srimahabhrat - book 7 (Drona Parva) chapters 18 to 29

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

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

 

Drona Parva

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 18

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      dṛṣṭvā tu saṃnivṛttāṃs tān saṃśaptakagaṇān punaḥ
      vāsudevaṃ mahātmānam arjunaḥ samabhāṣata
  2 codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa saṃśaptakagaṇān prati
      naite hāsyanti saṃgrāmaṃ jīvanta iti me matiḥ
  3 paśya me 'strabalaṃ ghoraṃ bāhvor iṣvasanasya ca
      adyaitān pātayiṣyāmi kruddho rudraḥ paśūn iva
  4 tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ smitaṃ kṛtvā pariṇandya śivena tam
      prāveśayata durdharṣo yatra yatraicchad arjunaḥ
  5 babhrāje sa ratho 'tyartham uhyamāno raṇe tadā
      uhyamānam ivākāśe vimānaṃ pāṇḍurair hayaiḥ
  6 maṇḍalāni tataś cakre gatapratyāgatāni ca
      yathā śakra ratho rājan yuddhe devāsure purā
  7 atha nārāyaṇāḥ kruddhā vividhāyudhapāṇayaḥ
      chādayantaḥ śaravrātaiḥ parivavrur dhanaṃjayam
  8 adṛśyaṃ ca muhūrtena cakrus te bharatarṣabha
      kṛṇena sahitaṃ yuddhe kuntīputraṃ dhanaṃjayam
  9 kruddhas tu phalgunaḥ saṃkhye dviguṇīkṛtavikramaḥ
      gāṇḍīvam upasaṃmṛjya tūrṇaṃ jagrāha saṃyuge
  10 baddhvā ca bhṛkuṭīṃ vaktre krodhasya pratilakṣaṇam
     devadattaṃ mahāśaṅkhaṃ pūrayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
 11 athāstram arisaṃghaghnaṃ tvāṣṭram abhyasyad arjunaḥ
     tato rūpasahasrāṇi prādurāsan pṛthak pṛthak
 12 ātmanaḥ pratirūpais tair nānārūpair vimohitāḥ
     anyonyam arjunaṃ matvā svam ātmānaṃ ca jaghnire
 13 ayam arjuno 'yaṃ govindemau yādava pāṇḍavau
     iti bruvāṇāḥ saṃmūdhā jaghnur anyonyam āhave
 14 mohitāḥ paramāstreṇa kṣayaṃ jagmuḥ parasparam
     aśobhanta raṇe yodhāḥ puṣpitā iva kiṃśukāḥ
 15 tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi tair vimuktāni bhasmasāt
     kṛtvā tad astraṃ tān vīrān anayad yamasādanam
 16 atha prahasya bībhatsur lalitthān mālavān api
     mācellakāṃs trigartāṃśc ca yaudheyāṃś cārdayac charaiḥ
 17 te vadhyamānā vīreṇa kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ
     vyasṛjañ śaravarṣāṇi pārthe nānāvidhāni ca
 18 tato naivārjunas tatra na ratho na ca keśavaḥ
     pratyadṛśyata ghoreṇa śaravarṣeṇa saṃvṛtaḥ
 19 tatas te labdhalakṣyatvād anyonyam abhicukruśuḥ
     hatau kṛṣṇāv iti prītā vāsāṃsy ādudhuvus tadā
 20 bherīmṛdaṅgaśaṅkhāṃś ca dadhmur vīrāḥ sahasraśaḥ
     siṃhanāda ravāṃś cogrāṃś cakrire tatra māriṣa
 21 tataḥ prasiṣvide kṛṣṇaḥ khinnaś cārjunam abravīt
     kvāsi pārtha na paśye tvāṃ kac cij jīvasi śatruhan
 22 tasya taṃ mānuṣaṃ bhāvaṃ bhāvajño ''jñāya pāṇḍavaḥ
     vāyavyāstreṇa tair astāṃ śaravṛṣṭim apāharat
 23 tataḥ saṃśaptakavrātān sāśvadvipa rathāyudhān
     uvāha bhagavān vāyuḥ śuṣkaparṇacayān iva
 24 uhyamānās tu te rājan bahv aśobhanta vāyunā
     praḍīnāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ kāle vṛkṣebhya iva māriṣa
 25 tāṃs tathā vyākulīkṛtya tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ
     jaghāna niśitair bāṇaiḥ sahasrāṇi śatāni ca
 26 śirāṃsi bhallair aharad bāhūn api ca sāyudhān
     hastihastopamāṃś corūñ śarair urvyām apātayat
 27 pṛṣṭhac chinnān vicaraṇān vimastiṣkeṣaṇāṅgulīn
     nānāṅgāvayavair hīnāṃś cakārārīn dhanaṃjayaḥ
 28 gandharvanagarākārān vidhivat kalpitān rathān
     śarair viśakalīkurvaṃś cakre vyaśva rathadvipān
 29 muṇḍatālavanānīva tatra tatra cakāśire
     chinnadhvajarathavrātāḥ ke cit ke cit kva cit kva cit
 30 sottarāyudhino nāgāḥ sa patākāṅkuśāyudhāḥ
     petuḥ śakrāśanihatā drumavanta ivācalāḥ
 31 cāmarāpīḍa kavacāḥ srastāntra nayanāsavaḥ
     sārohās turagāḥ petuḥ pārtha bāṇahatāḥ kṣitau
 32 vipraviddhāsi nakharāś chinnavarmarṣṭi śaktayaḥ
     pattayaś chinnavarmāṇaḥ kṛpaṇaṃ śerate hatāḥ
 33 tair hatair hanyamānaiś ca patadbhiḥ patitair api
     bhramadbhir niṣṭanadbhiś ca ghoram āyodhanaṃ babhau
 34 rajaś ca mahad udbhūtaṃ śāntaṃ rudhiravṛṣṭibhiḥ
     mahīṃ cāpy abhavad durgā kabandha śatasaṃkulā
 35 tad babhau raudrabībhatsaṃ bībhatsor yānam āhave
     ākrīḍa iva rudrasya ghnataḥ kālātyaye paśūn
 36 te vadhyamānāḥ pārthena vyākulāśvarathadvipāḥ
     tam evābhimukhāḥ kṣīṇāḥ śakrasyātithitāṃ gatāḥ
 37 sā bhūmir bharataśreṣṭha nihatais tair mahārathaiḥ
     āstīrṇā saṃbabhau sarvā pretī bhūtaiḥ samantataḥ
 38 etasminn antare caiva pramatte savyasācini
     vyūḍhānīkas tato droṇo yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat
 39 taṃ pratyagṛhṇaṃs tvarito vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     yudhiṣṭhiraṃ parīpsantas tadāsīt tumulaṃ mahat

 

SECTION XVIII

"Sanjaya said, 'The Samsaptakas, 2 then, filled with joy, took their stand on a level field, having, with their cars, formed an array in the shape of the half-moon. And those tigers among men, beholding the diadem-decked (Arjuna) come towards them, were, O sire, filled with delight and uttered loud shouts. That noise filled the sky and all the points of the compass,
p. 41
cardinal and subsidiary. And because it was an open plain covered only with men, it produced no echoes. Ascertaining them to be exceedingly delighted, Dhananjaya, with a little smile, said these words unto Krishna: 'Behold, O thou that hast Devaki for thy mother, those Trigarta brothers, who are about to perish in battle, are filled with delight at a time when they should weep. Or, this is, without doubt, the hour of delight (with them) since they will obtain those excellent regions that are unattainable by cowards.' Having said these words unto the mighty-armed Hrishikesa, Arjuna came upon the arrayed ranks of the Trigartas in battle, taking up then his conch called Devadatta decked with gold, he blew it with great force, filling all the points of the compass with its blare. Terrified by that blare, that car-host of the Samsaptakas stood motionless in battle, as if it was petrified. And all their animals stood with eyes wide open, ears and necks and lips paralysed, and legs motionless. And they passed urine and vomited blood. Regaining consciousness then, and placing their ranks in proper order, they shot their arrows all at once at the son of Pandu. Capable of displaying his prowess with great speed, Arjuna, with five and ten arrows cut off those thousands of arrows before they could reach him. They then pierced Arjuna, each with ten arrows. Partha pierced them with three arrows. Then each of them, O king, pierced Partha with five arrows. Endued with great prowess, he pierced each of them in return with two arrows. And, once again, excited with wrath, they quickly poured upon Arjuna and Kesava countless arrows like the clouds pouring upon a lake their incessant showers. Then those thousands of arrows fell upon Arjuna, like swarms of bees upon a flowering cluster of trees in the forest. Then deeply pierced Arjuna's diadem with thirty shafts, endued with the strength of adamant with those shafts equipped with wings of gold fixed on his diadem, Arjuna, as if decked with ornaments of gold, shone like the (newly) risen sun. The son of Pandu then, in that battle, with a broad-headed arrow, cut off the leathern fence of Suvahu, and covered Sudharman and Sudhanwan, and Suvahu pierced Partha with ten arrows. Partha, having the excellent ape-device on his banner, pierced all of them in return with many arrows, and also cut off, with some broad-headed shafts, their standards made of gold. And cutting off the bow of Sudhanwan, he slew with his arrows the latter's steeds. And then he cut off from his trunk the latter's head graced with turban. Upon the fall of that hero, his followers were terrified. And stricken with panic, they all fled away to where Duryodhana's forces were. Then Vasava's son, filled with wrath, smote that mighty host with incessant showers of arrows, like the sun destroying darkness by means of his incessant rays. Then when that host broke and melted away on all sides, and Arjuna was filled with wrath, the Trigartas were struck with fear. While being slaughtered by Partha with his straight shafts, they remained where they stood, deprived of their senses, like a terrified, herd of deer. Then the king of the Trigartas, filled with rage, addressed those mighty car-warrior, saying, 'Do not fly, ye heroes! It behoveth ye not to be frightened. Having, in
p. 42
the sight of all the troops, taken those terrible steps, repairing thither, what shall ye say unto the leaders of Duryodhana's host? Do we not incur ridicule in the world by such a (cowardly) act in battle? Therefore, stop ye all, and fight according to your strength.' Thus addressed, O king, those heroes, repeatedly uttering loud shouts, blew their conchs, gladdening one another. Then those Samsaptakas once more returned to the field, with the Narayana cow-herds, resolved to fade Death himself.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 19

 

 

1 [s]
      pariṇāmya niśāṃ tāṃ tu bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ
      bahūktvā ca tato rājan rājānaṃ ca suyodhanam
  2 vidhāya yogaṃ pārthena saṃśaptakagaṇaiḥ saha
      niṣkrānte ca raṇāt pārthe saṃśaptakavadhaṃ prati
  3 vyūḍhānīkas tato droṇaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahācamūm
      abhyayād bharataśreṣṭha dharmarāja jighṛkṣayā
  4 vyūhaṃ dṛṣṭvā suparṇaṃ tu bhāradvāja kṛtaṃ tadā
      vyūhena maḍalārdhena pratyavyūhad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  5 mukham āsīt suparṇasya bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ
      śiro duryodhano rājā sodaryaiḥ sānugaiḥ saha
  6 cakṣuṣī kṛtavarmā ca gautamaś cāsyatām varaḥ
      bhūtavarmā kṣemaśarmā karakarṣaś ca vīryavān
  7 kaliṅgāḥ siṃhalāḥ prācyāḥ śūrābhīrā daśerakāḥ
      śakā yavanakāmbojās tathā haṃsapadāś ca ye
  8 grīvāyāṃ śūrasenāś ca daradā madrakekayāḥ
      gajāśvarathapattyaughās tasthuḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
  9 bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyaḥ somadattaś ca bāhlikaḥ
      akṣauhiṇyā vṛtā vīrā dakṣṇiṇaṃ pakṣam āśritāḥ
  10 vindānuvindāv āvantyau kāmbojaś ca sudakṣiṇaḥ
     vāmaṃ pakṣaṃ samāśritya droṇaputrāgragāḥ sthitāḥ
 11 pṛṣṭhe kaliṅgāḥ sāmbaṣṭhā māgadhāḥ paundra madrakāḥ
     gāndhārāḥ śakuniprāgyāḥ pārvatīyā vasātayaḥ
 12 pucche vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ saputrajñāti bāndhanaḥ
     mahatyā senayā tasthau nānā dhvajasamutthayā
 13 jayadratho bhīmarathaḥ sāmyātrika sabho jayaḥ
     bhūmiṃ jayo vṛṣakrātho naiṣadhaś ca mahābalaḥ
 14 vṛtā balena mahatā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ
     vyūhasyopari te rājan sthitā yuddhaviśāradāḥ
 15 droṇena vihito vyūhaḥ padātyaśvarathadvipaiḥ
     vātoddhūtārṇavākāraḥ pravṛtta iva lakṣyate
 16 tasya pakṣaprapakṣebhyo niṣpatanti yuyutsavaḥ
     sa vidyut stanitā meghāḥ sarvadigbhya ivoṣṇage
 17 tasya prāgjyotiṣo madhye vidhivat kalpitaṃ gajam
     āsthitaḥ śuśubhe rājann aṃśumān udaye yathā
 18 mālyadāmavatā rājā śvetac chatreṇa dhāryatā
     kṛttikā yogayuktena paurṇamāsyām ivendunā
 19 nīlāñjanacaya prakhyo madāndho dvirado babhau
     abhivṛṣṭo mahāmeghair yathā syāt parvato mahān
 20 nānā nṛpatibhir vīrair vividhāyudhabhūṣaṇaiḥ
     samanvitaḥ pārvatīyaiḥ śakro devagaṇair iva
 21 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prekṣya vyūhaṃ tam atimānuṣam
     ajayyam aribhiḥ saṃkhye pārṣataṃ vākyam abravīt
 22 brāhmaṇasya vaśaṃ nāham iyām adya yathā prabho
     pārāvata savarṇāśva tathā nītir vidhīyatām
 23 [dhṛsṭa]
     droṇasya yatamānasya vaśaṃ naiṣyasi suvrata
     aham āvārayiṣyāmi droṇam adya sahānugam
 24 mayi jīvati kauravya nodvegaṃ kartum arhasi
     na hi śakto raṇe droṇo vijetuṃ māṃ kathaṃ cana
 25 [s]
     evam uktvā kiran bāṇān drupadasya suto balī
     pārāvata savarṣāśvaḥ svayaṃ droṇam upādravat
 26 aniṣṭa darśanaṃ dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumnam avasthitam
     kṣaṇenaivābhavad droṇo nātihṛṣṭamanā iva
 27 taṃ tu saṃprekṣya putras te durmukhaḥ śatrukarśanaḥ
     priyaṃ cikīrṣan droṇasya dhṛṣṭadyumnam avārayat
 28 sa saṃprahāras tumulaḥ samarūpa ivābhavat
     pārṣatasya ca śūrasya durmukhasya ca bhārata
 29 pārṣataḥ śarajālena kṣipraṃ pracchādya durmukham
     bhāradvājaṃ śaraugheṇa mahatā samavārayat
 30 droṇam āvāritaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhṛśāyastas tavātmajaḥ
     nānā liṅgaiḥ śaravrātaiḥ pārṣataṃ samamohayat
 31 tayor viṣaktayor saṃkhye pāñcālya kurumukhyayoḥ
     droṇo yaudhiṣṭhiraṃ sainyaṃ bahudhā vyadhamac charaiḥ
 32 anilena yathābhrāṇi vicchinnāni samantataḥ
     tathā pārthasya sainyāni vicchinnāni kva cit kva cit
 33 muhūrtam iva tad yuddham āsīn madhuradarśanam
     tata unmattavad rājan nirmaryādam avartata
 34 naiva sve na pare rājann ajñāyanta parasparam
     anumānena saṃjñābhir yuddhaṃ tat samavartata
 35 cūḍāmaṇiṣu niṣkeṣu bhūṣaṇeṣv asi carmasu
     teṣām ādityavarṇābhā marīcyaḥ pracakāśire
 36 tat prakīrṇapatākānāṃ rathavāraṇavājinām
     balākā śabalābhrābhaṃ dadṛśe rūpam āhave
 37 narān eva narā jaghnur udagrāś ca hayā hayān
     rathāṃś ca rathino jaghnur vāraṇā varavāraṇān
 38 samucchritapatākānāṃ gajānāṃ paramadvipaiḥ
     kṣaṇena tumulo ghoraḥ saṃgrāhaḥ samavartata
 39 teṣāṃ saṃsaktagātrāṇāṃ karṣatām itaretaram
     dantasaṃghāta saṃgharṣāt sa dhūmo 'gnir ajāyata
 40 viprakīrṇapatākās te viṣāṇa janitāgnayaḥ
     babhūvuḥ khaṃ samāsādya sa vidyuta ivāmbudāḥ
 41 vikṣaradbhir nadadbhiś ca nipatadbhiś ca vāraṇaiḥ
     saṃbabhūva mahī kīrṇā meghair dyaur iva śāradī
 42 teṣām āhanyamānānāṃ bāṇatomara vṛṣṭibhiḥ
     vāraṇānāṃ ravo jajñe meghānām iva saṃplave
 43 tomarābhihatāḥ ke cid bāṇaiś ca paramadvipāḥ
     vitresuḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ śabdam evāpare 'vrajan
 44 viṣāṇābhihatāś cāpi ke cit tatra gajā gajaiḥ
     cakrur ārtasvaraṃ ghoram utpātajaladā iva
 45 pratīpaṃ hriyamāṇāś ca vāraṇā varavāraṇaiḥ
     unmathya punar ājahruḥ preritāḥ paramāṅkuśaiḥ
 46 mahāmātrā mahāmātrais tāḍitāḥ śaratomaraiḥ
     gajebhyaḥ pṛthivīṃ jagmur muktapraharaṇāṅkuśāḥ
 47 nirmanuṣyāś ca mātaṅgā vinadantas tatas tataḥ
     chinnābhrāṇīva saṃpetuḥ saṃpraviśya parasparam
 48 hatān parivahantaś ca yantritāḥ paramāyudhaiḥ
     diśo jagmur mahānāgāḥ ke cid ekacarā iva
 49 tāḍitās tāḍyamānāś ca tomararṣṭi paraśvadhaiḥ
     petur ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā tadā viśasane gajāḥ
 50 teṣāṃ śailopamaiḥ kāryair nipatadbhiḥ samantataḥ
     āhatā sahasā bhūmiś cakampe ca nanāda ca
 51 sāditaiḥ sa gajārohaiḥ sa patākaiḥ samantataḥ
     mātaṅgaiḥ śuśubhe bhūmir vikīrṇair iva parvataiḥ
 52 gajasthāś ca mahāmātrā nirbhinnahṛdayā raṇe
     rathibhiḥ pātitā ballair vikīrṇāṅkuśa tomarāḥ
 53 krauñcavad vinadanto 'nyanārācābhihatā gajāḥ
     parān svāṃś cāpi mṛdnantaḥ paripetur diśo daśa
 54 gajāśvarathasaṃghānāṃ śarīraughasamāvṛtā
     babhūva pṛthivī rājan māṃr aśoṇita kardamā
 55 pramathya ca viṣāṇāgraiḥ samutkṣipya ca vāraṇaiḥ
     sacakrāś ca vicakrāś ca rathair eva mahārathāḥ
 56 rathāś ca rathibhir hīnā nirmanuṣyāś ca vājinaḥ
     hatārohāś ca mātaṅgā diśo jagmuḥ śarāturāḥ
 57 jaghānātra pitā putraṃ putraś ca pitaraṃ tathā
     ity āsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ na prajñāyata kiṃ cana
 58 ā gulphebhyo 'vasīdanta narāḥ śoṇitakardame
     dīpyamānaiḥ parikṣiptā dāvair iva mahādrumāḥ
 59 śoṇitaiḥ sicyamānāni vastrāṇi kavacāni ca
     chatrāṇi ca patākāś ca sarvaṃ raktam adṛśyata
 60 hayaughāś ca rathaughāś ca naraughāś ca nipātitāḥ
     saṃvṛttāḥ punar āvṛttā bahudhā rathanemibhiḥ
 61 sa gajaughamahāvegaḥ parāsu naraśaivalaḥ
     rathaughatumulāvartaḥ prababhau sainyasāgaraḥ
 62 taṃ vāhana mahānaubhir yodhā jaya dhanaiṣiṇaḥ
     avagāhyāvamajjante naiva mohaṃ pracakrire
 63 śaravarṣābhivṛṣṭeṣu yodheṣv ajita lakṣmasu
     na hi svacittatāṃ lebhe kaś cid āhata lakṣaṇaḥ
 64 vartamāne tathā yuddhe ghorarūpe bhayaṃkare
     mohayitvā parān droṇo yudhiṣṭhiram upādravan

 

