07.017
Core and Pancharatra: Half-moon chariot formation by Trigarthas to attack Arjuna. Arjuna kills Sudhanvan, which makes them retreat. Susharman rallies Trigarthas again reminding them of the oath taken, and they attack.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
ततः संशप्तका राजन्समे देशे व्यवस्थिताः। व्यूह्यानीकं रथैरेव चन्द्रार्धाख्यं मुदान्विताः ॥७-१७-१॥
Then, O king, the warriors who had vowed to fight to the death were joyfully positioned in the same place, arranging their army in a formation known as the half-moon using only chariots.
ते किरीटिनमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षेण मारिष। उदक्रोशन्नरव्याघ्राः शब्देन महता तदा ॥७-१७-२॥
Upon seeing the crowned one approaching, the warriors, filled with joy, cried out loudly, O gentle one, like tigers among men.
स शब्दः प्रदिशः सर्वा दिशः खं च समावृणोत्। आवृतत्वाच्च लोकस्य नासीत्तत्र प्रतिस्वनः ॥७-१७-३॥
The sound enveloped all directions, the entire sky, and the world, leaving no room for an echo to exist.
अतीव सम्प्रहृष्टांस्तानुपलभ्य धनञ्जयः। किञ्चिदभ्युत्स्मयन्कृष्णमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥७-१७-४॥
Seeing them extremely delighted, Arjuna, with a slight smile, spoke these words to Krishna.
पश्यैतान्देवकीमातर्मुमूर्षूनद्य संयुगे। भ्रातॄंस्त्रैगर्तकानेवं रोदितव्ये प्रहर्षितान् ॥७-१७-५॥
O mother Devaki, behold these Trigarta brothers who, elated and desiring to die, stand in battle today, thus to be lamented.
अथ वा हर्षकालोऽयं त्रैगर्तानामसंशयम्। कुनरैर्दुरवापान्हि लोकान्प्राप्स्यन्त्यनुत्तमान् ॥७-१७-६॥
"This is undoubtedly a time of joy for the Traigartas. The Kunaras will indeed attain the excellent worlds that are difficult to obtain."
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुर्हृषीकेशं ततोऽर्जुनः। आससाद रणे व्यूढां त्रैगर्तानामनीकिनीम् ॥७-१७-७॥
After speaking thus to Hṛṣīkeśa, the mighty-armed Arjuna approached the battle formation of the Trigarta army.
स देवदत्तमादाय शङ्खं हेमपरिष्कृतम्। दध्मौ वेगेन महता फल्गुनः पूरयन्दिशः ॥७-१७-८॥
Arjuna, taking the beautifully adorned golden conch named Devadatta, blew it with great force, filling all directions with its sound.
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ता संशप्तकवरूथिनी। निश्चेष्टावस्थिता सङ्क्ये अश्मसारमयी यथा ॥७-१७-९॥
The sound caused the Saṃśaptaka army to become frightened and stand still in the battlefield, as if they were turned to stone.
वाहास्तेषां विवृत्ताक्षाः स्तब्धकर्णशिरोधराः। विष्टब्धचरणा मूत्रं रुधिरं च प्रसुस्रुवुः ॥७-१७-१०॥
Their horses, with eyes turned, ears stiffened, and heads held high, stood with rigid legs as urine and blood flowed from them.
उपलभ्य च ते सञ्ज्ञामवस्थाप्य च वाहिनीम्। युगपत्पाण्डुपुत्राय चिक्षिपुः कङ्कपत्रिणः ॥७-१७-११॥
Upon perceiving the signal and arranging their forces, they simultaneously launched arrows at the son of Pandu.
तान्यर्जुनः सहस्राणि दश पञ्चैव चाशुगैः। अनागतान्येव शरैश्चिच्छेदाशुपराक्रमः ॥७-१७-१२॥
Arjuna swiftly cut down those thousands of arrows, ten and five, with his swift action, even before they arrived.
ततोऽर्जुनं शितैर्बाणैर्दशभिर्दशभिः पुनः। प्रत्यविध्यंस्ततः पार्थस्तानविध्यत्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः ॥७-१७-१३॥
Then Arjuna, with ten sharp arrows, struck again; then Partha (Arjuna) pierced them with three arrows each.
एकैकस्तु ततः पार्थं राजन्विव्याध पञ्चभिः। स च तान्प्रतिविव्याध द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां पराक्रमी ॥७-१७-१४॥
Each warrior then struck Arjuna with five arrows, O king. In return, the mighty Arjuna struck them back with two arrows each.
भूय एव तु संरब्धास्तेऽर्जुनं सहकेशवम्। आपूरयञ्शरैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तटाकमिव वृष्टिभिः ॥७-१७-१५॥
Once again, they, excited, filled Arjuna and Keshava with sharp arrows, like a lake is filled with showers.
