06.096
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
abhimanyu rathodāraḥ piśaṅgais turagottamaiḥ। abhidudrāva tejasvī duryodhanabalaṃ mahat॥ vikirañ śaravarṣāṇi vāridhārā ivāmbudaḥ॥6-96-1॥
Abhimanyu, known for his prowess, drove his chariot drawn by excellent tawny horses into Duryodhana's vast army, releasing a torrent of arrows akin to rain from a cloud.
na śekuḥ samare kruddhaṃ saubhadramarisūdanam। śastraughiṇaṃ gāhamānaṃ senāsāgaramakṣayam ॥ nivārayitumapyājau tvadīyāḥ kurupuṅgavāḥ ॥6-96-2॥
Your Kuru warriors were unable to restrain the angry Saubhadra, the destroyer of enemies, as he plunged with a torrent of weapons into the inexhaustible ocean of armies in battle.
tena muktā raṇe rājañcharāḥ śatrunibarhaṇāḥ। kṣatriyānanayañśūrānpretarājaniveśanam ॥6-96-3॥
The arrows released by him in the battle, O king, were so powerful that they destroyed the enemies and led the brave Kshatriyas to the abode of Yama, the god of death.
yamadaṇḍopamānghorāñjvalanāśīviṣopamān। saubhadraḥ samare kruddhaḥ preṣayāmāsa sāyakān ॥6-96-4॥
In the heat of battle, the enraged Saubhadra unleashed arrows that were as dreadful as the rod of Yama, blazing like fire, and akin to venomous serpents.
rathinaṁ ca rathāttūrṇaṁ hayapṛṣṭhācca sādinam। gajarohāṁśca sagajān pātayāmāsa phālghuniḥ ॥6-96-5॥
Arjuna swiftly brought down the charioteer from the chariot, the rider from the horse's back, and the elephant riders along with their elephants.
tasya tatkurvataḥ karma mahatsaṅkhye'dbhutaṃ nṛpāḥ। pūjayāṃ cakrire hṛṣṭāḥ praśaśaṃsuśca phālgunim ॥6-96-6॥
The kings, witnessing the remarkable deeds of Arjuna in the great battle, were filled with joy and admiration. They honored and praised him wholeheartedly.
tāny anīkāni saubhadro drāvayan bahvaśobhata। tūlarāśim ivādhūya mārutaḥ sarvatodiśam ॥6-96-7॥
Saubhadra, the son of Subhadra, drove away the armies, shining brilliantly like the wind dispersing a heap of cotton in all directions.
tena vidrāvyamāṇāni tava sainyāni bhārata। trātāraṃ nādhyagacchanta paṅke magnā iva dvipāḥ ॥6-96-8॥
O Bharata, your armies, being scattered by him, could not find a protector, just like elephants stuck in the mud.
vidrāvya sarvasainyāni tāvakāni narottamaḥ। abhimanyuḥ sthito rājanvidhūmo'gniriva jvalan ॥6-96-9॥
Abhimanyu, the best among men, stood like a smokeless blazing fire, having scattered all your armies, O king.
na cainaṃ tāvakāḥ sarve viṣehurarighātinam। pradīptaṃ pāvakaṃ yadvatpataṅgāḥ kālacoditāḥ ॥6-96-10॥
None of your warriors could withstand the enemy-slayer, just as moths are inevitably drawn to a blazing fire by the force of time.
praharansarvaśatrubhyaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ। adṛśyata maheṣvāsaḥ savajra iva vajrabhṛt ॥6-96-11॥
The great chariot warrior of the Pandavas, striking all enemies, appeared as a formidable archer, wielding a thunderbolt like Indra.
hemapṛṣṭhaṃ dhanuścāsya dadṛśe carato diśaḥ। toyadeṣu yathā rājanbhrājamānāḥ śatahvadāḥ ॥6-96-12॥
O king, his gold-backed bow was seen moving across the directions, shining like a hundred-rayed light among the clouds.