SECTION XIX

"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding those Samsaptakas once more return to the field, Arjuna addressed the high-souled Vasudeva, saying, 'Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesa, towards the Samsaptakas. They will not give up the battle alive. This is what I think. Today thou shalt witness the terrible might of my arms as also of my bow. Today I shall slay all these, like Rudra slaying creatures (at the end of the Yuga).' Hearing these words, the invincible Krishna smiled, and gladdening him with auspicious speeches, conveyed Arjuna to those places whither the latter desired to go. While borne in battle by those white steeds, that car looked exceedingly resplendent like a celestial car borne along the firmament. And like Sakra's car, O king, in the battle between the gods and the Asuras in days of old, it displayed circular, forward, backward, and diverse other kinds of motion. Then the Narayanas, excited with wrath and armed with diverse weapons, surrounded Dhananjaya, covering him with showers of arrows. And, O bull of Bharata's race, they soon made Kunti's son, Dhananjaya, together with Krishna, entirely invisible in that battle. Then Phalguni, excited with wrath, doubled his energy, and quickly rubbing its string, grasped Gandiva, (firmly) in the battle. Causing wrinkles to form themselves on his brow, sure indications of wrath, the son of Pandu blew his prodigious conch, called Devadatta, and then he shot the weapon called Tvashtra that is capable of slaying large bodies of foes together. Thereupon, thousands of separate forms started into existence there (of Arjuna himself and of Vasudeva). Confounded by those diverse images after the form of Arjuna, the troops began to strike each other, each regarding the other as Arjuna's self.' 'This is Arjuna!' 'This is Govinda!' 'They are Pandu's son and he is of Yadu's race!' Uttering such exclamations, and deprived of their senses, they slew one another in that battle. Deprived of their senses by that mighty weapon, they slew one another. Indeed, those warriors (while striking one another) looked beautiful like blossoming Kinsukas. Consuming those thousands of arrows shot by them, that (mighty) weapon despatched those heroes to Yama's abode. Then Vibhatsu, laughing, crushed with his arrows the Lalithya, the Malava, the Mavellaka,
p. 43
and the Trigarta warriors. While those Kshatriyas, urged by fate, were thus slaughtered by that hero, they shot at Partha showers of diverse kinds of arrows. Overwhelmed with those terrible showers of arrows, neither Arjuna, nor his car, nor Kesava, could any longer be seen. Seeing their arrows strike the aim, they uttered joyous shouts. And regarding the two Krishnas as already slain, they joyously waved their garments in the air. And those heroes also blew their conchs and beat their drums and cymbals by thousands, and uttered many leonine shouts, O sire! Then Krishna, covered with sweat, and much weakened, addressed Arjuna, saying, 'Where art thou, O Partha! I do not see thee. Art thou alive, O slayer of foes?' Hearing those words of his, Dhananjaya with great speed dispelled, by means of the Vayavya weapon, that arrowy downpour shot by his foes. Then the illustrious Vayu (the presiding deity of that mighty weapon) bore away crowds of Samsaptakas with steeds and elephants and cars and weapons, as if these were dry leaves of trees. Borne away by the wind, O king, they looked highly beautiful, like flights of birds, O monarch, flying away from trees. Then Dhananjaya, having afflicted them thus, with great speed struck hundreds and thousands of them with sharp shafts. And he cut off their heads and also hands with weapons in their grasp, by means of his broad-headed arrows. And he felled on the ground, with his shafts, their thighs, resembling the trunks of elephants. And some were wounded on their backs, arms and eyes. And thus Dhananjaya deprived his foes of diverse limbs, and cars decked and equipped according to rule, and looking like the vapour edifices in the welkin, he cut off into fragments, by means of his arrows, their riders and steeds and elephants. And in many places crowds of cars, whose standards had been cut off, looked like forests of headless palmyras. And elephants with excellent weapons, banners, hooks, and standards fell down like wooded mountains, split with Sakra's thunder. Graced with tails, looking like those of the yak, and covered with coats of mail, and with their entrails and eyes dragged out, steeds along with their riders, rolled on the ground, slain by means of Partha's shafts. No longer holding in their grasp the swords that had served for their nails, with their coats of mail tom, and the joints of their bones broken, foot-soldiers with their vital limbs cut open, helplessly laid themselves down on the field, slain by means of Arjuna's arrows. And the field of battle assumed an awful aspect in consequence of those warriors slain, or in the course of being slaughtered, falling and fallen, standing or in course of being whirled along. And the air was purified of the dust that had arisen, by means of the showers of blood (caused by Arjuna's arrows). And the earth, strewn with hundreds of headless trunks, became impassable. And the car of Vibhatsu in that battle shone fiercely like the car of Rudra himself, while engaged at the end of the Yuga in destroying all creatures. While slaughtered by Partha thus, those warriors, with their steeds and cars and elephants in great distress, ceased not to rush against him; though, deprived of life one after another, they had to become the guests of Sakra. Then the field of battle, O chief of the
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[paragraph continues] Bharatas, strewn with mighty car-warriors deprived of life, looked dreadful like Yama's domains, abounding with the spirits of the departed creatures. Meanwhile, when Arjuna was furiously engaged (with the Samsaptakas), Drona, at the head of his forces arrayed for battle, rushed against Yudhishthira, and many warriors, accomplished in smiting and properly arrayed, followed him, actuated by the desire of seizing Yudhishthira. The battle then that ensued became exceedingly fierce.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 20

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tato yudhiṣṭhiro droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvāntikam upāgatam
      mahatā śaravarṣeṇa pratyagṛhṇād abhītavat
  2 tato halahalāśabda āsīd yaudhiṣṭhire bale
      jighṛkṣati mahāsiṃhe gajānām iva yūthapam
  3 dṛṣṭvā droṇaṃ tataḥ śūraḥ satyajit satyavikramaḥ
      yudhiṣṭhiraṃ pariprepsum ācāryaṃ samupādravat
  4 tata ācārya pāñcālyau yuyudhāte parasparam
      vikṣobhayantau tat sainyam indra vairocanāv iva
  5 tataḥ satyajitaṃ tīkṣṇair daśabhir marmabhedibhiḥ
      avidhyac chīghram ācāryaś chittvāsya sa śaraṃ dhanuḥ
  6 sa śīghrataram ādāya dhanur anyat pratāpavān
      droṇaṃ so 'bhijaghānāśu viṃśadbhiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ
  7 jñātvā satyajitā droṇaṃ grasyamānam ivāhave
      vṛkaḥ śaraśatair tīkṣṇaiḥ pāñcālyo droṇam ardayat
  8 saṃchādyamānaṃ samare droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāratham
      cukruśuḥ pāṇḍavā rājan vastrāṇi dudhuvuś ca ha
  9 vṛkas tu paramakruddho droṇaṃ ṣaṣṭyā stanāntare
      vivyādha balavān rājaṃs tad adbhutam ivābhavat
  10 droṇas tu śaravarṣeṇa chādyamāno mahārathaḥ
     vegaṃ cakre mahāvegaḥ krodhād udvṛtya cakṣuṣī
 11 tataḥ satyajitaś cāpaṃ chittvā droṇo vṛkasya ca
     ṣaḍbhiḥ sasūtaṃ sahayaṃ śarair droṇo 'vadhīd vṛkam
 12 athānyad dhanur ādāya satyajid vegavattaram
     sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ viśikhair droṇaṃ vivyādha sa dhvajam
 13 sa tan na mamṛṣe droṇaḥ pāñcālyenārdanaṃ mṛdhe
     tatas tasya vināśāya sa tvaraṃ vyasṛjac charān
 14 hayān dhvajaṃ dhanur muṣṭim ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī
     avākirat tato droṇaḥ śaravarṣaiḥ sahasraśaḥ
 15 tathā saṃchidyamāneṣu kārmukeṣu punaḥ punaḥ
     pāñcālyaḥ paramāstrajñaḥ śoṇāśvaṃ samayodhayat
 16 sa satyajitam ālakṣya tathodīrṇaṃ mahāhave
     ardhacandreṇa ciccheda śiras tasya mahātmanaḥ
 17 tasmin hate mahāmātre pāñcālānāṃ ratharṣabhe
     apāyāj javanair aśvair droṇāt trasto yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 18 pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāś cedikārūṣa kosalāḥ
     yudhiṣṭhiram udīkṣanto hṛṣṭā droṇam upādravan
 19 tato yudhiṣṭhirā prepsur ācāryaḥ śatrupūgahā
     vyadhamat tāny anīkāni tūlarāśim ivānilaḥ
 20 nirhadantam anīkāni tāni tāni punaḥ punaḥ
     droṇaṃ matsyād avarajaḥ śatānīko 'bhyavartata
 21 sūryaraśmi pratīkāśaiḥ karmāra parijārjitaiḥ
     ṣaḍbhiḥ samūtaṃ sahayaṃ droṇaṃ viddhvānadad bhṛśam
 22 tasya nānadato droṇaḥ śiraḥ kāyāt sakuṇḍalam
     kṣureṇāpāharat tūrṇaṃ tato matsyāḥ pradudruvuḥ
 23 matsyāñ jitvājayac cedīn kārūṣān kekayān api
     pāñcālān sṛñjayān pāṇḍūn bhāradvājaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
 24 taṃ dahantam anīkāni kruddham agniṃ yathā vanam
     dṛṣṭvā rukmarathaṃ kruddhaṃ samakampanta sṛñjayāḥ
 25 uttamaṃ hy ādadhānasya dhanur asyāśu kāriṇaḥ
     jyāghoṣo nighnato 'mitrān dikṣu sarvāsu śuśruve
 26 nāgān aśvān padātīṃś ca rathino gajasādinaḥ
     raudrā hastavatā muktāḥ pramathnanti sma sāyakāḥ
 27 nānadyamānaḥ parjanyo miśravāto himātyaye
     aśmavarṣam ivāvarṣat pareṣāṃ bhayam ādadhat
 28 sarvā diśaḥ samacarat sainyaṃ vikṣobhayann iva
     balī śūro maheṣvāso mitrāṇām abhayaṃkaraḥ
 29 tasya vidyud ivābhreṣu cāpaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam
     dikṣu sarvāsv apaśyāma droṇasyāmita tejasaḥ
 30 droṇas tu pāṇḍavānīke cakāra kadanaṃ mahat
     yathā daitya gaṇe viṣṇuḥ surāsuranamaskṛtaḥ
 31 sa śūra satyavāk prājño balavān satyavikramaḥ
     mahānubhāvaḥ kālānte raudrīṃ bhīru vibhīṣaṇām
 32 kavacormidhvajāvartāṃ martyakūlāpahāriṇīm
     gajavājimahāgrāhām asi mīnāṃ durāsadā
 33 vīrāsthi śarkarāṃ raudrāṃ bherī murajakacchapām
     carma varma plavāṃ ghorāṃ keśaśaivalaśāḍvalām
 34 śaraughiṇīṃ dhanuḥ srotāṃ bāhupannaga saṃkulām
     raṇabhūmivahāṃ ghorāṃ kurusṛñjaya vāhinīm
     manuṣyaśīrṣa pāṣāṇāṃ śaktimīnāṃ gadoḍupām
 35 uṣṇīṣa phenavasanāṃ niṣkīrṇāntra sarīsṛpām
     vīrāpahāriṇīm ugrāṃ māṃsaśoṇitakardamām
 36 hastigrāhāṃ ketuvṛkṣāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ nimajjanīm
     krūrāṃ śarīrasaṃghāṭāṃ sādinakrāṃ duratyayām
     droṇaḥ prāvartayat tatra nadīm antakagāminīm
 37 kravyādagaṇasaṃghuṣṭāṃ śvaśṛgāla gaṇāyutām
     niṣevitāṃ mahāraudraiḥ piśitāśaiḥ samantataḥ
 38 taṃ dahantam anīkāni rathodāraṃ kṛtāntavat
     sarvato 'bhyadravan droṇaṃ kuntīputra purogamāḥ
 39 tāṃs tu śūrān maheṣvāsāṃs tāvakābhyudyatāyudhāḥ
     rājāno rājaputrāś ca samantāt paryavārayan
 40 tato droṇaḥ satyasaṃdhaḥ prabhinna iva kuñjaraḥ
     abhyatītya rathānīkaṃ dṛḍhasenam apātayat
 41 tato rājānam āsādya praharantam abhītavat
     avidhyan navabhiḥ kṣemaṃ sa hataḥ prāpatad rathāt
 42 sa madhyaṃ prāpya sainyānāṃ sarvāḥ pravicaran diśaḥ
     trātā hy abhavad anyeṣāṃ na trātavyaḥ kathaṃ cana
 43 śikhaṇḍinaṃ dvādaśabhir viṃśatyā cottamaujasā
     vasu dānaṃ ca bhallena preṣayad yamasādanam
 44 aśītyā kṣatravarmāṇaṃ ṣaḍviṃśatyā sudakṣiṇam
     kṣatradevaṃ tu bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat
 45 yudhāmanyuṃ catuḥṣaṣṭyā triṃśatā caiva sātyakim
     viddhvā rukmarathas tūrṇaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat
 46 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kṣipraṃ kitavo rājasattamaḥ
     apāyāj javanair aśvaiḥ pāñcālyo droṇam abhyayāt
 47 taṃ droṇaṃ sadhanuṣkaṃ tu sāśvayantāram akṣiṇot
     sa hataḥ prāpatad bhūmau rathāj jyotir ivāmbarāt
 48 tasmin hate rājaputre pāñcālānāṃ yaśaḥ kare
     hatadroṇaṃ hatadroṇam ity āsīt tumulaṃ mahat
 49 tāṃs tathā bhṛśasaṃkruddhān pāñcālān matsyakekayān
     sṛñjayān pāṇḍavāṃś caiva droṇo vyakṣobhayad balī
 50 sātyakiṃ cekitānaṃ ca dhṛṣṭadyumna vikhaṇḍinau
     vārdhakṣemiṃ citrasenaṃ senā binduṃ suvarcasam
 51 etāṃś cānyāṃś ca subahūn nānājanapadeśvarān
     sarvān droṇo 'jayad yuddhe kurubhiḥ parivāritaḥ
 52 tāvakās tu mahārāja jayaṃ labdhvā mahāhave
     pāṇḍaveyān raṇe jagnur dravamāṇān samantataḥ
 53 te dānavā ivendreṇa vadhyamānā mahātmanā
     pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ samakampanta bhārata

 

SECTION XX

"Sanjaya said, 'Having passed the night, that mighty car-warrior viz., Bharadwaja's son, addressed Suyodhana, O monarch, saying, 'I am thine! 1 I have made arrangements for Partha's encounter with the Samsaptaka.' 2 After Partha went out for slaying the Samsaptakas, Drona then, at the head of his troops arrayed for battle, proceeded, O chief of the Bharatas, for seizing king Yudhishthira the just. Seeing that Drona had arrayed his forces in the form of a Garuda, Yudhishthira disposed his troops in counter array in the form of a semi-circle. In the mouth of that Garuda was the mighty car-warrior Drona himself. And its head was formed by king Duryodhana, surrounded by his uterine brothers. And Kritavarman and the illustrious Kripa formed the two eyes of that Garuda. And Bhutasarman, and Kshemasarman, and the valiant Karakaksha, and the Kalingas, the Singhalas, the Easterners, the Sudras, the Abhiras, the Daserakas, the Sakas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas, the Hangsapadas, the Surasenas, the Daradas, the Madras, and the Kalikeyas, with hundreds and thousands of elephants, steeds, cars, and foot-soldiers were stationed at its neck. And Bhurisravah. and Salya, and Somadatta, and Valhika, these heroes, surrounded by a full Akshauhini, took up their position in the right wing. And Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas, stationed themselves in the left wing at the head, however, of Drona's son Aswatthaman. In the back (of that Garuda) were the Kalingas, the Amvashthas, the Magadhas, the Paundras, the Madrakas, the Gandharas, the Sakunas, the Easterners, the Mountaineers, and the Vasatis. In the tail stood Vikartana's son Karna, with his sons, kinsmen and friends, and surrounded by a large force raised from diverse realms, Jayadratha, and Bhimaratha, and Sampati, and the Jays, and the Bhojas, and Bhuminjaya, and Vrisha, and Kratha, and the mighty ruler of the Nishadhas, all accomplished in battle, surrounded by a large host and keeping the region of Brahma before their eyes, stood, O king, in the heart of that array. That array, formed by Drona, in consequence of its foot-soldiers, steeds, cars and elephants, seemed to
p. 45
surge like the tempest-tossed ocean (as it advanced to battle). Warriors, desirous of battle, began to start out from the wings and sides of that array, like roaring clouds charged with lightning rushing from all sides (in the welkin) at summer. And in the midst of that army, the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, mounted on his duly equipped elephant, looked resplendent, O king, like the rising sun. Decked, O monarch, in garlands of flower, and with a white umbrella held over his head, he looked like the full moon when in conjunction with the constellation Krittika. And blind with the wine-like exudation, the elephant, looking like a mass of black antimony, shone like a huge mountain washed by mighty clouds (with their showers). And the ruler of the Pragjyotishas was surrounded by many heroic kings of the hilly countries, armed with diverse weapons, like Sakra himself surrounded by the celestials. Then Yudhishthira, beholding that superhuman array incapable of being vanquished by foes in battle, addressed Prishata's son, saying, 'O lord, O thou that ownest steeds white as pigeons, let such measures be adopted that I may not be taken a prisoner by the Brahmana.'
"Dhrishtadyumna said, 'O thou of excellent vows, never shalt thou be placed under the power of Drona, however much may he strive. Even I shall check Drona today with all his followers. As long as I am alive, O thou of Kuru's race, it behoveth thee not to feel any anxiety. Under no circumstances will Drona be able to vanquish me in battle.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Having said these words, the mighty son of Drupada owning steeds of the hue of pigeons, scattering his shafts, rushed himself at Drona. Beholding that (to him) evil omen in the form of Dhrishtadyumna stationed before him, Drona soon became exceedingly cheerless. Beholding this, that crusher of foes, viz., thy son Durmukha, desirous of doing what was agreeable to Drona, began to resist Dhrishtadyumna. Then a terrible and a fierce battle took place, O Bharata, between the brave son of Prishata and thy son, Durmukha. Then Prishata's son, quickly covering Durmukha, with a shower of arrows, checked Bharadwaja's son also with a thick arrowy downpour. Beholding Drona checked, thy son Durmukha quickly rushed at Prishata's son and confounded him with clouds of arrows of diverse kinds. And while the prince of the Panchalas and that foremost one of Kuru's race were thus engaged in battle, Drona consumed many sections of Yudhishthira's host. As a mass of clouds is dispersed in different directions by the wind, even so was Yudhisthira's host, in many parts of the field, scattered by Drona. For only a short while did that battle look like an ordinary combat. And then, O king, it became an encounter of infuriated persons in which no consideration was shown for anybody. And the combatants could no longer distinguish their own men from the foe. And the battle raged on, the warriors being guided by inferences and watch-words. Upon the gems on their headgears, upon their necklaces and other ornaments, and upon their coats of mail, rays of light like those of the Sun seemed to fall and play. And cars and elephants and steeds, decked with streaming banners, seemed in that
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battle to resemble masses of clouds with flocks of cranes under them. And men slew men, and steeds of fiery metal slew steeds, and car-warriors slew car-warriors and elephants slew elephants. And soon a fierce and terrible encounter took place between elephants with tall standards on their backs and mighty compeers (rushing against them). All in consequence of those huge creatures rubbing their bodies against those of hostile compeers and tearing one another (with their tusks), fires mixed with smoke were generated there by (such) friction of countless tusks with tusks. Shorn of the standards (on their backs), those elephants, in consequence of the fires caused by their tusks, looked like masses of clouds in the welkin charged with lightning. And the earth, strewn with elephants dragging (hostile compeers) and roaring and falling down, looked beautiful like the autumnal sky overspread with clouds. And the roars of those elephants while they were being slaughtered with showers of shafts and lances, sounded like the roll of clouds in the rainy season. And some huge elephants, wounded with lances and shafts, became panic-stricken. And others amongst those creatures, left the field with loud cries. 1 And some elephants there, struck by others with their tusks, uttered fierce yells of distress that resounded like the roll of the all-destroying clouds at the end of the Yuga. And some, turned back by huge antagonists, returned to the charge, urged on by sharp hooks. And crushing hostile ranks, they began to kill all who came in their way. And elephant-drivers, attacked by elephant-drivers with arrows and lances, fell down from the backs of their beasts, their weapons and hooks being loosened from their hands. And many elephants, without riders on their backs, wandered hither and thither like clouds torn from mightier masses, and then fell down, encountering one another. And some huge elephants, bearing on their backs slain and fallen warriors, or those whose weapons had fallen down, wandered in all directions singly. 2 And in the midst of that carnage, some elephants attacked, or in course of being attacked with lances, swords and battle axes, fell down in course of that awful carnage, uttering sounds of distress. And the earth, suddenly struck with the falling bodies, huge as hills, of those creatures all around trembled and emitted sounds. And with those elephants slain along with their riders and lying all about with the standards on their backs, the earth looked beautiful as if strewn with hills. And the drivers on the backs of many elephants, with their breasts pierced by car-warriors with broad-headed shafts in that battle, fell down, their lances and hooks loosened from their grasp. And some elephants, struck with long shafts, uttered crane like cries and ran in all directions, crushing friends and foes by trampling them to death. And covered with countless bodies of elephants and steeds and car-warriors, the earth, O king, became miry with flesh and blood. And large cars with wheels and many without wheels, crushed by
p. 47
the points of their tusks, were thrown up by elephants, with the warriors mounted on them. Cars were seen deprived of warriors. And riderless steeds and elephants ran in all directions, afflicted with wounds. And there father slew his son, and son slew his sire, for the battle that took place was exceedingly fierce and nothing could be distinguished. Men sank ankle-deep in the gory mire and looked like tall trees whose lower parts were swallowed up in a blazing forest-conflagration. And robes and coats of mail and umbrellas and standards having been dyed with blood, everything seemed to be bloody on the field. Large bodies of slain steeds, of cars, and of men, were again cut into fragments by the rolling of car-wheels. And that sea of troops having elephants for its current, and slain men for its floating moss and weeds, and cars for its fierce, eddies, looked terribly grim. Warriors, having steeds and elephants for their large vessels, and desirous of victory as their wealth, plunged into that sea, and instead of sinking in it endeavoured to deprive their enemies of their senses. When all the warriors, each bearing particular signs, were covered with arrowy showers, there was none amongst them lost heart, though all were deprived of their signs. In that fierce and awful battle, Drona confounding the senses of his foes, (at last) rushed at Yudhishthira.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 21

