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.
Sanjaya said:
Thus, when the battle commenced and Suśarman was defeated, the heroes were scattered by the noble Pāṇḍava.
As your ocean-like army is agitated and advancing, the son of Ganga quickly moves towards victory.
Upon witnessing Partha's valor in the battlefield, King Duryodhana quickly approached and addressed all the assembled kings.
At the forefront of their group stood the heroic and mighty Suśarman, whose words greatly exhilarated the entire army.
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, fully committed and the best among the Kurus, is ready to fight Arjuna, having renounced his own life.
As he proceeded towards the enemy forces, all the soldiers, O Bharata, were prepared in battle to protect the grandfather.
The great king, having spoken thus, certainly approached the grandfather with all the armies of the kings.
Then, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, suddenly departed to confront Arjuna, the mighty warrior, as he approached in the battle, O Bharata.
The chariot, yoked with great white horses and bearing a terrible monkey banner, shone brightly with a thunderous sound.
As Dhananjaya entered the battlefield, a tumultuous sound arose from all the armies, struck by fear at the sight of the crowned warrior.
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.
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.
He was surrounded on all sides by the Trigartas, who were great souls, along with your brothers, sons, and other great charioteers.
Bharadvaja, in the battle, skillfully pierced King Matsya with an arrow and also cut off his banner and bow with a single shot.
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.
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.
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.
He swiftly leaped from his chariot with slain horses and a dead charioteer, and mounted the chariot of Shankha, the finest among charioteers.
Then, the father and son duo, standing on their chariot, forcefully repelled Bharadvaja with a powerful barrage of arrows.
Bharadvaja, in his anger, swiftly hurled an arrow resembling a serpent at Shankha, the lord of men, during the battle.
After piercing his heart and drinking the blood in battle, Bana fell to the ground, his appearance soaked in blood.
He fell swiftly from the chariot, struck by Bharadvaja's arrow, leaving his bow and arrows behind, and came near his father.
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.
Bharadvaja swiftly attacked and shattered the vast army of the Pandavas in the battle, causing destruction by the hundreds and thousands.
O great king, Shikhandi approached Drona's son in battle and struck him in the middle of his eyebrows with three swift arrows.
He, the distinguished warrior, appeared majestic with three golden peaks on his forehead, resembling the towering peaks of Mount Meru.
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.
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.
O great king, as the sword moved in the battle, Drona's son saw no gap; it appeared as if it was a wonder.
In his extreme anger, Drona's son sent forth thousands of arrows in the battle, O best of the Bharatas.
The best among the strong warriors cut down the fierce shower of arrows approaching in the battle with his sharp-edged sword.
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.
Shikhandi, however, then swung his broken sword with arrows and quickly released it, resembling a blazing serpent.
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.
Shikhandi, though being severely struck by sharp arrows, quickly ascended the chariot of the great-souled Madhava, O king.
Satyaki, in his anger, fiercely attacked the cruel demon Alambusa in the battle with his formidable arrows, showcasing his strength.
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.
There, we witnessed the extraordinary bravery of Śaineya, who remained unshaken in the battle despite being hit by sharp arrows.
The Vrishni hero, Krishna, used the weapon of Indra, O Bharata, which was acquired through victory by the illustrious Madhava.
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.
The great soul Mādhava afflicted the demon, causing it to flee in fear, leaving Sātyaki behind in the battle.
Satyaki, even in the presence of Indra, risked his life in battle against the invincible king of demons, while your warriors watched.
Satyaki, known for his true valor, killed your men with numerous sharp arrows, causing them to flee in fear.
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.
Despite being covered with arrows by Dhrishtadyumna, your son, O king, remained unshaken, O lord of the people.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna was swiftly struck in battle by arrows, totaling ninety, which seemed almost miraculous.
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.
The mighty warrior, having leapt from his chariot with its slain horses, advanced on foot, sword in hand, towards Pārṣata.
Shakuni, the powerful advisor, approached and helped the king, ruler of all lands, onto his chariot.
Then, the son of Prishata, having defeated the king, destroyed your army like Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, destroyed the demons.
In the battle, Kritavarma attacked the mighty Bhima with arrows, enveloping him like a great cloud envelops the sun.
Then Bhimasena, smiling in the midst of battle, angrily sent arrows towards Kritavarma, demonstrating his prowess as a formidable warrior.
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.
The mighty Bhimasena, having slain his four horses, brought down the charioteer and the beautifully adorned banner.
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.
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.
Bhimasena, in his fury, attacked your army and slaughtered them like Yama, the god of death, wielding a club.
