07.031
Core and Pancharatra: The rallied Pandava army under the leadership of Bhima defeats the combined army of Drona and Karna. Fifteen brothers of Duryodhana are killed by Bhima along with other prominent warriors by Satyaki and Drushtadyumna.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
pratighātaṃ tu sainyasya nāmṛṣyata vṛkodaraḥ। so'bhinad bāhlikaṃ ṣaṣṭyā karṇaṃ ca daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-31-1॥
Vrikodara, unable to tolerate the army's counterattack, struck Bahlika with sixty arrows and Karna with ten.
tasya droṇaḥ śitairbāṇaistīkṣṇadhārairayasmyaiḥ। jīvitāntamabhiprepsurmarmanyāśu jaghāna ha ॥7-31-2॥
Droṇa, with his sharp iron-tipped arrows, aimed to end life by swiftly striking the vital parts.
karṇo dvādaśabhirbāṇairaśvatthāmā ca saptabhiḥ। ṣaḍbhirduryodhano rājā tata enamavākirat ॥7-31-3॥
Karna shot twelve arrows, Ashwatthama seven, and King Duryodhana six, all aimed at him.
bhīmaseno'pi tānsarvānpratyavidhyanmahābalaḥ। droṇaṃ pañcāśateṣūṇāṃ karṇaṃ ca daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-31-4॥
The mighty Bhimasena also struck all of them, targeting Drona with fifty arrows and Karna with ten arrows.
duryodhanaṁ dvādaśabhirdrauṇiṁ cāṣṭābhirāśugaiḥ। ārāvaṁ tumulaṁ kurvannabhyavartata tānraṇe ॥7-31-5॥
Duryodhana, with twelve arrows, and Drona's son, with eight swift arrows, advanced towards them in battle, creating a tumultuous roar.
tasmin santyajati prāṇān mṛtyusādhāraṇīkṛte। ajātaśatrus tān yodhān bhīmaṃ trāte ty acodayat ॥7-31-6॥
Ajatashatru, seeing the inevitability of death, urged the warriors to protect Bhima.
te yayurbhīmasenasya samīpamamitaujasaḥ। yuyudhānaprabhṛtayo mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau ॥7-31-7॥
The sons of Madri and the Pandavas, led by Yuyudhana, approached the mighty Bhimasena.
te sametya susaṁrabdhāḥ sahitāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ। maheṣvāsavarairguptaṁ droṇānīkaṁ bibhitsavaḥ ॥7-31-8॥
The warriors, eager and united, gathered together, protected by great archers, with the desire to conquer Drona's army.
samāpetur mahāvīryā bhīmaprabhṛtayo rathāḥ। tān pratyagṛhṇād avyagro droṇo'pi rathināṃ varaḥ ॥7-31-9॥
The mighty warriors, including Bhima, approached with their chariots. Drona, known as the best among charioteers, received them with composure.
mahābalānatirathānvīrānsamaraśobhinaḥ। bāhyaṃ mṛtyubhayaṃ kṛtvā tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavānyayuḥ ॥7-31-10॥
Your greatly powerful and mighty charioteers, heroes glorious in battle, set aside their fear of death and advanced towards the Pāṇḍavas.
sādinaḥ sādinobhyaghnaṃstathaiva rathino rathān। āsīcchaktyasisampāto yuddhamāsītparaśvadhaiḥ ॥7-31-11॥
The horsemen attacked each other, and similarly, the charioteers clashed with the chariots. There was a fierce battle involving spears, swords, and axes.
nikṛṣṭam asiyuddhaṃ ca babhūva kaṭukodayam। kuñjarāṇāṃ ca saṅghātair yuddham āsīt sudāruṇam ॥7-31-12॥
The inferior sword-fight turned fierce, and the battle among the groups of elephants was extremely terrible.
apatatkuñjarādanyo hayādanyastvavākṣirāḥ। naro bāṇena nirbhinno rathādanyaśca māriṣa ॥7-31-13॥
One person fell from the elephant, another from the horse, but was headless. A man was pierced by an arrow and fell from the chariot, and another, O lord.