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      bhāradvājena bhagneṣu pāṇḍaveṣu mahāmṛdhe
      pāñcāleṣu ca sarveṣu kaś cid anyo 'bhyavartata
  2 āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā kṣatriyāṇāṃ yaśaskarīm
      asevitāṃ kāpuruṣaiḥ sevitāṃ puruṣarṣabhaiḥ
  3 sa hi vīro naraḥ sūta yo bhagneṣu nivartate
      aho nāsīt pumān kaś cid dṛṣṭvā droṇaṃ vyavasthitam
  4 jṛmbhamāṇam iva vyāghraṃ prabhinnam iva kuñjaram
      tyajantam āhave prāṇān saṃnaddhaṃ citrayodhinam
  5 maheṣvāsaṃ naravyāghraṃ dviṣatām aghavardhanam
      kṛtajñaṃ satyanirataṃ duryodhanahitaiṣiṇam
  6 bhāradvājaṃ tathānīke dṛṣṭvā śūram avasthitam
      ke vīrāḥ saṃnyavartanta tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  7 [s]
      tān dṛṣṭvā calitān saṃkhye praṇunnān droṇa sāyakaiḥ
      pāñcālān pāṇḍavān matsyān sṛñjayāṃś cedikekayān
  8 droṇa cāpavimuktena śaraugheṇāsu hāriṇā
      sindhor iva mahaughena hriyamāṇān yathā plavān
  9 kauravāḥ siṃhanādena nānāvādya svanena ca
      rathadvipa narāśaiś ca sarvataḥ paryavārayan
  10 tān paśyan sainyamadhyastho rājā svajanasaṃvṛtaḥ
     duryodhano 'bravīt karṇaṃ prahṛṣṭaḥ prahasann iva
 11 paśya rādheya pāñcālān praṇunnān droṇa sāyakaiḥ
     siṃheneva mṛgān vanyāṃs trāsitān dṛḍhadhanvanā
 12 naite jātu punar yuddham īheyur iti me matiḥ
     yathā tu bhagnā droṇena vāteneva mahādrumāḥ
 13 ardyamānāḥ śarair ete rukmapuṅkhair mahātmanā
     pathā naikena gacchanti ghūrṇamānās tatas tataḥ
 14 saṃniruddhāś ca kauravyair droṇena ca mahātmanā
     ete 'nye maṇḍalībhūtāḥ pāvakeneva kuñjarāḥ
 15 bhramarair iva cāviṣṭā droṇasya niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     anyonyaṃ samalīyanta palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ
 16 eṣa bhīmo dṛḍhakrodho hīnaḥ pāṇḍava sṛñjayaiḥ
     madīyair āvṛto yodhaiḥ karṇa tarjayatīva mām
 17 vyaktaṃ droṇamayaṃ lokam adya paśyati durmatiḥ
     nirāśo jīvitān nūnam adya rājyāc ca pāṇḍavaḥ
 18 [karṇa]
     naiṣa jātu mahābāhur jīvan nāhavam utsṛjet
     na cemān puruṣavyāghra siṃhanādān viśakṣyate
 19 na cāpi pāṇḍavā yuddhe bhajyerann iti me matiḥ
     śūrāś ca balavantaś ca kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ
 20 viṣāgnidyūtasaṃkleśān vanavāsaṃ ca pāṇḍavāḥ
     smaramāṇā na hāsyanti saṃgrāmam iti me matiḥ
 21 nikṛto hi mahābāhur amitaujā vṛkodaraḥ
     varān varān hi kaunteyo rathodārān haniṣyati
 22 asinā dhanuṣā śaktyā hayair nāgair narai rathaiḥ
     āyasena ca daṇḍena vrātān vrātān haniṣyati
 23 tam ete cānuvartante sātyakipramukhā rathāḥ
     pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ pāṇḍavāś ca viśeṣataḥ
 24 śūrāś ca balavantaś ca vikrāntāś ca mahārathāḥ
     viśeṣataś ca bhīmena saṃrabdhenābhicoditāḥ
 25 te droṇam abhivartante sarvataḥ kurupuṃgavāḥ
     vṛkodaraṃ parīpsantaḥ sūryam abhragaṇā iva
 26 ekāyanagatā hy ete pīḍayeyur yatavratam
     arakṣyamāṇaṃ śalabhā yathā dīpaṃ mumūrṣavaḥ
     asaṃśayaṃ kṛtāstrāś ca paryāptāś cāpi vāraṇe
 27 atibhāraṃ tv ahaṃ manye bhāradvāje samāhitam
     te śīghram anugacchāmo yatra droṇo vyavasthitaḥ
     kākā iva mahānāgaṃ mā vai hanyur yatavratam
 28 [s]
     rādheyasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājā duryodhanas tadā
     bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito rājan prāyād droṇa rathaṃ prati
 29 tatrārāvo mahān āsīd ekaṃ droṇaṃ jighāṃsatām
     pāṇḍavānāṃ nivṛttānāṃ nānāvarṇair hayottamaiḥ

 

SECTION XXI

"Sanjaya continued, 'Then Drona, beholding Yudhishthira near him fearlessly received him with a thick shower of arrows. And there arose a loud noise among the troops of Yudhishthira's army like what is made by the elephants belonging to a herd when their leader is attacked by a mighty lion. Beholding Drona, the brave Satyajit, of prowess incapable of being baffled, rushed at the Preceptor who was desirous of seizing Yudhishthira. The Preceptor and the Panchala prince, both endued with great might, fought with each other, agitating each other's troops, like Indra and Vali. Then Satyajit, of prowess incapable of being baffled, invoking a mighty weapon, pierced Drona with keen-pointed arrows. And Satyajit shot at Drona's charioteer five arrows, fatal as snake-poison and each looking like Death himself. The charioteer, thus struck, became deprived of his senses. Then Satyajit quickly Pierced Drona's steeds with ten shafts; and filled with rage, he next pierced each of his Parshni drivers with ten shafts. And then he coursed at the head of his troops on his car in a circular motion. Excited with wrath, he cut off the standard of Drona, that crushers of foes Drona then, that chastiser of foes, beholding these feats of his foe in battle, mentally resolved to despatch him to the other world. 1 The Preceptor,
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cutting off Satyajit's bow with arrow fixed thereon, quickly pierced him with ten arrows capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Thereupon, the valiant Satyajit, quickly taking up another bow, struck Drona, O king, with thirty arrows winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Beholding Drona (thus) encountered in battle by Satyajit, the Pandayas, O king, shouted in joy and waved their garments. Then the mighty Vrika, O king, excited with great wrath, pierced Drona in the centre of the chest with sixty arrows. That feat seemed highly wonderful., Then that mighty car-warrior, viz., Drona, of great impetuosity, covered with the arrowy showers (of his foes) opened his eyes wide and mustered all his energy. Then cutting off the bows of both Satyajit and Vrika, Drona, with six shafts slew Vrika with his charioteer and steeds. Then Satyajit, taking up another bow that was tougher, pierced Drona with his steeds, his charioteer, and his standard. Thus afflicted in battle by the prince of the Panchalas, Drona could not brook that act. For the destruction then of his foe, he quickly shot his arrows (at him). Drona then covered with incessant showers of arrows his antagonist's steeds and standards as also the handle of his bow, and both his Parshni drivers. But though his bows were (thus) repeatedly cut off, the prince of the Panchalas conversant with the highest weapons continued to battle with him of red steeds. Beholding Satyajit swell with energy in that dreadful combat, Drona cut off that illustrious warrior's head with a crescent-shaped arrow. 1 Upon the slaughter of that foremost of combatants, that mighty car-warrior among the Panchalas, Yudhishthira, from fear of Drona, fled away, (borne) by fleet steeds. Then the Panchalas, the Kekayas, the Matsyas, the Chedis, the Karushas and the Kosalas, seeing Drona, rushed at him, desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira. The Preceptor, however, that slayer of large numbers of foes, desirous of seizing Yudhishthira, began to consume those divisions, like fire consuming heaps of cotton. Then Satanika, the younger brother of the ruler of the Matsyas, rushed at Drona who was thus engaged in incessantly destroying those divisions (of the Pandava host). And Satanika, piercing Drona along with his driver and steeds with six shafts, bright as the rays of the sun and polished by his hands of their forger, uttered loud shouts. And engaged in a cruel act, and endeavouring to accomplish what was difficult of attainment, he covered Bharadwaja's son, that mighty car-warrior with showers of arrows. 2 Then Drona, with an arrow sharp as razor, quickly cut off from his trunk the head, decked with ear-rings of Satanika, shouting at him. Thereupon, the Matsya warriors all fled away. Having vanquished the Matsyas, the son of Bharadwaja then defeated the Chedis, the Karushas, the Kaikeyas, the Panchalas, the Srinjayas. and the Pandus repeatedly. Beholding that hero of the golden car, excited with rage and consuming their divisions, like a fire consuming a forest, the Srinjayas trembled (with fear). Endued with
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great activity and slaughtering the foe ceaselessly, the twang of the bow-string, as he stretched his bow, was heard in all directions. Fierce arrows shot by that warrior endued with great lightness of hand, crushed elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers and car-warriors and elephant-riders. As a mighty mass of roaring clouds in summer with violent winds (blowing) poureth a shower of hail-stones, so did Drona pour his arrowy showers and inspired fear in the hearts of his foes. That mighty hero, that great bowman, that dispeller of the fears of his friends, careered in all directions (of the field) agitating the (hostile) host. The bow, decked with gold, of Drona of immeasurable energy, was seen in all directions like the flashes of lightning in the clouds. The beautiful altar on his banner, as he careered in battle, O Bharata, was seen to resemble a crest or Himavat. The slaughter that Drona caused among the Pandava troops was very great, resembling that caused by Vishnu himself, the adored of both the gods and Asuras, among the Daitya host. Heroic, truthful in speech, endued with great wisdom and might, and possessed of prowess incapable of being baffled, the illustrious Drona caused a river to flow there that was fierce and capable of striking the timid with fear. Coats of mail formed its waves, and standards its eddies. And it carried away (as it ran) large numbers of mortal creatures. And elephants and steeds constituted its great alligators, and swords formed its fishes. And it was incapable of being easily crossed over. The bones of brave warriors formed its pebbles, and drums and cymbals its tortoises. And shields and armour formed its boats, and the hair of warriors its floating moss and weeds. And arrows constituted its wavelets and bows its current. And the arms of the combatants formed its snakes. 1 And that river of fierce current, running over the field of battle, bore away both the Kurus and the Srinjayas. And the heads of human beings, constituted its stones, and their thighs its fishes. And maces constituted the rafts (by which many sought to cross it). And head-gears formed the forth that covered its surface, and the entrails (of animals) its reptiles. Awful (in mien), it bore away heroes (to the other world). And blood and flesh constituted its mire. And elephants formed its crocodiles, and standards, the trees (on its banks). Thousands of Kshatriyas sank in it. Fierce, clogged (dead) bodies, and having horse-soldiers and elephant-warriors for its sharks, it was extremely difficult to cross it. And that river ran towards the abode of Yama. And it abounded with Rakshasas and dogs and jackals. And it v as haunted by fierce cannibals all around.
"Then many Pandava warriors, headed by Kunti's son, rushing at Drona, that mighty car-warrior consuming their divisions like Death himself, surrounded him on all sides. Indeed, those brave warriors completely encompassed Drona who was scorching everything around him like the sun himself scorching the world with his rays. Then the
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kings and the princes of thy army, with upraised weapons, all rushed for supporting that hero and great bowman. Then Sikhandin pierced Drona with five straight arrows. And Kshatradharman pierced him with twenty arrows, and Vasudeva with five. And Uttamaujas pierced him with three arrows, and Kshatradeva with five. And Satyaki pierced him in that battle with a hundred arrows, and Yudhamanyu with eight. And Yudhishthira pierced Drona with a dozen shafts, and Dhrishtadyumna pierced him with ten, and Chekitana with three. Then Drona, of unbaffled aim and resembling an elephant with rent temples, getting over the car-division (of the Pandavas), overthrew Dridhasena. Approaching then king Kshema who was battling fearlessly, he struck him with nine arrows. Thereupon, Kshema, deprived of life, fell down from his car. Getting then into the midst of the (hostile) troops, he careered in all directions, protecting others, but himself in no need of Protection. He then pierced Sikhandin with twelve arrows, and Uttamaujas with twenty. And he despatched Vasudeva with a broad-headed arrow to the abode of Yama. And he pierced Kshemavarman with eighty arrows, and Sudakshina with six and twenty. And he felled Kshatradeva with a broad-headed arrow from his niche in the car. And having pierced Yudhamanyu with sixty-four arrows and Satyaki with thirty, Drona, of the golden car, quickly approached Yudhishthira. Then Yudhishthira, that best of kings, quickly fled away from the preceptor, borne by his fleet steeds. Then Panchala rushed at Drona. Drona slew the prince, cutting off his bow, and felling his steeds and charioteer along with him. Deprived of life, the prince fell down on the earth from his car, like a luminary loosened from the firmament. Upon the fall of that illustrious prince of the Panchalas, loud cries were heard thereof, 'Slay Drona, Slay Drona!' The mighty Drona then began to crush and mangle the Panchalas, the Matsyas, the Kaikeyas, the Srinjayas, and the Pandavas, all excited with rage. And supported by the Kurus, Drona, then vanquished Satyaki and Chekitana's son, and Senavindu, and Suvarchas, all these and numerous other kings. Thy warriors, O king, having obtained the victory in that great battle, slew the Pandavas as they flew away in all directions. And the Panchalas, the Kaikeyas and the Matsyas, thus slaughtered on all sides like the Danavas by Indra, began to tremble (with fear).'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 22

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      sarveṣām eva me brūhi rathacihnāni saṃśaya
      ye droṇam abhyavartanta kruddhā bhīma purogamāḥ
  2 [s]
      ṛśya varṇair hayair dṛṣṭvā vyāyacchantaṃ vṛkodaram
      rajatāśvas tataḥ śūraḥ śaineyaḥ saṃnyavartata
  3 darśanīyās tu kāmbojāḥ śukapatraparicchadāḥ
      vahanto nakulaṃ śīghraṃ tāvakān abhidudruvuḥ
  4 kṛṣṇās tu meghasaṃkāśāḥ sahadevam udāyudham
      bhīmavegā naravyāghram avahan vātaraṃhasaḥ
  5 hemottama praticchannair hayair vātasamair jave
      abhyavartanta sainyāni sarvāṇy eva yudhiṣṭhiram
  6 rājñas tv anantaraṃ rājā pāñcālyo drupado 'bhavat
      jātarūpamayac chatraḥ sarvaiḥ svair abhirakṣitaḥ
  7 lalāmair haribhir yuktaiḥ sarvaśabdakṣamair yudhi
      rājñāṃ madhye maheṣvāsaḥ śāntabhīr abhyavartata
  8 taṃ virāṭo 'nvayāt paścāt saha śūrair mahārathaiḥ
      kekayāś ca śikhaṇḍī ca dhṛṣṭaketus tathaiva ca
      svaiḥ svaiḥ sainyaiḥ parivṛtā matsyarājānam anvayuḥ
  9 te tu pāṭala puṣpāṇāṃ samavarṇā hayottamāḥ
      vahamānā vyarājanta matsyasyāmitra ghātinaḥ
  10 hāridra samavarṣās tu javanā hemamālinaḥ
     putraṃ virāṭa rājasya sa tvarāḥ samudāvahan
 11 indragopaka varṇais tu bhrātaraḥ pañca kekayāḥ
     jātarūpasamābhāsaḥ seve lohitaka dhvajāḥ
 12 te hemamālinaḥ śūrāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ
     varṣanta iva jīmūtāḥ pratyadṛśyanta daṃśitāḥ
 13 āmapātranibhākārāḥ pāñcālyam amitaujasam
     dāntās tāmrāruṇā yuktāḥ śikhaṇḍinam udāvahan
 14 tathā dvādaśa sāhasrāḥ pāñcālānāṃ mahārathāḥ
     teṣāṃ tu ṣaṭ sahasrāṇi ye śikhaṇḍinam anvayuḥ
 15 putraṃ tu śiśupālasya narasiṃhasya māriṣa
     ākrīḍanto vahanti sma sāraṅgaśabalā hayāḥ
 16 dhṛṣṭaketuś ca cedīnām ṛṣabho 'tibaloditaḥ
     kāmbojaiḥ śabalair aśvair abhyavartata durjayaḥ
 17 bṛhat kṣatraṃ tu kaikeyaṃ sukumāraṃ hayottamāḥ
     palāla dhūmavarṇābhāḥ saindhavāḥ śīghram āvahan
 18 mallikākṣāḥ padmavarṇā bāhlijātāḥ svalaṃkṛtāḥ
     śūraṃ śikhaṇḍinaḥ putraṃ kṣatradevam udāvahan
 19 yuvānam avahan yuddhe krauñcavarṇā hayottamāḥ
     kāśyasyābhibhuvaḥ putraṃ sukumāraṃ mahāratham
 20 śvetās tu prativindhyaṃ taṃ kṛṣṇa grīvā manojavāḥ
     yantuḥ preṣyakarā rājan rājaputram udāvahan
 21 suta somaṃ tu yaṃ dhaumyāt pārthaḥ putram ayācata
     māṣapuṣpasavarṇās tam avahan vājino raṇe
 22 sahasrasomapratimā babhūvuḥ; pure kurūṇām udayendu nāmni
     tasmiñ jātaḥ somasaṃkrandamadhye; yasmāt tasmāt suta somo 'bhavat saḥ
 23 nākuliṃ tu śatānīkaṃ śālapuṣpanibhā hayāḥ
     ādityataruṇa prakhyāḥ ślāghanīyam udāvahan
 24 kāñcanapratimair yoktrair mayūragrīva saṃnibhāḥ
     draupadeyaṃ naravyāghraṃ śrutakarmāṇam āvahan
 25 śrutakīrtiṃ śrutanidhiṃ draupadeyaṃ hayottamāḥ
     ūhuḥ pārtha samaṃ yuddhe cāṣa patranibhā hayāḥ
 26 yam āhur adhyardhaguṇaṃ kṛṣṇāt pārthāc ca saṃyuge
     abhimanyuṃ piśaṅgās taṃ kumāram avahan raṇe
 27 ekas tu dhārtarāṣṭrebhyaḥ pāṇḍavān yaḥ samāśritaḥ
     taṃ bṛhanto mahākāyā yuyutsum avahan raṇe
 28 palāla kāṇḍavarṇās tu bārdhakṣemiṃ tarasvinam
     ūhuḥ sutumule yuddhe hayā hṛṣṭāḥ svalaṃkṛtāḥ
 29 kumāraṃ śiti pādās tu rukmapatrair uraś chadaiḥ
     saucittim avahan yuddhe yantuḥ preṣyakarā hayāḥ
 30 rukmapṛṣṭhāvakīrṇās tu kauśeyasadṛśā hayāḥ
     suvarṇamālinaḥ kṣāntāḥ śreṇimantam udāvahan
 31 rukmamālā dharāḥ śūrā hemavarṇāḥ svalaṃkṛtāḥ
     kāśirājaṃ hayaśreṣṭhāḥ ślāghanīyam udāvahan
 32 astrāṇāṃ ca dhanurvede brāhma vede ca pāragam
     taṃ satyadhṛtim āyāntam aruṇāḥ samudāvahan
 33 yaḥ sapāñcāla senānīr droṇam aṃśam akalpayat
     pārāvata savarṇāśvā dhṛṣṭadyumnam udāvahan
 34 tam anvayāt satyadhṛtiḥ saucittir yuddhadurmadaḥ
     śreṇimān vasu dānaś ca putraḥ kāśyasya cābhibho
 35 yuktaiḥ paramakāmbojair javanair hemamālibhiḥ
     bhīṣayanto dviṣat sainyaṃ yama vaiśravaṇopamāḥ
 36 prabhadrakās tu pāñcālāḥ ṣaṭ sahasrāṇy udāyudhāḥ
     nānāvarṇair hayaśreṣṭhair hemacitrarathadhvajāḥ
 37 śaravrātair vidhunvantaḥ śatrūn vitatakārmukāḥ
     samānamṛtyavo bhūtvā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ samanvayuḥ
 38 babhru kauśeyavarṇās tu suvarṇavaramālinaḥ
     ūhur aglāna manasaś cekitānaṃ hayottamāḥ
 39 indrāyudhasavarṇais tu kuntibhojo hayottamaiḥ
     āyā suvaśyaiḥ purujin mātulaḥ savyasācinaḥ
 40 antarikṣasavarṇās tu tārakā citritā iva
     rājānaṃ rocamānaṃ te hayāḥ saṃkhye samāvahan
 41 karburāḥ śiti pādās tu svarṇajālaparicchadāḥ
     jārā saṃdhiṃ hayaśreṣṭhāḥ sahadevam udāvahan
 42 ye tu puṣkara nālasya samavarṇā hayottamāḥ
     jave śyenasamāś citrāḥ sudāmānam udāvahan
 43 śaśalohita varmṇās tu pāṇḍurodgata rājayaḥ
     pāñcālyaṃ gopateḥ putraṃ siṃhasenam udāvahan
 44 pāñcālānāṃ naravyāghro yaḥ khyāto janamejayaḥ
     tasya sarṣapa puṣpāṇāṃ tulyavarṇā hayottamāḥ
 45 māṣavarṇās tu javanā bṛhanto hemamālinaḥ
     dadhi pṛṣṭhāś candra mukhāḥ pāñcālyam avahan drutam
 46 śūrāś cabhadrakāś caiva śarakāṇḍanibhā hayāḥ
     padmakiñjalka varṇābhā daṇḍadhāram udāvahan
 47 bibhrato hemamālāś ca cakravākodarā hayāḥ
     kosalādhipateḥ putraṃ sukṣatraṃ vājino 'vahan
 48 śabalās tu bṛhanto 'śvā dāntā jāmbūnadasrajaḥ
     yuddhe satyadhṛtiṃ kṣaumim avahan prāṃśavaḥ śubhāḥ
 49 ekavarṇena sarveṇa dhvajena kavacena ca
     aśvaiś ca dhanuṣā caiva śuklaiḥ śuklo nyavartata
 50 samudrasenaputraṃ tu sāmudrā rudra tejasam
     aśvāḥ śaśāṅkasadṛśāś candra devam udāvahan
 51 nīlotpalasavarṇās tu tapanīyavibhūṣitāḥ
     śaibyaṃ citrarathaṃ yuddhe citramālyāvahan hayāḥ
 52 kalāya puṣpavarṇās tu śvetalohita rājayaḥ
     rathasenaṃ hayaśreṣṭhāḥ samūhur yuddhadurmadam
 53 yaṃ tu sarvamanuṣyebhyaḥ prāhuḥ śūrataraṃ nṛpam
     taṃ paṭac cara hantāraṃ śukavarṇāvahan hayāḥ
 54 citrāyudhaṃ citramālyaṃ citravarmāyudha dhvajam
     ūhuḥ kiṃśukapuṣpāṇāṃ tukya varṇā hayottamāḥ
 55 ekavarṇena sarveṇa dhvajena kavacena ca
     dhanuṣā rathavāhaiś ca nīlair nīlo 'bhyavartata
 56 nānārūpai ratnacitrair varūtha dhvajakārmukaiḥ
     vājidhvajapatākābhiś citraiś citro 'bhyavartata
 57 ye tu puṣkara patrasya tulyavarṇā hayottamāḥ
     te rocamānasya sutaṃ hemavarṇam udāvahan
 58 yodhāś ca bhadrakārāś ca śarad aṇḍān udanḍajāḥ
     śvetāṇḍāḥ kukkuṭāṇḍābhā daṇḍaketum udāvahan
 59 āṭa rūṣaka puṣpābhā hayāḥ pāṇḍyānuyāyinām
     avahan rathamukhyānām ayutāni caturdaśa
 60 nānārūpeṇa varṇena nānākṛti mukhā hayāḥ
     rathacakradhvajaṃ vīraṃ ghaṭotkacam udāvahan
 61 suvarṇavarṇā dharmajñam anīkasthaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     rājaśreṣṭhaṃ hayaśreṣṭhāḥ sarvataḥ pṛṣṭhato 'nvayuḥ
     varṇaiś coccāvacair divyaiḥ sadaśvānāṃ prabhadrakāḥ
 62 te yattā bhīmasenena sahitāḥ kāñcanadhvajāḥ
     pratyadṛśyanta rājendra sendrā iva divaukasaḥ
 63 atyarocata tān sarvān dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ samāgatān
     sarvāṇy api ca sainyāni bhāradvājo 'tyarocata

