07.021
Core and Pancharatra: Karna dampens the overexcitement of Duryodhana, by suggesting Bhima will certainly rally back the Pandava army.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
bhāradvājena bhagneṣu pāṇḍaveṣu mahāmṛdhe। pāñcāleṣu ca sarveṣu kaścidanyo'bhyavartata ॥7-21-1॥
When Bharadvaja defeated the Pandavas in the great battle, someone else advanced among all the Panchalas.
āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā kṣatriyāṇāṃ yaśaskarīm। asevitāṃ kāpuruṣaiḥ sevitāṃ puruṣarṣabhaiḥ ॥7-21-2॥
Having resolved to engage in the noble battle that brings fame to the warriors, a path not taken by cowards but pursued by the best of men.
sa hi vīro naraḥ sūta yo bhagneṣu nivartate। aho nāsītpumānaścid dṛṣṭvā droṇaṃ vyavasthitam ॥7-21-3॥
Indeed, a true hero is one who returns to battle even when the ranks are broken. Alas, there was no man who dared to face Droṇa standing firm.
jṛmbhamāṇamiva vyāghraṃ prabhinnamiva kuñjaram। tyajantamāhave prāṇānsaṃnaddhaṃ citrayodhinam ॥7-21-4॥
The warrior, skilled in battle, appeared like a yawning tiger and a broken elephant, as he abandoned his life in the fight.
maheṣvāsaṃ naravyāghraṃ dviṣatāmaghavardhanam। kṛtajñaṃ satyanirataṃ duryodhanahitaiṣiṇam ॥7-21-5॥
He was a great archer, a tiger among men, who increased the sorrow of his enemies, was grateful, devoted to truth, and a well-wisher of Duryodhana.
bhāradvājaṃ tathānīke dṛṣṭvā śūramavasthitam। ke vīrāḥ saṃnyavartanta tanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥7-21-6॥
Sanjaya, tell me which warriors turned back upon seeing the hero Bharadvaja standing in the army.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tāndṛṣṭvā calitānsaṅkhye praṇunnāndroṇasāyakaiḥ। pāñcālānpāṇḍavānmatsyān sṛñjayāṃścedikekayān ॥7-21-7॥
Upon seeing the Panchalas, Pandavas, Matsyas, Srinjayas, and the Cedis and Kekayas being shaken and driven back in battle by Drona's arrows.
droṇacāpavimuktena śaraugheṇāsuhāriṇā। sindhoriva mahaughena hriyamāṇānyathā plavān ॥7-21-8॥
The flood of arrows released from Drona's bow took away lives just as a great flood of the ocean carries away boats.
kauravāḥ siṃhanādena nānāvādyasvanena ca। rathadvipanarāśvaiśca sarvataḥ paryavārayan ॥7-21-9॥
The Kauravas surrounded the area from all sides, creating a tumultuous sound with their lion-like roars, various instruments, and the movement of chariots, elephants, men, and horses.
tān paśyan sainya-madhyastho rājā svajana-saṁvṛtaḥ। duryodhanovrabhīt karṇaṁ prahṛṣṭaḥ prahasan-niva ॥7-21-10॥
Seeing his own people surrounding him in the midst of the army, King Duryodhana, joyful and as if smiling, spoke to Karna.
paśya rādheya pāñcālānpraṇunnāndroṇasāyakaiḥ। siṃheneva mṛgānvanyāṃstrāsitāndṛḍhadhanvanā ॥7-21-11॥
Observe, O son of Radha, how the Panchalas are being scattered by Drona's arrows, akin to deer being frightened by a lion in the forest, by the mighty archer.
naite jātu punaryuddhamīheyuriti me matiḥ। yathā tu bhagnā droṇena vāteneiva mahādrumāḥ ॥7-21-12॥
These warriors will never again desire to fight, I believe. They are shattered by Drona, like great trees by a storm.
ardyamānāḥ śarair ete rukmapuṅkhair mahātmanā। pathā naike na gacchanti ghūrṇamānās tatas tataḥ ॥7-21-13॥
Afflicted by arrows with golden shafts by the great soul, these do not follow a single path, but whirl around from one place to another.
saṁniruddhāśca kauravyairdroṇena ca mahātmanā। ete'nye maṇḍalībhūtāḥ pāvakeneva kuñjarāḥ ॥7-21-14॥
Restrained by the Kauravas and the noble Drona, these others formed a circle like elephants surrounded by fire.
bhramarairiva cāviṣṭā droṇasya niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। anyonyaṃ samalīyanta palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ ॥7-21-15॥
Overwhelmed by Drona's sharp arrows, like bees, they clung to each other, intent on fleeing from the battlefield.
