The Sacred Scripture of
great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:
The Mahabharata
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasatranslated by
Sreemaan Brahmasri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Shalya Parva
Book 9
Book
9
Chapter 15
1 [s]
tatha sainyās tava vibho madrarājapuraskṛtāḥ
punar abhyadravan pārthān vegena mahatā raṇe
2 pīḍitās tāvakāḥ sarve pradhāvanto raṇotkaṭāḥ
kṣaṇenaiva ca pārthāṃs te bahutvāt samaloḍayan
3 te vadhyamānāḥ kurubhiḥ pāṇḍavā nāvatasthire
nivāryamāṇā bhīmena paśyatoḥ kṛṣṇa pārthayoḥ
4 tato dhanaṃjayaḥ kruddhāḥ kṛpaṃ saha padānugaiḥ
avākirac charaugheṇa kṛtavarmāṇam eva ca
5 śakuniṃ sahadevas tu saha sainyam avārayat
nakulaḥ pārśvataḥ sthitvā madrarājam avaikṣata
6 draupadeyā narendrāṃś ca bhūyiṣṭhaṃ samavārayan
droṇaputraṃ ca pāñcālyaḥ śikhāṇḍī samavārayat
7 bhīmasenas tu rājānaṃ gadāpāṇir avārayat
śalyaṃ tu saha sainyena
kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
8 tataḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ saṃsaktaṃ tatra tatra ha
tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca saṃgrāmeṣv anivartinām
9 tatra paśyāmahe karma
śalyasyātimahad raṇe
yad ekaḥ sarvasainyāni pāṇḍavānām ayudhyata
10 vyadṛśyata tadā śalyo yudhiṣṭhira samīpataḥ
raṇe candrasamo 'bhyāśe śaraiś cara
iva grahaḥ
11 pīḍayitvā tu rājānaṃ śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ
abhyadhāvat punar bhīmaṃ śaravarṣair avākirat
12 tasya tal lāghavaṃ dṛṣṭvā tathaiva ca kṛtāstratām
apūjayann anīkāni pareṣāṃ tāvakāni ca
13 pīḍyamānās tu śalyena
pāṇḍavā bhṛśavikṣatāḥ
prādravanta raṇaṃ hitvā krośamāne yudhiṣṭhire
14 vadhyamāneṣv anīkeṣu madrarājena pāṇḍavaḥ
amarṣavaśam āpanno dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
tataḥ pauruṣam āsthāya madrarājam apīḍayat
15 jayo vāstu vadho veti kṛtabuddhir mahārathaḥ
samāhūyābravīt sarvān bhrātṝn kṛṣṇaṃ ca mādhavam
16 bhīṣmo droṇaś ca karṇaś ca ye cānye pṛthivīkṣitaḥ
kauravārthe parākrāntāḥ saṃgrāme nidhanaṃ gatāḥ
17 yathābhāgaṃ yathotsāhaṃ bhavantaḥ kṛtapauruṣāḥ
bhāgo 'vaśiṣṭa eko 'yaṃ mama śalyo mahārathaḥ
18 so 'ham adya yudhā jetum āśaṃse madrakeśvaram
tatra yan mānasaṃ mahyaṃ tat sārvaṃ nigadāmi vaḥ
19 cakrarakṣāv imau śūrau mama mādravatīsutau
ajeyau vāsavenāpi samare vīra saṃmatau
20 sādhv imau mātulaṃ yuddhe kṣatradharmapuraskṛtau
madarthaṃ pratiyudhyetāṃ mānārhau satyasaṃgarau
21 māṃ vā śalyo raṇe hantā taṃ vāhaṃ bhadram astu vaḥ
iti satyām imāṃ vāṇīṃ lokavīrā nibodhata
22 yotsye 'haṃ mātulenādya kṣatradharmeṇa pārthivāḥ
svayaṃ samabhisaṃdhāya vijayāyetarāya vā
23 tasya me 'bhyadhikaṃ śastraṃ sarvopakaraṇāni ca
saṃyuñjantu raṇe kṣipraṃ śāstravad rathayojakāḥ
24 śaineyo dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnas tathottaram
pṛṣṭhagopo bhavatv adya mama
pārtho dhanaṃjayaḥ
25 puraḥsaro
mamādyāstu bhīmaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
evam abhyadhikaḥ śalyād bhaviṣyāmi mahāmṛdhe
26 evam uktās tathā cakruḥ sarve rājñaḥ priyaiṣiṇaḥ
tatha praharṣaḥ sainyānāṃ punar āsīt tadā nṛpa
27 pāñcālānāṃ somakānāṃ matsyānāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ
pratijñāṃ tāṃ ca saṃgrāme dharmarājasya pūrayan
28 tataḥ śaṅkhāṃś ca bherīś ca śataśaś caiva puṣkarān
avādayanta pāñcālāḥ siṃhanādāṃś ca nedire
29 te 'bhyadhāvanta saṃrabdhā madrarājaṃ tarasvinaḥ
mahatā harṣajenātha nādena
kurupuṃgavāḥ
30 hrādena gajaghaṇṭānāṃ śaṅkhānāṃ ninadena ca
tūryaśabdena mahatā nādayantaś ca medinīm
31 tān pratyagṛhṇāt putras te madrarājaś ca vīryavān
mahāmeghān iva bahūñ śailāv astodayāv ubhau
32 śalyas tu samaraślāghī dharmarājam
ariṃdamam
vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa varṣeṇa maghavān
iva
33 tathaiva kururājo 'pi pragṛhya ruciraṃ dhanuḥ
droṇopadeśān vividhān darśayāno
mahāmanāḥ
34 vavarṣā śaravarṣāṇi citraṃ laghu ca suṣṭhu ca
na cāsya vivaraṃ kaś cid dadarśa
carato raṇe
35 tāv ubhau vividhair bāṇais tatakṣāte parasparam
śārdūlāv āmiṣa prepṣū parākrāntāv ivāhave
36 bhīmas tu tava putreṇa raṇaśauṇḍena saṃgataḥ
pāñcālyaḥ sātyakiś caiva
mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
śakunipramukhān vīrān pratyagṛhṇan samantataḥ
37 tad āsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ punar eva jayaiṣiṇām
tāvakātāṃ pareṣāṃ ca rājan durmantrite tava
38 duryodhanas tu bhīmasya śareṇānataparvaṇā
cicchedādiśya saṃgrāme dhvajaṃ hemavibhūṣitam
39 sakiṅkiṇika jālena mahatā cārudarśanaḥ
papāta ruciraḥ siṃho bhīmasenasya nānadan
40 punaś cāsya dhanuś citraṃ gajarājakaropamam
kṣureṇa śitadhāreṇa pracakarta narādhipaḥ
41 sacchinnadhanvā tejasvī rathaśaktyā
sutaṃ tava
bibhedorasi vikramya sa rathopastha āviśat
42 tasmin moham anuprāpte punar eva vṛkodaraḥ
yantur eva śiraḥ kāyāt kṣurapreṇāharat tadā
43 hatasūtā hayās tasya ratham ādāya
bhārata
vyadravanta diśo rājan hāhākāras tadābhavat
44 tam abhyadhāvat trāṇārthaṃ droṇaputro mahārathaḥ
kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca putraṃ te 'bhiparīpsavaḥ
45 tasmin vilulite sainye trastās tasya
padānugāḥ
gāṇḍīvadhanvā visphārya dhanus tān
ahanac charaiḥ
46 yudhiṣṭhiras tu
madreśam abhyadhāvad amarṣitaḥ
svayaṃ saṃcodayann aśvān dantavarṇān manojavān
47 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma kuntīputre
yudhiṣṭhire
purā bhūtvā mṛdur dānto yat tadā
dāruṇo 'bhavat
48 vivṛtākṣaś ca kaunteyo vepamānaś ca manyunā
ciccheda yodhān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
49 yāṃ yāṃ pratyudyayau senāṃ tāṃ tāṃ jyeṣṭhaḥ sa pāṇḍavaḥ
śarair apātayad rājan girīn vajrair ivottamaiḥ
50 sāśvasūta dhvajarathān rathinaḥ pātayan bahūn
ākrīḍad eko balavān pavanas toyadān
iva
51 sāśvārohāṃś ca turagān pattīṃś caiva sahasraśaḥ
vyapothayata saṃgrāme kruddho rudraḥ paśūn iva
52 śūnyam āyodhanaṃ kṛtvā śaravarṣaiḥ samantataḥ
abhyadravata madreśaṃ tiṣṭha śalyeti cābravīt
53 tasya tac caritaṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃgrāme bhīmakarmaṇaḥ
vitresus tāvakāḥ sarve śalyas tv enaṃ samabhyayāt
54 tatas tau tu susaṃrabdhau pradhmāpya salilodbhavau
sāmāhūya tadānyonyaṃ bhartsayantau
samīyatuḥ
55 śalyas tu śaravarṣeṇa yudhiṣṭhiram avākirat
madrarājaṃ ca kaunteyaḥ śaravarṣair avākirat
56 vyadṛśyetāṃ tadā rājan kaṅkapatribhir āhave
udbhinna rudhirau śūrau madrarājayudhiṣṭhirau
57 puṣpitāv iva rejāte
vane śalmali kiṃśukā
dīpyāmānau mahātmānau prāṇayor yuddhadurmadau
58 dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi sainyāni nādhyavasyaṃs tayor jayam
hatvā madrādhipaṃ pārtho bhokṣyate 'dya vasuṃdharām
59 śalyo vā pāṇḍavaṃ hatvā dadyād duryodhanāya gām
itīva niścayo nābhūd yodhānāṃ tatra bhārata
60 pradakṣiṇam abhūt sarvaṃ dharmarājasya yudhyataḥ
61 tataḥ śaraśataṃ śalyo mumocāśu yudhiṣṭhire
dhanuś cāsya śitāgreṇa bāṇena nirakṛntata
62 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya śalyaṃ śaraśatais tribhiḥ
avidhyat kārmukaṃ cāsya kṣureṇa nirakṛntata
63 athāsya nijaghānāśvāṃś caturo nataparvabhiḥ
dvābhyām atha śitāgrābhyām ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī
64 tato 'sya dīpyamānena pītena niśitena
ca
pramukhe vartamānasya bhallenāpāharad dhvajam
tataḥ prabhagnaṃ tat sainyaṃ dauryodhanam ariṃdama
65 tato madrādhipaṃ drauṇir abhyadhāvat tathā kṛtam
āropya cainaṃ svarathaṃ tvaramāṇaḥ pradudruve
66 muhūrtam iva tau gatvā nardamāne
yudhiṣṭhire
sthitvā tato madrapatir anyaṃ syandanam āsthitaḥ
67 vidhivat kalpitaṃ śubhraṃ mahāmbuda ninādinam
sajjayantropakaraṇaṃ dviṣatāṃ lomaharṣaṇam
15
"Sanjaya said, 'Duryodhana, O king, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of
Prishata, fought a fierce battle, using arrows and darts in profusion. Both of
them, O monarch, shot showers of arrows like showers of rain poured by the
clouds in the rainy season. The (Kuru) king, having pierced with five arrows
the slayer of Drona, Prishata's son of fierce shafts, once more pierced him
with seven arrows. Endued with great might and steady prowess, Dhrishtadyumna,
in that battle, afflicted Duryodhana with seventy arrows. Beholding the king
thus afflicted, O bull of Bharata's race, his uterine brothers, accompanied by
a large force, encompassed the son of Prishata. Surrounded by those Atirathas
on every side, the Pancala hero, O king, careered in that battle, displaying
his quickness in the use of weapons. Shikhandi, supported by the Prabhadrakas,
fought with two Kuru bowmen, Kritavarma and the great car-warrior Kripa. Then
also, O monarch, that battle became fierce and awful since the warriors were
all resolved to lay down their lives and since all of them fought, making life
the stake. Shalya, shooting showers of shafts on all sides, afflicted the
Pandavas with Satyaki and Vrikodara amongst them. With patience and great
strength, O monarch, the king of the Madras at the same time fought with the
twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), each of whom resembled the Destroyer himself in
prowess. The great car-warriors among the Pandavas who were mangled in that
great battle with the shafts of Shalya, failed to find a protector. Then the
heroic Nakula, the son of Madri, seeing king Yudhishthira the just greatly
afflicted, rushed with speed against his maternal uncle. Shrouding Shalya in
that battle (with many arrows), Nakula, that slayer of hostile heroes, smiling
the while, pierced him in the centre of the chest with ten arrows, made
entirely of iron, polished by the hands of the smith, equipped with wings of
gold, whetted on stone, and propelled from his bow with great force. Afflicted
by his illustrious nephew, Shalya afflicted his nephew in return with many
straight arrows. Then king Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena, and Satyaki, and
Sahadeva, the son of Madri, all rushed against the ruler of the Madras. The
vanquisher of foes, the generalissimo of the Kuru army, received in that battle
all those heroes that rushed towards him quickly, filling the cardinal and the
subsidiary points of the compass with the rattle of their cars and causing the
Earth to tremble therewith. Piercing Yudhishthira with three arrows and Bhima
with seven, Shalya pierced Satyaki with a hundred arrows in that battle and
Sahadeva with three. Then the ruler of the Madras, O sire, cut off, with a
razor-headed arrow, the bow with arrow fixed on it of the high-souled Nakula.
Struck with Shalya's shafts, that bow broke into pieces. Taking up another bow,
Madri's son, that great car-warrior quickly covered the ruler of the Madras
with winged arrows. Then Yudhishthira and Sahadeva, O sire, each pierced the
ruler of the Madras with ten arrows in the chest. Bhimasena and Satyaki,
rushing at the ruler of the Madras, both struck him with arrows winged with
Kanka feathers, the former with sixty, and the latter with nine. Filled with
rage at this, the ruler of the Madras pierced Satyaki with nine arrows and once
again with seventy straight shafts. Then, O sire, he cut off at the handle the
bow, with arrow fixed on it, of Satyaki and then despatched the four steeds of
the latter to Yama's abode. Having made Satyaki carless, that mighty
car-warrior, the ruler of the Madras, struck him with a hundred arrows from
every side. He next pierced two angry sons of Madri, and Bhimasena the son of
Pandu, and Yudhishthira, O thou of Kuru's race, with ten arrows each. The
prowess that we then beheld of the ruler of the Madras was exceedingly
wonderful, since the Parthas, even unitedly, could not approach him in that
battle. Riding then upon another car, the mighty Satyaki, of prowess incapable
of being baffled, beholding the Pandavas afflicted and succumbing to the ruler
of the Madras, rushed with speed against him. That ornament of assemblies,
Shalya, on his car, rushed against the car of Satyaki, like one infuriate
elephant against another. The collision that then took place between Satyaki
and the heroic ruler of the Madras, became fierce and wonderful to behold, even
like that which had taken place in days of yore between the Asura Samvara and
the chief of the celestials. Beholding the ruler of the Madras staying before
him in that battle, Satyaki pierced him with ten arrows and said, "Wait,
Wait!" Deeply pierced by that high-souled warrior, the ruler of the Madras
pierced Satyaki in return with sharp shafts equipped with beautiful feathers.
Those great bowmen then, the Parthas, beholding the king of the Madras assailed
by Satyaki, quickly rushed towards him from desire of slaying that maternal
uncle of theirs. The encounter then that took place between those struggling
heroes, marked by a great flow of blood, became exceedingly awful, like that
which takes place between a number of roaring lions. The struggle, O monarch,
that took between them resembled that which takes place between a number of
roaring lions fighting with each other for meat. With the dense showers of
shafts shot by them, the Earth became entirely enveloped, and the welkin also
suddenly became one mass of arrows. All around the field a darkness was caused
by those arrows. Indeed, with the shafts shot by those illustrious warriors, a
shadow as that of the clouds was caused there. Then, O king, with those blazing
shafts sped by the warriors, that were equipped with wings of gold and that
looked like snakes just freed from their sloughs, the points of the compass
seemed to be ablaze. That slayer of foes, Shalya, then achieved the most
wonderful feat, since that hero alone, and unsupported, contended with many
heroes in that battle. The Earth became shrouded with the fierce shafts,
equipped with feathers of Kankas and peacocks, that fell, sped from the arms of
the ruler of the Madras. Then, O king, we beheld the car of Shalya careering in
that dreadful battle like the car of Shakra in days of yore on the occasion of
the destruction of the Asuras.'"
Book
9
Chapter 16
1 [s]
athānyad dhanur ādāya balavad vegavattaram
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ madrapatir viddhvā siṃha ivānadat
2 tataḥ sa śaravarṣeṇa parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān
abhyavarṣad ameyātmā kṣatriyān kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ
3 sātyakiṃ daśabhir viddhvā bhīmasenaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
sahadevaṃ tribhir viddhvā
yudhiṣṭhiram apīḍayat
4 tāṃs tān anyān
maheṣvāsān sāśvān saratha kuñjarān
kuñjarān kuñjarārohān aśvān aśvaprayāyinaḥ
rathāṃś ca rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ jaghāna rathināṃ varaḥ
5 bāhūṃś ciccheda ca tathā sāyudhān ketanāni ca
cakāra ca mahīṃ yodhais tīrṇāṃ vedīṃ kuśair iva
6 tathā tam arisainyāni ghnantaṃ mṛtyum ivāntakam
parivavrur bhṛśaṃ kruddhāḥ pāṇḍupāñcāla somakāḥ
7 taṃ bhīmasenaś
ca śineś ca naptā; mādhryāś ca putrau puruṣapravīrau
samāgataṃ bhīmabalena rājñā;
paryāpur anyonyam athāhvayantaḥ
8 tatas tu śūrāḥ samare narendraṃ; madreśvaraṃ prāpya yudhāṃ variṣṭham
āvāryā cainaṃ samare nṛvīrā; jaghnuḥ śaraiḥ patribhir ugravegaiḥ
9 saṃrakṣito bhīmasenena rājā; mādrī sutābhyām atha mādhavena
madrādhipaṃ patribhir ugravegaiḥ; stanāntare dhārma suto nijaghne
10 tato raṇe tāvakanāṃ rathaughāḥ; sāmīkṣya madrādhipatiṃ śarārtam
paryāvavruḥ pravarāḥ sarvaśaś ca; duryodhanasyānumate samantāt
11 tato drutaṃ madrajanādhipo raṇe; yudhiṣṭhiraṃ saptabhir abhyavidhyat
taṃ cāpi pārtho navabhiḥ pṛṣatkair; vivyādha rājaṃs tumule
mahātmā
12 ākarṇapūrṇāyata saṃprayuktaiḥ; śarais tadā saṃyati tailadhautaiḥ
anyonyam ācchādayatāṃ mahārathau;
madrādhipaś cāpi yudhiṣṭhiraś ca
13 tatas tu tūrṇaṃ samare mahārathau; parasparasyāntaram īkṣamāṇau
śarair bhṛśaṃ vivyadhatur nṛpottamau; mahābalau śatrubhir apradhṛṣyau
14 tayor dhanurjyātalanisvano mahān;
mahendravajrāśanitulyanisvanaḥ
parasparaṃ bāṇagaṇair mahātmanoḥ; pravarṣator madrapa pāṇḍuvīrayoḥ
15 tau ceratur vyāghraśiśu prakāśau;
mahāvaneṣv āmiṣa gṛddhināv iva
viṣāṇinau
nāgavarāv ivobhau; tatakṣatuḥ saṃyugajātadarpau
16 tatas tu madrādhipatir mahātmā; yudhiṣṭhiraṃ bhīmabalaṃ prasahya
vivyādha vīraṃ hṛdaye 'tivegaṃ; śareṇa sūryāgnisamaprabheṇa
17 tato 'tividdho 'tha yudhiṣṭhiro 'pi; susaṃprayuktena śareṇa rājan
jaghāna madrādhipatiṃ mahātmā;
mudaṃ ca lebhe ṛṣabhaḥ kurūṇām
18 tato muhūrtād iva pārthivendro;
labdhvā saṃjñāṃ krodhā saṃraktanetraḥ
śatena pārthaṃ tvarito jaghāna;
sahasranetra pratimaprabhāvaḥ
19 tvaraṃs tato
dharmasuto mahātmā; śalyasya kruddho navabhiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ
bhittvā hy uras tapanīyaṃ ca varma;
jaghāna ṣaḍbhis tv aparaiḥ pṛṣātkaiḥ
20 tatas tu madrādhipatiḥ prahṛṣṭo; dhanur vikṛṣya vyasṛjat pṛṣatkān
dvābhyāṃ kṣurābhyāṃ ca tathaiva rājñaś; ciccheda cāpaṃ kurupuṃgavasya
21 navaṃ tato 'nyat
sāmare pragṛhya; rājā dhanur ghorataraṃ mahātmā
śalyaṃ tu viddhvā niśitaiḥ samantad; yathā mahendro namuciṃ śitāgraiḥ
22 tatas tu śalyo navabhiḥ pṛṣatkair; bhīmasya rājñaś ca yudhiṣṭhirasya
nikṛtya raukme paṭu varmaṇī tayor; vidārayām āsa bhujau mahātmā
23 tato 'pareṇa jvalitārka tejasā; kṣureṇa rājño dhanur unmamātha
kṛpaś ca tasyaiva jaghāna sūtaṃ; ṣaḍbhiḥ śaraiḥ so 'bhimukhaṃ papāta
24 madrādhipaś cāpi yudhiṣṭhirasya; śaraiś caturbhir nijaghāna vāhān
vāhāṃś ca hatvā vyakaron mahātmā;
yodhakṣayaṃ dharmasutasya rājñaḥ
25 tathā kṛte rājani
bhīmaseno; madrādhipasyāśu tato mahātmā
chittvā dhanur vegavatā śareṇa; dvābhyām avidhyat subhṛśaṃ narendram
26 athāpareṇāsya jahāra yantuḥ; kāyāc chiraḥ saṃnahanīyamadhyāt
jaghāna cāśvāṃś caturaḥ sa śīghraṃ; tathā bhṛśaṃ kupito bhīmasenaḥ
27 tam agraṇīḥ sarvadhanurdharāṇām; ekaṃ carantaṃ sāmare 'tivegam
bhīmaḥ śatena vyakirac charāṇāṃ; mādrīputraḥ sahadevas tathaiva
28 taiḥ sāyakair
mohitaṃ vīkṣya śalyaṃ; bhīmaḥ śarair asya cakarta varma
sa bhīmasenena nikṛttavarmā;
madrādhipaś carma sahasratāram
29 pragṛhya khaḍgaṃ ca rathān mahātmā; praskandya kuntīsutam abhyadhāvat
chittva ratheṣāṃ nakulasya so 'tha; yudhiṣṭhiraṃ bhīmabalo 'bbhyadhāvat
30 taṃ cāpi rājānam
athotpatantaṃ; kruddhāṃ yathaivāntakam
āpatantam
dhṛṣṭadyumno draupadeyāḥ śikhaṇḍī; śineś ca naptā sahasā parīyuḥ
31 athāsya carmāpratimaṃ nyakṛntad; bhīmo mahātmā daśabhiḥ pṛṣatkaḥ
khaḍgaṃ ca bhallair
nicakarta muṣṭau; nadan prahṛṣṭas tava
sinyamadhye
32 tat karma bhīmasya samīkṣya hṛṣṭās; te pāṇḍavānāṃ pravarā rathaughāḥ
nādaṃ ca cakrur bhṛśam utsmayantaḥ; śaṅkhāṃś ca dadhmuḥ śaśisaṃnikāśān
33 tenātha śabdena vibhīṣaṇena; tavābhitaptaṃ balam aprahṛṣṭam
svedābhibhūtaṃ rudhirokṣitāṅgaṃ; visaṃjñakalpaṃ ca tathā viṣāṇṇam
34 sa madrarājaḥ sahasāvakīrṇo; bhīmāgragaiḥ pāṇḍava yodhamukhyaiḥ
yudhiṣṭhirasyābhimukhaṃ javena; siṃho yathā mṛgahetoḥ prayātaḥ
35 sa dharmarājo nihatāśvasūtaṃ; krodhena dīptajvalana prakāśam
dṛṣṭvā tu madrādhipatiṃ sa tūrṇaṃ; samabhyadhāvat tam ariṃ balena
36 govinda vākyaṃ tvaritaṃ vicintya; dadhre matiṃ śalya
vināśanāya
sa dharmarājo nihatāśvasūte; rathe tiṣṭhañ śaktim evābhikāṅkṣan
37 tac cāpi śalyasyā niśamya karma;
mahātmano bhagam athāvaśiṣṭam
smṛtvā mānaḥ śalya vadhe yatātmā; yathoktam indrāvarajasya cakre
38 sa dharmarājo maṇihemadaṇḍāṃ; jagrāha śaktiṃ kanakaprakāśām
netre ca dīpte sahasā vivṛtya; madrādhipaṃ kruddhā manā niraikṣat
39 nirīkṣito vai
naradeva rājñā; pūtātmanā nirhṛta kalmaṣeṇa
abhūn na yad bhasmasān madrarājas; tad adbhutaṃ me pratibhāti rājan
40 tatas tu śaktiṃ rucirogra daṇḍāṃ; maṇipravalojjvalitāṃ pradīptām
cikṣepa vegāt subhṛśaṃ mahātmā; madrādhipāya pravaraḥ kurūṇām
41 dīptām athaināṃ mahatā balena; savisphu liṅgāṃ sahasā patantīm
praikṣanta sarve kuravaḥ sametā; yathā yugānte mahatīm ivolkām
42 tāṃ kālarātrīm iva
pāśahastāṃ; yamasya dhatrīm iva cograrūpām
sabrahma daṇḍapratimām amoghāṃ; sasarja yatto yudhi dharmarājaḥ
43 gandhasrag agryāsana pānabhojanair;
abhyarcitāṃ pāṇḍusutaiḥ prayatnāt
saṃvartakāgnipratimāṃ jvalantīṃ; kṛtyām atharvāṅgirasīm ivogrām
44 īśāna hetoḥ pratinirmitāṃ tāṃ; tvaṣṭā ripūṇām asudeha bhakṣām
bhūmyantarikṣādi jalāśayāni;
prasahya bhūtāni nihantum īśām
45 ghaṇṭā patākā maṇivajra bhājaṃ; vaiḍūrya citrāṃ tapanīyadaṇḍām
tvaṣṭrā prayatnān niyamena kḷptāṃ; brahma dviṣām antakarīm amoghām
46 balaprayatnād adhirūḍha vegāṃ; mantraiś ca ghorair abhimantrayitvā
sasarja mārgeṇa ca tāṃ pareṇa; vadhāya madrādhipater tadānīm
47 hato 'sy asāv ity abhigarjamāno;
rudro 'ntakāyānta karaṃ yatheṣum
prasārya bāhuṃ sudṛḍhaṃ supāṇiṃ; krodhena nṛtyann ivā dhārma rājaḥ
48 tāṃ sarvaśaktyā prahitāṃ sa śaktiṃ; yudhiṣṭhireṇāprati vārya vīryām
pratigrahāyābhinanarda śalyaḥ; samyag ghutām agnir ivājya dhārām
49 sā tasya marmāṇi vidārya śubhram; uro viśālaṃ ca tathaiva varma
viveśa gāṃ toyam ivāprasaktā;
yaśo viśālaṃ nṛpater dahantī
50 nāsākṣi karṇāsya viniḥsṛtena; prasyandatā ca vraṇasaṃbhavena
saṃsikta gātro rudhireṇa so 'bhūt; krauñco yathā skanda hato mahādriḥ
51 prasārya bāhū sa rathād gato gāṃ; saṃchinnavarmā kurunandanena
mahendra vāhapratimo mahātmā; vajrāhataṃ śṛṅgam ivācalasya
52 bāhū prasāryābhimukho dharmarājasya
madrarāṭ
tato nipatito bhūmāv indradhvaja ivocchritaḥ
53 sa tathā bhinnasarvāṅgo rudhireṇa samukṣitaḥ
pratyudgata iva premṇā bhūmyā sā
narapuṃgavaḥ
54 priyayā kāntayā kāntaḥ patamāna ivorasi
ciraṃ bhuktvā vasumatīṃ priyāṃ kāntām iva prabhuḥ
sarvair aṅgaiḥ samāśliṣya prasupta iva so 'bhavat
55 dharmye dharmātmanā yuddhe nihato
dharmasūnunā
samyag ghuta iva sviṣṭaḥ praśānto 'gnir ivādhvare
56 śaktyā vibhinnahṛdayaṃ vipra viddhāyudha dhvajam
saṃśāntam api madreśaṃ lakṣmīr naiva vyamuñcata
57 tato yudhiṣṭhiraś cāpam ādāyendra dhanuṣprabham
vyadhamad dviṣataḥ saṃkhye khaga rāḍ iva pannagān
dehāsūn niśitair bhallai ripūṇāṃ nāśayan kṣaṇāt
58 tataḥ prārthasya
bāṇaughair āvṛtāḥ sainikās tava
nimīlitākṣāḥ kṣiṇvanto bhṛśam anyonyam arditāḥ
saṃnyastakavacā dehair vipatrāyudha
jīvitāḥ
59 tataḥ śalye
nipatite madrarājānujo yuvā
bhrātuḥ sarvair guṇais tulyo rathī pāṇḍavam abhyayāt
60 vivyādha ca naraśreṣṭho nārācair bahubhis tvaran
hatasyāpacitiṃ bhrātuś cikīrṣur yuddhadurmadaḥ
61 taṃ vivyādhāśugaiḥ ṣaḍbhir dharmarājas tvarann iva
kārmukaṃ cāsya ciccheda kṣurābhyāṃ dhvajam eva ca
62 tato 'sya dīpyamānena sudṛḍhena śitena ca
pramukhe vartamānasya bhallenāpāharac chiraḥ
63 sukuṇḍalaṃ tad dadṛśe patamānaṃ śiro rathāt
puṇyakṣayam iva prāpya patantaṃ svargavāsinam
64 tasyāpakṛṣṭa śīrṣaṃ tac charīraṃ patitaṃ rathāt
rudhireṇāvasiktāṅgaṃ dṛṣṭvā sainyam abhajyata
65 vicitrakavace tasmin hate madranṛpānuje
hāhākāraṃ vikurvāṇāḥ kuravo vipradudruvuḥ
66 śalyānujaṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā tāvakās tyaktajīvitāḥ
vitresuḥ pāṇḍava bhayād rajodhvastāss tathā bhṛṣam
67 tāṃs tathā bhajyatas
trastān kauravān bharatarṣabha
śiner naptā kiran bāṇair
abhyavartata sātyakiḥ
68 tam āyāntaṃ maheṣvāsam aprasahyaṃ durāsadam
hārdikyas tvarito rājan pratyagṛhṇād abhītavat
69 tau sametau mahātmānau vārṣṇeyāv aparājitau
hārdikyaḥ sātyakiś caiva siṃhāv iva madotkaṭau
70 iṣubhir vimalābhāsaiś
chādayantau parasparam
arcirhir iva sūryasya divākarasamaprabhau
71 cāpamārgabaloddhūtān mārgaṇān vṛṣṇisiṃhayoḥ
ākāśe samapaśyāma pataṃgān iva
śīghragān
72 sātyakiṃ daśabhir
viddhvā hayāṃś cāsya tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
cāpam ekena ciccheda hārdikyo nataparvaṇā
73 tan nikṛttaṃ dhanuḥśreṣṭham apāsya śinipuṃgavaḥ
anyad ādatta vegena vegavattaram āyudham
74 tad ādāya dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ variṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanvinām
hārdikyaṃ daśabhir bāṇaiḥ pratyavidhyat stanāntare
75 tato rathaṃ yugeṣāṃ ca chittvā bhallaiḥ susaṃyataiḥ
aśvāṃs tasyāvadhīt tūrṇam ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī
76 madrarāje hate rājanvirathe kṛtavarmaṇi
duryodhana balaṃ sarvaṃ punar āsīt parāṅmukham
77 tatpare nāvabudhyanta sainyena rajasā
vṛte
balaṃ tu hatabhūyiṣṭhaṃ tat tadāsīt parāṅmukham
78 tato muhūrtāt te 'paśyan rajo bhaumaṃ samutthitam
vividhaiḥ śoṇitasrāvaiḥ praśāntaṃ puruṣarṣabha
79 tato duryodhano dṛṣṭvā bhagnaṃ svabalam antikāt
javenāpatataḥ pārthān ekaḥ sarvān avārayat
80 pāṇḍavān sarathān dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam
ānartaṃ ca durādharṣaṃ śitair bāṇair avākirat
81 taṃ pare nābhyavartanta
martyā mṛtyum iv āgatam
athānyaṃ ratham āsthāya
hārdikyo 'pi nyavartata
82 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā tvaramāṇo mahārathaḥ
caturbhir nijaghānāśvān patribhiḥ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
vivyādha gautamaṃ cāpi ṣaḍbhir bhallaiḥ sutejanaiḥ
83 aśvatthāmā tato rājñā hatāśvaṃ virathī kṛtam
samapovāha hārdikyaṃ svarathena yudhiṣṭhirāt
84 tataḥ śāradvato 'ṣṭābhiḥ pratyavidhyad yudhiṣṭhiram
vivyādha cāśvān niśitais tasyāṣṭābhiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ
85 evam etan mahārāja yuddhaśeṣam avartata
tava durmantrite rājan sahaputrasya bhārata
86 tasmin maheṣvāsa vare viśaste; saṃgrāmamadhye kurupuṃgavena
parthāḥ sametāḥ paramaprahṛṣṭāḥ; śaṅkhān pradadhmur hatam īkṣya śalyam
87 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca praśaśaṃsur ājau; purā surā vṛtravadhe
yathendram
cakruś ca nānāvidha vādya śabdān; ninādayanto vasudhāṃ samantāt
16
"Sanjaya said, 'Then, O lord, thy troops, with Shalya at their head,
once more rushed against the Parthas in that battle with great impetuosity.
