07.028
Pancharatra and Core: Instructed and protected by Krishna, Arjuna kills Bhagadatta.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
Tell me exactly what the angry Pāṇḍava did to Bhagadatta, or what happened between Prāgjyotiṣa and Pārtha.
Sanjaya said:
Both Dāśārha and Pāṇḍava, engaged by Prāgjyotiṣa, were perceived by all beings as if they had arrived at the brink of death.
Bhagadatta, from the back of his elephant, continuously showers arrows upon the two Krishnas who are standing on their chariot, O lord.
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.
The arrows, driven by Bhagadatta, were as sharp as fire and pierced the son of Devaki, falling to the earth thereafter.
Arjuna, having cut his bow and destroyed his quiver, fought King Bhagadatta as if teasing him.
He, like the rays of the sun, sent forth fourteen sharp spears. Arjuna then cut each one of them into three pieces.
Then Indra, with his shower of arrows, pierced the serpent's armor and shone like a majestic mountain without clouds.
Then Pragjyotisha released a weapon made of gold and iron towards Vasudeva, but Arjuna cut it into two.
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.
Bhagadatta, deeply pierced by Arjuna's well-feathered arrows, became angry at the noble Pandava.
He hurled spears at the head of Śvetāśva and let out a roar. In the battle, Arjuna's crown was turned by them.
Arjuna, while adjusting his crown, told the king to ensure that the world is well-observed.
Having been thus addressed, the enraged warrior attacked the Pandava with a shower of arrows, wielding his shining bow alongside Govinda.
Arjuna, with great speed, cut off his bow, approached the quivers, and struck all the vital parts with seventy-two arrows.
Despite being pierced, he remained unperturbed and invoked the weapon of Vishnu, angrily releasing the goad onto the chest of the Pandava.
Krishna, covering Arjuna, received the all-destroying weapon released by Bhagadatta with his chest.
The Vaijayanti garland transformed into a weapon on Keshava's chest. Then, Arjuna, feeling weary, addressed Keshava.
O Janardana, I am the charioteer of the horses, not fighting. Having said thus, O lotus-eyed one, you do not keep your promise.
If I am either addicted or incapable of prevention, then the responsibility should be yours, not mine when I am present.
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.
Then Vasudeva spoke to Arjuna, saying: "Listen, O Arjuna, to this secret tale of the past, O sinless one."
I, in my fourfold form, am eternally committed to protecting the worlds. By dividing myself here, I ensure the welfare of all worlds.
One form is engaged in penance on my behalf on earth, while another observes the world performing both good and bad deeds.
Another being performs human actions while residing in the world, while the fourth one indeed sleeps for a thousand years.
At the end of a thousand years, my form arises and grants the best boons to those who are deserving at that time.
Then, realizing that the time had come, the earth requested the boon that would send me to hell, listen to that.
"Let my son be invincible to both gods and demons, endowed with the weapon of Vishnu. You are worthy of granting that to me."
"Thus, upon hearing the boon, I once gave the infallible weapon of Vishnu to the son of the earth."
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.
With this weapon, your son will always be invincible and a destroyer of enemies in all the worlds.
The wise goddess, having fulfilled her desire, departed after saying thus. Meanwhile, Naraka, the tormentor of enemies, remained invincible.
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.
By my action, this has been destroyed otherwise by your act. Separated by the supreme weapon, slay the great demon, O son of Pritha.
In the battle, I vanquished the formidable Bhagadatta, the enemy of the gods, just as I had previously slain Naraka for the greater good.
After being addressed in this manner by the great soul Keshava, Arjuna swiftly showered Bhagadatta with sharp arrows.
Then Arjuna, the mighty-armed and great-minded, calmly placed the serpent between the humps with an arrow.
The arrow, having approached the elephant, struck like a thunderbolt against the mountain, just as a snake enters an anthill.
The great elephant, having braced his limbs with his tusks, went to the ground, roaring in distress, and released his life-breaths.
Then, the Pandava shot an arrow with a crescent-shaped tip, piercing the heart of King Bhagadatta.
King Bhagadatta, with his heart pierced by Arjuna, released his bow and arrows as he lay lifeless.
The excellent hook fell from his head, just like a leaf is dislodged from a lotus by the blow of a stalk.
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.
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.
