06.097
Core and Pancharatra: The demon Alambusha is killed, and the Kaurava army starts retreating, when Bhishma surrounds Abhimanyu. In his support come Arjuna and the rest of the Pandava army. Great encounter between Satyaki and Drona along with his son. Ashvatthama is defeated by Satyaki, and Arjuna takes on Drona.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
आर्जुनिं समरे शूरं विनिघ्नन्तं महारथम्। अलम्बुसः कथं युद्धे प्रत्ययुध्यत सञ्जय ॥६-९७-१॥
Sanjaya, how did Alambusa fight against the heroic Arjuna, the great chariot-warrior, in battle?
आर्श्यशृङ्गिं कथं चापि सौभद्रः परवीरहा। तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन यथा वृत्तं स्म संयुगे ॥६-९७-२॥
Please tell me how Saubhadra, the destroyer of enemy heroes, dealt with Ārśyaśṛṅga in the battle, and describe the events as they truly happened.
धनञ्जयश्च किं चक्रे मम सैन्येषु सञ्जय। भीमो वा बलिनां श्रेष्ठो राक्षसो वा घटोत्कचः ॥६-९७-३॥
Sanjaya, what did Arjuna do in my armies? Is Bhima, the best among the strong, or the demon Ghatotkacha involved?
नकुलः सहदेवो वा सात्यकिर्वा महारथः। एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं कुशलो ह्यसि सञ्जय ॥६-९७-४॥
Nakula, Sahadeva, or Satyaki, the great charioteer; please tell me everything, as you are indeed knowledgeable, Sanjaya.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
हन्त तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि सङ्ग्रामं लोमहर्षणम्। यथाभूद्राक्षसेन्द्रस्य सौभद्रस्य च मारिष ॥६-९७-५॥
Behold, I will narrate to you the thrilling battle that took place between the lord of demons and Abhimanyu, O gentle one.
अर्जुनश्च यथा सङ्ख्ये भीमसेनश्च पाण्डवः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च रणे चक्रुः पराक्रमम् ॥६-९७-६॥
Arjuna, Bhimasena, Nakula, and Sahadeva, the Pandavas, displayed great valor in the battle as they performed heroic deeds.
तथैव तावकाः सर्वे भीष्मद्रोणपुरोगमाः। अद्भुतानि विचित्राणि चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत् ॥६-९७-७॥
Similarly, all your warriors, led by Bhishma and Drona, executed amazing and diverse feats without fear.
अलम्बुसस्तु समरे अभिमन्युं महारथम्। विनद्य सुमहानादं तर्जयित्वा मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ अभिदुद्राव वेगेन तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥६-९७-८॥
In the battle, Alambusa, with a great roar, repeatedly threatened and charged at the great chariot-warrior Abhimanyu with speed, commanding him to 'Stop, stop'.
सौभद्रोऽपि रणे राजन्सिंहवद्विनदन्मुहुः। आर्श्यशृङ्गिं महेष्वासं पितुरत्यन्तवैरिणम् ॥६-९७-९॥
O King, Abhimanyu, like a lion, roared repeatedly in the battle against Arshyasringa, the great archer and the great enemy of his father.
ततः समेयतुः सङ्ख्ये त्वरितौ नरराक्षसौ। रथाभ्यां रथिनां श्रेष्ठौ यथा वै देवदानवौ ॥ मायावी राक्षसश्रेष्ठो दिव्यास्त्रज्ञश्च फाल्गुनिः ॥६-९७-१०॥
Then the swift man and demon, both excellent charioteers, met in battle like the gods and demons. The illusionist, the best among demons, and Arjuna, the knower of divine weapons, faced each other.
ततः कार्ष्णिर्महाराज निशितैः सायकैस्त्रिभिः। आर्श्यशृङ्गिं रणे विद्ध्वा पुनर्विव्याध पञ्चभिः ॥६-९७-११॥
Then Kārṣṇi, the warrior, skillfully struck Ārśyaśṛṅgin in the battle with three sharp arrows and then pierced him again with five more arrows.
अलम्बुसोऽपि सङ्क्रुद्धः कार्ष्णिं नवभिराशुगैः। हृदि विव्याध वेगेन तोत्त्रैरिव महाद्विपम् ॥६-९७-१२॥
Alambusa, in his anger, swiftly pierced Kārṣhṇi's heart with nine arrows, as one would drive a great elephant with goads.
