07.029
Pancharatra and Core: Vṛṣaka and Achala, two brothers of Shakuni killed by Arjuna. Shakuni engages in an illusory battle with Arjuna. Arjuna fights and Kaurava army retreats.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
प्रियमिन्द्रस्य सततं सखायममितौजसम्। हत्वा प्राग्ज्योतिषं पार्थः प्रदक्षिणमवर्तत ॥७-२९-१॥
Arjuna, the beloved friend of Indra, known for his immense energy, after slaying the king of Pragjyotisha, circumambulated the area and returned.
ततो गान्धारराजस्य सुतौ परपुरञ्जयौ। आर्छेतामर्जुनं सङ्ख्ये भ्रातरौ वृषकाचलौ ॥७-२९-२॥
Then the two sons of the Gandhara king, known as conquerors of enemy cities, Vṛṣaka and Achala, attacked Arjuna in battle.
तौ समेत्यार्जुनं वीरौ पुरः पश्चाच्च धन्विनौ। अविध्येतां महावेगैर्निशितैराशुगैर्भृशम् ॥७-२९-३॥
The two heroes, having encountered Arjuna, attacked him from the front and back with their arrows, which were swift, sharp, and extremely forceful.
वृषकस्य हयान्सूतं धनुश्छत्रं रथं ध्वजम्। तिलशो व्यधमत्पार्थः सौबलस्य शितैः शरैः ॥७-२९-४॥
Arjuna, with his sharp arrows, shattered into pieces the horses, charioteer, bow, umbrella, chariot, and flag of Vṛṣaka, who was associated with Saubala.
ततोऽर्जुनः शरव्रातैर्नानाप्रहरणैरपि। गान्धारान्व्याकुलांश्चक्रे सौबलप्रमुखान्पुनः ॥७-२९-५॥
Then Arjuna attacked the Gandharas, led by Saubala, with a barrage of arrows and various weapons, causing confusion among them once more.
ततः पञ्चशतान्वीरान्गान्धारानुद्यतायुधान्। प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय क्रुद्धो बाणैर्धनञ्जयः ॥७-२९-६॥
In his anger, Dhananjaya dispatched five hundred Gandharan warriors, who were armed and ready, to the realm of death using his arrows.
हताश्वात्तु रथात्तूर्णमवतीर्य महाभुजः। आरुरोह रथं भ्रातुरन्यच्च धनुराददे ॥७-२९-७॥
The mighty-armed warrior quickly descended from his destroyed chariot and climbed onto his brother's chariot, taking up another bow.
तावेकरथमारूढौ भ्रातरौ वृषकाचलौ। शरवर्षेण बीभत्सुमविध्येतां पुनः पुनः ॥७-२९-८॥
The two brothers, known as Vṛṣakācalas, mounted the same chariot and repeatedly attacked Bībhatsu with a barrage of arrows.
स्यालौ तव महात्मानौ राजानौ वृषकाचलौ। भृशं निजघ्नतुः पार्थमिन्द्रं वृत्रबलाविव ॥७-२९-९॥
Your brothers-in-law, the noble kings Vṛṣakā and Acalā, fiercely attacked Arjuna and Indra, reminiscent of the battle between Vṛtra and Bala.
लब्धलक्ष्यौ तु गान्धारावहतां पाण्डवं पुनः। निदाघवार्षिकौ मासौ लोकं घर्माम्बुभिर्यथा ॥७-२९-१०॥
The Gandharas, having achieved their target, brought the Pandava back, just as the summer and rainy months bring heat and rain to the world.
तौ रथस्थौ नरव्याघ्रौ राजानौ वृषकाचलौ। संश्लिष्टाङ्गौ स्थितौ राजञ्जघानैकेषुणार्जुनः ॥७-२९-११॥
Arjuna, with a single arrow, killed those two great warriors, the kings Vrishakachala, who stood on their chariot with their limbs entwined, O king.
तौ रथात्सिंहसङ्काशौ लोहिताक्षौ महाभुजौ। गतासू पेततुर्वीरौ सोदर्यावेकलक्षणौ ॥७-२९-१२॥
The two brothers, resembling lions in appearance, with red eyes and mighty arms, fell lifeless from the chariot. They were heroes, sharing similar features.
तयोर्देहौ रथाद्भूमिं गतौ बन्धुजनप्रियौ। यशो दश दिशः पुण्यं गमयित्वा व्यवस्थितौ ॥७-२९-१३॥
Their bodies fell from the chariot to the ground, beloved by their kin. They spread their virtuous fame in all ten directions and remained steadfast.
