protectors of the wheels of Arjuna's car, viz., the Panchala princes, Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, were at that time proceeding towards Savyasachin by the skirts of the Kuru array. Thou mayest remember, O king, that formerly while Arjuna penetrated thy host from desire of battle, those two princes, O monarch, had been checked in their progress by Kritavarman. Now, the Kuru king beheld them proceeding by the skirts of his host. The mighty Duryodhana of Bharata's race lost no time in engaging in a fierce battle with those two brothers thus rushing furiously. Those two foremost of Kshatriyas,
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reputed as mighty car-warriors, then rushed in that battle at Duryodhana, with outstretched bows. Yudhamanyu pierced Duryodhana with twenty, and his four steeds with four shafts. Duryodhana, however, with a single shaft, cut off Yudhamanyu's standard. And thy son then cut off the former's bow also with another shaft. And then with a broad-headed arrow, the Kuru king felled Yudhamanyu's charioteer from his niche in the car. And then he pierced the four steeds of the latter with four shafts. Then Yudhamanyu, excited with wrath, quickly sped, in that battle, thirty shafts at the centre of thy son's chest. Then Uttamaujas also, excited with wrath, pierced Duryodhana's charioteer with shafts decked with gold, and despatched him to Yama's abode. Duryodhana also, O monarch, then slew the four steeds as also the two Parshni charioteers of Uttamaujas, the prince of Panchalas. Then Uttamaujas, in that battle, becoming steedless and driverless, quickly ascended the car of his brother, Yudhamanyu. Ascending on the car of his brother, he struck Duryodhana's steeds with many shafts. Slain therewith, those steeds fell down on the earth. Upon the fall of his steeds, the valiant Yudhamanyu then, by a mighty weapon, quickly cut off Duryodhana's bow and then (with another shaft), his leathern fence. That bull among men then, viz., thy son, jumping down from that steedless and driverless car, took up a mace and proceeded against the two princes of Panchala. Beholding that subjugator of hostile town, thus advancing in wrath, both Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas jumped down from the terrace of their car. Then Duryodhana armed as he was with a mace, pressed down into the earth with that mace that foremost of cars furnished with gold, with steeds and driver and standard. Thy son then, that scorcher of foes, having thus crushed that car, steedless and driverless as he himself was, quickly ascended the car of the king of the Madras. Meanwhile, those two mighty car-warriors, viz., those two foremost Panchala princes, ascending on two other cars, proceeded towards Arjuna.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 130

 

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      tasmin praviṣṭe durdharṣe sṛñjayān amitaujasi
      amṛṣyamāṇe saṃrabdhe kā vo 'bhūd vai matis tadā
  2 duryodhanaṃ tathā putram uktvā śāstrātigaṃ mama
      yat prāviśad ameyātmā kiṃ pārthaḥ pratyapadyata
  3 nihate saindhave vīre bhūriśravasi caiva hi
      yad abhyagān mahātejāḥ pāñcālān aparājitha
  4 kim amanyata durdharṣaḥ praviṣṭe śatrutāpane
      duryodhanaś ca kiṃ kṛtyaṃ prāptakālam amanyata
  5 ke ca taṃ varadaṃ vīram anvayur dvijasattamam
      ke cāsya pṛṣṭhato 'gacchan vīrāḥ śūrasya yudhyataḥ
      ke purastād ayudhyanta nighnataḥ śātravān raṇe
  6 manye 'haṃ pāḍavān sarvān bhāradvāja śarārditān
      śiśire kampamānā vai kṛśā gāva ivābhibho
  7 praviśya sa maheṣvāsaḥ pāñcālān arimardanaḥ
      kathaṃ nu puruṣavyāghraḥ pañcatvam upajagmivān
  8 sarveṣu sainyeṣu ca saṃgateṣu; rātrau sameteṣu mahāratheṣu
      saṃloḍyamāneṣu pṛthagvidheṣu; ke vas tadānīṃ matimanta āsan
  9 hatāṃś caiva viṣaktāṃś ca parābhūtāṃś ca śaṃsati
      rathino virathāṃś caiva kṛtān yuddheṣu māmakān
  10 katham eṣāṃ tadā tatra pārthānām apalāyinām
     prakāśam abhavad rātrau kathaṃ kuruṣu saṃjaya
 11 [s]
     rātriyuddhe tadā rājan vartamāne sudāruṇe
     droṇam abhyadravan rātrau pāṇḍavāḥ saha sainikāḥ
 12 tato droṇaḥ kekayāṃś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnasya cātmajān
     preṣayan mṛtyulokāya sarvān iṣubhir āśugaiḥ
 13 tasya pramukhato rājan ye 'vartanta mahārathāḥ
     tān sarvān preṣayām āsa paralokāya bhārata
 14 pramathnantaṃ tadā vīraṃ bhāradvājaṃ mahāratham
     abhyavartata saṃkruddhaḥ śibī rājan pratāpavān
 15 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāratham
     vivyādha daśabhir droṇaḥ sarvapāraśavaiḥ śaraiḥ
 16 taṃ śibiḥ prativivyādha triṃśatā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena smayamāno nyapātayat