 

SECTION XXII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'When the Pandavas were broken by Bharadwaja's son in hat dreadful battle, and the Panchalas also, was there anybody that approached Drona for battle? Alas, beholding Drona stationed in battle, like a, awning tiger, or an elephant with rent temples, ready to
p. 51
lay down his life in battle, well-armed, conversant with all modes of fight, that great bowman, that tiger among men, that enhancer of the fear of foes, grateful, devoted to truth, ever desirous of benefiting Duryodhana,--alas, beholding him at the head of his troops, was there no man that could approach him, with a laudable determination for battle a determination that enhances the renown of Kshatriyas, that mean-spirited persons can never form, and that is distinctive only of the foremost of persons? Tell me, O Sanjaya, who were those heroes that approached the son of Bharadwaja, beholding him at the head of his forces?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding the Panchalas, the Pandavas, the Matsyas, the Srinjayas, the Chedis, the Kalikeyas, thus routed after being broken in battle by Drona with his shafts, beholding them thus driven from the field by those showers of fleet arrows shot from Drona's, bow, like vessels sent adrift by the awful waves of the tempest-tossed ocean, the Kauravas with many leonine shouts and with the noise of diverse instruments, began to assail the cars and elephants and foot-soldiers (of that hostile host) from all sides. And beholding those (fleeting soldiers of the Pandavas) king Duryodhana, stationed in the midst of his own forces and encompassed by his own relatives and kinsmen, filled with joy, and laughing as he spoke, said these words unto Karna.'
"Duryodhana said, 'Behold, O Radha's son, the Panchalas broken by that firm bowman (Drona) with his shafts, like a herd of the wild deer frightened by a lion. These, I think, will not again come to battle. They have been broken by Drona like mighty trees by the tempest. Afflicted by that high-souled warrior with those shafts winged with gold, they are fleeing away, no two persons are together. Indeed, they seem to be dragged in eddies all over the field. Checked by the Kauravas as also by the high-souled Drona, they are huddling close to one another like (a herd of) elephants in the midst of a conflagration. Like a blossoming trees penetrated by flights of bees, these warriors, pierced with the sharp shafts of Drona, are huddling close to one another, as they are flying away from the field. There, the wrathful Bhima, abandoned by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, and surrounded by my warriors, delighteth me greatly, O Karna! It is evident, that wicked wight beholdeth the world today to be full of Drona! Without doubt, that son of Pandu hath today become hopeless of life and kingdom.'
"Karna said, 'That mighty-armed warrior will not certainly abandon the battle as long as he is alive. Nor will he, O tiger among men, brook these leonine shouts (of ours). Nor will the Pandavas, I think, be defeated in battle. They are brave, endued with great might, accomplished in weapons, and difficult of being resisted in battle. Recollecting the woes caused them by our attempts at poisoning and burning them, and the woes that arose from the match at dice, bearing in mind also their exile in, the woods, the Pandavas, I think, will not abandon the fight. The mighty-armed Vrikodara of immeasurable energy hath already turned back (for the fight). The son of Kunti will certainly slay many of our foremost
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car-warriors. With sword and bow and dart, with steeds and elephants and men and cars, 1 with his mace made of iron, he will slay crowds (of our soldiers). Other car-warriors headed by Satyajit, together with the Panchalas, the Kekayas, the Matsyas, and especially the Pandavas, are following him. They are all brave, and possessed of great might and prowess. Mighty car-warriors, they are again led by Bhima in wrath. Those bulls of the race, surrounding Vrikodara on all sides, like the clouds surrounding the Sun, begin to approach Drona from all sides. Closely intent upon one object, these will certainly afflict unprotected Drona, like flights of insects, on the point of death, striking a blazing lamp. Accomplished in weapons, they are certainly competent to resist Drona. Heavy is the burthen, I think, that now rests on Bharadwaja's son. Let us then quickly go to the spot where Drona is. Let not those slay him of regulated vows like wolves slaying a mighty elephant!'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing these words of Radheya, king Duryodhana then, accompanied by his brothers, O monarch, proceeded towards Drona's car. The noise there was deafening, of Pandava warriors returned to the fight on their cars drawn by excellent steeds of diverse hue, 2 all actuated by the desire of slaying Drona alone.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 23

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      vyathayeyur ime senāṃ devānām api saṃyuge
      āhave ye nyavartanta vṛkodara mukhā rathāḥ
  2 saṃprayuktaḥ kilaivāyaṃ diṣṭair bhavati pūruṣaḥ
      tasminn eva tu sarvārthā dṛśyante vai pṛthagvidhāḥ
  3 dīrghaṃ viproṣitaḥ kālam araṇye jaṭilo 'janī
      ajñātaś caiva lokasya vijahāra yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  4 sa eva mahatīṃ senāṃ samāvartayad āhave
      kim anyad daivasaṃyogān mama putrasya cābhavat
  5 yukta eva hi bhāgyena dhruvam utpadyate naraḥ
      sa tathākṛṣyate tena na yathā svayam icchati
  6 dyūtavyasanam āsādya kleśito hi yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
      sa punar bhāgadheyena sahāyān upalabdhavān
  7 ardhaṃ me kekayā labdhāḥ kāśikāḥ kosalāś ca ye
      cedayaś cāpare vaṅgā mām eva samupāśritāḥ
  8 pṛthivī bhūyasī tāta mama pārthasya no tathā
      iti mām abravīt sūta mando duryodhanas tadā
  9 tasya senā samūhasya madhye droṇaḥ surakṣitaḥ
      nihataḥ pārṣatenājau kim anyad bhāgadheyataḥ
  10 madhye rājñāṃ mahābāhuṃ sadā yuddhābhinandinam
     sarvāstrapāragaṃ droṇaṃ kathaṃ mṛtyur upeyivān
 11 samanuprāpta kṛcchro 'haṃ saṃmohaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ
     bhīṣmadroṇau hatau śrutvā nāhaṃ jīvitum utsahe
 12 yan mā kṣattābhravīt tāta prapaśyan putragṛddhinam
     duryodhanena tat sarvaṃ prāptaṃ sūta mayā saha
 13 nṛśaṃsaṃ tu paraṃ tat syāt tyaktvā duryodhanaṃ yadi
     putra śeṣaṃ cikīrṣeyaṃ kṛcchraṃ na maraṇaṃ bhavet
 14 yo hi dharmaṃ parityajya bhavaty arthaparo naraḥ
     so 'smāc ca hīyate lokāt kṣudrabhāvaṃ ca gacchati
 15 adya cāpy asya rāṣṭrasya hatotsāhasya saṃjaya
     avaśeṣaṃ na paśyāmi kakude mṛdite sati
 16 kathaṃ syād avaśeṣaṃ hi dhuryayor abhyatītayoḥ
     yau nityam anujīvāmaḥ kṣamiṇau puruṣarṣabhau
 17 vyaktam eva ca me śaṃsa yathā yuddham avartata
     ke 'yudhyan ke vyapākarṣan ke kṣudrāḥ prādravan bhayāt
 18 dhanaṃjayaṃ ca me śaṃsa yad yac cakre ratharṣabhaḥ
     tasmād bhayaṃ no bhūyiṣṭhaṃ bhrātṛvyāc ca viśeṣataḥ
 19 yathāsīc ca nivṛtteṣu pāṇḍaveṣu ca saṃjaya
     mama sainyāvaśeṣasya saṃnipātaḥ sudāruṇaḥ
     māmakānāṃ ca ye śūrāḥ kāṃs tatra samavārayan

 

SECTION XXIII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Tell me, O Sanjaya, the distinctive indications of the cars of all those who, excited with wrath and headed by Bhimasena, had proceeded against Drona.'
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding Vrikodara advancing (on a car drawn) by steeds of dappled hue (like: that of the antelope), the brave grandson of Sini (Satyaki) proceeded, borne by steeds of a silvery hue. The irresistible Yudhamanyu, excited with rage, proceeded against Drona, borne by excellent steeds of variegated hue. Dhristadyumna, the son of the Panchala king, proceeded, borne by steeds of great fleetness in trappings of gold and of the hue of pigeons. 3 Desirous of protecting his sire, and wishing him complete success, Dhristadyumna's son, Kshatradharman of regulated vows, proceeded., borne by red steeds. Kshatradeva, the son of Sikhandin, himself urging well-decked steeds of the hue of lotus-leaves and with eyes of pure white, proceeded (against Drona). Beautiful steeds of the Kamvoja breed, decked with the feathers of the green parrot, bearing Nakula, quickly ran towards thy army. Dark steeds of the clouds
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wrathfully bore Uttamaujas, O Bharata, to battle, against the invincible Drona, standing with arrows aimed. Steeds, fleet as the wind, and of variegated hue, bore Sahadeva with upraised weapons to that fierce battle. Of great impetuosity, and possessed of the fleetness of the wind, steeds of the ivory hue and having black manes on the neck, bore Yudhishthira, that tiger among men. And many warriors followed Yudhishthira, borne on their steeds, decked in trappings of gold and all fleet as the wind. Behind the king was the royal chief of the Panchalas, viz., Drupada, with a golden umbrella over his head and himself protected by all those soldiers (that followed Yudhishthira). That great bowman among all the kings, viz., Sautabhi, proceeded, borne by beautiful steeds capable of bearing every noise. Accompanied by all the great car-warriors, Virata quickly followed the former. The Kaikeyas and Sikhandin, and Dhrishtaketu, surrounded by their respective troops, followed the ruler of Matsyas. Excellent steeds of the (pale red) hue of trumpet-flowers, looked exceedingly beautiful as they bore Virata. Fleet steeds of yellow colour and decked in chains of gold, bore with great speed the son (Uttara) of that slayer of foes, viz., Virata, the royal chief of the Matsyas. The five Kekaya brothers were borne by steeds of deep red hue. Of the splendour of gold and owning standards of the red hue, and decked with chains of gold, all of them heroes, accomplished in battle, they proceeded, clad in mail, and showering arrows like the very clouds. Excellent steeds, the gift of Tumvuru, of the hue of unbaked earthen pots, bore Sikhandin, the Panchala prince of immeasurable energy. Altogether, twelve thousand mighty car-warriors of the Panchala race proceeded to battle. Of these, six thousand followed Sikhandin. Sportive steeds, O sire, of the dappled hue of the antelope, bore the son of Sisupal, that tiger among men. That bull among the Chedis, viz., Dhrishtaketu, endued with great strength, and difficult of being vanquished in battle, proceeded, borne by Kamvoja steeds of variegated hue. Excellent steeds of the Sindhu breed, of beautiful limbs, and of the hue of the smoke of straw, quickly bore the Kaikeya prince, Vrihatkshatra. Possessed of eyes of pure white, of the hue of the lotus, born in the country of the Valhikas, and decked with ornaments, bore Sikhandin's son, the brave Kshatradeva. 1 Decked in trappings of gold, and possessed of the hue of red silk, quiet steeds bore Senavindu, that chastiser of foes, to battle. Excellent steeds of the hue of cranes, bore to battle the youthful and delicate son of the king of the Kasis, that mighty car-warrior. White steeds with black necks, endued with the speed of the mind, O monarch, and exceedingly obedient to the driver, bore prince Prativindhya. Whitish yellow steeds bore Sutasoma, the son of Arjuna, whom the latter had obtained from Soma himself. He was born in the Kuru city known by the name of Udayendu. Endued with effulgence of a thousand moons, and because he also had won great renown in an assembly of the Somakas, he came to be called Sutasoma. Steeds of the
p. 54
hue of Sala flowers or of morning sun bore Nakula's son Satanika worthy of every praise. Steeds decked in trappings of gold, and endued with the hue of the peacock's neck, bore that tiger among men, Srutakarman, the son of Draupdi (by Bhima). Excellent steeds of the hue of the king-fishers bore Draupadi's son Srutkirti to that battle, who like Partha was an ocean of learning. Steeds of a tawny hue bore the youthful Abhimanyu who was regarded as superior to Krishna or Partha one and a half times in battle. Gigantic steeds bore Yuyutsu to battle, that only warrior amongst the sons of Dhritarashtra who (abandoning his brothers) hath sided with the Pandavas. Plump and well-decked steeds of the hue of the (dried) paddy stalk bore Vardhakshemi of great activity to that dreadful battle. Steeds with black legs, equipped in breast-plates of gold, and exceedingly obedient to the driver, bore youthful Sauchitti to battle. Steeds whose backs were covered with golden armour, decked with chains of gold, well-broken, and of the hue of red silk, bore Srenimat. Steeds of a red hue bore the advancing Satyadhriti accomplished in the science of arms and in the divine Vedas. That Panchala who was commander (of the Pandava army) and who took Drona as the victim allotted to his share,--that Dhrishtadyumna,--was borne by steeds of the hue of pigeons. Him followed Satyadhriti, and Sauchitti irresistible in battle, and Srenimat, and Vasudana, and Vibhu, the son of the ruler of the Kasis. These had fleet steeds of the best Kamvoja breed decked with chains of gold. Each resembling Yama or Vaisravana, they proceeded to battle, striking fear into the hearts of the hostile soldiers. The Prabhadrakas of the Kamvoja country, numbering six thousand, with upraised weapons, with excellent steeds of diverse hues on their gold-decked cars, with stretched bows and making their foes tremble with their showers of arrows and resolved to die together, 1 followed Dhristadyumna. Excellent steeds of the hue of tawny silk, decked with beautiful chains of gold, cheerfully bore Chekitana. Arjuna's maternal uncle Purujit, otherwise called Kuntibhoja, came borne by excellent steeds of the colour of the rainbow. Steeds of the colour of star-bespangled firmament bore to battle king Rochamana. Steeds of the hue of the red deer, with white streaks over their bodies, bore the Panchala prince Singhasena, the son of Gopati. That tiger among the Panchalas who is known by the name of Janamejaya, had excellent steeds of the hue of mustard flowers. Fleet, gigantic and dark blue steeds decked with chains of gold, with backs of the hue of curd and faces of the hue of the moon, bore with great speed the ruler of the Panchalas. Brave steeds with beautiful heads, (white) as the stalks of reeds, and a splendour resembling that of the firmament or the lotus, bore Dandadhara. Light brown steeds with backs of the hue of the mouse, and with necks proudly drawn up, bore Vyaghradatta to battle. Dark-spotted steeds bore that tiger among men, viz., Sudhanwan, the prince of Panchala. Of fierce impetuosity resembling that of Indra's thunder, beautiful steeds of the
p. 55
hue of Indragopakas, with variegated patches, bore Chitrayudha. Decked with golden chains, steeds whose bellies were of the hue of the Chakravaka bore Sukshatra, the son of the ruler of the Kosalas. Beautiful and tall steeds of variegated hue and gigantic bodies, exceedingly docile, and decked with chains of gold, bore Satyadhriti accomplished in battle. Sukla advanced to battle with his standard and armour and bow and steeds all of the same white hue. Steeds born on the sea-coast and white as the moon, bore Chandrasena of fierce energy, the son of Samudrasena. Steeds of the hue of the blue lotus and decked with ornaments of gold and adorned with beautiful floral wreaths, bore Saiva owning a beautiful car to battle. Superior steeds of the hue of Kalaya flowers, with white and red streaks, bore Rathasena difficult of being resisted in battle. White steeds bore that king who slew the Patachcharas and who is regarded as the bravest of men. Superior steeds of the hue of Kinsuka flowers bore Chitrayudha decked with beautiful garlands and owning beautiful armour and weapons and standard. King Nila advanced to battle, with standard and armour and bow and banner and steeds all of the same blue colour. Chitra advanced to battle with car-fence and standard and bow all decked with diverse kinds of gems, and beautiful steeds and banner. Excellent steeds of the hue of the lotus bore Hemavarna, the son of Rochamana. Chargers, capable of bearing all kinds of weapons, of brave achievements in battle, possessed of vertebral columns of the hue of reeds, having white testicles, and endued with the colour of the hen's egg, bore Dandaketu. The mighty Sarangadhwaja, endued with wealth of energy, the king of the Pandyas, on steeds of the hue of the moon's rays and decked with armour set with stones of lapis lazuli, advanced upon Drona, stretching his excellent bow. His country having been invaded and his kinsmen having fled, his father had been slain by Krishna in battle. Obtaining weapons then from Bhishma and Drona, Rama and Kripa, prince Sarangadhwaja became, in weapons, the equal of Rukmi and Karna and Arjuna and Achyuta. He then desired to destroy the city of Dwaraka and subjugate the whole world. Wise friends, however, from desire of doing him good, counselled him against that course. Giving up all thoughts of revenge, he is now ruling his own dominions. Steeds that were all of the hue of the Atrusa flower bore a hundred and forty thousand principle car-warriors that followed that Sarangadhwaja, the king of the Pandyas. Steeds of diverse hues and diverse kinds of forces, bore the heroic Ghatotkacha. Mighty steeds of gigantic size, of the Aratta breed, bore the mighty-armed Vrihanta of red eyes mounted on his golden car, that prince, viz., who, rejecting the opinions of all the Bharatas, hath singly, from his reverence for Yudhishthira. gone over to him, abandoning all his cherished desire. 1 Superior steeds of the hue of gold, followed that foremost of kings viz., the virtuous Yudhishthira at his back. Large number of Prabhadrakas, of celestial shapes, advanced to battle, with steeds of diverse excellent colours. All of
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them owning standards of gold and prepared to struggle vigorously, proceeded with Bhimasena, and wore the aspect, O monarch, of the denizens of heaven with Indra at their head. That assembled host of Prabhadrakas was much liked by Dhristadyumna.'
"Bharadwaja's son, however, O monarch, surpassed all the warriors in splendour. His standard, with a black deer-skin waving on its top and the beautiful water-pot, O monarch, that it bore, looked exceedingly beautiful. And Bhimasena's standard, bearing the device of a gigantic lion in silver with its eyes made of lapis lazuli, looked exceedingly resplendent. The standard of Yudhishthira of great energy, bearing the device of a golden moon with planets around it, looked very beautiful. Two large and beautiful kettle-drums, called Nanda and Upananda, were tied to it. Played upon by machinery, these produced excellent music that enhanced the delight of all who heard it. For terrifying the foe, we beheld that tall and fierce standard of Nakula, placed on his car bearing the device of a Sarabha with its back made of gold. A beautiful silver swan with bells and banner terrible to look at and enhancing the grief of the foe, was seen on Sahadeva's standard. The standards of the five sons of Draupadi bore on them the excellent images of Dharma, Marut, Sakra, and the twin Aswins. On the car, O king, of the youthful Abhimanyu was an excellent standard that bore a golden peacock, which was bright as heated gold. On Ghatotkacha's standard, O king, a vulture shone brightly, and his steeds also were capable of going everywhere at will, like those of Ravana in days of yore. In Yudhishthira's hands was the celestial bow called Mahendra; and in the hands of Bhimasena, O king, was the celestial bow called Vayavya. For the protection of the three worlds Brahman created a bow. That celestial and indestructible bow was held by Phalguni. The Vaishnava bow was held by Nakula, and the bow called Aswina was held by Sahadeva. That celestial and terrible bow called the Paulastya, was held by Ghatotkacha. The five jewels of bows born by the five sons of Draupadi were the Raudra, the Agneya, the Kauverya, the Yamya, and the Girisa. That excellent and best of bows, called the Raudra, which Rohini's son (Valadeva) had obtained, the latter gave unto the high-souled son of Subhadra, having been gratified with him. These and many other standards decked with gold, were seen there, belonging to brave warriors, all of which enhanced the fear of their foes. The host commanded by Drona, which numbered not a single coward, and in which countless standards rising together seemed to obstruct the welkin, then looked, O monarch, like images on a canvas. We heard the names and lineage, O king, of brave warriors rushing towards Drona in that battle like to what is heard, O monarch, at a self-choice. 1
"Then royal Drupada advanced against him at the head of a mighty division. The encounter between those two old men at the heads of their
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respective forces became terrible like that between two mighty leaders, with rent temples, of two elephantine herds. Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, with their troops encountered Virata, the ruler of Matsyas at the head of his forces, like Indra and Agni in days of old encountering the (Asura) Vali. That awful encounter between the Matsyas and the Kekayas, in which steeds and car-warriors and elephants fought most fearlessly, resembled that between the gods and the Asuras in days of old. Bhutakarman, otherwise called Sabhapati, kept away from Drona. Nakula's son Satanika, as the latter advanced, scattering showers of arrows. Then the heir of Nakula, with three broad-headed shafts of great sharpness, deprived Bhutakarman of both his arms and head in that battle. Vivinsati resisted the heroic Sutasoma of great prowess, as the latter advanced towards Drona, scattering showers of arrows. Sutasoma, however, excited with wrath, pierced his uncle Vivinsati with straight arrows, and cased in mail, stood ready for the combat. Bhimaratha, (brother of Duryodhana), with six sharp shafts of great swiftness and made wholly of iron, despatched Salwa along with his steeds and charioteer to Yama's abode. Chitrasena's son, O king, opposed thy (grand) son Srutakarman as the latter came, borne by steeds, looking like peacocks. Those two grandsons of thine, both difficult of being vanquished in battle, and each desirous of slaying the other, fought vigorously for the success of the objects of their respective sires. Beholding Prativindhya staying at the van of that dreadful battle, Drona's son (Aswatthaman), desirous of protecting the honour of his sire, resisted the former with his shafts. Prativindhya, then, excited with rage pierced Aswatthaman, bearing on his standard the device of a lion's tail and staying in battle for the sake of his father, with many sharp shafts. The (eldest) son of Draupadi then scattered over Drona's son showers of arrows, like a sower, O bull among men, scattering seeds on the soil at the sowing season. 1 The son of Duhsasana resisted the mighty car-warrior Srutakirti, the son of Arjuna by Draupadi, as the latter was rushing towards Drona. That son of Arjuna, however, who was equal to Arjuna himself, cutting off the former's bow and standard and charioteer with three broad-headed arrows of great sharpness, proceeded against Drona. Duryodhana's son, Lakshmana, resisted the slayer of the Patachcharas,--him, that is, O king, who is regarded by both the armies as the bravest of the brave. The latter, however, cutting off both the bow and the standard of Lakshmana, and showering upon him many arrows, flared up with splendour. The youthful Vikarna of great wisdom resisted Sikhandin, the youthful son of Yajnasena, as the latter advanced in that battle. Yajnasena's son then covered the former with showers of arrows. The mighty son Vikarna, baffling those arrowy showers, looked resplendent on the field of battle. Angada resisted with showers of arrows the heroic Uttamaujas in that battle as the latter rushed towards Drona.
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[paragraph continues] That encounter between those two lions among men became frightful, and it filled both them and the troops with great zeal. The great bowman Durmukha, endued with great might, resisted with his shafts the heroic Purujit as the latter proceeded towards Drona. Furujit struck Durmukha between his eye-brows with a long shaft. Thereupon, Durmukha's face looked beautiful like a lotus with its stalk. Karna resisted with showers of arrows the five Kekaya brothers, owning red standards, as they proceeded towards Drona. Scorched with the arrowy showers of Karna, those five brothers covered Karna with their arrows. Karna, in return, repeatedly covered them with showers of arrows. Covered with arrows, neither Karna nor the five brother could be seen with their steeds, charioteers, standards, and cars. Thy sons, Durjaya, Jaya, and Vijaya, resisted Nila, and the ruler of the Kasis, and Jayatsena, three against. And the combat between those warriors deepened and gladdened the hearts of the spectators like those between a lion, a tiger, and a wolf on the one side and a bear, a buffalo, and a bull on the other. The brothers Kshemadhurti and Vrihanta mangled Satyaki of the Satwata race with their keen arrows, as the latter proceeded against Drona. The battle between those two on one side and Satyaki on the other became exceedingly wonderful to behold, like that between a lion and two mighty elephants with rent temples in the forest. The king of the Chedis, excited with wrath, and shooting many warriors, kept away from Drona, king Amvashtha, that hero who always delighted, in battle. Then king Amvashtha pierced his antagonist with a long arrow capable of penetrating into the very bones. Thereupon, the latter, with bow and arrow loosened from his grasp, fell down from his car on the ground. The noble Kripa, son of Saradwata, with many small arrows resisted Vardhakshemi of the Vrishni race who was the embodiment of wrath (in battle). They that looked at Kripa, son of Saradwata, with many small arrows, resisted Vardhakshemi of the Vrishni race who was the embodiment of wrath (in battle). They that looked at Kripa and Vardhakshemi, those heroes conversant with every mode of warfare, thus engaged in encountering each other, became so absorbed in it that, they could not attend to anything else. Somadatta's son, for enhancing the glory of Drona, resisted king Manimat of great activity as the latter came to fight. Then Manimat quickly cut off the bowstring, the standard, the banner, the charioteer and the umbrella of Somadatta's son and caused them to fall down from the latter's car. 1 The son of Somadatta then, bearing the device of the sacrificial stake on his standard, that slayer of foes, quickly jumping down from his car, cut off with his large swords, his antagonist with his steeds, charioteer, standard, and car. Re-ascending then upon his own car, and taking up another bow, and guiding his steeds himself, he began, O monarch, to consume the Pandava host. Vrishasena (the son of Karna), competent for the feat, resisted with showers of arrows king Pandava who
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was rushing to battle like Indra himself following the Asuras for smiting them. With maces and spiked bludgeons, and swords and axes and stones, short clubs and mallets, and discs, short arrows and battle-axes with dust and wind, and fire and water, and ashes and brick-bats, and straw and trees, afflicting and smitting, and breaking, and slaying and routing the foe, and hurling them on the hostile ranks, and terrifying them therewith, came Ghatotkacha, desirous of getting at Drona. The Rakshasa Alambusha, however, excited with rage, encountered him with diverse weapons and diverse accoutrements of war. And the battle that took place between those two foremost of Rakshasas resembled that which took place in days of old between Samvara and the chief of the celestials. Thus blessed be thou, took place hundreds of single combats between car-warriors and elephants, and steeds and foot-soldiers of thy army and theirs in the midst of the dreadful general engagement. Indeed, such a battle was never seen or heard of before as that which then took place between those warriors that were bent upon Drona's destruction and protection. Indeed, many were the encounters that were then seen on all parts of field, some of which were terrible, some beautiful, and some exceedingly fierce, O lord.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 24

