03.255
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
सन्तिष्ठत प्रहरत तूर्णं विपरिधावत। इति स्म सैन्धवो राजा चोदयामास तान्नृपान् ॥०३-२५५-१॥
“Stand firm! Strike! Quickly, run around!” Thus indeed the king of Sindhu urged those kings. (03-255-1)
ततो घोरतरः शब्दो रणे समभवत्तदा। भीमार्जुनयमान्दृष्ट्वा सैन्यानां सयुधिष्ठिरान् ॥०३-२५५-२॥
Then an even more terrible sound arose in the battle at that time when the armies saw Bhīma, Arjuna, Yama, and those accompanying Yudhiṣṭhira. (03-255-2)
शिबिसिन्धुत्रिगर्तानां विषादश्चाप्यजायत। तान्दृष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रान्व्याघ्रानिव बलोत्कटान् ॥०३-२५५-३॥
Distress also arose among the Śibis, Sindhus, and Trigartas, when they saw those men who were like tigers in might, as if they were tigers themselves. (03-255-3)
हेमचित्रसमुत्सेधां सर्वशैक्यायसीं गदाम्। प्रगृह्याभ्यद्रवद्भीमः सैन्धवं कालचोदितम् ॥०३-२५५-४॥
Bhīma, taking up his mace entirely made of iron with golden-ornamented prominence, rushed at the Sindhu prince, impelled by Time. (03-255-4)
तदन्तरमथावृत्य कोटिकाश्योऽभ्यहारयत्। महता रथवंशेन परिवार्य वृकोदरम् ॥०३-२५५-५॥
Then, Koṭikāśya turned and, having surrounded Vṛkodara with a great chariot division, brought him close. (03-255-5)
शक्तितोमरनाराचैर्वीरबाहुप्रचोदितैः। कीर्यमाणोऽपि बहुभिर्न स्म भीमोऽभ्यकम्पत ॥०३-२५५-६॥
Though Bhīma was showered by many lances, iron javelins and arrows, hurled by the arms of heroes, he did not tremble. (03-255-6)
गजं तु सगजारोहं पदातींश्च चतुर्दश। जघान गदया भीमः सैन्धवध्वजिनीमुखे ॥०३-२५५-७॥
Bhīma struck down the elephant with its rider and fourteen foot-soldiers with his mace at the forefront of the Sindhu army. (03-255-7)
पार्थः पञ्चशताञ्शूरान्पार्वतीयान्महारथान्। परीप्समानः सौवीरं जघान ध्वजिनीमुखे ॥०३-२५५-८॥
Arjuna, desiring to capture, slew the Sauvīra who was at the head of the army, along with five hundred heroic great chariot-warriors from the mountain region. (03-255-8)
राजा स्वयं सुवीराणां प्रवराणां प्रहारिणाम्। निमेषमात्रेण शतं जघान समरे तदा ॥०३-२५५-९॥
Then, the king himself slew a hundred of the best and most valiant attackers in battle in the space of a single wink. (03-255-9)
ददृशे नकुलस्तत्र रथात्प्रस्कन्द्य खड्गधृक्। शिरांसि पादरक्षाणां बीजवत्प्रवपन्मुहुः ॥०३-२५५-१०॥
There, Nakula was seen leaping down from his chariot, sword in hand, scattering the heads of the foot-soldiers again and again like seeds. (03-255-10)
सहदेवस्तु संयाय रथेन गजयोधिनः। पातयामास नाराचैर्द्रुमेभ्य इव बर्हिणः ॥०३-२५५-११॥
But Sahadeva, having approached with his chariot, struck down the elephant-warriors with iron arrows, like peacocks falling from trees. (03-255-11)
ततस्त्रिगर्तः सधनुरवतीर्य महारथात्। गदया चतुरो वाहान्राज्ञस्तस्य तदावधीत् ॥०३-२५५-१२॥
Then Trigarta, armed with a bow, descended from his great chariot and with his mace slew four horses of that king at that moment. (03-255-12)
तमभ्याशगतं राजा पदातिं कुन्तिनन्दनः। अर्धचन्द्रेण बाणेन विव्याधोरसि धर्मराट् ॥०३-२५५-१३॥
Kuntinandana, the king of dharma, pierced the approaching foot-soldier in the chest with an ardhachandra arrow. (03-255-13)
