07.032
Pancharatra and Core: The thirteenth day of the war begins; Drona is rebuked by Duryodhana for the previous day's defeat; promising a better outcome, Drona makes a formidable military formation.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
पूर्वमस्मासु भग्नेषु फल्गुनेनामितौजसा। द्रोणे च मोघसङ्कल्पे रक्षिते च युधिष्ठिरे ॥७-३२-१॥
Previously, when we were defeated by Arjuna of immeasurable energy, and Drona's intentions were futile, Yudhishthira was protected.
सर्वे विध्वस्तकवचास्तावका युधि निर्जिताः। रजस्वला भृशोद्विग्ना वीक्षमाणा दिशो दश ॥७-३२-२॥
All your soldiers, their armors shattered, were defeated in battle. Covered in dust and greatly agitated, they looked around in all ten directions.
अवहारं ततः कृत्वा भारद्वाजस्य संमते। लब्धलक्ष्यैः परैर्दीना भृशावहसिता रणे ॥७-३२-३॥
After withdrawing with Bharadvaja's consent, they were severely mocked in battle by others who had successfully achieved their objectives, leaving them distressed.
श्लाघमानेषु भूतेषु फल्गुनस्यामितान्गुणान्। केशवस्य च सौहार्दे कीर्त्यमानेऽर्जुनं प्रति ॥ अभिशस्ता इवाभूवन्ध्यानमूकत्वमास्थिताः ॥७-३२-४॥
As the beings praised the immeasurable qualities of Arjuna and the friendship with Keshava, they fell silent, as if cursed, in deep meditation towards Arjuna.
ततः प्रभातसमये द्रोणं दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत्। प्रणयादभिमानाच्च द्विषद्वृद्ध्या च दुर्मनाः ॥ शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानां संरब्धो वाक्यकोविदः ॥७-३२-५॥
At dawn, Duryodhana, troubled by the increasing strength of his enemies, addressed Droṇa with a mix of affection and pride, speaking skillfully in the presence of all creatures.
नूनं वयं वध्यपक्षे भवतो ब्रह्मवित्तम। तथा हि नाग्रहीः प्राप्तं समीपेऽद्य युधिष्ठिरम् ॥७-३२-६॥
"Certainly, we are in a position of being condemned, O knower of Brahman, because you have not taken Yudhishthira, who is near today."
इच्छतस्ते न मुच्येत चक्षुःप्राप्तो रणे रिपुः। जिघृक्षतो रक्ष्यमाणः सामरैरपि पाण्डवैः ॥७-३२-७॥
Your enemy, once spotted in battle, would not escape, even if protected by the Pandavas and their warriors.
वरं दत्त्वा मम प्रीतः पश्चाद्विकृतवानसि। आशाभङ्गं न कुर्वन्ति भक्तस्यार्याः कथञ्चन ॥७-३२-८॥
After granting a boon and being pleased, you have changed your stance. Noble ones never disappoint a devotee in any manner.
ततोऽप्रीतस्तथोक्तः स भारद्वाजोऽब्रवीन्नृपम्। नार्हसे मान्यथा ज्ञातुं घटमानं तव प्रिये ॥७-३२-९॥
Then, displeased, Bharadvaja said to the king: "You should not misunderstand what is happening, dear."
ससुरासुरगन्धर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः। नालं लोका रणे जेतुं पाल्यमानं किरीटिना ॥७-३२-१०॥
The worlds, even with the support of gods, demons, gandharvas, yakṣas, serpents, and rākṣasas, cannot conquer in battle when protected by Arjuna (Kiriti).
विश्वसृग्यत्र गोविन्दः पृतनारिस्तहार्जुनः। तत्र कस्य बलं क्रामेदन्यत्र त्र्यम्बकात्प्रभोः ॥७-३२-११॥
In the presence of Govinda, the creator of the universe, and Arjuna, the formidable warrior, who could possibly have strength surpassing that of Lord Tryambaka elsewhere?
सत्यं तु ते ब्रवीम्यद्य नैतज्जात्वन्यथा भवेत्। अद्यैषां प्रवरं वीरं पातयिष्ये महारथम् ॥७-३२-१२॥
"I assure you truthfully today, this will never be otherwise. Today, I shall bring down the greatest hero among them, the mighty chariot-warrior."
तं च व्यूहं विधास्यामि योऽभेद्यस्त्रिदशैरपि। योगेन केनचिद्राजन्नर्जुनस्त्वपनीयताम् ॥७-३२-१३॥
I will create a formation that even the gods cannot penetrate. O king, find a way to remove Arjuna.