ततः शरसहस्रेण क्षिप्रकारी निशाचरः। अर्जुनस्य सुतं सङ्ख्ये पीडयामास भारत ॥६-९७-१३॥
Then, the swift night-wanderer attacked Arjuna's son in the battle with a thousand arrows, O Bharata.
अभिमन्युस्ततः क्रुद्धो नवतिं नतपर्वणाम्। चिक्षेप निशितान्बाणान्राक्षसस्य महोरसि ॥६-९७-१४॥
Abhimanyu, in his anger, shot ninety sharp, bent-jointed arrows at the demon's broad chest.
ते तस्य विविशुस्तूर्णं कायं निर्भिद्य मर्मणि। स तैर्विभिन्नसर्वाङ्गः शुशुभे राक्षसोत्तमः ॥ पुष्पितैः किंशुकै राजन्संस्तीर्ण इव पर्वतः ॥६-९७-१५॥
They swiftly entered his body, piercing through the vital parts. The best of demons, with all his limbs pierced, shone like a mountain covered with blossoming kinshuka flowers, O king.
स धारयञ्शरान्हेमपुङ्खानपि महाबलः। विबभौ राक्षसश्रेष्ठः सज्वाल इव पर्वतः ॥६-९७-१६॥
The mighty demon, holding arrows with golden plumes, appeared like a flaming mountain, standing out as the best among the demons.
ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज आर्श्यशृङ्गिर्महाबलः। महेन्द्रप्रतिमं कार्ष्णिं छादयामास पत्रिभिः ॥६-९७-१७॥
Then, the mighty King Arshyashringa, in his anger, covered Krishna, who was as majestic as Mahendra, with a shower of arrows.
तेन ते विशिखा मुक्ता यमदण्डोपमाः शिताः। अभिमन्युं विनिर्भिद्य प्राविशन्धरणीतलम् ॥६-९७-१८॥
The arrows released by him, sharp and resembling the rod of Yama, pierced Abhimanyu and entered the ground.
तथैवार्जुनिनिर्मुक्ताः शराः काञ्चनभूषणाः। अलम्बुसं विनिर्भिद्य प्राविशन्त धरातलम् ॥६-९७-१९॥
In the same manner, the golden-adorned arrows released by Arjuna pierced through Alambusa and fell to the ground.
सौभद्रस्तु रणे रक्षः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। चक्रे विमुखमासाद्य मयं शक्र इवाहवे ॥६-९७-२०॥
Abhimanyu, in the battle, skillfully used his arrows to disorient the demon Maya, much like Indra would in a fight.
विमुखं च ततो रक्षो वध्यमानं रणेऽरिणा। प्रादुश्चक्रे महामायां तामसीं परतापनः ॥६-९७-२१॥
Then, as the demon was being defeated in battle by the enemy, he turned away, and the tormentor of enemies conjured a great dark illusion.
ततस्ते तमसा सर्वे हृता ह्यासन्महीतले। नाभिमन्युमपश्यन्त नैव स्वान्न परान्रणे ॥६-९७-२२॥
Then, enveloped by darkness, they all were lost on the battlefield. They could not see Abhimanyu, nor their own people, nor the enemies in the battle.
अभिमन्युश्च तद्दृष्ट्वा घोररूपं महत्तमः। प्रादुश्चक्रेऽस्त्रमत्युग्रं भास्करं कुरुनन्दनः ॥६-९७-२३॥
Upon witnessing the dreadful and immense form, Abhimanyu, the son of Kuru, manifested a very fierce and radiant weapon.
ततः प्रकाशमभवज्जगत्सर्वं महीपते। तां चापि जघ्निवान्मायां राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः ॥६-९७-२४॥
Then, O king, the entire world was illuminated, and he destroyed the demon's wicked illusion.
सङ्क्रुद्धश्च महावीर्यो राक्षसेन्द्रं नरोत्तमः। छादयामास समरे शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥६-९७-२५॥
The best among men, filled with great power and anger, enveloped the demon king in the battle with his arrows that had bent joints.
बह्वीस्तथान्या मायाश्च प्रयुक्तास्तेन रक्षसा। सर्वास्त्रविदमेयात्मा वारयामास फाल्गुनिः ॥६-९७-२६॥
The demon employed many other illusions, but Arjuna, with his immeasurable soul and knowledge of all weapons, warded them off.
हतमायं ततो रक्षो वध्यमानं च सायकैः। रथं तत्रैव सन्त्यज्य प्राद्रवन्महतो भयात् ॥६-९७-२७॥
The demon was killed by the arrows. Terrified, they abandoned their chariot and fled from the battlefield.