 17 tasya droṇo hayān hatvā sārathiṃ ca mahātmanaḥ
     athāsya sa śiras trāṇaṃ śiraḥ kāyād apāharat
 18 kaliṅgānāṃ ca sainyena kaliṅgasya suto raṇe
     pūrvaṃ pitṛvadhāt kruddho bhīmasenam upādravat
 19 sa bhīmaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā punar vivyādha saptabhiḥ
     viśokaṃ tribhir ājaghne dhvajam ekena patriṇā
 20 kaliṅgānāṃ tu taṃ śūraṃ kruddhaṃ kruddho vṛkodaraḥ
     rathād ratham abhidrutya muṣṭinābhijaghāna ha
 21 tasya muṣṭihatasyājau pāṇḍavena balīyasā
     sarvāṇy asthīni sahasā prāpatan vai pṛthak pṛthak
 22 taṃ karṇo bhrātaraś cāsya nāmṛṣyanta mahārathāḥ
     te bhīmasenaṃ nārācair jaghnur āśīviṣopamaiḥ
 23 tatra śatrurathaṃ tyaktvā bhīmo dhruvarathaṃ gataḥ
     dhruvaṃ cāsyantam aniśaṃ muṣṭinā samapothayat
     sa tathā pāṇḍuputreṇa balinā nihato 'patat
 24 taṃ nihatya mahārāja bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     jaya rāta rathaṃ prāpya muhuḥ siṃha ivānadat
 25 jaya rātam athākṣipya nadan savyena pāṇinā
     talena nāśayām āsa karṇasyaivāgrataḥ sthitam
 26 karṇas tu pāṇḍave śaktiṃ kāñcanīṃ samavāsṛjat
     tatas tām eva jaghrāha prahasan pāṇḍunandanaḥ
 27 karṇāyaiva ca durdharṣaś cikṣepājau vṛkodaraḥ
     tām antarikṣe ciccheda śakunis tailapāyinā
 28 tatas tava sutā rājan bhīmasya ratham āvrajan
     mahatā śaravarṣeṇa chādayanto vṛkodaram
 29 durmadasya tato bhīmaḥ prahasann iva saṃyuge
     sārathiṃ ca hayāṃś caiva śarair ninye yamakṣayam
     durmadas tu tato yānaṃ duṣkarṇasyāvapupluve
 30 tāv ekaratham ārūḍhau bhrātarau paratāpanau
     saṃgrāmaśiraso madhye bhīmaṃ dvāv abhyadhāvatām
     yathāmbupatimitrau hi tārakaṃ daitya sattamam
 31 tatas tu durmadaś caiva duṣkarṇaś ca tavātmajau
     ratham ekaṃ samāruhya bhīmaṃ bāṇair avidhyatām
 32 tataḥ karṇasya miṣato drauṇer duryodhanasya ca
     kṛpasya somadattasya bāhlīkasya ca pāṇḍavaḥ
 33 durmadasya ca vīrasya duṣkarṇasya ca taṃ ratham
     pādaprahāreṇa dharāṃ prāveśayad ariṃdamaḥ
 34 tataḥ sutau te balinau śūrau duṣkarṇa durmadau
     muṣṭināhatya saṃkruddho mamarda caraṇena ca
 35 tato hāhākṛte sainye dṛṣṭvā bhīmaṃ nṛpābruvan
     rudro 'yaṃ bhīmarūpeṇa dhārtarāṣṭreṣu gṛdhyati
 36 evam uktvāpalāyanta sarve bhārata pārthivāḥ
     visaṃjñāv āhayān vāhān na ca dvau saha dhāvataḥ
 37 tato bale bhṛśalulite niśāmukhe; supūjito nṛpa vṛṣabhair vṛkodaraḥ
     mahābalaḥ kamalavibuddhalocano; yudhiṣṭhiraṃ nṛpatim apūjayad balī
 38 tato yamau drupada virāṭa kekayā; yudhiṣṭhiraś cāpi parāṃ mudaṃ yayuḥ
     vṛkodaraṃ bhṛśam abhipūjayaṃś ca te; yathāndhake pratinihate haraṃ surāḥ
 39 tataḥ sutās tava varuṇātmajopamā; ruṣānvitāḥ saha guruṇā mahatmanā
     vṛkodaraṃ sa rathapadātikuñjarā; yuyutsavo bhṛśam abhiparyavārayan
 40 tato 'bhavat timiraghanair ivāvṛtaṃ; mahābhaye bhayadam atīva dāruṇam
     niśāmukhe baḍa vṛkagṛdhramodanaṃ; mahātmanāṃ nṛpa varayuddham adbhutam

 

SECTION CXXX

"Sanjaya said, 'During the progress, O monarch, of that battle, making the hair stand on end, and when all the combatants were filled with anxiety and greatly afflicted, the son of Radha. O bull of Bharata's race, proceeded against Bhima for battle, like an infuriated elephant in the forest proceeding against another infuriated elephant.'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'How raged that battle, in the neighbourhood of Arjuna's car, between those two mighty car-warriors, viz., Bhima and Karna, both of whom are endued with great strength? Once before Karna had been vanquished by Bhimasena in battle. How, therefore, could the
p. 279
mighty car-warrior Karna again proceed against Bhima? How also could Bhima proceed against the Suta's son, that mighty warrior who is reckoned as the greatest of car-warriors on earth? Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, having prevailed over Bhishma and Drona, did not fear anybody else so much as the bowman Karna. Indeed, thinking of the mighty car-warrior Karna, he passeth his nights sleeplessly from fear. How, then, could Bhima encounter that Suta's son in battle? Indeed, O Sanjaya, how could Bhima fight with Karna, that foremost of warriors, that hero devoted to the Brahmanas endued with energy and never retreating from battle? How, indeed, did those two heroes, viz., the Suta's son and Vrikodara, fight with each other in that encounter which took place in the vicinity of Arjuna's car? Informed before of his brotherhood (with the Pandavas), the Suta's son is again, compassionate. Remembering also his words to Kunti, how could he fight with Bhima? As regards Bhima also, remembering all the wrongs formerly inflicted on him by the Suta's son, how did that hero fight with Karna in battle? My son Duryodhana, O Suta, hopeth that