01.218
Pancharatra: Fearse war between Shakra and the dual Arjuna and Krishna.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tasyābhivarṣato vāri pāṇḍavaḥ pratyāvarayat। śaravarṣeṇa bībhatsur uttamāstrāṇi darśayan ॥1-218-1॥
As he poured down water, the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna) warded it off with a shower of arrows, displaying his excellent weapons.
śaraiḥ samantataḥ sarvaṃ khāṇḍavaṃ cāpi pāṇḍavaḥ। chādayāmāsa tadvarṣam apakṛṣya tato vanāt॥1-218-2॥
Arjuna, the Pāṇḍava, covered the entire Khāṇḍava forest on all sides with arrows, and then, having withdrawn that rain (of arrows), departed from the forest.
na ca sma kiñcicchaknoti bhūtaṃ niścarituṃ tataḥ। sañchādyamāne khagamairasyatā savyasācinā ॥1-218-3॥
And indeed, no creature was able to escape from there, as the area was being covered with arrows by Savyasācin, that is, Arjuna.
takṣakastu na tatrāsītsarparājo mahābalaḥ। dahyamāne vane tasmin kurukṣetre'bhavattadā ॥1-218-4॥
However, Takṣaka, the mighty serpent king, was not present there. At that time, while the forest in Kurukṣetra was burning, this occurred.
aśvasenastu tatrāsīttakṣakasya suto balī। sa yatnamakarottīvram mokṣārthaṃ havyavāhanāt ॥1-218-5॥
Aśvasena, the strong son of Takṣaka, was there; he made intense efforts to be freed from Agni (the fire-god).
na śaśāka vinirgantuṃ kaunteya-śara-pīḍitaḥ। mokṣayāmāsa taṃ mātā nigīrya bhujagātmajā ॥1-218-6॥
Afflicted by the arrow of the son of Kunti, he was unable to go out. His mother, the daughter of the serpent, swallowed him and released him.
tasya pūrvaṃ śiro grastaṃ pucchamasya nigīryate। ūrdhvamācakrame sā tu pannagī putragṛddhinī ॥1-218-7॥
First his head was seized, and now his tail is being swallowed. The serpent-woman, greedy for sons, advanced upwards.
tasyāstīkṣṇena bhallena pṛthudhāreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ। śiraś ciccheda gacchantyās tām apaśyat sureśvaraḥ ॥1-218-8॥
The son of Pāṇḍu cut off her head with a sharp, broad-edged arrow as she was going; the lord of the gods saw her.
taṃ mumocayiṣur vajrī vātavarṣeṇa pāṇḍavam। mohayām āsa tatkālam aśvasenas tvam ucyata ॥1-218-9॥
Desiring to release him, the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra) used a storm of wind against the son of Pāṇḍu; at that moment, it is said, Aśvasena caused confusion.
tāṃ ca māyāṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā ghorāṃ nāgena vañcitaḥ। dvidhā tridhā ca ciccheda khagatāneva bhārata॥1-218-10॥
O Bhārata, having then seen that terrible illusion, deceived by the serpent, he cut it into two and three parts, like those moving in the sky.
śaśāpa taṃ ca saṅkruddho bībhatsur jihmagāminam। pāvako vāsudevaś ca apratiṣṭho bhaved iti ॥1-218-11॥
Greatly enraged, Arjuna cursed the one who followed a crooked path, declaring: "Let Agni and Kṛṣṇa also become unstable."
tato jiṣṇuḥ sahasrākṣaṃ khaṃ vitatyeṣubhiḥ śitaiḥ। yodhayāmāsa saṅkruddho vañcanāṃ tāmanusmaran ॥1-218-12॥
Then, greatly enraged and recalling that deceit, the victorious one stretched the sky with sharp arrows and fought Indra, the thousand-eyed.
devarāḍ api taṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃrabdham iva phalgūnam। svam astram asṛjat dīptaṃ yat tatāna akhilaṃ nabhaḥ॥1-218-13॥
The king of the gods, seeing Phalguna (Arjuna) appearing enraged, released his own brilliant weapon, which spread throughout the whole sky.
