07.028
Pancharatra and Core: Instructed and protected by Krishna, Arjuna kills Bhagadatta.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
तथा क्रुद्धः किमकरोद्भगदत्तस्य पाण्डवः। प्राग्ज्योतिषो वा पार्थस्य तन्मे शंस यथातथम् ॥७-२८-१॥
Tell me exactly what the angry Pāṇḍava did to Bhagadatta, or what happened between Prāgjyotiṣa and Pārtha.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
प्राग्ज्योतिषेण संसक्तावुभौ दाशार्हपाण्डवौ। मृत्योरिवान्तिकं प्राप्तौ सर्वभूतानि मेनिरे ॥७-२८-२॥
Both Dāśārha and Pāṇḍava, engaged by Prāgjyotiṣa, were perceived by all beings as if they had arrived at the brink of death.
तथा हि शरवर्षाणि पातयत्यनिशं प्रभो। भगदत्तो गजस्कन्धात्कृष्णयोः स्यन्दनस्थयोः ॥७-२८-३॥
Bhagadatta, from the back of his elephant, continuously showers arrows upon the two Krishnas who are standing on their chariot, O lord.
अथ कार्ष्णायसैर्बाणैः पूर्णकार्मुकनिःसृतैः। अविध्यद्देवकीपुत्रं हेमपुङ्खैः शिलाशितैः ॥७-२८-४॥
Then, with arrows tipped with iron and released from a full bow, he struck Devaki's son with those that were golden-feathered and sharpened on stone.
अग्निस्पर्शसमास्तीक्ष्णा भगदत्तेन चोदिताः। निर्भिद्य देवकीपुत्रं क्षितिं जग्मुः शरास्ततः ॥७-२८-५॥
The arrows, driven by Bhagadatta, were as sharp as fire and pierced the son of Devaki, falling to the earth thereafter.
तस्य पार्थो धनुश्छित्त्वा शरावापं निहत्य च। लाडयन्निव राजानं भगदत्तमयोधयत् ॥७-२८-६॥
Arjuna, having cut his bow and destroyed his quiver, fought King Bhagadatta as if teasing him.
सोऽर्करश्मिनिभांस्तीक्ष्णांस्तोमरान्वै चतुर्दश। प्रेरयत्सव्यसाची तांस्त्रिधैकैकमथाच्छिनत् ॥७-२८-७॥
He, like the rays of the sun, sent forth fourteen sharp spears. Arjuna then cut each one of them into three pieces.
ततो नागस्य तद्वर्म व्यधमत्पाकशासनिः। शरजालेन स बभौ व्यभ्रः पर्वतराडिव ॥७-२८-८॥
Then Indra, with his shower of arrows, pierced the serpent's armor and shone like a majestic mountain without clouds.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषः शक्तिं हेमदण्डामयस्मयीम्। व्यसृजद्वासुदेवाय द्विधा तामर्जुनोऽच्छिनत् ॥७-२८-९॥
Then Pragjyotisha released a weapon made of gold and iron towards Vasudeva, but Arjuna cut it into two.
ततश्छत्रं ध्वजं चैव छित्त्वा राज्ञोऽर्जुनः शरैः। विव्याध दशभिस्तूर्णमुत्स्मयन्पर्वताधिपम् ॥७-२८-१०॥
Then Arjuna, smiling, swiftly cut down the king's umbrella and flag with his arrows and pierced the lord of the mountains with ten arrows.
सोऽतिविद्धोऽर्जुनशरैः सुपुङ्खैः कङ्कपत्रिभिः। भगदत्तस्ततः क्रुद्धः पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः ॥७-२८-११॥
Bhagadatta, deeply pierced by Arjuna's well-feathered arrows, became angry at the noble Pandava.
व्यसृजत्तोमरान्मूर्ध्नि श्वेताश्वस्योन्ननाद च। तैरर्जुनस्य समरे किरीटं परिवर्तितम् ॥७-२८-१२॥
He hurled spears at the head of Śvetāśva and let out a roar. In the battle, Arjuna's crown was turned by them.
परिवृत्तं किरीटं तं यमयन्नेव फल्गुनः। सुदृष्टः क्रियतां लोक इति राजानमब्रवीत् ॥७-२८-१३॥
Arjuna, while adjusting his crown, told the king to ensure that the world is well-observed.
एवमुक्तस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धः शरवर्षेण पाण्डवम्। अभ्यवर्षत्सगोविन्दं धनुरादाय भास्वरम् ॥७-२८-१४॥
Having been thus addressed, the enraged warrior attacked the Pandava with a shower of arrows, wielding his shining bow alongside Govinda.