Karna will vanquish all the Pandavas in battle. Upon whom my wretched son resteth his hope of victory in battle, how did he fight with Bhimasena of terrible deeds? That Suta's son, relying upon whom my sons chose hostilities with those mighty car-warriors (viz., the sons of Pandu), how did Bhima fight with him? Indeed, remembering the diverse wrongs and injuries done by him, how did Bhima fight with that son of Suta? How indeed, could Bhima fight with that son of a Suta, who, endued with great valour, had formerly subjugated the whole earth on a single car? How did Bhima fight with that son of a Suta, who was born with a (natural) pair of ear-rings? Thou art skilled in narration, O Sanjaya! Tell me, therefore, in detail how the battle took place between those two, and who amongst them obtained the victory?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Leaving Radha's son, that foremost of car-warriors Bhimasena, desired to proceed to the place where those two heroes, viz., Krishna and Dhananjaya were. The son of Radha, however, rushing towards him as he proceeded, covered him, O king, with dense showers of arrows, like a cloud pouring, torrents of rain on a mountain. The mighty son of Adhiratha, his face beautiful as a full-blown lotus, lighted up with a smile, challenged Bhimasena to battle, as the latter was proceeding. And Karna said, 'O Bhima, I dreamt not that thou knowest how to fight. Why then dost thou show me thy back from desire of meeting with Arjuna? O delighter of the Pandavas, this is scarcely fit for a son of Kunti. Staying, therefore, where thou art, cover me with thy arrows.' Bhimasena, hearing that challenge of Karna, brooked it not, but wheeling his car a little, began to fight with the Suta's son. The illustrious Bhimasena showered clouds of straight shafts. Desiring also to arrive at the end of those hostilities by slaying Karna, Bhima began to weaken that hero conversant with every weapon and clad in mail, and staying before him for engaging in a single combat. Then mighty Bhima, that scorcher of foes, that wrathful son of Pandu, having slain numerous Kauravas, shot diverse showers of
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fierce shafts at Karna, O sire! The Suta's son, endued with great strength, swallowed, by means of the power of his own weapons, all those showers of arrows shot by that hero, possessed of the tread of an infuriated elephant. Duly favoured by knowledge, that great bowman, viz., Karna, began in that battle, O monarch, to career like a preceptor (Of Military science). The wrathful son of Radha, smiling the while, seemed to mock Bhimasena as the latter was battling with great fury. The son of Kunti brooked not that smile of Karna in the midst of many brave warriors witnessing from all sides that fight of theirs. Like a driver striking a huge elephant with a hook, the mighty Bhima, excited with rage, pierced Karna whom he had obtained within reach, with many calf-toothed shafts in the centre of the chest. And once more, Bhimasena pierced the Suta's son of variegated armour with three and seventy well-shot and keen arrows equipped with beautiful wings and eased in golden armour, each with five shafts. And soon, within the twinkling of the eye, was seen a network of shafts about Bhima's car caused by Karna. Indeed, O monarch, those shafts shot from Karna's bow completely shrouded that car with its standard and driver and the Pandava himself. Then Karna pierced the impenetrable armour of Bhima with four and sixty arrows. And excited with rage he then pierced Partha himself with many straight shafts capable of penetrating into the very vitals. The mighty-armed Vrikodara, however, disregarding those shafts shot from Karna's bow fearlessly struck the Suta's son. Pierced with those shafts, resembling snakes of virulent poison, shot from Karna's bow, Bhima, O monarch, felt no pain in that battle. The valiant Bhima then, in that encounter, pierced Karna with two and thirty broad-headed shafts of keen points and fierce energy, Karna, however, with the greatest indifference, covered, in return, with his arrows, the mighty-armed Bhimasena who was desirous of Jayadratha's slaughter. Indeed, the son of Radha, in that encounter, fought mildly with Bhima, while Bhima, remembering his former wrongs, fought with him furiously. The wrathful Bhimasena could not brook that disregard by Karna. Indeed, that slayer of foes quickly shot showers of arrows at Radha's son. Those arrows, sped in that encounter by Bhimasena, fell on every limb of Karna like cooing birds. Those arrows equipped with golden wings and keen points, shot from Bhimasena's bow, covered the son of Radha like a flight of insects covering a blazing fire. Karna, however, O king, shot showers of fierce shafts in return, O Bharata. Then Vrikodara cut off, with Many broad-headed arrows, those shafts resembling thunderbolts, shot by that ornament of battle, before they could come at him. That chastiser of foes, viz., Karna, the son of Vikartana, once more, O Bharata, covered Bhimasena with his arrowy showers. We then, O Bharata, beheld Bhima so pierced in that encounter with arrows as to resemble a porcupine with its quilts erect on its body. 1 Like the sun holding his own rays, the heroic
