07.014
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima restrains Abhimanu, and takes on Shalya himself. Shalya is defeated by Bhima and is carried away by Kritavarma. Pandavas gain upper hand.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
बहूनि सुविचित्राणि द्वंद्वयुद्धानि सञ्जय। त्वयोक्तानि निशम्याहं स्पृहयामि सचक्षुषाम् ॥७-१४-१॥
O Sanjaya, having heard from you about the many very wonderful duel battles, I long for the vision of the seers.
आश्चर्यभूतं लोकेषु कथयिष्यन्ति मानवाः। कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च युद्धं देवासुरोपमम् ॥७-१४-२॥
People will speak of the astonishing battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas, comparing it to the legendary conflicts between gods and demons.
न हि मे तृप्तिरस्तीह शृण्वतो युद्धमुत्तमम्। तस्मादार्तायनेर्युद्धं सौभद्रस्य च शंस मे ॥७-१४-३॥
I am not satisfied here by hearing about the excellent battle. Therefore, please describe to me the battle of Arjuna and Abhimanyu.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
सादितं प्रेक्ष्य यन्तारं शल्यः सर्वायषीं गदाम्। समुत्क्षिप्य नदन्क्रुद्धः प्रचस्कन्द रथोत्तमात् ॥७-१४-४॥
Upon witnessing his charioteer being struck, Śalya, in a fit of rage, lifted his all-iron mace and leaped from his magnificent chariot, roaring with anger.
तं दीप्तमिव कालाग्निं दण्डहस्तमिवान्तकम्। जवेनाभ्यपतद्भीमः प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् ॥७-१४-५॥
Bhima, wielding his mighty mace, charged at him with the swiftness of a blazing fire, resembling the very embodiment of death with a staff in hand.
सौभद्रोऽप्यशनिप्रख्यां प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्। एह्येहीत्यब्रवीच्छल्यं यत्नाद्भीमेन वारितः ॥७-१४-६॥
The son of Subhadra, holding his mighty mace that resembled a thunderbolt, called out to Shalya, 'Come, come,' but was restrained by Bhima with great effort.
वारयित्वा तु सौभद्रं भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्। शल्यमासाद्य समरे तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः ॥७-१४-७॥
After restraining Saubhadra, the valiant Bhimasena confronted Shalya in the battlefield, standing firm like an unshakable mountain.
तथैव मद्रराजोऽपि भीमं दृष्ट्वा महाबलम्। ससाराभिमुखस्तूर्णं शार्दूल इव कुञ्जरम् ॥७-१४-८॥
Similarly, the king of Madra, upon seeing the mighty Bhima, advanced swiftly towards him as a tiger would towards an elephant.
ततस्तूर्यनिनादाश्च शङ्खानां च सहस्रशः। सिंहनादाश्च सञ्जज्ञुर्भेरीणां च महास्वनाः ॥७-१४-९॥
Then there arose the sounds of musical instruments, thousands of conches, lion roars, and the great sounds of drums.
पश्यतां शतशो ह्यासीदन्योन्यसमचेतसाम्। पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च साधु साध्विति निस्वनः ॥७-१४-१०॥
Amidst the hundreds of onlookers, both the Pandavas and the Kauravas, who shared a mutual understanding, there arose a sound of appreciation, 'well done, well done.'
न हि मद्राधिपादन्यः सर्वराजसु भारत। सोढुमुत्सहते वेगं भीमसेनस्य संयुगे ॥७-१४-११॥
O Bharata, none of the kings, except the king of Madra, is capable of withstanding Bhimasena's force in battle.
तथा मद्राधिपस्यापि गदावेगं महात्मनः। सोढुमुत्सहते लोके कोऽन्यो युधि वृकोदरात् ॥७-१४-१२॥
Thus, who else in the world can withstand the mighty force of the mace wielded by the great king of Madra in battle, other than Vrikodara?
पट्टैर्जाम्बूनदैर्बद्धा बभूव जनहर्षिणी। प्रजज्वाल तथाविद्धा भीमेन महती गदा ॥७-१४-१३॥
The great mace, adorned with golden straps, became a source of joy for the people. When struck by Bhima, it shone brilliantly.
तथैव चरतो मार्गान्मण्डलानि च भागशः। महाविद्युत्प्रतीकाशा शल्यस्य शुशुभे गदा ॥७-१४-१४॥
In the same manner, as Śalya moved through the paths and circles in parts, his mace shone brightly, resembling a great lightning bolt.
तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ मण्डलानि विचेरतुः। आवर्जितगदाशृङ्गावुभौ शल्यवृकोदरौ ॥७-१४-१५॥
Śalya and Vṛkodara, like two roaring bulls, circled around, wielding their mace and horn.
मण्डलावर्तमार्गेषु गदाविहरणेषु च। निर्विशेषमभूद्युद्धं तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः ॥७-१४-१६॥
In the circular paths and the wielding of maces, the battle between those two lion-like warriors was without distinction.
ताडिता भीमसेनेन शल्यस्य महती गदा। साग्निज्वाला महारौद्रा गदाचूर्णमशीर्यत ॥७-१४-१७॥
The mighty mace of Śalya, when struck by Bhīmasena, was shattered into pieces, appearing as if engulfed in fierce flames.
तथैव भीमसेनस्य द्विषताभिहता गदा। वर्षाप्रदोषे खद्योतैर्वृतो वृक्ष इवाबभौ ॥७-१४-१८॥
In the same way, Bhimasena's mace, struck by the enemy, shone like a tree surrounded by fireflies during a rainy evening.