 

 

1 [s]
      mahad bhairavam āsīn naḥ saṃnivṛtteṣu pāṇḍuṣu
      dṛṣṭvā droṇaṃ chādyamānaṃ tair bhāskaram ivāmbudaiḥ
  2 taiś coddhūtaṃ rajas tīvram avacakre camūṃ tava
      tato hatam amanyāma droṇaṃ dṛṣṭipathe hate
  3 tāṃs tu śūrān maheṣvāsān krūraṃ karma cikīrṣataḥ
      dṛṣṭvā duryodhanas tūrṇaṃ svasainyaṃ samacūcudat
  4 yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ yathā sattvaṃ narādhipāḥ
      vārayadhvaṃ yathāyogaṃ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
  5 tato durmarṣaṇo bhīmam abhyagacchat sutas tava
      ārād dṛṣṭvā kiran bāṇair icchan droṇasya jīvitam
  6 taṃ bāṇair avatastāra kruddho mṛtyum ivāhave
      taṃ ca bhīmo 'tudad bāṇais tad āsīt tumulaṃ mahat
  7 ta īśvara samādiṣṭāḥ prājñāḥ śūrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
      bāhyaṃ mṛtyubhayaṃ kṛtvā pratyatiṣṭhan parān yudhi
  8 kṛtavarmā śineḥ putraṃ droṇa prepsuṃ viśāṃ pate
      paryavārayad āyāntaṃ śūraṃ samitiśobhanam
  9 taṃ śaineyaḥ śaravrātaiḥ kruddhaḥ kruddham avārayat
      kṛtavarmā ca śaineyaṃ matto mattam iva dvipam
  10 saindhavaḥ kṣatradharmāṇam āpatantaṃ śaraughiṇam
     ugradhanvā maheṣvāsaṃ yatto droṇād avārayat
 11 kṣatradharmā sindhupateś chittvā ketana kārmuke
     nārācair bahubhiḥ kruddhaḥ sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
 12 athānyad dhanur ādāya saindhavaḥ kṛtahastavat
     vivyādha kṣatradharmāṇaṃ raṇe sarvāyasaiḥ śaraiḥ
 13 yuyutsuṃ pāṇḍavārthāya yatamānaṃ mahāratham
     subāhur bhrātaraṃ śūraṃ yatto droṇād avārayat
 14 subāhoḥ sadhanurbāṇāv asyataḥ parighopamau
     yuyutsuḥ śitapītābhyāṃ kṣurābhyām acchinad bhujau
 15 rājānaṃ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaṃ dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     veleva sāgaraṃ kṣubdhaṃ madrarāṭ samavārayat
 16 taṃ dharmarājo bahubhir marmabhidbhir avākirat
     madreśas taṃ catuḥṣaṣṭyā śarair viddhvānadad bhṛśam
 17 tasya nānadataḥ ketum uccakarta sa kārmukam
     kṣurābhyāṃ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhas tata uccukruśur janāḥ
 18 tathaiva rājā bāhlīko rājānaṃ drupadaṃ śaraiḥ
     ādravantaṃ sahānīkaṃ sahānīko nyavārayat
 19 tad yuddham abhavad ghoraṃ vṛddhayoḥ saha senayoḥ
     yathā mahāyūthapayor dvipayoḥ saṃprabhinnayoḥ
 20 vindānuvindāv āvantyau virāṭaṃ matyam ārcchatām
     saha sainyau sahānīkaṃ yathendrāgnī purā balim
 21 tad utpiñjalakaṃ yuddham āsīd devāsuropamam
     matsyānāṃ kekayaiḥ sārdham abhītāśvarathadvipam
 22 nākuliṃ tu śatānīkaṃ bhūtakarmā sabhā patiḥ
     asyantam iṣujālāni yāntaṃ droṇād avārayat
 23 tato nakula dāyādas tribhir bhallaiḥ susaṃśitaiḥ
     cakre vibāhu śirasaṃ bhūtakarmāṇam āhave
 24 suta somaṃ tu vikrāntam āpatantaṃ śaraughiṇam
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ vīraṃ viviṃśatir avārayat
 25 suta somas tu saṃkruddhaḥ svapitṛvyam ajihmagaiḥ
     viviṃśatiṃ śarair viddhvā nābhyavartata daṃśitaḥ
 26 atha bhīma rathaḥ śālvam āśugair āyasaiḥ śitaiḥ
     ṣaḍbhiḥ sāśvaniyantāram anayad yamasādanam
 27 śrutakarmāṇam āyāntaṃ mayūrasadṛśair hayaiḥ
     caitrasenir mahārāja tava pautro nyavārayat
 28 tau pautrau tava durdharṣau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau
     pitṝṇām arthasiddhyarthaṃ cakratur yuddham uttamam
 29 tiṣṭhantam agrato dṛṣṭvā prativindhyaṃ tam āhave
     druṇir mānaṃ pituḥ kurvan mārgaṇaiḥ samavārayat
 30 taṃ kruddhaḥ prativivyādha prativindhyaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     siṃhalāṅgūla lakṣmāṇaṃ pitur arthe vyavasthitam
 31 pravapann iva bījāni bījakāle nararṣabha
     drauṇāyanir draupadeyaṃ śaravarṣair avākirat
 32 yas tu śūratamo rājan senayor ubhayor mataḥ
     taṃ paṭac cara hantāraṃ lakṣmaṇaḥ samavārayat
 33 sa lakṣmaṇasyeṣv asanaṃ chittvā lakṣma ca bhārata
     lakṣmaṇe śarajālāni visṛjan bahv aśobhata
 34 vikarṇas tu mahāprājño yājñaseniṃ śikhaṇḍinam
     paryavārayad āyāntaṃ yuvānaṃ samare yuvā
 35 tatas tam iṣujālena yājñaseniḥ samāvṛṇot
     vidhūya tad bāṇajālaṃ babhau tava suto balī
 36 aṅgado 'bhimukhaḥ śūram uttamaujasam āhave
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ vatsadantair avārayat
 37 sa saṃprahāras tumulas tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ
     sainikānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ tayoś ca prītivardhanaḥ
 38 durmukhas tu maheṣvāso vīraṃ puru jitaṃ balī
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ kuntibhojam avārayat
 39 sa durmukhaṃ bhruvor madhye nārācena vyatāḍayat
     tasya tad vibabhau vaktraṃ sa nālam iva paṅkajam
 40 karṇas tu kekayān bhrātṝn pañca lohitaka dhvajān
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yātāñ śaravarṣair avārayat
 41 te cainaṃ bhṛśasaṃkruddhāḥ śaravrātair avākiran
     sa ca tāṃś chādayām āsa śarajālaiḥ punaḥ punaḥ
 42 naiva karṇo na te pañca dadṛśur bāṇasaṃvṛtāḥ
     sāśvasūta dhvajarathāḥ parasparaśarācitāḥ
 43 putras te durjayaś caiva jayaś ca vijayaś ca ha
     nīlaṃ kāśyaṃ jayaṃ śūrās trayas trīn pratyavārayan
 44 tad yuddham abhavad ghoram īkṣitṛprītivardhanam
     siṃhavyāghra tarakṣūṇāṃ yathebha mahiṣarṣabhaiḥ
 45 kṣemadhūrti bṛhantau tau bhrātarau sātvataṃ yudhi
     droṇāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ śarais tīkṣṇais tatakṣatuḥ
 46 tayos tasya ca tad yuddham atyadbhutam ivābhavat
     siṃhasya dvipamukhyābhyāṃ prabhinnābhyāṃ yathā vane
 47 rājānaṃ tu tathāmbaṣṭham ekaṃ yuddhābhinandinam
     cedirājaḥ śarān asyan kruddho droṇād avārayat
 48 tam ambaṣṭho 'sthi bhedinyā niravidhyac chalākayā
     sa tyaktvā sa śaraṃ cāpaṃ rathād bhūmim athāpatat
 49 vārdhakṣemiṃ tu vārṣṇeyaṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvataḥ śaraiḥ
     akṣudraḥ kṣudrakair droṇāt kruddha rūpam avārayat
 50 yudhyantau kṛpa vārṣṇeyau ye 'paśyaṃś citrayodhinau
     te yuddhasaktamanaso nānyā bubudhire kriyāḥ
 51 saumadatttis tu rājānaṃ maṇimantam atandritam
     paryavārayad āyāntaṃ yaśo droṇasya vardhayan
 52 sa saumadattes tvaritaś chittveṣv asana ketane
     punaḥ patākāṃ sūtaṃ ca chattraṃ cāpātayad rathāt
 53 athāplutya rathāt tūrṇaṃ yūpaketur amitrahā
     sāśvasūta dhvajarathaṃ taṃ cakarta varāsinā
 54 rathaṃ ca svaṃ samāsthāya dhanur ādāya cāparam
     svayaṃ yacchan hayān rājan vyadhamat pāṇḍavīṃ camūm
 55 musalair mudgaraiś cakrair bhiṇḍipālaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ
     pāṃsuvātāgnisalilair bhasma loṣṭha tṛṇadrumaiḥ
 56 ārujan prarujan bhañjan nighnan vidrāvayan kṣipan
     senāṃ vibhīṣayann āyād droṇa prepsur ghaṭotcakaḥ
 57 taṃ tu nānāpraharaṇair nānā yuddhaviśeṣaṇaiḥ
     rākṣasaṃ rākṣasaḥ kruddha samājaghne hy alambusaḥ
 58 tayor tad abhavad yuddhaṃ rakṣo grāmaṇi mukhyayoḥ
     tādṛg yādṛk purāvṛttaṃ śambarāmara rājayoḥ
 59 evaṃ dvaṃdva śatāny āsan rathavāraṇavājinām
     padātīnāṃ ca bhadraṃte tava teṣāṃ ca saṃkulam
 60 naitādṛśo dṛṣṭapūrvaḥ saṃgrāmo naiva ca śrutaḥ
     droṇasyābhāva bhāveṣu prasaktānāṃ yathābhavat
 61 idaṃ ghoram idaṃ citram idaṃ raudram iti prabho
     tatra yuddhāny adṛśyanta pratatāni bahūni ca

 

