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.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
daivameva paraṃ manye pauruṣādapi sañjaya। yatsainyaṃ mama putrasya pāṇḍusainyena vadhyate ॥6-58-1॥
Sanjaya, I believe that fate is ultimately more powerful than human effort, as evidenced by my son's army being defeated by the Pandavas.
nityaṁ hi māmakāṁstāta hatāneva hi śaṁsasi। avyagrāṁśca prahṛṣṭāṁśca nityaṁ śaṁsasi pāṇḍavān ॥6-58-2॥
Dear, you always speak of my people as if they are already defeated, while you describe the Pandavas as always untroubled and happy.
hīnān puruṣakāreṇa māmakān adya sañjaya। patitān pātyamānāṃś ca hatān eva ca śaṃsasi ॥6-58-3॥
Sanjaya, today you report that my people, devoid of effort, have fallen, are being struck down, and are indeed killed.
yudhyamānānyathāśakti ghaṭamānāñjayaṃ prati। pāṇḍavā vijayantyeva jīyante caiva māmakāḥ ॥6-58-4॥
The Pandavas, fighting with all their strength and striving for victory, are indeed victorious, while my people are defeated.
so'haṁ tīvrāṇi duḥkhāni duryodhanakṛtāni ca। aśrauṣaṁ satataṁ tāta duḥsahāni bahūni ca ॥6-58-5॥
I, your son, have constantly heard of the many intense and unbearable sorrows caused by Duryodhana, dear father.
tamupāyaṃ na paśyāmi jīyeranyena pāṇḍavāḥ। māmakā vā jayaṃ yuddhe prāpnuyuryena sañjaya ॥6-58-6॥
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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
kṣayaṃ manuṣyadehānāṃ gajavājirathakṣayam। śṛṇu rājansthiro bhūtvā tavaivāpanayo mahān ॥6-58-7॥
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.
dhṛṣṭadyumnastu śalyena pīḍito navabhiḥ śaraiḥ। pīḍayāmāsa saṅkruddho madrādhipatimāyasaiḥ ॥6-58-8॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, though afflicted by Śalya with nine arrows, in his anger retaliated against the king of Madras using iron arrows.
tatrādbhutamapaśyāma pārṣatasya parākramam। nyavārayata yattūrṇaṃ śalyaṃ samitiśobhanam ॥6-58-9॥
There, we witnessed the remarkable bravery of the son of Prishata as he swiftly halted the illustrious Shalya in the battle.
nāntaraṃ dadṛśe kaścit tayoḥ saṃrabdhayo raṇe। muhūrtam iva tad yuddhaṃ tayoḥ samam ivābhavat ॥6-58-10॥
For a moment, it seemed as if there was no gap between the two fiercely fighting in battle; their combat appeared evenly matched.
tataḥ śalyo mahārāja dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge। dhanuściccheda bhallena pītena niśitena ca ॥6-58-11॥
Then, O great king, Śalya cut off Dhṛṣṭadyumna's bow in the battle with a sharp and keen arrow.
athainaṁ śaravarṣeṇa chādayāmāsa bhārata। giriṁ jalāgame yadvajjaladā jaladhāriṇaḥ ॥6-58-12॥
Then, O descendant of Bharata, he enveloped him in a barrage of arrows, much like clouds envelop a mountain when the rains begin.
abhimanyustu saṅkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumne nipīḍite। abhidudrāva vegena madrarājarathaṃ prati ॥6-58-13॥
Abhimanyu, seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna in distress, became enraged and swiftly charged towards the chariot of the Madra king.
tato madrādhiparathaṃ kārṣṇiḥ prāpyātikopanaḥ। ārtāyanimameyātmā vivyādha viśikhaistribhiḥ ॥6-58-14॥
Then Kārṣṇi, in great anger, reached the chariot of the Madra king and pierced Ārtāyani, who possessed an immeasurable soul, with three arrows.
tatastu tāvakā rājanparīpsanto''rjuniṃ raṇe। madrarājarathaṃ tūrṇaṃ parivāryāvatasthire ॥6-58-15॥
Then, O king, your men, eager to protect Arjuna in the battle, swiftly surrounded the chariot of the Madra king and stood their ground.