tatrānyasya ca saṁmarde patitasya vivarmaṇaḥ। śiraḥ pradhvaṁsayāmāsa vakṣasyākramya kuñjaraḥ ॥7-31-14॥
In the midst of the battle, the elephant trampled on the chest and crushed the head of another warrior who had fallen and was without armor.
apare'pyaparāñjaghnurvāraṇāḥ patitānnarān। viṣāṇaiścāvaniṃ gatvā vyabhindanrathino bahūn ॥7-31-15॥
The elephants, with their tusks, attacked and killed many fallen men and charioteers on the ground.
narāntraiḥ kecidapare viṣāṇālagnasaṃsravaiḥ। babhramuḥ śataśo nāgā mṛdnantaḥ śataśo narān ॥7-31-16॥
Elephants, adorned with human entrails and horns, roamed in hundreds, trampling hundreds of men.
kāṃsyāyasatanutrāṇānnarāśvarathakuñjarān। patitānpothayāṃ cakrurdvipāḥ sthūlanaḍāniva ॥7-31-17॥
The elephants trampled over the fallen men, horses, chariots, and elephants, crushing them as if they were mere reeds, despite their bronze and iron armor.
gṛdhrapatrādhivāsāṃsi śayanāni narādhipāḥ। hrīmantaḥ kālasampakvāḥ suduḥkhānyadhiśerate ॥7-31-18॥
The kings, filled with shame, lie on beds covered with vulture feathers, matured by time, enduring great sorrow.
hanti smātra pitā putraṃ rathenābhyativartate। putraśca pitaraṃ mohānnirmaryādamavartata ॥7-31-19॥
In this situation, the father indeed kills the son using a chariot, while the son, driven by delusion, acts disrespectfully towards the father.
akṣo bhagno dhvajaśchinnaśchatramurvyāṃ nipātitam। yugārdhaṃ chinnamādāya pradudrāva tathā hayaḥ ॥7-31-20॥
The axle was broken, the flag was torn, and the umbrella had fallen to the ground. The horse, having taken the broken half of the yoke, ran away.
sāsirbāhurnipatitaḥ śiraśchinnaṃ sakuṇḍalam। gajenākṣipya balinā rathaḥ sañcūrṇitaḥ kṣitau ॥7-31-21॥
The arm wielding the sword fell, and the head with its earrings was severed; the strong elephant threw and crushed the chariot on the ground.
rathinā tāḍito nāgo nārācenāpatadvyasuḥ। sārohaścāpatadvājī gajenātāḍito bhṛśam ॥7-31-22॥
The charioteer struck the elephant with a spear, causing it to fall lifeless. The horse, along with its rider, also fell, being severely struck by the elephant.
nirmaryādaṃ mahadyuddhamavartata sudāruṇam। hā tāta hā putra sakhe kvāsi tiṣṭha kva dhāvasi ॥7-31-23॥
A boundless and terrible war unfolded. Alas, father! Alas, son! Friend, where are you? Stop, where are you going?
praharāhara jahyenaṃ smitakṣveḍitagarjitaiḥ। ityevamuccarantyaḥ sma śrūyante vividhā giraḥ ॥7-31-24॥
Various voices are heard uttering, "Attack, bring, destroy this with smiling, whistling, and roaring."
narasyāśvasya nāgasya samasajjata śoṇitam। upāśāmyadrajo bhaumaṃ bhīrūnkaśmalamāviśat ॥7-31-25॥
The battlefield was covered with the blood of men, horses, and elephants. As the dust settled, a sense of faintness overcame the fearful warriors.
