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.
Sanjaya said:
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.
Upon seeing the crowned one approaching, the warriors, filled with joy, cried out loudly, O gentle one, like tigers among men.
The sound enveloped all directions, the entire sky, and the world, leaving no room for an echo to exist.
Seeing them extremely delighted, Arjuna, with a slight smile, spoke these words to Krishna.
O mother Devaki, behold these Trigarta brothers who, elated and desiring to die, stand in battle today, thus to be lamented.
"This is undoubtedly a time of joy for the Traigartas. The Kunaras will indeed attain the excellent worlds that are difficult to obtain."
After speaking thus to Hṛṣīkeśa, the mighty-armed Arjuna approached the battle formation of the Trigarta army.
Arjuna, taking the beautifully adorned golden conch named Devadatta, blew it with great force, filling all directions with its sound.
The sound caused the Saṃśaptaka army to become frightened and stand still in the battlefield, as if they were turned to stone.
Their horses, with eyes turned, ears stiffened, and heads held high, stood with rigid legs as urine and blood flowed from them.
Upon perceiving the signal and arranging their forces, they simultaneously launched arrows at the son of Pandu.
Arjuna swiftly cut down those thousands of arrows, ten and five, with his swift action, even before they arrived.
Then Arjuna, with ten sharp arrows, struck again; then Partha (Arjuna) pierced them with three arrows each.
Each warrior then struck Arjuna with five arrows, O king. In return, the mighty Arjuna struck them back with two arrows each.
Once again, they, excited, filled Arjuna and Keshava with sharp arrows, like a lake is filled with showers.
Then, thousands of arrows descended upon Arjuna, resembling swarms of bees amidst the blooming trees in the forest.
Then Subahu shot thirty strong arrows made from the essence of mountains, deeply piercing Arjuna's crown.
The crowned one, adorned with golden feathers and a golden crest, stood tall and radiant like a sacrificial post.
In the battle, the Pāṇḍava cut off Subāhu's bow with an arrow and then showered him again with arrows.
Then Suśarmā, accompanied by ten others including Suratha and the crowned one, along with Sudharmā, Sudhanu, and Subāhu, made an offering.
Dhvaja, the leader of the monkeys, skillfully shot arrows at each of them, severing their golden flags.
After cutting off Sudhanvan's bow, he killed the horses with arrows and then removed his head along with the helmet from his body.
When the hero fell, his terrified followers, frightened by the one who caused Duryodhana's army to flee, ran away in fear.
In his fury, Indra attacked the vast army with a relentless barrage of arrows, much like the sun dispels darkness with its rays.
Then, as the army was shattered and dispersed, fear gripped the Trigartas when Arjuna, the ambidextrous archer, became enraged.
They were struck by Arjuna's arrows, which had bent joints, and became confused right there, frightened like herds of deer.
Then the king of Trigarta, in anger, addressed the great charioteers: "Brave ones, there is no need to hurry; you should not be afraid."
The chiefs, having sworn terrible oaths in front of the entire army, went to Duryodhana's forces. What will they say?
"How can we, by this action in battle, become united and return with all our strength, without being ridiculed in the world?"
Having been thus addressed, O king, they repeatedly cried out. The heroes blew their conches, rejoicing among themselves.
Then the group of warriors sworn to die turned back again, along with the Narayana warriors and cowherds, having made death retreat.
