07.025
Core and Pancharatra: Battle between Bhima and Duryodhana; Bhima and Pragjyotisha; Yudhishthira and Bhagadatta. Bhagadatta along with his elephant gains the upper hand on the Pandava army.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
teṣvevaṃ saṃnivṛtteṣu pratyudyāteṣu bhāgaśaḥ। kathaṃ yuyudhire pārthā māmakaśca tarasvinaḥ ॥7-25-1॥
In this way, when they had returned and advanced in parts, how did the sons of Pṛthā and my mighty warriors engage in battle?
kimarjunaścāpyakarotsaṃśaptakabalaṃ prati। saṃśaptakā vā pārthasya kimakurvata sañjaya ॥7-25-2॥
O Sañjaya, what actions did Arjuna take against the Saṃśaptaka forces? Or what did the Saṃśaptakas do to Arjuna?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tathā teṣu nivṛtteṣu pratyudyāteṣu bhāgaśaḥ। svayamabhyadravadbhīmaṃ nāgānīkena te sutaḥ ॥7-25-3॥
Thus, after they had returned and advanced in parts, your son personally attacked Bhima with an elephant army.
sa nāga iva nāgena govṛṣeṇeva govṛṣaḥ। samāhūtaḥ svayaṃ rājñā nāgānīkamupādravat ॥7-25-4॥
He, like a serpent confronting another serpent, like a bull confronting another bull, was personally invited by the king and attacked the army of elephants.
sa yuddhakuśalaḥ pārtho bāhuvīryeṇa cānvitaḥ। abhinatkuñjarānīkamacireṇaiva māriṣa ॥7-25-5॥
Arjuna, skilled in battle and endowed with great strength, swiftly destroyed the elephant army, O lord.
te gajā girisaṅkāśāḥ kṣarantaḥ sarvato madam। bhīmasenasya nārācairvimukhā vimadīkṛtāḥ ॥7-25-6॥
The mighty elephants, resembling mountains and oozing ichor, were rendered disoriented and deprived of their ichor by Bhimasena's arrows.
vidhamedabhrajālāni yathā vāyuḥ samantataḥ। vyadhamattānyanīkāni tathaiva pavanātmajaḥ ॥7-25-7॥
Just as the wind scatters the clouds in all directions, the son of the wind scattered the armies in the same way.
sa teṣu visṛjanbāṇānbhīmo nāgeśvaśobhata। bhuvaneṣviva sarveṣu gabhastīnudito raviḥ ॥7-25-8॥
Bhima, releasing arrows, shone among the elephants like the sun risen among all the worlds.
te bhīmabāṇaiḥ śataśaḥ saṃsyūtā vibabhur gajāḥ। gabhastibhir ivārkasya vyomni nānābalāhakāḥ ॥7-25-9॥
They were pierced by Bhima's arrows in hundreds and dispersed like various clouds in the sky by the rays of the sun.
tathā gajānāṃ kadanaṃ kurvāṇamanilātmajam। kruddho duryodhanobhyaetya pratyavidhyacchitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-25-10॥
Duryodhana, in anger, approached the son of the wind who was causing the slaughter of elephants and pierced him with sharp arrows.
tataḥ kṣaṇena kṣitipaṃ kṣatajapratimekṣaṇaḥ। kṣayaṃ ninīṣurniśitairbhīmo vivyādha patribhiḥ ॥7-25-11॥
Then, in an instant, Bhima, with bloodshot eyes, aimed to destroy, struck the king with sharp arrows.
sa śarārpitasarvāṅgaḥ kruddho vivyādha pāṇḍavam। nārācairarkaraśmyābhairbhīmasenaṃ smayanniva ॥7-25-12॥
He, with his entire body pierced by arrows, angrily attacked the Pāṇḍava, Bhīmasena, with iron arrows that shone like sun rays, as if he were smiling.
tasya nāgaṃ maṇimayaṃ ratnacitraṃ dhvaje sthitam। bhallābhyāṃ kārmukaṃ caiva kṣipraṃ ciccheda pāṇḍavaḥ ॥7-25-13॥
The Pandava swiftly severed the jewel-adorned serpent on the banner with two arrows.
duryodhanaṁ pīḍyamānaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhīmena māriṣa। cukṣobhayiṣurabhyāgādaṅgo mātaṅgamāsthitaḥ ॥7-25-14॥
O great one, seeing Duryodhana being oppressed by Bhima, Anga approached, desiring to stir things up, mounted on an elephant.
