06.044
Core: In the intense battle, friends and relatives, kinsmen and allies, all fought together there, the Kurus with the Pandavas.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
rājañśatasahasrāṇi tatra tatra tadā tadā। nirmaryādaṃ prayuddhāni tatte vakṣyāmi bhārata ॥6-44-1॥
O King, I will narrate to you, O descendant of Bharata, how hundreds of thousands fought without restraint at various times and places.
na putraḥ pitaraṃ jajñe na pitā putramaurasam। na bhrātā bhrātaraṃ tatra svasrīyaṃ na ca mātulaḥ ॥6-44-2॥
In that context, the son was not born from the father, nor was the father the true father of the son. Similarly, the brother was not truly a brother, nor was the cousin considered an uncle.
mātulaṁ na ca svasrīyo na sakhāyaṁ sakhā tathā। āviṣṭā iva yudhyante pāṇḍavāḥ kurubhiḥ saha ॥6-44-3॥
The Pāṇḍavas, in their intense battle with the Kauravas, seem to be so consumed by the fight that they fail to recognize their own relatives and friends, fighting as if possessed.
rathānīkaṃ naravyāghrāḥ kecidabhyapatanrathaiḥ। abhajyanta yugaireva yugāni bharatarṣabha ॥6-44-4॥
Some warriors, like tigers among men, attacked the chariot army with their chariots. The yokes were indeed broken, O best of the Bharatas.
ratheṣāśca ratheṣābhiḥ kūbarā rathakūbaraiḥ। saṃhatāḥ saṃhataiḥ kecitparasparajighāṃsavaḥ ॥6-44-5॥
The charioteers and drivers, along with their chariots and chariot drivers, were assembled together, with some among them eager to defeat one another.
na śekuścalituṃ kecitsaṃnipatya rathā rathaiḥ। prabhinnāstu mahākāyāḥ saṃnipatya gajā gajaiḥ ॥6-44-6॥
Some of the warriors were unable to move as their chariots collided with other chariots. However, the massive elephants, after colliding with other elephants, were shattered.
bahudhādārayan kruddhā viṣāṇair itaretaram। satomarapatākaiś ca vāraṇāḥ paravāraṇaiḥ ॥6-44-7॥
The angry elephants, equipped with spears and banners, were tearing each other apart with their tusks, amidst other elephants.
abhisṛtya mahārāja vegavadbhirmahāgajaiḥ। dantairabhihatāstatra cukruśuḥ paramāturāḥ ॥6-44-8॥
O great king, having approached swiftly, the great elephants struck with their tusks, causing them to cry out in extreme distress there.
abhinītāśca śikṣābhistottrāṅkuśasamāhatāḥ। suprabhinnāḥ prabhinnānāṃ saṃmukhābhimukhā yayuḥ ॥6-44-9॥
Trained and disciplined by teachings, goad, and hook, they confidently approached the broken ones face to face.
prabhinnairapi saṁsaktāḥ kecittatra mahāgajāḥ। krauñcavanninadaṁ muktvā prādravanta tatastataḥ ॥6-44-10॥
Despite being injured, some of the great elephants there, after making a sound like a krauñca bird, fled in various directions.
samyakpraṇītā nāgāśca prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ। ṛṣṭitomaranārācairnirviddhā varavāraṇāḥ ॥6-44-11॥
The elephants, properly guided, with their trunks and faces broken, were pierced by spears, javelins, and arrows, making them excellent in battle.
vinedurbhinnamarmāṇo nipetuśca gatāsavaḥ। prādravanta diśaḥ kecinnadanto bhairavānravān ॥6-44-12॥
With their vital parts shattered, they cried out and fell lifeless. Some fled in all directions, roaring with terrifying sounds.
gajānāṃ pādarakṣāstu vyūḍhoraskāḥ prahāriṇaḥ। ṛṣṭibhiśca dhanurbhiśca vimalaiśca paraśvadhaiḥ ॥6-44-13॥
The foot soldiers of the elephants are strong and broad-chested, equipped with spears, bows, and shining axes, ready to strike.
gadābhirmusalaiścaiva bhiṇḍipālaiḥ satomaraiḥ। āyasaiḥ parighaiścaiva nistriṁśairvimalaiḥ śitaiḥ ॥6-44-14॥
Armed with maces, pestles, clubs, spears, iron bars, and sharp, spotless swords.
pragṛhītaiḥ susaṁrabdhā dhāvamānāstataḥ tataḥ। vyadṛśyanta mahārāja parasparajighāṁsavaḥ ॥6-44-15॥
The warriors, armed and furious, were seen running hither and thither, O great king, each intent on killing the other.
rājamānāś ca nistriṁśāḥ saṁsiktā naraśoṇitaiḥ। pratyadṛśyanta śūrāṇām anyonyam abhidhāvatām ॥6-44-16॥
The gleaming swords, stained with human blood, were visible as the warriors charged at each other.
