06.053
Pancharatra and Core: The armies fight each other in the intense battle.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
ततो व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु तावकेष्वितरेषु च। धनञ्जयो रथानीकमवधीत्तव भारत ॥ शरैरतिरथो युद्धे पातयन्रथयूथपान् ॥६-५३-१॥
Then, in the battle formations of both your and the opposing armies, Arjuna, the great chariot-warrior, struck down the leaders of the chariots with his arrows, O Bharata.
ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन कालेनेव युगक्षये। धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे यत्ताः पाण्डवान्प्रत्ययोधयन् ॥ प्रार्थयाना यशो दीप्तं मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् ॥६-५३-२॥
The sons of Dhritarashtra, engaged in battle against the Pandavas, were being killed by Arjuna as if by time at the end of an age, seeking brilliant fame and having accepted death as their return.
एकाग्रमनसो भूत्वा पाण्डवानां वरूथिनीम्। बभञ्जुर्बहुशो राजंस्ते चाभज्यन्त संयुगे ॥६-५३-३॥
With a focused mind, the army of the Pandavas repeatedly broke and were broken in battle, O king.
द्रवद्भिरथ भग्नैश्च परिवर्तद्भिरेव च। पाण्डवैः कौरवैश्चैव न प्रज्ञायत किञ्चन ॥६-५३-४॥
In the chaos of the fleeing, broken, and turning warriors, neither the Pandavas nor the Kauravas could recognize anything.
उदतिष्ठद्रजो भौमं छादयानं दिवाकरम्। दिशः प्रतिदिशो वापि तत्र जज्ञुः कथञ्चन ॥६-५३-५॥
The dust rose, covering the sun on earth. Somehow, they appeared in every direction or there as well.
अनुमानेन सञ्ज्ञाभिर्नामगोत्रैश्च संयुगे। वर्तते स्म तदा युद्धं तत्र तत्र विशां पते ॥६-५३-६॥
In the battle, identified by inference, signs, names, and lineages, the conflict was indeed occurring at various places, O lord of men.
न व्यूहो भिद्यते तत्र कौरवाणां कथञ्चन। रक्षितः सत्यसन्धेन भारद्वाजेन धीमता ॥६-५३-७॥
The Kauravas' formation remains unbroken, safeguarded by the wise and truthful Bharadvaja.
तथैव पाण्डवेयानां रक्षितः सव्यसाचिना। नाभिध्यत महाव्यूहो भीमेन च सुरक्षितः ॥६-५३-८॥
Similarly, the Pandavas' great formation, guarded by Arjuna, remained unbreached and was securely defended by Bhima.
सेनाग्रादभिनिष्पत्य प्रायुध्यंस्तत्र मानवाः। उभयोः सेनयो राजन्व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपाः ॥६-५३-९॥
The men emerged from the front of the army and fought there. O king, the chariots and elephants of both armies were interlocked.
हयारोहैर्हयारोहाः पात्यन्ते स्म महाहवे। ऋष्टिभिर्विमलाग्राभिः प्रासैरपि च संयुगे ॥६-५३-१०॥
In the great battle, horsemen were being struck down by other horsemen using spears with shining tips and javelins.
रथी रथिनमासाद्य शरैः कनकभूषणैः। पातयामास समरे तस्मिन्नतिभयङ्करे ॥६-५३-११॥
In the fierce battle, the charioteer approached the warrior and, with arrows adorned with gold, brought him down.
गजारोहा गजारोहान्नाराचशरतोमरैः। संसक्ताः पातयामासुस्तव तेषां च सङ्घशः ॥६-५३-१२॥
The elephant riders, armed with iron arrows, arrows, and spears, engaged in battle and caused both your and their groups to fall.
पत्तिसङ्घा रणे पत्तीन्भिण्डिपालपरश्वधैः। न्यपातयन्त संहृष्टाः परस्परकृतागसः ॥६-५३-१३॥
In the battle, the groups of infantry, delighted, struck each other down with clubs and axes, having previously committed offenses against one another.
पदाती रथिनं सङ्ख्ये रथी चापि पदातिनम्। न्यपातयच्छितैः शस्त्रैः सेनयोरुभयोरपि ॥६-५३-१४॥
In the battle, the foot-soldier struck down the charioteer, and likewise, the charioteer struck down the foot-soldier with sharp weapons, affecting both armies.
गजारोहा हयारोहान्पातयां चक्रिरे तदा। हयारोहा गजस्थांश्च तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥६-५३-१५॥
Then, the elephant riders caused the horse riders to fall. It seemed as if the horse riders and the elephant riders were in a wonderful state.
गजारोहवरैश्चापि तत्र तत्र पदातयः। पातिताः समदृश्यन्त तैश्चापि गजयोधिनः ॥६-५३-१६॥
The excellent elephant riders were seen felling foot soldiers here and there, along with the elephant warriors.
पत्तिसङ्घा हयारोहैः सादिसङ्घाश्च पत्तिभिः। पात्यमाना व्यदृश्यन्त शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥६-५३-१७॥
The battlefield was filled with groups of infantry and horse riders, as well as chariots and foot soldiers, all seen falling in great numbers, by hundreds and thousands.
