06.080
Core and Pancharatra: As the sun reached its zenith, King Yudhishthira defeated Shrutayush; Cekitana encountered Gautama; Abhimanyu encountered Citrasena, Vikarna, and Durmarshana;
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे। श्रुतायुषमभिप्रेक्ष्य चोदयामास वाजिनः ॥६-८०-१॥
Then, as the sun reached its zenith, King Yudhishthira, upon seeing Shrutayush, urged his horses forward.
अभ्यधावत्ततो राजा श्रुतायुषमरिंदमम्। विनिघ्नन्सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नवभिर्नतपर्वभिः ॥६-८०-२॥
Then the king, a subduer of enemies, rushed towards Śrutāyus, striking him with nine sharp arrows that had bent joints.
स संवार्य रणे राजा प्रेषितान्धर्मसूनुना। शरान्सप्त महेष्वासः कौन्तेयाय समर्पयत् ॥६-८०-३॥
The king, having defended himself in battle from the arrows sent by the son of Dharma, the great archer, offered seven arrows to Arjuna, the son of Kunti.
ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे। असूनिव विचिन्वन्तो देहे तस्य महात्मनः ॥६-८०-४॥
They pierced his armor and drank his blood in the battle, as if they were searching for the life force within the body of the great soul.
पाण्डवस्तु भृशं विद्धस्तेन राज्ञा महात्मना। रणे वराहकर्णेन राजानं हृदि विव्यधे ॥६-८०-५॥
The Pandava was severely wounded in the heart by the noble king Varahakarna during the battle.
अथापरेण भल्लेन केतुं तस्य महात्मनः। रथश्रेष्ठो रथात्तूर्णं भूमौ पार्थो न्यपातयत् ॥६-८०-६॥
Then Arjuna, with another arrow, swiftly struck down the banner of the great soul from the finest chariot to the ground.
केतुं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा श्रुतायुः स तु पार्थिवः। पाण्डवं विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णै राजन्विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥६-८०-७॥
Upon seeing the fallen flag, Śrutāyu, the prince, attacked the Pāṇḍava with seven sharp arrows, O king.
ततः क्रोधात्प्रजज्वाल धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। यथा युगान्ते भूतानि धक्ष्यन्निव हुताशनः ॥६-८०-८॥
Then, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, was consumed by anger, blazing like a fire that burns all beings at the end of an era.
क्रुद्धं तु पाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा देवगन्धर्वराक्षसाः। प्रविव्यथुर्महाराज व्याकुलं चाप्यभूज्जगत् ॥६-८०-९॥
Upon witnessing the wrath of Pāṇḍava, the celestial beings, including gods, gandharvas, and rākṣasas, were thrown into turmoil, O great king, and the entire world was engulfed in distress.
सर्वेषां चैव भूतानामिदमासीन्मनोगतम्। त्रीँल्लोकानद्य सङ्क्रुद्धो नृपोऽयं धक्ष्यतीति वै ॥६-८०-१०॥
All beings thought: "Today, this enraged king will destroy the three worlds."
ऋषयश्चैव देवाश्च चक्रुः स्वस्त्ययनं महत्। लोकानां नृप शान्त्यर्थं क्रोधिते पाण्डवे तदा ॥६-८०-११॥
O king, when the Pāṇḍava was angered, the sages and gods performed great auspicious rites for the peace of the worlds.
स च क्रोधसमाविष्टः सृक्किणी परिलेलिहन्। दधारात्मवपुर्घोरं युगान्तादित्यसंनिभम् ॥६-८०-१२॥
Filled with rage, he licked his bowstring and held his own terrifying form, resembling the sun at the end of the world.
ततः सर्वाणि सैन्यानि तावकानि विशां पते। निराशान्यभवंस्तत्र जीवितं प्रति भारत ॥६-८०-१३॥
Then, O lord of men, all your armies became despondent there, losing hope in life, O Bhārata.
स तु धैर्येण तं कोपं संनिवार्य महायशाः। श्रुतायुषः प्रचिच्छेद मुष्टिदेशे महद्धनुः ॥६-८०-१४॥
With great patience, he restrained his anger and, being greatly renowned, cut off Śrutāyu's great bow at the grip.
अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे। निर्बिभेद रणे राजा सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥६-८०-१५॥
Then the king, in the presence of the entire army, pierced him in the chest with an iron arrow, even as his bow was broken, during the battle.
सत्वरं चरणे राजंस्तस्य वाहान्महात्मनः। निजघान शरैः क्षिप्रं सूतं च सुमहाबलः ॥६-८०-१६॥
O King, quickly at the feet, the very mighty one killed the horses and the charioteer of the great soul with arrows swiftly.
हताश्वं तु रथं त्यक्त्वा दृष्ट्वा राज्ञस्तु पौरुषम्। विप्रदुद्राव वेगेन श्रुतायुः समरे तदा ॥६-८०-१७॥
Seeing the king's valor, Śrutāyu abandoned his chariot with its slain horses and fled swiftly from the battlefield.
तस्मिञ्जिते महेष्वासे धर्मपुत्रेण संयुगे। दुर्योधनबलं राजन्सर्वमासीत्पराङ्मुखम् ॥६-८०-१८॥
In the battle, the great archer, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, achieved victory, causing all of Duryodhana's forces to retreat, O king.
एतत्कृत्वा महाराज धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। व्यात्ताननो यथा कालस्तव सैन्यं जघान ह ॥६-८०-१९॥
After accomplishing this, O great king, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, like the all-consuming time, indeed annihilated your army.
चेकितानस्तु वार्ष्णेयो गौतमं रथिनां वरम्। प्रेक्षतां सर्वसैन्यानां छादयामास सायकैः ॥६-८०-२०॥
Cekitana, a warrior from the Vṛṣṇi lineage, showered arrows upon Gautama, the finest among charioteers, as all the soldiers looked on.
संनिवार्य शरांस्तांस्तु कृपः शारद्वतो युधि। चेकितानं रणे यत्तं राजन्विव्याध पत्रिभिः ॥६-८०-२१॥
Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat, skillfully warded off the arrows and pierced the attentive Cekitāna in battle with his arrows, O king.
अथापरेण भल्लेन धनुश्चिच्छेद मारिष। सारथिं चास्य समरे क्षिप्रहस्तो न्यपातयत् ॥ हयांश्चास्यावधीद्राजन्नुभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी ॥६-८०-२२॥
Then, O great one, another warrior swiftly cut the bow with an arrow and felled his charioteer in battle. O king, he also killed his horses and both the rear charioteers.
सोऽवप्लुत्य रथात्तूर्णं गदां जग्राह सात्वतः। स तया वीरघातिन्या गदया गदिनां वरः ॥ गौतमस्य हयान्हत्वा सारथिं च न्यपातयत् ॥६-८०-२३॥
Sātvata quickly jumped down from the chariot and took up his mace. With his hero-slaying mace, he, the best among mace-wielders, struck down Gautama's horses and charioteer.
भूमिष्ठो गौतमस्तस्य शरांश्चिक्षेप षोडश। ते शराः सात्वतं भित्त्वा प्राविशन्त धरातलम् ॥६-८०-२४॥
Gautama, standing firmly on the ground, hurled his sixteen arrows, which pierced through Sātvata and embedded themselves into the earth.
चेकितानस्ततः क्रुद्धः पुनश्चिक्षेप तां गदाम्। गौतमस्य वधाकाङ्क्षी वृत्रस्येव पुरंदरः ॥६-८०-२५॥
Cekitana, in his anger, once again hurled the mace at Gautama, with the intent to kill, just as Indra did to Vritra.
तामापतन्तीं विमलामश्मगर्भां महागदाम्। शरैरनेकसाहस्रैर्वारयामास गौतमः ॥६-८०-२६॥
Gautama warded off the approaching pure, stone-cored great mace with many thousands of arrows.
चेकितानस्ततः खड्गं कोशादुद्धृत्य भारत। लाघवं परमास्थाय गौतमं समुपाद्रवत् ॥६-८०-२७॥
Cekitana, after swiftly drawing his sword from its sheath, attacked Gautama with great speed, O Bharata.