āsīt keśaparāmarśo muṣṭiyuddhaṃ ca dāruṇam। nakhairdantaiśca śūrāṇamadvīpe dvīpamicchatām ॥7-31-26॥
There was a fierce battle involving hair-pulling and fist-fighting with nails and teeth among the heroes on the island who desired to conquer it.
tatrācchidyata vīrasya sakhaḍgo bāhurudyataḥ। sadhanuścāparasyāpi saśaraḥ sāṅkuśastathā ॥7-31-27॥
There, the hero's raised arm with the sword was severed, and similarly, another's arm with the bow, arrow, and goad was also cut off.
prākrośad anyam anyo'tra tathānyo vimukho'dravat। anyaḥ prāptasya cānyasya śiraḥ kāyād apāharat ॥7-31-28॥
One person shouted at another here, while another turned away and ran. Yet another removed the head from the body of someone who had arrived.
śabdam abhyadravac cānyaḥ śabdād anyo' dravad bhṛśam। svān anyo'tha parān anyo jaghāna niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-31-29॥
One person rushed towards the sound, while another quickly fled from it. One attacked his own people, and then another killed others with sharp arrows.
giriśṛṅgopamaścātra nārācena nipātitaḥ। mātaṅgo nyapatadbhūmau nadīrodha ivoṣṇage ॥7-31-30॥
Here, the elephant, resembling a mountain peak, was struck down by an iron arrow and collapsed on the ground like a dam breaking in the summer.
tathaiva rathinaṃ nāgaḥ kṣarangiririvārujat। adhyatiṣṭhatpadā bhūmau sahāśvaṃ sahasārathim ॥7-31-31॥
In the same manner, the elephant, resembling a flowing mountain, attacked the charioteer, standing over him on the ground along with the horse and the charioteer.
śūrān praharato dṛṣṭvā kṛtāstrān rudhirokṣitān। bahūn apy āviśan moho bhīrūn hṛdayadurbalān ॥7-31-32॥
Upon witnessing the heroes striking with their weapons and smeared with blood, many cowards, who were weak at heart, were overcome by delusion.
sarvam āvignam abhavan na prājñāyata kiñcana। sainye ca rajasā dhvaste nirmaryādam avartata ॥7-31-33॥
Everything became chaotic and nothing could be perceived. The army, scattered by dust, moved without order.
tataḥ senāpatiḥ śīghramayaṃ kāla iti bruvan। nityābhitvaritāneva tvarayāmāsa pāṇḍavān ॥7-31-34॥
Then the general quickly urged the Pandavas, saying 'this is the time', as they were always in haste.
kurvantaḥ śāsanaṃ tasya pāṇḍaveyā yaśasvinaḥ। saro haṃsā ivāpeturghnanto droṇarathaṃ prati ॥7-31-35॥
Following his command, the illustrious sons of Pandu moved like swans departing from a lake, advancing towards Drona's chariot.
gṛhṇītādravatānyonyaṃ vibhītā vinikṛntata। ityāsīttumulaḥ śabdo durdharṣasya rathaṃ prati ॥7-31-36॥
There was a tumultuous sound as the fearful warriors, running at each other, seized and cut, all directed towards Durdharsha's chariot.
tato droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ karṇo drauṇī rājā jayadrathaḥ। vindānuvindāvavantyau śalyaścainānavārayan ॥7-31-37॥
Then Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Aśvatthāmā (son of Droṇa), King Jayadratha, Vindānuvinda of Avanti, and Śalya held back the enemy forces.
te tvāryadharmasaṁrabdhā durnivāryā durāsadāḥ। śarārtā na juhurdroṇaṁ pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha ॥7-31-38॥
The Panchalas, along with the Pandavas, engaged in their noble duty, were irresistible and formidable. Despite being wounded by arrows, they did not surrender to Drona.
tato droṇo'bhisaṅkruddho visṛjañśataśaḥ śarān। cedipāñcālapāṇḍūnām akarot kadanaṃ mahat ॥7-31-39॥
Then, in his fury, Droṇa unleashed hundreds of arrows, causing a great massacre among the Cedis, Panchalas, and Pandavas.
tasya jyātalanirghoṣaḥ śuśruve dikṣu māriṣa। vajrasaṅghātasaṅkāśastrāsayanpāṇḍavānbahūn ॥7-31-40॥
The sound of his bowstring echoed in all directions, O gentle one, resembling the clash of thunderbolts, instilling fear in many of the Pandavas.
