04.061
Vaiśampāyana said.
But being called in battle by him, the great-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra was turned back by his command, just as an intoxicated elephant is turned back by the goad. (04-61-1)
He, unable to tolerate being assailed by the great charioteer's words, that energetic supreme chariot-warrior turned his chariot back then, just like a serpent does when touched by the sole of the foot. (4-61-2)
Seeing him (Arjuna) rolling about, Karna, wounded in his limbs, withdrew, steadied himself, and approached Duryodhana from the south; then the hero among men, adorned with a golden garland, engaged Arjuna in battle. (4-61-3)
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, withdrew and urged his horses adorned with golden harness, protecting Duryodhana from the west against the Pandavas, with his mighty arms and his bow strung. (04-61-4)
Droṇa, Kṛpa, Viviṁśati, and also Duḥśāsana, having quickly withdrawn, all stood in front with their bows drawn, and swiftly approached for the sake of Duryodhana. (04-61-5)
Seeing the armies withdrawing like a full flood, Arjuna (Pārtha), like a swan at an oncoming cloud, Dhananjaya swiftly turned back. (04-61-6)
They surrounded you on all sides, O son of Pṛthā, and took up divine missiles; then, coming near, they rained arrows upon you from all directions, just as clouds pour torrents of water on a mountain. (04-61-7)
Then, after warding off their missile with his own, Arjuna, the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow among the chiefs of the Kurus, invoked another missile that confounds enemies—a stupefying, irresistible weapon not to be countered. (04-61-8)
Then, turning towards all the quarters and intermediate directions, the mighty one, with very sharp and well-feathered arrows and the sound of the Gāṇḍīva bow, caused their minds to tremble. (04-61-9)
Then, once more, Pārtha (Arjuna), the destroyer of enemies, having taken up with both arms the great conch with its mighty, noble sound, sounded it so that the quarters, the intermediate directions, the sky, and the earth resounded. (04-61-10)
The Kuru heroes, bewildered by the sound of Pārtha's conch, abandoned their formidable bows; then, all became intent on peace. (04-61-11)
Thus, while the others were unconscious, Arjuna remembered the words of Uttara and said, "Go out from the midst, O son of Matsya," as long as the Kurus remained unconscious. (04-61-12)
Bestow the very white cloths for the preceptors Śāradvata (Kr̥pa and Droṇa); the yellow and splendid garment for Karṇa; and also the blue garments for Drauṇi and the king in the same way, O best of men. (04-61-13)
I think that Bhīṣma’s signal is just so; this one knows the counteraction to my missile. Guide the vehicles of him to the left; thus indeed it should be traversed by those whose awareness is unclouded. (04-61-14)
Then the great-souled Virata's son, having fully released the reins and leapt from his chariot, took the garments of the great warriors and quickly ascended his own chariot again. (04-61-15)
Then the son of Virāṭa, harnessing four white horses adorned with golden trappings, followed, and they carried Arjuna out from the midst of the battle, passing through the array of warriors. (04-61-16)
But thus, as the foremost among men was advancing, the energetic Bhīṣma struck him with arrows. And he, having slain Bhīṣma’s horses, pierced Bhīṣma in the side with ten sharp arrows. (04-61-17)
Then Arjuna, after having left Bhiṣma aside in battle and having pierced his charioteer—he of the unfailing bow—stood free amidst the array of chariots, like the thousand-rayed sun cleaving Rāhu. (4-61-18)
But having regained consciousness, the mighty Kuru, seeing Pārtha—equal to Indra—standing alone, separated from the battle on the field, the son of Dhritarashtra quickly spoke. (04-61-19)
How indeed was this one released by you? You should bind him in such a way that he cannot escape. To him, the son of Śantanu, smiling, said: "Where has your intellect gone, and where is your strength?" (04-61-20)
He became as one at peace with the enemy's horse, having cast aside his arrows and variegated bow. Yet Bībhatsu was not fit to do a cruel deed; his mind was not set on sin. (04-61-21)
One should not abandon one's own duty even for the sake of the three worlds; therefore, not all are destroyed in this battle. So, O chief of the Kurus, proceed swiftly against the Kurus; let Arjuna recover the cows by victory and return. (04-61-22)
But Duryodhana, having heard those words of his grandfather spoken for his (Duryodhana's) own good, being one whose desires had passed, very intolerant in battle, the king sighed deeply and became silent. (04-61-23)
Having considered that beneficial speech of Bhīṣma, all of them, seeing the growing fire of Arjuna, set their minds towards retreat, protecting Duryodhana. (04-61-24)
With a pleased mind, Pārtha (Arjuna), also called Dhanañjaya, saw the Kuru heroes as they departed. Speaking to them, the great-souled hero followed for a moment, honoring the elders present there. (04-61-25)
He, having honored his aged paternal grandfather, the son of Śāntanu, and Droṇa, the teacher, with his head, and also the son of Droṇa, Kṛpa, and all the teachers—having saluted all of them with various arrows—(04-61-26)
Pārtha (Arjuna) cut off Duryodhana's jewel-studded crown with an arrow; after addressing the heroes and other honorable ones, he resounded through the worlds with the echo of Gandiva. (04-61-27)
He, having suddenly made Devadatta neigh, heroically pierced the minds of the enemies, and, overcoming all the foes with his banner, shone brightly adorned with a golden network. (04-61-28)
Seeing that the Kurus had departed, the diademed hero, delighted, spoke there to the son of Matsya: "Turn the horses! You have won the cattle; the rest have gone. Go joyfully to the city." (04-61-29)