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[paragraph continues] Bhima held in that battle all those shafts, whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold, that were shot from Karna's bow. All his limbs bathed in blood, Bhimasena looked resplendent like an Asoka tree in spring adorned with its flowery burthen. The mighty-armed Bhima could not brook that conduct, in battle, of the mighty-armed Karna. Rolling his eyes ill wrath, he pierced Karna with five and twenty long shafts. Thereupon, Karna looked like a white mountain with many snakes of virulent poison (hanging from its sides). And once more, Bhimasena, endued with the prowess of a celestial, pierced the Suta's son who was prepared to lay down his life in battle, with six and then with eight arrows. And, again, with another arrow, the valiant Bhimasena quickly cut off Karna's bow, smiling the while. And he slew also with his shafts the four steeds of Karna and then his charioteer, and then pierced Karna himself in the chest with a number of long shafts endued with the effulgence of the sun. Those winged shafts, piercing through Karna's body, entered the earth, like the rays of the sun piercing through the clouds. Afflicted with arrows and his bow cut off, Karna, though proud of his manliness, felt great pain and proceeded to another car.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 131

 

 

 

1 [s]
      prāyopaviṣṭe tu hate putre sātyakinā tataḥ
      somadatto bhṛśaṃ kruddhaḥ sātyaktiṃ vākyam abravīt
  2 kṣatradharmaḥ purā dṛṣṭo yas tu devair mahātmabhiḥ
      taṃ tvaṃ sātvata saṃtyajya dasyu dharme kathaṃ rataḥ
  3 parāṅmukhāya dīnāya nyastaśastrāya yācate
      kṣatradharmarataḥ prājñaḥ kathaṃ nu prahared raṇe
  4 dvāv eva kila vṛṣṇīnāṃ tatra khyātau mahārathau
      pradyumnaś ca mahābāhus tvaṃ caiva yudhi sātvata
  5 kathaṃ prāyopaviṣṭāya pārthena chinnabāhave
      nṛśaṃsaṃ patanīyaṃ ca tādṛśaṃ kṛtavān asi
  6 śape sātvata putrābhyām iṣṭena sukṛtena ca
      anatītām imāṃ rātriṃ yadi tvāṃ vīra māninam
  7 arakṣyamāṇaṃ pārthena jiṣṇunā sa sutānujam
      na hanyāṃ niraye ghore pateyaṃ vṛṣṇipāṃsana
  8 evam uktvā susaṃkruddhaḥ somadatto mahābalaḥ
      dadhmau śaṅkhaṃ ca tāreṇa siṃhanādaṃ nanāda ca
  9 tataḥ kamalapatrākṣaḥ siṃhadaṃṣṭro mahābalaḥ
      sātvato bhṛśasaṃkruddhaḥ somadattam athābravīt
  10 hato bhūriśravā vīras tava putro mahārathaḥ
     śaraś caiva tathā rājan bhrātṛvyasanakarśitaḥ
 11 tvāṃ cāpy adya vadhiṣyāmi saputrapaśubāndhavam
     tiṣṭhedānīṃ raṇe yattaḥ kauravo 'si viśeṣataḥ
 12 yasmindānaṃ damaḥ śaucam ahiṃsā hrīr dhṛtiḥ kṣamā
     anapāyīni sarvāṇi nityaṃ rājñi yudhiṣṭhire
 13 mṛdaṅgaketos tasya tvaṃ tejasā nihataḥ purā
     sa karṇa saubalaḥ saṃkhye vināśaṃ samupeṣyasi
 14 śape 'haṃ kṛṣṇa caraṇair iṣṭāpūrtena caiva ha
     yadi tvāṃ sasutaṃ pāpaṃ na hanyāṃ yudhi roṣitaḥ
     apayāsyasi cet tyaktvā tato mukto bhaviṣyasi
 15 evam ābhāṣya cānyonyaṃ krodhasaṃraktalocanau
     pravṛttau śarasaṃpātaṃ kartuṃ puruṣasattamau
 16 tato gajasahasreṇa rathānām ayutena ca
     duryodhanaḥ somadattaṃ parivārya vyavasthitaḥ
 17 śakuniś ca susaṃkruddhaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
     putrapautraiḥ parivṛto bhrātṛbhiś cendra vikramaiḥ
     syālas tava mahābāhur vajrasaṃhanano yuvā
 18 sāgraṃ śatasahasraṃ tu hayānāṃ tasya dhīmataḥ
     somadattaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ samantāt paryarakṣata
 19 rakṣyamāṇaś ca balibhiś chādayām āsa sātyakim
     taṃ chādyamānaṃ viśikhair dṛṣṭvā saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumno 'bhyayāt kruddhaḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ camūm
 20 caṇḍavātābhisṛṣṭānām udadhīnām iva svanaḥ
     āsīd rājan balaughānām anyonyam abhinighnatām
 21 vivyādha somadattas tu sātvataṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     sātyakir daśabhiś cainam avadhīt kurupuṃgavam
 22 so 'tividdho balavatā samare dṛḍhadhanvinā
     rathopasthaṃ samāsādya mumoha gatacetanaḥ
 23 taṃ vimūḍhaṃ samālakṣya sārathis tvarayānvitaḥ
     apovāha raṇād vīraṃ somadattaṃ mahāratham