स भिन्नहृदयो वीरो वक्त्राच्छोणितमुद्वमन्। पपाताभिमुखः पार्थं छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः ॥०३-२५५-१४॥
With his heart pierced, the valiant hero vomited blood from his mouth and fell facing Arjuna, like a tree whose root has been severed. (03-255-14)
इन्द्रसेनद्वितीयस्तु रथात्प्रस्कन्द्य धर्मराट्। हताश्वः सहदेवस्य प्रतिपेदे महारथम् ॥०३-२५५-१५॥
But the king of righteousness, whose horses had been slain and whose charioteer was Indrasena, leapt down from his own chariot and mounted the great chariot of Sahadeva. (03-255-15)
नकुलं त्वभिसन्धाय क्षेमङ्करमहामुखौ। उभावुभयतस्तीक्ष्णैः शरवर्षैरवर्षताम् ॥०३-२५५-१६॥
However, after targeting Nakula, both Kṣemaṅkara and Mahāmukha attacked simultaneously from both sides, raining down sharp showers of arrows upon him. (03-255-16)
तौ शरैरभिवर्षन्तौ जीमूताविव वार्षिकौ। एकैकेन विपाठेन जघ्ने माद्रवतीसुतः ॥०३-२५५-१७॥
Those two, showering arrows like clouds in the rainy season, each struck the son of Mādravatī with a shot. (03-255-17)
त्रिगर्तराजः सुरथस्तस्याथ रथधूर्गतः। रथमाक्षेपयामास गजेन गजयानवित् ॥०३-२५५-१८॥
Suratha, the king of Trigarta, then approached his chariot-yoke and, with his elephant and accompanied by the elephant-vehicle, caused the chariot to be tossed. (03-255-18)
नकुलस्त्वपभीस्तस्माद्रथाच्चर्मासिपाणिमान्। उद्भ्रान्तं स्थानमास्थाय तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः ॥०३-२५५-१९॥
But Nakula, fearless, descended from the chariot with sword and shield in hand, and stood firm in an agitated spot, like an immovable mountain. (03-255-19)
सुरथस्तं गजवरं वधाय नकुलस्य तु। प्रेषयामास सक्रोधमभ्युच्छ्रितकरं ततः ॥०३-२५५-२०॥
Then Suratha, with anger, sent that excellent elephant with uplifted trunk to kill Nakula. (03-255-20)
नकुलस्तस्य नागस्य समीपपरिवर्तिनः। सविषाणं भुजं मूले खड्गेन निरकृन्तत ॥०३-२५५-२१॥
Nakula cut off at the root, with his sword, the arm with the tusk of the elephant standing nearby. (03-255-21)
स विनद्य महानादं गजः कङ्कणभूषणः। पतन्नवाक्षिरा भूमौ हस्त्यारोहानपोथयत् ॥०३-२५५-२२॥
The elephant, adorned with bracelets and bellowing loudly, as he fell to the ground with fresh ichor streaming, struck down the elephant-riders. (03-255-22)
स तत्कर्म महत्कृत्वा शूरो माद्रवतीसुतः। भीमसेनरथं प्राप्य शर्म लेभे महारथः ॥०३-२५५-२३॥
The hero, the son of Mādravatī, having performed that great deed, reached Bhīmasena’s chariot; the great chariot-warrior found peace. (03-255-23)
भीमस्त्वापततो राज्ञः कोटिकाश्यस्य सङ्गरे। सूतस्य नुदतो वाहान्क्षुरेणापाहरच्छिरः ॥०३-२५५-२४॥
But Bhīma, when the king Koṭikāśya rushed into battle, cut off the head of his charioteer, who was driving the horses, with a razor-edged arrow. (03-255-24)
न बुबोध हतं सूतं स राजा बाहुशालिना। तस्याश्वा व्यद्रवन्सङ्ख्ये हतसूतास्ततस्ततः ॥०३-२५५-२५॥
He, the king, did not perceive that his charioteer had been slain by the one with strong arms. His horses, their charioteer having been slain, ran away here and there on the battlefield. (03-255-25)