Although afflicted, still these troops of thine, who were fierce in battle,
rushing against the Parthas, very soon agitated them in consequence of their
superior numbers. Struck by the Kurus, the Pandava troops, in the very sight of
the two Krishnas, stayed not on the field, though sought to be checked by
Bhimasena. Filled with rage at this, Dhananjaya covered Kripa and his
followers, as also Kritavarma, with showers of shafts. Sahadeva checked Shakuni
with all his forces. Nakula cast his glances on the ruler of the Madras from
one of his flanks. The (five) sons of Draupadi checked numerous kings (of the
Kuru army). The Pancala prince Shikhandi resisted the son of Drona. Armed with
his mace, Bhimasena held the king in check, and Kunti's son Yudhishthira
resisted Shalya at the head of his forces. The battle then commenced once more
between those pairs as they stood, among thy warriors and those of the enemy,
none of whom had ever retreated from fight. We then beheld the highly wonderful
feat that Shalya achieved, since, alone, he fought with the whole Pandava army.
Shalya then, as he stayed in the vicinity of Yudhishthira in that battle, looked
like the planet Saturn in the vicinity of the Moon. Afflicting the king with
shafts that resembled snakes of virulent poison, Shalya rushed against Bhima,
covering him with showers of arrows. Beholding that lightness of hand and that
mastery over weapons displayed by Shalya the troops of both the armies
applauded him highly. Afflicted by Shalya the Pandavas, exceedingly mangled,
fled away, leaving the battle, and disregarding the cries of Yudhishthira
commanding them to stop. While his troops were thus being slaughtered by the
ruler of the Madras, Pandu's son, king Yudhishthira the just, became filled
with rage. Relying upon his prowess, that mighty car-warrior began to afflict
the ruler of the Madras, resolved to either win the battle or meet with death.
Summoning all his brothers and also Krishna of Madhu's race, he said unto them,
"Bhishma, and Drona, and Karna, and the other kings, that put forth their
prowess for the sake of the Kauravas, have all perished in battle. You all have
exerted your valour according to your courage and in respect of the shares
allotted to you. Only one share--mine--that is constituted by the mighty
car-warrior Shalya, remains. I desire to vanquish that ruler of the Madras
today in battle. Whatever wishes I have regarding the accomplishment of that
task I will now tell you. These two heroes, the two sons of Madravati, will
become the protectors of my wheels. They are counted as heroes incapable of
being vanquished by Vasava himself. Keeping the duties of a Kshatriya before them,
these two that are deserving of every honour and are firm in their vows, will
fight with their maternal uncle. Either Shalya will slay me in battle or I will
slay him. Blessed be ye. Listen to these true words, you foremost of heroes in
the world. Observant of Kshatriya duties, I will fight with my maternal uncle,
you lords of Earth, firmly resolved to either obtain victory or be slain. Let
them that furnish cars quickly supply my vehicle, according to the rules of
science, with weapons and all kinds of implements in a larger measure than
Shalya's. The grandson of Sini will protect my right wheel, and Dhrishtadyumna
my left. Let Pritha's son Dhananjaya guard my rear today. And let Bhima, that
foremost of all wielders of weapons, fight in my front. I shall thus be
superior to Shalya in the great battle that will occur." Thus addressed by
the king, all his well-wishers did as they were requested. Then the Pandava
troops once more became filled with joy, especially the Pancalas, the Somakas
and the Matsyas. Having made that vow, the king proceeded against the ruler of
the Madras. The Pancalas then blew and beat innumerable conchs and drums and
uttered leonine roars. Endued with great activity and filled with rage, they
rushed, with loud shouts of joy, against the ruler of the Madras, that bull
among the Kurus. And they caused the Earth to resound with the noise of the
elephants' bells, and the loud blare of conchs and trumpets. Then thy son and
the valiant ruler of the Madras, like the Udaya and the Asta hills, received
those assailants. Boasting of his prowess in battle, Shalya poured a shower of
arrows on that chastiser of foes, king Yudhishthira the just, like Maghavat
pouring rain. The high-souled king of the Kurus also having taken up his
beautiful bow displayed those diverse kinds of lessons that Drona had taught
him. And he poured successive showers of arrows beautifully, quickly, and with
great skill. As he careered in battle, none could mark any lapses in him.
Shalya and Yudhishthira, both endued with great prowess in battle, mangled each
other, like a couple of tigers fighting for a piece of meat. Bhima was engaged
with thy son, that delighter in battle. The Pancala prince (Dhrishtadyumna),
Satyaki, and the two sons of Madri by Pandu, received Shakuni and the other
Kuru heroes around. In consequence of thy evil policy, O king, there again
occurred in that spot an awful battle between thy warriors and those of the
foe, all of whom were inspired with the desire of victory. Duryodhana then,
with a straight shaft, aiming at the gold-decked standard of Bhima, cut off in
that battle. The beautiful standard of Bhimasena, adorned with many bells, fell
down, O giver of honours. Once more the king, with a sharp razor-faced arrow,
cut off the beautiful bow of Bhima that looked like the trunk of an elephant.
Endued with great energy, the bowless Bhima then, putting forth his prowess
pierced the chest of thy son with a dart. At this, thy son sat down on the
terrace of his car. When Duryodhana swooned away, Vrikodara once more, with
razor-faced shaft, cut off the head of his driver from his trunk. The steeds of
Duryodhana's car, deprived of their driver, ran wildly on all sides, O Bharata,
dragging the car after them, at which loud wails arose (in the Kuru army). Then
the mighty car-warrior Ashvatthama, and Kripa and Kritavarma, followed that
car, desirous of rescuing thy son. The (Kaurava) troops (at sight of this)
became exceedingly agitated. The followers of Duryodhana became terrified. At
that time, the wielder of Gandiva, drawing his bow, began to slay them with his
arrows. Then Yudhishthira, excited with rage, rushed against the ruler of the
Madras, himself urging his steeds white as ivory and fleet as thought. We then
saw something that was wonderful in Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, for though
very mild and soft, he then became exceedingly fierce. With eyes opened wide
and body trembling in rage, the son of Kunti cut off hostile warriors in
hundreds and thousands by means of his sharp shafts. Those amongst the soldiers
against whom the eldest Pandava proceeded, were overthrown by him, O king, like
mountain summits riven with thunder. Felling cars with steeds and drivers and
standards and throwing down car-warriors in large numbers, Yudhishthira,
without any assistance, began to sport there like a mighty wind destroying
masses of clouds. Filled with rage, he destroyed steeds with riders and steeds
without riders and foot-soldiers by thousands in that battle, like Rudra
destroying living creatures (at the time of the universal dissolution). Having
made the field empty by shooting his shafts on all sides, Yudhishthira rushed
against the ruler of the Madras and said, "Wait, Wait!" Beholding the
feats then of that hero of terrible deeds, all thy warriors became inspired with
fear. Shalya, however, proceeded against him. Both of them filled with rage,
blew their conchs. Returning and challenging each other, each then encountered
the other. Then Shalya covered Yudhishthira with showers of arrows. Similarly,
the son of Kunti covered the ruler of the Madras with showers of arrows. Then
those two heroes, the ruler of the Madras and Yudhishthira, mangled in that
battle with each other's arrows and bathed in blood, looked like a Salmali and
a Kinsuka tree decked with flowers. Both possessed of splendour and both
invincible in battle, those two illustrious warriors uttered loud roars.
Beholding them both, the soldiers could not conclude which of them would be
victorious. Whether the son of Pritha would enjoy the Earth, having slain Shalya,
or whether Shalya having slain the son of Pandu would bestow the Earth on
Duryodhana, could not be ascertained, O Bharata, by the warriors present there.
King Yudhishthira, in course of that battle, placed his foes to his right. Then
Shalya shot a hundred foremost of arrows at Yudhishthira. With another arrow of
great sharpness, he cut off the latter's bow. Taking up another bow,
Yudhishthira pierced Shalya with three hundred shafts and cut off the latter's
bow with a razor-faced arrow. The son of Pandu then slew the four steeds of his
antagonist with some straight arrows. With two other very sharp shafts, he then
cut off the two Parshni drivers of Shalya. Then with another blazing,
well-tempered and sharp shaft, he cut off the standard of Shalya staying in his
front. Then, O chastiser of foes, the army of Duryodhana broke. The son of
Drona, at this time, speedily proceeded towards the ruler of the Madras who had
been reduced to that plight, and quickly taking him up on his own car, fled
away quickly. After the two had proceeded for a moment, they heard Yudhishthira
roar aloud. Stopping, the ruler of the Madras then ascended another car that
had been equipped duly. That best of cars had a rattle deep as the roar of the
clouds. Well furnished with weapons and instruments and all kinds of utensils,
that vehicle made the hair of foes stand on end.'"
Book
9
Chapter 17
1 [s]
śalye tu nihate rājan madrarājapadānugāḥ
rathāḥ saptaśatā vīrā
niryayur mahato balāt
2 duryodhanas tu dviradam āruhyācalasaṃnibham
chattreṇa dhriyamāṇena vījyamānaś ca cāmaraiḥ
na gantavyaṃ na gantavyam iti
madrān avārayat
3 duryodhanena te vīrā vāryamāṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ jighāṃsantaḥ pāṇḍūnāṃ prāviśan balam
4 te tu śūrā mahārāja kṛtacittāḥ sma yodhane
dhanuḥ śabdaṃ mahat kṛtvā sahāyudhyanta pāṇḍavaiḥ
5 śrutvā tu nihataṃ śalyaṃ dharmaputraṃ ca pīḍitam
madrarājapriye yuktair madrakāṇāṃ mahārathaiḥ
6 ājagāma tataḥ pārtho gāṇḍīvaṃ vikṣipan dhanuḥ
pūrayan rathaghoṣeṇa diśaḥ sarvā mahārathaḥ
7 tato 'rjunaś ca bhīmaś ca
mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
sātyakiś ca naravyāghro draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ
8 dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca pāñcālāḥ saha somakaiḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ parīpsantaḥ samantāt paryavārayan
9 te samantāt parivṛtāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ
kṣobhayanti sma tāṃ senāṃ makarāḥ sāgaraṃ yathā
10 puro vātena gaṅgeva kṣobhyamānā mahānadī
akṣobhyata tadā rājan pāṇḍūnāṃ dhvajinī punaḥ
11 praskandya senāṃ mahatīṃ tyaktātmāno mahārathāḥ
vṛkṣān iva
mahāvātāḥ kampayanti sma tāvakāḥ
12 bahavaś cukruśus tatra kva sa rājā
yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
bhrātaro vāsya te śūrā dṛśyante na ha
ke cana
13 pāñcālānāṃ mahāvīryāḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumno 'tha śaineyo
draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ
14 evaṃ tān vādinaḥ śūrān draupadeyā mahārathāḥ
ahyaghnan yuyudhānaś ca madrarājapadānugān
15 cakrair vimathitaiḥ ke cit ke cic chinnair maha dhvajaiḥ
pratyadṛśyanta samare tāvakā
nihatāḥ paraiḥ
16 ālokya pāṇḍavān yuddhe yodhā rājan samantataḥ
vāryamāṇā yayur vegāt tava
putreṇa bhārata
17 duryodhanas tu tān vīrān vārayām āsa
sāntvayan
na cāsya śāsanaṃ kaś cit tatra cakre
mahārathaḥ
18 tato gāndhārarājasya putraḥ śakunir abravīt
duryodhanaṃ mahārāja vacanaṃ vacanakṣamaḥ
19 kiṃ naḥ saṃprekṣamāṇānāṃ madrāṇāṃ hanyate
balam
na yuktam etat samare tvayi tiṣṭhati bhārata
20 sahitair nāma yoddhavyam ity eṣā samayaḥ kṛtaḥ
atha kasmāt parān eva ghnato marṣayase nṛpa
21 [dur]
vāryamāṇā mayā pūrvaṃ naite cakrur vaco mama
ete hi nihatāḥ sarve praskannāḥ pāṇḍuvāhinīm
22 [ṣakuni]
na bhartuḥ śāsanaṃ vīrā raṇe kurvanty amarṣitāḥ
alaṃ kroddhuṃ tathaiteṣāṃ nāyaṃ kāla upekṣitum
23 yāmaḥ sarve 'tra
saṃbhūya savājirathakuñjarāḥ
paritrātuṃ maheṣvāsān madrarājapadānugān
24 anyonyaṃ parirakṣāmo yatnena mahatā nṛpa
evaṃ sarve 'nusaṃcintya prayayur yatra sainikāḥ
25 [s]
evam uktas tato rājā balenā mahatā vṛtaḥ
prayayau siṃhanādena kampayan
vai vasuṃdharām
26 hatavidhyata gṛhṇīta praharadhvaṃ nikṛntata
ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdas tava
sainyasya bhārata
27 pāṇḍavās tu raṇe dṛṣṭvā madrarājapadānugān
sahitān abhyavartanta gulmam āsthāya madhyamam
28 te muhūrtād raṇe vīrā hastāhastaṃ viśāṃ pate
nihatāḥ pratyadṛśyanta madrarājapadānugāḥ
29 tato naḥ saṃprayātānāṃ hatāmitrās tarasvinaḥ
hṛṣṭāḥ kilakilā śabdam akurvan sahitāḥ pare
30 athotthitāni ruṇḍāni samadṛśyanta sarvaśaḥ
papāta mahatī colkā madhyenādhitya maṇḍalam
31 rathair bhagnair yugākṣaiś ca nihataiś ca mahārathaiḥ
aśvair nipatitaiś caiva saṃchannābhūd vasuṃdharā
32 vātāyamānais turagair yugāsaktais
turaṃgamaiḥ
adṛśyanta mahārāja yodhās tatra raṇājire
33 bhagnacakrān rathān ke cid avahaṃs turagā raṇe
rathārthaṃ ke cid ādāya diśo
daśavibabhramuḥ
tatra tatra ca dṛśyante yoktraiḥ śliṣṭāḥ sma vājinaḥ
34 rathinaḥ patamānāś ca
vyadṛśyanta narottama
gaganāt pracyutāḥ siddhāḥ puṇyānām iva saṃkṣaye
35 nihateṣu ca śūreṣu madrarājānugeṣu ca
asmān āpatataś cāpi dṛṣṭvā pārtha
mahārathāḥ
36 abhyavartanta vegena jaya gṛdhrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
bāṇaśabdaravān kṛtvā vimiśrāñ śaṅkhanisvanaiḥ
37 asmāṃs tu punar
āsādya labdhalakṣāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
śarāsanāni dhunvānāḥ siṃhanādān pracukruśuḥ
38 tato hatam abhiprekṣya madrarājabalaṃ mahat
madrarājaṃ ca samare dṛṣṭvā śūraṃ nipātitam
duryodhana balaṃ sarvaṃ punar āsīt parāṅmukham
39 vadhyamānaṃ mahārāja pāṇḍavair jitakāśibhiḥ
diśo bhede 'tha saṃbhrāntaṃ trāsitaṃ dṛḍhadhanvibhiḥ
17
"Sanjaya said, 'Taking up another bow that was very strong and much
tougher, the ruler of the Madras pierced Yudhishthira and roared like a lion.
Then that bull amongst Kshatriyas, of immeasurable soul, poured upon all the
Kshatriyas showers of arrows, even like the deity of the clouds pouring rain in
torrents. Piercing Satyaki with ten arrows and Bhima with three and Sahadeva
with as many, he afflicted Yudhishthira greatly. And he afflicted all the other
great bowmen with their steeds and cars and elephants with many shafts like
hunters afflicting elephants with blazing brands. Indeed, that foremost of car-warriors
destroyed elephants and elephant-riders, horses and horsemen and cars and
car-warriors. And he cut off the arms of combatants with weapons in grasp and
the standards of vehicles, and caused the Earth to be strewn with (slain)
warriors like the sacrificial altar with blades of Kusa grass. Then the Pandus,
the Pancalas, and the Somakas, filled with rage, encompassed that hero who was
thus slaughtering their troops like all-destroying Death. Bhimasena, and the
grandson of Sini, and those two foremost of men, the two sons of Madri,
encompassed that warrior while he was fighting with the (Pandava) king of
terrible might. And all of them challenged him to battle. Then those heroes, O
king, having obtained the ruler of the Madras, that foremost of warriors, in
battle, checked that first of men in that encounter and began to strike him
with winged arrows of fierce energy. Protected by Bhimasena, and by the two
sons of Madri, and by him of Madhu's race, the royal son of Dharma struck the
ruler of the Madras in the centre of the chest with winged arrows of fierce
energy. Then the car-warriors and other combatants of thy army, clad in mail
and equipped with weapons, beholding the ruler of the Madras exceedingly
afflicted with arrows in that battle, surrounded him on all sides, at the
command of Duryodhana. The ruler of the Madras at this time quickly pierced
Yudhishthira with seven arrows in that battle. The high-souled son of Pritha, O
king, in return, pierced his foe with nine arrows in that dreadful encounter.
Those two great car-warriors, the ruler of the Madras and Yudhishthira, began
to cover each other with arrows, washed in oil and shot from their bowstrings
stretched to their ears. Those two best of kings, both endued with great
strength, both incapable of being defeated by foes, and both foremost of
car-warriors, watchful of each other's lapses, quickly and deeply pierced each
other with each other's shafts. The loud noise of their bows, bowstrings, and
palms resembled that of Indra's thunder as those high-souled warriors, the
brave ruler of the Madras and the heroic Pandava, showered upon each other
their numberless arrows. They careered on the field of battle like two young
tigers in the deep forest fighting for a piece of meat. Swelling with pride of
prowess, they mangled each other like a couple of infuriate elephants equipped
with powerful tusks. Then the illustrious ruler of the Madras, endued with
fierce impetuosity, putting forth his vigour, pierced the heroic Yudhishthira
of terrible might in the chest with shaft possessed of the splendour of fire or
the sun. Deeply pierced, O king, that bull of Kuru's race, the illustrious
Yudhishthira, then struck the ruler of the Madras with a well-shot shaft and
became filled with joy. Recovering his senses within a trice, that foremost of
kings (Shalya), possessed of prowess equal to that of him of a 1,000 eyes, with
eyes red in wrath, quickly struck the son of Pritha with a hundred arrows. At
this, the illustrious son of Dharma filled with rage, quickly pierced Shalya's
chest and then, without losing a moment, struck his golden mail with six
shafts. Filled with joy, the ruler of the Madras then, drawing his bow and
having shot many arrows, at last cut off, with a pair of razor-faced shafts,
the bow of his royal foe, that bull of Kuru's race. The illustrious
Yudhishthira then, taking a new and more formidable bow in that battle, pierced
Shalya with many arrows of keen points from every side like Indra piercing the
Asura Namuchi. The illustrious Shalya then, cutting off the golden coats of
mail of both Bhima and king Yudhishthira with nine arrows, pierced the arms of
both of them. With another razor-faced arrow endued with the splendour of fire
or the sun, he then cut off the bow of Yudhishthira. At this time Kripa, with
six arrows, slew the king's driver who thereupon fell down in front of the car.
The ruler of the Madras then slew with four shafts the four steeds of
Yudhishthira. Having slain the steeds of the king, the high-souled Shalya then
began to slay the troops of the royal son of Dharma. When the (Pandava) king
had been brought to that plight, the illustrious Bhimasena, quickly cutting off
the bow of the Madra king with an arrow of great impetuosity, deeply pierced
the king himself with a couple of arrows. With another arrow he severed the
head of Shalya's driver from his trunk, the middle of which was encased in
mail. Exceedingly excited with rage, Bhimasena next slew, without a moment's
delay, the four steeds also of his foe. That foremost of all bowmen, Bhima,
then covered with a hundred arrows that hero (Shalya), who, endued with great
impetuosity, was careering alone in that battle. Sahadeva, the son of Madri,
also did the same. Beholding Shalya stupefied with those arrows, Bhima cut off
his armour with other shafts. His armour having been cut off by Bhimasena, the
high-souled ruler of the Madras, taking up a sword and a shield decked with a
1,000 stars, jumped down from his car and rushed towards the son of Kunti.
