06.079
Core and Pancharatra: Dhritarashtra asks why the Pandavas always seem to have the upper hand. Sanjaya says it is because of his defects. Encounter between Iravan and the two brothers of Avanti, Anuvinda and Vinda; between Haiḍimba and Bhagadatta; between Nakula, Sahadeva and Shalya;
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
बहूनीह विचित्राणि द्वैरथानि स्म सञ्जय। पाण्डूनां मामकैः सार्धमश्रौषं तव जल्पतः ॥६-७९-१॥
Sanjaya, I have heard from you about the many and various duels that took place here between the Pandavas and my people.
न चैव मामकं कञ्चिद्धृष्टं शंससि सञ्जय। नित्यं पाण्डुसुतान्हृष्टानभग्नांश्चैव शंससि ॥६-७९-२॥
Sanjaya, you never speak of any of my warriors as bold. You always describe the sons of Pandu as joyful and undefeated.
जीयमानान्विमनसो मामकान्विगतौजसः। वदसे संयुगे सूत दिष्टमेतदसंशयम् ॥६-७९-३॥
O charioteer, you mention that my people are being defeated, dispirited, and drained of energy in the battle; this is surely their fate.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं युद्धे चेष्टन्ति तावकाः। दर्शयानाः परं शक्त्या पौरुषं पुरुषर्षभ ॥६-७९-४॥
Your men, O best of men, are striving in battle with all their might and enthusiasm, demonstrating great strength and valor.
गङ्गायाः सुरनद्या वै स्वादुभूतं यथोदकम्। महोदधिगुणाभ्यासाल्लवणत्वं निगच्छति ॥६-७९-५॥
The sweet waters of the sacred river Ganga become salty due to their contact with the ocean's properties.
तथा तत्पौरुषं राजंस्तावकानां महात्मनाम्। प्राप्य पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान्व्यर्थं भवति संयुगे ॥६-७९-६॥
Thus, O king, the valor of your great warriors becomes futile when faced with the heroic sons of Pandu in battle.
घटमानान्यथाशक्ति कुर्वाणान्कर्म दुष्करम्। न दोषेण कुरुश्रेष्ठ कौरवान्गन्तुमर्हसि ॥६-७९-७॥
O best of the Kurus, you should strive to perform difficult actions to the best of your ability, without fault, and approach the Kauravas.
तवापराधात्सुमहान्सपुत्रस्य विशां पते। पृथिव्याः प्रक्षयो घोरो यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनः ॥६-७९-८॥
Because of your mistake, O lord of the people, there will be a great and terrible destruction of the earth along with your son, which will increase the domain of Yama.
आत्मदोषात्समुत्पन्नं शोचितुं नार्हसे नृप। न हि रक्षन्ति राजानः सर्वार्थान्नापि जीवितम् ॥६-७९-९॥
O king, you should not grieve for what has arisen from your own fault. Indeed, kings do not protect all wealth, nor even life.
युद्धे सुकृतिनां लोकानिच्छन्तो वसुधाधिपाः। चमूं विगाह्य युध्यन्ते नित्यं स्वर्गपरायणाः ॥६-७९-१०॥
In battle, the kings of the earth, desiring the realms of the virtuous, engage in combat, always striving for heaven.
पूर्वाह्णे तु महाराज प्रावर्तत जनक्षयः। तन्ममैकमना भूत्वा शृणु देवासुरोपमम् ॥६-७९-११॥
In the morning, O great king, the destruction of people began. Listen attentively to my story, which is like the tales of gods and demons.
आवन्त्यौ तु महेष्वासौ महात्मानौ महाबलौ। इरावन्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य समेयातां रणोत्कटौ ॥ तेषां प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ॥६-७९-१२॥
The two mighty princes of Avanti, known for their great archery skills and strength, upon seeing Iravan, fiercely engaged in battle. Their fight was tumultuous and terrifying, sending chills down the spine.
इरावांस्तु सुसङ्क्रुद्धो भ्रातरौ देवरूपिणौ। विव्याध निशितैस्तूर्णं शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥ तावेनं प्रत्यविध्येतां समरे चित्रयोधिनौ ॥६-७९-१३॥
Iravan, in his anger, swiftly attacked the two divine-looking brothers with sharp, bent arrows. In return, the skillful warriors struck him back in the battle.