 24 taṃ visaṃjñaṃ samālokya yuyudhāna śarārditam
     drauṇir abhyadravat kruddhaḥ sātvataṃ raṇamūrdhani
 25 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya śaineyasya rathaṃ prati
     bhaimaseniḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ pratyamitram avārayat
 26 kārṣṇāyasamayaṃ ghoram ṛkṣacarmāvṛtaṃ mahat
     yuktaṃ gajanibhair vāhair na hayair nāpi vā gajaiḥ
 27 vikṣiptam aṣṭacakreṇa vivṛtākṣeṇa kūjatā
     dhvajenocchritatuṇḍena gṛdhrarājena rājatā
 28 lohitārdra patākaṃ tam antra mālā vibhūṣitam
     aṣṭacakrasamāyuktam āsthāya vipulaṃ ratham
 29 śūlamudgara dhāriṇyā śailapādapa hastayā
     rakṣasāṃ ghorarūpāṇām akṣaihiṇyā samāvṛtaḥ
 30 tam udyatamahācāpaṃ niśāmya vyathitā nṛpāḥ
     yugāntakālasamaye daṇḍahastam ivāntakam
 31 bhayārditā pacukṣobha putrasya tava vāhinī
     vāyunā kṣobhitāvartā gaṅgevordhva taraṅgiṇī
 32 gaṭotkaca prayuktena siṃhanādena bhīṣitāḥ
     prasusruvur gajā mūtraṃ vivyathuś ca narā bhṛśam
 33 tato 'śmavṛṣṭir atyartham āsīt tatra samantataḥ
     saṃdhyākālādhika balaiḥ pramuktā rākṣasaiḥ kṣitau
 34 āyasāni ca cakrāṇi bhuśuṇḍyaḥ prāsatomarāḥ
     patanty aviralāḥ śūlāḥ śataghnyaḥ paṭṭiśās tathā
 35 tad ugram atiraudraṃ ca dṛṣṭvā yuddhaṃ narādhipāḥ
     tanayās tava karṇaś ca vyathitāḥ prādravan diśaḥ
 36 tatraiko 'strabalaślāghī drauṇir mānī na vivyathe
     vyadhamac ca śarair māyāṃ ghaṭotkaca vinirmitām
 37 nihatāyāṃ tu māyāyām amarṣī sa ghaṭotkacaḥ
     visasarja śarān ghorāṃs te 'śvatthāmānam āviśan
 38 bhujagā iva vegena valmīkaṃ krodhamūrchitāḥ
     te śarā rudhirābhyaktā bhittvā śāradvatī sutam
     viviśur dharaṇīṃ śīghrā rukmapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
 39 aśvatthāmā tu saṃkruddho laghuhastaḥ pratāpavān
     ghaṭotkacam abhikruddhaṃ bibheda daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 40 ghaṭotkaco 'tividdhas tu droṇaputreṇa marmasu
     cakraṃ śatasahasrāram agṛhṇād vyathito bhṛśam
 41 kṣurāntaṃ bālasūryābhaṃ maṇivajra vibhūṣitam
     aśvatthāmnas tu cikṣepa bhaimasenir jighāṃsayā
 42 vegena mahatā gacchad vikṣiptaṃ drauṇinā śaraiḥ
     abhāgyasyeva saṃkalpas tan moghaṃ nyapatad bhuvi
 43 ghaṭotkacas tatas tūrṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā cakraṃ nipātitam
     drauṇiṃ prācchādayad bāṇaiḥ svarbhānur iva bhāskaram
 44 ghaṭotkaca sutaḥ śrīmān bhinnāñ janacayopamaḥ
     rurodha drauṇim āyāntaṃ prabhañjanam ivādrirāṭ
 45 pautreṇa bhīmasenasya śaraiḥ so 'ñjana parvaṇā
     babhau meghena dhārābhir ghirir merur ivārditaḥ
 46 aśvatthāmā tv asaṃbhrānto rudropendrendra vikramaḥ
     dhvajam ekena bāṇena cicchedāñjanaparvaṇaḥ
 47 dvābhyāṃ tu rathayantāraṃ tribhiś cāsya triveṇukam
     dhanur ekena ciccheda caturbhiś caturo hayān
 48 virathasyodyataṃ hastād dhemabindubhir ācitam
     viśikhena sutīkṣṇena khaḍgam asya dvidhākarot
 49 gadā hemāṅgadā rājaṃs tūrṇaṃ haiḍimba sūnunā
     bhrāmyotkṣiptā śaraiḥ sāpi drauṇinābhyāhatāpatat
 50 tato 'ntarikṣam utpatya kālamegha ivonnadan
     vavarṣāñjana parvā sa drumavarṣaṃ nabhastalāt
 51 tato māyādharaṃ drauṇir ghaṭotkaca sutaṃ divi
     mārgaṇair abhivivyādha dhanaṃ sūrya ivāṃśubhiḥ
 52 so 'vatīrya punas tasthau rathe hemapariṣkṛte
     mahīdhara ivātyuccaḥ śrīmān añjana parvataḥ
 53 tam ayasmaya varmāṇaṃ drauṇir bhīmātmajātmajam
     jaghānāñjana parvāṇaṃ maheśvara ivāndhakam
 54 atha dṛṣṭvā hataṃ putram aśvatthāmnā mahābalam
     drauṇeḥ sakāśam abhyetya roṣāt pacalitāṅgadaḥ
 55 prāha vākyam asaṃbhrānto vīraṃ śāradvatī sutam
     dahantaṃ pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vanam agnim ivoddhatam
 56 tiṣṭha tiṣṭha na me jīvan droṇaputra gamiṣyasi
     tvām adya nihaniṣyāmi krauñcam agnisuto yathā
 57 [aṣv]
     gaccha vatsa sahānyais tvaṃ yudhyasvāmara vikrama
     na hi putreṇa haiḍimbe pitā nyāyyaṃ prabādhitum
 58 kāmaṃ khalu na me roṣo haiḍimbe vidyate tvayi
     kiṃ tu roṣānvito jantur hanyād ātmānam apy uta
 59 [s]
     śrutvaitat krudha tāmrākṣaḥ putraśokasamanvitaḥ
     aśvatthāmānam āyasto bhaimasenir abhāṣata
 60 kim ahaṃ kātaro drauṇe pṛthagjana ivāhave
     bhīmāt khalv aham utpannaḥ kurūṇāṃ vipule kule
 61 pāṇḍavānām ahaṃ putraḥ samareṣv anivartinām
     rakṣasām adhirājo 'haṃ daśagrīva samo bale
 62 tiṣṭha tiṣṭha na me jīvan droṇaputra gamiṣyasi
     yuddhaśraddhām ahaṃ te 'dya vineṣyāmi raṇājire
 63 ity uktvā roṣatāmrākṣo rākṣasaḥ sumahābalaḥ
     drauṇim abhyadravat kruddho gajendram iva kesarī
 64 rathākṣamātrair iṣubhir abhyavarṣad ghaṭotkacaḥ
     rathinām ṛṣabhaṃ drauṇiṃ dhārābhir iva toyadaḥ
 65 śaravṛṣṭiṃ śarair drauṇir aprāptāṃ tāṃ vyaśātayat
     tato 'ntarikṣe bāṇānāṃ saṃgrāmo 'nya ivābhavat
 66 athāstra saṃgharṣakṛtair visphuliṅgaiḥ samābabhau
     vibhāvarī mukhe vyoma khadyotair iva citritam
