06.058
Core and Pancharatra: Encounter between Dhristadyumna and Shalya; urged by Duryodhana Magadha elephant army attacks Bhima; Bhima single handed annihilates the entire army.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
दैवमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषादपि सञ्जय। यत्सैन्यं मम पुत्रस्य पाण्डुसैन्येन वध्यते ॥६-५८-१॥
Sanjaya, I believe that fate is ultimately more powerful than human effort, as evidenced by my son's army being defeated by the Pandavas.
नित्यं हि मामकांस्तात हतानेव हि शंससि। अव्यग्रांश्च प्रहृष्टांश्च नित्यं शंससि पाण्डवान् ॥६-५८-२॥
Dear, you always speak of my people as if they are already defeated, while you describe the Pandavas as always untroubled and happy.
हीनान्पुरुषकारेण मामकानद्य सञ्जय। पतितान्पात्यमानांश्च हतानेव च शंससि ॥६-५८-३॥
Sanjaya, today you report that my people, devoid of effort, have fallen, are being struck down, and are indeed killed.
युध्यमानान्यथाशक्ति घटमानाञ्जयं प्रति। पाण्डवा विजयन्त्येव जीयन्ते चैव मामकाः ॥६-५८-४॥
The Pandavas, fighting with all their strength and striving for victory, are indeed victorious, while my people are defeated.
सोऽहं तीव्राणि दुःखानि दुर्योधनकृतानि च। अश्रौषं सततं तात दुःसहानि बहूनि च ॥६-५८-५॥
I, your son, have constantly heard of the many intense and unbearable sorrows caused by Duryodhana, dear father.
तमुपायं न पश्यामि जीयेरन्येन पाण्डवाः। मामका वा जयं युद्धे प्राप्नुयुर्येन सञ्जय ॥६-५८-६॥
O Sanjaya, I do not see any means by which the Pandavas could be defeated by others, nor how my people could achieve victory in battle.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
क्षयं मनुष्यदेहानां गजवाजिरथक्षयम्। शृणु राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा तवैवापनयो महान् ॥६-५८-७॥
O King, listen with a steady mind to the great destruction that befalls human bodies, elephants, horses, and chariots. This is your own significant downfall.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु शल्येन पीडितो नवभिः शरैः। पीडयामास सङ्क्रुद्धो मद्राधिपतिमायसैः ॥६-५८-८॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, though afflicted by Śalya with nine arrows, in his anger retaliated against the king of Madras using iron arrows.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम पार्षतस्य पराक्रमम्। न्यवारयत यत्तूर्णं शल्यं समितिशोभनम् ॥६-५८-९॥
There, we witnessed the remarkable bravery of the son of Prishata as he swiftly halted the illustrious Shalya in the battle.
नान्तरं ददृशे कश्चित्तयोः संरब्धयो रणे। मुहूर्तमिव तद्युद्धं तयोः सममिवाभवत् ॥६-५८-१०॥
For a moment, it seemed as if there was no gap between the two fiercely fighting in battle; their combat appeared evenly matched.
ततः शल्यो महाराज धृष्टद्युम्नस्य संयुगे। धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च ॥६-५८-११॥
Then, O great king, Śalya cut off Dhṛṣṭadyumna's bow in the battle with a sharp and keen arrow.
अथैनं शरवर्षेण छादयामास भारत। गिरिं जलागमे यद्वज्जलदा जलधारिणः ॥६-५८-१२॥
Then, O descendant of Bharata, he enveloped him in a barrage of arrows, much like clouds envelop a mountain when the rains begin.
अभिमन्युस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्ने निपीडिते। अभिदुद्राव वेगेन मद्रराजरथं प्रति ॥६-५८-१३॥
Abhimanyu, seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna in distress, became enraged and swiftly charged towards the chariot of the Madra king.
ततो मद्राधिपरथं कार्ष्णिः प्राप्यातिकोपनः। आर्तायनिममेयात्मा विव्याध विशिखैस्त्रिभिः ॥६-५८-१४॥
Then Kārṣṇi, in great anger, reached the chariot of the Madra king and pierced Ārtāyani, who possessed an immeasurable soul, with three arrows.
ततस्तु तावका राजन्परीप्सन्तोऽऽर्जुनिं रणे। मद्रराजरथं तूर्णं परिवार्यावतस्थिरे ॥६-५८-१५॥
Then, O king, your men, eager to protect Arjuna in the battle, swiftly surrounded the chariot of the Madra king and stood their ground.