avakṣiptāvadhūtānāmasīnāṃ vīrabāhubhiḥ। sañjajñe tumulaḥ śabdaḥ patatāṃ paramarmasu ॥6-44-17॥
A loud and chaotic noise erupted as the swords, discarded and shaken by the mighty arms of heroes, struck the vital parts of the enemies.
gadāmusalarugṇānāṃ bhinnānāṃ ca varāsibhiḥ। dantidantāvabhinnānāṃ mṛditānāṃ ca dantibhiḥ ॥6-44-18॥
The warriors, wounded by maces and clubs, were broken by excellent swords, while the elephants crushed and separated the tusks of other elephants.
tatra tatra naraughāṇāṃ krośatāmitaretaram। śuśruvurdāruṇā vācaḥ pretānāmiva bhārata ॥6-44-19॥
In various places, the multitude of men were heard shouting at each other with terrible voices, resembling those of spirits, O Bhārata.
hayairapi hayārohāścāmarāpīḍadhāribhiḥ। haṃsairiva mahāvegairanyonyamabhidudruvuḥ ॥6-44-20॥
The horse riders, adorned with peacock feather crests, charged at each other with great speed, resembling swans in their grace and swiftness.
tairvimuktā mahāprāsā jāmbūnadavibhūṣaṇāḥ। āśugā vimalāstīkṣṇāḥ sampeturbhujagopamāḥ ॥6-44-21॥
The great spears, adorned with gold and released by them, swiftly flew through the air, bright and sharp, resembling serpents.
aśvairagryajavaiḥ kecidāplutya mahato rathān। śirāṃsyādadire vīrā rathināmaśvasādinaḥ ॥6-44-22॥
Some warriors, mounted on great chariots with horses of supreme speed, cut off the heads of the charioteers and horse riders.
bahūn api hayārohān bhallaiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। rathī jaghāna samprāpya bāṇagocaramaāgatān ॥6-44-23॥
The charioteer, upon reaching the range of arrows, killed many horsemen with his curved arrows.
nagameghapratīkāśāścākṣipya turagāngajāḥ। pādairevāvamṛdnanta mattāḥ kanakabhūṣaṇāḥ ॥6-44-24॥
The elephants, adorned with golden ornaments and intoxicated, resembling mountains and clouds, trampled the horses underfoot.
pāṭyamāneṣu kumbheṣu pārśveṣvapi ca vāraṇāḥ। prāsairvinihatāḥ kecidvineduḥ paramāturāḥ ॥6-44-25॥
As the pots were being burst and even at the sides, some elephants, struck down by spears, cried out in great distress.
sāśvarohān hayān kecid unmathya varavāraṇāḥ। sahasā cikṣipus tatra saṅkule bhairave sati ॥6-44-26॥
In the terrifying chaos, the excellent elephants suddenly uprooted and threw some horses along with their riders.
sāśvarohānviṣāṇāgrairutkṣipya turagāndvipāḥ। rathaughānavamṛdnantaḥ sadhvajānparicakramuḥ ॥6-44-27॥
The elephants, using the tips of their tusks, lifted the horses along with their riders and moved around, crushing the chariots adorned with banners.
puṁstvādabhimadatvācca kecidatra mahāgajāḥ। sāśvarohānhayāñjaghnuḥ karaiḥ sacaranaistathā ॥6-44-28॥
Due to their masculinity and arrogance, some of the great elephants here attacked and killed the horse riders and horses with their trunks and feet.
kecid ākṣipya kariṇaḥ sāśvān api rathān karaiḥ। vikarṣanto diśaḥ sarvāḥ samīyuḥ sarvaśabdagāḥ ॥6-44-29॥
Some warriors, having pulled elephants, horses, and chariots with their hands, dragged them in all directions and came together, making a cacophony of sounds.
āśugā vimalāstīkṣṇāḥ sampeturbhujagopamāḥ। narāśvakāyānnirbhidya lauhāni kavacāni ca ॥6-44-30॥
The swift, bright, and sharp arrows fell like serpents, piercing through the bodies of men and horses, as well as their iron armors.
nipeturvimalāḥ śaktyo vīrabāhubhirarpitāḥ। maholkāpratimā ghorāstatra tatra viśāṃ pate ॥6-44-31॥
O lord of men, pure spears hurled by heroic arms fell like terrible great meteors here and there.
dvīpicarmāvanaddhaiśca vyāghracarmaśayairapi। vikośairvimalaiḥ khaḍgairabhijaghnuḥ parānraṇe ॥6-44-32॥
The warriors, adorned with panther and tiger skins and wielding unsheathed, shining swords, struck their enemies in the battle.
abhiplutamabhikruddhamekapārśvāvadāritam। vidarśayantaḥ sampetuḥ khaḍgacarmaparaśvadhaiḥ ॥6-44-33॥
Overwhelmed and enraged, with one side torn, they rushed forward displaying their swords, shields, and axes.