गौतमोऽपि धनुस्त्यक्त्वा प्रगृह्यासिं सुसंशितम्। वेगेन महता राजंश्चेकितानमुपाद्रवत् ॥६-८०-२८॥
Gautama, after discarding his bow, swiftly took up a sharp sword and charged at Chekitana with great force, O king.
तावुभौ बलसम्पन्नौ निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणौ। निस्त्रिंशाभ्यां सुतीक्ष्णाभ्यामन्योन्यं सन्ततक्षतुः ॥६-८०-२९॥
Both of them, strong and wielding excellent swords, struck each other repeatedly with their very sharp swords.
निस्त्रिंशवेगाभिहतौ ततस्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ। धरणीं समनुप्राप्तौ सर्वभूतनिषेविताम् ॥ मूर्छयाभिपरीताङ्गौ व्यायामेन च मोहितौ ॥६-८०-३०॥
The two warriors, struck by the speed of swords, fell to the earth, which is inhabited by all beings. Their bodies were overcome by fainting and they were bewildered due to exertion.
ततोऽभ्यधावद्वेगेन करकर्षः सुहृत्तया। चेकितानं तथाभूतं दृष्ट्वा समरदुर्मदम् ॥ रथमारोपयच्चैनं सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥६-८०-३१॥
Then, with great speed and friendship, Karakarsha rushed towards Cekitana, who was in an arrogant state due to battle. He placed him on the chariot as the entire army watched.
तथैव शकुनिः शूरः स्यालस्तव विशां पते। आरोपयद्रथं तूर्णं गौतमं रथिनां वरम् ॥६-८०-३२॥
Similarly, Shakuni, your heroic brother-in-law, swiftly mounted the chariot with Gautama, the best among charioteers, O lord of the people.
सौमदत्तिं तथा क्रुद्धो धृष्टकेतुर्महाबलः। नवत्या सायकैः क्षिप्रं राजन्विव्याध वक्षसि ॥६-८०-३३॥
In his anger, the mighty Dhrishtaketu swiftly shot ninety arrows at Saumadatti, piercing his chest, O king.
सौमदत्तिरुरःस्थैस्तैर्भृशं बाणैरशोभत। मध्यंदिने महाराज रश्मिभिस्तपनो यथा ॥६-८०-३४॥
Saumadatti's chest was beautifully adorned by those arrows, O great king, just as the sun is adorned by its rays at midday.
भूरिश्रवास्तु समरे धृष्टकेतुं महारथम्। हतसूतहयं चक्रे विरथं सायकोत्तमैः ॥६-८०-३५॥
In the battle, Bhūriśravāḥ skillfully rendered Dhṛṣṭaketu, the great chariot-warrior, chariotless by slaying his charioteer and horses with his superior arrows.
विरथं चैनमालोक्य हताश्वं हतसारथिम्। महता शरवर्षेण छादयामास संयुगे ॥६-८०-३६॥
Upon seeing him without his chariot, and with his horses and charioteer slain, he enveloped him in a great shower of arrows during the battle.
स च तं रथमुत्सृज्य धृष्टकेतुर्महामनाः। आरुरोह ततो यानं शतानीकस्य मारिष ॥६-८०-३७॥
Dhṛṣṭaketu, known for his great mind, left his chariot and then boarded Śatānīka's vehicle, dear one.
चित्रसेनो विकर्णश्च राजन्दुर्मर्षणस्तथा। रथिनो हेमसंनाहाः सौभद्रमभिदुद्रुवुः ॥६-८०-३८॥
Citrasena, Vikarna, and Durmarshana, O king, along with the warriors adorned in golden armor, charged towards Saubhadra.
अभिमन्योस्ततस्तैस्तु घोरं युद्धमवर्तत। शरीरस्य यथा राजन्वातपित्तकफैस्त्रिभिः ॥६-८०-३९॥
Then a fierce battle ensued involving Abhimanyu, just as the body is affected by the three elements: wind, bile, and phlegm, O king.
