06.078
Core and Pancharatra: Suśarman was defeated by the noble Pāṇḍava; Drona kills Virata's son Shankha; encounter between Shikhandi and Ashwatthama, Satyaki and Alambusa, Dhrishtadyumna and Duryadhana, Bhima and Kritavarma.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tathā pravṛtte saṅgrāme nivṛtte ca suśarmaṇi। prabhagneṣu ca vīreṣu pāṇḍavena mahātmanā ॥6-78-1॥
Thus, when the battle commenced and Suśarman was defeated, the heroes were scattered by the noble Pāṇḍava.
kṣubhyamāṇe bale tūrṇaṃ sāgarapratime tava। pratyudyāte ca gāṅgeye tvaritaṃ vijayaṃ prati ॥6-78-2॥
As your ocean-like army is agitated and advancing, the son of Ganga quickly moves towards victory.
dṛṣṭvā duryodhano rājanraṇe pārthasya vikramam। tvaramāṇaḥ samabhyetya sarvāṁstānabravīnnṛpān ॥6-78-3॥
Upon witnessing Partha's valor in the battlefield, King Duryodhana quickly approached and addressed all the assembled kings.
teṣāṃ ca pramukhe śūraṃ suśarmāṇaṃ mahābalam। madhye sarvasya sainyasya bhṛśaṃ saṃharṣayanvacaḥ ॥6-78-4॥
At the forefront of their group stood the heroic and mighty Suśarman, whose words greatly exhilarated the entire army.
eṣa bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo yoddhukāmo dhanañjayam। sarvātmanā kuruśreṣṭhastyaktvā jīvitamātmanaḥ ॥6-78-5॥
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, fully committed and the best among the Kurus, is ready to fight Arjuna, having renounced his own life.
taṃ prayāntaṃ parānīkaṃ sarvasainyena bhāratam। saṃyattāḥ samare sarve pālayadhvaṃ pitāmaham ॥6-78-6॥
As he proceeded towards the enemy forces, all the soldiers, O Bharata, were prepared in battle to protect the grandfather.
bāḍhamityevamuktvā tu tānyanīkāni sarvaśaḥ। narendrāṇāṃ mahārāja samājagmuḥ pitāmaham ॥6-78-7॥
The great king, having spoken thus, certainly approached the grandfather with all the armies of the kings.
tataḥ prayātaḥ sahasā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo'rjunam। raṇe bhāratamāyāntamāsasāda mahābalam ॥6-78-8॥
Then, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, suddenly departed to confront Arjuna, the mighty warrior, as he approached in the battle, O Bharata.
mahāśvetāśvayuktena bhīmavānaraketunā। mahatā meghanādena rathenāti virājata ॥6-78-9॥
The chariot, yoked with great white horses and bearing a terrible monkey banner, shone brightly with a thunderous sound.
samare sarvasainyānāmupayātaṃ dhanañjayam। abhavattumulo nādo bhayāddṛṣṭvā kirīṭinam ॥6-78-10॥
As Dhananjaya entered the battlefield, a tumultuous sound arose from all the armies, struck by fear at the sight of the crowned warrior.
abhīśuhastaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā adityam iva aparam। madhyandinagataṃ saṅkhye na śekuḥ prativīkṣitum ॥6-78-11॥
Seeing Krishna with a powerful weapon in his hand, appearing like another sun at midday on the battlefield, they were unable to gaze upon him.
tathā śāntanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ śvetāśvaṃ śvetakārmukam। na śekuḥ pāṇḍavā draṣṭuṃ śvetagrahamivoditam ॥6-78-12॥
The Pāṇḍavas could not behold Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, who appeared with white horses and a white bow, resembling a bright white planet that had risen.
saḥ sarvataḥ parivṛtastrigartaiḥ sumahātmabhiḥ। bhrātṛbhistava putraiśca tathānyaiśca mahārathaiḥ ॥6-78-13॥
He was surrounded on all sides by the Trigartas, who were great souls, along with your brothers, sons, and other great charioteers.
bhāradvājastu samare matsyaṃ vivyādha patriṇā। dhvajaṃ cāsya śareṇājau dhanuścaikena cicchide ॥6-78-14॥
Bharadvaja, in the battle, skillfully pierced King Matsya with an arrow and also cut off his banner and bow with a single shot.
tadapāsya dhanuśchinnaṃ virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ। anyadādatta vegena dhanurbhārasahaṃ dṛḍham ॥ śarāṃścāśīviṣākārāñjvalitānpannagāniva ॥6-78-15॥
Virata, the commander of the army, discarded his broken bow and swiftly took another strong bow capable of bearing weight, along with arrows that blazed like serpents.