दृष्ट्वा विनिहतौ सङ्ख्ये मातुलावपलायिनौ। भृशं मुमुचुरश्रूणि पुत्रास्तव विशां पते ॥७-२९-१४॥
Upon witnessing their maternal uncles slain and fleeing in battle, your sons, O lord of the people, were overwhelmed with grief and shed tears profusely.
निहतौ भ्रातरौ दृष्ट्वा मायाशतविशारदः। कृष्णौ संमोहयन्मायां विदधे शकुनिस्ततः ॥७-२९-१५॥
Upon witnessing the death of the brothers, Shakuni, known for his expertise in numerous illusions, then cast a spell to bewilder Krishna and Arjuna.
लगुडायोगुडाश्मानः शतघ्न्यश्च सशक्तयः। गदापरिघनिस्त्रिंशशूलमुद्गरपट्टिशाः ॥७-२९-१६॥
There were clubs, iron balls, stones, and hundred-killers, all with great power; along with maces, iron bars, swords, spears, hammers, and axes.
सकम्पनर्ष्टिनखरा मुसलानि परश्वधाः। क्षुराः क्षुरप्रनालीका वत्सदन्तास्त्रिसन्धिनः ॥७-२९-१७॥
There were shaking spears, clawed clubs, axes, razors, razor tubes, calf teeth, and three-jointed weapons.
चक्राणि विशिखाः प्रासा विविधान्यायुधानि च। प्रपेतुः सर्वतो दिग्भ्यः प्रदिग्भ्यश्चार्जुनं प्रति ॥७-२९-१८॥
Discus, arrows, javelins, and various weapons rained down from all directions towards Arjuna.
खरोष्ट्रमहिषाः सिंहा व्याघ्राः सृमरचिल्लिकाः। ऋक्षाः सालावृका गृध्राः कपयोऽथ सरीसृपाः ॥७-२९-१९॥
There were donkeys, camels, buffaloes, lions, tigers, deer, mice, bears, wolves, vultures, monkeys, and reptiles.
विविधानि च रक्षांसि क्षुधितान्यर्जुनं प्रति। सङ्क्रुद्धान्यभ्यधावन्त विविधानि वयांसि च ॥७-२९-२०॥
Various hungry demons and angry birds rushed towards Arjuna.
ततो दिव्यास्त्रविच्छूरः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः। विसृजन्निषुजालानि सहसा तान्यताडयत् ॥७-२९-२१॥
Then, the heroic son of Kunti, Dhananjaya, who was skilled in divine weapons, suddenly attacked them by releasing a barrage of arrows.
ते हन्यमानाः शूरेण प्रवरैः सायकैर्दृढैः। विरुवन्तो महारावान्विनेशुः सर्वतो हताः ॥७-२९-२२॥
They were slain everywhere, being struck down by the hero with firm and excellent arrows, and perished with great noise.
ततस्तमः प्रादुरभूदर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति। तस्माच्च तमसो वाचः क्रूराः पार्थमभर्त्सयन् ॥७-२९-२३॥
Then, darkness enveloped Arjuna's chariot, and from that darkness, harsh voices emerged, threatening Arjuna.
तत्तमोऽस्त्रेण महता ज्योतिषेणार्जुनोऽवधीत्। हते तस्मिञ्जलौघास्तु प्रादुरासन्भयानकाः ॥७-२९-२४॥
Arjuna used a powerful weapon of light to dispel the darkness. Once the darkness was destroyed, terrifying floods of water emerged.
अम्भसस्तस्य नाशार्थमादित्यास्त्रमथार्जुनः। प्रायुङ्क्ताम्भस्ततस्तेन प्रायशोऽस्त्रेण शोषितम् ॥७-२९-२५॥
Arjuna used the sun weapon to destroy the water, and it mostly dried up as a result.
एवं बहुविधा मायाः सौबलस्य कृताः कृताः। जघानास्त्रबलेनाशु प्रहसन्नर्जुनस्तदा ॥७-२९-२६॥
Arjuna, with a smile, quickly destroyed the various illusions created by Saubala using the power of his weapons.
ततोऽर्जुनोऽस्त्रविच्छ्रैष्ठ्यं दर्शयन्नात्मनोऽरिषु। अभ्यवर्षच्छरौघेण कौरवाणामनीकिनीम् ॥७-२९-२८॥
Then Arjuna demonstrated his supreme skill in weaponry to his foes by raining down a torrent of arrows upon the Kaurava army.