Cutting off the shaft of Nakula's car, Shalya of terrible strength rushed
towards Yudhishthira. Beholding Shalya rushing impetuously towards the king,
even like the Destroyer himself rushing in rage, Dhristadyumna and Shikhandi
and the (five) sons of Draupadi and the grandson of Sini suddenly advanced
towards him. Then the illustrious Bhima cut off with ten arrows the unrivalled
shield of the advancing hero. With another broad-headed arrow he cut off the
sword also of that warrior at the hilt. Filled with joy at this, he roared
aloud in the midst of the troops. Beholding that feat of Bhima, all the
foremost car-warriors among the Pandavas became filled with joy. Laughing
aloud, they uttered fierce roars and blew their conchs white as the moon. At
that terrible noise the army protected by thy heroes became cheerless, covered
with sweat, bathed in blood, exceedingly melancholy and almost lifeless. The
ruler of the Madras assailed by those foremost of Pandava warriors headed by
Bhimasena, proceeded (regardless of them) towards Yudhishthira, like a lion
proceeding for seizing a deer. King Yudhishthira the just, steedless and
driverless, looked like a blazing fire in consequence of the wrath with which
he was then excited. Beholding the ruler of the Madras before him, he rushed
towards that foe with great impetuosity. Recollecting the words of Govinda, he
quickly set his heart on the destruction of Shalya. Indeed, king Yudhishthira
the just, staying on his steedless and driverless car, desired to take up a
dart. Beholding that feat of Shalya and reflecting upon the fact that the hero
who had been allotted to him as his share still remained unslain, the son of
Pandu firmly set his heart upon accomplishing that which Indra's younger
brother had counselled him to achieve. King Yudhishthira the just, took up a
dart whose handle was adorned with gold and gems and whose effulgence was as
bright as that of gold. Rolling his eyes that were wide open, he cast his
glances on the ruler of the Madras, his heart filled with rage. Thus looked at,
O god among men, by that king of cleansed soul and sins all washed away, the
ruler of the Madras was not reduced to ashes. This appeared to us to be
exceedingly wonderful, O monarch. The illustrious chief of the Kurus then
hurled with great force at the king of the Madras that blazing dart of
beautiful and fierce handle and effulgent with gems and corals. All the
Kauravas beheld that blazing dart emitting sparks of fire as it coursed through
the welkin after having been hurled with great force, even like a large meteor
falling from the skies at the end of the Yuga. King Yudhishthira the just, in
that battle, carefully hurled that dart which resembled kala-ratri (the Death
Night) armed with the fatal noose or the foster-mother of fearful aspect of
Yama himself, and which like the Brahmana's curse, was incapable of being
baffled. Carefully the sons of Pandu had always worshipped that weapon with
perfumes and garlands and foremost of seats and the best kinds of viands and
drinks. That weapon seemed to blaze like Samvartaka-fire and was as fierce as a
rite performed according to the Atharvan of Agnirasa. Created by Tvashtri (the
celestial artificer) for the use of Ishana, it was a consumer of the
life-breaths and the bodies of all foes. It was capable of destroying by its
force the Earth and the welkin and all the receptacles of water and creatures
of every kind. Adorned with bells and banners and gems and diamonds and decked
with stones of lapis lazuli and equipped with a golden handle, Tvashtri himself
had forged it with great care after having observed many vows. Unerringly
fatal, it was destructive of all haters of Brahma. Having carefully inspired it
with many fierce mantras, and endued it with terrible velocity by the
exercise of great might and great care, king Yudhishthira hurled it along the
best of tracks for the destruction of the ruler of the Madras. Saying in a loud
voice the words, "Thou art slain, O wretch!" the king hurled it, even
as Rudra had, in days of yore, shot his shaft for the destruction of the asura
Andhaka, stretching forth his strong (right) arm graced with a beautiful
hand, and apparently dancing in wrath.Shalya, however, roared aloud and endeavoured to catch that excellent dart of irresistible energy hurled by Yudhishthira with all his might, even as a fire leaps forth for catching a jet of clarified butter poured over it. Piercing through his very vitals and his fair and broad chest, that dart entered the Earth as easily as it would enter any water without the slightest resistance and bearing away (with it) the world-wide fame of the king (of the Madras). Covered with the blood that issued from his nostrils and eyes and ears and mouth, and that which flowed from his wound, he then looked like the Krauncha mountain of gigantic size when it was pierced by Skanda. His armour having been cut off by that descendant of Kuru's race, the illustrious Shalya, strong as Indra's elephant, stretching his arms, fell down on the Earth, like a mountain summit riven by thunder. Stretching his arms, the ruler of the Madras fell down on the Earth, with face directed towards king Yudhishthira the just, like a tall banner erected to the honour of Indra falling down on the ground. Like a dear wife advancing to receive her dear lord about to fall on her breast, the Earth then seemed, from affection, to rise a little for receiving that bull among men as he fell down with mangled limbs bathed in blood. The puissant Shalya, having long enjoyed the Earth like a dear wife, now seemed to sleep on the Earth's breast, embracing her with all his limbs. Slain by Dharma's son of righteous soul in fair fight, Shalya seemed to assume the aspect of a goodly fire lying extinguished on the sacrificial platform. Though deprived of weapons and standard, and though his heart had been pierced, beauty did not yet seem to abandon the lifeless ruler of the Madras. Then Yudhishthira, taking up his bow whose splendour resembled that of Indra's bow, began to destroy his foes in that battle like the prince of birds destroying snakes. With the greatest speed he began to cut off the bodies of his enemies with his keen shafts. With the showers of shafts that the son of Pritha then shot, thy troops became entirely shrouded. Overcome with fear and with eyes shut, they began to strike one another (so stupefied were they then). With blood issuing from their bodies, they became deprived of their weapons of attack and defence and divested of their life-breaths. Upon the fall of Shalya, the youthful younger brother of the king of the Madras, who was equal to his (deceased) brother in every accomplishment, and who was regarded as a mighty car-warrior, proceeded against Yudhishthira. Invincible in battle desirous of paying the last dues of his brother, that foremost of men quickly pierced the Pandava with very many shafts. With great speed king Yudhishthira the just pierced him with six arrows. With a couple of razor-faced arrows, he then cut off the bow and the standard of his antagonist. Then with a blazing and keen arrow of great force and broad head, he struck off the head of his foe staying before him. I saw that head adorned with earrings fall down from the car like a denizen of heaven falling down on the exhaustion of his merits. Beholding his headless trunk, bathed all over with blood, fallen down from the car, the Kaurava troops broke. Indeed, upon the slaughter of the younger brother of the Madras clad in beautiful armour, the Kurus, uttering cries of "Oh!" and "Alas!" fled away with speed. Beholding Shalya's younger brother slain, thy troops, hopeless of their lives, were inspired with the fear of the Pandavas and fled, covered with dust. The grandson of Sini then, Satyaki, O bull of Bharata's race, shooting his shafts, proceeded against the frightened Kauravas while the latter were flying away. Then Hridika's son, O king, quickly and fearlessly received that invincible warrior, that irresistible and mighty bowman, as he advanced (against the beaten army). Those two illustrious and invincible heroes of Vrishni's race, Hridika's son and Satyaki, encountered each other like two furious lions. Both resembling the sun in effulgence, they covered each other with arrows of blazing splendour that resembled the rays of the sun. The arrows of those two lions of Vrishni's race, shot forcibly from their bows, we saw, looked like swiftly coursing insects in the welkin. Piercing Satyaki with ten arrows and his steeds with three, the son of Hridika cut off his bow with a straight shaft. Laying aside his best of bows which was thus cut off, that bull of Sini's race, quickly took up another that was tougher than the first. Having taken up that foremost of bows, that first of bowmen pierced the son of Hridika with ten arrows in the centre of the chest. Then cutting off his car and the shaft also of that car with many well-shot arrows, Satyaki quickly slew the steeds of his antagonist as also his two Parshni drivers. The valiant Kripa then, the son of Saradwat, O lord, beholding Hridika's son made carless, quickly bore him away, taking him up on his car. Upon the slaughter of the king of the Madras and upon Kritavarma having been made carless, the entire army of Duryodhana once more turned its face from the battle. At this time the army was shrouded with a dusty cloud. We could not see anything. The greater portion, however, of thy army fell. They who remained alive had turned away their faces from battle. Soon it was seen that that cloud of earthy dust which had arisen became allayed, O bull among men, in consequence of the diverse streams of blood that drenched it on every side. Then Duryodhana, seeing from a near point his army broken, alone resisted all the Parthas advancing furiously. Beholding the Pandavas on their cars as also Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata and the invincible chief of the Anartas (Satyaki), the Kuru king covered all of them with sharp arrows. The enemy (at that time) approached him not, like mortal creatures fearing to approach the Destroyer standing before them. Meanwhile the son of Hridika, riding upon another car, advanced to that spot. The mighty car-warrior Yudhishthira then quickly slew the four steeds of Kritavarma with four shafts, and pierced the son of Gotama with six broad-headed arrows of great force. Then Ashvatthama, taking up on his car the son of Hridika who had been made steedless and carless by the (Pandava) king, bore him away from Yudhishthira's presence. The son of Saradwat pierced Yudhishthira in return with eight arrows and his steeds also with eight keen shafts. Thus, O monarch, the embers of that battle began to glow here and there, in consequence, O king, of the evil policy of thyself and thy son, O Bharata. After the slaughter of that foremost of bowmen on the field of battle by that bull of Kuru's race, the Parthas, beholding Shalya slain, united together, and filled with great joy, blew their conchs. And all of them applauded Yudhishthira in that battle, even as the celestials in days of yore, had applauded Indra after the slaughter of Vritra. And they beat and blew diverse kinds of musical instruments, making the Earth resound on every side with that noise.'"
Book
9
Chapter 18
1 [s]
pātite yudhi durdharṣo madrarāje mahārathe
tāvakās tava putrāś ca prāyaśo vimukhābhavan
2 vaṇijo nāvi
bhinnāyāṃ yathāgādhe 'plave 'rṇave
apāre pāram icchanto hate śūre mahātmani
3 madrarāje mahārāja vitrastāḥ śaravikṣatāḥ
anāthā nātham icchanto mṛgāḥ siṃhārditā iva
4 vṛṣā yathā
bhagnaśṛṅgāḥ śīrṇadantā gajā iva
madhyāhne pratyapāyāma nirjitā dharmasūnunā
5 na saṃdhātum anīkāni na ca rājan parākrame
āsīd buddhir hate śalye tava yodhasya kasya cit
6 bhīṣme droṇe ca nihate sūtaputre ca bhārata
yad duḥkhaṃ tava yodhānāṃ bhayaṃ cāsīd viśāṃ pate
tadbhayaṃ sa ca naḥ śoko bhūya evābhyavartata
7 niraśāś ca jaye tasmin hate
śalye mahārathe
hatapravīrā vidhvastā vikṛttāś ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
madrarāje hate rājan yodhās te prādravan bhayāt
8 aśvān anye gajān anye rathān
anye mahārathāḥ
āruhya javasaṃpannāḥ pādātāḥ prādravan bhayāt
9 dvisāhasrāś ca mātaṅgā girirūpāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
saṃprādravan hate śalye
aṅkuśāṅguṣṭha coditāḥ
10 te raṇād bharataśreṣṭha tāvakāḥ prādravan diśaḥ
dhāvantaś cāpy adṛśyanta śvasamānāḥ śarātulāḥ
11 tān prabhagnān drutān dṛṣṭvā hatotsāhān parājitān
abhyadravanta pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavāś ca jayaiṣiṇaḥ
12 bāṇaśabdaravaś cāpi siṃhanādaś ca puṣkalaḥ
śaṅkhaśabdaś ca śūrāṇāṃ dāruṇaḥ samapadyata
13 dṛṣṭvā tu kauravaṃ sainyaṃ bhayatrastaṃ pravidrutam
anyonyaṃ samabhāṣanta pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
14 adya rājā satyadhṛtir jitāmitro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
adya duryodhano hīnā dīptayā nṛpatiśriyā
15 adya śrutvā hataṃ putraṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ
niḥsaṃjñaḥ patito bhūmau kilbiṣaṃ
pratipadyatām
16 adya jānātu kaunteyaṃ samarthaṃ sarvadhanvinām
adyātmānaṃ ca durmedhā garhayiṣyati pāpakṛt
adya kṣattur vacaḥ satyaṃ smaratāṃ bruvato hitam
17 adya prabhṛti pārthāṃś ca preṣyabhūta upācaran
vijānātu nṛpo duḥkhaṃ yat prāptaṃ pāṇḍunandanaiḥ
18 adya kṛṣṇasya
māhātmyaṃ jānātu sa mahīpatiḥ
adyārjuna dhanur ghoṣaṃ ghoraṃ jānātu saṃyuge
19 astrāṇāṃ ca balaṃ sarvaṃ bāhvoś ca balam āhave
adya jñāsyati bhīmasya balaṃ ghoraṃ mahātmanaḥ
20 hate duryodhane yuddhe śakreṇevāsure maye
yatkṛtaṃ bhīmasenena
duḥkhāsana vadhe tadā
nānyaḥ kartāsti loke tad ṛte bhīmaṃ mahābalam
21 jānītām adya jyeṣṭhasya pāṇḍavasya parākramam
madrarājaṃ hataṃ śrutvā devair api suduḥsaham
22 adya jñāsyati saṃgrāme mādrīputrau mahābalau
nihate saubale śūre gāndhāreṣu ca sarvaśaḥ
23 kathaṃ teṣāṃ jayo na syād yeṣāṃ yoddhā dhanaṃjayaḥ
sātyakir bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
24 draupadyās tanayāḥ pañca mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
śikhaṇḍī ca maheṣvāso rājā caiva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
25 yeṣāṃ ca jagatāṃ nātho nāthaḥ kṛṣṇo janārdanaḥ
kathaṃ teṣāṃ jayo na syād yeṣāṃ dharmo vyapāśrayaḥ
26 bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ ca karṇaṃ ca madrarājānam eva ca
tahānyan nṛpatīn vīrāñ śataśo
'tha sahasraśaḥ
27 ko 'nyaḥ śakto raṇe jetum ṛte pārthaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
yasya nātho hṛṣīkeśaḥ sadā dharmayaśo nidhiḥ
28 ity evaṃ vadamānās te
harṣeṇa mahatā yutāḥ
prabhagnāṃs tāvakān rājan sṛñjayāḥ pṛṣṭhato 'nvayuḥ
29 dhanaṃjayo
rathānīkam abhyavartata vīryavān
mādrīputrau ca śakuniṃ sātyakiś ca
mahārathaḥ
30 tān prekṣya dravataḥ sarvān bhīmasenabhayārditān
duryodhanas tadā sūtam abravīd utsmayann iva
31 na mātikramate pārtho dhanuṣpāṇim avasthitam
jaghane sarvasainyānāṃ mamāśvān
pratipādaya
32 jaghane yudhyamānaṃ hi kaunteyo māṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
notsahetābhyatikrāntuṃ velām iva
mahodadhiḥ
33 paśya sainyaṃ mahat sūta pāṇḍavaiḥ samabhidrutam
sainyareṇuṃ samuddhūtaṃ paśyasvainaṃ samantataḥ
34 siṃhanādāṃś ca bahuśaḥ śṛṇu ghorān bhayānakān
tasmād yāhi śanaiḥ sūta jaghanaṃ paripālaya
35 mayi sthite ca samare niruddheṣu ca pāṇḍuṣu
punarāvartate tūrṇaṃ māmakaṃ balam ojasā
36 tac chrutvā tava putrasya śūrāgrya sadṛśaṃ vacaḥ
sārathir hemasaṃchannāñ śanair aśvān
acodayat
37 gajāśvarathibhir hīnās tyaktātmānaḥ padātayaḥ
ekaviṃśatisāhasrāḥ saṃyugāyāvatasthire
38 nānādeśasamudbhūtā nāna rañjita
vāsasaḥ
avasthitās tadā yodhāḥ prārthayanto
mahad yaśaḥ
39 teṣām āpatatāṃ tatra saṃhṛṣṭānāṃ parasparam
saṃmardaḥ sumahāñ jajñe ghorarūpo bhayānakaḥ
40 bhīmasenaṃ tadā rājan ghṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam
balena caturaṅgeṇa nānādeśyā nyavārayan
41 bhīmam evābhyavartanta raṇe 'nye tu padātayaḥ
prakṣveḍyāsphoṭya saṃhṛṣṭā vīralokaṃ yiyāsavaḥ
42 āsādya bhīmasenaṃ tu saṃrabdhā yuddhadurmadāḥ
dhārtarāṣṭrā vinedur hi nānyāṃ cākathayan kathām
parivārya raṇe bhīmaṃ nijaghnur te samantataḥ
43 sa vadhyamānaḥ samare padātigaṇasaṃvṛtaḥ
na cacāla rathopasthe maināka iva parvataḥ
44 te tu kruddhā mahārāja pāṇḍavasya mahāratham
nigrahītuṃ pracakrur hi yodhāṃś cānyān avārayan
45 akrudhyata raṇe bhīmas tais tadā paryavasthitaiḥ
so 'vatīrya rathāt tūrṇaṃ padātiḥ samavasthitaḥ
46 jātarūpaparicchannāṃ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām
avadhīt tāvakān yodhān daṇḍapāṇir ivāntakaḥ
47 rathāśvadvipahīnāṃs tu tān bhīmo gadayā balī
ekaviṃśatisāhasrān padātīn avapothayat
48 hatvā tat puruṣānīkaṃ bhīmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ puraskṛtya nacirāt pratyadṛśyata
49 pādātā nihatā bhūmau śiśyire rudhirokṣitāḥ
saṃbhagnā iva vātena karṇikārāḥ supuṣpitāḥ
50 nānāpuṣpasrajopetā
nānā kuṇḍaladhāriṇaḥ
nānā jātyā hatās tatra nādā deśasamāgatāḥ
51 patākādhvajasaṃchannaṃ padātīnāṃ mahad balam
nikṛttaṃ vibabhau tatra ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam
52 yudhiṣṭhirapurogās
tu sarvasainyamahārathāḥ
abhyadhāvan mahātmānaṃ putraṃ duryodhanaṃ tava
53 te sarve tāvakān dṛṣṭvā maheṣvāsān parāṅmukhān
nābhyavartanta te putraṃ veleva
makalālayam
54 tad adbhutam apaśyāma tava putrasya
pauruṣam
yad ekaṃ sahitāḥ pārthā na śekur ativartitum
55 nātidūrāpayātaṃ tu kṛtabuddhiṃ palāyane
duryodhanaḥ svakaṃ sainyam abravīd bhṛśavikṣatam
56 na taṃ deśaṃ prapaśyāmi pṛthivyāṃ parvateṣu vā
yatra yātān na vo hanyuḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kiṃ sṛtena vaḥ
57 alpaṃ ca balam eteṣāṃ kṛṣṇau ca bhṛśavikṣatau
yadi sarve 'tra tiṣṭhāmo dhruvo no
vijayo bhavet
58 viprayātāṃs tu vo bhinnān pāṇḍavāḥ kṛtakilbiṣān
anusṛtya haniṣyanti śreyo naḥ samare sthitam
59 śṛṇudhvaṃ kṣatriyāḥ sarve yāvantaḥ stha samāgatāḥ
yadā śūraṃ ca bhīruṃ ca mārayaty antakaḥ sadā
ko nu mūḍho na yudhyeta puruṣaḥ kṣatriya bruvaḥ
60 śreyo no bhīmasenasya kruddhasya
pramukhe sthitam
sukhaḥ sāṃgrāmiko mṛtyuḥ kṣatradharmeṇa yudhyatām
jitveha sukham āpnoti hataḥ pretya mahat phalam
61 na yuddhadharmāc chreyān vai panthāḥ svargasya kauravāḥ
acireṇa jitāṁl lokān hato yuddhe samaśnute
62 śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya pūjayitvā ca pārthivāḥ
punar evānvavartanta pāṇḍavān
ātatāyinaḥ
63 tān āpatata evāśu vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
pratyudyayus tadā pārthā jaya gṛdhrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
64 dhanaṃjayo
rathenājāv abhyavartata vīryavān
viśrutaṃ triṣu lokeṣu gāṇḍīvaṃ vikṣipan dhanuḥ
65 mādrīputrau ca śakuniṃ sātyakiś ca mahābalaḥ
javenābhyapatan hṛṣṭā yato vai tāvakaṃ balam
18
"Sanjaya said, 'After the slaughter of Shalya, O king, the followers of
the Madra king, numbering seventeen hundred heroic car-warriors, proceeded for
battle with great energy. Duryodhana riding upon an elephant gigantic as a
hill, with an umbrella held over his head, and fanned the while with yak-tails,
forbade the Madraka warriors, saying, "Do not proceed, Do not
proceed!" Though repeatedly forbidden by Duryodhana, those heroes,
desirous of slaying Yudhishthira, penetrated into the Pandava host. Those brave
combatants, O monarch, loyal to Duryodhana, twanging their bows loudly, fought
with the Pandavas. Meanwhile, hearing that Shalya had been slain and that
Yudhishthira was afflicted by the mighty car-warriors of the Madrakas devoted
to the welfare of the Madraka king, the great car-warrior Partha came there,
stretching his bow Gandiva, and filling the Earth with the rattle of his car.
Then Arjuna, and Bhima, and the two sons of Madri by Pandu, and that tiger
among men, Satyaki, and the (five) sons of Draupadi, and Dhrishtadyumna, and
Shikhandi, and the Pancalas and the Somakas, desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira,
surrounded him on all sides. Having taken their places around the king, the
Pandavas, those bulls among men, began to agitate the hostile force like
Makaras agitating the ocean. Indeed, they caused thy army to tremble like a
mighty tempest shaking the trees. Like the great river Ganges agitated by a
hostile wind, the Pandava host, O king, once more became exceedingly agitated.
Causing that mighty host to tremble, the illustrious and mighty car-warriors
(the Madrakas), all shouted loudly, saying, "Where is that king
Yudhishthira? Why are not his brave brothers, the Pandavas, to be seen here?
What has become of the Pancalas of great energy as also of the mighty
car-warrior Shikhandi? Where are Dhrishtadyumna and the grandson of Sini and
those great car-warriors, the (five) sons of Draupadi?" At this, those
mighty warriors, the sons of Draupadi, began to slaughter the followers of the
Madra king who were uttering those words and battling vigorously. In that
battle, some amongst thy troops were seen slain by means of their lofty
standards. Beholding, however, the heroic Pandavas, the brave warriors of thy army,
O Bharata, though forbidden by thy son, still rushed against them. Duryodhana,
speaking softly, sought to prevent those warriors from fighting with the foe.
No great car-warrior, however, amongst them obeyed his behest. Then Shakuni,
the son of the Gandhara king, possessed of eloquence, O monarch, said unto
Duryodhana these words, "How is this that we are standing here, while the
Madraka host is being slaughtered before our eyes? When thou, O Bharata, art
here, this does not look well! The understanding made was that all of us should
fight unitedly! Why then, O king, dost thou tolerate our foes when they are
thus slaying our troops?""'Duryodhana said, "Though forbidden by me before, they did not obey my behest. Unitedly have these men penetrated in the Pandava host!"
"'Shakuni said, "Brave warriors, when excited with rage in battle, do not obey the command of their leaders. It does not behove thee to be angry with those men. This is not the time to stand indifferently. We shall, therefore, all of us, united together with our cars and horses and elephants, proceed, for rescuing those great bowmen, the followers of the Madra king! With great care, O king, we shall protect one another." Thinking after the manner of Shakuni, all the Kauravas then proceeded to that place where the Madras were. Duryodhana also, thus addressed (by his maternal uncle) proceeded, encompassed by a large force, against the foe, uttering leonine shouts and causing the Earth to resound with that noise. "Slay, pierce, seize, strike, cut off!" These were the loud sounds that were heard then, O Bharata, among those troops. Meanwhile the Pandavas, beholding in that battle the followers of the Madra king assailing them unitedly, proceeded against them, arraying themselves in the form called Madhyama. Fighting hand to hand, O monarch, for a short while those heroic warriors, the followers of the Madra king, were seen to perish. Then, whilst we were proceeding, the Pandavas, united together and endued with great activity, completed the slaughter of the Madrakas, and, filled with delight, uttered joyous shouts. Then headless forms were seen to arise all around. Large meteors seemed to fall down from the sun's disc. The Earth became covered with cars and broken yokes and axles and slain car-warriors and lifeless steeds. Steeds fleet as the wind, still attached to yokes of cars (but without drivers to guide them) were seen to drag car-warriors, O monarch, hither and thither on the field of battle. Some horses were seen to drag cars with broken wheels, while some ran on all sides, bearing after them portions of broken cars. Here and there also were seen steeds that were hampered in their motions by their traces. Car-warriors, while falling down from their cars, were seen to drop down like denizens of heaven on the exhaustion of their merits. When the brave followers of the Madra king were slain, the mighty car-warriors of the Parthas, those great smiters, beholding a body of horse advancing towards them, rushed towards it with speed from desire of victory. Causing their arrows to whiz loudly and making diverse other kinds of noise mingled with the blare of their conchs, those effectual smiters possessed of sureness of aim, shaking their bows, uttered leonine roars. Beholding then that large force of the Madra king exterminated and seeing also their heroic king slain in battle, the entire army of Duryodhana once more turned away from the field. Struck, O monarch, by those firm bowmen, the Pandavas, the Kuru army fled away on all sides, inspired with fear.'