 67 niśāmya nihataṃ māyāṃ drauṇinā raṇamāninā
     ghaṭotkacas tato māyāṃ sasarjāntarhitaḥ punaḥ
 68 so 'bhavad girir ity uccaḥ śikharais tarusaṃkaṭaiḥ
     śūlaprāsāsi musalajalaprasravaṇo mahān
 69 tam añjana cayaprakhyaṃ drauṇir dṛṣṭvā mahīdharam
     prapatadbhiś ca bahubhiḥ śastrasaṃghair na cukṣubhe
 70 tataḥ smayann iva drauṇir vajram astram udīrayat
     sa tenāstreṇa śailendraḥ kṣiptaḥ kṣipram anaśyata
 71 tataḥ sa toyado bhūtvā nīlaḥ sendrāyudho divi
     aśmavṛṣṭibhir atyugro drauṇim ācchādayad raṇe
 72 atha saṃdhāya vāyavyam astram astravidāṃ varaḥ
     vyadhamad droṇa tanayo nīlameghaṃ samutthitam
 73 sa mārgaṇagaṇair drauṇir diśaḥ pracchādya sarvataḥ
     śataṃ rathasahasrāṇāṃ jaghāna dvipadāṃ varaḥ
 74 sa dṛṣṭvā punar āyāntaṃ rathenāyata kārmukam
     ghaṭotkacam asaṃbhrāntaṃ rākṣasair bahubhir vṛtam
 75 siṃhaśārdūlasadṛśair mattadviradavikramaiḥ
     gajasthaiś ca rathasthaiś ca vājipṛṣṭha gatair api
 76 vivṛtāsya śirogrīvair haiḍimbānucaraiḥ saha
     paulastyair yātudhānaiś ca tāmasaiś cogravikramaiḥ
 77 nānāśastradharair vīrair nānā kavacabhūṣaṇaiḥ
     mahābalair bhīmaravaiḥ saṃrambhodvṛtta locanaiḥ
 78 upasthitais tato yuddhe rākṣasair yuddhadurmadaiḥ
     viṣaṇṇam abhisaṃprekṣya putraṃ te drauṇir abravīt
 79 tiṣṭha duryodhanādya tvaṃ na kāryaḥ saṃbhramas tvayā
     sahaibhir bhrātṛbhir vīraiḥ pārthivaiś cendra vikramaiḥ
 80 nihaniṣyāmy amitrāṃs te na tavāsti parājayaḥ
     satyaṃ te pratijānāmi paryāśvāsaya vāhinīm
 81 [dur]
     na tv etad adbhutaṃ manye yat te mahad idaṃ manaḥ
     asmāsu ca parā bhaktis tava gautaminandana
 82 [s]
     aśvatthāmānam uktvaivaṃ tataḥ saubalam abravīt
     vṛtaḥ śatasahasreṇa rathānāṃ raṇaśobhinām
 83 ṣaṣṭyā gajasahasraiś ca prayāhi tvaṃ dhanaṃjayam
     karṇaś ca vṛṣasenaś ca kṛpo nīlas tathaiva ca
 84 udīcyāḥ kṛtavarmā ca purumitraḥ śrutārpaṇaḥ
     duḥśāsano nikumbhaś ca kuṇḍa bhedī uru kramaḥ
 85 puraṃjayo dṛḍharathaḥ patākī hemapaṅkajaḥ
     śalyāruṇīndra senāś ca saṃjayo vijayo jayaḥ
 86 kamalākṣaḥ puruḥ krāthī jaya varmā sudarśanaḥ
     ete tvām anuyāsyanti pattīnām ayutāni ṣaṭ
 87 jahi bhīmaṃ yamau cobhau dharmarājaṃ ca mātula
     asurān iva devendro jayāśā me tvayi sthitā
 88 dāritān drauṇinā bāṇair bhṛśaṃ vikṣata vigrahān
     ajhi mātulakaunteyān asurān iva pāvakiḥ
 89 evam ukto yayau śīghraṃ putreṇa tava saubalaḥ
     piprīṣus te sutān rājan didhakṣuś caiva pāṇḍavān
 90 atha pravavṛte yuddhaṃ drauṇirākṣasayor mṛdhe
     vibhāvaryāṃ sutumulaṃ śakra prahrādayor iva
 91 tato ghaṭotkaco bāṇair daśabhir gautamī sutam
     jaghānorasi saṃkruddho viṣāgnipratimair dṛḍhaiḥ
 92 sa tair abhyāhato gāḍhaṃ śarair bhīmasuteritaiḥ
     cacāla rathamadhyastho vātoddhūta iva drumaḥ
 93 bhūyaś cāñjalikenāsya mārgaṇena mahāprabham
     drauṇihastasthitaṃ cāpaṃ cicchedāśu ghaṭotkacaḥ
 94 tato 'nyad drauṇir ādāya dhanur bhārasahaṃ mahat
     vavarṣa viśikhāṃs tīkṣṇān vāridhārā ivāmbudaḥ
 95 tataḥ śāradvatī putraḥ preṣayām āsa bhārata
     suvarṇapuṅkhāñ śatrughnān khacarān khacarān prati
 96 tad bāṇair arditaṃ yūthaṃ rakṣasāṃ pīnavakṣasām
     siṃhair iva babhau mattaṃ gajānām ākulaṃ kulam
 97 vidhamya rākṣasān bāṇaiḥ sāśvasūta rathān vibhuḥ
     dadāha bhagavān vahnir bhūtānīva yugakṣaye
 98 sa dagdhvākṣauhiṇīṃ bāṇair nairṛtān ruruce bhṛśam
     pureva tripuraṃ dagdhvā divi devo maheśvaraḥ
 99 yugānte sarvabhūtāni dagdhveva vasur ulbaṇaḥ
     rarāja jayatāṃ śreṣṭho droṇaputras tavāhitān
 100 teṣu rājasahasreṣu pāṇḍaveyeṣu bhārata
    nainaṃ nirīkṣituṃ kaś cic chaknoti drauṇim āhave
    ṛte ghaṭotkacād vīrād rākṣasendrān mahābalāt
101 sa punar bharataśreṣṭha krodhād raktāntalocanaḥ
    talaṃ talena saṃhatya saṃdaśya daśanac chadam
    svasūtam abravīt kruddho droṇaputrāya māṃ vaha
102 sa yayau ghorarūpeṇa tena jaitra patākinā
    dvairathaṃ droṇa rūpeṇa punar apy arisūdanaḥ
103 sa cikṣepa tataḥ kruddho droṇaputrāya rākṣasaḥ
    aṣṭacakrāṃ mahāraudrām aśanīṃ rudra nirmitām
104 tām avaplutya jagrāha drauṇir nyasya rathe dhanuḥ
    cikṣepa caināṃ tasyaiva syandanāt so 'vapupluve
105 sāśvasūta dhvajaṃ vāhaṃ bhasmakṛtvā mahāprabhā
    viveśa vasudhaṃ bhittvā sāśanir bhṛśadāruṇā
106 drauṇes tat karma dṛṣṭvā tu sarvabhūtāny apūjayan
    yad avaplutya jagrāha ghorāṃ śaṃkara nirmitām
107 dhṛṣṭadyumna rathaṃ gatvā bhaimasenis tato nṛpa
    mumoca niśitān bāṇān punar drauṇer mahorasi
108 dhṛṣṭadyumno 'py asaṃbhrānto mumocāśīviṣopamān
    suvarṇapuṅkhān viśikhān droṇaputrasya vakṣasi
109 tato mumoca nārācān drauṇis tābhyāṃ sahasraśaḥ
    tāv apy agniśikhā prakhyair jaghnatus tasya mārgaṇān
110 atitīvram abhūd yuddhaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ
    yodhānāṃ prītijananaṃ drauṇeś ca bharatarṣabha
111 tato rathasahasreṇa dviradānāṃ śatais tribhiḥ