tamāpatantaṃ mātaṅgam ambuda-pratimasvanam। kumbhāntare bhīmaseno nārācenārdayadbhṛśam ॥7-25-15॥
Bhimasena fiercely struck the oncoming elephant, whose roar was like thunder, with an arrow between its temples.
tasya kāyaṃ vinirbhidya mamajja dharaṇītale। tataḥ papāta dvirado vajrāhata ivācalaḥ ॥7-25-16॥
His body pierced through and sank into the ground. Then the elephant fell like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.
tasyāvarjitanāgasya mlecchasyāvapatiṣyataḥ। śiraściccheda bhallena kṣiprakārī vṛkodaraḥ ॥7-25-17॥
Vrikodara, with swift action, severed the head of the barbarian whose elephant was bending and falling, using an arrow.
tasminnipatite vīre samprādravata sā camūḥ। sambhrāntaśvadviparathā padātīnavamṛdnatī ॥7-25-18॥
When the hero fell, the army fled in panic, trampling over the terrified horses, elephants, chariots, and foot soldiers.
teṣvanīkeṣu sarveṣu vidravatsu samantataḥ। prāgjyotiṣastato bhīmaṃ kuñjareṇa samādravat ॥7-25-19॥
As all the armies were fleeing in every direction, Pragjyotisha then attacked Bhima with an elephant.
yena nāgena maghavān ajayat daityadānavān। sa nāgapravaro bhīmaṃ sahasā samupādravat ॥7-25-20॥
The serpent by whom Indra conquered the demons and Danavas, that chief of serpents suddenly attacked Bhima.
śravaṇābhyām atho padbhyāṃ saṃhatena kareṇa ca। vyāvṛttanayanaḥ kruddhaḥ pradahann iva pāṇḍavam ॥7-25-21॥
Then, with ears and feet, with joined hands and averted eyes, he appeared angry, as if burning the Pāṇḍava.
tataḥ sarvasya sainyasya nādaḥ samabhavanmahān। hā hā vinihato bhīmaḥ kuñjareṇeti māriṣa ॥7-25-22॥
Then a great cry arose from the entire army: "Alas, alas, Bhima has been killed by the elephant, O lord."
tena nādena vitrastā pāṇḍavānamānīkinī। sahasābhyadravadrājanyatra tasthau vṛkodaraḥ ॥7-25-23॥
The sound caused the Pandava army to panic and suddenly attack, O king, where Bhima (Vrikodara) was standing.
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā hataṃ matvā vṛkodaram। bhagadattaṃ sapāñcālaḥ sarvataḥ samavārayat ॥7-25-24॥
Then King Yudhishthira, believing that Vrikodara had been slain, surrounded Bhagadatta with the Panchalas from every direction.
taṃ rathai rathināṃ śreṣṭhāḥ parivārya samantataḥ। avākirañśaraistīkṣṇaiḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥7-25-25॥
The best of the charioteers surrounded him on all sides with their chariots and showered him with sharp arrows by the hundreds and thousands.
sa vighātaṃ pṛṣatkānāmaṅkuśena samācaran। gajena pāṇḍupāñcālānvyadhamatparvateśvaraḥ ॥7-25-26॥
He, using a goad, destroyed the arrows and attacked the Pāṇḍavas and the Pāñcālas with his elephant, the lord of mountains.
tad adbhutam apaśyāma bhagadattasya saṃyuge। tathā vṛddhasya caritaṃ kuñjareṇa viśāṃ pate ॥7-25-27॥
In the battle, we witnessed the remarkable feat of Bhagadatta; likewise, the actions of the elder with the elephant, O lord of men.
tato rājā daśārṇānāṃ prāgjyotiṣamupādravat। tiryagyātena nāgena samadenāśugāminā ॥7-25-28॥
Then the king of the Daśārṇas launched an attack on Prāgjyotiṣa using an intoxicated serpent that moved swiftly and horizontally.
tayoryuddhaṁ samabhavannāgayorbhīmarūpayoḥ। sapakṣayoḥ parvatayoryathā sadrumayoḥ purā ॥7-25-29॥
A fierce battle took place between the two serpents of terrifying appearance, reminiscent of the ancient times when winged mountains with trees clashed.
prāgjyotiṣapaternāgaḥ saṃnipatyāpavṛtya ca। pārśve daśārṇādhipaterbhittvā nāgamapātayat ॥7-25-30॥
The serpent belonging to the lord of Prāgjyotiṣa gathered and turned away, and beside the lord of Daśārṇa, it pierced and caused the elephant to fall.
