06.091
Pancharatra and Core: Supratika and Bhagadatta immediately attack Ghatotkacha and Bhima, requested by Duryodhana as per the advice of Bhishma. But they encounter defeat against Bhima and Ghatotkacha.
Sanjaya said:
During the great uproar, King Duryodhana approached Bhishma with humility and respect.
He started to recount everything as it occurred, including Ghatotkacha's victory and his own defeat.
The invincible warrior, after sighing repeatedly, addressed Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, saying, "O king, ..."
O lord, having taken refuge in you, I initiated the terrible conflict with the Pandavas, just as with others.
O subduer of enemies, eleven divisions of my army, named and organized, are standing together with me under your command.
O tiger among the Bharatas, I was defeated in battle by the Pandavas, who were led by Bhimasena and relied on Ghatotkacha.
"That fire burns my limbs as if they were a dry tree. Therefore, O great one, I seek your grace, O scorcher of foes."
O grandfather, you should personally kill the demon of inferior kind, relying on you as you are invincible, that is what you should do for me.
Upon hearing the king's words, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, addressed Duryodhana, saying this.
O King, listen to my words that I am going to tell you, O descendant of Kuru. You should conduct yourself in the manner I describe, O great king and scorcher of foes.
Dear, you must protect yourself in battle under all circumstances, O subduer of enemies. You should engage in the battle led by Dharmaraja, O sinless one.
Arjuna, the two sons of Yama, or Bhimasena, once again, with royal duty in mind, approach the king.
I am Droṇa, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā (son of Droṇa), Kṛtavarmā, and Sātvata. Along with Śalya, Bhūriśravas (son of Somadatta), and Vikarṇa, we are all great chariot-warriors.
Your brothers, led by the valiant Duḥśāsana, are ready to fight the mighty demon for your cause.
If your heart's desire is strong in that fierce demon king, let him go to battle against the evil-minded. Bhagadatta, the king, is as powerful as Indra in battle.
Having addressed King Bhagadatta in such words, the eloquent speaker then spoke in the presence of the lord of the earth.
O great king, quickly go to Hidimba, who is arrogant in battle, and restrain him in the battlefield, prepared in front of all the watching archers, just as Indra once subdued the demon Tāraka in ancient times.
O scorcher of foes, your divine weapons and prowess were once used in encounters with many demons.
You, O noble king, stand as his opponent in this great battle. With your army surrounding you, defeat the leading demon.
Upon hearing Bhishma's words, the commander advanced swiftly towards the enemies, roaring like a lion.
The great charioteers of the Pandavas, seeing him rushing like a roaring cloud, approached in anger.
Bhimasena, Abhimanyu, the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, the sons of Draupadi, Satyadhriti, and Kshatradeva, O lord.
The king of the Cedis, Vasudana, and the lord of the Dasharnas were attacked by Supratika and Bhagadatta.
Then a fierce and terrifying battle arose, initiated by Bhagadatta against the Pandavas, which seemed to expand the realm of Yama, the god of death.
The well-sharpened arrows, released by the charioteers with terrible speed, fell upon the elephants and chariots, O great king.
The great elephants, though broken and controlled by their riders, fearlessly approached and collided with each other.
Blinded by pride and driven by anger, they charged at each other in the great battle, using their horns and tusks as weapons.
The horses, adorned with yak-tail fans and armed with spears, swiftly charged at each other under the command of their charioteers.
The foot-soldiers were struck by a multitude of foot-soldiers wielding spears and javelins, causing them to fall to the ground in hundreds and thousands.
The charioteers, O king, after defeating the heroes in battle with their sharp-pointed arrows, roared triumphantly like lions.
In the midst of that intense and thrilling battle, Bhagadatta, a renowned archer, charged towards Bhimasena.
The intoxication flowed in seven streams from the elephant, just as water flows everywhere from a mountain.
O sinless one, just as streams of water flow from the clouds, thousands of rays of arrows emanated from the head of Supratika, where Maghavan (Indra) was mounted on Airavata.
The king attacked Bhima with a barrage of arrows, resembling how a cloud drenches a mountain with rain during the monsoon season.
Bhimasena, in his fury, slew hundreds of foot soldiers with a barrage of arrows, demonstrating his prowess as a great archer.
Upon witnessing his men slain, the enraged and powerful Bhagadatta directed his elephant towards Bhimasena's chariot.
The elephant, dispatched by him, charged swiftly like an arrow released from a bowstring, towards Bhimasena, the conqueror of enemies.
Upon seeing him approach, the great warriors of the Pandavas, led by Bhimasena, swiftly advanced.
The Kekayas, Abhimanyu, the sons of Draupadi, the heroic king of Dasharna, Kshatradeva, and the king of Chedi, Chitraketu, were all present and enraged, O lord.
The mighty warriors, displaying their excellent divine weapons, angrily surrounded the lone elephant from all sides.
He, struck by numerous arrows, appeared majestic like a great elephant, with blood oozing out, resembling a mountain adorned with various minerals.
