07.034
Pancharatra and Core: Yudhishthira entrusts the burden of penetrating the discus military formation of Drona to Abhimanyu, as others are not capable.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tadānīkamanādhṛṣyaṃ bhāradvājena rakṣitam। pārthāḥ samabhyavartanta bhīmasenapurogamāḥ ॥7-34-1॥
The sons of Pritha, led by Bhimasena, advanced upon the invincible army protected by Bharadvaja.
sātyakiś cekitānaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ। kuntibhojaś ca vikrānto drupadaś ca mahārathaḥ ॥7-34-2॥
Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, Kuntibhoja, and the valiant Drupada are all great chariot-warriors.
ārjuniḥ kṣatradharmā ca bṛhatkṣatraśca vīryavān। cedipo dhṛṣṭaketuśca mādrīputrau ghaṭotkacaḥ ॥7-34-3॥
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.
yudhāmanyuśca vikrāntaḥ śikhaṇḍī cāparājitaḥ। uttamaujāśca durdharṣo virāṭaśca mahārathaḥ ॥7-34-4॥
Yudhāmanyu, the valiant Śikhaṇḍī, the unconquered Uttamaujas, and the invincible Virāṭa are all great chariot-warriors.
drau̇padeyāś ca saṁrabdhāḥ śaiśupāliś ca vīryavān। kekayāś ca mahāvīryāḥ sṛñjayāś ca sahasraśaḥ ॥7-34-5॥
The sons of Draupadi, along with the valiant Shishupala, the great Kekayas, and the numerous Srinjayas, were all excited and ready for battle.
ete cānye ca sagaṇāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ। samabhyadhāvansahasā bhāradvājaṃ yuyutsavaḥ ॥7-34-6॥
These warriors, along with others in groups, armed and arrogant in battle, suddenly charged towards Bharadvaja, eager for combat.
samavetāṃstu tānsarvānbhāradvājo'pi vīryavān। asambhrāntaḥ śaraugheṇa mahatā samavārayat ॥7-34-7॥
Bharadvaja, the mighty warrior, calmly restrained all the assembled forces with a great shower of arrows.
mahaughāḥ salilasyeva girimāsādya durbhidam। droṇaṃ te nābhyavartanta velāmiva jalāśayāḥ ॥7-34-8॥
The great waves of water, upon reaching the unbreakable mountain, could not overcome Drona, just as reservoirs do not overcome the shore.
pīḍyamānāḥ śarai rājan droṇacāpaviniḥsṛtaiḥ। na śekuḥ pramukhe sthātuṃ bhāradvājasya pāṇḍavāḥ ॥7-34-9॥
O king, the Pandavas could not withstand the arrows released from Drona's bow and were unable to face Bharadvaja's son.
tad adbhutam apaśyāma droṇasya bhujayor balam। yad enaṃ nābhyavartanta pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha ॥7-34-10॥
We witnessed the incredible strength of Drona's arms, which the Panchalas and the Srinjayas together could not surpass.
tam āyāntam abhikruddhaṃ droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। bahudhā cintayāmāsa droṇasya prativāraṇam ॥7-34-11॥
Upon seeing the enraged Droṇa approaching, Yudhiṣṭhira contemplated various strategies to counteract him.
aśakyaṃ tu tamanyena droṇaṃ matvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। aviṣahyaṃ guruṃ bhāraṃ saubhadre samavāsṛjat ॥7-34-12॥
Yudhishthira, considering Droṇa to be invincible by anyone else, entrusted the formidable task to Abhimanyu.
vāsudevād anavaraṃ phalgunāc cāmitaujasam। abravīt paravīraghnam abhimanyum idaṃ vacaḥ ॥7-34-13॥
Vasudeva, unparalleled and of immeasurable energy, spoke these words to Abhimanyu, the slayer of enemy heroes, and son of Arjuna.
etya no nārjuno garhedyathā tāta tathā kuru। cakravyūhasya na vayaṃ vidma bhedaṃ kathaṃcana ॥7-34-14॥
Having come, Arjuna may not blame us, father, so act accordingly. We do not know how to breach the Chakravyuha in any way.