तस्मिन्विनिर्जिते तूर्णं कूटयोधिनि राक्षसे। आर्जुनिः समरे सैन्यं तावकं संममर्द ह ॥ मदान्धो वन्यनागेन्द्रः सपद्मां पद्मिनीमिव ॥६-९७-२८॥
Arjuna swiftly defeated the deceitful demon warrior and crushed your army in battle, just like an intoxicated wild elephant tramples a lotus pond filled with lotuses.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मः सैन्यं दृष्ट्वाभिविद्रुतम्। महता रथवंशेन सौभद्रं पर्यवारयत् ॥६-९७-२९॥
Upon witnessing the army in retreat, Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, encircled Abhimanyu with a formidable division of chariots.
कोष्ठकीकृत्य तं वीरं धार्तराष्ट्रा महारथाः। एकं सुबहवो युद्धे ततक्षुः सायकैर्दृढम् ॥६-९७-३०॥
The sons of Dhritarashtra, being great warriors, surrounded the hero and many of them attacked him in battle, piercing him firmly with arrows.
स तेषां रथिनां वीरः पितुस्तुल्यपराक्रमः। सदृशो वासुदेवस्य विक्रमेण बलेन च ॥६-९७-३१॥
He was a hero among the charioteers, possessing valor equal to his father and comparable to Vāsudeva in both prowess and strength.
उभयोः सदृशं कर्म स पितुर्मातुलस्य च। रणे बहुविधं चक्रे सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥६-९७-३२॥
He, being the best among all weapon bearers, performed actions in battle that were similar to those of both his father and his maternal uncle.
ततो धनञ्जयो राजन्विनिघ्नंस्तव सैनिकान्। आससाद रणे भीष्मं पुत्रप्रेप्सुरमर्षणः ॥६-९७-३३॥
Then, O king, Arjuna, intolerant and eager for his son, cut through your soldiers and approached Bhishma in the battle.
तथैव समरे राजन्पिता देवव्रतस्तव। आससाद रणे पार्थं स्वर्भानुरिव भास्करम् ॥६-९७-३४॥
In the battle, O king, your father Devavrata confronted Arjuna just as Swarbhanu would confront the sun.
ततः सरथनागाश्वाः पुत्रास्तव विशां पते। परिवव्रू रणे भीष्मं जुगुपुश्च समन्ततः ॥६-९७-३५॥
Then, your sons, accompanied by chariots, elephants, and horses, surrounded and protected Bhishma on all sides in the battle, O lord of the people.
तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्परिवार्य धनञ्जयम्। रणाय महते युक्ता दंशिता भरतर्षभ ॥६-९७-३६॥
In the same manner, O king, the Pandavas surrounded Arjuna and were ready and eager for the great battle, O best of the Bharatas.
शारद्वतस्ततो राजन्भीष्मस्य प्रमुखे स्थितम्। अर्जुनं पञ्चविंशत्या सायकानां समाचिनोत् ॥६-९७-३७॥
Then Sharadvata stood in front of Bhishma, O king, and Arjuna covered him with twenty-five arrows.
पत्युद्गम्याथ विव्याध सात्यकिस्तं शितैः शरैः। पाण्डवप्रियकामार्थं शार्दूल इव कुञ्जरम् ॥६-९७-३८॥
Then Satyaki approached and attacked him with sharp arrows to please the Pandavas, like a tiger attacking an elephant.
गौतमोऽपि त्वरायुक्तो माधवं नवभिः शरैः। हृदि विव्याध सङ्क्रुद्धः कङ्कपत्रपरिच्छदैः ॥६-९७-३९॥
Gautama, filled with anger and haste, shot nine peacock-feathered arrows at Madhava, piercing him in the heart.
शैनेयोऽपि ततः क्रुद्धो भृशं विद्धो महारथः। गौतमान्तकरं घोरं समादत्त शिलीमुखम् ॥६-९७-४०॥
The son of Śini, despite being severely wounded and enraged, took up a dreadful arrow aimed at ending Gautama.
तमापतन्तं वेगेन शक्राशनिसमद्युतिम्। द्विधा चिच्छेद सङ्क्रुद्धो द्रौणिः परमकोपनः ॥६-९७-४१॥
In his extreme anger, Aśvatthāmā, filled with rage, swiftly cut the approaching figure, who shone like Indra's thunderbolt, into two.
