03.230
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then all of them together approached Duryodhana; and, O great king, this is what they said to the Kaurava. (03-230-1)
O Bhārata, when the army had been repelled by the Gandharvas, the mighty son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, filled with indignation, addressed the armies. (03-230-2)
Let him punish those who, being ignorant of dharma, commit acts displeasing to me. If Indra, together with all the gods, has only been making sport of this— (03-230-3)
Having heard Duryodhana's words, all the mighty sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and thousands of warriors fully armed themselves. (03-230-4)
Then, having subdued the Gandharvas, they forcefully entered that forest, resounding a great lion’s roar in all ten directions. (03-230-5)
Thereafter, the Kuru soldiers were kept away by the Gandharvas. Although the Gandharvas tried to restrain them gently, the lord of the earth, disregarding the Gandharvas, entered that great forest along with them. (03-230-6)
When the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra along with the kings did not remain silent in speech, then all the sky-dwellers reported this to Citraseṇa. (03-230-7)
The king of the Gandharvas spoke all this to the Kauravas: 'He rules over the unworthy.' Thus declared Citrasena, highly intolerant. (03-230-8)
But, O Bhārata, the Gandharvas, granted permission by Citraseṇa, all seized their weapons and attacked the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (03-230-9)
When they saw those swift Gandharvas descending upon them with weapons raised, all of them fled the battlefield while the son of Dhritarashtra looked on. (03-230-10)
Seeing that all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra were fleeing and turning their faces away, Karna, the heroic son of Vikartana, was not turned away there. (03-230-11)
But seeing the great army of the Gandharvas attacking, Rādheya (Karṇa) repulsed them with a mighty shower of arrows. (03-230-12)
The son of the charioteer, being agile, slaughtered the Gandharvas by the hundreds with razor-headed, sharp, broad-headed, calf-tooth, and iron arrows. (03-230-13)
The great chariot-warrior, causing the heads of the Gandharvas to fall, in an instant shattered the entire army of Citraseṇa. (03-230-14)
Though being slain by the wise son of the charioteer, the Gandharvas kept returning again and again, by the hundreds and then by the thousands. (03-230-15)
In a single moment, the earth was made to appear as if inhabited by Gandharvas, transformed by the warriors of Citraseṇa rushing forth with tremendous speed. (03-230-16)
Then King Duryodhana, Śakuni the son of Subala, Duḥśāsana, Vikarṇa, and the other sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra struck down the army at that time with chariots roaring like Garuḍa. (03-230-17)
Again, they engaged in battle, placing Karṇa at the front, with the great sound of chariots and the movement of horses. Desiring to reach Vaikartana (Karṇa), they restrained the Gandharvas. (03-230-18)
Then all the Gandharvas fell together with the Kauravas, and at that time a very tumultuous and hair-raising battle took place. (03-230-19)
Then, the Gandharvas, afflicted by arrows, became weakened; and the Kauravas cried out loudly on seeing the Gandharvas suffering. (03-230-20)
Seeing the Gandharvas frightened, the very intolerant Citrasena sprang from his seat in anger, resolved to kill them. (03-230-21)
Then, Citraseṇa, the knower of wondrous ways, having assumed the illusion-weapon, fought; by that illusion of Citraseṇa, the Kauravas were deluded. (03-230-22)
O Bhārata, each of Dhritarashtra's warriors was turned back at that time by the Gandharvas, ten by ten together. (03-230-23)
Then, being oppressed by great force at that time, they fled in fear on the battlefield where King Yudhishthira was. (03-230-24)
O king, as the troops of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra were breaking everywhere, Karṇa, the son of Vikartana, stood firm like an immovable mountain. (03-230-25)
Duryodhana, Karna, and also Śakuni, the son of Subala, severely wounded, engaged the Gandharvas in battle. (03-230-26)
But all the gandharvas, in hundreds and then in thousands, joined together and, wishing to kill, rushed at Karna in battle. (03-230-27)
The mighty warriors, armed with swords, lances, spears, and maces, surrounded the son of the charioteer from all sides, intent on killing him. (03-230-28)
Some others cut off his yoke; others brought down his banner; some struck down the shafts, others the horses, and others brought down the charioteer. (03-230-29)
Others attacked the parasol, the covering, and the ornament, and similarly, other Gandharvas by the thousands struck the chariot and shattered it into pieces. (03-230-30)
Then, leaping down from the chariot, the son of the charioteer, bearing sword and shield, ascended Vikarna's chariot and urged the horses to flee. (03-230-31)
