03.255
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
santiṣṭhata praharata tūrṇaṁ viparidhāvata। iti sma saindhavo rājā codayāmāsa tān nṛpān ॥03-255-1॥
“Stand firm! Strike! Quickly, run around!” Thus indeed the king of Sindhu urged those kings. (03-255-1)
tato ghorataraḥ śabdo raṇe samabhavattadā। bhīmārjunayamāndṛṣṭvā sainyānāṃ sayudhiṣṭhirān ॥03-255-2॥
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)
śibisindhutrigartānāṃ viṣādaś cāpy ajāyata। tān dṛṣṭvā puruṣavyāghrān vyāghrān iva balotkaṭān ॥03-255-3॥
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)
hemacitra-samutsedhāṁ sarvaśaikyāyasīṁ gadām। pragṛhyābhyadravad bhīmaḥ saindhavaṁ kālacoditam॥03-255-4॥
Bhīma, taking up his mace entirely made of iron with golden-ornamented prominence, rushed at the Sindhu prince, impelled by Time. (03-255-4)
tad-antaram-athā-vṛtya koṭikāśyaḥ abhyāharayat. mahatā ratha-vaṁśena parivārya vṛkodaram ॥03-255-5॥
Then, Koṭikāśya turned and, having surrounded Vṛkodara with a great chariot division, brought him close. (03-255-5)
śakti-tomara-nārācair vīra-bāhu-pracoditaiḥ। kīryamāṇaḥ api bahubhiḥ na sma bhīmaḥ abhyakampata॥03-255-6॥
Though Bhīma was showered by many lances, iron javelins and arrows, hurled by the arms of heroes, he did not tremble. (03-255-6)
gajaṃ tu sagajārohaṃ padātīṃś ca caturdaśa। jaghāna gadayā bhīmaḥ saindhava-dhvajinī-mukhe ॥03-255-7॥
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)
pārthaḥ pañcaśatāñ śūrān pārvatīyān mahārathān। parīpsamānaḥ sauvīraṃ jaghāna dhvajinīmukhe ॥03-255-8॥
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)
rājā svayaṃ suvīrāṇāṃ pravarāṇāṃ prahāriṇām। nimeṣamātreṇa śataṃ jaghāna samare tadā॥03-255-9॥
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)
dadṛśe nakulas tatra rathāt praskandya khaḍgadhṛk | śirāṃsi pādarakṣāṇāṃ bījavat pravapan muhuḥ ॥03-255-10॥
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)
sahadevastu saṃyāya rathena gajayodhinaḥ। pātayāmāsa nārācairdṛumebhya iva barhiṇaḥ ॥03-255-11॥
But Sahadeva, having approached with his chariot, struck down the elephant-warriors with iron arrows, like peacocks falling from trees. (03-255-11)
tatas trigartaḥ sadhanur avatīrya mahārathāt। gadayā caturo vāhān rājñas tasya tadā vadhīt॥03-255-12॥
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)
tam abhyāśagataṃ rājā padātiṃ kuntinandanaḥ। ardhacandreṇa bāṇena vivyādhorasi dharmarāṭ॥03-255-13॥
Kuntinandana, the king of dharma, pierced the approaching foot-soldier in the chest with an ardhachandra arrow. (03-255-13)
sa bhinnahṛdayo vīro vaktrācchoṇitamudvaman। papātābhimukhaḥ pārthaṃ chinnamūla iva drumaḥ ॥03-255-14॥
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)
indrasenadvitīyas tu rathāt praskandya dharmarāṭ। hatāśvaḥ sahadevasya pratipede mahāratham ॥03-255-15॥
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)
nakulaṃ tv abhisandhāya kṣemaṅkaramahāmukhau। ubhāv ubhayatas tīkṣṇaiḥ śaravarṣair avarṣatām ॥03-255-16॥
However, after targeting Nakula, both Kṣemaṅkara and Mahāmukha attacked simultaneously from both sides, raining down sharp showers of arrows upon him. (03-255-16)
tau śarair abhivarṣantau jīmūtāv iva vārṣikau। ekaikena vipāṭhena jaghne mādravatī-sutaḥ ॥03-255-17॥
Those two, showering arrows like clouds in the rainy season, each struck the son of Mādravatī with a shot. (03-255-17)
trigartarājaḥ surathas tasyātha rathadhūr gataḥ। ratham ākṣepayām āsa gajena gajayānavit ॥03-255-18॥
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)
nakulas tv abhītas asmād rathāc carmāsi-pāṇimān। udbhrāntaṃ sthānam āsthāya tasthau girir ivācalah ॥03-255-19॥
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)
surathas taṁ gajavaraṁ vadhāya nakulasya tu। preṣayāmāsa sakrodham abhyucchritakaraṁ tataḥ॥03-255-20॥
Then Suratha, with anger, sent that excellent elephant with uplifted trunk to kill Nakula. (03-255-20)