śaktibhir dāritāḥ kecit sañchinnāś ca paraśvadhaiḥ। hastibhir mṛditāḥ kecit kṣuṇṇāś cānye turaṅgamaiḥ ॥6-44-34॥
Some were torn apart by powers, some were cut to pieces by axes. Some were crushed by elephants, while others were trampled by horses.
rathaneminikr̥ttāśca nikr̥ttā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। vikrośanti narā rājaṁstatra tatra sma bāndhavān ॥6-44-35॥
The wheels of the chariots were severed by sharp arrows, causing the men to cry out, O king, here and there for their kinsmen.
putrānanye pitṝnanye bhrātṝṃśca saha bāndhavaiḥ। mātulānbhāgineyāṃśca parānapi ca saṃyuge ॥6-44-36॥
In the battle, others fought alongside their sons, fathers, brothers, relatives, maternal uncles, nephews, and even other allies.
vikīrṇāntrāḥ subahavo bhagnasakthāśca bhārata। bāhubhiḥ subhujācchinnaiḥ pārśveṣu ca vidāritāḥ ॥ krandantaḥ samadṛśyanta tṛṣitā jīvitepsavaḥ ॥6-44-37॥
O Bharata, many were seen with scattered entrails and broken thighs, their arms well-cut and sides torn apart, crying out in thirst, desiring to live.
tṛṣṇāparigatāḥ kecidalpasattvā viśāṃ pate। bhūmau nipatitāḥ saṅkhye jalameva yayācire ॥6-44-38॥
Some warriors, overcome by thirst and of little strength, O lord of men, fell on the battlefield and begged for water.
rudhiraughapariklinnāḥ kliśyamānāśca bhārata। vyanindanbhṛśamātmānaṃ tava putrāṃśca saṅgatān ॥6-44-39॥
O Bharata, drenched in blood and tormented, they harshly criticized themselves and your assembled sons.
apare kṣatriyāḥ śūrāḥ kṛtavairāḥ parasparam। naiva śastraṃ vimuñcanti naiva krandanti māriṣa ॥ tarjayanti ca saṃhṛṣṭāstatra tatra parasparam ॥6-44-40॥
Other warrior heroes, having mutual enmity, neither release their weapons nor cry, O gentle one. They threaten each other joyfully, here and there.
nirdaśya daśanaiś cāpi krodhāt svadaśanacchadān। bhrukuṭīkuṭilair vaktraiḥ prekṣante ca parasparam ॥6-44-41॥
In anger, they bit their own lips with their teeth, and with crooked eyebrows and faces, they glared at each other.
apare kliśyamānāstu vraṇārtāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ। niṣkūjāḥ samapadyanta dṛḍhasattvā mahābalāḥ ॥6-44-42॥
Despite being tormented and wounded by arrows, others remained silent, showing firm resolve and great strength.
anye tu virathāḥ śūrā rathamanyasya saṃyuge। prārthayānā nipatitāḥ saṅkṣuṇṇā varavāraṇaiḥ ॥ aśobhanta mahārāja puṣpitā iva kiṃśukāḥ ॥6-44-43॥
O great king, other heroes, though without chariots, sought the chariots of others in battle and fell, crushed by excellent elephants. They appeared like blossomed Butea monosperma trees.
sambabhūvur anīkeṣu bahavo bhairavasvanāḥ। vartamāne mahābhīme tasmin vīravarakṣaye ॥6-44-44॥
In the midst of the armies, many terrifying sounds arose as the great and terrible destruction of the best heroes was taking place.
ahanattu pitā putraṃ putraśca pitaraṃ raṇe। svasrīyo mātulaṃ cāpi svasrīyaṃ cāpi mātulaḥ ॥6-44-45॥
In the battle, fathers killed their sons, and sons killed their fathers. Similarly, maternal uncles and their nephews killed each other.
sakhāyaṃ ca sakhā rājan sambandhī bāndhavaṃ tathā। evaṃ yuyudhire tatra kuravaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha ॥6-44-46॥
O King, friends and relatives, kinsmen and allies, all fought together there, the Kurus with the Pandavas.
vartamāne bhaye tasminnirmaryāde mahāhave। bhīṣmamāsādya pārthānāṃ vāhinī samakampata ॥6-44-47॥
In the midst of the ongoing fear and the boundless great battle, as Bhishma approached, the army of the Pandavas trembled.
ketunā pañcatāreṇa tālena bharatarṣabha। rājatena mahābāhurucchritena mahārathe ॥ babhau bhīṣmastadā rājaṃścandramā iva meruṇā ॥6-44-48॥
O best of the Bharatas, the mighty-armed Bhishma, with a banner featuring five stars and a palm tree emblem, shone brilliantly on his great chariot, appearing like the moon alongside the mountain Meru, O king.