droṇaṁ tribhiḥ pravivyādha caturbhiścāsya vājinaḥ। dhvajamekena vivyādha sārathiṁ cāsya pañcabhiḥ ॥ dhanurekeṣuṇāvidhyattatrākrudhyyaddvijarṣabhaḥ ॥6-78-16॥
Drona was hit by three arrows, his horses by four, his flag by one, and his charioteer by five. The best of the twice-born then struck the bow with one arrow and became furious.
tasya droṇo'vadhīdaśvāñśaraiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। aṣṭābhirbharataśreṣṭha sūtamekena patriṇā ॥6-78-17॥
Droṇa, with his skillful archery, took down the horses using eight specially crafted arrows and struck the charioteer with a single precise shot, O esteemed Bharata.
sa hatāśvādavaplutya syandanāddhatasārathiḥ। āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ śaṅkhasya rathināṃ varaḥ ॥6-78-18॥
He swiftly leaped from his chariot with slain horses and a dead charioteer, and mounted the chariot of Shankha, the finest among charioteers.
tatastu tau pitāputrau bhāradvājaṃ rathe sthitau। mahatā śaravarṣeṇa vārayāmāsaturbalāt ॥6-78-19॥
Then, the father and son duo, standing on their chariot, forcefully repelled Bharadvaja with a powerful barrage of arrows.
bhāradvājastataḥ kruddhaḥ śaramāśīviṣopamam। cikṣepa samare tūrṇaṃ śaṅkhaṃ prati janeśvara ॥6-78-20॥
Bharadvaja, in his anger, swiftly hurled an arrow resembling a serpent at Shankha, the lord of men, during the battle.
sa tasya hṛdayaṃ bhittvā pītvā śoṇitamāhave। jagāma dharaṇiṃ bāṇo lohitārdrīkṛtacchaviḥ ॥6-78-21॥
After piercing his heart and drinking the blood in battle, Bana fell to the ground, his appearance soaked in blood.
sa papāta rathāttūrṇaṃ bhāradvājaśarāhataḥ। dhanustyaktvā śarāṃścaiva pitureva samīpataḥ ॥6-78-22॥
He fell swiftly from the chariot, struck by Bharadvaja's arrow, leaving his bow and arrows behind, and came near his father.
hataṁ svamātmajaṁ dṛṣṭvā virāṭaḥ prādravadbhayāt। utsṛjya samare droṇaṁ vyāttānanamivāntakam ॥6-78-23॥
Upon witnessing the death of his son, King Virata, overwhelmed by fear, fled the battlefield, leaving Drona behind, who appeared as death with an open mouth.
bhāradvājastatastūrṇaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahācamūm। dārayāmāsa samare śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥6-78-24॥
Bharadvaja swiftly attacked and shattered the vast army of the Pandavas in the battle, causing destruction by the hundreds and thousands.
śikhaṇḍyapi mahārāja drauṇimāsādya saṃyuge। ājaghāna bhruvormadhye nārācaistribhirāśugaiḥ ॥6-78-25॥
O great king, Shikhandi approached Drona's son in battle and struck him in the middle of his eyebrows with three swift arrows.
sa babhau naraśārdūlo lalāṭe saṃsthitaistribhiḥ। śikharaiḥ kāñcanamayairmerustribhirivocchritaiḥ ॥6-78-26॥
He, the distinguished warrior, appeared majestic with three golden peaks on his forehead, resembling the towering peaks of Mount Meru.
aśvatthāmā tataḥ kruddho nimeṣārdhācchikhaṇḍinaḥ। sūtaṃ dhvajamatho rājaṃsturagānāyudhaṃ tathā ॥ śarairbahubhiruddiśya pātayāmāsa saṃyuge ॥6-78-27॥
Then Ashwatthama, in a moment of anger, aimed at Shikhandi, the charioteer, the flag, and also the horses and weapons, causing them to fall in battle, O king.
sa hatāśvādavaplutya rathādvai rathināṃ varaḥ। khaḍgamādāya niśitaṃ vimalaṃ ca śarāvaram ॥ śyenavadyacaradkruddhaḥ śikhaṇḍī śatrutāpanaḥ ॥6-78-28॥
Shikhandi, the best among charioteers, leapt down from his chariot with its slain horses, armed himself with a sharp and bright sword and quiver, and moved like an angry hawk, tormenting his enemies.