nakulas tasya nāgasya samīpaparivartinaḥ। saviṣāṇaṁ bhujaṁ mūle khaḍgena nirakṛntata ॥03-255-21॥
Nakula cut off at the root, with his sword, the arm with the tusk of the elephant standing nearby. (03-255-21)
sa vinadya mahānādaṃ gajaḥ kaṅkaṇabhūṣaṇaḥ। patan navākṣirā bhūmau hastyārohān apothayat ॥03-255-22॥
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)
sa tat-karma mahat-kṛtvā śūro mādravatī-sutaḥ। bhīmasena-rathaṃ prāpya śarma lebhe mahā-rathaḥ॥03-255-23॥
The hero, the son of Mādravatī, having performed that great deed, reached Bhīmasena’s chariot; the great chariot-warrior found peace. (03-255-23)
bhīmas tv āpatato rājñaḥ koṭikāśyasya saṅgare। sūtasya nudato vāhān kṣureṇāpāharac chiraḥ ॥03-255-24॥
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)
na bubodha hataṃ sūtaṃ sa rājā bāhuśālinā। tasyāśvā vyadravansaṅkhye hatasūtāstatastataḥ ॥03-255-25॥
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)
vimukhaṁ hatasūtaṁ taṁ bhīmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ। jaghāna talayuktena prāsenābhyetya pāṇḍavaḥ॥03-255-26॥
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)
dvādaśānāṃ tu sarveṣāṃ sauvīrāṇāṃ dhanañjayaḥ। cakarta niśitaiḥ bhallaiḥ dhanūṃṣi ca śirāṃsi ca ॥03-255-27॥
Dhanañjaya, with sharp arrows, cut off the bows and heads of all twelve among the Souvīras. (03-255-27)
śibīn ikṣvāku-mukhyān ca trigartān saindhavān api। jaghāna atirathaḥ saṅkhye bāṇa-gocaram āgatān ॥03-255-28॥
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)
sāditāḥ pratyadṛśyanta bahavaḥ savyasācinā। sapatākāś ca mātaṅgāḥ sadhvajāś ca mahārathāḥ ॥03-255-29॥
Many were seen struck down by Savyasācin (Arjuna), as well as elephants with banners and great chariot-warriors with standards. (03-255-29)
pracchādya pṛthivīṃ tasthuḥ sarvam āyodhanaṃ prati। śarīrāṇy aśiraskāni videhāni śirāṃsi ca॥03-255-30॥
Having covered the earth, all the bodies stood facing the battlefield—headless, lifeless bodies, and (severed) heads as well. (03-255-30)
śvagṛdhrakaṅkakākolabhāsagomāyuvāyasāḥ। atṛpyaṃstatra vīrāṇāṃ hatānāṃ māṃsaśoṇitaiḥ ॥03-255-31॥
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)
hateṣu teṣu vīreṣu sindhurājo jayadrathaḥ। vimucya kṛṣṇāṃ santrastaḥ palāyanaparo'bhavat ॥03-255-32॥
As those heroes were being slain, the king of Sindhu, Jayadratha, released Kṛṣṇā and, frightened, became intent on escape. (03-255-32)
sa tasmin saṅkule sainye draupadīm avatārya vai। prāṇaprepsuḥ upādhāvat vanaṃ yena narādhamaḥ॥03-255-33॥
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)
draupadīṃ dharmarājas tu dṛṣṭvā dhaumyapuraskṛtām। mādrīputreṇa vīreṇa ratham āropayat tadā ॥03-255-34॥
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)
tatas tad vidrutaṃ sainyam apayāte jayadrathe। ādiśyādiśya nārācair ajaghāna vṛkodaraḥ ॥03-255-35॥
Then, as Jayadratha was retreating and the army was fleeing, Vṛkodara (Bhīma) repeatedly aimed and struck with iron arrows. (03-255-35)
savyasācī tu taṁ dṛṣṭvā palāyantaṁ jayadratham। vārayāmāsa nighnantaṁ bhīmaṁ saindhava-sainikān ॥03-255-36॥
Savyasachi (Arjuna), seeing Jayadratha fleeing, restrained Bhima, who was striking down the Sindhu warriors. (03-255-36)
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said;
yasyāpacārāt prāpto'yam asmān kleśo durāsadaḥ। tam asmin samaroddeśe na paśyāmi jayadratham॥03-255-37॥
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)
tam evānviṣa bhadraṃ te kiṃ te yodhair nipātitaiḥ. anāmiṣam idaṃ karma kathaṃ vā manyate bhavān ॥03-255-38॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ity-ukto bhīmasenastu guḍākeśena dhīmatā। yudhiṣṭhiram abhiprekṣya vāgmī vacanam abravīt ॥03-255-39॥
Thus, being addressed by the intelligent Guḍākeśa, Bhīmasena, looking at Yudhiṣṭhira, eloquently spoke these words. (03-255-39)