etasminnantare jiṣṇurhatvā saṃśaptakān balī। abyayāttatra yatra sma droṇaḥ pāṇḍūnpramardati ॥7-31-41॥
During this time, the mighty Arjuna, having slain the Trigartas, proceeded to the place where Drona was attacking the Pandavas.
taṁ śaraughamahāvartaṁ śoṇitodaṁ mahāhradam। tīrṇaḥ saṁśaptakānhatvā pratyadṛśyata phalgunaḥ ॥7-31-42॥
Arjuna, having slain the Saṁśaptakas, emerged from the great lake filled with a whirlpool of arrows and blood.
tasya kīrtimato lakṣma sūryapratimatejasaḥ। dīpyamānamapaśyāma tejasā vānaradhvajam ॥7-31-43॥
We beheld the shining mark of his glory, radiant like the sun, by the splendor of the monkey-banner.
saṃśaptakasamudraṃ tamucchoṣyāstragabhastibhiḥ। sa pāṇḍavayugāntārkaḥ kurūnapyabhyatītatapat ॥7-31-44॥
He, like the sun at the end of the Pandava age, dried up the ocean of the Trigartas with his weapon rays and scorched the Kauravas as well.
pradadāha kurūnsarvān arjunaḥ śastratejasā। yugānte sarvabhūtāni dhūmaketurivotthitaḥ ॥7-31-45॥
Arjuna, with the brilliance of his weapons, burned all the Kurus, appearing like a comet rising at the end of an age.
tena bāṇasahasraughairgajāśvarathayodhinaḥ। tāḍyamānāḥ kṣitiṃ jagmurmuktaśastrāḥ śarārditāḥ ॥7-31-46॥
The warriors on elephants, horses, and chariots, struck by a multitude of arrows released by him, fell to the ground, their weapons scattered, afflicted by the arrows.
kecidārtasvaraṃ cakruḥvinedurapare punaḥ। pārthabāṇahatāḥ kecinnipeturvigatāsavaḥ ॥7-31-47॥
Some cried out in pain, while others screamed again. Some, struck by Arjuna's arrows, fell lifeless.
teṣāmutpatatāṃ kāṃścitpatitāṃśca parāṅmukhān। na jaghānārjuno yodhānyodhavratamanusmaran ॥7-31-48॥
Arjuna, adhering to his warrior's vow, refrained from killing those warriors who were either rising, had fallen, or were retreating.
te viśīrṇarathāśvebhāḥ prāyaśaśca parāṅmukhāḥ। kuravaḥ karṇa karṇeti hā heti ca vicukruśuḥ ॥7-31-49॥
The Kuru warriors, with their chariots and horses shattered, mostly turned away in retreat, crying out in despair, 'Karna, Karna, alas, alas!'
tamādhirathirākrandaṃ vijñāya śaraṇaiṣiṇām। mā bhaiṣṭeti pratiśrutya yayāvabhimukho'rjunam ॥7-31-50॥
Adhirathi, upon hearing the cries of those seeking refuge, assured them "Do not fear" and proceeded towards Arjuna.
sa bhāratarthaśreṣṭhaḥ sarvabhārataharṣaṇaḥ। prāduścakre tadāgneyamastram astravidāṃ varaḥ ॥7-31-51॥
He, the foremost among the Bharata charioteers and the joy of all Bharatas, then revealed the Agneya weapon, renowned among the masters of weaponry.
tasya dīptaśaraughasya dīptacāpadharasya ca। śaraughāñ śarajālena vidudhāva dhanañjayaḥ॥ astram astreṇa saṁvārya prāṇadad visṛjañ śarān॥ 7-31-52॥
Arjuna, the holder of the shining bow, dispersed the flood of arrows with his own net of arrows. He blocked the weapon with another weapon and roared as he released his arrows.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca bhīmaśca sātyakiśca mahārathaḥ। vivyadhuḥ karṇamāsādya tribhistribhirajihmagaiḥ ॥7-31-53॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Bhīma, and Sātyaki, the great warriors, attacked Karna with three straight arrows each as they approached him.