sakhaḍgasya mahārāja caratastasya saṃyuge। nāntaraṃ dadṛśe drauṇistadadbhutamivābhavat ॥6-78-29॥
O great king, as the sword moved in the battle, Drona's son saw no gap; it appeared as if it was a wonder.
tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi bahūni bharatarṣabha। preṣayāmāsa samare drauṇiḥ paramakopanaḥ ॥6-78-30॥
In his extreme anger, Drona's son sent forth thousands of arrows in the battle, O best of the Bharatas.
tām āpatantīṃ samare śaravṛṣṭiṃ sudāruṇām। asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa ciccheda balināṃ varaḥ ॥6-78-31॥
The best among the strong warriors cut down the fierce shower of arrows approaching in the battle with his sharp-edged sword.
tato'sya vimalaṁ drauṇiḥ śatacandraṁ manoramam। carmācchinadasiṁ cāsya khaṇḍayāmāsa saṁyuge ॥ śitaiḥ subahuśo rājaṁstaṁ ca vivyādha patribhiḥ ॥6-78-32॥
Then Drona's son, with great skill, cut through the beautiful, pure shield adorned with a hundred moons and shattered his sword in the midst of battle. O king, he repeatedly pierced him with sharp arrows.
śikhaṇḍī tu tataḥ khaḍgaṃ khaṇḍitaṃ tena sāyakaiḥ। āvidhya vyasṛjattūrṇaṃ jvalantamiva pannagam ॥6-78-33॥
Shikhandi, however, then swung his broken sword with arrows and quickly released it, resembling a blazing serpent.
tam āpatantaṃ sahasā kālānalasamaprabham। ciccheda samare drauṇirdarśayanpāṇilāghavam ॥ śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca vivyādha śarairbahubhirāyasaiḥ ॥6-78-34॥
As he approached suddenly with a brilliance akin to the fire of time, Drona's son skillfully cut him down in battle, demonstrating his dexterity. He also pierced Shikhandi with numerous iron arrows.
śikhaṇḍī tu bhṛśaṃ rājaṃstāḍyamānaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ। āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ mādhavasya mahātmanaḥ ॥6-78-35॥
Shikhandi, though being severely struck by sharp arrows, quickly ascended the chariot of the great-souled Madhava, O king.
sātyakistu tataḥ kruddho rākṣasaṃ krūramāhave। alambusaṃ śarairghorairvivyādha balinaṃ balī ॥6-78-36॥
Satyaki, in his anger, fiercely attacked the cruel demon Alambusa in the battle with his formidable arrows, showcasing his strength.
rākṣasendrastatastasya dhanuściccheda bhārata। ardhacandreṇa samare taṃ ca vivyādha sāyakaiḥ ॥ māyāṃ ca rākṣasīṃ kṛtvā śaravarṣairavākirat ॥6-78-37॥
Then the king of demons severed his bow with a crescent-shaped arrow in the battle, O Bharata, and struck him with arrows. He also created a demonic illusion and showered him with arrows.
tatrādbhutamapaśyāma śaineyasya parākramam। nāsambhramadyatsamare vadhyamānaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-78-38॥
There, we witnessed the extraordinary bravery of Śaineya, who remained unshaken in the battle despite being hit by sharp arrows.
aindram astraṃ ca vārṣṇeyo yojayām āsa bhārata। vijayād yad anuprāptaṃ mādhavena yaśasvinā ॥6-78-39॥
The Vrishni hero, Krishna, used the weapon of Indra, O Bharata, which was acquired through victory by the illustrious Madhava.
tadastraṁ bhasmasātkṛtvā māyāṁ tāṁ rākṣasīṁ tadā। alambusaṁ śarairghorairabhyākirata sarvaśaḥ ॥ parvataṁ vāridhārābhiḥ prāvṛṣīva balāhakaḥ ॥6-78-40॥
The weapon was turned to ashes, and then Alambusa, the demoness, was showered with terrible arrows everywhere, just as a cloud showers a mountain with streams of water during the rainy season.
tattathā pīḍitaṃ tena mādhavena mahātmanā। pradudrāva bhayādrakṣo hitvā sātyakimāhave ॥6-78-41॥
The great soul Mādhava afflicted the demon, causing it to flee in fear, leaving Sātyaki behind in the battle.
tamajeyaṃ rākṣasendraṃ saṅkhye maghavatā api। śaineyaḥ prāṇadajjitvā yodhānāṃ tava paśyatām ॥6-78-42॥
Satyaki, even in the presence of Indra, risked his life in battle against the invincible king of demons, while your warriors watched.
