07.018
Pancharatra: Battle between Arjuna and Trigarthas.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
दृष्ट्वा तु संनिवृत्तांस्तान्संशप्तकगणान्पुनः। वासुदेवं महात्मानमर्जुनः समभाषत ॥७-१८-१॥
Upon seeing the returning groups of warriors who had vowed to fight to the death, Arjuna spoke once more to the noble Vasudeva.
चोदयाश्वान्हृषीकेश संशप्तकगणान्प्रति। नैते हास्यन्ति सङ्ग्रामं जीवन्त इति मे मतिः ॥७-१८-२॥
Urge the horses, O Hṛṣīkeśa, towards the troops of the Saṃśaptakas. I believe these will not leave the battle alive.
पश्य मेऽस्त्रबलं घोरं बाह्वोरिष्वसनस्य च। अद्यैतान्पातयिष्यामि क्रुद्धो रुद्रः पशूनिव ॥७-१८-३॥
"Behold my formidable weaponry and the might of my arms and archery. Today, in my wrath, I shall strike them down like Rudra does to beasts."
ततः कृष्णः स्मितं कृत्वा परिणन्द्य शिवेन तम्। प्रावेशयत दुर्धर्षो यत्र यत्रैच्छदर्जुनः ॥७-१८-४॥
Then Krishna, with a smile, greeted him with Shiva and allowed the invincible Arjuna to enter wherever he wished.
बभ्राजे स रथोऽत्यर्थमुह्यमानो रणे तदा। उह्यमानमिवाकाशे विमानं पाण्डुरैर्हयैः ॥७-१८-५॥
Then that chariot shone brightly in the battle, appearing as if it were an aerial car being carried through the sky by white horses.
मण्डलानि ततश्चक्रे गतप्रत्यागतानि च। यथा शक्ररथो राजन्युद्धे देवासुरे पुरा ॥७-१८-६॥
Then he formed circles that moved back and forth, just like Indra's chariot did in the ancient battle between the gods and demons, O king.
अथ नारायणाः क्रुद्धा विविधायुधपाणयः। छादयन्तः शरव्रातैः परिवव्रुर्धनञ्जयम् ॥७-१८-७॥
Then the Nārāyaṇas, in their anger and armed with various weapons, surrounded and attacked Dhanañjaya with a barrage of arrows.
अदृश्यं च मुहूर्तेन चक्रुस्ते भरतर्षभ। कृष्णेन सहितं युद्धे कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम् ॥७-१८-८॥
In the battle, they made Arjuna, the son of Kunti, disappear in an instant along with Krishna, O best of the Bharatas.
क्रुद्धस्तु फल्गुनः सङ्ख्ये द्विगुणीकृतविक्रमः। गाण्डीवमुपसंमृज्य तूर्णं जग्राह संयुगे ॥७-१८-९॥
Arjuna, filled with anger and doubling his prowess, quickly cleaned and took up his bow Gandiva in the battle.
बद्ध्वा च भृकुटीं वक्त्रे क्रोधस्य प्रतिलक्षणम्। देवदत्तं महाशङ्खं पूरयामास पाण्डवः ॥७-१८-१०॥
Pāṇḍava, with his eyebrows knitted in anger, blew the mighty conch named Devadatta.
अथास्त्रमरिसङ्घघ्नं त्वाष्ट्रमभ्यस्यदर्जुनः। ततो रूपसहस्राणि प्रादुरासन्पृथक्पृथक् ॥७-१८-११॥
Arjuna then practiced the Tvaṣṭṛ weapon, known for destroying enemy groups, and subsequently, thousands of distinct forms appeared.
आत्मनः प्रतिरूपैस्तैर्नानारूपैर्विमोहिताः। अन्योन्यमर्जुनं मत्वा स्वमात्मानं च जघ्निरे ॥७-१८-१२॥
Deluded by the various forms of themselves, they mistook each other for Arjuna and killed their own selves.
अयमर्जुनोऽयं गोविन्द इमौ यादवपाण्डवौ। इति ब्रुवाणाः संमूढा जघ्नुरन्योन्यमाहवे ॥७-१८-१३॥
Confused and saying, "This is Arjuna, this is Govinda, these are the Yadavas and Pandavas," they ended up killing each other in the battle.