arjunāstraṃ tu rādheyaḥ saṃvārya śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ। teṣāṃ trayāṇāṃ cāpāni ciccheda viśikhaistribhiḥ ॥7-31-54॥
Radheya skillfully countered Arjuna's weapon with a barrage of arrows and then proceeded to cut the bows of the three warriors with three precise arrows.
te nikṛttāyudhāḥ śūrā nirviṣā bhujagā iva। rathaśaktīḥ samutkṣipya bhṛśaṃ siṃhā ivānadan ॥7-31-55॥
They, though their weapons were cut off, lifted their chariot spears and roared fiercely like lions, similar to venomless serpents.
tā bhujāgrairmahāvegā visṛṣṭā bhujagopamāḥ। dīpyamānā mahāśaktyo jagmurādhirathiṃ prati ॥7-31-56॥
They, with the tips of their arms moving with great speed and resembling serpents, shining with great power, went towards Adhirathi.
tā nikṛtya śitairbāṇaistribhistribhirajihmagaiḥ। nanāda balavānkarṇaḥ pārthāya visṛjañśarān ॥7-31-57॥
The strong Karṇa, cutting those with sharp arrows in sets of three, roared as he released arrows towards Arjuna.
arjunaś cāpi rādheyaṃ viddhvā saptabhir āśugaiḥ। karṇād avarajaṃ bāṇair jaghāna niśitais tribhiḥ ॥7-31-58॥
Arjuna, after piercing Karna with seven swift arrows, struck Karna's younger brother with three sharp arrows.
tataḥ śatruñjayaṃ hatvā pārthaḥ ṣaḍbhirajihmagaiḥ। jahāra sadyo bhallena vipāṭasya śiro rathāt ॥7-31-59॥
Then Arjuna, having slain Śatruñjaya with six straight arrows, swiftly severed Vipāṭa's head from his chariot with an arrow.
paśyatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāmekenaiva kirīṭinā। pramukhe sūtaputrasya sodaryā nihatāstrayaḥ ॥7-31-60॥
In front of the son of a charioteer, three brothers of the sons of Dhritarashtra were killed by the crowned one, as observed by all.
tato bhīmaḥ samutpatya svarathādvainateyavat। varāsinā karṇapakṣāñjaghāna daśa pañca ca ॥7-31-61॥
Then Bhima leaped from his chariot like Garuda and struck the ears with his mighty sword, totaling fifteen.
punaḥ svaratham āsthāya dhanur ādāya ca aparam। vivyādha daśabhiḥ karṇam sūtamaśvānśca pañcabhiḥ ॥7-31-62॥
Once more, he ascended his chariot, took another bow, and struck Karna with ten arrows, and the charioteer and horses with five.
dhṛṣṭadyumno'pyasivaraṃ carma cādāya bhāsvaram। jaghāna candravarmāṇaṃ bṛhatkṣatraṃ ca pauravam ॥7-31-63॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, with his shining sword and shield, also killed Candravarman, Bṛhatkṣatra, and Paurava.
tataḥ svaratham āsthāya pāñcālyo'nyacca kārmukam। ādāya karṇaṃ vivyādha trisaptyā nadanraṇe ॥7-31-64॥
Then, the son of Drupada mounted his chariot, took another bow, and pierced Karna with seventy-three arrows while roaring in the battle.
