07.034
Pancharatra and Core: Yudhishthira entrusts the burden of penetrating the discus military formation of Drona to Abhimanyu, as others are not capable.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
तदनीकमनाधृष्यं भारद्वाजेन रक्षितम्। पार्थाः समभ्यवर्तन्त भीमसेनपुरोगमाः ॥७-३४-१॥
The sons of Pritha, led by Bhimasena, advanced upon the invincible army protected by Bharadvaja.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। कुन्तिभोजश्च विक्रान्तो द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥७-३४-२॥
Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, Kuntibhoja, and the valiant Drupada are all great chariot-warriors.
आर्जुनिः क्षत्रधर्मा च बृहत्क्षत्रश्च वीर्यवान्। चेदिपो धृष्टकेतुश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ घटोत्कचः ॥७-३४-३॥
The son of Arjuna, a warrior by duty, along with the great and powerful king of the Chedis, Dhrishtaketu, and the sons of Madri, including Ghatotkacha, were present.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तः शिखण्डी चापराजितः। उत्तमौजाश्च दुर्धर्षो विराटश्च महारथः ॥७-३४-४॥
Yudhāmanyu, the valiant Śikhaṇḍī, the unconquered Uttamaujas, and the invincible Virāṭa are all great chariot-warriors.
द्रौपदेयाश्च संरब्धाः शैशुपालिश्च वीर्यवान्। केकयाश्च महावीर्याः सृञ्जयाश्च सहस्रशः ॥७-३४-५॥
The sons of Draupadi, along with the valiant Shishupala, the great Kekayas, and the numerous Srinjayas, were all excited and ready for battle.
एते चान्ये च सगणाः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः। समभ्यधावन्सहसा भारद्वाजं युयुत्सवः ॥७-३४-६॥
These warriors, along with others in groups, armed and arrogant in battle, suddenly charged towards Bharadvaja, eager for combat.
समवेतांस्तु तान्सर्वान्भारद्वाजोऽपि वीर्यवान्। असम्भ्रान्तः शरौघेण महता समवारयत् ॥७-३४-७॥
Bharadvaja, the mighty warrior, calmly restrained all the assembled forces with a great shower of arrows.
महौघाः सलिलस्येव गिरिमासाद्य दुर्भिदम्। द्रोणं ते नाभ्यवर्तन्त वेलामिव जलाशयाः ॥७-३४-८॥
The great waves of water, upon reaching the unbreakable mountain, could not overcome Drona, just as reservoirs do not overcome the shore.
पीड्यमानाः शरै राजन्द्रोणचापविनिःसृतैः। न शेकुः प्रमुखे स्थातुं भारद्वाजस्य पाण्डवाः ॥७-३४-९॥
O king, the Pandavas could not withstand the arrows released from Drona's bow and were unable to face Bharadvaja's son.
तदद्भुतमपश्याम द्रोणस्य भुजयोर्बलम्। यदेनं नाभ्यवर्तन्त पाञ्चालाः सृञ्जयैः सह ॥७-३४-१०॥
We witnessed the incredible strength of Drona's arms, which the Panchalas and the Srinjayas together could not surpass.
तमायान्तमभिक्रुद्धं द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः। बहुधा चिन्तयामास द्रोणस्य प्रतिवारणम् ॥७-३४-११॥
Upon seeing the enraged Droṇa approaching, Yudhiṣṭhira contemplated various strategies to counteract him.
अशक्यं तु तमन्येन द्रोणं मत्वा युधिष्ठिरः। अविषह्यं गुरुं भारं सौभद्रे समवासृजत् ॥७-३४-१२॥
Yudhishthira, considering Droṇa to be invincible by anyone else, entrusted the formidable task to Abhimanyu.
वासुदेवादनवरं फल्गुनाच्चामितौजसम्। अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नमभिमन्युमिदं वचः ॥७-३४-१३॥
Vasudeva, unparalleled and of immeasurable energy, spoke these words to Abhimanyu, the slayer of enemy heroes, and son of Arjuna.
एत्य नो नार्जुनो गर्हेद्यथा तात तथा कुरु। चक्रव्यूहस्य न वयं विद्म भेदं कथञ्चन ॥७-३४-१४॥
Having come, Arjuna may not blame us, father, so act accordingly. We do not know how to breach the Chakravyuha in any way.