दुर्योधनो विकर्णश्च दुःशासनविविंशती। दुर्मर्षणो दुःसहश्च चित्रसेनश्च दुर्मुखः ॥६-५८-१६॥
Duryodhana, Vikarna, Duhshasana, Vivimshati, Durmarshana, Duhsaha, Citrasena, and Durmukha are present.
सत्यव्रतश्च भद्रं ते पुरुमित्रश्च भारत। एते मद्राधिपरथं पालयन्तः स्थिता रणे ॥६-५८-१७॥
Satyavrata and Purumitra, O Bharata, are standing in battle protecting the chariot of the Madra king.
तान्भीमसेनः सङ्क्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ ॥६-५८-१८॥
Bhimasena, filled with anger, along with Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, the sons of Draupadi, Abhimanyu, and the sons of Madri, the Pandavas, confronted them.
नानारूपाणि शस्त्राणि विसृजन्तो विशां पते। अभ्यवर्तन्त संहृष्टाः परस्परवधैषिणः ॥ ते वै समीयुः सङ्ग्रामे राजन्दुर्मन्त्रिते तव ॥६-५८-१९॥
O lord of men, they joyfully advanced, releasing various weapons, eager to kill each other. They gathered in battle, O king, due to your poor counsel.
तस्मिन्दाशरथे युद्धे वर्तमाने भयावहे। तावकानां परेषां च प्रेक्षका रथिनोऽभवन् ॥६-५८-२०॥
In the ongoing and fearful battle of the son of Dasharatha, both your people and the enemies became mere observers, watching from their chariots.
शस्त्राण्यनेकरूपाणि विसृजन्तो महारथाः। अन्योन्यमभिनर्दन्तः सम्प्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे ॥६-५८-२१॥
The great charioteers released various forms of weapons and, shouting at each other, engaged in battle.
ते यत्ता जातसंरम्भाः सर्वेऽन्योन्यं जिघांसवः। महास्त्राणि विमुञ्चन्तः समापेतुरमर्षणाः ॥६-५८-२२॥
The warriors, filled with rage and ready for battle, all sought to kill each other, unleashing powerful weapons as they approached with intolerance.
दुर्योधनस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नं महारणे। विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैश्चतुर्भिस्त्वरितो भृशम् ॥६-५८-२३॥
Duryodhana, in his anger, swiftly and fiercely struck Dhrishtadyumna with four sharp arrows during the great battle.
दुर्मर्षणश्च विंशत्या चित्रसेनश्च पञ्चभिः। दुर्मुखो नवभिर्बाणैर्दुःसहश्चापि सप्तभिः ॥ विविंशतिः पञ्चभिश्च त्रिभिर्दुःशासनस्तथा ॥६-५८-२४॥
Durmarshana attacked with twenty arrows, Chitrasena with five; Durmukha with nine arrows, Duhsaha with seven; Vivimshati with five, and Duhshasana with three.
तान्प्रत्यविध्यद्राजेन्द्र पार्षतः शत्रुतापनः। एकैकं पञ्चविंशत्या दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम् ॥६-५८-२५॥
O King, the son of Prishata, who torments his enemies, skillfully pierced each of them with twenty-five arrows, demonstrating his dexterity.
सत्यव्रतं तु समरे पुरुमित्रं च भारत। अभिमन्युरविध्यत्तौ दशभिर्दशभिः शरैः ॥६-५८-२६॥
In the battle, O Bharata, Abhimanyu pierced Satyavrata and Purumitra with ten arrows each.
माद्रीपुत्रौ तु समरे मातुलं मातृनन्दनौ। छादयेतां शरव्रातैस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥६-५८-२७॥
In the battle, the sons of Madri, who were the delight of their mother, covered their maternal uncle with showers of arrows, creating a scene that seemed almost miraculous.
ततः शल्यो महाराज स्वस्रीयौ रथिनां वरौ। शरैर्बहुभिरानर्छत्कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणौ ॥ छाद्यमानौ ततस्तौ तु माद्रीपुत्रौ न चेलतुः ॥६-५८-२८॥
Then, O great king, Śalya attacked the best of charioteers, the brothers, with many arrows in a desire to repay. Despite being covered, the sons of Mādrī did not move.
अथ दुर्योधनं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनो महाबलः। विधित्सुः कलहस्यान्तं गदां जग्राह पाण्डवः ॥६-५८-२९॥
Then, upon seeing Duryodhana, the mighty Bhimasena, with the intention to end the conflict, took up his mace.
तमुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम्। भीमसेनं महाबाहुं पुत्रास्ते प्राद्रवन्भयात् ॥६-५८-३०॥
Upon seeing Bhimasena, who stood like the towering Kailasa with his raised mace, the sons, overwhelmed with fear, fled from the mighty warrior.