duryodhano vikarṇaśca duḥśāsanaviviṃśatī। durmarṣaṇo duḥsahaśca citrasenaśca durmukhaḥ ॥6-58-16॥
Duryodhana, Vikarna, Duhshasana, Vivimshati, Durmarshana, Duhsaha, Citrasena, and Durmukha are present.
satyavrataśca bhadraṃ te purumitraśca bhārata। ete madrādhiparathaṃ pālayantaḥ sthitā raṇe ॥6-58-17॥
Satyavrata and Purumitra, O Bharata, are standing in battle protecting the chariot of the Madra king.
tānbhīmasenaḥ saṅkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ। draupadeyābhimanyuśca mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau ॥6-58-18॥
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.
nānārūpāṇi śastrāṇi visṛjanto viśāṃ pate। abhyavartanta saṃhṛṣṭāḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ ॥ te vai samīyuḥ saṅgrāme rājandurmantrite tava ॥6-58-19॥
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.
tasmin dāśarathe yuddhe vartamāne bhayāvahe। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca prekṣakā rathino'bhavan ॥6-58-20॥
In the ongoing and fearful battle of the son of Dasharatha, both your people and the enemies became mere observers, watching from their chariots.
śastrāṇyanekarūpāṇi visṛjanto mahārathāḥ। anyonyamabhinardantaḥ samprabhāraṃ pracakrire ॥6-58-21॥
The great charioteers released various forms of weapons and, shouting at each other, engaged in battle.
te yattā jātasaṁrambhāḥ sarve'nyonyaṁ jighāṁsavaḥ। mahāstrāṇi vimuñcantaḥ samāpeturamarṣaṇāḥ ॥6-58-22॥
The warriors, filled with rage and ready for battle, all sought to kill each other, unleashing powerful weapons as they approached with intolerance.
duryodhanastu saṅkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ mahāraṇe। vivyādha niśitairbāṇaiścaturbhistvarito bhṛśam ॥6-58-23॥
Duryodhana, in his anger, swiftly and fiercely struck Dhrishtadyumna with four sharp arrows during the great battle.
durmarṣaṇaśca viṃśatyā citrasenaśca pañcabhiḥ। durmukho navabhirbāṇairduḥsahaścāpi saptabhiḥ ॥ viviṃśatiḥ pañcabhiśca tribhirduḥśāsanastathā ॥6-58-24॥
Durmarshana attacked with twenty arrows, Chitrasena with five; Durmukha with nine arrows, Duhsaha with seven; Vivimshati with five, and Duhshasana with three.
tānpratyavidhyadrājendra pārṣataḥ śatrutāpanaḥ। ekaikaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā darśayanpāṇilāghavam ॥6-58-25॥
O King, the son of Prishata, who torments his enemies, skillfully pierced each of them with twenty-five arrows, demonstrating his dexterity.
satyavrataṃ tu samare purumitram ca bhārata। abhimanyuravidhyattau daśabhirdasabhiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-58-26॥
In the battle, O Bharata, Abhimanyu pierced Satyavrata and Purumitra with ten arrows each.
mādrīputrau tu samare mātulaṃ mātṛnandanau। chādayetāṃ śaravrātaistadadbhutamivābhavat ॥6-58-27॥
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.
tataḥ śalyo mahārāja svasrīyau rathināṃ varau। śarairbahubhirānarchatkṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau ॥ chādyamānau tatastau tu mādrīputrau na celatuḥ ॥6-58-28॥
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.
atha duryodhanaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ। vidhitsuḥ kalahasyāntaṁ gadāṁ jagrāha pāṇḍavaḥ ॥6-58-29॥
Then, upon seeing Duryodhana, the mighty Bhimasena, with the intention to end the conflict, took up his mace.
tam udyatagadaṁ dṛṣṭvā kailāsam iva śṛṅgiṇam। bhīmasenaṁ mahābāhuṁ putrās te prādravan bhayāt ॥6-58-30॥
Upon seeing Bhimasena, who stood like the towering Kailasa with his raised mace, the sons, overwhelmed with fear, fled from the mighty warrior.
duryodhanastu saṅkruddho māgadhaṃ samacodayat। anīkaṃ daśasāhasraṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ tarasvinām ॥ māgadhaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā bhīmasenaṃ samabhyayāt ॥6-58-31॥
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.