न ह्यज्ञातमसाध्यं वा तस्य सङ्ख्येऽस्ति किञ्चन। तेन ह्युपात्तं बलवत्सर्वज्ञानमितस्ततः ॥७-३२-१४॥
In battle, there is nothing unknown or impossible for him. He possesses powerful knowledge from all directions.
द्रोणेन व्याहृते त्वेवं संशप्तकगणाः पुनः। आह्वयन्नर्जुनं सङ्ख्ये दक्षिणामभितो दिशम् ॥७-३२-१५॥
Upon hearing Drona's words, the Saṃśaptaka warriors once more challenged Arjuna, surrounding him from all sides in the southern direction of the battlefield.
तत्रार्जुनस्याथ परैः सार्धं समभवद्रणः। तादृशो यादृशो नान्यः श्रुतो दृष्टोऽपि वा क्वचित् ॥७-३२-१६॥
Then there was a battle between Arjuna and others, the likes of which had never been heard or seen anywhere.
ततो द्रोणेन विहितो राजन्व्यूहो व्यरोचत। चरन्मध्यंदिने सूर्यः प्रतपन्निव दुर्दृशः ॥७-३२-१७॥
Then, O king, the formation arranged by Drona shone brilliantly, like the blazing sun at midday, difficult to look at.
तं चाभिमन्युर्वचनात्पितुर्ज्येष्ठस्य भारत। बिभेद दुर्भिदं सङ्ख्ये चक्रव्यूहमनेकधा ॥७-३२-१८॥
O Bharata, Abhimanyu, following the instructions of his eldest father, skillfully penetrated the formidable military formation in battle in various ways.
स कृत्वा दुष्करं कर्म हत्वा वीरान्सहस्रशः। षट्सु वीरेषु संसक्तो दौःशासनिवशं गतः ॥७-३२-१९॥
He performed a challenging task by killing thousands of heroes and, while engaged among six heroes, fell under the control of Duhshasana.
वयं परमसंहृष्टाः पाण्डवाः शोककर्शिताः। सौभद्रे निहते राजन्नवहारमकुर्वत ॥७-३२-२०॥
The Pāṇḍavas, though extremely delighted, were afflicted by grief and made a retreat after Abhimanyu was slain, O king.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
पुत्रं पुरुषसिंहस्य सञ्जयाप्राप्तयौवनम्। रणे विनिहतं श्रुत्वा भृशं मे दीर्यते मनः ॥७-३२-२१॥
Hearing that Sanjaya, the son of the lion among men, who had just reached his youth, was killed in battle, my mind is deeply troubled.
दारुणः क्षत्रधर्मोऽयं विहितो धर्मकर्तृभिः। यत्र राज्येप्सवः शूरा बाले शस्त्रमपातयन् ॥७-३२-२२॥
This harsh duty of warriors is ordained by the lawmakers, where heroes aspiring for the kingdom strike down even the young with weapons.
बालमत्यन्तसुखिनं विचरन्तमभीतवत्। कृतास्त्रा बहवो जघ्नुर्ब्रूहि गावल्गणे कथम् ॥७-३२-२३॥
The boy, who was extremely happy and wandering without fear, was killed by many armed men. Please tell me, O Gāvalgaṇa, how this happened?
बिभित्सता रथानीकं सौभद्रेणामितौजसा। विक्रीडितं यथा सङ्ख्ये तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥
O Sanjaya, tell me about the playful act in battle by Saubhadra, who, with immeasurable energy, desired to conquer the chariot army.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
यन्मां पृच्छसि राजेन्द्र सौभद्रस्य निपातनम्। तत्ते कार्त्स्न्येन वक्ष्यामि शृणु राजन्समाहितः ॥ विक्रीडितं कुमारेण यथानीकं बिभित्सता ॥७-३२-२५॥
O King, you inquire about the fall of Abhimanyu. I shall narrate it to you in full detail. Listen carefully, O King, to the tale of the prince's play as he sought to conquer the army.
दावाग्न्यभिपरीतानां भूरिगुल्मतृणद्रुमे। वनौकसामिवारण्ये त्वदीयानामभूद्भयम् ॥७-३२-२६॥
In the forest, your people were struck with fear as if surrounded by a forest fire, amidst abundant bushes, grass, and trees, similar to the plight of forest dwellers.