Book
9
Chapter 19
1 [s]
saṃnivṛtte balaughe tu śālvo mleccha gaṇādhipaḥ
abhyavartata saṃkruddhaḥ pāṇḍūnāṃ sumahad balam
2 āsthāya sumahānāgaṃ prabhinnaṃ parvatopamam
dṛptam airāvata
prakhyam amitragaṇamardanam
3 yo 'sau mahābhadra kulaprasūtaḥ; supūjito dhārtarāṣṭreṇa nityam
sukalpitaḥ śāstraviniścayajñaiḥ; sadopavāhyaḥ samareṣu rājan
4 tam āsthito rājavaro babhūva;
yathodayasthaḥ savitā kṣapānte
sa tena nāgapravareṇa rājann; abhyudyayau pāṇḍusutān samantāt
śitaiḥ pṛṣātkair vidadāra cāpi; mahendravajrapratimaiḥ sughoraiḥ
5 tataḥ śarān vai sṛjato mahāraṇe; yodhāṃś ca rājan nayato yamāya
nāsyāntaraṃ dadṛśuḥ sve pare vā; yathā purā vajradharasya daityāḥ
6 te pāṇḍavāḥ somakāḥ sṛñjayāś ca; tam eva nāgaṃ dadṛśuḥ samantāt
sahasraśo vai vicarantam ekaṃ; yathā mahendrasya gajaṃ samīpe
7 saṃdrāvyamāṇaṃ tu balaṃ pareṣāṃ; parītakalpaṃ vibabhau samantāt
naivāvatasthe samare bhṛśaṃ bhayād; vimardamānaṃ tu parasparaṃ tadā
8 tataḥ prabhagnā sahasā mahācamūḥ; sā pāṇḍavī tena narādhipena
diśaś catasraḥ sahasā pradhāvitā;
gajendra vegaṃ tam apārayantī
9 dṛṣṭvā ca tāṃ vegavatā prabhagnāṃ; sarve tvadīyā yudhi
yodhamukhyāḥ
apūjayaṃs tatra narādhipaṃ taṃ; dadhmuś ca śaṅkhāñ śaśisaṃnikāśān
10 śrutvā ninādaṃ tv atha kauravāṇāṃ; harṣād vimuktaṃ saha śaṅkhaśabdaiḥ
senāpatiḥ pāṇḍava sṛñjayānāṃ; pāñcāla putro na
mamarṣa roṣāt
11 tatas tu taṃ vai dviradaṃ mahātmā; pratyudyayau tvaramāṇau jayāya
jambho yathā śakrasamāgame vai; nāgendram airāvaṇam indra vāhyam
12 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā tu dṛṣṭvā; pāñcālarājaṃ yudhi rājasiṃhaḥ
taṃ vai dvipaṃ preṣayām āsa tūrṇaṃ; vadhāya rājan drupadātmajasya
13 sa taṃ dvipaṃ sahasābhyāpatantam; avidhyad arkapratimaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ
karmāra dhautair niśitair jvaladbhir; nārācamukhyais
tribhir ugravegaiḥ
14 tato 'parān pañca śitān mahātmā;
nārācamukhyān visasarja kumbhe
sa tais tu viddhaḥ paramadvipo raṇe; tadā parāvṛtya bhṛśaṃ pradudruve
15 taṃ nāgarājaṃ sahasā praṇunnaṃ; vidrāvyamāṇaṃ ca nigṛhya śālvaḥ
tottrāṅkuśaiḥ preṣayām āsa tūrṇaṃ; pāñcālarājasya rathaṃ pradiśya
16 dṛṣṭvāpatantaṃ sahasā tu nāgaṃ; dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ svarathāc chīghram eva
gadāṃ pragṛhyāśu javena vīro; bhūmiṃ prapanno
bhayavihvalāṅgaḥ
17 sa taṃ rathaṃ hemavibhūṣitāṅgaṃ; sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ sahasā vimṛdya
utkṣipya hastena tadā mahādvipo;
vipothayām āsa vasuṃdharā tale
18 pāñcālarājasya sutaṃ sa dṛṣṭvā; tadārditaṃ nāgavareṇa tena
tam abhyadhāvat sahasā javena; bhīmaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca śineś ca naptā
19 śaraiś ca vegaṃ sahasā nigṛhya; tasyābhito 'bhyāpatato gajasya
sa saṃgṛhīto
rathibhir gajo vai; cacāla tair vāryamāṇaś ca saṃkhye
20 tataḥ pṛṣatkān pravavarṣa rājā; sūryo yathā raśmijālaṃ samantāt
tenāśugair vadhyamānā rathaughāḥ; pradudruvus tatra tatas tu sarve
21 tat karmaśālvasya samīkṣya sarve; pāñcāla matsyā nṛpa sṛñjayāś ca
hāhākārair nādayantaḥ sma yuddhe;
dvipaṃ samantād rurudhur narāgryāḥ
22 pāñcālarājas tvaritas tu śūro; gadāṃ pragṛhyācalaśṛṅgakalpām
asaṃbhramaṃ bhārata śatrughātī; javena viro 'nusasāra nāgam
23 tato 'tha nāgaṃ dharaṇīdharābhaṃ; madaṃ sravantaṃ jaladaprakāśam
gadāṃ samāvidhya bhṛśaṃ jaghāna; pāñcālarājasya sutas tarasvī
24 sa bhinnakunbhaḥ sahasā vinadya; mukhāt prabhūtaṃ kṣatajaṃ vimuñcan
papāta nāgo dharaṇīdharābhaḥ; kṣitiprakampāc calito yathādriḥ
25 nipātyamāne tu tadā gajendre; hāhākṛte tava putrasya sainye
sa śālvarājasya śinipravīro; jahāra bhallena śiraḥ śitena
26 hṛtottamāṅgo yudhi sātvatena; papāta bhūmau saha nāgarajñā
yathādriśṛṅgaṃ sumahat praṇunnaṃ; vajreṇa devādhipa coditena
19
"Sanjaya said, 'Upon the fall of that great king and mighty
car-warrior, that invincible hero (Shalya) in battle, thy troops as also thy
sons almost all turned away from the fight. Indeed, upon the slaughter of that
hero by the illustrious Yudhishthira, thy troops were like ship-wrecked
merchants on the vast deep without a raft to cross it. After the fall of the
Madra king, O monarch, thy troops, struck with fear and mangled with arrows,
were like masterless men desirous of a protector or a herd of deer afflicted by
a lion. Like bulls deprived of their horns or elephants whose tusks have been
broken, thy troops, defeated by Ajatasatru, fled away at midday. After the fall
of Shalya, O king, none amongst thy troops set his heart on either rallying the
army or displaying his prowess. That fear, O king, and that grief, which had
been ours upon the fall of Bhishma, of Drona, and of the Suta's son, O Bharata,
now became ours once more, O monarch. Despairing of success upon the fall of
the mighty car-warrior Shalya, the Kuru army, with its heroes slain and
exceedingly confused, began to be cut down with keen shafts. Upon the slaughter
of the Madra king, O monarch, thy warriors all fled away in fear. Some on
horse-back, some on elephants, some on cars, great car-warriors with great
speed, and foot-soldiers also fled away in fear. 2,000 elephants, looking like
hills, and accomplished in smiting fled away, after Shalya's fall, urged on
with hooks and toes. Indeed, O chief of the Bharatas, thy soldiers fled on all
sides. Afflicted with arrows, they were seen to run, breathing hard. Beholding
them defeated and broken and flying away in dejection, the Pancalas and the
Pandavas, inspired with desire of victory, pursued then hotly. The whiz of
arrows and other noises, the loud leonine roars, and the blare of conchs of
heroic warriors, became tremendous. Beholding the Kaurava host agitated with
fear and flying away, the Pancalas and the Pandavas addressed one another,
saying, "Today king Yudhishthira, firm in truth, hath vanquished his
enemies. Today Duryodhana hath been divested of his splendour and kingly
prosperity. Today, hearing of his sons' death, let Dhritarashtra, that king of
men, stupefied and prostrate on the Earth, feel the most poignant anguish. Let
him know today that the son of Kunti is possessed of great might among all
bowmen. Today that sinful and wicked-hearted king will censure his own self.
Let him recollect today the time and beneficial words of Vidura. Let him from
this day wait upon the Parthas as their slave. Let that king today experience
the grief that had been felt by the sons of Pandu. Let that king know today the
greatness of Krishna. Let him hear today the terrible twang of Arjuna's bow in
battle, as also the strength of all his weapons, and the might of his arms in
fight. Today he will know the awful might of the high-souled Bhima when
Duryodhana will be slain in battle even as the Asura Vali was slain by Indra.
Save Bhima of mighty strength, there is none else in this world that can
achieve that which was achieved by Bhima himself at the slaughter of
Duhshasana. Hearing of the slaughter of the ruler of the Madras who was
incapable of defeat by the very gods, that king will know the prowess of the
eldest son of Pandu. After the slaughter of the heroic son of Subala and all
the Gandharas he will know the strength, in battle, of the two sons of Madri by
Pandu. Why will not victory be theirs that have Dhananjaya for their warrior,
as also Satyaki, and Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, and the
five sons of Draupadi, and the two sons of Madri, and the mighty bowman
Shikhandi, and king Yudhishthira? Why will not victory be theirs that have for
their protector Krishna, otherwise called Janardana, that protector of the
universe? Why will not victory be theirs that have righteousness for their
refuge? Who else than Yudhishthira the son of Pritha, who hath Hrishikesa, the
refuge of righteousness and fame, for his protector, is competent to vanquish
in battle Bhishma and Drona and Karna and the ruler of the Madras and the other
kings by hundreds and thousands?" Saying these words and filled with joy,
the Srinjayas pursued thy troops in that battle who had been exceedingly
mangled with shafts. Then Dhananjaya of great valour proceeded against the
car-division of the foe. The two sons of Madri and the mighty carwarrior
Satyaki proceeded against Shakuni. Beholding them all flying with speed in fear
of Bhimasena, Duryodhana as if smiling the while, addressed his driver, saying,
"Partha, stationed there with his bow, is transgressing me. Take my steeds
to the rear of the whole army. Like the ocean that cannot transgress its
continents, Kunti's son Dhananjaya will never venture to transgress me, if I
take up my stand in the rear. Behold, O driver, this vast host that is pursued
by the Pandavas. Behold this cloud of dust that has arisen on all sides in
consequence of the motion of the troops. Hear those diverse leonine roars that
are so awful and loud! Therefore, O driver, proceed slowly and take up thy
position in the rear. If I stay in battle and fight the Pandavas, my army, O
driver, will rally and come back with vigour to battle." Hearing these
words of thy son that were just those of a hero and man of honour, the driver
slowly urged those steeds in trappings of gold. 21,000 foot-soldiers, deprived
of elephants and steeds and car-warriors, and who were ready to lay down their
lives, still stood for battle. Born in diverse countries and hailing from
diverse towns, those warriors maintained their ground, desirous of winning
great fame. The clash of those rushing warriors filled with joy became loud and
exceedingly terrible. Then Bhimasena, O king, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of
Prishata resisted them with four kinds of forces. Other foot-soldiers proceeded
against Bhima, uttering loud shouts and slapping their armpits, all actuated by
the desire of going to heaven. Those Dhartarashtra combatants, filled with rage
and invincible in battle, having approached Bhimasena, uttered furious shouts.
They then spoke not to one another. Encompassing Bhima in that battle, they
began to strike him from all sides. Surrounded by that large body of warriors
on foot and struck by them in that battle, Bhima did not stir from where he
stood fixed like Mainaka mountain. His assailants, meanwhile, filled with rage,
O monarch, endeavoured to afflict that mighty car-warrior of the Pandavas and
checked other combatants (that tried to rescue him). Encountered by those
warriors, Bhima became filled with fury. Quickly alighting from his car, he
proceeded on foot against them. Taking up his massive mace adorned with gold,
he began to slay thy troops like the Destroyer himself armed with his club. The
mighty Bhima, with his mace, crushed those 21,000 foot-soldiers who were
without cars and steeds and elephants. Having slain that strong division,
Bhima, of prowess incapable of being baffled, showed himself with
Dhrishtadyumna in his front. The Dhartarashtra foot-soldiers, thus slain, lay
down on the ground, bathed in blood, like Karnikaras with their flowery
burthens laid low by a tempest. Adorned with garlands made of diverse kinds of
flowers, and decked with diverse kinds of earrings, those combatants of diverse
races, who had hailed from diverse realms, lay down on the field, deprived of
life. Covered with banners and standards, that large host of foot-soldiers,
thus cut down, looked fierce and terrible and awful as they lay down on the
field. The mighty car-warriors, with their followers, that fought under Yudhishthira's
lead, all pursued thy illustrious son Duryodhana. Those great bowmen, beholding
thy troops turn away from the battle, proceeded against Duryodhana, but they
could not transgress him even as the ocean cannot transgress its continents.
The prowess that we then beheld of thy son was exceedingly wonderful, since all
the Parthas, united together, could not transgress his single self. Then
Duryodhana, addressing his own army which had not fled far but which, mangled
with arrows, had set its heart on flight, said these words, "I do not see
the spot on plain or mountain, whither, if ye fly, the Pandavas will not pursue
and slay ye! What is the use then of flight? The army of the Pandavas hath been
reduced in numbers. The two Krishnas are exceedingly mangled. If all of us make
a stand, victory will be certainly ours! If you fly away, losing all order, the
sinful Pandavas, pursuing you will slay you all! If, on the other hand, we make
a stand, good will result to us! Listen, all you Kshatriyas that are assailed
here! When the Destroyer always slays heroes and cowards, what man is there so
stupid that, calling himself a Kshatriya, will not fight? Good will result to
us if we stay in the front of the angry Bhimasena! Death in battle, while
struggling according to Kshatriya practices, is fraught with happiness! Winning
victory, one obtains happiness here. If slain, one obtains great fruits in the
other world! You Kauravas, there is no better path to heaven than that offered
by battle! Slain in battle, you may, without delay, obtain all those regions of
blessedness." Hearing these words of his, and applauding them highly, the
(Kuru) kings once more rushed against the Pandavas for battling with them.
Seeing them advancing with speed, the Parthas, arrayed in order of battle,
skilled in smiting, excited with rage, and inspired with desire of victory,
rushed against them. The valiant Dhananjaya, stretching his bow Gandiva
celebrated over the three worlds, proceeded on his car against the foe. The two
sons of Madri, and Satyaki, rushed against Shakuni, and the other (Pandava)
heroes, smiling, rushed impetuously against thy forces.'"
Book
9
Chapter 20
1 [s]
tasmiṃs tu nihate śūre
śālve samitiśobhane
tavābhajyad balaṃ vegād
vāteneva mahādrumaḥ
2 tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
dadhāra samare śūraḥ śatrusainyaṃ mahābalaḥ
3 saṃnivṛttās tu te śūrā ṛṣṭvā sātvatam āhave
śaulopamaṃ sthitaṃ rājan kīryamāṇaṃ śarair yudhi
4 tatha pravavṛte yuddhaṃ kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
nivṛttānāṃ mahārāja mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā
nivartanam
5 tatrāścaryam abhūd yuddhāṃ sātvatasya paraiḥ saha
yad eko vārayām āsa pāṇḍusenāṃ durāsadām
6 teṣām anyonyasuhṛdāṃ kṛte karmaṇi duṣkare
siṃhanādaḥ prahṛṣṭānāṃ divaḥ spṛk sumahān abhūt
7 tena śabdena vitrastān pāñcālān
bharatarṣabha
śiner naptā mahābāhur anvapadyata sātyakiḥ
8 sa samāsādya rājānaṃ kṣemadhūrtiṃ mahābalam
saptabhir niśitair bāṇair anayad yamasādanam
9 tam āyāntaṃ mahābāhuṃ pravapantaṃ śitāñ śarān
javenābhyapatad dhīmān hārdikyaḥ śinipuṃgavam
10 tau siṃhāv iva nardantau dhanvinau rathināṃ varau
anyonyam abhyadhāvetāṃ
śastrapravara dhāriṇau
11 pāṇḍavāḥ saha pāñcālair yodhāś cānye nṛpottamāḥ
prekṣakāḥ samapadyanta tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ
12 nārācair vatsadantaiś ca vṛṣṇyandhakamahārathau
abhijaghnatur anyonyaṃ prahṛṣṭāv iva kuñjarau
13 carantau vividhān mārgān hārdikya
śinipuṃgavau
muhur antardadhāte tau bāṇavṛṣṭyā parasparam
14 cāpavegabaloddhūtān mārgaṇān vṛṣṇisiṃhayoḥ
ākāśe samapaśyāma pataṃgān iva
śīghragān
15 tam ekaṃ satyakarmāṇam āsādya hṛdikātmajaḥ
avidhyan niśitair bāṇaiś caturbhiś
aturo hayān
16 sa dīrghabāhuḥ saṃkruddhas tottrārdita iva dvipaḥ
aṣṭābhiḥ kṛtavarmāṇam avidhyat parameṣubhiḥ
17 tataḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭaiḥ kṛtavarmā
śilāśitaiḥ
sātyakiṃ tribhir āhatya
dhanur ekana cicchide
18 nikṛttaṃ tad dhanuḥśreṣṭham apāsya śinipuṃgavaḥ
anyad ādatta vegena śaineyaḥ saśaraṃ dhanuḥ
19 tad ādāya dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ variṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanvinām
āropya ca mahāvīryo mahābuddhir mahābalaḥ
20 amṛṣyamāṇo dhanuṣaś chedanaṃ kṛtavarmaṇā
kupito 'tirathaḥ śīghraṃ kṛtavarmāṇam abhyayāt
21 tataḥ suniśitair
bāṇair daśabhiḥ śinipuṃgavaḥ
jaghāna sūtam aśvāṃś ca dhvajaṃ ca kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
22 tato rājan maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
hatāśvasūtaṃ saṃprekṣya rathaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam
23 roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭaḥ śūlam udyamya māriṣa
cikṣepa bhujavegena jighāṃsuḥ śinipuṃgavam
24 tac chūlaṃ sātvato hy ājau nirbhidya niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
cūrṇitaṃ pātayām āsa mohayann iva mādhavam
tato 'pareṇa bhallena hṛdy enaṃ samatāḍayat
25 sa yuddhe yuyudhānena hatāśvo
hatasārathiḥ
kṛtavarmā kṛtāstreṇa dharaṇīm anvapadyata
26 tasmin sātyakinā vīre dvairathe
virathī kṛte
samapadyata sarvepṣāṃ sainyānāṃ sumahad bhayam
27 putrasya tava cātyarthaṃ viṣādaḥ samapadyata
hatasūte hatāśve ca virathe kṛtavarmaṇi
28 hatāśvaṃ ca samālakṣya hatasūtam ariṃdamam
abhyadhāvat kṛpo rājañ jighāṃsuḥ śinipuṃgavam
29 tam āropya rathopasthe miṣatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
apovāha mahābāhus tūrṇam āyodhanād
api
30 śaineye 'dhiṣṭhite rājan virathe kṛtavarmaṇi
duryodhana balaṃ sarvaṃ punar āsīt parāṅmukham
31 tatpare nāvabudhyanta sainyena rajasāvṛte
tāvakāḥ pradrutā rājan duryodhanam ṛte nṛpam
32 duryodhanas tu saṃprekṣya bhagnaṃ svabalam antikāt
javenābhyapatat tūrṇaṃ sarvāṃś caiko nyavārayat
33 pāṇḍūṃś ca sarvān saṃkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam
śikhaṇḍinaṃ draupadeyān pāñcālānāṃ ca ye gaṇāḥ
34 kekayān somakāṃś caiva pāñcālāṃś caiva māriṣa
asaṃbhramaṃ durādharṣaḥ śitair astrair avārayat
35 atiṣṭhad āhave
yattaḥ putras tava mahābalaḥ
yathā yajñe mahān agnir matra pūtaḥ prakāśayan
36 taṃ pare nābhyavartanta
martyā mṛtyum ivāhave
athānyaṃ ratham āsthāya
hārdikyaḥ samapadyata
20
"Sanjaya said, 'After the (Kuru) army had been rallied, Shalva, the
ruler of the Mlecchas, filled with rage, rushed against the large force of the
Pandavas, riding on a gigantic elephant, with secretions issuing from the usual
limbs, looking like a hill, swelling with pride, resembling Airavata himself,
and capable of crushing large bands of foes. Shalva's animal sprung from a high
and noble breed. It was always worshipped by Dhritarashtra's son. It was
properly equipped and properly trained for battle, O king, by persons
well-conversant with elephant-lore. Riding on that elephant, that foremost of
kings looked like the morning sun at the close of summer. Mounting on that
foremost of elephants, O monarch, he proceeded against the Pandavas and began
to pierce them on all sides with keen and terrible shafts that resembled
Indra's thunder in force. While he shot his arrows in that battle and
despatched hostile warriors to Yama's abode, neither the Kauravas nor the
Pandavas could notice any lapses in him, even as the Daityas, O king, could not
notice any in Vasava, the wielder of the thunder, in days of yore, while the
latter was employed in crushing their divisions. The Pandavas, the Somakas, and
the Srinjayas, beheld that elephant looking like a 1,000 elephants careering
around them, even as the foes of the gods had in days of yore beheld the
elephant of Indra in battle. Agitated (by that animal), the hostile army looked
on every side as if deprived of life. Unable to stand in battle, they then fled
away in great fear, crushing one another as they ran. Then the vast host of the
Pandavas, broken by king Salwa, suddenly fled on all sides, unable to endure
the impetuosity of that elephant. Beholding the Pandava host broken and flying
away in speed, all the foremost of warriors of thy army worshipped king Salwa
and blew their conchs white as the moon. Hearing the shouts of the Kauravas
uttered in joy and the blare of their conchs, the commander of the Pandava and
the Srinjaya forces, the Pancala prince (Dhrishtadyumna) could not, from wrath,
endure it. The illustrious Dhrishtadyumna then, with great speed, proceeded for
vanquishing the elephant, even as the Asura Jambha had proceeded against Airavata,
the prince of elephants that Indra rode in the course of his encounter with
Indra. Beholding the ruler of the Pandavas impetuously rushing against him,
Salwa, that lion among kings, quickly urged his elephants, O king, for the
destruction of Drupada's son. The latter, seeing the animal approaching with
precipitancy, pierced it with three foremost of shafts, polished by the hands
of the smith, keen, blazing, endued with fierce energy, and resembling fire
itself in splendour and force. Then that illustrious hero struck the animal at
the frontal globes with five other whetted and foremost of shafts. Pierced
therewith, that prince of elephants, turning away from the battle, ran with
great speed. Salwa, however, suddenly checking that foremost of elephants which
had been exceedingly mangled and forced to retreat, caused it to turn back, and
with hooks and keen lances urged it forward against the car of the Pancala
king, pointing it out to the infuriate animal. Beholding the animal rushing
impetuously at him, the heroic Dhrishtadyumna, taking up a mace, quickly jumped
down on the Earth from his car, his limbs stupefied with fear. That gigantic
elephant, meanwhile, suddenly crushing that gold-decked car with its steeds and
driver, raised it up in the air with his trunk and then dashed it down on the
Earth. Beholding the driver of the Pancala king thus crushed by that foremost
of elephants, Bhima and Shikhandi and the grandson of Sini rushed with great
speed against that animal. With their shafts they speedily checked the
impetuosity of the advancing beast. Thus received by those car-warriors and
checked by them in battle, the elephant began to waver. Meanwhile, king Salwa
began to shoot his shafts like the sun shedding his rays on all sides. Struck
with those shafts, the (Pandava) car-warriors began to fly away. Beholding that
feat of Salwa, the Pancalas, the Srinjayas, and the Matsyas, O king, uttered
loud cries of "Oh!" and "Alas!" in that battle, all those
foremost of men, however, encompassed the animal on all sides. The brave
Pancala king then, taking up his mace which resembled the lofty crest of a
mountain, appeared there. Fearlessly, O king, that hero, that smiter of foes,
rushed with speed against the elephant. Endued with great activity, the prince
of the Pancalas approached and began to strike with his mace that animal which
was huge as a hill and which shed its secretions like a mighty mass of pouring
clouds. Its frontal globes suddenly split open, and it uttered a loud cry; and
vomiting a profuse quantity of blood, the animal, huge as a hill, suddenly fell
down, even as a mountain falling down during an earthquake. While that prince
of elephants was falling down, and while the troops of thy son were uttering
wails of woe at the sight, that foremost of warriors among the Sinis cut off
the head of king Salwa with a sharp and broad-headed arrow. His head having
been cut off by the Satwata hero, Salwa fell down on the Earth along with his
prince of elephants, even like a mountain summit suddenly riven by the thunderbolt
hurled by the chief of the celestials.'"The Mahabharata
Shalya Parva
Book
9
Chapter 21
1 [s]
putras tu te mahārāja rathastho rathināṃ varaḥ
durutsaho babhau yuddhe yathā rudraḥ pratāpavān
2 tasya bāṇasahasrais tu pracchannā hy abhavan mahī
parāṃś ca siṣice bāṇair dhārābhir iva parvatān
3 na ca so 'sti pumān kaśc cin pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāhave
hayo gajo ratho vāpi yo 'sya bāṇair avikṣataḥ
4 yaṃ yaṃ hi samare yodhaṃ prapaśyāmi viśāṃ pate
sa sa bāṇaiś cito 'bhūd vai putreṇa tava bhārata
5 yathā sainyena rajasā
samuddhūtena vāhinī
pratyadṛśyata saṃchannā tathā bāṇair mahātmanaḥ
6 bāṇabhūtām
apaśyāma pṛthivīṃ pṛthivīpate
duryodhanena prakṛtāṃ kṣiprahastena dhanvinā
7 teṣu
yodhasahasreṣu tāvakeṣu pareṣu ca
eko duryodhano hy āsīt pumān iti matir mama
8 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma tava
putrasya vikramam
yad ekaṃ sahitāḥ pārthā nātyavartanta bhārata
9 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ śatenājau vivyādha bharatarṣabha
bhīmasenaṃ ca saptatyā
sahadevaṃ ca saptabhiḥ
10 nakulaṃ ca catuḥṣaṣṭyā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
saptabhir draupadeyāṃś ca tribhir
vivyādha sātyakim
dhanuś ciccheda bhallena sahadevasya māriṣa
11 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ mādrīputraḥ pratāpavān
abhyadhāvata rājānaṃ pragṛhyānyān mahad dhanuḥ
tato duryodhanaṃ saṃkhye vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
12 nakulaś ca tato vīro rājānaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
ghorarūpair maheṣvāso vivyādha ca
nanāda ca
13 sātyakiś cāpi rājānaṃ śareṇānataparvaṇā
draupadeyās trisaptatyā dharmarājaś ca saptabhiḥ
aśītyā bhīmasenaś ca śarai rājānam ārdayat
14 samantāt kīryamāṇas tu bāṇasaṃghair mahātmabhiḥ
na cacāla mahārāja sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
15 lāghavaṃ sauṣṭhavaṃ cāpi vīryaṃ caiva mahātmanaḥ
ati sarvāṇi bhūtāni dadṛśuḥ sarvamānavāḥ
16 dhārtarāṣṭrās tu rājendra yātvā tu svalpam antaram
apaśyamānā rājānaṃ paryavartanta daṃśitāḥ
17 teṣām āpatatāṃ ghoras tumulaḥ samajāyata
kṣubdhasya hi samudrasya prāvṛṭkāle yathā niśi
18 samāsādya raṇe te tu rājānam aparājitam
pratyudyayur maheṣvāsāḥ pāṇḍavān ātatāyinaḥ
19 bhīmasenaṃ raṇe kruddhaṃ droṇaputro nyavārayat
tato bāṇair mahārāja
pramuktaiḥ sarvatodiśam
nājñāyanta raṇe vīrā na diśaḥ pradiśas tathā
20 tāv ubhau krūrakarmāṇāv ubhau bhārata duḥsahau
ghorarūpam ayudhyetāṃ kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau
trāsayantau jagat sarvaṃ jyā kṣepa vihatatvacau
21 śakunis tu raṇe vīro yudhiṣṭhiram apīḍayat
tasyāśvāṃś caturo hatvā
subalasya suto vibhuḥ
nādaṃ cakāra balavān sarvasainyāni
kampayan
22 etasminn antare vīraṃ rājānam aparājitam
apovāha rathenājau sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
23 athānyaṃ ratham
āsthāya dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
śakuniṃ navabhir viddhvā punar vivyādha
pañcabhiḥ
nanāda ca mahānādaṃ pravaraḥ sarvadhanvinām
24 tad yuddham abhavac citraṃ ghorarūpaṃ ca māriṣa
īkṣitṛprītijananaṃ siddhacāraṇasevitam
25 ulūkas tu maheṣvāsaṃ nakulaṃ yuddhadurmadam
abhyadravad ameyātmā śaravarṣaiḥ samantataḥ
26 tathaiva nakulaḥ śūraḥ saubalasya sutaṃ raṇe
śaravarṣeṇa mahatā samantāt paryavārayat
27 tau tatra samare vīrau kulaputrau
mahārathau
yodhayantāv apaśyetāṃ parasparakṛtāgasau
28 tathaiva kṛtavarmā tu śaineyaṃ śatrutāpanam
yodhayañ śuśubhe rājan balaṃ śakra ivāhave
29 duryodhano dhanuś chittvā dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge
athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
30 dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi samare
pragṛhya paramāyudham
rājānaṃ yodhayām āsa paśyatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
31 tayor yuddhaṃ mahac cāsīt saṃgrāme bharatarṣabha
prabhinnayor yathā saktaṃ mattayor
varahastinoḥ
32 gautamas tu raṇe kruddho draupadeyān mahābalān
vivyādha bahubhiḥ śūraḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
33 tasya tair abhavad yuddham indriyair
iva dehinaḥ
ghora rūpam asaṃvāryaṃ nirmaryādam atīva ca
34 te ca taṃ pīḍayām āsur indriyāṇīva bāliśam
sa ca tān pratisaṃrabdhaḥ pratyayodhayad āhave
35 evaṃ citram abhūd
yuddhaṃ tasya taiḥ saha bhārata
utthāyotthāya hi yathā dehinām indriyair vibho
36 narāś caiva naraiḥ sārdhaṃ dantino dantibhis tathā
hayā hayaiḥ samāsaktā rathino
rathibhis tathā
saṃkulaṃ cābhavad bhūyo ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate
37 idaṃ citram idaṃ ghoram idaṃ raudram iti prabho
yuddhāny āsna mahārāja ghorāṇi ca bahūni ca
38 te samāsādya samare parasparam ariṃdamāḥ
vivyadhuś caiva jaghnuś ca samāsādya mahāhave
39 teṣāṃ śatra samudbhūtaṃ rajas tīvram adṛśyata
pravātenoddhataṃ rājan dhāvadbhiś
cāśvasādibhiḥ
40 rathanemi samudbhūtaṃ niḥśvāsaiś cāpidantinām
rajaḥ saṃdhyābhrakapilaṃ divākarapathaṃ yayau
41 rajasā tena saṃpṛkte bhāskare niṣprabhī kṛte
saṃchāditābhavad bhūmiste ca śūrā
mahārathāḥ
42 muhūrtād iva saṃvṛttaṃ nīrajaskaṃ samantatha
vīra śoṇitasiktāyāṃ bhūmau bharatasattama
upāśāmyat tatas tīvraṃ tad rajo
ghoradarśanam
43 tato 'paśyaṃ mahārāja dvaṃdva yuddhāni bhārata
yathā pragryaṃ yathā jyeṣṭhaṃ madhyāhne vai sudāruṇe
varmaṇāṃ tatra
rājendra vyadṛśyantojjvalāḥ prabhāḥ
44 śabdaḥ sutumulaḥ saṃkhye śarāṇāṃ patatām abhūt
mahāveṇuvanasyeva dahyamānasya sarvataḥ
21
"Sanjaya said, 'After the heroic Salwa, that ornament of assemblies, had
been slain, thy army speedily broke like a mighty tree broken by the force of
the tempest. Beholding the army broken, the mighty car-warrior Kritavarma,
possessed by heroism and great strength, resisted the hostile force in that
battle. Seeing the Satwata hero, O king, standing in battle like a hill pierced
with arrows (by the foes), the Kuru heroes, who had fled away, rallied and came
back. Then, O monarch, a battle took place between the Pandavas and the
returned Kurus who made death itself their goal. Wonderful was that fierce
encounter which occurred between the Satwata hero and his foes, since he
resisted the invincible army of the Pandavas. When friends were seen to
accomplish the most difficult feats, friends, filled with delight, uttered
leonine shouts that seemed to reach the very heavens. At those sounds the
Pancalas, O bull of Bharata's race, became inspired with fear. Then Satyaki,
the grandson of Sini, approached that spot. Approaching king Kshemakirti of
great strength, Satyaki despatched him to Yama's abode, with seven keen shafts.