The lord of the Daśārṇa, standing firm like a mountain, charged at the elephant of Bhagadatta.
In the battle, the lord of elephants faced the approaching elephant, holding it firmly like Supratika holds the ocean shore.
Upon witnessing the restrained great serpent belonging to the noble Daśārṇa, the Pāṇḍava armies applauded, exclaiming "Well done, well done."
Then, the enraged king of Pragjyotisha hurled fourteen spears towards the serpent, right in front of it, O noble king.
They swiftly penetrated his golden-adorned armor and helmet, resembling serpents entering an anthill.
The deeply wounded and distressed elephant, O noble Bharata, quickly turned back with great speed, its intoxication having subsided.
He fled swiftly, emitting a terrifying roar, crushing his own forces like the wind crushes trees with its power.
The great warriors of the Pandavas, upon the defeat of the serpent, roared loudly like lions and stood ready for battle.
Then, having placed Bhima at the forefront, they advanced towards Bhagadatta, launching a barrage of diverse arrows and weapons.
Hearing the terrible sound of the attacking, enraged, and intolerant warriors, fearless Bhagadatta, the great archer, urged his elephant forward, O king.
In the battle, the excellent elephant, urged by the hook and thumb, became like a destructive fire at that moment.
In the battle, the very angry warrior crushed chariots, elephants, horses with their drivers, and foot soldiers by the hundreds and thousands, running around here and there, O king.
The mighty army of the Pandavas was shaken and shrank, O great king, as if it were a hide thrown into the fire.
Upon witnessing his forces shattered by the wise Bhagadatta, the furious Ghatotkacha then charged at Bhagadatta.
O king, a terrible man with a blazing face and eyes appeared, creating a terrifying form, as if blazing with anger.
The mighty warrior, in his desire to kill, took up a massive spear that could tear through mountains and hurled it at the elephant with great force, surrounded by sparks and flames.
Upon seeing the blazing spear approaching suddenly in the battle, the prince swiftly hurled a beautiful, sharp, crescent-shaped weapon, cutting off the massive spear with his arrow.
The golden-adorned spear was cut into two and fell down, resembling a great thunderbolt released by Indra, which had fallen from the sky.
The king, upon seeing the spear fallen and cut in two, took up a mighty weapon with a golden handle, resembling a flame. He hurled it at the demon, commanding, "Stay, stay."
The demon, seeing her descending like a thunderbolt from the sky, quickly jumped up, grabbed her, and let out a roar.
He quickly broke it by placing it on his knee, O Bharata. It appeared as a wonder to the watching king.
Upon witnessing the mighty deed performed by the demon, the gods, Gandharvas, and sages in heaven were left astonished.
The Pandavas, led by the mighty archer Bhimasena, echoed their approval across the earth with cries of 'well done, well done'. This resounding approval filled the air, marking their presence and valor.
Upon hearing the mighty sound of the joyous great souls, the powerful archer Bhagadatta could not endure it.
He stretched his great bow, which roared like Indra's thunderbolt, and charged swiftly towards the great warriors of the Pandavas, releasing pure and sharp iron arrows that shone like fire.
Bhima attacked the demon with a single arrow, struck Abhimanyu with three arrows, and similarly targeted the Kekayas with five arrows.
The warrior god's right arm was pierced by a golden-feathered arrow that was fully drawn and released in battle, causing his excellent bow with the arrow to suddenly fall.
Then the sons of Draupadi struck five people with five blows. Out of anger, Bhimasena killed the horses.
He severed the lion-emblazoned flag with three arrows and struck the charioteer with three more arrows.
He, deeply wounded and distressed, sat down on the chariot seat. O best of the Bharatas, he was without sorrow, having been struck by Bhagadatta in battle.
Then Bhima, the foremost of charioteers, though without his chariot, swiftly took up his mace and leapt from the great chariot, O great king.
Upon seeing him with his mace raised high, resembling a mountain with peaks, a dreadful fear gripped your forces, O Bharata.
At that very moment, O great king, the Pandava, with Krishna as his charioteer, arrived, slaying thousands of enemies.
In that place, the formidable duo of father and son, Bhīmasena and Ghaṭotkaca, known as tigers among men and feared by their enemies, were locked in combat with Prāgjyotiṣa.
Upon witnessing the great warriors engaged in battle, the Pandava prince swiftly approached, O esteemed Bharata, releasing a volley of arrows.
Then King Duryodhana, eager and a great chariot-warrior, quickly urged his army, which was filled with chariots, elephants, and horses.
The Pandava Śvetavāhana swiftly charged towards the advancing great army of the Kauravas.
Bhagadatta, riding his elephant, fiercely attacked Yudhishthira and crushed the Pandava army, O Bharata.
O great one, there was a fierce battle involving Bhagadatta and the warriors of the Panchalas, Srinjayas, and Kekayas, all armed and ready for combat.
In the battle, Bhimasena narrated to both Keshava and Arjuna the excellent account of Iravat's slaying as it happened.