विमुखं हतसूतं तं भीमः प्रहरतां वरः। जघान तलयुक्तेन प्रासेनाभ्येत्य पाण्डवः ॥०३-२५५-२६॥
Bhīma, the best among warriors, approached and killed him, whose charioteer had been slain and who had turned away, with a hafted lance. (03-255-26)
द्वादशानां तु सर्वेषां सौवीराणां धनञ्जयः। चकर्त निषितैर्भल्लैर्धनूंषि च शिरांसि च ॥०३-२५५-२७॥
Dhanañjaya, with sharp arrows, cut off the bows and heads of all twelve among the Souvīras. (03-255-27)
शिबीनिक्ष्वाकुमुख्यांश्च त्रिगर्तान्सैन्धवानपि। जघानातिरथः सङ्ख्ये बाणगोचरमागतान् ॥०३-२५५-२८॥
The mighty chariot-warrior slew in battle the Śibis, the principal Ikṣvākus, the Trigartas, and the Saindhavas—those who came within range of his arrows. (03-255-28)
सादिताः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त बहवः सव्यसाचिना। सपताकाश्च मातङ्गाः सध्वजाश्च महारथाः ॥०३-२५५-२९॥
Many were seen struck down by Savyasācin (Arjuna), as well as elephants with banners and great chariot-warriors with standards. (03-255-29)
प्रच्छाद्य पृथिवीं तस्थुः सर्वमायोधनं प्रति। शरीराण्यशिरस्कानि विदेहानि शिरांसि च ॥०३-२५५-३०॥
Having covered the earth, all the bodies stood facing the battlefield—headless, lifeless bodies, and (severed) heads as well. (03-255-30)
श्वगृध्रकङ्ककाकोलभासगोमायुवायसाः। अतृप्यंस्तत्र वीराणां हतानां मांसशोणितैः ॥०३-२५५-३१॥
Dogs, vultures, herons, crows, falcons, jackals, and crows could not be sated there even by the flesh and blood of the slain heroes. (03-255-31)
हतेषु तेषु वीरेषु सिन्धुराजो जयद्रथः। विमुच्य कृष्णां सन्त्रस्तः पलायनपरोऽभवत् ॥०३-२५५-३२॥
As those heroes were being slain, the king of Sindhu, Jayadratha, released Kṛṣṇā and, frightened, became intent on escape. (03-255-32)
स तस्मिन्सङ्कुले सैन्ये द्रौपदीमवतार्य वै। प्राणप्रेप्सुरुपाधावद्वनं येन नराधमः ॥०३-२५५-३३॥
He, in that confused army, after causing Draupadī to dismount, indeed, desiring to save his life, ran into the forest—the basest of men. (03-255-33)
द्रौपदीं धर्मराजस्तु दृष्ट्वा धौम्यपुरस्कृताम्। माद्रीपुत्रेण वीरेण रथमारोपयत्तदा ॥०३-२५५-३४॥
At that time, Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), seeing Draupadī who was led by Dhaumya, had the heroic son of Mādrī lift her onto the chariot. (03-255-34)
ततस्तद्विद्रुतं सैन्यमपयाते जयद्रथे। आदिश्यादिश्य नाराचैराजघान वृकोदरः ॥०३-२५५-३५॥
Then, as Jayadratha was retreating and the army was fleeing, Vṛkodara (Bhīma) repeatedly aimed and struck with iron arrows. (03-255-35)
सव्यसाची तु तं दृष्ट्वा पलायन्तं जयद्रथम्। वारयामास निघ्नन्तं भीमं सैन्धवसैनिकान् ॥०३-२५५-३६॥
Savyasachi (Arjuna), seeing Jayadratha fleeing, restrained Bhima, who was striking down the Sindhu warriors. (03-255-36)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said;
यस्यापचारात्प्राप्तोऽयमस्मान्क्लेशो दुरासदः। तमस्मिन्समरोद्देशे न पश्यामि जयद्रथम् ॥०३-२५५-३७॥
I do not see Jayadratha here on the battlefield, the one by whose offence this great and unsurmountable distress has come upon us. (03-255-37)
तमेवान्विष भद्रं ते किं ते योधैर्निपातितैः। अनामिषमिदं कर्म कथं वा मन्यते भवान् ॥०३-२५५-३८॥
