06.069
Pancharatra and Core: Encounter between Arjuna and Ashwatthama, Duryodhana and Bhima, Abhimanyu and Lalkshmana.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
विराटोऽथ त्रिभिर्बाणैर्भीष्ममार्छन्महारथम्। विव्याध तुरगांश्चास्य त्रिभिर्बाणैर्महारथः ॥६-६९-१॥
Virata, with great skill, attacked the mighty Bhishma using three arrows and also struck his horses with three arrows, demonstrating his prowess as a great chariot-warrior.
तं प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्भीष्मः शान्तनवः शरैः। रुक्मपुङ्खैर्महेष्वासः कृतहस्तो महाबलः ॥६-६९-२॥
Bhishma, the mighty son of Shantanu, skillfully pierced him with ten golden-shafted arrows, demonstrating his prowess as a great archer.
द्रौणिर्गाण्डीवधन्वानं भीमधन्वा महारथः। अविध्यदिषुभिः षड्भिर्दृढहस्तः स्तनान्तरे ॥६-६९-३॥
Drona's son, a great warrior, skillfully shot six arrows into the chest of the warriors wielding the Gandiva and Bhima bows.
कार्मुकं तस्य चिच्छेद फल्गुनः परवीरहा। अविध्यच्च भृशं तीक्ष्णैः पत्रिभिः शत्रुकर्शनः ॥६-६९-४॥
Arjuna, known for defeating enemy warriors, cut off his opponent's bow and struck him hard with sharp arrows, causing great distress to his foes.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय वेगवत्क्रोधमूर्छितः। अमृष्यमाणः पार्थेन कार्मुकच्छेदमाहवे ॥६-६९-५॥
He, overwhelmed with anger and speed, took another bow, unable to tolerate the cutting of his bow by Arjuna in the battle.
अविध्यत्फल्गुनं राजन्नवत्या निशितैः शरैः। वासुदेवं च सप्तत्या विव्याध परमेषुभिः ॥६-६९-६॥
O king, he shot ninety sharp arrows at Arjuna and seventy supreme arrows at Krishna.
ततः क्रोधाभिताम्राक्षः सह कृष्णेन फल्गुनः। दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य चिन्तयित्वा मुहुर्मुहुः ॥६-६९-७॥
Arjuna, his eyes red with anger, sighed deeply and repeatedly as he pondered over the situation with Krishna by his side.
धनुः प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शनः। गाण्डीवधन्वा सङ्क्रुद्धः शितान्संनतपर्वणः ॥ जीवितान्तकरान्घोरान्समादत्त शिलीमुखान् ॥६-६९-८॥
The wielder of the Gandiva bow, known as the tormentor of foes, pressed his bow with his left hand and, in a fit of rage, took up sharp and deadly arrows, ready to end lives.
तैस्तूर्णं समरेऽविध्यद्द्रौणिं बलवतां वरम्। तस्य ते कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे ॥६-६९-९॥
They quickly pierced Drona's son, the best among the strong, in battle. Having pierced his armor, they drank his blood on the battlefield.
न विव्यथे च निर्भिन्नो द्रौणिर्गाण्डीवधन्वना। तथैव शरवर्षाणि प्रतिमुञ्चन्नविह्वलः ॥ तस्थौ स समरे राजंस्त्रातुमिच्छन्महाव्रतम् ॥६-६९-१०॥
Drona's son, though pierced by Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, remained unshaken. He continued to release showers of arrows, standing firm in the battle, with the desire to uphold his great vow, O king.
तस्य तत्सुमहत्कर्म शशंसुः पुरुषर्षभाः। यत्कृष्णाभ्यां समेताभ्यां नापत्रपत संयुगे ॥६-६९-११॥
The great warriors praised his mighty deed, which, when united with the two Krishnas, did not bring him any shame in the battle.
स हि नित्यमनीकेषु युध्यतेऽभयमास्थितः। अस्त्रग्रामं ससंहारं द्रोणात्प्राप्य सुदुर्लभम् ॥६-६९-१२॥
He fights fearlessly in the eternal armies, having acquired from Drona a collection of weapons capable of great destruction, which is extremely rare to obtain.
ममायमाचार्यसुतो द्रोणस्यातिप्रियः सुतः। ब्राह्मणश्च विशेषेण माननीयो ममेति च ॥६-६९-१३॥
This teacher's son, who is the very dear son of Drona, is a Brahmin and is especially honorable to me.