    ṣaḍbhir vājisahasraiś ca bhīmas taṃ deśam āvrajat
112 tato bhīmātmajaṃ rakṣo dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca sānugam
    ayodhayata dharmātmā drauṇir akliṣṭakarmakṛt
113 tatrādbhutatamaṃ drauṇir darśayām āsa vikramam
    aśakyaṃ kartum anyena sarvabhūteṣu bhārata
114 nimeṣāntaramātreṇa sāśvasūta rathadvipām
    akṣauhiṇīṃ rākṣasānāṃ śitair bāṇair aśātayat
115 miṣato bhīmasenasya haiḍimbeḥ pārṣatasya ca
    yamayor dharmaputrasya vijayasyācyutasya ca
116 pragāḍham añjo gatibhir nārācair abhitāḍitāḥ
    nipetur dviradā bhūmau dviśṛṅgā iva parvatāḥ
117 nikṛttair hastihastaiś ca vicaladbhir itas tataḥ
    rarāja vasudhā kīrṇā visarpadbhir ivoragaiḥ
118 kṣiptaiḥ kāñcanadaṇḍaiś ca nṛpac chatraiḥ kṣitir babhau
    dyaur ivodita candrārkā grahākīrṇā yugakṣaye
119 pravṛddhadhvajamaṇḍūkāṃ bherī vistīrṇakaccapām
    chatrahaṃsāvalī juṣṭāṃ phenacāmaramālinīm
120 kaṅkagṛdhramahāgrāhāṃ naikāyudha jhaṣākulām
    rathakṣipta mahāvaprāṃ patākā ruciradrumām
121 śaramīnāṃ mahāraudrāṃ prāsaśaktyugraḍuṇḍubhām
    majjā māṃsamahāpaṅkāṃ kabandhāvarjitoḍupām
122 keśaśaivalakalmāṣāṃ bhīrūṇāṃ kaśmalāvahām
    nāgendra hayayodhānāṃ śarīravyaya saṃbhavām
123 śoṇitaughamahāvegāṃ drauṇiḥ prāvartayan nadīm
    yodhārtarava nirghoṣāṃ kṣatajormi samākulām
124 prāyād atimahāghoraṃ yamakṣayamahodadhim
    nihatya rākṣasān bāṇair drauṇir haiḍimbam ārdayat
125 punar apy atisaṃkruddhaḥ sa vṛkodara pārṣatān
    sa nārācagaṇaiḥ pārthān drauṇir viddhvā mahābalaḥ
126 jaghāna surathaṃ nāma drupadasya sutaṃ vibhuḥ
    punaḥ śrutaṃjayaṃ nāma surathasyānujaṃ raṇe
127 balānīkaṃ jayānīkaṃ jayāśvaṃ cābhijaghnivān
    śrutāhvayaṃ ca rājendra drauṇir ninye yamakṣayam
128 tribhiś cānyaiḥ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ supuṅkhai rukmamālinām
    śatruṃjayaṃ ca balinaṃ śakra lokaṃ nināya ha
129 jaghāna sa pṛṣadhraṃ ca candra devaṃ ca māninam
    kuntibhojasutāṃś cājau daśabhir daśa jaghnivān
130 aśvatthāmā susaṃkruddhaḥ saṃdhāyogram ajihmagam
    mumocākarṇa pūrṇena dhanuṣā śaram uttamam
    yamadaṇḍopamaṃ goram uddiśyāśu ghaṭotkacam
131 sa bhittvā hṛdayaṃ tasya rākṣasasya mahāśaraḥ
    viveśa vasudhāṃ śīghraṃ sa puṅkhaḥ pṛthivīpate
132 taṃ hataṃ patitaṃ jñātvā dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
    drauṇeḥ sakāśād rājendra apaninye rathāntaram
133 tathā parāṅmukha rathaṃ sainyaṃ yaudhiṣṭhiraṃ nṛpa
    parājitya raṇe vīro droṇaputro nanāda ha
    pūjitaḥ sarvabhūtaiś ca tava putraiś ca bhārata
134 atha śaraśatabhinnakṛttadehair; hatapatitaiḥ kṣaṇadācaraiḥ samantāt
    nidhanam upagatair mahīkṛtābhūd; giriśikharair iva durgamātiraudrā
135 taṃ siddhagandharvapiśācasaṃghā; nāgāḥ suparṇāḥ pitaro vayāṃsi
    rakṣogaṇā bhūtagaṇāś ca drauṇim; apūjayann apsarasaḥ surāś ca

SECTION CXXXI

"Dhritarashtra said, 'What, indeed, O Sanjaya, did Duryodhana say when he saw that Karna turning away from the field upon whom my sons had reposed all their hopes of victory? How, indeed, did the mighty Bhima, proud of his energy, fight? What also, O son, did Karna do after this, beholding Bhimasena in that battle resemble a blazing fire?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Mounting upon another car that was duly equipped Karna once more proceeded against the son of Pandu, with the fury of the Ocean tossed by the tempest. Beholding Adhiratha's son excited with rage, thy sons, O king, regarded Bhimasena to be already poured as a libation on the (Karna) fire. With furious twang of bowstring and terrible sounds Of his palms, the son of Radha shot dense showers of shafts towards Bhimasena's car. And once more, O monarch, a terrible encounter took Place between the heroic Karna and the high-souled Bhima. Both excited with wrath, both endued with mighty arms, each desirous of slaying the other, those two warriors looked at each other, as if resolved to burn each O her with their (wrathful) glances. The eyes of both were red in rage, and both breathed fiercely, like a couple of snakes. Endued with great heroism, those two chastisers of foes approached and mangled each other. Indeed, they fought with each other like two hawks endued with great activity, or like two Sarabhas excited with wrath. Then that chastiser of foes, viz., Bhima recollecting all the woes suffered by him on the occasion of the