दुर्योधनस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो मागधं समचोदयत्। अनीकं दशसाहस्रं कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम् ॥ मागधं पुरतः कृत्वा भीमसेनं समभ्ययात् ॥६-५८-३१॥
Duryodhana, in his anger, urged the king of Magadha to lead an army of ten thousand mighty elephants. With the king of Magadha at the forefront, he advanced towards Bhimasena.
आपतन्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा गजानीकं वृकोदरः। गदापाणिरवारोहद्रथात्सिंह इवोन्नदन् ॥६-५८-३२॥
Upon seeing the advancing elephant army, Vrikodara, wielding his mace, leapt from his chariot, roaring fiercely like a lion.
अद्रिसारमयीं गुर्वीं प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्। अभ्यधावद्गजानीकं व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः ॥६-५८-३३॥
He seized the massive, weighty mace crafted from the essence of mountains and charged at the elephant army, resembling death with an open mouth.
स गजान्गदया निघ्नन्व्यचरत्समरे बली। भीमसेनो महाबाहुः सवज्र इव वासवः ॥६-५८-३४॥
Bhimasena, the mighty-armed, moved through the battlefield striking down elephants with his mace, resembling Indra wielding a thunderbolt.
तस्य नादेन महता मनोहृदयकम्पिना। व्यत्यचेष्टन्त संहत्य गजा भीमस्य नर्दतः ॥६-५८-३५॥
The elephants, startled by the great and terrifying sound of Bhima's roar, moved about in confusion.
ततस्तु द्रौपदीपुत्राः सौभद्रश्च महारथः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः ॥६-५८-३६॥
Then, the sons of Draupadī, along with Abhimanyu, the great warrior, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, were present.
क्षुरैः क्षुरप्रैर्भल्लैश्च पीतैरञ्जलिकैरपि। पातयन्तोत्तमाङ्गानि पाण्डवा गजयोधिनाम् ॥६-५८-३८॥
The Pandavas, using razors, sharp arrows, broad-headed arrows, and handfuls of yellow weapons, caused the heads of the elephant warriors to fall.
शिरोभिः प्रपतद्भिश्च बाहुभिश्च विभूषितैः। अश्मवृष्टिरिवाभाति पाणिभिश्च सहाङ्कुशैः ॥६-५८-३९॥
The scene appears as if a rain of stones is falling, with heads and arms adorned, accompanied by hands and goads.
हृतोत्तमाङ्गाः स्कन्धेषु गजानां गजयोधिनः। अदृश्यन्ताचलाग्रेषु द्रुमा भग्नशिखा इव ॥६-५८-४०॥
The warriors, with their heads severed, appeared on the elephants' shoulders, resembling trees with their tops broken on the mountain peaks.
धृष्टद्युम्नहतानन्यानपश्याम महागजान्। पतितान्पात्यमानांश्च पार्षतेन महात्मना ॥६-५८-४१॥
We observe the great elephants, slain by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, lying fallen and being struck down by the noble son of Pṛṣata.
मागधोऽथ महीपालो गजमैरावतोपमम्। प्रेषयामास समरे सौभद्रस्य रथं प्रति ॥६-५८-४२॥
Then the king of Magadha sent an elephant resembling Airavata towards the chariot of Abhimanyu in the battle.
तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य मागधस्य गजोत्तमम्। जघानैकेषुणा वीरः सौभद्रः परवीरहा ॥६-५८-४३॥
Upon seeing the best elephant of the Magadha approaching, Abhimanyu, the valiant son of Subhadra, who was a destroyer of enemy heroes, struck it down with a single arrow.
तस्यावर्जितनागस्य कार्ष्णिः परपुरञ्जयः। राज्ञो रजतपुङ्खेन भल्लेनापहरच्छिरः ॥६-५८-४४॥
Kārṣhṇi, known for conquering enemy cities, decapitated the king using a silver-finned arrow while mounted on his bent elephant.
विगाह्य तद्गजानीकं भीमसेनोऽपि पाण्डवः। व्यचरत्समरे मृद्नन्गजानिन्द्रो गिरीनिव ॥६-५८-४५॥
Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, entered the elephant army and moved through the battlefield, crushing elephants as Indra would crush mountains.
एकप्रहाराभिहतान्भीमसेनेन कुञ्जरान्। अपश्याम रणे तस्मिन्गिरीन्वज्रहतानिव ॥६-५८-४६॥
In that battle, we witnessed the elephants being struck down by Bhimasena with a single blow, resembling mountains hit by a thunderbolt.