āpatantaṃ ca taṃ dṛṣṭvā gajānīkaṃ vṛkodaraḥ। gadāpāṇiravārohad rathātsimha ivonnadan ॥6-58-32॥
Upon seeing the advancing elephant army, Vrikodara, wielding his mace, leapt from his chariot, roaring fiercely like a lion.
adrisāramayīṃ gurvīṃ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām। abhyadhāvadgajānīkaṃ vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ ॥6-58-33॥
He seized the massive, weighty mace crafted from the essence of mountains and charged at the elephant army, resembling death with an open mouth.
sa gajān gadayā nighnan vyacarat samare balī। bhīmaseno mahābāhuḥ savajra iva vāsavaḥ ॥6-58-34॥
Bhimasena, the mighty-armed, moved through the battlefield striking down elephants with his mace, resembling Indra wielding a thunderbolt.
tasya nādena mahatā manohṛdayakampinā। vyatyaceṣṭanta saṃhatya gajā bhīmasya nardataḥ ॥6-58-35॥
The elephants, startled by the great and terrifying sound of Bhima's roar, moved about in confusion.
tatastu draupadīputrāḥ saubhadraśca mahārathaḥ। nakulaḥ sahadevaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ ॥6-58-36॥
Then, the sons of Draupadī, along with Abhimanyu, the great warrior, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, were present.
kṣuraiḥ kṣuraprairbhallaiśca pītairañjalikairapi। pātayantottamāṅgāni pāṇḍavā gajayodhinām ॥6-58-38॥
The Pandavas, using razors, sharp arrows, broad-headed arrows, and handfuls of yellow weapons, caused the heads of the elephant warriors to fall.
śirobhiḥ prapatadbhiśca bāhubhiśca vibhūṣitaiḥ। aśmavṛṣṭirivābhāti pāṇibhiśca sahāṅkuśaiḥ ॥6-58-39॥
The scene appears as if a rain of stones is falling, with heads and arms adorned, accompanied by hands and goads.
hṛtottamāṅgāḥ skandheṣu gajānāṃ gajayodhinaḥ। adṛśyantācalāgreṣu drumā bhagnaśikhā iva ॥6-58-40॥
The warriors, with their heads severed, appeared on the elephants' shoulders, resembling trees with their tops broken on the mountain peaks.
dhṛṣṭadyumna-hatān-anyān apaśyāma mahā-gajān। patitān pātyamānāṃś ca pārṣatena mahātmanā ॥6-58-41॥
We observe the great elephants, slain by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, lying fallen and being struck down by the noble son of Pṛṣata.
māgadhotha mahīpālo gajamairāvatopamam। preṣayāmāsa samare saubhadrasya rathaṃ prati ॥6-58-42॥
Then the king of Magadha sent an elephant resembling Airavata towards the chariot of Abhimanyu in the battle.
tamāpatantaṃ samprekṣya māgadhasya gajottamam। jaghānaikeṣuṇā vīraḥ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā ॥6-58-43॥
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.
tasyāvarjitanāgasya kārṣṇiḥ parapurañjayaḥ। rājño rajatapuṅkhena bhallenāpaharacchiraḥ ॥6-58-44॥
Kārṣhṇi, known for conquering enemy cities, decapitated the king using a silver-finned arrow while mounted on his bent elephant.
vigāhya tad-gajānīkaṃ bhīmaseno'pi pāṇḍavaḥ। vyacaratsamare mṛdnangajānindro girīniva ॥6-58-45॥
Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, entered the elephant army and moved through the battlefield, crushing elephants as Indra would crush mountains.
ekaprahārābhihatānbhīmasenena kuñjarān। apaśyāma raṇe tasmingirīnvajrahatāniva ॥6-58-46॥
In that battle, we witnessed the elephants being struck down by Bhimasena with a single blow, resembling mountains hit by a thunderbolt.
bhagnadantānbhagna kaṭānbhagnasakthāṃśca vāraṇān। bhagnapṛṣṭhānbhagnakumbhānnihatānparvatopamān ॥6-58-47॥
The elephants, resembling mountains, were seen with broken tusks, hips, thighs, backs, and domes, and were killed.