tomaraiḥ sūryaraśmyābhairbhagadatto'tha saptabhiḥ। jaghāna dviradasthaṃ taṃ śatruṃ pracalitāsanam ॥7-25-31॥
Bhagadatta, with his seven sunbeam-like spears, struck the enemy who was seated on a moving elephant.
upasṛtya tu rājānaṃ bhagadattaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। rathānīkena mahatā sarvataḥ paryavārayat ॥7-25-32॥
Yudhishthira, with his great chariot army, approached and surrounded King Bhagadatta from all sides.
sa kuñjarastho rathibhiḥ śuśubhe sarvato vṛtaḥ। parvate vanamadhyastho jvalanniva hutāśanaḥ ॥7-25-33॥
He, seated on an elephant, appeared resplendent surrounded by charioteers on all sides, like a blazing fire in the heart of the forest on the mountain.
maṇḍalaṃ sarvataḥ śliṣṭaṃ rathināmugradhanvasinām। kiratāṃ śaravarṣāṇi sa nāgaḥ paryavartata ॥7-25-34॥
The serpent turned around in a circle, closely packed from all sides by charioteers and fierce bowmen, who were showering arrows.
tataḥ prāgjyotiṣo rājā parigṛhya dviparṣabham। preṣayāmāsa sahasā yuyudhānarathaṃ prati ॥7-25-35॥
Then the king of Prāgjyotiṣa quickly sent the elephant warriors towards Yuyudhāna's chariot after surrounding them.
śineḥ pautrasya tu rathaṃ parigṛhya mahādvipaḥ। abhicikṣepa vegena yuyudhānastvapākramat ॥7-25-36॥
The great elephant seized the chariot of Shini's grandson and hurled it with great speed, but Yuyudhana managed to retreat.
bṛhataḥ saindhavānaśvānsamutthāpya tu sārathiḥ। tasthau sātyakimāsādya samplutastaṃ rathaṃ punaḥ ॥7-25-37॥
The charioteer, after raising the mighty Sindhu horses, stood once more on the drenched chariot upon reaching Satyaki.
sa tu labdhvāntaraṃ nāgastvarito rathamaṇḍalāt। niścakrāma tataḥ sarvānaparicikṣepa pārthivān ॥7-25-38॥
Nāga, seizing the moment, swiftly emerged from the chariot circle and dispersed all the kings.
te tvāśugatinā tena trāsyamānā nararṣabhāḥ। tamekaṃ dviradaṃ saṅkhye menire śataśo nṛpāḥ ॥7-25-39॥
The kings, frightened by his swift movement, regarded him, the lone elephant in the battle, as equivalent to hundreds.
te gajasthena kālyante bhagadattena pāṇḍavāḥ। airāvatasthena yathā devarājena dānavāḥ ॥7-25-40॥
The Pandavas are being tormented by Bhagadatta, who is mounted on an elephant, just as the demons are tormented by the king of gods, Indra, who is mounted on Airavata.
teṣāṃ pradravatāṃ bhīmaḥ pāñcālānāmitastataḥ। gajavājikṛtaḥ śabdaḥ sumahānsamajāyata ॥7-25-41॥
As Bhima and the Panchalas fled in various directions, a tremendous noise created by elephants and horses filled the air.
bhagadattena samare kālyamāneṣu pāṇḍuṣu। prāgjyotiṣamabhikruddhaḥ punarbhīmaḥ samabhyayāt ॥7-25-42॥
As Bhagadatta harassed the Pandavas in battle, Bhima, filled with anger, once again approached Pragjyotisha.
tasyābhidravato vāhānhastamuktena vāriṇā। siktvā vyatrāsayannāgaste pārthamaharaṃstataḥ ॥7-25-43॥
The serpent used water released from its hand to sprinkle on the vehicles of the charging Arjuna, causing them to be frightened, and then took Arjuna away.
tatastamabhyayāttūrṇaṃ ruciparvākṛtīsutaḥ। samukṣañśaravarṣeṇa rathastho'ntakasaṃnibhaḥ ॥7-25-44॥
Then, the son of Ruciparva swiftly approached him, unleashing a torrent of arrows while standing on his chariot, appearing like death itself.
tato ruciraprvāṇaṃ śareṇa nataprvṇā। suparvā parvatapatirninye vaivasvatakṣayam ॥7-25-45॥
Then, the lord of the mountains was brought to Yama's abode with a beautifully-feathered, well-jointed arrow with bent joints.
tasminnipatite vīre saubhadro draupadīsutāḥ। cekitāno dhṛṣṭaketur yuyutsuś cārdayan dvipam ॥7-25-46॥
When the hero fell, the son of Subhadra, along with the sons of Draupadi, Cekitana, Dhrishtaketu, and Yuyutsu, attacked the elephant.