SECTION XXIV

"Dhritarashtra said, 'When the troops were thus engaged and thus proceeded against one another in separate divisions, how did Partha and the warriors of my army endued with great activity fight? What also did Arjuna do towards the car-warriors of the Samsaptakas? And what, O Sanjaya, did the Samsaptakas, in their turn, do to Arjuna?'
"Sanjaya said, 'When the troops were thus engaged and proceeded against one another, thy son Duryodhana himself rushed against Bhimasena, leading his elephant division. Like an elephant encountering an elephant, like a bull encountering a bull, Bhimasena, summoned by the king himself, rushed against that elephant division of the Kaurava army. Skilled in battle and endued with great might of arms, Pritha's son, O sire, quickly broke that elephant division. These elephants, huge as hills, and with ichor trickling down from every part of their bodies, were mangled and forced to turn back by Bhimasena with his arrows. Indeed, as the wind, when it riseth, driveth away gathering masses of clouds, so did that son of Pavana rout that elephant force of the Kauravas. And Bhima, shooting his arrows at those elephants, looked resplendent like the risen sun, striking everything in the world with his rays. Those elephants, afflicted with the shafts of Bhima, became covered with blood and looked beautiful like masses of clouds in the welkin penetrated with the rays of the sun. Then Duryodhana, excited with wrath, pierced with the sharp
p. 60
shafts that son of the Wind-god who was causing such a slaughter among his elephants. Then Bhima, with eyes red in wrath, desirous of despatching the king to Yama's abode, pierced him speedily with many sharp shafts. Then Duryodhana, mangled all over with arrows and excited with rage, pierced Bhima, the son of Pandu, with many shafts endued with the effulgence of solar rays, smiling the while. Then the son of Pandu, with a couple of broad-headed arrows, quickly cut off Duryodhana's bow as also his standard, bearing the device of a jewelled elephant, decked with diverse gems. Beholding Duryodhana thus afflicted, O sire, by Bhima, the ruler of the Angas on his elephant came there for afflicting the son of Pandu. Thereupon, Bhimasena deeply pierced with a long arrow that prince of elephants advancing with loud roars, between its two frontal globes. That arrow, penetrating through its body, sank deep in the earth. And at this the elephants fell down like a hill riven by the thunder. While the elephant was falling down, the Mleccha king also was falling down it. But Vrikodara, endued with great activity, cut off his head with a broad-headed arrow before his antagonist actually fell down. When the heroic ruler of the Angas fell, his divisions fled away. Steeds and elephants and car-warriors struck with panic, crushed the foot-soldiers as they fled.
"When those troops, thus broken, fled away in all directions, the ruler of the Pragjyotishas then advanced against Bhima, upon his elephant. 1 With its two (fore) legs and trunk contracted, filled with rage, and with eyes rolling, that elephant seemed to consume the son of Pandu (like a blazing fire). And it pounded Vrikodara's car with the steed yoked thereto into dust. Then Bhima ran forward and got under the elephant's body, for he knew the science called Anjalikabedha. Indeed, the son of Pandu fled not. Getting under the elephant's body, he began to strike it frequently with his bare arms. And he smote that invincible elephant which was bent upon slaying him. Thereupon, the latter began to quickly turn round like a potter's wheel. Endued with the might of ten thousand elephants, the blessed Vrikodara, having struck that elephant thus, came out from under Supratika's body and stood facing the latter. Supratika then, seizing Bhima by its trunk, threw him down by means of its knees. Indeed, having seized him by the neck, that elephant wished to slay him. Twisting the elephant's trunk, Bhima freed himself from its twine, and once more got under the body of that huge creature. And he waited there, expecting the arrival of a hostile elephant of his own army. Coming out from under the beast's body, Bhima then ran away with great speed. Then a loud noise was heard, made by all the troops, to the effect, 'Alas, Bhima hath been slain by the elephant!' The Pandava host, frightened by that elephant, suddenly fled away, O king, to where Vrikodara was waiting. Meanwhile, king Yudhishthira, thinking Vrikodara to have been slain, surrounded Bhagadatta on all sides, aided by the Panchalas. Having
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surrounded him with numerous cars, king Yudhishthira that foremost of car-warriors, covered Bhagadatta with keen shafts by hundreds and thousands. Then Bhagadatta, that king of the mountainous regions, frustrating with his iron hook that shower of arrows, began to consume both the Pandavas and the Panchalas by means of that elephant of his. Indeed. O monarch, the feat that we then beheld, achieved by old Bhagadatta with his elephant, was highly wonderful. Then the ruler of the Dasarnas rushed against the king of the Pragjyotisha, on a fleet elephant with temporal sweat trickling down, for attacking Supratika in the flank. The battle then that took place between those two elephants of awful size, resembled that between two winged mountains overgrown with forests in days of old. Then the elephant of Bhagadatta, wheeling round and attacking the elephant of the king of the Dasarnas, ripped open the latter's flank and slew it outright. Then Bhagadatta himself with seven lances bright as the rays of the sun, slew his (human) antagonist seated on the elephant just when the latter was about to fall down from his seat. Piercing king Bhagadatta then (with many arrows), Yudhishthira surrounded him on all sides with a large number of cars. Staying on his elephant amid car-warriors encompassing him all around, he looked resplendent like a blazing fire on a mountain-top in the midst of a dense forest. He stayed fearlessly in the midst of those serried cars ridden by fierce bowmen, all of whom showered upon him their arrows. Then the king of the Pragjyotisha, pressing (with his toe) his huge elephant, urged him towards the car of Yuyudhana. That prodigious beast, then seizing the car of Sinis grandson, hurled it to a distance with great force. Yuyudhana, however, escaped by timely flight. His charioteer also, abandoning the large steeds of the Sindhu breed, yoked unto that car, quickly followed Satyaki and stood where the latter stopped. Meanwhile the elephant, quickly coming out of the circle of cars, began to throw down all the kings (that attempted to bar his course). These bulls among men, frightened out of their wits by that single elephant coursing swiftly, regarded it in that battle as multiplied into many. Indeed, Bhagadatta, mounted on that elephant of his, began to smite down the Pandavas, like the chief of the celestials mounted on Airavata smiting down the Danavas (in days of old). 1 As the Panchalas fled in all directions, loud and awful was the noise that arose amongst them, made by their elephants and steeds. And while the Pandava troops were thus destroyed by Bhagadatta, Bhima, excited with rage, once more rushed against the ruler of the Pragjyotisha. The latter's elephant then frightened the steeds of advancing Bhima by drenching them with water spouted forth from its trunk, and thereupon those animals bore Bhima away from the field. Then Kriti's son, Ruchiparvan, mounted on his car, quickly rushed against Bhagadatta, scattering showers of arrows and advancing like the Destroyer himself. Then Bhagadatta, that ruler of the hilly regions, possessed of beautiful limbs, despatched Ruchiparvan with a
p. 62
straight shaft to Yama's abode. 1 Upon the fall of the heroic Ruchiparvan, Subhadra's son and the sons of Draupadi, and Chekitana, and Dhrishtaketu, and Yuyutsu began to afflict the elephant. Desiring to slay that elephant, all those warriors, uttering loud shouts, began to pour their arrows on the animals, like the clouds drenching the earth with their watery down-pour. Urged then by its skilful rider with heel, hook, and toe the animal advanced quickly with trunk stretched, and eyes and cars fixed. Treading down Yuyutsu's steeds, the animal then slew the charioteer. Thereupon, O king, Yuyutsu, abandoning his car, fled away quickly. Then the Pandava warriors, desirous of slaying that prince of elephants, uttered loud shouts and covered it quickly with showers of arrows. At this time, thy son, excited with rage, rushed against the car of Subhadra's son. Meanwhile, king Bhagadatta on his elephant, shooting shafts on the foe, looked resplendent like the Sun himself scattering his rays on the earth. Arjuna's son then pierced him with a dozen shafts, and Yuyutsu with ten, and each of the sons of Draupadi pierced him with three shafts and Dhrishtaketu also pierced him with three. That elephant then, pierced with these shafts, shot with great care, looked resplendent like a mighty mass of clouds penetrated with the rays of the sun. Afflicted with those shafts of the foe, that elephant then, urged by its riders with skill and vigour, began to throw hostile warriors on both his flanks. Like a cowherd belabouring his cattle in the forest with a goad, Bhagadatta repeatedly smote the Pandava host. Like the cawing of quickly retreating crows when assailed by hawks, a loud and confused noise was heard among the Pandava troops who fled away with great speed. That prince of elephants, struck by its rider with hook, resembled, O king, a winged mountain of old. And it filled the hearts of the enemy with fear, like to what merchants experience at sight of the surging sea. 2 Then elephants and car-warriors and steeds and kings, flying away in fear, made, as they fled, a loud and awful din that, O monarch, filled the earth and sky and heaven and the cardinal and subsidiary directions in that battle. Mounted on that foremost of elephants, king Bhagadatta penetrated the hostile army like the Asura Virochana in days of old into the celestial host in battle well-protected by the gods. A violent wind began to blow; a dusty cloud covered the sky and the troops; and people regarded that single elephant as multiplied into many, coursing all over the field.'"

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 25

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      teṣv evaṃ saṃnivṛtteṣu pratyudyāteṣu bhāgaśaḥ
      kathaṃ yuyudhire pārthā māmakāś ca tarasvinaḥ
  2 kim arjunaś cāpy akarot saṃśaptakabalaṃ prati
      saṃśaptakā vā pārthasya kim akurvata saṃjaya
  3 [s]
      tathā teṣu nivṛtteṣu pratyudyāteṣu bhāgaśaḥ
      svayam abhyadravad bhīmaṃ nāgānīkena te sutaḥ
  4 sa nāga iva nāgena govṛṣeṇeva govṛṣaḥ
      samāhūtaḥ svayaṃ rājñā nāgānīkam upādravat
  5 sa yuddhakuśalaḥ pārtho bāhuvīryeṇa cānvitaḥ
      abhinat kuñjarānīkam acireṇaiva māriṣa
  6 te gajā girisaṃkāśāḥ kṣarantaḥ sarvato madam
      bhīmasenasya nārācair vimukhā vimadī kṛtāḥ
  7 vidhamed abhrajālāni yathā vāyuḥ samantataḥ
      vyadhamat tāny anīkāni tathaiva pavanātmajaḥ
  8 sa teṣu visṛjan bāṇān bhīmo nāgeṣv aśobhata
      bhuvaneṣv iva sarveṣu gabhastīn udito raviḥ
  9 te bhīma bāṇaiḥ śataśaḥ saṃsyūtā vibabhur gajāḥ
      gabhastibhir ivārkasya vyomni nānā balāhakāḥ
  10 tathā gajānāṃ kadanaṃ kurvāṇam anilātmajam
     kruddho duryodhano 'bhyetya pratyavidhyac chitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 11 tataḥ kṣaṇena kṣitipaṃ kṣatajapratimekṣaṇaḥ
     kṣayaṃ ninīṣur niśitair bhīmo vivyādha patribhiḥ
 12 sa śarārpita sarvāṅgaḥ kruddho vivyādha pāṇḍavam
     nārācair arkaraśmy ābhair bhīmasenaṃ smayann iva
 13 tasya nāgaṃ maṇimayaṃ ratnacitraṃ dhvaje sthitam
     bhallābhyāṃ kārmukaṃ caiva kṣipraṃ ciccheda pāṇḍavaḥ
 14 duryodhanaṃ pīḍyamānaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmena māriṣa
     cukṣobhayiṣur abhyāgād aṅgo mātaṅgam āsthitaḥ
 15 tam āpatantaṃ mātaṅgam ambudapratimasvanam
     kumbhāntare bhīmaseno nārācenārdayad bhṛśam
 16 tasya kāyaṃ vinirbhidya mamajja dharaṇītale
     tataḥ papāta dvirado vajrāhata ivācalaḥ
 17 tasyāvarjitanāgasya mecchasyāvapatiṣyataḥ
     śiraś ciccheda bhallena kṣiprakārī vṛkodaraḥ
 18 tasmin nipatite vīre saṃprādravata sā camūḥ
     saṃbhrāṃtāśvadviparathā padātīn avamṛdnatī
 19 teṣv anīkeṣu sarveṣu vidravatsu samantataḥ
     prāgjyotiṣas tato bhīmaṃ kuñjareṇa samādravat
 20 yena nāgena maghavān ajayad daityadānavān
     sa nāgapravaro bhīmaṃ sahasā samupādravat
 21 śravaṇābhyām atho padbhyāṃ saṃhatena kareṇa ca
     vyāvṛttanayanaḥ kruddhaḥ pradahann iva pāṇḍavam
 22 tataḥ sarvasya sainyasya nādaḥ samabhavan mahān
     hāhā vinihato bhīmaḥ kuñjareṇeti māriṣa
 23 tena nādena vitrastā pāṇḍavānām anīkinī
     samahābhyadravad rājan yatra tasthau vṛkodaraḥ
 24 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā hataṃ matvā vṛkodaram
     bhagadattaṃ sapāñcālaḥ sarvataḥ samavārayat
 25 taṃ rathai rathināṃ śreṣṭhāḥ parivārya samantataḥ
     avākirañ śairas tīkṣṇaiḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 26 sa vighātaṃ pṛṣatkānām aṅkuśena samācaran
     gajena pāṇḍupāñcālān vyadhamat parvateśvaraḥ
 27 tad adbhutam apaśyāma bhagadattasya saṃyuge
     tathā vṛddhasya caritaṃ kuñjareṇa viśāṃ pate
 28 tato rājā daśārṇānāṃ prāgjyotiṣam upādravat
     tiryag yātena nāgena sa madenāśu gāminā
 29 tayor yuddhaṃ samabhavan nāgayor bhīmarūpayoḥ
     sa pakṣayoḥ parvatayor yathā sa drumayoḥ purā
 30 prāgjyotiṣapater nāgaḥ saṃnipatyāpavṛtya ca
     pārśve daśārṇādhipater bhittvā nāgam apātayat
 31 tomaraiḥ sūryaraśmy ābhair bhagadatto 'tha saṃpabhiḥ
     jaghāna dviradasthaṃ taṃ śatruṃ pracalitāsanam
 32 upasṛtya tu rājānaṃ bhagadattaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     rathānīkena mahatā sarvataḥ paryavārayat
 33 sa kuñjarastho rathibhiḥ śuśubhe sarvatovṛtaḥ
     parvate vanamadhyastho jvalann iva hutāśanaḥ
 34 maṇḍalaṃ sarvataḥ śliṣṭaṃ rathinām ugradhanvinām
     kiratāṃ śaravarṣāṇi sa nāgaḥ paryavartata
 35 tataḥ prāgjyotiṣo rājā parigṛhya dviparṣabham
     preṣayām āsa sahasā yuyudhānarathaṃ prati
 36 śineḥ pautrasya tu rathaṃ parigṛhya mahādvipaḥ
     abhicikṣepa vegena yuyudhānas tv apākramat
 37 bṛhataḥ saindhavān aśvān samutthāpya tu sārathiḥ
     tasthau sātyakim āsādya saṃplutas taṃ rathaṃ punaḥ
 38 sa tu labdhvāntaraṃ nāgas tvarito rathamaṇḍalāt
     niścakrāma tataḥ sarvān paricikṣepa pārthivān
 39 te tv āśugatinā tena trāsyamānā nararṣabhāḥ
     tam ekaṃ dviradaṃ saṃkhye menire śataśo nṛpāḥ
 40 te jagasthena kālyante bhagadattena pāṇḍavāḥ
     airāvatasthena yathā devarājena dānavāḥ
 41 teṣāṃ pradravatāṃ bhīmaḥ pāñcālānām itas tataḥ
     gajavājikṛtaḥ śabdaḥ sumahān samajāyata
 42 bhagadattena samare kālyamāneṣu pāṇḍuṣu
     prāgjyotiṣam abhikruddhaḥ punar bhīmaḥ samabhyayāt
 43 tasyābhidravato vāhān hastamuktena vāriṇā
     siktvā vyatrāsayan nāgas te pārtham aharaṃs tataḥ
 44 tatas tam abhyayāt tūrṇaṃ ruci parvākṛtī sutaḥ
     samukṣañ śaravarṣeṇa rathastho 'ntakasaṃnibhaḥ
 45 tato ruciraparvāṇaṃ śareṇa nataparvaṇā
     suparvā parvata patir ninye vaivasvatakṣayam
 46 tasmin nipatite vīre saubhadro draupadī sutāḥ
     cekitāno dhṛṣṭaketur yuyutsuś cārdayan dvipam
 47 ta enaṃ śaradhārābhir dhārābhir iva toyadāḥ
     siṣicur bhairavān nādān vinadanto jighāṃsavaḥ
 48 tataḥ pārṣṇyaṅkuśāṅguṣṭhaiḥ kṛtinā codito dvipaḥ
     prasārita karaḥ prāyāt stabdhakarṇekṣaṇo drutam
 49 so 'dhiṣṭhāya padā vāhān yuyutsoḥ sūtam ārujat
     putras tu tava saṃbhrāntaḥ saubhadrasyāpluto ratham
 50 sa kuñjarastho visṛjann iṣūn ariṣu pārthivaḥ
     babhau raśmīn ivādityo bhuvaneṣu samutsṛjan
 51 tam ārjunir dvādaśabhir yuyutsur daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     tribhis tribhir draupadeyā dhṛṣṭaketuś ca vivyadhuḥ
 52 so 'riyatnārpitair bāṇair ācito dvirado babhau
     saṃsyūta iva sūryasya raśmibhir jalado mahān
 53 niyantuḥ śilpayatnābhyāṃ preṣito 'riśarārditaḥ
     paricikṣepa tān nāgaḥ sa ripūn savyadakṣiṇam
 54 gopāla iva daṇḍena yathā paśugaṇān vane
     āveṣṭayata tāṃ senāṃ bhagadattas tathā muhuḥ
 55 kṣipraṃ śyenābhipannānāṃ vāyasānām iva svanaḥ
     babhūva pāṇḍaveyānāṃ bhṛśaṃ vidravatāṃ svanaḥ
 56 sa nāgarājaḥ pravarāṅkuśāhataḥ; purā sa pakṣo 'drivaro yathā nṛpa
     bhayaṃ tathā ripuṣu samādadhad bhṛśaṃ; vaṇig gaṇānāṃ kṣubhito yathārṇavaḥ
 57 tato dhvanir dviradarathāśvapārthivair; bhayād dravadbhir janito 'tibhairavaḥ
     kṣitiṃ viyad dyāṃ vidiśo diśas tathā; samāvṛṇot pārthivasaṃyuge tadā
 58 sa tena nāgapravareṇa pārthivo; bhṛśaṃ jagāhe dviṣatām anīkinīm
     purā suguptāṃ vibudhair ivāhave; virocano devavarūthinīm iva
 59 bhṛśaṃ vavau jvalanasakho viyad rajaḥ; samāvṛṇon muhur api caiva sainikān
     tam ekanāgaṃ gaṇaśo yathā gajāḥ; samantato drutam iva menire janāḥ

 

 

SECTION XXV

"Sanjaya said, 'Thou askest me about the feats of Arjuna in battle. Listen, O thou of mighty arms, to what Partha achieved in the fight. Beholding the risen dust and hearing the wail of the troops when Bhagadatta was performing great feats on the field, the son of Kunti addressed Krishna and said 'O slayer of Madhu, it seems that the ruler of the Pragjyotishas hath, on his elephant, with great impetuosity, advanced to battle. This loud din that we hear must be due to him. Well-versed in the art of grinding and battling from the back of an elephant, and not inferior to Indra himself in battle, he, I think, is the formost of all elephant-warriors in the world. 1 His elephant, again, is the foremost of elephants, without a rival to encounter it in battle. Possessed of great dexterity and above all fatigue, it is, again, impervious to all weapons. Capable of bearing every weapon and even the touch of fire, it will, O sinless one, alone destroy the Pandava force today. Except us two, there is none else capable of checking that creature. Go quickly, therefore, to that spot where the ruler of the Pragjyotishas is. Proud in battle, in consequence of the strength of his elephant, and arrogant in consequence of his age, I will this very day send him as a guest to the slayer of Vala.' At these words of Arjuna, Krishna began to proceed to the place where Bhagadatta was breaking the Pandava ranks. While Arjuna was proceeding towards Bhagadatta, the mighty Samsaptaka car-warriors, numbering fourteen thousand, made up of ten thousand Gopalas or Narayanas who used to follow Vasudeva, returning to the field, summoned him to battle. Beholding the Pandava host broken by Bhagadatta, and summoned on the other hand by the Samsaptakas, Arjuna's heart was divided in twain. And he began to think, 'Which of these two act will be better for me to do today, to return from this spot for battling with Samsaptakas or to repair to Yudhishthira?' Reflecting with the aid of his understanding, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, Arjuna's heart, at last, was firmly fixed on the slaughter of the Samsaptakas. Desirous of alone slaughtering in battle thousands of car-warriors, Indra's son (Arjuna) having the foremost of apes on banner, suddenly turned back. Even this was what both Duryodhana and Karna had thought of for achieving the slaughter of Arjuna. And it was for this that they had made arrangements for the double encounter. The son of Pandu allowed his heart to waver this side and that, but, at last, resolving to slay those foremost of warriors, viz., the Samsaptakas, he baffled the purpose of his enemies. 2 Then mighty Samsaptakas car-warriors, O king, shot at Arjuna thousands of straight arrows. Covered with those arrows, O monarch, neither Kunti's son Partha, nor Krishna, otherwise called Janardana, nor the steeds, nor the
p. 64
car, could be seen. Then Janardana became deprived of his senses and perspired greatly. Thereupon, Partha shot the Brahma weapon and nearly exterminated them all. Hundreds upon hundreds of arms with bows and arrows and bowstrings in grasp, cut off from trunks, and hundreds upon hundreds of standards and steeds and charioteers and car-warriors, fell down on the ground. Huge elephants, well-equipped and resembling foremost hills over-grown with woods or masses of clouds, afflicted with Partha's shafts and deprived of riders, fell down on the earth. Many elephants again, with riders on their backs, crushed by means of Arjuna's shafts, fell down, deprived of life, shorn of the embroidered cloths on their backs, and with their housings torn. Cut off by Kiritin with his broad-headed arrows, countless arms having swords and lances and rapiers for their nails or having clubs and battle-axes in grasp, fell down on the earth. Heads also, beautiful, O king, as the morning sun or the lotus or the moon, cut off by Arjuna with his arrows, dropped down on the ground. While Phalguni in rage was thus engaged in slaying the foe with diverse kinds of well-adorned and fatal shafts, that host seemed to be ablaze. Beholding Dhanunjaya crushing that host like an elephant crushing lotus-stalks, all creatures applauded him, saying, 'Excellent, Excellent!' Seeing that feat of Partha resembling that of Vasava himself, Madhava wondered much and, addressing him with joined hands, said, 'Verily, O Partha, I think that this feat which thou hast achieved, could not be performed by Sakra, or Yama, or the Lord of treasures himself. I see that thou hast today felled in battle hundreds and thousands of mighty Samsaptaka warriors an together.' Having slain the Samsaptakas then,--that is, who were engaged in battle,--Partha addressed Krishna, saying, 'Go towards Bhagadatta.'"