nyahanattāvakāṃścāpi sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ। niśitairbahubhirbāṇaiste'dravanta bhayārditāḥ ॥6-78-43॥
Satyaki, known for his true valor, killed your men with numerous sharp arrows, causing them to flee in fear.
etasmínneva kāle tu drupadāsyātmajo balī। dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja tava putraṃ janeśvaram ॥ chādayāmāsa samare śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ॥6-78-44॥
At that moment, the mighty Dhṛṣṭadyumna, son of Drupada, enveloped your son, the ruler of men, with a shower of arrows in the battlefield, O great king.
sañchādyamāno viśikhairdhr̥ṣṭadyumnena bhārata। vivyathe na ca rājendra tava putro janeśvaraḥ ॥6-78-45॥
Despite being covered with arrows by Dhrishtadyumna, your son, O king, remained unshaken, O lord of the people.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca samare tūrṇaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ। ṣaṣṭyā ca triṃśatā caiva tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥6-78-46॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna was swiftly struck in battle by arrows, totaling ninety, which seemed almost miraculous.
tasya senāpatiḥ kruddho dhanuś ciccheda māriṣa। hayāṁś ca caturaḥ śīghraṁ nijaghāna mahārathaḥ ॥ śaraiś cainaṁ suniśitaiḥ kṣipraṁ vivyādha saptabhiḥ ॥6-78-47॥
His general, in anger, cut the bow, O dear. The great warrior swiftly killed the four horses and quickly pierced him with seven sharp arrows.
sa hatāśvān mahābāhur avaplutya rathād balī। padātir asim udyamya prādravat pārṣataṃ prati ॥6-78-48॥
The mighty warrior, having leapt from his chariot with its slain horses, advanced on foot, sword in hand, towards Pārṣata.
śakunistaṃ samabhyetya rājagṛddhī mahābalaḥ। rājānaṃ sarvalokasya rathamāropayatsvakam ॥6-78-49॥
Shakuni, the powerful advisor, approached and helped the king, ruler of all lands, onto his chariot.
tato nṛpaṃ parājitya pārṣataḥ paravīrahā। nyahanattāvakaṃ sainyaṃ vajrapāṇirivāsuram ॥6-78-50॥
Then, the son of Prishata, having defeated the king, destroyed your army like Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, destroyed the demons.
kṛtavarmā raṇe bhīmaṃ śarairārchanmahāratham। pracchādayāmāsa ca taṃ mahāmegho raviṃ yathā ॥6-78-51॥
In the battle, Kritavarma attacked the mighty Bhima with arrows, enveloping him like a great cloud envelops the sun.
tataḥ prahasya samare bhīmasenaḥ parantapaḥ। preṣayāmāsa saṅkruddhaḥ sāyakānkṛtavarmaṇe ॥6-78-52॥
Then Bhimasena, smiling in the midst of battle, angrily sent arrows towards Kritavarma, demonstrating his prowess as a formidable warrior.
tairardyamāno'tirathaḥ sātvataḥ śastrakovidaḥ। nākampata mahārāja bhīmaṃ cārchachitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-78-53॥
Despite being tormented by them, the great chariot-warrior Sātvata, who was an expert in weapons, did not tremble, O great king, even when he and Bhīma were pierced by arrows.
tasyāśvāṃścaturo hatvā bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ। sārathiṃ pātayāmāsa dhvajaṃ ca supariṣkṛtam ॥6-78-54॥
The mighty Bhimasena, having slain his four horses, brought down the charioteer and the beautifully adorned banner.
śarairbahuvidhaiścainamācinotparavīrahā। śakalīkṛtasarvāṅgaḥ śvāvidvatsamadṛśyata ॥6-78-55॥
The mighty warrior, slayer of enemy heroes, enveloped him with a barrage of diverse arrows. His body, shattered in every limb, lay there resembling a lifeless dog.
hatāśvāttu rathāttūrṇaṃ vṛṣakasya rathaṃ yayau। syālasya te mahārāja tava putrasya paśyataḥ ॥6-78-56॥
After the horses were destroyed, he quickly moved from his chariot to Vṛṣaka's chariot while your son, the brother-in-law, was watching, O great king.
bhīmaseno'pi saṅkruddhastava sainyamupādravat। nijaghāna ca saṅkruddho daṇḍapāṇirivāntakaḥ ॥6-78-57॥
Bhimasena, in his fury, attacked your army and slaughtered them like Yama, the god of death, wielding a club.