śarāśca niśitāḥ pītā niścaranti sma saṃyuge। vanātphulladrumādrājanbhramarāṇāmiva vrajāḥ ॥6-96-13॥
O king, the sharp arrows, as if drunk, moved in the battle like swarms of bees emerging from a forest of blossoming trees.
tathaiva caratas tasya saubhadrasya mahātmanaḥ। rathena meghaghoṣeṇa dadṛśur nāntaraṃ janāḥ ॥6-96-14॥
In the same way, as the great-souled Saubhadra moved with his chariot Meghaghosha, people could not see any gap.
mohayitvā kṛpaṃ droṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca sa bṛhadbalam। saindhavaṃ ca maheṣvāsaṃ vyacarallaghu suṣṭhu ca ॥6-96-15॥
After bewildering Kṛpa, Droṇa, Aśvatthāmā, and Bṛhadbala, he skillfully and swiftly maneuvered with Jayadratha, the great archer.
maṇḍalīkṛtamevāsyya dhanuḥ paśyāma māriṣa। sūryamaṇdalasaṅkāśaṃ tapatastava vāhinīm ॥6-96-16॥
O noble one, we see his bow circularly arranged, resembling the sun's orb, shining brilliantly, as your army advances.
taṃ dṛṣṭvā kṣatriyāḥ śūrāḥ pratapantaṃ śarārcibhiḥ। dviphalgunamimaṃ lokaṃ menire tasya karmabhiḥ ॥6-96-17॥
Upon witnessing him, the valiant warriors, radiant with the flames of arrows, perceived this world as belonging to Arjuna due to his actions.
tenārditā mahārāja bhāratī sā mahācamūḥ। babhrāma tatra tatraiva yoṣinmadavaśādiva ॥6-96-18॥
O great king, afflicted by him, that great army wandered aimlessly, much like a woman under the influence of intoxication.
drāvayitvā ca tatsainyaṃ kampayitvā mahārathān। nandayāmāsa suhṛdo mayaṃ jitveva vāsavaḥ ॥6-96-19॥
After scattering the enemy forces and shaking the great warriors, he brought joy to his friends, just as Indra did after defeating Maya.
tena vidrāvyamāṇāni tava sainyāni saṃyuge। cakrurārtasvaraṃ ghoraṃ parjanyaninadopamam ॥6-96-20॥
In the battle, as your armies were scattered by him, they let out a terrible cry, resembling the roar of thunderous clouds.
taṁ śrutvā ninadaṁ ghoraṁ tava sainyasya māriṣa। mārutoddhūtavegasya samudrasyeva parvaṇi ॥ duryodhanastadā rājā ārśyaśṛṅgimabhāṣata ॥6-96-21॥
Upon hearing the dreadful noise of your forces, O noble one, which resembled the ocean's turbulence during a full moon, King Duryodhana then addressed Arshyashringa.
eṣa kārṣṇirmaheṣvāso dvitīya iva phalgunaḥ। camūṁ drāvayate krodhādvṛtro devacamūmiva ॥6-96-22॥
This Kārṣhṇi, a great archer, is like a second Arjuna, driving away the army in anger, just as Vṛtra drove away the army of the gods.
tasya nānyaṃ prapaśyāmi saṃyuge bheṣajaṃ mahat। ṛte tvāṃ rākṣasaśreṣṭha sarvavidyāsu pāragam ॥6-96-23॥
I see no other great remedy in this battle except you, O best of demons, who are accomplished in all forms of knowledge.
sa gatvā tvaritaṃ vīraṃ jahi saubhadramāhave। vayaṃ pārthānhaniṣyāmo bhīṣmadroṇapuraḥsarāḥ ॥6-96-24॥
"Go quickly and slay the hero Saubhadra in battle. We, led by Bhishma and Drona, will take care of the sons of Pritha."