समुत्सृज्याथ शैनेयो गौतमं रथिनां वरम्। अभ्यद्रवद्रणे द्रौणिं राहुः खे शशिनं यथा ॥६-९७-४२॥
After leaving Gautama, the best among charioteers, the son of Śini attacked Aśvatthāmā in battle, just as Rāhu attacks the moon in the sky.
तस्य द्रोणसुतश्चापं द्विधा चिच्छेद भारत। अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं ताडयामास सायकैः ॥६-९७-४३॥
Drona's son severed his bow in two, O Bharata. Then, having rendered him weaponless, he attacked with arrows.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय शत्रुघ्नं भारसाधनम्। द्रौणिं षष्ट्या महाराज बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत् ॥६-९७-४४॥
He, taking another bow, the mighty destroyer of enemies, placed sixty arrows on the chest of Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, O great king.
स विद्धो व्यथितश्चैव मुहूर्तं कश्मलायुतः। निषसाद रथोपस्थे ध्वजयष्टिमुपाश्रितः ॥६-९७-४५॥
Wounded and distressed, he sat down on the chariot seat for a moment, leaning against the flagstaff, overcome with faintness.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः सञ्ज्ञां द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। वार्ष्णेयं समरे क्रुद्धो नाराचेन समर्दयत् ॥६-९७-४६॥
Regaining his senses, the valiant son of Drona, in a fit of rage during the battle, struck down the son of Vrishni (Krishna) with a deadly iron arrow.
शैनेयं स तु निर्भिद्य प्राविशद्धरणीतलम्। वसन्तकाले बलवान्बिलं सर्पशिशुर्यथा ॥६-९७-४७॥
The son of Śini pierced through and entered the earth's surface, just as a strong young serpent enters its hole during the spring season.
ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन माधवस्य ध्वजोत्तमम्। चिच्छेद समरे द्रौणिः सिंहनादं ननाद च ॥६-९७-४८॥
Then, Drona's son, with another arrow, cut off the best of Mādhava's flags in the battle and roared like a lion.
पुनश्चैनं शरैर्घोरैश्छादयामास भारत। निदाघान्ते महाराज यथा मेघो दिवाकरम् ॥६-९७-४९॥
Once more, O Bharata, he enveloped him with dreadful arrows, just as a cloud obscures the sun at the close of summer, O great king.
सात्यकिश्च महाराज शरजालं निहत्य तत्। द्रौणिमभ्यपतत्तूर्णं शरजालैरनेकधा ॥६-९७-५०॥
Satyaki, after destroying the multitude of arrows, swiftly attacked Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, with numerous showers of arrows, O great king.
तापयामास च द्रौणिं शैनेयः परवीरहा। विमुक्तो मेघजालेन यथैव तपनस्तथा ॥६-९७-५१॥
Sātyaki, known as the destroyer of enemy heroes, tormented Aśvatthāmā in the same way the sun emerges from behind the clouds.
शराणां च सहस्रेण पुनरेनं समुद्यतम्। सात्यकिश्छादयामास ननाद च महाबलः ॥६-९७-५२॥
Satyaki, with his immense strength, covered the prepared one again with a thousand arrows and let out a mighty roar.
दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं तथा ग्रस्तं राहुणेव निशाकरम्। अभ्यद्रवत शैनेयं भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् ॥६-९७-५३॥
Seeing his son being seized like the moon by Rāhu, the mighty Bhāradvāja rushed towards Śaineya.
विव्याध च पृषत्केन सुतीक्ष्णेन महामृधे। परीप्सन्स्वसुतं राजन्वार्ष्णेयेनाभितापितम् ॥६-९७-५४॥
In the great battle, O king, he pierced with a sharp arrow, desiring to protect his own son, who was tormented by Varshneya.
सात्यकिस्तु रणे जित्वा गुरुपुत्रं महारथम्। द्रोणं विव्याध विंशत्या सर्वपारशवैः शरैः ॥६-९७-५५॥
Satyaki, after defeating the teacher's son, the great warrior, in battle, struck Drona with twenty iron-tipped arrows.
तदन्तरममेयात्मा कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः। अभ्यद्रवद्रणे क्रुद्धो द्रोणं प्रति महारथः ॥६-९७-५६॥
Then, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, with his chariot drawn by white horses, angrily rushed towards Drona in the battlefield, as a great warrior.
ततो द्रोणश्च पार्थश्च समेयातां महामृधे। यथा बुधश्च शुक्रश्च महाराज नभस्तले ॥६-९७-५७॥
Then Droṇa and Pārtha encountered each other in the great battle, just as Budha and Śukra meet in the sky, O great king.