tato vāyurmahāghoṣaḥ kṣobhayansarvasāgarān। viyatstho'janayanmeghāñjaladhārāmucho''kulān ॥1-218-14॥
Then the wind, with a mighty roar, stirred all the oceans; stationed in the sky, it generated clouds that poured forth torrents of water in a tumultuous manner.
tad-vighātārtham asṛjad arjuno'py astram uttamam। vāyavyam eva abhimantrya pratipatti-viśāradaḥ॥1-218-15॥
To counteract that, Arjuna, being highly skilled, also released the excellent wind-missile after duly invoking it with mantras.
tenendrāśanimeghānāṃ vīryaujastadvināśitam। jaladhārāśca tāḥ śoṣaṃ jagmurneśuśca vidyutaḥ ॥1-218-16॥
By him, the strength and energy of the clouds struck by Indra's thunderbolt was destroyed. The streams of water dried up, and the lightnings disappeared.
kṣaṇena cābhavad vyoma sampraśānta-rajas-tamaḥ। sukha-śīta-anila-guṇaṃ prakṛti-stha-arka-maṇḍalam ॥1-218-17॥
In an instant, the sky cleared of dust and darkness; the sun's disk, naturally possessing the qualities of pleasant and cool wind, remained visible.
niṣpratīkārahṛṣṭaś ca hutabhug vividhaākṛtiḥ। prajajvālātulārciṣmān svanādaiḥ pūrayan jagat ॥1-218-18॥
The fire, delighted and unopposed, took on various forms and blazed forth with incomparable radiance, filling the world with its sounds.
kṛṣṇābhyāṃ rakṣitaṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ ca dāvamahaṅkṛtāḥ। samutpeturathākāśaṃ suparṇādyāḥ patatriṇaḥ ॥1-218-19॥
When they saw him protected by the two Kṛṣṇas, those proud as a forest fire, Suparṇa and the other birds then rose up into the sky.
garuḍā vajrasadṛśaiḥ pakṣatuṇḍanakhaiḥ tathā। prahartukāmāḥ sampetur ākāśāt kṛṣṇapāṇḍavau ॥1-218-20॥
The Garudas, whose wings, beaks, and claws were like thunderbolts, swooped down from the sky, eager to strike at Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.
tathaivoragasaṅghātāḥ pāṇḍavasya samīpataḥ। utsṛjanto viṣaṃ ghoraṃ niścerurjvalitānanāḥ ॥1-218-21॥
Likewise, groups of serpents near Pāṇḍava came forth, releasing deadly poison, their faces blazing.
tāṃś ca akarta śaraiḥ pārthaḥ sa-roṣān dṛśya khe-carān। vivaśāś ca apatan dīptam deha-abhāvāya pāvakam ॥1-218-22॥
Arjuna, seeing the angry sky-dwellers, struck them with arrows. The helpless ones fell into the blazing fire for the destruction of their bodies.
tataḥ surāḥ sagandharvā yakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ। utpeturnādamatulamutsṛjanto raṇārthiṇaḥ ॥1-218-23॥
Then the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents, rose up, producing an incomparable sound as they yearned for battle.
ayaḥ-kaṇa-pacakra-aśma-bhuśuṇḍi-udyata-bāhavaḥ। kṛṣṇa-pārthau jighāṃsantaḥ krodha-saṃmūrcchita-ojasāḥ ॥1-218-24॥
Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, with arms raised and weapons such as iron pellets, discs, stones, and maces, driven by anger and intent on killing, advanced with overwhelming energy.
teṣām abhivyāharatāṃ śastravarṣaṃ ca muñcatām। pramamāthottamāṅgāni bībhatsur niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥1-218-25॥
As they uttered cries and released a shower of weapons, Bībhatsu (Arjuna) smashed their heads with sharp arrows.
