04.057
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
atha saṅgamya sarve tu kauravāṇāṃ mahārathāḥ। arjunaṃ sahitā yattāḥ pratyayudhyanta bhārata ॥04-57-1॥
Then, O Bhārata, all the great chariot-warriors of the Kauravas, having gathered together and being prepared, fought against Arjuna. (04-57-1)
sa sāyakamayair jālaiḥ sarvatas tān mahārathān। prācchādayad ameyātmā nīhāra iva parvatān॥04-57-2॥
He, of immeasurable spirit, covered those great chariot-warriors on all sides with nets made of arrows, just as fog envelops mountains. (04-57-2)
nadadbhiś ca mahānāgair heṣamāṇaiś ca vājibhiḥ | bherīśaṅkhaninādaiś ca sa śabdas tumulo 'bhavat ||04-57-3||
The sound created by the roaring elephants, the neighing horses, and the blaring of drums and conches became deafening. (04-57-3)
narāśvakāyān nirbhidya lohāni kavacāni ca। pārthasya śarajālāni viniṣpetuḥ sahasraśaḥ ॥04-57-4॥
Thousands of arrows shot forth from Arjuna, piercing the bodies of men and horses and breaking through iron armors. (04-57-4)
tvaramāṇaḥ śarān asyan pāṇḍavaḥ sa babhau raṇe. madhyaṃdinagato'rciṣmāñ śaradīva divākaraḥ ॥04-57-5॥
Hurriedly releasing arrows, the Pāṇḍava shone in battle like the radiant sun of autumn at midday. (04-57-5)
upaplavanta vitrastā rathebhyo rathinas tadā। sādiṇaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau cāpi padātayaḥ ॥04-57-6॥
Then, frightened charioteers leapt down from their chariots; riders from the backs of horses, and even the foot-soldiers on the ground.
śaraiḥ santāḍyamānānāṃ kavacānāṃ mahātmanām। tāmra-rājata-lohānāṃ prādurāsīn mahāsvanaḥ ॥04-57-7॥
A great sound arose from the armors of the great-souled warriors, made of copper, silver, and iron, as they were struck with arrows. (04-57-7)
channam āyodhanaṁ sarvaṁ śarīraiḥ gata-cetasām। gaja-aśva-sādibhiḥ tatra śita-bāṇa-atta-jīvitaiḥ ॥04-57-8॥
The entire battlefield there was strewn with the bodies of those who had perished—elephants, horses, and others, their lives taken by sharp arrows. (04-57-8)
rathopasthābhipatitair āstṛtā manavair mahī. pranṛtyad iva saṅgrāme cāpahasto dhanañjayaḥ ॥04-57-9॥
The earth was covered with men who had fallen onto the chariot-platforms; in the midst of battle, Arjuna, holding his bow, seemed to dance. (04-57-9)
śrutvā gāṇḍīva-nirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam iva āśaneḥ। trastāni sarva-bhūtāni vyagacchanta mahā-havāt ॥04-57-10॥
When all beings heard the resounding noise of the Gandiva, like the thunder of a thunderbolt, they fled in terror from the great battle. (04-57-10)
kuṇḍaloṣṇīṣadhārīṇi jātarūpasrajāni ca। patitāni sma dṛśyante śirāṁsi raṇamūrdhani ॥04-57-11॥
Heads adorned with ear-rings, turbans, and golden garlands are indeed seen fallen on the battlefield. (04-57-11)
viśikhonmathitair gātrair bāhubhiś ca sakārmukaiḥ। sahastābharaṇaiś cānyaiḥ prachannā bhāti medinī ॥04-57-12॥
The earth appears covered and glows with bodies pierced by arrows, arms bearing bows, and others adorned with ornaments on their hands. (04-57-12)
śirasāṁ pātyamānānām antarā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। aśmavṛṣṭir iv ākāśād abhavad bharatarṣabha ॥04-57-13॥
O bull among the Bharatas, among the falling heads, sharp arrows came like a shower of stones from the sky. (04-57-13)
darśayitvā tathātmānaṃ raudraṃ rudraparākramaḥ। avaruddhaś caran pārtho daśa varṣāṇi trīṇi ca ॥ krodhāgnim utsṛjad ghoram dhārtarāṣṭreṣu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥04-57-14॥
Showing himself as terrible and endowed with Rudra's might, Pārtha (Arjuna), who dwelt in captivity for thirteen years, released a dreadful fire of wrath upon the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (04-57-14)
tasya taddahataḥ sainyaṁ dṛṣṭvā caiva parākramam। sarve śāntiparā yodhā dhārtarāṣṭrasya paśyataḥ॥04-57-15॥
Seeing the army of his being burned and his valor, all the peace-seeking warriors of Dhritarashtra’s side watched.
vitrāsayitvā tatsainyaṁ drāvayitvā mahārathān। arjuno jayatāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ paryavartata bhārata ॥04-57-16॥
O Bhārata, having terrified that army and driven away the great chariot-warriors, Arjuna, the foremost among the victorious, turned back. (04-57-16)
prāvartayannadīṃ ghorāṃ śoṇitaughataraṅgiṇīm। asthiśaivalasambādhāṃ yugānte kālanirmitām ॥04-57-17॥
At the end of the age, created by Time, he set in motion a terrible river with waves of streams of blood, thickly filled with bone-like weeds. (04-57-17)
śara-cāpa-plavāṃ ghorāṃ māṃsa-śoṇita-kardamām। mahā-ratha-mahā-dvīpāṃ śaṅkha-dundubhi-nisvanām ॥ cakāra mahatīṃ pārtho nadīm-uttara-śoṇitām ॥04-57-18॥
Pārtha created a great and terrible river, with rafts of arrows and bows, mud made of flesh and blood, large islands formed by great warriors, resounding with the sound of conches and drums, and flowing with blood. (04-57-18)
ādadānasya hi śarān sandhāya ca vimuñcataḥ. vikarṣataś ca gāṇḍīvam na kiñcid dṛśyate'ntaram ॥04-57-19॥
Indeed, in the actions of taking up arrows, fixing them, releasing them, and drawing the Gandiva bow, no difference at all can be seen. (04-57-19)