युध्यतां हि तथा राजन्विशेषो न व्यदृश्यत। यततां शत्रुनाशाय कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणाम् ॥६-७९-१४॥
O king, there was no visible difference among the warriors who were fighting and striving to destroy their enemies, each eager to counteract the other's moves.
इरावांस्तु ततो राजन्ननुविन्दस्य सायकैः। चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहाननयद्यमसादनम् ॥६-७९-१५॥
Iravan, however, then, O king, with the arrows of Anuvinda, sent four horses to the abode of Yama.
भल्लाभ्यां च सुतीक्ष्णाभ्यां धनुः केतुं च मारिष। चिच्छेद समरे राजंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥६-७९-१६॥
O King, with two sharp and very sharp arrows, the bow and banner were cut off in battle, appearing as if it was a wonderful feat.
त्यक्त्वानुविन्दोऽथ रथं विन्दस्य रथमास्थितः। धनुर्गृहीत्वा नवमं भारसाधनमुत्तमम् ॥६-७९-१७॥
Anuvinda, after leaving his own chariot, climbed onto Vinda's chariot and took up a new, excellent bow designed for bearing burdens.
तावेकस्थौ रणे वीरावावन्त्यौ रथिनां वरौ। शरान्मुमुचतुस्तूर्णमिरावति महात्मनि ॥६-७९-१८॥
The two heroic warriors from Avanti, the best among charioteers, stood together in battle and swiftly released their arrows at the noble Iravati.
ताभ्यां मुक्ता महावेगाः शराः काञ्चनभूषणाः। दिवाकरपथं प्राप्य छादयामासुरम्बरम् ॥६-७९-१९॥
The arrows, released by them with great speed and adorned with gold, reached the path of the sun and covered the sky.
इरावांस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो भ्रातरौ तौ महारथौ। ववर्ष शरवर्षेण सारथिं चाप्यपातयत् ॥६-७९-२०॥
Iravan, in his anger, attacked the two great charioteer brothers with a barrage of arrows and brought down their charioteer.
तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ गतसत्त्वेऽथ सारथौ। रथः प्रदुद्राव दिशः समुद्भ्रान्तहयस्ततः ॥६-७९-२१॥
When the charioteer fell lifeless on the ground, the chariot, with its horses agitated, ran away in all directions from there.
तौ स जित्वा महाराज नागराजसुतासुतः। पौरुषं ख्यापयंस्तूर्णं व्यधमत्तव वाहिनीम् ॥६-७९-२२॥
After conquering, the son of the serpent king's daughter quickly demonstrated his prowess by scattering your army, O great king.
सा वध्यमाना समरे धार्तराष्ट्री महाचमूः। वेगान्बहुविधांश्चक्रे विषं पीत्वेव मानवः ॥६-७९-२३॥
She, under attack in the battle, organized the diverse forces of Dhritarashtra's great army, as if a man had consumed poison.
हैडिम्बो राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु भगदत्तं समाद्रवत्। रथेनादित्यवर्णेन सध्वजेन महाबलः ॥६-७९-२४॥
Haiḍimba, the mighty king of demons, charged at Bhagadatta with his sun-colored chariot adorned with a banner.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा नागराजं समास्थितः। यथा वज्रधरः पूर्वं सङ्ग्रामे तारकामये ॥६-७९-२५॥
Then the king of Prāgjyotiṣa stood against Nāgārāja, just as Vajradhara did in the past during the battle against Tāraka.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च समागताः। विशेषं न स्म विविदुर्हैडिम्बभगदत्तयोः ॥६-७९-२६॥
There, the gods, along with the Gandharvas and sages, gathered. They were particularly unaware of the matters concerning Hidimba and Bhagadatta.
यथा सुरपतिः शक्रस्त्रासयामास दानवान्। तथैव समरे राजंस्त्रासयामास पाण्डवान् ॥६-७९-२७॥
Just as Indra, the lord of the gods, instilled fear in the demons, similarly, O king, he instilled fear in the Pāṇḍavas during the battle.
तेन विद्राव्यमाणास्ते पाण्डवाः सर्वतोदिशम्। त्रातारं नाभ्यविन्दन्त स्वेष्वनीकेषु भारत ॥६-७९-२८॥
The Pandavas, being scattered by him, searched in all directions but could not find a protector among their own ranks, O Bharata.