विरथांस्तव पुत्रांस्तु कृत्वा राजन्महाहवे। न जघान नरव्याघ्रः स्मरन्भीमवचस्तदा ॥६-८०-४०॥
O king, having rendered your sons without chariots in the great battle, the noble warrior refrained from killing them, recalling Bhima's words at that moment.
ततो राज्ञां बहुशतैर्गजाश्वरथयायिभिः। संवृतं समरे भीष्मं देवैरपि दुरासदम् ॥६-८०-४१॥
Then Bhishma, surrounded by a vast army of kings with elephants, horses, and chariots, was formidable even to the gods in battle.
प्रयान्तं शीघ्रमुद्वीक्ष्य परित्रातुं सुतांस्तव। अभिमन्युं समुद्दिश्य बालमेकं महारथम् ॥ वासुदेवमुवाचेदं कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः ॥६-८०-४२॥
Observing the swift movement to protect your sons, targeting the young Abhimanyu, the great chariot-warrior, the son of Kunti with white horses spoke to Vasudeva.
चोदयाश्वान्हृषीकेश यत्रैते बहुला रथाः। एते हि बहवः शूराः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः ॥ यथा न हन्युर्नः सेनां तथा माधव चोदय ॥६-८०-४३॥
O Hrishikesha, drive the horses to where these numerous chariots are. These many heroes are skilled in weapons and are arrogant in battle. Ensure they do not destroy our army, O Madhava, drive on.
एवमुक्तः स वार्ष्णेयः कौन्तेयेनामितौजसा। रथं श्वेतहयैर्युक्तं प्रेषयामास संयुगे ॥६-८०-४४॥
Upon being addressed in this manner, the descendant of Vṛṣṇi, with immeasurable energy, sent forth the chariot drawn by white horses into the battlefield, as instructed by the son of Kunti.
निष्टानको महानासीत्तव सैन्यस्य मारिष। यदर्जुनो रणे क्रुद्धः संयातस्तावकान्प्रति ॥६-८०-४५॥
O sir, there was a great commotion in your army when the furious Arjuna engaged in battle against your forces.
समासाद्य तु कौन्तेयो राज्ञस्तान्भीष्मरक्षिणः। सुशर्माणमथो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥६-८०-४६॥
The son of Kunti, having approached those protected by Bhishma, addressed Susharman with these words, O king.
जानामि त्वां युधि श्रेष्ठमत्यन्तं पूर्ववैरिणम्। पर्यायस्याद्य सम्प्राप्तं फलं पश्य सुदारुणम् ॥ अद्य ते दर्शयिष्यामि पूर्वप्रेतान्पितामहान् ॥६-८०-४७॥
I recognize you as the greatest and most formidable former adversary in battle. Witness today the dreadful outcome of the cycle that has come to pass. Today, I shall reveal to you the ancestors who have passed away.
एवं सञ्जल्पतस्तस्य बीभत्सोः शत्रुघातिनः। श्रुत्वापि परुषं वाक्यं सुशर्मा रथयूथपः ॥ न चैनमब्रवीत्किञ्चिच्छुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् ॥६-८०-४८॥
While he was speaking in such a manner, the dreadful enemy-slayer Susharma, even after hearing the harsh words, did not say anything either good or bad to him.
अभि गत्वार्जुनं वीरं राजभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः। पुरस्तात्पृष्ठतश्चैव पार्श्वतश्चैव सर्वतः ॥६-८०-४९॥
Arjuna, the hero, was approached and surrounded by many kings from all directions, including the front, back, and sides.
परिवार्यार्जुनं सङ्ख्ये तव पुत्रैः सहानघ। शरैः सञ्छादयामास मेघैरिव दिवाकरम् ॥६-८०-५०॥
In the battlefield, your sons surrounded Arjuna and covered him with arrows, just as clouds cover the sun, O sinless one.
ततः प्रवृत्तः सुमहान्सङ्ग्रामः शोणितोदकः। तावकानां च समरे पाण्डवानां च भारत ॥६-८०-५१॥
Then a very great battle ensued, filled with blood, between your forces and the Pandavas, O Bharata.