ततः शरसहस्राणि प्रापतन्नर्जुनं प्रति। भ्रमराणामिव व्राताः फुल्लद्रुमगणे वने ॥७-१७-१६॥
Then, thousands of arrows descended upon Arjuna, resembling swarms of bees amidst the blooming trees in the forest.
ततः सुबाहुस्त्रिंशद्भिरद्रिसारमयैर्दृढैः। अविध्यदिषुभिर्गाढं किरीटे सव्यसाचिनम् ॥७-१७-१७॥
Then Subahu shot thirty strong arrows made from the essence of mountains, deeply piercing Arjuna's crown.
तैः किरीटी किरीटस्थैर्हेमपुङ्खैरजिह्मगैः। शातकुम्भमयापीडो बभौ यूप इवोच्छ्रितः ॥७-१७-१८॥
The crowned one, adorned with golden feathers and a golden crest, stood tall and radiant like a sacrificial post.
हस्तावापं सुबाहोस्तु भल्लेन युधि पाण्डवः। चिच्छेद तं चैव पुनः शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् ॥७-१७-१९॥
In the battle, the Pāṇḍava cut off Subāhu's bow with an arrow and then showered him again with arrows.
ततः सुशर्मा दशभिः सुरथश्च किरीटिनम्। सुधर्मा सुधनुश्चैव सुबाहुश्च समर्पयन् ॥७-१७-२०॥
Then Suśarmā, accompanied by ten others including Suratha and the crowned one, along with Sudharmā, Sudhanu, and Subāhu, made an offering.
तांस्तु सर्वान्पृथग्बाणैर्वानरप्रवरध्वजः। प्रत्यविध्यद्ध्वजांश्चैषां भल्लैश्चिच्छेद काञ्चनान् ॥७-१७-२१॥
Dhvaja, the leader of the monkeys, skillfully shot arrows at each of them, severing their golden flags.
सुधन्वनो धनुश्छित्त्वा हयान्वै न्यवधीच्छरैः। अथास्य सशिरस्त्राणं शिरः कायादपाहरत् ॥७-१७-२२॥
After cutting off Sudhanvan's bow, he killed the horses with arrows and then removed his head along with the helmet from his body.
तस्मिंस्तु पतिते वीरे त्रस्तास्तस्य पदानुगाः। व्यद्रवन्त भयाद्भीता येन दौर्योधनं बलम् ॥७-१७-२३॥
When the hero fell, his terrified followers, frightened by the one who caused Duryodhana's army to flee, ran away in fear.
ततो जघान सङ्क्रुद्धो वासविस्तां महाचमूम्। शरजालैरविच्छिन्नैस्तमः सूर्य इवांशुभिः ॥७-१७-२४॥
In his fury, Indra attacked the vast army with a relentless barrage of arrows, much like the sun dispels darkness with its rays.
ततो भग्ने बले तस्मिन्विप्रयाते समन्ततः। सव्यसाचिनि सङ्क्रुद्धे त्रैगर्तान्भयमाविशत् ॥७-१७-२५॥
Then, as the army was shattered and dispersed, fear gripped the Trigartas when Arjuna, the ambidextrous archer, became enraged.
ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। अमुह्यंस्तत्र तत्रैव त्रस्ता मृगगणा इव ॥७-१७-२६॥
They were struck by Arjuna's arrows, which had bent joints, and became confused right there, frightened like herds of deer.
ततस्त्रिगर्तराट्क्रुद्धस्तानुवाच महारथान्। अलं द्रुतेन वः शूरा न भयं कर्तुमर्हथ ॥७-१७-२७॥
Then the king of Trigarta, in anger, addressed the great charioteers: "Brave ones, there is no need to hurry; you should not be afraid."
शप्त्वा तु शपथान्घोरान्सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः। गत्वा दौर्योधनं सैन्यं किं वै वक्ष्यथ मुख्यगाः ॥७-१७-२८॥
The chiefs, having sworn terrible oaths in front of the entire army, went to Duryodhana's forces. What will they say?
नावहास्याः कथं लोके कर्मणानेन संयुगे। भवेम सहिताः सर्वे निवर्तध्वं यथाबलम् ॥७-१७-२९॥
"How can we, by this action in battle, become united and return with all our strength, without being ridiculed in the world?"
एवमुक्तास्तु ते राजन्नुदक्रोशन्मुहुर्मुहुः। शङ्खांश्च दध्मिरे वीरा हर्षयन्तः परस्परम् ॥७-१७-३०॥
Having been thus addressed, O king, they repeatedly cried out. The heroes blew their conches, rejoicing among themselves.
ततस्ते संन्यवर्तन्त संशप्तकगणाः पुनः। नारायणाश्च गोपालाः कृत्वा मृत्युं निवर्तनम् ॥७-१७-३१॥
Then the group of warriors sworn to die turned back again, along with the Narayana warriors and cowherds, having made death retreat.