 

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 26

 

 

1 [s]
      yan māṃ pārthasya saṃgrāme karmāṇi paripṛcchasi
      tac chṛṇuṣva mahārāja pārtho yad akaron mṛdhe
  2 rajo dṛṣṭvā samudbhūtaṃ śrutvā ca gajanisvanam
      bhajyatāṃ bhagadattena kaunteyaḥ kṛṣṇam abravīt
  3 yathā prāgjyotiṣo rājā gajena madhusūdana
      tvaramāṇo 'bhyatikrānto dhruvaṃ tasyaiṣa nisvanaḥ
  4 indrād anavaraḥ saṃkhye gajayānaviśāradaḥ
      prathamo vā dvitīyo vā pṛthivyām iti me matiḥ
  5 sa cāpi dviradaśreṣṭhaḥ sadā pratigajo yudhi
      sarvaśabdātigaḥ saṃkhye kṛtakarmā jitaklamaḥ
  6 sahaḥ śastranipātānām agnisparśasya cānagha
      sa pāṇḍava balaṃ vyaktam adyaiko nāśayiṣyati
  7 na cāvābhyām ṛte 'nyo 'sti śaktas taṃ pratibādhitum
      tvaramāṇas tato yāhi yataḥ prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ
  8 śakra sakhyād dvipabalair vayasā cāpi vismitam
      adyainaṃ preṣayiṣyāmi balahantuḥ priyātithim
  9 vacanād atha kṛṣṇas tu prayayau savyasācinaḥ
      dāryate bhagadattena yatra pāṇḍava vāhinī
  10 taṃ prayāntaṃ tataḥ paścād āhvayanto mahārathāḥ
     saṃśaptakāḥ samārohan sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
 11 daśaiva tu sahasrāṇi trigartānāṃ narādhipa
     catvāri tu sahasrāṇi vāsudevasya ye 'nugāḥ
 12 dāryamāṇāṃ camūṃ dṛṣṭvā bhagadattena māriṣa
     āhūyamānasya ca tair abhavad dhṛdayaṃ dvidhā
 13 kiṃ nu śreyaḥ karaṃ karma bhaved iti vicintayan
     ito vā vinivarteyaṃ gaccheyaṃ vā yudhiṣṭhiram
 14 tasya buddhyā vicāryaitad arjunasya kurūdvaha
     abhavad bhūyasī buddhiḥ saṃśaptakavadhe sthirā
 15 sa saṃnivṛttaḥ sahasā kapipravara ketanaḥ
     eko rathasahasrāṇi nihantuṃ vāsavī raṇe
 16 sā hi duryodhanasyāsīn matiḥ karṇasya cobhayoḥ
     arjunasya vadhopāye tena dvaidham akalpayat
 17 sa tu saṃvartayām āsa dvaidhī bhāvena pāṇḍavaḥ
     rathena tu rathāgryāṇām akarot tāṃ mṛṣā tadā
 18 tataḥ śatasahasrāṇi śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
     vyasṛjann arjune rājan saṃśaptakamahārathāḥ
 19 naiva kuntīsutaḥ pārtho naiva kṛṣṇo janārdanaḥ
     na hayā na ratho rājan dṛśyante sma śaraiś citāḥ
 20 yadā moham anuprāptaḥ sa svedaś ca janārdanaḥ
     tatas tān prāyaśaḥ pārtho vajrāstreṇa nijaghnivān
 21 śataśaḥ pāṇayaś chinnāḥ seṣu jyātalakārmukāḥ
     ketavo vājinaḥ sūtā rathinaś cāpatan kṣitau
 22 drumācalāgrāmbudharaiḥ samarūpāḥ sukalpitāḥ
     hatārohāḥ kṣitau petur dvipāḥ pārtha śarāhatāḥ
 23 vipra viddha kuthā valgāś chinnabhāṇḍāḥ parāsavaḥ
     sārohās turagāḥ petur mathitāḥ pārtha mārgaṇaiḥ
 24 sarṣṭi carmāsi nakharāḥ sa mudgaraparaśvadhāḥ
     saṃchinnā bāhavaḥ petur nṛṇāṃ bhallaiḥ kirīṭinā
 25 bālādityāmbujendūnāṃ tulyarūpāṇi māriṣa
     saṃchinnāny arjuna śaraiḥ śirāṃsy urvīṃ prapedire
 26 jajvālālaṃkṛtaiḥ senāpatribhiḥ prāṇabhojanaiḥ
     nānā liṅgair adāmitrān kruddhe nighnati phalgune
 27 kṣobhayantaṃ tadā senāṃ dviradaṃ nalinīm iva
     dhanaṃjayaṃ bhūtagaṇāḥ sādhu sādhv ity apūjayan
 28 dṛṣṭvā tat karma pārthasya vāsavasyeva mādhavaḥ
     vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā talam āhatya pūjayat
 29 tataḥ saṃśaptakān hatvā bhūyiṣṭhaṃ ye vyavasthitāḥ
     bhagadattāya yāhīti pārthaḥ kṛṣṇam acodayat

 

SECTION XXVI

"Sanjaya said, 'At Partha's desire, Krishna then urged his white steeds, fleet as the mind and covered in golden armour, towards Drona's divisions. While that foremost one of the Kurus was thus proceeding towards his brothers who were exceedingly afflicted by Drona, Susarman with his brothers, followed him behind, desirous of battle. The ever-victorious Arjuna then addressed Krishna, saying, 'O thou of unfading glory, this Susarman here, with his brothers, challengeth me to battle! O slayer of foes, our host, again, is broken (by Drona) towards the north. In consequence of these Samsaptakas, my heart wavers today as to whether I should do this or that. Shall I slay the Samsaptakas now, or protect from harm my own troops already afflicted by the foe? Know this to be what I am thinking of, viz., 'Which of these would be better for me?' Thus addressed by him, he of Dasarha's race, turned back the car, and
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took the son of Pandu to where the ruler of the Trigartas was. Then Arjuna pierced Susarman with seven shafts, and cut off both his bow and standard with a couple of sharp arrows. He then, with six arrows, quickly despatched the brothers of Trigarta king to Yama's abode. 1 Then Susarman, aiming Arjuna, hurled at him a dart made wholly of iron and looking like a snake, and aiming Vasudeva, hurled a lance at him. Cutting off that dart with three arrows and that lance also with three other arrows, Arjuna, by means of his arrowy showers, deprived Susarman of his senses on his car. Then advancing fiercely (towards thy division), scattering showers of arrows, like Vasava pouring rain, none among thy troops, O king, ventured to oppose. Like a fire consuming heaps of straw as it advances, Dhananjaya advanced, scorching all the mighty car-warriors among the Kauravas by means of his arrows. Like a living creature incapable of bearing the touch of fire, thy troops could not bear the irresistible impetuosity of that intelligent son of Kunti. Indeed, the son of Pandu, overwhelming the hostile host by means of his arrows, came upon the king of the Pragjyotishas, O monarch, like Garuda swooping down (upon his prey). He then held in his hands that Gandiva which in battle was beneficial to the innocent Pandavas and baneful to all foes, for the destruction of Kshatriyas brought about, O king, by the fault of thy son who had recourse to deceitful dice for accomplishing his end. Agitated by Partha thus, thy host then, O king, broke like a boat when it strikes against a rock. Then ten thousand bowmen, brave and fierce, firmly resolved to conquer, advanced (to encounter Arjuna). With dauntless hearts, those mighty car-warriors all surrounded him. Capable of bearing any burden, howsoever heavy in battle, Partha took up that heavy burden. As an angry elephant of sixty years, with rent temples, crushes an assemblage of lotus stalks, even so did Partha crush that division of thy army. And when that division was being thus crushed, king Bhagadatta, on that same elephant of his, impetuously rushed towards Arjuna. Thereupon, Dhananjaya, that tiger among men, staying on his car, received Bhagadatta. That encounter between Arjuna's car and Bhagadatta's elephant was fierce in the extreme. Those two heroes, viz., Bhagadatta and Dhananjaya, then coursed on the field, the one on his car and the other on his elephant, both of which were equipped according to the rules of science. Then Bhagadatta, like the lord Indra, from his elephant looking like a mass of clouds, poured on Dhananjaya showers of arrows. The valiant son of Vasava, however, with his arrows, cut off those arrowy showers of Bhagadatta before they could reach him. The king of the Pragjyotishas, then, baffling that arrowy shower of Arjuna, struck both Partha and Krishna, O king, with many shafts and overwhelming both of them with a thick shower of shafts, Bhagadatta then urged his elephant for the destruction of Krishna and Partha. Beholding that angry elephant advancing like Death himself, Janardana quickly moved his car in such a way as to
p. 66
keep the elephant on his left. Dhananjaya, although he thus got the opportunity of slaying that huge elephant with its rider from the back, wished not yet to avail himself of it, remembering the rules of fair fight. The elephant, however, coming upon other elephants and cars and steeds, O king, despatched them all to Yama's abode. Beholding this, Dhananjaya was filled with rage.

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 27

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      yiyāsatas tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pārthasyāśvān manojavān
      apraiṣīd dhemasaṃchannān droṇānīkāya pāṇḍurān
  2 taṃ prayāntaṃ kuruśreṣṭhaṃ svāṃs trātuṃ droṇa tāpitān
      suśarmā bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ yuddhārthī pṛṣṭhato 'nvayāt
  3 tataḥ śvetahayaḥ kṛṣṇam abravīd ajitaṃ jayaḥ
      eṣa māṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ suśarmāhvayate 'cyuta
  4 dīryate cottareṇaitat sainyaṃ naḥ śatrusūdana
      dvaidhī bhūtaṃ mano me 'dya kṛtaṃ saṃśaptakair idam
  5 kiṃ nu saṃśaptakān hanmi svān rakṣāmy ahitārditān
      iti me tvaṃ mataṃ vettha tatra kiṃ sukṛtaṃ bhavet
  6 evam uktas tu dāśārhaḥ syandanaṃ pratyavartayat
      yena trigartādhipatiḥ pāṇḍavaṃ samupāhvayat
  7 tato 'rjunaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ viddhvā saptabhir āśugaiḥ
      dhvajaṃ dhanuś cāsya tathā kṣurābhyāṃ samakṛntata
  8 trigartādhipateś cāpi bhrātaraṃ ṣaḍbhir āyasaiḥ
      sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ tvaritaḥ pārthaḥ praiṣīd yamakṣayam
  9 tato bhujaga saṃkāśāṃ suśarmā śaktim āyasīm
      cikṣepārjunam ādiśya vāsudevāya tomaram
  10 śaktiṃ tribhiḥ śaraiś chittvā tomaraṃ tribhir arjunaḥ
     suśarmāṇaṃ śaravrātair mohayitvā nyavartata
 11 taṃ vāsavam ivāyāntaṃ bhūri varṣaśaraughiṇam
     rājaṃs tāvaka sainyānāṃ nograṃ kaś cid avārayat
 12 tato dhanaṃjayo bāṇais tata eva mahārathān
     āyād vinighnan kauravyān dahan kakṣam ivānalaḥ
 13 tasya vegam asahyaṃ tu kuntīputrasya dhīmataḥ
     nāśaknuvaṃs te saṃsoḍhuṃ sparśam agner iva prajāḥ
 14 saṃveṣṭayann anīkāni śaravarṣeṇa pāṇḍavaḥ
     suparṇapātavad rājann āyāt prāgjyotiṣaṃ prati
 15 yat tadānāmayañ jiṣṇur bharatānām apāyinām
     dhanuḥ kṣemakaraṃ saṃkhye dviṣatām aśruvardhanam
 16 tad eva tava putrasya rājan durdyūta devinaḥ
     kṛte kṣatravināśāya dhanur āyacchad arjunaḥ
 17 tathā vikṣobhyamāṇā sā pārthena tava vāhinī
     vyadīryata mahārāja naur ivāsādya parvatam
 18 tato daśasahasrāṇi nyavartanta dhanuṣmatām
     matiṃ kṛtvā raṇe kruddhā vīrā jayaparājaye
 19 vyapetahṛdayatrāsa āpad dharmātigo rathaḥ
     ārchat pārtho guruṃ bhāraṃ sarvabhāra saho yudhi
 20 yathā naḍa vanaṃ kruddhaḥ prabhinnaḥ ṣaṣṭihāyanaḥ
     mṛdnīyāt tadvad āyastaḥ pārtho 'mṛdnāc camūṃ tava
 21 tasmin pramathite sainye bhagadatto narādhipaḥ
     tena nāgena sahasa dhanaṃjayam upādravat
 22 taṃ rathena naravyāghraḥ pratyagṛhṇād abhītavat
     sa saṃnipātas tumulo babhūva rathanāgayoḥ
 23 kalpitābhyāṃ yathāśāstraṃ rathena ca gajena ca
     saṃgrāme ceratur vīrau bhagadatta dhanaṃjayau
 24 tato jīmūtasaṃśākān nāgād indra ivābhibhūḥ
     abhyavarṣac charaugheṇa bhagadatto dhanaṃjayam
 25 sa cāpi śaravarṣaṃ tac charavarṣeṇa vāsaviḥ
     aprāptam eva ciccheda bhagadattasya vīryavān
 26 tataḥ prāgjyotiṣo rājā śaravarṣaṃ nivārya tat
     śarair jaghne mahābāhuṃ pārthaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca bhārata
 27 tataḥ sa śarajālena mahatābhyavakīrya tau
     codayām āsa taṃ nāgaṃ vadhāyācyutapārthayoḥ
 28 tam āpatantaṃ dviradaṃ dṛṣṭvā kruddham ivāntakam
     cakre 'pasavyaṃ tvaritaḥ syandanena janārdanaḥ
 29 saṃprāptam api neyeṣa parāvṛttaṃ mahādvipam
     sārohaṃ mṛtyusātkartuṃ smaran dharmaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
 30 sa tu nāgo dviparathān hayāṃś cārujya māriṣa
     prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya tato 'krudhyad dhanaṃjayaḥ

 

SECTION XXVII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Filled with rage, what did Partha, the son of Pandu, do to Bhagadatta? What also did the king of the Pragjyotishas do to Partha? Tell me all this, O Sanjaya!'
"Sanjaya said, 'While Partha and Krishna were thus engaged with the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, all creatures regarded them to be very near the jaws of Death. Indeed, O monarch, from the neck of his elephant, Bhagadatta scattered showers of shafts on the two Krishnas, staying upon their car. He pierced Devaki's son with many arrows made wholly of black iron, equipped with wings of gold, whetted on stone, and shot from his bow, drawn to the fullest stretch. Those shafts whose touch resembled that of fire, equipped with beautiful feathers, and shot by Bhagadatta, passing through Devaki's son, entered the earth. Partha then cut off Bhagadatta's bow and slaying next the warrior that protected his elephant from the flank, began to fight with him as if in sport. Then Bhagadatta hurled at him fourteen lances of sharp points, that were bright as the rays of the sun. Arjuna, however, cut each of those lances into three fragments. Then Indra's son cut open the armour in which that elephant was eased, by means of a thick shower of arrows. The armour thus cut off, fell down on the earth. Exceedingly afflicted with arrows shot by Arjuna, that elephant, deprived of its coat of mail, looked like a prince of mountains destitute of its cloudy robes and with streaks of water running down its breast. Then the ruler of the Pragjyotishas hurled at Vasudeva a dart made wholly of iron and decked with gold. That dart Arjuna cut in twain. Then cutting off the king's standard and umbrella by means of his arrows Arjuna quickly pierced that ruler of the mountainous realms with ten arrows, smiling all the while. Deeply pierced with those shafts of Arjuna, that were beautifully winged with Kanka feathers, Bhagadatta, O monarch, became incensed with the son of Pandu. He then hurled some lances at Arjuna's head and uttered a loud shout. In consequence of those lances Arjuna's diadem was displaced. Arjuna, then, having placed his diadem properly, addressed the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, saying, 'Look well on this world!' Thus addressed by him, Bhagadatta became filled with rage, and taking up a bright bow showered upon both the Pandava and Govinda
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his arrowy down-pours. Partha then cutting off his bow and quivers, quickly struck him with two and seventy shafts, afflicting his vital limbs. Thus pierced, he was excessively pained. Filled then with rage, he with Mantras, turned his hook into the Vaishnava weapon and hurled it at Arjuna's breast. That all-slaying weapon, hurled by Bhagadatta, Kesava, covering Arjuna, received on his breast. Thereupon, that weapon became a triumphal garland on Kesava's breast. Arjuna then cheerlessly addressed Kesava, saying, 'O sinless one, without battling thyself, thou art to only guide my steed! Thou hadst said so, O lotus-eyed one! Why then dost thou not adhere to thy promise? If I sink in distress, or become unable to baffle, or resist a foe or weapon, then mayst thou act so, but not when I am standing thus. Thou knowest that with my bow and arrows I am competent to vanquish these worlds with the gods, the Asuras, and men.' Hearing these words of Arjuna, Vasudeva replied unto him, saying, 'Listen, O Partha, to this secret and ancient history as it is, O sinless one! I have four forms, eternally engaged as I am in protecting the worlds. Dividing my own Self, I ordain the good of the worlds. One form of mine, staying on the earth, is engaged in the practice of ascetic austerities. Another beholdeth the good and the evil deeds in the world. My third form, coming into the world of men, is engaged in action. My fourth form lieth down in sleep for a thousand years. The form of mine which awaketh from sleep at the end of a thousand years, granteth, upon awakening, excellent boons to persons deserving of them. The earth, knowing (on one occasion) that that time had come, asked of me a boon for (her son) Naraka. Hear, O Partha, what that boon was. Possessed of the Vaishnava weapon, let my son become incapable of being slain by the gods and the Asuras. It behoveth thee to grant me that weapon. Hearing this prayer, I then gave, in days of old, the supreme and infallible Vaishnava weapon to the Earth's son. I said also at that time these words, 'O Earth, let this weapon be infallible for the protection of Naraka. None will be able to slay him. Protected by this weapon, thy son will always, in all the worlds, be invincible and crush all hostile hosts.' Saying, So be it! the intelligent goddess went away, her wishes fulfilled. And Naraka also became invincible and always scorched his foes. It was from Naraka, O Partha, that the ruler of the Pragjyotishas got this weapon of mine. There is none, in all the world, O sire, including even Indra and Rudra, who is unslayable by this weapon. It was for thy sake, therefore, that I baffled it, violating my promise. The great Asura hath now been divested of that supreme weapon. Slay now, O Partha, that invincible foe of thine, viz., Bhagadatta, enemy of the gods, even as I formerly slew for the good of the worlds, the Asura Naraka.' Thus addressed by the high-souled Kesava, Partha suddenly overwhelmed Bhagadatta with clouds of whetted arrows. Then, the mighty-armed and high-souled Arjuna fearlessly struck a long arrow between the frontal globes of his enemy's elephant. That arrow, splitting the elephant like the thunder splitting a mountain, penetrated into its body to the very wings, like a
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snake penetrating into an ant-hill. Though urged repeatedly then by Bhagadatta, the elephant refused to obey like a poor man's wife her lord. With limbs paralysed, it fell down, striking the earth with its tusks. Uttering a cry of distress, that huge elephant gave up the ghost. The son of Pandu then, with a straight shaft furnished with a crescent-shaped head, pierced the bosom of king Bhagadatta. His breast, being pierced through by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), king Bhagadatta, deprived of life, threw down his bow and arrows. Loosened from his head, the valuable piece of cloth that had served him for a turban, fell down, like a petal from a lotus when its stalk is violently struck. And he himself, decked with golden garlands, fell down from his huge elephant adorned with golden housings, like flowering Kinsuka broken by the force of the wind from the mountain-top. The son of Indra then, having slain in battle that monarch who resembled Indra himself in prowess and who was Indra's friend, broke the other warriors of thy army inspired with hope of victory like the mighty wind breaking rows of trees.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 28

 

 

 

