07.016
Core and Pancharatra: The next day, the twelfth, Trigarta's invite Arjuna for a battle after taking the oath, so that Drona can capture Yudhisthira. Arjuan instils Satyajit to safeguard Yudhisthira and leaves.
Sanjaya said:
They went to the army camp and settled there, O lord of the people, in a manner that was organized by division, justice, and battalion, covering all aspects.
After withdrawing the troops, the deeply disheartened Droṇa looked at Duryodhana with embarrassment and spoke.
I have mentioned this earlier, that Dhananjaya cannot be defeated. Even the gods cannot capture Yudhishthira in battle.
Thus, do not excessively doubt my words: Krishna and Arjuna, who have acted for you in battle, are invincible.
Yudhishthira, taken away by someone on the white horse through some power, will come under your control today, O king.
Someone should lead the challengers in battle to another land, but the son of Kunti should not return without victory in any circumstance.
In this moment of emptiness, O king, I shall capture the army of Dharmaraja, breaking through it as Dhrishtadyumna watches.
If, deprived of Arjuna, he does not abandon the battle upon seeing me approach, know that he is captured.
"O king, today I will surely bring Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, along with his followers, under control without any doubt."
If Pāṇḍava stands in battle even for a moment and then departs, he is considered distinguished from victory.
Upon hearing Drona's words, the king of Trigarta, along with his brothers, addressed these words to you, O king.
O king, we are constantly insulted by Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, despite being innocent, while the real offender is among us, O best of the Bharatas.
We, remembering those various different kinds of wrongs, are always burned by the fire of anger and unable to sleep during the nights.
He, who is endowed with divine weapons, has come within our sight. We are indeed the doers of everything we wish to accomplish, which resides in our hearts.
We will drag this outside the battlefield and kill it, as it may be dear to you and bring glory to us.
Today, let the land be without Arjuna or Atri's descendant once more. We assure you, this will not be false.
Thus, having spoken, Satyaratha, Satyadharma, Satyavarma, Satyeshu, and Satyakarma, O Bharata, continued in their truthful ways.
The five brothers, united, returned with a force of ten thousand chariots, having sworn an oath in the midst of battle, O great king.
The Malavas and Astundikeras, along with thirty thousand chariots, and Susharma, the formidable leader of Trigarta, ruled over Prasthala.
He, along with the Illyrians, Lalithas, and Madrakas, accompanied by ten thousand chariots, cursed together with his brothers.
Ten thousand distinguished chariots from various regions have arisen again, arriving for the purpose of fulfilling the vow.
Then, after taking the fire and offering oblations, they all individually took grass garments and variegated armors.
They are heroes, clad in armor bound to their bodies, smeared with ghee, wearing garments of grass, girdled with bowstrings, and are a thousand hundred right-handed warriors.
The sacrificers, who have sons and are worldly, having accomplished their duties, leave their bodies, about to sacrifice themselves with fame and victory.
By practicing celibacy, following the authority of the Vedas, performing sacrifices with appropriate gifts, and having attained the worlds through valiant fighting, they quickly desire to depart.
After satisfying the Brahmins with gifts, cows, and clothes, they addressed each other once more.
They kindled the dark path, approached their vow in battle, and with firm resolve, made a pledge in the fire.
The words spoken loudly by all beings were heard, and they thought of taking a vow to kill Dhananjaya, which they also made.
These are indeed the realms designated for the untruthful, the slayers of a brāhmaṇa, the drunkards, and those who engage with the teacher's wife.
Those who seize the property of Brahmins and steal the king's provisions, abandon those who seek refuge, and kill those who beg, are condemned.
The worlds of those who commit arson, kill cows, offend others, and hate Brahmins are described.
Those who, out of delusion, approach their wife during menstruation, those who associate with śrāddha, and those who steal the self.
Those who steal deposits, destroy what is heard, fight with anger, and follow the lowly are described.
We reach the realms designated for atheists, those who forsake the Agnihotra and their ancestors, as well as the realms for sinners.
If we do not kill Dhananjaya in battle, we would return overpowered by him and out of fear, we would indeed turn away.
If we were to perform difficult actions in the world, especially in battle, we would undoubtedly attain the desired worlds of the virtuous.
After speaking thus, O king, the heroes advanced in battle, challenging Arjuna, towards the direction blessed by their ancestors.
Arjuna, the conqueror of enemy cities, called by those tiger-like men, addressed Yudhishthira without pause.
"I have vowed not to return once called upon. The warriors sworn to fight to the death keep challenging me repeatedly, O king."
Susharma, along with his brothers, is challenging us in battle. Please allow me to kill him and his followers.
I cannot bear this challenge, O best of men. I assure you, the enemies are already defeated in battle.
Yudhishthira said:
You have heard, dear, what Drona intended. Act in such a way that his intentions are rendered false.
Drona, being strong and heroic, skilled in weaponry and having overcome fatigue, has promised this capture, my great chariot warrior.
Arjuna said:
Today, O king, Satyajit is your protector in battle. As long as the Panchala prince stands firm, the teacher will not achieve his desire.
O lord, when the tiger among men, Satyajit, is slain in battle, no one should stand against him, whether assembled by all or not, in any way.
Sanjaya said:
Then, having been permitted by the king, Arjuna was warmly embraced and looked upon with love, and he was engaged with many blessings.
Leaving this, Arjuna, strong and hungry, advanced towards the Trigartas like a lion towards herds of deer to satisfy his hunger.
Then, when Arjuna had departed, Duryodhana's army, filled with supreme joy, became intensely angry to subdue Dharmaraja.
Then those armies clashed with great force, resembling the turbulent waters of the Ganga and Sarayu rivers during the monsoon season.