śaineyo'pyanyadādāya dhanurindrāyudhadyuti। sūtaputraṃ catuḥṣaṣṭyā viddhvā siṃha ivānadat ॥7-31-65॥
The son of Śini, taking another bow that shone like Indra's weapon, pierced the son of a charioteer with sixty-four arrows and roared like a lion.
bhallabhyāṃ sādhumuktābhyāṃ chittvā karṇasya kārmukam। punaḥ karṇaṃ tribhirbāṇairbāhvorurasi cārpayat ॥7-31-66॥
With two expertly released arrows, he severed Karna's bow and then struck Karna again with three arrows on his arms and chest.
tato duryodhano droṇo rājā caiva jayadrathaḥ। nimajjāmānaṃ rādheyamujjahruḥ sātyakārṇavāt ॥7-31-67॥
Then Duryodhana, Drona, the king, and Jayadratha lifted Karna, who was sinking, from the ocean of Satyaki.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca bhīmaśca saubhadro'rjuna eva ca। nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sātyakiṃ jugupū raṇe ॥7-31-68॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Bhīma, Arjuna, the son of Subhadra, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Satyaki all protected each other in the battle.
evameṣa mahāraudraḥ kṣayārthaṃ sarvadhanvinām। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca tyaktvā prāṇānabhūdraṇaḥ ॥7-31-69॥
Thus, this greatly fierce battle was fought for the destruction of all archers, where both your warriors and the enemies abandoned their lives.
padātirathanāgāśvairgajāśvarathapattayaḥ। rathino nāgapattyaśvai rathapattī rathadvipaiḥ ॥7-31-70॥
The army consisted of foot-soldiers, chariots, elephants, and horses, with charioteers and infantry, all arranged in a strategic formation.
aśvair aśvā gajair nāgā rathino rathibhiḥ saha। saṁsaktāḥ samadṛśyanta pattayaś cāpi pattibhiḥ ॥7-31-71॥
Horses were seen with horses, elephants with elephants, charioteers with charioteers, and foot soldiers with foot soldiers, all appearing entangled together.
evaṃ sukalilaṃ yuddham āsīt kravyādaharṣaṇam। mahadbhiḥ tair abhītānāṃ yamarāṣṭravivardhanam ॥7-31-72॥
Thus, the battle was very delightful and pleasing to the flesh-eating beings, as it expanded the kingdom of Yama through the great fearless warriors.
tato hatā nararathavājikuñjarai; ranekaśo dviparathavājipattayaḥ। gajairgajā rathibhirudāyudhā rathā; hayairhayāḥ pattigaṇaiśca pattayaḥ ॥7-31-73॥
Then, in the battle, men, chariots, horses, and elephants were killed one by one; elephants were killed by elephants, chariots by charioteers with raised weapons, horses by horses, and foot soldiers by groups of foot soldiers.
rathairdvipā dviradavarairmahāhayā; hayairnarā vararathibhiśca vājinaḥ। nirastajihvādaśanekṣaṇāḥ kṣitau; kṣayaṃ gatāḥ pramathitavarmabhūṣaṇāḥ ॥7-31-74॥
Chariots, elephants, and great horses, along with men and excellent charioteers, lay on the ground, their tongues, teeth, and eyes removed, their armor and ornaments shattered, all gone to destruction.
tathā parairbahukaraṇairvarāyudhai; rhatā gatāḥ pratibhayadarśanāḥ kṣitim. vipothitā hayagajapādatāḍitā; bhṛśākulā rathakhuranemibhirhatāḥ ॥7-31-75॥
Thus, they were killed by others using various actions and excellent weapons, falling to the ground with a frightening appearance. They were crushed and trampled by the feet of horses and elephants, and in great distress, they were ultimately killed by the wheels and hooves of chariots.
pramodane śvāpadapakṣirakṣasāṃ; janakṣaye vartati tatra dāruṇe। mahābalāste kupitāḥ parasparaṃ; niṣūdayantaḥ pravicerurojasā ॥7-31-76॥
In the terrible destruction of people there, beasts, birds, and demons delight. Greatly powerful and angry, they wandered, destroying each other with strength.
tato bale bhṛśalulite parasparaṁ; nirīkṣamāṇe rudhiraughasamplute। divākare' staṅgirimāsthite śanai; ru bhe prayāte śibirāya bhārata ॥7-31-77॥
Then, O Bharata, as the sun set behind the mountain, the armies, greatly crushed and observing each other in a flood of blood, slowly ceased their fear and retreated to their camps.