nadataḥ sīdataścānyānvimukhānsamare gajān। vimūtrānbhagnasaṃvignāṃstathā viśakṛto'parān ॥6-58-48॥
In the battle, some elephants were roaring and sinking, others turned away, some were urinating, broken and frightened, and others were excreting.
bhīmasenasya mārgeṣu gatāsūnparvatopamān। apaśyāma hatānnāgānniṣṭanantastathāpare ॥6-58-49॥
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.
vamanto rudhiraṁ cānye bhinnakumbhā mahāgajāḥ। vihvalanto gatā bhūmiṁ śailā iva dharātale ॥6-58-50॥
The great elephants, with their heads broken and vomiting blood, fell to the ground in agitation, resembling mountains collapsing on the earth.
medorudhiradigdhāṅgo vasāmajjāsamukṣitaḥ। vyacaratsamare bhīmo daṇḍapāṇirivāntakaḥ ॥6-58-51॥
Bhima, his body smeared with fat and blood and covered with marrow and flesh, roamed the battlefield like Death itself, wielding a club.
gajānāṃ rudhirāktāṃ tāṃ gadāṃ bibhrad vṛkodaraḥ। ghoraḥ pratibhayaś cāsīt pinākīva pinākadhṛk ॥6-58-52॥
Vrikodara, with his blood-smeared mace, appeared as terrifying and fearsome as Lord Shiva, the wielder of the Pinaka bow.
nirmathyamānāḥ kruddhena bhīmasenena dantinaḥ। sahasā prādravañśiṣṭā mṛdnantastava vāhinīm ॥6-58-53॥
The elephants, unable to withstand the fury of the enraged Bhimasena, suddenly fled, leaving the remaining ones to trample your forces.
taṃ hi vīraṃ maheṣvāsāḥ saubhadrapramukhā rathāḥ। paryarakṣanta yudhyantaṃ vajrāyudhamivāmarāḥ ॥6-58-54॥
The great warriors, led by Saubhadra, surrounded and protected the hero as he fought valiantly, resembling the gods armed with thunderbolts.
śoṇitāktāṃ gadāṃ bibhradukṣito gajaśoṇitaiḥ। kṛtānta iva raudrātmā bhīmaseno vyadṛśyata ॥6-58-55॥
Bhimasena, fierce-souled and bearing a mace smeared with the blood of elephants, appeared like death itself.
vyāyacchamānaṃ gadayā dikṣu sarvāsu bhārata। nṛtyamānamapaśyāma nṛtyantamiva śaṅkaram ॥6-58-56॥
O descendant of Bharata, we saw him wielding a mace and dancing in all directions, resembling Lord Shankara.
yamadaṇḍopamāṃ gurvīm indrāśanisamasvanām। apaśyāma mahārāja raudrāṃ viśasanīṃ gadām ॥6-58-57॥
O great king, we saw a heavy and destructive mace, resembling the staff of Yama and sounding like Indra's thunderbolt.
vimiśrāṃ keśamajjābhiḥ pradigdhāṃ rudhireṇa ca। pinākamiva rudrasya kruddhasyābhighnataḥ paśūn ॥6-58-58॥
The weapon, mixed with hair and marrow and smeared with blood, resembled the bow of Rudra as it struck down animals in anger.
yathā paśūnāṃ saṅghātaṃ yaṣṭyā pālaḥ prakālayet. tathā bhīmo gajānīkaṃ gadayā paryakālayat ॥6-58-59॥
Bhima, like a herdsman with a stick, drove the elephant army around with his mace, just as one would drive a herd of animals.
gadayā vadhyamānās te mārgaṇaiś ca samantataḥ। svāny anīkāni mṛdnantaḥ prādravan kuñjarās tava ॥6-58-60॥
Your elephants, being struck with maces and arrows from all sides, fled in panic, trampling their own troops.
mahāvāta ivābhrāṇi vidhamitvā sa vāraṇān। atiṣṭhattumule bhīmaḥ śmaśāna iva śūlabhṛt ॥6-58-61॥
He stood among the elephants in the tumult like a great wind scattering clouds, resembling Bhima in a cremation ground with a spear.