Then the son of Hridika, of great intelligence, rushed with speed against that
bull of Sini's race, that mighty armed warrior, as the latter came, shooting
his whetted shafts. Those two bowmen, those two foremost of car-warriors,
roared like lions and encountered each other with great force, both being armed
with foremost of weapons. The Pandavas, the Pancalas, and the other warriors,
became spectators of that terrible encounter between the two heroes. Those two
heroes of the Vrishni-Andhaka race, like two elephants filled with delight,
struck each other with long arrows and shafts equipped with calf-toothed heads.
Careering in diverse kinds of tracks, the son of Hridika and that bull of
Sini's race soon afflicted each other with showers of arrows. The shafts sped
with great force from the bows of the two Vrishni lions were seen by us in the
welkin to resemble flights of swiftly coursing insects. Then the son of
Hridika, approaching Satyaki of true prowess, pierced the four steeds of the
latter with four keen shafts. The long-armed Satyaki, enraged at this, like an
elephant struck with a lance, pierced Kritavarma with eight foremost of arrows.
Then Kritavarma pierced Satyaki with three arrows whetted on stone and sped from
his bow drawn to its fullest and then cut off his bow with another arrow.
Laying aside his broken bow, that bull of Sini's race quickly took up another
with arrow fixed on it. Having taken up that foremost of bows and stringed it,
that foremost of all bowmen, that Atiratha of mighty energy and great
intelligence and great strength, unable to endure the cutting of his bow by
Kritavarma, and filled with fury, quickly rushed against the latter. With ten
keen shafts that bull of Sini's race then struck the driver, the steeds, and
the standard of Kritavarma. At this, O king, the great bowman and mighty
car-warrior Kritavarma, beholding his gold-decked car made driverless and
steedless, became filled with rage. Uplifting a pointed lance, O sire, he
hurled it with all the force of his arm at that bull of Sini's race, desirous
of slaying him. Satyaki, however, of the Satwata race, striking that lance with
many keen arrows, cut it off into fragments and caused it to fall down,
stupefying Kritavarma of Madhu's race (with his activity and prowess). With
another broad-headed arrow he then struck Kritavarma in the chest. Made
steedless and driverless in that battle by Yuyudhana, skilled in weapons,
Kritavarma came down on the Earth. The heroic Kritavarma having been deprived
of his car by Satyaki in that single combat, all the (Kaurava) troops became
filled with great fear. A great sorrow afflicted the heart of thy sons, when
Kritavarma was thus made steedless and driverless and carless. Beholding that
chastiser of foes made steedless and driverless, Kripa, O king, rushed at that
bull of Sini's race, desirous of despatching him to Yama's abode. Taking
Kritavarma upon his car in the very sight of all the bowmen, the mighty-armed
Kripa bore him away from the press of battle. After Kritavarma had been made
carless and the grandson of Sini had become powerful on the field, the whole
army of Duryodhana once more turned away from the fight. The enemy, however,
did not see it, for the (Kuru) army was then shrouded with a dusty cloud. All
thy warriors fled, O monarch, except king Duryodhana. The latter, beholding
from a near point that his own army was routed, quickly rushing, assailed the
victorious enemy, alone resisting them all. Fearlessly that invincible warrior,
filled with rage, assailed with keen arrows all the Pandus, and Dhrishtadyumna
the son of Prishta, and Shikhandi, and the sons of Draupadi, and the large
bands of the Pancalas, and the Kaikeyas, O sire, and the Somakas! With firm
determination thy mighty son stood in battle, even as a blazing and mighty fire
on the sacrificial platform, sanctified with mantras. Even thus, king
Duryodhana careered all over the field, in that battle. His foes could not
approach him then, like living creatures unable to approach the Destroyer. Then
the son of Hridika came there, riding on another car.
Book
9
Chapter 22
1 [s]
vartamāne tathā yuddhe ghorarūpe bhayānake
abhajyata balaṃ tatra tava
putrasya pāṇḍavaiḥ
2 tāṃs tu yatnena
mahatā saṃnivārya mahārathān
putras te yodhayām āsa pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
3 nivṛttāḥ sahasā yodhās tava putra priyaiṣiṇaḥ
saṃnivṛtteṣu teṣv evaṃ yuddham āsīt sudāruṇam
4 tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca devāsuraraṇopamam
pareṣāṃ tava sainye ca nāsīt kaś cit parāṅmukhaḥ
5 anumānena yudhyante saṃjñābhiś ca parasparam
teṣāṃ kṣayo mahān āsīd yudhyatām itaretaram
6 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā krodhena mahatā yutaḥ
jigīṣamāṇaḥ saṃgrāme dhārtarāṣṭrān sarājakān
7 tribhiḥ śāradvataṃ viddhvā rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
caturbhir nijaghānāśvān kalyāṇān kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
8 aśvatthāmā tu hārdikyam apovāha
yaśasvinam
atha śāradvato 'ṣṭābhiḥ pratyavidhyad yudhiṣṭhiram
9 tato duryodhano rājā rathān
saptaśatān raṇe
preṣayad yatra rājāsau
dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
10 te rathā rathibhir yuktā
manomārutaraṃhasaḥ
abhyadravanta saṃgrāme kaunteyasya
rathaṃ prati
11 te samantān mahārāja parivārya yudhiṣṭhiram
adṛśyaṃ sāyakaiś cakrur meghā iva divākaram
12 nāmṛṣyanta susaṃrabdhāḥ śikhaṇḍipramukhā rathāḥ
rathair agryajavair yuktaiḥ kiṅkiṇījālasaṃvṛtaiḥ
ājagmur abhirakṣantaḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
13 tathā pravavṛte raudraḥ saṃgrāmaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ
pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca yama rāṣṭravivardhanaḥ
14 rathān saptaśatān hatvā kurūṇām ātatāyinām
pāṇḍavāḥ saha pāñcālaiḥ punar evābhyavārayan
15 tatra yuddhaṃ mahac cāsīt tava putrasya pāṇḍavaiḥ
na ca nas tādṛśaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ naiva cāpi pariśrutam
16 vartamāne tathā yuddhe nirmaryāde
samantataḥ
vadhyamāneṣu yodheṣu tāvakeṣv itareṣu ca
17 ninadatsu ca yodheṣu śaṅkhavaryaiś ca pūritaiḥ
utkṛṣṭaiḥ siṃhanādaiś ca garjitena ca dhanvinām
18 atipravṛddhe yuddhe
ca chidyamāneṣu marmasu
dhāvamāneṣu yodheṣu jaya gṛddhiṣu māriṣa
19 saṃhāre sarvato jāte pṛthivyāṃ śokasaṃbhave
bahvīnām uttamastrīṇāṃ sīmantoddharaṇe tathā
20 nirmaryāde tathā yuddhe vartamāne
sudāruṇe
prādurāsan vināśāya tadotpātāḥ sudāruṇāḥ
cacāla śabdaṃ kurvāṇā saparvatavanā mahī
21 sadaṇḍāḥ solmukā rājañ śīryamāṇāḥ samantataḥ
ulkāḥ petur divo bhūmāv āhatya ravimaṇḍalam
22 viṣvag vātāḥ prādurāsan nīcaiḥ śarkara varṣiṇaḥ
aśrūṇi mumucur nāgā vepathuś cāspṛśad bhṛśam
23 etān ghorān anādṛtya samutpātān sudāruṇān
punar yuddhāya saṃmantrya kṣatriyās tasthur avyathāḥ
ramaṇīye kurukṣetre puṇye svargaṃ yiyāsavaḥ
24 tato gāndhārarājasya putraḥ śakunir abravīt
yudhyadhvam agrato yāvat pṛṣṭhato hanmi pāṇḍavān
25 tato naḥ saṃprayātānāṃ madrayodhās tarasvinaḥ
hṛṣṭāḥ kilakilā śabdam akurvantāpare tathā
26 asmāṃs tu punar
āsādya labdhalakṣā durāsadāḥ
śarāsanāni dhunvantaḥ śaravarṣair avākiran
27 tato hataṃ parais tatra madrarājabalaṃ tadā
duryodhana balaṃ dṛṣṭvā punar āsīt parāṅmukham
28 gāndhārarājas tu punar vākyam āha
tato balī
nivartadhvam adharmajñā yudhyadhvaṃ kiṃ sṛtena vaḥ
29 anīkaṃ daśasāhasram
aśvānāṃ bharatarṣabha
āsīd gāndhārarājasya vimalaprāsayodhinām
30 balena tena vikramya vartamāne janakṣaye
pṛṣṭhataḥ pāṇḍavānīkam abhyaghnan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
31 tad abhram iva vātena kṣipyamāṇaṃ samantataḥ
abhajyata mahārāja pāṇḍūnāṃ sumahad balam
32 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prekṣya bhagnaṃ svabalam antikāt
abhyacodayad avyagraḥ sahadevaṃ mahābalam
33 asau subala putro no jaghanaṃ pīḍya daṃśitaḥ
senāṃ nisūdayanty eṣa paśya pāṇḍava durmatim
34 gaccha tvaṃ draupadeyāś ca śakuniṃ saubalaṃ jahi
rathānīkam ahaṃ rakṣye pāñcāla sahito 'nagha
35 gacchantu kuñjarāḥ sarve vājinaś ca saha tvayā
pādātāś ca trisāhasrāḥ śakuniṃ saubalaṃ jahi
36 tato gajāḥ saptaśatāś cāpapāṇibhir āsthitāḥ
pañca cāśvasahasrāṇi sahadevaś ca
vīryavān
37 pādātāś ca trisāhasrā draupadeyāś ca
sarvaśaḥ
raṇe hy abhyadravaṃs te tu śakuniṃ yuddhadurmadam
38 tatas tu saubalo rājann
abbhyatikramya pāṇḍavān
jaghāna pṛṣṭhataḥ senāṃ jaya ghṛdhraḥ pratāpavān
39 aśvārohās tu saṃrabdhāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ tarasvinām
prāviśan saubalānīkam abhyatikramya tān rathān
40 te tatra sadinaḥ śūrāḥ saubalasya mahad balam
gamamadhye 'vatiṣṭhantaḥ śaravarṣair avākiran
41 tad udyatagadā prāsam akāpuruṣa sevitam
prāvartata mahad yuddhaṃ rājan
durmantrite tava
42 upāramanta jyāśabdāḥ prekṣakā rathino 'bhavan
na hi sveṣāṃ pareṣāṃ vā viśeṣaḥ pratyadṛśyata
43 śūra bāhuvisṛṣṭānāṃ śaktīnāṃ bharatarṣabha
jyotiṣām iva saṃpātam apaśyan kurupāṇḍavāḥ
44 ṛṣṭibhir vimalāhiś ca
tatra tatra viśāṃ pate
saṃpatantībhir ākāśam āvṛtaṃ bahv aśobhata
45 prāsānāmpatatāṃ rājan rūpam āsīt samantataḥ
śalabhānām ivākāśe tadā bharatasattama
46 rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgā vipraviddhair niyantṛbhiḥ
hayāḥ paripatanti sma śataśo 'tha
sahasraśaḥ
47 anyonyaparipiṣṭāś ca samāsādya parasparam
avikṣatāḥ sma dṛśyante vamanto rudhiraṃ mukhaiḥ
48 tato 'bhavat tamo ghoraṃ sainyena rajasā vṛte
tān apākramato 'drākṣaṃ tasmād deśād ariṃdamān
aśvān rājan manuṣyāṃś ca rajasā saṃvṛte sati
49 bhūmau nipatitāś cānye vamanto
rudhiraṃ bahu
keśā keśi samālagnā na śekuś ceṣṭituṃ janāḥ
50 anyonyam aśvapṛṣṭhebhyo vikarṣanto mahābalāḥ
mallā iva samāsādya nijaghnur itaretaram
aśvaiś ca vyapakṛṣyanta vahavo 'tra
gatāsavaḥ
51 bhūmau nipatitaś cānye bahavo vijayaiṣiṇaḥ
tatra tatra vyadṛśyanta puruṣāḥ śūramāninaḥ
52 raktokṣitaiś
chinnabhujair apakṛṣṭa śiroruhaiḥ
vyadṛśyata mahī kīrṇā śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
53 dūraṃ na śakyaṃ tatrāsīd gantum aśvena kena cit
sāśvārohair hatair aśvair āvṛte vasudhātale
54 rudhirokṣita saṃnāhair āttaśastrair udāyudhaiḥ
nānāpraharaṇair ghoraiḥ parasparavadhaiṣibhiḥ
susaṃnikṛṣṭaiḥ saṃgrāme hatabhūyiṣṭha sainikaiḥ
55 sa muhūrtaṃ tato yuddhvā saubalo 'tha viśāṃ pate
ṣaṭ sahasrair hayaiḥ śiṣṭair apāyāc chakunis tataḥ
56 tathaiva pāṇḍavānīkaṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam
ṣaṭ sahasrair hayaiḥ śiṣṭair apāyāc chrāntavāhanam
57 aśvārohās tu pāṇḍūnām abruvan rudhirokṣitāḥ
susaṃnikṛṣṭāḥ saṃgrāme bhūyiṣṭhaṃ tyaktajīvitāḥ
58 neha śakyaṃ rathair yoddhuṃ kuta eva mahāgajaiḥ
rathanaiva rathā yāntu kuñjarāḥ kuñjarān api
59 pratiyāto hi śakuniḥ svam anīkam avasthitaḥ
na punaḥ saubalo rājā
yuddham abhyāgamiṣyati
60 tatas tu draupadeyāś ca te ca mattā
mahādvipāḥ
prayayur yatra pāñcālyo dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
61 sahadevo 'pi kauravya rajomeghe
samutthite
ekākī prayayau tatra yatra rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
62 tatas teṣu prayāteṣu śakuniḥ saubalaḥ punaḥ
pārśvato 'bhyahanat kruddho dhṛṣṭadyumnasya vāhinīm
63 tat punas tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ prāṇāṃs
tyaktvābhyavartata
tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca parasparavadhaiṣiṇām
64 te hy anyonyam avekṣanta tasmin vīra samāgame
yodhāḥ paryapatan rājañ śataśo 'tha
sahasraśaḥ
65 asibhiś chidyamānānāṃ śirasāṃ lokasaṃkṣaye
prādurāsīn mahāśabdas tālānāṃ patatām iva
66 vimuktānāṃ śarīrāṇāṃ bhinnānāṃ patatāṃ bhuvi
sāyudhānāṃ ca bāhūnām urūṇāṃ ca viśāṃ pate
āsīt kaṭakaṭā śabdaḥ sumahāṁl lomaharṣaṇaḥ
67 nighnanto niśitaiḥ śastrair bhrātṝn putrān sakhīn api
yodhāḥ paripatanti sma yathāmiṣa kṛte khagāḥ
68 anyonyaṃ pratisaṃrabdhāḥ samāsādya parasparam
ahaṃ pūrvam ahaṃ pūrvam iti nyaghnan sahasraśaḥ
69 saṃghātair āsanabhraṣṭair aśvārohair gatāsubhiḥ
hayāḥ paripatanti sma śataśo 'tha
sahasraśaḥ
70 sphuratāṃ pratipiṣṭānām aśvānāṃ śīghrasāriṇām
stanatāṃ ca manuṣyāṇāṃ saṃnaddhānāṃ viśāṃ pate
71 śaktyṛṣṭi
prāsaśabdaś ca tumulaḥ samajāyata
bhindatāṃ paramarmāṇi rājan durmantrite tava
72 śramābhibhūtāḥ saṃrabdhāḥ śrāntavāhāḥ pipāsitāḥ
vikṣatāś ca śitaiḥ śastrair abhyavartanta tāvakāḥ
73 mattā rudhiragandhena bahavo 'tra
vicetasaḥ
jaghnuḥ parān svakāṃś caiva prāptān prāptān anantarān
74 bahavaś ca gataprāṇāḥ kṣatriyā jaya gṛddhinaḥ
bhūmāv abhyapatan rājañ śaravṛṣṭibhir āvṛtāḥ
75 vṛkagṛdhraśṛgālānāṃ tumule modane 'hani
āsīd balakṣayo ghoras tava
putrasya paśyataḥ
76 nar aśvakāyasaṃchannā bhūmir āsīd viśāṃ pate
rudhiraudaka citrā ca bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhinī
77 asibhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūrais takṣamāṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ
tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva nābhyavartanta bhārata
78 praharanto yathāśakti yāvat prāṇasya dhāraṇam
yodhāḥ paripatanti sma vamanto rudhiraṃ vraṇaiḥ
79 śiro gṛhītvā keśeṣu kabandhaḥ samadṛśyata
udyamya niśitaṃ khaḍgaṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam
80 athotthiteṣu bahuṣu kabandheṣu janādhipa
tathā rudhiragandhena yodhāḥ kaśmalam āviśan
81 mandī bhūte tataḥ śabde pāṇḍavānāṃ mahad balam
alpāvaśiṣṭais turagair
abhyavartata saubalaḥ
82 tato 'bhyadhāvaṃs tvaritāḥ pāṇḍavā jaya gṛddhinaḥ
padātayaś ca nāgāś ca sādinaś codyatāyudhāḥ
83 koṣṭakī kṛtyacāpy enaṃ parikṣipya ca sarvaśaḥ
śastrair nānāvidhair jaghnur yuddhapāraṃ titīrṣavaḥ
84 tvadīyās tāṃs tu saṃprekṣya sarvataḥ samabhidrutān
sāśvapattidviparathāḥ pāṇḍavān abhidudruvuḥ
85 ke cit padātayaḥ padbhir muṣṭibhiś ca parasparam
nijaghnuḥ samare śūrāḥ kṣīṇaśastrās tato 'patan
86 rathebhyo rathinaḥ petur dvipebhyo hastisādinaḥ
vimānebhya iva bhraṣṭāḥ siddhāḥ puṇyakṣayād yathā
87 evam anyonyam āyastā yodhā jaghnur
mahāmṛdhe
pitṝn bhrātṝn vayasyāṃś ca putrān api tathāpare
88 evam āsīd amaryādaṃ yuddhaṃ bharatasattama
prāsāsibāṇakalile vartamāne
sudāruṇe
22
"Sanjaya said, 'That foremost of car-warriors, O monarch, thy son,
riding on his car and filled with the courage of despair, looked resplendent in
that battle like Rudra himself of great valour. With the thousands of shafts
shot by him, the Earth became completely covered. Indeed, he drenched his
enemies with showers of arrows like the clouds pouring rain on mountain
breasts. There was then not a man amongst the Pandavas in that great battle, or
a steed, or an elephant, or a car, that was not struck with Duryodhana's
arrows. Upon whomsoever amongst the warriors I then cast my eyes, O monarch, I
beheld that every one, O Bharata, was struck by thy son with his arrows. The
Pandava army was then covered with the shafts of that illustrious warrior, even
as a host is covered with the dust it raises while marching or rushing to
battle. The Earth then, O lord of Earth, seemed to me to be made one entire
expanse of arrows by thy son Duryodhana, that bowman possessed of great
lightness of hands. Amongst those thousands upon thousands of warriors on the
field, belonging to thy side or that of the enemy, it seemed to me that
Duryodhana was then the only man. The prowess that we then beheld of thy son seemed
to be exceedingly wonderful, since the Parthas, even uniting together, could
not approach his single self. He pierced Yudhishthira, O bull of Bharata's
race, with a hundred arrows, and Bhimasena with seventy, and Sahadeva with
seven. And he pierced Nakula with four and sixty, and Dhrishtadyumna with five,
and the sons of Draupadi with seven, and Satyaki with three arrows. With a
broad-headed arrow, he then, O sire, cut off the bow of Sahadeva. Laying aside
that broken bow, the valiant son of Madri, took up another formidable bow, and
rushing against king Duryodhana, pierced him with ten shafts in that battle.
The great bowman Nakula, possessed of courage, then pierced the king with nine
terrible arrows and uttered a loud roar. Satyaki struck the king with a single
straight shaft; the sons of Draupadi struck him with three and seventy and king
Yudhishthira struck him with five. And Bhimasena afflicted the king with eighty
shafts. Though pierced thus from every side with numerous arrows by these
illustrious warriors, Duryodhana still, O monarch, did not waver, in the
presence of all the troops who stood there as spectators. The quickness, the
skill, and the prowess of that illustrious warrior were seen by all the men
there to exceed those of every creature. Meanwhile the Dhartarashtras, O
monarch, who had not fled far from that spot, beholding the king, rallied and
returned there, clad in mail. The noise made by them when they came back became
exceedingly awful, like the roar of the surging ocean in the season of rains.
Approaching their unvanquished king in that battle, those great bowmen
proceeded against the Pandavas for fight. The son of Drona resisted in that
battle the angry Bhimasena. With the arrows, O monarch, that were shot in that
battle, all the points of the compass became completely shrouded, so that the
brave combatants could not distinguish the cardinal from the subsidiary points
of the compass. As regards Ashvatthama and Bhimasena, O Bharata, both of them
were achievers of cruel feats. Both of them were irresistible in battle. The
arms of both contained many cicatrices in consequence of both having repeatedly
drawn the bow-string. Counteracting each other's feats, they continued to fight
with each other, frightening the whole Universe. The heroic Shakuni assailed
Yudhishthira in that battle. The mighty son of Subala, having slain the four
steeds of the king, uttered a loud roar, causing all the troops to tremble with
fear. Meanwhile, the valiant Sahadeva bore away the heroic and vanquished king
on his car from that battle. Then king Yudhishthira the just, riding upon
another car (came back to battle), and having pierced Shakuni at first with
nine arrows, once more pierced him with five. And that foremost of all bowmen
then uttered a loud roar. That battle, O sire, awful as it was, became
wonderful to behold. It filled the spectators with delight and was applauded by
the Siddhas and the Charanas. Uluka of immeasurable soul rushed against the
mighty bowman Nakula, in that battle, shooting showers of arrows from every
side. The heroic Nakula, however, in that battle, resisted the son of Shakuni
with a thick shower of arrows from every side. Both those heroes were well-born
and both were mighty car-warriors. They were seen to fight with each other, each
highly enraged with the other. Similarly Kritavarma, O king, fighting with the
grandson of Sini, that scorcher of foes, looked resplendent, like Shakra
battling with the Asura Vala. Duryodhana, having cut off Dhrishtadyumna's bow
in that battle, pierced his bowless antagonist with keen shafts. Dhrishtadyumna
then, in that encounter, having taken up a formidable bow, fought with the king
in the sight of all the bowmen. The battle between those two heroes became
exceedingly fierce, O bull of Bharata's race, like the encounter between two
wild and infuriate elephants with juicy secretions trickling down their limbs.
The heroic Gautama, excited with rage in that battle, pierced the mighty sons
of Draupadi with many straight shafts. The battle that took place between him
and those five, resembled that which takes place between an embodied being and
his (five) senses. It was awful and exceedingly fierce, and neither side showed
any consideration for the other. The (five) sons of Draupadi afflicted Kripa
like the (five) senses afflicting a foolish man. He, on the other hand,
fighting with them, controlled them with vigour. Even such and so wonderful, O
Bharata, was that battle between him and them. It resembled the repeated
combats, O lord, between embodied creatures and their senses. Men fought with
men, elephants with elephants, steeds with steeds and car-warriors with
car-warriors. Once more, O monarch, that battle became general and awful. Here
an encounter was beautiful, there another was awful, and there another was
exceedingly fierce, O lord! Many and awful, O monarch, were the encounters that
took place in course of that battle. Those chastisers of foes (belonging to
both armies), encountering one another, pierced and slew one another in that
dreadful engagement. A dense cloud of dust was then seen there, raised by the
vehicles and the animals of the warriors. Thick also, O king, was the dust
raised by the running steeds, a dust that was carried from one place to another
by the wind. Raised by the wheels of cars and the breaths of the elephants, the
dust, thick as an evening cloud, rose into the welkin. That dust having been
raised and the sun himself having been dimmed therewith, the Earth became
shrouded, and the heroic and mighty car-warriors could not be seen. Anon that
disappeared and everything became clear when the Earth, O best of the Bharatas,
became drenched with the blood of heroes. Indeed, that dense and awful cloud of
dust was allayed. Then, O Bharata, I could once more see the diverse single combats
that the combatants fought at noon of day, each according to his strength and
his rank, all of which were exceedingly fierce. The blazing splendour of those
feats, O monarch, appeared full in view. Loud became the noise of falling
shafts in that battle, resembling that made by a vast forest of bamboo while
burning on every side.'"