hatapravīrā ripavo bhūyiṣṭhaṃ vidrutā diśaḥ। gṛhītvā draupadīṃ rājannivartatu bhavānitaḥ॥03-255-40॥
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)
yamābhyāṃ saha rājeṃdra dhaumyena ca mahātmanā। prāpyāśramapadaṃ rājeṃdraupadīṃ parisāntvaya॥03-255-41॥
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)
na hi me mokṣyate jīvanmūḍhaḥ saindhavako nṛpaḥ। pātālatalasaṃstho'pi yadi śakro'sya sārathiḥ॥03-255-42॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
na hantavyo mahābāho durātmāpi sa saindhavaḥ। duḥśalām abhisaṁsmṛtya gāndhārīṁ ca yaśasvinīm॥03-255-43॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tacchrutvā draupadī bhīmam uvāca vyākulendriyā। kupitā hrīmatī prājñā patī bhīmārjunāvubhau ॥03-255-44॥
Having heard that, Draupadī, her senses agitated, angry, modest, and wise, spoke to both her husbands, Bhīma and Arjuna. (03-255-44)
kartavyaṁ cet priyaṁ mahyaṁ vadhyaḥ sa puruṣādhamaḥ। saindhavāpasadaḥ pāpo durmatiḥ kulapāṁsanaḥ॥03-255-45॥
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)
bhāryābhihartā nirvairo yaś ca rājyaharo ripuḥ. yācamāno 'pi saṅgrāme na sa jīvitum arhati ॥03-255-46॥
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)
ity-uktau tau naravyāghrau yayatur yatra saindhavaḥ। rājā nivavṛte kṛṣṇām ādāya sa-purohitaḥ॥03-255-47॥
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)
sa praviśyāśramapadaṃ vyapaviddhabṛsīghaṭam। mārkaṇḍeyādibhirviprair anukīrṇaṃ dadarśa ha ॥03-255-48॥
He entered the hermitage, where mats and waterpots were scattered about, and saw it teeming with brahmins such as Markandeya. (03-255-48)
draupadīmanuśocadbhir brāhmaṇais taiḥ samāgataiḥ। samiyāya mahāprājñaḥ sabhāryo bhrātṛmadhyagaḥ॥03-255-49॥
The great wise one, along with his wife and surrounded by his brothers, approached Draupadī where the lamenting brāhmaṇas had assembled. (03-255-49)
te sma taṃ muditā dṛṣṭvā punar abhyāgataṃ nṛpam। jitvā tān sindhusauvīrān draupadīṃ ca āhṛtāṃ punaḥ ॥03-255-50॥
They, seeing him—having returned again, gladdened—after conquering the Sindhu and Sauvīra peoples and bringing back Draupadī, rejoiced. (03-255-50)
sa taiḥ parivṛto rājā tatraiva upaviveśa ha। praviveśāśramam kṛṣṇā yamābhyāṃ saha bhāminī ॥03-255-51॥
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)
bhīmārjunāv api śrutvā krośamātragataṃ ripum। svayam aśvāṃs tudantau tau javenaivābhyadhāvatām ॥03-255-52॥
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)
idam aty-adbhutaṃ cātra cakāra puruṣo 'rjunaḥ। krośa-mātra-gatān aśvān saindhavasya jaghāna yat॥03-255-53॥
Here, Arjuna did this most wonderful thing: he killed Saindhava's horses even though they had gone a krośa away. (03-255-53)
sa hi divyāstra-sampannaḥ kṛcchra-kāle'pyasambhramaḥ। akarod duṣkaraṃ karma śaraiḥ astrānumantritaiḥ ॥03-255-54॥
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)
tato'bhyadhāvatāṃ vīrāvubhau bhīma-dhanaṅjayau. hatāśvaṃ sindhavaṃ bhītam ekaṃ vyākulacetasaṃ ॥03-255-55॥
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)
saindhavaḥ tu hatān dṛṣṭvā tathā aśvān svān su-duḥkhitaḥ। dṛṣṭvā vikrama-karmaṇi kurvāṇam ca dhanañjayam॥ palāyana-kṛta-utsāhaḥ prādravat yena vai vanam॥03-255-56॥
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)
saindhavaṁ tv abhisamprekṣya parākrāntaṁ palāyane। anuyāya mahābāhuḥ phalguno vākyam abravīt॥03-255-57॥
Phalguna (Arjuna), the mighty-armed, noticing that the Sindhu prince had advanced in flight, followed him and spoke.
anena vīryeṇa kathaṁ striyaṁ prārthayase balāt। rājaputra nivartasva na te yuktaṁ palāyanam॥ kathaṁ cānucarān hitvā śatrumadhye palāyase॥03-255-58॥
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)
ity ucyamānaḥ pārthena saindhavo na nyavartata। tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti taṃ bhīmaḥ sahasābhyadravad balī॥ mā vadhīr iti pārthas taṃ dayāvān abhyabhāṣata॥03-255-59॥
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)
