07.036
Pancharatra and Core: Abhimanyu fights multiple prominent warriors of the Karuava side single handed.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
तां प्रभग्नां चमूं दृष्ट्वा सौभद्रेणामितौजसा। दुर्योधनो भृशं क्रुद्धः स्वयं सौभद्रमभ्ययात् ॥७-३६-१॥
Seeing his army broken by the immensely powerful Abhimanyu, Duryodhana, in great anger, personally confronted Abhimanyu.
ततो राजानमावृत्तं सौभद्रं प्रति संयुगे। दृष्ट्वा द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्योधान्पर्याप्नुत नराधिपम् ॥७-३६-२॥
Then, seeing that the king Saubhadra had returned to the battlefield, Drona instructed the warriors to surround the king.
पुराभिमन्युर्लक्ष्यं नः पश्यतां हन्ति वीर्यवान्। तमाद्रवत मा भैष्ट क्षिप्रं रक्षत कौरवम् ॥७-३६-३॥
In the past, the valiant Abhimanyu would strike our target in full view. Attack him without fear and swiftly protect the Kaurava.
ततः कृतज्ञा बलिनः सुहृदो जितकाशिनः। त्रास्यमाना भयाद्वीरं परिवव्रुस्तवात्मजम् ॥७-३६-४॥
Then, your grateful and strong friends, who are conquerors of the visible, surrounded your heroic son out of fear, being frightened.
द्रोणो द्रौणिः कृपः कर्णः कृतवर्मा च सौबलः। बृहद्बलो मद्रराजो भूरिर्भूरिश्रवाः शलः ॥७-३६-५॥
Drona, his son Ashwatthama, Kripa, Karna, Kritavarma, Shakuni's son, Brihadbala, the king of Madra, Bhuri, Bhurishrava, and Shala were present.
पौरवो वृषसेनश्च विसृजन्तः शिताञ्शरान्। सौभद्रं शरवर्षेण महता समवाकिरन् ॥७-३६-६॥
Paurava and Vṛṣasena released sharp arrows, covering Saubhadra with a great shower of arrows.
संमोहयित्वा तमथ दुर्योधनममोचयन्। आस्याद्ग्रासमिवाक्षिप्तं ममृषे नार्जुनात्मजः ॥७-३६-७॥
After deluding him, Arjuna's son released Duryodhana, unable to tolerate him like food thrown from the mouth.
ताञ्शरौघेण महता साश्वसूतान्महारथान्। विमुखीकृत्य सौभद्रः सिंहनादमथानदत् ॥७-३६-८॥
Saubhadra, having repelled the great charioteers and warriors with a multitude of arrows, then uttered a lion's roar.
तस्य नादं ततः श्रुत्वा सिंहस्येवामिषैषिणः। नामृष्यन्त सुसंरब्धाः पुनर्द्रोणमुखा रथाः ॥७-३६-९॥
Upon hearing his roar, like a lion in search of prey, the chariots led by Drona, filled with intense anger, could not bear it again.
त एनं कोष्ठकीकृत्य रथवंशेन मारिष। व्यसृजन्निषुजालानि नानालिङ्गानि सङ्घशः ॥७-३६-१०॥
They surrounded him with chariots and released various kinds of arrows in groups, O dear one.
तान्यन्तरिक्षे चिच्छेद पौत्रस्तव शितैः शरैः। तांश्चैव प्रतिविव्याध तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥७-३६-११॥
Your grandson cut those in the sky with sharp arrows and pierced them, which seemed wonderful.
ततस्ते कोपितास्तेन शरैराशीविषोपमैः। परिवव्रुर्जिघांसन्तः सौभद्रमपलायिनम् ॥७-३६-१२॥
Then, angered by him, they surrounded Saubhadra with arrows resembling serpents, intending to kill him, without letting him escape.
समुद्रमिव पर्यस्तं त्वदीयं तद्बलार्णवम्। अभिमन्युर्दधारैको वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥७-३६-१३॥
Abhimanyu alone held back your vast sea of strength, just as the shore contains the ocean, the abode of crocodiles.