kṛṣṇaś ca sumahātejāś cakreṇāri-nihā tadā। daitya-dānava-saṅghānāṃ cakāra kadanaṃ mahat ॥1-218-26॥
Kṛṣṇa, endowed with immense brilliance, then used his discus to inflict great slaughter upon the hosts of Daityas and Dānavas.
athāpare śarairviddhāścakravegeritāstadā। velāmiva samāsādya vyātiṣṭhanta mahaujasaḥ ॥1-218-27॥
Then, other warriors, pierced by arrows and driven by the speed of the chariot wheels, approached the shore like waves and stood there firmly, displaying great energy.
tataḥ śakro'bhisaṅkruddhastridaśānāṃ maheśvaraḥ। pāṇḍuraṃ gajamāsthāya tāvubhau samabhidravata ॥1-218-28॥
Then Śakra, the mighty lord of the gods, mounted his white elephant and, filled with wrath, charged at both of them.
aśaniṃ gṛhya tarasā vajramastram avāsṛjat। hatāvetāv iti prāha surān asurasūdanaḥ ॥1-218-29॥
Taking up the thunderbolt with great force, the slayer of asuras (Indra) discharged the thunderbolt-missile. He then said to the gods, "These two are slain."
tataḥ samudyatāṃ dṛṣṭvā devendreṇa mahāśanim। jagṛhuḥ sarvaśastrāṇi svāni svāni surās tadā ॥1-218-30॥
Then, seeing Indra raise the great thunderbolt, all the gods each took up their own weapons.
kāladaṇḍaṃ yamo rājā śibikāṃ ca dhaneśvaraḥ| pāśaṃ ca varuṇastatra vicakraṃ ca tathā śivaḥ ॥1-218-31॥
The staff of time is Yama, the king; the palanquin is Dhaneśvara; the noose is Varuṇa there; and likewise, the discus is Śiva.
oṣadhīrdīpyamānāśca jagṛhāte'śvināvapi। jagṛhe ca dhanurdhātā musalaṃ ca jayastathā ॥1-218-32॥
The shining herbs were taken, and the Aśvins also took them; Dhātā took the bow, and Jaya likewise took the club.
parvataṃ cāpi jagrāha kruddhastvaṣṭā mahābalaḥ। aṃśastu śaktiṃ jagrāha mṛtyurdevaḥ paraśvadham ॥1-218-33॥
The mighty and enraged Tvaṣṭṛ seized a mountain. Aṃśa took up a spear, while Mṛtyu, the god of death, seized an axe.
pragṛhya parighaṃ ghoraṃ vicacārāryamā api। mitraś ca kṣuraparyantaṃ cakraṃ gṛhya vyatiṣṭhata ॥1-218-34॥
Aryaman, having seized the terrible iron club, moved about; and Mitra, having taken the razor-edged discus, stood firm.
pūṣā bhagaś ca saṅkruddhaḥ savitā ca viśāṃ pate| āttakārmukanistriṃśāḥ kṛṣṇapārthāvabhidrutāḥ ॥1-218-35॥
Pūṣan, Bhaga, and the enraged Savitṛ, O lord of the peoples, with bows and swords drawn, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna rushed forward.
rudrāś ca vasavaś caiva marutaś ca mahā-balāḥ। viśve-devās tathā sādhyā dīpyamānāḥ sva-tejasā ॥1-218-36॥
The Rudras, Vasus, and the mighty Maruts, as well as the Viśvedevas and the Sādhyas, all shone with their own brilliance.
ete cānye ca bahavo devās tau puruṣottamau। kṛṣṇapārthau jighāṃsantaḥ pratīyur vividhaāyudhāḥ ॥1-218-37॥
These, along with many other gods, and those two best among men, Kṛṣṇa and Pārtha, advanced, desiring to slay, with various weapons.
tatrādbhutānyadṛśyanta nimittāni mahāhave। yugāntasamarūpāṇi bhūtotsādaya bhārata ॥1-218-38॥
O Bhārata, there in the great battle, wondrous omens appeared, resembling the end of an age, portending the destruction of beings.
tathā tu dṛṣṭvā saṁrabdhaṁ śakraṁ devaiḥ sahācyutau। abhītau yudhi durdharṣau tasthatuḥ sajjakārmukau॥1-218-39॥
But thus, seeing the enraged Śakra (Indra) with the gods, the two Acyutas (Krishna and Arjuna), fearless and unassailable in battle, stood with their bows ready.