तस्य पार्थो धनुश्छित्त्वा तूणीरान्संनिकृत्य च। त्वरमाणो द्विसप्तत्या सर्वमर्मस्वताडयत् ॥७-२८-१५॥
Arjuna, with great speed, cut off his bow, approached the quivers, and struck all the vital parts with seventy-two arrows.
विद्धस्तथाप्यव्यथितो वैष्णवास्त्रमुदीरयन्। अभिमन्त्र्याङ्कुशं क्रुद्धो व्यसृजत्पाण्डवोरसि ॥७-२८-१६॥
Despite being pierced, he remained unperturbed and invoked the weapon of Vishnu, angrily releasing the goad onto the chest of the Pandava.
विसृष्टं भगदत्तेन तदस्त्रं सर्वघातकम्। उरसा प्रतिजग्राह पार्थं सञ्छाद्य केशवः ॥७-२८-१७॥
Krishna, covering Arjuna, received the all-destroying weapon released by Bhagadatta with his chest.
वैजयन्त्यभवन्माला तदस्त्रं केशवोरसि। ततोऽर्जुनः क्लान्तमनाः केशवं प्रत्यभाषत ॥७-२८-१८॥
The Vaijayanti garland transformed into a weapon on Keshava's chest. Then, Arjuna, feeling weary, addressed Keshava.
अयुध्यमानस्तुरगान्संयन्तास्मि जनार्दन। इत्युक्त्वा पुण्डरीकाक्ष प्रतिज्ञां स्वां न रक्षसि ॥७-२८-१९॥
O Janardana, I am the charioteer of the horses, not fighting. Having said thus, O lotus-eyed one, you do not keep your promise.
यद्यहं व्यसनी वा स्यामशक्तो वा निवारणे। ततस्त्वयैवं कार्यं स्यान्न तु कार्यं मयि स्थिते ॥७-२८-२०॥
If I am either addicted or incapable of prevention, then the responsibility should be yours, not mine when I am present.
सबाणः सधनुश्चाहं ससुरासुरमानवान्। शक्तो लोकानिमाञ्जेतुं तच्चापि विदितं तव ॥७-२८-२१॥
I am equipped with arrows and a bow, and I have the power to conquer these worlds along with gods, demons, and humans; this is something you are already aware of.
ततोऽर्जुनं वासुदेवः प्रत्युवाचार्थवद्वचः। शृणु गुह्यमिदं पार्थ यथा वृत्तं पुरानघ ॥७-२८-२२॥
Then Vasudeva spoke to Arjuna, saying: "Listen, O Arjuna, to this secret tale of the past, O sinless one."
चतुर्मूर्तिरहं शश्वल्लोकत्राणार्थमुद्यतः। आत्मानं प्रविभज्येह लोकानां हितमादधे ॥७-२८-२३॥
I, in my fourfold form, am eternally committed to protecting the worlds. By dividing myself here, I ensure the welfare of all worlds.
एका मूर्तिस्तपश्चर्यां कुरुते मे भुवि स्थिता। अपरा पश्यति जगत्कुर्वाणं साध्वसाधुनी ॥७-२८-२४॥
One form is engaged in penance on my behalf on earth, while another observes the world performing both good and bad deeds.
अपरा कुरुते कर्म मानुषं लोकमाश्रिता। शेते चतुर्थी त्वपरा निद्रां वर्षसहस्रिकाम् ॥७-२८-२५॥
Another being performs human actions while residing in the world, while the fourth one indeed sleeps for a thousand years.
यासौ वर्षसहस्रान्ते मूर्तिरुत्तिष्ठते मम। वरार्हेभ्यो वराञ्श्रेष्ठांस्तस्मिन्काले ददाति सा ॥७-२८-२६॥
At the end of a thousand years, my form arises and grants the best boons to those who are deserving at that time.
तं तु कालमनुप्राप्तं विदित्वा पृथिवी तदा। प्रायाचत वरं यं मां नरकार्थाय तं शृणु ॥७-२८-२७॥
Then, realizing that the time had come, the earth requested the boon that would send me to hell, listen to that.
देवानामसुराणां च अवध्यस्तनयोऽस्तु मे। उपेतो वैष्णवास्त्रेण तन्मे त्वं दातुमर्हसि ॥७-२८-२८॥
"Let my son be invincible to both gods and demons, endowed with the weapon of Vishnu. You are worthy of granting that to me."
एवं वरमहं श्रुत्वा जगत्यास्तनये तदा। अमोघमस्त्रमददं वैष्णवं तदहं पुरा ॥७-२८-२९॥
"Thus, upon hearing the boon, I once gave the infallible weapon of Vishnu to the son of the earth."