Book
9
Chapter 23
1 [s]
tasmiñ śabde mṛdau jāte pāṇḍavair nihate bale
aśvaiḥ saptaśataiḥ śiṣṭair upāvartata saubalaḥ
2 sa yātvā vāhinīṃ tūrṇam abravīt tvarayan yudhi
yudhyadhvam iti saṃhṛṣṭāḥ punaḥ punar ariṃdamaḥ
apṛcchat kṣatriyāṃs tatra kva nu rājā mahārathaḥ
3 śakunes tu vacaḥ śrutvā ta ūcur bharatarṣabha
asau tiṣṭhati kauravyo raṇamadhye mahārathaḥ
4 yatraitat sumahac chastraṃ pūrṇacandra samaprabham
yatraite satala trāṇā rathās tiṣṭhanti daṃśitāḥ
5 yatraiṣa śabdas tumulaḥ parjanyaninadopamaḥ
tatra gaccha drutaṃ rājaṃs tato drakṣyasi kauravam
6 evam uktas tu taiḥ śūraiḥ śakuniḥ saubalas tadā
prayayau tatra yatrāsau putras tava narādhipa
sarvataḥ saṃvṛto vīraiḥ samareṣv anivartibhiḥ
7 tato duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā rathānīke vyavasthitam
sarathāṃs tāvakān sarvān harṣayañ śakunis tataḥ
8 duryodhanam idaṃ vākyaṃ hṛṣṭarūpo viśāṃ pate
kṛtakāryam ivātmānaṃ manyamāno 'bravīn nṛpam
9 jahi rājan rathānīkam aśvāḥ sarve jitā mayā
nātyaktvā jīvitaṃ saṃkhye śakyo jetuṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
10 hate tasmin rathānīke pāṇḍavenābhipālite
gajān etān haniṣyāmaḥ padātīṃś cetarāṃs tathā
11 śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya tāvakā jayagṛddhinaḥ
javenābhyapatan hṛṣṭāḥ pāṇaḍvānām anīkinīm
12 sarve vivṛtatūṇīrāḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ
śarāsanāni dhunvānāḥ siṃhanādaṃ pracakrire
13 tato jyātalanirghoṣaḥ punar āsīd viśāṃ pate
prādurāsīc charāṇāṃ ca sumuktānāṃ sudāruṇaḥ
14 tān samīpagatān dṛṣṭvā javenodyata kārmukān
uvāca devakīputraṃ kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
15 codayāśvān asaṃbhrāntaḥ praviśaitad balārṇavam
antam adya gamiṣyāmi śatrūṇāṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
16 aṣṭādaśa dināny adya
yuddhasyāsya janārdana
vartamānasya mahataḥ samāsadya
parasparam
17 ananta kalpā dhvajinī bhūtvā hy eṣāṃ mahātmanām
kṣayam adya gatā yuddhe paśya
daivaṃ yathāvidham
18 samudrakalpaṃ tu balaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya mādhava
asmān āsādya saṃjātma goṣpadopamam acyuta
19 hate bhīṣme ca saṃdadhyāc chivaṃ syād iha mādhava
na ca tat kṛtavān mūḍho dhārtarāṣṭraḥ subāliśaḥ
20 uktaṃ bhīṣmeṇa yad vākyaṃ hitaṃ pathyaṃ ca mādhava
tac cāpi nāsau kṛtavān vītabuddhiḥ suyodhanaḥ
21 tasmiṃs tu patite
bhīṣme pracyute pṛthivītale
na jāne kāraṇaṃ kiṃ nu yena yuddham avartata
22 mūḍhāṃs tu sarvathā manye dhārtarāṣṭrān subāliśān
patite śaṃtanoḥ putre ye 'kārṣuḥ saṃyugaṃ punaḥ
23 anantaraṃ ca nihate droṇe brahma vidāṃ vare
rādheye ca vikarṇe ca naivāśāmyata
vaiśasam
24 alpāvaśiṣṭe sainye 'smin sūtaputre ca pātite
saputre vai naravyāghre naivāśāmyata vaiśasam
25 śrutāyuṣi hate śūre
jalasaṃdhe ca paurave
śrutāyudhe ca nṛpatau naivāśāmyata
vaiśasam
26 bhūriśravasi śalye ca śālve caiva
janārdana
āvantyeṣu ca vīreṣu naivāśāmyata vaiśasam
27 jayadrathe ca nihate rākṣase cāpy alāyudhe
bāhlike somadatte ca naivāśāmyata vaiśasam
28 bhagadatte hate śūre kāmboje ca sudakṣiṇe
duḥśāsane ca nihate naivāśāmyata
vaiśasam
29 dṛṣṭvā ca nihatāñ
śūrān pṛthan māṇḍalikān nṛpān
balinaś ca raṇe kṛṣṇa naivāśāmyata vaiśasam
30 akṣauhiṇīpatīn dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena pātitān
mohād vā yadi vā lobhān naivāśāmyata vaiśasam
31 ko nu rājakule jātaḥ kauraveyo viśeṣataḥ
nirarthakaṃ mahad vairaṃ kuryād anyaḥ suyodhanāt
32 guṇato 'bhyadhikaṃ jñatvā balataḥ śauryato 'pi vā
amūḍhaḥ ko nu
yudhyeta janān prājño hitāhitam
33 yan na tasya mano hy āsīt tvayoktasya
hitaṃ vacaḥ
praśame pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ so 'nyasya śṛṇuyāt katham
34 yena śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo droṇo vidura eva ca
pratyākhyātāḥ śamasyārthe kiṃ nu tasyādya bheṣajam
35 maurkhyādyena pitā vṛddhaḥ pratyākhyāto janārdana
tathā mātā hitaṃ vākyaṃ bhāṣamāṇā hitaiṣiṇī
pratyākhyātā hy asatkṛtya sa kasmai
rocayed vacaḥ
36 kulāntaka raṇo vyaktaṃ jāta eṣa janārdana
tathāsya dṛśyate ceṣṭā nītiś caiva viśāṃ pate
naiṣa dāsyati no rājyam iti me matir
acyuta
37 ukto 'haṃ bahuśas tāta vidureṇa mahātmanā
na jīvan dāsyate bhāgaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraḥ kathaṃ cana
38 yāvat prāṇā dhamiṣyanti dhārtarāṣṭrasya mānada
tāvad yuṣmāsv apāpeṣu pracariṣyati pātakam
39 na sa yukto 'nyathā jetum ṛte vṛddhena mādhava
ity abravīt sadā māṃ hi viduraḥ satyadarśanaḥ
40 tat sarvam adya jānāmi vyavasāyaṃ durātmanaḥ
yad uktaṃ vacanaṃ tena vidureṇa mahātmanā
41 yo hi śrutvā vacaḥ pathyaṃ jāmadagnyād yathātatham
avāmanyata durbuddhir dhruvaṃ nāśa mukhe sthitaḥ
42 uktaṃ hi bahubhiḥ siddhair jātamātre suyodhane
enaṃ prāpya durātmānaṃ kṣayaṃ kṣatraṃ gamiṣyati
43 tad idaṃ vacanaṃ teṣāṃ niruktaṃ vai janārdana
kṣayaṃ yātā hi rājāno duryodhanakṛte bhṛśam
44 so 'dya sarvān raṇe yodhān nihaniṣyāmi mādhava
kṣatriyeṣu hateṣv āśu śūnye ca śibire kṛte
45 vadhāya cātmano 'smābhiḥ saṃyugaṃ rocayiṣyati
tad antaṃ hi bhaved vairam
anumānena mādhava
46 evaṃ paśyāmi vārṣṇeya cintayan prajñayā svayā
vidurasya ca vākyena ceṣṭayā ca
durātmanaḥ
47 saṃyāhi bharatīṃ vīra yāvaddhanmi śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
duryodhanaṃ durātmānaṃ vāhinīṃ cāsya saṃyuge
48 kṣemam adya kariṣyāmi dharmarājasya mādhava
hatvaitad durbalaṃ sainyaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya paśyataḥ
49 [s]
abhīśu hasto dāśārhas tathoktaḥ savyasācinā
tad balaugham amitrāṇām abhītaḥ prāviśad raṇe
50 śarāsanavaraṃ ghoraṃ śaktikaṇṭaka saṃvṛtam
gadāparighapanthānaṃ rathanāgamahādrumam
51 hayapattilatākīrṇaṃ gāhamāno mahāyaśāḥ
vyaccarat tatra govindo rathenātipatākinā
52 te hayāḥ pāṇḍurā rājan vahanto 'rjunam āhave
diṣku sarvāsv adṛśyanta dāśārheṇa pracoditāḥ
53 tataḥ prāyād
rathenājau savyasācī paraṃtapaḥ
kirañ śaraśatāṃs tīkṣṇān vāridhārā ivāmbudaḥ
54 prādurāsīn mahāñ śabdaḥ śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
iṣubhiś chādyamānānāṃ samare savyasācinā
55 asajjantas tanutreṣu śaraughāḥ prāpatan bhuvi
indrāśanisamasparśā gāṇḍīvapreṣitāḥ śarāḥ
56 narān nāgān samāhatya hayāṃś cāpi viśāṃ pate
apatanta raṇe bāṇāḥ pataṃgā iva ghoṣiṇaḥ
57 āsīt sarvam avacchannaṃ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ
na prājñāyanta samare diśo vā pradiśo 'pi vā
58 sarvam āsīj jagat pūrṇaṃ pārtha nāmāṅkitaiḥ śaraiḥ
rukmapuṅkhais tailadhautaiḥ karmāra parimārjitaiḥ
59 te dahyamānāḥ pārthena pāvakeneva kuñjarāḥ
samāsīdanta kauravyā vadhyamānāḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
60 śaracāpa dharaḥ pārthaḥ prajvajann iva bhārata
dadāha samare yodhān kakṣam agnir iva
jvalan
61 yathā vanānte vanapair visṛṣṭaḥ; kakṣaṃ dahet kṛṣṇa gatiḥ saghoṣaḥ
bhūri drumaṃ śuṣkalatā vitānaṃ; bhṛśaṃ samṛddho jvalanaḥ pratāpī
62 evaṃ sa nārācagaṇapratāpī; śarārcir uccāvacatigmatejāḥ
dadāha sarvāṃ tava putra senām;
amṛṣyamāṇas tarasā tarasvī
63 tasyeṣavaḥ prāṇaharāḥ sumuktā; nāsajjan vai varmasu
rukmapuṅkhāḥ
na ca dvitīyaṃ pramumoca bāṇaṃ; nare haye vā paramadvipe vā
64 anekarūpākṛtibhir hi bāṇair; mahārathānīkam anupraviśya
sa eva ekas tava putra senāṃ; jaghāna daityān iva vajrapāṇiḥ
23
"Sanjaya said, 'During the progress of that terrible and awful battle,
the army of thy son was broken by the Pandavas. Rallying their great
car-warriors, however, with vigorous efforts, thy sons continued to fight with
the Pandava army. The (Kuru) warriors, desirous of thy son's welfare, suddenly
returned. Upon their return, the battle once more became exceedingly fierce
between thy warriors and those of the foe, resembling that between the gods and
the Asuras in days of old. Neither amongst the enemies nor amongst thine was
there a single combatant that turned away from that battle. The warriors
fought, aided by guess and by the names they uttered. Great was the destruction
that occurred as they thus fought with one another. Then king Yudhishthira,
filled with great wrath and becoming desirous of vanquishing the Dhartarashtras
and their king in that battle, pierced the son of Saradwat with three arrows
winged with gold and whetted on stone, and next slew with four others the four
steeds of Kritavarma. Then Ashvatthama bore away the celebrated son of Hridika.
Saradwat's son pierced Yudhishthira in return with eight arrows. Then king
Duryodhana despatched seven hundred cars to the spot where king Yudhishthira
was battling. Those cars ridden by excellent warriors and endued with speed of
the wind or thought, rushed in that battle against the car of Kunti's son.
Encompassing Yudhishthira on every side, they made him invisible with their
shafts like clouds hiding the sun from the view. Then the Pandava heroes headed
by Shikhandi, beholding king Yudhishthira the just assailed in that way by the
Kauravas, became filled with rage and were unable to put up with it. Desirous
of rescuing Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, they came to that spot upon their
cars possessed of great speed and adorned with rows of bells. Then commenced an
awful battle, in which blood flowed as water, between the Pandavas and the
Kurus, that increased the population of Yama's domains. Slaying those seven
hundred hostile car-warriors of the Kuru army, the Pandavas and the Pancalas
once more resisted (the whole Kuru army). There a fierce battle was fought
between thy son and the Pandavas. We had never before seen or heard of its
like. During the progress of that battle in which no consideration was showed
by anybody for anybody, and while the warriors of thy army and those of the foe
were falling fast, and the combatants were all shouting and blowing their
conchs, and the bowmen were roaring and uttering loud noises of diverse kinds,
while, indeed, the battle was raging fiercely and the very vitals of the
combatants were being struck, and the troops, O sire, desirous of victory, were
rushing with speed, while, verily, everything on Earth seemed to be undergoing
a woeful destruction, during that time when innumerable ladies of birth and
beauty were being made widows, during, indeed, the progress of that fierce
engagement in which the warriors behaved without any consideration for friends
and foes, awful portents appeared, presaging the destruction of everything. The
Earth, with her mountains and forests, trembled, making a loud noise. Meteors
like blazing brands equipped with handles dropped from the sky, O king, on
every side on the Earth as if from the solar disc. A hurricane arose, blowing
on all sides, and bearing away hard pebbles along its lower course. The
elephants shed copious tears and trembled exceedingly. Disregarding all these
fierce and awful portents, the Kshatriyas, taking counsel with one another,
cheerfully stood on the field for battle again, on the beautiful and sacred
field called after Kuru, desirous of obtaining heaven. Then Shakuni, the son of
the Gandhara king, said, "Fight all of ye in front! I, however, will slay
the Pandavas from behind." Then the Madraka warriors, endued with great
activity, amongst those on our side that were advancing, became filled with joy
and uttered diverse sounds of delight. Others too did the same. The invincible
Pandavas, however, possessed of sureness of aim, once more coming against us,
shook their bows and covered us with showers of arrows. The forces of the
Madrakas then were slain by the foe. Beholding this, the troops of Duryodhana
once more turned away from the battle. The mighty king of the Gandharvas,
however, once more said these words, "Stop, ye sinful ones! Fight (with
the foe)! What use is there of flight?" At that time, O bull of Bharata's
race, the king of the Gandharas had full 10,000 horse-men capable of fighting
with bright lances. During the progress of that great carnage, Shakuni, aided
by that force, put forth his valour and assailed the Pandava army at the rear,
slaughtering it with his keen shafts. The vast force of the Pandus then, O
monarch, broke even as a mass of clouds is dispersed on all sides by a mighty
wind. Then Yudhishthira, beholding from a near point his own army routed,
coolly urged the mighty Sahadeva, saying, "Yonder the son of Subala,
afflicting our rear, stayeth, clad in mail! He slaughtereth our forces! Behold
that wicked wight, O son of Pandu! Aided by the son of Draupadi, proceed
towards him and slay Shakuni, the son of Subala! Supported by the Pancalas, O
sinless one, I will meanwhile destroy the car force of the enemy! Let all the
elephants and all the horse and 3,000 foot, proceed with thee! Supported by
these, slay Shakuni!" At this, 700 elephants ridden by combatants armed
with the bow, and 5,000 horses, and the valiant Sahadeva, and 3,000
foot-soldiers, and the sons of Draupadi all rushed against Shakuni difficult of
defeat in battle. Subala's son, however, of great valour, O king, prevailing over
the Pandavas and longing for victory, began to slay their forces from the rear.
The horsemen, infuriate with rage, belonging to the Pandavas endued with great
activity, penetrated the division of Subala's son, prevailing over the latter's
car-warriors. Those heroic horsemen, staying in the midst of their own
elephants, covered the large host of Subala's son with showers of shafts. In
consequence of thy evil counsels, O king, dreadful was the battle that then
ensued in which maces and lances were used and in which heroes only took part.
The twang of bow-string was no longer heard there, for all the car-warriors
stood as spectators of that fight. At that time no difference could be seen
between the contending parties. Both the Kurus and the Pandavas, O bull of
Bharata's race, beheld the darts hurled from heroic arms course like meteors
through the welkin. The entire welkin, O monarch, shrouded with falling swords
of great brightness, seemed to become exceedingly beautiful. The aspect
presented, O chief of the Bharatas, by the lances hurled all around, became
like that of swarms of locusts in the welkin. Steeds, with limbs bathed in
blood in consequence of wounds inflicted by horsemen themselves wounded with
arrows, dropped down on all sides in hundreds and thousands. Encountering one
another and huddled together, many of them were seen to be mangled and many to
vomit blood from their mouths. A thick darkness came there when the troops were
covered with a dusty cloud. When that darkness shrouded everything, O king, we
beheld those brave combatants, steeds and men, move away from that spot. Others
were seen to fall down on the Earth, vomiting blood in profusion. Many
combatants, entangled with one another by their locks, could not stir. Many,
endued with great strength, dragged one another from the backs of their horses,
and encountering one another thus, slew one another like combatants in a
wrestling match. Many deprived of life, were borne away on the backs of the
steeds. Many men, proud of their valour and inspired with desire of victory,
were seen to fall down on the Earth. The Earth became strewn over with hundreds
and thousands of combatants bathed in blood, deprived of limbs, and divested of
hair. In consequence of the surface of the Earth being covered with
elephant-riders and horsemen and slain steeds and combatants with blood-stained
armour and others armed with weapons and others who had sought to slay one
another with diverse kinds of terrible weapons, all lying closely huddled
together in that battle fraught with fearful carnage, no warrior could proceed
far on his horse. Having fought for a little while, Shakuni, the son of Subala,
O monarch, went away from that spot with the remnant of his cavalry numbering
6,000. Similarly, the Pandava force, covered with blood, and its animals
fatigued, moved away from that spot with its remnant consisting of 6,000
horses. The blood-stained horsemen of the Pandava army then, with hearts intent
on battle and prepared to lay down their lives, said, "It is no longer possible
to fight here on cars; how much more difficult then to fight here on elephants!
Let cars proceed against cars, and elephants against elephants! Having
retreated, Shakuni is now within his own division. The royal son of Subala will
not again come to battle." Then the sons of Draupadi and those infuriate
elephants proceeded to the place where the Pancala prince Dhrishtadyumna, that
great car-warrior, was. Sahadeva also, when that dusty cloud arose, proceeded
alone to where king Yudhishthira was. After all those had gone away, Shakuni,
the son of Subala, excited with wrath, once more fell upon Dhrishtadyumna's
division and began to strike it. Once more a dreadful battle took place, in
which the combatants were all regardless of their lives, between thy soldiers
and those of the foe, all of whom were desirous of slaying one another. In that
encounter of heroes, the combatants first eyed one another steadfastly, and
then rushed, O king, and fell upon one another in hundreds and thousands. In
that destructive carnage, heads severed with swords fell down with a noise like
that of falling palmyra fruits. Loud also became the noise, making the very
hair to stand on end, of bodies falling down on the ground, divested of armour
and mangled with weapons and of falling weapons also, O king, and of arms and
thighs severed from the trunk. Striking brothers and sons and even sires with
keen weapons, the combatants were seen to fight like birds, for pieces of meat.
Excited with rage, thousands of warriors, falling upon one another, impatiently
struck one another in that battle. Hundreds and thousands of combatants, killed
by the weight of slain horsemen while falling down from their steeds, fell down
on the field. Loud became the noise of neighing steeds of great fleetness, and
of shouting men clad in mail, and of the falling darts and swords, O king, of
combatants desirous of piercing the vitals of one another in consequence, O
monarch, of thy evil policy. At that time, thy soldiers, overcome with toil,
spent with rage, their animals fatigued, themselves parched with thirst mangled
with keen weapons, began to turn away from the battle. Maddened with the scent
of blood, many became so insensate that they slew friends and foes alike, in
fact, every one they got at. Large numbers of Kshatriyas, inspired with desire
of victory, were struck down with arrows, O king, and fell prostrate on the
Earth. Wolves and vultures and jackals began to howl and scream in glee and
make a loud noise. In the very sight of thy son, thy army suffered a great
loss. The Earth, O monarch, became strewn with the bodies of men and steeds,
and covered with streams of blood that inspired the timid with terror. Struck
and mangled repeatedly with swords and battle axes and lances, thy warriors, as
also the Pandavas, O Bharata, ceased to approach one another. Striking one
another according to the measure of their strength, and fighting to the last
drop of their blood, the combatants fell down vomiting blood from their wounds.
Headless forms were seen, seizing the hair of their heads (with one hand) and
with uplifted swords dyed with blood (in the other). When many headless forms,
O king, had thus risen up, when the scent of blood had made the combatants
nearly senseless, and when the loud noise had somewhat subsided, Subala's son
(once more) approached the large host of the Pandavas, with the small remnant
of his horse. At this, the Pandavas, inspired with desires of victory and
endued with foot-soldiers and elephants and cavalry, all with uplifted weapons,
desirous of reaching the end of the hostilities, the Pandavas, forming a wall,
encompassed Shakuni on all sides, and began to strike him with diverse kinds of
weapons. Beholding those troops of thine assailed from every side, the
Kauravas, with horsemen, foot-soldiers, elephants, and cars, rushed towards the
Pandavas. Some foot-soldiers of great courage, destitute of weapons, attacked
their foes in that battle, with feet and fists, and brought them down.
Car-warriors fell down from cars, and elephant-men from elephants, like
meritorious persons falling down from their celestial vehicles upon the
exhaustion of their merits. Thus the combatants, engaged with one another in
that great battle, slew sires and friends and sons. Thus occurred that battle,
O best of the Bharatas, in which no consideration was shown by anybody for
anyone, and in which lances and swords and arrows fell fast, on every side and
made the scene exceedingly terrible to behold.'"
Book
9
Chapter 24
1
[s]
asyatāṃ yatamānānāṃ śūrāṇām anivartinām
saṃkalpam akaron moghaṃ gāṇḍīvena dhanaṃjayaḥ
2 indrāśanisamasparśān aviṣahyān mahaujasaḥ
visṛjan dṛśyate bāṇān dhārā muñcann ivāmbudaḥ
3 tat sainyaṃ bharataśreṣṭha vadhyamānaṃ kirītṭinā
saṃpradudrāva saṃgrāmāt tava putrasya paśyataḥ
4 hatadhuryā rathāḥ kecid dhatasūtās tathāpare
bhagnākṣayugacakreṣāḥ ke cid āsan viśāṃ pate
5 anyeṣāṃ sāyakāḥ kṣīṇās tathānye śarapīḍitāḥ
akṣatā yugapat ke cit
prādravan bhayapīḍitāḥ
6 ke cit putrān upādāya hatabhūyiṣṭha vāhanāḥ
vicukruśuḥ pitṝn anye sahāyān apare punaḥ
7 bāndhavāṃś ca naravyāghra bhrātṝn saṃbandhinas tathā
dudruvuḥ ke cid utsṛjya tatra tatra viśāṃ pate
8 bahavo 'tra bhṛśaṃ viddhā muhyamānā mahārathāḥ
niṣṭanantaḥ sma dṛśyante pārtha bāṇahatā narāḥ
9 tān anye ratham āropya
samāśvāsya muhūrtakam
viśrāntāś ca vitṛṣṇāś ca punar
yuddhāya jagmire
10 tān apāsya gatāḥ ke cit punar eva yuyutsavaḥ
kurvantas tava putrasya śāsanaṃ yuddhadurmadāḥ
11 pānīyam apare pītvā paryāśvāsya ca
vāhanam
varmāṇi ca samāropya ke cid
bharatasattama
12 samāśvāsyāpare bhrātṝn nikṣipya śibire 'pi ca
putrān anye pitṝn anye punar yuddham
arocayan
13 sajjayitvā rathān ke cid yathāmukhyaṃ viśāṃ pate
āplutya pāṇḍavānīkaṃ punar yuddham arocayan
14 te śūrāḥ kiṅkiṇījālaiḥ samācchannā babhāsire
trailokyavijaye yuktā yathā daiteya dānavāḥ
15 āgamya sahasā ke cid rathaiḥ svarṇavibhūṣitaiḥ
pāṇḍavānām anīkeṣu dhṛṣṭadyumnam ayodhayan
16 dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi
pāñcālyaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ
nākuliś ca śatānīko rathānīkam ayodhayan
17 pāñcālyas tu tataḥ kruddhaḥ sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ
abhyadravat susaṃrabdhas tāvakān
hantum udyataḥ
18 tatas tv āpatatas tasya tava putro
janādhipa
bāṇasaṃghān anekān vai preṣayām āsa bhārata
19 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tato rājaṃs tava putreṇa dhanvinā
nārācair bahubhiḥ kṣipraṃ bāhvor urasi cārpitaḥ
20 so 'tividdho maheṣvāsas tottrārdita iva dvipaḥ
tasyāśvāṃś caturo bāṇaiḥ preṣayām āsa mṛtyave
sāratheś cāsya bhallena śiraḥ kāyād apāharat
21 tato duryodhano rājā pṛṣṭhām ārudhya vājinaḥ
apākrāmad dhataratho nātidūram ariṃdamaḥ
22 dṛṣṭvā tu hatavikrāntaṃ svam anīkaṃ mahābalaḥ
tava putro mahārāja prayayau yatra saubalaḥ
23 tato ratheṣu bhagneṣu trisāhasrā mahādvipāḥ
pāṇḍavān rathinaḥ pañca samantat paryavārayan
24 te vṛtāḥ samare pañca gajānīkena bhārata
aśobhanta naravyāghrā grahā vyāptā ghanair iva
25 tato 'rjuno mahārāja labdhalakṣo mahābhujaḥ
vinir yayau rathenaiva śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
26 taiḥ samantāt
parivṛtaḥ kuñjaraiḥ parvatopamaiḥ
nārācair vimalais tīkṣṇair
gajānīkam apothayat
27 tatraikabāṇanihatān apaśyāma mahāgajān
patitān pātyamānāṃś ca vibhinnān
savyasāccinā
28 bhīmasenas tu tān dṛṣṭvā nāgān mattagajopamaḥ
kareṇa gṛhya mahatīṃ gadām abhyapatad balī
avaplutya rathāt tūrṇaṃ daṇḍapāṇir ivāntakaḥ
29 tam udyatagadaṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāratham
vitresus tāvakāḥ sainyāḥ śakṛn mūtraṃ prasusruvuḥ
āvignaṃ ca balaṃ sarvaṃ gadāhaste vṛkodare
30 gadayā bhīmasenena bhinnakumbhān
rajasvalān
dhāvamānān apaśyāma kunrajān parvatopamān
31 pradhāvya kuñjarās te tu
bhīmasenagadā hatāḥ
petur ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā chinnapakṣā ivādrayaḥ
32 tān bhinnakumbhān subahūn dravamāṇān itas tataḥ
patamānāṃś ca saṃprekṣya vitresus tava sainikāḥ
33 yudhiṣṭhiro 'pi saṃkruddho mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
gṛdhrapakṣaiḥ śitair bāṇair jaghnur vai
gajayodhinaḥ
34 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu samare
parājitya narādhipam
apakrānte tava sute hayapṛṣṭhaṃ samāśrite
35 dṛṣṭvā ca pāṇḍavān sarvān kuñjaraiḥ parivāritān
dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja saha sarvaiḥ prabhadrakaiḥ
putraḥ pāñcālarājasya jighāṃsuḥ kuñjarān yayau
36 adṛṣṭvā tu rathānīke
duryodhanam ariṃdamam
aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
apṛcchan kṣatriyāṃs tatra kva nu duryodhano gataḥ
37 apaśyamānā rājānaṃ vartamāne janakṣaye
manvānā nihataṃ tatra tava putraṃ mahārathāḥ
viṣaṇṇavadanā
bhūtvā paryapṛcchanta te sutam
38 āhuḥ keccid dhate
sūte prayāto yatra saubalaḥ
apare tv abruvaṃs tatra kṣatriyā bhṛśavikṣitāḥ
39 duryodhanena kiṃ kāryaṃ drakṣyadhvaṃ yadi jīvati
yudhyadhvāṃ sahitāḥ sarve kiṃ vo rājā kariṣyati
40 te kṣatriyāḥ kṣatair gātrair hatabhūyuṣṭha vāhanāḥ
śaraiḥ saṃpīḍyamānāś ca nātivyaktam ivābruvan
41 idaṃ sarvaṃ balaṃ hanmo yena sma parivāritāḥ
ete sarve gajān hatvā upayānti sma pāṇḍavāḥ
42 śrutvā tu vacanaṃ teṣām aśvatthāmā mahābalaḥ
hitvā pāñcālarājasya tad anīkaṃ durutsaham
43 kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca prayayur yattra saubalaḥ
rathānīkaṃ parityajya śūrāḥ sudṛḍha dhanvinaḥ
44 tatas teṣu prayāteṣu dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ
āyayuḥ pāṇḍavā rājan vinighnāntaḥ sma tāvakān
45 dṛṣṭvā tu tān āpatataḥ saṃprahṛṣṭān mahārathān
parākrāntāṃs tato vīrān nirāśāñ
jīvite tadā
vivarṇamukha bhūyiṣṭham abhavat tāvakaṃ balam
46 parikṣīṇāyudhān dṛṣṭvā tān ahaṃ parivāritān
rājan balena dvyaṅgena tyaktvā jīvitam
ātmanaḥ
47 ātmanā pañcamo 'yudhyaṃ pāñcālasya balena ha
tasmin deśe vyavasthāpya yatra śāradvataḥ sthitaḥ
48 saṃprayuddhā vayaṃ pañca kirīṭiśarapīḍitāḥ
dhṛṣṭādyumnaṃ mahānīkaṃ tatra no 'bhūd raṇo mahān
jitās tena vayaṃ sarve vyapayāma raṇāt tataḥ
49 athāpaśyāṃ satyakiṃ tam upāyāntaṃ mahāratham
rathaiś catuḥśatair vīro māṃ cābhyadravad āhave
50 dhṛṣṭadyumnād ahaṃ muktaḥ kathaṃ cic chānta vāhanaḥ
patito mādhavānīkaṃ duṣkṛtī narakaṃ yathā
tatra yuddham abhūd ghoraṃ muhūrtam atidāruṇam
51 sātyakis tu mahābāhur mama hatvā
paricchadam
jīvagrāham agṛhṇān māṃ mūrchitaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi
52 tato muhūrtād iva tad gajānīkam
avadhyata
gadayā bhīmasenena nārācair arjunena ca
53 pratipiṣṭair
mahānāgaiḥ samantāt parvatopamaiḥ
nātiprasiddheva gatiḥ pāṇḍavānām ajāyata
54 rathamārgāṃs tataś cakre bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārāja vyapakarṣan mahāgajān
55 aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
apaśyanto rathānīke duryodhanam ariṃdamam
rājānaṃ mṛgayām āsus
tava putraṃ mahāratham
56 parityajya ca pāñcālaṃ prayātā yatra saubalaḥ
rājño 'darśana saṃvignā vartamāne
janakṣaye
24
"Sanjaya said, 'When the loud noise of battle had somewhat subsided and
the Pandavas had slain large numbers of their foes, Subala's son (once more)
came for fight with the remnant of his horsemen numbering seven hundred.