सा हन्यमाना पार्थेन पुत्रस्य तव वाहिनी। द्वैधीभूता महाराज गङ्गेवासाद्य पर्वतम् ॥७-२९-२९॥
O great king, your son's army, being struck by Arjuna, was divided into two, just like the river Ganga when it encounters a mountain.
द्रोणमेवान्वपद्यन्त केचित्तत्र महारथाः। केचिद्दुर्योधनं राजन्नर्द्यमानाः किरीटिना ॥७-२९-३०॥
Some of the great warriors followed Drona, while others, being harassed by Arjuna, followed Duryodhana, O king.
नापश्याम ततस्त्वेतत्सैन्यं वै तमसावृतम्। गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषः श्रुतो दक्षिणतो मया ॥७-२९-३१॥
I cannot see this army because it is covered by darkness. However, I heard the sound of the Gandiva coming from the south.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं वादित्राणां च निस्वनम्। गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषो व्यतिक्रम्यास्पृशद्दिवम् ॥७-२९-३२॥
The battlefield was filled with the resounding echoes of conches, drums, and musical instruments, while the mighty sound of Arjuna's Gandiva bow rose above all, reaching the heavens.
ततः पुनर्दक्षिणतः सङ्ग्रामश्चित्रयोधिनाम्। सुयुद्धमर्जुनस्यासीदहं तु द्रोणमन्वगाम् ॥७-२९-३३॥
Then again, from the south, a battle ensued among the distinguished warriors. Arjuna fought valiantly, but I pursued Drona.
नानाविधान्यनीकानि पुत्राणां तव भारत। अर्जुनो व्यधमत्काले दिवीवाभ्राणि मारुतः ॥७-२९-३४॥
O Bharata, Arjuna scattered the various armies of your sons in due time, just as the wind scatters clouds in the sky.
तं वासवमिवायान्तं भूरिवर्षशरौघिणम्। महेष्वासं नरव्याघ्रं नोग्रं कश्चिदवारयत् ॥७-२९-३५॥
No one could stop him as he approached like Indra, showering a torrent of arrows, a great archer, fierce as a tiger among men.
ते हन्यमानाः पार्थेन त्वदीया व्यथिता भृशम्। स्वानेव बहवो जघ्नुर्विद्रवन्तस्ततस्ततः ॥७-२९-३६॥
As Arjuna attacked fiercely, your soldiers, in great distress, began to kill their own men while fleeing in all directions.
तेऽर्जुनेन शरा मुक्ताः कङ्कपत्रास्तनुच्छिदः। शलभा इव सम्पेतुः संवृण्वाना दिशो दश ॥७-२९-३७॥
The arrows released by Arjuna, feathered and sharp, flew like a swarm of locusts, covering all ten directions.
तुरगं रथिनं नागं पदातिमपि मारिष। विनिर्भिद्य क्षितिं जग्मुर्वल्मीकमिव पन्नगाः ॥७-२९-३८॥
O honorable one, they pierced through the horse, the charioteer, the elephant, and the foot-soldier, and went into the earth like serpents entering an anthill.
न च द्वितीयं व्यसृजत्कुञ्जराश्वनरेषु सः। पृथगेकशरारुग्णा निपेतुस्ते गतासवः ॥७-२९-३९॥
He did not need to release a second arrow, as the elephants, horses, and men fell lifeless, each struck by a single arrow.
हतैर्मनुष्यैस्तुरगैश्च सर्वतः; शराभिवृष्टैर्द्विरदैश्च पातितैः। तदा श्वगोमायुबडाभिनादितं; विचित्रमायोधशिरो बभूव ह ॥७-२९-४०॥
The battlefield was filled with slain men and horses everywhere, and with elephants felled by showers of arrows. It resounded with the cries of dogs, jackals, and vultures, creating a strange scene.
पिता सुतं त्यजति सुहृद्वरं सुहृ; त्तथैव पुत्रः पितरं शरातुरः। स्वरक्षणे कृतमतयस्तदा जना; स्त्यजन्ति वाहानपि पार्थपीडिताः ॥७-२९-४१॥
In times of distress, such as being attacked by Arjuna, individuals prioritize their own safety above all else. Fathers may abandon sons, and sons their fathers, as well as friends and vehicles, to protect themselves.