भैमसेनिं रथस्थं तु तत्रापश्याम भारत। शेषा विमनसो भूत्वा प्राद्रवन्त महारथाः ॥६-७९-२९॥
O Bharata, we saw the son of Bhimasena standing on the chariot there. The remaining great warriors, disheartened, fled from the battlefield.
निवृत्तेषु तु पाण्डूनां पुनः सैन्येषु भारत। आसीन्निष्टानको घोरस्तव सैन्येषु संयुगे ॥६-७९-३०॥
After the withdrawal of the Pāṇḍavas' forces, a dreadful uproar arose in your troops during the battle, O Bhārata.
घटोत्कचस्ततो राजन्भगदत्तं महारणे। शरैः प्रच्छादयामास मेरुं गिरिमिवाम्बुदः ॥६-७९-३१॥
Then Ghatotkacha, O king, showered arrows upon Bhagadatta in the great battle, resembling a cloud enveloping Mount Meru.
निहत्य ताञ्शरान्राजा राक्षसस्य धनुश्च्युतान्। भैमसेनिं रणे तूर्णं सर्वमर्मस्वताडयत् ॥६-७९-३२॥
The king, having neutralized the arrows shot by the demon, swiftly attacked Bhimasena's son at all the vital points during the battle.
स ताड्यमानो बहुभिः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। न विव्यथे राक्षसेन्द्रो भिद्यमान इवाचलः ॥६-७९-३३॥
The lord of demons, though being struck by many arrows with bent joints, stood unshaken like a mountain being pierced.
तस्य प्राग्ज्योतिषः क्रुद्धस्तोमरान्स चतुर्दश। प्रेषयामास समरे तांश्च चिच्छेद राक्षसः ॥६-७९-३४॥
In his anger, Prāgjyotiṣa sent fourteen spears in the battle, and the demon cut them down.
स तांश्छित्त्वा महाबाहुस्तोमरान्निशितैः शरैः। भगदत्तं च विव्याध सप्तत्या कङ्कपत्रिभिः ॥६-७९-३५॥
The mighty-armed warrior, after cutting through the spears with his sharp arrows, struck Bhagadatta with seventy feathered arrows.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजन्प्रहसन्निव भारत। तस्याश्वांश्चतुरः सङ्ख्ये पातयामास सायकैः ॥६-७९-३६॥
Then, O King, as if smiling, the descendant of Bharata struck down the four horses of the King of Prāgjyotiṣa in battle with his arrows.
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन्राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्। शक्तिं चिक्षेप वेगेन प्राग्ज्योतिषगजं प्रति ॥६-७९-३७॥
The powerful lord of demons, standing on his chariot with its horses slain, swiftly hurled his spear at the elephant of Pragjyotisha.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा हेमदण्डां सुवेगिताम्। त्रिधा चिच्छेद नृपतिः सा व्यकीर्यत मेदिनीम् ॥६-७९-३८॥
The king swiftly cut the approaching golden staff into three pieces, and it scattered across the ground.
शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा हैडिम्बः प्राद्रवद्भयात्। यथेन्द्रस्य रणात्पूर्वं नमुचिर्दैत्यसत्तमः ॥६-७९-३९॥
Upon witnessing the defeat of power, Hidimba ran away in fear, much like Namuci, the esteemed demon, had once retreated from Indra's battlefield.
तं विजित्य रणे शूरं विक्रान्तं ख्यातपौरुषम्। अजेयं समरे राजन्यमेन वरुणेन च ॥६-७९-४०॥
Varuna, with his prowess, conquered the heroic and valiant prince, known for his valor, who was invincible in battle.
पाण्डवीं समरे सेनां संममर्द सकुञ्जरः। यथा वनगजो राजन्मृद्नंश्चरति पद्मिनीम् ॥६-७९-४१॥
The Pandava army was crushed in battle by elephants, just as a forest elephant tramples through a lotus pond, O king.
मद्रेश्वरस्तु समरे यमाभ्यां सह सङ्गतः। स्वस्रीयौ छादयां चक्रे शरौघैः पाण्डुनन्दनौ ॥६-७९-४२॥
The lord of Madra engaged in battle with the sons of Yama and covered the Pandava brothers with a barrage of arrows.