Quickly approaching his own soldiers and urging them to battle, he repeatedly
said, "You chastisers of foes, fight cheerfully!" And he asked the
Kshatriyas present there, saying, "Where is the king, that great
car-warrior?" Hearing these words of Shakuni, O bull of Bharata's race,
they answered saying, "Yonder stayeth that great car-warrior, the Kuru
king, there where that large umbrella of splendour equal to that of the full
moon, is visible--there where those car-warriors, clad in mail, are
staying--there where that loud noise, deep as the roar of clouds, is being
heard! Proceed quickly thither, O king, and thou wilt then see the Kuru
monarch!" Thus addressed by those brave warriors, Subala's son Shakuni, O
king, proceeded to that spot where thy son was staying, surrounded on all sides
by unretreating heroes. Beholding Duryodhana stationed in the midst of that
car-force, Shakuni, gladdening all those car-warriors of thine, O king
cheerfully said these words unto Duryodhana. Indeed, he said the following
words in a manner which showed that he regarded all his purposes to have been
already achieved. "Slay, O king, the car-divisions (of the Pandavas)! All
their horses have been vanquished by me! Yudhishthira is incapable of being
conquered in battle unless one is prepared to lay down his life! When that car-force,
protected by the son of Pandu, will have been destroyed, we shall then slay all
those elephants and foot-soldiers and others!" Hearing these words of his,
thy warriors, inspired with desire of victory, cheerfully rushed towards the
Pandava army. With quivers on their backs and bows in their hands, all of them
shook their bows and uttered leonine roars. Once more, O king, the fierce twang
of bows and the slapping of palms and the whiz of arrows shot with force was
heard. Beholding those Kuru combatants approach the Pandava army with uplifted
bows, Kunti's son Dhananjaya said unto the son of Devaki these words,
"Urge the steeds fearlessly and penetrate this sea of troops! With my keen
shafts I shall today reach the end of these hostilities! Today is the
eighteenth day, O Janardana, of this great battle that is raging between the
two sides! The army of those high-souled heroes, which was literally
numberless, hath been nearly destroyed! Behold the course of Destiny! The army
of Dhritarashtra's son, O Madhava, which was vast as the ocean, hath, O
Achyuta, become, after encountering ourselves, even like the indent caused by a
cow's hoof! If peace had been made after Bhishma's fall, O Madhava, everything
would have been well! The foolish Duryodhana of weak understanding, however,
did not make peace! The words that were uttered by Bhishma, O Madhava, were
beneficial and worthy of adoption. Suyodhana, however, who had lost his
understanding, did not act according to them. After Bhishma had been struck and
thrown down on the Earth, I do not know the reason why the battle proceeded! I
regard the Dhartarashtras to be foolish and of weak understanding in every way,
since they continued the battle even after the fall of Santanu's son! After
that when Drona, that foremost of all utterers of Brahma, fell, as also the son
of Radha, and Vikarna, the carnage did not still cease! Alas, when a small
remnant only of the (Kaurava) army remained after the fall of that tiger among
men, Karna, with his sons, the carnage did not still cease! After the fall of
even the heroic Srutayush, of also Jalasandha of Puru's race, and of king
Srutayudha, the carnage did not still cease! After the fall of Bhurishrava, of
Shalya, O Janardana, and of the Avanti heroes, the carnage did not still cease!
After the fall of Jayadratha, of the Rakshasa Alayudha, of Bahlika, and of
Somadatta, the carnage did not still cease! After the fall of heroic
Bhagadatta, of the Kamboja chief Sadakshina, and of Duhshasana, the carnage did
not still cease! Beholding even diverse heroic and mighty kings, each owning
extensive territories, slain in battle, the carnage, O Krishna, did not still
cease! Beholding even a full Akshauhini of troops slain by Bhimasena in battle,
the carnage did not still cease, in consequence of either the folly or the
covetousness of the Dhartarashtras! What king born in a noble race, a race
especially like that of Kuru, save of course the foolish Duryodhana, would thus
fruitlessly wage such fierce hostilities? Who is there, possessed of reason and
wisdom and capable of discriminating good from evil, that would thus wage war,
knowing his foes to be superior to him in merit, strength, and courage? How
could he listen to the counsels of another, when, indeed, he could not make up
his mind to make peace with the Pandavas in obedience to the words uttered by
thee? What medicine can be acceptable to that person today who disregarded
Bhishma the son of Santanu, and Drona, and Vidura, while they urged him to make
peace? How can he accept good counsels, who from folly, O Janardana, insolently
disregarded his own aged sire as also his own well-meaning mother while
speaking beneficial words unto him? It is evident, O Janardana, that Duryodhana
took his birth for exterminating his race! His conduct and his policy, it is
seen, point to that line, O lord! He will not give us our kingdom yet! This is
my opinion, O Achyuta! The high-souled Vidura, O sire, told me many a time that
as long as life remained in Dhritarashtra's son, he would never give us our share
of the kingdom! Vidura further told me, 'As long also as Dhritarashtra will
live, O giver of honours, even that sinful wight will act sinfully towards you!
Ye will never succeed in vanquishing Duryodhana without battle!' Even thus, O
Madhava, did Vidura of true foresight often speak to me! All the acts of that
wicked-souled wight, I now find to be exactly as the high-souled Vidura had
said! That person of wicked understanding who, having listened to the
beneficial and proper words of Jamadagni's son, disregarded them, should
certainly be held as standing in the face of destruction. Many persons crowned
with ascetic success said as soon as Duryodhana was born, that the entire
Kshatriya order would be exterminated in consequence of that wretch. Those words
of the sages, O Janardana, are now being realised, since the Kshatriyas are
undergoing almost entire extermination in consequence of Duryodhana's acts! I
shall, O Madhava, slay all the warriors today! After all the Kshatriyas will
have been slain and the (Kaurava) camp made empty, Duryodhana will then desire
battle with us for his own destruction. That will end these hostilities!
Exercising my reason, O Madhava, and reflected in my own mind, O thou of
Vrishni's race, thinking of Vidura's words, and taking into account the acts of
the wicked-souled Duryodhana himself, I have come to this conclusion! Penetrate
the Bharata army, O hero, for I shall slay the wicked-souled Duryodhana and his
army today with my keen shafts! Slaying this weak army in the very sight of
Dhritarashtra's son, I shall today do what is for Yudhishthira's good!"'"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed by Savyasaci, he of Dasarha's race, reins in hand, fearlessly penetrated that vast hostile force for battle. That was a terrible forest of bows (which the two heroes entered). Darts constituted its prickles. Maces and spiked bludgeons were its paths. Cars and elephants were its mighty trees. Cavalry and infantry were its creepers. And the illustrious Keshava, as he entered that forest on that car decked with many banners and pennons, looked exceedingly resplendent. Those white steeds, O king, bearing Arjuna in battle, were seen careering everywhere, urged by him of Dasarha's race! Then that scorcher of foes, Savyasaci, proceeded on his car, shooting hundreds of keen shafts like a cloud pouring showers of rain. Loud was the noise produced by those straight arrows, as also by those combatants that were covered with them in that battle by Savyasaci. Showers of shafts, piercing through the armour of the combatants, fell down on the Earth. Impelled from Gandiva, arrows, whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder, striking men and elephants and horses, O king, fell in that battle with a noise like that of winged insects. Everything was shrouded with those shafts shot from Gandiva. In that battle, the points of the compass, cardinal and subsidiary, could not be distinguished. The whole world seemed to be filled with gold-winged shafts, steeped in oil, polished by the hands of the smith, and marked with Partha's name. Struck with those keen shafts, and burnt therewith by Partha even as a herd of elephants is burnt with burning brands, the Kauravas became languid and lost their strength. Armed with bow and arrows, Partha, resembling the blazing sun, burnt the hostile combatants in that battle like a blazing fire consuming a heap of dry grass. As a roaring fire of blazing flames and great energy (arising from embers) cast away on the confines of a forest by its denizens, fire consumes those woods abounding with trees and heaps of dry creepers, even so that hero possessed of great activity and fierce energy and endued with prowess of weapons, and having shafts for his flames, quickly burnt all the troops of thy son from wrath. His gold-winged arrows, endued with fatal force and shot with care, could not be baffled by any armour. He had not to shoot a second arrow at man, steed, or elephant of gigantic size. Like the thunder-wielding Indra striking down the Daityas, Arjuna, alone, entering that division of mighty car-warriors, destroyed it with shafts of diverse forms.'"
Book
9
Chapter 25
1 [s]
gajānīke hate tasmin pāṇḍuputreṇa bhārata
vadhyamāne bale caiva bhīmasenena saṃyuge
2 carantaṃ ca tathā dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenam ariṃdamam
daṇḍahastaṃ yathā krudddham antakaṃ prāṇahāriṇam
3 sametya samare rājan hataśeṣāḥ sutās tava
adṛśyamāne kauravye
putre duryodhane tava
sodaryāḥ sahitā bhūtvā
bhīmasenam upādravan
4 durmarṣaṇo mahārāja jaitro bhūri balo raviḥ
ity ete sahitā bhūtvā tatra putrāḥ samantataḥ
bhīmasenam abhidrutya rurudhuḥ savato diśam
5 tato bhīmo mahārāja svarathaṃ punar āsthitaḥ
mumoca niśitān bāṇān putrāṇāṃ tava marmasu
6 te kīryamāṇā bhīmena putrās tava mahāraṇe
bhīmasenam apāsedhan pravaṇād iva kuñjaram
7 tataḥ kruddho raṇe bhīmaḥ śiro durmarṣaṇasya ha
kṣurapreṇa pramathyāśu pātayām āsa bhūtale
8 tato 'pareṇa bhallena sarvāvaraṇabhedinā
śrutāntam avadhīd bhīmas tava putraṃ mahārathaḥ
9 jayatsenaṃ tato viddhvā nārācena hasann iva
pātayām āsa kauravyaṃ rathopasthād ariṃdamaḥ
sa papāta rathād rājan bhūmau tūrṇaṃ mamāra ca
10 śrutarvā tu tato bhīmaṃ kruddho vivyādha māriṣa
śatena gṛdhravājānāṃ śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
11 tataḥ kruddho raṇe bhīmo jaitraṃ bhūri balaṃ ravim
trīn etāṃs tribhir ānarchad
dviṣāgnipratimaiḥ śaraiḥ
12 te hatā nyapatan bhūmau syandanebhyo
mahārathaḥ
vasante puṣpaśabalā nikṛttā iva kiṃśukāḥ
13 tato 'pareṇa tīkṣṇena nārāccena paraṃtapaḥ
durvimocanam āhatya preṣayām āsa mṛtyave
14 sa hataḥ prāpatad
bhūmau svarathād rathināṃ varaḥ
gires tu kūṭajo bhagno
māruteneva pādapaḥ
15 duṣpradharṣaṃ tataś caiva sujātaṃ ca sutau tava
ekaikaṃ nyavadhīt saṃkhye dvābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ camūmukhe
tau śilīmukhaviddhāṅgau petatū rathasattamau
16 tato yatantam aparam abhivīkṣya sutaṃ tava
bhallena yudhi vivyādha bhīmo durviṣahaṃ raṇe
sa papāta hato vāhāt paśyatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
17 dṛṣṭvā tu nihatān
bhrātṝn bahūn ekena saṃyuge
amarṣavaśam āpannaḥ śrutarvā bhīmam abhyayāt
18 vikṣipan sumahac
cāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
visṛjan sāyakāṃś caiva viṣāgnipratimān bahūn
19 sa tu rājan dhanuś chittvā pāṇḍavasya mahāmṛdhe
athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ viṃśatyā samavākirat
20 tato 'nyad dhanur ādāya bhīmaseno
mahārathaḥ
avākirat tava sutaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
21 mahad āsīt tayor yuddhaṃ citrarūpaṃ bhayānakam
yādṛśaṃ samare pūrvaṃ jambha vāsavayor abhūt
22 tayos tatra śarair muktair yamadaṇḍanibhaiḥ śubhaiḥ
samācchannā dharā sarvā khaṃ ca sarvā diśas tathā
23 tataḥ śrutarvā saṃkruddho dhanur āyamya sāyakaiḥ
bhīmasenaṃ raṇe rājan bāhvor urasi cārpayat
24 so 'tividdho mahārāja tava putreṇa dhanvinā
bhīmaḥ saṃcukṣubhe kruddhaḥ parvaṇīva mahodadhiḥ
25 tato bhīmo ruṣāviṣṭaḥ putrasya tava māriṣa
sārathiṃ caturaś cāśvān bāṇair ninye yamakṣayam
26 virathaṃ taṃ samālakṣya viśikhair lomavāhibhiḥ
avākirad ameyātmā darśayan pāṇilāghavam
27 śrutarvā viratho rājann ādade khaḍga carmaṇī
athāsyādadataḥ khaḍgaṃ śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat
kṣurapreṇa śiraḥ kāyāt pātayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
28 chinnottamāṅgasya tataḥ kṣurapreṇa mahātmanaḥ
papāta kāyaḥ sa rathād vasudhām
anunādayan
29 tasmin nīpatite vīre tāvakā
bhayamohitāḥ
abhyadravanta saṃgrāme bhīmasenaṃ yuyutsavaḥ
30 tān āpatata evāśu hataśeṣād balārṇavāt
daṃśitaḥ pratijagrāha bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān
te tu taṃ vai samāsādya
parivavruḥ samantataḥ
31 tatas tu saṃvṛto bhīmas tāvākair niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
pīḍayām āsa tān sarvān sahasrākṣa ivāsurān
32 tataḥ pañca śatān
hatvā savarūthān mahārathān
jaghāna kuñjarānīkaṃ punaḥ saptaśataṃ yudhi
33 hatvā daśasahasrāṇi pattīnāṃ parameṣubhiḥ
vājināṃ ca śatāny aṣṭau pāṇḍavaḥ sma virājate
34 bhīmasenas tu kaunteyo hatvā yuddhe
sutāṃs tava
mene kṛtārtahm ātmānaṃ saphalaṃ janma ca prabho
35 taṃ tathā yudhyamānaṃ ca vinighnantaṃ ca tāvakān
īkṣituṃ notsahante sma tava sainyāni bhārata
36 vidrāvya tu kurūn sarvāṃs tāṃś ca hatvā padānugān
dorbhyāṃ śabdāṃ tataś cakre trāsayāno mahādvipān
37 hatabhūyiṣṭha yodhā tu tava senā viśāṃ pate
kiṃ cic cheṣā mahārāja kṛpaṇā samapadyata
25
"Sanjaya said, 'Dhananjaya, with his Gandiva, frustrated the purpose of
those unreturning heroes struggling in battle and striking their foes. The
shafts shot by Arjuna, irresistible and endued with great force and whose touch
was like that of the thunder, were seen to resemble torrents of rain poured by
a cloud. That army, O chief of the Bharatas, thus struck by Kiritin, fled away
in the very sight of thy son. Some deserted their sires and brothers, others
deserted their comrades. Some car-warriors were deprived of their animals.
Others lost their drivers. Some had their poles or yokes or wheels broken, O
king! The arrows of some were exhausted. Some were seen afflicted with arrows.
Some, though unwounded, fled in a body, afflicted with fear. Some endeavoured
to rescue their sons, having lost all their kinsmen and animals. Some loudly
called upon their sires, some upon their comrades and followers. Some fled,
deserting their kinsmen, O tiger among men, and brothers and other relatives, O
monarch! Many mighty car-warriors, struck with Partha's shafts and deeply
pierced therewith, were seen to breathe hard, deprived of their senses. Others,
taking them upon their own cars, and soothing them for a while, and resting
them and dispelling their thirst by offering them drink, once more proceeded to
battle. Some, incapable of being easily defeated in battle, deserting the
wounded, once more advanced to battle, desirous of obeying the behests of thy
son. Some, having slaked their thirst or groomed their animals, and some,
wearing (fresh) armour, O chief of the Bharatas, and some, having comforted
their brothers and sons and sires, and placed them in camp, once more came to
battle. Some, arraying their cars in the order, O king, of superiors and
inferiors, advanced against the Pandavas once more for battle. Those heroes (on
their cars) covered with rows of bells, looked resplendent like Daityas and
Danavas intent on the conquest of the three worlds. Some, advancing with
precipitancy on their vehicles decked with gold, fought with Dhrishtadyumna
amid the Pandava divisions. The Pancala prince Dhrishtadyumna, and the great
car-warrior Shikhandi, and Satanika, the son of Nakula, fought with the
car-force of the enemy. The Pancala prince, then, filled with rage and
supported by a large army, rushed against thy angry troops from desire of
slaying them. Then thy son, O ruler of men, sped many showers of arrows, O
Bharata, at the Pancala prince thus rushing at him. Then, O king,
Dhrishtadyumna was quickly pierced with many arrows in his arms and chest by
thy son fighting with his bow. Deeply pierced therewith like an elephant with
pointed lances, that great bowman then despatched with his shafts the four
steeds of Duryodhana to the regions of death. With another broad-headed arrow
he next cut off from his trunk the head of his enemy's driver. Then that
chastiser of foes, king Duryodhana, having thus lost his car, rode on
horse-back and retreated to a spot not remote. Beholding his own army destitute
of prowess, thy son, the mighty Duryodhana, O king, proceeded to the place
where Subala's son was. When the Kaurava cars were broken, 3,000 gigantic
elephants encompassed those car-warriors, the five Pandavas. Encompassed by
that elephant force, O Bharata, the five brothers looked beautiful, O tiger
among men, like the planets surrounded by the clouds. Then the mighty-armed and
white-steeded Arjuna, O king, of sureness of aim and having Krishna for his
charioteer, advanced on his car. Surrounded by those elephants huge as hills,
he began to destroy those animals with his keen and polished arrows. Each slain
with a single arrow, we beheld those huge elephants fallen or falling down,
mangled by Savyasaci. The mighty Bhimasena, himself like an infuriated
elephant, beholding those elephants, took up his formidable mace and rushed at
them, quickly jumping down from his car, like the Destroyer armed with his
club. Seeing that great car-warrior of the Pandavas with uplifted mace, thy
soldiers became filled with fright and passed urine and excreta. The whole army
became agitated upon beholding Bhimasena armed with mace. We then beheld those
elephants, huge as hills, running hither and thither, with their frontal globes
split open by Bhima with his mace and all their limbs bathed in blood. Struck
with Bhima's mace, those elephants, running off from him, fell down with cries
of pain, like wingless mountains. Beholding those elephants, many in number,
with their frontal globes split open, running hither and thither or falling
down, thy soldiers were inspired with fear. Then Yudhishthira also, filled with
wrath, and the two sons of Madri, began to slay those elephant-warriors with
arrows equipped with vulturine wings. Dhrishtadyumna, after the defeat of the
(Kuru) king in battle, and after the flight of the latter from that spot on
horse-back, saw that the Pandavas had all been surrounded by the (Kaurava)
elephants. Beholding this, O monarch, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of the Pancala
king, proceeded towards those elephants, from desire of slaughtering them.
Meanwhile, not seeing Duryodhana in the midst of the car-force. Ashvatthama and
Kripa, and Kritavarma of the Satwata race, asked all the Kshatriyas there,
saying, 'Where has Duryodhana gone?' Not seeing the king in that carnage, those
great car-warriors all thought thy son to have been slain. Hence, with
sorrowful faces, they enquired after him. Some persons told them that after the
fall of his driver, he had gone to Subala's son. Other Kshatriyas, present
there, who had been exceedingly mangled with wounds, said, "What need is
there with Duryodhana? See if he is yet alive! Do you all fight unitedly? What
will the king do to you?" Other Kshatriyas, who were exceedingly mangled,
who had lost many of their kinsmen, and who were still being afflicted with the
arrows of the enemy, said these words in indistinct tones, "Let us slay
these forces by whom we are encompassed! Behold, the Pandavas are coming
hither, after having slain the elephants!" Hearing these words of theirs,
the mighty Ashvatthama, piercing through that irresistible force of the Pancala
king, proceeded with Kripa and Kritavarma to the spot where Subala's son was.
Indeed, those heroes, those firm bowmen, leaving the car-force, repaired (in search
of Duryodhana). After they had gone away, the Pandavas, headed by
Dhrishtadyumna, advanced, O king, and began to slay their enemies. Beholding
those valiant and heroic and mighty car-warriors cheerfully rushing towards
them, thy troops, amongst whom the faces of many had turned pale, became
hopeless of their lives. Seeing those soldiers of ours almost deprived of
weapons and surrounded (by the foe). I myself, O king, having only two kinds of
forces, and becoming reckless of life, joined the five leaders of our army, and
fought with the forces of the Pancala prince, posting our men on that spot
where Saradwat's son was stationed. We had been afflicted with the shafts of
Kiritin. Nevertheless, a fierce battle took place between us and the division
of Dhrishtadyumna. At last, vanquished by the latter, all of us retreated from
that encounter. I then beheld the mighty car-warrior Satyaki rushing against
us. With four hundred cars that hero pursued me in battle. Having escaped with
difficulty from Dhrishtadyumna whose steeds had been tired, I fell among the
forces of Madhava even as a sinner falleth into hell. There a fierce and
terrible battle took place for a short while. The mighty-armed Satyaki, having
cut off my armour, became desirous of taking me alive. He seized me while I lay
down on the ground insensible. Then within a short while that elephant-force
was destroyed by Bhimasena with his mace and Arjuna with his arrows. In
consequence of those mighty elephants, huge as hills, falling down on every
side with crushed limbs, the Pandava warriors found their way almost entirely
blocked up. Then the mighty Bhimasena, O monarch, dragging away those huge
elephants, made a way for the Pandavas to come out. Meanwhile, Ashvatthama and
Kripa and Kritavarma of the Satwata race, not seeing that chastiser of foes,
Duryodhana, amid the car-division, sought for thy royal son, Abandoning the
prince of the Pancalas, they proceeded to the spot where Subala's son was
anxious to have a sight of the king during that terrible carnage.'"