मोहिताः परमास्त्रेण क्षयं जग्मुः परस्परम्। अशोभन्त रणे योधाः पुष्पिता इव किंशुकाः ॥७-१८-१४॥
Bewildered by the supreme weapon, the warriors turned against each other and met their end, shining in the battle like blooming Butea monosperma flowers.
ततः शरसहस्राणि तैर्विमुक्तानि भस्मसात्। कृत्वा तदस्त्रं तान्वीराननयद्यमसादनम् ॥७-१८-१५॥
Then, they released thousands of arrows, turning them to ashes, and led those heroes to the abode of Yama.
अथ प्रहस्य बीभत्सुर्ललित्थान्मालवानपि। माचेल्लकांस्त्रिगर्तांश्च यौधेयांश्चार्दयच्छरैः ॥७-१८-१६॥
Then, with a laugh, Bibhatsu shot arrows at the Lalithas, Malavas, Macellakas, Trigartas, and Yaudheyas, piercing them.
ते वध्यमाना वीरेण क्षत्रियाः कालचोदिताः। व्यसृजञ्शरवर्षाणि पार्थे नानाविधानि च ॥७-१८-१७॥
The warriors, driven by time and facing their end, released various kinds of showers of arrows at Arjuna, even as they were being slain by the hero.
ततो नैवार्जुनस्तत्र न रथो न च केशवः। प्रत्यदृश्यत घोरेण शरवर्षेण संवृतः ॥७-१८-१८॥
At that moment, neither Arjuna, nor his chariot, nor Keshava was visible, as they were enveloped by a dreadful shower of arrows.
ततस्ते लब्धलक्ष्यत्वादन्योन्यमभिचुक्रुशुः। हतौ कृष्णाविति प्रीता वासांस्यादुधुवुस्तदा ॥७-१८-१९॥
Then, having achieved their aim, they shouted to each other in joy, "Krishna and Arjuna are slain!" In their delight, they waved their garments in celebration.
भेरीमृदङ्गशङ्खांश्च दध्मुर्वीराः सहस्रशः। सिंहनादरवांश्चोग्रांश्चक्रिरे तत्र मारिष ॥७-१८-२०॥
The warriors blew thousands of drums, mridangas, and conches, creating fierce lion-roar sounds there, O prince.
ततः प्रसिष्विदे कृष्णः खिन्नश्चार्जुनमब्रवीत्। क्वासि पार्थ न पश्ये त्वां कच्चिज्जीवसि शत्रुहन् ॥७-१८-२१॥
Then, Krishna, sweating and distressed, said to Arjuna: "Where are you, O son of Pritha? I cannot see you. Are you still alive, O slayer of enemies?"
तस्य तं मानुषं भावं भावज्ञोऽऽज्ञाय पाण्डवः। वायव्यास्त्रेण तैरस्तां शरवृष्टिमपाहरत् ॥७-१८-२२॥
Recognizing his human nature, the insightful Pāṇḍava used the Vāyavya weapon to dispel the shower of arrows.
ततः संशप्तकव्रातान्साश्वद्विपरथायुधान्। उवाह भगवान्वायुः शुष्कपर्णचयानिव ॥७-१८-२३॥
Then, the divine wind god Vāyu swept away the Saṃśaptakas, along with their horses, elephants, chariots, and weapons, as if they were mere heaps of dry leaves.
उह्यमानास्तु ते राजन्बह्वशोभन्त वायुना। प्रडीनाः पक्षिणः काले वृक्षेभ्य इव मारिष ॥७-१८-२४॥
O King, they were carried away by the wind and shone brightly, like birds that have fallen from the trees in due time, O gentle one.
तांस्तथा व्याकुलीकृत्य त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः। जघान निशितैर्बाणैः सहस्राणि शतानि च ॥७-१८-२५॥
Arjuna, in his haste, agitated them and killed thousands and hundreds with his sharp arrows.
शिरांसि भल्लैरहरद्बाहूनपि च सायुधान्। हस्तिहस्तोपमांश्चोरूञ्शरैरुर्व्यामपातयत् ॥७-१८-२६॥
He severed the heads with arrows, and also the arms that held weapons, causing the thighs, resembling elephant trunks, to fall to the ground with his arrows.