शूराणां युध्यमानानां निघ्नतामितरेतरम्। अभिमन्योः परेषां च नासीत्कश्चित्पराङ्मुखः ॥७-३६-१४॥
Among the heroes engaged in battle, none turned away from fighting each other, nor from Abhimanyu and the enemies.
तस्मिंस्तु घोरे सङ्ग्रामे वर्तमाने भयङ्करे। दुःसहो नवभिर्बाणैरभिमन्युमविध्यत ॥७-३६-१५॥
In the midst of that terrifying and fierce battle, Duhsaha struck Abhimanyu with nine arrows.
दुःशासनो द्वादशभिः कृपः शारद्वतस्त्रिभिः। द्रोणस्तु सप्तदशभिः शरैराशीविषोपमैः ॥७-३६-१६॥
Duhshasana attacked with twelve arrows, Kripa and Sharadvata with three each, but Drona used seventeen arrows that were like venomous snakes.
विविंशतिस्तु विंशत्या कृतवर्मा च सप्तभिः। बृहद्बलस्तथाष्टाभिरश्वत्थामा च सप्तभिः ॥७-३६-१७॥
Kritavarma with twenty-two units, Brihadbala with eight, and Ashwatthama with seven units were present.
भूरिश्रवास्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्मद्रेशः षड्भिराशुगैः। द्वाभ्यां शराभ्यां शकुनिस्त्रिभिर्दुर्योधनो नृपः ॥७-३६-१८॥
Bhūriśravāḥ shot three arrows, the king of Madra shot six swift arrows, Shakuni shot two arrows, and King Duryodhana shot three arrows.
स तु तान्प्रतिविव्याध त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिह्मगैः। नृत्यन्निव महाराज चापहस्तः प्रतापवान् ॥७-३६-१९॥
The powerful warrior, with bow in hand, skillfully pierced them with three straight arrows, appearing as if he were dancing, O great king.
ततोऽभिमन्युः सङ्क्रुद्धस्ताप्यमानस्तवात्मजैः। विदर्शयन्वै सुमहच्छिक्षौरसकृतं बलम् ॥७-३६-२०॥
Then Abhimanyu, filled with rage and tormented by your sons, showcased his immense skill and strength, particularly in his chest.
गरुडानिलरंहोभिर्यन्तुर्वाक्यकरैर्हयैः। दान्तैरश्मकदायादं त्वरमाणोऽभ्यहारयत् ॥ विव्याध चैनं दशभिर्बाणैस्तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥७-३६-२१॥
The charioteer, with the speed of Garuda and the wind, urged the tamed horses to bring the heir of Ashmaka swiftly. He then pierced him with ten arrows, commanding him to 'Stop'.
तस्याभिमन्युर्दशभिर्बाणैः सूतं हयान्ध्वजम्। बाहू धनुः शिरश्चोर्व्यां स्मयमानोऽभ्यपातयत् ॥७-३६-२२॥
Abhimanyu, with a smile, skillfully shot ten arrows causing the charioteer, horses, flag, arms, bow, and head to fall to the ground.
ततस्तस्मिन्हते वीरे सौभद्रेणाश्मकेश्वरे। सञ्चचाल बलं सर्वं पलायनपरायणम् ॥७-३६-२३॥
Then, after the hero, the king of the Ashmakas, was slain by Saubhadra, the entire army began to retreat, focused on fleeing.
ततः कर्णः कृपो द्रोणो द्रौणिर्गान्धारराट्शलः। शल्यो भूरिश्रवाः क्राथः सोमदत्तो विविंशतिः ॥७-३६-२४॥
Then Karna, Kripa, Drona, Ashwatthama (son of Drona), the king of Gandhara, Shala, Shalya, Bhurishrava, Kratha, Somadatta, and Vivimshati were present.