Seek only him; welfare to you; what do you have to do with the warriors who have been slain? This action is not for flesh; how do you understand it? (03-255-38)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
इत्युक्तो भीमसेनस्तु गुडाकेशेन धीमता। युधिष्ठिरमभिप्रेक्ष्य वाग्मी वचनमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२५५-३९॥
Thus, being addressed by the intelligent Guḍākeśa, Bhīmasena, looking at Yudhiṣṭhira, eloquently spoke these words. (03-255-39)
हतप्रवीरा रिपवो भूयिष्ठं विद्रुता दिशः। गृहीत्वा द्रौपदीं राजन्निवर्ततु भवानितः ॥०३-२५५-४०॥
O king, with their heroes slain, the enemies have mostly scattered in all directions. Take Draupadī and return from here, Your Highness. (03-255-40)
यमाभ्यां सह राजेन्द्र धौम्येन च महात्मना। प्राप्याश्रमपदं राजन्द्रौपदीं परिसान्त्वय ॥०३-२५५-४१॥
O king, accompanied by the two Yamas (Nakula and Sahadeva) and the great-souled Dhaumya, having arrived at the hermitage, comfort Draupadī. (03-255-41)
न हि मे मोक्ष्यते जीवन्मूढः सैन्धवको नृपः। पातालतलसंस्थोऽपि यदि शक्रोऽस्य सारथिः ॥०३-२५५-४२॥
Indeed, the living deluded Sindhu king will not be released by me, even if he dwells in the depths of Pātāla and if Śakra himself is his charioteer. (03-255-42)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
न हन्तव्यो महाबाहो दुरात्मापि स सैन्धवः। दुःशलामभिसंस्मृत्य गान्धारीं च यशस्विनीम् ॥०३-२५५-४३॥
O mighty-armed, that Sindhu prince, even though wicked-minded, ought not to be killed, especially remembering Duḥśalā and the illustrious Gāndhārī. (03-255-43)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तच्छ्रुत्वा द्रौपदी भीममुवाच व्याकुलेन्द्रिया। कुपिता ह्रीमती प्राज्ञा पती भीमार्जुनावुभौ ॥०३-२५५-४४॥
Having heard that, Draupadī, her senses agitated, angry, modest, and wise, spoke to both her husbands, Bhīma and Arjuna. (03-255-44)
कर्तव्यं चेत्प्रियं मह्यं वध्यः स पुरुषाधमः। सैन्धवापसदः पापो दुर्मतिः कुलपांसनः ॥०३-२५५-४५॥
If a man considers duty to be something pleasing to me, then he is fit to be killed—he is the lowest of men, an outcast among the Sindhus, wicked, of evil mind, and a disgrace to his family. (03-255-45)
भार्याभिहर्ता निर्वैरो यश्च राज्यहरो रिपुः। याचमानोऽपि सङ्ग्रामे न स जीवितुमर्हति ॥०३-२५५-४६॥
A man who violates another's wife, or an enemy who seizes the kingdom even with no personal hostility—even if he begs for mercy in battle—he does not deserve to live. (03-255-46)
इत्युक्तौ तौ नरव्याघ्रौ ययतुर्यत्र सैन्धवः। राजा निववृते कृष्णामादाय सपुरोहितः ॥०३-२५५-४७॥
After these words, the two heroes went to the place where the Prince of Sindhu was. The king, along with the priest, returned with Kṛṣṇā. (03-255-47)
स प्रविश्याश्रमपदं व्यपविद्धबृसीघटम्। मार्कण्डेयादिभिर्विप्रैरनुकीर्णं ददर्श ह ॥०३-२५५-४८॥
He entered the hermitage, where mats and waterpots were scattered about, and saw it teeming with brahmins such as Markandeya. (03-255-48)
द्रौपदीमनुशोचद्भिर्ब्राह्मणैस्तैः समागतैः। समियाय महाप्राज्ञः सभार्यो भ्रातृमध्यगः ॥०३-२५५-४९॥