ta enaṃ śaradhārābhirdhārābhiriva toyadāḥ। siṣiḍurbhairavānnādānvinadanto jighāṃsavaḥ ॥7-25-47॥
They attacked him with a barrage of arrows, like clouds pouring rain, accompanied by terrifying sounds, with the intent to kill.
tataḥ pārṣṇyaṅkuśāṅguṣṭhaiḥ kṛtinā codito dvipaḥ। prasāritakaraḥ prāyātstabdhakarṇekṣaṇo drutam ॥7-25-48॥
Then, the skilled mahout urged the elephant with his heel, goad, and thumb, and the elephant swiftly moved forward with its trunk extended and its ears and eyes fixed.
so'dhiṣṭhāya padā vāhānyuyutsoḥ sūtamārujat। putrastu tava sambhrāntaḥ saubhadraṣyāpluto ratham ॥7-25-49॥
He mounted on foot and attacked the charioteer of the one eager to fight. However, your son, in confusion, leapt onto Saubhadra's chariot.
sa kuñjarastho visṛjanniṣūnariṣu pārthivaḥ। babhau raśmīnivādityo bhuvaneṣu samutsṛjan ॥7-25-50॥
The king, seated on his elephant, released arrows at his enemies and shone like the sun spreading its rays across the worlds.
tamārjunirdvādaśabhiryuyutsurdaśabhiḥ śaraiḥ। tribhistribhirdraupadeyā dhṛṣṭaketuśca vivyadhuḥ ॥7-25-51॥
Arjuna struck him with twelve arrows, Yuyutsu with ten, the sons of Draupadi with three each, and Dhrishtaketu also hit him.
so'riyatnārpitairbāṇairācito dvirado babhau। saṃsyūta iva sūryasya raśmibhirjalado mahān ॥7-25-52॥
He appeared majestic, like a great cloud interwoven with the sun's rays, covered with arrows shot by the enemy's efforts.
niyantuḥ śilpayatnābhyāṃ preṣito'riśarārditaḥ। paricikṣepa tānnāgaḥ sa ripūnsavyadakṣiṇam ॥7-25-53॥
The serpent, afflicted by enemy arrows and sent by the charioteer through skill and effort, threw the enemies around to the left and right.
gopāla iva daṇḍena yathā paśugaṇān vane। āveṣṭayata tāṃ senāṃ bhagadattas tathā muhuḥ ॥7-25-54॥
Bhagadatta, like a cowherd with a stick, repeatedly encircled the army as one would do with herds of cattle in the forest.
kṣipraṃ śyenābhipannānāṃ vāyasānāmiva svanaḥ। babhūva pāṇḍaveyānāṃ bhṛśaṃ vidravatāṃ svanaḥ ॥7-25-55॥
The sound of the fleeing Pandavas quickly became intense, like the cries of crows attacked by hawks.
sa nāgarājaḥ pravarāṅkuśāhataḥ; purā sapakṣo'drivaro yathā nṛpa। bhayaṃ tathā ripuṣu samādadhadbhr̥śaṃ; vaṇiggaṇānāṃ kṣubhito yathārṇavaḥ ॥7-25-56॥
The king of serpents, once struck by the excellent goad, was like the best of mountains with wings, causing great fear among enemies and agitating the merchant groups like the ocean.
tato dhvanirdviradarathāśvapārthivai; rbhayāddravadbhirjanito'tibhairavaḥ। kṣitiṃ viyaddyāṃ vidiśo diśastathā; samāvṛṇotpārthiva saṃyuge tadā ॥7-25-57॥
Then, O king, in the battle, the terrifying sound produced by the fleeing elephants, chariots, horses, and kings out of fear enveloped the earth, sky, heaven, and all directions.
sa tena nāgapravareṇa pārthivo; bhṛśaṃ jagāhe dviṣatāmanīkinīm। purā suguptāṃ vibudhairivāhave; virocano devavarūthinīmiva ॥7-25-58॥
The king, with the help of the excellent elephant, fiercely attacked the enemy's army, reminiscent of how Virocana once challenged the well-guarded army of the gods in battle.
bhṛśaṃ vavau jvalanasakho viyadrajaḥ; samāvṛṇonmuhurapi caiva sainikān। tamekanāgaṃ gaṇaśo yathā gajāḥ; samantato drutamiva menire janāḥ ॥7-25-59॥
The wind, a friend of fire, blew intensely, spreading the dust of the sky and repeatedly covering the soldiers. The people thought that the lone elephant was like groups of elephants all around, moving quickly.