वृषसेनः सुषेणश्च कुण्डभेदी प्रतर्दनः। वृन्दारको ललित्थश्च प्रबाहुर्दीर्घलोचनः ॥ दुर्योधनश्च सङ्क्रुद्धः शरवर्षैरवाकिरन् ॥७-३६-२५॥
Vṛṣasena, Suṣeṇa, Kuṇḍabhedī, Pratardana, Vṛndāraka, Lalittha, Prabāhu, Dīrghalocana, and the enraged Duryodhana showered arrows upon their foes.
सोऽतिक्रुद्धो महेष्वासैरभिमन्युरजिह्मगैः। शरमादत्त कर्णाय परकायावभेदनम् ॥७-३६-२६॥
In his intense anger, Abhimanyu, surrounded by great archers, took an arrow aimed at Karna, intending to pierce another's body.
तस्य भित्त्वा तनुत्राणं देहं निर्भिद्य चाशुगः। प्राविशद्धरणीं राजन्वल्मीकमिव पन्नगः ॥७-३६-२७॥
The swift arrow pierced through his armor and body, entering the earth like a serpent entering an anthill, O king.
स तेनातिप्रहारेण व्यथितो विह्वलन्निव। सञ्चचाल रणे कर्णः क्षितिकम्पे यथाचलः ॥७-३६-२८॥
Karṇa, distressed and as if bewildered by the severe blow, staggered in the battle like a mountain during an earthquake.
अथान्यैर्निशितैर्बाणैः सुषेणं दीर्घलोचनम्। कुण्डभेदिं च सङ्क्रुद्धस्त्रिभिस्त्रीनवधीद्बली ॥७-३६-२९॥
Then, in his anger, the mighty warrior used sharp arrows from others to kill Suṣeṇa, Dīrghalocana, and Kuṇḍabhedin with three arrows.
कर्णस्तं पञ्चविंशत्या नाराचानां समर्पयत्। अश्वत्थामा च विंशत्या कृतवर्मा च सप्तभिः ॥७-३६-३०॥
Karna attacked him with twenty-five iron arrows, while Ashwatthama used twenty and Kritavarma used seven.
स शरार्दितसर्वाङ्गः क्रुद्धः शक्रात्मजात्मजः। विचरन्दृश्यते सैन्ये पाशहस्त इवान्तकः ॥७-३६-३१॥
He, the son of Indra's son, wounded and angry, is seen moving through the army like Yama, the god of death, holding a noose.
शल्यं च बाणवर्षेण समीपस्थमवाकिरत्। उदक्रोशन्महाबाहुस्तव सैन्यानि भीषयन् ॥७-३६-३२॥
Shalya, with a shower of arrows, covered the nearby area, while the mighty-armed one shouted, frightening your armies.
ततः स विद्धोऽस्त्रविदा मर्मभिद्भिरजिह्मगैः। शल्यो राजन्रथोपस्थे निषसाद मुमोह च ॥७-३६-३३॥
Then Śalya, pierced by the skilled archer's straight and vital-point hitting arrows, sat down on the chariot seat and lost consciousness, O king.
तं हि विद्धं तथा दृष्ट्वा सौभद्रेण यशस्विना। सम्प्राद्रवच्चमूः सर्वा भारद्वाजस्य पश्यतः ॥७-३६-३४॥
When the glorious Saubhadra pierced him, the entire army of Bharadvaja fled in his sight.
प्रेक्षन्तस्तं महाबाहुं रुक्मपुङ्खैः समावृतम्। त्वदीयाश्च पलायन्ते मृगाः सिंहार्दिता इव ॥७-३६-३५॥
As they look upon the mighty-armed one surrounded by golden-feathered arrows, your men flee as deer do when frightened by a lion.
स तु रणयशसाभिपूज्यमानः; पितृसुरचारणसिद्धयक्षसङ्घैः। अवनितलगतैश्च भूतसङ्घै; रतिविबभौ हुतभुग्यथाज्यसिक्तः ॥७-३६-३६॥
He was honored by the glory of battle and by groups of ancestors, gods, singers, perfected beings, and yakshas, as well as by those on earth. He shone with delight like a fire anointed with ghee.