त्वं वार्जुनो वा कृष्णो वा भिन्द्यात्प्रद्युम्न एव वा। चक्रव्यूहं महाबाहो पञ्चमोऽन्यो न विद्यते ॥७-३४-१५॥
You, Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa, or Pradyumna could break the military formation, O mighty-armed one; there is no fifth person who can do so.
अभिमन्यो वरं तात याचतां दातुमर्हसि। पितॄणां मातुलानां च सैन्यानां चैव सर्वशः ॥७-३४-१६॥
Abhimanyu, you should grant the boon that is being asked by the fathers, maternal uncles, and all the armies.
धनञ्जयो हि नस्तात गर्हयेदेत्य संयुगात्। क्षिप्रमस्त्रं समादाय द्रोणानीकं विशातय ॥७-३४-१७॥
Arjuna, our father, would indeed blame us if we retreat from the battle. Therefore, quickly take up the weapon and penetrate Drona's army.
अभिमन्युरुवाच॥
Abhimanyu said:
द्रोणस्य दृढमव्यग्रमनीकप्रवरं युधि। पितॄणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नवगाहे भिनद्मि च ॥७-३४-१८॥
Desiring victory for the ancestors, I enter and pierce the firm and unperturbed best of Drona's army in battle.
उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकस्य भेदने। नोत्सहे तु विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्याञ्चिदापदि ॥७-३४-१९॥
I have been instructed by my father in the skill of breaking the army formation; however, I am unable to leave in any distress.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira spoke:
भिन्ध्यनीकं युधा श्रेष्ठ द्वारं सञ्जनयस्व नः। वयं त्वानुगमिष्यामो येन त्वं तात यास्यसि ॥७-३४-२०॥
O best warrior, pierce the enemy's army and create a path for us. We will follow you, dear father, wherever you go.
धनञ्जयसमं युद्धे त्वां वयं तात संयुगे। प्रणिधायानुयास्यामो रक्षन्तः सर्वतोमुखाः ॥७-३४-२१॥
Dear father, like Dhananjaya in battle, we shall follow you in combat, protecting you from all sides.
भीम उवाच॥
Bhima said:
अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः। पाञ्चालाः केकया मत्स्यास्तथा सर्वे प्रभद्रकाः ॥७-३४-२२॥
I will follow you, along with Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki. The Panchalas, Kekayas, Matsyas, and all the Prabhadrakas will also accompany us.
सकृद्भिन्नं त्वया व्यूहं तत्र तत्र पुनः पुनः। वयं प्रध्वंसयिष्यामो निघ्नमाना वरान्वरान् ॥७-३४-२३॥
Once you break the formation, we will repeatedly destroy the heroes, striking them again and again.
अभिमन्युरुवाच॥
Abhimanyu said:
अहमेतत्प्रवेक्ष्यामि द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम्। पतङ्ग इव सङ्क्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥७-३४-२४॥
I will enter Drona's formidable army, like an enraged moth rushing into a blazing fire.
तत्कर्माद्य करिष्यामि हितं यद्वंशयोर्द्वयोः। मातुलस्य च या प्रीतिर्भविष्यति पितुश्च मे ॥७-३४-२५॥
I will undertake the initial action that will benefit both lineages, fostering affection from both my uncle and my father.
शिशुनैकेन सङ्ग्रामे काल्यमानानि सङ्घशः। अद्य द्रक्ष्यन्ति भूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया ॥७-३४-२६॥
Today, the beings will indeed see the enemy armies being tormented in groups by the child alone in battle.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said:
एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं सौभद्र वर्धताम्। यस्त्वमुत्सहसे भेत्तुं द्रोणानीकं सुदुर्भिदम् ॥७-३४-२७॥
As you speak, O son of Subhadra, may your strength grow. You are daring to break through Drona's army, which is known to be very hard to penetrate.
रक्षितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्महेष्वासैः प्रहारिभिः। साध्यरुद्रमरुत्कल्पैर्वस्वग्न्यादित्यविक्रमैः ॥७-३४-२८॥
The place was protected by men as fierce as tigers, skilled archers, and attackers, resembling the Sādhyas, Rudras, Maruts, Vasus, Agni, and Ādityas in their prowess.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स यन्तारमचोदयत्। सुमित्राश्वान्रणे क्षिप्रं द्रोणानीकाय चोदय ॥७-३४-२९॥
Upon hearing those words, he instructed the charioteer to swiftly drive Sumitra's horses into the formation of Drona's army during the battle.