eṣa bhīmo dṛḍhakrodho hīnaḥ pāṇḍavasṛñjayaiḥ। madīyairāvṛto yodhaiḥ karṇa tarjayatīva mām ॥7-21-16॥
This Bhima, with his firm anger, seems to threaten me, Karna, as he stands deprived of the Pandavas and Srinjayas, surrounded by my warriors.
vyaktaṃ droṇamayaṃ lokamadya paśyati durmatiḥ। nirāśo jīvitānnūnamadya rājyācca pāṇḍavaḥ ॥7-21-17॥
Today, the evil-minded perceives the world as being made of Drona. The Pandava is indeed hopeless about his life and kingdom.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said:
naiṣa jātu mahābāhur jīvann āhavam utsṛjet। na cemān puruṣavyāghra siṃhanādān viśakṣyate ॥7-21-18॥
The mighty-armed warrior would never abandon the battle while alive, nor would he tolerate the challenges, O tiger among men.
na cāpi pāṇḍavā yuddhe bhajyeranniti me matiḥ। śūrāśca balavantaśca kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ ॥7-21-19॥
In my view, the Pāṇḍavas will not be defeated in battle. They are valiant, powerful, adept in weaponry, and confident in warfare.
viṣāgnidyūtasaṅkleśānvanavāsaṃ ca pāṇḍavāḥ। smaramāṇā na hāsyanti saṅgrāmamiti me matiḥ ॥7-21-20॥
The Pandavas, recalling their past sufferings from poison, fire, gambling, and exile in the forest, will not take the battle lightly; this is my belief.
nikṛto hi mahābāhuramitaujā vṛkodaraḥ। varānvarānhi kaunteyo rathodārānhaṇiṣyati ॥7-21-21॥
Vrikodara, the mighty-armed and of immeasurable energy, has indeed been deceived. The son of Kunti, Bhima, will slay the great chariot warriors who are excellent in battle.
asinā dhanuṣā śaktyā hayairnāgairnarai rathaiḥ। āyasena ca daṇḍena vrātānvrātān haniṣyati ॥7-21-22॥
He will slay groups upon groups with a sword, bow, spear, horses, elephants, men, chariots, and an iron staff.
tam ete cānuvartante sātyaki-pramukhā rathāḥ। pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ pāṇḍavāś ca viśeṣataḥ ॥7-21-23॥
These warriors, led by Satyaki, including the chariots, Panchalas, Kekayas, Matsyas, and especially the Pandavas, follow him.
śūrāśca balavantaśca vikrāntāśca mahārathāḥ। viśeṣataśca bhīmena saṁrabdhenābhicoditāḥ ॥7-21-24॥
The heroes, strong and valiant great charioteers, were especially urged on by the excited Bhima.
te droṇam abhivartante sarvataḥ kurupuṅgavāḥ। vṛkodaraṃ parīpsantaḥ sūryam abhragaṇā iva ॥7-21-25॥
The best warriors of the Kuru dynasty surrounded Drona from all sides, aiming to protect Vrikodara, just as clouds gather around the sun.
ekāyanagatā hyete pīḍayeyuryatavratam। arakṣyamāṇaṃ śalabhā yathā dīpaṃ mumūrṣavaḥ ॥ asaṃśayaṃ kṛtāstrāśca paryāptāścāpi vāraṇe ॥7-21-26॥
These individuals, united in their purpose, would indeed torment someone who has taken vows, just as moths that desire to die would torment an unprotected lamp. Undoubtedly, they are skilled in weaponry and are also sufficient in defense.
atibhāraṃ tvahaṃ manye bhāradvāje samāhitam। te śīghramanugacchāmo yatra droṇo vyavasthitaḥ ॥ kākā iva mahānāgaṃ mā vai hanyuryatavratam ॥7-21-27॥
I believe that Bhāradvāja is burdened excessively. We should quickly proceed to where Droṇa is. Like crows attacking a great serpent, do not harm the one who is steadfast in his vows.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
rādheyasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājā duryodhanastadā। bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito rājanprāyāddroṇarathaṃ prati ॥7-21-28॥
Upon hearing Radheya's words, King Duryodhana, accompanied by his brothers, proceeded to Drona's chariot.
tatrārāvo mahānāsīdekaṃ droṇaṃ jighāṃsatām। pāṇḍavānāṃ nivṛttānāṃ nānāvarṇairhayottamaiḥ ॥7-21-29॥
There arose a great clamor as the Pāṇḍavas, having returned with their excellent horses of various colors, sought to kill Droṇa.