The great wise one, along with his wife and surrounded by his brothers, approached Draupadī where the lamenting brāhmaṇas had assembled. (03-255-49)
ते स्म तं मुदिता दृष्ट्वा पुनरभ्यागतं नृपम्। जित्वा तान्सिन्धुसौवीरान्द्रौपदीं चाहृतां पुनः ॥०३-२५५-५०॥
They, seeing him—having returned again, gladdened—after conquering the Sindhu and Sauvīra peoples and bringing back Draupadī, rejoiced. (03-255-50)
स तैः परिवृतो राजा तत्रैवोपविवेश ह। प्रविवेशाश्रमं कृष्णा यमाभ्यां सह भामिनी ॥०३-२५५-५१॥
The king, surrounded by them, sat down right there. The radiant lady Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), together with the two sons of Yama (the Pāṇḍava twins), entered the hermitage. (03-255-51)
भीमार्जुनावपि श्रुत्वा क्रोशमात्रगतं रिपुम्। स्वयमश्वांस्तुदन्तौ तौ जवेनैवाभ्यधावताम् ॥०३-२५५-५२॥
Bhīma and Arjuna, too, when they heard that the enemy was only a shout's distance away, quickly urged their horses forward themselves and rushed toward him. (03-255-52)
इदमत्यद्भुतं चात्र चकार पुरुषोऽर्जुनः। क्रोशमात्रगतानश्वान्सैन्धवस्य जघान यत् ॥०३-२५५-५३॥
Here, Arjuna did this most wonderful thing: he killed Saindhava's horses even though they had gone a krośa away. (03-255-53)
स हि दिव्यास्त्रसम्पन्नः कृच्छ्रकालेऽप्यसम्भ्रमः। अकरोद्दुष्करं कर्म शरैरस्त्रानुमन्त्रितैः ॥०३-२५५-५४॥
He, truly possessed of divine weapons, remained unagitated even in difficult times and performed the difficult deed with arrows consecrated by weapon-mantras. (03-255-54)
ततोऽभ्यधावतां वीरावुभौ भीमधनञ्जयौ। हताश्वं सैन्धवं भीतमेकं व्याकुलचेतसम् ॥०३-२५५-५५॥
Then both Bhīma and Dhananjaya, the heroes, rushed toward the Sindhu prince, who was left alone, afraid, distressed in mind, and whose horses had been killed. (03-255-55)
सैन्धवस्तु हतान्दृष्ट्वा तथाश्वान्स्वान्सुदुःखितः। दृष्ट्वा विक्रमकर्माणि कुर्वाणं च धनञ्जयम् ॥ पलायनकृतोत्साहः प्राद्रवद्येन वै वनम् ॥०३-२५५-५६॥
But Jayadratha, on seeing his own slain horses and deeply distressed, observing Arjuna performing acts of valor, was seized by the urge to flee and indeed escaped by that path to the forest. (03-255-56)
सैन्धवं त्वभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य पराक्रान्तं पलायने। अनुयाय महाबाहुः फल्गुनो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२५५-५७॥
Phalguna (Arjuna), the mighty-armed, noticing that the Sindhu prince had advanced in flight, followed him and spoke.
अनेन वीर्येण कथं स्त्रियं प्रार्थयसे बलात्। राजपुत्र निवर्तस्व न ते युक्तं पलायनम् ॥ कथं चानुचरान्हित्वा शत्रुमध्ये पलायसे ॥०३-२५५-५८॥
With such strength, how can you seek a woman by force? O prince, turn back; flight is not proper for you. And how do you flee in the midst of enemies, abandoning your companions? (03-255-58)
इत्युच्यमानः पार्थेन सैन्धवो न न्यवर्तत। तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति तं भीमः सहसाभ्यद्रवद्बली ॥ मा वधीरिति पार्थस्तं दयावानभ्यभाषत ॥०३-२५५-५९॥
Thus, even as Pārtha called to him, Saindhava did not turn back. Bhīma, the strong, suddenly rushed at him, crying, "Stop! Stop!" But Pārtha, moved by compassion, said to him, "Do not kill (him)." (03-255-59)