sa evamukto balavānrākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān। prayayau samare tūrṇaṃ tava putrasya śāsanāt ॥ nardamāno mahānādaṃ prāvṛṣīva balāhakaḥ ॥6-96-25॥
Thus addressed, the mighty and glorious king of demons swiftly proceeded to the battlefield at your son's command, roaring loudly like a cloud during the rainy season.
tasya śabdena mahatā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahadbalam। prācalatsarvato rājanpūryamāṇa ivārṇavaḥ ॥6-96-26॥
The great sound of his conch echoed everywhere, O king, as if the vast strength of the Pandavas was like an ocean swelling with power.
bahavaśca narā rājaṃstasya nādena bhīṣitāḥ। priyānprāṇānparityajya nipeturdharaṇītale ॥6-96-27॥
Many men, O king, were so frightened by his sound that they abandoned their dear lives and fell to the ground.
kārṣṇiścāpi mudā yuktaḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ। nṛtyanniva rathopasthe tadrakṣaḥ samupādravat ॥6-96-28॥
Krishna, filled with joy and holding his bow, appeared to be dancing on the chariot seat as the demon approached.
tataḥ sa rākṣasaḥ kruddhaḥ samprāpyaivārjuniṃ raṇe। nātidūre sthitastasya drāvayāmāsa vai camūm ॥6-96-29॥
Then, the angry demon approached Arjuna in battle, and standing not far away, he caused Arjuna's army to flee.
sā vadhyamānā samare pāṇḍavānāṃ mahācamūḥ। pratyudyayau raṇe rakṣo devasenā yathā balim ॥6-96-30॥
The great army of the Pandavas, though being attacked, advanced in the battlefield like the divine army of Rakshasas against Bali.
vimardaḥ sumahān āsīt tasya sainyasya māriṣa। rakṣasā ghorarūpeṇa vadhyamānasya saṃyuge ॥6-96-31॥
The army faced a severe crushing, O dear, as it was being slaughtered by the demon in its terrible form during the battle.
tataḥ śarasahasraistāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahācamūm। vyadrāvayadraṇe rakṣo darśayadvai parākramam ॥6-96-32॥
Then, the demon, displaying his prowess, scattered the great army of the Pandavas with thousands of arrows in the battle.
sā vadhyamānā ca tathā pāṇḍavānāmanīkinī। rakṣasā ghorarūpeṇa pradudrāva raṇe bhayāt ॥6-96-33॥
The army of the Pandavas, being attacked by the demon of terrible form, fled the battlefield in fear.
tāṃ pramṛdya tataḥ senāṃ padminīṃ vāraṇo yathā। tato'bhidudrāva raṇe draupadeyānmahābalān ॥6-96-34॥
The elephant crushed the army like a lotus and then charged at the mighty sons of Draupadi in battle.
te tu kruddhā maheṣvāsā draupadeyāḥ prahāriṇaḥ। rākṣasaṃ dudruvuḥ sarve grahāḥ pañca yathā ravim ॥6-96-35॥
The sons of Draupadi, who were great archers and strikers, angrily rushed towards the demon, just as the five planets move towards the sun.
vīryavadbhistataistaistu pīḍito rākṣasottamaḥ। yathā yugakṣaye ghore candramāḥ pañcabhirgrahaiḥ ॥6-96-36॥
The best of demons was oppressed by the powerful ones, just as the moon is eclipsed by five planets at the dreadful end of an era.
prativindhyas tato rakṣo bibheda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। sarvapāraśavais tūrṇam akuṇṭhāgrair mahābalaḥ ॥6-96-37॥
Prativindhya, with his great strength, swiftly pierced the demon using sharp arrows of all kinds, each with unblunted tips.
sa tairbhinnatanu trāṇaḥ śuśubhe rākṣasottamaḥ। marīcibhirivārkasya saṃsyūto jalado mahān ॥6-96-38॥
He, the best among demons, appeared resplendent with his armor shattered, enveloped by the sun's rays, resembling a great cloud.