tvaṁ vārjuno vā kṛṣṇo vā bhindyātpradyumna eva vā। cakravyūhaṁ mahābāho pañcamo'nyo na vidyate ॥7-34-15॥
You, Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa, or Pradyumna could break the military formation, O mighty-armed one; there is no fifth person who can do so.
abhimanyo varaṃ tāta yācatāṃ dātumarhasi। pitṝṇāṃ mātulānāṃ ca sainyānāṃ caiva sarvaśaḥ ॥7-34-16॥
Abhimanyu, you should grant the boon that is being asked by the fathers, maternal uncles, and all the armies.
dhanañjayo hi nastāta garhayedetya saṃyugāt। kṣipramastraṃ samādāya droṇānīkaṃ viśātaya ॥7-34-17॥
Arjuna, our father, would indeed blame us if we retreat from the battle. Therefore, quickly take up the weapon and penetrate Drona's army.
abhimanyuruvāca॥
Abhimanyu said:
droṇasya dṛḍhamavyagramanīkavararaṃ yudhi। pitṝṇāṃ jayamākāṅkṣannavagāhe bhinadmi ca ॥7-34-18॥
Desiring victory for the ancestors, I enter and pierce the firm and unperturbed best of Drona's army in battle.
upadiṣṭo hi me pitrā yogo'nīkasya bhedane। notsahe tu vinirgantumahaṃ kasyāñcidāpadi ॥7-34-19॥
I have been instructed by my father in the skill of breaking the army formation; however, I am unable to leave in any distress.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira spoke:
bhindhyanīkaṃ yudhā śreṣṭha dvāraṃ sañjanayasva naḥ। vayaṃ tvānugamiṣyāmo yena tvaṃ tāta yāsyasi ॥7-34-20॥
O best warrior, pierce the enemy's army and create a path for us. We will follow you, dear father, wherever you go.
dhanañjayasamaṃ yuddhe tvāṃ vayaṃ tāta saṃyuge। praṇidhāyānuyāsyāmo rakṣantaḥ sarvatomukhāḥ ॥7-34-21॥
Dear father, like Dhananjaya in battle, we shall follow you in combat, protecting you from all sides.
bhīma uvāca॥
Bhima said:
ahaṁ tvānugamiṣyāmi dhṛṣṭadyumno'tha sātyakiḥ। pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāstathā sarve prabhadrakāḥ ॥7-34-22॥
I will follow you, along with Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki. The Panchalas, Kekayas, Matsyas, and all the Prabhadrakas will also accompany us.
sakṛdbhinnam tvayā vyūhaṃ tatra tatra punaḥ punaḥ। vayaṃ pradhvaṃsayiṣyāmo nighnamānā varānvarān ॥7-34-23॥
Once you break the formation, we will repeatedly destroy the heroes, striking them again and again.
abhimanyuruvāca॥
Abhimanyu said:
aham etat pravekṣyāmi droṇānīkaṃ durāsadam। pataṅga iva saṅkruddho jvalitaṃ jātavedasam ॥7-34-24॥
I will enter Drona's formidable army, like an enraged moth rushing into a blazing fire.
tatkarmādya kariṣyāmi hitaṃ yadvaṃśayordvayoḥ। mātulasya ca yā prītirbhaviṣyati pituśca me ॥7-34-25॥
I will undertake the initial action that will benefit both lineages, fostering affection from both my uncle and my father.
śiśunaikena saṅgrāme kālyamānāni saṅghaśaḥ। adya drakṣyanti bhūtāni dviṣatsainyāni vai mayā ॥7-34-26॥
Today, the beings will indeed see the enemy armies being tormented in groups by the child alone in battle.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
evaṁ te bhāṣamāṇasya balaṁ saubhadra vardhatām। yastvamutsahase bhettuṁ droṇānīkaṁ sudurbhidam ॥7-34-27॥
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.
rakṣitaṃ puruṣavyāghrairmaheṣvāsaiḥ prahāribhiḥ। sādhyarudramarutkalpairvasvagnyādityavikramaiḥ ॥7-34-28॥
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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sa yantāramacodayat। sumitrāśvānraṇe kṣipraṁ droṇānīkāya codaya ॥7-34-29॥
Upon hearing those words, he instructed the charioteer to swiftly drive Sumitra's horses into the formation of Drona's army during the battle.