सहदेवस्तु समरे मातुलं वीक्ष्य सङ्गतम्। अवारयच्छरौघेण मेघो यद्वद्दिवाकरम् ॥६-७९-४३॥
In the battle, Sahadeva saw his uncle engaged and restrained him with a flood of arrows, just as a cloud covers the sun.
छाद्यमानः शरौघेण हृष्टरूपतरोऽभवत्। तयोश्चाप्यभवत्प्रीतिरतुला मातृकारणात् ॥६-७९-४४॥
As he was covered by a multitude of arrows, his appearance became more delighted. The affection between the two was also incomparable due to their mother's influence.
ततः प्रहस्य समरे नकुलस्य महारथः। अश्वान्वै चतुरो राजंश्चतुर्भिः सायकोत्तमैः ॥ प्रेषयामास समरे यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥६-७९-४५॥
Then, with a smile on his face during the battle, Nakula's great chariot-warrior sent four horses to the abode of Yama using four excellent arrows, O king.
हताश्वात्तु रथात्तूर्णमवप्लुत्य महारथः। आरुरोह ततो यानं भ्रातुरेव यशस्विनः ॥६-७९-४६॥
The great warrior, having quickly jumped down from the destroyed chariot, then ascended the vehicle of his illustrious brother.
एकस्थौ तु रणे शूरौ दृढे विक्षिप्य कार्मुके। मद्रराजरथं क्रुद्धौ छादयामासतुः क्षणात् ॥६-७९-४७॥
The two heroes, standing together in the battle, firmly drew their bows and angrily covered the Madra king's chariot in an instant.
स च्छाद्यमानो बहुभिः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। स्वस्रीयाभ्यां नरव्याघ्रो नाकम्पत यथाचलः ॥ प्रहसन्निव तां चापि शरवृष्टिं जघान ह ॥६-७९-४८॥
The warrior, covered by numerous arrows with bent joints from his own brothers, stood firm like a mountain, unshaken. Smiling, he countered the rain of arrows.
सहदेवस्ततः क्रुद्धः शरमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। मद्रराजमभिप्रेक्ष्य प्रेषयामास भारत ॥६-७९-४९॥
Sahadeva, filled with anger and heroism, raised his arrow and aimed it at the king of Madras, O Bharata.
स शरः प्रेषितस्तेन गरुत्मानिव वेगवान्। मद्रराजं विनिर्भिद्य निपपात महीतले ॥६-७९-५०॥
The swift arrow, sent by him like Garuda, pierced the Madra king and fell to the ground.
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थे महारथः। निषसाद महाराज कश्मलं च जगाम ह ॥६-७९-५१॥
The great warrior, deeply wounded and distressed, sat down on the chariot seat and fell into a faint, O great king.
तं विसञ्ज्ञं निपतितं सूतः सम्प्रेक्ष्य संयुगे। अपोवाह रथेनाजौ यमाभ्यामभिपीडितम् ॥६-७९-५२॥
The charioteer saw him unconscious and fallen in the battle and carried him away in the chariot, as he was oppressed by Yama's messengers on the battlefield.
दृष्ट्वा मद्रेश्वररथं धार्तराष्ट्राः पराङ्मुखम्। सर्वे विमनसो भूत्वा नेदमस्तीत्यचिन्तयन् ॥६-७९-५३॥
Upon seeing the chariot of the king of Madra, the sons of Dhritarashtra turned away in dismay. All of them, feeling disheartened, thought to themselves, "This cannot be happening."
निर्जित्य मातुलं सङ्ख्ये माद्रीपुत्रौ महारथौ। दध्मतुर्मुदितौ शङ्खौ सिंहनादं विनेदतुः ॥६-७९-५४॥
After defeating their maternal uncle in the battle, the sons of Madri, who were great warriors, joyfully blew their conches, and the sound echoed like a lion's roar.
अभिदुद्रुवतुर्हृष्टौ तव सैन्यं विशां पते। यथा दैत्यचमूं राजन्निन्द्रोपेन्द्राविवामरौ ॥६-७९-५५॥
Indra and Upendra, filled with joy, charged at your army, O lord of men, just as they would at the demon army, O king.