समास्थाय मतिं वीरो बीभत्सुः शत्रुतापनः। कृपां चक्रे रथश्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजसुतं प्रति ॥६-६९-१४॥
Arjuna, known as Bibhatsu and the scorcher of foes, resolved his mind and showed compassion towards Kripa, the son of Bharadvaja, who was the best among charioteers.
द्रौणिं त्यक्त्वा ततो युद्धे कौन्तेयः शत्रुतापनः। युयुधे तावकान्निघ्नंस्त्वरमाणः पराक्रमी ॥६-६९-१५॥
After leaving Drona's son, the valiant son of Kunti, who scorches his enemies, engaged in battle with your forces, swiftly defeating them.
दुर्योधनस्तु दशभिर्गार्ध्रपत्रैः शिलाशितैः। भीमसेनं महेष्वासं रुक्मपुङ्खैः समर्पयत् ॥६-६९-१६॥
Duryodhana, with his skill, shot ten arrows with eagle feathers and golden tips, sharpened on stone, at the mighty archer Bhimasena.
भीमसेनस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धः परासुकरणं दृढम्। चित्रं कार्मुकमादत्त शरांश्च निशितान्दश ॥६-६९-१७॥
Enraged, Bhimasena took up a formidable bow and ten sharp arrows, ready to strike down his foes.
आकर्णप्रहितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्वेगितैस्तिग्मतेजनैः। अविध्यत्तूर्णमव्यग्रः कुरुराजं महोरसि ॥६-६९-१८॥
With great composure and speed, he shot sharp arrows drawn to the ear, piercing the chest of the Kuru king.
तस्य काञ्चनसूत्रस्तु शरैः परिवृतो मणिः। रराजोरसि वै सूर्यो ग्रहैरिव समावृतः ॥६-६९-१९॥
His golden chain, encircled by arrows, gleamed on his chest like the sun surrounded by planets.
पुत्रस्तु तव तेजस्वी भीमसेनेन ताडितः। नामृष्यत यथा नागस्तलशब्दं समीरितम् ॥६-६९-२०॥
Your valiant son, when struck by Bhimasena, could not bear it, just as an elephant cannot bear the sound of a slap.
ततः शरैर्महाराज रुक्मपुङ्खैः शिलाशितैः। भीमं विव्याध सङ्क्रुद्धस्त्रासयानो वरूथिनीम् ॥६-६९-२१॥
Then, O great king, in his rage, he shot arrows with golden tips sharpened on stone at Bhima, instilling fear in the army.
तौ युध्यमानौ समरे भृशमन्योन्यविक्षतौ। पुत्रौ ते देवसङ्काशौ व्यरोचेतां महाबलौ ॥६-६९-२२॥
Those two mighty sons of yours, resembling gods, shone brightly as they fought intensely and wounded each other in battle.
चित्रसेनं नरव्याघ्रं सौभद्रः परवीरहा। अविध्यद्दशभिर्बाणैः पुरुमित्रं च सप्तभिः ॥६-६९-२३॥
Saubhadra, the son of Subhadra and destroyer of enemy heroes, shot ten arrows at Citrasena, the tiger among men, and seven arrows at Purumitra.
सत्यव्रतं च सप्तत्या विद्ध्वा शक्रसमो युधि। नृत्यन्निव रणे वीर आर्तिं नः समजीजनत् ॥६-६९-२४॥
The hero, like Indra in battle, pierced with seventy arrows, seemed to dance on the battlefield, alleviating our distress.
तं प्रत्यविद्यद्दशभिश्चित्रसेनः शिलीमुखैः। सत्यव्रतश्च नवभिः पुरुमित्रश्च सप्तभिः ॥६-६९-२५॥
Citrasena attacked him with ten arrows, Satyavrata with nine, and Purumitra with seven.
स विद्धो विक्षरन्रक्तं शत्रुसंवारणं महत्। चिच्छेद चित्रसेनस्य चित्रं कार्मुकमार्जुनिः ॥ भित्त्वा चास्य तनुत्राणं शरेणोरस्यताडयत् ॥६-६९-२६॥
He, bleeding from his wounds, dismantled the formidable defense of the enemy. Arjuna severed the magnificent bow of Citrasena. After piercing through his armor, he struck him on the chest with an arrow.