पृष्ठच्छिन्नान्विचरणान्विमस्तिष्केक्षणाङ्गुलीन्। नानाङ्गावयवैर्हीनांश्चकारारीन्धनञ्जयः ॥७-१८-२७॥
Dhananjaya rendered the enemies incapacitated, breaking their backs, leaving them wandering without brains, eyes, and fingers, and deprived of various limbs.
गन्धर्वनगराकारान्विधिवत्कल्पितान्रथान्। शरैर्विशकलीकुर्वंश्चक्रे व्यश्वरथद्विपान् ॥७-१८-२८॥
He destroyed the chariots, which were constructed like celestial cities, using arrows, leaving them without horses, chariots, and elephants.
मुण्डतालवनानीव तत्र तत्र चकाशिरे। छिन्नध्वजरथव्राताः केचित्केचित्क्वचित्क्वचित् ॥७-१८-२९॥
The scene resembled forests of shaved palm trees shining here and there. Some groups of chariots with cut flags were scattered around.
सोत्तरायुधिनो नागाः सपताकाङ्कुशायुधाः। पेतुः शक्राशनिहता द्रुमवन्त इवाचलाः ॥७-१८-३०॥
The elephants, equipped with superior weapons, banners, hooks, and arms, fell as if struck by Indra's thunderbolt, resembling mountains covered with trees.
चामरापीडकवचाः स्रस्तान्त्रनयनासवः। सारोहास्तुरगाः पेतुः पार्थबाणहताः क्षितौ ॥७-१८-३१॥
The armored warriors, adorned with yak-tail fans, fell to the ground with their riders and horses, struck down by Arjuna's arrows, their intestines and eyes fallen, and liquor spilled.
विप्रविद्धासिनखराश्छिन्नवर्मर्ष्टिशक्तयः। पत्तयश्छिन्नवर्माणः कृपणं शेरते हताः ॥७-१८-३२॥
The battlefield is strewn with scattered swords and nails, and the armors, spears, and powers are cut down. The foot soldiers, with their armors cut, lie miserably slain.
तैर्हतैर्हन्यमानैश्च पतद्भिः पतितैरपि। भ्रमद्भिर्निष्टनद्भिश्च घोरमायोधनं बभौ ॥७-१८-३३॥
The terrible battle appeared with those who were killed, being struck, falling, fallen, wandering, and groaning.
रजश्च महदुद्भूतं शान्तं रुधिरवृष्टिभिः। मही चाप्यभवद्दुर्गा कबन्धशतसङ्कुला ॥७-१८-३४॥
A great dust storm arose, calm yet accompanied by showers of blood. The earth became difficult to traverse, crowded with hundreds of headless trunks.
तद्बभौ रौद्रबीभत्सं बीभत्सोर्यानमाहवे। आक्रीड इव रुद्रस्य घ्नतः कालात्यये पशून् ॥७-१८-३५॥
The fierce and dreadful chariot of the terrifying one shone in the battle, resembling Rudra's play of destroying creatures at the end of time.
ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन व्याकुलाश्वरथद्विपाः। तमेवाभिमुखाः क्षीणाः शक्रस्यातिथितां गताः ॥७-१८-३६॥
They were being slaughtered by Arjuna, their horses, chariots, and elephants in disarray, and in their weakened state, they approached Indra for refuge.
सा भूमिर्भरतश्रेष्ठ निहतैस्तैर्महारथैः। आस्तीर्णा सम्बभौ सर्वा प्रेतीभूतैः समन्ततः ॥७-१८-३७॥
O best of the Bharatas, the earth was entirely covered by the slain great warriors and shone with the dead all around.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चैव प्रमत्ते सव्यसाचिनि। व्यूढानीकस्ततो द्रोणो युधिष्ठिरमुपाद्रवत् ॥७-१८-३८॥
During this time, while Arjuna was off guard, Drona organized his forces and advanced towards Yudhishthira.
तं प्रत्यगृह्णंस्त्वरिता व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः। युधिष्ठिरं परीप्सन्तस्तदासीत्तुमुलं महत् ॥७-१८-३९॥
The warriors, quickly arrayed in ranks and ready to strike, received him with the intent to protect Yudhishthira; it was a great tumult.