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match at dice, and during his exile in the woods and residence in Virata's city, and bearing in mind the robbing of their kingdom swelling with prosperity and gems, by thy sons, and the numerous other wrongs inflicted on the Pandavas by thee and the Suta's son and remembering also the fact that thou hadst conspired to burn innocent Kunti with her sons, and calling to his memory the sufferings of Krishna in the midst of the assembly at the hands of those wretches, as also the seizure of her tresses by Duhsasana, and the harsh speeches uttered, O Bharata, by Karna, to the effect, 'Take thou another husband, for all thy husbands are dead: the sons of Pritha have sunk into hell and are like sesamum seeds without kernel,'--remembering also those other words, O son of Kuru, that the Kauravas uttered in thy presence, add the fact also that thy sons had been desirous of enjoying Krishnâ as a slave, and those harsh words that Karna spoke to the sons of Pandu when the latter, attired in deer-skins were about to be banished to the woods, and the joy in which thy wrathful and foolish son, himself in prosperity, indulged, thinking the distressed sons of Pritha as veritable straw, the virtuous Bhima that slayer of foes, remembering these and all the woes he had suffered since his childhood, became reckless of his very life. Stretching his invincible and formidable bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, Vrikodara, that tiger of Bharata's race, utterly reckless of his life, rushed against Karna. Shooting dense showers of bright arrows whetted on stone, Bhima shrouded the very light of the sun. Adhiratha's son, however, smiling the while, quickly baffled, by means of his own winged arrows whetted on stone, that arrowy downpour of Bhimasena. Endued with great strength and mighty arms, that mighty car-warrior, the son of Adhiratha, then pierced Bhima with nine keen arrows. Struck with those arrows, like an elephant struck with the hook. Vrikodara fearlessly rushed against the Suta's son. Karna, however, rushed against that bull among the Pandavas who was thus rushing towards him with great impetuosity and might, like an infuriated elephant against an infuriated compeer. Blowing his conch then, whose blast resembled the sound of a hundred trumpets, Karna cheerfully agitated the force that supported Bhima, like the raging sea. Beholding that force of his consisting of elephants and steeds and cars and foot-soldiers, thus agitated by Karna, Bhima, approaching the former, covered him with arrows. Then Karna caused his own steeds of the hue of swans to be mingled with those of Bhimasena's of the hue of bears, and shrouded the son of Pandu with his shafts. Beholding those steeds of the hue of bears and fleet as the wind, mingled with those of the hue of swans, cries of oh and alas arose from among the troops of thy sons. Those steeds, fleet as the wind, thus mingled together, looked exceedingly beautiful like white and black clouds, O monarch, mingled together in the firmament. Beholding Karna and Vrikodara to be both excited with wrath, great car-warriors of thy army began to tremble with fear. The field of battle where they fought soon became awful like the domain of Yama. Indeed, O best of Bharatas, it became as frightful to behold as the city of the dead. The great car,
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warriors of thy army, looking upon that scene, as if they were spectators of a sport in an arena, beheld not any of the two to gain any advantage over the other in that dreadful encounter. They only beheld, O king, that mingling and clash of the mighty weapons of those two warriors, as a result, O monarch, of the evil policy of thyself and thy son. Those two slayers of foes-continued to cover each other with their keen shafts. Both endued with wonderful prowess, they filled the welkin with their arrowy downpours. Those two mighty car-warriors shooting at each other keen shafts from desire of taking each other's life, became exceedingly beautiful to behold like two clouds pouring torrents of rain. Those two chastisers of foes, shooting gold-decked arrows, made the welkin look bright, O king, as if with blazing meteors. Shafts equipped with vulturine feathers, shot by those two heroes, looked like rows of excited cranes in the autumn sky. Meanwhile, Krishna and Dhananjaya, those chastisers of foes, engaged in battle with the Suta's son, thought the burthen too great for Bhima to bear. As Karna and Bhima for baffling each other's shafts, shot these arrows at each other, many elephants and steeds and men deeply struck therewith, fell down deprived of life. And in consequence of those falling and fallen creatures deprived of life counting by thousands, a great carnage, O king, took place in the army of thy sons. And soon, O bull of Bharata's race, the field of battle became covered with the bodies of men and steeds and elephants deprived of life.'"

 

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