अवोचं चैतदस्त्रं वै ह्यमोघं भवतु क्षमे। नरकस्याभिरक्षार्थं नैनं कश्चिद्वधिष्यति ॥७-२८-३०॥
I have declared that this weapon shall indeed be infallible, O forgiving one. It is meant for the protection of hell, and no one shall destroy it.
अनेनास्त्रेण ते गुप्तः सुतः परबलार्दनः। भविष्यति दुराधर्षः सर्वलोकेषु सर्वदा ॥७-२८-३१॥
With this weapon, your son will always be invincible and a destroyer of enemies in all the worlds.
तथेत्युक्त्वा गता देवी कृतकामा मनस्विनी। स चाप्यासीद्दुराधर्षो नरकः शत्रुतापनः ॥७-२८-३२॥
The wise goddess, having fulfilled her desire, departed after saying thus. Meanwhile, Naraka, the tormentor of enemies, remained invincible.
तस्मात्प्राग्ज्योतिषं प्राप्तं तदस्त्रं पार्थ मामकम्। नास्यावध्योऽस्ति लोकेषु सेन्द्ररुद्रेषु मारिष ॥७-२८-३३॥
Therefore, O Arjuna, the weapon I obtained from Pragjyotisha is invincible in all the worlds, even against the likes of Indra and Rudra, O honorable one.
तन्मया त्वत्कृतेनैतदन्यथा व्यपनाशितम्। वियुक्तं परमास्त्रेण जहि पार्थ महासुरम् ॥७-२८-३४॥
By my action, this has been destroyed otherwise by your act. Separated by the supreme weapon, slay the great demon, O son of Pritha.
वैरिणं युधि दुर्धर्षं भगदत्तं सुरद्विषम्। यथाहं जघ्निवान्पूर्वं हितार्थं नरकं तथा ॥७-२८-३५॥
In the battle, I vanquished the formidable Bhagadatta, the enemy of the gods, just as I had previously slain Naraka for the greater good.
एवमुक्तस्ततः पार्थः केशवेन महात्मना। भगदत्तं शितैर्बाणैः सहसा समवाकिरत् ॥७-२८-३६॥
After being addressed in this manner by the great soul Keshava, Arjuna swiftly showered Bhagadatta with sharp arrows.
ततः पार्थो महाबाहुरसम्भ्रान्तो महामनाः। कुम्भयोरन्तरे नागं नाराचेन समार्पयत् ॥७-२८-३७॥
Then Arjuna, the mighty-armed and great-minded, calmly placed the serpent between the humps with an arrow.
समासाद्य तु तं नागं बाणो वज्र इवाचलम्। अभ्यगात्सह पुङ्खेन वल्मीकमिव पन्नगः ॥७-२८-३८॥
The arrow, having approached the elephant, struck like a thunderbolt against the mountain, just as a snake enters an anthill.
स तु विष्टभ्य गात्राणि दन्ताभ्यामवनिं ययौ। नदन्नार्तस्वरं प्राणानुत्ससर्ज महाद्विपः ॥७-२८-३९॥
The great elephant, having braced his limbs with his tusks, went to the ground, roaring in distress, and released his life-breaths.
ततश्चन्द्रार्धबिम्बेन शरेण नतपर्वणा। बिभेद हृदयं राज्ञो भगदत्तस्य पाण्डवः ॥७-२८-४०॥
Then, the Pandava shot an arrow with a crescent-shaped tip, piercing the heart of King Bhagadatta.
स भिन्नहृदयो राजा भगदत्तः किरीटिना। शरासनं शरांश्चैव गतासुः प्रमुमोच ह ॥७-२८-४१॥
King Bhagadatta, with his heart pierced by Arjuna, released his bow and arrows as he lay lifeless.
शिरसस्तस्य विभ्रष्टः पपात च वराङ्कुशः। नालताडनविभ्रष्टं पलाशं नलिनादिव ॥७-२८-४२॥
The excellent hook fell from his head, just like a leaf is dislodged from a lotus by the blow of a stalk.
स हेममाली तपनीयभाण्डा; त्पपात नागाद्गिरिसंनिकाशात्। सुपुष्पितो मारुतवेगरुग्णो; महीधराग्रादिव कर्णिकारः ॥७-२८-४३॥
Hemamali, adorned with golden vessels, fell from the serpent that resembled a mountain, just like a well-flowered Karnikara tree is broken by the swift wind from the mountain peak.
निहत्य तं नरपतिमिन्द्रविक्रमं; सखायमिन्द्रस्य तथैन्द्रिराहवे। ततोऽपरांस्तव जयकाङ्क्षिणो नरा; न्बभञ्ज वायुर्बलवान्द्रुमानिव ॥७-२८-४४॥
After slaying the king, who was as powerful as Indra and a friend of Indra in battle, the strong wind shattered your other men who were eager for victory, just like it would break trees.