viṣaktaiḥ sa śaraiścāpi tapanīyaparicchadaiḥ। ārśyaśṛṅgirbabhau rājandīptaśṛṅga ivācalaḥ ॥6-96-39॥
Arshya Shringa, adorned with arrows and golden ornaments, appeared majestic, O king, like a mountain with shining peaks.
tataste bhrātaraḥ pañca rākṣasendraṃ mahāhave। vivyadhurniśitairbāṇaistapanīyavibhūṣitaiḥ ॥6-96-40॥
Then the five brothers attacked the demon king in the great battle with their sharp, gold-adorned arrows.
sa nirbhinnaḥ śarairghorairbhujagaiḥ kopitairiva। alambuso bhṛśaṃ rājannāgendra iva cukrudhe ॥6-96-41॥
Alambusa, pierced by the fierce arrows, became extremely angry, O king, like a lord of serpents provoked by serpents.
so'tividdho mahārāja muhūrtamatha māriṣaḥ। praviveśa tamo dīrghaṃ pīḍitastairmahā-rathaiḥ ॥6-96-42॥
O great king, he was deeply pierced and for a moment, O descendant of Marīci, he entered into deep darkness, afflicted by the great charioteers.
pratilabhya tataḥ sañjñāṃ krodhena dviguṇīkṛtaḥ। ciccheda sāyakaisteṣāṃ dhvajāṃścaiva dhanūṃṣi ca ॥6-96-43॥
Regaining his senses, he became twice as angry and used his arrows to cut down their banners and bows.
ekaikaṁ ca tribhirbāṇairājaghāna smayanniva। alambuso rathopasthe nṛtyanniva mahārathaḥ ॥6-96-44॥
Alambusa, the great chariot-warrior, struck each one with three arrows, as if smiling. He appeared to be dancing on the chariot seat.
tvaramāṇaśca saṅkruddho hayāṃsteṣāṃ mahātmanām। jaghāna rākṣasaḥ kruddhaḥ sārathīṃśca mahābalaḥ ॥6-96-45॥
In his haste and anger, the demon, with great strength, killed the horses and charioteers of the great souls.
bibheda ca susanhr̥ṣṭaḥ punaś cainān susanśitaiḥ। śarair bahuvidhākāraiḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥6-96-46॥
Being very delighted, he pierced them again with well-sharpened arrows of many kinds, by hundreds and then by thousands.
virathāṃśca maheṣvāsānkṛtvā tatra sa rākṣasaḥ। abhidudrāva vegena hantukāmo niśācaraḥ ॥6-96-47॥
The demon, after rendering the great archers without chariots, charged swiftly with the intent to kill, like a night-stalker.
tānarditān raṇe tena rākṣasena durātmanā। dṛṣṭvā arjuna-sutaḥ saṅkhye rākṣasaṃ samupādravat ॥6-96-48॥
Seeing his companions afflicted by the wicked demon in battle, Arjuna's son charged at the demon on the battlefield.
tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva। dadṛśustāvakāḥ sarve pāṇḍavāśca mahārathāḥ ॥6-96-49॥
A battle ensued between the two, reminiscent of the legendary conflict between Vritra and Indra. All the warriors, both your men and the Pandavas, witnessed it.
tau sametau mahāyuddhe krodhadīptau parasparam। mahābalau mahārāja krodhasaṁraktalocanau ॥ parasparamavekṣetāṁ kālānalasamau yudhi ॥6-96-50॥
Both mighty warriors, their eyes red with anger, met in the great battle and looked at each other fiercely, like the fire of time, O great king.
tayoḥ samāgamo ghoḥro babhūva kaṭukodayaḥ। yathā devāsure yuddhe śakraśambarayoriva ॥6-96-51॥
The encounter between them was fierce and intense, reminiscent of the legendary battles between the gods and demons, like that of Indra and Shambara.