गदा क्षिप्ता तु समरे मद्रराजेन भारत। व्योम संदीपयाना सा ससृजे पावकं बहु ॥७-१४-१९॥
O Bharata, the mace thrown by the king of Madra in battle illuminated the sky and produced a great fire.
तथैव भीमसेनेन द्विषते प्रेषिता गदा। तापयामास तत्सैन्यं महोल्का पतती यथा ॥७-१४-२०॥
In the same manner, the mace hurled by Bhimasena struck the enemy forces with the impact of a falling meteor.
ते चैवोभे गदे श्रेष्ठे समासाद्य परस्परम्। श्वसन्त्यौ नागकन्येव ससृजाते विभावसुम् ॥७-१४-२१॥
Both of them, wielding the best maces, approached each other and, breathing heavily like serpent maidens, emitted fire.
नखैरिव महाव्याघ्रौ दन्तैरिव महागजौ। तौ विचेरतुरासाद्य गदाभ्यां च परस्परम् ॥७-१४-२२॥
The two warriors, resembling great tigers with claws and great elephants with tusks, approached each other wielding maces.
ततो गदाग्राभिहतौ क्षणेन रुधिरोक्षितौ। ददृशाते महात्मानौ पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ ॥७-१४-२३॥
Then, in an instant, the great souls, struck by the tip of the mace and smeared with blood, appeared like blossomed Butea monosperma trees.
शुश्रुवे दिक्षु सर्वासु तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः। गदाभिघातसंह्रादः शक्राशनिरिवोपमः ॥७-१४-२४॥
The clash of the maces of those two mighty warriors echoed in all directions, resembling the thunderbolt of Indra.
गदया मद्रराजेन सव्यदक्षिणमाहतः। नाकम्पत तदा भीमो भिद्यमान इवाचलः ॥७-१४-२५॥
Bhima, struck on both sides by the king of Madra's mace, stood firm like an unshakable mountain.
तथा भीमगदावेगैस्ताड्यमानो महाबलः। धैर्यान्मद्राधिपस्तस्थौ वज्रैर्गिरिरिवाहतः ॥७-१४-२६॥
Thus, despite being struck by the powerful blows of Bhima's mace, the mighty king of Madra stood firm with courage, like a mountain enduring the strikes of thunderbolts.
आपेततुर्महावेगौ समुच्छ्रितमहागदौ। पुनरन्तरमार्गस्थौ मण्डलानि विचेरतुः ॥७-१४-२७॥
The two warriors, with great speed and holding their mighty maces aloft, approached. Once more, they stood on the path and circled around.
अथाप्लुत्य पदान्यष्टौ संनिपत्य गजाविव। सहसा लोहदण्डाभ्यामन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः ॥७-१४-२८॥
Then, like two elephants coming together, they suddenly jumped eight steps and struck each other with iron rods.
तौ परस्परवेगाच्च गदाभ्यां च भृशाहतौ। युगपत्पेततुर्वीरौ क्षिताविन्द्रध्वजाविव ॥७-१४-२९॥
The two heroes, struck severely by each other's force and maces, fell simultaneously to the ground, resembling the flags of Indra.
ततो विह्वलमानं तं निःश्वसन्तं पुनः पुनः। शल्यमभ्यपतत्तूर्णं कृतवर्मा महारथः ॥७-१४-३०॥
Then, in his distress, Śalya, who was sighing repeatedly, was swiftly attacked by the great warrior Kritavarma.
दृष्ट्वा चैनं महाराज गदयाभिनिपीडितम्। विचेष्टन्तं यथा नागं मूर्छयाभिपरिप्लुतम् ॥७-१४-३१॥
Upon seeing him, O great king, struck by the mace and struggling like an elephant overwhelmed by faintness.
ततः सगदमारोप्य मद्राणामधिपं रथम्। अपोवाह रणात्तूर्णं कृतवर्मा महारथः ॥७-१४-३२॥
Then Kritavarma, the great charioteer, swiftly carried away the king of the Madras from the battlefield after placing him on the chariot.
क्षीबवद्विह्वलो वीरो निमेषात्पुनरुत्थितः। भीमोऽपि सुमहाबाहुर्गदापाणिरदृश्यत ॥७-१४-३३॥
The hero, appearing as if intoxicated and confused, rose again in an instant. Bhima, with his mighty arms, was also seen holding a mace.
ततो मद्राधिपं दृष्ट्वा तव पुत्राः पराङ्मुखम्। सनागरथपत्त्यश्वाः समकम्पन्त मारिष ॥७-१४-३४॥
Upon seeing the Madra king, your sons turned away in fear. The entire army, including elephants, chariots, infantry, and horses, trembled, O lord.
ते पाण्डवैरर्द्यमानास्तावका जितकाशिभिः। भीता दिशोऽन्वपद्यन्त वातनुन्ना घना इव ॥७-१४-३५॥
Oppressed by the Pāṇḍavas, your warriors, who had conquered Kāśi, fled in fear in all directions like clouds driven by the wind.
निर्जित्य धार्तराष्ट्रांस्तु पाण्डवेया महारथाः। व्यरोचन्त रणे राजन्दीप्यमाना यशस्विनः ॥७-१४-३६॥
After defeating the sons of Dhritarashtra, the illustrious sons of Pandu, the great warriors, shone brilliantly in the battlefield, O king.
सिंहनादान्भृशं चक्रुः शङ्खान्दध्मुश्च हर्षिताः। भेरीश्च वादयामासुर्मृदङ्गांश्चानकैः सह ॥७-१४-३७॥
The warriors, filled with joy, roared like lions, blew their conches, and played drums and mridangas along with trumpets.