āgatāṃścaiva tāndṛṣṭvā devānekaikaśastataḥ। nyavārayetāṃ saṅkruddhau bāṇairvajropamaistadā ॥1-218-40॥
Seeing the gods arriving, the two, greatly enraged, then blocked each of them one by one with arrows as hard as thunderbolts.
asakṛdbhagnasaṅkalpāḥ surāś ca bahuśaḥ kṛtāḥ। bhayād raṇaṃ parityajya śakram evābhiśiśriyuḥ ॥1-218-41॥
The gods, whose resolutions were repeatedly broken and who were made to flee many times, abandoned the battle out of fear and sought refuge only in Indra.
dṛṣṭvā nivāritān devān mādhavena arjunena ca। āścaryam agaman tatra munayaḥ divi viṣṭhitāḥ॥1-218-42॥
When the sages situated in heaven saw the gods being driven away by Mādhava and Arjuna, they were filled with wonder.
śakraś cāpi tayor vīryam upalabhy āsakṛd raṇe। babhūva paramaprīto bhūyaś caitāv ayodhayat॥ 1-218-43॥
Indra, having repeatedly observed the strength of the two in battle, was greatly pleased and once more made them fight.
tato'śmavarṣaṃ sumahad vyasṛjat pākāśāsanaḥ। bhūya eva tadā vīryaṃ jijñāsuḥ savyasācinaḥ॥ taccharair arjuno varṣaṃ pratijaghne 'tyamarṣaṇaḥ॥1-218-44॥
Then Indra unleashed a tremendous shower of stones. Once more, wishing to test Arjuna's strength, he did so. Arjuna, unyielding, repelled that rain with his arrows.
viphalaṃ kriyamāṇaṃ tatsamprekṣya ca śatakratuḥ। bhūyaḥ saṃvardhayāmāsa tadvarṣaṃ devarāḍatha ॥1-218-45॥
Seeing that the effort was fruitless, Indra, the king of the gods, again caused that rain to grow.
so'śmavarṣaṃ mahāvegairiṣubhiḥ pākaśāsaniḥ। vilayaṃ gamayāmāsa harṣayanpitaraṃ tadā ॥1-218-46॥
At that time, the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra), using arrows of great speed, destroyed the stone-rain, bringing joy to his father.
samutpāṭya tu pāṇibhyāṃ mandarācchikharaṃ mahat| sadrumaṃ vyasṛjacchakro jighāṃsuḥ pāṇḍunandanam ॥1-218-47॥
But Śakra (Indra), desiring to kill Arjuna, uprooted the great peak of Mandara with his hands, along with its trees, and hurled it at the son of Pāṇḍu.
tato'rjuno vegavadbhir jvalitāgrair ajihmagaiḥ। bāṇair vidhvaṃsayāmāsa gireḥ śṛṅgaṃ sahasradhā ॥1-218-48॥
Then Arjuna shattered the mountain peak into a thousand pieces with his swift, blazing-tipped, straight-flying arrows.
girer-viśīryamāṇasya tasya rūpaṃ tadā babhau। sārka-candra-grahasyeva nabhasaḥ praviśīryataḥ ॥1-218-49॥
The appearance of the mountain, as it was being shattered, shone at that moment, just like the sun, moon, and planets scattered across the sky.
tenāvākpatatā dāve śailena mahatā bhṛśam। bhūya eva hatās tatra prāṇinaḥ khāṇḍavālayāḥ ॥1-218-50॥
By his act of hurling down the great mountain into the forest fire, once again, the living beings dwelling in Khāṇḍava were utterly destroyed there.