Book
9
Chapter 26
1 [s]
duryodhano mahārāja sudarśaś cāpi te sutaḥ
hāta śeṣau tadā saṃkhye vājimadhye vyavasthitau
2 tato duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā vājimadhye vyavasthitam
uvāca devakīputraḥ kuntīputraṃ dhanaṃjayam
3 śatravo hatabhūyiṣṭhā jñātayaḥ paripālitāḥ
gṛhītvā saṃjayaṃ cāsau nivṛttaḥ śinipuṃgavaḥ
4 pariśrāntaś ca nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca bhārata
yodhayitvā raṇe pāpān dhārtarāṣṭra padānugān
5 suyodhanam abhityajya traya ete
vyavasthitāḥ
kṛpaś ca kṛpavarmā ca drauṇiś caiva mahārathaḥ
6 asau tiṣṭhati pāñcālyaḥ śriyā paramayā yutaḥ
duryodhana balaṃ hatvā saha
sarvaiḥ prabhadrakaiḥ
7 asau duryodhanaḥ pārtha vājimadhye vyavasthitaḥ
chattreṇa dhriyamāṇena prekṣamāṇo muhur muhuḥ
8 prativyūhya balaṃ sarvaṃ raṇamadhye vyavasthitaḥ
enaṃ hatvā śitair bāṇaiḥ kṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyasi
9 gajānīkaṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā tvāṃ ca prāptam ariṃdama
yāvan na vidravanty ete tāvaj jahi suyodhanam
10 yātu kaś cit tu pāñcālyaṃ kṣipram āgamyatām iti
pariśrānta balas tāta naiṣa mucyeta kilbiṣī
11 tava hatvā balaṃ sarvaṃ saṃgrāme dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ
jitān pāṇḍusutān matvā rūpaṃ dhārayate mahat
12 nihataṃ svabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā pīḍitaṃ cāpi pāṇḍavaiḥ
dhruvam eṣyati saṃgrāme vadhāyaivātmano nṛpaḥ
13 evam uktaḥ phalgunas tu kṛṣṇaṃ vacanam abravīt
dhṛtarāṣṭra sutāḥ sarve hatā bhīmena mānada
yāv etāv āsthitau kṛṣṇa tāv adya na
bhaviṣyataḥ
14 hato bhīṣmo hato droṇaḥ karṇo vaikartano hataḥ
madrarājo hataḥ śalyo hataḥ kṛṣṇa jayadrathaḥ
15 hayāḥ pañcaśatāḥ śiṣṭāḥ śakuneḥ saubalasya ca
rathānāṃ tu śate śiṣṭe dve eva tu janārdana
dantināṃ ca śataṃ sāgraṃ trisāhasrāḥ padātayaḥ
16 aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva trigartādhipatis tathā
ulūkaḥ śakuniś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
17 etad balam abhūc cheṣaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya mādhava
mokṣo na nūnaṃ kālād dhi vidyate bhuvi kasya cit
18 tathā vinihate sainye paśya
duryodhanaṃ sthitam
adyāhnā hi mahārājo hatāmitro bhaviṣyati
19 na hi me mokṣyate kaś cit pareṣām iti cintaye
ye tv adya samaraṃ kṛṣṇa na hāsyanti raṇotkaṭāḥ
tān vai sarvān haniṣyāmi yady api syur
amānuṣāḥ
20 adya yuddhe susaṃkruddho dīrghaṃ rājñaḥ prajāgaram
apaneṣyāmi gāndhāraṃ pātayitvā śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
21 nikṛtyā vai
durācāro yāni ratnāni saubalaḥ
sabhāyām aharad dyūte punas tāny aharāmy aham
22 adyā tā api vetsyanti sarvā
nāgapurastriyaḥ
śrutvā patīṃś ca putrāṃś ca pāṇḍavair nihatān yudhi
23 samāptam adya vai karṇa sarvaṃ kṛṣṇa bhaviṣyati
adya duryodhano dīptāṃ śriyaṃ prāṇāṃś ca tyakṣyati
24 nāpayāti bhayāt kṛṣṇa saṃgrāmād yadi cen mama
nihataṃ viddhi vārṣṇeya dhārtarāṣṭraṃ subāliśam
25 mama hy etad aśaktaṃ vai vājivṛndam ariṃdama
soḍhuṃ
jyātalanirghoṣāṃ yāhi yāvan nihanmy aham
26 evam uktas tu dāśārhaḥ pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā
acodayad dhayān rājan duryodhana balaṃ prati
27 tad anīkam abhiprekṣya trayaḥ sajjā mahārathāḥ
bhīmaseno 'rjunaś caiva sahadevaś ca māriṣa
prayayuḥ siṃhanādena duryodhana jighāṃsayā
28 tān prekṣya sahitān sarvāñ javenodyata kārmukān
saubalo 'bhyadravad yuddhe pāṇḍavān ātatāyinaḥ
29 sudarśanas tava suto bhīmasenaṃ samabhyayāt
suśarmā śakuniś caiva yuyudhāte kirīṭinā
sahadevaṃ tava suto hayapṛṣṭha gato 'bhyayāt
30 tato hy ayatnataḥ kṣipraṃ tava putro janādhipa
prāsena sahadevasya śirasi prāharad bhṛśam
31 sopāviśad rathopasthe tava putreṇa tāḍitaḥ
rudhirāpluta sarvāṅga āśīviṣa iva śvasan
32 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ sahadevo viśāṃ pate
duryodhanaṃ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ saṃkruddhaḥ samavākirat
33 pārtho 'pi yudhi vikramya kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
śūrāṇām aśvapṛṣṭhebhyaḥ śirāṃsi nicakarta ha
34 tad anīkaṃ tadā pārtho vyadhamad bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ
pātayitvā hayān sarvāṃs trigartānāṃ rathān yayau
35 tatas te sahitā bhūtvā trigartānāṃ mahārathāḥ
arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca śaravarṣair avākiran
36 satyakarmāṇam ākṣipya kṣurapreṇa mahāyaśāḥ
tato 'sya syandanasyeṣāṃ cicchide pāṇḍunandanaḥ
37 śilāśitena ca vibho kṣurapreṇa mahāyaśāḥ
śiraś ciccheda prahasaṃs taptakuṇḍalabhūṣaṇam
38 satyeṣum atha
cādatta yodhānāṃ miṣatāṃ tataḥ
yathā siṃho vane rājan mṛgaṃ paribubhukṣitaḥ
39 taṃ nihatya tataḥ pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
viddhvā tān ahanat sarvān rathān rukmavibhūṣitān
40 tatas tu pratvaran pārtho dīrghakālaṃ susaṃbhṛtam
muñcan krodhaviṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ prasthalādhipatiṃ prati
41 tam arjunaḥ pṛṣātkānāṃ śatena bharatarṣabha
pūrayitvā tato vāhān nyahanat tasya dhanvinaḥ
42 tataḥ śaraṃ samādāya yamadaṇḍopamaṃ śitam
suśarmāṇaṃ samuddiśya cikṣepāśu hasann iva
43 sa śaraḥ preṣitas tena krodhadīptena dhanvinā
suśarmāṇaṃ samāsādya vibheda hṛdayaṃ raṇe
44 sa gatāsur mahārāja papāta dharaṇītale
nandayan pāṇḍavān sarvān
vyathayaṃś cāpi tāvakān
45 suśarmāṇaṃ raṇe hatvā putrān asya mahārathān
sapta cāṣṭau ca triṃśac ca sāyakair anayat kṣayam
46 tato 'sya niśitair bāṇaiḥ sarvān hatvā padānugān
abhyagād bhāratīṃ senāṃ hataśeṣāṃ mahārathaḥ
47 bhīmas tu samare kruddhaḥ putraṃ tava janādhipa
sudarśanam adṛśyantaṃ śaraiś cakre hasann iva
48 tato 'syā prahasan kruddhaḥ śiraḥ kāyād apāharat
kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena sa hātaḥ prāpatad bhuvi
49 tasmiṃs tu nihate
vīre tatas tasya padānugāḥ
parivavrū raṇe bhīmaṃ kiranto viśikhāñ śitān
50 tatas tu niśitair bāṇais tad anīkaṃ vṛkodaraḥ
indrāśanisamasparśaiḥ samantāt
paryavākirat
tataḥ kṣaṇena tad bhīmo nyahanad bharatarṣabha
51 teṣu tūtsādyamāneṣu senādhyakṣā mahābalāḥ
bhīmasenaṃ samāsādya tato
'yudhyanta bhārata
tāṃs tu sarvāñ śarair ghorair
avākirata pāṇḍavaḥ
52 tathaiva tāvakā rājan pāṇḍaveyān mahārathān
śaravarṣeṇa mahatā samantāt paryavārayan
53 vyākulaṃ tad abhūt
sarvaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ paraiḥ saha
tāvakānāṃ ca samare pāṇḍaveyair yuyutsatām
54 tatra yodhās tadā petuḥ parasparasamāhatāḥ
ubhayoḥ senayo rājan saṃśocantaḥ sma bāndhavān
26
"Sanjaya said, 'After that elephant-division had been destroyed, O
Bharata, by the son of Pandu, and while thy army was being thus slaughtered by
Bhimasena in battle, beholding the latter, that chastiser of foes, careering
like the all-killing Destroyer himself in rage armed with his club, the remnant
of thy unslaughtered sons, those uterine brothers, O king, united together at
that time when he of Kuru's race, thy son Duryodhana, could not be seen, and
rushed against Bhimasena. They were Durmarshana and Srutanta and Jaitra and Bhurivala
and Ravi, and Jayatsena and Sujata and that slayer of foes, Durvishaha, and he
called Durvimochana, and Dushpradharsha and the mighty-armed Srutarvan. All of
them were accomplished in battle. Those sons of thine, uniting together, rushed
against Bhimasena and shut him up on all sides. Then Bhima, O monarch, once
more mounting on his own car, began to shoot keen shafts at the vital limbs of
thy sons. Those sons of thine, covered with arrows by Bhimasena in that
dreadful battle, began to drag that warrior like men dragging an elephant from
off a cross-way. Excited with rage, Bhimasena, quickly cutting off the head of
Durmarshana with a razor-headed arrow, felled it on the Earth. With another
broad-headed arrow capable of penetrating every armour, Bhima next slew that
mighty car-warrior, thy son Srutanta. Then with the greatest ease, piercing
Jayatsena with a cloth-yard shaft, that chastiser of foes, the son of Pandu,
felled that scion of Kuru's race from his car. The prince, O king, fell down
and immediately expired. At this, thy son Srutarvan, excited with rage, pierced
Bhima with a hundred straight arrows winged with vulturine feathers. Then
Bhima, inflamed with rage, pierced Jaitra and Ravi and Bhurivala, those three,
with three shafts resembling poison or fire. Those mighty car-warriors, thus
struck, fell down from their cars, like Kinsukas variegated with flowers in the
season of spring cut down (by the axe-man). Then that scorcher of foes, with
another broad-headed arrow of great keenness, struck Durvimochana and
despatched him to Yama's abode. Thus struck, that foremost of carwarriors fell
down on the ground from his car, like a tree growing on the summit of a
mountain when broken by the wind. The son of Pandu next struck thy other two
sons at the head of their forces, Dushpradharsha and Sujata, each with a couple
of arrows in that battle. Those two foremost of car-warriors, pierced with
those shafts, fell down. Beholding next another son of thine, Durvishaha,
rushing at him, Bhima pierced him with a broad-headed arrow in that battle.
That prince fell down from his car in the very sight of all the bowmen.
Beholding so many of his brothers slain by the singlehanded Bhima in that
battle, Srutarvan, under the influence of rage, rushed at Bhima, stretching his
formidable bow decked with gold and shooting a large number of arrows that
resembled poison or fire in energy. Cutting off the bow of Pandu's son in that
dreadful battle, the Kuru prince pierced the bowless Bhima with twenty arrows.
Then Bhimasena, that mighty car-warrior, taking up another bow, shrouded thy
son with arrows and addressing him, said, "Wait, Wait!' The battle that
took place between the two was beautiful and fierce, like that which had
occurred in days of yore between Vasava and the Asura Jambha, O lord! With the
keen shafts, resembling the fatal rods of Yama, sped by those two warriors, the
Earth, the sky, and all the points of the compass, became shrouded. Then
Srutarvan, filled with rage, took up his bow and struck Bhimasena in that battle,
O king, with many arrows on his arms and chest. Deeply pierced, O monarch, by
thy son armed with the bow, Bhima became exceedingly agitated like the ocean at
the full or the new moon. Filled with wrath, Bhima then, O sire, despatched
with his arrows the driver and the four steeds of thy son to Yama's abode.
Beholding him carless, Pandu's son of immeasurable soul, displaying the
lightness of his hands, covered him with winged arrows. The carless Srutarvan
then, O king, took up a sword and shield. As the prince, however, careered with
his sword and bright shield decked with a hundred moons, the son of Pandu
struck off his head from his trunk with a razor-headed arrow and felled it on
the Earth. The trunk of that illustrious warrior, rendered headless by means of
that razor-headed arrow, fell down from his car, filling the Earth with a loud
noise. Upon the fall of that hero, thy troops, though terrified, rushed in that
battle against Bhimasena from desire of fighting with him. The valiant
Bhimasena, clad in mail, received those warriors rushing quickly at him from
among the unslain remnant of that ocean of troops. Approaching him, those
warriors encompassed that hero on all sides. Thus surrounded by those warriors
of thine, Bhima began to afflict them all with keen shafts like him of a 1,000
eyes afflicting the Asuras. Having destroyed five hundred great cars with their
fences, he once more slew seven hundred elephants in that battle. Slaying next
10,000 foot-soldiers with his mighty shafts, as also 800 steeds, the son of
Pandu looked resplendent. Indeed, Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, having slain thy
sons in battle, regarded his object achieved, O lord, and the purpose of his
birth accomplished. Thy troops, at that time, O Bharata, ventured to even gaze
at that warrior who was battling in that fashion and slaying thy men in that
way. Routing all the Kurus and slaying those followers of theirs, Bhima then
slapped his armpits, terrifying the huge elephants with the noise he produced.
Then thy army, O monarch, which had lost a very large number of men, and which
then consisted of a very few soldiers, became exceedingly cheerless, O
king!'"
Book
9
Chapter 27
1 [s]
tasmin pravṛtte saṃgrāme naravāji gajakṣaye
śakuniḥ saubalo rājan
sahadevaṃ samabhyayāt
2 tato 'syāpatatas tūrṇaṃ sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
śaraughān preṣayām āsa pataṅgān iva śīghragān
ulūkaś ca raṇe bhīmaṃ vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
3 śakunis tu mahārāja bhīmaṃ viddhvā tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
sāyakānāṃ navatyā vai
sahadevam avākirat
4 te śūrāḥ samare rājan samāsādya parasparam
vivyadhur niśitair bāṇaiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇa vājitaiḥ
svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilā dhautair ā karṇāt prahitaiḥ śaraiḥ
5 teṣāṃ cāpā bhujotsṛṣṭā śaravṛṣṭir viśāṃ pate
ācchādayad diśaḥ sarvā
dhārābhir iva toyadaḥ
6 tataḥ kruddho raṇe bhīmaḥ sahadevaś ca
bhārata
ceratuḥ kadanaṃ saṃkhye kurvantau sumahābalau
7 tābhyāṃ śaraśataiś channaṃ tad balaṃ tava bhārata
andhakāram ivākāśam abhavat tatra tatra ha
8 aśvair viparidhāvadbhiḥ śarac channair viśāṃ pate
tatra tatra kṛto mārgo vikarṣadbhir hatān bahūn
9 nihatānāṃ hayānāṃ ca sahaiva hayayodhibhiḥ
varmabhir vinikṛttaiś ca
prāsaiś chinnaiś ca māriṣa
saṃchannā pṛthivī jajñe kusumaiḥ śabalā iva
10 yodhās tatra mahārāja samāsādya
parasparam
vyacaranta raṇe kruddhā
vinighnantaḥ parasparam
11 udvṛttanayanai roṣāt saṃdaṣṭauṣṭha puṭair mukhaiḥ
sakuṇḍalair mahī channā padmakiñjalka
saṃnibhaiḥ
12 bhujaiś chinair mahārāja
nāgarājakaropamaiḥ
sāṅgadaiḥ satanutraiś ca sāsi prāsaparaśvadhaiḥ
13 kabandhair utthitaiś chinnair nṛtyadbhiś cāparair yudhi
kravyādagaṇasaṃkīrṇā ghorābhut pṛthivī vibho
14 alpāvaśiṣṭe sainye tu kauraveyān mahāhave
prahṛṣṭāḥ pāṇḍavā bhūtvā ninyire yamasādanam
15 etasminn antare śūraḥ saubaleyaḥ pratāpavān
prāsena sāhadevasya śirasi prāharad bhṛśam
sa vihvalo mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat
16 sahadevaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān
sarvasainyāni saṃkruddho vārayām āsa
bhārata
17 nirbibheda ca nārācaiḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
vinirbhidyākaroc caiva siṃhanādam ariṃdama
18 tena śabdena vitrastāḥ sarve sahayavāraṇāḥ
prādravan sahasā bhītāḥ śakuneś ca
padānugāḥ
19 prabhagnān atha tān dṛṣṭvā rājā duryodhano 'bravīt
nivartadhvam adharmajñā yudhyadhvaṃ kiṃ sṛtena vaḥ
20 iha kīrtiṃ samādhāya pretya lokān samaśnute
prāṇāñ jahāti yo vīro yudhi pṛṣṭham adarśayan
21 evam uktās tu te rājñā saubalasya
padānugāḥ
pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
22 dravadbhis tatra rājendra kṛtaḥ śabdo 'tidāruṇaḥ
kṣubdhasāgarasaṃkāśaḥ kṣubhitaḥ sarvato 'bhavat
23 tāṃs tadāpatato dṛṣṭvā saubalasya padānugān
pratyudyayur mahārāja pāṇḍavā vijaye vṛtāḥ
24 pratyāśvasya ca durdharṣaḥ sahadevo viśāṃ pate
śakuniṃ daśabhir viddhvā hayāṃś cāsya tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
dhanuś ciccheda ca śaraiḥ saubalasya
hasann iva
25 athānyad dhanur ādāya śakunir
yuddhadurmadaḥ
vivyādha nakulaṃ ṣaṣṭyā bhīmasenaṃ ca saptabhiḥ
26 ulūko 'pi mahārāja bhīmaṃ vivyādha saptabhiḥ
sahadevaṃ ca saptatyā
parīpsan pitaraṃ raṇe
27 taṃ bhīmasenaḥ samare vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
śakuniṃ ca catuḥṣaṣṭyā pārśvasthāṃś ca tribhis tribhiḥ
28 te hanyamānā bhīmena nārācais
tailapāyitaiḥ
sahadevaṃ raṇe kruddhāś chādayañ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
parvataṃ vāridhārābhiḥ savidyuta ivāmbudāḥ
29 tato 'syāpatataḥ śūraḥ sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
ulūkasya mahārāja bhallenāpāharac chiraḥ
30 sa jagāma rathād bhūmiṃ sahadevena pātitaḥ
rudhirāpluta sarvāṅgo nandayan pāṇḍavān yudhi
31 putraṃ tu nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā śakunis tatra bhārata
sāśrukaṇṭho viniḥśvasya kṣattur vākyam anusmaran
32 cintayitvā muhūrtaṃ sabāṣpapūrṇekṣaṇaḥ śvasan
sahadevaṃ samāsādya tribhir
vivyādha sāyakaiḥ
33 tān apāsya śarān muktāñ śarasaṃghaiḥ pratāpavān
sahadevo mahārāja dhanuś ciccheda saṃyuge
34 chinne dhanuṣi rājendra śakuniḥ saubalas tadā
pragṛhya vipulaṃ khaḍgaṃ sahadevāya prāhiṇot
35 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate
dvidhā ciccheda samare saubalasya hasann iva
36 asiṃ dṛṣṭvā dvidhā chinnaṃ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām
prāhiṇot sahasevāya sā moghā nyapatad
bhuvi
37 tataḥ śaktiṃ mahāghorāṃ kālarātrim ivodyatām
preṣayām āsa saṃkruddhaḥ pāṇḍavaṃ prati saubalaḥ
38 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā śaraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ
tridhā ciccheda samare sahadevo hasann iva
39 sā papāta tridhā chinnā bhūmau
kanakabhūṣaṇā
śīryamāṇā yathā dīptā
gaganād vai śatahradā
40 śaktiṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā saubalaṃ ca bhayārditam
dudruvus tāvakāḥ sarve bhaye jāte
sasaubalāḥ
41 athotkruṣṭaṃ mahad dhyāsīt pāṇḍavair jitakāśibhiḥ
dhārtarāṣṭrās tataḥ sarve prāyaśo vimukhābhavan
42 tān vai vimanaso dṛṣṭvā mādrīputraḥ pratāpavān
śarair anekasāhasrair vārayām āsa saṃyuge
43 tato gāndhārakair guptaṃ pṛṣṭhair aśvair jaye dhṛtam
āsasāda raṇe yāntaṃ sahadevo 'tha saubalam
44 svam aṃśam avaśiṣṭaṃ sa saṃsmṛtya śakuniṃ nṛpa
rathena kāñcanāṅgena sahadevaḥ samabhyayāt
adhijyaṃ balavat kṛtvā vyākṣipan sumahad dhanuḥ
45 sa saubalam abhidrutya gṛdhrapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
bhṛśam abhyahanat kruddhas tottrair
iva mahādvipam
46 uvāca cainaṃ medhāvī nigṛhya smārayann iva
kṣatradharme sthito bhūtvā
yudhyasva puruṣo bhava
47 yat tadā hṛṣyase mūḍha glahann akṣaiḥ sabhā tale
phalam adya prapadyasva karmaṇas tasya durmate
48 nihatās te durātmāno ye 'smān
avahasan purā
duryodhanaḥ kulāṅgāraḥ śiṣṭas tvaṃ tasya mātulaḥ
49 adya te vihaniṣyāmi kṣureṇonmathitaṃ śiraḥ
vṛkṣāt phalam
ivoddhṛtya laguḍena pramāthinā
50 evam uktvā mahārāja sahadevo mahābalaḥ
saṃkruddho naraśārdūlo
vegenābhijagāma ha
51 abhigamya tu durdharṣaḥ sahadevo yudhāṃ patiḥ
vikṛṣya balavac cāpaṃ krodhena prahasann iva
52 śakuniṃ daśabhir
viddhvā caturbhiś cāsya vājinaḥ
chattraṃ dhvajaṃ dhanuś cāsya chittvā siṃha ivānadat
53 chinnadhvajadhanuś chattraḥ sahadevena saubalaḥ
tato viddhaś ca bahubhiḥ sarvamarmasu
sāyakaiḥ
54 tato bhūyo mahārāja sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
śakuneḥ preṣayām āsa śaravṛṣṭiṃ durāsadām
55 tatas tu kruddhaḥ subalasya putro; mādrī sutaṃ sahadevaṃ vimarde
prāsena jāmbūnadabhūṣaṇena; jighāṃsur eko 'bhipapāta śīghram
56 mādrī sutas tasya samudyataṃ taṃ; prāsaṃ suvṛttau ca bhujau raṇāgre
bhallais tribhir yugapat saṃcakarta; nanāda coccais tarasājimadhye
57 tasyāśu kārī susamāhitena; suvarṇapuṅkhena dṛḍhāyasena
bhallena sarvāvaraṇātigena; śiraḥ śarīrāt pramamātha bhūyaḥ
58 śareṇa
kārtasvarabhūṣitena; divākarābhena susaṃśitena
hṛtottamāṅgo yudhi pāṇḍavena; papāta bhūmau subalasya putraḥ
59 sa tacchiro vegavatā śareṇa; suvarṇapuṅkhena śilāśitena
prāverayat kupitaḥ pāṇḍuputro; yat tat kurūṇām anayasya mūlam
60 hṛtottamāṅgaṃ śakuniṃ samīkṣya; bhūmau śayānaṃ rudhirārdragātram
yodhās tvadīyā bhayanaṣṭa sattvā;
diśaḥ prajagmuḥ pragṛhītaśastrāḥ
61 vipradrutāḥ śuṣkamukhā visaṃjñā; gāṇḍīvaghoṣeṇa samāhatāś ca
bhayārditā bhagnarathāśvanāgāḥ; padātayaś caiva sadhārtarāṣṭrāḥ
62 tato rathāc chakuniṃ pātayitvā; mudānvitā bhārata pāṇḍaveyāḥ
śaṅkhān pradadhmuḥ samare prahṛṣṭāḥ; sakeśavāḥ saiṅkikān harṣayantaḥ
63 taṃ cāpi sarve
pratipūjayanto; hṛṣṭā bruvāṇāḥ sahadevam ājau
diṣṭyā hato naikṛtiko durātmā; sahātmajo vīra raṇe tvayeti
27
"Sanjaya said, 'Duryodhana, O king, and thy son Sudarsa, the only two
of thy children yet unslain, were at that time in the midst of the (Kaurava)
cavalry. Beholding Duryodhana staying in the midst of the cavalry, Devaki's son
(Krishna) said unto Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, "A large number of our
foes, kinsmen that had received our protection, have been slain. There, that
bull of Sini's race is returning, having taken Sanjaya captive! Both Nakula and
Sahadeva, O Bharata, are fatigued, having fought with the wretched
Dhartarashtras and their followers! Those three, Kripa and Kritavarma and the
mighty car-warrior Ashvatthama, have left Duryodhana's side and taken up their
position elsewhere! Having slain Duryodhana's troops, the Pancala prince
stayeth yonder, endued with great beauty, in the midst of the Prabhadrakas.
There, O Partha, Duryodhana stayeth in the midst of his cavalry, with the
umbrella held over his head and himself flinging his glances all around! Having
rearrayed the (remnant of his) army, he stayeth in the midst of his forces.
Slaying this one with thy keen shafts, thou mayst achieve all thy objects! As
long as these troops do not fly away beholding thee, in their midst and
witnessing also the destruction of their elephant-force, do thou, O chastiser
of foes, endeavour to slay Duryodhana! Let somebody go to the Pancala prince
and ask him to come hither. The (Kaurava) troops are all tired, O sire! The
sinful Duryodhana will never succeed in escaping! Having slain a large number
of thy troops in battle, the son of Dhritarashtra wears a proud aspect as if he
believes that the Pandavas have been vanquished! Beholding his own troops
afflicted and slain by the Pandavas, the Kuru king will certainly come to
battle for his own destruction!" Thus addressed by Krishna, Phalguna
replied unto him, saying. "Almost all the sons of Dhritarashtra, O giver
of honours, have been slain by Bhima! Only these two are yet alive! They,
however, O Krishna, shall also meet with destruction today! Bhishma hath been
slain, Drona hath been slain, Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana, hath been
slain! Shalya, the king of the Madras, hath been slain, and Jayadratha also, O
Krishna, hath been slain! Only five hundred horses from the remnant of the
troops of Shakuni, the son of Subala, and of cars, only two hundred still
remain, O Janardana! Of elephants there remain only a hundred that are
formidable, and of foot only 3,000! There remain also Ashvatthama and Kripa and
the ruler of the Trigartas and Uluka and Kritavarma of the Satwata race. These,
O Madhava, form the remnant of Duryodhana's force! Truly, there is no escape
from death for anybody on Earth! Although such a tremendous carnage hast taken
place, behold, Duryodhana is still alive! Today king Yudhishthira, however,
will be freed from all his foes! None amongst the enemy will escape me, I ween!
Even if they be more than men, O Krishna, I shall yet slay all those warriors
today, however, furious in battle, if only they do not fly away from the field!
Filled with wrath in today's battle, I shall, by slaying the prince of Gandhara
with my keen shafts, dispel that sleeplessness which the king has suffered from
for a long time! I shall win back all those valuable possessions which Subala's
son, of wicked conduct, won from us at the gambling match in the assembly!
Hearing of the slaughter of their husbands and sons at the hands of the
Pandavas in battle, all the ladies of the city called after the elephant will
utter loud wails! Today, O Krishna, our task will be ended! Today Duryodhana
shall abandon all his blazing prosperity, as also his life-breath. Thou mayest
take the foolish son of Dhritarashtra to be dead, O thou of Vrishni's race, if,
O Krishna, he does not today fly away from the battle to be waged by me! Those
steeds are incapable of enduring the twang of my bow and the slaps of my palms!
Proceed thither, O Krishna, for I will slay them!" Thus addressed by
Pandu's son of great force of mind, he of Dasarha's race urged his steeds, O king,
towards the division of Duryodhana. Beholding that force (within which
Duryodhana was), three mighty car-warriors prepared themselves for assailing
it, for Bhimasena and Arjuna and Sahadeva, O sire, together proceeded against
it with loud leonine roars from desire of slaying Duryodhana. Beholding those
three warriors rushing quickly together with uplifted bows, Subala's son
proceeded towards that spot against those Pandava foes. Thy son Sudarsana
rushed against Bhimasena. Susarman and Shakuni encountered Kiritin. Thy son
Duryodhana on horse-back proceeded against Sahadeva. Then thy son, O ruler of
men, with great speed and care, forcibly struck Sahadeva's head with a lance.
Thus assailed by thy son, Sahadeva sat down on the terrace of his car, all his
limbs bathed in blood and himself sighing like a snake. Regaining his senses
then, O king, Sahadeva, filled with rage, covered Duryodhana with keen arrows.
Kunti's son, Dhananjaya, otherwise called Partha, putting forth his prowess,
cut off the heads of many brave combatants on horse-back. Indeed, Partha, with
many arrows, destroyed that (cavalry) division. Having felled all the steeds,
he then proceeded against the cars of the Trigartas. At this, the great
car-warriors of the Trigartas, uniting together, covered Arjuna and Vasudeva
with showers of shafts. Assailing Satyakarman with a razor-headed arrow, the
son of Pandu, possessed of great fame, cut off his adversary's car-shafts. With
another razor-headed arrow, O lord, whetted on stone, that celebrated hero, smiling
the while, cut off his antagonist's head adorned with bright gold. He next
attacked Satyeshu in the sight of all the warriors, like a hungry lion, O king,
in the forest, attacking a deer. Having slain him, Partha pierced Susarman with
three arrows and then slew all those car-warriors adorned with ornaments of
gold. He then proceeded against Susarman the ruler of Prashthala with great
speed, vomiting the virulent poison of his wrath cherished for many long years.
Covering him first, O bull of Bharata's race, with a hundred arrows, Arjuna
then slew all the steeds of that bowman. Fixing then on his bowstring a mighty
arrow that resembled the rod of Yama, Partha, smiling the while, quickly sped
it at Susarman, aiming it at him. Sped by that bowman blazing with wrath, that
arrow, reaching Susarman, pierced through his heart in that battle. Deprived of
life, O monarch, Susarman fell down on the Earth, gladdening all the Pandavas
and paining all thy warriors. Having slain Susarman in that battle, Partha
then, with his shafts, despatched the five and thirty sons of that king, all of
whom were great car-warriors, to Yama's abode. Slaying next all the followers
of Susarman with his keen arrows, the mighty car-warrior, Arjuna, proceeded
against the remnant of the Bharata host. Bhima, in that battle, filled with
rage, O ruler of men, made thy son Sudarsana invisible with his arrows, and
smiling the while, cut off from his antagonist's trunk his head with a
razor-headed arrow of great sharpness. Deprived of life, the prince fell down
on the Earth. Upon the fall of that (Kuru) hero, his followers encompassed
Bhima in that battle, shooting showers of whetted arrows at him. Vrikodara,
however, with his keen arrows, whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder,
covered that force around him. Within a very short time, Bhima slew them all, O
bull of Bharata's race! Whilst they were being thus exterminated, many Kaurava
leaders of great might, O Bharata, approached Bhima and began to fight with
him. The son of Pandu, O king, covered all of them with his arrows. Similarly,
thy warriors, O monarch, covered the great car-warriors of the Pandavas with
dense showers of arrows from every side. All the warriors then, of both sides,
thus engaged in battle with one another, became exceedingly agitated. Struck by
one another, the combatants of both armies, O king, began to fall down, wailing
aloud for their (deceased) kinsmen.'"
(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman
Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection )
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