ध्वजैस्तत्रापविद्धैश्च कार्मुकैस्तोमरैस्तथा। प्रासैस्तथा गदाभिश्च परिघैः कम्पनैस्तथा ॥६-५३-१८॥
There, flags were scattered, along with bows, spears, javelins, maces, and iron clubs, all trembling.
शक्तिभिः कवचैश्चित्रैः कणपैरङ्कुशैरपि। निस्त्रिंशैर्विमलैश्चापि स्वर्णपुङ्खैः शरैस्तथा ॥६-५३-१९॥
Equipped with spears, various armors, skulls, hooks, swords, and pure golden-feathered arrows.
परिस्तोमैः कुथाभिश्च कम्बलैश्च महाधनैः। भूर्भाति भरतश्रेष्ठ स्रग्दामैरिव चित्रिता ॥६-५३-२०॥
O best of the Bharatas, the earth appears adorned with praises, blankets, rugs, and great wealth, as if decorated with garlands.
नराश्वकायैः पतितैर्दन्तिभिश्च महाहवे। अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा ॥६-५३-२१॥
In the great battle, the earth was covered with the bodies of fallen men, horses, and elephants, becoming a muddy and incomprehensible form with flesh and blood.
प्रशशाम रजो भौमं व्युक्षितं रणशोणितैः। दिशश्च विमलाः सर्वाः सम्बभूवुर्जनेश्वर ॥६-५३-२२॥
The dust on the battlefield, stained with blood, settled down. All directions became clear, O lord of the people.
उत्थितान्यगणेयानि कबन्धानि समन्ततः। चिह्नभूतानि जगतो विनाशार्थाय भारत ॥६-५३-२३॥
O Bhārata, countless headless bodies have risen all around as ominous signs for the destruction of the world.
तस्मिन्युद्धे महारौद्रे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे। प्रत्यदृश्यन्त रथिनो धावमानाः समन्ततः ॥६-५३-२४॥
In that ongoing, very fierce and extremely terrible battle, charioteers were seen running all around.
ततो द्रोणश्च भीष्मश्च सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः। पुरुमित्रो विकर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः ॥६-५३-२५॥
Then Drona, Bhishma, the Sindhu prince Jayadratha, Purumitra, Vikarna, and Shakuni, the son of Subala, were present.
एते समरदुर्धर्षाः सिंहतुल्यपराक्रमाः। पाण्डवानामनीकानि बभञ्जुः स्म पुनः पुनः ॥६-५३-२६॥
These warriors, who were invincible in battle and had the valor of lions, repeatedly broke through the Pandavas' formations.
तथैव भीमसेनोऽपि राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः। सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च द्रौपदेयाश्च भारत ॥६-५३-२७॥
Similarly, Bhimasena, the demon Ghatotkacha, Satyaki, Chekitana, and the sons of Draupadi were present, O Bharata.
तावकांस्तव पुत्रांश्च सहितान्सर्वराजभिः। द्रावयामासुराजौ ते त्रिदशा दानवानिव ॥६-५३-२८॥
Your sons, along with all the allied kings, were driven away by the two kings, just as the gods once drove away the demons.
तथा ते समरेऽन्योन्यं निघ्नन्तः क्षत्रियर्षभाः। रक्तोक्षिता घोररूपा विरेजुर्दानवा इव ॥६-५३-२९॥
In the battle, the warriors, fierce and smeared with blood, fought each other valiantly, appearing as terrifying as demons.
विनिर्जित्य रिपून्वीराः सेनयोरुभयोरपि। व्यदृश्यन्त महामात्रा ग्रहा इव नभस्तले ॥६-५३-३०॥
After defeating their enemies, the heroes from both armies appeared like great ministers in the sky, resembling planets.
ततो रथसहस्रेण पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव। अभ्ययात्पाण्डवान्युद्धे राक्षसं च घटोत्कचम् ॥६-५३-३१॥
Then, your son Duryodhana, with a thousand chariots, approached the Pandavas and the demon Ghatotkacha in battle.
तथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे महत्या सेनया सह। द्रोणभीष्मौ रणे शूरौ प्रत्युद्ययुररिंदमौ ॥६-५३-३२॥
Similarly, all the Pandavas, accompanied by a mighty army, advanced towards Drona and Bhishma, the valiant warriors, ready to confront their foes.
किरीटी तु ययौ क्रुद्धः समर्थान्पार्थिवोत्तमान्। आर्जुनिः सात्यकिश्चैव ययतुः सौबलं बलम् ॥६-५३-३३॥
Arjuna, in his anger, approached the most capable and distinguished kings. Both Arjuna and Satyaki advanced towards the army of Saubala.
ततः प्रववृते भूयः सङ्ग्रामो लोमहर्षणः। तावकानां परेषां च समरे विजिगीषताम् ॥६-५३-३४॥
Then, once more, the hair-raising battle began between your forces and the enemies, both eager for victory in the war.