ततस्ते तावका वीरा राजपुत्रा महारथाः। समेत्य युधि संरब्धा विव्यधुर्निशितैः शरैः ॥ तांश्च सर्वाञ्शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्जघान परमास्त्रवित् ॥६-६९-२७॥
Then your valiant princes, the great charioteers, gathered in battle and excitedly shot sharp arrows. The supreme master of weapons then killed them all with his sharp arrows.
तस्य दृष्ट्वा तु तत्कर्म परिवव्रुः सुतास्तव। दहन्तं समरे सैन्यं तव कक्षं यथोल्बणम् ॥६-६९-२८॥
Upon witnessing his actions, your sons retreated, setting your army ablaze in the battlefield as if it were a dreadful environment.
अपेतशिशिरे काले समिद्धमिव पावकः। अत्यरोचत सौभद्रस्तव सैन्यानि शातयन् ॥६-६९-२९॥
During the end of winter, Abhimanyu, like a blazing fire, shone brilliantly as he destroyed your armies.
तत्तस्य चरितं दृष्ट्वा पौत्रस्तव विशां पते। लक्ष्मणोऽभ्यपतत्तूर्णं सात्वतीपुत्रमाहवे ॥६-६९-३०॥
Upon witnessing his actions, Lakshmana, your grandson, swiftly charged at the son of Satyavati in the battle, O lord of the people.
अभिमन्युस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्। विव्याध विशिखैः षड्भिः सारथिं च त्रिभिः शरैः ॥६-६९-३१॥
Abhimanyu, in his fury, struck Lakshmana, who was auspiciously marked, with six arrows and also hit the charioteer with three arrows.
तथैव लक्ष्मणो राजन्सौभद्रं निशितैः शरैः। अविध्यत महाराज तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥६-६९-३२॥
In the same way, O king, Lakshmana shot sharp arrows at Saubhadra, and it seemed quite astonishing, O great king.
तस्याश्वांश्चतुरो हत्वा सारथिं च महाबलः। अभ्यद्रवत सौभद्रो लक्ष्मणं निशितैः शरैः ॥६-६९-३३॥
The mighty Saubhadra, having killed his four horses and the charioteer, attacked Lakshmana with sharp arrows.
हताश्वे तु रथे तुष्ठँल्लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। शक्तिं चिक्षेप सङ्क्रुद्धः सौभद्रस्य रथं प्रति ॥६-६९-३४॥
Lakshmana, though his horses were killed, stood firm in his chariot and, in great anger, hurled his spear towards the chariot of Saubhadra, the son of Subhadra.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा घोररूपां दुरासदाम्। अभिमन्युः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैश्चिच्छेद भुजगोपमाम् ॥६-६९-३५॥
Abhimanyu swiftly cut down the formidable and terrifying figure approaching him with sharp arrows, resembling a serpent.
ततः स्वरथमारोप्य लक्ष्मणं गौतमस्तदा। अपोवाह रथेनाजौ सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥६-६९-३६॥
Then Gautama placed Lakshmana on his chariot and drove him away from the battlefield, as the entire army watched.
ततः समाकुले तस्मिन्वर्तमाने महाभये। अभ्यद्रवञ्जिघांसन्तः परस्परवधैषिणः ॥६-६९-३७॥
In the midst of great fear and confusion, they charged at each other with the intent to kill.
तावकाश्च महेष्वासाः पाण्डवाश्च महारथाः। जुह्वन्तः समरे प्राणान्निजघ्नुरितरेतरम् ॥६-६९-३८॥
In the battle, your warriors and the Pandavas, both renowned for their archery and valor, fought fiercely, sacrificing their lives and killing each other.
मुक्तकेशा विकवचा विरथाश्छिन्नकार्मुकाः। बाहुभिः समयुध्यन्त सृञ्जयाः कुरुभिः सह ॥६-६९-३९॥
The Sṛñjayas, with their hair unbound, armor discarded, chariots lost, and bows broken, fought hand-to-hand with the Kurus.
ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुः पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। सेनां जघान सङ्क्रुद्धो दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महाबलः ॥६-६९-४०॥
Then, the mighty-armed Bhishma, in his great power and rage, attacked and devastated the army of the noble Pandavas using celestial weapons.
हतेश्वरैर्गजैस्तत्र नरैरश्वैश्च पातितैः। रथिभिः सादिभिश्चैव समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी ॥६-६९-४१॥
The battlefield was strewn with the bodies of slain lords, elephants, men, horses, charioteers, and riders, covering the earth entirely.