1 [dhṛ]
      tathā kruddhaḥ kim akarod bhagadattasya pāṇḍavaḥ
      prāgjyotiṣo vā pārthasya tan me śaṃsa yathātatham
  2 [s]
      prāgjyotiṣeṇa saṃsaktāv ubhau dāśārha pāṇḍavau
      mṛtyor ivāntikaṃ prāptau sarvabhūtāni menire
  3 tathā hi śaravarṣāṇi pātayaty aniśaṃ prabho
      bhagadatto gajaskandhāt kṛṣṇayoḥ syandanasthayoḥ
  4 atha kārṣṇāyasair bāṇaiḥ pūrṇakārmukaniḥsṛtaiḥ
      avidhyad devakīputraṃ hemapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
  5 agnisparśa samās tīkṣṇā bhagadattena coditāḥ
      nirbhidya devakīputraṃ kṣitiṃ jagmuḥ śarās tataḥ
  6 tasya pārtho dhanuś chittvā śarāvāpaṃ nihatya ca
      lāḍayann iva rājānaṃ bhagadattam ayodhayat
  7 so 'rkaraśmi nibhāṃs tīkṣṇāṃs tomarān vai caturdaśa
      prerayat savyasācī tāṃs tridhaikaikam athācchinat
  8 tato nāgasya tad varma vyadhamat pākaśāsaniḥ
      śarajālena sa babhau vyabhraḥ parvatarāḍ iva
  9 tataḥ prāgjyotiṣaḥ śaktiṃ hemadaṇḍām ayasmayīm
      vyasṛjad vāsudevāya dvidhā tām arjuno 'cchinat
  10 tataś chatraṃ dhvajaṃ caiva chittvā rājño 'rjunaḥ śaraiḥ
     vivyādha daśabhis tūrṇam utsmayan parvatādhipam
 11 so 'tividdho 'rjuna śaraiḥ supuṅkhaiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ
     bhagadattas tataḥ kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
 12 vyasṛjat tomarān mūrdhni śvetāśvasyonnanāda ca
     tair arjunasya samare kirīṭaṃ parivartitam
 13 parivṛttaṃ kirīṭaṃ taṃ yamayann eva phalgunaḥ
     sudṛṣṭaḥ kriyatāṃ loka iti rājānam abravīt
 14 evam uktas tu saṃkruddhaḥ śaravarṣeṇa pāṇḍavam
     abhyavarṣat sa govindaṃ dhanur ādāya bhasvaram
 15 tasya pārtho dhanuś chittvā tūṇīrān saṃnikṛtya ca
     tvaramāṇo dvisaptatyā sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
 16 viddhas tathāpy avyathito vaiṣṇavāstram udīrayan
     abhimantryāṅkuśaṃ kruddho vyasṛjat pāṇḍavorasi
 17 visṛṣṭaṃ bhagadattena tad astraṃ sarvaghātakam
     urasā pratijagrāha pārthaṃ saṃchādya keśavaḥ
 18 vaijayanty abhavan mālā tad astraṃ keśavorasi
     tato 'rjunaḥ klāntamanāḥ keśavaṃ pratyabhāṣata
 19 ayudhyamānas turagān saṃyantāsmi janārdana
     ity uktvā puṇḍarīkākṣa pratijñāṃ svāṃ na rakṣasi
 20 yadyāhaṃ vyasanī vā syām aśakto vā nivāraṇe
     tatas tvayaivaṃ kāryaṃ syān na tu kāryaṃ mayi sthite
 21 sa bāṇaḥ sadhanuś cāhaṃ sa surāsuramānavān
     śakto lokān imāñ jetuṃ tac cāpi viditaṃ tava
 22 tato 'rjunaṃ vāsudevaḥ pratyuvācārthavad vacaḥ
     śṛṇu guhyam idaṃ pārtha yathāvṛttaṃ purānagha
 23 caturmūrtir ahaṃ śaśval lokatrāṇārtham udyataḥ
     ātmānaṃ pravibhajyeha lokānāṃ hitam ādadhe
 24 ekā mūrtis tapaścaryāṃ kurute me bhuvi sthitā
     aparā paśyati jagat kurvāṇaṃ sādhvasādhunī
 25 aparā kurute karma mānuṣaṃ lokam āśritā
     śete caturthī tv aparā nidrāṃ varṣasahasrikām
 26 yāsau varṣasahasrānte mūrtir uttiṣṭhate mama
     varārhebhyo varāñ śreṣṭhāṃs tasmin kāle dadāti sā
 27 taṃ tu kālam anuprāptaṃ viditvā pṛthivī tadā
     prāyācata varaṃ yaṃ māṃ narakārthāya taṃ śṛṇu
 28 devānām asurāṇāṃ ca avadhyas tanayo 'stu me
     upeto vaiṣṇavāstreṇa tan me tvaṃ dātum arhasi
 29 evaṃ varam ahaṃ śrutvā jagatyās tanaye tadā
     amogham astram adadaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ tad ahaṃ purā
 30 avocaṃ caitad astraṃ vai hy amoghaṃ bhavatu kṣame
     narakasyābhirakṣārthaṃ nainaṃ kaś cid vadhiṣyati
 31 anenāstreṇa te guptaḥ sutaḥ parabalārdanaḥ
     bhaviṣyati durādharṣaḥ sarvalokeṣu sarvadā
 32 tathety uktvā gatā devī kṛtakāmā manasvinī
     sa cāpy āsīd durādharṣo narakaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
 33 tasmāt prāgjyotiṣaṃ prāptaṃ tad astraṃ pārtha māmakam
     nāsyāvadhyo 'sti lokeṣu sendrarudreṣu māriṣa
 34 tan mayā tvatkṛtenaitad anyathā vyapanāśitam
     viyuktaṃ paramāstreṇa jahi pārtha mahāsuram
 35 vairiṇaṃ yudhi durdharṣaṃ bhagadattaṃ suradviṣam
     yathāhaṃ jaghnivān pūrvaṃ hitārthaṃ narakaṃ tathā
 36 evam uktas tataḥ pārthaḥ keśavena mahātmanā
     bhagadattaṃ śitair bāṇaiḥ sahasā samavākirat
 37 tataḥ pārtho mahābāhur asaṃbhrānto mahāmanāḥ
     kumbhayor antare nāgaṃ nārācena samārpayat
 38 samāsādya tu taṃ nāgaṃ bāṇo vajra ivācalam
     abhyagāt saha puṅkhena valmīkam iva pannagaḥ
 39 sa tu viṣṭabhya gātrāṇi dantābhyām avaniṃ yayau
     nadann ārtasvaraṃ prāṇān utsasarja mahādvipaḥ
 40 tataś candrārdhabimbena śareṇa nataparvaṇā
     bibheda hṛdayaṃ rājño bhagadattasya pāṇḍavaḥ
 41 sa bhinnahṛdayo rājā bhagadattaḥ kirīṭinā
     śarāsanaṃ śarāṃś caiva gatāsuḥ pramumoca ha
 42 śirasas tasya vibhraṣṭaḥ papāta ca varāṅkuśaḥ
     nālatāḍana vibhraṣṭaṃ palāśaṃ nalinād iva
 43 sa hemamālī tapanīyabhāṇḍāt; papāta nāgād girisaṃnikāśāt
     supuṣpito mārutavegarugṇo; mahīdharāgrād iva karṇikāraḥ
 44 nihatya taṃ narapatim indra vikramaṃ; sakhāyam indrasya tathaindrir āhave
     tato 'parāṃs tava jayakāṅkṣiṇo narān; babhañja vāyur balavān drumān iva

 

SECTION XXVIII

"Sanjaya said, Having slain Bhagadatta who was ever the favourite and I friend of Indra and who was possessed of great energy, Partha circumambulated him. Then the two sons of the king of Gandhara viz., the brothers Vrishaka and Achala, those subjugators of hostile towns, began to afflict Arjuna in battle. Those two heroic bowmen, uniting together, began to deeply pierce Arjuna from the front and from behind with whetted shafts of great impetuosity. Arjuna then with sharp shafts cut off the steeds and driver and bow and umbrella and standard and car of Vrishaka, the son of Suvala, into atoms. With clouds of arrows and diverse other weapons, Arjuna then once more severely afflicted the Gandhara troops headed by Suvala's son. Then Dhananjaya, filled with rage, despatched to Yama's abode, with his shafts, five hundred heroic Gandharas with upraised weapons. The mighty-armed hero then, quickly alighting from that car whose steeds had been slain, mounted upon the car of his brother and took up another bow. Then those two brothers, viz., Vrishaka and Achala, both mounted on the same car, began incessantly to pierce Vibhatsu with showers of arrows. Indeed, those high-souled princes, those relatives of thine by marriage, viz., Vrishaka and Achala, struck Partha very severely, like Vritra or Vala striking Indra of old. Of unfailing aim, these two princes of Gandhara, themselves unhurt, began once more to strike the son of Pandu, like the two months of
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summer afflicting the world with sweat-producing rays. 1 Then Arjuna slew those princes and tigers among men, viz., Vrishaka and Achala, staying on one car side by side, with, O monarch, a single arrow. Then those mighty-armed heroes, with red eyes and looking like lions, those uterine brothers having similar features, together fell down from that car. And their bodies, dear to friends, falling down upon the earth, lay there, spreading sacred fame all around.
"Beholding their brave and unretreating maternal uncles thus slain by Arjuna, thy sons, O monarch, rained many weapons upon him. Sakuni also, conversant with a hundred different kinds of illusions, seeing his brothers slain, created illusions for confounding the two Krishnas. Then clubs, and iron balls, and rocks and Sataghnis and darts, and maces, and spiked bludgeons, and scimitars, and lances, mallets, axes, and Kampanas, and swords, and nails, and short clubs, and battle-axes, and razors, and arrows with sharp broad heads, and Nalikas, and calf-tooth headed shafts, and arrows having bony heads and discs and snake-headed shafts, and spears, and diverse other kinds of weapons, fell upon Arjuna from all sides. And asses, and camels, and buffaloes, and tigers, and lions, and deer, and leopards, and bears, and wolves and vultures, and monkeys, and various reptiles, and diverse cannibals, and swarms of crows, all hungry, and excited with rage, ran towards Arjuna. Then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that hero conversant with celestial weapons, shooting clouds of arrows, assailed them all. And assailed by that hero with those excellent and strong shafts, they uttered loud cries and fell down deprived of life. Then a thick darkness appeared and covered Arjuna's car, and from within that gloom harsh voices rebuked Arjuna. The latter, however, by means of the weapons called Jyotishka, dispelled that thick and awful darkness. When that darkness was dispelled frightful waves of water appeared. For drying up those waters, Arjuna applied the weapon called Aditya. And in consequence of that weapon, the waters were almost dried up. These diverse illusions, repeatedly created by Sauvala, Arjuna destroyed speedily by means of the force of his weapons, laughing the while. Upon all his illusions being destroyed, afflicted with Arjuna's shafts and unmanned by fear, Sakuni fled away, aided by his fleet, steeds, like a vulgar wretch. Then Arjuna, acquainted with all weapons, showing his enemies the exceeding lightness of his hands, showered upon the Kaurava host clouds of arrows. That host of thy son, thus slaughtered by Partha, became divided into two streams like the current of Ganga when impeded by a mountain. And one of those streams, O bull among men, proceeded towards Drona, and the other with loud cries, proceeded towards Duryodhana. Then a thick dust arose and covered all the troops. We
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could not then see Arjuna. Only the twang of Gandivas was heard by us from off the field. Indeed, the twang of Gandiva was heard, rising above the blare of conchs and the beat of drums and the noise of other instruments. Then on the southern part of the field took place a fierce battle between many foremost warriors on the one side and Arjuna on the other. I, however, followed Drona. The various divisions of Yudhishthira's force smote the foe on every part of the field. The diverse divisions of thy son, O Bharata, Arjuna smote, even as the wind in the summer season destroys masses of clouds in the welkin. Indeed, as Arjuna came, scattering clouds of arrows, like Vasava pouring thick showers of rain, there was none in thy army who could resist that great fierce bowman, that tiger among men. Struck by Partha, thy warriors were in great pain. They fled away, and in flying killed many among their own number. The arrows shot by Arjuna, winged Kanka feathers and capable of penetrating into every body, fell covering all sides, like flights of locusts. Piercing steeds and car-warriors and elephants and foot-soldiers, O sire, like snakes through ant-hills, those shafts entered the earth. Arjuna never shot arrows, at any elephant, steed or man. Struck with only one arrow, each of these, severely afflicted, fell down deprived of life. With slain men and elephant and shaft-struck steeds lying all about, and echoing with yells of dogs and jackals, the field of battle presented a variegated and awful sight. Pained with arrows, sire forsook son, and friend forsook friend and son forsook sire. Indeed, every one was intent upon protecting his own self. Struck with Partha's shafts, many warriors abandoned the very animals that bore them.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 29

 

1 [s]
      priyam indrasya satataṃ sakhāyam amitaujasam
      hatvā prāgjyotiṣaṃ pārthaḥ pradakṣiṇam avartata
  2 tato gāndhārarājasya sutau parapuraṃjayau
      ārchetām arjunaṃ sakhye bhrātarau vṛṣakācalau
  3 tau sametyārjunaṃ vīrau puraḥ paścāc ca dhanvinau
      avidhyetāṃ mahāvegair niśitair āśugair bhṛśam
  4 vṛṣakasya hayān sūtaṃ dhanuś chatraṃ rathaṃ dhvajam
      tilaśo vyadhamat pārthaḥ saubalasya śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  5 tato 'rjunaḥ śaravrātair nānāpraharaṇair api
      gāndhārān vyākulāṃś cakre saubala pramukhān punaḥ
  6 tataḥ pañcaśatān vīrān gāndhārān udyatāyudhān
      prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya kruddho bāṇair dhanaṃjayaḥ
  7 hatāśvāt tu rathāt tūrṇam avatīrya mahābhujaḥ
      āruroha rathaṃ bhrātur anyac ca dhanur ādade
  8 tāv ekaratham ārūḍhau bhrātarau vṛṣakācalau
      śaravarṣeṇa bībhatsum avidhyetāṃ punaḥ punaḥ
  9 syālau tava mahātmānau rājānau vṛṣakācalau
      bhṛśaṃ nijaghnatuḥ pārtham indraṃ vṛtrabalāv iva
  10 labdhalakṣyau tu gāndhārāv ahatāṃ pāṇḍavaṃ punaḥ
     nidāghavārṣikau māsau lokaṃ gharmāmbubhir yathā
 11 tau rathasthau naravyāghrau rājānau vṛṣakācalau
     saṃśliṣṭāṅgau sthitau rājañ jaghānaikeṣuṇārjunaḥ
 12 tau rathāt smiha saṃkāśau lohitākṣau mahābhujau
     gatāsū petatur vīrau sodaryāv ekalakṣaṇau
 13 tayor dehau rathād bhūmiṃ gatau bandhujanapriyau
     yaśo daśa diśaḥ puṇyaṃ gamayitvā vyavasthitau
 14 dṛṣṭvā vinihatau saṃkhye mātulāv apalāyinau
     bhṛśaṃ mumucur aśrūṇi putrās tava viśāṃ pate
 15 nihatau bhrātarau dṛṣṭvā māyā śataviśāradaḥ
     kṛṣṇau saṃmohayan māyāṃ vidadhe śakunis tataḥ
 16 laguṇāyo guḍāśmānaḥ śataghnyaś ca sa śaktayaḥ
     gadāparighanistriṃśa śūlamudgara pāṭṭiśāḥ
 17 sa kampanarṣṭi nakharā musalāni paraśvadhāḥ
     kṣurāḥ kṣura pranālīkā vatsadantās trisaṃdhinaḥ
 18 cakrāṇi viśikhāḥ prāsā vividhāny āyudhāni ca
     prapetuḥ sarvato digbhyaḥ pradigbhyaś cārjunaṃ prati
 19 kharoṣṭramahiṣāḥ siṃhā vyāghrāḥ sṛmara cillikāḥ
     ṛkṣāḥ sālāvṛkā gṛdhrāḥ kapayo 'tha sarīsṛpāḥ
 20 vividhāni ca rakṣāṃsi kṣudhitāny arjunaṃ prati
     saṃkruddhāny abhyadhāvanta vividhāni vayāṃsi ca
 21 tato divyāstravic chūraḥ kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
     visṛjann iṣujālāni sahasā tāny atāḍayat
 22 te hanyamānāḥ śūreṇa pravaraiḥ sāyakair dṛḍhaiḥ
     viruvanto mahārāvān vineśuḥ sarvato hatāḥ
 23 tatas tamaḥ prādurabhūd arjunasya rathaṃ prati
     tasmāc ca tamaso vācaḥ krūrāḥ pārtham abhartsayan
 24 tat tamo 'streṇa mahatā jyotiṣeṇārjuno 'vadhīt
     hate tasmiñ jalaughās tu prādurāsan bhayānakāḥ
 25 ambhasas tasya nāśārtham ādityāstram athārjunaḥ
     prāyuṅktāmbhas tatas tena prāyaśo 'streṇa śoṣitam
 26 evaṃ bahuvidhā māyāḥ saubalasya kṛtāḥ kṛtāḥ
     jaghānāstra balenāśu prahasann arjunas tadā
 27 tathā hatāsu māyāsu trasto 'rjuna śarāhataḥ
     apāyāj javanair aśvaiḥ śakuniḥ prākṛto yathā
 28 tato 'rjuno 'stravic chraiṣṭhyaṃ darśayann ātmano 'riṣu
     abhyavarṣac charaugheṇa kauravāṇām anīkinīm
 29 sā hanyamānā pārthena putrasya tava vāhinī
     dvaidhī bhūtā mahārāja gaṅgevāsādya parvatam
 30 droṇam evānvapadyanta ke cit tatra mahārathāḥ
     ke cid duryodhanaṃ rājann ardyamānāḥ kirīṭinā
 31 nāpaśyāma tatas tv etat sainyaṃ vai tamasāvṛtam
     gāṇḍīvasya ca nirghoṣaḥ śruto dakṣiṇato mayā
 32 śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaṃ vāditrāṇāṃ ca nisvanam
     gāṇḍīvasya ca nirghoṣo vyatikramyāspṛśad divam
 33 tataḥ punar dakṣiṇataḥ saṃgrāmaś citrayodhinām
     suyuddham arjunasyāsīd ahaṃ tu droṇam anvagām
 34 nānāvidhāny anīkāni putrāṇāṃ tava bhārata
     arjuno vyadhamat kāle divīvābhrāṇi mārutaḥ
 35 taṃ vāsavam ivāyāntaṃ bhūrivarṣaśaraughiṇam
     maheṣvāsaṃ naravyāghraṃ nograṃ kaś cid avārayat
 36 te hanyamānāḥ pārthena tvadīyā vyathitā bhṛśam
     svān eva bahavo jaghnur vidravantas tatas tataḥ
 37 te 'rjunena śarā muktāḥ kaṅkapatrās tanucchidaḥ
     śalabhā iva saṃpetuḥ saṃvṛṇvānā diśo daśa
 38 turagaṃ rathinaṃ nāgaṃ padātim api māriṣa
     vinirbhidya kṣitiṃ jagmur valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
 39 na ca dvitīyaṃ vyasṛjat kuñjarāśvanareṣu saḥ
     pṛthag ekaśarārugṇā nipetus te gatāsavaḥ
 40 hatair manuṣyais turagaiś ca sarvataḥ; śarābhivṛṣṭair dviradaiś ca pātitaiḥ
     tadā śvagomāyu baḍābhināditaṃ; vicitram āyodha śiro babhūva ha
 41 pitā sutaṃ tyajati suhṛd varaṃ suhṛt; tathaiva putraḥ pitaraṃ śarāturaḥ
     svarakṣaṇe kṛtamatayas tadā janās; tyajanti vāhān api pārtha pīḍitāḥ

 

SECTION XXIX

"Dhritarashtra said, 'When those divisions (of mine), O Sanjaya, were broken and routed, and all of you retreated quickly from the field, what became the state of your minds? The rallying of ranks when broken and flying away without beholding a spot whereon to stand, is always exceedingly difficult. Tell me all about it, O Sanjaya!'
"Sanjaya said, [Although thy troops were broken], yet, O monarch, many foremost of heroes in the world, inspired by the desire of doing good to thy son and of maintaining their own reputation, followed Drona. In that dreadful pass, they fearlessly followed their commander, achieving meritorious feats against the Pandava troops with weapons upraised, and Yudhishthira within accessible distance. 1 Taking advantage of an error of
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[paragraph continues] Bhimasena of great energy and of heroic Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna, O monarch, the Kuru leaders fell upon the Pandava Army. 1 The Panchalas urged their troops, saying, 'Drona, Drona!' Thy sons, however, urged all the Kurus, saying, 'Let not Drona be slain. Let not Drona be slain!' One side saying, 'Slay Drona', 'Slay Drona,' and the other saying, 'Let not Drona be slain, 'Let not Drona be slain,' the Kurus and the Pandavas seemed to gamble, making Drona their stake. Dhrishtadyumna, the prince of the Panchalas, proceeded to the side of all those Panchala car-warriors whom Drona sought to crush. Thus no rule was observed as to the antagonist one night select for battling with him. The strife became dreadful. Heroes encountered heroes, uttering loud shouts Their foes could not make the Pandavas tremble. On the other hand, recollecting all their woes, the latter made the ranks of their enemies tremble. Though possessed of modesty, yet excited with rage and vindictiveness, and urged by energy and might, they approached that dreadful battle, reckless of their very lives for slaying Drona. That encounter of heroes of immeasurable energy, sporting in fierce battle making life itself the stake, resembled the collision of iron against adamant. The oldest men even could not recollect whether they had seen or heard of a battle as fierce as that which took place on this occasion. The earth in that encounter, marked with great carnage and afflicted with the weight of that vast host, began to tremble. The awful noise made by the Kuru army agitated and tossed by the foe, paralysing the very welkin, penetrated into the midst of even the Pandava host. Then Drona, coming upon the Pandava divisions by thousands, and careering over the field, broke them by means of his whetted shafts. When these were being thus crushed by Drona of wonderful achievements, Dhrishtadyumna, the generalissimo of the Pandava host, filled with rage himself checked Drona. The encounter that we beheld between Drona and the prince of the Panchalas was highly wonderful. It is my firm conviction that it has no parallel.
"Then Nila, resembling a veritable fire, his arrows constituting its sparks and his bow its flame, began to consume the Kuru ranks, like a conflagration consuming heaps of dry grass. The valiant son of Drona, who from before had been desirous of an encounter with him, smilingly addressed Nila as the latter came consuming the troops, and said unto him these polite words, 2 'O Nila, what dost thou gain by consuming so many common soldiers with thy arrowy flames? Fight with my unaided self, and filled with rage, strike me.' Thus addressed, Nila, the brightness of whose face resembled the splendour of a full-blown lotus, pierced Aswatthaman, whose body resembled an assemblage of lotuses and whose eyes were like lotus-petals with his shafts. Deeply and suddenly pierced by Nila, Drona's son with three broad-headed arrows, cut off his antagonist's bow and standard and umbrella. Quickly jumping down from his car, Nila, then,
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with a shield and an excellent sword, desired to sever from Aswatthaman's trunk his head like a bird (bearing away its prey in its talons). Drona's son, however, O sinless one, by means of a bearded arrow, cut off, from his antagonist's trunk, his head graced with a beautiful nose and decked with excellent ear-rings, and which rested on elevated shoulders. That hero, then, the brightness of whose face resembled the splendour of the full moon and whose eyes were like lotus-petals, whose stature was tall, and complexion like that of the lotus, thus slain, fell down on the earth. The Pandava host then, filled with great grief, began to tremble, when the Preceptor's son thus slew Nila of blazing energy. The great car-warriors of the Pandavas, O sire, all thought, 'Alas, how would Indra's son (Arjuna) be able to rescue us from the foe, when that mighty warrior is engaged on the southern part of the field in slaughtering the remnant of the Samsaptakas and the Narayana force?'"




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