भग्नदन्तान्भग्नकटान्भग्नसक्थांश्च वारणान्। भग्नपृष्ठान्भग्नकुम्भान्निहतान्पर्वतोपमान् ॥६-५८-४७॥
The elephants, resembling mountains, were seen with broken tusks, hips, thighs, backs, and domes, and were killed.
नदतः सीदतश्चान्यान्विमुखान्समरे गजान्। विमूत्रान्भग्नसंविग्नांस्तथा विशकृतोऽपरान् ॥६-५८-४८॥
In the battle, some elephants were roaring and sinking, others turned away, some were urinating, broken and frightened, and others were excreting.
भीमसेनस्य मार्गेषु गतासून्पर्वतोपमान्। अपश्याम हतान्नागान्निष्टनन्तस्तथापरे ॥६-५८-४९॥
On the paths traversed by Bhimasena, we witnessed the bodies of elephants, as large as mountains, lying lifeless. Some were groaning, while others lay still.
वमन्तो रुधिरं चान्ये भिन्नकुम्भा महागजाः। विह्वलन्तो गता भूमिं शैला इव धरातले ॥६-५८-५०॥
The great elephants, with their heads broken and vomiting blood, fell to the ground in agitation, resembling mountains collapsing on the earth.
मेदोरुधिरदिग्धाङ्गो वसामज्जासमुक्षितः। व्यचरत्समरे भीमो दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः ॥६-५८-५१॥
Bhima, his body smeared with fat and blood and covered with marrow and flesh, roamed the battlefield like Death itself, wielding a club.
गजानां रुधिराक्तां तां गदां बिभ्रद्वृकोदरः। घोरः प्रतिभयश्चासीत्पिनाकीव पिनाकधृक् ॥६-५८-५२॥
Vrikodara, with his blood-smeared mace, appeared as terrifying and fearsome as Lord Shiva, the wielder of the Pinaka bow.
निर्मथ्यमानाः क्रुद्धेन भीमसेनेन दन्तिनः। सहसा प्राद्रवञ्शिष्टा मृद्नन्तस्तव वाहिनीम् ॥६-५८-५३॥
The elephants, unable to withstand the fury of the enraged Bhimasena, suddenly fled, leaving the remaining ones to trample your forces.
तं हि वीरं महेष्वासाः सौभद्रप्रमुखा रथाः। पर्यरक्षन्त युध्यन्तं वज्रायुधमिवामराः ॥६-५८-५४॥
The great warriors, led by Saubhadra, surrounded and protected the hero as he fought valiantly, resembling the gods armed with thunderbolts.
शोणिताक्तां गदां बिभ्रदुक्षितो गजशोणितैः। कृतान्त इव रौद्रात्मा भीमसेनो व्यदृश्यत ॥६-५८-५५॥
Bhimasena, fierce-souled and bearing a mace smeared with the blood of elephants, appeared like death itself.
व्यायच्छमानं गदया दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत। नृत्यमानमपश्याम नृत्यन्तमिव शङ्करम् ॥६-५८-५६॥
O descendant of Bharata, we saw him wielding a mace and dancing in all directions, resembling Lord Shankara.
यमदण्डोपमां गुर्वीमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनाम्। अपश्याम महाराज रौद्रां विशसनीं गदाम् ॥६-५८-५७॥
O great king, we saw a heavy and destructive mace, resembling the staff of Yama and sounding like Indra's thunderbolt.
विमिश्रां केशमज्जाभिः प्रदिग्धां रुधिरेण च। पिनाकमिव रुद्रस्य क्रुद्धस्याभिघ्नतः पशून् ॥६-५८-५८॥
The weapon, mixed with hair and marrow and smeared with blood, resembled the bow of Rudra as it struck down animals in anger.
यथा पशूनां सङ्घातं यष्ट्या पालः प्रकालयेत्। तथा भीमो गजानीकं गदया पर्यकालयत् ॥६-५८-५९॥
Bhima, like a herdsman with a stick, drove the elephant army around with his mace, just as one would drive a herd of animals.
गदया वध्यमानास्ते मार्गणैश्च समन्ततः। स्वान्यनीकानि मृद्नन्तः प्राद्रवन्कुञ्जरास्तव ॥६-५८-६०॥
Your elephants, being struck with maces and arrows from all sides, fled in panic, trampling their own troops.
महावात इवाभ्राणि विधमित्वा स वारणान्। अतिष्ठत्तुमुले भीमः श्मशान इव शूलभृत् ॥६-५८-६१॥
He stood among the elephants in the tumult like a great wind scattering clouds, resembling Bhima in a cremation ground with a spear.
